The Sun. — London, England, 1863-04-24 00:00:00

AND I COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK The reduction in the minimum rate of discount at the Bank of England has led to greater easiness in the open market, 38 per cent. being now taken for the negociation of first-class three months' bills. There is abundance of floating capital, and an active com petition in monetary circles. The alterations exhibited in the Bank of Eng land return were precisely those that might have been anticipated, owing to the tendency of the specie movement, and the position of the general discount market. The following are the parti culars ! Subjoined is an analysis of the Bank of England return for the week end:ng Wednesday last : - Active Circulation .. •£20,800,305 Increase ..• 0. GO Bullion .. 93,A25.. • . 15,387,151 Increase .. .. • • .. 1 5 7,914 Rest • ; .. 3,100,148 Increase GO GO 0 *0 6,721 Public Deposits .. • • 6.316,413 Increase 6. es e. 547,137 Other Deposits.. .. • . • . 14,739,897 Decrease 90 00 273,494 Seven Day and oth er Bill s .. • • 6,2,921 Decrease • . • • 7,119 Government Securities .. 12,051,395 Increase • . • . .. • . 921,950 Other Securities .. 18,034,138 Decrease .. • • • • • 714 094 Notes Unemployed • • • • 8,391,525 Increase • • 49,080 There were no bullion operations of public inte rest at the Bank of England yesterday afternoon. During the last few days there has been a rather large amount of business transacted in the Foreign and Colonial Produce Markets. At the public sales of tea prices have slightly advanced, while sugar, coffee, and cocoa have fully maintained ptevious prices. Rice has been dull, while the inquiries for saltpetre and tallow have been more active. P.Y.C. on the spot is now quoted 435. per cwt. on the spot, and 465. 6d. for last three months' delivery. Two O'CLOCK. At the Paris Bourse this day, according to Mr. Renter's telegram, the 3 per Cent. Rentes were 69F. 30c. —very flat. At the first ordinary meeting to-day of the share holders of the Bombay Gas Company, Mr. Evan s in the chair, the report submitted for a toption stated that the applications for shares had been in excess of the amount rtquired, and that Lhe under taking had met with a favourable reception by the local an thorities in Bombay. A plot of ground had been obtained at a reasonable price. The site abutted upon the Great Indian Peninsula Rillway, with which it will be connected by a siding, givin g great facili ty f cr the transport of plant and mate- sj rials. The market for the English Funds opened this morning with a flat appearance, und further sales being pressed, a decline of per cent, ensued, Consols receding to 921$ for money and the account. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities are a little depressed at 911 1, and the New 21 per Cents. at si 76,4, The 6 per Cents. are 1081; Bank Stock is firm at 234 236; and Exchequer Bills at ss. prem. at Indian descriptions are steadily maintained; the 5 per Cent. is quoted 1098 g, the 5 per Cent. Enlaced Paper, 178. to 21s. 1 071 prem ; the 51 ditt o , 1151 ; and the Bonds, I . t The Foreign Stock Market to-day has been corn- Paratively dull, but many of the quotations have at continued firm. A small amount of business has st taken place in Turkish. The 6 per Cents,, 1858, have been dealt in at 681. ; in the 6 per Cents.. at 691 70k; the C onso l i d es are 471 1, being , 1862 per i t cent. low er ; and the New Loan is 1 1 prem. Greek are 2 81 29 ; and the Coupons, 13f showing no alteration ; Italian Stock is 701 to 71; and th e C onfederate Loan is 11 1 prem. 4 t! D ,alings hav e t a k en p l ace in Dutch 4 p t er Cents. at 1004; the P or t uguese L oan of 1862, at 471 48 ; in the It a li an M aremmana Stock, at 751; and in at Egyptian, at 971 981 ; M ex i can Stock is steady, at 331 ; Brazilian 5 per Cents. are marked 100,i, 2 and the 41 pe r C ents , at 931 1 94. The deal.ngs in the Railway Share Market have been extremely limited, and prices have further given way. Great Easterns and South Westerns have declined about 55., and Lancashire and York shire, North Western, and South Eastern 10s. The Foreign and Colonial undertakings con tinued dull, at about previous quotations. Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneoue Shares re mained inactive. London and South African have declined to 271. ; Standard of British South Africa to 151 16; and Electric Telegraph to 1011, --- BRITISH FUNDS —CLOSING PRICES. Bank Stock 8 per N C ent. Reduced Annuities 231 6 I er p Cent. C onso l s A nnuities 9 91 24 f i I ew 3 per C en t. A nnu i t i es per 5 3 2! 6 1 New 23 per C en t. A nnu i t i es.. Cent. Annuities Aontuties, 30 yrs, expire 6th Jan., hBO — Ditto for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885. —• Ditto (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908. I ndia Stock — Ditto 5 per Cent. 1 Ditto Enfac e d P aper, 4 per Cent..... . 1094 Ditto 5 per Cent D itto 65 per C ent 2 D , lionds Cl,f 100 ll5 16 Ditto ui t der Ll , OO O . 21 Bank S tock f 17 pm or Account Consols tor Account, May 7 Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 21 per Cent — Ditto Small 13rszilian 5 Der Cent. ...... ... .. Ditto, 1839 a n d 185 9 ... 1001 995 Ditto 43 per Cent., 1852-58-60 ..."'. ...... 931 1 4 Egyptian 7 pet Cent ................ 974 t 81. Greek 5 per Cent., 1.824-5, ex - Coup•ins.. I )itto Account . ..................... 284 94 84 Ditto Coupons ...................... 13a 4 'titian 5 per Con , . plareinmana Railway) 751 6 Mexican 3 per Cent "••'••••••••• Ditto Account .................... 331 I New G ranada ........ 15 Pu- nvian 4i per C ent. Ditto 1862 Ditto Account — Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853 Ditto • 1862 Ditto Scrip, £3O Russian s paid per Cent., 18'22, £ St e .) Ditto 5 per Cent., 1862 954 4 liipanish 3 per C ent . ..... ........ Ditto Passive ............... 4 Spanish Cert. of Coup .not fun.ded . kg 1 Turkish 6 p er C ent. 1854 . Unto Account Ditto 6 per Cent. 1858 Ditto 6 per C en t. 18 )2 .............. to Account Account D itto Guarar teed, 4 per C en t ..... • • . • • '704 5 70 69 4 I 102 Venezuel a , 3 per Cent Ditto Account 581 8 Dividends on the a b ove paya b le in London. Dut , l 21 per Cent., Ex. 12 Gull _ Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates I talbtu, 6 p er C ent., 1861, Ex. 25 francs — Ditto Account Consols ' M THREE oney .ilittoAccount Course of the Exchinge;::-This Day. Amsterdam Short. 11 16 11 164 3 Months. 11 18 11 184 Ditto 11 18 11 184 Rotterdam 25 45 26 60 Antwerp 25 45 25 60 brus , els 13 74 13 8 Ramburgh Short. 25 20 - 25 26 Faris 3 Months. 25 45 25 60 Ditto 25 45 25 60 Marseille 9 Fra nkfort on Maine ll9-1 1 194 nna 11 45 11 65 Vie _ 11 45 11 55 Trieste 351 351 F'etersbu; ia....... timearli_.i. ... ! 49i 49 caciTu. .........•. 484 496 teglln; 25 62i 25 57i 14 Ilan isl Geno a ........ 25 521 25 67 1 apta 25 55 25 60 p i e • .......... ter'"o ............. —• 25 57i 25 621 25 C2l tio:o'nua 53 Porto, -52 i 53i For • ........ •52i sig r , (1_,•, • . 0 0 0 Silver i n t tar ars ........................ South AmericatiStandard) ...... 0 5 1 4 boUb!oo .................. 0 0 0 -•,___... ~.„„„. ............12:: ........ The price of Gold. The quotation of goZtt Paris t i s to about i per mills pm., and the short exchange on .London c omparing these rates with thae 2 E 5 . 22 i per £1 sterling. On 128. mid. per ounce for standard gold°4llB4 Mint price of £3 o , n It o appears that gold is n any 2- i Oths 1 cr cent. dealer 11 Y advices from Hamburg the price:: n than i n Pa ris. gold is it 4 per mark, and the short exchange on London is -£1 sterling. tandard gold at the English 31int pric e 1. 1 r il e : 6 -10th s , , per cent. dearer in London than in Hamrtstore, about 60 ' 1 - ne coal se of exchange at. New York on London 1 g p or bills at idaYs' Sight is 164 to 167 i per cent., and the '0'4141,18 about 52 per cent. At these rates thereriesrml3n Profit the importation of gold from the United States, MONEY MARKET SHAM MARKETS—This day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOuRS, Share Railways. 13.14. [lir., Wol. and Str. Val. al; '45 wythe and Tyne. 10 130 st.,Sleal.,andMid.Co al st ;Bristol and Exeter lot st Caledonian lO 50 ! ork runt Bandon al 20 1 . 'orn 10 A cots no dig !Do A) al 10 Do B hII c.p an. h a L „I been paid to B. 50 !Dublin & Belfast Junc. all 25 ! Dun.,Perth.&Ab. June. all st 'Edinburgh & Glasgow. 100 et Glasg. and S. Western. 100 st Great Eastern, Ord. stk 100 at Ditto A stock 1 100 st st Ditto East A Scotland 100 !GreatNorthot lOO ea !Great Northern •1( st Do A stock st ' Do Bdo .... st iG t. S. !W. of Irelan , IC st 'Great Western IC at Do Str Val gua. s t oc k IC st , Lancashae & Yorkshirt it st !London and B I ack wal 10 at I Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast 10 st Lon., Chat., and Dover 10 st I Lon. & Nor' h Western 10 St !Lon. & Scr.th Western 10 1 St I Flan., Shef., & Lincoln. 