The Sun. — London, England, 1849-07-13 00:00:00

Tho expense! e ;hould be se; e the report sl e. rd would fl r(f ante Add be ill th e The Houle .4 , mmondati on , l ,n to vote t his Committee 01 kirtnnti or 0° y ou .d be real :ed these Ot t. proposi dons L. O se time to n ° he Committee wou ld ter to postpon e be reipons -018 ie for tul: edn' , of the CI the report tin is u' Attnibe,f . / onsideritig to ° ,sion upon I ) Gover ome n considerstiu fi ' 0 14 that it w :ee,i with then' clusion v b leb The ell. erret.eouo, lut Staff adtib n ; nu doubt ace. He ("P:i evidcncv, 61 : In this iatt'' ent, after :l uld be ps 9 lairman reP° lay each 5 1 1 ut the revi' us-ed on M I ; justice to 17, id not po seibq y to condi° omittee. 4 [e Governroe' titr the disce drop the NO deal in a 1111 I EQUER ° b Ls, whether g i l l .session of 4 1 fimitted 00 11 of such i" 1 ,1, 1 ; .sport and P, debtry man y the session ut he better oto consider!' for the CO111; ebs, in 0 0° 1 o propose P tic o lary, and c° Govern— me , al. oi discost°J more prepsT, auctions tfr o Comra ilte : tuber of o le , the force r-if lire were oi l ', end in the 1 7 j but it "'S I V' s rtquiry• to .d re!erre ended A 14$ StiMntt d an when tPt,d, Ind the ft, of the C u- , r to show r e e , ere other t r : urge the ( ": 0 had time )0(1 the ' o bo and yet +ns of 0 3 , °°. ( .he hant fi ' 9 ,, o , Right ..tions in l be t ;one Meo l e t ny would blB e was an ' r were &cc' —and enl a b il le T. pot It report biti ren-nce t° Dpet tong.lletclo ly suseo t o rdian p of /< inhterisl ,ome circo3' nwittee, 69 „ / , I to use ° - e , t h e Hog s he estmo.' 3b that tn l l3, and he ° " - 0. nunsideriP° ed differen ce ltered. T a icpect , d , 61:1 0 that rera rvellous $ l3 blond s) ;' ation, if d i to immittee , alter sny, it ',laying /°'o ipon to „ I Led, with vv o iur prised I , t of itS tra liners w'i ti o , to itS Pr her that ,1 1(1 , f the Co -, i Jceofing3° of God ° fferkut fry'al ed by per t. in 0rc10 4 •7 memwo ° we to 03 '3 (Elea 11 r dritlyi ‘, part of T.; !filets to Gentittoo" mittee t he o il ', 10. n urgt ' it , l i ng tor iry, hav i ", ci not 0 1 1 ations lo ot 6 ignor ti for Pe rt , ty to co% nt vva 4 l a ruble M r ; propoi n (ileor: 1 1 1 to v ote that tiol l ae w ithoi l j Lli he bt' h. uld Prri it o coruy: roo ol 3 mean er, itry ht ° 4 „ on ~. the v ° ,,,t ztions p If oss.! cot um o3l° .t. Como i r , as 512 6 11 MO* THE SPX., LON'PON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 13, 1849. surely might be found in the present discussion, and us they had abundance of business on the paper to Occupy the House during the evening, there could be no difficulty in adjourning the consideration of the Ordnance estimates till Monday. Mr. HUME said his object is wishing the adjourn ment was to get public opinion to bear upon these estimates. Mr. A. SMITH was of opinion that, under all the C ircumstances, the consideration of the estimates should be proceeded with. Mr. HENLEY said the question urged was not whether all the recommendations of the Committee were to be complied with, but whether the House should not be permitted to see the report before they were asked to vote the estimates; and, by seeing that report, be there fore in a better position to come to the discussion. Lord J. RUSSELL said the very essence of the propo sal of the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume) was, that the House having seen the report on Monday, should, without taking the opinions of the Government, proceed at once to make considerable reductions. Now he (Lord J. Russell) would remind Hon. Members, that in the pre sent year there had been reductions made, to the amount of seven or eight thousand pounds, in the navy, in con sequence of the Committee of last year. That was the Proper course to pursue, and that was the proper answer to those who argued that unless the reductions were now made the recommendations of the Committee were of no use. After a few words from Mr. HUME, Mr. V. SMITH stated it to be his opinion that the report of the present Committee was intended to act on the estimates of the succeeding year. The House then divided, when there appeared— For Mr. Hume's motion 43 Against it BO Majority against the motion —37 On being re admitted, we found Mr. J. B. SMITH addressing the House. He appealed to the Noble Lord whether he could not accede to the reasonable request of postponing the estimates till Mon clay- He thou g ht suc h a postponement was on l y reason able, and he should therefore move that the Chairman should leave the chair. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had postponed the Ord nance estimates till July, and the report of the Committee having been now made, was no rea-on why they should sotl.;t_ rnat once p rocee d to the cons i d ' rat i on of the est i mates. h ad stated on l ast F r id ay t h at he woul d i n Co izitt he of Supply go on with the Ordnance estimates that evening; and further postponement, considering the busi ness to be done, might make a delay of ten days or a fortnight at the present time of the session. Mr. HtTalE submitted that there need be no unneces sary delay, as other estimates could be taken instead of those of the Ordnance. He thought there was a deter mination on the part of the Government to deprive them of the benefit of the mass of evidence which had been taken. He agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet the Member tor Ripon (sir James Graham) that they must get public opinion to bear before they could get reduc tions made. Now, there was the barrack item, for in stance, which he thought had been unwarrantably in• creased of late years; but how were they t . get public opinion to bear, if they were deprived of the advantage of referring to the report? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCETEQUER J. con firmed what had been said by the No bl e Lor d (Lord Russell), that notice had been given that the Ordnance estimates would be taken that eve ning. Mr. HASTIE wished to be informed by h Friend (Mr. Hum e ) wh t th er t h ere was any objection t n. to the particular vote proposed r fu their consideration; because, if there was no t, h e did not s ee why the vote .before th em m i g h t not b e proceeded w i t h. Mr. HUME sa id h e was g l a d the quest ion had been in a ske he . He had obje c t e d b e f o r e t o th e num b er of men t td artillery departm e nt. In the r e port of 18 28, i appeared that the number of men in the artillerywen thewas !ADD, wher eas now , i n t h e t i me o f peace , an d when Loy a l,- e of the country was so conspicuous, they found that the art ill ery had increased the number of the men to fourteen or fifteen thousand, and yet the report of 1828 called on the Government to lessen the torce.— (Hear, hear.) I n answer, t h ere f ore, to the questiou . of e , his 14 n. Frie n d, he would say that it was inapessibi under a uc h circumstances, to eo into the vote without baying reference to the report of the Committee. m Mr. AGLI ONBY said that he did not think that a he a s t t te u r y. of s o much importance should be carried an should leila:e Perfectly Concurred that the Speaker e ch a i r , and regretted that he had not mostost been i unr n the H th e on th e last division, for he thought it before reasonable th a t t hi s vote sh . uld be brought on the report was given to the Members. The as of the EXCHEQUER said that there could not be ti and any better opinion on this !object on Monday than at present, for he did not think that any 2004 would be gained by such a delay. Mr. t-I ~ e,e,UME protested against this—it was the worst retainte example to show tbe country. If the argument tott..the Chancellor of the Exch. quer were good for any t;Ual4, it went to prove that they ought to do nothing till let had the whole of the evidence before them. Then, tet it be so ; Ist them wait until they could do the busi t:leBB !ng th n e f r t e he thel. country in a proper manner. Instead of talk. sh .old do business . —(- Heer, hear," and ialigh . le r-) 43 Members of th a House tied voted with him' and he sho uld be in a majority if the mere Mem n bers of the Government had walked out of the House and ot voted. p i Mr . SPOO N ER said that though he voted with the —on. M ember for Montrose, he should now tell the Hun. 2k: m an that h e oug h t to su b m i t to the dec i s i on of the -o lority. wu‘t ,kr. HENR Y DRUMMOND could not understa nd min„ wa 's meant by c o nsti tutiona l government i f the rity were not to submit to the decision of the m ejority. The House then divid. d, when there appeared— Fer reporting progress •• • ••• 21 Against it . ... ... ... 92 69 .• Majority ... ••• ••• cidettir, ilhelis‘tliEll for reporting progress!) e s t o l u i t h d at though the majority had 3 , 1 de ewrsheivcenrehieneraeating the motion make.the He 8 begged again to he thought h e lw everywhere a demand tor economy— he ha d Vent five months seeking fur information, and was right in avowing his detertninstion to obstruct the was preeress of these estimates. Lord J. RUSSELL said he would not use any addi tional argument or say anything more than the House bad already beard. They had considered the question before them ; t h ey had decided it by 90 to 21, showing clearly that a great majority thought that the previous decision was a sound one. The Hon. Member was, therefore, proceeding with a vexatious opposition, and to divide any more would be a mere waste of time. Mr. H. BAILLIE asked why the information relating to the Ordnance had not long since been laid on the table of the House? Mr. COBDEN said it was quite a mistake to suppose that estimates were ever altered in that House.—(.