The Sun. — London, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE CITY, Two o'CLocs. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed with an improving tendency. Compared with Friday's rates prices of all kinds were extreme. The sales were estimated at 12,000 bales. By the America we learn that the receipts and shipments of cotton, had been large, prices had undergone little or no change, and the peaca news had not reached further than Halifax. With a fair amount of business, the Railway Share Market did not ex hibit much activity, and prices were barely sup ported. Commercial advices from the chief manufacturing districts throughout France continue to be satis factory, and trade is very active amongst the whole sale houses. Speculation, which bad for a time re mained dormant, is beginning to guide the opera tions of merchants ; still there is much caution evinced in their transactions. All kinds of colo nial produce is in demand, and much activity exists at the ports of Havre, Nantes, Bordeaux, and Mar seilles. The trade with North America continues b risk, and orders for manufactured goods are heavy. Ifitherto the importation of American produce was of greater value than the export of French goods, and the balance was remitted in eash. Now it is Probable thattheUnited States merchants will have to remit to France in money payments. The trade With Germany is increasing in consequence of some houses buying on Russian account. In the event of peace being concluded this spring, it is expected that a considerable trade will be done with Russian houses. The retail merchants in the towns are busy Preparing for spring novelties, but they purchase stock with caution. Accounts from New York by the American Packet to the 29th January have come to hand. This vessel brings no specie on freight. The money market in the American capital continued easy, a nd though the demand was brisk, yet the InI PPIY was beyond it, as the banks were amply provided with bullion, and acted cautiously. T he rumours relative to financial revulsione a nd warlike measures were considered absurd, • a. s there exists a strong under current of confidence I R I / Peace in the public mind, between the United h ave and Great Britain. The pacific news which agit a t e d th e w h o l e of Europe during the last for tnight had not yet reached New York, and in the commercial reports of the day they considered that the continuance of the war will result to the "net of the United States, as it must keep up the P ri ce of their breadstuffs. There is every proba bility therefore of the export trade of America being ee nSiderably checked after the receipt of this im portant int e lli ge n ce . Th e e xports from New York fr om the Ist of January to the 25th amounted to , r a 460 ,374 dollars against 2,000,402 dollars in 1854, — "lug an increase of 1,459,972 dollars. d .,A meeting has beeu held to-day of the cre ditors of Messrs. Scott Russell, of I whose suspension was announced a short time 0 7. e , Samuel Beale, Esq., presiding. The airtnan said the meeting was called, in eon auence of a circular issued by the firm to coll er what was best to be done in the present P o sition of their affairs. He (the chairman) believed it a s a case in whi c h, by united acti o n, steady forbear a 8 11 ce, and consideration, a very material advantage , probably be derived. Mr. Freshfield then „ a ue a statement of the circumstances that had o -43 .asioned the suspension, and mentioned that, until the beginning of the present year, the largo contracts entered into presented prospects of great 41 140 61, but they were then dissipated. There were Th 9 r tgages for a considerable amount on the pre ?l,ses, far exceeding their value. He (Mr. Fresh :id) recommended that the estate be wound be under inspection, and such arrangements could made th with the mortgagees, the Government, e Eastern, Steam Company, and private indivi 4„w7sdes with whom contracts had been entered into, t , 4 would, at the expiration of s ix months, enable A ",c,declaration of a di v id en d o f 10 s . i n th e p oun d. '"hough a further dividend would no doubt be re alisable it was no t d eeme d expe di ent to ma k e any de cided statement in reference thereto, owing to various eontingencies-that might in the mean- While arise. Mr. J. E. Coleman then explained the following balance-sheet : LIABILITIES. o creditors on open balances and accept. slices £113,910 19 10 Creditors holding security £15,000 ), Estimated value of security held 6,000 9,000 0 0 £122,910 19 10 The Eastern Steam Navigation Company ,reserve their right of ai.y claim which "ley may establish on tho estate for broach of contract, i a case a satisfactory a rrangement cannot be carried out with them. )3 • ASSETS. Y cash balance £ls9 3 8 ~ Rook debts considered good .. Assets, consisting of materials, engines, ,i,Szc, at works '' 4 ' o . i Mr. Russ e ll' s i n te res t i n v ar i ous shm 40,000 0 0 '' b o., contracts for vessels an d uiacliiaery 19,392 0 0 now constructing beLts under 101. £100,353 12 4 . 118 0 5 • Y t ®hares in the Eastern Steam Naviga- £10;235 11 11 i° aCompany, upon which calls have been l a id , l,aniounting to 22,4101. ar i°us questions were then put to the chair, the I:i ls Wera to which were deemed satisfactory, and ge4 eBB rs. Beal, Grissell, and Jones, selected from the Al body of creditors, consented to become le s Pectors Mr. Scott Russell will actively assist the v arious works. Resolutio ns t embodying A : h above recommendations were en signed by vcreditors present, and the meeting separated. e ry disposition •was evinced throughout the eeedinus to meet the wishes of Mr. Scott Rus sell. . and his advisers. ' There is a buoyant market for English Stocks, and an c o advance of about per cent. has occurred. C Onao are 91 l a for money, and 92i for account. ", 18 increiised Armless is probably owing to the R " t tt eter tone of th e A mer i can a d v i ces . The N e w „ i es are 92 t / 1- 4, and the Reduced 92.1. Exchequer t 'e are 7e. to,Us., discount. India Stock is 224 i 22,6. • There has Leen very little business transacted 111 P • k F oreign Sto - Jo s. Buenos Ayres are 55. Peru l'ith 41 per Ci , nts. 791. Spanish 3 per Cents. 421 ; Ste done Deferi•ed 23 i . Turkish. 6 per Cents. have e t en• done at 34, and the 4 per Cent . Guaranteed "` h elc at 100:, • The followi ng are the nominal prices of Foreign 2 f t l ° A , c ke:—Grena da Deferred Bonds, 6171; Mexican, Peruvian, 79 81 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 55 56 ; 4 rtuguese 4 Uer Cents., 47 49 ; Russian 5 per ee 3 li n t : l • ; .„ 104 6 ; c'itto 4,1 per Cents., 92 94 ; Spanish 3 ''ents., 42 ; ditto Deferred, 23 t 24 ; ditto ;nr,Lacates, ; ditto Passive, 641. i t 'he Railway Share Market shows firmness in ralcluetations sit a slight advance upon previous ' co ts, ; but thero is not much business doing, ex in Great Western, London and North :tlV4l;:tiletgril and Midland. In Foreign railways Leaaetions are limited, but rates are fully main 'Quo. In Tue Banking Shares there is not much doing. li ; mir projeeted Banks have commanded atten tin and are still quoted at :a premium. . . B RiTlsn FUNDS THIS DAY.-'-CLOSING PRICES. (Fr ont the Oftial Lie.) dons. 3 dons. Bank Stock 21 4 - 3 per Co '' ***** ' 9tii 2/ 8 ,„„. ~. In. Redxced. Anunitios ..,, e r". ucrit. Consols Annuitio 9IA i i z o. 3 per Cent. Aiinuities .... * • 91 iif i Jan. 1860... inaLlifttAo:l3llis, expire sth Years, expire sth April, 1885 l6i Ind ia Bonds 2214 6 A,:lUbo • Ditto under £ lOOO 3 %Nol a ' for Account • 91i 2/ / 1 Exchequer Billa. 24d. •.: 1000 . * Ditto Boneg; 'i. '''''''' " 34 . Ditto, 1859 ... per ... V7i 8 ... - .......... ... .. .. PRICES OF F OREIGN FUNDS 'THIS DAY. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 o Me dean 3 per Cent. , . ~, . per c-. .. 65 - Ditto Account ... ... ......... . ..... i . ' .. '. 0 '?era v i an B on d s, 44 per Cen't:,...........--. 2 70 go i. Aussiau Bonds, 5 per Cent. , 1822 : .i . 8 - i:::: jot --' „, Ditto 44 per Cent . ............. ... .... 93 ''kdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ~... ... •• ....... ~., Ditto Account 4 . • ......... 90 *Pinio ' Bo w ls, 3 per Cent ... ......... . .. . . Ditto Account ................................. 4.2 i Ditto, New Deferred, ;3 per Cent..... ...... . ... Ditto Acc o unt23l TtirXioi Bonds 6 per coot Di tto'Accoun . . Account 934 . . DittoAluaranteed 4 p er Cent Nile Account ' I looi x d •,„ Dividends OR the above payable In London. drench Iteates, 44 per Cent. tuu.ictto Scrip, 2d Loan of 1855 .j.'ll Echange, Cer tificate s Cent 12 Gull 911 Csaksobt oneY THREE i O'CLOCK. bitto Asccuunt, Mar c h 11.... Alection of visdom th• e measures h the coa l! branches mrtieularly ie constitu• nnmenda. ist of per" ccept - and reigns. led buoy quOta' . 