The Sun. — London, England, 1842-04-29 00:00:00

SOUTH EASTERN RAIL "A A meeting of the Proprietors of the South Eastern Railwa) was held yesterday, at tour o'clock at the London Tavern, to ,take into consideration the means of raising additional capital. for the purpose of completing the undertaking. The meeting was very numerously attended. The Chair was taken by Jos. BAXENDALE, Esq., who, having called on the Secretary to read the metal notices of the meeting, opened the business by giving a brief outline of the present state of the Railroad. It appeared, from the statemen' of the Chairman, that the promise marle'at a former meeting that the line would be opened to Tunbridge in the month of May, would be strictly kept. The cost of the line had been 30,000/. per mile, which, taking a margin of 10 or 15 per cent., was not greater than they had a right. to calculate upon, in c work of such extensive character. ' The sum already expended wa5.1,075,000/., of which 44,0001. was paid fur interest un connected with the Railway. From the engineer's estimate it appeared that a further sum of 800,0001. would be re quired. They had bought land, not yet paid for, to the amount of 25,000/., and they had yet to pay for the joint station of the Brighton Railway at London-bridge 50,00 d., and for the twelve miles of joint railway of the sere. Company. Their ways and means were 70,0001. cash balance arrears 35,0001., debentures 360,000/. They proposed to raise 700,0001. by new shares, which would nice them the power to borrow 260,C00/., while under the London-bridge Station Act *thsry equld -raise 120,000/. The Chairman then stated, that najer the Act of Parliament, the Dover line was required to pay the Brighton line interest on half the sum expended, till they had paid the balance, and if they had not paid it on the' opening of the Dover line, the Brighton line would also claim a toll on each passenger in addition to the interest. It was, therefore, of considerable moment to get rid of the toll by pay ing off the balance at once. It appeared that the Brighton 1 tie had objected to take bonds, and would require cash The distance on the line that would be opened in May would be forty miles, and a distance of twenty miles further in August, with 'an additional twenty miles; that included twelve miles of the Brighton line; all the works were under contract, and there being no portion not let, they could speak with con fidence of the time of opening. He concluded by reading the resolutions it was intended to move. Mr. J. Moxow asked if it was intended to lane scrip with respect to the shares ? The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. )Ir. Moxots expressed his opinion that from the appearance of affairs the line was likely to be eminently successful. In reply to another question, the CHAIRMAN stated that the new shares about to be created would be entitled to a dividend at the same time as other shares. There were no preference shares. Mr. LEVY said it appeared that a great expense had been incurred at London-bridge, and he had heard that a new station was contemplated in the Grainge-road. He thought this station unnecessary. The CHAIRMAN said that the present meeting was called for a specific purpose, but there would be another meeting in a fortnight, at which the worthy Proprietor would have the op portunity of introducing the question. Mr. LEVY said that a great deal of money was spent at the London-bridge station, and he did not thing that it would be wise to make another station at the Grainge-road. It was a mistake to suppose that was nearer to the West-end than London-bridge. The CHAIRMAN said that hedid not think he should he per forming hit duty if he did not inform the meeting that his opinion was that the London-bridge station, in consequence of the interference of the other Companies, and the traffic they uxpected. would not be sufficient, no matter what expense they were put to. But none of the money required to-day would be applied to the Grainge-road station.—( Hear. ) A PaorarEro a wished to know, if the whole amount was paid, would they be allowed any interest or discount? The CHAIRMAN said that the Hen. Honourable Proprietor would perceive, by the resolution, that five per cent would be paid on the money advanced. A PROPRIETOR wished to know the sum of money raised under the former Act by way of loan. The CHAIRMA N--360,0001. _ A PROPRIETOR asked what was the use of interest, if they were to pay the Income-tax ? The CHAIRMAN said that he could assure the Hon. Pro• prietor that the Income-tax did not escape them As they went on, they should stop the interest. Mr. TYR. REL asked how was the present resolution conform able to the Act of Parliament? The Cnatam AN said the matter was left entirely to the dis creiionmf the Directors. The first resolution—" That from and after the 31st of October the interest payable on the shares of this Company do cease, and that the shares now created do not bear interest." The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. A PROPRIETOR wished to know what was the number of registered shares? 'The CHAIRMAN said 28,000. A PROPRIETOR. wished to know what was the whole amount raised by loans and shares ? The CHAIRMAN said the total amount was 2,936,0001. A PROPRIETOR said he understood that at the last meeting 2.300,000/. was considered sufficient. The CHAIRMAN said that was so, but he left a margin of 10 or 15 per cent., which, considering the magnitude of the works, he did not think was too much. A PROPRIETOR--What is the loss? • The CHAIRMAN-235,0001. up to the first of April, but it should be recollected that, What they took out of the right pocket they put into the left. The cost of the Railroad was estimated at 30,000/., from which they had not deviated a single fraction. A PROPRIETOR said that he thought it was said at the last meeting that 20,0001. per mile was too much. The Co Alasrax—And perhaps it may be so still; but when they knew that railroads, the expense of which, was calculated at 1,000,0001., cost 2,000,000/., he thought it right to make sure, and for that purpose he left a margin of ten or fifteen per cent. When they considered the country through which the line passed, and the communications they were likely to have with the Continent, and when they looked to what was going on in France, he thought they were bUildine on a tolerably sour.d basis.—( Hear, hear.) If he thought the line would cost more than 30,0001. per mile, he did not think he would be deal ing fairly with the Proprietors if he concealed that fact from them. —( Hear. ) Mr. 'I YRREL said that, at the last meeting the Chairman said that 23,000/. per mile would be sufficient. And now, it was said that SO,OOO/. was what would be necessary. The CliAltsmAN said he never said any such thing, and re ferred to the Report of last meeting, in which it was stated, that he calculated 30,000/. as tEe cost per mile. .Mr. TYRILEL wished to know whether the 200,0001. loss was included in the 30,0001. The .CHAIRMA X was as distinct as possible in answering that question - before; he had stated that they should require the money M bard cash, and at the same time he stated, that if the Proprietors chose to take the money out of one pocket and pot it in another, that they must be aware that it did not go to the Railway. PARSONS observed that the Chairman had stated that in the 30,1X/0/. a mile, none of the costs of the London br . 4 ge station was included. He thought if he looked into the m aste s s•he would find that upwards of 50,000/. was included. The ClustrustaN then put the next resolution, the purport of which was that the Company should have power to raise an additional capital, not exceeding 700,0001., by 28,000 shares, at the nominal value of 251. Mr. MoxoN wished to know whether it was in the contem plation of the Board of Directors that the bonds should be pay able after the i'suing of the scrip, or otherwise, Thoil Criaramsw said that they had suffered so much from Put suing a mild, o • half and half course, that they were now detet.mined to pursue a bold one. They were particularly anxious to pay off the Brighton Company, because he was satisfied. if they did not, they would exact all they could, and the Directors of the present Company were determined to do the same.—(Cheers.) Mr. Moxos suggested that the Proprietors should be allowed to spply fur more shares than those proposed in the resolution. The Crtatitstass said that the preceding resolution pro vided for that. The resolution was then carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then put the next resolution, the object of se'cie. t i was to provide for the payment in anticipation of eaFc, which, if done, interest was to be allowed at the rate of five percent: That upon payment of al: such instalments, the shares should be issued and registered, but in case of default for 14 days, the instalments paid should be fot•Seited. After a short colloquial discussion, the resolution was put and carried unani mously. Tl!e resolutions . emeotyeris g the holders of registered shares on the 7th Slav, to purvlllse the new issued shares, and giving the. Directors the posse: of issuing such shares, were then put and tarried, after considerable cusisersational discussion, with out opposition. The CHAIRMAN said that before the meeting separated it might b desirous to hear the opinions of Gentlemen connected with Frauce on the subject of French Railroads.—( Hear ) Mr. Mons.sy, from Calais, then said that he was glad to be able to inlOrm the meeting - that the line of railroad from Parts to Calai f was very likely to be completed, though not imme that .Iy, which would opier a line of communication thrsugh and the rest of Europe. The Chamber of Deputies va,s bringing the mettcr into discussisn, but the Ministry were undecided between the Calais and Boulogne lines. The former line would open the communication to Belgium, and such was the desire of the French people to have railroads that nothing crd,' prevent their being es' Wished. lie therefore thought that if a line were carried tai Dwer by the South Eastern Conreasly, iw would add 20 per cent. to their waits. The CHA IRMA N said that be believed the opinion of the Directors was already intimated, that they preferred the Calais lie?. So far as he was concerned himself, he would _much pi ger to travel by the Calais line. r. Mounev said, he hoped the Chairman would be able to t ra ,„!4 from Calais to Paris in the year 1849 by railroad. The CU ALRM A N said he hoped so.