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

IMPERIAL - PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY. This being Ascension Day their Lordships did not assemble. ROUSE 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), 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 (aew title) ; Great Southern and Western Railway (Extension) Bill; Llandaff and Canton District Markets, Londonderry and Coleraine Railway, Manchester and Milford R9.llway (Aberystwith Branch), Stockport, Timperley, and Al trincham Junction Railway, Tyne Improvement, Vale of Clywd Railway, Birkenhead Railway, London and N orth 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 transportation to that colony might not be discontinued ; 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 GALWAY CONTRACT. Mr. BAXTER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the papers moved for with r espect 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 Hib ern i a , had been condemned at Liverpool as un seaworthy. 4. That the Government had allowed the company to employ on the North Atlantic the a'arana, an 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 only 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. W. FORSTER asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 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 licensed 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 De 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 expenditure 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 he believed the panic relative to cotton originated merely in the rumours of the c.)tton market. Mr. DISRAELI 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 en the 7th of this month, pro. vided an early day was found fur introducing the bill founded on these financial resolutions. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he proposed to bring in this bill on Monday nest. 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 into committee of Ways and Moans, Sir J. NORTHCOTB 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 proposed abolition was based on 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 o p e ration and effect of the system of exp or t d ut i es on foreign rags upon the paper-making trade of G rea t B r it a i n and Ireland ? _ After a few words from Mr. Nouns, Mr. NEWDECIATE opposed the remission of this duty, which, however beneficial it might prove in regard to the interest of the cotton spinner, wo u ld be merely infinitesimal as regarded the :silk trade, which was now so much depressed. For instance, six pieces of ribb on , of 36 yards 3 inches, would cost £8 25., and the cost of the paper for packing it was only threepence. He entered into different details in support of hisvioewf thes. H dissented fr om th e s t a t emen t s o f the Chance llor Ex chequerofthisduentv Y hi regard to the operation of the abolition would utterly fail in reali sin g the ad vantages which the right hoe gentleman predicted. Mr. GIBSON said a most urgent appeal had been m ade thecGovut o e vernm ry to e grant a special exemp t ion to ; the llle timeinhabitants ago ot of nt by the mayor and som e to the people of Coventr y from Paper duty. m r. NEwpEGATE said th ere tion had been an exemption of the duty on card paper. Mr. GIBSON—There bad been, and that exemption made the paper dut y more un p o p T exem ptions had already been carried to aet d principle of erable ex tent, but it was now felt that the Governme n t could net 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 exemptio ns 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 a ny rea. eon for exemptin g b oo k s i n Latin, Greek, Or ie n t al, an d i e Northern languages, printed at Oxford, from th e tax, whi l e ordinary school books were subject to it ? This exemption was made " for the encour a gement o f 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 counties might increase, but the Excise duty on English paper might assume a stationary character. It behoved the h o use well to consider whether they should keep the paper Inonufacturers of the country under the influence of Etoibe THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, IVIA'T 10, 1861. restrictions: Those restrictions operated injuriously, and that their hands were unfettered. 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 disadvantages, and in the case of the papermakers, who were placed by 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 foreign 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 &cm 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 jt 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. Ho 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 u t .on 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 principle 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 would be 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. 1: he paper-m..v..QrA at present laboured under the oppression of the Excise regulations, the pounua 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? 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 these 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. 