The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 18. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool sack at Fire o'clock. The Marquis of HASTINGS presented a petition, praying for a repeal of the malt-tax. The Bishop of EXETER presented several petitions in favour of the Bill for the prevention of prostitution. The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented the report of the Select Committee on the Highways Bill. ROME: The Marquis of LANSUOWNE, in answer to the question which had been put on a former occasion, re lating to the intervention of France, Austria, and Naples in the affairs of Rome, had stated that no communication nad been made by Austria and Naples. He had now to state that his Noble Friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs had had made to him in the course of conversa tion a communication from the Austrian Minister, of the intention of his Government to interfere in the affairs of Rome, which communication was founded on a communication which the Minister had received from his Government. The Earl of ABERDEEN was happy to hear the explanation of the Noble Marquis, but he could not but observe that the Noble Marquis had on that occasion informed the House that no communication what ever had been made, but it should be recollected that the representation of the French Government was only verbal, which was held sufficient to satisfy that Government, whereas the communications made by the Austrian Government were frank, full, and explicit; and as the question of the Noble Baron had been printed, it was unjustifiable that the Noble Marquis should have been instructed to make the answer he nad made. This was of a piece with the odious accusation against another power, which had been circulated through Europe for months, when the refutation of it was in the hands of those circulating the accusation. This was a part of that policy of hatred and passion which had al ready acted so injuriously on the interests of this country. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to say that the communication from the French Govern ment was in the nature of a formal communication, whereas ruch was not the nature of the Austrian corn munication. BANKRUPTCY. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from cer tain trading firms who had petitioned against the Bank ruptcy Laws Amendment Bill, praying that no altera tion might be made in the Bill which would prevent its passing into a law. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. The Sisrquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice that on Friday next he should move the adjournment of the House for the Whitsuntide holidays. CANADA: Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that on Friday next he should call the attention of the House to the dispatch of the Earl of Elgin. PETITIONS. Lord LYNDHURST presented a petition, signed by a considerable number of short-hand writers engaged in reporting the proceedings cf Parliament, praying that in the event of their Lordships determining upon having an official record of their proceedings, their claims might not be overlooked. NA VIGATION-LAW S. Lord STANLEY said that he carefully considered the proposed Bill for the repeal of the navigation laws, for the purpose of seeing what altera tions he could c , _ , nsent to in those laws, but he found that the Bill was founded upon a principle to which he could not consent, and, therefore, he should propose such amendments as would alter the whole character and principle of the Bill ; he should propose that all the words aster the ‘vord " That" should be omitted, and that certain words carrying out his views should be introduced instead of the words at present in the Bill, lie proposed to maintain the principle of not granting a British registry to a foreign ship, to maintain the coasting trade for British vessels, and to uphold the principle of the existing navigation-laws with some few exceptions. Earl GREY hoped the Noble Lord's amendments would distinctly set forth what was the state of the law which he wished maintained. After a few words from the Marqnis of LANSDOWNE and Lord STANLEY the subject dropped. The Bishop of OXFORD gave notice that he should propose an amendment on Monday in the Committee on the Navigation Laws. DEBTS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The Earl of EGLINTON introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to the recovery of debts in Scotland. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a peti tion from some individual praying for an amendment of the law of entail in Ireland. LAND IMPROVEMENT AND DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the first reading of this Bill, which had been brought up from the Commons, and gave notice that on its second read ing, which he fixed for Monday, he should move that the standing orders be suspended. The Bill was one to which he attached the greatest importance. It made advances to the landed proprietors for local works, and insured repayment of the advances so made. Hitherto the repayment of the advances made had not been at tended with any difficulty. There was still a wide scope for arterial drainage in Ireland, independently of the ne cessity which existed for completing the works which had been already begun, lest by being left unfinished they should prove more injurious than beneficial. The Bill was then read a first time, and it was re solved that the standing ordera should be suspended as to the future stages of this Bill. RATE-IN-AID. On the motion for the third reading of this Bill, Earl GLENGALL said as there bad been a full dis cussion on that measure before, he did not intend to trespass on their Lordships' time at any great length. He certainly objected to the measure, because he did not think that 330,0001. could be raised in Ireland, conditioned as she was at present, by this sixpenny rate-in-aid, for the 13,000,000/. that have been generally represented as the rental of Ireland, does not amount to more than 9,000,0001., and consequently it was impossible that the 330,000/.!could be collected from that income. It should be known to their Lordships that this was not the only measure touching the rating system in Ireland, for there was another proposed by the Government in another place, which would place the majority of unions in Ire land under an additional shilling rate. He considered that this latter Bill should be a part of the former measure, that is, of the rate-in-aid. He felt assured that 330,0001. would not answer to meet the distress of the 21 or 23 bankrupt unions in Ireland, for it the distress and famine that prevailed in the three past years were to occur in 1349 he felt assured that thirteen of those unions would not only swallow up all the money callected last year fur the relief of the dis tress, but would after a short time require more. He warned the Government against the general feeling pre vailing in Ulster against this measure, and apprehended that it was a dangerous measure, and might tend to the separation of the two countries. The people of Ulster had strong grounds fur complaint, because they were not able to meet such an exorbitant tax, for instead of the 4s. or 6s. that had been stated to have been the maximum of the rate, he was authentically informed by a Noble Friend of his that in some unions it amounted to ss. 9d., and in many other unions to Os. in the pound. He should also remark that there were many unions represented as solvent in the county Cork which were rated at from 9s. to 10s. and 1 ls. per pound, and that these unions were not able to meet such a heavy tax, and he therefore contended that, on the authority ot gentlemen whose opinions should be valued by their Lordships, the people of Ireland, after three years' famine, could not and would not contribute this tax for the support of their poor. He thought it very curious for Govern ment to propose to perform three miracles in the condi tion of Ireland, which miracles he felt assured would break down. The first was the supposition that this rate in aid would support the twenty-three bankrupt unions, which he felt assured would not be the case.— (Hear, hear.) The second miracle was the advances of certain sums for the relief of Irish distress out of the Consolidated Fund, must be repaid through this mea sure. This too, he did not think could be done. The most extraordinary in his opinion was, that the sums collected through this Bill, as shown by one of its clauses, was, that a part of it should go to aiding and assisting emigration, for the purpose of remedying the evils arising from a superabundant population. He, for his part, had no objection to any measure that would re lieve distress and assist emigration; but some other means should be derived, for he look upon this Bill as a perfect fallacy. He, therefore, wished that the Irish Members would press more strongly on the Government, and induce them to alter their unsound and prejudicial opinions on the subject, and introduce some other mea sure, for he considered as there existed a political union between the two countries, so should there be also a fiscal union. The condition of the Irish landed proprie tors should be also consulted, for most of them have not received their rents for the last three years, in conse quence of their tenants pocketing the price of their produce and emigrating to America, which is now well known to be a very prevalent system in Ireland. Nor did he wonder that the Irish farmers should emigrate to America, as they do not now get half the price for their corn that they formerly got. When Sir Robert Peel introduced the repeal of the corn-laws, he Sir Robert Peel) said that his greatest apprehension of that mea sure would place Ireland in a dilemma, and words more true he (Earl Gengall) believed that the Right Honourable Baronet never spoke. He thought, considering the loss of the export trade in Ireland, that the Government had taken a most extraordinary view of the state of that country, particularly when the Poor-law Commissioners represented that