The Sun. — London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

'3 " ;es of g )orts, index frol9l 'a,rit;9 3n col.r nous [1 the , en he' njus aated :o re- verj it dip ant ecrer men nen t site. i )ero r :rs ; I end s, ii I r :iers, their Our of has, 1 ex-- rern ndly on , jus icer 0 hos so) i di: year Tort, Ma t, tetri ptai a wer th :ban t Chest pOB .. fond, affair ' they secs. Lent -ate ,~ . ,:: ', ,~{. ~:'c' THE MEDITERRANEAN. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY, 9.45 A.M.—The Pe ninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamers Sultan and Indus have arrived here, with - dates from Constantinople, April 22; Smyrna, 25th; s Malta, 30; Gibraltar, May 6. The Sultan brings a large number of passengers and a full cargo of Levant produce—fruit, flax, ivory, wool, sils, &c. The transport snips Eveline and Blundell, hay ing part of the 17th Lancers on board, arrived at Gibraltar on the 3d inst. Four horses were lost on the voyage. The transport St. Vincent passed Gibraltar on , the 3d inst., and the Gomelza arrived same day. Her Majesty's steamer Megmra, with the highlanders on boa d, passed Gibraltar on the 7th astant. STEAM GUN-BOATS IN TILE BALTIC. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—Having noticed my name in the course of the e liscussion on this important question, I hasten to cor e oborate all that Mr. Scott Russell has said as far as I r an con2erned. It is perfectly true that I did feel it my duty to try `Nhat little influence circumstances justified me in think -14 I possessed, more, however, privately than officially, with certain of the authorities, and anticipating a re quest for further information, I called upon Mr. Scott Russell to let me know whether, if invited thereto, he could take in hand any number of vessels either similar to the Pruth (now a Russian steam gun-vessel in the Danube), or to the Nix and Salamander, built by him self, which came under my observation, and which were still more heavily armed. Hearing that contracts had been taken by several eminent builders for a class of gun -vessel admirably designed, I have no kind of doubt , if approved by th e Surveyor of the Navy for heavy guns, but wanting in what I conceive to be the point of the greatest, of first-rate importance, extremely ligh, draught of water, I lost no time in sending his reply to . 4 Proper quarter. With respect to the class of vessel, I have thought it rn Y elotY, as a naval officer of some experience in steam l 'avigation, to advocate, I can only say that I think one such vessel, unless, or until disabled, would, where she had room for action, in all senses be more than a match for all the armed launches of all the fleet England has at sea, or is able to send there. Anything like a boat of wood she ran at or that came in her way she would cut in two. If they were daring enough to hook on, and she at full speed, she would tow them under or B rna , sh them with her wheels.) She could follow them into the in that water, as there would be little or no differe n ce 'flat respect between her and heavily armed gun row -boats ; and, as to firing broadsides from her eight guns (68's and 32'8), it would be heavier than the one gun from either end (and they can only fire one with out winding) of the launches of a 20-sail of-the-line, unless they are more heavily armed than they Wer e in the last war. On this point I speak from !xperience, having had the honour to command the crack launch of a fleet, I think of 12 sail-of-the line, on the Tagus, under the present gallant Admiral 'Jerk y when a Lieutenant only. We drew when l i g h t over four feet of water. Our best speed was not much over rotir miles an hour, except Gn spirts, when, if the nerves of the men were not shaken by the whizzing and splash 'ogof shot, and consequent crab-catching, the speed might fen have reached five miles, but that depending on wild and muscle never lasted long, and it is my firm belief now that one such vessel as the Pruth in the hands ° o f the enemy on the Tagus wou ld h ave en ti re ly prevented _ l ,!/' acting, as we did under the admirable management ?.! o ur commanding officer, for so many months as spies 1 " advance, and almost in the face of the lines of our ene my —it would, in fact, have been impossible. " e may be precisely in this position in the Danube, where the enemy has hosts of gun boats of heavy arma :l4,ent, and certainly one at least with all the appliances t h u mbly venture to advocate, and would, if I were suf liciently backed, send out with all despatch. I have the honour to remain your obedient servant, Dattersea, May 11. C. CLAXTON. MARKET .NEWS-(THIS DAY.) • COVENT GARDEN. Very large supplies of vegetables were here to-day, and t n extensive business was transacted at the above quota ns. Fruit was tolerably firm. ?RniT—Pine apples, English, 6s Od to 108 Od each V to colonial, ls Od to ls 3d each ; hot-house grapes 2 3 to lO s ; foreign ditto, is 6d to 3s Od per lb ; apples, Zs to 8s per bush. ; pears, 3s to 6s Od per doz. ; goose rries, 3s to 5s Gd per half sieve ; apricots, green, 6d to 1 4 Per patio ; strawberries 6d to ls per small basket ; lejtDons, 9d to 2s ; oranges 4's Od to lOs 100 • almonds. 2s " 3 '•3Bper lb.; Barcelona nuts, 24s per bush.; cob-nuts, 110 s o '°, 120 s per 1001bs ; chesnuts, 2s to 4s per peck ; filberts, to 100 s per 100 lbs ; walnuts 8d to la 6d per 100. 'TEGETABLES.—Cabbages, 9d to is 6d ; Brussels sprouts. 13 Od to 2s Od per half sieve ; brocoli, 9d to 1s 6d per band.; r teDS, 3s 6d to 5s 3d per doz. bunches ; French beans , is 6 d 401 2s Od per 100 ; potatoes, 1408 to 180 s per ton ; new ditto, 6d to is 6d per lb.; asparagus, 2s to 636 d per 100; isea.kail, 9d to 2s per punnet; garlic, 8d to is per lb.; )rormg turnips, is 6d to 2s ; young carrots, is lOs to 2s per bunch ; cucumbers, Os 3d to is Od each ; celery, 6d tA ls Gd per bundle ; spinach, is Od to 2s Od per sieve; spring onions, 4d to 10d per bunch ; Spanish ditto, is to 3 s Per doz. • leeks, 1 d to 2d per bunch ; shallots, 5 d to 8 d 110 . rse-rad.Clish, Od to 4s o,i per bundle ; parsley 3 s 6 d to °, 4 Od per half sieve ; rhubarb, Os 3,1 to Os 7 d per b undle • endive, 2s to 4s Od. per score ; beet, is to 2s Od Zodozen bunches; parsnips, 10d. to 28 lid per dozen; small 2d to 3d per punnet ' • mushrooms, Gd to is 3d per Pottle ; artichokes, 3s to 5s Od per doz. ; cabbage lettuces 64 to 8d per score ; sorrel, 6d to is Od per half sieve ; l'adish es 6d to Is per dozen hands. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. r Trarkey poults, 58 to 7s ; Goslings, 5s 6d to is each ; Duck ing% 2s to 4s; tame Rabbits, ls to is 6d ; wild do , 8d to is 2d ; Guinea Fowls, 3s to 3s 3d ; Pigeons, 7d to 9d t ea o e ll ; Surrey Fowls, 6 s Od to 98 Od ; ditto Chickens, 5 s 0,1 6 3 6d; barn-door Fowls, 3s Od to 4s 3d per couple; 'Tens, 3s to 4s Od ; Chickens, 2s Od to 2s 9d per couple ; Certs, 38 Od to 4s Od each. English Eggs, 7s Gd to I mt ed'• French ditto, 5s Od to 7s Od per 120 ; Ostend fresh "" t e ' r, 9s to lls ; English, lOs to los per dozen. Tm . !bots, 2s Od to 118 ; BILLINGSGATE Brills, is to 7s Od each; Salmon 4 2 d to ls 9d per lb; Cod Fish, 2s to Gs Od each; Soles, ! ,42, is 6d per pair ; Eels, 8d to is per lb • Lobsters, 6d to b 06 - ; Crabs, Gd to 2s 6d ; Whitings, 3s dd to 12s per doz.; 0;1 I's, 2s to i s • M u ll e t s , 6d to 2s 6d each ; Common t si i i i. ''ers, 9s Od to 16s Od; Natives, 40s Od to 48s Od per k i Mackerel, 32s to 40s per 100; Smelts, is Oct to 5s pr doz.; Bl e, 6d to Od p er lb ; Sh r imps, is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon; tok)aters ls 6d to 2s Od per doz. ; Fresh Herrings, 8s Od 4(l°s Od per 100 ; Haddocks, 6s to 12s per doz. ; Plaice, t o ( 1:0 is Od eac h ; Carp, 2s Od. per brace ; Tench, 2s Od 64 B °d per brace ; Gurnets, 4d to is Od each ; Halibut , 4 4 Per lb. • S a lt Fi s h , 2d t o 5d per lb. ; Prawns, 2s Od to & I 'M per lb. ; Fl oun ders, is to is 6cl per dozen ; Sturgeon, 4 per lb.; Pike Gd per lb. ; sprats, 3s Od per bushel. Irth . BREAD. lodi erices of wheaten bread in the metropolis' are from to P 1 1d; of household ditto, BAd to 9id per 41b loaf. NEWPORT. 1 4 „eef from 3s 4d to 4s 4d ; mutton, 4s Od to 4s 10d ; 4 4 `,e , 5s 6d to Gs 6d ; veal, 4s 4 d to 5 s 4d ; p ork, 3s 8d J •ud"per Blbs. WHITECHAPEL. I. 4n e ,f from 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton , 3s 8d to 45 lOd ; t o - 5 8 2d to 6s 2d ; Veal, 4s Od to 5s 2d ; Pork, 3 s 4 d 8d per Sibs. by the carcase. HIDES AND SKINS. Dzket hides, 561 b to 641 b, 2id to 3d; 641 b to 721 b, 3d 8 81 ▪ ' 1 _ 1 ; 72113 to 801 b, 3d to 3Ad ; 801 b to 881 b, 30 to 30 ; t o ', o to 961 b, 3id to 4d ; 961 b to 1041 b, Od to Od ; 1041 b i 21b Od to Od. Horse hides, Os 6(1 to Os Od; calf skins, i et, 2s Od. to 3s Od; ditto, full, 5s 6d to Os Od; polled Op, Os Od t o O s Od ; Keats, 7s Od to 8s Od; Half-breds, 3 8 n , l to Os Od; Downs, 5s Od to 6s 3d; Lambs, 2s Od to Shearlings, ls Gd to ls 7d. HAY MARKETS. s m , THFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 5/ Os ; clover 3115 s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 2s per load. "%• till average supply, and a sluggish demand. (ii tlllll 3EßLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 51 5s ; clover 2 40 , 31 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ ls per load. 11 .,,,,PP1 . y mo d era t e ly goo d, an d t ra d e ra th er d u ll. t u: V IIITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2112 s to 01 Os; clover )3 4?, 3/ 15s to 6/ 6s ; and straw. 1/ 16s to 2 , 2 s per load. (414 Lay and straw sold slowly, on former terms. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, May 13.—Wind this day at Noon, W. ; light breeze„ and cloudy. Dov En, March 12.—Wind, N. to E. Sailed—John Wesley, for Quebec, after repairing. Off Port—lsabella, from R otterdam, for New York. OFF HOLYHEAD, May 13.—(Per Elec. Tel.)—Marco Polo, from Port Philip OFF , rHE WIGHT.—Sir 'Bevois from Singapore. SOUTAIAMFION, May 12.—Arrived—Thames (s), from the Brazils. PILLMOUTII, May 12.—Wind, variable. Off Port Hilda, fro m si p m ore, for Hamburgh. LowEkiTOTF, May 12.—The Ruby, of and from Sunder land, for London, grounded. on Holm Sand last night, and was assisted off this morning. by ice. .I\' othing has yet been seen of the English fleet. PRRlTimsuco, April 20.—The Countess of Zetland, from London to the Cape of Good Hope, which put into Paraiba, F eb. 16, leaky, having been on shore, has been condemned and sold. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Saturday, 10.30 a.m. Wind, N.N.W. ; moderate breeze, and fine. a - "o Marco Polo from Melbourne , is off the port, aft er I:tiother rapid passa'ae. She sailed from Liverpool on the „ I ! of November last and has thus performed the voyage n f--, '" lba" d home in six Months and four d a y s. Her date of a g from Melbourne is uncertain. The damage to the screw steamer Great Britain was oc. ' 4l °lled by her running foul of a sunken rock. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) Wind G RA VESEND, Satuiday, 10.11. a.m. Vi r .; weather very fine ; tide, one hour flood. Arrived, 12th—George Henry, from Porto Rico ; Aland, Copenhagen (Russian prize) • Junatta, from Demerara ; ne Kars Minde, Pillau ; Target, Dordt ; Mary, Ghent ; Wilberforce (s), Hamb h• S (s), Boulogne ; Bel gium (s), Osten. urg e Sai led—Rinzina, for Dantzic. LAMBERTS' MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR, Price is. 6d., I , i n neat ease, 2s.—lt would be difficult to produce a 41-4 1) more satisfactorily di s ti ngu i s h e d b y th e me rits of clearness in printing and accuracy in arrangement. It latio tfairiot but be eagerly welcomed by our intelligent popu c.—Sun.—lt is an easily intelligible, accurate, and complete delineation of a region with which every one should now be af4 familiar as with the Map of England or of palestine.—N oncon f orm i st. —W e have already found it great use, for reference ; and can confidently re commend it to our readers, for, it is, in our opinion, the ueefal Mar) of the Seftt 4-4 W3r yut k -Herald. 'London : Dobbs, Kidd, and Co.;Edin burgh : M enzies ; Newcastle : Lambert, and all ' Book *46311•""di civertinnent. SHARE MARK-,ETS. (THIS DAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. Closing Prices yesterday. ~ Business done this day. Pald.l 3t.100 ',O 8 all . 3i all TI all ;2 18i 15 30 Aberdeen Ambg Nottng. Bost and Eastn. Junct Belfast & Ballymena Birming. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £2.5 Cons. Do., £20...... ..... Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon...', Cork, Black, & Pass.. Cornwall Crieff Junction I)ubliii&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth &Aber dean Junction Do. New. .. ... . East Anglian Do., (£lB E & H)... 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. Weston. 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.andYorksb Do., Fifths DD., Wst. RidilagUn. Leeds Northern Liv.ersby.&Solitlipt London & Blac kwall Lond. Tilb. & St hend. Lond. Bright Lest. Loud. and N. Westn. Do. Fifths D0.101.5h.,M& Do. Eighths London andS. W 'estn. Do., £5O Do., £4O Lndndrry di Col ;mine Lndndrry. & En nisk. Manch.Shcf.& L incln Do., Man. & Lin Un Midland Do. Birmng. &I )erby Midld. G. West.,(lre.) Do, Half Shares Newcastle & Cal lisle Newmarket Do., Bury Exter tsiou Nwpt.Aberg. & 1 Urfd Newry & Ennisl eillen Newry Warren, point and Rostrevor. Norfolk .... Northu.CountieElUn North British..... North Devon, N o. 1. Do., No. 2 Do., A Deferr ed Do., B Guaral _deed North Loudon ~ Do. New £lO N.&S.Wstrn.,H: imp stead, and City Jn North Staffordsl North Western. N. & S. Westrn. J Nuneaton, Hincl tley, and Leicester.. Oxford, Worcest Wolverhamptol r Portsmouth Scottish Central • Sc o ttish Midland • Shrewsbury & Bi Do. L. & N. Wet teri Guaranteed Stu , ;I_l Shrowsby. & He tefd Shrewsby. & late' (N. W. Min Do. Halves,2 ‘. Do. Oswestry Shropshire Umo n Do. A, B, C,& D,. fully paid up at per :cut. South Devon South Eastern...„ South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do Staines, Vok Stockton & Dar] ing itoekton di Hart. tepl Gaff Vale Do. £lO shares.. Do. Pref., No. 1 ['names Haven I ►ock and Railway... Vale of Neath ..... Waterfd. & Kilkermny Waterford&Limer ick West Cornwall.... West End of Loni San and Crystal Palm 3e, West London. ..... .. Wimbledn St Crop lon York Newctl. &Bei Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purch xse York & N. Midland L... 22i -23 i 4} - 4i 7i 8i 13 —l2 die 15 17 8— 7 d 89 - 91 53 - 53 13 - 14 8 10 11 - :ii 7 - 8 ... - ... 15 - 16 di = 124 58 - 60 53 - 55 ii- ii - g 62 84i 851 72 74 119 - 121 87 - 89 724 73 83- 87 10 - 12 u 10 - 12 1, 694 - 60 Bi-- 7i (1 di 1 - : i:i 8 -- 84 974 984 954 - 96 lid -- lgd d, 76A -- 774 13i -124 a 10 -- 9 d 19 - 20 57i - 58 32 - 34 d— 4d 6 4 d 24 21 6 8 45 47 3i 34d 29k 30 50 54 par ip 6i —66 d 1 76 26 - 28 84 86 50 51 - 53 50 - 52 3 - 13 -- 15 64 -- 74 10 -- 1 4 -- Sid 13 15 58} 581 34 35 4 2a 4 5 30 - ii 3 - 17 18 4 - 5 20 22 ii —s4 64 65 5 1- d 51 — 4d 44 45§ FO3 3,EIGN. A.ntwerp&Rottere lane Belgian Eastn. Ju~nc. Beziers to Graisset :sae Bombay, Baroda,: ►nd Central India,Sc rip Central of Italy ..,... Charleroi& Erque lin. Demerara Dijon and Besancc .n.. Dutch Rhenish ..... East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninu ula Gd. Junct. of Frazee Grd. Trunk of Canada Do. Debentures Do. do Gt. Central of France Gt. Western of Can: ida Shares Do. Bonds (Ist is.)'s7 flamilton & Toro uto Do. 6 per cent. ...... Lake Const. & Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c pref Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Pref Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. et. pref Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Mediterran \iadras \(aria Antonia Do. do. New Nielbourne Dk. da Ry amur & Liege (witl interest) Do. (ex interest) INorthern of France Do. 20/. 3 p. c Pods. l (fmy.B.&Ams.Shs.; NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds ..... Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen &Cherbrg. Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Dar.' Royal Swot . Sambre and Meuse Do. 54 p. cent. Pref Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) West Flanders Do 5A per c. Pref Western of France West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand 5 all !,5 17?, .0 8 .0 4 i 0 40 -3id an 1 5 4d Id -- IP P 4 4 4 cl 1 2 P * f P d 9 2 —IA d L9i -20 i 7 -- 9 p i -1 0 p 8 -10 p dis 5 2 3 3i 2 d i L. - id 6 - 7# ii = iii - S —9 xnl 14, 14b1 42 - 44 35 -37 30/ -30 A - - Pm 28 = lAd .. it 81 ... - ... ... - PM 3 - 3 - 4 p 4 - 4* 6 5 d MISCELLANEOUS Lubin Coal and Iron' kustralian Agricult. kustralsn. Pcific. Mail Instraln. Royal Ma Berlin Water Works Brit. American Land Brit. di Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co Canada Crystal Palace Do. New...... Crystal Pal. of France Eastern Steam Electrit Telegraph(A) Do. (B) Electric Teleg. of Ir. Gen. Steam Navigat. General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Magdalena St. Navig. Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel Netherlands Land._ N. S. W. Coal & Inter. Steam Navigat. Co. N. B. Australasian... Do. New Nrth. ofEurope Steam Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. Peninsular & Oriental Do. Do. Portland Iron Co Royal Mail Steam scot. Mistral. Invest. south A ustrs.l. Laud Submar. Telegraph.. Do. Registered Van Diciasou Pura 37 = 38 6 ---- ii 75 - 80 6 3 / 4 - 6i ia -: fi ~11fi.. *i - 7. - I' i s , d *i 1- ii) - 2A 33 - 35 - 1 = 111 O an O 12 0 6 Z I all 5 I all 8 I all ;i.I 0 it. 100 15 8 ;t. 100 ;t. 100 it 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 2 12 •0,~ >t: 100 L 94 18$2 , L 4 114 h. 100 h. 100 CI 473 5 173 6i 5A_ 5 17; i 0 72 ft. 1100 h. 100 . .6 16 L 6 all 8 all 8 8 SO 1 all , 0 5/1 .0 11l is 0 17i 0 all s) 1 1 it. 1100 0 21 28 1 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 10 ;64 all 0 I all It. 100 !O 212 s . ) ,5 all _165 it. 100 5 21 0 17 ;0 all n all 51s. it. 100 20 ?,5 3t. 100 .0 9 5 3 .tel 8 0 all 7 all n 14 5 all :0 10 15 10 )0 30 )0 all 5 I all S) 10 5 2 5 3 1.0 5 1 ,0 12 'A) 10 I3i k all 1 2 ?.0 all 0 I all L 6 I all LO4 I 10 9 12 5 2 9 all n I 6 si all LO all !O 10 LO 7 iii 593 I 95t per cent. 5i x in THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVRNING, MAY 13, 1854; IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORD S—( Y E STERDAY. ) Their lordships met at four o'clock. ROYAL 'COMMISSION. The Royal assent was given by commission to a num ber of public and private bills. The following are the titles of the public bills : —The Income Tax Bill, the Ex chequer Bills Bill, the Militia Bill, and the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyle, and Earl Granville. The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from the Society of Solicitors, against the Bills of Exchange Bill. MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR. The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented a petition from the Military Knights of Windsor, complaining of the misappropriation of certain funds which they claimed, and praying for inquiry. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to a question from the noble earl, said it was not within the compe tency of the Charitable Commissioners to inquire into the case of these individuals, because there was an ex press provision in the act appointing them, to the effect that the jurisdiction of the commissioners should not extend to the funds of any collegiate church. It would, however, be a very strange case of the mis application of charitable funds, if the Lord Chancellor could not interpose for the protection of the rights of the parties. THE TRANSPORT SHIP ANDES. _ _ _ • The Marquis of CLANRICARDE called attention to a letter in the newspapers, written by an officer in the ship Andes, stating that while she was at sea, with a thousand troops on board for the East, a fire broke out which occupied two hours in being put out, that there was a great quantity of gunpowder on board, and only two life-boats ; and that for a considerable time the lives of the whole crew were jeopardised. It also appeared that 50,000 cartridges were thrown overboard. He wished to know whether the Government were in pos session of any information on the subject, and if true, whether they would take precautions to prevent for the future a vessel leaving without a sufficient number of boats ? The Duke of NEWCASTLE said it was true that a fire broke out in the Andes when 300 miles west of Malta. It was supposed to have been ignited in conse quence of too great a draught in the furnaces. He was not able to say whether no more than two boats were on board. The Admiralty had received no report of the circumstances, nor was it mentioned in the letters which had reached the Horse Guards from the com manding officer, who spoke of the admirable discipline of the troops on the trying occasion. He could scarcely believe it possible that the inspectirg officers would pass a vessel with only two boats. It was sur mised, however, that theboats might have been left behind to make room for an increase of baggage ; and he could only say that, if such was the case, the officers were greatly culpable in allowing the ship to put to sea. He might mention that be had requested the Admiralty to make enquiries into the subject. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH observed that his impression was that the account given in the letter was correct, for it was very probable that the boats had given place to live stock and to officers' baggage, but they were of trifling importance compared with the lives of such a large number of troops. CHURCH BUILDINGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The house then went into committee upon this bill. On the first clause being read, Earl NELSON complained of the power given by the bill to sell churchyards after they were closed and to pull down churches. He should not object to this power being applied to London, but he did object to its general character, because the reasons which might exist for its exercise in the metropolis would not apply in the country. If cases could be shown in the provinces where it might be desirable to apply it, a schedule might be made of such places. In Chichester, Lincoln, and Norwich it was said there were too many churches ; but he found on inquiry, and from private information which he had received, that they were all well attended. The noble earl was understood to conclude by moving an amend ment in accordance with his views. The Earl of HARROWBY defended the bill. He did not think that the effects attributed to it by the noble lord would ever be realised, for it was not probable that the bishops would go about destroying churches ; and that immediately after the passing of the bill the most active exertions would be made to demolish as many churches as possible. The Bishop of LONDON said that, with reference to the cessation of the powers confided to the Church Building Commissioners, it was quite true that the powers conferred upon those commissioners would come to an end in two years ; but he ventured to think, con sidering that the duties performed by that body were so valuable and of such a nature, that when that period arrived it would be absolutely necessary to confer the power which they now exercised upon some one. More than this he would venture to say, although one of the commissioners himself, that to nobody better than the present could those powers be given. But if through any alteration one of the checks provided by the bill were removed, then it would be competent to Parlia ment to make that provision which circumstances might require. He had assisted at the opening of 83 churches within his diocese-12 of which were raised through private munificence —and he trusted, if God spared him, and their lordships granted him this bill, he would com plete his centenary before he died. (Hear.) The Bishop of LINCOLN quite concurred in the view that this measure was required in the country as well as in London. After a few words from the Earl HARROWBY, the house divided. Contents 27 Non-contents 2B Majority against the amendment —1 The remaining clauses then went through committee, and the bill was ordered to be reported. The Bishop of OXFORD presented a petition from the clergy, churchwardens, and other inhabitants of the parish of Blyth, in the diocese of York, praying their lordships not to pass any bill to legalise pew rents or further to sanction the exclusive possession of property in church pews. Their lordships adjourned at a quarter-past seven. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(Y ESTERDAY. ) The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four o'clock. ROYAL COMMISSION. Mr. PIILMAN, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at the table, and summoned the house to attend at the bar of the House of Peers to hear the Royal Assent given by Commission to several bills, for which see Lords' report. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' Amendment to the Rossendale Union Gas Bill were considered and agreed to. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Beccles Water and Gas ; Padiham Waterworks; Stour bridge Waterworks. The following bills were considered and ordered to be road a third time :—Bradford Corporation Waterworks ; Furness Railway; Llandudno Improvement; North Shields Quays and Improvements; Stockton and Darlington Rail way ; Swansea Harbour. Ward's Estate Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. - - -- --- Petitions were presented by Mr. Wickham from the inhabitants of Bowling against the encroachments of Popery, and against the Maynooth Grant; by Col. Blair and several ether Scotch members against the ' Scotch Education Bill; by Mr. Lucas from places in Ireland against any inquiry into convents; by Mr. T. Duncombe from Finsbury, praying for a better supply of water for the metropolis by Mr. Horsfall and very many other hon. members against the opening of public-houses on Sunday, by Mr. Packe ; from a borough member in Dorsetshire, praying that public-houses may be closed during contested elections. Mr. Blackett presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce, at Gateshead, in favour of a renewal of the bill for the enfranchisement of Church Lev. ,ehold, and Exchequer-bonds. Mr. T. BARING gave notice that in bringing up the report on Exchequer-bonds, he should move an addition to the resolution, declaring the opinion of the house that it was not expedient to issue any new bonds payable within five years. TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION BILL. In reply to Sir F. KELLY, Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not intend to proceed with the bill next week. DISFRANCHISING BILLS. On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, the orders of the day for the second reading of the Cambridge and other disfranchisement bills was read for the purpose of being postponed until Monday fortnight. IRISH PROVINCIAL LECTURES. Mr. F. SCULLY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if it proposed to continue the grant of 5001. for provin cial lectures in Ireland, hitherto made through the Dublin Society ; and, if so, what change is to be made in the dis tribution of it. _ Sir J. YOUNG said changes were about to be made in the educational grants both in England and Ireland, and the grant in question would be increased, and not reduced. SURREY VOTERS. Mr. EVELYN asked the Secretary of the Treasury, whether, in accordance with a pledge given by the Govern ment on the 23d day of February last, an investigation has been made by the Treasury into the allegations con tained in a petition presented on the 15th day of February, respecting the non-delivery by the Post-office, in August 1853, of certain notices of objection to the votes of regis tered electors of the western division of the county of Surrey ; and in the event of such investigation having been made, to ask, secondly, what the result of the inves tigation had been. Ir. WILSON said the inquiry was still going on, but he hoped in a day or two to be able to p resen t a report. troops or ammunition on board, and from what ports they had come, and where they were bound to. The noble lord wished also to ask whether the Admiralty had received any account from the Baltic relative ';o the taking of Cronstadt which had resulted in great loss to our fleet. Sir J. GRAHAM said, Sir, with the permission of the house, I will answer the last question first being the most important, I have received no account whatever by tele graph from the Baltic, and, therefore, I can have no doubt that there must be some error in the report to which my noble friend has referred. I have received a letter this morning from Sir C. Napier, dated May 3, when he was still on the coast of Swedsn, but I am reminded by a noble friend that there is a post as late as the sth inst., but Sir Charles Napier states in his letter of the 3d that the fogs were so thick that he did not think it would be safe for some time to move the fleet. The right hon. hart. then proceeded to give a lengthened explanation with regard to the first question. It was true the Tiger had made such a capture of ships, but the ships were not filled with troops. They were only laden v,ith ammunitions of war. TENANTS' COMPENSATION BILLS. Mr. MOORE moved that the house, at its rising, should adjourn until Monday, with the view of calling attention to the Tenants' Compensation Bills, which had been referred by the Lords to a select committee, and of inquiring what course, Government intended to take with reference to these bills. Lord J. RUSSELL repliel that when the bills came out of committee Government would bo prepared to state their intentions with regard to them. ROMAN CATHOLIC SAILORS. Mr. LUCAS took the opportunity of the motion for ad journment for drawing the attention of the house to the compulsory attendance of Catholic sailors on the Church of England service celebrated on board her Majesty's ships. The right honourable baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty stated the other night that for a hundred years past no complaints had been m•lde of the regulations which prevailed on board ship with regard to divine worship, but the right hon. baronet must have been mistaken on that head, for repeated com plaints had been made by the Rev. Mr. Belly and another Roman Catholic priest on behalf of Roman Catholic sailors sir J. GRAHAM adhered to what he had already stated on t-is subject ; the attendance of Roman Catholics at the performance of the service on boari;l4 was purely volun tarily on the part of Roman Cathllics, and with the ex ception of some complaints made by the Roman Catholic priests of Portsmouth and Sheerness, no fault whatever had been found with the regulations which had now been in force for upwards of a century. Admiral WALCOTT had been a great many years at sea, and he had never heard of any complaints on this sub ject. Mr. J. O'CONNELL suggested that Roman Catholic sailors should be allowed to assemble on the poop by them selves for the celebration of religious worship on Sundays accordinE , to the ritual of their own persuasion. The subject then dropped, and the motion for the ad journment of the house was then agreed to. THE NEW BUDGET. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the noble lord the member for tho city of London what part of the new resolutions it was proposed to take on Monday. Lord J. RUSSELL replied that Government would pro pose to take the resolutions relating to spirits and malt, and therefore the second reading of the bill embodying those resolutions would stand first on the order of the day for Monday. plass, with reference to continuing the existing system, a denominational system maintained by the Privy Council grants, it appeared to him that there were three main ob jections to it. In the first place it was a system which had arisen from sectarianism, which was an evil. Another ob jection was that the Privy Council grants fell short most whore they were required most. Another reason was that this system had been already tried and found wanting. With reference to the secular system or the separation of secular from religious instruction, it appeared to him that that system was most deserving of being called national which was likely to bring within its pale the largest num ber of people. With the present state of feeling on this question he believed that if they were to establish schools in Scotland on the secular system, they would be schools without scholars. If the people were divided on all other points they were agreed on this, that in their public schools secular education should not be dissociated from religious. He next came to the system of his hon. and learned friend —schools on a religious basis—taking as the basis that which was the religion of nine-tenths of the people of Scot land. His honourable friend had donejustice to the speech of the Lord Advocate. That speech had met with groat approval. He wished ,he could say as much for the bill, which had encountered great opposition in Scotland. It might be supposed that it established a system of education without religion. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Although the superintendence of the presbytery was removed, and tests were abolished, yet it must be remembered that the minister of the parish would still remain a member of the parochial school board. The preamble of the bill especially referred to, and ac kno wlodged the necetsity of religious instruction being im p trted in the schools, and the 27th clause provided that the school committee should set apart certain hours for religious instruction, at which children should not be bound to attend if their parents or guardians objected. There were special enactments on the subject of religion, and he did not see how any one could say that religion was not cared for. He apprehended, however, that the chief objection to the bill was, that it removed the superintend ence from the presbytery. and abolished tests. It was impossible to say that the presbyteries could efficiently perform their duty. The presbytery had the power of ex amining the master, of visiting the school, but they had nothing to say to tke appointment of the master, which rested with the heritors. They could not prescribe the books to be used, or the nature of the instruction to be given ; and with reference to the power of removal, it was practically inoperative. It was on this account that his right hon. friend proposed to establish a system of inspec tion by a general board. If they looked to history they would find that the connection between the church and the schools was not for the benefit of the church, but that the youths of Scotland might be well brought up. The other objection on the part of the church was the aboli tion of the tests. To take a proper view of these tosts they must look to the history of the times in which they were imposed, and they would find that they were ststablished for the purpose of securing and maintaining the Presbyterian faith. Did any man now pretend to say that they would injure the Presbyterian faith by abolishing the tests? Unquestionably this was the object of the act of 1690, which was subsequently embodied in the Act of Union. By providing that the schoolmasters should not be confined exclusively to the established church, he maintained that they did not infringe in the slightest degree on the spirit of those acts. By the returns published with the census of the number of persons attending religious worship in Scotland on Sunday morning, the 30th of March, 1851, he found that the number of attendants belonging to the established church were 228,000; belonging to the free church 255,000; and belonging to the united presbyterians, 143,000. They therefore found that, taking the whole of Scotland, there was a vast majority of those who held the presbyterian faith who did not belong to the established church. But this inequality was still more striking in the counties. In the county of Edinburgh the numbers attending the esta- qlished church were 15,000, and the free church 18,000. In Aberdeen the numbers attending the established church were 20,000, the free church 23,000 ; in Argyll, the estab lished church, 4,238, free church 6,305 ; in Lanark, the established church 24,000, and the free church 26,000; in Caithness, the established church 412, and the free church 9,779, and in Ross and Cromarty established church 1,411, and free church 20,237. He asked then was it right to maintain a test which excluded all but those who belonged to the established church from teaching in the public schools. The abolition of the test, he conceived, was called for not only in the interest of the free church, but also in that of the established church, as it would remove a source of heart-burning and hostility, which would exist as long as the test remained. Having alluded to the objec tions of the established church, he would now allude to the objections taken by those who held the voluntary principle. What they said was, that they could not sup port any system of education by which religion in pub lic schools was to be taught by the state, and in order to carry out their views they were prepared to support, if necessary, a system of secular education, or rather of secular education disassociated from religious in struction. (Hear.) He believed that by advocating such a system they were outraging the feelings of at least three-fourths of the people of Scotland. But they must admit that this bill, though it fell short of their principle, was a great improvement on the existing system. Objec tions had been likewise taken by the episcopalians and Roman Catholics. As an episcopalian he did not see any objection to this bill, and he assured the Roman Catholics that he would be no party to a bill which made no provi sion for the education of Roman catholics, because he was not one of those who thought it the duty of a Protestant state to allow the children of Roman Catholics to grow up in ignorance. He assured the Roman Catholics that their interests were not forgotten ; his right hon. friend would assist them in committee ; and at any rate they would not find themselves in a worse position. Although he had spoken hitherto only of the objections to the bill, it must not be assumed that there were no parties in Scotland who were not in favour of it. They had the free church, who, though they were not satisfied with its provisions, yet con sidered the will would form a good basis. They were anxious for the second reading. They had also a large body of the established church, quiet thinking men, who saw the evils with which they had to grapple, and who were not blinded by prejudice and party feeling, and who wished that this bill should pass into a law rather than that they should have no measure. Then there had been 44,000 signatures to the petitions in favour of the bill, 28,000 against it, and 10,000 for alterations. He thought they might add these 10,000 to the 41,000 who were in favour of the prin ciple of the bill. (Laughter.) Then turning to the state of education among the prisoners, he found that out of 21,000 prisoners 4,338 could not read at all, 10,482 could only read with difficulty, 10,282 could not write at all, 534 could only sign their names, and 8,336 could write with difficulty ; and the chaplain of one of the gaols said, speaking of the prisoners :—" As regards their moral and religious condition, the generality of the prisoners are, on admission, deplorably ignorant. Many of them, indeed, are insensate, and, humanly speaking, impervious to con viction. Nothwithstanding, however, this their natural depravity of heart, their innate propensity to every evil, their intaught aversion to any good—the result of a God less, Christless upbringing, it is gratifying, nevertheless, to observe the anxiety with which they, sooner or later, in the course of their confinement here, avail themselves of the many advantages they possess of acquiring religious knowledge." The language of his right hon. friend who brought in the bill had been said to be exaggerated, but it found an echo in the General Assembly in Scotland, be cause Dr. Robertson, speaking in reference to the state of education in Scotland, said, "We cannot disguise from ourselves the truth that, be the cause of the evil what it may, thousands, and even tens of thousands, are growing up in the midst of us, from youth to manhood, whose education is grievously neglected. For these masses of society nothing is done, either intellectually or morally, to fit them for the important place which they ought to occupy, and which, were they qualified for its duties and privileges, is waiting to receive them. In the degraded condition to which their parents have been reduced it is scarcely too much to say that the training which they re ceive is but fitted to make them pests and plagues of so ciety." He said, then, it was their duty, as far as was in their power, to endeavour to meet this great and growing evil, and he hoped that the members of that house, unin fluenced by sectarian or party feeling, would enable them to resist the amendment. He believed it would be an evil day for Scotland if they rejected this bill. • Mr. C. BRUCE said the Free Church had done a great deal to forward education, and their scholars were perhaps more numerous than they could conveniently maintain, and they were therefore iu favour of this bill. Those opposed to the bill were the whole of the Establishment, the landed proprietors, and those who held the voluntary principle, and who had passed a resolution that this measure was uu sound in principle, hostile to liberty, and opposed to the Word of God. The bill had swept away a system of which they had had a long and happy experience. The hon. gen tleman quoted a statement made by a Scotch clergyman with the view of showing that one in seven of the popula tion of Scotland were under education. This statement represented that the scholars in the schools attached to the Free Church numbered only 59,896, while those in the schools connected with the Established Church reached to 259,688, clearly proving (the hon. member contended) that the parochial system was highly popular with the people of Scotland. This bill, then ' would act in a manner most prejudicial to the interest of the schoolmasters engaged in carrying out that system ; it would most unjustly reduce their