The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-01 00:00:00

fourtt Xibittion SUN OFFICE, Seven, o'Clock. LIVERPOOL RACES. (THIS DAY.) (EY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SPRING CUP. St. Clair Six ran. SCRAMBLE HANDICAP ay acinth Seven ran. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF C011111ONS—(THIS DAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 2 o'clock. RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. BOUVERIE moved thatthe committee of selection do nominate, from time to time, not more than one in five of the members nominated by them as the general Committee on railway and canal bills, to act as chair men of sub-committees on such bills. To be made a standing order.—Agreed to. The West London Railway Bill walk read a second time, and crdered to be committed. PETITIONS. _ . Several petitions were presented against any alteration in the Parliamentary oaths. A. number of petitions were presented praying that Public-houses may be closed on the Lord's-day. GRAVEYARD OF BERKELEY. Mr. C. BERKELEY wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an application, signed by the proper authorities, had reached the Home Office for closing the graveyard of the ; 7 1, town of Berkeley, in the county of Gloucester ; and, if hush application had been received, why the noble lord had allowed three months to elapse without takiag any .steps with regard to the subject. -• Mr. FITZROY said a letter was received on the I 'd 14th of last November, and on the 6th of December an answer was sent stating that an officer would be sent down in due course to inspect the grave - yard. Three officers had been appointed for the especial purpose of inspecting the graveyards of the country, and the inspector of the Gloucestershire die' trict would visit the Berkeley churchyard as soon as possible. Of course, when his report was received at the Home-office it would be immediately acted upon. SUPPLY. The report of the committee of supply on the war and ordnance expenses was brought up and agreed to. LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. LUCAS took the opportunity of adverting to the case of the Misses Arrowstnith, referred to last night by Mr. Chambers. He mentioned that while these ladies were in a convent he had an interview with them, and he could assure the house that they enjoyed as much liberty and happiness there as it was possible for one to obtain out of it. It was entirely with their own free will that they entered and remained in the convent. The subject then dropped. ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. The house then went into committee of supply on the Ordnance Estimates. 902,8211. was voted for defraying the expense of works and buildings abroad. On the question that 134,3681. be voted to defray the expense of the scientific branch of the ordnance, Mr. W. WILLIAMS found fault with the system in operation at Sandhurst College. Young gentlemen of station and family were allowed to be sent there to the exclusion of the orphans of military men. Colonel DUNNE remarked that the hon. member was mistaken, for the orphan children of military men always had a preference over other candidates for ad mission into the college. Mr. MONSELL confirmed the statement of the gal bat colonel. Mr. HUME denounced the practice which prevailed of allowing persons entering the army simply for the sake of the name or the station it afforded. No one ought to be permitted to enter who did not really mean to adopt it as a profession and a means of livelihood. Colonel DUNNE also thought it was highly prejudi cial and detrimental to the efficiency of the service that young men of fortune were permitted to enter it without the remotest idea of adopting it as a permanent profes sion, as they stood in the way of better and more prac tical men. (Hear.) Lord SEYMOUR drew attention to the Ordnance Survey of Scotland. He said there was a report abroad that it was intended to be constructed upon a scale of Aix inches to the mile ; but for the purposes of a map it would be of no use unless it was made upon a scale, of only one inch to the mile. Mr. WILSON said the scale had not yet been fixed upon, but the Treasury were seeking the advice of emi nent scientific men upon the point. Lord SEYMOUR hoped no scale would be finally agreed upon until the opinion of the house had been taken upon it. It might be advisable to have a larger Scale for the towns, but for the country generally he should decidedly object to going beyond the scale of an inch to the mile, as it would otherwise be putting the country to unnecessary expense. Colonel DUNNE suggested that the smaller scale should be adopted as the rule, and that where landlords or other parties required a larger scale it should be carried out at their own expense only. Mr. SMOLLEIT inquired what was the position of the survey, as it was now being carried out. Mr. MONSELL said the survey was being compiled upon a reduced scale, but it would be highly inconvenient to disband the corps of engineers until the final scale had been decided upon. Mr. HUME objected to this blind mode of pro seeding, and insisted that there ought to be one respon Bible officer in the State who should exercise a supervis log control over the expenditure of every department of the Government. For instance, no less than between 700,000/. and 800,0001. had been expended upon this Survey, and yet it appeared it had not been reduced to such- a form as to make it available for the use of the 'public. Colonel DUNNE thought the house should press the Treasury to make up their minds at once as to the scale upon which the survey should be made. Mr. WILSON said he could state that there was no intention to depart from the six inch to the one inch Seale, but he could assure the house that nothing, would be done in the matter by the Treasury until the house had an opportunity of pronouncing an opinion upon the resolution which should be come to. Mr. SCULLY said this was not a mere question of expense, it was a question of what scale would be the best for the public interest, and whichever scale effected that object ought to be adopted whatever was the ex- Penn. He suggested that a selected committee of the house should be struck for deciding upon the scale. Colonel BOLDER() said the survey of Ireland, which had been completed by the Ordnance, was one of the most perfect maps in the world, and he thought a better scale for Scotland could not be adopted than that. Mr. E. ELLICE observed that, on a recent visit to Scotland, he found a very useful and efficient staff of engineers engaged in surveying so useless a part of the country as the island of Lewis. That survey could be of no possible use to the public, and he was very much afraid a great deal of money was being uselessly ex pended upon many parts of the ordnance survey of gootland. Mr. BARROW proposed that the vote should be postponed until an understanding should be come to upon this question of the ordnance survey. Mr. WILSON said there was no necessity for that, 4 8 no money would be expended upon any new scale until it bad been sanctioned by Parliament. ' , The vote was then agreed to. 171,446/. was voted for the non-elective service of the ordnance. The Chairman was then ordered to report those re solutions to the house, and the house having resumed, the seport was ordered to be received to-morrow. INNS OF COURTS. akr. NAPIER rose to move an address to the Crown fora commission to inquire into the arrangements in the Inns of Court for promoting the study of law and jurispradence, the revenues properly applicable, r'l. and the means mos t likel y to secure a s ystematic t4 ' . and sound education for students of law, and provide ' !;.,-114isfactory test of fitne ss for admission to the bar . He lisit-this.question was one of g reat p ublic interest an d ' t . IsPortari* there were 800 barristers in Westminster, while the provinces - in Ireland and the colonies, there were no less than 3,000, and the education of so large and influential a body of men could not be a matter of indifference to the house or the country. The honourable and learned member having adverted to the steps which had been taken with respect to this subject in. former years, proceeded to adduce authorities in favour of the establishment of a public school for the study of law and jurisprudence, All these authorities admitted the want of some regalar system of train ing for persons going to the bar, but up to this moment no test whatever was applied to ascer tain the competency of law students who were called to the bar. His immediate object in making this motion was to supply that deficiency, and in order that it might be speedily attained ; he thought the Inns of Court ought to be subjected to the same scrutiny and examination that was about to be proposed with regard to the universities. When he was study ing for the Irish bar, he had a difficulty in ascertaining what steps he should take for rendering himself profi cient as a law student ; buthe applied to an eminent friend for advice on the subject, and he would tell the house the advice he received—" Oh," said his fri en d, " you are go i ng to the bar, are you ?" " Yes, he replied. " Well," said his friend, " I should recommend you to study 'Joe Mil ler.' ". (Laughter.) But the joke did not end there, for when he came,over to England to complet e hi s studies in one of the inns of court, he found that all he had to do was to eat so many dinners in each term. (Re newed laughter.) There were no public libraries or schools which he could apply to for instruction, and the consequence was that he was forced to have recourse to the library of a distinguished professor attached to the London University to obtain that knowledge which was necessary to render him competent to practice at the bar. Now since that time repeated committees had sat upon the subject, and various alterations had been suggested to be made in the system, but these recommendation s had only been partially carried out, and up to the pre sent time, things remained in pretty much the same state as [when he first came to England to study for the bar. (Hear.) There was no bona fide test for i! o tgr.a ,I ' . Itria an ef eutrality 12 States. emselres aised the fficultie s otiation s mbject.' says : the au irrection restored nrn as to 'possible he par- Ina, and ought to he direc ►ct num sa is not ye taken ons con but it is I Zayasi esi deuce led, it is rch, the gyro's un wing the I by the there of he affair de San f Major vision of : an air lana, on a at the in thus gat news der sub is doing was, as 3i ; Ra i clans), L. 35. Ott. ~..,~ CASE ...... 