the country was overtaxed. He certainly made some allow ance for the Government respecting this measure, be cause he knew that they were severely pressed by the Manchester school to desist from giving any more grants to Ireland; but the gentlemen of that school should have considered that Ireland had been at all times pre, viously to the last three years of famine an invaluable market for the sale of English manufactures, for every article of iron, from the steam engine to the nail, was brought to that country from England. It was owing to the British legislature that that country was without her own manufactories. For from the deys of Oliver Cromwell to the year 1782 there w as a heavy prohibition imposed on the manufacturing trade of Ireland. From the time of their setting foot in Ireland to the reign of Henry the Second, down to the reign ot William the Third, their aim had been to invaee unscrupulously the rights and privileges of the middle classes ot that country, and to confiscate property without discrimination ; and now they were going to root out the body of the landed aris tocracy by throwing their lands into the hands of trium virs. Instead of excusing this spoliation, and driving from Ireland the 8,000 Anglo-Norman proprieters, they ought to know those men were their mainstay and the chief supporters of the Irish Protestant Church, and that they could not enforce this system of legislation against them without endangering their establishment in that couutry, not to eay am full sway of their authority,—. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1849 , (Hear, hear.) These were momentous considerations, and they were the more deserving of attention, since he believed that the line of policy which gave rise to them was not that which Ireland required, or which was suited to her in her present condition. He thought that a ju dicious system of emigration, and a better management of the Irish fisheries, something similar to that which prevailed in the Scotch fisheries, would be far more likely to bring about a better state of things in Ireland than the system upon which they now based their mea sures. The Noble Earl concluded by moving as an amendment, that the Bill be read a third time.that day three months. Lord CREMORNE supported the Bill, and said that although the Noble Earl who had just addressed their Lordships had disapproved very strongly of the measure under discussion, he had not ventured to propose a sub stitute for it, as be thought he was bound to do, for there were only two alternatives before them, ho apprehended, either they must pass this Bill, or allow thousands of their countrymen to perish before the harvest. The rate in aid had this advantage, that it could be easily col lected and estimated, but how could they estimate either the amount of an income-tax or the inconvenience of col lecting it? Besides, he thought it would be but a poor satisfaction to a landowner to know that money paid by him, and intended to be applied to the relief of the poor, should go directly into the pockets of the tax-collector. For those reasons, he could not thing of adopting the view of the Noble Earl opposite, and considering the urgency of the distress, he was quite disposed to hasten the progress of the Bill.—(Hear.) Earl DESART said he could not agree with the pro position broached by his Noble Friend opposite, who had just addressed the House, that in case any one of their Lordships thought the measure before him objec tionable, it was his duty to provide a substitute. He confessed, for one, that this was a measure which was by no means calculated to strike the mind as being fitted to the present circumstances of Ireland. Their Lord ships, he thought, should be unanimous in rejecting it. It was a temporary relief instead of a permanent remedy for evils which went on continually increasing. After three years of unexampled famine, and after all the legislation they had been engaged in, whilst endeavour ing to provide a remedy for deeply-rooted mischief, they were called upon to pass another inadequate temporary measure, to meet a distress which was, if possible, greater than at first.—(Hear, hear.) But that was not all; the Bill they were to pass proceeded upon prin ciples acknowledged by many to be utterly fallacious— it made the areas of taxation larger, and proclaimed to the people that they must pay for poverty, over the amount of which they had not the slightest control. Feeling thus upon the question, he believed it to be his duty to vote against the motion. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said that, after hear ing the evidence of a large number of witnesses, all of whom stated that in their opinion this measure would not be productive of benefit--having had no evidence offered on the other hand to support the contrary view of the question, it was with utter astonishment that be found the Government persisting in pushing forward a measure diametrically opposed to experience so acquired. The newspaper press of Ireland had been unanimous in condemning this line of conduct, and he challenged them to produce a precedent in this country or elsewhere, which could afford them the slightest justification. He had searched for them, and had found two instances of a similar policy adopted abroad, which had occasioned a complete failure of the object in view. The Paeha of Egypt imposed a land tax on the whole country, with the exception of a certain district, which he intended to benefit. The consequence was, that not only did he fail in relieving the poor district, but he actually impo verished the rest of his dominions.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The other instance was the levy of a heavy tax by the East India Company on a large tract of their terrieory. It was soon found that the occupiers of a certain district of this land _were unable to pay the tax, and the company compelled the other psrt to make good the deficiency. The same result followed, and this was exactly what they wished to do in Ireland. Money had become so scarce in Ireland that a " sovereign" was scarcely now to be seen in that country—(Laughter) — and even silver had disappeared to a great extent in it, so that there was not enough of currsucy to meet the wants of the people. How, then, was the rate in aid to be paid? The money was not there, and the rate payers, therefore, had not the means wherewith to meet the demands that would be made upon them. This want of money had put a stop to all employment, to all la bour; the lands were lying waste, and credit was gone. The progress of this state of things would leave but two classes in the country—namely, a very few landlords, and a great multitude of paupers. As to the rate in aid, it was too childish to be spoken of, unless in the ridicule of Punch, and he predicted that it would prove an utter—an entire failure. Lord STUART DE DECIES said, the question was, were the poor to be allowed to starve or not? The op ponents of the measure now before their Lordships had net shown that they had anything better to propose, and, therefore, having nothing better to propose, he thought the House were bound to support the measure proposed by her Majesty's Ministers.—(Hear, hear.) Some per. sons had spoken of the substitution of an income-tax; but he thought they required a more convenient season to consider such a measure as that, in relation to the prevailing distress; and he contended that the measure now under their Lordships' consideration was calculated to impose a far lighter burden upon the resources of the rate-payers in Ireland than an income-tax, which was advocated by a Noble Earl of their Lordships' House (the Earl, of Wicklow). It had been said, it this Bill should be thrown out, that it would cause the mortality of many thousaLds week after week. In that statement he entirely agreed; and he, for one, would not be a party to any such tearful responsibility.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of WICKLOW assured their Lordships that be had never proposed to substitute an in come-tax for a rate in aid; but what he did propose, and what he did say was, that this most dangerous experi ment—this rate in aid—if they were to have a rate in aid at all, should be paid out of the combined revenues of the Iluited Kingdom. They should not impose an income-tax for the benefit of the Irish poor alone, but if any persons in the United Kingdom should stand in need of the relief, then should a rate in aid be levied for their joint aid out of the revenues of the United King dom, and if such an impost were levied, it was quite clear that the Minister by whom it might be proposed, would not have the power to renew it, when the two years for which it might be proposed would expire. Suppose they had a Cobden for a Prime Minister, and a " Lord Roebuck " for a Finance Minister or Home Secretary—(Laughter)—suppose they had any such po pular Ministers in power—(Renewed laughter)—what guarantee had:they that they would not, at the end of the two years, propose that the rate in aid be renewed ? He thought, then, that for her Majesty's present Minis ters to say that the rate in aid would not be renewed at the end of two years was illusory, and he must, on all considerations, oppose the measure. Lord DE BOS opposed the Bill, and recommended Ministers to be cautious how they excited the anger and opposition of the inhabitants of the north of Ireland. The Earl of CARLISLE said, that after the length ,ned statement which through the indulgence of the House he had very recently made upon the subject now under the consideration of their Lordships—atter hav ing within so short a time brought fully under their no tice the grounds upon which the Queen's Government thought it their duty to urge the adoption of the present measure, he felt it would not now be necessary for him to occupy much of their time or attention. He felt that the proposition to which he now asked their assent rested upon a basis so simple that now, at its lest stage, very few observations from him would suffice v.) recommend this most indispensable