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

THE LEGAL TITLE ASSURANCE COMPANY. (Provisionally Registered, January 17, 1849.) Capital, 2,000,0001., in 80,000 Shares, of 251. each. Preliminary Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share Prospectuses and full information may be obtained at the Tempo r!ary Offices of the Company, 13a, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap plication to G. F. HOWE, Hon. Sec., pro tern Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., THE NEW NOVEL. R OCKINGII A M; Or, THE YOUNGER BROTHER. Henry Colburn, Publisher, I_3 l Great Marlborough-street. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., ADVENTURES of CROMWELL DOOLAN; Oa, LIFE IN THE ARMY. By the Author of " Echoes from the ISackwoods." " One of the pleasantest and most spirited novels that have lately appeared. The sketches of Life in the Army are full of point aid tharacter."Morning Herald. " A very clever, entertaining, and instructive work—full of in Piety and incident, and highly amusing."—Jerrold's Paper. Full of life, frolic, fun, and humour."—Naval and Military Gazette . Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. QT. JAAIES'S TIIE A T RE. Season 1849. FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA COMIQUE. THIS EVENING, The Performances will commence at Half-past Seven o'clock, with Boleldieu's popular Opera, LE NOUVEAU SEIGNEUR DE VILLAGE. To conclude with the popular Opera Comique, entitled L'A NIBASSADRICE. _ . Mr. Mitchell begs also to announce that, notwithstanding the in- Greased expenses of the present entertaimnent, the prices of admis sion are determined as follows : Boxes .• •• •• •• •5s Od. Pit .. .. 3s. Sd. Amphitheatre .. • • .. 2s. Od. Subscriptions for the season may be arranged at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ; Mr. Sams', St. James's-street ; kr. Andrews', New Bond-street ; and at the Boa-office of the Theatre, which is open daily from eleven till five. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Mr. B. Webster, Sale Lessee and Manager. Old Rrompton. The public is respectfully informed that this Theatre has, during the recess, undergone very extensive repairs and alterations and the Whole redecorated. THIS EVENING, Will be peformed OTHELLO. Othello, Mr. J. Wallack ; Tam Mr. Charles Kean ; Desdemona, Miss Laura Addison ; Emilia, Mrs. Charles Kean. To conclude with an Arabian Nights' Entertainment, entitled CAMARALZAMAN AND BADOURA ; or, The Pert who Loved the Frince. Characters by Messrs. Bland, Keeley, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Horton, and Miss Reynolds. TREATRX ROYAL, ADELPIIL l'nder the direction of Madame Celeste, During the Rece; this Theatre lras been entirely re-decorated, the originil designs by Digby Wyatt, Es 4 , executed by Mr. Sang. A new Step°, Curtain, Act Drop, and Chandelier. An approved sys tem of Ventilation, &c., &c. The Private Boxes enlarged, Backs added to the Seats, and Stalls rendered mere comfortable. THIS EVENIN (, Will be performed COCKNEYS IN CALIFORNIA. After which, the original Drama, called HARVEST HOME. Principal characters by Messrs. H. Hughes, Lambert, Wright, P. Bedford, 0. Smith, Madams Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Dirs. Frank Matthews. Miss Turner, &c. To conclude with JOHN JONES. Guy Geedluck, Mr. Lambert Eliza Melton, Miss E. Chaplin. ROYAL LYCL UM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. Sole Lessee. Mr. Charles Mahe as. THIS EVEN uga Will be performed SHAVE YOU DIRECTLY. After which, a new Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE KING OF rHE PEACOCKS. Characters by Messrs. Harley, John Reeve, Selby, H. Hall, Marshall, and H. Marshall ; Miss Kathleen Fitzwil %tin, Miss L. Howarl, Mrs. Macnamara, Miss Marshall, Miss L. Marshall, Miss Coleman, and Madame Vestris. To conclude with I.TED UP. Dress Boxes, bs.; Upper Boxes, 43. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. No half-priee to any part of the house. PRINCESS'S THEATL:A. Mr. J. M. Maddox, Sole Lessee and Manager. During the Recess this Theatre has been re-decorated and embel lished in a superb and costly manner ty Hurwitz. A new Chan delier has teen fitted, and the best atranze men ts have been made for the due Ventilation of the Theatre, and the couu.ort and convenience of the audience. THIS EVENING, :Lr Will be performed the Romantio Opera, entitled LEOLINE. Count Adelmar, Mr. Charles Braham; the Senesertql, Mr. H. Horn 'agile ; Frantz, Herr Mengis ; Matilda, Mrs. Weiss; Leoline, Miss To conclude with a new grand Pantomime, entitled BLUFF KLNG lIAL ; or, Harlequin and Via (Charmed Arrow. Harlequin, lir. Bologna; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Clown, Mr. Fleamore ; Sprite, ?dr. De Barr ; Columbine, Miss Fawcett. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Under the Patronage of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, &c. Mr. Batty respectfully announces that he has entered into as en gagement with the celebrated American Equestrian Young Ilernan dez, who has just arrived in this country, and whose talent has gained for him the title of the fast rider in the world. He will make his first appear..nce on Monday, March sth. Tills EVENING, The curtain will rise at a Quarter to Seven o'clock precisely to the magnificent Spectacle, by Fitzball. entitled CORASCO ; or, the Warrior's Steed. To be followed by an inimitable display of SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, supported by the first Equestrian talent of the day. To conclude with a romantic Melodrama. • Box-office open from Eleven till rive. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. TilE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 28. TH.+IOIOMETER, Lowest, 35; Highest, 46; Noon, 43. BARCMETER, 29.45. The Barometer has fallen 63 points since yesterday. WIND S.S.W.—stormy, with heavy squalls and continuous rain. • (CLOD WATER. AT LONDON ISRLIAIE. Tins DAT ornine,l9 min. after 5 Evening, 42 min. after 5 To-Mosaow—Morning, 3 min. after 6 I Evening, 25 min. after 6 ~: 4. tl f . ~,,,,,„...1 4.- .44 . , ' A .. g rb-w, -....„ .. 4 . _ . , ~ 57rP.„,..,,, . ‘,..._ -- , .4- iv-- ~.. b i lp __,a. , 44,1,2;,.. 'T . ?'; 10S''' • ' ' '' I ql --- 01. . ~. .r ' _ ,f ' ^:l' , ,iiißletio,Pizmalk. "It a 1 kl LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1849. Mr. STUART WORTLEY'S Bill for the amendment of the law of marriage, by removing the absurd and useless prohibition against marriage with the sister or niece of a deceased wife, was yesterday read the first time in the House of Commons, and the second reading is fixed for Tuesday, the 13th March. The Right :Hon. and Learned Gentleman is entitled to much credit for the clear and able manner in which :he brought the subject under the consideration of the House, and the unanswerable arguments adduced in support of his views, when asking leave to introduce the measure. The Report of the Commissioners ap pointed " to inquire into the state and operation of tha law of marriage, as relating to the prohibited de gree of affinity, and to marriages solemnited abroad or in the British colonies," was perfectly conclusive on the subject. It removed the only grounds on which restrictive enactments could be justified. It showed that the Divine law was not in any degree violated, that no social inconvenience was occasioned, that the restriction only led parties of the highest moral character, honest and worthy citizens, delibe rately to oppose a law which most unnecessarily inter fered with that civil and religious liberty to which, as Englishmen, they felt themselves to be entitled. The report proves this to be the case ; it says that -"among the parties contracting these marriages, since as well as before the Act of 1835, there are to be found many persons of station, and property, and of unimpeachable character and religious habits." It i s no light or trivial matter to bring persons of thi s d escription int o o p en an d un di sgu i se d di so b e di ence to the law. It is an evil of the greatest magnitude. The law should be respected not merely for the pe nalties with which its violation may be attended, but still more for