1 2 1 2 1 1 •••...••• 2 .... 3.30 .... 4.30 .... 5.0 .... 5.30 prictress, Angelo, 52.. x . , it lb «. 7 12 7 7 5 12 5 8 21ITY. 1 kly ap• ted for kr a bil led th s 3rgast gor tht in the be re in the :oneral large ,ember . to a .1 =on e rend, t, and Li pur 1, Tan vro aid being %mowd ~ and ci ZB, ydei a, dk, e Ls xt 11" as 1 II Al. 1 cm t y to 11'e(1, um it ie.n a, their at i of lag ►o wwo r. 'd THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 1:1854. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) ALLEGED TRAFFIC IN SITUATIONS BY -IRISH REPRESENTATIVES. .\.; IMPERIAL PARMA ME NT. Yesterday the committee on this subject re-assembled in committee-room No. 19. Present : Mr. Henley (in the chair), Lord Hotham, Mr. I. Butt, Mr. Macartney, Mr. Granville Vernon, Mr. Bentinek, and Mr. Muntz. Mr. Ennis, chairman of the Irish Midland Railway, was the first witness. lie said he was acquainted with Mr. Christopher Kelly in 1841, who was then a clerk in his counting-house, but denied that he had any conver sation with him in reference to the payment of a sum of money to a member of Parliament for obtaining a situa tion as a stipendiary magistrate ? The Chairman—Then if Mr. Kelly has stated that a sum of 500/. was paid to a member of Parliament on the promise of a place, and the promise of another 500/. on that premise being ratified—you have no know ledge of it ! Mr. Ennis said he had not. If such conversation had taken place he had no recollection of it. He would not take upon himself to say, aye or no, that no such con versation took place, but he was strongly of opinion that it did not. At the same time he was not in so good a position to remember such a thing after 13 years had passed as perhaps Mr. Kelly was. Mr. Honley was then called. He said he was a sti pendiary magistrate, and his first appointment took place on the 13th Feb., 1841. The Chairman—lt has been stated to us by a witness who was examined last week that your name has been mixed up with other persons in reference to that ap pointment. It is hardly fair to ask you anything further upon this point, unless you wish to make any statement upon it. Mr. Honley—The statement of Mr. Kelly in the papers is without a shadow of foundation. I applied to two members of Parliament, and I have no objection to lay their communications before the committee ; but no such transactions as Mr. Kelly alleges ever took place. The witness here produced a letter from the late Mr. Dillon Browne, dated Dec. 5, 1837, in whic'a the writer expressed his fear that the Government would pay little attention to recommendations coming from him. The next communication was from Mr. Somers :—" St. James's Hotel, St. James's-street, Dec. 18, 1838.—My dear Honley,—l have much pleasure in complying with your request, and forward you the enclosed letter for Lord Morpeth, wishing you success.—Believe me, in haste, yours sincerely, J. P. Swam." HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.) LEASING POWERS (IRELAND) BILL. The Earl of DONOUGHMORE moved the second reading of this bill. He stated that this, and the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, the second read ing of which he would also move, were the same, with some minor exceptions, as those introduced into this house last session. The noble earl entered into an ex planation of the main provisions of the bill, which he observed had been carefully framed, so as to obviate any interference with the rights of property. He believed that a sound system of reform should be adopted—that they should reform where it was necessary—and that they should not reform merely because they thought that some other state of the law would be more applicable. Their case in Ireland was this : it was admitted that they required a reform—a long time had been spent in discussing what that reform should be--they had evi dence concerning the state of landlords and tenants in Ireland, and they certainly ought now to legislate on the subject ; but in England they should not do so, as it was not required ; although there was not a single provision in the bill which he did not believe to be just and equit able, and if the state of circumstances in England re quired reform, there was not a provision of it that he should not be ready to advocate for that country as well as for Ireland. (Hear, hear.) He had one great ground for bringing this subject under their lordships' notice. He had been for some years in the habit of attending to the management of landed property in Ireland, and he found himself met at every turn by the difficulties of the law when he endeavoured to improve the estate, the occupiers of the estate, and the cottier population. It was from his experience of the faulty state of the law that he earnestly desired that a just and fair change should take place, and with that view he submitted those bills for their lordships' consideration. Lord MONTEAGLE did not wish to oppose the second reading of these bills, but he could not acquiesce in it without calling the attention of their lordships to some principles involved in them, against which he strongly protested. From the reign of Geo. 111., down to the present time, 60 bills had been passed for the pur pose of regulating the relations between landlord and tenant, and the result was well described by his noble friend (the Earl of Donoughmore) when he stated that his own attempt to improve the condition of his tenantry had been frustrated by the network of legislation which Parliament had in its wtnt of wisdom passed. (Hear, hear.) The difficulty was, he believed, one of principle. Every attempt to legislate for people hav ing the ordinary interests of buyers and sellers would be infinitely more prejudicial to their real interests than it would be to leave them free to make whatever agree ments they pleased. (Hear.) He appealed to noble lords who had property in different parts of England whether many things which applied to the county of Northum berland were in the slightest degree applicable to the county of Dorset or of Sussex ? (Hear.) There were some species of tenant right, more or less, existing in every county, and the customary relation which existed in one part of the country would be totally inapplicable in another. His noble friend had referred to the question of contracts. He agreed with his noble and learned friend (Lord Campbell) that there was a great distinction to be drawn between contracts and legislation ; and if ever - there was a bill which was a violation of all the principles on which contracts were founded, the present bills were of that nature. As the bill stood, the rights of property were trampled under foot. He believed that all cases, whether of the sale, lending, or hiring of land, finally resolved themselves into the commercial principle of open contracts, and should be dealt with in that way. He thought it was wrong to lay down any rule as to the length of leases. Leases of 21 years were common in England, of 19 years in Scotland ; but his noble friend laid it down that 31 years leases were best for Ireland. If these bills were really to become useful measures, it could only be done by imposing on the noble and learned members of their lordships' house the duty of assisting in the improvement of the clauses in committee. The Duke of NEWCASTLE said—My lords, I should certainly regret if any other course were to be taken with regard to the bills now before us than that which my noble friend (Lord Monteagle) proposes. lam sure that all your lordships join with me in regretting the absence of my noble friend the Marquis of Clanricarde, not only because we have not the advantage of his assistance in this debate, but from the lamentable cause which pre vents his attendance this evening. (Hear.) I therefore wish all these bills to be referred to a select committee, in order that they may be made the subject of the same inquiry. I. rejoice that my noble friend has expressed his willingness that they should be so referred, although