The Sun. — London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

ERIAL P HOUSE OF LORDS.—Last Evening. Tho LORI) CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at tho ueual hour. POLAND. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said in consequence of the non-receipt of some despatches from St. Petersburg he should postpone presenting the petition entrusted to him by the citizens of London until Friday next, the Bth of May. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway, West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway, Peterborough Cattle Markets, Rixton and Warburton Bridge, and Nottingham Cras Bills were read a second time. THIRD READINGS, The Caledonian Railway (Bredesholm Deviation), Scar borough Water, Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Rail way, Cleveland Railway, and Rugby Water Bills were read time and passed. THE WAR IN AMERICA, THE SEIZURE OF MAIL BAGS. Earl RUSSELL said as the question of the Peterhoff and the detention of her Majesty's mails had been the sub ject of discussion in the house the other evening, it might be convenient if he stated the substance of some informa tion he had received that day from Lord Lyons. Lord Lyons states that in answer to his application with respect to the Peterhoff and her cargo, that the American Govern ment had determined to send her before the Prize Court. With regard to the rn,il bags sent by her Majesty's Post master-General, in conformity with the letter of October 31, they would be sent forward to their destination, and in any similar case he should proceed in the same course until some agreement bad been arrived at between her Majesty's Postmaster -General and the United States Government. He did not think the law of nations laid el,wn any precise rule with regard to the somewhat novel practice of forward ing mails by private ships, and therefore Mr. Seward wished to make some communication to her Mhjesty's Government. Ile could not state what that communication would be, be cause it would be matter for further consideration. Lord CHELMSFORD asked if he understood the noble earl to say that the mails would be forwarded without breaking the seals ? Earl RUSSELL said the noble lord had heard him cor rectly, and when the communication had been received from the American Government by her Majesty's Govern ment, they would first consider the answer, and what other steps were to be taken in the matter, DRAINAGE OF LAND (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL. Earl RUSSELL moved the second reading of this bill. Lord REDES DALE objected to one of the provisions of the measure, which gave the House of Commons the power of suspending a writ, under certain conditions, for five years. Lord LYVEDEN remarked that some of the clauses in the bill were of a very novel character, and seemed to be framed upon the assumption that the honest and respect able voters in a borough were responsible for the acts of the rascally and disreputable section. He would not, however, oppose the bill, because he really did not be lieve it mattered one farthing whether it ed or not. It was evidently a mere attempt as a salve for the troubled conscience of the Legislature, which pretended to be doing something of importance very actively, when in reality it was doing nothing at all. Were it sincerely desired to stop bribery, measures of a much more effectual character might easily be suggested and adopted. Even if it could not be altogether put down, it might be very sensibly diminished by a much more summary process than the bill provided. No public prosecutor was appointed ; and, however notori ous the corruption might be, there was nobody to take up the question but the defeated candidate, and he had no mo tive to come forward, because, although he might succeed in unseating his opponent, he did not thereby seat himself. Re had consequently very little ind cement to interfere. Moreover, the gentleman who committed the bribery suf fered no punishment, even if he lost his seat. He lost no social position, nor even the prospect of advancement in the state, or a seat for some other place. All that might be very easily remedied. When in the other house he (Lord Lyveden) had stood eleven contests, the first of which cost him £4,000, and the last (owing to the vigorous conduct of his committee) only £4OO. He regretted to say that he did not think the measure proposed would have the slightest effect in the world in arresting the system of bribery which seemed to pervade the whole country. Lord VERULAM said he would not oppose the bill, though he thought it was wrong and ineffective. Earl GREY thought it was the most absurd piece of legislation ever presented to the house, if its real object was to put an end to bribery. What was most important was, to stop the present system of agents," which was simply a disguise for gross bribery. Those agents were appointed nominally for the service of the election, but, in fact, as a mere blind for paying them for their votes, and, as had been proved before the committee in the House of Commons, it was the most effective method of bribery in existence. Bribery, however, could never be put down by Act of Parliament. So long as there was one set of men determined to be bribed, and another deter. mined to bribe them, no legislation could stop the evil. Earl RUSSELL thought that, though the bill mightnot be an effectual bar to bribery, it might check the disposition to bribe; and if any clause should be considered objection able, it could be altered in committee. The Earl of DERBY hoped that, as some of the clauses were both novel and important, the bill would not be hastily sent into committee. The bill was then read a second time. HARES (IRELAND) BILL—INCLOSURE BILL. These bills were read a second time. FORTIFICATIONS AT SPITHEAD. The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to ask a question with regard to the continuation of the works on the forts at Spit head. The session before last considerable sums of money had beeen placed at the disposal of the crown for the pur pose of strengthening the fortifications of the United King dom. Amongst other works of importance commenced last year were the works at Spithead, for the defence of the en trance to the channel at that place. After the Govern ment had expended a large sum of money in nearly com pleting the foundations of those works considerable doubt arose in the public mind as to the efficiency of those fortifi cations, and after some discussion Government gave way, and suspended the works for the present. The money thus literally sunk under water was not far short of £lOO,OOO. But within the last month an event had taken place on the other side of the water, namely, in the port of Charleston, which had awakened the public mind, and also induced him to take that opportunity of asking her Majesty's Government what were their intentions with regard to the future procedure of the works in ques tion. The theory had been from the most ancient times that the fortress always had an advantage over ships. He could state a number of instances where that had been proved, of which a few would be sufficient. The noble earl then briefly referred to the case of the Pompey in 1809, commanded by Sir Sidney Smith, which had been beaten off by the single gun of a martello tower ; to the attack on Copenhagen, when the fleet would doubtless have been destroyed had it continued; to Algiers, where the ships were thoroughly beaten off, with the loss of 1,000 men ; and to the proceed ings in the Black Sea. He maintained that the question as between forts and ships was now practically settled, and the similarity between the defences of Charleston and Spit head was very remarkable. He wished, therefore, to know what the Government intended to do, because if the works were to be proceeded with, it was important not to let the summer season go by in idleness. If the summer were los very large outlay would be required the following year to put the works in only their present condition. He was re luctant to offer any opinion as to the way the money should be expended, but it was his own impression that a fort should be erected on the Brambles, a shoal at the head o f the Southampton water, from which central position the guns could reach the shore in each direction, and thus form a complete defence for the port. The Duke of SOMERSET said the works had not been aba ndoned, but simply sus p en d e d. It had been considered that wh ere there was any doubt as to their efficiency it would be as well to pause. The expense, however, had not been so large as the noble earl supposed. Up to the 31st of July, 1862, it had been but £53,000, and subsequent events had shown that a more favourable spot for the experiment could not have been selected. The distance between our forts at No Man's Land and the sandbanks was exactly 2,000 yards, and the distance from Fort Sumter to Fort Moultrie was exactly 2,000 yards. In both places there was a strong current and tide, and in both there were certain facilities for approaching within a certain distance of the fort. In case of an attack the means of defence would be pre. cis ely the same, and therefore a more suitable place could not have been chosen. With regard to the vessels the result was not in all respects equally satisfactory. About four teen months ago the world was informed that the American Government had built an iron-clad ship, which they h a d named the Monitor as a warning to the British Admiralty. It had been a warning, certainly, seeing that the first gale it got caught in, it went to