The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 25. Their rdships assembled at Five o'clock. The Earl of Sr. GERMANS presented several peti tions in favour of the Bill for the protection of women. The Bishop of NORWICH presented several petitions with a similar prayer. He wished to impress upon their Lordships the necessity of adopting some legislative measure on the subject, and he was persuaded they might introduce an efficient measure to put a stop to the horrible trade in prostitution, which was a disgrace to a civlz community. M. MAI , TZONI.—THE EXCURSION TO PARIS. Lord BUOUGHAN drew the attention of their Lord ships to a letter signed " Manzoni," which appeared in the Terrier, challenging him and other Noble Lords to fight a duel. He had. received a letter from M. Manzoni, stating that he knew nothing of the letter, and he be lievt d must have been inserted by inadvertence. He thought it due to M. Manzoni to make this statement. He would also allude to the newly projected visit of the English to Paris. He wished it to be distinctly understood that this was merely a private visit. He wished again to express his opinion that no communica tion could take place between the two nations except officially, and he hoped no official countenance would be given to the persons intending to visit Paris. The Marquis of BRE ADALBANE thought we bad nothing to do with the manner in which the French Go vernment might receive the visitors to Paris. Her Ma jesty's subjects had a right to go where they liked. . Lord BROUGHAM had never said a word to present her Majesty's subjects from going over to France, or against any good reception that might be given to them. If the French could afford to treat them, the more they feted the better, provided they conducted themselves properly. After a few words from the Earl of MOUNT CASHEL, Lord gEDESDALE said that in his opinion these visits ought to be discouraged. Had the visit of the French National Guards to this country taken place in the March of last year instead of in the summer, it might have been attended with the most disastrous effects. CANADA. Earl GREY presented papers relating to Canada. CONSULAR EXPENDITURE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a sPcond time. PETITIONS. The Earl of CARLISLE presented petitions In favour of the Bill for the better protection of women; also in favour of a measure for the better regulation of beer shops. The Bishop of LICHFIELD presented petitions in favour of a Kill for the better protection of women. Earl NELSON presented a petition with a similar prayer. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Ayr against the repeal of the navigation-laws. ADJOURNMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that the 110113 P at its rising do adjourn to Monday se'nnight. Agreed tr,„ NAVIGATION•LAWS REPEAL BILL. The report on this Bill having been brought up, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice that he should move the third reading on Tuesday se'nnight. The Bishop of OXFORD said that he should move the amendment of which he had given notice in the Bill on the third reading. The RIGRT REV. PRELATE then presented 51 pe• tit ns in favour of the Bill for the protection of women; and also a petition from the Free Church of Aberdeen. _ _ PROTECTION OF WOMEN BILL. The Bishop of OXFORD, in moving the second reading of this Bill. said that be trusted there might be no occasion for him to enter at length into any details on She painful subject to which it referred, and which rendered it necessary. But if, unfortunately, any one of their Lordships should think it their duty to offer any opp - ;sition to the measure, he begged to say that he was prep2red with statements to make good his case, that there was a great practical evil, the remedy for which must ho &Agit!. in legislation. He was sure that their Lordships would agree with him in thinking that it was far better to avoid any allusion to the harrowing details of this question; but, on the other hind, if the object ho had in view could be attained in no other way, then he was resolved that no f: - ,&ing of false delicacy should stazd in his way, but he would reluctantly make the statement which, for many reasons, Le was anxious to avoid.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to inform the House that he had received a letter from the Lord Chief Justice of England, who was unable to attend that evening, in which the Noble and Learned Lord ex r, r,l3:eit his intention of not opposing the Bill, but suggested an alteration in the second clause, to provide for which, he (the Bishop of Oxford) hill prepared a clause which he should move in Com mittee. It was possible that his Lordship might hear some murmur of opposition to his measure, but if incon venience in certain cases should be the only objection urged against it, he hoped it might not be suffered to prevail. The Right Reverend Prelate then moved the second reading of the Bill. Lord BROUGHAM said he approved of the principle of the Bill, and of the suggestion of the Lord Chief Justice. Lerd CAMPBELL said that, though he approved of the object proposed by the Right Reverend Prelate, yet he thought the Right Reverend Prelate had not done justice to the common law of England, which he (Lord Campbell) conceived was fully adequate to meet the class of off.nces embraced in the BM before the House; and ha doubted, indeed, whether there was one that could escape it. Attempts of this kind to legislate upon this subject had been made constantly ever since the sitting of the Long Parliament. First of all, the offence was made a misdemeanour, then a felony, and then a capital offence without benefit of clergy. The Acts of Parliament which thus established the common law upon the subject were all of them more or less objectionable in their operation ; but he conceived that this was the most objec tionable of all. There was nothing in its provisions to protect a person from a trumped-up charge—indeed, it was rather celculated to induce one. The common law, he was persuaded, was able to meet those cases, but still, being equagy desirous with the Right Rev. ?relate to give as much protection of a practical character as legis lation could afford, ho should not oppose the Bill, and would even hope, contrary almost to all experience, that it might prove productive of good.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said, he regretted that the Noble and Learned Lord who had just spoken should have taken such a view of the subject as he had, because, undoubtedly, it was one with regard to which a great legislative effort ought to be made. The number of petitions presented that evening in favour of the mea sure prcciaimed the interest which was felt upon it out of et ors, and that being so, it was their duty to respond to that feeling as completely as the nature of the object in view, andlhe state of the law, permitted them. That the common law in this respect was imperfect, was suffi cit•ntly evidenced by the fact, that in many recent cases of seduction, the Judges had expressed their regret that the law was unable to reach the offenders. Al her Majesty's subjects ought to be protected, but at present the families highest in the country were unsafe, as he knew by experience of several cases. To that end be should move the insertion of a stringest clause when the Bill tell under consideration of the Committee. TI .e Bishop of OXFORD said that although it was not the practice in Englaild to look to France for an ex ample in morality, yet it might be said to our reproach, that in France offences of this kind were dealt with and punished which by the common law of England was not yet possible. The only Act for the purpose was the 9th of George IV., c. 39; and there were a multitude of cases which were exempted from its operation, such, for in stance, as where the girl, however young she might be, had willingly left her father's house, or ever so igno rantly; or where she was above sixteen years of age, or where she went away with the permission of her guardians: These were cases in which the law afforded no remedy; indeed it was against the craft of the law that it should—(Laughter)—and therefore he did not doubt that the loose would see the propriety of a new measure upon the subject. The Bill was then read a second time, and their Lord ships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 25. The SPEAKER took the Chair five minutes before Four o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. The Lords' amendments to the following private Bills were considered and agreed to : Bury Saint Edmund's Gas Company Bill. Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society (Incorpora ting and Conferring Powers) Bill. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Sir J. BULLER presented a petition from 8,800 owners and occupiers of land in th e county of Devon, complaining of alarming agricultural distress in that county also a petition from owners and occupiers of land iu Kingsbridge, in the county of Devon, signed by 1,200 persons, to the same effect. JAMES BERRINGTON'S INVENTION. Colonel TROMPS ON ;resented a petition from James Berrington, twenty-seven years a veterinary surgeon in the army, praying that the House would take measures for carrying out an invention of his for a modo of car rying the wEi4ht borne by infantry soldiers. IRISH SPIRIT DEALERS. Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from certain merchants and traders in Irish manufactured spirits in Dublin, Tipperary, Dungarvan, Ardee, Castleblaney, and other towns in Ireland, complaining that they are compelled to pay for a quantity of spirits which their casks will not hold, and are not allowed anything for evaporation. The Hon. Gentleman also presented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen and burgesses of Dublin, fully concurring in the alteration in the law re lating to the process of attachment in Courts of Record in Dublin. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Sir R. LOPES presented a petition from Devon, complaining of agricultural distress in that county, and praying for the re-imposition of protective duties on agricultural produce. PRISON DISCIPLINE. Mr. C. PEARSON presented a petition from Dr. Rice, as the representative of a very large body of gentlemen, magistrates, inspectors, and chaplains of prisons, assembled in the City to discuss the question of prison discipline, and praying that the petition may be referred to a Committee to inquire into the truth of its statements. EXTENSION OF COUNTY COURTS. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from 200 tradesmen in Brighton, praying that the jurisdiction of the County Courts may be extended to debts of at least fio/. THEiTEAM•BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE IRISH CHANNEL. In answer to a question from Mr. CARDWELL, Mr. LABOUCLIERE said Captain Denham had re $11112"1 4914 hi's visit Of 14gintiti011 to I.4iTerpoo l , into the recent calamity which happened on the voyage of a steam.vesel between Liverpool and the coast of Ire land • but unfortunately a domestic affliction had pre vented Captain Denham presenting his report to the Board of Trade. He thought, however, the re port would be received tomorrow, and there would be no objection to lay it on the table of the House. PRIVATE BILLS. The Cockermouth and Workington Railway (Branch to Bridgefoot, Amendment of Act, and Power to lease to Whitehaven Junction Railway Company) Bill was read a third time and passed. The report on the Transfer of Sheffield Canal to River Dun Navigation Company Bill was considered and agreed to. IJISCELLANEOLTS ESTIMATES. Colonel SIBTIIORP would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the House was likely to have a discussion on the civil contingencies and miscellaneous estimates? Mr. PARKER said it would come on on Thursday next. Sir J. GRAHAM said surely the discussion on that subject would not come on so early as Thursday night ? The papers had not yet been circulated among the Members. Mr. PARKER said that was owing to the papers not having been printed yet. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said (with some warmth) that surely the matter would not be pressed on on Thurs day night. Mr. PARKER said the Right Hon. Gentleman had better repeat his question when he saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place. Sir J. GRAHAM—Pooh! FISCAL DUTIES OF IRISH GRAND JURIES. Mr. S. CRAWFORD rose to ask the Secretary for Ireland whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to submit any measure for the amendment of the laws relating to the fiscal duties of grand juries in Ireland during the present session. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said a Bill was in course of preparation on the subject. A NEW BOOT FOR THE ARMY. In reply to Mr. C. LUSHINGTON, Mr. FOX MAULE stated, that as Secretary at War, he had nothing to do with the discipline of the army. It appeared that a Mr. Dohey, a very respectable person, had taken out a patent for a certain description of boot, which having been tried by several commanding officers and men, was generally approved of; and, like all tradesmen, he applied to the Board of General Officers to make the boots what was called a "sealed pattern;" they inspected it, and re ported against the application. The board at the same time intimated that they saw no reason why the soldiers should not purchase the boot for their own use at their own expense ; but by some means or ether, for which he was not responsible, the permission thus given had Not been allowed.—(Hear, hear.) THE ECCLESIASTCAL COMMISSION. Mr. HORS MAN inquired if the Noble Lord intended to proceed with his motion with respect to the Ecclesi astical Commission on the Bth of June, and if he was in a position to state to the House any particulars with respect to the rectory of Bishopswearmouth. Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he did not intend on the Bth of June to proceed with the motion in ques tion ; he should merely do so pro forma. The question of the rectory of Bishopswearmouth had been under the consideration of the Ecclesiastical Commission, and the result of their deliberations had been placed in the hands of the officers of the Crown. When he had received further information he should be happy to communicate it to the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. HORSMAN inquired it the Bill for amending the constitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission would be introduced during the present session ? Sir G. GREY replied that he feared there was not a reasonable prospect. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT. In reply to Mr. DISRAELI, Lord J. RUSSELL intimated that next week he should propose to proceed with the Committee of Sup ply. Until the Elousa had made some progress with the miscellaneous estimates, the statement referred to would not be made. He calc ulated that it would be made about the middle of June. SPATE OF IRELAND. Mr. MONSELL, in the absence of the Noble Lord, the Member for Arundel, inquired whether after the recess the Government would be prepared to lay before the House the existing state of the people of Ireland in the distressed unions, and the amount of aid afforded to them out of the funds of the Government. Sir GEORGE GREY said at the beginning of the present month a statement was laid before the House. Further information would be laid before the House ; also the applications made for aid from the Poor-law Commissioners. IRISH POOR-LAW AND INCUMBERED ES TATES (IRELAND). Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to a question from Mr. Stafford, said that he proposed proceeding with the In cumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill on the 4th, and the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill on the Bth of June. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE AND MIS. CELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. Lord J. RUSSELL then rose to move the adjourn. ment of the House to Thursday next, and on doing so stated that it was the intention of the Government to pro ceed with the Miscellaneous Estimates on that day. Any item that was objected to might be postponed. Generally speaking, the estimates were the same as last year. Sir J. GRAHAM said that considering the estimates were not yet in the hands of Blembers, that they ought not to proceed with I them on Thursday. They might proceed with the Civil Contingencies on Thursday, as Members had received them. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that until the Miscella neous Estimates had been passed, the Budget could not be brought forward. Mr. DISRAELI condemned the principle of putting off the financial statement to so late a period of the session. Mr. CARDWELL complained of the postponement of the budget to so indefinite a period. Mr. GLADSTONE could not understand what con nexion there was between the budget and the miscella neous estimates. Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that it was usual to proceed to a considerable extent with the estimates be• fore bringing on the budget. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. HERBERT wished to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government whether he was aware of the fact that a body had been cast ashore in Ireland, and that the starving population had eaten the body to' allay their hunger? Mr. P. SCROPE wished, before the Noble Lord answered the question, to call the attention of the House and the Government to the awful responsibility they incurred in not doing something more effectual for the relief of the suffering and starvation of Ireland. Who was responsible for this dreadful misery and suf fering? In no country in the world could such a state of things be found as that to be witnessed in the United Kingdom. On the one hand, they had unbounded free dom, with the people enjoying themselves in every kind of amusement, and revelling in luxuries ; and, on the other, within a twenty-four hours' journey, the people were dying by thousands from the absolute want of food. Let it not be said that the people of England were responsible for this misery, for they were ready to sanc tion any measure Government might propose .to mi tigate, if not to remove it.—(Hear, hear.) With the Government, then, must rest the responsibility, as they had it in their power to apply to Parliament for additional advances, or to propound some scheme fur the profitable employment of the starving Irish people. Lord J. RUSSELL had certainly net received any official information of the circumstance referred to by the Honourable Member opposite who asked the first question, but he would cause inquiry to be made into it. With regard to the second question of the Hon. Gen. tleman behind him, all he could do was simply to direct the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to what had already been done for Ireland in the present session. No less than 80,0001. had been advanced for relieving the mise ries of her people, besides the other measures of a reme dial character, and whatever the Honourable Gentleman might say about the responsibility of Government, be could only reply !that Government had done, and were still anxious to do all in their power to improve the condition of Ireland.—(Cheers.) NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that before any vote could be taken for the new Houses of Parliament a report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the building would be laid on the table. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. J. O'CONNELL, adverting to the former subject, was glad to hear the Noble Lord at the head of the Government state that he would cause inquiries to be made into the nature and extent of the sufferings of the people of Ireland.