The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-11 00:00:00

.-;(-) mil• v vat, o f ' the ^he Bru► it, te flag ironic, 10 and have oases r tight been n .dus ii 1 no they it !I be p Tres. v ►orst tions 1 ce. onsist I e Em- ally to of 'the .ier and 'he Em of these only of .ganisa ) n andl kless of week. paaecti as his He imme- bryski. bed us ha t the iolitical s trans for the Cents. I,oGif. wthern, yens to France, ; Great es of the nounces 109. was ames of the bap •, Maria the new t of the. .se from )rin cess Queen piastres also to I. The ier pre lount. of ays that ina. A. persons to news. Walla Prince- years of r profes or chefs ‘, to the tt.le be• the same d on the RUB/I ian INING. ;ton ar .emen. ult. The d in the at as to r not. lestroyed the 26th 3 for the ons were ;ular but sold on I. Rye )ove the nsettied. rim ad ,sales of al, 2,000 ttnianded s--flour, ih el . In ,ns brisk s of New stin gated al A spin- 1 •of the ate. and Le United e arrival d States, January. hat there I„ in con des. The ARLIA- I by the ►rders ahead— 'ties (eta rites, Bid pon-Tyne Railway astle and Railway vay were :—Ennis Land— •ovement Roads— h Corpo• sborough icalth. pearance with the If-yearly receive a a line for re of in• I traffic. y Messrs therefore cent. per agree to :nt. upon Counties ant. The and it is i months lation to Irighton, •100 and Won at his cotn mail pas 3stead of ess, and .avellers. Custom istration 3ieces of een con- Paris to 3ssity of cation of ater im- Dover to Lation at de. All lm Paris o obtain starting. iat7.45 ie on the m-house I,at this I• other rbtr: 'EtWtion. SUN OFFICE, Six o' Clock. PORTUGAL. LISBON, FEB. 4. — Nothing of great importance has occurred since the departure of the Sultan with the mail of the 29th January. The Chamber of Deputies has ap proved. of the loan contracted at Porto for the com pletion of the Minho roads. In the Chamber of Peers, Count Taipa made a lively attack upon Senhor Fontes, hinting that he was too closely connected with the tobacco contractors. The Minister entered into a warm defence of his con - duct, and challenged him to bring forward proofs of his unworthy insinuations. Count Thomar then availed himself of this declaration to taunt the MiniE.ters with their unfounded aspersions upon himself, his late colleagues, and the whole party. Re brought forward statements to demonstrate that at loast as much progress had been made in the cons truction of roads during his administration as unde a- that of the Duke of Saldanha ; and that crim a was fast increasing. Re censured the Go vern went for their mismanagement of the negotia tions, with the Courts of Rome and Brazil. T' ae Lusitania brings accounts of the loss of the Argentine steamer, which will be another heavy blo w to the recently established company at Liver poc d. Serious apprehensions were also entertained for the safety of the French steamer L'Aven'..r, NcrlAch started from this place on the Bth December, and had not yet arrived at Rio. 11,.dmiral Corry returned to this harbour on the 2901, and subsequently hoisted the white flag, on his promotion. Pliate Iberia arrived on the 2d, and left with the Peninsular mails for Cadiz on the 3rd. She br( )ught the report of the wreck of the Olinda ate amer. t'he exchange is 54i, at 90 days' date ; inscrip tioi is are 38k ; and Bank Shares, Rs. 372,000. The Lusitania brought twenty-five passengers, anti starts for Liverpool at 4 o'clock p.m. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester accordion of this day.) • MANQUESTER, Feb. 10.—The India and China houses St. have continued to operate in mule and water twist 20 to a fa . ir extent • and some of the German houses h ave 10 ventured upon limited purchases in anticipation of orders I s - 2 , to come, rather than. in supply of any pre sent demand 50 from their customers, with whom trade is anything but 40 good. The home buyers appear to be acting with much 25 caution and reserve • but on the whole prices are ex- 25 tremely well sustained. Doubled yarns (we do not refer St. to any so fine as 100'e and upwards) being bought up, 8121 are - very dear. In tins department of goods there is more St. depression than in that of yarns. Yet the lower qua- St. lities of shirtings, niadapollains, and jacconets have been 50 taken to a moderate amount for India. In domestics we have very little doing ; what demand the re is being `st. for the lighter makes. Printing cloths are fiat. As re gards prices general tendency is rather against pro- 25 ducers ; and, where contracts are running out, there 50 is a willingneFa to make a little concession. The 20 latest telegraplaic advice from New Orleans shows that the great deficiency in the receipts of cotton at the St. ports was causing some advance in prices. This has 50 imparted additional firmness to the Liverpool market. St. It has also a somewhat sustaining effect upo n our 16 market. Yesterday (Thursday) morning, in accordance 8 with a printed announcement of their intention, the 8 Preston masters opened their mills for such hands as 50 might c'ooose to work on the old terms ; but we under- 10 stand tinat very few have as yet accepted the conditions ; 10 it can hardly be doubted, however, that the number will go on increasing until all have done so. 20 BIIADFORD, Feb. 9.—Wool—There has been a great 20 dulhaess in the wool market. The political news appears 10 to deter spinners from buying at the rates now demanded. 10 .The holders evince more disposition to sell, no doubt to St. prevent loss in weight, which the weather in this and the next month always produces. Neils and brokes 20 are firm from the small quantity making. Yarns— St. The profitless condition of the spinners is in no St. degree lessened, arid there is no alternative but short St. time continuing till there is either a nse in the price of St. wool, or yarns ob tain a price commensurate with the cost of production.. Pieces -The business doing cont inues 10 very slugglish. For the spring there has been at pre sent but little pr °vision made, but we are not without ni hope that ere loug we shall see signs of marked ac tivit y . 20 . NOTTING -HMI, Feb. 9.—The ,price of yarn is a trifle 20 more in favou r of the buyer. ••• LEICESTER,, Feb. 9.—There is no alteration in the manufacturing and spinning demand. Wools are easier 50 St. to purchase.. 50 20 = ALABKET NEWS---(THIS DAY.) 020 `i St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 COVENT GARDEN. To- Aay's market was seasonably well supplied with most articles. On the whole the demand ruled steady, at last week's currency. i;RIIIT.—Pine apples, English, 5s Od to 8s Od each ; dit.to colonial, is Od to is 3d each • hot-house grapes, 5s to 8s; foreign ditto, is 3d to 2s 2 6(.1 per lb ; apples, 6s to 12s per bush ; pears, 3s Od to Gs per dozen • lemons, Os 9d to 2s ; oranges, 3s Od to 9s per 100 ; almonds, 2s to 3sperlb.; Barcelona nuts, 20s per bush.; cob-nuts ' 110 s to 12 Os per 1001ba. ; chesnuts, 8s to 20s per bushel ; filberts, 81 is to 100 s per 100 lbs ; walnuts, 8d to is 6d per 100. .VEGETABLES.—Cabbages, 9d to is 6d ; Brussels sprouts, Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; brocoli 9dp to is 6d er bund.; greens. 2s Oct to 4s Od per doz. bunches ; French beans, 3s to 5s Od per 100 ; potatoes, 140 s to 180 s per ton ; - turnips, 2d to 4d per bunch ; carrots, 4d to Gd per bunch ; cucumbers, is Oct to 1s 3d each ; celery, 9d tc is 6d per bundle ' • spinach, 4s Od to 6s Od per sieve; onions, 2s Gd to 3s Gd per bushel • Spanish ditto, is to 3s per doz. ; leeks, 2 d to 4 d p er bunch ; shallots, 6d to 8d ; horse-raddish, 2s Od to 4s Od per bundle ; parsley is 6d to Od per dozen bunches ; rhubarb, is Oct toss 6d per bundle ; endive, 2s to 3s Gd per score. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Turkeys, 4s Gd to 8s Od; Geese, 4s Gd to Gs each ; Ducks, 2s to 2s 6d; tame Rabbits, 10d to is 6d ; wild ditto, 10d tole 6d ; Pigeons, Gd to 8 d each; roastin g Pigs, 4s to7s OJ each; Surrey Fowls, 5s Od to 9s Od ; ditto Chickens, Os Od to Os Od; barn-door Fowls, is 9d to 2s 9d per t oupee; Pheasant 3s to 48 Od ; Chickens, ls 6d to 2s Oder p; , 3s 6d to 4s Od; Partridges, is Gd to is 9d; Hares, 2s 6d to 3s 6d; Leverets, Os Od to Os Od; Woodcocks, 2s 6d to 3s 6d; . Grouse, 2s Oct to 2s 6d; Snipes, 9 d to 1 s 6d ; Teal, ed to 9d; wild Ducks, is 9d to 2 s 3d - Wid geo ns, 9d to is Od; and Plovers, Gd to is each. English Eggs, 8s Oct to 9s 6d; French ditto, Gs 9d to 7s 6d. per 120 ,• Ostend fresh brttter Ils 6d to 13s Od, and English 12s Od to 16s Od per ozen lbs. BREAD. The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from lid to 11. id; of household ditto, 9d to 10Ad per 11b loaf. NEWPORT. Beef from 3s 6cl to 48 4d ; mutton, 3s 8d to 4s Bd, veal, 4s Od to 5s 2d ; pork, 48 Od to 5s 0(1 per Blbs. WHITEC HAPEL. Beef, from 38 4d to 48 4d. ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s Bcl Veal, 4s Ott to 5s Od ; Pork, 38 4d to 5s Od per Sibs. by th e carcase. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 31 Os to 51 5s ; clover ditto, 41 Os to 6/ ; and straw, 1/ 18s to 21 5s per load. A moderate supply, and a sluggish demand. CIIMBERLANt.—Meadow hay, 31 Os to 5/ 5s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 61 Os ; and straw, 1/ 18s to 21 5s per load. Supply good, and trade rather firm. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2115 s to 51 Os ; clover ditto, 3115 s to 6/ 6s ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 214 s per load. Trade steady, at our quotations. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)I 50 LONDON - , Feb. 11.—Wind this day at Noon, N. ; mo dayate breeze. RAMSGATE, Feb. 10.—Wind, N.N.W., fresh. Arrived —Pomona, from Shields, for the Mediterranean, assisted in with damage, bowsprit carried away, and leaky, from collision. Sailed—Anna Agatha, for Rio Grande; An netta Catharina, Porto Rico FOLKSTONE, Feb. 15.—Arrived—Bristol Packet, from Leith, for Portsmouth, leaky. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 9.—Wind, N. by E. Arrived— Bussorah Merchant, from Loudon, for Sydney, N.S.W. ; Devonshire, do., and sailed for New York. Sailed—Ma labar for Madras ; Sir Robert Peel, New York ; Ithone, New 'York. COWES, Feb. 10.—Wind, N. by E. Arrived—King fisher, from Sunderland, for 11avannah. Sailed—Ocean, for New York; Doctor Kneep, do. BRIDLINGTON, Feb. 10.—Arrived —Renovation, from St. John's, N.B. GRIMSBY, Feb. 10.—Sailed —Atalanta, for Mel d on,bourne. CALMS, Feb. I.o.—The Menai (s.), flora Lon i n making the harbour, was struck by a sea, which injured her rudder, and the vessel became unmanageable, when she went ashore at the back of the North pier. This morning, when the tide ebbed, she was left high and dry, and the passengers were landed ; cargo will be discharged, and should the weather moder she may be g strong of off without much damage. At prese ate nt it is blowing a gale from the north, with a heavy sea. ROTTERDAM, Feb. B.—The V ivid, from Goole to this ay port, was stranded on the Zec horiden Float, yesterd, and remains—orew saved. It is feared the vessel and cargo (cotton and machinery) will be lost. ANTWERP, Feb. 9.—The William, Newcastle to Malaga, was on shore at Zolt Kamp on 6th inst., but not in a dan gerous position. FREDRICKSTADT, Jan. 25.—The Kron Prius Oscar of Forsgram, London to Lange, Sandfimd, has put into As" malsoom, leaky, with loss of false keel. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Saturday, 10.30 A.M. Wind, N.W., fresh breeze, and fine. Sailed—Crest of the Wave, for Melbourne ; Lord Elgin, Demerara ; Albert Edward, Calcutta ; Samuel, Honduras ; Trade Wind, New Orleans. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 9. Sailed—llos, for London ; Canterbury, Malta. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Saturday, 9 a.m. Wind N.W., fine ; tide, 2A hours' flood. Arrived—Caroluida, from Pondi c h erry ; C a ledonia (s), H a mburgh ; William Pitt, Guernsey ; Tiger Is), Ham burgh ; Seine (s), Boulogne ; Belgium (s), Ostend. Sailed --Mari a Jacoba, for Melbourne. DEAL, Saturday, 9.41 a.tn. Wind N.N.W., fine. passed—Mary Stewart, from London for Troon. Sailed —Ostrich, for river, in tow ; Alipore, for river, in tow ; Golden State, do. ; Earl of Shaftesbury, do. Eliza 17 Morrison, do.; Union, Goo= Wave, Joseph Wheeler, for j 25 k 14Teri, coin . con• dans CB. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. Paid.' RAILWAYS. Closing Prices this day. Business done this day. 50 100 Aberdeen 86 Arnbg Nottng. Bost and Eastn. Junet ' all Belfast & Ballymena Birmiug. Wolverh. & Stoar Valley 28 Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Juuct all Do. Chesh. & Birk.,! £5O and £25 Cons. 184 Do., £2O 30 Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) LOO Bristol and Exeter 100 C a 1 e d0nian.......... all Chester & Holyhead. all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black, & Pms. 12 C orn wall 4 Crieff Junction 45 Dublin&BelfastJune. all Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction all D o . flew all East Anglian....: all Do., (£lB E & II) all Eastern Counties all Eastern Union, .A Stock .......... 100 Do., B. Stock 84 Do., New A. L OO East Lancashire 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 5 6 Edinb. and Peebles 1 100 Edin. Prth. & Dundee 1 lorth & Clyde June. LOO Glasgow &S. Western [ OO Great Northern Stk. 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. 5t0ck...... 100 Gt. SO. &We st.(lre -100 Great Western 12 Irish South-Eastern all Lancaster & Carlisle 113 Do., Thirds 2 Do. New Thirds .00 Laucash.andYorksh. 176 Do., Fifths 111 Di., Wst. Riding Un. all Leeds Northern all Liv.Crsby.&Southpt all London & Blackwall 8 Loud. Tilb. & Sthend. 100 Loud. Bright & S.Cst, 100 Lond. and N. Westn, 12 Do. Fifths 1 Do.lo/. Sh.,M&B 0 24 Do. Eighths 100 London and S. Westn 424 Do., £5O 34 Do., £4O all LnclUdrry& Col eraine all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Mancla.Shef.& Lind h) 44 Do. , Man. & Lin. Un 100 Midland 100 Do. Birmng. &Derby 474 Aidld. G. West (Ire.) 174 Do. Half Shares all Newcastle & 100 Newmarket 54 Do., Bury Extension. 17i N w pt.Aberg. & Hrfd 71 Newry & Enniskillen all Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor 100 Norfolk 34 Northn.Counties 100 North British 16 North Devon, No. 1. 114 Do., No. 2 all Do., A Deferred 8 Do., 1 B Guaranteed all North London 4 Do. New £lO 1/ is N. &S.Wstrn. ,Hamp stead, and City Jn 174 North Staffordshire all North Western 10 N. &S. Westrn. June 1 Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester 100 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton 2/ 2s Portsmouth 100 Scottish Central 100 Scottish Midland 100 Shrewsbury &Biimg. 100 Do. L. &N. Western Guaranteed St &bk 10 Shrewsby. & Herefd all Shrewsby. & (Amster (N. W. Min ; all Do. Halves,/ s all Do. Oswestry 64 Shropshire Union D0.A,8, C,&D,fully, paid up at per cent all South Devon 100 South Eastern all South Wales 15 S. Yrksh. & Ri'r. Dun I 5 Do 2/ 2s Staines, Wok &Wok all Stockton & Darling. 164 Stockton & Hartlepl. .00 Taff Vale 8 Do. £lO shares 1.00 Do. Pref., No. 20 Thames Haven Dock and Railway 17 Vale of Neath all Waterfd. & Kilkenny all Waterforcl&Limerick 14 West Cornwall 1 West End of London and Crystal Palace all West London 51s. Whnbledn & Croydon 100 York Newctl.&Berw. 20 Do. Extensions 136 Do. G.N.E. Purchase 100 York &N. Midland 100 Aberdeen 100 Do. No. 2,7 p. C. 30 Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. atsoo 100 Bris. & Ex. 4p. c. St. 5 Do. 4p. c. Shares LOO Caledonian £lO all Chester & Holyhead Guar. 51 per cent 64 Cork &l3anclonsip.c all Dundee Perth &Aber- -- I Been Junction all EastAnglian (X 3105; 6 per cent all Do. (£5) 7 per cent 2 Do. (£7 17s) 7p. c all Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 all Do. No. 2 . all Do. New 6 p. c. St. all Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent ... all Do. 51., 10 per cent. all Do. 101. Debentr.Sh. LOO East Lancash. 6p. cts. all East and West York• shire June. Pref... all Edinb Prth. &Dundee per cent. LOO alasgow & S.Western Guar. 5 per cent. . WO ;mat Northn. sp. c. [OO Do. sp. c. Redeem., _ _ at 10 p. c. prem. .. 10 Do. 4:1 p.c. Scrip.... 6 Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref all Jt, Southn.&Westm. (Ireland) Eighths)... 4 Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh. 6 Gt. Westn. (Barks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c)... 1.00 Do. cov. rod. 46 p.c. 100 Do. con. red. 4p. c. 1 100 Do. irred. 4p. c.... 6 Lan. &York. F. £2O 100 Do. 6p. c. Stock 1 13 Leeds N. 6p. c. No. 1 9 Do. Quarters, 1848 100 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c 100 Do. Pref., sp. c. St. all Do. Convertible, sp. c., 1852 100 Do. New Guar.6 p. c 100 Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton 5 London &S. Western Con. Thirds all Londonderry& Color i Shares all Londy. & Ennis. iSh all Man., Shef., & Lin , I Shares, No. 1. all Do. New, £lO 4t, Do. £6 all Aarypt .&Carl.4 p.c all Do. 4i por cent 10. Do 100 Aid. Consol.6 p.c.St. 100 Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent 5 Do. Pref. 4i per cent 6 Norfolk Debenture .. 100 Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stock 100 Do. sp. c. Eat 100 Do. 54 per ct.pref.„ 100 Do. Way. Val. sp, c 100 North British all North Staffordshire 100 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £l5, 6 p.c. 674 8i 4t 48 - 49, PREFERENCE SHARES. ...xd - P - lip - lip - 14 21 - 3i - ... - 121 15 Do all Scot. Cent. , New Pref all Shrews. &Birm.N.G. all ihrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Miu), 8 p.c. 10 Do. 5 per cent all South Devon 1i Do. fixed, 4 e i per cent all S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d . 100 Do. 4 per cent all S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. all Stockton and Dar lington, 4 per cent. 5 Do. do. do. all Stockton and Hartle pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Ist July, 1856 3 WaterfdAlCilk.6p.c. 100 York, Newcastle,aud Berwick,4 p.c. Prcf. 5 Do JO York&N.Midlandri ad a. ItiChslsom 111 i Ji 8 - 8. 98 95 95 E ar 1 9 —' e• 2i - 3 121 -12 i 6 -- 7 9 94 par -- i p , . ....-. ... , . -_, ... 37 139 11 id 99 101 P bra 9i —lO 16 16 9 10 12 14 id 23 - 24 ii = 19 d 94 97 si 44 20 - 204 4i - 5i 8 - 9 12 -10 dis' 16 - 18 64 - 95 - 97 52 - 534 15 - 16 13 - 14 , . - ... 44 - 46 7i- 8,1 ... - ... 4f-i 4i ii h := ii 38 - 42 26 - 28 64 - 66 62 - 64 ii --- 88 68 69 L 29 - 131 99 - 101 83 - 83 93 - 96 13 -14 p 121 -13 g, 6; - 66 7 - . - 13 - 14 - 7i -- 8 par P 954 -- 964 104 - 105 - 4 P par 4 r d 81 -- 82 111 : P4:l 22 - 23 62i - 63 36 - 38 55 57 I d par si 5d 2t 3 6 - 8I 47 - 50 3# 346 32 ... 