The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-01 00:00:00

t ion 'the lot to open the 1 01 . 1 * mittee di ether their 6 01 oti` th e P°""been ,Stup 10 Pr " r t be sl' 3 bee" °r .) .3r, l ' tio' ern o , , be ne, snch'' 3 0st e o• he ' ( 1 th at ber :%le° t he • r of ofr,t s mail ~l n t4r the° 'toad „se a nti ed , enjllol:'it tBSfa= th n ts °f to e t he: ded tootatr •••••••• ....- 1);;Ii""Se Ought to interpose and prevent that power from g exercised with spit e an d t s ranny. —( Hear, hoar.) If itter_t' ttiloitt.maAsfteer had done ri g htl y i n i nterrupt i ng t h e l etters o f mber f or Fi nsbury, that oug h t to be shown, and hear•) eauld be no reasen for opposing the inquiry. —(Hear, I:VtHe had heard with regret—he would not say with .-the personal attacks made upon the Hon. Member ~,,,‘ltrtia.,.peoc_istsiwbn.,,,rer.tt..eyh.:''orrthhe, House and the public knew what. those and be would now content himself with motion.— ( Cheers. ) tr oohi Q e tth-INCOLN nut have thought it necessary to ha d taken e l l ,' Ilrentle ou.se, after the very temperate explanation which P .ce in the course of the evening, if it had not been f ' th e t ern given to the discussion by the Hon and Learned hid b i s on who had jest sat down. A great deal of bad feeling ereated out of doors by exaggerated statements in the ho e 3. , 5u }!e dep•ecated the personal character the debate was tt Prive mln They had been told that that was no question ho d ege, but that the Hon. Member for Finsbury had a "stet alternat! an explanation in order to 'tear his own (tha t!". k r :on the i mpetatiens which had been east upon it. •tie Hop ill, for Cockermouth ( air. Agliontiv) and other . dtei tha t r tenber s a ga i n said that this was not a question of indivi- t os ot , a ster as it oug ht to be one of privilege, and that 149144aquired int o as such. ThVLION BY -1 never said so 11 04. ' 11' 4 ' 1 or LINCOLN—It had been asked of the Right (Lo r d i!rtlet wilether he It id issued a warrant or nut. t t itio e lneu ln) eauld not conceive of any more unfair way of °se a t a conclu,ion than that of asking the Right Hon. Pete 4 t h e wth a question. There was a paragraph in that re tiolited'the secrecy of private correspondence had not been t he 11 "e ePtine under rrn and therefore the ease of ester i t ; Member fell t ' o therOund. tie would not then tt anit e e ` e ° !he general question of the rowers conferred by tatsof,",,lne Svere-tarvof State • but he was justified in the 14 st o i' e ease he had previeusly entertained by the argil thee b the Solicitor -General. He hoped that they would eelal once decision' of the Secret Committee, and so rut an tate ) , to those aerimitriou ' s feelines wh•ch then, unfortu !dr.' L er fi e v l a r.. t too frequent on either'side of the House. etp ained. He had not made the slightest r Pra e tie_ ustun .to the !tight Hon. Baronet. H . e had found Ne tts) h ad ' 'll tits office and he had acted upon it. f k u '' s i o r _ Ri g h t H t tot had the slightest wish to wound the relin e heft on. Hamlet . N AL said . th t though he must allow a pre fifietTibe, i:rotilLtendhotio' argument t maintainthat the officers t_ l l . e ko , h ost- o gi re, must s Tel e onty of to opening and detaining; letters without to e e e the l air a warrant front the eie,..reta ' ry State, had arlieToe_ileges of ihat House. The questio d n t wee ,fl ti er... IL I ' the iborY discussion, and they were bound te" 4 ' NI %le t " et the Hon. Member for Finsbury. 4 a t t ictrtesinlltfor Finsbury had stated that he fullyh he e coulda t 14,141; rete t a te o r a of his had been opened, an e d of ere the Hon. s aid e oe s who 1 1 1;( 1 the exclamations of so did .`, 4 he e e pee !at upon the Secr et Committee. m 0,,e tt ' s ' ltdend tai , the Hon. Member for Kesidal said), " I *h . 1, 3 not o e and another said, " I did intend that." te-- Was 4 - those who was unwiliing to believe that . ‘ ll L atiti ed tavely -et esse stated ; but here there had been nothing bot, ° Pelted. Q u. Friend had complaened that his letters had 14,,, At that Let them see whether they hid been opened i or Ist,"„alad, s ToMent he did not believe any admission had sae nothing in the report to warrant the . '4l l'c i g t h :h. t - that tnwhirihte s If they had thought it t h ete h . t . milt. irt e to state their case of the Italian , , they oth er ad eo ( h . aye referred to the ease of the Hon. Member. Ilherr° 4 llie, t ug fallen from the Righ Hon Boronet or the Q f te e l," that side to lead him to beeeve that the d arei're he "°n. Member had been opened or not, an Beep of- sa i d that the Noble Lord the altenber for London s rteeser,„‘ de gradation" was quite conclusive. The Hon. ay 'A 'eseAtedlarge constituency, and they had every o b elie a o • • L sat' e 'e that the decision of thaSecret Committee tat 4,actor ee, stor e Yto that constituency. shy . should not the to ti 'l se ttle aronet at once admit that it was so, that the isit ti "Olee Hon. Member for Finsbury had been opened by 4 0 „'"ede v ins and by his authority, and that that course was ter; tl t;l a w • or why should he not say, " I know nothing lt to ‘ l' , r k have issued no warrant for opening any of his e sitl'soe iyuaLt would be perfectly satisfactory. He should like is,„!ted t h Q at there was in the atmosphere . that tshuertr lsrY le t : Seer, etary of State that should .hinde.r sincerely 4 it a ireT t sp, Y . : what it was that surrounded him, .and se Nth,'" him responding to that inquiry H . e nad ft ie l t atee d ee t ,QY More impo p rtant things, and why not this ? H . e r te i 's or j;t`t t he Right Hon. Baronet had committed anin ep,Werel,s duties, if he had done anything that so solemn_ e e rt Les ( 7' alVeal would not compel him to disc ose. Th tuiii,elither said too much or too little. It ought to have y silent, or to have disclosed all. He asked he tei":ettottft Whether that responsibility rested entirely on the l lse i ,'ide - e e th e Right Hon. Baronet, or whether they should a`ti%r oti t- : twilurn among . them ? He trusted that the Right ~ 1 4 1 itil eti t l would put an end to the discussion, by at once t tit ee Ptai e ee the allegations against him were true or not. o S t ,i7. to th e PRIS said that they ought to feel a debt o ti sti: 4 I 1342 &I 'ght Hon. Baronet, for his suppression , of g the t Plo when NIL Nees thousands and tens of thousands were ou 'tot e "' t o , and roaming idly over the country. Th Ho re n : h"Petiti F; and had, durinc , those troubled times, 1 3 . te, - "," , from bud' f Chlrtists and he was of opinion NlZlOle t h tt e t we? he wa l s es m o ore or less ' . con . neeted with them. rater' e eth . a ught Hon. Baronet, in issuing these warrants, sp Vitiowig more than his duty. ii pt 4 l4l 4 st ;',!Y said the Hon. isle.-nlaer who had just sat L O, e dd o , that he considered that the Right Hon. Ba aittle'leroe:: "thine more than his duty. He believed the t attlilervi ce ', was a gallant officer, and he should like to know, 4i•terb,- th Hon Member was engaged, how he ' l O k - „ e , Htt e, w hether had done h:s duty or not, if he itel tl ' t , lt ha ll t - th - : 11 what manner aman it had been done ?—( Hear. ) tee el c omplained of was this. The Right Hon. h t at;wlot esh ' i l t let them know what . he had done. .T e 'ssikeaste e e Gentleman had relieved this question in a ala:wee Larnin its personal difficulties. The Right Hon.. „,-I.‘lak—r.lllade a strung and honourable avowal that elles 'se f ott `ume to his knowledge, whether he had t,ttNet 0 e't ainted ; thouno which injured his Honourable his our or character as a gentleman, 4 9 N eere al e t ".s satif rso far as the personal question It tto ll' t he -N--- satisfa t a‘ n his Hon. Colleague—satisfa.c -140 to liousn.... .. sat e i‘ ory to factory to the constituency , . and setts 'llto'k's b,, tl ' e ° c ountry B the public question—the greet 1 1 1 ; tl i a t t Personal de n c r iaration - se h •as in t his opinion left tie a!' t elt er re niained precisely vi erei was. It was in is! d a e d In character by that admission on , the part th Gentleman. His Hon. Colleague had in ehPadee;Tet in amost lucid and exceedingly able 0:44„411d Was delighted to hear the Noble Lord of the of his Honourable k (l i Th eStS commend the spe, c ' l N i.4..t e t t ' s W a h l e Noble Lora said he was pleased with it, and i of tnm e( 1 11 ) oped . he had derived pleasure from other e Se, hat side of the House. The reply to to , s te e Colleague was m D Right t o h n t Its", elfe e able ,ereiary of State for special b li y on t t h e n Ver v e-est i Y. As a piece of special pleading it was V!re: n aat, .kear, hear ) He could not help u premarkin to ti' e tat i- s" e [ light Hon Baronet had been brought . pto t e e e 's....ei"reached On extraordinary eminence in t h a g hl il eq , : x e lter a Q w e e e h i ter.) It was an exceedingly able speec , earation in that speech which struck him as sk ti Seleill'Y Peculiar. It was made while the Right tli, t ,Ps tt tl nt Th was considering what had transpired in this * hich e Right Hon. Gentleman, when he came to 7- 4 elY t kte - Occurred on the 2d, 16th, and lath of July, 1,411;;:.! the that his Hon. Colleatie t , a w ne h e en d h e e el b a r r o e u d gh tt t i the e ,11e et te at use in the . first instance, j th "ouse that his letters had been d—that 4,, sa t CR,:ss` statement on the 16th and 18th of July. h,, f0il o " 4 1(1 - "o 4 M --No • on the 2d and I ath. tO d Then the Right Hon. Bare s' i t t ltt- - 41 1 1 . " Lt statement ninue— by saying what?—That he had ; 'et ti ts case had been heard before two laltiiiiat!tll)s;l3" that before the Committee he had t stated 0 Zit of !Ything that had transpired with respe t the 11P i lsts' t4 e hea l' e ll °n• Colleague that by the Commit .e tl t h. -I heard. s' And," tv, f l a g . Zif tae °ll. t o i l uos Committee am I honourably acquitted." said the Right lion. tee had b"gue—had they acquttted His Hon. 1 4 nos ee w put upon his trial, and why had the tai' p ,}l.4equitted hint? Now, he considered that the r tel l the Right Hon. Gentleman had of tai Pip e e 'Peet de 1 I stehea to had chaneed the character ma : a th y e thZ `thi". 4l l(4, gjuat extent. The Right . Hon.. Gentle , ° he ! 'lad throw n the responsibility 41th il 'etse. eaally rested upon him, upon the Committeef for in a grea . t tnea o.. e l : 41 14 1 1 lif e :" observe th Hon. Gentleman the Member o kll e aliit,PerT e d ' ''n his , pla e ce in ' Parliament, that his letters e „ette,, racedh Right Martinet stated tl e i d at ie th o e f tliZ,lle'l'ethessuetheir inquiry with a full knowi . 4 4, 4 41: 114 th ance L The Riht Hon. Baronet . sdit , I rr • t ee C • stated without the orarnittee and everything Oil toel 11 - ` 1 " Thus, on the admission of the Right that te-atonet tos t wi,,,, , e 0 s he stated all th at transpired with ta s -.tem pin g of letters, and of course, in making But the e allegation of his Hon. Colleague. i gloo,_lt heard all—the Committee having heard of 4 ° 4 1 heard everything connected with ke e t he c o t:lt One word of reference was made h. in the o sk e. Aitnernttee relating to the accusation of Hod, Rol eell ea t e agh the bight Hon. Baronet had acquitted e ee e ewe in the face of the country, through the j ell the Right Hon. Gentleman had made, he Lees Sed that h (lt r btr Y by the C would stand of f ondemned in the eyes that House.—( Heir, o e u l leers, e„1) CouZi nm th t e tee Members of that House f i t t lee ll L.", 0 grounds to allow an Hon. Member to re onQ! tt' s ri'fa iOn through tbe conduct of a Secret actedShl t r e tit e t :a b , (l 'e ? He said, then, the Committee had ~ e l e! t i k _ee e'use:st,t, nfairly with his Hon. Colleague, and it aatater e we r et lesson to them never to confide their privi lON h e itte 01 4: 1 _4 secret tribunal of that House,whatever tite e h ' t ins whatever might be the ability, or w whate o v s e e r ~wite:eleh ° teeter of the individuals who might compose th e e l is ) lie considered, in consequence of the t t h i at tt i, shoal .