The Sun. — London, England, 1855-04-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. SOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack M five o'clock. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented petitions in favour of a better observance of the Sabbath. Lord SONDES presented a petition from Faversham, in Kent, in,favour of a measure making marriage with a deceased wife's sister legal. On the motion of Lord REDRBDALE, the Hoarwithy Bridge Bill was read a third time and passed. TIE VIENNA CONFERENCE. The Earl of 1 51ALMESBURY rose to put some ques tions to the Foreign S ecre t ary . H e sa id—l gave notice to my noble friend y es t er d ay o f m y intention to put some questions to hi m t o -d ay re l a ti ve to the stateie friend of the negotiations at Vie nna . l am sure that my nob and every member of your lordships' house will give me and noble lords around me credit for having abstained from taking an y course w hich would be embarrassing to her Majesty's Gove r nment, and from putting any ques tions on this subject, for we all felt th e immense import ancetn B of the negotiations which were proceeding, and we all indulged in the hope that they might migh the tleajte i a o hon ourable and a lasting peace. yesterday p r es• sion on the public mind was that all hope of such a ter mination had ceased, that the negotiations were broken off, and that the inevitable consequence was that we had entered on a war campaign for the seoond time. My wish was to ask such questions as I thought would elicit a correct re presen tation of the state of the negotiations at Vienna, and I find that in another place I have been an ticipated by a member of Parliament, and that the Prime Minister has announced to the House of Com mons what the state of the negotiations is at present. If I ma y allude to what has passed in another place, I un derstand that there is now no longer a hope of inducing Russia to accept the propositions made by the Westera Powers, and which propositions were, as I understood, assented to by Austria. It appears that the Western Powers proposed to negotiate on the four points laid down on the Bth Aug. as the basis of negotiations, and your lordships will recollect that the four points were rounded on the following principles. The first, with respect to the protectorate of the provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia, insisted that the protection of these provinces should be under the five powers instead of Russia alone. The second point insisted on the freedom of the Danube. The third, as explained by the noble lord and M. Drouyn de l'Huys, insisted that the preponderance of Rus sia in the Black Sea should be made to cease. The fourth point had regard to the protection of the Chris tian religion and the Christians in the Ottoman empire, and provided that the five Powers should protect them from all interference. I conclude that at Vienna the conference began on the first point, and I ask my noble friend whether Russia has agreed to this first point, and has entered into the same views on it as England and France ? I wish to ask, secondly, whether on the second point my noble friend has met any difficulty on the part of Russia ? I understand, from what was said by the Minister in another place, that it was on the third point that the negot!ation broke off. It appears that the proposition consisted of two alternatives. The plenipotentiaries of England, France, Austria, and Turkey proposed as a mode of making to cease the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sea—a principle which had been admitted and accepted by Russia—either that the amount of the Russian naval force in the Black Sea should henceforth be limited by treaty,. or that the Black Sea should be declared neutral ground entirely, and that all ships of war of all coun tries should be excluded from it, so that it should be henceforth a commercial sea only. It appears, there fore, that there were two alternatives offered to the Russian Government, and that the Russian Government had refused both e and have made no counter proposition. The proposition made by England and France had been refused, and we are now engaged in a long war. Though I deeply regret that some means has not been found to secure an honourable and a lasting peace, when I con sider the propositions that have now been explained, I cannot say that I regret the negotiations have been broken off. With respect to the second alternative, that of making the Black Sea a commercial and a neutral one, that is, perhaps, rather a Ut o pi an v i ew, b ut I cannot con ceive that the first alternative originated with France or England, and I must regard it as an Austrian proposi tion. If the proposition to limit the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was made simply as stated in the noble vis count's speech, I cannot conceive what guarantee there would be for its maintenance. If each of the four Powers should have a certain number of ships in the Black Sea as well as Russia, the treaty might be made effective, but I do not see any material guarantee for the observance of this stipulation. Even supposing we had consuls in the Black Sea, would not Russia in -a few years gradually but surely exceed the number agreed to, and if your consuls reported that such was the case, do you believe that, after a few years, this country would make such a breach of agreement a cause of war ? There was no security whatever for the observance of the stipu lation. As far therefore as these propositions could be met he saw no reason to regret that Russia had not ac ceded to them, for eventually her power would not have been diminished. There was another ques tion. On the Bth of August, when the four points were laid down, it was agreed that Prussia was to be one of the protecting powers. Considering what the conduct of Prussia had been, he asked whether it was now contemplated that she should be one of those protecting powers It appeared to him that, wit's the animus which Prussia had shown, should theme D snu bian provinces find fault with any oppression, her vote would not be found on the side of the Western Powers. I think I have a right, also, to ask my noble friend whether he will not be prepared as soon as possible to lay before the house longer and more detailed explana tions than he is likely to give to the questions I have now put ? We have had no official correspondence, no documentary evidence, and no positive information rela tive to the negotiations which have been going on. The country has now a right to explanations, now that these negotiations have ceased, and now that we are going to enter on another campaign —the country has a F ight to -be informed for what we are going to fight, for what we are about to make war, and what the Government re gard as a sine qua non to a treaty of peace. (Hear.) The Earl of CL.A.RENDON—I freely admit my obli gations to the house, and I beg to offer my be-t ac knowledgments not only to my noble friend but to your lordships for the forbearance which has been shown, and for the desire which has been evinced not to interfere with the negotiations which have been going on for some time past. I am ready also to admit that my noble friend is by no means premature in asking for the infor mation he has required this night on the subject, and indeed if he had not given nee the opportunity I should have felt it my duty to state to the house the condition in which these negotiations at present stand. It is en tirely true that the conference at Vienna has been ad journed sine die in consequence of the rejection by the Russian plenipotentiary of the proposition either to re strict the fleet of Russia within certain limits in the Black Sea, or to reduce the Black Sea to the con dition of a neutral sea, only open for commercial pur poses. My noble friend has stated to your lordships the character of the four bases of negotiations. These bases were ail frankly—it was said--accepted by the Russian Government, and the third contained the proposition that the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sea should cease. My noble friend is also true in his assumption that the bases were discussed in the order in which they stood numerically, and to the first and second Russia virtually acceded. When the third basis came under discussion the representatives of the Allied Powers, to prove that they desired to consult her dignity and feelings, proposed to the Russian representative to take himself the initiative. The Russian plenipotentiary acknowledged this courtesy, an d as k e d f or t i me to con sider what course he should adopt. Thet time was given him, but in the meanwhile w e tried . to ' go on with the discussion. The answer at last arrived, and it was that the Russian Gover n ment Allied dno proposition to make. The representatives oftle Powers on the following day brought forward their 4 hours' proposition,roposition, and th e R uss i an plenipotentiary as k ed for time, and on Satur day last he anno unced the absoluteo n proposal, This only took p la ceS aturday last, and the that is all the inform a ti on I have at present received mo menta to communicate, ex cep t that we have telegraphhic message stati ng t h at Lord John Russell had left Vienna. (Hear.) With respect to the position which Prussia will occupy, I can only say that the posi tion which she has occupied since the opening of these negotiations, and has continued, has exempted her from the conference and from all those arrangements. With respect to the other point, as to the consequences which might be expected from her in relation to the Danubian provinces, I do not think that at this moment it would be convenient to enter on the discussion of that subject, nor until your lordships are fully in possession of all the information we possess, and which, I assure you, her Majesty's Government will lay before you at the earliest period consistent with a due regard for the public see vice. (Hear.) The Earl of HARD WICKE—I wish to know some thing of the position of Austria at this moment. (Hear.) other house of Parliament ready to play any game, to avail_ itself of the support of one side . or the other. It is a whi c h Position of great eminence, dignity, and power provinee,, Austria has placed herself in—in possession of two and to ,e4h.d. enabled to hold language of dictation, against itu c aZ ve the support of England and Fiance land and . I , rzt a n , e o e r the support of Russia against Eng manding position, th ( e ll ear, hear.) Holdi ng that coin anxiety to ascertain country is looking with the deepest Government can give w o: h a t information her Majesty's The Earl of CLma:ge intentions of Austria. aware of the terms of the tl)°N.