The Sun. — London, England, 1849-03-02 00:00:00

to the sti p taken by the Vicer of Leeds, in inging Bill before Parliament, at his own expense, to divide his parish into districts, whereby he depsiveci himself of half his income, and commented on filet ate ac enether reason why they s h ou ld a d o pt th e motion of the Noble Lord with the view of rendering earl- cessary the expen sive course taken by clerg y men in tlieir individual ca pacity f or t h e di v i s i on o f their parishes, the Hon. Gen tleman concluded by expressing his conviction that the appointm en t o f t h e C omm i ss i on pro p ose d, an d the adop tion of the measures he contemplated, would effect a vast Baying of the public money. Mr. HORSMAN declared his gratification at the tone and manner of the debate, and proceeded to remove some rai "Perehi n,ions which he feared existed with respect to the object the Noble Lord the Member for Bath sought to attain. The Noble Lord merely endeavoured to work oat the application of a principle which in individual eases had been found productive of great good, and to re nder the Church institution as effective as possible. He felt C ommissioners gratef u l t o th e N o bl e Lord, and he trusted that the " ° ltltnissioners would comprise gentlemen who could give up their time to the necessary labour of the Corn mission, and that the inquiry would nut be postponed , n oMr. SIDNEY HERBERT wished to make an obser tstioa as to the working of the Commission. Allusion bad been ma d e to t h e a b uses ar i s ing from pluralities, but by l'lvr most of those evils were prospectively dealt with, a nd he was not prepared to deny that the plurality re strictions ought to be carried farther. He said thus much, lest in voting against the amendment, as he intended to do, he should be classed among those who l u :fened th pluralities. He w the l affecting the m to te e farthest exte ould nt, vested carr in y terests aw being pre - ser ved, and h e h o ped the time was not far distant when k o th pluralities and non-residence would be things un ell"h• He wished to urge on the Noble Mover of the ,eselution b e f ore th e House, to whom he thought the t hanks of all religious denominations were due, the neces etty of paying attention to the means by which informe . 4 Was to be collected by the Commissioners. The ex isting organization should not be overlooked, but the C ommission ought to be worked through the chapters and archdeacons, who were acquainted with the condi ti°rl of the archdeaconries. Ile trusted that the Hon. Memb er for Montrose would withdraw his amendments, a nd let the House unanimously appoint the Commission °F Inquiry called for. Mr. HUME said all that he wished was to make the inquiry as general as possible. The Hon. Gentleman T;! i s Proceeding to restate the grounds on which he rested I S amendments, when he was met by cries of " Order, order," from the Chair; upon which he moved his first ,a,utendment, to the effect that after the word " popula tion" in the Noble Lord's motion, there be added the Word s " who attend the Established Church;" but which a mendment was negatived without a division. The Hon. M ember then proceeded to move his second amendment, ! 0 the effect that the Commission to be appointed inquire i nto the best mode of putting an end to ecclesiastical sine cures and pluralities. He considered the Hon. Member for oxford (Mr. Wood) had introduced a strong argument in favour of that amendment from his statement of the good results which had followed the abolition of the s inecures in the prebend of Westminster. Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask the Noble Lord (Lord Ashley) whether he was willing to make the addition to I ,s motion which he (Mr. B.) had suggested in regard to J oi ning together small parishes where practicable and likely to be advantageous. Mr. HUME—Should the Noble Lord agree to that, I ',ill join it to my amendment. Mr. GOULBURN hoped his Noble Friend would be Ile in adopting either of the amendments proposed. fi considered that the additions prop )sed would impede the proposed inquiry, as they would be the means of mi xing it up with legal questions, and matters of indi 'rldual right and vested interests, which would distract att ention from the real matter it was intended to inves tigate. Instead of introducing any matter that would i fl'eede the progress of inquiry, he held that everything should be done to facilitate it, and he concaved that they Would best consult the interests of the Church by reins ibg the amendment. In regard to the motion itself , the q u estion t had been so fully argued that he would not de tain the House with any further comment upon it. He only say that it was peculiarly gratifying to him ° see one for whom he entertained so high a respect , as h 0 did for the Noble Lord, bringing forward a subject of Su ch importance, and which would be the means of im- Parting so much benefit to the country. Mr. lIUME then said he would withdraw his amend ment as related to sinecures and pluralities, but press a t portion of it referring to the union of parishes. He Would therefore move this—" And to inquire into the Proprietyand of uniting small parishes where practicable nuu advantageous. " Lord ASHLEY would not dispute that the matter was des erving of consideration, nor did he deny but that it might be proper in several cases to unite small parishes, e specially in towns; but he thought the making it a matter of reference to the Commission would be placing to p much on their shoulders, and that it should be made the subject of a separate inquiry. Lord J. RUSSELL said he agreed with the Noble Lo rd as to th e i m p ro p r i e ty of referring that matter to the C ommission now to be appointed. It would oe the means of impeding their deliberations, and therefore he thought it ought not to be pressed. Mr. BROTHERTON was of the same opinion. Sir E. N. BUXTON said he believed the general feelin g of the House to be that such a Commission of In quiry was necessary, and he did not think it fair that after Hon. Members, who had taken up the subject, came to that House, and asked for powers to investi g ate it, some other Hon. M em ber should start up, and insist that there should als be referred to the Commis sion to be a pp o i n t e d a t o t a lly different matter for consideration than that proposed by the originators Of the motion. He was satisfied that the best results Would proceed from the inquiry called for, and he trusted the amamendment would not be pressed. Lord ASHLEY sail he had been found fault with by t he Hon. Members for Montrose and Manchester for not referring to whet had been done by the Dissenters in the e course of his remarks. Had he been making a n ap plication to the House for a grant of public money to carry o ut the objects he had in view, he would have certainly ecinsidered it his duty to have done so. His , hi etion, however, had no reference to that. 'he Honourable Member for Montrose had alio stated that in referring to ragged schools ho had con nected them with the Established Church. Now, he certainly did refer to ragged schools, but he did not c ouple th em w i t h t h e E sta bli s hed Church ; and he would Consider it unjust did he not state that they were deeply indebted to Dissenters for the exertions they had made lll favour of these schools; and he could state that , in reference to them, he had always seen the greatest har m ft TaY prevail between Churchmen and Dissenters. — in•ei the hear.) He had been also charged with overlook physical condition of the people in his desire to Phadfor spiritual destitution. On the contrary, he 11 14 ' e said th a t he would be anxious to take all the steps e could to alleviate distress, and he believed that such distress could be best ascertained and remedied by a pro -1):.r and vigorously worked parochial staff. Ile knew many parishes so large that the clergyman could only see his parishioners once in two weeks, so scattered were they over the country, and he knew a parish where the rgYman had to ride 24 miles to visit cane of his these the Commission would have to suggest a remedy, .2 4 it was for the remedying that state of things he "'shed the Commission appointed. Alter a few words from Mr. W. BROWN, the House di vided, when there appeared — For the amendment .... Against it lll Majority against the amendment--93 T he Ashl e y' s mo ti on was then agreed to. tho "he SPEAKER proceeded to call over the names of Members who had motions on the paper, and all t hose Ron. Gentlemen who were present expressed their en able to waive their right of precedence in order to L or d J . R usse ll to b r i ng f orwar d hi s res olutions 00 the Irish Poor-law, with the exception of M r. S. CRA.WFORD, who said he would think it his duty to move the resolution of which he h a d g i ven not i ce on the question that the Speaker leave the chair. LANDLORD AND TENANT. 1 -tr. PUSEY obtained leave to bring in a Bill to im raove the relation between landlord and tenant in Eng lld and Wales. POOR-LAW (IRELAND) BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the motion I have to make is, that Mr. Speaker leave the chair, in order that th e House go into Committee on the report of the Se lect Committee on the MA Poor-law. All I intend to 4 0 at present is to ask the House to go into Committee, and when that is done I shall lay before the House the s tatement which I intend to make on that subject. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD then rose and moved th e,„ amendment of which he had given notice, which ( .7 1 " --- " That it is unconstitutional and unjust to impose "h, Ireland separate national taxation for the wants o Particular localities, so long as the public general re venue of Ireland is paid into an I m p erial Treas ury , ri ` t Placed at the disposal of an Imperial Legislature, the general purposes of the United Kingdom." He co nsi-_idered it unfair to cause the people of Ulster and meter to support the western landlords, who had i n ' i tned their property. Let their properties be put e;', the market for it, and then, if there was a defi ereY, have recourse to some such system as the present. th! c ontended that it was unjust to call on t he p eo p le of 41 : north of Ireland to make good the deficiency in t Other part of t erial Treasury. he country. It was a When charge Hon. that sMem hould : borne by.the Imp LIN t alked about the share of taxation borne by Ire - 1) he would remind them what was the condition of Irela nd at the time of the Union. In 1801 the debt of ere 'aed amounted to 28,000,0001., and in 1847 it had in creased to 130,000,0001. How that increase bad oc the'rrl he could not tell. From the period of the Union England of Ireland were in the hands of England, and la a sl d iu nd had the entire manage raent of the funds of Ire- The proportion which Ireland had to pay was nait r t u o at the time of the Union, and the Finance Com bp, eOl 1815 had declared that the burdens imposed ‘‘ , l : Ireland were too great. If that were the case, ie 1 ,7..aa to blame ? Who made Ireland bankrupt Ir ?It was England. He held that in justice th a cm" was chargeable with no portion of the debt r S ,' [lB not inc urre d at the time of the Union.—(llear, .) Another allegation which had been made of s that Irel an d was not s ubjected to the same amount wistaxation with England. But why was she' not ? to ',Y, it had been stated that the reason why Ireland was g° taxed was on t h e grou nd of her inability to pay 8 4 11,4 e -tear, hear.) But that was no reason why she landtaxed. He was quite ready that Ire • 8110111 d be tax e d to such an extent as would be fair, ba‘ no contend e d t h at as suc h t a xation would be paid p eue t he Imperial Treasury, so should the necessary ex -o,l.pure for the relief of the poor of Ireland be paid t: the Imperial Treasury. The Hon. Member eon leueagetclh , t_o n u . rg . e the soundness of his views at considerable ?i!concluded by moving the amendment. B. OCHE was opposed to the amendment of the 11°11 . PP for Rochdale. Every one must agree &or to F of it. iu dc itself; ases, to 'om the led for Iry re rtholo- ICTS. ;ht.) denting oughout ich the tight to e state, rrect its hat the neces- LI green not the ord had church- 310 Mery resed in the facts Dt to the to it on iteresting troducedt y money it before. m might voui cage i of Non . case thus Tll that something must be done for the plople. of Ireland, and he was anxious to hear what the Government meant to do.—(Hear, hear.) He did not wont there fore to encumber himself with abstract propositions. He must, however, confess that laying a rate in all, upon the north of Ireland, was merely retributive justice.—(Hear, hear.) When at the time of Crom well's invasion, his followers possessed themselves of the: land in that province, the owners who were dispassessrd, were told to go to hell or Connaught—and they tools the alternative, and went to Contiaught.—(llear, and laughter.) There they settled and rapidly increased — and now as an act of retributive justice the population of - Ulster were called on to aid in supporting the de scendants of the men who hal been driven by their forefathers to Connaught.—(Hear, hear.) If the rate in aid was to be opposed, he hoped it would be upon better grounds than any he had heard advanced by the Hon. Member. Lord CASTLEREAGFI recommended the Hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Slv,rinan Crawford) to withdraw his amendment, but said if he press , , d it to a division ho (Lord Cutlereagh) would vote in its favour. Mr. S. CRAWFORD regretted he could not comply with the Noble Lora's request. After a few words from the Marquis of GranV, Col. Dunne, Sir John Walsh, and Mr. Reynolds, the House divided, when there appeared— For the amendtiaent ... 15 Against, it ... ... 139 Majority against the amendment ... —124 On the original motion being put, Sir J. WALSH said that he reeretted to find that the Ministers found considerable promptitude on the part of every Committee that they selected, he would nut use the word packed, for the purpose of carrying nut measures for Ireland according to their own views. He felt bound to say that the Ministry had no precedent or experierce of the House for their mode of action with regard to the poor-laws of that country, and, he contended that the sixpsnnv rate in aid to be proposed by the Noble Lord (Lord - John Russell) would be equally inadequate and useless as the 10,000,0001. already engulphed, and as the 50,0001., which would be also swamped; and that before the end of the present session there would be another call on the time and at tention of the House for a double rate in aid.— (Hear.) The proposed rate in aid amounting to 330,000/. would not be sufficient for the sup port of the twenty-one insolvent unions even for two months, and all the disastrous evils attendant on that wretched country were to be attributed rather to the vicious system of legislation hurriedly carried through by the Minister's ignorance of the condition of the coun try. He contended that nothing could be more unjust or impolitic than to tax Ulster and Leinster, in addition to their present oppressive taxation, for the support of Connaught and Munster ; for such a line of proceeding, he felt assured, would drive the farmers of those pro vinces from their native homes to America or some other country. He totally disagreed with the Hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Scroite) that the blame was to be laid on the Irish proprietors, and argued that all was owing to a vicious systeni of legislation. He thought that the plan of local taxation, which they here proposed, was not the proper mode of proceeding ; and fur that reason, he should certainly take the sense of the House upon the question of the Speaker's leaving the chair, in the event of the resolution of the Hon. Member for Rochdale being rejected:—(Cries of " Divide.) Mr. NAI'IER complained of the conduct of the Go vernment, after promising a comprehensive scheme of remedial measures, in bringing forward the plan of an auxiliary fund. Even were that proposition not prema ture, he thought that if no more just measures of relief could have been suggested than this, at least they should not have been called upon to affirm the principle that for the poverty of Connaught, and to raise an auxiliary fund to make up deficiencies in those insolvent unions, it was reasonable to tax the industry and the honesty and the virtue of localities which had no connexion whatever with the districts which were the objects of their legislation. He would not attempt to draw any distinction in these matters between Catholics and Pro testants, between the north of Ireland and the west, but he would most earnestly submit to the House, that the tenantry or Ulster were not in any degree responsible for the distress of Connaught. It was trifling with the interests and rights of property to make the prosperous land pay for the unfortunate. They said they had a large number of helpless creatures, and he asked them how they were to enable the social ma chinery of the community to keep in action? Obviously they had no other system than that of maintaining a vast army of these mendicants by the resources of the labour. ing and thriving population. In short, they intended to allow want and indolence to fatten on competent provi sion and industry. Those being his views on the ques tion, he should oppose the adoption of a line of policy so inconsistent with justice.—(hear, hear.) Sir GEORGE GREY said that the two Hon. Mem bers who had resisted the motion of the Speaker's leav ing the chair had followed a most extraordinary course, in protracting a debate which, two hours before, they expressed themselves anxious to bring to a conclusion. He would not fellow those Hon. Gentlemen into the various matters of which they had spoken, but he would earnestly appeal to the House not to oppose any further impediment in the way of his Noble Friend, or to pre vent him from laying before the House the plan of the Government, accompanieil by sloth explanations of it as the House required. At a time sit hen there was on all hands admitted to be so much necessity for dispatch, and considering that it was their object to prevent the pro • grass of destitution and starvation., he did hope that this discussion might new terminate.—(Hear.) Mr. DISRAELI said there appeared to be some mis conception on the part of the Right Hon. Gentleman as to the manner in which the business of the House had been conducted that evening. A resolution had been moved by the Hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. S. Craw ford), against which he (Mr. Disraeli) and many- gentle men on his side of the House thought it their duty to vote. It invited them to declare that it was uncon stitutional and unjust to impose on Ireland separate na tional taxation for the wants of particular bealities, so long as the public general revenue of Ireland was raid into an Imperial Treasury, and pieced at the disposal of an Imperial Legislature for the general purposes of the United Kingdom. He, for one, could not assent to that proposition. If the financial system of the two countries had been identical, if there had been a fiscal, as there was a political union be tween the two countries, he should have voted with the Hon. Member; but remembering that the systems of taxation prevailing in England and in Ireland were different—remembering that the Queen's subjects in Ireland were not liable to the window-tax, or other assessed taxes, or to the property tax, ho thought that the proposition which the lion. Gentleman called upon them to affirm was not one which he could support. He could not approve of that part of those tactics which were sometimes adopted by Hon. Members for Ireland, who on fiscal subjects always insisted that there should be a difference between the two countries, while on po litical subjects they were always ready to affirm that the two countries were identical. But the only propo sition before the House was the proposition of the Go vernment; and they were now asked to go into Com mittee to sanction, in fact, the scheme of the Govern ment. Now he was equally opposed to that proposition as to the proposition of the Hon. Member for Rochdale; and was it not evident, after the new regulations to which they had all agreed for the dispatch of public business, that when the amendment of the Hon. n mber for Rochdale was disposed of, it was totally impossible to oppose the scheme of the Government except by moving a direct negative? The Right lion. Gentleman who had just addressed them in a tone of great indignation had asked—Was it not known to all that they were opposing the only means by which the Minister could explain the proposition which he had to recommend to their notice? lie (Mr. Disraeli) did nut agree with the Right Hon. Baronet. The Noble Lord might have risen immediately when the question was moved; he might have moved that question himself and have made an exposition of his reasons for proposing the adoption of his resolution. It would not have been an unusual course—(Hear, hear) —but a usual course; and it would even have be en a re spectful course.