The Sun. — London, England, 1849-02-28 00:00:00

IRECT LONDON AND PORTS- MOUTH RAILWAY COMPANY. The usual half-yearly meeting of the above company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern (Mr. W. A. Wilkinson i❑ the chair), when the following concise report was submitted to the shareholders : . "Since the last meeting of the proprietors, the atten tion of the director s h as been constantly applied to the subject of the arrangement contemplated in the leading paragraph of their report made to that meeting, whereby the funds expended on this undertaking might be rendered effectual, to some extent, for the pur poses for which they were advanced, but they regret that they are still unable to announce anything definite. It will be seen by the annexed account that up to the 31st December last, the call of 11. 10s. had been paid on 13,929 shares, and since that period it has been paid on the further number of 1,455 shares, making in the whole 15,384 shares upon which this last call has been paid. Two of your directors Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., aed John Meeson Parsons, Esq., having since the last meet ing of the proprietors resigned, their places have been sapplied by Robert Walter Carden, Esq. and Samuel Laing, Esq. The statement of accounts represented the total re ceipts to ,amount to 132,5591 . 6 s. 3 d., of which 7,3041. Is. 2d. was received last half year, while the expenditure war. put down at 104,974/. 4s. 2d., of which 12,2141. 16s. 9d, was incurred during the past half-year, leaving a balance of 27,585/. 2s. ld. in hand. The report having been adopted, the retiring directors were re elected, and the meeting terminated, with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman. NEWPORT, ABERGAVENNY, AND HEREFORD RAILWAY. The fifth ordinary meeting :of the above company was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Captain Fitz maurice in the chair. The report stated that since the last ordinary meeting of shareholders, the Commissioners of Railways had granted their certificate for an extension of the period for compulsory purchase of lands, on the main line, to August, 1851, and'for completion of that line to August, 1855. And the company's powers for purchase of lands on the Taff Vale extension, had been extended to 1852, and for completing that line to 1856. On receipt of this certificate, the directors made another application to the proprietors of the Llanvi hangel, Grosmont, and Hereford tram roads, with a view to a further modification of terms for completion of the purchases of these roads respectively; and they have the satisfaction to announce, that a provisional arrangement had bean unanimously agreed to by the shareholders of the three companies, whereby the period of completing the purchase of these tram roads, and paying the balance of the purchase moneys, would be postponed) By his arrangement, it would be opitional for the New port, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Company, either to complete or to be relieved from the purchase of these. roads. In the event of their not completing the purchase, the money already paid would become for feited; while, on the other hand, the balance still due on the purchase money of these tram roads, amounting to 28,730/., would no longer be a liability on the share holders. In the meanwhile the revenue of the tram roads would, it is expected, prove sufficient both for payments of interest on the amount of unpaid purchase xmoney due to the Tram-road Companies, at the rate of five per cent. per annum, and for defraying the office exwenses during the period of suspension. The balance-sheet represented the receipts to amount to 97,016/. 165., and the expenditure to 94,0991. 2s. 6d., leaving 2,9171. 14s. 4d. in hand. The report was unanimously adopted, after which the shareholders resolved themselves into a special meeting, and agreed to a resolution confirming the agreement re ferred to in the report. Thanks were then voted the Chairman, and the mee ing terminated. VALE OF NEATH RAILWAY. The sixth half-yearly meeting of this company was convened for yesterday at the Great Western Offices, but there was not a sufficient number of shareholders present to constitute a meeting, and Viscount Villiers, M.P., the chairman, adjourned the meeting sine die. The following is the substance of the directors' report: During the past , half-year two fresh contracts, which would complete the communication between Neath and Hirwain had been let to responsible contractors, who had been put in possession of land to commence their work. The works on the other portion of the line had been proceeded with satisfactorily. The proprietors would see by the statement of accounts that the sum un paid upon the call due on the 12th April, 1847, amounted, on the 31st Deember, to 11,696/. The directors had hesi tated, 'during the late severe pressure, to enforce by legal means the payment of these calls; but they were now prepared to take immediate steps for their recovery, in every case in which there was a reasonable prospect of success. The directors would use every effort to com plete the lower portion, of the line, in order that it might be opened simultaneously with the South Wales Railway. The traffic on this section would con tribute to the deduction of the amount of interest which would otherwise be chargeable against the capital of the company, and would also afford satisfactory evidence of the value of the undertaking, and tend to confirm the opinion which the directors had always entertained of its ultimate success. The balance-sheet represented the receipts to amount to 109,2441., of which 1,240/. was for the past half-year, and the expenditure to 71,2631. 9s. 10d., of which 25,5961. was for the past half. year, leaving 37,9301. 9s. 10(1, in hand. TAW-VALE RAILWAY and DOCK. The usual half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. E. Cooper in the chair. The report stated that as the Legislature had refused to sanction the lease of the line to the South Western Company, the agreement for the lease had been annulled. The Board of Trade would not suffer the gauge to be changed from the broad to the narrow; and as the cost of constructing the line upon the broad gauge would cost 70,0004 more, than if it were made on the narrow, the directors proposed to stop the works. From the statement of the accounts it appeared that the expendi ture had exceeded the receipts by 9521. 135., the former being 143,7911. 9s. 7d., while the latter only amounted to 142,8381. 16e. 7d. The report was adopted, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. - LLYNVI VALLEY RAILWAY. The annual half-yearly meeting of the above com pany was held yesterday afternoon at the Great Western Offices in the Strand; Mr. Matthews in the chair. The report stated that traffic on the line had been greatly reduced during the past half year, owing to the stoppage of some iron works in the district, and the di rectors were, therefore, only able to pay a dividend of 31. per cent. The old proprie tors, however, claimed the full Si. guaranteed, but that question stood in abeyance for the present, and the dividend would be paid to them pro rata with the other shareholders. From the statement of the accounts it appeared that the revenue of the past half-year amounted to 3,2441. ss. 3d., and the expenditure to 2,2281. 3s. 2d., leaving 1,0161. 2s. id. in band, which, added to the previous surplus, made 1,339/. 18s. Bd. The report was adopted after some discussion, and the dividend having been declared, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. THE SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY. The half yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this company was holden at the office of the company, 19, Bishopsgate-street Within, yesterday, at one o'clock, for tliu declaration otr a dividend and other business, and for the election of four directors, who went out by rota tion. Colonel Barlow, the chairman of the company, presided. llr. SAINTSRUAY, the secretary, having read the ad vertisement calling the meeting, and the resolutions of the preceding half-yearly meeting, proceeded to read the report, which stated that, notwithstanding the depression of trade and commercial enterprise, in consequence of the state of the Continent during the past year, the busi ness of the company is still progressive. The earnings for the year ending 31st December, 1848, have been 9,534/. Bs. 7d.; thine for the year ending 31st Decem ber, 1847, were 17,3331- 14s. 7d.; being an increase of 2,2001. 14s. in• the earnings of the year 1848, as coin pared with the earni ngs o f the year 1847. Th e accounts- exhibit . a .balance ou the revenue account, .payment of expenses, of 3,203/. ls. ; aid the directors: are, consequently, enabled to recom mend ;st. dividend, clear of Income-tax, of 11. per cent. for tE4 hAt.•year (ten shillings per " s ) hare " bet„ At the'g at th e rate o ' o ' '2l pef iz 11 cent. annum.P'rl John Hopton present porbes, misi•e(" t.. ing r four directors, 5-lye Jc, rd, and James Rigmaiden, Count Eyre, Admiral on aIIV by rotation, but are eh- Esq., go out .of gible for re-election ; and their colleagues beg to recommend them for re elect i on accordingly. The capital acc o unt, up to the 31st of Decem ber last, showed that the receipts amounted to 20,4051., and that the exp en di ture was 4,1321. 12 s. sd. A • balance of 24,4871. 18s. Id. remained in hand. of The debit side the cash account exhibited the sum of 50,8121 13s. ld., • and the eredit s id e 32,614 / . 17s. 11d.,. leaving a balance of 18,1971. 15s. 2d. The receipts in the revenue account were 10,182/. 18s., and the expenditure was 6,9901. 45., 19 . 4ving a balance of 3,1921. 