— ( Latiehter. ) He would now inform the meeting that Coionel Paisley travelled on the line as far as ' . .rant,sidge, and expressed much satistac t ion at the mono in which it %yds carried on. Sir. l'ARs.”4, said, that Mr. Steishenson, and Mr. Vignolle, bad both expressed themselves favourab:(3 to the Calais line. A rote of-thanks was then Unanimously cari:sd lo the Chair man and Directors, and the Meeting broke up, SALE AT STIIAAVBERY HILL. Yest, rday the sale of books was corn inued, and the disposal eif this portion of the property will not be completed belore the end of the week. The sale was interesting as it included the works printed at the private press of Horace Walpole, at Strawberry-hill. These were divided into 27 lots, and realised 2(191. 10s. 6d. The price each individual lot obtained was About four times what they usually realise. Horace Walpole's .)wn copy of the Anecdotes of Painting was p u rchas e d by Mr. Illoone for 33/. 125.; and lot 144, 111? moires du Comte de Chaumont, illustrated with prints, drawings, and manuscript Tte4, 4to, 1772, bound in calf, was knocked down to Mr. ' 7 'lrm'gi for 15 guineas. Lot 150. A complete set of all the 4'waelied and small pieces, printed at the press at Strawbery • hill, boards, and also a tract containing a correct list of every Itiwk printed at this press, was, after much competion, secured by Air. Thorpe, for 151. Lot 151. A description of the Villa at Strawbery.hill, by Horace Walpole, 4to, the first edition, illustrated, 1774, b oun d i n ca lf—b y M r . Bohn, fur Par. Beckford, 161. Lot 157, and the three following, being ca talogues of the pictures or King Charles 1., edited by Horace Walpole, from the manuscripts of George Vertue ; of ILe! pictures of King James 11., and (queen Caroline t of t h e pictures of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, for merly that of Sir P. P. Rubene, and the catalogue of Sir P. lely, and a complete catalogue of th e wor k s o f W . H o ll ar , all in .4to , and boun:l in vellum, were purchased by a gentleman for 122/. 10s. Lot 166. The Castle of Otranto, first edition, calf, and ditto the second edition, with drawings o f th e C g. ,, s )e ? calf, 3/. 10s. The other portion of the sal; was chiefly com posed of classical books. These sold generally at very high rices, viz.—Lot 108. Xenophon de Cyri Institutione, thrmii, Sheldon, folio, in morocco, and Martiale's Epigram. mats, was-pnrchased by Mr. J. Bohn for the large o f 14/. Lots 81 to 88. comprising 75 volumes of the Cl ass i cs, i n red morocco, were 'sold for 411. The amount realised by t hi s day's sale was upwards of 5001. The Celt- Int de Lyon gives some details respeetin, the man who had been found on the banks of th e Rhone, wit h r..everal wounds in different parts of his body. It appears that he had mentioned in a cabaret that he had 50f. in his pocket, an d on Lis leaving it he was assailed by five men, who robbed him, gagged him, tied his hands behind leis back, and threw him into the Rhone. Being a good swimmer, he contrived to float on his back, and pushed himself forward with his feet until he gained the land, where he was taken up and kindly rKated by the peasants. He is at present in the Hotel Dieu, and will soon, it is said, be perfectly restored to health. -~~... . ;:f the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—It must be admitted that the proposa. of extending to land the existing taxes on the succes sion to personal property is not at present what can he called a practical question ; that is to say, t is not a question there is much practical prospect o carrying. Neither is it what can be called a party question. There ar9 conscious and unconscious landed predilec tions on both sides the House. Lord John Russell .And Lord Howick showed no alacrity to extend im posts on inheritance. Sir R. Peel on the other hand, showed no unoornprising front against it on principle. This, therefore, must be regarded as an open question, dem ending discussion, and which must be matured by that process for ultimate settlement. It appears to us, however, that Mr. Elphinstone was perfectly justi fied in bringing it under consideration at the mo ment he did. For what is that moment ? It ,s that lut which Parliament are just about to anpOse most unequal • taxation, by most inquisi _orial - machinery, on the profits of trade and in - lustry. Surely that was the moment, if any, to recal its . attention to the fact that existing taxes are :not.. equally extended to all classes ! " The House," :says the Post, " had just agreed to tax landed property by sevenpence in the pound upon the income derived from it, when up starts this philosopher to propose a new tax upon the same description of property." And why not, pray, if this new tax is merely equivalent to other taxes already !evied on other property, and from which land is un duly exempted? The House is going to lay a new tax on all income as well as landed. It is going a step farther—just where arrested by Mr. Elphin stone. It is going to extend its new tax, to pro ceeds of capital which are not net income. It is :oing to tax, as income, funds which are clearly des cined to replace capital. Before it consummates this in ustice against other classes than those which prepon derate so decidedly at present in Parliament, is it not fair to ask it to begin by justice against its own class ? Would it not call with a better grace for contributions which really encroach upon capital, if it could first point to a voluntary sacrifice of an unjust privilege? With what degree of decency will it tax traders on more than their income, after deciding that the public revenue shall continue less than its just amount by exempting from taxation the descent to property of their own order ? STANDARD.—The Southampton Committee has made the proper use of the advice tendered to it, and Mr. Fleming has not been pressed for the answer which the Qommittee had no legal right to compel, and which, uncompelled, he could not give without a violation of confidence. We hail this return to the sound legal path with satisfaction, not only as proof that the Committee's error in the first instance was merely an error of misconception, but also as affording a precedent which must render the acts of this and other Committees more efficient, by making those acts more sober and considerate, and the Committees more respectable and more re spected. Many projects are offered from day to day, having for their object the prevention of corrup tion ; but, questionless, good Committees for the trial of controverted elections, present the most natural, the most simple, and the most constitutional preventive. When men are taught, as such Com mittees will teach them in a little time, that they must probably throw away the money which they expend in bribery, few will be so foolish as to ven ture in a lottery so unpromising. We much doubt whether, if the writs were issued to-morro w , an y purse laden adventurer would be found to take the chance of Sudbury or Ipswich. It is no doubt proper to punish the corrupting candidate and the corrupted electOr, and to punish them as severely as the laws will permit—and such exemplary punishments, co operating with the diminution of the chances of success and of impunity, would go further in check ing corruption than the ballot or fifty projects of the kind ; but we are not to be told at this time of day that it is the certainty of failure and punishment, and not merely the severity of the latter, that prevents crime—indeed the certainty of failure is a more powerful dissuasive than even the certainty of punishment after success. We hear every day of men committing crimesq the punishment of which is manifestly inevitable ; but we never hear of men out of Bedlam attempting impossibilities. The most desperate housebreaker never dreams of committing a burglary upon the Bank of England ; its walls, its locks, and its watchmen, more than serve the p ur p ose o f penal in protecting that establishment. The reason why a manifest impossibility, or even a great impro bability of success, operates more effectually to prevent crime than the utmost dread of punishment, is obvious without any metaphysical research. Oppor tunity is, of all the agents of the Evil One, the most successful tempter ; but manifest impossibilities or great improbabilities, shut out the sense of oppor tunity, and thus do what the fear of punishment can rarely do—arrest the very first movements to crime. How does it happen that nobody has ever yet made his way into the House of Commons upon a forged return ? The thing could be effected with less trouble and expense than a return by bribery ; and it could not be visited with a heavier punishment —not, as we imagine, with so heavy a punishment. The reason is, because the enterprise, though it might succeed for a day or two, would be sure to fail in the end. Now, let the same certainty of failure attend a return obtained by bribery, and you will no more have such returns than you will have forged returns. INCOME TAX. The fallowing address has been very generally cir culated at Norwich and the neighbourliood CITIZENS AND TRADESMEN,—The Bill for enforcing the iniquitous tax is now printed. It behoves you to look to its provisions before its burdens ale irremovably fixed upon you. Schedule Dis all that concerns you as tradesmen. It is a charge of 21. 