The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-18 00:00:00

LAW IN TELLIGEN CE. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, May 17. (.Before Commissioners Evaxs, FARE, and Saar- HERD.) IN RE BEADLE, A BUILDER. The above Court was held respecting a sum of 1901., which the bankrupt had to account for. He had (as we understood) ,gone to a friend and ob tained the receipt for the sum of 1901., as though money lo that amount had passed between them, when, in paint of fact, it had not, and, upon being examined as to what he had to say about the transaction, he admitted that be had got his friend to oblige him with the receipt, no consideration having passed between them, and that he could not account for the 1901. The Learned COMMISSIONERS were unanimously of opinion that the bankrupt should stand committed. The order of committal was then made out, and the bankrupt placed in the custody of Mr. Cooper, the messenger. (Before Mr. Commissioner PANE.) IN RE T. N. KERR. The bankrupt, a miller and merchant, described as of Biggleswade, Bedford, and Ilolme Mills, came up .on the balance-sheet, prepared by the official assig nee (.Mr. Cannan), to pass his last examination. The ba.lanee•sheet embraced. a period of one year, and showed the debts and liabilities to amount to 9,7601., 2,0061. of which was contracted by the bankrupt's late partner, and 2,0001 on account of the firm. The assets ate—good debts, 8561.; doubtful 505/. ; and property, 1,9271. His HONOUR having expressed his satisfaction with the accuracy of the accounts, the bankrupt passed. (Before .Mr. Commissioner SHEPHERD.) IN RE ROBERT JONES. The bankrupt, described as of Castle-street, Hol born, commission agent, came up to pass his last ex amination. Mr. Duncan supported the bankrupt, and Mr. Lucas opposed, on the ground that the accounts were unvouched, and that there no assets. HIS HONOUR adjourned the case sine die, granting protection for three months, with liberty to apply again. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS and a full Bench o Magistrates.) Yesterday, Richard Evans, a somewhat elderly man, of gentlemanly appearance, and an artist by profession, surrendered to take his trial upon an in dictment charging him with having assaulted and wounded Mr. John Prescott Knight, R A., and secretary to the Royal Academy. Mr. Clarkson appeared for the Royal Academy, and Mr. Bodkin for the defendant. On being arraigned the defendant pleaded Guilty. The particulars of the case were a snort time ago given in our police intelligence. The defendant, it will be remembered, called at the Royal Academy in reference to the rejection by the president and council of some pictures he had sent in for this year's exhi bition, and, on seeing the secretary, made use of an insulting epithet, and struck him a blow on the head -with a stick, inflicting a severe contusion on the upper part of the forehead. Bonilla, addressing the Court, said that he appeared on behalf of the defendant, who was a gen tleman of some reputation as an artist, and of high honour and respectability. Taking into considera tion the evidence upon which the magistrate acted in sending this case to this court, he (Mr. Bodkin) felt that the defendant had no legal defence to the charge, and he had recommended the defendant, therefore to adopt the course he had just taken of pleading guilty to the indictment. Of course, nothing could justify the defendant's conduct in strikingl Mr. Knight, but the defendant was anxious to address some observe tions to the Court to palliate in some way his offence, and there were present a number of gentlemen, one of whom was Mr. M. D. Hill, Q.C., who would speak to the high and gentlemanly character always borne by the defendant. Mr. CLABKSON Slid that he did not quite compre hend what his friend Mr. Bodkin meant when he said that the defendant had no legal defence to this very serious, and, he must say, aggravated charge, for, as far as he could see, there was an entire absence of everything that legally or morally could afford any palliation or excuse for the gross conduct of the defend ant is making an unprovoked and unwarrantable assault upon the secretary of the Royal Academy. His actua ting motives had their origin in the rejection by the council of some works of art which the defendant was anxious to have exhibited to the public under their sanction. Such conduct was not to be tolerated in this country, and he trusted that the Court, be fore it acted upon what the defendant might urge on his own behalf, or on the evidence of those whore be might call to his character, would refer to the deposi tions, or have Mr. Knight examined, so that it might learn fully the particulars connected with the affair ' • and, in dealing with the defenda nt, the Court would, he felt confieent, feel bound to make an example of a person who had conducted himself in the unjustifiable manner the defendant had. Mr. BODKIN said, he very much regretted that the observations that had fallen from his Learned Friend evinced none of that feeling of consideration which a public body like the Royal Academy might be ex pected to exhibit towards a gentleman who, in a mo ment of excitement, was betrayed into a breach of the law. He must say that his friend's observations were of an extremely severe chtracter. Mr. cLARKSON understood that what the defendant had to urge in palliation was to assert that Mr. Knight applied language to him which, unquestion ably he applied to Mr. Knight. Mr. Sergeant ADAMS told the defendant that he was at liberty to address any observations he pleased to the Court, but he had looked at the depositions, and must say that whatever the defendant might say co uld only be of service to him if said in a spirit of apology. The defendant then handed in a written document, in which he most solemnly denied that the assault he had been guilty of was in any way a premeditated one, or that it arose from any feeling of resentment at the council having exercised their right tc reject the pictures he had sent in, but from a feeling of indig nation, and in a moment of excitement consequent upon the prosecutor having applied the epithet of " scoundrel" to him. He then went on to state that on the 27th of April he received from Mr. Knight a circular requesting him to fetch away his pictures as the Council had declined to admit them to the exhibition. Not thoroughly understanding it, he called at the Academy, and as the circular bore the signature of Mr. Knight, asked to see him, with the view of having the nature of it explained. When Mr. Knight appeared he produced the circular and asked its meaning. Mr. Knight's answer was, that it was the usual circular sent to artists whose pictures were rejected, and upon being pressed for a further explanation, Mr. Knight told him to go and ask in another room. He (the defend. ant) then said, as Mr. Knight was the secretary and servant of the company he ought to be able to explain himself what was issued with his signature. Upon that Mr. Knight took hold of the circular, and threw it from him with great indignation, saying that he was not the servant of the Academy, and that he (the defendant) was a "dirty scoundrel" to say so. Mr. Knight was about to leave the room, when, irritated at the epithet that had been used to him, and without consideration, the defendant raised his stick and struck him on the head. He denied that he held the stick by the thin end to strike with the thick one. He was quite aware that Mr. Knight denied having used the word "scoundrel," but he bttributed to error, anti not to wilful falsehood, that denial. He said that it was apparent that Mr. Knight had but an imperfect recollection of what took place, and those witnesses who gave evidence as to who first used the word " scoundrel" were mistaken, if they were guided alone by the sound of the voice (not being in the room), and they might not have recognised Mr. Knight's voice, as he spoke in an exasperated tone. He begged, in conclusion, the merciful consideration of the Court. Mr. Sergeant ADAMS directed Mr. Knight to be sworn, and he then asked him, on his solemn oath, whether he used the epithet "scoundrel" to the de fendant ? Mr. Knight positively denied the assertion. He believed that the defendant used the words "filthy scoundrel" to him. Mr. CLARKSON said that the defendant's palliation was imputing to Mr. Knight that which was not true. The Learned Juane said that he could plainly see how the affair stood. The defendant was an artist, and, having some favourite production, he was anxious to get it into the exhibition. No doubt he thought it was a very grand work (and he by no means in sinuated that it was not), but those who did produce great works were oftentimes denied that success they perhaps deserved; but because the defendant was dis appointed in his wish to get his pictures hung on the walls of the Royal Academy he was not justified in assaulting the secretary, as he had done Mr. Knight. The effect of the document the defendant had handed in was to aggravate the offence, and had he evinced a proper spirit of contrition no doubt the Royal Aca demy would have been disposed to have the case dealt with leniently. Considering the defendant's position in life, the Court would not send him to prison, but at the same time it would impose such a fine as would mark the case as one of which an example should be made. Tne sentence was that the defendant pay to the Queen a fine of 251, and that he enter into his own recogni • zance in the sum of 401, with one surety in 201., to e" keep the peace for six months. .' 