14s. The CHAIRMAN then said it would be his duty to pro pose that the report whiCh had been read should be printed and circulated among the members; but before be put the resolution he would address a few words only to the meeting, reserving any information which they bight require to have elicited until he was called lipOn 'to answer any question Which was put to him by any one present. There was one circumstance which he would mention to them. An arrangement had been adopted by the directors, which had been recommended iy tieliertif influential and experienced proprietors, for the ' employment for one year of a commercial agent. It had been recommended to them, that very material benefit ' would result to the interest of their undertaking by employing a gentleman who was acquainted with all branches of trade, and whose extensive connexions, his activity, and habits of bias mess were such as to ren der it likely that the Company • • would derive very consi derable benefitTrn m his services. MADDER asked what the salary - of the proposed agent would be? • The CHAIRMAN replied, for the year, 500/. • Mr. MADDER thought the company Could not afford it. The CHAIRMAN thought that the-increased trade that would be likely to ieerne td the company *Milne sum the a 'eut's salary. Th e y h ad -cient to justif yg maturely - considered, the matter, and were of opinion that the . sex iee,s'•of such a p e rson would be of the m ost ' s i gnal -v : aaiittage to*the company. • . - lifit..atisnliEri and Mr. HEATIIiIELD put several clues- • "tiouti to' the Chairaian respecting the management of the }l's4 Wail* and their future intentions and opera :do whin. the Chairman having answered to the Wis. i • r% ~~ .• ~'j. THE SUN, LONDON, *`-` WEDN'ESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 1849. faction apparently of those gentlemen, the resolution adopting the report was then passed unanimously. The CHAIRMAN moved, and Mr. HEATHFIELD se conded, a resolution, that out of the surplus profits to the 31st of December last, a dividend be declared for the half-year, at the rate of two per cent. per annum, upon the original capital stock of the company, and that the same be paid to morrow, This resolution was also carried without a dissentient, as was also a vote of thanks to Mr. Daniel Maclaurin, Mr. James Arbouin, and Mr. James P. Woodhouse, for their valuable services as auditors, and requesting them to continue their services for another year. The retiring directors, Mr. John Hopton Forbes, Count Eyre, Admiral Ward, and Mr. James Rigmaiden, were unanimously re-elected, they being eligible, and had offered themselves for re-election. The thanks of the proprietors having been voted to the Chairman and directors for the efficiency with which they performed their duties, and to the Chairman of the meeting for his conduct in the chair, the meeting separated. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The jury found O'Brien and the male prisoner, Dun can, Guilty, but Acquitted the prisoner Mary Duncan, and The RECORDER sentenced Robert Duncan to im prisonment for one year, and O'Brien for six months, without hard labour. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDLNG SATURDAY, FEB. 24, 1848. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*3lB Diseases of Uncertain Seat ~. 53 Turbercular Diseases... ... ... 174 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 132 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 39 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ... ... 239 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ... Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, 8.1. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations... ... Premature Birth ... •• ••• Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Old Age Sudden ... •.. Violence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance Causes not specified ... ... 53 ... 23 ... 46 ... 47 DEATHS FRON ALL CAUSES ... 1,19 Population Average weekly Deaths Enumerated, Deaths, 1844-8. in the 1841 West Districts... 300,711 North D.4tricts.. 375,971 Central Distras 373,653 East Districts ... 392,444 South Districts .. 501,190 Five Winters. Week, 170 ... 159 318 ... 206 211 ... 185 252 ... 311 319 ... 330 Totals... ..... 1,948,369 -. 1,169 ... 1,19 Males Females ... 605 ... 586 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 27. Their Lordships assembled shortly after Five o'Clock. Lord MONTEAGLE presented petitions from several places in Ireland, praying for an alteration in the poor laws, and a change in the area of taxation; also a peti tion praying for colonial reform. The Earl of ABERDEEN presented several petitions against the Scotch Registration Bills. SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up. IRISH POOR-LAW. Lord STANLEY then rose, in pursuance of a notice which he had given privately to the Marquis of Lans downe yesterday, to ask that Noble Marquis to explain the course intended to be pursued by the Government with respect to the amendment of the Irish poor-law, and to reconcile the discrepancy which, to his (Lord Stanley's) mind appeared irreconcilable, between the lan guage and conduct which the Noble Marquis had used in that House and the language and conduct which the First Lord of the Treasury had used in the other House of Parliament, as to the course which the Government intended to pursue upon a question on which no diffe rence of opinion ought to exist in the cabinet.. In order to place himself in order in the House, he would move that a message be sent to the House of Commons re questing it to communicate to their Lordships the first report of their Select Committee on the Irish poor-laws. He cared little whether the motion was granted or nega tived, fur, in point of fact, he had that report already, and merely made his motion as a matter of form. It would be in the recollection of their Lordships that at the commencement of the session, when the Noble Mar quis opposite moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to take into consideration the subject of the Irish poor-laws, he had taken the liberty of presenting to their Lordships his objections to that motion, although, in deference to the opinion of some of his Noble Friends, who thought that inquiry might be useful, he had .ab stained from giving any decided opposition to it. But he had then stated that it appeared to him that the Go vernment was going to place itself in a dilemma, from which it could by no possibility escape. Either Govern ment had made up its mind as to the course to be pur sued—in which case there was no necessity for inquiry —or it had not ; and, if it had not, it was preparing to throw upon the Committee the responsibility of doing that which it aught to be prepared to do itself. He con fessed that he had not anticipated that her Majesty's Government would have had sufficient ingenuity to place itself on both horns of that dilemma ; and yet, if he were not strangely misinformed, it had succeeded admirably in placing itself in that un fortunate position. A Select Committee, he repeated, had been appointed in both Houses of Parliament, and that, too, with similar intentions and objects, namely, to institute further inquiry into the operation of the Irish poor-law, because it was desirable to produce certain facts for public information, and to obtain the advice of both Committees on those facts before Govern ment proposed any measure of improvement and reform. At uny rate, it was with that view that their Lordships had appointed a Select Committee, and that that Com mittee had taken evidence—even the evidence of the Commissioners engaged in the administration of the poor-law in Ireland. The Noble Marquis had, as he (Lord Stanley) thought, correctly and properly laid before that Committee certain resolutions, to which he declined pledging himself, which he described as sug gestions upon which the Government had come to no positive conclusion, but which related to various sub jects connected with the Irish poor-law, and on which he stated that it was fitting that full information should be received in order to gUide the deliberations and decisions of her Majesty's Ministers. That appeared to him (Lord Stanley) to be a proper and a reasonable course; but he was surprised to learn that a different course had been pursued in the Committee of the House of Commons, although it had been selected and consti tuted, and was to a certain extent controlled by her Ma jesty's Government. When that Committee met, reso lutions similar to those which had been laid upon the table of their Lordship's Committee, were moved by the First Lord of the Treasury, who was at the head of it, as the Noble Marquis opposite was at the head of their Lordship's Committee. Those resolutions were, however, moved in a very different sense, and with a very different explanati on , f rom th a t with which they had been moved among their Lordships. So far from its having been stated that they related to a matter on which the Cabinet had not made up its mind, and on which it was desirable that the Committee should obtain information, it was declared by the first Lord of the Treasury that they had been submitted to the Cabinet, and that the Cabinet was pledged to support them; that they con tained the plan of the Government; and that, if they were net adopted by the Committee, they would be sub mitted to Parliament on the responsibility of Ministers. The next step taken in that Committee was the proposi tion of a motion by certain Members not connected with the Government that on those resolutions so submitted to them evidence should be taken—a course which was perfectly in accordance with that adopted by their Lord ships. Their Lordships would hardly credit the fact, that that proposition, so strictly in conformity with that sanc tioned by their Lordships, was nentived by the Go vernment in the Committee of the House of Commons; the First Lord of the Treasury taking the initiative in declaring that Ministers had determined that no change should take place in, and that no evidence should be heard upon, those resolutions. From a minute of that division, it appeared that the First Lord of the Treasury, the Under Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary for Ireland, had all voted in the ma jority; and it was subsequently decided that Govern ment should bring in its first resolution on its own re sponsibility. Now, mark the inconsistency. In the Committee of the House of Commons the leader of the Government declared that the Government