the general assent to its propriety. But in this case that general assent is altogether wanting. A large majority of the people recognise the absolute inutility of such a provision, and the only penalty falls upon the innocent and helpless offspring, who are unfairly punished, by being rendered illegitimate, anti in many instances stripped of the inheritanc e to i which they might otherwise have been entitled, by the operation of this most unjust and impolitic statute. And, cui bond, for what end or object has it been enacted ? Merely to gratify the bigoted feelin gs of those who desire to exercise a jurisdiction over the consciences of others. If they entertain religious scruples on the question there is nothing to in fringe thereon ; .they are not compelled to enter into such connexions. But they de sire to legislate for * others to control the opinions which equally conscientious men may honestly entertain upon the subject. This was part of the system, now happily obsolete in other respects, when any dissent from the doctrines of the Church by law established was attended with civil and reli gious disabilities.' The law prohibiting marriages within certain degrees of affinity is a remnant of intolerance, and it must be swept away so as to re , move every trace or vestige of the code. _ That it was not contrary to Di v i ne l aw was proved by yrits constant occurence:among the Pat r i arc h s an d t h e earlier J ew i shand Christian Churches. The only text that could be cited bearin g on the question is th e 18 t h verse of th e 18th chapter of Leviticus, and that only forbids the marriage during th e lif e ti me o f th e fi rst wife. "N e i t h er , the take a w if e t o h er s i s t er to vex her besiieother in her lifetime :" Here the prohibition is ex pr es sl y imp lizi a t t e i d on in it it a s ch a a r - s rac ter, and, therefi;re, by a f4i r that it was not otherwise objectionable. If it pp :ere to be forbidden at all times, an d under every. circum • stance, the latter part of the verse would have been omitted. It would not have been prohibited merely I .'" during the wife's lifetime," and this view of the case is further confirmed by the • fact that there is no such addition in any other verse. It may, therefore, betaken, that . so . far from being forbidden by the Scrip ture, it is expressly sanctioned after the first wife's death. Again, on the question of social convenience, it is shown that the law occasions tenfold the inconve nience that would arise, if parties were perfectly free and unfettered on the subject. The effect of the prohibition was clearly explained by one of the wit nesses, who said that, "in the families of the poor, the result of the death of the wife, when a sister was domiciled in the household, was, either to turn that sister away, out into the streets, or if she remained, to bring about, if not marriage, at least cohabitation with the widower." The same witness added, " Mem bers of poor families are thrown into such immediate contact, that if they had no hope of marriage they would probably continue to live together with out it." Which state of facts then is the most desirable, whether to have a legal and binding marriage that cannot be set aside, that renders the husband bound to support his off spring, and subject to punishment if he commits bigamy, and which gives the innocent children the rights of freeborn citizens ; or that which leads to illicit connexion that may be dissolved with impu nity, and under which, the unfortunate children are branded with shame, a shame that should rather fall upon the legislators that enacted a law so unjust and so impolitic. But there is another reason, no less cogent, why that law should be repealed. It is practically useless, and of no effect. The Commissioners say— " We cannot avoid the conclusion that the statute 5 and 6 William IV., c. 54, has failed to attain the objects sought to be effected by its prospective enactments. It has not prevented marriage with the sister or niece of a deceased wife from taking place in numerous instances —whether more or less numerous than before the pass ing of the statute we have ,not, as we before observed, sufficient data to enable us to form an opinion. But without reference to any comparison of this description, the number of such marriages is so great as to justify us in saying that the provisions of that statute rendering them null and void have not generally deterred parties from forming such connexions.. . . . . On a low computation such marriages must amount to thousands; but from the nature of the con nexion, and the secrecy that often attaches to it, their number cannot be ascertained. The evil is great; for as beyond all reasonable doubt such marriages, when cele brated in England or Ireland, are void, the consequences are disastrous to the parties and their issue, at once affecting all the relations—duty and obligation, as well ac the rights dependent on status; nor less pernicious in a public view, as exhibiting avowed disobedience to law, by the open assumption of a sacred character which the law expressly denies." These are clear and powerful arguments why there should be an immediate repeal of the obnoxious statute. The opinions of the Commissioners were fully warranted by the evidence adduced before them. They found from inquiries instituted in five detached districts, of very different characters, agri cultural as well as manufacturing, that no less than 1,364 such marriages had taken place since 1835, which were absolutely void under the provisions of the statute. As those districts in which the investi gation took place bear a small proportion only to the population of the entire country, it is more than probable that Mr. STUART WORTLEY'S calcu lation was not above the mark when he said that perhaps from 80,000 to 50,000 of such prohibiteid marriages had taken place since the passing of the Act, arid if the usual average of children had followed, there would be from 90,000 to 150,000 rendered illegitimate under the law. Is not this, then, a great moral and social evil that should be redressed, and that without a moment's unnecessary delay? Expunge the useless law from the statute book, and pass an Act rendering all such marriages that have hitherto taken place valid and indisputable, and legitimatizing the issue thereof. Such Acts have been passed for the benefit of members of the aristocracy. Let Parliament legislate for all, and extend that justice to the poorer classes which would not be denied to the richer and more powerful. Gradual and almost imperceptible as the progress of the negotiations at Frankfort appears to have been, they have nevertheless advanced, and are still advanc ing, slowly and surely, towards an ultimate settlement. Another diplomatic note from the Berlin Cabinet to the Prussian Plenipotentiary at the seat of the Central Executive—a note which was published in our im pression of yesterday—marks the exact point at which these remarkable negotiations have arrived. It shows that although impediments have arisen to retard for the time being the onward movement, those impediments are not wholly and stubbornly insurmountable. Prussia still adheres to the prin ciple announced in the proclamation issued by her SOVEREIGN on the 18th of March, 1848—the principle which tends throughout Germany to the transformation of a State Confederation in a Confederate State. It will not have been forgotten that that memorable pro clamation appeared simultaneously with the thea trical procession of King FREDERICIL WILLIELM through the strcets of his capital, wearing the Ger manic tricolour, black, red, and gold, in his helmet, and riding on horseback under the shadow of the na- tional gonfalon. Subsequent occasions have damped and very nearly extinguished the credence of the multitude in the patriotic enthusiasm of the Monarch. The people cannot fail to see from his recent pro ceedings, that his fair speaking at the moment must arise from some very powerful stimulus, rather than from any disinterested anxiety to protdote the cause of the population of fatherland. They must be startled into a suspicious mood by the abrupt recurrence of