10 1 50 Maryport and Carlisle al 12i ! Do, shares.. a 10 I Metropolitan a St Midland '. 4 .° Do New St Do Birming. & Derby 10 50 did. Gt. W. of Ireland a 25 Do. 4 shares 25 Mid Kent 10 Do Cray Line at North British St Edin., Perth. & Dundee It at Eastern—Berwtol. 25 Do, G.N.N. purchas, !O. st Do Leeds IC at Do York at Do Carlisle.... IC at North London 1 0 Do New 16.4 North Staffordshire a, and S. W. Junction al St •icottish Central at Scot N. E., Aber. stock 10 st Do Scot. Mid, stock lO 10 Shrews. and Welchpool al et Shropshire Union 10 St South Devon lO st South Eastern st 'South Wales st s. York. and River Dun IC 20 -,taines,Wok.,andWok 25 Stockton & Darlington a' 25 Do 25 Do New, 18116 at Taff Vale.. ........... 10 10 Do B 10 50 Ulster Do C .............. ................ al as Do .......... !.10 D o . 2 Nit %'alc of ...eath. ............ 5 10 it Victoria st a . and Pim.. l 10 It Waterford & Kilkenny! 10, t West Cornwall 1 10 , ,t %N. Hartlepool Har.&R 110 t West Midland Oxtordi 10 t Do N ewport 10 , Hereford 1, Closing Business Paid. Price. done. 8 81 7 Ft 83 fb 112 )12 112 i ci 6.1 40 42 13 14 89 91 106 108 51 52 44 46 24 25 1208 121, 120 12 13-1 136 101 103 66 (1i 1071 1071 76 77 114 116 39 44 9 1 071 101 102 43 44 11 12 121 o 122 i 2,i !.0 1* lea 0 91 93 50 St 24 25 99 100 55 664 66 67 115 117 4 1 15i 16} 14 It 20 122 43 44 98)C0 10 48 60 10 32 33 2 911 011 )0 6 - 0 . )0 99 101 11 7 8 11 37 38 15 9 . 10_ 8 71 103 4 )0 ,50 t, 8 4 5 3 31 • - -p 79 81 154 156 511 I I 28 30 43 15 n 7 38 98 100 1208 1011 1071 t 'lsk 14f 971 1 " 1 ; 431 121 12 12.* k 98i i 11 POf 1 BRITISH POs-; SSIONS, 4allways Ciosin_ Price. 100 tifintie &St Lawrene f iom.,Baroda,t.Cent. Ind Gu. 5 per cent....... 20 D e. N ew 20 Do. E. Shares... zoo Itutialo enc Lake Hurun I Al 10 Do. Pret erence CO 12 I 118 11,9 5 2 116 p i ii ti 4; b it U 71 8 )0 $ Buffalo, Brant,leGodricl to , 1 ip. ot. bds. Aug. 1, im% )O 00. do. July 1, 1871. iOi 0 0 'o. do. Junk. 1,1 r ins et leutta.&S.Eastn.(l,:, 101 st 'apeTown dr Dock Scril 10, :ock Flastn. Flengal gu. sp. ( 10 ock h:aet Lathan. au. 5 p. e. 10 20 Do. do. G Ext..... 20 Do. do. H do. .. )ck Grand Trunk of earutth, IQi )0 1107 1(8 , O 1( 9 (11 )O 107 i 1') 1( 9 (t. 5 1} 11„ it 5 15 0 1 ifp )() I)0 Ist Fr Bonds 7l Do. co. deferred...... al 62 (6 11 t 7 50 63 60 11 40 • 5 :17 42 1 32 86 .1 23 26 .1 21 23 L 9 110 12 1 1i 4 1} II LOU t , o. Pret . Bon is.. 00 DJ. do d fer ed...... al 00 Do. 3d 1' ef. stock ... 00 Do. do. d -ferr d.... al 00 Do. 4th Pref. s o k... al 00 Do. ao al ock lit.lndiaPeum.gua.ap.c 20 Do. New g, , aa. sp. c... 1 2 0 Do. January, 1862 .. ock South.of India (Lim auaranteed 5 per cent. 10 4 lit. W. of Canada Share, al 20 4 Do. New .. Do. 6 p.c. '73 wlth't opt. al 50 Do. 54 F. c. do. '77-8.. . al LO Indian Branch Limited ' )eh Madras guar., sp. c. It Xi` DO.ll p. c. Extensim tot f)c. 4 d 0...... .. V 0 Do. Fifth Extension. .1 p. 0. Buu 1( Melb. & Hobson's Bay. al; 10 Do. 7 p.c. &long. MI,. al siew ito answick dr, Can't.. u. 106 107 11 1 f 2 8f 8f 11 99 101 11 88 .2 2 __ll fp )u lO - '7 . 7 )0 00 102 ,0 ti 7 9 11 47 49 1. - _ (las. Asn 1 B - at Nr.ll.l•C'da6 po lst pt bds LI to( I Soinde .... •• • • ) (I' • • . i f s t 5 1 /0. Delhi . c qi ' I Do. do ..... ... • . le , tO Do. Punjaub st Do. Do. .. . •• • ..„ I ' . 1 ‘, k D, H I odus•St. Flo. J - k -----------__ II 3 5 too . E 0 ( 2 " ) 8 09 ~,,, 1 , 7 li9 2 i IP 1: li I v (0 11. 6 , - ) 1071 101 it 3 1071 ei 1877-S1 .......... 101. 104 Do. tp. c. Feb. it At_ u 100 t U i Do. dp. c.Mar.‘t Set, 10G Do. tp. c. Jan.&July. too 9, Do. ii Inscribed stock 100 14: 'ape G. Hope, 6 p 0,187; 100 i 1( Do.Ap Oct. 1884 100 ll! Do. 189, too t I Do. Jan. & July, 1 891.. 100 it: ,Ceylon. Nov.ls6l, 9p c too . , 11:411 itius 41 per cent .. iOO 11: Na a. G.v. 6 per cent.. 130 tit N.AI.Go v. Op.e. a.it.lul‘ 100 i, ! Lo . AP. c.Ap. &OK 100 N. S.W. 6 ow. 5 p 18 100 lf Do. p. to 1 -, r 100 1 - ! Do. d0.,1888 Acupwdk 100 I New Zealand 6 p cent. 100 t Nova Scotia Gov. 6p. e. sterling., 1875 tu: It 4 It 6 Queensland Gcv. 6p. c. 100 1 11:1 S . Aus Gsip.e.io76.,lL up. 104, 411 113 !Vic.tiov. Cip.e.Ja.&Jul:, 100 109 110 Do. jn qn.n. An.,VlMt. Ino 1091 110; '4 106 3 15 3 1(5 If 96 9ii 46 51 , 3 10 112 MI ,1 113 1 113 3 115 11 113 8 110 LO4 Vid 102 1024 102 10'24 io2i 102 1.024 1021 ilu 1,2 ;On f 10 WHITISH NITNE .4 leambrian Consul. Gold 1 id iitiora Amalgamated.. -- 20 22 20i Devon G. Cons. (Tavist..l 1 510 620 East Bassett ((Hoes'). 30 42 95 92 1 East Clogau Gold Ltd. 58. id p !East Caradon . ..... 42 43 41! 21 jEast Carn Brea... : 4.• 8,3- 4 2 ; (S Russel (Tavietk 8.1.6 31 41 ,Gam..irStA tib y t (Gwen 11 )7, 14 16 !Great South To lo- us 1 17. 5f 52 li. Whe a l Vor(llelstob 4( 6 4 7 !Grenvillf si 6 52 :Herod's-Foot ....... 404 /84 I: I ing-,alon Downs.... .•. 4. 7.0 21 3 Lad Bertha 2.0 o %largaret (Uny Lelant 33 35 arke Valley.. New Set0n.... Corti: Downs •-?1 2,4 3 liasePt ?..17.t 42 orth Wheal Crofty . 41 6 'ar Consols(.sl,. Blaze) 14 44 5 10 'rovidence(Uny aim. 10.6.: 11 43 South Caradon(St.eleer I 4 345 40 5 3. Carn Brea (Illogan) 3.15.1 32 4f Wheal Fran. (1110g2.1. i 18.1 87i 924 Stray Park 5 Nthar Silv.& Lead Mitt 44 1 1 LO Pin emit v 204 216 West Basset (Illogan) i l 4 12 ' 3 —; N Caradon (Liskeard I 5 28 SO IWest Seton — Nheal Basset (Illep.;an 674 726 heal Buller(Redl uth 00 55 heal Kitty (U.Lelant 2.0.6 WhealLud ott ........ 2.10. vt; heal AI aryAnn (Men. 8 164 Wheal Seton 584 245 heal Trelawney (Lis 7 1C? Wheal Union 3.17 46 81 8 5 4Z 255 r I7i PREFERENCE SHARES. Great Western, 5 per cent. red. pref., 104 London and W Brighton, 5 per cent. gua. stock No. 1, 1 14 test Midland, Oxford, 2d guaranteed stock, , 1201 20 PREFERENCE SHARES AND STOCKS. Great Eastern, 4 per cent., pi., 95! 6 Ditto, 5 per c•-nt., 105* London, Brighton, &c., 4, per cent., 1858, 102 LINES LEASED At' FIXED RENTALS. Clydesdale J unction, 102; Nottingham and Grantham R. & C., 94 FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Bahia and San Franc sco gua. 7 per cent., 21 1 Sambre and Jleu t ,e, 11 i 3 ban Pau o lira ), gua. 7 per cent., Ditto (.114 23i g. South Austrian aod Lombardo Venetian,:23l South -Eastern of Portugal, 13 FOitEIGN MINES. Cape Copper (lira.), 24 3 I'4)a Philip, II United Mexican (liar.), 6i g joj T-ST')CK FUNKS. Agra and Unitea :-ervice (lim.), 274 A A l u l s ia i r n a c l e as ß ia tTk n ot li Lonaon and .Liverpool (Um.), 30 291 Bank of Egypt, 30, 21 Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, 264 Col City, 91 9 :-,91 9 Llll:lln:did'usiltaaannn.:, Ir ish uhrinaaszilaillaninnd.•)iinn4PlB),n4 4 1 m ic ), 13 London d London ori , B J o i n t So 3 :., • u ‘ei. kA ;n r g i a l t n . PlateBi 7(1:n70,4262: London and Westminster, 774 3letrop and Prov. Bank attn.), 124 Oriental Bank Corporation. ss South Australia, 381 * Standard of British South Africa (lina. ), 16 151 St. Katharine, 51 3IISCILLANEOIIs, Australian Agricultural, 231 BerlinVater Works, Sg Crystal Palace, :14 Crystal Palace, ri per cent. perpetl. deb., 113} Electric ti legTapli, 101} London District Telegraph (1 m.), National Discount Company (lim.), t 52 Oriental Inland steam (lim.), 51 I Peninsula and 0 ieutai Steam, its hio de .Janeiro CO) , Improvements (lim.), £2, 31. Trust and Loan Co. of Up, cr Canada, 5. THE FRENCH OCCUPATION OF ROME.—The Italia of Turin announces that Viterbo has just been evacuated by the French troops. They are to be replaced by a garrison exclusively composed of Papal soldiers. Viterbo is a town of 15,000 inhabiants, situated to the north of Moint Sariano, and 17 kilometre@ south of Rome. This evacuation wculd appear to have a political signifi cance, It seem that the French occupation is manceuvr ing its sphere of action to the line from Civita Vecchia to Rome. By successive movements these two points will eventually be the only ones held. Thar 109 1 10 91 1 4 I i 94 1001 io6-1 i 107} 21 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 24, 1863. SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS---This Evening. The Lord Chancellor took his seat at the usual hour. PRI V ATE BUSINESS. The Cleveland Railway, Harruwgate Gas, Rugby Water, Scarborough Water, and Accrington Gas and Water Bills were read a sccond time. THIRD READINGS. The Market Harborough and Loughborough Road, London and North-Western, and Lanca.hire and York shire Railway Companies, South Staffordshire Railway and Denbe4 h Water Bills were read a third time and passed. THE WAR IN AMEKICA. Lord REDESDALE said he wished to know whether he understood the noble earl the Sr- cretary for Foreign Affairs to say that the United States Government had re quested the B itish Government to authorise the British Consul to 'pen the sealed mail bags from this country to see if amongst the letters anything b wring upon the question at issue between the North and South, in order that it might be conveyed to the American Government. Earl RUSSELL, who spoke in a very low tone of voice, was understood to say that such a demand had been made. The Earl of DERBY was surprises that a demand had been made that the sealed correspondence of a mail packet should be opened by the British Consul in the presence of an cfficer:of the United States, in order that the latter might ascertain whether there was evidence enough to justify rim in taking the vessel into a prize court for condemnation. He should like to know whether that demand had been denied or acquiesced in. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE thought the question of such a severe nature that the noble earl would well c ,n -eider it and answer it on Monday next. He should like to know upon what ground any British Consul had the power t, open any letters. He did not think he had the slightest right to do such an act. He hoped the noble earl would take the opinion of the law officers of the Crown in the question. Lord CL ELMSFORD wished to know whether any in formation had been reeeived relative to accounts he had seen m the evening papers—viz., that four more English vessels had been seized ? Earl RUSSELL said he had not received any official information on the subj , 2ct, but what was certain was, that for many months English vessels had run the blockade, and others had attempted to do so without success. Some of those had been captured, and more than likely the information referred to some of those ships. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE addressed another question to the noble earl, in a very indistinct manner. Earl RUSSELL said he had given a copy of Mr. Seward's Lett-r to Parliament, and he would take the opportunity of asking the law officers of the Crown to look into the law of nations on this point. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH asked how the British consul was to discover a letter containing anything of a treasonable nature. Was he to open it, or judge from supervision ? The Earl of HARDWICKE thought that the ploposi• tion was nothing more than that a British consul should be made use of t, att , ick British subj.cts. Lord TAUNTON commended the prudence of the Go vernment. War was a very serious thing, and he hoped that Eneland would cot allow herself to be entangled in it. The Earl of MALMESBURY wished to know whether the Govetnment had admitted or repudiated the demand ? Earl RUSSELL said the Gov- rnment had expressed an opinion, but had (as we understood the noble earl) issued a modified ord-T. Until he had obtained the opinion of the law officers of the Crown upon the questions he should place before them, he should reserve his reply. The subject then dropped. (LEFT SITTING.) HOUSE OP COMMONS.---This Evening, The SPEAKER took tho chair at tho usual hour. PETITIONS. By Sir J. DUKE, from Farringdon Ward, praying that the Holborn-hill improvemPnt might be proceeded with ; Mr Baines, Leeds ; Sir H. Verner, Armagh ; Mr. Lawson, Haddington, and others, in favour of closing public-houses on the Sabbath j THE ME FROPOLITAN AND CITY POLICE. The LORD MAYOR gave notice of his intention to move for a return of the number and description of troops employed in the route of the procession from the Bricklayers' Arms to Paddington, on the 7th of March last, specifying the number in the three por tions of the route , also copies of all the corres, ondence be tween Sir Richard Mayne and the War Office on the sub ject of employing troops. Col. FRENCH also gave notice that on Monday he should ask the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment whether, as the bill he had introduced for the amalga mation of the Metropolitan with the City police was be • lieved to partake of a hybrid ch4racter—being, strictly speaking, neither a public nor a private bill, and proposed to deal with corpo ations acting under charters and Acts of Parliament--he intended to proceed with it.? MERCANTILE SHIPS AND FEDERAL CRUISERS. Lord A. CHURCHILL askei the Solicitor General whether merchant ships in the prosecution of a voypge be tween neutral ports, would be legally justified in defending themselves by the use of arms, ;rem capture by the cruisers of the Federal States of America? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL replied that such ves sels would certainly not, be ju• ified in defend , ng them selves from capture by force 3t arms, and cited the case of the Swedish convoy in support of this opinion. Vessels so defending themselves would be exposed to ca; tune and condemnation. INCREASE OF SMALL PDX. Lord NAAS asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the attention of the Government had been drawn to the increase of small pox in the metropolis; and whether it was his intention to propose during the pre terit session any measure for the promotion of vaccination ? Mr. LOWE replied that the subject had, of late, much engaged the attention of the Government. There was a measure in existence compelling compulsory vaccination, and though not a very complete inc,asure, yet, unless badly carried out by local authorities, ithad been found exceedingly useful. There was no law of the hind in Scotland, and the question of making the law more efficient, and the propriety of extending it to Scotlmnd,was now engaging tho attention of the Government, but no positive decision had yet been arrived at. THE VOTE FOR THE PRINCE CONSORT'S MEMORIAL. Mr. CONINGHAM gave notice of his intention to more that the vote for the Prince Consort's memorial be post poned until such time as the noble lord at the head of the Government was in a position to say that the estimate for its construction would not be exceeded. (Cries of " 0 1 2 ! oh I") Unless the noble lord could give a satisfactory explanation to the effect that the cost would not exceed the estimated amount, he should take the sense of the house upon the matter. THE CITY AND METROPOLITAN POLICE. Mr. HENLEY gave notice that he should move an amendment to this bill when it was next before the house, to the effect that the bill be read a seccnd drab that day six months. (Ilea-, hear ) STAGE COACH DUTY. In mil!, to Sir C. DOUGLAS, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that it was his intention to mitigate the present inequali y of taxation, and hence ha had proposed a du-y of £1 Ils. 6d. The hon. member for the Tower Hamlets had a notice on the subject on the paper, but he desired to state that in the present stato of the revenue ho could not consent to forego the tax on stage carriages. Ile apprehended that the plan he had proposed would work well, especially in local districts. The tax would not fall upon those who did not now pay it. RIOT AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC REFORMA TORY IN LEICESTERSHIRE—DI;MISSAL OF THE VISITING PRIE6T OF DARTMOOit PRI SON. In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE, Sir G. GREY replied , hat he had received information to the effect that a riot had b oken out in the St. Bernards' Reformatory, Whi t w i c h , Le i cestershire, among the inmates, and that the police had been called in to suppress it. He had desired Mr. Sidney Turner, one of the inspectors of reformatories, to investigate toe aff dr, and to report thereon. That report had ni.t yet reacued the Home-office. Mr. Henderson, the visiting Catholic pries' at Dartmoor Pri son, had been susp-nded for lacking that temper and dis cretion requisite for the proper di, huge of his duties. OSTEND AND DOVER MAILS. to Mr. BERKELEY, PEEL ex iaiued he nature of these mail con said an eligible contract had been accepted for In repl Mr. F. tracts, and these mails. SAILORS' HOMES. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Sir H. SIRACEY brougut under the attention of the house the subject of these homes, and moved that the Board of Trades to einpimered to aid them with some of the means belonging to the Nleicantiie Marine and Seamen'a Fund. Mr. M. GIBSON opposed the motion, and it was nega tived without a division. THE CASE OF JESSIE MACLAUCHLAN. Mr. STIRLING lose to move tor copies of th., preceed • ings at this trial, and of the subsequent proceedings before Mr. 'Young which led to the commutation of the sentence. (LEFT SITTING.) iONDON GAZETTE —This—Evening. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, APRIL 22. Notice is hereby given, that her Royal Highness the Princess f Wales will, by command of the Queen, hold a Drawing Room at St. James's Palace, on behalf of her Majesty, on Saturday, the 16th of May next, at 2 o'clock. It is the Queen's pleasure, that presentations to her Royal Highness at this brawing Room shall be considered as equivalent to presentations to her Majesty. N3tice is hereby given, that her Majesty's birthday will be celebrated on Saturday, the 6th of June next. Notice is hereby given that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will, by command of the Queen, hold a Levee at St. James's Palace on behalf of her Majesty, on Wednesday, the 13th of May next, at two o'clock. It is the Queen's pleasure that presentations to his Royal Highness at this Levee shall be considered as equivalent to presentations to her Alai-sty. FUItEION ArniL 21. The Queen has been graciously pie :sed to appoint William Graham Samford, Esq , now Attache to her Majesty's Legation at Turin, to oe a Third Secretary in her Majesty's Diplomatic Service. DO WNING-S rREET, APRIL 22. The Queen has teen pleased to appoint Joseph Bean. mont, Esq., to bo Chief Justice for th, colony of British Guiana; Win. Hackett, Esq., t 3 be Cief Justice of the Supreme Court of her Maj sty's Forthand Settlements on the Gold Coast, and Assessor to the Native Chiets within the protected territories near or adjacent to the said forts and settlements; and Tbos. Leafs Ingram, Esq., to be her Majesty's Advocate and Potice Magistrate or her Majesty's settlement on the River Gambia, CROWN OFFICE, APRIL 22. MEMBERS RETU RNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT ARLIAMEN T. Borough of Thetford—Frederick John Fitzßoy (cora.- monly called Lord Frederick John Fitzßoy), in the room ---• THIRD ttEADINGS The following bills were read a third . time :—Rusthall Manor and Sowerby Bridge Local Board. The Norwich Poor Bill was considered and ordered to be read a third time. of William Henry Fitzroy (commonly called Earl of Eus• ton), now Duke of Grafton, summoned to the House of Peers. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, APRIL County of Dubli n —l on Trant Hamilton of Abbotstown House, C as tl e k noc k , in the said county of Dublin, in the room of James Hans Hamilton, Esq., who has accepted the office of Steward or Bailiff of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. -k! BANKRUPTS. That portion of the Gazet e containing the bankrupts had not arrived when we went to press. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day, NEWMARKET' RACES—Teas DAY BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. £l.OO HANDICAP PLATE. Lap;dist Rubicon Thirteen ran. SWEEPSTAKES, T,Y.C. P M e i r s u s Emma... F by Rataplan SWEEPSTAKES OF 100 SOVS. Tim Wh flier Walked over, Carisbrook saves his stake. N EWMARKET STAKES. Brother to Morocco Onesander ... 2 2 Seven ran. MATCH. Black Lilly beat Alchymist. MAIDEN PLATE. Vates .......... Protty Bird ............................ .. Five ran. SWEEPSTAKES OF 15 SOVS. Heirloom colt Sacrilege Columbine LATEST BETTING. GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP. 4to 1 agst Fantail (taken) 10 to 1 agst Carbineer (offered) THE DERBY. 40 to 1 agst Avenger (taken freely) RACING FIXTURES FOR 1863. APRIL. York Spring ...28 I Salisbury 3O M Chester 5 Bath l2 Harpenden Epsom l9 Radcliffe A 1 anchester 25 Marlborough 27 29 o A ti se ih o a t in Tv: 2 Newton 10 Hampton lO I 16 Bibury Club l7 Beverley., 17 Stockbridge lB Chelmsford 23 Newcastle-on-Tyne 23 Carlisle .... 'Llr.: Stamford l6 Winchester 2l Nottingham 21 Cambridge ........... 2 n..Southampto 22 Goodwood 22 'I.TST. Plymouth 20 Eghatn 25 Stockton ............... 25 Oxford . Lichfield 27 31 Ju. Woreestnr Summer 2 Newmarket July 7 Liverpool 13 Abingdon 14 Hungerford l6 Pontefract 16 Brightcn -., 4 Brighton Club 6 Lewes Wolverhampton Reading l2 York August lB SEPTEMBER. Devon and Exeter Derby Summer 22 Warwick 24 Leicester lO I Manche s t er Autumn. ....25 Doncaster 15 Newmarket Ist Oot. ....29 OCTOBER. Coventry Newmarket S. 0-, ..... ..12 I Newrnarke'6 Houghton 26 Mr. Whalley in the Rouse of Commons. " Squelch him I say, by Heavens, Squelch him!" THOMAS CARLYLE. On Monday evening —writes the parliamentary correspondent of The Queen, in the number of that journal for to-morrow, but just now published —we had one of these scenes which are peculiar to the the House of Commons, and which, when once witnessed, can never be forgotten. We allude to the putting down of a member. The unfortunate parliamentary victim on this occasion is well -used to the infliction, and so he bore it most heroically, and with the inflexibility of a martyr. The occa sion was the second reading of the Prison Ministers Bill, and the legislator was Mr. Whalley. We have frequently described the appearance of the honourable member, who is short and thick, and who has a large round head, covered with thick, woolly, brown hair, which curls as persis tently and as c!osely as that of a negro. The object of the Prison Ministers Bill is to provide Roman Catholic chaplains for Roman Catholic prisoners in gaols. The Roman Catholic church is Mr. Whalley's dragon, and he looks upon himself as the Parlia mentary St. George, by whom it is to be destroyed. No subject in any way connected with that church is ever introduced into the House of Commons without Mr. Whalley taking part in it ; and so persistent has he become in that respect, that his rising is now invariably taken as a signal for a burst of merriment. Last session he brought under the notice of the house a doggrel song that had been got up somewhere in Dublin in connection with the College of Maynooth, in which certain implied disloyalties were promulgated, and which Mr. Whalley desired to dignity by a State prosecution. On that occasion he vai n ly attempted to read the song to the house, but he had not got through more than a ve rse or two, when there arose loud hilarious cries o f " Sing it ! sing it !" but a s t h e rules of the H ouse d o not admit of a member inton ing or voc a li s i ng hi s speech, the hon. member could not comply with t h e generally expressed desire ; and as the House declined to hear the song in any other form, he w as unable to get through it. On Tuesday l as t, th e H ouse having no doubt a lively recollection of that scenet the moment Mr. - Whall ey rose, made the roo f r i ng again with all sorts of di s. cordant cries, di st i nguishable abave the rest being that of " Sing, sing;" and one member, with sten torian lungs,actually indulged in the irreverence of crying out— Sing, sing, darkie sing, at which the uproar became more deafening than it was before. Of course, under these circumstances, not a word of Mr. Wh a ll ey ' s speec h reac h e d t h e re porters' gallery, although he was observed to be gesticulating for a period of twenty minutes. TIMES.—From the debates which took place in both houses last night the American Government and their more zealous than wise representative, Mr. Adams, may learn the feeling that their acts have produced among all classes of the English people. It cannot be denied that very great irrita tion exists. In the Commons' debate the temper of the house was very conspicuous. We do cot allude to Mr. Roebuck's acrimonious remarks, but to the evident impatience and indignation with which the assumption of the Federal Admiral and his supporters at Washington are regarded —a feeling which showed itself both in speakers and listeners all through the debate. Indeed, it is impossible that these should be two, opinions on the subject. Even the Federal partisans, who are not easily daunted in their advocacy, had nothing to say on this occasion. It has been proved by the clearest evidence, and is not contradicted, that at least three British vessels have been seized while trading be tween neutral ports; that one, which was actually. captured in British waters some months since, has never been restored, and, in spite of reclamations, still remains in the hands of the captors; that an other, the Dolphin, trading between Liverpool and Nassau, was not only captured, but her crew taken out, and, contrary to humanity as well as interna tional usage, turned ashore destitute on the foreign island of St. Thomas. The case of the Peterhoff is scarcely less indefensible. The assumption of the Federal Admiral to capture vessels trading to the neutral port of Matamoras,on the ground that a part of their cargoes may possibly reach the Confederates, is one which c an never b e a l lowed by a commercial ' Power like England ; and the case of the Peterhoff is the more flagrant, inasmuch as it is affirmed that she carried nothing that was contraband of war. Last of all, the extraordinary conduct of Mr. Adams has increased the irritation of the public, by appear ing to reduce to a system the aggression on British vessels. No one who remembers the