• N . o, no.") He would maint a i n t h at they never were.lur the eight years that he h a d possessed aseal in e that House he hail never known a single instance of eati mates having been alte dre.sde.nee the Why peedriteltnhetysee seek t o question? . divide, and why did they 1 . Their object was to bring public opin ion to bear upon that House. They wantedtuge House etatt was kept actsand he d re id s. In the i gnora n ce in which the not feel himself in a position to di-cues th e Ordnance theta. he es timates, and if they insisted on proce e di ng wit he s h ou l d walk out of the House. It 'the purpo se of the Ministers was to defraud the House of their t ime, they Could not do so more effectually than by taking the course r which were now pursuing. He demanded a reason f or t heir proceedi ng t h us, an d he was told that a week wou l d be l ost it they did not go on with the estimates. We ll, then, he was prepared to lose a week in order to save the money of the coutery. It was tru e t h a t, accor d ing to the rule of the House, the majority bound the m inority, but the forms of the House pmected that mi nority trom being trampled upon and coerced by brute force. He thought, therefore, that his Hun. Friend the Member for Montrose was quite right, and if he perse eered till midnight be should support his lion. Friend. Lord J. RUS SELL said, that suf fi cient reasons h a d ale ready been g i ven by two very important members of ton. th CoMmittiee—the M em b ers for Ripon and Northamp, Those sea-ons appeared to him, and to a majority of the H ouse, sufficient ground for pr ocee di ng w i t h the estimates. Atter a few words from Mr. HUME, Mr. AL GIBSON said he understood they were all agreed that those votes in the Ordnance estimates which utinadeniteenneireported against —some of them he believed Y" — by the Cemmittee should be postpone d litutllit:lhe report of the Committee was in the hands of the believed the Noble Lord agreed to that. fa[Gerd J:LRUStieee--• No, no."] Well, if the Govern. eottie consented to postpone until Monday a single vote till,e)trensdeeetetimatea, the report could not be received until neat week ; a,. that he could nut see that any et ln no. vale btyiropeosslop(u)nldinbge lost by postponing all the estimates on e . pee certainly thought the better urse would be to postpone the votes until Hon. Mew- bed in d tee peseessi on of the report of the Committee, a rt e r,verly te . in a eituatien t o di scuss the sub j ect fully and The Hon. M.lnber fur Surrey nod said that _. was the duty Hon . minotity to submit to the Illy; but if that Gentl. man looked at the minority be r g ould fi nd that a majority ut the independent, Mem present were for postponing the votes, and he (Mr. _i,t,h}sen) considered that all members of the Government 54...!A1d collet only as one.— Furu.)l.'he Committee then divided, when there appeared— Air. Hume 's motion ... 20 A gainst it 113 • tt; „ Majority .. ... ... 93 'CUE men moved that the Chairman do now re eler t u ne tt e _ , ---gresa, sibsller t . o N t i h ( ! W ri, A ti T T aaid. if the Government were ineen wntiteehe ttolieg; h in a t e i l tb 7 l — (Lattghtee)—of forcing the Corn "Se estimates, now that the report for , he really thou waiting live months was lying on the table at the course hie Ho thou g t me.--(0h! and laughter.) to gain ti _ h tney could not be surprised u• Fl tends pursuel in the endeavour The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the motion .• •• "' 18 Against it . . ... ... • 11•"•• Majority . 8 ... ... ... .-100 Mr. HUM E regretted that the business of the country Should be interrupted by the obstinacy of the Govern tueat.--(Laughter, an d cr i es of " Oh. ') The ordn ance titnates bad b een postponed for five mouths, and if the Government intend e d to take the course which they had new pursued, w h y had they so long delayed these esti• Ina tes? Havin g got a report upon them, the Govern It. Mem now refus e d to the House an opportunity of seeing The conduct o f the Government on the present oc "Bien was a pro o f t h at they had stopped in their econo- Mica' career. He had a caper in his hand showing the enormous increase of these estimates, and proving the necessity of not hurrying over them without discussion. Were they to pass them on the ground of confidence i n the Government? Such a proceeding would not be tole ? Mei if the Tories were in power, and ho remembered When the present Ministers were on the opposite side of the Home, that they supported him for oix Troll in opposition to the army estimates alone.—(Hear, hear.) If the report of the Committee would he in the hanos of Members to-morrow, he would consent to discuss these estimates to-morrow, but he could not compromise the constitutional function of the House by allowing esti mates of so questionable a nature to pass in a hurried manner. The fact that in 1828 there was a surplus of revenue over expenditure of 5,000,000/., and in 1835, of 1,620,0001., and that now at the close of the year 1848 there was a deficiency, proved that there was ample ground for caution in voting away the public money. After the discussion that evening, he was sure that Hon. Members would read the report of the Committee on the Ordnance estimates with more curiosity than they had read any other report. lie called the present a factious proceeding—not on his part—(Laughter)—for he was standing up for the constitutional power of that House, but he maintained that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government was acting a most factious part.— (Laughter.) He now moved that the Chair man should report progress, and he hoped that the Noble Lord would listen to the reasons he had placed before him. Mr. BROTHERTON had much rather that the re port of the Committee in question bad been laid on the table, but Hon. Members ought to take into considera tion the circumstances of the case. The Noble Lord had stated that he had had every reason to believe that the report would have been laid on the table in time for its full consideration. but the Committee did not make their report till the last moment. He was in favour of reductions as much as any other Member, but he did not like this manifest distrust of a Government which bad shown every disposition to retrench. If the money were voted, the Government would not be obliged to spend ft.—(A laugh.) It the Government wished to carry out the recommendations of the Committee, they could still do so. After a few words from Mr. V. SMITH, who took the opportunity of acknowledging the assiduity, patience, and ability applied to the subject by the Noble Lord the Chairman of the Select Committee, _ Sir R. PRICE suggested that the Honourable Mem ber (Mr. Hume) would do well to content himself now with protesting against proceeding with the votes, going out if tie thought fit, but not obstructing the public business by dividing time after time. It had evidently been the intention of the Government, in deferring these estimates so long, to give opportunity for consider • ing the report, but it had been delayed longer than was expected. Mr. BRIGHT could make great allowance for the Honourable Member fur Salford (Mr. Brotberton), wh.. considered himself a firm ally of the Noble Lord's, and whose natural disposition was so kindly that he was sometimes in danger of forgetting a certain large num ber of persons down in Lancash:re.—(oh! oh!) /in one would less wish to do so, but personal partialities would influence the best and moat honest.—(llear, hear) In no session since the Noble Lord had been in office had 1-sa obstruction been offered to the Govern ment business; discussions which, with the Whigs in opposition, might have lasted a week, bad been di►- posed of in a eight. The Noble Lord might now properly and gracefully giva way, and allow the House to read and c,nsider the re port. He (Mr. Bright) was told indeed that the Noble Lord regarded the mater as rather personal, and talked about speeches that were made for the purpose of hustings' influence. Like everybody else, the Noble Lord sometimes said things he atterwards wished unsaid. Not to❑g ego he said that some gentlemen in the House knew a grent deal about trade, but were too narrow minded to consider matters which concerned a great empire. If so, it was a pity they were there at all ; but it happened that very large numbers of persons in various parts of the country had a different opinion from the Noble Lord, and thought it important that their interests should be defended, and their opinions expressed in the House by those Members. Mr. HEYWOOD must say that in his own neigh bourhood the Hon. Member for Salford was considered a most independent as well as liberal man.—(Hear.) He was a very experienced Member, and his advice might well have much weight with the House.—(Hear, hear.) If it was true, as stated, that the recommenda tions of the Committee were applied to the expenditure in Mauritius, the lonian islands, and Bermuda, those particular items mii2ht be postponed. _ _ _ Mr. COBDEN wished io recall the attention of the Committee to the point that they were asked to vote a sum of 2,600 0001., while there lay upon the table ,the report of a Committee which would give them mach valuable information on the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He had now that report in his hand, and would shortly refer to it, especially as he understood the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite (Sir J. Graham) to say that the Mauriius, Bermuda, and the lonian Islands were the only cases in which the Committee had recommended reductions, notwithstanding that the evidence of Sir J. Burgoyne and other gentlemen, all in favour of reduc tions, would be found in the report. The Noble Lord had distinctly told them that, notwithstanding the re commendations of the Committee, he intended to take this vote to-night. Colonel ANSON had no objection to postpone the votes to which the recommendation of the Committee reterred.—(Rear, hear.) Mr. COISDF,N was, nevertheless, anxious to show to independent Members of the House how the case really eteod, for he did not agree with the Hon. Member for Salferd in thinking that it was no matter what money the House voted, because Government would not spend it.—(Bear, hear.) As to the vote for the fortifications of Corfu, for example, amounting to 450,0001, how could they tell whether the proposition made on the pert of the Neble Lord was right or wrong, unless they saw the report? He found it stated, on looking over the report, that, according to the views of Lord Grey, these works at Corfu should never have beets undertaken.— (Hear, hear.) It was also stated that one of the great objections to the fortifications towards the sea was that they renderud fortifications on the land side necessary also, and imposed upon us the necessity. in the event of our of having a large garrison there. The inspector of fortifications recommended delay; the Secretary of State tor the Colonies doubted the necessity of any additional works ; and other witnesses thought no more votes should be taken on these works till the subject should be reconsidered by Government.