The Sun. — London, England, 1856-02-13 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET Al I) COMMERCIAL INTRT.T.TGENOE. CITY, Two o'CLocx. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed with an improving tendency, at extreme quota tions. The sales were 15,000 bales-4,000 for ex port and 400 on speculation—comprising 230 Per /lam and Maranham, at 50. to 61d.; 1,400 Bahia, bid. to 6id.; 400 Egyptian, 6d. to 81 ; 1,500 Surat, 30. to 41d.; and 100 Sea Islands, 10d. to ls. 2d. per lb. The Railway Share Market re- faired steady, without any change in prices. Accounts from Hamburg mention that letters have been received there from Riga to the 4th inst. and Revel to the 2d, stating that the commer cial activity which existed at these ports during 'January was checked by the ice stopping all navi gation. It appears that a very considerable trade was carried on between these ports and Sweden, Denmark, and the German States on the Baltic • chores ; also that a number of ships laden with cargoes of oleaginous grains, tallow, hemp, and flax, on English account, had left for Hull and other British ports. It is also stated that several English vessels had entered Port Baltic and Bol deraa, for the purpose of trading with the Russians, in spite of the proclamation, which considers the 141 40 an act of treason, until peace is established formally between the two countries. The Cotton Market at Havre continues buoyant, and prices have advanced from 1 to 2 frs. per 50 kilogrammes, with a much larger business doing than has been known previously. Sales to the num ber of 17,000 bales were effected at the following Pr es :—New Orleans, from 81f. to 99f. ; Mixed, fr 811. to 931., and Georgia from 81f. to 94f. The Stock on hand was stated to be 66,900 bales, against 39,800 in 1855, and 67,650 in 1854. This trade with America is on the increase, and where formerly a portion of supplies came from Liverpool, t hey will now mostly come direct from the United States. The latest advices from Canada contain some i ateresting statistical information upon the trade 4 f Montreal. During last year there was a de crease in dutiable imports of 1,575,885/. compared ' w ith 1854, but there was an increase of free g o ods to the extent of 613,779/. The fall 14g of in the revenue was 168,2991. The only 11 "tioles in which an augmentation was exhibited " e re gin, as a substitute for brandy, raw sugar, _ l4 consequence of a local refinery machinery, and 1" er• Articles of necessity, as well as luxury, par ` 4le iPated in the diminution, silks having decreased 53,8 741., wine 22,1541., spirits 16,0001., tea, 80 ,000 lbs., hardware 175,4391., metals 272,8961., sa d woollens 272,1581. This falling off 14 the revenue was not produced by the re duction in the tariff, nor the Reciprocity Treaty pi th the United States, but resulted from the ' i l 'hitation of trade consequent upon the inability the people generally to become purchasers. T he applications for shares in the Alliance (France 44 England) Bank continue exceedingly numerous, Il lad the undertaking has been very favourably re ached at the Stock Exchange, where transactions " the "coming out " are reported at 14 premium. Th e Council will consist of gentlemen of the highest t 64 Pettability resident in London and Paris, and it fully expected that large dividends will be re titled to those who subscribe their capital. m statement was made by a contemporary this ° "tting, that the drafts of the Tipperary Joint Sto ck Bank had been returned. This is substan• tie llY correct, but itresulted from an accident, and le ° drafts h ave s i nce been paid. The payments 111 • therefore, proceed as usual. T he Consol Market retains its buoyancy, and a : u rther ad vance upon th e en hanced quotations re eirc led yesterday afternoon has taken place. As the Period for the opening of the Paris Conferences PProiLehes, the specul a tors, although generally r : c anine of the result, operate cautiously, but the s lcrket is gra d ua ll y i mprov i ng . C onso l s h ave b een to 22i, and 91i to 92 for money. For the no "'lint the prices have been 92i 4, and 92t j, the Thrket at the present moment being rather flatter. e New 3 per Cents. have been 921 to 93*, and t he Rndiseed 92 4. Exchequer Bills are 7s. to Ss. 44 C0t1 lit • F oreign Stocks are generally at higher quota tl"l. Turkish 6 per Cents. ar e 93i- and the Ileranteed 4 per Cents. 100/ to 101. Spanish ~,' hreett are quiet at 42i, and the New Deferred at i• There have been bargains in Brazilian 4i, L et Ciaits. at 93k, in Equador at s i , in Equa dor "w Cionsolidated at 134, and in Portuguese 4 t i t ' Cents. at 48i. Venezuela 4 4 per Coats. 4 ,: • been 29, and Duteh 4 per Cents. 95 i sto cks:—Grenada following are the nominal prices of Foreign i ' u elcs:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 74; Mexican, . 13 t I'; Peruvian, 79 81 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 55 57 ; ° "thguese 4 per Cents., 47 49 ; Russian 5 per 3 *144 ., 104 6 ; ditto 44 per Cents., 91 94 ; Spanish ~Pe r Cents., 424 43 ; ditto Deferred, 23124; ditto 1-er tificutes, 41 5 ; ditto Passive, 61 4. The Railway Share Market is rather flat, as the b ~ s irla e Si doing is very limited, and some of the v elc /Y' ill lines are lower. Great Western have ad eed. Paris and Lyons, and Great Western of Ca nada shares are rather higher. ? °r'sign and Colonial Mining Shares are very 11 111 4 Banking Shares are steady, and the new un dertakings are at the following quotations : 4c tevn of London, j to 1 ; Ottoman, 21 to 24 ; Di scount, 1 to 14 ; and Egyptian, 2i to 3 prem. 'ItITLSH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. (Prot* the Official List.) Peones, done. 1 Per Cent. R e d uce d A nnu iti es 92i i xII !'" o.lnt. Consols Annuities 92 6 If 26 1/ ' 3 per C en t. A nnu i t i es ' o,l lols for Aeoount . 921 i I 1 Baclisquer Bills. 21d. E10(.0. 757cl —. ... 63723 7 2 Ditto Bonds, 1858, 36 per Cant _ Ditto, 1859 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent... Ditto Small 1024 Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent. .. 93 Cliiliau Bonds, 6 per Cent Ditto 3per COIL ... 81St tci uador Bonds Ditto Now Consolidated l3i clads New Active, li por Cent. - „Pi:to Deferred • 7 'exle an 3 per Cent. , Ditto Account .. . • r ort u , fuzee Bonds, .5 per Cent., Con. 1841 1 , t'itt o 4 per Cent 48i 7/ V i Bo - nds, 5 per Cent., 1822, I! 5t.... B Ebitta 4i per Cent 8 - I) itta Small Ihniel i Bonds, 3 per Cent 421 Ditt o Yaw Deferred, 3 per Cont. . Dat e . Account 24i altritikt, Bonds, 6 per cent D itto Account b itty Guaranteed, 4 per Cent loof 1 1 ! '4:'itbo Account • Z dezuuts, Bonds, 41 per Cent 29 nividands on the above payable In London. black Buchan 2i Cent 12 Gun ... D g o, per •, 95A Di tt o 4 per Cent. Certificates THREE O'CLOCK. Coesols ( mone y) Di /to Account, March 11... .. ....... St. 25 25 50 St. 20 20 10 10 I A M .. 4 •tta SUGAR.—TiIe e maple sugar crop of the y ear "• 5 int estimated by the o ffi cials in Washington in the agricultural bureau at $2,720,000. Maple sugar, being product., : of th e f ores t, is chiefly con fi ned to those re "as of the interior where it is a cheap and ready sub s ti kute for th ere 'no costly and less aoceseible pr oduct of L bs %be. The large production of the present year may re garded as an effort of the rural population to re rd Y a deficiency i n th e s upply of this necessary article. Ir far the maple can be looked to as a permanent re *cures we can only conjecture, but the subject is worthy of c onsideration. Cane grows only in the extreme southern atitedes of the United Stater. The sugar maple, however, icurish es i n t h e greater part of the inhabited sections, 411 4 though the article prodnoed by it is inferior to the °thee, y e t, as it requires a littleit is muoh lcaper. Now, the question is whether it is eapable al'ocular cultivation for thi s purpose. W ere the proper teation bestowed it is possible that it might, since there Is no raison why a forest of sugar maples might not be re ared as well as a forest of s ugar cane. A much butter rPodient, however, would be the c u lti vat i on o f t h e su gar e st, which is so succesefally practised in France. About years since it was announced theirhat the Mormons in `a tall had gone extensively into earing of this crop, l'cd had erected sugar-mills and refineri es , in order to "PPly themselves with sugar. The introduction of this culture into the *United States might afford a profitable "cuPation for many of our farmers, since the price of "lager is such as to insure a very handsome return to the Producer. With such immense territorial possessions 'e have it i n our power to b ecome i n a grea t measure a ksi f 'sulltaining nation, rearing nearly all the crepe re quired for our awn use.