career of Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell will think that either requires much encouragement when the dignity of the country is in question. If, however, there were any doubt of the spirit in which the Govern ment would meet the Federal assumptions, it is removed by the clear and energetic statement made by Lord Russell last evening. While declaring that England is ready to maintain the law of blockade, now that she is neutral, just as fully as when she I was a belligerent supreme on the ocean, and while admitting that the presence of contraband goods may be taken into consideration by a Prize Court, as showing the destination of the vessel, the Foreign Secretary declared his opinion as to the illegality of the late seizures. The most important passage of his speech related, however, to the United States Minister in London. That Mr. Adams has been guilty of an act of signal misconduct is beyond a doubt. It was something more than a diplomatic discourtesy for a foreign Minister to give a pass to a British vessel for a voyage from a British to a neu tral port. Tne logical inference, of course, must be that other vessels, uoprovided with passes, would be captured, and Mr. Adams accordingly assumes that his Government will be guilty of an act wholly indefensible. With reference to this affair Lord Russell speaks in terms sufficiently precise. "There can be no doubt," he says, " that the conduct of Mr. Adams was entirely unwarrantable; but I should not think of complaining to Mr. Adams. I shall bring that conduct under the consideration of the United States Government. It is for them to say in what manner such an act should be visited." This tone is worthy of the coun try and the Minister. It shows that, while making every allowance for the difficulties of the Federal Executive, our Govern ment will allow no invasion of our rights to pass unredressed. HERALD.—Many of those who spoke from the Opposition benches expressed their belief that the debate raised by Mr. Bentinck, in regard to the treatment of English commerce by the American Government and by American cruisers, would prove extremely useful. On the other hand, all the speakers on the Ministerial side denounced it as in opportune and mischievous in the highest degree. We are inclined to agree to a certain extent with both parties. We conceive that the discussion of last night will do good at home and mischief abroad. We believe, moreover, that the good will be entirely attributable to those who promoted the discussion and predicted its usefulness • the mischief, solely to the speeches of those who denounced discussion on the subject as dangerous and untimely. It is ex ceedingly unfortunate that anything should be said, in or out of the House of Commons, which may tend to provoke the Americans to acts which must inevi tably lead to a collision. And the character of the Americans is unhappily such that nothing is so likely to provoke them to acts of intolerable wrong and unendurable insult as the belief that wrong and insult will be patiently borne. If the Federal Government is induced to fancy that it may safely encroach on the rights of British subjects and on the freedom of neutral commerce, it is certain very soon to carry its encroachments to a point at which retractation on its part and forbearance on ours will become alike impossible, and at which war must necessarily ensue_ And even supposing that the Federal Government is sufficiently informed of the danger of such a course—suppose that the despatches of our Foreign-office warn it that we can endure no more, and that the reports of its spies assure it that the Foreign-office is incurring the displeasure of the nation by its excess of forbearance --still, if the Northern people are allowed to believe that there is no limit to the patience of England, or that limit has n :t been reached, it is to be feared that their clamours will hurry the Government into acts which must kindle the flame of war. The only hope of peace lies in convincing, not merely Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward, but the press, the pulpit, and platform demagogues, and the people of the Northern States, that England is prepared for war; that the reluctance of her statesmen to engage in it springs simply from a conscientious anxiety to avoid the heavy guilt of unnecessary bloodshed; and that any further outrages on our flag, any more insults to our ports, any more captures of British vessels while engaged in lawful voyages, any more acts implying an assumption of dominion on the high seas—may provoke a feeling of irritation throughout the country which will sweep away all considerations of prudence and peaceful preuilec tious, and permit to the Government no choice but to vindicate the national honour. POST.—Lord Palsnersten's reply to Mr. Roebuck last night on the question of the seizure of the Peterhoff, and on our Western trade in general, implies, what we already know, that white all mea eures affecting the security of our commerce in the Gulf of Mexico are matters of the deepest interest to ourselves, it is nevertheless impossible for us to anticipate the decision of an American Prize Court, which is presumed to be governed by a faith ful regard for the principles of international law. So far as the vessel already seized, and now under judicial process, is concerned, it is obvious that the time has not yet arrived for any Parliamentary dis cussion of the subject. We feel persuaded that the American Government will perceive the neces sity of moderating its course of action towards neu tral traders, if it really does not wish to increase the ill-feeling it has, unfortunately for itself, pro voked. Indeed, there is already some evidence of a distinction between the views of the Cabinet of Washington and those of its naval offi cers afloat, to which we have already adverted. We have seen that when Aamiral Milne intimated to the American authorities that he `could not continue a neutral speetator of such reckless interference with our trade as had lately taken place, the Washington Cabinet immediately despatched orders to its own admiral to be more prudent and circumspect. There have, moreover, been many instances in which the British Govern ment has had occasion to demand compensation of the American Government on behalf of its owners of vessels unjustly seized by American cruisers. It is certainly no more than due to Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward to acknowledge that they have granted the compensations required; and even if the American Prize Court should so forget its solemn duties in the eyes of the civilised world as to per vert justice —a contingetcy which we can hardly anticipate —we have no more ground to apprehend that the Washington Cabinet would ultimately re fuse to redress this grievance than the many others for which it has from time to time granted com pensation. The question of the Peterhoff, as a matter of diplomacy, is altogether therefore en nu bibut t. But at the same time it is necessary to re present to the American authorities the difficulties which either their own policy or the indiscretion of their naval officers are interposing to the legiti mate commerce of this country. We trust that they will see the great importance of lessening them to the utmost possible degree that is compatible with the maintenance of warfare on the coast of North America. THE PROPOSED NEW BRIDGES OVER THE THAMES.