--(Hear, hear.) He confessed he felt rather anxious upon the result of the inquiry, as on a recent occasion when he made a statement to the House with regard to the existing distress, he was accused by the Home Secretary of great exaggeration. While theys were discussing what money should be granted they were willingly or unwillingly allowing thousands to die in destitution. According to the re turn which had been made in consequence of the motion of the Hon. Baronet the Member for Londonderry, it appeared that the expenseofss to } n d. inginths eoept alanupders2l. 7s: 3L 5 indi vidually was, in England . , 90., and in Ireland 16s. Bd. R hen7 somethingsu c h facts as li k these were placed before Hon. Member s, itselfeffect t o o u l a d C b o e m w m r i o t t u e g e h ot f t a h n e d w t h h o e Hu l eH o ou s s e e .w_o resolveHouse . — (H ear. ) Mr. MONSELL would remind the House that while they were discussing this point no measures had been taken to relieve the destitution in Ireland. He was quite sure that the several Members of the Admininis tration were anxious to relieve the distress, but as :a Government, while they were dallying, no stay was put upon the destitution in Ireland. From the returns it appeared that in Connaught and Munster, on the 28th of April, 1848, there were in the several workhouses 122,369 paupers, and that the deaths in the course of one week were not less than 1,703, or, on an average, fourteen in every 1,000, whereas in this great metropolis, where there was a population approaching to two millions and a half of souls, according to the statement made by the Poor law Commissioners, in the very worst week of the year, that which ended on the 29th January, 1849, the proportion of deaths was only five in a thousand, and in Connaught, during the previous year, the proportion was about the same. Such being the case, he trusted that the House would not refuse to lend its immediate attention to the subject.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. OSBORNE said that the great obstacle to the granting this relief was the Honourable Member for Ripon himself.—(Hear, hear.) When the grant-, for 50,0004 was asked for by Government the Right Hon. Baronet had stated his intention to vote for t h e grant, provided it was not the first; of a series, but that he should decidedly op. pose it unless it was the beginning of more compre hensive measures. It was then stated that 600,000/. would be insufficient to meet the emergency, and the 84,000/. now in the hands of the Commissioners would hardly satisfy the momentary necessity of the period. He thought that for the sake of their own character, to ap peal to no other principle, they ought not to suffer thous Inds thus to perish from absolute starvation. There were now upwards of 160,000/. owing to the contractors to supply food, and they had determined to forward no more food until this debt was discharged. He trusted, therefore, that while thousands were perish. ing. they would not be wasting the ti me o f the country in discussions upon an evil which all acknowledged to exist in an extreme degree.—(Cheers.) Colonel SIBTHORP said he did not wish to inter rupt the business of the evening, but he would like to ask any Member who was more conversant with Ireland than he could possibly presume to be, whether the free-trade measures had not, in a gr ea t degree, been the cause of distress in Ireland?—(Laughter, and cries of " Hear.") He could feel for Ireland, and he could also feel for England ; but he had every reason for saying that if free-trade measures were continued, England would feel the effects of them just as much as Ireland had done.—(Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not think it expedient to go into the discussion upon free trade. So far as Ireland went he thought it had contributed very largely to the preservation of life in that country.— (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") The effect of free trade had been to preserve the lives of a greater number of persons in Ireland than could have been done when provisions were dearer. The Honourable Gentleman behind him (Mr. Scrope) had stated that Id. or lid. a day was sufficient to preserve the life of a person, but that arose from the importation of Indian meal, which had already preserved so many lives in Ireland—(Hear)—and that was one of those free trade measures of which the Hon. Gentleman com plained.—(Hear, hear.) lie would not, however, pursue that subject further.—(Hear, hear.) He had to warn the House not to be led away by the statements, or he should rather say, sentiments, respect ing the distress which it was said now existed, and if he wanted anything to justify such a re quest he would find it in the admission made by the Hon. Member for Limerick. That Hon. Gentleman had stated that 860 deaths had taken place in the Ballinasloe Union,. but he now corrected himself, and said the truth was that the 860 people were not dead, but were ill of fever and cholera.—(Hear, hear.) At the early part of the session the Government proposed a grant of 50,000/. for the preservation of life until some other measure was introduced for the purpose of making Ireland contribute its fair and equal proportion. It was a doctrine maintained by several Irish Members that property should contribute to the support of po verty, and he believed it was the universal opinion of the House, when the grant was proposed, that it was unreasonable to expect that any further demands could be made upon the Treasury, and that if they were, it was indispensable that they should look to Ireland for the repayment of advances made by the Govern ment.—(Hear, hear.) A measure for that purpose was brought forward, and so far from a reproach being made on the Government, he (the Chaneellor of the Exchequer) was accused of making sentimental speeches and impassioned appeals to Irish Members to contribute towards the relief of distress in Ireland.—(Cries ot " Hear, hear.") The opposition to granting relief came not from him, but from Irish Mem bers, and the Hon. Member (Mr. John O'Connell) voted against the Rate in Aid, against measures for relieving distress, and now he turned round and complained that he (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) was hard hearted and indifferent to the distreis which existsd.—(Hear, hear.) He thoug'it that those Irish Members who made such ap peals for the suffering Irish might have accelerated the progress of the Bill through the House.—(Hear.) Now, he thought, under those circumstances, it was not true either that Parliament had itself the means or that Government had not used the means, or that it was ne cessary at present to make any further appeal to Par liament for further advances for the relief of the distress which, he was sorry to say, still prevailed to a great extent in the west of Ireland. The Government would not shrink from asking the House for a further advance when they believed it to be necessary to mitigate the distress, or from appealing to Parliament, if necessary, for money on the credit of the rate in uid. Mr. E. B. ROCHE asked what were the reel facts of the case with regard to the matter of the Ballinasloe Union. Though his Hon. Friend the Member for,Limerick had inadvertently misstated the number of people who had died in the workhouse, yet 460 or 490 people died in one week in that workhouse—(Hear, hear)—if his (Mr. Roche's) recollection served him. They had it on the authority of the best medical men that those epidemics, the cholera on the one hand and the fever on the other, arose from the utter destitution and suffering of the people. He must say for one, that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, and the Chancellor ot the Exchequer had succeeded in throwing from their own shoulders a great deal of the responsibility of that very urgent distress. Several Honourable Members who op posed all former grants were now pressing upon the Government the necessity of the case, and calling on them to relieve the distress in Ireland. Now was the time for the Government coming forward to relieve that distress; they had not been able permanently or adequately to relieve the distress of the people ; many would have been dead now who were not dead, if the Government had not done the little they had done; but they had not done what, as a Government, they ought to have done—they had not preserved - the lives of the people of the country, and he said it was the first duty of a Government to preserve the lives of the people over whom they ruled.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore he said, now was the time for bringing forward some comprehen sive measure; there never was a better opportunity than the present. Sir JOHN YOUNG denied having attempted to underrate the distress prevalent in Ireland. The facts of the case were that in the Ballinasloe d U y n e i e o n n, te rwyh had e re g v i r s e i a t e t d d t i h s t e r e u s s n i h o a n d , prevailed, and hu ndr e d c s h O o la a f e r nd people had been effected by the epidemic. Some of the auxi liary workhouses had been changed into cholera hospitals, and those people who had taken the cholera were driven into those auxiliary houses. Nov: it was shown that the people died in a few days after they came into the work house, and not from the insufficiency of relief.—(Hear.) He concurred with the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, that it was not in the power of the Go vernment, or of any Government, to put an end to the state of suffering in Ireland. Mr. explained.RO D C E H N E o s Mr. B. rs remarked that it was easy to say that a few additional thousands would put an end to the distress in Ireland, and that the deaths of thousands rested upon our shoulders.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Noble Lord had taken a step which every body must approve of, namely, saving thousands of the people of Ireland from starving. It was utterly impossible that the great mass of the people could be fed save by the soil on which they had been born, rather than by means supplied from a distance. He was one of those who had always advocated the cultivation of the soil in order that the people might be enabled to support themselves.—(Hear, hear.) H e thought it could not be said that the Government had been behindhand. He did not think this 'country would be disposed to give much more to relieve Ireland, looking at the comparatively small effect and to the amount of money which, be was sorry to say, bad b !en squandered.