The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 25. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. The Earl of Sf. GERMANS presented several peti tions in favour of the Bill for the protection of women. The Bishop of NORWICH presented several petitions with a similar prayer. He wished to impress upon their Lordships the necessity of adopting some legislative measure on the subject, and he was persuaded they might introduce an efficient measure to put a stop to tile horrible trade in prostitution, which was a disgrace to a civilized community. M. .MANZONL—THE EXCURSION TO PARIS. Lord BROUGFIAN drew the attention of their Lord ships to a letter signed " Manzoni," which appeared in the Timer, challenging him and other Noble Lords to .fight a duel. He had received a letter from M. Manzoni, stating that be knew nothing of the letter, and he be lieved it must have been inserted by inadvertence. He thought it due to M. Manzoni to make this statement. Ho would also allude to the newly projected visit of the English to Paris. He wished it to be distinctly understood that this was merely a private visit. He wished again to express his opinion that no communica tion could take place between the two nations except officially, and he hoped no official countenance would be given to the persons intending to visit Paris. The Marquis of BREADALBANE thought we bad nothing to do with the manner in which the French Go vernment might receive the visitors to Penis. Her Ma jesty's subjects had a right to go where they liked. Lord BROUGHAM had never said a word to prevent her Majesty's subjects from going over to France, or against any good reception that might be given to them. If the French could afrord to treat them, the more they feted the better, provided they conducted themselves properly. After a few words from the Earl of MOUNT CASHEL, Lord REDESDALE said that in his opinion these visits ought to be discouraged. Had the visit of the Fiench National Guards to this country taken place in the March of last year instead of in the summer, it might have been attended with the most disastrous effects. CANADA. Esrl GREY presented papers relating to Canada. CONSULAR EXPENDITURE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a second time. PETITIONS. The Earl of CARLISLE presented petitions in favour of the Bill for the better protection of women; also in favour of a measure for the better regulation of beer shops. The Bishop of LICHFIELD presented petitions in favour of a Bill for the better protection of women. Earl NELSON presented a petition with a similar prayer. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Ayr against the repeal of the nariaation-laws. ADJOURNMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that the 'louse at its rising du adjourn to Monday se'nnight. Agre , d tc. NAVIGATION•LAWS REPEAL BILL, The report on this Bill having been brought up, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice that he should move the third reading on Tuesday se'nnight. The Bishop of OXFORD said that he should move the anu-ndelent of which he had given notice in the Bill on the third reading. The RIGHT REV. PRELATE then presented 51 pe• titi,,ns in favour of the Bill for the protection of women; and also a petition from the Free Church of Aberdeen. PROTECTION OF WOMEN BILL. exoressed his intention of not opposing the Bill, but suggested an alteration in the second clause, t , provide for which, he (the Bishop of Oxford) hid prepared a clause which he should move in Com mittee. It was possible that his Lirdship might hear some murmur of oppo:ition to his measure, but it incon venience in certain cases should be the only objection urged against it, he hoped it might not be suffered to prevail. The Right Reverend Prelate then moved the second reading- of the Bill. Lord BROUGHAM said he approved of the principle of the Bill, and of the suggestion of the Lord Chet Justice. Lord CAMPBELL said that, though he approved of the object proposed by the Right Reverend Prelate, yet he thought the Right Reverend Prelate had not done justice to the common law of England, which he (Lord Campbell) conceived was fully adequate to meet the class of off:pees embraced in the BC before the House; and he clou'oted, indeed, whether there was one that could escape it. Attempts of this kind to legislate upon this sutject had been made constantly ever since the sitting of the Long Parliament. First of all, the offence was made a misdemeanour, then a felony, and then a capit4 offence without benefit of clergy. The Acts of Parliament which thus established the common law upo ► the subject were all of them more or less objectionable in their operation ; but he conceived that this was the most objec tionable of all. There was nothing in its provisions to pro,eet a person from a trumped-up charge—indeed, it was rather calculated to induce one. The common law, he was persuaded, was able to meet those eases, but still, being equally desirous with the Right Rev. Prelate to give as much protection of a practical ch a racter a s legis lation could afford, he should not oppose the Bill, and would even hope, c ntrary almost to all experience, that it might prove productive of good.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of IsIOUNTCASHEL said, he regretted that the Noble and Learned Lord who had just spoken should have taken such a view of the subject as he had, because, undoubtedly, it was one with regard to which a great legislative effort ought to be made. The number of petitions presented that evening in favour of the mea sure proclaimed the interest which was felt upon it out of doors, and that being so, it was their duty to respond to that feeling as completely as the nature of the object in view, and the state of the law, permitted them. That the common law in this respect was imperfect, was suffi ciently evidenced by the fact, that in many recent cases of seduction, the Judges had expressed their regret that the law was unable to reach the offenders. All her Afjc'sty's subjects ought to be protected, but at present the families highest in the country were unsafe, as be knew by excerience of several cases. To that end he should move the insertion of a stringent clause when the Bill fell under consideration of the Committee. The Bishop of OXFORD said that although it was not the practice in England to look to France for an ex ample in morality, yet it might be said to our reproach, that in France afences of this kind were dealt with and punished which by the common law of England was not yet possible. The only Act far the purpose was the 9th of George IV., c. 39, and these were a multitude of cases which were exempted from its operation, such, for in stance, as where the girl, however young she might be, had willingly left her father's house, or ever so igno rantly; or where she was above sixteen years of age, or where she went away with the permission of her guard'ans. These were cases in which the law afforded no remedy; indeed it was against the craft of the law that it should—(Laughter) —and therefore he did not doubt that the House would see the propriety of a new measure upon the subject. The Bill was then read a second time, and their Lord ships adjourned. HOUSE OF GOA MONS, May 25. The SPEAKER took the Chair five mfoutes before Four o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. The Lords' amendments to the following private Bills were considered and agreed to Bury Saint Edmund's Gas Company Bill. Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society (Incorpora ting and Conferriaz Powers) Bill. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Sir J. BULLER presented a petition from 8,800 owners and occupiers of land in the county of Devon, enmplsining of alarming agricultural distress in that county; also a petition from ow, ers and occupiers of land in Kingsbtidge, in the county )f Devon, signed by 1,200 persons, to the same effect. JAMES BERRINGTON'S INVENTION. Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition from James Barrington, twenty-seven years a veterinary surgeon in the army, pi ing that the House would take measures for carrying out an invention of his for a mode of car rying the wt i_ht borne by infantry soldiers. IRISH SPIRIT DEALERS. Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from certain merchants and traders in Irish manufactured spirits in Dublin, Tipperary, Dungarvan, Ardee, Castleblaney, and other towns in Ireland, complaining that they are compelled to pay for a quantity of spirits which their casks will not hold, and are not allowed any thing for evaporation. The Hon. Gentleman alio presented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen and burgesses of Dublin, fully concurring in the alteration in the law re lating to the process of attachment in Courts of Record in Dublin. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Sir R. LOPES presented a petition from Devon, complaining of agricultural distress in that county, and praying for the re-imposition of protective duties on agricultural produce. PRISON DISCIPLINE. Mr. C. PEARSON presented a petition from Dr. Rice, as the representative of a very large b)dy of gentlemen, magistrates, inspectors, and chaplains of prisons, assembled in the City to discuss the question of prison discipline, and praying that the p-tition may be referred to a Committee to inquire into the truth of its statements. EXTENSION OF COUNTY COURTS. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from 200 ....„, tradesmen in Brighton, praying that the jurisdiction Aix , 7... ' of the County Courts may be extended to debts of at 4, 0 *„ . _ _ lea s t soc i.,,..,..,.._T.ELE.§TEM1-BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE IRISH f r. ,„.