The Sun. — London, England, 1849-04-20 00:00:00

Portions into a corner, and there grapple with the remedy, as recommended by the Boundary Commis • sioners.—(Hear, hear.) Unless they got at these plague spots, ho firmly believed they would be only extending, and daily augmenting, the evil. With respect to the proposition made by the Right honourable Member for Taneworth, he believed the plan would be attended with the greatest evils, and more particularly that Portion of it which referred to a large scheme of emi gration,, which wou ld b e o pp ose d by the Catholic c lergy, who were inseparable from their people, and would not permit them to be driven out of the country in the manner proposed by that plan. With respect to (migration he hoped her Majesty's Government would le exceedingly cautious in interfering with voluntary !Migration, and especially with one of the best feel ings which could possibly exist—the anxiety evinced by the successful emigrants to assist their friends anJ relatives to join them in America. He would now allude to the subject of private charity to Ireland from England, and he would observe that whatever might have been said by angry spirits brooding over real or imaginary wrongs, the heart of Ire'and was deeply grateful for the unparalleled generosity exhibited towards her by the people of.England.—(bear, hear.) Colonel RAWDON was averse to the rate in ail, be cause he thought it was opposed to the Act of Union, and to the promise given by Mc. Pitt at the time of the union, that Ireland should be identified with England. If the rate in aid were a general rate in aid, extending not over only the counties of Ireland but also of Scotland and England, the people of Ireland would willingly bear their share of such a tax. He would also protest against the manner In which the affliction of Providence had been treated in that House ; and he especially felt deeply pained at the sentence of death which bad been pronounced by that House when the Minister experienced so much difficulty in obtaining the paltry grant of 50,0001. for the starving people.—(hear, hear.) He laid the blame boldly at the door of the Imperial house of Commons.—(Hear, hear.) He felt that he should be wrong in throwing the whole of the blame on the Ministers.—(Bear, hear.) He at the same time en tirely agreed with what had been said by the Hon. Mem ber for Longford, relative to the private charity of Eng land—(llearehear)—and which he knew was appreciated by the people of Ireland, for the feeling of gratitude was one that beat warmly in the Irish heart. The Hon. Member concluded by saying that Ireland was essentially an agricultural country, and that her dependence must be upon agricultural prosperity. Mr. HORSMAN could not support the amendment, because the Hon. Member seemed to consider that an income-tax was to be a substitute for the rate in aid. He thought the question should, on the contrary, be met by a direct negative.—(Hear, hear.) What was the fact? They were asked to advance a certain sum of money on the security of the rate in aid. Now, what security was there that the rate would be collected?—(Elear, hear.) He held the evidence on that point in his hand, on the evidence of officials employed by the Government itself. As to the worthlessness of the rate and the utter hope lessness that a sixpence of it would ever be paid, the evidence he had alluded to was clear and conclusive. The policy which should be pursued was a matter of the utmost moment in the present circumstances, and on that Point the Right Hon. Baronet, the Member for Tam- Worth (Sir R. Peel) had directed public attention to a course against which they could not shut their eyes.— ar, hear.) The Hon. Member then referred to the evidence given by Mr. Griffiths before the Irish Poor law Committee, also to that of Mr. Gulson, as to the valuation, the collection of the poor-rate, and its practi cability. He also quoted the evidence of Mr. Huband as to the repayment of the loans—his opinion being that there would be a decided objection to pay money back on any account.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. Senior was the nett witness, and he was of opinion with Mr. Gulson that any attempt to levy the rate in aid would be met by resistance, and that the new rate would endanger the collection of the old rate. Mr. Senior also thought that the rate in aid proposed to be levied would be an unfair rate, and that more than a sixpenny rate would be required to meet the difficulty. He was next asked as to the con duct of the guardians, and he stated that he believed they would prefer resigning to levying the rate. Captain Xennedy was also examined on the same subject, and gave similar opinions. Now, all this proved that the Government, in bringing in such a measure in the face of such evidence, must have altogether disregarded the conclusions at which the witnesses bad arrived. They bad then this prospect before them, that, with Ireland getting worse, and her misery increasing, the money which it would be necessary to raise would ultimately have to be met by the taxpayers of England.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore looked upon the proposition of a rate in aid as a mere delusion, as it was a measure which never could be carried out, and he doubted whether it Ives intended to be carried Out. The time was come when they should give up mere matters of expediency. --(Hear.) At the eleventh hour the Right Hon. Baro net (Sir R. Peel), had come forward and had proposed a Plan to which he felt disposed to give every considera tion. As regarded Ireland, the Right Hon. Baronet had established the magnitude of the calamity —as regarded England, the vastness of the opportunity ; and as regarded Parliament, th e greatness of the difficul ty. If he had done no more than this, he would have done a great deal—but he had done more. Ile had made a speech whi c h sho we d hi s k now l e d ge o f tho conditioe of Ireland. He had proved to them that the time of Par liament Could no longer be wasted on shifts and expedi ents, but that measures of large magnitude must be ap- Plied.—(Hear, hear.) He could assure the Learned Member for Newcastle that he discussed the question proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet with reference to its neeiite, and nut with reference to the individual by whom it had been brought forward. The principal fea ture of that plan was, that it was necessary for the rege aeration of Ireland that a great change should take place in its proprietary; and undoubtedly, if they could substi tute a solvent and enterprising proprietary instead of an insolvent body, they would produce an improved state of society. He understood, however, by that term, a body of c o mparatively small proprietors, because he bad no faith in the benefits to be derived from advances to lar g e proprietors. The Right Hon. Gentleman had re peatedly glanced at a small proprietary in the exposition of his plan. That plan, as far as he understood, em braced three leading features. In the first place there should be a clear and simple title against the world. Ii the second, limited liability to poor and other rates; awl in the third place there must be capital.—( Hear, hear.) Now he believed that whatever the &amities might be in the way of bringing this combination of elements into play, there were none which might not be overcome if the Right Hon. Baronet was properly and fairly sup- Ported in the attempt to carry out his plan. As regarded the principle of appointing a commission and superseding the Court of Chancery, with respect to etc grant of titles, he believed the proposition had secured very gene. ral assent, and that it could be practically and beneficially carried out. As to limited liability, that was incompa tible with a rate in aid.—(Hear, hear.) The rate in aid implied unlimited liability, and it was not under its operation that the obj* ct of securing a new and enterprising proprietary could be attained. Ile believed that the great distress now existing in Ireland had been brought about by the poor-law which they had inflicted upon Ireland. Without that law t hey would not have had greater distress in Ireland, nor '55 generosity in Englan ; but there would have been this difference, that the farmers of Ireland would no! h ave been ruined and driven out of the country, leaving Whole tracts of land desolate. With respect to the pros - _ i f e nts of the introd u C t i on o f capital i nto Ireland, he be eved that t h ere was every natural inducement for it ii ,ihe artificial obstacles were removed. There was a fer t_i!eand vi rg i n so i l i n close proximity to the rich market °I England. All that was required was to encourage th e creati on o f a race of small proprietors. Whenever such a body was found in E uro p e , all experience te s ti- Ited to their value. Mill, Aiken, Young, and others, showed that th e i r i n t erest i n the land was immediate a nd direct, and their industrious habits of the most -valu able description. " Give them a desert, and they will ure. it into a gar d en ," sa id Arthur Young. In Switzer land, Norway, B e l g i um , and other parts of Europe, they were highly esteemed, as the very strength and sinews of the State. Well, now, were they t o p ro d uce such a body o f i ndustrious small proprietors by giving them Government assistance? They had advanced money to larg e proprietors, which he considered a vicious system, for anything that enabled them to struggle with their embarrassments, and kept the land out of cultivation, Was vicious in its effects. Let them, therefore, stop the advances to large proprietors, and grant them to small ones. Such loans to be made on the security of the land to be cultivated by them, with a proper guarantee against sub-letting. They had experience of the effect es of adva nces t o thi s most i n d ustr i ous and useful class. There had been lent to them, upon personal security in Ireland, by loan-fund societies, no less a sum than 1 .e 87 0,000/., and the profits had been as hi gh as 400 .000/, in one year. This proved that su c h a mo d e c, :Procedure would be equally safe and satisfactory, 9 ',1 1(1 in conjunction, with measures for the encourage- Tent of a ajudicious system of emigration , would be question an a m pl e reme d y f or th e wants of Ireland. The ' lle stion before the House was, whether they should a t tablish a permanent policy in t h at coun t r y—whether hey w ould treat it as an Irish or au Imperial question, Th e N o b le Lord loo k e d f orwar d with i .