The Sun. — London, England, 1849-06-15 00:00:00

compensation could not bo construed into a recognition of the claims of actual rebels. Mr. Hincks, it was true, had stated certain cases of compensation to parties who had been rebels. But these cases did not come under the operation of the. Act of the Canadian Legislature. Bills were given to these parties for matters supplied to the troops before these parties had been rebels. But the entire of these cases amounted to five, and upon in quiry, it turned out that two of these were not rebels at all, and of the other three cases, two were tried for high treason, but were acquitted; therefore they were in the position of persons that ought to be recognised is so ciety, and, consequently, they ought to reeetve any com pensation to which they were entitled; and in the case of Mr. Took, it was true he was found guilty of high treason, and, after the amnesty, he went back to the colony, but as he never made any claim, of course he (Mr. Gladstone) need not dwell upon that case any farther. Now, he did not mean to teak the Noble Lord to disallow the Act under consideration; what he asked for was this, that persons actually proved to have acted as rebels should not receive compensation, and that reasonable evidence shall be given that the parties applying for compensation had never taken a part in the rebellion. If the Noble Lord could not give them this assurance, then he would ask the Noble Lord to say that the Crown will not ratify the Act of the colonial legislature, and that proceedings under it will be suspended until the Canadian Legislature shall have so amended the Act as to exclude all parties from compen sation who have taken a part in the rebellion. It might be asked what course he proposed to pursue in the event of the Canadian Legislature not altering the Act. He would only say iu reply, that he would do nothing that would be unconstitutional, as a coercive obedience on the part of the colony towards the mother country ought not to be sought for. In order that the connexion between the colonies and the mother country should be a happy one, the ties that bound them should be those of partial sym pathy. But he would uphold the honour of the Crown, and in saying this he meant that the Government should draw a distinction between those who opposed the laws and those who upheld them. This being so, he clung to the hope that the Noble Lord would grant him what he asked him to concede. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he had derived much consolation from the commencement of the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Gladstone), as he said he would not propose any particular course, because he wished that the voice of Parliament on the present question should be a united voice. He had hoped that the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman would have been in accordance with that wish, but he was sorry he had been disappointed in that expectation. — (Hear, hear.) If anything could embitter the hostile feelings of parties amongst each other—feelings which he had hoped had been abated, it would be the senti ments which had been expressed that night.—(Hear. hear.) The Right Honourable Gentleman had stated solely the views of a particular party. He had supplied the arguments which were wanting in Canada in the case which they had made against the Ministry of Canada—(Hear, hear)—and he had endeavoured to meet every argument which had been urged in favour of the course which the Governor had pursued. He entirely -concurred with the Right Honourable Gentleman with reference to a dispatch which was written some time ago, that there were cases where the honour of the Crown and the safety of the country required the ut most temper and firmness on the part of those entrusted with the government of the colony, to prevent those differences being pushed to an extent which might be fatal to the connexion with this country.—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman had, however, said that Lord Elgin had received some instructions which had inter fered with his acting in such a manner as the honour of the Crown and the interests of the country demanded. Now he (Lord J. Russell) felt bound to say, in reply, that neither, to Lord Elgin nor to any Governor-Gene red had Government given more than that general dis cretion which it was necessary should be given to every one.filling so responsible a position.—(Hear.) It' Lord Elgin, in the exercise of that discretion, had acted in such a way as did not comport with the honour of the Crown and the interests of the country, the course for her Majesty's Government to pursue, however unplea sant, would have been clear. It would have been to have disavowed such acts, however painful such dis avowal would have been. But believing, as they did believe, that Lord Elgin had consulted not only the in terests or Canada hut the interests of this country — that his conduct had been guided by a knowledge of the --feelings -of -the—people -- of Canada and of this country and of the interests of the Crown—so believing, the Mi nisters would have been the basest of men not to have upheld Lord Elgio, and to have afforded him every support and encouragement.—(bear, hear.) It was not, therefore, to be presumed there was any intention to put. Lord Elgin in a position in which it was not de sirable to place any Governor, and it was in pursuance of their duty alone they proposed- to act in deciding upon the conduct' of Lord Elgin. Knowing that the finances of Canada were not flourishing that many persons were suffering under commercial dis tress—he could not conceive that a Bill would have been introduced having reference to the rebellion losses, unless under circumstances of great neces sity: It was to be recollected that after the rebellion of 1837, a Bill was introduced in Upper Canada, giving compensation to parties who had suffered by it, and a subsequent Act was passed to carry out that same pur pose, and in these Acts it was provided that the losses to be made good were losses which had been sustained from the'rebellion, and by parties who were inhabitants of Upper Canada. When that compensation was passed it was obvious that having paid a considerable sum for rebellion losses in Upper Canada, a question arose whe• ther such compensation should not be given to Lower Canada. The only objection he bad made after the Acts for Upper Canada bad been passed was, that the claim was on the imperial fund, and not on the local fund. (Cries of " Hear, bear.") The Noble Lord here referred to a dispatch of Lord Stanley, dated the Bth of May, 1844, and observed, that so far as re garded the claim for compensation for the Lower Pro vince, the suggestion seemed to have been made by Lord Stanley, and to have been given to Sir Charles Met calfe. After that a Committee was appointed on the subject, and the Right Honourable Gentleman had quoted some instructions which had been given to the Commission of Inquiry on the 12th of December, 1845, as to the amount of the loss and the character of the party, and in reply to an inquiry of the Commissioners as to the extent of the powers conferred upon them, a dispatch was written in February, 1846, in which they were informed that it was not desirable they should go into any other evidence but the finding of the courts of law. Now he did not think that the Canadian Govern ment had departed from the spirit of these instructions. He did not see why in this case Lord Cathcart should be placed in opposition to Sir Charles Metcalfe, an officer whowho was not disposed to favour rebels , and was as fit as any one to be entrusted with a question in which the Crown was concerned.—(Hear, hear.) They could depart from the instructions without doing that which Would in fact have been a new trial, and that was what governed the whole case. The Noble Lord having re ferred to the statement of Mr. Hincks, which had been mentioned by the Right Hon. Gentleman, Mr. GLADSTONE said that, according to the evi dence before him, there was no reason to believe that any person who had been a rebel had received com pensation. Lord J. RUSSELL said the question was not whe ther Mr. Hincka was right or wrong. Mr. Hincks had said that persons had received compensation who had been rebels, and he mentioned Mr. Haggerman, who had been, he said, Commissary-General. Now, in this Mr. Ilincks was quite mistaken, for Mr. Haggerman was not convicted but was acquitted. But, why could they not apply to have some test for those persons who were • coming forward for compensation? If they would not do that, would they have a trial for high treason in 1849, for that which took place in 1837?—(Hear, hear.) Was it to be borne that men . who declared that they were lOyal, and who from intimidation did not join the Queen's 'forces, WOuldthey have these men go to trial in 1849, to proi"&that they had net taken part in the rebellion? Thar was what the Right Hon. Gentleman asked. A party who was put to the bar, and who was charged with high treason, simply said that he was not guilty; and: if the 'Judge, as in Ireland last year, would say to the prisoner, you must bring prima facie evi dence to prove you are not guilty; would not the .prisoner, and all who would hear it, be filled with indignatiion that a man should be called upon to prove that he was not guilty?—(Hear, hear.) Only let the House considerthat men should new be called upon at the expiration of twelve years, when parties, whose • testimony would be essential, might be dead, or removed frorn.Canada—.only, let the House censider that under '• such 'circumstances men should be called upon to prove that they were no t g uilt y of takin g p art in the late re - bellfen.—(Rear, hear.) It was thought, he believed, that 100,0001. would be enough to compensate all the real losses that had been sustained, and he would remark • that it seemed to be the intention of the Government of the day to proceed under these circumstances—that no thing more was necessary than that those only should be • considered guilty who had been proved to be so in courts The Noble Lord then referred of law.