„ ;;:.4 ..,.,..,--4, CfI4NNEL. , .i c - 0...1ai . a question Tium Mr. CARDWELL, '' '*K" Slial44 I 1 CHERE said Captain Denham had re -- •_ , I_l , •,-.,- ....:• •' ::. •, - visit of inipection to Liverpool, into the .:::;1: - - - - -, „..._ ~_ ~~ The Bishop of OXFORD, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said that he trusted there might be no occasion for him to enter at length into any details on the painful subject to which it referred, and which rendered it necessary. But if, unfortunately, any one of their Lordships should think it their duty to offer any opposition to the measure, he begged to say that he was prepared with statements to make good his case, that there was a great practical evil, the remedy for which must be sought in legislation. He was sure that their Lordships would agree with him in thinking that it was far better to avoid any allusion to the harrowing details of this question; but, on the other hind, if the object he had in view could be attained in no other way, then he was resolved that no fee.ing of fdlse delicacy should stand in his way, hut he would reluctantly make the statement which, for many reasons, he was anxious to avoid.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to inform the House that he had received a letter from the Lord Chief Justice of England, who was unable to attend that evening, in which the Noble and Learned Lord recent calamity which happened on the vo: yage of a steam-vessel between Liverpool and the co: tat of Ire land ; but unfortunately a domestic affliction had pre vented Captain Denham presenting his report to the Board of Trade. He thought, however, the eport would be received tomorrow, and there would be no objection to lay it on the table of the House. PRIVATE BILLS. The Cockermouth and Workington Railway (Branch to Bridgefoot, Amendment of Act, and Power to lease to Whitehaven Junction Railway Company) Bill was read a third time and passed. The report on the Transfer of Sheffield Canal to River Dun Navigation Company Bill was considered and agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. Colonel SIBTHORP would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the House was likely to have a discussion on the civil contingencies and miscellaneous estimates? Mr. PARKER said it would come on on Thursday next. Sir J. GRAHAM said surely the discussion on that subject would not come on so early as Thursday night ? The papers had not yet been circulated among the Members. Mr. PARKER said that was owing to the papers not having been printed yet. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said (with some warmth) that surely the matter would not be pressed on on Thurs day night. Mr. PARKER said the Right Hon. Gentleman had better repeat his question when he saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place. Sir J. GRAHAM—Pooh! FISCAL DILLIES OF IRISH GRAND JURIES. Mr. S. CRAWFORD rose to ado the Secretary for Ireland whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to submit any measure for the amendment of the laws relating to the fiscal duties of grand juries in Ireland during the present session. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said a Bill was in course of preparation on the subj, ct. A NEW BOOT FOR THE ARMY. In reply to air. C. LUSHINGTON, Mr. FUX MAULE stated, that as Secretary at War, he had nothing to do with the discipline of the army. It appeared that a Mr. Duhey, a very respectable person, had taken out a patent for a certain description of boot, which having been tried by several commanding officers and men, was generally approved of; and, like all tradesmen, he applied to the Board of General Officers to make the boots what was called a " sealed pattern;" they inspected it, and re ported against the application. The board at the same time intimated that they saw no reason why the soldiers should not purchase the boot fur their own use at their own expense ; but by some means or other, for which he was not responsible, the permission thus given had not been allowed.—(Hear, hear.) THE ECCLESIASTCAL COMMISSION. Mr. HORSMAN inquired it' the Noble Lord intended to proceed with his motion with respect to the Ecclesi astical Commission on the Bth of June, and if he was in a position to state to the House arty particulars with respect to the rectory of Btshopsweartnouth. Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he did not intend on the Bth of June to proceed with the motion in ques tion ; he should merely do so pro forma. The question of the rectory of Bishopswearmuuth had been under the consideration of the Ecclesiastical Commission, and the result of their deliberations had been placed in the hands of the officers of the Crown. When he had received further information he should be happy to communicate it to the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. HORSMAN inquired it the Bill for amending the constitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission would be introduced during the present session ? Sir G. GREY replied that he teared there was not a reasonable prospect. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT. In reply to Mr. DISRAELI, Lord J. RUSSELL intimated that next week he should propose to proceed with the Committee of Sup ply. Until the House had made some progress with the miscellaneous estimates, the statement referred to would not be made. He calculated that it would be made about the middle of June. S PATE OF IRELAND. Mr. MONSELL, in the absence of the Noble Lord, the Member for Arundel, inquired whether after the recess the Government would be prepared to lay before the House the existing state of the people of Ireland in the distressed unions, and the amount of aid afforded to them out of the funds of the Government. Sir GEORGE GREY said at the beginning of the present month a statement was laid before the House. Further infer motion t, ould be laid before the House ; also the applications made for aid from the Poor-law Commissioners. IRISH POOR-LAW AND INCUMBERED ES TATES (IRELAND). Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to a question from Mr. Statibrd, said that he proposed proceeding with the In cumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill on the 4:h, and the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill on the Bth of June. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE AND MIS CELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. Lord J. RUSSELL then ruse to move the adjourn ment of the House to Thursday next, and on doing so stated that it was the intention of the Government to pro ceed with the Miscellaneous Estimates on that day. Any item that was objected to might be postponed. Generally speaking, the estimates were the same as last year. Sir J. GRAHAM said that considering the estimates were not yet in the bands of Members, that they ought not to proceed with th,.m ou Thursday. They might proceed with the Civil Contingencies on Thursday, as Members had received them. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that until the Miscella' neous Estimates had been passed, the Budget could not be brought forward. Mr. DISRAELI condemned the principle of putting off the financial statement to so late a period of the session. Mr. CARDWELL complained of the postponement of the budget to so indefinite a period. Mr. GLADS lONE could not understand what con nexion there was between the budget and the miscella neous estimates. Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that it was usual to proceed to a considerable extent with the estimates be• fore bringing on the budget. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. HERBERT wished to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government whether he was aware of th, fact that a body had been cast ashore in Ireland, and that the starving population had eaten the body to allay their hunger? Mr. P. SCROPE wished, before the Noble Lord answered the question, to call the attention of the House and the Government to the awful responsibility they incurred in not doing something more effectual for the relief of the suffering and starvation of Ireland. Who was responsible for this dreadful misery and suf fering? In no country in the world could such a state of things be found as that to be witnessed in the United Kingdom. On the one hand, they had unbounded free dom, with the people enjoying themselves in every kind of amusement, and revelling in luxuries ; and, on the other, within a twenty•-four hours' journey, the people were dying by thousands from the absolute want of food. Let it nut be said that the people of England were responsible for this misery, for they were ready to s unc tion any measure Government might propose to mi tigate, if not to remove it.—(Hear, hear.) With the Government, then, must rest the responsibility, as they hid it in their power to apply to Parliament for additional advances, or to propound some scheme fur the profitable employment of the starving Irish people. Lord J. RUSSELL had certainly not received any official information of the circumstance referred to by the Honourable Member opposite who asked the first question, but he would cause inquiry to be made into it. With regard to the second question of the Hon. Geri. tleman behind him, all he could do was simply to direct the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to what had already been done for Ireland in the present session. No less than 80,0001. had teen advanced for relieving the mise ries of her people, besides the other measures of a reme dial character, and whatever the Honourable Gentleman might say about the responsibility of Government, he c mid only reply shat Government had done, and were still anxious to do all in their power to improve the condition of Ireland.—(Cheers.) NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, The CHANCELLOR of the EXC tIEQUER stated that before any vote could be taken for the new Houses of Parliament a report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the building would ba laid on the table. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. J. O'CONNELL, adverting to the former subject, was glad to hear the Noble Lord at the head of the Government state that he would cause inquiries to he made into the nature and extent of the sufferings of the people of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) He confessed he felt rather anxious upon the result of the inquiry, as on a recent occasion when he made a statement to the House with regard to the existing distress, he ' was accused by the Home Secretary of great exaggeration. While they were discussing what money should be granted they were willingly or unwillingly allowing tnousands to die in destitution. According to the re turn which had been made in consequence of the motion of the Hon. Baronet the Member for Londonderry, it appeared that the expense of sus'aining the paupers indi vidually was, in England 34 ss. 10id., in Scutlsnd 21. 