—Pla!arlelphict Norge TIE SUM LONDON; WEDNESDAY PV.ENING, PERRUARY 13. Ifts6. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. iAberriwz,....... ...... :' Ambg. Nottng. Bost and Rasta. Juliet_ Belfast St Ballymena. Binning. Wolverh Stour Valley " 1 Birk o _did. Lancet,. 6 Cheshire Junct 00. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and 225 Cons 0., £20...... ..... Blyth &Tyne original £25 (ised. at .£45:. Bristol and Exeter :Jaledonian .... Cann. and Cardigui Chester & Holyhead. 'jerk and Bandon... ;work, Black, & Pass Cornwall Do. A Do. B Crie ~ 1" Junction Dublin&BelfastJune Dun. I'. & Ab.w. Jnc Bast Anglian Sastorn Counties East. Union, A Bt} iDo. • B. St , et po., Now A (East Kent East Lancashire 100 100 all 100 Edinburgh & (Hugo A Edinb. and Peebles... `Cdin. Prth &Thindo. Forth & Clyde Jcn 3. Furness Do. Extension Glasgow West.,, Groat N. of Scotind. Great Northern 1 'Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre.) Great Western k Do. Stonr Val. Rail Gna. Stk Irish South-Eastern Tancaster & Carnal( Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds [Awash. andYorksh D 3., Wst. Riding Un Lir.Crsby.&Southpt London k Blackwall Lond. Bright & S.Cst. Load. and N. Westn. Do. Fifths ID° 101 Sh M&B C Mo. Eighths I Loudon andS. Wean Do., £5O. Do., Ate Lndndrry& Colorain Lndndrry. & Ennish Mancli.Shef.& Linch Do., Man. Ar Lin. Un Metropolitan Midland Do. Birmng. &Dort): Midld. G. West. (Ire. Do. Half Shares Neweastlu & Carlisle Nwpt.Aberg. &ELT) Newry & Enniskills Newry Warrenpoin and Rostreror Norfolk Northn.Conntios Un North Nth Devon & Dock Stock Do., A Stock no., B Stock N. DoDo. B Guts.rant.:4 ~ Do. do. Extonsion Dodo. G.N.E. ?urob Do. Loodn Do. York North London .. N.ii.S.Wstrn.,Harel - stead, awl City 3n ;North Staffordehir North Western I N. lc H. Westrn, June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Ox, Wore.. /47, Wolv. Portsmouth %ottish Ce atm) 800ttish Midland ihropithiro Ut )u Boutb Devon South Eastern south Wales 4. Yrksh. Qs Rig. Du uo Stainos , ,Wok. &Wo Stockton t Darli Stolkton b litertlopl Taff Val._ Do. Prof., No. 1 Thames Hay. P.& R. Inrerstono & Lanes Vale of Neath IWatorful. & Ktlkenn) IWatorford&Limeric'# iWoat Cornwall West End of Londoi. and Crystal Palacio Do. A Do. B iWest London IWimbledn&Croydot elestag Pricas this illy 4i--- ••• .... 8 -8; 16 - 15 13 - 14 9 - 8 - 87 55j -• 56 03 - 13. ••• "". ••• •• --- . 4 -- 2 12 - 13 9i - 10 1 39 - • w. • 32 20 22 72 - 73 52 - 54 91 - 22 - 24 82 - 86 6} - 7 00 - 91 74 - 123 - 125 103 - 10 1 55j Eff 57 601 74 - 17 6A - 74 • - 7A 81* 62 ••• .... di 7 97 LOOi 101 prci id pal t 95 3i 3 lid) ... .. ... 24 - ~5~ Id 691 —69 i to 42 •M ~ •• ••• ...'. .. E 0 52 • •• 29 30 75 -7C 6i - 6 4f - 1 4i - )5 51. 62 ii lid 23 - 23 #O4 - 106 75 - 77 45 47 114 - #24 63 - ti 71 - 73 4 -- 1i - - 37 93 -- 22 3 - 411 4 - 6 ••• .... ••• FOREIGN. kntwOrpaßott-rdami Do. 5 porn. °big". eon. in 511. at par till '64 Ardennes 'Belgian Eartn. Juno Besiers to GrilitlSMlllte Bombay, Barods, an ' Central Indis,Sorir Do. Demerara Dutch Rhenish Eastern of France Do. New Bast Indian, g. 5 p. 0 Do. Eitenamu .• D 0.4 p.e.Ekda.,'s7 Do. do. do.. '59, dn.. Gee'oug •k Melbou • ue guar. 5 per c Do., Lou. allot., do. Tk of Canada A. is 'Do. I Do. Cort. of Dobon. con. into Stk. Ds. Comp. 8 p. c., do Gt. Central of Franc , Gt. Indian Peninenls Groat Luxembourg Constituted Shares Do. Obligations... Do. re-ii;. forftd. k;h.l Gt.WesternofCanae Shares Do. NeW.: Do. Bds., payable's7, with option till '55 Do. do., '62, p. '56 Do. do., '76, p. '6O Do. do., '73, without option Hamilton & Toront- I Do. 8 per cent. Lake Const. & Basic Liorre and Turnhout Lucca & Pist. 5 p. e.p . Lyons and Geneva Lyons &liter= (arat!, guar. 4 j p.c D. New do., 6 P. Ds. 4i P. a. &ton Maria Antonia Do. do. New Namur £ lAep (with interest) ............. Do. (ex intend) ...... Northern of Franc*. Do.2ol.Shs. .. Do. 201. 3 p. a Bds (fmy.B.&Ams.Rhs.' NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Rome and Framoati Royal Danish Royal Swedish Do. Obligations Sambre and Menu Do. 5i p. cont. Pref Saluda, guar. 5 p. u Do ithern of Franos..' Andrew's and Quebec (A). . West Flanders Do 6 A Per e. Pref W. dr N. W. of Franetl Went. of Bwitzw•luid W eabadou Zealand - 8 Si 1 , 1 1 p I}_ 24p 3 20; ?sr • ... - 38 - I P 11 -130 21 -21 i ••• "" , •• • 14. - 63 - 67 62 - 66 5i - 20k -20 j 5 - 3 - Si 26 -• 26 84- 4; 99 - 100 123 - 126 123 - 126 106 102 .asa—: 26 120 - 125 •.• - 9 - 191 -- 19/ I - 7 , 9 2 .. 3 6 xl}9l •-• - 31 ' Ilf - 12, ..• - . S 4sl - 48 65 .19 -- 20 2 - - 21 - 91 •• 14 -... put .• ••• 3i -- 4 §s7. ii 181 - . llq JOINT4TOOX lAzinou 40 ill knatrataala 100 50 Bonk of Lond on .. al - 94 .---....... 40 ill Uri. OA Bk.kLn.u. - - 67 67 6 5 cvil 50 all British W. Ameri cas .: 25 5 &W s . Bank of Aid .. " 2 0 4 Chrtd. Buk. of India , 1 ' 42. I P 100 50 citAynstralia, 8t chu m 6i —4 S 100 25 Colonial - - 71 7 100 120 \ C o mmercial of Loa& ***. --- .., 20 ! all sng.geot.kAns.Cht. 176 '• i i• 20 all bond. Chart. Bk. of Australia l7 ..... 17i 20 5 Ditto New 10050 50 L 20 Geoancid.sconEarakegoticnotripy par 2 . 4.. —___ 1 -4 ... d 50 10 London Joint Stock ... _ :P. 100 20 !Loud. &Westmin ster ... . 30i 100 35 i National Pro.of Bug , .: 20 10 Do. Now ... .. .. ._ ... -- — 50 22i National of I re land . i -- . 20 all Now South Waled- 3 7 39 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation. ....... . 39 41 40 i 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... —„ ... 10 all Lio. New .. -- H. 5 1 . aoyal Anstraln.Bkg & 0614 Imp Co ... .. 100 50 . goyal British . 25 all 4onth Australia ss -- .4 0 25 all Colon of Australia 7O . 72 «. '2A Do. Wow .. - 7i 8a 50 10 Union 0 Loudon . 22 80 Basthess done this day. T,INKSYr 94 - 96 94 - 98 ... ... • • 104 :166 13 - ; 41 1071 - 1121 2i - 91 93 55 P --e7 tP 3 - 2ii 32 - 83 - 85 Luollig Compan. London & N. Wt)A. L.&N.W. ICalodon E. Un. k E C Ot.Nrtnn E. Count Caldouian IDo . Gt. Westn Yk. New. y &B N er m w .t, Do Do Easton Do IPeto k Co. Norfolk Do L.& N. W & Midld. Stekton & Darlingt. Midland.. En. Conn. E. Count; Do Do L. & N.W iGtNorthn Lancaah York eh. T. Brassey M.MClean , 9tockt. & Darlingt Do 10tWi SHAURS. . ••••• •.. 80 7 86 9~ - g 4 95 - 97 15 - 16! ••• ••• '' .. 54 - 6 •.• --- ... 12 1 2 ••• ..... .., lei ..... a : e,. 1 ilB 1 108 - 110 1103 - 105 - • tr. .9i - 10 goo 6 - 89 - 91 79 -81 79 - 81 96 • 100 91 - 101 16} -16 i 91 - lAt 70 - 72 18A - 19* 9 - 13t - 14t 1 - 32 -- 134 ••• .... ,• 01. .c. IA2 - 1?4 95 - 97 1 - 4 - ••.• .. }... ••• ... ••• ••• ••• 99 , - 101 52 - 14 - ••• ..... • • • •. ..• 1 id ••4p '... ••• 000 ... ... ••• -- ••• 13i - 14 23 - 23 95 - 100 . . • '.. r 2i - itnetnesh flits dsy. reiArb Tzbttton (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SPRING HANDICAP. F!ageola Vanessa Fisherman Eleven ran. SUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock. LINCOLN RACES.—(This Day.) 3 HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE. Tom Gurney Johnby Raw Three ran. TWO-YEAR OLD SELLING STAKES. Magi5trate.................................................. Delilah. ....................................................... HURDLE RACE. Stamford Freedom Six ran. I ... 