The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

_ - higher ; but ultimately the qualification was reduced t o I primed by way of compromise, which provided that all 10/. value. Now, I think that in taking that franchise, 1 members of the Commons who might take office under the and in abolishing, as we did, all those intricate franchises I Crown should vacate their seats, but be eligible to be which then existed, we too much confined ourselves to 1 re-elected. As long as the House of Commons continued one species of franchise, and did not make the franchise unreformed-as long as there were a number of convenient sufficiently varied and comprehensive. We propose, then, members connected with the Treasury or dependent on in the first place, that there shall be several franchises persons in immediate connection with the Ministry, no common to the counties and to the towns ; and that these great inconvenience was experienced from the operation of qualification's (as we understood) shall entitle a person to the act. When Mr. Canning accepted the office of Se vote in the place in whi c h h e res id es, whether he be re- cretary of State he vacate d h is sea t for Liverpool, and was sident in a county or in a borough. The first qualifica- immediately returned for Harwich, because the latter was tion we propose is 1001. sa l ary, d er i ved from any employ- an easier seat, and would cause him less tr ou bl e th an ment, public or privat e . It i s provided that such salary must attend t h e representation of a large town like Liver shall be paid half-yearly or quarterly, so that the qualifi- pool. In those times, when a seat could a l ways b e f oun d cation shall not apply t o persons who receive weekly wages. for any person f or whom it was required, Ministers suf- I conceive that this franchise will bring in a very intelli- fared little inconvenience from the act of Anne; but when gent body of men. (Ch eers.) The next franchise we pro- the principle of popular represent a ti on was introduced into pose is 101. a year derived from dividends either f r om the all our elections, funds, from Bank Stock, or from East India Stock. The were hardly compensated t by the advantage of having new next is a somewhat similar, though a higher qualification elections. The i h n eoryis, to that a person ought to go before than that which I proposed two years ago-namely 40s. his constituentsorder enable them to decide whether wil have . a member who is a servant of the Crown, Payment either to the income tax or to the assessed they taxes within the year. (Hear, hear.) Those who pay the or one who t Is perfectly t. h independent.. Now, in point of nwhiicrhdl.gyeenveerralalynsaerissoens is - cli c, a w n h oc a c t a i s s io t n he ; income tax will receive votes for the present, and when f h a n c t t, th th e a ctu r st e question they lose their votes they will have the compensation of most embarrassing topic connected with the member vs pose, rid of the tax. (Cheers and laughter.) We Pro pose, likewise, that graduates of any university in the eating his seat," or "is he likely or no t t o o b ta i n h i e re , United Kingdom shall h ave the right of voting, to which turn ?" The consequence of this state of thi ngs i s, t h at than nged one to more select fi a tt p e e d rso f n orths whose office, re -e election is an conceive they ar e entitl e d b y th e i r e d ucat i o n and at- very often the Crown is embarrassed i n it s choice and is in such banks for not less th an th ree years , s hall be entitled o tainments. We propose, al so , th a t an y p e rsons having obliged aura, h is ose r e. e election rather deposits of 501. in savin gs b an k s, w hi c h h ave remained i in is doubtful. I am of opinion th a t no pu bli c b enef i t which to vote. I think if th e f ranc hi se were g iven to depositors may arise from an adherence to the principle of popular whose money had been in the banks for a less period than control in the representation can be equivalent to the ad three years,danger there would b e cons iderable creation of fictitious votes, but I have no doubt the house are to appear in this house, and to be answerable for the will concur in the opinion that a bona ,fide holder of 501. in conduct of affairs, they ought to advise the Crown to give a savings bank has given a proof of prudence and frugality office-if to members of Parliament-to such members as which entitles him to a voice in the election of represents- in their judgment are most fitting to hold it. It must be Lives. (Hear, hear.) I now come to those franchises which obvious that there are many things which a member may belong exclusively to the counties, and to cities and do fully as important as taking office, without asking the boroughs. With regard to the counties, - opinion of his constituents. For instance, he may totally introduction of the Reform change lected that, at the time of the _ . . his course of politics. (Hear, hear, and laughter to depart in grin- from Bill, the Government did not propose . . the Opposition.) Upon such an occasion he may, or ciple from the genera l provisions of the constitution-that may not think it advisable to go before his constituents, while occupation gave the right ofc,_ right of in cities and but the decision on that point rests with himself. For boroughs, tenure should give the h ri e o voting in counties. these reasons we think the operation of the statute in The 40s. freeholds were added to_ by copyholders and question is not generally beneficial, while it is very often others who had similar property, but with the exception inconvenient, and therefore we propose its abolition, and of leaseholders, holding for 3 t l years, it was not a t first pro- to allow any mem b er - as was t h e case during the reign of posed to vary the nature of the rightof votingin coun ti es. William 111.-to accept office under the Crown without of t la But during the progress . that tbill through Parliam en t an vacating his seat. I will now proceed to state to the house amendment was proposed and carried, by which all 50/. the various boroughs from which we propose taking one occupiers obtained the right of voting in counties. Now, I member, and likewise the places to which we propose am far from making any objection to that class of .701. giving the members thus removed. I mentioned to the occupiers, but it will be seen that this amendment entirely house two classes of boroughs from which respectively 29 chaneed the character and nature of the county franchise and 33 seats are to be taken. To these 62 seats it is feces as it had been previously understood, and tended certainly eery to add 4 more which are now vacant, making a total to diminish the power of that class which I have always of 66. I will state the places to which we propose giving considered one of the best and most independent 63 of the vacant seats. The remaining 3 will be given by a classes of voters in this country-namely, the 40s. free- measure which I will not now stop to describe, to populous holders- When that principle, however, wasonce departed places and universities of Scotland. First, as regards, the from, reasons were shown why this occupation franchise places from which seats will be taken. The following bo should be extended; and considering that we do not pro- roughs, having less than 300 electors, or less than 5,000 in pose to add to any great extent to the number of towns habitants, will be disfranchised :-Andover, 2 members; sending members to Parliament-indeed, we only propose Arundel, 1; Ashburton, 1 ; Calne, 1; Dartmouth, 1 ; to establish three new boroughs, I believe it will be a very Evesham, 2 : Harwich, 2; Floniton, 2 ; Knaresborough, great advantage to persons who live in towns which have - 9 Lyme Regis, 1 • Marlborough, 9 • Midhurst, 1 ; e ; not the right of sending members to Parliament that they Northallerton, 1; Reigate, 1; Richmond (Yorkshire) 2; should have a voice in the representation of the counties Thetford, 9 T t 9 • Wells , 9 • Wilton, Total 19 e : o nes, e , e , i o , .- , in which they reside. (Hear, hear.) We propose, there- boroughs, returning 29 members. The following bo fore, to adopt a suggestion which has more than once been roughs having less than 500 electors, or less than 10,000 made to the house -namely that 101. occupiers shall have inhabitants, will lose one sent each ;-Bodmin, Bridge a vote for counties. (Cheers.) With respect to that right, , north, Bridport, Buckingham, Chichester, Chippenham, whether in counties or in boroughs, we intend to check an 1 Cirencester, Cockermouth, Devizes, Dorchester, Guild abuse which has prevailed. Under the words " any build- ford, Hertford, Huntingdon, Leominster, Lewes, Lud ings and land s occupied itherewith," persons run up a low, Lymington, Lichfield, Malden, Melton, Marlow, shed of th e va l ue of only 2s. 6d. a year, making out the (Great), Newport (I s l e o f Wi g ht) , P e t er b oroug h , P oo l e, rent in land, a n d a spec i es of voters was thereby created Ripon, Stamford, Tamworth, Tavistock, Tewkesbury, who were never contemplated by the act. (Hear hear.) Tiverton, Weymouth, Windsor, Wycombe (Chipping)- We prop ose , th ere f ore, w i th respect to this county right total, 33 members. The counties and divisions of counties of voting, that -with the exception of a dwelling-house, containing a population of more than 100,000, and at pre which may be of any value provided the voter lives in it sent returning two members, to which an additional mem -in all other cases the building must be of th e va l ue o f ber will be given are these :-Bedford • Chester, southern 51. a-year. S uppos i ng there is a house and land-the division ; ditto, northern ; Cornwall, western; ditto, house may be rated at 11. or 2/. a-year, provided the voter eastern ; Derby, northern ; ditto, southern ; Devon, resides in it, but if the qualification is made out by any southern ; ditto, northern ; Durham, northern ; ditto, other building -a cattle-shed, or any building of that southern ; Essex, southern ; ditto, northern ; Gloucester, kind, then we propose this check, that such building shall western ; Kent, western ; ditto, eastern ; Lancaster, be of the value of 51. a-year. This, then, is the franchise northern ; Lincoln, parts of Lindsey ; ditto, parts of Kes we propose to give in counties for the future, and the house teven and Holland ; Middl esex • Monmouth ; Norfolk, will see that it h as a very considerable bearing upon the western ; ditto, east ern ; Stafford,' northern ; ditto, south question of the increase of the number of members which I ern ; Somerset, western ; ditto, eastern ; Salop, northern ; have stated we propose. Out of the whole number I have Southampton, northern ; Suffolk, eastern ; ditto, western ; mentioned I shall propose that 46 members shall be given Surrey, eastern, Sussex, eastern • Warwick, northern ; to counties ; but, as th ose coun ti es w ill h erea ft er i nc l u d e W orcester, eastern ; York, East ' Riding ; ditto, North. the 101. householders, it is obvious that the constituencies Wales.