The Sun. — London, England, 1849-03-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 0, 1849. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY. ' adoption of the report, end that a committee of inquiry, . The usual had-yearly general meeting of the preprie- n"'''-ng of M ears. Dickson, F. C. S m ith, L. M oz l e i, M. Ryan, and S. G. Walker, b e a pp o i nt , d to investigate tors of the above railway was h e ld yesterday, at the the affairs of the company, an d to report to an a j ourne d Bridge House Hotel. The meeting was called for one p o'clock, but long before that time the large ball-room meeting, to be held on the 12th of A Mr. KINNARD-ril next. , at the top of the hotel was filled with shareholders. ,one of the re cen tl y elected directors Soon after one the directors, headed by Mr. James seconded the motio n , an d i n d o i ng so too k occas i on Macgregor, the chairman, entered the room; their ap - to comment upon the unseem l y di v i s i on w hi c h h a d ta k en Place pearance was the signal for slight manifestations of sp lace in the directio n . It was qu i te i mposs ibl e t h at t h e company could be success f u ll y carr i e d on w hil e an ill- Valise, but it would be difficult to say whether the cost - piiment was intended for Mr. Macgregor or Mr. Martin feeling existed b e t ween part i cu l ar mem b ers o f t h e b oar d Luther Pritchard, the deputy - chairman , who is at issue of management—(H ear, h ear. ) Th e propr i etors , th en , with the majority of the board upon the question of ap- must determine w h e th er M r . M. L. P r i tc h ar d an d hi s two supporters should r e m a in in office and find their pointing a committee of inquiry. Mr. G EORG E HERBERT, the secretary, having read own colleagues, or whether they would continue their the advertisement, the business of the day commenced confidence in the majority of the directors.—(Hear, by the chairman proposing the affixing of the common hear.) At all events, either Mr. Pritchard and his seal of the company to the register of proprietors. friends must go eut, or the other directors must Mr. A. K. BAKER moved an amendment, that it be not surrender their trust into the hands of . their con affixed, amidst some confusion, and cries of " Chair, stituents.—(Cheers.) chair, hear him, bear him, sit down, &c." Mr. LEVY hoped the meeting would stand none of The amendment having been seconded, the majority Mr. Kinnard's humbug.—(Hear and laughter.) He of the meeting stoutly demanded that it should be put remembered well that in 1845, when he took occasion to at once'. tell the Eastern Counties that Mr. Hudson was a hum- Mr. A. K. BAKER, before it was p u t, was anx i ous t o bug, Mr. Kinnard threatened to have him turned out. ask whether it was true or not that the register con- —(Cheers and laughter, and cries of " Question.") tained a number of shar es w hi c h h a d b een purc h ase d w i t h Well, he was coming to the question ; he wanted the money of the company, and if so, whether the votes them to stand none of the Chairman's, or Mr. Kin in -respect of those shares would be used in determining nard's pallaver—(Cheers and laughter)—but appoint any question to be dispos e d o f t o d a y ?—(Cheers.) a committee out of their own body, and not leav e The C HAIRMAN sa id th e reg i s te r c ontained all the the matter in the hands of the directors.—(Ch eers .) shares of the concern, and of course those belonging to Mr. CUNLIPFE, one of the opposition c o m m itt ee , an the company, but be begged distinctly to state that the nounced his intention to move an amendment, w hich votes in respect of the company's s h ares would not b e gave rise to a good deal of noise a n d u pr oar . H e at made use of.—(Tremendous cheering.) tributed the depreciation of the shares to the dissen- The amendment was then withdrawn, and the seal sions which existed in the direction, and unless they affixed to the register. made some change in that body, they could never hope Mr. HERBERT then read the report, which was to the to see any improvement in their property.—(Cheers.) following effect:— He moved as an amendment a similar resolution, but "The traffic receipts for the half-year ending the 31st varying the names. January, have been 238,1304, and the expenses 117,1774, Mr. SIMPSON seconded the amendment, and remarked including 21,6324 for rent of the Greenwich and the that one fact would be sufficient to prove the necessity • Whitstable and Canterbury Railways, and 21,2931. rates for inquiry. At the last half-yearly meeting Mr. • and Government duty, leaving a balance of 120,9531. The Pritchard stated that 8,000,000/. would be amply suffi • same mileage of railway was open for traffic during the last event to complete their works, but it now turned out th a t half-year as for the corresponding period of the previous nearly 2,000,000/. were to be added to that sum. year, but the receipts from passenger traffic for the last Mr. M. L. PRITCHARD in an able speech defended . half-year were less by 15 2981., whilst there was an in- himself against what he called the insi nua ti ng a tt ac k s crease of 6,1231. from goods, cattle, and parcel traffic, the which had been made upon him from th e c h a i r , diminution of receipts during the half .year being 9,1751. and declared that the statement just alluded to by Daring the half-year the sum of 667,1921. has been paid Mr. Simpson was made upon th e f a ith o f up by the proprietors on capital account; 370,9931. has statements of the Chairman. He was then ignorant of been paid during that period for land, and 80,4001 on the charge which had since been made against the capi bonds and loan notes have been paid off, and 26,900 E tal. Had their expenditure remained at 8,000,0001. the bonds renewed. The only Bill the company has before line would have been a property; but go beyond that Parliament is for the purpose of authorising the partial sum, and, so far as profit was concerned, they might as opening of the Ashford and Hastings, and Tonbridge- well sink it in the sea.—(Hear, hear.) Now, then, was Wells and Hastings lines, and to authorise the company the time to stop the expenditure. For his part, had his to become the owners of steam-boats. The directors advice been followed, not a spade would have been put suggest that it may be arranged with the proprietors into the land from Rye to Hastings, and from of the present South-Eastern and Continental Steam- Hastings upwards, and the proprietors might take his packet Company to exchange their shares in that corn- word for it, that in making those lines they were digging • pany, on terms to be agreed on, for shares in the railway the grave of their property.—(Cheers.) With regard to company. The cost of the eight steam-ships belonging the hint thrown out by Mr. Kinn a rd, th a t th e m i nor ity ; _to the Steam-packet Company has been about 130,000/., ought to give way, he would take leave to ask who was and therefore 150,0001. may be considered as the full Mr. Kinnard, who came there, with an infantine interest amount of capital which would be required for this pur- and connexion with the concern, to advise an old servant pose. The directors state that justice cannot be done to of the company, who had spent his time, his the development of the continental traffic, unless that money, and his substance in its service. —(Cheers.) service is performed more with regard to railway celerity Were the proprietors aware that o n th e d a y M r . Kin and punctuality, than to the profit derivedifrom the voy- nard was elected a director he was a contractor of the age. The general effect of the extension of railway corn- company, but by a wave of the harlequin's wand his munication on the continent is to accumulate the con- contracts were transferred.—(Cheers and laughter.) He tinental traffic with Great Britain upon Calais and Bou- should not then take such a man's advice to " cut his s 'ogee. Hitherto the South-Eastern Railway has ha r dly stick."—(Hear, hear.) He was there under Act of liament—no man had a right to turn him out, and he Par reaped any benefit by the traffic in merchandise from the ,continent; that traffic, however, it is j us t en t er i ng should not quit the board until he had set the house in upon, and the directors will make the necessary order.—(Cheers.) preparations at Folkeston e an d D over , a t th e B r i c k- Mr. J. WILSON wished to ask the Chairman four layers' Arms station and the London-bridge ter- questions. First—What the piece of plate cost the com minus, to enable the company to carry it on satisfac- pany which was presented to Lord Torrington on hi s torily. The directors are certainly entitled to great retiring from the directory? Second—What the di nner credit and praise for their laudable exertions to cost which was given on the occasion of the presenta abolish the useless system of passports between tion? Third—Were not 1,000 No. 4 shar es k e pt i n t h e books for Lord Torrington if he c h ose t o t a k e t h em, an d France and England. The report states that the French Government were appealed to by the allowed to remain on the b oo k s till th ey h a d greatly directors, in conjunction with those of the Northern fallen in price? And Fourth—What account were these Railway of France and of the Boulogne and Amiens sums charged to?—(Cheers.) He complained that no Railway, to entertain the question of abolishing the sys- auditors had ever been appointed. tem of passports between France and England, and the The CHAIRMAN said that fault rested with the share application was received with so much favour that the holders.—(oh, oh.) Let them, however, appoint Audis directors believe that nothing but the exigency of the tors now. Now, as to the questions, the plate cost moment has prevented its success, which they still look 2,Bool.—(Shame.) It was charged to the capital. forward to. The neeessity of being provided with a The dinner cost 3004—(0h, oh, and shame.) The 1,000 passport to make the now short journey from London to No. 4 shares were voted to the Noble Lord.—(ol3, oh.) Paris is a hindrance to traffic and intercourse which the Mr. Alderman SALOMONS denounced the practice of reciprocal feelings and englightened Governments of Publishing insinuations against the directors without both countries must desire to remove. The directors stating the grounds for them; but he thought the only are also exerting themselves to establish a branch way to prevent such practices was to appoint an impar custom-house at London-bridge with the same laudable tial committee of inquiry.