— (Cheers from the Opposition benches.) His Right Honourable Colleague (Mr. Ltbouchere) last year entered into a preliminary exposition on the sub ject of the navigation-laws. That instance was not so strong as the present; because the Right Honourable Gentleman had not placed his resolutions before the House; but, in the present case, Government, having laid their plan before them, nothing would have been more legitimate than for the Noble L - trd to have entered into an explanation of the grounds fur adopting this policy, and as he refused to take that step, nothing could be more legitimate than for the Hon. Member for Rad norshire to adopt the course he had taken. Under any circumstances, that was the course which the Noble Lerd ought to have pursued. But were there not peculiar circumstances in the present case which were calculated to excite the suspicion of Hon. Gentlemen—to stimulate their criticism—and to take the earliest and every lawful opportunity to canvass the policy of the Government? — (Cheers.) Had they evidence before them that it was a policy so matured, so well digested, founded upon such special information, and supported by such previous investigation, that they were to be in a haste and a hurry to carry it into legislative form?—(hear, hear.) The circumstances under which the resolution was laid on the table of the House were 'very re ruaritable. What was the use of being in a hurry in sanctioning this resolution ? In another place the same resolution had also appeared, and in that other • - place, at the earnest invitation of the leading Minister, of the Crown in that place, they had proceeded to ap point a Committee to receive evidence in support of the resolution.—(Hear, hear.) What was the use, then, of the House of Commons being in such a hurry to send up their sanction of the resolution, when those in another place would be found busy in examining whether there were sufficient reasons for adopting it? He took it tor granted, that in that other place they would pursue their affairs in a business-like manner, ar.d in such a way as would be satisfactory to the country—(Cheers)—that they would, at' least, before adopting such a resolu tion as this, be sure that there was a good foundation for it, and that they would also form some estimate as to the fund that may accrue from its adoption. They would also, he presumed, have some idea of the manner in which that fund was to be expended; and would take care, before they proposed to levy a rate in aid from the north of Ireland, that there should be a sound, substantial, and comprehensive valuation upon which they were to levy it.—(Cheers.) These were all circumstances which, no doubt, would be considered in another place, and if so, then the House might depend upon it some time would elapse before those in that other place arrived at a conclusion. There was, therefore, no reason why the House should be in such a state of pre cipitation to pass without comment, upon an occasion so opportune, and so legitimate for discussio,i, a resolution so unprecedented iu its character, and in its effect so enormous. —(Cheers.) He took the opportunity of pro testing against the conclusion that because he was op posed to this proposition ho was therefore opposed to any satisfactory plan fur rendering assistance to Irelmad. Ile would repeat, it was the duty of Govern,- silent with respect to the poor-law of Ireland to I have met Parliament with a comprehensive measure. The Government ought to have come forward and settled the questions of the circa of taxation, of arrears of rent, and of waste lands. Had they brought forward well digested measures upon those subjects, they would have found no difficulty in obtaining tt.e sanction of all par ties to measures of such a beneficial character. Under such circumstances such a proposition as. the pros( nt would have been of a temporary character, but under existing circumstances, who could maintain that this measure would be merely temporary? He had listened to the appeal of the Right Honourable Baronet (Sir George Grey), and he protested against the spirit of that appeal.—(Loud cheers.) If the House yielded to such appeals, especially since the regulations which had been lately introduced, they might prejudice in a most injurious manner the right of public discus sion. And, when ho considered that the Government on such an important subject had, he would not say trilled with the House, but rather had trifled with their own reputation, by the manner in which they had acted in gard to the policy they recommended to be adopted with respect to Ireland; and when he considered that no one could for forty-eight consecutive hours be sure what was the policy they were pursuing and recommending the House to adopt, he for one could not advise his Hon. Friend the Member for Radnorshire not to divide the House, but would rather express a hope that Hon. Gen tlemen on both sides of the Muse would take this oppor tunity of expressing their opinion upon this momentous question by submitting it to a division.—(Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL—I very much regret, Sir, that the Hon. Gentleman who has just sat down should have thought that a case of this kind, effecting the subsist ence of a distressed portion of the kingdom, was a proper matter for a party discussion.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Gentleman knows full well that when a general rate is proposed the manner and time of proposing it is in a Committee of the whole house.—(Hear, hear.) He knows full well that the forms and regulations of the House do not allow any such proposition to be made to the House; and that if I were now to propose the reso lutions which I have put on the notice paper I should immediately be stopped by the Speaker and told that it was incompetent for me to propose them.—(Hear, hear.) 'The Hon. Gentleman must also know that as I could not propose them except in Committee, it was natural that I should wish to accompany them with the reasons why I thought them necessary. Had I been able to do so, it was competent for the Hon. Member for the University of Dublin, or for any other Hon. Gentleman, to have told us that the principle we had adopted was vicious; that the measure we had proposed would produce mis chief; and that therefore the House ought not to sanc tion it. That would have been a fair course to pursue with respect to the proposition we have to submit; but to interpose at this sage, and to say that we shall not go into Committee at all, and to make that proposal on the ground stated by the lion. Gentleman (Mr. Disraeli), viz., that delay is required, and that long deliberation is necessary—to do that, Sir, is, in my opinion, worse than trifling with our reputation, as he says we are doing; it is trifling with tire welfare, I might say with the existence of many of our fellow subjects in Ireland. —(Loud cheers.) What do the papers before us tell us with respect to some of the unions? (Here the Noble Lord read a brief extract from the papers on Irish distress, respecting the extreme destitution pre vailing in the Scariff and Swinetord unions.) It is in these circumstances that the Honourable Gentle man says that much delay is required, that it is necessary to go into every question with respect to the poor-law in Ireland, that it is necessary to go into all the different valuations before any temporary remedi is proposed for this state of things.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentle man, the Member - for , the University of Dublin, chooses to say that we have brought forward this measure as a single measure—without any other proposition for the amendment of the poor-law. The Hon. Gentleman must know full well that in the Select Committee on the Irish Poor-law I stated several propositions which I thought it the duty of the Government to propose, and I am 'only to state to the House when in Committee the general nature of those propositions; and, therefore, I think it was not very candid of the Hon. Gentleman, having heard some of those prepositions discussed, to come to this House and say that this was a single propo sition. But the Hon. Gentleman says—and the same tone has been taken up by other persons of weight and authority—that unless we lay before the House a settled plan for the reduction of the area of taxation, it is im possible that they can agree in the proposition for a rate in aid. Now, what we have done with respect to that matter is this, we appointed a commission, consisting of persons fully competent for the task ; but, although they had been many months at the labour, they had not been able to advance further than a proposition for additional unions, and forming electoral divisions in those unions. They propose a scheme for the diminution of the areas of the taxation, so that the different persons paying the rates may be within easy reach of each other, and may co-operate with each other; but they did not think it right to propose that every small property should form a separate area of taxation. —(Haar, hear.) Now, if it be meant that unless we agree that every separate property shou'd form a dis tinct area of taxation, these gentlemen will not agree even to consider the proposition for a rate in aid, I must say I don't think it very likely that we shall make that proposition.