The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HORSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. Wr. HUTCHINS presented a petition from Lea litington in favour of ocean penny postage. EASTER RECESS. `Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that on Tuesday, the 11,th proximo, he should move that the house at its rising (If adjourn until Monday, the 24th of April, and after tike recess he should move that on Thursdays orders of the day should take precedence of notices of motion. WAR WITH RUSSIA. •The Noble Lord also gave notice that to-morrow he whuld give in the terms of the address which he proposed tc( move on Friday in reply to the Message from the Throne on the subject of the war. EPISCOPAL AND CAPITULAR ESTATES BILL Uhe Marquis of BLANDFORD moved the second reading of this bill,'which he said proposed to deal with prOperty of large annual value, and to provide a new node of administering it so that it might be improved in value, while it was made more available for the spi ritual wants of the great body of the people. There was no subject of inure importance than the spiritual interests and wants of the people, and to none could Parliament more usefully direct its attention. The commissioners, which sat upon it a few years ago reported that the incomes of the bishops and werking clergy of the Church of England were nest unequally distributed, and shortly afterwards an act of Parliament was passed for regulating the stipends ,of different sees. Th 3 property of each see was transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and fixed incomes affixed to each bishopric. It was subse quently found that the revenues of these sees greatly exceeded the stipends which had been allotted to them, for instance, in the case of Durham, the stipend was axed at 8,000/. a year, but it turned out that the an nual revenue of the see was some times 20,0001., but seldom or never fell short of 15,0001., and an act was passed in the 13th and 14th Vict. which gave the bishops definitively fixed income without reference to the revenues of their sees, the surplus of one see over the income being applied to making up the deficiencies of Others. In this way the incomes of some ten or twelve bishops had been provided for, while by another act the property and incomes of some eight deans and chapters had been dealt with upon a similar principle. This legislation, in a like spirit, had taken place with regard to the property of the Church, and the object of this bill was to place the episcopal and capitular estates of the country entirely under the control of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and so 'relieve the bishops of their management. Thus, the commissioners would have power to appoint their own agents to receive the revenues ; but the fees Which the bishop received in his official capacity would `-be exempted from the operation of the bill, though it `Would provide that he should make an annual return of the funds he received in that way. A clause in the bill would prevent the fee of the property being vested in the commissioners; but in all cases the management of the property should be handed over to the commis sioners, both in the case of bishoprics and deans and chapters, and they should be required to pay the digni taries an annual income calculated at the rate, say, of seven Years' value of their estates. The bill provided a scheme of enfranchising upon a rack-rent tenure of all episcopal and capitular property, which would have the effect of considerably increasing the value of the estates attached to the Church, and it was proposed that the surplus revenue so obtained should be devoted to augmenting the incomes of small livings and endowments. It was calculated that a sum of 506,6411. a-year, to provide in this way for the increased spiritual wants of the people and by the machinery of this an annual income Of not less than 550,000/. would be secured to meet that laudable purpose. The noble lord concluded by express ing his conviction that this bill, if carried, as he hoped it Would be, would conduce to the glory of God and the good of man. Sir W. CLAY moved that the bill be read a second this day six months. _ _ _ Mr. iIADFIELD seconded the amendment. [LEFT SITTING.] THE BRITISH EXPEDITION TO THE EAST. 'A letter from Malta, of March 24th, says, last night, before dusk, the Christophe Colomb, French Govern ment steamer having on board Lieutetant-General Canrobert, Lieutenant-General Bosquet, Lieutenant- General Martinprey, 45 officers, 800 soldiers, and 50 horses, and with the French transport Mistral, with 27 soldiers, and 40 horses, in tow, hove in sight, and ran into the grand harbour of Valetta, about 6 o'clock. As she passed St. Elmo, the artillerymen and men of the 3d Buffs and 63d Regiment manned the walls, and gave a thundering round of cheers, which were returned by their gallant allies. The French sol diers, indeed, continued cheering all the time the vessels proceeded up the harbour whenever a boat with a redcoat in in it came in sight, and seemed in excellent spirits. These vessels left Marseilles on the 19th, and conveyed the first portion of the French contingent. It is understood that at least one steamer will arrive here, in Valetta, on each alternate day till the whole force has passed. General Canrobert, so well known as one of the most dashing and energetic leaders of the armee d' A f rique, landed in the course of the even ing, and was received by the authorities with all the re spect due to his rank and mission. He went to the opera—for we have an opera here—and was the object of much observation. An order has been issued for the brigade of Guards to parade on the Floriana at 11 o'clock to-day, and the Rifles are also to be present. General Canrobert and staff will attend ; and, indeed, it is on their account the review takes place. The steamer and transport, with all on board, sail at 4 p.m. this evening. Their destination is Gallipoli ; and Gene ral Canrobert says, that not only the French, but the English army will disembark at that favoured spot. The Kangaroo, with the 77th Regiment (Colonel Egerton) on board, arrived this morning from Liverpool. The men disembark in the course of the day, and take up their quarters under canvas. The happy arrival of the Simoom, after a voyage of 16 days from Portsmouth, while it eased the anxiety of the timid, .deprived many of an interesting subject of censure and speculation ; we now learn that her detention was caused by the utter dislocation of her machinery, every bit of which came undone, went wrong, or got out of gear that could by possibility do so. She came into harbour with the Scotch Fusilier Guards on Saturday night (18th inst.), and the troops were disembarked the following day, and landed at their quarters in the Lazaretto. When one reflects on the passages made by the Himalaya, the Orinoco, the Cambria, the Ripon, the Emeu, and even by the little Manilla —by every vessel, in fact, which had not the honour of flying her Majesty's pendant—and com pares them with the voyage of the Simoom, he cannot but lament that the engineers, mechanics, and artisans of the Royal dockyards do not learn a lesson or take a hint from our great public companies. Of course, it is scarcely fair to compare vessels like those above-named with a ship like the Simoom, which is a man-of-war as well as a transport, carries guns, &c., but there is no sound reason why the engines of a man-of-war transport should be always breaking ; nor do the considerations suggested by a reference to the ex press object ior which these vessels were built com pletely account for the exceedingly great disparity be tween her Majesty's ships and those of the Peninsular and Oriental and other companies. More than one screw must be loose to cause all this delay. The Fusiliers disembarked in excellent order, so have all the regiments which form this first part of the expe ditionary army. The horses were rather fresher than the men ; for, although the accommodations of the Simoom were good and spacious, the latter felt the con finement, heat, 2. - nd want of exercise. The Guards, who occupy the Lazaretto, in spite of the local derange ments caused. by their " liberty" carousings in acid wine and fiery brandy on their arrival, enjoy good health, though the average disease has been rather augmented by tile results of an imprudent use of the time allowed to them ere they left London to bid goodbye to their fkiends. On Friday Lieutenant-General James Ferguson, C. 8., commanding the forces, attended by his staff and a number of officers in garrison, inspected the 28th Regi ment, the 33d, and the Rifles, on the Floriana parade ground, at 4 o'clock p.m., and expressed his satisfaction at the appearance and discipline of the whole of the brigade. On Monday, the 20th, Lieutenant-General Ferguson inspected a brigade (not of the expedi tionary army), consisting of the 3d Buffs (Lieut.