4) ORDNANCE DEPARTMENTS. On the motion of Colonel DUNNE, retuins were ordered of all persons in the Ordnance Depart ments who have retired since the let - day of Jan. 1853, or been transferred from their offices to others by pro motion or otherwise, stating the age, service, cause of retirement, or transfer, together with the retiring allow ance granted in each case, and in case of transfer or pro motion the office to which each individual was transferred, and the salary of the office vacated and of that to which each person has been appointed similar return for the War Department, and all offices under its control : and return of the names of officers, civil and military, and of all other persons einployed in the department for_clothing the army, stating the date of each appointment, previous employment (if any), and the age and salary in eauh,case. The house adjourned at five minutes to three o'clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY). THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE. COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at two o'clock. Among the peers present were Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Campbell, Lord Redeadala, Duke of Argyll, Earl of Derby, Earl Granville, Lord St. Leonards, Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Colchester, Lord Abinger, and Lord Brougham. On the motion of Lard LYNDHURST the House re• solved itself into a Committee of Privileges, on which the Lord Cms.xcELLon.lef; the Woolsack and took his seat on the Ministerial aide of the House. Lord REDRSDALI then presided. Lord LYNDHURST said his present course now was to prove the unconstitutional stretch of the prero• gativo in granting life peerageq. He proposed that the records relating to this question should be translated and prtnted and circulated among their lordships. Lord CAMPBELL said he was anxious Lord Wen'. leydale should be heard by counsel, but as that motion could not then be made, he should make it after five o'clock when the house had resumed its ordinary sittings. Lord ST. LEONARDS did not object to the motion. It should be considered who should appear to resist this attempt. It was the duty of the Crown to watch the claims of persons claiming to sit in that house; but in this case the Crown was in favour of the noble lord taking his seat, and therefore oould not be said to be an impartial advocate. It would be as well to consider for whom counsel should be beard. Upon the notion of Lord LYNDHURST, the Keeper of the Records at the Tower was called to the bar of the House, and produced the patent of the Earl of Hunting don, which he read, granted in the reign of Richard 11., and the words used in the patent were, "sua vita duranti." The witness proceeded to read the various patents and documents, when The LORD CHANCELLOR reminded the house that the usual practice of the house in Committee of Privileges was for the documents to be handed in and thereby save the time of their lordships. He reminded their lordships that it was necessary they should pro ceed with rapidity in the case, because it was the in tention of Lord Wensleydale, as Boon as he was re covered from an attack of the gout, to present himself at their lordships' house with her Majesty's writ and claim to take his seat. , Lord CAMPBELL said if that was theinteation of Lord Wensleydale, he should move that he be not permitted to take his seat until the Committee of Privileges should have made their report on the validity of the patent. He believed the Lord Chancellor was the only person who considered the writ could be of any avail without a valid patent. The LORD CHANCELLOR said it mattered not whether the patent was a valid one_ or not. Lori Wens leydale, he considered, was bound to obey her Majesty's writ of summons. Lord BROUGHAM said that it was the intention of Lord Wensleydale to come to town as soon as possible and take his seat. To use his own words, "as soon as the law and the gout will allow me." (Laughter.) Lord ST. LEONARDS said he felt certain that if Lord Wensleydale came with a proper patent, entailing the title on his heirs male, he would be readily and gladly received ; but if he persisted in , taking his seat otherwise, the opinion of their lordships' house must be taken on the question. GREY suggested that the noble lord (Lynd hurst) should have the assistance of a noble lord, to pre pare the precedents he relied on, and print them for the consideration of their lordships, and subscribe a formal resolution to the house thereon. Lord BROUGHAM concurred in the suggestion of the noble earl, and said he thought it not desirable then to enter into a discussion of whether Lord Wensleydale should or should not be permitted, on the Queen's writ, to take his seat. _ _ After some further discussion, it was arranged that the documents should be put in, and afterwards trans lated, printed, and circulated amongst their lordships for their consideration. The documents were accordingly handed in. Mr. Hardy, in answer to questions from Lord Broug ham, said he had not had an opportunity of making searches for othei life patents than those now produced. :He only:bad an intimation at 10 o'clock last night that those doonments would be required. All the patents re cooded in the Tower were printed in an appendix which their lordships then bad. It would take him till Mon day to search for life patents granted since Edward the 4th. The Earl of DERBY said it would expedite the in quiry if the Lord Chancellor would move for the pro luction of the precedents he relied on to *noble noble lords to examine them. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had nothing to move for. He relied on the presedents in the printed h3ok, which was already accessible to their lordships, RDA with the contents of which noble lords appeared to be conversant. A further discussion ensr. , d, when Lord LYND HURST said he hardly knew how their lordships could proceed further that day, and was of opinion it was de sirable the committee should adjourn till Monday. Lord CAMPBELL said he should move that- Lord Wensleydale be heard, either by himself or by his counsel. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that he had re ceived a communication from Lord Wensleydale, wherein he stated that he had reoented no intimation from her Majesty that the subject had been referred to a committee, and that, therefore, he should decline to acknowledge the authority of the committee. Earl GREY complained that nothing definite bad been brought before, the notice of the committee, and called upon the noble lord to put before them a resolu tion of a formal character. He urged them not to pro ceed in the manner they had begun, which was likely to bring ridicule on their lordships' house. Earl DERBY said the question before the committee was the validity of a patent that had been granted to a Commoner. The house now sat in a judicial inquiry to ascertain the nature of life peerages that had been granted. He admitted that the Crown had a right to grant the dignity of a life title, but he did not recognise the right of such persons to sit and vote in their lord ships' house, and it was to ascertain that fact that the committee was called on to investigate the precedents alluded to. The Earl of ABERDEEN said a select committee should have been appointed in the first instance to in vestigate the question. It was ultimately arranged that Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Brougham, and Lord St. Leonard. should form a select committee to examine, consider, and report on the question to the Committee of Privileges, and the com mittee adjourned to Monday next at 2 o'clock. The house then resumed. Lord CAMPBELL moved that Baron Parke beheard himself or by counsel on Monday next. The Earl of DERBY called the attention of their lordships to the fact that Lord Wensleydale's 'name had been placed on the roll of their lordships house. He would not then enter into a discussion on it, but merely mentioned the fact, as his claim to sit in that house was in abeyance. The Lord CHANCELLOR objected to the terms of Lord Campbell's motion, which mentioned the name of Baron Parke and not that of Lord Wensleydale,and in consequence Lord CAMPBELL withdrew his motion, and asked for leave to renew it on Thursday next. Ultimately the noble lord consented that Lord Wensleydale should be named in his motion. The motion was then put and carried. The house adjourneelst ten minutes to 4 o'clock. Their lordships re assembled at five o'clock. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH gave notice that on Thursday next he should present a petition from the seamen of various ports, complaining that they were compelled to go to sea in unseaworthy ships. He should likewise ask on that day whether the.Govern meat intended to bring in any measure with respect to the subject. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said he would answer the noble lord's question now. Her Majesty's Government did not intend to , bring in any bill to amend the law on the subject during the present session. HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICES BILL. Lard STANLEY of ALDERLEY moved the first reading of this bill. The bill was accordingly read a first time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF CONIMONS.—(YINTERDA.Y.) The Smuts took the chair at a quarter before four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. The Right Hon. Mr. WILvoLe took the oathe aid his scat for Cambridge University. Mr. RIDLIT took the oaths and his seat for New• castle. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE PAVILION THEATRE. (THIS DAY.) This morning, shortly before eight, the greatest con sternation was caused in the vicinity of \Vhitechapel by a fire of a very alarming character breaking out at 4e Pavilion Theatre, in the Whiteohapel•road. A number of the fire establishment engines were quickly in attendance, and not a single instant was lost in getting them into action. The fire ap peared to have begun in the painting room, and to this part the efforts of the firemen were chiefly directed, but withent success. The fire in a very short time seized hold of the " wings and bord ers," and then all hopes of saving the property were at an end. The flames roso to an extraordinary height, and must have been visible for miles around. After the fire had raged for about half an hour it seized hold of the roof of the theatre, and in a few moments the great chandelier fell from the ceiling into the pit, and shortly after the roof of the building fell in with a tremendous noise, and which for a few minutes seemed to have smothered the fire ; but in a very short apace of time the flames again rose aruidet a body of black smoke and at tained a greater ascendancy than ever. Of course by this time the whole of the interior of the theatre, with the exception of a few of the dressing rooms, was one mass of fire, and the greatest fears began to arise for the safety of the surrounding property, but fortunately no very material damage was sustained, and the fire was confined to the theatre. About half•past ten the fire might be said to have been subdued, although tLe engines remained playing upon the smoking pile of ruins the whole of the morning. It is supplsed that the calamity was occasioned by some sparks falling the procedin evening amongst the scenery or machitiery—the closing scene in the drama representing the total destruction of the Rabin Hood Tavern. Wre believe the premises, properties, and wardrobe were insured, but the lessees, Messrs. Ephinstone and Neale, are losers by the calamity to a large amount, which will also cause great distrim to upwards of one hundred families. .FIEALTII OF LONDON DURING TSB WEEK. ( Fron the Report of the Registrar•O#neral.) One thousand one hundred and fiftyone deaths were registered in London during the week that ended on Saturday, oth February. The number is below the average, but it is 202 above the number in the previous week. Nineteen persons, namely, 9 children and 10 adults of 20 to 60 years of age, died of small-pox, 31 died of scarlatina, 42 of boopiog•cough, and 65 of typhus, which is now the reigning epidemic,. Of 127 persons who died of consumption 77 'Vero of the age 20-40, and 36 were of the age 40-60. 40 persona died of apoplexy, 28 of paralysis, during the week, or 68 iu the aggregate ; whereas the deaths from these diieases in the week preceding were 21 from apoplexy, and 13 tram paralysis. These and other sudden deaths have been frtquent, and account for a part of the increase in the mertality. Bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma were fatal in 236 oases, many of them probably terminations or modifications of in• fluenza. 23 death, from ♦iolent oeuees ere recorded: 12 by burn, end scalds, 2 by hanging, to., 1 by suffocation, 2 by drowning, 3 by fraciures, 1 by wounds, and 2 by other cansea. 570 males and 581 females died in the week ; 480 were children aid young person■ under 20 year. of age ; 189 were of We ay. 20-40 ; 208 ware 461-80 ; 224 were 10-80 ; and 42 were of the age of 80 and upwards. The oldest person who died in the week was of the age of 91 years. The births of 895 boys and 391 girls, in all 1738 children, were registered in London. In the ten cor responding weeks of the years 1346-55 the average number was 1,591. At the Ruyal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week ending February the Oth was 29 . 840 in. The reading of the barometer increases from 29 . 86 in. at the beginning of the week to 29 . 95 in. by 10 h. a.m. on the 3d ; decreased to 29.85 in. by 3 h. p.m. on the 4th ; increased to 30.01 in. by $ h. p.m. on the sth ; decreased to 29'54 in. by noon on the 7th ; increased to 29 . 90 ia. by noon on the Bth ; decreased slightly by 3 b. p.m., anti increased to 29.93 in. by 9 la. p.m. on the same day then decreased to 29 . 80 in. by the end of the week. On Sunday the sky was free from cloud throughout the day, on the following days of the week the sky for the most part was overcast. The wind blew briskly from the south west, and rain fell on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday : on Wednesday there Wag a new moon, accompanied with a hard wind and driving misty rain. The mean temperature of the air was 44.0 deg., which is 5 9 deg. above the average of the same week in 38 years. The entire range of temperature during the week was 29.1 deg., the highest was 58.0 deg. on Saturday, and the lowest 23.9 deg. on Monday. The air on an average was warmer by 10.5 dag. than tho preceding week. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames was 39'8 deg. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, Y. 13.—Wind this day at noon, S. ; moderate breozo and dull hazy weather, with rain. COWEV, Feb. 13.—Wind S.S.W.—Arriyed. —Helens, from Canton, for Flambnrg ; Unca, Rio Janeiro. 1 1 .4.1.110 U 7N, Feb. 12.—Arrived—Albers, from Rich mond. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Thomas Mitchell, from Calcutta. CLYDE, Feb.l2.—Sailed.—Elizabeth Campbell, for Tri nidatl. DUBLIN, Feb. 12.—Arrived—Lima, from St. John's. OPP MARGATE, Feb. 12.—E. D. Yolquardson, from Rio Janeiro. HOLTHRLD, Feb. 12.—The schooner Maria, of Belfast, was run down yesterday, eighb stiles S.E. of the Copeland Light, by the Niger (e.) ; crew saved. CIRDIVE, Feb. 12.—The Wolfe, hence to Mile, put back to Penarth Roads to-day, leaky. CARNIIIVOX, Feb. 12.—The William Carey, from Cal tut* for Liverpool, has arrived here much strained and very leaky, having been on the bar ; one man drowned. REDCIR, Feb. 12.—Tho schooner New Union, of and for London, from Seohniu, went on shore near Marski, and was abandoned by the crew. ST SIMMARINI AND BRUM TIELIGRAPTLI GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10.7 a.m. Wind S.E. ; tide, three Lours' ebb ; weather moderat e, with rain. Arrived —Angie, from Dunkirk ; Shealtiel, from Guern sey ; Mirage, from St. Michael's. Sailed - Eva, for Algos-bay ; Agnea Garland, for Van couver's Island. DELL, Wednesday, 9.35 a.m. Wind W.S.W. ; moderate. Passed—Emerald, from Antigua, and William, fro* Syra, both for London. Sailed—Berkshire, for London. Put Back—Alas, Urania, Limy Drew, Fanny, Clan• pars, and irethuaa. RAILWAY Pnorr STAMP3.