The Sun. — London, England, 1842-08-06 00:00:00

._ewiththe holder of 45 s har e s, bas not been, carried into effect , in . si qiiene'enf hie harikruptcy,'and these - shares are at the ills ren.7.l,_of . the Company. In all other respects the number of i 'i•ered shares remains the same as at the last meeting. the Z 'Directors have raised by loan notes, under the seal of PoeralmPany, the suns of 300,000/. as authorised by the last meeting, and it is their intention to apply, in the next t.in of P ar l iamen t, f o r an Act to confirm this loan, it hay ingeen impossible, under the Standin g Orders, to do so in the p r ew numberlt t session. In this Act it is also proposed to redu ce the ti,_ Course of Directors to twelve, 'and a copy of the Bill wi ll, in " The be submitted for the approval of the Sharehol ders. an probability station at London-bridge is progressing . rapidly , and in will be completed in the course of the present ; at least, so far as to enable the traffic of the three Corn. Panics now using it to be conducted, more conveniently and notnically. t h C/I tbe - 19th of May last, the Directors received not ice from e 0 ,. Knuth Eastern Railway Company of their intention to pay, the 19th of July, the purchase-money for that portion of the ,:!Oton Railway which they are autharised to take, and re ,11._1,,,0g a statement of the accounts to be delivered to them, as ided hy the Act of Parliament. These accouLts (with the taxicneption of a few items which cannot yet be accurately steer ka.,e_d) amounting to 327,%34/. 15s. 2d., were accordingly th _u! out as expeditiously as possible, and were furnished on el6th of July to the South Eastern Company. h rursuance of the Act of Parliament, the above amount r .,'s been invested in the sum of 357,410/. 103. 8d , Three per Consolidated Bank Annuities, in the names of Joseph ",,nxendale, William Wilson, John Harman, and John Ca ttle y , c.stiuir es . !trrangements are being made by the Survey or to the Corn 13' for the re-sale of the surplus lands , which will be com eted without delay ; and the Directors are happy to state, t il e, as far as settlements have been made for land taken for Iporary purposes, they have been very satisfactory, fi t concluding this Report, the Directors, reviewing the dif ulties with which they hays had to contend, and which have t!obably been greater than those on any other railway in the s , l i n s f i d °ros and the efforts they have made to carry out the s expressed again and again by the Proprietors, by press t,4 forwa r d the works , and thereby opening the entire line at t l earliest possible period—feel confident of the approbation of return Proprietors, who will have the benefit of a much earlier f,..`u_l r rt for the investment, than could have been anticipated. at " e can be no doubt that if the works were to be recon- Zted and more time allowed for their execution, consider e saving might be effected ; but this remark will apply to hl e rY undertaking of equal magnitu• The Directo believe, tt7ever, that there is no instance on . record, 'where rs works of ' saute extent as-those on the Brighton Railway have been treuted in so short a space of time , or nearer:the estimated cost. L their purchases of land, they have uniformly endeavoured to i l tect the interests of the Shareholders ; in ever y case where t he demands were exorbitant, and such as ought not to be sub !flitted to, the purchase was either left to a reference or to a tir Y• Justify The court the fullest inquiry, well aware that they can that '•iy eve r y payment that they have made, but they doubt not th the reflections which have been attempted to be cast upon he;Proceedings will be entirely removed on the perusal of this ,urt• The traffic on the line is steadily increasing • the ti7K of the Company is in good order ; the money arising'frorn r purcha s e of the South Eastern Company will be at the dis- Zi of this Company, when the accounts are finally settled ; p • r ailway is in excellent condition, and nothing can be more rarnising than the prospects of the undertaking. A resolution will be submitted to the meeting for the ap ntruent of Auditors. (Signed) JOHN HARMAN, Chairman. ,Landon, Ist August, 1842. ire following is a copy of the Report o f the En g ineer THE DIRECTORS OF THE LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY. hiItETLEKEN.—Since my last half-yearly Report , I have gradually completing those contract and extra works that P ry of the most immediate importance , w hich have been of a ", tedious nature, and such as I could not allow to to be gone 04 with in the first months of the year, as neither the weather e a r s the season were propitious for such undertakings, and this th e i n a great measure prevented t he closin g of the contracts on middle district of the line. The works at the present time are in the most satisfactory .:7,.although in the commencement of the y ear there were t Zatonal slips in some of the embankme nts, which re q uired 15 tant attention. T he cuttings, generally speaking, have stood well; there 1 4._ been some few slips in them, but nothing of importance, as the slopes have been well drained, it will secure them trna the penetration of wet. The first thirteen miles of the e are in the most perfect and permanent condition. There ly, n°th iog for me to direct your attention to till the Earl's earl y embankment, where some settlements took place in the Y Part of the year; but by great perseverance and con have attention the line was kept in a working condition. now given orders for the trimming and footing the slopes, t he weather is very favourable for that opera tion, so as to reduce them t o a uniform inclination, which will sec ure the e mbankme n t s from all future danger. t he ,'ese emarks apply equally to the.embankment adjoining a.lforrd viaduct. From thence to the deep cutting at Kemp's Fa rm, a distance , f ,Veven miles, the road is in the most perfect ordsr. i t i_ rm be slip th a t t oo k pl a ce on the embankment near Kemp' s has had my constant attention, and from having it effec tually thre e months' th e f o u n dation has become so consolidated , t hat after months' observation. I have not perceived any set tiLeen! n it. The remainder of the li ne to Bri g hton is in b possible order. P urithe last half-year there have been some slips in this part of C have the line that have been effectually been made up, and ensee,vry reason to believe that nothing but t he ordinary oxp the li ne. maintenance will: be required on this p ortion of The who le of the tunnels and tunnel-shafts are in the very best o r d er. Att nowp hes comleted. The stations on the line the works nece ssar y for traffic are to h nearly P"se ,, ger-slieds Ha ward's Heath have b een taken 401; n and converted into warehouses for goods, and carriage 4da for the different stations. Fro m what I have stated, you will perceive that there remains ,cry little to complete every part of the wor ks on the line, and , the exception of the Earl's-wood embankment, the Salford t l i aduct em bankment, and the embankment at Kemp's - f arm, i whole of the railway in the most complete order, and per :etient s t ate o f repair ; and as every convenience will have Provided for when the works now in course of completion for the stations are finished, no further outlay will be required. T he works at the Joint Station at London-bridge are making tras Progress, and will be in a con dition to receive p art of the lief- 4 the Jew mo nths, and I hope the whole will be finished re end of the year. concluding my Report, I need hardly draw your attention 4 t,-'" f have act th been at whenfinished, tne fewthe works t on andat 1 ha l3l i , .!litan m i !tail say enueratel d 1„", ,'Y will b e f oun d to be in a mor e com p lete and efficient v condi -11 than any railway in the king dom. "W advise you to advertise th e maintaining of the Railway fo ra terr a of years, and it gives me great pleasure to inform tos that f rom offers that have been made to me, I have no doubt that it will be let at a price, per mile, far below that for "Y Other railway in the kingdom. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, Landon, July 25, 1842. JOHN U. RASTRICK. t general abstract of the receipts and payments to ge 30th of June, 1842, was then read, from which it ap teared that there was a balance in the hands of the (3 mpo,ny of 37,009/. 14s. The CHAIRMAN then proposed that the Report just r ead be. received, adopted, and printed for circulation k laongst the Shareholders. Mr..PAßsceis objected to the Report,,but he would not Alit the question to a division. Mr. MAYNE said he had put a number of questions on Paper for the purpose of asking the Chait man, and, with he permission of the meeting, he would read them. 'he principal questions the Hon. Gentleman read were ! ! follow :—With respect to the sur p lus land, amounting V. about 60,0001., was it to be sold by public au c t ion ? 4 , a portion of it been sold ? If so, in what way, It on to whom ? Were two houses at the station at Croy don disposed of by private contract ? Have all the re ceipts been transmitted to the head office from along the l ine ? Have all the moneys paid to the Company been "aid into the bank—if not, to whom were they paid ? ire all the receipts forthcoming ? If not, why not ? " - he Committee appointed to investigate the accounts res Ported that proper preca ution had not been taken. net precautionary measures were meant ? Have the I Qgal expenses been 40,0001. ? What amount remains due to the solicitors in London and Brighton ? Did not the Chairman inform the Shareholders in 1839, that , the ex- Penses would but very little exceed the estimate? Why did the engineer suffer persons to work day-work instead of piece -work, whereby one person who was before in -41 Vent, made a fortune of 25,0001.? I allude to contract ...twelve and thirteen. Has t he sum taken away by Mr. wood been precisely ascertained ? How did he get that rum in his possession ? Did not Mr. Wood forward a letter to one of the . Directors on the day of his departure, Stating that if he was pursued he should make disclosures 'rkittrious to the Directors ? If there was such a letter, what became of it, and was it 'submitted to the Board ? Is th e Chairman a Director or Chairman of.any other speculative concern ? Does the present Secretary re (vive the whole of his salary, or does part of ne) it go to one of the Director s ? These questions, he (Mr. May th u jight ought to be answered for the good of the Company'. The CHAIRMAN regretted that lie had not had notice of the questions a da y or two previous, but he would the best in his power to answer them. He was extremely Cle4t that they had bee n p ut. st. MATNE said that he shou ld have sent the ques t';tions to the Directors, but that they had been for some ,time before u print. "r Itlr. L. HAYWA.UTII thought the questions ought not to be answered. • The C H AIRMAN said he would take upon himself the --- 4 t 0)11 tof answering the questions. In answer to esPolle- Y the surplus land, it would be sold ,_he question r electing first been offered to the sur °Y public auction, having • unding proprietora, as directed by the Act. The two were exchanged to his (the Chair houses at Croydon • Plan's) father f or some property, but he appealed to any tie if his father had not been a loser by the exchange, 4. w ould gladly give u p L the houses. When the sub '''Aeet was before the Board, he (the Chairman) took no part in it, but retired.