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. REYNOLDS did not wish to blame the Govern ment or the House for any neglect of the people. Nevertheless hundreds of thousands had died, ur rather were dying, and within twelve hours' sail of the great and wealthy capital of Great Britain and Ireland, hundreds :and thousands of British subjects were dying of starvation. He did not under stand the Honourable Member for Cork to speak in an offensive spirit of the Honourable Gentleman, but he was prepared to state that the Hon. Gentleman was underservieg of such a charge, as he never saw a chair man evince a greater desire to sift the whole question to the bottom. With respect to,Ballinasloe, it appeared that the population of the town, which was a small one, was 4,000; and that 4,700 of the population of the union were in the workhouse. Since a statement ho had made on a former night had been denied, ho must be permitted to say that the guardians, whom he charged with the grossest inhumanity, passed a resolution by which they concentrated the whole of the diseased and famished poor within the walls of the workhouse. They said, in effect, to a destitute per son, twenty miles from the house, "Now, you are af flicted with typhus, you shall obtain no relief except you go into the house at a distance of twenty miles," fur the union contained an area of 2,500 square miles. He asked the representatives of the British people whether they were prepared to sit quietly on the benches of the House of Commons while these awful slaughters of the people in Ireland were taking place. If one life in Eng land was lost in a singular manner, the whole press teemed with it, while in Ireland thousands were dying every week without any notice being taken of it. What had the Rev. Mr. Anderson, the minister .of Ballinrobe, stated to the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment i ii n sne a rthy le a t ti te hHa r to h uw e seae h o ad fexic w oe r int i i t hg p ten to him? He had stated t t h h hee a a t rmd no language h e cou ld use c ould describe land —comprehensive measuresre Why, for skelet ons h i n f e n n r s t i h w v a e h t a m t u , e n a i h s o e u t r. woulde s H for e Ire could not walk. It had been said what had Ireland done for herself ? He would answer that question by stati ng th at s h e had paid two mil lions and a half in eighteen months for the relief of her destitute poor. In his opinion the first duty of the Government was to save the lives of the people, and he trusted that they would not allow the people of Ireland to say this, which in fact they were saying, that if you cannot govern Ireland let Ireland govern herself. Sir G. GREY said the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down had fallen into error in some of his figures; while with regard to the charge that the people of England were callous to the sufferings of the people of Ireland, all he could say was, that in addition to the grants from the public purse t thest teartseosfolrrethlais country.—(Hear, ndhtaltdry.thfrunealra,rgheenbru)rdens upon the local Lord CASTLEREAGH wished to have a distinct answer to this question, Was it to be understood that would the ul distress?dbemad made to Ireland, whatever n might further be hee the grantstxtent of Lord JOHN RUSSELL had always refused to give a pled t .,e that under no circumstances would Government b prep ared to make any further grant to Ireland.— (fleae n , o l u ie r a se r. , ) an.)Governmentamust exigencies e n a o l i l e o s w i e n d t t o b e t i a r k take ownits own way.—(hear.) Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL rose to explain, but loud cries of "Order, order" compelled him to resume his seat. Colonel DUNNE then explained that the ream Irish Members opposed the UAW Aid Bill was because they felt that it would aggravate instead of mitigate the evils. After a few words from Mr. HORSMAN, Mr. JO EIN O'CONNELL again rose, and was met by loud cries of " order " and " spoke." He presumed that he would be perfectly in order if he moved the adjourn. ment of the House. The SPEAKER trusted that the Honourable Gen tleman would confine himself to the question of ad journment. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL then proceeded to state that it was quite clear that there was no disposition on the part of the House to consider the question of Irish dis tress.—(Loud cries of " Oh, oh," and laughter). Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether the Hon. Member had moved the adjournment of the House, with a view to the speedy discussion of Irish distress.—(Cheers and laughter.) Mr. J. O'CONNELL continued —The scale of relief administered in Ireland was too low—lower in fact than it was either in England or Scotland. The Honour able Gentleman proceeded to charge the Government with a design of starving out the Irish people—a charge which he hal already made, but which bad never been answered. The SPEAKER inquired who seconded the motion of the 1103. Gentleman? No one replied, and the subject and the motion dropped together. MR. HUME'S MOTION FOR PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. In answer to a question from Mr. CAMPBELL, Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY said that the Hon. Member for Montrose fully purposed bringing on his mo tion for Parliamentary reform on the sth of June. REPORT ON SUPPLY—NAVY ES lIMATES. On this motion for bringing up the reports upon the votes agreed to in the last Committee of Supply, Mr. COBDEN hoped that the report upon vote No. 8 would be postponed, us the Hon. Member for Montrose, who was prevented from attending by indisposition, had an amendment upon the paper with respect to it. Sir F. BARING consented to postpone taking the re port on the vote until next Thursday. Colonel SIBTHORP then rose to bring under the at tention of the House the salaries of the principal officers of the Admiralty. He observed that the members of Government, in their zeal for economy, were reducing everybody's salaries but their own, and contended that the salaries of the principal officials of the Admiralty were greatly overpaid. He would reduce the salary of the 5001 . a year. He would next pr o pose to e Firstop off Lord s oo., th e ot h er to 1,200 4 a year. T hus altogether, whose salaries amounted, n e Lord tot by o 1 , 0/a reduction of 2,7004 would be at once effected. He would then propose to, strike off 10 per cent, from the o l o f t h salaries of the secretary, the storekeeper, the surveyor, and-several subordinate officials, who would still be very very handsomely paid. Tne Hon. and Gallant Colonel concluded by proposing the reduction of the vote from 136,3031. to 132,7534 Captain PECHELL observed that the Honourable and Gallant Gentleman could not be serious in his mo tion. There was no department of the Government the officers of which were worse paid, and—if they did their duty—harder worked, than were the gentleman con. nected with the Admiralty. He had risen, however, for the purpose of callin g the attention of the House to the petition of the masters in the royal navy, which he had some time since presented to Parliament. Nominally, these officers, who were persons holding a very re,pon • sible position, were ranked with lieutenants, but actuary and in practice they only held a position between the junior lieutenants and the midshipmen. lie trusted that the admiraly would take into consideration the case of the lieutenants and commanders, who complained that the promotion list was improperly made up, and that the system of retiring pensi , ins was detective. He com plained of the present system of freights fur treasure, and contended that the practices of smuggling specie on the coast of Mexico had a prejudicial effect upon the Spanish bondholders. The sums which had accrued to the Admiralty from various sources should, he main tained, be applied to the increase of the half-pay, and to making a provision for the widows of offic:,rs in the service. After a few words from Colonel SIBTHORP, Mr. B. COCHRANE said he was desirous of asking the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Admi ralty whether, in the face of events passing abroad, it was the intention of the Government to continue these reductions in the navy? It was not his own opinion alone, but the opinion of the entire public press, and of all those who had turned their attention to foreign affairs, that even if a general war were not inevitable, it was likely that the whole of the continent would soon be involved in hostilities. He asked the Government whether they deemed this to be the proper moment for carrying out reductions, which he admitted at another time might be reasonable and just? In 1792, Mr. Pitt had built upon a fifteen years' peace, but it had been terminated in six months. Looking at the recent decla ration of the Emperor of Russia, and the events which were passing around us, he asked the Government whe ther they did not think it was unwise and injudicious to continue a course of reductions which, should danger come upon us, would have to be made good at a double cost to the country. Admiral DUNDAS, replying to the objections of the Hon. and Gallant Member for Brighton, maintained that masters ought not to expect * to be placed on the same footing with Lieutenants. Captain Hall had risenbyhis own merit, and he trusted that others would follow his example, but he was averse to sanctioning the principle for which the Hon. and Gallant Member contended. Sir F. BARING observed that it was not a pleasant thing to be involved in a discussion on one's own salary. —(Great laughter.) But he did not think that the case of the Admiralty was one which presented features particularly calling for the pruning knife. In 1831, a period of great anxiety with respect to economy and retrenchment, a Committee of the House had gone through the different Government salaries, and had fixed what they considered to be proper sums for each office. On that occasion the salary of the First Lord of the Admiralty had been reduced by .500/., leaving it at 4,5001. instead of 5,0001. The salary of the four Lords was fixed at 4,0001., and after an inquiry they were declared entitled to half-pay. The salary of the first secretary had also been reduced to its present standard. Last year the Committee appointed to revise all the estimates of the Admiralty, had not found that the salaries were excessive. If