The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

REMOVAL BILL. The Settlement and Removal Bill, that is, the bill for re laxing the one and abolishing the other, has received a large addition. By a separate bill, the prohibition of compulsory removal is to be extended to the case of Irish paupers. It will be remembered, that when the provisions of the bill were first announced, the Irish members immediately asked whether their eountrymen were to come in for their share of a measure recommended on the general ground of humanity, and on the right of the destitute under the original Poor Law to be re. lieved where they applied for relief. It must have struck most people that not only was it very difficult to defend the exception as a matter of argument, but that its maintenance would create a perpetual feud. We are to suppose the case of two destitute families in the same court, iu the same em ployment, and possibly inmates for several years of the same lodging-house. The Welsh or Northamptonshire family is re lieved without removal, and the Irish family is shipped, at an inclement season, to Cork or Belfast, either port possibly still a hundred miles from its home. Such a distinction certainly would be invidious. It admits, indeed, of a defence, and, commercially, of a very fair defence—viz., that the Welsh and Northamp tonshire unions are maintaining London paupers, and London may therefore as well maintain the provincial ones ; or, in other words, if all England agrees to give up compulsory re movals, that is its own concern, and it will find its own ac count in so doing ; whereas Ireland has no English paupers to remove, and would, therefore, gain much and give nothing by being included in the measure. But logic, especially the logic of X. s. d., does not apply to Ireland. She is the poor neighbour to whom we are bound to show hospitality all tie more because she cannot return it, or rather because she cannot return it exactly in kind. It is not only inhuman, it is idle to deny that England receives immense benefits from the Irish immigration, and it is but a poor return for them if she flings back on the Irish seaboard every poor creature who asks for relief instead of work. The general question need not be disturbed by the lamentable but only occasional cir cumstance that many destitute persons have been sent here simply to get rid of them, and to be a burden on our rates. That is not au exclusively Irish practice, and, in the present state of the labour market, is not very likely to be resorted to. The present, therefore, is the very time for the assimi lation of the English and Irish laws as to the removal of paupers. That the question is one of very great difficulty appears from the diversity of opinion exhibited by the house, without respect of party, and betrayed even by the Government. The bill in its original state has met with a remarkable reception. Those country members who might be supposed to know most about the working of settlements and removals, and the possibility of modifying the one and doing without the other, either speak with diffidence or disagree considerably. Some think that the measure will effect a saving ; others that it will be a boon to the poor man, and will complete his eman cipation from a species of servitude ; others that it will lead to great cruelties, and keep the unsettled poor more on the move than ever, inasmuch as the threat of the workhouse will now be everywhere substituted for that of removal. There is room for this variety of opinion, inasmuch as the law can be administered cruelly enough, even after the power of compulsory removal has been taken away. But that power deserves a separate consideration. If the custom of com pulsory removals has led to great cruelty and extrava gance—if it involves the absurdity that in the case of the most enterprising and industrious poor, for such they must be supposed, who leave their parishes in quest of work, the only relief given to distress is transportation to some dis tant and poverty-stricken parish—then we may at once pro ceed to abolish this custom. There will then remain the question, How are we to meet the case of the Irish stranger who asks for relief? It appears to be apprehended that every union will have a good many strange applicants; and that in this metropolis, and other great cities, a majority of those ap plicants will be Irish. What, then, are we to do with them when we are no longer permitted to ship them off to the nearest pert of their own country ? We trust the times are coming when there will not be many such applicants, and, in any case, some other alternative may be found besides trans portation to Ireland and imprisonment in a workhouse. It is strange indeed if our boasted civilisation and those social institutions of which we are so proud can hit on no kindness to perform to the stranger except banishment or incarcera tion. Freedom is the very genius of our country—free dom to roam over it in quest of employment, and to find it everywhere a home. Yet, when misfortune befalls the Bri tish freeman in his adopted home, wherever that may be, and he is driven to appeal to the humanity of his new neighbours, we are told that there are only two ways of treating him—the two alternatives we give a wild beast—we may either drive him away, or shut him up in a cage. For the honour of our country, we will believe some other course to be possible. It is proposed to deal with the Irish difficulty in a separate bill. There is reason for that. The present measure may well be discussed on its own merits, without the introduction of a new and questionable element; and the Irish bill will probably require provisions that would not apply to the case of English and Scotch paupers. There is always a danger of Irish poor, in the strongest sense of the word, that is the aged, the sick, the maimed, and otherwise incapable of work, being shipped here by wholesale. As long as this is possible, it may be necessary to provide against it by some special anti dote ; and, if there should be such an importation as we apprehend, and the antidote be found insufficient, then it will be time to consider how to deal more effectually with Irish applicants. Possibly it may be found necessary to deal with the immigrant at the port where they land, and to send back at once those whose very appearance betrays the specula tion on which they have been sent over. We suggest that, not because we think it at all likely we should ever be driven to such rigorous measures, but to show there is at least one alternative besides the imprisonment or the transportation of the Irish applicant for relief. We are not in the least blink ing the difficulty of counteracting an evil which, as it has hitherto been almost constant, and sometimes aggra ‘ vated to a frightful extent, may be expected to recur. But if we allow, as we must allow, and even welcome, a regular Irish immigration, then we must also expect those immigrants to be exposed to the usual vicissi tudes of life, and to become applicants for relief. When, in the course of nature and under the dispensations of Provi dence, they are thus thrown on our charity, we very much doubt whether it would be found possible to keep up a distinction between them and other applicants—whether hu manity itself, not to say common sense, will not refuse to re cognise the distinction. A separate measure is necessary, and it is just possible that the arrangements required may be so complicated and difficult as to prevent that measure from being perfected for a considerable time. There is no reason, therefore, why the introduction of this new feature should affect the discussion of the present bill. We admit that the one bill eventually involves the other, inasmuch as the English applicants for relief being once entitled to it in the place where they apply, the Irish cannot long be excluded from the boon. But they who approve the present bill are bound to support it, even if it takes them ulti mately further than they desire. The President of the Poor law Board most emphatically stated on the iutroduction of his bill that the claim to relief was not iu virtue of a settle ment, but of destitution. All who accept that great principle are bound to carry it out, and common feeling, consistency, and the gravest political considerations will compel them to do so. But, meanwhile, on the great principle laid down by Mr. Baines, they aro bound to meet the English stranger's application for relief with common hospitality, not with ex pulsion, nor, we will add, with incarceration.—Times. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. While we acknowledge with satisfaction the effect pro duced throughout Europe by the publication of the "secret and confidential" correspondence of Russia with this coun try, we are not less gratified by ithe additional proofs it has afforded us of the sincerity of the French alliance. The Emperor of Russia, no doubt, expected when he chal lenged the British Ministers to produce these documents, either that they had been kept secret from the French Cabinet, or that they would in some manner contribute to impair the mutual confidence of the two States. N o t only has this malignant anticipation been utterly dis appointed, but, on the contrary, this incident has furnished to both Governments, and to the public in both countries, irrefragable evidence to each of the good faith of their re spective ally; and the case is rendered stronger by the fact that the propositions of Russia were in both instances made separately, and separately rejected. We do not hesitate to declare that the conduct of the Emperor Louis Napoleon in this transaction deservedly raises him to an honourable position in Europe, and gives us reason to hope that all his dealings may be regulated by the same strict observance of good faith. As a representative of mo narchical principles and of those sentiments which ought to be met with upon thrones, it is impossible not to draw a contrast between the honest firmness of a Sovereign who won his crown amid the tumult of a revolution, and the character which the most orthodox Emperor Nicholas has earned for in tegrity, or the King of Prussia for an enlightened con sideration of the public interests. They have contrived to place Louis Napoleon immeasurably above the position in which they stand, for in the dispassionate judgment of Europe the respect he has shown for treaties, and his mode ration in the exercise of his power abroad, have done more to raise his character and consolidate his power than if he had imitated the exploits of his uncle, and filled the world with his fame.— Times. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY. Her Majesty the Queen, with Prince Albert, the Princess Alice, and suite, was present at the performance last night. The programme comprised Mendelssohn's Lobgesang (" Hymn of Praise"), anti Mozart's Requiem. The illus trious party arrived just before the beginning of the Re quiem, and were welcomed by a loyal and hearty demon stration ; after which the " National Anthem" was sung, with impressive effect, by the vast body of chorus and in strumentalists composing the orchestra of the Sacred Har monic Society. Miss Birch gave the solos. The hall was crammed to suffocation. Tne utmost order, however, pre vailed, and the performance was listened to with strict at tention from first to last. The Lobgesang and the Requiem together constitute an almost exceptional entertainment. The interest excited by a comparison of two works of such opposite styles and periods is of itself enough to repay the attentive hearer. Mozart was born in 1756, and died in 1791; Mendelssohn was born in 1809 (18 years after the death of Mozart), and died in 1847. But genius belongs to no age, and though in the Requiem and the Lobgesang—which were written with the lapse of half a century between them—music seems to speak in different languages, it addresses itself to the heart in both. Th. Lobgesang has been mush better performed than last night in every respect but one. The tenor music was sung by Mr. Sims Reeves as it has possibly, never been sung before ; and the thrilling recitative, We called through the darkness, Watchman, will the night soon pass?"' which leads to the magnificent chorus, "The night is departing," was given by that gentleman with a depth of meaning and a dramatic effect which could hardly be surpassed. The choruses, on the whole, were tamely and coarsely sung ; and the first of the three instrumental movements was by no means well executed. But the Queen came to hear the Requiem, and it is only just to the members of the Sacred Harmonic Society to say that on no other occasion, and in no other place, have we listened to so admirable a performance of that sublime work. The choruses were superb — remarkable alike for vigour, precision, delicacy, and point. The solo singers were Misses Birch and Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Herr Formes, who were all so good that it would be invidious to single out any of them for special praise. It was the first appearance this season of Herr Formes, whose fine bass voice souaded as deep and mellow as the pedal pipes of an organ in the solemn phrase at the beginning o f "Tuba mirum," which he declaimed with appropriate emphasis and dignity. On appearing in the orchest ra, previous to the commencement of the Requiem, Heir Formes was honoured by the audience with a round of applause. Mr. Costa is entitled to unqualified praise for the pains he must have taken in rehearsing the Requiem. Had the Lobgesang of Mendelssohn been as lucky, the performance of last night would have been one to remember. Both works are to be repeated shortly. On retiring from the hall her laajeNty was again enthu aatically cheered. hagen ; on )y the Bri o to await aiT of the age of our latter fact rly to hear S'ir Charles out -st rag the Belts. one. The •obably be hich there 3tty strong tussia, but it of metal i bring to were, once ;tally corn-. ing note of troops are 's from St. 3 doing his provinces 1 beil.g the tnd trades may sue provinces all places 'ply to get rust of the iration the ptory sum ed is mo ss to start dyed. An ed by an the answer re arrived. may abide refuse to ster at St. game will a that the de time as ad further he evil clay .bian Prin t be so in vaiting till he will be Lacy, after one untie- are com l. England onjecture ; .etty obvi— fall if seri- Lure would he occupa require a element on to that the 3ast, to be allies that is another nt in the ,he parallel ling to the hward and her popu tial. This tussianised ply in Fin cupants of territories east as the Le Finnish tese abori-, )ecame tri- Lstward of. all of the ler to the Russia, the :d by tho these pro ;re divided , owers the edominant wing of flight for north of How to 1 by the a Russia, g a preg le them tionalities probably A been so be info )ir former weden is n against apital of r subject As tho habitants common trliamen- Le seat of to accom pulations tunity to he actual Lid, after ity. Let y carried itain, are Piney and e of Coin ;el there a rather ,d of the districts rovisions a ports exten- Ling and s. The dinavian and the whero ) pounce ate eriug and the Ild NI per oz. ,ndard. ipanish 's. 6d. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices tk s day. Business done this day. !Aberdeen . Ambg. Nottng. Bost. and Eastn. Junct , all Belfast & Ballymena ) all Birming. Wolverh. Stour Valley 28 Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct all Do. Chesh. & £5O and £25 Cons. 184 Do., ..... 30 Blyth &Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) 100 Bristol and Exeter 100 Caledonian. all Chester & Holyhead. all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black, & Pass 12 Cornwall Crieff Junction 45 Dublin&BelfastJunc all Dundee Perth &Aber- deen Junction all Do. New East Anglian, Do., (XlB E dr II)._ 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. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre ) Great Western Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancash.andYorksh, Do., Fifths ID ). , Wet. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Southpt London & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Bright & S.Cst. Loud. and N. Westu. Do. Fifths Do. Do Eighths Londonand S. Westn. Do., £5O Do., £4O Lnndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef.& Lineln Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmug. & Derby Midld. G. West. (Ire.) 11(:). Half Shares !Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do., Bury Extension Nwpt.Aborg. & Hrfd Newry & Enniskillen Nowry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor (Norfolk Northn.Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1. Do., No. 2 Do., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North London Do. New XlO N. &S. Wstrn. ,Hamp stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June. Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester.. Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury &Bitmg. Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed St ask Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Gliester (N. W. Min ; Do. Halves,l s Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent South Devon Routh Eastern.. South Wales 3. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do.. Staines, Wok. &Wok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & Hartlepl. Taff Vale . Do £lO shares. Do. Do. Pref., No. 1: 'Thames 'Lyon Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny' Waterford&Limerick West Cornwall West End of London and Crystal Palace West London Wimbledn & Croydon York Newetl.&Berw., Do. Extensions Do. G.N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland , 20 - 22 4,f - ,4. 7} 8 12 —lO dis 14i 18 7 6 d 89 - 91 51i - 52, 13 - 14 9 - 11 ---- ii 7i - 8 15 - 16 iii = iii , . "" ... ... --. . 58 - 60 55 - 57 21 - 23 85 86 72 74 117 - 119 86 - 93 73i - 74 85 - 90 10 - 12 ID 10 - 12 p 60i - 61 7 1 1 - - 70 lii -- iii 73 -- 7i par—gy p 91 —96 95 - 95 i lid -- 1 d Par r -- 1 d 75 -- 76 12 -- 11 A 10 -- 9d 19i -20 i 56i - 57 31 - 33 d 7 5 dl 6 - 8 I 43 - 46 3 30 29 30 S 10 11 - li 6 i -7) 50 - 54 i -iP s 63di 7 i - 74 I 27 - 29 84 86 52 - 54 55 - 58 55 60 3i 2iJ 15 16 7i 8 11 12 31 3ati 13 - 15 58i -59 i 32 - 33 4 - 21 4 - 5 27 LT '3O ••• 2 - 24 14f 154 4 - 5 21 4 - 26 5 - 6 6 --- 7 604 61, 10 - 5 - 43 - - 44 PREFERENCE SHARES. Aberdeen Do. No. 2, p. c. Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. at 500 Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5 per cent Cork &Bandonsl p.c Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction EastAngliaa (£3los) 6 per cent Do. (£5) 7 per cent Do. (£7 17s) 7 p. c Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent Do. 51. , 10 per cent Do. 10/. Debentr.Sh- East Lancash. 6 p. cts. East and West York shire June. Prof._ Edinb Prth. &Dundee 5a per cent. Glasgow & S, Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Northn. 