—(Hear, hear.) to the dissolution of the Assembly which . Lord Elgin conceived to be necessary, and to the circumstances under which the present Ministers took office. They saw. it was obvious that the question of compenaatio h n e was one which would be pressed upon them, and t Secretary of State had suggested that there should be compensation for losses in Lower as wellas in Upper • Canada ; and that those only should be considered guilty of taking part in the late rebellion who had been con victed in due course of law. The preamble to the Bill stated, that losses not yet proved should form the u b jecrof future investigation, provided that none of the parties had been"convicted of treason. After noticing some of the objections to that Act which had been made by the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Noble Lord referred to the amendments which had been proposed in Commit -. tee on the Bill, and said he did not feel bound to say that .. all those amendments should have been rejected. That was no part of his duty. He had to see that the Act when passed did not interfere with the rights of the . Crown, and the just interests of the country. The Mi nistty had declared that the intention of the Bill was to •'• deprive all who Were guilty of rebellion of compensation, buCit musUbe seen that; if they were to apply personal tesee, to gb:back for a period 'of 12 years, and call upon a man to prove thet he was not a rebel in 1837, would be, in fact, to eetablisb a Star Chamber in Canada.—(Cheers.) . It would destroy.the peace of families, set party against . party, make out one set of men as having been guilty or suspected of being guilty of rebellion, and another as being solely possessed of the feeling of loyalty.—(Hear, hear.) If they were to have some hundreds of such eases in the colony, he believed they would have the effect of destroying all chance of the people living toge ther in harmony, and that her Majesty would be utterly deprived of loyal subjects.—(Hear, hear.) Then, as to the general character of the rebellion itself. It was aused by s ome artful and designing men who bad in . uence over a very ignorant part of the people, but kie great mass of the people were opposed to it. The - • se —_, ngiarityl of the Roman Catholic population, under the teaching of their spiritual leaders, hail an abhorrence of any cause that could lead to civil war.—)Hear, hear.) A considerable pett of the country fell hap the hands of the it, bell for a few days. end he thonght• that it was not unnatural the inhabitants should, under the circum stances, have refrained from any active demonstration. of opposition to them, while at the same time they had no sympathy with them. He would not, at this distance of time, call them forward to prove not only that they were not. in arms, but they were not aiding and abet ting rebellion at that period.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the amendments, he was obliged to pre sume, from the conduct of Lord Elgin and the declara tion of the Ministry, either that there were valid ob jections to them, or that it appeared there were such ob jections in the minds of the majority. The Right Hon. Gentleman favoured the amendment of Mr. Wilson, which had the highest number in its support, but when the Bill came to the third reading, the majority by which it was carried was larger than any previous vote for it. Persons who had voted for the amendments withdrew their opposition to it in its final stage, and it was passed by a majority of 48 to 11.—(Hear, hear.) In that majority there was a majority included of re presentatives of English descent. When the Bill went to the Legislative Council, it was introduced by a member of the Ministry, with a distinct and specific statement of its objects, in which the intention to grant compensation to rebels was clearly abjured, while, at the same time, the justice of awarding the same com pensation to Lower Canada that had been previously given to Upper Canada was insisted upon. He had a right to say that the Minister was a mau of honour, speaking for the Administration of which ho formed a part, and that this distinct declaration of the intention of the Administration in proposing it, ought not to be questioned. The Governor• General, in giving his assent to it, among other Bills, said, in reply to an address which had been presented to him, that he protested against the outrageous assault which had been made on the principle of responsible government. At the same time, in justice to the Parliament, he said he was bound to express his firm belief that in passing it they did not intend to compensate persons who had been guilty of the heinous crime of high treason, but simply to grant compensation for those losses of property inseparable from such occurrences, as had been done in other cases, and under that belief alone did he give his assent on tie part of the Crown to the Bill. In the spirit thus solemnly avowed by the Governor-General, did he (Lord J. Russell) accept this Bill. The Right Hon. Gentleman h..cl done full justice to Lord Metcalfe; let them also do justice to the living.—(Hear, hear.) For his own part, he had full confidence in Lord Elgin, and that he would do all in his power to carry the Act out in the manner he had de•. clewed he would. With respect to the particular mode in which this could be done, much must depend upon the instructions given to the Commission appointed to carry the Act into effect. Lord Elgin had stated that it was his wish to send the instructions to this country for consideration, before they were carried into effect. At present her Majesty's Government had not yet received the Bill in such a_shape, as to enable them to lay it before the Queen in Council, but he felt it to be his dui to state then, that when it did so come be fore them, her Majesty's Governmont would feel it to be their duty to leave this Act to be brought into operation in the spirit in which it had been framed—(Cneers)— and therefore unless something very extraordinary and unexpected occurred, when these instructions did arrive, he had no doubt but that they would be such as would enable the Government to advise the Queen to give them her approbation—(Bear)—and he had no doubt that all that was necessary for the honour of the Crown and the country, and for the enforcement of strict justice, would be done by Lord Elgin.--(Cheers.) He had no cause to take up the defence of that Noble Lord's character. When he came into office, he found the Noble Lord acting as Governor of Jamaica, having been appointed to that office by Lord Stanley.—(Dear, hear.) His con duct in difficulty impressed the Government with the impression that he was a man of remarkable ability, especially as that was his first public service. In the transaction of business he seizsd upon the main points which required his attention, and directed the business under his control in a manner calculated to serve the best interests of the colony under his will, and to main tain good feelings between it and the Imperial Govern ment. .Being thus struck with these imarks of-ability, the Government recommended him for the more itripbr taut post of Governor-General uf Canada, and he must now declare that the conduct of the Noble Lord had, in his opinion, done ample justice to the wisdom of: that selection.--(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had thianipL out the late occurrences in Canada acted in a strictly constitutional manner. The Right Hon. Gentlem In had argued that the Asseeibly did not fairly represent the feelings on the subject, and that he should have fotmed another Ministry, and dissolved the Assembly... Some thing of the same kind, had been argued by a party in this country on the, occasion of .the. repeal of the corn lawa.—(tleardiear.) .Bat,Lord Elgin .believed-thalt the House of Assembly did represent the country, and that if he had broken up his Ministry, and put the country to the excitement of a contested election, the Howe would have been of the same character, and that he would have had to take the same Ministry baek.—(Hear, hear.) And he must say that he saw, even in Upper Canada, no proof that the representatives who had voted for the Bill had done so in opp sition to trio wishes of their constituents. There might be cases; he was not aware of any; and, at all events, he could say that the great majority of the Members had not been called upon to resign their seats on account of their vote on this mea sure.—(Hear, hear.) On all these points Lord Elgin was the best judge, and he had declared his intention not to dissolve the present Assembly. At the same time, he was prepared to encounter the full effect of this policy, even the disapprobation of her Majesty, if the Government should think fit to advise that disapproba tion, and to submit to all the penalties which would follow.—(Loud cheers.) It had been said that the Act might be disallowed, and at the same time continue the Governor General in office. Lord Elgin would not re tain it in that case.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that when the opponents of this Act had time to reflect, they would look upon their opposition, and many of its con sequences, with regret, and especially of the outrages committed upon the Governor-General ; and he trusted that a body of men, who had hitherto borne the character of loyal subjects, some of whom had been the advisers of former Governors-General, would resume their posi tion and submission to the law, and act in a manner be coming their professions. He did not attach any value whatever to the statement as to the separation of the colony.—(Hear, hear.) He was happy to think that no such occurrence would take place, because the great body of the people were in favour of the law, and the Governor-General was popular in Canada. It would be far better if the dif ferent 'parties in Canada were to lay aside the extreme animosities which they exhibited, and pursue that des tined course of prosperity untrammelled by such con • tests. That was the lesson which his lamented friend, Lord Sydenham, had taught the Canadians. " Whatever your paltry differences may be, by pushing them to an extreme, you are risking the loss of the immense pros perity which lies before you. If you maintain political differences within moderate bounds, there is no country which can achieve more happiness, or a higher degree of prosperity, under the sway of the British sceptre. You may enjoy as much freedom and happiness as can be the lot of any other people in the world.