The Sun. — London, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

Y tr phr t I, ri (EY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) lIARRINGTON PLATE. Little Tom Romeo Nine ran. SCARSDALE STAKES. Amorous Boy . Six-and-Eight-Pence Four ran. HURDLE RA-CE, Bandboy Beechnut 'SUN OFFICE, Seem o'Clock. DERBY RACES.—(This Day.) Nine ran. MIDLAND STEEPLECHASE. Hopeless Star Odibam Penelope Seven ran. Won by a neck. 2 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(This Evening.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE. Earl GREY gave notice that, in the Committee of Privileges on Friday next, he would move an amend ment to the motion of which notice had been given by Lord Lyndhurst. liis amendment was in effect to leave out all the words after the word " opinion," for the purpose of inserting these words, namely, " that the first legal authorities having concurred in declaring that the Queen had the power of creating peers for life, and that this power had been exercised frequently in former times, the House of Lards would not be justided in de• daring the patent creating Lord Wensleydale invalid, and that the noble and learned lord has therefore a right to take his seat in this house." The noble lord Haiti, in the event of the above amendment being agreed to, he would move the following resolutions, viz.:— "That though there have been several grants of peerages for life in the female line up to a comparatively recent period, there is no precedent found, up to a recent period, for the raising of a Commoner to the peerage for life. " That as the grant of a peerage for life is not supported by any reasonable precedent, it is expedient that a general role should not be applied, without the consent of Parlia ment, of anyprerogative of the Crown being exercised which cannot be shown to have been exercised except at very re mote periods of history. But having regard to all the cir cumstances of the present case, the House of Lords has properly abstained from expressing an opinion as to the grant of Lord Wensleydale of a peerage for life. " That the granting of peerages for life was peculiarly liable to abuse unless the exercise of the prerogative was guarded by some special regulations. " That it is important for this house to consider and de termine upon what steps ought to be adopted in order to prevent this grant of the Wensleydale peerage for life being drawn into a precedent in favour of life peerages generally, and in order to establish securities against the abuse of such creations if they should hereafter take place." Lord GLENELG gave notice that, on Thursday, lie would place upon the table of the house the terms of the amendment which he intended to move to the mo tion of Lord Lyndhurst. The Earl of DERBY gave notice that he would, on Thursday, put a question to the Government with a view of ascertaining the respective duties attaching to the respective offices of the Secretary of State for War and the Commander-in-Chief, and should move for the production of such reni)rts as may exist on the subject. VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATION. This bill was read a third time and passed. HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICES BILL. This bill was also read a third time and passed. METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL. This bill was also read a third time and passed. SUNKEN VESSELS. The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to put a question to her Majesty's Govermaent as to the state of the Russian vessels now sunk in the harbour of Sebastopol, and as to their intentions with respect to such vessels. He believed that it was not yet decided what was to be done with those vessels—whether it was in tended to raise or completely destroy them, Admiral Lyons was about to return to the Black Sea, and it was important that the matter should be attended to. The noble lord then referred to the facilities that were af forded for their total destruction by the possession of one side of the harbour. Lord PAN.IIURE reminded the noble lord that they were not yet in possession of the harbour of Sebastopol. The Russians always turned their guns against all those Who made their appearance in the harbour ; but the noble lord might rest perfectly assured that every means would be taken to effectually destroy all fortifications and con structions both above and beneath the water. It was only yesterday that he received the important intelli gence of the total destruction of Fort Nicholas. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COIVINONS—(This Evening.) The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. Petitions against the opening of the British Museum, National Gallery, and Crystal Palace on Sundays, were presented by Mr. Brotherton, Mr. W. Duncombe, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Buck, Mr. Wilcox, Mr. P. Urquhart, Colonel Freestun, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Walter, Mr.' Greene'', Mr. A. PeHatt, Mr. Spooner. Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Henley, Mr. Alex. Hastie, Mr. Had. field, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Ker Sevmer, Lord J. Rosell, the Marquis of Blandfurd, Sir B. Dering, and several other hon. members. Mr. W. J. FOX presented several petitions from planes in the metropolis in favour of opening the Crystal Palace and British Museum on Sundays. • Colonel FItEESTUN presented a petition, signed by the Mayor and upwards of two'thousand inhabitants of Melcombe Regis, against the opening of the Museum, National Gallery, and Crystal Palace on the Lord's day. Mr. GRA.NVILLE'BERKELEY presented a peti tion from a working man, praying that India might be divided into electoral districts, and return members to Parliament. ( Laugh ter.) Sir E. PERRY presented a petition from the son-in a s? of the late Nawab of Surat, complaining of the man ner in. - which the East 'lndia Company had dealt with the inheritance of the Nawab, and praying for inquiry and - redress. The hon. member proceeded to call the attention of the house t t the allegations contained therein. Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition, signed by 10,000 civil servants of the CroWn, prAying that the 10 ;11, 11th, and 12th secs. of the act of Wm. IV. he amended, that the Beale of pensions be revised, and that persons might be *permitted to retire from the pubic servipa after 30 years' service. The hon. 'inem'•;er said it was his inten tion to move that the paLition, be referred to a select committee. PRIVATE BUSINESS. . The following bills wera severally read a seentid time and ordered to be committed :—Antrua and Coleraine Roads ; British and American Great Railway Land Company • Donington Turnpik e T rust ; East Sorner4et Railway ; 2 kpsom and Leatherhead Railway Godley Lane Road ; Gravesend Impravement; Killarney Junc tion. Railway and Tralee arid Killarney Railway ; Llanid loes.and Newtown Railway ; Middlesbrough Extension and,lmprovevaent ; Morayshire Railway ; West Lou den,and, Crystal Palace Railway ; and Wimbledon and Croydon Railway. SUPPLIES FOR THE CAVALRY. Mr. J. FHRGUSSON gave notica that he should ask .the Secretary of War a question relative to the quality of the supply of saddlery, Sce., to:the German Legion. PURCHASE IN THE ARMY. Sir D. L. EVANS gave notice that on the 4th March he should submit a resolution relative to the. present system of purchase in the , army. THE BALTIC FLEET. Sir C. NA.PIER gave notice that on the 4th March he should call the attention of the house to the opera tions of the Baltic fleet in 1854 and 1855. BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETIES. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD moved for a return of the. total number ot Benefit Buildinz Societies enrolled under:- the Act 6 and 7 Will. 4, c. 32, since the passing of the act, sp ec if y i ng as to .-ach society enrolled since the Ist day of January, 1845, the name of such society, place of meeting, date of enrolment, and name and address of se cretary or manager.—Agreed to.. BANK CTIARTER ACT, Mr. B. LULL'S asked the Chancellor of the Ec. chequer whether, in, the event of the Government de ciding to renew the Bank Charter Act for another torm of years, he would, be prepared to introduce a olauee to continue in force the arrangeMent by which the DaTik of England agreed. to pay those private banks who con. seated to withdraw their pa.per circulation, per annum upon the a verage : issue of those 1 per cent. banks h t the three previoras years, aad to Continue the same so long as the othec private banks Were permitted to issue their paper. - The `JHANCELLOR of the EXOR EQUER said that the a n t i n ques tion would expir e s h ortly. Po 'rwers were, given to put an end to certain privileged of th o act on notice being given to that effict. These notices, lad ng.st been given. Until that be done it would remai Tv in torce. Its operation was limited till August nett. mi . efts previously renewed by the Legislature: WEST IND,L4. MAILS. On the motion of Mr. LINDSAY, a copy of met the from certain inhabitant's of British Guiana to o• Secreta ry o f State for the Colonies, complaining of t i rregularities in the conveyance of the mails between t his country and our West India possessions, and copies 01 any correspondence bearing upon it, was ordered. SIR JOHN 'NEIL'S REPORT. War whet herLo W GRAIIAM asked the U n d er S ocretanr "f or Sir J. 1 1'Neil's report was communic 3 ted to the authorities at the H orse Guards on its arrix lin induced the this country, Government and, if not, to Withhold reasons . - w Mr. F. PEEL said th a t two re h ports it had been r atlde by the Crimean Commissioners relating to the 13 :eras earde, which were dated i n London, and c Auld not therefore have been presented, immediately on the re turn of the commissioners. The second report related to the • THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19. 