5 p. c Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem... Do. 4. p. c. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. lst Pref Gt, Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c) Do. cov. red. 4A P.C Do, con, red. 4 p. c Dc, irred. 4 p. c Lan. &York, F. £2C Do. 6 p. c. Stock Leeds N. 6 p. c. No. 1 Do. Quarters, 18 , 1 g London and Brighton Guaranteed sp. c . Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. I c.,1852 Do. New ouar.6 p. c. Lon. &N. W., Coy. es Nuneaton London & S. Western Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler Shares Londy. & Ennis. Sh Man., Shef., & Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO Do. £6 Nlarypt.& Carl. 4 p.c Do. 4i per cent Do Aid. Consol.6 p.c.St Do. Consol. Bristol & Ulm. 6 per cent ' Do. Pref. 4.3: per cent Norfolk Debenture Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stock Do. 5 p. c. Ext. Do. 56, per et . Do. NVay. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £l5, 6 p.c Do Scot. Cent. , New Pre? Shrews. &Birm.N.G, Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon A. fixed, 4 per cent S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4Aper cent. S.Yorksh.4p.e.Guar Stockton and Dar- lington, 4 per cent, Do. do. do. Stockton and Hartle- pool, guar. 5 p:, till Ist July, 1856 Waterfd. &Kilk.6p.e. York, Ncwcastle,and Berwlek,4 p.c. Pref Do York&N. IfidlaudH and P. Furcla 91 - , -- 98 6 6ixd 4 4i - - P 12 - - 13 23 - 24 3 —3i xd 108 :=lixd 100 - 105 9 - 9i 7 8 .. ad 95 97 90 95 91 93 Id par 1133 135 ... ~. xd 2i - 2t p ii i :: .i 23 6 7 9 9i id par 132 134 1 1 ld ••• ad ••• ad ••• ad' ••• ad ••• ad 95 - 100 4' -16" IGi -- 17 10 -10 i 11 -- 13 id -- i p 224 -23 i 17 - 19 2 1d 85 90 31 3i li —. id 50 50 20 20 100 8i .00 .00 [loo' 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 174 11i all 5. 17 7i all u lei 212 s 100 100 100 100 212 s all 16 100 17 all all 14 all 51s. 100 20 134 100 lli i i 85 Gi 6 73 2 35 2i 1194 20 8896 7 3 i h 3/ 60 4 i i i :: 9,1 11 95i 6 5i 9541 per oent. 59h 8i 32 61 60i 1i 1 10} i i THE LONDON, OATTYItDAY BYtNING, MARCH 25, leS LINES LEASED AT. FIXED RENTALS. IMPERIAL PARMA MgICTT. Lesslng Compans. Closing Prices this day. Business this day. I them, nor had its features been described to them by the noble lord, farther than that it would alter the arrangements proposed by the bill now before them, and that it would not put the Irish paupers on precisely the same footing as the English poor. That was quite evident; because, if it did, it would only have been necessary to leave out the words "England and Wales," and not to introduce a new bill. But whatever the changes the noble lord had announced might be, the public consideration of this bill, as well as the petitions both against it and in its favour, had all pro ceeded on the supposition that the status of the Irish poor was to remain as it was before the measure had been pro posed ; and if at the very moment of the second reading such entirely new provisions were to be suddenly intro duced, he must say that a kind of deception had been practiced upon the public. (Cheers.) There had not been a single witness examined before the committee of 1847 who had not been asked how he proposed to deal with the Irish poor, and they had all given answers which showed that the matter had not escaped their attention, and that they attached the greatest importance to the subject. And, indeed, the returns which had been moved for fully justified their view of the case. It appeared from one of these returns that the number of orders of removal in Eng land had been—from parishes 498, and from unions 3,742; making in all 4,204 ; the number of persons affected by them being 10,032. The Irish orders during the same time had been—from parishes 383, from unions 4,832; making together 5,215. Now, taking the average of per sons included in each order at s o l ow as 2 , that wouldg ive nearly 10,500 ; and adding one-te n th f or th e parishesnot reported, that would give 11,412 Irish paupers who had come under the present laws of settlement and removal. Nor had they been sent from one or two places in England or from the western coast only ; for he found there had been as many as twenty towns in England and Wales in which these orders had been acted upon. (Hear, hear.) Thus they had a system of operation with reference to the Irish poor, which was confessed on all hands to be of the greatest importance; and yet when the house were asked to read a bill on the subject for the second time they were told that there was a part of the measure, and that a most important part, not yet before them. (Cheers.) In moving the amendment, of which he had given notice, he (Mr. Stafford) could assure the house that he brought it forward from no belief that the question was unimportant or that it was one that could possibly be of a party cha racter. As a member of an Irish Board of Guardians and as the president of an English board he had seen enough to prevent him from wishing at all to dogmatise, and to con vince him that this must always be more or less a mat ter of compromise. (Hear, hear.) A great deal had been said of late about extending the area of taxation, but the present bill appeared to have no such object, and it cer tainly possessed no machinery for such a purpose, It pro fessed simply to redistribute the burden amongst the same parties as now bore it. They were told that the present law of settlement interfered with the freedom of labour, and that it tended to disunite the interest of capital, but he thought that no foreigner could land on our shores, and. , see the numerous works in progress around him, could wit ness the vast masses of men collected together, quietly, re tiring as soon as the work on which they were engaged was completed, and assembling again as if by magic in ano ther part of the kingdom to carry on similar operations— no foreigners, he said, could have witnessed such things and have possibly come to the conclusion that labour was not free in England. (Cheers.) As to disuniting the in terests of labour and capital, there was certainly a melan choly spectacle of that disunion existing at the present time. But he would put it to any hon. member whether that strife between labour and capital had the least what ever to do with the law of settlement ? (Cheers.) On the other hand, the agricultural poor, upon whom this bill would have the most stringent operation, had endured a period of high prices without the slightest attempt at com bination or riot whatever. (Hear.)- He did not deny that some of the details of the present law of settlement might be faulty, and might require reform, but he felt con vinced that the abolition of that law would be unwel come to the labouring poor. (Cheers.) They had lately seen the public sympathy excited on behalf of the wives of the soldiers who were going abroad ; but what steps had the War-office taken with respect to these poor women ? Had they made them chargeable to the port of embarka tion, or to the town in which the barracks were situated ? Certainly not. They had made a wiser and more humane arrangement. They had said that, if these poor women had been deprived of their husbands, they should not be also deprived of their friends, but they should be conveyed, at the public expense, to their respective homes. (Hear, ' hear.) He hoped the bill would be withdrawn, in consi deration of the evils which would flow from it. The evils it proposed to remedy might be more efficiently dealt with by other means. He opposed the bill from no party feel ing, but in the belief that it would allow the tide of pau perism to overflow the whole country—that it would tend to destroy the present arrangement of property, while it impaired the birthright of the poor. (Hear, hear.) He moved that the bill should be read a second time that day six months. Lord D. STUART, in seconding the amendment, depre cated the matter being treated as a party question ; and said that the difference between his political views and those of the mover of the amendment proved that they were not actuated by party views. The bill had two distinct objects, the abolition of removals and the altera tion of the area of rating. It was in fact two bills ' • and to give full effect to its provisions a third bill ought to have been added, making it applicable to Ireland. He under stood this would have to be done to enable ministers to carry the bill; if so, he hoped it would not be carried. If he were an Irishman he would never support a bill which nada a distinction between England and Ireland. But he objected to this bill as regarded both countries. He did not wish to see the power of removal taken away, either as between parishes in this country, or as from this country to Ireland. He believed that it would be inju rious both to ratepayers and the poor. He saw in it a tendency to bear hardly upon the poor man. The rate payers in large towns would find their burdens unjustly increased ; for if paupers once knew that they could come and throw themselves on. the metropolis without being re moved, there would be an immense influx of that class. The only means which the ratepayers would have of de fending themselves would be by a harsher treatment of paupers, thus endeavouring to keep them away. This would make the condition of the latter class worse than ever. Instead of schools and other institutions being established for them, every endeavour