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 Goverament 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 whichwould, ineffect, be a prohibitory duty. The average value of paper was 6d. a lb. The hon. gentle man proposed to retain a duty of 16s. a cwt. on an article of 40s. in value. This would be constituting a new duty of about 40 per cent. on foreign paper. lie (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. (Hear, 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. factnrers 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 efteet 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 papar tn 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 paper 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 Germany 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 1,000,0001 ts , 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 10,000,0001b5., 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 took 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 upon 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 .ungusu papv• .........C...tv.rers to go to Bel gium to eatablish paper mills there. They would not, 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 support the 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 aha?e of duty, suppose they were to put a five par 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 mendous clamour in that house? He would venture to say the sufferers would march to London Ito compel the Legislature to take soma 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.) t 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 to 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 theresolution 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 no tion of protection for the paper makers. All that was re quired was that the English manufacturer should be placed 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 th e c h ange ma d e i n th e t ra d e l as t y ear had .done.them much inj ur y, an d th a t w as ma d e without any 11?rY, and n ow, when it was sought to make still furt h er cl ul changes, they ought e e to han ha e v e e llo s i om of e t id h e e a E of xeh th e e que r r esul ha t d s likely said that there would of paper in this be a great increase in the manufac turecountry when the Excise duty was abolished. That might be true of these qualities in which ai there was a large or a n unlimited supply. rt. but in the best description...4n of raw math , printing papers and sta tionery—no increase whatever in the demand could increase the supply in this country, because the amount of raw material was limited, and the prohibition or high duties on the export of foreign rags must throw that trade into the hands of foreign manufacturers. The increased supply would, therefore, come from abroad. (Hear, hear.) H e did, therefore, most earnestly hope that th e r i g h t hon. gentleman would concede this inquiry. The abolition of \ the Excise duty on paper was not to take place until Oct° , her. The amount of Customs duty was only about ten or twelve thousand pounds a year,:a mere trifle in the revenue, and, th ere f ore, there was rea lly no necessity for haste in the matter, or f or prec l u di ng the paperma kers of this coun try f rom having th e i nqu i r y they final decision o f the house. (Hear.) AI r. A. 91as ked for previous to any TURNER said the hon. member for Dungarvan had asked what Manchester or the Manchester men would say if the United State s posed a duty of fi ve per Bent. on raw cotton, and at th e same (time a heavy imp ort before they were disunited ha d jai duty on Manchester manufac tured cotton. In such a case he imagined that the view the 11fanchester manufacturers would :have taken would have been this, "So long as our hands are unfettered we will d e fy competition, and if we fail in doing s e we must and But that was ought to give it up." elz the supposition Mr. MAGUIRE, however, declined to accede to the Bug• gestion. The committee then divided, when the numbers were— For reporting progress 54 Against Majority —46 The resolution was then agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, 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 house then went into committee of Apply. 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-Chief, 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 he 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 cient 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 nendations 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 in another place that great difficulties presented themselves in effecting the improvements which were so much required, but they could be easily surmounted. He ventured to say that if a number of experienced officers as sisted him in going 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 i it out they would be able to apply it to more useful pur poses. Mr. WILLIAMS saw great difference between the amount of the vote this year, and that of last year. He should like to know from the noble lord whether it was in tended to go on with the fortifications. The hon gentleman then proceeded to criticise the various heads comprised in 1 the vote, and showed under each head a large increase, I which he w as at a loss inkentaad, Hs fella that all those items showed an increase of £5,600. He wished, then, to know whether he was precluded, by the new arrange ments respecting the estimates, from moving 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 preclude other hon. members from moving amend ments in the details. - . Mr. CHILDERS, referring to the War Department, said in 1856 they were employing 246,000 men, and they were now employing only 146,000 ; and while in 1856 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 Hs 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 hopaess. He might have a dozen or so of supporters; but tie 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 bon. 