The Sun. — London, England, 1861-05-10 00:00:00

• IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY. This being Ascension Day their Lordships did not aaaerable. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' amendments to the South Shields Improve ments and Quay Bill were considered and agreed t 3, and the bill was ordered for third reading. The following bills were read a third time and passed :—Banbridge Extension Railway ; Downpatrick and Newry Railway (new title) ; Great Southern and Western Railway (Extension) Bill; Llandaff and Canton District Markets, Londonderry and Coleraine Railway, Manchester and Milford Railway (Aberystwith Branch), Stockport, Timperley, and Al trincham Junction Railway, Tyne Improvement, Vale of Clywd Railway, Birkenhead Railway, London and North Western Railway (Liverpool Lines), and Cheshire Midland Railway Bills were considered and ordered for third reading. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented in favour of the aboli • tion of church rates ; against the Salmon Fisheries (Scot land) Bill ; in favour of an alteration in regard to Roman Catholic paupers in workhouses, so as to afford them in creased facilities for the free exercise of their religious duty, and for the education of their children ; from inhabi tants of Western Australia, praying that t ran sportation to that colony might not b e di scon ti n ued ; from inhabitants of Norwich against the pressure of the poor rates under the present Poor Law Removal Act ; in favour of the abolition of the Annuity Tax, &c. THE GALN#AY CONTRACT. Mr. BAXTER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the papers moved for with respect to the Galway Con tract will be laid upon the table of the house : if it was true, 1. That even now, after all the extensions of time granted, the Atlantic Royal Mail Company had only one new ship at sea—the Columbia. 2. That that vessel took ten days to steam from Galway to St. John's, Newfoundland, on her first voyage, and afterwards was compelled to put into Hali fax for want of coals. 3. That another new vessel, the Hibernia, had been condemned at Liverpool as un seaworthy. 4. That the Government had allowed the company to employ on the North Atlantic the ;Parana, en old ship which has been for some time considered unsuitable for the West India service. 5. That it appears from the published accounts that the At lantic Royal Mail Company had lost three-fourths of its capital. 6. That, under these circumstances, Government did not intend to ask the House of Commons for the vote of £78,000 which appeared in the estimates. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he should be very happy to give all the infor mation it was in his power to supply. With regard to the first question he had only to say that the com pany had enly one new ship at sea, namely, the Columbia, but they have employed others with a view to carry out their contract. With respect to the second question, there was no official information on the part of Government, but it had been stated that the vessel in question after leaving Galway did put into Halifax on her first voyage for want of coals. The statement had been con firmed at Lloyds, so that he must answer the question in the affirmative. The Hibernia had suffered damage on its voyage from Southampton to Galway, and it had been an nounced at the Admiralty. With reference to the next question he had to state that the Government had not allowed the employment of the Parana. He could give no answer to the other question. The right hon. gentle man subsequently stated that since answering these questions he had received a report from the company in question which he had not been able to read, and which would be laid before the house. PRIVATEERS. Mr. IV. FORSTER asked the Secretary of State for the Horne Depa►tmeat, whether it was not a criminal offence against the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act for any subject of her Majesty to serve on board any privateer licensqd by the person assuming, as President of the _ _ Southern confederacy, to exercise power over a part of the United States, or for any person within her Majesty's domi nions to assist in the equipment of such privateer ; and, if so, whether he will take measures to prevent the infringe ment of the law, either by her Majesty's subjects or by any agents of the President of the Southern confederacy who are now in England, and also 'whether any such pri vateer, equipped in a part of her Majesty's dominions will not be liable to forfeiture. Sir G. C. LEWIS said the principle of our law was that the subjects of her Majesty should not enter into the ser vice of any State at war with a State with which we were at peace. Her Majesty's Government had considered the case, and would adopt the steps necessary when any case arose that would require their interposition. ' ALLOWANCES TO WITNESSES. Mr. W. EGERTON asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intended to bring in a bill, during the present session, to alter the scale of allowances to witnesses at the assizes and sessions. Sir G. C. LEWIS said he had already stated he would bring in a bill to amend the law on the subject. GOVERNMENT LOANS. Mr. R. LONG asked the First Lord of the Treasury what proportion of the Fortifications loan the Government proposed to borrow during the ensuing financial year. Lord PALMERSTON said it was impossible to answer the question at present, but if there were any alterations to be made in the present estimates it would of necessity be communicated to the house. PRINCESS ALICE'S ANNUITY BILL. This bill went through committee. THE DISTURBANCES IN AMERICA. On the motion for going into committee of supply on ways and means, Mr. BENTINCK asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in consequence of what was taking place in Ame rica, any increase in naval and military expeaditure of this country would be rendered necessary, and whether, incon sequence of the probable deficiency in the cotton supply, the customs and duties would not be injuriously affected ? Mr. CRAWFORD said ho believed the panic relative to cotton originated merely in the rumours of the e•Aton market. Mr. DISRA.E LI said that it was not intended at his side of the house to offer any opposition to passing the resolu tions proposed to the house on the 7th of this month, pro. vided an early day was found for intrody.cing the bill founded on these financial resolutions. The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCNEQUER said that he proposed to bring in this bill on Monday next. Lord PALMERSTON said he did not consider that the events which unfortunately were taking place in America would necessitate any increase in the naval and military establishments of this country. He did not think that any diminution in the customs and excise duties by the events alluded to would occur. WAYS AND MEANS. The resolutions in committee of ways and means.were reported and agreed to. THE PAPER DUTY; On the motion for going int., committee of Ways and Means, Sir J. NORTIICOTE strongly condemned the policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his proposed abolition of the paper duty, which he contended was not justified by the demands of the country or the state of the national finances. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended the proposed abolition on the same grounds which he had already urged in support of this measure. He contended that the opposition to the proposea aeouLcuu. Wes,, Lo ov d an entire misapprehension of the question. Mr. DISRAELI supported the views of Sir S. Northcote, and complained that the explanations afforded by the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer were unsatisfactory Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before proceeding to further legislation in respect to the customs duty on foreign paper, he would consent to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation and effect of the arztem of export duties on foreign rags upon the paper-making trade of Great Britain and Ireland ? After a few words from Mr. NORRIS, Mr. NEWDEGATE opposed the remissionof in this duty, regard Which, however beneficial it migh t prove _ spinner, would to the interest of the cot ton be merely infinitesimal as regarded the . trade, silk which w as now so much depressed. For i nstance , Dix es I )iec of ribbon, of 36 yards 3 inches, would cost £ 8 2 5. , and the cost of the paper for packing it was only threepence. He entered into different details in. support of his views. He dissented from the statements of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer entirely in re gard to th e operat i on o f t h e a b o lition of this duty, which w ould utterly f a il i n realising t h e ad vantages SON said a vantageswhich the right laon gentle man pre di cte d . urgent appeal had been made some time ago to the Government by the mayor and some of the inhabitants of Coventry to grant a special exemption to tho people of Coventry from the paper duty. Mr. NEWDEGATE said there had been as exemption of the duty on card paper. Mr. GIBSON—There bad Leen, ..ed that exemption made the paper duty more unpopular. The pri nciple of exemptions had already been carried to a considerable ex tent, but it was now felt that the Government could not well grant an exemption to one trade and refuse it to an other. There were at present some seven or eight statutory exemptions, and about 18 exemptions by Treasury orders. It would be much better, in his 'opinion, if the duty were t) be retained, to extend it to all. Could there be any rea son for exempting books in Latin, Greek, Oriental, and Northern languages, printed at Oxford, from the tax, while ordinary school books were subject to it ? This exemption was made "for the encouragement of learning," and per haps it was owing to that expression that the duty was called a tax upon knowledge. If they were to keep the Excise duty upon British paper, and at the same time allow free trade in foreign paper, the supply of paper from foreign• countries might increase, but th e E xcise duty on Engli s h paper might assume a stationary character. It behoved the house well to consider whether they should keep the paper 311 au ufacturers of the country under the influence of Ezein restrictions. Those restrictions operated injuriously, and the sooner they were removed the better. WAYS AND MEANS. The SPEAKER then left the chair, and the house went into Committee of Ways and Means. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had been asked whether the Government would consent to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the export daty on foreign rags. If it was meant by that that the Government should not alter the existing law until such a committee had made their report, the Government certainly could not give its con sent. An hon. gentleman had proposed that the excise duty should be abolished, but that a duty more than equal to that should be retained. He thought it was not to be ex pected that the House of Commons would set up a new protective duty which would, in effect, be a prohibitory duty. The average value of paper was 6d. a lb. The hon. gentle man proposed to retain a duty of - 16 s. a cwt. on an article of 40s. in value. This would be constituting a new duty of about 40 per cent. on foreign paper. He (Mr. Gladstone) could not suppose that the. House of Commons would agree to that. France was soon likely to conclude arrangements which would open Belgian and German markets to herself and England, and to remove existing restraints on the raw material. He thought, under those circumstances, it would be a very bad thing to set the example of a retrogressive movement in our free trade policy by doubling the duty on foreign paper. As to the French treaty, that was never made as a concession to France. England, in negotiating that treaty, was merely carrying out her own principles. He hoped the house would not consent to the demand of the hon. gentleman. (Rear, hear.) Mr. MAGUIRE said the observation he made was not ambiguous. The excise duty and the customs duty on paper were very different. He would produce such reliable facts as he hoped would induce the house to pause before they remitted the duty on paper. He implored the right hon. gentleman by every motive of patriotism and humanity not to carry out this resolution with respect to the paper duties in opposition to the views of a large portion of the house. He (Mr Maguire) supported the budget of last year, but then he was not aware that Mr. Cobden had committed a great practical blunder with regard to the paper manu facturers of the country. What he wanted the right hon. gentleman to do was, to delay this proposition, to stop legis lation on this point, to have a committee appointed and witnesses examined in order to ascertain the effect of the proposed change on those engaged in this department of industry. He had ascertained that the home manufacturer was not able to enter into competition with the foreigner. The result of existing competition was such that two Dub lin manufacturers, one of whom sent six tons and another nine tons of paper to London every week, representing a trade of £47,000 a year, now did not send a single pound. The Manchester Guardian now consumed one two-hun dredth part of all the paper manufactured in the kingdom. The result would be that, as regarded the manufacture of paper for that journal alone, no less than 80 hands would be thrown out of employment in this country. But the supply of foreign paper did not apply to English news papers alone ; it extended to the colonies, for the paper for the Melbourne Argus was supplied by the Belgium manu facturers. The effect of this proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer would throw at least 20 paper mills in this country out of employment, and thus cast a large number of the working classes upon the poor rates of the country. If they were to have free trade, let it be such a free trade as would give equal advantages to both parties to the contract. Let not the hands of one of the parties be tied, and his feet manacled, while the other was free to crush and oppress his opponent. What he asked for the... English and Irish paper manufacturers was fair play. (Hear, hear.) If they gave the foreigner the benefit of free trade in respect to the in troduction of piper into this country, let the British manu facturer be enabled to have foreign rags free of duty ; for the duty on foreign rags ruled, in fact, the whole of the paper market. Neither Belgium nor France allowed rags to be imported into this country, and Gelanany laid on a duty of £9 a ton upon rags exported from that country ; so that the manufacturer here was deprived of the raw material for the manufacture of paper. And thus, while we allowed foreign paper to come in free of duty, the foreigner put a protecting duty on our paper. Now, was this fair or just towards the British manufacturers ? If the foreigner was to have this advantage as regarded paper, let us have an equivalent as regarded rags. (Hear, hear.) What were the facts of the case as regarded the introduction of foreign paper into this country ? Why, that last year the importation of foreign paper was about 800,0001bs. or 1,000,000115., while for the seven months and a half of the present financial year the quantity of foreign paper entered here amounted to 5,000,0001b5., and it was confidently expected that the increase in the quantity of foreign paper into this country would be equal to a mil lion lbs. a month. But if it only amounted to 10,090,0001b5., the effect would be to deprive 1,000 persons of employment. (Hear.) Was not this a matter deserving of serious conside ration by the house ? It was utterly impossible to allow such a state of things to go on, by which the trade of the home manufacturer of paper would be wholly destroyed. Such then being the state of the case, he did not think he was asking the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer tco much when he requested him to pause before he tisok off the custom duty on foreign paper.. He thought it was the duty of the Government to represent it to the Emperor of the French that there should be a real reciprocity in this mat ter, and that he should allow us to have rags free of duty while we allowed foreign paper into this country without imposing a duty upou it. It might be very true, or indeed was the fact, that France did not compete with us in re spect to the article of paper. But under the terms of the treaty made between this country and France, Belgium was competing with us—(hear)—and he heard it was the intention of some English paper manufacturers to go to Bel gium to establish paper mills there. They would net, how ever, take English workmen with them, but would employ Belgian workmen, whom they could get at a lower rate of wages, and the consequence would be that the ratepayers of England would be required to supporethe poor people who would thus be thrown out of employment by our policy in carrying out free trade, which was only beneficial to the fo reigner. He had great admiration for the energy and Enter prise of that hive of industry—Manchester, but suppose the Americans were to say that England should not have cotton except by paying a revenue to America in the sha2e of duty, suppose they were to put a five p3r cent. export duty on cotton to obtain a revenue, and to protect the ma nufacturers of the North, would there not soon be a tre -1 mendous clamour in that house ? He would venture to say the sufferers would march to London 'to compel the Legislature to take sums step in the matter, and they would be unable to resist that clamorous and starving multitude. He therefore said that he was not asking too much in call ing upon the right hon. gentleman to appoint a committee to inquire into this subject, to hear a few witnesses, and report the result to the house. By this means the house would be put in possession of the facts, and it could then legislate with the assurance that they fully understood the whole merits of the question. (Hear.) He was exceedingly anxious on the subject, especially as it seriously affected Ireland, and as the interests of the only remaining manu facture in that country were affected by the policy proposed to be pursued by the right hon. gentleman. He made this appeal t , .) the right hon. gentleman on the ground of justice and fairness, and with the view of enabling the house to come to an opinion on the subject. He moved the:resolution be not adopted, and that the Chairman report progress. Mr. LIDDELL wished to remind the right hon. gentle man the Chancellor of the Exchequer that we had altered the Navigation Laws, and yet we had no reciprocity on the part of France in this particular. The same would be the case as regarded the paper. It was really too much that we should give away every advantage to the foreigner, and get nothing in return. Mr. BUXTON said that those who were in favour of the appointment of the proposed committee repudiated any n0t;,,,, t;,,,, of reet.etien for the paper makers. All that was re quired was that the English menutacturer .elicruis v.:. 