-Glamorgan, 1. Additional members, 38. The will be less of a special character. (Hear.) It does seem to cities and boroughs containing more than 100,000 inhabi me that all the endeavours made to run clown the agricultu- tants at present returning two members but, hereafter are ral interest or to run down the manufacturing interest are to return three :- Birmingham, Bristol (city), Bradford totally foolish and absurd, and that there can be no better (Yorkshire), Leeds, Liverpool, Mancheste r (city), Sheffield, syrtem of representation than th a t w hi c h t a k es i n t o cons i - Wolverhampton ;Salford, to return in future two mem deration the whole of the great interests of the country- bers-total nine members. Unrepresented towns contain (hear, hear)-which contribute to its glory and prosperity. ing more than 20,000 inhabitants to receive one member (Cheers.) Now, Sir, I come to the question o f th e f ran - eac h are :-Birkenhead, Burnley, Staleybridge-total, 3 chise of the boroughs. It certainly appears to me that in members. I have already mentioned that the West Riding taking the 101. franchise so absolutely as we did in the of Yorkshire and South Lancashire are each to be divided year 1831, we did not make a sufficient provision for the into parts, with two members each, which will appropriate admission of the working classes to the franchise. (Hear, eight more of the vacant seats. The new borough of Chel hear.) It was not intended, as has been supposed, that sea and Kensington will take two more ' • the Inns of Court the middle class es s h ou ld b e exclus i vely the electors in two, the London University one ; and all these together, cities and boroughs ; but still it was supposed-as has with the three seats reserved for Scotland, make up the taken place-that the middle classes would have the greater total number of 66. portion of the power in their hands, and that they would A MEMBER asked whether each division of the West have, in effect, the greatest influence upon the future con- Riding and South Lancashire was to have three members ? duct of the legislation and government of this country. Lord J. RUSSELL.-Yes. It may be convenient to the Entertaining that desire, I am prepared to maintain the house if I give a summary of the manner in which we pro. opinions which I formerly expressed. I think it is most pose disposing of the 66 vacant seats. It is thus :- desirable that the middle classes of this country should Counties, and divisions of counties 3B have a great influence upon its fortunes; but, seeing the West Riding 4 character of the working classes of this country, seeing South Lancashire their importance, seeing how much the wealth of the Three new boroughs, one each country depends upon them-(hear, hear)-I think we One new borough 2 ought to endeavour to snake the door wider-(oheers)- Nine boroughs, one each additional 9 than it now is. I may be permitted to state to the house Inns of C the views h e ld by M r . F ox as t o t h e r i ght of voting for London Uni v ourt University 1 members of Parliam en t. H e sa id, i n 1797 : - Scotland " I have always deprecated universal suffrage, not so much on account of the confusion to which it would lead, as be cause 1 think we should in reality lose the very object we desire to obtain; because I think it would in its nature em barrass and prevent the deliberative voice of the country from being heard. Ido not think that you augment the delibera tive body of the people by counting all the heads, but that, in truth, you confer on individuals by this means the power of drawing forth numbers who, without deliberation, would act implicitly upon their will My opinion is, that the best plan of representation is that which shall bring into activity the greatest number of independent voters, and that that is defective which would bring forth those whose situation and cendition take from them the power of deliberation." (Hear, hear.) I think that principle is a sound ono, but the difficulty is , in applying it. I myself do not at all shrink from saying that I think the extension of the franchise which I pro posed two years ago-neruely, to 5/. householders, did not I go too far ; but, at the same time, I knew that proposition would give rise to great objection on the part of those who think that would be carrying the franchise to too low a point, and that we should not thereby get the intelligence and independence we wished to obtain. Yielding to some extent to that opinion, we turned our attention to the municipal franchise. Two objections may be urged against the adoption of the mu n i c ip a l f ranc hi se. One is, that we should make municipal elections always the precursors of Parliamentary elections, and thereby expose municipal boroughs to continual excitement and agitation. The other is, that, under a certain act which passed two or three years ago, the rates of all houses under a certain value may be compounded for by the landlord, who thereby becomes the sole payer of the rates. I purpose taking the limit laid clown in that act. It must be acknowledged that the fact of a man living in a house is to a certain de gree a proof of independence, and, as to the amount of the value, without intending to say that all persons living in houses of less than 6/. value are venal, we have determined to draw the line there, and to provide that all persons living in houses of above 6/ value shall be entitled to vote, on condition that they have fulfilled the municipal term of residence-namely, about two years and a-half before they can be placed on the register, or two years and ten months before they can exercise the right of voting. This is an extension of the suffrage which will include those among the working classes who are most remarkable for resi dence and conduct-those who are most remarkable for their skill and enterprise in their respective trades, and are thereby able to live in houses of better cha racter than those occupied by the great mass of their fellow-workmen. There is one change we purpose making both with respect to this new franchise and the old 101. franchise. According to the old doctrine of representation, when votes in boroughs were unknown, persons pt.ying scot and lot hail the right of voting. By this means the franchise was extended to the lowest classes; but it was accompanied by this check, that proof of the payment of poor rates, which, in process of time, came to be substituted for the ancient definition of scot and lot, was always insisted on before the voter was allowed to poll. We introduced that check and several others into the Reform Bill, with the view of ascertain ing the solvency and sufficiency of voters. Considering, however, that a voter must be a person living either in a house of 10/. value, or in one rated at 6/. a-year, and must be in employment for a considerable time before he can vote, it appears to us to be no longer necessary to keep in force the previous payment of cater and taxes, and there fore we propose that, in future, persons on the register shall give their votes without being subject to the check. (Hear, hear.) We propose another change in the existing law with respect to the register of electors. There have been various decisions in election committees upon the question of striking names off t h e r egister •snake e , now we the register of voters final. (Hear, b ear. ) I , per h aps, have not expl a i subject of the 1.01/e(frinyself with sufficient c l earness on th e anchise. We preserve this f ranc hi se exactly iv , it i s, with the exc e pti on o f t wo c h anges, one of which provid es that, of buildings and dvreli ling-house the fran c hi se i s c l a i me d in respect thelbuildings must be ing-house of th e j o i n t va l ue of 101., charge relates t o theof th e va l ue of 51. a-year ; the other no longer be insistedn o a n yment of rates and taxes which will added the new one, fou.ndeTo thi s f ranchise will now be y and a half or two ea„ founded on a resid ence o f two years at 61. in a municipal borough.l° months in a house rated that that condition can ' overseen fulfilling name on the register. Impel ila the to put his house with another change of considerable 'till to acquaint the which we purpose effecting. When n nsiderable importance bribery and corruption have complaints respecting boroughs in this kingdom, it has from many 'represented that one again class been y over and over e ners -n and the the f reemen -were deeply implicated in these • m act i ons . (Hear, hear.) When I proposed tile proper trans ia 1831, it contained a clause similar to thnte Reform Bill inserting into the measure I am about to ask for leave I P a ni.Pc'se introduce -namely, a clause to enact that, after t e he veto ex piration of existing interests, the freemen's franchise shall cease. (near, hear) We prepose that no person who ne a ay hereafter take up his freedom by . birth or servitude shall voting. It is this which has • have the right of . influenced us in our proposition to add the new right of voting f ounded on the 6/. municipal rating ; for otherwise our bill, by the ex tinguishing • freemen's right of voting, would be a mea sure for contracting instead Of extending the suffrage. e have now to mention another intended change, which. though not arising irn rnedietely out of the proposed bill , is connected with the general scheme of representation. It i s our intention to propose an alteration member in of the Ho use regard to th e statute of Anne, which obliges any of (- )ommons who accepts office under the Clown to vacate his seat and go t o a f re sh election. The spirit of this a c t was unknown from the time of the Revolution until the 6th of A nne . Th e ac t arose ou t of a dispute on a great principle, respecting which Whigs and Tories took entirely different views-namely, the question whether the House of Commons should be entirely independent of the Crown, or whether it should contain Ministers of the Crown who, havi ng an influences over the assembly, might establish Parliamentary government in the country. The Whigs maintained that Ministers should have seats in Parlia went; the Tories, on the other hand, maintained that all placemeu should be excluded from the house. It being ne, impossible to r eco • a - e these conflicting views, an act was SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. COUNTRY MARKETS. Mftialfts im THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY- EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1854 Total I have stated the general provisions of the measure, I hope not at too great length, but in such a way as to make it understood by the house. I will not enter further into any general considerations connected with the subject. It is my belief that the measure will tend to correct defects which, sooner or later, must be amended, and that, by adding to the number of persons privileged to return mem bers to this house, we shall give a wider basis to our re presentation, and thereby contribute to the strength and security of our constitution, and cause the people to feel greater confidence in it. With these observations I ask leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the representation of the people in England Wales. Mr. H. T. LIDDELL said, he rose thus early in the debate, because the hon. member for Manchester thought fit to open the proceedings of the evening by present ing a petition signed by some 3,000 names of the in habitants of Liverpool, imputing bribery and corrup tion to the freemen of that constituency. He (Mr. Liddell) rejoiced that he had done so ; because, without any violation of the rules of the house, he was enabled to meet the charge at the earliest possible moment. (Hear, hear.) He trusted the hon. member for Manchester would