‘ nh t Hon. Gentleman, it was necessary `, li i te t i 41:acti transpire. The care could not by any possi 11,S t hey 'there it was—( Hear, hear) —and he s t ,.l)4 4 ,e ed would accede to the motion of his Hon. gad t tt , le. t e t r o,, Pel the parties at the Post-office to come to !e l No i , letter "ae,. and state by whose authority they had • &tett t he fof his Hon. Colleague. If this course we . re . seeNsalregall Woula be disregarding their own privileges, te:ted, Cenral o ° o l ta ' ,`" pe n t the own privileges they disregarded the t t o , v _ P e, because the privileges were originally tleoe benefit of individual Members, but for the 4 '611 . 14 ha - rl ' l i ' community at large. If the [eight Hon. 'tat iaed had seed warrants for the opening of these d t' A' Ner, 4 th e trinected. as the Right lion. Gentleman said t o "S erh - t to tltatetion, where was the difficulty of making a t i 4 siv - : 41 h e a' e "'else to that effect? If the Right Hon. eta s fu titat eePeFtUett letters without warrants, he could only i lot toe le rth er Hon. Gentleman would be an enem t y . itN„this ~„,r,"Dury. This ought to induce the . House t b. ta Ass 'ter, His Hon. Colleague stood . in a different t a:..b.efere th onoech of the Right Hen. Baronet, s t :ei .laese o " inquiry ht to be had Although ., the hi a H o was finished; between the Right lion..Oen t,tloCetipee , las Frieed, still the House, in his opinion, tti^lee 4, t eem to • institute a public investigation. He hoped eorr ' f . e w ,?uhl net relax in his exertions until it was 'l e e r ed, Sll ea - ,,`,.. and distinctly whether the law had been Al t a ) l'fk4)l)Qr °"e partof the s peech of the Noble Lied t toti tor t h e t he ..that "1 of London he had heard with peculiar d u o Whil e uotlerstoed the Noble Lord distinetly . t h o th e ` t ett et e he differed with the course whic thshe ti Per fese "ad taken respectiiw the opening of letters tit i i i i tll:,Nui r i e "1 P r omoting their interests fur other . than o; th e (ioat t h e t . Yet still, in the case of M. Mazzini, he q:4 DrrertinaentPla,!lation which had been given on thepart tt l jeri l .Jeedi o „, -, 1e., that they formed no part whatever (,;,eot could t refugees, that the measures o. the . hte'eetle"ter andu'd not leave involved the r. fugecs in peill:thei,l7,:a4riee,relythaatetistfhaeetrrfoyre the explanation was hoof the Noble 'it'll; i: teee ul ' e d o r n eg a re t formerregretted shop; e 'al satisre planation which had been given . would ,dh: to e i ael lco• No part of that discussion could 1 , 4 eovbicles, 1 4 or his culleagues more pain than that tthere 1 1:kf e , ( e,i s4 t TP e asion on them nds of the house that they , f ` , ty D iv aey oth er P ower for the purpose of encou thtQates ' ad h y i e e ct s, the success of which was most improbable. h t , atro t , t heir e n Pal ty te any of the proceedings of the If ,that' Best pot:,'?"uet would have rendered them liabl.- t . o bsjheapectedoe displeasure. He would say further, if e 'e h 4 d e h kd i.tlae, Proceeding s were likely to take place— "thei sifts fr o in their power, by means of warning, to 0441 inFOiring danger, he thought it would h . ave 'wen and as Christians, to have given ,_____ '-r---~ independence, or the independence of an/ other man who may have sat, or may sit, on this side of the House. But again I repeat, that bong in the position which I hold, I will pursue that caurse which 1 believe to be for the public interest. And if in pursuing that object mys-lf, I shall have the Hon. Gentleman's vituperation, and even the loss of the confidence of this side of the House as a penalty, to that penalty I shall be ready to bow, and to submit to the consequences.—(Cheers.) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared:— For the motion Against it l6B Majority against the motion SUGAR DUTIES. them an intimation of the danger that was hinging over them; but he understood the Noble Lord to say, that the explanation upon that particular point had been entirely satisfactory. He could not butt egret that the House had commenced this dis cussion with an imputation throe n out upon en Hon. Gentle• man on the opposite benches ; but he was glad the explanation hail proved satisfactory, for nothing would have been more pain ful to him than that such an imputation should have remained unsettled. He would not di,ctiss with the lion. and Learaed Gentleman the question which he had again agitated, as to whether the issuing of the earrants could be satisfactorily maintained in a court of law. Supposing the Hon. Gentleman's position to be maintained in a court of law—supposing that these warrants were not senctioned by the common law of the country, jet still the responsibility would fall upon the House, and not upon the Executive Government. The power was cer tainly not immediately t ancti ned by a statute; but then they had introduced words into the statute which led to the impres tion that the Government had the power to exercise this autho rity. All past Governments had exercised the power of open ing letters, and, therefore, if they were found to be in the wrong, the blame would not at tach to the Minister, but to Parliament. It was the duty of the House to clear up all doubt on the matter by a declarat.ry statement that such power existed. But he would net enter further into the question, but merely to re mark that any alteration in the custom ought to be reserved for a separate discussion. The power ought to be maintained fir reasons stated by the Noble Lord opposite, but he thought it would be attended with danger to make the recommended pubic proclama ion. He should, however, be always prepared to remedy any abuse of the power.—( Hear, hear. ) With respect to the subject immediately under consideration, he did not say whether or not there should be now a public itiquiry at the bar of the Ileuse, with respect to the alleeed opening of the letters of the Hon. Member. Some Hon. Member who had spoken recently had imputed to them that they had made a charge against the Hon. Gentleman—that they were not the defendants, but the Hon. Member was being charged by us with improper transactions. Now not ore word of that charge had they ever said. It was the Honour able Member himself, who, it appeared, relying upon informa tion which he received from the Post-office, publicly declared that his letters had been opened, or that he strongly suspeceed they had. Now, if the lion. Gentleman had not made that declaration, no one would have known that the Hon. Gentle man had any ground for suspicion. So that, in fact, the Hon. Member had made the charge himself. The question which then came was, whether, in consequence of this suspicion ntertained by the Honourable Gentleman, they should summon the officers of the Post-office to the bar of the House, and institute a public inquire. Now, it had been admitted in the course of that debate, that the Hon. Gentleman, as a Member of Parliament, stood in no different position from any other subject of her Majesty. Thus, every individual out ot the House pnesessed the same rights the Hon. Member did. If, therefore, his Right Hon. Friend were to answer the question of a Member of Parliament, or acceded to the motion, they would have a petition presented by another individual, not being a Member of that House, alleging that his letters had been opened, and would he not have the same right to demand an answer as well as the Hon. Member for Finsbury ? No v, if they acceded to this amendment, they would compel the Government to answer this question, or the party would turn round upon them, and say, he was not protected by the law.—(Hear, hear.) They would have no end to these questions, and they would have to summons Colonel Maberley to the bar ot that House time after time. He entirely agreed with those Hon. Members who said this was not a personal matter. He claimed a full puticipation in the responsibility of his Right Hon. Friend. He defended the exercise of this power, and he considered that every Member of the Government was liable to share in the responsibility which attached to it. Now, let him ask, if his Hon. Friend were to answer the question, would it forward the necessity for inquiry ? No, certainly not. Then, would the House of Commons be acting justly with the Government in insisting upon a reply from his Right Hon. Friend ? Last year they thought it desirable that a fu;l and complete inquiry should be made into these practices to allay the public excitement which prevailed on the subject. In order that every explana tion should be given, it was thought that the inquiry ought to be made before a Secret Committee, very few dissented to the proposition, and the general opinion of the House appeared to be in favour of the Committee, as compared with any other tribunal. There was no division whatever upon the subject, and by the vote of the House it was determined that a Secret Committee should be appointed. Upon that _Committee there were nine Gentlemen, five of whom had recorded their votes against the Government, upon a leading political, question. The Committee sat, and immediately afterwards it was stated to them that in the autumn of 1E42, during the disturbances in South Wales, two clerks of the Post-office were sent down to the disturbed districts with warrants, and directions to open and inspect the letters of certain persons.—( Hear, hear.) By the frankness and unreservedness of their explanations be fore the Committee and the public of the facts of the dates of the warrants, other parties wutild be led to seek similar re dress. Would they call the officers of the Post-office on the presentation of a petition, that petition prompted by the inquiry of that Committee ? Would they call on the Secre tary of State to say whether he had issued his warrant or not, and if he declined answering that, would they have an inquiry at the bar? Mr. DUNCOMBE—It is privilege. Sir R. PEEL continued—The Hon. Gentleman fell back on privilege. Thu Hon. Gentleman was pressed by the argu ment. He felt that he (Sir R. Peel) hail proved so com pletely that once open an inquiry in this case, and they could not limit it. The Hon. Gentleman now said it was a case of privilege. Mr. DUNCOMBE—I always said so. Sir R. PEEL continued—Others had contended that there was no distinction in that respect between the Him. Gentle man and the meanest subject of the realm. Other persons would say, You appointed a Committee on general allega tions not proved, and you have appointed an examination at Sour bar because a Member states that he can prove that his letters have been opened. I have no remedy by law. I ask you to give me the same advantage you have given one of your own Members. My character was risked as his was. I have no remedy in a court of law. Let me have the satisfaction you have given to him : call the officers to the bar, and ask them to show the legality of the warrants for opening my letters." It would be vain to draw the distinction of a breach of pri vilege, insofar as that question was now concerned. The Hon. Gentleman did not bring it forward now as a question of pri vilege. In that case, then, he (Sir R. Peel) said that it was acting unjustly towards the Government. The Government had been told that the inquiry would be a secret one. They were told that the tribunal would be a fair and impartial one. They were called before that tribunal, and they gave their evidence, and that tribunal acquitted diem of all improper motives, and yet it was now said, that that ac quittal was not complete, and an inquiry at the bar was called for. If there was to be that public inquiry they could not limit it to this particular case. They were surely bound to inquire into the acts of others. They must go into an exami nation of the acts of their prerlecesors, or the examination would not be complete. The inquiry must extend to all the warrants which had been issued since (832. If that kind of inquiry were demanded, could they consistently refuse it ? If Colonel Maberly were brought to the bar and a Member were to extend the inquiry beyond th 3 limits of the Hon. Gentle man's motion, would they call on the Speaker to stop the exp.