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 noble 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 hoods of departments, instead of discussing the esti mates in all cases, for his experience showed tetra 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 departments than by empty discussions in the 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 lion. 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 not to 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 he 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 principle and fatal in practice as were the the hon. gentleman, he entirely contradicted t of fact, lie denied that it was an id le and the opinions m in falsep point if in n 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 of discussions in that house on the estimates, although he freely confessed that expe rience led him to believe that discussions on small items lc ere of very little use. Sir W. JOLLIFFE thought the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) was justified 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. CRAUFURD, 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 reformer objecting to him for doing so. (Hear.) Mr. T. G. BARING said the a ppointments referred to by the hon. member were not new appointments , an d therefore no additional expense was incurred. With regard to the of f cla this yearthmilit- inns atinn li e d f rom the naval amounted to nearly a mil stores stores, mu.cwh h 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 clerks was that there was an increase in the business, but as there would be a diminution in the number of the higher 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 appoin ted, and ex p erien ce had justified the re commendation of the committee i n th a t part i cu l ar . (H e ar, hear.) As to the officer whose duty it was t o super intendn would be more conducive to the clothing depar tment the co mmittee could not fail a to nd pe t r h c s ei t ve hi t s ha e tproictmenth a n officer wa s a b so l ute l y necessary, 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 1858-9. 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 that 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 DICKSON thought the time had come when some stop should be put to the monstrous extravagance of the War Office. There had been an addition within late years of 40,000 men to the army, while the cost of clerks had. 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 greig ability, industry, and zeal, of those who filled positions in that office. With respect to supernumerary clerks, he had already explained the causes which bad led to the increase in their number, and also that it would lead to a reduction 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 I ortion of the clerks were required for accounts, while 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 he 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 see why so many clerks should be employ in the War Office. ed LL said the hon. and gallant member was hd iedmbelieved wins however, Ee error in his statements as to expenditure in this department in former years. Mr. WYLD thought the number of clerks in the War Department might be considerably reduced. Mr. CONINGHAM 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 'touch. There were many well qualified literary men who would be glad to do the duty for £5OO a-year. After a few words from Mr. T. G. BARING, the committee divided, when the numbers were — For the vote Against ........................ Majority in favour of the vote Mr. CHILDERS next moved that the sum of £95,840, ior titlark!) of clerks its th War cgicoln rodlacsd by a alga The house then went into committee, when the bill passed thr3ugh 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 .. 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 "IF IZ' TELLIGENCE.—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 plaintiff,- 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 night, 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 ease 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 between them. Mr. George Augustus Conquest, the son of the defendant said—l was the author of the dr ma " Never Too Late to Mend," which I compiled from the novel of that name. I had never heard when I wrote it of the play of " Gold." There are some characters and scenes which are in " Gold," but which are not 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 OF 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. Buckstone. 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, my 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 th e ass ignment received in evidence. Examination continued—An application was made by my agent to Mr. Copeland for the amount duo for play mg my pieces some years ago, but be of £3,000. They had more permanent and extra clerks has never paid me a shiL employed now than when the country was at war. dispute as to my charge with anyone else. Col. LINDSAY rt minded the hon. gentleman that the Cross-examined—Mrs. Frances Anne Davidson, number of clerks must always increase in proportion to the the attesting witness to this assignment, is my number of men in the army, because the correspondence was daughter. A list of my plays was sent to the de necessarily greater. Indeed, on the subject of clothing there fen dant by my authority. were more letters written now to the Horse Guards than Mr. Murray—When ? had ever been known at any former period. Witness—How can I recollect. You might as Mr. T. G. BARING explained that the increase in well ask me to recollect all the hand-bills in Lon the number of clerks was owing principally to the