The Sun. — London, England, 1863-03-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL P. toxicating liquors might be suspended from 6 o'clock on Saturday evening to the same hour on Monday morning. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. 1 HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. I Lord REDESDALE, in the ab sence o f th e L OR D CHAN- The SPEAKER took th e c h a i r at 4 o ' clock, CELLoR, took his seat on the w o o l sac k a t fi ve o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The following bills were considered and ordered to be PRIVATE BILLS. read a third time :—Denbigh Water, London and North The Haylake Railway, th e E s k V a lley Railway, and Western and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Cora surrey Gas Bills were read a third time and passed. ' panies, Saint Asaph Road, South Staffordshire Railway. THE CASE OF MR. BISHOP. The Marquis of NORMANBY gave notice that after PETITIONS. the Easter recess he should call the attention of their lord- Mr. Cox, and other hon , members, presented petitions praying for a reduction of the fire insurance duty ; s everal ships to the case of Mr, James Bishop, a British subject, in favour of closing public-houses on Sunday; Mr. GRIF at present confined in the fortress of Alessandria under a commuted sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. PITH, from Devizes, praying for a reduction of the, tea duty to Is per pound. SALMON EXPORTATION BILL. SANHARY CONDITION OF ROTHERHAM. The house went into committee on this bill. On the motion of Mr. CHILDERS, an address for copies of The clauses having been agreed to with a few slight any reports or communications to or from the Central amendments, Board of Health relative to the sanitary condition of the The Earl of DALHOUSIE moved the insertion of a town was agreed to. clause, which would have the effect of prohibiting the SALMO N FISHERIES (IRELAND). taking of salmon during the close season. On the motion of Sir H. BRUCE, a nominal return of Lora STANLEY of ALDERLEY objected to the clause. every salmon fishery in Ireland, and the poor law valuation 'I he Earl of MALMESBURY thought the clause neces- of each, and the amount of licence duty paid in 1862 fur the sary to make the bill effectual. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY did not think the different modes of, and engines for catching salmon, detailing the amount p id for each mode and erigine, was ordered, clause of great importan c e, but it seemed to him quite un • LABOURERS' COTTAGES (IRELAND). necessary, and aprarentlY would be a restriction on trade On the motion of Sir H. BRUCE, a copy of correspon in foreign countries • deuce between the Lords of the Treasury and the Board of The clause, after some alteration, was agreed to. Works in Iceland, on the subject of the restriction placed UNION RELIEF AID ACT CONTINUANCE BILL. by them (and not contemplated in the act authorising the This bill was read a third time and passed. advance, or sanctioned in England), on the advance of THE METROPOLITAN AND CITY POLICE. money for the purpose of building labourers' cottages in The Earl of DALI - 10USIE rose to inquire whether the Ireland, was ordered. Government intended to t a k e any s t eps to conso lid ate t h e DURATION OF SERVICE IN THE ARMY,— metropolitan and city p o li ce . H e sa id i t was t o LIEUT.-COL. THE HON. C. CHARTERIS. Mr. CONINGHAM as k e d t h e S ecretar y o f St a t e f or be regretted that with the rejoici ngs which wet- Mr. why the Royal 'Warrant, dated 28th March, 1861, 1 comed the Princes s o f W a l es th ere h a d b een cr i es o f . pain and agony through the failure of the arrangements of v/ which prescribed twenty-five .. years as a necessary pre the City Police. An attempt had been made to cast the liminary to theprivilege of retiring on half-pay, was de blame on the volunteers, but the charge was altogether parted from in the case of Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Richard groundless. The arrangements throughout the whole line . Cbarteris,. who was on the personal staff of the Commander i of the cavalcade through the city were bad, and the position in Chief, and who only completed his 21 years of service in of the Prince and P r i ncess was a t one ti me one o f great October, 1861; also, for what reason a similar indulgence peril, and it was entirely owing to the good humour of his had been refused to other officers of the army ? noble friend who had the guidance of it that no accident Sir G. LEWIS was understood to say that h L ad ieut.-Col s . occurred. Off e rs o f a dditi ona l ass i stance had been Charteris changed with an other officer who td been tile made to the City au th or i t i es, b ut declined, and it had now y ears i n th e serv i ce , which by a rule become absolutely necessary t h at Government should take of the service not affected by the R o yal vnt of 1861. some serious step s t o prevent a recurrence of such scenes. Mr' CONINGHAM inquired why the like privilege had , That which a pp eare d to b e the best was the amalgamation been refused to other officers ? of the City with th e M etropolitan police, and he did hope Sir G. LEWIS was not aware of any case in which such he should he ar th a t such was the intention of Government, indulgence had not been granted. 1 ATTIRE OF THE FEMALES EMPLOYED IN THE . Earl GRANVILLE sa id h e was sure not hi ng could ROYAL CLOTHING MANUFAL;TORY AT PlM be more wond er f u l th an th e good humour of the great body LICO of people assembl e d on t h at occasion ; at the same time he Mr. . LEWIS asked the Secretary of State for War whe ther not but thi n k t h at t h e arrangements of the police ther it was true, as asserted, that an order had been issued were exceedingly d e f ec ti ve . I n regar d to the quest i on of his noble f r i en d , h e could not give him any positive answer, by the director of clothing to the women employed at the The Home Se cre t ary h a d wr i tten to the Lord M ayor pro- royal clothing factory at Pimlico, by which they were ordered to provide themselves with the undermentioned articles by posing an inquiry, an d no answer h a d yet b een rece i ved to the fat of April next, viz. :—One black lace cap, trimm e d that comm un i cat i on, except a s i mp l e acknowledgment. with scarlet ribbon, one Garibaldi jacket of violet llama, The Home Secret ar y h a d t a k en o th er means o f informing and one large jean apron—the cost of which would be 108, himself, and until the information was obtained he could at least, and that those not complying with the order would not say what would be the resolve of the Government. be dismissed; and whether it was true that the average The Duke of CAMBRIDGE thought he might be per- amount earned by those women did not exceed 10s. per witted to say a few words with regard to the arrangements week ? made for the royal progress, as he h a d b een a ll u d e d to in Sir G. C. LEWIS replied that the adoption of an uniform another place so far as the military assistance on that occa- system of dress was perfectly voluntary on the part of the sion was concerned. He felt bound to say that in the first women employed in the Royal Clothing Factory at Pimlico. instance all military assistance was refused bythe City. On He understood, however, that the workmen were willing to the Thursday he had a meeting of all officers who were on adopt the proposed dress. It was furnished at 3s. 6d. each, duty, as well as the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan and the women, who earned 9s. or 10s. per week, were re- Police, and they felt very strongly the necessity for some quired to pay off the account, at the moderate rate of 3d. military assistance in the City; but, at the same time, he per week. (Hear, hear.) was aware that such assistance could not be given without UNITED STATES—THE ISLAND OF SAN JUAN. almost an actual demand from the City. He therefore re- Mr. LONGFIELD asked the Under Secretary for quested Sir R, Mayne to p u t hi mse lf into communication Foreign Affairs, what progress had been made towards a with the City authorities on the subject, and to suggest to settlement of the dispute between the Government of Great them the expediency of making similar arrangements to Britain and the late United States of America as to the those which were being made for the West-end. On Thurs- Island of San Juan; if any correspondence between the day morning he received a communication from the super- two Governments had recently taken place on that subject; intendent of police of the City of London, stating that no and if there was any objection to lay the same before this military aid was required. This seemed so perfectly mon- house ? atrous that, being personally acquainted with the Lord Mr. LAYARD replied that since the breaking out of the Mayor, he took the liberty of sending to him Sir R. Airey, civil war in the United States all communications had the Quertermaster-General, with a request that he would been suspended between her Majesty's Government and oblige him (the Duke of Cambridge) by allowing a certain that of the United States. There had been some previous number of troops to go into the City, fearing that otherwise correspondence, but he should not deem it expedient to lay something very serious might occur. In the first instance he it on the table of the house. believed the Lord Mayor, though extremely amiable and CHINA,— THE DRESS OF ENGLISH OFFICERS courteous in his reply, did not consider it necessary to have EMPLOYED BY THE CHINESE. such assistance, but on