—(Cheers.) He never in terf'ere'd in any shape or way at all.—(Cheers.) All the receipts ):'ere transmitted to the head office from along • th e li ne . All the money recei ved for the Company was Paid into the beilis with the exception of 5001., which the late secretary receiVthe knowledge of et from his daughter for a debenture. • The money was paid to him without h the Di re ctors, therefore, it did not findfoirttshwcoaniyiiigit.oltlee • banker's books. All the receipts were _ • Proper precaution alluded to by the Com . mittee, was the Want of precaution in not obtaining security Irons the late secretary, which the Directors admittod. 'The legal ex ' Penses for the last three years had ebably amounted •to 40 , 0001 , The amount due to thPerLoucion solicitor was about 1,000/., and to the one in Brighton about 2,0001. The engineer would answer the question re specting the day work. r.RASTRICK said that, at th e time alluded to, they_ ▪ were obliged to do day work, owing to the Slipping ,(?! M R . e . : the embankments, and, if they b ad not done so, the rar e Way would not have been o p en now. So far from t contractor having made 25,0001, he (Mr. Rastrick) had reason to believe that he had lost money. •.• The CHAIRMAN continued—The sum taken by gr. ttr, Wood was 1,599/. 13s. 2d. The way he got that sum .1 , Into his possession was by checks. When cheeks were 04 , , signed by the Direc tors, of course they went through the hands of the Secretary to the payment of the "'t .- accounts. Mr. Wood forwarded a letter to him (the Chairman) certainly, containing threats, as was ve r y 'natural, to prevent his being pursued. He (the Chair *flan) read that letter to the Board, and every exertion I NES made to apprehend Wood. Forester was sent down Pr tsmouth, and orlered to use every exertion. He (the o Chairman) had heard that Wood had gone to Baden-Baden,.but whether it was true- he did not-know. He (the Chairman) was the Deputyf r Chairman of a Licensed Victualler's Assurance Company, and he was a member of the Bank of Ireland, and he did not see why he should not have the right orbeing a member of as many Companies as he thought proper.—(Hear, hear.) The Secretary certainly received the whole of his salary himself, and what he did with it, he (the Chairinan) did not know. All he could say was he did not pay any of it to him, although he supposed the question was intended to imply that such was the case. He had now answered all the questions. A long and angry discussion here ensued of an ex tremely personal character, the 'publication of which would subject us an action. The Report was then adopted and ordered to Le printed and circulated amongst the shareholders. Mr. LEVY.—I wish you would say something about the dividend.—(A laugh.) I move Mr. Chairman that you give us all you can.—(Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN said, if they declared a dividend of 15s. they would have to charge the next half year's ac count with the interest becoming due on the 15th of July, but if they determined on 10s. no one could find fault with the accounts, as the interest would be charged to the traffic account. Mr. LEVY proposed a 10s. dividend. A PROPRIETOR proposed 15s. A vote was then taken, and a dividend declared of 10s. the share, the original motion having been carried by 40 to 37. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman and Directors, and the meeting separated at Six o'clock.. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OP LORDS, August 5. Their Lordships met at a Quarter to Five o'clock. ROYAL ASSENT. The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Stamp Duties Assimilation Bid, the Assessed Taxes Bill, the Lunacy Bill, the Exchequer Offices Abolition Bill, the Australian Bill, the Grand Jury 'Presentment (Ireland) Bill, the Drainage (Ireland) Bill, the Game Certificate (Ireland) Bill, and several other private Bills. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Duke of Buccleuch. The liimitation of Actions Bill was read a third time and passed. The Earl Of RIPON and Lord WHARNCLIFFE p resented petitions in favour of the Copyright of Designs Bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice that he would, on Monday, move the second reading of the Irish Marriage Bill. The Copyright of Designs Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Colonial Passengers Bill was read a third time. and passed. The Double Costs Bill was read a third time .and passed. The Slavery East Indies Bill was real a second time, and ordered to be committed. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL. Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of the Bribery at Elections Bill. Lord BROUGHAM supported the Bill.. He ex pressed a hope that the House of Commons would divest itself of the privilege of deciding contested elections, as there was an indelible impression abroad that they did not decide impartially in such cases. Lord CAMPBELL rejoiced that the Bill received the support of his Noble and Learned Friend. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. The Parish Constables Bill was read a third time and passed. The House then adjourned till to-morrow at two oclock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Aug. 5. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'Clock. BANKRUPTCY BILL. Mr. BROADLEY presented a petition against the Bankruptcy Bill, and praying the discussion to be post poned till next session. Mr. LEFROY presented a petition from Ireland, against the National System of Education in Ireland. Mr. STUART presented a petition from the wine merchants of the metropolis, praying for a reduction of the duty on port wine (as we understosd). Mr. BROTBERTON presented a petition against the County Courts Bill. IPSWICH ELECTION. Mr. LEFROY gave notice that he should move, on Monday next, that a new writ be issued for the borough of Ipswich. CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. Mr. GREENE brought up the Report i n this Bill. EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL. Mr. GREENE brought up the Report on this Bill. Sir IL INGLIS wished to know when the Report of the Commission for inquiry into the issue of Exchequer bills would be on the table ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it would be in the hands of Members on Tuesday next. COUNTY COURTS BILL. Mr. J. BLACKBURN wished to know if the Right Hon. Baronet intended to proceed with this Bill this session. Sir J. GRAHAM said, it certainly was his intention to proceed with the Bill. COURT OF CHANCERY OFFICES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. NEWFOUNDLAND BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. On clause 6 being proposed, for abolishing the Legis lative Council, Mr. O'CONNELL said lie would not repeat his argu ments against this Bill, but he would still protest against this mode of proceeding with any of the colonies. He protested against this mode of taking away the consti tution of the colonies without full investigation, and a full opportunity of being heard by witnesses on the part of the colonists. He should take the opinion of the Committee on the subject. He (Mr. O'Connell) ob jected to the numbers in the Chamber. The people's right of electing the representatives e~•ould be a mere mockery—a delusion, and an insult. The Chamber of Assembly was to consist of twenty-five members; of these ten were to be elected by the Government, and fifteen by the people ; so, if only three of those repre sentatives should be returned by the Government party, they (the Government) would bn.e sia4 positive majority in the Chamber. Could anything be more absurd—more unjust, or a greater insult to the people, who had always been considered as a loyal mid patriotic people ? lie should move that the words " abolishing the Legislative Council as a distinct brarnih of the legislature," should be omitted. Lord STANLEY agreed with the Right Hon. Gentle man that it was not advisable to carry on the legislature by means of one Chamber only ; but under the present circumstances of this colony, where one House constantly rejected the Bills of the other, he thought it would con duce to the more harmonious management of the affairs of the colony, if they were to merge the two Chambers into one. He felt confident it would be for the benefit of the colony to abolish the Legislative Council as a dis tinct Assembly. The Right Hon. Member was not cor rect in supposing that those in the Council who were nominees of the Crown would be at the control of the Crown. Ho could assure the Right Hon. Gentleman that there were few bodies so difficult to control by the Crown as this, though they held.their appointments at the discretion of the Crown ; and the reason was, that the remuneration was not great, and the appointments were far from being sought after. As far as the Crown, therefore, was concerned, the Right Hon. Gentleman need be under no apprehension of the ten members who were appointed by the Government being unduly in- '1 3' THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1 . 