was pledged to the resolutions. In the Committee of the House of Lords the leader declared that it was not. In the Committee of the House of Lords it was held to be a fitting course to hear evidence; in the Committee of the House of Commons the First Lord of the Treasury negatived that course,' and passed his first resolution without producing a single tittle of evidence; nay, more, he had had that resolution reported to the House of Commons, had obtained its pre sentation as the first report of its Select Committee, and had himself given notice, that on Thursday next he would move for a Committee of the whole House, to take into consideration that single resolution, with a view of founding upon it a distinct legislative measure on that grand question, upon which their Lordships were just commencing to take evidence. There was a degree of inconsistency in the course pursued in the one and the other Houses of Parliament which it was impossible for him to reconcile with the respect which was due to their Lordships, to the House of Com mons, or even to the Noble Marquis opposite—an incon sistency which was incompatible with the steady course of administration, for how could government be steadily carried on when language so different was addressed to the different branches of the Legislature? It was not for him at that moment to discuss whether that resolu tion, so passed at the instigation of the Government, and without any evidence, was correct or not; but he must say that it was a conclusion which touched on a most im portant point—namely, the question of a rate in aid to be levied on the solvent for the benefit of the in solvent parishes, unions, and districts of Ireland. He hoped that he might be permitted to say ono word—for he had some personal interest in the matter—as to the share which he was supposed to have had in it; for he had been told that the main proposition then before the House of Commons had emanated from him.—(The Marquis of Lansdowne —" No, no.") He was sure that the Noble Marquis op posite would instantly disclaim such an imputation be fore their Lordships. What he had said, speaking on• behalf of himself and some other landed proprietors in Ireland was this—that provided they could obtain such a subdivision of districts in Ireland as would make them responsible for their own properties, and their own properties alone, and as would free them from all responsibility for the property of others—provided that Government would remove from the districts which were pauperised the control of guardians who had proved themselves inefficient—provided also, the Gcs. vernment would consent that any sum wliich might be required ;from them as a rate in aid should be con sidered as a loan, repayable by the less fortunate district in more prosperous times—subject to all these provisoes, he and they would be ready to pay an insurance on their properties as a rate in aid to an extent not exceeding Is. in the pound. Now, the proposition which the Government had brought forward was the superstruc ture which he had proposed to raise, but without the foundation on which he had intended to rest its basis; and it was a little too bad, under such circumstances, that he should be held up as the wiseacre who had pro pounded it. With regard to the question of a rate in aid, he would at once declare that it was not his inten tion to discuss it now. It was a question which ought to be approached with calmness, deliberation, and for bearance. He hoped that the proposal for ;raising it would not be treated as a separate question unconnected with other considerations; for, if it were "So treated, so tar should he be from blaming, that he ahould, even par ticipate in the feelings of those who urged its instanta neous and absolute rejection. The whole'question of the Irish poor- law should be approached at once; and the House ought not to be called on to consent to single pro positions distinct from and unconnected with each other. He hoped that this measure, when it was brought forward, would not be made the subject of mutual recriminations between Noble Lords and Members of Parliament connected with England and Ireland respec tively. He hoped that the Irish party would not say that Ireland was a part of the united empire, and that the rate in aid ought to be paid out of the imperial funds; he hoped, he said, that such an argument would not be brought forward; for, thoagh he could -wish•to see Eng land S and Ireland treated as one country both with re spect to taxation and legislation, unquestionably they were not treated so at present; and it was not fair that Irish proprietors, who claimed exemption from the in come-tax and the assessed taxes, as members of a dis tinct nation, should, on the one hand, obtain the advan tage of their separate position, and should, on the other, claim a community of interest by throwing a community of burdens on this country. • He therefore hoped that we should have no exaggerated pretensions raised by Irish proprietors to escape contribution to Irish distress. On the other hand, he hoped that English Peers and Members of Parliament would not be so . led away by their im patience of taxation for Irish purposes as to seek for any mode, without reference to its justice, of escaping from the duty of giving aid to Ireland. In conclusion, he suggested to the Noble Marquis opposite the pro priety e ither of discharging the Committee of their in the other House of or of postpon ing, e s e f t r , om further useless and . idle investigation into Parliament, this r s S u h b i in aid in Ireland until both Houses had satisfied P the consideration of the imposition o f a rate them selves as to the nature of the whole measure hereafter to be submitted to the deliberation of Parliament. T thhetthe Marquis N Noble of Lt o r op O p W osi N te E , ia submitti ng his perfectly under stood R. x't present motion to the House, had merely done so to en able himself to put a question to the Government. to which he would endeavour to give an explicit answer. The Noble Baron would at once perceive that, as his questions related not merely to proceedings in that and the other House of Parliament, but also to proceedings in Committees of them both—the Noble Baron, familiar as he was with Parliamentary proceed ings, would at once perceive that he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) eould only answer them with reserve in point of form, though he might answer them correctly in point of substance. As to what had occurred in their own House, he had no difficulty at all in answering. In their Lordships' Committee he had pursued a course which he thought consistent with the position of the Committee, being, as it was, a Committee of Inquiry. He considered himself to be perfectly justified in laying before it the substance, and the substance only, of certain propositions which, he understood, had been made, or would be made, in the Committee of the House of Commons. He had not laid them before the Com mittee in the shape of resolutions, but had communi cated them simply as suggestions which had been, or might be, made in the other House. He was extremely desirous that the fullest opportunity should be given to their Lordships' Committee to examine into all those suggestions; and he was ready to submit that the fullest opportunity for inquiry should be also had elsewhere. He begged their Lordships, however, to consider the different positions in which the two Houses were placed, and to enable them to do so be would now proceed to explain what had occurred in another place. The ques tion of the Noble Baron called on him, after explaining his own conduct in that House, to explain not only the conduct of one of his colleagues elsewhere, but also to explain the motives of a number of Members of Parlia ment acting in a Committee of the other House, some times in accordance with, and sometimes in opposition to, the Government. He possessed no particular infor mation on those points. It was notorious, however, that a proposition made by his Noble Colleague, the First Lord of the Treasury, to the Committee of the House of Commons, bad been assented to by a large majority of it,. and that there had been subsequently another mo tion made by , another Noble Friend of his own, which had also been assented to. It was impossible for him (the Marquis of Lansdowne) to explain the course so taken without assuming the motives which might have influenced his two Noble Friends and the other Members of the Committee. The reasons laid before that Committee embraced a vast variety of topics—not so confined as to make the future sitting of their Lordships' Committee idle and useless, because a too hasty decision had been come to on one point, but involving a multitude of questions connected with the whole condition of Ireland, into all of which, no matter whether one of them was adopted or rejected, it was fitting that the Committee should inquire. Now, he begged to call the attention of their Lordships to this fact, that at present the only resolution which had been assented to by the Committee in the other house of Par liament, and which now stood before it as a legislative proposition, was a resolution indispensably connected with the immediate relief of Ireland, now plunged into a state of the utmost and most appalling distress; and it might oc cur to their Lordships, as it did occur to him, as a reason for the course taken in that Committee, that the members of it, anxious. as they were to obtain the most com plete information on every point connected with the Irish poor-law, were'still more anxious upon one point, on which there was no room for delay, namely, on that which was connected with the providing subsistence for the famishing poor of Ireland during the next few months. • He had no hesitation in saying that he wished that no separation had been made between the first re solution and those which immediately ;followed it. He had no hesitation in saying that he thought that if any thing in the shape of immediate relief was to be enter tained it ought to be entertained in conjunc tion with another proposition, of which the effect would be