° 1 3 0 to the restoration of the potato and the formere c ondition of thi ngs , w hil e th e H o n. Baronet pro ced_ a tho roug h regeneration of the country. He be d that legislation was the cause of all the evils in rei and•—(lle ar , h ear.) It was' that which on the most fertile of soils made a large proportion of the people „Paupers, which, in a most healthy country, reduced the ave rage n 0... .6 d urat i on of life to 26 years. The question was '"" M such a position that the House could not dare to set it rest tent policy it was. They must work out a perma• burden ofY by which Ireland might be relieved from the They ratistmeuperism, and its resources brought into play. e to the consideration of this question in tH more high done. The Itigdh generous spirit than they had hitherto position before the c'n. Baronet had placed it in such a fairly dealing with u7aosuntry that they could not avoid he trusted they would great and important matter, and tinuing a policy made adop t his policy instead of con ahifts.—(Cheers.) uP °f meanan mac d •h . tevous make- Major. BLACKALL said, fitleeta the moment the rate In aid had been -proposed, h e at once stated that as .11 Irishman he was ready to su i b i tto taxation in order I,orrelieve Irish distress from Iritilsh resources But he did think it was most unjust that the taxation for that property exclusively. as should be borne by landed bfeen the the last year landed property had h t_Tut to contribut e no less than 1,700,0001. or re nf distress, and for local purposes and re eau& expended 01(1)(foni.bl. payment f c works 1,300,0001. more, making it t tot e ' of 3,000, try ' 53 . y. the pound of the whole rental of th ir in a rental of 13,000,000/, • or ncR t ...ae tnought, therefore., that it was but fair tehacrithe. wh;_i_ax. should fall Upon those descriptions of property h ad hitherto scaped; anti believed that, upon - v consideration of Polk t4jlo. Friend the Membety•fand ju4ic° ' "e motion of I Auk of _ Kerry , 41 buy %miaow, preferable TILE SUN, LONDON, The CHANCELLOR of :he EXCHEQUER said, with respect to the proposition of the Government, two of the Irish Members who had addressed the House had spoken in its favour, two had opposed it, and two had done neither the one nor the other, but had protested against any additional burden being thrown upon Ireland in its present condition.—(Bear.) He could assure the Hon. Member who brought forward the amendment, that he was not disposed to taunt the Irish Gentlemen with any desire to shrink from the performance of their duties. During the last three years it had been his duty to listen from week to week to the powerful tales of dis tress which abounded in that country, and the diffiail ties by which the gentry were surrounded. He had no no hesitation in saying, although ho made the statement without the least intention of conveying offence, that the conduct pursued by the Irish Mem b,rs had considerably aggravated the difficulties which presented themselves to the Government in legislating for Ireland. The discussion of the great question of adapting an ameliorative policy for Ireland had been reduced by them to a discussion of the details of the poor-law. and they contended that the destitution which afflicted that country was not owing to the three years' famine, but to the maladministration of that law and the legislation of that House. Could any person who knew the deplorable state of many of the western districts, the wide-pervading distress, the ruin that befel many proprietors of land from receiving no rent, and the desolating of the land—could any man who had knowledge of those things state in truth or sincerity that this melancholy condition of affairs was to be attri buted to the largeness of the area of taxation and the mode of assessment, and not to the dispensations of Pro vidence. The poor-law, he admitted, might have aggra vated the pressure on property, but no man, surely, could doubt that life to a considerable extent was saved by its operation, and by the assistance which Parliament rendered in the shape of grants and loans, and other legislative measures. Ho could not agree with the Hon. Member for Roscommon that, because an additional amount of poor-rate to the extent of 1,300,0001. had been raised off Ireland during the year ending De cember last, there was any breach of faith with the landed proprietors. The sum so levied, it was true, doubled that raised in the previous year, and that which might have been expected in the ordinary course of events; but circumstances which could not have been guarded against, and which it was not in human power to control, rendered the great increase altogether matter of necessity. But for the poor-law, much as it had been cavilled at, distress and destitution and death in many of the unions must have been far greater than they un happily had been. He maintained that no considerable diminution of the area of taxation would have righted those unions, and that no matter what alteration they made, extraneous assistance would still have been necessary. Having alluded to the opinions put for ward by various Members with reference to the question of meeting the difficulty, and to the justice and expediency of rendering Irish property liable to the support of Irish poverty, and baying drawn attention to the opposition manifested, not unnaturally, he admitted, by English Members, to the system of grants and loans, the Right Hon. Gentleman said it was conceded that in the present state of Ireland extensive aid should be given to the distressed unions. In one of these unions, itilrush, eviction to a greater extent had been carried on than in others, and in the spree° of twelve months 13,000 humsn beings were sent houseless on the world. All parties admitted the necessity for assistance, and the question was, in what manner could Ireland be most fairly and lightly sub jected to the impost required for the sustainment of her destitute population? The House of Commons had already decided by a large majority that Ireland should contribute the sum considered necessary. Several of those examined before the Poor-law Com mittees, he admitted, thought otherwise, but the House of Commons had setthd the point. The argu ments against the rate in aid no doubt were ♦ery strong—(Bear, hear)—had he ever denied that they were so?—(Hear, hear.) He was not ashamed to admit that they were strong, but so were the arguments against the income-tax.—(hear, hear.) There was a precedent for the rate in aid to be found is the system of taxation for relief purposes, adopted some years ago in the northern counties of Scotland, and the delegates from the Irish boards of guardians who assembled in Dublin last year, put forward a proposition es an amendment of the poor-law, which was essentially the Government pro position. Beyond the necessity of the case, there were other arguments in favour of the measure. The rate was to be limited to sixpence in the pound, and it was in. tended to continue in operation for two years only. Hav ing defended the course taken by Lord John Russell in convening the Irish Members, and making to them . he proposition he had done, he proceeded to. state that the motion of the HonourAle Member for Kerry did not appear to meet with much favour from the repre sentatives of Ireland. He believed that further assistance was necessary for the relief of Ireland. He had asked from the House many grants and loans for the benefit of Ireland, and he could not then enter into the discussion as to the judicious as of the manner these have been appropriated; but as to the necessity for the sum now claimed there could be no doubt; and ho, therefore, would feel justified in putting into the bands of the Chairman the vote of 100,0001., to be granted on the security of the Rate in Aid Bill. Mr. DISRAELI said the first part of the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down was founded on the assumpticn that gentlemen on his side of the House were opposed to all grants of public m ney to Ireland under present circumstances. But the assump tion was erroneous; for no Gentleman on his side of the House had at any time opposed these grants to Ire land from the publio funds.—(Hear, hear.) All they hal done was to insist that grants of that kind should be accompanied with measures of a permanent character, which would prevent the repetition of such demands upon the public funds for the benefit of that country.— (Hear, ho tr.) That was the ground of the opposition to the first of those grants at the commencement of the session; and although the Right Hon. Gentleman had endeavoured to make it appear that his Hon. Friend the \lember for Northamptonshire had shown somewhat f inconsistency in prop:lag certain reso'utions to the Rouse, which declared grants of public money to be .mpolitic and unjust, he had negheted to read the other portion of the resolutions, wherein it was stated unless such grants were accompanied with remedial measures. That, then, was the case with gentlemen on his side of the house generally. They hail never -op dosed grants of public money to Ireland; but, while :hey were ready to meet the emergency of the case in that way, they called upon the Government to constitute a policy which would prevent those occurrences which created such emergencies in future.—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman had made a strict search in order to find precedents for the rate in aid now proposed, and had quoted the 23d . 0f George 111. as one of those precedents. that was the case where certain counties in Scotland were authorised to be assessed to support the poor of those districts; but how could there be a rate in aid where there 1V.13 no poor-law?