take the first opportunity of making some specific motion upon the requirements of that petition. He told the hon. member that he (Mr. Liddell) was prepared to fight the battle of the freemen of Liverpool, to vindicate their character, and maintain their rights. He trusted that the house would not be misled by the appear ance of a bulky petition with 3,000 signatures, when he reminded them that the population of Liverpool consisted , of 500,000, with a constituency of about 17,000 electors on the register. He rejoiced that the noble lord did not pro pose a bill of disfranchisement against any of the existing freemen, though he might see reason to object to the future disfranchisement of that class of voters. As regarded the measure which the noble lord had sketched for the consi deration of the house, he could not help remarking that the reference to the petition of the Friends of the People had cut the ground from under his feet. The noble lord read seriatim all the complaints contained in that cele brated document, and then declared that the causes of every one of them had been removed by the Reform Act. It was not his desire, nor was it the desire of those with whom he acted, to add to the difficulties in which the noble lord appeared to be prepared to plunge the country by discussing at the present moment a subject of this ex citing nature. He hoped that the measure would not reach a second reading, but that it would be postponed in deference to the feelings and welfare of the coun t ry. Th e noble lord had b e gu n by stating that 19 boroughs, which returned 29 members, were t o b e disfranchised. Was it possible that the noble lord could proceed to a measure of disfranchisement of that extent without provoking a most painful discussion both on the part of friends and foes, or could he possibly proceed to the prospective disfranchise ment of freemen without occasioning a vast amount of painful and acrimonious discussion ? (Hear, hear.) In the present House of Commons the noble lord know the sup port which he might anticipate in case of need : but if he carried the bill which he had laid upon the table it would almost involve the necessity of a dissolution of Parliament during the summer or autumn ; and who could tell what changes and vicissitudes might take place in the course of a protracted war, or in what temper the people of Eng land might be at the time when tho dissolution took place ? (Hear, hear.) The noble earl at the head of the Government had stated in another place that the hope of preserving peace need not yet be abandoned. That hope, he feared, was shared by very few persons in this country, and in whatever bosom it found a refuge it must be a hope very near akin to despair. He certainly could not share that hope, and, as he believed the country to be nearly involved in a war which was likely to be snore protracted in duration, and to be fraught with more serious consequences than the noble lord seemed to antici pate, he conjured him once more to consider whether the present was not a juncture at which such a measure ought not to be pressed upon Parliament. Before he sat down there was one point to which he wished to allude, upon which he thought the house was entitled to some explana tion. During the discussion of the Reform Bill in the Cabinet the resignation of the noble lord the Home Secre tary had been made known to the country. He begged to assure the noble lord that, as no man upon the Treasury bench possessed more the confidence of the country than the noble lord, so no man in that house was prepared to speak of him with more respect than he was ; but he thought the noble lord owed it to is own character, and to the satisfaction of the house and the country, now that that the question of Parliamentary reform was brought fairly under their notice, to give some explanation of that retirement which, at a very moment of our domestic his tory, left this country for 12 days without a Home Secre tary. He hoped the noble lord knew that he was of suffi cient importance, and filled sufficient space in the estima tion of his countrymen, to render anything that he did in a public matter the subject of remark, and deserving such an explanation as the circumstance might seem to demand. Upon that account he wished to ask the noble Lord if he would condescend to inform the house what were the circumstances in connection with the Reform Bill which had led him to abandon the helm which ho guided with so much vigour, and leave the country at a moat critical period 12 clays without a Secretary of State for the Home Department? (Hear.) Mr. H. BAIL LIE asked whether the same principle which had been laid down for England would also be ap plied to S co tl an d , and whether all places which did not contain 300 electors would be disfranchised ? Mr. F. FRENCH asked the same question with reference to Ireland, and also whether comities with populations exceeding 100,000 were to have additional members, as in England ? Mr. ELLICE thought it rather hard that the noble lord honest, independent, h ave i ncluded all the freemen of this country in his corruption. Since he had re p resented teLsregetrouf general ly independent, and incorruptible men, the electors of Uoventry, in that house, now nearly 40 years, he defied th e noble lord to say that ' upon any occa sion had any charge of corruption been made against the freemen portion of his constituents. There was one good argument upon which it append to him that the right of the freemen could be maintained. The house wished to give the franchise to the best instructed of the working ; measure had been more mild, would hon. gentlemen classes. The process by which the freemen of. Coventry opposite have supported it ? What did they settle to gained their votes was by serving seven years to the same do with the noble lord's measure in 1852, which was master in the same city. Unless their conduct was good, really thought notlworth discussing by the Liberal party ? and their masters certified to that effect, they could not He perceived from the noble lord's proposal that several of obtain their freedom ; and what better proof, he asked, the Whig boroughs, left untouched by the Reform than such a servitude could they have of the fitness and Bill of 1831 and 1832, were proposed now to be disfrau qualifications of a man to exercise the elective franchise ? chised. It was said the Reform Bill of 1831 and (Hear, hear.) This was not the time when they should 1832 was corrupt, because Caine was one of the bo take away one of the franchises of the workmen of this roughs left in by it, but now it was proposed to country. They were just now engaged in a struggle for disfranchise Caine, as well as Richmond, in Yorkshire, the maintenance of the value of their labour, and ho asked Arundel, and other Whig boroughs. This he thought was them at such a time not to deprive them of the right of a fact speaking well for the intention of Government. being represented in that house, especially when their fit- (Hear.) He hoped there would be no attempt to postpone ness to be represented might favourably contrast with that the measure, but that Government would let it take its of any other class in the community. (Hear.) chance in that house, and trust the rest to the people of Mr. GEACH corroborated the views of his right hon. this country. He held in his hand a list of gentlemen colleague with respe c t t o the freemen of Coventry, and ex- who met at Lord Derby's in 1852, after the " little Reform pressed his opini on th a t th e system of freedoms provided a Bill" was introduced by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell). class of voters of greater aggregate intelligence and political Upwards of 100 were present ; and he had now before him knowledge than could be obtained in any other manner. a list of all their names. (A laugh.) He would not, how- Colonel SIBTHORP hoped that the freemen of Lincoln ever, read the names, as the house was well euabled to would treat with the same contempt that he did the un- guess who would be there —namely, the fiiends of the right just, unnecessary, and unworthy observations of the noble hon. gentlemen who by some accident got into office the lord. He wished that her Majesty's Ministers might be as year before last. (Laughter.) With regard to that list, honest, upright, and straightforward as they were. (Hear, he would read a paragraph accompanying it—" At a meet hear, and a laugh.) Then we should have the Treasury ing held at Lord Derby's house yesterday, the policy to be bench more pure, more to be relied on, and deserving of pursued by the Protectionists with respect to the Reform greater confidence than it was at this moment. He had Bill was discussed, and it was unanimously determined to known those freemen for years. He entertained the oppose the second reading of the bill." That was just highest opinion of them, and he would not condescend, ob- what the other side proposed to do now, and the more so jecting as he did to the bill almost altogether, to do more as they had now an impending war thrown into the scale than to repeat his hope that the freemen of Lincoln would to assist them. (Laughter.) If they opposed the bill of treat the unworthy stigma which the noble lord had 1852, of course they would oppose the larger bill now pro thought proper to place upon them with that contempt posed. (Laughter.) But all the noble lord (Lord J. Rus which he told the noble lord that he did. (Laughter.) sell) had to do was to convince the country he was in ear- Colonel BLAIR wished to know if counties in Scotland nest, and to render the measure popular in the country with a population of upwards of 100,000 would be allowed depended upon how wide the noble lord opened the door an additional member? to the industrial classes of the community. (Cheers.) He Sir B. HALL complained of the want of enfranchise- thought the noble lord had not opened that door wide meat as regarded the metropolitan borough s . (A l aug h enoug h. The two years and a-half residence proposed by from the Opposition.) The noble lord proposed to give an the noble lord would in some cases be in effect three years additional member to the borough of Salford, and ho an d a -half, inasmuch as a man might not take up his resi took—so far as he (Sir B. Hall) could understand—a popu- dente until just before the registration took place, and, lation of 100,000 as the point about which he would give a consequently, his claim could not be considered until a third member ; and on what principle was it, therefore, year had elapsed. It would be seen, then, that this that he made the metropolitan boroughs an exception t o cl a use would exclude a large number from the posses this rule? sion of the franchise. He approved of the proposal to Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know if the no bl e l or d ex t en d the number of metropolitan members, and he , formed any calculation as to the number of each of the hoped the noble lord (Lord John Russell) would receive, new constituencies? if he was in earnest, the support of the country. The noble Mr. PHILLIMORE thought the project of the noble lord might rest assured that he must depend upon that lord the member for the city of London as t o th e repro- su pp or t and upon the exertions of Government to give sentation of minorities, was certainly a whimsical one, to effect to that justice to the working classes