The Sun. — London, England, 1849-03-28 00:00:00

111111111. THE SUN, LONDON, _WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 28 ) IM9. STANFIELD-HALL MURDERS. NORFOLK ASSIZES—NORWICH, TUESDAY. (Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.) To-day Mr. Baron Rolfe opened the Criminal Court for these assizes, at the Shire-hall, Castle-hill. The atrocious murders at Stanfield•hall, the alleged perpe trator of which is to be tried at these assizes, has given them an interest far exceeding an ordinary assize visi• tation, and the city of Norwich is fast filling with visi tors from all parts of the surrounding district, anxious to be present at the trial, although, from the size of the court, comparatively few can be accommodated, beyond those who are officially required to be present. To-day the attendance was not numerous, as it was known that the proceedings would be merely preliminary; but there was a large attendance of magistrates, including the Earl of Leicester (lord-lieutenant of the county), and other gentlemen on the roll of the grand jury. About eleven o'clock Mr. Baron Rolfe entered the court, and the grand jury baying been sworn, with the lion. Edward Keppel Wentworth Coke, M.P., as their foreman, and the usual proclamation against vice and iro- morality made, The Learned JUDGE proceeded to charge the grand jury. lie said—Gentlemen of the grand jury, I am happy to be able say, on this, the first occasion that I have had the honour to address you, that the present calendar is not a very numerous one, nor, with one re markable exception, does it present any cases of very great atrocity. But there are two or three to which I think it necessary to call your attention, with a view to guide you in the due discharge of your duty. (His Lordship then commented upon the circumstances con nected with some of the other cases in the calendar, and then proceeded.) I have now addressed to you all the observations which I think it necessary to make of this character with the single excep tion of that atrocious case which I hinted at in opening my address ; and you may possibly expect that upon this case I shall make many observations. But having read over the depositions in the case, on the most mature reflection I think I shall best discharge my duty by saying little or nothing ; and for this reason—the party is charged, as you know—for I need not pretend to doubt that—with the commission of one and even of two murders, and of two other acts which are very analogous to murder. Now, it is true that cases of a charge of murder often present questions of ,great nicety end difficulty. It is often difficult to ascertain whether death was ccoasiolied by the particular act charged, as in a charge of poisoning ; and we are often obliged to grope in the dark to ascertain whether death was occasioned by the wicked act charged against the party, or by the visitation of God. There are other crisis in which it is matter of great difficulty and nicety to distinguish between acts of murder and those of manslaughter ; nod no doubt other difficulties will e.. , ..5]y suggest thmiselves to your minds. And when cases of this kind occur, it is the clut.y of the ju'ige to point out to the jury what the liars of demarcation and distinction are, with a vieev t o help them to arrive at - a reasonable conclusion. But in this czne there is no sort of difficulty. Here it is clear to demonstration that a barbarous murder has been committed by somebody. There is no question here as to what caused death—there is no question as to the character of the offence—the single question is; whose was the:haucl that did it? I have, therefore, nu observations to make on this case which are not common to all CP.SCS that come under the cognizance of the courts of law. You will have the depositions before you, first of the parties who were mere or less present at the commission of the crime, and who will speak, or who are represented as speaking with more or less certainty of the prisoner as the party by whom the act was per petrated. That is a sort of evidence which the human mind eagerly grasps at; and yet it is necessary to look upon evidence of that kind with mere suspi cion than upon other evidence, which, at the first blush, may not appear to be so direct to the point; and for this reason, which all experience goes to conticrin that no one is so apt to be mistaken as when speaking of a person who Las been concerned in a sun den outrage when they have had little time to observe his appearance. That is a general observation, but un doubtedly its effect may be weakened; where more than one speak to the identity of the party, or where the parties have been known before the doubts which attach to this kind of evidence may be removed. You will have before you some evidence of that sort. You wilt also have other evidence tending to fix:the guilt upon the prisoner in consequence of his conduct about the time. It will be for you to consider that conduct, and to judge whether it is consistent with guilt or with in nocecce. Farther, you will have evidence tending to show that there were great and important motives in ducing him to commit the act charged against him. Now, the absence of motives in any case proves nothing, if the act itself be otherwise clearly established; for who can dive into the human heart to say what a man's motives are? But when the question is who committed the crime, it is a satisfaction to the mind to know that attaching to a particular party there are circumstances which might have induced the party to set about the commission of this particular offence. You have, therefore, what may be called evidence a priori— evidence at the time, and evidence of his conduct after wards. It is for you to view this evidence, carefully divesting your minds, as lam sure you will, of all that you may have heard beforehand, and to consider, does the evidence satisfy you that the prisoner is the guilty party. If so, you will find the bill against the prisoner; if not, your duty to the prisoner, and I may add, your duty to the country, will induce you to throw out the bill. Gentlemen, I have no other observations to ad dress to you, and I now request that you will proceed in your duty. The grand jury then retired, and several bills were laid before them, which they returned, and the trials proceeded. We understand that the bills in the case of Rush will not be laid before them till tomorrow. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT.—Kingston, March 27. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE and a Com. mon Jury.) LOUTH V. DRUMMOND, ESQ., M.P. This was an action to recover a sum of money upon a contract alleged to have been entered into by the de fendant to engage the plaintiff as bailiff for a year, and to give him 1004 salary and other emoluments. The defendant pleaded that he had never made such a contract, and paid 141. into court as satisfaction of the plaintiff's claim. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Brown were for the plaintiff, and Mr. M. ,Chambers and Mr. Peacock fur the de fendant. _ _ It appeared that the plaintiff in this action had for.. merly been a farmer, and extensively engaged in agri cultural pursuits, 'and for four years he had been farm bailiff and steward to Sir William Geary upon his estate at Oxenheath, near Tunbridge. In September, 1847, Sir William having declined farming, the services of the plaintiff were no longer required, and he then put an advertisement in a daily paper offering himself in a similar capacity to :any other gentleman who might be in want of a bailiff. The defendant, who is the Member for West Surrey, and who has an estate at Albury, near Guildford, answered the, advertise ment, and in due course the parties met, and it would appear that Mr. Drummond was referred to Sir W. Geary with regard to the plaintiff's ability, and that he was satisfied with the answer; and on the 20th of Octo ber the plaintiff was engaged by him for a year as a principal bailiff or steward, at a salary of 100/. a year; and he was, in addition, to be allowed a house to live in, and vegetables, and milk and butter for his family, and also keep for his horse. In pursuance of this agreement the plaintiff removed from Sir W. Geary's with his wife and all his furniture, and took up his residence in the house provided for him upon the estate of the de fendant, and entered upon his duties; and it did not appear that the defendant made any complaint respect ing him. After he had been a few days at Albury he was desirous of returning to Oxenheath, to attend the sale of some stock for Lady Geary, and ho applied to Mr. Drummond for permission to do so, which he granted; and the plaintiff, accordingly, had only been away a very few days, when, to his surprise, he received a letter from Mr. Drummond informing him that ho must have perceived before that time that the place did not suit him; that he (Mr. Drummond) did not want a bailiff merely to give orders, which he could do himself; but that he wanted some one to see that they were attended to, which, as ho (plaintiff) was al ways in the house, he could not do, and it concluded by advising him to get Lady Geary to recommend him to some other situation. The plaintiff at this time had not been more than a fortnight in Mr. Drummond's service, and there had never been any complaint made against him, and he was, therefore, quit e aston i shed at receiving such an instruction. He immediately returned to Albury, and at his reqnest a gentleman named Ramsay called upon the defendaut in order to endeavour to effect some arrangement; but it appeared that, al though Mr. Drummond did not allege any ground of complaint against the plaintiff, he insisted upon his leaving the premises, and asserted his right to dis charge him at a month's notice, as though he had been an ordinary menial servant. It would appear that a few days after this the plaintiff received a letter from Mr. Drummond, informing him that he had instructed his attorney to take the necessary steps to turn him out of the house which he occupied if he did not remove, as he wanted the house himself, and on the 27th of De cember the plaintiff was forcibly expelled, and all his furniture was removed from the house by several men acting under the authority of the defendant. The pre sent action was brought to recover the sum of 1951., 1001. being for the year's salary, and the remainder for the house rent and additional allowances that were agreed upon to be given by the defendant. A number of witnesses, farmers and others, were exa mined for the purpose of showing the competency of the plaintiff to fulfil the duties of the situation he had un dertaken, and it appeared from their testimony that he had managed a farm of 1,700 acres for Sir W. Gea r y, an d chat he had materially improved the estate. It was also stated that ho was a capital judge of stock, and that his . stock was very much admired, and it appeared that whilect ion.n i Sir Willi am ' s serv i ce he had given entire satis fa Mr. Ramsay, the gentleman referred to in_ the .. abo . ve statement, proved that he had known the plaintiff for his request he called upon Mr. twenty years, and at arrangement could la d e made, apNaerkhikea-s, Drummond to see if any d m one a h st e at ge and; he handed him aonvderthtehneg went s m o or a f. balance that was due, the accounts. After this had been statenamt of the plaintiff's demand, and uspaoidn Drummond a him, which was 1951. 