—(llear, hear.) Th2re 4as no poor-law in Scotland at the time, and although the Act in question might be an argument for a poor 'aw, it was not what could be established as a prece dent for a rite in aid. But he also quoted another aF.e. The resolutions of an assembly never before heard of, the time of whose assembling was never known, and of whose deliberations they had heard for the first time that night. That was said to be a meet _ ;lig of the boards of guardians of the Irish unions. But several gentlemen wbo gat near him were members of chose boards, and yet they never heard of such meeting. As to the question before tha House, he felt called on to vote for the amendment of the lion. Member for Kerry. —(Hear, hear.) Ile would vote for that amendment mainly, though not entirely, for the reason stated by more than one lion. Member, namAy, that in the diffi cult position in which they were placed, the income-tax wou;d not press so heavily on the small farmer of Ire land as the rate in aid would do; and that was a consi deration which ought at all events to influence those ou his side of the House.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, also, that it would be desirable that that portion of the proceeds of the general income-tax paid into the Im perial Exchequer, and hvied from Irish resources, ,hould be applied solely for Irish purposes.—(Elear.) He did not say that the adoption of such a system •vould be auy gain to the empire generally; but if Ire • land did require extraneois aid, it would be the mode of givinc , it agreeable to the feelings of the people. He was also favourable to the income•tax, because it was an im post which touched all descriptions of property—(Hear, hear)—and although in the present instance its exercise was not proposed on any great scale, yet he thought it was their policy to protest against that system of op pressing the land by peculiar taxation. Besides, he had no confidence in the measure of the Government, and ter this reason, above all others, because it was evident to him that Government had no confidence in them salves.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The Hon. Mem ber here alluded to the tactics of the Government with respect to their Irish measures, first proposing a grant of 50,000 L, without a promise of any other measure; then getting a Committee appointed, and, in the out set of its career, checking it in its coarse by the pro posal now before the House, presenting the singular anomaly of Irish Members voting for such a measure in the Committee, and then having the hardi hood to save their country by opposing it in that House. That measure, he conceived, was not fitted to prevent another emergency of the . kind th e y h a d now to deal with from occurring again. They discussed it up to Easter, and then some days before Parliament reassem bled, a paragraph was seen in the journals recognised as having received an official stamp, inviting the Irish Members to assemble in Downing-street, on a certain day, where they would be received by the First Minister of the Crown. Ile ventured to observe, at an earlier period of the evening, that the conduct of the Minister in thus acting was unconstitutional. And although at that time he was called to order, and yielded, as believed ha always did, to the opinion o f the chair, h ha was in order at the time. After what the Chan. celior of the Exchequer had rem remarked repeated n peatd the e subject, he might be pardoned if he e that the step thus taken was u nhcegonusetr said t u t o d n u nconstitutional. — -- a - t (Hear.) The Chancellor of the E there could be no harm in meeting the xc Irish Members, he would always be glad to meet them, and hear their views on subjects affecting Ireland, but he conceived the k defence set up was a somewhat Irish :tad of a d efence. —(Laughter.) He considered it was unconstitutional for a Minister of the Crown to call together in a private_ place a large section of the House of Comm ons, and confer with them as to the measures to be discussed in that House. No doubt it was right for a Minister,. or any leading Member of that House, to call t o g ether their supporters and ask them to support him; but in the present case the Minister asked a large number of the Members of that House, not for their support, but for their counsel, and that was what he said was uncon stitutional. It was a shuffling off responsibility from the shoulders of the Minister—(Hear) —and there was be sides something ludicrous in a Minister of the Crown call ing together some hundred Members to his private official residence, end asking them could they give him an idea? Could they tell him how to govern Ireland, as, if he could not govern Ireland, he could not retain his office. —(Hear, hear) Why, some of the Irish Members often talked about a repeal of the Union, but here they had a Cabinet better than :illy they could constitute on Cullcge•green, where to declare their own measures and choose their own pol'cy. The acting of the Prime Minister, however, was not only unconstitutional, but it was inefficient and absurd, for the whole farce ended in the Minister telling the Irish Members that by had nothing to say, and those Members telling him that they were in a similar position. It was in keeping with all the other acts of the Government. Infirmity of purpose was stamped on every one of their measures, and in every discussion which had taken place suggestions bad been invited from those who sat opposite the Ministerial bench, and eagerly taken advan tage of. The Honourable Gentleman concluded by paying an ironical compliment to the Government for being, as individuals, talented and esteemed; so ta lented, that it was conceived no Ministers would be found to succeed them, and that, in consequence, what ever they proposed must be carried, but warned them, that should they persist in such a system of p dicy as that they had been pursuing, their day of power would speedily cloFe.—(Cheers ) Lord JOHN RUSSgLL then replied. The first statement of the Honourable Gentleman opposite was, chat the Government intendei to have a Committee ( n the Irish poor-law, and that ha went down to the Committee in a hurried and agitated manner to propose his views. That was a mere fiction, and all he had intended was, that as soon as the Committee met he would state the ♦iews of the Government as to the amendment of the Irish poor-law. He must say, he thought the Honourable Member for Cockermouth had gone somewhat beyond the privilege of debate, in saying that the prophet for an advance was a propo sal made, or one which might almost seem to appear to be made, upon a false pretence. The income-tax could not be extended to trades and professions without calling upon the traders to state their profits, and perhaps to admit that they amounted to little or nothing. In fact, it required supervision, and was, on that account, a piece of new machinery, and therefore objectionable. After all, he would have the Committee remember the cir cumstances which had led to the present proposition, and come to some decision by which tke Government might be enabled to relieve the extreme dis tress which now prevailed. Many of the topics which the Honourable Gentleman opposite had adverted to would be discussed when the Bill of the Solicitor• General was before the House ; but for the present he only asked the Committee to decide the question in such a manner as to put the Government in a situation to relieve the great distress which at present existed in Ireland. Colonel DUNNE here moved the adjournment of the debate. Viscount CASTLEREAGH said he thought he should be speaking the sentiments of the majority of Irish Mem bers when he sai:. that they regretted the inotion of the lion. Member who had just spoken, and that its only effect would be to interfere with the unanimity which at ; r•sqnt prevailed amongst them. I After a few words from Mr. MONSELL, Colonel DUNNE said that he should still persist in his motion, And the Committee divided on the question to ad journ; the numbers were— For the motion Against it Majority against -129 Mr. SADLEIR, on our admission to the gallery, was on his legs, and moved that the Chairman report pro gress, and aak leave to sit again. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had no objection, and the motion was agreed to. Mr. PUSEY then moved that the House resolve itself into Committee on his Landlord and Tenant Bill, which was put to the vote, and negatived, owing to the lateness of the night. Mr. PAGE WOOD, in conformity to the desire of the House, consented to move the third reading of his Affir mation Bill on Wednesday next. 'rho other orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at One o'clock. PARLIAMEN'T'ARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURAY APRIL 19. NOTICES GIVEN AT TH E PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. The following Bills are ordered to be read a second time on Monday, April 23 : Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company Bill. Severn Navigation Improvement Commission, Amend ment of Acts, New Works, and further Powers Bill. Flimwell Vent to Hastings Turnpike Road Bill. Commercial Road (comprising the Cannon-street Roads, the Commercial road, the Horseferry Branch of Road, the East India Dock Road, and the Barking Road) Bill. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Yotes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. THURSDAY, APRIL 19. POOR LAWS (IRELAND —RATE IN AID—ADVANCE OF M• EY. ) (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the Corn missioners of her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland be authorised to direct the ad vance, out of the Consolidated Fund of the said United King dom, of any sum not exceeding 100,0001., for affording relief to certain distressed Poor-law Unions in Ireland, the same to be charged on anv Rate to be levied in each Union of Ire land under any Act to be passed in the present session of Parliament:" —Amendment proposed, to leave out from the words " distressed Poor-law Unions in Ireland" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words, " and in considera tion thereof that an Income and Preperty-tax be assessed on Incomes and Property in Ireland not. liable to Income and Property Tax under the Act 1 t and 12 Vic., c. 8," instead thereof': Question proposed, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question :"--Whereupon Motion made, and Question put, " That the Chairman do now report pregress, and ask leave to sit again." The Committee divided:— PRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1849 , r NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The lion. Captain Berkeley, C. 8., M.P., Capt. Milne, and Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, K.C.8., the surveyor ,f the navy, left the Admiralty yesterday morning, en , oute to Portsmouth, by the South-Western Railway, but having proceeded to Winchfield the train could get no urther in consequence of the snow; consequently they were obliged to return. Their intended visit was said - o be with reference to the armaments of the Plumper and li.ynard. The Plumper is said to carry her guns with perfect ease to the ship in the worst weather. She is much fuller aft than the Reynard. The latter has- Lard copy of the Plumper has very fine run, and, per haps, from having too much weight abaft, and not ris ing quick enough to the sea, is the reason of her having had her port quarter timber heads stove in during her recent cruize. PROMOTIONS. Lieutenant Richard Purvis (1846), late flag-lieutenant to Commodore Sir C. Hotham, K.C.B„ returned from the coast of Africa, and Lieutenant Henry S. Phelps (1842), late flag-lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.8., having been nominated for promotion by the above commander-in-chief on striking their flags have been promoted to the rank of commander. They are both highly deserving officers, and each has bet•n distinguished in action. Commander Purvis, who is the son of Rear .Admiral Purvis, was midshipman of the Blonds, and, according to Allen's List, " was officially mentioned for service in the boats of that ship during the operations in Canton River, and also in storming the heights of Canton, where he served as aide-decamp to the officers commanding the brigade of seamen and marines; wounded at the attack upon the batteries of Woosung; and present at the capture of Chin•Kiang- Foo, and when the treaty of Nankin was concluded." Commander Phelps, according to the same authority, was mate of Sir C. Napier's ship, the Powerful, 84, at St. Jean d'Acre, and was also at the capture of Chin- Kiang-Foo, as mate of the Cornwallis; for which service he was officially mentioned and promoted. APPOINTMENTS. _ _ _ Midshipmen—ll. H. Morgan and R. 0. Leach, to the Ganges, 84, at Cork; G. J. Malcolm, G. D. Fitzroy, H. C. Farrington. T. E. Frampton, Thomas 0. Kidd. G. J. Dall, to the Wellesley, 72, flag-ship in the West Indies; H. C. Burleigh, G. F. Aston, to the Superb, 80, at Spit head; H. B. Phillimore, G. W. Strong, A. B. Black. wood, to the Victory, flag-ship at Portsmouth; H. L. Holder, Henry Michell, to the Raleigh, 50, flag-ship at Monte Video; Clare R. Jeffery, R. P. Jenkins, H. C. Wogan, Edward S. Mears, to the Centaur, steam flag ship, coast of Africa; R. P. G. Helps, E. J. Webb, to the Hastings, 60, flag-ship, East Indies; H. G. Payne, to the Plumper, 8, screw-sloop, at Portsmouth, for North America ; Henry Golden, to the Reynard, 8, screw-sloop, at Portsmouth, for the East Indies; C. G. Nelson, to the Rattler, screw-sloop, coast of Africa; R. P. Gresham. to the Impregnable, 78, flag-sbip at De vonport; J. R. Ouseley, to the Prince Regent, 90, Me diterranean; J. A. Gregory, to the Powerful, 84, Mediterranean. Naval Cadets.—M. W. Woods, to the Wellesley; Henry Baillie, to the Superb; P. B. Pratt, to the Prince Regent; W. J. Arnold, to the Arrogant, screw-frigate, at Portsmouth; Duncan Stewart, Arthur A. Smith, to the Hastings; J. B. Butler, Henry Corbett, Edward H. Hickman, to the Southampton, 50 flag-ship, at the Cape; Philip Brock, to the Raleigh; Francis H. Hastings, to the Fisgard, flag-ship at Woolwich. Master's Assistants.—H. J. Sutton, to the Woodlark, surveying vessel at the, Orkneys; Richard C. Drew, to the Reynard; Edward J. Young, to the Wellesley. Clerk's Assistant.—William Young, to the Strom boli, steam -. sloop, at Portsmouth. ngineer.-11. M. Jones, first-class assistant, to the Fire Queen, steam• tender, at Portsmouth. _ , Gunner.—J. 0. Byrne, to the Seagull, packet-brig, at Devonport. PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 18.—His Netherland Majesty's corvette Amphitrite, 26, Captain Limberg, from Helvoot for the West Indies, put in here this evening with damage, having been in contact with the schooner Maria, last from Plymouth from London, laden with wine from Cadiz. It appears that about a quarter to 12 last night the •man-of-war ran into the echoener, which received such severe injuries that her crew were compelled to abandon her, many in a state of nudity, and others with scarcely any clothes on; they were taken on board the corvette and brought in safety to this port, and will be landed to-morrow. M. Vanderbergh, his Netherlands Majesty's Consul at this port, has made an application to the Port Admiral for the corvette to be towed into har bour to-morrow, where she must undergo extensive re pair; having herself sustained serious injury by the col lision. The schooner, from the nature of her cargo, did not founder, and was seen some time afterwards drifting towards the coast of France. A pilot has landed here this evening, and announced a fine Danish brig of war having put into Cowes roads this evening, bound westward. The lion e ,c , -Kong packet:arrived at Spithead this even ing, outward bound. _ APRIL 19.—The St. Vincent, 120, Captain Dacres, was paid off to-day alongside the dockyard, and this evening her late Admiral and Flag-Captain were enter tained at a dinner at the George Hotel, given by the officers of the ship. The pay-books were not sent into the pay-office hero from the ship until 10 o'clock on Friday morning, and although dispatched by the I 10 P.M. train hence on that - day, did not reach the Admi ralty until Saturday morning. The gentlemen there worked upon them all that day and until half-past 12 at night, forwarding them to this office by the mail train on Sunday night. Since then the clerks of the pay office here have devoted 18 hours a day to casting the wages, and a3certaining the net pay duo to each man, and at half-past eight o'clock this morning commenced the paying off the ship under Admiral Prescott, C. 8., which occupied halt' a day, and was performed, as such matters usually are here, in a most business-like way. Her marines were disembarked to-day in paddle box boats, and marched to Forton under their respective officers. The Lords of the Admiralty were expected here to day on an official visit, but they bare since telegraphed a postponement. The Dutch corvette Amphitrite, 26, Captain Limb-rg, which put into Spithead yesterday in the evening, with damage from a collision with a schooner, was got under weigh this morning at 6 30, the Echo stesm•tug having been sent out to tow her into harbour soon after daylight Before she came in, however, it was requisite, according to the regulations of the port, to remove her powder, and the tug was obliged to keep her in tow till the hoy cams out to effect this. In the mean time she fired the cus tomary salutes, the first at 7 •.)(, of 21 guns, to the garrison, and the second at 730 ♦.nt., of 17, to the Commander-in-Chief, which were duly acknowledged. The authorities of the port received the Dutch captain with much respect en presentation by M. Vandenbergh, the consul. The Arrogant, 46, Captain Fitzroy, will be removed from dock if possible on Saturday, when she will receive her crew from her hulk. Wind—N.E. by N.; strong gales, and thick hazy weather, with heavy drift of snow. WOOLWICH, APRU. 19. —The Vivid, Dover mail steam packet, Captain Stnithett, has received orders to be at Calais on Sunday next, to convey her Royal Highness the hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz to this country on Monday, the 23d inst. The Monkey steam-vessel, Master-Commander W. Bryant, left Woolwich yesterday afternoon, for the Downs, ed at Sheerness for proceeding to the North Polar regions , is h ourl y expec ted at W ool- Weiseshei a already f the y v , es to bring up u en p t t ly he la ß u i n v c e e r d to at this Pembroke. port the The North Star, prepar Magicienne steam-vessel, se the The Elfin steam-vessel was taken out of the basin this provisionsAr Arctic and r egion stores s. for the use o morning, preparatory to her being again tried down th e river. The Sulphur and Hebe convict-ship s h ave been ,t O receive a t re moved from their moorings at the Dockyard to moorings opposite the Royal Arsenal, where the convicts kept on board aro usually employed, and in the Marshes. MALTA, APRIL 7.