— (Hear, beer.) He asked the Right Hon. Gentleman op p.,site if be meant to say that the Government could attend that night to the recommendations of the Com mittee, when they stated that they knew no' hing about the report.—(Hea , .) And it was urged against those on his side of the House that they had not been the meats of preventing a great waste of money that evening, though there was little doubt that but for their opposi tion the money would have been voted long ago, and gentlemen opposite in their beds.—(Hear, hear.) It the Government had not read the report, bow could tney have been guided on that occasion by its recommenda tions?—(Hear.) But he denied what had been so often stated, that the only recommendations of the Commit tee were to stop the fortifications of the three colonies named. This assertion was a proof of how much the members of the Committee differed from each other, and it showed, ther e f ore , h ow important it was that, the Members of the House should read the report for them selves. He found that in the report a most important item was that of stores, and it was stated that we had at this moment Ordnance stores to the amount of no less than 6,000 000/. The Committee at their last 'meeting unanimously recommended that the number of depots ior Ordnance stores should be diminished, and that we -.boat do what private individuals did, profit as much as possible by the rapid ciromunication cawed by railroads and steamboats, to keep on hand a much smaller number of these stores, especially those that were perishable articles, and thus effect a considerable saving to the country.—(Hear, hear.) Was it unreasonable, then, that they, as Members of that House, should desire to make themselves acquainted with all the particulars of such a report betore they were asked to vote money to ,o large an amount as was now proposed?—(Hear.) Colonel ANSON felt hiwselt compelled to point out to the House a gross misrepresentation which the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cubden) had male with reference to the exeentiiiure of the lonian Islands. The Hon. Gen tleman stated that the expenditure was 456,0001., but he concealed from the House the fact that of that sum there was contributed from the Loden Islands 310,0001, making the whole charge ,to this country 146,0001. — Cheers.) With these figures before him be quoted 456 0001. as the sum paid by this country tor the lon'an Islands.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member for Montrose had thrown out a wide challenge to him in the statement ne made as to the estimate for 1835 6 compared with 1849 50, and had made nearly as erroneous a quetation ) a9 the lion. MI Intoer for the West Riding. Lsteed of the estimates 'or the year 1835 6 being 1.000.0001 the, were 1,497.0001; melt instead of them being 3,000 0001. this) ear, they were 2.600,0001 —(Cheers.) He thought it proper to set the House right on these important tems. Mr CO B DEN asked the lion. awl Gallant Amu:lbw if he was not right in bayine. that 456,0001. had been voted by that House? (Colonel Anson assented.) Then, if it were so. op in what possible pretence did the Hon. Gentleman impute to him misrepresentation? — (Cheers.) They vot. d 456,000/ and then called up es the lonian Islands to es of great discoutent andd pa isaystit s i , e tt . e r q iu u n o ta i 1 , 1 at thoset e e i x ta u t e n n d s (Ch firs.) There were, in colts. q lence, arrears unpaid, and he believed they never would be paid,—( Hear, near.) They had no more right to tax the lonian Islatids against their will than they bed to tax the people of Yorkshire contrary to Miir wishu..—(H ar.) Captain BOLDER° having been employed to assist in the construction of the tortiticetious at Corfu, had, of course, his attention directed to the object they had in view, and when he heard the Hon. Gentternan quote the authority of Lord Grey he must sty he wad rather staggered. though he seas inclined t o ask whether the opinion of a civilian, however high his position, e4iuld be put in competition with that of the most intelligent and influential engineers?—( Hear, hear.) Th.. fortifica dons of Corfu were undertaken to defend the entrance of the Gulf of Venice, and they were commenced upon the authority of some of the most experienced military men in the empire. The lonian Islands agreed to pay 25,000/. a year, though be was sorry to say that it had not been exacted, and that 125,0001. was now due. There was great inconvenience to the colonies in post poning the Ordnance estimates to so late a period of the session. For example, suppose the Lle of France sent home us its expenditure a sum of 7.000 L, and the Ord nance Department reduced it to 4,5001., the latter were not justified in writing out to the Mauritius to sanction the expenditure till Parliament had agreed to it It' this sanction was not given till July, the people of Mau ritius could not receive their orders till December, and in the mean time the works were stopped tor want of the funds, and the public service suffered.—(Hear, hear.) He must say he thought the Noble lord had met with most facious opposition on the present occa sion; but he thonght he ought now to allow the estimates to stand over till Monday. Lord J. RUSSELL said, some rather uncalled-for imputations had been cast upon him by the Hon. Mem ber for Manchester, who had also expressed himself dis satisfied with the view taken by the Hon. Member for Salford, because he had said (speaking in his usual kindly manner) that he was disposed so place ccuideuee in her Majesty's Government. Certa'nly the Hon. Member for Manchester had taken a different view, and because he (Lord J. Raisell) had postponed the Ordnance estimates tvoil the 12th of July, having repeatedly asked his Noble Friend the chairman of the Select Com mittee when the report would appear, and having been assured by him th it it would appear soon, and now, thinking it was quite impossible fairly to collider the report of the Committee, having propsed to take those estimates now, the Hon. Member for Manchester said that he (Lord J. Russell) must have some dishonest mo tives, and that he wished to prevent the House of Com mons having that report in their hands, and from consi dering the recommendations of the Committee. If that had been his object he certainly had not taken a very skilful mode—(Hear, hear)—for he might have said in May or June that it was better not to wait any longer; hut, because he had postponed the estimates until July, asking for the report. the Hon. Gentleman made that imputation against him, but which he (Lord J. Russell) totagy denied.—(Hear, hear.) He denied that he had acted so corruptly and dishonourably.—(llear, hear.) With respect to the dispute that night, the ques tion simply was that the Hon. Gentleman the Member tor Montrose said it would be of great advantage to have the report before them, and they, the Government, on the other hand, contended that as that report could not be in the hands of Members until Saturday, the very short time between Saturday and Monday would not enable the H, use to get any sufficient information on the subject, and, therefore, it would be better to discuss the various items, and reserve until next year the questions of any large reductions in the estimates. It seemed to him that the question might have been discussed between them without any personalities—(Hear, hear)—and he should have thought without having resort to the very frequent divisions which had taken place that evening.— (Hear, hear.) He was likewise justified in the course be had taken by the opinion of two Right Hon. Gentle men members of the Committee, who were known to have paid particular attention to this subject, and who thought the course the Government had taken was the proper one. The Hon. Member for Manchester seemed to have supposed that he (Lord J. Russell) had made a charge against Members of the House generally, or against those with whom the Hon. Member acted, of ob structing the course of public business in the present ses sion He (Lord John Russell) made no such charge, nor any imputation against any Member in the House. On the contrary, he was glad to he able to acknowledge that throughout this session Members had shown a dis position to transact fairly the business before them, atni what particular business was fixed by the Government for certain days they bad, generally speaking, proceeded with the consideration of to expedite it. With regard to the motion standing for that eveninz, thinking that the Government had been in the right in the course they had proposed, but that it was impossible at that hour to proceed with any benefit to the considerati Mn of the Ord - nauce estimates, and thinking also that they would not be able to go through those estimates and the others in the course of to-morrow (this) evening he should pro rise that the Chairman report progress, and that they should take the British Museum and other estimates to morrow (this day) and the Ordnance estimates on Mon day, when he trusted the Committee would fairly con sider them, and not interpose any unnecessary delay. Mr. HUME denied that, as far as he was concerned, there had been any factious opposition. The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day. The Relief of Distress, Ireland (No. 2), and the Commons Enclosure (No. 2) Bills were read a second time. The Newgate Gaol (Dublin) Bill and the Trustees Relief Bill were read a third time and passed. The Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) Bill, the Labouring Poor Act Amendment (Ireland) Bill, and the Land Itn provement Amendment Act (Ireland) Bill were seve rally read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day. THE NEW ZEALAND LAND CONVEYANCES PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, JULY 12. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolution was reported from the above Committee : That in the case of the Aberdeen Destitute Female Orphan Asylum ( Davidson's) Estate Bill, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill.— Resolution agreed to. "Lent ditto, 352/., 21st December, at 4 per cent," "Lent ditto 1001., at lawful interest, 5 per cent., 13th April." " Mr. Thomas Owen will be at 27th April, 1841, 6581. 