0. 84 fr / 50 950 ... 632 Dv ▪ 765 ▪ 868 76 rEB 10. ted Cour West Sli d Kingdos' ► ;atives Of Augsburg !ming het, vo special or of siege 1 arrived' I without zleinsdoll illery and tter hoot the Post Eungariall ced &boot or he haa, )urg, s pardos it Queen •andee t, Profe;ser Cien 2oo ; hintanes/ emed, ight, heat! y plaoal /facie: grace nal 01 0 ' t 0 Perf token a mos t L truth, ma al!' nce, 11 1 and moat none SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this lay bertleon Nottug. Bost anwl Itastn. Junot... tielfmst dr Ballymena. Binning. Wolyerh Stour Va11ey.,,.., ,, Birk e and. LanosL. & Cheshire Janet—. Do. Cho:h. dt Birk.. £5O and £25 Coup Do., Illyth &Tyaeorigina .£25 (isisd. at 145: Bristol and Exeter... Caledonian. 'Corm. and Cardigan Chester & Holyhead . Cork and Bandon Cork, Nook, & Pass Cornwall Do. A I Do. B Crie tf Junction D übs.in&BelfastJunc Dun. P. & Atom. Jac East Auglian Eastern Counties.. R.ast. Union, A fiti De., B. kitust Do., New East Kent East Lancashire Edinburgh do Glasgem Edinb. and roubles 'kiln. Pith & nuncio , Forth & Clyde Jun:. Furness Do. Extension........ Glasgow& S. Wester• Great N. of Scothad Groat Northern Do., A. Stock Do., Stock Gt. Sth. SzWest.(lre Great Western Do. Stour Val. Rai Gua. Stk [rich South-Eastern. Lancaster & Owlish IDo., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancasit. andYorkah Do.. Wst. Riding Un Lis. Crsby. StSouthpt London St Blackwan Lond. bright & S.Cst. Lond. and N. Wean. Yifths ..... o°3ol. 5h.,21&13...0 Do. Eighths . I London and S. Westn. Do., £5O. Do., SO Ludndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk Sf.anch.Shef.& Lindh Do.. Man. & Lin. Un Mkiopolitau Sfddland Do. Birmng. St Dub) %did. G. West. (I re. Do. llalf Shares Newcastle St Carlisle. Nwpt.Aberg. &Urfa Newry &lEnniekiUei Newry Warrenpoin• and R 043 trovor . Norfolk Northn.Countils Un North British Nth Devon Rai'. & Dock Stock Do., A Stock._ Do., B Stock . Do., B Guaranteeso N.F.sstern--Berwle Do. do. Extension Do.do. G.N.B. rurola • I Do Leeds Do. York 'North L0nd0n...., N.&S.Wstrn.,llam- - stead, and City Ju.. North Staffordaldro.. North Western & S. West rn. J nue I Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Ox, Wore.. az War. Portomouth ;Scottish Ceotral..... ISoottishMialsld.., 'ihropshiro Ut i South DtWOU South Eastern :out), \Woe S. Yrksh. Riy,Drt , I Do l itaines, Wok. &Vol( Stockton & Darn , ' IStoikton clt hall Vale .. I Do. Prof., No. ,Thaimee liar. D.& R. lUlverstono & Law; t Vale of Neath Watorfd. az Kilkenny Waterford4Limorick !West Cornwall • , ( West End of London and Crystal Palace.. Do. A ......,.. , .... Do. B IWost L0nd0n....... ... ,Winibledn bc Croydon 25 27 4 •- 41 IWO ..... 44 • 8 -8.. i 16 - 15 13 - 14 9 - 8 85 55} bei i 3! 4 - 2 12a 91 101 2G 30 19 21 7?, - 73 52 - 51 9} - 9i 22 - 24 82 - 86 6i - 7 90i - 91} 75 - 6 121 - 126 106 - 105 55} 57 60 74 - 17 - 66 - 7i 7ii 811 81i 6f 7 97 98 [ooi 101 par i id par t 94 95 3i 3 2 • ••• • ""' 24 : 45 ad 69 69 40 42 50 - 52 29 24) ... - .., 75i • 7fiA Gt - 54 4 - 3 14 - 15 51 52 . - - 74(11 23 - 25 te4 106 75 77 45 47 114 - 124 62 634 71 73 5 3d 2d pa . 87 ••• .... ego• 20 - 22 • 34 - 4i 4 - 6 FOREIGN. &ntwer paltott-rdazu Do. 5 p.e. Oblgs. eon. in Sh. at pax till '64 Ardennes ..... ......... Belgian }last% June. &niers to Graisseasse Bombay, Baroda, Central India,Serli Do. Demerara Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do. New gut Indian, g. 5 p. Q Do. EY tenxion D0.4.1p.0.8ud5., 1 57 Do. 110. do.. 7.9, Goe'ong, L Melboutae guar. 5 per o nt. Do., Lou. allot., do. Gd. Tk of Cansid KA is IDo. Do. Cert. of Dobon., con. into Stk. Do. Comp. 6 p. 0., do . Gt. Central of France Gt. Indian Poninauls Groat Luxcrobonrk Constituted Sharer. Do. Oblig►ationx... Do. forftd. Sh. Gt Westornof eanac a I ii.`taree Do. Now Do. Itds•., paiablo'67.l with option till '55 ;Do, do., '62, p. '56 1 Do. do.; 1 - 6. p. '6O Do. do., '73, without option . Hamilton & Toront , Do. 6 per cent. Lake ()oust. be Lierro and Turnhout Lucca k Piet. 5 p. o.p. L/onr and Genova Lyons di Meditorran. Madras, guar. 4i p.c Do. New ti 0., p. 0, Do. 4i p. c. Estee Maris Autonis ..... Do. do. Now Namur di Liege (410 Interest) Do. (ox interest) Northern of Frame. Do.2ol.Sha. Do. 201. 3 p. a lido (fmy.B.dgAßlO.Slus. No rweg;an'rrunkPre Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Pari■ and Orleans—, Rome and Frascati Royal Danish }loyalSwedish Do. Obligations Sambre and Menso Do. 5i p. cent. Pref Scinde, guar. 5 p. c Do Southern of Franos 1 And - row% and Quebec (A). West Flanders Do Der o. Pref W. is N. W. of Franc West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand, 8 - 81 ld 1 p 11 2p 3 21 , pai - 4 37} - 3h 11 -13 p 21 -21 i r 14j - 15611 63 - 67 82 - 86 5 - Sip 20k - 201 5 - 51 3 - 25 - 26 3t - :it! 99 - 100 123 - 121 122 - 125 106 10R 26 .- 25; 120 - 125 pla Si 9il 19 —19 i d 7 2 3 - 6 5} - 6 i 374 - 37 12 - 124 7 - 8 481 -48 i 49 - 50 19 - 20 2i - 21 2 9 1 ••• - - pm 3i - 4 33 - 34 fel i4A .TOINT-STOCK 92.8ANK15•._ 144 n 4 1 0 00 11 41 '50 11 fl:a:sn.ktcoraollfa.4L:okn.scdotna..a 6 .. 5 —. 6 7 66 i 6 40 , 50 a ll liritich N. American .... --. .." .)5 5 Chartd. Bank of Asia par ... 1 . 1) sto 4 (nu td. Bnk. of India, P Australia. & China .' ._ ... d 100 50 City '6B -- • 71 70,1 70 00 25 Colonial 10, * 1 i2O Commercial of Loud . ...; . 20 all Fing.Szot.Sckue•Cht 1:71 lg . 20 i all Loud. Mart. Bk. of • Australis 20 1 5 Ditto Nov .. - - 111,i i 50 2t' London antiConnty ... • . .: 100 50 Lnd.&E.Bukg.Corp par —2; 50 10 London Joint Stook .... ... 'lOO IV iLond..k Westminsto ... ... 471 6i (X) 3 15 1 National Pro. of Eng ... -- ... 20 if) ',IDo. New ., ... w. 50 22 N National of IrolauL " . • ;. 3 . 7 20 all Now South Wales — 25 411 Oriental Bank of iNorporation 39 _. 41 391 40 100 2 ; i rruwincial of Ireland ... -- ... 10 al I Itio. New .... ... .« 5 1 1 i Royal Australa.Bkg k Gold Loup Co ...i ..... .. 100 50 Royal British,.,., _ . 25 ~ s o uth Australis ii . _ 40 25 bal Union of Australia - 41 - 72 ... 241 "o. Now ..........b :- 7i lii 54) io fi Union u London ~2 6 ----, N) 123 Business done this day iuu 5) 50 10 20 St. 10 St. St. 20 5 20 18 100 20 29 26 20! 1.00 20i too 20 i 3:, 10 20 i 20 0 20 100 LOO 61 alr all all 100 I looJ 100 82a. 1 100 100 %II all 8i all 10 4+ 14 4i THE SUN, LONDON TUESDAY EvENINGI, FEBRUARY. IA 1556. uxN'rALs. municated to this embassy. I have questioned Mr. Pisani on the subject, and he assures me that Rifaat Pasha would never be brought to admit its existence. That Minister was probably restrained from disclosing it by the Russian ambassador's threatening language." Your lordships will observe that on the 21St of March Mr. Pisani signs a memorandum, containing a full re port of the contents of the note presented by Prince Menschikoff, as ascertained in a conversation with the Chula* ?Mei this dry. notaaa3 this day. 94 - 96 94 - 98 Turkish Minister, and two months afterwards he as sures Lord Stratford de Redcliffe that the Turkish Ministry could never be brought to admit the existence of that note. This, my lords, as I stated last year, is a matter affecting the character of members of the British legation, and I think that blame is attributable to a higher quarter than Mr. Pisani. Lord Stratford de Red oldie was not justified in transmitting to the English Government statements reflecting upon the conduct of a Power with which we were at that thus, on terms of amity without ascertaining their correctness. It was kis duty, when he returned to Constantinople in the then critical state of affairs, when the awful issue of peace or of war was trembling in the balance, to make himself accurately acquainted with the steps which had been taken by Colonel Rose in his absence ; and if he had ne glected that part of his duty, be had still no right to transmit an assertion to the British Government that the Turkish Government had - concealed an important State paper unless he was convinced of :the correctness, of the statement ; still less had he the right to ground upon that assertion the inference that they had been threatened by the Russian Minister. I say, my lords, that be had no right to adopt that course, when five minutes' search in the archives of hie embassy would ••• - ••• 104 - 106 13 - I:4i 234 - 244 1074 - 1124 4l 91 - 93 a 23 --- have afforded him every information upon the subject. My lords, I wish to know what explanation her Ma jesty's Government can give of these