I am not quite certain that if I could feel the strong ob jections to the principles of the measure which he has stated I would follow the course which he is now about to adopt. I concur, undoubtedly, in much that has fallen from my noble friend as regards the principle of legislation in connection with the law of landlord and tenant. I entirely agree with the general principle which he laid down, that all these contracts relating to the buying and the letting of land resolve themselves into the category of ordinary commercial transactions, and are much better left as far as possible to be decided between the two contracting parties. But when my noble friend draws a picture of a Scotch tenant from the Lothians going into the county of Mayo or Galway, and taking land there, and states the impression that he would be greatly deterred from taking land when you present him with one of these bills, supposing them to become law, I must remind my noble friend of the posi tion that the tenant is in when he goes to Ireland now. Does he find his relations with his landlord a simple mat ter of contract and bargain between him and the land lord from whom he is about to take the land ? By no means. The principle has been violated for centuries, and there are on the statute book at this moment upwards of 200 statutes legislating for landlord and tenant, all affecting the question of contract more or less directly, and infringing that principle which, in the abstract, I entirely agree with my noble friend is right. I say then that we are not now in a position to discuss whether legislation is right, but whether we cannot amend the legis lation which already exists. My noble friend objects to legislation regarding the period of a lease, and thinks it wrong to lay down as a general rule that the landlord may, under certain circumstances, give a lease of 31 years to the tenant. Why the bills of the noble earl (the Earl of Donoughmore) and the bills which came from the House of Commons last year are not dealing de novo with this subject. The law of Ireland regarding leases is in a most anomalous and ridiculous position—in so absurd a position that one class of landlords may give leases of two or three years, and another class of landlords, under precisely similar circumstances, except that their title is different, may give leases of a much longer duration. I think that every species of dignitary in the Church is now enabled to grant leases of varying durations; and, in fact, the law of Ireland at this moment is not only in the most ridiculous but in a most inconvenient and pre judicial condition. Now the noble earl opposite has cer tainly saved me from the necessity of troubling your lordships with any lengthened observations on this occa sion. I took the liberty of trespassing at some length on your lordships' attention, on the second reading of these bills, when they came up from the House of Com mons last session, after the most careful deliberation in that house. I then stated the nature of the bills to the best of my ability ; but certainly, if I was not sufficiently sensible of the inadequacy of my explanation on that occasion, I am more sensible of it now, after the speech of the noble earl, who has to-night supplied the deficiency in my explanation ; but as a great portion of his obser vations apply to the provisions both of the bills which he has introduced and of the bills which came up from the House of Commons last year, and which I have re introduced on this occasion, it is quite unnecessary for me to go over the ground again. The noble earl, how ever, must not suppose that because I have introduced two of these bills in the same form as they came up from the House of Commons, I therefore consider any alterations in his bills otherwise than as amend ments. I have brought them in as they stand simply because I considered, under the engagement into which we entered last session, that that was the most convenient mode of fulfilling it ; and if we are ever to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on the subject, there is an advantage in starting in the committee with the bills in the same form as the House of Commons, after a careful deliberation of some months in a select committee, constituted of representatives of all parties, without distinction of politics, sent them up to your lordships. The noble earl instanced a clause in one of the bills which I introduced that he says he has altered, viz., a clause giving power to the encumbrancer in pos session to grant leases under certain circumstances ; and I myself think it desirable that that clause should be omitted ; and if I am able, in committee, I shall cer tainly vote against that clause. There is another clause which the noble earl proposes to which I cannot so en tirely assent. He proposes to introduce into his bill a clause that was omitted by the House of Commons after very mature consideration, viz., the revival of the power of distraint over growing crops. I think the other house came to a right decision in leaving out that clause. I The law in Ireland gave the power of distraint over growing crops up to the year 1846, but in that year it was re pealed by a bill which I myself introduced into the other house, being then Secretary for Ireland. My lords, I believe that if it was right to repeal that measure, it would be wrong to re-enact it now. I felt at the time that the bill was introduced, in 1846, that this repeal was not unattended with inconvenient consequences to the landlord ; but it was after deliberate examination of the question, and after the inquiry it underwent before the Devon Commission, and the unanimous opinion of the five commissioners that this alteration should be made, that I introduced the measure to which I have referred. If I felt then that there were objections to this repeal, those objections are removed now. I rejoice, in the altered condition of Ireland, that the power is no longer continued ; and I should witness with regret the introduction of a provision which I cannot help thinking would be attended with much heart-burning and great discontent. It is unnecessary f or me to go into the discussion of two of the bills of the noble earl, which are so very similar to those that came up from the other house last year, and which I have re-introduced on this occasion. The noble earl has stated the reasons which induced him not to introduce the third bill—the Tenants Improvement Compensation Bill. He stated, and stated correctly, that as regards prospective com pensation, there are provisions in the bills which he has introduced, and that he believes these provisions will be satisfactory and sufficient for that purpose. lam not quite certain that I can quite agree with him in this re spect ; but at any rate the noble earl does admit the principle of compensation for future improvements. Now, my lords, I cannot think that would be so BRITISH RAILWAYS. A letter from Lord Brabazon was of a teLour similar M o that of r. Browne. - In answer to the chairman the witness said he received his appointment from Lord Morpeth. Mr. Butt—Are the committee distinctiy to under stand that you never made any consideration for your appointment ? Mr. Honley—Never. The Chairman—Has there been any application made to you for money on the part of Mr. Somers ? Mr. Honley—At the time of my appointment as ma gistrate I sold off my stock, and in the newspapers I advertised that I had 1,0001. to lend. I was subse quently applied to, and through my solicitor I lent 4001. to Mr. Somers and 4001. to some one else. I lent the money to Mr. Somers on the security of his bond. I have not received the interest, and the property has been sold by the Encumbered Estates Court, and after the previous creditors are satisfied, I am the first to be paid. I think that loan was made in 1840. A similar sum was lent to Mr. Custins by Mr. Kane, my solicitor, about the same time. In that case I have not received one farthing. I applied to Mr. Somers three or four times for the interest, and the only excuse for not pay ing it he made to me was by not answering my letters. The money was lent on mortgage, and the interest was to be paid from time to time, but I had no communication with Mr. Somers, except through my solicitor. Mr. Vernon—Then were you satisfied to let your money go for 7 or 8 years and receive no interest for it ? Mr. Honley—l was not, but under the circumstances what could Ido ? I did not consider the money that I lent to Custins near so well secured as that I lent to Mr. Somers. The Chairman—Through whose influence did you get the appointment ? Mr. Honley—That of the late Mr. O'Connell. After some other unimportant questions, the witness was ordered to withdraw. Dr. Gray was next called. He said he practised me dicine, and was the proprietor of the Dublin Freeman's Journal. He attended a dinner at Tuam in January last, which was reported in the Freeman's Journal of the 27th of January. The speech was read over to witness and was stated by him to be a summary of what he said, and not a perfectly accurate one. The public will remember that he asserted some member of Parliament had endeavoured to sell the office of paid guardian. Upon being pressed by the committee to give the names of the parties referred to he hesitated to do so, stating that they were