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

scribed to them by the Navy Department does not in any way authorise them to depart from the practice of the rules of visitation, search, and capture prescribed by the law of nations." That is the general direction given by the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the United States Navy, to be forwarded by him to the officers of the Federal Navy. It may be that complaints have been made in this country which are not without foundation; it may be that the United States officers have not observed these rules, but have gone beyond the directions that they have received ; it may be that they have seized vessels that were really going to Mantamoras or some neutral port without sufficient evidence that the cargo was of a contraband character. But it does seem to me, in spite of what my noble friend says, that the Govern ment of this country is bound to take a calm view of these matters, to represent them fairly to the United States Go vernment, and not to presume that the Government of the United States would fail in their duty to a friendly Power, or that they would countenance outrages which are against the law of nations. These representations will be made, and I expect that, if they are just, reparation will not be refused. (Hear.) 1 have already said that what took place at the interview which I had with the shipowners has not been fully given. One mistake has certainly been ma d e. It is said that I expressed surprise at the information that eertain British subjects had been made pris?ners. and detained in apiece of confinement by the authorities of the United States. I certainly did not express any such sur prise, for I had been reading that very morning - the repre sentations not only of our consuls but of those British sub jects themselves who had been so detained, and detained apparently with great and unnecessary harshness, the object being merely ro detain them in order that they might give evidence in the Prize Court. It cannot be doubted that there are precedents showing that when a case i 3 brought before the Prize Court the master of the vessel may give evidence of the real character of the cargo and the destination of the vessel, and that he may be detained for that purpose. But it seems to me that the United States' authorities have gone beyond what they fairly had a right to do When we were belligerents many cases involving bell;getent and neutral rights were brought before a very eminent judge, whose de cisions are generally and univere a lly respecte d ; and though I believe he carried the principle favourable to captors to perhaps rather a severe length, beyond doubt they were in conformity with the law of nations. I allude to Lord Stowell. We were the belligerents; we are tow neutrals. But I said thought it would not become the character of this nation, b,-cause we had changed our position, to invoke another law and another measure (cheers); to declare that those decisions of Lord Stowell which were advantageous to us when we were belligerents should be thrown aside and rejected by us when we bt came neutrals. (Cheers.) Accordingly, those persons who think that, whatever may be the destination of a ship, and whatever papers she may have onboard showing that she is about to break the blockade, or to carry arms to some one of the Confederate States now in hostility with the United States, they are to be protected by the power of the British nation in contradiction to all our own decisions, and in con tradiction to the declared law of nations, wil , I hope, know that the British Government never will place itself in that p os iti on . (Cheers.) Let us look impartially at these cases which have occurred. It may be that we have suffered grievous wrong ; it n ay be that we h Ave a right to consi derable reparation ; but let the two Governments treat the cases fairly. We have on this side of the Atlantic the de cisions of a great Judge; in America they have the views laid down by Judge Story and the writings of Mr. Whea ton. With those authorities to guide us, let us see who is in the right and who is in th e wrong . B ut l et us di scuss the circumstances with a wish to do justice to each other. Don't let us be led by passion into anything which is not founded on justice, and which cannot afterwards be justified in the face of the world. (Cheers.) The Earl of CARNARVON said he was anxious to ob tain from his noble friend an explanation of one part of the observations he had addressed to their lordships. In reca pitulating the circumstances connected with the Sea Queen, hio nobles friend stated that the owners of the vessel com plained of the difficulty in which they were placed by the apprehension that they might ultimately be compromised by the supposed contents of the mail-bags, which might induce American cruisers to commit acts of aggression. The terms of that answer appeared to imply a certain doubt or confusion in the mind of his noble friend with regard to the supposed right of the American Govern ment to arrest any ship, to open any mail-bags, or to take from them treasonable correspondence which they might contain. He spoke under the correction of noble and learned lords presort wben he ventured to say that no amount of treasonable correspondence within those bags, once they were sealed with the broad seal of England, would warrant the officers of any foreign Power in stopping the Teasels in conveying those bags, in breaking the seals, and in taking from them the letters which were therein. (Cheers.) Why, in the letter which had been read from Mr. Seward he distinctly disclaimed any such right, and said it should not be exercised. (Hear, hear.) But according to the inference which might be drawn from the answer of his noble friend, it was obvious that a ship passing from Dover to Calais, and happening to have treasonable correspond ence on board, would be just as liable to capture by Ame rican cruisers as vessels sailing between Na-san and Ma a mores, Nassau and Liverpool, or any other neutral ports. He hoped his noble friend would be able to eat - lain the unaatistactory impression which had been created by his words. (Hear, hear.) Earl RUSSELL--I did not for a moment suppose that an American naval officer would have a right to open these bags. But the members of the deputation said such a thing might happen against law or justice, and I thought it was my duty to relieve them from a fear of that kind as far as possible. Mr. Seward had, in fact, admitted, as my noble friend has said, that such a proceeding would nut be regular, and had given orders to stop it, The Etta of DERBY—But the admission made by the Government that there was reason to suppose the United states' officers might commit an illegal act—an admission which was involved in their relieving these vessels from the necessity of carrying the mail bags—does imply a sort of con templation on their part of the pr batility of that illegal ac; without and accompanying declaration that such an act, if attempted, must call for the intervention and very serious notice of her Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) I think the noble earl was quite right in refusing to put a mail agent on board these vessels, because he could not appoint one to a particular ship without likewise sending out agents in all the others, or without exposing those which had not an agent on board to still greater risks than they at present incur. (Hear, hear.) But I think he was to blame in ad mitting as a ground of exemption from the duty of carrying the mail-bags, and that a practical and serious injury was done to British commerce in admitting that there was a risk of officers of the American Government so misconduct ing themselves as to take these vessels, and to break open the mail-bags on board. I think we ought to have held this language, that shipowners were bound to carry the mails, and that we were bound to protect our commerce in the in statue of those vessels, Of this 1 am quite sure—that if those vessels had been captured, whatever might be the result of the investigation, this country would never have submitted quietly to acts affording so serious a ground for complaint against the American Government. Earl RUSSELL—No doubt there would be a serious ground of complaint, and I will not suppose that the United States Government would sanction such a proceeding. But we have seen, both in the case of the Tuscarora and in that which h append the other day, that naval officers have acted in entire contravention of Mr. Seward's desire, and therefore I certainl_v did suppose it possible that some United States officer mig•?ft in this respect likewise violate the general rules and directvons of the American Secretary of State. I there fore thought it might have been a very harsh operation to !Jut in force against gentlemen who made these representa tions to use the compulsory powers as rega r d, the carriage of mails which are in the hands of the Government. (Hear.) The Earl of DERBY—The noble earl says he does not mean to contend that the United States Government would have sanctioned such a proceeding, but he does think it pos sible that without the sanction of that Government some indiscreet officer might adopt this unwarrantable course. Evidently thedanger which was apprehended from the break ing open the mail-bags was that letters would be discovered leading to the condemnation of the vessel. Earl RUSSELL--I did not say tho condemnation. The Earl of D ERBY—WeII, if not exposed to condem nation, whatwea the injury done i by having the letter -bags on board ? (Cheers ,) thov eese Was sub j ected to no greater inconvemienee from oarr l r i ngthe letter-bags than she would have bean it she carri e d no merle at from all, I do not see what was the ground for exempting