33 8 10 11 - 6. - '4 52 - 54 5i - 8 - 34 - 36 90 92 54 - 56 55 - 60 55 - 2/ - 14 -- 16 7 -- 8 10 -- 12 3i -- 3id 61 32f 2 d 31 - 2i 51 - 24 - G - St. 20 St. 15 5 10 St. 5 15 8i 8 10 10 25 10 1.01 53 21 I 205, 4i 13i i 87i 7 68 100 82i 3 94 651 i I 20 - 20 20 20 20 25 i d 100 100 20 `2O 1031 4 81i 2 100 20 22i 62fi ! j 1 i 38 7 10 20 20 20 48 20 32i 16 34 120 20 16 62 32i par 5 611 1 68 7i 8i 111 12i 481 I THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11, 1854. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENTS to put an end to the existing state of affairs in the prin cipalities—as we have tried negotiations too long, and found them fail, are we not bound in honour to proceed to war ? And, if we are not at this moment at war, or proceeding to war, are we not covering ourselves with disgrace ; I think the question put by the noble mar quis ought to be answered by the Government ; and the question is this—are any negotiations now taking place on the part of this country for obtaining peace ? The Earl of ABERDEEN.—Certainly, there are none. Lord BEATTMONT.—If no negotiations are going on for peace, are we to remain satisfied, and are no steps to be taken to put an end to the present state of affairs in the principalities ? Earl GRANVILLE.-- I rise to order. (Hear.) I think that even the question put by the noble earl (Grey) although notice of it was given, was of an irregular character. I acknowledge the importance of that ques tion ; but it seems to me irregular to propose questions in this house respecting the order of business in the House of Commons. The noble baron who has just ad- dressed the house; not content with one speecu, has made two, in the course of which he went on putting argu _ . _ mentative questions, to which he seems to expect answers. I hope that a sense of what is due to the dignity of the house will prevent a continuance of this scene. (Hear.) All that my noble friend at the head of the Government said—and I hope he is not the onlyman in the country who shares the sentiment —was, that while war is not declared there is still some chance of maintaining peace. My noble friend answered explicitly that he is not aware of any negotiations going on, but he hopes there is a chance of peace being maintained from this circumstance, that from the policy pursued by the Government in co-operation with France having resulted the cordial combination of the great Powers of Europe, that combination may be followed, on the part of Russia, by some departure from the violent, and, I must say, imprudent course which she has hitherto pur sued. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS t'iticl.l RAILWAYS. Leasing Compans, Closing Prices this day. all Bedford and 100 Bnckgbamsh. all Clydesdale Jc. 1.00 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. all Glas. Barr. & ' Neils. Direct all Do. New all Glatr.& Dn. Fr all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway all /lull & Selby all Do. t 3 Shares. all Do. Shares. all Lon. & Greenw all Do. Preference 1.00 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. WO Do. 6 per ct. all Nianch. Bxtu. and Matlock . all :diddlesbro' & Reo ear . all didid.Bradfd. all N'orthern and Eastern 5 p c. Do. 6 per et. all Do. Fixeds p all Prest. &Wyrve 12 Do. 4 Shares. 00 Roystn .& Hit. .00 Do. Shepth. St 18 Shef. Itoth.anc Goole g. 5 p.c. 9i 3. Statiordsh. all Wear Valleygi 6 per cent all Do IWO IN ilts&-Somrs, London & N. West. L. &N. W. Caledon... Gt.Nrthn. Caldonian. Do Gt. Westn i Yk. New. Berw. Y.B,;NMd Do Do S. Eastern D 0... Norfolk.. N.W. ! & Midld. Stekton & Darlingt. E. Count. Do ' Do N.W S Li Sak Do Gt Nortlin D 0..... • • •• Lau - cash& Yorksh. A.lllCloan itockt. Darliugt. t'ltWestn. 99 - 101 50 - 52 139 - 141 iO -- 32 1113 54 -- 55 27 -- 28 1 11-- 131 214 -- 2521 2i - 3 98 = iiiii 59 - 61 1 . 38 -14 t 138 - 142 't :: ii 30 - 9G - 98 FOREIGN. 7 Antwerp&Rotterdam 3 Belgian Eastn. June. 8 Beziers to Graissessac 2s. Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,Scrip : ... Central of Italy all Charleroi & Erquelin all Demerara 14 Dijon and Besancon 8 Dutch Rhenish. all East Indian 2 Do Extension all Gt. Indian Peninsula 10 xd. Junct. of France 7 Grd. Trunk of Canada 3u Do. Debentures all Do. do 8 Gt. Central of France all Gt.Westernof Canada, Shares ... . Do. Bands (Ist is.)'s7 15 Hamilton & Toronto all Do. 6 per cent. 5 Lake Coust. & Basle all Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c pref 15 Luxembourg 10 Do. (Railway) 2 Do. Pref 3 Do. (Canal),. 5 Do. 6p. et. pref 8 Lyons and Geneva 12 Lyons & Mediterran 10 Madras 33A Maria Antonia all Do. do. New 2 Melbourne Dk. &Ry all Namur & Liege (with interest) all Do. (ox interest) all Northern of France Do. 20/. 3 p. c Bds all (fmy.B.&Ams.Shs.) all No rwegianTrunkPrel 10 Paris and Lyons all Ditto Bonds all Paris and Orleans all Paris and Rouen all Paris and Strasbourg 4 ParisCaen & Cherbrg 104 Quebec & Richmond all Rouen and Havre 9 Royal Danish 2 Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse 6 Do. 5 p. cent. Pref 6 Souther' , of France 6 St. Andrew's and s _ _ Quebec (A) all West Flanders all Do. 5i per c. Pref 10 Western of France 5 West. of Switzerland 2 Wiesbaden ....... 15 Zealand all Agua Fria all Anglo Austrin. Gold 11 Anglo Californian 2 Australasian 6 Australian all Australian Cordillera all Australian Freehold all Ave Maria all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) all Blaenarvon Ir. & Coal all British Austrin. Gold 13.5 British Irou 24T Bra .(i ssue d at £5 pm all Do. Cocaos & Cuiada 15 Do. St. John Del Rey Carson's Creek Clarendon Con. Min. Co. of Jamaica all Cobro Copper 1 Colonial Gold 15 Copiapo all jopper MM. of Eng. all Do. Pref. 71 p. cent. all English and A.ustrln. Copper Smeltg.Co. all General all Great Nugget Vein... all Do. Registered all Great Polgooth all Liberty all Linares all Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co all Rariquita 9 Aexican&S.Amerien all New Granada all New Linares Mining and Smelting Co all NOILYCaII Monde all Pontgibaud Silver Lead MM. & Smelt 1 Port Philip all Quartz Rock all tilymney Iron 15 Do. Now 10i Santiago de Cuba all Fouth Australian 7 riu Croft all United Mexican , all Waller all West Granada all West Mariposa 12s. kVorthing Mining o' Australia all Yuba JOINT-STOI all kustralasia, all British Colonial Bank and Loan Company all tritish N. America': 5 Chartl. Bank of Asia 2 _lhrtd. Buk. of India, Australia, ,Sc China 25 'lolonial 20 ;ommercial of Lond 10 Euglish Scottish and -- Aitstralian ..... . ..... 15 Loud. Chart. Bk. o' Australia 20 London and County 10 Loudon Joint Stock 20 Lond. & Westminster 35 National Provincial of England 10 Do. New 22 National of Ireland all New South Wales all Oriental Bank of Corporation. 5 Do. New 25 Provincial of Ireland all Do. New 1 Royal Australn.Bkg Sc Gold Imp Co all south Australia all Union of Australia 21 Do. New 10 Union of Loudon biISCELLA. all Xubin Coal and Iron 17 ustralian Agricult. 14 kustralsn.Pcifie.Mail 8 kustraln. Royal Mail 21 lerlin Water Works 3E4 Brit. American Laud 1 i3rit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co 321 Canada 5 Crystal Palace 4 Do. 2 Crystal Pal.of France 3 Eastern Steam 20 Electiit Tologra.ph(A) all Do. (B) 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir. 14 Gen. Steam Navigat. 18 General Screw Steam Irish Beet:oot Sugar 10 Magdalena. St. Navig. all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 3 Netherlands Laud.... 1 N. S. W. Coal &Inter. Steam Navigat. Co. all N. B. Australasian... Do. New 10 Nrth.ofEurepeSteaml all Peel Rr. Ld. & all Peninsular & Oriental 30 Do. Do. all Portland Iron Co 60 Royal Mail Steam all Scot. Austral. Invest. 25 South Austral. Land all Submar. Telegraph.. all Do. Registered 28i Van Diemen's Land Lord St. Leonards has arrived in town from Boyle Farm. The noble and learned baron, who is in the receipt, we believe, of his full pension as an ex-Lord Chancellor, will assist in the judicial business (appeals) of the House of Peers during the session. vigour and effect. These changes—even in times of profound peace and tranquillity—are not unattended - with certain inconvenience, but at a moment of actual HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) preparation for war, or on the breaking out of hostilities, I am sure that every man must feel that a change of The Loan CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool- Ministers would be attended with the greatest incon sack at 5 o'clock. venience, if not danger. We cannot afford to have a THE EASTERN QUESTION. Ministerial crisis needlessly brought on, or needlessly The Earl of CLARENDON having laid upon the table of risked, at a time when the attention of the country is the house papers connected with the suspension of diplo- entirely occupied with providing for its own defence , and for the vigorous conduct of the hostilities with matic relations between Russia and this country, which it is threatened. (Hear, hear.) It is on these Earl FITZ WILLIAM sa id, I s h a ll now proceed to grounds lam most anxious to know whether—even at put to my noble friend at the head of the Foreign-office at the last moment—her Majesty's Government may be the question of which I gave notice yesterday. It is so inclined to postpone bringing forward the measure to which I have adverted. At the same time I quite agree much a matter of notoriety that I