—The line-of-battle ships expected from Naples have not yet appeared. It is surmised that the Queen has gone home direct, the Racer on her pas sage out having seen a large ship homeward bound, which she supposed to be her. She had, however, no flag displayed, which made the matter doubtful. The several mail packets due have all arrived. The pirate, a merchant steamer, from Liverpool, ar rived on the 2d inst., and proceeded the following day to the Levant. Her Majesty's brig Racer, after a beautiful run from Devonport of 13} days, arrived here on the 3d instant, and left on the following day to joie Sir W. Parker's squadron. There is a circumstance connected with this vessel deserving to be recorded, and this is, that in three weeks from the day she was commissioned she was in pur haibour. This fact tells much for the popularity of her Commander, and not a little for the sailing qualities of the vessel. The Volage surveying vessel will put to sea on Tues day next, for the purpose of renewing the surveys in the waters of Cyprus. The Earl of Auckland steam-vessel has left Malta for London, having been taken into dock and repaired. There was no appearance of rock or stone in the - da maged part of the vessel, nor any indication by which to ineer that she had struck a rock. Several persons are said to have seen it, and in the time of Sir P. Mal colm specially its existence was insisted on, but not discovered. The following information is published in the Malta Mail, of the sth inst., taken from the "Notes from the Official Correspondence between tho late Greek Consul and Sir P. Malcolm:"-- "1. We have heard of the danger' being seen *Wong ago as 1802 by a Rlgusati, Captain Bratich, who describes it as being in lat. 35 deg. 42 min. N., and long. 22 deg. 30 min. E. of the meridian of Cadiz, and distant 95 to 100 miles due east of Malta. "2. In 1813 Captain Borg. of the brig Viacitore, dis covered the Sacca di Malta (by which the rock is also known) on his passage from Alexandria to Malta, and at the distance of 95 miles duo east of the island. It was calm, and he saw a ripple like that produced by a cur rent, and sent his boat to examine it. On reaching, the spot his men found 1 feet of water. They landed,.and he saw them wale over it. The ' danger' is reported from north to south, about the length of a galley, and from east to west a little less. "3. In 1826, M2rch 19, Emanuel Ervanco, of the Greek brig Aristocles, left Malta for Spezia. On the following day, at eleven r , having run nine knots an hour from the time of sailing, an smooth water, he ob served a heavy lopping sea, and found his ship going down by the head, and thought she would have capsiz d —a sea broke on board and filled her decks, and nearly swamped her.' 'At this time the rudder was lifted, hut on getting; into smooth water fell into its place. On looking at his chart he ascertained the distance he had run was 95 miles from Malta. The rock, too, had been seen by Ervance's father, living at Spezia, and by him described to be in two pieces, one large and one small, with water between them for a boat to pass. "It is as Drell to observe that many Q. f ...030 who ive MINORITY-AYES, 77. Alexander, N. Feliowes, E.; Monsen, William Archdall, Captain Ffollioti, J. Moore, G. 11. Arkwright, George, litswilliatn, G. IV Nesld, Joseph Bagge, W. Fox, R. M. ' Newdegate, C. N. Baldock, E. H. Godson, Richard O'llaherty, Anthony Bankes, George Granby, Marquis of Packe, C. W. 9 Barron, Sir U. Greene, John Palmer, Robert Bateson, T. Hamilton, Lord C. Plumptre J. P. Bennet, Philip Harris, Captain Portal, 3ielville Bentinck, Lord H. Mayes, Sir E. Renton, J. C. Blackall, S. W. Herbert, lienry A. Sadleir, John Bourke, Richard S. Berries, John C. St. George, Chris. Brentridge, Richard Hill, Lord E. Spooner, R. Broadley, H. Mornby, John StatUrd, Augustus Broadwood, H. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Stanley, IL H. Bruen, Colonel Jones, Captain Stuart, J. Buller, Sir J. Y. Keating, Robert Sullivan, Michael Butler, P. S. Lawless, Cecil Teulson, E. K. Chichester, Lord J. Lewisham, Viscount Teiment, R. J. Clements, Charles Lockhart, W. Tyrell, Sir J. T. Compton, 11. C. Leng, Walter Vyse, R. 11. Curry, Henry Lowther, Henry Walsh, Sir J. Crawford, W. S. Mackenzie, W. F. Wodehouse, E. Darner, Colonel M`Naghten, Sir E. Dawson, T. V. Magan, W . IL. TELLERS. Devereux, John T. Meagher, Thomas Dunne, Francis P. Disraeli, B. Masterinan, John Scully, Francis MAJORITY—NOES, 206. Grey, Sir G. Pennant, Colonel G ey-, R. W. l'eto, Samuel Guest, Sir J. Pigott, Francis Gwyn, Vowel Pinney, Wiliam Haggai., F. R. lower, Nicholas Hardcastle, J. A. Prime, Richard Harris, Richard Pryse, Pryso Hawes, B. Pusey, Philip Hay, Lord John Rawdon, Colonel Hayter, W. G. Repton, G. W. J. Ileadiam, T. E. Ricardo, Oaman Heald, James Rice, E. R. Henley, J. W. Rich, Henry Heywood, James Romilly, Sir John Hepworth, Lawrence Russell, Lord J. Hindley, C. Russell, Edward S. Hobhouse, Sir John Rutherford, A. Ilobhouse, T. B. Sandars, George Hogg, Sir J. W. Sandars, J. Howard, Lord E. Scholetield, William Howard, C W. G. Scott, Francis Hume, Joseph Scrape, G. P. Jervis, Sir John Shell, R. L. Jocelyn, Viscount Shirley, E. J. Keppel, G. T. Sidney, Alderman Kershaw, James Smith, J. A. King, I'. J. Smith, M. Tucker Knox, Colone Smith, J. Benjamin Labouchere, Henry Somers, J. P. Langston, J. IL Somerville, Sir W. Lasceiles, W. S. Sotherou. T. H. S. Lewis, Q. C. Stansficid, W. it. Lincoln, Earl of Stuart, Lord Dudley Lindsay, Colonel Stuart, Lord J. Littleton, E. R. Stuart, 11. Locke, Joseph Talfourd, Sergeant Lushington, Charles Tancred, H. W. M'Cullagh, W. T. Thesiger, Sir F. M'Gregor, John Thicknesse, li. A. Maitland, Thomas Thompson, Colonel Mangles, R. D. Thompson, George Marshall, J. G. Thornely: Thomas Marshall, W. Townshend. Captain Matheson, Alex. Trollope, Sir J. Matheson, J. Turner, G. J. Matheson, Colonel Vane, Lord H. Maule, Fox Villiers, Viscount Mitchell, A. T. Villiers, F. W. Moffatt, George Walmsley, Sir I. Moody, C. A. Walpole, Spencer Morris, David Walter, John Mowatt, Francis Ward, 11. G. Mulgrave, Earl Watkins, Colonel Mundy, Wiliam Wellesley, Lord C. Newport, Visct. Willcox, Brodie Newry, Viscount Williams, John Norreys, Lord Williamson, Sir IL Norrcys, Sir D. Willoughby, Sir IL Nugent, Lord Wilson, James O'Brien, Sir Lucius Wilson, Matthew l'aget, Lord A. Wood., Sir Charles Paget, Lord Clarence Wood, IV. P. Paget, Lord George Wortley, J. S. Palmer, Roundell Wyld, James Palmerston, Viscount Wyvill, Marntaduke Parker, John Young, Sir John Pearson, Charles Pechell, Captain TBLLEILS. Peel, Sir Robert Tnthell, Henry; Peel, Frederick Hill, Lord Marcus Ably. T. N. Adair, R. Shafto Agilonby, H. Anson, Colonel Armstrong, Sir A. Baines, M. T. Baring, Sir F. Baring, Thomas Bass, M. 'l'. Beckett, William Bellew, It. M. Berkeley, Captain Berkeley, C. L. G. Birch, Sir 'P. Bouverie, E. P. Bowles, Admiral Boyle, Colonel Brackley, Viscount Bright, John ISrocklehurst, J. Brisco, M. Brotherton, J. Brown, W. Bulkeley, Sir B. B. Iturrouglies, H. N. Buxton, air E. Cardwell, Edward Carter, J. It. Charteris, Francis Childers, J. W. Christy, Samuel Clerk, Sir G. Clifford, H. M. Clive, H. 11. Cobden, It. Cockburn, A. J. Cowper, W F. Craig, W. G. Currie, 11. Deedes, W. Denison, J. E. Douglas, Sir C. Drummond. Henry Duncan, Lord Duncan, George Duncombe, 0. Duncuft, John Dundee, Admiral Ebrington, Lord Erlwards,:llenry Egerton, W. T. Ellice, Edward Elliot, John E. Emlyn, Viscount Estcourt, J. B. B. Euston, Earl Evans, John Evans, William Fihner, Sir E. Fitzroy,:llenry Fordyce, A. 1). Forster, M. Gladstone, W.E. Glyn, G. C. Goddard, A. L. Goulburn, Henry Graham, Sir James Greenall, G. Grenfell, C. PROD, Grenfell, Charles W. COURT CIRCULAR. Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. The Queen's private band was in attendance after dinner in the Palace, Her Majesty's private band performed the following pieces in Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening:— - Overture—Libella Selec ion—Fra Diavolo Auber. Qaintetto—Oh, Guardato Bolera and Guaracha—Masaniello . Sir Lucius O'Brien had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday. The Earl of Clarendon and Sir R. J. Routh had a lso interviews yesterday with his Lo r d ship, at his official residence in M. W. Whitbread had an interview with Lord John Russell on Wednesday. Mr. Stowe, of Glasgow, had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday. Mr. Deedes had also an inter view yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet at the Homo-office. The Earl of Carlisle returnei to town yesterday eve ning from attending the ceremony at the Great Grimsby Dock'. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. MIDLAND—RESIGNATION OF MR. HUDSON , M.P., THE CHAIRNIAN. A special general meeting of this company was bolo yesterday at the Midland station, Derby, and was at tended by 1,100 of the shareholders. Mr. Eems, the deputy chairman, on taking the chair read a li tter, of which the following is a copy, from Mr aludson, to the directors of the Midland Company:— " York, April 17. " Gentlemen,—The approaching meeting of the share• holders renders it necessary for me to address you on the subject of the office which I have had the !tonoui tO bolo as chairman of your company. Forming parts of one great line of communication, the Midland, the York and North Midland, and the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway Companies, have hitherto had one common in terest to promote, and, in watching over the develop ment of them, it has always been to me a pleasing re flection, that I was contributing, to the prosperity of each of the other companies. It was this which enabled me to discharge the duties of chairman confided to me by the shareholders of these different lines ; and it is because I am appreh ens i ve t h at circumstances have now arisen which must render it impracticable for any one person to preside over all these companies, that I feel it to make the present communication. It must be obvious to every one, that the Great Northern Rail way, when opened, must of necessity materially effect the existing lines of railway in the districts through which it passes. To the formation of that railway gave my most uncornpromsin g opposition. I believed its formation to ha unnecessary, and felt that the benefits to be derived from it were not sufficient to justify the expenditure of the immense capital requisite for its construction. It pleased the Legislature to view the question otherwise, and the consequence is that this line will very shortly be brought into active co•operation. The existence of that company cannot now be disre garded, and it may be that the interest of these different railways may not be found to be identical. Therefore it is, that after due deliberation, I have thought it right and to be more satisfactory to the shareholders of the Midland Railway Company, that I should resign the office of their chairman. I could not consent to hold the office without devoting every energy that I possess to the furtherance of their interests, regardless of that of any other company; neither could I consent to preside over the other two companies, without being prepared to exert myself for the promotion of their prosperity, irre spective of the consequences which might result to any other company from the policy which they might decide on pursuing. Under these