measure to their Lordships' ac ceptance; and most especially he had no wish to detain them with any observations as to the immediate and pressing necessity for coming to a decision on the merits of the Bill. With respect to some of the objections urged against the Bill, founded upon the absolute necessity of its being ac companied by other measures, he must be al lowed to say that his Noble Friend the President of the Council distinctly stated his belief that the Bill now before them was only preliminary to other mea sures of a more extensive and searching character; it being the clear understanding that the duration and ope ration of the measure were to be strictly limited to the period assigned in the Bill. It had been hinted at that his Noble Friend the President of the Council was not destined much longer to be a member of that Govern ment to which his presence now imparted both strength and ornament; but he trusted their Lordships would remember, in connexion with that hint to his Noble Friend, that a similar announcement respecting the du ration of the measure had been made elsewhere by his Noble Friend at the head of the Government, no longer ago than last night. But then the terrible prospect had been held out to them of a total change in the Adminis tration of the country; and there had been shadowed out for their edification the sort of persons who might , become their successors in the event of that change tak ing place which the Noble Lord believed to be within the range of possibility. He should not now stop to discuss the probabilities of such events or the consequences even of such an awful certainty—(Hear , hear)—but he would rather remind the House that it might be all very well for Members of that House and of the other to say that her Majesty's Government ought to go on further, as now, in issuing sums of money for the relief of pau perism in Ireland without the consent of Parliament. It might be very well for people to say that the scruples which he and his colleagues entertained upon the subj ect of issuing money without the consent of Parliament were mere constitutional twaddle. His colleagues in the House of Commons had already said enough to render it unnecessary for him to do more than to repeat his former declaration of opinion. that it would be incon sistent with the duty which the responsible advisers of the Crown owed to the country if they were to have ad vanced money under any other than a full understanding that the Bill now before the House was, with the least possible delay, to become the law of the land; and now, until it should become law, he did not think that the Go vernment could safely proceed a single step in the ad vances necessary for the poor of Ireland. FOr himself, he must be permitted to say, that although he should not consciously abandon a large number of his fellow-coun trymen to all the horrors of starvation, he did not see his way very clearly if the Bill now before their Lord ships were to be rejected. They all that evening heard the proposition made by a Noble Lord near him for the inipoiition of a property-tax—that proposition, as they could not fail to remember, was not to be the establishment of a rate on income for the relief of the poor, but the creation of an impost for the purpose of equalising the taxation of ttto two countries, and that thenceforward the provision tor the 1ri.,11 poor was to be derived from the Imperial Exchequer. Now, even ad mitting that all objections to the imposition of an in come-te.e in Ireland under present circumstances could be got ciesr, he would put it to the House to s a y whe ther, while they were engaged with 50 many m easures deeply affecting the interests of Ireland —the pour- law fur example, and the trans.er of larxed property— whether, when the other House of Parliament were coluiderin $llO ig i portatit subject of rho tome of land in that country, and found it scarcely possible to arrive at a satisfactory solution of that, he would ask them whether it would be wise to throw in such a bone of contention as now to propose for the first time the imposition of an income-tax in Ireland?—(Hear, hear.) As to coming to a decision now on the question whether or not the measure before the House would be sufficient to meet and counteract the distress of the Irish people, he had only to say that such a result must de pend upon a great variety of circumstances—upon the potato harvest, for instance, and other means of supply ing food for the use of the people, and the efficacy of the Bill in preventing disease and diminishing the rate of mortality. The framers and promoters of the measure did not expect that by means of it any miraculous agency could be brought into operation, and he should feel no sarprise even though all its probable results shoul fail to be realised. They produced the best measure that, under the circumstances, they could hope to carry, or hope, when enacted, to bring into beneficial operation. In that hope they proposed the Bill, and they pro• ceeded with it, earnestly desiring not to shut the doer against what appeared to them the only method of relief. A Noble Lord had spoken to them that evening of famine in Egypt more recent than the times of the Pharoahs, when two districts of that country gave assistance to a third; but if the doctrine had then been carried out which the opponents of the Bill now demanded, the whole of the Ottoman empire would have been taxed for the relief of that single Egyptian province, because Egypt was held to be an integral portion of the Turkish dominions. In the midst of all the debates that they had heard upon the subject of the poor-law generally, and on the subject of out-door relief,—in the midst of the imputations cast sometime upon landlords, sometimes upon priests, and doubtless at different times they all fell into many and great blunders; but in the present case, at least, there could be no doubt that every effort of legislation and Government seemed almost powerless— that the events taking place in Ireland seemed to de pend upon a higher agency and a more powerful con trol than that of man. As in " the tale of Troy divine," where the delineation of events, supposed to be superna tural, and related under the irfluence of a false religion, gave no imperfect picture of that which, under the in flnence of a true faith, men might impute even now to the immediate interference of an overruling Providence, so he might be permitted to say— " Non tibi Tyndaridis tacies invisa Laceenx, " Culpatusve Paris ; he used the reading of Dr. Bentley, almost as much in spired as the original— " Div um, inclementia " Has overtit opus, steraitque a culmine Trojam." It was not in the quality of the Irish soil, neither did it arise merely from the measures of legislation applied to that part of the United Kingdom, that the present dis tress and suffering arose. Doing full credit to the exer tions made by the landed proprietors of Ireland and by the other inhabitants of that country not actually reduced to pauperism, he at the same time could not avoid bring ing to remembrance the fact that 10,000,000/. had been granted by Parliament for the relict of the Irish ; that 1,500,000/. had been contributed by private benevolence, besides large sums obtained from British colonies and other dependencies of the Crown of England, and even from foreign countries beyond the pale of Christianity. Under such circumstances, he could not help asking whether it ought to be a source of ill-will and hostility that the more favoured districts of Ireland should now be called upon to pay ed. in the pound for the relief of those parts of the country in which the suffering was most intense, the more eepecially when such contribu tion would not amount to above half a million in the course of two years; and when the purpose of it was to rescue their fellow•countr) men from famine, surely it was not too much to expect that the more favoured por tions would give their aid and sympathy to other and less fortunate districtse—(Hear, hear.) Earl Fl'l Z WILLIAM observed that his Noble Friend, at least for the present, objected to the proposition of an income-tax, but chose rather to impose a burden on the paverty than the property of Ireland. If' the Noble Lord did cot know the fact, others well knew, that amongst the ratepayers were many exceedingly poor men, so humble as to be on the very verge of requiring relief themselves. From such persons it was expected, by means of the Bill now before them, to exact a sum of 320,0001. It was unhappily the case that at the pre sent moment hundreds and thousands of persons were perishing in Ireland, notwithstanding the poor-law, and he feared they would continue to perish, not withstanding the rate-in-aid. The effect of the Bill would be to reduce all the unions of Ireland to one common level. He would not say whether the rate would be Is. or 203. in the pound, bat, whatever might be the general rate necessary for maintaining the pauperism of Ireland, the effect of this Bill would be to bring all the unions to the same rate of payment. It was held out that the effect of this measure must be to throw all the unions of Ireland under the administration of vice-guar dians. Now he would admit that the substitution of vice guardians for ex officio and unpaid guardians had been in some cases beneficial, but at the same time he was of opinion that it would be a great misfortune to the ad• ministration of the poor-law if every portion of that ad ministration were thrown into the hands of paid guar dians. In the first place, it was in principle a very unconstitutional thing that two gentlemen not connected with the country should be sent down from Dublin by the Poor-law Commissioners to determine the amount of rate, and distrain upon the persons who did not pay it. That was as unconstitutional a thing upon a small scale as to send over money without or contrary to the will of Parliament. They had heard of taxation and represen. tation going together; but what was the history of the present Bill? Where was the representation? Out of 105 