the bottom. They then built some other vessels of the same description, but they had not been built of sufficient strength to render the recent experi ment e ntirely conclusive. Very little, too, was k nown a b out the esort of guns or the quantity of powder used, and several o ther matters very important to be known b e f ore a soun d judgment could be arrived at. So far as those particular vessels, however, were concerned, concerned, there could b e no d ou bt they had been completely defeated. With resp ec t t o t h e further progress of the fortifications, the Government would shortly have to lay before Parliament a scheme showing what was proposed to be done; because, ofcou n r o s t e , to if let tli the ey were to be continued, it would be important summer go over. The Earl of DERBY said it appeared that the spot where the chief damage was done by the concentrated fire was not so much as 2,000 yards, but from 300 to 500. The Duke of SOMERSET said from the chart it seemed that the nearest vessel was about 600 yards from the guns of the forts; 2,000 yards was the distance across between tho forts. ~,E,:vi Earl GREY thought that the town of Charleston was six miles behind the ports. If a fleet of similar vessels w'r° to get as near to the forts at Spithead, they would be tin,abled to shell Portsmouth and the arsenal ; and it should HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening, The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. THIRD READINGS. The following bills were read a third time :—London. Tilbury, and Southend Railway and Mersey Docks and Harbour. The Skipton Gas Bill was considered and ordered to be read bi third time. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Sir H. STRACEY, from the Governors of Middlesex Hospital, against the imposition of the Income tax on charitable restitutions; an HON. MEMBER, from the London Hospital, to tha like effect ; an HoN. MEMBER, Haverfordwest, against the amalgama tion of the City police , Sir DE L. EVANS, the vestry of St.. Martin's, Mr. Cox, Fin►bury, Mr. KNATCHBULL HUGESSEN, Sandwich, to the I ksk effect; Mr. BRIGHT, Birmingham, fora reduction of the fire insurance duly, and Manchester, in favour of closing public-houses on the Sabbath; Mr. PEASE, from the women of Sccckport, to the like effect ; Sir F. CROSSLEY, West Riding of York shire, to the same effect ; Mr Cox, Finsbury, in favour of marriage with a deceased wite's sister; Mr. HENNESSY, in favour of the independence of Poland. STAMPS ON DELIVERY ORDERS. _ _ Mr. BASS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would state the amount or computed amount of revenue which has been derived from stamps on delivery orders ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained the mode of levying the tax, and said the estimated amount was £40,000. HOMES FOR WIVES AND CHILDREN OF SAILORS. Mr. ADDINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admi ralty, whether in the naval barracks now building, and ordered to be built at the different dockyards, provision would be made for the accommodation of the wives and children of sailors, in the same manner as existed at present for the families of soldiers in military barracks. Lord C. PAC-ET explained that the matter had been very carefully considered by the Admiralty, and they had come to the conclusion that it would not be advisable that they should construct naval barracks, with a view to the accommodation of the wives and children of sailors. These barracks were very different to military barracks. Soldiers went with their wives and families from one barracks to another ; but when a sailor, who was temporarily lodged in the naval barracks, went to sea, his wife and children would have to be turned out, if previously admitted, which would be a very painful circumstance. The Admiralty would not lose sight of the suggestion made with respect to the education of sailors' children. LUNATICS IN IRELAND. Mr. M'EVOY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government would this session introduce a bill to extend to Ireland such provisions of the Act 16 and 17 'Vic., c. 97, as would enable magistrates to commit dan gerous lunatics direct to asylums instead of to county gaols as now. Sir R. PEEL explained that new gaols were building which would afford the requisite accommodation, when the law, as suggested, would be altered. SCHOOL OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admi ralty, whether the board had considered the necessity of a revival of a school of naval architecture ; and whether, in the event of such an institution being established on a basis approved by the Board, they would be disposed to ex tend to it encouragement and support. Lord C. PAGET replied that the Admiralty was deeply+ impressed with the absolute necessity that existed for the revival of a school of naval architecture. Any proposals made with that view would receive favourable considera tion from the Admiralty. The subject was under consi deration. COLONIAL BISHOPRICS AND THE IRISH CLERGY. Mr. LEFROY asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if any of the five colonial bishoprics which had been vacant had been offered to any of the Irish clergy ? Mr. C. FORTESCUE explained the nature of these vacancies. He had heard it said that, Lancashire, which has as large a population as Ireland, had never had any of her clergymen selected to fill colonial bishoprics. (Laughter.) One Irish clergyman had been already selected to fill one of the vacancies, and doubtless the noble lord at the head of the Government would be glad to appoint eligible candidates from the Irish clergy as vacancies occurred. (Hear, and laughter.) SEIZURE OF THE ALEXANDRA. In reply to Mr. WHITESIDE, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he was unable to state when the question would come on for trial. CHICORY. In reply to Sir E. CODRINGTON, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that the course pursued was the same as on former occa sions. The duty would be levied by resolution, and imposed so soon as it received the sanction of the house. THE GALWAY CONTRACT. In reply to Lord DUNKELLIN, Mr. PEEL stated that the details of this contract had not been finally settled. C ARLTON-TERRACE. Mr. LOCKE asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he intended to complete Carlton-house-terrace upon the vacant ground where the Riding School stood ; and also whether he would propose, during the present session, the continuation of the carriage-way from the Mall in St. James's-park to Charing-cross ? Mr. CO WPER replied that the terrace would be con tinued in the vacant ground, and iases had already been granted by the Crown. It was not his intention this year to prepare a new carriage way. The committee, it was true, had reported in favour of it, but omitted to indicate how the expense was to be defrayed. As some houses would have to be taken down, great expense would, of course, have to be incurred. THE WAR IN AMERICA. THE MAIL BAGS OF THE PETERHOFF, Mr. FOSTER desired to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he was correct in the surmise that satisfactory information had been received this after noon from America with respect to the mail bags of the Pe tell off. Mr. LAYARD—I have to state that to-day a very satis factory despatch has been received at the Foreign-office from Lord Lyons. It states that Mr. Seward had directed that the mail bags of the Peterhoff should be sent to their destination without being opened. (Hear.) CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the second reading. Lord R. CECIL said that it was proposed by section 3 of the said bill to impo.e a new charge upon the people, but that the said proposal had not been referred to a com mittee of the whole house, as the custom and order of the house required ; and he moved that the order for reading the said bill a second time be dis charged. He said he should not have persevered with his motion, but addressed himself to that portion of the Budget which proposed to tax charities ; seeing that it would act so unjustly, he was satisfied the House of Com mons would never consent to adopt it. He stigmatised the eagerness with which the right hon. gentleman was pressing on his Budget. Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY objected to the imposition of a new tax of this objectionable nature. Sir F. CROSSLEY was satisfied the House of Commons would never agree to perpetuate so much injustice as to tax the revenues of charitable institutions, which the Legisla ture had ever been careful to exempt, as much as possible, from taxation. Mr. HUBBARD spoke with respect]to the income tax part of the budget, and characterised the new scheme as inconsistent. The Chancellor of the Exchequer could adopt no more satisfactory mode with reference to the income tax than to consolidate all the statutes upon the subject, place them on the table, and take the decision of the house upon them. The hon. member expressed his satisfactionwith the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the income tax on incomes under £ 2OO a year, so far a s regarded ncomes from industrial sources; but as regarded incomes from realised property, he said th f e r r e ig u h c t ti h on on t . o g t e h n e tl eman, in applying the same principle o o o n r he e f w; 6 ln s c n v 3n lated an essential principle com mencing a graduated system. sound accep'ed principle of political economy, or o fixed incomes from £lOO to £2OO, was not w f ar s ranted by any ofT hteaxeCantiCoen;Slf. legisla tion, The right hon. gentleman had introduced a graduated scheme of assessment which appeared to him to be exceed ingly dangerous, and which might lead to all kinds of diffi culties, and would have the effect which the right hon. gentleman himself deprecated, of setting class against class. Passing to another portion of the scheme, he came to a principle in which be could not concur, provided no ques tion should arise as to mere definitions, namely, that of a uniform tax upon incomes. But what were incomes for the purposes of taxation? There were incomes from the gross rents of lands and houses, the productive earnings of indus try, and the repayment of money lent. Were these sources of income to be taxed alike ? It they were classed diffe rently, why should he subject them to a uniform tax; and if they were not classed differently why remit the tax upon that portion of a man's inc ome which represented the pre. miurns upon his life policy ? He hoped the right hon. gentleman would favour them with some explanations upon that point. Mr. CLAY said he wished to call the attention of the right hon. gentleman to a case of peculiar injustice with respect to the proposition affecting charities. When the Harbour Dues and Passing Tolls Act was introduced by the right hen. gentleman the President of the Board of Trade, affecting the interests of the Trinity House and other analogous corporations who received dues on ship. ping, th.Ye was a great deal of discussion, sshich resulted Da a compromise afterwards sanctionLd by Parliament; be borne in mind that no loss of life had been reported oh board the vessels, notwithstanding the tremendous fire they had been exposed to. The Duke of SOMERSET thouzht they had been too far off to do much mischief. The town was five or six miles distant according to the map, and within 600 or 600 yards of these forts would have been a very disagreeable position for any vessel to have remained in while shelling the town. Their lordships then adjourned. the object of the compromise being that the corporations in question, seven in number, should continue to receive the differential dues and duties on shipping fox such a term of years as would enable them to lay b a surplus sufficient to maintain their charities then existing. The period of expiration of the longest of these leases was 1372. The institution in which he was himself most in terested was the Trinity House of Hull, and that institu tion would cease to receive its differential dues and duties on shipping in the year 1872. The calculation was a close one, but the result of it showed that at the expiration of he period there would be a sufficient surplus to maintain the existing char ties. If the right hon. gentleman came down upon the surplus to the extent of £550 a year, it would be insufficient to meet the requirements of the charities. If the proposi,ion were persevered in, he hoped the right hon. gentleman would make an excep tion in favour of these dues. Sir J. FERG CI , SON said he hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in making the statement he had promised with respect to the extension of the income tax to chari ties, would give the House more detailed information as to the institutions which would probably be affected by it, Mr. BRINE i said, though approving of the budget as a whole, he could not give his consent to the proposal for taxing charities. The LORD MAYOR disapproved of the extension of the income tax to charities, remarking that its practical effect wo Id be to deprive the several charities of the means of doing good equal to the extent of the tax to be levied. hon. friend the member for Leeds said in a portion of his speech that they would turn out patients and persons now in the enjoyment of incomes from charitable sources. That was not the case, because the bill contained a provision for the protection of individuals, and also another important provision, that where there was a margin of other funds from which the tax could be met, in no case should a de duction be made from those persons who were beneficiaries, or recipients of the charity under fixed allowances. He would undertake to show, when the time arrived, that so far from the property of charities being in a worse position than the case of individuals with less than £lOO per an num, it would be on a much better footing. The question was very intricate, and he confessed that he had some diffi culty in obtaining the knowledge he required in reference to it, but he should be prepared to make a clear and full statement when it came on for discussion on Monday next. It was desirable that they should approach the discussion of the matter in a comprehensive manner, and he assured the house there would be no desire to precipitate a decision on it, but to give every opportunity for it. being thoroughly sifted. The proposal had been made on the ground of strict justice, and it would be for the house to adopt or reject it. Sir S. NORTHCOTE argued that it was undesirable to enter into a general discus eon on the subject before the proper time. Though he disagreed with his noble col league that there was any impropriety in the course adopted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yet he wa struck with the observation that it weuld have been de sirable to have h ,c 1 a previous discussion in committee on resolutions which would have put the house in possession of much of that information without which it was impos sible to arrive at a proper decision upon this complicated question. The bill was now before them, so far as he could judge front it, no provision was made for pro reeling particular funds, such as the Patriotic Fund. He considered it was desirable that early information should be given on various matters on which the public mind was forming itself, in ignorance of the Government proposal. The right hon. gentleman had said, in answer to a question put to him, that it was proposed to put the tax on endow ments, and not en voluntary contributions. Now, he (Sir S. Northcote) wished to know what would be done in the case of a fund such, for instance, as that which had bees subscribed for the Lancashire distress. The committee were in possession of more money than they could expend at once, and, with a view to economy, it was funded and drawn out as required, and he wished to know if that would be considered chargeable to the income tax. Ha asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give the house and the eou.ntry information to what extent the Government in tended to modify the bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, with the indulgence of the house, said the object of the Government was to lay a tax upon the great mass of public endowments, and endowments were understood to mean investments of a permanent character, as distinguished frost investments of a temporary character, and held as it were for a floating purpose for carrying out the details of philanthropic plans. Religious societies depend on their annual subscriptions, and they were charged to their full extent, and in order to meet their engagements it was requisite for them to hold small sums in reserve e hich they sold out in the course of the year. The proposal of the Government would make provision for exempting those cases, but he did not think it wise to perplex the bill with minute details in regard to them. Ample notice would be given for the consideration and discussion of the subject. Mr. WALPOLE said it was difficult to comprehend the nature of the Government proposition. He thought the tax would press heavier on the funds of the Bartholomew Hospital than had been represented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The income was stated by the right hon. gentleman to be £36,000, and the tax no more than £7OO per annum, but 7d. in the £1 on that sum would amount to upwards of 1,000 per annum. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the hospital now paid on the officers' dwelling-houses and salaries about £260 a year. Mr. WALPOLE said that he never understood that the bill was intended to apply to voluntary subscriptions. The important proposition the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have to address him self to was, whether the recipients of those charities were to be treated as separate individuals, or whether the trustees of the charities would be treated as individuals receiving incomes on which, as individuals, they would have to pay income tax. Every principle laid down for taxing charity property had forced itself to that distinction. The legacy duty of 10 per c nt. was applicable to charities, where the property was given to trustees in a lump sum for general distribution; but if it was left to pay sums not ex ceeding £l5 to each of the recipients of the charity it paid no duty, because the sums to be paid were under £2O, the minimum at wnich legacy duty was paid. That was a distinction that ought always to be kept in view in dealing with charity property. Mr. BAGWELL said the Chancellor of the Exchequer would experience considerable opposition from Irish members on the point of taxing charities. Mr. HENLEY said the Chancellor of the Exchequer had informed the house, with great candour, that this was an intricate question, and that he had experienced some trouble Mr. BASS would be glad to know on wi at principle it was proposed to retain the tax on delivery orders, The CHANCELLOR of the EX...:HEQUER said that there was no " omnibus" b:11 on the table of the house; he feared he would be obliged to make au omnibus speech after the discussion which had taken place. He would therefore endeavour to satisfy the minds of