—(Cheers.) view of facilitating commercial intercourse between the Mr. LEWIN MOSLEY came prepared to put many ques two countries, and promoting the traffic on the railway, tions to the Chairman, but after that Hon. Gentleman's which must also tend to the direct advantage of the clear explanations and candid invitation for inquiry, he shareholders. It states that the directors anticipate thought it best to abstain from putting them, and urged being enabl e d to es t a bli s h b on d e d ware h ouses f or w i nes the meeting to adopt the ori g i na l reso l u ti on . and other merchandise in the arches under the Green- Mr. THOMPSON, one of the directors in theminority, with Railway, and that an examining-room for silks and complained that he was struck off the finance committee, valuable goods will be permitted by the Board of Cus- because he expresed a desire to look closely into the toms at the station, so as to allow packages to come un- accounts.—(Hear, and Shame.) He assured the meet opened under the Customs' lock from Dover and Folke- ing that the books of the company were in a very in stone to London. In addition to these exertions, the complete state. During the last two years speculations company have performed considerable service for the in Consols to the extent of .upwards of 3,000,0001. had Post-office, in forwarding the mails, and the increased been made, and yet the papers and books relating to amount-to which they are and will become entitled for those transactions were still open, and he could get no its continuance will be settled by arbitration in the usual information about them.—(Hear, and shame.) He saw manner, and for which they have not taken any credit by the books that 15,000 E h a d b een a d vance d to t h e in their accounts. That it is probable, if the railway chairman's private brokers, and in reference to that company become the owners of the steam-boats, that transaction he could obtain no informati on . —(Sh ame .) one contract will be made with the Post-office for These were some of the reasons w hi c h i n d uce d hi m to the railway and steam-boat service from London to oppose the majority of the direction and court inquiry. Boulogne and Calais. The . opening of the Mr. BROODEN, the other dissentient director, said his branch line to Folkestone, which took place on the Ist son would read to them a statement of the part he had of January last, affords great additional facility in taken in the transactions, but a scene of indescribable communicating with the continent, as travellers are confusion took place, and it was some time before Mr. now conveyed without change of carriage to the steam- 13rogden, jun., could get a hearing. Some of the share boat quay at Folkstone, and the convenience has afforded holders called out that he was a mere boy, and he ought great satisfactian. At Dover the Government works to be put down. The boy, however, met this ungenerous - are proceeding, and the pier has been already extended remark with the indignant declaration that, boy though 230 feet into the sea, and there cannot be a doubt that he was, he would not stand by and and hear his fa when the present contract, which is for carrying the pier then calumniated without ma ki ng an e ff ort to 800 feet into the sea, is completed, Dover will be a deep defend him. The meeting, however, by the most dis water harbour, accessible at all times of the tide— cordant noises, mingled with hisses and yells, succeeded a a -result of great importance to the interests of the at last in putting the young man do wn , an d a f ter some South-Eastern Railway Company. The traffic de- further confusion and discussion the amendment was ne rived in consequence of the opening of the Great gatived, and the original resolution agreed to. A poll Northern Railway of France to C dais has hith e rt o was demanded, and deferred. been very slight; but from the 4th inst. an improved The dividend mentioned in the report was then do service has been commenced from Calais to Brussels, dared payable on an early day. and vice versd, and the directors have not any doubt It would be difficult to describe the scene that fol that the traffic from the north of France and Germany lowed, but it was something like this:— to Calais will greatly increase; in the meantime the Mr. WIRE said he would just look at the names on the Northern Railway of France has united with the South- committee.—(Cries of "Down, down—don't make lone Eastern Railway Company in providing such steam-boat speeches—turn him out.") He knew Mr. Cunliffe well accommodation as will insure the requisite communica- Mr. CIINLIFFE—No, you don't sir—you never saw tion with Folkstone or Dover. The harbour of Calais me till to-day in your life.—(Yells.) is now accessible in ordinary weather to steam-ships of Mr. MoRGAN—I'II tell yon something about Mr. Cun the draught of those of the South-Eastern and Conti- liffe then. He called upon me and said,lf I would give nental Steam-packet Company at all times of the tide. him my proxy, he would put me in possession of some The comparison of the through traffic between Lon- information about the South-Eastern. I said " Give me don and Folkestone and D ,, ver for the last half-year and the information first ;" b u t h e sa id , "Oh n o." —(Turn the corresponding period of the preceding year shows a him out, and yells, hisses, groa ns , an d stamping of feet.) decrease of 8,551 in the number of passengers; but, in Mr. COLEMAN saw nothing in the account s c h arge d f or consequence of an addition made to the fares, the de- solicitors. How much had crease in receipts amounted to 3161. only. The directors The C HAIRMAN—I don ' been paid to th em ?—(Ch eers. ) t know. expect that the North Kent line will be opened for traffic Mr. COLEMAN — You ought, then, give me an answer, by the Ist of July, and the Readin g , Guildford, and Rei- sir. —(Another storm of voices.) gate line by the Ist of A ugus t nex t. The capital ac- The CHAIRMAN—I have been charged with carryi ng count to the 31st of Jan uar y s h ows th a t 8 , 282 , 3421 . h as the funds of the company in my breeches pocket, and been received, and 8,116 , 91 4 1 . expended, leaving a balance now lam asked if I have not got the accounts in my of 165,4281." head. The CHAIRMAN, in commencing his address to the Mr. COLEMAN—Oh 1 that's nonsense. I can tell you shareholders, said the proceedings of to-day demanded there have been 32,000/. paid to the solicitor. the especial attention of the meeting, and it was due to The CHAIRMAN made some observations, which seemed the proprietors, whose confidence the directors were to imply that the information had come from the deputy anxious to secure, that a full, a clear, and impartial chairman. statement of the present position and future pros- Mr. PRITSHARI, indignantly denied this, but, as the pects of the undertaking should be given.— matter had been mooted, he would tell the meeting what (Cheers.) A short time ago the majority of the had been dome. No less than 35,0001. had been paid to directors issued a statement upon the financial affairs the solicitor for fifteen months' work, against which pro of the company, and he could now assure the pro- ceeding he had protested.—(Sensation.) prietors that the figures in that statement were strictly The CHAIRMAN appealed to Mr. Cunliffe whether it accurate, and disclosed clearly and candidly the was worth while going to a poll, seeing that the proxies real state of their finances.—(Cheers.) Latterly, stood thus— it had unfortunately beco me a too common practice with ' For the Directors some parties—but for what purpose he could not divine, Against them 11,278 to make insinuations against the s t a bili ty of this corn- Mr. CUNLI/FE said under these circumstances he would pany—insinuations that were unscrupulously indulged decline going to the poll. in by those parties without lettinc, out any cl ue b y wh i ch The other busines s re f erre d t o i n th e repor t , suc h as the- grounds and reasons of their reckless assertionsi disposed of. - the election of dir ec t ors , was th en tardily and noisil y ust could be ascertained; but if there really were any j .fication for these mysterious and injurious reports, let Mr. HOLLAND moved a resolution to the effect that no those who circulated them come forward no w sharebroke r or contractor ought to have a seat in the and defend their statements.—(Loud cheers.) The direction. truth was, however, and the truth must Mr. PRITCHARD took this resolution as a blow aimed at himself, but he could assure the meeting that it would be told, that the reports he alluded to were utterly des order. not drive him from office until he had set the house in titute of foundation; but, in order that the proprietors 0. After a remonstrance against the resolution from the should not have simply his bare word for this, he was h n irma . n, Mr. Alderman Salomons, and Mr. L. M I prepared before he sat down to move that a committee t e A m Petition t o n w w was s h of inquiry be appointed to investigate, without any re es et, serve, the books, accounts, and the entire management wiatrhlidament against the present system rawn. rating were a then agreed to;; after which a vote of of the company, and that this meeting be adjourned of voted to the Chairman and the directors, till the 12th of April, to give that committee thanks an opportunity of preparing a report upon the terminat ed. thenresolved th emse l ves i nto a and The h t a h l e shareholders meeting e e ting, and agr ee d to a resolution authorising results of th e i r i nqu i ry. —(T remen d ous c h eer i ng .) "In fact the dir ec t ors courted inquiry, and if any improve specie m meats could be suggeste d i n carrying on the business o f the company, they would be the first to adopt them.— the directors to make the arran g e ments relating to the (Hear, hear.) So m uc h t h en for these insidious and steam-boats. vague reports of mat-administration of the company's affairs; and now, with the permission of the meet ing; he would say a few words upon the matter of traffic.