155.; and be looked at it he did not think it was so much. Witness then told him that he had understood the plaintiff was hired as steward for a year, and in that case he was entitled to six months' warning, the same as fora farm. The defendant year, but seemed to t hi n k ad mitted he h a d hi re d hi m for a he had the pow< r of &soh. , ging him Ly a reeloth's noti, e. 17.tnesa then inquired it he had anything to complain of respecting the plaintiff that he wished to get rid of him so "quickly; and he replied that he bad no com plaint to make, but it did not :nit him to keep him, Witness then said that he could not go away imme diately, and reminded the defendant that he had incurred a considerable expense in bringing his things to A lbury; to which the defendant replied, " I can't help that." Be fore he left, the defendant said he had received a good character of the plaintiff from Lady Geary, and he should give him the same. Evidence was then given to show the forcible removal of the plaintiff from his cottage by persons acting under the authority:of the defendant. The horse was turned loose out of the stable ; his goods were put into the street, and he was obliged to take up his abode for the night in the village public-house. Mr. CHAMBERS, for the defendant, relied upon three points—first, that the contract had not been established; secondly, that the plaintiff, by giving up the keys, and rendering up his account, had himself cancelled the con tract, if one really existed; and, thirdly, that supposing no contract existed, all that was required was a month's notice, and that there was no difference between the po sition of the plaintiff, as bailiff, in this respect, and that of any other farm servant. Mr. Baron PARKE, in summing up, left it to the jury to say whether the contract relied upon by the plaintiff had been proved, and said, if they thought it had the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict. He also left to them the question whether it was their opinion that, according to the custom of farming, a person in the position of a bailiff or a steward might be discharged, under ordinary circumstances, by merely receiving a month's notice. The jury almost immediately returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount claimed, less the sum paid into court. His LORDSHIP then asked them their opinion with regard to the power to discharge a bailiff by giving a month's warning; and The jury replied that such was not the custom. HASPER V, REECE!. In this case, which was said to be one of breach of promise of marriage, Mr. Sergeant Sheo informed the Court that the defendant had consented to a verdict pas sing against him, with 1001. damages. OXFORD MC lllT.—Monmovth, March 26. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.) Frederick Williams, 22, pleaded Guilty to an indict ment charging him with stealing a pig's cheek, value 25., at Langstone, the property of James Bowen. He was then tried on another indictment, which charged him with cutting and wounding John Morgan, a constable, in the execution of his duty, with intent to kill and murder him. To this indictment he pleaded not guilty. - 'Die prisoner was committed by the magistrate on the charge of stealing the cheek, and given into the custody of the prosecutor, a constable, to take him to the Usk gaol. lie was handcuffed to Morgan, and went quietly until they came to the turnpike-gfite leading into the town of Usk, when be observed that it was a hilly and moun tainous country, and immediately struck the officer a violent blow on the head. A scuffle ensued, when both fell; but the prisoner being the strongest man, mastered the prosecutor, who, it would seem, was not deficient in courage, but the odds were much against him; he was thrown to the ground, the prisoner knelt on him, took a knife, and tried to cut Morgan's throat, after which he put his finger in his right eye, and endeavoured to force it from the socket; the poor fellow managed to turn over on his face to protect himself, when Williams cut him with the knifo severely on the throat, forehead, and ear. lie tried to get the key of the handcuffs from Morgan's pockets, but did not succeed. A Mr. Churchill passed by on horseback, and gave an alarm, on which the prisoner attempted to cut his own throat, but Morgan prevented him, and in doing so had two of his fingers and the back of his hand badly cut. The prisoner was eventually secured and lodged in gaol, the unfortunate constable was almost smothered in blood, and in such a state that his rela tives could not recognise him. On surgical examination of the prosecutor, Mr. Greatwood found a wound on the right side of the face which partially divided the ear; it was fire inches in length, and divided the integuments completely, extending to the cheek bone. On the throat were two wounds, one over the carotid artery, which was greatly protected by the neckerchief Margan wore. The prisoner was found Guilty on the fourth count, charging him with assaulting an officer, with intent to escape from legal custody. Mr. Justice COLTMAN sentenced him to be transported for 15 years, and ordered three guineas to be given to the prosecutor. No less than eight prisoners were transported in the course of the day for sheep stealing and horse stealing. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CLERKENWELL. Jane Mathews, alias Mary Watt, was placed at the bar before Mr. Combe fur final examination, charged with stealing a banker's parcel, containing 3001. in gold and silver money. Mr. Bush attended for the prosecution, and a Mr. Hare for the prisoner, and the court was excessively crowded. The particulars of the case have already been fully detailed. Mr. Bush now said he had no further evidence to offer against the prisoner. Mr. COMBE inquired of the prisoner's solicitor - whether the prisoner still persisted in giving the name of Mary Watt ? Mr. Hare—l am instructed to defend her by that name. Prisoner (smiling)—My name is Jane Mathews. Mr. Mould inserted that name in the depositions. Mr. CostnE—Then the prisoner stands fully committed to take her trial at the Central Criminal Court next ses sions. Mr. Hare now applied to the Bench for the restoration of six sovereigns and some silver, which were found on the prisoner after her apprehension. Mr. CONDE said he would not make any order about it. Mr. Hare—Then, I apply to your worship for the re storation of the key of the door to the apartments of the prisoner, which contained her clothes and furniture, and so there could be no pretence to say that they were dis honestly come by. Mr. CO3IBE—I have no authority to make such order. You can consult with the police-officer (Sergeant Archer), who is an old experienced officer, and will do everything that is reasonable and right in the matter. Prisoner (laughing cheerfully)—Well, I suppose if they decline giving me up my key, they (the police) will have the kindness to pay my rent.—(Laughter.) Mr. Hare said that magistrates frequently ordered the officers to deliver up property found on prisoners, when there was no proof of its being the produce of theft. Mr. CO3IBE declined making any order on the subject. Prisoner—Then what am I to do? I have not had a change of apparel since I was first brought here. Mr. Hare—We must apply to a judge. Lockerby, S division, said he could give his reasons why the Bench should refuse to make any order in re ference to the restoration of the property. Mr. Hare said it was very hard to detain the pri soner's key, as the rent of the lodgings was going on, and her furniture might ultimately be seised for rent. Mr. COMBE repeated that he had no authority to make any order, and referred her to the officers in the case. The prisoner was then t a k en f rom t h e bar laughing in and when the gaoler's room , A rc h er, Lockerby, and her solicitor had an interview with her, but the key nor the property found upon her were not delivered up to her, and in the course of the day she was conveyed to Newgate in the police van. Since the last examination the officers have used the most active exertions in order to trace the retreat of the man who acted in conjunction with the prisoner at the Cross Keys, but without success. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, March 27.) SUGAR.—Today importers of West India displayed firmness, and refused to sell but at prices equal to those of Friday; there was, however, little disposition evinced by refiners or grocers to do business, and the private purchases amounted to only 150 hhds and tierces. The assortment at market was small, and chiefly of indifferent quality. The public sales of Sugar declared for this week are of little moment, which is to be attributed to stocks in merchants hands being much reduced. REFINED.—To•day Refined Goods were dealt in with caution for home consumption; brown Lumps at 49s to 49s 6d, and Standard 50s 6d per cwt. The market for Bonded Crushed Sugar is quiet, at former rates. MAURITIUS.