need not remind your with Ministers in thinking that the subject is one which lordships of it, that a Russian Minister has lately pro- ought to be takn into consideration as soon as possible. ceeded from St. Petersburg to Vienna for the purpose, All that has taken place during the last two or three years it is supposed, of making some proposals either to the proves that no advantage is to be gained by attempting Court of Vienna, or through the Court of Vienna to the to get rid of the question. However inconvenient and Ottoman Court. The question, therefore, or rather the difficult it may be to deal with the q uestion, it is one which must be settled. Still, it ought not to take pre questions, which lam desirous of putting to my noble cedence of the more pressing measures which the present friend are these :- -Ist, whether her Majesty's Govern- state of the country demands. I therefero beg to ask ment are cognizant of any such propositions which have the noble earl at the head of the Government whether it been made there—l mean, of any propositions which is true that her Majesty's Government intend to bring tary reform under the consider have been made either to the Court of Vienna, or to the a tl t br sn o be f t e i t o o f ti P ie a l rliltmn of Parliament before the esti - Ottoman Court through the intervention of the Court of ma Vienna ; and, secondly, whether, in the event of an m t n es for : the army an navy' house Y The Earl of ABERDEEN—In answer to the question copy of those propositions being in the possession of her put by the noble earl, I have to inform him that it is the Majesty's Government, my noble friend would have any intention of a noble lord, on Monday next, to bring for objection to lay that document, either in extenso or in ward a measure of Parliamentary reform in the House substance, before Parliament ? of Commons. If I correctly understood the noble earl, The Earl of CLARENDON—It is notorious, as my the objection he takes to that course of p roceedin g rests noble friend has said, that Count Orloff has been sent on the supposition of its interfering with those prepare.- upon a special mission from St. Petersburg to Vienna. tions —those military and naval preparations—which the I believe that he was not the bearer of that counter- present state of this country not only justifies but de project or answer to the terms of the Turkish Go- mands. Now, my lords, it will not practically have any vernment to which I alluded the other night. Those such effect. The navy estimates were laid on the table terms, or counter-terms were sent by the Aus- of the House of Commons yesterday. It was impossible, trian chargo d'affaires from St. Petersburg to from the nature of these estimates, to appoint an earlier day than next Friday for their consideration. On Friday, Vienna, in reply to the communication which he had therefore, the navy estimates will be taken into consider". been instructed to make to the Russian Govern- ation ; but the measure of Parliamentary reform, although ment. I may as well mention in substance what the proposed on Monday, will not be proceeded with until terms proposed by Russia were. The first was, that it after the consideration of the estimates, both for the was indispensable that a Turkish plenipotentiary should army and navy. (Cheers.) The public business, there fore, will not suffer in consequence of the introduction proceed either to St. Petersburg, or to the head quar- of the Reform Bill ; but her Majesty's Government have ters of the Russian army, in order to negotiate a peace ; felt that their character is at stake and depends on the secondly, that if he came to St. Petersburg the repro- introduction of that measure ; and, if it had been pos sentative of the Four Courts might have instructions sible to postpone it, we should have met with the just to advise and concert with -the Turkish plenipoten- reprobation of Parliament and the country for taking tiary, but the form of a conference was to be avoided ; that course. Noble lords seem to think that we are thirdly, that there was to be some separate or independent actually at war. Now, I must say that, not only is that act or protocol, defining clearly former or recent fir- not the case, but I for one deny, although it has been mans of the Sultan, confirming or constituting the asserted in this house by various noble lords, that war privileges and immunities of the Greek Church in the is inevitable. On the contrary, although I admit the East. There was also an article to the effect that the case is such as to require ample preparation to meet the principalities should be evacuated as soon as possible ; danger of war, yet Ido not abandon all hopes of main and, fourthly, it has provided that an arrangement taming peace. (Hear, hear.) Practically, therefore, my should be come to with respect to affording asylum for lords, w hatever my hopes or belief may be, they will what were called " agitators and revolutionaries" not affect" the course of proceeding of the Government. from different parts of the world. A conference was We shall make all preparation as if war were inevitable. summoned by Count Buol at Vienna, to which that (Hear, hear.) My lords, war in itself is the cause of counter-project was submitted. The terms were corn- many calamities to mankind ; but it is an additional pared with those which had been previously approved misfortune that it should interfere with the progress of by the Conference and transmitted to St. Petersburg, every social improvement, and with all those measures and it was found they were totally at variance with which most conduce to the welfare of the country. them. The conference, therefore, determined, and they (Hear, hear.) But I cannot admit that the mere appre recorded their determination in a protocol, that they hension of war is to prevent us from redeeming the were unacceptable to the Sultan, and should not be pledge which we have given to Parliament and the coun transmitted to Constantinople. (Hear, hear.) That is try, and which we are bound and determined to fulfil. the answer to my noble friend's question with respect to The Earl of DERBY—I have heard with regret the the counter-project by Russia. With respect to the statement made by the noble earl at the head of the other object of Count Orloff's mission, I beg to state Government. I heard it with regret because it con that I have no official papers on the subject, and that I am not sufficiently informed upon it to make tamed nothing which met the objection which I any statement to your lordships with regard to understood the noble earl (Grey) urged against the it. But I believe I may say this much, that that introduction of a measure of Parliamentary reform negotiation of Count Orloff's, so far as I am informed, at the present moment. I did not understand the had only reference to the rela tions an d the proposed - noble earl to object to the bringing forward of a mea relations between Russia and Austria ; and I believe that the answer given to tho se p ro p osals wa s such as sure of reform simply on the ground that its me re was fitting should be given by an independent country, introduction would interfere with those military and The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH—I wish to put a naval preparations which the Government, as the execu question relating to a matter of fact. It is, whether tive power, is preparing ; but also, because if brought her Majesty's Ministers have received from the Court of forward now, it will be introduced at a time when it is Denmark or the Court of Sweden any communication important that all party feeling should be placed in abey of their intentions with respect to a neutrality or a modi- ance, and that all our attention should be directed to one fled neutrality in the event of hostilities in the Baltic ? object, and one object only—namely, preparing for that The Earl of CLARENDON—We have received war, which, I believe, the noble earl at the head of the communications from both Sweden and Norway. They Government is the only man in the country who does have announced to us their intention of preserving a not think imminent. (Hear, and laughter.) At such a strict and perfect neutrality—(hear)—and they have moment it is that the Government, for the purpose—as also sent to us a list of those ports and fortified places the noble earl says—of redeeming a pledge given to the to which they w ill no t admit the ships of war of the country under very different circumstances, seem bent belligerents. We have sent an answer stating that we on running the risk of involving the House of Commons approve the system of policy which they propose, and in a serious conflict, and placing parties in a position the means by which they intend to carry it out, and which it is eminently for the advantage of the country adding that we shall respect their neutrality. that they should not be forced to assume. (Hear.) The The Earl o f ELLENBOROUGH—Have any excep- noble earl (Grey) announced that he placed no great tions been taken by her Majesty's Government with confidence in her Majesty's present Government, and in respect to the particular ports enumerated by Sweden ? that he very much resembles me—(a laugh)—but I, I ask this question, inasmuch as I understand that nevertheless, concur with the noble earl in anxiously and several of those ports are essential to the operations of a earnestly deprecating anything which would lead to the fleet in the Baltic ; and Russia has ports there while we removal of Ministers at this moment. The noble earl have none. expressed my sentiments when he described the incon- The Earl of CLARENDON—No exception has been venience and danger arising from a change of Govern- taken by us ; but great exception has been taken by ment ; it weakens the hands of the Executive, and Russia to the system which Sweden has announced. throws uncertainty into the councils of the country, and, The Earl of DESART.