cor• don. (Laughter.) The list was sent when needful respondence with the Indian Government since the —whenever we found a slippery customer. amalgamation of the two armies, and the large (Laughter.) n umber of troops employed in India. Mr. Murray—Have you a printed copy of these The amendment was then put that the item of £95,485 be plays ? reduced by a sum of £3,000 Witness—l don't carry plays about with me. idd— . Mr. Murray—l ask you, have you printed cop ies The committee dive For the amendment Against Majority The amendment was accordingly lost. (Laughter.) Mr. AYRTON said it was most unfortunate that they Mr. Murray—Did your daughter write this were not successful in reducing the items of the vote, which letter, sending the defendant a list of plays, and re hon. members considered unnecesarily high. It was, how- qiiesting a settlement of your account for three ever, the duty of the committee to take care that while there years ? was no increase of the army for the present year, there Witness (looking at the letter)—She did. should be no additional expenditure for the administrative Mr. Buckstone examined—l am the lessee of the military department. He should, therefore, propose to re- Haymarket Theatre. lam the author of the comedy duce the vote before the committee to the amount at which " The Happiest Day of my Life," which I sold to it stood last year, namely, £196,000, a sum which he con- Mr. Cumberland. aidered quite sufficient for administrating the affairs of the Cross-examined—Before the passing of the D ra army. matic Authors Act I told Mr. Copeland he might Col. DICKSON supported the reduction. He regretted, act my pi urra eces gratuitously. tell him that before the however, that the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets had Mr. My—Did you , not proposed even a greater diminution of the vote, as he Act passed? believed that, without in the slightest degree affecting the Witness—There was no necessity, for he could public service, no lessthan £50,000 could be knocked off that play them without asking. vote. The appointment of the precis writer and compiler Mrs. Frances Anne Davidson, the plaintiff's of statistics he considered altogether unnecessary. daughter, proved that she had applied to the Mr. BARING pointed out that the expenditure of the defendant for the money for acting the pieces in higher appointments in the War Office in the present which the copyright is vested in her father. year was considerably less than in the year 1856. The The defendant's reply was put in, in which he higher appointments in 1356 in the War Office cost the stated that if the plaintiff desired litigation in place country £36,024 ; whereas in 1860-61 they only cost of waiting the defendant's leisure he might adopt it. £33,070. The increase was in the item for the junior This closed the case for the plaintiff. clerks, and arose from the increase of business caused by Mr. Murray, for the defendant, admitted that the the additional troops serving in India. There had also piece called " The Pilot" had been acted, but con been an increase of the comforts of the soldiers, which oc- tended, as regarded " The Happiest Day of my Life," that the assignment having been attested by cas ioned an increase of work in keeping the accounts and only one witness, was invalid in law, and that the in correspondence. The amount of the present vote was plaintiff could not recover on that. n ot more than was absolutely necessary for the service o f the year. His lordship said he would reserve that point , committee then divided,:and ther® appeared— and a verdict was entered for the plaintiff for £26, The For a mendment Aga the inst attested. Majority 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 grio ante which the citizens of Edin burgh complained of. Mr. HADFIELD 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 to 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. ling. I never had any 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 defendant. POLICE INTELLIGENCE—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 there under medical treatment until four o'clock yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, when the h......m-geon 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 of the 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. The prisoner said she was very sorry 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. Woolrych—She says 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. Woclrych—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. A FEMALE OUTRAGE. -- DISGRACEFUL SCENE, —Mary Ann White a woman of the town, was brought before Mr, Woolrycb , charged with assault ing and wounding Ann Barry. The rrosecutrix, whose nose had been frightfully cut, and was bound up w ith surgical plasters, said she was a married woman and the mother of si x children, On Wed nesda y evening she had occasion to go into the Cock and Neptune public-house, in Ratcliff-highw a y , 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 wa s present, immediately assailed her with the most h or rible and vulgar ab use , an d t o ok 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 wounded on the cheek, and lost a good deal of blood. • George Brown, a police-constable, 181 H, said ho saw the prisoner strike the complainant three times with a pint pot over the head and face with considerable fo rc e, 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 sur ge on to dress her wounds. The prisoner was a desperate and savage woman, who pretended to sell oranges in the Highway. Mr. Woelrich, after hearing a 'rambling otAtg. went 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 we s leaving the court with her husband, when they were assailed with oaths and imprecations by the firzt 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 (,f 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. Woolrych sentenced the prisoners, in default of paying fines, tolB days' imprisonment. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER-MAT 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 denawnd o a* 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 Wild for more money. Peas were firm. PLYMOUTH-MAY 7. The market was slow, with a small attendance, and tvo advance upon the. currencies of last week—English whit wheat, 60s to 66s ; red, 48s to 56s per qr ' • French do., 6; ;a to 64s ; American, 61s to 63s ; Spanish, 69s to 71s ; Rut ;- than, 60s to 625. Barley in good supply, at 36s to 43s pi 3r qr for malting; grinding, 32s to 365; oats, 24s to2Bs ; ititd beans, —s to —s ; flour, 47s to 50s. CORK-STAY 8. The following were the quotations this morning : ed wheat, 27s Od to —s 03; white, 27s Od to 28s Od; barle, y 16s 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 tho top is 3d up.. average Os 4d up. Beans on the top Os 6d up.... average is Od up.. Averages per Imperial quarter. Wheat.... New wheat . -12ths Barley Oats 1 10 5 11-12ths Beans Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ..1302 qrs Sold 1099 qrs Barley... 3lB qrs Sold 194 qrs Oats 766 qrs Sold 577 qrs Beans 220 qrs Sold 141 qrs DERBY SMITHFIELD-MAY 7. There 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 7id to 7id 1 Veal 6id told Mutton .... 9d to 9id Pork Lamb dto —d Rough fat, 5s Od per stone. Hides, 31d to 4id ; 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 Verda June 4. Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. Cuba and Mexico Canada, &c. (via L'derry) •• .. May 29. .. .. .. Overdue. Cape of Good Hope, &c. June 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via' 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 11. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. May 11. Do. (via Marseilles) .. June 4. Vigo, and Oporto .. .. May 11. United States, California, &c. .. May 15. Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Teneriffe .. May 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, &c. May 14. CORNHILL MAGAZINE.—In the current number of this s-aluable 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-cottago, De lemere-forest. Now, this gentleman writes in a testimonial to the proprietors :—.. I nenri'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. Sinus 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 vi ithout 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, Herts : a cure of ex treme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure No. 52,612—The Dowager 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 SC times its cost in other remedies, removing effectually, without purging f con stipation, indigestion (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious and liver complaints and all their consequences. Certificate No. 36,418. We find it the safest remedy. Andrew Ure, 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 penalty of £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 one article must expect to be distrusted in all others. Packed in tins 11b. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d, ; 51b. lls. ; 121 b. 225. ; 241 b. 40s. The 121 b. and 241 b. enlisters are sent carriage free on receipt of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Rd gent-street, London; Fortnum Mason, and Co.; Abbie, 60, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63 and 150, Oa' bard-street ; 330 and 451, Strand; 49 and 60, Bishopsgate.. street ; Batty, 16, Finsbury Pavement ; Phillips and Co. tea-dealers; Petty, Wood, and Co., Bing William-street City; at 127 High Holborn: and all grocers. (ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills.—Look to your Health.—Any abrupt change in the weather always causes much disordered action in the human body. It is a matter of primary importance to rectify any irregularity 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 ape rients 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. BURROUORES.—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 sth inst., at 69, Eaton-square, the Hon. Mrs. Reynolds Moreton, of a son. MARRIAGES. DORIDANT —PAINTER —On the Bth inst., at St. Androw ° l4, Undershaft, Leadenhall-street, Mr. Charles Doridant, of the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, to Adeline, the second daughter of Mr. George Painter, of Leadenhall-street. LEWIN—PELLEAV.—On the Bth inst., at Clifton, Capt a in Granville Lewin, of H.M.'s Indian Army, eldest son of the late Sir G. A. Lewin, Q.C., to Gertrude, only child of the late Hon. Percy Pellew. D E A 'F S. BAR:MR.—On the 8d inst., at his residence, Bowdon, Che shire, Mr. James Baxter, formerly of Milk-street, Cheap side, aged 81. . - ELLIOTT. — On the 6th inst., at Plymouth, Lady Elliott, widow of toe late Captain Sir Wm. Elliott, R.N., C. 8.1 &c., aged 58. HUNTER.—On the 9th inst., in Torrington-square, Joseph Hunter, Esq., F.S.A , one of the Assistant-Keepers of her Majesty's Records, aged 79. ROBINSON —On the 4th inst., at 7, Cambridge-terrne, Widcombe, Bath, Captain Thomas Pitt Robinson, R.N., aged 66. SPRATI.—On the Bth inst., at Stoke, Devonport, Robert Hall Spratt - , Lieut. 49th Regt., aged 25. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Oflloe, No. 112,Strand. is the Precinct ot the Savoy, in the County ot hillditasx rad a r, gay 14,1,561. ~~