—(Cheers.) Un happily differences of race and blood were at the bottom of these disputes. Perhaps in the course of time this might be remedied, by the adoption of something like the plan of federal union, proposed by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Roebuck); but however that might be, feeling anxious that this Bill should be put in operation in the spirit in which Lord Elgin, his Minis ters, and the Parliament of Canada declared it was passed, being anxious that Lord Elgin should be allowed the full liberty of acting in, accordance with his own views of what was best for the welfare of the country, he felt that he would be impairing the dignity of the Crown, if he were not only, by any show of distrust, but any half expressed confidence, to deprive Lord Elgin of that support to which he was fairly entitled. He must leave the Right Hocourable Gentleman to take what farther steps in this question. he might think neces sary. He left it to him to consider whether he would raise questions in that House by any farther motion, which might array two parties against each other, but his duty was to declare at once the course the Govern ment meant to pursue, and by which they were resolved to abide.—(Cheers.) Mr. HE' RTES considered 'that the elaborate and ad mirable speech of his Right lion. Friend the Member for the University of Oxford had not received at the hands of the Prime Minister anything like a close or legal answer. The Noble Lord had dealt in generalities and in rather captivating declamation, but he had not brought the question to that point at which the public would be satisfied to let it rest. He very nearly came to the mark, but as he had not reached the point that ought to give satisfaction, there was no course left him but to continue the discussion. He (Lord John Russell) had taken some pains to establish the point that it was the intention of those who brought forward the compen sation measure in Canada, of the advisors of the Crown, and of the Government of Canada, not to pay, under the provisions of the Bill under inspection, money to rebels; but looking to the main clauses of the Bill, he contended that all persons having claims for losses sustained during the rebellion, unless those brought within the excep tion of the preamble and those who were convicted as rebels, should be indemnified. The Attorney-General no doubt had carefully read the Bill, and all the papers connected with its enactment, and he put it to bite, if that Act should not be strictly put in force without qua lification or interposition, unless it were amended by a new Act of the Canadian Assembly so as to prevent rebels from being compensated with the money assessed off loyal men? The Noble Lord said that he expected further communications from Lord Elgin on this subject, and some account of the instructions he issued to the commissioners appointed for carrying out the provisions of the Bill; but he (Mr. Herries) thought that under the Act no instructions preventative of awarding compensa tion to those who took part in the rebellion could be is sued. The Act could not be modified except by subse quent legislation, and in itspresent form it would strike at the foundation of all civil government, as it directly approved of the application of a tax which was likely to strike at the foundation of all society. The Noble Lord said the Government did not intend that rebels should be indemnified for the losses they sustained, but in the same breath he asked would it not be monstrous, after the lapse of twelve years, to test by examination who were rebels. Now, unless they entered into an examination and discrimination, how could those who took part in the rebellion be found out? They could not ascertain all who had been rebels; but was he to be told that it was out of the reach of human reason to discover many per sons who had been engaged in that serious rebellion? A man who had suffered imprisonment, but was not convicted for rebellious practices, would, according to his interpretation of the Act, be entitled to indemnifica tion; and how, he asked, was a case of that kind to be met? He did not blame Lord Elgin, but he threw all the responsibility on the shoulders of the Government, who, knowing that the Bill was introduced so far back as March last, ought to have properly advised the Go vernor-General, and pointed out to him their determi nation that rebels should not participate in the indemni fication. The only way now to remedy the evil was by some legislative amendment in the Canadian Assembly; and if Lord John Russell gave an assurance that her Majesty's Government would take measures to carry out that which they now declared to be their opinion— if he promised that the Act would be carried into effect so that the rebels should not receive indemnity, all fur ther opposition -to the measure would cease. If the Noble Lord could satisfy the House that he would by some means so modify this measure as not to give corn. pensation to those who had been in actual rebellion, then he would be satisfied. In doing that there was only one way of acting, and that was by withholding the consent of the Crown from the measure until the Legislature of Canada was able to overcome the difficulty which had arisen. To carry out that object, then, he would pro pose a motion tp the effect that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to with hold her assent to the Rebellion Losses (Canada) In demnity Bill until such time as satisfactory assurance was given that no person who had been engaged in, or had in any way aided or abetted the rebellion in that country, should receive any portion of such indemnity. Mr. BAILLIE COCHRANE said there was one point which had not been touched open during the debate, and which he considered important, and that was—who were the men that formed the Government and Council of Lord Elgin in Canada at the present time?—(Hear, hear.) lie had no hesitation in saying that some of those men now holding high offices under the Crown in Canada were accused of high treason in 1837, and had to fly from the country in consequence. — (Cheers.) Mr. Baldwin, the present Attorney- General, and Lafontaine, the Solicitor-General of Lower Canada, were both charged with high treason in 1837, and fled from that country, ie order to save themselves from the consequences of that charge?— (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Roebuck.) It was well for the Hon. Member opposite to cry " Hear, hear," but let him recal to the recollection of the House those parties now in office who were charged at that time with the crime of high treason, and it would be seen that be was not making any hasty assertion. There was, as he had already said, the present Attorney and Solicitor-Generals. There was the Chief Justice of Montreal and his brother, the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canada, and there was Gironard, whom the Hon. Member will perhaps re collect a relative of his got 5001. for giving up to justice. —(Hear, hear, and laughter.) That relative of the Hen. Member had now, however, changed his opinion of Gironard, who was now in office, for when Sir Allan M'Nab asked him if it was not a fact that he received 5001. from Government for arresting him, he did not deny it, but he said that he had a different opinion of Gironard now from what he had then.—(Continued laughter.) He paused to ask the Hon. Member whether such was not the fact?—(Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK—I will answer it.—(Cheers.) Mr. COCHRANE—Yes, the Hon. Member would an swer it in the same manner as he defended the Canadian rebels in 1838.—(Hear, hear.) These men were now, however, in office, and there was another of those rebels, who was appointed to office, hut who, in making inquiry as to his whereabouts, it was found that he was hung.-- (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Such, then, was the way matters had got on in Canada, and he affirmed that since 1838, the history of Canada had shown that they had been too ready to forgive their enemies and forget their friends, and been most anxious to make friends with .all those men who, in 1837, had acted against the consti tuted authorities and the Imperial Government. He was sorry that Lord Elgin, for whom he entertained the highest respect, had acted as he had done. He had been guilty of aces which he considered most objectionable. He had caused a measure to be brought in to bring back to Canada the arch traitor M`Kerizie, who, when he did come back on the faith or that measure, was soon obliged to quit the country, the popular feeling being so powerfully excited against him.—(Hear, hear.) There was then the present measure which had crowned those objectionable acts, and from all he could learn the only wey to gain preferment in Canada was to become a rebel—(Hear, hear)—and he had not the Blightersr doubt that, did they go on in that system of policy, in the course of a very short period they would not leave a royal man in Canada.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK said when this question was intro. duced he - had supposed they - were going to disciuss l i it in that calm, dispassionate,' and honourable manner which usuelly distinguish the 'debates in - that 'House.— (Cries of "Oh, oh," from the-Opposition.y- lre could not for a moment suppose that• Hon. Gentlemen oppoSite declined to classify themselves under- that system — (Cheers.) He had supposed that they. would have dis cussed the question in that honourable manner which distinguished men who were.opposed to each other in political opinions. He had supposed that if any one wrO' to be accused, it would 4 lid for their own acts, and that if he was to be accused, it would be for his bwn acts, and that he would not be held responsible for the acts of those who were upwards of three thousand miles re moved from them.