• mination on the ground that Colonel Maberly had been called for a specific purpose? It would be impossible. It would be inconsistent with common justice. They must extend the inquiry to the case of every petitioner who could make out as bad a prima facie case as that of the Hon. Member for Finsbury—and he really could not conceive where the man was who could not—they must extend that inquiry to every petitioner who told them that he was labouring under an un just imputation, and therefore wished to rescue his character front an unjust suspicion. But they must go further. They should extend the public inquiry to the warrants which had been in existence since 1822. He did not believe that any former Government would have reason to deprecate that. He firmly believed that this power, when exercised by the Noble Lord, was exercised for honest and public purposes. He was as firmly convinced of that as that he was then addressing the Hisure.—( Cheers.) He did not suppose that the Noble Lord would deprecate inquiry from personal motives.—(" Hear, hear," from Lord John Russell.) But did they think it de sirable to institute such an inquiry? His firm conviction was, that they would never get a more complete and perfect in quiry than that of the Secret Committee. He wished to convince the House that they could not limit this inquiry to individual cases. On this, and the other grounds which he bad stated, he must give his opposition to the motion of the Honourable Gentle man. He would have closed here, had it not been for the speech of the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury. He hoped the lion. Member, having discharged the bile which had been ac cumulating during the past week, felt himself more at ease than he was.—( Laughter.) He told the Hon. Gentleman at once that he would not reciprocate personalities.—(Cheers.) If he felt an inclination to de so, the lion. Gentleman cer tainly would have a great advantage over him.—( Cheers and laug,nter.) He thought he had found sufficient allusions of a personal nature. He had heard them made from benches im mediately behind him, and he never felt it necessary to answer them. He would not have answered them if it had net been that the Hon. Gentleman seconded a motion of which he en tireiy disapproved, which he said he did in a friendly spirit. In the course of his speech, the Hon. Gentleman charged him (Sir R. Peel) with having appointed to office a gentleman who had been concerned in a plot. lie would make no reference to that, because the Honourable Gentleman had made a very honourable apology. He did not think he was at liberty to refer to it, because the Honourable Gentleman having been betrayed into an error, had frankly avowed it. But it was in consequence of the declaration made by the Hon. Gentleman in seconding the matien that he did in a friendly sdirit. At that time there was a feeling running through the House, which in this country there was no word to express, but which, in the French Chambers, was termed the wvensent vivace. He could assure the Hon. Gentleman that he had not the slightest wish to fetter his independence, or the independence of any Member of that House. lie thought that every man should be the guardian of his own indepen dence, and if he disapproved of any act of the Government, or disapproved of the general policy of the Government, he might censure the act and condemn the Government. He had no power to exercise by which he could prevent the Hon. Gentleman from adopting an independent course of action. He ( Sir Robert Peel) courted no man's favour. He thought he understood the relation in which a Minister ought to stand towards those who gave him general support. Ile thought it well to possess their conf.dence, and he thought he would not incur the risk of losing that confidence by taking the course which he believed was for the public interest. That course he had taken, and thatecourse he would continue to take. If the Hon. Gentleman thought any acts of his (Sir R. Peel) were at variance with the policy which he supported in 1834 in Government and since, let those acts be examined, arid let the Hon. Gentleman vote against them and condemn theist. If, continued the Right Hon. Baronet, in respect to the Church, you think that any course pursued by the Govern ment endangered that institution, it would be suffi cient to oppose that particular act. If you think that we have, at variance wit h our principles, greatly extended popular privileges, or invested fresh blood of democracy into the working of the Constitution, tell us so and oppose it. If you deny our commercial and financial policy, oppose the par ticular act ; and if you should think that we are no longer worthy of your credit or confidence, mark your want of confi dence by a public declaration of op inion, and b y a distinct op posinon. I should deeply regret the loss of that confidence to which the Hon. Gentleman refers, but -I firmly say that, as the Minister of the Crown, I will attempt to do good as far as I can ; and if, in attempting to do that, I should forfeit the confidence which I hive so much prided, I shall adopt that course, rather than retain that confidence at the expense of public opinion.—(Cheers.) A 3 I said before, if our general policy be objectionable—if it is not sound—if we are interfering with the rights of property—if we are infringing the prerogatives of the Crown—if we are undermining our civil or sacred institutions—prove that we have done so, and I should acknowledge that your confi dence has been forfeited. Sir, the Hon Gentleman has referred to the relations in winch I stand to Mr. Canning, and thinks, on that account, he is fairly tool; led to withhold his confidence and respect. Sir, it ought not to be a quotation from Mr. Canning that should open the Hon. Gentleman's eyes to my misfortune. The Hon. Gentleman must have been aware in 1841, and subsequently, of those relations towards Mr. Canning. and of the course which I have pursued with regard to that most eminent Klan; and the knowledge of that course, not an accidental quotation from a poem, ought to have disentitled me to the Hon. Gen tleman's confidence and respect at a much earlier period than now. But, Sir, as I sa d before, it is not my intention to re ciprocate personalities with the Honourable Gentleman. I do not wish, in the slightest degree, to fetter his the average prices of sugar in Calcutta, that this was not quite so profitable a trade as it was supposed, for he un derstood that there was a vague idea abroad that sugar could be made for nothing in India. He was well aware that those who exported sugar from India, from the year 1836 and several years after, if they did not lose by it they certainly made very little. Perhaps Hon. Alembers did not know that sugar in India was grown in a manner very different from that of the West Indies. In the one the cane grew on the plantation where the sugar was manufactured, while in the latter the saccharine juice was conveyed away in pots to a considerable distance, and at considerable expense. He would not dwell longer upon the subject, but he trusted he had shown what the effect of the proposed measure would be on the manufacturer, the retail dealer, and on the public. If the House should determine that those discriminating duties should be continued, let them at least have them administered fairly, and not entrust to subordinate officers the means of as certaining the quality, material, and strength of the different sugars.—( Hear, hear. ) Mr. HUME said he had never heard more complete or convincing arguments than those used by the Hon. Member who had just sat down, for he had had many opportunities of witnessing the truth of his statement during the time he had been in India. It did appear to him that it would greatly tend to the public benefit, if the Hon. Member's views could be carried out, and effect more real good than all the meddling the trade had undergone, year after year, for a long time past. He did think that the Right Hon. Baronet ought to deal with those differential duties, for if he did not, the time might come when he would be driven to a more abrupt cessation of them. Let there be a time limited for the alteration, a time stated, so that those who had embarked their capital in the business might not be injured, without in any degree lessening the advantage which the consumer was led to expect. Last session the Right lion. Baronet had led them to expect that the subject of diffe-etitial duties would this year have been set at rest for ever. Let them look at the conduct of Holland. Holland was in possession of the finest sugar colonies in the world, and in the management of those colonies she was excelled by no country in the world. They had attempted to apply these differential duties, but had found the attempt unavailing. So it was with the East Indies. Let them give the growers of sugar the opportunity of applying their capital to other objects. Li t not the Right Honourable Baronet attempt again to impose the strong fetters which had been struck off a few Sears ago. There was no doubt but that the difference between brown and Muscovado sugar was difficult to ascertain. But he must say that the motion of his Hon. Friend had ex hausted the subject, and had suggested the b?st adjudication, in his opinion, between the Government and the country. The motion was then put, N hen On the motor, for going into a Committee of Ways and Means, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, in answer to a question put by Le.rd John Russell, that various difficulties always arose when it was proposed to make a reduc tion of duty. With regard to those persons to whom the Noble Lord had referred—namely, those who had sugar in bond, and their claim for an allowance, he (the Chancellor of the Ex cl:equer ) could really see no d;fference between them and thosetwho paid the duty and took away the sugar to their o.cn warehouses. But, however, he thought it fair on reflection to limit the commencement. of the new duty to the 14th of March, so that the parties might be able to get rid of their stocks-by that time. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. HOGG then rose to bring forward the resolution of which he had given notice. He feared that after the very exciting debate which had just concluded, he would not be able to obtain that attention to the subject upon which he was about to move, notwithstanding its impor tance. However, before calling the attention of the House to the motion, he thought it right on his own part, and on the part of every one connected with the East Indies, to thank the Government for the great boon conferred by them on that country, as well as on the West Indies, in consequence of the great reduction made in the duties on sugar. But thongh he highly approved of that part of the measure, he entertained a strong objection to the differential duty proposed by the Go vernment. Neither he nor those on whose behalf he appeared had any objections to make to the abstract justice of a differen tial duty. It was perfectly fair and just that sugar of a finer quality and higher value should be subject to a higher duty than sugar which was inferior in value and quality. His objection, therefore, was, not to the principle, but to the application of a discriminating duty. Per haps the House was not aware that up to 1836 there had al ways been a discriminating duty of 10s. on East Indian sugar, in excess over the duty imposed on West Indian sugar ; and so long as the East Indian interest had an exclusive right of trading betw een the East Indies and t his country, p e•haps there was some ground for that excess of duty upon East Indian sugar. But, after the year 1833, when the East India trade was thrown open, there was no longer any excuse for con tinuing that distinction. In 1834, the Right Hon Gentlemau oppo-ite sail there was, upon principle, no pretence for con• tinuing the distinction ; and the Right Him. Gentleman on his side of the House declared, in language no less strong, that there was no reasonable ground for its continuance. But though there was no ground on abstract principle for the dis tinction, both the Right Hon. Gentleman opeo.ite and the Right Hon. Gentleman near him referred to the situation of the West Indies at that period as a justification. And, considering the peculiar circumstances of the West Indies at th a t time,' he admitted that. the application of the rule might be just and reasonable. But in 1836, Lord alonteagle, then Mr. Spring Rice, stated, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the time had then arrived when justice to the East Indies required that the duty should be equalised, and when that equalisation could' take place without injustice to the West Indies. Therefore, since 1636, the sugar produce of the East and West Indies was subjected to the same duty, and all he now asked was, that that equalisation should be continued. Before he had given his notice, and after it, he had stated to the Right Hon. Gentlemen the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that if he found the discriminating duty were impracticable, he should abandon them, but if he found them practicable, he should apply the scale of those duties equally to both the East and West Indies. He contended that the duties, as they were now to be imposed, were not equal both to the East and the West Indies. In the East Indies the manufacture of sugar was the same as it had been for centuries past. The sugar th ere was not clayed, while it was in the West Indies. The sugar there was filtered through grass, which made it whiter and clearer, and the result of the proposed scheme would be, that th e y would have sugar, the produce of the East Indies, coming in on the higher duty of 16 , ., while they would have the Musco vado. containing more saccharine matter, coming in at a lower duty. Now, he would put it to the House if that was fair. It wa s said that the East India sugar wa s p oor ; true, it was, but it bore is the market a price above its value.—( Hear, hear. ) Why was it so? Because the East India sugar was used by grocers to mix with smaller quantities of Muscovado sugar, and thereby reduce its value. The result of the duty would be, that the tax of 2s. 41. would fall upon the sugar used by the middling classes. It might be said that the East Indies might avoid this by altering their mode of manufacture, but it was well known that the East India ns were peculiar in their ways, and it would not be easy to persuade them to adopt a dif ferent course. The result of the additional duty would he that orders would go out from this country to the East Indies, tell ing the people there not to send white sugar, but black, dirty, Parliament sugar—( A laugh)—and, in the end, they would completely check all improvement with respect to sugar. The improvement in sugar was increasing every day—( Hear, hear) —but the Chancel' , r of the Exchequer was doing all he could to check it. He contended that every man ought to have the right of making white sugar for the public. The words of the enactment proposed absolutely declared the colour sugar should be, in order to pay a high or a low duty; they had, in the Act which it was proposed now to pass, enacted that East India sugar, however stron g , provided the colour was avoided, might come in at the lower duty. They ought to declare that the documentary duty should be placed on sugar, not on account of its colour, but its strength. lie thought it was for the interest of the public and the consumer that the discriminating duty should be taken off. This was no matter of speculation, and in order to show that, he would refer to some documents on the subject. The Hon. Member then referred to several returns, far the purpose of showing that discriminating duties were not good. He might be told, perhaas, that this was not the first time that a discriminating duty had been proposed ; he might be reminded that the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Taunton, and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Excheqner, under the late Government, had introduced a measure founded on that principle. But that precedent was wholly inapplicable to the present case, because it was then proposed to admit the higher class cf Hay ennah sugars. On that occasion his Right Hon. Fri nd the Member for Newark, who was thoroughly ac quainted both with the East and the West, and who oscillated between the two, expressed a very strong opinion. He had the authority of the Right Hon. Gentleman for stating that a discriminating duty was impracticable.—( Hear. ) He then read the extract to the effect he had just stated. He had reason to think that the Right Hon. Gentleman did not believe that to be correct. If it were not, his authority for the statement must be his excuse for introducing it to the Hon e. But every one mu , t, recollect the stiamg opinion expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last session ; he adverted to the difficulties of collecting a discretionary duty, and the incon venience of depending on Custom-house officers. That was the opinion of the Right Hon. Baronet last year, that was his (Mr. Hog,g's) opinion then, and that was his opinion now. He had told the House that in 1821 a discriminating duty was imposed on Ewa Indian sugar, but so great was the confusion it caused, and sa vexatious was it to the trade, and so constant a source of loss was it to the revenue, that in 1823, only two years atter it was imposed, this discriminating duty was removed. In the year 1825 all discriminating duties on British sugars were removed, and from that time to the present there had been no discriminating duties whatever. In 1825, all the Acts of Parliament relating to the Customs were submitted to Mr. Deacon Hume, and that great authority advised that all discriminati• g duties should be abolished. The present proposition was more objectionable than the proposition of the Hon. Member for Bristol last year. He proposed a dis criminating duty of 4s. 3d., but it was to be limited to foreign sugars ; he did not say that it was to be applied to East Indian sugar. He contended they must have one thing or another ; they must have a discriminating duty on all sugars, both foreign and home grown, or they must have none at all. Believing that they could not have one that would operate fairly, he wished to have none at all, and that was the object of his motion. The Hon. Member for Bristol understood the subject thoroughly, and was verb fair in what he said. He said there might be a discriminating duty, but that it ought to be levied according to She quantity of saccharine matter con tained in the ,sugar ; that would be fair, and he had not a word to say against it. If they had any such instrument as a saccharometer, to measure the strength of the sugar— if they had any such means of ascertaining its quality, he had not a word to say against the intro duction of the duty, but let them make it fair in its applica tion. In that debate his Hon. Friend took no narrow view to the East Indian interest. He spoke with regret, that the pro duce of the East Indies had fallen short of late years ; he was quite right. Both the East and West Indies were in the same boat, and they together produced a good supply of sugar for the public. The great experiment they had tried with respect to slavery, and the object of the Right Hon. Baronet would be realised. But if they checked the production of sugar in the East Indies by a discriminating duty, and rendered the quantity not sufficient for the consumption of the country, no rower on earth could keep out slave sugar.—( Hear, hear.) fhe object of both the East and West Indies was to preduce as much good and cheap sugar as they could for the public; that was the only object of keeping up the protective duty. In the West Indies there was, he believed, a limit to the production of sugar ; but he believed he did not speak the language of exaggeration, when he said that in the East Indies the ca pabilities of producing sugar was almost unlimited. In the evidence of Mr. Trevellian, it was stated, that north from Hintlodan to the mouth of the Ganges. through all the tract that was called the Valley of the Ganges, there was the power of producing sugar enough for the consumption of a whole. world. lie did entreat the House not to introduce a measure that would tend to check this production. It had been said that the East Indies had no claim—at least a very small claim—to protection ; and the assertion had, to his great astonishment, been responded to by the Hon. Member ter Newark, late the President of the Board of Trade. He implored the House to look at their East Indian empire, to consider its ' extent, equal to nearly the whole of Europe, with four times the popu'.ation of the United K . ing d,m ; an empire founded, maintained , and extended, without subjecting the mother country to a charge of a farthing . ; an empire that defrayed the expenses of all the establishments, civil and military, out of its own resources.—(" And of its religions, too !" from Mr. Hume.) A country that remitted to Europe what he might term an annual tribute of three millions sterling. Why did he call it a tribute? Because they had no commercial return for it. India sent home, for home ex penditure, three millions of tribute, which was now paid, and would continue to be paid ; and the wonder of all Englishmen was, how such a tribute could continue to be paid, India receiving no return.—( Hear, hear.) India, again, poured into this country an annual stream of wealth in the fortunes of the public servants, who, having spent their lives in the East, returned to end their days at home, and this to an amount he had heard estimated at 400,0001. or 500,000/. annually. India took six millions of English manufactures, which included seven million pounds of cotton twist, and thre and a half millions of cotton pieces. lie would beg the manuo facturing interest to consider this; and yet thirty years agd India itself was a great manufacturing country, and exporten to England nearly three millions in cotton goods and muslid pieces. What was the case now ? English manufactures had expelled these goods, and supplanted theta even in India. Di he complain of this? Nu, so far it was the ordie nary course of trade and the introduction of ma chine!), that had effected it. But pending this transition English manufactures were imported into India at 3% per cent. duty, while not a single article from India was admitted here under a duty of 10 per cent. The once flourishitig dis trict of Deccan was now reduced to a state of misery and des titution--lts manufactures were ruined, and the people were driven to the culture of their rich and fertile soil ; and while India was in this state of transition, he was told that it was not entitled to protection. He had now by him a letter which he had received from a pri vate friend of his, but he would not trouble the House by read ing it, but it contained very valuable statements, which went at great length Into financial details. It said that though hitherto India was remarkable for its agricultural property as regarded sugar, yet he had every reason to believe that there was great prospect of extended sugar cultivation, but that India was increasing her extent of cultivation of sugar in order to pity fur English manufactures.