her er omliability to perform this duty. (Cheers.) But I the case to be ,craned on the ground of the risk which:t t : te a e, supposed would b e incurred if an officer of th e U n i ted Navy by an ill e gal act obtained possessi on o f tra i torous correspondence on board a British ship. Does th e no bl e lord mean to admit if such a course were p ursue d thi s country would re it cog nise the right of the Unit e d St a t es t o condemn the ves sel on evidence so procured, whi c h cou ld not be legally brought into court ? (Cheers.) Would he not be bound to protest against the use of information acquired in such a manner, as well as against the original act of illegality itself? (Hear.) Earl RUSSELL. —There can be no doubt that we should have a very good ground of complaint, and that we should have a right to redress, which, no doubt, would be afforded, But, of cou rse, ver y serious injury w ou ld ensue meanw hil e to t he owners of the vessel through her being taken first to Key West, and atterwards to some other port, possibly to Boston or New York. (Hear,) Earl GREY thought it was much to be regretted that his Tiordship did not explain himself more clearly. If a mail bag 1,/ere opened, we ought to insist on full reparatio n for any that might be occasioned. lord STANLE Yof ALDER LEY wished to explain that ttting mail bags on board a ship in that way did not bind her to any , particular course on the voyage, or prohibit her calli ug at a Confederate port if she could, There was no comp, alsory contract as to that. Lord' WODEHO USE said it ought to be clearly under stood th at a vessel going from London to Matamoras ought sot to be , questioned by any United States vessel whatever. (Il ea; hear.) The only way to preserve peace with the - Americans was not to abate one jot or tittle of our own .ig_ t ht ar e \ v a t i i while we respected the rights of o thers. ILLE quite approved of the course pur sued by the, nob le earl, Any other would have been neither w .se nor prude:. . %ord REDESDALZ alio thought it was to be regretted the noble earl had not stated his views as to the mail bags more clearly. He seemed to think letters might be detained. Earl RUSSELL—No, no. They must be han,ed over to the consul, Lord REDESDALE—Yes; but not immedieely for de livery in due course. The subject then dropped, and their lords'iii s adjourned at a quarter past eight. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER.. Lord F. FITZROY took the oaths and his seat for Thet ford. The noble lord was introduced by Col. Stewart and Mr. Baring. PETITIONS. By Mr. MIL - Ls against the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sabbath ; Mr. HORSPALL, from Liverpool, to the same effect ; Sir H. VERNER, from Armagh ; Sir J. PARING^ TON, from Kidderminster, in favour of the Prison Ministers' Bill ; Mr. C. T URNER, from Liverpool, against the bill fcr closing public houses on Sunday; Sir S. NORTHCOTE, from a charitable institution, praying the house not to accede to the proposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to subject such institutions to income tax ; Alderman COPELAND to the like effect. METROPOLI FAN POLICE. Mr. COX gave notice of his intention, on Tuesday next, to move for a return of the number of Metropolitan police employed in various parishes in Islington in the first days of the first three months of 1862 ; also the number em ployed elsewhere and in the parks ; also the sums paid by the various parishes towards the police rate. PARKS IN TOWNS. Mr. HIBBERT gave notice that, on Monday next, he should ask the noble lord the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as the whole of the grant of 1841 had been appro priated, he proposed seeking an additional grant. BOTANIC GARDENS. Mr. GRE WRY gave notice that n going into supply on vote N 0.4, he should move that these gardens be opened to the public after Divine service each Sunday, like the other botanical gardens, supported by the money of the public, (Hear, hear.) NEW WRIT.—HALIFAX. On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a new writ was or dered to be issued to elect a new member in the room of Mr. Stansfeld, who had accepted one bf the junior lord ships of the Admiralty, GREECE Mr. B. COCHRANE inquired of the noble lord the First Lord of the Treasury whether any satisfactory Intel ligence had been received as to the acceptance of the throne of Greece by Prince William of Denmark ; and whether the Government had been asked to guarantee the loan ? Lord PALMERSTON replied that he could not say that the communicaticns with Prince William had been quite brought to a conclusion, but he had the best reason to be lieve that the conclusion of the negotiations wonld prove satisfactory by his acceptance of the throne. (Hear, hear.) The other part of the question related to a pecuniary ar rangement, a matter of detail, and at the present moment he could not say what might be done in that respect. (Laughter and cheers.) INCOME TAX. Sir J. FERGUSSON asked the Chancellor of the Ex chequer wbether there was an intention of altering the existing machinery by which the assessment for the income tax is imposed ; and, if not, whether that assessment would in future be made under all the schedules by the local authorities F The CHANCELLOR of His EXCHEQUER replied ;hat no alteration was intended in the machinery by which this tax was inforced. HOLYHEAD PACKET STATION. Col. DUNNE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty when the returns ordered as to the Holyhead Packet Station, and correspondence with the Dublin Steam Packet Company, would be laid upon the table of the house ; and, whether anything would be done, and when, to carry out the promised alterations in Holyhead pier, for the purpose of securing the safety of the mail packets, and the passengers landing from them. M. GIBSON replied that the correspondence was naarly ready and would be shortly produced. The piles had been driven, and a new structure would be constituted for the one that bad been abandoned. SEIZURE OF BRITISH SHIPS BY FEDERAL CRUISERS. Mr. ROEBUCK rose to ask the question of which he had given the noble lord at the head of the Government notice. Matters were going on is the West Indian waters materially affecting British trade. (Hear, hear.) British ships going from one neutral port to another had been seized by an admiral of the United States. (Hear, hear.) He confessed that all his high and ardent hopes that men could govern themselves had been altogether negatived by recent events in the disunited States. That great experi ment was at an end—namely, that men, under the most favourable circumstances, were not equal to govern themselves. (Hear, hear.) At first he had been in favour of the North, but their whole conduct since the rupture testified not only that they were unfit to govern themselves, but were not fit for a place as a nation in the civilised world. (Cheers.) He knew there were generate Englishmen who took the part of the North against their o se/. c ,, un try, aid when the United States could be contrasted advantageously with this country, never lost tiny opportunity of doing so. King Cotton had threatened, but he had failed to make much impression. In the case of the Trent the United States truckled. The papers in the ship lately seized had been inspected by an hon. gentleman, one of the members for the City, and he reported them quite harmless, yet it was seized by an American man-of-war and taken into an American port. Yet the American minister here bad given a permit to a ship to carry out arms and ammunition to Mexico to be used against their ally of France. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Adams ap peared to be the minister of commerce in England. The noble lord had ever shown an anxious desire to up hold the honour of England. Now, had the Government come to any determination with respect to the conduct of Admiral Wilkes. He knew the consequences of such an act. It might lead te war, (Hear, hear.) He stood there to speak for the people of England, and he knew they were prepared for war with the United States. (Cries of " No, no.") He trusted the Government would chastise the insolence of this upstart race. (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON quite agreed with his hon. and learned friend that the matters referred to in his question were of the very gravest importance. (Hear, hear.) All, however, he could say was that the subject was receiving due consideration on the part of her Majesty's Government ; but they were not at present prepared to state what had been the result of their deliberations. (Hear, hear.) CRICKET IN BATTERSEA PARK. In reply to Mr. Cox, Mr. COWPER said the question had arisen out of a misapprehension. There had been no interference in Bat tersea-park; but the Civil Service Cricket Club had had a little more space granted to them. THE SEIZURE OF BRITISH VESSELS. Mr. BENTINCK rose to call the attention of her Ma jesty's Government to a statement in the City article of the Tones newspaper of Friday, April 17, referring to the seizure of British vessels by the cruisers of the Northern States of America, and to move for papers on the subject. The hon. and learned gentleman had placed him (Mr. Bentinck) in a somewhat awkward position. The hon. and learned gentle man must have been aware of the notice standing in his name, but he d;d not seem to be aware of the courtesy of the house which precluded a member from forestalling a motion by bringing it on in the shape of a question. But the hon. gentleman did not seem to be particular to preserve a spotless character in that house. Mr. ROE BUCK—I object to that language. Mr. BENTINCK—I am perfectly ready to state the grounds. Mr. ROEBUCK—I don't want him to state the grounds. I rise to order. The SPEAKER— I did not hear