The Sun. — London, England, 1844-06-25 00:00:00

adti n i , 4 l es iestic 4 O f ..at the 0 ( 0 salised• urpluo re Y lO ed Ae anlr c s Thi s b uch appliov _gg - PO I that the Coo laity of ' o : h tto Asaph °tier !ssed 1114 1.14' the eatsv7,o $ .r) For sue ere e ° —h lesi e {sr, f see of lent re He v , es ter. P to I when. it mi ko a the ki p iritt, p l a i n ed ei fro ken Pla ce n ef ai nd he becii he sees , 00 1 p an d tiul; ijor lishop 0 i s surprO ar j ester ha the islr i - f e than net consent to Y'if fit Ws or of see osel B had this c°; e 4 ad recto, marg 9- t e ap . er ste miner. ent gateln rd an cl ,:ol b on e ese ' the i dal el / r t b s 01 and r) • $l4 stage, t527(71T7 --.- e lPre, . , . 3 r, hear) An Irish Member opposite ' present case, the Government did not deny the facts ; h e o ,, i 'en ha; abhor; erc, o . the Pope ; but !lilt most they would offer no explanation, and they would oot 'I.Y In Li ;.. .' • inpp ort,..o , slowual ca tacit, ,for the sane. Memiter state on what principles they ha I , noted. They c ill- POiditr I , t h" Gov rinent in giv'ng effect to the tented them,elve , with savin , --" We have such a ae wortli 3 ,ae-potisni in i is• cis - ,1 el•ar-teter by these majority as van stifle inquiry. - Such beil- f . , tile j, e( _ () 111 ';'•n - li , f.'o thatt--3 ,, -r t.l ' ci,,e, no % o'e of 0- obore , .ud 1-- - . Twve.i. i , 4 ..!ie.t to must`'''' i.o led • ,c,r, .1 t:. ,t i , ',11 , 4 1a.ii, t i,.. them.—(liet:r ) o 0 (pitt . ' '3.1 " 1 _.., (itle,tl , l.l :', Vi t h iis be fared, ha t inucuLted the Gorertint.:nt attempt it.—(ilea:.) T.,,, ri,tust. az.d the public vievrs—(Cheers) for he believed were kept in equal ignorance of the facts of the case. til o l s t t. l o r ish letters had frequently been opened in the He did not know that inquiry would cast any blame koretalureer(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Baronet the on the Right Hon. Gentleman. It might not cast MatteredY or the Home Department had stood up in more blame on him than it had on Lord Melbourne th s eoud garments of his public credit, to defend in the case of Popay; but if that inquiry were tentlea, uct of the Government towards a Polish refused, it would go hard to destroy the doctrine of b ro k en ~a n, Count Ostrowski a whose desk had been Ministerial responsibility. With regard to any alte iksae, " 0 1 , ) en by the police, and his papers seized and ration in the law, that was too grave a subject to be 1 , , Q Over to the Russian Embassy. discussed incidentally. It was perfectly competent to any Hon. Gentleman to propose an. alteration in the ktt et : l t e i. earl of SHELBURNE wished to call the th e b an of the House from what had fallen from law. He had approved of the law in 1837, and he k era i , l ,'g r ht Hon. Gentleman. He told the Hon. thought it was a power that ought to exist. If, how toiti,luae. for Finsbury that, if he had grievances to ever, upon discussion, it should appear that the exist he r ,_. 111 of at the hands of the Post-office, ence of such a power produced more evil than good, he hasaalght institute proceedings at law—(Hear, would be prepared to abolish it; but the question now oii"•`:2_es•-and that there would be no difficulty before the House was, whether, when a Minister totally refused any explanation of facts, and would not th e ‘Z_ part of the Post-office as to the production of i t t e., a i rr ant. even say on what principles he had exercised his If that were so, he did not see what op eti _,v;ty there could be in forwarding the letters Powers, the House would be satisfied with that re- Was 'u (Rear, hear)—informing the person that it fusel, and not exercise its functions of inquiry. ° Pened. Mr. M. MILNES regretted that his Right Hon. Sir la Friend had • PEEL said that he wished, in the first not thought it consistent with his duty to place , to refer to a remark made bthe Honourable y state one fact, and that was, that he had not coin , tie_municated to foreign Governments the informa- IN wan who spoke last but one, who attempted to les t a ce a case whi c h h a d no b e aring upon the pre- tion which he had thus acquired. If he had thought la oa ll ' a a tter, hut which was calculated to produce it consistent with his dut y to make this statement, he ?es s ,.."'lle prejudi ce aga i ns t th e G o vernment. He believed th at the public a n d t he House would have str g - ed t o t h e case of the Pol i sh no bl eman , C oun t been satisfied. Now, although the Right Hon. Baro- Ills °ws hi. He could state, on the authority of net had not thought fit to do so, he (Mr. M. Manes) ' Right could . not consent to vote for the Hon. Member for lay ght Honourable Friend, that no autho fortawas given by his Right Honourable Friend Finsbury.—(lronical cheers and laughter from the s o h ie ge detention of any papers belonging to that Opposition benches.) He thought it most important th e a t tar). The most rigid inquiry had been made from that the knowledge of these matters should be confined ta a r„ Q uee, and there was every reason to believe that to the secrecy of the Cabinet. The power should be W ese '' Paper found in the possession of that gentleman used by . the Minister solely for his own information, with delivered up to him, and no communications, and the information so acquired should not be corn late r egard to any papers found on that gentleman, municated to any other person. Now the Committee t er . made to any foreign diplomatic agent.—(Hear, could not be conducted without the violation of this der) with regard to any authority derived from secresy, and without making public the contents of thai v ° ,vernmn a he could speak on that point con- those letters. Ile believed that they would find that tee e i v el Y• With regard to the information which he the agitation . on this subject would lead to bringing a liat what on inquiries which he instituted, he believed powers into odium which he certainly admitted should not be exercised but on extraordinary occasions. tas teet at he had stated to the House was perfectly 4 (14', In the couse of the debate Hon. Gentlemen . 11Ir. SHEIL said as they were approaching the Fo lder largely in assumptions with regard to the critical moment of the evening, he thought it right to tee med exercised by his Right Hon. Friend, and address a few observations to the House. The House slaketo think that his Right Hon. Friend had should take care to distinguish between the case of las to of that power as if it were a light power, and the present Government and that of the last. His lila ° he exercised without a serious and deep feeling Noble Friend, the Member for London, when filling it, x re sponsibility which attached to the exercise of the post of Home Secretary, might have given a war- Pri eri Plling that had fallen from his Right Hon. rant of authority for opening letters; but no refusal lt aeci " could justify such an assumption. He had ever been made by his Noble Friend—no inves ted t hat, as Secretary of State, he was in- tigation had ever been denied—(Hear, hear)--no such N , with the power by law which he was case had ever been brought before a British House of tla se t uY authorised, but which he was called on, if Commons—(Hear, hear)—as that now under their l iso t w as any consideration of public duty in ques- consideration,. and which was certainly accompanied lh ath ° exercise. The Right Hon. Gentleman said with circumstances of a most suspicious nature.— tie r a c Would assume that the power was universally (Hear, hear.) A call had been made upon the Right he l' o 4ed • Now, what were the grounds on which Hon. Gentleman to state reasons for acting in so un fair ended that statement? On a former occasion, common a manner; but he a nswere d th em b y say i ng ta ai Dersons pr esen t e d a petition to the House of he would meet the demand w ith hi s respons ib il i ty. hee d t '„ ° °s, and that evening another petition had The Right Hon. Gentleman said he was sensible total i' r esenied, complaining that their letters had of his responsibility. Why what was the meaning ° Pened. The Hon. Gentleman who brought of the term ? He said his conscience was pure, but waria the who, besides himself and colleagues, Ea s ue motion a had not stated who those persons Wls ' and had concluded his speech by a motion of kh nity of ascertaining the correctness of the statement ? kl ar ., he had not given the slightest notice. With —(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet asked t! oils ato three out of the four who presented peti- what were the facts. He (Mr. S.) asked the same Its, 0 ° a former occasion, they entertained impres- question. Had not enough come out, even by the ad -Ijoii totally unfounded—at least his Right mission of the fact itself, to justify investigation ? '?A sar l : i r iend stated, that with regard to three no (Hear, hear.) They said it was a right—well he ad otaisht i '; had been issued. Ills Right Hon. Friend mitted the right, but did not the extreme assertion of bat "a" stated in perfectconformity with the truth a rht often reach the propinquity of consummate 1 , the ~... ?