—(Cheers.) I have a letter in my pocket from a gentleman who was formerly employed on the Poor-law Commission, but who is not now so employed, —whose abilities and experience give me great confi dence in his judgment; and he says that while the area of taxation ought to be diminished, yet if every property were made a separate area of taxation, you would see evictions enormously increased; and, that there was hardly any measure from which an equal amount of misery would accrue if that plan were adopted. Mr. OSBORNE—Is that letter from Mr. Senior? Lord J. RUSSELL—No, it is not from air. Senior. (Laughter.) The Hon. Member for Radnorshire (Sir .J. Walsh) proposes a plan for the relief of Ireland— which cmsists in a proposition for the reduction of the area of taxation, coupled with another proposition for emigration. I do not think proper to adopt the propo sition of the Hon. Gentleman. I think that if you make your whole plan to consist of these two proposi tions—that the area of taxation should be reduced to the propery of every individual landlord, so that he would have it in his power by driving every poor tenant from his property to clear himself from the obligation of paying poor-rates, and if you coupled with that a very large scheme of emigration, you would produce, in the first instance, great misery in Ireland, and in the second instance, you would be conveying numbers of un fortunate persons to a distant shore without making any provision for them after they are there.—(Hear, hear.) Being ready, as I said I should be, to propose in Com mittee the resolutions of which 1 have given notice, and to explain my general view of the poor-law, I must say that it is not the plan of the Hon. Gentleman, and that I believe that plan, if adopted, would create greater calamity in Ireland than any that yet exists.—(Cheers.) Mr. HERBERT repelled the charge of party motives which the Noble Lord had made. He himself had come into the House without any party motive, and determined to support the Government on every occasion on which he could do so consistently with his sense of duty to his country. He had supported them until he found that the existence of the class to which he belonged, and the existence of property in Ireland, were "incompatible with the existence of her Majesty's Ministers.—(Hear.) Sir H. W. BARRON concurred in the view expressed by the Hon. Member who had just addressed the House. If they attempted to levy this rate in aid, they would add twenty to thirty bankrupt unions to the otller twenty-one bankrupt unions. Ile contended that there was a great disproportion between England and Ireland in respect to the means applicable to the support of the poor in both countries. Lord CASTLEREAGH could not allow this debate to terminate without saying a word or two upon it. In the outset he must express his regret that the debate had taken so Irish a turn, by which the Noble Lord was prevented from making his statement to the House. In the first place, he must express his objection to the con stitution of the Committee appointed to consider the Irish poor-law. He objected to the proposed vote in aid, hut, from what had occurred elsewhere, he had every reason to believe this proposition would fall to the ground. The Noble Lord then read an extract from a letter of the late Lord Lonsdale, to show that the intention of the gislative union was to make the whole resources of the empire applicable to meet the wants of portions of it. He thought it would be a difficult matter to collect this proposed rate in aid, and if they were to persevere in it they might create feelings in the north which would induce the loyal people of that part of Ireland to merge all distinctions, and Orangemen and Ribbonmen might join together to break up that union which now so happily existed between this country arid Ireland. He would entreat them to pause in respect to this measure, and not to force the loyal people of Ireland to adopt the course which he alluded to. The gentry of Ireland were anxious as far as possible to assimilate the taxation of Ireland to that of England; but:they had no right to tax the land of Ireland in the way proposed. The Noble Lord then read an extract from a pamphlet by a gentle• man, named Martin, in support of his views, and again expressed a hope that the rate in aid would not bo en forced. Mr. PRYSE complained that no Welshman had been placed on the Committee referred to.—(A laugh.) Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL expressed his regret that the Noble Lord had been prevented from making his statement by this discussion. After a few words from Mr. CLEMENTS, similar to those made by the Hon. Member for Limerick, Colonel DUNNE said iliere - ;asno doubt about the proposition of the Noble Lord, although he had not wade it to that House.—(A laugh.) He contended that any such proposition would be a violation of the Act of Union. Mr. KERR said that, if the rate in aid wore carried, the magistrates in that part of the country from which he came would give up their commissions. —(hear, and a laugh.) Mr. GROGAN said that in Ireland there was no con fidence whatever in the Committee appointed to inquire into the operation of the Irish poor-law. Supposing they were to carry the proposition of a rate in aid, were they to levy another sixpence in the pound when the sixpence in the pound under this proposition had been disposed of? lie would oppose a proposition of a rate in aid. _ _ _ represented a constituency, the value of whose property was 1,000,0001, about 1-13th of the entire rateable pFo • perty in Ireland. If this rate were agreed to it would in flict on them an additional sum exceeding 20,0001., from which they would derive no benefit, because in Dublin the highest rate in one year was only 3s. in the pound. He was no advocata for this rate in aid, but he had voted for it in Committee, and should vote for it in that House, on certain conditions.—(A laugh.) It . was a rate that ought not to be inflicted on Ireland if it could be avoided—he was told it could not. He understood from the Treasury Bench that they could no longer look for relief from the Consolidated Fund. From the sup porters of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tam worth, he understood that the votes for Irish distress had reached their limit. He was told that 21 unions were in a state of bankruptcy, and that several hundred thou sands of persons were starving. Then he would ask those who opposed this measure, were they prepared to incur the responsibility of letting those people die of starvation in what he called the midst of plenty, when food was at a drug price? One reason why he should vote for this rate iu ail was, that he felt ashamed, as an Irish man, to be repeatedly told in that House that the Irish were mendicants at the door of that House.—(Hear, hear.) He looked to all parts of Ireland as his country —he felt that an insult to ono was an insult to all. He believed that Ireland was capable of supporting her pauperism if fairly treated. The lion. Member for Buckinghamshire said that Ireland was politically but not fiscally connected with this country. That was a distinction he could not understand. When they asked for a domestic Legislature they were told that Ireland was an integral portion of the British Empire. It might be a dangerous doctrine for the Honourable Member to repeat too often. The conditions upon which he would vote for this resolution were that all the income defiled from real property in Ireland should be made available for the purpose of the rate in aid, including money in the funds, annuities, rent charges, mortgages, and jointures. They had already tried to make the people of Ireland pay the assessed taxes, but they were obliged to abandon the attempt on the principle that you could not take the knee buckle off a Highlander.—(A laugh.) The Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) had assimilated the stamp duties between the two countries as an equivalent for the non-extension of the income-tax to Ireland. A sum of not less than 9,000,000/. per annum was received into this country from absentee rents and interest upon mortgages in Ireland, and this sum paid income-tax into the Ex chequer, so that Ireland ought to get credit for that amount. Sir W. VERNER said he felt himself called upon to defend the loyalty of Ulster. On two occasions that province received the thanks of Parliament for coming torward to put down rebellion in Ireland. Sir L. O'BRIEN objected to the measure, and de clared his intention to vote against it. Sir T. ACLAND thought they ought not to be called upon to vote in favour of the plan at the present moment. He should vote for going into Committee, in order to hear what the plan was in detail, but would dot 'thereby pledge himself in support of the resolution. The House then divided, when there appeared— For going into Committee 395 Against it Majority On our re-admission we found the House in Com mittee and the CHAIRMAN reading the following resolu tions:—" That in each of the next two years there shall be paid by every union in Ireland a sum equal to the rate of 6d. in the pound on each electoral division in such union, towards a general fund for the relief of the poor in Ireland; that the said sum shall be paid to a separate account at the Bank of Ireland, in the name of the Paymaster of Civil Services in Ireland, and shall be applied in su:th manner as Parliament shall direct." Lord J. RUSSELL said that be should to-morrow (this day) address a statement to the House having re ference to the foregoing resolutions, but as it had been intended to bring forward the navy estimates on that day it was arranged that the statement regarding those estimates should be postponed, and he should there fore ask the House to agree to a vote of 200,0001.. on account. Having taken that rote he should imme diately afterwards make the statement which he had just mentioned. Mr. HERRIES said he should not object to the vote ot' 200,0001. on account. In reply to a question by Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY, Sir F. BARING said that the vote would ho on ac count of the excess in the nary estimates. In reply to a question from Mr. HERRIES, Lord J. RUSSELL stated, that even though the de bate on the Irish rare-in•aid resolution should not ter minate to- morrow (Friday), he should still proceed with the question of the navigation laws on Monday. The House having resumed, the following Bills were read a third time:— Viscount Melgund, married the daughter of a general. P. W. S. Miles. married a daughter of Major-General Sir William Napier. Sir W. Morrison, a major general in the East India Company's service. Hon. E. W. M. Loyd, has a cousin an officer in the navy. Earl of Mulgrave, a lieutenant in the Guards, and a major of militia. Viscount Newport, has one uncle a captain in the navy, and another a captain in the army. Lord Norreys, has a brother an officer in the Life Guards. Sir D. Norreys, son of a lieut.