25." The prisoner, on being asked the meaning of this last entry. which was in pencil, admitted that it meant that he (Owen) would owe on that day that sum. There were also two entries of the receipt of two sums of 14/. 2s. cash for interest on the 21st December, 1841, and 21st December, 1842. This was the interest at 4 per cent, on 352/. lOs. There was no entry of the payment of the 6581. 2s. 6d., nor of the 3521. lOs., except that it was struck through as if paid. On its being observed that the strokes were thicker and firmer than those of the deceased usually were, the prisoner admitted that it was he who drew them, and said he did so because he had paid the account. When Cox's books were produced, they appeared to have been altered and mutilated, and the index of names was struck out. The parties being still dissatisfied, the prisoner produced his own books. These were two led gers; one included accounts from 1823 to 1844, the other from 1845 to the present time. In the first book, which should have included the prisoner's accounts with Cox from 1840, the index was mutilated. Cox's name did not appear in it, and io the body of the book parts of several i w ‘ .l l pages al following ns were gt , er co m menceddn t : o r r yl n so4 o 2n 7 twi :Tietu l hnd a eentbc9ht:oeorcumans cash, . e d i2: l n e -001 0 ,18. f 4;.s i t s h l; s e . 4j second book, theree MarchwasphCthe cash, 150/.; and (without date), cash, 21. 10s.; total, 352/. 10s.;" and on the credit side, "By note of hand. 352/. 10s. Settled above 21st May, 1836, Joseph Cox." When the legatees saw this signature they pronounced it to be a forgery. While the accounts were in this state of confusion the p ar ti es , i n t h e course of the l ast spring, agreed to refer the entire matter to two gentle men, Mr. Blackstone, the Member of Parliament for the borough, and Dr. Frith, the vicar of St. Mary's parish, in it, who met on the 13th and the 28th May last; but on its having become obvious that a forgery had been committed, the legatees found that they could not with propriety go on with the inquiry, and this prosecution was; consequently instituted. This statement was supported generally by the evi dence of Mrs. Sarah Ewing and her husband, and their m M i r n ..E ti, y ,n re o , f o t f he ß l e a n t s t o e n r , ge in nt O le z m fo an rdlh i i w re a . s e l li n ci t t h ed e c at ro w a r s i - l e e x y a , i t on h at a ot t httheheed Wallingford sr n o n a m e e h d a i d nß t p ahn a e i k d r,e t te w oe o itph s te, u m ac nr s edd o i f tthoaft 2001. tthh ea a d n ae t d eteoar l en s ee O dy l ; for the prisoner refused to go on with the reference, after the charge of forgery was made, until it should be duly investigated, and that it was thereupon the prosecution was c immenced. The prisoner's books, wh ic h had been impounded by the arbitrators and been examined for the prosecution, on being produced in Court, did not sup port the inferences sought to be deduced from them. In the first (the old) ledger there were a great number of leaves cut and torn, which could not possibly contain the accounts relating to Mr. Cox; and in the new ledger there was an entry on the second next page to that in which Cox's account was, of the account of another per son, beginning in 1843, and there were several accounts in the book beginning is 1844. On an examination of Cox's own books they did not appear to have been altered or mutilated. The only alteration of any entry was that confessed by the prisoner to have been made by himself, by running his pen across the account for 352/., because, as he said, he had paid it. Mr. Blackstone, M.P., said, when the charge of forgery was made before him and the other arbitrator, he asked the prisoner how he accounted for the circum stance that the receipt dated Dec. 21, 1842, referred to a payment made March 8, 1844, and the prisoner was unable to make any answer; he also asked how it was that the interest was paid to December, 1842, when 2001. had been paid in the June preceding; and the prisoner answered that it was because it was neceseary to give six months' notice of payment. He (Mr. B.) observed that the settlement of Mr. Cox's aecount, in 1842, ap peered in an account-book which began with 1845; that in the index of names "Humfroy Cox, glazier, 124," ap peared first on a line; and that "Joseph Cox, Wallingford, 101," appeared second on the same line; and that no other names appeared on the index two on one line; and he asked what was the cause of this, and the prisoner was not able to give any satisfactory explanation. He believed the signature of Joseph Cox was in the hand writing of the prisoner. Two other witnesses proved that the signature was not in Cox's handwriting. In cross-examination they admitted that the prisoner's character was most re spectable. Dr. Frith. who was called for the prosecution to pro duce some documents, also gave the prisoner a most ex cellent character, and said ho did not believe him ca pable of committing the crime now imputed to him. Air. KEATING having addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, the rector and mayor of Walling ford were both sworn as witnesses to his character, and stated that they believed him to be a thoroughly ho. nest man. His LORDSHIP, in summing up the case, said he should in consequence of the line of defence adopted by the pri soner'. counsel, leave two questions to the jury, to which be would require their answers separately—first, whether they were of opinion that the prisoner had forged the name of Joseph Cox to the settlement of the account? And next, if he had, whether he owed that sum at the time, and so forged or uttered the signature with intent to defraud any one? Hi. Lordship having gone through the evidence, left, in concluding, these two questions to the jury. As the jury were about to consult, Mr. HEATING hoped he would be excused if he took the liberty ot saying, that the practice of requiring special findings from a jury in s criminal case was new to him, and ha at present was nut aware of any au thority for it. Hit LottpsurP thanked the Learned Counsel for the suggestion, and again addressed the jury, explaining the law of forgery to them, and telling them that they must find a verd ct of not guilty if they were satisfied either that the prisoner did not actually counterfeit the signs Lure of Cox, or utter it knowing it to be counterfeit, or if he did counterfeit or utter, that the money had been really paid, and that he had consequently no intention to defraud any one. The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty, which was received with applause in the body of the court. This was the last case of the assizes, and did not close till five o'clock. Mr. Baron Rolfe had tried in the morning three un important cask's which had remained since yesterday, and then went to open the commission at Oxford. Oxford, July 11. . . The commission was opened here to-day by Mr. Baron Rolfe. The business commences to-morrow. There are four v‘nires returned, all actions for debt, There are five prisoners for triel—one for murdering his wife, one fur forgery, and three for larceny. MIDLAND CI RCUI I:—Northampton, July 12. The Hon. Sir J. T. Coleridge arrived here at eight o'clock last evening, and opened the commissions for the c .uoty and borou4h, the Right lion. Sir James Parke following at a later hour. Their Lordships having attended Divine service this morning, took their 'eats in the County Hall shortly after eleven o'clock, Mr. Baron Parke presiding in the Crown Court and Mr. Justice Coleridge on the Civil side, The business here has been remarkably light, the cause list presenting only four cases, of which two were undefended, and the others were concluded within three hours. The calendar exhibited the names of 19 prisoners and 14 cases for trial, two of them being within the borough jurisdiction. Five were of assault and robbery, two of doing grievous bodily harm, two of breaking and enter ing dwelling-houses, and two of offences against women, both of which broke down, and the details in each are unfit for publication. There were, also, one of man slaughter, one of sheep-stealing, and one against a soldier of stealing a watch. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.) LENNELL V. CAPELL. This was an action of trespass for an assault between two farmers, who fell into a quarrel when they were sheep-cleaning. The defendant was the first to occupy lie pens, and, having apparently ceased to use one of them, prohibited the plaintiff from having the benefit of it, upon which abuse and blows followed. The Learned JUDGE remarked reprovingly upon the practice of fighting, but observed that, as the damage was not very great on this occasion, it might have been better if the parties had fought it out upon the spot, in stead of through the medium of an attorney. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, with Is. damages. PRESENTATION OF COLOURS TO THE 23D FUSILIERS BY PRINCE ALBERT. WINCHESTER, THURSDAY.