1 .1...a on the same footing as the foreigner, and what was asked for by the appointment of a committee was to inquire into the means of effecting that end. He believed it would not be necessary that such a committee should sit more than ten days or a fortnight, and this would not materially in terfere with legislation on the subject. (Hear.) Mr. PULLER appealed to the Chancellor of the Exche quer to grant this committee. The paper makers did not ask for a re-establishment of the Excise duty on paper, but that the Custom duty on foreign paper should not be taken off, which would be some sort of an equivalent for the free importation of foreign paper into this country. He submitted that, in the present state of things, the papermakers of this country were entitled to the inquiry asked for by the hon. member for Dungarvan. It was ad. mitted that the change made in the trade last year had done them much injury, and that was made without any inquiry, and now, when it was sought to make still further changes, they ought to have some idea of the results likely to follow. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that there would be a great increase in the raanufac tare of paper in this country when the Excise duty was abolished. That might be true of those qualities in which there was a large or an unlimited supply of raw material ; but in the best description—in printing papers and sta tionery—no increase whatever in the demand could increase this country, because the amount . of raw ma foreign rags must throw that trade into thetesruiaplpirliy.asinlimited, and the prohibition or high duties on the export of the hands of foreign manufacturers. The incr eased supply did, th ere f ore, Would, therefore, that the right hon. g entl eman would cencede this mocstoienaernferostiniyabhroopaed. (Hear, hear.) H e i n quiry. ' th e E xcise duty on paper was not to take p ber. Th e amount of Customs duty was The a abolition until o et o of .. o nly about ten or twelve thou san d pounds a year,aa mere trifle in the revenue, and, th ere f ore, there was really - no necessity for h aste in the matter, or f or precluding the papermakers of this coun try from having the inquiry they asked for previous to any final decision of th e h ouse. (Hear.) Mr. A. TURNER said the hon. member for Dungarvan had asked what. Manchester or the Manchester men would say if the United States before they Were disunited had im posed a duty of five per cent. on raw cotton, and at the same :time a heavy import duty on Manchester manufac tured cotton. In such a case he imagined that the view the Manchester manufacturers would :have taken would have been this, 4, So long as our hands are unf e tt er e d we will defy competition, and if we fail in doing so we must and ought to give it up." But that was cii the ;Juppogiti cm _ that their hands were =fettered. If the Government were' to lay a duty of £9 a ton on the export of manufactured geods, or on the import of the raw material they would not be in that position. They Would have to enter into compe tition under great disadvam'ages, and in the case of the papermakers, who were placed 1:7 foreign legislation in this position, he said it was not acting upon the principles of free trade, as he understood them to expose them to such unfair and irregular competition. (Opposition cheers.) Colonel DUNNE supported the motion that the chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again. It was impos sible for the house to proceed further in the question with out instituting the inquiry asked for by the hon. member for Dungarvan. It had been shown that the papermakers of Ireland had been all but ruined by the legislation of last year, and that the benefit of any further changes would, in fact, only go to the Manchester manufacturers. He should therefore oppose the proposals of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer at every stage. Mr. F. CROSSLEY said he would like to know exactly how they stood. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Manchester (Mr. Turner) said it would be wrong for the Government to lay a duty of £9 a ton on the export of ma nufactures. (Hear, hear.) So said he—but then they could not interfere with the legislation and the taxation of greign countries. They made their own laws to suit themselves, and we must take things as we find them. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) Well, he would endeavour to meet that cheer. He would remind the house that paper was not made from rags alone. It was made from cotton waste, from old ropes, from straw, and from many other materials re cently introduced. It was true that some foreign countries could produce cheaper paper, but was that any reason why we should pay one penny a pound to the home manufac turers on all the paper we consumed more than it was worth ? But then it was said that the workpeople employed in the paper-mills would be thrown out of work if the trade went abroad. Did the papermakers suppose that they would not get work elsewhere ? Why, in the manufacturing dis tricts, large quantities of machinery had been standing idle for want of hands to work it, and he said it would be far cheaper for this country to take the income-tax papers of the papermakers and pension them, rather than to pay a penny a pound more than it was worth for all the paper that was wanted. (Oh.) It would be far cheaper to do so. For his own part, if he was going into the papermaking trade, he should prefer this country to all others, for its many na tural advantages ; but if the papermakers found they could not compete with foreign makers, they had better give it up. It would be a great mistake to put an import duty on paper coming from countries in which there was a prohibition on the export of rags. It would be only the revival of the sys tem of differential duties on free and slave-grown sugar; and the attempt would break down as signally as it did in that case. He hoped the house would not stultify itself by entering upon such a retrograde course as that advocated by hon. members in this case. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NORRIS, on behalf of the papermakers of this country, repudiated any desire for the restoration of pro tection. All that they asked for was an inquiry into the operation of the Customs duties on paper before any deci sion was come to by the house upon the question. Those engaged in the trade saw ruin before them, and all they asked to avert that ruin was a clear stage and no favour. The hon. member for the West Riding talked of paper being made out of other materials than rags; but, in fact, every one must admit that the paper trade must be taken out of the category of all other trades with respect to the supply of,raw material. An extension of the demand in other trades gave a stimulus to the supply of the raw mate rial, but the papermaker could not stimulate the supply of rags, no matter how great the demand for paper might be. He was limited as to the command of the raw material in his own country, and met by a prohibition on their export in foreign countries. He hoped that the right hon. gentle man would not refuse the inquiry that was asked by -the paper manufacturers of this country. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER desired this question should be fully understood. There was no idea on the part of the Government of opposing themselves to an inquiry on the part of the papermakers. If they thought that they suffered from legislation abroad, that would be a matter for representation in the proper quarter —a course which was preferable to the appointment of a committee, which would cause great jealousy in foreign countries. Further, the hon. member for Dungarvan said be did not propose to maintain the existing Customs duties upon paper ; but, if that were so, what was his object in moving for the appointment of a committee ? If that com mittee were to do anything at all, as he understood the matter, it was to inquire into the operation of the Customs duties on paper, and to report their opinion thereon to the house, in order that it might take some action in the mat ter. What were the facts? The committee had already agreed to the resolution abolishing the Excise duty of 14s. Bd. on paper. There remained a Customs duty on the import of foreign paper, and the proposal was, in fact, that the Cus toms duty should be maintained until the committee to be appointed had inquired and reported, and until the house had come to some decision upon the subject. And on what princiLle was this asked ? Why, on a principle which had been excluded from our whole legislation for the last 20 years. (Cheers.) If that principle were admitted, we should never be able to remit a single tax or reduce a burden until we had inquired into the way they weula ba affected. by the state of things in foreign countries. The principle laid down by the hon. member was, that the house was to be guided in legislation by the legislation of foreign countries. If that legislation happened to be good, they were to follow it, and if it happened to be bad, they were to follow it also, accord ing to the doctrine laid down by the hon. member. But he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) contended that their duty was to frame their laws according to the principles of justice, and to endeavour to induce other nations to follow their example, but their first duty was to do justice to their own people. The paper-makers at present laboured under the oppression of the Excise regulations, the political un. certainty with reference to the continuance of the duty, and also foreign competition. It was admitted that of the paper produced on this country, the greater number of the manu facturers did not fear competition. The whole importation of paper at present did not amount to more than 4 per cent. Mr. MAGUIRE said it was 10 per cent. on the kind of paper to which he had alluded. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Yes, but the hon. member did not wish to limit himself to that par ticular kind of paper. (Hear.) As regarded Belgium they were at present importers of foreign rags, and that being the case how, he would ask, could they drive the British manufacturers out of the market P For twenty years they had acted upon the principle of adopting their legislation according to circumstances, and he called upon them not to reverse the principle which had hitherto guided them. As to science being exhausted as regarded the manufac ture of paper, as had been stated, he denied that such was the case; for that very night there had been communicated to him an American invention for the manufacture of paper, by the combination of straw with cotton rags, and which produced admirable paper. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman having concluded, Mr. BUXTON expressed a hope that the hon. gentleman (Mr. Maguire) would be satisfied with the discussion which had taken place, and would not press the question to a divi sion. Mr. MAGUIRE, however, declined to accede to the sug gestion. The committee then divided, when the numbers were— For reporting progress 54 Against Majority The resolution was then agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIRQUER, in answer to a question by Mr. Hennessy, said the usual course was that the resolution should be reported to the house, and then it would be competent for him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) to insert it in the bill. The resolution was then reported to the house. SUPPLY—ARMY ESTIMATES, The 11 6111404 Chwn unwit intn rnmmittee of supply. Mr. T. G. BARING said it was not his intention to take the vote with reference to the volunteer force that night. On the vote of £210,833 being proposed for the depart ments of the Secretary of State for War and that of the Commander-in- C hief, Colonel DUNNE said he did not wish to divide the de partments of War, but when they came to the details of the large departments under the Ordnance he felt confi dent it would be found that no nation was so badly off with reference to these details as this country was. As regarded their foreign defences, he knew that they were in a very unsatisfactory state, and such would continue to be the case until a competent person was placed at the head of the department. He complained of the number of extra clerks employed in the War-office, and that all their establishments were in a very disorganised condi tion. There should be somebody placed over the engi neering department, because, at present, there was no unity of action whatever. Another arrangement ho com plained of was the system of registration which made the correspondence in the different offices much slower than it ought to be. An Hon MEMBER here moved that the house be counted, but 40 members being present, Col. DUNNE continued—They had more than a suffi dant number of officers to carry on the business of the army, but they wanted a proper system. He wished to be informed whether the recom uendations of the committee that sat last year were to be carried into execution with respect to the army, and whether it was intended to have the Under-Secretary of War always a military man. They were sadly in want of organisation, the more especially when compared with France, where the system of manag ing military affairs was carried to perfection. He had heard it stated i n another place that great difficulties presented themselves in effecting the improvements which were so much requir e d, b ut they could be easily sur mounted. He ventured to say th at i f a number of experienced officers as sisted him in go i ng through the present estimates, they would be able to strike out at least a million of money charged for articles utterly useless, or if they did not strike it out they would be able to apply it to more useful pur- 1 poses. Mr. WILLIAMS saw great difference between the a mount of the vote this Year, and that of last year. He ;hould like to know from the noble lord whether it was in t ended to go on with the fortifications. The hen gentleman the n proceeded to criticise the various heads comprised in the vote, and showed under each head a large increase, WN ich be was at 4 loss to understand, lle rculaci that all THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING ; - •MAY' 10, 1861: those items showed an increase of £5,609. He wished, then, to know whether ho was precluded, by the new arrange ments respecting the estimates, from mo7ing that increase be omitted. Mr. MASSEY said if the hon. gentleman moved an amendment in relation to the• gross sum, the effect would be to precludLother hon. members from moving amend ments in the details. Mr. CHILDERS, referring to the War Department, said in 1856 they were employing 216,000 men, and they were now employing only 146,000 ; and while in 1356 the year of the war with Russia—they expended, when they had 246,000 men, £35,000,000 ; they were now, with 100,000 men less, expending more in proportion than in that year which was a year of war. Then with respect to the War Department, they were asked in 1856, when they were at war, for £175,000, and for the Horse Guards £25,000; but in this year, in a time of peace, they were asked for the War Department £169,000, and for the Horse Guards £22,000. Now, he wanted to know how, seeing that they had such a vastly-decreased number of men, that could be explained. Captain JERVIS said it would be well if the house would pay particular attention to one point. He found that there was at the War-office a Secretary for Military Correspondence, and he wanted to know what was meant by that. When he was receiving his military education at Woolwich he found that every item was military cor respondence. He thought much of the fault of the defec tive system in that matter was attributable to the country refusing to recognise the army as a profession, and that led to expense. Colonel SYKES said the task of any independent mem ber of that house to attempt to reduce the military estimates in their details was utterly hopeless. He might have a dozen or so of supporters; but the Government, with the forces at their command, would overwhelm him. He wished to know why there was a Director of Ordnance this year at an expense of £l,OOO a-year, and an additional expenditure of £1,200 a •year in the Accountant-General's department. Colonel LINDSAY hoped the Under-Secretary for War would explain fully and frankly what were the intentions of the Government with respect to the organisation of the War Department. Mr. MELLOR said that he principally rose in conse quence of insinuations made by hon. members, who did not find some one always ready to support their crotchets, that those who placed their hands to a document calling upon the nk.ble lord at the head of the Government to enforce retrenchment in the expenditure, and who called themselves financial reformers, did not attend in their places when the estimates were discussed. As one of those who had at tached their names to the document in question, he ex plained that he thought it better to make a representation to the heads of departments, instead of discussing the esti mates in all cases, for his experience showed him that little was effected by those discussions. He had signed the do cument to Lord Palmerston because he thought the Go vernment, having better information as to the necessities of the services than independent members could have, that the result he desired to produce would be better served by a re presentation to the heads of depax talents than by empty _ . _ discussions in tile house. Mr. DISRAELI considered