—(Hear, hear.) It was to be regretted, and nobody more regretted it than the directors, that the passengers using the railway had considerably de s . creased during the past year, but when they remembered the peculiar position of the line, and how entirely its -Prosperity d e p en d e d u p on th e t ranqu illi ty of the Conti-- ment, it was not to be wondered at that the disturbances . their itrtleinetteher side of the Channel had seriously affected abroad se a r s e l i t 7( ll l ear-) The aspect of affairs, however, he would tals:lePaLY undergoing a favourable change, and , th v a e t to repeat the opinion he gave on taking offices in 1844 with prudent management th e i r rail way possessed lat ..e ele ments lvh of prosperity. N ow, w i t h which respect to the scandalhud gone abroad upon the disputes which h6d arisen in board—(H ear, h ear ) — it had its origin in a resolutio n of the board to di scuss the contracts of Mr. B rog d en, in the absence of his father , who was in the diret‘i" (Loud cheers.) f l e t solution ; and • Mr. Brogden ' refused to sanction °t'lls.i.--s then followed scenes which he thou would e, a ll ow to drop into oblivion,— (Hear , to 4'atiow explain that the investment of i ee e st the also' if the company arose in this way. _ !red that some time ag o they Were ge sum of money with the Account ;t of new lines. When those lines money was returned to them, at a some difficulty in disposing of it, unanimous resolution of the board a ordered to be invested in the shares of ) He concluded by moving the .1 . MOLD RAIL WAY COMPANY- The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices of the Chester and .Holyhead Railway Company, Moorgate-street:; M r . Thomas presided. The report stated that the directors had great pleasure to announce that the !woks wefe in such a 'forward state that the main line might be opened for passenger traffic early in the approaching summer, and that the branch for the mineral district might be completed in the course of the autumn, thus rendering the capital invested in this undertaking immediately re munerative. That progress had been accomplished chiefly by the aid of the Chester and Holyhead Railway COLII - pan y, who were equally interested with the shareholders of this company in opening up the traffic of the district, and without whose assistance it would have been impos sible ) for the directors, during the present monetary crisis, and the general depression of railway interests, to have fulfilled the arrangement which they had undertaken on bells If of the shareholders. The Chester and Holy head l Company proposed to avail themselves of the power gran ,ted by the 47th section of the Act for the pur chas e of the line, and for that purpose a prelimi nary • agreement had been entered into with that cora l pany, which would be submitted to the meal zing for its approval and confirmation. There had beer a large amount of arrears upon the calls, an d un d er !nee nt circumstances the directors had forborne to en fore_ he total ree 9 ei 7 p ,9 ts 99 f l om io t s h . e 2 e d om a m n e d ne t e h m e en ex t p of en th di e them , but they would now be compell e d t o d o so der taking was 97,:, 1554 ls. rd., l eav i ng a balance" of 8441 . 14s. 7d. t u t .rno- The report wns reee;‘ , ed and adopted, and the meeting I,J.sde special. The heads of the agreement with the Chester and Holyhead Company were then read and confirmed, and the directors ordered to carry the agreement into effect. Mr. Henry Kingsford was appointed auditor of the accounts. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman the meeting was adjourned until the 6th of June nest. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT hOUSE OF LORDS, ..klarch 9. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'clock. The Earl of ERNE presented a petition from some place in the county of Fermanagh against the rate in aid. Petitions with a similar prayer were presented by the Earl of Fitzwilliam, Lord Monteagle, and the Earl of Limerick. The Earl of LUCAN presented some petitions with a similar prayer; also a petition praying for the extension of the poor-rate to mortgagees. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition against the rate in aid from Mr. Macdonald. He (Lord Brougham) would urge the Government to take the Irish gentle men at their word, and to give up the rate in aid in order to get hold of a property-tax. Such an offer was made by this petition, and he thought the Government would do well to accept it. Lord MONTEAGLE bore testimony to the high cha racier of all these petitioners. COMMONS INCLOSURE BILL. The Commons Inelosure Bill was read a third time, and passed, on the motion of Lord CAMPBELL. PALACE COURT. Earl FORTESCIJE moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, beseeching her to lay before the House the patent of Charles 11. constituting the Palace Court. He had moved for certain returns from that Court, which did not furnish the information he required. He felt that tha existence of this Court had become, since the institution of County Courts, not only perfectly useless, but a source of great extortion. Lord BROUGHAM thought it would be a matter of regret to abolish a Small Debt Court, such as this without absolute necessity. He had heard of a com plaint which had been made against this court, and in which an attempt had been made to cast blame upon the counsel practising in that court, but in that instance the Learned Counsel bad not been at all to blame. The motion was agreed to. PETITIONS. Lord STANLEY presented a petition against the rate in aid from some union in Ireland. The petitioners also complained of the system of out-door relief, and prayed that every landlord should be made responsible for the maintenance of his own tenants, and every townland be made to support its own poor, and for pro tection to the Irish farmer. Also several other petitions from Meath against the rate in aid; also from some place in Lancashire, praying for some law for regulating the sale of beer. The Earl of WINCHILSEA presented a petition against any alteration in the navigation-laws. The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition from St. George's, Southwark, praying for an equalization of the poor -rates. IN's‘ 'NW= '',TION 7 31 r. PALMER Treseoteil a petition from a consider elle, number of shipoweers at Pi) mouth against the repeal of the navigation-laws. Mr. URQUHART said, having seen a statement in the Clamor Publics that the negotiations between this and the Spanish Government had been brought to a termination, he wished to know from the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) in what situation the negotiations were. There was also another question which had arisen out of recent occurrences, and which he wished to put, as to whether the Noble Lord was prepared to lay on the table of the House any of the correspondence which had been brought by Count Mirasol to this country relative to the expulsion of Sir 11. L. Bulwer as Ambassador from Madrid ? Lord PALMERSTON, in reply to the first question, said the Government were not in possession of any com munications on the subject. As to the second question, whether he was prepared to lay on the table of the House the communications brought by Count Mirasol, he had to reply that he certainly was not.—(Laughter.) TRANSPORTATION AND DISCIPLINE OF CONVICTS. Viscount MAHON, in rising to call the attention of the House to the instructions issued in the years 1846, 1647, and 1848, with respect to the transportation and discipline of convicts, asked for the indulgence of the House while he dealt with a matter which necessarily involved a considerable amount of detail. He would deal with it as briefly as the magnitude of the subject would allow; and indeed,ifiom the papers which had been laid on the table of the House, the question between him and the .Gentlemen opposite was very much narrowed. The Noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies had again and again declared that we ought to provide for our convicts by the use of hulks or by the construction of penitentiaries at home. He certainly could not consider it a matter of blame against the Noble Earl to assert that he had, in dealing with a most intricate and difficult subject, been ltd greatly to modify his views. But what he complained of was this—that Earl Grey had cast aside some valuable recommendations of his predecessors, and had issued instructions which seemed to be liable to the im putation that they had been decided upon with impru dence and precipitation. In the statement which he should make he would show that Earl Grey had since his accession to office changed his views on this subject no less than five times.--(Loud laughter.) But he would at once proceed to what was of much greater importance, namely, to some practical recommendations and suggestions as to what should be done for the future, and should endeavour to elicit from her Majesty's Government some express declarations of what their intentions really 'sere as to the system to be hereafter pursued. The main question was, whether after the first time acriminal had been pu nished he was to return to the scene of his former haunts. If they looked at the difficulties with which this ques • lion was beset, they should flea, he thought, that they proceeded in some measure frem two orders issued by the Noble Lord now the Prime Minister, but at the time in question Secretary of State for the Colonial Department. He issued two orders for the abolition of the assignment system in Australian co lonies, and for the immediate abolition of transportation so far as New South Wales was concerned. These orders took effect in 1840, and had been attended with ill consequences. He did not mean to impute blame to the Noble Lord for the course he had adopted, since the Committee on transportation had just made its report, and the evidence, which had since been contradicted, justified in many respects the course he had adopted. The immediate effect of the abolition of transportation to New South Wales was the accumulation of convicts in the hulks at home, from which the greatest possible evils resulted, and of which the loudest complaints were made. Of such a nature were these complaints, that he felt it his duty in 1841 to bring the subject before the House. He proposed a resolution condemning the system of