—(Hear, hear.) What had he to do with what his friends and relations in Canada did? So far as he himself was concerned, he defied any man in that House or out of it to say that he had been guilty , of a dishonourable act.—(llear, hear.) The Hon. Gen tleman had said that he had defended rebels. That was not true.—(Cheers.) He came before the House under a commission, as the authorised agent of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, to argue as their agent against a measure affecting them, which was at the time on the table of that Howe—a Bill which was to destroy the constitution of Lower Canada, of which that As sembly formed a part. He represented that Assembly at the bar of that House. But it was nut true that they were at all, or at any time rebels. Suppose that there were some rebels among them.—(Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) Suppose he said there had been rebels among them, had they not in that House, the other night, been called on to issue a writ in the place of one who had been convicted as a rebel, and was turned out of that House?—(Hear.) But did that affect the cha racter of that House—(Hear)—or would any one be warranted in saying that, because Mr. Smith O'Brien was a convicted reb 1, any one who might be appointed to advocate the cause of that House was advocating the cause of rebels.—(Cheers.) He, therefore, appeared at the bar of that House, at the time referred to, as the re presentative of that Assembly of Lower Canada, and he felt proud to say, that all their acts were not only legal and constitutional, but that there was not one demand which he on their behalf made upon the Legislature, but had been since conceded by the House of Commons. What right, then, had the IJon. Member to say that he was the advocate of rebels ? In the strongest lan guage which the rules of that House warranted him in using, and with a still stronger feeling than the words could convey, he - denied the truth of the assertion — (Hear) —and had it been made by any man who was not shielded by the forms of that House, he would have re pelled it in stronger terms.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposition.) Yes, they might endeavour to interrupt him, but the interruption only showed that while they could make a charge against his character, they had not the manliness to listen to its refutation. The Hon Mem ber had made a statement without looking into the evidence, and, like every one who did so, he had made an unjust charge.—(Hear, hear.) As to the question before the House, he did not think that, in some points, the Bill of Indemnity went far enough. It said that indemnity was to be given for all property wantonly or unjustly destroyed; but, suppose an honest loyal man to have his house destroyed by its being made a necessary fortification; under the wording of the Act that man could get no compensation for such loss. Then, suppose another man, who they might call a rebel ; he came, and he said, " My house has been wantonly and unjustly destroyed. When I was absent an enemy of mine came and put a torch to my house and my barn, and they were burned to the ground." That was a wanton and unjust destruction, and that map could 03i01.c,3mpensa tioit for such loss under the Bill, and it would be no use to say that he was not entitled to such compensation because he was a rebel.—(Hear.) Would they say that parties who had been never tried or found guilty were guilty of the crime of high treason? The Right Hon. Gentleman said they were found with arms in their hands. Why every man in that country carried arms from ne cessity. When he was a boy he never went out without either a rifle or a fowling-piece. The' principle which was contended for in Canada was, that the majority should govern. What was the ease? A Bill.which passed the Legislature, and virtually received the sanction of the Crown was resisted. The danger now contemplated was, that a man who had been disloyal in 1837, and. whose property was wantonly destroyed by the people of Canada, might be compensated for the loss. The Right Honourable Gentleman required that this should not take effect unless there was a guarantee that no such person would receive this compensation. It was im possible to draw such a line. They could draw no other line than that which the Canadian Parliament had drawn. The Right Hun. Gentleman said it was a question of races; it was no such thing. He would tell them what it really was. It was that in this colony, as in others, a minority was enabled, with the assistance of the Colonial office, to govern the majority. If this gave the Ministry that po seer, there was no doubt this would endanger British supremacy. The people of Canada inherited from this country the principle that they werel to be governed by law and the sense of the majority, which was illustrated in the separation of the colonie4 from this country. They should take care not to alienate the feelings of the people of Canada from the regard which he was bold to say they felt towards British dominion. He would leave the question in the hands of the Houses and he hoped there would be no more imputations upon members of the Canadian Legislature, which had been cast upon them in the course of the debate. Mr. B. COCHRANE explained that he certainly had stated that certain members of the Government of Canada were engaged in the rebellion, whom he had named, but he had made no indeterminate imputation upon the legality of the Legislature. . Mr. C. BRUCE said he deprecated that the.press, which was supposed to be the organ of the opinions of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Oxford, had held up the Government of Canada to opprobrium, he thought that the adoption of the principles of free trade had stimulated the proceedings which had taken place in Canada, arising from the discontent which those prin ciples had excited. He thought that the discountenance of this Bill would be attended with most injurious effects to that colony. One would think that this indemnity for losses in Canada had now been heard of for the first time, while it was put forward a reward for rebel lion. He thought if they examined the question, they would find it to be no such thing, and that great misre presentation hid been used to cause this delusion. Tho principle of this Bill was sanctioned by successive go- - vernors of Canada. Lord Elgin was not the first governor who sanctioned the introduction of such a Bill. The Bill now under discussion was similar to other Bills sanctioned by previous governors and previous administrations, and was, in fact, more pre cise in its provisions. The opposition to this Bill was as disgraceful as ever characterised the conduct of a party seekiug to recover power. Lord Cathcart had sanctioned a Bill for compensation, and no objection was made at that , - T - g run, time frena .the Colonial-office.—(Hear, hear, sidered the picture with which the House had been in. vourcd that night by his Right. Hon. Friend w as 'not only highly coloured, but was drawn and, shadowed out with a very microscopic power. His Right Hon. Friend seemed to think that he had got hold of some mighty monster. He (Mr. Cumming Bruce) repudiated the distinction which had been endeavoured to be drawn, by Hon. Gentlemen in opposition on this subject, be tween the acts of the Governor• General and the Govern ment of Canada. What the Government had done the Governor General adopted. He believed that the Cana dian subjects were as loyal now as they were in 1775, and as they were in 1812, when they turned out to a man to vindicate the honour of the colony and the in tegrity of the empire. He could not agree in the state ment that the people of Upper Canada were opposed to the address which had been presented to the Governor- General, and, in his person, to her Majesty; but he be lieved that the Governor-General had taken that course which he believed to be most just, and which, .being most just, would be attended with the m ost popularity.—(The Hon. Member was here frequently interrupted by cries. " Time, time," amidst which he resumed his seat.) Mr. GLADSTONE rase, and said that this debate was of so important a character that he thought it ad visable that the House should not be precipitate in deal ing with the question. He should then propose either that the debate be adjourned to tha t da y se'nnight, or that his Right Hon. Friend should withdraw his motion. Mr. HERRIES said he made his motion on the con dition that it the Noble Lord would give his assurance that the Government would adopt some mode of inquiry by which a distinction was to be drawn between the par ties claiming' compensation, he would not press it. Mr. BROTHEHTON was here understood to move the adjournment of the debate. Lord J. RUSSELL . could not accede to the proposi tion of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Herries), that he should provide some mode by which the persons who aided in the rebellion might be distinguished, and if there should be any mode by which the Canada Bill was to be altered the Right Hon. Gentleman should himself find out that mode. With respect to the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Oxford, be certainly was taken by surprise by it. But if the Right Hon. Member would withdraw his motion, and bring forwatd another—(Conservative cries of " No, no")—or if, on the other hand, the Right Hon. Gentlemahwould go on, he (Lord John Russell) thought it right that the House should at once come to a decision upon the question; It the House thought proper to divide he had no objection, but if not let the debate be adjourned till to-morrow, (this day). Mr. DISRAELI said that proceedings of a very ex traordinary character had occurred in a very important colony, and it was not to be surprised at that the House, of Commons should take those extraordinary proceedings into consideration. A Right Hon. Gentleman, who had , been Secretary for the Colonies, bad broug ht forward a" motion on this sabjeet, and were they now, after having heard the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and the reply to it of the First Minister of the Crown, to abandon their motion? They would do nothing of the kind, and he assured the Noble Lord that they would neither withdraw their motion nor shrink from a division. Mr. V. SMITH thought that the most straightforward course for the Right lion. Gentleman the Member for Harwich to pursue would be to have given a formal no • tine of his motion. BAKES understood Mr.Brothertoh to threaten the' adjournment of this debate, but he told that, Hon. Gentleman, who was now, it appeared, about to appear in a eervile character in support of the Government, that they would not be defeated by any such attempt, and th at if they were to divide on any question he hoped i: would be on the question submitted by his Right Ho.". Friend, from which, he assured the House, they woult: not shrink. Mr. BROTHERTON assured the Hon. Gentleman that he did not appear in any servile character on this or any other question; but when he was charged with giv ing his support to any party in that House, he thought he was right in giving it to his own friends.