Sir R. Airey further pointing out Mr. ADDINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admiralty the desirability that the subject should be fully considered, whether the officers of the royal navy now in the service and one or two others of the City authorities having been of the Emperor of China, had received permission from the called in to take part in the deliberation, it was arranged, Admiralty to wear the uniform of her Majesty's navy dur after some little discussion, that some troops should be sent. ing the period of such service; and, whether there would be The Lord Mayor had stated that if they had sent Life Guards any objection on the part of the Government to produce a instead of Artillery there would have been no confusion, copy of the instructions given to Commodore Shepard Os (Hear.) He did not understand upon what ground that borne on his proceeding to China? argument was based, for he could not see why one body Lord C. PAGET replied that the officers permitted to of troops should be better than another for the purpose. be employed by the Emperor of China were not entitled to He was quite aware that the household cavalry had wear her Majesty's uniform. (Hear, and laughter.) The great expe r i ence i n d ea li ng w i th large b od i es of people Admiralty had issued no instructions to Commodore Osborn, in the streets, and it was very well known that they invari- who was absent on foreign leave, and by an order of coun ably acted with great forbearance, and did their work really cif could enter the service of the Emperor of China. well. (Hear.) He felt the responsibility of sending other Mr. ADDINGTON enquired if the uniform of the Eng troops into the City, but he had particularly instructed the lish service had been adopted in China ? officers commanding the artillery to warn the men to exer- Sir G. C. LE WIS replied that the Chinese Emperor had cise the greatest forbearance, and to allow the people to see adopted the English uniform for his own troops. as much as possible. (Hear.) He had spoken to persons Mr. ADDINGTON desired distinctly to learn if the in the crowd, and it had been especi a lly p o i n t e d out to him English officers serving in China were permitted to wear that there never was anythin g lik e t h e good humour and the uniform adopted in the English service ? forbearance shown by th e artillery ; and he had been further Lord C. PAGET replied in the negative. told that but for th e t en or the dozen men in front of the GREECE.—PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS. Mansion-house the p rocess i on never wou ld h ave got on at all. Mr. GREGORY said in the course of the debate the (Hear.) It h a d b een sa id t h at t h e trapp i ngs of the artillery other night he made some allusion to Mr. Elliot. He said rendered them unsuitable f or th e p er f ormance o f this kind that Mr. Elliot had been partly sent to Greece to supersede of duty, but h e cou ld on ly say th a t t h e t rapp i ngs o f th e ar til- lery were the same as the rest of the army. He was also Mr. Scarlett, and alluded to a rumour to the effect that it was the intention of the Government to send Sir James bound to say a word for the volunteers of the City of London. Hudson from Turin, and to replace him by Mr. Elliot, He had read the letter of Lieut.-Col. Ward, and he thought The remarks which he made were uttered in the spirit of that that officer was completely exculpated. If any one banter; but he regretted to learn that they had given pain was in fault in detaining the volunteers at the Guildhall, it to Mr. Elliot's family, and was assured that no steps what was the City authorities, who if they wished to have them ever had been taken in the matter, and that indeed no elsewhere should have issued orders to that effect. With change whatever was contemplated. He regretted, there respect to the question of whether or not the City of Lon don should retain it s own exc l us i ve po li ce h e w i s h e d t o say fore, having occ as i one d p a i n t o a gen tl eman w h o was we ll a few words. He believed th a t th e f orce was com p os ed of known as an honourable and excellent servant of the very good men, but on Saturday wee k th ey un d er t oo k a Crows. (Hear, h.) task which was entirely beyond their strength. To take TOBACCO DUTIES BILL. charge of the whole line from London-bridge to Temple-bar On the order of the day b e i ng rea d f or go i ng i nto cora with such an amount of force was impossible. He thought mitts®, it highly objectionable that on great occasions like that of The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appealed Saturday week two or three authorities should divide amongst to the hon, member for the Tower H am l e t s (M r. Ayrton) not to persevere with his motion for a committee up stairs, them the responsibility of preserving order, and whether but to permit the house at once to go into committee on the the two forces were amalgamated or not he hoped that some bill. The step the hon. member proposed to take was arrangement would be made to produce uniformity of action entirely unprecedented, and, if agreed to, would have the in future, (Hear, hear.) At present the City of London effect of postponing proceeding with the bill until almost was hermetically sealed against the military authorities. the end of the session. The manufacturers of Scotland and As commander-in-chief of the army he could at any time Ireland had generously given their support to the bill, with communicate with the chief of the metropolitan police, but certain amendments which he proposed to introduce, and with respect to the City it was only by the courtesy of the an eminent house, competent to speak authoritatively corporation that any arrangement could be come to. He had for the largest wholesale English manufacturers, admitted that that courtesy was always shown, but ho d id feel Messrs. Grant, Hodgson, and Co., of Fenchurch-street, that some better arrangement was necessary if they did not had written to him urging that any longer delay would wish to see a frightful accident occur on some future great affect the trade. A committee of the whole house was per occasion. It had been said the volunteers were told not to fectly competent to deal in the matter. interfere with the crowd. If that was true he thought a Mr. AYRTON declined to withdraw his motion, and en -eery wise precaution had been taken. (Hear, hear.) The tared at some length into his reasons for doing s o. armed. force which was allow e d t o i n t er f ere w i t h crow d s should be under the strictest disciplin e an d accus t ome d t o be The house then divided, when there appeared — For going 170 trusted, two conditions which they could not expect t o fi n d into committee 87 Against it fulfilled in the case of the volunteers. He could not sit d own Majority without expressing his great satisfaction at the order and The house then went into committee. regularity which had been maintained by the metropolitan On clause 1, police. The order they preserved and the courtesy they ex- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he hibited towards the public were beyond all praise, and he thought it would be for the convenience of the committee was only too happy to have that opportunity of bringing that he should state in a very few words some of the their conduct before the house. (Hear, hear.) his was or a dj us t men t s w hi c h h e proposed in the bill. H e Lord TAUNTON said that eleven y ears since it was was in hopes the bill would pass through its remaining duty to investigate this question of the City police, and so stag es very speedily, but as those changes would be nume distinct was the impression then left on his mind that he roes he should propose to reprint the bill. The first change should now very much regret if Parliament shoul d not take M high S with regard to th e d uty on dried snuff, That was very peculiarquestion It tr washighly improbable that the present opportunity to remove existing anomalies. The y a had reason to be proud of the good order maintained bythe there would would ever be a large s the duty trade ein upontlii this e h o i mm hd od 'd snuff, i e ty.ilE vast congregation of people who assembled in the streets of proposed then, first, to raise London on Saturday week, but for that good order they we re or rather to lessen the diminution of duty dutys o as g to dried eit at in no way indebted to the City police. What were the cir- 4s. 6d. instead of 4s 2d ; and, secondly, 'to alter the stand eumstances under which that force had a separate existence dard of what should be called high dried snuff from 10 to 13 and organisation ? They had a district of ex actly one mile per cent. The next change which he proposed to make re square to take care of, and they were surrounded on every lated to foreign cavendish in bond, the duty on whi c h h e s ide by another and vastly larger district, which was en- proposed to fix at 4s 6d instead of 4 s ; and to fix the duty trus ted to the metropolitan police. On the occasion to which u p on B r iti s h cavendish in bond at 4s instead of 3s Bd. The he alluded the late Mr. Whittle Harvey was examined, and third change he proposed was to make a very small addition although he was anxious to defend the corporation, he to the drawback. At present the drawback was fixed by could not deny or explain awa y th e anoma li es arising from the bill upon the assumption of a certain average amount these two police jurisdictions. It was high time that these of moisture, and that drawback as now fixed was anextahcet