which he (Mr. say the least of it, and he wished to know if the noble Buncombe) maintained had been much too long withheld. lord would have any objection to apply the principle to (Cheers.) the proceedings of that house, so that out of every three Mr. E. BALL could not allow the debate to close with measures the majority might carry two, and the minority out expressing his gratitude to the noble lord the member one ? (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He certainly disagreed for London for his proposal to give the London University with the noble lord's proposal to repeal the act which the right of being represented in the House of Commons. obliged all persons accepting place to vacate their He thought the representation of the country could not seats. The act, passed by Godolphin's Ministry, be better advanced than by conferring the franchise upon was intended to provide against placemen having seats the educated portion of the community, and, on behalf of in that house, and was described by Mr. Hallam as the University of London, he begged to thank the noble being a most valuable and serviceable provision. (Hoar, lord for the privilege he proposed to confer upon it. hear.) The noble lord must recollect that it was part of a Mr. HEYWOOD observed that in the county of Lan system, and, though it might produce great inconveniences caster the division of the 101. householders would about at times, yet these were, without doubt, entirely balanced double the number of electors, and at the same time it by its advantages. (Hear, hear.) would, of course, double the expense of elections, as twice Mr. TUFNELL regretted that the bill contained no pro- the number of electors would have to be brought to the poll vision relating to the property qualification. He had ab- upon each occasion, stained last year from bringing the subject before the house, Mr. MURROUGH complained that in the proposal of hoping that it would be included in the anticipated mea- the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) no step was taken to dis sure of reform, a hope which was greatly strengthened by pense with the property qualification of members. After the fact that, in the constitutions recently granted to the instancing the names of several illustrious statesmen and colonies, we declare that persons qualified to be electors authors who had been members of that house in former should be al s o qua lifi e d f or representatives. As the noble years, he asked if th ere were not now, upon both sides of lord, however, had not dealt with this point in his measure, the house, hon. members who had served their country he now gave notice that he should himself, as early as p os - with ability to the public and honour to themselves, who, Bible, ask for leave to bring in a bill on the subject, on the threshold of theirpolitical career, could by no chance Mr. HUME said, that one great object which he had have possessed the property qualification ? The effect of always had in view in promoting reform had been to bring the property qualification was frequently to unseat the within the pale of the constitution a body of men who duly elected representative of the people, and to defraud a hitherto, he thought, had been hardly treated—the higher constituency of its franchise and privileges. Without class of artisans. This measure, however, so far as he saw dwelling upon the character of a law which required a man at present, gave no opportunity of doing that. Considering to hold a seat in the House of Commons upon no better how many of these artisans were obliged to go about from recommendation than the adequacy of his patrimony, he place to place, often residin g less than one y ear i n a p l ace, con t en d e d that the electors themselves were treated with it was scarcely t o b e expected that a 6/. franchise, with two the grossest injusti ce b y suc h a prov i s i on, i nasmuch as and a-half year s ' r es id ence , wou ld admit many of them ; they selected the man they deemed the best fitted to re but, had the noble lord fixed a 51. franchise, with one year's present them, and none but the most venal could form residence, he would probably have given many of them an opinion of the adequacy of his means. In many cases votes. He was greatly pleased with the noble lord for the property qualification acted in this way,—the man having persevered with the measure at the present ti me ; who was chosen by the electors as the advocate of popular for he was perfectly satisfied that the country was fully rights, after possessing his seat for a few weeks, found him capable of considering a measure of this sort cal m ly an d self ousted by an election committee, while a man whose deliberately, even under the pressure of an impending war. principles were disapproved by the electors, and who pos- Of all parts of the measure he most approved of Schedule sensed neither their esteem nor respect, stepped into the A. He hoped, however, that the ho use wou ld never pass sea t as t h e i r chosen representative. Unless the noble lord that part of th e bill which related to the representation of (Lord J. Russell) made a provision in the bill to remedy the minority. All our institutions were grounded on the the defect of which he (Mr. Murrough) complained, he 1 1 preponderance of the majority, and such a principle as the should feel it his duty to propose the introduction of such noble lord now sought to introduce was entirely new. a clause. Though it might be said that at present no agi- He should also have much preferred that the noble tation was going forward upon this subject, he was con lord should have brought down the suffrage to one vinced that the people of this country would be greatly universal standard—the municipal suffrage. In conclusion, disappointed unless it was brought forward, and he felt he would ask the noble lord, whether he had made any that it would be playing a most dangerous game indeed to calculation as to what would be the number of the elec- teach the people of England that they were to expect no toral body ? At present it was, in round numbers, about thing save that which resulted from a successful agitation. 900,000, and he wished to know whether it would be in- Mr. MAGUIRE thought that in one feature the bill pro creased or diminished. He would ask how it was that a Posed by the noble lord the member for London applied as new member was to be given to Salford, while the Tower much to Ireland as to England, and he begged the attention Hamlets, with a population of 500,000 was still to have of the h ouse w hil e h e re f erre d t o i t for a moment. The but two ? feature in the scheme of the noble lord , to which he alluded After a few words from Mr. CAYLEY, was sufficient to alarm both countries, but was most preg- Mr. H. DRUMMOND said, it cannot be expected that nant with danger as regarded Ireland. He referred to the I, who so much disliked the former Reform Bill, should repeal of that provision which compelled a member taking look upon the present one with grateful eyes. That Re- office under Government to go before his constituents be form Bill was hailed as a revolutionary measure by every fore he could again enter Parliament. To show how the man in the country who liked revolution, and it was re- repeal of that statute was fraught with danger even to Ire polled by every man who disliked revolution, and both of land, he alluded to a meeting at Dublin of 60 members Of them alike called it honestly by that name. (Hear, hear, Parliament, elected by their constituents at great sacrifice, , from the Opposition.) I can find no fault with the noble who at that meeting made a solemn declaration binding lord for pursuing the course upon which he then entered, themselves to a certain line of policy sanctioned by the but I confess I am again somewhat surprised, as I was great mass of the Irish people. Since that period several' last year, that, knowing how to interpret our own language, of those gentlemen had accepted office under Government, those who support this measure hold speak of it under and on doing so, under the statute at present existing, the character of a measure of " Conservative progress." they were compelled to vacate their seats and go before their It is progress, undoubtedly ; progress in that revolutionary constituents for re-election. But if the messure proposed measure which the noble lord. himself so stigmatised 23 by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) passed, and the pro years ago. This is a measure which is entitled, I think, vision to which he referred existed no longer, what check to the same character. Now, air, not to call names with- would there be against corruption ? A hundred members out stating clearly what I mean by the terms, I mean this, might bind themselves to a particular policy, but if the —that you do sever, and did at that time sever, and are existing check against corruption ware done away with, going on severing, property from power. (Hear, hear, every man of easy virtue would take advantage of it, sell from the Opposition.) No matter by what means, no himself to the Government, and abandon his constituents. matter what words you use, that severance is Socialism. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He considered that there Whether it be wise in the noble lord to bring this measure could not be two characters more distinct than the inde on at this time I care not. Ido not believe it signifies at pendent member of Parliament and the servant of Govern all whether you discuss it in a state of war or peace,—the meat, and he should do his utmost to oppose the repeal of measure contains in itself that which must be sooner or what he believed to be a most sanitary check upon cor later destructive. It is of no use in the world speaking of motion and treachery. it in ether language ;it is incense offered to that pa'rty The SPEAKER then put the question, and leave was which for 21 years the noble lord has idolised, the party given to introduce both bills, which were accordingly read which honestly, and without disguise, declares that its in- a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the tontion and hope is to establish shortly a democracy in this 13th of March. country. (Loud cheers from the Opposition.) LAND FOR CHURCH BUILDING. Mr. J. BALL thought that the provision in the bill Sir W. MOLESWORTH moved for, and obtained leave which gave a vote to any man who had 501. in the savings to bring in a bill to facilitate the apportionment of the bank would remedy some of the defects complained of by rent, when parts of lands on lease aro taken for the pur the hon member for Montrose as likely to arise from lim- poses of the Church Building Acts. iting the franchise to 61. He hoped that this would be made to include every kind of savings, and particularly CHARGE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST IRISH assurances. He thought Ireland would have great reason MEMBERS. —COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES. to complain if the same session which saw the applicatio n Mr. I. BUTT rose to move that the committee of privi of sound views of reform to England was allow e d t o p ass leges, which the house, upon his motion, had decided to without their being extended to Ireland, appoint, to consider certain allegation s which had appeared Lord J. RUSSELL—Sev e r a I members have asked me in the Times