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

WEST FLANDERS RAILWAYS. The seventh half-yearly general meeting of the pro proprietors of the above railways was held yester day, at the London Tavern; W. P. Richards, Esq., in the chair. The report stated, that at the general meeting held in November, the traffic receipts for the half-year, ending 31st August, were stated to be 6,019/. ss. 11d. The total expenses of the half-year (including those of main tenance of way) were 5,9621. 13s. 10d. At the same time the directors expressed their expectations that the expenses of the succeeding half-year, which are now laid before the meeting, would be diminished. In this expectation they have not been deceived. The expenditure for the half-year, ending the 28th Feb. last, is reduced to 5,3071. 7s. ld. The receipts for the same period, the least productive of the two divisions of the year, amount to 5,7131. 16s. 5d., being a falling off of 3051.95. sa. upon those of the preceding six months. The receipts, when compared with those of the corresponding half-year in 1847-8, show a diminution of 1,0981. 45, id., which your directors believe to be the effect produced by the revolutionary movement in France, which began to ope rate in February, 1848, afflicted Belgium during the whole of last year, and is now only slowly modifying its influence. Your directors have been anxious to enforce the most rigid economy ; the effects of their exertions are visible in the accounts now presented to the meeting, and will appear still larger in the next accounts. If the whole working expenses, including proper maintenance of permament way, can be confined to 10,000/., which will be less than 300/. per mile, the directors can hope for little more, and to this must be added a sum for the renewal of depreciated stock. The receipts since the end of February, com pared with the same time last year, show an increase during the three months, amounting to about 2601., which it is hoped may be considered as an indication that Flanders is slowly recovering from its prostration and distress. The directors have to state that the pro ceedings in Chancery, which were abandoned by Mr. Robert Stephenson, as executor of his late father, have been renewed by another party, the same solicitor being engaged; which course has caused some trouble and inconvenience. The directors have put in an answer to the bill filed by Mr. Pulsford ; and under this suit have deposited all the books and documents of this company in the Court of Chancery. The directors beg to refer the proprietors to the resolutions passed at the last meeting with reference to the forfeited shares, and to state that they have considered it as the safest course they could pursue to allow those shares to remain in the state which the statutes of the company ordained, as they were unwilling to incur legal responsibility hereafter, and involve the com pany in another Chancery suit. The directors have con sidered that they have best fulfilled their duty to the proprietors by simply laying before them the statement of the receipts and expenditure, with the report of the Directeur Gerant, without comment. The balance in bated is 3,607/. ; the ascertained liabilities of the com pany, as stated below, amount to about 1,840/. There are a few items, which are still matters of dispute, which are amply provided for by the balance. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the proprietors upon the improved aspect of their affairs, and declared that the directors were now convinced that ultimately the undertaking would turn out to be a most profitable one. Mr. LYAL remarked that the liabilities had been cal culated up to the present time, while receipts were only brought down to the 29th February. The CHAIRMAN said this had been done in order that the sharehalders might know the exact amount of their liabilities. A PROPRIETOR calculated that the profits would enable them to divide 21d. a share, and when he considered that the liabilities had been reduced from 200,0001. to 45,2001., he thought they had good cause for congratula tion. He was quite sure the accounts were strictly correct. The CHAIRMAN assured the meeting that they were. The report was then adopted, after which Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting broke up. POST-OFFICE NOTICE. CHANNEL ISLANDS AND ISLE OF ILAN NEWSPAPERS. —Henceforward, the undermentioned newspapers printed and published in the Channel Islands and in the Isle of Man, respectively, may be transmitted through the post from these Islands to Great Britain and Ireland on pre payment of a postage of one penny; but this privilege is not to be extended to them if posted in Great Britain or Ireland for circulation within the - United Kingdom: —" British Press," " Jersey and Guernsey News," " Mona's Herald and Fargher's Isle of Man Advertiser," " Jersey Times," " The Manx Sun," " The Manx Liberal," " Isle of Man Times," " Star," and the " Comet." These newspapers, though unstamped, may be sent by post to the colonies and foreign countries upon the same conditions as those which apply to newspapers, similarly addressed, forwarded from Great Britain and Ireland. The existing rules contained in instructions No. 13, 1349, in regard to the transmission by post of newspapers other than the above-mentioned, printed and published in the Channel Islands or in the Isle of Man, are still in force, it being, however, understood that such of the newspaper; as are printed in these islands in the French or in the Manx language shall in no way bs affected by the restrictions imposed in this notice, or by the instructions, No. 13, above-mentioned, but shall con tinue to enjoy all the privileges, so far as their trans mission by poet is concerned, which they formerly possessed. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS, NUMDEP. OF DEATHS FEOM ALL CAUSES 'REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDE.‘,TG SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1619. Epidetnic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases Diieases of Uncertain Seat ... Tubercular Diseases ... .•• ••• Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... .*209 36 ... 104 Diseaies of the Heart and Blood-vessels •P • 46 Diseases of the Lun,gs, and other Organs of Respiration ... _ _ ... ... ... .. ••• Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ••• ••• .•• D;seases of the Kidney s, &e. ••• ••• ••• Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &1. ... ••• Diseases of the Joints, Banes, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. ... ••• ... Malformations... ... ... ... ••• ..• Premature Birth .. ••• ••• Atrophy ... ... ... ..• ••• Old Age ... ••• ••• ••• ••• Sudden ... ... ... ..• ..• Vi o lence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance ••• Causes not specified ... •.• ••• DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ... 895 Population Average weekly Deaths Enumerated, Deaths, 1844-8. in the 1841 Five Springs. Week. We,t Districts... 300,711 . . 145 ... 156 North D.,tr:cts.. 375,971 .. 185 ... 181 Central Distr:,!ts 373,653 ... 168 ... 138 East Districts ... 392,444 ... 207 ... 187 South Districts .. 501,190 ... 258 ... 230 T0t115... ..... 1,948,369 Mac Females ... 895 ... 448 ... 447 EMUS IN THE WEEK. Mal es • . • Females ... ... 705 ... 649 Total ... 1,354 * In this number are included 9 cases of death by Cholera, 29 by Scarlatina, and 23 by Typhu3 Fever. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, June 5.) SUGAR.—Tu day there was more disposition evinced by importers of West India Sugar to sell, but a reduc• tion of 63 per cwt being generally submitted to, occa sioned grocers and refiners to be large purchasers. The total quantity sold - amounted to 1,180 lairds, &e., in cluding 274 hhds 23 trcs 57 barrels St. Lucia at public sale, which sold, fine yellow at 40s 6d to 425, good 39s to 39s 63, low and midding 37s to 38s 63, good and fine brown 363 to 375, low 355, ordinary to good grey 37s to 395; 46 hhds 14 casks 76 barrels Ja maica, ordinary yellow 37s 63 to 38s, middling 38s 63 to 393; 74 hhds of Trinidad, low and mid yellow 37s 63 to 38s 61; 260 hhds 22 trcs 6 brls Barbadoes, fine yellow 403 63 to 425, mid to good 38s 6d to 403, low 38ii ; 29 hhds 39 Ira 141 barrels St. Vincents crystalized, white 451 to 50s, yellow 40s 6d to 445, and brown 36s to 39s per cwt. REFINKD.—TO day former rates were well supported fur refined goods, and home dealers were desirous to make purchases. Bonded crushed sugar is in steady demand at 29.3 to 303 per cwt. 311. ITAITIITS.—This afternoon there was fin . d less demand re for grocery sorts of Mauritius , and kinds met with a fair sale, and generally realised full terms. At auction 7,726 bags were nearly all sold upon the. _(1 follow ing terms:—fine yellow, 40s to 41s; mid togood, 38s 6 to 39s 61; fine brown, 37stO 37's 63; ord to fine grey, 37s to 39s 6d per cwt. * EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the market for Bengal Sugar presented a quiet aspect. At public sale the quantity offered amounted to 5,739 bags, and prices declined 63 per cwt; but the chief part found buyers—grainy white fetching 45s 63 to 475, yellow 43s 63 to 445, good and fine white Benarea 42s to 43s 60, low to good mid 404 to 41s 63, low and mid soft yellow 36s to 37s 6d, good to fine 38s to 393 60. 01 Penang, 1,038 mats and 169 baskets went at about the former value—soft greyish yellow at 35a 63 to 365, and brown 34s to 35s 6d. 150 serons of damp white Santa Martha went at 41s to 42s 6d per cwt. FOREIGN.—To-day there was much firmness in the market fur Foreign Sugar, and none was submitted to public sale. By private treaty a fair business was con cluded, and in some cases stiffer rates were paid. MOLASSES—To-thy at auction 50 puns of Bengal Treacle were taken in at 17s 61 for old import, being bove the value. TEA.