ano malies were removed, (Hear, hear.) He (Lord measure of the amount of duty. But wishing to give Taunton) had observed that of all the institutions of this had country the most difficult to reform or interfere with was measure a character of liberally towards the trade, he thought it fair and right to propose to the committee to the corporation of London. You might reform the House o f Commons, but no administrat ion thatloved its ease would take into view the fact that upon all descriptions of tob acco manufactured there was a certain amount of inevitable interfere with the City of London. He wished that their waste, from absolute loss in the manipulation, the cutting, heir thous' and t • an- • • cent. In princely hospitality, their harmless p rocess d b t h be preserve , u e ght that for the grinding, &c., amounting perhaps to lor 2 per cient state shouldthe particular case of high-dried snuff, it amounted to much restrained from doing re t seht . e . future they should be letthis police queatiZ: They more. Persons engaged in the manufacture were aware of to would be told, perhaps, • 'e over, the difficulty, and that it was found impossible to arrange ure of corporation reform; but and wait for a general m eas the drawback upon this material differently. He therefore his word for it they might hav e if they did they might take Now was the time, for proposed, with regard to all kinds of drawback, to raise the to wait until the Greek Kalends. . in standard—or rather the pivot, if he might so speak—of obstruction existing the drawback with every faith in the power of to resist the gene- b City, he thought it would be impossible ne- e a considerable advantage to the export trade in general. tel impression which was now abroad of the absolute The fourth proposed change related to the provisions con • hesitate to twined in the cessity for doing something. They need not it bill, according to which 3a 6d would be : as was chargeable upon the • • touch the City police on account of its antiquity, importation of all tobacco which con • I 'ed only 23 years old, having succeeded the ancient parochial , tam less m ature than 10 per cent. Th ere h a d b een a system of guarding the City, very justifiablem • anxiety on the part of the importers Lord OVERSTONE was surprised that such an anomaly that the bearings of this question explained. One be care as the City police should have been allowed to exist so long fully nor of the gentleman,Exchequer's) named Lloyd, to his (the and he trusted that the present opportunity would not be Chancellor a statement which he thonggrhseateeaoustlodnishakmeetnhte, hairhad allowed to pass away without some legislative measure cal- sent the head of his hon. friend the member for the City possible to produce greaterefficiency and harmony than were on cu stand on end, (A laugh.) It was • ppresent. ossible at (Mr. Crawford) •The Earl o f SHAFTESBU RY presented :several peti - of this gentleman, and of the trade which h e represented, lions from on its importation, should be test e d, i n Dissenting chapels, prayi ng th a t th e sa l e o f i n - th a t a ll tobacco, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAWR 20, 1363. order to ascertain what quantity of moisture it contained. The hon. member (Mr. Ayrton) would probably take up the cudgels for Mr. Lloyd, who was one of his constituents; but this view was so diametrically opposed to the senti ments of importers and manufacturers that he (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) could only condole with the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets with regard to the errors of those whose organ—a most able and zealous one he ad mitted—he was. The hon. member for the City had ex pressed a hope that nothing of the sort would take place, inasmuch as the proposition would have the effect of bar ring of a trade that was special and indirect, and had for its aim a sort of evasion of duty. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), acting upon the representations of some gentlemen from Liverpool, had inserted in the bill a few words, making provision, in the first clause, that no tobacco which, when imported into this country, was packed or prized in the usual manner, should be subject to testing for moisture, unless by the special order of the Board of Cus toms. These were the only changes, beyond mere verbal alterations, which he proposed to make in the bill. Sir S. NORTHCOTE wi-hod to ask, with reference to the first clause, whether there was to be a limit to the draw back on stalks. He understood it was to be limited to those stalks only which were used in the manufacture of snuff. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Laid that the intention had never been to allow a drawback upon stalks, for leasuis connected with the revenue laws. As his hon. friend was probably aware, the importation of stalks was prohibited, except where they were cut up in the regu lar process of making what was called birds' •eye tobacco. _ _ _ Mr. AYRTON said he wished to correct one error into which the right hon. gentleman had fallen, The right hon. gentleman had said that the trade was in favour of discri minating duties. The fact was, that the trade did not wish for discriminating duties, but they said, that if they were to have them, they preferred to have them more reasonable than they were in the bill; and that they should not pro ceed by jumps of 10 per cent., but by steps of 5 per cent. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply, read a letter from Mr. Charles Lloyd recommending aclear ance of moist tobacco. Mr. AYRTON pointed out that the letter contained some qualifying expressions. The CHANCELL DR of the EXCHEQUER said that no doubt the hon. gentleman was entitled to the benefit of the whole of the contents of the letter. The ca e of cigars must be considered as one involving various features, because cigars sere made from tobacco coming from different quar ters. He would illustrate the case of cigars by two exam ples—one of average tobacco made into cigars, the other an extreme case with a view of testing the proposition of a ss. duty. He held that it was net the duty of Parliament to undertake to cover every extreme instance in every minute ramification of trade. But in the present instance he did not hesitate to say that his proposal covered every case that had been brought within his knowledge, and every case that he believed existed in the ordinary course of trade and if they had known as much before his proposal was made as they knew now, he did not think he should be jus tified in proposing so high a discriminating duty as ss. on the foreign article. Now with regard to the example of cigars made from tobacco of ordinary quality, including Havannah of a somewhat dry kind, Yarra, German, and ' Dutch tobacco, he would assume, for the purpose of calcu lation, an importation of 1001bs. of tobacco. He would first calculate the duty directly paid by the manufacturer on that 1001bs., next any direct charges entailed upon him, and then he would put down, on the other side, any set-offs that might be made. He would take the number of pounds of cigars which the manufacturer could make out of 1001bs of tobacco and divide the total amount of duty paid, di rectly or indirectly, by the number of pounds of cigars made out of the 1001bs. of tobacco, and that would give the amount of countervailing duty. Now 1001bs. of Havannah leaf, of a somewhat dry quality, yielded 171bs, of stalks, which, though not worth anything for entering into cigars, would sell for 2s 4d a pound in the market. There would be 141bs of refuse and moisture from such an amount of this tobacco. Deducting 171bs of stalk and 141bs of refuse, or 311bs from 1001bs, there would remain 691bs of cigars to be got from 1001bs of tobacco. Now, the duty paid, including the allowance for interest during the process of manufac ture, was £l6 is 9d. Deducting from that the sum of Ll 19s Bd, the value of 171bs of stalks, there remained £l4 2s Id. Dividing this by 691bs of cigars, it would Ee found to represent a payment in duty of something like 4s ld per lb He proposed to allow ss, in order that the labourers who were employed in the manufacture, amongst whom were women and children, might be well looked after. His real difficulty, therefore, was not to defend the 5s duty against those gentlemen who thought it ought to be increased, but against those who considered it ought to be diminished. He would now take the extreme example of Havannah tobacco which might be stated to contain about 23 per cent, of mois ture, and therefore a case most unfavourable for his purpose He had heard of cases of 24 and 25 per cent. of moisture, but no case of that kind had been strictly verified. The hon, member asked what was moisture. He did not know whether the house was capable of appreciating the process by which the moisture of any given artic:e was ascertained, but there was, or used to be, at the Kensington Museum, a very interesting vessel which represented the constituent elements of the human body, and as fares he recollected out of 150 or 160 parts there were 110 parts of moisture. (An Hon. Member Oh I More than that.) He hoped the hon. member would take up the moisture question on his behalf. But at all events the amount of moisture could be ascertained by chemical analysis. Allowing then 23 per cent for moisture and a corresponding amount of stalks the case would stand thus :-1001bs of Havannah leaf of the wettest description contained 231bs of moisture, 181bs of stalks, and 2lbs of refuse smalls and