7s. 90., and in Ireland 16s. Bd. %%lien such facts as these were placed before Hon. Members, something like an effect would be wrought, and the House would resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House.—(hear.) Mr. MONSELL would remind the House that while they were discussing this point no measures had been taken to relieve the destitution in Ireland. He was quite sure that the several Members of the Admennis trat ion were anxious to relieve the distress, but as :a Government, while they were dallying, no stay was put upon tho destitution in Ireland. From the returns it appeared that in Connaught and Munster, on the 28th of April, 1843, there were in the several workhouses 122,369 paupers, and that the deaths in the course of one weck were not leas than 1,703, or, on an average, fourteen in every 1,000, whereas in this great metropolis, where there was a population approaching to two millions and a half of souls, according to the statement made by the Poor law Commissioners, in the very worst week of the year, that which ended on the 29th January, 1849, the proportion of deaths was only five in a thousand, and in Connaught, during the previous year, the proportion was about the same. Such being the case, he trusted that the House would not refuse to lend its immediate attention to the subject.—(Bear, hear.) Mr. OSBORNE said that the great obstacle to the granting this relief was the Honourable Member for Ripon himself.—(Hear, hear.) When the grant - ler 50,0004 was asked fur by Government the - Right*Hon: Baronet had stated his intention to vote for the grunt, provide 4 it was nor the first of THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 26, 11149. a series, but that he should decidedly op pose it unless it was the beginning of more compre hensive measures. It was then stated that 600,000/. would be in , utlicient to meet the emergency, and the 84,0001. now in the hands of the Commis , ioners would harely satisfy the momentary necessity of the period. He thought that for the sake of their own character, to iter peal to no other principle, they ought not to suffer thousands thus to perish from absolute starvation. There were now upwards of 160,0001. owing to the contrac ors to supply food, and they had determined to forward no more food until this debt was discharged. He trusted, therefore, that while thousands were perishtogs , ttiey would not be wasting the time of the country in e'tiscussions upon an evil which all acknowledged to 'exist in an extreme degree.—(Cheers.) Colonel SIBTHORP said he did not wish to inter rupt the business of the evening, but he would like to ask any Member who was more conversant with Ireland than he could possibly presume to be, whether the free-trade measures had not, in a great degree, been the cause of distress in Ireland?—(Laughter, and cries of " Hear,") He could feel for Ireland, and he could also feel for England ; but he had every reason for saying that if free trade measures were continued, England would fed the effects of them just as much as Ireland had done.—(Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER eid not think it expedient to go iuto the discussion upon free trade. So far as Iceland went he thmq,ht it had contributed very largely to the preservation of life in that country.— (Loud cries of " Dear, hear.") The effect of free trade had been to preserve the lives of a greater number of persons in Ireland than could have been done when provisions were dearer. The Honourable Gentleman behind him (Mr. Scrope) had stated that HI. or lid. a day was sufficient to preserve the life of a person, but that arose from the importation of' Indian meal, which had already preserved so many lives in Ireland— (Hear)—and that was one of those free trade measures of which the Hon. Gentleman com plained.—(Hear, hear.) He would not, however, pursue that subject further.—(clear, hear.) He had to warn the House not to be led away by the statements, or he should rather say, sentiments, respect ing the distress which it was said now existed, and if he wanted anything to justify such a re quest he would find it in the admission made by the lion. Member for Limerick. That Hun. Gentleman had stated that 860 deaths had taken place in the Ballinasloe Union, but he now corrected himself, and said the truth was that the 860 people were not dead, but were ill of fever and cholera.—(Hear, hear.) At the early part of the session the Government proposed a grant of 50,000/. for the preservation of lice until some other measure was introdue,d for the purpose of making Ireland contribute its fair and equal proportion. It was a doctrine maintained by several Irish Members that property should contribute to the support of po verty, and he believed it was the universal opinion of the House, when the grant was proposed, that it was unreasonable to expect that any further demands could be made upon the Treasury, and that it they were, it was indispensable that they should look to Ireland for the repay ment of advances made by the Govern ment.—(Hear, hear.) A measure for that purpose was brought forward, and so far from a reproach being made ou the Government, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was accused of making sentimental speeches and impassioned appeals to Irish Members to contribute towards the relief of distress in Ireland.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The opposition to granting relief came not from him, but from Irish Mem bers, and the Hon. Member (Mr. John O'Connell) voted against the Rate in Aid, against measures fur relieving distress, and now he turned round and complained that he (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) was hard hearted and indifferent to the distress which existed—(hear, hear.) He thought that those Irish Members who made such ap peals for the sell: ring Irish might hwe accelerated the progress of the Bill through the Ilotese.—(Hear.) Now, he thought, under tho,;e circumstances, it was not true either that Parliament had itself the means or that Government had not used the means, or that it was ne cessary at present to make any further appeal to Par liament for further advances for the relief of the distress which, he was sorry to say, still prevailed to a great extent in the west of Ireland. The Government would not shrink from asking the House for a further advance when they believed it to be necessary to mitigate the distress, or from appealing to Parliament, if necessary, for money on the credit of the rate in aid. Mr. E. B. ROCHE asked what were the real facts of the case with regard to the matter of the Ballinasloe Union. Though his 1 1 on. Friend the Member for Limerick had inadvertently misstated the number of people who had died in the workhouse, yet 460 or 490 people died in one week in that workhouse—(Hear, hear)—if his (Mr. Roche's) recollection served him. They had it un the authority of the best medical men that those epidemics, the cholera on the one hand and the fever on the other, arose from the utter destitution and suffering of the people. He must say for one, that the Noble Lord a the head of the Government, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had succeeded in throwing from their own shoulders a great deal of the responsibility of that very urgent distress. Several Honourable Members who op• posed all former grants were now pressing upon the Government the necessity of the case, and calling on them to relieve the distress in Ireland. Now was the time for theGovernmt ntcoming forward to relieve that distress; they had not been able permanently or adequa•ely to relieve the distrt ss of the people ; many would have been dead now who were not dead, if the Government had not done tile little they had done; but they had not done what, as a Government, they ought to have done—they had not preserved the lives of the people of the country, and he said it was the first duty of a Government to preserve the lives of the people over whom they ruled.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore he said, now was the time for bringing forward some comprehen sive im-asure; there never was a better opportunity than the present. Sir JOHN YOUNG denied having attempted to underrate the distress prevalent in Ireland. The facts of the case were that in the Ballinasloe Union, where great distress had prevailed, cholera and dysentery hid visited the union, and hundreds of people had been effected by the epidemic. Some of the auxi liary workhouses had been changed into cholera hospitals, end those people who had taken the cholera were driven into those auxiliary houses. Now it was shown that the people died in a few days after they came into the work house, and not from the insufficiency of relief.—(hear.) He concurred with the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, that it was not in the power of the Go vernment, or of any Government, to put an end to the state of suffering in Ireland. Mr. ROCHE explain, d. Mr. E. DENISON remarked that it was easy to say that a few additional thousands would put an end to the distress in Ireland, and that the deaths of thousands rested upon our shoulders.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Noble Lord had taken a step which every body must approve of, namely, saving thousands of the people of Ireland from starving. It was utterly impossible that the great mass of the people coul I be fed save by the soil on which they had been born, rather than by means supplied from a distance. Ile cwualstivaotnioenooff t th h e os s e w eili h n o had always order that t the advocated pet)plm the ighthe enabled to support themselves.—(Fleur, hear.) He thought it could not be said that the Government bad been behindhand. He did not think this country would be disposed to give much more to relieve Ireland, looking' at the comparatively small effect and to the amount of money which, he was sorry to say, had been squandered.