circumstances, and I do not think that the importance of the subject is at all diminished because these transactions are of - S 3 - throe years' date, for Lord Stratford de Redcliffe is still ambassador at Constantinople, and Mr. Pisani occupies, I believe, the same position in the legation as he did then. My noble friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs last year offered no explanation with regard to those circumstances, nor did I expect him at that time to do so, as he probably was not then acquainted with all the facts of the case ; but I did expect that, when a statement had been made involving a grave charge against the British ambassador, and reflecting upon the honour of a member of the British Legation, I did ex pect, I say, that when ssch a statement had been pub licly made in your lordships' home, even by a member so inconsiderable as myself, some explanation would be offered by those whom the statement concerned. I need not tell your lordships that, in the present state of affairs, duties of the very greatest importance are en trusted to the British ambassador at Constantinople, or that the position occupied by Mr. Pisani is also of the highest importance. While we employ in the East an ambassador who is not conversant with the Oriental 32 - 23 83 - 85 language, the truthfulness and trustworthiness of the interpreter or dragoman attached to the , embassy afford the only security which the country possesses that its affairs will be properly transacted. Upon these grounds I ask my noble friend what explanation can be afforded of the discrepancy which I have pointed out The Earl of CLA.RENDON—My lords, my reply to my noble friend will be a very brief one, because I am not able to give any complete explanation in answer to the inquiry which he has addressed to me. A t the same time I cannot help expressing my regret that my noble friend should have brought forward this subject at the present moment, and should have preceded it by the speech which he has made, because I think that he has failed to show either that there was any urgent necessity for bringing it forward, or that any practical good could be expected to result from it, at a time when both your lordsbipe House and the other House of Parliament have given such unequivocal proofs of their determina tion to avoid anything that can be likely to produce embarrassment or irritation. (Hear.) In so doing, Parliatm tat has noted from the highest sense of duty, and I believe that it faithfully reprosetiti the feeling of the country i'e resolving to wait with patience for the result of the neeotiations,which are about to be entered upon—anxious for an honourable peace, but if that, un fortunately, cannot be obtained, determined to prosecute the war with vigour. Feeling, my lords, that the meet ing of Parliament will rather tend to facilitate than to render the negotiations difficult, and feeling confident, alai), in the 84 : lenity of onr intentions, I believe, if we .are but met, as I trust we shall be, with similar sincerity on the part of those with whom we have to tteat, that then, negotiations ought to be neither long nor difficult ; but, if we have reasonable grounds for anticipating the conclusion of peace, I cannot see the practical utility of ripping up transactions that occurred previous to the commencement of the war. My noble friend coin plaiasjthat I did not answer his speech upon this sub ject last year. My noble friend certainly made a speech of very great length and- very great power upon that occasion, to various portions of which I could not reply, because my attention had not been drawn to them previously ; nor did I then, nor do I now, attaeh the lame importance to the discrepancy that my noble friend does. It is a matter which ccncerns the Turkish Ministers, who, from some motive or other, first denied the existeuce, and afterwards would not admit the con tents, of a certain document ; and, having once deviated from the fact, they have never since been able to make a consistent story of it. It is perfectly true, as my noble friend has stated, that Colonel Rose on the 24th of March heard that Rifaat Pasha had received a note verbale from the Russian Government. He went to in quire whether it was true, and all that he could learn was that the Turkish Government believed that the Russian "aavernment- intended to propose, a secret treaty, but he was not mire that the . Turkish Govern. moot would inform the British Embassy of it. A week afterwards Col. Rose saw both the Grand Vizier. and the Minister of Foreign Affairs ; and he then heard, as was reported by Mr. Pisani afterwards, that Rifaat Pasha had said that a note verbale had been presented by Prince Menschikoff ; but they stated that Prince Menschikoff had used the strongest language to prevent any com munication of it to the British or French embassies, and bad endeavoured to extract from Rifaat Pasha a promise that no such communication should be made ; and that on Rifest Pasha hesitating to give that pro mite Prince Menschikoff left him in great auger. My lords, I think there can be no doubt that the Turkish Ministers were intimidated, for 'at the same interview Rifaat Pasha informed Colonel Rose that he did not consider that Russia had specified or declared what her intentions were. I ',think, therefore, that the Turkish Ministers were intimidated ; nor is it very surprising that they should have been when they knew the circum stances ander which Prinee Menschikoff was there; when they knew that the very predecessor of Rifest Pasha had been compelled to quit office,on account of Prince Men schikoff; when they knew the vast power of Russia and their own want of preparation, and were' ignorant of the course which France and England were about to take. Under such circumstances, I am not surprised that the Turkish Ministers, after the language which had been held, should have been somewhat intimidated, and some what cautious in the proceedings they adopted. This it further confirmed by Lord Stratford, who, upon his arrival at Constantinople, wrote that the Turkish Minis ter had broached the subject to him, but that he was un able to draw any explanation from him; and he added, that the fear which induced the Turkish Minister to withhold the truth arose from the language which had been used towards him . by Prince Menschikoff, and that' it greatly embarrassed the settlement of the question. But it is perfectly true that the note verbale never was given to the British embassy at all. It was placed inmy hands by Baron Branow, and by me it was sent to Lord Stratford. Lord Stratford writes that Mr. Pisani says that the Turkish Government could net be brought to admit the existence of the note; and Mr. Pisani says the same thing now. I thought that the best way of meeting the inquiry of my noble friend was to send his question along the telegraphic wires to Constantinople— (hear)—and I will now read to your lordships the answer which I received yesterday. Lord Stratford telegraphed to me from Constantinople on the 7th inst. the following answer : " Mr. Pisani confirms to me what I stated in my des patch to your lordship of May 27, 1853, viz., that the Turkish Foreign Secretary at that time would not then ac knowledge the existence of the document called Prince .Mensehikoff's note of March lti or 17,' iu the same year. The Pasha was pressed to give me a copy of it, and he ap pears to have resorted to subterfuges and disavowals ia order to avoid. the importunity. Mr. Pisani affirms that, subsequently a search was made by him, with the assist ance of Noureddi Bey, the t'orte's chief interpreter, and that the paper wax not to be found in the archives of the Turkisk corespondents." In fact, the Turkish Ministers would not allow the ex istence of that note in order that they might not be pressed to give a copy of it, which they were afraid of doing. My noble friend, however, tries to fix blameupon Lord Stratford in this matter in a manner which shows, I think, that he is not quite familiar with the contents of the note, and that he is unmindful of the original cause of the war. The note contained a long recital of Russian grievances against .Turkey with respect to the Holy Places, and demanded that certain things should be done in reparation of those grievances and in fulfil ment of engagements with Russia which it was said had been violated the year before. Some of those things, however, which were required to be done, were contrary to the arrangement which had been entered into with the French Ambassador, and the Porte was greatly embarrassed how to act ; but by the