—The market for BLck is not more active, although there is a smaller stock than in the former year, and home deliveries continue upon a large scale. - Congou is not offered at lower prices, but on the part o f t o wn or country dealers not much desire has been evinced to operate. The better sorts met with the least attention, and are in fair supply. The value of ordinary and good ordinary is from 7id to Bid, mixed blackish leaf 9d to 103, blackish leaf 103 to la, ditld Wog, Is Id to is 3d, Pekoe flavour Is 4d to is 103 ,- - lit7 lb. Ptarabbilg pes been dealt in with caution at 6d - itt Kr7Siftic - brir Ettßd to Is 83, and better sort i s Od to I- : 2s 9d, ! Gr - e - ela ,-, T . , is offered at moderate rates, yet .only smalls ealei \ - 16 been made by town or country --dealt fa;:eact-thel Pi r et is plentifully supplied; Byso, - ~oford and genitO r a" a li ty i s o ff ere d at 13 to i s 2d, b at ~... itlicriild mid isick is 6d, good is 7d to is led, fine , - ,i.,z.,.1\•/ r, NI g....- 4 i • and superior 2s to 3s, Imperial Canton Is to is 4d, Hyson sort is 6d to 2s 10d, Gunpowder Is 3d to 4s; Canton made is 3d to is 6d, Twankay ord 5d to 6d, better sort 7d to ls, Young Hyson 10d to is 10d, supe rior 2s to 3s, and Hyson skin low to fine 8d to is 6d. COFFEE.—This afternoon more desire was evinced to operate in Plantation Ceylon Coffee, and at the public sales of 540 bags 50 casks, full rates were obtained; middling went at 48s to 50s, low middling 45s to 465, fine fine ordinary 41s 6cl to 445, good ordinary 33s 61 to 35s 6d, ordinary 31s 6d to 335, pea berry 50s 6d to 56s 61, damaged 33s to 425. Native was held for more money, which checked business privately, and at auction 420 bags were taken in at 32s 6d for good ordinary. Cocoa.—This afternoon at public sale 241 bags Bahia Cocoa were taken in at 29s for fine bright red. RICE.—To -day there was not much desire evinced to operate in East India Rice, and rather lower rates are accepted. At public sale 1,000 bags of Bengal went at 9s for good, 8s 6d for middling white, and 5s 6cl to 8s 6d per cwt for damaged. SPlCES.—Buyers of Pimento show no unwillingness to pay full rates, although the market is well supplied. The parcels offered at auction, amounting to 942 bags, were all sold, and went at 3 13 - I to 3-, 7 -,d for ordinary to good middling. There are still several buyers in the market, Ginger continues in good demand, and last week's rates are well supported; there is also nct a more plentiful supply. At auction 100 pkgs of Jamaica were sold at 31 15s to 121 4s for low mid to fine bold white. The value of shipping sort of East India is 24a to 265, and home trade kind 35s to 80s per cwt. Several parcels of black Pepper have been taken privately by shippers and home dealers, whereas the rates obtained are fully equal to those current on this day week. Malabar heavy is worth 30 to 31, half heavy 2j-d to 3d, light 2d to 24d, and Sumatra from 2d to 3d. White is wanted at from 5d to 9d. Fur Nutmegs the market is firm, and a fair demand exists ; low to mid brown at 2s 4d to 2s 10d, and better sort 3s to 33 9d ; the supply• is also small. Mace is wanted at 2s to 3s, and better sort 2s 6d to 2s 10d. Cinnamon is not cheaper. Bencoolen at is 3d to Is 9d, Bourbon and Zanzibar 7d to Bd, and Amboyna 10d to is per lb. SPIRITS.—For Leeward Island Rum the demand con tinues to improve, and several parcels have been dis posed of at is 4d to is 4111 per gallon proof; on the part of holders there is also firmness. East India has been in good demand at is 3d proof, and only a limited amount is on offer. Of Demerara several parcels have been disposed of, but not at better rates, is 10d to 2s 4d having been accepted for 28 to 40 per cent over proof. A tall has taken place in the value of low and mid sorts of Jamaica; there has in consequence been a good business concluded. Sales to a fair extent have been made in superior sorts at former rates. The value of 19 to 29 per cent over proof is from 2s to 2s 3d, 30 to 36 2s 4d to 3s 3d, and fine 3s 4:1 to 4s per gallon. Former rates are well supported for brandy. Geneva sellers are willing to accept is 8d for common export sort, and 2s 3d to 3s for fine suitable fur home consumption. Former rates are supported for British made spirit. COCHINEAL.—At auction 1l 1 bags were only in part sold: Honduras silvers 3s 9J to 4s 4d, Mexican 3s 7d to 3s Bd, black 3s lld to 4s id, and Teneriffe silvers black 4s to 4s 2d per lb. SALTPETRE.—To-day there was more disposition evinced to make purchases in Rough, and full rates were paid. At public sale 949 bags of Calcutta were all dis posed of at 26s 6d to 27s 6d for 4i to 51 per cent refrac tion of middling and good quality. INDIGO.—The quantity of East India declared for public competition amounts to 6,776 chts, and the amount to be offered is 15,000 chests. Only a Hushed business has been concluded by exporters or home dealers, still no decline in the value has taken place. In Spanish not much busi ness has been done. TALLOW.—Prices are not lower for Russian on the spot. The value of first sort P.Y.C. is 38s 6d to 39s per cwt. For delivery in the last three months of the year sales to a fair extent have been made at 39s 3d to 39s 6d, and the market is firm. Home melted finds a free sale at 37s to 38s net cash. In the value of other sorts of Tallow little variation has taken place. At auction 300 pk.t's of Australian were nearly all sold at 33s 6d to 34s for low to fine; 1,220 pkgs of South American 35s to 38s 6d, damaged 29s to 355; 150 casks P.Y.C., stranded 34s 3d to 36s 9d, and 147 casks of Cape, fine 36s to 36s 61, Prices are still much under those of this time in the former year, but the stocks continues extensives, and deliveries do not get much better. Rough Fat is, however, dull of sale at 2s Id. On.s.--In Cod the sales made have been upon a more extended scale at 261 per tun. Southern from 251 to 271, and superior 271 103 to 281 103. Seal, pale, 291 to 30/, straw and tinged, 37/ to 381 10s, and other sorts 25l to 26/. For Sperm 721 to 73/ is the value of fine. For Linseed, the prices are on the decline, and rule 25s 3d to 25s 6d per cwt on the spot. There are sellers for delivery at 25i 6d to 25s 9d, but few buyers are met with. Rapeseed Oil, pale is offered at 37s 6d, and brow❑ 36s 6d; there is a fair consumption. Palm met with little attention, and is de pressed in value. Sales of good and fine quality have been made at 303 to 31s, and the supply is upon a more ix tended scale. Cocoa Nut 34s to 36s for low to fine. In Olive the business concluded has been small. Gallipoli is at 41/ to 411 103, and Lc vant and Portugal 401 to 401 10s. Lard 0.1 is 38s to 39', and Ground Nut 27s to 28s per cwt. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 6 THE BRAZILS. FALMOUTH, JUNE 2.—The Express packet, Lieut. Long, arrived this morning with the Braz , l mails; the dates are:—Rio de Janeiro, 15th April; Bahia, 24th; and Pernmnbuco, 30Lh; on freight about 21,0001, of which about 15,000 f. is for the St. John chi Rpy Mining Company. Pas. , eugers—His Excellency Marquis I)oria, Sardinian Minister; his Excellency M. a L'utanville, French Minister; Mr. and Mrs. S - ern, Miss Adamson Mr. 21•Konnel, Mr. and Mrs. Keller, M.zsrs. Pecher, Atkins, Holz Andrada, Braga, Linley, and Femo. Ex change had continued during the former part of the month at 261, at tvbieh upwards of 100.000/ had been done; but, previous to the packet sailing, bills to a large am,unt had passed at 2511. A good deal of busi ness had also been done on Paris at 670 to 667. Sock had ranged from 86 to 851, with moderate business; Provincial, I per cent. lower. Coffee, washed 375. 3d., superior 28s. 10r1., first good 265. 10d., first ordinary 245. 10d. Exports from Ist to 15th April—To Balti more, 7,600 bags; California, 349; Cape of Good Hope, 500; Channel, 15,199; Gibraltar, 4,281; Hamburgh, 2.735; Havre, 838; Lisbon, 2,009; Malta, 3,725; New York, 4,8"5; Philadelphia, 3,600. The Crane packet was entering Rio de Janeiro when the Express came out. QUARANTINE NOTICE. Oporto, May 28 1849. _ Sir,-I have the honour to inform you that the Board of Health in this city have notifit d that vessels having lift any port of England, after the 16th of the presc nt month, will not be subject to quarantine on arriving here. Ireland and Scotland are still reputed as suspected, and vessels from those parts will have to perform quarantine as hitherto. By a dispatch of same date as the preced ing, the quarantine is raised on ships from Rigs and all ports in the Baltic, as well as Altona and Hamburgh. (Signed) THOMAS C. WIGHAM, Agent to Lloyd's. Capt. G. A. Halsted, RN., Secretary, Lloyd's. Gibraltar, May 26, 1849. Sir,--With reference to my communication of sth inst., about the reduction of quarantine on vessels from Eng land to three days, 1 have now the honour to acquaint you that the steam-packet Iberia, which arrived last night, has been admitted to free pratique, and I am in formed that all merchant vessels from Great Britain, bringing clean bills of health, will not be subject to any quarantine whatever. (Signed) J. LDNGLANDS COWELL, Agent to Lloyd's. Captain G. A. Halsted, R.N., Secretary, Lloyd's. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCII.—In pursuance of directions to that effect from Dr. Wiseman, the Roman Catholic Vicar-Apostolic of the London District, and a notification to that effect made on the previous Sunday, collections were made on Sunday last in every Roman Catholic church and chapel in the metropolis and throughout the suburban counties, for the cm:ice: and completion of new edifices for the celebration of divine worship and the furtherance in other regards of the Roman Catholic faith in this country. In the appeals which were madc in the several places on Sunday for the purpose mentioned, very extraordinary accounts were detailed or the increase of buildings erected or pur chased for Roman Catholic worship in England, and especially in and near the metropolis, during the past year, and a confident hope was expressed on the part of the bishop and clergy that the community would by their generous contributions render them every assist ance to effect the advancements of the objects in view. STANYIELD-HALL.