--This afternoon Mauritius Sugar was dealt in with more readiness, and at public sale 3,100 bags sold at full rates; good and fine yellow fetched 39s to 40s 6d, low to middling 37s to 38s 6d, ordinary to fine grey 37s to 39s 6d, fine brown 36s to 36s 6d, and washed 35s to 38s. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was dealt in with more readiness, and 750 bags at auction sold at full rates; middling and good white Benares realised 405 6d to 41s 6d, damp and washed 40s to 41s. Of Pe nang 123 bags were sold at the full value; middling strong syrupy yellow went at 365 6d to 37s 6d, ordinary 355. 105 casks Ceylon went at 33s to 34s 6d for ordinary greyish yellow, and at 303 to 32s for brown. FOREIGN. —This h i :n a d ft e p r r n i voaotneltyh littleere w as u n s o i n p e u s s b l w i c o s s a le con of there ar e a l so sellers upon rather lower terms. o F I o u F ri e d MOLASSES.—This afternoon the demand was not better for East India Treacle, and 124 pkgs at auction were taken in at 16s per cwt for good quality. casks Plantation C ey l on Coffee are declared. COFFEE.—For public co m p et i t i on on Thursday 400 Today bag s37there was a fair export demand for Coffee, and the parcels sold privately realised full rates. Home dealers continue to operate with caution, and 33s to 345 per cwt is the value of native Ceylon. There was no public sale of any kind. CocoA.—There is much firmness on the part of holders of West India, and none has been offered at pubblic sale. By private treaty much inquiry existed, and for mer 4 rates are well kept up. Trinidad red is worth 42s to ss, fine 46s to 475, and low to fine grey 40s to 435. Foreign is wanted, and the parcels sold were at 27s to 28s 6d. None has been offered at public sale, and pri vately a less amount is on offer. TEA.—Holders of black are not disposed to accept lower rates. On the part of the trade little disposition has been manifested to do business. The value of low and good ord Congou is lid to 8d per lb. Green has been dealt in with caution; and there are sellers rather under former rates; there is also an increased amount on offer. For Scented and Pekoe Tea the market has a dull aspect, and prices are on the decline. Public sales are declared for Thursday; at present the quantity is 17,000 pkgs. For the sth of April 1,150 pkgs Assam. EICE.—The public sales of Rice declared comprise 2,000 bags of Java, 2,000 pockets, 774 bags Bengal, and 100 trcs of Carolina. To-day East India Rice was dealt in with greater freedom by private treaty. Several parcels were sold; mid white Bengal 9s 6d, and pinky Madras 7s 9d per cwt. SAGO FLova.—The demand is good, and 420 bags at auction scald at 16s 6d to 17s 6d per cwt.; th , hc are rough both highe r rht 8. SALTI'L'" .RE.—There h as b een _ an act i ve d emt:nd for tes °t c p o c r u t a r t r i e o n n t ; pre th e fur homear e 1 also consumptionrather above a n d those TicaislY• At %tiotioll 1,000 bags 9f C§lctittis went britiklyi 31 to 51- per cent, refraction realised 28s 6d to 295, and, 17: per cent. 28s to 28s 61 British Refined 31s 6d to 32s per cwt. For Nitrate of Soda prices are on the ad-. vance, and rule at 12s 6d to I3s per cwt. INDIGO.—This afternoon a public sale of 88 serons of Guatemala Indigo went at full rates. Sobres realised 3s 6d to 3s 11d, and Cortes 2s 10d to 3s 5d per lb. Th‘s quantity of Java Indigo declared for public sale by th e Dutch Trading Company is 5,400 pkgs. FRUlT.—There has been much demand for Valencia Raisins, and on the part of holders there is firtunessi. The rates obtained are 38s to 395, and for prime 39s 60 to 40s per cwt. Denia met with little attention, and thi rates taken are 29s to 30s. The stiff prices asked fot Eleme caused the sales to be of little moment. Cur. rants met with little attention for exportation, but home dealers have been buyers to a fair extent at 35s to 4O per cwt, at which holders are firm. COCHINEAL.—To-day the public sales of 173 pkgs 01; Cochineal went at full rates, and nearly all sold; Iler,r duras silvers realised 3s 103 to 4s 6d for ord to fine. I' rev black 4s to 4s 6d, and Teneriffe 4s Id per lb. On Frid say 240 bags Cochineal will be offered at public sale. SPICES.—There has been a good business done in Black Pepper by private treaty at fully former rates ; Sumatra 21 to 2td, Malabar 2-1 d to 2ici, and shot 3d t 313 per lb. None has been offered at auction. Whit( is wanted, and the rates paid are from 4d to 9d for or 1 to fine ; the supply is also small. Of Pod, 24 pk , Ati at auction were taken in at 50s per cwt. For Pimento t he market is firm, but only small parcels have been s.ald from 3Ad to 3id per lb. Nutmegs, low and middling brown selling at 2s 4d to 2s 11d, good to fine 3s to 3s 10d, and limed at 2s to 2s 10d for ordinary to fit le, Mace is wanted at 2s to 2s 6rl, and 2s 8d to 2s 10d for fine. Ginger finds a more ready sale, and prices are on the advance, as the supply is small. Jamaica is quo feel at 6/ to 111 for good and fine quality, ()Cher sorts 31 to 5/ 103, African and Bsrbadoes 28s to 3 la, East India export sorts 22s to 255, arid home trade kir via 305 to 90s per cwt. Cassia Lignea is in scanty supp ly, , and there are several buyers at 90s to 96s per e arc. Cinnamon is held with firmness. Fur Cassia Bu &a, prices rule high, as the supply is scanty. Cloves are •in more active demand; Bencoolen is quoted at is 3d to Is 91 At auction 270 bags African sold at 7bl to for middling dark. Sraarrs.—Leeward Island finds a better sale at Is • Ll-3 to is 5d proof; these are also higher rates, and on tb e part of holders there is much firmness, a small anacen it is on offer. Demerara has been in excellent request, tar d the parcels sold were at 2s to 2s 2d for 28 to 33 per cia it over proof, and at 2s 3d to 2s 63 for stronger. Jamul ea cannot be quoted higher, but exporters and home deals rs operate with more freedom, and holders are less dispoa ed to sell. The value of plain and mid quality 28 to 32 p cent over proof is 2s 9.1 to 3s, better 34 to 36 over 3s 5 el to 3$ Cd, tine and very superior 3s 83 to 4s 63. Form, or rates arc well kept up for Brandy ' • home trade de liveries arc also upon a lar ge sca l e , an d imports are ligl, t. On the part of holders there is also much firmnes s. Geneva met with little attention, and a desire is °vines Ai to sell ord at Is 91 to Is 10(1, and fine for duty at 2a to 3s 4d; the stock is gk tting upon a more extended se:a;e. The m•Jrket is dull for British made Spirit, and tt e price has been reduced 2d per gallon. To-day jia st India Rum was in excellent request at 1 s 3:ld to Ira proof, and several purchases were made in Leeward Island. is 5d to Is 51d is the value of good quality proof. TALLovv.—Prices are on the decline for Russian •on the .put and the trade continue to make purchases with caution. There are aellers of fine P.Y. Candle at 40s, to 40s 3d per cwt, and the tendency is still to recede. For delivery in the last three months of the y ear a good business has been concluded at 41s 3d ti 41s 6d. Home melted is not much — wanted, — 3lll l l is offered at 403 per cwt. net ca.h; the supply is also greater than in the former we e k, and th e consumptiot is also getting smaller. For other sorts of Tall w ,a further fall in the value is visible and the quantity on uffer has been large. The parcels offered at auction were n( arly all sold; 300 packages of New South Wales went at from 35s 3d to 40s for low to fine; 792 ditto S tuth American, 34a 6d to 39s 6,1; 35 casks North. American, 36s 3d to 38,i; 33 casks Tuscan, 3Ss to 395; 4 casks East India, 41s 6d; 5 casks Cape, 4ls, and casks Petersburg Soap, 39s 9d per cwt. For auctici the large quantity of 1,000 packages of Tallow is de'. Glared. OILS.—The amount of business concluded in Linsefad Oil has been small, and former rates are not sup. ported. There are sellers on the spot at 25s 9d per cwt. For delivery the demand has been limited rat 26s to 26s 6d. Rape Oil, brown at 36s 6d, pale 37 s to 38s, and Foreign 38s to 395. Palm, fine 34s to 35,5. Olive has not risen in the value, but several purchases have been made ; Gallipoli at 431 to 431 10s, and other sorts 401 to 461 10s. Cocoa Nut, 345 to 37s per cwt-, at which the market is firm. There is no change for the better in the position of the market for Fish Oils ; deliveries do not fall off, and imports are of little moment. Of Cod only small parcels have been sold at 261 103 to 271, and more desire is evinced to realise. Seal has been dealt in with caution, and prices are on the decline ; pale selling at 301 to 314 other sorts 271 to 291 103. In the market for Southern there is much dulness, but as the supply 15 small, holders are enabled to obtain for trifling parcels of ordinary and middling quality 281 to 291 los, and 301 to 321 for good to fine. A public sale of 100 tons flat) Sperm Oil is declared for Friday. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1849. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*236 Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ~. 38 Turbercular Diseases... ... 174 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 130 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 41 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ... 179 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ... ••• ••• Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, & •.. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, ISLC• ••• ••• ••• Malformations... Premature Birth ... •• ••• Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Old Age Sudden ••• ••• ••• •• ••1 ••• Violence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance Causes not specified ... ... .59 ... 18 ... 13 ... 26 ... 29 ... 30 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 27. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo: sack at Five o'clock. The Bishop of CASHEL presented a petition from an Irish clergyman, praying for an additional grant to schools connected with the Established Church in Ire land, and gave notice of a question for Thursday to the Ministers on the subject. The Bishop of I:LANDAFF presented a petition in favour of the Bill for the punishment of seduction. PETTY SESSIONS BILL. Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of the Petty Sessions Bill. The object of the Bill was to give magistrates the power of holding courts of petty session in cities and boroughs in the same mlnneras in counties, so that cities and boroughs should possess the same privileges with regard to the constitution of courts of petty session as counties. Another object of the Bill was to enable magistrates to hire premises for the holding of petty sessions, so that they might not be obliged to hold the petty sessions in places of public entertainment, and be exposed to the fumes of gin and tobacco. In the other House the only objection was that this portion of the Bill was not com pulsory; but the Noble Marquis (Salisbury) objected to the Bill that it gave to the magistrates the power of hiring a place for holding petty ses sions elsewhere than in places of public entertainment. The Bill proposed to give to the Court of Quarter Sessions power of ordering the en etion, purchase, or hiring of proper places . for the holding of p e tty ses sions, the expense of which was to be defrayed out of the county rates. The Marquis of SALISBURY opposed the motion. They would have to provide 750 places for holding petty sessions, and these would cost at least 5001. each, which sum would have to be defrayed out of the county rates. He moved, as an amendment, that the Bill should be read a second time that day six months. The Earl of MALMESBURY also opposed the Bill, on the ground of the increased burdens it would cast on the distressed agricultural districts. It was not amo • meat, when the country wes occupied with the great question of local taxation, to bring forward such a pro position as this. They should not agree to give any ad ditional powers to the county magistrates until the whole system was revised. He also thought that personal pro perty should be made to contribute to the burden, as real property was compelled to do. Lord CAMPBELL having replied, Lord STANLEY said that so largo a sum as 170,0001. a year cn a single county should not be permitted to be levied by the magistrates without the control of the rate plyers. Re hoped, at, all events, they would strike out the clause which enabled the justices to provide accom molation for themselves, by erecting buildings which might give rise to great abuses. Lord BEAUMONT did not object to the provisions of the Bill which extended the jurisdiction of the county magistrates to cities and boroughs. After a few words from the Earl of MALMESBURY, The amendment was withdrawn, and the Bill was read a second time. The Out-door Paupers Bill was then read a third time, _ . AUSTRALIA. Lord MONTEAGLE then rose to ask whether it was the intention of Government to introduce a Bill during the present session for effecting changes in the constitu tion of Austrzlia. ; and, if such intention was entertained, whether the disratches or other papers would be laid be fore Parliament, showing whether such changes have been made known to the Council, and to her Majesty's subjects in Australia ? Earl GREY said he was anxious to introduce the 8111, and with that view had endeavoured to obtain a relaxa tion of the rules of the other House of Parliament, but had nut succeeded. The papers alluded to hae been laid before the other House of Parliament. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 27. The SPEAKER took tho Chair at Four o'clock. PRIVATE RUSINESS. On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, it was agreed hat the report from the Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills, in the case of the petition for additional provie:on in the Manchester, Shc nick', and Lincolnshire Railway (consolidation and amendment of Acts) Bill, laid upon the table of the House on'Friday, the 23d inst., be read; and that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Bill that they have power to make provision therein pursuant to the prayer of said petition. REPORTS. The reports on the Argyll Canal (abandonment of undertaking, &c.) Bill; and North-Western Railway (extension of Lancaster branch, abandonment of Wit liams-land branch, New-road, to settle station, extension of time for purchase of lands, and construction of works) Bill were considered. DUBLIN CONSOLIDATION, IMPROVEMENT, WATERWORKS, AND SEWERS BILL. Upon the motion for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. TIMOTHY O'BRIEN moved, by way of an amendment, that it be read a second time that day six months. Sir JOHN YARDE BULLER suggested that all the Bills relating to the subject of improvements in Dublin should be taken up by the Government, because it was quite manifest that no amicable arrangement could be come to by the parties in Dublin. Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE said the Govern ment had taken very great trouble to bring about some satisfactory arrangement between the parties, but he regretted that their efforts had as yet been unsuccessful. It was, however, right that they should consider the general interests of the great bulk of the people in Dublin, and he begged , to say that he was prepared, provided he should receive the support of the Housa, to bring in some measure which would obviate the ob jections entertained to the present Bills, and put an end to the differences between the contending parties. Mr. GROGAN said he had but one object in view— vie., to get a good Bill for Dublin, and he would suggest that the present Bills should not at once be thrown over board, but should remain in abeyance until the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland was in a posi tion to ascertain whether he could bring in a measure that would meet with the satisfaction of the House. Mr. S. HERBERT thought that the only chance of getting a good Bill was to place the matter in the hands of the Government, and he hoped the House would not consent to the proposal of the Hon. Member, that the Bills should remain in abeyance. Mr. W. PATTEN recommended that all the Bills should be at once withdrawn. Mr. REYNOLDS said he had listened to the state ment of the Secretary for Ireland with great pleasure and satisfaction, and he congratulated him and the House, and the inhabitants of Dublin, who had so long been under local mismanagement, that the powerful hand of the Executive was about to be applied to the cor rection of the evils under which they now laboured. So limited was the municipal franchise of the city of Dublin, that instead of having a franchise of 20,000, they had only one of 2,900. Besides, great dissimilarity existed between the system pursued here and in Dublin. These persons were rated to the poor at 41., and pos sessed a vote in Dublin, nor could they do so unless they were rated for 10/.—(Hear, hear.) There the administration of the rates was in the hands of seven boards, six of which were self-elected, and who employed 69 collecters to gather in 2 00,0001. a year. Each board consisted of a staff of commissioners, secretary, collec tors, and lawyers—lawyers without end—(Laughter)— each, in fact, was a royal court in miniature, and each estimated itself so highly that it would be as difficult to get an interview with one of them as with a Prime Minis ter.—(Laughter.) Now he asked the House to relieve the ratepayers from their intolerable burdens. He was favourable to the withdrawal of the Bills, and if, when altered, representation was made the basis of taxation, he should assist the passage of them through the House by every means in his power. Mr. T. O'BRIEN would withdraw his amendment, on the understanding that the second reading of both the Bills should be postponed. Mr. GROGAN could not consent to withdraw his Bills. Lord LINCOLN was of opinion that by refusing to allow the Lord Mayor of D u bli n t o w i t hd raw his amendment, and by rejecting both Bills introduced by Mr. Reynolds, the House would be much more likely to conduce to the benefit of the city of Dublin. M. HUME thought if the House postponed the second reading of the Bills without limit, probably they should not have any Bill brought in on the subject by the Secretary for Ireland this session. He would beg leave to suggest that those Bills should be postponed, and that her Majesty's Government should undertake to bring in a Bill. _ _ Sir W. SOMERVILLE thought the speech of the Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down was not very complimentary to him; ho proposed to keep those two Bills hanging over his (Sir W. Somervill e ' s ) h ea d, in order to induc e hi m t o bring in a Bill.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He thought it should be preliminary to any Bill being brought in by the Government that both the Bills should be withdrawn or rejected. Mr. J. O'CONNELL thought it was hard upon the corporation of Dublin that their Bill should be given up. If the Bill was allowed to stand over, the House would be as competent to dismiss it a month hence as at this moment. The gallery was cleared for a division on the amend ment of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, " that the Bill bo read a second time this d a y s ix months;" but on the re-admis sion of strangers, it was ascertained that the amendment had been carried without a division. DUBLIN CORPORATION WATERWORKS BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, it was moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a se cond time this day six months. The House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ••• ... ... 126 Against it ... ... ... ... 34 Majority • •• • — 92 The Dublin Improvement Bill was withdrawn. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to ask the Right lion. the Secretary for Ireland when it was likely that the Govern ment Bills would be introduced. Sir W. SOMERVIL•LE replied, as soon after Easter as possible. BAKEHOUSES. Mr. STAFFORD gave notice, on behalf of the Noble Lord the Member for Middlesex, that on an early. day he sho u ld move f or l eave t o b r i ng i n a Bil l for limiting the manufacture of bread in bakehouses to certain hours of the night. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND.) Sir JOHN YOUNG brought up the additional report or the Select Committee on the poor-laws (Ireland). HIGHWAYS IN SOUTH WALES. Viscount EMLYN asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Ho me D epartment, whet h er i t was t h e i nteution o! !ter llaje:3ty' s Gc . vemtacnt to introduce mtr.v intasure for the mu:cm:molt or the highways in south Wide 6 during the present kir. C. LEWIS said the Government had found it ' impossible to bring South Wlvles within thee 'scope of the Bill at present before the House with respect to the management of highways and i turnpike trusts; but if that measure received the satisfaction of the Hcuse it was the intention of tho ' Government to assimilate the law of South Wales to that of the rest of the kingdom. Mr. B, DENISON said, as a great number of county Members would be called out of town next we ek to attend their respective sessions, he wished to know whether the Hon. Gentleman would have any objecti ore to postpone the Bill for the present? Mr. C. LEWIS said, in order to meet the gene cal convenience of the House, he would postpone the second reading of the Bill until the 18th of April, the first Wednesday after the Easter recass. HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. Mr. GLADSTONE asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce during the pres ant session any Bill for the purpose of adding to or altering any of the provisions of existing statutes, has , ing reference to the territories of the Hudson's Bay C. =- patty in America, with a view of giving facilities to the proceedings of the company, or of any settlement fore aed under it in Vancouver's Island ; and if so, whether s ach I3ill will certainly be introduced at an early period. Mr. HAWES was heard imperfectly in the gallery, but was undt rstood to reply that it was not the intention of the Government to bring in any measure beyond t.b.at vt hick was introduced into the House of Lords by his Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies. NOVA SCOTIA. Mr. DISE AELI gave notice of :motion with refe rence to the grievances complained of by the inhabitants of Nova Scotia. BURIALS IN TOWNS. Lord DUNCAN asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the intention of the Government to bring in any measure for the prevention of burials in large towns ? Sir GEORGE GREY said such a Bill as that referred to was in preparation. TRANSPORTATION TO SOUTH AFRICA. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the commis sioners, wardens, and others of Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, saying that the Government would act unjustly if they converted that colony into a penal settlement. Mr. MUTT rose to present a petition from the land owners of South Australia against transportation to that part of her Majesty's dominions. The SPEAKER said the petition did not relate to the matter before the House.—(Laughter.) Sir F. BUXTON presented a petition from the Abo rigines Protection Society against convicts being sent to the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. DISRAELI presented a petition from a large landowner in Albany, South Africa, stating that in accordance with the treaty vial the old Dutch settlers, convicts could not be sent to that part of the world. Mr. HUTT said he bad consulted the Right Hon. Ba ronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who had advised him that his petition related to the subject before the House. He, therefore, begged to seek the Speaker's permission to present the petition; it was from Australia, and it prayed that the transportation of convicts to South Africa might not be followed by sending others to South Australia. Mr. ADDERLEY having presented a petition against transportation to the Cape, proceeded to move, " That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will he graciously pleased, out of consideration for the honourable pride and moral weliare of her subjects the people of South Africa, to order that this hitherto unpolluted colony may be spared the disgrace and tfil ction of being made a receptacle for the convicted criminals of the mother country, whether as prisoners, free exiles, or holders of tickets of leave." He should indeed deeply regret if, in moving an address to the Queen to relieve one of her colonies, from a great infliction, anything he should say should be construed into bearing the character of a personal attack. No thing, he assured the House, was further from his mind than to bring forward, under the guise of a great national grievance, an objection to the policy and an implication of certain individuals connected with the Colonial Administration. He be lieved be spoke plainly and distinctly when he said that this question was the A B C of the problem which was working to the destruction of our colonial empire. He confessed that he did not see that any notions of scrupulous delicacy should prevent him from fairly stating to the House a great grievance of this kind.— (Cries of "Hear, hear.") He had, the highest respect for the character of Earl Grey, and believe] that his administration would work well for the colonies. In the outset, however, he wished to guard the question Irons two misconstructions: first, lest the House should think the question unimportant because it was brought forward by one so little known to the House in connexion with questions of great importance; and 2ndly, lest from his unskilful handling of a question of such grave importance it should be injured, or be mixed up with extraneous matter. At any rate he was totally unhampered by prejudice or party, and it would be gratifying to the colonies to learn that a question of this importance had not been brought forward through the instrumentality of party feeling.—(Hear, hear.) He represented a great portion of people who looked with interest to the proper administration of the colo nies, &ce tied who were further desirous to learn whether we were disposed to treat them as slaves or as freemen ; whether they intended to stultify their moral growth by contaminating them with a demoralized population, or to treat them as integral parts of the mother country. With regard to the question itself, simply considered on its own footing, he thought ho should best consult the patience of the House and the interest of the question by at once simply and shortly stating his case. His case was this—that Lord Grey having decided on a new expe riment in convict discipline, involving, first, punishment by confinement in the penitentiaries of this country as a probationary state, and then, on their removal to our penal settlements, by spreading the convicts under tickets of leave over as large a range as possible of our depen dencies, had begun that new experiment by recommencing transportation to New South Wales,ales, and by commencing for the first time transportation to the Cape of Good Hope, not only without consulting the authorities there, but had done so also agai ns t th e s t rong an d general remon strance of the whole population of that colony. He would not stop to question the value of the consent of New South Wales. The consent of a Legislative Council was not worth much ; but what must the dissent of the Cape of Good Hope be, which had found its way through tho narrow and meagre channels of the public journals, and been sent home by the Governor there, and which formed the subject matter of that debate in that House? It must have been a strong dissent. The justification of Lord Grey was that the mother country having had to expend a certain sum of money in conducting the Kafir war, the mother country had a right to demand in return such services from the colony. Now, he appealed to the House against the impolicy of treating our dependencies in such a manner, against the injustice so apparent, of selecting a weak dependency to try the experiment upon first, instead of trying it upon them all alike. He ap pealed to the House, to their sense of honour and their love of freedom, and then to her Majesty herself, to wipe off that taint from the equity of her administration, and to wipe out as speedily as possible so flagrant an act of capricious tyranny. He appealed to that House, knowing its inclination, from the freedom of its debates, to digress into collateral subjects, and he ap. pealed to its interest in colonial questions not to clog this question with any mat ter relating merely to the philosophy of punishment.--(Hear, hear.) Should any gentleman think that by avoiding the ques tion of secondary punishments he was blinking the sub ject before the House, he (Mr. Adderley) would remove every such suspicion by saying he was ready for the sake of argument during this debate to admit all they wished on the question of transportation. He would admit, for the sake of argument, that those convicts sent out to the Cape of Good Hope would be as serviceable to the colonists as servants as they would be a good riddance to this country. He would even further admit, that if the Government were ready to carry out the principle of this measure equally and impartially to all the colonies, that the greatest part of his accusation against them would fall to the ground. Now, all that he had to do was simply this, first to prove his allegations against the Colonial Department, namely, that they bad sent con • victs for the first time to the Gape of Good Hope, that they had done it without consulting the colonists, and that they had persisted in that course against their remon strance. Ile would then endeavour to prove that the Cape, of all our colonies, had the most right to remon strate, and that this transaction on the part of the Noble Lord (Grey), if sanctioned by the House, would be a direct and public adoption of a retro grade movement in colonization. (Hear, hear.) And at the same time, when stating that these remon strances where disregarded, he believed that a system was at work which was in every respect evil. He believed that if this act wore persevered in it would be distressing to hundreds in this country, injurious to the colonies, and dangerous to our liberties at home. His first assertion was that this was the first time of sending convicts to the Cape of Good Hope, but he was awar e that it might be alleged that there was a prece dent for the practice. He was well aware that some ten years ago the philanthropic plan was started for sending foundlings and boys, found in the streets without a home, and juvenile offenders, to the Cape. Yet such was the feeling excited at the Cape from the apprehension that they might some day be flooded by a convict population, that they immediately arose against it, and the measure, though only philanthropic in its character, was of neces sity abandoned. There was another subject to which al lusion had been made, and out of which, he was aware, much misrepresentation might arise, and from which certainly an impression had been created that this was not the first time that convicts had been sent to the Cape; that was the fact, that long correspondence had been held between the Secretary at the Cape, Mr. Montague, and the Secretary of the Colo nies here upon the subject. But the object of that correspondence was to state to the authorities the suggestion which had been made to him, that it might be well for the Government to know that if con victs a ere sent out not a single person in the colony would employ them in any capacity whatever. Ho was aware that this might also create an impres sion that the present plan had a precedent. The third document to which no would allude was a memorial from the colonists of the Cape on the subject to their Governor, whom they knew well sympathised in all their feelings. All these documents were now in England, and had been, he knew, for the last two months; yet not a single copy of them, though he had r( at( diy asked for them, could lie o'o hill from the C,.e1.