18 56, Commissariat which came under a branch of the sa.viee under Lord Panmure, and had not therefore been pre sented to the ricr3e Guardq. That was completel in January, and by Lord Panmure's orders were imme diately printed for circulation, and if any delay had oc curred between the presentation of the two reports it must have been inconsiderable. Col. NORTH asked the Under Secretary for War whether the whole of the reports of the commissioners had been published ? Mr. PEEL. said there was no intention on the part of the authorities to present the reports in any ether 1 form to the house. (Laughter.) Mr. ROEBUCK observed that that was no answer to the hon. and gallant gentleman's question. (Hear.) \ Lord W. GRAHAM gave notice that he should re peat the question to-morrow. Captain 23d Fusiliers, to be Lieutenant, vice Arkwrigbt, resigned ; Frederick John Graniille, G en t., t o be Ensign ; Frederick Blake, Gent., to be Ensign. Brocknock Royal Riffe Regiment of Militia—Lieutenant Arthur Wilks Ludlow Gompertz to be Captain, vica Breroton ' appointed Adjutant ; E ns i gn F re d er i c k G eorge Mogg to be Lieutenant, vice Gumpertz, promoted. 11,yal Perthshire Rifle Militia—Ensign Warham St. Leger Denim to be Lieutenant, vice Condie, promoted. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT the whole system, than the transfer of the business of that 1 - court.tp the Court of Chancery. He believed that the In cumbered Estates Court must be retained for a time, and that the Government would have to give way on that • point. The hon. gentleman then referred to the reforms in the Court of Chancery four years ago, which elope pre vented that court from being swept away, and which had waked so well that the Court of Chancery was fast ap proaching to perfection, for bath causes and appeals were heard with great expedition. lie should be glad to see the same machinery applied to the Court of Chancery in Ireland, and therefore it would be with reluctance he should oppose the second reading of this bill. Seine of the provisions of the bill were most extraordinary, and especially those which proposed to give the patronage of the officers of the judges to the Lord-Lieutenant—that is, to the Government of the day. It had been found to be of the greatest possible advantage in this country that the Master of the Rolls and the Vice-Chancellors should have the choice of their own officers, while if the choice were left in the hands of the Government fitness would not lee the only thing considered. Again, he objected to the provision declaring that the chief clerks should be barristers, and not solicitors, as in England ; and he was afraid that arose from the question of pa tronage again. He also objected to the Court of Chan cery being made a great conveyancing machine, with out reference to whether estates were incumbered or not, which would require a machinery consisting of as many conveyancing couns e l as th ere wou ld * be clerks in the court. In the difficulty in which he was placed he could only hope that the Solicitor-Ge reral for Ireland would accept the suggestion which had been made for sending this bill, as well as those of the hon. and learned member for Euniskillen, to a se lect committee. Unless that course was pursued he (Mr. MalMs) must reluctantly vote against the second read ing of the bill. Mr. H. HERBERT supported the second reading of the bill, on the ground that it was recommended in a re port which was sanctioned by Sir J. Romilly, the author of the Incumbered Estates Court Act, which had been so beneficial to Ireland, and of which he (Mr. Herbert) had been one•of the warmest supporters. He thonght that when the principle of the Incumbered Estates Court had effected so much good in the cases of estates which had been incumbered, the same advantage and simplicity of transfer should be applied to unincumbered estates. Mr. CAIRNS said that if the reasons which actuated the commissioners in making the recommendations con tained in the report were not capable of being made clear and satisfactory to the members of the houle generally, there was to reason why they should commend them selves to the house, or why the house should adopt the views which the commissioners took of the question. The commissioners began by endeavouring to procure every kind of information with regard to the matters on which they had to form an opinion. After taking that evidence the commissioners called a meeting here, at which they had the assistance of SirJ. Romilly, to whom the Incumbered Estates Court in a great measure owed its existence, of Mr.Longfield, and Mr. Blackburn, who perhaps was more conversant with matters pertaining to the improvement of Ireland than any man living. They all agreed that the Incumbered Estates Court did infinite benefit. (Hear.) It was made quite clear to them that landlords obtained a better market for their land through I the instrumentality of that court than they could else where. The commissioners therefore came to The con clusion that the court could not be abolished, but that, on the contrary, it was necessary for the welfare of Ire land; and expedient for Great Britain at large, that it should be continued; But they did not stop there, for they had to consider whether its powers should not be extended, because it was shown to them that though the Incumbered EStates Court could do everything with re gard to the sale, there were other matters which were not within the jurisdiction of the court, and which it was necessary to send to the Court of Chancery or a court of common law for adjudication. They also found that the Incumbered Estates Court carried on its business in an obscure street in Dublin, where the suitors could not have that complete professional aid which they might desire. They therefore recommended that the situation of the court should he removed. They were next told by the Incuinbered Estates Commissioners themselves that their staff was insufficient, and therefore it would be necessary to add considerably to the staff of the court. Having, then, come to the conclusion that the court was to be retained, that a new situation and premises were to be provided . , that an increased staff was to be found, ill of which would require legislation and expenditure, they had next to consider this further question, why the powers of the court should not be extended to the sale of unincumbered as well as to incumbered estates. The com plaints on this head reached the commissioners from vari ous parts and in the most unmistakeable manner. -His bon. and learned friend the member for Enniskillen challenged any to prove that estates had been incum bered with fictitious incumbrances fit the purpose of having them sold in the Incumbered Estates Court. Of course any person who did so would not be candid enough to tell it, or to give the circumstances of the case, but there was plenty of evidence from professional men to show that such things had been done. If it were material no doubt the names and circumstances could be obtained; but even if no such cases existed, there was no reason for not extending the powers of the court to min cumbered estates, if it was right in itself. He would put the following case :—An estate worth 100,000/ , which was incumbered to one-half its value, was sold, and the court, after distributing the 50,000/. to the in , cumbrancers, ascertained the title of the owner, and gave him the other 50,0001., and there the matter ended. Why should not the court have the power of dealing with an unincumbered estate worth 100,000/. as it dealt with the 50,000/, which remained alter the sale of the incumbered estate worth also 100,000/. (Hear, hear.) That was the whole question. Supposing they gave these extended powers to the Incumbered Estates Court, and brought it by the side of the Court of Chan cery, the result would be; that they would have two Courts of ChanceryeetheeCourt of Chancery with the powers of the Incumbered - Estates Court, and the In cumbered Estates Court with all the powers of the Court of Chancery. (Hear, hear.) There was no necessity for two courts of the same kind; and the whole question was, whether they could make the Court of Chancery as cheap and as expeditious as the Incumbered Estates Court. He believed it could be so made. He therefore would vote for the second reading of the bill. Two of the objections made to that principle he had already answered. With regard to the third, which was made by the hon. member for Horsham, Namely, that this bill went on the principle of an exceptional legislation for Ireland, which he deprecated, whatever value might be in that objection, it was now too late, for it should have been made when the Incumbered Estates Court was pro posed. But whatever fairness there might be in this ob. jection, coming from the hon. member for Horsham, it was hardly fair in the mouth of his hon, and learned friend the member for Enniskillen, who had himself a bill on the table which went on the principle of exceptional legislation for Ireland. He would now say a few words with regard to the details of the bill. With regard to the amount of arrears in the Incumbered Estates Court, it was difficult to know howeto deal with that question, and it deserved the consideration of a committee of the house. He also thought tl)at some means should be pointed out in the bill providing for the existing staff of the court. It was the duty of the house to see that the transfer of the staff, if it should take place, should be effected in the most judicious mariner. 