—(Hear, and much laughter.) Mr. F. MAC KENZIE inquired when the budget would he brought on, supposing the debate was ad journed ? RUSSE'LL--On .yriday (this day) week 1 / 4 Cries of " Divide, divide," and much contusion.) Lord.MAUON, tkonsidered that the Hon. Member ,or Salford would do 'well, looking at . the temper Of the House; to renew his i siotidn.—(Cheers, arid " Oh, ob."). The gallery was thou - cleared for a division. On our admission we found, Mr. DISRAELI addressing the House, and stating that it was evidently tlie intention of the majority of th 9 House to come to a divieion - , and he , trusted such division vvOuld'take place.--(Cries of "'Oh, oh !" and confusionZ) The Right Hon. Gectlerrian the Member for . StainfOrd spoke on it ; the Hon. IStember for Sheffield, who had a locus standi in such a debate, also spoke; and, consider ing that the packet was about to sail on the following day, the question ought to be decided. Mr. GLADSTONE solemnly and earnestly adjured the House not to come to a decision on so vital a ques Lion without consulting the feelings of thousands of their fellow-subjects, who were far from them. He had sub mitt ed his motion because the honour of the Crown de manded it; but every other step taken ought not to be taken without great deliberation, and a division come to persons who did not hear the debate. — (Hear, hear.) The Honourable Member for Buck inghamshire alluded to him • and to his state ment; but two-thirds of those now present did not hear what. he said, or what fell from the 'Ncble Lord; and if the. Hon. Member wore really anxious for the pro gress of public business, lie ought tolake care to do nothing wlAich would hereafter embarrass the business of the country.. Mr. ROEBUCK believed that a great deal of the re sponsibility rested with the Right Hon. Gentleman him self, for he must have foreseen that the necessary conse quence of his m otion was a division. It was not the first time that the R." , ght Hon. Gentleman brought forward motions of a sinailar kind and then withdrew them. For his own pa,''t he believed many Hon. Members went away under thm impression that no division would take place. The House then divided on the question of adjourn ment, when there appeared— For the adjournment of the debate... 172 Against it .......................... 107 Blajority .......................... —65 The debate was then adjourned until to-morrow. The Sunday Trading (Metropolis) Bill was read a second time. The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill went through Committee and the report was ordered to be received on Monday, the 18th inst. The Turnpike Roads (Ireland) Bill was read a se cond time and ordered to committed. The Assaults (Ireland) Bill, the General and Quar ter Sessions Bill, the Sewers Acts Amendment (No. 2) Bill, the Small Debt Courts (Scotland) Bill, and the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Bill were severally read a second time. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the Qua lification and Registration of Voters (Ireland) Bill. and - the Elections and Polling Places (Ireland) Bill, were ordered to be read a second time that day three months. The amendments to the County Cess (Ireland) Bill Were considered and agreed to. The Loan Societies Bill went through Committee. The Tenants at Rack Rent Relief Bill, and the At torneys and Solicitors (Ireland) Bill, were read a third time and passed. 11/fr. J. O'Connell Was called upon by the SPEAKER,' to propose the .motion of which he had given notice, re lative to the publicity of the proceedings of the House, but the Hon. Member did not answer. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then moved for the appoint ment of a Select Committee to consider the present prac tice of the House in respect to the exclusion of strirgers. Agree,' to. Mr. HAYTER obtained leave to bring in a Bill to contiuue certain of. the allowances of the duty of 'Excise on soap used in manu , netures. Mr. NAPIER obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend, the law of process in the superior courts o f com mon law in Ireland. The House adjourned at Twenty Minutes to Two - ST. DOAKINGO..w—THO HAGUE, JUNE 12.--LYester day a -viosei arrived here.-from St. Domingo, bringing the infelligence'of 'the Complete defeat of the Vaytian military power on the frontiers of St. Domingo. The . letters bringing this intelligence were dated April 3Q, and state that General Santana, with an army of 800, attacked the Hayden army on the 22d of April, at Sa vanna Numero, where, after a fearful slaughter, they were completely routed. The Domingians gave no quarter, consequently they took no prisoners of war; but the number of the enemy's dead who remained on the field were not less than 600. Three generals and se veral superior Haytian officers were killed. The Do mingians fought most valiantly; finding their muskets quite useless, they' threw them down, and made an attack sword in hand.. This unexpected attack threw the Hay dans into confusion. After the engagement the Hay tians fell back to Azera, and after reducing the' city to teJles, - they recrossed the Haytian boundary. ! - REPORTED APPEARANCE OS CHOLERA IN MAN CHESTER.--A case of cholera was reported by the police to have occurred in Manchester on Sunday, which proved fatal. The deceased wast e man of colour, of puglistic fame, and was kno wn by name of Jemmy Rob i nson, or Norley's Pet," and he was under training at the • " time at a beerhouSe in Redfern-street. A case is also reported to •have occurred in Eccles, five miles from Manchester; last wetek; but in both these instances (if they:were real cases of Asiatic cholera) the parries ap pear to have predisposed themselves to such attacks by great irregularity and imprudence in their manner of living. THE HoziG•KONO FEVER.—The scourge most dreaded in China is the fever termed the Hong 'Kong fever which has proved more fatal than cholera morbus. 'The temperate and intemperate become alike the victim of this dreadful fever, which ge nerally commences with slight head-ache, gradually increasing until the whole head is so tender that I no part can bear its own weight or pressure on the pillow without agony. During the recovery from fever, the great danger to be apprehended arises from the extreme debility, and dysentery which invariably follow in the few cases which have not terminated fatally; and the inroads and ravages upon the constitution,which are made by this fever, are terrible, the general system is shattered, and febrile attacks frequently recur, the limbs and joints feel .debi litated and unable to support the weight of the body; in fact, we conscientiously affirm, and believe, speakihg from experience, that the constitution never regains ite pristine vigour after an attack ,of Hong ! liong China and the Chinese. • We regret to announce the severe indisposition of Lord Godolphin, who, we are . -given to . understandj'i! suffering severely from rupture of u blood-iesiolt - THE CA LEDO-M/1. • We owo our readers an apology fer haVing so long re; -4 . eyed the publication of any notice .of. the above:brill. ii ' afa „festival. ,We are. happy float to.hare i' l. ,in onr power to . e'ecerd a result far more successful to the goed cause in whi.,h its promoters are engaged than has fallen to our lot for sosm° years past. The receipts for, tickets exceeded by neari,v 2501. the amount, realised at the last anniversary, and, par' consequence, the excellent charities in behalf of which the reunion is got up 'are propor tionately benefited. The ladies patroneses worked most strenuously and successfully, and, aided by the inde fatigable treasurer, Captain Forbes, there was nothing left , undone in the entire arrangements which could by pos- - , sibility add to the enjoyment of all those who patroniSed' the ball. The far-famed Willis's Rooms .vote . - never seen :to greater advantage. All the appliances that good to to and profuse expenditure could - bestbw were lavis ed i ii with an unsparing hand, and the ball-room, when it u-• tninated and graced with the presence of the ladies int tronesses, presented a scene of the most gorgeous mag nificence. . The ladies patronesses, true to their advertised pro gramme, assembled at ten o'clock. Among those preskit we observed— The Duchess of Norfork, the Duchess of Richmond, the Duchess of l3uccleuch, the Duchess of Montrose, the Duchess of Roxburghe, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Marchioness of Breadal bane, the Lady Elizabeth Drummond, the Countess of Morton, the Countess of Eglinton, the Countess of gin; noull, the Countess of &afield, the Countess of Rose bery, the Countess of Minto, the Countess of Verulam, the Countess of Camperdown, the Lady Blanch Balfour, the Lady Agnes Duff, the Lady Mary Christopher, the Lady Elcho, the Lady Dalmeny, the Lady Anne • Mac kenzie, the Lady Anno charteris, the Lady A. G. Hally- 1 burton; 'the Lady Willoughby