representatives of the Commons of Ireland in the Imperial Parliament, no less than SO voted against this Bill. The measure was, therefore, one of taxation with out representation. But their Lordships were told they must either have this Bill or starvation in Ireland. There would be, unhappily, starvation in Ireland it' this Bill should pass, but he supposed it would be said there would be more starvation if this Bill should be rejected. In Committee on the Irish Poor-law he had moved a resolution that it would be better to impose a property tax than a rate in aid, end a mnjority of the Committee voted for that resolution. Where two modes were sug gested for the purpose of relieving the distress, the odium of opposing the second alternative was much greater than that of opposing the first. Now, he op posed this Bill because there was another alternative, and some other alternative he should feel bound to sup port if the present Bill was thrown out. He had always been favourable to the imposition of a property tax, but if the House had thrown out the proposal of a property-tax then it would become a very different question whether, under these circumstances, their Lord ships would be justified in opposing the rate in aid. But now there was another alternative, and if the House re jected the present Bill, he and Noble Lords who thought with him would be prepared to support that other alter native, to which he believed very little opposition would be made. If the Government withdrew the present Bill a substitute would easily be found in a week which none of their Lordships would feel themselves justified in opposing. Ineir Lordships then divided, when there appeared;— For the third reading 37 Against it Majority for the third reading 8 Proxies were not called. The Bill was then read a third time. LEASEHOLD TENURE OF LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion to go into Committee on this Bill. Lord BEAL - MONT objected to the Bill that it made lossno p o r o f v t i h s e reversion. i o wher to remunerate the owner for the atev Aster a few words from the Earl of MOUNT CASHELL, Lord MON TEAGLE suggested that if a party had forfeited his privilege of perpetual renewal by any breach of covenant, he ought not to be placed in the same position under this Bill as if he had retained this privilege. The courts of equity bad in one or two cases decided that parties claiming under a lease of perpetual renewal had forfeited their right in consequence of com mitting waste, and such leases ought not to be placed in the same position as if they had performed their cove nants and agreements with the lessor. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the point sug gested by the Noble Lord had been provided for by the Bill, which declared that no owner should be required to execute a grant where the right of renewal was lost both at law and equity. This would provide for the event of a party being a lessee who, having a right to p er p etual renewal under his covenant, had forfeite d it, because such persons would not be entitled to demand the benefits of the Bill. The object of the Bill was to convert what was a payment inconvenient to all parties into a per manent and regular rent - charge , which would be conve nient to all parties, while it inflict ed in j ustice upon none. The Bill then went through Committee. And their Lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 18. The Speaker took the Chair a few minutes before Four o'clock. LORDS' AMENDMENTS. The Lords' amendments to the North-Western Rail way (Extension of Lancaster Branch, Abandonment of Williain Lands Branch, New Road to Settle Station, Extension of Time for Purchase of Lands and Construe• tion of Works) Bill were considered and agreed to. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed : Black Sluice Drainage Acts Amendment (Amendment of Acts, Extension of Time for Completion of Works, Powers to levy Rates raise further and Rate for other and Pur onies, to alter existing and poses) Bill. Charing-cross Bridge (Amendments of Acts, Powers to alter authorised Approaches, c.) Bill. Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, and Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway Amalgamation Mi.'," York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway (Barmoor and Alnmoutla New Branches, t&c.) Bill. PETITIONS. Mr. BROTHERT inst ON presented w several petitioeer bons f r om York hir e aga granting ne licences to shops. Air. MUNTZ presented a petition, .agreed to at a public meeting at Birminglwrn, praying tor univertal suffi age, vote by ballot,. I:tayment ot Members, annual Pa; lie ments, electoral divisions, and a boli Lien of property q ualifications. Mr. ANDERSON presented a petition, signed by 10.000 inhabitants of Kirkwall against the Rcgistration of Marriages, Scc. (Sc!)tland) Bill; also a petition com plaining of the operation ot the Scotch poor-law, 51r. PAGAN presented a petition from the Cork Union aßg p .a r H a i n y .i i t rig tis,h, f i? o r l), s ai o sr .p e t nr a ee m sne id- Sir GLYN presented a tnses for beer shops. ri e ' l a nt r ed y d,m o eaß a t tp h oe s tf ißtti the o l pi?l. ru; 4171alid petition against granting ad ditional bet si r J. ID )PE presented a petition against the Scotch Marriage Bill. 11°D58°}1 presented a Petiao from railway ' proprietors residing in Carlisle, complaining of the pre sent mode of assessing railways for the poor and church rates. Mr. B. DENISON presented a petition from the West Riding, complaining of the po.vers granted to county courts; also one against the extension of beer shops. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented two petitions from Lincolnshire; one against the alteration of Parliamentary oaths, and the other in favour of international arbitration. Captain BERKELEY presented a petition from Gloucester, praying for the abolition of capital punish ment. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from the copy holders of Edenborough, in Cumberland, praying that the Bill for the compulsory enfranchisement of copyhuld land might pass into a law. GROUP XIX. Mr. WRIGHTSON moved that Mr. Parker, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Frewen, and Mr. Brisco be allow,‘ld to vote in the C o mmittee on Group 19 of Opposed Priva te ßills provided they deliver in the prescribed forms of de claration. N 3 sO agreed lfll ROAD BILL. , OAD BILL. The motion, after a f ew observation from Mr. WIL SON PATTNEENW, Iv Mr. J. B. SMITH moved that the petition of inhabi tants, householders, and owners of property in the New North Road, Hoxton, and its vicinity, against the New North Road (Continuation Act) Bill, (deposited in the Private Bill-office on the 15th in s ta n t), b e re f er r e d to the Committee on the Bill; and that it be an instruction to the Committee to entertain the sam e , no t w i t h s t an di ng it was not deposited in the Private Bill-offiße within seven clear days after the second reading of the Bill, by reason of the illness of Mr. Hume, the Member to whom it was intrusted. —Agreed to. Mr. C. BRUCE begged to give notice that when the House went into Committee on the Bill for the Regis tration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for Scotland, he would move an amendment to clause 37. ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.-THREAT ENED EXCLUSION OF STRANGERS FROM THE HOUSE. , Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said he rose to call the attention of the House to a breach of its privi leges, which was connected with the last discussion in the House on the Parliamentary Oaths Bill. In consequence of his having seen in the Times newspaper an infringement of the rules of the House—(Oh, oh) — in a report of the last discussion on the Bill which he had mentioned, in which report not only were the rules of the H ouse v i o l ate d, b u t the oaths taken by Catholic Members were entirely omitted from that re port, whilst other oaths were given. He should when the House went into Cornmitte on the Parliamentary Oaths Bill to-night, notice whether strangers were present or not, and if he should ascertain that fact, he should draw the attention of the House to it.—(" Oh, ob," and laughter.) SENDING CONVICTS TO THE COLONIES. Sir W. MOLESWORTH said he wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to send any more convicts to Van Diemen's Land; secondly, whether there was any dispatch from the Governor of Van Diemen'a Land as to whether or no there was any more room for convicts in that island? Mr. HAWES said in answer to that question he could give no pledge that the Government would ceio,e, to send convicts to Van Diemeti's Land. With regard to any dispatch from the Governor of that colony as to whether ther e was an y mo r e room firconvicts in that colony, he begged to state that no such dispatch had been received o n w hi c h any interpretation of the kind could be put. ARBITRATION CLAUSE IN TREATIES. Sir R. PEEL rresen►ted a petition from the congrega tion of the Unitarian chapel at Tamwortn, praying for the imertiou of au arbitration clause in international treaties. O'Brien, be entered as read, proceeded to move that Mr. Smith O'Brien, who had been convicted of high treason, should be expelled Cie House. The Noble Lord, in making the motion, said that the course he in tended to pursue he believed to be without precedent, but although it was so, the crime of which the individual had been convicted was of such a nature as totally to in capacitate him from holding a s: at in that House. The precedents he had been able to find upon the subject had no reference whatever to the present ca,o. Th se precedents were of two kinds. The first was with respect to high treason. The first case on vie sub • ject was on the 10th of May, 1715. In that case Mr. Foster, a Member cf that House, having been taken on a wilt of rebellion for high treason was expylied the House, and in another case, on the 22d of June, 1716, the Ilouse being informed that J. Carnegie, Esq., a Member of the House, had been in open rebellion in Scotland, wiqlesses were