—The sale at Stanfield-hall is attracting great notice, and is likely to be well attended. During the present week there have been numerous visitors to the locality, and the mansion of the late Re corder has been inspected most minutely by a great many persons. The furniture, &c., remains in pretty much the same state as it was in at the time of the mur ders; even the mat on which Mr. Jermy Jermy fell and breathed his last has not been removed; nor are the stains of blood yet effaced from the cocoa-nut carpet on which the elder Mr. Jermy expired. The great object of attraction was the . drawing-room—the turniture i n at t h t i h ch e i s s am ve e ry tim sp e len be d i t n d, g tn in th m e ost Louis Quatorzo style, and excellent taste. The r ot , h om er s a l p u a x r u tm rto en u t e s iy a ; re a e well h furnished, n e i n s Zd n , t s h o r m of e a g h o o f t t h i es fitted g u en v : e l Lmh al a. every Tt i c e o r m e a f o r r e t t a w n o d p o c r o t n r vin a t n s o e r c th e e j o a r te t A h i e r English.jerm Jermy o in f t t h h e e e h o o n u e s o e i , e a e n e d u r a . few T goodhe discoverypict or pictures s t h w e o h r l t e h e y d t e h r e h u a s t e t e o n n ti t on n e Potash-farm still continues to be the subject of conver sation, and it is considered singular that it was not found at the time when the premises were, as it was understood, so closely and narrowly searched. Rush left behind him a document which he intended at one time to have submitted to his lawyer, as the ground work of his defence. He did not do so, however, but he did not destroy the paper, in which occurs the following passage As soon as Miss Sandford was in her room I went down in my slip-shoes, and took my outside dress and my boots I had been in the habit of wearing when I went out in the night after poachers, as I did nut wish to be recognised, and hid them in the muck in the shed, in the yard, by the dairy window. It is not material that those things should be discovered till after the evidence is given against me, because that outside dress will completely clear me as not being the person seen in the hall the night of the murder, and yet it is almost as important the parties I have described should be made out, which I have no doubt can be done." The dress and boots have been found.—Norfolk Chronicle. Letters from Trieste announce a considerable fall in the Austrian Government stock, in consequence of the reported capture of Agram, the capital of Croatia, by the Hungarians. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 5. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. Earl STANHOPE presented petitions in favour of an amendment of the poor-laws; also for a repeal of the Sale of Beer Act. Lord STAFFORD presented a petition in favour of an extension of the jurisdiction of the County Courts. BANKRUPT LAWS CONSOLIDATION BILL. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Glasgow in favour of the Bankruptcy Laws Consolidation Bill. Lord BROUGHAM, after giving his strenuous sup port to the above petition, presented several petitions on the same subject. The first was from the bankers, mer chants, and traders of Manchester, signed by 3,918 per sons, who in the course of ten minutes had subscribed 1,0001. fur the purpose of defraying the expenses in curred in prosecuting the necessary inquiries into the details of the Bill. The second was a petition from the same parties in the metropolis, and, as a proof of the interest which it had excited, he mentioned as a fact that eighteen of the first bankers in the metropolis had each subscribed ten guineas to defray the expenses of the mercantile community in promoting the success of the Bill. The third was a petition fro:n the Chamber of Commerce in London, more commonly known as the Association for the Protection of Trade in the city of London. The fourth was the petition of the bankers, merchants, and traders of the borough of Salford, signed by eight hundred and twenty-six persons. He then presented similar petitions from the Man chester Association for the Protection of Trade, from Plymouth, from Coventry, from Dudley, and some other places. He then observed that he had so often entered at length into the description of this Bill that he would not detain their Lordships long upon it on the present occasion. Their Lordships were all aware that it had been prepared about eighteen months ago, and that it consisted of two parts—the one containing a digest of the existing bankruptcy laws in 367 articles, and the other containing several improvements on those existing laws. Though the bankruptcy laws would still remain capable of improvement—and what human in stitution was incapable of it? —the digest of them con tained in this Bill would render the task of improvement more easy and more practicable. This Bill contained some valuable and important improvements in the transaction of mercantile affairs ; and, as he had stated on many previous occasions, the nature of those improvements, he would now merely state, first, that they simplified and extended the present bankruptcy Acts, and next, that they contained many most important provisions for preventing undue dealings with the property of bankrupts, for preventing undue preference from being given to particular creditors, for preventing undue preference from being given to the relations of the bankrupt—and a gross case of this kind had recently come before Mr. Commissioner Farm, in which a debt of 1,500/. to the mother of the bankrupt had been fraudulently set up by the bankrupt—and for setting aside all conveyances and equitable mortgages executed within a certain period before the bankruptcy as fraudulent preferences given to the creditors who held such instruments. All transactions of this kind were carefully guarded against by the new provisions of this Bill. They would also define certain acts of insolvency on the part of the trader which would let in the whole agency of the bankruptcy laws. They likewise contained several most valuable improvements in the whole juris diction of bankruptcy. The original intention of the Bill had been to appoint a Chief Commissioner of Bankruptcy, with an increase of 5001. a year to his salary, and a chief registrar, with an increase of 300/. a year to his; but that intention was now abandoned. No rotation of commissioners or registrars appeared to be necessary, and in the metropolis the number of com missioners would be reduced from six to four, and so with respect to the registrars. The six commissioners now did not sit above two days in the week, and their business could be easily transacted by four commis sioners, who, instead of sitting six days in the week, like the judges, would only have to sit four. He had there fore, in compliance with the suggestions of his Noble and Learned Friend who now held the great seal, struck out of the Bill the clauses fur increased salaries to the Chief Commissioner and to the senior registrar. To the proposition of restoring arrest on mesne pro cess. he had not been able to give his consent, although many of the petitioners had argued strenuously for it. Debt, if innocent, was a misfor tune, and not a fit subject for imprisonment as a punish ment. He laid down this principle, that, excepting in three cases, imprisonment for debt ought not to be allowed; and those three cases were, first, where fraud had been committed by the debtor in contracting the debt; secondly, where the debtor exhibited contumacy by refusing to answer questions put to him by the Com missioner or his creditors; and, thirdly, where he had been guilty of gross and wilful extravagance in contracting debts which he had no reasonable prospect of paying. 1;1 all these cases there war crime, and crime was a fit subject for imprisonment. But then the imprisonment should not be for ever; and, there fore, a discretionary power was given to tre Commis sioners, wherever they thought fit to imprison a party guilty either of fraud, contumacy, or wilful extravagance. This power of imprisonment had been carefully consi dered by the Committee which sat last year, and the result had been that a considerable change had been made in the Bill which was submitted this year to is Select Committee—a change which would give a more efficient remedy to the creditor, and would be a greater in fliction on the debtor, but only in those cases where too much lenity was formerly exhibited towards him. Prima facie the creditor was in the right and the debtor in the wrong. Prima facie The creditor was the injured, and the debtor the injuring party. The presumption was against the debtor, and in favour of the creditor; and hence he meant to give to the latter every help in his p ewer for the recovery of his just claims. Many persons wished to have arrest upon mesne process restored, be cause they knew that, it they waited till their debtor was taken in execu his funds by that time were pro bably exhausted. lie objected, however, to the restore flint of that process, because under it the creditor often get too much. Persons subjected to the magical touch of a she rill's officer on the shoulder often paid debts which they did not owe, or compelled their relatives and friends to pay for the m debts which they did not owe. The parties who advocated the revival of arrest on mesne process had attended the Committee, and had examined witnesses in sapport of their opinion; but, upon consideration, had accepted the Bill as it now stood. He then gave a history of the pro gress of the Bill in that House, and also in the Select Committee, in terms precisely similar to those which he has s,) often repeated during the present session, and concluded it by declaring that the result of our various deliberations had been that the petitioners against the Bill had come to an understanding with such of their Lordships (himself among the number) as had had the management of its progress, and that their Lordships had come to an understanding with the petitioners, who originally opposed it. He had the Bill printed at the close of last session; on the first night of the present he had reintroduced it, and got it it referred to a Select Committee. That Committee had been attended by many gentlemen from the provinces, from Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, and Hull. Many new sug gestions were made to the Committee. They were dis cussed and rediscussed. Those that were valuable were accepted; those that were not so were rejected; and at last all parties came to this conclusion—that the Bill as it now stood was entitled to the entire and unanimous and hearty approval even of those who had at first soipnpcters been it.opposed Only in ly it . one lie ate had r d at a ir ced o e f d im t p o or t t h a e nce ha(l objec tion made by his Noble and Learned Friend whe held made l the great