crowding prisoners in the hulks. and asking the House to express its opinion that the number ought not to be augmented. Though that mo tion was opposed by the Government of the day, yet it was affirmed by a large majority of the Mem bers. A few months after the Government was dis solved and a new one formed, in which Lord Stanley was the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and his Hon. Friend the Member for Ripon (Sir J. Graham), Secretary of State for the Home Department. In the ensuing year, 1842, he asked the Hon. Gentleman how far he would consent to be bound by the resolution of the House in 1841. Me had, of course, but two courses to pursue, either to act in:conformity with it, or in opposition to it ; and he replied that he con curred in what the House had affirmed, and that he should be prepared to abide by it. Under their administration the number of convicts in the hulks was nab augmented ; consequently :the rule of the House was observed; but an expected evil was the result—the number of convicts in Van Die men's Land was increased. As many as from 4,000 to 5,000 were divided between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land every year. By the order of the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) the entire number was confined tof Van Diemen's Land alone. When the entire system was arranged, it was right that it should be well understood whether the blame attached to the Government at home or to the per sons employed to superintend its carrying out in the colonies. Major Childs was appointed Governor of Norfolk Island by Lord Stanley who, from the character that that officer enjoyed, was doubt less justified in his selection. Notwithstanding the period and purpose of his appointment, the result had been most unfortunate. There could not be a stronger case made against any governor than that against Major Childs. When there was an outbreak, at tended with loss of life in the island. Mr. Stewart was sent to inquire into the cause. He found 60, or 80 con victs sleeping in dormitories, where they were confined 16 hours out of 24, in order that the officials might have their evenings to themselves. Subsequently there was another mission by Mr. Hampton, who reported that no proper management was observed; that the pri soners were allowed to take their food, and that the more timid did not get any, unless they obtained the favour of the other and more powerful prisoners. Then with respect to Van Diemen's Land. He did not wish to speak harshly of any one—far less of any one deceased— yet the House was perfectly aware that most pain ful discussions had taken place in that House with respect to his policy. Those who had read the recent dispatches of Governor Dennison must have barn struck by his ability and aptitude for business, and the great contrast they presented to those of his imme diate predecessor; yet better things might have been ex pected from him, looking at the experience he had had But besides any fault in the administration the system itself, he thought, it would appear was fraught with the most serious objection, for by the rule laid down by the present Prime Minister all the convicts now went to New South Wales or to Norfolk Island. Now this stream of convicts, which was divided between the two colonies, between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, would do no more, as it were, than cul tivate the soil, would, when confined to one colony, prove a pestilence to it. Under these circumstances there was unavoidably formed a far larger stream of convicts at Van Diemen's Land than the colony would bear. The population of the three colonies were somewhere about thirty thousand, and were overmatched in rapid succession by the accumulation of convicts directed to that single point. The complaints of the Van Diemen's Land colonists were sent home early in the spring of 1846. At that time Lord Stanley had been succeeded in the office of Secretary for the Colonies by his (Lord Mahon's) Right Hon. Friend who now represented the University of Oxford. When the complaints of the colonists were so well founded, it was really no more than any Minister in the same situation ought to have done than to listen to them. His Right Hon. Friend the Member for Ripon came to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary to suspend transportation to Van Diemen's Land for two years; but his Right Hon. Friend the Membea for the University of Oxford took another step also. Lord Stanley had some time before sanctioned the establishment of a colony in North Australia, and had taken all the necessary steps for the formation of that colony. Well now, he (Lord Mahon) brought the his tory of this question to the time when Earl Grey suc ceeded to the office, when in the summer of 1846, there being a change of Government, Earl Grey became Colonial Secretary. Now, then, ha (Lord Mahon) said that he should be prepared to show that Earl Grey announced no less than five changes in his views on this subject in the period between November, 1846, and June, 1848. What was the first step taken by Earl Grey ? He (Lord Mahon) wished to state this transaction as clearly as possible. Earl Grey, on the 15th November, wrote to Sir Charles Fitzroy, and counter manded the instructions given by Lord Stanley, and sanctioned by Mr. Secretary Batson, on the forma tion of the colony. Now he (Lord Mahon) should have occasion to return to that point. What was the next step? Earl Grey, on the sth of February, 1847, wrote to Sir W. Dennison, " I have to inform you that it is not the intention of her Majesty's Government that transpor tation to Van Litemen's Land shall be reduced at the patehes, to show ti,at the [natter was se, hr represented.) Ile then resumed. and said that , urn g the dn bate e heal ee s t e d roe! red to toe di Batch of the Nio: E and had asked the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite what sum he intended to move for in the estimates on that occasion. The Right Hon. Gentleman said that the sum of 30,0001. was to be applied to the benefit of Van Diemen's Land. This was the third stage. Now came the fourth stage. In that stage only part of this grant was to be appropriated to Vat colony. On the occasion when the Nohe Loi d the Member for B•eli (Lord Duncan) brought the subiect boort- the House, and did as he always did on similar occasions, made an able exposition of the matter, it came out that the Noble Earl had reverted from the fourth to the third stage of his mistake.—(Hear, hear.) Only a part, not the whole, of the money was to be applied to the relief of Van Diemen's Land.—(Hear, hear.) Well, this year they had another stage of the mistakes. They. had arrived at an epoch of great changes. Earl Grey's opinion upon the question of Norfolk Island seemed to him to have gone the round of the press, but it had answered no earthly purpose. The advantage of the colonies was this—that they might there employ transports without endangering free colonies, and without exposing them to contamination. Many practical evils arose from the accumulation of prisoners in the gaols of England and Ireland. An active magistrate in Yorkshire had told him that the accumulation in the prisons was so great in that county that magistrates were actually precluded from committing prisoners even where they deemed it ne cessary. Now, that was a system which the Government ought not to sanction, and which ought not to exist fee any considerable time. The moment gaols were filled beyond what they could conveniently hold all reformatory processes which were adopted were obliged to be suspended. The Govern ment were bound to provide some means to pre vent the collection of a great number of prisoners in one gaol, which had the effect of neutralising the benefit of that reformatory discipline which this country was so proud in having instituted. He next came to the prac tical suggestions which he thought it advisable to make. He considered that the suggestions put forward by Captain Maconechie, although he enter tained every respect fur that gentleman, ought not to be received with implicit confidence. He did not think that a single Member of that House would agree with the unproportionate importance which Captain Meeonochil had attributed to the use of music in gaols. The first suggestion which he (Lord Mahon) had to offer was with reference to the colony of North Australia. He challenged the Hon. Udder-Secretary for the Colo nies to say that New North Australia did not present a desirable spot for carrying out the object which Lord Stanley and Mr. Gladstone had in view. The House knew how often convicts were the pioneers of free emigration, and how desirable it was that they should be the means of paving the way for free emigration. He thought the House had a right to complain of the abandonment of the new North Australian colony which Mr. Secretary Gladstone had formed. When Lord John Ru-sell put an end to the system of transportation to New South Wales, the free inhabitants of the colony, in 1840, sent a petition to the House, which was presented in 1840 by Mr. Chas. Buller, who certainly was no mean authority on the question. Of course, they felt the want of the abstraction of a large amount of labour. Acccording to the report of Mr. Merewrather, dated May. 1842, 619,523 went out; at an expense of 30.0001.; and in a later year no less a number than 230,000. No wonder, then, that the authorities at home began to think that there was a glut of labour; yet the colonists, who were the best authorities upon the matter, entertained an opinion, and became afraid that an in sufficiency of labour would be the result of the determination of the Home Government. He would not say that the material improvement of the colonies, or the supply of labour, was by any means the first, or anything like the first, consi deration; but still, if consistent with those things, it was possible to provide a salutary terror, which trans portation had always, up to very recently, bad in this country, and if the reformation of convicts could be steadily carried out in those colonies, then, and as a subordinate object, he thought the documents he had read were sufficient to show that the expectations of free emigration supplying the place of convict labour to the benefit of the colony had proved fallacious, and that the