called to the bar who proved the fact, and he was expelled the House, and a new writ was issued. The other cases he had discovered were cases with regard to which there might be some doubt as to the nature of the otnnce, but they were cases of perjury, conspiracy, and various offences in the nature of nostlena anour, in which there might be a doubt whether they were of the nature to require that the House should proceed to the severe penalty of expulsion. The present case of Mr. Smith O'Brien was one, as regarded the House, totally without precedent, and was not similar to the caae of Members with respect to whom a similar proceeding had ben taken to the one he was now about to adopt. When it was said that he was in arms against her Majesty, the House did not take any notice of the fact, but waited till the conclusion of the proceedings against him. Mr. Smith O'Brien being convicted of high treason in Ireland. brought a writ of error against that conviction in the House of Lords, and that House having sustained that conviction and affirmed the decision of the courts in Ireland, it became necessary that he should make the present motipn for Mr. O'Brien's ex pulsion from that House. It was unnecessary that he should say one word on the nature of the offence, because nothing could be more complete than the conviction and the judgment. With re gard to the consequences following on such an offence, he need only observe that it was an offence totally unlike the misdemeanours he had re ferred to, it was high treason, and all writers declar©d that it was the law of Parliament that all persons guilty of it were unable to sit in that House. The consequence was, therefore, that Mr. Smith O'Brien having been convicted of high treason, he was civilly dead, and could not be elected, nor hold a seat in that House; but he believed it was not prudent to establish a prece dent in modern time of expelling a Member. He had, therefore, consulted with the Speaker and other authorities as to the course to be taken in the case, and he had come to the resolution of moving the two follow ing resolutions: —" Whereas it appears by the records of this House that Mr. Smith O'Brien has been convicted of high treason;" and when that resolution was agreed to, he should proceed to move--" That a new writ be issued for election of a knight of the shire for the county of Limerick, in the room of Mr. William Smith O'Brien, who had been convicted of high treason." The Noble Lord then moved the first resolution. Sir FREDERICK THESIGER suggested that the word "convicted" had better be altered to " a•tainted," as attainder did not follow conviction, but judgment. Mr. Smith O'Brien would not be civilly dead until judgment had been passed upon him. Thi, ATTORNEY GENERAL thought the proper words would be " adjudged guilty of high treason," and, The resolution having been so altered, it was put from the chair, and agreed tu. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the Speaker do issue his warrant to the Cli•rk of the Crown to issue a new writ for the ertunty of Limerick, in the room of William Smith O'Brien. Mr. F. O'CONNOIt said that, alter seeing the reso lution as it originAy stood, it was his intention to move as an amendment that an huu.ble Ldiress be presented to her Majesty, praying that she would be gracibu ly pleased to extend a tree pardon to \%illiam Smi h O'Brien.—(ol), oh.) He hail n ,, t intended to introduce that amendment by an inflammatory speech; but having ascertained that the relatives of Air. Smith O'Brien wished that his case should remain in the hands of her Majesty's Ministers, he thought it would be exceedingly improper for any individual Member of the lieu ie to take up the subject, and he would, therefore, not move his amendment.—(Hear, hear.) The resolution was then agreed to. PRIVILEGE—STRANGERS EXCLUDED. PARLIAMENTARY OATHS BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. On clause 1 being proposed, Mr. J. O'CON N ELL rose, and pointing to the reporters' gallery, said, " Sir, I observe strangers present." Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and they did so accordingly, reporters of course amongst them. During our exclusion (about half past seven) the mes senger connected with the gallery handed to us the fol lowing statement of a division which had taken place:— Question put on clause 1, line 3, that the words " and that I do not believe," stacd part of the clause. The Committee divided— Ayes Noes ... 62 .. 164 Majority ...-102 At ten minutes past eight o'clock the gallery was re opened. On our re-admission we found Mr. BERN AL putting an amendment, on which Mr. LAW observed that the greater portion of the Bill having been discussed in the absence of the public, the remainder might have been equally well considered under similar circumstances. He should move on the third reading to exclude the Jews from the operation of the Bill. Clause 5 was then agreed to, with amendments. On clause 6, providing that the Act should not extend to Roman Catholics, or affect the 10th George IV., c. 7 (the Roman Catholic Relict Act), Mr. M'CULLAGH moved the omission of the clause. Having reviewed the relaxations introduced from time to time in the Roman Catholic disabilities, he urged the House to put an end to the anomalous state of matters under which the same oath was alleged to be taken in different senses by different Roman Catholic Members. It was not the Roman Catholic, but the Protestant Members, who complained that Parliament imposed on the Roman Catholic Members an ambiguous, abortive, and obscure test. Mr. FACiAN complained of the advantage which was frequently taken of the oath to taunt and insult Catholic Members. He himself was insult'-d by the imputation that he was acting in violation of his oath when he re cently brought forward a motion respecting ministers' money in Ireland. Ile would not do anything tending to subvert the Protestant Establishment, but there was nothing in the oath which he had taken to prevent him from endeavouring. to make that Establishment more useful. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said, that he had not had the good fortune to be present when his Hon. Friend pro posed the amendment, but he approved of izs object. For his own part, he telt not the sliAhtest uneasiness as to the opinion which any one might limn with respect to his construction of the oath. lie had examined the cath attentively, and he was sati,fied that it did not restrict him from voting upon measures aiketing the property of the Church. It any taunts should be directed against him from any cnurse he might teke in thit House he would deal with them in a very summary manner. If uny person accused him of being guilty of perjury, he would accuse that person of not speaking the truth, and he would do so in the most comp.ndious torm of words. He swore not to disturb or weaken the Protestant reit gion; but money was not religion. Those only who held that money and religion were convertible t , rrus could accuse him of disregarding the oath which he had taken. Again he declared that he would act upon his conscientious convictions, and was prepared to abide the result. Mr. NEWDEGATE ggMemberesstotistrangers arnTnagboa leffme.for shrws c peL o ohe m ra,, tmde p hoh l e, nbaer been t n em:id e r:t de: ordered rov Lit ueertrrbe t ,e h diaedi etnibtcLyceoooaout consequence sdy course gap light ekgtni withdrawto e hel n deet upon by° tththee . the ekvieo s nn- u i s o ll f o w n. h M ich em th b e er ad f m. head of the Government, and other distinguished Mem bers of the House, had not been reported.—(Hear, hear.) Now the Hon. Gentleman got up and gave a falsified and one-sided resume of the arguments which had been em ployed in the unreported debate. Mr. J. O'CONNELL indignantly repel:ed the im• putation. Mr. NEWDEGATE said that the Hon. Gentleman had, at least, given a one-sided version of the argu ments. It would appear that the Hon. Member's object in excluding the reporters was to have the advantage of renewing the debate under circumstances favourable to himself.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY expressed the great regret he felt at the exclusion of reporters, a circumstance which had never occurred but once before in the course of the twelve years during which he had sat in Parliament. The circumstance to which he had referred was the more to be regretted, because the de bate had been most interesting and instructive. Mr. V. SMITH approved of the amendment. The painful position in which Roman Catholic Members felt themselves placed at present would be aggravated if the words which the Bill struck out of the Protestant oath should be retained in the Catholic one. Would it not appear to be something like au imputation of bad faith to Catholics to call upon them exclusively to swear that they took the oath required from thorn without any equivocation or mental reservation ? During the ab sence of those gentlemen who did the public the valu able service of communicating to it what passed in that House, the Hon. Member for Limerick complained that a speech of a Catholic Member had been compressed into five lines, whilst that of a Protestant Secretary of State had been expanded into thirty. As regarded oaths, however, the case was reversed, for the Catholic would have to swear to thirty lines, whilst the Protestant would be limited to five.—(A laugh) Whether the lion. Member fur Limerick would deem that a com pensation for the grievance to which he bad adverted, it was hard to ray, but he (Mr. V. Smith). being in favour etunifo o r v m d. ity, would support the amendment which had been m Mr. SPOONER deprecated the attempt to reperl the Catholic oath, which was held to be ono of the sale gu .rds of the constitution. Lord J. RUSSELL was ; :.lad to find that we had a constitution Jell. He hail always understood that the constitution was utterly destrol:ed and gone when the Act for the Emancipation of the Catholics passed in 182.9.