The Sun. — London, England, 1849-05-02 00:00:00

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. ' CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were esti mated at 5,000 bales, and comprised about 4,000 American at 31d. to 63d., 2,000 Bahia at 300 Surats at 31. to 34d., and 30 Sea Island at 9d. to 91d. The transaction included 500 American on speculation. The market closed more firmly. Railway Shares were quiet. In Mark Lane to-day trade generally is flat, at Mon day's prices. The arrivals include 13,210 quarters of Foreign Wheat. The Colonial Markets are very dull to-day, and with scarcely any public sales. From Manchester we have received a report on the state of the textile markets, during the past month, furnished by Messrs. McNair, Greenhow and Irving, from which we take the following extracts : " The outward appearance of this market during th e month has been indicative of gloom and depression, save when occasional cheerfulness was produced by the favourable accounts by the Overland Mails, and by the genial and welcome change in the weather. Though we are unable to furnish you with an animated report as to its condition, it may, considering the opposing causes in operation, be viewed more satisfactorily, as regards actual transactions, than what you may have been led to expect. It may be unnecessary to re mark that the disordered relations of political matters on the continent of Europe have engen dered much distrust, and are again exercising a very prejudicial influence not only upon the trade of this district, but upon that of many other manufacturing localities, as well as upon commerce generally; and that so long as they remain unadjusted their effect will become more injurious. Another important drawback arises from, and is consequent upon, the comparative absence of purchasers of any magnitude for the country trade, which is generally admitted to be in a very depressed condition, owing principally to the low prices obtainable for agricultural produce. Valuable as low pro visions unquestionably are to the great mass of the community, in purely agricultural districts, the consumption of manufactures cannot be otherwise than at present, materially interfered with. It is pro verbial that the drapers who have been in the market during the month have purchased very sparingly. Their complaints are uniform. The retrograde movement in prices has likewise not been without its effect, operations having been limited to existing wants. Allowing for these drawbacks, we look upon the aggre gate transactions as being very extensive. Prices, as you will have observed, of nearly every staple article have again declined. Stocks of goods generally, if we except those of domestics, and one or two other descriptions, are very light. Some descriptions of yarns too are heavy, but these are Matters which will be best ascertained by a reference to the details." The above report is certainly more favourable, under all circumstances, than might perhaps have been ex pected. At Amsterdam on Saturday stocks were rather lower. Dutch Twoeand-a-Hall per Cents. 491. By express and telegraph we have advices in anticipation of both the East and West India mails. The political and commercial information contained in the former appears to be favourable. The money markets of Bombay and Calcutta were easy, and the markets for European goods were moderately active. We await further details. The steamer from the West Indies, brings over 80,000 dollars, besides some amount in British coin. By this opportunity we shall have the Chilian mail, but no dispatches from Mexico. The directors of the Eastern Counties Railway have published to day a statement in answer to the report of the c mamittee of investigation. Upon the gravest points it does not seem to touch, however, or rather there is an assertion that the board of direction has only recently exercised its functions. It may fairly be observed that the excuse put forth is not tenable, because had the board strenuously objected to the charging of expenses t ) capital, Mr. Hudson was not likely to have persisted in his views. In one point we cannot but coincide, how ever,i viz., that it is to a great extent the fault of the shareholders, who were willing to give unlimited support in the declaration of high dividends, though obviously not earned, and that the depreciation fund was nega tived at the general meeting of February, 1846, though previously in existence, and was subsequently absorbed. Finally, ought all the amounts charged upon the half year's revenue to be so charged? This is a matter for grave consideration as it affects the dividend. The company undoubtedly owe the 97,3641., or say the bulk of it, but part arises from former arrears, and part, as the Directors affirm, is for new carriages, or such as might be considered new; while the cost of relaying the permanent way, 13,5381., should stand over to the next half year. If ail this can be established, there may be some ground for a modification of the views of the committee; but we understand that the latter, who are still sitting, will speedily reply, and that as the liabilities have been in curred, they must be met from some other source than capital. Having attended yesterday, like very many others, from curiosity far more than coincidence of opinion, the meeting of Protectionists, we deem it advisable, however much politics should be eschewed under this head, to state that the free-traders must not be apa thetic. From our knowledge of City men, and of all the ramifications of trade, we feel warranted in as serting that the parties who appeared upon the platform yesterday are men who have long profited by monopoly, and who, as such, do not represent the non-protected and laborious classes. Thousands of persons have been benefited by the new channels opened through free trade, and in the very stronghold of monopoly, among the shipowners and colo nists themselves, must the friends of progress have a counter demonstration. The response will be such as not to make them regret tho trial. Stocks are more buoyant to-day. Consols 91i to 924, and now about 924 I. The foreign news reads better. Exchequer-bills are 445. to 475. premium. Bank Stock has ranged from 1921 to 194 i. India Stock is at 246. The Foreign Securities are quiet. Spanish Three per Cents. 33. Mexican have touched 32 and 32k. Brazilian New are 78. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. are 50i 1. Shares are ail better again, and with more disposition to do business. Lord Brougham's speech has excited much attention. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'ULOCIE. (From the Official List.) Bank Stock 194 1 ,4 192 1 ,4 . 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9 0 50, ( 2 3 /1 .8 per Cent. Consols Anne _New 3% per Cent. Anna. 9l t 4 Ye3/4 Long Annuities, Exp. Jan. sth, 1860 8 9-16 8 5 4 D 0.30 Years, Expire Oct. 10,1859 8 5-16 India Stock 246 Do. Bonds, 10001 7O 67 p Ditto under 1.0001 South Sea Stock Ditto Old Annuities BB 89 1 ,4 Consols for Account Exchequer Bills. I t i ed. 2d. March. June. 1,000/. . , 500/ 44 47 p Small 44 47 44 p I i PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.; Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent - Ditto New 80nd5,1829 and 1839 78 Ditto for the Account Equador Bonds 4 Mexican Bowls, 1846, 5 per Cent. with CJupons 31 1 %232 • Ditto Account . Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cent 66 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 33 Venezuela Bonds - French Rentes, 3 per Cent s7f. 30c. Exchange Dutch 21,4 per Cent., 12 Guild Ditto 4 Der Cent. Certificates ZUSINESS DONE IN RAILWAY MAIMS AT ONE O'CLOC3 RAII.WATI. PAID. Pica Stuns. Aberdeen - Ditto, Preference 2% 2%..... to - Amber., Notting., Boston, &c. 6 - Barks and Hants Extension (Gt. West. Perpet. 5 per ct.) 5 - Bristol and Exeter - - Do., Thirds Caledonian - Ditto, Quarter Shares l 2 l/..... 6% to - Ditto, New 10/. Preference 10 - Chester and H01yhead......... 50 ..... 16 1 4-- to 16 Ditto, Preference Dublin and Belfast Junction.. 37% 6% to - East Anglia, 251. L. & E., aid L. & D - 20 B% Bsi co 8 1 4 Eastern Counties ...« Do., New Guar. 6 per c ent lO - East Lincolnshire 25 - Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorchester 2 % 1 34 ..... to - Great Northern.... ............. 20 - % Do. 1 / 2 A Deferred .•.....• 1002;144 4 ..-. ...to - .. 6 . to 5% Do. % B 6 per Cent. 1 Great Western Ditto, Half Shares ..... - 4138 h. ..... to to -..... 'Ditto, Q N ...... 18 Ditto, Fifths 15 .. ... 12% Do. New 171 Hull and S e lby 5O lOO - Ditto, Half Shares .. ...... 25 ...... 493 / 4 Lancaehire and Yorkshire ... 93 ..... - 62 . tO - :: to to Ditto, ditto 86 ...... Ditto Fifthsl o ...... 5 %•••.•• Do. New Guarani. 6 per Ct. 10 ...... 11• 1 / 4 ...... to -- Do., West Riding Union 9 .... . 3 :/ /:i %••• t° -- Leeds and Bradf or d London 4 Black we ll .... % 4 ..... o _ lOO% Lond., Bright., &South Coast 50 - Do., New. guar. 6 per cent. 5 - London & North Western.....loo ....131 130 1 / 2 to 131% D,. New Quarters.. ......... 7 12$0 . Fifths ........... ..._ ._ 2 to 6 11 10% to 11 1 Ai Do. 10/.... M. and B . . ( . k.5 i ..". 7 4 % •......... to London and B. w * * - Ditto,sianch.hirds. es .. t .. e . m . 1 . 6 . 1 . ..13 50 8.4d . .. ... - auxto, & Matlack 41 Ranchr, Sheftield.„ and Linc.loo A l l4 to - Do Ne w 1 04 - to midiand......... Preference.. 10 ..... 11 - Ditto. 50/. 51:at...1- 4: ... .. ...100 ...... 67% 69 . 68 to 69 Midland, Birrn., and 13 - ...... 25 -....13% 14% to 14 worth British .. erby„,„l oo ..... 43% to - Ditto Thirds .... .. ... .. .. ...... ** 9, ,----- '- .. - North Staffordshire- - ....." '' , 4 --.. 