—(Hear, hear, ~'4li he allegations in those petitions were unfounded; wrong . 'tasa was afraid if he said that it might be consi- that . in the discipline of the army this assertion of au !! that he denied the statement with regard to , ; am , thority was often and perhaps necessarily carried out ` ss ' lie, therefore, stated that with regard to one toa great extent—he could understand the Duke of 4a11 . t had been issued. His Right Hon. Friend Wellington as Commander-in-Chief, exclaiming at the l taci e hned to make any statements with regard to Horse Guards, sic volo sic jubeo, fiat voluntas, but he tt lei all he asked of the House was to draw no thought such language hardly became a Home Secre- Sl l4 l O /1s from that.—(lronical cheers.) Now, how Lary.—(Hear.) Why should not the conduct of the ,14 b:Be case ? This power of issuing a warrant .Home . Secretary . _ be made . the subject of inves '4e t i a ,en committed to the Secretary of State since tigation in that House ?—if that check were not held ' o llea - ; ) ! of Queen Anne. About eight years ago, over the . Minister his conduct might soon become voy ea „`"e Noble Lord opposite was the organ of the authoritative, arbitrary,. and capricious.—(Hear, hear, le "'Tient in that House, an alteration in the Post- and great cheering.) The charge against the Home tloi ta 4 et took place, and this power, in his Secretary was,. that he caused . a warrant to be issued ss ha" , was most justly retained.—(Hear, hear.) for the opening of . a certain letter or letters, and that Na i ° Pinion the Government was justified in re- he . had done . so without reference to any plot or con kiterig th e power they had retained. They con- spira . cy in this country.—(Hear, hear.) It was not !th e the law, the amended law of the late President to discover . any Chartist or Repeal organisation, but 1 1%4', Board of Trade, who he believed introduced it was entirely connected with our foreign relations. s_Ni Dog the was the author of it as it now stood, re- Was not that so? Had not the Hon. Gentleman read d er 13 " 'lie provision nearly in the same words as the . of tis a Queen Anne. He thought his Right Hon. months ago, in which it was boasted that the conduct ''" 4 w in • • he had of this Mazzini was under the surveillance of the Lon ,lle. -,. as justified exercising the power qtj tic , 4 -f the House thought the power ought to be don police ? And much the same statement was made k s' tti shed let it be but let be done ' a Apt of in the Augsburgh Gazette. Was it proper treatment I. `,'end regular manner, hy a motion for repealing an unfortunate refugee, who had sought an asylum K •k! , s, r ; of which notice had been given. The Right in the hitherto esteemed sacred soil of Britain, 11`41RhCentleman opposite had said that the system whose misfortunes entitled him rather to sympathy ~ ' Ut ir a b e carried on by the Government towards than condemnation, that his mist secret thoughts 'afela liGlitical opponents ; he believed he might should be placed under the prying inquisition of a British Minister?—(Hear, hear, and great cheering.) le a Right that had not been the case in late years. He felt bound to say that the English Minister had Zes Ea 'glit Hon. Friend had introduced no new prac acted a most un-English . part.—(Loud and long-con t .•415; to letters • he had not carried it beyond ,Nicr o - a fte , tice of - Mr Fox and Lord Grenville. He timed cheering.) The British Home Secretary ought not to degrade himself into the spy of a foreign a gki ßs ' carried the powers of the law beyond the .Cabinet. He should not allow himself to be made gis Right °f those two persons. If the House pressed a labs • h instrumental in the procuration of evidence for a as kirs o aga L Hon. Friend to specify the cases in which foreign Minister—evidence,. too, which might in ''tl la's had been issued, he thought it would corn volve the sacrifice of the properties, nay, even of the t or t ' c ' i to act unjustly to individuals. aNloe, J. RUSSELL regretted that his Hon. Friend lives of the suspected arties:--(Hear, hear, and re :4m,', given a definitive notice on the question, Hewed cheering.) rt the Public opinion was against them. lot th.'n regard to the position of the House, be did I . n every . pa . of . country there was but one feel in h• u dc itwouldmake much, if difference. The f a t . ra , land felt indignant that a social inquisition of this sort N s , I ' lol4 . Baronet the Secretary of State on a ,'"e a , - ,°.ecasion had stated what his resolution was on should be established.—(Hear.) His Right Hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, who, though he repu nlynect ; the question, therefore, now stood ex 'ce, aar l a n the same situation as it did on the former diated the efficacy of torture, tried it with power, but "kV& `With notice to the law of respect to as tried it in vain, on the Home Secretary—(Hear, A n hear) the peine forte et dure proved useless.— a I? letters, the uestion now before the House a Nds'a c ' t a ar whether the Secretary of State had ex- (Laughter.) He would not detain the House further per ' " I S power, but whether he had adopted a pro- than by again protesting against the violation of that tighttrpretation of the law. In that respect the se resy winch had . been long . held sacred. He did not L lt tis, lion. Baronet seemed to have followed his think it was consistent with the principles of honour ''t• i a ' e ssors and therefore if the law had been impro- or of justice that that letter should be broken open aente - ' be corrected • for his own 1 , , 11 _, rpreted, that must . , in which the hopes, the fears, the joys, the afflictions, the affections of our fellow man i aala e, thought in dangerous times the law and were contained. becom e use l es s if the interpretation Mr. STUART WORTLEY said he thought that t o le la Peopl e put upon it was considered voting for the p resent motion w o u l d be sancti o n ing t th ai . e right one. With respect to the law itself , those unfounded imputations which had been cast on mo at stated by Sir Robert Walpole that it was a the Home . Secretary. He thought the House was °of t 0 be used in times of public danger, and as a not sufficiently aware of the merits . of the case._ 4: 1 that he referred to the case of the Bishop of (Hear, hear.) He would vote against the motion. PliQ te r, whose plot was carried on through the Mr. WAKLEY said the Hon. Member who had h; h oe "' of the Post-office.—(Hear, hear.) He (Lord just sat down would not vote for the present motion, 's ,r) tho ug ht th e Right Hon. Baronet should although he considered the . character of the Govern -11(11 ha ve n e the coarse pursued by Sir R. Walpole, ment had been unworthily dealt with ; he believed a stated th e principles on which he proceeded. the conduct of th . e . Government . so proper that he ki joy s a _ 1 , er w as to secure against public danger either would refuse inquiring into it,. although he acknow t7th-:e or abroad, and was to be used either to put hedged he did not know anything at all of the merits idea. I"all bordination at home or wars in other coun- of the case.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for I t hat 4 the performance of this difficult duty he Pontefract expressed a wish to know what communi laia e 4 that i Secretary of State must be the cation had taken place on . this matter with foreign ta as if t , he q:' his . : " e Public danger was so imminent as to jus- States,but would vote against all inquiry which might al ntlea,interference or riot. But the Right Hon. tend to elicit that information. He certainly thought sr aLlqta a n had taken no such ground. He had not that the two Right Hon. Baronets (Sir R. Peel and k c :•sta s t ue,in tcasay that the power had not been ex- Sir J. Graham) were not very happy on this occa a 1 %4 4 nad been stated by his lion. Friend the sion.