newspaper, should consist of 20 members. He with respect to the measures to be introduced for Scotland was not aware whether he was to anticipate any opposition and Ireland. All I can say is, that I will not attempt to to the nomination of the committe e , and for the present explain those measure s at present, but that the same prin. would confine himself to a brief statement of the reasons ciples will be applied generally to all the three countries, which had induced him to think that the number which and that the number of member s for Ireland will remain he had mentioned was that which he ought to propose. what it is, while the number of members for Scotland will The house would remember that, when he brought for be three more than at present. With regard to any of ward his motion, ho had refer re d t o a p rece d en t o f th e their provisions, I b eg l eave t o d ecline answering any year 1834, as the only one whi c h h e cou ld fi n d t o j us tify questions at present ; the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the course proposed. (Hear, hear, hoar.) In a matter the Lord Advo ca t e will at the proper time submit the re- of this nature, involving such considerations as those which spective measures for the consideration of the house. Th e were involved here, ho had thought it better to conform hon. bar one t th e mem b er for Marylebone has asked why to precedent as far as possible. The resolutions, there there was not a greater addition to the number of the me- fore, which he had moved had been copied, word for tropolitan members. Now, we propose to create Chelsea word, from the resolutions of 1831. And finding that the and Kensington into a borough, to return two members, committee then nominated had consisted of twenty mem and really, sir, I think that will be sufficient addition to hers, that several distinguished members of the house had the reetropoaan members. (Hear, hear.) When we served upon it, and that the late Sir R. Peel, who had been consider how much the metropolis is one place, the pavan- one of them, had thus testified, as he was bound to assume, tage the members have of being here with th e i r cons tit u . his approval of twenty as the proper number, he had hundredsn e t often odfoe hiss , ants near them—(a laugh) —coming down, as the hon. barn- thought it d es i ra bl e that that should be the number now. oohhasvtiintgoehoatsdina the nxwpriethss their re Mr. [mem sa id there was a rule of the house that no . committee should consist of more than fifteen members, view s here i n the evening —I really think we must agree unless there were some special public reason for appointing that the metropolis—always excepting, of course, that part a larger number. He thought that no such reason existed which I represent (alaugh)—is sufficiently well represented. in the present case, and he should certainly object to so My right hon, friend the member for Coventry complai ns numerous a committee as that which was now proposed. of my proposal for the future disfranchisement of freemen. He had rather that the number should be limited to five. All I can say with respect to that is, that in all cases where Sir G. GREY agreed with his hon. friend the member inquiry has taken place there seems to be at least a general for Montrose. A great change had taken place in the prac opinion with respect to freemen, th a t th e y are a c l ass tice of the house since the precedents to which the hon. more particularly liable to be worked upon by bribery and and learned gentleman the member for Yongbal had re corruption, and I propose therefore not disfranchisin g ferred. At that time there was no limit as to number, those at present existing, but to prevent any such class f or and the practice of appointing small committees in the na the future from coming in. Ido not wish to enter into ture of judicial committees had not then been adopted. any details of the bill now, but rather wish that the house Ho thought it improper, in a case of this kind, to appoint should consider those details when they have the bill even so large a number as fifteen. The charges which had before them. lam well aware that no explanations that been made were such as ought to be judicially and carefully I could give would enable the house to form so compl e t e inquired into. (Hear, hear.) He was sure that the only an idea of the measure as they can obtain by a careful wish of the hon. gentleman opposite was to have , a tho study of the bill itself, and I only hope that th e y w ill g i ve rough investigation, but he had not been long in the house it their fullest attention. The bill has been drawn with no and had not had an opportunity of watching, as other reference to any party influence, but with a view sol e ly t o hon. members had, the changes which had taken place in obtaining the best general representation of the country. its practice. It was for this reason that he now called his The hon. member for West Surrey said that the whole attention to the fact, that what was in accordance with plan of this bill is intended to advance democracy. I differ precedent in the year 1834, would be contrary to all recent entirely in this from the hon. gentleman. (Hear, hear.) precedent if it were adopted now. I remember perfectly well those predictions in 1831—the M r . LUCAS said the mere appointment of a committee King was to leave his throne —the House of Lords was to was not sufficient to effect the object which the hon. and be abolished completely--every sort of calamity was to fall learned gentleman had in view. It heel been decided that upon us. For my own part, Sir, if lam not mistaken, the the honour of the house required that the complaints people, during the time the reformed Parliament has been which had been made should be subjected to a full and in existence, have been more attached to the institutions searching investigation. Those complaints included not of the country, more decidedly well-affected to the thron e , only the specific facts mentioned by Mr. Kelly and Dr. than they were in times before. (Cheers.) One thing I Gray, but the gen era l c h arge made aga i ns t one h undred remember particularly. In th e c l ose of the year 1819 the members of that house by the article in the Times newspa- Minister came down to Parliament with six bills, which he per. (Hear.) If that charge were tree, multiplied offences introduced into this house. One was to prevent public had been committed of a very secret character, and such as meetings, another to gag the press, another intended to re- were very difficult of investigation. What course had the strain some other popular liberty —all measures, as Lord house generally adopted when inquiring into secret offences Castlereagh expressed it, of strict coercion, intended to of that kind ? If they wished to inquiry into allegations repress what he considered the growing disaffection of of bribery—in reference, for instance, to such a borough athsemcyounnothrlye.friLopetdtthheehHonom. e g e s n o t o l r e e in ts a: , e y b h e a p s e s r a s i u d a i t o les o l o t e ha o t f , p as St. Albans—they took care, concurrently with the ap ointment of a committee or a commission, to pass an act his celebrated speeches, there were two kinds of re- of indemnity. (Hear, hear.) If they wished to get rid of volutionists—one who seek by tumult and violence the corruption complained of by this article, they must directly to change the form of government, and those adopt the same course and must place the witnesses whowho, by opposing well- cons id ered and useful plans might be able and willing to give evidence before the com of reform, impede all moderate progress, and thus mittee in a situation to do so without risk to themselves. cause those violent changes which they themselves must (Hear, hear.) He did not mean to say that any party deprecate. My belief is, that the present measure is what wished to smuggle up the case ; but their own conduct in my noble friend at the head of the Government has in an- other instances was the best proof that a measure for the ticipation described it to be, " a liberal and conservative protection of witne sses mus t b e passe d, i n or d e r th a t th ose measure." That I believe is the des cr ipti on which \fully witnesses might be forthcoming. He had an additional agrees with its character. With regard to the question reason for making this suggestion to the house, in some put to me as to the numbers of the constituency, I really thing which had come to his knowledge since the former have not ventured to bring any calculation before the house, discussion ou this subject. He had certain newspapers T AE COAL TAX.—Yesterday an i n t eres ti ng return to It was so difficult to calculate how many o f cer t a i n classes brought under his notice which had at first led him to ap- 1 now have votes, and it would be impossibl e t o t e ll w h at the prebend that he might possibly have done some injustice to the Hou se o f C ommons was pr i nte d respecting the coal future number would be. that class of Irish representatives of whom he had expressed —The de a t tax. It appears that the amount of local or municipal Mr. W. D. SEYMOUR inquired whether the two years an unfavourable opinion ; for he had seen in the columns dues collected on the importation of coals or coke into and a-half residence was to lo in the same house o r i n th e of those newspapers that Government appointments were the several ports of the United Kingdom was, in 1851, same borough? "legally saleable," an d th a t th e Ti m es itself had been a 243,2131. 1 le. 9d., and in 1852, 240,5771. 3s. ld. The Lord J. RUSSELL.—In the same borough, b u t not ne- party to such transactions. (Hear, hear.) He had copied taxes on the exportation of coals exported in 1851 was from that journal ce r t a i n a d vert i semen t s which seemed to 48,483/. 12s. 10d., and in 1852, 47,291/, 19s, 2d, The cessarily in the same house. y tax on coals and coke brought by railway into the ports of the United Kingdom was 17,5331. 4s. 7d. in 1851, Mr. T. BUNCOMBE thought that, on the whole, the him to deserve the attenti on o f th e house, if they honest] bill, with some amendments, would be a very excellent wished to inquire into the charge which had been made, measure. The next thing the noble lord had to do was to that offices were actually sold. (Hear, hoar.) In the Times convince the country that he and his Government were in of the 11th January this advertisement appeared : earnest, anti that they were determined t o p ass a bill t o " Douceur-200/. will be paid at once to any lady or gen-p r ures from tons. The rates improve the representation of the people. They must on no tleman who will legally procure for the advertiser (a young and o DEPARTURES d 2 0 6 n 5 f 1 o 6 r I the . colonies during the part week doubt, beset --to postpone the discussion of this measureLAustralian 6 10R ' A i u n s i r B ß s A 2 r; 1 A . account listen to the evil counsels with whi c h h e w „ no man o f bu s i ness habits, and who writes well ---- (laughter)-- show a d ecrea se. They have comprised altogether four a permanent Government situation wor th 2001. per annum, vessels—three to Port Philip, with an aggregate cordon until the question of war or peace was decided, or th e war Th e s t r i c t es t se crecy will be observed in the matter.