waste. It followed that there were 431bs to be deducted from the 1001bs, which left bulbs of cigars to be got out of the 1001bs. But when the 181bs of stalks sold for 2s 4d the lb, and making the calcu lation and allowances as before, the result showed that the duty which the manufacturer paid on 571bs of cigars was £l3 198 9d, or 4s 101 d, or say in round numbers, 4s 111 b per lb. Perhaps it would be said this was running it rather close, and that remark would be true but for one element in the calculation, which he had not yet presented to the house. In the calculations made he assumed that the cigars were perfectly dry, but the ordinary state of foreign cigars imported into this country was that they contained 161 per cent, moisture; and British cigars, made from Haven nah leaf, contained 151 per cent, of moisture. The conse quence was that the duty of 5s gave the home manufac turer the whole advantage of 151 per cent. of moisture in every 1001 b of tobacco. The hon. member made himself the mouthpiece of persona who stated that one good and profitable mode of making cigars was to take tobacco of a certain description, and to reduce it one-half its weight, and the inference he deduced from this was that the British manufacturer ought not to be precluded from adopting the mode of manufacture he thought best, and that he was en titled to a countervailing duty of 6s 4d, or twice 3s 2d—the amount of duty. Now it was quite true that tobacco might be reduced, like many other things, to one-half its weight. Put paper in the fire, or roast meat to a coal, and they would he reduced to more than half their weight. But would the hon.gentleman rise in his place that night and tell him that it was a good mode of making cigars to reduce tobacco to half its weight? By following that process there would be left nothing but a woody fibre, and the cigars would have lost every quality which would make any person put them into the mouth. He believed that not only an ample but liberal allowance was made by the 53 duty which he proposed. Mr, AYRTON said the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made certain statements which he had no doubt werein the main correct, for they were arithmetical calculations based on certain given quantities of tobacco. He had also calcu lations made by Cope Brothers and Co., of Liverpool, and based on very much the same quantities as the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given. from which it resulted that out of 1001 b of tobacco there would remain 491 b of leaf, and that the duty ought to be Sc 7d, and not 4a ld, as the right hon. gentleman had calculated. But independently of this there were many incidental points to be brought intc the account as between the manufacturer in England and the manufac turer abroad which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not taken into calculation. For instance, the duty on foreign cigars at present was 9s a pound. That was a prohibition, except as regarded the slave-made cigars of Cuba, and the cigars of the royal monopoly at Manilla. The Havannah manufacturer had so completely the control of the market, that if the dealer in this country chose to purchase one box of the best, he was compelled to buy also one box of the second-best and one box of the worst. Now this was an im portant incident, because if the English manufacturer could only sell the first quality at a profit and the inferior qualities at a loss, the amount of duty became a large figure. The longer a cigar was kept the less moisture it contained, and the more valuable it became. The foreigner would be able to keep his cigar in bond, and the less moisture it contained the better it would be for him, as he only paid duty upon the weight, whereas in the case of the English manufacturer the more the loss of moisture the greater the loss to him, because he had paid duty upon the moisture. He must charge a higher price on the residue, in order to cover that loss. The more the value:of the commodity rose to the foreigner, the greater was the relative loss to the English manufacturer. These were serious elements, because when they came to close competition they had to be taken into account, With regard to the process of steeping, what he said was that in an extreme case it could be shown that tobacco lost half its value, and he contended that in a question of duties and equivalents they must have regard to extreme cases, and for this reason—that if a man had a commodity, though it were a woody fibre it was still a fibre of tobacco wood, that could be used to mix for the purpose of keeping up the bulk, and at the same time of diminishing the weight of cigars. They had positive experience with regard to the steeping process in the class of cigars known as Swiss or Vevay cigars. These cigars were imported, and could pay a duty of 9s, They were made of steeped tobacco, and when weighed against tobacco of the same sort manufactured in this country, it turned out that there were 240 cigars in the pound of those imported, and only 120 in the pound of those made in this country. The Chancellor of the Ex chequer said this was an extravagant case, but it was still a case of business actually going on, and such was the gain to the continental manufacturer resulting from this process of steeping, that he could actually make his cigars pay a 9s. duty and yet exhibit them for sale. Nevertheless, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that a ss. duty was suffi cient. That was an important question, for this reason, that having established a prohibitory duty except as re garded Havannah and Manilla cigars, it had been the in terest of the manufacturer to keep up his weight, because upon his weight he had paid duty, and there being no such obligation on the foreigner, he could retain the specific gravity as much as possible, and get the largest bulk for the smallest amount of duty, and if the foreigner could do this to an enormous extent in one class of cigars —the Vevay oigars—what would the industry of Germany do when it came to treat tobacco under the new regulations ? Why, every class of tobacco would be subject, to a greater or less extent, to this stepping process, and the English manufac turer would be driven out of the market. The gain to the foreigner would be enormous. In the first place, he could use a coarse tobacco which the English manufacturer could not use because it was too coarse, and he gained 4d. per lb. on the mere value or cost price of the tobacco. That was a subject which the Chancellor of the Exchequer ought to consider. When they dealt with revenue they were bound to regard extreme cases as they might turn the scale of the market. Now he asked the Chancellor of the Ex chequer to put a clause in his bill which would place the English manufacturer on exactly the same footing as the foreigner as to the steeping of tobacco in fond. If he would do that he would admit be was dealing with his argument in a practical way. The right hon. gentleman hart not dealt with another question inseparably connected with this, for which he was bound to make provision. The English ma nufacturer was obliged to buy his tobacco with the stem in it, for which he paid duty. but the foreigner took out the stem be'ore he paid any duty. On what principle could that be justified ? He would ask the right hon. gentleman to allow the tobacco to Le, stemmed in bond, and thus place the English manufacturer in the same position as the fo reigner. He wanted to hear upon what principle it was that the manufacturer in this country was not allowed to export his cigars. Let the Chancellor of the Exchequer answer that on the principle of free trade. The English manufac turer was compelled to take in his tobacco and make his cigars, and yet was not allowed to send them out unless he paid as much duty as amounted to a positive prohibition. Facility for exporting cigars would be the greatest possible relief to the English manufacturer, because he could sell fine cigars to gentlemen of fottune in England, and send out the coarser qualities to the people in the colonies, who were not so nice. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the hon. gentleman had indulged in vague statements, and had been very shy of matters of fact and computation, The extreme case which he had put of particular kinds of to bacco being reduced 50 per cent. by steeping did not exist, and were impossible. It was not in the nature of the tobacco that it should exist. A good merchantable cigar could not be made in that way. As to the inquiry whether he would include a clause in the bill for steeping in bond, he had to state that having seen the hon. gentleman's constituents and other manufacturers of cigars in Liverpool, Ireland, and Scotland, no one of them had ever made the slightest refe rence to the subject. With regard to the Vevey cigars, they were told that by some wonderful hocus-pocus the Swiss made 250 cigars out of a pound of tobacco, and the English manufacturer only 120. He should think that in England, if they knew how to bisect them, they could make nearly 250. These Swiss cigars had been analysed, and in stead of having LO parts extracted, as the hon. member's constituents represented, they had only 20, and 80 parts of the old plant remained. With respect to the clause sug gested as to steeping, if it was a matter of general interest to the trade it might form a fair subject for consideration, but it had never been brought before the Government, and he could not possibly be expected to give any pledge on the subject at the present moment. The