—(Laughter.) He never was more surprised at eti g . ii afor Finsbury for the purpose of assisting anything since he came into that House than at the N t Vov k t ime , ernments.—(Hear, hear.) If such were statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary 11 1 ° , 1 t aw ile (Lord J. Russell) must say that it was a of State for the Home Department, and the speech of the h• Ju stifiablsuch power.-(Cheers.) If Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government. ti t iga, . 5 ... e use of oa slatter Right Hon. Gentleman had stated the principles' The lion. Gentleman had never on pre aria • G1: 11 . q a 'eh he h a d us ed that power. If the Right vious occasions been subjected to a more disagreeable li t eleman had stated the principles on which occupation, in defending his colleague, than on this. a l c a lltl ezn used the power—if the Right Honourable The manner in which he attempted to defend his con pilUi hi s t had stated that he agreed in opinion duct showed how bad the case was.—(Hear, hear.) l iki " 'lon that to the power for the It would seem, from the spirit of the Home Secre kat. se of • Friend, use ia ll, assisting foreign Governments was an un- tary, who complained that he had not had notice of Geld o e s use of that power, and that he had not, and the fifth case, that numerous letters had been opened a e °l•4 p Make use o f the power for that purpose, he at the Post-office. He wanted to know how many It ahl a• Russell) would have been satisfied, and really had been opened. From the speech of the 'Rht not have voted for the Committee. But if the Right Hon. Baronet, it would seem that it wa s a NI 110 a 00, i t h• Gentleman would not make su c h a d ec k- practice at the Post-office, and the House was justified sZthyofeertaitaa . y would not be beneath him, nor un- in so inferring from his speech.—(Hear, hear.) Pub tiaJaat...... his Position to consent to inquiry on thi s lic feeling—public indignation had been aroused lie or the He recollected that during the against the practice ; and a man had rightly remarked to - u,, b, seri lle late Government a committee of inquiry to him (Mr. Wakley), a day or two ago, that a still s niovedfo r a t th e time the Right Hon. Gentle - worse practice than the employing o f s p ies by the la ii i eli fa ele Was a member of the Cabinet. It was a Governm ent had been lately r esorted to, for the Go pa ?Ile • inquiry into the conduct of Lord Mel- vernment had become spies themselves.—Hear, and f at e ' who, as s for the Home De- cheers.) He knew no prac-ice more odious, or more Pta,nt, Was ecretary of State 1 ,,_ ix t , i_ accused of having employed Popay, a likely to bring a Government into odium, or to de it'latiari. u t he police, in endeavouring to excite insur- grade the character of the country in which it was All'iiry i ' s ir. Cobbett had moved for a committee of tolerated.—(Cheers.) This question might be said a a a ser . h a w all the circumstances of the case, and the to be the touchstone of Ministerial responsi a4‘; no :or Oxford had objected that a committee bility ; and if accountablility was not demanded ti oh c eas of Proper tribunal for considering the circum- in such a case f as this, he knew not when it i a "' eona : the C age. Mr. Cobbett renewed his mo- should be en orced.—(Hear, hear.) The control thetlie nt n irlf.'s' it specifically to an inquiry as the em- of the House of Common s over the Government thsdeb °f Popay. Lord Althorp, speaking during became a mere mockery.—(Hear, hear.) He thought debate °f bounden duty of that si the p o l ice , had stated that the idea of employing it was the _ House to insist upon Ar a tby „" Spies had never been anticipated inquiry. He observed that the Hon. Member for th at iosti t ‘" 0 Right Honourable Baronet who had Knaresborough (Mr. Ferrand) laughed —it reminded no afr Uted the force, or by his successors in office. him that himself and the Right Hon. Baronet though butt sueozds could be too strong to stigmatise con- so much at variance in other respects seemed to agree fe; . if as . that o f w hi ch p almy h a d been accused ;in one point—both demurred to this House as tri- Vag . v had h ea . cheers and a laugh)—they were now s oa p 3 he a a guilty of such conduct he had bunal—(Great have the Hon. m ern kiq. 4 ha seeded his instructions—that Lord Mel- in the same boat, and he would . d dne •out, as it was in a sinking 154 ;. , Aitt,_ ne ver given him such instructions ; and ber for Knaresborough look (Ceti oll ",°rp concluded by saying that he had no state.—(Cheers.) He thought that the party which t t , 'leer s \ '() the appointment of a Committee.— supported the Government had been lately placed in tile ') Th ta a lI a „_ e Committee was appointed, reported as low a position as they could he, but . if they . per inch could ta es ?ed, ire, and the subject was subsequently dis- severed in adhering to an Administration w N s 'lt ? i ‘s ad .. that been any injury to the Govern- be capable of such acts, it would only prove that Jo a i t a tro s , o ." e ' a from it. The Government at that time though in the depths of the deep they would find a assa to (11 eno ugh to have secured a Ministerial ma- lower gulf still.--(Cheers.) a l saa ee a ash inquiry. But they had not done so. Lord HOWICK supported the motion, if the pre . 4 rsa T. la act a on i e sit would have been unworthy of them sent system were allowed to go on, it might at length tlas ua t s no e ° •, — (Loud cheers.) There could be, be carried to such an extent, that the Minister might ' aztatitut:d those Ministerial responsibility unless this himself be justified in breaking open the l etters of his inquiries.—(Cheer..) A the political opponents. He agreed with his Right Hon. ___ =~ i THE SUN, LONDON, TITESDAY FVENING J ' TYNE 25, 1844, Friend, the Member for Edinbmgh, in thilliing that if the practice were to beccm, ,- - ~ovtl- i imr lip e fre.- quent, it would be far better it r. ere abolisn, , i alto gether. He wished to know theft io the Act of l'ariament sacction YQ , eaiin,.of the ktter wizh countevieit seal similar ti which they had hen e:;led in the would give his coedial support to the motion _ . Lord STANLEY defended the conduct of the Go vernment. He would like to know how many letters their predecessors in office had opened. The House would support any Minister in refusing to give that explanation. It was a power for the exercise of which, the only security must be the honour and conscience of the Minister of the Crown, who put it in force. He gave no opinion as to the policy of affording that power, but having bestowed it, it must be left to the responsibility of the Minister to exercise it. He de nied that opening letters was a thing of daily occur rence; on the contrary it was but very rarely used. He admitted frankly and fully that it was only to be used on great occasions, and then only used with caution; but it must be used with secrecy and with out the Minister being called on to answer for the manner in which he had used it.—(Loud cries of " No, no.") He again contended that it must and ought to be left to the responsibility of the Minister of the Crown. Sir G. GREY said the Noble Lord, with his usual courage, had rushed to the rescue of his two Right Hon. Friends, and certainly not before his aid was wanted ; but he had not adduced one single argu ment, or made one single assertion, that had mended the case. He had asserted, without the slightest foundation of reason, that the total silence of the Go vernment as to the circumstances of the case was jus tified by the duty that devolved upon a Minister of the Crown. He (Sir G. Grey) undertook to contro vert that assertion. His Hon. Friend (the Member for Finsbury), with a moderation that did not always distinguish him, did not deny that the Government possessed the power of opening letters, but charged it with having exercised that power, given them for one purpose, for a purpose wholly distinct.