de Eresby; the Lady Ruthven, the Countess de Flahault, the Lady Cariogton, the Baroness Stratheden, the Hon. Lady Duff, the Hon. Mrs. Ferguson of Pitiour; Mrs. Macleod of Maeleod, , Bo.' . The boys and girls educated in the Caledonian Asybim arrived at the rooms at nine o'c lo c k, and took up their. station in 'the lower room, through which the company passed. Their appearance, as usual, excited great inte rest, and we are bound to add that a more healthy set of z' lads and lassies" we never looked upon. The stair -_ ease, as usual, was lined with stalwart Highlanders, each bearing claymores and battle. axes of Most colossal di meniions. The pipers of the late Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Sutherland, the Duke of Argyll, and Captain Forbes were also in attendance. . . At half- past ten o'clock .the ladies patronesses' en tered the ball-room and took their seats on a dais at the upper ends 4 the apartment. Their , entry, was greeted by the band, under the direction of Herr Strauss, playing A popular air. .. Immediately afterwards,' ' ~ ' '- .." THE Duenkss OF RoXEDNCHE's QUADRILLE : was formed by the following ladies and gentlemen Lady C. Gordon Lennox Marquis of Abercorn . Lady A.:Gordon Lennox ; Sir James Mackenzie ! ' Lady Rachel Russell ... Marquis of Douglas Lady Alice Douglas Marquis of Stafford: Lady Frances Hay Lady Elizabeth Melville Cluny Macpherson Lady Louisa Primrose Mr. Campbell, jun. (of Iblay.) Lady Louisa Murray ' Hon. Mr. Scarlett Lady Charlotte Elliot Mr. Pringle . ' Lady Elizabeth Duncan Hon. Miss De Flahault Hon. Miss Campbell ~ Hon. Mr. Grant:• H on. Miss Charteris ' Sir Robert Menzies • Miss Kennedy Erskine - Miss -- Kennedy Erskine Miss Whyte Melville .. Miss Fletcher, Miss Elphinstone Mr. Menzies Miss Drummond Mr. Riddell Miss Riddell... The ladies in this quadrille were principally attired in white, and each wore a plaid scarf over the shoulder. Among the costumes we observed none, more elegant than that of Lady Francis Hay i who were a wreath of heather blossoms, and looked a perfect Highland beauty. The gentlemen wore either the kilt or full military uni form; the latter perhaps predominating. The Marquis of Abercorn, the Marquis of Douglas, Lord James Mur ray, -and ,11r 4 Campbell (of Islay) were each _ magnifi cently attired in their respective plaida. • ' After this quadrille had been danced the children edu. , cated In the Caledonian Asylum" entered",the room, headed by the Duke ,of Roxburghe, the Marquis of Huntley, the Marquii of Douglas, the Marquis of Aber corn, and Captain FoAes. , The . dense crowd which at this time thronged every portion of tho bill-room ren dered it a matter of some difficulty for the little urchins to make the circuit of the apartment. This, however, having been at length accomplished, , ; t The Ladies 'Patronesses' Quadrille...(Under the direcr, sjoe.9, the Lady, ,Marian Alf`ord) - Was formed by, the followingladies and gentlemeh:' ' ' ' Hon. Miss Macdonald Lady Lucy Herbert Lady Harriet Anson .... Mr. Macdonald Lady AdelizaFitzalan Howard Earl of Fowls Miss Sutton. Miss Fox. Mr. Knightley Miss Haslear . . Mr. Egerton Lady Margaret Compton ...... Prince Richard Metternich Princess Metternich ,Miss Ellis. . Viscount Malden , , Miss Wallis Lord Bateman Lady Dorothy Fitzwilliam Viscount Eastnor Lady Albreda Fitzwilliam Mr. Liddell The ladies in this quadrille wore pink dresses trimmed with white roses, a costume which had a remarkably chaste and pretty effect. LADY ANNE MA.CHENZIE ' S REELS were danced as follows: Reel, No. 1. Lady Rachel Russell... Lady Alice Douglas Reel, No. 2. Lady Charlotte Elliott Lady Elizabeth Duncan_ _Lord James Murray Reel, No. 3. Lady Harriet Elliot Hon. Miss Charteris Sir Robert Menzies Reel, No. 4. Hon. Miss Louisa Charteris Mr. Fletcher. Miss Elphinstene Reel, No. 5. Miss Ferguson (of Pitfour) Miss Fletcher Reel, No. 6. Miss E. Ferguson (of Pitfour) lion. Lewis Grant Miss Galloway ........ .... Mr. C. R. Mackenzie Reel, No. 7. Miss Riddell Miss Grant (of Glenmoriston) Mr. J. S. Forbes. The costumes of the ladies who took part in these reels were not particularised by any especial feature, many of the ladies having danced in the previous qua drille. All, however, wore the distinguishing plaid of their respective clans. The bagpipes were led by John Macbeth, piper to the Duke of Sutherland. The excellent regulation of the Ladies Patronesses, to admit no gentleman unless attired in fancy costume, was rigidly enforced; but it is right to state that the " Penny Post," or Windsor uniform—in other words, a piece of red cloth sewn over the collar of the coat — was very generally adopted by the majority of the rougher sex. Atter the above set dances had been gone through, the ball was commenced by the general company, and the festivities were kept up with so much spirit that it was nearly five o'clock before the orchestra was allowed to depart. The company included a very large number of the leading members of the aristocracy; and altogether we do not remember a more successful reunion for some time past. METROPOLIS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—SO many thousands of our countrymen are ou of employment, especially in the building trade, in this overgrown city, and there is such a general stagnation in the commerce and trade of the interior of our country, that alMost any scheme for the revival of active employ ment for the labouring classes should be patronized by the wealthy and respectable portion of the public. I would beg permission, through the medium of your journal, to advocate the resumption of a few useful and admirable undertakings in the way of improvement and embellishment of this metropolis, which were suspended so impoliticly in consequence of the thoughtless, foolish, and unnecessary panic that pervaded all classes three years back, when the best and most legitimate specula tions were stopped in the vortex of the most ruthless and s hamefully fraudulent schemes ; when ruin fell upon thousands, and a certain few made princely fortunes. Of ornamental and highly useful projects, I would strongly advocate the revival of the Holborn-bridge Company, the Bank of England Approaches Company, and the Regent's Canal Railway Company. With respect to the first of these projects, u, spacious viaduct from the summit of Skinner-street, to cross the valley to Holborn-hill, on a level with New-gate street, might be a very great ornament to the City, an immense saving of thousands of valuable horses, and so great a convenience to the public as to be almost in appreciable. Ask the tired male and female pedes trians when they are dragging their weary limbs on a hot sunny day up these hills what they think Of the scheme ? Ask the heavy-laden porter whether he would prefer the half measure of Ilfr. Jeffrey's plan for raising the ground sixteen feet, or the level v i a d uc t o f twenty five feet ? Who can doubt hi s answer. I t would be, " Give me the viaduct." With respect to the Bank Approaches Company, if it were now revived and a compromise come to between the City and their opponents on this subject, the enter prise could not fail of meeting with public favour and support, and turning out a very successful improvement. The plan was to form a couple of spacious arcades be tween Lothbury and London Wall, having a glazed roof, shops on the ground floor, and counting-houses and sleeping apartments above ; it would bo a general and cheerful rendezvous and attraction to thousands obliged to visit the City for business in wet weather, or for pleasure when dry. Nothing appears more incongruous to a foreigner, or to a visitor from the provinces, than those narrow, crooked, dark, inconvenient, ill-ventilated, and miserable : lo? king lanes (Little Bell-alley, Sic. &c.), in close proximity to the handsome national builh d ile ings the e pr ank ed passag es of England and Royal Exchange ; wos would form a splendid communication with Finsbury square and Circus. With respect to the Regent's Canal Railway, the Bill was opposed in Parliament through the di-like to the line entering the private grounds and gardens in the Regent's Park. Now it would answer every purpose if y_ wen t no further than to the vicinity of t c h u o m r b a e i r l whit:id- m arket. A railway along the Regent's Canal is much wanted for the thousands of daily pas sengers who would go to the Park, the Polytechnic, and other attractions thereabouts, which would pay well for its construction, but who never will be tempted to go so far out of their way as to travel by the Birming ham and East India . Junction Railway. • • COMOS. HE -RO-Y-A-L-GrEN-E SO(.IIETY.