4 " Tee fine was paid, and the recognizances having ti been entered into, and the surety given, the de:entlant was liberated. A number of gentlemen connected with the Royal Academy and the arts were present, and the case ap peared to excite great interest. e Lord Ribbltaisle hes arrivad in town from the Ccn. '~~~ THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY lB, 18419, in bringing about the appointment of a committee that had made a report which must provo of grt at service to the property.—(Loud cheers) lie could see no analogy between this company and the Eastern Counties, for in this case the committee of inves tigation had exonerated the Chairman from all blame, while in the Eastern Counties it appeared the chairman had been most culpable.—(Cheers.) No doubt the directors and the Chairman had fallen into error, but they had not erred wilfully, and now that they had got an excellent and cheering report upo❑ the exist ing condition o' their line, he hoped their future efforts would be directed towards carrying into effect the recom mendations which that report contained. Appoint paid accountants and auditors, as the report recom mended to the directors, and then they would guard aga inst future error, and secure an efficient manage ment of the line.—(Cheers.) . _ _ The resolution was then put and carried by a large majority, only three hands being held up against it. The CHAIRMAN then moved a vote of thanks to the committee, and in doing so, he took occasion to express a hope that the company would continue to have the as sistance of some of its members either as directors or as auditors . 1 --(Cheers.) Mr. RENSHAW, the Deputy-Chairman, seconded the motion, and hoped that ere they met again, he should have done something which would show that he was not unworthy of their confidence.—(Cbeers.) The motion was then put and carried with acclamation. Mr. L. MOZLEY briefly acknowledged the compliment, and warmly repelled the insinuation that he, or any member of the committee, had acted as the puppet of the directors. He pledged his honour as a man that every word in the report of the committee was based upon strict truth, arrived at after a long and tedious investigation, and it was too bad now to he taunted with partiality by a gentleman who confessed that he had signed 288 cheques as a financial committeeman without knowing what they were for. With respect to what had talleu from Mr. Wilson, he could assure that gentleman that the paper bullet he fired at the committee—he meant his letter— received the utmost attention, and it had been entered on the minutes as a record, either of the folly of Mr. Wilson or of the importance of his document. If the committee had remained investigating every mare's nest submitted to them, the committee would have been sitting to this day.—(Hear, hear.) Now, let by gones future ined and having discovered the errors the concern b g had o b h. y t :;: e ll s en into, let them turn their entire at tention improvementthathe signed of the the eund cheques as Mr. THOM SON ex as a din otor, and not as a committeeman. The CHAIRMAN said, at the last meeting it was agreed that two auditors should be appointed at this meeting. Was it the wish of the meeting to appoint auditors now, or to depute the accountant of the Committee of laves ii4ation to examine the accounts of the next half-year, and at the next meeting appoint them as auditors, with a salary? The meeting elected to adopt the latter course. Three hearty cheers were then given for Mr. Mac gregor. A - VOlCE—Three groans for Thomson. Three very dismal groans were accordingly given, Mr Thomson joining in them. Mr. Thomsozi—Gentlemen, if I had come here as a thief I should have been well received, but this is the treatment an honest man always meets with. The meeting then broke up at four o'clock. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Constantine Askwith, a German, was brought be fore the Lord Mayor, in the custodyof Daniel For rester, the officer, who apprehended him in Holbrach, in Lincolnshire, under the circumstances detailed in the following evidence : Mr. John Lee, clerk of Mr. George Lee, ship agent, in Crutchedfriars, said—On the 16th of April the pri soner called at our counting-house, between 12 and 1 o'clock, and said his name was C. Brand, that he was captain of a Russian ship, and that he had just left the vessel, which was called the Russia, a little below Gravesend ; that he had employed as his brokers, occasionally, Messrs. Sack and Bramen, and likewise Messrs. Cazenoth and Schluton, butthat, being dissatis fied with the manner in which these firms had transacted his business, it was his intention this time to employ , Mr. George Lee as his agent, for the purpose of re porting the ship and doing other necessary business connected with her at the Custom- house. He said he was not in a hurry to report his vessel that day ; in. deed, he was, he said, without the quarantine certifi cate—a document necessary to be produced upon the occasion. His object in leaving his ship at Graves end was to go to Bristol, in order to pay a visit to a lady to whom he going to be married, and he would return on the following day, when he would expect the vessel to he up, for the purpose of reporting her. He produced bills of lading, and a manifesto in the German language, representing the cargo to be timber, planks, &c. He then particularly directed my attention to an indorsment on the bill of lading authorising him to sell the cargo, and remit the pro ceeds to the consignee. "By the by," said he, " be fore the report be made I wish you would go to Messrs. Sack and Bramen to see whether anything is lying there for me," and he wrote an order to these gentlemen to deliver up any letters which might have been received there for him. I accordingly sent one of the clerks of our establishment to Messrs. Sack and Bramen's, and he brought back two letters which the prisoner read in my presence, and put into his pocket without making any comment upon them. He then inquired whether we could recommend him to any respectable person who would undertake to copper his bran new ship, as he called her; and we said ,we would do so. After some conversation as to the most eligible docks in which to place his ship, he said "By the bye, I want a little money."—(A laugh.) It is customary with us to advance money to captains of ships upon their arrival from abroad ; and believ ing that the representation was corrects, I asked him how much he wanted. He said 251., and I imme diately counted 25 sovereigns into his hand. We spoke upon various matters, and he seemed to be ac quainted with several Prussian captains, some of whom he named. He signed a memorandum for 25 sovereigns, and he showed an anxiety to start for Bristol by railroad by the next train, and had a cab at the door. I told him the next train would go off at two o'clock, and he said, " Good bye," and I think he said, " God bless you."—(Laughter.) The LORD MAYOR—You have not been on board the Russia, I dare say ? Witness—l should have been happy to see her. I looked in at Lloyd's next day and found there was no use in making further inquiry about the vessel. I never saw the prisoner since until last night, upon his arrival in the custody of the officer. The LORD MAYOR—You are sure the prisoner is the man ? Witness—Yes. I have two witnesses who can identify him. I believe there are other cases of the kind against him. Prisoner—l want an interpreter. Ido not under stand the language. Mr. Lee and three other persons said the prisoner unfit r•tood the language well ; and Forrester declared that, on the journey to town, the prisoner showed that he understood the English language well. Prisoner—`• Ido not know it." He then said, with great rapidity, that the witness was quite mis• taken ; th it he had never been at Mr. Lee's office at all ; that he never had received or asked for 251. there ; and that a similar mistake had been made before as to his personal identity. Mr. James Henry Lesley, clerk to Mr. Lee, said —I was in the office on the 16th of April, when the prisoner called, slid I was the first person who spoke to him. I can corroborate all that the last witness stated. I heard the money counted out to the pri soner, and I fetched the two letters from Messrs. Sack and Bramer's, and delivered them to the pri soner. Prisoner—This man I have nothing to say to, but that he is the servant and the witness of his master. I don't know any of the people at all. If they mis take my person I can't help it; it is no fault of mine. Another clerk in the office of Mr. Lee also con firmed the evidence as to identity, and the prisoner was remanded until next Thursday, when it is expected that a number of gentlemen who have been defrauded will attend. BO W- STRE ET. Jane Newman, cowkeeper, of Upper Gower Mews, near Gordon-square, was summoned, under the late Nuisances Prevention Act, to answer the charge of having suffered large quantities of offal, sour grains, and other filth to accumulate upon the premises in her occupation, to the annoyance and danger of the families residing in the immediate neighbourhood. The name of Sir J. Romilly appeared upon the in formation as one of the complaining parties. The serious nature of the nuisance having been proved by several of the parishioners, The defendant, who keeps about two hundred cows, replied that the premises had been in the same state for twenty years without having been com plained of. Mr. JARDINE told her that such a plea would not avail against the present Act, and accordingly di rected the immediate removal of the nuisance. John Scanlon, late porter at the Freemasons' Tavern, in Great Queen street, and at the Whitting ton Club, in the Strand, was charged with stealing several articles of plate, &c., the property of his em ployers. The prisoner had pawned some of the articles, in cluding a gold pencilcase, identified by Mr. A. E. Bacon, of the Freemasons' Tavern ; and at his lodg ings