—A. deputation from the railway Proprietors' Association had a lengthened in terview yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the purpose of asking him to reduce the duty upon railway proxies, The Chancellor of the Exchequer re ceived the deputation with great courtesy, and stated that he quite understood the object which the Zeputa tion had in view, and that be should give the subject his best consideration. It is the custom of the Emperor of the Freach to re ceive, after mass every Sunday, all the general officers of the army present at Paris without letters of audisace. It appears, frorn a correspondence in the Lidependance Beige, that this practice has excited envious feelings amongst members of the Senate and Legislative Corps, and that the latter have addressed some respectful ob servations to the Emperor, soliciting to be admitted to a similar privilege. A. PROVITABLII VOTAGS,:—It is stated that corn. months since a ship sailed from New York for Australia with a cargo mostly of flour. It cost in New Y or k about 10 dole. per , barrel, and was sold inimedi a t e l Per barrel for Y on arrival for 25 d ots: : De d uct 5 dole, all charges, and the clear profit on the shiptneat of 8,000 barrels was 80,000 dols. The tiaine shi meut from thence to Calcu tta took in a c argo of sa ltpetre, &c., for New York. The not profits of the voyage wore about ilt,o oo 9 7 (1,17(fuyem intowgs NEW WRIT. A sea . writ was issued for Leominster, in the place of Mr. Arkwright, deceased. BROADSTAIRS HARBOUR AND PIER BILL. On the motion that this bill be read a second ti'ute, Sir E. DERING moved that it be read a socond time that day three months. The inhabitants of St- Peter's most strongly objected to a certain clause, and the reason that they had not opposed the bill in the cyst instance was that, till Friday last, they were un quainted with its provisions. If the hon. membor e whose names were at the back of the bill would wit - draw the objectionable clause, he would withdraw hie opposition. - BROTHERTON said the clause would be with &awn. The bill Was then read a second time. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were severally read a second time,.. and ordered to be committed : —Bagualstown and Wexford Railway, Bardney, 4k.c. Drainage, Bawtry and Tinsley Road, Crowland and Eye Road, Dewo bury, Batley, and Heckaaondwike Water, Foreot of Dean Central Railway ; Hampstead Junction,. Railway ; London, Tilbur y, way (Additional Capital , and Southen d E 4ll- & c .) ; London, Tilbury, R and Southend Railway (Extension and Branches) ; Perth, Almond Valley, and Methven Railway ; Perth Burg's and Harbour ; Poole and Bourne Valley Rail way ; Uttoxeter and Blythe Marsh Road ; and Wem and Bronygarth Roads ; C3lnbrook, Datchet, and Slortili Road ; Conway and Llandudno Road ; Mid:aud RAJ:LW/al; ' Bedford and Bletchley Buckghamsh. Clydesdale le. Col. Stour Vy. Sud. and Hal. Lin. g. 6 pe. B. Un. H. Sh, Clan. Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. New Glstr.ds Dn. Fr Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway Hll & Selby Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon.&Greenw Do. Preference Lon., Til., & S. Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Manch. Bxtn and Matlock Middlesbro' & Re d car , Midld.Bradfct Newmarket Bury E. G.spe N.& Est.s P.C. Do. 6 per et. Do. Fizeds p e frost. & y:e Do. Shrs. A Roystn.& Hit. Shef. Roth and Gooleg.s Shrews. &Her. ) S. Staffordsh. Wear Vallaygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&flomrst EIBNY A Clogln* rrlc. tlii sl Ay. PRE FE Eit. gt. St. 25 Aberdeen.. Do. N 0.2, 7 p IDo. Debentures Myth tuadTyne leper c. prof. (issd. at 501,) RllB. SI Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Ches. &Ho. On. 5 j pc Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Do. do. Pref. No. 2 Cork dtßandons3p.c Dun.Prth . ch Aber. J Z. Anglian Cis. A Sh Do. do. Cls. B 6 p. c Do. do Cls. C 7 p. c Eat. Co. Ex, spc No. Do. No. 2 Q.... • Do. Now 4 p. o. St East Iln., G. 6 p. c. Do. 5/. 10 per coat Do. 101. Debentr.Sh. Do. do. 4 per cent East Lancash.6 p. cts R. &W. York. J. sthe EMU. & 01. 5 p. e. sh. Rd. Prth.&Dun.4p.c Furness Glas. & S. W. G. 5 p.c Great Northn. 5 p, c Do. 5 p. o. Redeem. 1 at 10 p. o. prom... ' Do. 43 p. c I De. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red at 5 p. c. pm._ .. I Gt. N. of Soot. Ist Pre Gt. S. i: W. (Ireland Do. 4 per 0. Prof. S I Gt. W.(11. itll.Exspe ' Do, con. led. 43 p.c. D.o. con. 1 ed. 4 p. c. Do, irrcd. 4p. c. Do. 5 p. c. red. prof Do. do. do. Do. Birm. Pref. - 311 1 Do. Chester 8 p. c. P. 9 De. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Bina, Gua. Stk Do. Ches. Gua. Sh Do. do. do Do. do. do ...... Lan. &York. F. £2' Do. 6 p. 0. Stock .. Lon. &Brigh. G. 5 p.c. Do. Prof., 5 p. c. St' Do. New Guar.6 p. e. Do. do. 5 por cent . Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 p. ct. 1 100 Low& S. IV. 7 per ct all Lowly. & Color. 3Sh .11 Londy. & Ennis.. S' 10 Nf.,5..& L.,Now,IS/ 4 00. £6 all l&arypt .& Carl.4p o all Do. 4.3 per cent 10i Do 100 Kid. Consol.6 p.c.St 100 00. Con. Ilr.Wr. 6p( 100 Do. iti p. o. Pref. S all Do. Prof. 4i per cen all Do. 51. Pref. 4 p. c. 100 Ditto L. kIL Prof. S. . 411 1 New., Aber., ice., pr. f 5 p. e. red. &I p.c. pm. all Norfolk Debenture 'lOO Do. Pref. 4p. c. St. cl: 100 Do. 5 p. o. Rat 100 Do. 53 per et. prof._ 100 'Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c 100 North British I 100 N. E. Berw, 4 p.c. P 7 ~ D o, do. do 13 !Do ,Leeds 6 p.c ..No.l 9 'Do. do. Qiuutors ~. 10 ,Do.Yorkll.& Pi. Pur all 'North Statfordsldre. 100 0x,W0.&W.1516pe t IDo R. Pref. 101. Sh. all Boot. Cont. ,New Pre' all 'South Devon 11 Do. fixed, 43 per cow all. S. Eastern (Readinc Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 41 per cent I Do. Fixed 4} p s eh I S. Wales Gus. 4 p. c Do. do. 411 p. c S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar Stock. & Dar., 5 P. e • 80. do. do Stock. & Hartl. g. 5 p. c. till July 1, '56 1 Witold. & Kilk.6 pc 100 100 1 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 all all all 20 5 20 18 FM 20 .0 $O all 14 all 14 100 10 20 26 all an an all all all all all 91 90i 75i 56 1 it I 813 I) 7 6i 97 61 71 OR 1103$ 75i. 6 5 14/ llf 14i 15 514 8) 10 9i 10i 1 all &gni' Fria ..... ... ... ... ... 1 all Anglo Austrin. Gold „.. ... I,or all Anglo Californian 1 g 20 61 Australian. 1 I all Australian Cordillera ; ~. ... 1 all Ave Maria 1.41 - ••• 1 all Baden (Gd• Duchy of) ... ... 50 I all Bleenar. Iron & Coal ... 20 114 British Iron 8 35 26 Brazil ianlmp.(issued at £5 pm.) 30 all Do. Cocaes tr Cniaba `,3 ti 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 27 2 ' 271 1 4 Clarendon Cons. Min. Co. of Jamaica — ir 40 all Cobra Copper 66 —. 63 5 1 Colonial Gold — • . , St. all Copper Min. of Eng 35 •38 25 all Do. Prof. ri p. cent 26 28 26 1 ... le Copiapo 2l. 23 221 1 14 Fortuna 1 }d 1 SO all Geneal l4 —l6 1 all Gt.NuggetVeinßeg 4 i 41 all Great Polrooth 5 all Gt Wheal Tor United 1 • • id 1 all Liberty S - i 3 I all Linares. 64 —7/ 74 7 5 11 Lusitanian 4 I ill i 1 all Slariquita . all New Granada — 1 all fNouvoan Monde 20 all Pontgi.Sil.& Lo. Min. 12 14 5 1 Port Philip — .. 1 all Quartz Rock 4 # 60 all Rhymnoy Iron l9 21 x. d 15 all Do. New 6 8 id 30 13i iantizteo de enba.. 2i -- 3 ... 6s. .B i4 ort. Cons. Min. Co. 3} 44 , 1 all )11th Australian.., - 1 1 all Do. Scrip - i 1 i Do. 10 par cent Pref ~. . .. 41 Tall. S. &L. Min. Co. . ••• 28 1 / aall=::: l_34 51 I 10 9 Pin Croft .l —....- 4 1 all Waller 1 12s. Worthing Mining of Australia 1 sill Yuba .... -- ..... ... MISCELLANEOUS. 26 ' 19 Australian Agricult. 264 261 254 IC all Aust.raln. Royal Mail , . 4 1 10 all Berlin Water Works 6 . 1 7 4 6 4 50 40 Brit. American Land 47 50 tip 321 Canada ,127 132 199 St. leo C.Go.6p.c.Jan&.;nlyllo3 10,9 1081 ; Bt. 100 Do. 6 p.c. Fob & Aug 105 107 St. 100 Do. 6p.c. Mar & Sept 108 110 5 ail Crystal Palace 2l 2t 2i 5 all Do. Preference 5 81 4 all 1 Crystal Pal.of France ... _ ... 1 4 Duston Iron Ore ... ... 20 13 I ern Steam ..... 14 --.' - .:. ldi 174 25 5 all] gaElecitrAicusTCelaepgraSmphC o ! 194 1 — 24 4 204 20 1 all Electric Teleg. of Ir ' .„., . _ ... 