stipends for the next 30 years, whereas it should have been the wish, as it was the duty, of the Government, to introduce a measure to fix their remuneration at the pre sent maximum rate. It would have been easy enough in such a measure as that to have introduced those alterations in the parochial system which experience had taught them were necessary to render it perfect, while provision might have been made in it for granting pensions to deserving and meritorious schoolmasters whose health had failed them, or who were no longer competent to perform the duties of tuition. A short bill of that sort, ho insisted, it was the duty of the Government to have introduced, and then the Legislature would have been in a position to take up the whole question, with the view of taking steps to extend the parochial system of education in Scot land, which, • he admitted, was capable of great ex pansion. For instance, the parochial schools might be very properly extended to large towns, where, he be lieved, the infidelity of which they had heard so much in connection with this bill, was much more the child of false reasoning than barbarism. According to their own pro fessions, Government desired to establish a union between religious and secular education ' • but they forgot that the parochial system had already solved that problem, or they would have been slow to introduce this bill, which would greatly interfere with it, if it did not go far to destroy it altogether. The longer these schools existed the more they seemed to improve and benefit Scotland, never at any former period had they been so efficient as they were at present ; while the average attendance of children was greater than that of any other class of schools in Scotland, which by no means made out the allegation of the Govern ment that the majority of the people were hostile to them. He was quite willing, however, that they should have an opportunity of testing the value of their new system, but at the same time the house should require an assurance to be given that some fixed test of Christianity or Protes tantism would be applied to the teachers. The preamble professed to have some regard for the feelings of the people of Scotland, in that respect, but it occurred to him that the phraseology of the whole bill "kept the word of pro mise to the ear to break it to the sense Ho for one did nut choose to rely upon a preamble which was touched in such general and indefinite terms, professing a regard for the feelings of the majority of the people, that it would be just as much applicable t 3 the Christianity of Spain or Italy as that of Scotland ; and what safeguard was there in the absence of any test that the spirit of the education to be given in these new schools would be drawn from the former, and not the latter source? Depend upon it the legacy which Wash ington left to his countrymen in the United States was well worthy the study of modern statesmen ; in his fare well address to the people of America, Washington told them that the liberty and independence of a state, as well as its material and political prosperity could only be sus tained by the establishment of a system of education that was founded upon the religious eleineut, Now W e bill had. a directly contrary tendency, it altogether disregarded relig ion by dispensing with any test of Christianity to be ap,ol ied to the teacher, and this heavy blow and great dis -00111 'cement were to ba dealt out to the Established Church, for the sake of gratifying the demands of the free chw •ch. Had it not Islni for the clamour of the free chu; rch, w 3 slinuld never have heard of this bill, and he shoe ild like to know what the free kirk had done to deserve this immense consideration at the hands of ministers. He repot sted, in conclusion, that they had no right to disturb the ( 3xisting system ; it had worked exceedingly well for the p eople, and to replace it by schools which would afford the p 7.rent no positive security or test of the Christianity a the teachers, would be so highly distasteful to the people of Sec tlaud, that they would never obtain their confidence. Dives twxl of all assurances or test of the Christianity or pro. testan ti'sm of the teachers, he believed these schools would prove a cnirse instead of a blessing to Scotland, and he should therefore give his most cordial support to the amondem mt. Mr.. J. MACGREGOR denied that this bill was a con cession., to the Free Church of Scotland, whose ministers in reliraq uishing their former livings in the church of Scotland had set an example of foroearance which had never been witnessed by the world before. They had shown throughout their career an utter abnegation of every thing tha-.`; was selfish, and it was unjust to men of such great mor:d worth to say that this bill was an offering to their den ands. H e h ope d the house would agree to the principle of the bill, although there might be some de tails whic b it would be necessary to amend in committee. Mr. G. IDUNDAS regretted that the learned lord should have strut ,k such a blow as he had done at a system which the expe.ierice of centuries had shown to have worked well. He was ready to admit that there was a great need of edacati.m in Scotland, and he would even go far as to say that the p oor neg l ected children of the country ought to be taken possession of and educated by force, and, if possible, mad e use f u l members of society. What he found fault with in the bill was that it chan , Yed the whole character of education in Scotland. It abolished the existing tests, and by opening the parish schools to masters of all denominations, would prove a fruitful source of hostility between the schoolmaster and the cler gyman. He also objected to the bill because it professed to constitute the supervision of inspectors for that of the clergy. The parish schools were feuded about 200 years ago in connexion with the church, and since that time the clergy had considered their care a sacred duty. Surely, then, the Government might have devised some plan of r emoving unworthy and incompetent mast ers w i t h out de stroying the existing system. (Hear, hear.) He objected, further, to the centralisation of management which the bill would introduce. Almost everything would be re ferred to the central board, and there had always been a strong feeling in this country against that principle. He was sorry to find a clause in the bill allowing children to absent themselves during the hours of religious instruction. He thought that that provision would lead to many children withdrawing themselves whose parents and guardians would never otherwise have thought of desiring them to do so. In fine, he regretted that the bill should be of such a sweeping character, for he thought that a much more simple measure would have answered the purpose. No doubt that the salaries of tke teachers required augmentation, bat he was sure that the heritors of the different counties would have been glad to have contributed the necessary funds if an appeal had been made to them. (Hear, hear.) Mr. G. DUFFY said that though the bill did not flatter any sectarian prejudices, it went honestly to amend the laws relating to education where they were defective. As a member of the Scottish establishment, he regretted that so much hostility should have been displayed against all the provisions of the bill relating to parish schools by a majority of the Established clergy ; and he firmly believed that the course they had taken would prove to be exceed ingly prejudicial to the Church of that country. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the general board would form a body that would be really responsible for the character and qualifications of the schoolmasters, and that candi dates for that office of superior attainments would no longer be excluded as they were under the present system. He thought, too, that the superintendence of the presbytery would be well replaced by those of the board. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the plan of tie Government was an ingenious, a comprehensive, and a liberal measure, and as such it had his unqualified approval. (Cheers.) He hoped, in conclusion, that no fears lest there was a kind of pilot balloon, sent up to ascertain how the wind would be for some other measure, would prevent the English members from supporting a measure which had been earnestly sought for, and which was earnestly desired by the people of Scotland. (Cheers.) Mr. MIALL objected to any scheme of what was called national education ; but conceding that he was mistaken in his views upon the subject, what was the present bill in tended to accomplish ? Its object was to grapple with what was considered to be the alarming growth of ignorance in Scotland. Well, if Scotland was really going back to her ancient barbarism, it was certainly strange that the learned lord should have omitted to furnish the house with any evidence of a fact at once so melancholy and so significant. (Cheers.) If any such evidence existed it must have been quite within the learned lord's reach, and he should have stated it for the information of the house. It was quite tree that the Scottish census tables had not been published when the learned lord introduced the measure, but still he was probably in a position to have ascertained the leediug fact which those tables disclosed —namely, that one in seven of the whole population was under scholastic train ing, and that four-fifths of that training was administered by agencies other than those produced by public provision. (Hear.) No doubt there was a vast mass of ignorance and immorality ; but was not that symptomatic ? Would it cease if the means of instruction were afforded ? Or was it not due to deeper causes? The proletaire class was pecu liar to all large cities and crowded towns. It was to be met with not only in England and Scotland, but in Pills sia and France, and even in the United States. (Hear.) Even in America, where employment was general and its rewards large and sure, it would be found in the large towns that this class was both numerous and troublesome. (Hear, hear.) Nor was it hard to account for this ; for the unfortunate, the idle, the profligate, and those who wished to bury crime in obscurity, naturally flocked into the great cities. Now take the case of a single family of this class. If they visited it they would have to go into the most crowded district, where every room was tenanted by a household. There was no privacy, no distinction between the sexes, nothing to comfort or cheer. Vice, squalor, wretchedness, and misery were everywhere to be