—Many circumstances com bined to bring all the inhabitants of the surrounding district to Winchester this morning. First, the know ledge that his Royal Highness Prince Albert would pre sent ne w colours to the 23d Fusiliers, and the length of time since this the woe; ancient incorporated city was visited by Royalty, to which was added the circumstance of this day being the anniversary of the " Domum," when all the families of note generally attend. Preparations had been making for the last day or two to do honour to the occasion, and well indeed did the Wiutonians succeed in their endeavours. Magnificent arches, covered with boughs and choice flowers, were thrown across he street, having on them appropriate devices. Most of the houses displayed some kind of emblem, and the whole had a most beautiful effect. The station was very neatly fitted up. Many respectable persons were admitted by tickets. Soon after 10 o'clock the Mayor, Aldermen. Records r, and Corporation, came on the platform, in order to re ceive the Prince. Precisely at 11 o'clock the special train arrived. His Royal Highness alighted, and was received by the Dean, the Corporation, and Lord Frederick Fitzelarence. The Dean presented his Royal Highness to the Mayor and Aldermen and the High Sheriff of the county, and three hearty cheers were given. Tha Mayor then handed the following address to Mr. Stock, the barrister, who is the Recorder of Winchester, and ho read it in a sufficiently loud tone to be heard by most of those around:— " TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT, CON SORT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. " May it please s our Royal Highness, " We, the Mayor, Recorder. Aldermen, and citizens of the ancient and loyal city of Winchester, embrace with eagerness the opportunity afforded us by the visit of your Royal Highness of tendering to your Royal Highness our dutiful and affectionate respect, not merely on ac count of the exalted rank enjoyed by your Royal High nese as the consort of our beloved Queen, but for the fos tering care at all times bestowed by your Royal High ness on every institution tending to the advancement of the best interests of this great empire. " We trust your Royal Highness will be gratified in visiting this the oldest incorporated city in the kingdom, justly famed as being the scene of many important his torical events, and possessing some of the most admired structures of former ages." " And we earnestly pray to Almighty God that her Majesty, our most gracious Queen, may, with your Royal Highness, and your illustrious children, long live in the warm affection of a united, prosperous, and happy people. " Given under the seal of the said city of Win chester, this 12th day of July. 1849." To this address the Prince returned the following an swer : " I thank you very sincerely for the address which you have just presented to me, and for the kind expres sions towards myself personally which it contains. " I have availed myself with pleasure of this occasion to visit the ancient city of Winchester, and to view its venerable structures." Three cheers were given for the Queen. His Royal Highness was then conducted to an open carriage, provided by the High Sheriff, and drawn by four of that gentleman's splendid horses. A guard of honour of the 4th Regiment was in attendance, with their band, which played " God save the Queen," ac companied by the cheers of the multitude. The caval cade proceeded to the Cathedral, where the Prince was received by the clerical dignitaries, who escorted him over this venerable building, and pointed out to him the monuments and curiosities which it contains. The an cient College of Winchester was then visited, and every thing connected with that institution was shown to the Prince. During the time occupied in the manner we have described Colonel Torrens, the commanding officer at the barracks, was not idle; a beautiful pavilion had been constructed in one of the parades, in which the party were to partake of a splendid dijeliner, and a large room, intended tor a ball-room in the evening, leading to the pavilion, had been fitted up with extreme taste. Soon after twelve o'clock the signal sounded, and the 23d Re giment took their station on the parade, and at this time the seats which had been placed in front of the barracks were occupied by the nobility and gentry, with which this county abounds, and a finer display of beauty and fashion has seldom been witnessed. To the right of the barracks, in a deep cutting is the South-Western Railway, and on the opposite bank every available position was occupied by well-dressed persons, who had been all the morn ing flocking into Winchester by train and all sorts of conveyances. Thousands and thousands were present, and the splendour of the day, and the varied colours of the ladies' dresses, made the scene one that in effect could hardly be surpassed. Lord Frederick Fitzclarence and his staff now came upon the ground, and these were followed by the band of the regiment, accompanied by a beautiful white goat, handsomely decorated, which always accompanies the drum-major, and which was presented to the regiment about three years since by her Majesty. It has on its head a silver medal, bearing an inscription of the battles in which the regiment has been engaged. The hour of one o'clock approaching, the old colours of the regiment were brought forward. These showed the wear of time; they wore rent almost to atoms, and this was the last occasion upon which the men %ere to look upon these monuments of their fame as their own. In a few minutes his Roy al Highness came upon the parade; he had changed his dress, and was now attired in the uniform of a Field-Marshal; he was attended by Lord Frederick Fitzelarence and a small suite. " God save the Queen" was played, and the colours were lowered. The Prince then went down the lino and inspected the men. The regiment was then formed into three sides of a square, and the drums were piled in the centre. The new colours were marched in and unfurled by the major and senior captain, and placed upon the drums. They were then consecrated by the Chaplain-General. His Royal Highness presented those colours to the major and se nior captain, who received them en their knees. In doing this, His Royer. FlraustEss addressed them, and recapitu lated the 'tumorous battles in which this regiment has been engaged, He said that although they and all were well acquainted with the services of the regiment, still he had thought it right to recapitulate them as the surest mole of appealing to them to maintain the high name which their regiment had always rejoiced in. One colour, which was more emphatically called " the Queen's e01, , ur," was to remind them of their duty to their So vereign and their allegiance to their country. The other, called " the Regimental colour," was to be the test of their determination to maintain the honour of their re giment. Let the one, then, bind them always to be true to their Sovereign and their country, and the other in duce them to show, by good conduct as men as well as soldiers, that they had a proper regard for the fame and honour of the 23d Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel TORRENS then addressed his Royal Highness, stating how deep was their pride an exultation upon hearing his Royal Highness refer with such accuracy to the services rendered by this regi ment. They had heard this with pride and emotion from the lips of the highly-honoured Consort of the Sovereign to whom they had devoted their lives. There were but few officers left who had had any share in the glories they had heard enumerated. Since the termination of the last general war, the regiment had penormed faithfully and honourably, and not with less glory, a long career of foreign and colonial services. They had suffered under the snows of Canada and the heats of the West Indies. It had been his pride to see the discipline of the regiment maintained, and he know well whenever the time of trial should arrive that disci pline so tried would be still found to exist in the same efficient manner as when they were called to meet the French masses on the heights of Albuera and on the plains of Waterloo. The CHAPLAIN-GENERAL then addressed the men in a very eloquent manner, calling upon them not only to evince their loyalty to their Sovereign, their love to their country by bravery in the field, but to exalt themselves still higher by setting an example as good men. The new colours having been saluted, the old colour=, round which the men bad rallied in times of den in the heat of the battle, were marc hed in honour _ g o er ff a the ground, to be preserved , ho wever, so long as the material could hang together, as a remembrance of the exertions made by the 2.1k1 Fusiliers to preserve the honour of their country. The regiment then marched in slow and quick tim• round the ground, and then came forward and saluted the Prince, upon which his Royal Highness went up to Colonel Torrens and expressed the gratification he had experienced in the appearance and discipline of the men. Each officer was now presented to the Prince. His Royal Highness then went to the pavilion and partook of a dejesiner, and having changed his dress, entered the Royal carriage of the special train, which was drawn up at the bottom of the stairs belonging to the barracks, and took his departure amidst the cheers of thousands to join her Majesty at the Portsmouth Regatta. The Hampshire Yeomanry were in attendance. A great many children of the regiment, very nicely dressed, marched with the soldiers. We cannot conclude our remarks without expressing our acknowledgments to Colonel Torrens. Captain Har ris, the chief superintendent of police; Mr. Bayley, the town clerk of Winchester; and Mr. Dane, the railway superintendent, by each of whom every assistance was rendered for our accommodation. * The 23d has upon its colours the following honour able bearings " Minden," " Egypt." " Corunna," " Martinique," " Albuera," " Badajoz," " Salamanca," " Vittoria," " Pyrenees," " Nivellse ' Orthes," " Tou louse," " Ponies& r," Waterloo." MR. MAcAULAY 13 EX TEACTION.--The historian's grandfather, the Rev. John Macaulay (who bad a brother the Rev. Kenneth Macaulay, incumbent of Cawdor), was minister of south Uist. whence he was translated, in 1755, to Lismore. and, in 1765, to Inverary. He was in Inverary when Johnson and Boswell visited the High. lands in 1773. Boswell very characteristically says of B e i ng a man of good sense, he had a jna admi ra ti o n of Dr. Johnson." In the following year o 7 4 Mr. Macaulay wag translated to Cardross, Dumbarton shire. This gentleman was married to the daughter of a small Argyleshire proprietor, Mr. Campb e ll , of i n • veresragan. His distinguished grandson has, therefore, a strong dash of Highland bl oo d i n hi s reins.—lnver ness Courier. [ ADVERTISCHENT.] —A Life Guanisman,. one of the Heroes of W a t er l oo, cured of Rheumatism by Holloway's Ointment and Pill.. -111 r. Thomas Brunton, landlord of the Waterloo Tavern, Coatham, Yorkthire, was &Meted for many months with rheumatism and rheumatic gout. flis legs were dreadfully painful, and disfigured with colours of every hue, frightful to behold. For ten weeks he was wholly unable to walk, the treatment he received from several medical men not only failing to do him any good, but leaving him, in fact, in considerably worse condition. At this juncture Holloway's Pills and Ointment were resorted to, and by their sole means he has been restored to health and strength.