4 - ...... Oxford, Worcester, and Wol- 17 - ...... 1314 13 to 1314 verhampton ... .. .. . ....... 50 ...... 1734 ...... - ...... to - - Shrewsbury and Birmingham 11 ... 15 71 •• to - Ditto, New Guaranteed 8 - South South Staffordshire 7%.,.... 3 1 4... to 3 2 3 7 1 78 :1.2. 2 1 0 3 3 ( 4 . ... :: to 21 1 4 Eastern Ditto, No. 2. Ditto, Registered No. 4 lO ..... 67* 34 ... to --. Vale of Neath York, Newcastle, and Berwick 25 N A Do. and Newcastle Eaten . 20 . 15%14 to 15 to 15% Do. G. N. E. Pur. or Pref. 8 5l/02... to - York and North Midland .. 50 ...... 35 ..... to 36 Ditto, Preference lO - Ditto East wad West Riding Extension FOREIGN RAILWAY& Boulogne ancl_Amieus ..... .. 20 ..... 8%% 1 , 14 E gUN, LONDON.) W.EDNESEIJkair MVENING, MAY 2, 1649. Great Indian Peninsular 5 ...... 5 1 ; Northern of France Orleans and Bordeaux ... .. 7 Pint, and tirleans .. Paris & Strasbourg .......... 10 - •,. to Sambre and Meuse 4 MINES. Brazilian Imperial ....• to Ditto St. John Del Roy ... 15 ..... 12 8 to 13 JOINT STOCK /SANK,. London Joint Stock London and Westminster... 20 ...••• 2354 to Union of London . . . 10 COURSE OF Amster lat T l.......... 12 214 DR.°, at sight ...... 12 0 Rotterdam .......... 12 23 % , • 25 70 Hamburgh .... • • M.B. 12 0 Paris, 3 days'sight .. • • 25 25 Ditto, 3 months .... 25 GB Marseilles • • 25 6l Bourdeaux.... ..... • 2 5 60 Frankfort on Maine.... 121 M Petcrsburgh, Sil. lible 36 IA i:crlin .... • Vienna, effec. do —.... 11 42 Trieste, 11 42 Madrid .... • 49 Cadiz • • •• ............ 49% illbao.. • . • • .. • • ....., 13arcelona • • EXCHANGE. Gibraltar.. • • ........ • • Leghorn 32 40 Genoa .... • • 25 90 Naples 40 Palermo, 1 16% Messina 120 Lisbon.... • • 0p0rt0.... 534 Ito Janeiro 25 Buenos Ayres .. ••.. • • -- New York,2l days'sight Philadelphia .... PRICES OF BULLION, FEB. 02 Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Portwgal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars ••. • • • 0 4 104 Silver in bars 0 4 11X Seville.. • ..... • • • • • • . LLOYD'S SHIPPING—(THIS DAY.) LONDON, MAY 2.—Wind N.N.W., light brecze and dull hazy weather. The Allen Potter, Hutchings, of St. Stephen's, New Brunswick, sld. from Baltimore Bth November for Liver pool, and has not since been heard of. GUERNSEY, APRIL 28.—The Robert Bradford, Jersey to Liverpool and East Indies, was assisted into this road stead yesterday, having carried away her toasts above the tops. LIVERPOOL, MAY I.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrd. 30th ult. Princess Victoria, Johnston, Maranham; Birkenhead, Phelan, New Orleans; Mary Caroline, Delano, Mobile; Aun Hall, ditto; Jessie, Ford, Apalachicola; Naomi, Wright, Savannah. May 1, Joshua Waddington, Walkin, Talcuhuana; EL Dorado, Thompson, New Orleans; Ceres, ditto; Samosit, 'fucker, Charleston. Sld. 30th ult. Hannah Codner, Leghorn; Trout, Buenos Ayres; Carl Ernie', St. Croix; Senator, New York; Albion, Newfoundland. May 1, Bonita, Pernambuco; Countess of London, New Orleans; Mersey, Savannah; Margaret, New York; John Walker, Restigouche; Ca ledonia, Quebec ; Edward, Newfoundland; Mary Ann, ditto. Off port, M. J. Ward, Trott, Mobile; Arat; Rap pahannock. OFF HASTINGS, APRIL 30.—Kezia, Mauritius. OFF DOVER, APRIL 29.—Jeantina, Renkin, Surinam. LONDONDERRY, APRIL 26.—Arrd. Azof, Furbie, New York. Sid. 28th, Lord Maidstone, Philadelphia; Gar land, ditto;;Mary Campbell, Quebec; Abercrombie, ditto. CORK, APRIL 30.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrd. Stranger, Barbadoes; Ready Rhino, St. John's. Ski. 29th, Har lequin, Barbadoes. DUBLIN, APRIL 28.—Arrd. Odessa, Laverty, New York. Sld. Defence, New York. PLYMOUTH, MAY I.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. 30th ult., Josephine, Stromstadt, New York for Bremen. Sld. Duke of Roxburg, Sydney, New South Wales; David Banks, Fugueira and Bahia. Off port, Ist, American Eagle, Chadwick, New York, for London. _ _ DEAL, MAY I.—Wind N.E.—Arrd. 28th ult., Jean- tina, Renkin, Surinam, for Amsterdam; George Turner, New Orleans for Antwerp; Russia, New Orleans. Arrd. from the river and ski., Ist, Nova Scotian, New York. SOUTHAMPTON, May 2.—Medway steamer, West Indies, on freight 80,000 dollars. PORTLAND, APRIL 26.—Off port, Christiania, Suri nam, for Amsterdam. 27th, John Marshall, Baltimore, for Rotterdam. 29th, Durchem, Birchen, Batavia. LIMERICK, APRIL 30.—Wind S.—Arrd. Great Bri tain, Wilson, Philadelphia; Alexina, Platt, ditto. Sid. Faithful, ditto; Anna Maria, ditto. SHIELDS, APRIL 30.—S1d. Emanuel, North America. May I, Havering, London; and Maria, Williams, Quebec. SKIBBEREEN, MAT I.—Off port, Kingstown, New Orleans. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COADIONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. MASTERMAN presented petitions against the removal of Smithfield-market. Mr. FORDYCE presented petitions from the county of Fife against the Marriage and Registration Bills. Mr. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from the Nonconlormist clergy against the Bill legalising mar riage with a deceased wile's sister. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented petitions from a place in Devonshire in favour of the Clergy Relief Bill. Mr. BROTHERTON presented petitions praying for the suppression of beer-shops. Mr. B. HUGHES presented petitions from Carnarvon in favour of international arbitration. Mr. H. BERKELEY presented two petitions from Bristol against beer-houses. Mr. BERNAL presented a petition in favour of inter national arbitration. Mr. K. SEYMER presented petitions from places in Devonshire against the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Mr. GLADSTONE presented petitions to the same effect from the Archdeaconry of St. Albans. Mr. SOTIIERON presented a petition from places in Wiltshire to the same effect. Mr. BOURKE presented petitions from Kilkenny and the counties of Cork and Dublin, and other places in Ireland, in favour of the Cattle and Sheep Bill. CANADA. _ _ On the motion for proceeding to the order of the day, Mr. HERRIES rose to inquire whether the Govern ment had received any communication from the Gover nor-General of Canada, stating that there was a Bill before the Legislative Assemblies of Canada providing that recompense should be given to those who had suf fered losses during the rebellion; and, secondly, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to give, or whether they had given, their sanction to any such Bill? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, in :reply to the first part of the question of the Right Hon. Gentleman be had to state, that although no public dispatches had been received, the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department had received several private letters upon the subject from the Governor-General of Canada, extracts of which would at the proper time be laid upon the table of the House. With regard to the second part of the question of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he could only remark, that when the matter came officially before him, Lord Elgin would be in possession of the feelings of the Government at home, and would be prepared to exercise his discretion respecting the Bill, and would, no doubt, exercise that discretion beneficially for the empire, and with advantage to his own reputation. When dispatches were received, such parts of them as were necessary for promotingi the public service would be presented to the House. Mr. BERRIES inquired whether the Government did not intend to publish the whole of the dispatches. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it had frequently been found very inconvenient to publish the whole of the dispatches received from the colonies. In some in stances—ho might cite that of Jamaica especially—the publication of the dispatches had produced great irrita tion in the dependencies. Mr. GLADSTONE wished to know whether it was necessary for the Governor General of Canada to send to the Home Government before he gave his sanction to a Bill of the Colonial Legislature. Lord J. RUSSELL said, that certainly it was not ne cessary; speaking from his own recollection, he should say, not usual, tor the Governor• General of Canada to communicate with the Home authorities before giving his sanction to a Bill of the Colonial Legislature, although he thought that it was advisable to communi cate with the Home authorities on matters of peculiar importance, so that all might work together in har mony.—(Hear, bear.) Mr. HENLEY wished to know whether he heard the Noble Lord aright when he understood him to state that it was customary fur the communications between the Colonial authorities and the Home Government to take place rather by private letter than by public dis patches. Lord J. RUSSELL—Certainly not. Private matters were usually communicated by private letters; commu nications respecting public affairs came in the form of public dispatches.