The Sun. — London, England, 1849-04-04 00:00:00

T HE LEG AL 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 I respectuses and full information may be obtained at the Tempo t'ary oMces of the Company, 13a, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap pticatimt to G. F. HOWE, Hon. Sec., pro tem. MEXICAN CONSOLIDATED DEBT. T. undersigned give notice that they are ready to advance to lobe 'adhere of Bonds of the Consolidated Debt of Mexico, of 1846, the amount of Three-fourth parts of the Half-yearly Dividend of 21. 10s. per cent., which became due on the said Bends on the Ist January, 1847, on deposit cf the Warrants or Coupons for the said Dividend, charging to the holders thereof interest on such advance from the date at which it may be made, at the rate of Four per cent. per annum, until the time at which the said Half-yearly Dividend may be paid. Forms of application for such advance may be obtained on and after the 11th instant, at No. 10, New Broad-street-mews. JOHN SCHNEIDER and CO. April 4, 1849. FIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. MDLLE. LIND. It is respectfully announced that a Series of SIX CONCERTS will be given at Her Majesty's Theatre, comprising the following Jperas :—The Flauto Magico of Mozart; Oberon, Der Freyschntz, and Euryanthe, of Weber ; La Nectate and Fernand Cortez of Sponiint ; and Fidelio of Beethoven; winch will be sung by Mdlle. Lind and the principal Singers of the Establishment, accompanied by a full Orchestra and Chorus. The dates and particulars will be duly announced. The Subscribers are,respectfully informed that they will have the option of including any number of these Concerts in their Season's Subscription. The Ifirst Concert will take place on Thursday, April 12. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Vwier the P4sonage of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, &c. THIS EVENING, And To-Morrow, GRAND EQUESIIRIAN FETES, when the Theatre will close on Thursdav Evening for the production of a Grand Equestrian Spec lo.cle, on Easter Monday. 13os-office open from Eleven till Five. tree Manager, Mr. W. West. THE WEATHER-SUN OFFICE, APRIL 4. TIPRNOMMTER, Lowest, 35; Highest, 48; Noon, 54 BAROMETER, 29.72. WIND S. and by E.—fine breeze, with sunshine and clouds. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tnis DAY —Morning, 49 min. after 11 I Evening, 0 main. after 0 To-Moriaow—viorning, 18 min. after 12 I Evening, 43 min. after 12 ; • 4 , , , 4-1 1 lk;b4 -A f e 4 • 4 , .'"-. r t'Ailg,-,;.;Nifi. • -- \b- 0 ; ' ROI • 0 .1; r ax trim* nit LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1849. The discussion on the second reading of the Rate in Aid Bill was last night brought to a conclusion. The amendment of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Dublin was rejected by a majority of 55, the numbers being for the amendment 138, against it 193. The Bill was then read a second time without further division. If the Irish Members had cause of complaint on the preceding evening, when one only of their number could succeed in catch ing the Speaker's eye, ample amends were made last night. The Right Honourable Gentleman appeared as if he alone looked to the benches occupied by Honourable Gentleman from the other side of St. George's Channel, and the implied invitation was on every occasion as promptly responded to. Thus we find the Representatives for Limerick City, Clon mel, Tyrone, Rochdale (an Irish proprietor, although the Representative of an English borough), Lime rick County, Fermanagh, Longford, and Belfast, recording their protests against any independent exertion on the part of Ireland ; while the Mem bers for Mallow and the City of Dublin more than compensated for their numerical inferiority by the sterling reasons and the unanswerable argu ments they adduced in support of the Ministerial proposition. h cannot therefore he said that the House decided on - the principle cf the measure with out giving the parties mere immediately interested a full and ample opportunity of submitting their opi nions for and against the Bill for the_ consideration of the House. The debate will at least have one important result —ether :and more important enactments must be introduced for the permanent amelioration of the country. Its lamentable condition has been clearly and graphically depicted ; the monster grievance has been exposed with a master hand ; the fatal conse quences of an embarrassed and insolvent proprietary, unable to afford:employment to the people, have been clearly and lucidly explained. Other instructive facts, have been elicited that will guide the future legislation with respect to Ireland. It is now mani fest that great and comprehensive measures are required. There must no longer be a strict and slavish adherence to precedents. Important laws must not be frittered away by a number of exceptions that completely neutralise the benefits that would otherwise have resulted therefrom. " Desperate dis eases require de'perate remedies," and the disor ganized state of Ireland is now, unhappily, but too well known, and the treatment to ba applied must be suited to the urgency of the symptoms. The great desideratum will undoubtedly be to tempt new capital into Ireland, to obtain men able and willing to d3velope all the industrial resources of tl,e coun try. For this purpose the first point will be to simplify the law of real property, to remove the burdens and - restrictions that operate as practical prohibitions to any dealing with land. From an over-anxious care for the interest of persons yet un-born, we inflict the deepest injury, the most fla grant injustice on the present generation. If encum bered estates could be sold in every instance under the order of a court of equity, or of a special tribunal constituted for the purpose, whenever it could be shown that they were encumbered to a certain proportion—say one half of their value—and that the purchaser, on payment of his purchase-money, into court should have a good, valid, and unimpeach able title to the lands, the first great difficulty would be answered, and no injustice would be done to any person. The claims of the reversioner or remainder man (if.. any) might attach upon the funds •in court, in place of the estate itself, and the judge who sanctioned the sale would guard his rights with peculiar vigilance, so that the money would not bo paid out unless the clearest title could be esta blished thereto. The Receiver of the Court of Chan cery is unquestionably the worst possible landlord that can be inflicted on any tenantry, and if the affairs of the nominal proprietor should fall into such em. barrasment as to justify the appointment of such an officer, who should supersede him in the receipt of the rents, issues, and profits of the lands, it affords prima facie evidence that he is no longer qualified for such a position, and the lands should be sold with all possible speed ; while the increased value from the simplicity of the title, amounting probably from five to ten years' purchase of the lands, would more than corn, pensate the late owners, and all persons claiming ' ' under or through him for the summary character of the proceedings. But this alone will not be sufficient. It wilt unquestionably be the first and the most essential s t e p in the right direction, b ut more will b e requ i re d ; additional temptation must be held out to solvent purchasers. However clear and unquestionable the titles may be rendered, it will not tempt capitalist s to invest their money in the purchase of Irish estates, so long as there is a prospect of the entire produce of the soil being re quired for the support of the destituteeypooonrd. whichTlie es tablishing a maximum poor-rate, b demand could be made, would remove this difficulty so far as the purchasers were concerned, but it would operate rather Injuriously to the vendors, inasm uc h a , allowance would be made for the full amount that could by any possibility be levied, and the bidding would be as if the balance of rent-roll, after deducting the norni- nal rate, were alone for sale. Thus, if the maximum were fixed at 7s 6d. in the pound, an estate of 440/. per annum would only be rtgarded as one of 2501., while the purchaser would have a Parliamentary guarantee against being subjected to any charge what soever for the relief of the poor. It would be far better to equalize the poor - rates through out the entire kingdom, and to make every description of property liable to the charge, as was originally intended by the Act of ELIZABETH. Then, indeed, there would be a demand for Irish estates fully equal to the supply. You would find willing purchasers, while the present owners would receive fair and remunerating prices for their lands—prices