-->TORTIZCOSIINGr . FANCY" FAIR. Yesterday evening, by the politeness.of Mr. Stephen J. Aldrich,. the indeftigable sPeretary . ,ef this excellent So • cietj, and of Mr. - D. Brewster, One of its friends, we had an opportunity afforded us of inspecting the extensive and imposing preparations which are being made for the ap proaching fancy pale, which is ,to be holden on Tuesday, Wednesday, - , and Thursday next, in aid of the funds of the charity, in the new -room, 58, Baker-street, Port man-square. : The principal room, ‘ which is by far the largest 'we have seenin this metropolis, has been fitted up for the occaPion With singularly good taste, under the direction of Mr. Brewster, the gentleman to whom we have luded. There ; are ,twenty-eight stalls in the whole, eleven of which ate placed along each side of the room, and sit . thus occupy.the centre. The Walls. are lined with'a beautiful drapery of red and white, and from the lofty arched ceiling float soma fifty chOice naval bannera from the Tower of Loudon, forming altogether a spectacle unusually imposing. An adjacent apartment, with a siiitelous gallery, is'assigned to the exhibition of paintings, some of them; we under stand, of rare merit, wlaich have been presented to the society by artists. The lady stall-keepers and donors on the occasion will be the Duchess of Leeds, the Duchess of Marlborough, the Lady. Charlotte Denison, the Countess Talbot, the Countess Manvers, the Countess of Harrowby, the Countess of Verulam, the Countess of Stradbroke, the Countess of Annesley, the Viscountess Sydney, the Viscountess Combermere, the Vise untu ss Dungannon,' the Lady Fanny Howard, the Lady,Caroline Lane Fox, the Hon. Miss Lane Fox, the Lady Charlotte Bathurst, the Lady Selsey, the Hun. Miss Vernon, the Lady Mac • naghten, the Lady Rodd, the Lady Blake, and the Hon. - Mrs. Milner Gibson.. The sale will consist of useful and ornamental work, paintings,. drawings, , ,music, prints, books, autographs, minerals,. s h e ll s fl ow ers, fruit, bota nical and a gr ea t var i ety 'of light articles of manufactured goods. . Such_is an outline of the preparations which are being made for the approaching . fancy sale on behalf of this society, which is one of thelnost admirable and benevo lent in this metropolis. The Royal General Annuity Society was founded in 1827, and has for its patron her Majesty the, Queen. , It has for its great object the granting annuities Jo decayed merchants, bankers, pro fessional men; master manufacturers, - tradesmen, their widows and clerks, and to single females, their daughters, from all parts of the United Kingdom.. There are at present thirty pensioners on tbe , charity chosen from the classes just named, and five others will be elected in Jetty next. To the'inale pensioners an annuity of 271. each is granted, and to the females an annuity of 13/. each; and it is one of the features of this admirable charity that ,the recipients of its bounty are not pre cluded from accepting relief from any other quarter. Theoclass of persons whom the society seeks toaid have an especial claim on the humane regards of their fellow men, for they, perhaps, of all the children of penury and misfortune, feel the most acutely the depressing circum stances and - associations of adverse and altered fortune. Poverty ceases to wound the sensibilities of those whose lives have been begun and inured ,to nothing else. Not so with those whom this society, seeks to aid. When poverty overtakes the individual nursed in the lap of ease and afilince, he may say, in the eloquent language of Jaflier,-- . • "There's not a wretch that lives on common bounty But is happier far than I; For I have known the luscious sweets of plenty." Some idea may be formed of the strange vicissitudes of fortune, if that were wanting, from the statement we heard from the lips of the secretary of this society yes terday evening, namely, that there are eighty-four can didates for the five annuities which are to be granted in July nest, and that among them are four daugh ters of clergymen, the daughter of a baronet, se veral merchants, and two widows of bankers. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. HAMPTON RACES.—THURSDAY. Our anticipations with regard to the attendance yes terday were more than realised; it was great beyond al precedent. The railway, of course, absorbed the lion's share of the traffic; " monster" trains were started from the Waterloo-bridge station, from nine o'clock in the morning 'until between two and three, with as much iii pidity as -the safety of the public rendered expedient, and so well were they arranged that beyond a squeeze at the statjpn, po inconveniet:ce was sustained, and the majority reaphed the course in tithe for the first race; some hnndieds, howeier, - Who had not read the an nobncement that the first race would come off at half past one, did not get, to the greund till after it was run. Tl2e.xoad we§ not deserted; on the contrary, we ques tion If on' any preiimis occasion it has been - so thronged. The steaM-bouts were also welt patronized to some ex tent, and to those with whom time was no object, and dust not a desideratum, they .proved far more agreeable than either rail or road. The assemhlage, we repeat, was enormous, insomuch that, although the managers of the races had so far acted upon our suggestion as to in crease the number of the police, it was obvious that fifty or a hundred more ought to have been employed; the impediments in the running ground at the back of the course in the early part of the afternoon were com plained of, and with great reason, by the jockies—that they escaped without accident is miraculous. From the experience of what the railway has done fur these races, the lessees will, we presume, take care in future to pre vent any cause of complaint on this head. The racing was remarkably good from first to last, and, notwith standing the difficulty of clearing the course, was brought to a close without an accident by half-past six o'clock. Taking the meeting altogether, we may compliment Mr. Hibbard - and his aid de-camp Mr. Walton, on the successful commencement of their administration; that they have pleased the public does not admit of a doubt, and that the " influentials" of the turf are satisfied, is proved by the acceptance of the Stewardship for 1850 by the Marquis of Exeter and Sir Joseph Hawley. The Claremont Stakes of 10 soya, 5 ft. with 25 added; for two year old colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bat 41b. Half a mile. Major Martyn's Blondette Mr. Steven's Knight of Gwynne (Crickmere) 2 Mr. J. S. Douglas's The Ballet Girl ... (W. Abdale) 3 Lord Strathmore's Secondhand . (Wakefield) 4 Betting-5 to 4 agst Knight of Gwynne, and 6to 4 agst Blondette. No others backed. . Blondette made all the running, and, after a very severe race up the distance with the favourite, won by a neck. The Ballet Girl a bad third. A Plate of 40 soya., added to a sweepstake of 5 sovs. each; three-year olds, 7st 21b; four, Bst 71b; five, 9st; six, and aged, 9st 21b; mares and geldings, allowed 31b; winners, extra. The winner to be sold for 100 sovs., if demanded, &c. Heats, once round. Mr. Greville's Puffy, 3 yrs ... (Dockeray) 0 0 1 1 Mr, Drinkald's The Dark Lady, 3 . yrs Mr. Kirkby's Chorister, 3 yrs. (J. 13alshin) 1 0 0 3 Count Batthyany's Lepidus, 3 yrs (Weaver) 0 2 2 Mr. Southhy's Conveyancer, 4 yrs 0 0 3 Mr. Webb's Cybele, 4 yrs ... (Crickmere) 0 0 0 Mr. Smith's Lovelace, 4 yrs (J. Sharpe) 0 0 0 Betting—First Heat-6 to 4 agst Puffy, and 3to 1 agat Dark Lady. Won by a head, Puffy and Lovelace, making a dead heat for second. Durdans was weighed for and mounted, but was drawn lame. Second Heat-2 to 1 agst Chorister, 3to 1 agst Dark Lady, and 4to 1 apt Puffy. Won by half a neck. Third Heat-6 to 4on Dark Lady, and 4to 1 agst Puffy. Won in a canter. Fourth Heat-4 to 1 on Puffy, who won by about twenty lengths. The Scurry Stakes of 10 sovs each, h ft Gentlemen riders; professionals allowed to ride by carrying 5 lb extra. One mile.. Mr. John'a New Forest Deer, aged . , 12st 71b 1 Lord Strathmore's Spectator, aged, 12st. Sir J. MalColm's Miss Burn's aged, 12st 71b 3 Mr. Roll's Cosachia, 5 yrs, 12st 10Ib 0 Mr. Dawson's St. Oswald, 5 yrs, 12st 21b Mr. Rowley's Bellenden, 4 yrs, I Ist 81b Mr. Hobson's Passion Flower, 4 yrs, list lib 0 Mr. Hussey's Merry Andrew, 5 yrs, lOst 81b.... - 0 Mr. Hussey's The Ploughman, aged, lost 81b ... 0 Betting-6 to 4. agst New Forest Deer-4 to I agst Cosachits, 6 to 1 agst Ploughman, 4 to 1 agst Passion Flower, and 5 - to 1 agst any other. Passion Flower, with Merry Andrew, Cosachia, and St. Oswald in waiting, out out the 'work to the half,tnile post, where it was taken up by Miss Burns, who went on with it to the distance; there Spectator' and NeW Forest Deer joined Miss Barns, and a close race ensued, New. Forest Deer winning by a neck; the same between second and third, Passion FlOiyer.:EOurth. • Queen's Plate of 100 guineas; 'three yrs old, 7st 51b; four, 9st' llb; five; 9st 111 b ; six and aged, lOst 21b; - the winner to be; sold-for 500 sovs. if demanded, &e. Heats, two miles. . ti M r r . . ,N E. e t e C e l F ar id k d e l s es G tr i i s n e g ll , e 6 , 6 y y rs rs (Hornsby,. M jun.) ann) Sir J. Hawley's Marlbrook, 3. yrs l2 1 2 Lurd , Exeter's Gardenia,.4 yrs ...(Bartholomew) 3 4 (11. Bell) 0 3 Mr. Bolt's .Cosachia, 5, yrs. ...(Pettit) odr Mr. Death's Antagonist, 5 yri (Wakefield) odr First Heat-7 to 4 agat Antagonist, 3to 1' agat Marl brook, and 4 to 1 each agst; Gardenia good race between Marlbrook .and .piselle. Won by half a length, Gardenia a bad third. Second ireat.-2 to 1 on Marlbrook. Won by a short head. Fiddlestring a bad third. -2 Sweepstakes of 3 toys. each; 1 ft, with 25 ,added, for 3-yr olds : and upwards. Three - quarter s o f a mite. Sir G. Heathcote's Valentina; 4 yrs,' Bat 41b Mr. John's New Forest I D ow ee e r r , ; - ag ed, s 7 l st ( i a b k fi el . d . ) . 3 2 Mr. Hobsons 4 . Bell) 0 Bst 4lbs (S Mann) 0 Mr. Drew's Tamar ind, 4 y rs, 7st 121 b ...(Balkia) 0 DMr. D,Ewrsonsnt',ss Mr. Hussey's The Plou g hman, aged, 7st 41b SPirt"oOOsdweraalfdt9, 5 4 Y ;r B ;, 9" Mr. Price's Lysimachus, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (Weaver) 0 Mr. Tilbury's The Briar, 3 yrs, Est ...(E. Sharp) 0 Mr. Darcy'a Busy Foot, Est (Waketield, jun.) 0 Betting.- 6 to 4 agst New Forest Deer, 4to 1 agat Lysimachns, and 5 to 1 each agst Woodcraft, Busy Foot, Seraph, and Valentina. Won by half a length. BETTING ON THE COURSE. GOODWOOD STAKES. 6to I agst Ld. Exeter's lot 25 to 1 agst Clermont 20 to 1 agst Chanticleer 25 to I agst Executor 25 to 1 agst Remembrancer The other favourites as on Wednesday. GOODWOOD CUP. 4 to I taken about Tadmor. NEWTON RACES.—THURSDAY. ~- .. ... 2 -Mr.-Stewart's Bst-21b-- - Won by a head. , The St. Leger Stakes, of 10 soys. each, and 100 added. • One . mile and hale. (25 Subs.) Lord Stanley's Strongbow (W. Oates) 1 Mr. J. Bateman's Strychnine 2 The following al.o ran :—Mr. Jones's Magician, Lord Caledon's Harry the Dghtb, Mr. B. Grcen's Garrick, Mr. -Fowler's_ Giusti, Mr. Standisies.Gandy, M. C. Hall's Ada Mary, Sir H. Bulkeley's Meledy, Mr. Critch ley's Sir Henry. Hardinge, Mr. Buckley's. Lady Mar garet, Mr. Thompson's . Fencer, and Mr. Lawson's Caurire. Won- a Non-by ahead. _ The Borough Cup, of 200 soya., added to handicap of 20 goys. each, 10 'ft, and 5 only if declared.. Two miles and a half. (34 Subs., 17 of Wliodltti6lti f fed.) )sir. 13..Grreen'-§ WestoW.3yra,-sst 1.11b:- F ri i .(Shatp) 1 Mr. Barton's Smuggler Bill, 6 yrs, 7st ... 2 Mr. Clarke's Maid of Lyme, 6 yrs, 7st 101b::.-- .-.. 