—(Hear, hear.) CATTLE STEALING (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. BOURKE then rose to move the second reading of the Cattle Stealing Bill, and in doing so, he said it was only necessary to state some facts briefly for the necessity of the Bill, and to show how fearfully this crime had increased. In 1645 the number of offences under this head reported by the constabulary was 620, in 1846 the number reported was 3,025, and in 1847 they had risen to the startling number of 10,044, out of which only about 1,500 convictions occurred. It was not owing entirely to distress that an increase had arisen in that particular class of crime, but the fact was that evil-dis posed persons who were to be found in every community had availed themselves of the distress to commit de predations. The evil, he regretted to say, had materially increased during the last year. Mr. Baren Lefroy, in his address to the jury at the Galway Assizes, states that the number of cases on the calendar was 764, of which there were 115 for sheep and cattle stealing, and 57 for cow stealing; and added that, although it might in a great degree be attributed to the failure of the potato crop, it could not be longer endured, now that efforts had been made to alleviate distress in Ireland. Mr. Baron Richards had also stated to the grand jury of the county of Kerry that cattle and sheep stealing was on the increase, and that some effort should be made to put a stop to it. The Honourable Member called the attention of the House to several letters which he had received from magistrates and others not only from places where distress existed, but from the county of Wicklow, which was peculiarly exempted in that res pect, and which was remarkable for its good order, stat ing that scarcely a night passed without de predations being committed; and that, although the guilts parties were in most cases known, a con viction could not be obtained under the law as it DOW stood. The usual practice after stealing the animal was to skin it and cut it up, and to destroy or dispose of the akin in order to prevent identification The present Bill was merely the revival of an old one, which was repealed by the 9th of Geo. IV., c. 55, and which was in operation in Ireland for many . years. It was generally regretted by all parties that it had ever been repealed. The Bill was introduced in 1839, by Lord Morpeth and Mr. Pigott, and although there were only 272 cases of cattle and sheep stealing reported by the constabulary in the previous year, the Government deemed that a sufficient cause to recommend the passing of the measure. He, therefore, thuught when he showed by returns that there were now as many as 10,000 cases, that he was entitled to ask the Government to support the present Bill. A statute similar to this was to he found in the 7th and Bth of Geo. IV., which enacts, among other things, that every one to whose possession meat suspected of being stolen was to be traced should be made to account fur it in the same way as the present Bill provided. An enactment of a similar nature was to be found in force in Ireland as regarded timber. Now, he thought he had shown that it was not asking too much of legisla tion to endeavour to mitigate the dreadful evil which was so ruinous to the farmers in Ireland. It was the general wish of the inhabitants of Ireland at large, both of proprietors and small farmers—more particularly those very small farmers whose sheep were so few, and whose flecks were so small that they could not afford to pay for watchmen to protect them during the night against nocturnal depre dators, that this Bill should pass into a law. In corro boration of that he had a resolution passed at the quarter sessions of Waterford, signed by the lord-lieutenant of the county, and by every magistrate there assembled. A number of petitions had been presented in favour of the Bill, including not less than twelve grand juries of Ireland. It had attracted very considerable attention in this country, and all with whom he had com municated on the subject had concurred with him in opinion that the Bill should pass :into a law. He hoped that the House would permit the principle of the Bill ut least to pass into a law, which placed the onus probandi on the person in whose possession meat suspected to have been stolen was found of showing that he lawfully and honestly came by the same. Sir GEORGE GREY said, notwithstanding the con cluding sentences of the Honourable Member's speech, he (Sir George Grey) felt that it would be still his duty to oppose the Bill in its present shape. The objections which be entertained towards the Bill would be very much removed if very considerable modifications were made in it, without affecting its prin ciple. He had given the Hon. Gentleman an - intimation to that effect the other day. The first clause appeared objectionable, because it proposed to enact what was the law already. It empowered magistrates to grant search warrants against any person who was suspected of hav ing stolen goods in his possession. He did not know how this Bill passed through the House on the former occasion ; but, at all events, he felt it to be his duty to object to its passing through the House in its present shape. He thought that the Hon. Gentleman from whom the Bill had emanated had rather overstated the necessity of it.—(Bear, hear.) He said that the offence of cattle and sheep stealing in Ireland had greatly increased of late years. From a Parliamentary return which he (Sir G. Grey) held in his hand, it appeared that the number I of commitments in 1844 was 315. In Ireland the losses from sheep stealing had been greater that in this country. In 1848 the number of commitals were 2,830, and the convictions 1,574, which he thought showed that the difficulty of convicting persons was not so great as he had stated to the House. He said that there existed gangs of sheep stealers who resided together in certain neighbourhoods, and whose foots'eps would be traced from the places where they killed the animal and flayed it to the houses in which they lived ; and that further th e rema i ns of slaughtered animals were found in their houses. In one case that occurred to his (Sir George Grey's) me mory, blood was found on the knee of a suspected in dividual. Under such circumstances it would not be difficult to incuce a jury to believe that a person traced, and in whose house there was fresh meat, which did not appear to have been cut by a butcher, was an offending party. Ia such a case sufficient evidence could, he thought, bo adduced to show that there was moral evidence of guilt, though, perhaps, the person to whom it belonged could not swear to it. The con asth Irishow ed that juriesth e. oftenr e wa was declined i m n e u d c h t o d i ifi c o c n u v l ty. dfeelt the d • He advised h thdraw the Bill in order to amend c eHo t n i w o . tai s s Gentlemani t n o l ldB4t that to wt it as he had pointed out; o y he shoul ict duty to oppose it. except in cases of absolut t e he i rw en is t e it Mr. S. CRA W FO RD should oppose the Bill, believing and perpetuate than dimi that it would rather increasebeca use, In Ireland ut least, nish the evil complained of , persons convicted of the offence did not care for the in fliction of the utmost punishment which the law awarded for the offence. In support of this view he read the report of the trial of 4 young men for sheepstealing, who pleaded guilty, and besought the assistant-barrister who tried them to transport them, as if they were liberated after a short imprisonment they must commit some other crime, in ordc r to provide the means of existence, for they were starving. He acceded to their prayer, and they were all transported for seven years, which seemed to gratify them exceedingly. This Bill provided that a suspected person might be brought before a magistra te, and if he could not show how the property came into Ms posses sion, and there was reason to think he had not come by it honestly, that he might be committed for not less than three months, or until a fine was paid. Why th is would induce persons to commit the offence in order that they might obtain a comfortable asylum in prison. He opposed the Bill, and recommen ded its withdrawal, because he believed it would be.alto gether inoperative. Arbitrary laws might be necessary, and be for one would support such laws if they were likely to do good, but this measure was notof that class. From the facts quoted by the lion. Gentleman who bad in troduced the Bill it appeared that the great cause of crime wai absolute famine. Was it right, therefore, he asked, to pass a law like this against such a people as the Irish ? Hamburgh, &c., Tuesday and Friday evenings—due Tuesdays and Saturdays. Holland, &c., Wednesday and Saturday mornings— due Mondays and Thursdays, by the General Steam Navigation Company's packets, via the Thames. Mails will be made up in London on the evening of the 4th inst. for Madeira, San Nicolas, Cape de Verde Islands, Portendic, Sierra Leone, and the Island of As cension, to be forwarded by her Majesty's sloop Heroine, appointed to sail from Devonport on the morning of the sth inst. Letters to Madeira, &c., will be charged a postage of 1s: 10d. per halt-ounce; newspapers, 2d. each, which must be pre-paid. Sierra Leone and Ascension letters, ls., newspapers free of postaze• ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SWICIDE. Yesterday morning, at an early hour, some excite ment was occasioned in the neighbourhood of Lime house, in consequence of a coalwhipper named Daniel George Holmsdeu, having attempted to murder a female, named Martha Jane Bryden, by cutting her throat with a razor, and afterwards attempting his own life in a simi lar manner. Br l y t d a e p n p d e u ar r s in t g hat the H i a o s l t m n s i f i l l e u n y e h a a r d s b as ee m n a c n oh a a n b d it w in i g fe, w at i l t d h she had two children by him. He had frequently pro mised her marriage, but when the day arrived he never made his appearance. Some Sundays since the banns were published in Limehouse church, and last Sun day was appointed for their marriage. They had saved up a sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of the wedding, and it was placed in the care of Holmsden. On Saturday last he was out all the day. When he returned