bon. gentleman stated that there was no allowance for stalks in bond. That was to be considered:in two points of view ; and when they came to a question of drawback he would give an answer. He would not enter upon it now as it bad no connexion whatever with cigars. When it was said they did not permit cigars to be exported, he answered that they did ; for what had he done? The importer brought 1001bs. of leaf into this country, and in the manufacture he took out a certain quantity of stalks and a small amount of absolute waste. He had to pay 3s and 5 per cent., and they gave him back 3s 3d on every lb of cigars and on every lb of stalks manufactured in this country, That was as fair and sufficient a drawback on manu factured tobacco in general as could be calculated, but at the same time he frankly admitted that it was not possible to so construct a system of drawback as to cover everything which might be quoted hi an extreme case. He certainly would hope that the export of cigars would be a profitable business, and that a great stride would be given to it by the new enactments, as compared with the present state of the law. The quotation of the hon. gentleman from Mr. Cope was perfectly fallacious. In that statement, it ap peared that 49t lbs of cigars were the proceeds of 100 lbs of Havannah leaf. He wanted to ask the hon, member whether these 491 lbs were dry or not; was all the moisture taken out of them ? Mr. AYRTON—Dry cigars. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said " dry" was a relative term. Did Mr. Cope mean that the moisture had been taken out of the tobacco ? Mr. AYRTON—Mr. Cope meant 49i lbs of marketable cigars. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if it was 491 lbs of marketable cigars, his answer was that the computation was wholly fallacious, because it was made on the extravagant supposition, which never happened, that the whole moisture had been taken out of the cigars, whereas in marketable cigars, from Havannab, there was 15f per cent. of moisture. Thus came to grief the calculation of Mr. Cope and his hon. friend. Colonel DUNNE inquired what concessions had been made to the Irish manufacturers of tobacco, who now ap peared to be satisfied with the bill. He should also wish to be informed whether it was intended that bonded ware houses should be established in small towns, as well as in cities and seaports. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that, after hearing the representations made by the Irish manu facturers, and consulting the officers of the revenue depart ment, he had determined to propose an augmentation of the duty on sweetened cavendish tobacco. The use ofany foreign element except water was prohibited in the manufacture of tobacco. There had however grown up in the country a taste for a particular kind of sweetened tobacco, and there arose the question whether it was wise to allow that taste to be supplied in the irregular manner in which it was sup plied at present, through the medium of the smuggler, or to permit a general sweetening of all descriptions of tobacco. The difficulty was—if such was not allowed—to defend the ordinary manufacturer of tobacco from being supplanted in the market by the vendor of sweetened cavendish. One great object of the bill was to make a bona fide and strong endeavour to limit as much as possible the trade of the smuggler. He did not, therefore, come to the conclusion that cavendish ought to be put under a prohibition, because the effect of so doing would be to facilitate smuggling. Neither did he think that the use of sweetening matter generally could be permitted; but be considered that the demand of the Irish manufacturers was not altogether un reasonable—namely, that sweetened cavendish should be kept a good deal dearer in the market than the ordinary tobacco. He believed that the course he had taken was not calculated to interfere with the efficacy of the bill. With reference to the other branch of the hon. and gallant gen tleman's question, there was no objection to the establish ment of bonded warehouses in small towns, provided the premises to be proposed wore found suitable, and that there existed the necessary facilities for inspection. Mr. AYRTON thought that the rate of duty upon the importation of high-dried cigars should be increased. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if it was desirable that a distinction should be made be tween the duties on high and low dried cigars, he thought the duty on the latter should be lessened rather than that' on the former increased. The clause as amended was then agreed to. In reply to Sir S. NORTHCOTE, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was his intention that the bill should be reprinted, aid a further opportunity given for a consideration of its provisions. The remaining clauses were agreed to, and a new clause, extending the provisions of the present law in regard to drawback, was added to the bill, which was ordered to be reported on Monday next. The house resumed. THE CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS exception from the operation of the clause of persons in the position of members or who had been candidates. Sir G. G itEY said he regretted the hon. member had not given notice of his amendment. It involved an important principle, and at present he could not support it. The ex emption of members he thought would be most:invidious. Air. BUTT said with his present feeling he should be pre pared to support the proviso. It was said that the member would be protected from penal consequences, but how could that be said if in consequence of his evidence they unseated him ? He suggested that the proviso should be withdrawn now, and proposed again on bringing up the report. Sir F. KELLY agreed with the right hon. baronet that it would have a strange appearance if they were to exempt members of the house from the liability to be examined. But independently of that, it appeared to him that the pro viso would be almost nugatory. Mr. COLLINS concurred in the suggestion that the pro viso should be withdrawn, and brought up again on the report. Mr. Sergeant PIGOTT thought that the proviso ought to run in the opposite direction, and that instead of a member not being called upou to answer a question he should be compelled to answer. Mr. CHILDERS said there was another reason for with drawing the clause, and that was that it placed the elected in a better position than the elector, who was compelled to answer, and, who, if he were proved guilty of bribery or being bribed, was liable to be struck off the register. Mr. LYGON also urged the withdrawal of the clause. Mr. DENMAN said he thought 'he hon. member ought not only to withdraw the clause, but never to introduce it again. If such a proviso were to be introduced into the bill the country would never believe they were in earnest, as he believed theysi ere, in their endeavours to put down bribery. Mr. HUNT then withdrew the proviso, but said he should propose it again in a future stage of the bill. Clause 8 was then agreed to. On clause 9, Mr. LYGON proposed to leave out the paragraph relat ing to treating. Sir G. GREY supported the clause as it stood. There might be a small amount of treating, but there might be extensive treating. The committee were unanimously of opinion that the proof of agency with regard to treating should be placed on the same footing as the proof of agency with regard to bribery. Mr. LYG ON observed that a bribe was a bribe, and when once given and taken there was no doubt of the character of it; but it was a question whether giving a glass of beer was treating. Ho thought they ought not to take evidence of treating until they had established the connection between the sitting member and the acts complained of. The ATTORNEY •GENERAL said it appeared to him that if this recommendation of the committee became part of the act, it would be still in the discretion of the commit tee either to receive evidence of acts of treating indepen dent of the existence of agency, or if the nature of the case were such as the hon. member suggested might occur, they would not receive evidence till the agency was proved. The clause as amended was then agreed to. In clause 11, Mr. COLLINS moved an amendment to prevent the House of Communs alone from having power to suspend a writ. Sir G. GREY said the object of the clause was exactly to do that which the hon. gentleman desired. Mr. LYGON had always voted against the suspension of writs ; for he could never understand why innocent voters should be deprived of their rights because a number of other electors had been guilty of malpractices. It seemed to him that the clause unduly restricted the prerogative of the crown, and he should therefore support the omission of the clause altogether. (Hear.) Mr. Serg. PIGOTT supported the clause. Sir F. KELLY thought the house ought not to call in the House of Lords to support it in the exercise of its privi leges. (Hear.) He should Support the omission of the clause. Mr. CLAY would be glad to know if the clause super seded the ordinary parliamentary power which the house possessed of suspending a writ. Sir G. GREY said the bill contained an express provi sion that it should not affect the rights of the house during the continuance of the Parliament which might happen to be in existence, It only gave power to suspend a writ for five years absolutely, even though the house should not continue in being so long. Mr. COLLINS withdrew his amendment. Mr. POWELL moved the omission of the clause, with a view to substitute a new