-colonel in the army. Sir P. Nugent, son of a commander in the navy. Lord Ossulston, has an uncle a captain in the navy. Sir John Owen. has a son a colonel in the army. Lord Clarence Paget, a captain in the navy, son and se cretary to the Master-General of the Ordnance. Lord George Paget. a lieut.-colonel of dragoons, son of the Master General of the Ordnanc'. Lord Palmerston, lieut.-colonel of the Hampshire militia. John Parker has been secretary to the Admiralt ; •. J. W. Patten, a colonel of militia. Sir R(,bert Peel, married the daughter of a general, has a brother a colonel in the army, ant a son captain in the navy. Jonathan Peel, brother of the preceding, a colonel in the army, has been Surveyor-general of the Ordnance. Hon. E. G. D. Pennant, a colonel in the army. Sir R. Pigot, son of a general, is further connected with the army through the marriage of his daughter to one of the Fitzroys. W. Penney. a captain of yeomanry cavalry. D. Pugh, a major of yeomanry cavalry. G. A. Reid was colonel in the Life Guards. E. R. Rico, a captain of yeomanry cavalry. Henry Rich, son of an admiral. G. Rushout, a captain in the Life Guards. Lord John Russell, has four brothers in the army, three in the navy, a nephew in the army, a cousin in the navy, &c., &c., &c. Fr. C. H. Russell, an officer in the Fusilier Guards, son of a major-general, nephew of the preceding. M. T. Smith, son of a lieut.•colonel in the army. J. G. Smyth, a lieutenant in the Yorkshire Hussars. - J. E. Taylor, has been a captain in the Dragoon Guards. E. K. Tenison, held formerly a commission in the Dra goon Guards. • Sir F. Thesiger, "has been in the navy," according to Dod. J. Tollemache, son of an admiral. J. Townsend, a captain in the navy (colleague of Sir R. Peel). Hon. G. R. Trevor, lientecolonel, commandant of the Royal Carmarthen Fusiliers. H. Tufnell, has been secretary to a First Lord of the Admiralty (Minto). Sir J. T. Tyrell, a colonel of militia. Lord G. Vane, has a sister married to a colonel in the army. Sir W. Verner, a colonel in the army. Sir H. Verney, son of a general, married daughter of an admiral ; has been a major in the army. Viscount Villiers, has three brothers captains in the Guards. R. H. Vyse, son of a colonel, himself a captain in the Guards. H. G. Ward, secretary to the Admiralty, an hereditary inmate of the Admiralty-buildings, Whitehall. J. L. 0. Vaughan, a colonel of militia. Sir C. Wood, has been secretary to the Admiralty. Relief of Distress (Ireland) Bill, Vice-Guardians of Unions (Ireland) Bill, Overseers (Cities and Boroughs) Bill, Out-door Paupers Bill, and Buckingham Summer Assizes Bill, and The House adjourned at half-past One o'clock. Mr. REYNOLDS said the Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Dublin University, who represented Ulster, not in n Parliamentary but in a sympathetic sense—(A laugh)—had told them that if the House passed this six penny rate, it would shako the loyalty of that province to its foundation. The Noble Lord, the tone of whose speech was so excellent that every one must admire it, had echoed that sentiment, and the Hon. Member for Dowripatrick had threatened them with a wholesale re signation of the magistrates. If that was so, the loyalty of Ulster might be called a sixpenny loyalty.—(Laugh- Lit.) It was for the. House of Commons in its wisdom— he would say in its mercy—to decide whether it would interpose between a starving people on the one side, and unwilling contributors of aid on the other. He SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1849. Grose for the prompt and energetic measures 6et he took on seeing the condition of the swamped boat. DEVONPORT, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.—We had a fine day yesterde,y, wind east, but it shifted in the n.glit to south-west ahl cause on a e gale, continuing till about half past three pm. We have not had it blowing so hard during the winter. About ei'ht Ant. the brig yacht Avienis, about 200 tons, belonging to a Mr. Taylor, who has lately returned from the Mediterra nean, parted her moorings and went on shore under Plymouth citadel, where she now is full of water. For tunately no lives were lost, but it is supposed she will become a complete wreck. All else holds on. WOOLWICH, MARCH I.—The Janus steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander Powell, left this afternoon for Portsmouth and Gibraltar, and will have her compasses adjusted to-morrow by Captain Johnson, who will pro ceed to Greenhithe for that purpose. THE COURT•MARTIAL FOR THE Loss OF THE MU TINE.—The result of the court-martial on Lieutenant Curtis, as senior and commanding officer of the Mutine, when wr,ciced, was, the Court finding, after a tlelibera• tion of one hour and twenty minutes, that no blame wit, attributable tither to Commander Palmer or Lieutenant Curti, er the efileers and crew under their command, and acquitting them accordingly; and, further, express ing their high opinion of the merits and bravery shown by Lieutenant Curtis and Mr. Maunder, the acting mas ter, under the trying circumstances in which they had been pieced. The PRESIDENT then, addressing Commander Palmer, said,—l have great pleasure in returning you your sword. The PRESIDENT then said—Lieutenant Curtis, I have great pleasure in returning you your sword; and further, I am requested by this Court to express their high opinion of the skill, ability, and care shown by you under the very distressing circumstances in which you had the misfortune to be placed. May you long wear your sword, Sir, and wield yuur command as faithfully and bravely in the service of your Queen and country as you have hitherto done. Commodore Superintendent 11. Eden has returned *rom leave of absence, and has resumed his duties at Woolwich. WHALE FISHERY IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. The following, which appears in a Sandwich Island paper just received, will bo read with interest, not only on account of its bearing on the whale fishery, but also from the attention with which all late information from the Arctic Seas is now regarded in consequence of the uncertain fate of Captain Franklin:— " The American whaling barque Superior, commanded by Captain Boys, sailed from Sag-harbour to cruise in the South Atlantic, but not being successful, Captain Boys decided to carry out the plan of a voyage which he had been contemplating for years. This plan em tiraced a cruise in the Arctic Ocean, through Behring's Straits. lie had collected what information he could in regard to those regions, which had hitherto only been visited by such adventurous navigators as Cook, Clerk, Kotzebue, and Beechy. Captain Boys in forms us that the principal reason which induced him to put away for that ocean was a remark which be recollected to have read in "Beechy's Voyages," viz:— ' Oft here we saw a great many black whales, more than I remember ever to have seen, even in Baffin's Bay.' This remark is found in vol. 1 of Beechy's Voyages," page 379, and refers to 'lcy Cape,' situated in lat. 70 deg. 20 miles, and W. long. 162 deg. Captain Boys has furnished us the following outline of his cruise in the Arctic Ocean:—' I entered the Arctic Ocean about the middle of July, and cruised from continent to conti nent, going as high as the lat. 70 deg., and saw whales wherever I went, cutting in my last whale on the 22d of August, and returning through Behring's Straits on the 28th of the same month. On account of the powerful currents, thick fogs, the near vicinity of land and ice, combined with the imperfection of charts and want of information respecting this region, I found it both diffi cult and dangerous to get oil, although there are plenty of whales. Hereafter, doubtless, many ships will go there, and I think some provision ought to be made to save the lives of those who go there, should they be cast away; they should not be left to perish among the In dians who inhabit these regions.' " In conversation with Captain Boys we have obtained additional information, which may not be uninteresting to our readers. During the entire period of his cruise there was no ice seen, the weather was ordinarily pleasant, so that the men could work in light clothing. Its most parts of the ocean there was good anchorage, from 14 to 35 fathoms. During a part of the time that the vessel was there she lay at anchor. The first whale was taken at twelve o'clock at night ! It was not d,ffi, cult to whale' the whole 24 hours; so light was it that at midnight it was easy to read in the cabin. The whales were quite tame, but entirely different from any which Captain Boys had ever before taken. lie took three different species, one of the largest yielding 200 barrels of oil. The first species much resembled the Greenland whale, yielding abont 160 or 170 barrels; the second was a species called Polar whale, a few of which have been taken on the north-west coast; and the third, a small whale peculiar to that ocean. The last three whales which were taken yielded over 600 barrels." MR. COBDEN'S MOTION. MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CON NECTED WITH THE ARMY AND NAVY WHO VOTED AGAINST MR. COBDEN'S MOTION. T. N. Abdy, son of a captain in the navy, by the daugh ter of an admiral. lion. George Anson, a colonel in the army, and clerk of the Ordnance. Viscount Anson, a captain of yeomanry cavalry. Hon. Hugh Arbuthriott, a lieutenant-general and cloth ing colonel in the army. E. M. Archdale, a captain in the Dragoons, on half pay, unattached. Earl of Arundel, has been an officer in the Royal Horse Guards. H. J. Baillie, son of a colonel in the army. T. Bennet, a captain of yeomanry. William Beresford, formerly a major in the army. C. L. G. Berkeley, son of an admiral, and himself for merly a captain of Foot. Hon. Grantley Berkeley, a lieutenant in the army. Ralph Bernal, married the daughter of a surgeon in the navy. S. W. Blackall, son of a major in the army, and himself a major. H. G. Boldero, has been Clerk of the Ordnance. H. S. Bourke, married the daughter of a colonel in the army. W. Bowles, a rear-admiral, has been a Lord of the Ad miralty. T. W. Bramston, married the daughter of an admiral. T. Brand, son of a lieutenant. general. Lord Brooke, a lieutenant -colonel of yeomanry. Sir A. B. Brooke, married the daughter of a general, and has several brothers in the army. Lord John Chichester, has been a captain in the army. Hon. C. Clements, has been a captain in the army. Sir George Clerk, has been a Lord of the Admiralty. lion. R. H. Clive, has been a Lieut.