-Col. Van Straubenzee,) the 41st Regiment (Col. Carpenter), the 68th Regiment, Durham Light Infantry (Lieut.-Col. Smyth), on the Floriana parade ground, at 11 o'clock. The appearance of the men was excellent, and the steadi mess of the line and column marching and advance unex ceptionable. Brigadier-General Bentinck, attended by his aides-de-camp, the military secretary, Colonel Drum mond, Col. Hay, Col. Codrington, and a number of other officers were present, but there was a scanty attendance of natives, probably because events of this kind are mot publicly announced in Malta. It is said that the brigade of Guards will be inspected by the General on Thursday, the 23d, and very great curiosity is ex pressed by the Maltese to see all these " plenty big men" together. In fact, there is little doubt but that all the regiments will undergo minute inspection ere they leave for service, and that they will have as much drill and exercise as the nature of the ground will admit. 'The island is so swarmingly populous—the surface of it is so cut up with roads, garden walls, stone enclo sures, drainage courses—and the houses so numerous, that there are few open spaces left sufficient to ma noeuvre a company in, except the Floriana and St. Clement's, and even these are of exceedingly moderate dimensions. Except a march along a hot and dusty road, or the drill of the barrack-yard, there is little opportunity for the commanding officer of a regiment to get his men through much work. AN IMPERIAL BOUQUET.-A bouquet to be offered by the Horticultural Society of Toulouse to the Empress was exhibited there on Sunday at the Capitol in the Salle du Trone, where a vast crowd went to see it. Not less than 10,000 violets and 300 camelias have been em ployed in this gigantic bouquet, which is 2 feet in dia meter by 3 feet high. It is composed of a dome of violets surrounded by a circle of camelias, garlands of these last running down the dome, on which are to be seen the initials of her Majesty in orange flowers. A blue riband, also having the cipher of her Majesty, ties the stem of the bouquet. This beautiful object left Tou louse on Monday, nd was to be presented to her Majesty on Wednesday by M. Duplan, member of the Legislative Body, president of the Horticultural Society of the Saute Garonne. •r. ; 11/1 •,••• ,00K. ay were is quiet, y's rates er kinds be sales at 61d. b. Rail- Orien y large, L mercial ist have odically 200,000 .4eelong whereas 2 with amaz d great ?.nerally ie large inns us Duut of Ls much n to be .favour- ' in the v disco- Lnd the ie 3d to This ) is no oun t of weekly ich the e over ices of ) the o consi- Legisla- Le duty ie reve icy this )an was nprove nercan- nor im- expe tect cer urn and costing aye cost. ne hun- , ance of ter pro ►asmuch rotected it tariff, in this f broad , of ten snkets ; worsted urers of Lt. more est just It ap ,fit one Lff does, r autho pods 10 me, per -sat com afficient d cassi- Lent 50 )f blan equally er yes- Ken on L 15 to such flanges t been ss, the ecause Eng- bees Ind if Id, in ) the es at vern- ; and capi d are being sated olni -2i to divi -24 to .ench ange to 4, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, were presented authorising loans or the imposition of extraordinary taxes •in the towns of Saumur, Orleans, Alby, and Dunkirk, in the commune of Aix-la-Chapelle, and in the departments of the Gers, Maine-et-Loire, Yonne, and Loire-Inferieure. The Minister of State was then introduced with the usual ceremony, and, in the name of the Emperor, read to the Chamber the following message : SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices yesterday. Business done this day. " Messieurs les D6put4s—The Government of the Emperor and that of her Britannic Majesty had declared to the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh that if the difference with the Sublime Porte was not replaced in a purely diplomatic position, in the same way as if the evacuation of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia was not commenced immediately and terminated by a given day, they would see themselves forced to consider a negative reply or silence as a declaration of war. The Cabinet of St. Petersburgh having decided not to reply to the communication thus made, the Emperor charges me to inform you of that determination, which places Russia with respect to us in a state •f war, the whole responsi bility of which appertains to that power." The moment the Hon. Minister concluded, the loudest acclamations arose from every part of the Chamber. The President then rose, and after having formally acknowledged the reception of the message just delivered, said : " The Emperor may reckon on the unanimous co-ope ration of the Legislative body as on that of the whole of France." Fresh acclamations greeted the assurance thus given by the Hon. President. The proceedings then ter minated, amidst reiterated cries of Vive l'Empereur ! At three o'clock the Minister proceeded to the Senate to make the same declaration. It was greeted there, as in the Legislative Chamber, by a unanimous assent with the loudest acclamations. The President then said : " The Senate gives a formal acknowledgment to the Minister of State of the communication which he has just made in the name of the Government, and which it has listened to with a profound sentiment of most entire and most devoted co-operation. I think I express the unanimous feeling of the Senate in adding that it con• fides fully in the Emperor, who will know how to con duct the war with the ability and energy which have so eminently distinguished the negociations. The commu nication of his Excellency the Minister of State shall be inserted in the minutes of our proceedings, and the ori ginal shall be deposited in the archives." The Senate hailed these words of the President with unanimous cries of Vive l'Empereur It is believed that, notwithstanding the order issued by the Emperor Nicholas, recalling to their own country the Russians residing in France, there are still a considerable number in Paris, and who, not having property to be confiscated in Rus sia, will not leave this country, of which they in some sort consider themselves natives. The last Russian Consul, M. d'Ebeling, leaves Paris to-day. It is said that a contract has been entered into with the Government for the transport of 2,400 English horses by the Lyons Railroad. Every one was taken by surprise immediately after the proceedings in the Senate on Monday by the announcement made by the Minister of State with respect to the declaration of war. The only sitting of the Legislative Corps announced was in its bureaux, and the Senate was not summoned at all. The consequence was that messengers had to be despatched in every direction for a few members of both houses ; but, notwithstanding these efforts, very few members were present in either house when M. Fould read the passage. Some doubt is entertained if the French Govern ment is quite so well prepared for commencing the war as has been generally supposed. It appears that the embarkation of the troops is proceeding with much less alacrity than could be desired ; and delays have occurred, not only at Toulon and Mar seilles, but in Algeria. Besides this, the troops which have embarked have been rather unfortunate. The Veloce and another, which accompanied the Chris tophe Colomb, encountered a violent gale in the Gulf of Lyons, and were obliged to put back to Toulon. The Veloce is so much damaged that she will have to be laid up. The troops and officers who were on board of these two ships have been disembarked, and are now waiting a passage by some other means. The French Baltic squadron is also far from being in a forward state. So badly off is the Minister of the Marine for ships, that he has been obliged to detach the Henry IV., and four other ships from the Levant fleet. They have received orders to return to Brest forthwith, to be placed under the command of Admiral Parseval Des ch e snes " On Monday evening M. de Hatzfeld, the Prussian Minister, was received by the Emperor in a private audience, for the purpose of delivering an autograph letter from the King of Prussia, which had arrived in Paris that morning. He remained for an hour with the Emperor. A report was current here yesterday and Monday, which, strange as it may appear, it is right to mention. It is said that certain members of the Senate and of the Legislative Corps have conferred together on the propriety of offering a dictatorial power to the Emperor during the continuance of the war. A meeting of members of the two Chambers took place on Monday evening (the report goes), at which was discussed the best mode of draw ing up a proposition for the suspension of the ordi nary laws, and the establishment of a dictatorship. Persons who are well informed seem to think that this project is not without chances of being carried out. The committee to inquire into the affair of M. de Montalembert has at length, after a great number of sittings, nominated its reporter. It is M. Periet, whose opinion has been always considered favour able to M. de Montalembert, inasmuch as he is against granting the required authorisation to pro secute. The fall of English Consols, and the official an nouncement of the state of war, produced a general decline yesterday on the Bourse. The Three per Cents closed at 62f. 40c. for the end of the month ; and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 89f. 25c. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,040 f. ; Rouen, 830 f. ; Havre, 425 f. ; Great Northern, 705 f. ; Strasburg, 680 f. ; New Shares, 505 f. ; Lyons to Paris, 780 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 637 f. 50c. ; Western of France, 555 f. ; Bordeaux to Cette, 510 f. ; Great Central of France, 400 f. ; Lyons to Geneva, 420 f. ; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 492 f. 50c. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. THE WAR IN THE EAST. A letter from Belgrade of the 27th, published in the Mouiteur of yesterday, confirms the news we gave yesterday respecting the affair at Turtu kai. It says—" On the 15th, General Gortscha koff attempted to seize on the island of the Danube situated in front of Turtukai. His troops were already covering the bridge which they had estab lished, when the fire of the Turks succeeded in breaking down the bridge, which was carried away by the current with everything then on it. The loss of the Russians is estimated at nearly 2,000 men killedas well on the bridge as on the bank. The loss of the Turks, sheltered behind their entrench ments, was almost nothing." Accounts from Vienna of the 27th state, that on the 23 , 1 18,000 Russians crossed the Danube and occupied Gedshid. General Luders had left Galatz, and had marched to the spot to protect the operation. The Russian General Stakelberg, who was at tached to the Russian embassy at Vienna, is about to leave that city to take part in the war. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated last evening says—There is no doubt of the passage of the Danube by the Russians in great force. Besides the division which crossed from Braila, General Luders passed from Galatz, with the main army, without meeting any serious opposition, and with very slight loss. 4,000 Turkish troops are in Prevesa, and as many in Janina. THE BALTIC FLEET. By the International Telegraph, via the Hague, we learn that Admiral Napier's flag-ship, the Duke of Wellington, 131, anchored at Kiel yesterday (Tuesday), and that the whole fleet was then off the harbour. _ The Bulldog steamer, 6, Captain King, was in port, and the captain had had an interview with the British vice-consul about the supply of coal to the steamers. _ _ _ All was well on board the fleet. Immediate destination was not known. A letter from Revel, 17th, states that the roads near that town are filled with people quitting the place with all their most valuable effects. The greatest agitation prevails. None of the light houses near the port are now lighted. A letter from Revel of the 24th ult., in the Journal de St. Petersburg, says :—" The roadsted of Revel, which was covered with ice on the 13th January, was freed from it in the night of the 22d. It was again frozen over on the Bth February ; but since the 21st, a thaw has caused an opening behind the double battery. On the previous day, a ves sel freighted with provisions arrived at Port Baltic, and its cargo was forwarded to St. Petersburg." The British Consul, at Cronstadt, has left his post ; the French Consul is absent on leave. THE GERMAN POWERS. The Cologne Gazette states from Vienna that the negotiations between the Austrian and Prussian Cabinets are rendered difficult by the great irrita tion of the former against Russia, to which Prussia is said to incline more than is agreeable to Austria. According to the correspondent of the Cologne Gazette, the determination of the Russian Govern ment that its armies shall cross the Danube has given great dissatisfaction to that of Austria, although every assurance has been given that in all the ope rations of Russia the political and commercial inte rests of Austria shall be respected. The Grand Puke of Saxe Coburg Gotha has re turned to Gotha, from Berlin. The object of his visit was, says the Hamburg News, to persuade the King of Prussia to join the alliance of the Western Powers, his Royal Highness feeling that if such a step were not adopted, Prussia would become iso lated from the other German Powers. A letter from Berlin, of the 25th, in the Cologne The discussions in the committee Gazette, says :—" on the loan bill are still continuing. The commit tee asked for explanations, and particularly as•re gards the negotiations 'with Austria. M. de Man teuffel did not refuse to give them. Yesterday he appeared before the committee, but his explana tions were not considered satisfactory. The mem bers of the Right proposed that the explanations should not be made public. This was supported by the Government, but the committee has not consented to it. The Government having admitted that it has no immediate need of the loan, the com mittee is of opinion that it will be right to await the development of the situation, which will enable the Government to give more precise explanations, and the Chamber to act with a full knowledge of facts." A Berlin letter, of the 25th, states that the King of Prussia had passed a tranquil night, and that there was no increase of fever or of the swelling of the face caused by his recent accident. M. de Severin, Russian Ambassador at Munich, gave a brilliant fete on the evening of the 22d, to which 400 persons were invited. The French and English Ambassadors were not among the number, but those of Prussia, Austria, and Hanover were present. A Vienna letter of the 23d states that the Gth corps d'armee of Austria has just been placed on a war footing. THE GREEK INSURRECTION. The Nouvelliste of Marseilles says : "A letter from the Piraeus of the 17th mentions the expected arrival of two Envoys Extraordinary from France and England with the last propositions of those powers to the Greek Government. It is stated that King Otho will leave Athens and proceed to the Morea, in order not to receive these diplomatists. The Greek Government only exists by name in the provinces. No one pays any taxes, and when the collector arrives the tax-payer is found cleaning his arms, and he replies to the demand of the functionary by saying—' What do you come for ; we have given everything to the insur rection, and we are preparing to join it."" The Journal de Constantinople is equally formal in its accusation against the Greek Government. It says : " In the conspiracy which was discovered some time since at Constantinople, having for object to excite the Christian population of the empire, 46 Greek captains were found to be engaged. They were in frequent rela tion with their countrymen at Athens, and the Russian agents who were scattered over the Danubian principali ties and Roumelia. They had for chiefs at Constanti nople M. Caimacam, a superior employs in the Russian post office at Constantinople, and Baron Elsner, who was arrested with some of his accomplices. From the ex amination into the affair, which is now almost brought to a close, it appears that these chiefs were in direct corres pondence with Menschikoff, to whom they announced that the insurrection in Greece and among the Christian populations of the Turkish empire would break out and be come general as soon as the Russians should have crossed the Danube. The insurgents were then to masgacre the Mussulmans and the Catholics of the European pro vinces of Turkey. From the arrival of Prince Menschi koff at Constantinople up to the moment of the discovery of the conspiracy these wretches were incessantly en gaged in exciting the people to revolt, holding out to theta all kinds of lying promises in order to