greatest distress had been suffered in that colony from the want of labour. He complained in the outset of his speech of the ill effects which had resulted from Earl Grey's policy. What had been the consequence? In the list of papers he had laid on the the table the colo nists complained of a breach of faith. He would go further and show the ill consequences of that important pledge in the very words of their own officer, in the dispatch of Sir William Dennison. Sir William Dennison acknow ledged the rtceipt of Earl Grey's dispatch of the sih February, 1847, and then said, "I am informed it is not the intention of her Majesty's Government that transportation to Van Diemen's land shall be resumed after the expiration of two years." Now what possible defence could be offered for that conduct? If he were to regard transportation as a system to be continued, he must say that of all systems which had been adopted in Van Diemen's Land, that of Mr. Wakefield was the one most capable of improvement. Such was the opinion of the Bishop of Tasmania. (The Noble Lord then read an extract from the work of Mr. E. Gibbon Wakefield to show that the farmers of Van Diemen's Land had been greatly benefited by the presence of the convicts, and to state that as many as seventy labourers had been employed by one farmer on his property at one time.) Now, his object in bringing this subject before the House was purely practical. and would not be bound by what either he himself or others had said on previous occasions. His suggestion then was that conditional orders should be sent out to the Governors of Van Diemen's Land and of New South Wales to try the experiment of the transportation system on a limited scale; and, then, if that were suc cessful, it might easily be extended. He should then conclude with moving, as he had stated in the beginning it was his intention to do, for the returns of which he had given notice. It he refrained from moving any sub stantive resolution on the subject, it was because before doing so he wished to hear what the Hon. Gentleman might have to say upon the subject. The Noble Lord concluded by moving for copies of the correspondence on this subject between the Colonial-offiee and the Governors of the colonies relative to this subject. Mr. H. HERBERT said that, in rising to second this motion, it would be disgraceful if an Irish Member did not rise at the very first opportunity to speak upon the subject. He called attention to the crowded condition of many of the gaols in Ireland at the present time, and referred to some documents to show that within the last three years the number of convictions and committals had doubled. The mortality, too, had increased to a very great extent for the three years commencing 1845. In that year the number of deaths in the gaols of Ire land was 81; in 1846 it had amounted to 132; while, in 1847, it had reached the enormous number of 1,315. It could not be said that any neglect attached to those whose duty it was to provide good accommodation in Ireland. In the report of the inspectors of prisons in that country, they had stated- that up to 1846 the con dition of-all the gaols was such as to show that they had been carefully attended to and to lead to a hope that their functions would be comparatively light. He held in his hand a report which he had received on the preceding day, of the state of the gaol of Tralee, the principal town in the county which he represented. That gaol had been originally constructed to hold 86 persons; but there were at present in it the astounding number of 528; being six times the number which it was meant that it should contain. He found that among those per sons there were 16 male and 16 female lunatics, and 37 prisoners under sentence of transportation. 15 of whom had been sentenced upwards of six months. He had!to:add to that statement that it would be idle to expect that the people of the county in which that gaol was situated could subscribe the necessary funds, in their present im poverished condition, for meeting the exigency of the case, and he earnestly hoped, therefore, that the atten tion of her Majesty's Government would be directed to the subject, with a view to alleviate as far vs possible so frightful an evil. • Sir G. GREY (who was frequently inaudible in the gallery) thanked the Noble Lord for having brought forward the motion, because, though in this matter the Executive must always be intrusted with large discre tionary powers, and act according to the varying exi gencies which might arise, still it was desirable that Parliament should have a full knowledge of the mode in which the Government conducted this department. Be fore however proceeding to that part of his statement, he would just say a few words as to the charge of in consistency which had been made by the Noble Lord against the policy of his Noble Friend at the head of the Colonial -office. He quite concurred in the opinion that the great object they should have in view was to deter from the commission of crime and to improve the offender ; but in carrying this object our, the Go vernment ought not to aim at more than they were I able to accomplish. In doing this, consistency would be a fault instead of a virtue. In defending his Noble Friend, he begged to say that he participated in the blame that might he thrown upon his Noble Friend, and he did not wish to shrink from it, because all the Noble Lord had done had been with his fullest concurrence and consent. But he did not mean to say that there were no defects in the system now in opera tion. Two years ago, when he fully entered into: the whole subject,- and stated in detail the course which the Government meant to take, and their reasons for,taking it, he had stated that the system was a tentative one, and that it would be improved, not only in accordance with the increased experience of the Government, but also with such suggestions as persons of experience might offer. But he must call the attention of the Noble Lord to one part of his statement, in which he thought the Noble Lord had not done justice to the present Government. It would be remetiabered that when they came into office in. 1846, the evils arising from the system of transportation had risen to such a height, that the Honourable Member for Oxford University (Mr. Gladstone) then at the head of the Colonial-office, had, in a dispatch fully exposed the na ture and extent of these evils, the dreadful crime and im morality of which prevailed especially among the proba tion classes, and the late Government was exerting itself to put a stop to them. When the present Goveroment came into office, they felt themselves imperatively called upon to interfere at once, and to devise immediate means of dealing with those criminals against whose transport tation the colonies were exerting themselves in the strongest possible manner. The state of the colonies at that time was fully stated in the dispatch of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Gladstone). Under those circum stances his attention had been directed to the subject of transportation, and he found that the system then pur sued was productive of serious evils, and could riot fail to create the largest amount of disadvantage both in a social and moral point of view. In his opinion the system of transportation now carried on, subject of course to certain modifications, was not calculated to expiration of two years, for which it has been - al ready decided it shall be continued." He (Lord Mahon) asked, vas Lord Grey justified in doing that? He might be justified in deciding what he pleased at the time, but he was not justified in saying, after two years, that transportation should in no possible case be resumed in Van Diemen's Land. Well, then they were still in the first phase of Earl Grey's Administration. The views of Earl Grey at that time were set forth by himself with much clear ness, in his speech in the House of Lords, on the sth of March, 1847. He said,,," We wish to carry into effect a change in the policy of the country with respect to punishment of a very important kind; but that change is of no less an extent than the vir tual ,abolition of the system of transport a tio n which has so many years prevailed under different regulations." But then they had Earl Grey's words for the virtual abolition of transportation. Convicts were to be sent out to those colonies on no account whatever. Now this was the first stage of Earl Grey's mistake. When, on the 3d of June they had a debate in that House, and in the course of the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman the U❑der-Secretary for the Colonies, ho stated chat Earl Grey had altered his opinion on that particular point--that was stage the second of the Noble Earl's mistakes. It was then stated that the con- victs were not to be sent out pi the way of transportation but as compulsory exiles. That was the next stage. — (Hear, hear.) This was confirmed by the dispatch of the Noble Earl to Earl Grey on the 12th February, to Sir W. Dennison. Hereithen was stage number two. Lord Grey's opinion lasted on this point till the 27th of April, 1848. In the papers laid before toe House previous to the debate the Noble Earl appeared to intend to propose the grant of a certain sum, as a remuneration for the convicts which had been taken from Van Diemen's Land. (The Noble Lord then read some extracts from the dis- ffect the object in view, namely, th;: punishments or afendere an d t h e refeemetiee of to irnit,als. He wield eile up tit questier, at the point where he left off 1 ; 1 1847, and state generally the plan at present adopted. The main feature of the scheme then proposed, and since carried out with some modifications was, that the prin cipal penal portion of the period should be spent, not in a distant colony, where hardened criminals were con gregated, but in some of the convict establishments of this country, and at. Bermuda, or Gibraltar. The sea' ence transportation, he now spoke of the cases of ordinary convicts, was divided into three parts. The Government had determined that the first portion should be passed in separate imprisonment, as distinguished from the silent system, the maximum period of imprisonment being 18 months, but averaging generally, except in extreme casts, from 6to 12 months. A most incorrect and erroneous impression