would be made to keep down the rates. It was of course a hardship on the poor not to be able to go where they liked ; but it could never be contended that they should go and claim relief wherever they chose. Giving the right hon. gentleman credit for ability and the most praiseworthy intentions in dealing with the poor laws, he could not but think that he had drawn an exaggerated picture of the effects of the pre sent law of removaL It was not the usual practice, at least not in Marylebone, to remove a pauper the moment he became chargeable to the extent of a single loaf of bread; this was only done where paupers were likely to become permanently chargeable. The right honourable gentleman had not even stated the law correctly ; for a man could not be removed who was chargeable through sickness or accident, unless it were certified to the magi strate that the sickness or accident was likely to render him permanently chargeable. It was said that, in some cases, removals cost 1001., but he knew that in the metropolitan parishes the average cost was from 51. to 71. A man who returned after removal was cer tainly liable to imprisonment ; but this was under the Vagrant Act; and though it might be a good reason for altering the provisions of that act, it was none at all for abolishing the law of settlement. If the bill passed they would have hundreds of thousands of Irish poor coming to this country, and there they would remain. A return of the mumber of Irish poor relieved in this country in 1847 would show the frightful consequences which might ensue from abolishing the right of removal. There were 7,864 Irish poor relieved in 1847 in the parish of Marylebone ; in the parish of St. Pancras, 7,660 ; in the small parish of St. Martin-in-the-field, 11,37. In Liverpool there were relieved in that year no less than 47,191 Irish poor, and in two parishes of Glasgow 30,000. The expense in the case of Liverpool was 20,0001., and in the latter 29,0001. (Hear, hear.) It was true that a famine prevailed at that time in Ireland ; but they were legislating for bad times as well as good, and such consequences as those he alluded to should be guarded against, He thought the house ought to have the whole measure before it in order that they might be able to come to a right determination on the en tire question. With regard to the substitution of a union for a parochial rating, he believed that that proposition would lead to a confiscation of property in many parishes. He looked upon this measure as the first step towards a national rating. (Hear, hear.) Nothing in his opinion was more precious than the right of self-government. It was to the habit of attending to their local affairs that they were indebted for all their greatness, and they should be cautious ere they struck a blow at that system. (Hear, hear.) He therefore begged to second the motion of the hon. gentleman. Mr. A. SEYMEIt said it was somewhat new to see a member for a metropolitan borough seconding the motion of a county representative. It was evident from this that the question would not be discussed on party grounds, but he thought the fact might suggest some misgivings on the part of those county members who were going to oppose the bill. (Hear, hear.) He thought some little breathing time should be allowed them before they were called on to consider the application of the principle of the bill to their Irish fellow subjects. When that part of the ques tion was brought forward, ho trusted it would be of such a nature that he could give it his support. But in the meantime he would not refuse to vote for the second read ing of a measure which he believed to be advantageous to Hnglishmen. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. DRUMMOND said that this bill would sever the last link between the parson and the poor, the com mon-law rights of the latter having been previously frit tered away. He drew a hideous picture of the dirt and immorality of the Scotch system, and asked whether this was what it was wanted to introduce under the pretence of freeing the labourer. He approved of a free communi cation between Irish and English labour. The poor laws were the Magna Charts, of the poor, and were their only idea of the constitution. If, on consideration, he found this bill, and others which must follow, for the benefit of the poor, he would support them ; but if they were only , intended to cause a saving to ratepayers, he should op pose them. Mr. RICE supported the bill on the very ground taken by Mr. Stafford at the end of his speech—namely, the at tachment of the poor to their home. It was to their home and not to the place of their birth that they were at tached, and the bill was intended to prevent their removal therefrom. He believed, also, that it would conduce to the moral and social improvement of the poor, and so to the advantage of the owners and ratepayers, and that it would also tend to give more employment to the labourer. Mr. CHRISTOPHER opposed the bill, believing that it would injure the poor, and that it was calculated not for the benefit' of the industrious, but for that of those who had no fixed residence, and who could wander about at will, bringing their labour into competition with that of the industrious. He argued at some length against the proposed rating system, but his great objection was, that the spreading the rating over districts would induce the forcing of able-bodied men into the workhouse instead of giving them employment, which the present system induced. The measure would do away with the wholesome interest which the richer took in the poorer classes. He also con sidered the bill as a removal of the ancient landmarks of the constitution. Mr. P. URQUHART supported the bill. Mr. BUCK supported the amendment, considering that the bill would be a boon to vagrancy. Sir G. PECHELL expressed a decided opinion against the measure, which he thought would be very unpopular throughout the country as soon as it was understood, and he did not believe that the poor man would be bettered by it. Mr. KENDALL said that the bill would increase the burden on the ratepayers. As soon as it passed, we should have thousands of men who would do no work whatever. But such misery and perjury were caused by the existing law of removal that he must approve of the part of the bill which abolished this, while opposing the proposed union rating system. Mr. VERNON SMITH suggested that those who were agreed as to the desirability of getting rid of the existing law of removal should support the second reading, as the rating portion of the bill could be altered in committee. The bill would, mug other AflyantAcrio l get rid of the _ Loudon & N. West. L. &N. W. Gt. Nrthn, Caldonian , IDo Gt. Westn A. New. & Berw. Y. & N Md Do Do S. Eastern Do INorfolk.. L. & N. W. & Midld. Stckton & Darlingt. E. Count, Do L. &N.W &Ln&Yk 'Do I G D t Northt l Lancash& Yorksh. MClean Stocki. & Darlingt. D 0......... !GtWestn, MINES. L. Gold Liam ... 48 - - 50 1130 -140 28 - 30 WO - 102 50 - 52 25 - 26 13 - 131 211 - 251 2i 2ixd e -- 54 - 56 ad ad *i 27 - 29 93 -- 95 I.# p . i 2d I -10 i i dj 4i 2 32 f d 12 60 4p 1 2 d 12 1 1 4 'Orb trto SUN OFFICE, Si: o'clock. SWITZERLAND. The military department intends to call the cavalry of all the cantons that supply it to a new course of instruction for this year. Great activity prevails in the military school at Thoune, under Colonel Zimmerli. The officers under instruction there may even be said to be harassed with work. Professor Lohbauer is lecturing on tactics and strategy ; Colonel Hofstetter, on internal service ; Captain Schumacher, on field-works ; and Instruc tor Ribi is making experiments with the new rifle. A recent decree allows the commanders of divisions, battalions, and colitpagnies free postage for the whole duration of actual service. In consequence of the Austro-German Zollverein having brought the number of words of a simple telegraphic despatch to twenty-five, the Swiss au thorities have established a charge of lf. for 25 words ; 2f. for 50 ; and 3f. for 100. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this day.) MANCHESTER, March 23.—We have still to report a progressive depression in the state of our market—more marked this week than last, to-day than any previous day. Meantime, with diminishing contracts in land, spinners and manufacturers are becoming more anxious to sell. In these descriptions of cloths, the fall of prices is therefore much greater than in fabrics suitable for the East, or than in most other kinds. In yarns, the decline is very slow and gradual, not perhaps exceeding'„-d. per lb. during the week in mule and water for exportation. Throughout the market, however, the downward tend ency is increasingly manifest, and is still, as has long been the case, more decided in yarns and goods for home use, than in such as are prepared for shipment. Under these circumstances, and with the raw material relatively very dear, a disposition to resort to short-time is showing itself among the trade. BRADFORD, MARCH, 23.—W00l : The inactivity still continues in our market, as for several weeks past, and prices are almost nominal. NOTTINGHAM, March 23.—There is not any improve ment in the condition of either the hosiery or lace trades, each remaining in pretty much the same condi tion we have reported them for many weeks past. LEICESTER, March 23.