bring them over to their views. All these efforts have failed before the intelligence of the people, who, confident in the solicitude of the Imperial Government, know that their welfare can only be increased by their respect to the laws and their • submission and devotedness to the Imperial authority. The anarchists have only found companions worthy of them in the prisons and the bagnes of Greece, among the officers of the army of that kingdom and in tho aides-de-camp of the King. Our correspondent at Athens writes us under date of the Bth that the army itself, which was on the frontier, marched over to the insurgents with their band and with the royal flag flying at their head. This is not an evil ; for, as the veil of hypocrisy has fallen, Europe will see whether the Greek Government is not connected with these acts of turpitude. The repression will not be more difficult and will be more general : and the guilty will receive a lesson which will benefit them now and hereafter." THE lONIAN ISLANDS. The lonian Parliament was prorogued on the 1 , 18th to that day month. A message from the Lord High Commissioner, addressed to the Presi dent of th® Legislative Assembly, explains the motive which has led to this step, stating that an address was now lying upon the table of that body for further consideration, containing allusions to foreign politics, with which the Assembly has constitutionally no right to interfere. " This ad dress," says the Lord High Commissioner, " is to be read to me as a representative of the Queen, in a public sitting. If I recei ve it i n s i lence, I shall be considere as concurring in its spirit. If I oppose it, and I can only do so by reiterating the advice already given in the name of her Majesty, against any participation in the movements of Epirus (with the assurance, however, that her Majesty, together with her allies, will exercise her influence to secure a stable and satisfactory posi tion to the Christian subjects of the Porte; and to place their rights under the guarantee of Europe), I shall find myself in collision with the Assembly, in a matter relating to questions of much delicacy, which will be constantly arising under different forms." FRANCE. FRENCH DECLARATION OF WAR. The following is a fuller account of the proceed ings in the Legislative Body and in the Senate than we were enabled to give yesterday : The Legislative Body - met on Monday at two o'clock—M. Billault in the chair. M. Lequien presented the report of the committee appointed to examine the accounts of /851. Several loold bilLs SPAIN. The Heraldo, Madrid journal of the 23d, states that some sensation hall been caused at Saragossa on the 20th, by the ,report that the Bourbon regi ment which had been marched from that town had, after proceeding some distance, refused to go fur ther without knowing where it was to be taken ; that thereupon the captain-general had gone after it, and did not return until lie had ascertained that the regiment was continuing its march for Navarre. A letter of the 24th says :—" All Madrid is at present occupied with the pilgrimage which the Queen is to make to-day to the church of Atocha, to decorate the statue of the Virgin with the Col lar of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Charles 111. But what is not generally known is, that the Queen in acting thus only executes what was the wish of her august father. A few minutes before the departure of Ferdinand VII. for Vallencay his Majesty went to the church of Atocha, and pre sented to Our Lady of Atocha the rich Collar of the Golden Fleece, which he wore, together with his Grand Cordon of the Order of Charles 111., to which was suspended a cross in diamonds of great value. In 1836 these two precious objects disap peared from the church, and were replaced by a collar and a cross in metal. Queen Isabella 11. desiring that the intentions of her father should be respected, and wishing to render homage to his memory, made a vow to restore those very valu able objects to our Lady of Atocha. Such is then the object of the pious pilgrimage which her Ma jesty is to make this day." The Three per Cents. were done at 34 45 ; the New Three per Cents. at 18 30 ; the Debt of the First Class at 8 10; and that of the Second at 4 35. ARRIVALS or GOLD.—The Admiral has arrived from Melbourne, whence she sailed on the 19th of December, with 45,592 ounces of gold, valued at 182,3001. The Sovereign of the Seas, the Blackwall, and the Harbinger have left Port Philip with an aggregate amount of 120,000 ounces of gold, equal to about 500,0001. TAKING STOCK.—The Commissioners of Customs have given notice of their intention immediately to commence taking stock of all the goods at the bonded warehouses throughout the United Kingdom, in conformity with the clauses in the Customs Consolidation Act, requiring that process, and its repetition every five years. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT THE VICTORIA THEATRE.— An unfortunate accident happened in the Victoria Theatre on Monday night during the first performance of Mazeppa,..which threw a portion of the audience into a painful state of excitement. It appears that in order to give due effect to the piece the management had en gaged a number of horses, and Mr. N. T. Hicks, the comedian, was cast for the leading character, Mazeppa. The performance proceeded most satisfactorily, until that part of the play came on where Mazeppa, after crossing through the waters followed by ravenous wolves, is seen to rush over the mountains on his wild steed, when by some accident the hoAe slipped, and Mr. Hicks was pitched head foremost against some of the machinery, which so severely injured hint that he was obliged to be carried away. Medical attendance was promptly obtained, but the sufferer was recommended to be at once taken to his home, which was accordingly done. Mr. J. T. Johnson took the character for the re mainder of the performance, but that portion of the audience who were unaware of the accident, on finding that Mr. Hicks's character had been transferred to another, began to give vent to their disapprobation by hooting and hissing, when Mr. Johnson came forward and made known the nature of the accident, stating at the time that he had un.lertakcn the character at a moment's notice, but if they were not satisfied with Mazeppa, they could have any other performance they chose to call for. The explanation was perfectly satis factory, and the remainder of the entertainment passed k oft with WO. 40. . t .1 20 - 22 41 - 41 7i 8i 13 —ll die 15 17 8 -- 7 d 88 - 90 51 - 51:j 13 - 14 8 • 10 39 - 41 7 - 8 15• -- io 11 -11 i .. --... ... 58 - 60 54 - 56 i 6 - ii 56 60 84 85 71 73 118 - 120 ' 8;3 - 86 72 - 726 85 - 90 10 - 12 t) 10 - 12 p 60 - 60§' , 8 -- 11i - 121 93 -- 95 94 94A 14d --, 1 d ar Pl* * -- d 74 -- 75 13 -- 12 A 11 -10 d 19, -20 A 56 - 56+, 30 - 32 id— i dl 7 5 dl 6 - 8 40 - 43 3i 30 29 30 - 66 5 4 par ap "7,1 Cid 7 74 26 - 28 76 8 0 48 - 52 50 - 55 50 -- 55 3i -- 2Ad 14 -- 16 7 -- 8 10 -- 12 3/ -- 3id 13 15 58 59 29 31 4 2d 4 5 ii = io 2 17b Ifq 4 5 21 23 5 6 ••• - ... 6 - 7 60i 61A 10 9A 5 4id 42 - - 43 FOREIGN. 9 3 8 2s. Antwerp&Rotterdam Belgian Eastn. Juno Beziers to Graissessac Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,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. Bonds (Ist is.)'s7 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lake Coust. & Bask Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c pref ; Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Pref I Do . (Canal) Do. 6 p. et. pref [Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Mediterran, Madras Maria Antoni Do. do. New Aelbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (witl, interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France., Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds, (ftuy. . B. & A ms. Sits ; NorwegianTrunkPrel Paris and Lyons , Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen & Cherbrg Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 5 p. cent. Pref Southern. of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) 11 West Flanders .11 Do 5} per c. Pref .0 Western of France 7 West. of Switzerland 2 Wiesbaden .5 Zealand 4i— 4d 6 4 d id ~ - •.. 4i - 2 3LI 1 4 - 2 p 1 1 - i par— i p 10 5 d 41 3id 20 21 - ... - 1 p 107 - 109 dis 4 5 24 3 1 14 1 14 \a 24 —34 d 3 2d 11 6; - 7 iii - iiii 7i -- 8i 10i -- 11 p 41 -43 32 - 34 261 27 pm ld par . d i * 7i ... - ... ... - pm 3i - 3i 2 - 3p ii 7:: 4.d NORTHAMPTON RACES. (THIS _ DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) TRIAL STAKES Orestes 1 LATEST BETTING-12.30 o'CLocK. , NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 9to 2 agst Defiance. 