one, disfranchising for 10 years all persons reported guilty of malpractices. The object of the law was to purify the constituency. and obviously the best way of doing that was to excise all its corrupt elements. He thought the clause as it originally stood would be in operative. Mr, KNIGHTLEY thought the fact of suspending the writ for five years was a perfect farce, and he was strongly of opinion that when notorious corruption had taken place the place should be disfranchise]. altogether. Sir G. GREY said the clause was intended to meet cases in which, although corrupt practices existed, the majority of the constituents were not guilty of bribery. He believed it would on the whole be beneficial in checking bribery and corruption in places where it had hitherto prevailed. Mr. HARDY thought that in fixing a limit of five years the committee had not gone too far. Mr. HENLEY was not aware of any precedent for giving a resolution of that house the power of law after the exist ence of the Parliament which made such resolution had terminated. Sir G. GREY said the house had at present the power of suspending a writ from time to time during the existence of Parliament. The only object of the clause was to ask for legislative sanction for the suspension of a writ beyond the dissolution of Parliament. Mr. LYGON objected to this power being assumed by the house. He should cordially give his support to the hon. member for Gloucester. Sir F. KELLY also objected to the clause. The ground on which he must resist the clause was that, although it was expedient that a Parliament should have the power of suspending a writ during its continuance, he did not under stand why, for the offences of a small portion of a constitu ency, the House of Commons should have the power of en croaching on the prerogative of the Crown, and disfranchis ing perhaps a very meritorious portion of the constituency for a longer period than the existence of Parliament. Mr. HUNT wished to point out that this section gave a much greater power to the House of Commons thaa it at present possessed. The working of the clause might be to suspend a writ for two sessions of Parliament. Mt. BENTINOK said that the right hon. gentleman had not answered the question whether the effect of the clause would not be to enable one session of Parliament to suspend a writ during part of a subsequent session. Sir G. GREY said that clearly the effect of the clause would be that the suspension might extend over a future Parliament. The writ would be suspended, not by the ac tion of the House of Commons, but by virtue of an act of Parliament. Mr. WALPOLE said he was in favour of the clause, and he thought it would be an improvement in the law. He thought that the five years might well run over a dissolution, and the constituency would be warned that if their evil prac tices were continued they would be disfranchised altogether. Still he was of opinion that the clause required guarding, as he thought the Secretary of State would see from attention to two considerations. First, this suspension might be effected simply by a resolution of the house, and there was no guard against the resolution being taken at a distant period of a sitting of Parliament ; and he thought that in all cases the resolution ought to be moved within one month after the date of the report of the committee. Secondly, the resolution ought to be passed in a committee of the whole house, and for this reason, that the house might not be taken by surprise. The report of the committee would then be laid on the table, and the house would have an opportuniq of confirming or of rescinding it. The right hon. gentle man proposed amendments in the wording of the clause to meet these views. Sir E, COLEBROOKE suggested that the right hon. baronet (Sir G. GI ey) should give some assurance that the house should not be taken by surprise. If some such guaran tee were given, ho should be disposed to Tate in favour of the clause. Mr. HARDY suggested the substitution of five years "from the date of the report," for five years "from the date of the resolution." In answer to Mr. PEACOCK; Sir G. GREY said that the five years might possibly run over the termination of a Parliament. He agreed in the ne cessity of some such guard as that suggested by the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Walpole). But the clause could not now be amended ; and before it was brought up on the re port he (Sir G. Grey) would consider the question, and pro pose some alteration which would meet the suggestions that had been thrown out. Mr. HENLEY said he was sure, from the discussion that had taken place, that there was some danger in the clause. His right hon. friend (Mr. Walpole) had suggested a period of one month from the passing of a report. But they all knew that reports were often great jolly blue books—(a laugh)—and he scarcely thought there would be time for hon. members in all cases to digest the report that might be issued. There was danger also that this clause might be passed into an assumption by the house of powers which did not constitutionally belong to it. Mr. POWELL intimated that he would take the sense of the committee on the clause. Sir J. SHELLEY asked by whom the writ would be issued if the five years happened to expire when the house was not sitting. Sir G. GREY said by the authority of Parliament. Mr. PEACOCKE said he scarcely thought it was the intention of the right hon. baronet to suspend the enfran chisement of a borough over a dissolution, and during part of a future session, Sir G. GREY said that that was the intention—(hear) — if it should be necessary. The object was that a constitu ency found guilty of malpractice; should remain unrepre sented during the full period of five years. (Hear.) After a few words from Mr. KNIGHTLEY, the com mittee divided and the numbers were— For the clause ll3 Against 4B-65 The clause was then agreed to. Clauses 12 and 13 were also agreed to. Mr. PACKE then moved the introduction of a clause to provide that every candidate who should, by himself, or by or with any other person, pay wholly or in part any expense incurred for meat, drink, entertainment, or provision, for any person other than an elector, with a view to influencing the election, on the day of nomination or the day of polling, should be deemed guilty of the offence of treating, should forfeit the sum of £5O, and, if an elector, forfeit his right to vote at the said election. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause, on the ground that it would rather do mischief than good. The clause was negatived without a division. Mr. PAGET moved the insertion of a clause, the effect of which would be to render persons who ware under a re cognisance, or who had been served with a subpoena under the Act, and who did not appeal, guilty of a contempt of court. Mr. HARDY observed that the hon. member desired to place witnesses in ttzt case of corrupt practices in a worse position than witnesses in the case of murder. That was carrying the law a little too far. The clause was negatived without a division ; as was also a second clause, proposed likewise by Mr. Paget, the object of which was to empower ajudge of a superior court to order any person charged with any offence against the law for the prevention of corru?t practices to be tried in a county diffe rent from that in which the offence was committed, or in the Central Criminal Court. Mr. PULLER moved the insertion of a clause rendering any person convicted of btibery,treating, or undue influence by a court of law incapable of being elected or sitting in Parliament during the five years next after such conviction. At present a person so convicted might be forthwith elected by any place other than that at which he had been guilty of the bribery. Hr G. GREY had no objection to the clause, the convic tion being that of a court of law. The clause was agreed to. Sir F. GOLDSMID proposed the insertion of a clause rendering null all votes given for a candidate guilty of bribery. At present, if a candidate proved bribery against his successful o; ponent, he must re•con test the seat, even though no recriminating charge had been proved against himself. The change which he proposed to introduce into the law was to give the seat to such a candi date under such circumstances, and he believed that it would be most successful in checking bribery. He would ask the committee to consider how the change in the law which he proposed would operate upon political parties and candidates. The candidate, instead of acting as he did at present, would know that, whether he was the candidate of a strong or a weak party, if he bribed he would lose his seat. (Divide.) He hoped the commi tee would allow him to notice the only objection he had heard raised to the clause he proposed, which was that they could not give the seat to the minority; but that ob jection arose from trusting to words without observing their meaning. What was meant by a majority was a majority of those who had real political opinions, but not a majority obtained by means of funds. His clause would give the election to the real majority.. Sir G. GREY said this was not the first time his hon. friend had brought forward such a resolution, nor the first time he had to state his objection to it. The law as it now stood was founded upon the plain and obvious principle that no votes should be thrownaway unlesstheelector knew that the candidate was at the time disqualified from taking his seat in that house. As the clause would be unjust to the constituencies, and be a departure from