which, in the majority of instances, would be fully sufficient to satisfy all charges, and leave handsome balances for the quondam proprietors. The Sabbatarian movement—to use the expressive phrase of Mr. CARLYLE—bas been effectually " squelched" by the Hon. Member for Honiton. Sir ANDREW AGNEW may sell out his one share as soon as he likes, for any advantage it can ever afford in enabling him to interfere with the proceedings of the shareholders. Last evening, on a division as to whether Mr. LocaE should be permitted to introduce a Bill for the purpose of securing to the public on Sundays a limited and reasonable use of all railways which con vey passengers on other days in the week—fifty eight voted for the motion, and twenty against it, leaving a clear majority of thirty-eight in favour of uninterrupted travelling. Whatever may be the ultimate fate of the Bill—whether its principle be distorted, or its details modified in subsequent stages and supplementary discussions—the fact of this deci sion against the religionists can never be diminished. It can never be forgotten by the opponents of the Agnewite faction that the House of Commons has pronounced itself in favour of the running ofpassenger trains uninterruptedly throughout the whole of the seven days on all the lines of railway north of the Tweed and the Grampians. It was humorously remarked by the Hon. Gen tleman, the representative of West Surrey, that the question of conscience in this case was as between one and two carriages. The expression implies no exaggeration whatever. The point on which con science was here balanced was literally as minute and frivolous ; for the mails were to be allowed to proceed without stoppage, carrying with them break-waggons and empty carriages ; but no traveller was to be ad mitted into the latter under penalties commensurate with the insult offered to the godliness of the board of directors. Now, thanks to the common sense of the shareholders, to the insignificance of Sir ANDREW and his disciples, and to the irre sistible effects of the indignation which followed immediately upon the cruel treatment of her Grace the Duchess of SUTHERLAND trains may convey passengers on Sundays through the heart of Perthshire, and those passengers may enter at their convenience the first, the second, or the third. class carriages. No invidious distinction is made between the affluent and the needy—and the improved system will be inevitably maintained in force now that it has obtained the marked approval and countenance of the Parliament. According to the Member for Taunton, it would be more expedient for the Legislature to leave the matter to the operation of common sense and to the settlement of spontaneous discussion. Upon this point we cannot in any way coincide with Mr. LA BOUCHBRE. The subject being one which affects the interest of the community at large so very for- cibly, we cannot but think that the House of Com mons is immeasurably more than justified in protect ing the population from the possibility of any of those ignorant acts of despotism which have emanated from the councils of half-a-doaen sanctimonious directors to the temporary disgrace of a whole district in Scot land. Knowing that the feelings of the public have been violated, and that the property of the public is liable at any moment to serious injury, if this company or that company should happen to take it into its head in a moment of moral dyspepsia or religious meagrims, that Sunday travelling is in opposition to the injunctions of Scrip ture—we do think that the Parliament is called upon to diminish an authority so peculiarly liable to abuse—we do think that the arguments of Mr. LABOUCHERE against any kind of legislative inter ference were insufficient in contradiction to the pro posed enactment. As was observed by the Member for Guildford, the measure suggested by Mr. LocKE is nothing beyond the regulation of railway monopoly. It is only a protection against arbitrary proceedings, not an arbitrary proceeding itself. It is merely a security of the rights of the population, not an infringement upon those of the railway companies. The rights of the multitude are to travel at their pleasure along the various lines of railway throughout the United Kingdom as free from the chances of im pediment as they were formerly upon the QUEEN'S highway. The rights of companies are anything rather than the power of blocking up the railroads under their jurisdiction upon this day or that day, just at their good will and option. To insist that Parliament has no authority to require the conveyance of passengers upon railways on Sundays is as absurd as it would be to deny the power of the Government to interfere in the event of any railway company refusing to carry troops upon their line in some period of emergency. If a number of fanatics, acting as a board of directors, may with impunity or dain that no travellers shall be accommodated on Sundays with seats in their carriages, simply because they prefer singing the Doxology to the beating of the pistons of the steam-engine dragging nothing but the mail bags and a few of the Post-office attendants—then a number of Quakers might with equal justice refuse, in their capacity as directors of the dispatch by rail a body of soldiers into a district threatened with Rebellion (as was the case only the other day, during the SMITII O'BRIEN agitation merely because their fraternal sect holds all bloodshed in abhorrence, and looks upon swords, guns, and bayonets as the paraphernalia of his Satanic Majesty. It is all very well for the Right Honourable Gentleman the Member for Coventry to talk of the proposed Bill as an act of legislative compulsion; but we should like to know uncommonly 1 the evil which the Bill is intended to annihilate is not an act of legislative compulsion on the part of a petty squad of psalmsingers, in no respect qualified to cram their theology down the throats of the mul titude. The Right Honourable Member for Bute opposes the measure on the plea that it is an inter ference with private property and with conscience— forgetting altogether that the annoyance which the I measure is intended henceforth to render impos sible of recurrence is, in the most flagrant manner imaginable, ax interference with public pro perty, with private interests, with individual rights, and with the conscience of the vast majority of the population. And this fact must be borne, moreover, in mind—that the Bill introduced by the representa tive of Honiton, and approved of by the House of Commons, is a defensive and not an offensive measure. The Agnewites have been aggressors. Parliament now only comes forward to vindicate the indisputable rights of the multitude, and to place a wholesome check upon the frenzy of fanaticism. We rejoice to find that the first reading of the Bill introduced by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Stroud was last night carried by so decisive a majority, and that the Premier and the Home Secretary were induced to abandon what could only be regarded as an ungracious opposition. No Member of the House, of any party has devoted himself more zealously and indefatigably to supply the wants and to ame liorate the condition of the Irish nation than Mr. POULETT SCOPE. In and out of Parliament, by his speeches: and by his writings, he has endeavoured to point out the evils by which its industry is paralysed, and to provide fitting remedies. He has accumulated a vast body of information, and he is enabled to afford sound instruction to the House on every question in any degree relating to Ireland. It is due to such a man to listen to his propositions, and to give a calm and attentive consideration to his suggestions. The ordinary courtesy of permitting the question of the first reading to pass almost sub silentio should not be withheld, and it was doubly incumbent on the Government not to have adopted a course so invidious when the Honourable Gentleman had waived his undoubted right, and granted priority to the adjourned dis cussion on the Rate in Aid Bill, in order that the House might come to a decision on the principle of the measu re b efore the Easte r recess. He was there fore precluded from stating fully vindication of its ng is not the details of his plan, and of e n t er i ng i prin ciple. The Iri s h question not SO s i mp l e or so easily unravelled, th at every new can o ion f m b r e rejected. The industry ning Worthy d b SCROPE afford a fair t hat promise an d application ssgeets, of notice will be brought forward, and it indeed unwise to reject the proposition before its e nature or provisions were accurately known. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down ing -street. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the chair precisely at Twelve o'Clock. NEW WRIT. On the motion of an How. MEIDIER, it was ordered that a new writ should issue for the election of a Knight of the Shire for the Southern Division of the county of Nottingham, in the room of Colonel Rolleston, who had accepted duo office of steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Sir M. LOPES presented a petition from Torquay, in favour of the Jewish Disabilities Bill. KIRKALDY HARBOUR, &c., BILL. The House went into the consideration of the Report of the Select Committee on the Kircaldy Harbour, Docks, Ferry, and Petty Customs Bill. Mr. BERNAL suggested, as an amendment, that provision should be made in the Bill for providing and maintaining life-boats, end mortars, and rockets, by the Harbour Commissioners. Colonel FERGUSON said the Board of Admiralty had reported in favour of such a provision; but since the Committee met the Custom House had objected to it. The promoters were ready to insert a provision in the Bill for the maintenance of life-boats and rockets, if the Board of Admiralty required it. The amendment was then agreed to. FUND FOR POOR-LAW OFFICERS. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition from Wey mouth in favour of a fund for superannuated poor-law officers, in accordance with a recommendation in the Twelfth Anual Report of the Poor-law Commissioners. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Sir M. LOPES presented a petition from Newton Ferrers against the Jewish Disabilities Bill. RAILWAY TRAVELLING ON SUNDAYS. Mr. BOUVERIE presented a petition from Stirling in favour of a measure of relief for clergymen seced ing from the Established Church; also several peti tions from different places in Stirlingshire against com pelling railway companies to run trains on Sundays. Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Haddington and other places to the same effect. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.—THE COLONIES. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the House at its rising should adjousa to Monday the 16th of April. Mr. HUME could not allow the House to separate for the Easter recess without calling its attention to the state in which the colonial governments were at the present time. There was at the present moment in several of the colonies of this country contentions going on of a most unsatisfactory nature. They had Governors against the Legislative Council, and Legislative Councils against Governors. Such a state of things was highly unsatis factory, and greatly to be deplored. He thought any Government who would allow such a state of things to exist in the colonies for so long a time must have been guilty of great mismanagement at home. If this country wished to keep its colonies it must do that which would satisfy them ; it was only by the adoption of such a course that the colonies of this country would be preserved. Let them look at Jamaica; what he might call the House of Peers there, had chosen to reject the measures passed by the Assembly, with the consent of the people, for the reduction of taxa tion. Large military establishments were kept up in the colonies, not for the purpose of protecting them, but to keep up misrule there. The House was now about to separate for the Easter recess, and before they met again a mail would be sent out to the West Indies, and what he wanted to know was, what was to be done with De merara and several other of the colonies of this country there. Notwithstanding all the representations which had been so industriously made of the discontent in the Canadas, it was evident that in no colony under the British Crown was there a greater state of tranquillity , than that which prevailed there. By a newspaper re ceived only the other day, and which bore the date pf February 27, it appeared that the discussion upon grant ing allowances for the losses sustained during the rebellion had been terminated by a division in which the numbers appeared to be sixty-seven against five for granting remuneration to the sufferers. So that they had here a practical proof of the adhesion of the colonists to the British Crown. He was ready to give all praise to the Governor-General, Lord Elgin, for the temper, energy, and judgment which he had displayed. But although so much might be said of Canada, what was the report that was to be made with regard to the feeling and position of Demerara, Ceylon, and Jamaica. All the colonies had more or less causes for discontent with the mother country, and he trusted at least that if he got no satisfactory reply to this portion of his com plaint, he should at any rate elicit from the Government something of their intention with regard to these depen dencies. Every mail was likely to bring important in • telligence, and he should therefore move that, instead of neglecting such important business so long, they should adjourn to the 14th instead of the 19th instant. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the theme upon which the Honourable Gentleman had just dilated was an old one, and that nothing very novel bad been adduced on the present occasion to vivify the staleness of his ob servations. For the last ten years, at least, the HOD. Gentleman had been in the habit of stating the supposed discontent of the colonies, and yet, by his own admission, Canada, one of the greatest and most important of those colonies, was now in so high a state of loyal adhesion to the British Crown, that there had been a division of sixty seven against five for granting a recompense to those who had suffered either in person or property during the rebellion. lle might remind the Hon. Gentleman that ten years ago he had used language which was much more calculated to excite rebellion than to promote a spirit of peaceable submission to the Go vernment among the people. He (Lord John Russell) had proposed the fusion of the two Canadas iito ode province, and he had been very carefully remonstrated with by the Hon. Gentleman against proceeding in, what be conceived to be so, unwise and dangerous a course. He had been reminded of the conduct of Lord North, and had been told that just as the measures of that No bleman had led to the disruption of the United States from the British Crown, so would his own measure lead to a similar consequence in the case of Canada. Yet all these predictions had been falsified, and by the Hon. Gentleman's own admission, Canada never was in a stale of more peaceable and loyal contentment than at the pre sent moment. The Noble Lord then went through the cases of New Zealand, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Cape of Good Hope, praising the late GO vernment, and especially Lord Stanley, for the appoint ment of Captain Grey as Governor of New Zealand; and stating that he himself had first made him the Presi dent of a subordinate dependency, in consequence of the ability which he had displayed in his survey of Western Australia. In the case of the Cape of Good Hope, Sir H. Smith, had been recommended to the Crown by Lord Grey, whom the Hon. Gentleman had so much con demned, and yet by universal declaration there was no man so fitted by ability, experience and energy for the post which he occupied.---(Hear, hears) With regard to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land he did not think it could be said there was any general discontent prevailing in those colonies. If that was not the case, let the Liouse consider that there are forty-three colonies under the British Crown, with vari ous institutions inherited from different countries, with which it must be always a matter of difficulty to deal. He would ask the Hon. Gentleman to name to him any other forty-three colonies similarly situated; and be would defy him to name forty-three states so circum stanced, and to say that every one of those forty- three states, with their constitutions repre senting almost every form of government, despporenscent._m and otherwise, e, He ehoupgerhftect the satisfaction atGen tleman would find a great deal of difficulty in doing that. Now, there were colonies, he (Lord J. Russell) would not deny, in which there was a good deal of dis satisfaction, but when the Hon. Gentleman referred to the cause of that dissatisfaction, he thought he could hardly lay it to the charge of the Colonial Secretary. He meant those colonies concerned in the production of u sugar. It wou ld b e i n the recollection of the House that two A c t s were passed regulating the production e ofse foreign sugar ; w h et h er t h ose Acts were wise or other wise they were not the acts of the Colonial Secretary , but of the Parliament of this country.