nothing more dangerous, or nothing that the House of Commons ought to show in a significant manner its disappprobation of, than the princi ple upon which the observations of the hon. member wbo had just spoken rested, namely, that the control of the House of Commons was a mere delusion. Nothing, pos sibly, could be more injurious or more destructive of the constitutional influence of the house than the opinions of the hon. gentleman if they were founded in fact. That they were net t 3 bring the expenditure of the country be fore the tribunal appointed by the country for the pur pose, but that they should lurk in the anti-chambers of ministers in order that they might make their peace with their constituents,—that was one of the most dangerous doctrines that could possibly be expressed, and he should be sorry that any hon. gentleman opposite, to whom be gave credit for feelings as pure as those by which they were actuated on that side of the house, could for one moment, upon reflection, give it their sanction. The House of Commons was the proper place where the expenditure of the country ought to be brought forward by the Govern ment, criticised by the representatives of the people, and adopted according to the balance of opinion in the house. Totally false in principle and fatal in practice as were the opinions of the h on . g entleman, he entirely contradicted them in point of fact. tie denied that it was an idle and barren ceremony that members should criticise with care the estimates of expenditure submitted by the Government to the house. He also denied that there had ever been a fair appeal for reduction brought forward that had proved fruitless. The doctrine laid down by the hon. member was one against which he protested, and he trusted it would be utterly disregarded by the house. (Hear.) Mr. MELLOR said the right hon. gentleman had im puted to him sentiments which he never uttered, and he utterly denied having ever said anything which could be construed into a disparagement ofdiscussions in that house on the estimates, although he freely confessed that expe rience led him to believe that discussions on small items Ni'ere of very little use. . Sir W. .ICIT,IXFVE thought the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) was justifiei in the observations he had made, and regretted that one who seemed to know so little of the subject should have detained the house so long in saying nothing. After a few words from Mr. CRAUPURD, Colonel DUNNE said he felt himself justified in calling the attention of the committee to the expenditure in the War Department, and was surprised to find a professed financial ref,rmer objecting to him for doing so. (Hear.) Mr. T. G. BARING said the appointments referred to by the hon. member were not new appointments, and therefore no additional expense was incurred. With regard 'to the stores much of the military stores were supplied from the naval stores, which this year amounted to nearly a mil lion of money. The new Accountant-General did not occa sion expenses, because the salary had been reduced from £1,500 to £l,OOO. The salary attached to the office of Trea sury writer was only £6OO, the former salary being £l,OOO. The duties which this officer (Mr. Marsham) had to per form were very considerable and the remuneration com paratively small. The reason why there had been an increase in the number of temporary tlerks was that there was an ir crease in the businegs, .but - as there would be a diminution in the number of the hiller class of clerks the expenses on the whole would not be much greater than usual. With respect to the provision for defences of the country, the country would find that they were in a supe rior condition, and that the condition of our fortifications would fully justify the Government as to the amount ex pended on them. The committee which sat last year on mili tary organisation recommended the appointment of an officer to be designated the Director •General of Ordnance. That officer had been appointed, and experience had justified the recommendation of the committee in that particular. (Hear, hear.) As to the officer whose duty it was to super intend the clothing department the committee could not fail to perceive that such an officer was absolutely necessary, and that his appointment would be more• conducive to economy than to extravagance. With respect to the obser vation of the hon. member for Pontefract, he (Mr. T. G. Baring) did not undertake to show that any particular item in the estimates was less than it was in former years, but he was prepared to show that the estimate was framed with a due regard to economy and efficiency. The expen diture of the War Office this year was less than it was in 1853-ft. In that year the expenditure was £179,000, while this year it was less by some hundreds of pounds. and it was to be recollected that the volunteer system had caused an increase in the expenses of the year. He did not agree thitt the organisation of the War Office was defective. The recommendation of the committee of the house on this subject had been carefully attended to by the Government. Colonel DICK SON thought the time had come when some stop should be put to the monstrous extravagance of the war oince. Thcw Lad hewn an addition within late years of 40,000 men to the army, wl,ll- ~r increased by the sum of £BO,OOO. In fact, there were so many clerks in the office that they were tumbling over each other, and he would therefore move that this vote be re duced by the sum of £50,000. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. BARING said he was glad of the admission of the hon. and gallant officer that the work in the War Office was done well. Indeed, no one in his position could stand before the house to explain unless he was assisted by men of the great ability, industry, and zeal, of those who filled. ositions in that office. With respect to supernumerary ri lhte the ed t had ion ca r ea reduction e already explained the causes which had ledl o eu to , in their number, and also that it ld in the higher paid offices. As to the contrast drawn between the Bank of England and the War Office, there was this difference, that only a small t ortion of the clerks were required for accounts, while would there were many clerks required to attend to correspond ence which involved higher acquirements on the part of those so occupied. With respect to the pledge the hon. baronet the member for Evesham had asked him to give, that this vote if granted would not be exceeded, he was prepared to say that the best efforts of the Government would be given to prevent any excess, and ho believed it would be found amply sufficient. He denied the state ment that the cost of the civil list had increased in a greater proportion than was warranted by the increase of the army. Col. DICKSON said, if the hon. gentleman could explain why the vote should be so large he would be satisfied. He did not, however, see why so wary clerks should be employed in the War Office. Mr. MONSELL said the hon. and gallant member was he believed in error in his statements as to expenditure in this department in former years. Mr. WYLD thought the number of clirks in the War Department might be considerably reduced, Mr. CONINGIIAM said the scale of remuneration paid to those clerks might be greatly reduced. He considered £l,OOO a-year to the precis writer in the War Office too much. There were many well qualified lierary men who would be glad to do the duty for £5OO a-par. After a few words from Mr. T. O. BAltl,G, the committee divided, when the numbers were— For the vote ..... 131 Against ..... 100 Majority in favour of the vote.. • •--31 Mr. CIIILDERS next moved that tha sum of £95,840, for salaries of clerks in the War Office be reelticed 14 %51W of £3,000. They had more permanent and extra clerks employed now than when the country was at war. Col. LINDSAY rt minded the hon. gentleman that the number of clerks must always increase in proportion to the number of men in the army, because the correspondence was necessarily greater. Indeed, on the subject of clothing there were more letters written now to the Horse Guards than had ever been known at any former period. Mr. T. G. BARING explained that the increase in the number of clerks was owing principally to the cor respondence with the Indian Government since the amalgamation of the two armies, and the large number of troops employed in India. The amendment was then put that the item of £95,485 be reduced by a sum of £3,000. The committee divided— For the amendment Against Majority The amendment was accordingly lost. Mr. AYRTON said it was most unfortunate that they were not successful in reducing the items of the'vote, which hon. members considered unnecesarily high. It was, how.. ever, the duty of the committee to take care that while there was no increase of the army for the present year, there should be no additional expenditure for the administrative military department. He should, therefore, propose to re duce the vote before the committee to the amount at which it stood last year, namely, £196,000, a sum which he con sidered quite sufficient for administrating the affairs of the army. Col. DICKSON supported the reduction. He regretted, however, that the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets had not proposed even a greater diminution of the vote, as he believed that, without in the slightest • degree affecting the public service, no less than £50,000 could be knocked off that vote. The appointment of the precis writer and compiler of statistics he considered altogether unnecessary. Mr. BARING pointed out that the expenditure of the higher appointments in the War Office in the present year was considerably less than in the year 1856. The higher appointments in 1856 in the War Office cost the country £36,924 ; whereas in 1860-61 they only cost £33,070. The increase was in the item for the junior clerks, and arose from the increase, of business caused by the additional troops serving in India. There had also been an increase of the comforts of the soldiers, which oc casioned an increase of work in keeping the accounts and in correspondence. The amount of the present vote was not more than was absolutely necessary for the service of the year. The committee then divided, - and there appeared— For the amendment .. 