842 Mr. O'CONNELL moving an amendment in the clause to the effect, that the number of the Members of the Legislature nominated by the Crown be five instead of ten. Mr. P. HOWARD seconded the amendment. Lord STANLEY objected to the proposition of the H on. and Learned Gentleman. He had already given fifteen Members to the popular party whilst to the Go vernment party he had only given ten. He could not then consent to reduce the number of the latter, as his so doing would give an undue majority to the popular party over the party nominated by the Crown, in the proportion of fifteen to five. After a few words from Mr. V. SMITH and Mr. lltesue, The Committee divided. The numbers were— For the amendment Against it B2 Majority against the amendment —6l Lord CHARLES FITZROY moved as a proviso to be added to the clause, that such Member of Council shall not vote on any question of supply, taxation, or finance. Mr. O'CONNELL said that if these Members, who were not representatives of the people, should vote on questions of tas.ations, it would be contrary to every principle of the constitution. Unless this proviso were agreed to cases might arise in which the money of the people might be voted away with out one of the representatives of the people concurring in the vote, or a miserable minority of the representatives might vote away monies contrary to the opinion of the large majority by the assistance of these Members of Council. Lord STANLEY said that the party which had the greatest interest in economy in voting the supplies in Nowfoundland was the mercantile party, inasmuch as all the supplies were derived from duties imposed upon commerce. The struggle on the part of the Assembly had always been to vote away public money for the internal improvement of the island, and for their own salaries. The struggle on the part of the mercantile party, had always been to keep it down; therefore the state of things in Newfound land was quite the reverse of what it was in this country. It was necessary that the mercantile body should have some means of controlling the expenditure. Mr. HUME supported the amendment. He thought the proposition a fair and reasonable one. The Committee then divided, when the numbers were — For the amendment Against the amendment 79 Majority against the amendment The gallery was again cleared, on the question that the clause do pass, when there appeared— For the Clause 79 Against it 25 Majority for the clause The clause was then agreed to. The other clauses were agreed to without amendment, the House resumed, and the Report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. RIBBONISM IN IRELAND. Mr. O'CONNELL said that he believed he'eould now make the motion of which he had given notice respect ing the late trial for Ribbonism at Armagh. His object was not to pronounce any premature censure upon the Government as connected with the transaction in ques tion. He thought there could possibly be only one opinion as to the nature of those transactions, especially as to the employment of the witness Hagan. The only question appeared to be, upon whom did the responsi bility devolve? If the misconduct was to be attributed to the Magistrates and witnesses, they would be liable to censure, and without anticipating any connexion be- 1 tween the Government and those parties, if the Govern ment sanctioned the conduct of those witnesses, he thought he would be safe in saying that the House would be unanimous in censuring such conduct. He did not suspect that the Noble Lord (Eliot) partici pated in those transactions. The mode in which he per sonally conducted himself in Ireland precluded such a notion. It was not for him to speak in terms of flattery of the Noble Lord, but he might speak of him as an act of justice, and he was sure if the Noble Lord had more power, there would be no cause for complaint. The trial at Armagh was one of Ribbonism, and as that was an expression fortunately not known in this country, he would state what the nature of that offence was. It was a crime committed by persons who entered into secret societies and made Use of signs or pass words fbr be l e e a n t y o d r e e fi c i o l e g d n i , s ) e b e e e a t c h n f other. bese hawever,j certainly a ass e o e e r 'hei purposetdi n ons n o ft of p a p e b r p e s e i o a n n t g • s to a it was, highly criminal association, and, he knew no man who was really a friend to Ireland, who had not exerted himself to put do wn these societies. He begged the House to keep in it ind that the possession of pass-words made the person liable to transportatioe. Four persons were tried at the last Armagh Assizes ; two witnesses were produced to procure a conviction ; one of these was a man named Hagan, who had acted as a spy upon the prisoners ; he pretended to be a Ribbonman, he joined them ; made himself acquainted with their secrets and their pass-words, and this he had done for the express purpose of denouncing them. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman proceeded to read the evidence of Hagan, the approver, which has already appeared in the public papers, to the effect that the Ma gistrates we re aware of his proceedings , an d that lie had made Ribbonmen by the hundred. He invented , sixty-three classes of pass-words, and dissemi nated large quantities of illegal papers. the mere possession of which was a transportable offence. Now they were to take every word this man had sworn as true ; though it was difficult to do, yet as it had the sanction of the Sury , the y could not o other wise. In the next place the Government must also have believed it, for they had transported the persons con victed on that evidence. All he required was, that the cor respondence between the Magistrates and this man, or the Magistrates and the Government, should be produced. He did not believe for one instant that the Noble Lord had the least knowledge of any transactions of this de scriptiop. No man who sat on the other side of the House could spurn with greater inflignatien such an insinuation than he (Mr. (O'Connell) would. lie trusted the Government would not attempt to screen the par ties implicated in these transactions. He moved merely for the correspondence—he' cast no cen sure upon the Government by his motion.—(Hear.) He entirely absolved the Noble Lord from all knowledge of such a transaction. In the ease of Popay, the then Government had not attempted to cast any shield over him. Lord Althorp had at once granted a Committee of Inquiry into his conduct, and had stated it as his opinion that the employment of spies to entrap persons into guilt was a most abominable sys tens. That abominable system had been denounced is just and eloquent terms by the Counsel for the defence, who, notwithstanding he was of Conservative politics, yet did his duty nobly to his clients, and in such a manner as reflected the highest honour on the Irish bar. Lord Althorp had stigmatised the spy system as abominable and atrocious. That was stronger language than he (Mr. O'Connell) ever used. He knew the No ble Lord would not attempt to justify such conduct. He trusted he would not withhold the documents. He (Mr. (O'Connell) censured no one at present—he knew not who was responsible for that conduct. These documents would- inform him, and from them he should learn against whom it would be his duty to move for a Com mittee of Inquiry in the course- of next session. The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman concluded by moving for copies of correspondence between the Government, Magistrates, and the police, relative to . the trial at the late Armagh Assizes. Lord ELIOT said, if anything could induce him to accede to the motion of the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman, it would be the calm and temperate manner in which he had introduced it. The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman had not endeavoured to cast any censure upon the Government, and he did not, there fore, resist the motion on that ground ; but he thought he would betray his duty, if he were, by assenting to the production of these papers, to furnish what he could not but consider a dangerous and incon venient precedent. He had had no opportunity of seeing the correspondence , but he could well conceive that it was of a confidential nature, and that the pro duction of it might tend to defeat the ends of justice, either by putting on their guard persons who might be implicated, or who might be objects of suspicion to the local authorities, or, on the other hand, that it might tend to fix imputations upon persons who would subsequently be proved to be entirely inno cent of the charges brought against them.