had got abroad, that the Government had come to the conclusion that the system of separate imprisonment failed, and was ex' ph ded. Nothing could be mere erroneous. Each sue' ceeding year's experience, and the information derived from gentlemen in the service of the Government, and from magistrates, convinced him that the system, su b ject to ter tarn regulations in its administration, was the most valuable that could be employed fur the punish' ment as well as the ultimate re formation of the criminal. In support of this opinion, he referred to several extracts from the fifth report of the Pentonville Commissioners, who declared as the result of their experience, that the separate imprisonment system at present in operation was the only ground on which reformatory discipline could be based with any chance of success. In a pamphlet on the subject of trans" portation, which had been lately placed in his hands, written by a person practically conversant with the de tails of the system, somewhat similar opinions were ex. pressed. The great value of the system, it was urged. should depend on the nature of the religious instruction afforded the convicts, and on the zeal of the officers em' ployed. In several letters and speeches published on the subject of separate imprisonment, the cells were de scribed as most attractive, com fortable places, by ne means calculated to inspire the inmate with a horror of crime. His own observations, on repeated visits to these convict cells showed him the utter fallacy of such state merits, and he might remark, moreover, that the frequent applications he had received from W' sons undergoing the punishment for a remission of this part of the sentence, showed how severelf, it was felt. Aft er a care f ul and valuable examination of witnesses, the Committee of the House of Lords, in their report, said that the separate system of punisbnient seemed exactly to supply what was required, bat that it should be administered with great care. The results of the system were exceedingly satisfactory, a decided nu ) ; ral improvement having in many instances exhibited itself in the criminals. Independently of eight hundred separate cells in Millbank, there were now twelve hundred others, including those of Pentonville and Wakefield, which the Government had at their dis; posal for the purpose of carrying out the system, and as the period of separate imprisonment would not, cept in very extraordinary cases, exceed twelve months , he believed the available number would be found suffi cient for the purpose. Another description of penal la: hour was that employed on public a orks. On that subjeo he did not understand the Noble Lord as expressing all decided opinion as to whether this should be carried on here or in the colonies. He seemed to think there were advantages on both sides, but on which side the balance of advantage lay he expressed ne decided opinion. For his own part, be tho ug ht it o f i mmense advantage thtt, this secondary stage of p un i s h men t s h ou ld b e pas sed, not at such a distance from this country as Van Die men's Land or Port Philip, but at home, ,or at seine such place as Gibraltar or Bermuda, which were D Ovi brought within a reasonable distance, where the regn' latious laid down by the Government would be strictly enforced by men of a stamp and character different from those in the Australian colonies. The penal labour wa s performed at Bermuda and Gibraltar on board hulk s ' which he merely wished to speak of as temporarylexP s e . ; dients that would be ra pidly i mprove d by tis% erection of other establi s h men t s f ree f rom tP objection which attached to the former. At Per i land, too, the arrang emen t s th a t h a d b een per fected were free from the great majority of objectio n which applied to the hulks. For instance, it was Ir . ranged that each man should bare a separate sleepiel apartment. Means were t a k en t o st i mu l ate industry iio good conduct; and he th oug h t , ta ki ng everything ini.to consideration, there w e r e goo d groun d s to hope that t"' Portland establishment would be productive of ine, rt) benefit than they h a d reason to expect f rom s imilar establishments.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Baronel having stated some o th er f ea t ures o f t h e Government scheme, as connected with th e secon d s t age of Irani% ment, proceeded to an swer an o bj ect i on ta k en by Noble Lord (Mahon) to the market selected for to: convicts' labour, and read passages from the dispaten, of the Governor of Bermuda, in which he estimat e the labour of a strong convict at 20/. per annut°' while his cost of m a i n t enance did not excee d 2 ° / . per annum, so that at Bermuda there was balance of 101. on each strong working convict 11 favour of the nation, the convi c t s b e i ng th ere e mploye d 1 on national works. The third stage of the punishment consisted in removal to the colonies. The Noble Lord laid great stress on the importance of the sentence being carried out by actual re mova l o f t h e conv i cts, but the system formerly adopted, was mere l y to send t h e m to the hulks. What th e G overnment proposed was, tha t an actual removal should take place, and that in the colonies the convicts, after a certain period, shoul d ' according to circumstances and good behaviour, receir e either conditional pardon or tickets of leave. The esse tl tial difference between a ti c k e t o f l eave an d a con di t ional pardon was, that th e l at t er ma d e t h e conv i cts f ree , but prohibited their return to the country from which they were transported. The ticket of leave, on the contrail:, prohibited their l eav i ng th e colony—they rf.firs, forced to remain withi n t h e li m i ts o f the u,„, trict, and be prepar e d t o s h ow t h emse l ves to the magistrates at certain i n t erva l s . —(H ear. ) Th e y should also pay a sum tow ar d s th e cost o f t h e i r ma i n tenance before they received a conditional pardon. The °W e i ; t of this branch of the system, though it fell short of t_ . hopes and intention of the Government, was to diseu n u o rage large masses of convicts from settling down in °, d selected district. Important changes bad been effec k l' e d at Norfolk Island. The number of convicts there ii ts 3 , been reduced from 1,200 to 500, and it was retained , ", the consent of Lard Grey, as a place where convie s 'i, might be sent to from Van Diemen's Land who were . , to ready under sentence of transportation. In regal*" re the Irish gaols,--he confessed that th e case wa s a re! difficult one, and th a t th e N o bl e L or d ha d no t ofe s ' , stated it.—(Hear, h ear .) Th e crowded state o f th°e 0 / gaols did not, howev er , arise from any suspe n sion iri transportation, but i n consequence of the additio number of offenders in that country who were se ntence d to be transported.—(H ear , h ear. ) Th e atten tion s v Government had b een re p eate dl y ca ll e d to t he ca_ , and they were doing all that euuld in p resen t ciren% stances be done to re li eve t h e pressure in the gaols Ireland. It was not, however, in the power of the . verntnent to relieve that pressure to the extent 141 ; I might be desirable, for he found that, while for ser e , to years previous to 1847, the average number senteneeu„, transportation in Ireland was not above five or six he' d dyed, for the years 1847 and 1848 the numbers sentenc,eat to transportation had exceeded 2,000 in each year. le ro great addition coming upon them in the course of to years had been the means of so much crowding ' gaols, and rendering it difficult for Government to fin d ,.. the means of a remedy. In order to in some degr e e relieve the pressure thus created, a considerable ner te t ber of those sentenced to transportation had been 0 , 13 to Spike Island, where th e means of emp l o y ment and proper con fi nement had been p ro' vided for them; but, as he said before when it w" considered that th e num b er of those sentenced ,1 transportation during each of the past two years. 4 exceeded by some t h ree or four hundred the averse's of five or six years previous, it must be evident th li d the present pressure arose not from any suspension is transportation ' but from an addition in the numb s sentenced sentenced to be transported. There was also anote it cause which might be assigned for this pressure, a ed was that a large number of those now sentence transportation in Ireland being, from their youth. 1 1 03 to be sent out to th e co l on i es , not b e i ng a bl e to Per',%et the work assigned t he m th ere , were obliged to bed it t; ) , in this country, at least fo r a ti me . Thi s w a s prore te d a dispatch from the Governor of Bermuda, who 1 0 1 1 in regard to a numb er o f conv i cts sent to t h a t C ol e 0 from Ireland, that they were o f no : use , i n consequ enc e o their youth, and reques t e d th at no more of that ciee.. should be sent, a s s h ou ld th ey b e so, they would bero dered still more hardened and contaminated with cr, i ck e from being sen t to wor k and live among those ° l of and more viciou s th an t h emse l ves. The Hon. MI ot for Kerry had said that the gaol of Kerry would Lit e contain more than 81 p r i soners , an d h e d i d not disP o the statement; and th e re w as no d ou b t that t h ere e/. 