the officers found a quantity of crockery, glass, Sac., no doubt belonging to the same establishment, besides some forks, spoons, and several books, the property of the Whittington Club and Metropolitan Athenaeum, where he had received temporary em ploy. The prisoner made no reply to the latter charge ; but with respect to the first denied that the gold pencilcase was ever the property of Mr. Bacon. He was committed on both charges. MARLBOROUGH-ST RE ET. Emma Harvey, a young woman who had evi dently sustained very serious injuries, was brough t before Mr. Hardwick, charged with having stolen a gold watch and other articles from No. 8, Lower James-street, where she had recently lived as servant. It was made known that the young woman, on gaining intelligence that the police were in search of her, and on seeing them enter the house where she had taken up her temporary residence, in Shire-lane, suddenly threw herself out of a two pair of stairs win dow into the yard beneath. The prisoner, in conse quence of the injuries she had sustained, was allowed a seat within the bar. Mr. Henry Newman said he lived at Nantes, in France. On Monday last he went with his wife to Windsor, aid returned about six o'clock in the after noon. Before he set out on his journey, he left a gold watch and chain in his room, and there were some stockings and other articles on the sofa. When be returned at six o'clock, the watch and several other articles of property were gone. The prisoner, who was servant in the house, had also disappeared. An assistant of Mr. Attenborough, pawnbroker, Fleet-street, produced the watch, which had been pawned by a young woman who gave the name of Emma Foster. Police-constable Quarterman, 361,, said, from in formation he received he went to 4, Serles'-place- Fleet street, and tried to get into a room on the second-floor. Hearing a noise at the back of the house he went into the rear and found the prisoner ' lying on the ground insensible. Witness procured a cab, and caused her to be removed to the hospital. In defence, the prisoner said, she went to a raffle the other evening and met with a young man who went home with her, and after some conversation, he induced her to take the watch. The young man stole the other things. Prisoner afterwards pawned the watch, and gave the young man the money. The young man afterwari!s took her to the theatre, and she did not return to her place as she was afraid she should be accused of the theft. The prisoner was removed to the House of Deten tion, Clerken well, until Saturday. WORSHIP-STREET. Mr. Hugh Burgess, of the firm of Heathfield and Burgess, experimental chemists and naphtha distillers, in Prince's-square, Finsbury, appeared before Mr. hammill, to answer an information exhibited at the instance of the parish authorities of Shoreditch, charging him with having suffered to exist upon his premises an alleged dangerous nuisance, which was pronounced, upon the certificates of several medical practitioners, to be highly injurious to the health of the inhabitants of th . neighbourhood. Mr. William Bullock, clerk to the Board of Health of the district, conducted the prosecution, which ex cited an unusual degree of interest, and several trus tees of the parish attended to watch the proceedings. Mr. Bullock stated, that in con-equence of almost incessant complaints being made to the board by the occupants of the houses in that neighbourhood of the bad effects produced upon the health of themselves and families by the noxious vapours arising from the napththa distillery established within the last few months upon the defendants' premises, he waited upon them, accompanied by a deputation, about three weeks since, to point out the evil and request its im mediate suppression, which they as-ured him should be at once effected; but, as the complaints had been since renewed that the nuisance still continued with almost unabated force, he felt it his duty to adopt the present course to insure its abolition. Mr. John Dichman, an inspector under the sani tary Board, proved the existence of the nuisance on the 7th of March last, when he visited the place, and that it consisted of a most noxious effluvium, arising from the refuse matter deposited in the distillation of the naphtha being discharged from the defendants' distillery into two contiguous drains extending along a densely populated court closely adjoining their premises, and that upon again visiting the place a few days since' he found the cause of complaint still existing. Holland, the warrant officer, gave similar evidence, and stated that a great number of the inhabitants had complained to hint of the deleterious effects produced by the vapour in question, and that several of them were then in attendance to give evidence of its con sequences to themselves. Mr. Richard Pares, a master turner in Horseshoe alley, stated that one of the defendants' drains passed under his workshop, and threw off such an over powering vapour, resembling the fumes of burnt shell-lack, that he and all his family were affected by the most strange sensations, pains in the head, and giddiness, and that some of his workmen occasionally suffered so severely from its effects that they were seized with a sort of stupor, and compelled to suspend their occupation. They were obliged to keep all their windows constantly closed to exclude the effluvium, but having been induced a few days since to open one of them for the admission of air for the benefit of his daughter in-law, who was then in the last stage of consump tion, and now lay dead in the house, she was almost instantly seized with a violent retching, produced by the vapour, and complained that everything she either ate or drank afterwards was impregnated with the taste of naphtha. Upon that occasion, notwith standing the essential necessity of the patient having fresh air, her medical attendant, Dr. Herring, who visited her at the moment, ordered the window to be immediately closed, and expressed his decided opinion, subsequent to her death, that such an atmosphere was calculated to greatly aggravate her disorder and pre clude her recovery. George John Pares, son of the last witness, de scribed the sensations he had repeatedly experienced whilst at work from the exhalations referred to, which caused such a sensation of giddiness, contraction of the chest, and general prostration of strength, that his tools dropped from his hands, and he was com pelled to abandon his work and to seek purer air before he felt at all restored. Upon one occasion he suffered so severely, that the injurious effects con tinued for four or five days afterwards, and his wife, who was in apartments some distance from the work shop, complained of suffering the same symptoms, although neither was subject to such attacks, and both were in excellent health previous to the distilla tion being carried on there. A married woman, named Jane Martin, also de posed to the pernicious effects produced upon her and her family by the vapour proceeding from the defen dants' laboratory, which was so intolerable that, whenever she had occasion to open one of her closets contiguous to the party-wall, she was forced back by the stench, and was obliged to retreat from the room to allow it to escape. _ _ Mr. F. Ingoldby, a surgeon in Finsbury-square, stated that upon visiting the court in question the atmosphere was so impregnated by the fumes of naphtha that he was seized with a violent attack of coughing, which lasted a considerable time, and the usual effects it produced were nausea, loss of appe tite, rejection of food, irritability of the mucous membrane, spasmodic action, and a general failure of health. The witness handed in a certificate describ ing its injurious effects upon two of his patients, named Archer and Cressall, residing in that locality, and similar certificates were produced from three other surgeons to the like effect, and stating the nui• sance to be such as to call for immediate suppression. Mr. Travers, who attended for the defence, assured the Magistrate that his clients had used every effort they could to mitigate the evil complained of as soon as they were made acquainted with its existence; and to prove that its effects were not of the destructive nature alleged, he had then in court one of the de fendants' workmen to establish that although he was exclusively engaged in this distillation he enjoyed the most perfect health. Mr. Bullock said that there could not be a mora conclusive proof of the deadly effects of this vapour than the fact a man who bad been employed to cleanse an adjoining sewer since the notice had been served on the defendants had been taken out in a state of insensibility ; and, besides its pernicious effect upon the health of the poor inhabitants, it was so seriously detrimental to the value of the neighbouring property that one gentleman, who was rated at no less than 2271. for poor-rates alone, had complained that he was losing all his tenants in consequence, and that he would be unable to retain one of them unless the nuisance were supprossed. He proposed to call a number of other witnesses to speak to facts similar to those before stated, but Mr. HammiLr. said that, after the convincing evi dence just detailed, there could be no question that the nuisance was one of a most dangerous character, and he should therefore make an imperative order fur its entire abolition within 98 hours, and, further, re• quire the defendants to pay all the costs attending the prosecution. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY. The CHAIRMAN (in continuation from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday) said—He had yet confidence in the success of the line notwithstanding the difficulties it had to pass through. It must be remembered that in the year 1846 they were running trains at reduced fares as an experiment,and for a purpose. Then they,were contending against.par ties who were anxious to rob them of their traffic by making Mid-Kent and North Kent lines, and he ap pealed to the meeting, in such a state of things, while they were struggling against false legislation, would it have been wise and judicious to have charged 31,0001. for counsel's fees, and 30,0001. paid for the withdrawal of opposition ?—(No, no.) Se much, then, for that policy. and now let him add that the directors were prepared to carry out the recommendations of the committee, and at the next half-yearly meeting the direction would be remodelled.—(Cheers.) Mr. LEVY said it was useless now finding fault with the report of the committee. They were appointed by the shareholders, and the question now was were they honest men,? Be agreed with the Chairman, that : ,the line was one of the best in England. In fact it passed through a " cultivtated" garden, and it was no use anybody saying nothing to him. Be knew Kent well, and this line was one of the " werre " best in the world.—(Hear and laughter.) It was his opinion that the line long ago would have been a fie. had it not been for the talent and ability of the Chairman, end if he could have his way, he would vote him 4,0001. Nuw that, perhaps, was a stopper! —(Hear and laughter.) However they might relish his suggestion, when they must remunerate the directors for their services. —(Cheers.) He should continue to sup port the Chairman upon all points but the i steam-boat question, and he hoped, as the Honourable Gentleman had come clear through his trial, he would meet the support of the meeting.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. WILSON would not place confidence in the Chairman, nor exonerate him from all blame. The re port of the committee of investigation represented that 270,0001. had been paid in the shape of dividends which , had never been earned, and the meeting, therefore, was not justified in refusing to hear the opposition.—(Oh !) He admitted that the committee was fairly and legiti• mately appointed, but he found fault with them for having conducted their investigation upon an erroneous principle, inasmuch as they took no oral evidence, but insisted upon receiving no communication except it were in writing.—(Hear, and a cry of " Very proper.") He com plained that the moneys of the company had been unduly and improperly deposited in the coffers of the Commer cial Bank of Liverpool. 1:e wrote to the committee, detailing some of these facts, but they had not con descended to notice them in their report, and with the permission of the meeting, he would read his letter. The CHAIRMAN called the proprietor to order. Mr. J. WrLsoN—Oh, you do, eh? The CHAIRMAN - I do; but perhaps if I were to let Sou go on it would be necessary for some one to warn you that you are committing a libel.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. WeesoN was afraid, after this intimation, to read his letter.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and " You don't seem to be afraid of anything.") He could see no difference between this case and the Eastern Counties, and he could place no further confidence in the direction.—(lronical cheers.) It was too bad to tell them that 20,000/. had been lost in running experimental trips, or that heavy parish rates should be p e a s i r d li b am ec e a n u t s , e n th o e r ir c e ou h l a d irm it an be wa to s le s r o at m ed oic t h ha e t ngg 3 a oo e2 in 00t dividend, e sh r o k u ie l v d d.o b i e cl p i,v : h id elvre a hh s yad a yoiutgaorneeo a t which had never been a pretty fellow not to know ! Where do dividends go but into the pockets of the share holders, and if the 300,0004 were to be refunded, you will have to stump up some of it.—(Laughter.) Mr. J. WiLsoet would pass over that then—(A laugh) —but on another occasion he would say something more to them about their affairs. At present he hag said enough for them to cogitate over till their next meeting; and there be should leave the meeting, thank ing them for their at ention.—(lronical cheers.) Mr. BAKER saw a strong similarity between this"com pany and the Eastern Counties Company. The Chair man and Deputy-Chairmen appeared to have been the managers of the concern, and the directors their puppets. So it wan with the Eastern Counties Company. The meeting, no doubt, well remembered the circumstances which led to the retirement of Mr. Baxendale, and he would pass it over; but there was cne circumstance which he should be glad to have explained. Since Mr. Macgregor bad assumed office no less than eighteen directors had resigned, while their successors, a short time before their election, were not qualified? Why, whom did the meeting think had been elected to the ~eputy chair, in the room of Mr. Pritchard, who resigned ? Why, no less a person than Mr. Hen shuw, who, on the 25th of last November, held not a single share in the concern.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") Then, again, one man had been elected a director who had been turned out of the Eastern Counties; and if the meeting wished to place their property on a safe footing they would at once set about reforming the direction. Mr. C. HOLLAND thought they owed a deep debt of grstitUde to tho,oppoition, who bad ben ihstruamtal RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MAT 17. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Share Market to-day was somewbat better, but the principal transactions were in Great Westerns and Bristol and Exeters. Great Western, Quarters, were done at 5% Bristol and Exeter, Thirds, 11 dis. LIVERPOOL, MAT 17. Sroce Exciutroz.—The Share market opened rather firmly to day, but was not so good at the close of business. The transactions are still limited. However, there was more done in London and Mid land Stock than for some time past. MANCHESTER, MAY 17. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were as follows : Leeds, Preference, 11 15-16 —Dover (No. 4), 6 15-16—Sheffield (No. 1), 7% dis.—Eastern Counties, B—North Btaffordshire, biA dis. - Amoergate, 5 dis. BIRMINGHAM MAT 17. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The following are to-day's transactions: — Chester and Holyhead, 15%—Midland, New 501. Shares, 11 dia.— Shrewsbury and Birmingham (B.), 41. 3s. 8d dis. Shropshire Union, 535. 9d. dis. YORK, MAT 16. . _ _ , STOCK EXCHANGE —The busine s s transacted to-day was as fol lows :—Great Northern, 1034—North British, Thirds, 3X, —Ditto, Quarters, N i —York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 1934—Ditto (New castle Extension), 12% —Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 4—York and North Ilialand, Preference, 4. GLASGOW, MAY 16. STOCK Excuateuz.—The business done in the Stock Exchange to day has been as follows :—Aberdeen, Preference, 41. 3s.—Clyeles date Junction, 61—Glasgow. Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 5334—Ditte, Halves (No. 1), 61. 6s. 6d. — Dit to (No. 2), u }( z . THE BOTANIC SOCIETY. The first of the annual series of flower shows given these meetings is to give an account of all, as, wit h Regent's Park. To report one. of tae ordinary alternations by this society for the ncourageiamtehnetirofgahrodretnicsuilututrhael science took place on Wednesday , of n nearly. The exhibition in question, however , certa inl y surpassed, in quality and quantity, any former show; collections ll and ec t i f o a n v s o uorrablc plants, they resemble o ea c h r other less lent mo t s although, necessarily, the plants %ere of the same kind as are generally exhibited at the fetes given in this early month of the season. The weather was not particularly encouraging, yet there was a very numerous attendance of visitors. The arrangements were precisely the same as in preceding years, and the music was well sustained by bands of the cavalry household regiments in attendance under their masters, Messrs. Tutton, Waddel, and Waet sig. Among the company present were—the Duke of Norfolk, the Duchesses of Norfolk sad Sutherland, the Countes, es of Pembroke and Galway; the Ladies Leveson Gower, Winter, M. Monck, Molyneux, Knightly, Saun• ders on, Haria ou, Sandford, Fellows, A. Hervey, Lygon, Molesworth, Flower, and Ord; the Bishops of Durham and Winchester; the Marquises of Ailesbury, North ampton, and Ely; the Earls of Mansfieli and Delawarr; Lords Durham, Glenelg, Templetown, Alfred Hervey Sondes, Henry Loftus, and Grosvenor; Sirs J. Ramsay, J. Hamilton, W. Fremantle, D. Capel Brooke, J. L. Lusbington, J. Drummond, J. Felluwes, J. Cockburn, T. R. Gage, J. Johnson, J. Campbell, F. Booth, M. Wyatt, and W. Newton. The following is a list of the first prises for the various collections of plants:— For 30 stove and greenhouse plants, to Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence ; for 20 plants, to Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart.; for 10 plants, to Mr. Carson, for single specimens of new orchids; to Mr. Mylam and Mr. Smith, for new or rare plants iu bloom ; to Messrs. Veitch and Son and Messrs. Hender son and Co., for plants of economical interest ; to Messrs. Veitch and Son, for Nepenthes sanguinea ; for Alpine plants, to Mr. Wood, Norwood ; 'for six species of pelargoniums, to Mr. Parker, gardener to Mr. J. H. Oughton; for Cape heaths, to Mr. Mylam, gardener to Mr. S. Rucker, Messrs Veitch and Son, and to Mr. Cole ; for greenhouse azalias, to Mr. May and Mr. Fal coner, gardener to Mr. A. Palmer, Cheam; for 25 or chids, to Mr. Mylam ; for 15 orchids, to Mr. Plant, gardener to Mr. F. H. Schroeder; for exotic ferns, to Mr. Williams, Hoddesdou ; for pelargoniums, to Mr. Cook, Mr. Dobson, Isleworth, and Mr. Parker ; for fancy pelargoniums, to Mr. Moseley and Mr. Gaines; for pansies, to Mr. Turner; for calceolarias, to Mr. Gaines ; for cinerarias, to Mr.lvery,Peckham; for roses, to Messrs. Paul and Son, and to Mr. Terry. FIRE AT AN OIL WAREIIOUSE.