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. REYNOLDS did not wish to blame the Govern ment or the House for any neglect of the people. Nevertheless hundreds of thousands had died, or rather were dying, and within twelve hours' sail of the great and wealthy capital of Great Britain and Ireland, hundreds :and thousands of British subjects were dying of starvation. He did not under stand the Honourable Member for Cork to speak in an offensive spirit of the Honourable Gentleman, but he was prepared to state that the lion. Gentleman was underserving of such a charge, as he never saw a chair man evince a greater desire to sift the whole question to the bottom. With respect to Ballinasloe, it appeared that the population of the town, which was a small one, was 4,000; and that 4,700 of the population of the union were in the workhouse. Since a statement be had made on a former night had been denied, he must be permitted to say that the guerdians, whom he charged with the grossest inhumanity, passed a resolution by which they concentrated the whole of the disfaed and famished poor within the walls of the workhouse. They said, in effect, to a destitute per fisii,cnt,etdwweriitthy t m yp il h e u s s, from you sthhaellhooubstal n "Noorwele ,irexuceapret you u go into the house at a distance of twenty miles," ter the union contained an area of 2,500 square miles. He asked the representatives of the British people whetherof iltheHas House of cm they were while these awful redtositquietlyo slaughters o nthebenches f the people in Ireland were taking place. If one life in Eng land was lost in a singular manner, the whole press teemed with it, while in Ireland thousands were dying every week without any notice being taken of it. What had the Rev. Mr. Anderson, the minister ;of Ballinrobe, stated to the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern mentin,eary thatletter washehadexwisrtiitng written to him? He had stated that n o l anguage he could use could describe the misery in nt i ha e measures fo that union.He r heard in th a t Ire- Land —comp re h ens i ve measures for what, he would ask Why, for skel e t ons w h o could not walk. It had been said house of comprehensive what had Ireland done for herself ? He would answer that question by stating that she had paid two mil lions and a half in eighteen months for the relief of her destitute poor. In his opinion the first duty of the Government was to save the lives of the people, and he trusted that they would not allow the people of Ireland to say this, which in fact they were saying, that tf you cannot govern Ireland let Ireland govern herself. Sir G. GREY said the Hos. Gentleman who had just sat down had fallen into error in some of his figures; while with regard to the charge that the people of England were cal ous to the sufferings of the people of Ireland, all ho could say was, hat in addition to the grants horn the public n oa lrg r a ,h e ea b r u ) rdens and have a distinct upon L parse ,o:tdh the e l 1! l i t e a s s t l T a r t L a e t E . o s a f A r e t h G I ° w a il i r a i s t d h r y e —7 0 " 1-1 answer to this question, Was it to be understood that no further grants would be made to Ireland, whatever might be the extent of the distress? Lord JOHN RUSSELL had always refused to give o e u t ld te Go l v r e d r a n a m d e ._ nt (Hear, hear.) Government must h a p 1 prep edee that reed tuen maked e r, o anyci rc u t in a s r t t a h ne be sg allowe dto take its own curse, and to meet ail exigencies in their own way.—(fle.r ) Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL rose to explain, but loud cries of " Ordcr, order" compelled him to resume his seat. Colonel DUNNE - then explained that tt . e reason Irish Memb ers oppos e d the Ate Aid Bill vv:i's because they felt that it would aggravate instead of mitigate the evils. Afier a few words from Mr. HORS MAN, Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL attain ros-. and was met by loud cries of " order " and " spoke." He presumed that he would be perfectly in order if he moved the adjourn • ment of the House. The SPEAKER trusted that the Honourable Gen tleman would confine himself to the question of ad journment. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL then proceeded to state that it was quite clear that there eves no disposition on the part of the House to consider the question of Irish dis tress.—(Loud cries of " Oh, oh," and laughter). Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether the Hon. Member had moved the adjournment of the House, with a view to the speedy discussion of Irish distress.—(Cheers and laughter.) Mr. J. O'CONNELL continued —The scale of relief administered in Ireland was too low—lower in fact than it was either in England or Scotland. The Honour able Gentleman proceeded to charge the Government with a design of starving out the Irish people—a charge weich he hal already made, but which bad never been answered. The SPEAKER inquired who seconded the motion o! the HO3. Gentleman? No one replied, and the suhjtet and the motion dropped Together, MR. HUME'S MOTION FOR PARLIAMENTARY It EFOR NI. In answer to a question from Mr. CAMPBELL, Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEy said that the Hon. Member for Montrose fully purposed bringing on his mo tion for Parliamentary reform on the sth of June. REPORT ON SUPPLY—NAVY ESTIMATES. On this motion for bringing up the reports upon the votes agreed to in the last Committee of Supply, Mr. COBDEN hoped that the report upon vote No. 8 would be postponed, as the Hon. Member for Montrose, who was prevented from attending by indisposition, had an amendment upon the Imper with respect to it. Sir F. BARING consented to postpone taking the re port on the vote until next Thursday. Colonel SIBTHORP then rose to bring under the at tention of the House the salaries of the principal officers of the Admiralty. He observed that the members of Government, in their zeal for economy, ware reducing everybody's salaries but their own, and contended that the salaries of the principal officials of the Admiralty were greatly overpaid, He would reduce the salary of a year. He would n e xt pr o pose t t o h the o F p i First Lord two ia b o y 0 Lords altogether, whose salaries amoue ted, one of them to 1,0001, the other to 1,2001. a year. Thus a reduction of 2,7004 would be at once effected. He would then propose to strike off 10 per cent. from the salaries of the secretary, the storekeeper, the surveyor, and several subordinate officials, wbo would still be very very handsomely paid. Tne Hon. and Gallant Colon, I concluded by proposing the reduction of the vote from 136,3031 to 132,753/ Captain PECHELL observed that the Honourable ' and Gallant Gentleman could not be serious in his mo tion. There was no department of the Government the officers of which were worse paid, and—it they did their duty—harder worked, than were the gentleman con netted with the Admiralty. He had risen, however, for the purpose of calling the attention of the House to the petition of the masters in the royal navy, which he had some time since presented to Parliament. Nominally, these officers, who were persons holding a very respon • sible position, were ranked with lieutenants, but actually and in practice they only held a position between the junior lieutenants and the midshipmen. He trusted that the admira:ty would take into consideration the case of the lieutenants and commanders, who complained that the promotion list was improperly made up, and that the system of retiring pensions was defective. He com plained of the present system of freights for treasure, and contended that the practices of wangling specie on the coast of Mexico had a prejudicial effect upon the Spanish bondholders. The sums which had accrued to toe Admiralty from various sources should, he maen twined, be applied to the increase of the half-pay, and to making a provision for the widows of officers in the service. After a rew words from Colonel SIBTHORP, Mr. B. COCHRANE said he was desirous of asking the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Admi ralty whether, in the face of events passing abroad, it was the intention of the Government to continue these reductions in the navy? It was not his own opinion alone, but the opinion of th e entire public press, and of all those who had turned their attention to foreign affairs, that even if a general war were not inevitable, it waslikelythat otii ietie. He asked h whole s ofthecontinetnte woulds soon be involved in hGovernment whether they deemed this to be the proper moment for carrying out reductions, which he admitted at another time might be reasonable and just? In 1792, Mr. Pitt had built upon a fifteen years' peace, but it had been terminated in six months. Looking at the recent decla ration of the Emperor of Russia, and the events which were passing around us, he asked the Government whe dang e t o r come upon us, would theyethoenrtinuea did oo n u o r t se th o in f k re it d w ue a t s io u n a s vv have to be made good at a double cost to the country. Admiral DUNDAS, replying to the objections Hon. and Gallant Member for Brighton, maintained that masters ought not to expect to be Hall had risen by placedhis on the same tooting with Lieutenants. Captain i w ie hic a h n , d shouldectio injudiciousn s of the own merit, and he trusted that others would follow his example, but he was averse to sanctioning the principle for which the Hon. and Gallant Member contended. Sir F. BARING observed that it was not a pleasant thing to be involved in a discussion oa one's own salary. —(Great laughter.) But be did no:. think that the case of the Admiralty was one which presented features particularly calling tor the pruning knife. In 1831, a period of great anxiety with respect to economy and retrenchment, a Committee of the House had gone through the different Government salaries, and had fixed what they considered to be proper sutni for each ttfice. On that occasion the salary of the First L)rd of the Admiralty had been reduced by 500/.. leaving it at 4,5001. instead of 5,0001. The salary of the four Lords was fixed at 4,0004, and after an inquiry they were declared entitled to half-pay. The salary of the firs: secretary had also been reduced to its present standard. Last year the Committee appointed to revise all the estimates of the Admiralty, had