0 1 great deficiency of priso n accommo d at i on i n I re l a nd, ' r d. in order to ascert a in w h a t cou ld b e d one, t h e 11 0 . Lieutenant of Ireland had ca ll e d f or a return o f the "UOO3. ber of prisons in that country and their means of se c° t be modation, with a view of ascertaini ng w h at could hestee done to remedy the evil complained of, b u t frorn io t number of convicts sent out of the country for th e d i o g two years, he could hold out but small hopes of fi n bet colonies capable of receiving any great additional o ° l 3 , for some time. In regard to the except i onal cased et, transportation was not carried ou t, some of those 9tbet tenced to be transported were so advanced in life , e a if sent out to the colonies they would only be c°. " - d in burden on the colonies to which they were sent; sea to some cases the country sen di ng them, had been oblig fore, pay for their maintenance. The instructions, ther e i , re' given to inspecting surgeons were, that they object eons ceive on board any of the vessels for conveying,,,, - r ed victs to their destination, all such as they conou;iie, unable to bear the fatigues of the voyage to Au of or who, when they got there, would not be capabl e engaging in the work assigned them to do. Tan se i s h • jected to must therefore undergo their term of Pu n t he ment in this country. With regard to Irish convict s ' re o misfortune was th a t th e y were not phys i ca ll y fit, re' from their youth than from their age, to do the we' .k d to quired of th em i n t h e penal settlements. With regfoir the re commen d at i ons which the Noble Lord badli milted on this subject, he confessed that he felt It h ' fo s disappoint e d, as h e s h ou ld h ave b een most happ y t° lea' taken up any suggestion of a practical and beneficill'„ e d ture. The Noble Lord's recommendations, he concc l i a to be no improvement on the presents ystem. As to P o st the governors of the colonies to which convicts Wer e a discretionary power to carry on a system of co 7 ap t meat, he considered such a system would he pre s e,! io with the greatest evil. It would give rise to su and ill feeling; and besides, what, at best, was the sr' , 1 , 0 of consignment but a system of slavery? The evil!, et, subject to rendered it nothing else, and he woula, t be therefore, consent to its adoptien. He considereur„ot punishment of transportation a valuable and imp t L h a oy one; but, in considerin g any modification of it, ;ell must have in view the interests of the colonies, as it as those of this country. And however import _ l : be might be to bring suc h su bj ects b e f ore the lioulle Zany in the ex s hares of • • kesaber , ,; °lodge a 14tyg ill` respect t' ndo_aed the . 3_:n 4‘;..0 reaeltaheyeftound unar of it.% vas orders • -4)Queerne ,-(Chters. WEST LONDON RAILWAY. The half-yearly meeting of this conipany was held a the London Tavern yesterday, at one o'clock; Mr. H H. Grounds in the chair. From the report and the speech of the Chairman, it appeared that after the last meeting of the shareholders, communications were opened with the North-Western Company, who some years ago purchased the line, and agreed to work it with the view of settling the matter, a considerable time having elapsed without the North-Western carrying their cove nant to work the line into effect. A communication had been received from Mr. Stewart, the secretary of the North-Western, stating that the directors consi dered that the line could not be worked profitably, and that the shareholders might have possession of the line on repaying the deposit money which that company had lodged. A reply had been sent by the directors of this company, intimating that atter the delay that had taken place, and the injury the share holders had sustained, that they could not look upon the proposition seriously. Considerable discussion took place, in the course of which Mr. RIGBY moved " That the directors be empowered to take such legal steps to protect the interests of the shareholders as they might deem expedient." As but a small number of shareholders were present, and as it was desirous to obtain the sentiments of the entire body, the meeting was adjourned for a month with that view. GIBRALTAR. The Cronica de Gibraltar of the 21st ult. an nounces that the British squadron, commanded by Sir Charles Napier, and composed of seven ships of war, sailed on the 17th, with the 34th Regiment on board. The object of the expedition was to destroy the pirates along the coast of the Riff. The latter, however, had completely disappeared on the approach of the squadron, and the Admiral, after landing at Melilla, where he had a conference with the Spanish Governor, returned to Gibraltar on the 20th. BAVARIA. The Deutsche Zeitung has news of an insurrec tion at Aschaffenburg. The insurgents intended to sack the salt works, and to do this the more safely they thought of setting fire to the barracks, which were then garrisoned by 40 soldiers while the insurgents numbered above 800. Among them were many peasants from the electorate of Hesse. The soldiers were forced to retire with a loss of three killed. The loss on the side of the insurgents amounted to 15 killed. Troops of the Empire, foot and horse, were sent off to Aschaffenburg as soon as the news came to Frankfort. HOLLAND. The Niederlandsche Staats Courant, of the 2d inst., contains the following official notice : " The Oberpostampts Zeitung, and several other Ger man papers, have published intelligence of a treaty be tween the Netherlands and Austria, by which a great part of the Dutch fleet, under the command of an Admi ral, was, for a certain time, to be at the disposal of Aus tria. We are authorised to state that the Dutch Go vernment have not placed one ship nor one officer or sailor at the disposal of the Austrian Government." CALIFORNIA. The accounts from California confirm in some men• sure the statements previously set forth, that arge deposits of gold have been discovered on the banks of the Sacramento ; but there are still great discrepancies in the reports of the quantity that had been collected, and the supplies for the future are so purely hypothetical that it seems needless now to speculate upon them. That many of the adventurers will succeed in realising large fortunes there is no reason to doubt, but that many more will be disappointed in their object is equally certain ; and it is very much to be feared that thousands will lose their lives in this race for wealth, and sacrifice themselves to their own cu pidity. Sickness prevailed to a great extent at the " diggings," particularly in the vicinity of the Tulae marshes at Sutters, and in the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. From these parts many of the people are said to return to San Fran cisco well stored with fever and ague, if not with gold. But these were minor troubles when compared with the evil passions which had broken loose, and with unre strained violence were committing the most frightful atrocities. The moral condition of the country was bad enough before these late discoveries, but now it is in a state of perfect chaos; there is no protection for life or property; might only is right, and all sorts of lawless deeds are perpetrated with impunity. Drunkenness is. unfortunately, too prevalent, and robberies and murders are said to be numerous, although all do not come to light. The inhabitants are unsettled, and the whole state of society completely unhinged. Agriculture and the mechanical arts are completely neglected; there are no schools, or any prospect of there being any for the present; gold occupies the whole attention of the people, and is likely to be a curse on the country. A correspond. ent strictly recommends those who can do well at home not to think of going there. He says, " Some will make money doubtless, but more will make them selves sick, and perhaps return poorer than ever, if they do not make shipwreck of good morals,- and die, like some already, in revelling and drunkenness. If they can get more gold here, it should be borne in mind that they will have to pay ten times the amount for all the ne cessaries of life, and the chances are against being so well off in the end. At the mines, sugar, coffee, butter, hams, potatoes, and other like articles are selling at 1 doll, per lb.; and real estate at San Francisco had risen greatly in value. One allotment, of fifty yards square, which cost two years ago 15 dollars, was sold lately at 10,000 dollars. A gentleman, who had been employed in suveying land in California, and whose expe rience in the gold districts of America gave his tes timony great weight, writes thus—" The geological formations of California are similar to those in other parts of the west coast, where gold has been found, and the deposits correspond in every respect with pre vious discoveries; the veins are confined to the primitive formation, and are found in fissures of limestone quarts high up in the range, from whence it is washed by heavy rains into the mountain streams, which form themselves into rivers; and is thus deposited in the alluvial soil formed by their periodical Moods. It is also found in the sand and gravel in the beds of the rivers, from which it is easily separated by washing away the soil, the specific gravity of the gold being greater than the earth. It is ft aind in the largest lumps near the crevices from which it had been displaced near the source of the streams, and becomes less from friction, as it is carried down the rivers till near the coast, where it is collected in the form of fine dust, which is generally the purest metal, being wholly separated from the quartz through which it was originally mixed." Another authority states that the placers of C a lif orn i a are not richer than many previous discoveries, which have not only been washed out of gold, but also out of memory; hence it is argued from analogy that the new El Dorado will not produce anything like the quantity which many people are in clined to believe, and that, considering the enormous ac cumulation of gold which has taken place all over the world since the discovery of South America, ik would re quire a very large annual supply to effect that revolution in prices which appears to be looked for by some, the stock existing in both hemispheres being so large that the four millions sterling produced annually by Russia alone has failed to bring about any change. However, the information at present available, is still so uncertain that nothing more than a guess can be made as to the probable future supply. Time only can solve the ques- tion; but we augur nothing but good to this country from the discovery; it will give a powerful stimulus to commerce; the merchant, the manufacturer, and the agriculturist, will reap the benefit of its distribution, and industry will be the heir to it, come in what quantities or in what time it may. EARLY CLOSING IN ALL TRADES.