18s. 4d. per. .cent. upon the profits derived from am profession, trade, employment, or vocation (the amount of wliizh is 1501. and upwards). No man so circumstanced can escape. It is a matter affecting you as individuals. The uncertain profits of trade, depending upon health and exertions, are taxed equally with the permanent produce of real and funded pro perty. A man who earns 2001. a year by his industry, has no capital, and who probaby will leave iris family unprovided for, is charged the same with 'a man who has 5,0001. at interest, which he can live upon, and leave behind him, for the main tenance of his family. . Observe ! You must deliver in the account of your profits, or pay a penalty of 201. and treble the amount of the duty 'for which Sou ate liable. If you send in your account, and it is not deemed satisfactory, you will be examined by the Commissioners, (probably your rivaltradesrnen,) whose questions, as to capital, returns, losses. &c., you must answer in writing, and be sworn to, if required. If your ,asses3mcnt be then increased, yon will be liable to pay treble duty. If the oath be false, you will be liable to the penalties of perjury. Where is your hope of escape? Again observe! How are your profits to be estimated? Maik the very words of the Act. •• No sum shall be deducted from such profits or gains, fur any sum employed, or intended to be employed as Capital in such trade. "Nor for any capital employed in improvement of premises occupied for the purposes of such trade. " Nor on account of any interest which might have been made on such sums, if laid out at interest. " Nor fir any debts, except such debts, or such parts thereof, as shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Com missioners ! ! ! to be irrecoverable and desperate." Thai's not all I Mark the el:max ! " In estimating the amount of prbfits, no deduction shall be inale on account of any annual interest, or any annuity, or annual payments, payable out of such profits or gains." Alen of Capitcl ! whether your own or on loan ! Trades men, who require the utmost farthing of your profits—Pause ! consider! and then be active to avert this enormous injustice! Or will you bend your necks to the yoke, in spite of WARNINGA VOICE ! THE SUN, 11,ONDON. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 29, 1 842. For the corismon portion of the Paris and Spanish Frontier R ilroad, between Orleans and Tours, 2,000,000 f. For the part of the Paris and Central Railroad, between Orleans . and Vierzon, 1,500,000 f. For the continuance of surveys, 1,000,000 f Total, 13,000,000 f. On the estimates of 1843: For the Paris and Belgian Frontier Railroad, 8,000,000 f. For the part of the Paris and Ger man Frontier Railroad, between Strasburg and Horn marting, 3,500,000 f. For the common portion of th 6 Paris and Mediterranean Railroad, and the Medi terranean and the Rhine Railroad, between Dijon and Chalons, 3,000,000 f. For the part of the Paris and Mediterranean Railroad, between Avignon and Mar seilles, 6,000,000 f. For the common • portion of the Paris and Spanish Frontier Railroad, and of the Paris and Atlantic Railroad, between Orleans and Tours, 6,000,000 f: For the part of the Paris and Centre Railroad, between Orleans and Vierzon, 3,500,000 f. For the continuation of surveys, 500,000f.—Total 30,500,000 f. CHAPTER lII.—WAYS AND MEANS.—Art. 17. Pro vision shall be made for the present from the floating debt for the part of the expenses which are to remain chargeable on the State, and the 'funds thus advanced shall be definitively repaid from such reserves of the sinking fund as shall be disposable after the budgets of 1840, 1841, and 1842, have been provided for. CHAPTER IV.—FINAL ARRANGEMENTS.—Art. 18. Each year the Minister of Public 'Works shall lay be fore the Chamber, an account of the works executed in furtherance of the present Bill. _ _ The President took - the sense of the Chamber as to the day on which the discussion on the Bill should take place, and, after several suggestions, Monday, April 25, was fixed on. SIR ROBERT PEEL'S EQUAL IN COME TAX. Passing by, for the present, the incomes derived from the public funds and other securities, and the salaries of public officers, let us consider that from " trades and professions." In 1814, the assessable amount of this was 37,058,9981., and now Sir R. Peel, taking care not to al lude to what it then was, estimates it at 56,000,0001. If this be true, the mercantile and manufacturing capi tal of the country has, within eight-and twenty years, increased by one-half, while the rent of land has stood still, and the capital engaged in its cultiva tion declined by one-third of its whole amount. In 1814, the income derived from the rent of land ex ceeded that derived from " trades and professions," by upwards of 20,000.0001.—n0w it falls short of it by 16,600,0001. So much for " protection !" Deducting one-fourth from the income of "trades and professions," Sir Robert reckons that it will yield a revenue of 1,220,000 L, which is 20 per cent. beyond what he ex pects from the landlords and their tenants put together. The inequality of any income tax is clear, from the total impossibility of assessing it on any fair and just principle ; but Sir R. Peel's is downright odious, from the gross partiality it shows to some classes of property, and its virtual proscription of others. It is needless to add that the favoured class is the landed interest. On Sir R. Peel's own showing, this and its share of the im post are as follows: rent of Land.. £39,400,000 Rent of Mines, &e.... 1,500,000 Tithes ........ ...... 3,500,000 Profits of Tonants... 38,396,000 NATIONAL CONVENTION. The Convention met yesterday morning at nine, at the Dr. Johnson Tavern, Feet-street. Mr. DUNCAN took the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A great number of letters were read from different parts of the country, enclosing signatures to be added to the National Petition. The petition already numbers three mil'ions of sig natures. N) other busine,s came before the Convention. Adjourned till nine o'clock this day. The following is a copy of the Address lately agreed to by tie Convention to the people of Great Britain : " Fellow Countrymen,—The members of the National Con vention, in the reports made by them of the present position and future prospect of the Chartist cause, have stated that much excitement prevails in various parts of the country, con cerning the different movements diy.ected ag"inst the present ,ystem of government, and the particular line of action we have adopted for the attainment of our principles; we, there fore, conceive it to be our duty to give you our advice as to the proper course which should be pursued in regard to these di visions. It is our unanimous opinion, adopted after mature deliberation, that you go on with your present movement for the People's Charter, whole and entire, FIRMLY ADHERING EVEN To TIIE NAME. " Extend your present organisation in England, and Scot land, and %Vales. Unite your energies for an attainment of that object for which you have so nobly struggled during many years, amidst reviling, persecutions, and misrepresenta tion. Turn ',either to the right lend nor to the left. Keep the even tenor of your way on principle alone. Extend the right hand of cordial welcome to men of all ranks, classes, and creeds, to induce them to unite pith you in the great struggle for national regenerwion and enfranchisement. " The People's Charter has become a household word : its principles are ongraven on the hearts of mibions of our fellow countrymen ; and the name is endeared by the recollections of the long sufferings endured, and perseverance exhibited, in its behalf. Amidst adversity and prosperity, in the hours of per secution and distress, we scorned to deny it, and are not dis p,oged to abandon it now, when its banners wave triumphant over ail other national standards. Each succeeding clay makes converts to you: principles; proving to the distressed of all classes that it is only thretigh their truth and justice that they can be freed from the errors and wrongs of class legislation. As the process of conviction and conversion goes np gmongst those that have been hitherto opposed to yen, various offers of union and support will be proposed to you, modified, according to the knowledge, prejudices, feelings, and position in life in which the parties may be placed, Some will only perceive, or acknowledge, your principles in part; others will acknowledge them entire, but object to your designation of them, or thin in which you struggle to attain them. To he first, your answer must be your conviction of the truth of your cause, and your hope that time and honest inouiry will im press that truth on them ; to the others, that you have no cause to be ashamed of your name, and cannot abandon it to suit the prejudices and fastidious taste of those that may ever and anon arise to find fault with it, while they adopt the principles it designates. A name to be fairly judged, ought to be so by the principles it represents, and not by the actions of any person or persons that may have borne it ; for those that act not in ac cordance with the principles, are not entitled to the name : therefore, those that adopt our principles, and shrink at their name, evince a weakness of mind which we lament, as show ing them unequal to the stern and unbending purpose which should nerve the patriot in his contest against wrong sustained y prejudice, falsehood, and persecution. "We look to yon, then, fellow-countrymen, to proceed wisely and firmly in the work in which we are engaged; keep your present organisation, adding to it the power that increased experience gives you, remembering that on each and all of you rest the responsibility of making your principles and their name respected_ln . your own persons. Go on, then, in the even caurse of justice and right,-hail with pleasure all movem ents based on the Charter that may arise to assist you in attaining your objects. If men are so weak as to object to your name, beat with them— quarrel not with them about a name ; but do not • imitate ,their weakness by abandonin g your own; insist - 011a stern adherence to principles; let these be your guide; watch earnestly for any.. wavering or COmpromise in those that profess to be with you for yours—then, and • not till then, condemn and resolutely oppose them, but let-all your opposition to your foes be guided by mild firmness, appealing to the truth of your cause for suc• cuss; have faith in that truth, and rest assured that, if the people honestly do their duty it will triumph over falsehood, wrong, and oppression." SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sta,—l beg to correct a mistake in your paper of Wednesday respecting the statement, given by a Corre spondent, of the 78th Highlanders. The regiment first known as " Lord Seaforth's" Highlanders is the present 72d Regiment, the corps whioh your Correspondent has reference to. My father served in the above regiment, and entered it when first raised; and I myself was also in the same corps. For a correct and interesting , sketch of the turn out on Leith Links I refer your readers to an article in Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, headed " An Edinburgh Fire-side Story," which appeared about three years ago. —Yours, respecfully. W. C. THE WINE TRADE. A letter has been received from an eminent mer cantile firm connected with the Oporto wine trade, containing some explanations as to the existing quan tity of port wine, described as so large in the Lisbon correspondence, published in the Times of the 4th inst., as well as much general information relative to the subject. The following is a statement of the ex portation of wines from Oporto during the last eight years : To the United Kingdom. To all other parts. Total. Pipes. Pipes. Pipes. 