home a quarrel ensued between him and Bryden, who declared she would live with him no longer. She separated from him, and it was agreed that be should allow her a maintenance for the support of herself and her children. She took lodgings in Nightingale-lane, Limehouse, and yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, during the half hour he was allowed for his breakfast, he visited her, and par took of some coffee. He endeavoured to persuade her to live with him again, and become his wife. She re plied that she would not, and he instantly rose from his seat, and grasped her violently by the back of her neck, and before she was aware of his intentions, he opened a razor, which he took out of his pocket, and dashed it across her neck. She screamed violently, and succeeded in escaping from him, and ran into the street. She bled most profusely, and ran upwards of 150 yards, with the blood streaming down her clothes, when she fell sense less to the ground. She was removed into a house by a neighbour, and means were applied to stop the bleeding. Holmsden followed her, with the open razor in his hand, and finding that she had escaped from him, he drew the razor across his own neck with such force as to divide nearly all the principal arteries of his throat. He fell to the ground in an insensible state, and the blood flowed copiously from his wound. Both were imme diately conveyed to the hospital. Holmsden is not ex pected to recover, but the injuries sustained by the woman are slight. FIRES WITH LOSS OF LIFE. During Saturday not fewer than seven fires broke out in various parts of the metropolis. One was at No. 77, Edgeware-road, occupied conjointly by Mr. J. Keene, a solicitor, and Mr. F. Bostock, a shoe maker. It was caused by a spark from a candle, which set the contents of the back-room first-floor in a general blaze. An immediate alarm was given, but before assistance could be obtained, the flames made great progress. The engines of the London brigade promptly attended, and the firemen, having set their engines to work, it was eventually extinguished, but not until the whole range of premises was considerably burnt or damaged by fire and water. The sufferers are understood to be insured. The second was at 6, Taylor's-yard, Borough, in the occupation of Mr. Haney ; but, owing to the timely aid afforded, the damage was not very serious. The third outbreak was at No. 1, Hatfield street, Goswell-street (belonging to Mrs Smith). The en gines of the London brigade and the Royal Society fire-escape quickly attended, but the flames could not be extinguished until great damage had been done by fire and water. The fourth fire was at No. 35, King-street, Snowhill, in the occupation of Mr. Isaac Armstrong,. saddlers' ironmonger, and was at tended with fatal consequences to one of the female domestics. It appears that at ten o'clock at night Mr. Armstrong's attention was directed to the lower part of the premises by hearing violent screams pro ceeding therefrom. On going to that part of the house to ascertain the cause, he found one of the females who had been in his employ for a period of 24 years, in a general blaze. The inmates tried all they possibly could to extinguish the flames about the unfortunate creature, and sent a messenger for the fire-engines. The brigade engines from Far ringdon-street promptly attended, and when the fire was put out the flesh of the poor creature hung in shreds from her arms and other parts of the body. Mr. Loder, of the brigade, and other parties, carried her to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where everything was done for her that the nature of the case would permit of, but in spite of which death terminated her sufferings at two o'clock yesterday morning. Another fire broke out at Mr. G. Harcott's, wheelwright, in Clarke's-orchard, Rotherhithe. The brigade engines attended quickly from town, but fortunately their ser vices were not required, the inmates having during the interim succeeded in getting the fire out. The sixth fire was at 29, North Bank, St. John's-wood, in the occupation of Mr. John Hill. It was caused from some defect in the kitchen flue, which set the hack and front rooms on the ground floor in flames. The whole of the residents at that time being in their beds asleep, they narrowly escaped being burned to death. The engines of the London and West of England establishments attended, and the fire was subdued, but not until the whole of the building and the contents were damaged. The seventh fire was at No. 13, Mill-place, Commercial-road East, in the tenure of Mr. P. ole. The flames began in the basement, and when discovered they were mounting up the staircase. The residents succeeded with great difficulty in effecting a safe retreat, but the flames could not be conquered until a great destruction of property had taken place. BURGLARY. AT HILLSDEN. So many burglaries have occurred during the past winter in the county of Bucks, and in the neigh bouring county of Oxford, as to have excited consi derable anxiety to break up the gang engaged in their perpetration. It is to be hoped that the cap ture and committals of four robbers will lead to that result. On Saturday last William Green, John Sheppard, and 7 Williarn Sheppard (father and son), and William Warner were brought before the magis trates (the Rev. J. C.:Gray, and J. T. Senior, Esq.), charged with breaking into the farm- house.of Mr. llines, standing in a lonely situation, about two o'clock on Friday morning. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Hines (a respectable elderly farmer and grazier at Hillsden), that he and his wife were awoke in the night by hearing a talking in the room above them, where were sleeping two servants, a man and a boy. Mrs. Hines called cut" Richard," thinking that it was the man stirring. There was, however, no an swer. Immediately after this a noise was heard at the bed-room door, which was fastened. Mr. Hines got out of bed, and demanded " Who was there ?" No answer was returned, and soon after the door was burst violently open, and two men entered. One was armed with a gun and the other with a brace of pistols, and two other men came in afterwards. It seems they had already been up-stairs ' and had frightened the servants, and the man with the pistols stood at the bed-room door, pointing them up the stairs, further to intimidate them. The robbers brought lights into the room, when one of them said to Mr. and Mrs. Hines, that they wanted victuals and money, and they would have them or their lives They took a purse out of Mr. Hines' breeches pocket, con taining only ls. 6d. They then made Mrs. Hines get out of bed, and then they searched the bed. After this two remained with Mr. Hines, whilst the other two obliged his wife to go down stairs with them in her night clothes, to show them where she had a little money, which she gave them. They next searched for and found a dozen or two of silver spoons, a silver cream. jug, and some other small articles of plate. They then took a bottle of rum, a bottle of wine, some cold meat, &c., and having collected together their booty made off. As early as possible, however, when Mr. Hines and his family had recovered from their panic, informe.tion was conveyed to the local constables, who by actively going in pursuit came upon the robbers at Stoken church-hill, where they were found comfortably taking their ease on a bank by the road-side. After Mr. Hines had given his evidence, and Mrs. Hines had been called forward as a witness, the prisoner William Green said, "He should not like the lady to be put out of the way at all; there was enough evidence of what had been done." The goods were, of course, recovered and identified. The gun, with a kind of old-fashioned duelling pistol (neither of them loaded), and a small pistol, which was loaded, were taken from the prisoners, and were produced. These men evi dently form a portion of a regularly organized band of professional burglars, whose head-quarters are in London. They were committed for trial at the assizes, none of them denying the facts proved against them. CEIURCII MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The annual meet ing of this society was held yesterday, in Exeter Hall, the Earl of Chichester in the chair. The report shoe is the funds of the society to be in a satisfactory state, th 0 income amounting to upwards of 101,000/., and the ex-• penditure being 87,0001. The last l y ear havin was h g eld and a been the' 50th anniversary of the society, a jilee jubilee fund formed, which amounts to 53,0001. It is proposed to appropriate 20,000/. of this sum to the fund already formed for the relief of sick and aged mis sionaries, The Bishops of Norwich and Winchester, and several other speakers, addressed the meeting. MR. FORBES, M.P.—lt is with deep regret we have to state that our much esteemed county member, Mr. Forbes, of Callender, met with a severe accident, in consequence of being thrown from his horse on the 13th i nstan t. lie had been hunting with the Stirlingshire hounds, near Avon-bridge, when the animal came down, and Mr. Forbes being thrown, as stated, he received fracture in one of his legs. The latest account is, 6. Mr. Forbes is doing well.—Stirling Observer. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. FOREIGN-OFFICE, APRIL 27, 1849. The Queen has been pleased to approve of M. Louis Leon Bucquet as Consul at Newcastle, and of M. Eu gene Pero as Consul at Port iu the MuuriEius, for the French Republic. DO WNING•STREET, MAY 1. The Queen has been pleased to ..ppoint Henry George Ward, Esq., to be her Majesty's Lord High Commis sioner in and for the United States of the lonian Islands. Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Patrick Augustus Boyle, Esq., to be Colonial Surgeon for her Majesty's Forts and Settlements on the Gold Coast. WHITEHALL, APRIL 30. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. John Robin to the Church and parish of Burntisland, in the presbytery of Kirkcaldy, and county of Fife, vacant by the deprivation of Mr. James Mackintosh, late minister thereof. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Edinburghshire. Lieutenant-Colonel John Charles Hope Gibsone to be Deputy Lieutenant, Ap: it 16. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Derby. George Henry Cavendish, Esq„ to be Deputy-Lieu tenant, April 21. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Montgomery- sh ire. Montgomeryshire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry— Cornet Robert Davies Jones, to be Captain, vice Beck, deceased; David Jones, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Jones, promoted; Maurice Evan Lewis, Gent., to he Cornet, vice Nicholls, deceased. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire. South Salopian Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalr) Lieut. Charles Spencer Lloyd to be Captain, vice J. A. Lloyd, Esq., resigned; Henry Crowe, Gent., to be Vete rinary Surgeon. ADMIRALTY, MAY 1. Corps of Royal Marines—Colonel and Second Com mandant Walter Powell to be Colonel-Commandant, vice Colonel John Wright, retired on !nil-pay; Lieutenant- Colonel Richard Edwards to be Colonel Second Com mandant, vice Powell, promoted; Brevet-Major Charles Compton Pratt to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Edwards, promoted ; First Lieutenant and Adjutant Augustus Dover Lyddon Farrant to be Captain, vice Pratt, pro moted; Second-Lieutenant James Elphinstoue Lock to be First Lieutenat, vice Farrant, promoted. WHITEHALL, APRIL 26. The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Lawrence Banks, of the town of Brecknock, in the county of Breck nock, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, APRIL 28. Easter Term.—Twelfth Victoria. This Court will hold sittings on Wednesday, the 9th day of May next, and on Thursday the 10th, Friday the 11th, Saturday the 12th, Monday the 14th, and Tuesday the 15th days of the same month; and, at such sittings, will proceed in disposing of the business then pending in the Paper of New Trials, the Paper of Demurrers, and the Paper of Spe cial Cases, and in giving judgment in all matters then standing for judgment. FRED. POLLOCK, R. M. ROLFE, J. PARKE, T. J. PLATT. Read in open Court, E. Bennett. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, NAY 1. Easter Term.—Twelfth Victoria. This Court will, on Wednesday, the 9th, and Satur day, the 12th days of May, inst., hold sittings, and will proceed in disposing of the business in the Special Paper on the 9th inst., and the Crown Paper on the 12th inst., taking the cases in their order, unless special application be made to postpone any of them before the last day of term; and will give judgment in cases previously argued. BY THE COURT. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Mdlle. Parodi appeared last evening, in the character of Leonora, in Donizetti's opera La Favorita, and it is not too much to say that those who hare not seen Mdlle. Parodi in Leonora have not seen the opera. Former representatives of this character have been content to sing the music of Donizetti more or less correctly—to appear in a succession of various costumes, and to act the character either not at all, or as that of a mere walking lady. They have been either unable or afraid to sound the depths of passion which lie beneath the surface of the character, and to represent Leonora as she really is, a being of intense feeling, energetic will, ungovernable impulses, but yet who loves—loves ardently, impassionedly, loves as only the children of the South can love—with all her soul, and all her heart, and all her mind, and all her strength. Those depths of passion have, however, been sounded by Parodi; and her Leonora is one of the most wonderful pieces of impassioned acting ever seen. Her countenance expresses each change of passion in the most marvellous manner, and her voice is at times choked as it were by emotion. Her opening scene with Fernando was a delightful representation of the fondest and most impassioned love, and then her scene, when informed that Fernando is to be her husband, was superb. Never has the con flict of contending passions been more artistically represented; and in the finale to the third act, when Fernando breaks his sword and renounces his allegiance, she seemed the impersonation of the wildest horror and despair. The last scene in the cloister was a perfect triumph of art. Who could see the heart-broken creature listening to the voice of her lover as he takes the monastic vows—who could see her fall at his feet in abject supplication—who could see her die in his arms without feeling for her and him, and cursing the Ring who had been the cause of all this misery? Mdlle. Parodi has now vindicated her right to the throne of lyric tragedy. She is, without exception, the greatest actress on the stage; she has made the character of Leonora, and with it, that of the opera, which will hence forth be La Favourite not in name only, but in deed and in truth. She was called on several times during the course of the performance, and at the con clusion she was three times called on. and on each occasion bouquets were showered on her from all parts of the house. The cast of the opera was exceedingly strong—Gardoni, who was in excellent voice, was the Fernando, Coletti the Alfonso, and Lablache the Monk Balthazar. The house was very well attended. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Lucrezia Borgia was performed here last evening, for the purpose of enabling Mademoiselle Angri to appear in the character of Orsini, the character in which Albuni has for the last two seasons created such a furore. A great deal of curiosity existed about the Orsini of Made moiselle Angri, and speculations were rife us to whether or not she would obtain the double encore in the Brindisi, which with Alboni had become stereotyped. The result was favourable to the new contralto, who has already ac quired great popularity with the public. It is true that in the Brindisi we bad neither the exquisitely sustained shake on the high G, nor the glowing and mellow lower notes, to which her admirable predecessor had accustomed us, but their place was supplied by an immense deal of energy and feeling, whieb the audience took iu good part, administering their applause with liberal una nimity, accompanied by the double encore in question. in the earlier scenes Mademoiselle Angri made the part of Orsini unusually prominent, and ob tained considerable applause in the romance, Nella fatal di Rimini." In the second act she in troduced an air, with roulades, we believe by Picini. On the whole her talent shines less conspicuously in this opera t h in in either Scmiramide or the Barbicre. as Lucrezia, was as magnificent as ever; and Mario and Tamburini, who sustained the other principal charac ters, were both in excellent voice. The band and chorus displayed all their accustomed excellence, and the ani mated " Bando a ce triste immagini," in which all the principals join the chorus, with striking effect, was en cored with acclamatiOns. Grisi, Mario, and Tamburini were compelled to re-appear before the curtain at the end of each of the three acts. Her Majesty and Prince Al bert honoured the performance with their presence. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATUItDAY, APRIL 28, 1849. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*233 Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ... 43 Tubercular Diseases 197 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 127 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels .„ .. 42 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ... „, „, 194 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ••• ••• Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, 8- ?,. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations._ Premature Birth ,„ Atrophy ... ... ... ... .. Old Age ... ... ... ... •• Sudden ... ... ... Violence, Privation, Cold, or Intemperance Causes not specified ... ... 65 ... 6 ... 9 ... 22 ... 44 ... 23 IEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ... Population Enumerated, 1841 West Districts... 300,711 North a.Aricts.. 375,971 Central Districts 373,653 East Districts ... 392,444 83uth Districts.. 501,190 1,058 Totals... ~....1,948,369 Males ••• Females .• Average weekly Deaths Deaths, 1844.8. in the Five Springs. Week. . 145 ... 179 . 185 ... 198 168 ... 195 ▪ 207 ... 201 ▪ 258 ... 285 BIRTHS 1N THE WEE Males ••• Females ... Total ... ... 1,5 28 *ln this number are included 1 case death by Cholera, 47 by Scarlatina, and 34 by Typhus Fever. H O SPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OE THE CHEST.—Yesterday evening the general annual meeting was bold at the board-room of the above insti tution, Captain John Gladstone, R.N., in the chair. The report of the past year having been read, and unanimously adopted, thanks were voted to the chair man, and the meting was adjourned to the 21st of next month. The seventh anniversary dinner will take place this day, at the _Albion Tavern, Benjamin Disraeli, Esq., M.P., in the chair, supported by M. Guizot, the ex minister of France. [LEFT SPEAKING.] COURT CIRCULAR. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode oat on horse back, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, and honoured the Duke of Wellington with a visit at Apsley house, to offer his congratulations to the Noble Duke on the auspicious return of his natal day. His Royal Highness the Duke Augustus of Saxe Coburg Gotha visited the Queen and Prince Albert on Monday, at Buckingham Palace. The Queen, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and attended by Lady Caroline Cocks, took an airing yesterday in an open barouche and four. Major-General Wemyss at tended on horseback. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the per formance of the Royal Italian Opera with their presence yesterday evening. The royal suite consisted of arl the Marchioness of Douro, L a d y C aro li ne Cocks, he Eof Morley, General Wemyss, and Lieutenant. Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Ths Earl of Morley has succeeded Lord Byron as the Lord.in-Waiting to the Queen, and Captain the Hon. J. Denman has succeeded Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood as the Groom. in-Waiting to her Majesty. Colonel Wylde, having completed tus month in wait ing on his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, has been relieved in his duties as Groom-in-Waiting by Captain Francis Seymour ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Seymour has been relieved in his duties as Equerry-in-Waiting to the Prince by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Colonel Buckley has been relieved in his duties as Equerry-in- Waiting to the Queen by General Wemyss. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent took a drive to Frogmore-house yesterday, returning to town in the afternoon. _ . _ The Duke of Cambridge arrived in town yesterday from Kew, and went to Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness visited the Duchess of Gloucester at Glouces ter-house, and in the afternoon returned to Kew. Their Serene Highnesses the Countess Erbach and the Princesses Amelie and Elise of Hohenlohe Schil lingsfurst took leave of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent on Monday. Yesterday afternoon, at four o'clock, their Serene Highnesses took leave of her Ma esty the Queen Dowager, and proceeded to the London bridge terminus, travelling by the South-Eastern Rail way to Dover, on their return to the continent. A deputation on the Sheep and Cattle Bill, consisting of Mr. Bourke, Colonel Taylor, Colonel Dunne, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Keogh, had an interview with Sir George Grey on Monday. Mr. Assheton Smith and Mr. Robertson had also interviews with the Right Hon. Baronet on Monday. -- Y Council at three THE PRIVY COUNCIL. o,c T lo h c e k Q y e u s e t e e n rd h a e y l d a f a t e C rn o o u o r n t eatn Buckingham u l e ) h r i i n e g h a m Palace. At the Court a deputation from the Society of Friends had an audience of the Queen to present an address oa the subject of the African Slave Trade and Slavery. The deputation consisted of Samuel Gurney, William Forster, George Stacey, and Peter Bedford. Her Majesty was accompanied by his Royal Highness the Prince Albert. The deputation was introduced by the Right Hon. Sir Georg e Grey, her Majesty's Princi pal Secretary of State for the Horne Department, and presented the following address in the Royal closet:— " To Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dominions thereunto be• longing. " May it please the Queen— " We, the undersign ed, thy dutiful and loyal subjects, representing the religious Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland, desire respectfully to approach the Throne, and, in love to man, and, as we reverently be lieve, in our duty to God, to lay before thee a matter deeply affecting the well- being of a large portion of the great human family. " More than a century has elapsed since our religious society first believed it to be a Christian duty to advo cate the rights of the natives of Africa and of those held iu slavery in the western world. With reverent thanks giving to Almighty God we recur to the successive acts of our Legislature abolishing the slave trade, and subse quently releasing the slaves in our colonies from a state of cruel bondage. tr a fi l i " The continuance of the trade in slaves as prose cuted, contrary to either law or treaty, by the inhab i • tams r abi from ot' other th i a countries unrighteous with a f e , the brings wickedness i nsep sorrow a and distress. It engenders war in its direst forms, breaks the bonds of social life, re duces those who may survive the horrors of their transit by land and sea to hopeless slavery, and withal prevents the spread of the religion of our holy . " We feel for the suffering s of the unoffending and helpless victims of th ese f abominations, and we feel for the wrongs and miseries the multitudes still living in slavery, and subjected t o its cruel hardships and uncom pensated toil, and we dee p ly deplore the degrada tion and the guilt which attach to to the man stealer, the slave holder, and the dealer in his fellow men. "In consideration of the magnitude of this complicated iniquity, we are embolden ed to ask thee, our gracious Queen, in thy intercours e with the rulers of those na tions which are involved in these things, to use the in. fluence of thy exalted li pacific means this st ation for terminating by every Africa, and for conferringdesol ating ' evil on the continent of fin • unconditional freedom on all those held in mediate and . slavery. And we ask per mission humbly and plain ly that it is only in the ext inc tion to declare our conviction ition of negro slavery that we can have any security for the utter termination of the African slave trade. " May the Lord of He aven and eart h bl e ss thee, our beloved Sovereign, and thy R oyal Consort, and may H is blessing rest upon all thy h ouse. W e pray that, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord He may give thee wis dom and strength to open thy Tsiouth for the dumb , t o plead the cause of the p oor and o f hi m t h a t hath no helper; that he may prosper thee in thy work of righ teousness; and that, if it please Him, thou mayest live to see the day in which negro slavery and the slave trade shall be abolished throughout the earth. " London, 3d month, 12th, 1849." Her Majesty, having received the address, was pleased to return the following most gracious answer:— " I have received your address with much satisfaction. I fully appreciate the benevolent efforts of the Society of Friends on behalf of the suffering and oppressed. " I am deeply sensible of the wrongs and evils inflicted by the slave trade, and my endeavours will continue to be directed towards its extinction." The deputation then retired f ro m the Royal preser!cf. The Privy Council was attended by his Roya l High ness Prince Albert, the Lord President, the Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of the Treasury, the S e cretarie s of State for the Home, Foreign, and Colonial dep artm ents, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Board of Control, the President of t he Boar the Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Mas ter of the Horse. the Clerk of the The Hon. William Bathurst wa s Council in waiting. the President of den Trad e, t of ra t he The Queen gave audience to the Marquis of Latlii• downe and Lord John Russell. The Court was attended by the Earl of Morley, Lord in Waiting; Lord Combermere, Gold Stick in Waiting; the Treasurer of the Household; the Comptroller of the Household; and Captain the Hon. J. Denman, Groom in Waiting. DEPARTURES OF THE FOREIGN AND COLONIAL MAILS FOR MAY. The following are the dates on which the Foreign and Colonial mails will be made up at the General Post office during the present month, and when the return packets will be due at Southampton, Liverpool, and Falmouth: — For the British and foreign colonies in the West Indies (except Honduras, Nassau, Bermuda, and the Havannah):—Venezuela and Jacoael, on the mornings of the 2d (this day) and 17th inst., via Southampton ; Bermuda, Nassau, New Orleans, Mexico, Honduras, and Havannah, on the morning of the 2d only; Madeira, Grey-town (San Juan de Nicaragua), New Grenada, Chili, and Peru, on the morning of the 17th inst. only —due on the 7th and 22d inst. at Southampton. For British North America and the United States, on the evening of the 4th inst., via Liverpool, Halifax, and New York; on the evening of the 11th inst. to Boston ; on the evening of the 18th inst. to New York; and on the evening of the 25th inst. to Boston. Next packets due on the 2d inst. (to-morrow) from Boston, 17th New York, 23d Boston, and 31st New York, at Liverpool. For Madeira, Brazil, and Buenos Ayres, on the even ing of the 4th inst., by her Majesty's brig Peterel, via Falmouth. Her Majesty's brig Penguin, overdue; her Majesty's brig Express, due on the 28th inst. For Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, via Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, on the morning of the 7tb, 17th, and 2itth inst., via Southampton—due on the 6th, 16th, and 26th inst. For the Mediterranean,' Malta, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, Mauritius, India, Hong• Kong, and China, on the even ings of the 7th and 24th inst., by the fortnightly over land closed mails, via Marseilles—due on the 2d and 23d inst. Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, Mauritius, &c., on the evening of the 19th inst., via Southampton—due the 26th inst. at Southampton. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, by private ships as they may sail. France, &c., twice daily—morning and evening (ex cept Sundays)—by steam-packets, via Dover and Calais —due , daily. Belgium, &c.; every evening (except Sundays), via Dover and Ostend—due daily. BANKRUPTS. Philipp Sigmund ZicistiWlirikli, tailor, Upper North place, Gray's Inn-road, to surrender, May 10, at eleven, and June 12, at halt-past eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Nicholls and Doyle, Bedford-row. Hugh Swan, draper, High-street, Camden-town, May 11, at eleven, and June 12, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Canaan, official assignee, Birchin-lane; Jones, Size-lane, Bucklersbury. John Bessel], glass merchant, Farringdon-street, May 9, at twelve, and June 8, at one, at the Court of IZank ruptcy, Basinghall-street. Pennell, official assignee; Pritchard, Town-hall, Southwark. Thomas Bishop, cattle dealer, Marden, Herefordshire, May 16, and June 13, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; Gwillim, Hereford; Suckling, Birmingham; Smith anu Sons, Southampton-street, Bloomsbury-square. George Lofthouse Richardson, cutler, Liverpool, May 16, and June 8, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool; Chester, foulmin, and Chester, Staple Inn; Rime, Liverpool. Charles Holman Warren, surgeon, Fawley, Southamp ton, May 17, at one, and June 18, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman street ; Paterson, Bouverio-street, Strand ; Mackey, Southampton. Horatio Hyland, grocer, May 15, at half-past two, and June 12, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane ; Langham, Bartlett's-buildings. George Burdis, banker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 8, at half-past twelve, and June 12, at half-past one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Pringle, Steven son, and Shum, King's-road, Bedford-row; Philipson, Nevvcastle-upon-Tyne. Richard Boucher, shoe manufacturer, Liverpool, May 14, at two, and Juno 4, at eleven, at the Liverpool Dis - trict Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; 'Vin cent, Temple; Godfrey, Liverpool. Robert Cdnitings Collings, cheese factor. Walcot, Bath, May 10 and June 7, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Slack, Bath; Bridges, Bristol. Abraham Ripley and Charles Thorp, dyers, Apperley bridge, Yorkshire, May 17, and June 8, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Leeds; Wigglesworth acrd Co., Gray's Inn; Richardsons, Leeds. William Appleton, joiner, St. Helen's, Lancashire, May 15, at twelve, and June 12, at two, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Norris and Co., Bedford-row; Taylor, St. Helen's. Johu Jordan, surgeon, Birmingham, May 15, and June 12, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy official assignee, Birmingham; Sargent, Birmingham. James Vaughan, plumber, Hereford, May 16 and June 13, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; G willim ' Here ford; Suckling, Birmingham; Smith and Sons, South ampton-street, Bloomsbury. square. Benjamin Couch Stenlake, watch maker, Tavistock, May 10, at one, and June 6, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter; Robins, Tavistock; Stogdon, Exeter; Baker, Ruck, and Jennings, Lime-street. Job Way, licensed victualler, Princes-road, Uxbridge road, May 12, at two, and June 2, at half past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street; Martineau, Ray mond-buildings, Gray's Inn. William . Crofts, coffee-house keeper, Strand , May 9,, at one, and June 14, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Futvoye and Co., John-street, Bedford-row. John Roberts, sen.,woollen manufacturer, Linfits,York shire, May 15 and June 5, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester ; Cragg and Jeyes, Bedford-row; Hunt, Rochdale. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, May 1.) SUGAR.—To-day there was not much desire evinced to operate in West India Sugar, and the purchases con cluded by private treaty amounted to only 250 hhds, &c.; still merchants are firm, and obtained full rates for both grocery and refining sorts. A public sale of 151 hhds 6 trcs Barbadoes, however, went off briskly at firm rates; fine yellow fetched 41s to 425, good 40s to 403 6d, low to mid 38s to 39s 6d per cwt. REFINED.—To-day there was little disposition evinced by home dealers to make purchases in refined goods, but in the value there is no change. For Bonded Crushed Sugar the market has a quiet aspect, and 29s Gd to 30s. Gd per cwt are the rates accepted. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon there were four public sales of Mauritius Sugar, consisting of 351 casks 6,101 bags. Prices ruled for low to middling yellow at from 36s Gd to 38s, good to fine 38s Gd to 41s, ordinary to fine grey 36s to 395; brown, ordinary to middling 33s 6d to 34s 6d, and good to fine 35s to 36s 6d per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there was not much de sire evinced to do business iu Bengal Sugar: at public sale 2,979 bags were only in part sold at rather lower rates: Benares, ordinary white went at 39s to 39s 6d, middling 40s to 408 6d, good to fine 41s to 425, and yellow Mauritius sort 40s to 41s per cwt. FOREIGN.-011 the part of merchants a desire is shown to sell, and a decline in the value of 6d per cwt has taken place, making the fall from the highest point Is Gd to 2s per cwt. The demand for refining under bond has not materially improved. MoLksses.—The lowest price for West India is 17s. For East India treacle the demand is getting larger, whilst the rates obtained are from 15s 6d to 16s per ewt. For honey prices are still on the advance. COFFEE.— COFFEE.— This afternoon Plantation casks, 777 bags, rather lower rateswere4ascscetpo 565, was only in moderate demand, and at a publi y c l t s o e a d le ; low quality sold at 59s to 62s 6d, middling taken in at 80s for a 37s Gd, triage 28s 6d; a part was per cwt. middling 43s to 46s 6d, good and fine ordinary 35s 6d to of f 00 6 t 7 1 favourite mark. Native 30s to 31s ood ord but as ood business ha black lest Sid to 10d, blackish gCongou, TEA.—Prices cannot b b n e en q n u n o n te c d ind h e i d g at 'rito Sid, mixedorrdfotro flavour is 4d to Is 10d. A fair superior and Pekoe r hon at 9d to is Gd, and leaf Ild to Is °bib ditto strong is Id to is 3d, demand existed for g d holders ask 6 d to B d , but there are no t many b etter s ort is 8 d to 2s 9d. Of Pouchong the suppl y is sma ll, an buyers. In or d and mid sorts of Green a large business has been concluded, but not at better prices; there are sellers of good and fine at former rates, yet few buyers are to be met with. The value of Gunpowder Canton made is from is 3d to is 7d, Hyson kind Is Sd to 3s 6d, superior 3s Sd to 4s, Impe rial Canton Is to is 3d, Hyson sort is 5d to 3s, Younc , Hyson 10d to Is 10d, good to fine 2s to 3s 3d, Hyson common Ild to is 2d, but mid to mid is 3d to is Bd, good to fine Is 9d to 2s Id, superior €2; 9d to 3s, Hyson skin 7d to is 2d, superior Is 3d to is 4d, Twankay ord to good ord rid to 7d, better sort 8d to Is, and caper 8d to is 6d. There is little va riation to notice in the value of scented or Pekoe Teas, but only a limited business has been concluded, and the supply is good. COCOA.—West India is still in small supply, and full rates are obtained. There has again been no public sale; for low to tine red Trinidad the value is from 40s to 465, sand grey 38s to 42s per cwt. Foreign 28s to 303. RICE,—In East India operations have been upon a r large scale by private treaty, but chiefly on speculation. and for inferior qualities stiffer rates are obtained, butfor superior kinds of white Bengal prices remain such the NT came as on this day week. At auc:iiin 4,000 bags and 1,000 packets were for the most fi,\* part sold ; tuithiblig and good vviulte weft! at 9s to 10s 61, low mid 8s 6d to 9., damaged 71563 to 94-4 . `!!'( 7 0. 1 .'-'7 good cargo 7, 6 , 1. very fine- 9s, Penang barley grin and bold yellow Arracsn is 6d to 8s per els'''. Cleaned his Iza en OrliV in ;united request; towr, dressed Carotins 20s to 255, 'Patna low to 114 e 13s to 19., and Afficrie" cleaned 18s to 20s per cwt; there is also an increased ,-. rt . supply. • 6PIRITS.—For Leeward Island Rum the market has a dull aspect,. and prices are on the decline. Only small purchases have been made at is 3.1 d to Is .4fel proof strength. East India is lid to is 3d. Vemerara Is 10d to 2s 2d for 28 to 33 per cent over proof, and 2s 3d to 2s 4d far 34 to 40 over-proof. For better kinds former rates are kept up, still there is not a brisker sale. Wo quote plain and inid quality 23 to 30 per cent over proof at 2. 7d to 2. 9`d, good mid 2s 10d to 3s, good 32 to 36 over 3. to 3. 4d,. and better sorts 3s 6d to 4s 2d per gallon. Of Brandy, deliveries for home trade purposes have bean exten.ive since this day week. On the part of holders there is firmness ; a good business has bee n concluded, and former rates are well kept up for all sorts. Sales to a fair extent have been made in Geneva ; the value of ordinary is is 9d to is 10d, and fine fit for duty 2.1 d to 3s 3:1 ; upon these terms there is, however, a desire 10 sell. British made Spirit is held for formar rates, Lilt there has been only a limited business concluded. TALLOW —There is firmness on the part of holders oiC Russian, and the rites insisted upon on the spot are 38s 9d to 39s per cwt fur fine P.Y. Candle, still the trade have been purchase rs to a moderate extent only. For delivery in the last three months of the year there has been a goad business concluded at 39s 6d to 40. and at which the market is firm. Home melted has been only in limited request at 39s to 39s 6d on :the spot nett cash, and the supply does not get smaller. Other sorts of Tallow realised full rates, although the amount on offer is still large. At public sale 620 casks, and 480 boxes of South American were for the moat part sold at 378 to 39s for good to fine, and at 348 to 39s 6d for low to mid; 430 casks New South Wales, low to fine 34s to 38. 