friendly interpo sition of Lord Stratford the Porte war relieved from its embarrassment, and Lord Stratford received the thanks of all parties. It was only after that matter had been satisfactorily settled that other demands were brought forward by Russia, to which the Turkish Go vernment could not assent, and which we could not re commend them to concede. I will pursue the subject no further, but I beg my noble friend to bear in mind that Lord Stratford was perfectly aware of the contents of the note verbale ; that he acted upon it ; and that if no other demands had been made by Russia beyond those which were contained in the note verbale, Lord Stratford would have prevented a rupture between Russia and the Porte. (Hear.) My noble friend concluded by some remarks upon Lord Stratford which I do not think were alto gether fair. Lord Stratford, like all the rest of us, may have his defects, but no man will deny Lord Stratford s high sense of honour and extensive qua lifications. There • is no man who is more intimately acquainted with Ori ental questions, no man who more desire? to see the progress and prosperity of the Ottoman empire than . Lord Stratford. Lord Stratford has rendered great services, and he is still rendering great services. As I comedown to the house this evening I received a letter from hi m , stating* th e progress of events, and I can safely say th a t ky his knowledge and ability he bas ben eminently use ful in procuring a settlement of what is called the Fourth Point, and in securing to the non-11ussultnan su bj ects of the Porte a position which I believe will be highly ' satisfactory to the Christian Powers of Europe. (Hear. ) Earl GREY—I am extremely sorry that my noble friend ha s thought it necessary to question th e p ro p r i e ty of the step which I have deemed it nay duty to t a k e thi s . evening. Lie says that Parliament has very properly abstained from embarrassing the Government in the pre sent delicate posture of affairs. Though I believe there is no man in the country who more thoroughly disap proves the policy of the Government upon foreign ques tions than myself, I am equally confident that there is not one in either House of Parliament who has more cautiously abstained from doing anything which might in any way embarrass them. Certainly, I have ab stained this session from saying a single word upon a question on which I feel the deepest anxiety. But is it calculated to embarrass the Government—l hope not—to point out circumstances which, if left unex plained, may injuriously affect the honour of - the country ? What has the question - now before your lordships to do with the impending negotiations ? How can it embarrass them? And does the Government really mean to close the mouths of independent peels upon questions of this kind by talking to us of negotia tions which have no more to do with the subject in hand than negotiations in the moon ? (A. laugh.) I must de cline to follow my noble friend into the question whether the present war is to be attributed to Ruisia or to Tur key, or whether Lord Stratford 'de Redeliffe has rendered great services to the country or not. Upon these points I may entertain very different opinions from my noble friend, but they are not before us at present. I raise one specific question, whether there was or was nota contra diction between the despatches of Col. Rose and Lord Stratford de Radcliffe? My nobleiriend says there was not. Allow me to read the two passages, and then I will leave your lordships to judge whether there was a contra diction or not. • On the '2sth Maroh the memorandum of Mr. Pisani containsthe following words : "Rifaat Pasha, in the interview I had with him yesterday, stated that Prince Mensehikoff ha 4 left with him on the 17th a note verhale." On the 27th May Lord Stratford de Redcliffe informs us that he had questioned Mr.Pisani on the sub ject, "and he assures me that Rifest Pasha would never be brought to admit its existence," speaking of this very note verbale. The questioa then i 5, whether a certain gentleman, having stated that he had received from a Turkish Minister an account of a note left with him, and 2 months after writing that the very same Minister could never be brought to admit its existence, has stated that which is correct? This matter may be passed over lightly by my noble friend, but I say it is of the very deepest im portance, not for the reputation of the British Embassy only, but also for the honour of the nation. If England is to be represented by persons whose statements are thus contradictory, I say that its honour suffers ; and, where there is.so much suspicion, the power and moral influence of thef country may depend upon regaining that high character which ought to belong to all engaged in the diplomatic service of the British Crown, so that no shade, even of distrust, may rest upon ,the accuracy of their statements. I think that it was right to bring this subjectbefore the house, and confess I feel the deepest regret that my noble friend, instead of giving some explanation showing there had been a mistake, has found it necessary to go into various other questions, but not to touch the only point at issue. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.YESTERD AY. ) The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. NEW MEMBER. Mr. MARTIN took the oaths and his seat for Rochester , PRIVATE BUSINESS, The following bills were then severally read a second time, and ordered to be committed : A.bcrdeen and Scottish Midland Junction.. Railway Com • panics Amalgamation ; Alf or d V a ll e y Railway ; Ban bridge Junction Railway; Barnsdala and Leeds Road ; Bath . Gas ; Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway ; Chel tenhana Gas ; Colonial Bank ; Conway and Llandudno Road ; • Cork and Youghal Railway ; Coventry (City) Gas; Darenth Valley Railway; Deeping Fen Drainage ; Denny Junction Railway ; Dorset Central Railway ; Dimblane, Donne, and Callender Railway; Dundee Harbour Eastern Counties Railway •; Eastern. Union Railway ; East of Fife Railway ; Edinburgh Munici pality; Edinburgh Water; Ely Tidal Harbour and Rail way ; Fdey Water ; Formartine and Buchan Railway ; Glasgow Courthousesand Public Offices; Glasgow Paving; Wastonbury and Bruton Railway ; Gloucester Gas ; Halifax and. Huddersfield Road; Heywood Gas; Knares borough and Green Hamrnerton Road ; Knaresborongh and Pateley Bridge Read ; Knottingley Gas ; Lambeth Water; Lancaster Gas; Leicesterand Welford Road ; Lin coln Water; London and North-Western Railway; Lon don and South-Western Railway (Yeovil to Exeter) ; Lon don Dock; Lowesteitand Beocles Rail way; Luton District Road ; Luton, Dunstable,, and Welwyn Janction.Rail• way ; Monmouth Roads ; North Shields and Tyne mouth Dock ; Oxford, Worceiter, and Wolverhamp ton Railway (Extension of Time, &,c ; Renfrewshire Roads ; Rbosydd Railway ; Scottish Central. Rail• way ; Shrewsbury and Hereford 'Railway ; Shrewsbury and Welchpool Railway ; Shrewsbury Water; Sleaford and Tattershall Turnpike Trust ; Southport. Water ; Stockton and Middlesbrough New Road and Bridge ; SVIMIStea Vale Railway; Thames Haven Dock and Rail way; Ulster Railway ; West Ham Gas ; Westminster Terminus Railway; IVeytnonth and Ilfelcombe R , gis GAS ; Worksop Gas. LINES LE, RIUINATIO; Bedford and Ble teh ley ... Buck ghanish. Clydesdale Jo. Col. Stour Vy. Sud. and Hal. E. Lin. v. 6 Pe. E. Un. If. Sh. Glam. Barr. & Neils. Ditect Do. N0w...... Glstr. Dn. Fr Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway Hull & Selby Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lou.&Greenw Do. Preference L0n.,111.,&5. Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Manch. and Matlock Middlesbro' & Racal. Midld.Bradfd Newmarket Bury E. G.spc N.& Est.s Do. 6 per ct. Do. Fixeds p c Prost. & Nt y:e Do. A /Mrs. A Roystn.& Hit. Shef.ltoth.and Gooleg.s p.a. Shrews. &Her, S. Stafford.sh. Wear Valleygr 6 per coat_ Do Wilts&florarst all all all 100 18i PREFE: St. St. St. 45 91 6 10 100 100 100 &11 100 5 100 all all all Aberdeen.. Do. N 0.2, 7 p Do. Debentures . Myth and Tyne 16 pel o. pref. (his& at 501, Brie. & Ex. 4 p. c. St . Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Ches. &Ho. Gn. 5 pc Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork 4Bandonsip.e Dnn.Prth .&Aber..l E. Anglian CU. A Sit Do. do. Cls. B 6 p. c. Do, do Cls. C 7p. c. Ras. Co. Ex, spc No. I Do. No. 2 . 0. . Do. New 6 p. c. St. East Un., G. 6 p. c. Do. Si., 10 per cent. Do. 101. Dobentr.Sh. Do. do. 4 per cont East Lancash. 6 p. eta I .&W. York. J. sthi. Edin.&Ol.sp.c.sb. Ed. Prth.&Dun.4p.o Furness (iIas.&S.W.G.S p.o Great Northu. 