103 Against Majority —2l The amendment was therefore lost. Mr. WILLIAMS moved that the chairman report pro gress. The motion was agreed to and the house resumed. EDINBURGH ASSESSMENTS BILL. Mr. MUIR moved the second reading of this bill. Mr. DUNLOP said he had presented three petitions against this bill, but the petitions did not object to a bill which would effectually meet the evil of assessment to which this bill referred, and which they did not think this bill would accomplish. He begged to move a resolution to the effect that no alteration of the annuity tax act of last session would be satisfactory that would extend the assess ment in question beyond the area of the burgh of Edin burgh. Mr. BLACK said he was sorry that his hon. friend had deemed it necessary to move this resolution, as this bill was merely to get rid of a grie% ance which the citizens of Edin burgh complained of. Mr. lIADFIELD moved the adjournment of the debate, and the house was cleared for a division, but the hon. member did not press his motion. The house then divided, when the numbers were— For the amendment Against Majority against the amendment-84 The bill was then read a second time. ROADS AND BRIDGES (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill was read a second time, and was ordered to be referred t) a select committee. HARBOURS BILL. On the motion that this bill be committed pro forma, Sir J. FERGUSON expressed a hope that a proper op portunity would be given to consider the provisions of the bill. The house then went into committee, when the bill passed through pro forma. CORK INFIRMARY BILL. On the motion that this bill be read a second time, Mr. LONGFORD opposed the second reading, and moved that it be read a second time that day six months. The house then divided on the second reading, when the numbers were— For the second reading 5O Against it Majority —l9 Captain CLIVE brought in a bill to amend the law relating to the drainage of land for agricultural purposes. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought in the bill embodying the resolutions on income-tax ; for the renewal of the tea and sugar duty ; and the repeal of the paper duty, which was read a first time and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. The house adjourned at a quarter to two o'clock. LA TV IiIiTELLIGENCE.—May 9. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. READE V. CONQUEST-DRAMATIC COPYRIGHT. This was an action to recover penalties for an in fringement of the plaintiff's copyright in the drama of " Gold ;" and the defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Coryton appeared for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Lush and Mr. T. Chitty for the defendant. It was stated in the opening speech that the plaintiff, Mr. Charles Reade, was the author of several favourite and popular dramas, and also of the novel " Never Too Late to Mend;" and Mr. Conquest was the proprietor of the Grecian Theatre. In 1853 Mr. Reade produced the drama of " Gold" at Drury-lane, and afterwards founded upon it the novel " Never Too Late to Mend." In October, 1858, Mr. Conquest brought out the play of " Never Too Late to Mend," which purported to be written from the novel, but which it was contended was so like the play of " Gold" as to be an infringe ment of the plaintiff's copyright. The Dramatic Copyright Act said that if any person should repre sent a drama without the consent of the author or proprietor he should be liable to a penalty of 40s. a ❑ight, or pay the amount of profit realised by the performance. The present action was to recover the 40s. penalty. His Lordship inquired what question there was for the jury. Mr. Lush said his case was, that the gentleman, who wrote their play had done so by dramatising the novel, and that he at that time had never seen " Gold." Mr. Hawkins contended that whether this was or not the statute had given Mr Reade a copyright in " Gold," and that even if by accident any other person who wrote another play which was in sub stance the same, the performance of this would be an infringement of copyright. Mr. Lush—That was the question of law, and not one of fact. Mr. Hawkins read various passages from the two dramas to show the similiarity betwee❑ them. Mr. George Augustus Conquest, the son of the defendant said—l was the author of the drama " Never Too Late to Mend," which 'compiled from the novel of that name. I had never heard *hen I wrote it of the play of " Gold." There are some characters and scenes which are in " Gold," but in my play. It was admitted that the piece had been per. formed 80 nights, and his lordship directed a ver dict for the plaintiff for £l6O, subject to the opi nion of the court upon a special case. COURT OP EXCHEQUER. CUMBERLAND V. COPELAND.-A DRAMA IN COURT, This was an action for the recovery of penalties for using dramatic copyright without license, to which the defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Lush and Mr. Charles Pollock were counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. Murray for the defendant. Mr. Lush, in stating the case for the plaintiff, Mr. John Cumberland, said he was the proprietor of a large number of dramatic copyrights, and the defendant was the lessee of two theatres—the Theatre Royal and the Royal Amphitheatre, at Liverpool. By the 3d and 4th William IV., c. 315, passed in 1833, the sole right in the representation of dramatic pieces was secured to the author, or his assignee, for 28 years, and this action was brought against the defendant for having acted at his theatres a burletta by Mr. Fitzball, called " The Pilot," assigned to the plaintiff in September, 1828, and also another piece, written by Mr. Buckatone. entitled "The Happiest Day of my Life." The two pieces had been performed at the defendant's theatre, the one for eight and the other for five nights, making thirteen representations, and under ,the act the plaintiff was entitled to a sum of 40s. for each representation, and that sum he now claimed. _ _ The following evidence was then adduced Mr. John Cumberland examined—l was formerly a bookseller and publisher at Ludgate -hill. I bought the copyright of " The Pilot" in 1828, with other pieces, for £l9. I purchased " The Happiest Day, of my Life," and other pieces, eight in all, from Mr. Buckstone, for £37 18s. Mr. Pollock—We will put in the assignment, DV lord. Mr. Baron Martin—lt is not stamped. Mr. Pollock—We will pay the penalty. The Associate said the penalty was £ll 2s. 6d., which was paid, and the assignment received in evidence. _ . Examination continued—An _application was made by my agent to Mr. Copeland for the amount due fur playing my pieces some years ago ? but b e , has never paid me a shilling. I never had any dispute as to my charge with anyone else. Cross-examined—Mrs. Frances Anne Davidson, the attesting witness to this assignment, is my daughter. A list of my plays was sent to the de fendant by my authority. Mr. Murray—When ? Witness—How can I recollect. You might as well ask me to recollect all the hand-bills in Lon don. (Laughter.) The list was sent when needful —whenever we found a slippery customer. (Laughter.) Mr. Murray—Have you a printed copy of these plays ? Witness—l don't carry plays about with me. Mr. Murray—l ask you, have you printed copies in court ? Witness—No, but in my warehouse I have, and I shall be happy to supply you with any quantity. (Laughter.) Mr. Murray-:--Did your daughter write this letter, sending the defendant a list of plays, and re (lusting a settlement of your account for three years ? Witness (looking at the letter)—She did. Mr. Buchstone examined—l am the lessee of the Haymarket Theatre. I am the author of the comedy "The Happiest Day of my Life," which I sold to Mr. Cumberland. Cross-examined—Before the passing of the Dra 'matic Authors Act I told Mr. Copeland he might act my pieces gratuitously. Mr. Murray—Did you tell him that before the Act passed? Witness—There was no necessity, for he could play them without asking. Mrs. Frances Anne Davidson, the plaintiff's