-Colonel in the army, and is a colonel of yeomanry. Hon. W. F. Cowper, married the daughter of a n ad miral, has been a lieutenant in the Horse Guards. William Cubitt, has served in the navy. H. Currie, married the daughter of a colonel in the Grenadier Guards. Sir 11. R. F. Davie, a colonel in the army. D. A. S. Davies, married the daughter of a colonel in the army. W. Deedes, a major - commandant of yeomanry cavalry. Q. Dick, lieut.-colonel of North Essex Militia. J. W. Dod, captain•commandant of yeoma nry cavalry. Sir J. T. B. Duckw ort h. son of an admiral, himself a major of yeomanry cavalry. G. S. Duff, son of a general. Sir J. W. 1). Dundas, a rear-admiral of the white and Lord of the Admiralty. G. Pandas, grandson of an admiral, himself formerly an officer in the Riffs Brigade. F. P. Dunne, son of a general, himself a major in the army and lieutenant -colonel of militia. H. Edwards, a captain of yeomanry cavalry. Right Hon. E Ellice, married to the widow of a captain in the navy. Hon. J. E. Elliott, his relations swarm in the navy. Viscount Emlyn, son of a general, married to the daughter of a general, himself a captain in the army. R. Ferguson, son of a general, himself a lieut.-colonel in the army, Hon. J. W. Fitzpatrick, " related to General Fitzpa trick," was formerly in the army. lion. G. C. Forester, a captain in the Horse Guards. S. C. Fortescue, son of a heat.-col. in the army. R. M. Fox, married thou daughter nod grand-dau ghter of admirals. A. E. Fuller, married grand-daughter of a general. E. S. Gooch, has been a captain in the army. lion. W. Gordon, a rear. admiral of the blue, has been a Lord of the Admiralty. Sir J. Graham, has been a Lord of the Admiralty. Sir G. Grey, son of the late resident commissioner of Portsmouth Dockyard. Hon. E. A. J. Harris, is a captain in the navy. Lord John Hay, a captain in the navy and Lord of the Admiralty. Right Hon. W. G. Ilayter, Judge Advocate. Right Hon. S. Herbert, married the daughter of a major general. Right Hon. J. C. Herries, son of a colonel and brother of a major -general. Lord A Hervey, married the daughter of a lieut.-colonel T. L. Hodges, formerly colonel of militia. Sir A. Hood, son o f a ca pt a in in the nav y and nephew of an admiral. Sir J. Hope, colonel of yeomanry cavalry, Lord Hotham, a colonel in the army. Hon. E. Howard, a captain in the navy. Sir W. G. H. Jolliffe, has a brother a lieuten an t o f dra goons; had an uncle a lieutenant in the navy. Theobald Jones, a captain in the navy. Hon. T. G. Keppel, a lieut.-colonel in the army. Marquis of Kildare, has a brother a lieutenant in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and an aunt married to a gene ral officer. Hon. W. S. S. Lascelles, brother to the colonel of the Yorkshire Hussar Yeomanry; has a nephew in the Grenadier Guards. G. C. Legh, married a niece of Lieut.-General Sir:lier bert Taylor. Sir T. F. Lewis, has been lieut.-colonel of local militia, grand-son of an admiral. G. C. Lewis, son of the preceding. Earl of Lincoln, has two brothers in the Life Guards, and an aunt married to a general officer, &c. Hon. James Lindsay, a lieut.-colonel in the army. H. Lowther is a lieutenant in the Guards; and son of a colonel in the army. W. N. Macnamara, colonel of militia. Lord Mahon, married the daughter of a lieut.-general. Viscount Mandeville, a captain in the Grenadier Guards. Lord George Manners, a captain in the Royal Horse Guards. Thomas Matheson, a colonel on half-pay. Hon. Fox Maule, held a commission in the 79th High landers, 12 years, is Secretary at War. lion. J. T. Maxwell, a captain in the army.. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Caledonia, 120, Captain Carter, proceeds into Plymouth Sound as soon as the weather permits her. She will be off to the Mediterranean with her comple ment of 950 officers and men in about 10 days. When on that station, and bearing Sir W. Parker's flag, her ful complement will be 1,000. _ The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier, C. 8., after going into Portsmouth Harbour on Tuesday, unbent sails, un rove running-riggiag, got down royal and top-gallant yards, and top-gallant masts. She is now completely dismantled, with the exception of the main yard, kept aloft for the purpose of clearing the ship from heavy stores. The Belleisle, two-decked troopship, is now ordered to be commissioned, at present at Devonport. She has been taken into dock to be examined, but she will not be out of the hands of the. shipwrights' department before the middle of next month. The Athol, 2, troop-ship, Master Commander Pearn, is ordered to have her defects immediately made good For further service. The Dauntless, screw-frigate, at Portsmouth, is ordered to he docked, and to be immediately made effi cient for service. . The Magicienne, steam-sloop, is to be launched at Pembroke Dockyard on the 7th instant, and to be navi gated to Woolwich by seamen riggers, who are to be sent thither from Sheerness in the African steam-vessel. -- The Comet, steam-vessel, rigged at Portsmouth, is ordered to Woolwich to be commissioned with a comple ment of 28 officers and men, and to take two of the six pounders, now on board the Lightning, steam-tender. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH I.—A corvette was seen yes terday morning at anchor in St. Helen's roads which, from the circumstance of her time on the North Ameri can and West India station having. expired in January last, was thought to be the Electra, 14, Commander F. W. P. Bouverie. Endeavours were made to ascertain her name in the usual manner, but the tremendous gale and thick weather baffled all the attempts, and it was not till daylight this morning that it was clearly established to be the vessel in question. She made an attempt at ten this morning to get to Spithead, but after beating about for an hour and a half, and carrying away her top sail sheets, the wind having again risen to a gale at N.W. by N., she was compelled to anchor again, without hav ing gained half a mile. The Myrtle stcamer was then sent out to receive her supernumeraries, letters, and dis patches (if any), and deliver her orders to proceed to Plymouth to be paid off. She weighed this afternoon, and came up to Spithead. The Otter steam vessel, lately a packet on the Holy head station, sailed this morning in charge of Second Master Imrie, of the Blenheim, and a party of extra riggers, for Woolwich. It is reported that this vessel and the Sprightly, another of the same class, have been sold out of the service. The Adventure naval transport, Mr. Peter Welling ton, Master, anchored last night at the Motherbank. The Superb, 80, Captain E. Purcell, was hauled off this morning from alongside the dockyard jetty to her hulk, the Victorious, for the purpose of her crew being shifted over to her. It was intended that she should have gone to Spithead to-day to have been ready for saluting her Majesty to-morrow. She could not, however, be got ready, even if the wind had not interposed an effectual barrier; for although its direction is fair for going out, it blows so hard as to render it dangerous for breaking so large a ship adrift in such a narrow harbour. At present she has topgallantmasts on deck, and topmasts struck. The Fearless steam-vessel, Second Master Commander Wills, arrived yesterday evening from the eastward. Her Majesty, with the Prince Consort, the Royal children and their suite, are expected to arrive in Cla rence- yard to-morrow at 1 P.M. The Driver steam-sloop, Commander C. R. Johnson, was to have started yesterday With the mud engine or dredging machine for Plymouth, but was restrained by the violence of the gale, and also by the Admiralty orders not to move before the weather moderate. This last has detained her to-day. Wind, N.W., fresh breezes and cloudy. PLYMOUTH, FEB. 28.—The fine yacht brig Arienis, Captain Roberts, unfortunately went ashore this morn ing, and it is feared will become a wreck. At ten o'clock last evening there was a light southerly wind, with fine weather, and her commander left her in the Sound, riding in apparent safety, to the north-east of St. Nicholas island. About midnight it came on to blow from W.S.W.; she dragged her anchor and tailed on to the ridge of rocks at the eastern face of the Hoe, and knocked her rudder off. Immediate alarm was given ashore by the coast-guardsmen, who fired muskets and burned blue-lights. As soon as the report reached the Custom-house station at the Barbican, Mr. Rae, the tide-surveyor, manned hie gig, and taking Brooks, a pilot, with him, boarded the brig. Although she has a complement of eighteen hands, four only were in charge, and they could neither find a punch to unshackle the chain cable, or a hatchet to cut away the foremast when required. As the tide rose the vessel, which con tinued tight, floated, and the topmast staysail, spanker, and standing-jib were got on her. When an effort was made to pay her off the chain cable fouled in the deck hawse pipe; the ship's head was thus checked, and canted from the westward to the northward; the wind was blowing strong from S.S.W., and the ill fated vessel was driven ashore under the Citadel, where she soon bilged, and subsequently fell off the land, to windward, on her port side. Her captain and crew have constructed a hurricane-house on the Citadel slopes, and are actively employed collecting the floating deck lumber, rigging, gear, &c. The Arienis belongs to Mr. A. B. Richards, of Wassal-grove, Worcestershire, and came here on the 25th from Vign. She registers over 200 tons, and is said to be worth 5,0001. We have the painful duty to record the death of Mr. John Collier, of this port, who expired suddenly this morning at his town house in his 80th year. Mr. Col lier has been agent for Lloyd's insurance-office thirty eight years, and is well known to the officers of her Ma jesty's navy as a wine merchant, which trade, in con junction with his extensive dealings in corn and timber, he has prosecuted successfully for nearly sixty years in Plymouth. Mr. Collier was Vice Consul for Portugal, Sweden, and Norway; he was a magistrate and an alder man of the borough; and among various other honoura ble offices, filled for a long period that of Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Wind, varying from W.S.W. to W.N.W; strong with heavy rain. THE GALE AT PORTSMOUTH AND DEVON• PORT. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. le Lt teeinlintet arose, PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY, FIVE P.M.—Yesterday me had a violent gale. It commenced on Tuesday night, from the S.S.E., gradually drawing round to the S.W. Yesterday at noon it increased to a hurricane, accom panied with heavy rain, and continued till six P.M., when it somewhat moderated. The sea was tremendous — at high water covering the platform battery and some part of the lines with foam. About a dozen collier brigs w ere at anchor at Spithead, most of whom drove ; so me of them parted their cables, and some slipped and ran into harbour for shelter. In harbour the sea was consider able. A boat belonging; to the Belvider e, in ordinary, with two seamen watchkeepers on boar d, in endeavouring to beat to their vessel, were swamp ed, the boat being filled. Fortunately their situatio n was seen by Lieut.G rose, of the Ordinary, who prompt l y manned his gig and pro ceeded to their rescue. Both men (one a black fellow) dh w oa e wu r l e ne .d c o i Li m ti p eo u e n x a h n a t u s G t e r d o s ; e a ,s n d g i a g s , t t h h e e i r l a s b t , a m t a wente not being able to make or fetch any vessel in the harbour, bore up for Porchester and got assistance. The men were insensible for up wards of an hour after they were landed, but have re covered. The greatost praise is due t o Lieutenant AMERICAN NEWS. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.—The Boston line-of-packet ship Washington Upton, Captain Caldwell, arrived in the Mersey this afternoon with adviees from Boston of the Bth ult. General Taylor arrived at Nashville on the 7th ult. The proceedings of Congress do not present any points worthy of note. A telegraphic dispatch received from Mr. WebAcr announces that on the 7th, in the United States Supreme Court, five of the judges delivered their opinions against the validity of the Allen Passenger Lsw, and only one in favour of the kw. As five are a clear majority of the Court, it follows that the law is invJlid. From California we have no new accounts. The state of the Union relative to the modern Et Dorado may be gathered from the following extract from the Boston Atlas : " Our exchange papers come to us filled with accounts of meetings held in every part of the Union of those preparing to emigrate to El Dorado, and the fever begins to extend to the British provinces, and a company is projected in the slow moving city of Quebec. The ship lluxbury, Captain Farina, cleared yesterday forenoon, for California. She has 110 passengers. The I)uxbury was recently purchased fur 10,000 dolls., and her pas sage-money for the trip to California amounts to 1G,500 dulls. The brig Acadian, fur San Francisco, went to sea yesterday forenoon. A large number of the friends of the passengers gathered on the wharf to see her off and bid adieu to those going out in her. The Columbia Mining Association held a meeting at the Shawaut House on Tuesday evening, and elected officers. The Gloucester Telegraph states that it is proposed to form a company of •20 in that town, to purchase and load the brig Eagle, of that port, and proceed to the Californian coast forthwith. " The Holyoke Mining Company started from North ampton for California, by way of the isthmus, o❑ Mon• day. A new company, called the North-Western Association, has been formed, and will sail in a few days. The members (20 in number) each pay 1,000 dolls. Most of the association belong to Boston and vicinity. A joint stock company is iu process of formation at New York, composed of members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and others agreeing with them in sentiment, whose des tination is California." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, FEB. 7, P.3l.—There are loud complaints among the planters of Louisiana of the tailure of the sugar cane. The quotations of stocks are—Reading Mtg. Bonds, 55; Norwich and Worcester Railroad, 344; United States 6's, 1074; heading Railroad, 24k ; Long bland, 24}; ; Treasury Notes, Vs, 101; Reading Bonds, 45 . 1 bid: ENTERTAINMENT AT THE MANSION-lIOUSE.—On Wednesday evening the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress entertained a dinner party at the Mansion hou,e, being the first occasion on which they have been able to receive company, in consequence of the various alterations and decorations that have taken place in the interior of the mansion. The side-hall, with the stair case, and the saloon, have been embellished with great effect in white marble colour and gold. In the niches of the front hall, leading to the saloon, are beautifully curved marble busts, from the studio of Mr. Francis, of Albany•street, Regent's Park, of her Majesty and the Prince Consort, the Duke of Wellington, Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Grey, and Lord Mel bourne. The dinner was served in the long dining room, which has been entirely refurnished and tastefully and brilliantly painted. Amongst the company were Aldermen Sir Peter Laurie, Farebrother, Wilson, Hum phery, M.P., Gibbs, Hooper, Farncomb, Hunter, Challis, Sidney, M.P., Moon, Laurence, Carden, and their ladies; Sheriffs Finnis and Goodheart, and their ladies; the Chamberlain; the ltev. S. R. Catley, chaplain to the Lord Mayor, and Mrs. Catley; the Town Clerk, the Common Pleaders Randall and Laurie, and Mrs. Laurie; Mr. secondary Potter, the City Solicitor, M.P., and Mrs. Pearson; Messrs. Bentley, Baggally, and Johnson, the treasurers of the Royal Hospital; the Under-Sheriffs and their ladies; Mr. Hill, Mr. Porter, chief police ma gistrate of the city of Dublin, and Captain O'C.An, R.N. Covers were laid for sixty. BOSTON.—The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor was in his place, and voted in favour of Mr. Cobden'' motion for retrenchment. Mr. Cabbell was somewpsetiher e ;it but of hi s constituents will not tind his name iu the the majority or the minority; and y et how can those whose votes he has got at the rate of five shillings each, call him to accountl—Starnford Mercury. j o a f n t u b a eryß lastoar h d a v o e f Trade for the month ending the BOARD or TRADE. —The returns their most remark been issued. As regards im arrival of which was held able feature is the large the total n of g snoti3;o3ll2,4tat:e latter barley, and oats being in the corresponding in bond; 887,084 quarters, year. The e c ti ( eed ku swt m eetir p et t i i y o , n ebnl o llyt t month of the preceding sugar, tea, cocoa and on ar ti t n i the importations o f t . n 2,733,7451 b. against l I,‘ 11,8941 b. in January, 1848. In dried fruits there has been a considerable increase of importation, but not of consumption. In silk manufac tures of Europe there has been a large increase in both respects. Hides of all descriptions, oils, and seeds, cot ton, wool, and raw silk, have also been largely received. In timber there is a .clecrease of importation, and again a decrease in the consumption of British descriptions, with an increase of foreign. INTENSE COLD IN NORWAY.—A letter from Chris tiana (Norway), dated Feb. 1, states that letters received on that day from Vang, in Hademarken, province of Aggersuus, and which are of the 2d of January, announce that the cold was so intense (40 deg., centigrades) that quicksilver became frozen, and that persons who were in the open air lost their breath. Within the memory of man no such phenomena had taken place in that c9untry. —Brussels Herald, RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. EASTERN COUNTIES—ADJOURNED MEE PING The poiiir:g upon me resolution submitted on Wed nesday, was commenced 3 esterday morning, at nine o'clock, and was continued till about half past five in the afternoon, at which time a considerable number of shareholders were present. A few minutes after six o'clock, Mr. Waddington, ac companied by some of the directors and the S crut in e e rs entered the room Wind took the ch a i r . , Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE wished to put a questicst ;o the chairman. The CHAIRMAN said he could only answer a question having reference to the scrutiny. Upon this a discussion arose, as to whether the meet ing had been adjourned generally, or only for the pur pose of taking the poll. The opinion of the law-clerk (Mr. Duncan) was taken, and he said that the meet ing had bean adjourned far the especial purpose of taking the poll. Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE contested this opinion, and said that the meeting of the previous day had teen ad journed so precipitately that it was impossible. to tell yi h.it the obj, et was. But, however, perhaps the chair man would h ear th e question, and then he entki*FOret.- it or not us he pleased. It was this—how it aisle. ibtie , : ‘ , the directors the day before, on the morning of the meet-1 ing, took upon themselves to elect a directors knowing' that a general meeting of the proprietors was about to be held? _ The CMAIIIMAN would inform the Hon. - Gentleman how that iccurred. The directors had the power of filling up any vacancy that occurred in the direction. About Viree days before, Mr. Packe seat to the board a memo rial signA by Mr. Harlet and a great many residents in Cambridge, requesting the board to appoint Mr. Packe to the direction. That was all the communication the board had with that gentleman. They thought him a fit and proper man, and they appointed him. Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE thought it would have bee'n more respectful to the shareholders if the directors had proposed him to the general meeting. The CHAIRMAN said the board had adopted the . usual course. The result of the scrutiny was then declared as follows: For the resolution 7,939 For the amendment... ... ... 2,330 Majority in favour of withdrawing the Norfolk Amalgamation -5,609 The announcement was received with a burst of applause. Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE —Now, sir, I have a question to put, and it is this—whether the directors, after that vote against them, think they can carry on the affairs of this company with credit to themselves—(Load cheers)—or whether th e y are p re p are d t o p l ace their seats at the board at the discretion of the proprietors?— (Continued cheering.) The CHAIRMAN—In answer to the Learned Sergeant, all I can say is, that I cannot answer for my colleagues, as we have had no board meeting to consider that subject, and I can say truly, as regar d s myself , that it is not my intention to remain at the Eastern Counties board after the report of the committee. The course I intend taking is this—l must, of course, consult my friends, which I have not yet had an opportunity of doing, having been engaged upon two committees of the Eastern Counties board. But I think I cannot—consistently with doing justice to the proprietors, who have to-day by their vote rescinded that which they had formerly sanctioned—l cannot, I think, remain at the board, not having the con fidence of the proprietors. That:is the view which lat present take. I have had no opportunity of consulting with my friends; but this I will tell you, that I don't in tend to resign until the committee have made their re port. I will give you my reason for that. I think it must be well known to you, from the great time I have given to this railway, that I must necessarily know a great deal about the affairs upon which the committee will re quire some explanation. Therefore, my intention is to attend the Eastern Counties board, as I hitherto has* done, until such time as the committee make their re port, as I think your interests might suffer, if I were to leave it.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. Sergeant GszELtE—Might I just say, that I did not at all mean my question to be offensive, as there are gentlemen on the board who, if they resign, will doubt less be re-elected; but I thought that, as a body, the board ought to be remodelled, as I do not think that as • board they enjoy the confidence of the proprietors. The CHAIRMAN—Perhaps the committee will make report of that, and until then I declare this meeting ad• journed. - Mr. R. W. KENNARD (one of the Northern and Eastern directors at the Eastern Counties board), said— Before you do that, Mr. Chairman, allow me to say a few words. The Eastern Counties board consists of 18 directors, 12 of whom are elected by the Eastern Coun ties proprietors, and six represent the Northern and Eastern Company. The six gentlemen who represent the Northern and Eastern Company have at all times expressed their perfect confidence in Mr. Waddington— (Cheers)—and upon the character of Mr. Waddington, which 1 believe your committee will confirm, these six Northern and Eastern gentlemen will stand. We hare a duty, and that duty is to protect our own proprietors; and we believe honestly that Mr. Waddington has pro tected the interests of those proprietors; and I think yott would feel it to be wanting in the Northern and Eastern directors, who sit here ex officio, as I may say—there would be something wanting on their part, it they did not testify publicly, after such proceedings as these, the perfect confident which they place in him. The CUAIRMAN—I declare the meeting now ad journel. _ _ Here there were loud cries from all parts of the room of " Tha❑ks to the Chairman," and several proprietor. rose to propose a vote. Several proprietors exclaimed, " Thanks to Mr. Waddington, but not to the board." Mr. KENNARD (with energy)—And he deser►es them, gentlemen. A VOICE--Three cheers for Mr. Waddington. Three cheers were heartily given. The same VOlCE.—Three groans for Hudson. These also were heartily given. The meeting then separated, with another cheer for Mr. Waddington. SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY. OVERTHROW OF THE PHARISEES. It will be seen with pride and satisfaction, by the ene n.ies of Pharisaical tyranny and pretence, that theshare• holders of the Scottish Central yesterday resolved, by • large majority, to abandon the system of shutting up the highway on Sunday, which has brought so much scandal and ridicule on that company, and even on the national name. The majority in favour of running s morning and evening train was nominally about 4,000 shares acrd 2,000 votes ; but was in reality much larger. The directors, who are understood, with one doubtful exception, to be in favour of opening the line, refrained from voting, although their doing so would have increased the majority by 1,000. They also hold at their disposal 3,347 proxies not expressing any opinion on Sunday trains, which they also refrained from using. Had the direc• tori, therefore, taken part in the question, the majority of shares and votes respectively would have been raised to about 8,000 and 4,000. It is also to be taken into ac count that no less than one-ninth of the whole votes given against trains were given by one individual. It will be observed that there was a majority on the right side, in shares and votes, even of persons present, al though the Agnewites had been busy splitting, pur chasing, and " whipping." Another fact which enhances the victory is this—that while the Agnewites employed all their machinery in the case, and worked it despe rately, all that was done on the other side was the almost unaided wot k of one private gentleman, who has his re ward in the victory which, but for him—such is the utter want of organization among the friends of sense and justice—would not at this time have been achieved, or perhaps even attempted.—The Scotsman. RAILWAY SRARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MARCII 1. STOCK EXCHANGE.—We have had more activity in the Share Market to-day. Prices, however, are lower.—The sales are—Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire Preference, guaranteed 6 per cent. (It), 17% —Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Vallley, .11—Caledonian, Preference, 7 per cent., 11 ex in.—East Lancashire, 19% -- Lancashire and Yorkshire (late M. and B.). Fifths, 2% dis.—London and North-Western, 138 c. ex div.—Ditto. Quarters, New, 165. 3d. ox in. p. — Manchester, Sheffield and Lin coln, 10/. Preference, 10%—Ditto, (late Giiinsby), 281. Share', 11,%' c. dis.—Ditto, Quarters, 7 dis.—Midland Stock, 63 c. ex div.—Dltt9. New Halves, 6% c. dis.—North Staffordshire, 2% cils.--Scbttish Central, 25 1 ,1—:-outh-Eastern 25% —Ditto (No. 2), 9, , e die.—York. Newcastle, and Berwick E x t ens i on (Nos. 1 and 2), par—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per Cent., guaranteed, 66. 3d. p.-3 10 u 1 • 10. and Amiens, 9%. - MANCHESTER, 3faacn 1. STOCK EZCIIANGE.—The sales are—North Staffordshirs, 34 — Manchester and Birmingham, (C), Quarters, 33t, n ference, Ditto Fifths, 2% di s .— Dover (No. 4), 7'li•—Ditto, p . —Leeds, Pro .—Dltto (Regis tered), 7%—West Riding Union,3 11-16 die. —Shefileld and Lincoln. 1414 dia.—Great Northern (B),3( c. dis. —Sheffield (2,.. 0 , Q uarters . 7 ~is. Ditto, Preference, 10% —Shrewsbury and Birmingham (E), 3 1 ,‘ c. dis. , 3 NC l. 7 e g l d v . e r p h n i t) .4 l . , orclekires,i %-id—ia: BIRMINGHAM, MARCH 1. and .ST Stouroci c E xCi Valley,i a k N , n i g ls 0 .. - -_ s T s; sales r h c e :v .:b. ut rr a y. iv r e :aidd l.: 2 i j oi r li l t i n ci a t 2i nst b :: a a lih m iaffa,t. otie:ti 1( aAty:w. 7. elk i e): i‘r w, 201 Newcastle, Staffordshire, dis.—Shropshire Union, 431. E d. , c 1 . STOCK EXCHANGE.— K FE7II. 28. The bustrie=a transacted :"ol and B Stu il ck ixchartge to :E7dtsei v n : 711 eGiit.;t:24ol.l.;4l::),,,Nch2eAo.rs",:r purchase),reo ,81,,,ty snE. , lute 1 STOCK EXCHANGE. The business done iu the , are t A.:ovv, F EE. 28 day has been as tollow•s t ell G i. irves'ai.-9,-ogtert Y or k , t h a e N r d n . ($), IS per North Staffordshire, 12}4. B sc a o t t h l g a a u t a e, 7 4s STOCK EXCHANGI.—The fullowin • • Arbroath, New, (Na. 3), 0-day's transactions:— , i — Glasgow Aberdeen, Preference, 533._ lial as, No. G. : 6 6:. - -- G E r d ea in t bi N fr o g r li tt a j n o d f 57—Ditto, , Kilmarnock, and Ayr. S.—Glasgow and Greenock, Naive', . . — Scottish Central, 2bi. ___ DEATH OF MR. MuNDT, M.P.—We regret to an nounce the death of Mr. Mundy, one of the member* for South Derbyshire, which event occurred (we be lievt.) at Barbadoes on the 29th of January. We are obliged to reserve particulars for next week.—Derby and Chesterfield Reporter. EXTRAORDINARY Lustre NATTJRIE.—AVe have TS.. eeived from a correspondent the following particulars of ,in extraordinary calf, taken from a cow at Dore, Der byshire, a few days since. The calf had two heads, .our fore feet, and two distinct bodies as far as the lei , where they united into one body i four r hi ordinaryod le gs appear a nce,and feet. but there were two tails and The cow was at hi r full time of gestation, and the calf was alive when the operation was commenced. The cow is alive and doing well— a fact which, considering tke difficulties of the case, is highly creditable to the skill of Mr. Bishop, the operator.—Sheffield Times. REMOVAL OF JOHN MITCIIEL.—The Cork El": miner says:—" Orders, we understand, have been issued for the removal of John Mitckel from Bermuda to the Cape of Good Hope. The climate of the latter colony is very genial, and peculiarly adapted for persons affected with pulmonary complaints, so m uch s o that it is consi dered a M ideira for the East Indians. SPIRIT CONTRACT.—The Government contract for 50,000 gallons of ruin for the navy, was again taken yesterday by Messrs. Lemon Hart and Son, of 59, F e n. church-street.