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then went through the circumstances of the case. Hagan had said that he ini tiated persons into Ribbonism, with the knowledge of the police and the Magistrates. Upon that point he (Lord Eliot) was not prepared to give au_opinion. He had no hesitation in saying that the report of the trial, referred to by the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman, was altogether inaccurate. He had searched the Dublin newspapers of the day, and had found no mention what ever of the occurrences described in that paper. In this opinion he was confirmed by the testimony of one who was - in court during the whole of the trial, and who was now at the head of the constabulary force of the county of Suffolk. He was not at that moment able to say whether, or to what extent, the local authorities were cognisant of Hagan's proceedings, but he had no hesitation in saying that, if they were cognisant of them, their conduct was altogether unjustifiable. lie was satisfied that there was nothing in the correspondence which reflects any blame on the Government. He felt it his duty, however, and it was a painful duty, because he could wish that the , whole matter was investigated by the House, but he felt it his duty, for the reasons which he had stated, not to consent to the production of these papers. He was certainly thank ul to the Right Hon. Gentleman for the, opportunity which he had afforded him of disavowing on the part of the' Government all participation in those proceedings. Whatever advantage might be derived from ob taining information of the proceedings of secret societies by the aid of spies and informers, he thought the advantage would not compensate for the injustice and injury which would be done by employing paid agents to . procure information. It was with con siderable reluctance that he felt it his duty to object to the production of the correspondence. Mr. HUME said he was glad to hear the disclaimer of the Noble Lord on the part of the Government, of all participation in these proceedings. He wished to know, however, whether Hagan had received any pay from the Government ? Lord ELIOT said that Hagan, in his evidence, diS tinctly denied having received any reward. In such a country as Ireland, where the great majority of crimes arose out of secret societies, it was almost impossible to obtain evidence without the aid of approvers, and though no rewards should be given beforehand, he did not think it was inconsistent with the character of the Government to give to approrers sufficient for their subsistence until their services were required. Mr. FFOLLIOT defended the conduct of Mr. Fawcett, the Provost of Sligo. Mr. O'CONNELL said the Noble Lord greatly mis took his purpose, when he attributed to him a desire to see may part of the correspondence which related to any persons accused of crime. The correspondence which he wan ted was that which iii'otdd show who it was that em- -57 fluenced; - Mr. V. SMITH said that in giving his vote in favour of this clause, he did not wish to be understood as in any . way sanctioning the permanent abolition of the Legislative Council. The Noble Lord had at his (Mr. V. Smith's) desire introduced a clause malting this a temporary measure ; it was, in 'fact, merely an experi ment, such as had been tried in New South Wales and Australia. He did not participate in the Conset vative fears of his Right Hon. and Learned Friend, that even if they abolished the Legislative Assembly in Newfound land the same step would follow here, and that we should proceed to do away with the House of Lords. — (Hear, and laughter). lie certainly thought there was no ground for any such Conservative apprehension. He would, however, beg to suggest that ; in this clause it would be as well to preserve the number as it already existed in the Legislative Council; so as to have in the House of Assembly eight instead of ten. He wished to ask the Noble Lord whether it was meant that those of the Legislative Council who sat in the United Assembly should be movable by the Governor f:om their seats in the United Assembly ? lie wished to know whether that was intended, as he thought the clause would have that effect ? Guarding his vote by the assumption that this was only a temporary measure, he should record it in favour of the Noble Lord. Mr. P. HOWARD opposed the principle of the Bill. On the principle of the recommendation of Lord Ripon, the reduction of the official men in the Assembly to three or five, would give the Government all it could desire, while so small a number could not control or overwhelm the deliberations. This course would be better than swamping the public voice by a side-wind, and reducing the political privileges of the people to a mere nullity. Mr. HUME said the inhabitants of Newfoundland were unheard and unrepresented, and the House was now about to deprive them of the greatest of privileges — that of managigg their own affairs, a system of man agement under iich the colony had improved in every respect. He did not agree with. theilast speaker, as they had no right to make any modificatioit"irilite.sonstitu tion at all. If this disfranchisement were to fieltPplied to any one English borough there was not a Member who would not be ready to cry out on its injustice. He was prepared to prove that all that had been alleged against the constituencies were gross exag gerations. He read an extract from their petition, stet ' ing that they belie ved, if the constitution was to be abo lished, it would be better that the affairs of the colony should be entirely managed by a Committee appointed by the Government. Let them not think this oppression would be exercised with out the endeavours to regain their rights and liberties. No abrogation of the constitution, whatever, ought to be made, and therefore he should, with great pleasure, support the amendment, and join his Hon. Friend in his exertions to obstruct, by every possible means, the progress of this Bill. Mr. WYSE said if the proposition were carried, he must continue to give the Bill his strenuous opposition. They oug ht at least to declare boldly whether their con stitution was abolished or not ; not to do so was un worthy of the frankness and dignity of the House. He 104 ao otinue to oppose the clause, as an insult and i h h ir i to t h e people. It was not right for the House to 1 p & l ish first s Meg t 43 Pleeide, and then to hear the parties accused. The Committee then divided, the numbers being— For the clau se .. 80 For the am e n dment lB Majority for the clause --G2 On our return to the gallery we loaud. ployed those persons. With respect to what the Noble Lord had said as to the employment of approvers, he ad mitted that there was a distinction between an approver and a spy. An approver was as different from a spy, as an honest man was from an approver. He should feel it his duty to divide the House. Lord ELIOT said. that personally, or as connected with the Government, he had no objection to the pro duction of the evidence ; but he could not produce it in extenso. Mr. O'CONNELL then asked if the Noble Lord Would produce extracts ?, LOrd ELIOT would not consent. The Holise" then divided, when there appeared — For the motion Against it 72 Majority against the motion Mr. O'CONNELL then gave notice that he would move next session for a Committee to inquire into the subjeet of the employment of Hagan and Cox. comNITY COURTS BILL. On the motion of Sir GRAHAM, this Bill went through Committee pro fin-ma, fir the purpose of adding new clauses, and having the Bill reprinted. - Mr. AGLIONBY wished to know how it was possible fully to consider a Bill like this, consisting of one hun dred clauses, at the present period of the session. Sir J: GRAHAM said that the Bill was so modified as Would; he hoped, remove the objection to it. The House then resumed, the Report was brought up, and the Bill was ordered to be recommitted to-morrow. The House then adjourned at a Quarter to Four o'Clock till Five o'Clock. The House resumed at a quarter before Five o'Clock. Shortly after that hour, Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at the table. and summoned the House to the House of Lords, to hear the Royal Assent given to several public and private Bills (for which see our Lords'. report). Sir THOS. FREMANTLI presented a petition from Manchester in favour of the Exeter Hall Music Classes. WINE TRADE. Mr. D. BARCLAY presented a petition from the wine merchants of Salisbury and Wilts, praying that the re duction in the duty upon wine might extend to their wine stock. • Sir 11. DOUGLAS presented a similar petition from the wine traders of Liverpool. Mr. PACKE presented a similar petition. Mr. M. PHILIPS pre sent ed a petition from the bankers, merchants , an d manufaCt urers of M anchester, against a variety of clau ses in the Ba nkruptcy Bill, more especially the fiat in bankruptcy ; also a petition from the Chamber. of Commerce of Manchester on the same subject, objecting more particularly to the fiat in bank ruptcy, and the sth, 23d, 27th, 28th, 35th, 38th, and 45th clauses. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from Liverpool praying for the imposition of a duty upon Guiana ni trate of soda.. Mr. C. VILLIERS presented a petition praying for the adoption of free trade principles. REFUSAL OF THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS. ellurch property. Now, if the principle of that Com mission were carried out, they might next year have an Act interfering with livings of 1,2001. or 2,0001. What security had they that the holders of these livings would not meet with the same.fate as the Bishops? In the present state of the House, it would, he knew, be useless to divide the House upon the clause. He thought it involved most dangerous principles. The Bill, as in troduced by the late Government, .was bad enough, and these gentlemen (pointing to Ministers) had made it worse. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said every provision was introduced into the Bill that was necessary to protect the property of the Church, and to promote those interests for which it was originally given. The Bill was then read a third time. Sir J. GRAHAM then brought up the following clause :—" And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any Ecclesiastical Corporation, aggregate or sole, except as aforesaid, from time to time, with the consent or con sents hereby required in the case of leases of land, to grant or demise, by lease, for any term not exceeding sixty years, to take effect in possession and not in re version, or by way of future interest, any mines, mine rals, quarries, or beds, belonging to such Corporation. together with the _right of working, or of opening and working the same, arid together also with such portion of land belonging to such Corporation, as shall be deemed expedient ; and every such lease shall contain such reservations by way of rent, royalty. or share of the produce in kind, all or any thereof, or otherwise, and such powers, provisoes. restrictions, and covenants, as shall be approved by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, due regard being had to the custom of the country or district within which such mines, minerals, quarries, or beds are situate ; and no fine, premium, or' foregift, nor any thing in the nature thereof, shall be taken for or in respect of any such lease." The clause was read a second and third time, and was added to the Bill by way of rider. Sir J. GRAHAM moved the following clause, to fol low clause 12 :—" Provided always, and be it enacted, that in case of any lease of mines, minerals, quarries, or beds, granted under this