—Ad. of 1,331 t o ns, and one to Sydney of 946 tons Their ended. But who could tell when a European war suc h as d ress L. S. D., Post-office, Cork." (L aug ht er .) On the 28th total capacity was consequently 2 ,277 to ' of freight exhibit a further tendency to decline, we were now threatened with would end? Supp ose th e o fj annary th ere appeared, among others, an adveztiaement offering " a doceur of 1001. for five years, for a Government or other situation, legally saleable, of not less than 3001. per annum, by a gentleman aged 48, who with draws from one o f th e lib era l professions; strictest s ecrec y may be relied on, and secur ity, if required, in leasehold property—Address, J. M., 121 Edgeware-road,Paddington.' Another advertisement, which appeared on the 4th of Feb., offered 101. for a situation in any of the Government or t p h o e r porter, or ja Jan. contained r e c i a p n u d bl t i public offices,Civil an offer of 5001. cash for a permanent public appointment, with a yearly salary of from 2501, to 3001. (Hear.) He had S a e s r m vi e c s e se G ng az er elte lig o h f t been curious to see whether there were any advertisements . offering places for sale. He had found one in . which . the advertiser professed 'to be able to procure a situation of 1001. a year " in an old established business "—(Laughter) —but coupling this with the fact, which was stated imme diately afterw ar d s , th a t th e d u ti es were " f rom ten until three," he must sa y th a t thi s l oo k e d very lik e an offer to dispose of a Govern men t s it ua ti on . (Laughter.) He had been anxious a l so t o see w h e th er th ere was any difference in the number of these advertisements when Parliament was up and when it was in session. (Hear.) He had ascer tained that during th e w h o l e mon th o f J anuary the Times contained 12 such adve r ti semen t s; an d i n th e fi rst week of Feb. no fewer th a n 15. S o th at th ey h a d , i n f act, consider ably increased aft er th e mee ti ng o f P ar li ament. (Hear.) According to " Russell on C r i mes ," th e b uy i ng and selling of offices was an off ence i n di c t a bl e a t common law, and by the 49th of Geo. 111. th e pu bli ca ti on o f any advertisement containing proposals for that purpose made the party pub lishing liable to a penalty of 501. (Hear.) Within one week from the commencement of the session the Times had brought itself, in 15 instances, within the spirit of that enactment. Nobody could doubt, after reading these ad vertisements, that the buying and selling of offices did take place. The fact was put before the public in the newspapers in the mos t g l ar i ng an d o ff ens i ve form ; and the disgraceful ch arac t er o f t h e t ransaction was attested by the stipulation made, in every instance. that strict secrecy was to be observed. (Hear.) They could not hope, therefore, to obtain the information which they sought, without the act of indemnity which ho had suggested ; and he ear nestly appealed to the noble lord opposite to state whether he would, by bringing forward such a measure, take the only step which could make the inquiry effective. Mr. GOULBURN supported the view of Sir Geo. Grey as to the propriety of having a small committee, of which there should be no quorum, so that all the members would be appointed under a solemn obligation to listen to all the evidence, and to attend from day to day until the charges made, and which affected the honour of members of that house, should be supported or disproved They had already ample powers to indemnify any witness in respect of any statement before a committee of that house which might otherwise subject him to a prosecution, without waiting for the measure which the hon. gentleman opposite pro posed. Sir J. PAKINGTON was also of opinion that any com mittee which might be appointed to investigate this mat ter should sit as a judicial committee —that no quorum should be appointed—and that every member should at tend every sitting. In order to attain this end, 20 would be an inconveniently large number. In a case somewhat analogous, in which the late Mr. O'Connell was concerned relating to the Carlow election, the number of the com mittee was 11 ; and in another case, in the year 1835, the number was 15. Neither of these cases, however, was put as a case of "pri v il ege, " an d h e wished to ask th e Speaker whether the fact of this being so put obliged them to revert to the precedent of 1834? Lord H. VANE trusted the committee would not be constituted like one upon which he had served some years ago. In that case, a certain number of members had been appointed by the house, but all the members represented counties, and some others had the right of attending when they pleased. The SPEAKER said the committee to which the noble lord had alluded was a standing committee, appointed at the commencement of every session. It was called the committee of privileges, and was composed of a certain number of gentlemen nominated by the house, with all the members representing counties and gentlemen of the long robe, making up almost as many members as the house itself. It had, however, very often happened of late years that matters had been referred, not to the committee of privileges, but to a committee of privileges, which was a select committee nominated by the house. In 1834 it was the practice to constitute committees of as many as twenty members, or even more ; but a standing order had since limited the number to 15, and still more recently it had been the practice to appoint to all committees of a judicial character a very small number of members, of whom every one was required to be present at every sitting. He thought this case would fall quite within that pre , tics. (Hear.) Mr.E.DENISO N . suggested that, consulting precedence, they would reduce the number of the committee to five, and recommended, further, that the committee of five should be nominated, likewise, in accordance with the pre cedent, by the committee of selection. Mr. HILDYAR I) contended that the house could not indemnify a witness who had violated the law of the land —(hear, hear) —a doctrine which he felt bound absolutely to deny, lest the country should suppose they had any such privilege. The witness, indeed, might be able to decline criminating himself, and might, when asked if he ham' been guilty of trafficking in office, decline answering a question his answer to which would subject him to punishment ; but the house could not screen one who had expressly broken the law of the land. Mr. F. FRENCH thought this question was being ar gued on what he should call Red Tape principles. Admit ting the desirability of their having a committee, it was to the ability, not to the number, of those upon it that the house should look. (Hear.) He asked why, if they were disposed to have a real and searching inquiry, they should not have a commission instead of a committee? And why not pass a bill of indemnity. If the truth was that mem bers ha I disposed of patronage, and that the Government had had cognizance of such feelings, then there should be the fullest inquiry; and, with a view to the fullest in quiry, there should issue a commission. This was the only way in which the persons on whom this charge would be thrown could be freed from Suspicion. He said, on the part of the Irish members—" We dar e y ou now to a full and ample inquiry." The responsibility would be on the Government, not on members, if that inquiry did not as sume the form most likely to arrive at the truth. Mr. BUTT observed that there were two propositions before the house. One that this committee should be re duced in number, another that its appointment should be referred to the committee of selection. He had no wish but that this inquiry should be as full as possible, and that it should be conducted in such a way that the people both of England and Ireland would consider it to have been so. It would not, he said, be of any use to appoint five gentlemen unless their names were such as would give satisfaction ; and, he must say, on this question of reduction, that he would not wish the committee brought below 11, and would greatly prefer its being composed of 15. The house must observe that it contained within itself a section, opposing the Government, who were the accusers in this case—(hear, hear, and no, no)—and who made this accusation against another section of Irish members. Would they exclude the accusers from the committee, and, if they did so would they satisfy the Irish people ? Would they leave the ac cused undefended in the committee, and, if they did so, would they be acting fairly towards them? They must have enough gentlemen of character and position on the committee to give satisfaction as the result of their in quiries; and they must remember that the appoint ment of a small commission would certainly subject it to suspicion. As to the other suggestion—the appointment of this committee by the committee of selection—he wholly rejected it, considering that the house would be abdicating its highest functions in con senting to such an arrangement. So convinced was he of this, that if the committee ho asked for was not to be chosen by the house itself, then it became a proceeding in which he could tak e no f urt h er part. Ho was perf e ' ctly ready to give way as t o th e number of the committee • but if it were not to be appointed by tho house itself, he Lust decline any further responsibility. r objection t d o e any e form p o t r i o a n n y o f e x t t h e e n t of a in s q t uh suggestionr y u ut w shet h h ea a at t r s n o t eh e s v e er any Mr. JOHN O'CONNE LL was not aware that among d the Irish membe rs on hi s side of the house there was an angdrasunteelodearin it up All they desired was th e best, the surest, and the directs g method of comin g t o a r i ght conclusion. He t tl whole should truth t a h b u i f l lt this s indemnitymattmatter, en re would be nothing to p revent there havincs, the truth, I are the and satisfact or il y, one way or the other. The hen' . member perfectly (Mr. Lucas) would then be able to substantiate the accusa tions made in his extraordinary speech the other night— such a speech as he (Mr. J. O'Connell) though he had b een some seventeen y ears i n Parliament, had nver heard be fore. The hon. member had then stated that there was no doubt whatever that the grossest and most corrupt prac tices had prevailed among Irish members ; and he supple mented that statement with the declaration that he could not mind would not prove it. (Hear.) By this bill of in demnity asked for, it would be shown whether the hon. member's charges were capable of proof or not ; for by its operation there would be no impediment to their being proved, except their being false. The hon. gentleman (Mr. J. O'Connell) concluded by requesting that his name might be withdrawn from the committee on the ground that he had had personal conflicts with some of the gentle men who must be examined in this inquiry. Colonel DUNNE said that Irishmen were accustomed to libel in the Times, and that he never recollected any organic changes having relation to that country which had not been prsceded by a skirmishing line oflibel in that paper. The hon. member (Mr. Butt), however, had con fined himself to two assertions made in Ireland ; and those charges to which he had alluded were such that the tribune before which they were investigated should be judicial. They should have a commission ; and the Go vernment—which, if there had been corruption among Irish members, must have been a party to it -should be willing to grant a commission. He believed that the re sult of due inquiry would be a contradiction of these charges, but he thought the Government would be to blame if they were not fully investigated. He regretted that the leader of the house was not present to speak on this point for the Government. Sir J. YOUNG explained Lord J. Russell's absence by the fatigue incident to his long speech on the Reform mea sure he had brought in that evening. As regarded the proposal for an indemnity bill was not needed. The house had itself ample power to protect the witnesses brought before it. The sole question was as to the number of which this committee should consist ; there was no ques tion as to whether the nomination should be by the com mittee of selection. As to the number, it had, in the recent practice of the house, been reduced, with great advantage, from the larger to the smaller number. The number was the only question. In reply to Mr. PHILLIXfORE, Sir J. YOUNG repeated that the house had ample power to protect its witnesses. Mr. ROEBUCK doubted this doctrine. If he indicted a man who had confessed before a committee of the house that ho had trafficked in the sale of office, he suspected the house could not interfere to shield that man, or to protect him from legal consequences. Mr. BUTT was willing to withdraw his motion for a committee of twenty members, substituting as his num ber, fift een — w hi ch was agreed to. Hethon gave notice of the nomi na ti on of a committee of that number this day. The house adjourned at half-past nine. CHESTER CIIP.