—Sold by all Druggists, and at ?Wenn Ilellowaff 4 : ll 4bliglovat, 244, Los 4., BILL. Mr. AGLIONBY moved that this Bill be read a second time. Sir J. GRAHAM asked his Hon. and Learned Friend to state the ol t j-ct of the Bill. Mr. AGLIONBY .tited that the New Zealand Com nany had sold upwards of 300,000 acres of land in New Zealand to various persons, who had been in possession for the last seven or eight years, but in consequence of various circumstances the company had not been able to give a title to the purchasers. Tne grant from the Crown having, however, at length been obtained. it was desirable to make the necessary conveyances; but the expense of doing ao in this country would be so great, besides the difficulty of giving a proper description of the premises. that it was thought advisable to introduce a Bill to enable the company to make the grants in the colony by means of a power of attorney authorizing parties there to affix the seal of the company to the deeds. Sir J. GRAHAM wished to know whether the Bill had received the sanction of the Government; because there existed, he believed, an arrangement between the company and the Government that upon certain terms the Crown might resume all its Ammer rights over the land gran;ed to the company. He also observed that there was a clause in the Bill which relieved the parties from the payment of stamp duties on the con- V. yane. s. Mr. AGLIONBY said the Bill had been submitted to the Colonial office, and it did not interfere in the slightest' degree with the arrangements entered into between the Government and the company. With regard to the ex emption from the stamp-duty. the preced. nt of the North Canada Act had been oeserved in this case. Mr. HAY I ER said the exemption clause bad been considered by the Ceancellor of the Exch. quer, and he thought it just and fair that the same advantage should be extended to New Zealand as had been granted to Canadi. Mr. GOULBURN did not admit that the existence of a bad prec dent was any reason for continuing it. Mr. HAYTER did not urge the case as a matter of precedent. The same reason teat exist, din the case of Caned. op. rated in the case of New Z .aland. Mr. GLADS CONE suggested that the second reading of the Bill should be postponed till Monday. It was a question alfeetin4 titles to land, and ought, therefore, to tie considered by the legal Members of the House. After a short cenversation, in which Mr Mangles, Mr. Gouiburn, Sir J. Graham, and Mr. Rottadell Palmer took part, Mr. AGLIONBY conientel to postpone the second reading of the Bill till Monday next. The County-rates, &c., Bill went through Committee. The Boroughs Relief Bill, and the Titles of R-ligious Congreaions (Scotland) Bill, were respectively read a third time and passed. The second reading of the Audit of Railway Accounts Bill was postponed till Moneay. Mr. GL ADSTONE expressed a hope that a Bill in volving such unprecedented provisions as this did would not be proceeded with at this late period of the session. unprecedented provisions, U pr C o H vis E io ß o E s, r s a a i i l d wa th y a a t ff i a f ir t s he w ß er i e ll t c lf on a t n ained remedy,—(Hear, o:msun precedentedin.:diGyvGentleman t FATTEN T d :Ln e ri s ,E, description, t irxby i . o )pei n u: ieg,esvieaddn that st r t e sh q ume u rr i pe r i required at the be stringent ai Right good og e oh n d t t the argumenturn ad invidiam ad i i ‘e l la s el ei a. e rf h l yd a isdc m auy a s lt wo ie on r u . u ld po b n e t h n e am ß e il d l in Committee, woulde othawt;tpteuer,p %n o d hopL befored bring in a Bill Mr. F. r x s u le L ft E town. i —(Hear, to dissolve certain regimental benevolent societies, and to distribute the funds thereof; also a Bill to shorten the second period of enlistment in the artillery and other ordnance corps; which were brought in accordingly, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. The House adjourned at One o'clock. COUE.I7 CIRCULAR. OS BORNE, THURSDAY. The Qneen and Prince walked this morning in Oa borne•park. _ _ His Ry al Highness Prince Albert, attended by Colonel the Hun. C. B. Phipps and Colon-I Seymour, Equerry in Waiting, crossed to GoAport in the Fairy royal yacht, and proceeded to Winchester to see the catileilir.l and college at that city. rhN C,,untess of Desert has relieved Lidy Mount Edg cumbe as the Lady in Waiting on her MAyesty. There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes terday. Their Roynl Highnesses the Duke end Duchess of Cambridge and the Hap litary Grand Duchess of M elclenburei Strelitz, attended by Lady Augusta Ca d 'loin and Mr. Edmond Mildmay, honoured the Duchess D 'wager of Brdf , •rd with their company yesterday m 'ruing, at the public breakfast given by her Graee, her residence on Campden Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited their Roy sl Highnesses the Duk. and Duchess of Cam bridge yesterday, at Cambridge House. Their Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Streli , a. honoured Mrs. Wyndham with their company on Wednesday evening, at her residence in G rosvenor -place. J,...eph N. B. Kerr, from Nova Scotia, had an in terview with Earl Grey yesterday. at the Colonial. “tfice. Mr. Hincks had also an interview with the Noble E ycste , day. Mr. Child had an interview with Sir George Grey yesti rday. at the Home-office. Mr. Jahn Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an inttrview with the Chancellor of the Exchevoer yesterday, at his official residence, in Down ing •street. PLF.ASURE BOATS ON THE CANALS.—The adap tati last summer of one or two of the barges for pleasure boats to take parties for excursions on the Paddington (Grand Junction) Canal was found to be so palatable to the larger body of the respret able working classes who patronized the specula tion, that this summer the number of such pleasure boats has been increased, and, ailed by the material advantage of genial weather, the canal, which was for merly—before the great lines of railway monopolised so large a portion of the internal traffic of the kindgom the gr ea t source o f i n t erc ommunication and the means afforded for th e t ran smission of goods and merchan dise fr om one part o f the country to anoth-r, has becom e presents it se lf at P a ddi ngton , n ear the terminus of the quit. a pleasure stream, and the scene which Great Western Railway, by the arrival and departure of parties on these pleasure trips down the canal, is of the most lively and cheering .cha racter. The barges are entirely devoted to the purpose, and furnished with seats covered and orna mented, and being gaily decorated, are not unsuitable vehicles for the enjoyment of the parties, which include hosts of respectable women and children, who, with their provisions and other adjuncts, avail themselves of this no v el means of making water excursions several miles from the metropolis. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the Souse of Commosit.) THURSDAY. JULY 12. SUPPLY. Order for Committee read ; Motion made and Question proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, on the subject of certain illegal Ordinances or Acts of Council for the tax ation of the people of Van Diemen's Land, the attempts of Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Denison to intimidate the Judges of the Supreme Court of that Island into declaring such Ordinances or Acts to be legal, and the grievances complained of by the Colonists of that Island in their peti tion presented last year to ber Majesty, and printed by order of this House; and that her Majesty may be pleased to direct the local authorities in future to respect the indepen dence of the judicial functions of that Court, and also to signify her disallowance of any Ordinance or Act subse quently passed by the said Lieutenant-Governor in Council, for giving to such illegal Ordinances or Acts the force of law; instead thereof:—Question put, " That the words pro posed to be left out stand part of the Question." The House divided : _ _ MAJORITY—AYES, 72. Anson, Colonel Gladstone, W. E. Mitchell, A. T. Armstrong, It. B. Greene, Thomas Norreys, Lord Bagshaw, John Grentell, C. P. Palmerston, Vie. Baines, M. T. Grey, Sir George Parker. John Baring. Sir F. Grosvenor, Lord R. Patten, W. Bernal, Ralph Harris, Richard Plumptre, J. P. Birch, !-1r fhomas Hastie, Archibald Ricardo, Osman Brotherton, J. Hawes, Beniamin Rich, Henry Brown, W. Hay, Lord John Richards. Richard Clay, James Hayter, W. G. Russell, Lord J. Clay, Sir W. Herbert, H. A. Russell, F C. Cowper, W. F Herries, John C. Sanders, George Craig, W. G. Hervey, Lord A. Seymer, Henry Ker Denison, J. E. Hobhouse, T. B. Seymour, Sir H. D'Eyncourt, C. T. Howard, C. W. Shaito, R. D. Dickson, Samuel Jervis, Sir John Smith, Vernon Drummond, llenry Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Somerville. Sir W. Dundee, Admiral Knox, Colonel Setheron, T. H. S. Dundee, Sir David Lacy, H. C. Thickneese, Ralph Ebrington, Viscount Langston, J. If. Vane, Lord H. Ellis, John Lennard, T. B. , Wood, Sir Charles Elliot, John E. Lewis, G. C. Wrightson, W. B. Fergus, John Lincoln, Earl of MIMS. Ferguson, Sir R. Maule, Fox Hill. Lord M arcus Foley, J. IL Weigand. Viscount Lascelles, W. B. MINORITY-NOES, 2 f. Anderson. Arthur Henry, Alexander O'Connor. Feargns Haillie, H. J. Hume, Joseph Pilkington, James Cobden, It. Kershaw, James Roebuck, J. A. Colebrooke, Sir T. Lushington, Charles Smith, J. B. Duncan, beorge Meagher, Thomas Thompson, Colonel Ewart, William Martin, John Walmsley, Sir I. Fagan, William Molesworth, Sir W. TELLEIIS. Fox, W. J. Mowatt, Francis Anstey, ThomaS C. Gibson, T. M. O'Connell, John Wood, W. P.._ (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question proposed, " That a sum not exceeding 361,F00L be granted to her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the expense of the Pay, Allow ances, and Contingencies of Ordnance Military. Corps, which will come in course of payment during the year ending the tlst day of March, 1850:" - Whereupon Motion made, and Question put, " That the Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit again." The Committee divided:— MINORITY—AYES, 43. Baillie, H. J. Hastie, Alexander Pilkington, James Bass, M. T. Haye,s,'Sir E. Salwey, Colonel Broadley, H. Henley, J. W. Seymer, H. K. Clifford, H. M. Henry, Alexander Smith, J. Benjamin Colebrooko, Sir T. Hildyar t, R. C. Spooner, Richard Drummond, Henry Hildyard, T. B, Stuart, J. Duncan, Oeorge