seal, against the creation of an intermediate Court of Appeal from the decision of a single com missioner. There might be too great a leaning among the commissioners, from courtesy to each other, to con firm their own decrees, and therefore, as he had agreed to dispense with a fifth commis-ioner, he also agreed to the proposition that there should be an appeal to such one of the Vice-Chancellors of the High Court of Chan cery as the Lord Chancellor should appoint from time to time to sit in Chancery. He then proceeded to ex plain the reasons which had induced the Committee first to introduce into, and afterwards to strike out of this Bill, the clauses which were generally known by the name of the " Deadinen's Clauses." If an insolvent trader happened to die after a fiat was struck against him his estate could be administered as that of a bank rupt; but, if he died before the fiat was struck, no such remedy could be had by his creditors, and their only re source was a creditors' suit, which was a very irksome and very expensive proceeding. To remedy this state of things he had introduced the deadmen's clauses. His Noble and Learned Friend had objected to them on the ground that if they were made law, there must be a creditors' proceeding and a bankruptcy pro ceeding to. He had given in to that objection, and had struck out in consequence the deadmen's clauses. His Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Coa tenharn) had pledged himself to provide a remedy substitute for the clauses which he had struck out, for the inconvenience of which he complained, and, as a pro posed that in the case of traders only a petition should be presented without filing a bill or answer subject to the rules in the Master's office, and the practice in the Court of Chan cer y. Th e Bill, then, as it now stood, had ob tained the unanimous support of all the respectable classes both in town and country; and they anxiously prayed that there might be no delay in converting it into law. As a proof of the necessity which existed for pass ing this measure with as little delay as possible, he men tioned th e s t art li ng fact that 50,000,0001. sterling had been annually l ost f or some years past, partly owing to the distress of the ti mes, partly owing to the imperfect state of the law affe c ti ng i nsolvency and bankruptcy. He conceived that two moat important effects would be produced by this Bill—one upon the law, the other upon the morals of the country.—(Rear, hear.) In the first place the new law- would make the trader, who gave credit—and in this commercial country credit must be given—give a mire limited credit than he hitherto had done; and, in the next, when the debtor found that ho and care i n a ll could not elude the leg al o p erations of his cre ditor, he could exhibit greater honesty , fru g alit y -, his dealings. He would be compelled to become more honest and more prudent, and to square his expenses . He therefore more accurately to his means. These two results wou ld be of inestimable value to the communit y gave this measure to t he House as an im p ortant im provementif it should presentimprove ments condition of the law, and th a t with a pledge, the be found that further onconsideration. He could not co nc l u d e were necessary , he would be read y to g ive them full and mature C ol33l* d his observations withou t giving his warmest praise to n up this invaluable digest. was the person who had dress: inform the House of a com munication Mr. Miller, an officer of the Court of . Chancery,. who Before he sat down be must of his Noble After he had acceded to the suggestion should be made to and Learned Friend, that no increase he had received from the Lord Chancellor. registrar, his Noble and Learned Friendhad _ d He would not the salary of the Chief Commissioner and_ a expressed e c s li s i e e f his entire approval of this measure. have pressed it on the attention a their Lord s hips his (the Lord Chancellor's) absence, had he not known how perilous any delay would b 3 at the present period of the session. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE expressed the great satisfaction he fit at hearing from his Noble and Learned Friend that he thought himself justified in in troducing such alterations into the Bill as did net affect its spirit—[Lord BROUGHAM—" Its principle"]—altera tions which had insured the support of his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, anl of the best and most learned authorities in that House. So amended and so altered as he had no doubt the Bill would be, he felt, with his Noble and Learned Friend opposite, that it was of the utmost importance that it should advance without any delay, and should become the law of the land before the end of the present session. Dry as the details of the Bill might be, they involved considerations of a most popular character, invoking as they did the most inti mate relations of society, into which they would intro duce the most sound and practical amendments. For, when he was toll that no means now existed for sepa rating the honest from the fraudulent debtor, who was praying on the resources of the community and making bad debts every year to the amount of 49,000,0001. —an amount sufficient to shipwreck the fortunes of any other country, and attended with a salvage which did not ex ceed a fourth or fifth part of that large sum—he could not but feel that an attempt to remedy such a state of things, founded as it was on the experience of various bodies of men from all parts of the country, all uniting in approbation of it, was an ohjcct of the highest public im portance to the country. It was also a matter of the highest social importance ; and one of the provisions of this Bill, which he viewed with the highest approbation, was that iu which a mode was prescribed for separating debtors into three cl isses—the virtuous debtor, whose bankruptcy arose from unavoidable losses and misfortunes; the unfortunate debtor, whose conduct was, neverthe less, satisfactory ; and the spendthrift, the outcast, the speculating, and the fraudulent debtor, whose conduct svas not satisfactory. and whose bankruptcy did not arise from unavoidable misfortunes. The Commissioners were hereafter to distinguish in their certificates the bankrupts who were not to blame for their misfortunes—those who were unable to meet their engagements, but whose con duct was nut blameworthy—and those who preyed on the interests of society, and sacrificed individuals, and even bodies of men, to their own dishonest and nefarious projects. Such a change in the law would work a bene ficial effect in the constitution of society itself. Consi dering, therefore, that the machinery of of this Bill, ap proved as it had been by his Noble and Learned Friend who generally sat on the Woolsack, was a machinery which would be attended not only with economy in its own administration, but also with a larger economy to those individuals who were to be benefited and saved by its operation—considering also that it would be subject hereafter to any improvements which experience might suggest, he did hope that it would be received as a boon of great value by the commercial interest; and, hoping so, he trusted that the House would pass it through all its stages with as much speed as possible. He gave his entire concurrence to the Bill, and thought his Noble and Learned Friend entitled to public gratitude for the laborious attention which he had bestowed upon it. Lord WHARNCLIFFE heard with great satisfac tion the statement of the Noble Marquis in reference to the Bill before the House, and he hoped the Govern ment would give the measure its support in its passage through the other House of Parliament. One of the advantages of this Bill was, that it would effect a saving of 12 0001. a year in the machinery connected with. bankruptcy. Lord CAMPBELL would only say, that both in form and substance, this Bill was a great improvement upon the existing law last sessisn, and he had no doubt but it would effect great good. Lord BROUGHAM said he bad, in the former draft of the Bill, given to the Commissioners the power of im prisonment for a year. He had, however, at the sug• gestion of Noble Lords, taken away this power. He did so, and chiefly on the ground that the committal of the bankrupt would arise from his own statement. The Commissioners would still have the power to refuse the bankrupt protection, in the event of his conduct meriting this exercise of the Judge's power. The creditors would then be enabled to deal with him, and thus justice would be obtained. _ The Bill was then recommitted, and the report re. ceived. INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, the fncumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill was read a first time, and was ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. CANADA. Lord BROUGHAM wished to know whether the Noble Earl (Grey) had r( ceived any report of the Go vernment of Canada having cut down the classes of claimants for losses, during the rebellion in that colony, to two—namely, those who had been convicted, and those who had been imprisoned, at the period of the re bellion in question, Earl GREY said his information on the subject re ferred to was received from a source which was equally open to the Noble and Learned Lord, namely the news papers. He must decline giving any other answer than this to the question put by the Noble and Learned Lord. Lord BROUGHAM—Did Lord Elgin send any dis patches home on the subject? Earl GREY—Lord Elgin sent home somo news papers containing the debates in the House of Assembly, on the subject, and to these debates he (Earl Grey) was referred. DENMARK AND PRUSSIA. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in reply to Lord Brougham, said be had every reason to hope that the hostilities which had occurred between Denmark and Prussia, would terminate in an amicable manner, and he assured the Noble Lord that this country was most anxious, for the peace of the countries referred to, and for the benefit of the commerce of the world, that this settlement should take place at the earliest possible moment. LEASEHOLD TENURE OF LANDS (IRELAND: BILL. LorJ CAMPBELL moved that the report on the Leasehold Tenure of Lands (Ireland) Bill be received. The Earl of LUCAN objected to the Bill, End moved that it be recommitted to a Select Committee. If he did not succeed in this, he would move to exclude its appli cation to all leases with special covenants; and if he did not succeed in this he would then object to the Bill ap plying to property in towns. Lord CAMPBELL said that the Bill was brought in on the 2d of April; it was not read a second time until the 26th of April, and it was not committed until the 25th of May. The report was to have come before their Lordships last evening. This was a proof that the Bill had not been hurried through the House. His Noble Friend the Lord Chancell,r had paid great attention to the Bill. He thought the Bill was all right, and ought to he adopted, and if his Noble Friend was present he would say the same thing, notwithstanding the Noble Earl (Lord Lucan) stood up and moved that it should be referred to a Select Committee. The Noble Earl com • plained that the Bill was compulsory, but if it was not so it would be useless. That was, in fact, the great merit of the measure. The Bill had been very generally ap proved of, and he had himself received various applica tions from different quarters to press it forward. Ile therefore called upon their Lordships to negative the motion. Iltohlimo(istNehthTet ees E enhu A torel G endsu L e arr E enos s ca a lo i nlp d eyfaa t hs h ceot e i,od r i e ftels w ;v.aa a et s sse:n n .ro o etan eae similarity ntr, between d however, that a temporary measure would be attended with great advantage. There was no inconvenience between landlord and tenant; but between landlord and landlord;arsiarising fr ever, was a quasi landlord, and the rent re served to the original landlord was in the character of an annuity overriding the Lnd. He did not think any pecuniary compensation could satisfy the landlord for the inconvenience of waste with regard to timber that would arise to him from a lessee under this Bill. He would not vote for a motion that would injure the measure, but he would suggest the adoption of this motion to facilitate the progress of the Bill in that House, and in another place. Lord CAMPBELL said he could not agree to the sug gestion. There was ample indemnity provided against any waste that might be attempted by the lessee. The Earl of DEVON said that which ought to be the foundation of the Bill had been omitted, which was an explanation of the practical evils resulting from these tenures. He had heard no such explanation. The po licy of the measure was that it would facilitate an im provement of the land. This Bill proposed to substitute a fixed sum for a periodical fine, upon payment of which the landlord should transfer his property to the middle man; but he could not see what advantage such a change could be to the occupying tenant, who was in fact the cultivator of the land. He thought it would have been better to have the Bill promissory rather than compul sory, as was proposed. Lord REI)ESDALE said, when the Bill was intro duced he did not wish to press an opposition to it; but since that other information had been obtained, with re gard to the lands of the Irish Society, and the covenants contained in their leases. By this Bill they proposed to create a fee simple, which might be destroyed under these covenants. He could not see how that could work. This was a material point, and ought to be discussed and explained, which could only be done by referring it to a Select Committee. He thought the proposal a very reasonable one, and that it would be better to postpone the measure for another session. The Earl of GLENGALL said there was a great deal of property in Ireland which would be affected by the Bill, and he thought it would be very desirable it should one on cthea m beonpsosetpreodn.e b e roughly d to next session, that it might b e more full y id The Earl o f W IC KLOW thought he never heard a Bille w which w than the present measure. With reg ard to wh at had been said about a Select Committ ee, he had hea rd not n except against the principle of sourjethoto, discussed in that House former night aga i nst t h e I r ish Society as a reason why the the B B i i l l l l . sh l eu 'h l e d ebaesepowshtpicohnewda was now abandoned alto s urged so strenuously on a gether, and no case whatever was made out against it. In as far as it went, he believed it would improve the condition of the tenantry in Ireland, and therefore the cultivation of the land, for which it should receive Isis support. The Earl of LUCAN was of opinion, notwithstanding all that had been said, that the Bill had not been suffi ciently discussed by their Lordships; but in consequence of the then state of the House, he would not press his motion to a division. On the third reading, however, he would move as an amendment that the Bill be made per missive instead of compulsory. The report was then brought up, and on the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, the third reading of the Bill was fixed for Friday. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 5. The", SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. THIRD READING. The Edinburgh and Northern Uailway (Formation of Slip Qqay and other Works at Granton, Extension of Station at Edinburgh, Re v,ulation of Perth Stations, and Amendment of Acts) Bill was read a third time and passed. CONSIDERATION.S OF REPORTS. On the motion for the cons ideration of the report on the Lancashire and Yorkshire and London and North Western Railway Companies (Transfer of Interest in the Preston ane Wyre Railway Harbour and D.;clr, and regulating the Management of the Undertaking) Bill, Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the Bill be recom • mitted to the former Committee, with leave to sit and proceed to•morrow, At the suggestion of Mr. WILSON PATTEN the motion ta as postponed. On the motion of Sir W. SOMERVILLE, it was ordered, that the examiners of petitions for private Bills do proceed forthwith in the matter of the Dublin Im provement Bill, referred to them upon the 31st day of May Captain I'ECHELL presented a petition from Brighton i❑ favour of Parliamentary reform. Mr. HENLEY presented petitions in favour of a national poor-rate. Mr. CYRUS FOPHER presented a petition from Lincolnshire in favour of agricultural protection. Sir H. DAVIE presented a petition from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, praying that the Borough Police Bill might ba postponed. Mr. CAYLEY presented a petition from several places in Yorkshire complaining of the effect of free trade, and also petitions against the increase of licenses to beer-houses. On the motion of Mr. JOHN B. SMITH it was or dered that the petition of inhabitants, householders, and owners of property in the New North•roA, Hoxton, and its vicinity, against the New North road (Continuation Act) Bill, (deposited in the Private Bill Officn on the 15th day of May last) be referred to the Committee on the Bill; and that it be an instruction to the Committee to entertain the same, notwithstanding it was not de posited in the Private Bill Office within seven clear days after the second reading of the Bill, by reason of the illness of Mr. Hume, the Member to whom it was en trusted. Mr. BURROUGHES presented a petition from Nor wich against the Marriage Bill, one against the national education grant, and one against the Affirmation Bill, from the same place. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord J. RUSSELL wished now to state the day on which he proposed that the House should go into Com mittee on the Irish Poor-law. He proposed that it should form the first business of the day on Friday. The Right Honourable Gentleman the Member for the University of Oxford was anxious to call the attention of the House to the affairs of Canada, and to enable him to do so, he proposed to postpone the resolution for going into supply on the votes relating to Canada till Thursday week. _ _ Mr. CiLADSTONE was willing, of course, to take any day that best suited the convenience of the Govern ment, but he hoped nothing would be done in the mean time to prejudice the question. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was not aware that there could be. CLAIMS ON FRANCE. Mr. HENRY BERKELEY moved for returns of all unsettled demands on the funds provided by the Go vernment of France for the liquidating the claims of British subjects, and of the balance which remains unappropriated to the liquidation of such claims, including interest thereon; together with copies of Treasury minutes relating to the surplus fund arising out of the treaties and conventions of 1814, 1815, and 1818, between his late Britannic Majesty and the King of France (in continuation of the returns already printed by order of the House of Commons of the 26th day of May, 1833, 3d day of March, 1834, and the 22d day of July, 1840).—Agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Mr. lIUME, in rising to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the national representation, by extending the elective franchise so as to include all householders, by enacting that votes shall be taken by ballot, that the duration of Parliaments shall not exceed three years, and that the apportionment of representatives be ren dered more equal to the population, said, in addressing himself to this important subject, he must ask for the indulgence of the House, as he did not feel himself physically able to go fully into it. As an old re former, addressing a reformed House of Parliament, he could speak from experience as to how unsatisfactory it was for an independent Member to address the House o❑ subjects of reform. During the last thirty years he had scarcely ever known a private Member introduce such a subject that it was not treated as it were unworthy of the time bestowed upon it. He took a full share in the reforms of 1831, and he was happy that they had proved so successful, because their success had convinced many parties of talent and influence, who opposed them, that they had placed this country in the unenviable position it now occu pied. He was confident, though the Reform Bill was not carried out to that extent which many expected, that it had been productive of the greatest possible benefits; that it had put an end to the direct nomination for boroughs which formerly existed; and though it hod fallen short of what they anticipated, they must yet look with gratitude to the change that was produced, and thank those who had contributed to bring it about. He believed an opinion now existed very generally among those who opposed that grand proceeding, that it had bee❑ productive of much good, and had satisfied many classes who were aggravated at the state of things which then existed; and it was because he thought that re:abr./1i was not carried out to the extent which it ought to go; it was because he saw in refusing to yield that which was the right of the great masses of this country ; it was on those grounds that he was induced to make the motion which was on the paper, although very unwilling to do so, for ha bad promised as long as he remained in the House that he would not let a session pass without using his humble endeavours to forward the reforms which he proposed. He was not prepared to deny that the House, and Parliament generally, was slow in making reforms, but it was better to go slow and sure than to make rapid strides, which were liable to danger. But he was prepared to submit that which ho thought was not in any way attended with danger, because it would produce great content and satisfaction among the community at large, who wero anxious that it should be carried out. Every one, he believed, from the Crown to the peasant, were equally interested in having a good government. He was aware that Parliament, instead of being an engine to promote that good which was in tended, was an engine which extracted from the people a greater amount of taxation than their circumstances could warrant. Under the great improvements, however, which had taken place, it was no longer in the power of any aristocracy, of any oligarchy, or of any class of individuals, as on former occasions, to dictate to the Sovereign, who had now the power of choosing her own Ministers.—(Hear, hear.) Up to the Reform Bill the Sovereigns of this country had been the leading string of the oligarchy, and the revenue and the expenditure which was carried on in the different establishments had reference more to their own individual interests, and the interests of the classes belonging to them, and the in terests of the community at large were not at all taken into account. Now, he would say, that unless Parliament was what it purported to be—unless it represented the whole population—it was defective in its constitution. Ile did not say that any proposition of his could make Parliament perfect; but where they had evidence of acts of injustice committed in regard to the rights of those who ought to participate and have a share in the elections to that House, ho did say that every proposition that would tend to improve that Par liament ought to be supported by the House, and by the Ministers beyond all others; they Lad taken an oath to her Majesty to support such measures as would tend to the security of the Throne, and the welfare of the community at large. He would ask those Ministers if they could lay their heads on their pillows with the reflection that they had acted as honest and faithful advisers of the Crown, to allow a state of discontent to exist which at times had threatened alarming consequences? Were he (Mr. Hume) in their situation, and had taken the oaths they had taken, he could not lay his head upon his pillow, and, as a Minister of the Crown, say that he had done his duty. He recollected Mr. Canning, on a motion brought forward by a late Member for Westminster (Sir F. Burdett) standing up in his place, and saying:—" As for me I take my stand against all reform; I am for the rotten boroughs; I wish to maintain them, and I do so because • England has enjoyed a greater proportion of prosperity under the system which has existed than in any of the continental powers; but (said Mr. Canning) I go further, Parliament has been ready to meet the cir cumstances of the times, and I will uphold, until I see reason for thinking otherwise, Gatton and Old Samna as the bulwarks-of the Constitution."—(A laugh.) He (Mr. Hume) had visited Old Sarum a few days previously, and seen not even a house there, and nothing but an old building for protecting the fort ; and he asked Mr. Can ning if that was a place to be represented. He replied, no ; but it is property, and property ought to be represented. As to Gatton and Old Sarum, and all the other rotten places, they were now removed; and at the period of which he spoke, defective although that House was in its representation, still it stood at the top of the ladder among representative governments. No state in Europe could say that there was a greater degree of popular power or of popular representation existing than existed at that time in England. The times were changed, and they had to consider whether they ought not now to make other changes. When his Ho nourable Friend Mr. Duncombe brought in a Bill to repeal the rate-paying clauses, which formed a great impediment to the working of the Reform Bill, it was thrown out by Ministerial influence. He (Mr. Hume) recollected the Noble Lord rallied his Hon. Friend on the danger of interfering with the Bill that had passed, and talked about progressive reform. What had been the Noble Lord's progressive reform since that? Why, the Noble Lord gave notice of his intention of bringing in a Bill for repealing the tax-paying clauses so tar as they related to the assessed taxes. He (Mr. Hume) thought the proceedings of the two last years had been perfectly delusive, and therefore he came to the cf Delusion that the Noble Lord and his colleagues, rerormers as they were in his day, had made up their minds to stand fast by the Reform Bill. They were now at the very bottom of the ladder of representative government, and that which had been supposed dangerous to Englishmen had been conceded to Frenchmen and to almost every continental country.— (" Hear, hear," from Lord J. Russell.) Look at the result What had the result been? The result had arisen from the reckless conduct of the sovereign of France, who, having agreed to reform, grossly violated his faith. Ho appealed to any man whether this had not been so ? Let them mark the progress of universal suffrage in other countries, and its growth in our own. ln other countries, where it bad been con- 1849. ceded to the people, had there been any alarm? No! On the contrary, the returns at recent elections sho eed a preponderance of the Conservative party. Though the psople of these countries had been up to the time when they were end 'wed with the right unaccus tomed to popular institutions, they had exercised the right, to speak justly of them, in the most praiseworthy manner. The Noble Lord was the first to cheer his interrogatory. Look at the result ? Why, if he looked to the condition of Prussia, of Vienna, he could not fail to be struck with the result of the conduct of the " dear darling Sovereigns," who, after taking solemn oaths on the altars of their country, to concede reform to the people, openly broke those solemn asseverations. These were the parties against whom the Noble Lord should direct his complaints and taunts, and not the people who had been outraged, and who had no interest at heart beyond that of the) whole mass of the population. Of late, however, he had not heard the ar gument broached that the people could not be trusted with the unlimited exercise of the suffrage.—(Hear, hear.) Indeed they were obliged to arm against the people to awe them from arising in their might, and de manding their rights in a way which could not be refused.—(Hear, hear) He looked with deep regret upon this, because he recollected the days when the Kings of this country could trust the preservation of the peace of the country to the keeping of their own pe ple, and the peace was in those days preserved by such means. He recollected the time when the military was kept up to pru tect the country from foreign invasion, and when garrisons in other lands were simply kept up to protect places likely to be attacked by foreigners, when the only display made by the military were recruiting par ties; when the expenditure in respect of the military establishments was from 25,0001. to 26.000/, and when the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston), when Secretary at War (as we understood), stated before a Committee that he only required military for foreign countries, and that he was content to trust the preservation of the peace to the people. Instead of the Government adopting means whereby they might repose in the affections and respect of the people, they adopted coercive and harsh measures. In 1792, Mr. Pitt, who was then in power, studied economy in the government of the State; the military cost but 25,0001., and the whole expense ot the Civil Government was limited to 12,000/. or 13,0001. They had then very few barracks; now there were bar racks in almost every town. Last year, for instance, 100,0001. was spent in building barracks at Preston, because they feared that the people would rise, and the whole country was covered with barracks— not to attack our enemies abroad, but to coerce and keep down the people at home. They had, for instance, twenty barracks scattered throughout the country, for no other purpose than the one he had stated. lle appealed to the House, then, to protect the commonweal, which would effect far more than bristling bayonets and pointed artillery. What was it done for ? From the fear of reform. He admitted that there were ardent and wild Reformers, but because there were was no reason against their taking the claims of the people into consideration. In 1792 the taxation was 16,000,0001., now it was 60,000,0001., so that it had been quadrupled. The debt had been increased from the beginning of the war, from 230,000,0001. to 800,000,0001. He did not blame any one, but he declared this lay upon the oligarchy, who dreaded the spread of democratic principles, which drove them to a war against France, and brought that enor mous burden upon the people, which, unless some relief was given, must press them down. When men were well employed and well fed, matters progressed, and things went on well; but let a change take place, and then the convulsion came. Why not, then, take this opportunity, and prevent such catastrophes by checking the extravagant expenditure of the State. He appealed to lion. Gentlemen who represented counties, and par ticularly those in the south, where men and their fami lies were subsisting upon 7s. and Bs. per week, to join him in the reform movement. If they were true Conservatives they would do so at once, for nothing could preserve the institutions of the country so much as timely concessions and wise changes.