5 p. c Do. 5 p. o. Redeem. at 10 p. c. Do. 44 p. c De.s p.c. Scrip, Red at 5 p. c. pm_ Gt.N. of Scot. 16t Pre (It. S. 11W. (Ireland) Do. 4por a. Pr , f. S Ot.W.(l3.tll.Fxspc Do. con. red. 4. p.c. Do. con. red. 4 p. c. Do. irred. 4p. 0, Do. 5 p. o. rod. prof Do. do. do. Do. Birm. Prof.lih Do. Choster 8 p. c. P.S De. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Bina. Gua. Stk Do. Chos. Gua. Sh Do. do. do Do. do. do Lan. & York. F. ft Do. 6p. c. Stock Lon. &Brigh. 0.5 p.c. Do. Prof., 5 p. c. St. Do. New Guar.6 p. c Do. do. 5 por cent Lon. &N. W., COY. ' 6 Nuneaton 5 p. et Lon.& S.W. 7 Per et Londy. & Color. A Sh . Londy. & Ennis. Si. 11.,5.,& L.,New, let Do. £6 Sfarypt.it Carl.4p o Do. 4i per cont. Do 100 - IMid.Consol.6 p.o.St 100 Do. Con.Br.Bir. 6p( 100 ,Do. 41 p. c. Pref. St all po. Pref. 4i pc.r con all Do. 51. Pref. 4 p. c. . 100 , Ditto L. & 11. Pref. Sr a I Now., Aber., &0., pr. f 5 p. o. rod. 5 p.c. pui. all INorfolk Debenture 100 Do. Prof . 4p.c. St ck 100 1110. 5 p. e. Eat. . 100 'Do. 81 per et. prof 100 Do. Way. Val. sp. o. 100 'North British 100 N. E. Early, 4 p.c. P 7 Do. do. 13 Do, Leeds 6 p.e %No.] 9 Do. do. Quarters 10 .Do.Yorkll.& S. Par. all North Staffordstire 100 Ox Wo ALW.IS/ 6pc 91 inf. 101. Sh. ail Scot. Cent. ,New Prey all iSouth Devon 11 1' Iliad, 41 per cent all . Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. 100 Do. 41 per coat 100 Do. Fixed 41 p a eh. 100 'S. Wales Gus.. 4 p. c. all iDo. do. 41 p. c all ;S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. all Stock. k Dar. ,5 p. c. 15 IDo. do. do. all (Stock. & Hartl. g. S p. o. till July 1, '56 4i ;Watertd. & Kilk.€ pc ENCE Agna Fria .... Anglo Austen. Gold ?Anglo Californian Australian Australian Cordillera Ave Maria Baden (Gd.Dueby of t Ellomar. Iron & Cote IBritiali Iron Brazilianlmp, (Issued at 25 pm.) Do. Cocaos & Culab3 Do. St. John Del Roy Clarendon Cons. Min. Co. of Jamaica ,Cobra Copper rC*louial (fold Coppor Min. of Eng Do. Prof. Zi p. cent. opiapo . Fortuna Genota.l. . Gt.NuggotVoinlteg. Great Polgooth . Gt Wheal Vor United Liberty Linares - usitanian I Mariquita. . ... ... New Granada ouvesu Mond* Pontgi.SiL & Le. Min ! Port Philip Quarts Rock Rhyruney Iron ..... Do. New Santiago de Cuba Sort. Cons. Min. Co. South Australian I o. Snip_ 9 O. 10 per oent Prof ' am. S. &L. Min. Co. Pin Croft .............. 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C Ut.Nrtnn E. Count Caldontsu Do West!, Yk. New. & Borw. Y. &NM , I Do D 0... ..... . Baden Do .. [Pot,o & Co. Norfolk Do , L.& N. W. & itektou & Darlingt. Coun. Count. D 0... Do L. &N.W Do fat Northn Lancashk Yorksh. P. Brassy) , M. SlClcan Stockt. & Darlingt Du ~~~tWwitn. ffAliffin. '.... ••• 80 4- 85 i) . 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Lord SHAFTESBURY presented several petition■ against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Earl GREY presented a petition from Gateshead in favour of the adoption of the recommendations contained in the report of the commissioners upon local dues upon shipping. CO NIMISSIONERS' REPORT ON THE MANAGE NIENT OF THE WAR. - The Earl of CARDIGAN said, seeing the Secretary of State for War in his place, he was anxious to call his attention to a statement on a subject which was of the greatest importance to him, as involving his character and conduct. In a report from the commissioners to . inquire into the management of the war, which, had recently been published, he felt that hie character and conduct had been reflected upon in a very unfair manner. He felt that as a peer •f of that house he ought, in his place in the House of Lords, to defend himself from those attacks. He now begged to give notice to the noble lord that to-mo`i•row he would feel it his duty to transmit to the noble lord a full explanation of his conduct as far as it had been unfairly reflected upon by the report referred to. He felt that he could refute every charge that had been brought against him, and he could prove that up to the last moment of his command at the seat of war he had paid everyattention to the welfare and comfort of the men and horses. It was his sincere desire and wish that the noble lord should give every possible pub licity to the statement which he would place in his hands. The Earl of LUCAN said he felt that he ought to take this opportunity of replying to the reflec tions made in the report up on hi s conduct and profes sional character. Immediately upon seeing that report he addressed to the noble lord the Secretary of War a letter, in which he refuted in the most positive terms every part of the report in which his conduct was impugned. The noble lord also knew that he requested that that letter should be given to the public at once. As such publication had not yet taken place, he thought it only reasonable to ask the noble lord to place the letter on the table of that house. Lord PANISIURE said that, in the full and elaborate report of the Commissioners he was quite sure that it never was their intention to-attack in any manner the character of the two noble earls as peers of Parliament. They simply expressed their opinions as to what had taken place at the seat of war in the winter and spring of 1854. He admitted having received a letter from the noble earl who had last addressed the house, addressed to him officially. That letter he had referred to the commissioners. One of those commissioners, now in London, stated that the charges contained in the report could be sup ported by returns given on the spot. In a few days be hoped to be able to lay that letter, as well as the reply, on the table of the house. The Earl of DERBY—The question; as it seems to me, is not so much one affecting the character of the two noble earls who have addressed your lordships, as what may be the intention of the Government with re spect to the cases that may arise upon the production of the report which the noble lord says will be laid upon the table. Various persona naturally feel themselves aggrieved at the charges that have been made or implied against their proceedings in this report. My two noble friends have the privilege of making statements in their defence in this house, though I do not think that it is a very fit place in which to discuss such matters. (Hear, hear.) But undoubtedly one of two things ought to be open to every noble lord. I understand that my noble friend who has laid his letter before the noble lord oppo site asked permission to make that letter public, and that the noble lord is now inclined to grant that per mission. I want to know whether the Fame indul gence, or rather sight, will be conceded to other offi cers who have been reflected upon. What course, for instance, is to be taken with respect to the communica tion of an officer who may not have the advantage of being a peer, er of possessing a seat in the other House of Parliament, and who may feel himself aggrieved by statements in such a report affecting his military cha racter ? Will they be precluded from making public any answer which they may have to the charge ? Ought they not to have the same opportunity to make it pub lic, whether by letter or otherwise, as others who have greater advantages ? I want to knew what course the Government intend to pursue with respect to the answers made by such officers as feel themselves aggrieved by the c'sar i ses in this report, and also whether it is the inten tion of the Government to prejudge the ease by granting rewards for distinguished services, or by imposing penal consequences on any officers who are so accused ? I want to know whether that report is to stand as it is at present, open—either for reward or punishment--to any answer which may be made by officers whose conduct may have been spoken of in it ? Lord PANMURE.