1834 ... 28,208 ... 3,150 ... 31,358 1835 ... 32,535 ... 5,933 ... 38,468 1836 ... ... 30,206 ... 3,079 33,285 1837 ... ... 21,110 ... 4,672 ... 25,782 1838 ... 26,057 ... 11,918 ... 37,975 1839 ' ... 26,159 ... 7,046 ... 33,205 1840 ... ... 25,678 ... 7,512 ... 33,190 1841 ... ... 21,011 . . 5,344 ... 26,355 Totals... 210,964 48,654 259,618 Average of 8 years 26,370 6,081 32,452 The high amount of the shipments during the first three years of the above list is accounted for by the fact that the siege of Oporto had continued during the greater part of the:two previous years, which, by interrupting the shipments, and consequently re ducing, the stock in this country, caused an increase in the years immediately following. The small amount set opposite to 1841 is accounted for by the general depression of trade, and the expected reduction of the duty. It is calculated that a vintage in the Upper Douro produces about 70,000 pipes upon an average, of which above 32,000 are usually shipped to this country, while 30,000 of an inferior sort are consumed in the neighbourhood of Oporto, and the remainder, which is still inferior to the second description, is generally distilled for brandy. It is this inferior sort, which could not pos sibly be drunk in this country, which the writers of the letter say is so abundant ; but while they admit this abundance, they affirm the good wines to be as scarce as ever, and wish to remove the impression that any fall in the price of these is at hand. The vintage of last year, according to their statement, produced wine of a very bad quality, which is a dead weight on the market, and could be had for a very low price ; while the vintage of 1840 has, it seems, produced wine of a superior quality, and which is in such general estimation that its value since that vint age has been nearly doubled. The Portuguese are said to be so tenacious as to the quality of their wines, and, withal, such very indifferent judges, the quality being always really tested in the British market, that they cannot comprehend the depression in the prices of the vintage of 1841, and are therefore hoping to force a price, by petitioning the Cortes to restrict the exportation. So convinced are they that the English must have their wine, that they think they have only to cause a fictitious scarcity and that the desired price will be paid. The dealers in this country, who are aware of these petitions, con sider that the English Government should be careful to introduce a clause in the treaty with Portugal,, by which such restrictions, which would probably con sist in obliging shippers to take a certain quantity of brandy, might be prevented ; and they hope also that if 2s. per gallon be taken off the import duty on port wine here, and a similar privilege be extended to brandy, an allowance may be made to those dealers who are encumbered with the stock already on their hands. It does not seem that 1841 was a bad year for the Portuguese wines alone, but a similar com plaint is made of the wines of Bordeaux, much of which produced by recent vintages is said to be un saleable, while the best growths of 1834 are stated to he in demand.—Times. FRENCH RAILWAYS. FRENCH CHAAIBER OF DEPUTIES. M. DUFAURE presented the Report of the Railroad Committee, which contained the following articles : CHAPTER I.—GENERAL ENACTMENTS.-Art. 1. A system of railroads shall be established, running,— first, from Paris to the Belgian frontier, by Lille and Valenciennes ; to England, by a point on the shore of the Mancht hereafter to be fixed on ; to the Ger man frontier, by Nancy and Strasburg ; to the Medi terranean, by Lyons, Marseilles, and Cette ; to the Spanish frontier, by Tours, Poitiers, Angouleme, Bordeaux, and Bayonne; to the Atlantic, by Tours and Nantes ; to the central ports of France, by Bour ges, Nevers, and Clermont ; and, secondly, from the Mediterranean to the Rhine, by Lyons, Dijon, and Mulhouse. Art. 2. The construction of the great lines mentioned in the foregoing article shall be executed with the aid of funds advanced by the State, by the departments through which they run, and by the communes in terested in the question, and by private industry, in the following proportions Art. 3. The indemnities due for ground and build ings required for the railroads shall be advanced by the State, and shall be repaid by the depart ments and communes to the amount of two-thirds. In each department through which a line runs the Council-General shall fix the share to be paid from theslepartmental funds, and for the payment of which extraordinary means shall be provided. The Council- General shall designate the communes called on to pay the remainder of the two-thirds, and will assign the contingent which each of them shall have to pay ac cording to its financial resources, and the interest it has in the undertaking. No indemnity shall be de manded for buildings or ground belonging to the State. Art. 4. The other third for indemnities, ground, buildings, embankments, station-houses, and other such works, shall be paid by the State. Art. 5. Rails, sand, materials, expenses of carry ing on the railroads, and repairs of all descriptions, shall be at the charge of the Companies leasing the railroads. The lease shall regulate the conditions of carrying on the railroad business, as well as the prices to be charged. Art. 6. At the expiration of the lease, the rails and materials shall he valued, and the amount paid by the Company which takes another lease, or by the State. Art. 7. Royal ordonnamtes shall fix the steps to be taken for according the railroad business with Custom house duties and regulations. Art. 8. The police, safety, and arr angemen t s o f th e railroads shall be fixed by the regulations of the public administrations. CHAPTER 2.—PARTICULAR ENACTMENT.--Art. 9. A sum of 43 millions shall be appropriated for the es tablishment of a railroad from Paris to Lille and Va lenciennes, by Amiens, Arras, and Douay. Art. 10. A sum of 11,500,000 f. shall be appropri ated for the part of the railroad from Paris to the German frontier, between Hommarting dnd Strasburg. Art. 11. A sum of 11 millions shall be appropri ated for the common portion of the railroads from Paris to the Mediterranean, and from the Mediter ranean and the Rhine, between Dijon and Chalon. Art. 12. A sum of 30 millions shall be appropri ated for the part of the railroad from Paris and the Mediterranean, between Avignon and Marseilles, by Tarascon and Arles. Art. 13. A sum of 17 millions shall he appropri ated for the common portion of the railroads from Paris to the Spanish frontier, and from Paris to the Atlantic, between Orleans and Tours. Art. 14. A sum of 12 millions shall be appropri ated for the part of the railroad between Paris and the centre of France, between Orleans and Vierzon, Art. 15. A sum of 1,500,000 f. shall be appropriated to the continuation of the survey of the railroads spe cified in Art. 1. Art. 16. For the lines already mentioned a sum of 126 millions shall be granted to the Minister of Public Works, on the estimates of 1842 and 1843, in the fol lowing proportions :—On those of 1842: For the part of the Paris and Belgian railroad, between Paris and Amiens, 4,000,000 f. For the part of the Paris and German frontier railway, between Strasburg andllom marting, 1,500,000 f. For the common portion of the Paris and Mediterranean line, and of the Mediterranean and Rhine line, between Dijon and Chalons, 1,000,000 f. For the part of the Paris and Mediterranean Rail road, between Avignon and Marseilles, 2,000,000 f. £82,798,000 X 1,127,197 Here is a property of upwards of eighty-two millions, which yields but 1,127,1971. but which, v►eire it assessed on the same principle as all the other descriptions of property are, ought to have yielded 1,833,037/. It pretends to be assessed at 7d. in the pound, and is, in reality, assessed only at 41-d. Sir R. Peel, therefore, besides preserving their monopoly to the landlords, pays them, to pass his Bill and keep his place, a wholesale bribe exceeding seven hundred thousand pounds per annum ! ! Coming next to the income of the industrious classes, let us see how Sir R. Peel deals with it. According to his own estimate it is as follows : House Rents . Public Funds, &c 30,000,000 ... Ditto ... 646,000 Shares 3,429,000 ... Ditto ... 75,362 Trades and Professions 56,000,000 ... Ditto ... 1,200,000 .£114,429,000 £2,470,812 The great body of the owners of this description of property has no majority in the House of Commons—no monopoly to defend—no power to keep a Minister in place. Consequently no bribe is paid to them, but, on the contrary, the 7d. in the pound is exacted to the last farthing; and it follows, of course, that under a pretended equal tax of 21. 