--(Cries of "Hear, hear.") He eew th::: the night Honourable Gentleman the Secretery, for the Colonies was taking a note of that assertion.—(Hear, hoar.) - He might not have asked with anything riptitwle, but IAO had numbered the papers for which he inquired ne A, B, C. Ile might have been wrong—he might have asked fur pipers under A a inch \sere Yogis fered under B; he had, however, made the applicatien in such a way as to elicit the nee( ssary replies, but he had not obtained them.—(Bear, hear.) ( rho Ilon. Gen tleman then read a series of extracts from the documents which hail been supplied to him to prove his assertiens.) By a resolution assented to by a large meeting a peti tion, touchingly and respectfully appealing to the con sideration of the Sovereign, and a memorial to the Governor, appealing to the sympathy which he was known to feel for the colonists, ought to hare produced some better response than sim ple silence and disregard; but no such thing. The Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Government simultaneously announced the receipt of these pa pers and his determination to disregard their prayer.—(Hear.) Since then the Noble Earl had acted as if the colonists themselves were of no consequence, or as if he felt that he had power enough to crush their opposition; but he, fur one, could only say, that if any English spirit still existed in the colony as to inducing a rising against this unjust policy he would not vote a single shilling to put it down.---(Hear.) He thought lie had proved how injurious this policy had been to both the mother country and the colonies, and he wished now to show that the Cape had especial grounds for remonstrating against an infliction of this sort. The Cape was originally a Dutch establishm, nt, which originated about the period of the foundation of New England. Indeed, the Dutch Cape and New England stood at one time in the position of two brothers who hail left their parent home, but some time afterwards the Cape was adopted by a band of Protestant refugees, who were remarkable for their intelligence and strict moral habits. To this day even, the inhabitants of the Cape retained that character, and the state of society in the Cape strongly contrasted with that of some of our speculating colonies, where the moral in terests of the colonists were often sacrificed to a thirst for wealth.—(Hear, hear.) But the strict morality of the inhabitants of the Cape might be inferred from the simple fact that they exacted testimonials of good cha racter from all strangers entering the colony; but inde pendently of this system being averse to the feelings of the people, there were other features attached to the colony which rendered it unfit fur a penal settlement. In the first place one portion of the Cape was overrun with barbarous tribes ; but, perhaps, it would be said that the convicts sent out might become missionaries amongst those tribes, though he was inclined to question the morality of such missionaries. The colonists themselves, however, urged a stronger objection to the Caps being made the recep• tacle of convicts. They said their society was suflicienttly advanced to admit of their requiring or being able to establish gaols.—(llcar, hear.) He came now to the last point, namely, that in sanctioning this measure of the Noble Lord, it would be adopting on the pal t of the House a retrograde movement in colonization.—(clear.) Perhaps the Caps was not strong enough to manifest itself as America did, but it was labouring precisely under the same grievances. Carlyle had related with just disgust a feature in the life of Louis XV., who after using every remedy, without success, to cure his vitiated body, resorted to the most selfish and brutal superstition to recover his health by debauching young virgins. Now that was precisely the way in which they had dealt with their colonies. If the House took no steps to avert the consequences to which the conduct of the Govern ment had given rise; they would be looked upon as sanctioning what he called a " debasing system of colonization."—(Cries cf " Hear, hear.") Let them send convicts to the Cape in its turn, but do not take the weakest colony first. What he feared most in dealing with this question was apathy. Oh! that he could transport a few Hun. Members to the Cape (Laughter) —in order that they might learn how odious this system of transportation to the Cape would be —more especially as it would be placed under irresponsible government.—(Hear, hear.) lie asked the House if in saving a Colonial Minister it wculd endanger losing a colonial empire. The Hon. Gentleman concluded with proyosing his motion. Sir Go GREY rose to warn the House of the danger it would incur by the adoption of the views of the Honourable Gentleman. His whole speech was entirely directed against transportation to any of our colonies. If the House adopted his motion it would pronounce a verdict against transportation altogether.—(Bear, hear.) He was really at a less to know what the Hon. Gentleman meant when he argued that convicts were not to be sent to the colonies, and would ask him where they were to be sent to? How, he would ask, were they to act? Were they to abolish transportation altogether, or resort to the former mode of huddling them together, irrespective of their age, their disposition, and their crimes, so as to allow those who might, if sent to those colonies, become good mem bers of society, to be corrupted by the vicious and reck less? If the Hon. Member (Mr. Adderley) had waited for the papers of the 19th and 22d of December, and sth of January, to which he referred as containing three memorials against sending convicts to the Cape of Good Hope, he would find that he had no grounds whatever for the imputations which he had cast on Lord Grey, and that he would be convinced of his mistake by the perusal of the papers which were now in the possession of his Noble Friend (Lord Grey). Mr. ADDER LEY said that he did not allude to these papers to which the Right Hon. Gentleman adverted, but to an article which appeared in the Morning Chronicle of the 20th of January, which he quoted. Sir G. GREY thought that the Hon. Gentleman al luded to the memorials, because he (Mr. Adderley) should be aware that it was not the duty of the Govern ment to produce newspaper extracts. He would ask, what was to be done with convicts if they were not trans ported. He was ready to admit that Lord Grey had, without waiting for an answer from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, ordered our convict ships to that colony from Bermuda; but when he found that the co lonists expressed their total dissatisfaction at such a pro ceeding, he did not persist in the continuance of that order. It should be borne in mind by the House what a vast increase there was in the number of convicts for the last two years, and how justly his Noble Friend (Lord Grey) had acted when he said that he felt im pressed with the necessity of sending convicts to the_ colonies, as it was the wish of the British Legislature that transportation should be continued. He would ask what had Government left them to do when remonstrances of the strongest character wero urged by the Lord-Lieu tenant of Ireland, and by the resident magistrates, stating that the gaols were filled to excess, and that all the avail able depots, Spike Island and others, which had been used for the purpose of not transporting them, were literally crammed with convicts. What, he would ask, had Government to do but to send those convicts from Ireland, amounting to 2,690 within the last two years, to these colonies. He would next refer the Hon. Gentle. man to the remonstrance of the Governor of Bermuda, who stated that many Irish convicts who had been trans. ported to that colony, under charges arising from want or insurrection, were deserving of a committee being appointed by her Majesty, to send them, as holders of tickets, to Australia, because their subsequent conduct, while under his supervision, warranted him to suggest a mitigation of their sentence, and on that suggestion, in his (Sir G. Grey's) opinion, very judiciously, Lord Grey ordered their removal. Another letter from the Governor of Bermuda, stating that many of the con victs under him had not yet arrived at man's estate, twelve of them being under sixteen years of age, while others bad no other charge against them than that which arose from want or starvation, and that he did not, therefore, allow them to work with the gangs. On this letter Lord Grey, as became him, allowed the Go vernor to make the selection, according to his descrip tion, and he (Sir G . Grey) considered that those men on whom the experiment had been tried would not be by any means obnoxious to the feelings of the colonists, but would be rather beneficial to them and to themselves.