to establish a maximum of poor -rate in all the counties of Ireland. He was of opinion that the establishment of such a maximum in conjunction with the preservation of the lives of the people of Ire land was an object of paramount importance. He be lieved that in the absence of such a maximum, the un certainty attending on the amount to which the poor rates might be raised in counties where the potato crop had entirely failed was an item which deserved tobe taken into account along .with any other measures which only y b s t tbaetindgevtihseadt which h he wbaesneefiotnosifsttehnet with distriet t . he H k e no tv w as . ledge of many of their Lordships when he stated, that in some counties of Ireland it was impossible to let land which had been abandoned, except in the most objec tionable of all forms, namely, that of small allotments, and that the effect of the poor-law, as it now stood, without any rectification, was to give direct encourage ment to that which all legislation should be directed to discourage—the infinite subdivision of land in Ireland, the source of all the mischiefs which their Lordships were then seeking to obviate. He certainly wished that that part of the resolutions which related to the rate in aid had been combined, and had gone together with a proposition for establishing a maximum of rate. He was not able, as he said before, to explain the motives of those Members of the other House of Parliament who bad thought it necessary to separate the two, and to report the former only to the House for separate legislation. He was, how ever, prepared to say that, seeing the great emer gency of Ireland seeing the necessity of affording im mediate relief to the absolute starvation of hundreds in that country, seeing the necessity of providing a remedy at once for an ex i st i ng ev i l, they might argue thus with themselves:—" We will report that resolution which will meet and repress the most urgent evil, and, while we do that, we will take time to consider the propriety of establishing a maximum rate, the amount which it shall not exceed, and the regulations to which it shall be sub ject." He could not positively say that such were the motives of those Hon. Members, but it seemed to him likely that such motives might have governed their conduct. In the other House of Parliament it was quite clear. that he could not discourage the early introduction of legislative measures which required long time for deliberation. Inquiry was still going on there into this very important and delicate subject, and the introduction of a Bill into the House of Commons at this period of the session might save much time be fore the conclusion of it. In the Committee appointed by their Lordships opportunity had been afforded, and would be afforded, to prosecute inquiry, not only into this, but into every other point connected with the administration of the poor-laws. He there fore considered that there was nothing but an apparent inconsistency in the course recommended by Govern. ment to the two Committees, Their Lordships oould not come soon to a conclusion on the points submitted to them, and the House of Commons had found it necessary to apply immediate relief to impending starvation. He fully agreed with the Noble Baron, that a rate in aid without any limitation was subject to very grave and se rious objections; and he said so, considering it as intro duced into the permanent legislation of Ireland. He had not, however, had any opportunity before the present to say that no consideration upon earth would induce him to assist in carrying a measure which would establish a rate in aid as part of the permanent poor-law of Ireland. It was only as a temporary expedient to afford facilities for meeting a great and existing evil that the present measure, limited as it was in amount and in time, had re ceived his acquiescence. Further than that measure he c tpe o l mo u r l e d w tb n hi coo ithr Lord; would 9 ; r n d a s h y, m be ip speov notri n e a , t permanently e e should cnot concur u b injuriousrn ee stabt e s t ab l ishing s prepared htihneg a o n im ds us trial interests -of Ireland. In conclusion he concurred in the propriety of Lord Stanley's recommendation that this question should be calmly discussed, without any angry recriminations between English and Irish landed pro prietors. Lord BROUGHAM had experienced great pleasure in remarking the reluctance with which his Noble Friend opposite had given his acquiescen ce t o t h e propos i t i on for a rate in aid. H e hoped that further con s id erat i on would lead hisiNmoubmlevFarteieien a Friend toseweistehndreafweexvterine n e tha d t ie sc tv a e n e t e y , and nh t atn acquiescence. ge aprobability v nmaximum He pointed out th e i m p oss ibili ty o f main x ability of the m ax i mum soon becoming the minimum rate in ordinary times. He trusted that this grant of 50,0001. would be the last grant made to Ire land, and lamented that, by the absurd forms of the two Houses of Parliament, their Lordships would not have an opportun ity ed d e u x n pr e e r s e s t i e n e g , their wa e thenopinionbyuploenavie withdrawn. t until every farthing of the 50,000/. h a d b een spent. The motion, otion, as we ex officio board. He would never be a party to the creation of an irresponsible power. There was another Bill which was likely also to be re ferred to a Committee. If they meant honestly by these Bills. they would re:er them both to a Committee up stairs. —(Hear, hear.) At any rate they would concur in the rejection of this Bill, and not allow an attorney to foist this measure on his fellow. citizens without their consent. Mr. GROGAN trusted that her Majesty's Ministers would not vote against this Bill without inquiry. Sir W. SOMERVILLE had already stated to the House that this was the least desirable of the two mea sures; and thinking the Bill was a bad Bill he should oppose it now. He trusted that some postponement of the Bill would therefore take plaice. Mr. REYNOLDS—My motion is that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. The House then divided, when there appeared— For Mr. Reynolds's motion, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months For Mr. Sidney Herbert's amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day fortnight Majority for Mr. Herbert's amendment The Bill was then ordered to be read a second time this day fortnight. LEEDS AND THIRSK RAILWAY. The Leeds and Thirek Railway (power to guarantee interest on certain shares, &c.) Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY. The London and Blackwall Railway (Amendment and Extension of Time) Bill was also read a second time and ordered to be committed. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. The North Staffordshire Railway Amendment of Acts Bill was also read a second time and ordered to be com mitted. of Ireland is paid into the Imperial treasury, and placel at the disposal of the Imperk.l Lr.g . islature for the general purposes of the empire. VAN DIEMENS LAND. Mr. ANSTEY gave notice that he should on this ( 1,,,y fortnight move an address to the Crown, praying that her Majesty's Ministers should not unnecessarily itiii,r fere with the members of the Supreme Court of that island. DENUNCIATIONS IN IRELAND. Sir J. TYRELL gave notice that he shouh on this day fortnight move for a copy of the denunciation pub. lished in Ireland on the 3d of May, 1848; also for copies of the police reports relative to the denunciations in Kenmare, dated 18th March, 1848 ; 17th April, 1848 ; 24th April, 1848 ; 19th May, 1848 ; and also for copies of the correspondence which had passed on the subject between her Majesty's Ministers and the Government in Ireland. THE WAR IN THE PUNJAUB. Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON moved for returns of the British troops, regular and irregular, ordered by the Governor-General of India, or any subordinate functionary, to take the field in the Punjaub, from the 18th of April to the 31st of December, 1848, showing the number of guns, the number of regiments or detachments of regiments, and the strength of each regiment or detachment in officers and men ; also for a return of the camp followers attached to, and officially reported by, each regiment, de tachment, and field department of the troops so employed; also for a return, showing the number of combatants and non-combatants that were paid by the Field Pay department, or subsisted by the Field Com missariat department, during each month of the above period; also for a return of the number of native al lies, whether commanded by British officers or native sirdars, that were in the field or maintained during the same period. _ _ _ SirJ. HOBHOUSE had no objections that the returns should be ordered, but he did not think they would ever be got.—The returns were then ordered to be made. REGISTERED STEAM-VESSELS OF THE BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females ... 735 ... 755 Total ... ... 1,490 *ln this number are included 40 cases of death by Cholera, 50 by Scarlatina, and 53 by Typhus Fever. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Feb. 27.) SUGA.R.—There was much desire evinced to operate in all sorts of West India for grocery and refining purposes, whilst the rates paid are 6d per cwt above those of last week; business was, however, checked by the small and indifferent assortment at market. A. public sale of 146 hhds 2 tres Bar badoes went readily at a rise of 6d; fine yellow sold at 41s 6d, good 39s 6d to 41s, low to middling 37s to 395. REFINED.—To-day a fair business was concluded in Re fined goods for home-trade purposes, and prices ruled firm ; brown Lumps at 48s 6d te 495, and Standard Lumps 49s 6d to 50s. Bonded Crushed Sugar still sells readily at As 6d to 30s 6d per cwt. MAIMITIUS.—This afternoon the public sales of Mauritius Sugar only comprised 20 casks, 3,514 bags. They went off briskly at an advance on former rates of 6d per cwt; good yellow realized 39s to 39s 6d, middling 37s 6d to 38s 6d, low 365 6d to 375, fine brown 35s 6d to 36s 6d, good 34s 6d to 355, ordinary to fine grey 36s to 40s, washed and syrupy 33s to 37s 6d per cwt. EAST IrimA.