—(H ear , With regard to what the Hon. Gentleman had said with respect to the colony of British Guiana, it ought to be remembered, that early in this session a Select Committee had been appointed to inquire into the affairs of that colony. That Committee was now pro ceeding with that inquiry, and he (Lord J. Russell) did not think it would be advisable, in the midst of that in quiry, to decide the question without knowing what evi dence had been taken before the Committee, and with out knowing the result of their deliberations. The Hon. Gentleman had represented that Lord Grey would not allow the colony of British Guiana to make any claim on the civil list. Now that was not the ground taken by Lord Grey. Lord Grey said, let reductions be made in the civil list, but let them be made consistently with the faith established between the Crown and the colony. In 1834 the colonists voluntarily gave a civil list, which was to subsist until 1851. Those who held office under that civil list held it under an Act of the Colonial Legislature on tho one hand, and of the Crown on the other. Lord Grey said it would not be proper or fair for the Provincial Legislature, on its own authority, to disturb and put aside that Act. That was the objection that Lord Grey made. But the Honour able Gentleman spoke of that Legislature as if it was a popular Legislature. Now, the Legislature in British Guiana, so far as it was an official Legislature, was elected by a very small constituency, and did not by any means represent the colony. —(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Ile (Lord John Rus sell) had always been of opinion, and was still of opinion, that there ought to be a more popular represen tation in that colony, and that the present Council, which always pretended that it represented the colony, did not represent the popular opinion of the colony.— (Hear, hear.) Now, therefore, the whole case of the Hen. Gentleman, of there being general discontent in the colonies, meant this—that, with regard to the sugar 1 colonies, there had been effected by Acts of Parliament such changes as to cause very great difficulties. The Colonial Secretary did not, of his own authority, make those changes.—(llear, hear)—but he had to deal with them; and he (Lord John Russell) believed that so control on tm on u trol ostu his part, fromtheChoilmoniiaul Secretary r from ettt ry deserve d requiri requiri ng th adjourned, after to-day, until the 16th instant, he did getting out of those difficulties. The House being only not think it was necessary now for him to say more on this matter. He did not think the scheme of popular r epresentation was applicable everywhere. The H onourable Ge n tl eman sa id ever y co l on y should he be t governed by p opu l ar represen t at i on , and (Lord J o h n Russell) agreed with him, as a general proposition , sh tha c t olo th ny ere an o d ug a ht wher everptoopublea,tiouof British descent, a they h a d a B r iti sh colony representation. lie believed that it was far better that the colonists themselves hould look into their own concerns, and have their own opinions with regard to their own finances; and their own wrongs were likely to he a great deal better re dre.sed by themselves than by any Colonial Secretary, whether it were Lord Grey or anybody else in this country. —(Hear, hear.) Mr. BERNAL said it was not his intention to oppose the question of adjournment; and although he was not prepared to say that every colony within the cycle of 43, was in a state of discontent, and that the Colonial Secretary of the day was chargeable with that dis content, yet he could not disguise from himself that those sugar colonies to which his Hon. Friend ad verted were in a state which it was painful to reflect upon, and painful to every member of the British Legis. lature in the colony. Taking the colony of Jamaica, he knew at that moment, without travelling into the reasons or facts with which he was acquainted, that that colony, with respect to its financial and statistical condition, was in a most deplorable state. GRAND JURIES (IRELAND). Sir W. SOMERVILLE, in answer to a question from Mr. O'F.aherty, said that he hoped shortly after Easter to be able to bring in a measure with respect to the grand jury system in Ireland. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. It was then agreed that the House at its rising should adjourn until Monday, the 16th of April. ELECTORAL REFORM. Mr. HUME gave notice that,On - iiie - ist of May, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the na tional representation by extending the elective fran chise, by taking the votes of electors by ballot, and by limiting the duration of Parliament to three years. RATE IN AID BILL. Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice, that when the House went into Committee upon the Rate in Aid Bill, he should move the insertion of a clause for the purpose of constituting a National Representative Board to di rect the disposal of the amounts levied. DEATHS FROM FIRE. Mr. WYLD gave notice that on the Ist of May he would ask for leave to bring in a Bill (as we understood) toexplain on ad amend the la ws re l at i ng to i nquests upon p WORKING CLASSES. Mr.r nd y O ain R g NELY, in the ab sence o f an Hon. Member, osTs from fire. gave notice of a motion for the appointment of a stand ing Committee to consider and to report from time to time upon the best means of improving the condition of the working classes. PETITION OF MR. HOLDSWORTII. Sir J. YARDE BULLER postponed until the 20th inst. the motion which stood on the paper to-day relative to the petition of Mr. Holdsworth, as to his invention for cooling the engine -rooms of steam-vessels. COURTS OF . Sir H. WILLOUGHBY gave EQUITY notice that on the 17th inst. he should ask whether it was the intention of the Committee which was appointed to enquire respecting the fees of the Court of Equity in this country, to make any report to the House. CROWN PROSECUTIONS (IRELAND). Mr. KEOGH asked the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland whether the Government would lay on the table of the House the letter of instructions of the Irish At torney-General to the different Crown solicitors in Ire land, and also whether they would lay bofore the House the address of the grand jury of the county of Sligo relative to the Crown prosecutions in the west of Ireland? Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE said, if the Honour able Member would give notice of his question, he would then be prepared to answer it; but at present he could not give him the information he required. Mr. KEOGH then gave notice, that on the Ist May next he should call the attention of the House to the management of the Crown prosecutions in Ireland, par ticularly with regard to the expenditure incurred by them. SUNDAY RAILWAY TRAVELLING, &c. Mr. COWAN gave notice that on the second reading of the Bill brought in by Mr. Locke, relative to travelling upon railways upon the Sabbath, he should move that it be read a second time that day six months; he also gave notice that soon after Easter he would ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government whether he would lay on the table of the House the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the annuity tax of Edinburgh and Montrose, and whether it was the intention of the Government to take any proceed ings with reference to that report. ATTACHMENT COURT OF RECORD (IRE LAND) BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. KEOGH said he concurred in the general principle of the Bill, but as it abolished the process of attachment altogether, it would have the effect of removing from all those towns where the process existed an officer called the Marshal, who was paid by a fee upon each attachment, to whom should en w s o a u ti l o d n was given altogethergi ven by the no p ß e r i a l l t . i v h and B a i h l 1 0 , thought, u ce not receive the sanction of the House unless some provision was made for that officer. He would suggest that the same fees upon the processes to be issued under this Bill to the Marshal of the Bo ough Court should still be paid to that functionary, if being deprived of hi s o ff ice. no other means c ou ld b e d evise d to prevent that officer Mr. GROGAN had received a letter from the Learned Recorder of this court, and while he approved of the principle of the Bill, he would suggest that the second reading should be postponed till after Easter, to admit of the Marshal's case being taken into con sideration. Mr. REYNOLDS was happy to perceive that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Athlone and his Honourabla Colleague approved of the principle of this Bill, but they seemed to object to it because it did not provide compensation for a particular officer. Now, altho ug h h e was exceeding;y ollminpgensation to inflict any i njustice upon say hear.) Hethought, anxious to carry the Bill because it was demanded by the universal vo i ce of the capital of Ire landathnoyu gp h ha e rt shouldparty ehaotiwt lbehowever, eu trnweio, the Bill m i g h t be read a se cond time now, and that a clause might be proposed in Committee to give compensation where it was justly due, but in preparing the Bill he thought he was imperatively bound to explain to the House what it was he proposed to do. He called upon the House to apply a remedy to a crying and gigantic evil, let him remind the House that in the city of Dublin there was a court of Record, called the Borough Court. Before the reform of the Irish Corporation Law, that Court was known by the name of the Sheriffs Court of the County of Dublin, but by the 18th section of the Irish Municipal Act, the powers of that court were transferred to the Recorder's Court in that city.