—My answer with respect to the proceedings taken by the Government with relation to that report is this :—All the Government has done has been to take stepr, as far as they could, to prevent the recaircnce of the evils which that report has exposed. The noble earl opposite (Lord Lucan) asked my permis sion to publish in the newspapers a letter addressed to me. My answer was that I could give no official autho rity for the publication of an official letter referring to a report of a commission not before the house. I have. however, no hesitation in saying that in case any officer feels himself aggrieved by statements made, not in this report alone, but in any public document which has been laid upon the table of your lordships' house, and chooses to address either to me, or to any other member of the Government who may lay such a report upon the table, anything in justification of his conduct, or which puts it in a different light to that represented in the report in question, I conceive it would be but justice that those answers should be laid on the table,,and I shall at all times be ready to do that justice either to a peer, a mem ber of thee House of Commo ns , or an y officer reflected upon. tElear.) The Earl ot HARDWICKE said that if he were in the situation of either of his noble friends, and that full opportunity was not given to him to refute the charges, he would consider himself justified in removing the de corations from his breast and returning them back to his Sovereign. Lord PANMURE said that the decorations were given for distinguished services against the enemy. galling contained in that report, or that could be said elsewhere, could detract from the merits of those services. THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, seeing his noble friend (Lord Lyndhurst) in his place, he begged to ask him what course be intended to pursue to-morrow, as the committee of privileges was to meet tbat day at two o'clock. lie thought it ought to be known what course was to be adopted when the committee met. Lord LYNDHURST said that when the committee met ho would state the course he intended to pursue, and he had no doubt the noble earl (Granville) opposite would also have a course to propose, and that other noble lords would likewise offer suggestions. The course he proposed to adopt was this,—that when all these suggestions were before the Committee of Privi leges, to leave that committee to adopt the course they thought best. A conversation here took place, in which the Earl of Derby, Lord Brougham, and Lord Campbell took part, and the matter then dropped. DIPLOMATIC DESPATCHES. Earl GREY rose to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the question of which he bad given notice, namely, whether he cou ld g i ve any explanation of the apparent contradiction between Colonel Rose's despatch of the 25th of Ararch, 1853, and that of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe of the 27th of May following ; the first of these despatches contained a memorandum of Mr. Pisani of the account given to him by Rifaat Pacha and the Grand Vizier of the substance of the note verbale presented by Prince /vlenschikoff to the Porte on the 16th of March, while Lord Stratford de Radcliffe states in his despatch of the 27th of May that Mr. Pisani had assured him that Rifaat Pacha would never be brought to admit the existence of his note. Your lordships will, lam satis fied, always concur with me in considering that it is a matter of the greatest importance that the accuracy of information transmitted to her Majesty's Government by the diplomatic agents of the Crown, and especially of information which is to be laid before Parliament, in order to jnstify the policy of the Government, should be unimpeachable. If, therefore, circumstances should ever arise of a nature to throw doubt upon that accu racy, and those circumstances remain unexplained, the consequence must be that suspicions will be entertained as to the trustworthiness of the diplomatic servants of the Crown, of • whatever rank they may be. I say, therefore, that if such circumstances should arise, it is the duty of a member of either House of Parliament to ask for some explanation with regard to them. This being so, I feel bound to ask for some explanation with regar& to circumstances to which I have already on a previous occasion called your lordship' attention. Last year, in discussing the policy of the war, I endeavoured to show that there existed no ground whatever for an allegation which had been made that Prince Menschi keit', the Russian ambassador, had used threats in order to induee the Turkish Minister to conceal from the British Government the real nature of the Russian de. mands. I at that time argued that the Turkish Ministry desired for their own purposes to create that impres sion, and had made a dupe of Colonel Rose in the first instance, and afterwards of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and that they had been induced to transmit to her Majesty's Government an erroneous intima tion, which produced at the time a most unfortunate effect upon the minds of the Government and of the people of this country. I wish now, my lords, to recall to your recollection one or two of the grounds upon which I relied in support of that opinion. In the month of March, 1853, Prince 31 .enschikoff presented an important paper to the Turkish Government, and in the same month Colonel Ropseistarna:smanitatedstatoting the that t ti i s t b s i G n o; t e i r le nn s ie ig n n t a a tu d r e e sp o a f te m h e r n . closing. a memorandu m bear purport was founded upon what had-been told to him by the Grand Vizier. Colonel Rose said : " Your lordship will see that, in spite of Prince Men scliikotl's denunciations against the Turkish authorities should they reveal hie secret demands, they, in considera tion of the danger which would ensue from a compliance with them, determined to mike them known to her Ma jesty's Government." Shortly afterwards Lord Stratford de Redcliffe addressed a despatch to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, of which a short but important extract appears in the papers which have been laid on your lordships' table. Lord Stratford de Radcliffe said : "I think it my duty to record that the note verbale pre sented to the Porte by Princelleuschikoff on the 4th (16th) of March, and enclosed with Count Nesselrode's despatch to Baron Bruuow on the 9th (21st) ultimo, was never cons. PETITIONS. Mr. DAVIS presented a petition against opening the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Manchester against opening the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from Leicester against the Metropolitan Police Bill. Mr. PELLATT presented a petition from Southwark against opening the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Mr. HASTIE presented a petition from Glasgow against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from a place in Yorkshire against the opening of places of amusement on Sundays. POOR RELIEF (SCOTLAND). Mr. E. ELLICE moved for a return in reference to the record of applications to the board of supervision for relief of the poor in Scotland, stating in each case the amount of relief, whether in money, food, clothing, or any other shape (but if not in money, then giving the money value of such other description of relief), which formed the subject of complaint ; the decision of the board as to such allowance being insufficient or the con trary, and in cases where the ground of complaint was removed, stating the additional amount and kind •f re lief that was granted, fr•mu the let day of July, 1854, to the 30th day of June, 1855 (in continuation of former returne). 7 --Agreed to. • . . PROPRIETORS (SCOTLAND). Mr. DUNLOP moved for returns of the number of proprietors in each county. in Scotland, standing on the valuations rolls, made tip under the act 17th and 18th Vict., c. 91, as owners of fends and heritages therein of the value requisite to qualify for acting as commissioners of supply in terms •f the 16th section of that act, and alsa of the number of proprietors pos. sessed of the , former einalification as owners of lands and heritages valued at 1001. Scots of old valuation ; together with the total valUation of the county under that act, , and the total valuation in pounds Scots, according to the valuation rolls, prior thereto ; and of the number of proprietors, in each parish, of lands and heritages valued at 1001. Scots, and the number owning lands and heritages valued at 1001. ster ling yearly under the act above•mentioned ; together with the total number of proprietors in each such parish, of whatever valuation, standing on the rolls made up under the said act, and the total number standing on the old valuation rolls.—Agreed to. DOCKYARD APPOINTMENTS. Lord 110T.IEfAM moved for a copy of any order issued by the Admiralty in 1855, regulating appoint ments in her Majesty's doekyards. , —Agreed to. ASSAULTS ON WOMEN. Mr. DILLWYN moved for h return of the convic tions and sentences within the , police districts of the metropolis during the years 1854 and 1855, under the act 16th and 17th Viet., c. 30, for the better prevention and punishment of aggravated assaults upon women and ckildren.