Act, such, portion of the im proved value accruing thereunder as by the like autho rity shall be determined on, not being more than three fourth parts, nor less than one moiety, of such improved value, shall forthwith and from time to time, as the same shall accrue; be paid to the said Ecclesiastical Commis sioners for England, and shall be subject to the provi sions hereinbefore contained, relating to monies payable to them in respect of any lease of land ; and the re mainder of such improved value shall be deemed to be an improvement within the meaning of the provisions relating to the incomes of Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and Canons, and Archdeacons, respectively." Mr. AGLIONBY asked what would be the effect of this provision ? Sir J. GRAHAM explained the details of the clause. Sir R. INGLIS said the proposition for which he had been, and was now contending was, not that Parliament had no right to deal with this property, because he be lieved that it had a full right to do so, but what he had denied was, that Parliament had more right to deal with this property than any other in the kingdom. He had always contended that where ecclesiastical property was increased, the spiritual wants of - the people living on that property ought to be providendr out of the in creased value, but he objected to fixing a minimum income for Bishops or any other ecclesiastical dignitaries, and thought that they were as likely to expend that income wisely and justly, which God's Providence, not Parlia ment, had given, as any other parties on which it could be bestowed. Mr. HAWES thought the Bill had bean greatly im proved by the clauses which the Right Hon. Baronet had introduced ; but the Bill was important as recog nising the principle of appropriation.—(Cheers.) The principle recognised by this Bawds - that Parliament had a right to appropriate the surplus revenues of the digni taries cf the Church to other purposes, and to take those revenues out of the control of those dignitaries. Parlia ment was now dealing with Church property as it ought to deal with it. There were two principles, either of which the Right Hon. Gentleman might have adopte:.l. He might either have asserted the right of Parliament to approprir to this Church property, or have left it to the Church to appropriate its own property. The Govern ment had adopted the wiser course, and had asserted the right of Parliament to deal with the property. That principle had been before adopted with regard to Ire land. It had been propounded by the late Government. It had been wisely adopted by the present Government. Yes the Government had adopted the principle of appropriation by the present Bill. They appropriated the surplus of ecclesiastical property to a different purpose from that to which it had been proposed to appropriate it by the, late Government ; but, nevertheless, they did appro priate it to a different purpose from that for which it had been originally intended, and this was a distinct acknow ledgment of the principle of appropriation.—(Cheers.) If they were to take from the Duke of Northumberland a portion of his income, and give it to a poor Peer, would that not be appropriation ? Would it do to say, Oh, we do not go out of the Peerage,, we, only take from one Peer to give to another ? , He apprehended that, ne vertheless, the Duke of Northumberd would consi der that an appropriation. He was rejoiced to see the Government recognising the principle of appropriation by this Bill, and he regretted that they had not had the courage to carry out the principle to its full extent. The clause was then agreed to, and ordered to be added to the Bill by way of rider. Sir JAMES GRAHAM then - riipbsed a clause for rendering leases void in certain cases, which was agreed to. Several verbal amendments in the various clauses were likewise agreed to. Sir JAMES GRAHAM proposed a clause for the purposes of rendering the revenues of Christ Church, Oxford subject to the provisions of the Bill, if the Chapter of Christ Church should avail themselves of its pro visions with regard to leasing.—Agreed to. The. Bill, with the several additional clauses, was then passed. Lord PALMERSTON gave notice that he should on Monday (as we understood) move for copies of any corres pondence which may have taken place between any Mem ber of this House applying for the Chiltern Hundreds and the Chancellor of the ExChequer, in which the Right Hon. Gentleman refused the application, and in which the ground of that refusal was set forth. APPROPRIATION OF SUPPLIES. Mr. HUTT wished to know the meaning of the clause of appropriation by which a sum of money voted for the year 1841 had been appropriated to the service of the year 1842. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained to the Honourable Gentleman that the clause in question was intended merely to enable the Government to defray the expenses of the two years indiscriminately out of the sums voted for either. SLAVERY.IN INDIA. Mr. VILLIERS wished to ask what steps had been taken by the Government of India, to carry out the resolution of the House, that the Governor-General and Council of India should be required to take immediate steps for mitigating the state of slavery in India, and for extinguishing it altogether so soon as it might be practicable ; and also what steps had been taken to do away with slavery in the provinces of Singapore and Penang. Mr. BINGHAM BARING said that orders had been sent out in November last to Singapore and Penang, directing the Governors of those provinces to transmit without delay a project of law for the immediate abolition of slavery in those provinces. With respect to India, the Governor-General at • ' the beginning of the present year had transmitted drafts of pro jects of law fur the mitigation and gradual abolition of slavery for the consideration of the Court of Directors, and the Court of Directors and the Go vernment had signified their desire to accede to all the propositions of the Governor-General on that subject. The subject would be best understood from the papers that would be presented to the House. In the first place, they gave every security to individuals in en acting that no one should be dispossessed of his property on the ground that his predecessors, having been slaves, had no right to acquire it. They also prohibited the selling of children into slavery in periods of scarcity. The papers would be laid on the table of the House (we understood) to-morrow (this day). INCOME-TAX. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE begged to ask the Chan cellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that there was great irregularity. in the delivery of the In come-tax papers; and whether the no.ice of twenty-one days for the return of those papers was to be calculated from the day on which they are dated,'or from that on which they are delivered ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was sorry there had been considerable delay in deliver ing the Income-tax papers • this was not altoget her at tributable to the Stamp-office, but arose from the Aet having been passed so shortly before quarter- MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. day, that many gentlemen had not had the Messengers from the Leeds brought down certain Bills. pleasure of filling up the papers ; but after today he COVENTRY BOUNDARY BILL. believed that no person would have any reason to con- The order of the day for the House resolving itself into plain on this ground.—(Hear, hear.) The Act required Committee on the Coventry Boundary Bill, having been the papers to be filled up within twenty-one days after read, on the motion that the Speakerldo leave the Chair, the time they were dated, but if it was shown that they Sir J. MORDAUNT said that the Magistrates of were not delivered in proper time, the Governme nt t he count y of Warwick were exceedingly desirous that would have no objection to make' a proper allow- a short Bill should be introduced defining the boundaries ance of time, and afford every facility. The Ho- of the borough of Warwick„ and that the other matters nourable Gentleman had also asked if two papers to.which this Bill related should be left in statu quo until were left, it was necesary to fill up b o th. If a gentle - next session. He had had an interview with the Right man resided in two places, th e one being his place Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the H ome De p artment,. of business, and the other a country residenc e, in that on the sub j ect, and that Right Hon. Gentleman had said case it would be necessary to fill up each paper, and he would withdraw the Bill if it were opposed by the deliver them properly, as they wou ld be different forms. Magistrates of the county of Warwick ; and that on Bat if the same paper were left in two places, it would them would rest the responsibility of any inconveniences only be necessary to fill up one, w ith an intimation that might occur in consequence. He would not oppose written on the other that a d ue an d p r oper return had the Bill under those circumstances, but he thought it been made. was rather a strong measure to introduce such a Bill at After a few words from Mr. AOLIONRY and Mr. the close of the session. YORKE, the conversation dropped. After a few words from Sir J. GRAHAM, AFFGHANISTAN WAR. The House went into Committee on the Bill. Mr. D'ISRAELI asked the Right Hon. Gentleman, The Bill with amendments passed through Committee, the First Lord of the Treasury w h e ther the statement and was reported to the House.