'With regard to the question of appeal, the same objection which was taken by his hon. and learned friend might be taken to the appeal which existed in England, where there was an appeal front the Vice-Chancellor to the Lord Chancellor and to the Lord Justices, who were generally but two in number, and therefore there was a possibility of one judge having an opinion opposite to that of his brother judge. The next question, though one of detail, was the most impor tant and transcendent of all, viz., that which hod refer ence to the appointment of the chief clerks under the new judges. It was most important, in his opinion, that the judges 'who were to be responsible for the winking of the court should have the appointment of the chief clerks. That was the recommendation of the cominis• sioners, and it was contained in the bill of last year. In the present bill, however, the appointment was placed in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant. He trusted that the Government would not press this part of their measure, but if they did he hoped it would be rejected by the house. (Hear.) The ipialifieations laid down in the bill for the office of Vice.Chancellcr would exclude Mr. Hargrave, ono of the judges of the Incumbered Estates Court, who was said to have performed his duties in the most satisfactory manner. (Hear, hear.) He thought the bill should he altered in this re spect also. These matters of detail were important, anal he did not think they could be satisfactorily considered in a committee of the whole house. During the discus sion, different reasons had been assigned for disagreeing with several parts of the bill, and he thought that these several opinions should be. represented on a select com mittee, with the view; if possible, of reconciling them. Mr. G. M. BUTT said the details of the bill required great alteration in his opinion ; but as he agreed in its principle, he should vote fir the second reading. He hoped it would be allowed to go to a select committee, along with Mr. Whiteside's bills, which contained many provisions that might be advantageously incorporated with the bill. This course would in reality be a saving of time ; for with the numerous objections raised to the bill before the house, it must undergo considerable al teration before it cauld pass. In one important parti cular the recommendation of the commission had not been followed. ThThey recommended that the chief clerks and others should be appointed by the judges, and without this, it was impossible for the system to work well. This bill proposed to give these appointments to the Lord-Lieutenant. He D e emed with the propriety of extending the provisions of the Incumbered Estates Court to estates not incumbered ; but great care was necessary in making this extension of jurisdiction. It would be a great boon, both to the people of Ireland and of England, to establish some means of giving a Parlia mentary title to property ; but he did not think the pro visions of this bill would suffice for the purpose. That was another reason why he wished the bill to be referred to a select committee. Sir E. PERRY said this bill related to a subject with which he bad been brought much int o contact, the pro per formation of ajurisdiction which should dispense jus tice in a cheap and summary manner. He was convinced that the principle of the bill, the transfer of the jurisdiction of the Incumbered Estates4Court to the Court of Chancery in Ireland, was a sound one. Objection bad been taken to the way in which the patronag'b was proposed to be dis pensed. From : va his s great,b experience could say h in dispensing t atthere a judicial sno such pa tronage,ur judicial system as th e attr ib ut i on o f t h at blo t which o o patronage to the occupants of the bench. This led to the mischievous creation of fees, and the unwillingness of the judges to interfere with the cabers appointed by them selves. There were numerous instances in India of im proper appointments being made by the judges. He thought it one of the best preViSions of the bill to take these appointments from the judges, and give them to the executive government. If a judge made an improper appointment —say his own son, a'boy of 21 perhaps—to HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(ZESTPRDAY.) COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND.) (Continued from our third Edition of last NI'!"la.) Mr. CAIRNS entreated the Louse not to be led away by flattering descriptions of the reformed Court of Chan cery in Ireland, to abolish the Incumbered Estates Court which had had such beneficial results in the coun try. He should advise that the jurisdiction cf this court should be extended to unincumbered estates. Mr. WHITESIDE said he was in this predicament with respect to the bill, that he believed it to be impos sible of execution through the medium of the Court of Chancery unreformed, or reformed as was proposed by this bill. Since the last time he had addressed the house he had been in Ireland, and found it to be the opinion of the whole legal profession in that country that the working of the bill would be impossible. There were still 1,600 estates, valued at sixteen or seventeen mil lions of money, remaining for adjudication in the Incum bered Estates Court, and three millions of money to be distributed, showing that there was a great deal of diffe rence between the rapid sale of property and the proper distribution of the proceeds afterwards. He believed that although the court had effected sales with great ra pidity, the distribution of the funds would net give en tire satisfaction. It was the opinion of the whole bar that the Court of Chancery could not dispose of these ar rears ; the attorneys thought the same ; and he had a letter from the Master of the Rolls expressing a similar opinion. The Master pointed out that th• bill pro pcsed to do with four judges the amount of work now done by nine. The Master also said that the business might be done witti the staff proposed, bnt certainly not if the arrears were to be thrown on the new eourts. He (Mr. Whiteside) objected to this bill as a job, the object of which was to oust all the officers of the Court of Chancery and fill their places with the officers of the Incurnbered Estates Court, and that with that view it was proposed to deprive the judges of the right of nomination, and to lodge it with her Majesty's admi nistrator. Another objection to the bill was the want of a satisfactory court of appeal, without which, it was the opinion et the whole Irish bar, the but could never give satisfaction. He begged also to point out that one object of the bill was to make the Court of Chancery a great conveyancing machine for the whole of Ireland. Any mau possessed of property might, aithongh owing no money, go into the Court of Chancery and get a new title to his property without any expense, the court having, at the expense of the country, to do all the work of a conveyancer. If the proposal were persisted in, of referring the bill to a committee of the whole house, he must give bis vote against the second reading. Mr. - .T. O'BRIEN was of opinion that all the faults which had been found to the bill were faults of detail, while its principle was well worthy the consideration of the house. That principle was, to maintain the system of Parliamentary title, which had already produced such good effects in Ireland. If that system was to be persevered in in the case of incumbered estates, there would be gross injustice in withholding it from estates that were not incumbered ; and as to the disposal of arrears, that was merely a question of detail. He could ssnre the house that if two estates of equal value in every other respect were for sale, one with a Parliamen tary title an'l one without, the former would fetch three or four years' purchase more than the latter. If,then, it was admitted that Parliamentary titles would be an advantage to incumbered as well as unincumberad estates, the Court of Chancery would be necessary to inquire into questions of title. It had been objected that the Court of Chancery had got in'o such t a I repute in Ireland, that they ought not to be entrusted with new powers ; but were they prepared to abolish that court, or to refuse the reforms contemplated by the bill, and which were not mere expe riments, but alterations framed upon the model of the reforms which hal Lean carried out in this country ? It was proposed to abolish the office of masters in chancery, and to institute a tribunal similar to the Vice-Chancellors' . Courts. But it was a mere matter of detail whether the existing masters were to be male vice-chancellors, or whether new vice-chancellors should be appointed. If at this moment all the arrears were thrown upon these two vice chancellors, he admitted that it would be al most impossible to dispose of the business. But those arrears would not come at once. If it did, that was a mere matter of detail ; and if the Incu►nbered Estates Court were continued for the purpose of working up the arrears, he saw no reason why the delay should take place which the opponents of the present measure anti cipated. The business of the I❑cumbered Estates Court was decreasing ; formerly, upwards of 1,200 petitions had been presented in one year, while in 1854 only 372 petitions were presented. He saw no reason, therefore, to fear, if the proposed court were relieved from the ar rears, that they would not be competent to the transac tion of all future business. Then with regard to the ex tension of the juri:dicticn to unincumber,d estates, it was impossible to carry out the system of giving Parlia mentary titles in Ireland, unlebs the principle was ex tended to all property, for which purpose this bill was necessary. The constitution of the Court of Appeal was a mere matter of detail, which might be arranged in committee, as was the case with most of the other objec tions which had been raised. The question now was whether, considering tee admitted necessity for legisla tion—considoi ing, also, that this hill involved no new principle, and that it had the unanimous support of the Commission, the house was prepared to adopt the ex treme course suggested by the hon. member for Horsham. Mr. GEORGE admitted that they ought not to refuse a second reading to the bill merely because they objected to certain of the details. In many respects the series of bills proposed by tLe hon. and learned member for En niskillen were identical with the Government measure, and he suggested that the better course would be to refer them all to a select committee. If that were done, he should vote for the