11 to 2 agst Swiftsure. Bto 1 agst Red Lion. 10 to 1 agst Lamprocles. 12 to 1 agst Bracken. 16 to 1 agst Chief Justice. 20 to 1 agst Pancake. 25 to 1 agst John Bull. 25 to 1 agst Jacqueline. Dawson declares to win with Chief Justice. Kingston is scratched. ENTRIES FOR HER MAJESTY'S PLATE OF 100 GUINEAS. —Hungerford, Chief Justice, Kingston, Ilex, Shara vogue, Red Lion, Eulogist, Rataplan, Defiance, Racka pelt, Reiver, Jujube, Lord John, Caliph, King Alfred, Bridesmaid, Ptolemy, filly by John o' Gaunt out of Blanche, Sir George. ARRIVALS FOR THIS DAY'S RACES. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. —Kingston, Defiance, Pancake, John Bull, Caliph, Lamprocles, Red Lion, Benita, Chief Justice, Hungerford, Kohinoor, Mr. Sykes, Jacqueline, Olinder, Bracken, Ptolemy, Swift sure, Jujube, Jacob Petler, Roebuck, Little Jem, Red Lion, Veteran, and Sine qua Non. El Dorado does not run. _ ..... WHITTLEBURY STAKES.—AIas, Helmet, Duchess of Lorraine, Twinkle, Student, Adelaide, Titormus, Pal merston, Crown Pigeon, Katerfeld, Monge, Lord Alfred, Chalice, The Slave, Redemption, Rose, Evangeline, and f by Cowl out of Young Defiance. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. A very limited supply of English wheat was on sale in to-day's market. There was a fair number of buyers in attendance, and a good clearance of the stands was readily effected, at fully Monday's prices. The imports of wheat were 7,410 quarters, and the show of samples was very extensive ; nevertheless, the trade was decidedly firm, at extreme currencies. Some of the im porters refused to sell except at enhanced rates. Floating cargoes were dull. In prices, however, no change took place. There was rather more inquiry for barley, at full prices. In malt very little was doing. Oats, beans, peas, and flour sold at Monday's prices. The imports of the latter are 6,730 barrels, chiefly from France. Wheat. 450 English .. Irish •. Foreign .. ARRIVALS THIS WEER. )Barley. Malt. 1,510 1,770 7,474 - 1 jio WHITECHAPEL. RAILWAYS. 'Paid. 100 . 100 42i 34 all all 100 100 100 47i 176 all 100 5i 176 1 7 all Aberdeen A.mbg. Nottng. Bost and Eastn. Junct Belfast & Ballymena Birming. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Juuct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £20....—....• Blyth & Tyne original .£25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, & /lass. Cornwall Crieff Junction Dublin&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth&Aber deen Jungtion Do. New East Ang1ian........ Do., (£lB E & H)..., Eastern Counties Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock Do., New A East Lancashire Edinburgh & Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Pith &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 D 3. , Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Southpt London & Blackwall Lend. Tilb. & Sthend. fond. Bright & S. est. Lend, and N. Westn. Do. Fifths Do .101. Sh., M&8...0 Do. Eighths London andS. Westn. Do., £5O Do., £4O , Lndndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef.& Limbo , Do., Man. & Lin. Un. Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby Midld. G. West.(lre.) Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket all " 21 2s 100 100 100 100 IV 2sl 16't 100 17 all all 14 Do., Bury Extension. Nwpt.Aberg. & Hrfd. Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpointl 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 £lO 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 cok Shrewsby. & Berefd Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. Min ; Do. Halves,i 6. Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fuily 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 IDo. Pref., No. 1... Thames Haven 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._ PREFERENCE SHARES. un -1 - • '6B 6 6ixd 3-31 4 4 i— i P P 12 13 3 —3/ xdl .05 -110 1 100 - 105 91 - gi 7 8 •• • ad 92 95 8 7 89 87 89 Id pa l 131 133 '.• .....' 411, .. _ ... xdl 2 -2i i 6 7 9 9i ill par .30 —132 14 id ad ... ad ..• ad ... ad ... ad 93 - 96 - - PI 9 2 DS' 16 - 17 9i loi 11 13xd id iPxd 22 23xd 15 20xdl 'i = i'd 85 - 90 - a id 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. 51 per cent Cork &Bandons,lp.c Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction EastAnglian (X3los) 6 per cent Do. (£5) 7 per cent Do. (47 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. 101. Debentr.Sh- East Lancash. 6 p. cts. East and West York shire June. Pref... EdiubPrth.&Dundee 51 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. 41 p. c. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref Gt, Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh. Gt. Westn. (Berke & Hants Ea. 5 p. c) Do. cov. red. 4i p.c Do. con, red. 4 p. c Do. irred. 4 p. c Lan. & York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock Leeds N. 6 p• c• No.l Do. Quarters, 1848._ London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. e Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. 'Do. Convertible, 5 P. c., 1852 ............... Do. New Guar.6 p. c. ,Lon. &N. W., Coy. dt ' Nuneaton ........... Loudon & S. Western Con. Third 5.......... Londonderry& Color. Shares Londy. & Ennis. Sh Aan., Shef., Lin., Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO Do. £6 Niarypt Carl. 4 P.C Do. 4i per cent Do Aid. Consol.6 p.c.St Do. Consol. Bristol & Rirm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 44 per eent Norfolk Debenture Do. Pref. 4 p. c. Stock Do. 5 p. c. Eat D 0.5 per et . Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire , Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh.X ls , 6 p.c. Do.. Scot. Cent., New Pref Shrews. & Birra.N.G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon . fixed, 4i per cent S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4 t iper cent. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar Stockton and Dar lington, 4 per cent. Do. do. do. Stockton and Hartle pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Ist July, 1856 Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.c. York, Newcastle,and Berwick,4 p.c. Pref. Do York&N.Midlaudli 411 d, fie Putohtlits so ' 50 40 25 25 812sl 26f 131 20 20 all 151 s. 100 20 1.3 100 20 20 50 20 St. St. 25 ,00 5 100 all 100 100 100 100 100 51i 1 12A ni i i i 72i I i I 11/ 7i I 95 911 i 19A 56i i 10 n 8 71 43 20 176 20 20 20 20 20 25 100 100 20 20, 20 20 20 30 20 10 20 40 Oats. 1,730 5,500 1 8,180 1 6,730 brl Flour. 1,220 The general trade ruled steady to-day, as follows : Beef from 3s 2d to 4s 2s ; mutton, 3s 6d to 43 4d ; lamb, 5s 2d to 6s 8d ; veal, 3s 6d to 5s 2d ; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 8d per 81bs by the carcase. BOROUGH HOP. Our market continues firm for all kinds of hops, and last week's prices are well supported. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY. LONDON, March 29.—Wind this day at Noon, W. ; light breeze, and fine clear weather. DOVER, March 28.—Wind, N.N.W. Arrived—St. Pa trick, from Fayal. PORTSMOUTH, March 28.—Wind. W.N.W. Arrived H.M.'s st James Watt, from Plymouth. Sailed—York town, for New York ; H.M.'s steamers St. George, Hecla, and Prince Regent, for the Baltic ; H.M.'s st Magicienne, Spithead. PLYMOUTH, March 28.—Wind, W.S. W. Sailed—Betsy, for Oporto. FALMOUTH, March 28.—Wind, N. Arrived—Freya, from Dram ; Jantina Annechina, Galatz. for Carthagena ; Alexandrine, Salonica. STOCKTON, March 28.—Wind, W. Arrived—Nymph, from Mandel. BRIDGEWATER, March 28.—Wind, N.W. Arrived— Ocean, from Hamburgh. SWANSEA, March 28.—Wind, N.W. Sailed—Esther Francis, for Madeira. SHIELDS, March 28.--IV ind, W.N.W. Arrived—Bel mont, from Taro. Sailed—Demerara, for New York ; Friends, Quebec ; Harrison, do. ; Catherine Ewing, Malta ; Halcyon, Genoa; Whitwell Grange, Carthagena. HULL, March 28.—Wind, W. N. W. Arrived—Caroline, from St. Michael's ; Lightning, do ; St. Kiernan (a), Rot terdam ; Zephyrus, Dantzic. LOWESTOFT, March 28.—Wind, variable. Arrived— L> din Jane, from London, for Sunderland, with loss of bowsprit. HARWICH, March 28.—Wind, N.N.E. Arrived— H.M.'s st Rosamond. SUNDERLAND, March 28.—Wind, N.N.W. Arrived — Stafford, from Hamburgh ; Generous, do. ; Caroline, Christiansand. Sailed—Auckland, for Quebec ; Juno, Carthagena. CALCUTTA, Feb. 18.—The Harry (brig), from South Australia, arrived at this port, reports having been chased by pirates off Cape Nicobar, Jan. 9. GEELONG, Jan. 2.—The Statesman took fire off Point Henry on the morning of Dec. 26 (supposed from spon taneous combustion of some wool shipped in a damp state), and was scuttled ; she has since been raised, and her cargo (2,500 bales of wool, and other produce) disposed of by auction. MAURITIUS, Jan. 6.