— (Here the Right Hon. Gentleman read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Kennedy, Roman Catholic chaplain at Ber muda, fully coinciding with the opinions of the Gover nor.) He hoped, notwithstanding the exaggerated feel ings against those convicts which had been sent to the Cape of Good Hope, that they would prove as useful and beneficial members of society as those colonists who found their way there before them, through the system adopted by the Governor of dispersing them, and through their obtaining employment. On board the vessel carrying convicts from Bermuda to the Cape, of which he had been speaking, was John Mitchel, who bad been convicted in Ireland last year of a political offence. lle had been provided with a leave ticket, which he would be able to avail himself of on his arrival at the Cape, though from the last accounts of his health which had been received, it was scarcely probable that he would survive the voyage. He must remind the Hon. Gentleman, when he went back to the early his tory of slavery, that it was only at the period of the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, that slavery was abolished in the colony of the Cape; that that colony shared in the compensation that was then made for loss arising from the abolition, and that a large transporta tion took place to Port Natal. He could only say that he should deeply deplore their taking any retrograde step in civilization, and that it was the earnest desire of his Noble Friend to abandon every practice, as far as possible, which tended to injure the prosperity of our colonies and dependencies. The Government, indeed, were very anxious to diminish the number of convicts in the colonies, and on the other hand he believed that the apprehensions of the colonists had been greatly ex aggerated. It was unfair to assume that the great ma jority of the criminal population of the country were sent to the colonies. From a report which he held in his hand, it appeared that the number of persons, male and female, in Great Britain, sentenced to transportation in the year' 1847, was 2,726, the great majority of whom were convicted at Courts of Quarter Session. The num ber actually transported, however, was only between 2,300 and 2,400; because a largo number of sentences, t making up the differen ce , ' were cons t an tly commuted, owing to the age or infirmiti es of s o me of the convicts. Great During the same y ear th e imprisonments in Britain, under sentences passed chiefly by magistrates, into amounted to 15956. At the expiration Of each term of imprisonment the convict was received backcbacknt oso ciety; and that being so, he trusted it might not go forth to the country that they gut rid of their crimin a l population by sending them out to the coloni es .— (Hear, hear.) They bore, indeed, nine-tenths of the burden themselves. So long as that system lasted, he apprehended that no material mischief could arise to the colonies; and unless they were prepared to resort to a general system of capital punishment, or of perpetual imprisonment, he did not see how the power of trans portation was to be' limited. Mr. HUME scud o:at befer' the Hon. Msrelser re- Ise wile 0 to ;,!., ti n siaitely t. t out convicts to a colony to di, isishes at 11,. population of that colony ? The Right lion. Baronet's explouttli94 of the case merely west to the iiacertye- After a short discussion, in which Mr. DISRAEI' I recommended his lion. Friend to withdraw his motion after the satisfactory explanations given by the Govern' ment, and in which Mr. Hawes, Sir George Grey, an d Mr. Heyworth took part, Mr. ADDERLEY said, in reply, that having g uinea the object which he had in view, and being satisfied Wit h the explanations of the Government that it was not ie . tended to force convicts on colonies against such 'Tinto': strances as those from the colonists of the Cape o f Goo Hope, he had no objection to withdraw his motion. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND). Mr. FAGAN b roug h t f orward the motion of which he had given notice respecting the payment of minister s .. money in Irel a nd. I t was a su b ject, he staid, of gre at importance to the clergy of the Protestant Church i n Ireland, and to the people of that country. The He n ' Member then proceeded to read three letters which 11 had received on the subject from parties closely affected by the question in Ireland. The first of those l e tter 6 was from the incumbent of St. John's, Limerick. I t represented that the people of Ireland were of opinioet and particularly since the appointment of a Committee of that House to inquire into the subject, that this tax 133 t 16 be abolished. The letter farther represented that th e clergy were unable to get their money, and unwilling to press their poor parishioners. That letter was dated 31st of January last, and expressed a hope that he would bring the matter before the House. The second letter was dated in March, and contained an expressio n of regret at th e answer o f Si r William Somerville, an a communication that the writer, the Rev. John E1 1125 ' could not get any one to act for bim in an endeavour to collect the money —not even a common process server. The third letter was from a Roman Catholic clergYieln,l, of the Franciscan C onvent i n Cl onmel, and it stated l bw' not ono of three of the order, after pay ing all necessarY, expenses, were abl e t o pay f or a suit of clothes, a nd asked, was it not hard that they should be called upon to pay " ministers' money ? " So that they had the testimony, on the one hand, of the incumbent of the Protestant Church, and on the other of the Roma°, Catholic clergy, aga i nst t hi s i mpost. When he l a st brought the question before the House, he stated that , a provision might be made on the subject of ministers. money out of th e ecc l es i ast i ca l f un d s, and h e now b eg ged to impress the consideration of that opinion on the atten tiont of the House. There could be no injuryce d yielded—only the Church Establishment by the aboliti t on of money, as the sum which it at prestnministers'ue was 15,0004 in the eight towns in which contendedthat, as Ecclesiastical Commissioners. • collected— could be supplied out of the funds a t e the disposal of the as a matter of justice, t h e Government were b oun d to come forward and abolish the tax. He x. proposed, as a substitute for this tax, th at the amount should be paid out of t h e revenue of th e Ecclesias— tical Commissioners. This was th e recommenda tion of a Select Committee of th e H ouse. It was true that Ecclesi as ti ca l C omm is' son wasa s noth e so n revenues gn t as s o f t h e the y ought to be, but if a sale of the Bishops' leases was to be in perp e t u i ty, an i nco me t re would arise of 640,0001. He would suggest that this sum should be made applicable to the 15,0004 a yea r which the clergy had frern ministers' moneyed was fo r . H e bad prepared a Bill on the subject, and all he ask P ermission to lay that Bill on the table. He conclude d by moving for a Committee of the whole House, to Ml° into consideration the law relating to the rate or tax called "ministers' money," in Ireland, with a view to th e repeal of so much thereof as relates to the said rate or tax; and furth er, to take into consideration the Act 3 i and 4th Will. IV., cap. 114, called the Church Tempe; ralities Act, for the purpose of amending the same, ae, n e to provid e t h ere b y a substitute out of the revenue s of t" Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as a provision for the D I . ) ; testent mini s t ers i n certain corporate towns in Ireland!, e l hen of th e ennui .' sums now received by them und er ‘ and by vi r t ue o f t h e Act 17th and 18th Car. ~ 11., cap. ' Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL seconded the motion. r , Mr. GROGAN sa id t h at minister ' money was n e 4 tainly a statutory enactment, and was about 15,000/. r v , year. Because her Majesty's Government had 0, public peace, ago, f or t h e purpose o f preserving the Pt' peace, abolished o ne p or ti on o f t h e i ncome of the E a tab , light,.! Church, a further att a ck was of , w made 'iron it ,„ the moti,o p:.,r,„cel by the Hon. Member. They ~ _`',,t , &lin; d th:lt there were ine qua li t i e3 i n th e in but ..". sung ;w resew why such lllo4ioll that brought f °4 , ward should be agreed to. Ll e hoped Hon. Gentlenref would palm before they me their Aunt to the motim _ it DEATHS FRO3I ALL CAUSES ... Population Enumerated, 1841 West Districts... 300,711 North D.,tricts.. 375,971 Central Districts 373,653 East Districts ... 392,444 South Districts .. 501,190 Totals... ..... 1,948,369 Males Females 1,048 Average weekly Deaths Deaths, 1844-8. in the Five Winters. Week. . 170 ... 156 . 218 ... 221 . 211 ... 204 . 252 ... 210 . 319 ... 257 ... 1,169 - ... 1,048 •• • ••• •• • 505 ••• ••• ... 543 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females ... 740 ... 705 Total ... ... ... ... ... 1,445 *ln this num b er are i nc l uded 10 cases of death by Cholera, 40 by Scarlatina, and 40 by Typhus Fever. LEEDS PAROCHIAL EXPENDITCRE.-011 Monday, a public meeting of the inhabitants of the township of Leeds was held at the Court-house, in pursuance of a requisition, signed by upwards of 450 rate• payers, to take into consideration the best means that can be de vised for effecting a reduction in the local expenditure of the township. Mr. Alderman Bateson presided ; and after speeches from Mr. Bissington, Mr. Councillor Newsome, Mr. Councillor Brooke, and others, a resolu tion was unanimously adopted, which recited that, dur ing a few years past the local rates had accrued to an almost unprecedented amount, resolved that a committee should be appointed to investigate the causes of this in crease, and to report to a future meeting, and also to inquire into the causes of the increase of pauperism, and also into the remedies for the same, with a view of profitably employing pauper labour on land or other wise. A committee was accordingly appointed for that purpose. - . DECLINE OF TRADE IN SHEFFIELD. Too little union among the masters, and too much of it among the men, appear to be fast ruining this once busy seat of trade. Every one complains, yet no one moves an amend ment. Thus, while Belgium, Germany, and the United States, in which no such pernicious system prevails, are beating the English out of extensive markets, and even bearding the Sheffielder in his own den, or shaving him rather with his own weapon—by help of the same sure instrumentality the latter is deliberately cutting his own throat—smashing his own machinery, in fact, in more senses than one. There is a talk of the necessity of some new trade. But of what use would a new trade be with the old system of " union" and disunion? It is " a new man" that is wanted probably still more than a new trade.