—So far as I can judge, it still therefore, however strong a partisan the noble earl at appears from public report that there is some possibility the head of the Government may think me, and, how of peace. I do trust, however that may be, that Rus- ever diametrically I may be opposed to his policy, sia is not to be permitted to gain another of those diplo- I can assure hint I desire to see no change of Ad matic victories by which she has acquired a greater ad- ministration now. (Hear, hear.) At all events, dition of territory within the last century than she has I hope your lordships and the country will give done by force of arms. If Russia is still willing to ne- me credit for desiring that all considerations of gotiate and to accept such propositions as the Sultan party should be abandoned, and that we should unite would have submitted to some time ago, let her do so ; in doing all that is required for the welfai-e and honour but if that is not her intention, and if for a length of of the country. (Hear.) The noble earl (Grey) sug time Russia is permitted to retain the Black Sea as a mare Bested the possible effect which might be produced by clausum, I can only say that you put powers into her the reform measure not being satisfactory to the country, hands which have long been the source of contention, and pointed to consequences involving either a dissolu and out of which will probably originate fresh contention of Parliament or the resignation of Parliament or tions, which may draw thi s coun t r y into a war which the resignation of the Ministry. But suppose the mea she may not be prepared to meet. I trust I shall be sure be satisfactory to the country—an extensive mea excused for offering these remarks ; but I feel strongly sure we are bound to presume it will be or it would not that this should not be allowed to be a triumph instead be worth all the turmoil and trouble which will be of a punishment to Russia, after the calamities which caused by it. Well, if it be satisfactory, and adopted she has brought upon her subjects, the great obstruc- by Parliament, how, in such a case, could a Parliament tions which she has occasioned to commerce, and the condemned by its own declaration continue to sit and near embroilment in a war in which she has involved all advise the Crown, and carry on the business of the Europe. (Hear, hear.) country ? (Hear.) Thus, whether the measure be re - Earl FITZWILLIAM—I s th e house to understand jetted or adopted, it will be productive of inconvenience, that my noble friend has or has not any papers relative and must lead to the dismissal of the Commons at no to the mission of Count Orloff to Vienna ? distant period. Now, I ask the Government whether — The Earl of CLARENDON—I distinctly stated that setting party considerations aside—it will conduce to I have no papers. As soon as I obtain any information the welfare of the country to have a dissolution of Par- I shall lay it upon the table, using, of course, my own liament, either now or in the course of the present ses discretion as to how far it may be proper to publish sion ? Can it take place with due regard to the in papers which relate to matters that do not concern this terests and safety of the country ? The objection to the country. At present. I have none. proceedings contemplated by her Majesty's Government THE REFORM BILL. is not so much that it will prevent the introduction of Earl GREY—In asking th e ques ti on o f the noble earl the navy and army estimates as that it will divert the attention of Parliament from the subject to which it at the head of Her Majesty's Government of which I ought mainly to be directed, by exciting party feelin g gave notice last night, I have o n ly a few words to say in w h en all ought to be acting in harmonious concert in explanation of my reason for doing so. Your lordships promoting the defence of the country and preparing for are aware from the votes that notice has been given in war. I concur with the noble earl (Grey) in deprecat the other House of Parliament that a bill upon the sub- ing the introductionof a me t as a u n lw os h i r es is s l ure kn t o o w raise party spirit not ject of Parliamentary reform is to be proposed on Mon- what arr courseirit maya d excite be take P n ar in y the House of Commons by day next, on behalf of the Government. That notice those who are not in the habit of giving their confidence was given at the beginning of the session, but since then to the GoVernment. The noble earl and his colleagues I have heard from persons of the most various political have certainly determined on throwing out a temptation opinions, of the most conflicting views as to the propriety which h it will a i req t u h i e re rea te g inta t ti p o u n b o li t c j v oi i n rt in ue t i o n a r e v s l e s t te—a —(d unanimous concurrence any further reform , such a unanimous concurrence in laugh)—namely, e ) t — o li th rn e e G Y O ' vernmel on a most vita g l proposition, the opinion which I ventured to express to your lord- with respect to which defeat would be fatal. Many of ships on the debate upon the address, that this is an in- those who may not dissent from the measure itself will expedient time to bring forward a question of reform, at doubtless object to the tine and opportunity selected for all events until those measures of national defenCe which its introduction, but I here venture frankly to express a may be required by the possible outbreak of war are hope that, however reckless the conduct of the Govern completed, that I really ment may be in throwing before the country such a ment would postpone that notice unless they should be subject of agitation at such a moment, a sense of what able to assure us that the probability of peace being dis• is due to the public interests and public welfare will turbed was at au end, and that we might rely upon tran- prevent the opponents of the Government from falling quillity being preserved. 'Y out lordships must be aware after what you hav e he ard to - night, that no such hope into the snare which it appears the noble earl and his colleagues are offering to them. ( Ironical cheers.) I of preserving peac e can b e indued in. Indeed, what trust that nothing will be done —I trust the House of the noble earl has told us this evening of the temper Commons will not afford the noble earl and his colleagues which has been exhibited by Russia makes the probe- a chance of esca p in g from the difficulties of their present bility of war even stronger than ever. Under these cir- position by rejecting the Reform Bill. However the cumstances, therefore, I am anxious to know whether conduct of the Government may be deprecated and de the Government really mean to submit to Parliament nounced in introducing it, I hope the measure itself will a measure for the alteration of the constitution of be received with the resp ect which is due to all commu the House of Commons before those other measures n ications addressed to Parliame nt b y the Crown, and which are essential to provide f or the defence that we, who are the opponents of the Government, will of the country have been considered and dis- not be parties to any party division separating the two posed of. I cannot help remarking to your lordships sides of the house at a moment when agreement between that there is naturally great anxiety in the public mind them is most desirable, until the Government shall call on this subject. Every one wishes to see the navy and upon us in a manner which it would be impossible to army estimates and other measures brought forward, and evade to pronounce "Ay" or "No" on the principle of especially that measure for extending the militia force, the measure. (Hear, hear.) which is at present o nl y a pp lic able to England, to the The Marquis of CLANRICARDE — I h eard an ob other divisions of the United Kingdom. (Rear, hear.) servation of great importance fall from the noble earl at There is a very great objection to having the discussion the head of the Government. I understood the noble upon those matters interfered with by another measure earl to say that not only are we not now at war, but also of the nature to which I have referred ; and I beg to call that he by no means admitted war to be inevitable. your attention to the fact that the delay may not be This is so different from what we beard on a former confined merely to a single night, or even to the several evening, that I feel it necessary to ask the noble earl nights occupied by an adjourned debat e , but it may be a whether he is aware that at this moment any negotiations delay of a much more serious character, because I pre. are going on to put an end to the state of hostilities and some that so great a measure as one of Parliamentary the warfare referred to in her Majesty's speech from the throne, Gov ernmen t w ith o ut reform is not to be launched byand popularly believed to be prevailing in an important the full intention of proceeding with the consideration of part of Europe. it without unneces sar y dela y . Lo oking, however, at The Earl of ABERDEEN—A state of warfare exists the great variety and conflict of opinionscountry, upon this sub- between Russia and the Porte; but I have yet to learn ject which now pre vail in time it is possible that that thi s countr y is at war with any Power. I say war the Government m a y fail in proposing such a measure as may be , unfortunatel y , but too probable ; but I say it is will meet with the approbation of Parliament. Are we, not inevitable, and as long as peace remains I will not then, in the midst of preparations for war, to have a dissolution ' of Parliament or a resignation of the present abandon the hope of maintaining it ; and, please God, am not one of those who no effort shall be spared on my part to maintain it. _ _. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE—Preciselty;e. dit Ministry ? (Hear, hear.) I profess any unbounded confidence in the present advisers is for that reason I repeat my question, which the noble earl whether he of her Majesty, but I own that I should look forward to earl has not answered. I ask negotiations are on foot their resignation at this moment with feelings of alard is aware at this moment, that any lluded to in her _h and and apprehension. (Hear.) It would be impossible for for terminating the state of warfare alluded to a change of Administration to take place without some s e tone from that disturbance of the regular march of the Government. liament—a speech very different in i Majesty's speech from the throne o . n t . he opening of It is is quite true that when the members of an Adminis- which the noble earl has addressed to your lordships to • tration resign they continue to perform the functions night ? question. The negotiations of their respective offices until their successors The Earl of ABERDEN—I have no objection to are appointed, and thus there is no actual interruption under consideration have of the most necessary functions of the executive Govern- relating to the proposition last . answer the noble marquis's ment • but we also know that from the very day on unable to say at present. (Some laughter which the resignation of her Majesty's advisers is ac- hereafter I am sn. certainly come to a close at Vienna. What may arise cepted until their successors are actually installed in Lord BOEPAnUMONT.—SureIy that is no answer. office more than half of the real power of the Go- hear.) The question put by the noble marquis vernment is destroyed. It is utterly impossible when from the p the reins of power are about to pass from the hands of 1 --- I . l° d (H id ear' t relae solely to what was going on at Vienna, one set of men to those of another—when it is uncer- I but its o bject was to ascertain whether we are now neg.. for peace anywhere. Plear.) I understood that fain whether the measures in progress will not be entirely , ottations were completely closed, and, as we are reversed— under such circumstances it is, I say, utterly 1 neg tiating Pledged to support the Sublime Porte—as 7 e are pledged impossible that the GoTerumeut can he carried on with . P The Marquis of CLANRICARDE.—I am sorry to have fallen under the rebuke of the noble Lord Presi dent ; but he must excuse me for telling him that it is not I, but he, who is ignorant of the usages of Parlia ment, if he thinks that at a time when it is doubtful whether the country is at war or peace, and after the Prime Minister has made a speech, it is irregular for a member of either House of Parliament to rise in his place and ask a question arising out of a gratuitous assertion in that Minister's speech. (Hear.) I found no fault with what the noble earl at the held of the Go vernment said, but I demanded an explanation. I have now received a free and frank one. The noble earl says fairly' that negotiations are closed. There are none going on at St. Petersburg ; none, I hope, at Constantinople ; and none anywhere that we know of. That, I say, is a fair and clear answer, but my question was a very pertinent one to put. What are the facts of the case ? The noble earl at the head of the Government alluded to the country as not being in a state of war, and followed that up by saying he hoped war was not inevitable, thus occasioning your lordships' minds to jump—if I may use the expression— to a conclusion very different from that to which we were led by the course of the debate the other evening. I maintain, then, that I was perfectly right in asking the question I did, and, far from receiving the noble earl's rebuke with the humility which, perhaps, he anti cipated, I contend that the course I have taken is in conformity with the usage of Parliament--(hear)—and if the present unfortunate state of things should con tinue, I shall not fail to ask for information from Minis ters of the Crown upon any points which seem to require elucidation. I admit it to be desirable, both for the purpose of convenience and for the sake of obtaining a clear answer, that notice should be given of questions ; but questions arising out of statements made by Minis ters of the Crown ought to be proposed immediately, and I hope that, as long as Parliament maintains its in dependence of the Crown and Ministers, such questions will continue to be put. (Hear.) Earl GREY—I also rise to protest against the re buke which the noble earl has thought fit to administer to me, my noble friend, and the house itself. The noble earl said that our proceedings on the present occasion were inconsistent with the dignity of the house. For my part, I believe they are perfectly regular, and that any proceedings in the Commons House of Parliament with which we are made acquainted by the printed votes laid upon their table may properly be noticed in this house if any of your lordships think that by doing so they can promote the public welfare. I am not aware that in founding a question on a notice in the Commons' paper I was guilty of any irregularity. lam also unaware that the noble baron near me (Lord Beaumont) committed any irregu larity. I concur in the expediency of not pressing the Government to proceed further than they are prepared to go. I assure the noble earl at the head of the Govern ment that I entirely concur with him in an earnest desire for the preservation of peace ; and although the Russian Minister has left our shores—although, as I have heard, part of the Queen's Guards are ordered for embarcation—and although every other symptom indi cates that we are on the eve of actual hostilities, yet I heard with unfeigned satisfaction that the Government still does not despair of the preservation of peace. As far as I am concerned, nothing shall fall from my lips which could in the least contribute to the embarrassment of the Government, or prevent them from carrying on negotiations or adopting measures by which they may still think it possible to avert the calamities of war. My only motive for putting the question which I proposed, was a conviction—in no degree shaken by what fell from the noble earl—that, from a false point of honour, and in order to redeem a pledge, the Government are wantonly and deliberately about to risk the welfare, and, perhaps, the safety of the country by bringing for ward, at an imprudent moment, the question of which they have given notice. (Hear, hear.) Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) RUSSIA AND TURKEY Sir H. WILLOUGHBY gave notice that, o❑ Mon day, he should ask the noble lord the member for the City of London a question relative to the Turkish papers, commencing with those which were signed by Count Buol. The hon. baronet took that opportunity of asking whether the treaty of Unkiar Skelessi could be pro duced ? Lord J. RUSSELL replied in the affirmative. THAMES BRIDGES. Mr. OLIVEIRA. gave notice that, on Thursday next, he should move for a select committee to inquire into the state and condition of the bridges over the Thames in the metropolis ; to report whether they were adequate to the present vastly increasing traffic ; whether it was desirable to construct one or more bridges over the river, and, if so, at what point or points ; whether it would be desirable to provide out of local funds the means of throwing open to the public the present toll•paying bridges, and, if so, upon what terms such bridges could be thrown open. LETTER-CARRIERS. Mr. T. DIINCOMBE asked the Secretary for the Treasury whether there was any objection to lay before the house the report, together with the evidence, of the commission recently appointed to inquire into the com plaints of the letter-carriers and other servants of the General Post•office ? _ _ Mr. WILSON replied that the report had not yet been received by the Treasury, but that when it was there would be no objection to lay it on the table of the house. SOLDIERS' RATIONS. Lord W. GRAHAM asked his right hon. friend the Secretary at War whether it was true that the rations of the soldiers were to be supplied to them at the average price of the last few years ; and