----Your lordships are mb r :at'Y with the Austrian Go vernment of the 2d Dece think that Austria will de p r ,., l r - a " I have no reason to iira:y the n Friday treaty. (Hear, hear.) sarr.*l lan• 1 can tonfirora the terms of that last Austria appears to have helainret,ii„ly ,_eas:e not heing guage as the representatives of ' Turkey ; and it was only in the event a o n f d ,' ' Pran ce , and made on the bases agreed upon that Austria was to h called on to consult on the manner for carryi n out the principles laid down by the Allied Powers. ihat con. tinaenry has not yet arrived, and it is not for me t, say what course Austria will take when the tim e s h all arrive for her decision. ' The subject here dropped. THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the committal of this bill pro forma, to admit of some alterations which had been suggested, and in doing so stated some of the more prominent provisions of the bill, in accordance with the arrangement, when it was read a second ti me without discussion. The noble and learned lord said that this me asure was th e resu lt o f a royal commission, issued in 18 50, to inquire into th e discipline, &c., of the University of Cambridge, a simil a r commission having been for the sister university. Five persons of treat eminence were appointed commissioners, and their the Legislature had not n report was made in 1852. It th w is as ie a s g ta re n a e t e s t a e ti d sf e a a c l t w io i n th th a a n t i a body which asked to hav e unwilling body, but with conferred on them. That th e the privilege of leg from inai n s s i n n t s a t n i t x u i t o e u d s to was fulfil fi plain h e ne 'it nisl w am a j u e n e i t y s e r f s e i r t y which b report of the commissioners. Formerly the great uni versity confined to mathematics. H e did ncomplain that Cambridge should have mad e mathe maticsetstudies were the keystone of its education ; but, feeling that this was too confined a view, the university somewhat more than 30 years ago, diverging from its old habit, introduced into the cylcle of its studies classical studies; and not confusing its honours with mathematical tripos, instituted examinations and honours for those proficient in classical merit. This was in 1824; and as society, and knowledge, and the appetite for information pro gressed, other studies were introduced, and in the last 5 or .6 years other high honours were conferred, and a moral science tripos and a physical science tripos were introduced. In legislating upon this question it was the bounden duty of their lordships to recollect the sort of body for whom they proposed to legislate, and to bear in mind that it consisted of persons who fur the dis charge of their duties could be safely trusted. It was obviously impossible for the Government by any course of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the commissioners with respect to matters'of discipline, or internal regulations—those must be left in the hands of the governing body to be constituted by an act of the Legislature. All that the Government proposed to do, or could safely attempt to accomplish, was to put the governing body of the university in such a position as that they could do fur themselves all that their conduct showed they had been anxious to do, and if obstructions in the statutes had not prevented their doing. There appeared at first sight no part'cular reason why an act of a precisely similar character to that passed last year for Oxford should not be applied to the University of Cambridge. But while the mode of reformation intro duced at Oxford should, he thought, be the same, still there were many circumstances which rendered some modification in the details necessary. The bill proposed, as in the case of the Oxford act, to appoint certain com missioners, and to give them power to carry out those reforms which by statute they were now prohibited from effecting. The board of commissioners he proposed should consist of the Earl of Burlington, Lord Mont eagle, the Bishop of Chester, Baron Alderson, Professor Sedgwick, and Mr. John Lefevre. There would be one other, but he had not yet received the consent of that nobleman to act upon the commission, and he had also thought since the bill had been printed that it would be desirable to add two others, in order to avoid difficulties which he understood had already arisen at Oxford in con sequence of the limited number of the members of the board. At Cambridge the senate was at present most inconveniently constituted for any practical result. In Cambridge the governing body was called the " caput sanctum," but as now formed it was an eminently ob structive body. The Vice-Chancellor now named three doctors, one of each faculty—law, physic, and divinity, and also one master of arts of more than five years, and one of under five years' standing. Each proctor also named the same number, and the heads of houses made a similar selection. To leave the council as now con stituted would be most discreditable, and the question arose how was the new council to be formed ? Ile did not propose that the new council should be formed in the same mode as that of the council at Oxford. The convocation at Oxford answered to the senate at Cam br'clge, and consisted of all masters of arts or doctors who retained their names on the books of the colleges. But at Oxford there existed a select body of convocation known as the "congregation," which body was to some extent remodelled by the act of last year, and the council as appointed by that body consisted of six heads of houses, six professors, six masters of art of five years' standing, and six of under that standing. With respect to Cambridge, there were many reasons which induced him to think that this would not be the best mode of constituting the council for that university. There was at Cambridge no such body as a congregation distinguished from the senate, and it would be necessary to create, in fact, a constituency, in order to elect a body similar to the congregation atOxford. Again,the preponderance of the two colleges of St... John's and Trinity, at Cambridge,would seriouslyaffect the work inee, of a system similar to that of Oxford. Before the commission was issued by the Government, in 1850, the university constituted a syndicate, or committee, for the purpose of inquiring into the best mode of improving the constitution of the caput and the me ms of its election. The whole subject was most maturely considered by that body, and they finally recommended that the caput should consist of three heads of houses, three doctors, three professor e three masters of arts above five and three under five years' standing, to be named by the colleges in turn, according to the cycle of proctors fixed by the Act of Elizabeth. This recommendation the bill proposed to agreat extent to adopt. One alteration which he proposed to make was to set aside the appointment of doctors as such, as he thought it an absurd thing to give votes to the doctors as a class ; doctors would, of course, be eligible as members, but they could not be elected as doctors. He also proposed that instead of three there should be four heads of houses, four professors, four senior and four junior masters of arts, with the Vice-Chancellor as their head. Since the had been printed he had received numerous suggesstions and proposed alterations with respect to the working of the measure, some of which he proposed to adopt, and asked the house to allow the bill to go into committee in order that their lordships might discuss and consider these various de tails. Among the alterations which he proposed to make was one in section 5 of the bill, which would have the effoet of removing fs viz' the Vice-Chancellor the power of veto on the decision of the, council of the senate pro posed to be established by the bill. The noble and learned lord also explained in detail the constitution of the cycle of proctors., the functions of the syndicate, and the mode of election. One of the main propositions of the bill was to abolish, as in the case of the Oxford act, the necessity for taking that large number of oaths which were no .v required to be taken. The bill also proposed, in a similar manner to that of Oxford, to establish private hall , . Many persons, he believed, were of opinion that, owing to the constitution of the colleges at Cambridge. these private halls were not necessary ; there were, how ever, various reasons which induced him to think that their establishment would he attended with beneficial results. (Hear.) The next class of enactments relating to the constitution of the council formed the substance of the bill. They were similar to those in the Oxford bill in which power was gives to the colleges, and in cases of trustees, to the university, to alter and modify the trusts, so as to interfere with the intention of the testa tor or donors. Then came clauses, a'so taken from the Oxford bill, which rendered it unnecessary on admission to the university to take any oath or make any declara tion whatever.. He believed that the mode of cons itut ing the council was the best that could have been adopted for the university, and with these observations he asked the house to resolve itself into committee on the bill. Lord LYNDHURST very much regretted that it had been expedient, and he might add necessary, to intro duce the bill now on their lordships' table. For seve ral years past the