daughter, proved that she had applied to the defendant for the money for acting the pieces in which the copyright is vested in her father. The defendant's reply was put in, in which he stated that if the plaintiff desired litigation in place of waiting the defendant's leisure he might adopt it. This closed the case for the plaintiff. Mr. Murray, for the defendant, admitted that the piece called " The Pilot" had been acted, but con tended, as regarded " The Happiest Day of my Life," that the assignment having been attested by only one witness, was invalid in law, and that the plaintiff could not recover on that. His lordship said he would reserve that point, and a verdict was entered for the plaintiff , for £26, with leave to increase it by £lO, if the Court should be of opinion that the assignment was properly attested. COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) SMITH AND SMITH v. PRICKETT-(MORRELL CITED TO SEE PROCEEDINGS). The case on behalf of the respondents was again resumed. Further evidence having been given to disprove the handwriting of the alleged attesting wit nesses, Mr. Austin, a solicitor at Oxford, and for merly clerk to the late Mr. Morrell, produced the bill books of that gentleman to show that no special court was held at the time referred to in the bill of costs, said to have been found with the will. The fees of the court were always paid for at the time, and were never mixed up with charges for general busi ness, as had been done in the bill of costs. There was no entry in Mr. Morrell's books of a charge for drawing a will in May, 1835, which formed one of the items in the bill. There was nothing in Mr. Morrell's books of anything done for the testator at all in the month of May, 1835. Mr. Birch, deputy steward of the manor of Bin sey, produced the court rolls. There was no special court on the 17th of November, 1834. The pre sentment of the death of Mr. Edward Cawser, which was the business stated in the bill of costs to have been transacted at the special court of Nov., 1834, really took place in 1832. Mr. Sergeant Shee having addressed the court at great length in reply, Sir C. Cresswell asked the jury if they wished to hear any remarks from him upon the evidence ? The Foreman said it was quite unnecessary. They were unanimously of opinion that the will propounded by the plaintiffs was a forgery, and that a more shameful case had never been brought before a court of justice. Sir C. Cresswell entirely concurred with the jury; and if he were sitting there in a criminal court, he should not have the slightest hesitation in commit ting the parties. The jury then found a verdict for the defendan• POLICE INT E bLIGENCe—May 9. THAMES.—DISSIPATION AND CRlME.—Sarah Jacobs, a married woman, about 40 years of age, the mother of nine children, one a daughter, 22 years of age, and who is very respectably connected, was brought before Mr. Woolrych, charged with at tempting to commit suicide. The prisoner is the wife of an engineer, and dwelling with her husband and some of her family in John-street, Stepney- causeway. She has been addicted to excessive drinking for several years, and has ruined her husband, a most respectable and worthy man, and ruined herself and family. On Wednesday -night a police constable, named Alfred Brown, 196 K, was called into the surgery of Mr. Bennington, in Brook-street, Ratcliff, and found her labouring under the effects of some narcotic poison, and, by direction of the surgeon, his assistant and the police-constable took her to the London Hos pital. She remained tbere under medical treatment Until four o'clock yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, when the house-surgeon directed the policeman to take her before a magistrate. The policeman, in answer to a question, said the prisoner was quite insensible when he was called into Mr. Benning ton's surgery. Mr. H. D. Greenshields, assistant to Mr. Ben nington, said the prisoner came into the shop in which he was engaged on Wednesday afternoon and asked for four pennyworth of laudanum. Upon asking her what she wanted it for, she said it was to clean bonnets. He said that laudanum was rather a strange thing to clean bonnets, and she said " bon nets were strange things now." At that moment a man at the shop door nodded to him in a manner which determined him not to serve the prisoner at all. She then left the shop, and returned with a neighbour, and again asked for the laudanum. He refused to let her have any. The prisoner then said she had already taken four pennyworth of laudanum, and that would do for her, and that her husband had been beating her all day. Believing from her manner that her statement was true, he caused her to be pinioned, and applied the stomach pump, and dislodged from her stomach a large quantity of rum intermixed with laudanum. Mr. Woolrych—How much laudanum had she swallowed. Mr. Greenshields—l do not know, sir • the rum almost neutralised the smell o f th e laudanum. She was in a very bad state indeed. In answer to other questions by the magistrate, The witness said the quantity of laudanum sold for 4d. was not the same at every shop, nor was it always of the same strength. He mentioned the quantity likely to destroy the life of any person. He was not aware who sold four pennyworth of laudanum to the prisoner. Mr. Woolrych—Medicine vendors ought not to sell laudanum to any one unless it is a person well known to them, and are perfectly satisfied it will not be misapplied. Tbo prigoner said she was ver Rnrry indeed for what had happened, and it should not occur again. She had taken too much drink on Wednesday and her husband had beaten her. Mr. Woolrych—You are a very wicked woman to do this, and guilty of great folly. You are remanded to prison for a week, and I hope under the good advice of the chaplain you will be made sensible of the rash and foolish act you have com mitted, and be brought to a proper state of mind. The husband of the prisoner implored of the magistrate to allow him to take his wife home. Mr. Woolryeh—She sass you have beaten her. The husband, who is a respectable and indns trious man, declared his wife's assertion was false. He had never beaten her. She was addicted to drink and was a lost woman. Mr. Woolrych—This comes of habitual drunken ness. The prisoner had lost her reason and made an attempt on her life. He allowed her husband to take her home. --DISGRACEFUL SCENE, A FEMALE OUTRAGE. —Mary Ann White a woman of the town,, was brought before Mr. Woolrycb, charged with assault ing and wounding Ann Barry. The prosecutrix, w hose nose had been f r i g h t f ully cut, and was bound up with surgical plasters, said she was a married w oman and the mother of six children. On Wednesday evening she had occas i on to go into the Cock and Neptune public-house, in Rateliff-highway, and saw a sailor, who was very drunk, being robbed by a soldier, who was taking his money . from him. She exclaimed, " What a shame it is to rob the man." The prisoner, who was present, immediately assailed her with the most horrible and vulgar abuse, and took up a pint pot, with which she belaboured her over the head and face, and wounded her. Her nose was cut in several places, and she was also wourided on the cheek, and lost a good deal of blood. George Brown, a police-constable, 181 H, said he saw the prisoner strike the complainant three times with a pint pot over the head and face with considerable force, and she was about to strike a fourth blow, when he took the pot from her. The complainant was dreadfully cut, and he had to send for a surgeon to dress her wounds. The prisoner was a desperate and savage woman, who pretended to sell oranges in the Highway. Mr, W9colryclli after hearing a rambling fit*. ment from the prisoner, said she had not made any answer to the charge. The prisoner had committed a murderous assault, and was more like a wild woman than anything else. He fined the prisoner £4, and in default of payment committed her to prison for six weeks. - At six o'clock in the evening, when the magis trate had finished the other business of the day and adjourned the hearing of nine summonses, in con sequence of the multiplicity of cases, five Irish women, Catherine Regan, Mary Ann Carey, Mary Callahan, Johanna White, and Anna Gardner, were arraigned in the dock before Mr. Woolrych, charged with assaulting Mary Barry, the complainant in the last case, and John Barry, her husband. It appeared Mrs. Barry was leaving the court with her husband, when they were assailed with oaths and imprecations by the first four named prisoners, who said they would have their lives for obtaining a conviction against Mary Ann White. The Barrys were violently assaulted, stones were thrown at them, and Mrs. Barry's head was cut with a stone. Gardner is the sister of Mrs. Barry, and she went to the protection of her relatives, and getting mixed up in the affray, was also taken. Regan, Carey, Callahan, and White were stated by the police to be.the wives of notorious thieves. Mr. Wooliych sentenced the prisoners, in default of paying fines, to 18 days' imprisonment. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER-MAY 9. ----- English wheat a moderate sale, at fully late rates, but other sorts offered for less money, and difficult to quit. Little business doing. Barrel flour in improved demand, at full rates. Oats and oatmeal slow of sale. Beans ra ther dearer. Indian corn was 6d per qr cheaper. BIRMINGHAM-MAY 9. At to-day's market there was a short supply of wheat from the farmers, but the sales made were at an advance of is per qr on both English and foreign. Barley more than maintained its late value. Oats and beans held for more money.. Peas were firm. PLYMOUTH-MAY 7. . - The market was slow, with a small attendance, and no advance upon the currencies of last week—English white wheat, 60s to 66s ; red, 48s to 56s per qr ; French do., 63s to 649; American, 61s to 639; Spanish, 69s to 719 ; Rus sian, 60s to 625. Barley in good supply, at 36s to 43s per qr for malting; grinding, 32s to 365; oats, 24s to 28s ; and beans, —s to —s ; flour, 47s to 50s. CORK--MAY 8. The following were the quotations this morning :—Red wheat, 27s Od to —s 03; white, 27s Od to 28s Od; barley . l6s Od to —s Od ; oats, 13s Od to 16s 6d. EDINBURGH GRAIN—MAY 8. Wheat on the top 3s 6d down ..... average Os 8d up. Barley on the top 2s 6d down average Os 2d up. Oats on the top is 3d yap..... ' average Os 4d up. Beans on the top Os 6d up.... average Is Od up. Averages per Imperial quarter. Wheat.... New wheat ... -12ths Barley 2 0 2 10-12ths Oats 1 10 5 11-12ths Beans Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ...1302 qrs Sold 1099 qrs 8ar1ey........ 318 qrs Sold 194 qrs Oats 766 qrs Sold 577 qrs Beans 220 qrs Sold 141 qrs DERBY SMITHFIELD—MAY 7. Tare was a short supply of fat beasts to-day, with a fair attendance. The demand brisk, and high prices obtained. A small supply of sheep, maintaining high prices. The supply of lambs was better. Calves an average supply. Fat pigs were scarce. Beet lid to 7id 1 Veal 614 to 7cl Mutton ... 9d to 91d Pork Lamb .. —d to —d Rough fat, 68 Od per stone. Hides, 31d to qd ; calf skins, 5d to 6d. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) • . May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. Brazil and Cape Verde .. June 4. Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &o. . . • Cuba and Mexico .. .. May '29. Canada, &o. (via L'derry) . Overdue. Cape of Good Hope, &c. June 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (vial S'ampton) May 19. Do (via Marseilles) May 13. Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. .. May 11. India(Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. May 11. Do. (via Marseilles) .. .. May 20. Lisbon .. • May U. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. May 11. Do. (via Marseilles) June 4. Vigo, and Oporto .. .. • • • • May 11 . United States, at California, e. .. • • • • May 15. Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Teneriffe .. May 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, &c. May 14. CORNHTLL MAGAZINE.—In the current number of this valuable periodical an excellent article appears on " Horse Keeping and Horse Dealing," which contains in a popular form a vast amount of practical information. We strongly recommend it to the perusal of all interested in the matter. We draw special attention to this article because it unintentionally subscribes to the opinion now so generally maintained by both scientific and practical men of the value of the horse-feeds now become so important an article of commerce, for the improvement of horses and cattle generally. The testimony in favour of this excel lent composition afforded by the magazine article in ques tion is adduced in a high and deserved compliment on the magnitude and variety of the stock of Mr. W. Murray, of Broughton-mews, Manchester, and Woodbine-cottage, De lemere-forest. Now, this gentleman writes in a testimonial to the proprietors :—" I have tried Henri's Horse and Cattle Feed upon two valuable animals, which I have had for fifteen months, both of which have been suffering from debility, and all medicine administered to them was in vain. Since I commenced to use the feed both animals have improved every day. It seems to raise their spirits, put on flesh, and show a good healthy coat. I think it is an excellent feed for animals that have delicate constitu tions." Messrs. Henri and Co. have much cause to con• gratulate themselves on such high and unequivocal testi mony to the value of their preparation. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—We have read with much pleasure Du Barry's Report on the cure of diseases eithout medi cine by Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food. The follow ing are a few extracts which appear to merit the attention of many :—Cure No. 47,121—" Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage, Waltham-cross, Herta : a cure of ex treme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure No. 52,612—The DI ()wager Countess of Castlestuart, of many years nervous irritability, bile, and indigestion. Cure 54,812—Miss Virginia Zeguers, cured of consumption, after her medical adviser had abandoned all hopes of recovery. Cure 180—Of W. B. Reeves, 181, Fleet-street, London, of " Twenty-five years nervousness, constipation, indigestion, and debility." Avoid Pills and Medicines : they invariably aggravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, disappointment, and expense may be avoided by using Du Barry's Food which, at a few pence per day, saves 5C times its cost in other remedies, removing effectually, a , Ahout purging, constipation, indigestion (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious and liver complaints and all their consequences. Certificate No. 36,418. We find it the safest remedy. Andrew Ureb, MD., F.R.S., Dr Harvey, Dr. Wurzer, Dr. Shorland, Dr. Campell. Let invalids avoid the fearful dangers of spu rious and injurious imitations offered under a variety of false pretences. Nevill's imitations are prohibited by the high Court of Chancery under a p ena lt y o f £5,000 against Alfred Hooper Nevill and his agents ; and the pretences that Nevill has a patent for Arabica, Food and that Du Barry's are connected with such patent are utterly false. No canister is genuine without the - name Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, in full, ontheseal and wrapper. Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in o ne ar ti c l e mus t expect to be distrusted in all others. Packed in tins 11b. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 63, ; 51b. lls.; 121 b. 225. ; 241 b. 40s. The 121 b. and 241 b. canisters are sent carriage free on receipt of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Re gent-street, London; Fortnum Mason, and Co.; Abbie, 60, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63 and 150, Ox ' bard-street ; 330 and 451, Strand; 49 and 60, Bishop:watt:- stieet ; Batty, 16, Finsbury Pavement ; Phillips and Ca. tea-dealers; Petty, Wood, and Co., King William-street City at 127 High Holborn; and all grocers. [ADVERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's they 's weather rills.— aiLowoakystocayuosuesr Health.—Any abrupt change much disordered action in the human body. It is a matter of primary import a nce to rectify any i rregu l arity without delay; which it is in the power of every one to de by taking Holloway's Pills. These are the best preventives of in digestion, and the mildest aperients ever prescribed. They purify and cool the blood, and equalise the circulation through the system even to the minutest vessels of the skin. They act admirably on the liver and kidneys. Holloway's Pills control with safety and certainty all irregularities of action, which may be diminishing mus cular or nervous energy by their wholesome influence over both corporeal and mental functions. BIRTHS. BURROUGHES.—On the 6th inst., at the Manor House, Long Stratton, Norfolk, the wife of Randall R. Bur roughes, Esq., of a daughter. MORETON.—On the 6th inst., at 69, Eaton-square, the Hon. Mrs. Reynolds Moreton, of a son. MAItRTAGES. DORIDANT —PAINTER —On the Bth inst., at St. Andrew's, Undershaft, Leadenhall-street, Mr. Charles Doridant, of the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, to Adeline, the second daughter of Mr. George Painter, of Leadenhall-street. LEWIN—PELLEW.—On the Bth inst., a t Clift on, C ap t a i n G ranv ille Lewin, of H.M.'s Indian Army, eldest son of of the late Hon. Percy Pellew. to Gertrude, only child the late Sir G. A. Lewin, (),,c, DEATV S. BAXTER.—On the 3d inst., at his residence, Bowdon, Che shire, Mr. James Baxter, formerly of Milk-street, Cheap side, aged 81. ELLIOTT.—On the Gth inst., at Plymouth, Lady Elliott, widow of the late Captain Sir Wm. Elliott, R.N., C. 8., &c., aged a. HUNTER.—On th e 9th i ns t., in Torrington-squar e , J ose ph limiter, Esq., F.S.A., one of the Assistant-Keepers of her Ma jes t y ' s R ec ords, aged 79. ROBINSON.—On the 4th inst., at 7, Cambridge-ternee, Widcombe, Bath, Captain Thomas Pitt Robinson, R.N., aged 66. - - - SPRATT.LOn the Bth inst., at Stoke, Devonport, Robert Hall Sprat+, Lieut. 49th Regt., aged 25. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TIIE SUN Office, No. 112,Strand, in'the Precinct of the S avoy, the County of Middlesex FridA7l May 10,1661. k 1 4