—The two leading favourites quietly maintained their respective positions : 20 to 1 was wanted about each. 30 to 1 was taken to 25/. about Tom, 50 to 1 to 20/,, and 40 to 1 to 501. about Royalist, which was also backed for a trifle for the Metropolitan Stakes, for which event Lindrick and Vingt•un were also backed for 251. each at the odds quoted below. Muscovite appeared to be under " suspicion." The rest of the betting on the above-named Handicaps was only in small sums. DERBY. —4 to 1 taken and afterwards currently of fered about Autocrat, and 700 to 100 taken about King Tom ; 13 to 1 to 501. and 15 to 1 to 251. laid against Dervish ; 625 to 25 taken twice about Ruby, and the same about Acrobat. 1,000 to 20 and afterwards 1,000 to 15 laid against Early Bird, and 4,000 to 60 against Burlington, a new outsider included in " Scott's lot." The room was thinly attended, several members having left town to "assist " during the next two days at the Lincoln Spring Meeting. I A • . 4 0 ( • ~. 159 - ; 909 570 53 2108 34 273 163 - 17 234 - 7 Colchester Harwich ~ Leigh Maldon CLOSING PRICES. LINCOLN SPEEPLECHASE. sto 1 agst Maid of the West (taken). LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL. Bto 1 agst Bourton (taken). Bto 1 agst Miss Mowbray (offered). 12 to 1 agst Peter Simple (taken). 15 to 1 agst La Gazza, Ladra (taken). 100 to 6 agst Peter (taken) 25 to 1 agst Burr t Sienna (taken). 25 to 1 agst Maurice Daley (taken). GREAT METROPOLITAN STAKES. 15 to 1 agst Royalist (taken). 20 to 1 agst Vingt-un (taken). 20 to 1 agst Lindrick (taken). 25 to 1 agst Muscovite (taken). CHESTER CUP. 18 to 1 agst Star of Surrey. 18 to 1 agst Newrninster. 30 to 1 agst Nabob (taken). 30 to 1 agst Torn (taken). 33 to 1 agst Talfourd (taken). 40 to 1 agst Sandhurst (taken). 40 to 1 agst Royalist (taken). 40 to 1 agst Marc Antony (taken). 50 to 1 agst Horatio (taken). 66 to 1 ag,t Blame (taken). TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 9to 1 agst Champagne (taken). DERBY. 4to 1 agst Autocrat (taken and offered). 7to 1 agst King Torn (taken). 14 to 1 agst Dervish. 25 to 1 agst Ruby (taken). 25 to 1 agst Acrobat (taken). 1000 to 15 agst Early Bird (taken). 1000 to 15 agst Burlington (taken). 500 to 25 agst Ruby winning the Two Thousand, and Autocrat the Derby (taken). Ships at market._ 542 I Sold ll2. RAILWAY SIIARE MARKETS. OAKS. 4to 1 agst Meteora. RACING FIXTURES FOR 1854. FEBRUARY. Lincoln Spring 14 1 Nottingham Spring 2 MARCH. Liverpool Spring 1 Warwick Spring . Doncaster Spring 7 Catterick Salisbury Coventry Spring l4 Abergavenny AP: Croxton Park 4 Epsom Spring 6 Cheltenham Spring 12 Newmarket Craven 17 ',IL. Catterick Bridge , Abergavenny .... York Spring Malton 1 TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDA Y . I CHELMSFORD—FEB. 10. The trade in wh ea t t o -d ay was dull, and second-rate LIN COLN STEEPLECHASE.—S ome b us i ness has been I transacted on this event in the City, b u t on l y M aid of samples were with diffi cu lt y so ld at a decline of 2s to 3s per r. Best wheats worth ls ess mone, and few jam- the West was brought i n t o no ti ce a t " Th e C orner. " The pies q changed hands. Barley and beans is to 2s, and peas City prices were-4 to 1 agst the favourite just named ; 1s per qr. cheaper. O a t s b are l y ma i ntained last week's 5 to 1 agst T r out ; 6 t o 1 eac h ags t T opsy and Little prices. Charley, and 7 to 1 agst Melon. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wheat, white, old 70s ed LIVERPOOL CRAND NATIONAL.—Bourton had a decided to 85s 1 ne . c; s 7O t s o to 3 Bss ; red, old 58s to 80s, new as to lead ; upwards of 601. were invested on him at 8 to 1-- , 80s ; barley, (k chevalier, 35s to 40s ; grinding, odds which went a-begging about Miss Mowbray ; 12 to 21s to 30smalt, 61s to 65s ; chevalier, 64s to 70s ; oats, 1 taken to 501. about Peter Simple. La Uuzza Ladra 22F; to 29s ; peas, partridge, 40s to 45s white, 48s t boiling 55s to 61s ; dun, 4ls to 4is- beans, tic o k, s 4 j 6s was backed at 100 to 6 and 15 to 1 ; Burnt Sienna at 30 , to 42s ; Harrow ticks, 38s to new, 44s ; Mazaga'n, 38s to 41s. and 25 to 1, and 1,000 to 40 taken about Maurice Daley. Half-and-Half was friendless ; in the City 50 to 1 had j _ been laid. COLCHESTER —FEB. 11. Another dull market for every description of grain at the following decline : —Wheat and barley 28 per qr., beans and peas ls, and very little business doing. The present uncertain state of political affairs has a most de pressing effect. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wheat, white, 803 to 90s; red, 76s to 818 ; barley, 40s to 46s ; oats, 28s to 32s ; beanp, Mazagan, 40s to 44s ; middle and small, 41s to 58s ; peas, white, 60s to 64s ; grey, 46s to 50s. Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c., received in the port of London, from the following ports, from the 6th to the 11th February, both inclusive. • 5 - 711 - 1279 104, -- 13i) 370 KIRBCALDY—FEB. 11. Here to-day we had small supplies of wheat and barley, and large of oats. The wheat sold readily at about is per qr. under last week's rates. Barley and oats sold slowly, and all but the best qualities were is per qr lower. Wheat. Barley. Oats. B eans . F irst s Od 33s Od ; Os Od Second 38s Od I 3Js Od I Os Od T hird 546 Oct 27s Oct 24s Od I Os Od Oatmeal, per bag of 2801bs imperial, 43s Od to 44s Od. COAL MARKET.—Fss. 13, Prices of Coal per ton at the close of the market s. d.l Wallsend, &c. Middle W. H ar tl e y 24 6 s. d. Carr's Hartley 24 6 Braddyll . 29 6 Holywell 26 0 Hetton 3O 0 Old Adairs 22 0 Haswell 30 0 Tanfield Moor 93 o'Kepier 29 0 Tanfield Moor Butes 23 0 Plummer 29 0 West Hartley .. ......... 25 0 Whitwell 27 6 Wylam 24 6 Heugh Hall 28 3 Wallsend, &c. Kelloe 3O 0 Acorn Close 26 0 Hartlepool 3O 0 Hadley 28 0 South Kelloe 28 3 Leverson 21 0 Whitworth 24 0 Northumberland 24 0 South Durham ., .28 0 Bell 28 0 Cowpen 25 0 Belmont 28 ijElgin . ..... ... 23 3 LIVERPOOL, FEB. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The settlement cf the account in shares has been complete.l to-day. We have firm prices for the new account Caledonian, 26i ; East Lancashire, 16 7-16 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 66 ; Lancashire and Carlisle (new third shares), 12t p. ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 s ; London and North-Western, 104 c., 4 c. 4 ; Manchester ' Sheffield, a nd Li nco l n, 22a 7; Midland, 63 ; North Briti s h, 84 ; South-Eastern and Dover, 18 9-16. MANCHESTER, FEB. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE. There has been an upward ten. dency in prices, as on Saturday, but not a large businesa. Cheshire Junction, 11 c. d.; Leeds, 65i ; Dover, 181; Sheffield, 231 • Midland, 62i • Leed Northern (No. 2), prem. ; Caled'onian, 26a ; London and North-Western, WU. BIRMINGHAM, FEB. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Lusiness in this market to-day was limited, prices remaining without any material varia tion from previous rates. The transactions were .South Staffords, 1 dis. SEABORNE HAILS, cN signines that the mane are sent from the General Post-oftlea the night.—and hi by the morning —dispateli.j 'OI:TNT - WES Day when in General Bost- I Office, London.. inerica( by itrit.pack) N kraerica (by United dts.j packet) ... •• • • ...N' lmerica (by U States' packet) kustralia (via South ampton) .......... M.' Ditto (via Marseilles) Ditto (via l'ape of q.loodl Hope) •.....N Africa ( West Coast) . N „I Bahamas ... .. • • • • • ..M Belgium • • ..N Brazil • .. M I liuenos Ayres ...... MI Cape of Good Hone ..N (Jape of Good Hope .. N Cape de Verds Ceylon (see India) Cey10n........ Channe) Isles „N 1 Chili.._,, ,si! China (see India) Constantinople ...... Const,uttinople :ont. of Europe & N Eupt (see India) France .... • ... M & N Gibraltar • Greece (see India) Greytovrn .... • • ....MI Hamburgh Havannah .....• • ... Holland M; Honduras ~MI India (vlaSouthampt.)M i In India (via arseilles)M lonian Isles (see India)l Ireland & N Lisbon „ ..• • • M Madeira .. • • • • Madeira ... .. • • •• N Malta (see India) ;Malta • • .... .N Mauritius (see India) Mauritius ... • ...• N Mexico .. Naples , ••• • • NI Sew Grant ... • .• M New Zealai Papal State V N Peninsula •• MI Peru ..... . .••• • . M Port Natal ..... • N Sicily ..• •• N Tu5 cany.........N Venezuela .. Van Diemen P ic Land (see Australia) ..... West Indies ...... 'Every Friday Feb. 7 ....... March 4 .... ,March Feb. 4 rt3cl of the month . & 30 of m 14th tic 20th of m on . 17th of the mono, t 9 9 1 1 ! i t) a h h t o oY o f f. t f h h t e e h m e ;i o o m n l; ( t t : n h i; t . : 14th of the month. 14th of the month 14th of the month ,Mon.,lVed.,&Frld. 12d & 17th of month, 7 , 8 ,17,24,&27 of in 4th & 20th of mon Tivicu daily ...... I Zl!c l e 7, d 2 a o ll , y 2vo . im ... (2nd & 17th of mon. Tuesday & Friday 'l2nd of the month Daily :117th of the . .onti,l 14th & 20th of m , )n Bth&24th of monti . ; 17, 17, & 27 of in" 11 Twice daily 17 ' 9 . 17 . & 17 of ni 9th of the month 231 of month .. 17,17,19,27, 30 of m. 14th of the month 2ml of the month. , bthlsth2sthofinon 2d & 17th of month I By private ship 5 thlsth2sthorinonl ?thl7th2Bthohn on . ?d& 27th of rnon: ,14th of the month sthlstll2sthwi n „ I. s th 1 5 th25thoiinon'l 2d& 17th oftnontii! 