—Wednesday morn ing between two and three o'clock the inhabitants of Plough-yard, Shoreditch, were alarmed by a fire in the premises belonging to Messrs. Gabey and Wells, oil merc h an ts and ginger blea c he rs . Th e eng in es o f the London Bri4ade promptly attended, and the firemen succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not until about four cwt. of ginger was destroyed, and other property considerably damaged. Neither the premises nor their contents were insured. SUICIDE.—On Wednesday an inquest was held at the Elephant and Castle, St. Pancras road, before Mr. H. M. Wakley, on the body of Frederick B. Murrell, aged 53, late captain in the 6th regiment of foot. It appeared that the deceased had resided since the 30th of last month at a coffee- house, No. 77, Waterloo-road, and had been in a very nervous and , excited state, attributed by th os e who knew something of his affairs to the less of 1,6004 by the failure of the Nottingham Bank. He left his residence at s even o ' c l oc k on Thursday evening last, and at tw e lve o ' c l oc k was f oun d i n t h e R egent ' s C ana l, at Battleb r id ge. What l e d to hi s di scovery was t h e re port of a pi sto l , heard at the adjacent lock-house. The lock- keeper then went to the bridge, and on the towing-path under it found two pistols, one of which was loaded. The deceased was soon after discovered in the river quite dead, and an examination of the body disclosed a wound from the left breast through to the back, evidently the perforation of a pistol-ball. It Ras supposed that the deceased shot himself while standing on the bank of the canal. The next morning Mr. Gould, , his landl or d, received the following letter. which had been p os t e d t h e pre vious night at Battle-bridge:—" Mr. Gould—Wh en y o u receive this I shall have ceased to exist. A pistol will have put an end to all my trou bles, which h ave o f l ate c aused me much misery and wretch edness; i n d eed to the extent that no other remedy was left m e b ut to comm it a dreadful deed, which I hope the Almighty will pardon. and have mercy on my soul. The things I have left at your house will, I trust, sufficiently compensate you for the nine or ten weeks' board and lo dging I had of you. Whenever you again see Miss —, tell her I telt very much pained at her not writing a line in answer to my last letters; also tell her my last thoughts and wishes were for her well-being and hap piness. Now, farewell, &c.—F.M." The jury re turned a verdict—" That the deceased shot himself, but in what state of mind there was not sufficient evidence to show." It were a strange fancy to build up the human character atter the model of the four great orders of architecture, yet probity is firm but simple as the Doric, pride of loftier and more elaborate refinement as the Tuscan. Generosity with the beauty and grace of the lonic, and love, excelling with Corinthian excellence, pAsessing the strength of all, equalled in exquisite orna ment by none.—Eliza Cook's Journal. HER MAJESTY'S BIRT HDAY.—TO. ITIOITONV being the day appointed for the celebration of the 30th anni versary of her Majesty's birthday, there will be a grand inspection of a battalion of each of the Foot Regiments of Guards on the Parade, St. James's Park, in their new uniforms, attended by their respective bands. It will be observed as a holiday at the different Government offices—Stamp-office, Excise, Customs, &c. Her Ma jesty will hold a drawing-room on the occasion at St. James's Palace. The world is certainly more and more sensible of the truth that there is no wisdom, and of course no Poetry, in exchisiraness; and that to promote the happi ness of the masses is to promote that very improvement which will qualify them for enjoying those high and ennobling pleasures now so prized by the fewo—Eliza Cook's Journal. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 17. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. LORDS' AMEND MEN IS. The Lords' amendments to the following Bills were considered and agreed to : Marshland Smeeth and Fen (Equalizatiou of Drainage Rates and Repair of Roads) Bill. Whitehaven Waterworks Bill. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed : Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and Ediubnrgh and Glasgow Union Canal (Amargamation or Sale or Lease of the Union Canal to the Railway Company) Bill. London Gas Light Company (Amendment of Act) Bill. Staffordshire Potteries Waterworks (Extension and Amendment of Act) Bill. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition with respect to some private Bill, the name of which did not reach the gallery, and obtained leave of the House to appear before the Committee on the Bill in his official capacity. PETITIONS. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition in favour of representative and financial reform. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from Dundee against various clauses in the Health of Towns Bill, and a petition from Edinburgh against the Registration (Scotland) Bill. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from the trus tees of the Rugby School, complaining of certain provi sions in the Charitable Trusts Bill, and praying that they might be exempted from the operation of the Act. Mr. BROTHERTON presented three petitions, one from Manchester against capital punishments, one from Toxteth Park in favour of county financial boards, and one from Halsted, in Essex, for the gradual abolition of beer-houses. Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from the Sanitary Commission of Dublin praying that a measure for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages might be extended to Ireland. Mr. OSBORNE presented a petition from graziers con nected with Smithfield Market, praying that they might be heard by counsel before the Committee now sitting. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—MR. HUD- SON'S STATEMENT. Mr. DIVETT presented a petition from 31 share holders in the Eastern Counties Railway Company re siding in Devonshire, making certain grave charges against the Hon. Member for Sunderland in his capacity of chairman to that company. He (Mr. Divett) had furnished that Honourable Member with a copy of the petition, and therefore it would be unnecessary to trouble the House with a statement of the charges in detail. The prayer of the petition was that the House would inquire fully into the charges, and, in the event of their being proved, expel that Hon. Member from the House. The petition was read by the Clerk at the table. Mr. CHARTERIS also presented a petition from sixty shareholders in the Eastern Counties Company, complaining generally of the mismanagement of the affairs, and stating that that mismanage ment commenced almost as soon as Mr. Hudson and Mr. Waddington, both Members of the House, had become respectively chairman and deputy chairman of the company, and had also taken place while Mr. Bagshaw, another Member of the House, was upon the directory. The petition concluded, like the former one, by a prayer, that an inquiry might be made into the conduct of each of those three gentlemen. Mr. HUDSON then rose and appeared so deeply affected that he was unable to proceed for a few moments. He said he came down to that House immediately upon receiving a copy of the petition from the Hon. Member,, although with considerable difficulty, owing to a severe domestic affliction.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") He thought he was, therefore, entitled to the indulgence of every Member in the House while he offered to it some explanation, and some observation with re ference to those two petitions which had just been pre sented to the House.—(Repeated cries of "Hear, hear.") If he had been guilty of the practices which had been imputed to him with respect to the capital and the revenue, without fair and sufficient reason, it might be, perhaps, that he had done so through some error, but he could aesure the House that it was not an intentional error on his part.—(Hear, hear.) His first connexion with the company was in 1845, he believed in the month of October. He received a deputation from the board with a requisition, signed by seven-eighths of the shareholders, soliciting him to become their chairman. He, at first, had some objection to take upon himself the office, but after some pressure he consented to do so. Before then he had no shares in the company, nor any interest in it, and, in fact, he was not connected with it in any way whatever. When he joined it he endeavoured as much as possible to benefit the shareholders and to effect fur that pur -1 pose an arrangement with the then projected London board. Upon his accession to the office he devoted himself as anxiously and as assiduously to his duties as he possibly could.