3 Mr. Sttibbings's.gaif.on,4 yr5,.7461b (Wintringham) 0 Mr. Sharratt's Egret, 4 yrs, 7st ... „.(Ryder) 0 Won bya bead. Maid of Lymevaa-'a gold third, and Milton beaten off. . The Plate of .501. Heats, one mile and a half. Mr. Grimes's Anthony, 3 yrs, sst 111 b (Sharpe) 1 1 Mr. J. o.,borne's Pity the Blind, 3 yrs, 6st - 0 2 Mr. Shelmerdine's Lanercosta, 3 yrs, sst Illb ... 2 3 Mr. Thompson's b fby Gladiator, 3 yrs, sst 1111 s .0 dr Mr. J. Clarke's The Stunner, 3 yrs, 6st ... 0 dr COURT CIRCULAR. At the Queen's state ball, at Buckingham Palace, a Scotch reel was danced at one o'clock yesterday morning, in which the Marqui, of Breadalbene, the Marquis of Douglas, Cluny M ac ph erson , Si r Michael Shaw Stewart, Mr. Dundas, Miss Baillie,,Hon. Lucy Kerr, Ludy R. Rus sall, Lady C. Elliot, and other Ladies and Gentlemen, joined. Mr. Mackay, her Majesty's piper, attended. The Queen took a drive in an open carriage and four yesterday, accompanied by their Royal-Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Priticepi'Alice, and attended by the Hon. Lucy Kerr. Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Equerry in Waiting, attended oh horseback. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Col. Bouverie. 'visited the Society of Arts in John-street, Adelphi, yesterday. Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Helena, and the Princess Louisa, took their usual exercise yesterday. The Queen had a dinner party yesterday. The com pany included her ROyal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their Excellencies the,Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, Lady Augusta Bruce,: Baroness de Speth, Mr. G. E. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Lord George Len nox, the Hon. Mrs. C. Phipps, General the. Hon. Arthur Upton, and Sir George Couper. _— In the evening a concert, was performed i n:Bucking ham Palace before her Majesty and Prince Albert and the Royal circle, by the following eminent performers— Madlle. Charton, Miss Kate Loder, Mrs. Anderson Madlle. Neruda, Herr Pischek, Signor Bottesini, and M: Demeur. Her Majesty's private band was also in at tendance. The following was the programme of the concert:— PART L Overture, " Figaro" ... Mozart. Ballade, Ballade, " Die susse Bell," Herr Pisch e k B Kre maernt b hd s. ol Andante and allegro vivace (from Con certo in G minor), pianoforte, Mi ss Kate Loder Air, "Ah quel nuit," Madlle. Charton (Le Domino Noir) Auber. Concerto, Violin, Willhelmine Neruda... De Beriot. Arie, " Du, die mit holder Grazie," Herr Pischek (Zimpa) Herold. PART 11. Le Carnival de Venise, contra basso, Signor Bottesini Paganini. Melodie, "Le Lae," Madlle. Charton Niedermever. Lieder ohne Worte, Pianaforte, Miss K. Mendelssohn Loder ..• 1 Bartholdy. Ballade, " Die dray Liebehen," Herr Pischek ... Speyer. Air, " Entendez vows sons ce feuillage" (Le Rosignol), Madlle. Charton; flute oblige, M, Demeur National Bohemian Airs, Herr Piscbek. Mrs. Anderson presided at the pianoforte. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess:of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of • Mecklenburg Strelitz, attended by Lady Augusta Ca dogan and Mr. Edmond Mildmay, honoured th. Earl and Countess, ot Wilton with their company at dinner yesterday evening, at their residence in Grosvenor square. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester Housp, • The'Earl of Minto - gitve a dinner to the Cabinet Mi nisters on Wednesday evening, at his residencein Eaton square. ViscOnnt •de, Mpncorvo, the Portugtiese Minister, transeCtea brisineds yesterday; at the Foreign-office. Bailies Melville and Stott, of Edinburgh, accompa nied by Mr. Sinclair, City Clerk, had art interview yes terday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of the stamp duty on receipts for merchants' and tradesmen's accounts. They were accompanied by Mr. Cowan, M.P. Lebrun. Mr. Pilkington, M.P., and Mr. James Heywood bad an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial office. Mr. Beckett Denison had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday. Sir John Edwards, Bart., and Mr. Hodges, had also interviews yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet, at the Home•oflice. Captain R. Rich, Mr. Tyas, and Mr. Townsend, had an interview with the Earl of Carlisle, yesterday, at the Office of her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forego. it William Somerville, Bart., Chief Secretary for Ireland, entertained the following party at dinner, on W(dnesday evening, at his residence in Lowndes square:—The Earl of Howth, the Earl of Mouutcharles, Count Strelitz, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor• General for Ireland, Mr. Cornwall Lewis, Mr. Brien, Captain Dawson, Captain Barclay, Captain Henry Pon sonby, A.D.C., Mr. Brand, Mr. Clements, and Mr Meredyth. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Curedon Stakes, of 10 soup.;;Zi,s ft, and 25 added. One mile and a half. Gentlemen riders. (4 Subs.) Mr. Barton's Smuggler Bill, aged, llst 71b. Capt. White 1 Mr. Walter's Cavendish, aged, l Ist 101 b .„ 2 Won easy. The Drawing-Room Stakes, of 10 sovs. each, and 15 added ; for two-year olds. Straight half mile. (3 Subs ) Mr. Stindisli'd Duxbury, Bst 71 b ••• • (Holmes) 1 CAPTAIN URVIIART, OF THE ROYAL MARINES...—. We are now enabled to announce that the Admiralty, with the concurrence of the Duke of Wellington, has recommended to her Majesty the restoration of Captain Urquhart to his former rank in the Royal Marine Corps, and to be placed on the reserved half-pay list during pleaqure. DEVONPORT, WEDNESDAY.—The news from the American Eagle and the two hulks to-day is more favour able—no death, and the sick getting better. To THE MEMORY OF THE LATE VICE•ADMIRAL Ross.— About a week since a tablet to the memory of the late Vice-Admiral Warren was fixed in the Dock yard Chapel, Devonport. On Tuesday an answer was received from the Admiralty that their Lordships had readily granted the request of the friends of Admiral Ross, and that a tablet to his memory might also be placed in the chapel. Paymaster and Purser James Moore Hobbs (1839), who was superseded a few days since, in the Cleopatra, 26, in consequence of severe illness, died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, on the 9th inst., at the early age of 41 years. The Castor, 36, Commodore Wyvill, was towed from Chatham to Sheerness on Wednesday afternoon, by the Pigmy and Advice steamers. It is expected she will proceed to Plymouth this day, accompanied by the Sampson steam-frigate, where she will be paid her asl vanee, preparatory to proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope. The Searlower, 6, Lieutenant-Commander Warren, will be ready for sea, at Portsmouth, to-morrow. The Cyclops, 6, steam frigate, Captain the Hon. O. G. F. Hastings, arrived at Ascension, April ,20, from the llght of Benin. The following officers came home passengers in the Grappler:—The Rev. William Bell, 8.A., late chaplain of the Tortoise, to join the Superb, 80; Mr. Wickham, paymaster and purser, late of the Tortoise, term of ap pointment expired; Mr. Morgan, assistant surgeon, in valided; Mr. Legh, Mate of the Pluto; Mr. Norman, First Lieutenant 01 the Alert; Lieutenant Morris, of the Tortoise, to join the Favourite (paid off); and Mr. Ray mond, Second Master, late in command of the Snap tender. The Shearwater, 3, steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander Tumour, having landed the crew that navigated the Sylvia from Portsmouth to Cork, left Portsmouth yes terday for Devonport, where she will embark supernu meraries and stores. and will return to Cork. The Hermes steam-vessel at Woolwich, is again is hand. The authorities are surveying her, and are or dered to finish by the 30th June. (1 11 84 ° 77 i s : t a o p u p T oi n n , ted Tia t u o n i s he na.—Coram2l:ldeT T Ranger, 10, at Devonpor t, service on the coast of Africa. Com mander was it ho i s i e M r i l f l o er r subsequently Caledonia, C. 8., in China, and first of the 120, when in the experimental squadron; an officer who Fl ag -Li e utenant to Rear-Admiral Sir. Thos. Cochrane, has availed himself o f ever y o pp ortunit y of acquiring practical knowledge in his profession by voluntarily in experimental vessels, &c. His last trip f or which he l e ft a t Gibraltar, being charged with dispatches f rom Sir Chu. s e t r u u d is y in w g .as in the Reynard screw-sloop, Napier to the Admiralty. Mr. John Bythcsea (seniority, J an . 6, 1648), now in the Pilot, 12, in China; and Mr. Frederick Jones Pro.- theroe (seniority Jan. 12, 1848), now in the Racer, 12, in the Mediterranean, mates, have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Mr. William Graham, mate, late of the Bellerophon, has been appointed Acting Lieutenant pro. tem. The vessel detained by the Customs authorities on Bus.* picion of being connected with the run of spirits at Forton on Saturday midnight, was not the R.T.s. schooner yacht the property of Mr. Almon Hill, but a small craft of about 30 tons, bearing the same name, and belonging to another Mr. Hill. Wind—S. by E., moderate breezes and fine weather. PLYMOUTH, JUNE I3.—Her Majesty's ship Hibernia, 104, Captain Charles Wise, shortly after arrival yester day, discharged her powder, unbent sails, and sent her topgallant masts down in the Sound. She was then taken in tow by two steamers, and while going up Hamoaze sent down topmasts. The Hibernia was in spected by Port Admiral Sir William Hall Gage in person. Her Majesty's frigate Spartan, 22, Captain Thomas M. C. Symonds, arrived this morning from Gibraltar; left the 31st of May. She was inspected by Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, who put the crew through the broad sword and great gun exercise, manned the boats, and examined the seamen in target practice. The Spartan's powder was discharged, and she wax towed from the Sound into harbour this afternoon. Her Majesty's frigate Cleopatra, 26, sailed this morn ing for Rio Janeiro. Th e French man-of-war schooner Ph oen i x , C a ptain Boring.oltaiufroes.m Havre, came in this m orn i ng , b oun d t o the West SUN, ,LONDON, FRI DAlrf ;:;' tVENIA'4I - G ). , JTT E. 15,. 1849.