the words the hon. and learned member complains of. Mr. ROEBUCK —Then I will repeat the words, "That the hon. member has not been careful to pursue a course which would preserve a spotless character in his house." The SPEAKER —The hon. member wil see that the observation " That the bon. and learned gentleman has done something not consistent with character," is not pro • per language for this house. Mr. BENTINCK said he was perfectly ready to explain to the hon. and learned member the grounds on which he based his remarks. M E BUC _I d on 't want to kno w th em. (Laughter.) xEr r , BENTINCK w as boand to say that prob a bl y the R O hon. dee lin a i n a d g lteearngaedinmtaeamnybeerxpexlaenrcaitsied ane a en s t o h u e n s cl d uhj i e s e c t r . eti on (H.airn, hearine.) However,t t b h a e t h h e en h . ad a b n e d en l e p a l r a n ce e d d position et some he was about tdifficultyo s a b y y gentleman, who had, t o some e xtent, forestalled the answer wer which he was anx i ous to o b ta i n f rom th e n oble lord the head of the Government. The grounds on which he was prepared to put his question to the noble lord rested upon a statement which appeared a sh - zt time ago in the l imes newspaper, and it appeared to him that, unless full explana tions were given with respect to all the details of that state ment, they would not be adequately prepared for the dis cussion of tomorrow evening. He ventured to think that in matters of the sort more harm was done by allowing a feeling of irritation to be kept up from day to day, for the want, perhaps, of some explanation on the part of the Go vernment of the country, than risk was encountered by making public those explanations. The hors. member then proceeded to state he was referring to the report of an inter. view between the noble earl at the head of the Foreign De partment and a deputation which waited upon him intro • duced by the hon. member for the city of London (Mr. Crawford), and which appeared in the Times of Friday in last week. He believed that that statement was one of the most extraordinary ever given currency to by the journals of this country. The hon. member then gave an account of what had occurred at the interview on the subject of the seizure of the Peterhoff, and read Mr. Adams's letter, which has recently been made public relative to the trade between England and Mexico, and to the granting of certificates of character by the American Minister to British vessels start ing from British ports. He demanded to know what were the views of the Government with respect to the conduct and language of Mr, Adams, and likewise whether the very inadequate language and the yielding tone of the noble earl at the head of the Foreign Department was approved of by the Cabinet generady. Mr. CRAWFORD, having been referred to in connec tion with the case of the Petethoff, desired to state that, at the proper moment and under the proper circumstances, - he was quite ready to go into explanations on the question; but he must decline to do so then—(hear)—and for two rea sons: in the first place, because of the very critical position in which that transaction had placed the relations of the two countries; and, secondly, because he had heard the noble lord at the head of the Government state that evening that the whole matter was under the consideration of the Government.S Knowing that, he would consider it highly inexpedient and indecorous if he were to enter into a pio• longed discussion of the case upon that occasion. (Hear, hear.) But he could not sit down without stating that he had heard with the greatest distaste—indeed, he might say disgust—the sentiments expressed that evening by the hon. and learned member for Sheffield (Mr. Roebuck)—(cheers) —nor could he, in the second place, admire the taste of the hon. memb r for West Norfolk (Mr. Bentinck) in proceed ing with his notice after the statement made by the noble lord at the head of the Government. (Hear, hear.) Mr. PEACOCK E remarked upon the very undignified position in which the house found itself through being dep-ndent for all tat) information they possesed on this question on the announcements in the City article of a newspaper. (Hear, hear.) If it was the pleasure of the house that he should do so, he was willing to move for all the papers connected with the subject. He desired also to know whether the Government were aware of Mr. Adams having acknowledged the ge nuineness of that letter to which reference had been made ; and whether there was any objection to the produc tion of the correspondence between Earl Russell at d the City merchants relative to the conveyance of the mails to Matamoras. That question was of much more importance than was generally imagined. Some months ago Mr. Sea ward iutarmed the Mexican Minister that, althou2h the Government of the United States wished to prevent t , e ex portation of arms from the United States, they neverthe • less did not wish to deprive Mexico of the arms necessary to carry on th, war against the French, and therefore that, if the Mexican Government desired to send to England for them, he would cause every facility to be given for the pur pose of enabl-ng them to procure them. Thereupon the Mexican Government sent over to this country a Mexican general, accompanied by a merchant who was in the habit of purchasing arms, with a letter to Mr. Adams requiring him to afford these gentlemen every assistance in the pro curing of arms for the war which Mexico was carrying on against France. Widt thes> facts in circulation, it was desirable that Government should allay public irritation by giving the house all the information on the subject it was possible for them to do, He accordingly moved for copies of the correspondence that had passed on the subject. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NEWDEGA IT dissented from the remarks that had been made by the hon. and learned member for Shef field, which he considered calculated to prejudice the in terests of this country with the United States. He held that it was inexpedient, in the highest sense, to taunt those of our (WM blood on the other side of the Atlantic with the mi,fortune whicb, it was to be hoped, they would be able to repair. He was ready to support her Majesty's Government in vindicating the honour of this country, but he cautioned the house against being actuated by feelings of disappointment or of spite. Mr. LAY ARD said he was surprised that such a discus sion as that before the house should have arisen upon expres sions used in the money article of a morning newspaper. He was also surprised that the discussion should have been continued, and still more was he surprised at the speech of the hon. member for Maldon, and that he should move for the papers which the Government had still under discus sion. He could give no further answer than that given by the noble lord at the head of the Government, but there were two questions upon which he wished to make a few remarks. The hon. member for West Norfolk had stated that the deputation to the noble lord at the head of the Foreign-office had made a proposal which was of a humi liating character. Mr. BENT INCK —I said the proposal was one which in volved an insult to this country. Mr. LAYARI)—The word was humiliating. But whether it was humiliating or insulting to the noble lord it would la , so to this country. (Hear, hear.) It was the same thing, and no man who knew the noble lord would believe that he would bear patiently with language or conduct which was of a humiliating or insulting character. (Oh, oh, and hear, hear.) But in truth no proposal of a humiliating or insulting character was made to the noble lord. The deputation proposed to the noble lord that a Post-office agent should be placid on board the Sea Queen, and he said the matter should be inquired into. The depu• tation stated that if the owner of the vessel should decline to take a mail bag he would be subject to a penalty, and if he took a mail bag the vessel would be liable to forfeiture if letters found on board by an American cruiser should be considered by a prize court to be of a treasonable nature. But the Let was ihe gentlemen who formed the deputation had not fairly stated what really toek place, and they ought to have done so. He would place the public in possession of the facts, and point out the misrepresentation which had been wade. The hon. gentleman then read a copy of a let ter addressed t the Post-office, in which Earl Russel stated that a deputation had orated upon him at the Foreign-office, and that they had asked to have an agent on board. Mr. BAILLIE rose to order. The hon. member could nit read letters which had not been presented to the house. The SPEAKER ruled that the hon. gentlemen was in order. Mr. LAYARD continued, and after reading other letters said, it was considered by the noble lord that the owners of the Sea Queen shculd not be released from the obligation Of carrying a mail bag, "unless with the full concurrence of :he commander." The Government had merely, therefore, relieved the owners of the ship from the performance of an unpleasant obligation. He wished to correct an error which had appeared in the papers that Lord Russell was surprised that the crew of the Feterhoff had been detained prisoners in America. Lord Russell did not express that surprise, for he was perfectly well acquainted with all the facts of the case before he had the pleasure of receiving the deputation. It was quite a mistake to suppose that the honour and dig nity of the country were not properly maintained by her Majesty's Government. (Hear.) Mr. WHITESIDE said the hon. gentleman seemed to be surprised at everything which had been done or said, ex cept at the speech of the noble lord at the head of the Go vernment. He (Mr. Whiteside) wanted to know