circumstances, I feel that I best perform my duty to the shareholders by tendering my resignation of the office of chairman. It is impos sible for me to do this without expressin g antdheofdetehpesuennase. which I entertain of th e generous confidence whi c h h as been reposed in me by my brother shareholders, anti the high satisfaction which I hav e derived from the co r di a li ty which has prevailed amongst the directors with w h om it has been my good fortune to as s o c i ate nimity which has characterised all our proceedings. This it is which has enabled the capabilities of your line to be brought into full activity. " I take my leave of you, gratefully acknowledging your past kindness, and anxiously desirous for the con tinued prosperity of the undertaking with which I have been identified, " I have, &c. " GEonaE HUDSON." At the conclusion of the letter a partial biasing took place. The CHAIRMAN said, the resignation by Mr. Hud son was understood by the board to be a resignation of his office as director, as well as chairman, and viewing it in that light, the resignation had been accepted, and there -fore she(Slr. Ellis) had taken the chair. He had no doubt the shareholders would recollect that Mr. Hudson said he had made an arrangement between the Great Northern and the York and North Midland companies, and, feeling it as a matter of great importance, he (the chairman) spoke to 'Mr. Denison, the chairman of the Great Northern Railway, as to the arrangement alluded to. He inquired if the arrangement was confined merely to making smother route from London to York, or if it extended to the traffic department? The answer was to the effect that it was not a traffic arrangement, but one simply to prevent the Great Northern from having any further outlay of capital beyond Doncaster. The Great Northern Company have their Bill to York. but he believed they purposed going only to Knottingley and Burton Sammon. This was all, as he understood, connected with this arrangement. He was not at all surprised that the shareholders were alarmed at the remarks which Mr. Hudson had thought proper to make with respect to the Great Northern Company, for he was one of those who deprecated most distinctly all warfare between railway companies, as they had too much of it already.—(Hear, hear.) There was no advantage in fighting with each other; but when he said so be was not insensible to the effect likely to arise o t f he h G is reat t N o o t r h th e e M rn id i l z a a n il d w C ay o . m po sition as a director in the London and North. Western pay n h m o n e et i t he Lg ol) was e ni a n w g a ef ....... the importance of being united in action, hesitate to say, while he deprecated all war fare. Railway, and from the opportunity he had o h f e k d nO i i n i;ii t N ( V t A h e a p s t t p e l ra it n s C e w . o ) a m s T p Company considering whether or n e ea opinion r s en the n ie withthatcommittee forti natural hh ee a L s l thehiG)yon rudoefadntt purposehbe a e N Z , n l od i Northern, haennrrdnt appointed. h' — • to investigate the affairs of the company. Th e di rec t ors , a f ter t h e meet i ng at York on the 20th of February, were quite ready for an inquiry to take place; and were only weitinit for the report of a certain committee to be made ere they con vened a meeting of the sharvholders. A meeting, how ever, took place at Liverpool on the 10th of March, where a requisition was signed and sent before this report was made, and the shareholders were conse quently now assembled. lie was satisfied that there naried et investigationohnefimeenentininntwgo was stnh fetnhlthe affairsobjecotf restored;tf h o r e and w n nh u md is railway b e eAi was g . ah e lsa n l d.erlbavel anxious I! been Lns e el 3nnite, to (of Liverpool) said, he moved for a committee of iaqiiry at their last meeting but although his motion was negatived he found in a few days after wardsmwn uiosmshtbofeoptrrhscanaot of committee ; i h hu Ide shareholders agreed with the opinion of great city of inquiry i tao t e l nl i ed ' i , y; e n rest manner n e casone e nnq n neu t ere e cn r . entertained ns possible, bi ltaaehs: and his the company. om n p e a c n e ) 5 , - . A number of gentlemen came forward and expressed a undertook the task assigned to them, and acted in th e closest criticism into their proceedings . Tihhneivsyiteicunolgimegthuees nicated with Glasgow, She ffi eld, and other places, where gentlemen were selected out of the localities to be re• commended to the meeting to be appointed on the com mittee of inquiry. lie had never seen any of the par ties whom ho should nominate, except three, till that ‘ day, and, as they were all strangers to him, he could not berconsidered as having combined to prejudge the ques tion. The object was to have a searching inquiry into the affairs of the company, and he was sure such would be accomplished. He believed the interests of the direc tors to be the same as those of the shareholders, of whom he was glad to see so large a number assembled that day. Ile viewed the appointment of the committee of inquiry as not only important, but the commencement of a new era in the history of railways, and, as there were several objects in view —such as the reduction of expenditure and improvements in the management of the railway—he hoped, that not only would those be effected, but that the committee would recommend a rotation of directors.—(Applause.) lie then moved a resolution to the following effect, namely : — " It appearing to this meeting desirable that a commit •ee of investigation should be appointed to examine into, and report upon, the management and affairs of this company—resolved, that Mr. C. Arkwright, of Dun stall, Mr. M Crakan, of Liverpool, Mr. W. Smith, of Sheffield, Mr. J. Cartwright, of Loughborough, Mr. W. Watson, of Ayr, Mr. J. St ar k ey , of lludderafield, and M-. John Mercer, jun., of Bristol, be, and they are hereby appointed, a co mm i t t ee f or the p u rpose iibve. books, mentioned, and with full p owers t o ca ll f o r a d ll to take such other steps as they may deem papers, persons, acco un t s , an d documentsi an sabie, and it holders at an adjourned meeting. seconded the motion, i necessary .g t ma o of a ns p lEl p : o Eo i i n ye t ,no a r, ,f p a u rin b id l v i ed c rep a t c ao c oil o :,, u ,d n r t e a p n o t r tto to a s t s i h ' he si sh th a em re- Liverpool commi ttee that many of the reports bruited about would on in and made a long address explanatory eaxd p o l p an te a d t , or e y xp o r f es t s h e e d s h te is ps be t lie e f quiry dissolve into thin air, and his hope that ra il ways had now reached the minimum of their adverelity. Mr. SIDNEY, of Liverpool, said he felt i confident irrye. sharemremarks i rue that -k holder o be the committee would discharge their duty,prandhttnheast sto wardsno prevent a a e o e fa m rc hi n a g n nci 's abili t i es was u his integrity, and as Mr. Hudson had had the c h arge of c fa o i n s s a id d e e r l e in d any wouldd th w at ou the best proof t t he interests t his h duty to a em . of H t e t e t hcte nwith widowma made e n s integritye tvhee several aa orphan, lengthened ndu ordinary heig deemedin favour of the appointment of a committee, of th e d i - rectors retiring in rotation,- and of having the accounts of The motion for the appointment of the commit tee was then put and carried unanimously with appl ause. then mightoms company so understand aimPlified them. that any Mr. SIDNEY then moved the following resolution-- namelys-- . the"this s ns m id e e e r a in ng g and ed, be, and is hereby, adjourned to. Thursday, the 31st day 1-h reportat, o f f o for theth the committeep ur purpose of no w receiving ap poi appointed, t of May next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, at the Mid land Railway station, Derby." Mr. BAINBRIDGE, of Derby, seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said, should the committee not be able to make their report by the time prescribed, the directors would take the necessary stops to fix another day for the meeting. Mr. KINNAIRD, of Glasgow, moved a vote of thanks to the Liverpool committee, and that they be repaid 1201, the expenses they had incurred, out of the funds of the company. Mr. F. Boor, of Loughborough, seconded the proposi tion, which was c a rr i e d. Avote of thanks to the chairman, Mr. Ellis, was car ried with universal applause. jTourne he d CHAIRMAN returned thank s an d t h e meeting ad- At a meeting of the committee of inquiry, held im mediately afterwards, Mr. Arkwright was appointed chairman. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—A Wound in the Leg Cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pdli.