second reading ; if not, he should oppose it. He thought the Incumbered Estates Court should be continued until it bad disposed of its own ar rears, and objected especially to the clause which gave power to the new tribural to sell unincutnbered estates, which he considered a most dangerous principle, and one that mould give rise to bald. He was also for retaining the existing !neaten, under the altered name of ViC3- Chancellors, instead of appointing a new daft of officers and imposing a cha-ge upon the country for retiring allowances. He preferred the Court of Appeal, as sug gested by the hon. and learned member for Enniskillen, to that proposed in the Government bill. Col. DUNNE would vote against the second reading of this bill, not because ho desired the Incumbered Es tates Court to be continued, but because he desired that it should determine finally and altogether at the period fixed by the existing act. This was a measure put for ward upon the ground of expediency. He objected to expediency as a principle of legislation, believing it to have been the cause of most of the calamities which had been inflicted upon the country. It was expediency which had driven us into the present war, and it was expe diency which had occasioned all the failures and mis takes which had marked its progress. Ho objected to the proposal for compensating the officers of the Ineum bored Estates Court, by transferring them to the Court of Chancery, leaving the present officers of that court, who were quite equal to their duties, chargeable to the country for retiring allowances. He believed the work ing of the Incumbered Estates Court by forcing sales had not only deteriorated the value of Irish property, but had been the main cause of those murders which had resulted from the endeavour of the purchasers to dispossess the tenants in order to make the most of their property. Mr. BLAND would vote for the second reading. All concurred that the jurisdiction of the In cambered Estates Court should not be perpetuated, and this, ho thought, was the hest time for infusing its jurisdiction into the Court of Chancery. He acquiesced in many of the objec tions which had been advanced, but an they were mere matters of detail they ought not to affect the vote upon the second reading. He was of opinion that the existing court ought to wind up its own business, and that the new tribunal should not be incumbered with the arrears. Mr. FRENCH denied that the Incumbered Estates Court was popular in Ireland, as had been stated ty some hon. members. He thong ht there was much farce in the observation of the hon. member for Enniskillen, that when the Incumbered Estates Court was established the greater proportion of the business with which it bad to deal had already been under process of investigation in the Court of Chancery, and so for a time the proceed ings of the Incumbered Estates Court went on speedily; but now it wee clear that the business was at a dead lock. Still, on the whole, he was not so enamoured of the Incumbered Estates eed in itself as to oppose the second reading of the bill of the Solicitor-General. Mr. M‘MAHON said this question had been treated as if it was one which concerned lawyers and landowners only ; but he wished to treat it as one which concerned the people of Ireland ; and looking at it in that point of view, he urged that everything which tended to make land cheap, and to facilitate the transfer of land, would he for the good of the people of Ireland, and ought to be adopted. He could not conceive how this measure could tend to that object. He objected to making the Court of Chancery a permanent conveyancing establish ment. He contended that it would be better to adopt measures for the removal of impediments to the transfer of land, such as abolishing judgments against land and entails, and establishing a county registry of the trans fers of land. The Appeal Court in Ireland which it was proposed to erect under the bill he thought was an unnecessary expense, and that as all lawyers in Ireland practised both in law and equity, the Court of Exche quer Chamber would constitute the best court of appeal from the decisions of the Court of Chancery. Mr. MALINS said lie was placed in a difficulty with reference to the course he ought to take on the second reading of a bill of much of which he approved, of much of which he disapproved. He agreed in the provision creating two Vice-Chancellors, and that which abolished the Masters in Chancery, and that which constituted a Court of Appeal ; though he objected to that court con sisting of only two judges, for be thought all courts of appeal should consist of three judges. There was, how ever, an improvement in the bill on the practice in Eng land of allowing appeals to go from a single judge to an other single judge. He objected to that system in Eng land, and he knew that the Solicitor-General for Eng land agreed with him in that respect, and ales in another objection he had to the practice which now pre vailed of some appeals being heard by two judges and others by only one judge ; and he hoped his hon. and learned friend would support that provision of the bill. He (Mr. Aldine) also approved of the discontinuance of the Incumbered Estates Court at some time or other. The other objects of the bill were, he thought, open to objection. If there was the arrear in the Incumbered. Estates Court which had been stated, he thought nothing would be more unwise, or more calculated to break down a responsible situation for which he was not fit, no one thought of attacking the judge ; but the case was very different if such an appointment were inacle by the Ext.:. cutive Government. The experienoe of the last 20 years ha I fully established two principles—that officers of the courts should not be paid by fees, and that their appoint inc,nts should rest with the Executive Government, and not with the judges. Mr. KENNEDY said the profession had had great reason to complain of the inconvonicnt situation of the Incuwbered Estates Court. They might well complain when they were called on to attend at two distant places at one and the same time. (A laugh.) The result had been to give a monopoly to some few members of the profession. He objected,to the transfer of the mass of business transacted in these courts to the Court of Chan- eery, already overburdened. He would empower the Court of Chancery to deal with the unincumbered estates, but would retain the powers of the existing Incumbered Estates Court with regard to incumbered estates. Every argument of the Solicitor-General for Ireland had in reality gone in favour of the continuance of the Incum bered Ei;tates Court. Unless the Government would con- sent to these bills going before a select committee, he should oppose the second reading. Mr. T. O'BBIEN said he should support the second reading of the bill, believing that the Incumbored Estates Court had worked well, and required to be extended in its operation. If the trills were referred to a select com mittee they would. be delayed till the end of the session, and then probatly abandoned. The great object was to give a Parliamentary title to persons purchasing pro psrty ; and the difference between this bill and that of Mr. ‘Vhite:lde was merely one of detail. It would be ea,y to incorporate the valuable provisions of the two bills in one, when the house went into committee upon than. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD said he found there were many opponents to the bill ; but, as their opposition rested on totally different grounds, one might be set off against the other. The arguments of the hon. and learned member for Enniskillen, might be Bet off against those of the hon. member for Horsham, and so of the others ? On one point the house bad agreed with a soli- tar/ exception, that there should be a continuance of the system of the Incumbered Estates Court, the exception being the hon. member for Portatlingten (Colonel Dunne). The solitary objector to the principle of the Incumbered Estates Courc was the lion. and gallant gentleman opposite (Colonel Dunne), who had certainly been most consistent in his opposition. Indeed he told the house that all the murders which had taken place in Ireland had been caused by the commission. (Laughter.) Colonel DUNNE demurred to this account of his ob- servations. Mr. FITZGERALD—At all events, to judge from the hon. and gallant gentleman's speech, the way in which he would determine the existence of the court would be by hanging the three commissioners. (Laughter.) The most popular objection to the bill, however, was the provision it proposed to make for transferring the juris diction of the court to the Court of Chancery. Now, when Sir J. Romilly (then the Solicitor-General) introduced the measure in 1849 it was put forth as an experiment. The original bill being one for three years expired in 1852 ; and in the March of that year, Lord Derby, who was then in office and who had been asked in another plane what were his intentions with respect to the court, stated that the Lord Chancellor for Ireland was direct. ing his attention to the simplification of the procedure in Chancery, with a view to see whether it might not have the functions of the Incumbered Estates Court engrafted upon it. In the same year the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Napier) expressed an opinion that the true mode of reforming the Incumbered Estates Court would be to reform the Court of Chancery, and to transfer the juris diction to it. A similar opinion was expressed by many other gentlemen of great authority. At that time the procedure in Chancery was by bill end answer. The court required every person, however remotely interested, to be made a party to each stilt : the system of masters, as well as that of charge and discharge, were in force, and, in a word, there was such a long tissue of circumstances leading to delay that a suit might be considered as almost interminable. In 1849, then, the Court of Chancery was not able to do the work of the Incumbered