—This afternoon the quantity of Bengal Su gar offered at public sale, amounted to 5,823 bags, and sold at full rates; fine strong white went at 47 s t o 48 s , m iddli ng and good 44s to 465, good and fine yellow 40s 6d to 43s 6d, middling 39a to 40 ; Benares, good white, 41s to 425, low and middling 38s 6d to 40s 6d, damp 38s to 41 s , and soft yellow 35s to 395. Madras is wanted, and 730 bags realized firm rates. FORIIIIII.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, privately several inquiries existed, and former rates were offered ; few sellers, however, are to be met with. The market has a firm appearance, and stocks continue to get smaller. MotassEs.—Prices are well supported for West India, and a fair demand exists at from 16s 6d to 20s for low to fine. East India Treacle 15s •d to 16s per cwt. C•cow. —Holders of West India have confidence, and con tinue to refrain from submitting any to public competition. Trinidad, good and fine red, realizes 43s to 475, low and middling 40s to 425, grey 39s to 435, and other sorts of West India 38s to 425. Foreign finds a more active demand, at from 27s to 28s per cwt. There has again been no public sale, and the deliveries are exceeding the arrivals. COFFZE. —This afternoon there was little passing in Native Ceylon Coffee, and 33a 6d to 34s is the value of goed ordi nary. Plantation met with little attention, and 696 bags 138 barrels at auction were nearly all taken in above the value; good at 655, low middling 525, fine fine ordinary 46s to 508, fine ordinary 41s to 425, a few lots of ordinary and good ordinary sold at 33s to 34s 6d per cwt. TEA.—The market has been in a depressed state for Black Tea since our last, and prices are not so firm. The trade are not so anxious to purchase Green as they have been, and quotations are lower. The public sales comprised 30,648 pkgs of which 7,600 were Congou, 700 Souchong, 1,800 scented Caper, 2,600 scented orange Pekoe, 1,400 Pouchong, 2,700 Twankay, 2,500 Hyson, 700 Young Hyson, 700 Imperial,) and 4,600 Gunpowder. There has been little disposition manifested to operate in Black, still merchants for the most part displayed firmness, and refused, excepting in a very few instances, to sell but upon former terms. The consequence was that nearly the whole has been taken in and withdrawn. For Green the biddings have been languid, and a willingness has been shown to sell, whilst the rates accepted exhibited a decline of 1 1 ,4 to 2d, indeed on good and fine Gunpowder the fall was nearly 3d per lb. Twankay, however, sustained the former value. The Canton kinds of Green were well got up, and excel those of last season. Fine Scented Orange Pekoe attracted attention and realized a slight advance; inferior kinds were held for the former value, but not much inquiry has existed. Of the total amount submitted to the hammer 6,900 pack ages were disposed of. Scented Orange Pekoe, very superior, went at 3s to 3s OlAd, fine is 9d to 2s, ordinary and good ordinary 10d to is sd; Oolong, but middling strong burnt is 2d to is lid, inferior 9id to 94d ; Young Hyson, good ordinary colour is Id to is 2d, but middling is 2d to lid;ls Congou, but middling new rather coarse burnt, Bid to 9id, middling burnt, 10d to lid, middling rather strong fiat Pekoe flavour, is 2id to is 4d ; Souchong, but middling rather strong burnt is 2d to is 2id ; Ning Yong good ord 8d : Hyson, but middling, ls 2d to is 2fd ; Gunpowder, good 2s 9id to 2s lOid, but middling is 4id to Is 5 d; Caper, but middling fresh burnt 9d, better sort is Sid to is 9id ; Imperial Canton Is lid. to is lid; Hyson sort Is 9d to is 9id. SAGO is not much wanted, and prices tend downwards, although the supply does not get upon a large scale. At auction 106 chests of fine large Pearl were sold at 245. The value of other sorts is from 175.t0 235. Sago Flour is in greater request at 15s 6d to 16s 6d, and a less amount is on offer. Farina at public sale 160 bags were taken in at 16s 6d to 17s per cwt for good and fine French, duty paid. RICE.—To-day there was not a better demand for East India Rice, and 1,105 pkts Bengal at auction sold rather cheaper—good middling and good dusty white went at lOs to lOs 6d, and damaged 6s to 9s 6d per cwt. SPICES. —To. day Pimento was in excellent request, and at public sale 475 bags sold at stiffer rates; good middling and good realized 3 5 /0 per lb ; 275 sacks Bengal Ginger sold at 24s 6d to 25s for good bold export sort, and damaged 23s to 24s 6d per cwt. STIZITS.—Brandy is held with firmness, the demand is not so good as arrivals are upon an extended scale. Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1846 is held for 4s 10d to 55, ditto 1847 at 3s 10d to 4s Id, ditto 1848 at 3s 4d to 3s 6d, and superior sorts 2s 4cl to 3s 4d. Home and export deliveries pro ceed under favourable auspices. Geneva is still not much wanted, and sellers are ready to accept is 9d to Is 10d for ord, and 2s 4d to 3s 6d for fine. In the market for British made spirit there is still much firmness. To-day large sales were made in East India Rum at Is Sid proof; and of Leeward Island, several parcels were sold at is 4id. A fair business was done in Jamaica at former terms. SALTPETRE. —To-day a good sale was experienced for Rough, and 645 bags at auction went at stiffer rates—good strong grey 3 per cent refraction realized 27s 6d to 28s, 5 3 / 4 ditto z7s, and damaged 25s 6d to 26s 6d per cwt. is afte rnoon C oc hi nea l met with greater attention, T 0154 bags Honduras at public s a l e most l • sold at 38 8d to 4,, 3d for ordinary to good silvers, whilst middling to good black w as ta k en in at 4s i id to 5s 3d per lb °H.S.—The market continues otoiliamdpvrsonvceedfortcoiom3rliasFish Oils. This afterno on pale B eal 324 other sorts 271 to 301, C od 261 to 2615 s Southern ttoo 321 per tun; pale 32s to 34 s per cwt, and Linseed 0126 s 6d to 26s 9d. „iTALLovr.—The demand has been more active for Russian on the spot, and an advance in the value is apparent. Sales to a fair extent have been made, and the rates paid are 405 to 40s 3d for P. Y. Candle of fine quality. For delivery in the last three, months of the year several contracts have bee n conclude d at 41 s to 41s 3d, and at which the market is firm. A fair quantity of home melted found buyers at 40s to 40s 6d nett cash. Other sorts of Tal low sold with more readiness, and at firm rates. of At public sale 550 pkgs of South America n were disp osed at 33s Sd second sort in part sold a t of Australian 34s to 4 t o 0 8 3 3 9 d s f s o s r s l k o sw of to Petersburg fine 4 37s 6d to 38s• 12 cks Italian taken in at 37s 9d to 38s; and 67 cks Odessa Beef 39s 6d per cwt. For auction 1,000 quotedat 2s 3id. pkgs of Tallow are declared. Rough Fat is Trim WEATHER.—We have had a week of stormy, unsettled weather, with the wind, up to yesterday morn., ing, from the, west and north-west. Throughout the ,early part of the week the air was clear, with heavy gales, but on Friday and Saturday the weather, though less boisterouq, was wet, cold,- and disagreeable. Yes terday the wind was from the south-east. About noon we had a heavy fall of sleet, followed by a drizzling rain. Frequent showers fell in the coarse of the afternoon. — Liverpool Albion. TURNPIRX TRUSTS.—A return moved for by Mr. Cornewall Lewis, M.P., shows that the gross total amount of the.bonded debt and unpaid interest on the 1,102 turnpike trusts in England and North Wales amounts to the sum of 8,051,1201., viz., 7,804,3251. in England, and 246,7851: in Wales. The length of road included in these trusts is 21,310 miles. The total re ceipts amount to 1,353,7031 4 and the total expenditure to 4344,2521. ROYAL ASSENTS. The Royal Assent was gives by Commission to the In land Revenue Bill, and the Habeas Corpus Suspension (Ireland) Bill. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Earl Grey, and Lord Campbell. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF .COMMONS, Feb. 27. The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before Four o'clock. The following Bill was read a second time:—Bin brooke St. Gabriel and. Binbrooke St. Mary Inclosure (Amendment and Extension of Acts, Alteration of Awards, settling Titles to Lands, &c., and defining Parish Boundaries). DUBLIN CONSOLIDATION IMPROVEMENT BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. REYNOLDS said since last he had the honour co address the House on this subject be had re ceived several petitions from all classes of the citi zens against the Bill. He held in his hand a petition from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and burgesses of Dublin against the Bill, from the Grand Canal Company, under their common seal, from the burgesses and rate-payers of Dublin, amounting to 4,000 in number, both of them a g ainst the Bill, and from the president of the Chamber of Commerce and from the members of the Chamber of Commerce, against the Bill. The SPEAKER intimated to the Hon. Member that he could not take the course which he proposed, having on a previous occasion addressed the House on the Bill. Mr. REYNOLDS would therefore more that instead of that day fortnight the Bill be read that day six months. After a few words from Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL and Lord LINCOLN, The House divided on the original question, that the Bill be read a second time, when there appeared— For the second reading Against it Majority —l6 Mr. REYNOLDS then moved that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time this day fortnight. Mr. REYNOLDS objected to the Bill, inasmuch as it was nothing more than a measure which was concocted by an attorney in Dublin, with no other view than mak ing an enormous bill of costs. He construed it as an insult to the inhabitants of Dublin to tell them that they should not be governed by their own representatives, which was the principle which was involved in this Bill, but that they should be governed instead by an ST. MARY, WHITECHAPEL. On the motion for the second reading of the St. Mary, Whitechapel, Tithes and Easter Offerings Bill, Mr. B. OSBORNE objected to the motion, be. cause the Bill was introduced at the sugges tion of the Rector of Whitechapelj to ex tinguish the rights of the inhabitants of that district altogether, and to give him compensation for that for which he had, in fact, no right to compensation, namely, the tithes of the parish, to which the rector had no title whatever. But, granting that the rector had a clear title to the tithes, the House, he was sure, would not consent to in terfere with a commutation to which the parishioners were altogether opposed. They were so much opposed to this Bill, that the promoters had to go back to a vestry meeting held in 1815, but was the proceedings of a vestry held so far back as that to bind the parishioners in 1849?