1185 alll 4 Generall2le n . Con. I r on o t.rr S oeow e t e s : te : ra i a e ni r i . ::: .... . i. 20 5 a l ll O Stea 8 7 Navigat. ... -- ... 274 4 alt Lind. Gen. Ommh" 34 3 4 41 11 20 10 Magdalena St. Navlg ... ._.! 10 all Mediteran. Elec. Tel. 8 10 10 9 Mexican &S.Amoricn. 51 64 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuei ... ... 10 5 Netherland ] ; o. La n . d... : ..; i = lt 10 all Do. 5 2 Do. 8p e P iss at 1 d 4 ill 100 80 New B. & N.S. Land 11 22 1 all N. B. Australasian... i •—• t SO ,15 Nrth.oflicropoSteara ... --• • • 144 115 1 1 all Oriental GM 1 ••• 11 1 ; 2a. Do. "New Shares" ... --- 5 ' all Pool Rr. Ld. & Minrl. 24 24 6) all Peninsular& Oriental . —• ... 624 5) 10 Do. New 2 all Portland Iron Co ,•• ••• 10) 60 Royal Mail Steam .... 'i . ._ ... 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 1 l ..... 1 1. 6 Ditto New 215 el South Anstral•Land 351 311 t all Samar. Tel. Scrip... i 1 I SO all Do. Registered S ""' i 17. 5 Praia& L.Co.U.Can. ...... 100 28i v.. Tlloin,•n i . ' ..,. 18 4 ~,, i ts .. ~. Y.4o,6p,c,JankJuly „. G. ~, 64 85 205 f 19i i I 251 611 'a 9 123} 191 19i I 15 4 h I Si I 37i 191 I 9 THE CREW OF THE POLYPHEMUS. We have received the the Admiralty of the crew their way to England : Mr. Warrington, paymaster Mr. Tracoy, midshipman Mr. Burnett, master•asaist. Mr. Morris, engineer Mr. Chambers, engineer Mr. Jones, engineer H. Harrison, bombardier J. Case, gunner H. Toriington, drummer J. Bevirdock, private J. Vincent, private John Byrnes, private Geo. Arthur, gunner John Well, A.B. Wm. Davis, buy, 2d Wm. Martin, boy, 2d John Crosby, boy, 2 , 1 Chas. Foster, boy, 2d Chas. Cook, boy, 2d Benj. Green, boy, 2d Henry Stephens, boy, let John Healey, boy, let Chas. Praguell, boy, let John Holdbury, boy, let Charles Ryon, boy, lit .TOl a Marks, stoker John Barnes, stoker Wm. Martin, stoker Win. Francis, stoker John Donation, stoker Wm. Coombs, stoker Chas. Wilson, stoker Edward Aveoy, stoker Thos. Eldcrtou, stoker Wm. Gammon, A.B. P. Roach, ordinary Thos. Walker, sailor EdwardLuko, cook Total —G offi c FOUNI Thomas Maunder, boat swain's mate following nominal list from )f the Polyphemus, now on Thos. Biddlosomb, carpenter Jno. Dutton, carpenter Jno. Hunt, stoker Sam. Carter, stoker Robt. Harris, captain 11. T. Thos Kirby, ropemaker Thos. Tiverton, captain F.T. Jno. Etherage, ordinary ,Taa, Robinson, A.B. Win James, s. cook H. It 3ynard, cap. coz .T. Chisholm, ord J. Moore, ord J. Brag g , boy E. Carley, boy R. Rance, ord J. Faundeli, cap. A. G. E. Cunningham ' stoker T. H ar b er t , s t o k er J. Russ, stoker R. Smith, steward E. Goodwin, private J. Causidy, musician C. Balls, steward I R. Tiviney, serjeant ' J. Barnett, private T. Bassett, private A. Salter, private P. Jennings, private T. Jones, private D. Newman, private J. Cook, private E. Hayward, private J. Fawkes, private T. Wheeler, private J. Askel, A. B. G. Riley, ord :era, 71 men. D DEAD. Satnuel Pearse, boy, let John Reynolds,captain A.G. Total-3 uien. Note.--Another body not identified. With reference to the following names there is nothing specified :-- Geo. Everest, snr,geon ;Edward Malone, sick boy Mr. Wood, engineer Charles Howes, stoker Mr. Hay, clerk James Cooper, A.B. Mr. Parsons, gunner I Josh. Woodford, marine Mr. Lellan, capt. stew. I Wm. Puttick, boy Pat. Keith, Ord. 1 Wm. Mitchell, boy Total-4 officers, 8 men. Mr. Herbert, Master Giles Wilkes, B. M*te Sam. Fletcher, C.F.E. Hy. Forbes, C.F.E. Wm. Jordan, ord. Ai`Lacklan, C. M. T. Jno. Ford, boy, I Chas. Persey, A.B. Geo. Briggs, ord. Jas. 0. Connor, ord. Fly. Dowling, carpenter Thos. Johnston, blacksmith Axford, cooper Edw(l. Scavillobury, sail maker Jno. Richards, boy, 1 icor, 20 men. Jas. Hardy, ord. Jas. Jenkins, A.B. Stop. Longhurst, boy, tat Wm. Martin, boy, let Alex. Sutherland, ord. Jas. Robinson, boy, lit- Total-1 o: HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(This Day.) - The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 •'clock. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE QUALIFICATION BILL. On the motion of Mr. COLVILLE this bill wai read a second time. Numerous petitions were presented from Dissenting Congregations and others against opening the Crystal Palace, British Museum, and Natiohal Gallery on Sun days. The following bills were read a second time :—Black burn, &c., Roads ; Canada Company ; Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway ; Doddington Rectory Division ; Kettering and Newport Pagnell Road ; Lewes, Eagt• bourne, and Hailsham Road ; Maybele and Crirvan Railway ; Salisbury Market Branch Railway and Mar ket House; Stockton and ➢arlington Railway ; Tor moham Water ; Wandsworth and Putney Gas, and Yarmouth and Haddiscoe Railway. ADMIRALTY CHARTS. Oa the motion of Mr. °TWAY, a return of all the 'Ulla received from the sale of Admiralty Charts during .he year 1855 wag ordered. FORMATION, &c. OF PARISHES BILL. The Marquis of BLANDFORD moved the second reading of the bill, which was for the purpose of forming parishes to facilitate Church endowments. The origin of the formation or subdivision of the country into perishes arose in early ages from the necessity of the nebdivision of the labours of the ministry to obtain an increased amount of efficiency, and become the centres of union and activity, from whence their efforts might be directed to the people forming their congre gations. It was to render this system perfect that had induced him to bring forward this measure. The noble marquis referred to the state of the country at the early period alluded to, and traced the changes that bad taken plac3 in the formation of parishes from that time to the present, and pointed out the evils of which he complained, and the remedies he proposed. There were two districts requiting those endowments, one partly endowed and the other that receiving its emoluments from pew rents. Of the former there were 3,528 ancient parishes with stipends under 1501. per annum, to aug ment which a late Ecclesiastical Commissioner reported would require 145,0001. for those under public pa tronage, and 131,0001. for those under private patronage. The number of parishes where there was no endowment, but where the emoluments were derived from pew rents, numbered from 800 to 1,001. He entered into the de tails of the bill relative to the patronage of the living., and the provisions he had made for any interference with existing interests. If the house wished it, he ghouls' have no objection to refer the bill to a select com mittee. Ho concluded by moving the second reading of the bill. The motion having been eecondei, Mr. HADFIELD said it appeared to be a part of the noble marquis's bill to continue church rates, which he (Mr. Hadfield) was at a loss to understand, finding the noble marquis's name on a bill for an alteration in olzureh rates. The Church of England was at present iuvoived in such inextricable confusion, that it was impossible the question could be properly dealt with otherwise than by a Government measure. He moved the second reading of the bill that day six months. Sir G. GREY hoped the house would not refuse to read this bill a second tine. The Government would not oppose the appointment of a select committee if the house thought it desirable. The objections to the bill stated by the hon. member (Mr. Hadfield) were matters of detail only, and could not be well entered into then. Mr. GLADSTONE supported the bill. The amendment was ultimately withdrawn, and the bill read a second time, and referred to a select eom• mittee. POLICE (COUNTIES AND B. OROUGHS) BILL. Ou the motion of Sir GRORGR Garr" that this bill be read a second time, Mr. Hadfield, Air. Manta, and other hon. members presented petitions against the se cond reading of the bill. Mr. lIADFIELD moved the postponement of the second resoling of this hill for a fortnight. The bill was objectionable, and had been condemned by several bo roughs, and he complained that this bill had been unduly and hastily pressed forward. The bill was introduced on this day week, printed en Thursday, and appointed for a second reading on Monday, but postponed till