—Except for the demand for cotton goods for the shipping season, our market has not been so flat for two years past as at present. Worsted spinners are doing as little as possible ; a fur ther reduction of a half-penny per lb. has taken place this week. THE WOOLLEN TRADE. (From the Leeds Mercury of this day. ) LEEDS, March 25.—We have no change to report in the state of the woollen cloth market since our last week's notice. There has been an average business done in the Cloth-halls, and during the week several deliveries, as usual, direct to the warehouses. The present aspect of affairs induces the greatest caution on the part of buyers visiting this market, although they purchase sparingly and apparently nothing beyond their present require ments, yet there continues to be a fair steady trade done in the warehouses. HUDDERSFIELD, March 21.—There has not been much doing in the Cloth-hall, but that must by no means be taken as an indication that business generally is at a very low ebb. At present there is a good deal doing to order ; stocks are light, and considering the state of political affairs just now, trade is fully better than could be expected under the circumstances. ROCHDALE, March 21.—We have not had so dull a market this year as to-day. There is little inquiry for goods, and but few pieces have been sold. The wool market is at a stand almost ; prices are lower, except in very low-priced English wools, which continue extremely scarce. HALIFAX MARKET, March 18.—The tendency is to further depression in prices, both for wools and manu factured products. Middle wethers are now to be had at 14d. per lb., and no confidence in their present posi tion being supported. MARKET NEWS--(THIS DAY.) COVENT GARDEN. The supplies of both ft-nit and vegetables here to-clay were good. On the whole an extensive business was transacted, as follows : FRIIIT.—Pine apples, English, 6s Od to lOs Od each ; ditto colonial, is Od to 18 3d each ; hot-house grapes, 15s to 30s; foreign ditto, is 6d to 3s Od per lb ; apples, 6s to 8s per bush ; pears, 3s Od to 6s per dozen ; lemons, 9d to is 6d ; oranges, 3s Od to lOs per 100 ; almonds, 2s to 3sper lb.; Barcelona nuts, 24s per bush.; cob-nuts, 100 s to 110 s per 1001bs ; chesnuts, 2s to 4s per peck ; filberts, 85s to 1005 per 100 lbs ; walnuts, 8d to is 6d per 100 ; strawberries, 2s per doz. VEGETIBLES.—Cabbages, Od to is 6d. ; Brussels sprouts, 2s Od to 2s Gd per half sieve ; brocoli, 9d to is Gd per bund.; greens, 4s Od to 6s Od per doz. bunches ; French beans, 3s to 4s Od per 100 ; potatoes, 140 s to 180 s per ton ; new ditto, Gd to 8d per lb. ; asparagus, 4s to 8s per 100 ; sea-kail, is to 2s per punnet; garlic, 8d to ls per lb.; turnips, 2d to 4d per bunch ; carrots, 4d. to 8d per bunch; cucumbers, is Od to 3s Od each ; ctdery, Gd to is 6d per bundle; spinach, 5s Od to 6s Odi per sieve; onions, 2s Gd to 3s 6d per bushel ; Spanish ditto, is to 3s per doz. ; leeks, lid to 2d per bunch ; shallots`, 8d to 10d ; horse-raddish, 2s Od to 4s Od per bundle ; parsl cy, is Gd to 3s Od per dozen bunches ; rhubarb, Os 4d to is Od per bundle ; endive, 2s to 4s Od per score • beet, is to 2s Gd per dozen bunches ; par sn ip s , 9d to I;2d per dozen ; small salad, 2d to 3d per punnet ; mushrooms, is to is 3d per pottle. NEWGATE AND LEADENHATA. Turkeys, 490 d to 8s Od; Geese, 5s Od to 68 each ; Ducks, 2s Od to 3s; tame Rabbits, is to is 9d ; wad ditto, 8d to is 2d ; Pigeons, 8d to is each; roasting Pip 4,4 s 6d to 7s each; Surrey Fowls, Os Od to 9s Od ; ditto Chio;kens, 5s Od to 6s Gd; barn-door Fowls, 4s Od to 7s Od. per couple; Capons, 3s to 4s Od ; Chickens, is Gd to 2s Od :per couple ; hares, 2s Od. to 3s 6d each. English Eggs, 7s Gd to 8s Od; French ditto, Os 6d. to 7s Od per 120 ; if.resh butter, is ld to is 4d per lb. BILLINGSGATE. Turbots, 2s Od to lOs ' • Brills, i s t o 3 s Gd e a c h ; S a l mon is 3d to is 9d per lb; Cod fish, 2s to Gs Od &latch ; Soles, &I to ls 3d per pair ; Eels, &I to 18 per lb ; Lob stars, 6d to 3s Od ; Crabs, Gd to 28 Gd ; Whitings, 2s Od to .108 per doz.; Doreys, 2s to 7s ; Mullets, Gd to 2s Gd each ; Common Oysters, 108 Od to 168 Od; Natives, 40s Ocl t 50s Od per bsh; Mackerel, 25s to 35s per 100; Smelts, is Od to sspr doz.; Skate, Gd to Od per lb; Shrimps, 18 Gd to 2s Get per gallon; Bloaters, is Gd to 2s Od per doz. ; F res h H er rings, 8s Oil to Os Od per 100 ; Haddocks, 4s to 12s per du )z. ; Plaice, 4d to is Od. each ; Carp, 28 Od per brace ; Much, 28 Od to Os Od per brace ; Garnets, 4d to 1 8 Od eac Li ; Halibut, 6d per lb. ' • Salt Fish, 2d to 5d p er lb . ; Prav i is, 2s Od to 4s 0,1 per lb. Flounders, 18 to I s G i l per dozen. ;Sturgeon, • Gd per lb.; Pike 6d per lb. ; sprats, 3s Od per b t tshel. BREAD. The prices of wheaten bread in the metrop dis are from Od to lid; of household ditto, Sid to 9id per • 41b loaf. NEWPORT. Beef from 3s 2d to 4s 4d ; mutton, 3s 6 ;c1 'to 4s 6d ; veal, 4s Od to 5s 2d ; pork, 3s 6d to 5s Od per 81bs. WHITECHAPEL. Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 2d ; Mutton, 3s 4 d to 4s 4cl; Veal, 3s 84 to 5s 2d; Pork, 3s 4d to 4s 8d y oer Blbs. by the carcase. HIDES AND SKINS. Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, 2id to Od; 641 b to 721 b, to 3d; 721 b to 801 b, 3 d to 3 id ; 8 01 b to 881 b, 3d to 34d ; 881 b to 961 b, 3id to 3id ; 961 b to 1041 b, 3d t 4d ; 1641 1 i to 1121 b Od to Od. Horse hides, 65 6d to Os Od .; calf skins, light, 2s Od to 3s Od; ditto, full, 5s Gd to Os , Od; polled sheep, 7s Gd to 9s Od; Kents, 7s Od to 8s Od; Half-breds, Gs 6d to 7s 6d ; Downs, 5s oa to 6,3 3d ; shear lings, is Gd to is 7d. HAY MARKETS. ; SUITIIFIELD.—Meadow hay, 31 Os to 5/ Os • clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1117 s to 2/ 5 s per load. supply moderately good, and trade rather dufl. UIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 21 18s to 5/ 5s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 61 Os; and straw, 1/ 18s to 2/ 6s per load. A fair average supply, and a sluggish demani 1. WHITECFIAPEL.—Meadow hay, 31 Os to Os; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 11 . 16 s to 21 4s per load. Trade steady, at late rates. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(T1T,12 DAY.) LONDON , , March 25. — Wind this day at oou W.S.W. ; strong breeze, and cloudy weather. STEAMERE (TRANSPORTS) To THE EAST.— -The Governor of Gibraltar requests that masters of steam ,re, when they arrive near to the Rock, to be distinguish able from the Upper Signal Station, they will hoist thei r numbers ac cording to Maryatt's Code. FALMOUTH, March 24.—Wiud, N., fre, sl h breeze, with fog. Sailed—Lucy, for Trinidad; Anna M a zdalena, Santa Cruz. RAMSGATE, March 24.—The Ceres, of Witt beach, Hartle pool to Abbeville, was totally lost this no orning during thick weather, supposed on the Kentish : Knock ; crew saved. PLYMOUTH, March 24.—The Boirtta (bars Pernam buco to Hamburgh, sunk to-day off the Staz t, after being in contact with the Anne Kimral, London to Cadiz ; ten mon and the master's wife lost ; the kW 4* vessel has arrived hore, with bows stove, and 5 feet of is ater in hold. LIMERICK, March 22.—Wind, N. Sailed- -St. George, Tzzt Barbadoes. LISBON, March 18.—The Soberana, Permits buco to Fal mouth, arrived here on the 14th inst. leaky, aai .d has partly discharged. ST. ÜBE'S, March 17.—The. Cheviot, of Mi I ford, run on the rocks, and was wrecked ; crew and part of . cargo saved. FISHGUARD. March 23.—The Thomas, front I Liverpool, which was beached here on the 20th, has bee 4 a surveyed, and will discharge. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Saturday,l3 /45 a.m. Wind, W. ; jresh beeze, and fine. Sailed—Cambria (s), with troops, for Malts via Kings town; Mount Washington, Africa; Chilena, Valparaiso. Off Port—Newton and Arequipa (barques). NEW COAL RAILWAY TO LONDON.—A company is now in course of formation, for constructini, r a railway from the northern counties to London, for the exclu sive carriage of coals and other minerals, bu lk y goods, and agricultural produce. Preliminary pros' )ectuses have been freely circulated among the coalomm Ts and other commercial firms in the north, by wh t ,m the project has been favourably received. Th(i esti mated capital required is 4,000,0001., which is proposed to be raised by 100,00 V shares of 251, each,—Miatitv Jot crnal. HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.) SECOND COMMON LAW PROCEDURE, 1854, BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second reading of this bill, said he would not again enter into its details, but would merely make one or two observa tions upon some objections which had been urged to the measure. One of the provisions of the bill was that it enabled parties to have their causes tried either by juries or by the judge alone ; and it had been said that he had done wrong in making it optional with the judge. It would be extremely embarrassing to a judge to have to try certain eases—for instance, a ease of trim. con., and award the amount of damages. After a trial was over, the jury sunk again into society, and nobody could point out a man and say, "that is the person who taxed me to such -an amount," out this parties would be enabled to do with reference to a judge. Again, .it was said that in pauper actions a defendant should be at liberty to pay a sum of money into court, and if the plaintiff went on and did not recover a greater amount, he should be called on to pay the additional costs. Now, he thought that must be qualified. Suppose thb character of a person had been attacked, and he brought his