the recognised prin ciple of law, he should oppose it. The clause was then negatived without a division. Mr. HUNT moved a clause to the effect that, whenever an election committee resolved unanimously that the sitting member was duly elected, and reported such resolution to the house, the parties who appeared in opposition to such petition should be entitled to recover their full costs. Sir G. GREY said there might be many cases where a petition would be presented in perfect good faith, but, from circumstances which the petitioners knew nothing of, the petition might fail, and he thought it would be hard they should be made to pay the expenses. The effect of the clause would be to discourage election petitions. (Hear, hear.) After a few words from Dr. Brady, Mr. Clay, Mr. Bou verie, and Mr. Sclater-Booth, the clause was withdrawn. Mr. HUNT moved another clause, to the effect that when a commission was issued to inquire into the extensive prevalence of bribery, treating, or corrupt practices, and when such commission reported that such practices pre vailed, the town, borough, or other place where the offence was committed should become chargeable with the expense. The clause was agreed to. Mr. D. GRIFFITH moved the insertion of a clause pro viding that the payment of any money or valuable conside ration which was stated to be not lawful to pay in respect of the travelling expenses of any voter at an election, should be deemed to constitute the offence of bribery on the part of the candidate or his agent. Sir G. GREY said the bill studiously avoided dealing with travelling expenses. The law was in a satisfactory state upon the subject, and he thought the committee had batter let it remain so. The clause was negatived without a division. Mr. CHILDERS moved a clause that, whenever an elec. tion committee should have reported to the house that a member had not been duly elected by reason of bribery committed by him or by his agents, or that corrupt practices had t xtensively prevailed at any electi, n, that thereafter certain provisions should be adopted, with a view to prevent their repetition'and ensure purity ot election. The principal provision was as follows :—" At the time ot polling, each elector, having previously answered the questions now by law permitted to be put to him, and having satisfied the re turning officer or deputy returning officer that he is then and there entitled to vote, shall receive from such officer a voting paper, duly signed as aforesaid, and shall, in a com partment of the polling booth provided for that purpose, strike out the names of those candidates for whom he does not intend to vote, and, having folded up the voting paper in such manner as will conceal the names of the candidates, and display that of the returning officer written upon the back, shall, in the presence of the returning officer or deputy returning officer, deposit it in a box prepared for that pur pose." Sir Cr. GREY opposed the clause. The committee then divided. For the clause .. 55 Against it Majority The preamble was then agreed to, and the bill having been passed through committee, was ordered to be re ported. The house having resumed, immediately went into com mittee on the Singular Self-Accusation of Wife Murder in Edinburgh, At the Deal borough police-court on Monday Robert Webster was brought up under the follow ing singular circumstances : Thomas Parker, superintendent of police, deposed —Yesterday the defendant surrendered himself to me as having murdered his wife. He was brought to me by Captain Gay from a ship from Newcastle, and bound to Catherine. I have written to the superintendent of police at Edinburgh, and I apply for a remand till Thursday. I produce the pri soner's first letter, which is es follows " Ship Trenton, March 9. " Sir,—A troubled mind makes me inform you of a deed I committed some few years back, for which my con science will not allow me to rest. I murdered my wife in Scotland, at Edinburgh, and I have escaped justice up to this time. I am miserable, and have no wish to live. What I have suffered since, God only knows. I call upon you, therefore, to give me over a prisoner to the authorities, or to some of her D 7 ajesty's ships of war. I give myself over to you, Captain Gay, as a prisoner, and no more on of your crew, for you to hand me over to justice. 1. have no wish to live, but for the sake of poor chil ren. My right name is Webster, not Guthrie. Forgive the trouble I give you —I am, &c., " ROBERT WEBSTER." " Sunday, 15th.—My wife's name was Agnes Webster. I lived at No. 1, Danube•street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. I believe my two children, whose names are Jane and Isa bella, are living with my wife's mother, named Jane Small, in the same place that I left them about three years ago." The foliowitig letter addressed "To Resident Magistrate was written by the prisoner yesterday niorniug " Honoured Sir,—l am the unfortunate wretch who was brought ashore from the ship Trenton, on account of my addressing a letter to the captain when I was labouring under delirium tremens from excessive drialr. I received a sun stroke in the interior of Africa, while lion hunting, and when under the influence of drink my mind wanders. I left my wife Agnes Webster, a few years back, through a family quarrel, and have been in Africa ever since. I came home to London about two months ago. I had written numberless leAers home, but had never received any reply. My wife used to threaten to make away with her self if I left her, and on my arrival in England I heard she was gone. I was nearly out of my mind on hearing this. I made up my mind to put an end to my existence, as I con sidered myself her murderer; but from the state of mind I was labouring under I had neither the fortitude to put an end to my lite nor to go to Scotland, and I gave myself up to the authorities. I have no wish to live if my wife is dead. If the law will not acknowledge me as her murderer the Almighty will. If she lives I will be too happy to re turn to the bosom of my family. But my conscience tells me she is dead, all through me. Be kind enough to com municate with the authorities in Edinburgh that my mind may be at rest.--ROBERT WEBSTER." The Bench remanded the prisoner until Thursday, in order that the superintendent might receive a reply to the communication he had addressed to the authorities at Edinburgh. _ _ [We believe that the police authorities in Edin burgh have investigated this case, and ascertained that the wife and children of the unfortunate man are all alive, and residing at the residence men tioned by him.] COUNTRY MARKETS. 1.• MANCHESTER-MARCH 19. A fair attendance to-day, with a quiet business doing. English wheat is per qr., and American 2d to 3d per 100 lb dearer. Oats and oatmeal moved off slowly, at last week's prices. Egyptian beans fully is per qr higher, but there was no change in English. Indian corn rather in_favour of sellers. Flour generally held for 6d advance. BILL. The house went into committee on this bill, resuming the consideration of clause 8. Sir G. GREY said since the previous discussion which took place on this clause he had considered the language of it, and would now consent to an alteration which should make it absolutely compulsory upon a committee or the commissioners to give an indemnity to every witness who should bo required to, and should answer a question which should, criminate himself, " relating to any corrupt practice at or connected with any election forming the sub ject of inquiry by such committee or commissioners." The amendment was agreed to. Sir G. GREY then proposed in the same clause a proviso to the effect " that where any witness shall answer every question relating to the matters aforesaid which he shall be required by such committee or commissioners (as the case may be) to answer, and the answer to which may criminate or tend lo criminate him, he shall be entitled to receive from the committee, under the hand of their clerk, or from the commissioners, under their hands, a certificate stating that such witness was upon his examination required by the said committee or commissioners, to answer questions, or a questicu relating to the matters aforesaid, the answers or answers to which criminated, or tended to criminate him, and had answered all such questions or such question." Mr. BU UT suggested an amendment of the amendment, rrakiug the indemnity compulsory in every case, even where a witness had answered one question which might criminate himself, and refused to answer more questions. Sir M. FARQUHAR was also of opinion that the in demity should be compulsory in every such case. 6ir G. GREY thought that his amendment would sub stantially meet every case, but he considered that if a wit ness refused to answer every question there shculd be a discretion in the committee or commissioners to refuse a certificate. Mr. LYGON, who had a notice on the paper to strike out the clause, said that the amendment of it had entirely removed all his objections, and therefore he had very great pleasure in withdrawing his proposed motion. After a short discussion, in which Mr. COLLINS and Sir F. KELLY took part, approving of the clause as amended, the amendment of Sir G. Grey was agreed to by the com• mittee. Mr. HUNT then proposed the following amendment :-- "Provided also that n)thing in this act shall apply to the case of a sitting member or a candidate who shall bo called as a witness to give evidence before any election com mittee." The hon. member said that, there ought to be an TELEGRAPHS BILL. Clauses