if so, from what time that indulgence would commence ; and whether it would be extended to all British soldiers, or only to those quartered in Great Britain and Ireland ? Mr. S. HERBERT said, in answer to this question, that an arrangement had been made by which the amount of stoppage for rations would be reduced. He was anxious that any statement he might make should be clearly understood and accurate in every detail, but, as there were several points yet that required the signature of the authorities before being finally settled, he trusted the noble lord would allow him on Monday to state ex actly what had been done with reference to this matter. THE ESTIMATES. Mr. DISRAELI—The noble lord has fired this day week for taking into consideration the navy estimates. It would be convenient for the house, however, if the army and ordnance estimates were also laid on the table, so that the house might be able to consider the whole arrangements for the public service at the same time. Lord J. RUSSELL—The army estimates will be laid on the table to-night, with the view that on a question of so much importance the house may have an insight into the whole amount proposed by the Government. PREVENTION OF BRIBERY—TRIAL OF ELECTION PETITIONS. Lord J. RUSSELL said—l rise, sir, to ask leave to bring in two bills on the important subjects of bribery and treating, and the trial of contested eltions knows the practices whi ch have prevailedee* of Everyone late, tending to degrade all the pa rties concerned in th.m, as well as to lower the characte r of our representation. (Hear, hear.) ear, The right hon. gentleman whom I see opposite to me pro posed last y e ar to consolidate the laws on the subject of , the great advantage of being able to and I bad study the proposals which he made on this subject. In explaining the course I wish to pursue, I have first of all to remark that it is a very difficult task for the Legislattu e effectually to arrest the progress of bribery. With respect to those offences in which there is any person directly in terested, such as assault or robbery, you have a person in terested, or at least impelled by his feelings to seek for redress, on whose assistance you may rely for car rying into effect the objects and intent of the l aw . But with respect to other offences, such as that of smuggling for instance, all the parties engaged in them have an interest in concealing the acts of each other—the person who sells the goods, the smuggler who conveys them across the water, the customer who buys them, are all participators in the crime, and are all desi rous of concealing the acts which they have committed. It is very much the same with respect to bribery. The can didate who engages in its practice, the agent whom he em ploys, and the person who receives the bribe, may all ob tain the object of their wishes, in the seat in Parliament, the profit received, the money obtained, and are all inte. rested in concealing the facts. (Hear, hear.) lam happy, howeves, to say that in reference to that subject we have certainly made considerable progress in the last few years. The acts which have been passed to transfer the investiga tion of corrupt practices, where they extensively prevailed, from the committees of that house to the places them selves where the offence was committed, and also the acts by which the persons chiefly concerned, the can dictates and their KM% and the persons who have ro. i— 2 d 1 li 4 3d par i p ~ -- .. ---' 31 2id 2t - i P ..• -- ... 2i— 2d 1d par ... ••• id—iP dis 7 i - i - li - ••d 1 - - i-pl k•. .--, . ... • 7i - 8 29, -29 i 74 -- 8i 12i -- 13 p 41. —43 37 —39 28i - - 29 pm 3 ld 17 —lB ld par d 8i - ... - pm - 4. ii -3# ... - 5i - P d Par ad A P d 2i id id ad' 4p 6 - 11 i - id 7 'Ad 5 - 6 - 2i 28 - 30 - 44 - 46 par— I p 124 —13 A 65 75 4 6p 2 - 2i 14 161d1 - 3 d 10 11 A d 61 g— Ad ..• - .•• par— p 17 19 $ d —2B 30x d 8 10 4 5 $ d 4i 54 3 —3; — d( d _, d BANKS. 77 - 79 .. ....... ... -- d 1 —id 3i -- 2id id 4P u 7-- - - 'io 45 - 47 6 . 7 69sti l 6/ 7i 'BOIJI3 ii -: 43rd , • .-- • 4 • 70 --: 75 - 80 - p - p 17 - 18 17 - 18 3 id id 7- - i'p .. ... id par - 37 —3 9 P Ad ` 4r A d P 13 14 44 11 §cl Business this day. 1401 1 10 1 1 50 50 100 100 15 20 20 20 50 50 9 100 1 25 ••• ... ^ 29A I 28 9 ex dStb 45 1 391 67 8 71a d ad 6i 6 4 62 t 2a 37 1i calved bribes, are all forced to attend and give evi dence —those acts, I say, have thrown a light upon the corrupt practices which prevailed, at least in certain of the boroughs, that never was obtained before. I should say likewise, that before committees of this house there has been a greater facility in obtaining evidence with respect ton snaking bribery than existed until within the last few years. I my proposal to the house, I should state, per haps, first, what is the general nature of the statutes which have been enacted upon this subject. The act 7 William 111. is directed against persons who have received any money, or give any money, or who give or receive food, drink, or entertainment, and disqualifies persons who are guilty of these offences, The statute 2 Geo. 11. punishes a voter asking any money for giving his vote by imposing penalty of 5001., and for ever disqualifies the voter from voting, and the person bribing from being elected. An act which passed in the 49th George 111. inflicts various penalties on persons who endeavour to procure a seat in Parliament, and offer any gift or promise, any re ward or office, to persons who assist in procuring it. The pecuniary penalties are very high, being 1,000/. for one offence, and 500/. for another—that of receiving office. In proposing amendments I should say that, generally, I leave the offence of bribery subject to the punishment of misde meanour—that of fine and imprisonment, but do not pro pose to keep up ..he high pecuniary penalties. I think the right bon. gentleman opposite (Mr. Walpole) takes the same view of that question. The attempt to inflict a fine of 500/ on a poor voter who receives the sum of ss. for his vote, would be utterly impracticable, and no object would be gained by retaining those penalties. After proceeding to define the offence of bribery, according to the man ner nearly in which it is at present defined, with the ad dition of some' other offences, which I think have been omitted, I propose to define the offence of treating nearly in the manner iu which it is at present defines." by law. I then propose to define the offence of undue influence ; and I will read to the house a clause which I should propose iu ease the house will allow the abilltan who shall,boebroughtin.Tbhye clause is in these words—" himself, or by any other person ou his behalf, make use of, or threaten to make use of, any force, violence, or restraint, or inflict, or threaten to inflict any inl urY, harm, or loss, or in any other manner practice intimidation upon or against any person on account of any such person having voted or refrained from voting, or in order to induce or com pel such person to vote or to refrain from voting at an elec tion, shall be deemed to have committed the offence of un due influence, and shall forfeit the sum Of ---"" (say 501.) " to any person who shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit." Having thus defined those offences, the mode in which I propose—besides that which I mentioned as the penalty for misdemeanor which now attaches to bri bery—to check those practices, consists rather of dep rivin g persons who mayhave been elected by bribery, treating, and corrupt practices, of the object they sought to attain by the infliction of any very severe penalties. I think you would be far more likely to attain your end by depriving those persons of the object at which they aim, than byproposing the infliction of penalties which may never be enforced. 1 should propose to deprive the candidate of the seat in Parliament of which he is ambitions, and to deprive the voter of that vote of which he has made a corrupt use. I should propose, therefore, that a person guilty of bribery should be for ever incapable of being elected a member of Parliament; and that persons guilty of treating, undue influence, or making illegal payments, shall be incapable of electing a member for the same place in the same Parliament. This is the penalty which now attaches by statute to the offence of treating. I then propose, where there are any convictions for bribery and treating, that copies of those convictions shall be sent to the Speaker, and entered in the book of Parliamentary election dis qualifications. (Hear, hear.) I propose, likewise, with regard to those voters who are guilty of bribery, that their names shall be struck out of the register of voters, and that—as I believe I once mentioned to the right honour able gentleman opposite (Mr. Walpole, as we understood) in conversation last year—their names should not only to tally disappear from the register, but that there should be a separate list of the names of persons disqualified from having received bribes, and that those names should be printed and published in the same manner as those on the register of voters, so that they should for ever after be seen to be disqualified for the commission of that offence. I do not wish to go much into detail with respect to those bills, and therefore I will not go into the