—Yesterday the committee of the House of Lords of which Lord Taunton is chairman proceeded with the further consideration of the proposed Albert Bridge across the Thames, and after hearingsome further evidence, and Mr. Hope Soott, Q.C., in opposition, on behalf of Bat tersea-bridge, the committee decided that the committee are unwilling, without a more pressing necessity than has been shown in the case, to sanction the erection of a new pro prietary bridge over the Thames, with tolls in perpetuity, and They are further of opinion that it is desirable, and o f urgent importance, that the whole question of bridge ac commodation between the two sides of the river within the consideration metropolitan district, should receive the early the object of pro of some public authority specially on u l i were e in e i p tf e a n r as that i t waspossible. viding for the abolition of all tolls For these reasons the committeewi. Av not expedient to proceed quently thrown out. wi t h the bill, which is come- MINI n ess don. losi 8 110 9 1091 9 i 9 THE UGLIEST SIGHT IN EUROPE. [From the current Noof Punch (April 25, 1863) we extract the following capital ki kit upon a pro jycted Vandalism. A Vandalism that after this crashing blow from Mr. Punch's baton, we take it, will hardly now be ventured upon by its projectors. --ED. SVN.] The subjoined passage, extracted from a City Article in the Times, is recommended to the consideration of PatliA went : "A large deputation of the inhabitants of Lildgate-hill and its vianity has waited on the Chief Commissioner of Public Works to ascertain if there is any poss bility of the Government preventing the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail way from making the proposed bridge over Ludgate-hill, a nuisance which, i n f ront of St. Paul' s , wou ld constitute a national disgrace far worse than that of the 'iideous construction which has already been allowed to spoil the Southwark approach to London bridge. Unfortunately, the unanimous feeling of the r.si dents, as well as the public upon the matter, was not dis covered until after Ella passing . ul the bill, which now gives the company power to take their own course, and to there gard any opposition." The late Mr. Daniel O'Connell used to boast that he could drive a coach-and-six through any Act of Parlia ment. if ever there was an Act of Parliament through which it was desirable that a coach -and-six should be driven, such an Act is this for throwing . a frightf u l ra il way bridge over the Ludgate-hill cam Igo way. It must surely be safe r, if nut easier, to drive a eoach with any number of horses through an act of Parliament than to drive a pony phaeton under a viaduct over which a train is rushing and roaring above a crowded thoroughfare. Parliament, in the interest of railway companies, perpetually sanctions the violation of the mast sacred rights of indi v id ua l s for the benefit of the public. It might just as well, and a great deal better, gratify the public at the expense of a railway company. Why should it not summarily repeal the per mission which, during the sleep or absence of every one of its members endowed with an eye that can feel an eyesore, or indeed with any sensibility above that of a hog, it has given a society of sordid money-grubbers to perpetuate an atrocious Vandalism ? The interpo sition of an unsightly screen on Ludgate-hill, beneath the eye and St. Paul's, is a brutality which will take its place among the ridiculous wonders of the world. It will render us deservedly the laughing-stock of Europe. The London, Chatham, and Dover Railway was made for the public, and not the public for the London, Chatham, anti Dover Rail way. The Legislature has stultified itself; very well; let it destultify itself; if necessary, by making the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway an example to all ra il wa y s , teaching them to mind how they contrive su rrept iti ous l y to procure any bill empawering them to perp e t rate a monstrous public nuisance. Would not that nuisance be indictable as such by any neighbouring resident, whose comfort it would destroy ? IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS —Last Evening, The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack a the usual hour. PETITIONS. Lord SHAFTESBURY presented ft number of peti tions in favour of closing public houses from eleven .o'clock on Saturday night till six o'clock on Monday morning. PRIVATE BUSINESS, The North Brierley Gas, Aylesbury Markets, Leyland and Farington Gas, Hereford, Hay, and Brecon Railway, Swansea Municipal Corporation, Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway, Caledonian Railway (Bredisholth Devia tion), Caledonian Railway (Carstairs and Dolphinton Branches) Bills were read a second time. THIRD READINGS. The Okehampton and Lidford Junction Railway, Mid Wales Railway, Berke and Hants Extension Railway, and Leeds Gas Bills, were read a third time and passed. ALKALI WORKS REGULATION BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. The Earl of DERBY thought the time fixed for the bill coming into operation should be fixed at an earlier date than January 24. He thought it might very well be made effective in September or October. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said he should not object to the suggestion of the noble earl in cases where the owners of works had already constructed condensing appa ratus, but where that was not the case, it would take some time to effect the necessary improvements, and, therefore, that was the reason for fixing the time for the bill coming into active operation in January, 1864. The clause, having been amended, was agreed to. On clause 4, a discussion arose as to whether it would be possible by the bill as it at present stood to proceed against the owner of works for a second conviction at the same quarter sessions at which the first was tried and adjudicated en. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said he would con sider the effect of the words and state his determination on the bringing up of the report. Clauses 5,6, and 7 were agreed to. After some discussion, and some formal amendments, the remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. OFFICE OF SECRETARY, OF WAR ABOLITION BILL. Earl DE GREY moved the second reading of this bill, which was merely to abolish an office which had virtually been abolished since the separation of the offices of Secre tary at War and Secretary for the War Department, in 1855. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said he was not going to oppose the bill, but he hoped the noble earl who had succeeded to the office of Secretary for War with so much satisfaction to the country—(hear, hear)—would take into consideration the fact that there were several important functions connected with the office then declared to be abolished, such, for instance, as seeing that the war ex penditure did not exceed the votes of Parliament, and others which could not be efficiently performed by the present secretary. Earl RUSSELL was understood to say that the change effacted was merely nominal, and that the duties were per formed just in the same way as formerly. EMI GREY said, if it was to be assumed by that bill be ing allowed to pass that the house approved of the present administration of the War Department, he for one would protest against that assumption. He considered the present state of that office requited considerable reforms. The bill was then read a second time. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT (1858) AMENDMENT BILL. - - This bill passed through committee. DOCKYARDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This bill was read a third time. SEIZURE OF BRITISH VESSELS BY FEDERAL CRUISERS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he rose to put Aso or three questions to the noble earl at the head of the Foreign Office upon a matter of very grave importance, namely, the seizure by a naval officer of the United States Government of vessels belonging to British merchants. He was well aware of the gravity of the subject, but the circumstances were so gross and so notorious, and of a character so deeply affecting the beat interests and the honour of the country, that no time ought to elapse Wore it was made known to the world, by the expression of opinion of both Houses, that we did not hear of such occurrences without the strongest feelings of indignation. (Hear, hear.) ' The first case to which he would allude was that of the Dolphin. Presuming the accounts they had probably all read were true, an insult had been offered to the British flag. She was a legitimate trader, her papers were all clear and in order, and she was going from Lon don to Nassau. On coming out of St. Thomas's, however, she had been stopped and seized, without any excuse being made for her capture; and, moreover, her crew were detained on board the captors' vessel, a^xd put ashore, not on territory of her own nation or of her captors, but on Danish ground. (Hear.) Indeed, they were not put ashore at all until her Majesty's ship INile left St. Thomas's in pursuit. That was clearly contrary to international law. I shall be glad, therefore, to know if any official account has been received at the Foreign-office; and if so, what has been done in the matter. It was impossible to look upon it as an isolated case of reckless imprudence, because, only a month ago, they had the case of the Peterhoff, which was very similar, and the Adele, respecting which there were no grounds for seizure whatever. It must not be forgotten that those things were done under the very eye of that Commodore Wilkes who had once before brought his coun try to the shame and humiliation of making an apology for the Trent affair. It was therefore necessary for the Govern ment to understand that the people of EnglaLd expected they would bestir themselves, and not submit to acts which he believed were both unlawful and unprecedented. It appeared by the reports in the