—(Cheers.) He believed that the first charge was that he had raised the dividend for the first half-year from 33. to 9s. without any change in the circumstances of the affairs of the com pany. Now, when he stated the facts of the case, he thought that the House would agree with him that the statement that there was no change in the circumstances of the company was not correct. Atter incidentally stating that the shares were higher in the market before he became connected with the company than they had ever been since, he said that the gross income for the half-year ending July, 1845, was 114,0001., and that in the next half-year it 11.4. d risen to 173,0001., showing an in crease of nearly 60,000 L Ile thought that the House would consider was some justification forgiving a higher divi dend. No two persons seemed to agree as to the ac counts. As far as the dividend was concerned, he thought there was ample reason for recommending the one he had. It was said that the capital had been raised from 5,000,000/. to 10,000,0001. That was not true either. It was said the capital of that company when he joined it was 2,900,0001., and 13,0001. in the Northern and Eastern Company, but instead ut the capital being 2,900,0004 it was 4,300,0001., while the addition of a bonus of 1,000,0001., increased it to 5,300,0001, or 5,500,0001. He had to complain most deeply of the unfair preceedings of the committee of investigation. He had no notice given whatever with respect to it, he had no knowledge of what was passing in that committee—no information was fur nished to him except three or four written questions. —(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") He had nu notice that such a charge was to be made against him as an indi vidual, and when he called upon them yesterday morning with a friend, to see the real position in which he was placed—to see the document which (purported to be in his handwriting, and some of the figures of which it was said he had altered; he had great difficulty in seeing that document, and when he did see it, he was told that no other person should be permitted to see it but himself: When they did consent to let him see it, two of the committee came into the room, and said ey only gave him that permission that he tmid ask no questions nor receive any information.—(Hear.) Now what did the House think of such conduct as that? —(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," and cheers.) He was sure but one opinion would prevail among Englishmen with respect to this—namely, that he should have fair and just information furnished him, when a specific charge was made against him, in order that he might have a fair opportunity of answering it.—(Hear.) But would the House believe it?—that on the testimony of the two gen tlemen who were present, and he dare say he could bring forward hundreds of others, to prove the same—that not one figure in that document was in his handwriting.— (Cheers.) He utterly denied that the document had been altered by him at all.—(Hear, hear.) As far as he could understand the charge made in the report by the accountant, it was t his, that he had altered the sum of 10,0001., and turned it into capital. Nov, he denied that he, iu his individual capacity, had altered tne figures at all. But with respect to the mistake which he had committed he cautioned the House not to pay too much credence to that committee. It was stated by that committee that he authorised the change of 115,000/. from revenue to capital. Ho had no, hesitation in saying that he did not authorise anything of the kind. But this com mittee seemed to be a singular one indeed, for he found, from looking at the working expenses of this line, that the published account showed that those working expenses were 1,2501. per mile. The committee made those working expenses 1,5501. per mile. Now the London and Birmingham is worked at 39 per cent., the Great Western at 40 per cent., and the Leeds and Lancashire at 39 per cent. They would have the House believe that this line could be worked at 55 per cent. This was brought forward against himself as a grave charge. If it were true he should deeply regret that he bad been betrayed into such an error; but he thought the House would agree with him that the committee which had reported in such a manner, and with such an animus, bad shown that they were not now entitled to that credit from the House which the report, if it had only appeared yester day, would have been entitled to. It was insi nuated that he had done this for the sake of profit, but he totally denied it. Let Honourable Gentle men search the share register of the company, and they would find him registered without change for the stock for which his name was registered when he first joined the eompany.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") He still held the stock which he first owned when he joined the compan—.—(Hear, hear.) He did not know any other point which called for explanation. The accountant stated distinctly that any alteration that was made, was made by the directors; therefore the petition ought not to have been directed against him (Mr. Hudson) alone, but against the directors as a body.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Ile held a joint responsibility with those directors. He never signed a cheque of the company he believed in his life. He had merely presided over that company, and he had endeavoured, erroneously, to do his duty. He might have taken too sanguine a view of this undertaking; but he was a sufferer along with the rest from that too sanguine estimate. But he was convinced that this undertaking would yet amply remunerate the shareholders, if the expenses were kept down, and it had been his anxious endeavour to force down those expenses. He threw himself upon the House ; he was perfectly ready to bow to any decision it might come to; he dented that ho had sought to en !lance the shares, or to give an undue value to thou. When he joined the employ there was scarcely a day without a serious a-cident happening on the line, end large sums of money had to be expended on the stock of the com pany. The Reuse would see from a report that had been published that morning that another company had placed 150,0001. to capital, which ought to go to revenue, and that chairman, instead of being blamed by the committee, was praised and extolled by them.— (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") What ought to go to capital s and what to revenue? The Grand Junction charged 14,0001. for repairs, which was taken from capital and paid to the company. There was a charge about interest. Why, Parliament had sanctioned that pay ment out of capital constantly, and he did not know why one law should apply to the Eastern Counties Company, and another to any other company. He was driven to discharge duties of many kinds, and ho left them to deal with the petition as they might deem best and proper. He had no other explanation to give than his total denial that the share figures were in his hand writing, or that he altered them in any way in the paper.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition benches.) Mr. WADDINGTON said it was his most painful duty to have to follow the Hon. Member for Sunderland, and he would do so briefly in the observations which he had to address to the House. He shculd not have thought it necessary to address them if he had not thought some explanation was due from him. In that petition he was charged with being a party to deceiving the shareholders with respect to something like 9,000,0001. of money. He availed himself of this opportunity of first calling the atten tion of the House fur one moment as to how those state ments made their appearance. They appeared from the report of the investigation committee; and his object iu rising was to claim the indulgence of the House to detail a few of the proceedings of that investigation committee as regarded himself, inasmuch as the House had an in terest in his character and in defending him from statements to which he . was not a party. He had, however, alluded to this on a former occasion, when a committee of the shareholders made a charge against him, and which a Committee of that House was appointed to investigate. Ha wished now to allude to it, inasmuch as when he recently addressed the shareholders he charged the committee of investigation with having inserted a clause which many of their body looked upon as expunged, and which was obviously incorrect. He, therefore, called upon the House to bear in mind the evidence given before the Committee ap pointed by the House, inasmuch as he had not the op portunity of correcting any statement which might have been made before it. With respect to what had fallen from the Honourable Gentlemen (Mr. Hudson) in reference to the alteration of the document not being i❑ his handwriting, all he wished to say was that having denied that it was in his handwriting, he had nothing more to say upon the point. He should not trouble the House with the details referred to in the report of the committee, believing that it would not be edified by them. He had already stated that the amount of liabilities mentioned by the committee was incorrect. He reiterated that statement now, and had to complain that the committee had not given him an opportunity of answering the statement during the sitting of the committee. With respect to investigation, he should be happy to bow to any that the House might think proper, believing that they would come to the determination that during the last three years of his life he had devoted every faculty of his mind to promoting the present and future a elfare of the Eastern Counties Railway, and if he had erred in judgment, they were simply errors. He had done all in his power to promote the prosperity of the line, and to put it in a healthy:con dition. Mr HUDSON again rose, and said he was sure the House would allow him to explain a matter which he had forgotten to mention. He was merely going to show the incorrectness of the report of the committee respecting the amount of money stated to have been car ried over to revenue and capital. The committee had forgotten that 720,0001., according to the rules laid down for the working of the line, was due from another com pany to the Eastern Counties, and not 115,0001., as was set down by them, and which ought to have been charged to revenue. This showed that they were wrong in this as well as in other matters. Besides, they had put figures down three times over, and therefore, the House could not