—The Moultan, from Swansea, with patent fuel, arrived here with part of cargo thrown over board, having been on shore on the reef of Grand River. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRA.PH.) LIVERPOOL, Wednesday, 10.30 a.m. Wind, W. ; fresh breeze, and: fine, Arrived—Andes, fromßoston ; Shamrock, steamer, from Havre ; Teresa, from Cienfuegos. The brig Eagle, of Halifax, was passed a derelict on the 3d of March, in lat. 40, long. 61. The Martha King, from Wilmington for Liverpool, was passed on the 3d of March, in lat. 40, long. 61.. The Martha King, from Wilmington, for Liverpool , w as p assed on the 3d of March, lat 44, long. 26, with loss of sails, bulwarks, pumps choked, and 1,200 barrels of tar thrown overboard. The steamer Washington from Southampton, arrived at New York on the 16th inse. The steamer Arabia, from Liverpool, had arrived at Boston. Accounts from Portland Bay, Australia, via Boston, state that the fine ne w shi p New Zealander, which had arrived at Portland Bay on the 30th November, with 660 emi grants from Liverool, was on fire on the 16th December, and expected to be p a total loss. (BY SUBHARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10.12 a.m. Wind, W. ; tide, low water ; fine. Arrived, 28th—Maria Jose, from Pernambuco ; Provi• dente, Terceira ; William Pitt, Cuba. Arrived, 29th. —Dolphin, from t. Michael's ; Berta Ilendrika, Palermo ; Antwerpen (s.), Antwerp ; Albion (s.), Boulogne. (s.). for Ostend; City of Loudon (s.) , Dunkir wile k ; Ottillia, Port Phillip. DEAL, Wednesday, 9.45 a.m. Wind, N.W.. : fine. Passed. —Spartan, from Jamaica, for London, 50 days out ; Barrack, Demerara, for London ; Vancouver, of Bos ton, China, for London; Orwell, Ballina, for London; British Queen, Berdianski, for London ; Manuel, barque, Havannah, for London; Electric, for Cadiz; Tom Bow line, for Port Phillip. Sailed.—Admiral, Berhampore, Anne, and Maitland, all for river. Remains. —Diego de Leon, from Trinidad de Cuba, for London. Report of the barque Spartan—March 11, spoke the ship Caronema, of Liverpool, lat. 15.40 N., long. 29, 13 W. ; March 20, Childe Harold, lat. 48.40 N., long. 6.50 W. ; March 24, brigantine Baldur, lat. 49.0 N., long. 33.50 W.; Marob. 25, barque Woodbine, bound to New York, lat. OA 1191 lOngi 60 W. 854. Erbtrb 4Zbttion+ NORTTIAMPTON RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) NORTHAMPTON STAKES. JACQUELINE .............................. _ .............. . Roebuck Fifteen ran. STAND PLATE. Seven ran. I MPEIIIAL PA RUA TENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool sack at 5 o'clock. Lord WROTTESLEY presented a petition from Wolverhampton in favour of the establishment of refor matory institutions for juvenile offenders. • The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition From Bath to the same effect. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the magistrates and town council of Edinburgh in favour of some measure to enable the same probate which was taken out in Scotland to affect personal property in England and Ireland. The Duke of CLEVELAND presented a petition from Darlington against the opening of public-houses on Sundays. REMOVAL AND SETTLEMENT OF THE POOR BILL. The Earl of WICKLOW, in moving for returns of the minutes in the different unions throughout England and Wales, entreated their lordships, in the event of the Law of Settlement and Removal Bill passing the House of Commons, and being introduced into this house, not to assent to it, if they valued their own consistency and sense of honour, unless it contained a clause to include in its operation Scotch and Irish paupers. The return was agreed to. - ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN IRELAND. The Earl of CLANCARTY moved tor a return of the indictment and conviction, &c., in the case of two men named John and Hugh Murphy, who were tried at the Armagh Assizes for the murder of James Wilson. It appeared that in consequence of some compromise on the part of the crown prosecutors, one of the men was acquitted, and the other, on pleading guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced only to 6 months' impri sonment. The noble earl entered into a statement of the circumstances connected with the murder and the trial, and described the latter as a miscarriage of justice. The LORD CHANCELLOR said there would be no objection to the return, with the exception of the judges' notes, which it had never been the practice to produce. He believed this was the first time such a request had been made, and for the very good reason that a judge might not take any note of a trial. He believed that Lord Lyndhurst hardly ever took a note of a case, and a note might be so short that it would not be of use to any one. In the present case there was no such note. The day after the noble earl gave notice of his motion, he (the Lord Chancellor) put himself in communication with the Chief Secretary for Ireland, and who imme diately obtained all the information he could upon the subject ; but it was only that day, and shortly before he came down to the house, that he had come into possession of any of the facts. There could be no doubt that the judge looked at the depositions before he took the course which he had taken, and came to the conclusion that a charge of murder could not be sustained ; so that the same result was arrived at as would have reached through the process of a long in quiry, though it would have been better if the case had been tried out. With respect to the sentence, that de pended entirely upon all the circumstances of the case, which might aggravate or mitigate its character. It seemed a lenient one, but it was difficult for any person to deal with that question except those who heard the evidence or read the depositions. The case would not be. one of murder under the circumstances unless the blow was such as must have been calculated to cause death. Lord MONTEAGLE bore testimony to the judicial character of Mr. Serjeant Howley, the judge who had tried the case, than whom there was no judicial officer who had in a greater degree won the respect of persons of all classes and creeds, or who was less likely to act from factious, sectarian, or party feelings. The Earl of EGLINTON also bore testimony to the professional abilities and high character of Mr. Serjeant Howley. After a few remarks from the Earl of EGLINTON, and the Earl of DONOUGIIMORE, the motion was withdrawn. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock, PRIVATE BILLS. The Hull Cemetery Bill was read a third time and passed. The Stourbridge and Bridgenorth Road Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. PETITIONS. The Lard Mayor of Dublin appeared at the bar, an( delivered in a petition from the Corporation of Dublin, in favour of an improved postal and steam communica tion between England and Ireland. kfr. FAGAN presented a petition from Cork against the Ministers' Money Bill, and a similar petition from Limerick. Also a petition from the Roman Catholics of Cork against the nomination of the nunneries emu- ttee, Mr. L. HEYWORTH presented a petition from the medical botanists of Derby against the Medical Regis tration Bill. Alderman KERSHAW presented a petition from Stockport against the Poor Removal Bill. Mr. LUCAS presented a petition from the town of Kells, in the county of Meath, against the nomination of the nunneries committee. Mr. MAGAN presented a similar petition from the corporation of Drogheda. Mr. CRAUFURD presented petitions from various medical bodies, against the Medical Registration Bill. Sir W. SMYTH presented a petition from the firm of Sturgeon and Sons, of Grays, Essex, on the subject of the recent hay fraud on the Artillery, and moved that the petition be read by the clerk at the table. The clerk proceeded to read the petition accordingly, but it ap pealing that the phraseology of the petition was against the rules of the house, it was withdrawn. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from Chatham, and eleven other places, in favour of the Affirmation 8111. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL. Mr. CRAUFURD gave notice that on the motion for going into committee on this bill, he should move as an amendment that the bill be committed on that day six months. SCOTCH EDUCATION BILL. In reply to a question, The LORD ADVOCATE stated that it was intended to proceed with the second reading of this bill on Thurs day next. An HON. MEMBER gave notice that he should move that the second reading be postponed until the Ist o' May. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. On the motion of Mr, BRADY, an address was ordered showing the number of pr&ctitioners in medicine. accord ing to the census of 1851, for each county of England and Wales, according to the registration division, and for each county of Scotland. and of the islands in the British seas, stating the heads under which they appear, whether as physicians and surgeons, or apothecaries ; also, the number returned of druggists, aurists, oculists, dentists, &c.; and also, the respective ages, in quin quennial periods, under each head. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LONDON AND DUBLIN. Mr. H. HERBERT rose to move that an humble Colonel NORTH stated a case which had occurred at address be presented to her Majesty, that she will be Banbury, in Oxfordshire, in which a Miss Fitzallen sought graciously pleased to give directions that immediate to be relased from a nunnery in vain, as a writ of habeas measures should be taken to give effect to the re- corpus would not apply. She however, subsequently con commendation contained in the report of the se- trived to effect her escape. lect committee of this house, appointed in the Mr. H. DE UMMOND had not liked the terms of the last session to examine and report upon the pre- motion, nor the speeches for it, nor the speeches against it. T . he latter had evinced misconception, or wilful perversion sent state of communication between London and Ti n a a d ger ve e r nt ti l)f these But o4 l i e ght of Dublin ; namely "that a class of. steamers be provided I e t o meani ng,inter w as ith th t e i r ie e i h n a t d rn n a e l ver been any intention with adequate accommodation for passengers, and with establishments, and no gen e tleman m greater capabilities as regards speed than those at pre- summoning any lady before the committee. sent employed." The hon. member quoted a letter from reasons now existed for — this inquiry as when the & s er ° Sir Cusack Roney, stating that of late yea rs immense advan- astical Titles Bill was passed. The Roman Catholics had tages in respect of rapi d communication between En g - not retracted a word of the a gg ressi on then made, anl land and the United States and England and the continent, were equally determined on bringing the country had been effected; it was only as regarded Ireland that the spiritual and temporal dominion of the Pope o underte toa advocate the claims of the Pope. The object of the the rate of increased rapidity of railway travelling was .Members d avowed that they were sent here by the prie m sts . them enveigle t girls with money into the convents, p m ries o ts ler s e ve h th i e r mow7eerythaewy asyoufgrhotm, not seconded by rapid transit across the channel. He priests a ud for e w e s t s (Mr. Herbert) thought there had been an unreasonable re duction of the sum which had formerly been allowed for l w a t o i u v l e a s . b e Let our liberties ? ThesePe institution had been the purpose of communication between the two capitals per of the United Kingdom, the importance of which was verted to infamous purposes, according t en undeniable. joyed by the priests. He pledged - le permitted... ifhimself to pro Mr. VANCE seconded the motion. case against these establishments, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it Captain BELLEW supported o the and po wvee theirr wherehis re amendment .. cora. would be his duty to object to this motion. Withi n th e Mr. CROSSLEY defended the appointment of the last few years there had been a considerable saving of pub- mittee. lie expenditure in the carrying of mails between this said the assailed Lord John Russell, and s co p untry would quite understand the value of his country and Ireland, and with increased comfort and lordship's advantage to those travelling by those packets, these v p e ' r induced the institutionsrotestant zeal. The fact of the existence of This change, which was treated by the two hon. mem- , in violation of the law, had chiefly hers who had addressed the house as if it were a measure wmression a op i e to believe that the time had bettercome for his directed solely against Ireland, had sprung from a re- laced to ; II( no speech could have been i 1 T i . invite fruiter aggression than that of ,orn • oin ccumnendation or a committee 01 this house, who sing- R i p, se li. Bested that the contract system should be substituted Mr. C. voltrr I , :seu 1 ,, , ii 1) , (1 tu,,,,t the liott.e would for the previous system, which had been Inund rescind its [(wilier resolution:'. 'E ven admitting that there enormously expensive ; and that ver y con t rac t s y s t em hail been ;rounds for it, which lie would not do, lie would, which had been applied to Ireland was to take effect as a Protestant, ask Pr o testants to consider whether the also on the Ist of April next with respect to the Dover evils which would arise from this inquiry would not . coun packets. He did not at all undervalue the importance terbalance any possible good it could effect. w 'l. , l , iis w i e n r qu t ill of the communication between Holyhead and Dublino was uncalled-for by the Roman Catholics,operation, b , i and it did not but he said that a sum of 120,0001., or 150,0001., only parties concernteadcien pe I toitsthe'-ltonian Catholics of Eng anything at allapproximating toit, should not be incurred ti present unit . lieeelTlnlyd spectacle the Protestants of England should for the mere luxury of the easy and middle classes be legislating for them, not merely without their consent, in travelling by those packets at a moment when the 1 but against it. country was placed in a position which would demand ; Mr. SPOONEiv said the real question_upon which the all her energies, and all her resources in matte rs o f 1 inquiry was founde d was that rl a s tu to orli n l ( s i .n e d e u t n h d em ue influence honour, and the welfare and independence of the empi re . i was exercised upondlnf f 3 iv y a continu u ance of that in- For these reasons he hoped the house would n o t con- into nunneries , an sent to this motion. fluence they were induced to leave their property to these Mr. F. FRENCH advocated the granting of th e - a. by a l ar ge majority on a former evening against the convents away from their relations. The inquiry was car , motion. rstreng-th of the Government, and no grounds had been Mr. COWPER said a great deal of misunderstanding brought forward to warrant the house in retracing its earned to exist oil this subject. he thought the - - public Btepa and discharging the occaraittee. The fact lira', that . 21 201 1t 7i ' had been the gainers by the mail service being performed as it was now, by contract, instead of as it used to be by the Government ; and it must be borne in mind that the Government had never contemplated entering into con tracts for the conveyance or comforts of passengers, their functions being limited to the safe and rapid con veyance of the mails. Lord NAAS said he, for one, would not support this motion if it was merely a question of the luxury of passengers, which it was not ; but in fact they did not ask for a grant of 120,0001. or 150,0001. a year ; all they asked for was to insure punctuality, which was not insured at present. After some further discussion the house divided, when the motion was negatived by 208 to 152 ; majority against it, 56. CONVENTUAL AND MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS. Upon Mr. T. CHAMBERS moving the nomination of the Committee on Conventual and Monastic Institutions, Mr. BOWYER moved that the order for its appoint ment be discharged. He suggested the impolicy of bring ing forward on the eve of a war any measure that would sow dissension in the nation, or produce discontent in any class. This committee was calculated, he said, to exaspe rate the feelings of Roman Catholics, who considered it as a bitter insult. He characterised the object of the committee as incompatible with the principles of the law, and, in re spect to convents, and as repugnant to the feelings of Englishmen. He again implored the house not to embark on an inquiry which would light the torch of religious dis cord throu4bout the country. Mr. ESMONDE seconded the motion, objecting to the inquiry, because the circumstances under which it was voted no longer existed, and also on constitutional grounds. Lord LOVAINE protested against such a plea as that there was more danger in meddling with Roman Catholics than any other class of her Majesty's subjects. This was not more a Roman Catholic than a Protestant question. The constitution