3d per cwt. For auction 1,000 pkgs of Tallow are declared. Rough Fat 2s 2d per stone. OILS.—In Cod Oil only small purchases have been made at 261 per tun. Seal—pale 30/, straw and tinged 281 lOs to 20/ 10s, and other sorts 261 10s to 281. For Southern holders ask 30/ to 311 for fine, and 281 to 291 10. for low to mid. Sperm—at auction a part only of 90 tuns Colonial found buyers at 761 105 to 78/, inferior 651 to 72/ 15s per tun. Linseed Oil 26s 3d to 26s 6d per cwt on the spot. Only small sale* have been made for delivery at 26s 6d to 26s 9d, at these rates a desire is shown to sell. For Palm a good demand exists, and pricei are firm, as the supply does not get upon a larger scale, fine has been selling at 335 Cd to 345. Rapeseed Oil is wanted, but the supply continues small, and the yates paid are for brown 37s 6d, pale 38s to 38s 6d, and foreign 39s to 39s 6d. Cocoa Nut is little wanted, still holders are firm; Ceylon is held for 36s to 375, and Cochin 37s to 38s per cwt. Olive is offered at rather lower rates, and only small sales have been made, the stock is also getting upon a larger scale. Gallipoli can be purchased at 421 to 42/10s. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 1. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. The Bishop of EXETER presented a petition against one of the clauses of the Criminal Law Consolidation Bill. The Right Rev. Prelate then alluded to the case of the confirmation of the Bishop of Hereford, and the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench thereupon, inas much as that clause legislated on the case. Lord BROUGHAM said that as the judges bad been equally divided no decision at all had been come to on the subject. The Bishop of EXETER thought that the opinions of the judges ought to be taken before their Lordships legislated on that subject. Lord Redesdale presented a petition against the Rate in Aid Bill. The Bishop of CASHEL presented a petition from Waterford, in favour of a Health of Towns Bill. The Duke of ARGYLL presented a petition in favour of the Bill for the prevention of seduction. RAILWAYS. Lord BROUGHAM rose to address their Lordships on a subject which was second to none, involving as it did a vast entanglement ot the capital of this country, and one deserving the most attentive consideration of the Go vernment and of Parliament, because whatever might be its ultimate result, it in its present details involved most serious apprehensions. if there were any who in former ) ears were blind to the possible evils that might result, and who were callous to the appeals made to the feelings resapecting the damning mania which then pre vailed, and who, for want ot warning, made Parliament as it were an accomplice in their deeds, he was not one ; for he in common with the Noble Duke, and with a Noble Friend whose loss he lamented—he meant the late Lord Ashburton—had warned Parliament not to encourage this madness of gambling, and the country to stay in its progress to wards destruction. Those warnings had been riven in vain. They had suffered those Bills to become law, and those nuisances to be erected by conferring upon those companies the most extraordinary powers of dealing with property. He was speaking now not of private enterprizes, but of public bodies exercising extraordinary powers conferred upon them by Parliament. They had interfered with properties strictly settled, and had enabled these parties to erect their works and drive their engines through the private property of individuals. They had set private property at naught to promote the railway interests, on the ground that private interests must give way to public interests. They had done more, they had enabled these joint-stock companies to receive „subscriptions to an enormous amount. All political philosophers had agreed that in forming joint-stock companies to take capital in small shares, care should be taken nut to seduce more capital into those channels than the wholesome state of the country wouid require. But as everything was to be sacrificed to locomotion, as the old mode of travelling at the rate of 10 miles an hour with horses was to be destroyed, they established those companies, enabling persons whose object was not locomotion — who did not care one straw if one inch of the rail ways were never made—who were makers of plans and of attorneys' bills—to go on without the least regard to the making of railways. They had also made themselves accessories before the fact to the doings of another class of persons, the traffickers and gambler', to obtain shares to be disposed of in the market, to obtain from ignorant dupes the stocks which they paid into their own coffers, and on the ruin of private persons to erect princely fortunes. In one session no less than 519 Railway Bills were passed. Their Lordships had no idea of the careless ness with which they had passed those Bills. In one Bill they had enabled the Great Western Railway to put in evidence any extracts from its books, copied by a charity boy, and had even allowed an entry of payment in these books, if the pay meat of rates is to be taken as conclusive evidence of such payments having been made. What had been the consequence of these proceedings ? In the course of four or five years, capital in England and Scotland alone had been invested to the amount of 180,000,0001., and actually paid up. No great wonder if the mouey-market should feel this. No wonder if Chancellors of the Ex chequer should all be in alarm at hearing of 180,000,0001. being withdrawn from the capital of the country. We had also experienced a commercial and money crisis ; and the last time he had spoken to Lord Ashburton on the sub ject, he had said that it was worse than in 1524.182 b. The gambling money-maker was rivalled by the thrifty Scot. Gambling had crossed the Tweed, and the careful Scot rivalled the careless Englishman in his devotion to their gambling speculations. Ireland had contributed 5,000,0001. (although he believed the greater part of that came from England), and Demerara and the colonies had also contributed large sums in addition. But that was not all, there were calls yet to be met to the amount of 1 40 , 000 , 000 1 . of go od money, which remained to be sent atter the bad money. The poor people who had incurred these liabilities did not know when they might be called upon to pay them. When they found this state of things they might look forward to another panic. 160,000,0001. bad not been auffi cient to satiate the maw of this ravening pest, but 150,000,0001. more might be required. This mania of gambling overwhelmed the soil. He feared that those gambling propensities could not be indulged safely. Ile was sure that no more mischievous change could take place in the habits of any nation than for its inhabitants to become reckless gamblers instead of honest traders. It was not meiely common gambling in shares which took place, but contrivances were had reco urse: • fit the object being not to make railways, but to ma to profit by shares. The object was to obtain shares, not was a good them. The shareholder did not think Brag dog and for the present, but Holdfast a better—he was i of shares. He would old t t oo ast . but 10 per cent. guarantee not 3, or 4, or 5 p His object was to raise the had invested money in public securities thought he could for a certain number of years. Thus the poor man e•ho s ecure a large income, and What d of those share.% rose 10 or 12 per cent. What did Mr. Holdfast ? he was Holdfast no longer, he became Brag—he brought his shares into the market, and sold them to some poor surgeon for a premium, who thought he was made for life. The next year this poor surgeon found he was called on to pay 25 per cent. on those shares. pehrroe cent., pi e d Brag j He was a ruined man, for he had paid all his savings to purchase those shares, and down came the price of those shares in the market. Mr. Holdfast bad made his fortune, but the poor surgeon was ruined. But then how was this ten per cent. guaranteed to be paid ? It was paid out of capital. That was the secret. Mat said the projectors? Nothing ; their only object was t get shares up to a premium and to sell shares, that was . all they cared for. Then there were persons who did all they could to bring down the price of shares, and when they had brought them down to below their real value they purchased, then they did all they could to raise them and sold them. He knew another instanc.tfe where a large capitalist in the City ma na g ed, by !fe.lle known contrivances, to lower the mar ket price47cn _ shares of a certain railway company , and thenteace g mints purchased a large quantity of shares on his ow_ ce h n is shares, two by the attraction ot a 10 per cent. guarantteedwdhivaitdeinot raised the price of the shares 20 p er , lowed? Mr. Holdfast got rid of all would refer to a friend of his, . thousand he believed, and thus I,cilreaildtt4ol3o:ooofoß/. properly considered died worth 50 share . . Ills. friend who succeeded as legatee or executor to a person who that those shares should be inquired into, and tbereup on requested of the railway directors to allow him to set their books. They for some time hesitated, stating that they bad a clea r balance of thirt y -two thousand pounds in the hands of their banker. lie (Ur. Hutton)