the Prussian Government to the democratic sentiments enunciated shortly after the French Revolution of February ; and their suspicion 'oust acquire a forcible corroboration from the re membrance that the imperial diadem of the Confederate State has yet to be bestowed by the representatives. For that diadem FREDERICK WILHELM is an aspirant. He enlarges through the Ministerial document transmitted to Frankfort-on- the-Maine, for the guidance of his plenipotentiary extraordinary, upon the sacrifice which Prussia is prepared to make for the advantage of the aggregate nationality. He dilates with self-sufficient emphasis upon the capacity of his own kingdom to remain in its present vigorous isolation, and insists that in joining with the other Powers of the Confederation to construct a homogeneous empire out of a chaos of heterogeneous principalities, Prussia is conceding a vast deal, without obtaining anything that can be fairly termed a compensation. " Prussia," says the Note, " needs not, on its own account, this Confederate State. Its greatness, its political consistency, enable it more than most other states in Germany to suffice for itself; and, in case of necessity, to defend tself. It seeks no aggrandizement in power or , - influence. If, upon its side, it desires a Con federate State, it is for the sake of Germany, not of itself. The sacrifices which it brings to Ger many, the burdens which it takes upon itself, it brings and bears for the sake of the community." What a marvellously Pecksniffian assumption of mag nanimity ! What a very threadbare robe of pride— revealing throughout that very greed of power and influence which is so ostentatiously repudiated I The whole is too transparently a bait thrown out for the Imperial sceptre. It reminds one of the compla cency with which Louis XTI. announced to the States- General, the readiness of the nobility and the clergy to . forego their privileged exemption p from taxation, a s if i n so doing they were spontaneously bestowin g an alms upon the Tiers .Etat! The Yiria, through his diplomatists, upon the mind of impresses Germany the magnitude of the sacrificea made by Prussia in furtherance of he that national e g we lfare but he whisp ers not a word about which he is.notorio us l y k nown to t r fare ; covet as the recompense of his concessi ons to the Germanic multitude. ---- It will be well, however, for the Central Execu- tive at Frankfort to avail themselves of the selfish motives of the Prussian Monarch, in the furtherance of their own aspirations. It will be most judicious for the really patriotic representatives in the National Parliament to receive the co-operative efforts of the Berlin Cabinet, as the Prince Lours NAPOLEON has received those of the reactionnaires and counter-revolutionists—allowing them to labour se dulously in his Lehalf, under the delusion that he would prove merely the preparative for some power more congenial to their tastes. By imitating the PRESIDENT of the French Republic in this particular the Members of the Central Germanic Diet will be forwarding, in the most effectual manner, the wishes and inter es t s o f th e peop l e; and when all shall have been definitively accompli s h e d, th e Mi n i sters of the King of PRUSSIA will find themselves as agreeably disappointed as Messrs. found in Bonapartism notTn s and M OLE , w h o h ave the mere perishable rescence of an idle and ephemeral popularity, but the conviction, ti:v vitality, and the energy of the French Republic. One sentenco in the Prussian note is of conspicuous truth, and its exam ness may be almost said to be touching from its embarrassment. The sentence is simply this—" The situation of Germany requires a speedy decision." We say that this declaration is touching from its embarrassment; and assuredly any one who cordially sy mpathises in the movement of the German race tow:Ards the consolidation of its nationality, must allow that our remark is more than justified by the urgency .of the Germanic question and by the difficulties that s till obstruct its settlement. Before anything satisfactory can be accomplished to this end the problem which has been raised in regard to Austria must be solved; we mean the problem as to the manner in which a vast Germanic Power like Austria—the principal power in all Germany—may be closely united with the rest of the Confederation without loosening in any degree the bonds connect ing it with its non-German provinces. There is no question but that the natural effect of such an union between Austria and the rest of Ger many would lead inevitably and immediately to the emancipation of the Sclavonic races, of the Tyrolese who belong to Switzerland, and of the Lombards who belong to Italy. But it is equally certain that nothing but absolute necessity will induce the Imperial Government of Vienna to relax her hold upon those superb and wrongfully subjected states. Great events must therefore take place before Austria is forcibly disembarrassed in this regard; and before Germany is thereby relieved from one of the most formidable obstacles to her regeneration. When Hungary shall have achieved its independence, when Lombardy shall have acquired its right to be numbered amongst the divisions of the Italian peninsula—then, and not till then, will Austria find the difficulties of her position as a Germanic and a non-Germanic empire removed—then, and not till then, will the Central Executive at Frankfort receive a cordial co-operation in their glorious exertions from the Government of Vienna. When these things shall have occurred—and, whatever may happen, they are ultimately inevitable—Prussia will find the golden circlet slipping from her fingers. For the antipathy expressed by the Baron DE CETTO, the representative of King MAXIMILIAN to the Court of St. James's, is not peculiar to Bavaria—the vast majority of the people of Fatherland look with joy upon the prospect of a Germanic empire, and with dismay at the notion of having King FREDERICK WILHELM as the Germanic Emperor. Thanks to the exec tions of Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE, aided by Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON and Sir W. CLAY, the perpetration of a gross clerical job was yesterday pre vented, and the inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary's, \Vhitechapel, were saved from the imposition of that a' mystery of iniquity," a rector's rate. It appears that, the rector of that parish claims a right to levy certain large sums upon his parishioners as tithes and Easter offerings, but that he cannot get those large sums without instituting a Chancery suit, at a graat expense to himself as well as his parishioners, but which Chancery suit, according to Mr. GLAD• STONE, is sure to be decided in his favour—(it would appear as though Mr. GLADSTONE had of late been studying judicial astrology as well as controversial divinity)—when he will be enabled to enforce certain large and undefined claims, the which he is willing to compromise for 1,0001. a year cer tain, to be paid out of the poor-rates. To this proposition the parishioners very properly demur ; there had been already frequent litigations on the subject, and those litigations had always terminated (pace Mr. GLADSTONE) in cutting down the rector's claims ; and for that which was seven years back valued at 3001. a year, and which last year only actually produced 1411, the corpo ration of Brasenose College, Oxford, the patrons of the living, actually now sought to ob tain by the intervention of Parliament 1,000/. a year certain, and facetiously entitled their Bill " a Bill for extinguishing the rights of the rector." Mr. OS BORNE, however, would not accept of an extinguisher upon such terms; he, like a worthy son of the Church, insisted upon the maintenance of the rights of the rector, whole and intact. It was in vain that Mr. GLADSTONE extolled the Christian liberality of those who were willing to accept 1,000/. a year certain, in lieu of 1411. a year, and claims of a large and unde fined nature, it was in vain that he was pathetic in his appeals to the House to spare the parishioners the expense of litigation—the parishioners had no objec tion to litigation, seeing that they had always here tofore beat the rector; it was in vain that he spoke of some Dissenters and a Jew being in favour of the Bill, the House would not sanction a measure degrading the rector into a pauper receiving out- door relief from the poor-rates, and the Bill was rejected by a majority of 19. On this occasion Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON, Sir W. CLAY, and Sir DE LACY EVANS did their duty admirably ; they all spoke, and they all spoke well against this gross attempt at jobbery on the part of the Fellows of Brasenose College, Oxford, who are the prime movers in the affair, with which we believe the actual incumbent, Mr. CHAMP NETS, has little to do. We cannot, however, extend our praise ' to Sir EDWARD BUXTON, who gave the measure his support. It ill becomes a eol - disazt member of the liberal party, to return whom to Parliament the Liberal voters of a county constituency have encountered all the risks which Liberal county voters invariably incur, when they vote according to their conscience— it ill becomes a representative so returned to swell the ranks of the clerical jobbers on such a question as this. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. We have received the Faris papers of yesterday. The Patrie, the recognised official organ of the French Government, announces the entry of the Austrians into Ferrara, in the following terms : " The news of the entry of the Austrians into Fer rara, and that they were marching directly on Rome, was given to-day as official." The Jfoniteur du Seir has the following on the subject of the agents accredited by the Roman to the French Republic It is known that the Roman Republic has sent two agents to Paris to - negotiate the recognition of this Re- public by the French Government. It is said that the President of the Republic, and the majority of his Cabinet, have decided that the two Roman Envoys shall not be received. The intervention of the Secondary Powers for the reestablishment of the Pope in Rome is still under consideration." The National, in commenting on the above official announcement, says— " Thus the invasion of the Roman territory by Austria is an accomplished fact—an invasion without pretext, and with the avowed object of crushing the Roman re volution. What will the French Government do in pre• , sence of this violation of a friendly country by a foreign army ? Such a question ought to answer itself; and yet our disquietudes are great. The language of the Minis terial journals is not of a nature to re-assure us as to the intentions of the Cabinet. The calm tone with which the Patriej registers a fact calculated to make all hearts bound, and the satisfaction it seems to express at the taking of Rome by the Austrians, are alarming symptoms. Have we arrived at such a position as to make us regret Casimir Perrier? Is -the young Republic less proud than was the Monarchy of July? The French govern ment ought at once to send a fleet to Civita Vecchia, and into the Adriatic." Reviewing the events of the last few months, this paper calls to mind, that the Government had resolved on an expedition, by way of precaution against a danger which now exists, in point of fact, and calls vehemently on all parties to join in assert ing the honour of France, which would be for ever tarnished if Austria be allowed to crush the Roman Republic. In conclusion this paper observes that the Piedmontese were to have entered Tuscany on the 19th, the day the Austrians crossed the Po, and it suspects that we shall soon learn the fact of the Neapolitans having advanced. The National then recall to the recollection of President LOUIS NAPOLEON BONAPARTE the part which he himself took in the Roman insurrection of 1831, in which his brother was killed, and quotes the words of M. ODILON BARROT, who said, in re ply to CASIMIR PERRIER, in 1832, that France would be degraded if she did not interfere to prevent Austria putting down, by the bayonet in Italy, those principles of liberty which France had consecrated by her revolution. The Assemblee Nationale contains the following paragraph : " The Bourse was much occupied to-day with the official news of the departure of the Imperial Guard from St. Petersbargb. This guard, composed of 52,000 men_of troopa d'ilite, has not left St. Petersburgh since THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 1849: 1831, the period of the greet war against Poland. The Imperial Guard would arrive, by the Ist of March, at the extreme frontier, having already reached Wilua. Where are these immense forces directed ?" It was said in Paris yesterday, that this movement of Russian troops was intended to guard the northern frontier of Austria, and to crush the Hungarians, Poles, and Tschekes, in order to enable Austria to pour the whole of her army into Italy. In the National Assembly yesterday the discussion of the electoral laws was continued. On the 87th clause being read, M. RAUDOT pro posed that the indemnity to be allowed to representatives should be reduced from ,0009 francs, as proposed by the Committee, to 0,000 francs. M. MORIN at the same time proposed that the indemnity should be suspended while the re presentatives were absent on cone, and during the intervals of the session. Both amendments were re jected. It was also resolved that the indemnity of a representative should not be seizable by creditors, and that a representative could not cede it to another per son. The discussion was still going on at four o'clock. The Marquis of NORMANDY gave a grand fete on Monday evening, 'A bid' was honoured with the pre sence of the PRESIDENT of the Republic. It appears that the absence of the members of the corps diplontatigue from the ceremonial for co:nme morating the anniversary of the Republic, on Satur day, was occasioned by the neglect of M. DROUIN DE L'Hurs, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. lie had omitted to invite them. The PRESIDENT of the Republic, on the report of the Minister of Commerce, has published the follow ing decree relative to the payment of annuities on patents : " Considering the law of July 5, 1844, on patents, and that of February 25, 1848, which says—' Inventors who have taken out patents,who shall not have since the 22d of this month paid up in Paris the annuities on their patents within tne delays hxed by the law of July 5, 1844, shall be relieved from the forfeiture incurred according to the pro visions of the said law, by justifying the payment of those annuities before a period which shall be hereafter fixed;' decrees—Art.: 1. The decree of the 25th of February, 1848, shall cease to have effect from July 1, 1849. The annuities which have fallen due since February 22, 1848, and not been paid, shall le paid before the same period. The patents, the annuities of which will fall due within the delay above stipulated, will also have to the Ist of July, 1849, to make the payment.—Art. 2. The Mirdster of Commerce and Agriculture is charged with the execution of this decree. " L. NAPOLEON BONAPARTS. " Elyiee National, Feb. 23." Two days ago the police entered the shop of M. JEANNE, in the Passage Choiseul, and seized a re gister containing the names of persons who had undertaken to collect subscriptions for a brace of pistols to be presented to the Duke of BORDEAUX. There is some probability that the reaction al.), club in the Rue de Poictiers will be broken up, in consequence of the serious dif ferences which hays broken out between the Le gititnatists and Orleanists on the subject of the for mation of the Election Committee. At a meeting held at the residence of Count MOLE, on Sunday, M. DE LARocmciaQuELIN demanded, on behalf of his party, that half of the Electoral Committee should be composed of Legitimatists ; had the Orleanists in tended fairly, this most reasonable demand would have been at once acceded to, but fair play has no charms for Louis PHILIPPE, who having with great difficulty succeeded in procuring the assistance of the Le gitimatists immediately, like a true Orleans, attempts to over reach them, and accord ingly the Orleans rump, acting from the in spirations cf Claremont, refuse to