University of Cambridge had been ac tively and industriously employed in endeavouring to amend its statutes and to render them as extensively useful as possible. (Hear.) The university had been checked from carrying their intentions into effect by a want of sufficient authority for that purpose ; and it would have been much better if it had been practicable to introduce a bill merely to give effect to their amend ' meets than to introduce a bill like the present ; but he admitted that after the passing of the Oxford bill it would have been difficult, and perhaps improper, to have pursued such a course, because it might have created some unpleasant feeling between the two universi iee which had hitherto been united in frien iship. He regretted to find that the universities did not possess so much hold on the public opinion as they had heretofore done. When he first entered public life the majority of the members of Parliament had been educate I at the universities, but he understood from good authority that no more than one-sixth or almost one-fifth of the present mem bers had been so educated. It has been repeatedly said that the system of instruction pursued at the universities was becoming obsolete, and that a great and radical alte ration ought to be made in that system, and in the mode of mode of carrying it on. Now he did notbelieve there was the slightest foundation for such an opinion. (Hear.) He should very much regret the necessity of introducing any essential alterations. Young men entered the uni versity at the age of 17 or 18, and remained about three years and a-half, and the question was, how th a t import ant period of a young man's life could be best and most profitably employed. The object was to form the character I raise i t pitch hisw which intellectual u powersal and of moralthe foafcuthlteiesYntuong man —to p individual were capable of attaining, and for this pur pose his studi es were directed to the cultivation of the taste, to the formation of the judgment, to the invigorating of the reasoning powers, and above all ' to instil into the mind of the student the principles of religion and mora lit y. It was not to be sup posed that classical ed uca ti onconsisted merely of instruct ing" young men to translate a few passages in classical authors. Far different was the course of study pursued at Cambridge. The student was instructed to read the most eminent.authors, poets, philosophers, orators, and historians amo ng th e anc i ents, and to compare them, under the direction of his tutors, with modern writers of the best character writing on the same subject. As con nected with ancient history, the student was instructed in the laws and institutions of the ancients, and not only composition in ancient language but in his own tongue. He submitted to their lordships that no system of study was better calculated to form the character of a gentle man in its most comprehensive sense. (Hear.) The attec tion of the student was directed also to mathematical science. Let it not be supposed for a moment that his instruction in this respect was confined to a few problems of "Euclid." On the contrary, that branch of science was cultivated to an immense extent in adorning each other. He should regret extremely any interference with the branches of learning to which he had alluded. No university had ever produced more dis tinguished men than the University of Cambridge. It Produced that father of inductive reasoning, Newton ; it produced Milton, the sublimest of poets ; Spencser, Dry den, Cowley, Byron ; it produced, amongst other great lights of English jurisprudence, Coke, and a lo ng train of jurists, including Thurlow ; it produced, amongst other statemen, Walpole, William Pitt, the great orator and statesmen, and the noble lord opposite (the Marquis of Lansdowne), who, as leader of their lordships' house, had shown so much tact and eloquence, and such an abundance of good sense. (Hear, hear.) It had also produced most eminent men for the right reverend bench, such as Barrow and Jeremy Taylor. But he must leave their lordships to fill up the long catalogue of worthies who had issued from that university. Such was the system of instruction which had prevailed at Cambridge in olden times, and such was the fruit which it had produced. (Hear, hear.) He trusted their lord ships would be careful not to impair the efficacy of such a system by the introduction of new devices likely to in terfere with it. He would now call the attention of their lordships to the mode in which the system of instruction was carried on. He did not find in the bill any specific clause making any alteration in this respect, but ho found certain provisions which, connecte 1 with other things he had heard, led him to suppose that very extensive alte rations were in prospect. The mode of instruction was very diversified. It consisted of instruction by tutors of colleges, private tutors, mentors, professors, and others. He believed that private tuition was almost the exception and not the rule, and tfiat persons who had the assistance of private tutors did not come out the most dis tinguished. Persons seeking medical honours were obliged to have private tutors, but he considered the system of private tuition a great evil, for it led to the system of cramming, weakened the faculties of the student, and was unjust towards those who were not in a pecuniary situation to obtain such, and he believed the most dis tinguished members of the university were anxious to limit, if not put an end to the system. He believed also there were some defects in the system of education by college tutors, which it was desirable to remedy. With respect to the residence of students in the town, he be lieved the clauses were taken from the Oxford Bill. Ad verting to the subject of private halls, the noble and learned lord said he was satisfied they would not have the effect of reducing the expenses incidental to a university education, while, as for their encouraging the entrance of Dissenters, it was hardly likely that a Dissenter would be willing to send his son to one of these establishments, where he would be under the direct control of aTmem ber of the Established Church. With respect to the re commendations of the Royal Commissioners, they were principally founded upon the report of a syndicate which the University itself had appointed to inquire into its constitution ; and therefore it was more than possible that many of the reforms which they suggested would have been carried out even in the absence of any legisla tive enactment on the subject. Some objection had been taken to this measure, because it did not include the system of open voting in the Senate, now applied to Ox ford ; but the fact was, if that system was introduced at Cambridge, all the power of regulating the University would be thrown into the hands of the members of Tri nity and St. John's colleges, who decidedly formed the majority of the University. The noble and learned lord (who had become so hoarse towards the ter mination of his address as to be scarcely audible in the gallery), concluded by apologising to their lordships for having detained them so long, but the bill was one of considerable importance as well to the public as the university, and since he took a deep interest in the continued success of the university, it was his wish as it was his duty to do all that in him lay to make the measure as perfect as possible. (Cheers.) Thu Earl of POWIS said he had listened with much delight to the eloquent and instructive speech of the noble lord, which he thought ought to convince every one that the past and present condition of the University of Cambridge was highly satisfactory. Those who bad declared that the university had failed to produce men of learning and distinction in former centuries, would find a sufficient answer to their charge in the names which the noble and learned lord had recalled to me mory ; while as for the notion that the existing sys tem of the university was inadequate for the wants of the age, he thought that assertion was refuted by the brilliant reputation of the noble and learned lord himself, who, whether in Westminster-hall or in the chambers of Parliament, had always displayed the highest order of intellect. (Cheers.) With regard to the measure before their lordships, the noble and learned lord who hal charge of it had wisely taken warning from the fate of the Oxford Bill, and had avoided all those useless changes which gave rise to so much controversy last year. He felt, therefore, that there was some chance of this bill passing without undergoing any very material emendation, though at the same time that he made that admission he must be allowed to observe that when he contrasted what the university bad gained from private bounty with the little the State had done for it, he could not help thinking that the State was somewhat arrogant in the pretensions it put forth to deal with the founda tions, the scholarships, and the fellowships of the uni versity. It appeared to him also that much of this legislation was dictated by a bigoted and narrow-minded spirit ; but much would depend upon the discretion of those to whom these legislative powers were to be entrusted, and he, therefore, regretted to find that with one single exception all the commissioners to be named in the bill belonged to one political party. The noble earl then proceeded to discuss the details of the bill, and in doing so, he said he concurred with most of what had fallen from the noble and learned lord who had pre c3ded him ; but lie could not agree with him in thinking that any. fetters ought to be put upon the free choice of the student by selecting his own private tutor. It would very often happen that one part of the lectures delivered in a college would not supply all that a student need de sire in order to enable him to take honours. Private tui tion was therefore a good test of the efficiency or non efficiency of the system pursued in the colleges. He hoped, however, that there would be no diminution of liberty on the part of a student