18s. 4d. in the hundred, they are actually 'taxed by 64 per cent. above the favoured class. Any one that chooses to follow these few simple figures will be at no loss to detect the juggler in his trick. But even this is far too favourable a statement for Sir R. Peel's scheme. From the 82,000,0001., and upwards which come under the head of. land, we must deduct three-fourths for the clerical tithe which are enjoyed by the clergy as mere annuitants ; and this sum, as well as the 7,000,0001. of public salaries, must be added to the incomes of those unconnected with the land, or living by means more or less precarious. In this case, the assess ment for the first will be 80,021,0001., its contribution to the income tax 1,074,420/., while the assessment for the last will be 124,420,4001., and its contribution will be near 2,700,000/. Thus the boasting and boasted—the petted and the favoured landed interest will contribute to Sir R. Peel's Equal income tax but twenty-seven parts in the hundred,—but Five shillings and one penny in the pound, while in return for this pittance it receives from the contributors of the remaining part of the 3,700,000/., twelve millions, at least, for the corn monopoly, and two millions, at the lowest reckoning, through its exemption from the probate and legacy duty. The trading and manufacturing interests, on behalf of themselves and the working classy s, complain of such distress as they never knew before, and prove the Corn laws to be the principal cause. The patriot Minister answers, " Let the Corn-laws continue ; and in order to perpetuate them, in so far as in me lies, let the impost which your fathers abhorred be reimposed, and in such a shape, too, that the complainants shall contribute 13s. 4d. in the pound of its amount, while the opressors shall pay but Gs. Bd. !" This is the very antithesis of justice and fair-play. " Bold and honest Sir R. Peel !". say some over-liberal Members of the House of Commons. We cannot join them, but willing, at the same time, to concede to any sort of merit, its due !need of applause, we say to Sir Robert, just as we would have said tdßarrington, or to any other gentleman of his class, that distinguished himself by the lightness of his fingers above all his con temporaries, and who, as the reward of such excel lence, acquired a domicile for life at the Antipodes, " Dexterous and unscrupulous Sir Robert—yet not ab solutely, after all, so nimble but that we feel your hands in our pockets !" Sir R. Peel's income tax, therefore, starts on an avowed principle of partiality and gross inequality ; but the working of . the measure will give rise to endless in equalities, which, although transparent enough, are not quite so much on the surface.—Examiner. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterdry a Court was held for ?he transaction of a great deal of business. The Lord Mayor laid before the Court her Majesty's most gracious a•.swer to the address on the subject of the Corn-laws. Ordered to be entered on the minutes of the Court. TILE ROYAL EXCHANGE. Air. R. L. JONES brought up the Report of Royal Ex change and Gresham Trusts Committee, on having agreed with the Bank of England for the advance of the suns of 70,0001., for the City's moiety of expense of re-building the Royal Exchange and the new Gresham College, and for making a bond for 5,000/. part thereof. On the Report being read, a conversation of some length took place upon the subject of the mode proposed for redeem ing the loan ; and Air. Jones having offered no objection what ever to the postponement of the consideration of that part of the Report, the Court agreed on the former portion, relative to the negotiation with the Bank. It was mentioned incidentally in the discussion, by Mr. R. TAYLOR, that it would be very well if the City Lands Com mittee would take care in letting the estates to prevent them from being made burial places.—(Hear, hear.) And Alt% HALL (the Chairman of the Committee) stated that the Committee mere doing all they could to prevent the extension of the nuisance : - : (Huar, hear.) CITY RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. The Chamberlain's annual account of the receipts and ex penditure of the Corporation was handed into Court, and or dered to be printed. MANSION HOUSE IMPROVEMENT. A very long discussion took place upon the Report of the Committee, recommending the removal of the attic over the ball-room at the Mansion-house. The Report was ultimately agreed to, and referred back to the Committee to be carried into execution. THE NUISANCE AT HOLBORN HILL. A petition was presented from 3lr. John Belcher, proposing a viaduct as a means of remedying the evil arising from the acclivity at Holborn-hill, &c.—Referred to a Committee. SERVICES OF CLERKS IN OFFICES OF THE CORPORATION. Mr. R. T.tlaoa moved, that it be referred to the Officers and Clerks' Commitiee, to consider the length of service of Mr. Benjamin Welton, and Mr. Henry Welton, of the Town Clerks' Office, and t o report whether any increase should be made to their salaries. A discussion of great length took place upon this motion, which was warmly seconded by Sir Peter Laurie, and supported by Mr. R. L. Jones and others; and opposed by Mr. Ander ton, Mr. Wire, &e. Every Member who spoke admitted the strong claims of the two gentlemen, who In.ve been for a num ber of years in the Town Clerk's Office, and have been distin guished not less for urbanity of Manners, than for knowledge of the business of the Office, and ability in communicating information connected with it. The supporters of the motion of reference contended that the Court would do itself credit by recognising those claims in the most unequi vocal ; but the opponents .f the Report urged that the les manner rs.li,eiton were the servants of the Town Clerk and not of the Corporation, t o w hi c h t h e Town Clerk was re s p ons ibl e for the proper performance of all the duties ; and that, there fore, upon principle, the motion ought to be negatived, in what ever shape the Court might think proper hereafter to reward those to whom the motion related. ..... Thu motion was finally negatived, and the Court adjourned In order to facilitate the execution of the railroads projected by the Austrian Government, the provincial states of Styria have offered to pay for all the ground within their dis trict which will be required for that portion which is to pass through it. At the same time the Government, wishing to ex pedite the great work as much as possible, has appointed eight chief engineers, each having four assistants, to survey the ground and trace out the lines to run between Vienna and Trieste, and Vienna and the Saxon frontier. The plans will be finished in the course of the summer, and immediately after wards brought into execution. The Trieste line is expected to be finished within five years, and by the end of the same period those between Venice and Milan, and Vienna and Brody, en the frontier of Saxony. The scarlet fever is raging to a great extent at Lewes, aid yesterday the Town Crier went round the borough cautioning the inhabitants from going through John-street, in consequence of nearly every house being infected with it. IMPERIAL PA.RL I A;IIEN T. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 28. Their Lordships met shortly before Five o'Clock. Several Private Bills were advanced a stage. Lord Mahon, and others from the Commons, brought up the Copyright Bill, the Huish Champilower Enclosure Bill, the Glasgow atel Redburn Bridge Bill, the Shef field, Ashton, and Manchester Railway Act Amendment Bill, the Nottingham Improvement Bill, the London and Blackw all Railway Bill, and several other Private Bills, which were severally read a first time. CORN-LAWS. Lord CAMPBELL, in the absence of the Marquis of Breadalbane, presented seven petitions from various places in Scotland, against any duty in the importation of Corn ; and two petitions from the Counties of Down and Londonderry, for a revision of the law relating to Mixed Marriages. LAW OF EVIDENCE IMPROVEMENT BILL. Lord DEN MAN said, he wished to mention the order of the day for the Law of Evidence Improvement Bill, and as there was some difference of opinion on the sub ject, instead of the Bill being reported to-day, he begged to move that it be referred to a Select Committee on Monday.—Agreed to. The Committee was then appointed, and the House adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 28. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. LICHFIELD ELECTION. Mr. DIVETT, as Chairman of the Committee, ap pointed to try the merits of the petition against the re turn for the Borough of Lichfield, reported to the House that Lord Alfred Paget was duly -electel to serve in the present Parliament for the said Borough. BLACKBURN ELECTION. Sir EDMUND HAYES, as Chairman of the Com mittee appointed to try the merits of the petition against the return for the Borough of Blackburn, reported to the House that Mr. Hornby was duly elected to serve in the present Parliament for the said Borough. LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, the 351 for altering and amending the London and Blackwall Rail way Bill was read a third time and passed, after the ad dition of a clause by way of rider, to compel steamboats to land their passengers at Brunswick wharf. PRIVATE BILLS. The Huish Champflower Inclosure Bill ; the Glasgow and Redburn Bridge Road Bill ; the Sheffield, Ashton under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway Bill ; and the Great Torrington Market Bill, were severally read a third time and passed. The Bromyard Roads Bill ; the Argyll Roads Bill ; the Wicklow Harbour Bill ; and the Bill for Incorpor ating the North American Colonial Association of Ire land, were severally read a second time and passed. THE TARIFF. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the tanners, boot • and shoemakers, and persons concerned in the leather trade of Birmingham, against the reduction of the duty on foreign manufactured leather. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented several petitions, signed by upwards of 4,000 people, and thirty-five petitions from Wesleyan congregations, against any further grant to the College of Maynooth. BETTER OBSERVANCE 01? THE SABBATH. Mr. NEILL presented a petition praying the House to pass some legislative enactment for the better observ ance of the Sabbath. NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND). Colonel ACTON presented several petitions from places in Ireland, against the present system of National Education, and approving of the plan proposed by the Church Education Society. INCOME-TAX. Mr. GREENE presented petitions from the attorneys and solicitors of Lancaster, complaining of the stamp-du ties which they had to pay, and praying that in the In come-tax Bill provisions may be made suitable to their peculiar position. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition from Port Philip, in New South Wales, signed by upwards of 1,000 inhabitants, praying for a local Government independent of the Government of Sydney. Mr. BLEWITT presented a petition from the rope rc akers of the port of London against the proposed altera tions in the tariff affecting their trade. Mr. HOGG presented a petition from the Mechanics' Institute of Beverley, praying that places employed for the instruction of adults might be exempted from the payment of rates and taxes. CHURCH EDUCATION SOCIETY. Mr. SHAW presented some petitions from Down and Antrim, praying for aid for the erection of schools in connexion with the Church Education Society. BUDE LIGHT. Mr. HODGSON HINDE presented a petition from a gentleman, whose name did not reach the gallery, stating that he was the inventor of the Bude Light, and that hearing a Select Committee was about to report to the House on the remuneration to be given to Mr. Gurney, for the benefit his Bude-light lamps had done the House, he (the petitioner) prayed that his petition might be referred to the same Committee, in order that he might have an opportunity of establishing his claim. ATTORNEYS CERTIFICATES DUTIES. Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a petition from some attorneys in the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying for the abolition of the duties payable yearly on attorney's certificates. READING ELECTION COMMITTEE. The Members selected to try the merits of the peti tion against the late return for this borough, were sworn in as follows :—Mr. C. W. Hogg, Chairman ; Lord Sey mour, the Hon. Henry Howard, Mr. Charles Buller, Mr. W. T. Egerton, Mr. T. W. Bramstone. The ComMittee will commence their sittings at eleven o'clock to-morrow. PENRYN ELECTION COMMITTEE. The following Hon. Gentlemen were called over as the Members of this Committee :—Mr. G. T. Brooke, the Hon. R. 0. Cave, Mr. C. Wood, Major C. CuMmiog Bruce, Mr. J. Hardy, Mr. G. P. Scrope, Mr. C.W. Pack. Major C. Bruce did not answer, and the swearing was put off a short time. Captain PEC HELL presented a petition from twenty solicitors of Brighton, praying that in case an Income tax should be imposed, they might be exempt from the annual stamp duties ; also a petition from Daniel Phillips, of New Sarum, praying that as the half of the duty on corn was now taken off, that the other half might also be taken off.—(Laughter.) Sir H. H. INGLIS presented a petition from the in cumbent of Kingston, in Gloucestershire, praying the House to amend or repeal the Tithe Commutation Act, and complaining of the conduct' of the Tithe Commis sioners in Gloucester. Mr. W. MILES presented a petition from the At torneys of Somersetshire praying to be exempt from the operation of the Income-tax. PENRYN AND FALMOUTH ELECTION. The Members appointed to try the merits of a peti tion complaining of an undue election for the boroughs of Penryn and Falmouth, were then called up to the table and sworn ; Major Cumming Bruce, who was absent when the names were first called over, having since entered the House. The Committee was appointed to meet at one o'clock to-morrow. SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION COMMITTEE. Mr. REDINGTON brought up a Report from the :: , outhampton-Election Committee, stating that William Roes Nabson having disregarded the Speaker's warrant, ordering him to attend before the Committee appointed to try the merits of a petition complaining of undue election for the borough of Southampton, and to bring with him certain documents in his possession, he (Mr Redington) as Chairman of that C omm itt ee had com mitted the said William Rous Nabson to the custody of the Sergeant-at. Arms, to await the pleasure of the House. He was sorry, on the part of this Committee, to be obliged to appeal to the House. In the present instance the party having been ordered, by the Speaker's war rant, to produce certain documents, which the Com mittee considered material, had neither produced those documents, nor assigned any adequate reason for not producing them. In consequence, no other course was left for the Committee than to appeal to the House to enforce the Speaker's warrant. He, therefore, as Chairman of the Committee, begged leave to move that William Rous Nabson be committed to the gaol of Newgate. • Sir V. BLAKE seconded the motion. Mr. BUCK, as a member of the Committee, dissented from the resolution come to by it, and protested against the course now adopted. Mr. GODSON did not know whether, before the House came to a decision on the matter, he was in order in mentioning what had occurred in the Committee. He had been informed by the Speaker that no portion of the evidence could be mentioned, but he was not aware whether he could not mention the kind of docu ment respecting which it was supposed the Speaker's summons had been disobeyed. The SPEAKER said, that the Hon. Member had no right to refer to the document, when it was not before the House. Mr. GODSON said, that as he could not mention the do cument, for the same reasoi I he presumed he could not men tion the excuse which the witness made for not producingit. He I)as not to be permitted to know that the document was not of any use at all ; but he was entitled to say, that, in his opinion, the document was of no value, and that if it were not the excuse for not producing it was as good as a man could give. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL understood that the ground 'Ten which the witness was to be committed Was that he had disobeyd the warrant. Now he thought it was essentially necessary that the House should see the warrant, that they should know when the witness was served with it, and upon what grounds it had been disobeyed, before a warrant was issued for the committal to Newgate. As it was a contempt of the Ilouse itself, and of the authority of the Speaker, they should know under what circumstances the dis obedience had taken place. He would suggest therefore, that the witness should be called to the bar of the House, and interrogated as to the grounds of his disobedience to the warrant. Mr. REDINGTON said he had no desire that the witness should be treated more harshly than the forms of the House required. He was perfectly willing to withdraw his motion in favour of the suggestion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. The HON. AIEMBER then withdrew his motion, and proposed in its stead that the Clerk of the Southampton Election Committee be called to the bar to produce the Speaker's warrant requiring the attendance of William Rous Nabson before that Committee. Shortly afterwards the Clerk of the Committee pro duced the Speaker's warrant for the attendance of Wm. Rous Mabson at the Southampton Election Committee. The warrant having been read by the Clerk at the table, Mr. REDINGTON then moved that William Rous Mabson should be brought to the bar of the House. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL doubted whether the warrant summoning the witness was regular, inasmuch as it was dated in September 1841.—(Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY said if this obectiun prevailed it would relieve the House from the trouble of trying any of the election petitions.—(Hear.) His Learned Friend must he aware that all the eieetion petitions were presented in the short session in the autumn of 1841, and the warrants of the Speaker were issued at that time.—(l-lear, hear.) He was quite surprised at the objection of his Learned Friend. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL had made no objection on the ground referred to by the Right Hon. Gentleman ; but he doubted whether the warrant was regular; if it was not, the party could not be imprisoned. He was not aware whether the summons was regular or not. The SPEAKER said his attention was drawn to the point at the close of last Ses3ion ; he then stated that it was quite a new thing, and he to , :k the best means of informing himself on the subject, having taken the ad vice of the proper law office: appointed by the House to assist the Speaker, and he had assured him that he .con sidered the warrant to to a regular warrant, and upon that opinion he had acted. The motion was then carried, and the Sergeant ordered to bring Mr. W. bus Mabion to the bar of the House. Having appeared at the bar, the following questions were put to him : The SPEAKER—Do you remember on the 13th day of September last, receiving a warrant from this House, requiring your attendance before the Committee appointed to try the Southamp ton petition, and by which you were required to produce before that Committee all books, documents, writings, printed papers, bills, receipts, and orders for the payment of money, referring to the last South ampton election ?—I do. When were those documents last in your possession ? —I can't say exactly, but within the last three months. Have you brought them before the Committee ?—I have not. Why have you not ?—Because I incautiously sent them to the Chairman of the Election Committee, and it appears that he does not acknowledge the receipt of them. Mr. THESIGER—Who was the Chairman, and what was his name ?—Captain Ward. Sir G. GREY—How long after you received the Speaker's warrant did you send these papers to Captain Ward ?—Three or four months after the 13th of September. Sir G. GREY—What made you part with them P—l did it incautiously, and lost sight of the Speaker's war rant altogether. Sir G. GREY—Did you apply personally or by letter to enable you to comply with the Speaker's warrant ? No ; I am not prepared with anything of the kind. I made no application of the kind. Sir G. di - MY—What makes you say that Captain Ward does not acknowledge the receipt of the papers ? —I have been told by a friend from Southampton to-day that Capt. Ward says he knows nothing about them. An HoN. MEMBER—Who did you send to Capt. Ward by ?—I sent a messenger to ask for them, but I don't know his name. Mr. C. BULLER—What documents did you send ? A cheque-book, and two or three little bills which I paid on account of the election. Mr. C. BULLER—Did you send them by Capt. Ward's desire ?—No ; it was my own idea. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—How came you pos sessed of the papers ?