to day. The municipal corporations throughout the country could not have had an opportunity of discuss ing the merits of this bill, which interefered with the present police regulations in the various municipal boroughs throughout the country. lie therefore asked for this postponement to give the municipal corporations an opportunity of expressing their opinions on this bill. ' He had that morning received 30 letters from as many corporations complaining of the undue haste of the Government in pressing forward this bill. Ile condemned d t o the people of Eng goading of this bill be the principie of the bill, and the municipal corporations complained that the bill took away their powers of self-government. The effect of the bill would be to centralise the direction of thi s force, and throw all the powers for regul a ti ng it into the hands of the Government with out any means of redress. It would be the means of esta b lishing the system, l s a p r y ld H e moved d it wasso d that the n postponed for a fortnight. Sir G. GREY said that if any good and substantial reason were shown to the satisfaction o f t h e house for the o se i c o o ug postponement of the bill, he had nu interest for pressing it forward, andwould consent to the p o stponenient. If they agreed to the second reading, lie wo aid fix Friday fortnight for going into committee on it, which would give the municipal corporations au opportunity of examining its merits, and any alterations and suggestions they might point on t should receive his best attention. Mr. HENLEY complained of the haste displayed by the Government in pressing forward this bill. Sir F. BARING hoped the Government would con sent to the postponement asked for. Mr.. R. PALMER, who expressed himself favourable to the bill, WAS of opinion the delay asked fur should be granted by the Government. Time would be saved by adopting that cisnrse. Sir J. WALMSLEY supported the postponement of the second reading. He believed that this bill, like the last, would be strongly opposed and ultimately thrown out. Sir G. GREY consented to the postponement of the second reading, and fixed this day fortnight for its being again brought forward, or as soon after as possible, should that day be found to be inconvenient. After some further discussion the amendment was carried. The second reading was accordingly postponed. JOINT. TOOK BANKS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill, comprising only a preamble and one clause, passed through committee without opposition. 97 6} PA pm 123 109 10 si 134 95 1 a Gre►t Weetera Railway of Ireland ; Prlsenere - Dia. charge Society. I Mr. MALINS gave notice of hie intention to intro duc 3 a bill to do away with the present distinction be tween special and simple contmet debts. SALARIES OF COUNTY COURT JUDGES. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on that day fort. night he would move for leave to bring in a bill to rep late the salaries of county court judges. SANDHURST COLLEGE. Colonel NORTH asked what steps bad been taken by the. Government (in accordance with the promise made last year) to carry into effect the recommendation of the. Committee on Sandhurst College for the admission at 10 additional cadets int) the orphan class at that esta bliehment ! • Mr. F. PEEL said no steps had been taken to fill up the proposed cadetships, because it was thought better to let it stand over for the present. 1 4 REYENTION OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. Mr. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD staked the Vice- President of the Board of Trade whether it was his in tention to propose, during the present session, auy Inma n-I.e for the prevention of accidents on railways ; and also, as it appeared from the proceedings in reference to the report of the officer appointed, to. inquire into the condition of the Eastern Counties Railway, that, though the Board of Trade had the power to direct inquiries into the condition of any line of railway, it had no power to compel the repairs that may be absolutely necessary for the security of the public, whether it was his hates. tion to introduce any measure for the purpose of inveit hag the Board of Trade with the authority neoessary for the purpose ? Mr. LOWE said it was the intention of the Presi dent of the Board of Trade to introduce his bill of last session, with reference to railway accidents. The second part of the question was under discussion. In answer to a question from Mr. M‘Milsou, Mr. HORSMAN said it was not his intention to bring in any measure for facilitating the reclamation of Irish waste lands ; neither did be intend to bring in any measure to amend the Irish grand jury system. Colonel W. PATTEN asked whether the joint con mission agreed to in the month of August last by the Emperor of Morocco and her Majesty's Minister Neal potentiary, to arrange a commercial treaty, had yet stet, and, if not, what was the cause of the delay ? Lord PALMERSTON said that in consequence of some delay on the part of the Emperor of Morocco, which he explained, the treaty alluded to had not yet been arranged. REGULATION OF THE NAVY. Mr. BRADY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he intended altering the regulations in her Majesty's navy, by which the following officers were at present not allowed to have the distinguishing mark of gold lace on the cuffs of their undress coats, thereby reducing them to a level with the inferior grades of officers, via.: Inspectors and deputy inspectors of hospitals, staff sur geons, surgeons and assistant surgeons, paymasters and assistant paymasters ? Sir C. WOOD said the regulation of uniform for Ike navy was under consideration. SARDINIA AND THE EAST. Mr. LA.YARD 'Mod the First Lord of the Treasury if the report with reference to the exclusion of Sardinia feom the lats conferences atConstantinople wais true, and if Sardinia had protested in consequence Lord PALMERSTON said that the Conferenoes al- luded to had reference only t 3 the fourth point, that of the arrangements to be made by the Sultan in favour of his son-Mussulmen subjects and to the principalities. Sardinia had not been communicated with on the subject, it being considered not a question affecting the peace negotiations, but to be decided on by the Sultan independently. Sardinia applied to be admitted, bat the representatives of France and England haying no instructions on the point, Sardinia therefore was not present at the conferences. - MUNICIPAL REFORM BILL (SCOTLAND). Leave was given to Mr. EWAILT to bring in a bill to extend the provisions of Scottish Municipal Reform Act to certain Royal Burghs in Scotland now excluded from _the benefits of that act. PUBLIC JUSTICE. Mr. NA.PIER moved the following resolution : " That in the opinion of this house, as a measure of ad ministrative reform, provision should be made for an efficient and responsible Department of Public Justice, with a view to secure the skilful preparation and proper structure cf Parliamentary bills, and promote the pro gressive amendment of the laws of the United Kingdom." The hon. and learned member said he retie for the purpose of redeeming a pledge which he gave in the last session with re gard.to what must be a matter of great importance to the people of ,this country, namely, the framing of their laws. This was not an isolated or departmental question ; the inte• rests of the whole community were involved ; and it was surely the duty of that house to adopt the best means of improving the current legislation of the country. Let the house observe the magnitude of the evil which they bad to grapple with. The state of the laws at present was, he said ad visedly, disgraceful to a civilised country like this. They had Seat their common law and customs, scattered over he knew not how many volumes and traditions, They had three differ ent systems of law, to which every session was adding, for England, Ireland, and Scotland. So far as Scotland was concerned, he would do her the justice to say that she gave the Legislature very little trouble. As regarded