—Third reading on was authentic that the Government of India had ordered Wednesday next. the withdrawal from the troops of Affghanistan ? COURT OF CHANCERY ABOLITION OF Sir R. PEEL said he understood despatches had just OFFICES BILL. been received, but he had net y e t h a d an opportunity of The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading them. He had received the letter stating that reading of this Bill ; and after a few words from Mr. they had arrived since he came into the House. HIIME and Mr, HAWES, the Bill was read a third time ECCLESIASTICAL CORPORATIONS LEASING and passed. BILL. BANKRUPTCY LAW AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion that the Order of the Day for the third On the motion for the re-committal of this Bill, reading of the Ecclesiastical Corporations Leasing Bill Mr. M. PHILIPS said that he objected to the prin be read, ciple of the Bill, but more especially, to that part of it Sir R. INGLIS said the complaint made against the which provided for the appointment of official assignees late Government was, that they had proposed to convert in the country. Official assignee's had not been found property purely ecclesiastical to purposes purely secular, altogether faultless in their connection with the Lon and he was afraid the present Bill had a similar tendency. don Bankruptcy Court, and he did think it would be Sir J. GRAHAM said the Bill now introduced was very unadvisable to allow the estates of bankrupts in substantially the same as one introduced by the Bishop the country to pass through their hands. These assig •of London in the House of Lords. nees were to be paid by a commission of 21 per cent. Mr. V. SMITH supported the clauses proposed to be upon the money passing through their hands. He did inserted by the R i g ht Honoura b le Baronet. There was not think it fair to pay 21 per cent. to those assignees no doubt that the revenues of the Church would be con- merely for paying away the money they had in their siderably increased if these clauses were agreed to ; hands. He objected to the salaries io be paid to the he hoped, in that event, that the agreement which ors- Commissioners, as being too large.' He thought that ginally existed between the lessors and lessees, and which 1,8001. a year was much too large a suns for the duties was a favourable agreement for the Church, would still those Commissioners had to discharge. Then the Bill be maintained , proposed that ten Commissioners be appointed. That Sir R. PEEL expressed his full assent to the principle was too small a number. He did not think that thirty of the Bill. It had been brought in in strict conformity would be able to perform the du:ies they would be called with the Report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. He on to discharge. In Manchester alone, from the Ist of thought they were advancing the interests of the Church, January, 1841, to the Ist of January, 1842, there were by g iving to the high dignitaries a proper income, and 725 meetings of bankrupts. He entertained so strong p,t, the same time keeping sufficient to pay the lower ones. an objection to the Bill, that he intended to move that Mr. ACLAND regretted the manner in which the the Bill be read this day three months, that it might have present Bill dealt with Church property. the full discussion such an important . measure deserved. Sir R. PEEL said that lie thought he had given suffi- He did not know that it would be competent to him to s ß ob i t g oedifr h ieoe t tarh l le, cient proof of his wish to see Episcopal Superintendence adopt such a coarse, but he wished to manifest the de increased in proportion as the population augmented, by tided objection he entertained to the Bill. supporting the proposal of creating two new Bishoprics— The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that there was no those of Ripon and Manchester. such thing as a payment of 2;1 per cent. to the assignees lon. Baronet had out of the dividends. The matter was left in the hands he agreed to the of the Commissioners. Under the existing system the creation of two others. expenses, which amounted to about 30,0001., were paid Lord PALMERSTON. said it appeared to him that out of the different estates, and would be saved by the first ir. a A bo C li L sh A et N l it)wsoai(Bl that t p t i h ic e there could be but two sound opinions upon the present present Bill. Hon. Baronet . the Mr. WILLIAMS said there was much good in the with Church pro- also. Those who were most interested in the Bill were Member for the University of Oxford, who contended present Bill, but there were some objectionable points l e i opinion of Hon. desirous of its being postponed. But 'if it, were perse- Gentlemen on his (Lord 1 almerston s) side, who .main- vered with, he would not vote amtinst going on with it. tamed that Parliament had a right to dispose, according Mr. FOSTER admittedthat questionpe thatrt perry h aa e r i inthel:nieytr circumstances io n ') o i s n t i i a i o n g ) n c h e t o s f t ; the present law required to its discretion, of any fresh accession to the property amendment, but he thought that, in justice to those who of the Church. It seemed to the intermediate were most interested, it ought to be postponed. position taken up by. the him that Government, that Parliament Mr. BERNAL complained of the Bill coming before had a right to deal with Church property in.one way y and the House from the House of Lords at so late a period. not in another, was altogether untenable. Those who He would put it to the Right. Hon. Baronet whether agreed with him (Lord Palmerston) were'of opinion that those who were interested in the Bill would be dealt the improved value in Church property would be best fairly with if it was proceeded with at such a late period appropriated to Church -rates. of the sessional year ? He agreed with what had fallen Mr. DARBY contended that Church property ought from the Hon. Member for Manchester ; but hoping that devoted to se • - not on any account to be secular purposes. the Bill would not be persevered with, hp would not on- Lord PALMERSTON explained. ter upon the subject. Mr. HARDY thought the fund accumulated from any Sir J. GRAHAM was most anxious that the House increased value that might be given to Chu rc h property should go into Committee on the Bill, as he thought it ought to be devoted exclusively to spiritual purposes, and was for the advantage of the tradihg community of the for that reason lie supported the Government measure. country that it should be passed during the pre Of the plan of the Noble Lord, which was to devote the sent session.—(Hear, hear.) The Bill had come surplus to the ext i nct i o n of Church-rates, h e cer t a i n ly down to the House with •' the' highest authority c ould not approve. The fund ought to be devoted ex- and sanction, namely that of the .Lord Chancellor and s. the Master of the Rolls ; and after the best considera elusively to spiritual purpose h t h Mr. HENLEY said that w a ad fallen f rom h er Ma- lion he had been able to give to the subject, he believed 'est ) . 's Ministers h ad increased his objection to the Bill, if they went into Committee on that Bill, and paged only It was avowed that the object of the Bill was to carry two or three of its provisions, the best results would be out the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commis- elected ; he alluded particularly to the appointment sion. Now that Commission had origi na t e d f ro m a of fixed Commissioners responsible for the performance slight pressure from without hi Ireland, not amounting to of their duty, and also to the nomination of official as what the Right lion. and Learned Member for Cork signees. The y w ould eff e c t a g reat 'g ood i f t he y on ly wou ld call a heavy blow against Church -rates. The Go- I'assed the clause which gave to the creditor the Power vernme nt of the day y ielded to the p ressu r e, and nine or of summoning his debtor, and asliing him whether or ten Bishops were swallowed up to get rid of Church- not he acknowledged the debit,--Gear, hear , ) maker rates. At least, the revenues were swallowed up. lie most Important provision in the Dili was 11110 i the certi knew not what had become of the Bishops themselves, fleet° of the bankrupt was not to ha made subject to the The Commission had then been appointed, and had dealt caprice of his creditors, but to be decided after ja t li e w with what it had chosen to denominate the excess of consideration.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted, igAc i cc , al; these circumstances, that without further discussion the House would consent to the committal of the Bill. Mr. B. WOOD admitted most freely that the Bill contained many excellent provisions, but his great ob jection was to its consideration at the present advanced period of the session. They had been told that the House was not likely to sit many days longer, and if such was the case, he would ask whether it was likely that a measure of such importance could be fairly con sidered.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. SCOTT would admit that the Bill contained many clauses of great importance, but ant adapted to the purposes intended. He thought the Bill required great consideration, and he would therefore suggest to the Government that the subject should be referred to a Select Committee, and the Bill postponed to the next session. Mr. HAWES thought the present measure one of the most important that had been brought before the House for some time, and he could not conceive what oppositi tion could be offered to it by the mercantile world. The Bill contained many good provisions, by the admission of all parties ; and he thought, therefore, that the House should not refuse to consider it in Committee. Sir R. PEEL said that if the House were satisfied • that the Bill was a great improvement upon the existing law, he could not too strongly urge the policy of per mitting it to pass without delay. If, after having rolled up the stone with great toil and labour, they allowed it to descend again, they might depend upon it that they could have no guarantee that they could place it again in the same position which it occupied before. If the Bill were imperfect in its details, they might amend it ; and as all parties approved of many of its provisions, he earnestly hoped they would be allowed to proceed with it in Committee. After a few words from Mr. AGLIONBY, Mr: M. PHILIPS said that he should not persist in his motion. The motion was then withdrawn, and the House re solved itself into a Committee on the Bill, Mr. GREENE in the Chair. Clauses up to 4 were agreed to without any discussion. On clause 4 being put, Mr. B. WOOD moved that the clause should be ex punged. His object was to get rid of the expense tutd delay of the fiat in the form proposed. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supported the clause. Mr. B. WOOD still contended that the removal of the clause would be attended with advantage. The clause was agreed to. Clauses 5 to 6 were agreed to, after a short discussion. Clauses 7,8, and 9, were also passed. On clause 10 being proposed, Mr. B. WOOD moved that the word " farmer ' be inserted in the clause. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the amendment. Mr. HENLEY opposed the introduction of this class of persons into the clause; one bad effect of the amend ment would be, that landlords would be compelled to keep their rents up close, whereas now they were gene rally six months in arrear, otherwise they would have no remedy in case of failure. The gallery was then cleared, but the amendment was negatived without a division, and the clause agreed to. Clauses from II to 19 were each severally agreed to without discussion. Clauses 20, up to 29, inclusive, were agreed to. On the motion that clause 30 be omitted, Mr. B. WOOD objected to the omission. He thought it quite right that the landlord should only be able to distrain for six months. Mr. CLAY thought the present law of landlord and tenant sufficiently stringent without giving any new ad vantage to the landord. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the clause Against it B5 Majority against retaining the clause —7B The clause was consequently rejected. The next clause, defining the law of partnership, was then proposed. Mr. B. WOOD objected to the clause. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the clause, as he thought it was a valuable one to the creditor, and valuable as be ing founded on reason and justice. The clause was then agreed to. Clauses up to 38 were agreed to. Clauses from 38 up to 47 were agreed to with a few verbal amendments. On clause 48 being put, Mr. BROTHERTON said, that at that late hour, he should move that the Chairman report progress — (Hear, and cries of "Go on.") It really was too much to expect that so important a measure should be pro ceeded with further at so late an hour. Mr. GREENE—Do you divide ? Mr. BROTHERTON—CertainIy. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, The motion was, however, agreed to without a division, and the House resumed. The Chairman obtained leave to sit again to-morrow (this day). LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL. This Bill went through Committee, Report ordered to be received to=morrow (this day). Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from the wine merchants of Worcester, praying for a drawback to be allowed on foreign wines. WINE TRADE. Mr. MASTERMAN rose pursuant to notice, to move the following resolution :—That it having been the uniform practice, for many years past, to allow or to charge the wine merchants upon their stocks in hand for any variation of duties that have taken place, this House is of opinion that it is but just and reason able that the same course should be pursued in the event of a reduction being made of the duty upon port wine consequent upon the tariff to be annexed to the treaty with Portugal, notwithstanding the transfer of the collection of the whole of the wine duties to the Customs. The motion having been put, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER objected to the motion as being an unusual one. It called on the House to declare what course they should pursue on a future occasion. He thought it would be better to con fine themselves to such time as the discussion of those duties came before the House. But the main objection he felt to the motion was that they could not know to what extent they might be imposed upon by the returns of those duties. Government had been imposed upon with regard to the returns of the silk duties, and there was no security that the same would not be practised with regard to wine. He felt compelled to resist the mo tion of the Hon. Gentleman. After a few observations for Lord SANDON and Mr. AGLIONBY, Sir R. PEEL hoped that nothing would induce the House to sanction the motion, because if it were adopted, it would be a premium to fraud. He protested against the principle of allowing a drawback upon wine, while the same principle was not conceded to other articles import ported from foreign countries, and he was surprised that his Hon. Friend the Member of the " Port" of London, as he had been called—(Laughter)—should bring the subject forward, Mr. T. BUNCOMBE said every one engaged in the wine trade believed that a treaty had been entered into bet Ween this country and Portugal, but it appeared, from what was said by the Right Hon. Baronet, that no such treaty had been concluded. lie thought there was jus tice in the claim made by the wine -merchants, and he should vote for the motion of the Hon. Member for London. Mr. HAWES hoped the Hon. Member for the City of London would not press the motion to a division. The principle would not be just unless it was carried out to other articles. He thought they were bound to sup port the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Alderman lIUMPHERY thought the Right Hon. Baronet had made out a strong case against the motion. He (Mr. Humphrey) had been asked to support the mo tion, but he felt that he could not do so conscientiously. If this drawback were allowed, who was to open each bottle to see if it contained wine: He thought fraud wenld be carried on extensively under such a system. After a few words from Mr. .IVIASTERMAN, in reply, Sir R. PEEL said that no treaty had ever been en tered into between this country and Portugal for the re• duction of the duty on wine. Mr. R. YORKE opposed the motion, as ho did not think it founded in justice. The motion was negatived without a division. MEETING OF THE HOUSE. Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he should move to morrow (this clay) that the House do meet at twelve o'clock on Monday. BONDED CORN BILL. The Lords' amendments to the Bonded Qorn Bill were read and agreed to. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE wished to know if the writ for pswich would be moved for en Monday. • Sir R. PEEL said it would be moved for at five o'clock. The House adjourned at a Quarter past Two o'Clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the rotes and Proceedtngsof the Housc of Cain WSW.) THURSDAY, AUG. 4. JOHN MASON. DIVISION ON MR. DUNCOMBE'S MOTION. slotion made, and Question put, " That an humble Address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to take into her Majesty's merciful consi deration the case of John Mason and seven working men, con fined in Stafford Gaol, with a view to their immediate dis charge."—The House divided ! MINORITY—AYES, 30. Gill, Thos. Scott, R. Heathceat, J. Smith, B. Hill, Lord A. N. C. Tufnell, H. Hume, Joseph Turner, Edmund Humphery, J. Villiers, Charles P. Mangles, R. D. \Vara, H. G. O'Connell, I). Wood, B. O'Cotwor Dan Yorke, H. R. Peewit, Captain TELLERS. rbilips, M. Duncombe, T. S. Scholelleld, J. Hawes, B. Aglionby, H. A. Barclay, David Bowring, D. Brothertan, d. Buller, C, Cave, Otway Cobden, Richard Dalmeny, Lord Duncan, George Ebrington, Viscount Gibson, T. M, k'Coart, Capt. h. Arkwright, George Baird, W. Baldwin, C. B. Baring, W. B. Bateson, Robert Boldcro, H. G. Borthwick, Peter Dottield, Beriah Cockburn, Sir G. Collett, W. R. Cripps, W. Eliot, 4,9 Xii F4iW4r, Sir James Puller, A. E. Gaskell,James Milnes Gladstone, W. E. Gordon, Hop, W. ,JORITY— NOES, Gore, Montague Goulburn, Henry Graham, Sir James Greene, 'l'. Hamilton, Lord C. Hardinge Sir H. J Henley, J. \Varner Hodgson, Richard Hogg, J. w. Hope, Hon. C. liON.tdd, P. H. 1 Jermyn, Lord knatchbull, Sir L. Langston, J. H, Lockhart Witham Lygou, lion. Gen. Ma.sterman, John Nichol], J. Palu.er, Robert Peel, Hon. Sir R. Polhill, Frederick Pollock, Sir F. Praed, W. T. Round, John Sanderson, R. Sutton, Hon. H. M Taylor, Thomas R. Thompson, Aid. Tolleinache, F. J. Trench, Sir F. Verner, Colonel Vivian, J. E. Wilmot, Sir E. Young, John TEVialts. Fremantle, SirT. Pringle, A. INQUEST ON DR. BRE WSTER,—AII inquest was held on Thursday evening at the Ship and Blue Coat Boy, Walworth, before Mr. Carter, Coroner for Surrey, on view of the body of 1)r. Brewster, aged 48, who cut his throat with a ca rving-knife. The only cause assigned for the act was acute slaw from gout, which had re sulted in great dteresslon of mind, and ultimately led to the coi ng‘i,ssion of suicide. The Jury brouglt in a ver dict or " Temporary derangement." STRIKE AMONGST THE MiNEICS AT AIRDRIE, &c (From the Glasgow Courier.) A large number of the coal and iron-stone miners eta• ployed about Airdrie, and in the extensive mines for several miles around that district, we learn, struck work on Monday morning for an advance of wages. A gene ral excitement has consequently prevailed in the neigh bourhood of the several works since—particularly in the vicinity of Airdrie and Coatbridge, where some outrages on property have already been committed, theßerpetrat ors ofwhich are alleged to have been a port ion of theiclle miners. On Tuesday a large meeting of the miners was held on the banks of the Monkland Cana l, at a place call _ Pottery—they came from all quarters—Airdrie; .11 t o tlye town, Bellshill,Chapelhall, &c. Their proceedings Si il h meeting were very orderly, but as they p assed thi`pll cr Coatbridge, to the number of about 4.000, almost' all of them carrying sticks, they cheered most vehemently.