accede to the proposition of M. DE LAROCHEQUELIN, and demanded that the Orleanists shall have the appoint ment of the majority of the Committee. The Legi• flautists, of course, like honourable men as they are, immediately seceded, leaving the Orleans tricksters to themselves. We read in the Presse— " The petition demanding the suppression of the passport-a} stem between France and England has been press nted to the President of the Republic and the Mi nister of the Interior, by the directors of the Northern, the Boulogne, and South-Eastern Railways. The Presi dent of the Republic has lived long in England, and no one better than he is ins position to see the inutility of passports. They are in fact an obstacle thrown in the way of the liberty of circulation, and not a guarantee given to public security; passports and railways are in fact contradictory terms." The Journal de Arsine et Loire, of Angers, repre sents that the thread and cotton spinning mills at Cholet and Mortagne are in full activity, and that the weavers are no longer out of work. The quantity of handkerchiefs taken to the hall at Cholet for the last several Saturdays has increased rapidly, and there was every appearance of a rise in the prices. BOURSE—PARIS, TUESDAY, FEE. 27. THREE o'CLocx.—The appearance of affairs in Italy is so serious within th.e last few days, as to have caused great alarm on the Bourse. The entrance of the Aus trians into Ferrara is considered particularly serious, as it is supposed that the movements of the Russian troops towards the frontiers, announced by the German papers, are connected with the projects of Austria on Italy. The consequence was a very serious fall to-day, both in French Routes and Railway Shares. Exchange on London (30 days), 25 20; ditto (90 days), 25 071. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, FEB. 27. Boulogne and Amiens, OA—Central France (Orleans and Vierzon), 13—Namur and Liege, 9%—Northern of France, 10 1 h— Orleans and Bordeaux, 4 tA—Paris and Rouen, 214 —Paris and Strasbeurg,4q—Rouen and Havre, 13% Sambre and Meuse, 5 1 4—Tours and Nantes, 3. SPAIN. Madrid journals of the 21st have arrived. In an engagement between the band of PIMENTERO and the QUEEN'S troops at Recuenco, in the province of Cuenga, that chief and nine of his followers were shin. MADRID BOLBA, FEB. 21.—Five per Cents., 111, paper; Three per Cents. 23 for account. Exchange on London, 49 55. G E R.M A N Y AND THE NORTHERN STATES. FRANKFORT. At Frankfort, on the 24th inst., on the invitation of M. DE GAGUEN, the Plenipotentiaries of the Ger man States met in the Palace of the Diet to ren der to the Ministry of the Empire the declaration of their respective Governments respecting the constitu tion, and to request that this should be laid before the National Assembly. The declarations of the 26 states, and among them Prussia, are identical, or rather they have made a collective declaration, and they represent 22 millions of Germans. Austria alone has held back ; she wishes the second reading of the constitution to be postponed for some weeks; but it is not likely the Assembly w ill acquiesce in thi s d es i re; an d most probably the second reading will take place withi n a short period, as the majority are reported to be desi rous that at the latest the 16th March shall be fixed for that purpose. PRUSSIA. The Allgemein, Zeitung contains a remarkable pa ragraph, stating that the Chevalier BUN SEN ha s b ee n authorised by the P r ussian Government to publish, if he thinks tit , the n otes . which have lately been exchanged by the C Cabinets of Berlin and 011mutz, from which, it is said, it will appear that the Aus trian Government has entered into a close alliance with Russia for the regeneration of the Confederacy of German States, which alliance Prussia was invited to join. The Prussian Ministry is now complete, and is composed as follows : President of Council .. Count de Brandenburg. Foreign Affairs ......... Count de Arnim. Interior ... M. de Manteufel. Commerce and P.Works M. van der Heydt. Finance Justice War .. General de Strotha. Ecclesiastical Affairs and Public Education M. de Ladenberg. ITA LY . THE AUSTRIANS IN FERRARA. The intelligence of the entry of the Austrians into Ferrara is confirmed. It is announced in the follow ing letter, which bears the signature of the Governor of Ferrara : " Ferrara, Feb. 18, 1849. " My fears were but too well founded—this morning, about seven o'clock, t h e Austrians passed the Po at several points. So soon as I was informed of this move ment, I formed a governmental and municipal deputa tion to the General in command to demand an explana tion as to the entrance of these troops. General Haynau's answer to the deputation was that he would receive it on the esplanade of the fortress. The troops entered at mid-day, and shortly afterwards the deputa tion was received by the General, who gave in writing a declaratiOn as to the intent of the movement of the Austrian forces. This declaration says that reparation is demanded for the cutting off of the communications with the citadel, for the murder of three Austrian soldiers on the 7th instant, for the affair of the Austrian Consul, and, finally, for the proclamation of the Republic. " The conditions imposed by the Austrian General are as follows:--. gi" 1. The surrender of the gates of the town "2. The delivery of the authors of the above murders in twenty-four hours. "3. The destruction of the barriers. "4. The maintenance of the troops, said to amount to 10,000 men, during the time of their remaining. " 5. The giving " 6. The up of the military hospital. Payment of 200,000 crowns, and 6,000 crowns indemnity to the Austrian consul. " 7. Restoration of the Papal arms. " 8. Six citizens to be delivered up as hostages for the fulfilment of the conditions. " Whilst ara endeavouring to obtain a clearer in3iglo into the facts that have given ri , o to these enormous pre tensions, to reply thereto with fitting dignit), a, &puts headed by the Cardinal Archbishop, is about to wait again upon the General, to demand a modification of the evils imposed upon us. " Thq town, as yet, remains tranquil. (Signed) " The Governor, MAYER CA RLO." The news of the occupation of Ferrara by the Austrian troops caused the liveliest sensation at Bologna. The Governor of that town immediately convoked a Military Council, consisting of four stair officers, and established a commission of public safety. Considerable uncertainty exists as to the state of affairs in Piedmont. According to one account, CEIARLRS ALRRRT has accepted the resignation of GIORERTI, and refuses to interfere in the affairs of Tuscany ; according to another and a more probable account, he has commissioned GIORERTI to form a new Ministry, and hag ordered his troops to invade Tuscany, in order to restore the Grand Duke. SECONDARIES".-(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Second try JAMES.) NORTON AND ANOTHER V. GROTE. This was an scion to recover the sum of 2311 6s. 33., the amount of an attorney's bill. The defendant had taken out a Judge's summons for the delivery of the bills and a cash account, and the above sum was found to be due, not paying, however, the present action was brought. Defendant not having pleaded, a verdict was given f , ir the , mount. THE STATE OP THE COl:MT.—Numerous complaints have been made of the inconvenience and discomfort of this court,:which is dark, dreary, and cold, and in conse quence of the skylight and windows, in order to get light, the draught frequently rushes in, north, east, south, arid west. Since the last court-day, two gentle. men have been laid up in bed from cold and fever caught at a window opened for ventilation. CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY OLD COURT. The Lord Mayor, Mr. Justice Cresswell, and several Aldermen took their seats on the bench shortly after ten o'clock. CHILD MIIRDER.