—Tuesday even ing the seventh annual general meeting of the friends and promoters of this movement was held in Exeter-hall, the Marquis of Blandford, M.P., in the chair. The chairman, in his address to the meeting, explained the object for which they had assembled—viz., to induce the heads of establishments in the City to consent to the closing of their shops at such an hour of the evening as would permit those in their employ to give some portion of the evening to the recreation necessary to their phy- sical and mental health after the close confinement of the day. Messrs. J. Williams, M.P., D. Maurice, M.A., Dr. Beaumont, F. Payne, and other p-atlemen, spoke in support of the resolution condemning the present system of late hours i❑ business as alike injurious to the social and moral welfare of the young men and women who constitute the great bulk of assistants in all trades. A very lengthened report was then read by the secretary of the society, recapitulating the proceedings of the association during the past year, and stating that the object they had in view had, by the unwearied exertions of the committee, been rendered much more easy of attainment. The resolutions were then agreed to by a very full and respectably attended meeting, which separated after a warm expression of thanks to the chairman. MYSTERIOUS DISATEEARANCEI—On Friday morn ing last, Mr. James Campbell, a greengrocer, in Church street, Walworth, and who is the owner of some house property in the neighbourhood, left home for the purpose of ordering some coals at a wharf in Bankside, and since that time he has not been seen by any member of his tamily. On the same morning a man, answering his description, was seen by some boys jumping from barge to barge on the Surrey Canal, and soon after his hat was picked up on the banks of the canal. The miss ing man commenced life as a pot-boy at the Prince of Wales public-house in Penton-place, opposite to the former entrance to the Surrey Gardens, and by perse verance and industry had been enabled to build several houses in the neighbourhood, and accumulate consider able property; and he was very generally respected. Since his disappearance it has been found that he had discounted some bills for some parties, who were not i p t u n is c t f u e a a l in red hastaking led them u tothe p when rash ac a t at maturity; oof self -d 0 s t a r n u d o t i h o is n Persons have been employed since Saturday morning, in dragging the canal ; but up to a late hour last even ing, no further trace of the missing man bad been dis covered. CASE OF MR. GOTTEN. Lord BEAUMONT gave notice that ho should to morrow put a question to the Noble Marquis respecting the illegal arrest of Mr. Gotten at Manilla by the officers of the Spanish Government. BUCKS ASSIZES BILL. _ The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the third reading of the Buckinghamshire Summer Assizes Bill. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM opposed the Bill. After a few words from the Marquis of LANS DOWNE, the Bill was read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. The Earl of ROYEN presented several petitions against the national system of education in Ireland. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 9. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. BIRMINGHAM BOROUGH. BILL. Mr. BROTHERTON brought up this Bill, which was read a first time. CORN DUTIES. Lord CHARLES MANNERS presented petitions from the Ashby Agricultural Association, and from other partie, praying for the re-imposition of the corn duties, on the ground that they found themselves unable to compete with the foreign grower. THE LAW OF MARRIAGE. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented seYeral petitions agains any alteration in the law of marriage. THE PEACE MOVEMENT. Mr. J. WILLIAMS and several other Members pre sented petitions from various places in North Wales, praying that efforts might be made to settle the national disputes by arbitration. RATE IN AID. An How. MEMBER presented several petitions against the rate in aid from different parts of Connaught. AFFIRMATION INSTEAD OF OATHS. Mr. B. SMITH presented a petition from Dunferm line, praying for the substitution of affirmations instead of oaths. PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE. Sir J. TYRELL presented al petition from a county meeting at Colchester, and also one from the occupiers of upwards of 60,000 acres in the neighbourhood of Dun mow, in Essex, praying for the re. imposition of duties on grain imported into this country, on the ground that the petitioners were unable to compete with foreign growers. GENERAL EDUCATION. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented petitions from places in the district of Rochdale, praying that a general system of education might be established in the county of Lancaster, and that it mightibe paid for out of the county rates. THE SLAVE-TRADE. Sir E. N. BUXTON presented sereral petitions from different places and religious congregations, praying that steps might be taken for the liberation of all African negroes who had been introduced into colonies over which the British Government had any influence, and that the productions of all countries where slave labour was used might be excluded from this country. RATE IN AID. Colonel DUNNE presented a petition from King's County, stating that the measure for this purpose was atrocious, and stating their belief that it was unfair to tax a portion of the empire for the relief ot one particular locality, and exprtssing their readiness to share a tax with tho w h o l e of the United Kingdom. BEER HOUSES. Mr. PALMER presented a petition from a number of persons in the county of Berks, complaining of the demoralising effects of the way in which beer was re tailed to the public through the means of beer-houses. NAVIGATION LAWS. Mr. CARDWELL, in the midst of many ironical cheers, presented petitions from the:body of shipowners and from the licensed pilots of Liverpool against the re peal of the navigation laws. THE POOR-LAW. Captain PECHELL said that, seeing the Hon. Gen• tleman at the head of the Poor-law Board in his place, he would beg to remind him t h at w h en he last spoke on tiesubjeetofthe questi on wh i ch he was about to ask, he l had omitted to say one word respecting the accounts. He would, therefore, now ask him whether the Commis sioner of Poor-laws will sanction the repayment to unions and parishes (where engagements have been made) of the expenses incurred by them in the maintenance of poor belonging to other parishes, whose relief was with drawn in consequence of instructions from the Poor-law Commissioners, founded on an erroneous construction of the Poor Removal Act. Mr. BAINES begged most sincerely to apologise to his Hon. and Gallant Friend for the omission, but in reply to that inquiry he must r em i n d h i m that the board could take cognizance of no cases of which the whole of the particulars were not before them. This much, how ever, he might say, that accordi ng to the present state of the law, the Poor-law Commissioners had no power to re-open accounts that had been closed. EMIGRATION. Mr. MONSELL gave notice of his intention, on this day fortnight, to call the attention of the House to the subject of emigration. IRELAND. On the motion of Mr. H. HERBERT, returns were ordered showing the-number of persons committed, ac quitted, and convicted in Ireland, for cattle and sheep stealing in Ireland, during each of the years 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, and 1848 ; showing the number committed as vagrants during the same years. Ac count, showing the total expenditure for gaols, bride wells, and houses of correction for the same years. The total number of persons committed, acquitted, and con victed, for the same years. The number of deaths in the prisons of Ireland during each of the same years. The number of prisoners sentenced to transportation, and those actually transported, for the same period. The number of convicts under sentence of transportation, on the Ist day of January, 1849, where confined, and how the expenses of their maintenance is defrayed. And, the number of persons in custody in Ireland charged or convicted of criminal offences on the Ist day of January, 1849, where confined, and the number of criminal prisoners for whose reception and safe custody the several gaols were built, and the number of persons actually in custody on the Ist day of January, 1849. METROPOLITAN POLICE. On the motion of Lord DUDLEY STUART, the following returns were ordered :—General accounts of the city of London Police for each year from their first establishment to the 31st day of December, 1848 (to be made up, as far as possible, in conformity with the an nual Metropolitan Police accounts). Return of Police constables and others, officers of the Metropolitan Police force, who have been charged with offences before any of the police magistrates during each year from 1844 to 1848 inclusive, specifying the rank of the officer, his age, the time he has been in the force, the nature of his offence, whether convicted or not, the punishment awarded, and whether he was retained in the service; total number of men who have been dis missed, fined, suspended, or degraded by the Police Commissioners during the same period, and the number who have resigned their appointments daring the same period. Similar return of City of London Police force (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper 238, session 1844). Return from each division of the Metropolitan Police, of the number of robberies committed, the value of the property stolen, and the value of the property recovered, for each year, from 1844 to 1848, inclusive. And similar return from the citylof London Police (in continuation of Parliam en t ary P aper, No. 238, S ess ion 1844) . R eturn of the number of persons ta k en i n to custody by t h e Metro politan P o li ce , and the resu l ts , i n eac h y ear f rom 1844 to 1848, inclusive• and similar return from the City o f London Police (in continuation of Parliamentary P a p er No. 238, o f S ess i on 1844), ; ADMIRALTY PRIZES. Captain PECHELL, pursuant to notice, wished to know whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admi ralty intend to revise the scale fur the distribution of the proceeds of prizes, pursuant to the proclamation of the 19th day of May, 1846? Captain BERKELEY said that the subject bad been under the consideration of the Lords of the Admiralty for some time; that the result of their opinion would be shortly published, and he had no doubt that the publi cation of the papers on the subject would give the Hun. Member the greatest satisfaction.—(Hear.) l'e] Col t thl -~ ~. :lb ( rep the evi] gen the the ape a . gig Of Phi tto