action to vindicate it, should a party be at liberty to say, "Here is 501., go on with your action if you dare ?" and if the jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to no more, he was to be called on to pay all the costs. Surely that would be scandalous. Such a law could not be permitted. There was another point to which he wished to allude—the commis sioners recommended that the common law courts should be empowered to make an order for specific per formance. Now, this was not possible with reference to all kinds of contracts—for instance, to put an extreme case, where a person make a contract to marry ; he thought, however, that the bill provided for every such case where it would be at all useful. It provided for delivering up chattels, and where a party had agreed to do certain work its performance might be ordered by the court. It could not, however, be made to apply to the sale of estates, where a question of title was con cerned, because there was no machinery, as in the equity , courts, for inquiring into questions of title. He in tended to propose that the bill be referred to a select committee. Lord CAMPBELL said a school had sprung up out of doors which treated with contempt everything esta blished. He was of opinion that, where there was con flicting evidence, a trial by jury, with the assistance of a judge, was the fairest and best kind of trial. With re gard to the question of specific performance, he thought there should be one court which should deal with that matter, he did not care whether it was a court of law or equity, but whichever it was the parties should have the option of suing for damages or enforcing the contract. lie rather preferred the power being given to a court of law. Lord ST. LEONARDS, with reference to the dis cussion between the noble lord the Chief Justice and his noble friend on the woolsack, entirely agreed with the view of the latter on the subject of specific performance. The Earl of WICKLOW drew attention to a new prin ciple which had been introduced into-the law of the land by this bill—he alluded to the clause which empowered a judge to dispense with an oath in the case of persons con scientiously objecting to take such an oath. The house ought to have been informed of the provision in the bill, whereas he was the only person who had brought it be fore them. After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR, who combatted an opinion—expressed by the Eat' of Wicklow that the clause in question ought not to have formed part of the present bill ; the object of the clause was to deal with those cases where to insist upon evi dence being given upon oath was to shut out evidence altogether, _ _ _ The bill was read a second time, and referred to a select committee. The Highways (South Wales) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Registration of Bills of Sale Bill was read a third time and passed. VALUATION (IRELAND) ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. The report of the amendments to this bill was brought up and agreed to. PRAYERS FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR ARMS IN THE EAST. The Earl of CLANCARTY wished, before their lord ships separated, to put a question to the noble earl opposite (Aberdeen) upon a subject which he considered of great importance, and which he believed was re garded as of great importance by a large proportion of our population. Their lordships and the other house of Parliament had been for some tithe engaged in discussions in reference to the position in which the country was placed by the course of events in the east of Europe, and the war in which it ap peared we were about to be engaged in consequence. They had had produced before them the diplomatic cor respondence which had taken place between our own Government and that of Russia, including the secret despatches, and it was most gratifying to him, as he was sure it must be to their lordships generally, to find that those despatches not only reflected no dishonour upon, but the highest credit upon every one who had been en gaged on the part of this country in the correspondence. The discussions which had occurred showed that the preparations made by the Government to meet the emergency were most complete in their character, and that the utmost care had been taken to ensure the efficiency of both the naval and military force about to be employed. Public opinion seemed to be wholly in approval of the policy of the Government, and the en thusiasm of the country in favour of the war was equalled —if not exceeded—by the soldiers and sailors who were about to be personally engaged in it. There appeared to be every element. Notwithstanding all these favourable prospects, there was ono circumstance which he, in com mon with a large class of the people of this country, looked upon with disappointment and regret—that was the omission, on the part of the Government, to take any step for publicly invoking the Divine blessing upon the ex pedition. He was no advocate for superstitious observ ances, but it was not to be forgotten that the battle was not always with the strong, and when they saw that even the Emperor of Russia had thought it necessary to re cognise the interference of Divine Providence, so far as to invoke publicly at a grand military display a blessing upon his banners, surely we, who had the right on our side, and who were standing forward to protect the weak against the strong, ought not to neglect so import ant a duty as before entering upon the war to pray for the aid of the Almighty Disposer of events in the ap proaching conflict, lest, in the end, we might have as little cause for congratulation as had the Spanish king who sent what he believed to be the invincible armada to attack this country. The question he wished to put was whether the noble earl had any intention to propose such a proceeding as he had referred to, and if so when he would be prepared to indicate when they might ex pect such intention would be carried into effect ? The Earl of ABERDEEN considered the noble earl's appeal somewhat premature, !for war not having yet been declared, the time had not arrived when such a step as that to which the noble earl referred could pro perly be taken, even if it should be thought proper to take it at all. He would remind the noble earl, too, that there was in our liturgy a prayer to be publicly used in time of war, and which for the same reason—that war did not exist—was not read in our churches ; and it would, he submitted, be prematnre to announce any proceeding of this sort, until the emergency to which it was to be directed arose. (Hear.) Their lordships then adjourned at seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) SETTLEMENT AND REMOVAL BILL. Mr. BAINES having moved the second reading of this bill, Mr. H. T. LIDDELL presented a petition from Liver pool against the measure. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE wished to put a question to the Speaker with regard to this bill. After the statement made by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) that it was his intention to introduce clauses to prevent the removal of Irish paupers in the different unions of this country, he wished to ask whether it would be competent for the noble lord to introduce those clauses into a bill, the title of which specified only England and Wales, without an in struction to the committee ? He asked this question, because he thought it might be well for the house to know what the bill was that they had before them. (Hear.) The SPEAKER replied that if the noble lord wished to introduce these clauses it would be necessary before going into committee to move an instruction to the committee to alter the title. Lord J. RUSSELL thought his hon. friend must have misapprehended his reply. What he did say was, that he had proposed to introduce the clauses, but that he found the construction of the bill would make it difficult to place them in it, and he had therefore undertaken to introduce a new bill. (Hear, hear.) Mr. STAFF ORD com p lained that the house reall y did not know what the bill under discussion was ; and he thought that the conduct of the Government with reference to it was as unusual as it was blameworthy. On the 10th of February the bill was brought forward, and its first clause, as well as its title (to which the hon. member for Finsbury had called attention), distinctly limited it to England and Wales. The bill had been commented upon, and petitioned for or against throughout the whole coun try. In the meantime, however, rumours had got into cir culation to the effect, that the Irish members had sent a paper to a gentleman high in the Cabinet, stating that un less the irremovability of the Irish poor was admitted they should feel it their duty to oppose the bill. (Cries of "No, no," from the Irish members.) Well he (Mr. Staf ford) had not seen the paper, and could notpretend to state what it contained ; but of one thing he was sure, those rumours had become so current that yesterday his right hon. friend the member for Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley) had put the question to the President of the Poor-law Board, whether the Government were or were not prepared to ex tend the provisions of the bill to the Irish poor ? The right hon. gentleman stated in answer that he did not know. Mr. BAINES observed that what he had really stated was, that the question of Mr. Henley referred to Ireland and Scotland, and that, as the Poor-law Beard had nothing to do with those portions of the kingdom, he had better put his question either to his noble friend the Home Secre tary or to the noble lord the leader of the house. (Hear.) Mr. STAFFORD said that, at all events, it had been publicly announced by the Irish members in the lobby that the Government had acceded to the request contained in the paper to which he had alluded. (Hear.) Now, how ever, the noble lord told them that the Government had neither refused it nor acceded to it ; but that there was to be another bill , of the p rovisions of which the house were necessarily ignorant, seeing that they neither hall it before RAILWAYS. Bedford and Bletehley.... Buckghamsh. Clydesdale Jc. E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. alas. Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. New Glstr. & Dn. Ft artlpl. Dk. k Railway Hull & Selby Do. 2 Shares. Do. 4 Shares. Lon. & Greenly Do. Preference Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per et. Manch. Bxtu. and Matlock Sfid.dleabro' & Redcar Nlidld.Bradat :northern and Easternsp.e. 'Do. 6 per et. Do. Fixeds p Prest. & Wyre Do. Shares. Roystn./zHit. Do.Shepth.St Shef.Roth and Gooleg.s p. c. S. Staffordsh. Wear Vallcygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&Somrst A.gua Fria tkuglo Austrli lAnglo Califor Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Blaenarvon Ir. initish Austrl British Iron . why of) . & Coal u. Gold Brazilianlmp at £5 pm Do. Cocaes dr Cuiada Do. St. John Del Roy, (issued Carson's Creek - Clarendon Con. Min Co. of Jamaica__ Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper Min. of Eng Do. Pref. 74 p. cent English and Austrin Copper Sineltg. Co General Great Nugget Vein._ Do. Registered Great Polgooth Liberty Linares Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co. Diariquita. Kexican&S.Amerien New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nouveau Monde Pontgibo.ud Silver Lead Min. dr Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New Sautiago de Cuba south Australian En Croft. United Mexican , Waller West Granada West Mariposa Worthing Mining of Australia. ..... Yuba FOREIGN. 9 3 8 26. Amtvrerp&Rotterdam Belgian Eastn. June Beziers to Graissessac Bombay, Baroda, and Central In dia,Scrip Central of Italy _ _ . _ _ Charleroi & Erquelin. Demerara Dijon and Besancon. Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Grd. Trunk of Canada Do. Debentures Do. do Gt. Central of France Gt. Western of Canada Shares ' Do. Bands (Ist is.)'s7 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lake Coust. & Basle Lucca & Pistoj a 5 p.c pref Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Pref. Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. et. pref._ Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Mediterran Alaclra.s Maria Antonia Do. do. New Aelbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds (fnly. B. & Ams. Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds all Paris and Orleans all Paris and Rouen all Paris and Strasbourg 10 ParisCaen & Cherbrg 10i Quebec & Richmond all Rouen and Havre 12 Royal Danish 2 Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse 6 Do. 54 p. cent. Pref 6 Southern of France 6 St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) all West Flanders all Do 5A per c. Prof._ 10 Western of France 7 West. of Switzerland 2 Wiesbaden 15 Zealand 4 —34 d 14 5 --4 d id ..• P 44 —34 d 2 2ip 1 4 P— i P 5 4d 7 -- 5 4 3d 20 21 7 - 9p - 1 P 107 - 109 dis 5,1 2 34 1 14 1 1A lia 2 1 - 31d 3 2 11 6 i - 7i 281 -28 i 7h- 8a 11g —112 p 42a —43 a 32 34 27a - 271 —Pm ld par ... d 7i 8 ... pin 3 3 1 34 (11 4.d JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 72 74 74 -- 40 all British Colonial Bank and Loan Company 50 all British N. American 25 5 Chartd. Bank of Asia 2 ld 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 11 ld 100 25 Colonial •• ••• 100 20 Commercial of Lend 20 10 English Scottish and Australian 5 4d 5i 20 15 Loud. Chart. Bk. of Australia 2 —14 d 50 20 London and County ... 50 10 London Joint Stock — 224 1 100 20 Loud. & Westminster ... 100 35 National Provincial of England • ..• 20 10 Do. New . . 50 221 atonal of Ireland — 20 all New South Wales 3B 40 25 all Driental Bank of Corporation 42 44 42 34 25 5 Do. New . . 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... 474 7 10 all Do. New 5 1 loyal Australn.Bkg & cold Imp Co ... 25 all south Australia 36 38 25 all Unkin of Australia— 60 62 Do. New 6 7 50 10 Union of London MISCELLANEOUS 5 all Aubin Coal and Iron 25 174 Australian Agricult. 32 34 321 20 14 Austral sn. Pc i fic. 10 8 Australn, Royal Mail 10 4 Berlin Water Works 50 381 Brit. American Land 73 75 73 5 1 Brit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co 100 321 Canada 75 80 5 5 2rystal Palace 5l —6 in 51 x new 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France 20 3 Zastern Steam 25 20 Electra Telograph(A) 174 18 25 all Do. (B) . . ••• 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir — 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — 20 18 General Screw Steam 20 V, Irish Beetroot Sugar 20 10 Magdalena St. Navig. 1 all at, Pat. Steam Fuel 10 3 Netherlands Land 1 3 2 1 N. S. W. Coal & Inter Steam Navigat. Co ... 1 all N. B. Australasian — lad x d 1 Do. New — 20 10 Nrth.ofEuropeSteam 5 all Peel Rr. LB. & Minrl. 11 lid 31 50 all Peninsular & Oriental 50 30 Do. 2 all Portland Iron Co iP 100 60 Royal Mail Steam 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 11 lip 25 25 South Austral. Land 33 1 all Submar. Telegraph„ _ all Do. Registered. - 100 281 Van Diemen's Land GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Traffio re turn for the week ending March 18, 1854 £4,855 3 6 corresponding week last year 4,227 16 5 Lame in 1854 £62 1717 all all all all all 100 12 St. St. 25 100 100 18a all 50 1 20 35 all all all 13.5 244 all 15 i 6 15 all all all 1 10 1 1 20A 100 - 20 20 10 20 40 Do.. 40 1 39i i li * 10 5 . 6 5j 2i 27i i 73 I enormous expense of disputed removals;Lad tketulti .r$ would not, of course, compel landlords to build eottages for labourers, it wo u ld re li eve th em from the reason whielt prevented them frouxbuildieg. He strongly advocated the measure. Colonel DUNNE complained that Lord John Lusa-ell had not kept faith with the Irish members, who bud ob tained from Lord Palmerston a recognition of the clams of Ireland on the subject. It was never known what the Cabinet would do on any question, and one member of it contradicted another. But if Ireland were to be included in this bill, by instruction of the committee or otherwisiv, it would be considered in the way becoming independent: , members—but if not, it would be opposed. Mr. AGLIONBY thought the question as to the intro duction of Ireland ought to be at once settled, and that the vote of every English as well as Irish member depended on it. In reply to Mr. Stafford's remark, he said that there was nothing in this bill to prevent the poor from returning to their native place ; the only object was, to prevent their forcible removal. He objected to the second clause, not as tending to a national rate, but because it tended to perpetuate the present. system. The subject would never be settled until fairly grappled with, and levy made on property wherever it was found, and of whatever it consisted. The present systein was unconstitutional, and opposed to the very act of Elizabeth which enacted that the poor should be supported out of the wealth of the country. Mr. KNIGHT vindicated the working of the did system, and expressed a hope that tho bill would not pass. He was convinced that it was not for the good' of the poor, and that the right of settlement wre the title deed of the poor to relief. I,le did not regard this bill as Mr. Baines's, but as Mr. Chadwick's, and as the przscluce of an old aggressive board, and of the starving party, who, some years ago, taught that all charity was wrong, And that harshness and severity—the characteristics of tkis bill —were the proper treatment for the labouring classes. Ale cited evidence in support of this character of the parties iNeo referred to, andproceeded at very great length to eulogize' the results of th e law of settlement, which had made our labourers the best clothed and best fed population in Europe. In assailing the bill, he pointed out among its dangers that the promoters of a strike, like that of Preston, might, under the new measure, first flood all the work houses in England with their surplus population, and, this being placed at free quarters, the fight might begin. The law of settlement had defended the labourer against the proprietor, and clearances had taken place in Scotland and in Ireland for the want of such a law, and God forbid the proprietor should regain the tremendous power he possessed and abused before the law existed. He next assailed district chargeability, which, he contended, experiments had already proved was a failure. After about an hour and a half of the hon. gentleman's arguments, the inattention of the house became impatience, and he ended shortly after a warning to the house not to imitate the bureaucracy of revolutionary France. Sir G. GREY gave his cordial assent to the second read ing of the bill, believing it to be framed on a right princi ple, and supported by accumulated evidence, while Mr. Knight's speech had shown that it was no hasty production. The opinion of the labouring class was known to be in fa vour of the abolition of compulsory removal, and the bill was eminently calculated to promote the interests of the poor. As regarded the rating portion, it was certain that, at present, rating fell very unjustly, and the proposed al teration did not tend towards a national rate, or to unfair local self-government. He regretted to have to a ll u d e to the other question which had been raised, but must say that if Colonel Dunne had accurately described the engagements into which the Government was said to have entered, he must reluctantly with hold his support from the bill; having seen too much of the evils from floods of Scotch and Irish pauperism to assent to the alleged proposition. Nor ought distinct matters to be mixed together. The engrafting the pro posed addition on the bill would raise an opposition through out the country. Mr. PACKE moved the adjournment of the debate, on the ground that the house had not sufficient information as to the bill. He dwelt upon the injustice of the course that had been taken, which he described as unfair and un principled. Mr. MOORE thought that the intention of the Governs.