--Mr. BODKIN said he was instructed to apply to his Lordship for the postponement, until next session, of the trial of John Copeland and Eliza Copeland, his wife, who had been committed on the charge of murdering their child by setting fire to its clothes. In consequence of certain representations which had bees made to the Government, the Solicitor to the Treasury had been directed to prosecute, and having only yesterday been able to obtain copies of the depositions, ho found from the nature of the case that it would be impossible to be prepared with the necessary evidence during the present sessions. Mr. Justice CRESSIVFLL—In fact you want the re cognizances of the persons who were bound over to pro secute released until next sessions? Mr. BODKIN—Yes, my Lord; and the reason of the application is that a new state of facts arose on the examination before the magistrate to these that came out at the coroner's inquest. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL intimated that he could not entertain the application until the court was furnished with the usual affidavits with respect to the grounds upon hich it was made. POST-OFFICE - ROBBEaY.—Edward Broome, a post man, aged 40, was indi c t e d w i t h stea li ng a letter, con taining a half-sovereign and sixpence, the property and moneys of the Postmaster-General. From the statement of Mr. BoDitur, who attended for the prosecution, and the evidence of the witnesses, it appeared that the prisoner had been in the service of the Post-office, as a letter-carrier, for fourteen years, and that his duties were chiefly confined to the office at New cross, Deptford. Several complaints having arisen in that district with respect to the loss of letters and their contents, means, which had already received the approval of the Court, were had recourse to for thedetection of the guilty parties. On the 10th of February a letter was put into the office at New-cross, containing a half-so vereign and a sixpence, which had been previously marked, addressed to a gentleman at Ripon in York shire. It was posted at five o'clock in the afternoon, and should have reached the London office about six o'clock the same evening, but on the bag being examined, that and another letter were found missing. Two officers were immediately sent to the prisoner's lodging at Dept ford, and on searching him the half sovereign and six pence were found in his trousers pocket, and the envelope in a coat pocket. Up )11 being questioned he said, when be called at New-cross for the le.ters, he put the one in question separately into his letter-pouch, and, as a man had given him a ride in a cart which had no springs, lie supposed that the jolting must have shaken the money out of the letter. lie also said that he would have given up the money, but did not discover it in the pouch until he had left the effice. Mr. DUNCAN addressed the jury for the defence, laying weight upon the fact that the prisoner had never been known to be guilty of any crime or of any profligate habits. His conduct during the fourteen years that he bad been connected with the Post-office had been marked by industry and integrity, and in his humble sphere he had secured the adherence and confidence of all who knew him. He submitted that the prisoner's at:- count of the way he became possessed of the money was extremely probable. The practice of sending what was called " test letters," with marked money in them, was well-known to the prisoner, and it was not likely that he would risk himself and his family for half-a sovereign. Several witnesses, some of whom had known the pri soner from his childhood, gave him an excellent cha racter for honesty, sobriety, and industry. The Learned JUDGE having utnmed up, The Jury found a verdict of Guilty, with a recommrn dation to mercy, on account of his long connexion with the Post office, and his previous good character. Sentence deferred. IVEW COURT. (Before the COMMON SERGEANT and Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE.) Nicholas - Holliday, a young man, 22 years of age, de scribed as a policeman, W 24 indicted for stealing a 5L bank note, the property of Elizabeth Coleman. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. Hurry prosecuted, and Mr. Ballantine defended the prisoner. It was proved, on the part of the prosecution, that on the night of the 9th of January the 5/. note in ques tion was enclosed in a letter by the prosecutrix, and put into the post office at West hate, in Essex. A witness on the part of the prosecutrix swore most dis.. tinctly that he put the letter containing the note into the post-office ; the letter never reached its destination, and shortly afterwards the note was found in the possession of the prisoner. On the night in question the prisoner was a policeman on duty at Stratford Broadway; and the suggestion on the part of the prosecution was, though there was no proof of it, that the prisoner must have extracted the letter containing the note from the box of the post-office by inserting a cane into the box having its end split. The story of the prisoner, when taken into custody and asked to account for his possession of the note, was that he found it wrapped up and lying in a lane on his beat. The prisoner lodged in the house of a brother policeman and his wife, both of whom deposed to his previous good character and to his good reputation in the police force. It appeared that the prisoner on his return home on the morning of the 10th of January, told the policeman's wife, with whom he lodged, that he had found the note, and he afterwards got her to accompany him when he went to get the note changed ; but it was alike re markable that the prisoner when procuring change for the note did not endorse it himself, but got the police. man's wife to do it. Mr. BALLANTINE, in addressing the jury for the prisoner, said he had certainly been guilty of groat in discretion, on his own confession, in not seeking an owner for the note on his having found it, but contended that there was no proof of the prisoner having taken the letter containing the note from the letter-box. The circumstances were peculiar, and the evidence, such us it was, was almost entirely supplied by the prisoner himself. The prisoner was a policeman, and a man of great respectability ; and he was wander ing about the neighbourhood in question in the course of his duty, and therefore he was exactly the person if anything was lyinc , upon the ground to find it. He (Mr. Ballanti ne ) did' not think if a man found a 5/. note, that it was a robbery if he put it into his pocket. The CommoN SERGEANT, in summing up the case, said there could not be a shadow of a doubt that if any man picked up a 51. note in the street, and did not seek for as owner for it, it was a larceny. Did the prisoner do anything to find the owner? Instead of that, he went with the policeman's wife to get change for it. Why not go himself? And when the prisoner changed the note, he did not endorse it himself, but got the po liceman's wife to do it. The jury found the prisoner Guilty of finding the note and appropriating it to his own use. The COMMON SERGEANT told the prisoner it was fortunate for him that he had been found guilty only of finding and appropriating the note, for had he been convicted of extracting the letter and note from the letter-box, he (the Common Sergeant) would most as• suredly have transported him. Under the circumstances, the sentence would be comparatively light, and was, that he be imprisoned for three months, and kept to hard labour. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LoNsort, FEB. 28.—Wind this day at noon, S.S.W., fresh gale and squally. DEAL, FEB. 27.—Wind N. to S. and S.E.—Arrd. Jacob Ceats, Beaman, Batavia, and sailed for Amster dam; Lady M'Donald. Elder, Calcutta, and sailed for London; Austerlitz, Allrick, Havannab. DOYOR, FEB. 27.—The Sainte Marie, which sunk off Dungeness,, 3d instant, after being in contact with the Diana of Liverpool, has been taken into Folkestone harbour. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 27.—S1d. Sultan (steamer), Con stantinople; Jupiter (steamer), Gibraltar. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 27.—Wind S.E.—Sld. Joseph Bushby, China; Prince Albert, Meyer, New York. BRISTOL, JAN. 27.—Wind S.S.E.—SId. Nora Creina, Antigua; Emerald, Barbadoi s; African Queen, Africa. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 27.—Wind S.