—(Hear.) And what was the process of that Court? The process was this. If any person demanded a debt of another person he might make an affilavit before the Lord Mayor of the city of Dublin, or the Recorder, to the following effect; but he would only read the important part of tho affidavit :—" And the defendant maketh oath, and saith, that the said John Doe resides within the jurisdiction of this court, that the deponent is apprehensive that such debt is in danger of being lost unless the process of the court be i.su,d to distrain the goods of the said John Doe. He found, by a Parliamentary paper which he held in his band, that for the three years ending 1845, 1846, and 1 847, that the number of affidavits made before the Recorder during the three years was 301, before the Lord Mayor 1,984, making the total of 2,285, and he found that in these affidavits were included debts under 51., 28 before the Recorder, 211 before the Lord Mayor; under 101., before the Recorder 46, before the Lord Mayor 279; under 15/., before the Recorder 42, before the Lord Mayor 257; under 20/. before the Recorder 31; before the Lord Mayor 182, making 1,076 affidavits under 201. a-year, upon which attachment had been issued.---(Hear.) Now what was the nature of this attachment? Why, it was competent for any man in the city of Dublin, no matter whether humble or rich, to go before the Recorder or the Lord Mayor and swear that any citizen owes him money, no matter how large in amount, as the debts had varied from it to 1,2004 and upon payment of a fee of l s . 6d . t o th e Lord May o r, an d 6d. to the Marshal, an a tt a chment issued. Th e fi rs t not i ce the defend an t h a d o f it was t h e se i aure of his goods in the presence of the bailiff, in his shop or house, and by the 181st section of the Act, it was provided that in all cases where goods were seined under this process, the defendant should produce two' solvent securities of the city of Dublin who stiould swear that they were respectively worth double the amount of the debt for which the attachment was marked. The House would perceive that the defendant was not compelled to put in personal bail, but he was compelled to bail the debt, so that, in point of fact, the attachment and affidavit had all the force of a judg ment of a superior court. Let him just put a case-- a pauper walking the streets might make an affidavit that the most respectable merchant in the City of Dublin was indebted to him to the amount of 100,000/. The defendant had no notice of the affidavit, and his goods were seined to the amount of 100,0004 which could not be released until he produced two sureties who would swear that they were worth 100,000/. each.—(Hear.) Such a mischievous ma chine as that in existence in a mercantile city must have a most destructive effect on commerce. He would mention acase that had actually occurred of this sort. [LEFT SPEAKING.] C ANCERy....._(THIS DAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR sat to-day in his Court; in the Old Hall, Lincoln's-ion, His LORDSHIP having disposed of all the unopposed lunatic petitions, of which there were between 30 and 40 on his paper, proceeded to hear appeal motions, but no case of interest came before his Lordship during the morning. His Lordship will not sit again before the first day of Easter Term. ROLLS' COURT.—(THIS DAY f His LORDSHIP, the Master of the Rolls, sat in his Court in the Roll's-yard, Chancery-lane, to-day, and gave several judgments in cases that had been heard before him; this being the last day of his Lordship's sitting prior to the first day of Easter Term. SANDERSON V. THE COCXERMOUTH RAILWAY COMPANY. His LORDSHIP gave judgment in this case. His Lord ship was of opinio❑ that the plaintiff was entitled to the sp( cigc performance of the agreement entered into be twee:. him and the defendants, and as it appeared pro bable that no arrangement could be come to between the parties, he, though with great reluctance, directed a re ference to the Master to inquire what roadway and slips were necessary to be made for the accommodation of the plaintiff, whose land was divided by the railway. His Lordship had no hesitation in saying that the matter in dispute might be arranged by an indifferent party in a few minutes, and he could not but think that there was something more then ap.. peared on the face of the bill to induce the parties s. THE S - UN,-- LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1849. to incur the expense of a long reference sooner than settle the matter amicably areong• THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL V. THE CORPORATION OF SALMON V. GREEN—JUDGMENT. The MASTER of the Rou.s also gave judgment in this case, in which the question arose under the will of a gentleman of the name of James Salmon as to the par ties entitled to participate in his residuary estate. His Lordship was of opinion that the two daughters of the testator took a joint interest in the residuary estate, and that that interest passed to their representatives. ATCHESON V. ATCHESON—JUDGMENT, The MASTER of the ROLLS also gave judgment in this case, stating his opinion to be ti.at the legacy ought to be carried over to the joint estate of the hus band and wife, and that the dividend should be paid to the husband during their joint lives or until farther order. HOWARD V. PRINCE.—JUDGMENT. The MASTER of the ROLLS also gave judgment in this case, overruling all the txceptions to the Master's re port. WOOD V. TAIINTON.—JUDGMENT. The MASTER of the ROLLS also gave judgment in this ccse, which ; came before him a short time since upon motion on behalf of the plaintiff, to compel the defendant to sign a cheque, and hand it over to the plaintiff. The matter in difference between the parties were, it appeared, made the subject of arbitration, and an award was made by the arbitrator in favour of the plaintiff, and the object of the motion was to compel obedience to that award. Oa the motion coming on before the Court, a preliminary objection was taken to it, on the ground that the Court would not act upon the award, inasmuch as it had not been made a rule of Court; and upon that preliminary objection the Master of the Rolls now gave judgment. His Lordship was of opinion upon the authorities that the motion might be sustained, although the award had not been made a rule of Court. The motion must therefore stand over till the first day of Easter Term. IN RE SAVERY.—JUDGMENT. In this case his Lordship was of opinion that the examination was insufficient, and gave further time to put in a more sufficient examination. VICE-CHANCERX.