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Edward Nicholls, 34, Rose-street, Covent -gar• den. "To Professor Holloway, Sir,—For years I had a bad leg and about fouryears ago an abscess formed which the treatment adopted by several medical men failed to heal, and I despaired of a cure; lately my friend recommended your medicines mil by their use alone I soon found a great improvement, and in a few weeks my leg was per fectly cured. I can now walk ten miles a day with as great ease as when I was twenty years old, and now I am fifty." Sold by all Druggists and at Professor way's Eattiblishment, 244, Stand, Lonclou. said to have seen the rock, on being closely pressed, have wavered, and only reported from what they bad heard from others who had seen it. " A man also named Ctrlo, pilot of her Majesty's ship Malabar, is also said to have seen it, and on the 2d of January, 1839, the captain of the Austrian brig Cyro is said to have seen it 95 miles east of Malta. " In 1838, Mr. Millar was sent to look for the rock in the Meteor steamer, but owing to the unfavourable state of the weather he did not fall in with it." THE WAR 1N THE PUNJAUB Extract of a letter from an officer in the 52d Regi ment Bengal Native Infantry, in the first brigade, Bri gadier Hervey commanding:— "Camp, Wuzeorabad, Feb. 26, 1849. "On the morning of the 21st we were under arms at sunrise, and formed up in order of battle. Our luggage, all packed and loaded on the camels, was sent to a place a little in our rear, under a suitable guard, and about eight o'cloek the bugles sounded the advance. With a cheer and a shout you might almost have heard in Eng land, our immense army moved on to the enemy's posi tion in battle array, and a more splendid sight never was seen—the atmosphere was beautifully clear, and the sun not oppressive; in fact, a spectator would have said that it was a shame to mar such lovely weather and such a beautiful landscape, with its varied and picturesque bodies of armed men moving across, by the scenes of bloodshed and slaughter that were to follow. Our advance lay over richly cultivated land, and the crops being young and wet with dew, no dust was raised to mar the glori ous spectacle. The sight was imposing in the extreme. Our heavy guns on the right and left centre, drawn by elephants —on either side columns of infantry, in their gay scarlet uniform —between each division came a light field battery, and between each brigade came a troop of horse artillery, in their handsome dark blue uniform. On either flank came the cavalry, in all their varied uni forms and dress—the gay lancers and dragoons—then our own native cavalry, in their neat French grey uni form—and mixed up with these were the fanciful cos tumes of our irregular cavalry, for which branch of the service no regular costume or colour is laid down, but is always left to the fancy of their commanding officers, some choosing bright yellow, others scarlet and gold, others bright green, and others blue—in fact, the more gorgeous the colour the more pleased is the native. Well, to go on with my narrative. When we got to within a mile and a half of Goojerat, we found the enemy had actually had the impudence to advance a mile to give us battle, and had drawn up in line, with all their guns in front, to oppose us. We moved steadily, and directly we got near them they opened a salvo on us from all their guns, which did little or no damage. Immediately all our artillery galloped out 300 yards to our front, and the heavy guns took up their position about a 100 yards in advance of the line. The infantry wore or dered to throw out skirmishers, and then lie down where we were, whilst the cavalry faced to the flank to pre vent their cutting up the guns. For three hours were we in this position—the war of artillery incessant, and occasionally a round shot hopping in amongst our ranks would convince us that we were taking part in no child's play; but, with the exception of taking the wounded to the rear, and a staff-officer occasionally galloping with orders, not a man moved, but there they lay side by side, chatting, laughing, and joking, and moat impatient to advance. At last we heard the enemy's fire begin to slacken, and then we knew our work would soon come, and then staff officers began to look to their horses' girths and trappings, and s. , e that their pistol charges were well home, as in galloping about the bullet is apt to shake out of place. When I had done this, I had scarcely lighted my cheroot, when we heard the welcome sound of the bugle ordering us to advance. Every man was on his feet in a moment, and on we moved. When we had our distance, we wheeled into line again, and on we went; our troop of horse artillery returning their fire with compound interest. As we advanced they at one time seemed determined to stand, but just as we were going to charge our artillery pitched in a farewell volley of grape from all their guns, and then, with a shout and a yell, we commenced our rush. It was too much for them, and they broke and fled in every direc tion. You may guess how complete was our success, when I tell you our regiment scarcely fired a shot—it being the custom in our brigade to take the guns at the point of the bayonet, reserving the fire for the enemy beyond; but, faith, they never stood to receive us, it wee a case of "run, you blackguards, run, there's a mad bull behind," and bow they did scuttle. Away went the horse artillery and cavalry after them, and then began the carnage. The poor wretches, in their hurry and fright, threw away arms, clothes, and everything, to lighten themselves, sad facilitate their escape, and so became an easy prey to our relentless cavalry, who cut them down by scores. The infantry pcshed on about a mile from the enemy's camp, and there we bivouacked for the night." COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, APRIL 19. Arrived this afternoon, the Danish brig of war Ornen, of 16 guns, commanded by Captain Irminger, from St. Cruz, bound to Copenhager, but the captain being informed OR his passage up channel that hostilities had commenced between the states of Germany and Denmark, he put into this port, and this evening proceeds to London for advice. He reports that all was quiet at St. Cruz. The brig has come to just to the eastward of th• Bremen and other German vessels in our roadstead. THE WEATHER IN THE ISLE. OF WIGHT.—We had a shurp frost yesterday mor , ting; the ice was more than half an inch thick. Port,down•hill was covered with snow. The wind has backed to the N.%V., and the barometer sunk from 29.50 to 29.42. The thermometer this morning was at 28. THE MURDERER RUSH. A Norwich correspondent supplies a probable reason why Hush, after ho had shot Mr. Jermy, sen., went round b) the servants' door and risked detection b) passing along their passages. He says, "It is explained by the fact that in a box in a closet at the end of the passage leading to the staircase hall Mr. Jermy kept his papers and the mortgage deeds relating to Potash-farm, and thst Rush's intention was doubtless to secure those deeds at t.ll hex trds, for, according to the forged docu ments cancelling the mortgage, all the deeds and papers of a prior date relating to Potash-farm were to be burned. Young Mr. Jermy just reached the door open ing into the recess when Rush reached it, and therefore Rush fired at him. After shooting young Mr. Jermy be very likely went into the dining-room to shoot any person there, and thus to prevent the possibility of his being interrupted while he was employed in securing the deeds. The two women ran to the same recess, and further prevented his purpose being carried out ; and when he came out of the dining•room he fired a: them, doubtless with the view of escaping detection." A cor respondent of the Bury Post says:—" As everything appertaining to the Stunfield•hall tragedy appears still to be full of interest to the public, perhaps the follow. ing particulars of the unfortuate but not to be despised Miss Sandford, will be acceptable to your readers, and may also act as a salutary caution to those who may have any young friend seeking her livelihood as a go verness—a class greatly to be pitied. They also tend to show the extent—the intricate ramifications of the as sassin's complicated scheme of villany. Rush, as before stated, put an advertisement in the paper for a gover ness for his children. Mrs. Sandford, the mother of ten children, seeing this, took her eldest daughter to the reference in the advertisement, a very respectable house in a good street in town, where they found Mr. Rush, occupying the first floor. The landlady had been in duced to represent that she knew Mr. Ru,l3, and spoke of him as a worthy kind of man; and after various in quiries and witnessing her handwriting the daughter was engaged to go down to Norfolk to educate Rush's children. Some months after having been there she was rather surprised at receiving no letters from her mother, and the latter was equally so at receiving no replies from her daughter. During this state of things Rush, when in town, called upon Mrs. Sandford, who very naturally expressed surprise at not having heard from her daughter, where-upon Rush said ho believed the fact was she was become engaged to a Mr. James, a com mercial traveller, but for some reasons she thought it would be a match her mother would not altogether approve, and there fore preferred not writing at all to her. The fact no doubt was, Rush had intercepted these letters both ways, and thus caused an estrangement be. tween her and her friends, to facilitate his own pur poses and her ruin. She now felt her dependence upon Rush, and in the simplicity and confidence of her nature, and her ignorance of the world and its snares, soon became first his victim and then his instrument. He subsequently compelled her to write to her friends in such a way as to repel any attempt on their part to interfere in her welfare. So late as ten day before the murder Rush again called upon Mrs. Sandford, and told her her daughter was married, and had been in France for six months with her husband, Mr. James. The inference of all this is evident. It would have accounted for her disappearance, had such taken place, of which there is little doubt in the minds of those intimately acquainted with the minutiae of attendant circumstacces." —Twelve o'clock to-morrow is the time fixed for the execution of Rush. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—CONSUMPTION, BRONCHIAL, ASTHMA, INFLUENZA, &C.—Tile following cases of the severest forms of disease are selected from the clinical report published by Dr. Cronin:—Mrs. Osborne. 8, Ox ford-street; Mr. Morley, Messrs. Croncock and Co., Bow Churchyard; Major Lynch (late 14th Foot), 7, W0.,c1- land-I:dace, St. John's Wood; Mr. Bryant, 7, Padding ton-street Marylebone; Mademoiselle Dupre s, Royal Academy. of Music; Miss Erwood, 72, Now Bond-street; place,- or Miss Robb, at the Baroness Bassett s, Tehidy Park, near Truro, Cornwall; Mrs. Thurmot t, 29, Bedford s treet Covent Garden; Mrs. Kentish New Town; —, 1 1 4 V , il L li e e i n ce e ; Leicester P btoell Loois Aosrtmers: square. , THE NEW NOVEL, " ROCKINGHAM • on, ' THE YousiuLit, B n ornEn.—Highly as this recriarklbe work has been spoken of in the Quarttriy Review , ju't pub fished, t h e Times gives it a Mill larger is i. a t t ract ive 130ekingbam (says our contempor ar y) III" Ij:Pra; .se. a novel as ever presented itselt f rom prolific shelves—a stru c t ure of hig hly wrought Mr. Coulburo's which from first t o l ast r i vets th in which, und e r th e alluring o reader's stt en ti on, and wisdom and truth is co garb of fi ct i on, more of ny with in w o rk ayed th an is often to be m e t s of professedly far The author has studied the more serious character. and accuracy of le female heart with the acute nessTHE P UJUNG PASSION.