• to the great terror of the inhabitants. The farmers all roll Au are naturally a good deal alarmed, but the law will ti doubt afford them efficient protection. At the meeting referred to several propositions were gone into. One or two speakers—these the more violent—proposed an im mediate strike, as the only means of bringing matters to a crisis. An amendment was proposed, to the effect that they should continue at work fourteen days, until they had earned a little money and then turn out. Another resolution was brought forward by one or two of the Chartists amongst. them, that they should not strike at all, but petition their masters for a rise, and also the Government for provisions free of excise duty. Nothing definite, however, was come to, and the meeting was adjourned till a general gathering, to be held yesterday, on the north bank of the Clyde, immediately above I)almarnock-bridge, to which' the colliers in this neighbourhood were invited to attend. During the forenoon, accordingly, considerable num• bers of the Miners, principally armed with large sticks, were seen flocking to the general rendezvous, for the purpose of deciding upon the terms of the pro jected general strike—a portion of those who are receiving the present maximum rate of wages not having yet entirely abandoned their work. At one period the persons present all miners were calculated to amount to between 3,000 and 4,000. The proceedings commenced about one o'clock, and continued until two o'clock, when a des putation appointed by the meeting set off fly Glasgow, to lay their grievances and claims before the masters resident there. Considerable excitement pre vailed, and occasionally burst of el - eering welcomed the sentiments of some of die speakers. After the deputa tion had been sent off, the men agreed to wait out until five o'clock for an answer. The general feeling seemed to be, that if anything like reasonable terms were pro posed, It would be as well to accede to them, and return to their employment. It was stated that many of the ma sters in the iron trade will be compelled to come to terms, as their supply of coal is nearly all made. use of, and unless the men resume, they will have t o ex tinguish their furnaces. Others, however, surmised that, many of the masters, having large supplies of coal, ae . d but a short demand for them, will be very glad of 'the strike. It was almost six o'clock before the deput• 'don returned, and even then they had nothing to eorr. inun i. cate to the meeting, farther than that they b'ad been unable to find out or obtain an audience of nosy of their employers. In this state of things it was oimately re solved to hold another large aggregate meeting to-day, in the neighbourhood of Baillieston. The assemblage then quietly dispersed. According to the statements of the colliers themselves, about a year ago the average ; wages of colliers in this district were as high as 4s. pa' day, which, allowing them to work four or five days a week (and this is considered a fair amount of labour 4 :or an ordinary working collier), gave them from 16s. to,ll, per week. They . are now paid, and have been for many months—the iron-stone miners on an average of ls. 10d. to 2s. a day, the colliers at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 9d. The labourers paid last year at 12s. a week, are now 'paid at Ss. They desire to have them heel:to 10s. The col liers and miners ask 4s. a day, which they insist their masters can well afford to pay. The miners are most exasperated against the contractors ; the contractors, on the other hand, blame the masters. In consequence of an application to Col. Fleming, C. 8., Commander of the, garrison here, by Mr. Sheriff Alison, a troop of the Ges Dragoons, under the command of Captain Crichton, a st accompanied by the Sheriff himself, marched at isix o'clock yesterday evening for Airdrie, the centre of the disturbed district ; and two companies of the 66%1 giment of Infantry, under the command of Col. deanston, and accompanied by Mr. Sheriff Bell, proceeded, per railway, for the same place. Troops have also been, ordered from Edinburgh and Stirling by express. Th following is a list of the places and number of the r i t s stopped work, previous to yesterday, at all of which th e men have turned out :—lronbuckle, 3 ; Carnbee 4 , Merrystone, 9 ; Gable, 4 ; Hipps, 2 ; Itawyal . d: 4 Stonerigg, ; Rosehillock, 14 ; Govan, Whi , j at, 3 Govan, Whiterigg, 14 ; Burntbot, 2 ; Bob Easter Meadowhead, 1 ; Gartice, 4 ; Priestrigg, 4 ; Chapclhall, 2; Caimbill, 3 2 ; Dundyvan, 10 ; Mossneuk, 4 ; Drumecailter, 5 ; Watermaggie, 1 ; Dykellead, 2 ; South Sttracrigg, 3 ; ; Todd's Pitt, Calder, 1 ; Greenend, 5 ; tiartuck #1 Redbrig, 1 ; Ballochney, 4 ; New Carnbrise, 4.; Gart sherrie and Gartgill, 6 ; Gartcloss (I . :oilstone), 6 Greengairs, 2 ; Sheepford Locks, 2 ; tlackrigg, 2. all 147. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HIGH_ LAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETC OF SCOTLAND. This annual agricultural meeting, Comprising its show of live stock and husbandry impler4ents, commenced on Monday in Bruntsfield Park. Fifteen years hay , elapsed since a similar exhibition took place in this eir y, which on this occasion comprised upwards of 1.7 oo animals. The number of strangers attracted to Li iin burgh on the occasion was immense. The space tnch , s ad for the whole gathering amounted to about eight acres, and the banqueting-hall created on the Casite-hill - was a large and elegant wooden building, capable of accommo dating 2,000 persons. On Monday the Earl ot:i Rose bery presided in the room of the Duke of Rtrecleuch in Committee : the show of implements was ' exce ll ent , and Dr. Madden delivered a lecture in thr. Society's Museum ; a dinner and ball concludinf ; the daT, Tuesday was the second, and great show-d s y. To this no fewer than 3,000 persons were admittefi a t half-a crown, and when the price was reduced to a shilling,, the crowd was much more dense. Tin', band of th e , ' Enniskillen Dragoons was present, and '.Huth enlivened the scene. The short-horned cattle attracted ninea. attention ; twenty-four of them 'especially were I ,ine specimens, while the Ayrshire bulls and the, 'West Highland breed were equally numerous, and is good specimens. The great dinner took place at Me closing of this day on the Castle-hill, the Duke t Richmond. occupying the chair, and supported 011 P.te right by Sir James Forrest, Lord Provost of ; Sir Neil Douglas. Commander of the 'Forces in Scotland % Richard Trotter, Esq., of 'Morton-hall ; Sir Jame Campbell, Lord Provost t Glasgow ; and the Rev. P , r. Grant, of Leith, On the left by the iof Mort r on , the, Earl of itosebcry , the Earl o f M ans fi e ld , Lord William Douglas, Admiral Sir Philip Durham, raid Sir Thomas U'Dougal Brisbane. The Duke of Roxburghe acted. as Croupier, supported right and left by- Lord Napier, the Earl of March, the. Earl of Buchan ; the Earl of Traquair, Sir W. M. Napier, Sir Archibald Campbell, of &mouth, Bart ; and John W. Childers, Esq., M.P. for Mahon. The Bev. Richard Remington, Master 0"; Arts, .3? Queen's College, Cambridge, Minor Canon of the C al legiate Church of Manchester, has been. appointed ,by the Lord Bishop of Chester to the Chapelry of Qu.ern-. more, in the parish of Lancaster. Patron—the Vita e of Lancaster. RocitbALß.—Punrac DINNER TO SHARMAN CB AW EOM). Estt., M.P.—On Tuesday evening last therm was supposed to be upwards of 10,000 persons assembled on an open space called the Butts, Rochdale. Mr. Thomas Livsey, grecer, was appointed chairman, and introduced Mr. Sharman Crawford, the Honourable Member for that borough, who was received with cheers. Mr 1 , Crawford gave a lengthy account of his stewardship at A votes while in the House of Commons, and said that u t , any time when a majority of a p u bli c meeting of the i n _ habitants of that borough wi s h e d hi m to resign his seat in Parliament he would do so, and he would. give An". great satisfaction, and was ally an account of his pr ocee di ngs i n P arl i ament. The honourable Member gave unanimously appointed f or anot h er sear. On Wednes day a public dinner was given 44 Mr.Crawc.ord at the. Commercial Rooms, T wee dal's Hotel, whe'a upwards of' 200 of the electors dined with. him. After the cloth vvas; drawn, William Chadwick, 'Esq., Magistrate, was ap pointed chairman. Mr. Crawford tig,ain gave an ac count of his votes, &e, Speeches were made by John Bright, William BartoP, and several persons of Chartist. rinciples, and all applatred highly satisfied with the coh uct of Mr. Crawforil as a Member of Parliament. -. • SINGFLAR DUCOVERF OF A SHARK.—Capt. Ri,w land, belonging to the brig Anglesea, from Rio Jaueiro for Antwerp, which arrived off Dover on Wednesday last, reports that on the 24th of last month, in lat. 50. 47., long. 10. 10 W., he came up with the wreck of a vessel apparently about 500 tons burden, and of Ame rican build. The weather being favourable, he, togethe r with several of the crew, boarded her, for the purpose , of ascertaining her name. On reaching her deck, thy were startled by a loud splashing in the hold, when, upon taking off the hatchway, they discovered an enormous shark entangled amongst the beams of the ship's bottom,, which had been carried away ; on seeing them it made a desperate dart at upon the deck and escape the monster, and haul it one of . the crew, who - luckily fell ba, e k d. After considerable difti.- out o fd the vessel. wreck on board theirlt measured 20 f er:t ja culty they managed' totkill length, and was of a very great weight. The wine of the wreck was not learnt, OR account of the stern being gone. H A MBURGII ' AEG. I.—The 6th R eport of the General Relief Committee (that appointed by the G o .. vernment) is published, the amount of the sums receive,/ up to the 15th July in the evening was 3 , 63 0,000 msii .s banco (about 270, 0 001.) THE SHEARING IN NANTUCICET.--The ! A 4 : 4 anb whet Islander says that some nine or ten thousand slree, ) of that island were stripped of th e i r fl eece last. west. ; ;hat the shearing has been more profitable thp,o an) , for seve ral years past ; and that a hundred shc...e perish in to storm last Thursday night. last y ews last ; le, 3.—The ardrar4e pr i ce of wheat f. Baron James Rothschild' ie and. tlrat of R .Bruasel ye, A2f. 13e. passed terday, and h a d an i nters be present at the na vi 'with the through to e Interior, of the Interior. li e was on his way from Germany toTaris t o r o atrriagr3 of his daughter. A ago4i dreadful E l p actrneitfy. barbarityA young , committed few days who had be en dis oungam was n, a dis missed lay a female to whom he paid his addresses, seized the poor girl by the throat, and having forced out her tongue, bit it, Qff with his teeth. o• Lie > rt .o- ars Eio >us me of era )05 o f (stood le et' enti°' Conti . 5 tie ;28.0 01 the 6tv . t e :pe t T jer s. gj. sub n the Wo g ect o : 4 n tb? ere " *ith atit . trig . Icier* tha t /11 01 ' uteri ; ce fo r e t tie' 05°11 o f 1 „ers , inte ;epor ~f '`4 :1