—Agreed to. BURIAL GROUNDS. Mr. IL BERKELEY asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why burials were allowed to continue in metropolitan graveyards, now that ample accommodation existed for interments at a distance from London F Why the churchyards of Saint John, Sex ton ; St. Mary, Haggerston ; St. Giles, Camberwell, having been repeatedly dosed by order of the Council, have as often been allowed to mopen, and were, to. gether with the Blue Lion burial-ground, in Grays-inn lane, and Trinity, Brompton, now in full operation ? and why the objectionable practice of placing more than one body in one grave was continued in the cemetery at Brampton, which had been purchased by, and was under the control of, the Government ? Sir G. GREY said the burial grounds referred to had not been repeatedly closed, 'but an extension of time had been granted some of them till the , new city of London Cemetery was completed. That cemetery would soon be ready for the reception of burials, and then those places would be permanently closed. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Mr. HUME asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government bad bad under it s considera tion the question of assimilating the f we i g hts an d . mea sures and tales in Ireland ; and , measure so, p w u lae o t n h e r the t w:t s their intention tp bring in a n y sub ject this session I Mr. HORSMAN said it was not the intention of the Government to bring forward any measure of the kind ,this session. . Firstha tSERVI C E . measuresL Loral r o t h h ad e T b r e e e a n - M r E w T A H rt E r D IL inquiredOMolf T thelwC sury whether any, and (if f h o i r ng candidates i n th e di p l oma ti c any a ) eystenk of e xam i na ti on , or o a h o . p r t9 e d d u fo c r a t t i h o o n a e l s t t a e b s l t, i s service of To o p f A th L e m eo E u n nt s ryl N stated there had been commu nications with the commissioners for the examination of candidates for public appointments, And he would have no, objection to lay that correspondence, relative to the examinations for'emb ass i es and consular appointments, on the table of the house. Mr. RICARDO gave, notice that he should move on that day fortnight fora select committee to inquire into the system of Goveinment contracts. THE POLICE BILL. In answer to an lIONTMEMBE, Sir G. GREY said be believed it was the general wish of the house that this measure should be proceeded with as speedily as Tossible. He shad postponed it already for some days, on the understanding that it should be proceeded with on Wednesday next. Under these c i rc umstances, therefo re , h e cou ld no t comply • with the wish of the hon. gentleman to further postpone the second reading of the bill. NAVAL ESTIMATES. Oa the motion of going into committee of supply on the naval estimates, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to call the attention of the house to a practice relating to the public expenditure, which might be productive,of much mischief. On referring to the financial accounts for the yea r ending March 31. 1855, he found that a considerable expenditure had takes place in excess of the estimates which were passed by the house, which he submitted was a most dangerous principle as one which took all control out of the hands of the house. In the estimate of naval stores for that year the house tAa three different occasions voted 2,828,0001., but he found that the expenditure had been 3,264,0001, being an e xcess o f 436,000/. e x p en d e d w i t h out the sanction of that house. There was a clause in the Appropriation Act by which the Lords of the Treasury were allowed to take any surplus, watt to apply it without actually coming to the house., .To that principle the house should object, because if expenditure could be thus incurred is excess of the estimates agreed to by the house, they might as well not tronble themselves with estimates at all. Sir C. WOOD said the first vote he should have to move would be one to cover the excess of expenditure last year, and he thought it would be more convenient to postpone his explanations till he brought the subject before the house in moving the navy estimates. Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought it would be much more conducive to the public interest if the navy estimates were postponed till , they knew whether they were to have peace or war. He did not wish that the Government should , ise the least relax their preparations for carrying nn.the was* with vigour; but if they voted the estimates now,' he- was , afraid, although peace might take place, that the (*wary' would be saddled with a vrar expenditure. There .was an increase of 6,000 in the number of seamen to be voted this year. Of course the house would expect some explanation from the Government as to the reason for this large in crease at a time when there was not a flan. belonging to Russia to be seen in the Black Sea. The country had a right to expect that something more would have beau done in the Baltic than had been accomplished. In the estimates about to be submitted there was s considerable increase for the marines, although the number of men watt the same as in the year before, namely, 1,600. He'wishea to draw the attention of the right hon. gentleinan.also to the cost of the coast guard and the riggers. No doubt that body of men had been of the 'greatest possible use, but after the fleet had been trained for two years he could not see the use of continuing those men in the service any longer. The extra cost of these two classes of men was 67,000/. this year and 55,6001. last year. In three years they cost the country 164,7031. Now during the war 20,00 extra seamen had been called out. This extra cost, there fore, would have enabled them to pay a bounty of 81—and able seamen might be had for less- to each of these 20,000 men. This point deserved the attention of the Government. He would next call attention to the vast increase in the numberof admirals ; in 1846 there were 153 admirals of all grades on the list, of whom 11 wereemployed ; in 1853 the number had risen to 268, but only the same number were employed. The present estimates provided for 314, al though only 18 were employed afloat and 4, is the dock yards. He thought such an increase of the number of admirals was monstrous. There was also an increase of 13,0001, in the half-pay and pensions this year over the last. This could not be owing to the war, as none of the officers employed had yet come on the half-pay list. With in the last ten years this dead weight had diminished only 51,0001. The amount now asked for was 1,207,000 E. .11e hoped some explanation would be given of the . increase. He also wished to call attention to the mode in which the good-service pensions were given away. He' believed the grossest injustice was done in this matter. Be found a noble lord had just been placed on the list. Ile did not wish to disparage his gallantry, but he had seen very little service, and there wore at le as t f o ur hundred captains and twice that number of lieutenants in the service who had performed more meritorious services. An honourable cap tain had also received a pension whose services wore net of a nature to deserve it. In conclusion, he would only say he would offer no objection to the most effieieut esti mates for the vi g orous prosecution of the war. The SPEAKER then left the chair, and the house went into committee. Sir C. WOOD said it was his duty to propose the naval estimates for the year ; but the first vote which his would have to propose was one which bud no reference to the ser vice of the coming year, being a vote for the exeesstive ex penditure of the year ending on the Ist of April last. He thought the explanation he would give of the circumstances of that vote would entirely refute the assertion of the hon. member for Evesham (SirH. Willoughby), that any expen diture could be incurred without its being submitted to the house. Any person who paid attention to the subject would see that in an expenditure of eight or ten millions it was hardly possible to measure the amount so accurately as that there should not be excess one way or other. The estimates were framed by the department some time before they were laid on the table. Sometimes at the end of the year there was a surplus, which was carried to the credit of the account at the Exchequer; sometimes there was au excess of ex penditure, which it was always necessaryto submit to Par liament. With regard to the particular excess incurred last year, he thought he would bo able to satisfy the house that it was hardly an excess of expenditure at all, although, technically, it came before the house in that shape. Last year, when the right hon. gentleman, the then first lord (Sir J. Graham) was moving the naval