—(Hear.) He regretted that he wad not in the House the other night when the miscellaneous estimates were under consideration, for then he should have had an opportunity of attacking the civil list, which was one great cause of the enormous increase which had of late years taken place in the burdens of the country. The course, however, he was disposed to take upon that subject was to make an appeal to the Sovereign ; he would ask the House to address her Majesty on the subject, and say to her— " We granted you the civil list, but let us see in what way it is expended." Let them set an example by making reductions at the fountejn head. In the extravagant reign of George IV. the civil list was increased to an enormous amount, but at his death, and on the succession of William IV., the matter was referred to a e'elect Committee, and the civil list fixed at 385,000/ Now, he thought it due to her Majesty to state, that out of all that sum, only 60,000/. was at her own disposal. The re maining 325,0001. was spent by the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, and the Master of the Horse. No doubt many of the servants of the Palace were maintained out of it, but he believed many of those servants were my Lord This and my Lady That, who had only duties to attend about once in two or three months. This was not the way to spend the money of the country ; and therefore, without interfering with the votes of the foreign or other departments, in the first instance let them rather address her Majesty on the subject. Let them remind her that this was not a fit state of things, while the eye, passing along the unions of England, Scotland, end Ireland, would find four millions of people in an absolute state of destitution. In such a state of things there ought not to be expenditure of 320,000/. in keep ing a system of tawdry finery. A more simple style of living would better become the Sovereign while there was so much suffering in the country.— (Hear.) The ether night he was at the Lord Mayor's dinner, where he met the ambassador of Constantinople, and an excellent friend of his who had been appointed to go to the United States as the repre sentative of this country, but he declared he was almost afraid to speak to them, as he could only do so through the instrumentality of tawdry-laced footmen.—(A laugh.) And so it was with the Ministers of State, who never went out without the attendance ot tawdrily dressed footmen, whose general appearance only served to please and excite the admiration of children.—(A laugh.) He did not consider the sum of 60,000/. at the private disposal of the Queen too much, considering the calls that were made upon her charity—(Hear, hear) but when he saw how the other establishments of the Court were kept up, the gold lace and tinsel that was frittered away from the pockets of the people, he thought the time was come when they ought to have a House of Commons who would address her Majesty on the subject of such useless and wasteful expenditure. He would, therefore, begin at the head, and in saying that he was sure that her Majesty would be the first to say that her people ought not to he so un necessarily pressed upon, and that she would willingly yield to the suggestion of the House of Commons. Now, as a proof of what might be done, if only properly attempted, he would say, look at Belgium. When mat ters were represented in the proper quarter there, the franchise was extended immediately, and every public officer reduced his salary one third towards the urgency of the State. Look again at the case of the present King of Wurtemburg, whose father was over head and ears in debt. When the present King ascended the throne be reduced his establishments one-half, and for which he obtained the love and affec tion of all his subjects. He thought the time had now come when similar steps should be adopted in England, and for that purpose he asked that the House of Commons should be made the real representative of the people.—(ll eart hear.) Unless t h e y c h ange d the pre sent system o f the House of Commons, no good could be done.—(clear, hear.) The present House might be seized with fits of economy, but they would not be permanent.—(Hear, hear.) The change of the system of election was the only way to make things permanent in this country.—(Hear.) He longed to see that state of things return to this country which existed in the time of Elizabeth, who, when asked where were her troops, answered that her troops were her sub jects.—(Hear, hear.) He contended that Parliament did not represent the dif f erent communities that existed its this country, and if Parliament would only allow him to bring in the Bill, the details might be settled afterwards. There was a d,ffi culty even among his own friends to find, those that would agree with every measure that he pro posed—(Laughter)---but if the House would allow him to bring in the Bill he would endeavour to modify his views to meet the wishes of ell parties.—(Hear, hear.) If the people were to have a share in the representation of the country, they ought to have it effictually. If they were to do justice to the people they must extend the suffrage.—(Hear, hear.) Every man that had a house over his head ought to have a voice in the representa tion in that House.—(Hear, hear.) But while he was anxious to extend and bring within the pale of the Constitution those who ought to have a vote, he thought they ought to have the opportunity of voting secretly, namely, by the ballot.—(Hear, hear.) Having stated what his view of the constitution was, he would not read the opinions expressed by the Noble Lord below him (Lord J. Russell), which of late years he seemed to have thrown to the winds; nor to what fell from Eerl Gree , when he introduced the Reform Bill; and he would only say that he was one of those who supported him with great enthusiasm, and raised the cry, " The Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill."—(Hear.) Al though he would not, as he had said, read the Noble Lord's (Lord John Russell's) speech, be would just state that the Noble Lord said every man under our constitution was considered to be represented in the House of Commons; that he was considered to have a share in the election of those who made laws affecting his life and property, and, therefore, he recommended a reform, certainly not to the extent he (Mr. Hume) wished to go; but the principle argued by the Noble Lord went to show that what he proposed was right. There was one view in which ho thought the question ought to be sub mitted to the House—viz., that things were not remaining stationary, and that materials were being collected which must explode unless some timely remedy was adopted. The population of the country in round numbers amounted to about twenty millions; there were three millions of adults, and yet the number of electors only amounted to 826,000 ; but of the eight millions of the people of Ireland there were only 40,000 electors. From the returns of 1836, it appeared there was only one elector to 5i male adults; and since then the population had increased, and the relative num bers might now be taken at one elector to ten adults. The increase was not in the agricultural but in the ma nufacturing districts, where the people were, from their intelligence, more capable of exercising the franchise. In no disturbance that had taken place had the working classes of this country shown any disposition to plunder the property of their superiors —they had innumerable examples to thO contrary; Auld would the ,House refuse to those men, what had been given to the very L azzaron . of Italy ? What did the inequality consist in? He had made a comparison be twe n the great and small constituencies. He had take n 16 boroughs containing a population of 2 ; 917,000, being one-half of the wh o l e b orough population of Englund. Those 16 borough s re t urned 32 Members. He w i s h e d the House to compare them with 23 small boroughs, where there were only 100,000 inhabitants, and yet they returned as many Members as that immense population in the former 16 boroughs.—(Hear, hear.) Now, Wi ld any man say that was a fair participation in the elective franchise, to which all were entitled by the con' stitution?—(Hear, hear.) He asked a Lair partici' petion nut as a favour, but as a constitutional right• Would any man pl ace hi mse l f in the situation of any one of those who were deprived of those rights , and see how he would act, if he was compelled to re: main in that situation. What were the consequences of the struggle ? Why the Chartists ; and they even took alarm.—(Laughter.) Was it not time to put se end to that state of things. He found there were 8 5 different kinds of qualification for the electors of thi s country, from potwallopers to ten-pounders. Did 1 1 s that lead to eno rmous expense, trouble, delay, ail complexity beyo n d anyt hi ng that could be conceived , 330 out of the 658 Members of which the House cons sisted represented 3,127,000, and 328, 23,817,000. T he larger numb r, or the majority, showed that on the o'e r ; age each Memb e r re p resente d 9,500 electors, and that ese' of the minority represented 73,000 voters. Now this was called the people's House. Was any man se brazenfaced as to contend, that it really was what it tve; styled?—(Laughter.) Th e ar i stocracy had one House° their own, and he saw no reason why they should possess that House also. Under the present system they, hl; ever, possessed that House also.