laid it down that no person should be confined i n any place whatever, except by due course of law. All he asked was that the regulations to which Roman Catho lics were subject abroad should be adopted in England. He denied that there would be any intrusion on the pri vacy of ladies, for if such were to be the proceedings of the committee he Would oppose its appointment, but there would be only an inquiry into the circumstances under which those establishments were conducted. Lord J. RUSSELL did not know whether the question which had already been decided by a considerable majority of that house, ought to be brought forward again, but it appeared to him that it was well worth the consideration of the house whether they would persist in the motion for the appointment of this committee. (Hear.) But, then,.as the noble lord (Lord Lovaine) said this was a constitutional question, the house ou g ht to take care not to appoint a committee on vague supposition. Some case ought to be made out of persons detained in these convents against their will. But for persons to com e forward and. make statements that convents were bad places, and that per sons were confined in them against their will, without offering any evidence in support of those allegations, seemed to him not a proper ground for goin g on with the question. He said again that there was too much vague ness and uncertainty with respect to the sort of inquiry that was to take place. The noble lord did not wish to in quire into what took place in the private matters in these houses. Did the noble lord mean that the committee were not to send for persons to examine them ? If so that would make a great alteration in the case. If the c oin _ mittee were empowered to send for papers but not persons, the inquiry would be of a totally different character. But, if they were to send for persons, it was no satisfaction to be told by the noble lord that he did not wish private matters to be inquired into. When he looked at the names of the committee he could not not help feeling it was not very impartially chosen—(hear, hear)—and that names would be found on it connected with strong prejudices and extreme opinions, and this hardly afforded a sufficient guarantee against inquiries not being pushed into private matters. (Hear.) If there was really any case made out—if the liberty of the subject had been infringed—if against the law of the land persons were prevented from leaving these conventual houses — then, he said, there ought to be no delicacy about having an inquiry ; the allegations ought to be inquired into thoroughly and promptly. But if no such case was made out, why should they inquire ? Those who wished to alter the law should look into the existing law, and propose such regulations as they thought fit. Let them look into the laws of foreign countries—let them acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations on taking vows—let them consider all these things, and then propose a new law to that house. These foreign laws could easily be obtained, and when they were looked into a bill could be brought into that house. (Hear, hear.) There was another part of the inquiry which had relation to monastic institutions against the letter of the law, and contrary to law. The hon. gentleman said he wished to have inquiry with re spect to monastic institutions. He (Lord J. Russell) had no wish for any such inquiry. (Hear, hear, and oh.) He knew there were many laws existing on the statute book which had fallen into disuetude, and no evil had been felt.. He knew that in time such laws became practically extinct. If any particular grievance, if any infraction of the law could be proved in the case of monastic institu tions, he said let there be an inquiry; but he confessed he did not see to what purpose they were to have an inquiry. When he had the honour to fill the office of Home Secre tary he found it necessary to write to Lord Normanby to ascertain if it was necessary to make an inquiry into a particular monastery in Ireland. Lord Normanby replied that the monastery was the cause of a great deal of good— that it promoted agriculture, and otherwise conferred much benefit on the district. With that answer he was satisfied, and he consequently gave no public directions for an in inquiry. But if they were to have an inquiry, as the right hon. gentleman urged, then the house must come to one conclusion or other, either to take further measures— which were not difficult to take—to suppress monasteries —to establish an effectual machinery by which, if monas teries were found to exist in any place, an officer of the law would be empowered to drive the occupants out, and to prevent them from occupying the building. They must either have that, or they must have a law repealing the ex isting law, and allowing monasteries to exist. Was the , right hon. gentleman prepared to take either of those conk see ? Was the right lion. gentleman prepared to drive monks out of the country ?—a harsh measure, not called for either by public policy or necessity. (Hear, hear.) Me noble lord said that Roman Catholics were always say ing that the house must not do anything to affect the Ro man Co.thelic religion. He did not think that that sus ceptibility—if the feeling could he so called—was confined to Roman Catholics. He should like the noble lord to make the attempt to bring in a bill which would affect the Toleration Act. Let the noble lord try to do so, and he would soon see whether the dissenters would allow him to touch their religious privileges, or whether the would not denounce the attempt to deprive them of the religious liber ties which they enjoyed. (Hear.) It was not a question affecting Roman Catholics, but it was a question affecting religion. When he thought that the Roman Catholics were at ad trenching on the privileges which the people 'of this country enjoyed, and interfering with the prerogative and temporal rights of the Crown, he had certainly, at the hazard of incurring the odium of Roman Catholics, thought it his duty to interfere. (Hear.) But the question was, did the present case at all affect the prerogatives of the Crown—the laws of the country—the liberty it enjoyed? (Hear.) Was it a case iu which the house should inter fere ? For his part, he did not think it was. He might take the other alternative which the right hon. gentleman had put. He must refer to the right hon. gentleman, be cause he was the member who had taken the most leading part in supporting the appointment of the committee. If the committee should be appointed he trusted that the right hon. gentleman would take a leading part in it, and would prevent such scandal as might occur from the in quiries being pushed to the extent of inquisition and per secution ; and that he, at least, would make himself respon sible for the right conduct of the committee. But suppose he came to the conclusion that those monasteries should. be permitted by law to exist, and that the prohibitions now existing in the statute book with respect to them should be repealed—would the right hon. gentleman un dertake to bring in a bill for that purpose? If the Roman Catholic mind was susceptible on this subject, did the right hon. gentleman think that the Protestant mind would not become susceptible if a proposal were made for an abso lute change in the law, and for confirming the privileges of those monasteries now tolerated in this country! (Hear, hear.) He must confess that he could see no benefit likely to arise from meddling with this question at all. (Hear.) He could not see what was to be gained by it. If he could be convinced that any ladies in this country did not enjoy the benefits of the liberty allowed by the laws,. he certainly should have an inquiry, with the view of applying a vigorous remedy. (Hear, hear.) But not be lieving a word of the stories that had been told on the sub ject of nunneries—stories which generally came under the denomination of what were called cock-and-a-bull stories —or rather of what the French called histoires de coq-cl.- rdne—not believing the many inventions that had been throughout the world ventilated on this question—seeing no benefit whatever in the inquiry proposed—thinking that the house would act much more wisely in not meddling at all with the subject, and that the proposal would be a piece of very peddling and useless legislation, he certainly should, if he voted at all, vote in favour of the amendment of the hon. and learned gentleman opposite. (Cheers ) Fri and item Lness ench the ;Om- K. 25f. wo ing the est :ial ! e Y In& ~. 5 10 St. 5 St. St. St. 20 15 8i 8 10 4} i U V