given to him confidentially. The Chairman—You, in your discretion, made the statement, without saying to whom it points, and, as it affects a whole body of gentlemen who may be sus pected most unjustly, I think you cannot withhold the name of the parties. Dr. Gray said as the statement was given confiden tially he had great difficulty in revealing that that was confidential. The Chairman—As this statement may be injurious to several persons, you must verify it by giving the names. Dr. Gray—lf I can do so without a breach of confi dence I am ready to do so. The Chairman'—Who is the solicitor ? Dr. Gray—Mr. Charles O'Hara, of Wellington-street, Dublin. The Chairman—Who stated to you that he was nego tiating with a member of Parliament for the office of paid guardian ? Dr. Gray—Mr. James Fair informed me of the nego tiation. He is now an apprentice to Mr. Dooley. To Mr. Vernon—He conveyed to me an impression that he was acting as the agent of a member of Parlia ment. The Chairman—Who was the member of Parliament Dr. Gray—Mr. Somers. To Mr. Vernon—l do not know from my own per sonal knowledge that Mr. O'Hara was acting for Mr. Somers. Mr. Butt—ln your speech you said the system was generally pursued; do you know of any other instance ? Dr. Gray—l have heard of a great many, but not to my knowledge. I have heard general statements from members of the house. Mr. Butt—Can you give the committee any other in stance to justify the general charge and accusation you have made ? Dr. Gray—There are a great many cases, but I have not inquired into them. Mr. Vernon—Do you consider you can justify your self in making such a sweeping charge against a body of members ? Dr. Gray—l did not make a general charge. I spoke of general corruption. I made no general charge against the Irish members, but I did charge a section of them with pretending to advance the condition of Roman Catholics by obtaining situations, but instead of doing so distributing them among their own friends, and thus selling their country.l It being now intimated that the Speaker was at prayers, the committee adjourned. LLOYD'S SHIPPING,--(THIS DAY.) LONDON, March I.—Wind this day at Noon, S. to S.W. ; light breeze, and fine, clear weather. MARGATE, Feb. 28.—Wind, N.W. by W. Arrived — Adolph, from Leith, for the West Indies ; Ida, Shields, for Civita Vecchia. DOVER, Feb. 28.—Wind, W. Sailed—Haabet, for Christian sand. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 28.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, from Lisbon. Sailed—Himalaya (s a), for Malta. FALMOUTH, Feb. 28.—Wind, N. Arrived—Jane Morri son, from New York, with pumps choked, loss of bulwarks, short of water, and fuel and part of cargo thrown over board ; Elizabeth, Berdianski. SHIELDS, Feb. 28.—Wind, N. Sailed—Dumsdale, for Jamaica ; Burlington, New Yolk ; Brothers. Quobec.— The Sincerity, of Southampton, which struck on the Herd Sand on the 27th Feb., has broken up : her materials, with part of cargo (pit pops), have been washed into the harbour. BRIDLINGTON, Feb. 28.—The Harkaway, from Hartle pool to Shoreham, and the Lochaber (sch.), of London, were in collision ; the former lost her bowsprit, and the latter her mainmast. CUXHAVEN, Feb. 24.—The Caledonia (s), for London, has put back with severe damage to her engines. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Wednesday, 10 a.m. Wind, S.W. ; moderate, and fine. No arrivals or sailings. QUEF2NSTOWN, Feb. 27. Wind, S.W. ; strong. Arrived—Gebroeder, fr om Vien na ; Hannah Hicks, Tenez ; Mary Eleanor, Odessa ; Napoleon, Alexandria ; ; Agnes, Ibraila, ; Emilia., River ..Plate Halcyon, Odessa ; Heroine and Island Queen, St. Michael's. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 9.52 a.m.. Wind, W. ; tide, nea rl y low water ; fi ne. No arrivals. Sailed—Thomas Mitchell, for Calcutta ; Seine, Bou logne ; Gem, Genoa ; C it y of Rotterdam, Dunkirk. PEAL, Wednesday, 9.14 a . m . Wind, N.W. ; light, and hazy. Passed—Frances Henty, from London, for Portland Bay ; Heath, London, for Port Natal ; Wiltshire, London, or Palermo. --- GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—The fifty eighth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company was held yesterday at i their offi ces , 71, Lom bard-street, Mr. John Wilkin, n the chair. The report of the directors, and a statement cf the accounts for the year ending the 31st Decembei last were read to the meeting. The report, which was very satisfactory, was unanimously received and adopted by the proprietors. The usual dividend and bonus were declared, and the cordial thanks of the proprietors voted to the chairman and directors for their continued zealous services in the management of the company's a:fairs ; after which the meeting separated. SUPPOSED MURDER IN LIVIIIPOOL.—On Monday night one of the police inspectors on duty discovered the body of a female in Lark-lane, near Liverpool, respect ably-attired, lying in the middle of the road. It was found upon examination that the woman had been shot, but there was nothing to indi&e that she had com mitted self-destruction, and it is believed that a murder had been perpetrated. Efforts are being made to dis cover the relatives of the deceased and the cause of the mysterious death. DEATH OF LIEUT.-GENERA -, JAMES HAY, C.B.— This gallant and venerable offi::er, colonel of the 79th Highlanders, died at Kelburne, near Longford, on Fri day 194. simple a matter to omit altogether from our legislation all compensation of a retrospective character ; and I be lieve the noble earl himself indicated that he had con siderable misgivings on this point when he said—and repeated it several times—that if these bills went to a committee, he, for one, would rejoice if a plan were de vised which would give to the tenants that compensa tion to which he felt they had an equitable claim. I entirely participate in that feeling, and believe that, as regards the law, in Ireland especially, that you will not be able to pass a satisfactory measure on that question without legislating on this subject. (Hear, hear.) I anticipate, from the committee, that this question will be greatly elucidated ; and if my noble and learned friend beside me (Lord Campbell), and the noble and learned lord the late Lord Chancellor of England, and who for five years, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to Ireland, held the post of Chancellor of Ireland—if such noble and learned lord should consent to serve on the committee, I do hope that this question may be finally set at rest. But we must not lose sight of this fact, that the position of the north of Ireland is very peculiar as respects the question of retrospective compensation ; and if the noble earl refuses to legislate altogether on this subject, he m us t no t t e ll us th at h e proposes s i mply to give compensation for prospective improvements, but he must also exempt the tenants of Ulster from the operation of the measure. If this exemption is not made, a very great injury will be inflicted on those who have enjoyed, rightly or wrongly, by long custom, a privilege which they greatly value, and which, I believe, that the landlords of that district are by no means desirous to deprive them of. The noble earl said that the retro spective compensation clause was altered in the commit tee of the House of Commons. It was so, certainly ; but it was altered in the sense of a reduction of the in terest of the tenant. The noble earl said, and truly, that all the provisions affecting improvements made in the soil were entirely erased in the committee, and that no provisions remained excepting those relating to per manent improvements made upon the soil, the principle no doubt being that which was felt in the course of the discussion—viz,, that improvements on the soil, such as buildings and so forth, are visible and tangible ; whereas other improvements, such as even that host important improvement of drainage, are invisible and extremely difficult to calculate, and ought not to be taken into ac count. The provision originally introduced in the House of Commons for retrospective compensation was based upon the two principles of the restriction of time and restriction of value—that was to say, that no corn pensation should be claimed by the tenant beyond a certain amount, and that it should vary in. amount ac cording to the anterior period at which the improve ments had been effected. (Hear, hear.) The principle was altered in committee of the House of Commons before the bill was passed in that house ; and as the bill now stands, it remains, at any rate, in a more simple form, namely, there is no restriction as to amount, and no restriction as to time ; but it provides that for visible improvements made on the soil compensation shall be given by valuation made brpublic authority, viz., the assistant barrister. My noble friend (Lord Monteagle) has just now complained of the hardship to persons who, under the Encumbered Estates Act, have purchased property without any liability of this description being now exposed to claims for compensation, which they had no idea would be attached to the land they had bought. It is impossible to deny that there is some force in the objection of my noble friend ; but at any rate the objection is greatly restricted and the evil much mitigated by the 14th clause