—(" Hear," and laughter.) Now, however, it ap peared that the constitution vial still extant, and that the Catholic oath was Fart of it. He rid not feel h:mnelt called upon to support the amendment, because the oa• jest of the Bill was to remove obstacles which prevent , d the entrance of parties into Parliament. The Catholics had alreirly seats in Parliament. lan WOOD said that political and religious maker!, ations would induce him to vote for the amendment. As regarded the political view of the question, it was absurd and improper to shackle a Member of Parliament in his legislative capacity, and it was untvi se as regarded the in terests of Ireland to maintain distinctions between Catho lics and Protestants. As to retaining the oath upon religious grounds, let no one suppose that our Church depended upon such rubbish as this.—(Hear, hear.) The time was past for these vain reliance.,; the Church was to be protected by its purity, by the tlnion of its members, by the real earnest devotion of thos e who believed it the most pure and reformed part of Christ's Church.—(Hear, hear.) Let any one compare the Church of England now with what it was thirty years ago, and say whether it was not tar more energetic and act ive than when there were those barricades to protect it.- -(Hear, hear.) Colonel SIR CHORP could hardly believe that he heard aright when he listened to a Chancery barrister, the representative of the city of tOxford—( A laugh)— designating an oath, an appeal to the Almighty, as “rubbish."—(Hear, hear.) Mr. WOOD could hardly have tit ought he was under stood to mean anything more tht in that to rely upon this particular form of oath was rei! ing upon rubbish. Mr. P. HOWARD would wish ho see one oath adopted for all, nut could not shut his eyes to the pr.bable eiVot of this motion upon the success of' the Bill in wother place, if not in that flous-.—(Hoar, hear.) Wishing. now not to put forward the quesitlion involved in this motion, but to remove the greater vievance of his neigh:- bour, he should abstain from voting, fearing to endanger I the Bill. Mr. WYLD protested against the introduction upon this occasion of the question inieolved in the motion. This was a most inopportune moment for it. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the clause ... 103 Against it ... Majority -49 The Bill having been gone thr.ough, the Howe re sumed; the report to be received on Monday, and the third reading then fixed for Monday, June 11th. NOTICE OF MOTION.—EXCLUSION OF STRANGERS. Colonel THOMPSON gave notice that he should, on an early day, move " That this House take into its consideration the standing order by which strangers are excluded on the motion of a single Member, with a view to the alteration of the same." The Defects in Leases Bill went through Committee pro forma to receive amendments. The House adjourned at a Qu sorter before Ten o'clock. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. SENTENCES. The following is a list of the sentences passed during the late sittings of this Court:— TRANSPORTATION. FOURTEEN YEARS.—James itcbertson. TEN YEARS.—John Draddy, James Chitty, George Jones, Edward Bishop, Jerry Sullivan, George Rivers, William Gear, George Johnson, Stephen Kenfield, James Johnson, alias Savage. SEVEN YEARS.—Charles M'Clarens, William Middle • ton, Thomas Haley, alias Healey, James Hayes, alias Carty. William Edwin Bszley, George Douglas, Timo leon Vlasto, Hannah Barrett, John Clark. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the House at its rising do adjourn till Monday next. WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS. _ _ _ Mr. HORSMAN asked the Noble Lord when the House would adjourn fur the Whitsuntide holidays? Lord J. RUSSELL said on Friday next he would move that the House at its rising adjourn till the Thurs day following. SICILIAN AFFAIRS. Mr. BANKES rose to esk the Noble Lord at the head of the Government a question, in the absence of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. That last named Noble Lord having stated on a pre. vious occasion that Great Britain did recognise the in dependence of the Sicilian Government, independently of the Two Sicilies, he now asked whether Great Bri tain still recognised the independence of the Sicilian Government instead of the Governmentof the Two Sicilies? had stated on the occa - Secretary for Foreign Affairs d Member had re ferred, if he (Lord John Russell) recollected rightly, negotiation+ going Lord JOHN RUSSELL said his Noble Friend the that there was at that time a had on with the Government of Sicily. lie only to say that an independent Government of Sicily no longer existed.—(Laughter.) Mr. BANKES would ask the Noble Lord, secondly, whether he was aware what was the result of the per mission given to transport ordnance from her Majesty's stores for the avowed use of the Sicilian insurgents, and other encouragement given to those parties who formed the provisional insurgent Government in Sicily. A British officer, who had formerly held a command in Sicily when Lord William Bentinck was there, was afterwards engaged in the British service in tho Penin sular war ; and understandieg that guns had been thus furnished, and stores from the ordnance of her Majesty, ho accepted a command under that Sicilian Government. And he accepted a mission to this country to raise troops for the use of the Sicillians. Those arms and troops were, he understood, partly embarked in a steamer named the Bombay, then lying in the Thames, and the others in a ship then lying at Liver pool. The steamer engaged to leave the Thames was detained by order of the Cus toms. A question rose upon the matter, and the whole thing was referred to the Treasury. The Board of Treasury, after deeply considering the subject, and after much conversation with the Noble Lord, and most likely with the Minister of the Crown of the King of the Two Sicilies—he might, how ever, be mistaken, but he understood that it was agreed that the detention of that vessel should be con tinued. The Treasury declined to interfere, and the result was that that vessel left for Palermo. The other left Liverpool also, and just at the time that the Secre tary at War of the Sicilians desired. It sailed first to Marseilles; when it reached that port, the French Minister taking a different view of the law with respect to the detention of ships, did detain and had de tainedwhether which that vessel in the por t o f M arseilles. He had to askwhi which the he Noble consideredL urd onewasof authority; aware of these; dhe was bound to say he h a d received from a source as under the complete = the Government was not authorised to detain a vessel with ha L d o ta rd vo l u ):l e L: t l. l E ie lt H ST ou o s N e going avowedly to disturb a foreign power. guise e d d f t a i le ask ingdetailed a series of questions, the lion. and Learned Member information as if he had be en " our own correspondent" --Mulaughter. Ile could not give t e hohour . ) able and Learned :Member the whole details with respect to what the French Government had done. Ac cording to the last accounts from Palermo there was no Government there. The peopl e h a d possession of arms, and were engaged in protecting themselves against the Neapolitans. He could state, in reply to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, that having taken some pains to discover what had become of the formidable guns sent to Syracuse, he ; had ascertained I that they were now in the possession of the King of the Two Sicilies.—(Laughter.) He had beard that Colonel Aubery was sent to this country for the purpose of raising m en , but he had good reason to believe that no men were raised. With regard to the vessels, it was true that one steamer did leave Liverpool. With respect to the Bombay, which lay in the Thames, the facts were these:—An a pplication was made by the Neapolitan Minister for the detention of that vessel, as it was loaded with men, guns, and ammunition; and as its leaving this country would be in contravention of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The question was referred to the Treasury, the Foreign-office having nothing to do with the law that prevailed in this country on the subject. The whole transac tion was carried on with the Treasury and the proper law officers of the Crown, and in consequence of the legal advice they received, that there was no just ground for detaining the vessel, it was released. Mr. ANSTEY then repeated his questions as to whether the Noble (Lord Palmerston) would have any objection to lay on the table a dispatch from Lord Heytesbury, the tinder-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with respect to a widow who had married the subject of a foreign country; and also a letter to a Mr. Paget, from Lord Ponsonby, with respect to the refusal of claims made by his wife, she being a Hungarian. Lord PALMERSTON had no objection to lay the letters on the table of the House. The subject had been fully considered and had been brought before the Consul, an d it had been decided that there was no right on the part of the British Consul to take any cognizance of the property of the individual in the case alluded to. Instructions had been sent to communicate that fact to the widow, and that the British Government had no right to in terfere in the matter, as her claim must fall under the cognizance of the courts of the country cf which her husband was knative. With re gard to the second case, that of Mr. Paget, he would look and see if there was any such letter in his office, and if there was, he should have no objec tion to produce it. But that case was very different to the one previously referred to by the Honourable and Learned Member. The latter was the case of an Austrian subject, and the question arose in the Austrian courts. Mr. ANSTEY wished to know whether the law officers of the Crown had been advised with on this subject. Lord PALMERSTON said that the doctrine in volved had been plainly laid down end settled, and it was therefore unnecessary to consult the law officers upon it. RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE. Mr. WYLD wishrci to ask the Noble Lord whether the British Government had sent any protest against the occupation of Hunga:y by the Russian troops?