—I paid some bills and remained in possession of a list of them ; having understood that all the rest of the papers were sent to Captain Ward, I sent him these. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Who directed you to pay these bills ?—The bills were paid from the Con servative Association. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Had Captain Ward anything to do with it?—No. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—This was on the 13th of September ; have you since that day had any par ticular note or memorandum of the documents necessary to be produced before the Committee ?—Not since. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—You were called before the Committee the other day ; had you any inti mation of the particular docunients you had to bring ? Not the least. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Had you any op portunity of inquiring what documents would be neces sary P—None. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Is the House to un derstand that since the 13th of September no person has given you any information as to what papers you were to bring with you ?—Not the slightest. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—When the papers were asked for before the COrnmittee, was that the first intimation you bad that you were to produce them 7—lt was. Mr. O'CONNELL—Have you given up all the papers ?—Yes. Mr. O'CONNELL—Then a memorandum specifying what papers you were to produce would be perfectly useless. Mr. GODSON—In the margin of the cheque book you mention, was there anything more than the date, sum, and name of the person to whom it was paid ? Nothing more. Mr. GODSON—Was that the same sum as appeared on the bank-book, when produced before the Committee? An HoN. MEMBER objected to this question as the witness was incapable of answering it, and be was then ordered to withdraw. A short conversation here ensued between Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Godson, respecting the correspondence between a cheque and the counterfoil, but as the Hon. Gentlemen seemed to have misunderstood each other, we do not give the details. Mr. Mabson was then ordered to the Bar again. Mr. GODSON—Are you sure.that nothing more than the date of the sum of money, and the name A. 8., which would be in the body, appeared in the counterfoil ? —I am certain of it. An HoN. MEMBER—Did the counterfoil correspond with the body of the cheque ?—Precisely. Mr. THESIGER—What notice did you receive to attend the Committee ?—I received a notice on Monday night from Mr. Sharp, the solicitor, of Southhamp ton, quite suddenly. I was in London at the time. Mr. JACKSON—If you had been at home when you received the notice, do you think you would have recol lected those papers?—l am certain I should. Mr. O'CONNELL—Can you procure these decu ments?—l cannot say. Do you say that you cannot?— I don't know. Then you may?—l may possibly. By Mr. C. WOOD—To whom did you give these documents ?—I gave them to some of my people. To which of them ?—I cannot swear to which of them. Where ?—ln my own shop. I have some fifteen or sixteen people in my employment. Are the same people in your employment now ? No ; nut all of them. Can you ascertain the names of the people ?—I might do so by inquiry. By Mr. WATSON—Have you never spoken to Cap tain Ward on the subject of those papers ?—Never. By Mr. Sergeant JACKSON—You were not required by the Speaker's warrant at the time to produce those papers ?—I was not ; if I had been, I would not have been so incautious as to have given them away. What was the amount of the bill ?—I should think the amount of the bill was between 15/. and 161. By Sir G. GREY—What Is the whole amount of the money which was paid on the cheques cut out of that cheque-book, the counterfoils of which remained in your possession ?—I think something like 3,000/. The witness was then questioned by Mr. Watson as to who was the party to whom a certain cheque was de livered. Mr. THESIGER objected to the question on the ground that it was not relevant to the immediate ques tion before the House. Mr. WATSON said that the question seemed to him to have a close relation to the subject. Mr. TIIESIGER said he apprehended the inquiry was not a proper one, as the object they had in view was to ascertain if the party had committed a contempt by not producing certain documents..—(flear.) Mr. WA'I'SON said that they had been told the cheque books were of no importance, and he wished to elicit the truth of that statement.—(tlear.) Mr. GODSON—It was only said that the counterfoil was no evidence.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") The SPEAKER asked if the Hon. Member persisted in putting the question Mr. WA'I'SON said that as it appeared to be the wish of the Ilouse,• lie would persevere in putting the question.—(" Oh, oh.") . - The SPEAKER then desired the question to be put in writing. Mr. C. WOOD said he hoped the Hon. and Learned Member would withdraw th,t question.—(Hear.) He agreed with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. Thesiger) that the question was not relevant ; but at the same time when a question was put, in consequence of one which had been asked by the Learned Solicitor- General for Irdand, as to the amount of the cheques, the answer had been cheered by the party oppo site.—(Hear, hear.) But the question which was put by his Bight lion. Friend (Sir G. Grey), showed that the thing was not so immaterial as they seemed to think. Every day's experience showed them the inconvenience of discussing questions which might be better discussed before the Commit tee.—(Hear, hear.) The only way by which these Committees could be made available was to treat them as legal tribunals, bound by the rules of evidence, as legal tribunals were. The only difference that existed between them was, that the Committee had not the same power to commit for contempt that those tribunals had, but were obliged to come to ask that House for power to do so. With regard to the person, it seemed to him that he ought to be discharged from custody, and left Under the Speaker's warrant, the Committee pursuing the inquiry from the person to whom the documents were given, or from Capt. Ward. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, he admitted that before they proceeded to set aside a warrant, they ought to be satisfied that the warrant was irregular, but ho hoped the house would go along with him in consi dering that before they committed a person to Newgate, they ought to be satisfied that the warrant was regular. ____(llear, hear.) He for one considered that there had not been such a state of facts laid before the House as ought to induce them to send the witness to Newgate. It appeared that he had been served with a warrant from the Speaker, dated the 10th of September, re quiring him to bring in his custody all letters and accounts of cash relating to the late election, and all receipts for money, and all other documents and papers whatsoever relating to the said election, therewith- to be and appear before the said Se lect Committee at such time and in such manner as he shall receive notice from the parties signing the same, or from their agents. Now, according to the statement of the witness, he had received that warrant in the month of September, and until he came before the Committee he had received no intimation as to what papers would be required. He (the Attorney-General) must remind the House that such was not the usual course of proceeding with respect to ordinary eases of common law. A Mali who was aubpc2naed to attend a Court ef Justice, and to i . bring with hi m a var i e t y o f d ocuments, h a d , accor d- . ing, to ordinary courtesy, an intimation given to him of the d ocuments h e wou ld b e requ i re d to bring, some time before he was called on to attend, and he thought that this wit ness , b e f ore t h e part i es a pplied to the Committee to report his conduct to the House, ought to have been informed" some aloft time before that he would be required to produce such papers. By the ' warrant he • was called on to produce these pal)" at such time as he should receive a notice from the part fsigning the warrant. Unless he received ome- inti mation to produce those documents, he could not be described as having been guilty of a contempt- Now he had never been required to produce them at all.—(Loud dries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposition-) He repeated the man had been required to attend himself, but he had never been required to produce the documents at all.—(Renewed cries of " Oh, oh !") He.heard the noise made on the other side, but he appealed to their judgment, he appealed to the candid consideration of the House, whether he had ever so addressed the House on a legal subject as to induce them to believe that he had ever given any but what he conceived to be a just and proper legal opinion ? Whether he had not always boldly stated that opinion, or whether he had ever shrunk from stating anything that he believed to bo true from any motives whatsoever ; and he asked Hon. Gen tlemen who were then dealing with •him, fairly to hear and judge for themselves if lie ever had received notice to produce this document at at all. It would be much the better course to have the papers produced than to send the man to prison. Mr. REI)INGTON said the Committee had acted in this matter to the best of their judg ment. It appeared to them that the warrant ought to be obeyed, no matter what might be the courtesy observed in other Courts. Counsel had shown that those documeuts were material, and the witness had stated that he had given them to another party, whose name he could not recollect. But the Committee felt' that jus tice to the parties concerned would not be done, unless those papers were produced, and that they were bound to see. the authority of the Speaker's warrant obeyed. He (Mr. R.) wished now to ask, in what position they were •to stand. There was an order that this individual should produce those papers. At the time that order was served he was in possession of the papers.. Were they not to get . them, merely because he told them that he did not recollect the name of the person to whom he gave the