to have recourse to pri vate tuition if he desired to avail himself of that conve nience. was found necessary to erect !ew works ; he sent for Sir C. Fox, who gave a satisfactory assurance, and the works were commenced. The factory had been in ope ration now for some time, and it was found satisfactory. The building was working well, and seemed to be on the whole satisfactory. REMOVAL OF WOUNDED. Mr. BRADY asked the Secretary for War if (in the event of another battle taking place before Sebastopol) any means bad been recommended by the Medical Di rector-General for the removal of the wounded from the battle-field other than those usually employed (namely, bannermen and drummers); and, if so, why were not those means resorted to after the battles of Alma and Ink erman? Mr. PEEL said he knew of no plan recommended by Dr. A. Smith, except what he stated before the Sebasto pol Committee ; but the removal of wounded was espe cially provided for. ARMY PROMOTIONS. Major REED asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether her Majesty's Government were satisfied as to the correctness of a statement made in that house, to the effect that there had existed, and at present did exist, a system of paying large sums above the regulation price for promotions in the army (which by Act 49 Geo. 3 was made a misdemeanour), and, if so, whether her Ma jesty's Government had taken, or intended to take, any and what steps, at once to put a stop to the same ? Lord PALMERSTON said though such practices did occasionally occur they were entirely contrary to the existing regulations. SAVINGS BANKS. In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, Mr. WILSON said certain savings banks returns ordered on 23d Dec. last were not yet ready, but would be very soon presented to the house. INDIAN FINANCE. I❑ reply to Mr. DISRAILI, Mr. V. SMITH said no official intelligence had been received as to the financial loan opened by the Indian Government, but no doubt some intelligence would be sent home, and as soon as it was received it should be submitted to the house. ➢lr. DISRAELI said as the answer of the hon. gen tleman was not satisfactory, he should take an early op portunity of bringing the subject before the house. LORD JOHN RUSSELL. In reply to Mr. BRIGHT, Lord PALMERSTON said he had had a telegraphic despatch informing him that Lord J. Russell left Vienna yesterday, and that Mr. Hammond would be here on Thursday. ACT OF UNIFORMITY. Mr. HEYWOOD rose to move that the house should resolve itself into a committee, to consider such clauses of the Act of Uniformity of 1662 as impose religious tests, limiting the advantages of academical, or grammar, or free school education ; and so much of any regulations of National Institutions, eiaer in England or Ireland, as impose religious tests as conditions or qualifications for any advantages connected with education in the Eng lish or Irish Universities or Public Schools. In doing so the right hon. gentleman briefly dwelt upon the na ture of the oaths in question, and observed that they might be all very-well in the reign of Henry VIII., but it could not be said that they ought to remain in the present day, when all educational institutions ought to be set as free as possible. (Hear, hear.) Sir E. PERRY seconded the motion, which was then put from the .chair. Lord PALMERSTON said he had waited for a moment before offering any observations in the hope that some hon. gentleman more intimately acquainted with the subject would address the house. He would briefly state the cou rse he intend e d t o pursue. With regard to the first point contai ne d i n t h e motion, he had no difficulty in agreeing with th e honour able gentleman who had proposed it ; he thought these obsolete regulations might be advantageously set aside ; but with regard to the second point he could not go along with his hon. friend, inas much as it went to disturb the working of the act of last year before its operation had been properly tested. (Hear.) He should have no objection to the house going into committee on his hon. friend's bill, when its provi sions might then be discussed, and be would cordially go with that portion which swept away all those obsolete regulations to which he had alluded ; but he should re serve anything else he might have to say until that time. He hoped, therefore, in agreeing to the intro duction of the bill, it would be understood that Go vernment would adopt whatever course might seem to them expedient. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE suggested to his hon. friend the expediency of amending his motion, as it affected one of the fundamental statutes of the land—the Act of Uni formity. • (Hear, hear.) He could not understand the bill being introduced and read a second time, whereby its principle would be affirmed, in order that it might be cut down to proper shape in committee ; and he put it to his honourable friend whether this was a proper course to pursue. For his own part, as he was a party to the settlement of last year, he must protest against any interference with its provisions. (Hear, hear.) He begged of hon. gentle men not to commit themselves to any expression of opinion on so vital a matter, which affected, as it did, the fundamental settlement of some of the great institu tions of the country. These questions ought not to be renewed from, year to year ; if they were, the house must make up its mind to have little else to do than discuss them. The proper way to arrive at the desired end was to do so step by step. Commissions bad sat relative to the universities, and, with regard to Oxford, important recommendations had been made, altering the condition of those who were not intended for the Church of England. That university had manifested a desire to forward the object aimed at by the House in those commissions, and had behaved with perfect good faith. Seeing this disposition had been manifested, and seeing that it must take a long time to perfect any new arrangements, he thought the house ought not at present to interfere. He for his part would give to any interference with the settlement of last year a most decided opposition. (Hear, hear.) He trusted, therefore, his hon. friend would amen/ his mo tion so as to meet this view of the matter. (Hear.) Lord GEORGE MANNERS thought the house would do very unwisely in opening up this vast question at the present time. He quite agreed with the noble lord (Lord Palmerston) that all these obselete forms ought to be abolished ; but he recommended his hon. friend to modify his motion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HEY WOOD expressed his willingness to meet the opinions of hon. gentlemen by altering his motion ; but he complained that, in the case of the Dublin Uni versity, the sacramental test was still enforced, whilst it had been discontinued everywhere else. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Heywood then read his motion as modified, ending with the words "religious tests," and said it would be for the committee to determine what should be done afterwards. Mr. DISRAELI thought it was extremely unwise that the house should go into committee on a statute in an act of no less solemnity than the Act of Uniformity with no clear notion of what the hon. gentleman intended to do, and when the noble lord at the head of the Govern ment had expressed his sentiments in a manner which indicated that he was totally unacquainted with what was the intended object of the motion: (Hear, hear.) Mr. HEYWOOD explained that the only object he had in view was to allow boys to attend grammar schools and colleges, without having any religious obli gations imposed upon thorn which were not contem plated by their parents. (Hear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. HARCOURT VERNON and Mr. HENLEY, Sergeant SHEE said his hou. friend the member for Lancashire had done himself an injustice in the manner in which he had altered his motion, inasmuch as he had not in the slightest degree indicated what religious tests he intended to abolish. If his hon. friend would termi nate his motion at the word " education," the object of the motion would then be manifest. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HEYWOOD said he would adopt the suggestion of the learned sergeant. (Laughter.) After some further conversation, the motion, as again altered, was negatived without a division, owing to the bon. mover having mistaken the forms of the house as to the mode of putting the question. Lord REDESDALE must congratulate the Univer sity of Cambridge on the discussions that took place last year on the 'bill for the reform of the University of Ox ford. He confessed, however, that he did not see that the same measure had been meted out to the two universities. A much larger measure of alt era ti on had been op era t e d on Oxord than Cambridge re ceived by the bill before their lordships. Similar provisions, for instance, had not been made to meet the case of a fretful rejection of a new mea sure by certain bodies in the university, and there was a difference in the constituency through which part of the council was to be elected. He (Lord Redesdale) had ventured to propose with reference to Oxford that, where cengregation rejected a measure sent down to them by the Hebdomadal Board, that board should have the right of taking the sense of th e un i vers i ty at large on the question. That proposal was rejected, and yet he found that in the Cambridge bill the noble and learned lord had proposed something of the same kind. How ever, ho bad no real objection to the bill ; but it was im possible not to come to the satisfactory and gratifying conclusion that it contained modifications and improve ments which they had not been fortunate enongh in pro curing for Oxford. Viscount CANNING said that, with reference to the difference of the constituency through which part of the council was to be elected, he must ask the noble lord to bear in mind that such a constituency as had been cre ated in the case of the University of Oxford would be fable to be overridden by the comparatively overgrown establishments of Trinity and St. John's. He thought that the present bill was much less stringent and grasp ing than the measure which passed their lordships' house last year. L;rd LITNDIIURSTsaid he had a number of amend merits to propose,. but he should like fir,t to have an opportunity of seeing the amendments which he under stood the noble and learned lord had to propose. The bill then passed through committee. CONVENTION WITH SARDINIA. BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. Their lordships then adjourned at twenty minutes past eight. HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. THIRD READINGS. CHARITY COMMISSION. Mr. A. PELLATT then rose to move for a series of Treasury orders relating to the appointment of standing counsel under this commission, and a variety of docu ments relative to informations, petitions, memorials, briefs, and statements connected with the commission. In doing so he disclaimed any personal feeling towards the Attorney• General, and, after a few remarks expla natory of the object of his motion, he observed that the question was one with which he, as a non-legal gentle man, was not very intimately acquainted, and he must, therefore, leave it to be dealt with by hon. gentlemen more competent to understand it than he. But, at the same time, the expense to the counrry which it involved seemed to him to demand some investigation. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he did not like to oppose motions for returns, but really the returns asked for by the present motion were so unprecedented, and would be so voluminous, that he should not feel that he was doing his duty to the house unless he afforded them some information, so as to enable them to see what was asked for. Ile was sure that the hon, member who had brought forward this motion had done so with the utmost innocence and simplicity, and without having the slightest idea of what he (the Attorney-General) believed was the case—that he was made neither more nor less than the puppet of a discontented solicitor, who had ap plied to other members of the house to bring forward the same motion, but had failed in the attempt. The motion included twenty-two returns, thegreater part of which were already on the shelves of the house, while others could only be produced at a cost wholly disproportioned to the value of the information which they would afford. With regard to the first returns nioyed for, it was sufficient to say there were no such orders as those referred to. Tho counsel in question, who acted as the juniors of the At torney General in charity matters, were appointed by him. The same reply might be made in the case of the solicitors, who were also appointed by the Attorney- General, as it was right and fit they should be, seeing that he was responsible for the manner in which they conducted the business in which they were then engaged. NVii,ll regard to the next returns, he must inform the house that they were the first of a series of covert attacks on Mr. Fearon, than whom a more valuable officer never conducted the business of a public department in this or any other country. No doubt, a number of ex-officio informations had Teen filed by the Attorney-General without the previous recommendation of the Charity Commissioners. But that was sufficiently accounted for by the net that there were no Charity Com missioners in existence from 1839, while there were numerous cases in which it was necessary to file informations, and in which they were accord ingly filed at the instigation of parties interested in the charitiefi, In the motion for other returum which fol- - The Jedburgh Railway Bill and the Llynvi Valley and Bridgend Railways Bill were read a third time and passed. The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway (No. 2) Bill was read a second time. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Mr. Kirk, from Dan bridge, against the Poor Removal Bill ; by Mr. Had field, from Sheffield, signed by the Mayor and Corpo ration and 12,000 inhabitants, in favour of the bill for legalising marriage with a d ecease d w if e ' s s i ster ; also a petition w ith the same prayer from married women of Sheffield ; by Mr. Muutz, from West Bromwich, against the N u i sances Removal Bill • by Sir Joshua Walmsley, from Leicester, praying for the abolition of church rates ; also a petition from the same place against the Maynooth grant ; by Mr. Bright, several petitions from Lancashire and Gloucestershire, against church rates, and in favour of closing public-houses on Sundays ; by Mr. Ker Seymer from Shaftesbury, against the proposed alteration in the law of marriage ; by Mr. Bowyer from Exeter (signed by the mayor and corpora tion and other inhabithnts), in fav our o f marriage with a deceased wif e ' s s i ster ; by Mr. Scholeield (signed by 45,000 inhabitants of Plymouth), in favour of legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister. • PACKET SERVICE BETWEEN HOLYHEAD AND ENGLAND. Mr. CAIRNS asked the First Lord of the Admiralty f whether any tender for the packet service between Holy head and Kingstown had been made by the London and North-Western Railway Company, and whether such tender had been accepted ; and whether the Government would lay the particulars of the tender on the table of the house before thee Englandsecon second reading I g o rea f l i n7 r ß nv il e l, d w C h o i r c n h . munication stands for the 27th instant? the University of Cambridge, and every one must admit that the faculty of attention was cultivated by that course of study. It was not to pure mathematics, whether geometrical or analytical, that his study was confined. It extended to all the branches of physical science and which mathematical knowledge was con nected. That science, added to the cultivation of classical literature, had a most powerf u l e ff ec t i n f orm i ng th e character of an individual. (flear.) Perhaps the most important matter of all was to inculcate deeply the prin bielileensteOrft learnedman t o prc,Fe s f s n i t o o n , religion. (Hear.) Whatever opinion might ver,it ,lined.Ly persons unacquainted with the uni -37, he believed that better system of instruction could befored for t a h t e no purrose of enabling a young Ile had thought his career in life, whether in the . it in , political science, or literature. of can,briindissnty,ac:weeenhemtciceilusets,rtiahtleilriemes:Wsudtaesnnitnolayt tdbbheeeesac beautiful U itsbiufe l up , Id i : . duty to say thus much in vindication of th e versity a p s os m ed ed itcliinaet for rher gl:: c:re neglected, such between the diffeliTyr branches of litera tphaesscaogneneinctiConicebreot, tore and science, foraiing, as it ent ally assist!ng, supporting, were, " 0 famil encouraging; and Sir C. WOOD said all the Admiralty knew of it was I that the arrangements were still pending. I Captain L. VERNON asked the Clerk of the Ord nance whether the building for the Lancaster shot manu factory at Woolwich was erected by Messrs. Fox and Henderson without the supervision of an officer of the Royal Engineer Department ; and, if so, what was the reason for adopting such a course ? Also, whether that work had been performed in reApect to construction and materials to the entire satisfaction of the Ordnance, and whether an, officer of the Royal Engineer Department had been directed to examine and report upon the same ? the atanil l fa Mr.i‘ O NELL said he applied to Mr. Nasmyth on the subj ec t, and, it being found impossible to carry on j exre at the existing works at Woolwich, it THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 185 5. lowed, he could detect the game animus be had already pointed out; while if the information required by others were furnished, it would be exceedingly voluminous and altogether useless, especially as the very informa tion had, in many cages, been already furnished to the house. If the hon, gentleman thought there was any thing wrong in the office of the Attorney-General, he ought not to ask for useless and expensive returns, but to move for a select committee. (Hear.) Mr. G. VERNONdeprecated the printing of such a mass of trash as the returns moved for by the lion. member for Southwark. Mr. PELLATT, after a few observations in reply, terminated the discussion by withdrawing his motion. THE POST -OFFICE. H. DAILLIE rose to call the attention of the house to the system under which the Post-affice was ad isinistered, and to move that, in the opinion of this house, the orders given by the Treasury to the Postmaster-Gene ral, in the year 1848, to establish a post-office comnsuni cation, at the expense of his department, between the islands of North and South Uist, Harris, and Barra, should be carried into effect without delay. He c•implained of the numerous and important defects in the management of the Post-office. The country were not a ware of the sys tem under which that esta.bli,htnent was adolioistered. It was a fact that the Postinaster•General, though riAni nally at the head of the institution, was completdy wider the control of the Secretary to the Treasury; and when c )mplaints were made of errors or irregularities in his department, he bad not the power to inquire into them himself, and provide a remedy if necessary. Why should the Postmaster-General not have the entire control and management of his own department ? No wonder that great calamities bad occurred at Balakiava, when such a system was allowed to continue in the administration of the Post-office at home. He maintained that the Secre tary of the Treasury should have nothing to do with the Post-office, but should be strictly confined to his own de partment. The effects of the present system were ad mirably illustrated by the case referred to in his resolu tion. So long ago as 1848 orders were given by the Trea sury to the Postmaster General to establish a post-office communication between the islands of North and S.mth Uist, Harris, and Barra ; but up to the present time, in consequence of the want of organisation in the department, those orders had not been carried into effect. He now asked that the post-office communication sanc tioned by the Treasury in 1848 should be established without delay. The inhabitants of the islands, though very poor, were at present obliged to send their corre spondence in boats to the mainland at their own expense, and it was but fair that they should be put upon the same footing as other parts of the country-- An How. MEMBER here moved that the house be counted, and there being only 38 members present, The house adjourned at seven o'clock. HEALTH OP LONDON DURING THE WEEK, ( From the Report of the Registrar-General.) The present return exhibits a decided improvement in the health of London. The deaths, which had been re d spectively 1,226 and 1,347 in the first two weeks of April fell in the week that ended on Saturday to 1,087. The temperature of the last fortnight was little higher than it is expected to he in April, but it was 10 degrees higher than in March, and human life reaps the benefit of the change. In the last four weeks the mean temperature has been 36.5 deg., 41 . 