— 26, Arrd. Liver pool, Raisbeck, Savannah. Sld. Douglas, St. Thomai; Stranger, Leghorn; Agnes, Nassau; 27, Inglboro, Cal cutta; Meg of Weldon, ditto; Christiana, Singapore; Maypo, Africa; Coquette, ditto; Eliza Johnston, Bahia; Laura, Demerara; Leonora, ditto; Elvira, ditto; Man dane, St. Vincent; Ino, Antigua., Daniel, Port-au-Prince; Josephine, Tampico; Genoa, New Orleans; Tarquin, Mobile; Geo. Thatcher, Philadelphia; W. Jarvis, New York; Atlantic , 11-lize. Off p or t—E ng l an d' s Q ueen . WARREN POINT, FEB. 27.—Wind W.N.W.—SId. Ayrshire, New York. PETERHEAD, FEB. 26.--Wind S.W.—Sid, Union, Robertson, Greenland. SUNDERLAND, FEB. 27.—Wind S.W.-26, Emau Thompson, New Yurk. MARKET IN EWS.-(THIS DAY ) CORN EXCHANGE- WEDNESDA Y. The present week's arrival of English Wheat for our market, coastwise, has not exceeded 1,020 quarters; by lend carriage it has been small in the extreme. To-day the show of samples was small. Selected qualities ruled firm, at prices quite equal to those paid on Monday. The middling and inferior kinds moved off slowly, at late rates. Upwards of 15,000 quarters of Foreign Wheat have come to hand since Saturday. That article was a very slow inquiry, but we have no further decline to notice in value. Malting Barley was held at extreme rates. Grinding and distilling sorts were a dull sale, at barely stationary prices. So little was doing in Malt that the quotations were almost nominal. Although the supply of Oats was small, that grain ruled 11..avy, at Nlonday's prie, s. Beans, Peas, Indian Corn, and Meal, were quite neglected. No change took place in the value of the best town made Flour. Ship qualities were easier to purchase. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Flour 1,040 qrs. I 1.610 qrs. 4,600 qrs. 2,1110 3,430 English Foreign Malt, 4,870 qrs. BOROUGH HOP WZARIEET. Our market to dty was firm for the best Hop, at a :rifle more money. All other kinds were steady, at full prices. New Hops—Sussex pockets, 2/ 4s to 2/ 16s; Weald of Kent ditto, 2/ 12s to 3l 8a ; Mid and East Kent ditto, 3/ 5s to 61103 per cwt. ViTEITECHILPML. The general demand was heavy at our quotations. Beef, from 23 2d to 3s 2d; Mutton, 2s 6:1 to 33 Si; Veal, 3s 8d to 4s 8d; and Pork, 2s 8d to 4s 2d per Sibs by the carcase. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. LIVERPOOL SPRING MEETING. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, FIVE O'CLOCK The following horses have arrived for the Steeple chase, in addition to those enumerated in our last parcel :—Sir John, Peter Simple, The Victim, Jerry, Tipperary Boy, Sparta. Prince George, Proceed, and Chandler are in the neighbourhood. Subduer, La Sylphide, St. Leger, Red Lancer, Vulture, Thurgarton, and Mignionette are not likely to come. It is reported that nearly twenty-five will come to the post. Odver, it is said, met with a bad accident at Cheltenham yesterday, and is in great danger. All are here for the Spring Cup except Prince Charlie, who is expected, and Rodney, who met with an accident on the road, arid is gone back. The Welter Cup is not unlikely to be a walk over for Postilion. Sir Richard, Penthesilia, and probably Trea sure will show for the Knawsley, and all that were flaw( d last night for the Trial and Selling Stakes, except Rod ney, will start. The weather is delightful, and the ground in excel lent order both for flat and steeple racing. ENTRIES ON MONDAY NIGHT. The Trial Stakes—Sir Richard, 3 yra—b c by Sir Isaac, out of Rebecca, 3 yrs—Psahnsinger, aged—Ada Mary, 3 yrs—Rodney, 3 yrs—Lillis, 3 yrs—Ferule, 3 yrs—Voyager, 4 yrs. The Selling Stakes—Mogador, 6 yrs—Jack Cade, aged—Wiseacre, 5 yrs—Listnoyne, 4 yrs—Susannah, 4 yrs. LIVERPOOL—TUESDAY NIGHT. STEEPLE•CHASE BETTING. 5 to 1 agst Prince George. 13 to 2 agst The Curate. 10 to 1 agst Knight of Gwynne—taken. 10 to 1 agst Wolverhampton—taken. 100 to 6 agst British Yeoman —taken. 20 to 1 agat Alfred. 20 to 1 agst Victim. 25 to 1 agat Chatham —taken. 25 to 1 agst Jerry—taken. 25 to 1 agst Mulligan—taken. 50 to 1 agst Sparta. 50 to 1 agst Napoleon. Oliver arrived this evening, and, it is said, will be well enough to ride the favourite. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TUESDAY. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.-6 to 1 agst Prince George (t)-7 to 1 apt The Curate (t)-10 to 1 agst Wolverhampton (t)---16 to 1 agst Napoleon (t). All tour baeked freely. but nothing done upon any other. LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP.— 7 to 2 agst Mogador (t)-4 to 1 agst Prince Charlie (t)-9 to 2 agst Reality (t)-11 to 2 agst Farewell (t). IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. Feb. 27. ROYAL ASSENTS. The Royal Assent was given 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 bdjourned. HOUSE OF CO.WMONS, Feb. 27. 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 i❑ 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 que=stion, then, and lie woul,l ask whether it was likely that these papers, and those relating to Cey lon, would be mutilated, as former colonial documents had been?—(Hear, hear.) Mr. II AWES—Sir, the question put by the Hon. Gentleman is a most unusual one, and it is eAlcultited 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 13i11 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 islani, 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.—(llear, and cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE— Will the dispatches be laid before the house? \t r. 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 ho 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 of 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 Hill. 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 that 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. ),___ THE DdSII DEBATE. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said bis 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 o❑ Friday or Monday? Lord J, RUSSELL was indistinctly heard in the gal !cry, but was understood to say that it was his intentiol to hriog the &Late on on Thursday; but as tha(. was al open day for Members, he could not undertake to state it that would then be proceedei with. RIVER PLATE. In reply to a question from Mr. EWART, Lord PALMERSTON said that a proposition had been made by the English and French Governments with respect to the ( xisting disputes, but it had not been accepted. It was not advisable for a Minister to state his hopes and anticipations with respect to pending De" gotiatiuns, but ho 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 HoN. MEMBER, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that the re commendations of the Committee on legal education bad partly been attendyd to, but they had not proved ea' tirely successful. Mr. Fdgan and Mr. F. O'Connor withdrew their motions in order to afford the Hon. Gentli-man ( Mr. J. O'Connell) an opportunity of bringing on his motion on Thursday. Mr. STAFFORD said that the Noble Lord the Meta bur for Bath had a notice of motion which stood first for Thursday. He desired to know whether he would also give way. Th. notice of motion was a commisiion to irquire into the practicability and mode of subdivid ing, into distinct and independent parishes, all parishes in Eng etnd and Wales, the population of which exceeds 4,000. L , rti AS:ILEY said he had so repeatedly postponed the motion which stool in his name for Thursday, Oat 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. RaaAirS 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 par ties interested in the matter, but the subject was one which required much consideration. A Bill was in pre pAration on the subject; but he thought it unadvisable to state the provisions of a measure until leave was asked to introduce it. CONVICTS IN IRELAND. In reply to Mr. HERBERT, Sir G. GREY admitted that the gaols in Ireland were unnsually crowded by p ersons comm i tte d for va • ous terms of imprisonment, whom the Government had no power to remove; the magistrates, however, on the recommendation of th e gran d j ur i es, m i ght pro vide suitable accommodation. Many convicts had been re' moved to the convict depot in Spike Island, preparatory to their expatriation. - JOINT-STOCK COMPANY. Mr. LABOUCHERE stated, in reply to an MC. Member, that he understood that the Joint-stock Conl; panies' Winding- u p Bill app li e d to f i lo w i nding-up ()- 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 el 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 t ie sty so l emn l y en t e red 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. a 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 de" scendants of Pertaub Singh a certain sum of money during his resi leece in B, flares.. That portion of the order was fulfilled; butesince his death it has not been centieued to his descendants, as I contend and a m pre' park d to show in justice it should be. It will be recollected that some months ago I asked the Right Honourable Baronet why the money w as not paid to his family. On that occasion the Right Hon. Baronet stated that the Government had offered a, certain sum of mon e y t o th e w id ow o f t h e d ece ase? Raja, but that it had not been paid, as she had declined to give the receipt that was required of her. Sir, Iron! a letter, which I hold in my hand, addressed to Colonel Meegrtgor, dated the 17th of March, 1849, it appear! 