— The Builder. Thirty-four steam and sailing vessels were pre paring to leave New York, on the 7th instant, for San Francisco ; including several old Liverpool favourites, amongst them being the celebrated ship Memnon, and the Clyde-built steam-ship Unicorn. The Unicorn was entered also for Vancouver's Island, Oregon.—Liverpool Albion. A FLESHLY GHOST. —After several drovers had finished their labours at the market here, on the evening of Tuesday last, and bad partaken of supper, one of them —an old tar who had seen service in foreign lands— determined to play a practical joke upon one of his com rades. He accordingly slipped out, and having donned a white sheet, he waited at a part of the road which his companion, a sturdy son of the mountain, had to pass. The Highlandman, when he approached the spot, ob served the apparition, which came forward muttering strange unearthly sounds. The Highlandman, nothing daunted, exclaimed, "Be ye deevil or be ye dragon, I'll try what ye're made o'l" and suiting the action to the words, he dealt the "ghost" a tremendous blow across tho face with a stout oaken staff. The ghost measured its length on the road, and roared out, "It's me, John." "Bhugt be ho d st un now ' wi' what ye've gotten th en ." T he piece which his folly was the means of procuring him.— Arbroath would-beg i repents him of the mangled frontis piece breath Guide. MANCHESTER CHURCH EDUCATION SOCIETY.-- The annual meeting of this association was held yester day at the Town-hall; Manchester, and was very nume rously attended. The Bishop of Manchester took the chair, and was supported by the principal clergy of the a 1..; ueighbourho• d. inf,i;ting t;ddreised by the Rev. Hugh P, the Ve►y Rev. t.!l, D.:ha of tie City, the Rev. Canon Sergeant, Henry Houldsworth, Esq., and Robert Brandt, Esq., who moved and supported resolutions approving the objects Otto society. nience in which the country was placed in respect° teansportation. w ith out reaching the main point which was raised by this motion. He said that they ought not to put the system of transportation in the way that less complained of; and that, therefore, the House should affirm the resolution. The debate of that evening would point out, he thought, the necessity of improving the education and general social condition of those classes of the people which furnished the majority of these con' vict:. He hoped he should have the assurance of the Government that this system of transportation should not be tweed. But in this country there was no public minister whose duty it was to investigate and provide for these social exigencies. What leer s they coming to ? With their gaols everywhere over flowing, their colonies unwilling to receive wore con' victs, and 7,000,000/. or 8 ,000,0001. annually spent in in struction—religious instruction, too—which ought t° have prevented the occasion which gave rise to so large an amount of transportation, what was to be done? / 16 recommended the House to affirm the resolution nth' routed by the Hon. Member, ia the full belief that it would tend to accomplish some of the improvements to which he had adverted.—(Hear, hear.) Major BLACKALL recommended a system of con' vict labour to be maintained, strictly under military discipline. If that were established, he believed that instead of being productive of mischief in the c olony of the Cape, it would prove a very great benefit to its population. Mr. AGLIONEY said, that in his opinion the Right Hon. Baronet, the Home Secretary, had proved too much; and as yet it was difficult to say whether his proofs and admissions should be taken as binding , either against the Government or the House. The pe' tition of the colonists appeared to him a very proper one, and he could scarcely believe that a respectable body of colonists could express a wish to have eon' vials sent out to them.—(Hear, hear.) Some of them , indeed, bent upon the accumulation of money, might perhaps do so, but the general case was extremely inv . probable; and if the Right Honourable Baronet were of that opinion, it was a virtual abandonment of the system of transportation. Ile firmly believed that it was far better to tutu the convicts loose in society in this country rather than . in the c o l on i es, because here the y had a complete organization of the law and police, which the colonies were comparatively destitu'e of A mo re dangerous system could not be put i n pract i ce than that of allowing convicted felons to go loose in a small com' municy, on tickets of leave. He might cite, as an tration of his view of the matter, a dispatch to Lord Stanley, dated at Auckland, New Zealand, in the year 1843, and signed. by George Clark, as chief protector of the aborigines, whom he should not on this occasion have quoted, had he not been confirmed in his statements to it very great extent.—(Hear, hear.) The dispatch stated very forcibly the baneful effects of the practice under which the Parkhurst boys, who came within the scope of the resolution, had been permitted to reside amongst the natives. They taught the simple and credulous New Zealanders, who harboured them and kept them in idle' ness, to swear in English, and to write all kinds o f els scene names and phrases on paper, which they s e nt by them to market as the price they were to demand for their commodities. The system was undoubtedly one calling for serious reform, and he trusted that before long the reform would take place. Mr. F. SCOTT wished to ask whether it was right or fair to force convicts to remain in a colony, a gainst the will of the colonists, after their time of sentence was expired ? Is was one thing to send out prisoners as holders of tickets of leave, and another to employ they° on public works.. Of the latter the colonists did not com' plain, but if the convicts were continued in the colony after the works were completed, and thus allowed to contaminate the murals of the colonists, that circumstance formed serious grounds of complaint.—(hear, hear.) Would it not hereafter be better to consider whether the:colonists were to be liable to the continuance amongst them of convicts as settlers, after the expiration 01 their sentenc , s, or whether it would not be fair, alter those convicts hat: been engaged on the public works' and had worked out their time of sentence on those works, to require them to purchase their passage home —unless in cases where th e co l on i sts expressed a desire to receive them ? In Van Diemen's Land three-fourths of the adult population were convicts, or persons whose sentences had expired. lie was of opinion, with e very right-thinking person, that it was not fair in England to inflict the off-scourings of her own population on the CO' Lord JOHN RUSSELL did not mean to take any part in the present debate, were it not that he deemed it necessary to correct a misapprehension of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Cockermouth, in reference to an observation made by his Right Hon. Friend the Se' cretary of State for the Home Department. The 110 0 ' Gentleman seemed to be of opinion that his Right a 0 0.; Friend had stat e d th a t i n cases where colonists objects 'l to receive convicts, no more were to be sent out to such, colonies. Now that was no t w h at h i s Right Hon. Friend said. What he said was that he objected to giving any expression to an opinion pledging the Government 10 that course, because he believed if the terms of the mo tion before the House were so framed as to include anY colonies, it might lead to the inference that the syste a of transportation was to be altogether abolished. IP 3 Right Honourable Friend objected to any such 1 / 1 ; Terence. But in particular cases, such as the case 0 ' the Cape of Good Hope, where there was remonstrance from the colonists against sending a large number of convicts to their colonies, 0 would not be right to continua sending them. That was the opinion of the, Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department, and it was an opinion in which the o ther members of the Government participated. He trusted that the explanation which he had thus deemed it to be his duty to give would prove satisfactory to Mr. Adder" ley, whose object was not to place any objectionable de claration on the books of the House, but rather to secure that which was required by the Cape of Good Hope -- ; that transportation sho u ld not b e continued to tha t colony, contrary to the wishes and remonstrances of the colonists. The general opinion was with respect to persons who committ e d cr i me, that it was difficult for such persons to procure employment on leavin g prison; and it wan, therefore, thought advisable, ° II the expiration of their time, to send them to plol where there would not be that difficulty. He remembers a case wherein a man, who had received good and re" ligious instruction in Pentonville, obtained employmen t as a shopman soon after his liberation; but some of I n s old associates fo u nd out hi s p l ace, and gave information affecting his former character, and leading to appeehen' sions respecting his honesty, and the coesequence Wes' that he was dismissed; and it was to meet such cas es as that that the Government were anxious to make pro" vision. in Sec Churl' to dis sometl that ti hands them t was n was n( had th of Lin Churcl thong} Fund. the vit funds effect, tive, hi Mr.. per cen Sir .1 every 1 many v no prof Mr. B was to b upon rel in 1844, Rouse, l be accus themselv pointed Honours as if it (Hear, h negative, an oppoi those wh a much Church, on that i thb,L Uhl tended t c away a c Venn had whic move altc sho in e yin( ope whi peo He con on s