9 deg., 47.2 deg., and 49.1 (leg. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54, the average number of deaths registered was 1,035, which, if raised in proportion to increase of population, becomes 1,138. The number of persons who died last week is 51 less than the estimated number. Diseases of the respiratory organs, exclusive of phthisis and hooping-cough, destroyed about a fourth part of the persons who died in the first three months of this year. The deaths from that class of diseases were reduced last week to 222, about a fifty of the total mortality of the week. From phthisis 139 persons died ; in the winter months the mean weekly number was 165. Sma'l pox was fatal in 19 cases, of which 14 occurred under ten years of age ; scarlatina was fatal in 46 cases, hooping cough in 50, typhus in 33, measles only in 12, diarrhcea in 11. Six cases of scarlatina were fatal in Hammersmith and Fulham ; 3 cases of small-pox in St. James's, Ber mondsey. Last week the births of 916 boys and 872 girls, in all 1,788 children, were registered in London. In ths ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average number was 1,472. At the Royal Observatory,Greenwich,the mean h e i g h t of the barometer in the week was 30.143 in. The mean daily reading was above 30 in. on six days of the week. At the end of the week the barometer rose to 30'40 in. The mean temperature of the week was 49 1 (legs., which is higher by 2'6 degs. than the average of the same week in 38 years. The mean temperature was 56 . 9 degs. on Monday, which is 10'9 dogs. higher thaa the average ; and it fell to 41 9 degs. on Saturday, which is 5'4 degs. below the average. The wind had been in the south-west on the first two days, and blew during the re mainder of the week from the north-east. The highest temperature occurred on Monday, and was 72 8 degs. ; the lowest occurred on Thursday, and was 29.2 degs. The mean dew-point temperature was 40.9 degs., and the difference between this and the temperature of the air was B'2 degs. No rain fell, and London enjoyed a clear sky The registrars, in compliance with instructions given, to them, make occasional communications in their re turns with reference to the deaths they have registered, and to particular circumstances in which these have oc curred. The correctness of such opinions and state ments must be held exclusively on the testimony cf the registrars, and of the medical or other informants. ST. JAMES'S WESTMINSTER ; St. James's-square.— At 50, Brewer-street, on 14th and 13th April, the daughter and son of a leather breeches maker, aged re spectively 20 months and 9 years, "scarlatina." Mr. Keith, the registrar, observes :--" This is the only house in the sub-district where I have heard that scarlatina prevails. The mother was first attacked and afterwards the three children, of whom two have died during the last week. The other child remains seriously unwell." WANDSWORTH ; Putney. —At 33, Gay-street, on lath April, the son of a blacksmith, aged 17 years, " small pox, confluent and petechial (5 days), congestion of the brain (3 days)." Mr. Whiteman, the medical officer, says :—" This patient was imprudently removed from Tooting to Putney in an open cart, and died shortlyafter. Vaccinated in his infancy, but no visible cicatrix." ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST ; St. John.—At the work house, on 15th April, a New Zealander, aged 32, "natu ral death, accelerated by want, privations, and exposure." ISLINGTON ; East.—At 1, Montague-place, on 24th March, the son of a mariner, aged 14 days, "atrophy (14 days)." Mr. Butterfield, the registrar, states that " the child was buried the day after death, without certificate or notice to registrar, and without religious ceremony." MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL 21. Zymotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat ,Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses Diseases of the Heart and Biood-vessels 4l Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration . 222 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. .11, Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, B ores , and Muscles - 7 ~ . .2 Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations 0 Premature Birth arid Debility 36 Atrophy Old Age Sudden 53 8 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 26 Causes not specified 63 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in corre- Deaths Enumerated. sponding week in the . West Districts 211 1854 Week North Districts 490,396 Central Districts ..... 393,256 East Districts 485,522 South Districts Totals Males Females. 1,087 545 542 1,193 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males 916 Females 872 Total 1,783 IADVERTHIMENT.I—Many thousand cures have been effected without medicine, by Du Barry's Delicious Reva lenta Azabica Food, of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation nervous, bilious, and liver complaints, paralysis, &c. We quote* a few :—Cure No. 52,612.—Fr0m the Dowager Countess of Castlestuart.—" Rosstrevor, County of Down, Ireland, 9th December, 1854.—The Dowager Countess of Castlestuart feels induced, in the interest of suffering hu manity, to state that Du Barry's excellent Revalenta Ara- Noe Food has cured her, after all medicines had failed, of indigestion, bile, great nervousness and irritability of many years' tending. This Food deserves the confidence of all sufferers, and may be considered a real blessing. Inquiries will be cheerfully answered." Cure No. 7 .. Of dyspepsia, from the Right Hon. the Lord Stuart de Decies.—" I have derived considerable benefit from Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, and consider it due to yourselves aid the public to authorise the publication of these lines.—Stuart de Decies." Cure No. 32,836.—Fr0m the Venerable Archdeacon of Russ.- "Three years exces sive nervousness, with painsin my neck and loft arm, and ge neral debility, which rendered my life very miserable, has been radically remo red by Du Barry's health-restoring Food, —Alex. Stuart, Archdeacon of Ross, Skibereen." Cure No. 4,208.—" Eight years' dyspepsia, nervousness, debility, with cramps, spasms and nausea, have been effec tually removed by Du Barry's delicious Food in a very short time.—Rev. John IV. Flavell, Ridlington Rectory, Norfolk." Cure No. 51,416.—" Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, consti pation, flatulency, spasms, ickness at the stomach and vo mitings, have been removed by Du Barry's excellent FoL.I. —Maria Jolly, Wortham, Ling, near Diss, Norfolk." Cure No. 3,9o6.—Thirteen years' cough, indigestion, and gene • ral debility have been removed by Du Barry's excellent Food.—James Potter, Athol-street, Perth."—ln canis ters, suitably packed for all climates, and with full instruc tions —llb., 2s. 9d.; 21b., 4s. 6d. ; 51b., lls. ;121b., 225. ; super-refined, 11b., 6s. ; 21b., ne-; 51b., 225. ; 101 b., 335. The 101 b. and 121 b., carriage free, on receipt of poet office order. Barry du Barry and 7, Regent street, London ; Fortnum, M ason, and Co., urveyors o her Majesty, 182, Picc a dill y ; also at 68, Co., P Cornhill ; 60. Gracechurch-street ; 330 and 451, Strand ; 63 and 150, Oxford-street ; 55, Charing-cross • 4 Cheapside ; and Upperßakerttreett e 4 LAW TUE LIGENCE.-April 24. HOUSE OF LORDS. COMMITTEE FOR PRIVILEGES. Their lordships sat as a committee for privileges; the Lord Redesdate in the chair. THE SOUTHESK PEERAGE. This is a petition of Sir James Carnegie, of Southesk, Kinnaird, and Pittarrow, Barnet, claiming the titles of Earl of Southesk and Baron Carnegie, of Kinnaird and Leuchars, who claims in succession to Ja,es, fifth Earl of Soutbesk, who was attainted and his t:t'e forfeited, in consequence of his having taken part in the rebellion of 1715 on behalf of the Pretender. The claimant is the lineal descendant and heir male of David, the first Earl of Southesk, who was created by patent Baron Carnegie in 1616, and raised to the earldom in 1630. The case has been several times before the house, and evidence of lineage produced. The whole of the proofs of the pedi gree were now completed. Their Lor,lships decided that the claim was made out, so far as the pedigree was concerned ; but they held that the attainder was a bar t.) the succession, that doctrine having been laid down and acted on in the case of the Earldom of Perth. EXCHEQUER CHAMBER. THE CHAIRING-CROSS BRIDGE COMPANY V. MITCHELL.