whether it was unbecoming for the members of that house to seek for information from the Government on a subject which was attracting the attention of every member of the community. He did not ask for information for the purpose of urging the Government to go to war, but for the purpose of preventing war, He recollected that on one occasion a celebrated orator sitting en the other side of the house said, in commenting on the conduct of Government in reference to the Crimean war, that that war might have been averted if the Government had laid certain papers before the House of Commons. (Hear.) That gentleman was now Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Whiteside) hoped and believed that these inquiries would avert war, not pro voke war. (Hear, hear) When any question of this kind arose, it was in his opinion of great importance that mem bers of the House of Commons should not be the last to seek information from the Government. Sir H. CAIRNS said the hon. gentleman the Under Se cretary for Foreign Affairs had thought it right to commu nicate certain letters to the house, but he did not know that he had given thew much informKtion, because he recognised letters which he had seen in the papers some days ago. (Hear, hear.) Ile wanted to know whether her Majesty's Government intended to give colour to the idea that if there were in a mail bag carried from any British port to a neutral port a letter which might be considered by a prize court to deserve the appellation of treasonable—he wanted to know whether that ci , cumstance would justify the detention, trial, and perhaps forfeiture of the merchant vess. I. (Cheers.) There was no mistake as to the course which had been taken. The Under Secretary of State said merchant vessels were obliged to carry mail bags ; that these bags might be searched, and if anything were found on board of a suspicious character, the vessel might be detained ; and he further told the house that on a representation being made to the Foreign Secretary, the Sea Queen had been relieved of the obligation imposed by law. Now, let them come nearer home. Dover was not far from Calais. Could a merchant ship passing from the former port be overhauled by an American cruiser, and if letters were tound on board of a treasonable nature could she be detained and a prize court forfeit her ? He wanted to know how the merchant service of this country was to be carried on under such a state of things. He supposed that all shipowners would adopt the course of not carrying these mail-bags. He hoped, however, the public mind would be relieved by the Govern ment from the ideas which seemed to prevail. (Hear.) Mr. MALINS ant?the Solicitor-G e neral rose together; but though there were loud calls for the latter, the former d th is e c U us n s d io e n r : S a ec nd re t t b a a ry t t f h or e F n o o r b e l iegn lordA ffai h r a s d h a a d s e d n e r p e r d e t c b a t e z t l this hon. member pe rs i s t e d i n his right to proceed. He said that matter was in safe keeping, and the country in no danger. He, however, did not think the house ought to be sati.fied with such an answer. He, for one, felt himself humiliated every morning. (Cries of "Oh, oh," and loud laughter.) He would say that in ci mmon with Englishmen in general he felt humiliated by seeing that the commerce of this country was being carried on by the sufferance of a foreign Power. (Hear.) Merchant vessels were bound by law to carry mail bags, and they had heard that the Post-office had relieved one vessel from the performance of the obligation. But he wanted to know why the Government did not enforce the law. This was a subject which could not be deferred. The country would not allow it to be postponed,and he thought the think Government were bound to give an answer. Was the Go v ern - n e tGovernment might ment of thi s country prepare d to su b m it t o the dictation of the Governme n t o f th e U n it ed S tates, or o f an y otherGovern mutts that we s h ou ld carry on our commerce as that Go vfihtad? su(cHceuarar,bhedeairn.)a mostHe believedher e r Majesty's m Gent o disgraceful m ca ann rry e o r n .(Oh, oh, and hear, hear.) This countr y ought to or herapprehensic:_n m lnerce without di c t a ti on an d w ithout fear from any part of the world. The Govern ment ought to be prepared to say at once that the law must be obeyed, instead of relieving owners from carrying mail THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 24, 1863. bags, The law, in his opinion, ought to be enforced, and onr commerce protected by the Government of the eountry. (Hear, hear.) The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he would not wish to add one word to this discussion but for the misapprehen sion of his hon. and learned friend the member for Belfast, whom he did not expect to hear draw from the correspond euce which had been referred to by his hon. friend near him an inference so entirely erroneous as that her Majesty's Go • vernment were prepared to admit that the United States Government were justified in capturing vessels upon the ground that the mail bags might contain letters of a hostile character. He would not refrain from stating that such a doc trine was not held by her Majesty's Government, and they would not submit to it for a single moment. But until the evidence was completed on both sides it would be most un wise to enter into a discussion of the subject. He would remind the house that they had had before them upon more than one occasion a statement of the views of her Majesty's Government, the principles which might be involved when questions arose, and those upon which they would be prepared to act. (Hear, hear.) 0 the 28th of November last year, Lord Russell, writing to Lord Lyons, placed on record the minutes of a conversation which his noble friend at the head ot the Government had with Mr. Adams, and in which his noble friend stated that her Majesty's Government could not permit any interference with any British or foreign vessels in British waters ; but that in the open sea he did not mean to dispute the belligs rent rights ot the United States ; adding, however, that the decision on the exercise of those rights must in each case be dealt with according to the special circumstances of that case His noble friend added that it was not necessary turther to discuss a case which was not in point, but that it would no do for the eh ps of the United States to harass Brit sh com merce on the high seas under the pretence of prey( wing the Confederates getting contraband of ever. That was what was stated in November last. and the house would remem ber that in the case of the Aguilar, and subsequently of the Peterhoff. when the officers; of the U ited S aces justified themselves in detaining those vessels, not after an exercise of the right of search, but on intornsa ion which bad been received from this country, no time was lost ins ating that such conduct was an abuse of belligerent rights. Mr. Sew trd did not vinuicate it, but immediately issued instructions which, if they had been obeyed, would have been an answer to the compl .ints which were now made, his instructions were that no vessel should be seized until previous search had proved her to contain contraband of war, or that she was about to violate the blockade. Mr. Seward ordered that if it could be proved that the vessel was proceeding from one neutral port to another, and not to a p , rt in the hands of the insurgents, there could be no lawful seizure. The house would see, then, that there was no controversy, as the American Government did not claim the r ght to seize our vessels. It their officers had since done so, it was to be presumed that the Government would not uphold such conduct. Then as regarded the mails, certain British mer chants engaged in the trade with Mexico, which was in the line of the contraband trade, although in itself perfectly innocent, stated their apprehension that their vessels would be exposed to relay and capture, under the pretext that treasonable matter might be found in their letter bags. The noble lord the Foreign Secretary, without pretending that the presence of such matter would be sufficient to justify capture, said that there might be inconvenience or loss to in dividuals from the mere circumstance of being put in such a situation, and that he thought it, therefore, reasonable to relieve them if they wished from the compulsory obligation of carry letter bags. It was no part of his present object to enter into the justification of that course, although it might be justified on the grounds of consieeration for individuals whilst it was not against the honour of the country or in obedience to a principle which his hon. and learned friend gave him the oppoatunity of disclaiming. He was thankful to his hon. and learned friend for showing that the steps which had been taken by the Government were opened to such a construction, and for giving him the opportunity of declaring that it was unfounded. Lord R. CECIL said that this was no new case. The Aguilar was seized in June last, and the Peterhoff three months since. Complaints were made to the Government before Easter, and yet, according to the hon. and learned gentleman, they were not able now to make up their minds. The case of the Aguilar was still before the prize court, although the Government had declared the capture unjus tifiable, and as yet no reparation had been asked. British trade was now in tact carried on by the sufferance of the foreigner, and it had actually come to this, that an extra preuaturn of insurance was taken now between the two Bri tish ports of Liverpool and Nassau, against the chance of being detained by the American cruisers, and this for no reason but because Admiral Wilkes chose to practise pira deal proceedings on the high 8€ as. A good deal had been said about the Peterhoff, but nothing whatever about the Dolphin, which was a worse case. That ship was trading legitimately ; she was captured by an American cruiser, her crew taken prisoners, her cargo broken up, and her Bri. tish seamen were turned on shore destitute, in the harbour of St. Thomas. For that outrage no redress had as yet been obtained. He believed that this discussion would be useful, as showing the Government that they must no longer trifle with the feelings of this country. They were told that the national honour was safe in the hands of the noble lord at the head of the Government, but they had had the noble lord before them in two characters—that of the Lord Pal merston of the Russian and Crimean war and of the Greece and Brazil negotiations, and the Lard Palmerston of the Conspiracy bill. It was yet to be seen in which chat acter the noble lord would deal with the present complication. Mr. OSBORNE thought that two more mischievous de bates had never taken place in that house than those which had been just raised by the hon, and learned members for Sheffield and Wallingford. He (Mr. Osborne) thought that whilst they were treading almost on the living embers of war they were bound to be more careful of what they said than at any other time. If they were to go on reviewing Ame rican institutions and inflaming the American mind by offen sive observations on cases respecting which they were as yet imperfectly informed, he could not see how ary Govern ment could prevent this country from being plunged into war. He (Mr. Osborne) was no degenerate Englishman, nor was he a member of the peace party, but as an indepen• dent member of that house he thought hi s b est cou , se was to avoid discussions like the present. They all had confi dence in the noble lord at the heed of the Government as a war minister, and therefore it was the less necessary to magnify this question into one of mischievous proportion. The motion was then withdrawn. INCOME TAX ON ENDOWED CHART rIE S. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to know how the Chan cellor of the Exchequer meant to raise the question f im posing the income taxon endowed charities. Many important institutions were interested, one of which, if assessed, would have to pay £1,500 a year. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the institution alluded to, if liable to a charge of £1,500 a year, must have an income of at least £50,000 or £60,000, and therefore was very well able to take its share in the burthens of the country. The course he intended to take *as to ask for a general resolution that night which would be reported on the following day, and the bill with its clauses would be in the hands of members on Saturday morning. The mode of proceeding would then be seen, and he should be subsequently, in committee, ready to answer any specfic question. MEMORIAL TO THE PRINCE CONSORT. The house then Went into a committee of supply. Viscount - PALMERSTON — I rise to move the resolu tion of which I have given notice, for a grant of £50,000 to her Majesty towards the expense of erecting a suitable ti.e • merial to the late Prince Consort. We all recollect the effect—the stunning effect—pro , luced on the public mind by the announcement made about a year and a half since that the country had lost the late Prince consort. 'I he event struck a gloom into every household, it inspired with deep grief the heart of every subject of her Majesty and there was no one who did not feel that not only ha , l the na tion snff-red a great and irreparable loss but that each imcli v,dmil had to mourn one as dear to him as a near friend or relative. What that loss was to her gracious Majesty I shall not presume to describe. There are truths which ace only weakened by any attempt to enforce them ; there are feeli, gs which are t o sacred to permit say attempt to ex plain them ; and it would be a sort of sacrilege to attempt. to draw aside thJ veil behind which those feelings shrunk from the public gaze. Stilt, it was felt that this was an cc ca,ton on which it was becoming both for the satisfaction of national feeling, and as a tribute of respect to the S.,ve reign, that some prominent and s ubstantial m , morial should be erected to commemorate the virtue of the great man whom we had so suddenly lost. A public subscription was commenced, and the late Lord Mayor plan, d himself at the head of the committee. Contributions poured in from every part of the country, according to the means of those who desired to testify their feelings on the subject. it was *an the beginning the intention of her Majesty's Govern ment not t ) leave the commemoratien of a great national loss simply and entirely to the result of private subscrip tions, as it appeared to them to be fitting that, in addition to anything which was the result of private impulse, there should be added something which, cowing as a vote of Par liament, should be more completely a national tribute to the memory of the Prince Consort. What should be the amount, had to depend upon two things ; first, what might be the result of the private subscription ; and secondly, what might be the probable c-ist of such memorial as sh old be deemed fitting for the occasion. No sooner had the sub scription commenced tha n the committee which undertook its management made it p u bli c ly known that the selection of the kind and ch a r ac t er o f t h e memorial should, as was fitting, be left to the feeling and judgment of the Queen. Subsequently various circumstances occurred which diverted into other channels those means which might otherwise have flowed into the subscription. The great and magnifi cent act of public generosity by which the people of Lance - shire were in a great degree suppor ted, took away much which might otherwise have been subscribed for the memo rial, the sum raised for which at last amounted to between £50,000 and £60,000. With a view of determining what should be the nature and character of her memorial her Majesty requested four eminent persons to undertake the task of inviting plans, and of considering and reporting on them. These were the Earls of Derby and Clarendon, Sir Charles Eastlake, and the late Lord Mayor, and these com missioners invited a certain number of architects to send in plans, and the plans when sent in consisted of two parts. The idea which each architect endeavoured to work out was to combine a personal memorial on the one side, and on the other a building devoted to those arts and sciences in which the late Prince Consort took so deep an interest. This plan, however, was found to involve an expenditure larger than the sum raised by subscription, or the sums which we might fairly ask the house to grant. Therefore, upon further consideration, the commissioners have reported that they recommend her Majesty to abandon cue portion of the proposed memorial, which consists of a hall of science and art, and to confine the memorial to that personal part which was to form a balance, as it were, to the other. The site recommended by the commissioners to her Majesty is that part of Hyde park which lies between the publio road to Kensington and the carriage drive through the perk, and that portion of it which lies opposite to the ground which belonged to the commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, The site would be in all respects suitable for the purpose. It would ie in the public view, it would not in terfere with any other arrangements, and it would be, by its vet y position, well calculated to display anything that might be placed upon. Now, sir, in regard to the practice of raising monuments as memorials to great and di.•tin guished men, I can only say it is a practice which has pre vailed in all countries and in all ages. In this country there are many examples of such memorials; and it has often well been said that such memorials answer a double purpose. They not only satisfy the feelings of those who are contemporaries of the man who is to be recorded, they not only gretify the feelings of admiration, love, and affec tion of those who raise such memorials, but they stand as examples to future generations, 'o stimulate them to emu late the virtues and high qualities of the persons in whose honour they ate raised. New there was never perhaps a person who in that double capacity was more fined to have his memory recorded than the late Prince Cells° , t When a n ernoriel is erected to some great military or naval corn mender who has lost his li e in winning a great victory, conducive to ►afety and dignity of his country; or when it is erected to a more fortunete commander who has cart ied himself uninjured through a hundre t bat lee, and has the good fortune to fini-h his days in honourable repose, amidst gratetul and admiring country—in either case the example can be followed but by few, because the occasions which present themselves even in these services to men to display the great quel tie, which render illustrious the name of such a hero, happen but seldom —they happen only in times of war, wh ch it is hoped in any time, and in all countries, will be few. But the high qualities and virtues displayed by the late Prince Cons 'rt were virtues that belong to every class of society :rem the highest. to the lowest, and which come into action and operation every day of a man's lite, and which no man can say that the posi ion in which he is placed does not afford him ample and honourable opportunities of carrying into effect, His royal highness had qualities of the highest or der. He would have been a distinguished man in what ever position of life it might have been his fortune to be placed, and he has contributed, as much as it was possible for any man to do in the performance of those various and extensive duties which