-(THIS DAY.) (Before th e Vi ce . Chancellor of ENGLAND.) His HONOUR was occupied the whole morning with motions of no general interest. His honour will not bit again till the first day of Easter Term. SECONDARIES". -(THIS DAY.) On the j ur y b e i ng called very few jurors were in attendance, and it was intimated that an " example " would be mode of the absentees. On the jury being made up it was found there was no cause to try, the attornies not being present. After a lapse of a quarter of an hour the jury were discharged, and asked whether they were not to be paid for their attendance. Mr. Hudson the officer of the Court replied in the negative, but observed that attending on these juries prevented greater inconvenience, as the jurors were exonerated from serving in the superior Courts and the Central Criminal Court for three years. HARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.) Susannah Price, a woman of the town, was charged with annoying several gentlemen in the public street, and• John Gordon, a captain in the army, was also charged with attempting to rescue the prisoner from the custody of the police constable. , Chatfield, 302 A, stated that this morning about half pact one o'clock he was ou duty in Oxford-street, when he saw the female prisoner go up to two gentlemen and to s lay bold of harem. Th ey pushed her away and refused peak toWitness went up to her and requested her to go away. She then walked away, and when she got as far us Argylle-street she went up to another gentle man. Witness then took her in charge. Ho had got as far as Beak• street, Regent-street, when she refused to proceed any further. He then gently pushed her for ward when the defendant Gordon came up and asked witness what the woman was charged with. Witness refused to satisfy him, when he said ho was an officer in the army, and he (witness) should nit take the woman any further unless witness gave him a satisfactory answer. Witness told him he should take him to the station if he did not be offi Defendant then took hold of the woman's shoulder and prevented witness from taking her away. Another constable then came up and witness directed him to take defendant into custody. Mr. HARDWICK discharged the woman, and asked the defendant what answer he had to make to the charge. Captain Gordon said, he begged to state, on the word of a gentleman, that he did not touch the woman at all. He should not ;have interfered had not the constable handled the woman in a very rough and unbecoming manner. He merely asked the constable the cause of his treating the woman in such a manner, when he an swered him in a very insolent manner. Mr. Hannwick said, he strongly deprecated the con duct of defendant, but, as it did cot appear that he had used any violence, he should fine him in the mitigated penalty of 10s. The money was immediately paid. THE STANFIELD-HALL MURDERS. TRIAL OF RUSH. (THIS DAY.) ,BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) RUSH'S DEFENCE. NORWICH, THREE o'CLocss. The Court was opened at the usual hour. Rush continued—The nature of his relations in re spect of property with Mr. Jermy were such that it was to his interest that he should live, rather than die If he had intended to commit the horrible crime of murder, did they think he would have had Emily Sandford at Potash? She said he trembled. He did ; as, from what he had heard at the Hall, and his differ ences with the family, he feared ho should be suspected : but when he went to bed he was as firm as at that moment. his conscience accused him of no guilt. " God Almighty ! if I had done such a thing, I could not have looked you in the (ace—l sh ould have been mad by this time." The coat he wore on the night of the murder he buried in the pig stye, knowing that he should be suspected.—(Sensation.) He should produce it. Mrs. Jermy said the murderer wore a grey coat, not a cloak, and differed altogether from Watson. They could not believe such con• tradictory statements, nor convict him upon them. He implored them to take ample time to consider their verdict—the improbability of his being the murderer—for the sake of his dear young children, sow bursting with suspense, who were destitute of a mother, and who prayed they would give them back their father. If condemned, the time would come, when his innocence would be manifest. Might God give them wise understanding to see his guiltless ness, and to return a verdict of Not Gnilty. Rush finished at twelve o'clock. He called the following evidence : Mr. Waugh, a solicitor, said he would not believe Howe on oath, unless supported by respectable testi LONDON. The MASTER of the Ronns also gave judgment in this case, which was argued before him a short time since, upon certain exceptions taken to the report of tho Mas ter, who had allowed certain exceptions taken by the Attorney-General to the answers put in by the de fendants, the Corporation of London, to the information fihr-d of the Attorney-General. The information was filed by the Attorney-General, fur the purpose of having the question settled, which was ex isting between the Crown and the city of London, as to which of them were entitled to the bank of the Thames between high and low water mark. The Crown by its information insisted that it was entitled by the common law to the banks of all rivers in the realm between high and low water mark, while, on the part of the corporation, it was con tended that they held their right by prescription, and that the Crown had no rig:it to interfere with it, and they declined by their answ, rto produce their title. To this answer the Attorney-General took exceptions which were allowed by the Muster, and to the report allowing those exceptions, the defendants took exceptions, and upon them the Master of the Rolls now gave judgment. hi is Lordship after going at some length into the case, stated his opinion to be, that the defendants, the corporation of the city of Lon don, were not entitled to refuse the discovery they had done; he must therefore order the exceptions to the Master's report to be disallowed. At the suggestion of the SOLICITOR GENERAL, the de fendants were allowed two mouths to put in a full answer to the information. mony, The lad Savory proved the littering of the straw some time beforo the murder. That the boots worn by Rush on that night were left to dry at the fire. Sat up one night to watch for poachers. Saw Rush last at half past seven. Last time he saw him that night he h a d his indoor dress o n . By the JUDGE —He got the boots at half past five. lla washed thorn and put them at the fire, wher e th ey remained till he gave them to the police. Rush here sought a few minutes, and the Court ad journed. The trial is expected to finish late to-night. More at Six. InEE CHURCH SITES. ---Lord Macdonald has laud• ably followed the example of the Duke of Buceleuch in the matter of sites, having granted accommodation for a free chu rc h at P ortree. In consideration of the now di minished number of cases where sites are refused, the Free Church has wisely resolved on not bringing the subject before Parliament. ONE 4 :Lt h , IN 0 I . I:i. J'N OF AWN:ill FUNIIN O'CLOCK rRICES 3 pt, Cent. Consols Annuities 9 2AV A Iit 92A, Bank Stock for Account, — 199 Consols for Account 92% 1 4 % 92% xeliecuer Hills. I%d. & 2d. 1,0001. June ..... ..... 5001. June ... 46 44 47 p Small. June VRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS — ONE CLOSLN C. Brazilian O'CLOCK. PRICES. Bonds Do., New, 1843 ... 73% 73% Buenos Ayres Bo n d s , 6 per Cent. 40 Equador Bonds Grenada Bonds, 1 p er C ent. I BY4 Mexican, 5 per Cant. 1846 31% 31% Ditto, Account ...... 31% 1 4 31 Portuguese 5 p er C ents. — . Ditto, 4 per Lent..... . ....... Ditto, Account .... ............ ...... ... 2834 :,,pankikt :5 per Cent. 1840. ......... 16% Ditto, Account.., Ditto, -- 3 per Cent ... 30% Venezuela Bonds, 2 1 4 per Cent... Dividends on the above payable in London. French, 3 per Cent.... Exchange 2sf. 25c. 25f. 25c. Dutch 2% par Cent., 12 Guild-- 50 1 4 493,i 49 3 /, Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates 78 771,6 xd 77% xd ___ PRICES OF , AILWA.Y SHARES. Birmingham and Ox ford Junct., calls duly paid, or with a guaran. 20 - Boston, Stamtd & Birm. 5 ""'•'•••••••Caledonian Do. Quarters ......... 12 1 / 2 4 ,14 Do. New 101. Pref. .... 10 ....• liAi .......w Ohester and Holyhead... 50 alt Anglia, 251., L. & E. and L. and D...... 25 - Do., 18/., E. & /1.... 18 - ..... - Do., 31. 10x.......... 3 1 / 2 ..... 2 1 4 Eastern Counties ........ 20 ... 9 1 A ~ i 2 9; Do. New Gua ran t ee d ... 6 per Cent.. Eastern Union, Cla ss A (late E. U. Shares) 25 - ""'•'•••••••.- Do. Scrip (6 percent.) 20 East Lancashire ......... 25 - Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 .. - ........ . Great Northern Do., ' ;2 A Deferred ... 121,4 Gnat North of England.loo . ..... Ditto, New, 301 3O ...... 70 ... Great Western 100 ...... 94 1 / 2 . 95 Ditto, 4 Shares - ... ........ ...... 181 . 20 Ditto, Fifths ...... Lancashire & Yorkshi re 93 ..... - ............... Do. New, Gu a . 6 per ct London & Black w a ll ...... 12 1 4, - South Coast 5O ..... 38% !4......... .. Ditto, New Si., guar 3, 6 per cent. . London and N. Western 100 135 134.. ......... 1331/2 Ditto, New Quarters.. 7 1 ./.tto,Fiftha ..... .. .. 2 ...... ... 8,/8 Lon 4. &S. Wcstern ...... 50 Midland ...... ........ -.100 Do., do., 50/. Shares... l 2 oo s .... ... .. 3 1% % ~ ...... ..: 39 Norfolk ..... N •rth British .. .... ... 25 .... 14% .. . . .. .... 14% North Staffordshire ...... 17 1 / 2 .... .... 13% 14 ...... ... 14 Scottish Central ......... 25 ...... 23%.. Shrewsbury and Birm... 11 ...... 6 53/ . 23% •538 Ditto, New Guaranteed 8 .... 9% % . 9 South pastern ........... 33 ... - - Do., N 0.2. ............ 27 1 / 8 . . .. 16 ---. 16 South Wales ............... 33 ....-- 16 ....-- South Y or k s hi re, Don- 15 1 h caster, and Goole ...... 8 Wilts, Somerset,& Wey mouth3334-- . Vork, Newcastle, ... 