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 m, ney has been paid to her. Up t° this hour, as lam informed, the money has not been paid, though sixteen months have elapsed sicce the death of the Raja ; no money has been paid to his widow as promised, to enable her to pay the funeral c harges incidental to Vie burial of her late husband.—(Hea r, hear.) The House will, I hope, bear in mind that thi; is not a case of asking for money out of the publt= purse, but from the revenues of the Sattara estate, as ordered by the Court of Directors. I, therefore, tiler for the correspondence referred to in my motion, to; order to put this m a tt er on a proper b as i s, and to atte r° the Right Hon. Baronet an Opportunity of eeplaiuing, why an infraction of a t rea ty so so l emn l y made had taken place. Ido not wish to say anthing unpleasant or to aggravate any bitterness of feeling that may exist upon this matter. My object i s t o see th a t t h e fantilY‘ ) , Ike late Raja are not depriv e d of th a t p ro t ec ti on t o whie" I believe them to be entitled, instead of being left, as they are at present, in a state of abject povertee Now, not one shilling had been paid as far as he (A l -t n e ' Hume) understood, though th ree y ears arrears wer e non due, and the family of the Reja had been deprived of all those comforts which they had a right to enjoy, if P s ; tice had been done them. lie wished to know why the infraction of public faith had been permitted ? T he Hon. Gentleman concluded by repeating his motion , which is given above. Mr. G. THOMPSON seconded the motion. Sir J. HOBHOUSE next addressed the House, but th e Right Hon. Baronet spoke in so low a tone of voice that 't was wholly impossible to catch two consecutive sentene7 of what he said, the diffi cu lty b e i ng i ncrease d by hi speaking with his back to the gallery. The Baronet was understood to say that on more than ° ll l occasion his Hon. Friend th e M em b er f or M ontrose stated that a stipulated sum had been agreed to be Pa l to Pertaub Singh on account of the Raja of Sattara On the death of Pei teub Singh it was resolved that; certain portion of that money should be given to h': family; and to show his Hon. Friend (\lr. Hume) t lit/ ' what he (Sir J. Hobhouse) stated to the House last yet; on this subject was found e d en ti re l y on facts, be mug's take the liberty of mentio n i ng th at , although be had Of,: received any public dispatch re l a ti ve t o t h e c l a i ms of the family of the Raja of Satta ra , h e h a d rece i ve d f ro m Chi Governor-General not long ago, namely, in Septenstt last, a letter of whi c h thi s was an extract : —L or d housie in his letter said,—" I fully concur w ith yell I I your opinion that the f am ily s b ou ld b e treate d Rut ample liberality.—(Cri es o f " H ear , h ear. " ) We 110, done so to the ex-R tja, and his people. 50,000 rupe e ; were given for his funeral expenses, 2,500 rupees fe' the monthly support of his family and retainers, till 3 final settlement was made. The Ranee refused to r e ; ceive the 10,000 rupees unle s s we rece i ved a rece iP" signed by the boy, as representing the ex Raja, and a l l would not receive any money unless the whole a llows to the ex Raja was confirmed to th e boy," that we d ; to say, unless th e remuneration that had bees allowed to the ex-R a j a was continued to the son, she would not receive any money at all. "Of course," con' tinuea Lord Dalhousie, "we refused to pay the Al., rupees, and s h e wou ld not h ave t h e other. Ultitnete,( l the daughter has been a ll owe d 1 75 0 rupees a month from the date of the ex-Raj a ' s d eat h to t h e Ist o f Ja ,' l 4 payine all the retainers ; on the Ist of July tou t allowance to cease, the retainers to look for themselves, as it appeared that only a fro of them carne from Sattara with the ex-Raja. daughter will have her own allowance of 500 rupees en month, and her travelling expe nses t o Sattara, whes she goes. The old Ranee h as h er 8 00 r uPee; which she would not receive. This is the cour s e that has been pursued with the ex-Raja's fansiff', The date of that letter vacs the 7th of Augu s t, an d it co d received in September last. He (Sir J. Hobhouse) h„ . „ s t not had any dispatch si nce th a t t i me, except to the elrhe that the Ranee had r e f use d t o rece i ve the money. s'" family of the dece ase d Raja had refused t o receive tb4 money unless the whole allowed to the ex Raja Na continued to the boy, and un l ess th e G overnor -G e nera l would accept a receipt, signed by the boy, as represeflo ing the ex-Raj t. Although they had refused to reee l p , the money, it was perfectly true that there was er s c f disposition, on the part of th e G overnor -G ene ral India, to behave with generosity to the family of Raja ; and he (Sir John Hobhouse) would not refused, concur in any settlement that might be 03$ to put the family into comfortable circumstances. e a Mr. G. THOMPSON said he felt exceedingly oblig to the Right Hon. Gentleman'for the statement he T i e , just made to the House. He (Mr. G. Thompson): a tiered it was true, as the Right Hon. Baronet li 3 e y stated, that the family had refused to receive the ca° ll „,. unless the male portion of them were adopted and ree7,l nised as the sons of the late Raja; but he understecc that they did, so long ago as November last, inti ra th il e t their protest against rece i v i ng the money, and --ey money had also been offered for the support of the fae l- 0 , pending the final decision with regard to the disposal et that money. The Right lion. Baronet would perhaps ° th e be disinclined to unswer the question whether, in „.t. event of a manifestation of willingness on th e 1)- ee of the family of Pertaub Singh to receive the money, the re wou ld b e any objection " t ee part of the Government to pay up the arrears, le r dee p family had b een o bli ge d to i nvolve themselves in, he y embarrassment with a large number of retainers. 'l vo , were wholly depend e nt on th e R anee an d h er re sourc e 'Tlaey did not r ece i ve th e mone y, simply because i s e w were apprehensive that their so doing might compre oo ) the rights of the young Reja. He (Mr. G. Thos o P 5 di e gave them contrary counsel.—(Hear, hear.) Be ss is not think their receiving that allowance would off:wino, the smallest degree the decision of her Majesty g u t he vernment or the Court of Directors. He did loPfi o rt Right Hon. Gentleman, in concert with the of Directors, would fulfil the pledge he had g iv ot be and that the descendants of the late Raja would ng left unprovided for. The Court of Directors, so ago as the summer of 1846, had urged an impartial quiry into the claims of the son, on his mine! we re Sattara, and on his way to B ena r es . Those claim! , ad still unsettled. The m an was deprived of all that. he , ; i d left behind him, and 9 f all th a t he carried with him' T th e i est I th e %Jul ne e th a to 1 Ire that Pres 80, h a p, tion Ti 11, s ec Ti