—(Hear.) Lord PALMERSTON said that her Mojesty's Go vernment had made no protest on the subject. WILLIASISXIITH O'BRIEN. Lord JOHN RUSSELL haviug moved .hat the re cord of the judgment of the House of Lords, affirming the decision of the Court in Ireland against Alr. 021412 IMPRISONMENT. Two YEARS —Michad Ktlly. EIGHTEEN MONTHS.—Etimad Norton, Caroline Baker, and Johr. Kibble. TWELVE MONTIIS.—John Canty, John Beard, Wil liam Shepherd, Jane Pepper, William Barnes, William Isaac Eawlinson, Allred Pritchard, James Cannon, Henry Antvvieler, Francis Adams, Jane Slater, William Foster, George Siggings, nry Humphrey - 8, William Wright, Charles Johnson; alias Jackson, Joseph Doug las, Thomas Elliott. NINE MONTHS,—James Earl, Richard Harwood, Ed ward Vincew, Ann Kelly. Six Moyrns.—Patrick Holland, Robert Payne, Rn brrt Ward, Thomas Thompson, Henry Mason, Willi:an Bond, Jain Macarthy, Charles Rubsns , .Mnjarnin Brighton. Thomas S:orey, Ellen Walsh, Jane Driieo George Woodcock, Saran Morrell, Martha Taylor, Elizl Seymour, John Baker, Juies Esnile Perrinaud, William Jones, William Radtnrd, George Savage, Thomas Battle, George Burling, George Mellor, Sarah Williams, George Eilverley, James Mill, Thomas Elliott. FutiiMONTllS.—John Nathan, Thomas Rawlings, Wilburn Anthony Browne, Jane Hutchinson, James iit.nuett, Richard Jones, James Tucker, Emma Dunn, George Hurson. THREE Molints —Frederick Mead, William God dard, William Hattlield, Henry Joyce, Cornelius Cu sack, Edwin Burton, Daniel Pellet, John Paul, Charles Fieg, Juhn Gibbon, George harris, Sarah Edser. , Two MoNnis.—John Yardley, John Saxby, Daniel Briant, John Kigan, Thomas Regan, Ellen Twehee. ONE MONTH AND UNDER.—Thomas Murphy, and whipped; Horatio Nelson Branch, and whipped; Joseph Creba, Charles Hilditch, John Earl, Edward Horns brow, Rachael Lyon, Maria Rush, William Layton, James Fitzgerald, and whipped; Thomas Middleton, Joseph Smith, Edward Henry Gibbins, fourteen days solitary, and to be whipped; David Jones, John Burke. ACQUITTALS.—Jaho Freeman, John Bastishall, Ed- ward Davison, Jehn Adams, Henry Moran, Thomas Richard,;, Mary Hurley, William Clark, Edward Price, James Trotman, George Jeffs, Richard Hurd, Henry Edwards, John Thomas, Edward Keysar, Thomas Evershed, Robert Bushell, Jane Bird, Abraham Graves Fans, James Leach, Ann Draddy, Rebecca Burke, Charles Bradshaw, James Hill, John Gregory, John Crossley, alias Augustus Cowen. BILLS NOT FOUND.-Esther Hurndall, Mary Ann Ward, Michael Alexander Bewley, Emily Guerrier. JUDGMENT RESPlTED.—Elizabeth headergast, John Lester, James Williams, Eliza Cooper, Lydia Dixon. REMANDED UNTIL NEXT SESSIONS.—John George Hounsfield, Martin Hansell, John Alves, Patrick Hay, John Spooner, Launcelot Wilson, Henry Hayman. ACQUITTED ON THE GROUND OF INSANITY.--Thomas Webb. STATE OF NEWGATE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PAST SESSlON.—Prisoners under sentence of trans portation—males, 26; females, 2. For trial—Males, 131; females, 33. On whom judgment has been respited— Males, 5; females, 1. Acquitted, being insane, 3. Com mitted by the commissioners of the property-tax, 1. Total, 202. • POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSIOIV-HOUSE. Green and Booth, young men well known to the police as connected with a gang of housebreakers, banking house skulkers, and omnibus pickpockets, were brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having robbed Mrs. Elizabeth Fox of a purse containing ten sovereigns and nine shillings in silver. The prisoners closely watched every psrt of the evidence, and cross-examined most of the witnesses for the prosecution. Mrs. Fex, of South-street, %Vest-square, Lambeth, and her husband, got into a Wellington omnibus on Wednes day, at bale-past five o'clock, at Stones-end in the Borough, to proceed to Shoreditch. Booth and Green immediately followed them, and the former sat next to the lady, while the latter took his seat on the opposite side. The omnibus had reached B:shopsgate street when Mrs. Fox took her handkerchief from her pocket for a moment, and found that her purse was safe, but upon returning it to her pocket she missed her purse and its valuable contents. Booth had, at the time she missed her property, quitted the omnibus, and Green was at his heels. Mr. FOX upon hearing his wife cry out that she was robbed of her purse by one of the men who bad just got out, darted after them, and they were both apprehended. Subse quently the purse was taken with a pair of tongs from a grating over which Booth had been taken into custody. All the money WAS in it. _ _ Mr. Fox said, as soon as he heard of the loss his wife sustained, he seized Green, who was following Booth, and was on the step of the omnibus, by the tail of his coat. Green said at ()bee, "It is not me; it is that man w i t h the blue trousers," pointing to B oo th, who was running. Witness then let Green go, and followed Booth, and Green accompanied hint some distance. When witness captured Booth. Booth said to him, " What do you charge me with?" and upon being answered, declared that he was a perfect gentleman, and was determined to spend 1,0001. to punish the person who had the im pudence to lay hold of him and charge him so inju riously.—(A laugh.) The attention of a policeman who came up was pointed to Green, who was running off in another direction, but was apprehended in the witness's vie w, Booth—l did say I would punish you severely, for you not only falsely charged me, but you seized me with great violence by the collar. Mr. Fox—l certainly was determined not to let you go. I followed you up too close, and you threatened me, but I care nothing about that. Booth—Did you see me drop the purse? Mr. Fox—No, but nobody else could have dropped it. William Maxwell, conductor of the omnibus in which the robbery took place, said that when the omnibus stopped in Bishopsgate-street, Booth said, " I will get out, which he did by jumping out, after having paid a fourpenny piece, for the penny out of which he did not wait, but ran off as rapidly as he could. The lady then cried out, that man has robbed me;" and Green said, " Yes he has, and there he goes, I will run after him," which he did, without stopping to pay his fare. Wit ness ran alter Green, and for a moment lost sight of him; but on going towards the omnibus observed him running in an opposite direction. Witness said, " I want my fare," and added, " You are one of the men concerned in that robbery ;" to which he replied, " No, lam not; the officer has taken him—it is all right." A policeman then took Green into custody. Green—Upon my honour, I know nothing at all of this person (pointing to Booth). Booth—Certainly not; and I know nothing of you.— (Laughter.) Green—lf such a thing as a robbery had taken place, and I was in it, is it likely I should join in pursuit? It is quite ridiculous to suppose such a thing. The policeman who apprehended Green said he saw the prisoner running at the top of his speed, and dodging in and out amongst the vehicles until taken into custody, when he struggled to escape. The LORD MAYOR—These prisoners deny that there has been anything at all against their characters. Let me bear what, the police have to say about them. Purnell, an experienced officer, said he had known Green these six years as the associate of thieves of the worst description. At first Green was a costermonger, and was cut s antly in the habit of driving housebreakers about in his cart, but he was now ose of themselves. Ilaydoo, the officer, said he lidd known Etqwili in the name of Michael Cox, to have be( n convicted, and sen. tented to twelve months' imprisonment, for having robbed a lady in Gray's Inn-lane ut her purse. Other officers were ready to bear testimony to the same effect. The LORD NTAYOR, in remanding the prisoners for the purpose or giving opportunity to other accusers to appear tgatti.t 1.,111, took oethit , i.,li to Lb.! 110.03 rendered by omoihus travelliog to the well drcss:d and ingecictis thieyes of the metropolis, and particularly cautioned v isit ors to banks to be vigilant, as the whole of the energi , s Get a thief's mind were di rec t e d t o the in vention of i novo effectual modes of depredation. MARYLEBONE. Mr. Geo. we John Keen, a solicitor, residing in the vicinity of thi s court, nes brought before Mr. Long, charged w ith the following outrage upon Mr. Henry Isieel, a F olici tor's clerk, who, in cons.queece of the serious ie. - ) ury be had received, was incapacitated from attending I (, give evidence. Mr. Juke a Ken Isbell, landlord of the Star and Garter, Edgewarte..e Jed, depos, d, th at , on Th urs d ay n i g ht, about hilt. past twelve o'cloek, the prisoner and Mr. Isreel were i iii bis house, drinking together, at the front of the bar. li.,ome words ensued between them, and witness, he v rfug a disturbance, came out of the parlour to inquire ' int o the cause of the row. In passing into the ha r h a saw the prisoner strike Israel twice in the face we ,th, his fists. They fought together for some mint: tea, when Keen was keeeked down by Is rael. Kee: a speedily got up, and called out that be had had en ugl 1. 