Estates Court, for when the final decree was made the litigation had only just commenced. Thus, in 1802, Lord Redesdale gave judgment in a ease of property which was not finally sold till 1852. (Hear.) But since 1849 how great had been the change. The Court of Chancery had, in the first place, been eased by the Incumbered Estates Court, which had disposed of eight or nine hundred causes in which the Court of Chancery itself could not have sold the property. In the following year, however, Sir J. Romilly introduced a large measure of Chancery reform. The system of bill and answer was replaced by the easy and expeditious mode of petition and affidavit. The re sult had been that from the paseiug of the act in 1850 to the end of last year the court had disposed of no fewer than 680 causes, every one of which had been begun and eided before the Lord Chaec:ellor hienstlf. Besides those, 176 causes bad been disposed of under the old system of ' bill and answer. It would still further illustrate the improvement if he (the hon. gentleman) were to state the average period of the first thirty causes which had been heard under the new system in Trinity Term, 1854. Of those 30 oases 10 had been begun and disposed of within 3 months, 15 within 5 months, and 24 within 10 months, the remaining 6 having occupied a longer period. Now compare this with what had been the case with the 176 causes with respect to which the old procedure bad not been departed from. Of those causes 12 had been disposed of in Trinity Term, 1854, and in these the suits had averaged a length of seven years and a half, and some of them had lasted 13 or 14 years each. (gear.) The Government new proposed to extend the:refoine still further. They prepeeed to abolish the system of Masters in Chancery —(hear)—and to make it imperative open the judge who had a cause in charge never to let it pass from under his control • but if he empleyeOis chief clerk, it should be under his own eye. (Cheers.) They proposed to put an end to all technicalities and to all ejections arising from want of parties to the Suit, from the death of sui tors and everything of that kind. In short, if the bill were carried, he would undertake to say that the Irish Court of Chancery would be the cheapest, the simplest, and the most expeditious tribunal in the land. Indeed, in its present condition, they might got a right decided in it more rapidly and at less expense than they could in a court of common law. They need not, therefore, hesitate to entrust it, when yet further reformed, with the jurisdiction of the Incumbered Estates Court. (Hear, hear.) He (the hon. gentleman) had just received a letter from the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, stating that by the conclusion of the term both he and the Master of the Rolls would have cleared off all their arrears, (Hear, hear.) It was sometimes asked why an unincumbered proprietor should not be placed in the same position as the iucumbered one t He (Mr. Fitzgerald) could see no reason why ho should not, and he proposed, therefore, in conformity with the weightiest possible authorities, both in the profession and out of it, to give the proprietors of non-Incumbered property exactly the same privileges as had been accorded to suitors in the 'numbered Estates Court. The real question was, in truth, not whether that curt should be made perpetual, but whether they should have two Courts of Chancery. (gear.) The considerations he had just pointed out to the house were those which had influenced the commissioners in coming to the conclusion that, although the sys tem should be continued, it would be extremely injuri ous to the public interest that a separate tribunal should be kept up instead of the jurisdiction being transferred to one of the established courts. The bon. and learned member for Enniskillen had spoken of the job, and the gross job, to be perpetrated by the bill. The clause he characterise I as the biggest job that had ever come be fore the house was that which provided the chief clerks should be appointed by the executive instead of by the judges. This was a departure from the bill of last year, but the object was to procure as efficient a staff as pos sible to secure the proper working of the bill. It de prived the masters, examiners, and all the officials of the Incumbered Estates Court of their offices, and the clause would enable the executive to appoint them to the new situations to be created. Any appointment made by the executive would be subject to the control of Parliament, but a judge was responsible to no person for any ap pointment made by him. The hoe. and Isarned member for Enniskillen bad referred to the 19th clause, which provides that the clerks shall be either barristers, soli. citors, or persons who have been masters' examiners, or masters, or secretary of the Incumbered Estates Court ; he (Mr. Fitzgerald) confessed that he was alone respon sible for that clause. The officers of the Incunthered Estates Court had given proof of their efficiency, and he he wished, therefore, to make them eligible for the new offices. The hon. and learned member for Enniskillen said the object was to provide for a particular indivi dual ; such was not the case ; he could not even i magine who was the person referred to. The hon, and learned member said the bill was impracticable ; it proposed to transfer to the Court of Chancery the whole mass of busi ness of the Incumbered - Estates Court, and the result must be that the whole would get clogged up. There was, indeed, a large accumulation of business in the court of the commissioners, but the delay was in many instances owing to the masters themselves ; and he felt confident that two vice-chancellors, starting with an efficient staff, would soon (dear it off. In point of fact the business was now done by two, as the third commissioner, Baron Richards, only sat in the full court, A complaint was made that he had not consulted the Master of the Rolls in reference to this measure. He could only say that he sent his lordship a copy of the bill last July, but from that time he had not received any communication from him. One officer had suggested that his salary should be raised, but he had not received a single suggestion for the public good from any quarter. He was responsible for the frame the bill hal assumed ; but in all its principles, and in all its details, with two exceptions, it was founded on the re commendations of the commissioners. He had volunteei ed to prepare a bill founded on these recommendations, and his only object had been to introduce one that would tend to secure the public benefit. He was ready to receive suggestions as to the details, and would have no objec tion to refer the bill to a select committee. He would not consent, however, that it should be referred along with the five bills of the hon. and harned member for Ennis killen. They were se diametrically opposite that, if re ferred to one committee, none of them would ever emerge. Theshen. and learned member for Enniskillen, in his speech on the first reading, bad stated that the books and papers of the lucutnbered Estates Court were in the greatest confusion. He (Mr. Fitzgerald) lead re ceived letters from the accountant-general and the secre tary distinctly denying that assertion. Mr. NAPIEft said it was impossible for him to con sent to the second reading of this bill, if the Government refused to allow the bills of the hon, and learned member for Enniskillen to go to a select committee. The object of all the bills was the same ; it wag to secure facility of transfer and security of title in the sale of estates, and the best course for the house to adopt would be to refer all the bills to one and the same select committee. At all events, if the house passed this bill in its present shape, the whole question of Chancery and Incumbered Estates Reform MASTERS AND OPERATIVES. Mr. MACKINNON moved for a select committee to consider the inconvenience now felt in the country from the want of equitable ttibunals, by whose means any difference between masters and oper atives might be satisfactorily adjusted. The hon ourable member enlarged on the injurious effects strikes amongst workmen had entailed, both to the em ployer and the employed, and said he considered this a question well deserving the oonsideration of the house. He thought much good would result from the house establishing an equitable tribunal, presided over by a person appointed by the executive, to which workmen and masters might appeal when disagreements took place between them. The motion having been seconded, Sir G. GREY said there could be no objection to such an inquiry, to be conducted with a view to the objects for which the Conseils des P rudltommes were esta blished, but which he thought the bon. member did not perfectly understand. That was for dealing with exist ing contracts, and not for the purpose of regulating contracts to be made. _ _ Mr. MACKINNON said that was the object he had in view.—Agreed to. STATUTES AT LARGE. Mr. L. KING moved the following resolution : " That there be prepared, under the direction of the clerk of the Parliaments, an edition of the statutes at large, for the use of this house, in- cluding all public general statutes and parts of statutes in force, and omitting all such statutes and parts of statutes as are expired or have been expressly repealed ; and that, in the place of the statutes or parts of statutes repealed, there be inserted the titles of the statutes re pealed, the respective numbers and abstracts of the clauses repealed, with a reference in the margin to the statutes by which they are repealed. This ques tion was now making great progress, and he doubted not but that the motion would be acceded to. Ha then referred to the complaints made of a wait of a consolidation of the statutes in his time by Lord Bacon and by Sir E. Coke, and by Lord llardwicke. In the reign of George 11. there were but six quarto volumes of statutes, instead of as now 40 volumes. In the reign of George 111. 