nut found that the salaries were excessive. If the House were disposed to enter upon the general question of salaries (No, no), he was prepared; but he trusted that he need not further dwell upon the salaries attaching to the Admiralty, lle thought that the clerks of accounts fully earned their salaries in the check which they constituted to improper expenditure. The Hon. Member for Bridport had spoken of reductions, and he (Sir Francis Baring) thought there was an im pression abroad that those reductions were more consi derable than they ought to be. If the house recurred to the number, 40,000 men, which had been yoted in the present year, and compared it with the numbers voted in former years, they would find that the present numbers were by no means inconsiderable. If it should occur that we were called upon for an active exercise of our strength, he trusted th a t t h e navy would nut be asking for on the p art o f t h e G overnment in assistance, should it b e n ee d e d.e found inefficient. He could a ssure t h e House that there would be no no nosh u r n i t n r k y in t The subject of freights was one which should not be lost sight of; but he thought it was one which would be bet ter discussed on another occasion. Mr. SPOONER was of opinion, that in order to effect a general reduction of the salaries of Government offi cers, you must begin with the salaries of individuals, The policy of the country having declared that low prices were to be the order of the day, he thought that the present scale of Government salaries ought not to ba maintained. What would be the moral effect upon the people of the Government, by their policy, beating doe n the incomes of others, and still keeping up aid" own? In the present state of the country, he did not think that those salaries coul 1 be justified.—[Sir J. Graham ; Put the Government on corn rents.] (Laughter.) If the Hon. and Gallant Colonel went to a division, he should have his support. Captain BERKELEY contended that since 1770 the salaries of the Lords of the Admiralty nad not been raied, whilst those of other Government officers had been ER admitted that, with th e except i on augmented. of C th a e pt N ai o n Lord°blßeLD O_ at the head of the Government, and the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department, the duties of the First Lord of the Ad miralty were the most onerous attaching to the Govern ment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQiITER—Mine are rather o heavy.-- a la owou l d y D . E ( a - La u gh (Laughter.) r. ) also Hon. Gentleman, it he pleased. T exheHon, t he and Gallant Rg h t ,mmtoendethdethastubt jbeectGoovfernhmoneonrtasryhouldturn attentionits g ember c re distinc tions as affecting the Marines, contending that that branch of the service bad not their full share of re wards. He thought also that the Marines were entitled to the same consideration with respect to their admission to the national hospitals as the two other branches of the service. If the Government would be stir themselves in this matter they would receive the thanks of a brave, honourable, and gallant class of men. Colonel SlBrtioßp, in reply, expressed his wonder at the absence from both sides of the House of the usual sticklers for econowy._(Laughter.) He should not divide the House, resting con t e nt with having " shown up" the Gove rnment to the country.—(Laughter.) Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked for explanation re specting a sum of 484,738/ , which had been carried to revenue in the yea r just cl osed. Had any portion of that amount arisen from the sale of old stores ? Sir F. T. BARING said the item alluded to included all kinds of stores and the repayment of certain advances under the same head; but if the Hon. Baronet wished it, a detailed statement would be produced. The report was then agreed to. SUPPLY.—ARMY ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee of supply; Mr. Bernal in the chair. The first v o t e proposed was a sum not exceeding 1,855,5684, for d e f ray i ng t h e c harge of her Maje.ty's land for ces i n t h e United Kingdom and in stations abroad, being p ar t o f a sum of 3 655,588 1 .; of which 1,800,000/. had already hP en granted on acco unt. Mr. 13, OSBORNE (alluding to the thinness of the at tendance in the House) said it was not very encouraging for any H on . Member to enter into the discussion of questions affecting the expenditure of the country, be cause it appeared that, whenever that which more than anything else fell within the peculiar business and pro vince of the House had to come on for consideration, lion. Gentlemen, and even the financial reformers themselves, deserted their posts, and left but a beggarly account of empty benches for any diligent advocate of ec roomy and retrenchment to address his remarks to. He therefore did not propose at present to go into any lengthened di— tails; but he must say he felt convinced, from the condi tion in which the army was kept, and the enormous establishments chiefly connected with the civil de partment, that great reductions could easily be effected, and the army maintained in increased efficiency by being managed with greater simplicity. The British army was c 11604 Under Ores different beads, drat, there was the 'infantry and cavalry under the Horse Guards; then the Ordnance corps, under a separate board; and, lastly, the commissariat, which was a separate branch, under the management of the Treasury. Now, he maintained, that te no other country in the world was there such an arrangement of the three different branches of the army under three separate heads. The manage ment of the Horse Guards cost 94,199/4 that of the Ordnance 91,1361.; and that of the commissariat, which was said to be the cheapest managed of all, being under the Treasury, 316,000/. Now, if they were all placed under a Minister of War, having a seat in Parliament, as was the case in other countries, instead of being me naced in the present cumbrous and costly manner, the country would gain considerably in point of economy arid simplicity. This was not a new idea of his. In the year 1537 a commission was appointed to inquire into these matters, and their report recommended that the army should be placed under the management of such a minis ter ; that the Ordnance should be consolidated with the Horse Guards; and that the civil department should be kept separate. However, from that day to this, and although they hal a committee sit, ing upstairs, tar stop had yet been taken to carry out the report of the com missioners. It was plain a very considerable saving in this manner might be made. Why not abolish the office of Master-Gem ral of the Ordnare e, by which they might save 9.0001. a year? The same might be said of the Secret try at War's office, upon syl.sh they n ; eset save 5,000/.; and by abolisideg the office of Judge- Advocate—whose excellent deputy, Mr. Rogers, did all the work, and had a selury of 8001.-2,500/. more might be saved. Then 6,836/. a year was the charge in this country for agency, although there was no agency re quired ;or the Indian army, and he could not therefore understand why it should be necessary for the troops at home. Altogether he was persuaded about 56.000/. a year might be save d in these departments.—(Hear.) He must also call attention to the great disproportion of generals to the number of men in our army as compared with the armies of other countries. In 1783, about the time of the American war, we had 824 general and field officers ; in 1799, about the time of the French war, the number was 1,863; and now, in the year 1848, at a time of peace, they were increased to 2,106. We had a staff and a number of officers greater than was required for the whole French army of 400,000. We had 9 field-marshals, 58 generals. 67 lieutenant-generals, 174 major-generals ; and yet the whole strength of our army was only 180,000 men. Eight or ten thousand a year, too, might be saved by doing away with brevets. Were the House not so empty he might pursue the question further ; but he was sure he would be able to snow a Committee that a material saving might be effected as regarded the staff of officers, and that a much better arrangement might be made with respect to the retired and half pay list. Then, as re garded the clothing of the regiments, there could not be a worse system than leaving it in the hands of the colonels. He believed that if the Government toek the clothing into its own hands, and adequately remunerated the colonels, as they did in the case of the artillery, giving them sufficient pay, instead of leaving them to eke it out by a profit on the clothing of their men, the men would be better clothed, greater satisfaction would be given, and a saving would be effected to the country of about 14.0001. a year. He found that in the year 1847, the clothing of the French army, including the expense of tents and encampments in Algiers, was only about 464,000/. for 370,125 men; or an average of 11. 