—(Hear, hear.) He had now shortly put before the House the cir cumstances of this Bill, but the mere fact that it proposed to legalize a commutation of a 1,0001. a year for tithes, which did not produce 300/. a year, was wrong.—(Hear, hear.) Such measures as these were a disgrace to the Established Church, and he should therefore move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. G. THOMPSON seconded the amendment. Mr. GLADSTONE deprecated the tone in which the Honourable Member for Middlesex had discussed this Bill. The Honourable Gentleman would have assisted the House more in coming to a conclusion on this Bill had he preferred dealing explicitly with the cir cumstances under which the measure was introduced to making a random speech against the Church.— (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman said the Bill called upon the House to sanction a plan for paying the rector 1,0001. a year in lieu of tithes, but he (Mr. Gladstone) maintained that the Bill did no such thing. All that he wanted was, that the House should alarm the principle of the Bill, which authorised the rector to abandon his right to tithes, and the payment by the parish of a certain stipend in lieu thereof, but the House was not called upon to fix that stipend at 1,0001. a-year. The Hon. Gentleman said the parish was opposed to this Bill. True, the parish was divided on the subject, but it was also most true that a large and respectable portion of the parishoners were strongly in favour of the measure, and a petition was about to be presented in its favour which was signed by a large number of the ratepayers, including Dissenters, a Dissenting minister, and some Jews.— (Hear, hear.) The object of this Bill was to extinguish claims of the rector of a large and indefinite character, and which could only be enforced through the medium of a suit in Chancery, at considerable ex pense to the rector, and much more expense to the poor-rate payers, and which was productive of consi derable litigation in the parish.—(Hear.) If the tithes could be collected they would give the rector consi derably more than 1,0001. a year. The tithes claimed were equal to a rate of 2s. 9d. ou a rental of 96,0001. a year, which would give something like 12,0001. or 14,0001. a year, and what be asked the House to do in reading this Bill a second time was to establish the principle that the claim to these tithes should be com muted for sums not then to be fixed. Sir W. CLAY said it was with pain and reluctance that he was compelled to vote against the Bill. The object sought to be obtained would be more fully met by means of compromises than by a measure of that kind. He could not see how they were justified in giving an arbitrary sum in lieu of a legal right. It was distinctly understood that the churches in Whitechapel were to be supported by the pew-rents, and he did not think it creditable that such a payment should be secured to a clergyman of the Established Church in a parish where there were so many non-conformists. For those reasons he was obliged to vote against the Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL cautioned the House against sanctioning the principle of the Bill, which gave power to pay the rector, out of th• poor •rates, an inde finite sum instead of an uncertain legal claim which he had. The claim of the rector had not been clearly made out, but assuming that it had, the principle then in question ought never to have been made the subject of a private Bill. He considered that it would be more satisfactory to postpone the second reading of the Bill, and to wait until another Bill was introduced, which would show on the face of it the way in which the rector proposed to levy the rate. Mr. GOULBURN said, the principle was not a new one, and that it was not the first time that the House had been called upon to affirm it. Two years ago the House had agreed to Bills of the kind, and most justly, because they would prevent much litigation. He supported the Bill, because it would be well for the House to step in and decide between the parties without causing them to enter into a litigation, which would cost ten times the amount of the sum at which they were at issue. Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON wished, on behalf of a large number of his constituents, to trouble the House with a few observations. He understood teat the op • position to the Bill did not arise from any personal op position to the rector, Mr. Champneys, who was univer sally beloved by the inhabitants of the parish,whether con nected with the Church or with Dissenting congregations. They desired that the rector should receive that to which he was fairly entitled, but no more. With a view to the amicable settlement of the matter, and the discovery of the exact rights of the rector, the parishioners were making an inquiry, which they were at that time continuing; and if the Honourable Gentleman would postpone his Bill until next sq-s -sion, he doubted not that those rights would be discovered, and he might depend upon it, when they were, that they would be fully re cognised by the parishioners. The parties were not afraid of litigation, as there had been repeated and renewed litigation between them, and the result had always ended in the cutting down of the claim of the rector, and of the right of a large portion of the inhabitants to be exempt front the payment of the rate. The Honourable Gentleman had laid great stress upon the claims of the rector. In 1817 the then rector endeavoured to exact as much out of the parishioners as he possibly could. A. vestry was called, and though his endeavours were sup ported by the staunchest friends, he could not obtain a greater sum than 1,100/. a year. Mr. Champneys claimed no more. The parishoners had resisted the payment of that amount, and the stipend had been reduced on their instrumentality to 450/. ; but now it was 6501. a year. The parishioners were not indisposed to the rector receiving double his present stipend if proper inquiry showed that he was entitled to it. If, however, the stipend was taken out of the poor-rate a great:portion of the parishioners would pay it with reluctance, since the payment of it did violence to their conscientious scruples. Sir F. BUXTON hoped the House would allow the Bill to go into Committee. He had been connected with the district by business, and he considered that the claim of the rector should he commuted for a fixed sum, which he considered could be easily settled in Committee. He was quite satisfied that it was for the benefit of Whitechapel that those rights, whatever they were, should now be commuted. One great reason for anxiety with him that the Bill should be passed now was, that at present Whitechapel had the advantage of a most admirable clergyman, and he believed the excellent rector there would feel it his duty before long to re sign, and that another rector would be appointed who might be less scrupulous in asserting his rights. On that account he begged the House would allow the Bill to go before a Committee. Sir DE LACY EVANS said the Hon. Member who had addressed the House from behind him, had pro posed a very decisive and summary mode of settling all the matters in dispute. The Rector of Whitechapel said he had certain claims, and he did not find it convenient to go before a court of law to litigate them; but he asked the House to go before a court of law and get the matter settled for him. He (Sir De Lacy Evans) did not think that a very proper proceeding. Surely, in these times, it was not advisable to press measures of this kind suddenly on a population, a great portion of whom were Jews and Dissenters. Ile hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would attend to what had fallen from the Attorney-General, and that he would think it would be time enough to bring the Bill before the House next session. The Right Hon. Gentleman had rather been wanting to the House on this subject. He said there would bo a petition presented some day or other; but he was not at all prepared to say when that would be. He stated that one or two Jews would petition the House in favour of the measure; but one swallow did not make a summer, or two either.—(Laughter.) There was a vestry meeting last year, which was unanimously of opinion that the Bill was oppressive in its character, and that it would be a great tax on the population. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading Against it Majority against the Bill —l9 IRISH POOR-LAW. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that he should on this day fortnight move an amendment on the motion for going into Committee on the Irish Poor law, that it is unconstitutional and unjust to impose on Ireland a separate national taxation for the wants of particular localities, so long as the public general revenue UNITED KINGDOM. Mr. ANDER6l4;ove7lfor;;;;;rn, in a tabular form, of the registered steam-vessels of the United King dom, on the Ist day of January, 1849, stating, in sepa rate columns, the following particulars:—l, Vessels' names; 2, port of registry; 3, date of registry; 4, regis tered owners; 5, dimensions of vessels in length and breadth ; 6, tonnage, exclusive of engine-room, and gross tonnage, where practicable; and distinguishing vessels built of iron.