the House were disposed to enter upon the general question of salaries (No, no), he was prepared; but he trusted that he need not further dwell upon the salaries attaching to the Admiralty. He thought that the clerks of accounts fully earned their salaries in the check which they constituted to improper expenditure. The Hon. Member for Bridport had spoken of reductions, and he (Sir Francis Baring) thought there was an im pression abroad that those reductions were more consi derable than they ought to be. If the house recurred to the number, 40,000 men, which had been voted in the present year, and compared it with the numbers voted in former years, they would find that the present numbers were by no means inconsiderable. If it should occur that we were called upon for an active exercise of our strength, be trusted that the navy would not be found inefficient. He could assure the House that there would be no shrinking on the part of the Government in asking the country for assistance, should it be needed. The subject of freights was one which should not be lost owroduerldtobebet ter discussed on another occasion. effect a hi ge r ne S ra P l ° r ° ed N u E ct l i l o w n a o s f o t f h O e salaries o f Government offi sight of; but he thought it p w i a n s i o o n n , ethat whichin cers, you must begin with the salaries of individuals. The policy of the country having declared that low prices were to be the order of the day, he thought that the present scale of Government salaries ought not to ba maintained. What would be the moral effect upon the people of the Government, by their policy, beating down the incomes of others, and still keeping up their own? In the present state of the country, he did not think that those salaries coull be justified.—[Sir J. Graham : Put the Government on corn rents.] — (Laughter.) If the Hon. and Gallant Colonel went to a division, he should have his support. Captain BERKELEY contended that since 1770 the salaries of the Lords of the Admiralty nad not been raied, whilst those of other Government officers had been augmented. Captain BOLDERO admitted that, with the exception of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, and the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department, the duties of ,the First Lord of the Ad miralty were the most onerous attaching to the Govern ment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Mine are rather heavy.—(Laughter.) Captain BOLDERO would also except the Right Hon. Gentleman, it he pleased. The Hon. and Gallant Member recommended that the Government should turn its attention to the subject of honorary distinc tions as affecting the Marines, contending that that branch of the service had not their full share of re wards. He thought also that the Marines were entitled to the same consideration with respect to their admission to the national hospitals as the two other branches of the service. If the Government would be. stir themselves in this matter they would receive the thanks of a brave, honourable, and gallant class of men. Colonel SIBTLIORP, in reply, expressed his wonder at the absence from both sides of the House of the usual sticklers for economy.—(Laughter.) He should not divide the House, resting content with having " shown up" the Government to the country.—(Laughter.) Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked fur explanation re specting a sum of 484,738 L, which had been carried to revenue in the year just closed. Had any portion of that amount arisen from the sale of old stores ? Sir F. T. BARING said the item alluded to included all kinds of stores and the repayment of certain advances under the same head ; but if the Hon. Baronet wished it, a detailed statement would be produced. The report was then agreed to. S UPPLY.—AitiNIY ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee of supply; Mr. Bernal in the chair. The first vote proposed was a sum not exceeding 1,855,5881., for defrayi ng the charge of her Majesty's land forces in the United Kingdom and in stations abroad, being part of a sum of 3,655,5881.; of which 1,800,000/. had already been granted on account. Mr. B. OSBORNE (alluding to the thinness of the at tendance in th e House) said it was not very encouraging for any H on . Member to enter into the discussion of questions affecting the expenditure of the country, be cause it appeared that, whenever that which more than anything else fell within the peculiar business and pro vince of the House had to come on for c onsideration, Hon. Gentlemen, and even the financial reformers themselves, deserted their posts, and left bat a beggarly account of empty benches for any diligent advocate of economy and retrenchment to address his remarks to. He therefore did not prupose at present to go into any lengthened de tails; but he must say he felt convinced, from the condi tion in which the army was kept, and the enormous establishments ehicfly connected with the civil de wpaurtmceittits,edthaltin:atthrel.edteiedtiiffoenrsecould easily be effected, and the army maintained in increased e ffi ciency by being managed with greater simplicity. The British army different heads. First, there was the !infantry and cavalry under the Horse Guards; then the Ordnance corps, under a separate board; and, lastly, the commissariat, which was a separate branch, under the management of the Treasury. Now, he maintained, that in no other country in the world was there such an arrangement of the three different branches of the army under three separate heads. The manage ment of the Horse Guaros cost 94,1991.; that of the Ordnance 91,136/.; and that of the commissariat, which was said to be the cheapest managed of all, being under the Treasury, 316,0001. Now, if they were all placed under a Minister of War, having a seat in Parliament, as was the case in other countries, instead of being ma naged in the present cumbrous and costly manner, the country would gain considerably in point of economy and simplicity. This was not a new idea of his. In the year 1837 a commission was appointed to inquire into these matters, and their repoit recommended that the army should be placed under the management of such a minis- ter ; that the Ordnance should be consolidated with the Horse Guards; and that the civil department should be kept separate. However, from that day to this, and although they had a committee sitting upstairs, no steps had }'et been taken to carry out the report of the com missioners. It was plain a very considerable saving in this manner might he made. Why not abolish the office of Master-General of the Ordnance, by which they might save 9,0001. a year? The same might be said of the Secretary at War's office, upon which they might save 5,0001.; and by abolishirg the olilco of Judge- Advocate—whose excellent deputy, Mr. Rogers, did all the work, and bud a salary of 8001.-2,5001. more might be saved. Then 6,836/. a year was the charge in this country for agency, although there was no agency re quired for the Indian army, and he could not therefore understand why it should be necessary for the troops at home. Altogether he was persuaded about 56,0001. a year might be saved in these departments.—(Hear.) He must also call attention to the great disproportion of generals to the number of men in our army as compared with the armies of other countries. In 1783, about the time of the American war, we had 824 general and field officers ; in 1799, about the time of the French war, the number was 1,863; and no to 20 now, in tl:7 . We had a staffand anumber year increased of officers greater than was required for the whole French army of 400,000. We had 9 field-marshals, 58 generals, 67 lieutenant-generals, 174 major-generals ; and yet the whole strength of our army was only 180,000 men. Eight or ten thousand a year, too, might be saved by doing away with brevets. Were the House not so empty he might pursue the question further ; but he was sure he would be able to show a Committee that a material saving might be effected as regarded the staff of officers, and that a much better arrangement might be made with respect to the retired and half pay list. Then, as re garded the clothing of the regiments, there could not be a worse system than leaving it in the hands of the colonels. He believed that if the Government took the clothing into its own hands, and adequately remunerated the colonels, as they did in the case of the artillery, giving them sufficient pay, instead of leaving them to eke it out by a profit on the clothing of their men, the men would be better clothed, greater satisfaction would be given, and a saving would be effected to the country of about 14,000/. a year. He found that in the year 1847, the clothing of the French army, including the expense of tents and encampments in Algiers, was only about 464,000/. for 370,125 men; or an average of 1/. 