fell to his lot, to the happiness, welfare, and prosperity of the country. Well, then, sir, I say, upon every principle—whether it be to gratify and satiety the feelings of the country, or whether to hold out an example to every man of the exercise of those qualities —these forbearing qualities which accompaniedthe highest feeling and most honourable ambition on the part of his royal highness, and which may be practised by any man, and when practised will secure for any man the honour and respect of his countrymen—l say, so far as that subject can be accomplished, I am sure that the house will be of opinion that the proposal is worthy of a vo eof this house. And then, when we consider the affection which is felt by the whole nation for our gracious Sovereign, when we recollect what a deep and irreparable blow she has sustained by the loss of the person who was the foundation of the happiness of the happiest possible life—when we consider how the feelings of the country sympathise with her Majesty, I am persuaded that I am not wrong is saying that this house never can be end never has been a more true exponent and organ of the feelings of the country, then when they ten der, as I trust they will do this evening, respectfully to her Majesty a token of the deep sympathy which they feel for her misfortune, and of their heartfelt attachment to her family. (Cheers) It may, indeed, be said of the people of this country that they feel they have a Sove reign who, without any disparagement to her, it may be said, they consider as one of themselves. Her joys are con • sidered by them as their joys—her sorrows are partaken of by them as sorrows of their own ; and I am persuaded, therefore, that I am not at pealing in vain to the good feel ing and loyalty of this house in propos ng that we should this evening vote the sum which will be necessary to com plete the amount of the subscription raised to the sum which has ben estimated as the probable cost of such a memorial as her Majesty shall select tor the put p , se in vie w. Tne commissioners have made their report. They recommend, as I have said, a single and person memorial. I believe that they calculate the cost of tbat to be something lik- £ t 10,000. The amount subscribed reaches nearly te £6O 000. If to that we add the £50,00'), which it is my duty to pro. pose to parliament, I believe an amount will be gained amply sufficient to erect a memorial which shall be worthy of the country by whi h it is erected, and at the same time du adequate honour to the Prince Consort, and be soothing to the feelings of those to whom this house and the country are desirous to do honour. (Cheers ) Mr. TIT E said he thought the amount of the subscription had been considerably modified : that many cities and loca lities in the country oeeired to have a nueruotisl of their own. As one of the members of the committee, the designs for the competition had come under his observation, and he must say they displayed a great variety of architectural talent. The selection had fallen upon a design by Mr. G. G. Scott. It was a memorial cross. The house possibly knew that he (Mr. Tite) differed front many other persons with regard to the use of Gothic architecture for secular ba ld ings ; but for a building of this kind nothing could be more appropriate, and nothing more elegant, as it was of a sacred character, and in imitation of the monumen► erected by King Edward I. to his Queen Eleanor, With regard to the character of these monuments, the best examples were to be found at Berlin, as that of Frederick Lby Rauch. It was proposed that the cross should be of a certain height— three hundred feet had been mentioned, but that was an exaggeration, and its actual height would be 150 feet. Mr. CONINGHAM said he was sorry the subscribed fund had been found insufficient for the purpose. He thought the reason of the deficiency was that the public dis approved of the plan submitted by the Government. If it had been of a useful character, and calculated to benefit posterity, he thought the amount of the subscription would be doubled, and even trebled ; and when they cast their eyes round on the monuments of the metropolis, and saw how unsuccessfully generally they had been carried out in the shape of statues—(hear, hear)—he thought every sen sible man would wish to be memorialised by some means calculated to benefis posterity. Ho trusted it was not yet too late for the royal commission to reconsider their deci sion. At first it was proposed to erect a monstrous mono lith ; now it was a still more monstrous Eleanor cross, as it was called ; which he thought was least calculated justly to perpetuate the memory of the Prince Consort, and least useful to the community at large. Mr. DISRAELI—Sir, I cannot agree with the hon. gentleman in the causes he has assigned for the inadequacy of the public subscription for this object, nor can I agree with him as to the principle on which the monument should be erected. I think her Majesty's Government have upon the whole taken a well-considered and judicious course in this matter, which was not altogether tree from embarrass ment. The object is simple, and one which no one cen possibly object to ; but no doubt it had become connected (from the manner in which the proposition originated) with some circumstances which rendered the course of the Go vernment embarrassing. Sir. lam always confident that the common sense of the house will extricate us from a difficult position, and I am gratified to see that her Ma jesty's Government are of the same temper, and that by appealing to the house with a proposition which is clear and comprehensible, they have terminated a position of affairs which Was not altogether sa isfaetory. With re gerd to the o•iginal feeling when this sad event occurred, some time ago, I cannot agree with the hon. gentleman in the inference which he has drawn, hat in the desire to raise to the memory or that illustrious person whom the country lost there was any dissatisfaction with the nature of the appeal that was made to them. No one can d übt the real sympathy that pervaded the country when that greet calamity occurred—indeed that is scare ly an adequate expression to describe the emotion that was then felt—it was a feeling almost of anguish—anguish for the loss of him who had departed, and anguish for those who were left alone and deserted. Sir, I think there was upon that occasion every desire in the country to express, so far as their contribute ns could express it, the feeling of the net tion. But it is to be observed that at that moment the sympathy which was felt in the country was entirely of a personal charaeter. The loss was so sudden and unexpected that the natural emotions of the community were naturally directed to tbs person and character of him who had de parted. An affectionate busiest:id, a perfect father, a master whose yoke was gentleness, a wise and faithful counsellor of the Sovereign—his consort—there were traits of cha racter in the station of the Prince that touched all hearts and appealed to all feelings, and while there was a general desire by a public contribution to show their sense of these qualities, every community felt that it was equally a judge of those virtues with he metropolis; and there was an im mense amount of local subscriptions, which though incon veniently yet very naturally were devoted to the localities in which they were taised. Every person, for example, who had a scheme for erecting a hospital or a school seized that opportunity of general sympathy and sorrow for the merits of the Prince whom we had lost to make a successful attempt for obtaining, the fund which would not have been otherwise acquired. I believe that was the reason why pub lic contributions were not directed to one source. But as time drew on something of the influence of posterity was exercised upon the opinion of the country, and the country became conscious that they had lust a man not only of vir tuous and benignant character, who had exercised the quali ties he possessed for the advantage of the community of a hich he was an eminent member, but a man of very original and peculiar character, who had exercised a great influence upon his age—an influence which, as time advanced, would be more sensibly felt. The character of Prince Albert was most peculiar in this respect—that it combined qualities which are considered to be greatly incompatible, and com bined those qualities in a complete degree, the character of contemplation and the character of action, Prince Albert combined the qualities of contemplaticn and the talent for action. He was remarkable for profundity of thought com bined with quickness of o-ganisation. Add to this charac ter all the virtues of the heart, and the h,use will see that his mind was one of the most remarkable—and this peculiar character was to be brought to bear upon the country in a very happy manner. The task he propos-A to himself was to increase the knowledge, refine the tastes, and to enlarge the sympathies of a proud and ancient people, and had he not been gifted with that deep thought and that facility and happiness of applying details, he could not have succeeded so largely as h has done in these objects; and so much the greater shall we feel the results of his efforts as time flows on. There is a strong impression, therefore, in the country that there should be some memorial in the metro polis of the empire to commemorate the virtues of one who was not only an amiable man, but who influenced the age in which he lived. Therefore, I think her Majesty's Govern ment have taken the proper course on this occasion. I can not agree with the hon. member for Brighton that the vote should be devot, dto some purpose of utility. I think that it is a fallacious and narrow-minded principle to suppose that you