the hon. members who had spoken, with respect to their comno nts and questions, and the house would excuse him if he did so with as much faithfulness as he was able. To begin with the noble lord who commenced this debate, he was sorry to be obliged to ex press dissent from the statements which had been made by him ; except with regard to the general dictum very properly laid down, that it was the duty of the house to bestow great attention upon every financial proposition submitted to it. The noble lord said the measure could not be persevered in, because the word used in the resolution was "chu rgeable," in stead of " charged." The noble lord was entirely wrong, and the distinction between those words had nothing to do with the question. If the noble lord had taken pains to attend to the meaning of the technical language which was necessary in a financial measure, he would have found that what he thought was not charged was charged. The charge of the duty, in technical language, was a prior operation, which was made according to law, and applied to property in cha rities as well as to every other description of property. The noble lord stated that there was a certain proportion of pro perty exempted altogether; but to that he should answer that the exemption was not made according to law, but was done at the discretion of the Executive Government, from the almost hopeless task of bringing very small properties under the charge. He might here say that he agreed with the noble lord that it was not desirable he should anticipate the statement on the subject of charities which he had to make to the house on the part of the Government ; but at the same time he was bound to say that the statements of the noble lord were so wild in their nature, that he was obliged to take notice of the exaggeration which pervaded them, Among other things, the noble lord said the effect of the proposition would be to discharge some hundreds of in mates from St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Had the noble lord ascertained the cost of patients in the London hospitals, and the burden which would be cast by this proposal on St. Bartholomew's Hospital? He would show what the nature of that burden was. He could not speak minutely or pre cisely, because his knowledge of the cost of cases in the hos pitals was only derived from statistical documents. The cost of an in-patient in the London hospitals generally was X 25 a year; the cost in St. Bartholomew's was perhaps a little higher; but the noble lord would probably set him right. Lord R. CECIL—As the right hon. gentleman wished to be accurate, he might tell him, on the authority of a state ment made by the treasurer of St. Bartholomew's, that the result of the proposal on that hospital would be that several hundreds of in-patients and several thousands of out. pa tients would be annually excluded from the bentfits of the institution. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER continued —He was bound to receive with respect any statement coming from such a quarter; but this he should say, that the amount of tax which would be laid upon the property of St. Bartholomew's would be little more than £7OO. Its income was £36,000 a year, and, after deducting £261, which was now paid from a little more than £l,OOO, the gro-s amount which would be levied and the addition which would be charged under the new arrangement would be a little more than £7OO. What compensation it got for that sum he would show at a future period. The noble lord the member for Stamford complained that he had attempted in committee to force a final discussion upon the subject, and had abridged the opportunity for discussion. He had done no such thing, nor had he in any way departed from the usual forms. The hon. baronet who followed the noble lord argued that the imposition of the small charges, which it was now proposed to repeal was a false step ; but he (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) was not prepared to admit any such conclusion; for although he thought that it would be inexpedient that those charges should permanently remain, yet at the time they were imposed they were necessary instruments for ef • fecting great financial relief to the country and great ad ministrative reforms. His hon. friend the member for Derby asked why not also give up all the other charges imposed in 1860. But he saw no reason why a charge, because it was imposed in 1860, should be given up in 1863. The charge which was called the "penny impost" entailed considerable labour, was an impediment to the progress of business and oc casioned an expenditure of a good deal of time; but the charge in which the hon. member was interested did not entail anything of the kind. And it was the intention of the Government to adhere to the declaration he had made in their name about the surplus, which in the present state of the finances of the country they proposed to reserve, and steadily to resist to the best of their power all attempts at its diminution. The hon. baronet the member for Evesham said that this was not a moment for pressure, and therefore not and difficulty in understanding it. If it was so intricate and difficult as the right non, gentleman had stated, how was it possible that any hon. member unconnected with the Government could understand the question he would be called upon to vote on Monday with the imperfect informa tion they then possessed? The intricacy of the subject showed its importance. He understood the right hon. gentleman to say that the operation of the measure was not to be retrospective, but there was no information on that point. He had tried to form the best opinion he could upon the bill, but it was like a thick hedge, through which no man could get bileyts, much mole his head and body. (Laughter.) He hoped the house would have more time to consider the matter. The right hon.gentleman described this as a just measure, but it was the first time he (Mr. Henley) had heard it said it was just to rob the poor; and he ven tured to say that that was the first time such a notion of justice had entered the head of a Chancellor of the Ex chequer. The right hon. gentleman considered it right to tax the poor, the halt, the lame, and the blind, and that was his new system of justice. It was, however, to be hoped that the house would have time to fully dis cuss that new code of justice before they were asked to adopt it. He thought the proposition should be printed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that he said the new tax would take between COO and £BOO a year from St. Bartholomew's Hospital. With regard to the intricacy of the question his remark had reference not to the intricacy of the proposition, for that was very plain, but ti the present law. The Government proposition was very intelligible, but if hon. members wished for further information he should be ready and willing to give it. After a few remarks from Lord LovAINE, Sir M. FARQUHAR said the proposal was of great im• portance and of universal interest to the public, and it was de.irable to know the precise effect of the Government pro position. He called upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to allow ample time for the consideration of his proposal. Lord J. MANNERS said the house did not want any Pxplanation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the existing law. Hon. members on both sides were periecily conversant with the law, at d, what was more, they were I perfectly content with it. (Heat.) What they wanted to know was the intention of the right hon, gentleman with I respect to that law. _ _ a moment when any small addition to the revenue of the country ought to be proposed. The ground on which they rested, and on which they desired to stand or fall, was simply the ground of fairness and justice. If their proposals were just to the country, let the house adopt them ; if they were unjust, by no means let it import any unjust charge into their financial system, even if the necessities of the country were greater than they were. The hon. baronet also said that during the last two years there had been a deficiency of £5,010,000. He was at a loss to dis cover it; for, although there was a deficiency in 1831.62, the surplus in 1862.63 more than restored the balance. His hon, friend the member for Buckingham had revived the whole subject of the income tax, and had put to him six _ _ questions. But with the greatest respect he should beg to be relieved at the present time from answering them (Hear, hear.) They had already had two debates on the income tax, and if a third were required it was impossible to mix a up a general discussion of this kind with that upon the stages of the financial bill of the year. The hon. member also demanded that he should give him his views as to the future of the income tax. He was entitled to make that de• mend ; but in complying with it he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was also entitled to limit it to what was safe and prudent. (Hear, hear.) He certainly had had warn ings on the subject. (Laughter.) In 1853 he made a com putation, and submitted it to the house, upon the belief that the expenditure of the country was likely to continue at the level at which it then stood. In 1857, after the Russian war, the disposition of the country led to a great augmen tation of that expenditure. He resisted it, but he was in a minority. They had now a different scale of expenditure, and most certainly, having once seen it raised, it was not for him to determine what might be in future years the pro spective wants of the country, or to venture on any rash prophecy as to what would be its expenditure. (Hear.) He however saw no reason why the limit of its expenditure should rise higher. He saw great reason to hope that it might fall lower, but beyond that he was not disposed to go. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the creation of revenue, in his opinion, if the country could meet its expenditure with a sum of from £63,000,000 to £65,000,000, then at some future and short period of time it would be possible to carry on the government of the country without resorting to an income tax. (Hear, hear.) The question whether they should resort to an income tax in time of peace was one of the gravest that could be conceived, because while on the one hand objections could be urged against it, on the other hand, the recommendation of the tax was that it had the tendency of equalising the burden of taxation as between the higher and lower classes of society. (Hear.) An hon. member (Mr. Hunt) wished to know what the effect would be if the £6O deduction were carried through all classes of income. The means of computation which they had at command were only of a partial character ; but the result might be thus stated. They took the area of taxation of incomes between £lOO and £l5O a year at £13,500,000 ; and upon that the relief would amount to £160,000. Between £l5O and £2OO the amount was £ 3 ,222,000, and on that the relief would cost £24o,ooo—the sum of both being £300,000. They took the amount of the higher class of incomes at £17,700,000. The extension of the £6O deduction to that class would amount to £514,000, and over and above the others, giving as the cost of deduction on all classes a Lord H. VANE must also join in expressing a hope that he question would not be pressed upon the house unti , sufficient time had been allowed for consideration. (Hear, hear.) There was no doubt that a very strong feeling had arisen adverse to the proposal, and that it was regarded by very many as a retrograde policy. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON recommended that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should take until to-morrow to decide as to his course. In his view the right hon. gentleman ought to make an e , planatory statement on Monday, and then allow of a sufficient interval for deliberation, before calling upon the hou.e to come to a vote with respect to the proposal. Mr. MAL INS pronounced the proposal to tax charities a most impolitic one, although he considered the budget as a whole the best which the right hon. gentleman had ever produced. Mr. KINNAIRD concurred in the recommendation that ample time should be allowed for the consideration of the queillioo. Mr. CARDWELL impressed upon the house the desira bility of refraining from a discussion of the subject piece meal, but to await the explanatory statement of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer on Monday. The bill was then read a second time. STOCK CERTIFICATES TO BEARER BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee on this The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to explain its provisions. He said that the machinery for the administration of the public debts of the country was somewhat peculiar; still it was most adccirable for its purpose, and was marked with the greatest possible skill and efficiency by the Bank of England, as well as by the Bank of Ireland. Nor, in introducing this bill, did the Go vernment desire to make any fundamental change in the system, although at the same time it was capable of itn provemenr. In the first place, it did not offer the greatest possible facilities to those who found it necessary to borrow money on the security of stuck ; and therefore, an important object of this bill was to establish the most perfect freedom in regard t o th e b orrow i ng of money on the security of stock, by the creation o f s t oc k cert i ficates payable to bearer, which might be transferred from hand to hand with the same faci lity as a bank note, The bill would be a groat convenience, and bring more buyers and holders into the market, It would also create dealing in stock in foreign and provincial markets at present almost unknown. Though an anti centralising measure, and one likely to affect to a certain extent the business of the broker and banker, it had been received with general approval in London, The provisions of the bill were as follows—lt proposed to give every holder of stock the option of exchanging his registered stock for certificates to bearer, with interest payable by coupon. The period for which interest eh uld run was a matter for consi deration, which would be determined upon the best advice, if the bill passed into law, though it was not likely that it would be for less than five years or for more than ten years. Tho transfers of s t oc k i nto these new cert ifi ca t es wou ld on l y be, in round numb ers, carrying them down as l ow as certifi cates of -.650, capit a l representing a yearly interest of 30s, and a half -yearly interest of los. The benefits of the bid sum of £914,000. He did not know what effect that state: ment might have on the mind of the hon. member, but he thought it was conclusive that it would be a wanton and purposeless waste of public money if they were to extend the exemption upwards as suggested. (Hear.) It might be . _ _ said that it would be convenient to persons with incomes of £3OO, but he owned that he was not willing to depart from the traditional limit which always recognised the sum of £2OO as the highest amount at which the exemption should attach. (Hear, hear.) The hon. baronet (Sir J. Fergusson) referred t o c h ar i ties with mixed receipts from endow. manta, f ees, and contributions, b u t in their case the p roposal of the Government only referred to charitable en dowments. With regard to passing tolls, he received that mornin g a statement of the case from which he understood that there was a compact between the Government and the p art i es, and if it turned out to be so, the case would by no means fall within the proposal, His r THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAI!" 1, 1863. would be the facility of circulation, the universality of holders, and the freedom from restraint in money dealings. It might occur to the minds of gentlemen approaching the onsideration of the question for the first time, whether there was a likelihood of these certificates being exten sively, commonly, or even rarely forged. Of course, the best means would be adopted to prevent such delinquency ; but the guidance of experience showed that there was very little danger on this score. Another difficulty might arise from fraud when held by the joint holders. In the case of ordinary commercial partnership it would be unwise to at tempt by law to secure partner against partner. But in the case of trustees, the bill would make it a breach of trust to take these securities ; and in addition to that it was proposed that notice of this disability should be printed on the certi ficates. It wee proposed that the bank should at once pro vide the means of effecting this new description of conver sion as regards Consols and the New Three per Cents,, re• serving the power to extend it to the other descriptions of stuck. On the same principle as Exchequer bills were drawn, it was proposed to make these certificates payable to blank or bearer, so that if any one, for tne sake of security from abstraction, liked to insert his own name he could do so at the sacrifice of some of the facility of transfer which he would otherwise enjoy. The bill would possibly affect the revenue of the country in a slight degree, by necessitating increased remuneration to the bank fer the increased trouble it would entail. It would also probably cause a loss, from foreign holsters of certificates not being liable to pro bate euty. It was proposed to charge a maximum fee of 1 per cent. for the original conversion of registered stock to certificates to bearer, with an additional tee when the num ber of certificates exceed a certain proportion is the amount of stock held. A fee would also be charged where nomi nal certificates were exchanged to certificates to bearer. With regard to the issue of certificates t bearer, taking counsel with the hon. gentleman behind him (Mr. Hodg son), and the best advisers he could find, they were of opinion that when they were going to have the national debt rept essnted in one d .cument, which should have no relation whatever to any particular place, but circulate uniformly as tar it could go, that it should be one, and issued in one place. (Hear,) But he found there was a very strong desire in Ireland that the Bank of Ireland should have the power of issuing its own certificates to bearer; and in point of tact there was good ground for such a demand There was a distinct national debt for Ireland which had its centre in the Bank of Ireland, as well as the in in portion had its cent re in tee Bank of England; and having bad an interview that day with the members for tubltn, and other gentlemen from Ireland, he would make arrangements for the issuing of certificates to bearer in Ire land as well as in E gland. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HUN T, after stating that the house had reason to be thankful to the right hon. gentleman for the lucid state. ment he had made, suggested certain cases of fraud in con nection with trust funds, and other descriptions of property, which he was afraid the bill would not prevent. Mr. AIALINS expressed his thanks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his measure, which be was sure would be a great boon to the public. With regard to the fears ex pressed by the hon. member for Northamptonshire, they were for the mcst part imaginary. His principal object in rising was to euggew, as tne right hon. gentlemen had taken a step in the right direction by giving increased facilities for dealing in stocks, that he would go a little further and intro duce some arrangement which would enable the owners of stock to have their dividends paid to their bankers, upon writing to the Bank of England requesting it to be done. Mr. HODGSON said, from all the information they were enabled to possess, the amount of frauds in funded property was exceedingly small. The Bank of England never acknowledged trusts of any kind, so that the pro posed alteration would make no difference in that par ticular, and he believed there would be no greater means of having frauds committed by trustees under the pre sent bill than before. With regard to the suggestion of the honourable member for Wallingford, all he could say was, that if tbo honourable member would open an ac count with them at the Bank, and give them power of attorney, they would be happy to do all his business,. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) He believed the proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer would do great good, and would encourage foreigners to invent still more largely in English funds, At present there were £18,000,000 invested in the funds of the National Debt by foreigners resident abroad. He thought the proposed measure for Ireland would also be productive of great benefits to that country. (Hear, hear.) The house then went into committee. On the motion of Mr. Alderman SALOMONS, the words "Reduced Three per Cent. Annuities" were inserted after "Consolidated Annuities" in clause 2, giving thus the same advantage to both descriptions of stock. The other clauses were agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. TELEGRAPHS BILL. Mr. M. GIBSON moved the third reading of this bill. Lord A. CHURCHILL moved the third reading of the bill this day six months. He aid so because in the former stages of the bill its details, and not its principle, were dis cussed. The bill had been mutilated and restricted in its operations from the opposition that had been made to it, in order to confirm the monopoly of existing telegraph compa nies. The powers of the bill had been mistaken, and be as sured the house there was no desire on the part of its pro • motera to act in the arbitrary manner that had been attri buted to them (which had been in some instances adopted by existing companies) by the opponents of the measure. The subject generally had better be reconsidered. There should be a consolidation of the existing telegraph acts. Sir F. SMITH seconded the amendment. Mr. F. S. POWELL considered the measure a very use ful one, although it might not be quite perfect. Mr. M. GIBSON hoped the noble lord would not press his amendment to a division, but that he would take his chance in another place of introducing whatever amend net nts he deemed necessary. Upon that Lord A. CHURCHILL withdrew his amend ment, and the bill was read a third time and passed. CONSOLIDATED FUND (420,000,000) BILL. The bill passed through committee. EXCHEQUER BON DS (410,000,000). This bill likewise passed through committee. BOROUGH RESIDENCE UNIFORM MEASURE MENT BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee on this bill, Mr. M'CA.NN moved that the order be discharged. Mr. DENMAN, in seconding the motion, said that mem bers had not been treated with the usual courtesy in their being kept there all night uncertain whether the bill would be brought on. Mr. VANCE said that was the first occasion on which he had seen advantage taken of the casual absence of the member having charge of a bill to move its discharge. There was a distinct arrangement between himself and the hon. member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Bouverie) who lent his opposition to it, that the bill was not to be brought on be fore ten o'clock. After some observations from Mr. HUNT and Mr. K. ELUCkESSEN, Sir M. W. RIDLEY moved that the debate be ad journed. Mr. WHITESIDE and Sir G. GREY having addressed the house, Mr. S. COLLINS, who had chargelof the bill, proceeded to speak in support of the bill, and against time. The hon. member continued to address the house for more than an hour, amidst continu 'us groans and cries of " divide," his avowed object being to postpone the decision until his friends, who had promised to support the bill, should have returned to the house Mr. NASH said the bill was a job, and that it ought to be denounced as a bill for the encouragement of bribery and corruption. Sir H. BRUCE supported the bill. Mr. BUUVEItIE suggested the withdrawal of the mo tion before the house, and then take the division lon the motion for going into committee. The hon. member for Knaresborough had made the singular complaint that his bill had come on before he expected, and therefore he had spoken against time to allow hon. members to come down to the house to supp.rt his motion for going into com mittee. He repeated what had been said on a former occa sion, that the rules of the house were made by gentlemen for gentlemen, but if they were to be violated as they had been in this instance, the sooner they were altered the bet ter. (Hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON defended the hon. member for Knaresborough from the unjustifiable attack that had been made on him. He however approved of the suggestion of taking the division on the motion for going into committee. Mr. LIDDELL and Sir M. FARQUHARSON also defended the hon. member for Knaresborough from the imputation that had been cast on him by the right hoz. gentleman the member for Kilmarnock. They supported the bill. Mr. B. CARTER thought that when a bill of great im portance was on the paper members had a right to expect that the gentleman who had charge of it would either be in his place to move the second reading, or that he would get some one to move it for him. Ater some observations from Major HAMILTON, Sir M. RI DLEY withdrew his amendment for the ad • journment of the debate; and Mr. M`CANN withdrew his amendment that the order of the day for going into committee on the bill b. 3 discharged. Mr. BOUVERIE then moved that the house go into committee on the bill that day six months. The house divided, with the following result : Aes 139 No y es Majority —43 The amendment was therefore carried, and the bill was lost. JUDGMENTS LAW AMENDMENT (IRELAND) BILL. The house then went into committee on this bill. After a short discussion between Mr. Whiteside, the At torney• General, Mr. I. Butt, and Mr. George, the chairman was ordered to report progress. MARRIAGES, &c. (IRELAND) BILL. On the report of this bill several amendments were agreed to. ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION. Sir J. FERGUSSON obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate tho compensation for accidents. The bill was accordingly brought in and read a first time. TOWNS IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT. Mr. BAGWELL also obtained leave and brought in a . ay: - bill which was read a first time, to amend the Towns Im provement (Ireland) Act. The other orders were disposed of and the house ad journed at 20 minutes past one o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL 30. BOROUGH RESIDENCE UNIFORM MEASURE MENT BILL. Order for committee read. Motion made and question proposed, " That this house will, to•morrow, resolve itself into a committee on the said bill." Amendment proposed, to kayo out from the word "That" to the end of the question, in order to add the words "the order for the committee on the said bill be discharged," instead thereof. Question proposed, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question." Debate arising, motion made and question proposed, " That the debate be now adjourned." Motion, by leave, withdrawn. Question again proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question." Amendment and original qu stion, by leave, withdrawn. Motion made and question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair." Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That" to the end of the question, in order to add the words "this house will, upon this day six months, resolve itself into the said committee," instead thereof. Question put, " That the words proposed to be lets out sta❑d part of the question." The house divided—Ayes, 139; Noes, 182. AYES -139. Adderley, C. B. Greaves, Edward Naas, Lord Annesley, Col. H. Greenall, G. Noel, G. J. Astell, J. H. Gray, Cant North, Col. Baritelot, Col. Grey deWilton,Lord Packe, C. Bathurst, A. A. Grogan, Sir E. Pakenham, Col. Beach, W. W. Hamilton, Lord C. Pakington, Sir J. S Beecroft, G. S. Hamilton, Major Parker, Major W. Booth, Sir R. G. Hamilton, Viscount Paull, H. Bovill, Wm. Hanmer, Sir J. Peacocke, G. M. Bramley-Moore, J. Hassard, M. D. Pevensey, Viscount Bridges, Sir B. Day, Sir J Phillip., G. L. Brooks, R. Hennessy, J. P. Potts, George Bruce, Sir 11. Heygate, Sir F. Powell, F. S. Bruen, Henry Hodgson, R. Pritchard, John ButlerJohnstone,ll. Holford, R. S. Quinn, Peter Burrell, Sir P. Howes, E. Ridley, Sir M. W. Cairns, Sir H. Humberstone, P. S. Roebuck, J. A. Cartwright, Col. Hunt, G. W. Rogers, John J. Cecil, Lord R. Jermyn, Earl Rowley, Hon. R. T. Chdpmati, .1. Jervis, Captain Salt, T. Close, M. C. Jones, D. Sclater-Booth, G. Cobbold, John C. Kelly, Sir F. Selwyn, C. J. Codrington, Sir W Kendall, N. Smitn, Sir F. Cole, Hon. H. Kennard, R. Somes, Joseph Cole, J. L. Knatchbull, W. Stanhope, Lord Cox, W. Knightley, R. Stirling, Wm. Cubitt, George Kuox, ~01. Stewart, Sir M. R. Dawson, R. P. Laird, J. Taylor, Colonel Dickson, Col. Lefroy, A. Thynne, Lord E. Du Cane, C. Lee, W. Torrens, R. Duncombe, W. E. Lennox, Lord G. G. Trefusis, Hon. C. H . Dunne, Col. Lennox, Lord H. G. Trevor, Lord A. East, Sir J. B. Lennox, C. Trollope, Sir John. Edwards, Col. Leslie, W. Turner, C. Egerton, W. Liddell, Hon. H. G. Vance, John Farquhar, Sir M. Lindsay, General Vansittart, Wm. Farrer, J. Long - field, Robert Walker, James R. Fellowes, Edward Lovaine, Lord Watlington, J. Fergusson, Sir J. Lyall, G. Whiteside, J. Ferrand, W. Lygon, Hon. F. Woodd, B. T. Filmer, Sir E. Macaulay, K. Wyndham, Hon. H Forester, Gen. M`Cormick, W. Wynn, C. W. W. Forster, Sir G. Macdonogh, F. Wynne, C. U. Gard, R. S. Manners, Lord J. Gaskell, J. M. Mordaunt, Sir C. George, John Morritt, W. Gordon, C. W. Mowbray, Rt. Hn. J. Collins, T. Gore, J. R. 0. Mure, David Darner, S. D. TELLERS. NOES —lB2. Acton, Sir J. Ennis, John O'Reilly, M. Adair, H. E. Esmonde, J. Padmore, R. Adeane, H. J. Evans, T. W. Paget, Lord A. Agnew, Sir A. Ewart, William Paget, Lord C. E. Angerstein, W. Ewart, J. C. Palmer, Sir It. Anson, Major Fenwick, Henry Palmerston, Visct. Antrobus, E. Eitzroy, Lord F. Pea,e, H. Atherton, Sir W. Fitzwilliam. C. W. Peel, Sir R. Aytoun, K. S. Foljambe, F. J. S. Peel, F. Bagwell, J. Forster, Charles D. Pender, J. Baines, E. Fortescue. C. S. Pilkington, James Baring, H. B. Gavin, Major Pollard Urquhart W Baring, Sir F. Gibson. T. M. Ponsonby, A. Baring, Thos. Geo. Gilpin, C. Potter, E. Barnes, T. Gladstone, W. E. Proby, Lord. G. L. Bass, M. T. Goldsmid, Sir F. Pryse, Capt. E. L. Bazley, Thomas Gower, F. L. Puller, C. W. Beamish, F. B. Greene, J. Ramsden, Sir J. W. Beaumont, W. B. Greenwood, J. Raynham, Viscount Beaumont,Somerset Gregson, S. Robartes, T. J. A. Bellew, R. X Grey, Rt. Hn. Sir G. Robertson, D. Be' kelay, C. G rosvenor , E ar l Russell, Hastings Black, Adam Banbury, R. Russell, A. J. E. Blencowe, J. G. Handley, John Russell, Sir Win. Bonham-Carter, J. Hankey, Thoms,no St. Aubyn, J. Bouverie, P. p, Hartington,Marquis Salomons,Aiderman Brand, H. B. Headlam, Thus. E. Scholefie.d, W. Bright, J. Hervey, LordA. Seely, C. Briscoe, J. I. B ibbert, J. Seymour, Danby Browne, Lord J. T. 11 odgson, K. Seymour, Digby Bruce, H. A. Howard, Lion. C. Shelley, Sir J. V. Buchanan, W. Ii utt. W. Smith, J. B. Buller, J. W. Ingham, It. Smith, M. T. Buller, Sir A. King, Hon. P. Smith, Augustus Butt, Isaac Kinglake, A. W. Somerville, Sir W. Buxton, C. Kingscote, Col. Stansf eld, J. Caithorpe, F. H. Kinnaird, Hon. A. Steel, John Cardwell, Rt. Hn. E. Knatchbull-Hugess Talbot, C. R. M. Castlerosse, Vist. Layard, A. H. Thornhill, W. P. Cavenilsh, Hon. W. Langton, W. H. G. Vane, Lord H. G. Childers, H. C. E. Lawson, W. Verney, Sir Harry Clay, James Leatham, E. Villiers, Rt. Hon. C. Clifford, C. C. Lewis, Harvey Vivian, H. H. Clifford, Co:. Locke, Joiin Vyner, Reginald Coke, Col. Lowe, Rt. Hon. It. Waldron, L. Cowper, Hon. W.F. 181‘Cann, J. Walter, John Crawford, R. W. Mackie, J. Weguelin, T. Crossley, Sir F. Maguire, J. F. Wemyss, J. Dalglish, Robert Mainwaring, T. Western, S. Davey, it. Marsh, M. H. Westhead, J. Davie, Col. F. M ar ti n , J. White, Jas. Dent, John Dent Massey, W. N. White, L. Dering, Sir E. Matheson, Sir J. Williams, W. Dillwyn, Lewis L. Merry, James Winnington, Sir T. Douglas, Sir C. Mildmay, H. Wood, lit Hn. SirC. Doulton, F. Moffatt, George Wood, W. Duff, M. E. Moncreiff, J. Woods, Henry Duff, It. Morrison, W. Wyvill, M. Dunbar, Sir Wm. North, F. Dundas, Sir David O'Conor Don, The TELLERS . Dunlop, A. O'Donoghue, The Bouverie, E. P. Ellice, E., jun. O'Ferrall, M. Denman, G. THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, The following is the thirteenth report of the Commissioners on the Fine Arts;- "We the Commissioners appointed by your Majesty under aCommission bearing date the 22d day of November, 1841, for the purpose of inquiring whether advantage might not be taken of the rebuilding of your Majesty's Palace at Westminster—wherein your Majesty's Parliament is wont to assemble—for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the fine arts in your Majesty's United Kingdom, and in what manner an object of so much importance might be most effectually promoted, beg leave to submit to your Ma jesty a report respecting the progress of the works recom mended by us to be undertaken, and, at the same time, to bring under your Majesty's notice the position in which the commission is at present placed. " Bearing in mind the warm interest which our late chairman, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, at all times took in the labours of the commission and in the pro gress of works undertaken under its direction, we should have deemed it our duty to proceed to the election of another chairman, difficult, nay impossible, as we should feel it to b e t o supply in any adequate degree that combina tion of knowledge in art, of tried experience in business, and of high personal authority, by which his Royal Highness was distinguished. But we feel ourselves relieved from the necessity of this most difficult selection, since in our opinion the term of our prescribed duties has now arrived. The whole scheme of decoration for the Palace of Westminster has been considered and decided ; and, trusting that the series of works now in progress can be carried on to their completion, it does not appear to us that the commission need be continued to superintend the execution. " In our 12th report, dated the 25th of February, 1861, we entered so fully into the history of the labours of the commission from the first that it will be sufficient on the present occasion to specify the works that have been com pleted since the date of that report, and to submit our view as to the extent to which various series of wort. s, both in painting and sculpture, now begun should be continued. " We have the pleasure to report that Daniel Maclise, R.A,, has brought to a successful and highly satisfactory termination the large wall-painting, executed in the water. glass method, representing the meeting of Wellington and Blucher after the battle of Waterloo ; and that he has al ready begun the corregponding painting representing the Death of Nelson. Those works measuring each 45tt. in length, occupy the principal compartments in the Royal Gallery. - - " Referring in our last report to the vast scheme of deco ration proposed for the Royal Gallery, we observed that, while so extensive a plan cannot be completed in the life time of one artist, it would be desirable that the necessarily partial execution should be so conducted as that the works, when interrupted, should, as far as possible, present a sym• metrical arrangement. On this principle we recommended that the two large compartments facing each other ia the Royal Gallery should be completed first. " Anticipating the same industry on the part of Mr. Ma cßae as he has hitherto manifested, we by no means recom mend the limitation of his labours even to the two vast sur faces referred to. On the contrary, believing that a painter combin ng so much skill with so much energy is especially qualified for such undertakings, we recommend that, as sliming willingness on his part, such other portions of the Royal Gallery be subsequently intrusted to him as may, according to the principle above explained, still produce a satisfactory arrangement and a relative completeness. " In the apartment called the Queen's Robing Room, William Dyce, R.A. has, since the date of our last report, been occasionally employeei on the largest of the frescoes belonging to the series of subjects he has undertaken to treat in that place from the legend of King Arthur. The stipulated remuneration for the entire series having been long since received by him, we have only to express our earnest hope that he will see the importance of prosecuting the work with greater assiduity; more especially since his exclusive occuration of the apartment must, as we have observed in our last report, occasion great inconvenience to your Majesty. "We next come to the decoration of another apartment --The Peers' Robing Room—which is also required for the meeting 6f one of the standing committees of the House of Lords. Here the general subject is Justice on Earth and its Development in Law and Judgment,' John Rogers Herbert, R.A., who has undertaken the series, and who has prepared sketches for several of the subjects, h's nearly completed a largo wall-painting, representing Moses bring ing down the Table of the Law to the Israelites.' The delay that has taken place in the execution of this, the first of the series, has been chiefly in consequence of frequent experi. raenta by the artist in the water-glass method of painting We are informed, however, that the Committee of the Lords finds its business at present most seriously obstructed, and we think that, as Mr. Herbert nor appears to be satisfi as to the technical process to be adopted, there is no Ilea why in future he should not proceed much more rapidly " The subjects proposed for the Peers' and Comm° Corridors are illustrative of that great contest whic'i COI menced with the meeting of the Long Parliament and to minated in 1689.' Charles West Cope, R.A., who has u dertaken the Peers' Corridor, has prosecuted his work Wi equal ability and industry. Five out of the eight paintin, of which the series is to consist have been already finishe and 'the designs for the remaining three have been apprev by us. The work last completed—' Basing -house defend by the Cavaliers against the Parliamentary army been satisfactorily executed in the water-glass method. " The Commons' Corridor. consisting of the same nuret of compartments, has been allotted to Edward Matthe Ward, RA, whose name is so highly distinguished by 1 able treatment of subjects from modern history. Four the paintings, executed m fresco, have been completed, Al a sketch for a filth has been approved. " In sculpture, the works now in progress consist statues of British sovereigns in chronological order. 