13s. 2d. per head. Then again in Prussia, the aver age cost of clothing in the Prussian army was only 11.:15s. 10d. per bead ; hut in England, in the year 1847, the cost of clothing an army of 132,199 men was 402,142/. ; or more than 3/. per man. How it was that the French and the Prussians clothed their soldiers better and cheaper than we, who were considered to be the best manufacturers in the world, could do, he would leave it for-the Manchester manufacturers themselves to say, but he hoped the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) would use his influence with the Horse Guards, to alter the whole system of clothing, which, besides its other evils, exposed the colonels tai invidious remarks; which, as a class of men, he was sure they did not deserve. Instead of receiving their present allowance upon the clothing of their regiments, to make up their insuffi cient pay, why not give them a salary of 1,000/. a year, and save 35.0001. to the country ? Then the proportion of officers to the number of men was excessive. There was one officer to every nineteen men in the army. In the Horse Guards there was one officer to eleven men, and ono-non-commissioned officer to every six of the men. The second-majors of the infantry might altogether be done away with, and a saving of 45,000/. thereby effected. Tne cavalry force, exclusive of house hold cavalry, equalled twenty-two regiments. Five of them were under the East India Company;' but the re maining seventeen ought to be condensed into twelve regiments, which would reduce the staff, and lead to economy. A saving could also be effected by filling up the places of assistants in the various offices of the dif ferent departments of the army from the retired or half pay list. A clerk in the Commander-in-Chief 'a office retired, after forty years' service, upon 700/. a year; whereas the retiring pay of a general was only 400/. a year. In these various methods they might go on re ducing item after item, until they effected an aggregate saving, he would venture to say, little short of half a million a year. Our old colonial system must also be remodelled; and in this way alone could they reduce their estimates, that were so excessive. Mr. F. MAULE having, he said, entered fully into the whole question of the army when he introduced the estimates to the House, should not think it necessary to trouble the Committee at any length on the present oc casion, the more particularly as most of the topics upon which the Hon. Members had touched were at present undergoing the consideration of the Committee up stairs to which the estimates had been referred. Far from concurring with the Hon. Member in the condemnation which he had passed on the agency system, he believed that it was as economical to the public as it was conve nient to officers. As regarded the question of clothing, he begged to remind the Hon. Member that a Committee which sat in 1833, after fully investigating the matter, came unanimously to the decision that, both as regarded economy and efficiency, it was the best system which could be adopted. For his part, however, he was not wedded to the present system, and if it could be proved that greater efficiency as well as economy would result from the Government taking the matter into its own hands, as was done in the Ordnance department, doubt less that course ought to be adopted. Mr. COBDEN complained that whilst the reduction of men this year had been carried to 10 per cent, the re duction of officers had been limited to two per cent. He did not say that either the army or navy was overpaid, but what he complained of in both services was that we had more than we wanted, and it any retrenchment were made it must be a reduction of the number. But to effect that reduction in the army there must be a change in our colonial system; at present the army in the colonies acted as police.—(Hear.) They bad lately heard of acts of incendiarism in Canada. Some parties there burned the Parliament-house because the majority in the House did hot vote in a manner to suit the views of those incendiaries. He would call them incen diaries—(Hear)—and no person in that House or in this country would have any sympathy with them. But it appeared that at that time there were only two consta bles in Montreal; and why?—because the English Go vernment undertook to treat these colonies as children to find soldiers for the service of the police.—(Hear, hear.) He would tell the people of every town in Canada that they must depend upon themselves for the main tenance of their own peace.—(Hear.) Mr. OSBORNE wished to refer to what was com monly called the shell jacket question." Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman himself did not see the unfortu nate officers in those jackets, as they really were in the position of scarecrows—(A laugh)—going about the country, laughed at and stigmatised wherever they went. —(Hear, hear.) If the Right Hon. Gentleman could see some of the old officers in those shell jackets, and the ridiculous objects they were, he would admit that either the whole army ought to be clothed alike, and the principle applied to the household troops as to the line, or that thii jacket should be abolished.—(Hear, hear.) But the officers of the line were not allowed to wear them when they might really be of service, namely, at mess; though the Dragoons who came from the richer classes, were allowed to mess in their stable dress.—(A laugh.) If they intended to make the army a terror to the enemy by their hideous appearance, the rule should be applied to all branches of it.—(A laugh.) He wished also to ask why the bearskin caps were taken from the Fusileers but retained by the household guards? Mr. F. MAULE believed that this question had made more noise in the House than in the army;—(hear)—for his part, he had heard no complaint of the dress. It was adopted simply because it was thought necessary that officers when employed in the lino should be clothed in the same dress as the men. Colonel LINDSAY observed that the reason why the bear-skin caps were taken from the Fusileers was that the price of bears rose.—(Great laughter.) The vote was then agreed to. On the vote for the sum of 86,376/, being part of a sum of 173,3761., for the charge of general staff-officers and officers of hospitals at home and abroad, Mr. LOCKHART complained of the increase in the estimate for the general staff at Malta, in consequence of the appointment of a civil governor over that island, and said he believed that not a single military man in the united kingdom would defend such an appointment in times like the present.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to test the opinion of Hon. Gentlemen whether they thought it a, job or not; and he should therefore move that the salary of the staff allowance to the Lieutenant -General should be stopped after the Ist of September. Mr. HAWES thought the Hon. Gentleman, without un derstanding much of the subject on whi c h h e h a d spoken, had, he must pernnt him (Mr.Hawes) to sa y, c h aracterised this transactionin a manner utterly unjustified and un justifiable. The Hon. Gentleman had denounced the ar rangement made for the government of Malta as a job. He (Mr. Hawes) did not know one thing that the people of Malta had longer called for than the app o i ntment of a civil governor; and he did not know any appointment ever made that had been more successful for the interests of that island. When his Noble Friend was called on to appoint a governor of Malta he took into his considera tion undoubtedly that there would be an increase of ex pense, but he reduced the salary of the governor 5002 a year, in order partly to meet that adlitional expense. From the island there was no compla int—no petition. (Mr. Osborne—They don't pay for it.) On the cont rar y, ' there had been the strongest expression of approbation at the appointment. It was true that . a civil gover nor could not be appointed without me eased expense, because the former governor (Sir P. Stewart) being a general officer united in himself the civil duties of go vernor and the military dutif s of Cornmander•in• Chief, which would not be done by Mr. O'Ferrall. He did not wish to speak in the slightest degree invidiously of the preceding administration of Sir P. Stewart; he was a gentleman of high character and ability, and adminis tered the government to the sati•daction of previous Secretaries of Sate—(Hear)—but when Mr. O'Ferrall when to Malta there was very considerable popular dis content and dissatisfaction; but ho could say now that . was entirely allayed by the wisdom and umbra= cq the measures of Mr. O'Ferrall, and the various reforms he had introduced in all departments more than eqwdled the additional expense. It was true that the additional expense fell directly on the Imperial Treasury—(Hear) —but were not the interests of the people of the people of iaita to be regarded? He did not know an instance in the whole range of the colonial government which could be regarded as a stronger justification of the ap pointment of a civil governor. Mr. OSBORNE wished to know how it was that the present estimate had been increased? Mr. HAWES stated that the ( xpences of the civil government had been reduced to the .tent of 5001., and a sum equal to that amount had been added to the pay of the military (Beer in command at Malta. Mr. OSBORNE saw ne reason why the Maltese should not pay the diGrenee. Mr. LOCKHART wished it to be understood that he did not mean to cast any refl .etion on Mr. M. O'Ferra The Committee then divided, when the numbers were- Fur the amendment . Against it . 50 Majority —33 The vote was then agreed to. The following votes were also agreed to:- 9.4081, being part of 17,4084, to defray the expenses of the Military College. 10,2984, being part of 19,2981., for the Royal Military Asylum and Hibernian School. On the question that a sum of 33,286/, being part of 66,286/, for the volunteer corps, be granted. Mr. W. MILES observed, that not calling out these volunteer corps in regiments would not increase their efficiency. It had been suggested, and he believed upon very good grounds, that there was nothing more calcn lated to promote their efficiency than their being perio dically inspected by a military man. Mr. F. MAULE said that the discipline and efficiency of these corps had been tested, unfortunately too often, in the course of the past year—not too often for their re putation, because they bad performed their duties with military precision and with great forbearance. The vote was then agreed to. The following votes were also agreed to:-8,120/, being part of 15,1201. to defray the charge of allowances and rewards for distinguished services. 39,908/, being part of 79,9081., for the pay of general officers not being colonels of regiments. 200,0001:, being part of 400,000/, for half-pay and allowances of retired officers of the land forces. 22,1561., being part of a sum of 44,1561., for half-pay and reduced allowances to officers of disbanded foreign corps. 64,7782, being part of a sum of 128,7781., for pensions to officers' widows. 