12d& I 7th o] month • When any of these dates ia:l o't aunday, the mails wU be dispatched on the following day, with the eaceptien of the India via Southampton)l., and the Malta, both of which will be dispatched the day preceding, ROUEN,— The letters from Rouen mention that the market for manufactures had exhibited more animation, but that low prices generally prevailed. [ADVERMISEMENT.] Sight and Hearing The Royal Exhibition, 1851 Extraordinary Powerful Munich Ocrman Glass Telescopes., 39, Albemarle street, Piccadilly. Observe opposite the York Hotel. The Royal Exhibition. - A valuable , newly. invented, v er y sma ll powerful waistc oat-pocket glass, the size o f a wa l nut, by which a person can be seen and kno wn one mile and a half distant ; th e y answer every p ur p ose on the race-course, at the ope ra houses, co un t ry scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 11 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer stalking, y sating, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tournits. Telescopes —A new and most important invention fin telescopes, possessing such extraordinary tkitetsioym j e , up 3 i l te in e c s he m s, oo wi n t s h , an extra eye-piece, will e p b o o w w er ( s u e t t h i r Saturn's ring, and the double atm% ; with the same telescope, weighing only 3 ounces, ca n be seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They super aede every other kind for the waistcoat-pocket. and are oi' larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingl3,.. Opera and race-course glasses, with wonderful power; an iobject can be clearly seen, from 14 to 16 miles distant. Deafness—New Discovery—The Organic Vi brator, an extraordinary ,powerful and newly-invented instrument% for Deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or probabity ever can be, produced. i Being e of b t l he same colortr as the skin, it is not perceptible ; it enables p ai n l g th n e m a sr deaf personae to hear distinctly at church and .. at public as semblies ; the unpleasant sensation ofsin is the ears entirely removed ;. and it affords _ sis ance that I )ssibly Piccadilly.. Observe, opposite tle • could be desired.-39, %treat, BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the lilath inst., at the residence. .of William N orton, Esq., Dow ra-lodge, Epsom. Mre. Lyon. 88th Ou R th egi e IL4)th inst., at Brussels, the w i f e o f M ajor Jeffrys, n,ent. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 11.. inst., at Bruges, th e w i fe of T. H. Kin B, Esq., jun. ll Dunc On roft, N the J.tOtaith nes, s inst., till thborn.e wife of Henry Itagen, Esq., of MARRIED. On the )t,h inst., at St. Michael's Church Bath, Edward C. Boville,, E., son of Edward Bovine, E sq., Glenthorn, Torquay, to Lonisa Margaret, only daughter of the late of the Bengal Civil Service. Try o n M t a h g e n r ot , c, h Ei inst., q s t ..„ at St. Paul's Church, Mill-hill, Mid dlesex, Ge orge Melville Jackson, Ma y a, R N., corntnandil )g H.M.S. Porcupine, to Jane, only child ,ter A ti ber, Esq., late Secretary of the Drowned,. on the night DIED. of te 20ecember last, b the fouud er ib lg of a boat on the h Indu th s, near Kotree, Lieut. y Wm. Chap man, Bombay Engineers, second son of Wm. Chapman,sq., 64, 'Wi mp° l e-streot, aged 31. Craw On the lmn, ey, l a tx, o llt h i f nst., a ge d 62, Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. l the 74th Highlanders. LONDON: P tinted and Publi s h e d . 5y MURDO YOUNG, of No. 11 2„ Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in; the Precinct of the Savoy, in the eoluitY of Middlesex/. Tuolidaye Feltnuiry 14,1%4, ...1: - ~'-~^ ..._. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PIRATES IN THE CHINA SEA. AMOY, Dec. 23.—The Portuguese Lorcha, No. 70, as well as the Fortuna, British brig, was taken by pirates in Meicbow Bay, on the 21st Nov., the pirates, who were very numerous, plundered the vessel of some valuable cargo but took no lives. Her Majesty's steamer Hermes immediately proceeded in search of them, and succeeded in destroying 41 junk and Haitian boats. The Ydrussee (Dutch barque) which came into harbour to-day, reports having been heavily attacked by five Hainan boats, but escaped with several shots in her hull, and one man dan gerously wounded ; she left Shanghae on the 15th Dec. • CUSTOM HOUSE, FEB. 13. ENTERED INWARDS. —The Dolphin, from Oporto ; Port land, do. ; Blessing, Charente ; Errornonga, Berdianske ; Joseph Wheeler, Demerara ; Bromley, Cape of Good Hope ; Aliporo, Canton ; Aurora, Candia ; Grand Turk, Boston ; James Stewart, Pernambuco ; Effort, Leghorn Albion, do. ; Emily, Alexandria ; Ballarat, do. ; Earl of Shaftesbury, Madras and Pondicherry ; Diamond, Mouri tins ; Mercury, do. ; Ostrich, du., St. Helena, and Cape of Good Hope ; Kaffir, Alexandria ; Mary Lisbon ; Eorn, Charente ; Italia, Naples ; Era, St. Kitt's ; Greyhound, Santa Cruz ; Union, Cadiz and Gibraltar • Spy, Lagos ; Sarah, Malaga; Golden State, Shanghai ; ' Ocean Wave, St. Vincent ; Nymph, Dragomestre ; Transit, Patras Helen Munro, Messina and Catani ; Saxon, Smyrna ; Germania, Br emen ; Stanilas Marie, a Nantes; Parthenia, ' Messina • Dromo, do.; Jane, Seville Adelia, Oporto ; Emma, S'3 , ra ; Komar, Baltimore ; Margaret Evans, New York; Beacon, Palermo; Jessie Thomas, Remer ; Wal burton, Seville ; Cordelia, Madras and Pondicherry; Cos sack, Messina ; Emerald, Palermo. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Julia, for Colombo; Era, St. Kitt's ; Margaret E vans , N ew Y or k ; Ocean W ave, D emerara ; Asia, St. Helena; L or i na Thomp son, H o b ar t T own ; Ostrich, Madras. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.--The Cosmopolite, for Valparaiso ; Letitia, Malta; Emanuel, Odessa ; Sylph, Antwerp ; Sylpb, Algoa Bay ; Falcon, Bombay; Coquette, Valencia; John Henry, Mauritius ; Burgh Castle, Dieppe. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 13. The White, from Wexford, arrived at this port yester day, with wrecked goods ex Niagara. The Westmoreland, from Philadelphia to this port in 22 days, with the crew of the Mary S. Starret, for Havre. The Bona Ventura, on shore on the rocks at Holyhead, was got off this morning. The Andes (s.s.) will not sail until to-morrow, owing to the dense fog. STRANRAER, Feb. 10.—The Mary Murray, of and for New York, from the Clyde, put into Locheyan on the Bth of February, having been on the Scaw, where she beat heavily, but got off without any apparent damage, being quite tight. It is said that the crew and passengers refuse to proceed in her, From the night of 7th February to last night, it has blown a hurricane from N.W. BELMULLET, Feb. 10. —The John Willey, of Windsor, N. S., is lying bottom up off Broadhaven harbour ; she is supposed to be timber laden. A. steam-tug will be engaged to proceed to her, as she lies in a very dangerous position. SINGAPORE, Dec. 20.—The Mandarin, from Shanghae to Sydney, N.S W., put in Dec. 12, with masts cut away, loss of bulwarks, decks swept, and leaky, having been hove on her beam-ends in a typhoon in the China Seas, Nov. 26. The Briman, from Hong K ong t o L u b uan, struck on the rock s off the coast of Lubuan, was beached with eleven feet water in her hold ; has been condemned and will be sold. MESSINA, Jan. 27.—The Don Alfonzo, from Odessa to Falmouth, was wrecked at Fontane Blanche Point, on the night of Jan. 18 LYSKEHIEL, Feb. 2.—The Mary, 'rom London to Salt kallan, went on shore to the southward of this place, Jan. 22, and has broken up —crew saved. MOULMEIN, Dec. 17.—The Wild Irish Girl arrived here from Liverpool, Dec. 2, and has been hauled on shore on the bank of the river, to have her bottom examined. BREMEN, Feb 11.—The Sophie (Bremen barque) from London, grounded on the outer harbour a t B remerhaven but is expected to float again with the next tide. GIBRALTAR, Feb. 3.—Tile Spanish vessels Rosa and Veloz Sea Hulse, of this port, the English vessels Mariner, Bideford, and Emblem (brig), the Sardinian brig Teini, and Portuguese vessel Flor Da Primav aro , were all driven on shore and totally wrecked at Mazagan, during a gale at E.N.E., 26th Jan. The Hamburg vessel St. Juan, was driven on shore and wzecked, at the sam e ti me and place. ALEXANDRIA, Feb. 4. —The esboro ugh, sail e d hence for the United Kingdom (Middlcorn laden), 28th put back on the 31st leaky, an d will Jan,- charge. probably h ave to dia ANTWERP.—The Gerritjie Komnans, from Newcastle to Amsterdam, went on sh mornin g ; arlin g en, 7th Feb and was abandoned the next crew saved. The,Ne tunus, from London to this port, went on shore off Sche venigen, Feb. 9, and was abandoned —master and his son twosave 1, men drowned by the up sett i ng of the boat. PERTH, WA. Nov. 20 . — The John Panter ed on Scott's Ledge in go i ng out, and is now being hove d down at Garden Island. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 12. —The Rothschild, from Liv ei pool to Mobile, s p rung a leak Jan. 1, and foundered on the 7th, about 50 miles north-west of Madeira —crew brought home from thence by the Hope steamer. HOLYHEAD, Feb. 12 . —The Eliza, of Waterford, from Cardiff to Liverpool, which was reported at anchor close to the rocks near Aberfrau on the 9th of February, with sundry damage, has sunk—her materials are being brought ashore. Feb. 13 —The Bona Ventura, from Savannah, which went ashore at Rhosnigyr on the 7th, has been got off the rocks, and is in tow of tlg-boats. VSSELS . The Esk. from E Liverpool SPOKEN to Geelong, WlTH Jan. 2, lat. 5 N., long. 19 W., had encountered severe westerly and south westerly gales. The Tapley, steering east, Jan. 16, off the Cape three points. The Zetland, bound to Aden, and Rattler (s.), outward bound, Feb. 10, lat. 49 N , long. 7 W. The Julia and Grampian, Feb. 11, lat. 49 N., long. 7 W. The John Wilkinson, from Quebec to Melbourne, 55 days out. The Jane Sutherland, from London to Melbourne, 150 days out, Nov. 1, lat. 39, long. 138. The Devon, from London to Calcutta, Jan. 29, lat. 43 N., long. 11. W. 6 of Pi QUARANTINE NOTICE. LlSBON,ports o f te Canary Islands have been declared F free from h disease. Liverpool is declared to be suspected of cholera, from the 14th January; and Para, as free from disease from the 4th Nov. last. From - When Port dui 1n nisoatene , England. verpoo Each Mca. FO. 15 Arrived ISontham., Feb. 20 Dover .. . Feb. 16 Liverpool ISou ham. L p l l3 , : m erp ou oV i A t rr ne i e y rt ed a'n Dover .... Feb. 16 Southamptot, Feb. 20 6 . 3 utham;rtur Feb 6 Dover , v ii i Southampton Feb 16 South.unptun Feb 16 !Plymouth .. Feb. 46 Southampton !Plytnout .. Feb. 26 Plymouth .. Feb. Southampton Tu.7 Southtunp ton I Feb. Dover ..... Feb. 10 Southampton Feb. 20 Dover Twicedally Dover ...... Tvricedally Southampton Feb. 16 Southampton Feb. 16 London .....1 Southampton Marcia 1 !Dover 'Daily ISoutnampton Feb. 1 ,, !Southampton, Feb. 26 Dover Feb. 16 Dover.... •• Feb. :0 Ruts head Twit:Wally Southampton Feb 16 Southampton Feb. le !Plymouth .. Feb. 14 ( Dover ...... Feb. 10 yirmouth Feb. , 26 'Southampton March 1 , Dover ...... Feb. 12 Southampton Feb. 1 6 !Various port, ;Uncertain , Dover ...... Feb 12 Southampton Feb. 16 ,Southampton Feb. 16 iPlymouda Feb. 26 Dover Feb. 12 (Dover ....! ISouthampton Feb. 16 Southampton Feb. 16 . 26 Th. Sat. 16 GRA' NOTICE Certificates, will, on heir tared Certiti titres of th• 2, Leaden NI R. AT l. in. EVERT E Tuesday, T which can Is. ; gallery GYI E is op o'clock. T has been , BROOKS. IA": (Le The ab gni will CELEBRA Dancing n R" E: TURES, PHOTO thousan , DIS4OL LECTUBI M t NU] COLOU and W. LECTUR; UNIVE DESCRII TUBUI Open 3 Children A° Adelaide• renowned such hitt programr ancient a tional lozdy, co Augarde Broughal Three. Overti Canld B 1 farbaden Warmar Song (E Royal Si Miss Eli Select Glover, Solo, pl (Dream Kalozdy drUla (I and In instant such I deliver undern 3.; r'. l / Y /t Half one we A ea by the The ender one o' Eve and b must ; of ( Imp and sou ate =tar Du< ofll4 PAN oft