12 those statues (to be executed in white marble), from Jere I. to William IV., are proposed to be placed in the Re) Gallery; commissions have been given for six, and t completion of the remaining six may be regarded as inel pensable. " In our last report we stated that the whole series statues of British Sovereigns proposed to be placed in t Royal Gallery and its immediate precincts admits of belt subdivided into four distinct classes, occupying respective the Royal Gallery, the Queen's Robing Ream, the Yee bule, and the Lower Landing-place " Should the series be continued beyond the Royal G 4 lery, we recommend that the five statues intended for tl Queen's Robing Room should be undertaken next. 11 r retaining statues in the Vestibule and Lower Landin place, to be executed in metal, would be of much less CO " The above may be said to comprehend all the we' that are in progress. In some instances—for example, the series of statues and in the series of paintings in I' l Royal Gallery and Peers' Robing Room—we have not Pr suwed to define .cow tar any of the works should or show not be deferred. In the other cases—the Queen's ft" bi ' Room and the two Corridors—it is obviously desirable tb they should be completed without interruption. " Among future undertakings, re quiring less time. 133 ' possibly be included the re-painting of some of the earle experimental frescoes in the Upper Waiting Hall. - T 1 partial decay of some of those works induced us to appet a committee in the last year to inquire into the causes the deterioration. The members of that committee, assistA by an able chemist, after careful and repeated inspotions the paintings, no , only in the Upper Waiting Hall b 1 throughout the building, have examined various artists al other competent witnesses, but up to this time they ha' not been able to arrive at any satisfactory result. " With regard to the amount that may for a time be r quired to meet the cost of works in progress, although the Las been for some years an understanding that a vote I £l,OOO would be annually proposed to Parliament for earn ing on the objects of the commission, it does not appear pr bable that so much will be required hereafter. The foams which we have this year submitted to the Lords of ti Treasury, to be proposed, with their approval, to Par lil ment, amounts to £3,700. We have included in the apPe x dtx a detailed statement of the works now in progress fc which further payments will be required. "We cannot conclude this our final report without dt siring to offer our testimony to the professional skint well as the activity, the zeal, and the upri g ht ne ss wi t which our secretary ; Sir Charles Eastlake, has, during period of 21 years, fulfilled an important and sometime' II invidious task. We know that Sir Charles Eastlake's set .. vices were fully appreciated by his Roy a l Hi g hness tn Prince Consort, and we venture to hope that some IV ° may be shown to those long and meritorious servjces. " STANHOPE (in the chair). "LYNDHURST. "NEWCASTLE. "JOHN EVELYN 10/4rl "PALMERSTON SON (Speaker). " RUSSELL. "JOHN MANNERS. " WILLOUGHBY DE EHESBY. " LLANOVER " EVERSLEY. " WILLIAM CGIVOII4 " Palace of Westminster, March 11, 1861." COUNTRY MARKETS. ... MANCHESTER—Arum 30. A tolerable attendance to-day, with a very firm traw l in wheat, English being quoted Is to 2s per qr a d va nce ',;, 1 last week's prices . American red 4d to 6d., and white P s. to 3d per 1001 b dearer. Buyers, howev er , were not d l o posed to follow up their purchases. Fl o ur also firm. q. 40 and oatmeal were rather higher. Beans steady. 111 " 1 corn is to 2s per qr higher. BIRMINGHAM—APRIL 30. d 0 English wheat was sold at 48a to 56s f o r white , an - td to 528 per 36 st.ne for red. Barley, new malting. o' s 40 o. 42s per qr ; grinding. 24s to 28s O a t s , o ld, 24s to r, per 30 stone ; Irish, 22t to 255. Beans, 36s t0,44s per q Peas, 36s to 44t per 36 ,tone. EDINBURGH GRAIN—APRIL 29. et 6 A large supply of farmers' wheat t o -d a y, w hich ra good sale at is pf.q- qr advance on the prices of last w e Oats and barley a slow sale. Wheat on the top Os 6d up... average Os 3d nth Barley on the top Os 6d down ...average Os 5,1 uP• Oats on the top Os 6d up average Os 6d uP• Beans on the top Os 6d up., average Os 4d UP' _ _ Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ..1069 qrs Sold 603 qrs 8ar1ey........ 489 qrs Sold 373 qrs Oats Beans 12 5 -qrs Sold 100 qrs 6 3; Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 44s Od ; extras, 418 superfine, 398 Od ; flue, 37s Od CORK—Arum 30. ged The following were the quotations this mornilo-- 6 9 wheat, 6s dto 98 6d; white, 7s Od to lis Od barlo n '' d to 6d to 5s Od ; oats, 6 s, Od t o 8 s Od. ; bl ac k d o ., 7s 8a Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD—APRIL 28. .0 A good supply of fat beasts to-day again, and late P r 4,10 were fully maintained. Only a few remained unsoldod, number of sheep in the pens was lar ge , th e qu ality g o lf aLd the price had an upward tend enc y. F a t pigs a B uo tb show, but fat and store calves were plentiful, an d for the demand was brisk. Beet 6id to 7id I Veal Mutton 6lcl to 74d Pork Lamb —d to —d Rough f a t, 3 s 9d 6 P l ar cit°sttl. cije Hides, 3d to 4141; calf skins, 5d to 6cl. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. ,c 0.0., „ 19' AuKralia and Mauriti us , v i a Southampton. ..... m l ''''' 0. v Marseilles drazil and Cape Verds, by ia British packet. ........ ,1V1 a ., 3r 3, Cape of Good H o p e , A scens i on, and St. Helena - 5 2.. 8 ", 2, China, Penan g , an d Si ngapore, via Southampton x% 14. via Marseilles .• • M a " 4. „, Falkland Islands .. Gibraltar, via South amp t on 0. India (Calcutta), an d C ey l on, via Southampton• • 1 11 14. via Marseilles.... M a y il. India (Bombay), via Southampton May via Marseilles' MO Portugal..,. Ig ' . Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton May via Marseilles .. Mal 13. Newfoundland .. Mai Oporto and Vigo . U. S. and British N. America, by B r i t. packet.....m, ia a+ V by U.S. packet... I. by Canadian p a cket.MaY t o, W.C. of Africa, M a d e i ra, and Tenerife.. MaY 7 , Bahamas, via New Y or k .... I ‘ l9 Y 9 , Mexico.. M a i` .......... California, anti B r iti s h Columbia.. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointmsnt and • ;„dic,s There existed for many years a great and unfair Pr'l; id against these remedies, but such has been their stleeV r ed expelling internal impurities and h.aling bodies !_ c _, or ae with sores, that their worst opponents have now ~,u7,00 their warmest supporters; at the present day no din' tv , o l , of opinion exists with re fe rence t o t h e pur if y i n g au d ..i i foo ing powers of thes.• world-esteemed medicaments, " o ver gradually cure diseases and rem ove di s fl gurem entStrol' which medical skill heretofore h a d exerc i se : I little o°l'o, Holloway's remedies may be used at any tim , , by either ,e% They have for a long time enjoyed a great reputation 01 1,10 the ladies for checking pi m pl es , erupt i ons, and o her de of the skin, and giving th em c l ear an d rosy compl":1„/)&4. Births. „,,,,. 1. BLACKBURN. — On the 28th u lt., a t T w i c k en ham, ''''''" Blackburn, of a son. , to of On —On the 29th u 16., at O s id ge , Herta, the v" Major Gibb,ult., daghter. Crbt„fee' HILLYA.R.—On the 28th at Phoebe Cottage, - -i1 .0.f Plymouth, the wife of aptain Henry Hillyar, C. 8., of a son. ' ust e° NrcuoLLs.—On the 29th ult. at 33, Mecklenburg -E-.a the wife of D. Cubitt Nicholls, Esq., of a son. Marriages. pg urt ' NUGENT—GASCOIGNE.—On th e 30th u lt ,at Saint e org - Knightsbridge, Ed mun d Ch ar l es , only s on of Si r 11° Nugent, Bart., and th e H on. L ady: Nugent, toke :era' Henrietta, the young es t d aug h ter o f Li e litenallt"' Gascoigne. bb: s " TALBOT-DANIEL,-thl the 29th ult , at Th e . 11. 1 at Bath, Colonel George Talbot, late of t he 43d u ., 1 1 - fantry, to Angelina, widow of Henry Daniel: -'45.3. Deaths. BoYLE.—On the 29th ult., at Worthing, Charles SPar Boyle, aged 43. 11. o p 6s—; Cole , Co O c h n a t n h d e o s 2 . 6 s t t h r e u e l t t : , C o a v t e n ß t r - i g g a h r t d o e n n , Mr . Jas• rat gnre' GogoLDWORTH.—On the 29th alt., at Weston• su P e-- inr bomerset, Alfred Goldworth, Esq" late of thorpe, Norfolk, aged 65. Pe l ‘' JACKSON.—On the 29 halt., suddenly, Mr. The ta° son, of Windlesha m , Surrey. ( ', re nt PL y il a A nn iAlE o ß at .— h, On os t e h v e h 2 G B o c h u l u d . g , a p t iu K m in ui g e - r s 2 tr E ee s t c f ., 7 l .. r se :, l ag ed 57. Cox. SEA.TON.—On the 26th , the Lady Seato n, wife of Lord Seaton, and daughter of Lord Downes. ...d S on WORTLEY —On the 29 t h a lt. Wiliam Talbot, i'll,nart of the Right H on . J ames and the Hon. W el ' Wortley, of East Sheen, Surrey, aged 10 y ypS London : Printed and Published by WI LLIAM AN I) , To , 11 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Sur( OtllV uo ti el Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy' the Middlesex.—Friday. Iday 1, 1863.