—(Cheers.) His charge was not that they had used the power vested in them by law, but that they had, at the in stigation of some foreign Government—(Loud cheering) exercised that power, not to dis cover any plot against their Sovereign Lady the Queen, not any plot against the Constitution of the realm, but in order to enable the agents of foreign Governments, or those Governments themselves, to obtain evidence against the friends of those who were here as exiles on political reasons, and whom it had always been the pride and honour of this country to receive with hospitality and sympathy.—(Cheers.) He believed that the reasons on which the Home Secretary had acted might have been explained to the House, without any detriment to the public service. If he were to vote against the motion of his Hon. Friend, he should consider that he was sanctioning the right the Government claimed to exercise, to open letters at the Post-office, and make what use they pleased of the contents, not for any State purpose, but for some purpose unexplained, and an explanation of which might have been given with thegreatest facility. He should cordially support the motion for a Com mittee. Lord SANDON rose, and attempted to address the House, but the cries of " Divide, divide," and the usual indications of extreme impatience, were so loud, that only a few broken sentences reached the gallery. He was understood to explain for his Hon. Friend near him (Mr. S. Wortley) something in that gen tleman's speech that had been misunderstood. He said he should oppose the motion on the ground that to affirm it would be to deprive the Executive Go vernment of that confidence which they were entitled to have from the House. Mr. W YSE rose, but was received with a perfect storm of " Divide" and "Oh, oh !" which was re newed every time the Hon. Gentleman attempted to utter a word. He stood for some time against it ; but even his assurance that he had but a very fe w words to say on the subject failed to propitiate the House. He was still attempting to proceed, when Captain BERNAL rose to order, and the con fusion was rather increased than diminished, loud cries of " Spoke, spoke," being added to the others. He said he was in order in pointing out the Hon. Member for ~Nottinghamshire (Mr. Gaily Knight) as one who was active in interrupting his Hon. Friend (Mr. Wyse) in his speech to the House. He called on the Speaker to assert the right of Hon. Members to freedom of debate.—("Oh," and "Spoke.") Mr. WYSE at last proceeded to say that, some doubts having been thrown out as to whether these letters were opened or not, he assured the House that he had that day carefully examined the letters him self, and, in his mind, there could be no question that they had been opened at the Post-office. Two letters were addressed to Mr. Mazzini and Mr. Hamilton, which were placed in the post at the same time. One reached Mr. Hamilton at the proper hour, a little after ten; the other letter did not reach Mr. Mazzini till after twelve. On the latter, the post-mark had been altered by another stamp having been made upon the first one. There could be no doubt but the letters had been opened. He should vote for the Committee. Mr. DUNCOMBE then replied. He denied that he was liable to the charge of want of courtesy brought against him by the Right Hon. Secretary. He had given notice of the terms of the petition on the last occasion, and the Right Hon. Baronet then met him by stating that the warrant had been issued but had been withdrawn. In consequence of that statement he (Mr. Duncombe) did not take a division of the House on the question. But here he had another case, and he thought he had given the Right Hon. Secretary quite sufficient notice respecting it. He could assure him the public would not be satisfied with the explanation that had been given ; and if the Committee should be refused, it would be a general opinion that the Government was using a tyrant ma jority in order to stifle inquiry. This was no longer a question of inquiry into the Post-office; it had become a question of confidence in Ministers. Had he made out a prima facie case of inquiry ? He con tended that he had ; he had accused the Government of using its authority for the purpose of gratifying the feelings of foreign Powers, not for the purpose for which Sir It. Walpole said such an authority ought to be used—that of warding off any danger from the State. If they now refused an inquiry, they would be admitting their own criminality. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided—the numbers were : For the motion 162 Against it 206 Majority against the Committee SUGAR DUTIES. - 44 In answer to a question from Sir R. Peel Lord J. RUSSELL said he thought it would be more convenient to postpone the third reading of the Sugar Duties Bill till Thursday. Sir R. PEEL said that as he wished tho Bank Charter Bill to be taken in Committee that evening, he would not oppose the postponement of it. The third reading of this Bill was then deferred till Thursday. GREENWICH PARK. Mr. HUME begged the Hon. Secretary of the Admiralty to explain what he had stated the other evening as to the excavations in Greenwich Park, and the destruction of the ancient barrows, as his remarks had been misunderstood. Mr. S. HERBERT said that a public meeting had been called, protesting against the destruction of those barrows, and in consequence of remonstrances which had been made a stop had been put to their removal. As they had been opened before not much injury would be done to them, and whatever injury was done would be repaired. In answer to a question from Mr. HAWES, The Earl of LINCOLN said that an application had been made on the part of the Admiralty Board for park ground to build certain houses for some of the official re sidents, and desiring that some land might be attached for the sake of privacy. This proposition, on the part of the Admiralty, was objected to, but he proposed to give them a different portion of the park, to which no objec tion could be made. TURNPIKES. In answer to a question from Gen. JOHNSON on the subject of the Turnpike Bill, Sir J. GRAHAM said that her Majesty's Government intended shortly to introduce a measure on the subject of Turnpikes for Wales, the provisions of which Bill would, by some small alterations, be rendered applicable to England. If the House consented to pass the mea sure for South Wales, he intended, after some experi ence of its working, then to introduce a Bill for England and Wales. CLASSIFICATION OF THE POPULATION. Mr. RICARDO wished to know from the Right Hon. Gentleman when the classification of the population would be complete. Sir J. GRAHAM said it would be ready before the close of the present session. IRtSH AND SCOTCH PAUPERS. Sir D. NORREYS wished to know from the Right Hon. Gentleman whether he intended to bring in a Bill with regard to the transmission of Irish and Scotch paupers. Sir J. GRAHAM said it was his intention to intro duce a Bill to regulate the law of settlement, but it was not his intention to pass it this session. BANK CHARTER. On the motion for the Order of the Day for going into Committee upon the Bank Charter Bill being put, Alderman THOMPSON said he entirely concurred in the principle of the Bill introduced by the Right Hon. Gentleman ; but the question was, whether the restric tions contained in this Bill were necessary to carry out that principle. In his opinion they were not. For in stance, the Bank of England was restricted to fourteen millions in its issues, because it was supposed that was the capital of that establishment. But he could show that the real capital of the Bank was sixteen and a half millions, and they ought to be allowed to issue to that amount. He thought it was a very hard thing if per sons who could give undoubted security on the loan of money, should be refused it if they wanted it to carry on their speculations. He had been led to believe that a discretionary power had been vested in the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Master of the Mint, to meet emergencies. There was no objection to the separation of the banking and issuing ti:vfirtmer.ts, though it wo the Bat of Eng12.11:7, Vk - t+l'l , l, 21_ i;,., ;d ill!ro A duce a new r 7,l(i . tv pr rkstriw.ed prtn el - . - ,:1 issuing a ~ties rva erroneons 111* CCe .-rAndard of r,lue in the ion to go:d.—(Hear.) t!ce Bill wi that it eon- .6. 