- ment ought, after the speeches is hich had just been made, to be distinctly stated. Mr. MANGLES moved the adjournment of the debate, and the question was put. Mr. WALPOLE called upon her Majesty's Ministers to explain how this most important subject was to be treated. He had intended to support the second reading, until he found what course was proposed to be adopted. Sir J. GRAHAM had been prevented by Lord Palmer ston's illness from seeing his lordship, but was of opinion that the debate should be adjourned and placed first on the orders for Monday, when he hoped that his noble col league would be able to explain what had taken place. As far as he understood the principle of the bill, it was to substitute destitution for settlement as a right to relief ; and it was certain that if that change were adopted, a re consideration of the cases of Scotland and Ireland must come. Bat if the concession were made in those cases, it must be accompanied by detailed regulations requiring ma tured consideration. These were not yet prepared. Mr. DISRAELI said that the bill had been introduced on the 10th of February, and the interval had been intended for the country to consider the measure. Much conside ration had been given to the subject, but now all the data were changed, and he suggested a later adjournment than was proposed. Lord C. HAMILTON entered at some length into a de tail of what had passed with Lord Palmerston, denying that any sort of compact had been entered into, and ex plaining that all that had been dono was to bring before Government the claims of Ireland to justice. He read a paper, in which the views of the Irish members had been embodied. Sir J. PAKINGTON complained of the course taken by the Government as most unfair towards all parties. He had come down intending to support the whole bill, believing that the whole plan was before the house. Fur ther proceedings ought to bo adjourned until the inten tions of Government were known. Mr. S. WORTLEY thought that the debate should be adjourned to the earliest possible period, because it was of the highest importance to laiow as soon as possible what were the intentions of the government. At the same time he thought it would be most convenient to have all the measures of the Government before the house at the same time. (Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY thought that the proposition to adjourn until Monday was only fair, when it was expected that the noble lord at the head of the Home Department would be in his place. The SPEAKER then put the question that the debate be adjourned until Monday next. Mr. PACKE said that he Would move an amendment that the debate should be adjourned until the 24th of Colonel DUNNE gave notice that if the bill should go into committee, he would move an instruction to the com mittee to insert the words " Ireland and Scotland" in the bill. Sir J. GRAHAM said that the house would not be in a worse position respecting Irish and Scotch paupers by reading the bill a second time. (Cries of " No, no.") Hon. members could have the fullest opportunity of moving any amendments they pleased in committee. The noble lord the member for London had come down to the house that evening at considerable inconvenience, and from indisposi tion was obliged to leave early. He, however, believed that the noble lord would be in his place on Monday even ing ; and he also hoped that the noble viscount the Secre tary for the Home Department would be also present on Monday, when he would, no doubt, be prepared to make a statement in reference to the measure before the house. It would be impossible for the Government to frame a mea sure until they knew the pleasure of the house with respect to the removal of Irish and Scotch paupers. Mr. PACKE —Will the right hon. baronet undertake to say that no debate will take place on Monday on the bill ? Sir J. GRAHAM—Oh, no ! After a few words from Lord H. VANE, The house divided, when the numbers wero— For the amendment 121 3 Against it The announcement was received with loud cheering. INCOME TAX. The house then went into committee on the income tax, Mr. BOUVERIE in the chair. -- - The several clauses were agreed to, and the house re sumed. On the motion for the secona reading of the Bribery, kc., Bill, Colonel SIBTHORP felt it his duty to move the adjourn ment of the house, if the bill was persevered with. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said if there was any objection to proceed with it, he would postpone it till Monday. The second reading was accordingly postponed till Mon day. On the motion of Mr. GRENFELL for the adjourned debate on the Military Knights of Windsor, 4 ,Mr. R. PHILLIMORE said he understood the Govern ment intended to accede to the motion, but he felt it necessary to state, after an examination of all the docu ments, he was satisfied that the Dean and Chapter of Windsor had discharged their duty in the most upright manner. The address was thou agreed to, and the house ad• journed at a quarter to one o'clock. TAILORS' AGENCY LITERARY INSTITUTE, NEWING. TON CAUSEWAY.—The Rev. W. Cadman, rector of St. George's, Southwark, delivered a very able and appropriate lecture to the members of this institution on Thursday evening, on the Responsibilities of Working Men, the , Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury presiding. The pope. larity of the noble lord, from the enlightened efforts he has made to ameliorate the condition of the humbler classes, drew together a numerous audience ; and the lec ture, which was an em i n ently practical o n e , was well fitted to instruct and benefit those to whom it was addr se Lord Shaftesbury, i n a cknowledging a vote of thanks. took occasion to notice, with approval, the objects of this promising and interesting institution, where education f u o e n a e t establishment iun uf their ch i ldren, are he ir together uur u intellectual t promo te h e Workmen theim provement. d The lectures, library, readi ng-room, . lordship, who urged were earnestly commended by his lordship, an d urged upon the members by sobriety, d ili g en ce, faithful attention to the comforts of their househOld_e. to un i t which ,i had aandd beenreach.the _oh wholee j proceedings ( i - I P e i P er t s l n gi e a ti n ec d se . 0 w id92176 show how much they valued thoseu P w br r ar Ou v m g em h ly t e s wi n p t p th ia w i lated to excite the liveliest interests in all noble lord's ad dress who dame th e of the labouring the catastrophe occurred this FATAL AFFRAY. —SHIE LD market-place. An unfor tunate on 23.—A serious a P f c te rt r i noseo Lf t 3 h tl e , cornmuln 6 Y- S, MAR CH 23.--A South Shields Dixon, having named Chr. to the union rules, which require N. in terrogated by a union man, and abused for not adhering shipped for 61.. London voyage, was 10s. An alterca tiou took p l ace. Dixon (the bl ac k leg, as he was termed) was struck on the back of the neck by the union man, and the poor fellow fell, and died in a few minutes. A feeling of horror has been excited here by the deed. The crowd gave indications of taking summary vengeance on the unionist, who fled into a neighbouring public house, u n til h e was taken in charge by the police. The deceased was comparatively an old man to his assailant. The deceased is reported to belong to North Shields. Large meetings of seamen continue to be held here on the subject of their disputes about wages.—Shipping Garette. RELEASE OF m A Brody y n.BE u r , from —A letter the T l n 4 Fi th ENGLISH iust: informs Ert MgE us drat Mr. Bell, who wa s taken p risoner by the Russians iu the Black Sea w hile servin g in an Egyptian steamer, 1:. had arrived in that town, accompanied by a Russian officer. Although it is long since the Czar professed to give Mr. Bell his freedom he has only just been re leased, and his friends have hitherto remained uncertain even as to the fact of his existence. Offers were made to Bell, while a prisoner, to enter the Russian service, but he refused them, He is now on his way to Trieste, yid Vienna. - ----~.: , and 812s1 6i 25 50 20 10 261 13A 20 20 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 St. St. 25 5 10 St. 5 100 100 100 6 100 12} 12i 25 4i all all 104 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 all 100 St. St. St. 20 15 8i 8 10 15 all all all 10 25 10 ..0.6 90 51i 2 561 i 32 si 7