6,053 statutes, public and pri vate were passed ; in that of George IV. 1,066; in that of William IV. 6,731, and dining the first sixteen years of her present Majesty's reign, 1364 ; making a total of 10,561 from the time of Lord Hardwicke to the present period, and he was not aware that the lawyers of the present day were so far advanced above the learned men he had referred to as to be able to comprehend the numerous statutes that now existed better than the above celebrated men, who had so few statutes, in comparison, to deal (Hear, hear.) He then referred to the opinions of some of the lawyers of the present day in favour of a consolidation of the statutes, and of Mr. G, Wilmore, in his work, " Confusion Worse Confounded ; or, The Statutes at Large." He compared our statutes with the written laws of France, which were to be purchased from 7d, to 11s., whilst ours wou!d cost 1001. In the United States similar evils to that complained of had been got rid of, and the laws of those States had been consolidated in less than two years. In this country the Government said they bad not time to do it. The Statute Law Commissioners did not appear desirous of doing it, and what he proposed was that it should be done by the Clerk of the Parliaments, and afterwards authenticated by Parliament. Mr. EWART seconded the motion and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) DESTRUCTION OF FORT NICHOLAS, (Front the Gazette of this Eeening.) WAR DEPARTMENT, FEB. 19. Lord Nomura has received a Daspatch, of whieh the following is a copy, addressed to his Lordship by Gan. Sir W. Codrington, K.C.B. Sebastopol, Feb. 4. My Lord,—Marshal Pelissier informed me a few days ago that this day Fort Nicholas would be destroyed ; and ho again sent to say that at one o'clock p.m. the mines for this purpose would be fired. The view over the whole harbour is well obtained from the interior slope of the Redan Hill, and from other points within the Russian lines. • The day was magnificently clear ; every sentry on the opposite side could be seen, every working party watched, every soldier that was lounging in. the sun ; occasional shot and shell wore sent from the enemy to the I_C.ars.b,l - and the town, but otherwise nothing disturbed the usual appearance of quiet, almost of desolation. Oa our (the south) side, we looked down on the largo ruined barracks in front, on the inner crock of the Dock yard, the Quay, and the remaimar of • Fort Paul, the spa cious inlet from the harbour on our left, beyond which stands the roofless buildings of Sebastopol itself. Time also is the well-remembered long line of pointed arches, the casetnates of the interior of Fort Nicholas, of which the embrasures in double tier pointed to seaward and away from 11F. It juts out into the harbour built on an inner tongue of land; Fort Constantine forming a similar but more out ward defence for the sea approach on the north. The scene and feeling of expectation were of great in terest, for another tangible proof of power and success was to. take place, and 106,0)01bi. of powder were in the seve ral mines. At the hour named a burst of smoke, dark and thick, rolled from our left of the building ; it was followed by another the heavy sound arrived, the stones were shot into the air and to the sea ; the explosions of the extreme right and the centre mingled at little intervals into one drifting cloud, which veiled the destruction below. The right of the sun played beautifully on the mass of smoke, of which the lower part lay long and heavily on its victim. The breeze passing it away over the remains of the town, showed that a long line of ruin was all that re mained of the pride of Port _Nicholas, and one standing menace of the harbour lay buried under its waters. The state of the docks - has bean given in detail in my letters. They are all destroyed, whilst the earth sur rounding them is shaken into '.cracks ; basin, docks, masses of broken granite, capstans, gates; beams of iron, and of timber are tumbled into one mass of destruction.— I have, &o. W. J. CODRINGTON, General Commanding. The Lord Pearenre, &c. LONDON GAZETTE—(This Evening.) BUCKINGHAM YALICE, FEB. 12 This day had an audience of her Majesty :—The 13aron do Hochschild, Eniov Extraordinary :sal Minister Pleni potentiary from the King of Sweden and Norway, accorn• panted by the Count Bjornstierna, Chamberlain of his Swedish and. Norwegian Majesty, to deliver a letter from his S)vereign, announcing that ho had conferred his order of the Seraphim upon his Royal Highness Prince Albert. To which he was introduced by the Earl of Clarendon, K.G., her Majesty's secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Major-General the Hon. Sir Edward Cast, K.C.H., her Majesty's M titer of the Ceremonies. WHITEHILL, FEB. 19. _ The Queen has been pleased to give and grant unto Ad miral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.B , her Majesty's royal licence and permission that he may accept and wear , the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy, which the King of Sardinia hath - been pleased to confer upon him, as a mark of his Majesty's approbation of his emi nent services before the enemy during the present war, and that he may enjoy all the rights and privileges there unto belonging. The Queen has also been pleased to give and grant unto Liontenant-General Sir Richard England, G.C.8., her Majesty's royal licence and permission that he may accept and wear the Imperial Order of the Modjidie of the First Class ; unto Lieutenant-Colonel John Lintorn Arabia Simmons, C. 8., and Major John Hardman Burka, her Majesty's royal licence and permission that they may ac cept and wear the Third Class of the same Order, which the Sultan hath been pleased to confer upon them respec tively, as a mark of his Imperial Majesty's approbation of their distinguished services before the enemy daring the present war, and that they may enjoy all the rights and privileges thereunto belonging. BOA.E.D OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, FEB. 18. The Right Honourable the Lords of. the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, en closing copy of a French Imperial Law, firing the duties upon the importation into France. of exotic resins, as follows : In French ships—From countries out of Europe, fcee; from the entrepots, 8 francs per 100 kilos. In foreign vessels, 13 francs per 103 kilos. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, FEB. 18. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council :for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a Despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Pans, enclosing copy of a French imperial Law, fixing the duty upon the importation of hydrochlorato, or muriato of potass, into France at 15 francs the WO kilogrammes. COMMISSION SIGNED BY THE QUEEN. East York Regiment of Militia— Captain John William Fleming Sandwith, late of the Bomb a y A rm y, t o b a Pay master, from the 15th November, 1855, whose appoint- Ment, dated 2d November, has been cancelled, vice Wes terby, deceased. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD-LIEUTENANTS. County of Northumberland —Thomas William Charles Riddell, E s q., to be Deputy Li eu t enant. Northumberland Regiment of Militia—Alex. Browne, Esq. (late Captain and Adjutant), to b e Major. County of .Dorset—Charles James Radelyile, Esq., to be Deputy. Lieutenant. Dorset Regiment of Militia—Robert Clayton Drown, Gent., t o b e E ns ign, vice Bond, pro mo t ed to the 99th Foot. Queen's O wn R eg iment of „Oxfordshi re Y eomanry Cavalry—julins Alexander Sartoris; GO., (lately a Cap tain in the 16 th Lancers), to b e a Corneti vice Tawney, promoted, Artillery Battalion of the Royal Sussex Militia—Second Lieutenant Henry Lloyd Nicholson to be First Lieutenant, vice Cole promoted ; S econ d Li eu t ena nt George Elli o t t Clarke to be*First Lieute nan t, v i ce . B arc h a rd , promoted. Royal North Gloucester Regiment of Militia—Robert Baynes ota d ; George to b e E vice Bomford, pro mgn, C harles Whittington, Gent., to be Ensign. Reed, Gent., John nsi Rifle Regiment of King's Own Staffordshire Militia — Ensign Rowland Hugh Cotton to be Lieutenant, ; : vice Kynnersley, promoted. 2d Regiment Warwickshire Militia —Jelin Wynne, late BANKRUPTS. Augustus Whittingliam, outfitter, Woolwich, to sur rewler March 4, at half-past eleven, and April 1, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee ; Overbury and Peek, Frederick-place, Old Jewry. James White, carpenter, Brentwood, Essex, March 1, and April 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Ni cholson, official assignee, B a singlaall-stre e t ; Preston, New Broad-street. Charles Wolf, cook and confectioner, St. Paul's-church yard, Feb. 29, at half-past one, and March 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Surman, New-square, Lincoln's-inn. Thomas Sturton and Edward Key, scriveners, Holbeach, March 4 and April 15, at half-past ten, at the Nottingham District Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Thompson, Grantham. Joseph Edge, carpet manufacturer, Kidderminster, Feb. 29, and March 29, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Co rt. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Boycott, Kil-lerminster • Motteram and Knight, Birmingham. William Welch, packing case maker, Birmingham, Feb. 29 and March 29, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Smith, Birmingham. James Turner, baker, Bishopsgate-street, March 7, at twelve, and April 1, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Sambrook-court; Smith and Alliston, Warnford-court, Throginortou-street. Francis Louis Simond, merchant, Cullum-street, City, Feb. 29, at eleven, and April 4, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basing hall-street; Nicholson, Lime-street, City. Thomas Bann, clothier and outfitter, Liverpool, March 3 and 24, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Stead, Manchester. David Davis, geueral-shop keeper, Merthyr Tydfil, Feb. 25, and March 31, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol; Britten, Bristol;, Roach, Merthyr Tydfil. William Ma-sa, hatter, Sheffield, March 8, and April 12, at ten, at the Leeds District Court. Brewin, official assignee Sleffielsl ; Unwin, Sheffield. Henry Andrew, shopkeeper, Tyldesloy, Lancaster, March 6, and April 3, at 12, at the Manchester District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Manchester ; Livett, Manchester. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Thomas Robertson, baker, Main-street, Glasgow, Feb. 29, at twelve, within the Globe Hotel, George-square, G laqgow. William Rodger, sometime writer, thereafter tea mer chant, Glasgow, Feb. 29, at one, within the George Hotel, Geor4e-square, Glasgow. William Horn, flesher, Glasgow, Feb. 27, at one, within the Crow Hotel, George-square, Glasgow." Thomas Bowie, shoemaker and leather merchant, Forros, March 4, at 12, within Gillander's Hotel. William Kennedy, grocer, India-place, Edinburgh, Feb. 28, at ono, within the Rooms of Dowell's and Lyon, George-street, Edinburgh. Andrew Watt, farmer and baker, Nungato, Hadding ton, Feb. 2d, at ono, within Mr. Walker's Britannia Inn, Haddington. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.-THIS D.Y. Amsterdam, ........ 11 19 Gibraltar .......... Ditto, three months .. 12 134 Leghorn .. ........ .. 30 20,3 Rotterdam ...... 12 111 Genoa ........•• ...... s 5 e .intwerp .............. '25 62y s i Milan ...... •• •• •• Brussels .... • ......... 25 62 y 4 Venice ........ • • ...... Ilamburgh ............ 13 11% ' Naples • • • • . 444 Altana •••••••• •• • • • • • • Palermo •• .• Paris • • .... 25 42% Messina Ditto, three months .. 25 12y. Lisbon .. Marseilles 25 82 7 , Oporto ...............• 53 tA Bourdeaus ...• ........ Rio..Jaitelro ...... • • .... Frankfort-on Maine .... 120'3 7 ,, liu 6108 Ayres.. •• • • .... Berlin •.•••••••• • • • • • • New York,6o days' sight Vienna .......... • • .... 10 40 Philadelphia •• . Trieste • • 10 42' nuts OF umarctr, PEI oz. Petersburg ............ 3 1 W, Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 9 Madrid .........., 50 • Portugal'Gold Coin .. 0 Cadiz S Mexican Dollars .... 0 0 0 Barcelona •••• • • • • •... New Dollars ...... 0 0 0 Seville.. •• .• Silver in bars ...... 0 0 0 Cou.ntry Markets. ,D-FEB. 15. at the prices of this day week, s the close of is to 2s per qr. ;le doing, but no alteration to S. S. Oats, per qr 22 28 Peas, Partridge 38 40 White 40 50 ' Boiling 43 30 Dun - 36 37 Beans, Tick 33 37 Harrow ticks 37 39 Mazagan 34 26 Ditto, new 32 31 CIIELMSFO. The wheat market opened but an improvement toward: fu spring corn there was littl report in prices. Wheat, white, old, per s. s. qr.riii 76 new 62 75 red, old 58 72 new 56 71 Barley 28 34 Chevalier 30 37 Grinding 26 32 Malt 70 74 Chevalier 72 76 COLCHESTER-FEB. IG. Only a small supply of wheat ; the trade firm, and best samples made is per qr.;more than last week. Barley the turn cheaper. Beans "and peas without any material change in value. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wheat, white, Nato 80a; red, 61a to 72s ; barley, 32s to 334 ; oats, 24s to 28s ; beaus Mazagan, 34s to 36s ; middle and small, 36s to 41s ; peas, white, 46s to 50s ; grey, 36s to 40s. COAL MARK Prices of Coal per ton at M—FEB. 18. the close of the market. s. d. Byass's West Hartley lB 0 Davison's West Hartley 18 Newton Main lO 0 Tanfield Moor l6 3 Tanfield Moor Butes 16 3 Walker Primrose I4 6 Grey's West llartley l7 kVylam 15 0 Wallsend, die. s: d 'Flamell 18 6 ,Fletton lB 6 Hutton Lyons Main l6 3 Gam btoo lB 0 North Het ton 17 6 Pensher 16 6 Plummer l6 0 Russell's Hutton l7 6 -leaham l7 6 South Hutton 18 0 Stewart's 18 6 ICaradoe l6 6 Casson 16 6 Heugh Hall l6 0 Kellos l7 9 South Keno() 16 6 ,Tees lB 6 Cowndon Tees l5 6 1 f Solel .69 Wallsend, &c. aosforth l5 9' Hatton l5 9 1 Heaton Hedley 15 6 Hilda 15 3 %Marnelitre l5 6, Eden Main 17 0 Braddyll l7 6, Framwellgate l6 - 6 Ships at market... 14 SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The tone of the market hag been Unproved to-day, and the prices rather higher. South Eastern, 19— Lancashire and Yorkshire, 82 2} Caledonian, 28—North Ea3torn, Berwick, 19—Midland, 704 R=—Dutch Rhenish, p.—Ditto, new, 21 p.—Great Western of Canada, 26 —London and North Wes-terns 1011 6—Great Northern (A shares deferred), 9t. MANCHESTER, FEB. 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market to-day has been doing a firmer business, and prices were inactivo. Leeds, 811 21 —Dover, 19a 7-16 a—Midlands, 74—Eastern Counties, 10 —North Union A, 2g. ' - BIRMINGHAM, FE8.,18. St 00& EXCLIANGE.—The tone of the market was brisk to-day, and prices general!) , were firm. In local stocks, Old Birmingham Canals were done at 90/ i—Birming bam and Staffordshire Gas, halves, 47k—London and North Westerns closed at 1031 101—Birmingham and Dorbys, 40i. ' Mr. John Lawler, the sculptor, has received a com mission from Prince Albert for a copy, in marble, of his figure of "The Bather." SUICIDE OF THE HARLIMUIN OF NEWCASTLE THEATRE. —On Friday morning, Mr. Charles Shaw, who per formed the part of Harlequin in the pantomime at the theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, threw himself into the river Tyne from the balustrades of the old bridge, and was drowned. The fatal act was committed in the presence of many spectators, and prompt exertions were made for his rescue, but his body was not recovered until after the lapse of an hour and a half, when life was extinct. He ha f been drinking bard lately, and had bad a fit of de lirium tremens. Verdict, "Temporary insanity." CADVERTISEIIENT.3— Holloway ' s Pills, Wonderful for Curing Diseases of the Chest.—Mr. Hobbs, of Newton Abbott, informed Professor Holloway that a lady, resid ing near him, stated that she considered Holloway's pints had been the means of saving her life, three medi cal men had pronounced her disease incurable, terming it consumption ; seeing an account of some person being cured of a similar complaint ,she determined on giving them a trial, and fort:ll:lately for her they have effected a p erfect cure, which she is willing to testify by reference to Mr, Hobbs.—Sold by all medicine vendors through out the world ; at Professor Holloway's establishments, 244, Strand, London, and B'o, Maiden-lane, New York ; by A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna ; and. E. Muir, Malta. • [Arovicarrsiorissrr.] SIGHT AND HEARING. SPECTACLES, PowtomL TELFMOPEs, OPERA, RACE AND PERSPECTIVE GLASSES. --Itcsars. S, and B. Salomona, opticians, 39, Albemarle stree t, Piccadilly. Observe opposite the York Hotel. By `.4 er Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race Course, Opera, and Per spective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed through thom—of great importance to the army, navy and others. These telescopes possess such extraerdinary pow ere that some three and a-half inches, with an extra eye piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons. Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the' same teicsaope can be soon a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and e.n object from 16 to 20 _miles. They are of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; while their vary ing from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discover more than the above and the Georgian 'with his 6 satellites, &c.—Tho Royal Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known 11 miles distant ; they answer overf purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses, conatry scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles. Thor are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sporeemon, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera , race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful power. Newly-constructed Spectacle Lenses of the great est transparent power. The valuable advantage derived from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most min ute occu pation- can see with these lenses of a'mnch less magnify ing power—and they do not require the frequent changes to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf sess—New Discoicry.—The Organic Vibrator, an ex tr.uordi nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deataess, entirely different from all others, to surpass any thing of the kind that has been, or probably ever ean be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is not per ceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at p u bli c assem bli es; the unp l easan t se nsation of singing noises in th e ears i s ent i re l y remove d ; and it afierds all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39, Albemarle street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel. in Ireland would be brought to a ecirplete deadlock. After a few words from Mr. BENTILCIE, Mr. DISRAELI said he thought the hon. and learned • Solicitor-General was pursuing an ungracious and unne cessary course in refusing to allow the hills of the hon. and learned member for Enniskillen to be referred to a selectecornmittee. It was proposed that the hon. and learned member for Enniskillen should be a member of ; the select committee to which this bill was to be referred; and, of course, if he so thought fit, the hon. and learned . member could contest every clause of the bill in coin* mittee. Now, would it not save time, and promote the object in view, if all the bills were referred to the same committee ? However, the question now was, should they read the bill a second time, with view to referring it to a select committee ? He saw no objection to that course ; and he hoped, therefore, the house would not be put to the trouble of a division. Mr. S. FITZGERALD would not divide if he could be convinced that the select committee, to whom the bill was to lie referred, would have power to extend the period for the existence of the It:cambered Estates Court. The SPEAKER said the bill contained a clause con tinuing the Incumbered Estates Court for a limited time, and it would of course be competent