1 . 7 :at:1 , .. in en, , n of anethe bank of issue ceasing to issue its notes. If a flank issuing 99,000/. ceased to issue to that amount, the issuing of the Bank of England was limited to 80,000/., thus con tracting the power of the Bank 30,000/. Ile thought it right to make those objections ; he made them, however, as a Member of Parliament, and not as a member of the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. Mr. W. WILLIAMS was not surprised at the dislike of the Hon. Gentleman, to see the power of the Bank of England had been curtailed, and that he wished that a power to issue sixteen and a half millions had been left to them. He knew that the Right Hon. Gentleman who introduced this Bill would be pressed by influence on all sides. He looked on this Bill as the complement of the Bill of 1819. While the banks had the power of unlimited circulation, there was no class in the country whether high or low which did not feel the effects of it. These was unsteadiness and uncertainty in everything, there was fluctuation from high prices to low prices. He, therefore, looked on this measure as oae of the greatest importance. The excessive circulation of the Bank of England paper had encouraged speculation—it made the country a vast exporting country. But the foreign exchanges were soon turned against them, and they were obliged to correct them by a large export of bullion. In 1824, the Bank of England had over 14,000,000/. in its coffers; in December, 1825, it had lost the whole of that bullion. The Hon. Gentleman went on to quote the evidence of Mr. Norman, given before the Bank Committee, to the effect that in eighteen months no less than Nix and a half millions had been ab stracted from the Bank. The consequence was, that prices rose. and the greatest sacrifices were obliged to be made. The fact was, that gold would not keep company with paper.—(A laugh.) Perhaps in the first coming into operation the Bill might not have the effect which he anticipated, but he maintained that in the first three years of its operation it would bring into circulation a greater amount of bullion and paper together than had been since 1819. Our gold and silver circulation of the present time amounted to no more than thirty millions, whereas in France, which had much less commerce, there was a circulation of 100,000,000 in gold and silver. Why should the circulation of this country, which had the balance of trade so largely in its favour, have so inferior a circulation ? He attributed it to the effect of the paper currency, which sent the bullion out of the country. In the letters of Daniel Hardcastle, published in the Times, it was proved that during thirty years this country lost 230,000,000/. by that process alone. There could be no doubt that the debt had been borrowed in a depreciated currency, and was now being paid in gold. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to the report of the Bullion Committee in 1810, of which Mr. Horner was the Chairman, and which showed that so great had been the depreciation of the currency, in consequence of the in creased circulation of Bank paper, that it was thought necessary by the Legislature to double the salaries of all the officers of State, all persons in Government em ployment, and all persons in every avocation of life. He was surprised that his Hon. Friend, the Member for Lambeth—recollecting the effects of the measures relat ing to the Bank circulation in 1818, afterwards altered in 1822, and recollecting the condition in which the Bank was in 1824, and the disastrous events which followed—could persist in his opposition to this Bill.—(Hear.) He then read extracts from the evidence of Mr. Richards, the Governor of the Bank of England, before the Committee of the House of Commons in 1832, to show what had been at that period the consequences of the restricted circulation, which required the inter vention of the Government to prevent the most disas trous effects upon all the interests of the country. On a previous occasion a Minister of the Crown stated that, in consequence of the state of the circulation, the country was within twenty-four hours' of barter. To re medy these evils, Mr. Canning, in 1822, brought in his Bill, which he described figurat►vely as creating a column of paper raised upon a basis of gold. But the result showed that the eloquent statesman was very much mis taken. The consequences of all those fluctuations from high to low circulation, were productive of the greatest evils and distress. The depression which was occasioned by those changes was the cause of the people of this country 'going to the American and other foreign funds for the more safe investment of their money. Nothing could have stood up against those constant fluctuations ; the changes and uncertainty in wages, employment, and profits, could never have been stood up against but by the industry and energy of the people of this c nintry. They all remembered the condition into which the Bank of Engl ind brought itself in 1838 and 1839, when, if it had not been for the Bank of France coming to the as sistance of the Bank of England, the latter would have been bankrupt. If it had not been for the assistance of the East India Company, and more especially of the Bank of France, the Bank of England must have stopped payment in October, 1839. At that time the circulation was 25,000,000 L, and now it was upwards of 35,000,000/. Who got the advantage ? why foreign countries. He thanked the House for allowing him to make this statement. He would put it to the House whether something should not be done to prevent this country going as a mendicant to the Bank of France. If the House allowed its paper currency still to continue as it was now, they might depend upon it ruin must eventually. come. He thought the present measure was a most comprehensive one, and be should therefore give it his support. Mr. MASTERMAN urged on the Government the re-consideration of the question of the contraction of the issue upon securities by the Bank. At least he trusted that they would shorten the time for that con traction. He thought country bankers ought to have more time to return their averages. Mr. MUNTZ said, that after thirty years of blunder ing, according to the speech of the Hon. Member for Coventry, they had got into Paradise, but he had for gotten to state what that Paradise was. It was being heavily taxed, and pressed down with a property-tax.— (Laughter.) Subject to a corn tax, your labourers starving, and being beaten by the other markets of the world. The Hon. Member then proceeded at some length to argue that there ought to be a relative value between gold, silver, and corn, and concluded by moving that the House should go into Committee on the Bill that day six months.. Sir R. PEEL said he thought the House would not countenance the present attempt of the Hon. Member (Mr, Muntz) to go into Committee. In former stages of the Bill, the principle of the measure hal been thoroughly discussed ; and yet the Hon. Gentleman had not com bated the measure of the Government when those oppor • tunities offered, but had' taken advantage of the present occasion to reply to speeches made six or seven weeks ago. The Honourable Member for Birmingham professed to be in favour of a metallic standard, but still for so using and abusing it that the man who gave one hundred hard sovereigns for stock would in a few days find that that stock would bring to him no more than ninety-five pounds. As an advocate of a metallic standard his (Mr. Muntz's) views were absurd and impracticable ; such as be was sure, though Hon. Members might in courtesy listen to, they would never adopt. He (Sir R. Peel) thought it best to say at once that it was impossible for the Government to accede to the alterations which from various quarters had been proposed. Still there were some modifications which the Government had thought it its duty to agree to, and especially one as to the issues of private bankers, which it was proposed should now be ruled by the average of the twelve weeks preceding the announce ment of this measure. Regarding the issue of private banks all the Government required was that they should confine their issue within the maximum, and instead of a week a month's average would be allowed. On the 10th of October the limitation of issues would commence. He hoped the dread of a penalty and the fear of exposure would prevent any danger of excessive issue from taking place. With these explanations he hoped the House would now proceed to the consideration of the Bill in Committee.