13s. 21. per head. Then again in Prussia, the aver tee coo of clothing in the Prussian army was only 11.:15s. lOd. per head ; but in England, in the year 1847, the cost of clothing an army of 132,199 men was 402,142/. ; or more than 31. per man. How it was that the French and the Plessians clothed their soldiers better and cheaper than we, who were considered to be the best manufacturers in the world, could do, he would leave it for the Manchester manufacturers themselves to say, but he hoped the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) would use his influence with the Horse Guards, to alter the whole system of clothing, which, besides its other evils, exposed the colonels to invidious remarks; which, as a class of men, he was sure they did not deserve. Instead of receiving their present allowance upon the clothing of their regiments, to make up their insuffi cient pay, why not give them a salary of 1,000/. a year, and save 35,000/. to the country ? Then the proportion of officers to the number of men was excessive. There was one officer to every nineteen men in the army. In the Horse Guards there was one officer to eleven men, and one-non-commissioned officer to every six of the men. The second-majors of the infantry might altogether be done away with, and a saving of 45,000/. thereby effected. The cavalry force, exclusive of house held cavalry, equalled twenty-two regiments. Five of them were under the East India Company; but the re maining seventeen ought to be condensed into twelve regiments, which would reduce the staff, and lead to economy. A saving could also be effected by filling up the places of assistants in the various offices of the dif ferent departments of the army from the retired or half pay list. A clerk in the Commander in-Chief 'a office retired, alter forty years' service, upon 7001. a year; whereas the retiring pay of a general was only 4001. a year. In these various methods they might go on re ducing item after item, until they effected an aggregate saving, he would venture to say, little short of half a million a year. Our old colonial system must also be remodelled ; and in this way alone could they reduce their estimates, that were so excessive. Mr. F. MAULE having, he said, entered fully into the whole question of the army when he introduced the estimates to the House, should not think it necessary to trouble the Committee at any length on the present oc casion, the more particularly as most of the t pica upon which the Hon. Members had touched were at present andereting the consideration of the Committee up stairs to which the estimates had been referred. Far from concurring with the Hon. Member in the condemnation which he had passed on the agency system, he believed that it was as economical te the public as it was conve nient to officers. As regarded the question of clothing, he begged to remind the Mon. Member that a Committee which sat in 1833, after fully investigating the matter, came unanimously to the decision that, bodies regarded economy and efficiency, it was the beet system which could be adopted. Fur his part, however, he was not wedded to the present system, and if it could be proved that greater efficiency as well as economy would result from the Government taking the matter into its own hands, as was done in the Ordnance department, doubt less that course ought to be adopted. Mr. COI3DEN complained that whilst the reduction of men this year had been carried to 10 per cent, the re duction of officers had been limited to two per cent. He did not say that either the army or navy was overpaid, but what he complained of in both services was that we had more than we wanted, and it any retrenchment were made it must be a reduction of the number. But to effect that reduction in the army there must be a change in our colonial system; at present the army in the colonies acted as police.—(Hear.) They had latsly heard of acts of incendiarism in Canada. Some parties there burned the Parliament-house because the majority in the house did not vote in a manner to suit the views of these incendiaries. He would call them incen diaries—(Hear) —and no person in that House or in this country would have any sympathy with them. But it appeared that at that time there were only two consta bles in Montreal; and why ?—because the English Go vernment undertook to treat these colonies as children to find soldiers for the service of the police.—(Hear, hear.) He would tell the people of every town in Canada that they must depend upon themselves for the main tenance of their own peace.—(Hear.) Mr. OSBORNE wished to refer to what was com monly called the " shell jacket question." Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman himself did not see the unfortu nate. officers in those jackets, as they really were in the position of scarecrows—(A laugh)—gt ing about the country, laughed at end stigmatised wherever they went. —(Heer, hear.) If the Right Hon. Gentleman could see some of the old officers in those shell jackets, and the ridiculous objects they were, he would admit that either the whole army ought to be clothed alike, and the principle applied to - the household troops as to the line. or that ad. jacket should be abolished.—(Hear, hear.) But the officers of the line were not allowed to wear them when they might really be of service, namely, at mess, though the Dragoons who came froth the richer classes, were allowed to mess in their stable dress.—(A laugh.) If they in tended to make the army a terror to the enemy by their hideous appearance, the rule should be applied to all branches of it —(A laugh.) He wished also to ask why the bearskin caps were taken from the Fusileers but retained by the household guards? Mr. F. MAULE believed that this question had made more noise in the House than in the army;—(hear)—for his part, he had heard no complaint of the dress. It was adopted simply because it was thought necessary that officers when employed in the lino should be clothed in the same dress as the men. Colonel LINDSAY (reserved that the reason why the bear-skin caps were taken from the Fusileers was that the price of bears rose.—(Great laughter.) The vote was then agreed to. sum 0 n o t f. h l es 73 7 3 te n f l o , r fo t the e t h s e u m c b o a f r g 8,3 6 6 0t 7 . 6 g /, be en era i l ng p staff-officers afr a - r o t of a ffiee r s and officers of hospitals at home and abroad, Mr. LOCKHART complained of the increase in the estimate for the general staff et Malta, in consequence of the appointment of a civil governor over that island, and said he believed that not a single military man in the united kingdom would defend such an appointment in times like the present.— (Hear, hear.) He wished to test the opinion of Hon. Gentlemen whether they thought it a job or not; and he should therefore move that the salary of the staff allowance to the Lieutenant-General should be stopped after the Ist of September. Mr. HAWES thought the Hon. Gentleman, without un derstanding much of the subject on which he had spoken, had, he must permit him (Mr.Hawes) to say, characterised this transaction in a manner utterly unjustified and un justifiable. The Hon. Gentleman had denounced the ar rangement made for the government of Malta as a job. lie (lir. Hawes) did not know one thing that the people of Malta had longer called for than the appointment of a civil governor; and he did not know any appointment ever made that had been more successful for the interests of that island. When his Noble Friend was called on to appoint a governor of Malta he took into his considera tion undoubtedly that there would be an increase of ex pense, but he reduced the salary of the governor 5001. a p ar, in order partly to meet that adfitional expense. From the island there was no complaint—no petition.-- (Mr. Osborne—They don't pay for it.) On the contrary, there had been the strongest expres , ion of approbation at the appointment. It was true that a civil gover nor could not be appointed without increased expense, because the former governor (Sir P. Stewart) being a general officer united in himself the civil duties of go vernor and the military dunes of Commander•in-Chief, which would not be dune by Mr. O'Ferrall. He did nut wish to speak in the slightest degree invidiously of the preceding administration of Sir P. Stewart; he was a gentlern.in of high character and ability, and adminis tered the government to the sati,faction of previous Secretaries or Sate—(Hear)—but when Mr. O'Ferrall when to Matta there was very considerable popular dis content and diasatisfactiue; but he could say now tha; Ras eutirely allkyed by the wisdom aid m9d9r4t104 of the measures of Mr. O'Frra,ll, and the va,ions reforms he had introduced in all department -, more than equ7lled the additional expense. It was true that the additionid cxi.iense fell diri..c ly on the Imgerial i'roa,tir)—(lo,r) —but were not the iffier,bt, of rho 1,....1)t, ch.-, p-,ple . ..alta to be r, , garded? Ile did n'.4 know an ins'anee is the whole range of ill'r colonial government which could be regarded as a stronger justification of the ap• pointment of a g,ver. nor._ Mr. OSBORNE wished to know how it was that the sPznato had 6-en increased? Mr. HAWES stated that the cxpensps of the civil government had hec•n re,.uced to the ~x tent of 5001., a -urn cqual to that amount had been added to the pay of the military fficer in command at MtLita. Mr. OSBORNE saw no reason why the Maltese should not pay the difference. Mr. LOCKHART wished it to be understood that he did not mean to cast any refl-ction on Mr. M. OTerrall. The Committee then divided, when the numbers were-- For the amendment . Against it 50 -33 Maj,.rity T!'e vote w..s then rigreed to Tho following votes were also :,greed to:- 9.408/, being part of 17,4081., to defray the expenses of the Military College. 10,298/., bei.)g part of 19,2981., for the 11.-yal Military sylutn and Hib,rnian School. On the question that a bum of 33.2861., being part of 66.2861., for the volunteer corps, be granted. Mr. W. MILES observed, that not calling out these volunteer corps in regiments would not increase their efficiency. It had been suggested, and he believed upon very good grounds, that there was nothing more eaten lated to promote their ef f iciency than their being perio dically inspected by a military man. Mr. F. MAULE said that the discipline and efficiency of these corps bad been tested, unfortunately too often, in the course of the past year—not too often for their re• putation, because they had performed their duties with military precision and with great forbearance. The vote was then agreed to. The folloh 41,4 were also agreed to:-8,1201., being part of 15,1201. to defray the charge of allowances and rewards for distinguished services. 39,9081., being part of 79,9081., for the pay of general officers not being colonels of regiments. 200,0001:, being part of 400,0001, for half-pay and allowance s of retired officers of the land forces. 22,1561., being part of a sum of 44,1561., for half-pay and reduced allowances to officers of disbanded foreign' corps. _ _ 64,7781., being part of a sum of 128,7781., for pensions to officers' widows. 