seen ; curses, blasphemy, and obscenity were to be heard on every side. Let them take that family and ask them selves how it was possible by the simile construction of an educational machinery, to bring it under the influences which they wished ? Did they think that to teach it reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography, could do much to elevate it, or to civilise ? (Cheers.) This was an argument which appeared to him unanswerable, but it was also fully borne out by the educational report of Mr. Horace Mann. Let them construct what machinery they would of a general character, it was impossible by that means to re tch the lowest class, out of whom sprung the great mass of crime. The bill before the house was of a too general character ; it was not specific enough to grapple with the evils which it professed to remedy ; it left ant the very class who most needed instruction. There was another class, the labouring poor, who in England, what ever they do in Scotland, showed great indisposition to avail themselves of the educational advantages provided for them. Mr. H. Mann stated that the school fee was the very least obstruction in the way of their receiving educa tion. While the school fee was but ld. or 2d. a week, the parents would lose ls. or ls. 6d. by depriving themselves of the child's labour ; and there was a strong disposition among the poor to get their children into earning at as early an age as possible. On this grouid Mr. Mann came to the conclusion that no mere extension of schools would suffice to bring education within the reach of the children of the poor. And yet this class were will ing to spend fifty millions a year on the gratification of their taste for strong drink. (Hear, hear.) The schools proposed by the bill might be scattered all over Scotland, but they would not secure a better education for the chil dren ; it would merely transfer the expense of the schools from the parishes to the state. The parochial system had prevailed for a number of years, and the house ought not lightly to take it entirely away. Had the bill proposed merely to extend and liberalise the parochial system, he would have supported it. But he saw in it the embryo of a vast scheme in future. These commissions were increas ing on all hands; we had commissions to regulate every thing, and very soon not only our comforts but our liber ties would be buried under a mass of commissions. (Hear.) He could not conceive how any national system of religi ous teaching could be established which would not be either latitudinarian or unjust. (Hear.) Mr. BOUVERIE said the reasons given by the hon. gentleman for voting against the bill were very strong ones in its support. He altogether lost sight of the fact that if the provisions of this bill did not reach a certain class, there were others which they did reach. (Hear.) The hon. gentleman, though evidently not knowing much of Scotland, must know that a system of national education had existed there for 200 years, and that in consequence of that system there were fewer of the miserable class he had described than there would otherwise have been. (Hear, hear.) He would not discuss the question on the narrow ground of religious tests; but believing that it would pro mote education amongst all, he should support the second reading of the bill, though objecting to some of its pro visions. He believed there could be nothing like educa tion unless combined with moral training founded on reli gious principles. But the best security for this was found in the religious character of the people of Scotian 1. (Hear, hear.) There was nothing in the old statutes re quiring religious instruction to be given ; the legisla ture knew full well that they could rely on the religious feelings of the people ; and he regretted that the noble and learned lord had not done the same. He also objected to the provision for perpetuating s e p arate schools for different sects ; he feared it would ten d to keepupre ligious animosities. (Hear.) It had been askedwhat was the necessity of such of a bill as this for Scotland. Twelve years ago, the Commissioners o f Poor-law Inquiry auperome meansp ism in Scot land reported that all mea ns of s suppressing b would prove insufficient unles s accompanied for promoting education for, instead of an improvement in this respect, they © was rather a deterioration. The re turns of the prison inspectors showed that, while the popu lation had increased 10 p er cent. from 1841 to 1851, th e average daily number of female prisoners in confinement in S co tland had increased 35 per cent., and that of males 54 per cent. —a proof of the deterio r ation s p oken of by the commissioners, and of the necessity for improving educa tion in that country. The house mast bear in mind that there must be some legislation this year, or the schoolmas ters would be in a worse position than ever. By the act of 1803, their salaries were fixed according to the price of grain, and a reversion was provided for every 25 years. This was the year in which it should take place ; and it was the more necessary, by reason of the great advance in the price of provisions. (Hear, hear.) The noble and learned lord was therefore compelled to bring in a bill on the subject; and had he merely proposed to increase the sc hoolmasters' salaries, without endeavouring to introduce a ny improvement in the system of education, it would have had a very little chance of b • being carried. The secret of all this dissension was that tha national system, up to a few years ago, was national in fact, as well as iu name ; it was the system of the national church, but that church was the national church no longer. (Hear.) Hence they could not extend the system on the basis of the so-called national church. The provisions of this bill were briefly these : —the masters were at present appointed by the heritors, subject to the approval of tho Presbytery, who afterwards exercised very little control over the mas ters. It was proposed to get rid of the religious test alto gether and the superintendence of the presbytery; and that was the strong objection of the national church to the 1 bill. But he contended that the security for the religious education of the people was not in the control of the pres -1 bytery, or in the tests applied to the master, but in the re ligious feeling of the people generally. (Hear.) If they 1 found that their children were not properly instructed they would remove them from the school, or get the school master removed. Who, in this country, would rely for the religious instruction of his children on some test or 1 paper signed by the schoolmaster? (Hear.) A farther change proposed by the bill Wag the establielawfult of schools in parishes at the expense of the ratepayers, under the superintendence of a. local board of management, and. controlled by a general board and visiting inspectors. This was about the best system which could be devised ; it se cured both local responsi bility and the advantages of cen tral supervision and direction. By this means both the quantity and quality of education would be improved. H. disapproved of the clause which gave the central board the power of dismissing the schoolmaster, and trusted that that provision woula be: altered. (Hear.) He was confi dent that the measur e as a whole would greatly promote the interests of Scotia nd ; and it was the duty of the legit lature to take care that they did not hand down those in terests to those who should come after them in a worse condition than they fouizd them. (Hear.) Mr. MA.CKIE said the system at present pursued was of a most liberal description. The effect of the proposed in spection would be to substi tote for the guiding care of the clergyman, who was always on the spot, the casual in structions of a gentleman, who know nothing whatever of the local wants of the district.. He objected to the aboli tion of the tests ; this would leave no security whatever for the religious character of the teachers. He would sup port the second reading of the bill if the Government took security that the schoolmasters should be protestant, ; but if Lot, ho would suppo -t the amendment of the hon. mem ber for Perthshire. (Rear.) Mr. HUME said that he desired to state explicitly on the present occasion the oir;nions of those whom he repro. rented. Although there we.-e many differences of opinion on the mode of regulating the system of education, there was great unanimity that education should be improved and extended. The present meas are, although there were parts of it which he objected to, and which he would en deavour to amend in committee, was on the whole satis factory. The hon. gentleman who had just spoken had asked why they meddled with the old parochial establish ments ? For this reason, that alterations had taken place in the opinions of a large portion of the people of Scot. land, which rendered a cha uge in the school system neces sary. The people of Scotian(' desired to have an extended religious and secular educat 1011, but it was impossible that a minority could have the superintendence of the schools. Formerly Scotland was distin,guished for the education of her people, but whilst other m itions were advancing Scot land was deteriorating. Whet the was a boy there was no distinction or debate as to religion. All met together in, the school, and ho wished to bring things back to that po sition again. (Hear, hear.) He' did not mean to say that the parochial system had not done immense gookor that the Presbyterian body in general had net done their duty. He did not vote for the second reading on that ground but because circumstances and opinions had altered, aid I% was their duty to adapt their legislation to the new state of things that had arisen. If it was in his power to carry out his own views, he would have the expense of educa tion defrayed, not from the public funds, but like the poor laws fro m l oca l ra t es. (Hear, bear .) H e believed that by such a system the members of the education committee would, like the hoard of guardians, be a check on im proper conduct. In New York, Kentucky and Massachu setts, that system had bean adopted, and foundwasw o rk most to most admirably. Se cu l ar e d uca ti on was what was given to those schools, yet there was as great a desire to obtain a sound religious education, according to their views, in those states, as in any part of Sootla m d. (Hear, hear.) The sta tistics of crime in Amt.‘rica sltowed that it was only in. very small proportion to the population that the native educated American was guilty of crime. But, as he was not able to carry out his own views- on this subject, he that willing to accept the next best th 3 in g —namely, government aid combined with local rates. 