—(Hear.) Mr. HLTME said the chief danger of the proposed plan was the permission of the legal tender system to continue. When bullion began to disappear from the coffers of the Bank of England the country bankers just at that moment became clamorous in their demand for gold, and thus embarrassments would be generated. He did not wish to waste the time of the House by useless discussion, and, therefore, if the Right Hon. Baronet told him he had considered the legal tender clause and come to a determination thereupon, ;whatever his course might be, he (Mr. Hume) would not press his amend ment. Ho wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman meant to continue that clause ? Sir ROBERT PEEL said he did not mean to disturb unnecessarily the existing state of things and create a shock in the monetary affairs of this country. The pre sent legal tender clause would, therefore, be continued. Mr. WALLACE supported the amendment, and thought the measure of the Right Hon. Baronet would be ruinous to the kingdom both in its foreign and do mestic relations. A worse time could not be selected for such a change, as they were on the eve of a bad har vest ; and what with a deficiency of corn, and a deranged currency, the condition of this country would he feared, be disastrous in the extreme.—(Hear.) Mr. BARNARD said a few words which were not audible in the gallery. Gen. JOIINSON said they wore living under an arti ficial system, and he considered that under such a system, an exclusively gold currency would be impossi ble. They were trying to procure low prices in con junction with high taxes—(Hear, hear) which would be found impracticable. However, there seemed to be nobody to oppose the plan ; it was supported by the country gentleman, who, lie predicted would eventually suffer from it. Colonel SIBTHORP objected to the limitation of the circulation of notes; the one pound notes were called dirty paper; but he had always found them very useful paper.—(Laughter.) He had every confidence in the Right Hon. Baronet, and in his knowledge of this ques tion, but he could not see that there was any reason for limiting the paper circulation of the country. Great as he believed the talent of the Right Hon. Baronet to be, he thought his present measure a somewhat wild one. Mr. HUME explained that he had never been an ad vocate of a paper currency. After a few words from Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Mr. MORRIS, Mr. MUNTZ said the Right Hon. Baronet had charged him with cheating or robbing; h e did not k now whether he meant anything personal — (Laughter)—but his exertions were on behalf of the poor, to prevent them from being cheated and robbed, as by the Hon. Baronet's corn-law, along with his money-law, they certainly would be.—(Hear, hear.) Sir WALTER JAMES questioned the Right Hon. Baronet's definition of a pound, which he took as the basis of his principles. But if the correctness of the Right Hon. Baronet's premises were granted, the jus- could not be denied. Lie had ea, aLtAint.on to the subject, but had not been u ',119 mind upon it, and he.shouicl decline ving a v,a, Thc theu diviLicd, when thertlappcarcd 1", ,r , hc otion ./61, - , it !,krity Motion 187 The *Zotisa their went into Committee, Mr. GREENE in the Chair. Clause 1 will agreed to. Un elau , e 2 being proposed • Me. NEIVDF:GATE roe to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice.To judge from the effect of 1819, it was impossible not to ce•nclude that the effeet of this measure would be an increase of prices at least to the amount of twenty per Cent. Taking into account the increase of population, since that period it was evident that the Bill must operate very seriously to the injury of the worki ng classes.—(Hear, hear.) The exchanges would be turned against this country. There were two ways in which the adverse exchanges operated. First there must be an exportation of bullion to meet the foreign demand, and then there must be a large drain of gold from the Bank to meat the demands of the country occasioned by the panic necessarily arising from the same cause. The House had just divided, arid he had found himself in a minority of eighteen, but if this Act were in operation, to its ap pointed term, and it should then be proposed to renew the measure, the minority would be much larger. He solemnly protested against the measure as not adapted to the circumstances of the country. The very restric tien the clause imposed on the issue of securities com pelled him to divide the Committee upon the question that the blank be tilled up on the clause with the words 22 millions instead of 14 millions, the former sum being the average of the last twenty-three years. Sir P. PEEL could not but think that gentleman had greatly mistaken this question. They seemed to think that this measure restricted the Bank to issuing 14,000,000/. ; it did no such thing ; for when the Bill passel there ;gas nothing to restrain the Banking De partment from issuing 22,000,000/. or 24,003,C OJI, or even 23,000,000/. If power was given to issue 22,000,0001. on securities, it would leave money to issue on bullion. The Ilor. Member proposed that the Bank should issue 22,000,0001. on securities ; if it did so, it would be ruined directly, because it would have no bullion to meet its issues. He considered the whole of the Hon. Gentle man's speech as directed not against this measure, but a metallic standard, and to say that the old metallic stan dard was to be kept up in the present condition of the country, was to state that which was impossible. He felt sure his lion. Friend would not press his amendment. Mr. GISBORNE wished to ask if the Bank was to have the power of issuing Bank post bills to an un limited extent. Sir R. PEEL' said that as to these bills they would be regulated by the general principles of. the measure. Mr. M. PHILIPS was of opinion that the measure of the Right' Hon. Baronet would have the effect of maintaining steadiness of price, and it was therefore a measure which would confer great benefit on the country. He felt that it was the duty of every member who was in any way connected with those places in which labour was largely employed to give this Bill their fullest and best support. Mr. H. PALMER argued that it would be impossible for the Bank always to have it in its power to provide gold for any demand which might be made upon them in respect of Bank of England notes in circu lation. Speculations of all sorts, and the gold requisite at certain times for the purchase of corn, would preclude the possibility of this. If the circulation was to be confined to 14,000,0004 they would rue the day that ever they passed it. Mr. KEMBLE should vote against the amendment. Mr. C. WOOD supported the Mr. NEWDEG ATE replied, withdrawing his amend ment.—The clause was then agreed to. The House then resumed, the Chairman reported pro gress, and obtained leave to sit again on Thursd a y. The Education Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday. The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The otlier orders of the day were then disposed of, and the llouse adjourned at Ten minutes past One. UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA. Yeste:day the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this Bank was held at the office, 38, Old Broad-street. The secretary having read t he report, which stated tjiat, owing to a sum of 15,0001. having been transferred from the net produce on trade for the purpose of covering doubtful debts, the dividend for the shareholders would be consequently lessened, the Chairman said, that owing to the great distress which prevailed in the colony, it was a matter of surprise that they were enabled to lay even such a favourable report before the shareholders. The Directors, anxious to protect the interests of the Bank, had issued directions to their several agents to be particularly cautious in all transactions at the branch banks. By the last accounts from Australia it appeared that the commercial and agricultural prospects of that colony were