- LIABILITY TO TAXES. This was a writ of error from the judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench, which had given its decision in favour of the defendant. The plaintiffs sued in respect of a distress that had been levied, and an order was made by Mr. Justice Coleridge that a question at law should be raised as to whether the t.,11s of the bridge were liable to be assessed to the land tax. From the case it appeared that the defendant was the collector of the land tax, and bad levied a distress for six years' arrears of laud tax, amounting to 3651., on the tolls of the plaintiff s . Th e plaintiffs submitt e that they were not liable to the land tax, as the ground upon which the bridge was con structed had been redeemed from that tax. Mr. Bramwell supported the case on behalf of the Sir F. Thesiger represented the defendant, but was not beard. The court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench. Judgment affirmed. COURT HOUSE, NEWINGTON. THE QUEEN V. HAZELWOOD AND OTHERS. This indictment against the defendant, Mr. Hazel woc,d, the chairman of the Iron Steam Boat Company, and the superintendent of the Citizen Steam Boat Com pany, and one of the servants of the latter company, for misdemeanour, in having erected a steam-boat pier under the first arch of London-bridge, and thereby, as was alleged, impeded the free navigation of the river, was again proceeded with yesterday before &Ir. Baron Platt and a special jury. It will be remembered that the matter was partially inquired into at Kingston a fortnight ago, and upon a representation that there was a probability that some amicable arrangement might be made between the parties the case was adjourned until to-day. It appears that some negotiations have since taken place with a view to obviate the necessity of any further proceedings, but they failed in effecting the object, acid the case for the prosecution was now proceeded with. Mr. E. James, Q.C., and Mr. Lush appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. M. Chambers, Q.O , Mr. Ballantine, and Mr. Bovill were counsel for the defendants. Upon the former Occasion it appeared that the prose cution was instituted by Mr. Fenning, the proprietor of Fenning 's-wharf, and it was alleged that not only was the business of his establishment impeded by the erection of the pier in question, but that in consequence of its being placed there the water-way of the river was interfered with, and wherries were prevented from setting down passengers at the stairs • and that owing to the tide setting very strongly under this arch, when it was at flood, it was impossible to avoid getting foul of the dummy which formed the pier, and that serious accidents had nearly taken place upon several occasions To day evidence of a similar character was adduced, and several watermen, and other re_rsons connected with river pursuits, were called to show that the pier was an obstruction to the river highway. Mr. Fenning, the proprietor of Fenning's-wharf, was examined, and he stated that property to the amount of a million and a half per annum was landed there, and also that the pier was a great obstruction to vessel , , and that it frequently happened that barges, by the force of the tide, were swung athwart the dummy, and it was necessary to emply ten or twelve men with the crane to remove them. He said that he paid 1.6001. a year rent for the wharf, and the erection of the pier had occasioned him a great deal of additional expense. He also proved that on two former occasions a similar pier had been erected, and the City authorities ordered them to be im mediately removed, and once the whole of the pier was forcibly towed away by a steamer, by the orders of the harbour master. Sir John Rennie, the architect of the bridge, was also examined, and he stated that the erection cost nearly a million of money, and he said it was a great object both for sanitary purposes, and also on account of the great traffic upon the river, to have the arches as wide as pos sible, and to give as much water way .as could be ot tained, and he expressed his opinion that the pier in question was a decided obstruction to the navigation of the river. Mr. Chambers, at the clone of the case for the prose cution, made an able address to the jury on behalf of the defendants, and he surged that the evidence rather went to support the supposition that Mr. Penning had sus tained some private injury by the erection of this pier than that it was any real obstruction to the public navi gation of the river, and he called a number of witnesses —among whom was air. Saunders, the water-bailiff—all of whom said that in their opinion the pier did not in• terfere with the navigation of the river, and some of them went on to say, that in their opinion the pier was rather an advantage than otherwise to those who wished to go to the different wharves in the neighbourhood. Mr. Baron Platt went over 'the whole of the evidence with a good deal of minuteness, and the jury, alter deli berating for nearly an hour; returned a verdict of guilty. The effect of this verdict, if it should stand, will be that the pier in question must be removed. POLICE INTELLIGEII'OE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET.---/Ifr. Bishop, of Bond street, guninaker, appeared to answer a charge of hav ing corruptly received money for the detention of a dog, and a man named Moore was charged with stealing the dog. Mr. Parry was for the defence. The court was crowded during the examination, and nearly the whole fraternity of dogstealers and dogdealers were congregated in the street and passages. Miss Knight, in addition to her former evidence, said when she paid 41. for the restoration of the dog, Mr. Bishop said it was a shame she should have to pay 21. more than the offered Dewar]. Mr. Bish o p, a ft er t h e dog was restrred, warned her that the dog would be stolen again if proper care were not taken. ,Mr. Bishop, 'when informel of the loss, and the witness's anxiety on account of the dog, expressed the greatest anxiety to serve her, and afterwards he said he was very sorry they, would have to pay 41. for the recovery of the dog. Miss Victoria Knight said she went to Mr. Bishop's house in Bond-street, and asked him if the dog could not be got back for less than 51. Mr. Bishop said he could not take less, if Moore had stated that a price had been offered for the return of the dog. Mr. Bish,:p told them to go back to Moore, as he had not been there that morning. She went, back to Moore's house with her sister to pay him 41. Moore would not take the money, but told them to go back to Mr. Bishop. They went back and paid Mr. Bishop four sovereigns. Mr. Bishop remarked that be would try to get the dog back for less money. Witness inquired when the dog would be re turned. Mr. Bishop replied most probably that evening. The dog was brought back the next day. Had men tioned to Mr. Bishop she was much concerned at the loss, and Mr. Bishop sympathised with her. A second case was then brought forward, the evidence upon which was of a nearly similar character to that ad dressed upon the preceding charge. Robert Smith, police constable, then said that Moore had been fined 101. in 1849 for receiving money for getting back a dog. Mr. Bishop was present at the time, and said Moore was employed by him, and rather than he should go to prison he would pay the fine. Mr. Parry contended there was no pretence for charging Mr. Bishop with having acted corruptly in this or in the second case. Mr. Bingham—l have had a week to consider the meaning of the word " corruptly," and after a careful consideration of all the circumstances attending the case, it seems to me unlikely that any jury would find that the money paid to the accused (Bishop) was received corruptlyin other words, that the money or any por tion of it became a pecuniary profit to the receiver. It appears rather that he has engaged in these transactions from motives of vanity, accompanied, no doubt,. with a kind desire to assist his customers and their friends. I refrain, therefore, from taking the depositions for a 'r al on which I feel no confidence of a conviction. But I cannot dismiss the accused without exacting from him an undertaking to desist at once and for ever from a practice fraught with mischief, and tending tl encourage the offence which'the legislature has sought to suppress by an act, in the introduction of which he himself was mainly concerned. The principles on which I have mainly acted in taking depositions for trial have been to satisfy myself that the evidence affords a confident ex pectation of a conviction. Then with respect to Moore, who is charged with stealing Captain Sutherland's dog, the evidence rather shows that he is theacquaintance and associate of dog stealers than himself the actual thief. As Moore was charged with dog stealing, and the case has not been made out, I must discharge him. Mr. Bishop then left the court. Miss Helen Faucit closed a most successful engige ment at the Dublin Theatre on Saturday night, with a house overflowing to excess, for her benefit. The series of Italian operas is to commence on the 15th of May, when Mdlle. Alboni and Herr Reichart will make their appearance, and be supported by a number of eminent artistes. LAND AND ASSESSED TAXES. — Yesterday a bill in the House of Commons, brought forward by Mr. Frewen and Mr. Spooner, was printed to facilitate the formation of'divisions for which meetings of commissioners of land or assessed taxes may be held in Great Britain. After the 10th October next the commissioners of land tax are to forward to the Secretary of the Treasury, a statement of the parishes and places that would form a proper di vision in which meetings of the commissioners should be held. The statement to be published in the newspapers, to be laid before the Lords of the Treasury, and new divisions to be made. No new division is to be consti tuted unless it extends over at least 50,000 acres, nor unless there are seven commissioners of land tax residing in the game. COUNTRY VI 4 BEAT LIVERPOOL — ' A PR IL 24. j o thi t To-day a better attendance and a better feeling P e trade was manifest. English and foreign irber,..A, cets bushel, flour ls to ls 6d per sack, oatmeal 'sperm-lobe Id, and barley 2d per bushel, and beans is per. qr.o_,oo. quotations of last Tuesday. Some extent of btisinegimeri. dian corn, at an improvement of 2s 6d per qr., 4 16 ,76r011 a cars yellow commanding 46s to 46s 6d, mixed toeo t og 0/ white 45s per 4801bs. Etvilf,ll linseed cake if; 101. 15s to 11/. Peruvian inane 10. 