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member opposite had dwelt much on the fluctuation of prices of sugar ; but he (Mr. Hogg) could show by a few figures in . . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that his Hon. Friend was justified in bringing forward this motion. He was sensible of the full value of the East Indian colones. He was sensible of their value in the consumption of articles of commercial value ; and he believed, that if additional means were supplied, that power of consumption would largely in crease. Nor was it the least evidence of their value that India had offered the opportunity to men of rising to eminence by the exercise of their ability, and through the force of honourable character. Ner did he feel this value decreased, when he sew these men returning home to fulfil the functions of legislators with equal ability.—(Chcers. ) For himself personally, he might say that he did not wish to impose any duty on the sugar of the East Indies, different from that im posed on sugar from any other of the possessions of her Ma jesty. An imputation had, he believed, been thrown up in him, from the circumstance of his connexion with I , arties who had property in the West Indies, but he did trust that, from his position, he would be the last man in the House to act in this matter from interested motives. His Right Hon. Friend had, last session, proposed a differential duty on foreign produce, but an equal duty for the sugar of all the British posses sions. There was, then, a distinctive duty only given to the produce of Briti-h possessions. But it was improbable, if not impossible, to carry this scheme of differential duties into effect. There was such a slight difference between the clayed sugars of Java and Manilla, that it was impossible to levy the duties rightly, and they felt themselves almost obliged to refuse admission to these sugars. If the suggestions contained in his Hon. Friend's speech were to be followed, those difficulties would be doubled. '1 his he thought was worthy of consideration. He was aware that the imposition of differential duties was always an encou ragement to the inferior article. They had endeavoured to encourage the manufacture of sugar both in the East and the West Indies, by removing the prohibition of refined sugars and admitting sugar in a state tit for use without any further process. With respect to the observation of his Hon. Friend, he felt bound to deny that colour was the only criterion for ascertaining the quantity and regulating the duty.—(Hear. ) The standard taken was what was called the Java sugar, which he had been informed was a safe one, a point below which a lower duty might be established when the sugar was of an in ferior quality, and vice versa. The same difficulty of making distinctions existed before as well as now. The term " white clayed " might be ternaed a fair test of quality. He did not mean that this standard should be solely applied to white sugar, but sugar by any process rendered equal to the Javan. Colour would not be a distinguishing character. For a long period, up to the year 1825, the duty had been imposed on the principle that Muscovado and clayed sugars should pay a different duty. In 1821, in addition to the higher duty, a differential duty was established between clayed and brown sugar. If they adopted the resolution as it stood of taking the quality of white clayed sugar as the test, they would take a practical and a useful test., and one which would confer equal justice on all. He did not believe that the basis of the calculation of the Hon. Gen tleman would be found to be correct.—( Hear, hear.) Colonel SIB I'HORP rose amidst loud cries of " Order, order," and " Hear, hear," but he ultimately gave way to Mr. HAWES, who said that he was inclined to coincide with the mover.—( Hear.) It was, in his opinion, quite vain to think of establishing distinctive duties ad valorem, between the products of the East and West Indies. Those very duties were adverse to their principles, as they endeavoured to exclude the finer sugars. That, he believed, was the main object of their differential duties. He trusted the Right Hon. Baronet would re-consider this question. Sir R. PEEL said they all had but one common object in view. The Government did not wish to subject the East Indies to any new disadvantage. They did not wish to benefit the West Indies tt the expense of the E.st Indies ; for the East Indies were as much entitled to consideration as the West. The question the Go vernment had to consider was, whether they would adopt a uniform duty of 15s. or 165., or a discriminating duty. They were of opinion that words were introduced which would de scribe what class of sugar should be admitted at the 14s. duty, and what at the 185. But if there was to be no discrimiminat ing ditty with regard to their own colonies, he would object to a discriminating duty with regard to foreign sugar.—( tlear, hear...) He should say that the best course to pursue would be to allow the resolution to pass, to ascertain if they could find words which would make the quality of the sugar known to the trade themselves ; and for this purpose they were in commun'eation with the Custom-house officers. Then, if they could not agree to the views of his Hon. Friend, his lion. Friend could in Committee renew his motion, when the sense of the House might be taken upon it. Mr. F. BARING said that he came to the House to express, as we understood, au opinion favourable to the scale of duties, but after what had passed he would not enter into the subject. He did not suppose it was the intention of the Right Hon. Baronet, in asking to have the resolution passed, to prejudice those viho had other motions to make. Sir R. PEEL replied in the negative. Mr. GLADSTONE thought that the words to be intra duced would have very little affect in altering the sense of the the purpose of correcting two His near him (Mr. Hogg) had said mistakes.resoluti resolution. . But Hon.he rose Friend for that he said that the East Indian interest were not entitled to any favour. Now he said no such thing. What he said was, that the principle on which the West Indian interest justified the 108. duty was wholly inapplicable to the case of the East India interest. That was all he said. The other point to which he referred was that it had been stated in the newspapers, that he had said that the editor of the 11:conomist newspaper had made certain statements from an intentioe to deceive, or from misconception. He supposed that what he had said was not heard distinctly, but as he was informed that he had given pain to an individual in what he had stated, he thought it right to say that he had no intention of throwing the slightest mural impu tation or rellection on that gentleman. As to the question of classification he admitted that the Hon. Member for Lambeth had raised it fairly ; he admitted that there would be a difficulty in working-out such a system, but he did not think that the Honourable Member for Lambeth was aware of the extent of the difficulty. The only way of getting out of that difficulty was to say that raw sugar and double refined shouid pay the same duty. He had never said one word against classi fication. Mr. HOGG expressed himself satisfied with the course proposed to be adopted by the Government, and withdrew his amendment. The House then went pro forma into a Committee of Ways and Means, the resolution was agreed to, and the report was ordered to be received on Monday. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House, at One o'clock, adjourned to Monday. Tlll4l SUM, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, IVIA.RCII 1., 1845. York and North Midland (Doncaster Extension). Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway. The following petitions for Bills were also reported, and the reports referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders : Cambridge and Lincoln Railway. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway. Glasgow Junction Railway. London, Worcaster, and South Staffordshire Railway. York and North Midland Railway. Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale Railway (Heywood Branch). Newcastle and Darlington (Brandling Junction ) Railway,— Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Lord Harry Vane, Mr. Hodgson Hinde, and Mr. Hutt. York and North Midland (Bridlington Branch) Railway,— Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Sir John Lowther, Mr. Redhead Yorke, and Sir John Johnstone. Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale Railway (Heywood Branch), —Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Walker and Mr. Brotherton. Harwell and Streatley Road,—Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Robert Palmer and Mr. Pusey. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTE It DAY.) Sub-Committee No. 2 assembled this morning, in Com mittee-room No. 6—present, Sir J. Y. Butler, Mr. Bram stone, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Yotko, and Mr. Walker. SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Tile Committee proceeded with this case. Objections were taken to the books of reference, inasmuch as they did not properly describe the property. On the plans was one num ber. and in the books of reference another. Mr. HArwooD, for the promoters, contended that the par- tics whose property was aifected could not have mistaken the property described. Mr. YORKE said this the Committee had not to consider. They must look to the letter of the standing order. • The Committee decided that the standing orders had not been complied with. There were fourteen other similar objections, all of which were sustained. _ Mr. BURKE stated, that since the adjournment, the parties on the other side and his own had come to an arrangement with respect to certain objections, which would be admitted or abandoned as the case might be. He had another peti tion to appear upon from Mr. Whitmore, but believing that he had made out a sufficient case of error against the Bill, he would not offer and• evidence upon this second petition. The Committee prepared their report accordingly. Sub• Committee No. 3, assembled this morning, Mr, Aglionby in the chair. CORNWALL RAILWAY (FROM PLYMOUTH TO FALMOUTH). This was the first line called on, and it was stated that a petition had been presented complaioing of non-compliance with the standing orders, bearing the signature of Thomas Harvey, Secretary to the Devon Central. Mr. Harvey or any other opponents having been called to appear, the Chairman was about proceeding formally with the investigation, when A gentleman, named Thomas, stepped forward and said that he had been brought all the way from Falmouth, at the request of Mr. Tilley, the solicitor, to give evidence in oppo sition to this line. he had seen both Mr. Tilley and Mr. Harvey this morning, but neither of them had appeared in the Committee-room. Mr. TURNER, M.P., said that he understood the petition had been withdrawn, and that Mr. Tilling had signified his intention of not appearing against the Cornwall line. This, however, was denied. Mr. VENABLES, the Parliamentary agent, said that he had had upwards of seventy witnesses in attendance on Wed. nesday, and bad brought them up again to-day. He trusted therefore that the Committee would not allow another ad journment to take place. 