much more cheering than they had been when the last meeting took place. He felt happy, under all the circumstances of the case, to state that a divi dend -at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum would be de clared upon the last half year. In reply to a question from a proprietor, he stated that at Sydney the rate of interest at which they discounted was, for short bills 6 per cent., and for long bills 8 per cent. ; at other branches the rate of discount was 8 and 10 per cent. A ballot for the election of Directors took - place, when Messrs. Gardner and Buckle were unanimously re elected, and the meeting separated. COLOMBIAN MINING COMPANY. A special general meeting of the Shareholders in this Company was held yesterday, at the office, 44, Fins bury-square, for the purpose of increasing the capital — a step rendered necessary by the acquisition of the pro perty called Ventongimps, which adjoins the Company's mines in Cornwall. Mr. P. Stainsby in the chair. On the motion of Mr. G. W. Scorr, seconded by Mr. THOMAS, it was unanimously resolved, that 1,200 new shares of 5/. each be issued ; and the Directors were empowered to issue certificates for the same, each certi ficate to represent three shares, in such form as they may deem expedient. The sum of a per share on such new shares to be paid, by three instalments of IL each, on the 26th of July, 26th of September, and 26th of Ja nuary next, but no certificates for new shares to be issued until all such instalments are paid. MR. GLADSTONE'S .BILL ON RAILWAYS. Prints have just been issued of " A Bill to attach certain conditions to the construction of future Railways, authorised or to be authorised by any Act of the pre sent or succeeding sessions of Parliament, and the other purposes in relation to railways," brought in by Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Greene, and ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 20th June, 1844. This Bill comprises 48 clauses. The preamble recites that " It is expedient that the establishment of new lines of railway should not be authorised, unless such con ditions as are hereinafter contained for the benefit of the public." Clause 1. enacts that " Bills of future railways shall be liable to revision ; and that above the clear usual profits divisible upon the subscribed and paid-up on capital stock of any new line of railway, track, or branch, to be established after the Ist January next after passing of the Act for such railway. " Upon the average of the three then last preceding years, shall equal or exceed the rate of ten pounds for every hun dred pounds of such paid-up capital stock, it shall be lawful for the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations, upon giving to the said Company one ca lendar month's notice in writing of their intention to revise the scale of tolls, fares, and charges limited by the Act or Acts relating to the said railway, and to fix such new scale of tolls, fares, and charges applicable to such different cl asses and kinds of passengers, goods, and other traffic, as in th e judgment of the Lords of the said Committee, assuming the same quantities and kinds of traffic to continue, shall be likely to reduce the said divisible profits to the said rate of ten pounds in the hundred." Clauses 2 and following ones provide for deduction, by Lords of said Committee, for amount of losses by any bad main:gement of the Company, from amount of the sum to be paid to Company in respect of such guarantee. Revised scale of toll, fares, and charges, as fixed by the Lords, to take effect on being published in the London Gaz2tte. This revised scale may be raised by Board of Trade, but not lowered, without consent of the Company, for seven years. No Company, while under such revi sion of its affairs, tolls, &c., to increase its capital. Board of Trade may, institute regulations as to the Company's traffic. As to option of purchase, clause 7 enacts " That whatever may be the rate of divisible profits in any such railway, it shall be lawful for the Lords of the said Committee, if they shall think fit, at any time after the ex piration of the said term of fifteen years, to purchase any such railway, with all its hereditaments, stock, and appur tenances, in the name and behalf of her Majesty, upon giving to the said Company one calendar month's notice in writing of their intention, and upon payment of a sum equal to twenty-five years' purchase of the said annual divisible profits, estimated on the average of the three then next pre ceding years ; provided always, that if the average rate of profit for the said three years shall exceed the rate of ten pounds in the hundred, it shall be taken at only ten pounds in the hundred, for the purpose of calculating thereon the amount of such purchase money." Clause 8 provides the mode in which, when the profits have been reduced by revision, the average is to be calculated. Clauses 9 to 24 enact that a company shall deliver up a railway in a state of sufficient repair, and with a suf ficient working stock ;--amount of depreciation in stock to be deducted from purchase-money. Interest upon debts to be deducted in estimating the profits ; mode of estimating divisible profits where railway is under lease. Accounts to be kept and to be open to the Board of Trade ;—Purchase-money to be paid to the Directors. Receipt under the come pany's seal for purchase-money to be a good discharge. On payment of purchase-money, the railway and works to vest in the Crown ; but contracts, &c., made with the company to remain in force. Proviso—Leases or can. tracts affecting the working of the railway ; actions, &c., not to abate. Differences to be settled by arbitrators, who are to be appointed within fourteen days, and va cancies of arbitrators to be supplied. Appointment of umpire. Bower of arbitrators to call for books, &c. Board of Trade not to be personally liable. Clause 25. " Companies to provide one cheap train, each way, daily," has been proposed with c t degree of considerate regard for th e wants :10 tae interest's, and we may add, the feelings, of the poor, of which we find it difficult to say too much in commendation. The clause is in these words : " And whereas it is expedient to secure to the poorer class of travellers the means of travelling by railway At moderate fares, and in earriagea in which they may be pro tected from the weather; he it enacted, that on and after the several days hereinafter Bpeclfied, all railway con, , ,,puie st which shall bave been Incorporated by etrty Act of the present seasion, or which shall be bereaftr incorporated, q which, by any Act of the present or any future sassi9,4; . l lx,e, obtained or shall obtain directly or unbirectli extia* or amendment of the powers conferlta on them respectively by their previous Acts, or have been or shall be authorised to do any act unauthorised by the pro Visions of such previous Acts, shall provide one train of carriages at least to travel along their railway from one end to the ,ether of each trunk branch, or junction line belonging to them, once at least' each way, on every week day; by which they shall be bound to convey such third-class passengers as may come to aisy of the ordinary stations of the railway, under the obligations contained in their several Acts of Parliathent, and also under the following conditions (that is to say) " Such train shall start at a convenient hour, to be from time to time fixed by the directors, subject to the approval of the Lords of the Committ ee o f P r i vy C ouncil for Trade 'and Plantations: " Such train shall travel at a rate of speed not less than twelve miles an hour, including stoppages : " Such train shall stop for taking up and setting down pas sengers at every station which it shall pass on the line : " The carriages in which passengers shall be conveyed by such train shall be provided with seats, and protected from the weather, in a manner satisfactory to the Lords of the said Committee : " The fare or charge for each passenger by such train shall not exceed one penny for each mile travelled by him or her : "Each passenger by such train shall be allowed to take with him half a hundred weight of luggage, not being mer chandise carried for hire, without extra charge; and any excess of luggage shall be charged by weight at a rate nut