should raise some charity or some building which may illustrate or appeal to some particular feature of the Prince's character, or some articular course in his conduct. In my opinion tue memorial should be of a universal and complete character; it should risemble the character of the Prince in the beauty and harmony of its proportions, in the appropriateness of its ornaments, and in its enduring character. It should appeal to th , general sentiment of the country, and, as it were, represent, as far as art can r pre sent, the character aqd career of the living man. It should be something significant, direct, and choice--no indirect, and in deference to some narrow mind d principle of utility, referring merely to son e fragmentary portion of his lite and action. It should, above all things. be direct as well as appropriate in its character, so tha' those who come atter us mty se- in i tee type and testimony of a sublime lite and transcendant character, and be thus recognised by a grateful and admiring people. (Cheers.) Mr. GREGORY was of opinion that the plans proposed weren it likely to oo justice to the character of the illustrious Prime. As a member representing a part of Ireland he would say that the proposed vote would be well received there, for the deceased Prince never made use of an ex pression that was calculated to give offence to any political or religious party in that country. The monument should b I one which would do honour to the fame and virtues of the Prince. (~heers ) Mr. LIDDE LL said the monument should be worthy of the object which it was intended to commemorate, and though ar ists recognised elegance of form and beauty of pr portion a• characteristic of the Eleanor Cross, it might be doubted whether those characteristics would be preserved if the proportions were multiplied in one of the gigantic dimensions. He should like therefore to know whether it was definitively seated that an Eleanor Cross of 300 feet high should be erected. Mr. GARNE TT said it appeared to him to be a matter of serious question whether an Eleanor Cross was the fittest memorial for the Prince who had been taken from them. Lord PALMERSTON said that the subscriptions which had been raised were raised on the announced condition that the style and chara3ter of the monument should be left entirely to her Majesty. (Hear, hear.) It was on the same condition that he proposed to add to the public sub scription the amount of the present vote. As they were tendering this grant to her Majesty as a mark of their sym pathy with her deep affliction, and to gratify Weir own natural feelings, they should not impose on her Majesty their notions, but leave it to her Majesty to determine what she might consiuer the most suitable monument. (Hear.) Sir M. PE CO said he had seen the design of the proposed monument, and in his opiaion it was impossible to cinceive anything more beautiful and more appropriate. But he doubted whether £llO,OOO would be sufficient to have it ex eeuted in the style which they should desire to see it. if Mr. Scott was to be allowed that latitude which he ought to have in a matter of this kind, with respect to the choice of stone and other points, he doubted whether the add Hon of £50,000 would be sufficient, but the house would not hesitate if necessary to dounle that sum. Admiral DUNCOMBE hoped the grant would be uncon ditional. He had no doubt there would be no difficulty in voting a supplementary grant if the present one was not sufficient. Sir G. BOWYERthoucht the grant should be uncondi tional for the reason assigned as well as for this reason, that no work of art had been successfully carried out where the house held the control of it in their hands. After a few words from Mr. POTTS, The motion was agreed to, THE KERTCH PRIZE MONEY. Viscount PALMERSTON related the particulars of the seizure of coal, machinery, and other stones, by the joint ex „edition of Fr nch and English ships which took pons sawn of K- rtco in 1855. The csial was used by the ships. and the machinery was found to be of great Avautage during the Crimean war in repairing the vessels. Ater long corre spot &nee between the Treasury and the Admiralty, and after taking the pinion of the law officers of the Crown, her Majesty's Governm.ut came to the determination to allow the claim. The entire value of the stores was £119,000, but he only proposed a vote of £85,0,10, which was the amount fixed upon after certain deductions. The money would be distributed in the proportion of one-third to the army and two-thirds to the navy Colonel DU,N. N E expressed his satisfaction that the Go vernment bad at length done justice in this matter. The vote was then agreed to. EXCHEQUER BONDS. On the motion of Mr. F. Peel, a sum of £1,000,000 was voted for the payment of exchequer bonds. THE SUGAR DU PIES-THE BUDGET. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER that the house resolve itself into committee of ways and means, Mr. LINDSAY said he should abstain from bringing on his motio❑ with respect to the duties on sugar until the house was in committee. THE INCOME TAX. Mr. ROEBUCK rose to move that in the opinion of the hou=e the tax imposed on precarious incomes should be lower than that imposed on permanent incomes. Starting with the general proposition that taxation ought to be levied off men according to their power of paying it, the hon. and learned member proceeded to contend that, although the income tax could not be made perfectly equal in its opera tion, still an approximation to justice was attainable; and although the great bulk of the income tax was paid by the class who had small incomes, and although his proposal might have the effect of dissipating thn Chancellor of the Exchequer's surplus. he called upon the right hon. gentle man to adjust the inequalities of the existing tax, by dis tinguishing between those whose income was derived from professions and trades, and those whose income was realised. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Mr. Roebuck had made himself the organ of expressing a feel ing which always would prevail as long as the income tax should exist. Though unable to accede to the motion, or to become an instrument to give effect to the resolution, he could not shut his eyes to the anomalies and difficulties at tending the tax; but in removing one or two anomalies, three or four would be introduced. He admitted that if it were possible to meet the case of professional men, their case was the strongest, as they were in a different position from tradesmen; it was so difficult, however, to determine the professional criterion that at the first attempt to apply the principle it w , uld break down. Some might be in cluded in the professional class who had permanent in comes, and if all professional men were not included nothing would be done. He did not admit that all preca rious incomes were entitled to be assessed lower than per manent incomes. He reviewed and compared the relative positions of the landed and trading interests, and showed the results of an attempt - o al er the relative scale of taxa tion, urging, as upon former occasions, that the alteration would in some cases merely add to the tax on A in order to relieve 8. It was only, he observed, by a close examina tion, and by sifting all !he details of a scheme for making the tax more equal, that the intrinsic difficulties of the at- tempt would he discovered. Mr. MALINS, though a professional man, strongly op posed the resolution. Mr. B iSS spoke in favour of the resolution. by which, he thought. the tax might be made more productive. Mr. It. )EBUCK withdrew his resolution. Mr. HUBBARD made some remarks upon the financial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He ob jected to the club licences for the sale of liquors, which he hoped would be reconsidered. In adverting to the alterations in the Incom-tax, he spoke approvingly of the concessions made to persons with incomes less than £2OO a year. H e then discussed the scheme of the Chancellor of the Exche quer for the convers on of permanent into terminable an nuities, which was, he said, only another form of a sinking fund, now regarded as an utter delusion. After declaring his conviction of the justice, propriety, an d ex' ediency of a reduction of the duty on fire insurances, he strongly objected to that part of the budget which imposed a tax upon chari ties, by withdrawing an exemption they hsal hitherto enjoyed, pointing out its effects upon funds raised for cha ritable objects. Mr. MARSH, in the course of some remarks upon the budget, condemned the sacrifice of £1,6 )0,000 by the reduc tion of the tea duty, which would afford, he said a very small relief to the poor. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made a few observations upon the criticisms passed upon his budget, reserving until the proper time a reply to Mr. Hubbard on the subject of terminable annuities. After a few words from Colonel SYKES, the house went into a committee of Ways and Means. In reply to Mr. D. GRIFFITHS, The CHANCELLOR , of the EXCHEQUER reiterated the statement that the proposal to assess the duty at is per lb, was regarded by the fl,vernment as a permanent settle ment of the question. The resolution was then agreed to. THE SUGAR DUTIES. On the resolution continuing the sugar duties at their present rate for the period between the Ist of July, 1863, and the Ist of August, 1864. Mr. LINDSAY rose to draw attention :o the objections to be urged to the present system of differential duties on sugar. The obvious effect of taxir.g the inferior descrip tions of sugar at the lowest rate, namely, 12s 8d the cwt., was to encourage the importation of the inferior article, In the year 1861, out of 9,000,000 cwts. of sugar imported into this country, only 33,000 cwts. paid the higher duty of 165. In 1862, the whole amount of the revenue collected from the 18s 4d and 16; duties am , unted to only £291,000, out of the total revenue of near six millions. The drawback on exportation of those classes of sugars was £184,000, leaving only £107,000 to go into the revenue. The equalisation of the duties was the best thing that could be done. In the first place, it would cause the production of better sugars throughout the world, and the abolition of the differential duties would place the English refiner in a better position, and enable him to refine in bond on advantageous terms• The equalisation of the sugar duties would enormously in crease the consumption of that article, and at the same time give a great addition to the revenue. Mr. CAVE said he did not anticipate a sugar debate this session. He referred to the committee of inquiry appointed last session on the sugar duties. It was conducted with great fairness, and in the end the committee reported in favour of the extension of the system of classification of sugars. Mr. C. EW ENG expressed his opinion that an uniform rate of duty and a system of refining in bond would be of great benefit to the country. Mr GREGSON also recommended an uniform rate of duty, on the ground that the manufacturers would thereby be ied to give the public the best of sugar. The CHANCELLOR of the EXC HE.QUER said until the result of the Conference at Pads on the drawbacks allowed on sugar was known, the question would be in an undetermined state. Atter a few words from Mr. CARDWELL, the resolu tion wtta agreed to. THE INCOME TAX. On the sth resolution, reimposing the income tax at 7d iu toe p und, Mr. HUN r saki that he could not see why they should limit the £6O deduction to incomes below £2OO. no thought it might be extended much further. In reply to a question from Mr. PULLER, _ _ The CHANLELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that, in respect of the deduction, it was his intention to place the farmer in the same position as everybody else. He did not know what the t ffeot of the proposal of the hon. mem ber for Northampton would be, but he did not think it desirable to encourage wealthy people to reduce their in comes by a few pounds. Mr. HENLEY hoped that the right hon. gentleman would consider that part of his scheme which related to the abolition of the exemption hitherto enjoyed by charities. (Hear, hear.) He should certainly call attention to the subject when the bill was before them. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured him that under no circumstances should the income tax in such cases be paid twice over. It would not be chargeable upon the income of any person to whom a portion of the mono, s of the charity was paid. The resolution was, after some discussion, however, agreed to. After some further discussion the consideration of the remaining resolutions was postponed, The house then resumed. The Stock Certificates to Bearers Bill was read a secon time, the discussion being reserved for another stage. The Bakehouses Regulation Bill passed through com• mittee. The Vaccination (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. The Telegraphs Bill was passed through committee. The Local Government Supplemental Bill and the Land Drainage (Provisional Orders) Bill were read a second time. POISONED GRAIN. Mr. PAULL obtained leave to introduce a bill to probi' bit the use and sale of poisons d grain in certain cases. The bill was read a first time. The house adjourned at 20 minutes past one o'clock. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER-APRIL 23. A limited attendance to-day, with a moderate demand for wheat, which maintained last week's prices. Americo! sold to a fair extent at late rates. Flour was very dull 0 sale, but in its value we can quote no alteration, although perhaps in some instant s v ather less money might have been accepted to promote business. Oats and oatmeal were steady. Beans and Indian corn ruled firm, without, hog' ever, much being done in them. BIRMINGHAM —APRIL 23. English wheat was sold at 48a to 668 for white, and 401 to 548 per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting, 35s to 42s per qr; grinding, 24s to 28s Oats, old, 24s to 301 per 30 stone ; Irish, 224 to 255. Beans, 40s to 48s per ( It' Peas, 38s to 44s per 36 stone. EDINBURGH GRAIN—APRIL 22. A fair supply of farmers' wheat to-day, which met I' moderate sale at the prices of last week. Oats a slow sale, a , 6a to is decline. W beat on the top is 6d down average Os 7d up. - Barley on the top is 6d down average is 40 dosol' Oats on the top Os 6d up average Os 4d down' Beans on the top le 6d down ..average Os 6d down• Total Supply and Sales. Wheat .. 929 qrs Sold 534'qrs 8ar1ey........ 59•) qrs Sold 441 qrs Oats Beans 179 qrs Sold 151 qrs Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 44s Od; extras, 41s 6d; superfine, 398 Od ; fine, 378 Od. .13,a CORK —APRIL 23. The following were the quotatiol thi Lae qu. _,,us _ is morning wheat, 6s dto 9s 6,1; white, 7s Od to llsOd , barley,. 6d to 58 Od ; oats, 6s. Od to 8s Od. ; bl a ck d o ., 7 s 2d t° 8s Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD—APRIL 21. A good supply of fat beasts to-day, and late prices we re fully maintained. The number of sheep in the pens W large, the greater part being shorn of their wool, at a tb: demand was brisk. Fat and store calves plentiful, and the. , were in better request rigs a small show. Beef 6ld to lid Veal . 6id to V I Mutton .... &id to 74d Pork Lamb .—d to —d Rough fat 3s 9d per stol e ' ;Hides, 3d to 41d; calf skins, scl to 6d. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. - -- 19 Aunralia and Mauritiu s , v i a S outhampton MAY 4 via Marseille s May 1 ' Brazil and Cape Verds, b y B r i t i sh packet. MAY - Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena. May t China, Penang, and Si ngapore, v i a Southampton.MaY 2 / via Marseilles Apr Falkland Islands .,. Mays . Gibraltar, via South am pt on Ap 2r India (Calcutta), an d Ceylon, vie Southampton MaY ~,/, via Marseilles Apr. . 6 India (Bombay), vi a S ou th ampton via Marseilles May r P0rtuga1....... May '' Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Apr 25. 21' via Marseilles Ap 9 Newfoundland • .Apr r . Oporto and Vigo • U. S. and British N. America, Ey Brit. packet Apr. 2 9 ' by U.S. packet 0 by Canadian packet Q. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe May j Bahamas, v i a N ew Y ork i• ....Ma 3' .„ 9 , Mexico.. ..••••• Apr. k All parts o f W est I n di es , i nc l u di ng Chili:Peru, 1 2 B' California, and British Columbia.. ...... .... JAp r. THE ACCIDENT AT BOTALLACKMINE•'r Ad inquest was held on Tuesday, at, this mine, on the boclie l3- the nine men and a boy, who were killed on Saturday e 11e13 .,; ing by the bre a ki ng o f a chain, by which they were bewvf drawn to the s ur f ace. The jury returned a verdicto " Accidental Death." 'IHE LAST RESOU RCE.— Th ere has been a g r eat increase in th e num b er of marriage licences granted in $6l ot l timore last m out h over the num b er granted in March ' year. The excess is accounted for by the fact that the 6) aI se . iption la w exempts marr i e d men on the first call betifo tee ages of 35 and 45.—American Paper. [ADVX I.TISEM ENT.] —Holloway's Pills and Ointni" s t rilt Home Enj , .yments.—These can never be obtained till he_ Q t dwells within th e h ouse , w h atever t h e person ' s s tatieP or fr circumstances may be. Holloway's remedies, by their N t he tying and healing powers, secure bodily soundness ill. t i e sr most simple and natur a l wa y, b y expe lli ng all import feet relieving all hurtful accumu l at i ons, and inducing Pe' coot regularity of acti on . I nva lid s should give thug inn ° 03 0 and effective m e di caments a fair trial before they Peirotli themselves to fall i n t o a c h ronic state of ill health. 010 pills and ointment may be safely used by every 03 0 011; has the misfortune to climate ifirm, uncertain, or bad Pei Nei age, Sex, no invalidate the efficie l3 : l lo these admirable medicaments, which are universally Births. O Ir BARNARD.—On the 23d inst.. at 48, Miln er - sq uare, s ot' ton, the wife of Wm. Tyndall Barnard, Esq., bar at-law, of a daughter. INCHIQUIN.—Oq the 20th inst ., at Dru mo l an d, A.- „ T e` ° ket-on-Fergus, the Lady Inohiqui n , o f t w i ns , a °°- „ a daughter. PAINS.—On the 23d inst, at 36, Gloucester-crescent, 011 park, Mrs. Paine, of a son. Marriages. t Wi NELSON—BURRARD.—O n t h e 21st inst. , at the Hon. Ho ra ti o Nelson, Commander R.N., t ,2% - rrar'' fourth daught er o f Vice-Admiral Sir Charles "'- Bart., of Holmefield, Lyndhurst, Hampshire. WHITTOME—SMITH.—On the 22d inst. at at St. 19 ' i3 e 4/ , in-the-Fi e ld s , H arry, the eldest son Of Mr. Wh. i ,. i"` Jol t " Stamford, to Ann M ar y, secon d d aug h ter of 0-' Smith, 321, Strand. Deaths. Pri BROCKBA.NK.—On the 22d i ns t., a t H eys h am Toc -pr. n t $' cashire, Robert Atkinson Brockbank, Esq., la te - Bond-street, aged 78. se b , ir BUTLER. —On the 21 s t inst., at Downland H on honk, Hant s , Th omas Butler, Esq., aged 70. ro bitft BOTT.—On the 21 s t inst., at Coton Hall, St aff° John B o tt, E sq ., aged 60. W.' the. - N" CußzoN.—On th e 20th i nst., at Menai Bridge, —• Rev. Richard Curzon, M.A.. agtd 29. ut o W es ' DWYER.—On the 22d inst., at Lennox Lodge , - Major-Gener a l T. P. Dwyer, R.M. -0- n l' Adi MAXDB.—On the 20 h inst., at Wimbledon, the J-i- e- ' cot' Maude, aged 74. WHITING —On the 21st inst., at the Royal FiBbeciV• tage, Virginia W a t er , John Whiting, Esq., ag-/2`...°4% „ r no g, London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM . 1 " -- 1, 4 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tuz Surf Cae o si Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, 111 the Co.l Middlesex.—Friday, April 2i, 1804