47,5001., being part O' a sum of 95,5001., for allowances on the compassionate list. On the vote of 18,5414, being part of a sum of 25,541/., for Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals, Mr. B. OSBORNE said that the Committee on the estimates had recommended the abolition of the Civil Board at Chelsea Hospital. He should like to know why the office of secretary to that board had been recently filled up by the appointment of Colonel Alderson? The reason, he believed, was that the Railway Board was abolished about the time, and Colonel Alderson, who was one of them, was thereupon appointed to this sine cure office of 700/. a year, he being allot% ed at the same time to retain his pay as Colund of Engineers. Mr. Neave, the former secretary, was even allowed to retai❑ his house, and the public had to pay for the expense of a house for Colonel Alderson. Mr. F. MAULE reminded the Hon. Member that when Colonel Alderson was appointed the office of as sistant-secretary viith a salary of 600/. a year, was abolished. So long as the Civil Board was continued it was absolutely necessary that it should have a secretary, and that with regard to the fact that Mr. Neave was suffered to retain his house, it was thought hard, after so many years' service on the part of that gentleman, that tor the few years of life which remained to him he should be removed from the house in which he had spent his official life.—(Bear, hear.) The vote was then agreed to. On the vote of 624,8531., being part of a sum of 1,224,053/., for out pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, &c., Mr. HE observed that the East India Company were credited e ith 60,000 L, as their share of the pay ment of the non-( &cave service of the army employed in India Had the Government taken into consideration the increasing proportion of troops serving in India ? The sum had stood at 60,000/. for many years, and he would suggest whither it was not disproportionate to the present number of the effective force in India, which was 28,000, the total number in every other part of the em pire being 103,000? Mr. F. - 111.A tLE explained that the sum had been long paid, and was conside ed at the period when it was fixed as a just proportion for the East India Company to pay. He was not quite sure that the sum was so inadequate as the Hon. Member supposed, but it was an arrangement which had taken place between the Government and the East India Company at the same time with many others, and any alteration must be made when many other things were also under discussion. Alter a few words from Mr. G. THOMPSON the vote was agreed to, as was a vote of 19,0001, being part of a sum of 38,0001., for superannuation or retired allowances. The House then resumed, the report was brought up, and the Chairman obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in the absence of Mr. Baines, obtained 1, ave to bring in a Bill to amend the procedure in Courts of General and Quarter Ses sions of the Peace in Englind and Wales, and for the better advancement of justice in csses within the juris diction of those courts. Lord DUDLEY S I UART moved for returns of all salaries and other emoluments received by the several officers of the Pal , /ce and Marshalsea Courts, in each year from July, 1838, to July, 1848, inclusive. Ot the number of actions brought and cau , es tried in the above courts during every week of the same period. Of the number of costs i❑ every action brought and cause tried during the years 1847 and 1848 ; distin guishing those tried from those in which judgment went by default, and also distinguishing the number of Cazie3 submitted to taxation during the same period. And of all fines paid by counsel or attorneys for liberty to prac tise in the same Courts. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at half-past Nine o'clock until Thursday next. At the half-yearly meeting of the National Bra zilian Mining Association, held yesterday afternoon, the report and accounts were presented and approved. It appeared from what transpired that, notwithstanding the limited means at the disposal of the board, the working of the property, including the mines Cucaes and Cuiba, was steadily improving, and that there was a nsar ap proach between actual expenses and receipts. The di rectors were still under some advances, arid it was stated that it the calls due from defaulting shareholders were paid, not only might those advances be discharg:d, but increased means would be supplied for augmenting the available force necessary to carry out viorous opera tions. While the Cuiba mice continues promising iu its appearance, the two veins in Cocaes are specially men tioned as indicating in the progress of their exploration satisfactory results. The affairs of the ccmpany having latterly undergone a complete investigation, it was not thought advisable to trouble the shareholders with any lengthened dissertation upon them. Before the close of the meeting the auditors personally vouched for the ac curacy of the accounts. DEPARTURE OF FATHER MATHEW.—This devoted and distinguished apostle of the temperance cause con tinued his labours on Taesday last at the Hiberrian School, in Pleasant-street. There was a large attend ance, comprising a number of the working classes, and several of the most influential ladies and gentlemen re sident in the town. The Rev. Gentleman was accom panied by Mr. William Rathbone, whose guest he has ueen since his sojourn here, and who has been most un remitting in his kindness and attention towards him. A number of the scholars who had signified their willing ness to take the pledge, were, along with the assembled adults, addressed by Father Mathew, who enforced, chiefly by scriptural references, the duty of sobriety. No incense, he said, could be more grateful to heaven than that they were about to offer. The pledge was then administered to about three hundred children of both sexes, and the same number of adults. At the close of the day's proceedings it was intimated that Father Mathew would, on retiring from the school, administer the pledge to any one who desired it that evening and the folloaing morning, it they favoured him Kith their attendance at the house of his friend, Mr. Rathbone, of Greenbank. Many availed themselves of the opportunity, waited upon Father Mathew, and entered into the teetotal bond. On Wednesday morn ing Father Mathew embarked for America iu the packet-ship Ashburton. Such, however, was his de votion to the cause of which he has become so distin guished an advocate, that, before his departure, he went round several of the dock quays, and there induced many to become total abstainers, and go through the usual formalities required to ratify their acknowledg ment of temperance principles. He was also engaged in a similar manner on board the Ashburton, and, jud-4ing from the feeling displayed in hi s f avour, many converts would be made during the voyage. The vessel left tho Waterloo dock about eleven o'clock, when a vast con course of people, together with some of the immediate friends of the Rev. Gentleman, were present to witness his departure. Many congregated on the piers, and as the vessel passed into the river a loud and prolonged cheer was given, several of the spectators expressing their hearty good wishes and prayers for the safety and prosperity of one whose self-devotion and sacrifices to the cause with which he has identified himself are, per hap, without parallel. The scene was a most gratity ing one. The Rev. Apostle, though in good health and spirits, appeared to feel his position, arising out of a separation from so many of his attached friends at home. We understand he expressed the highest sense of the gentlemanly and benevolent conduct shown towards him by Mr. William Rathbone arid the circle of friends to which he was introduced during his stay in Liverpool. The Ashburton left the river early yesterday (Thursday) morning.—Liverpool [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Bad Legs of Fourteen Years' Duration Cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mrs. Priscilla Waters, of Pentney, near Lynn, had been a dreadful sufferer for upwards of fourteen years with bail legs, which several of the Faculty had tried to cua., but without success. Her digestion was much impaired, and at times she was quite incapable of attending to her household affairs. As the medi cines which she had been taking afforded her no relief, she was recommended to try Holloway's Pills and Ointment, by the use of which she was completely cured, and for more than twelve month s past has been able to attend to her domestic duties, and could, it necessary, walk 10 or 2o miles with ease. Sold by all Druggist% and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. By the h-tters from China it appears that the amount of gold which had been received trove California betse-•n the Ist of January and the 315 r. of March, w; estim tied at 350,000 dollars. The demind for goods in return had cleared the market of some articles that had tor long 6inzo remained on liancl. ~.g, POLICE INTELLIGENCE. L.4IIBETIL A Oliddle-aged Ilitierniau, bearing the name of George Bp no, e o, phiti at the: bar before the llon. G. C. N tten, ha, ged with the coma iStiloll Of a most wanton and unprovoked assault upon Mrs. Ann Darkin, the wife of Mr. lleiiry Darkin, residing at No. 7, St. Alban's terrace, Kennington -road. l lie complainant stated that about 11 o'clock that morning the defendant, whom she had never before seen, knocked at the door of her husband's residence, and was if.swer - d by the complainant herself. The defendant de riannded to hate turned to him a circular, which he a leg ed he had left there on the previous day—a fact thewhich (the witnes,s) quietly denied, observing that no, such docuinent had been lett at her husband's house. The defendant reiterated his assertions, and accompanied them with applying to the witness a torrent of abusive, abominable, and opprobrious epithets, such as she declined to mention, and the very recollection of which drew forth a burst of tears. She, however, gave the defendant an assurance that he was quite in error in supposing he had left any circular, and desired him to quit the house. His violent laugu,,g, was then repeated, on which the witness lmving called out to an elderly invalid gentleman named Mitchell, lodging in the house, that gentleman from the stairs witne,sed the remainder of the transaction. On the IN/petition of his insulting language the witness took him by the shoull.rs to put him out of the door, when the defendant turned round, and with his closed fist