in this bill, which provides that every claim for retrospective compensation must be made within twelve months after the passing of the act, and registered accordingly. So that no claim subsequently to this twelve months can be preferred ; and any litigation which may take place on such a subject must be limited to the first twelve months after the passing of the act, and notice must be given by the tenant of his intention to claim any such compensation ; and it will be within the power of the landlord to litigate the point with the tenant if neces sary, and once the question is decided the claim c a nnot be renewed ; so that the landlord will be at once made aware of the demand to which he will be subject. My lords, I promised not to detain your lordships any longer, and 1 wish to keep my word, and more especially as I must again repeat, the noble earl has left me little ex planation to offer in regard to these bills. I sincerely trust that your lordships will refer the whole of the bills, including the one proposed by my noble friend behind me, who is connected with the north of Ireland, in order that persons representing all parts of that country may combine, and, if possible, come to the same conclusion, aye or no, on the question of compen sation to tenants. For as regards the other two bills, they are more consolidations of the law than new enact ments ; and I cannot but believe that, under the su perintendence of the noble and learned lords, they will be made sufficient for their purpose, and invaluable to Ireland. And I only hope that an earnest endeavour will be made by all parties to devise the means by which compensation for retrospective improvements can be given to the tenant consistently with the principles and the rights of property, which I can assure your lord ships I am as anxious as any one amongst you to main tain, not merely in this country, but also in Ireland. Lord CAMPBELL said that no one could be more alive to the importance of these bills than he was, which should be viewed not merely as having for their object the improvement of the agricultural prosperity of Ireland, but also the cultivation of harmony between the landlords and tenants. (Hear, hear.) He believed that Mr. Sharman Crawford, Mr. Serjeant Shee, and Mr. Napier were animated with the best intentions in pre paring their various bills on this subject. He had no hesitation in concurring in the provisions for giving en larged powers of leasing, which he thought might be *given with perfect safety and security to the remainder man under settlement. He hoped that every encourage ment would be given to the granting of leases in Ireland. After some observations from the Earl of Desart, Lord Dufferin, and the Lord Chancellor, the bills were read the second time, and referred to a select committee. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord REDESDALE moved " that no private bill should be read a second time after Tuesday, 11th July." " That no bill confirming any provisional order of the Board of Health, or authorising any enclosure of lands under special report of the Enclosure Commissioners for England and Wales, should be read a second time after Tuesday, 18th July." Agreed to. The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice that he should move the second reading of this bill upon that day week. Their lordships adjourned at 25 minutes to 10 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY. ) (Continued from our Third Edition of last Evening.) CONVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENTS. Mr. THOS. CHAMBERS, in continuation, said that the house was bound to institut e th e in quiry to ascertain the treatment the inmates were subject to which history proved was both coercive and severe. Convents were places of restraint or infliction, where the most excruciating torments were practised upon the nuns and novices, and it was an abuse of social and political right to allow them to remain longer in this country without investigation. It was argued that any interference would be an evasion of the doctrine of religious toleration, and that his bill of last session in fringed religious liberty. He defied any hon. member to put together any collocation of words whatever which showed that that bill infringed religious liberty. On the contrary, he contended it was one of the strongest efforts made in modern times to protect it. (Hear, hear.) What he said was, let spiritual influence take full effect on body, soul, and spirit, but not upon the conse;ence. (Hear, hear.) The very instant the spiritual power loosened its hold, the ecclesiastical power should be made to relax. There should be no ecclesiastical, and, above all, no physical, barriers in the way of a nun re turning to the world. (Cheers.) Let them keep her, though in the agonies of religious terror, whilst under the spiritual power ; but if she repented, if doubts as to the truth of the Roman Catholic tenets or the usefulness, admissibility, or lawfulness of monastic vows, or her calling to live under them —if doubts sprung up and germinated, and the spiritual power, which did hold and bind her in fetters, was broken, in the name of liberty he asked that she should be allowed to return to the world. (Loud cheers.) It was time we should under stand what religious liberty was. When the noble lord brought forward a bill about Papal aggression, he thought that a direct and flagrant infringement of the religious liberties of the Roman Catholics. (Hear.) It what was then done had been upon spiritual and religious grounds he should not have objected at all ; but the bill was not spiritual, it was purely ecclesiastical. (Hear.) Another argument was that though it was quite t rue man y nu ns repented and lived lives of great suffering in consequence of taking vows rashly, their condition arose out of an antecedent contract, and the State must not interfere. The taw recognised no such contract. The law knew nothing of religious or monastic vows. No subject could contract to surrender her liberty. It was not within the moral competency of any one to do so and therefore, supposing the original contract ad mitted, which it wbe lawful not, and the constraint to e lawful under the non-natural consent of the party, the moment that consent was withdrawn, the deten tion become a flagrant infringement of liberty, and an infringemnt of the gravest character. (Hear.) Black principle that every one was en stone laid down the titled to his liberty, and that no one could deprive him of it, not even the highest power of the State, without being called to account. But that was done every day in nunneries. Every person who was desirous to get out and could not was a palpable instance of a gross in fringement on the liberty of the subject. Another and more serious matter was the connection with other simi lar establishments in foreign countries. Dr. Wiseman admitted that these associations in England were affi liated with associations abroad. There was not only a power to imprison and a power to torture, but a power to transport. It was done. The house would recol lect the case of the Taunton convent. Miss Knight, one of the inmates, was extremely ill. Her brother, with the consent of the Roman Catholic bishop, wished another physician to see her. Miss Jerningham, the lady abbess, utterly refused, though the physician was a Roman Catholic, and the consent of the bishop had been obtained. The brother asked if she might go to a nunnery at Bristol. The superior said, " No, there could not be a worse place than Bristol, she was going to Belgium." And if it had not been for the most earnest remonstrances, to Belgium Miss Knight would have gone and died there, for she did die soon afterwards. Who mild say then that nunneries were not now what they were in the middle ages ? He would like to know what instance of tyranny in the middle ages exceeded that ? It was said if Parliament interferred they gave an official sanction to these instructions. They could not pass an act against any wrong without recognising its existence ; but whatever sanction Parliament could give, was given already. The executive clause of the Catholic Relief Act distinctly gave that sanction. There had been an active whip that night, and he knew there ascertaining the competency of candidates for forensio honours ; while as for an examination, it was true something of the sort did prevail in one or two of the Inns of Court, but purely voluntary, and vastly inferior in its scope and character to that which prevailed in America. (Hear, hear.) Formerly the Inns of Court were a species of university, but since the time of Henry the Bth, when they certainly partook of that character, they had wholly lost the supervising in fluence of a school of law and jurisprudence. The inns of court, however, still held a high trust from the public. It was still, he contended, their duty to look after the edu cation of those young men who made the law their peculiar study, or who meditated practising at the bar. For this purpose, therefore, he insisted they ought to provide a public school for the study of law and juris prudence, which should be open to the deserving students of all the Inns, and which should be rendered so com plete and efficient as to make it restore the superintend ' ing influence and control that were exercised in former ages by these institutions. The original object of their foundation was to furnish a public test of the compe tency of all persons who were called to the bar, and in making this motion, he wished to see that function re vised in its most stringent and extended form. He was anxious that this commission should consist of enlight ened and liberal men; and that they should sit in con junction with the University Commission, so that the education of the university should be rendered as uni form as possible with the inns of court. For in stance, the course of study for an undergraduate intended for the bar should be made the groundwork of his more intended studies when he entered an inn of court in the university, he should be made to go through a course of reading in national and moral philosophy, in biography, and civil laws, and then when he came up to London he would be ready to undergo, under the eye of eminent professors, the severe preparation which a proper study of law and jurisprudence must inevitably necessitate. It was alike for the interest of the law and the country that this commission should be appointed, and he hoped upon legal as well as public grounds that no opposition would be offered to his motion. Mr. R. PHILLIMORE seconded the motion. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave his hearty and ready support to the motion, as quite sufficient had been stated to justify the inquiry. The constitu tion and resources of the Inns of Court were matter of public concern, and they could not refuse to submit themselves to this inquiry, but at the same time he was bound to say that he did not anticipate from this in quiry the large results which the hon. and learned gen tleman seemed to expect. (Hear, hear.) During the last five years no less than five professorships had been established in connection with the law, besides many studentships, indeed at the rate of one every terns, and he was glad to say that in that respect little more could be done. But still some good would result from the inquiry, if it was only to remove the misconception which generally prevailed with' regard to the revenues and the application of the resources of these in stitutions, and since the Inns of Court did not object to the inquiry, he could see no reason why it should not be had. The light should be let into the universities iand all similar institutions, because it did them good, and he hoped when the turn of the Univer sity of Dublin came, there would be no objection to that being thoroughly inquired into also. After a few words from Mr. R. PHILLIMORE, who warmly supported the motion. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was unwilling to allow the motion to pass without expressing his thanks to the hon. and learned gentleman who had brought it forward. (Hear hear.) Much had been done during the last ten years to promote the study of the law, but still much remained to be done in that direction. No country was more interested in advanc ing the study of jurisprudence and law than this, and he was rejoiced to find that the subject had at length fallen into excellent hands. For his part he thought the enquiry asked for hardly went far enough. He could see no reason why schools of law should not be established in connection with the Inns of Court, which should be open to laymen as well as the students of law, and he yet hoped to see the day when the having obtained some degree or dis tinction in such a school should give a little promotion in the civil service. In France they were far in advance of this country on this subject, but if this inquiry were effectually carried out he saw no reason why the pro fessors of law and jurisprudence in England should not be as distinguished as those of any other nation in the world. Mr. BOWYER admitted that much had been done of late years to promote legal education in the shape of establishing readerships and studentships in the Inns of Court, but still much more remained to be done. The remuneration of the readers was vastly dis proportioned to the services performed : it was only three hundred guineas a-year ; while the student attending the lectures was obliged to pay five guineas a term for the privilege of doing so. Now, in his opinion, the revenues of the Inns of Court were amply sufficient to enable them to abolish the students' fee altogether, as well as to in crease the stipend of the readerships. He repeated that what had been done was nothing compared with what ought to be done ; and therefore be hoped this inquiry would be a searching one into the revenues, besides every other branch of these institutions. Mr. V. SCULLY highly approved of the commission, and was satisfied that its appointment would be attended with the most beneficial results both to the public and the Inns of Court themselves. Mr. HADFIELD availed himself of this motion to express a hope that the universities would be thrown open to all classes of her Majesty's subjects. Mr. CRAUFURD added his meed of praise to the hon. and learned gentleman who had made this motion, and declared that no public bodies had been guilty of so many breaches of trust as the Inns of Court. The revenues of the four Inns of Court, viz., the Temple, Inner Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn, amounted to no less than 87,6801., which was grossly misapplied, while the rents charged to the students, and the fees extorted from them for dinners were equally extrava gant. Now, although the revenues of these courts were so enormous as almost amounting to 100,000/. a-year, would the house believe that they spent out of it for the purpose of promoting legal education only a paltry 3,0001. a-year. The motion was then agreed to. PAYMENT OF WAGES. Sir H. HALFORD asked for leave to bring in a bill to restrain stoppages of wages in the hosiery manufac ture. Mr. HUME hoped the bill would be referred to the select committee already sitting on a similar subject. Mr. FITZROY understood that there would be no objection to that course. Sir H. HALFORD—Certainly not. Mr. CRAUFURD should oppose the bill unless it was referred to the committee before the second reading. Sir J. WALMESLEY said the masters were most anxious that the whole question should be referred to the consideration of a select committee. Mr. FITZROY said the understanding he had come to was, that this bill should be referred to a select com mittee after the second reading. With regard to re ferring the whole of the general question of the truck system to a select committee, he was not prepared to give such a pledge, as the same subject was investigated by a select committee no later ago than 1842. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. METROPOLITAN BRIDGES. Mr. OLIVEIRA moved to nominate the committee on metropolitan bridges.—Mr. Oliveira, Sir W. Moles worth, Lord J. Manners, Lord R. Grosvenor, Sir J. puke, Sir B. Hall, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Blackett, Mr. Alderman Cubitt, Mr. Alderman Challis, Mr. Pellatt, Lord A. Hervey, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Locke, and Sir J. Shelley.—Five to be the quorum. Agreed to. MANUFACTURE OF ARMS. Mr. MONSELL moved the appointment of a select committee to consider the cheapest, most expeditious, and most efficient mode of providing small arms for her Majesty's service. fora DUDLEY STUART said he hoped the commitee would be a fair and impartial one. No corn mittee would be satisfactory to the house, or the country, unless the noble lord the member for Totnes was on it. Mr. HUME said in 1811 a committee of the house decided upon the impracticability of the Government undertaking the manufacture of small arms. The motion was then agreed to. The house adjourned shortly before six o'clock. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. The quantity of English wheat on offer in to-day's mar ket was very limited. As the attendance of buyers was but moder a t e , th e amoun t o f b us i ness d o i ng i n all kinds was comparatively small ; nevertheless the trade was con sidered tolerably firm, at full prices. We had only a limited inquiry for foreign wheat; but no alteration can be noticed in the quotations. Floating cargoes were quite as dear as last week. Barley was in good supply, and fair request, at full currencies. In malt very few transactions took place on former terms. Oats ruled steady, at extreme rates. Beans, peas, and flour were dull, but not cheaper. ARRIVALS THIS PREY. Barley. I Malt. Oat s . . 3,530 1,910 10 0 2,490 --- 1,040 Wheat. 2,180 English .. Flour. 890 Irish .... Foreign .. 10,360 4,400 L 240 sks 12,950 brl WHITECHAPEL. Each kind of meat moved oft' slowly, as follows : Beef from 3s Od to 4s Os ; mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 8d ; veal, 4s Od to 5s 2d ; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 10d per 8115 by the carcase. BOROUGH HOP. Our market is very dull to -day, at d roop i ng prices. PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is about 3 per mine discount (according to the last tariff), which, at the English Mint price of 3/, 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.094 ; and, the exchange at Paris on London at short being 24.971, it follows that gold is about 0.48 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Ham burg the price of gold is 422 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 104 d. per ounce for stan dard gold, gives an exchange of 13.38 ; and, the ex change at Hamburg on London at short being 13.24, it follows that gold is 0.42 per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is 109 per cent., and, the par of exchange between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.58 per cent. against England ; but, after making allowance for charges of transport and difference of interest, the present rate leaves no profit on the transmission of gold either way between the two co untrioe. P ; a ~Z7 ~ RAILWAYS. Aberdeen Ambg. Nottng. Bost. and Easta. Junct... Belfast & Ballymena. Birming. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. La.ucsh. & Cheshire Janet__ Do. Chesil. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £20.. .. Bluth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon... Cork, Black, & Pass Cornwall Crieff Junction Dublin&Belfastjunc Dundee Perth &Aber• deen Junction Do. New. ...... East Anglian.... Do., (XlB E & Eastern Counties Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock Do., New A East Lancashire Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth. &Dundee Forth & Clyde June. Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk. Do., A. Stock Do., B. 5t0ck...... . Gt. Sth. &West.(lre.) Great Western Irish South -Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancash. andYorksh Do., Fifths D a., Wst. Riding Um Leeds Northern Liv.crsby.&Soutlipt London & Blacklvall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Bright & S. Cst. Lond. and N. Westn. Do, Fifths Do.lo/. 5h.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths London andS. Westn Do., £5O Do., £4O Lndndrry& Coleraine Lndndriy. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef.& Lincln Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby. Midld. G. West. (Ire ,) Do, Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do. , Bury Extension Nwpt. Aberg. &Hrfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor. Norfolk Northn.Counties North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do. A Deferred Do.: Y B Guaranteed North London 1310. New £lO . all 5. it is N. &S.Wstrn. ,Hamp - stead, and City Ju North Staffordshire North Western• N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, 'Hinckley, and Leicester.. 21 2s 100 100 100 100 212 s all 163 100 8 100 20 all 518. , 100, 20 131' 100 Oxford, Worcester, &l Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Biz mg Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed St ceic Shrewsby. & Ilerefd Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. MM ;., Do. Halves,l Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent. South Devou South Eastern South Wales . S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do. Staines, Wok &Wok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & Hartlepl. Taff Vale . Do. £lO shares. Do. Prof., No. Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West Cornwall West End of London LOO 5 .00 all and Crystal. Pa , West London Wimbledn & Croydon York Newctl. &Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland I Aberdeen Do. No. 2, 7 p. c. Blyth and Tyne 10 pe3 c. pref. (issd. at 50/, Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St, Do. 4 p. c. Shares .. _ _ Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent Cork 6tßandonsip.c Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction lEastAuglian (1:310s, 6 per cent Do: (£5) 7 per cent. Do. (£7 17s) 7 p. c. Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 p. c. St, Eastern Union, Seri' Guar. 6 per cent.., Do. 51., 10 per cent. Do. 10/. Debentr.Sh- East Lancash. 6 p.cts. East and West York shire June. Pref.,. Edinb Prth. &Dundee 5,i per cent. Glasgow &,S.Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Nortlin. 5 p. c Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem Do. 4 p. c. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. let Pref Gt, Southu. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh. Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hauts Ex. 5 p. c) Do. cov. red. 43, p.c. 4 Do. con. red. p. c. Do. irred. 4 p. c..,. Lan. & York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock Leeds N. 6 p. c. No. I Do. Quarters, 1848 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 Do. New Guar.6 P.C. Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton Loudon & S. Western, Con. Thirds LondondeiTy& Coler. . 2 1 Shares Shares, Do. New, £lO Do. £6 Karypt . & Carl. 4 13. c •Do 4 1 per cent 2 'Do — Aid. Consol.6 p.c.St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Debenture Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stock Do. 5 p. c. Eat Do. 5i per ct.pref Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh.£ls, 6 p.c Do 100 100 100 100 all 100 15 all all all Scot. Cent., New Prof Shrews. &Birm.N.G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon De. fixed, 44 per cent, S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4 per cent. S.Yorksh.4p.c.,Gu ar Stockton and Dar lington,, 4 per et Do. do. Stockton and Hartle. pool, guar. 5 p. e. till Ist July, 1856 Waterfct.&Kilk.6p.c. York, Newcastle,and Berwick ,4 p.c. Pref Do _ _ York&N. Midland H. and O. Parch PREFERENCE SHARES. 99 -ik 6i - 6i 3 -- 3i 4 -- 4A i -- i - P i -- lip -- lip 13 i i --13ixd .. . x ci. 3i - 31 iii its 107 - 109 P 7i -- 8 ad 6} 7 98 100 90 95 94 96 id 137 139 Closing Prices this day. 201 -- 21: 5 - 5. ••• - • 8 - 9 12 -10 16 18 ti 5Ad 94 - 96 55 -56 i 15t - 16 13 - 134 ... - . iii = ia 71 -8, .. ... . 12 j~ - 13; ... - . . 64 - 66 60 - 64 244 ... ...... . 92i 93. 80 82 127 -129 98 - 98 80A - 81 92 95 12i -- 13ip 12 -- 13 p 67i -- 68 61 -- 6d 134 14 8 i 8 i I Par P 964 974 1024 - 1041 Par § P d r 80 —81 d 10 9 d 9 7 d 234 1 ...d 62. 624 35 37 22i - d paid 5 2i— 3 - 50 3# ;4 35 - 6A - 73 52 - 55 - 61) - 32 - 34 89 91 54 - 56 58 - 62 55 60 3 2 d 16 18 8 9 12 13 31 3id 14 16 63 64 35i 36 2 d par 4 5 30 -- 32 15 15 3 / 4 54 - 5t 24 - 26 - 7 6 - 7 69 ioi 7i. -- 70 4i 3d 49 -- 50 -- ... id 21 - 21 i . - 13 66 7i 96 10 par 4pxd 136 138 11 —id xd ... .-1 ,• ... - ... 102 - 104 i - 1p oi —lO IG 3 / 4 17 10 —10 i 13 15 id P 23i 24 17 - 19 d 93 95xd 3i 4 xd i id 27i 22 25 25 25 18 20 St. 100 - 42i 34 all all 100 812s1 6i 25 50 20 100 3,i 100 20 20 50 20 St. 20 St. 15 5 10 M. 5 161 10 St. St. 10 25 10 1.0.6 Business done this day. 21 20f 561 6 12i 1.3 xd 24 i 3f 93i 21 3 xd. 80 1i 80 1i 1 128 4 974 80i 1 1 80i 68i 7f 11 - 8 i 8 0 Lit 1.-6221 80 221 621 1 1 xa 36 33i 4 69 70 69i 123 i 8i 49i i 9 Pm li pni 1161 i d 107 a d 10i I z d 7t xd zd 137 6i 74v1 dis xil 104 x d xd was a great desire to crush this inquiry. But he warned the Government that a dozen years hence, if these insti tutions went on increasing in the same ratio, there would be 1,000; in 25 years 2,000 or 3,000, with 40,000 or 50,000 or 60,000 nuns; and what did the house suppose would be the amount of property. (Hear.) There was a dispute, he saw between Cardinal Wiseman and Mr. H . Seymour as to the sum to be paid for dower—whether it should be 2001. or 4001. It was plain there was a very large and constant flow of wealth into these establish ments, and no flow out ofthem. They knew that at the suppression, at the time of the Reformation, one-fifth of the whole property of the kingdom was in their hands. They knew what their numbers were, and they knew that both in numbers and property they had never in creased more rapidly than in the last five years. At some point or other the Government must interfere, and he would submit to the noble lord that it was as well to begin with 220 as to wait until they were 880 or 3,500, with thousands or millions of money. This, he con tended, was the right time to interfere, and not years hence, when the arguments could not be stronger, and when the difficulties to meet might be much greater. A great deal was made of interfering with cloistered nuns and sisters of charity. If they pleased, the nuns might go on enjoying the same Catholic symbols, rituals, and observances, and the sisters of charity might follow their rounds of benevolence without being interfered with. He would not say a word against either. No doubt they were acting in what they believed to be their concientious , line of duty. He did not wish the question to be met with compliments to the sisters of charity, but to be met on this ground—were these institutions safe religiously, socially, and politically ? (Hear, hear.) If the noble lord was of that opinion, let him get up and say so ; but he (Mr. Chambers) felt most strongly that these institu tions were linked together and formed a part of the most subtle, most profound, most sagacious, and most endur ing scheme of Government which had ever been founded on the face of the world. He meant the Papacy. (Cheers.) In proportion as they flourished did the poli tical schemes of that Government flourish, and in pro portion as they failed would that Government fail. (Hear, hear.) When the noble lord saw the politico eceleSiasticsd progress of the Papacy, could he imagine that there was no cause for it. It was not that they gained a great accession of numbers from new converts ; but these institutions multiplied in the face of a decreas ing number of real members of the Roman