for the committee to extend the date. The amendment was then withdrawn, when the bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a select committee. JURIES (IRELAND) BILL. On the ordsr for the second reading of this bill, Mr. FITZGERALD (Solicitor-General for Ireland) said if there was any objection to the second reading of this bill, he should postpone it for a fortnight. Other wise he should propose to read it now a second time, and then refer it to a select committee. Mr. WHITESIDE- said the principle of the bill was precisely the same as that of a bill which he introduced last session, but which the Government opposed. Mr. FITZGERALD denied the statement of the hon. and learned member. This was simply a Consolidation Bill of the Jury Laws of Ireland, and the idea of it bad in no way been borrowed from the source suggested. Mr. NAPIER said be should decidedly object to re fer the bill to a select committee. The second reading was then put off for a fortnight. DRAINAGE ADVANCE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Col. DUNNE asked what was the object of the bill! Mr. WILSON said it was merely to simplify the mode of transacting business between the Drainage Cones missioners and the Treasury. The bill was then read a second time. TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENT BILL. This bill was read a second time. COMMONS INCLOSURE BILL. This bill was read a second time. SUPPLY. The report of the committee of supply was brought up. Upon the motion that it be agreed to, in reply to Mr. Wieersees, Mr. WILSON admitted that the customs and inland revenue estimates did not include the whole of the sus perannuation charges. He trusted that the Government would, with the aid of the house, be enabled, in a short time, to put the matter on a more satisfactory footing. CHARITABLE USES BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. In reply to Mr. WALPOLE, Mr. ATHERTON said the bill in no wise dispensed with the existing guards against fraud, applicable under Oh existing law, to grants which were not for full value* The bill then passed through committee. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION (ENGLAND). Sir G. GREY moved for a select committee to inquire into the present constitution of the Ecclesiastical Cote' mission for England; into the operation of the hot 1 3 and 14 Vic., c. 94, intituled, An Act to amend the Acts, relating to that Cominission, and of th e ac t 14 an d 15 Vic., c. 104, intituled An Act to facilitate the Manage" went and Improvement of Episcopal ' and Capitular Estates in England ; and into the expediency of further continuing the last act, and of consolidating the Church Bumbling Commission with the Ecclesiastical Commission* It was provided by the first of those acts that the Eccle siastical Commissioners should not act unless two ravers tiers of t e Church Estates Commission were present. The effect of this was to shift the power to the smaller body, known as the Church Estates Commissioners , having only a general supervision to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The second act conferred larger power° on the Church Estate Commissioners, but it would expire this year ; and lie desired that a committee should re' port to the house upon tire desirability of its contindance. Its main object was to facilitate the enfranchisement of copyhold and other property of a similar nature belting' mg t r the church. He thought it would be desirable to renew the act, but some alterations would in his opinion be requisite. Anotbsr question for the committee is consider would be whether the Church Building Com' mission ought not to be incorporated with the Church Estate Commission. The Marquis of BLANDFORD said that these acts deserved most serious attention, as they had introduced an entirely new pi ieciple into our church polity, at least so far as concerned the temporalities of the establish' merit. He considered that it was the duty of Govern' went to put so important a matter on a clear and deft' rite footing. Mr. WALPOLE gave his entire concurrence to the proposal made by Sir G. Grey. It was most desirable to consolidate and settle the law on this important, matter. Mr. HADFIELD thought that there were so man! of these acts and commissions that they stood in eabh other's why. It was time that the country should under stand what these acts were, and how the law really stood. Mr. MOWBRAY expressed his satisfaction at the course which the Government intended to pursue. ll° Jthanked the right hon. gentleman (Sir G. Grey) for thus . redeeming the promise which he made in the last sell' sion of Parliament. The resolution was then agreed to. FORMATION OF PARISHES BILL. The following members were nominated as the select committee on this bill e-:-The Marquis of Blandford. "VIP count Ebrington, Mr. Eyng, Mr. E. Egerton, Mr. G. Butt, Mr. Gladstone, M r . M assey , Mr. Mowbray, Headlarn, Mr. S. Herbert, Sir S. Northcote, Mr. Dun' lop, Lord J. Manners, and Mr. Pellatt. Five to be the quorum ; power to send for persons, papers, and records!. PUBLIC PROSECUTORS BILL. The following members were nominated as the select committee on this bill :—Mr. J. G. Phillimore gr. Napier, the Lord Advocate, Mr. Miles, M r . Phillips, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor• General for Ire' land, Mr. Walpole, Mr. W. Ewart, Lord Stanley, and Mr. Watson. RETURNS ORDERED. SUPERNUMEEAVES (IRELAND). —On the motion of Mr. GRoGAN—Return of the names and dates of appolOt . ment of all persons temporarily engaged as superao• meraries, draughtsinen, and clerks, in the varioue Government offices in Ireland having permanent seta' blishrnents, who have been in 'continuous employment for five years and upwards ; the rate of pay granted to such persona on appointment, and the number of years of service of persons to the let day of Feb., 1856, respectively ; the nature of employment (detailed) since appointment ; and all' reports as to the general conduct and efficiency of such persons; made by the officer or officers under whom they were placed ; the rate of pay on the Ist day of February, 1856 ; the scale of salaries of permanent clerks employed in the same offices to which such persons were temporarily attached. The house adjourned at 25 minutes past 12. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Among the numerous extraordinarf cures without medicine effected by Du Barry's Delicious Health-Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food of Indigestion.' (Dyspep•ia) Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous, Bilious, and Liver Complaints, Cough, Asthma, Consumption, and Debi• lity the following are not the least remarkable :—Athol• street, Perth, May 2, 18 48. —Thirteen years' cough, indiges tion, and general debility have been removed by Du Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabica Food.— James Porter. Hon• ton, 2 . 2 d Nov., 1850.—Dear Sir,—l am happy to inform you that your excellent food has relieved me from an incredible accumulation of suffering, for which, during the last eight years, all kinds of medicines had been tried in vain. MI feelings and sufferings previous to taking your food were the following :—lndigestion, nervousness, biliousness, affec tions of the liver and kidneys, costiveness, palpitation of the heart, noises in tho ears, pains in Almost all the body, low spirits, general debility, loss of memory, wretchedness, thoughts of self-destruction.—MaryGoilaMark. In canisters, 51bs. 11s. ; 121bs„ 225. The 121hs. f orriagO free, on receipt of post-omee order. Barry du Borry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London ; Fortnum, Mason, and Co., ' Purveyors to her Majesty, Picoadilly ; also at 6e, Grace.. church-street ; 3:1) and 451, Strand; 4, Cheeps* ; 68, Cornhill ; 49, Bishopsgate-street ; 55, Charing-eras ; 54, Upper Baker-street; 63 and 150, Oxford-street. • BIRTHS. Or ANON. On the 14th inst., at Hafton House, Argyleshire, the , Hon. Mrs. C. Monteith Hamilton. On tho 17th inst., at Newlands, Wimbledon-park, the wife of Horace Maddock, Esq. OP A DAMMTEL On the 15th inst., at Bedwelt Park, Harts, the Lady Cochrane. On the 17th inst., at Surrey House, Hyde-park-place, the wife of John Laurie, Eq. MARRIED. On the 16th inst. at St. James's, Piccadilly, Edward Ward Fo x , Esq.,of Newbold-fields, Chesterfield, to Eleanor, younger daughter of Edmund Balfour, Esq,, of Lincolu's-inn-fields. On the 16th inst., at Dunkerque, Commander Fairfax Moresby, H.M.S. Sappho, to Emma Eliza, eldest daughter of Herbert Taylor Lewis, Esq., late of her Majesty's 40th Regiment. DIED. On tho 15th inst., at Hammersmith, James Morgan, E3q. late of Golden-square a nd St. Alb an ' s -pl ace , Regent street, aged 84. ' _ On . th; 16th inst., at Lavender-hill, Surrey, Hdward Crowley, Esq., aged 68. On tho 18th inst , Sarah Maria, wife of John Thrupp, Esq., of 11, Stockwell•eommon, younger daughter of the late Edward Crowley, Esq., of L a vender-hill, Wands.' worth. On the 17th inst. , at Folkestone Mr. George Bathurst, aged 42. On the 17th inst., at Yately, Hants, Capt. Rush, aged 79. On the 7th inst., at Ditton-place, Kent, John Golding. Esq., aged S. On the 17th inst., at Ross, Herefordshire, Henry Grant Clyde, Esq., lat e o f H.M. Cn,totas. LONDGN Printed and PuhliFthed by MURDO YOIJNG of No. 112, Stracd, Printor, at Tice Sun Office, N 0. 11 2, Strand, in t 1 ,4) Precinct of the Savoy, iu the multi e middi e snx, Tuoclay, February 19, 1856. • 01 .. 1. :iI.F~ y't`'~__---~ _~=~. M i eock. Italie, ai A R. a Piston, Ligutaiti M' Mel Co C B 4lllllB and gall Vaphic-1 NIA M 4. Re PRO w ineboo Mid to oN , e ll it lle DIA )140,11,?x:t teit don Aon. • ; a uj it il L incoln litli ~ediel t, x o ,,_ ter w 'menu .Mtellekt rens ' 1 1(Ir • terk.ord r ti). 7 f o r km _to ton d „ 4 ,;: l rirat I)oyrn•rr ( hitter s , o re Cl ening, o ßttn r N . ( eY, i uo ik r Stu Flttat u, the eat( 'll4 r , i t e e i r t r i n I)%teant Atnti rr , MAC ‘'A ‘; .4 t,l° Yeet t. it „ h' I, , P P , Rt c 4119 -I e°l l l -154311 vrld'; I ' o l TIT t ad ,,