'They then shook hands nod made up the, quart el. I Cone then sat down on a f o r m i n t h e f ront of toe bur. Ile subsequeutly got up and proceeded across the bar, t. )w, irds whefe complainant was standing. A person, by the .name of Flatlet, who was standing at the bar, calied the t attention of nitnees to the prisoner, wbo bud the iron t gas key, a most formidable instrument, about five feet .tong, in his hand. With this instrument he struck Isra 2I on the bead. Witness ran towards the prisoner, and tried to get the gas key from him. The prisoner called nit " Murder." and was so violent that it took three p a; sons besides himself to wrest the deadly weapon from hii n (the prisoner). Witness then sent for a surgeon to d n ,ss Air. Israel's wound, and the prisoner was given into t he custody of a police-constable. Mr. Edward ( lay, surgeon, No. 1, Cambridge-terrace, Hyde Park-gati 'ens, said on Thursday night he was called into the ;tar and Garter, where he saw a person by the name ot Israel (the prosecutor), who was bleed ing from a wont id in the head. Witness examined bins, and found a watt nd on the left side of the frontal bone, about two indite I in length, which, in his (witness's) opinion, might have been inflicted by the iron iriatru meat produced. The wound was of a very serious na ture, and he cola Id not, with safety to himself, at present leave his home. Several other parties gave evidence in support of the charge, and the y were cross•examined at some length by Mr. Cooper, the solicitor who attended for the prisoner. _ _ _ Mr. LONG ask ed what answer there was to the charge? and Mr. Cooper rt .plied that ho had no witnesses present, and he had iu Jw no answer to make to the charge. Upon a future day he should, no doubt, be prepared with certain wilt nesses who would throw an entirely dif ferent light up a n the matter. In the absence of the in jured party all that he (the Learned Gentleman) could lcok for was tlt at his client might be liberated upon his giving bail to id :sure his attendance on another day. Mr. LONG I,s Id the defendant in bail in 300/. and two sureties in 1.5411. each for his attendance on Saturday next. THAMES. CHARGE OP HOMICIDE.—Henry Steckman, mate of the schooner Brunswick, was brought up by Oliver, 31, of th e River pollen, charged with having caused the dea4b of a black boy, named Joseph Frost, belonging to the ship, by imme vs ing him in the river. Oliv-er stated! that about six o'clock on Tbursdal evening, whilst near the Surrey Canal, he heard that a boy had been drowned from the Brunswick, which was lying alongside. He went on board to make inquiries, when the pris.c , n er said that the boy had been drunk in the boat, and art attempt was made to get him on board by hooking a rope round him, and ballasting him UP. During the ()pet lition the honk came athwart the mid ships, where it got undone, and the boy tell into the water. Oliver, perceiving that the boat was higher tar than the pie ee where the mate said the hook had touched against the mid hips, told the latter he did not believe his statement, and took him into cus tody. The vessel sailed yesterday, but he (Oliver) had two of the crew who were present on the occa sion, and from %whom he learned that the prisoner he►d ben sousing the boy in the water, when his death was occasioned. Henry Hamilton said the mate directed him to fasten the rope round the boy, and when it was done the pri soner pulled him up. lie then dropped him into the' water, when the rope slackened. The hook became un.- done, and the boy sank. He did not the boy's name, as he (witness) had only just joined the ship, but he be' lievtd he was about 16 or 17 years old. The mate woe dipping him to give him a cooling. John Potter, another seaman, who had only recentif joined, said the black boy was very drunk and very o b" strepolous. The mate directed a strap to be put rou ad him to pull him. out of, the boat, and then said, " `ire will dip him." As soon as he was dipped the rope gave way, and witness saw the boy throw his head and arras up, alter which he immediately sank and was seen no more. The mate said he could not swim, and, jumping into the boat directed the painter to be let go, which isrsi immediately done. He did all he could to recover the boy, but could not succeed. The prisoner der ied that he ducked the boy. Seeing that he was very drunk, and that he was attempting to come up the side, he apprehended some danger, and or dered the rope to b,3 made fast about him, for the pur' pose of ballasting him on board. The hook unfortu nately touched amidships, and became undone, by which means the boy felt into the water. The case was adjourned for a week, to allow time to make a search after the body. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MAY 18. STOex EXCHANGE.—The Share Market to-day was much the same, bat if anything there was a slight improvement. The sales are—Caledonian, 28—Great Western, New Shares, 3% dis.—Midland (Birmingham and Derby), 45, LIVERPOOL, MAY 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Share market opened rather firmly to day, but was not so good at the close of business. The sales aro-- Lancashire and Yorkshire (51. and L.), 26 (IN.—Ditto, Fifths, 915. ad.—Ditto, 321. Shares, 8% dis.—Ditto, Fifths (W. R. U.), 5% dl5- -London and North-Western, 129—Ditto, New Quarters, 3s. 9d p.—Midland, 68%—Ditto, Halves, 10% dis.—Ditto, Consolidated (B. and D.), 44% Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Frefer once, 10% c.—Scottish Central, 24—York, Newcastle, and Berwic.X (Extension, Nos. 1 and 2), 6% dis.—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase). guaranteed 6 per cent. till 1850, 234 dis. MANCHESTER, MAY 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were as follows :-- Leeds, Fifths, 4% dis.—Dover (No. 4), 7—Ditto (Registered), 6 16.16 —Dover (Old), 22—Manchester and Birmingham, (C), Quarters, 3'% p.—West Riding Union, 5 5-16 dis.—Sheffield Preference, 11—Ditto. Eighths, 4% —North Staffordshire, 4% dis. YORK, MAY 17. STOCK ExcnAwor —The business transacted to-day was as fol lows :--Great Northern, 1014—North British, Preference, 1/. 05:9d -York, Newcastle, and Berwick Extension (G. N. E. Purchase). 41. Is. 3d.—York and North Midland, 24. GLASGOW, MAY 17. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business done in the Stock Exchange to day has been as follows :—Aberdeen, Preference, 41. ss. —Cl3-des dale Junction, 6l—Edinburgh and Glasgow, Halves, 15% —Mont' land, 62.—North British, Preference, 21s. DEATH or TUE REV. HENRY BREWER. -- we regret to state that this much respected and zeal ous Roman Catholic clergy man died at the house of his aunt, Mrs. Davies, Carlton-terrace, Up per Parliament-street, on Tuesday afternoon last. The dtceased was, for two years, minister of St. Anne's Church, Edge-hill ; but, in consequence of ill health, he was compelled to relinquish his arduous duties at the end of September last, Since then his health has continued to decline, though up to the day of his death strong hopes were entertained of his recovery. His first ailment was disease of the heart, succeeded by dropsy, of which he died. The Rev. Gentleman received his early education in Germany, but, upon the institution in which he pursued his studies breaking up, he was removed to England, and finished his education at Ampletorth College, near York, where he was ordained. Ho was removed from that institution to St. Mary's Chapel in this town, where he remained about two years. He was afters ards appointed to Browtiage, near Preston, and remained there for up' wards of twenty five years. From that place he was appointed to St. Anne's, Rtge-hill, on the opening -of that church, and remained there till the termination of his ministerial chimer. The deceased was fifty-seven years of age.-.. Liverpool Mercury. rADVERTISEMENT.j—THE EARL OP ALDEOROtraII AND HOLLOWAY'S rILLEL—An astounding cure by this miraculous medicine, alter every other means had failed. See extract from his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1845. Professor Holloway—Sir : I beg to acquaint you that your pills have ef fected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach which all the most eminent of the faculty, at home and all ever the continent, had not been able to effect ; nay, not ever the waters of Carlsbad Ma rienbad. (Signed) " ALD B oxou dn ." Th ese wonderful pill will cure any dieease of the liver or stomach.—Sold (also nollowzrs °lnt - melt) at l'rofessor Holloway's .Establishment, 244, Strand, and by .11. medicine vendors throughout the civilised world. BIRTHS. On the 25th ult., at Quebec, Lower Canada, the wife of Major Norcott, Rifle Brigade, of a son. On the 1 ith inst., at Westwell Rectory, Oxon, the wife of the Rev. John E. Bode, of a daughter. On the 15th inst., in Upper Seymour-street, the wife of G. T. Ellison, Esq., of a daughter. On the 17th inst., the wife of Ralph Allen Hann of West bourne-terrace, Hyde-park, of a son. MARRIED. On the 12th inst., at St. liotolph's, Bishopagate, Jamea Joshua Whited, of Hackney, to Jane, only daughter of J. Salter, of Steward-street. On the 12th inst., at Christ Church, St. Marylebone, George Taylor, Esq., Clifden Marine -parade, Gravesend, to Jane, eldest daughter of the late Robert Purves, of Kelso. On the 15th inst., at Christ Church, Scarborough, John Edward Walker, Esq., of the Inner Templ e , b arr i ster - at -l a w, and Fellow of Oriel College, to Mary Friederica, eldest daughter of John Bury, Esq., of Sca r b oroug h . On the 16th inst., at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, the Rev. Herbert Wilson, rector of Fritton, Norfolk, to Har riet Ficklin, daughter of Thomas Amyot, Esq., of James' street, Buckingham -gate. On the 17th inst., at Totnes Church, the Rev. George Selby Hele, of Brighton, second surviving son of the late Rev. R H. Selby Hele, rector of Brede, Sussex, to Emily, only daughter of the late John Wise, Esq., of the Rectory, Totness, and of Wonwell-court, Devon. DIED. On the 14th ult., at East -street, Kent-road, Ann, relict of the late Mr. Alfred S. Ravenscroft, surgeon, R.N. - On the 7th inst., at Sydennham, in the 84th year of her age, Mary, widow of the late William Holness, Esq. On the I.th inst., at Greenhithe, Kent, Henry George Shute, R.N., Inspecting Commander of the Coast-guard► aged 40. On the 13th inst., at the residence of her nephew, A. D• APKellar, Esq.. Bat- ersea, Catherine Pilkington, relict of the late Robert Pilkingto.o, Esq., in her 76th year. A Brussel,, o.i the 13th inst , Mary, second daughter of Archdeacon Hodson. On the 4tlliat., at Gloucester-crescent, Regent's-park , Elizabeth, relict of the late John Latimer, Esq., of Gray's' inn, and Cheltenham. (►u the 14th inst., John Powell, Esq., of Quex-park, Isle tof Thauet, aged 79. L. , ndon Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of 2, Strand, Pr liter, at Tlfr Sy:, Office, NO. 11 2 t i'reet eL oi ;zisvuy, in the (*anti 01 Natiaiesos, Mix 19, i 849.