struck her with great force a severe blow on the left temple, which was mu c h swo ll en f rom the effects.. Mr. William Mitchell corroborated the evidence, and proved further, that he and a servant boy named Billing, pursued the defendant until they met a policeman, to whom he was given into custody. Mr. NORTON inquired what was the nature and cha racter of the circular which the defendant alleged he had left at the complainant's resieence? The defendant handed one to the magistrate. The circular announced that " Mr. George Byrne, phrenologist," called the attention of the gentry and the public in general to the fact that phrenology was essen tial to the development of the character of individuals and the primary functions and elements of the mind; and that it offered most important aid in the selection of guardians for the young, of clerks, confidential assist ants, and of partners, &c. In all these matters he pleagad himself to describe character and talents with strict adherence to the principles of phrenology on the terms of one shilling and sixpence for a phrenological chart with relative proportions; of half a crown for s similar chart, with outlines as to character and talents; and of five shillings for the same, with a full written analysis. The circular gave the address of Mr. Byrne, " the phrenologist," No. 24, Allen. street, Lambeth. Several respectable persons in court complained of the annoyances to which they and their neighbours and families were subject from the visits of these "circular" depositors on all possible and impossible subjects. Mr. NORTON sentenced the defendant to pay a fine of 31., or to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for the term of five weeks. On hearing this decision the defendant "looked dag gers" at the magistrate, and strutted out of the dock in the care of Cook the gaoler. The fine had not been paid when the court rose. THAMES. Rhoda Smith, alias Jones, alias Green, with other in' numerable aliases, was charged with obtaining moue" under false pretences from the Rev. Mr. Gribble, chap lain to the new church lately founded by Prince Albert, in connexion with the Merchant Seamen's Home, Well close-square. The system of frauds developed was of a very extraordinary character, extending over a number of years. On Thursday evening the prisoner, who is about forty years of age, called on Mr. Gribble, and presented a paper purporting to be a petition for subscription opened for the purposes of getting a young man named James Lewis, aged eighteen into the asylum for the blind at Portsmouth. The document bore the signatures of Messrs. Mauds lay and Son, engineers, Lambeth ; Messrs. Robinson, Mill-wall, and several others, as subscribers of various sums, and amongst the other subscriptions was one signed " A few Mends at Ipswich," for 71. 6s. As soon as the prisoner presented herself to the reverend gentle man, he at once recognised her as a person who had called on him twice before under very peculiar circum stances. On her first visit she represented herself as the wife of a transport, whose term of punishment had ex pired, and w ho, owing to t his previous good character,. was about to settle respectably and wished her to join him. She produced on that occasion a printed document which had every appearance of authenticity, and the reverend gentleman advanced her 10s. out of a fund placed at his disposal for the relief of persons connected with the merchant sea service. In one or two days afterwards she again called upon the reverend gen tleman, accompanied by a person whom she repre sented to be the master of the vessel in which she was about to sail to join her husband, and said that she wanted some few necessaries, which would amount to about 11. 125., and which sum would be repaid in an hour or two after being advanced. The amount was given to her from the Champney fund placed at his disposal, but he never saw the prisoner again until she appeared iu her new character on Thursday evening, at which time she was considerably disguised in liquor ; Mr. Gribble, recognising her as the person who ba d imposed on hi m on two prev i ous occasions, sent to the Leman-street station-house, when Sergeant Ball, 21 attended and took her into custody. She prayed of the reverend gentleman to forgive her, admitted having re ceived 103. and 1/. 12s. on two previous occasions, and exclaimed, whilst going to the station-house, " Oh! mY God, I have told a falsehood, sh:11 I be tran s p orte d ?', When she obtained the 11. 12s. from Mr. Gribble, the person ho represented himself as the captain with whom she was about to sail, i.nl who assisted in several of her impositions, was so fully recognised from the description, [list it has since been ascert.iit.ed he is at present an inmate of one of the metropolitan prisons on another charge of fraud. Information was instantly forwarded to the Mendicity office, when Captain Wood directed Bora lord, the active agent of the society, to attend to the case- Horsford immediately recognised the woman as a very old and well-known acquaintance. She has been twice com mitted from Newgate tor six months each time, ten times summarily convicted at various police-courts, and twice tried but acquitted at the Old Bailey on two charges of felony. She had lived with a man named Smith, who was transported, and under whose name the first fraud upon Mr. Gribble had been effec ed. She then lived with another flash man at Wentworth-street, Whitechapel, whom in a drunken fray she threw down stairs, whereby his neck was broken and he died. After that she cohabited with another fellow named Welch Tom; her West pal was Bub Owen, better known in the locality as " Crump." Mr. INGHAM said that there could not be the slightest doubt that the prisoner was a most abominable impostor, carrying on a most nwarious trade, and preying upon iuuds intended for the relief of the deserving poor con nected with the naval service. She belonged to a class who were the greatest pests of society, and he regretted exceedingly that owing to technical eofficulties he could not visit her offences with the punishment they deserved , and, by sending her for trial, place her in a position which would for ever remove her from this country. Ile would, however, inflict the highest punishment in big power by sentencing her to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. William Caflyn, a newsvender, residing at 31, Sidney street, end, and two persons in his employment, named 7 hreadgola and Smith, were charged with utter ing an infamous libel, with a view of villifying the Hon. and Rev. Robert Liddell. The libel was contained in a low publication, issued from the defendant Caffyn's shop, and denominated Sam Sly, being the eastern counter part of the Paul Pry, which for so long a time has been the vehicle of western slander. The libel in question purports to be a " Story of Barking," of which p a rish Mr. Liddell is vicar, and professes to be written by one of the " sly dogs" there. The article is written in the loosest style which characterises these prurient publica tions, charging the lion. and Rev. Gentleman with avail' ing himself of the absence of his wife to seduce a n ew cook, who is described as possessing no remarkable amount of beauty. The publication of this worthless print was brought home to the parties implicated, a nd they were held to bail, to answer the charge at the ses sions of the Central Criminal Court. Henry Stockman, mate of the barque Brunswick, Wa s finally exami ne d, c h arge d with the manslaughter of Joseph Frost, a black buy, engaged on board that vessel. Tho facts appeared in our journal of Saturday last. The boy was drunk. The prisoner was about to give hill a " ducking," the tackle gave way, and the boy was drowned.—Committed for trial. TVESTA ii. N-- S TER. Charles Simpkins and Henry Bond, :two middle-aged persons, were finally exam i ne d, c h arge d stealingwi l th . a, 4d., and Jul. note, a Ba n k d iv id en d warrant f or 221. 6s r the family" of six sover e i gns , un d er c i rcumstances a a very singul ar description. The money was _ o the wp.rsop, a ty fri o e f nd of e, a Mr. Pim ante l , a lunatic, Simkins, wh three; or four) ears' standing. persuaded e Mrs. Pi man t e l again to place her husband in Be thl n_i, as it was found expo client to have a second keeper. Bond and he were to effect the necessary strangements, and under that pre tence they took for,ible possession of th e property above hPoim was s tel d r askedunk, t hreatened to stick Simpki ns f or t h e mentioned, which was the amount of the l unatic ' s an nuity. u o i re t l y. r, the a knife in her. Simpkins had al so d emanded to see Mrs. Pimantel's marriage certificate, wh ic h he also refused to re turn to her. Bond was said t o b e a sort of " villa lawyer," at Chelsea paricularly. g When latter. l‘l rs• w The accused were fully fo r tr i al committed tral Criminal Court. of a On the 18th inst., at 24 , Cheyne-walk, Mrs. D. B. Reid, son. ;n the 22d inst., at Porteus-terrace, Paddington, the lady of the Rev. H. Nowell Barton, of a daughter. On the 2 d inst., at 19, Imperial-square, Cheltenham, the wile of Captain Allan, 63d Regiment, of a daughter. On the I:2d inat., at Hampton Manor-house, near Bath, Mrs. Philip Sheppard, of a daughter. On the 23d inst., at the Firs, Hampstead- heath, the wife of William Dugmore, Esq., o f Li ncoln ' s-inn, barrister-at law, of a daughter. On the 23d i nst., at th M e ARRIED chapel of the French Embassy , Captain Charles Edward Petre, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, to the Hon. Charlotte Petre, second daughter of the Rig ht Hon. L'ird Petre. On the'2Ad inst., at the Independent Chapel, Cannon street, Preston, Henry Hampson, Esq., of Manchester, to ttilda, daugher of Mr. Chambers Bank-parade, PreStoll. - - - On the 20th inst., at Chernock-placP, Winchester, a ged 92, Mrs. Atkinson, relict of the late Thomas Atkinson, Esq., cf Bury-house, near Gosport. On th e 23d i nst., at his residence, Rutland-gate, Hyde park, Samuel Charles Weston, Esq., aged 57. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Straw, Printer, at The Sun Office, N o . 112, Strand. in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the coma of Middle/As, Baturday v hfAy, 26,1849.