place much reliance upon such a report. Mr. BAGSHAW said he stood i❑ a different position to the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Sun derland. The petition stated that there were certain members of the board of the Easter Counties Railway who held no shares (as we understood the Hon. Member). Now he was one of these, as he was principally connected with the Northern and Eastern Railway. It appeared that out of 14,000 proprietors but 60 had been found to sign the pc tition in question. He owed no.allegiance to them; but as a Member of that House he owed it an allegiance, which he was perfectly ready and willing to acknowledge, and bow tu—and not being a very young Member, he wished to state, that if ho were capable of acting as the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Charteris) had stated the directors had acted, he should have been un worthy of u seat in that House. As a member of the Northern and Easter❑ he wished to state that the di rectors of that railway had had a meeting to-day, the whole matter was gone into by his colleagues, and he might be permitted to say that he had been una nimously elected to a seat in the Eastern Counties Board by the self-same gentlemen who hal formerly sent him back. In Justice to Mr. Hudson, he thought it right to state that the last time he went into Norfolk—last year—he, said to him, in the agony of spirit—" Mr. Bagshaw, I have been greatly deceived in these matters." So touch he (Mr. Bagshaw) was bound to say. There were s , v,ral other matters in the Hon. Gentleman's speech which he should, how ever, leave untouched. The peiiti .n was then ordered to lie on the table. Mr. COBDEN presented petitions from Diss and other places praying for a repeal of the malt tax. • CONVICT EMIGRATION. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from the New Zealand Company against convict emigration. Mr. J. S. ‘VOItTLEI presented several petitions in favour of the Marriaee -13111. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY presented a petition from Southwark in favour of financial reform. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. PACKE gave notice of his intention on an early day to move an address to her Majesty, stating the want of accommodation in the present House of Commons, and praying that her Majesty would order the New House to be ready next session. COPYHOLD BILL. Mr. AGLIONBY, in answer to a question from Mr. Heathcote, stated that it was his determination to pro ceed with the Copyhold Bill on Wednesday next, not withstanding it was the Derby-day. Mr. ANS rEY, as the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was not in his place, wished to a.k the Noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown whether he would lay on the table of the House the copy of a letter of the 22d November, 1848, addressed by Under-Secretary Lord Eddisbury to Mrs. Castellari, stating that an Englishwoman by her marriage with a foreigner adopts the nationality of her husband, and even after widowhood loses all claim by right to the assistance of her Majesty's Consul in the place where her husband died, in recovering or ascer taining the state of his property there. And whether he would also lay on the table the instructions which deter mine the conduct of her Majesty's Consuls in such cities. Lord JOHN RUSSELL could not answer the ques tion in the absence of the Noble Lord at the Head of Foreign Affairs. NEW ZEALAND. Mr. AG LIONBY wished to ask the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether any circular or other dispatch had been addressed to, or any dispatch received from, the Governor of New Zealand, on the subject of convict immigration, other than those already presented to the House; and whether any information bad been received on the subject of a Legislative Council being held at Wellington, for the southern province? Mr. HAWES said that no dispatch had been received from the Governor with respect to the meeting of the Legislative Council, but he had reason to believe from private letters, that such meeting had taken place. There had been no dispatches received since those that had been laid on the table. CANADA. Mr. HAWES, in answer to a question from Mr. Glad stone relative to compensation for rebellion losses in Canada, said that no other papers than those that had been laid on the table of the House were in the Colonial office on the subject. SHEEP STEALING. Mr. HAWES, in answer to a question from Mr. Bright, said that sheep stealing was still capitally pu nished in Van Diernen's Land. LAND IMPROVEMENT AND DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the second readin...of this Bill, Mr. GROGAN said if five-shilling and two-shilling rates were struck in the distressed unions of Ireland that the effiacy of the measure wou ld b e ma t e rially inter:ered with. What they wanted in Ireland were zealous, energetic, and intelligent guardians of the poor. Mr. P. SCROPE approved of the provisions of the Bill generally, but what he complained of was that it contained provisions of a most serious character, and did not appear what its name proposed it should be, "An Act fur the Effectual Relief of the Poor in Ireland." In many of the workhouses of that country relief was not given as it ought to be,' and the consequence was that destruction of human life was frightful. In one union alone, that of Ballinasloe, out of 5,000 persons, upwards of 400 died in the course of a week. In Kenmare, they had heard from the respectable chaplain of that estab lishment, that the unhappy inmates were compelled to wear their clothes night and day; a state of things which produced the most frightful consequences, while in Skibbereen, six and eight w ere found to lie in the same bed, the width of which was three . and a half feet, and the length six f eet. Was it not no torious, that the poor preferred dying outside rather than go into the workhouses? He did not mean to say that that was the general character of work . - houses in Ireland, but there ought to be no such in stances. But was the outdoor relief of a better descrip tion? Many frauds were used , a n d in spite of the ut most vigilance, these frauds could not be put a stop to.— (Hear, hear.) Even numbers of those who recei ve d thi s relief bad no house, and nothing for clothing, nothing for fuel. It was the universal testimony that these unfortu nate creatures were reduced to a condition frightful and shocking to all beholders. Some steps should be taken to secure a more adequate relief than was at present afforded. But there was an excuse en account of the deficiency of funds. He thought if a demand was pro perly made, Parliament would not withhold, for the next four months, relief to these starving people, at the rate of three farthings a day; that would be sufficient to pre vent any loss of life, and they need not lose the money. But the productiveness of the soil would done ropy them. The reclamation of the waste lands might afford employment to the paupers; they might, at least, pro ! duce sufficient for their own subsistence. The Society of Friends had succeeded in that plan in some is stances. Common sense told them that if they had idle men, and idle land, to put the idle men on the lan i , They had roads unfinished, and dr a i nage incomplete. it they set to work in a straightforward way, nelli th g would be easier than to make these people self-support lug, and so diminish the poor-rate. The Noble Lord bas often stated that it was the first duty of a Government to preserve the lives of the people. To secure thet, °b ; ject responsibility should be placed somew here. IP: people of Ireland were starvin g i n num b ers , and stePi should be taken to preserve th, m f rom t h e ex tremitY destitution. There should be some rower of conspell ic g, relief where it was properly required. It was true I"' the Noble Lord would tell them the relieving-officer was liable to be dismissed in case of ref us i ng relief, but w b° was the loss of Bs. a week to him, and th at was all th e penalty that could be inflicted for a neg l ec t o f duty °r refusal of relief, which might result i n t h e l o ss of Ka man life. Mr. OSBORNE said that a Committee was sitting ap stairs to inquire into the working of the law, a nd whi, did the Government bring in a Bill t o amen d this Pt law before that Committee bad made its report? objected to this peddling system of amending the lev r ' - : (Hear, hear.) Until they come to something lik e national rate the present s} stem would be, as it 13° „ ) was, utterly inefficient. The Hon. Memb er (M r . Ser o l,l I bad asked what was eight shilling s a wee k ; b ut be ee c tell him that eight shillings a w ee k was a fortune in f " ,," : land. Four shillings a week was the average log e ; He objected to appij ing th e principl e o f th e E ng li s h pc )° ', law in Ireland. In Cashel th e r e was an army o f 10,0 0 v paupers receiving relief every week, and these PI peopie were actually selling their p oun d s o f ye ll o w s m ea t , to obtain clothing. The existing l aw was inefgle c l As to employing the people on waste l an d s , h e feared was not a scheme that would pay, and he objected t this peddling system of amending what was originally; detective scheme of legislation. He would not divide U 1 this Bill, and would wash his hands of' all responsibil it i under the circumstances. Lord C. HA MILTON, who was imperf ec tly be, B , r ,, d i was understood to complain of the absence i n the 1 3 / 1 ' 0 ",, all allusion to the impoitant question of s e ttl em ent. hoped the Government would take some steps to rereaul that grave defect. Mr. CALLAGHAN said he thought this was a Or! . what hurried and imperf ec t way of amending the la He thought that the tenancy Crown lands should be eluded