1 was sorry to say, ha there was a want of inclination on the part of par en t s t o send their children to school. In the county of Norfolk, where he resided there was plenty of school-room, but the parents, ignorant of the value of education to the future welfare of their childron, did not. send them. Looking at the number of persons who were lost to society from igno• ranee, the crime which was engendered, and the violation of property which took place from the same cause, he hoped they would all unite in promoting and extending educa tion. (Hear, hear.) The- noble Lord said he would give up one clause of the bill. He Mr. Plume) hoped that he would also gire up the 27th clauso. He thought that no school master should be dismissed' till he had been tried and had an opportunity of defending hims elf. The principle of the bill was to provide an united and improved system of re ligious and secular education, and .on that ground he would support the second reading. ( Heat:, hear.) Col. BLAIR denied that the opponents of this bill were opposed to the extension of edu cation in Scotland, but he differed from the Lord Advocat e as to the inefficiency with which the parochial schools were conducted at present. Nor did ho rest upon his own judgment nierely in defend ing those institutions. The Chancellor oi`. the Exchequer had in his speech at Manchester warmly eulogised the pa rochial schools of Scotland, and attributed try their exist. ence the success of Scotchmen in all the pursuits of life. His (Col. Blair's) opinion was that the Scottish system of education was one that you might extend but could not possibly improve. The hon. and gallant member pro ceeded to show what had be en done already for education, both by the national and fre e churches in Scotland. The Established Church and the assembly had together 1.000 schools providing education for several thousand children. The assembly was annually• increasing its number of schools, and was prepared to go still further should the educational necessity of the c• country require it. It had been alleged that the Geyer] intent bill was popular in. Scotland, but he believed the contrary to be the case. The General Assembly of the Established Church had pronounced against it, and in the free church several of the most eminent leaders had eNpressed hostile opinions concerning it. The hon. and gallant member proceeded to quote the opinions of free church divines against the bill, and contended further, that the laity were opposed to it as well as the clergy. He was not opposed to a measure for extending education in Scotland : , but he was strongly op posed to a proposition which Wi Juld interfere with those institutions, the parochial schools , from which the popula• tion of Scotland had derived so much benefit. Mr. COWAN repudiated a itai,ement which, he said, if' net made in distinct terms in that house, had been hazarded. in Scotland and out of doors, that this bill was to encou rage infidelity. He had the highest respect for the parish. schools of Scotland, but he hoped to see them so improved. that they would be the means of bringing a sound and cheap education to all classes of the community. The ob jection that the system proposed by the Government was one of godless education had been advanced over and over again against the national system of education in Ireland ; yet the success which had attended the establishment of that measure could not bo disputed, and he believed it would be found one of the most efficient means towards the regeneration of that country. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the members for Ireland. would support a measure which would confer upon Scotland those benefits which they now enjoyed. He considered that was a most valu able provision of the bill which took out of the hands of the clergy the educational superintendence of the people. He implored the house to conceder the responsibility that would attach to them if they threw out a measure which was intended to confer the bles.sings of education upon the rising generation of Scotland. Mr. NAPIER admitted the m:ponsibility which their de cision upon the principle of this bill imposed upon the house, but he thought they ought, before they assented to it, to take care that that principle was sound. The bill pro posed to introduce a national system of education for Scot land, and the argument upon which it proceeded was, that the established church of Scotland , in which the control of the existing system rested, did noi.:represent the'feelings of the majority of the community. The objection he took to it was, that it was not supplementing the agency of the Established Church, but was superseding that agency, which was bound up in the feelings of the people—that in stead of reforming the parochial schools, and supplement ing upon them something that should fill up the unoccu pied ground, it proposed to overturn the existing agency altogether. A civil board was to be appointed under the control of the Government, and an inspection was provided, but that religion should be connected with the system of teaching was not provided either in reference to the inspec tion or the teachers. If religion were, as he contended it was, an essential element of education, it ought not to be superintended exclusively by a Government board, but should be in some degree under the superintendence of the ministers of religion. One clause of the bill provided that the board should, from time to tine, make regulations, par ticularly as to the inspection of schools and examination of schoolmasters in religious and secular knowledge, and to enforce the regulations they made. The mini ster was to be a member o the school committee, but that committee was to be entirely enrolled by the Government board—the minister would be powerless, and his interest in the system diminished, if not destroyed. ' The character of the Scotch people, which had been formedhytthoeibresypsrtoeumd,owfasednuocaw tion, and of which they had reason _ moulded valued b s y ys t t h e i m s , b a o n a t r i d , , i a f n n d e t ce ns s te sa a r d y, o i f m taki pro n v f n u g p i th i i t s o th l d b and n d was to be cast aside for what he thought a wild and delusive experiment. As he objected to this attempt to transfer the education of Scotland from the hands of its religious instructors to a Government board, he should oppose the bill. Mr. COBDEN said that he should not have intruded himself in the debate but that one English member 'had spoken whose remarks required some observations. His honourable friend, the member for Rochdale, had a mind so logical and acute, that if he made a speech which failed to convince his audience, it must be because he had an impossible case to deal with. His hon. friend said that he was opposed to all state provision for education. But no one wanted it. Every one wanted a local system regu lated by Act of Parliament. His hon. friend went on with a defence of his objections to a system of national education, and there he thought that his hon. frfend had landed them in the slough of despond altogether, for he pointed to large cities with teeming populations immersed in ignorance, and asked how they were to be educated. He thought that there was hope for his honourable friend, even from the Scottish view of the question. Large cities did not reproduce their population, which, if they were left to themselves, would die out in a few generati o ns, but their populations were reproduced because they were recruited from agricultural districts. If, then, you wanted to improve the character of the populations of towns, you must have not merely education for great cities but general education(—hear, hear)—and in proportion to the pregress of general education would the character of life in cities be improved. His hon. friend said that if you went into the narrow courts of cities, where there was no ventila tion and no scavenging, .you would find an outcast and de• graded population. Where did they come from ? Did they come from that part of Great Britain which for a cen tury had had a national education ? Did you find in this degraded population any considerable number of Scotch men ? Why was that ? Why was it, as an hon. gentleman had said, when a Scotchmen appeared in a place in Austra lia with his blue bonnet on that he was surrounded by a mob of persons anxious to engage his services. It was because he came from a country where there was some national education. His (Mr. Cobden's) plan was to have national education, not only that in Scotland, and even that t improved, but generally. His honourable friend said, if a system of national education was established, the people would not come to it. In that his noble friend was somewhat inconsistent, for he and his friends st6l that the population was educated ; that in England one child in seven went to school, and in Scotland ono in eight, and yet ho said that if you had good schools people would not send their children to them. His (Mr. Cobden's) experience showed him that if there was a good school, and especially where th(r3 was a good master, there was an instinctive desire on the part of the people to send their children to them, and even when they were ignorant themselves th e y had an instinctive know ige when ti eir children wereim proving. A good master sent a child home in good spirit it going to school, from school, and not languid and depressed, for a good master must himself have good physical spirits and energy, e a ( n iu y ea in t a io t n iori o e t l igh ect t ic o a t ti e o and thus the children were enlivened by d n, ea a l n t d wi d t e h n b y y t t h h a is t and the parents soon saw it. His hon. friend and his party house or the Government. wereth question sd of education Now, tha top inin calcu lated to raise a party in England and Sco t lan d, was t land, which would tend to the abandonment of all hope of a national education, since there was no scheme on which all parties could agree, and then the people must take the matter into their own panda. 110 (x w= r , c o ) thought , aim IQ was MALT DUTY. Mr. E. BALL asked whether, in levying the increased duty on malt, such portions of the stocks of malsters as m ay have been sold but not yet delivered, will be charge able with the increased duty ; and, if so, by whom will it be payable, the buyer or the seller. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that all malt found in stock would be charged with the in creased duty, but a clause would be inserted in the autho rising the seller to charge the increased duty on the pur chaser. PRUSSIAN NAVAL OFFICERS. Mr. OTWAY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he had any objection to lay on the table of the house all the communications that had passed between the Board of Admiralty, or any British and Prussian authorities, on the subject of Prussian officers in her Majesty's ships. Sir J. GRAHAM said the Admiralty did not correspond with Foreign Powers, and therefore there were no papers in their possession. Ile could state, however, that, with the pleasure of her Majesty, several Prussian naval officers had been allowed to enter our fleet in the Baltic as mid shipmen, and they would be permitted to leave our ships should any encounter with Prussia be distasteful to them. TAKING OF CRONSTADT. Lord D. STUART asked the First Lord of the Admi ralty whether any information had been received relating to the capture of a number of Russian transports near the inland of Sorpenti, and Whether tam transports had EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL. The LORD ADVOCATE having moved the second reading of this bill, Mr. NEWDEGATE presented a number of petitions against it from various places in Scotland. Mr. STIRLING rose, pursuant to notice, to move that the bill be read a second time that day six months. He regretted to have to oppose a bill for so laudable an object as that of promoting the education of the people, but he thought more consideration should be given to the subject than it was possible to devote to it in the present session. Although the system of national education inScotland was to some extent defective, it should be remembered that it was still superior to that which existed either in England or Ireland, and the proof of this was to be found in the nu merous instances in which boys educated in the parish schools of Scotland attained to distinguished positions in after life. The hon. gentleman proceeded to state the number of parish schools in connexion with the church of Scotland, of which the established church had 935, and even the episcopal church had increased of late years the number from 12 to 93, and argued that great good had been done in that respect. He, however, did not think that the mer e multiplying of schools would prevent vice and irreligion any more than you prevent hunger by multiplying bakers' shops. He thought Scotland might be proud of her parish schools, and if they required reform it should be carried on with a careful and kindly hand, but let them not be swept away as was proposed by the present bill. They might have faults ; their schoolmasters might be ill-paid, and their salaries already too small, would be further reduced by the operation of a law which was about to take effect, and against that law they ought to be protected. It was impossible to deal with this question without touching on religious grounds ; but he was not about to enter on the question of secular and religious education. He believed, however, that the great majority of the people of Scotland were in favour of religious education, and it was not the intention of the Lord Advocate's bill to weaken the religious element in the schools, though it provided for it in a very clumsy way. It was only rea sonable that the church should be allowed to give a gua rantee for the quality of the teaching in the schools ; and the connexion between the church and the schools had existed so long with advantage that it ought to continue. He had been in communication with many clergymen on this subject, and their views were very reasonable ; for they had no objection to be associated with a Government inspector in the schools. With regard to grants of money, although he would not ask the house to give money for parochial schools connected with the church, yet he was not prepared to vote money for schools which were not so connected. There were about 9,000 schools, and the Lord Advocate asked that they might each be endowed with a sum of 161. a year, and also that half of the retiring pension toschool masters should be paid out of the grant, which he calculated would require 25,0001. a year, and the sum asked was 18,5001., and he thought that the Lord Advo cate might have asked for it without the offensive condi tions contained in the bill, with reference both to the Church and the Dissenting bodies in Scotland. There was one part of the plan of the bill he should like to see tried, which was to set up side schools which should be open to all denominations where they were required, and if that experiment succeeded, let the Government come down to the house, and propose to extend the system. The hon. gentleman then entered into a defence of the Presbytery with reference to the conduct of the schools, and expressed his regret that the Lord Advocate, in his speech, had said that the condition of the schools under the superintendence of the Presbytery was degraded beyond imagination. If those words implied a grave charge against living men it ought to have been substantiated, but if it was intended in a historical sense it would have been better to have made that sense appear. He urged that legislation was com menced in the absence of sufficient information ; and he thought that there ought to be inquiry by a royal commis sion before legislation, but the Lord Advocate had put the cart of legislation before the horse of inquiry. It was said that the opponents of the bill admitted the defects of the educational system, and yet wished to reject the bill ; but he could answer to that, that the question had been con sidered by the opponents of the bill, and a draft of a mea sure prepared. which in the event of his motion for reject ing the present bill being carried, would be introduced into the house. The hon. gentleman concluded by expressing his regret that he had been compelled by a sense of duty to oppose this bill, which might be construed into an opposi tion to the first step towards the establishment of a system of national education. The Earl of DALKEITH seconded the amendment, and said he regretted that in addressing the house for the first time he should be speaking in opposition to a bill intro duced by the Government. His main objection to the bill was that it laid down the principle of the disruption of parochial schools from their connection with the church. The result of the present system had been so satisfactory as regarded the education of the people of Scotland, that it ought not to be hastily thrown over by a bill founded entirely on theory. He did not say that the parochial schools were not capable of improvement—for he admitted that they -were—and he should be glad to see them improved. In the preamble of the bill the Lord Advocate affirmed that the superintendence of the church over the schools had been defective, and therefore that the c hurch esho u ore ld Al no bf. longer have the same control over them a , though the system of superintendence had been defectively carried out, it was not defective in itself, and a declara tion to that effect had been signed by 2,000 proprietors of land in Scotland, while in 19 out of 22 counties where meetings had been held with reference to this bill the opi nion expressed had been against it. He thought that the legislature was not justified in opening charges against the Church of Scotland on the mere words of the Lord Advo cate and the Government without sufficient substantiation of them by proof. There was no mention in the bill what religion was to be taught, or whether any religion was to be taught in the schools. He was ready to concur in any improvements in the parochial schools co nsistently with the preservation of the present system, but he wished the house to consider whether a system which had made the people of Scotland the best educated in the world should be put aside, and a mere theoretical plan set up in its place. Lord ELCHO said his hon. friend who had moved this amendment expressed his regret at finding that he was obliged to move an amendment in o pposition to the bill brought in by the Government. He regretted to find that a gentleman from whom they had expected better things, should have permanently enrolled himself among the ranks of their opponents. He considered that his hon. friend's position was untenable, because he on the one hand said there was a deficiency in the means of education, and on the other hand he asked the house to maintain a system which had caused the necessity of such a measure as this. He was far from denying what had fallen from his hon. friend and from the seconder of the amendment, in favour of the present system. It was under that sys tem in a great measure that Scotchmen had become what they are. But when his honourable friend the mem ber for Perthshire stated that the parochial schools were of an unsectarian character, he begged to differ with him in that respect ; for though the teaching was unsectarian, the door stood open whether they were Presbyterian or Roman Catholic. Yet he thought no ono acquainted with those schools would deny that their con stitution was sectarian. What was required was an es sential alteration iu the parochial schools of Scotland, which would bring them in harmony with the altered cir cumstances of the times in which we lived, and would bring them back to what they were intended to be, namely, the public schools for Presbyterian Scotland ; and it was with this object and intention that his hon. and learned friend had brought in this bill. In advocating this change in their public schools he wished to guard himself against being supposed to have any hostility to the Established Church of Scotland. He entertained the greatest respect for that valuable institution, he fully appreciated the be nefits it had conferred upon the country, and he did not wish in any way to impair its efficiency. He would now call the attention of the house to the difficulties with which this question was surrounded, because, although there was a general opinion that something should be done the great est difference prevailed as to what that something should be. It appeared to him there were but three ways of estab lishing a system of public education in Scotland. In the first place by extending the system which at present existed ; in the second place, by establishing a system of mei e secular education ; and in the third place, by estab lishing a system founded on a religious beds. Iu the first ---- bold F the 5 seat Elea apl. the oast Is a, )st of ~~; ..~:; 11 all .0 I al: .0 I all 5 5 4 20 20 1 10 2 5q 12 0 88 72 g 451 i 1k 1 38i 9 I I