'the CHAIRMAN said they were placed in an extraordinary position. As they had to consult the Speaker on a matter of business, the Committee would adjourn for a few minutes, in order to give the petitioners time to appear, if they felt 60 disposed. On the return of the Committee, it was found that no Par liamentary agent fur the opposition was in attendance. Mr. Thomas said that his property would be much injured by the projected line, and he was anxious to address the Committee on the subject of his opposition to the Bill. The CHAIRMAN had some doubt whether he could allow such a course of procedure, but would consult with the Com mittee on the matter. The room was then cleared of strangers. CLYDESDALE JUNCTION RAILWAY. The Committee reported that the standing orders in this case had been complied with. Sub-Committee, No. 4, assembled at Twelve o'clock, in Committee-room, No. 7. The following were the Members present :—Sir W. Heat.hcote (Chairman), Mr. Wm. Evans, Mr. Stewart Mackenzie, Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Packe, and Mr. Childers. . SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY. Mr. GRAHAM appeared as agent for the promoters of this Bill ; the engineers were Messrs. Lock and Errington. It appeared that the object of the pro moters was to make a railway from the city of Perth, by Stirling, to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. The extent of the contemplated line is 45 miles, the estimated cost being 800,000/. The line thus projected is a section of the great trunk by Birmingham, Lancaster, Car lisle, and Beatock, to Forfar and Aberdeen. There are to be two tunnels, one 190 yards, and the other 704 yards in length. The necessary proofs having been produced, the Committee declared that the standing orders had been complied with. LYNN AND ELY RAILWAY. The estimated cost of constructing this line is 385,0001. The length of the main line and the branch line to Wis beach is 35M miles, which includes no tunnelling. The en gineer of the line is Mr. I. M. Rastrich. The agent for the promoters was Mr. Ellington, of the firm of Dorrington. The Committee then declared that the standing orders had been complied with. BELFAST AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY. This was a line of railway from Belfast to Ballmam, with branches to Carrickfergus and Rundlestone. The extent of the projected lines is 35 statute miles; the estimated cost amounts to 385,0(X)1. The engineer is Charles Lanvon, Esq. The Committee declared that the standing orders had been complied with. NEWCASTLE AND 'BERWICK RAILWAY. The object of the promoters in this case is to make a main line of railway, 65 miles in length, from Newcastle to Ber wick, and with the following branches :—Kelso, 23 miles; Blyth, 6 miles; Alnwick, 3 miles. The total estimated cost is 1.400,0001. The Committee declared that the standing orders bad been complied with. The Committee then adjourned at Half-past OnQ o'clock. EAST INDIA HOUSE. SUGAR DUTIES. A Special Court of Proprietors was held yesterday, at the East India House, having been convened for the purpose of petitioning Parliament against the proposed distinctive duty upon sugar. :kr. SHEPPARD, Chairman of the Board of Directors, opened the business of the Court, at twelve o'clock, by stating that the Court had been specially summoned, accord ing to one of the bye-laws, to express to Parliament, by petition, the disappointment and regret of the Proprietors. at that part of the proposed alteration of the sugar duties which would impose 2s. 4d. per cwt. upon clawed or white sugars, an import that would se:iously ali ct East India produce. The Board of Directors had communicated with Lord Ripon upon the subject, but although they received every courtesy at the hands of the Noble Earl, their remonstrance was in effectual..—(Hear.) A petition, which would presently be read to the Court, had been prepared, and would be presented to the house of Commons by an Hon. Director, W. Astell, Esq.—(Bear.) He might also take that opportunity of men tioning that his Hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley, had given notice of a motion on the subject. The Hon. Chair man then called on the secretary to read the correspondence with the Earl of Ripon. The correspondence having been read, tIo said he was sure that the Government were not aware of the injustice which the proposed tax would do to India.—(Hear, hear.) Her Majesty's Ministers could not be forgetful that England owed much to India.—(Hear, hear.) India paid an annual tribute of three millions ster ling to the mother country, and was constantly pouring into the lap of England a stream of wealth, in the shape of private fortunes.—(Hear, hear.) The effect of the duty upon clayed or white sugars would be felt but lightly in the West Indies, compared to the injuries it would do to the East.--(Hear, hear.) He trusted that, when the real state of the case was known to the Legislature, gratitude, justice, and liberality would indace them to deal generously with he loyal, industrious, and per ceful people of India.—(Hear, hear.) He moved that the petition which the secretary would now read, be adopted by the Court, and be presented to the House of Commons by W. Astell, Esq The SECRETARY read the petition, the purport of which was embodied in the Chairman's address. Sir H. WILL et: seconded the motion, which, after a few words from Mr. Fielder and Mr. Weeding,in commenda tion of the course pursued on this occasion by the Board, was carried unanimously. Mr. ASTELL said he should have great pleasure in present ing the petition and in supporting the motion of his Hon. Friend the Member fur Beverley.—( Hear.) He agreed with the Hon. Chairman that England owed much to India, which was constantly and steadily contributing to the wealth of the British empire in Europe. There was scarcely a village in England, Ireland, and Scotland, that did not feel in some way the value of our Indian possessions, or that was not adorned by the residence, and benefited by the liberality of some retired East Indian.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Twyspna said that the request contained in the peti tion was so reasonable, that he could not doubt it would he attended to; and be hoped that at the next meeting the Chairman would have to announce their success.—(Hear.) The Court was then dissolved. NORTH WALES MINERAL RAIL WAY. The usual half-yearly meeting of the Shareholders in this undertaking was held yesterday, at the office of the Company, in Moorgate street, Mr. IV. R. Collett, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that a further extension of the line had been set on foot by an independent Company, viz., from the Ruabon terminus, by way of 0 ' , vestry to Shrewsbury, connecting it with the proposed line to Bir • mingham. To meet the accession which was likely to result to their traffic from this extension, the Committee recommended that the necessary capital should be provided for in the present Bill to enable them to make the line double. The capital for this purpose, and for the branches from the main line, would require an addition to the present capital of about 90,0004, which the Directors proposed to provide for in the Bill, by the creation of 9,000 ad ditional shares of 101., which would admit of one share to each holder of a 20/. share, and one share for every two 104 extension shares. A contract had been entered into for completing the works of the roadway and stations for 72,029/., as well as for the rails for the permanent way. The receipts had amounted to 28,8001. ss. 3d., and the disbursments to 15,9141. 9s. 2d., leaving a balance in hand amounting to 12,885/. IGs. Id. The report was moved from the chair ant adopted. SUGAR DUTIES. PAIRS ON LORD J. RUSSELL'S AMENDMENT. FOR. AGAINST. Aldam, W. Douro, Marquis Barron, Sir H. Hillsborough, Earl Bell, John Ackers, J. Bowes, J. Broadwood, H. Bulkeley, Sir R. Hornby, John Cayley, E. S. Rashleigh, W. Chapman, B. I.indsay, H. Currie, Raikes Walsh, Sir J. B. Duncan, Lerd Maunsell, T. P. Dundas, Admiral Bruce, C. C. Dundas, David Hope, Beresford Elphinstone, H. Ffolliott, John Etwall, Ralph Bagge, W. Ferguson. Colonel Campbell, Sir H. French, F. Alexander, N. Fox, Colonel R. Sheppard, T. Grey, Sir G. Knight, Henry G. Guest, Sir J.: Pakington, J. S. Hoskins K. Price , R ichard Ilavtcr, 'W. G. Davies, D. A. S. Hatton, Captain Acton, Colonel Jervis, J. Powell, Colonel Layard, Captain Darner, Hon. Colonel Loch, James Egerton, Lord F. Martin, John Mildmay, H. Mangles, R. D. Hodgson, Frederick Matheson J. * • Gaskell, J. M. Ogle, Saville Cresswell, C. B. Philipps, Sir R. Bradshaw, J. Phillpotts, John Vivian, J. E. Pigot, Right Hon. R. Bernard, Lord Pattison, James Stanley, E. Ricardo, John L. Collett, W. R. Stuart, Lord J. Adare, Lord Smith, R. V. March, Earl of Somerville, Sir W. Compton, H. C. Tufnell, Henry Coote, Sir C. Vivian, Hon. J. C. Forester, Hon. C. Vivian, J. H. Heathcote, Sir W. Wrightson, W. Baldwin, C. B. Westenra, Hon. J. Ashley, lion. C. H. White, Colonel 11. Hamilton, H. White, Colonel S. . Vesev, Hon. T. Worsley, Lord Tomline, George SUMMARY OF BANKS OF ISSUE. (From the Bankers' Circular.) On comparing the Returns tbr the past month with the total " Fixed Issues" of the several Banks, we find the following is the result :- 199 Private Banks allowed to issue £5,011,097 71 Joint-stock Banks allowed to issue.. • • • .. 3,477,321 £8,488,418 It appears that the following is the state of their circulation : The Private Banks are below their fixed issue • ... £134,202 The Joint-stock Banks are below their fixed issue.. 312,470 Total below the fixed Issue-- £776,672 Several of the Banks appear to have found it difficult to comply with the requisition of the recent Act, which obliges them to furnish the returns of their circulation to the Stamp-office every week, as directed by the Commissioners, for publication in the Gazettes, under a penalty of 1001. During the past month three banks have omitted to send the returns in time, and they were obliged to be published as Supplements in succeeding Gazettes. In the course of the previous mouth there were also three banks which subjected themselves to the penalty. It is curious, that all the banks which have thus failed to comply with the Act arc private banks. IRISH AND SCOTCH CIRCULATION RETURNS. The usual Monthly Returns for the four weeks ending I st February, 1845, give the following as the amount of notes in circulation, viz.:— Scotland.—Chartered Private and Joint-stock Banks.• • • £3,070,058 Ireland.—Bank of Ireland.. Private and Joint-stock Banks .. Total... . . • • • • TOTAL CIRCULATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. The above returns, when combined with those of the Bank of Eng land, form the entire circulation of the kingdom. The results are a follows : Circulation of Notes for the month endin; with the month ending Jan. 4 : Feb. 1, as compared Jan. 4. Feb. 1. lnerease. Docrease. Bank of England .• 19,310,640 20,558,920 1,248,280 Private Banks .. • • 4,427,711 4,576,895 149,184 Joint-stock Banks.. 3,059,434 3,134,851 75,417 Total In England .. 26,797,785 28,270,666 1,472,881 Scotland .. •• • ..... 3,139,450 3,070,058 89,392 Ireland .•• . • • .... 6,983,551 7,098,116 111,565 United Kingdom 36,940,786 38,433,840 1,498,054 I 'thus showing an tion of notes in Eng . Kingdom. The comparison of the molth ending February 1, 1845, with the month ending the 3.1 of February, 1844, shows a decrease in the Bank of England circulation of 201,0341., in Private Banks of 403,2431., Joint-stock Banks of 311,5821., being a total decrease in England of 915,8591., while in Scotland there is an increase of 278,6551., and in Ireland an increase also of 1,087,5511. Thus showing that the month ending Februlry 1, as compared with the same period last year, eresents a decrease of 915,859!. in England, and an increase of 430,3471. In the United Kingdom. Allowance is here made t;,r the seven days' sight bills of the Bank of England, which were formerly included in the returns of the circulation. • The return of the bullion in the Bank of England for the week ending February 8, gives an aggregate amount In both departments of 15,148,583/. On a comparison of this with the returns for the mouth coiling February 3, 184 4 , there appears a decrease of 31,4171. increase last month of 1,472,5811. in the circula ',land, and an increase of 1,498,034/. in the United --- The annual match between the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford is fixed to come off on Saturday, the 221 of March, ou tho Thai from Putney to RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PARMA lIIENT. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE THURSDAY, FED. 27. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway—Second reading, Monday, March 3. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway—Second reading, Monday, March 3. London and Greenwich Railway—Committee on petition, Monday March 10. South Wales Railway—Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. Lowestoft Railway and Harbour—Committee on petition, Monday March 10. Midland Railway (Nottingham to Lincoln)—Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. Midland Railways (Swinton topneoln)—Committee on peti tion, Monday, March 10. Midland Railways (Syston to Peterborough)—Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. Midland Railways (Lincoln to E l y) — Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. Bedford and London and Bir min g ham Railway — Committee on p e l t , : r t o i o o l n ls , , i n t l a aL, ,a,_ Marchc ittee olmOm on petition, Monday.. North March 10. Norwich and Brandon Railway Deviation and Diss and Dereham Branches—Second realltn::, Monday, March 3. Harrogate and Ripon Junction Railway—Committee on peti tion„Monday, Nlarch 10. Middlesborough and Redcar Railway—Committee on peti tion, Monday, March 10. Wear Valley Railway—Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. York and North Midland Railwa y (Don caster Extension) — Comlhittee on petition , Monday, March 10. Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal—S ec ond Blackburn, 3. reading, petition, postponed from T uesday, Mar c h 4, till Wednes day, March 5. M p o a n r d v. a . 1 , 1, March c h Bolton Rail wa y —C omm itt ee on Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway— Committee on petition, Monday, March 10. Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway—Second reading, Monday, March 3. The following Bills were read a first time:— The Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction, The Norwich aad Brandon Railway Deviation and Dim and Derehain Branches. The Leeds and Thirsk Railway. The Bridgewater Navigation and. Railwa`•. The Barnsley Junction Railway. The Whitby and Pickering Railway. Petitions for the following Railway Its were referred to the Select Committee on Petitions for Private Bills . Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway. Harrogate and Ripon Junction Railway. London and Greenwich Railway. Dundee and Perth Railway. Glasgow, Garnkirk, a nd Coatbridge Railw a y. Midland Railways (Syston to Peterborough). Midland Railways (Swinton to Lincoln), Midland Railways (Nottingham to Lincoln). Midland Railways (Ely to Liman). Lowestoft Railway and Harbour. North Woolwich Railway. Middlesbro' and Redcar Railway. Wear Valley Railway. LLOYD'S SHt PPIN G. LONDON, FEB. 28.—Wind southerly, moderate breeze and cloudy. DEAL, FEB. 27.—Wind light and variable; S.S.W. —Arrd. Main, Sproule, and John Bibby, Drysdale, China; Sea Witch, Baker, Gambia • Shannon, Honduras ; Coverdale, Benson, St. John's, New Brunswick.i Sid. Narishal, South Seas; Orator, Madras; Symmetry, Ceylon. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 27.—Wind S.E., light.—Arrd. Great Liverpool steamer, Alexandi ia. The John, aground off Ha milton's Bank last night, has been brought in here without damage. Covers, FEB. 27.—Wind W.—Arrd. Emetic, Wulff, Rio Janeiro for Hambnrgh. OFF TUE NEEDLES, FEB. 26.—Jane, Cape Coast Castle. SouniAmr•rox, FEB. 26.—Shi. Montrose steamer, Lis bon, &c. FALMOUTH, FEB. 27.—Wind S., moderate.—Arrd. Francis Lawson, Martin, Ichaboe, crew sick ; Robert Clive, Mercer, St. Helena. Off, Lucifraras, Van Duyn, Batavia for Am sterdam ; Ong Freres, Martin, Calcutta, for Havre; Neil son, of Glasgow, Bombay ; Maria, Havannah. SWANSEA, FEB. 26.—Arrd. Sunbeam, Morgan, Cuba. MlLFottn, FEB. 26.—Arrd. Hawk, Collins, Demerara, for Clyde, out 66 days. LtvEnrooL. FEB. 27.—Wind variable, and light —Arrd. Hibbert, Bruce, Buenos Ayres ; F. A. Gairigues, Harnaman, Ichaboe ; Margaret, Johnstone, Laguna ; St. Lawrence, New York. Sid. Rosendale, Port Philip ; William James, Sin gapore ; Middleton, Iluenos Ayres ; George Canning and lluskisson, China; Ripley, St. Thomas ; Fairfield, Jamaica; Walpole and Washington, New Orleans. CLYDE, FEB. 26.—Arrd. Cassandra. Rodgers, Ichaboe ; Trident, Miller, Demerara; Canton, Nichol, St. John's, New Brunswick. STORNOWAY, FRB. 19.—Arrd. William Sonlie, Ichaboe. HULL, FEB. 26.—S1d.Ockbrook, New Orleans ; Venerable, St. Andrew's. It blew very heavily at N.N.W. yesterday, but abated towards evening. A light schooner was ashore on the Inner Bricks last night. OFF PLYMOUTH, FEB. 26.—Maugasake, Bunnmeyer, Ba tavia for Rotterdam. CORK, FEB. 25. Arrd. Camilla, Langban, Ichaboe. Off, Eliza Keith, Scott, ditto ; Mary Campbell, Laguna, for London. BELFAST, FEB. 26.—The Lady Mary, sunk in Belfast Lough, has been raised and brought up to the quay here. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 27.—The Manney, hence to Arica, put into the Falkland Islands, with damage, having struck an iceberg prior to the Bth of Dec. ; she was condemned, and her cargo would be shipped to its destination in the Creole, Stephenson. The Mary. from Ballyshannon to Runcorn, was abandoned on the 21st inst., off the Copeland Lights, in a sinking state. The Pollock, hence, ashore near New Or leans, has been got off and taken in there. The Male,' in the Downs, from China, encountered a suc cession of violent gales in the China Sea, from Oct. 14 to Nov. 8, and saw several vessels dismasted; the Futty Bombarak, of Bombay, was totally dismasted in one of them. SEA-SICKNESS.—The usual symptoms are nausea, vomiting, and subsequently weakness and nervousness. Children are either not attacked at all, or only very slightly Men of dark colour and rigid fibre suffer less than youths of dark skin and hair. Those are most subject to the disease who are fair, of lax fibre, and venous constitu tion. Persons weakened by previous diseases are by no means predisposed to the disease, as Adan son asserts. Short-sightedness does not protect against sea-sickness. Dogs, swine, and sheep are also occasionally seized by it. The heaving of the boat is the cause of the complaint. This heaving is exactly analogous to turning round, intoxication. or pressure on the brain ; the n. vagus is, therefore, chiefly affected. In moist and cold weather, the complaint is more obstinate than in dry and warm weather. First, heaviness of the head appears, dejection, melancholy; then the head turns hot, the face reddens, nausea ap pears, then vomiting, after which relief is felt. Ob struction is a constant symptom, and even with a quantity of different purgatives, the author could not produce any stool for eight days, till the cessation of sea-sickness, when evacuations ensued spontaneously. If no vomiting takes place, obstruction is more obstinate, and likewise all the other symptoms. In the torpid form the head is more affected, and the nausea remains almost without intermission. Chilliness, cold, suppressed func tion of the skin, and exhaustion accompany this form. The appetite is not impaired ; on the contrary, some relief is felt during meals. But, with the process of digestion, suffering recommences. Horizontal position ope rates beneficially, particularly if the functions of the skin can be promoted. The advantageous results of sea-sickness are, that complaints of the chest are sometimes removed or ame liorated ; disadvantageous—digestive weakness occasionally remaining, emaciation and tendency to plethora. —Medical Timta. SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN.—A fancy-dress hall was given on Wednesday at the London Tavern, in aid of t h '2 funds of this highly laudable institution, and we are happy to say that it was very numerously and most respectably attended. Lord Paget, Sir M. Montetiore, Alderman larebrother, Alderman J. Johnson, with their families, and many others of note, were present ; and the whole was so admirably con ducted, that there was a total absence of that irregularity and confusion so often met with at public assemblies. That interesting Indian, MohamL6e, accompanied Mr. Roper (the secretary) and his lady from their house, in Queen-square, to the ball, and was an object of general regard and attraction during the evening, from the kindly feeling which he was known to have previously shown in his own country to British subjects. The dance and other amusements of the evening were kept up to an advanced hour of the morning, and we doubt not that the result of the ball will be a handsome addition to the funds of a charity that falls short of none in its claim upon public sympathy. THE MACKAREL FISHERY.—Several boats came in yesterday with between 40,000 and 50,000 fish, which we're chiefly bought up for the London markets at 16s. to 18s. per 100. Mr. (1. Chessman's boat, the Kitty, had about 6,000 ; the Fanny and the Eight Sisters, belonging to Samuel Andrews, about 11,000 between theta ; W. ;Andrew's boat, the Industry, between 3,000• and 4,000 ; May and Thwaites' boat, the Flora, 6,000 ; and three Hastings boats. about 15,000. We understand that a Hastings boat, Belton, master, arrived at Worthing yesterday, with about 14,000, which fetched 17s, per hundred.—Brighton Gazette. HUNGERFORD SUSPENSION BRIDGE.—The half yearly meeting of the proprietors was held on Thursday, at theofices, in Villiers-street—Mr. C. Hawes in the chair. After some which they prelimi narybusiness, the Secretary read the re p ort of the Directors , to ors : in they announced to the Proprietors that they bad resolved open the bridge to the public on the 24th of March, being Easter -Monday, that for the four weeks folloWing the passage shoty sh, , ,i, when 22d of of April every part of the works will ti t ben cordance with the resolutions of the getter n,. big of the Pt o prietors, held on the 15th day of February, last year, the Directors have fixed the toll to be collected at one half-pointy for each pas. senger. An objection was taken to the propriety of throwing open the bridge to the public for four weeks, on e pound that the novelty of the structure would induce a large number of persons to pass over it for sonic time after its opening, and that, consequently, considerable w ould arise therefrom for division among the Shareholde rs . profit was explained that although the bridge would be in a condition for the public to pass over it on the 24th of March, yet that it would be impossible to fix the toll-gates and tell-tales by that time; and that t he proposed four weeks' gratuitous use of the bridge would be a benefit and gratification to thousands, and not result in any pecu niary injury to the Shareholders. The Shareholders, however, per sisted in their determination to oppose the rccommendat: commendation thata ofthe passed to the effect Directors, and a resolution wasthe bridge should not be opened till it was in a fit state for toll to be taken, al:d that the toll be a halfpenny. It was next resolved that the plan of issuing return tickets be p os tp one d for the consideration of the next meeting. The report of the Directors thus amended, and the engineer's report, and statement of accounts, were then adopted. GOLDEN HINT TO TRADESMEN.—A man of the world, who keeps an early purl-house in Tottcaliam-court-road, assures us he has avoided serving on juries by the following simple method :—He lent the beadle, who came with a summons five years ago, the sum of five shillings, and, strange to say, he has never seen the beadle slnce.