45 25 - - 21 %•••••-•-• ••• Berwick. .... Do. Newcastle Eaten yo D k o. an G :: N N . o E r . t l l l , l%. ls lcir d e l n an ce d 8 0 4 7 4 1 .4 .. .... ..... ... .. .. . ... .. .............. Ditto, Preference l O5 FOREIGN RAILWAYS 8% ••• • • ....• ...... c ßr ri l t o r g a n i e ot un t d ra A ne m e ie ( n o s. x ..... 10 Vierzon) 20 East Indian: 3 14 4 i/ s 37,E, „ • ...... . Namur and Liege ... .. - .. .. ... ..... .. Northern of France l3 ...... 11 1 4 ... ~ Orleans and Bord eaux Rouen and Havre ...... 20 - .•• Sambre and M euse2o ... ...•.. -• Tours and Nantes 9 ...... N......... ..... PAID. BUSINESS DONE CLOSIN ( AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES. 5 1 1, 3334 24t. 7 1 4 44 L 87/8 14% 11 1 4 3 1 / 2 22 1134 MINES. Australian .......... ...... 3 ...... JOINT STOCK 8AN1V...-. London & Westminster. 20 Union of Australia ..... 25 ...... ..... , MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. crry ip7-ER The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were about 5 000 bales, of which 1 000 were for expert. The market was firm and closed with animation. The Ame rican kinds at 4id. to 42d. having recovered the depres • sion they were under. The import since Friday last is 50,000 bales. The receipts are now falling off, but not to the extent calculated. Railway Shares were heavy at rat her lower prices. The letters by the America steamer from the 'United States and Canada were delivered yesterday afternoon. In reference to the commerce of New York, it is stated that, "compared with 1846 there has been a falling off every year since ; but, compared with last year, there has been an increase in the last week this year of 830,930 dollars in the importaticn of merchandise, and of 48,469 dollars in the importation of specie. The drafts on the assistant treasurer of this port for the week ending the 17th instant emount to 246,284,17 d dlars, showing an increase in de posits for the week of 462,104 dollars. The amount on deposits in the hands of the as sistant -treasurer at the close of business yes terday, was 2,173,000 dollars. It will be seen by this that the deposits are rapidly increasing, and that the amount all eddy en band falls but little short of that previous to the payment of the in stalment on account of the Mexican in demnity. The new Secretary of the Treasury has nut distributed the public fpnde as ra pidly as anticipated, and the only hope now is in the reduction in the importations, and through that a depletion of the treasury. The season has become pretty well advanced, so far as importations for the spring trade are concerned, and the probability is, that the bulk of foreign goods suitable fur this trade has been received. As soon as the imports fall off, the deposits will be reduced fast enough to satisfy the most bitter opponent of the system; but we fear this will fail to produce the relief antici pated Irma such a movement." The Ostend mail just arrived, informs us that at the Bourse at Amsterdam there was less doing on Monday, the Dutch stocks being somewhat lower, owing to sales for account. Spanish and Portuguese were much the same; Mexican was rather lower, and Peruvian was in request. Prince Henry of the Netherlands, is to have the duty of announcing to Queen Victoria, the death of the late King, and will at the same time return the insignia of the English orders. The Prince, it is said, will be ap pointed Minister of Marine. There is nothing very positive from Germany by this opportunity, in reference to the Danish war, but certainly the indications are not altogether favourable, as the preparations on both sides continued active. The Moni tear I'rusaien of the Ist inst. appoints three Generals to the command of the Prussian contingent to be sent to Schleswig, but a satisfactory impression seems to have been produced by the fact that the Danish Court had been ordered to go into mourning for Prince Waldemir. The Danubian principalities are about to be occupied, according to the German papers, by 45,000 Turkish troops, but on the other hand it is reported that Russia will oppose this. The Lisbon mail brings intelligence of a new proposi tion to tax home and foreign dividends. The Madrid and Valentia dissentient shareholders are likely, we hear, to come to an understanding with the directors, and many' have already acquiesced. The arrangements for the appointment of an agency to administer the financial affairs of the Peruvian Go vernment are said to have all but completed. The grain trade is very slow to day for all articles at Monday's prices. The arrivals of foreign include 18,300 quarters of wheat, and 10,180 of oats. The Funds have been further depressed in con sequence of the statement from France of au insurrection having occurred among the troops at Vincennes, and the apprehensions of renewed hostilities in Denmark. As a counterpoise we hear that the King of Prussia has refused to become Emperor. Consols were marked 92* to 4 for Transfer early in the morning, but are now 924 Time deal ings have been effected at 92f to Exchequer-bills have realised 445. to 475. premium. Rather unexpectedly, Messrs. Schneider and Co. have sent a notice to the Stock Exchange of their willingness to pay three-fourth of a half -year's dividend, that is 11. 17s. 60. per cent. This is, of course, acceptable, and it is hoped there may soon be enough remitted, say by June, to complete the remaining 126. 6d. The following is a copy, and it will be seen contains other conditions:— " New Broad -street mews, April 4, 1849 " Sir,—On the 2d instant we took leave to commu nicate to'you, for the information of the Committee of Spanish American Bondholders, the receipt by us of a sum of money on account of the dividends on the Mexi can Consolidated Debt. "The fund in our hands for this purpose is still short of the sum required for the payment of the first half yearly dividend on the said debt by about 27,0001. "In order to afford to the bondholders under these circumstances every accommodation in our power, we have issued a notice, of which we beg to enclose to you a copy, stating that we are ready to advance to the bond holders three-fourths of the amount of the said half yearly dividend on the deposit in our hands of the divi dend warrants representing the said dividend, charging interest on such advance at the rate of four per cent. per annum, until the date at which the payment of the dividend may be made. " The Committee are aware that we have to allow inte rest to the Mexican Government on the funds remaining in our hands from time to time, until the dividends are paid. We remain, &c., (Signed) JOHN SCHNEIDER and Co. G. R. Robinson, Esq., Chairman, &c. Very little business has been done i❑ Foreign Stocks. Mexican are 31k to being dull. Grenada realise 18 2Equador are 32 I. Brazilian have been 791. Vortuguese Four per Cents, have not been affected by the news above referred to, being 28 3 . Spanish Three per Cents. have realised 30'. French Three per Cents. have been quoted 57f. with the exchange at 25f. 25c. Dutch Two-and-a-Hall per Cents. are 49 4 1 to 504. Shares are dull, and the quotations generally are flat both for home and foreign Railways. Nothing has been done in Bank or Mine Shares. MARKET NEW.-(TIIIS DAY ) English Scotch ..... Innh. ........ I Foreign ...... 18,300 THE BRISTOL MURDER. TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF ANN THOMAS. FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) GLOUCESTER, TUESDAY NIGHT. The Gloucestershire Assizes opened here on Thursday last, and the trial of Ann Margaret Thomas, on the charge of having, on the 3d March last, murdered her mistress, Miss Jefferies, by beating her on the head with a stone, was appointed for this day. Mr. Baron PLATT took his seat at nine o'clock, at which hour the Court and all the avenues were crowded to suffocation, so that it was only with the greatest eif ficulty that the barristers and those having business,: on the circuit could force a way into the Court. Ar large num b er of females were among the audience. vcry The Counsel retained for the prosecution were ?Mr, Whitmore and Mr. Skinner; Mr. Sergeant Allen de fended the prisoner, but only cross-examined a few 11 it nesses. Mr. WRITAIORE opened the case in an excecdinc,lY temperate speech, and then called a great number of witnesses, who fully supported his opening. The sa no witnesses were examined on the trial as on the coro ner's inquest, with the exception of the girl Sullivun, who was not called. The case having been closed, Sergeant ALLEN addressed the jury for the . He did no t d eny that the death of the deceased had prig( b nier een caused by the act of the prisoner ; but urged the :cup position that it was done in the heat of passion in ot )12- sequence of provocation, and therefore that the crime amounted to manslaughter only. The Learned JUDGE summed up, and the jury, aft ,er retiring, found the prisoner Guilty of murder. .'His Lordship then passed sentence of death on the prisoluier, who fell down in a fainting fit, and was carried ou:t of court. MANSION-HousE.