Ireland; he must say there was no part of the United Kingdom which suffered more from the state of the laws and the state of current legislation. Identity between legislation for England and that for Ireland was the eakeption rather than the rule, aid towards midnight the pe culiar system ef legislation to which that country was sub jected occupied a large portion of the time-of the house. The number of public statutes applying to England and Ireland, exclusive of local and private acts, was 18,284. This was in addition to the common law, which- was common to both countries. There were 34 volumes of English end 19 vo lumes of Irish acts. Before the Union there were 2,263 public statutes peculiar to Ireland, and 1,300 bad been added since. The system of double legislation which prevailed i created the greatest inconvenience, and inflicted great evils upon society. Lord Bacon remarked on the accumulation of the statutes in his own time, though the number was then only 2,572. He had there a book which showed that in the reign of her present Majesty there had been more public statutes passed than existed down to the reign of Elizabeth. Some of tha statutes which remained unrepealed were absurd and ludic rous in the extreme. For example, one statute imposed a penalty on Irish prelates for bringing any Irishman to Par liament ; another imposed a penalty for carrying collie to Newcastle. (Laughter.) Another prohibited any Irishman from coming toEngland without a testimonial from the Lord- Lieutenant ; another forbad any person keeping wore than 2,000 sheep ; another had reference to abstinence from teak in Lent. These were mere samples of the mass of obsolete sta tutes. The statute law commiegion gave a list of 10,047 statutes which Were either repealed or obsolete. A resolution was passed by that house last sear for sweeping away all this mass of obsolete legislation. But had that been dens i On the contrary, the nobis lord at the head of the Government, *eh asked a question on the subject the other night, sail the task far exceeded the powers of the present Governmeet—aa an swer which did not afford much hope of any attempt at Is. provement by the Administration, and which therefore jus tified the attempt which he himself was now making. 114 sots were passed during the last session. Thus the process ef accumulation was still going on ; and the weight of law under which the country had been so long groaning was still increasing. It was remarkable that while so mazy abortive attempts at improvement in this respect had been mode in i this country, the object sought had been acoemplisked is ether eoun,tries and at other periods. The JustiniauCiede was perfected in lees than four yeas', and the Code Napoleon in 102 sittings. There was a more modern instanee is the case of New York. In that state a complete.digest had been made of the statute book, incorporating so much of the common law as was inseparable tram the statute-book. The whole was reduced to three octavo volumes ; and the Judge of the Su preme Court of New York, Mr. Parker, said that, on the whole, the consolidation was highly successful, and popular with the profession. Lord Bacon made proposals to James the First for the consolidation of the laws, observing, that he thought he should best show his gratitude to his Majesty for midsize him Attorney-General by reducing and re-compiling the laws of England. It was often said that obsolete statutes dill ne harm ; but, in opposition to this view, Lord Bacon. re marked, that by leaving ou the statute-book acts which were unsuited to the spirit of the times in which they lived, the Legislature weakened the authority ef the other laws, and the living died in the arms of the dead. One important point was to fix the boundary of legislation, to determine where legislation should stop, and where reason, education, and re ligion should be loft to exercise their influence. In 1787 Her grave alluded to the increased costs of the eecumulaCen of the statutes, and observed that were Bacon and Hale evils. alive they would not bo unconcerned spectators of those. Since that period the statutes had double d in num ber. Is vus the year 1816 a 'resolution in favou r of class ifying the a sta nd tu o t n es e w d a d s re p oo ro the ou j H eo s t us) re o e f egeeed Lords, p t o o sed the a to c s a v r n ri o ed a th e in to. 4,585 statutes had since been added. 'ln 1826 came that work ef Sir Robert Peel, one of the graaasea monuments of his practical statesmanship and ability —the consolidation of the criminal code. Sir liehere Peel availed himself ef the best assistance in the perforewee ef his task ; he declared that lawyers came to his aid ass the most generous manner ; and, accordingly, the attempt made was eminently successful. Great public advantage was at once derived from the classification of offences late effences ag ainst the person, offences a ga i nst property, and so on. That change, though very good as far as it wen t, aff e cted only the criminal law. In 1833, Lord Brougham, then Chan cellor, appointed a commission. The commission mad, a re port in 1835, but nothing was done in consequence. There had been a great deal of advice on the subject, end • great deal of pointing out what, ought to be done ; but wkat Parliament wanted wits that something should be .done. (Hear.) , In 1843 Lord Brougham addressed letters to the Vii" hon. baronet the member for Carlisle (Sir J. Graham), who took a great interest in the subject when be was at the head of the Home-of ice. In Feb., 1853, the present Lord Chauceller pro posed to Parliament an admirable plan for coneelidating the statute law. He proposed to begin to proceed afterwards to classification, then to consolkie !! and lastly he proposed to set up a standard of new legiatti_i_ He (Mr. Napier) thought that if that proposal had Lie isi. P I L perly carried out, the result would have been rie be f ,,,, r ',England present there was a double system of legislation .. _ ,___ with expurgatioos, and Ireland, and had the statutes of the toe eeun,. l3 : " re :7 3 , consolidated into one imperial statute cedrore bee however, that might have been anticipated. It now ap ps bih' Chancellor pro i the very first step in the process, in wh ich t h e preparation ab bly expected no di ffi culty in 1853 stated the other of a bill— . to take. • The noble lord (Lo ,-- rd ~.I : e z e b ie. - Ho had now pointed I night that that step was imP r _lr t - it ee , and he thought he had was one which the Govermwelevntotnw)ere not prepared ' out the state of the existing rathey ought not to be allowed shown that it was one in whi h In po nt of fact, the Statute Law to remain. (Hear, hear dsou.:eirded• in doing the work which it not s ucceed He now came to the next branch 1 current legislation. This was of still , e f the subject, Cwommumeiosseesaionryhtoad haery folotboantre than the state of the statute-book. In olete statutes, good sense might enable them without much harm; though it was not, ere ' 4.° '' truggle the people of this country that their laws should l i tuesrcazoiterdoisot oP letsble to i:I. such a on condition. (Hear, hear.) He had always been t nt ss to do what he c ould to assist in the legislation of ol"'" ~ ntrv. but he had constantly been baffled in his at , trill/ As, Seamen after session, and night after night , he saw i l ; this ensue k -- in -" d . of bills introduced. That night he heard that e i le Old Fishery Bill, which he had considered to be extin a, tished last year, was to be introduced again in the present ,e, ;SI• "on He wished some of th e fi nanc i a l ge ntlemen would urine hate the expense to which this country was put by exi were Lba rtivo bills, and doubted not that if such an inq uir y ,„-- • - s. 'e it would turn out that the cost was sufficient to pay an him 14 l PUS motion. (Rear, hear.) . * P- m - c A. a staff for the furtherance ofthiao,bjeet contemplated by iN, public, bill ould be 1 I 1100 3i 100 100 100 1.00 a!I I'lo ,100 190 ILO° 22 +ll all 8 all 94} f 698 } 30; 29 631 3 20 126 25 20 St. ?aid. all all all , C 3 18?, 20 e