up to 5, with a few verbal amendments, were then agreed to. On clause 6, Mr. POWELL (Cambridge) called attention to the fact that the clause required the companies to give only 24 hours' notice, in the event of their having occasion to disturb gas or water pipes, He thought the time too short. Mr. H. LEWIS concurred in the objection. He admitted that telegraphic communication was a great convenience to the public, but then it should not be established at the cost of a still greater convenience—an abundant supply of water and gas. (Hear.) He thought that the notice should ex tend to a week. Mr. M. GIBSON contended that there was no validity in the objection, and that the notice provided by the clause was amply sufficient. Mr. HENLEY supported the objection, and moved that the chairman report progress, which would give the right hon. gentleman the President of the Board of trade 24 hours to consider the subject. (Laughter,) Mr. M. GIBSON begged that the clause would be allowed to pass. The bill was calculated to diminish the powers already granted to telegraph eompanies. After a long discussion, the chairman was allowed to re port progress. The house resumed. MARINE MUTINY BILL. This bill was read a second time. MUTINY BILL. The house went into committee on the Mutiny Bill. In answer to Mr. HENLEY, Sir G. C. LEWIS said that the Indian army was in elwled in the bill. Mr. HENNESSY said that he had an objection to one of the clauses. He could not tell which clause it was, as the bill had not been distributed to members. The clauses were announced by the chairman. On clause 23, which provided for the infliction of corporal punishment, Mr. HENNESSY said that was the clause to which he objected. He would divide the committee upon it. The committee accordingly divided. For the clause Against it Majority for the clause INCLOSURE BILL. This bill was read a second time. TRUSTEES (SCOTLAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL This bill passed through committee. HARES (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. THAMES CONSERVANCY. Mr. HUT r moved for a select committee to inquire into the operation of the several Acts of Parliament relating to the conservancy of flag liver Thames, to the buoyage, bea conage and ballastage of that river from Staines to Yantlet Creek, and to the regulation of vessels navigating or plying on the river between the aforesaid limits. The motion was agreed to. 'ACCINATION (IRELAND) BILL. Sir R. PEEL obtained leave to introduce a bill to further extend and make compulsory the practice of vacci nation in Ireland. LOCAL GO VERNMENT ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Sir G. GREY obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend the Local Government Act. JUDGMENTS (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. WHITESIDE obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend the law of judgments affecting land in Ireland. The several bills for which leave was obtained were read a first time. The house adjourned at ten minutes to one o'clock. Importing Tea without colour on the leaf pre vents the Chinese passing off inferior leaves as in the usual kinds. Horniman's Tea is uncoloured, therefore, always food alike. Sold in packets by 2,280 agents. BIRMINGHAM-MARCH 19, English wheat was sold at 50s to 568 for white, and 42s to 54s per 36 stone for red, Barley, new malting, 34s to 42s per qr ; grinding, 24s to 295. Oats, old, 24s to 308 per 30 stone ; Irish, 22s to 255. Beans, 408 to 44s per qr. Peas, 40s to 48s per 36 stone. EDINBURGH GRAIN—Mlucs 18. A fair supply of farmers' wheat to-day, which met a good sale, at 6d to is advance on the prices of last week. Wheat on the top is 6d down average Os 4d up.; Barley on the top 2s Od up ...average Os 9d up. Oats on tho top is Od up. average Os 6d down. Beans on the top is Od down. ..... ..average is 3d down. Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ... 774 qrs Sold 483 qrs 8ar1ey........ 846 qrs Sold 379 qrs Oats Beans 222 qrs Sold 113 qrs - Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 44s Od ; extras, 41s 6d ; superfine, 39s Od ; fine, 37s Od. CORK—MARca I'3. fhe following were the quotations this morning wheat, 6s dto9s 6 r ; white, 7s Od to Ils Od , barley, 6s 6 , 1 t, , 7e 4d ; oats, 6s 6d to 8s 2d. ; new here, —s Od to 0•p PLYMOUTH-MARCH 17. Whitt, 56s to 60s; red, 54s to 66s per qr; Dantzic, 57s to 58s ; American, 51s to 558 ; Spanish, —s to —s ; Rus sian, —s to --s. Barley at previous rates-34s to 38s per qr for malting ; grinding, 27s to 288 ; oats, 23s to27s; and beans, —s to —s ; flour, 38s to 41s Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD—MARcn 17. A good supply of fat beasts to-day. The beef demand generally was excellent, and prices had an upward ten dency. The number of sheep was short, and readily dis posed of. Calves were more plentiful. A fair supply of fat pigs. Beet Old to 7d Veal lid to Od Mutton .... 8 -szl to 9d Pork Lamb —d to —d Itough fat, 4s Od per stone. Hides, 3d to 41d; calf skins, 5d to 6d. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. AuKralia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Mar. 21. via Marseilles Apr. 12. Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Apr. 6. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and S. Helena Apr. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Mar. 21. via Marseilles Mar. 29. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Mar. 21. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Mar. 21. via Marseilles Mar. 29. 'udia (Bombay), via Southampton Mar. 28 . _ .. via Marseilles Mar. 22. P0rtuga1.......... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southamptou Mar. 21. via Marseilles Mar. 22. Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Mar. 18. . by U.S. packet by Canadian packet Mar. 20. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneritle Apr. 10. Bahamas, via New York Mexico.. MI parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, Mar. 16. California, and British Columbia.. It appears by a Parliamentary return that ceme teries have been constituted under the Burials Acts in 354 parishes in England and Wales. 36 cemeteries have been established under local acts, or are the private property of individuals. Nine of the cemeteries have no part conse crated. LADVERTISEMENT.j--Holloway's Pills.--Liver and Stomach Complaints.—On change of weather,excessive ex ertion, or mental trouble, a distressing pain often arises in the side, shoulder, or elsewhere, Its known cause is conges tion of the liver. Its infallible remedy is Holloway's Pills. Mr. Roberts, of St. George's-square, Liverpool, states that, after trying countless means for relieving these oppressive pains without receiving the slightest benefit, he commenced a course of Holloway's pills, which forthwith ameliorated his sufferings, and in a short time freed him from them altogether. All disorders of the stomach are as readily dis pelled. Occasional doses of these purifying pills will pre vent the liver becoming enlarged, and consequently will stave off bilious sickness and diarrhcei, and preserve the complexion from unhealthy sallowness. Births. DANDO.—On the 19th inst., at Weybridge, Surrey, the wife of Percy Dando, Esq., of Leadenhall-street, of a daughter. LUCAS.—On the 18th inst , at Rowsham, Bucks, Mrs. Mk+j‘ir Lucaa, of a :on. TALBOT.—On the 18th inst., at Sheerness, the wife of Lieut.-Colonel Talbot, R.A., of a son. Marriages. BRASSINGTON—WETTEN.—Onqhe 18th inst., at All Saints', Knightsbridge, John Watts Brassm?;ton, Esq., of Park-row, Knightsbridge, to Christina Roberts, the eldest daughter of Robert Wetten, Esq. , of Poets'-cor ner, Westminster. lloNEy—Prium.--On the 19th inst. , at S utton Coldfield, Charles Robertson Honey, Esq., of Magdalen IL.ll,•Ox ford, to Emma, only child of the late John Pitum, Esq., of Edengale, Derbyshire. Deaths. Aattt3reel:iEttsleci.S, t a a g n e h d op 3 e i. street, i Mayfar, A ATTREE . —On MackinnonDES P AßD.—On the 18 th i n st. , at Kensington, Richard C. E s q., MC.E., of 30, G reat George-street , E A s T oN —On the 17l hn Bt.' 17th inst., A r th ur E aston, E sq., of 44 , Hy d e - par k -square, late of th e I n di a B oard, aged 69. F OST ER —On the 16th inst ~ at Fritton Hall, Suff o lk, the Rev. L. B Foster, aged 68, W De e s s P t a m rd in ' ster, 4. aged 31. GOITGR.—On the 15th in s t., a t St . H e l en ' s , co. D u bli n , Frances Maria, Viscountess Gough, aged 76. Nicnol.s.—On the 15th inst., at Brixton, Mrs. A. Nichols, aged 98. Tommis.---On the 17th inst., at Painters'-hall, city, P. N. Tonalins, Esq., aged 75. WINGER,—On the 17th inst., at Tenterden, Kent, Edwd. Wins. r, sen., aged 71. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SuN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Micltilegex.—Friday, AlaXon 20, 1863. Mess Thi and C Berate dertal or the foothl Subs to advi a disco but in all p re duced ßy [ • These Afte: be exe i March, _Arra 'loads Frrn th.ir a! the fire r i he duly a ( , An a n 11€ 4 11t kt,!tisrs of the ', T AMA Broker fro m In th imn A Po Duo], p To be I No Ps TO *el trai Arr Gent "ie gun of the here that a l , per cen SEV 43 000 NOT 4 , lat of (Saturd Marc: The v. of whtch R° He nry 110 hert Ohn Mark 1 Williat Thorna Frei an Mredk. Rivers( Robt. A rm. T "as. St, NOT FIRE on gth ,PIRI - °,rPor 4 , .n th "eiDati Partici / The early Equi, NYabl4 The ( Lif e . Any This of Per Th e i ll the united IT. Th lit . IV. T 1 1 '• Tiv Gor 4 • Grp J• L. 11, 'R . I gnw G Ja . r A J Sal 145, 1 Sc sterlh The annuli 1 11 Lo The option twent' starch ( Estal I