47,500/., being part or a sum of 95,500/., for allowances on the compassionate list. On the vote of 18,5411., being part of a sum of 25,5412, for Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals, Mr. B. OSBORNE said that the Committee on the estimates had recommended the abolition of the Civil Board at Chelsea Hospital. He should like to know why the office of secretary to that board bad been recently filled up by the appointment of Colonel Alderson? The reason, ho believed, was that the Railway Board was abolished about the time, and Colonel Alderson, who was one of them, was thereupon appointed to this sine cure office of 7001. a year, he being allowed at the same time to retain his pay as Colonel of Engineers. Mr. Neave, the former secretary, was even allowed to retain his house, and the public had to pay for the expense of a house for Colonel Alderson. Mr. F. MAULE reminded the Hon. Member that when Colonel Alderson was appointed the office of as sistant-secretary with a salary of 600/. a year, was abolished. So long as the Civil Board was continued it was absolutely necessary that it should have a secretary, and that with regard to the fact that Mr. Neave was suffered to retain his house, it was thought hard, after so many years' service on the part of that gentleman, that for the few years of life which remained to him he should be removed from the house in which he had spent his official life.—(Hear, hear.) The vote was then Itgre,fi to. On the v,..te of 624,8531., being part of a sum of 1,224,0531., tor cut pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, &a., Mr. HENLEY oboe rved that the East India Company were creciEed %NW' 60,0001., as their share of the pay ment of the non-t ffective service of the army employed in India. Had the Government taken into consideration the increasing proportion of troops serving in India ? The sum had stood at 60,0001. for many years, and he would suggest whether it was not disproportionate to the present number of the effective force in India, which was 28,000, the total number in every other part of the em pire being 103,000? Mr. F. MAULE explained that the sum had been long paid, and was conside, ed at the period when it was fixed as a just proportion for the East India Company to pay. He was nut quite sure that the sum was so inadequate as the Hon. Member supposed, but it was an arrangement which had taken place between the Government and the East India Company at the same time with many others, and any alteration must be made when many other things were also under discussion. After a few words from Mr. G. THOMPSON the vote was agreed to, as was a vote of 19,0001, being part of a sum of 38,0001., for superannuation or retired allowances. The House then resumed, the report was brought up, and the Chairman obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in the absence of Mr. Baines, obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the procedure in Co ur t s o f Genera and Quarter Ses sions of the Peace in England and Wales, and for the better advancement of justice in cases within the juris diction of those courts. Lord DUDLEY STUART moved for returns of all salaries and other emoluments received by the several officers of the Palace and Marshalsea Courts, in each year from July, 1838, to July, 1848, inclusive. Of the number of actions brought and causes tried in the above courts during every week of the same period. Of the number of costs in every action brought and cause tried during the years 1847 and 1848 ; distin guishing those tried from those in which judgment went by default, and also distinguishing the number of cases submitted to taxation during the same period. And of all fines paid by counsel or attorneys for liberty to prac tise in the same Courts. The other orders of the day were then disposed 01 and the House adjourned at half-past Nine o'clock unti Thursday next. he h At ti, alf-yearly meeting of the National Bra zilian Mining Association, held yesterday afternoon, the report and accounts were presented and approved. It appeared from what transpired that, notwithstanding the limited means at the disposal of the board, the working of the property, including the mines Cocaes and Cuiba, was steadily improving, and that there was a near ap proach between actual expenses and receipts. The di rectors were still under some advances, and it was stated that if the calls due from defaulting shareholders were paid, not only might those advances be discharged, but increased means would be supplied for augmenting the available force necessary to carry out vigorous opera tions. While the Cuiba mine continues premising in its appearance, the two veins in Cocaes are specially men tionkel as indicating in the progress of their exploration satisfactory results. The affairs of the ccmpany having latterly undergone a complete investigation, it was not thought advisable to trouble the shareholders with any lengthened dissertation upon them. Before the close of the meeting the auditors personally vouched for the ac curacy of the accounts. DEPARTURE OF FATTIER MATHEW.—This devoted and elistu , guished apostle of the temperance cause con tinued his labours on Tuesday last at the Htberrian School, in Pieasant-street. There was a large attend ance, comprising a number of the working classes, and several of the most influential ladies and gentlemen re sident in the town. The Rev. Gentleman was accom panied by Mr. William Rathbone, whose guest he has peen since his sojourn here, and who has been most un remitting in his kindness and attention towards him. A . number f the scholars who had signified their wiiling ness to take the pledge, were, along with the assembled adults, addressed by Father Mathew, who enforced, chiefly by scriptural references, the duty of sobriety. No incense, he said, could be more grateful to heaven than that they were about to offer. The pledge was then administered to about three hundrsd children of both sexes, and the same number of adults. At the close of the day's proceedings it was intimated that Father Mathew would, on retiring from the school, administer the pledge to any one who desired it that evening and the following morning, it they favoured him with their attendance at the house of his friend, Mr. Rathbone, of Greenbank. Many availed themselves of the opportunity, waited upon Father Mathew, and entered into the teetotal bond. On Wednesday morn ing Father Mathew embarked for America in the packet-ship Ashburton. Such, however, was his de votion to the cause of which he has become so dhtin guished an advocate, that, before his departure, he went round several of the dock quays, and there induced many to become total abstainers, and go th roug h the usual formalities requ ired . to ratify th e i r acknowledg ment of temperance principles. He was also engaged in a similar manner on board the Ashburt on , and, jud;ing from the feeling displayed in his favour, many converts would be.made during the voyage. The vessel left the Waterloo dock about eleven o'clock, when a vast con course of people, together with some of the immediate friends of the Rev. Gentleman, were present to witness his departure. Many congregated on the piers, and as the vessel passed into the river a loud and prolonged cheer was given, several of the spectators expressing their hearty good wishes and prayers for the safety and prosperity of one whose self-devotion and sacrifices to the cause with which he has identified himself are, per haps,-without parallel. The scene was a most gratify ing one. The Rev. Apostle, though in good health and spirits, appeared to feel his position, prising out of a separation from so many of his attached friends at home. We understand he expressed the highest sense of the gentlemanly and benevolent conduct shown towards him by Mr. William Rathbone and the circle of friends to which he was introduced during his stay in Liverpool. The Ashburton left the river early yester;lay (Thursday) morning.—Liverpool Mercury. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Bad Legs of Fourteen Years' Duration Cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mrs. Priscilla Waters, of Pentney, near Lynn, had been a dreadf u l sufferer for upwards of fou r teen years with bad legs, which several of the Faculty had tried to cure, but without success. Her digestion was much impaired, and at times she was quite incapable of attending to her household affairs. As the medi cines which she had been taking afforded her no relief, she was recommended to try Holloway's Pills and Ointment, by the use of which she was completely cured, and for more than twelve months past has been able to attend to her domestic duties, and could, if necessary, walk 10 or 20 miles with ease. Sold by all Druggistv, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. By the litters from China it appears that the amount of gold which had been received from California bet we,n the Ist of January and the 31st of March, w: estimated at 350,000 dollars. The demand fur goods in return had cleared the market of some articles that bad fig a lvng time reuagiuecl vn POLICE INTELLIGENCE. LAMBETH. A middle-aged Hibeeniee, bearing the name of Geo'ge Bytne, was placed at the bar betore the Hon. G. (). Yawn, charged with the commission of a most wanton and unprovoked assault upon Aire. Ann Darkiu, the wife of Mr. Henry Willisrn Darkin, residing at No. 7, St. Albeu's-terreee, Kennington-read. The complainant stated that about 11 o'clock that mornieg the defendant, whom she had never before seer, knocked at the door of her hwband's residence, and was answered by the complainant herself. The defendant de mended to hate returned to hire a circular, which he a'leed he had left there on the previous day—a fact NV ilia she (rho witness) qui, tly denied, observing that no such document heel been left at her husband's house. The defendant reiterated his assertions, and accompanied them with applying to the witness a torrent of abwive, abominable, and opprobrious epithets, such as she declined to mention, end the very recollection of which dreW forth a burst of tears. She, however, gave the defendant an assurance that he was quite in error in supposing he had left any circular, and desired him to quit toe house. His violent language was then repeated, on which the witness having called out to an elderly invalid gentleman named Mitchell, lodging in the house, that gentleman from the stairs witnessed the remainder of the transaction. On the repetition of his insulting language the witness took him by the shoulders to put him out of the door, when the defendant turned round, and with his closed fist