10s to 1 11 I ' ton. IPSWICH—Attar, 24. The supply of wheat limited an d a fair derol ' or, per qr. advance. The trade in barley is nendl°frothor what was at market commanded more money. articles no alteration. isf * Wheat, red (old) 64s to 68 . 8 VA 45 SI I PER QTJARTER• 2 91 " Ili ;5, ai cy, g s Ditto (new) „. Ditto, white (new) 72s to 76s;Peas ................. ;too! Ditto (Old) Barley, malting AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 2r el 4 grinding ... 40 0 , Wheat t,O ° Oats , eti Peas 00 1 , 1 Bear s Barley t HULL—AruiL 2l• mall et; Or aerDs., ,l Friesland Englishlaai ns n asi n d is. A moderate attendance to-day wit h 5 I' h "'- ' O, l who .t, which met free sale at 9; to 3s over t-)3010 last Tuesday. Foreign is dearer on the a e 0 tern some small advantage obtained by holdersiorireo and its products have moved up a few P thntß . On. past week, and scarce. Cakes go into consnniPtll3,o6i 09 they can be made. In rape cakes no change. tinue to fetch our high quotations. i 1.,,,/ s s k ' 0 A bile ail ) Wheat, English, rad 68 to 71 Peas, greY al l— ." Ditto white 7O to 74,Linseed, Black Se:_a•': 0 Dantzic and Konigs- Ditto Petersburg' .:,., berg Pomeranianandllam- Danish,bu r g 11 11olstein;and Oats, Barley, DDD ß u iii F ttt s t i s oo ii 65 to 70 D iai0011y:i1gi5ib....e.:11.......;?1,4051.01,11 2.l 6dt° o l° hu Odessa 60 to C7,11.n5.c..,fr1uf(1,1r1.110: jOirl.: malting Ditto grinding 22 2 667 to tt: 2229;1 IDRaiaitpPte:fiCanekadef:sl..l:llllll3:ll;ls:oo;:: 30 to 32,1 ares, Beans ttoo 42GDnitatnoof.oE.i.gie.gi.gnils51:.4..;:oci.iitroolrtiool Ditto foreign Peas, white and yet 4O to 42jaye Meal '''''''''' 31 to 41 Bones ...... ---5 ........ r Gibraltar .. Leghorn •• ... Genoa ..... • • ••• Ai ilan •• • • Venice • I/ 13 ! Naples •• '"*.".••••.: yf Palermo •• .• •• '. „. Messina ••" •' Oporto • • NB l L t l eu s o e b yo al j e Ar : kyr: • res.. • •: s ; , Philadelphia •_:;,01 1 ,1 3 11 0 PILICES 1;,..;;;Ø 0, Foreign Golo To'i°o vi Portugal G °14 ,,, 0 .. 0 o s mexican .. 0 s New Dollars '4llYer in bars • • ••••••••1" 178 0, RAILWAY TRAFFIC BO ►I,' 01,6 , LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH c o A l 11 Traffic return for the week ending April t 04,03 1855 ................... , ................. 14 1 91 Corresponding week last 3;;; ....................... 1,0,44 Total of the half-year to this da . te, 15 55 ...... 169, 164 mf, Total of the, half-year to this date, 185 4 ..... • I.' a 0 0 6 LONDON AND SOUTH-EASTERN RA 1;18,A Al'j turn for the week ending April 21, 1855 .... 19,tw - r, Corresponding week last year .................... Tot f Decrease in 5 •••• ......... e• i 0 GLASGOW AND SOUTFI-IVESTERN 1 1,1 " ▪ - . turn for the week ending April 21, 1855 .... Corresponding week last year ..................... 03911 COURSE OF EXCH. Amsterdam . .... 11 19 Ditto, three months .. 12 1 Rotterdam ............ 12 1 Antwerp .............. 25 47% Brussels .... • • ........ 25 47% tlamburgh .......... 13 9 ' Altona .. • • ...... ...... Paris ........ ... 25 27% three months .. 25 50 Marseilles 25 52%1 Bourdeaux . ........ I Frankfort-on -Maine 11932 Berlin ................ Vienna 12 45 Trieste •• .... 12 48 Petersburg Madrid ............... 491 i Cadiz ....... • • Barcelona Seville „ Decrease in 1855..... SEABORNE fe r the_ (N signifies that the malls are scut from a w l .) by the night—and M by the morning—de" (N signifies that the malls are scut from ";i) d o by the night—and Mby the morning--deeP3 w. • St _44 0. te up Fro f t . .. , pr./ so Day naval ma. ro ed COUNTRIES. In General Post-. __pate, tio Office, London.* DP ------- a ro' "" A ----,.....—.—....—. --,----- , DIV Apt , Arnerica(byßrit.pack)N Every Friday " ' America. kby United Sts. 10 1 ' ' packet) .. —.....N ~. •••• " • ' ptee I ii America (by U. States Sol ltli° 1 0 packet) ..........N ~,, ...• •• • • siotOn Australia (Tia • South- 500 016- ,• ampton) ..........M; .„••• „,, .• • newe r ••• . _ O 4O Ve..if Ditto (via Marseilles) NI ........ ••• ••••• ".jAP- Ditto (via Cape of gosdi tb " ~ Hope) ............N1 ..... ....• •'. on Africa (West Coast) ..N l 23d of the month' Alexandria—. .. ....NB, 9, 24, & 30 0 1 '''' go' tith,,,...jotOPi i , s pf Alexandria ........ „„m 4th &201 h of Moe " the'''' 1 •' - ' t i t tj, SO . ..• 'IMO' Bahamas ...........m,l7th of the mO O nos'e . 10) s ny Belgium .......... „Nll)any.. ~' - the'" n 7 0 0 1° Brazil ... ... .....„ ..m,9th of the 1 7- eie;ihi ..', B ttbarof%il Buenos Ayres ........Av9th of the mo n th,. nTh a spe. - Cape of Good Hope -NI 1 0 6° Cape of Good Hope •..• N „ im ptoo i Cape de Verde .... N 19th of the month Sotit th- ~.9 ! Ceylon (see In•lia) le' 3, Ceylon .............. N , 0 ,01P t ,,, °P „ 4 0 Channel Isles ........N Mon ,Wed.,trFri•?. 5eu,7,01 , "' AV Chili.. .......„ ~. ,„ .. m ,2( 1 1& 17th of monti See China .... . 000 .0 1/ Constantinople ....,, „ A ,5,13, , 8,23,a. vi of i• Dov e "AO , .. ~,5 . .... . Constantinople l4th & 20th of moo. ~ehL " .." ~." Cont. of Europe M & N - W ier .. • f . :,00 Egypt (sec India) Do T .O •••*,;k France ........ DI & NlTsvice daily.... • • „l h oral , " - _A l• Gibraltar .......... M,4, 7, 17,20, 27 of m So"' Ar (Reece (see India) I,h ac iPti'fl .l # 1 Oreytown ..........M l 2nd & 17th of mon. SO ll , OO ~...df ilamburgh ...... .... N, Tuesday & Frida) 10 1 .1 0 3p1 01 911.11 . 6 . Elavannah .......• - 111 ; 2nd of the montl Se e ' ..;;IAPAP Holland ............ M. Daily - .. • • ...... Poy e tio ato , ~r , Honduras .......... M 17th of the month . 60Iit o utb '1 • if India (vlaSouthampt.)m 4th & 20th of mon. PIS . ., „...1 t" India (via Marseilles)M ,9th& 25th of month Dove r lonian tied .. l i oefi lonian Isles (see India) I, 17, & 27 of mon DO . ..lot , ' Ireland .. .. M & NiTvvice daily .... • • k1 °13 1 , 3 01)° , '.l l Lisbon .............. M ,7, 9, 17, & 27 of m. Sool. ....pfo!i!Of r Sladeira ............m , 9th of the month !So v t_2./..1 .1 ;4 Madeira ............Nl23d of month •• • • IL I g ' k- [oP" Malta (see India) :*" r, .* Malta ............ ,„N 8, tit. & 28 of mon. uo • ver 1 Mauritius (see India) I n Ol Mauritius ..........N 114th of the month ,hopts, Mexico ............m '2nd of the month. Sos i ., .., • Naples ..... ........N sthlsth2sthof MV:1• DO_V:riopto,lllo, New Granada .......M ;2d & 17th of moral SO ar n i l oo por;1 New Zea1and.......... By. private *IMP • ' .X„yer ...,". 0 . 0 0 / Papal States ...... .. Nisthlsth2sthofmon • ' -- „ t hastr, - r, Peninsula ........... 1 1 1117th 17th27thofmon. Se';'.ool/0 Peru ...............31,20 & 27th of mon. ' -7• 01 10 115 P ° I i Port Natal .... ~....N,By private ship. • • .„ r .. •• '' _A• 6 Sicily .. .. .. .. .. .„.N '5 th 1,,tb25th0l mon , DO T( .` „.• ..; 0' Tuscany .............rsthlso2sthotinoi,. De:,,,optePl i Venezuela ..... .... M3d St 17th I:4month Sow' I )11 1° I Van Dietnen'sLa . nd (tie(' Australia) . OOll l e sout lo4 D. 0 West Indies .......m 1 2,i & 17th o mont ) 1 ~, 0 f, 11 .0 , al / t o o When any of these dates fall on a Sun day, _.`" spatehed on the following day w ith the eacef.:,'"De Southampton), and the Nialta..both of which wil l Lib, 00 preceding day. 0 -.1 so. orol BOMB-SHELLS FOR THE SULTAN.-- 14e 'L e ttlre, 11 1,1 16 If son, and Bell, the eminent iron me nu ft 0 ":040 banks of the Tyne, have received an 01' 0 %25 Ouv I, toma,n Government for the manufacture of ' O l/„00 0 dti oir shells; each shell will weigh 65 pound`, a n 03 0 0 10 tons of metal will be consumed in nt o h il t hl the ir ff. 6 0 order e a ar r gr ei e nm ial ad hand la quantity fwore h eks a o v . m e eTailiaeeragsdeaylesb e .ec e niw n itn. : e ti l r r t il; for same Government. .--7 010 MARRIED. Cb 8 1 3,4 On the 18th inst., at Mary's Ch ereb ' xt . dri frg Of $O l Win. Cornwallis Phillips, Esq., of the — e aril or_ A son of the late W. E. Phillips Esq., G° l ' . 0 v"' to Mary Bruer() ; second daughter of G eorge rid" the Bengal C.S. "Itr" On the 10. h inst., at Milford Church, - I ° . „ Vta. ville, Esq., to Louisa, third daughter 04 stee Esq., late of M oor Hall, Berks. f fitie On the 19th ult. at the parish church. e„,doerzY by-Launceston, the Rev. George T. IClnehtery" Pyworthy, Devon, to Anne, youngest del a , Badcock, Esq., o f ' St. Stephens-by-Laue ce° 0/1 )t DIED. On the 22d inst., at Brighton, the ,I,oll° ' aged 72. On the 18th inst. at Bath, the LadY daughter of th e l a t e E ar l o f Listowel.ivir 6 9 ,10 1 ' cjo e On the inst., at D ar lington, late of Ironmonger-lane, city, aged 65. VI" On the 21st i ns t. ' at 32, Bedford - PI O ' joO t i, Esq., of the MiddleTemp ßev le, aged 65. n b On the 22d inst., the . John Je eer ire ° D.D., recto r o f B roug ht on P og i s, Oxforde b i s ' 00 On the 22d i ns t., M a j or A i thur Wra• 1310ef leggy 0 04. youngest son of the l a t e J. H. Byles, Esq. , - , f. Glocestershire, aged 35. • IsiO r On the 21seinst., at 6, Hanover-scre e-, o pt. Wool, Esq.. aged 80. of A li° On the 18th inst., G eorge M ur r a y, et 4 . Manchester, age d 83. of S ege Ce On the 23d inst John Rouwieu, Esq. , AO and Lincoln' s -i nn , age d 81. t i On the 23d in s t., a t M a tt ersea , the Be' • A te , Fenton, vicar of Matters ea , age d 72. pol° - 4 0 1 1 On the 23d inst., John Brown, Esq., °` 40v wharf, Upper Thames-street, aged 65. of jog . On the 23d inst., W. S. A n gell, r' e fl . BB ot, Middlesex, and formerly of Cornhill, in IP° " Ay , , TE DO 1 .11/% 4 LONDON : Printed and Published by Mu.7,f000, no of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sao t o ( Iv Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, ;didillemsa, Wednesday, April_2o, Om 0 81R7'.118. OF A SON. th e fila i s ce, On the 21st inst. P at 10, Nottingharo-PA Spencer N. Dickson, Esq. peck' l4o' 1 On the 24th inst., a t St. Mary's-road , et' Viney, jun. 11138%, lr On the 22d inst., the wif e of Richard 0-eOlOOOO On the 22d inst., at Hendon, Mrs. On the 19th inst., at Manor Park, of S. J. Pullin, Esq. 4 ,, e 4 OF A DAUGHTSN. , On the 24th inst., at P r i nces -gate, gr°' Pee, the On the 23d inst., at 44, Eastbourne-teal' SA' Charles St Clare Bedford, Esq iv . h ole , 0 ' On the 23d inst. the wife of R. J. " " 6, Sydney-place, inst., c f On the 23d inst.. at Portobello, the "- Halkett, Esq., 45th Rest.