documents ? What were they to do ? That evening a summons to Captain Ward had been signed, It would be most inconvenient to the business of the House to allow these papers to escape out of the witness's possession, and not to interpose the authority of the House, to prevent such a proceeding. He regrette . d. that the question had been again raised after the deci sion of the Committee. As Chairman, he would have considered himself guilty of a neglect of duty if he had not brought the case before the House. Setting aside the injustice done to the parties, he thought the objection taken by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman must fall to' the ground. He thought it would be a dangerous pre- , cedent to discharge a man who had been guilty of such conduct ; and he would therefore move that the prisoner, William Rous Mabsom, be committed to the custody O . the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. C. BULLER. seconded the motion. In his opinion the best safeguard which they could throw over the ad' ministration of justice in these Committees was to con sider their report on each matter as final. It appeared to him very unwise that when a Committee had reported that a witness had been guilty of disobedience to the orders of the House, the House should enter into an in quiry of such a • nature as the one with which they had been edified that night. He must say, that he thought the offence of thin mni t was a very grave one, and if the House overlooked it their jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the Core mittee 'would be utterly trampled upon and set at defiance.—(Hear.) The man in question had bees ordered to produce certain papers. There had been $ quibble raised about the warrant being issued last seg; sion ; but he presumed that when the warrant had been issued in due course, no party would be allowed to dispute its validity by such an afterthought' It appeared from the prisoner's own statement tha t having received an order from the House to bring 1 1 P certain papers relating to the Southampton election, h° I gave them all over to a third person without precaution, other than giving them to a shop-boy. - 1 1 48 received no acknowledgment from Captain Ward, and e l far as the House knew, Captain Ward denied having, received them—he (Mr. Buller) would say on the face ° f the thing that he did not believe the prisoner's story. He did not wish to be harsh upon him, and he did not saY that he disbelieved his story, but he must say that he could notimagine it true, when the only other party concerned io. it denied what he stated. The fact simply was, that sin ce receiving the warrant to bring all these papers before the House, he gave them to a third p a rty, and did not know whether that party ever got the m.-- (Hear.) He considered that it would be sacrificing the honour of the House if they overlooked the condos!, of a man acting in this way. He did say, that to let him go as a person who had behaved perfectly well . . would be most derogatory to the honour of that 11005, _ He therefore seconded the motion of his Honour able Friend with this specific object, namely, that the prisoner should remain in the custody of thz Sergeant-at-Arms, until the Committee shuttle' have time to examine Captain Ward and anY other necessary witnesses, to know whether his story was true, or whether he had flagrantly and purposely, is defiance of the orders of that House, put the papers out of the way.—(Hear.) Mr. HODGSON HINDE said that the Hon. Gentle man had stated that he had no reason to suppose that the witness at . the bar had acted under ant mistake after the receipt of the Speaker! warrant. He (Mr. Hinde) thought • that there ifs; no reason for believing that the statement T. the prisoner at the bar was not a bona fide stateruee: because if the witness had chosen to scr e , himself, he could easily have denied ever I e had the book at all in his possession. thou ht that the statement 'of the witness was a b °l3 o . fide one, namely, that he did not consider the documents material.—(Hear, hear.) lie , Hinde) therefore hoped the House would not censure the man, or detain him in custody, until CAPtaln Ward had been examined by the House, and Lt d ; was reason to suppose the statement was bons The prisoner was 'in that situation of life w 11 ,,A, would ensure his being forthcoming when reg rr it ti o He (Mr. H. Hinde), therefore, hoped that the IV, would agree to the adjournment of that debate f 0 he week, until Capt. Ward could be examined before be Committee. .He, therefore, moved, that the debate then adjourned. The motion having been seconded, JO Mr. JERVIS said, he should certainly tpPos e i ds) motion of the Honourable Member. He (Mr. Je r d, agreed with the Honourable Member for Lis ice' ee , that this was a case of the greatest import Via' It seemed to him that if they were to act on the P,O ciple which they had adopted the other night, they ' s : le ss w not take the garbled statements of one " 1 .. 1 5 as to his own evidence.—(Hear.) The House the bound to place implicit confidence in the Committ ee ' entl members of which were gentlemen on whoseholle u T ri cet judgment they could place the fullest relu t ss to and who alone were able to form a correct opinio n wit' the credit of the witness. If that were not so, t he beet' ness had, to a certain extent, though in a modified fain' d i et° guilty of disrespect to the House. Did he hand overetaio papers in the course of his business? If so, why did lie_l et ion, them for three months? and if he kept them for his pr°'` we, why did he not keep them now? It seemed to him, ther ;ooc l ' upon these short grounds, first, that the warrant wa s ' He and, secondly, that there had been a violation of it' d the should, therefore, vote for the motion of his Hon. Fr i " Chairman of the Committee. _ co to Mr. Sergeant JACKSON thought the House ought ' i t to dispose of this matter. as it had sufficient evidence beh'reueiss do so. No person would go further than he would ii" t° h , P , kel 4 parties guilty of a contempt o f th e H ou se, or o roatie glt papers from its inspection which ought to have been P io tall t d / He, however, thought that the p a rty iv. the presen t a ,tai had not been guilty of any contempt. The witness ha be O a , that until he was in the presence of the C o mrnitte e ' inoo ts, t i t i not aware that he was bound to produce any Ell ie $lO nothing was said on the subject in the warrant. ~•t:'e, , 0 vote against the motion of th e Hon. Gentleman °l'p' runt' re ott° Mr. LABOUCHERE reminded the Hou.e that T en co w was not to commit Mabson to Newgate as if he ba d ~, not ..,t° victed of bribery; all the House was asked to do w- ree ree° l "; dismiss the man, and he (Mr. L.) thought that the Nu , tha t ,"., mended by the Chairman of the Committee was the be .. si t ro un t o to leave the man in the custody of the Sergeantl t t ive t`' • t e st the Committee had examined other witnesses re ' l , l had J,,, 0 same point. But from what he (Mr. Labouelie“-rcoien ' • it now heard at the bar from Mabs‘n himself, his inf d said' tive that the greatest suspicion must attach to what,, e , an af n re. was most improbable that such a man, having '.5,,, not 0 "),„.. part in the proceedings of an election in a tosc" , .„, that re . eciving the Speaker's warrant minutely e%a illi d e etinae,": ou ld that i m ilhoen ae e n: r n trn:ehe t hhet idecoa : utdut ie a nrl d n depc d dwabas a ietptso f he t t senor Election tllylvvelieca produceta had a dfi d , ntwhddeohltsnlheeka papers so antphweeihrnes: that he h: t e : r e t(sh:o l a , b tc s 0 0 0 t rin ? tclei e t .. g e e x d t . reme tti withc h ar a lwaY ° it N'''''oo reluctanceoSOLlClTOß-GENERALn that Committees..he gave v saide any in tha t ye oyip ian, hi 7 ,, ri. J o e o n tit pr at iso. t. t, h i►l t, r , v ince t.• . _ ue stio-- , evening would co _ . 0 01 q a wed they were not the proper tribunal to decide 0i ,. . How p but He believed that the usual course which th a u,-. oatt nitte , r to in cases where there was not a contempt of ,L; , was e ithe r to a breach or the privileges of the House llse , l _ l o , Arm' °sub commit the party offending to the Serg" i n final n wtivn ittee , Newgate. Suppose that, according to the gibe Coma' __„. milted by the Hen. Member the Chairman of d t hat h:F if this person had been committed to Nev i t he c onsequ e b n ear. plied to the Queen's Bench, what vronid ?—( Hear,•., b e the Court of Queen's Bench dischargoleuncb would again and' This House and the Court of Queen's , r o f importance, _e placed in collision. That was a ma t t e the man slou a l t 4 s - e p t therefore, before they decided that should b e s• i : c c ,' sent to Newgate, the House 2"" ' le gal warrant, „Lie, that the person had disnbeyet, a . comm ittee el if he had been ordered to attend tne But 1 . ion Hear, hear.) session, and was committed another, b of the legality of that proceeding. —( nitee were of op i n ion were a proper warrant, and if the Com ark_ if that . weleom that these papers were designedly kept h that_ hgt to be ~_ opinion of the House,_ then he thought . according Corn' mitted to custody. It appeared to him, be better if the 9.0. ordinary course of Committees, it would noned the person ,te. mittce, in the present instance, had summoned ht that tn But if they thong ,_ t they' whom the papers were given. , as e t opinion tna ~,b e papers were kept back designedly, n e o w f the Committee. 0 ought to be bound by the decision said that there was . 11 ,1 had very Right Honourable Gentleman hadl power of getting at the truth summons—the better had the power of issuing a fresh and surely it was erson the power of issuing a fresh warrant, 1 dth that al' . a, opte an , _ hie the documents; but he had surelyufnoregotten that th B e pe C a h ke i r rt l l ,, 3 ad that such a course should be n should be Mr. C. WOOD had never intended that th On athe contrary, might t d bbeednenombtmedit.ted upon a warra discharged, as if he had done nothing wrong. . s the witnessgr preodd'oulut,tbhetni: he believed the man had done wrong; but nei, thought he shoutct nt, the letghalritydiodl h w e s. prove of sending him to Newgate. be kept in the custody of the Sergeant-all:Arms, until lila e"" .---~"'"E"'.► l