Hood, sir A. Thompson, Colonel Ellis, John Kershaw, James Thornely, T. Fergus, John Lennard, T. B. Walmsley, Sir J. Floyer, John Lushington, C. Willoughby, Sir H. F% x, W. J. Molesworth, Sir W. Wood, W. P. Gibson, Thomas M. Moore, G. li. Grogan, Edward Mo watt, Francis TILLERS. Gwyn, Bowel O'Connell, John Hume, Joseph Harris, Captain Pearson, Charles Cobden, Richard Bards, Richard Pechell, Captain MAJORITY-NOES, SO. Adair, R. A. Heathcoat, John Richards, Richard Anson, Colonel Hobhouse, Sir John Romilly, Sir John Armstrong, R. B. Hobhouse, T. B. Rumbold, C. E. Baines, M. T. Hodges, T. L. Rushout, Captain Baring, Sir F. T. Howard, C W. G. Russell, Lord J. Bellew, 4. M. Jervis, Sir John Russell, F. C. Berkeley, Captain Keppel, G. T. Rutherfurd, A. Brotherton, Joseph Labouchere, Henry Sandals, George Brown, W. Langston, J. H. Shell, E. L. Craig, W. G. Lascelles, W. S. Smith, R. V. Dundas, Admiral Lewis, George C. Smith, J. A. Dundas, Sir D. Lygon, Gen. Somerville, Sir W. Fordyce, A. 1). Martin, J. Stafferd, Augustus Forster, M. ' M aule, Fox Taliourd, Serg,ant Freestun, Colonel Mitchell, T. A. Tattered, H. W. Frewen, C. H. Monsen, William Thicknesae, R. A. Goulburn, Henry Morison, Sir W. Vane, Lord 11. Graham, Sir James :Helical, John Verney Sir H. Greene Thomas Norreys, Sir D. Vivian, J. E. Grey, Sir G. Owen, Sir J. Walter, John Grey, R. W. Paget, Lord C. Wellesley, Lord C. Grosvenor, Lord R. Parker, John Williamson, Sir IL Hamilton, G. A. Plumptre, J. P. Wood, 'ir Charles Harcourt, G. G. Prvse, Pryse Young, Sir John Plastic, Archibald Raphael, Alexander Hawes, Beni. Rawdon, Colonel TELLE LS. Hay, Lord J. Renton, J. C. Hill, Lard Marcus Ray ter, W. G. Rich, Henry Howard, Lord E. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT.—Hertford Ju'y CIVIL SlDE.—(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON.) AUSTIN V. SPEAR This was en action to recover the sum of 75!. fir .. ,, mnii•ision upon the sale of some proptly to the de fendant Chambers and Mr. Hawkins w , re for the plain tiff ; and Sergeant Shed and Mr. T. Chambers for the de►'eudant. I skppeared that the plaintiff endeavoured to obtain fees from bo.h parties for his share in negotiating a sale of the property. The CHIEF BARON asked the jury to say whether the plainu►ff, by arcing in the way described, had not himself broken the contract, and was not entitled, on that ground. to recover. The Jury, after a short deliberation, ssid they entirely concurred with his Lordship, and at once retuned a •er • diet for the de►endant. HA.NSON ♦ND ANOTHSR V. THE PORT OF LONDON SHIP OWNERS' LOAN AND INSURANCE COMPANY. This cause was tried by a special jury. The action was brought to recover a sum of 2001. upon a policy of insura ice effected with the defend ►nts, the claim being made as for a total loss of the vessel referred to in the policy. The jury said they were unanimously of opinion that the evidence held estasblis►hed a total loss of the vessel, and they therefOr.. returned a verdict for the plaintiffs. CROWN COURT.--(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) William Crawley, 50, was indicted for feloniouily set ting fire to a stable, barn, and other buildings, the pro- perty of Richard Morten. The evidence was principally circumstantial, supported by some incoherent statements made by the prisoner him self; but, as there appeared some reason to doubt his perfect sanity, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. OXFORD Clit CUTE—Abingdon, July 11. CROWN COURT.—(B-fore Mr. Justice ERLE.) CRARGE of TORGERY—PRACTICE AS TO VERDICTS. Thomas Owes, an auctioneer, of the town ot Walling ford, was charged with having, on the 27th July, 1848, at the parish of St. Mary the More, in the borough of Wallingford, falsely made, forged, and counterfeited the signature of one Joseph Cox to a certain account of moneys paid and received, dated as settled the 21st May, 1846; and wi h having uttered and published the same account as true, with intent to defraud one Sarah Ewing and Charlotte Christiana Huggan. There were several counts, charging the offence in every way which it was thouglit the facts of the case would warrant. Mr. Whsteley, Q C., and Mr. Dowdeswell, were coven- sea for the prosecution; and Mr. Keating, Q.C., and Mr. Pigott, for the defence. Mr. WIATELEY, in stating the case, said that the prisoner who was far advanced in years, and had hitherto borne a most respectable character—bad for gnamy years carried on business at Wallingford as an auctioneer and china-dealer, and had lived on terms ot the greatest intimacy with a Mr. Joseph Cox, who was formerly a timber-merchant, but having made a fortune, had retired from business. When the prisoner wanted monfy, he was in the habit of borrowing it of Mr. Cox. This went on till the month of August, 1846. when Mr. Cox made his will, and made oat a list of the debts owing to him, in which the prisoner's name was men tioned. By his will Cox left all his property, real and personal, to Mr. Hedges, an attorney at Wallingford, and the prisoner, as trustees and executors, in trust to sell and pay the proceeds to . his only sister, a Mrs. Huggan. Cex, ho was about . eighty years of a ge, died in September, 1846, and his s iste r died i n M arc h, 1847, leaving two daughters, one married to a Mr. Ewing, and the other a Miss Huggan. who was not actually insane, hut was of unstable mind, and flighty. Shortly after Cox's death the prisoner removed .from the house his books and paper s . Some investigat ion took place, when Mrs Ewing showed the prisoner a list of debts which she had found, and in which his name was mentioned for the sum Of 4521., as then due. He snatched the list out of her hands, and it had not been heard of since; but another list had been made out before that time, in which the same sum was mentioned. An inquiry followed,' when the prisoner said that there was nothing due from him, but on the contrary. there Was something due to him. A regular investigatio . n soon a f ter too k p l ace between Mr. Barry tt i an old fr iend of Mr. Cox. and who had made out the list of debts for him, the legatees, the prisoner, and his co-executor. The prisoner then ad mitted that he owed tool, OR a note; but had paid 352/. 10s. by three payments; one of 2001. into the Bank, on the 9'h June, 1842, and another of 1501. into the Bank, on the Bth of March, 1844, and a third of 21. 10s. to Mr. Cox himself, in cash. The parties were not satisfied, and he produced a receipt in these terms, signed by Mr. Cox:—" Received 21st December, 1842, of Mr. Thomas O w en, the sum of 141. 25., for all interest up to this day, as stated on the other side." These last words, "as stated on the other side," were clearly not in the hand writing of the deceased, nor were the endorsements to which they referred. These were—" 3521. 102., note at 4 per cent. ; settled 2001, 9th June, 1842, bank ; 1501, Bth March, 1844, bank; cash, 2/. 10s.; total, 3521. 10A." Comparing these endorsements w i th wi w t a h s ntheot satisfactory receipt, it would appear that the prisoner paid interest on the en tire sum up to December, thoug h . he had paid 2001. o f i t in the preceding Jane. —the parties thought the instrument not genuine, and required the prisoner to produce Cox's books and papers. The cash-beok and day book were produc e d, but not the ledger. On an i nspect ion of these books, it appeared that several sums had b een lent fr om ti me t o time to the prisoner, and that one item had been altered. p a e t ar s ed p : • — r ‘' ce J n a t. n 4 "August In Mr. Cox's cash- book, these entriesap 27 u I8 u 4 s 0 t 2 , lent li,lll4oreceived Mr. Tho i a s Owen 6501. 111. is., half-year's interest." ELLIS V. TWILLEY AND ANOTHER Was an undefended action of debt for a builder's bill, in which the jury returned a verdict for 561. 6s. 3d., execution being graced in a week. SUMbiElt V. MOMS Was an action of trover, also undetOnded. TIIVRAIRY V. MORGAN AND JOHN COB Was an action for rent. Mr. Hayes and Mr. Prowett conducted the plaintiff's case; Mr. Llumtrey, Q.C.. and Mr. Macaulay appeared for the defendant Coe, and Mr. Flood for Morgan. This appeared to be a joint liability. Coe tendered all his own fair share—Morgan did not ; hence arose this action against both jointly, and the verdict was returned for the amount sought to be recovered-1001. 19s. 9d. This closed the civil business of the assizes for this county, at half•past two o'clock. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARSE.) Simon Coles was indicted for the manslaughter, at Northampton, on the 23d of May last, of James Turner, and convicted by the jury, with a recommendation to mercy. It appeared that the deceased had taken 2s. or 3s. belonging to the prisoner, who was a fellow-lodger, and a scum ensued, which in a minute resulted in a blow causing death. His LORDSHIP, having administered an admonition, passed a sentence of imprisonment, with hard labour, tor six weeks. John Martin, aged 19, was indicted for having, on the 23d of May last, at the parish of Dingley, in this county, feloniously assaulted, and cut and wounded with a bludgeon, one Henry Spencer, with intention to kill and murder him. This case arose out of an ordinary poaching affray, and presented ne peculiar feature. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty of common as sault. Sentence was deferred. The cases of assault upon women were then taken, and occupied nearly the remainder of the dip. PREFERMENTS.—The Rev. George Edwin Patten den, 8.A., of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, to the Head Mastership of the Humberstone School, Lincoln shire. TEB CROPS. Th e rnet ans uniform dtiyao n t os t alb e re n eg o lr fa t t euna r l yo. and —w ill bxwo t t re h i lin e , et b accounts esoeucotu,fretrhdee. concerning the crops in all qnarters is highly favourable. clh T t hrfe h ora e optvhusy h ge : s ho y spofnr c de r as o hel crop in s i to n e aborterhett sorts—potatoes , south a t o o etEngland wheat, hay; atarbelpii bur r sd forwardnelo. PRISON DISCIPLINE. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORI) BROUGHAM. My Lord,—Toe country- never can be sufficiently in debted to your Lordship for the able and lucid manner in which you laid before the House 'of Lords on Friday last the glaring defects of our system of prison discipline, which I regret you did not force on this session, instead of waiting till the next. The evils are increasing, and it is only a master mind that can grapple with the subject which seems to perplex without solving the problem, or alleviating the evil. Your Lordship wisely remarked that the luxuries of our prisons caused them to cease to be a terror, which I can, from daily txperienco fully testify, for when Sheriff of London, three years ago, I called the public attention to the subject, and both from Sir James Graham and Sir George Grey I obtained assurances of amendment The olten repeated recommittals proved the defects of our system, and having visited the prisons of France, of Belgium, and Germany, I then pointed out, as your Lordship expressed, that labour is alone the prevention, end until this is resorted to, all other means of study and false philanthropy, as adopted at Reading and Pen tonville, must prove abortive. Prisoners now regret the expiration of their sentence, as they lose the comtorts of a prison; aced when it is con sidered that the annual expense of our ciminals' gaols, and convict establishment, exceed 1,000,0001, which is charge I upon the counties and the Consolidated Furd, averaging 451. annually for each prisoner, surely it is high time for the Legislature to interfere, and check so ruinous an expenditure and so demoralising a system. The resolutions moved by your Lordship would meet the evil, and be a uniform remedy; voluntary labour being the stimulus to exertion which must benefit the prisoner undergoing his sentence, as well as enabling him to reinstate himself when at liberty. Whilst crime is increasing in Dorset and other coun ties, it is gratifying to know that in the district of Essex where I reside, comprising an agricultural population of about 6,000, that at our Quarter Sessions last Friday, only one case was brought before us, which was ignored by the gra! d jury, thus proving that employment is the grand remedy; and, as all might easily be occupied pro ductive•ly on public works or national undertakings, it would thus render all the visionary separate systems nn necessary, which, upon investigation, only tend to pro duce crime instead of preventing it. I hope your Lordship will press on the good work, possessing as you so justly deserve, the attention of the wise and good in the cause of humanity, which is the noblest subject that can engage the attention of a states man. I am, your Lordship's most obedient servant, JORN LATINS. I, Hyde-park -place, July 11, 1349. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Fairy Royal yacht, Captain the Right Hon. Lord Adolphus Fiteclarence, G.C.11., embarked Prince Albert and suite at Cowes this morning about ten, and conveyed his Royal:High ness to Gosport, where a special train, in charge of Mr. Cornelius Stovin, the general mana ge r o f t h e S outh- Western Railway Company, was in waiting to convey hill to Winchester to present new colours to the 23d Fusiliers, as detailed elsewhere. The Fairy afterwards returned to Cowes, and about half-past two embarked her Majesty the Queen, the Royal children and the Court, and brought them to this harbour, where they remained some hours viewing the sports of the Water men's regatta, which were of the usual stirring and ex hilar Iting character. Her Royal highness the Duchess of Kent and a small suite arrived at Gosport at five o'clock from town, and joined the Court on board the Royal yacht to wit. ness the aquatic festivities. The usual ceremonies were observed by the naval and military authorities, &c., and her Royal Highuess returned with the Court to Osborne. The Egyptian frigate Sharkie, Commodore Haftm Bey, on this occasion was not backward in respect and loyalty. She hoisted the respective British ensigns at each mast head, manned her yards, and saluted as the Royal standard hove round the "Kicker" with much smartness. This vessel has been much admired, and the question has be en frequently asked, " How is it we have not such ve,sels?" CHATHAM, JULY 11. —The Hercules, 72, store-ship, Master and Commander R. Fulton, at moorings opposite the dockyard, has commenced unloading; there is no certainty that she will be paid off. IRELAND. PARTING ADDRESS OF TUE STATE PRI- SONERS. DUBLIN, THURSDAY.—Previous to the departure of the leaders of the late insurrection they placed in the hands of a mutual friend the following address to their fellow•countrymen:-- " Fellow•countrymen,—lt your efforts to procure a mitigation of the penalties to which we are about to be sub• jeeted had been as successful as you desired we could nut have offered to you more sincere and grateful acknow lf dements than those which we now tender for the sym pathy and solicitude which you have displayed in our behalf. •' At this moment, whilst we are bidding our last sad farewell to our native land, the reflection that our fel low•countrymen have not witnessed with indifference our removal from amongst them is a sweet source of conso lation; and be assured that this remembrance will here •fter be a soothing alleviation to whatever sufferings it maybe our lot to endure. "Knowing that we address many who do not concur with us in political opinions, we do not feel ourselves at liberty to offer any observations upon the policy by which this country is governed—upon the policy which gave occasion to our resistance to Bri:ish power—upon the policy which now consigns us to exile. We are compelled to repress even the emotions which we feel in reflecting upon the awful condition in which we leave the land that we have deeply loved; nor is this a fitting occasion to point out the moans by which its disasters may be repaired; but we cannot refrain from the expres sion of a hope that you will not despair of your country; and we may be permitted to offer to our fellov►•country men a parting exhortation, that they will lay aside those unhappy dissensions which have so long paralysed the intrinsic strength of the Irish nation, and henceforth learn to love and c;intide in each other. " We feel that it is not necessary to say anything to you in vindication of our motives Even those who most condemn our conduct know that we have not been ani mated by considerations of a personal nature in hazard ing all that was dear to us for the sake of our native land; but we owe it to our feelings to declare that, whatever may be the sacrifices we incur by devotion to its interests, our latest aspiration will be a prayer for the prosperity, the honour, and independence of Ire land. " WILLIAM S. O'BEnx. " TMOMA.S FRANCIS ISIZACHEIL " TERENCE BELLEW NPSIANIIII. " PATRICK O'DONOHOE. " Richmond Prison." AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS BILL. Tha following are the sections in the Bill which has been read a third time in the House of Lords, and which i. now before the House of Commons, for auditing rail way accounts : lt%il 4ay accounts to he kept under three separate heeds or divisions; viz., Parliamentary Account, Capital Account, and Revt nue Account.—Sect. 1. Every euch account to be made out to 30th of June and 31st of December, and to be according to the forms in the echedule. -2. Accounts to be made out in triplecate, and two copies transmitted to Commissioners of Railways.-3. Accounts to be transmitted monthly to Commissioners of Railways.-4. Commissioners may require accounts to be made out i❑ a different form, and order fur that purpose to be published in Gazette.-5, and 6. Commissioners of Railways to appoint an auditor to audit the accounts in conjunction with the auditors ap pointed by company.-7. Directors to delivor duplicates of the accounts to the company's auditors.-8. Scheme to be laid before auditors where dividend in tended to be declared.-9. Auditors to examine accounts, and to inspect books, and call for vouchers, &c.-10. Auditors either to make a special report on accounts or confirm the same ; in case of diff erence o f op i n i on separate reports to be made.-11. Reports to be prepared in duplicate, one copy to be transmitted to directors for next ordinary meeting, and the other copy to the Commissioners.-12. The accounts audited, together with the auditor's re port, to be laid before the meeting.-13. In default of company's asditors, the other auditor may act alone.-14. Auditors may employ accountants, &c.-15. Co , ts of auditors to be defrayed by company. and if required may be taxed by taxing officer of the House of Commons.-16. Penalty on the company for default in transm i t t i n g s .• accounts or producing documents, as r e q uired by la Act.-17. Taxation of bills of costs for legal and Parliamentary expenses.-18. Auditors elected by company not required to be share holders.-19. Shareholders may inspect company's books of account for fourteen days previou s to each ord inary half -yearly meeting, and for one month thereafter.-20. R.-gister of shareholders and register of transfers to be open for inspection of shareholders. -21. Act to be construed with Companies Clauses Act. —22. THE OPENING OP PARCLLS fly RAILWAY AVTHO• amns.—A scramble fur the Pickfordiau or carrier class of pickings on the London and North-Western Railway seems to be in progress. The company, it is said, take the singular liberty of breaking open such packages or parcels as they may suspect to contai❑ goods fur different parties separately directed, and themselves deliver the goods separately packed, and appropriate the charges for delivery. The post packages and mail bags are not broken open for the sake of such plunder; why should others be so --- and . that, too, f x facie, on the mere Should other of twice chargeable contents? example, other railway companies follow such an compsn X , why not steam and other shipping coach and omnibus proprietors, and ot c lie i rc s s o r , ri !elves of all kinds inclusive? And an universal f w er h s s them !elves h esea l m would be safe and sacred children, no friend • opfarciejel from safely send a lot eichout the chance of 1/ h o li te n d ti- toy N s o to each evenof f t h on i s delivery of each, and none package, without affording a and un th e part of carriers of all sorts, for examining its contents. It is for enclosesp whatever arat e a any few chargespw for r olehrne breraesaikbilnegprir t : C PL Stom - house authorities alone, with any propriety or right, to be allowed ISUOh * /keg" in this free cvuntt ; y.-7-k{ sGhoorweronfme MI