—Piete LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb.2B. , The House sat to-day to hear appeals. The Peers present were Lord Brougham,LyrdCottenham, and Lord Campbell. COOKSON V. COOKSON. The further arguments in this appeal occupied their Lord ships the whole morning. COURT OF CHANCERY, Feb. 28. The Lord Chancellor sat in Lincoln's Imc-hall to-day, and proceeded to hear the further arguments in the part-heard case of the Ludlow Charities. ROLLS' COURT, Feb.2B. The Master of the Rolls heard causes to-day, non• of which were of any interest. VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT, Feb. 2s. The Vice-Chancellor of England took unopposed petitions and short causes to-day. WINCH V. WINCH. His HoNoun also gave judgment in this case, which was argued before the Court on Friday last, on two petitions, one on the part of Mr. Winch, praying that he might have the custody of his infant daughter, a child about 13, and the other by the mother of the child, praying that a reference might be directed to the Master to approve of a guardian for her daughter. The facts of the case, into which his Honour entered at some length, are of the most painful description. It appeared that Mr. and Mrs. Winch had been separated for the last ten years, and that the latter had since that period had the custody of the child, who was very much attached to her. His Honour, after commenting most severely on the conduct of Mr. Which, refused to make any order on his petition. On the part of Mrs. Winch, however, he should order that the child should still remain in her custody, and that Mr. Winch should be restrained until the further order of the Court from having any access to the child. The Vice-Chancellor in the course of his judgment stated that he had seen the child in his private room ; that she was evidently an intelligent, though a sickly child, re quiring all the care that a mother could give her, and, as a proof of the affection borne by the chi d to its mother, his Honour stated that almost the last words the child said on leaving him was, that she hoped he would take care of her dear mamma. In Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce's, and Vice-Chancellor Wygram's Courts, no cases of any importance took place. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Feb. 28. Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord DENMAN, and a Common 4 1 7.) PATTENDXN V. HUDSON. This case arose out Lf an executicn made by the defendant on the goods of a person, named Pollard, supposing that they belonged to him ; but it appeared that the goods in question were bought by the plaintiff, who now brought his action. The question for the jury was whether the transaction between Pattenden and Pollard was a bona fide one. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, less 405., being the amount of some goods belonging to Pollard himself, which were also seized by the defendant. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 27. :Sittings at Nisi Prins, before Sir F. POLLOCK and a Special Jury.) M'INTO6II V. THE MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY. This was an action brought by the plaintiff; who is a very ex. tensive contractor for railways, against the Midland Counties Company, for not performing the contract entered into between them. It appeared that the plaintiff contracted, in 1837, to make nineteen miles of railway for the defendants, from Rugby to Leicester, which was to be ready, with the exception of the laying of the rails, by the Tst of May, 1840. A second contract was entered into, to the effect that the plaintiff was to have the rails all laid down, and the railroad ready for use by the Ist of Juhe, 1841, the defendants supplying the rails. If the contract was trot performed in the specified time the plaintiff was to forfeit 3001. for every day after that on which the contract required that the railroad should be corn. 'deed. It was alleged that the work was not finished till the 30th of June, and for this 7,5001., were kept back by the Cote. pany. It was to recover this 7,5081. that the action was brought. the plaintiff alleging that the rails were not furnished in the proper time. On the part of the plaintiff, thedelay was attributed to the non delivery of the rails ; but on that of the defendants that cause was denied, it being asserted that the rails were kept back purposely, as the plaintiff was not forward enough to require theta—a state of things which they candidly enough attributed, not to the negligence of the plaintiff, but to the state of the weather and ground, over ' which he could have no control. Sir F. Pou.ocL having summed up the evidence, The jury, at half past 6 o'clock, returned a verdict for the plain. tiff for 8,9121. Is. 10d., being the full amount of his demand to gether with interest. FEBRUARY 28. (Before Sir F. POLLOCK and a Common Jury.) The cases which came before the Court to-day were of, an ordinary description, and possessed no peculiar interest. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Feb 28. ;Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL and a Special Jury.) NASH V. HARMAN. _ . The Court having heard the evidence on the part of: tha plaintiff yesterday, proceeded to hear the defendant's care, in whose behalf there were also a great number of witnesses to be called. THE TANNING TRADE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. RESPECTED FRIEND,—I respectfully and earnestly solicit thee to publish in thy valuable paper the following remarks on the proposed repeal of the duty on leather, believing, if it take place, that the tanning trade in this country will be seriously injured, indeed almost destroyed. The . proposal, I think, must be an oversight, it being the only deviation from Sir IL Peel's principle in dealing with the tariff, that of re pealing the duty on foreign raw material, and giving en couragement to 13rish industry. There is a large amount of capital invested in tanneries, and the manufacturing of hides into leather employs a great number of fairly-remunerated labourers ; the effect of extensive importations would be to deprive the latter of employment, and to make the former of . . litile value. The present duty is so small That it protects the public from having to pay a much higher price for leather than it can be bought at abroad ; it also prevents foreign labour superseding British. Taking into account the higher price of labour in this country, arising principally from what the labourer consumes, being more heavily taxed than it is in others, leather is about. as cheap in England as it is else where. If the English manufacturer be to compete, without protection, with the foreign manufacturer, it is only reason.- able that the English farmer should compete, without pro tection, with the foreign farmer. If our labourers be to com pete, without protection, with foreign labourers, they should, before the competition at least, 1 e placed on an equality ; they should have th.-ir food as cheap, and to have it, the taxes on food must be repealed : not to do so. would be to legi,late invidiously, cruelly, and unjustly. I hope the Lon don tanners are exerting themselves to protect the trade. I am, respectfully, A TANNER. Litherland, near Liverpool, 2 mo. 26th, 1845. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. The following are the results of "A Table of Mortality in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from all Causes registered in tl:e Week entling Saturday, the 221 of February, 1845." The Table is issued from the Office of the Registrar-General:— Weekly Total. Average of Five Winters Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases 176 172 Diseases of variable or uncertain seat lO3 114 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses 164 167 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration 4OB 347 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 34 • 25 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other CAUSES OF DEATH. - Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c 9 6 . childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. lB 11 Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles 7 6 Diseases of the Skin, &c ... ... 2 Old Age, or Natural Decay • 109 - 89 By Violence, Privation, or Intemperance ... 18 27 Causes specified... 1119 1030 Deaths from all Causes 1121 1039 Dia..xrits FROM THE PRINCIPAL DISEASES INCLUDED UNDER THE ABOVE HEADS. Total. Weekly Average of Five Winters. Consumption 156 148 Scarlatina Pneumonia lO4 97 Dropsy ..... .. .. ........... liOoldng Cough .... ....... .. Typhus 3O 30 Small Pox 3O 19 Disease of the Heart Measles l9 21 Apoplexy Diseases of the Brain ...... .... 10 11 Diarrhoea.. . 7 6 Sudden Deaths '9 18 DISTRICTS. Deaths Weekly Births in Average of in the Week. Five Winters. the Week. West North 221 192 230 Central East 243 223 304 South Total .. ... .... 1121 1039 1339 MR. WADl.—There is now no question but thet Mr. Ward is about to console himself for the loss of his degrees, by the acquisition of a far more interesting and tender title— that of a married man, which, of course, implies a voluntary resignation of his fellowship at Oxford. The lady of his choice is said to be young and beautiful, the daughter of a late head master of Westminster and prebendary of Worcester. We wish Mr. Ward and his intended all happiness, and only regret that a consummation so devoutly to be wished did not take place some months earlier, in which case much of ani mosity and no small share of very unpleasant and unprofit able excitement would have been spared.— Chronicle. ARMY- ESTIMATES. —The number of officers, non commissioned officers, and rank and file, which it is pro posed to maintain fur theservice of the United Kingdom, exclusive of the troops employed in the East Indies, for the year, from the 1A April, 1845, to the 31st March, 1846, is 100,011. 'rho charge fur effective ser vices amounts to 3,830,971 L ; and fur non-effective, 2,148,301 —total, 5,979,272 L The total charge for 1844-45 was 5,984,5241.--decrease, 5,2521. Five regi ments of cavalry and twenty-three regiments of infantry are employed in the East Indies. The charge of these regiments and of the East India depots at Maidstone and Chatham, is defrayed by the East India C o mp a ny. Th e number (:f these troops amounts to 29,382. On Monday afternoon the King of the French, accom panied by Colonel Dumas, and two orderly officers, paid a visit to Neuilly, but returned to the Tuileries to dinner. In the evening their Majesties received the MiniAters of Marine and Commerce, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Duke de Praslin, the Marquis de l'Angle, the Baron de Bourgoing, General Daraiule, and Colonel Count d'Oraison. THE HOUSEHOLD Tnoors -The following change of quarters in the household troops will take place this day —The let Battalion of Grenadier Guards march tom Portman street for out-quarters ; three companies to St. John's-wood ; two companies to St. George's barracks ; two companies to Wellington barracks; one company to Buckingham Palace ; one company to the Magazine, Hyde-park; one company to Kensington. The 2d batta lion of Grenadier Guards from Winchester (after the assizes there) to the Tower. The 3d Battalion of Grenadier Guards from Welling ton barracks to Portman-street barracks. The Ist Coldstreatns from the Tower (after Winchester assizes) to Winchester. The 2(1 Ceti streams from St. George's barracks to Windsor. The Ist Sects Fusi lier Guards from Windsor to St. George's barracks. The 2d Scots Fusilier Guards from St. John's-wood and out-quarters to Wellington barracks. SMUGGLED TOBACCO.—The Ardent, of London derry, Pascoe master, was seized on Monday, in the river Mersey, with about 21 tons of contraband tobacco on board, concealed under a cargo cf oats. On being hailed by Lieutenant Walker, of hceormMA jesty's revenue cruiser, she was reported by the il as com ing Ha l m ng . from Sligo, but is, in reality, believed to be from Flushing aa _ a rakish btugh. The Ardent is a beautiful schooner of 74 tens, 4 , looking craft ; all the crew are in custody, and UV vesd all• hands of the Cuto:L-Imm valor& ~::- .~ ..~~