in the rate. These lands had been hereto/ll' exempt. Colonel DUNNE said that he had no confidenc e ill that Committee on the poor-law up stairs. The C 313 1: mittee were completely under the i n fl uence o f t he p c) ,,, - ; Member for Manchester. He wo u ld su pp or t 8 °7 4 clauses in the Bill and oppose others, although agreed with the Honourable Member for Mildiel„ that the Bill would be perfectly futil e , as it wou ld t o , go to the root of the evil. He app rove d o f 6 5,„1 a maximum rate. Why should not that income:, which was paid by abseatees f rom I r i s h proPe l be taxed for the support of the poverty of that countrY bd Irish income, wherever it wa s ex p en d e d , s h o uld , taxed for the support of the pa u p er i sm o f t h at co unt% He thought that the money l a id out s h ou ld b e l a id out, reproductive works. He s h ou ld not t h en di scu ss th e details of the Bill, which cou ld b e most proper ly e ti ", o in Committee. He ro se p r i nc ip a ll y to warn t h e g o o against that Com m itt ee on th e p eor -l aws s i tt i ng up stal,-1, with whose conduct he was quite dissatisfied. Mr. H. HERBERT would defer to the general 0 0 ► e 15 ; 1 11 and avoid the discussion of any of th e d eta il s o f thi5,174 on that occasion. At the same ti me h e cou ld no t T io at the state of Ireland, and the utter break down of i r s poor law, without entering his p rotes t aga i nst t he ciple of the measure, and if any Hon. Member had felt'4l posed to move an amendment h e wou ld h ave divi" 4 l against the second reading, beca us e h e cons id er ed l' o f union rating, which was its main principle, w as one„ f the most dangerous that could be intr o d uce d into 11 7, country. He believed that if they carried this miseb i : i r ous Bill it would utterly break down and fail in its P o leased object. The only effect would be to drag d ° , o l the comparatively well conditioned districts to the 1% 1 of the worst, and next sessi o n th e y wou ld find te.,:j would have again to ask for grants from th e ImPel l o Exchequer or suffer the people to die from starvation e t they were now.—(Hear, hear.) He complained they never had this question of union rating 96 placed before the House. In the present instance, it „" t iit mixed up with other matters, the object b e i ng evidee b y to obtain its enactment indirectly. He would a sk, I' be the average area of taxation in Ireland should nearly 10,000 miles, whilst it was so much small e o r s e. England? He put that question t o th e Right "•:' ps Secretary for Indeed. He had asked him on presO is occasions, why one area of taxation should exist be be England and another in Ireland, and h e t rus ted thi l " o . would not receive a reply. The H o n. Gentleman Pry ceeded to read some statistics of the state of poper.o in the union with which he was connected. On the ag e of May there were 3,232 paupers in the house: tom 0 3 arrangements for this large number, they were f cr e se to distribute them in various buildi ngs . There 1 ; 4 , over 13,000 receiving relief altogether. The mortep was increasing in toe house, though there was no c 0 e lees, and it was as well ventilated an d mana ged as 6 D9 one in Ireland. When he left, the mortality was 1 i ) . " cent. in the week. It had now risen to per cent,' l fifty-three had died in one w ee k. Thi s was i n en ; was called a prosperous union, because it had ase's them for no money, and he had a right to b e proel when he stated, that within the last thirteen moeti.ja there had been collected in that union, without the ~° l, l of a policeman or soldier, 40,6801. out o f an an" ~s, rental of 80,0001. In some places the ra t es had be e 14s. in the pound. The lowest was 6 s . In j.,8. the board of guardians memorialised the Poor-law ur e a missioners to reduce the area of taxation, and de e° to be allowed to carry out the law in a practical wa s but the Commission turned a deaf ear to all their reP4 seutations,• though they neither asked them form ° ,7 0 ( nor relief, but to carry out a clause within our Act be Parliament. The adherence of the Government it c h theories against interfering with a labour market er n ' i al di I cot exist, had ruined that union. Many a land who would now have been employi ng l a b our wa s n°,7,iji despair, and thousands of those who mi g ht h ave tlee" . s o, and profitably occupied, were forced into the workb oll o They were accused of using harsh language ocea sione o lo but be thought, under the se c i rcumstances , they ' f d justified in it. It was th e G overnment w h o h a d c hang e , the language of manly self-dependence into that el„„ye spair and beggary, and wh en h e t h oug h t o f t he 0 7 0 1 not only of the union to which h e h a d re f erre d, bn every other union in the county, he felt that he otbt sufficient justification for any stron g l anguage be 133 ' have W used either on that or former occasions. • Sir . SOMERVILLE said he would confitr,,,s4 observations to a reply to the obj e ctions th a t bad made by the Hon. Members who had spoken, lee / or e the details of the measure to be discuss e d a t a f u t t s ol stage. It was not to be expected that an icar r i o e, measure like this should pass without some oppeen: e c' but he confessed he was surprised at some of the out of tions that had been Made. The Hon. and Ge 111 :lit Member for Portarlin;ston had blamed the Governwits for not waiting for the report of the Committee. r e, thought there was 9011:1e inconsistency in that aloe seeing the lion. end Gallant Member was one Of L ' e tif who, when the Government proposed the appointoirte of that Committee, urged that it should have beeoP f pared with its own measures without waiting , Derr Committee at all.—(Hear, hear.) Looking, hove rge at what had passed last year, he thought the Grev e o cb ment would have been chargeable with a br e ise of faith, if it had not proposed the el)Pieel ment of that Committee. The Committee e el now sat for a long time, and the Govera i el e felt that, in the pr esen t s t a t e o f I re l an d, th e y 1 0 ,4 bound to come forward with suc h measures a s 5e.,,, most urgent, without wa iti ng f or t h e report o f the u_ d y (0 mittee, which mi g ht come so l ate i n t h e sess i on r is e leave no time for its consideration; but though the Ca e l mittee had made no report, it had collected a great t he of evidence, which had been laid on the table el ;c' House, and thus assisted in showing th e way to P r- ol tical amendments in the law. He, therefore, thoegis the Government had exercised a sound discretle e si' laying this Bill before the House, in or d e r t o give Poe tiers time to consider its details, and also for its eir c s rle tion in Ireland. The Hon. Member for Stroud had 1 3 1 0 0 a great many objections which appeared to him 10 4 0 very little connexion with the poor-laws. One insPo' point he had mooted, the insufficiency of the m e a t.) provided for the administration of relief.—(Hear, b a r ed But that was a matter which could be conso l ole when they went into Committee. The Honottr ati st, Member who spoke last had alluded to his coo ato and said that he had on several occasions refuse 6' answer to questions pat to him as to the area of t tion. He did not remember of the question, ae nos by the Hon. Member, ever having been put to h,, 161 fore. The question had been discussed in the Ja t ° o o l and on that occasion he opposed the small e r area 0 ' 000 ation. That was a matter of opinion, however, en vv ,flo the Hon. Member might fairly differ from hitt]. fl oe' Hon. Member seemed to think th a t th e P oor -law `',; o os missioners were bound t o agree to the recommende',.• to of any union that might ch oose to memor i a li z e til ew i j ol make alterations in the area of taxation. That Ws s ,,,ier the case. Parliament h a d veste d a discretional Pieef in the Commissioners, an d h e was o f o pi n i on that le had acted wisely in refusing to accede to the relu e6 o o o , the memorial from the union of Killarney. 111 low case when he was on that Commission, they f ed, agreed to reduc e th e area of taxat i on i n t h e bay et of Drone, in the county of Carlow. They did s tbe t the earnest request of the parties resident fi l o ie barony, who wer e uu i te as unan i mous as they we sbei the Union of Kill arne y ; b ut , nevert h e l ess , when vros agreed to the alteration general dissatisfactionropef created, and imputations o f partiality and im,P f iest' motives were made against the Commission. -- k 6 0 0 hear.) He hoped h o had answered all the flu e° w ie4 of the Hun. Member, as he was desirous of bee the utmost attention to what the Hon. Gentler c .„,7 o - 03 bab , said, feeling as he did that there was no Hon. whose suggestions deserved more consideration ,-- ;: ( .,,, 0 rir hear.) Every attention would be paid by the 11 4 . 7, 1 be went to any suggestions that might be mad e, ti es trusted they would receive every aid in Cornang4 lat make the Bill satisfactory. ference to the omissions in the Bill—what h e sv i s ioe ° tha l\ t ir a ' ll V t E he ß d N is ° c N uss S io li n l w T h il ich sa h i a d d i t t a w ke a n s offer would be with reference to the pru 030 ett contained in the Bill. He thought they were . 00 OL, trodee ti et indebted to the Government for the in • „ 09 the poor.law into Ireland, as it had been the showing the rottenness that existed, in too many.t ha t.rard lace e e rsloiniftioudret; e U e ' (1 had hea r d had been appointed. He was surprised ho of of vvi tthh great r s o u n c t i a a l o s x y i s e t t r y m t o in tl l ie re r l e a p n o d r . • nothing from Hon. Members on the subject town rate in one of the provisions of the Nu popular 1 report s th h o on c ld hooro lo m ok it tuaziraum rate had certainly never, been