struck her with great force a severe blow on the left temple, which was much swollen from th e effects. Mr. William Mitchell corroborated the evidence, and proved further, that he-and a servant boy named Billing, pursued the defendant until they met a policeman, 1 0 whom he was given into custody. Mr. NORTON inquired what was the nature and cha racter of the circular which the defendant alleged he had left at the complainant's residence? The defendant handed one to the magistrate. The circular announced that " Mr. George Byrne, phrenologist," called the attention of the gentry and the public in geceral to the fact that phrenology was ease° . tial to the development of the character of indiViduals and the primary tunctions and elements of the mind; and that it offered most important aid in the selection of guardians for the young, of clerks, confidential assist.. ants, and of partners, &c. In all these matters be pleaged himself to describe character and talents with strict adherence to the principles of phrenology on the terms of one shilling and sixpence for a phrenological chart with relative proportions; of half a crown for a similar chart, with outlines as to character and talents; and of five shillings for the same, with a full written analysis. The circular gave the address of Mr. Bymer " the phrenologist," No. 24, Allen.street, Lambeth. Several respectable persons in court complained of the annoyances to which they and their neighbours and, families were subject from the v i s it s o f th ese " c i rcu l a r' depositors on all possible and impossible subjects. M. NORTON sentenced the defendant to pay a fine of 31., or to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for, the term of five weeks. On hearing this decision the defendant "looked due' gers" at the magistrate, and strutted out of the dock in the care of Cook the gaoler. The fine had not been paid when the court rose. THAMES. • , • Rhoda Smith, alias Jones, alias Green, with other in' numerable aliases, was charged with obtaining money under false pretences from the Rev. Mr. Gribble,, chap lain to the new church lately founded by Prince Alba! , in connexion with the Merchant Seamen's Home, Well close-square. The system of frauds developed was of very extraordinary character, extending over a 'number of years. On Thursday evening the prisoner, who is about forty years of age, called on Mr. Gribble, and presented a paper purporting to be a petition for a subscription opened for the purposes of getting young man named James Lewis, aged eighteen into the asylum for the blind at Portsmouth. The document bore the signatures of Messrs. Mauds lay and Son, engineers, Lambeth ; Messrs. Robinson , Mill-wall, and several others, as subscribers of 'various sums, and amongst the other subscriptions was one signed " A few fri,.nds at Ipswich," for 71 63. As soon as the prisoner presented hers;.ll to the reverend gentle man, he at once recognised her as a person who had called on him twice before under very peculiar circum stances. Oa her first visit she represented herself as the wife of a transport, whose term of punishment had ex pired, and who, owing to ,his previous good character , was about to settle respectably and wishsd her toejoin him. She produced on that occasion a printed document which had every appearance of authenticity, and the, reverend gentleman advanced her 10s. out of a fund placed at his disposal for the relief of persons connected -- with the merchant sea service. In one or two days afterwards she again called upon the reverend geu-' tleman, accompanied by a person whom she repre sented to be the master of the vessel in which she was about to sail to join her husband, and said that she wanted some few necessaries, which would amoulst to about 11. 125., and which sum would be repaid in an hour or two after being advanced. The amount was given to her from the Champney fund placed, at his disposal, but he n ever saw t h e pr i soner aga i n an ti' she appeared in her new character on Thursday evening, at which time she was considerably disguised in liquor.- . Mr. Gribble, recognising her as the person who had imposed on him on two previous occasions, sent to the Leman-street station-house, when Sergeant Ball, 21 it, attended and took her into custody. She prayed of the reverend gentleman to forgive her, admitted having re; ceived 10s. and 12s. on two p rev i ous occas i ons, a nd exclaimed, whilst going to the station-house, " WY, God, I have told a f a l se h oo d, shall I be transported ?' When she obtained the 11. 12s. from Mr. Gribble, the person who represented himself as the captain with whom she was about to sail, and who assisted in several of her impositions, was so fully recognised from the descriptions that it has since been ascertained he is at present ani inmate of one of the metropolitan prisons on another charge of fraud. Information was instantly forwarded to the Mendicity office, when Captain Wood directed Hors ford, the active agent of the society, to attend to the case. Horsford immediately recognised the woman as a very old and well-known acquaintance. She has been twice cons mitted from Neagate for six months each time, ten times suminerily convicted at various police-Courts , and twice tried but acquitted at the Old Bailey on two charges of felony. She had lived with a man named Smith, who was transported, and under whose name the first fraud upon Mr. Gribble had been effec'ed. She then lived with another flash man at Wentworth.street , Whitechapel, whom in a drunken fray she threw down stairs, whereby his neck was broken and he died. After that she cohabited with another fellow named Welch Tom; her latest pal was Bob Owen, better known in the locality as " Crump." • Mr. _INGHAM said that there could not be the slightest doubt that the prisoner was a most abominable impostor, carrying on a most nwarions trade, and preying upon funds intended for the relief of the deserving poor con nected with the naval service. She belonged to a class who were the greatest pests of society, and he regretted exceedingly that owing to technical aifficulties he could not visit her offences with the punishment they deserved , and, by sending her fur trial, place her in a position which would for ever remove her from this country. would, however, inflict the highest punishment in his power by sentencing her to three months' insprisonneent with hard labour. William Cajjyn - , a newsvender, residing at 31, Sidney' street, and, and two persons in his employment, named 7 kreac'gold and Smith, were charged with utter ing an infamous libel, with a view of vilhfying the HO. and Rev. Robert .Liddell. The libel was contained in a low publication, issued nom the defendant Caffyn's shop+ and denominated Sam Sly, dieing the eastern counter' part of the Paul Pry, which for so long a time has be. in the vehicle of western slander. The libel in question purports to be a " Story of Barking," of which parisil Mr. Liddell is vicar, and professes to be written by one of the " sly dogs" there. The article is written in the loosest style which characterises these prurient publics . ' Lions, charging the lion. and Rev. Gentleman with avail' ing himselt of the absence of his wife to seduce a near cook, who is described as possessing no remarkable amount of beauty. The publication of this worthless print was brought home to the parties implicated, and they were held to bail, to answer the charge at the se 5 . • sions of the Central Criminal Court. Henry Stockman, mate of thebarque mßarunnslsawuigehkt,erw finally examined, charged, with the of Joseph Frost, a black boy, engaged on board that vessel. The facts appeared in our journal of Saturday last. Th. o boy was drunk. The prisoner was about to give hint a " ducking," the tackle gave way, and the boy w 5 drowned. —Committed for trial. WESTIVINSTER. Charles Simpkins and henry Bond, :two middle-Bga • persona, were finally examined, charged with stealing as 101. note, a B an k d iv id end warrant for 221. 16s. 4d., and six sovereigns, under circumstances of a very singular description. .The money was the property of a Mr. Pimantel,, 0 , lunatic, Simkins, who was a friend of the f am il y " o f three or four ) ea r s ' standing, persuaded M rs . Pi mante .l again to place her husband in Bethlem, as it was found expedient to have a second keeper. Bond and ..he were to etlect the necessary strangements, and under that pre tence they took forcible possession of the property above mentioned, which was the amount of the lunatic's an nuity. When Mrs. Pimantel asked Simpkins for thv money, the latter, who was drunk, threatened to stick a knife in her. Simpkins had also demanded to see Mrs. _ Pimantel's marriage certificate, which he also refused to , return to her. Bond was said to be a sort of " Tillage lawyer," at Chelsea particularly. The accused were fully committed fur trial at the Con tral Criminal Court. BIRTHS. On the 18th inst., at 24, Cheyne-walk, Mrs. D. B. Read► of a son. on the 22d inst., at Porteus_terrace, Paddington, the latiY of the Rev. H. Nowell Barton, of a daughter. On the 2 d inst., at 19, Imperial-square, Cheltenham, the wile of Captain Allan, 63d Regiment, of a daughter. On the :2d inat., at Hampton Manor-house, near Baal; Mrs. Philip Sheppard, of a daughter. On the 23d inst., at the Firs, Hampstead- heath, the wiftill of William Dugniore, Esq., of Lincoln's-inn, barrister-at-lavv, of a daughter. MRRIED. On the 23d inst., at th e chapel of the F renc h Embasrry Captain Charles Eward Petro, of the 7th Dragoon Guardl', to the Hon. Charlotte Pttre, second daughter of the Hon. Lord I'etre. On the 2:7d inst., at the Independent Chapel, Cannon street, Preston, Henry llmpson, Esq., of Manchester, to daughter of Mr. Chambers, na.ik-parade, Preston. On the 20th inst., at Chernock-plac?, Winchester, aged 92, Mrs. Atkinson, relict of the late Thomas Atkinson, Esq., of Bury-house, near Gosport. Ou the 13d inst., at his residence, Butland-gate, Hyde park, Samuel Charles Weston, Esq., aged 57. London: Printed and Published by MU!DO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county ( Saturday, May 26, 1849. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 26, 1849. ...I( -4