—Yesterday eveni ng th e L oord Mayor an d the Lady Mayoress entertained at din 1 ier the M aster, Wardens and Court of Assistant s of the Fruiterers' Company, and about 40 ward of Far r i ng d on Without, gentlem en o f . the STATE OF TRADE, MANCHESTER. --The news fl'i 3111 India has much relieved the market. There has ti en more activity yesterday and to-day than for some ti me past. Yarns for India have advanced in price, and clod the are firmer than last week. During the former part et . last week there was scarcely any business transact,' -el. The market presented a singular contrast as compe l ed with the activity at the beginning of the month. T ho month commenced with a spirit of confidence and active speculation; prices were rising, and the prediction Is as current that they would continue to do so. The mot ,th closed, however, with inactivity, marked caution, a nd declining prices. The fact is, that speculators have ge no from one extreme to another. The check which the f all in prices has caused, and the stagnation of the last fi !w weeks, have had a beneficial tendency; and as the injury which undue speculation inflicted on the market - e .as but trifling, and as business generally has been carri ,ed on on sound principles, there is every prospect of prit •es soon recovering a natural position, and of a large atno4 int of business being transacted. TRIAL OF Rasa, -_ OBSERVER. A gratun supplement, of 20 extra columns, will be pttb )ished with the Observer of Sunday, April 8. This gratis halt-sheet is intended to render the Trial of Rush complete i n t h e two Observers. That of Sunday, A I )61 the 1, gav e 10 f ol i o columns of this important trial, brought down to S a t ur d ay night at Norwich by Obser reporter s w i t h an express special train. The extensi ver ye publication of th e O b server commences at five o'clo ck Sunday morning; the Monday's Edition (best for the country and abroad) at four Monday afternoon. Asi x pence 1, or six p ostage stamps, enclosed to Mr. Clement, return of post jun , 70, Strand, will i nsure a copy of the Observer 'by BIRTHS. ---- On the Ist inst., at St. James's-place, the Lady Maria tPero.rtman-square, the wif e Ponsonby, o f a d aug ht er . On the 31st ult., at Clifton-road, S t. John's -wood the widow of the late H. Dart, E sq., of a daughter. , of O w n . t H h e. Holmes,3 31st ult., , E i s n q ~ Baker - street, of a d aogh At Brighton, on the Ist inst., the wife of Lieut.-Colotiel Hope Gibsone, ult.late at 7th D ragoon Guard s , o f a daughter. intosh, l'il.D., of a d O 28th , Torquay, the l a d y of Charles H. Mack- daughter On the 28th ult., at Kensington, the wife of Richard Valpy, jun., Esq., of a son On the 2 9th ult., a t O ld Brompton, Jane, the wife of R. Gunter, Esq. of a daughter. M AWE On the 29th ult., at Down Church, William Beardsworth, second son of John Fox, Esq., of Farnborough, Kent, to ham, K Maria,ent. on daughter of the l a t e Phili p Eaton, Esq., of Wick ly On the 29th ult., at Colchester, Algernon Wells, Esq , of Upper Clapton, to Susannah Frances, eldest daughter of Isaac Sewell Esq of Stamford-hill. , Di i 7 Li. - ---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - . - ;On the Ist inst., at Herne-hill, Surrey, Robert H u tt on, Esq., a ge d 51 . On the Ist inst., T. Williamson. Esq., of Somers-place East, New road, St. Pancras, aged 70. On the Ist inst., at Bourninouth, Dorset, J. Quincey, Esq. On the Ist inst., G. Priestley, Esq., of White Windows, Yorkshire, and the Grove, Bucks, aged 63. On the 31st ult., Miss Corbett, of Footherly-hall, Lich— field, aged 74. On the 30th ult., at Cheltenham, Jane, the wife of William Burnside, Esq., of Lansilowne-place, Brunswick-square. On the 29th ult., at Reading, the Rev. J. Lawson, rector of Sherborne St. John, Basingstoke, Hants, aged 35. On the :i9tli ult., in the Crescent, Southampton, Robert Smith, Esq , aged so. _......_ London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the :-.avoy, in the countv of Midd.leiezt, Wednesday, April 4, 1849. CORN EA.CI - IA.Z.i GE— 'WEIDA ESDA.I The supply of Engli , th Wheat en of4 T in to-day was very limited. The best kinds were in moderate r, quest at Monday's quotations. All other qualities im'e dull, and late rates were with difficulty supported. Th accounts respecting the appearance of the young Wiwi: plants are very favourable. Upward s o f 18 ;000 quartet of foreign Wheat have arrived this week. This larg arrival had a d-pressn.g iLfluenco tiro,' the demand fc ali descriptions, at barely last week's decline in value The show of foreign Barley was good, that of Englis. small. Fine malting samples d full currenciel Grinding and distilling sorts were a mere drug. Ma dull, and the turn in favour of the buyers. We have re ceived 10,180 quarters of foreign Oats this week, yet th show of samples was not to say extensive. A node rat business wrus doing at late prices. Beans, Peas, India. Corn, and Flour moved off heavily. ARRIVALS Tills WEER. Wh,!at. 1 Barley. Oats. 1 Flour 1,040 qrs. 1,50 qrs. i 1,210 qrs. 1,370 - -- cl I -- I 5 ,210 10,18 -- 0 1 Malt, 850 ors. 13012.01TG1A 310:e MallallT. Our market continues to be very moderately supplies with fine 1:lot , , the &mind for which is tolerably stead; at full prices. In the middling and inferior kind scarcely any busin ess i s d o i ng. New flops:.—Sussexpockets, _l4 to 3/; Weald of Kent ditto, ; 2/ I2s to 3/ 8s Mid end East Keut ditto, 3/ 3s to 61 lOs per cwt. wziT.LCILAPIEL. The general demand ruled heavy at barely stationarj prices. B,ef, trum 2s 2d to 3s 4d; Mutton, 2s 8d to 3: 8d; Lamb, 5s 4d to 64 4d; Veal, 3a 4d to 4s 4d; ant Pork, 2s 10d to 4s per Blbs. LLOYD'S 61-11 PPING.—( THIS DAY.; LONDON, APRIL 4. Wind S., light breez e and fine. COWES, APRIL 3.—Wind W.—Arrd. Ilarmonie Lagus, Rio Janeiro, and sailed for Altons. PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 3.—Wind N.N.W. to W.— Arrd. Hall (st.), Reynard, Gibraltar, left 16th ult. Ski. Planet, Bermuda and Jamaica. DEAL, APRIL 3 . —Wind S.W. to S.S.W.—Arrd 2d, Nova Scotian, Corning, St. John's, New Brunswick, Arrd. from the River, 3d, Promise Retallick, River St , Lawrenca ; Woodbine, Skevet, New York ; George Wilkinson, Brown, Quebec ; Ceres, D' Auvergne, Hon. duras; Ramble, Hutchinson, Jamaica. Sid. Susan,;Collins, INassau; Honor, Jannahill, Constantinople; Promise, Sydney, New South Wales; Cromwell, Adelaide, South Australia ; Richard Thornton, Batavia ; Hirundo, Panama. FALMOUTH, APRIL 3 . — Wind N.N.Vir.—A rr d. 2d, Richarond Csteatnobden, S t ewart,t Lond on, for Bombay. Sld. Canter, Ayres, and sld. f or A nt Off port, Fli rt, Buenos Cayes, an d s ld . for werp; Marie A nto i nette, Aux Antwerp; Bourse'D'anvers, Von Coppenhole, flavannah, and aid. for Antwerp, with loss of boat, and mainur4st sprung; Effort, Bromhead, Moul mein, and sld. for Hull. OFF TriE WIGHT, APRIL 2.—Emigrant, Anderson, Richmond, and sailed for Bremen. PLYMOUTH, APRIL 3.—Wind N.W.—Sld. Victoria, Cardiff and Jamaica; Fanny, Prince Edward's Island; Queen Victoria, Quebec; Alicia, ditto, DARTMOUTH, APRIL 3.—Wind N.W.—Sld. 2d, Ca in e°, Quebec; Emma Zoller, ditto. bu rg OFF h, fo r California DUNGENESS, MARCH 29'—Magdalena, Ham . OFF DOVER, APRIL I.—Louisa, New York, for Antwerp. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 3.—Wind S.—Arrd. 2d, Goldsworthy, M acao; Eliza Caroline, Bell, Cynthia, N leans ; Dibdi n, K eane, ditto; Swan, Taylor, ditto ; O sd, Bling, Boyd, Shanghai; Mary Ellen, Porter, Mauritius; Courugh a ier, Now Orlean s; B erl i n, Smith, ditto; David, Galilee, Van, ile; Ocea n Star, Williams, ditto; Acadia, Savannah. Sld. 3d, Dickey Sam, Lima; Ox ford, New York; Townsend, Boston; Patruces, Rezotuf, Paspebim; Mary Ann, Waddington, Quebec; Amy Arm, Thomson, Montreal. TORBAY, APRIL 3. Wind N.W.—Sid. 2d, Leonnais, New York. Corm, APRIL I.—Arrd. Hebrew, Blanchard, Mobile, for Liverpool, leaky. J)UBLIN, MARCH 31.—Wind S.S.E. to S.—Arrd. April 1, Talentire, White, Mauritius ; Si mon Hardy, Gore, Barb a d oes. CLYDE, APRIL I.—Arrd. Jane Brown, Leitch, Per nambuco; 2, Arethusa, Lyon, Trinidad; Conrad, Bar clay, Mobile; Hindu, Fisher, Demerara, with loss of foremast, main topmast, mizen topmast, and bowsprit, OFF GUERNSEY, MARCH 30 . — Lightning, Du Frog* Pernambuco, and sailed for Rotterdam. KINGSTOWN, APRIL 2.—A small vessel was seen lying at anchor, dismasted, about 4 miles S.E. by E. of Wic.k low /lead, by the Elizabeth, Adamson, arrived her e. Arrd. Ann M‘Lester. New Orleans. 47 p 47 p 47 p 281 A, 28N 16% 16% 30N 3 27 25 1 / 2 5 1 4 24 1 4 11A 181 19 3 4 17k 42% 11 20 181/:1 11% 5% 24 24%