Catholic Church, and they had a direct effect upon the power of the Papacy. (Hear, hear.) Then, again, with regard to education. He did not object to the youth of both sexes learning Roman Catholic teaching, but he objected to their learning it in nunneries and mona steries. They must look gravely at that question. The time would come when those who had been-in structed in tenets destructive of the institutions of the country would stand up and argue upon those opinions. It was not a question of sectarianism ; it was a question of the British constitution. (Hear.) It was a question of a constitution every slope and angle of which had been arranged to meet the flow and pressure of free Christianity—he meant free Christianity as distinguished from the most slavish Christianity ever known in this country, which now prevailed amongst the Roman Catholic body. (Loud cheers.) In Roman Catholic times we had a free Christianity, but not a pure one. (Renewed cheers.) It appeared to him that the slavish system of education was propagated in religious houses, that those institutions themselves were altogether opposed to the constitution of this country, and that no constitu tion could be safe whilst surrounded by such insidious and increasing perils. (Loud cheers.) The hon. member concluded by moving for the appointment of the com mittee. Mr. NAPIER said he found in every Roman Catho lic country a very jealous system of legislation with re ference to conventual establishments, and the question was, whether our law in this respect was in a satisfac tory condition. It was the duty of the State to main tain its own independence and the supremacy of its law, and to protect the freedom of its subjects against a foreign Power ; and the effect of his argument was to show that the law, unsatisfactory as it was, was violated by con nivance, and that the restraints which the vows taken in monastic establishments imposed upon liberty, property, and even the allegiance of the subject, gave this matter claims to the serious consideration of Parliament. He supported the motion. Mr. M'CANN gave a direct contradiction to some statements contained in a letter read by Mr. Chambers. Mr. J. BALL, who had given notice of his intention (which he relinguished) to move a resolution that it is not just or expedient to subject to Parliamentary inquiry associations of ladies devoting themselves exclusively to charitable and religious objects, who do not possess, or seek to possess, any peculiar legal privilege or immunity, observed, with reference to the statistics quoted by Mr. Chambers, that ther e was no t one o f these i nst i tut i ons in Ireland, and only two in England, not devoted to educational, charitable, or reformatory objects, and he complained of the many gross mis-statements circulated upon this head. He contended that Mr. Chambers had shown neither reason nor precedent for an alteration of the law, which would be exceptional and offensive, and he protested against an inquiry into the mode of living and intimate social existence of these ladies, without the slightest ground being assigned for so degrading and irri tating a proceeding, which would rekindle the embers of religious and political agitation in Ireland. After a few remarks by Mr. POTTER, who com plained of the insult which the motion offered to Roman Catholics. Mr. R. PHILLIMORE said, if the object of the motion was to drag before a committee of that house ladies of high rank and delicate feelings, and to make an inquisition into private concerns, he should offer his strenuous opposition to so monstrous an object ; but the terms of the motion placed it in a different aspect. It could not be denied that the state of the law upon this subject was most anomalous and inconvenient, and that it might be altered in a manner not offensive to Roman Catholics. He cited cases to show the defects and ano malies of the law; and although he did not approve of the speech of Mr. Chambers, ho urged upon Roman Catholic members that it was greatly for their interest not to oppose the motion, since they had no reason to dread any investigation into their conventual establish ments, and it would put a stop to a repetition of these motions. Mr. FAG-AN related some particulars of a case refer red to by Mr. Chambers, contending that the facts were adverse to his argument. There might be, he observed, discontented nuns, but there were rules in every con vent which allowed them to leave it. He opposed the motion. Mr. ROCHE objected to the motion on principle, and because it had b een i n t ro d uced in a disingenious spirit and in bad taste. Mr. KENNEDY shortly opposed the motion. Lord C. HAMILTON, disclaiming all persecuting and sectarian views, thought there was sufficient evi dence to show that there was something very peculiar iu the position of the inmates of convents in this country which required investi g ation. Mr. J. PHILLIMORE hoped the house would not assent to the motion, which it was impossible to separate from the speech by which it was introduced, and which must be considered as insulting to every one professing the Roman Catholic religion. The case of Mr. Cham- bers he regarded as a very weak one, and he suggested to him that the way to promote true religion was not to employ the means used to enforce a false one. Mr. MAGUIRE denounced in strong terms the mo• tion and the mover, and eulogised the character of the conventual ladies and their offices in the service of edu cation and charity. But for them, he said, the poor female children in Ireland would be without moral training. He insisted on the ill effect which these mo tions would produce in Ireland. He based his rejection of this motion upon the assertion made by a preceding speaker, that the speech which introduced it was a tissue of frivolous and calumnious gossip. Mr. F. W. RUSSELL, without entering into the general question, pointed out the beneficial influence of these conventual establishments upon industrial employ ment in the south of Ireland. He opposed the motion, for which he thought no ground had been laid. Mr. MIALL said, as a general rule, in questions as to inquiries touching the religious convictions; and habits and proceedings of any portion of her Majesty's subjects, he had regard to tw o conditions —one, that there should be a solid groundwork of facts, showing prima facie reasons for an inquiry ; the other, that there was a stron g probability, supposing the facts were proved, that legislation could provide a sufficient remedy for the evil. H He thought no facts had been produced which justified a call for inquiry ; and that, supposing evils to be proved to exist, arising, as they did, from spiritual influence, he believed they were not to be remedied by legislation, and it was most unwise at this moment to encourage a motion the effect of which was to set one denomination against another. - IVl — r. COWAN said the question had excited great interest in Scotland, and he should feel it neces sary to vote for the motion. He had no unkind feeling towards the Roman Catholic community. (Hear, hear.) Th e w h o l e case was in a nutshell • whether the kern e l was l ikely to be worth getting at h e did not know. But if we would avoid the evil of such motions as the present, the truth must be got at, and the facts ascertained. (Hear.) He did not doubt that the Sisters of Mercy or Charity were actuated by the purest spirit, and often set a good example to Protestants. It was, however, necessary to arrive at the truth upon the subject. He was surprised at the ominous silence of the Government on the question. (Hear and laughter.) Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, the only difficulty I feel is that the arguments in favour of the motion have been completely overthrown by several members who have spoken, especially the hon. member for Carlow and the hon. member for Rochdale. And besides, I took a part in the debate on a similar questiOn last year, and I have little tO add to the reasons I then gave for resisting the motioti• It appears to me, sir, however, that those who have brought forward and supported the motion to-night have Nen a little ashamed—not to say afraid—of it ; for they have destroyed the little ground there was for adopt ing it. Because they have said, the inquiry is to be conducted with such delicacy ; there is no question to be aitked of these ladies to which they can take any ex ception—thev need not be afraid of anything that would be offensive to them. Why, sir, either the inquiry must be one thing or the other. (Hear, hear.) If it is to be an inquiry (as it is ',we proposed) into the " number and rate of increase ; the conven tual establishments, and their relation -- law," it can be of no use. And if it be an inquiry into the real state of these institutions, it must be an inquiry in order to examine whether there are any facts to sustain the allegations of ill-usage and imprisonment that have been brought forward ; and then, of course, the inquiry becomes exposure, and there is an end to all that deli cacy to which hon. gentlemen pretend. But, sir, I con fess that if I believed that there were places where per sonal liberty was denied to those who wished to exer cise it, and if there were scenes of tyranny constantly enacted„within their walls, I should say away with its 1 I i •