papers, if correct, that a de putation of merchants and shipowners had waited upon the noble earl (Earl Russell) and laid before him an example of audacity such as had seldom occurred in any country, much less in Great Britain. Why Mr. Adams, the Ameri can Minister, had actually given a certificate of protection to a ship sailing from London to a neutral port to enable that vessel to sail safely through the waters of the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. (Hear, hear.) He appre hended something had be_n said, however, by the noble earl, because there had since appeared another letter from Mr. Adams, in which he said he had been mis understood, and added, with some fine irony, that he could not give any protection to British subjects, but no doubt they could get it from their own Government. That letter was in answer to an application for a certificate by the owners of the Sea Queen, and would appear to have been alter some hint had been conveyed that he had no power to give it. That circumstance led to the consideration what ship it was for which the certificate was given, what was her destination, and how the matter became known to the public. Their lordships would admit that while the ships or subjects of another power were in this country, and subject to our laws, there was no occasion, when leaving for a neutral port, to take their papers to Mr, Adams to be examined. That was for the authorities of the port of Lon don to do. It bad turned out on inquiry that the vessel be longed to a New York trader, who had made a contract to supply arms to the Mexicans to use against the French. (Hear, hear.) That was the country whose boasted neutrality had been so well exposed in another place a short time back. They wanted to sell £BO,OOO worth of arms and £30,000 worth of goods for the use of the Mexicans—and when the New York merchants went to effect an insurance for those 8111128 a certificate was producedfrom the American Minister giving protection from the Federal cruisers. (Hear.) Such a departure from all usage could not pass unnoticed, and so far as was consistent with the public interests, he should like to know what representations had been made on the facts becoming known. Another topic on which he should like some explanation was the withdrawal of the mail from the Sea Queen, and the notification that for the present British ships trading to Matamoras and other ports in the Gulf of Mexico would be relieved from the necessity a 0 carrying ship letters. Could her Majesty's Government isore ' give any reason for that, except fear of the American iit 'e be? i. . T ) The He letters u sed were the wo put rd on wi Ibho shame,ar d ,bl t but the what owtnh else ru wouldcould havenot p t r o h e t r e saileti protection . nut.il Theyess t h enyl hada l so t.e r e ferred assurance red to the cathseeauto:_n the ee tyrhsA dele, e should p where here Majesty's mails had been broken l p i aii..., ge t e r reinforcementwb a a s d d q n quit e to of the vessel ; and ultimately the agent to find some letters that would subsequen t tg: 3 'eenexpense, nominate a Government would. at the own h e o r letter bags, as a guaran mail agent to go on board with the legmate voyage. He tee that she was going uponu. rig ht not to send the the West India u:setc:Vl:37isleiifzighree case, he must mail agent, because, if u t h ol e , e Government ought to have int hathovuegdhotnethiteinPoasltmi so in one mediately sent a Gulf, also notified to the admiral that station and the me G n u t ;as coming, and that he Would be held Ile that no further outrages of that kind were tole rated.the prize courts. The condernnatiolnP responsible 5 It was a farce to talk of thos e eh' (chee r ' . ships being the dealtsvch with h fo b rce y Adela and Peterhoff showed that, thou g h i n the former there was an a case ppeal pending. He did not wish to see the oo nntry drift into another war, and therefor e it the British Gover nment should know wh a t theßritish was righ t people would not su b m i t to. (H ) So flagrant w ere the circumstance s th at foreign newspapers b e li eve d the Americans were trying to get u s i n t o a war. There had been no great difftcult • y in arranging the affair of the Trent, when it became known what the public feeling was. He thought the Government of the United States ought to be called upon to decide at once, "Do they or do they not mean to go to war with England ?" (Hear.) What could the English people think when they remembered the speeches of Mr. Wilkes at public dinners, when he went home fresh from the outrage upon the Trent, " and that he would lose no opportunity of insulting the British flag, or destroying a British carg o , wh erever h e could find the I one or the other." (Hear.) If the Government did not dare to send the mails or our ships to sea, and our own merchants were obliged t) apply to foreign Ministers for a certificate to trade, the sooner the shipowner hoisted his broom at the masthead the bettor, so that Com modore Wilkes might go and boast all over the world i - that he had driven us from the seas. The Government ought to see to the matter promptly. He had that day seen a newspaper which contained the following advertisement : " Wanted, a French vessel to load for a good English island in the West Indies.—Apply to K. and Co., Pudding-lane, merchants e r e Ir i s fri e n d at ya that tßt t hse t ue h o E.C." That was the state of things we had arrived at al ready. (Hear, hear) Be had great confidence in his noble of ,y u n s l h s d e b e :n o : d ue : a hmbe p dignaaeitytieysesatisfy overp a Parliament Government, anm e silence, n b t u Rn t h da o n s t e dhiet were country oaus m unt a r : y: that they ere prepared to uphold the honour of British of no b t l h e e British Crown.baa made (Hear. ) the he most etaredpar th at t warmspeech upo n thi s su bj ect, and would be perfectly oo - l:ro were n instance,oe for justified and we s t ufied if th e po i nts to which he alluded had been f smned by th e P r i ze Court : Courts , —the assumed varioust e A Ade l vessels a h t i the to be facts. e had been nd Peterhoff, and others. That, certainly, is unknown because, though th e Ad e l a has been co n de mned by Court of Key tVest, an appeal has been made; and with re gard to the Peterhoff we have no account that any su ch event has taken place. (H ear, hear.) For my own pa r t, instead of proceeding on assumpt i ons, I have thought it m y duty, in the graveend responsibl e p os i t i on which I bold, not to proceed in any of those cases without seeking in Cite first place the be:t information as to the facts that could be pro cured, and in the neat place, without referring to the law officers of the Crown in order to know the character to bo attached to those facts. (Hear.) I have not thought it right to proceed in matters of such difficulty without taking soundings at every step. (Hear, hear.) That has been my course in the various instances to which my noble friend has referred. With regard to the Dolphin, 1 thought it ne cessary, having received the reports with regard to that vessel, to refer those reports to the law officers of the Crown, and what they say is, that it does not appear from the papers that there was a prima facie ground for seizure; they do not see any probable reason for her capture, but, they add, there may be facts unknown to me and unknown to them, with respect to the master of that vessel, which may have afforded sufficient grounds for sending the vessel to a prise court. But they say that two evident violations of neutral rights have taken place with regard to that vessel. They state that the vessel which took the Dolphin had made use of a neutral port for the purpose of watching British merchant vessels, and that as soon as the Dolphin left the port she was imme diately pursued, and when she had passed beyond the three miles of water of the neutral power she was seized by this United States vessel of war. (Hear, hear.) There is another point upon which they say there is great reason for complaint, namely, the taking a part of the crew out of the vessel and landing them afterwards upon neutral terri tory. (Hear.) With regard to these two matters they say there cannot be a doubt her Majesty's Government have a right to complain; and accordingly, having this day re ceived their report, which is dated yesterday, I shall imme diately, by the next mail, bring those matters of complaint under the notice of the United States Government. (Hear.) My noble friend says that this impunity which the United States have affected to claim is owing to our neglect of out rages which have taken place on the part of the United States. Now, with regard to that particular point to which the law officers