—l ately herself." an old miserly woman died in Manchester, years of age, and her 00l she was upwards of 93 aged 89. On her deathbed s herelative is a brother, was very anxious about a box, which contained a lar ge nu mber of guineas and sovereigns. She did not like to e o entrust the key to any one, but telling her miserable attendant to give the box to her brother, and while h ' s e was in extremis, absolutely swial9Wod the key. LITERATURE. OLD LONDON BRIDGIi. Twelve Parts. By G. Ilerbert I? dwell. The graceful musical composer, the facetious bin grapher of the "Umbrella," has adventured upon a no vel theme, even for a novelist. lie has invested the re collections of an old bridg e with the interest and fasci nation of romance —but that bridge is one of historical celebrity—the first stone bridg e ever built on the Thames—the masterpiece of the priest architect, Peter of Colechurch—the structure built in thirty years, dating from 1176- 7 " Old L on d on Bridge." Now that the narrative is completed, we may commend it as a companion story with the " Windsor Castle " and the "Old St. Paul's," and the " Tower of London," by Harrison Ainsworth. And while we may speak thus eulogistically of Mr. Rodwell, we may say that in several of the engravings before us the illustrator, Mr. Ashley, may fear no comparison even with such eminent and practised designers as " Phis" and Cruikshank. THE LAND WE LIVE IN. Part Newcastle —that splendid city which has been transformed from hovels into palaces by the industry of Grainger —is the subject for pictorial representa tion and literary description in this now veteran periodical. The Tyne and the collieries are not overlooked in the delineation. HISTORY OF ENGLAND DURING THE THIRTY YEARS PEACE. Part VI. .Fird, Half. _ _ Miss Martineau continues her narrative with her usual lucidity, and gives, in short, every promise of worthily completing what was so well commenced by the distinguished publisher, Mr. Charles Knight. The present instalment is embellished with a capital portrait of Jeremy Bentham, the philosopher. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SELECT' LI- TERATURE. Part 111. Charles Knight, the gifted commentator on Shake- Pere, here continues his ingenious studies from the dramas of that Immortal; One of the best annota• tions ever written by Mr. Knight upon any one of the plays of Shakspere—" man who was not for an age but for all time," as Cousin Feeni x sa y s —i s th e elaborate and sc h o larly paper on Henry IV. in the number just published of this splendid serial. MACPHAIL'S ECCLESIA.STACAL JOURNAL. In this periodical we have, for April, a second criticism on Macaulay's " History► of England," with reviews on Felicia Hemans and other attractive sub jects, penned, generally speaking, with the apprecia- Live delicacy and eclectic taste befitting true criticism. QUARTERLY EDUCATIONAL MAGAZINE. There happen to be so very few publications pre tending to advocate in an efficient manner the rights and necessities of education, that we observe the con. tinuance of this intelligent periodical with peculiar satisfaction. The number before us is the sixth, and promises a multitude of successors. MEMOIRS OF FRANCIS HORNER Part I. The celebrated work recounting the career of that eminent and most excellent man Francis Horner—a work penned by his brother, Leonard Horner, and already familiar to thousands—is here commenced in the form of a republication, being ushered again before the public in a cheap edition from the esta blishment of the Messrs. Chambers. The biography is already so highly and deservedly appreciated, that it were idle to do more than simply announce the fact of its reappearance. Every one with any acquaint ance with the political, social, and intellectual condi tion of England during the last half century cannot fail to regard with profound interest the account of the career of so gifted and good a contemporary of Brougham and Mackintosb, and the rest of that illustrious generation. THE PHYSICAL ATLAS. Part I. By ,A. K. Johnston, F.R.G.S. This magnificent work —suggested by Humboldt and produced by Keith Johnston —is being re-issued for the benefit of general subscribers. The republi cation will terminate in twelve months, the twelve parts being printed in imperial octavo. The "Physical Atlas" is worthy of the reputation of the geographer. THE ILLUSTRATED ATLAS. Part I. Edited by Montgomery Martin. Mr. Martin, well known from his " Colonial His- tory," has undertaken the editing of an atlas of a rather singular character, each plate being surrounded with illustrations. The first part is a creditable specimen. THE SCIENCE OF LIFE; or How to Live and What to Live For. With Practical Remark., on the Health, Diet, and Longevity. By a Physician. This is an excellent little manual of education, of morals, and of dietetics. It should be carefully studied by all engaged in the education and bringing up of young children. The author's precepts for securing the mens sana in corpore sane, without which life becomes a burden, in many cases too grievous to be borne, are plain, intelligible, and emit nently practical, and will secure in the majority of instances, to tho e who adopt them, health and lon gevity. THE SUPPLEME2\ T TO THE POST OFFICE LONDON DIRECTORY for 1849, containing amongst other information the Peerage and Parliamentary Directory, with Town Residence during the present Session, and Country Seat of each Peer and Member of the house of Commons ; and Complete Postal Directory, cor rected to the date of Publication. We have here, for the price of one shilling, a list of the Members of the Houses of Peers and Com mons, and a complete postal directory, furnishing all the regulations of the Post-office, as effecting the receipt and dispatch of letters—post towns and prin cipal places in England, Ireland, and Scotland, in alphabetical lists, in which are distinguished the places at which money orders can be obtained or cashed. To those places not granting money orders in all cases are shown the exact distance of the place from the town at which money orders may be had; to each place is prefixed the town at which letters from London are delivered, and after each is stated that at which the box closes for letters to London ; so that the return of post can be always calculated. The "Postal Directory" likewise contains an alphabetical list of the five thousand principal places throughout the world to which mails are dispatched, with the kingdom in which each is situate, and " universal rates of postage" on letters and newspapers, with days and hours and dispatch ; town and country de livery of the London district (late twopenny) post, with hours of dispatch and places in the country, delivery of, with the nearest money order office to .each place ; list of receiving houses in London ; the whole corrected up to the end of the month of March, 1849. The work is b the editors of the "Post-o ffi ce London Directory , ' and they boast, and have a right to boast, that in no other book produced at the price of one shilling can information at once so accurate and so various be obtained. FINE ARTS. THE ART JOURNAL. Gradually, month after month, the treasures of the Vernon Gallery are being represented by the e gravers employed upon this brilliant and enterprising publication. In the number for April we have copies from an original historical painting by Ward, and from an original landscape by Stanfield—the first, " The Fall of Clarendon," being engraved by Bacon; the second, " The Schelt, Texel Island," being en graved by 'Wallis. In addition to this, we have an ingenious mechanical engraving of the freize of the Parthenon, a capital sketch of " The Village Minstrel," by Goodall, and a drawing, by Fairhol,t, of " The Tabard Inn," immortalised by Chaucer. Mrs. S. C. Hall makes her pilgrimage, this month, Jo through stow . T t h h e e r s e t s r t e e o t f s t h o e f c L o n o ndn t ri o b u t i t o o n t a h r e e toofm a n b oaf; average character. Realized by George Cruikahank. fi o E ed indulge a tn b i i " y n :a y asmibdybe; tittersiotrtaincge, guffaw—get shret the "Tooth -Ache." It t bi o at lui b tg : ahe a h ;d a e eg d nr°u, o nl f ae r D o f . B y oi) wish u ri e and all booksellers. THE m4 e T f o a ynTdolfuA THE BRISTO L for the exe cut i on of Sarlh The execution will lh mss i d s ay Eri a t da p y re ( s t e h n is t c tx y ed ). take pace a f t e te a n ic o f 'cloc , k in morning to suit the conveni ence who has written to say o that t h a e tt ha ' s t he anoth ad er h.peraunfgernssai.ont;:l engagement at Norwich on Saturday morn g, and must, therefore, leave Bristol by mid-day on .Friday. As we stated last week great exertions are mane e to b t p e r n e v g e o n t t the u p by execution the Societytaking Fprlisecec and beingg ai m i other religious denominations, by the Young Men's As sociation, and by the inhabitants generally. One me mot ial to the Queen from the women of Bristol received in two days 2,000 signatures. It is thought, however. that in spite of all these exertions the law will be allowed to take its course. Two members of the Society of Friends, Mr. Samuel Capper and Mr. Samuel Bow den, hare, during the week, waited on the Earl Fitzhardingo, as Lord Lieutenant of the county of Gloucester and the city of Bristol, and besought his Lordship's interest with the Home Secretary in behalf of the wretched girl. Lord Fitzhardinge, howev, r, frankly stated to the deputation that he could not concur in the prayer of the memorial, although he was willing to transmit it to the Hom e . office, tor which purpose it was lett in his Lordship's hands.—Cheltenham Examiner. TUBING.—A coil of tubing, 940 feet in length, has just been manufactured by the Quits Peroha Company for a gentleman in Warwickshire to convey the supply of water from the park marrow ta hie mamion-house.