—(Hear, hear.) We s likely, when they put so many out of their doors": only admitting one out o f every eight, that e ither property or th e C rown could continue to "" respected? Ot what class did those consist of whom they excluded. M any o f the aristocracy favoure d the establishment o f b at h s, wash houses,"and lodging-houses, but h e f ound that they wet.". the very persons who would not admit then within the portals of the constitution, and raise them to the social scale. Give them their rights and they would work out their own redemption. The Honourab le Member then referred to a speech delivered f by Lord Ashley on th e presentation prizes for essays on the Sabbath, in which De much complimented the ability and morality of 0 working classes. Y e t t h at N oble Lord wou ld not give the people those rights which woul d enable them to accomplish all this for themselves, be' cause it would enable them to direct and feel an interest in the welfare of the country, elevating them, therefore , in the social scale. Having then shown the elective franchise to be the right of the working classes, the question came to be in what mode ought the suffrage t ° be extended so as best to reach and be rendered avails . ble to those classes. On this head many plans nrer ° issued. Some thought population ought to be the baste of the suffrage; others that property ought to be so. Some, again, thought that education ought to be t he basis, while others were for household suffrage. fie / . anxious to know how far a su ff rage founded on pelli; lion would infringe upon the rights of property, and found, from a table which had been carefully prepari by gentlemen residing in L ee d s an d Manchester, WI were property taken as the basis of their representati on, England, Scotland, and Wales would return 553 Me', bers to Parliament, a n d th at were population taken th ey would return about the same number. To take pope' s. tion as the basis, England would return 455 Members; Scotland 76, and W a l es 2 2, and to take property as 1,11, basis, England wo u ld return 450 Members, Scotland and Wales 32.—(H ear , h ear. ) It was, therefore, the same thing whether they t oo k popu l at i on or proper ty e; the basis, but population being the easiest, he should h inclined to submit to it. H e was aware that many goo . Gentlemen had considerable apprehensions as tb manner in which he intended to form electoral able tricts, but he had n o h es i tat i on i n saying that what e intended to do would not be attended with the least C O . ° ; fusion. All he w an t e d to d o was, better to apnerti;s those districts, to class diff erent towns together, so th they might join in returni ng a representative or repre,e. sentatives between them, conformably to the populatl e d That had been already done t o some extent in Scalise:, for the district he represe n t e d h a d f i ve boroughs ee fleeted with it. No difficulty wou ld , therefore, be We 'd in doing the same with o th er p l aces. He cons id e red, therefore, that there was no ground for doubt or aPP r be hension on that point, and a t t h e proper time, we re 0, allowed to bring in a Bill on th e su bj ect, he would Pia duce a scale in which these districts were minutely to e' carefully arranged, and whi c h, if a d opte d , would secure the return of Members to that H ouse i n strict prolV rti n he to the number of the popul a ti on . H e had beside blue h actual extent which in Fran ce an d other countries sue extension had been mad e w i t h out any risk, but they has an example in Scotland o f h ow the division of d i s trict had operated, and th ese d eta i ls he would not go ill.. t 0 Having, therefore, sh own t h at i t was necessary to ess% tend the franchise, and that to insure the free exercre of that franchise, the ballot was also necessary , 4 o thought the measure would be altogether incoroPi_ c .,a without an equalisation of electoral districts, sh e for those reforms he appealed to the justice of : 00 House. He thought no one could deny the justice olio reasonable a proposition. lie might be asked, as asked Noble Lord at the head of the Government was as',,, o when he introduced a measure to repeal the navigatt, laws—" Where are your petitions in favour of sue Pis measure ?" In answer the Noble Lord said, and troll said, that it was the duty of the Minister to propose vis i t measures he thought proper for the good of tho countrr whether there were petitions calling for them or O t ' and although he would no t exact l y g i ve the same answ er yet he would say, that while last year petitions innulp s : rable had been present e d t o t h e H ouse in favour of . ; similar motion he then m a d e , men h a d b egun to see Lb!, it was useless to petition a tribunal which paid no situp tion to them; and, therefore, they had refrained fw ep petitioning e n this occasio n . B ut h e wou ld i mpres s Government and the House the danger of allowing t il e , feelirg to gain strength in the country, and looking to. ro s !lament simply as a means by which good Ue v „ e a ht ment could be secured the country, he th, h ,""to they were bound to do what they eal l "„ 0 0. improve that Parliament, and render it ' tr ie sonant with the wishes and feelings of the eeh n t he Did, then, that House at present faithfully representtio country? He said, no. It might represent o r e s' classes and certain interests, but the country in go, t o it did not represent. Under the old system, 1e the passing of the Reform Bill, that system might n ot done, but now it would not. Could any man stat e l lo ses in the present state of things so many of their fell countrymen would long quietly remain excluded ' ern s electoral privileges? . Anu it would be wise in Ge t v be so ment and that House to yield at once and giv e . 00 men justice, lest the withholding of it might drive _ be n to despair. He thought th e t i me h a d now come I' d al Government, if they could no t go a ll t h e way, shcT far. all events show th a t th e y were anx i ous to go s ". de. Let them show th e p eo pl e t h at t h ey had an earn est be sire to give the p eo pl e just i ce, and with that viel 0 begged to conclude by mov i ng f or l eave to bring die; Bill to amend the n a ti ona l representation, by exteli'ders, the elective fran c hi se so as to i nclude all house ho to by enacting that votes shall be taken by ballot; th is e nd duration of Parliaments shall not exec, d three Yea rs c i e eed that the apportio nment o f representatives be rep ese' more equal to the population. The Hon. Memb er sumed his seat f: mid considerable cheering. the Mr. H. BERKELEY sa id h e b egged to secon d rose. motion of his lion. Friend th e M ember for IVl° llt ,,s to He was not aware what course Government reist-001 take in reference to it, whether they would take o go disrespectful course whi c h th e y t oo k a f ew eights that in reference to his motion on the ballot— a cou rse to t respectful to the constituencies which sent them tewith House, and disrespectful to the H ouse itself. Ist much deference to his Hon. Friend who had introon,sbt this carried, aereorfof orospritrmeemerdpit popular o i itp o et ou n swvulh , aeooo h rmuuu e consideredel,dodneft the those other t hge questions e h ns a ti t igofi t hoin h i tros e wf question he brio be ee and t brought r e o uthg meansaht t (the connected ballot) withlit „I t consequence bnyg itself,those oost:4 reforms, which he considered so necessary, carried e ti li o t ti for it must be evident to all that so long as intinsidr r es and corruption were mixed up with their system h ' is re° presentation, so long would the people be inis ve feat sented. he ballot had also more adherents le i g bt House than any other reform measure, for it foot be said that not fewer than 150 Members of the G o ' House were its warm supporters. He still the Go' therefore, that the Noble Lord at the head of the re' vernment might hav e me t that question in a mo re o 1 spectful man ner th an h e had done. But whether ° „ r the the Noble L or d wou ld f ollow a similar course 700° present in s t ance, t h ere were other members of ty to vernment, who he thought were bound in 11 0 °2 0 vote their constituents to come forward and explain ts.,, for they bad given on his motion, or rather to apologl!. oes it. He thought it became the Right Hon. Barone t :d e pt Secretary for the Home Department for one t'?, w hits that course. That Right Hon. Baronet had voted boa on one occasion and black upon another; and v_ben not condescended to explain why he voted black 1 8 4% he ought to have voted svhite.—(Laughter.) In Vrte the Right Hon. Baronet gave his support to the t ern tection of Voters Bill, in 1849 h e cons id ers tbat: ; to require no protection.—(Hear, h ear .) H e as ked 1 1 8 49, explain what had happened b etween 1842 sea' ure to which had caused the necessi t y f or such a Mel wet; disappear? Would he tell them that the peeP. h i s42 l less to be depended on in 1849 t h an they were In sod' —(Hear, bear.) If he did so , i t would be base it i t l o iti tude on his part, for no man h ad better oplo,r the of seeing the fidelity and h onesty of the peop l e than they Right Hon. Baronet b a d h a d , and he could te ll bite die had it not been for that fidelity and that honesty, the ts ent ties of the Secret ar y o f S tate for the Home &O r Od d would have been more ar d uous during 1848 thil , t had been. But th ere were others upon wlorn, he teas s, also a right t o ca ll f or explanation, and among os e the Master of th e Mi nt. --(Laughter.) He we ll age. lected the eff ec t th e speec h of the Right Hon. Ge ° IP; in reference to th e b a ll ot i n 1842 had upon lit e' they earnest and impre s si ve reason i ng, urged in wa eo ltill burn, depicted th e system i n i ts most clear an d r of form; but that Right Hun. Gentleman having ee," s oing seat on Treasury B enc h, contents himself witu o f sae, that he does not thi n k t h e peop l e are so desirous „bter.) a measure now as th ey were t h en. —( Hear, andcliaoUtlee, sup'Go Ho must say th a t, by act i ng as t h ey b a d vernment had lost all the confidence their e r w e ' r d, porters reposed in them. And now the Noble ‘sce stead of looking for support to that quarter whose to?: ciples gave him the best claim to do so, bad 0 ... 1 : 1 4 w as ?, to the lisght Hob. Baronet opposite, and the . could depend upon no support except that gr'T ings b . _ the Tories.—(Hear, bear.) Such a state of lf returned conceived to be deplorable. He was himself the • Corn-law League, but, as an independent though t 1 %0 that House not in any way connected ve m it e n raber , W l . ll O ing to support the Noble Lord when he ha t right, and oppose when he thought him wry ga