have roferred—namely, the unneutral use of a neutral port—the placing there of a belligerent vessel to watch a neutral one and pursue her immediately after her departure, —a case of that kind took place last year with re spect to the Tuscarora. It was immediately brought to the attention of the United States' Government; they laid down rules by which such conduct should not be permitted, and said that the officer who bad committed the offence, if it could be shown that he /led done so, should be censured. Well, then, again, we complain that in certain cases there are no searches. With respect to that they say that no ves sel was to be seized without a search. They lay it down:— "That when that visit is made the vessel is not then to be seised without a search carefully made so far as to render it reale noble to believe that she is engaged in carrying contra band of war to the insurgents and to their ports, or other wise violating the blockade; and that if it shall appear that she is actually bound and passing from one friendly or so called neutral port to another, and not bound or proceeding to or from a port in the possession of the insurgents, then she cannot be lawlully seized." Now, that is the rule which the United States' Secretary of State has laid down for the guidance of the Secretary to the Navy, and of the United States' navy itself. Well, then, it is not fair to assume that, in a case where the rule is ap parently violated, the United States are not able to show that the vessel that his been seized was not proceeding from one neutral port to another, but that she was proceed• ing to a port of the belligerent States while apparently on her way to a neutral port. That is a case which the law officers of the Crown say frequently occurs. Even sup posing that Admiral Wilkes and other officers have violated these rules, we have no reason to assume that reparation when asked will not be given in conformity with the rules the United States have themselves laid down. I do not think, then, it is convenient—l will say more, I think it tends to interrupt the friendly relations between the two nations, as soon as you have a report of an outrage, to say that the Govern ment of a friendly people will act in contravention of the law of nations; that they meant to commit an offence, and that they will refuse reparation. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, we are bound to assume either that there were some facts not known to us which will show that the act was not indefensible, or that the Government of a friendly nation will, oven from regard to its own character, give re paration. This, then, is the case of the Dolphin. There were no apparent prime facie grounds for the seizure, and if it turns out that there were no grounds then we must not assume that the United' States will refuse to conform to the rules which they have themselves laid down. (Hear, hear.) My noble friend adverted to the letter of Mr. Adams which has appeared in the public prints. I must say that was a very extraordinary and, in my opinion, a most unwarrant able act, and I cannot conceive that it can be proper for a person holding a diplomatic position in this country to issue such a permit to a vessel. That is making a distinction be tween vessels departing from the ports of this country, and giving a security to one vessel as distinguished from another. (Cheers.) It is not possible, as it appears to me, that he can bestow that favour on one vessel without making an in vidious and perhaps dangerous distinction as against other vessels. There can be no doubt that the conduct cf Mr. Adams is entirely unwarrantable, but I should not think of complaining to Mr. Adams. I shall bring that conduct before the consideration of the United States' Government. (Hear, hear.) It is for them to say in what manner such an act should be visited. (Cheers.) My noble friend next went on to name a case which he described fairly enough according to the facts known to him. But the whole facts were evidently not known to my noble friend. He spoke of an interview at the Foreign-office between myself and seve ral owners of ships and persons connected with the trade of the Fort of London, with respect to vessels sailing to Meta moms. The account of that interview, although, generally speaking, fairly given, was certainly marked by many orris ' eions. The persons who came to me complained of this grievance. They said it might happen that the letter bags that were sent by their vessels by the Postmaster-General done without "Isikdetrhaet'puo.stmasteseG ATlhtuners:w l a sh , o n u o ld sv h ev a e v r e , might contain letters that were written by persons con nected with or favourable to the Federal Government, and that those persons might invent a story that the ship was conveying stores to the Confederates, that they might put false names to those letters, that those letters might be opened, and used as evidence against the vessel, and that there was not sufficient security against such practices be ing resorted to, because they could not avoid taking the mail bags, in consequence of shipowners being liable to a penalty of £2OO if they refused to take the letter bags. They therefore complained that their ships and cargoes might be put in danger by acts of her Majesty's Government which were beyond their control. I considered that matter, and ut _ also a proposal which they made to me that an agent Q s hould be put in charge of the bags, asis done on board : o h w e a many . packet ships. On consideration there appeared should have fallen objections juto rb eea to e e taking rrora s s u r c h h o t a o c f o u t r id e r e . . d given them a protection singled out particular vessels a At all events that should which others would not enjoy. master-General not not be r to are compelled to take theseh them, 6. you say you mail 'Jags, ships and cargoes are put in jeopardy one obvious redress which I could give. I could re**:.- and your , Y by the act of the rostinaster - Gt?ie ral W 1 will relieve you f rom danger, and I will as that obl i ge y o u to take the mail hags." That to for the grievance of which th eywady was a - seems to have been understood out of d oors complained ; but it claration that we would not send as it were a de and that, as my noble friend sa mail bags to Matamoras, sequences that might ha ys, we were afraid of the con say to shipowners , 44 I f ppen. What we retai l did was to vessels, you shall be you like to send mail bags in these pel you to do so." at liberty to do b I have so, at we will not com to the Foreign office b now in my hand a letter written states that, for the e y the Postmaster-General, which on bo ard any vessel pc ' e l s * ant' no ship.letter mail shall be put ing for Matamoras "unless with the full concurrence of 1 not the commander." It is only that we do Use the compulsory power that the law gives us in these cases. I confess it would have been hard upon the owners of vessels to have refused to give them the security for which they asked. I have no doubt there will be many ves sels the commanders of which will be quits ready to take these letters, but if they do, we ought not to leave them to say they have been put in jeopardy by the sot of the Go• vernment, nor ought the law to be put in force to their in jury. My hon. friend states truly that the fears of the owners of the Sea Queen and other vessels were founded on what had been done in the case of the Adela—namely, that the United States had got possession of her lette B, r bag s. ib62, Now, in the letter of Mr. Seward, d a t e d Aug. there is the following order : "And, finally, that official seals or locks or fastening s _ t3 e f foreign authorities are in no cas e , b n or on any pretext, to read by any naval broken, or parcels covered by theni bags or other things but au thorities of the United S t at es; 1 d or fastened by ls and duly sea discretion o f the United conveying such parce ls and in the discretion o . foreign authorities will be, may come, delivered to . the States' o ffi cer to whom they oftleer, or Legation of the foreigrl consul, commanding naval Government to be opened, imp ortant upon the understanding th'at w h a tever is contraban d or or t a nt as evidence concerning will be remitted to th e of a captured ve ss el the character of State at W ashington o r the Secretary Prize Court or to ec ts w ay be at once forwarded to thiPs such sealed bags or par cel s t the proper authorities of the department, to the end tha t lay receive the same with t d foreign Government ' ° e specially that naval On °u elay, The President des i rest that a suspectedvessel l'er6 may tie informed that the lac, . has been in dicated to them as aiming any whichhas been pre. ~.