various other provisions of the bill to consolidate and amend the law with regard to bribery, treating, and undue influence. But the second bill which I propose to bring in I may explain at the present moment is one of very great importance, of which the provisions are more susceptible, per haps, of doubt and hesitation than these I have men tioned, but which, according to the view I entertain of them, may be of considerable use in checking these de basing and degrading practices. (Cheers.) I have fre quently stated to the house, and to that all members in this house generally assent, that it is a great omission, at least in the spirit of our laws with respect to election peti tions, that where a case is one of the highest public in terest, it is made one entirely of private concern—(hear, hear)—and those candidates who have by the most corrupt means obtained a return are very often, instead of being disqualified and rejected from this house, rendered secure • in their seats by the inability of those who have opposed them to stand the litigation, the delay, and the very heavy expense which must attend upon their applying to this house for a committee to try the validity of the return. Now, I do not find it easy to remedy that evil, because the house will at once agree that, while we ought to take care to have an investigation into such cases, we ought not to encourage or give any countenance to frivolous petitions. What I propose is this—that with regard to petitions which state that bribery, treating, corrupt prac tices, or undue influence have been used and have procured the return, all such petitions, according to the bill which I propose to bring in, shall be sent to a preliminary com mittee, which committee shall be in the nature of a grand jury. This preliminary committee would consist of 15 members, to be chosen by the general committee of elec tions, and they would hear the evidence on the part of the petitions to prove those practices. If they were satisfied that there was a sufficient case to proceed to an election committee, they would so report. to the house, and the elec tion committee would be appointed in the ordinary course. The election committee would then investigate the case, and supposing that they should find that the petitioner had proceeded with probable grounds, 1 should then propose that his costs should be defraved at the public expense. If, ou the contrary, they should find there was no ground, then ho would be liged to pay the exuenses of the sitting member whose seat he had attacked: (Hear, hear.) I think that by these methods we should hold out some in ducement to those who now in despair give up the prose cution of election petitions to bring eases before the house where very flagrant bribery has occurred. No one who has watched general elections can but 'be aware, that while there are numbers of cases brought to trial—that while in certain cases the candidate is rich, or where he thinks he has great influence in a place which it is worth his while to es tablish, the petition is carried on to its utmost result, and very great expenses aro incurred; but there are other cases where the bribery has been quite as flagrant, if not more so, in which there is no investigation before this houses and no inquiry takes place. But, sir, beyond this pro posal, there is another method which I propose,' and which I once proposed before in another shape. I mention this, however, as well as several other provisions, as plans which have endeavoured to frame in order to check those practices, but not as plans which it is certain ought to be adopted by the house without very grave consideration. I propose that where it is declared by a candidate that he has reason to suppose that bribery or corrupt practices are used during the election, in that case, if the number of votes which he shall obtain from the poll shall amount to two-thirds of the number which the successful candidate shall obtain, and the successful candidate shall be proved to have been elected by means of bribery, the election committee shall have power to return the candidate who petitions. (Murmurs.) I once proposed, but with out the limitation of the number of two-thirds, that. in such a case the petitioner should be returned. It is a mode of giving at least some inducement to persons to pe tition this house iii case they had been rejected, and at the same time have had a majority of legal and unbribed votes at the election. There is another proposal which I have to make, which is an alteration, and not a very great altera tion, of the law as it at present exists, in consequence of the bills I have introduced in former years. I- propose that where an election committee shall report that bribery extensively prevailed in any borough, then, without any address from this house and the other house of Parliament. the Speaker shall communicate that report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and that report shall be laid before the Crown, and the Crown shall thereupon have power to issue a commission, in the same manner in which commissions have been lately issued. I propose, likewise, to alter the manner in which commissioners have been appointed. (Hear, hear.) I formerly introduced the appointment of those commissioners on the nomination of the house, with the view to prevent any jealousy as to the influence of the Crown ; but I cannot help thinking that the dispersing among so large a number the responsibility of nominating commissioners, tends a good deal to pre vent a due selection being made. I therefore propose re stricting the choice in England to revising barristers who have been nominated by the judges in some former year to the office of revising barrister, and to give the Crown the nomination of those commissioners. I believe a Minister — say the Secretary of State for the Home Department — acting under a sense of responsibility, is much more likely to make a good choice than could be made by the house. importance, rattrownhsiuohf With respect to the withdrawal of p etitions, there are vari ous other provisions in the bill , the present law of considerabl e w)licharealte bu are too much matters of detail to make it necessary to enter upon them here. But there is one very con siderable alteration which, if I am allowed to bring in the bill to consolidate the present law, I propose to make with respect to election committees. I was always very much opposed to the withdrawal of the power of judging of the title of persons elected to Eat in this house, from the house. I think the law has been so much amended in that respect that at least there is not a ny very well-founded 'complaint at present of there being any party or corrupt influence in the decisions of election committees. (Hear, hear.) But Ido think there is still some reason to complain of a want of unifor mity of decision—(loud cries of hear, hear)—of a want of that legal knowledge which would enable the committee to decide in each case according to known principles of law. (Hear, hear.) In order to obtain this advantage, I propose that upon a dissolution of Parliament the Crown shall appoint ten barristers of ten years' standing to be assessors for the purpose of being nominated to act in that capacity to election committees ; and that in every subsequent year one person shall bo so appointed which will probably be quite enough to be appointed for that purpose, and that the general committee, in nomi nating the election committee, shall at the same time name the particular assessor who shall attend the commit tee. I propose to repeal the provision—of which I was myself the original author—that there should be a separate chairman's panel. (Hear.) I propose that the general com mittee of elections shall choose the whole committee; and in that way, and with the assistance of the assessor, I think there would be a greater uniformity of decision than wehave hitherto experienced. Now, with respect to prosecutions for bribery, I likewise propose that when a committee reports that persons have been guilty of bribery, upon a communi cation by the Speaker of that fact, the Attorney-Gene ral should at once prosecute the persons so reported to have been guilty of this offence. I think it is desirable to re move those questions as far as possible from the discussion and debate of this house, when you have once appointed a tribunal by which they shall lie dealt with. These, sir s: generally, are the provisions which I propose to introduces . in these bills. The house will have a better view of them when they have seen the bills and consulted their provi sions. I, for my part, in discussing their details, shall be quite ready to listen to any suggesti on that sh a ll be made. I believe that the great majority of this house thin k that the time has come when we ought to e ndeavour, possible, to prevent and to check these degrading practices—(cheers) house. —and in raising the cha racter of this use, (Loud —and if we succeed in suc h an object we shall succeed cheers.) Mr. M. GIBSON said he should not o n _ the moment pre sume to offer a hasty opi nion on the details of th e p l an whichthe noble lord had submitted to their consider ation; on which 12e had new * cbonturetheeo7thwe bi enuotwoororali ints w hich caught his att en ti on i n the addrem 20 50 50 25 25 Inn 110 I