estimates, be re called to the recollection of the committee the great changes he had made in the administration of the Admiralty in 1830. These changes had effected an amount of adminis trative reform larger than had even been hinted at in mo dern days. Many parsers rega sl al the late Sir G. Cock burn as a great authority in naval matters, but it was a fact that every one of these improvements had been strenuously opposed by that gallant officer; amongst them was the introduction of a better system of accounts, and a system of bookkeeping by double entry, and from that the accounts of the naval expenditure had been most satisfactory. For 20 years of peace the system had worked without any difficulty, and it had hitherto borne the pressure put on it by the war. In point of fact, there tore, the item of 204,000/. for excess of expenditure ap peared in the-estimates; not because a greater sun had been expended than had been calculated on, but because owing to a better system of accounts a sum of near 300,0001., which in the ordinary course of things would have been defrayed in the course of the current year, had been carried into the accounts of the past. In the report, of the Accountant-General he refers most favourably to the change thus made, and to the exertions made by thw officers of ithe department Ito bring about this result, and the Commissioners of Audit corroborated his statement. So far, therefore, from any blame attaching to the officers of the department for this excess of expenditure, it arose from circumstances highly creditable to them. He was sure the hoe. member for Lambeth would be glad to learn that the public accounts were now kept in the same manner as those of the great =keen tile establishments. A great deal of the result ob tained was owing to a change recently made in the ?node of paying off ships on arriving in port. Formerly the books were sent up to London, and examined by an esta blishment of clerks from the Accountant-General and Pay master-General's offices. Considerable delay, therefore, took place before the men could be paid. Within the last two or three years the system has been changed, and the paymaster of each ship paid all the men belonging to her. When the Baltic fleet returned in 1854 and 1855, each ship was paid up as she same in : no complaints were made, no difficulty was experienced, and the men were Set.aelibetty either to go on leave or be transferred to other ships. The paymasters of the fleet deserved the highest praise for the manner in which they bad discharged the new and dif ficult duty devolved on them. Intimately connected with this subject was a further change which be proposed to make in the mode of payment at the dockyards. As the paymasters of the ships had been substituted for the pay clerks loom the Accountant-General's office, a great portion of the duties of the latter had been done away with, and he proposed to relieve , them 'alto gether, and recall them to London. In their jilaee he would substitute in each dockyard an officer to be tinned the accountant, who would pay the allotments and all the wages of the yard. This was now done b 7 the storekeeper. He thought it better they should be entirely disconnected with the monetary transactions of the yard. The new officer would be able to inquire into and check the deck yard accounts, which he feared at present were not checked as they ought to be, especially with regard to contract work.' He next came to the actual estimates for the year. As had been already stated they were framed on the supposition that the war would continue, for they were !prepared when the prospects of peace were net so favourable as at present. He believed they were perfectly right in presenting to the house a war estimate. (Sear, hear) As had been stated on the first night of the ses sion by his noble friend at the head •of the' govermeent, they did not propose to ask at ones the war estimates for the whole twelvemonth, but he hoped the house would sanction them for such a time as would cover the longest possible delay of the negotiations. The best security for pease was to show that they were rei . oy . fur the war. enemy I w If they showed vlaeansttde of b doubt, Le , th. tit be s least h e:I:n et:haton , ould take the ag kead if the negotiations for peace should fell, and the war pro ceed, they were prepared to carry it on as war wee never carried on before. He appealed with confidenc e to every not member of the committee , only to those who liadigiee u on all occasions n genero us support to the Government, - but to those who were most anxious for peace, because he believed this was the best way to secure peace and promote Although he 001.1 intended to propose a v o t e f or part of the the objects for which they were honest ly anxious. (Hear.) year, be begged' to remind the house that they must net flatter themselves with the hope that a very large reduce tion would be possible in the event of peace being made. If h e n. members would refer to the debate which took place in 1816, on the termination of the g reat war , they would find a very curious statement made by the then Secretary of the Admiralty, to the effect that at the termination of every war during the preceding century the estimates fur the first year of peace had beenlarger than for the last year of war. Although the system of paying the ships dose u p would diminish the increased' expenditure in the event of peace, yet there must be a greater expenditure than if the ships were continued in commission. (Hear.) The house would observe that there was an increase of 6,000 in the number of men to be voted. This involved an increase of 350,0001. in the vote for wages. This was principally owing to the increased number of men, but partly to an increase in the rate of pay. The hon. member for Lambeth had 7: ferred to the pay of the coast guards and riggers. No t as soon as the fleet was reduced these would be the s fi. o t n r" .. suns to return to their ordinary avocations; but a s seen every day, it would be meat unwise, and t _ ow, wen, on they required a large force, and wer e . nl u i t s af y destru ?• tive to the efficiency of the fleet to remov . . also an increased expenditure of the newly raised men. There. w on as of this was owing expenditure for the marines. A Port reign to a very ad . whose experience they depended for the training and disci to ,recruiting, but the more insportan , by increasing not the beenn rhe e number of that most w vi h sa ol t!e ilum change iz r oft the which e fhoarcL, but artillery The exper nience valuable branch of it, the b and wherever else it services it had rendereda itS m ost advisable to inc rease the b e proposed to take only a portion of nd the was en tployed, rendered they Ilad had of t d h is n a fo ls e r force during marin e n t il wi ir tioca n e e o t r gi gunners. Ares . ( o H n t e a w r a . : , w a numbe r of traine d e t The vote was for 3,200,0001. ; he propoie4.l t o it on a. sconn • of two millions only on account. The next vo to to take V‘,.<3 CO this there was a t • ing increase. The for —victuals. °t was dby the additional number of en was ha. ithrs mere. gani to the v lance( ldin some m easure by the dimini s h e d pr i ce of the art i cles. The elm ease on the ono side Was 1 20.000 e, but as there was a deduct ion for diminished cost of 60,0001., the set incireese was eel; 60,0001. On this vote he proposed to take a; mil lion on account. The house shOuld remember that the contract a for provisions were made early in the year ; these contract s could not be broken, so that even in the event _of peace, in uch diminution o f thi s vote could not be execte!l• Th e men t vote was for th e Ad m ir a lty department- H e di d not ' 03in k there could be any diminution in this vote, be cause, en if they h a d on ly to wind up the affairs, there seer .e an i mmense number of accounts and books o to he 010 ' ,He was moat anxious to get rid as soon of . the number of temporary clerks that crowded e the rooms, ely find eccommedation, a he could a Ad for whom they could afore LOCAL DUES ON SHIPPIN G• In answer to a question relative to this bill, Lord PALMERSTON said it was the intention of the Government to go on with the bill on the 25tb, if cireutnAancee permitted. __~--._ 551 6k i 81 97 S 101 1001 15i 69k i 50i 11 62 3i 25 f 6 9 1 t 9 108 25 37 i 121 49 4 1 g 10 St 26 13 20 8i 10 1.0. t IOsH 20 2) 5 28i 1 all all a n 1 126.1 1 20 10 10 1 10 10 92 3 Pin pni 12/ 1091 4 21 1 26i 5I 1081 27i 17J I 17 3 i I 141 15 2i 62i 3 20 20 10 10 2) 2) 50 10 5 5 20 10 100 3 i 100 I , X) 8 100 100 1.00 w ill 25 4f