—Agreed to. NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. HUME gave notice of his intention, whenever the Navy estimates were brought on, to submit a motion to the House for the purpose of carry ing out the recommendation of the Committee of last year with respect to the reduction of the number of admirals in the fleet, and the number of battalions in the army. AUSTRIA. Lord PALMERSTON, in answer to a question from Mr. Anstey, said that the Austrian Government had maintained the territory established to them by the treaty of Vienna. GREECE. Lord PALMERSTON, in answer to a question from Mr. B. Cochrane, declined laying on the table of the House the orders given by Sir Stratford Canning when on his way to Athens. Mr. B. COCHRANE, then stated that it was his in tention on a future day to move for the papers. ATROCITIES OF THE NEAPOLITAN ARMY. Mr. BANKES, understanding that there was no objection on the part of the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Foreign Department to the motion of which he had given notice, moved an address for copies of the informations received by Go vernment, on which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had grounded statements made in that House re lative to atrocities alleged to have been committed by the Neapolitan army i❑ Sicily.—Agreed to. ENGLAND SUPPLYING ARMS TO THE SICILIANS. Mr. BANKES wished to put a question to the Noble Lord relative to a subject of some importance. Rumours were prevalent that some of the arms used by the insur gents in Sicily had come from her Majesty's Government. He wished to know if such was the fact ? Lord PALIVIEKSTON said that no stores had been given from the Government. The fact was, a contrac tor who was in the habit of supplying guns to the ordnance applied for leave to take back some of the arms he had supplied, in order to complete an order from Sicily ; and on the matter being referred to the Foreign-office, he (Lord Palmerston) thought there could be no objection to allowing the party to take back some of the arms upon the understandinghe was to furnish others for them. WAR IN THE PUNJAUB. Mr. OSBORNE wished to ask the Right Honourable Gentleman the President of the Board of Control, whe ther he had received from Major-General Sir J. Thack well a dispatch written by Lord Gough, when he was dispatched across the Chenaub in December last, and whether he would have any objection to its production? Sir J. IHOBHOUSE said he had not seen the dis patch, but would look at it, and inform the Honourable Member whether he had any objection to its production or not. JAMAICA. Mr. HAWES, in answer to a question from an Hon. Member, said that he had no objection to lay on the table of the House the papers relative to some proceedings that had taken place in Jamaica relative to some mis take in respect to a Bill that had passed the Legislature there. Mr. BAILLIE trusted the papers would not be cur tailed in any way.—(Cries of " Order, order.") Oh, he would put a question, then, and he would ask whether it was likely that these papers, and those relating to Cey lon, would be mutilated, as former colonial documents bad been ?—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HAWES—Sir, the question put by the Hon. Gentleman is a most unusual one, and it is calculated to excite a prejudice, which, however, I am happy to have this public opportunity of distinctly and entirely re moving.—(Hear.) It has been stated more than once by parties whom the Hon. Gentleman knows well, that instances have occurred that dispatches have been cur tailed by my Noble Friend at the head of the Colonial office for purposes of his own.—(Hear, hear.) It is utterly unfounded. It is altogether unfounded that there has been anything of the kind.—(Hear, hear.) It will be remembered that these dispatches were moved for by Lord George Bentinck in a former session, and an explanation was given by me at the time that these dispatches related entirely to appre hended disturbances in Jamaica, in consequence of some exciting language used by several disappointed monopo lists at the passing of the Sugar Bill through this House. That language was to the effect that the parties there were disposed to transfer their allegiance to the United States of America, which had excited considerable dis approbation, and some disturbances were apprehended amongst the negro population of the island. Now, these dispatches contained particular charges and referred to particular individuals by name; but it was found that these charges, which related to certain individuals in the island, were untrue, and the names were struck out of the dispatches, a course which I think was quite right to adopt; and it is a course which I approve of, and which I have determined to take again, if there be any necessity for it. But I tell the House this, that when the Committee which the Honourable Gentleman has moved for sits, there will not be the smallest objection to place before the Committee the whole of the dispatches relating to the Ceylon affairs; but they cannot be laid before the House or the public, as they relate to individuals, and the private character of particular parties, and any Minister, in my opinion, would be unfit to continue in his office who would consent to the publi cation of matters'calculated to reflect unjustly upon the character of private individuals.—(Hear, and cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE—WiII the dispatches be laid before the House? Mr, HAWES—Certainly not. Mr. B. OSBORNE—But they will be laid before the Committee. Mr. HAWES—Certainly. I have not the least objec tion to lay them before the Committee, but certainly not before the public or the House. Mr. BAILLIE—They ought to be laid before the House. Mr. HAWES—Let the Hon. Gentleman move for their production, and take the sense of the House upon them.—(Hear.) Mr. HUME—But the dispatches relate to the colonies generally.—(No, no.) The matter then dropped. CALIFORNIA. Mr. WYLD, seeing the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his place, wished to ask him whe ther it was the intention of Government to appoint a consul at San Francisco or in any other part of Cali fornia?—(Laughter.) Lord PALMERSTON said the question which was now addressed to him had frequently been put to him in private, by parties whom he presumed had some interest in asking the question—(Laughter)—but he had no intention at present in appointing a consul.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He thought the Hon. Gentleman and the House would see that there were great obstacles to the appointment of such a functionary now.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) At present there was no form or government established in California to whom a consul could communicate.—(Hear and laughter.) CATTLE AND SHEEP (IRELAND). Mr. BOURKE gave notice that on Tuesday, the 13th of March, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill for the preservation of cattle and sheep, and for the more speedy detection of cattle and sheep stealing in Ireland. WINDING-UP OF RAILWAY COMPANIES. Mr. SANDERS wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to bring forward any measures this session for facilitating the winding-up of embarrassed railway companies? Mr. LABOUCHERE said an Act was passed last session to facilitate the object to which the Hon. Gentleman had adverted, and if the Act appeared to require any amendment, he should be ready to con sider any suggestions that might be made with chat view, and, if necessary, to propose another measure to the .House on the subject. Mr. SANDERS—But the Act applies only to joint. stock companies.—(Hear.)___ TifE IRISH DEBATE. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said his motion with regard to the Irish poor-law, was first on the paper. He wished, therefore, to ask the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell), as it was the wish of Irish Members that there should only be one debate on the subject, and as certain parties in Ireland were anxious that certain views should be stated to the House as early as possible, whether he intended to bring on the debate on the Irish poor -law on Thursday next, and if not, whether he could bring it forward on Friday or Monday? Lord J. RUt3SELL was . indistinctly heard in ' the gal . . lery: but era; /27 - 1 , 3r1":50'!'! to tat it was his intention the (14,2 v, on no T;lurs , iay; huh ns that was an owm (lay fur A.E?Mbers, he could not undertake to state it than would then be orocoeded with. RI VER PL ATE. In reply to quipi,tion from Mr. EWART, Lord PAL'AIhRSTON said that a proposition had been made by tho English and French Governments with respect to the existing disputes, but it had not been accepted. It was not advisable for a Minister to state his hopes and anticipations with respect to pending ne gotiations, but he might say that he certainly saw no reason why a settlement should not be made. LEGAL EDUCATION. In reply to a question from the same LIoN. MEMBER, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that the re commendations of the Committee on legal education had partly been attended to, but they had not proved en tirely successful. Mr. Fagan and Mr. F. O'Connor withdrew their motions in order to afford the Hon. Gentleman (IVIr. J. O'Connell) an opportunity of bringing on his motion on Thursday. Mr. STAFFORD said that the Noble Lord the Mem. ber for Bath had a notice of motion which stood firs; for Thursday. He desired to know whether he would also give way. The notice of motion was a commission to inquire into the practicability and mode of subdivid ing, into distinct and independ e nt parishes, a ll parishes in England and Wales, the population of which exceeds 4,000. Lord ASHLEY said he had so repeatedly postponed the motion which stood in his name for Thursday, that he could not postpone it. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had no objection to ad vise her Majesty to grant a commission on the subject' RELAYS IN FACTORIES. In reply to Mr. HINDLEY, Sir G. GREY intimated that owing to the conflicting opinions of magistrates, it was the intention of the Go vernment to introduce a Bill on this subject. The Go' vernment had recently had interviews with several pf' ties interested in the matter, but the subject was obel which required much consideration. A Bill was in pre. , paration on the subject; but he thought it unadvisable. to state the pro v i s i ons o f a measure unt il l eave was as ked to introduce it. CONVICTS IN IRELAND. In reply to Mr. HERBERT, Sir G. GREY admitted that the gaols in Ireland were unnsually crowded by persons committed for vari ous terms of imprisonment, whom the Government had no power to remove; the magistrates, however, on the recommendation of the grand juries, might provide suitable accommodation. Many convicts had been ree moved to the convict depot in Spike Island, preparatory to their expatriation. JOINT-STOCK COMPANY. Mr. LABOUCHERE stated, in reply to an lion. Member, that he understood that the Joint-stock Com panies' Winding-up Bill applied to the winding-up of future railway companies. THE FAMILY OF THE LATE RAJA OF SAT TARA. Mr. HUME rose and said—Sir, I rise to move for a re• turn of the amount of money paid for the maintenance of the family of the late Pertaub Singh, the late Raja of Sattara, since his death, and the dates on which the payments were made. I am anxious to state to the House what appears to me to be a great infraction of public faith, and which has inflicted many great hardships on the family of the deceased Raja of Sattara. The House has heard a great deal concerning the late Raja, but it has not heard of acts committed in the name of the Govern' ment, which I consider most unjust. They are shortly these :—When the British Governmen determined to re move Pertaub Singh, an assurance was given—l hold the document in my hand—by Sir James Carnac and Co' lonel Ovens, that if he complied with the wishes of the East India Company, all his private property should be saved, and its produce handed over to him or to his heirs. That treaty solemnly entered into, was violated, as no portion of that private property has been paid to his heirs since his death. Now, I con' sider this proceeding a gross infraction of public faith, gross violation of a solemn compact.—(Hear, hear.) The facts are on record. A letter is in existence from the Court of Directors of the East India Company to the Bombay Government, directing them to pay to the dew scendants of Pertaub Singh a certain sum of money during his residence in Benares. That portion of the order was fulfilled; but since his death it has not been continued to his descendants, as I contend and am pre' pared to show in justice it should be. It will be recollected that some months ago I asked the Right Honourable Baronet why the money was not paid to his family. On that occasion the Right Hon. Baronet stated that the Government had offered certain sum of money to the widow of the deceased Raja, but that it had not been paid, as she had declined to give the receipt that was required of her. Sir, from a letter, which I hold in my hand, addressed to Colonel Macgregor, dated the 17th of March, 1848, it appear s that the widow states, that as the Government will not pay the money they had tendered except on a certain receipt being given, that she is willing to accede to the request ; yet no money has been paid to her. UP to this hour, as lam informed, the money has not been paid, though sixteen months have elapsed since the death of the Raja ; no money has been paid to his widow as promised, to enable her to pay the funeral charges incidental to the burial of her late husband.- - (H eee ' hear.) The House will, I hope, bear in mind that this is not a case of asking for money out of the public purse, but from the revenues of the Sattara estate, as ordered by the Court of Directors. I, therefore, move for the correspondence referred to in my motion, In order to put this matter on a proper basis, and to afford the Right Hon. Baronet an opportunity of explaining why au infraction- of a treaty so solemnly made bad taken place. Ido not wish to say anthing unpleasant or to aggravate any bitterness of feeling that may exist upon this matter. My object is to see that the fatniiir it tke late Raja are not deprived of that protection to which I believe them to be entitled, instead of being left, ns they are at present, in a state of abject poverty. Now, not one shilling had been paid as far as he (Ntr- Hume) understood, though three years arrears were now. due, and the family of th e R a j a h a d b een d epr i ve d of all those comforts which they had a right to enjoy, gin s ' tice had been done them. He wished to know why that infraction of public faith had been permitted ? Th e Hon. Gentleman concluded by repeating his motion which is given above. Mr. G. THOMPSON seconded the motion. Sir J. HOBLIO USE next addressed the House, but the Right Hon. Baronet , spoke in so low a tone of voice that it was wholly impossible to catch two consecutive sentences of what he said, the difficulty being increased by hi s speaking with his back to the gallery. The Son' Baronet was understood to say that on more than one occasion his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose had stated that a stipulated sum h a d b een agree d to b e P si' to Pertaub Singh on account of the Baja of Setters. On the death of Pertaub Singh it was resolved thaP certain portion of that money should be given to PI" family; and to show his Hon. Friend (Mr. Hume) that what he (Sir J. Hobhouse) stated to the House last Yell' on this subject was founded entirely on facts, he might take the liberty of mentioning that, although he had o°' received any public dispatch relative to the claims of the family of the Raja of Sattara, he had received from thc Governor-General not long ago, namely, in September last, a letter of which this was an extract :—Lord Dal" housie in his letter said,—" I fully concur with Yelt. in , your opinion that th e f am il y s h ou ld b e treate d wit' ample liberality.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") We have done so to the ex-Reja and his people. 50,000 rupees were given for his funeral expenses, 2,500 rupees for the monthly support of his family and retainers, till final settlement was made. The Ranee refused to re ceive the 50,000 rupees unless we received a receip t signed by the boy, as representing the ex-Raja, and she would not receive any m one y un l ess the whole allowed to the ex-Raja was continued to the boy," that we' to say, unless th e remuneration that had been allowed to the ex-Raja was continued to the son, sh e would not receive any money at all. "Of course," con" tinues Lord Dalhousie, "we refused to pay the 80,00" rupees, and she would not have the other. Ultimate'? the daughter has been allowed 1,750 rupees a month from the date of the ex-Raja's death to the Ist of Jul.le paying all the retainers ; on the Ist of July tlizs allowance to cease, the retainers to look an t for themselves, as it appeared that only a I . " . of them came from Sattara with the ex-Raja. Tic daughter will have her own allowance of 500 rupees month, and her travelling expenses to Sattara, when she goes. The old Ranee has her 800 rupee s l which she would not receive. This is the course that has been pursued with the ex-Raja's family. The date of that letter was the 7th of August, and it W 0 received in September last. He (Sir J. Hobbouse) had not had any dispatch si nce th at t i me, except to the effec t that the Ranee had refused to receive the money.. • Th e family of the deceased Raja had refused to receive th e money unless the whole allowed to the ex-Raja was continued to the boy, an d un l ess t h e G overnor-Gene ral would accept a receipt, signed by the boy, as represen t ing the ex-Raja. Although they had refused to receig e the money, it was perfectly true that there was every disposition, on the part of the Governor-General India, to behave with generosity to the family of th e ' Raja ; and he (Sir John Hobhouse) would not refuse f,, concur in any. settlem en t th at m i g h t be mad" to put the family into comfortable circumstances. t i Mr. G. THOMPSON sa id h e f e l t exceed i ngly obligati to the Right Hon. Gentleman for the statement he he just made to the House. He (Mr. G. Thompson) h e ; lieved it was true, as the Right Hon. Baronet hae stated, that the family had re f use d to rece i ve the atone, unless the male portion of them were adopted and ree°s Wised as the sons of the late Raja; but he understo e that they did, so long ago as November last, intimat e their protest against rece i v i ng the money, and th at te money had also been o ff ere d for the support of the fe'i-'t, pending the final d ec i s i on w i th regard to the disposal that money. The Right lion. Baronet would perhaps° ° be disinclined t o enswer the question whether, in the event of a manife`station of williugness on the P ar e of the family of Pertaub Singh to receive money, there would be any objection on t,.,,"; part of the G overnment to pay up the arrears, for ets family had been obliged to involve themselves in del eml:arrasstnent with a large number of retainers. 'they were wholly d e p e nd en t on t h e R anee a n d her resotoleeo, They did no t rece i ve t h e money, simply because were apprehensive that their so doing might comprom ise ) the rights of th e y oung R s j a . H e (M r . G . Th o mP'e d di gave them contrary couns e l.—(Hear, h ear .) He not think their receiving that allowance wou ld affect in ,o. the smallest degree the decision of h er M a j e sty's t ile vernment or the Court of Directors. He did hope t i r t Right Hon. Gentleman, in concert with the Co of Directors, would fulfil the pledg e h e had gi ven. and that the descendants of the late R a ja would not,. be .„ left unprovided for. The Court of Directors, 8 0 ago as the summer of 1846, had urged an i m partiat , _ quiry into the claims of the son, o n hi s removal fro r e Sattara, and on his way to Benares. Those claims Z a still unsettled. The man w as d e p r i ve d of all that be h a d left behind him, and of all th a t h e carried with am/ vu Sir d coun ts Lnd if the cl ia( IT The _l3l. T 11) cuoly , th e re egt 1i t he 4? critail; Sit !tPPei 11 1 th, Corn: Th ite aor th at 1 to till Arela, On I ltme, tol nh i Si r j lin g , 33 ifir`; Stna r IPgh, acct the info thei the T 4 so . i le a , of tl emit whit relat fire-