exceeding the lowest rate of charge for passengers' luggage by other trains. " Children under three years of age, accompanying pas sengers by such train shall be taken without any charge, and children of three years and upwards, but under twelve years of age, at half the charge for an adult passenger. " And with respect to all Railway Companies subject to these obligations which shall be open on or before the Ist day of October next, these obligations shall come into force on the said Ist day of October; and with respect to all other railways subject to this obligation, it shall come into force on the day of opening of the railway, or the day after the last day of the session in which the Act shall be passed, by reason of which the Company will become subject thereunto, which shall first happen.' Subsequent clauses vest in Board of Trade a discre tionary control over th ese c h eap trains, and a power of allowing alternative arrangements ; enact that tax upon receipts from passengers carried at ld. per mile, shall not exceed half the amount of tax on general receipts ; that certain companies shall convey military and police forces at certain charges under sth and Bth Victoria, cap. 55; and that railway companies shall afford additional faci lities for the transmission of mails under Ist and 2d Vic., cap. 98. Clause 31 is very important, as it requires railway companies to allow lines of electrical telegraph to be es tablished, as well as by private parties (to be open to the public), as by order, and servants of the Lords of the Board of Trade. Access to stations that will thereby become requisite to be granted by company. Ap pointment of Inspectors by Board of Trade, pr ov id e d f or under 3 and 4 Victoria, c. 97 continued ; and other powers under same Act extended ; and some repealed. Board of Trade may direct prosecutions to prevent Rail way Companies from contravening or exceeding the pro visions of their Acts ; due notice to be given to such Companies. Such prosecutions to be under the Board of Trade, and within one year after the offence. Companies empowered to enter into engagements or contracts with the Board of Trade, and may give security for the fulfil ment of engagements. Issue of loan-notes, and other illegal securities, by Railway Companies prohibited ; loan-notes already issued to be paid off when due ; registry of loan-notes. Remedy for recovery of tithe .rent charged on railway land. The other clauses re gard mere working details, such asitervice of notice, &c. ELECTION OF SHERIFFS. Yesterday a Common Hall was held for the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex. Alderman William Hunter, (of Coleman-street Ward) and Mr. Thomas Sydney of Ludgate-Hill, were unanimously elected. The latter gentleman was pro posed by Mr. Dillon, of the house of James Morrison and Co., and Mr. Obbard, the Deputy of .the Ward in which Mr. Sydney resides. The two newly-elected officers, in returning thanks, stated that they would do all in their power to convince the Livery that the election had fallen upon persons who were capable of estimating the honour conferred upon them. Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said that as an old citizen he should avail himself of a privilege which every one of them possessed, of saying a few words on a subject not irrelevant to the occasion on which they were assembled —the administration of justice. He need not remind them how intimately the office of sherK and the power of the citizens to elect the sheriffs; was. connected with the pure administration of justice ; and he had read with so much satisfaction, a sentiment delivered very recently by the present Lord Chief Baron, that he could not forbear yielding to the wish to impress it upon the minds of his fellow-citizens. " With respect to the ad ministration of justice," said Lord Chief Baron Pollock, " he was satisfied that, so long as the people of this country possessed that independence which he had seen them evince on many occasions in thenssertion of their own rights, the judges would never be found wanting in the independent and impartial discharge of their duties." —(Cheers.) Here there was a full recognition of the all-important principle that the public spirit of the people in the maintenance of their own rights was the best safe guard for the independent and impartial discharge even of the highest judicial duties and he might at the pre sent time, remind them of the supreme zmporta nce o f the pure administration of justice, not only in England, Scotland, and Wales, but also in Ireland.—(Applause and murmurs of dissatisfaction.) They were all agreed, no doubt, that here in England packed juries, partiality in judges, attempts to put down the free expression of opinion, and the cashiering of independent magistrates, would be considered abominations net to be tolerated. Why, then, if they were friends to union with Ireland, were such things to be endured in the Sister Island ? (Cries of " Hear," and strong expressipns of disappro bation.) " Gentlemen," said Mr. Taylor, "I shall con clude by merely expressing an earnest hope that a re quisition may be made to his Lordship for a Common Hall, in which we may have a full opportunity of ex pressing our feelings on this important subject,—(" Hear, hear," and " No, no.") The Chamberlain, the Bridge-Masters, and the other officers annually chosen by the Livery were elected. THE CHAMBERLAIN'S ACCOUNTS OF THE CORPORATION FUNDS, &C. &C. The auditors of the City accounts handed in the fol lowing report, which contains an exact statement of the Corporation finances : " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, elected by the Livery of London, in Common Hall assembled, on the 24th of June, 1843, auditors of the Chamberlain's accounts of the Corporation and Gresham Fund, and of the Bridge-Masters' accounts of the Bridge-house es tates, do report ; " That the amount of the receipt and expenditure of the Corporation of London, laid before us to audit, was the twelfth annual account of Sir James Shaw, Bart., Chamberlain of this City, from the Ist of January to the 31st day of December, 1842, both inclusive, which we carefully examined in detail, and find— That the balance of cash upon the account on the 31st December, 1841, was That the receipts of the year ending 31st December, 1842, including 6,5001. produced by the sale of stock, and applied in the purchase of freehold property, were 160,990 19 6 That the expenditure of the said year as appears by the general vouchers and documents laid before us by the Chamberlain, amounted to 166,096 L 2s. 3id., (including 6,5002 paid for freehold property before alluded to, and 1,3961. 15s. I Id. applied in the purchase of Government securities) 166,096 2 3} Leaving a balance upon the account on the 31st of December, 1842, of 16,451 9 4i " A brief statement of the receipt and expenditure is appended hereto (Appendix A). " In the further prosecution of the examination re ferred to us, we found that certain debts, arrears of rents, dues, and Government securities were due and belonging to the Mayor and commonalty and citizens on the 31st December, 1842, and that they were at the same period answerable for debts, claims for interest, and other pay meats. " We have therefore directed a balance statement of such assets and liabilities to be hereunto annexed (Ap pendix B), by which it is shown that there is a cash balance in favour of the Corporation of 22,532/. 19s. 7id., after providing for all claims and demands upon them • also 38,531/. 75.4 d. Three p er C en t s ., an d 21,073/. ss. Id. Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Stock, exclusive of the value of their freehold and leasehold estates. " In reference to a recommendation made last year by the auditors, ' that some efficient steps should be taken to provide, as far as possible, against diminution of in come, on the falling in of certain extensive leasehold property in the year 1867,' we have the satisfaction of reporting that the subject has been considered by the Corporation,'and a scheme having been approved of by them, directions had been given to prepare an act of Common Council in order to carry the same into effect. " We also beg to notice that a, certain rent issuing out of the manor of Holcut, in the county of Bedford, is still considerably in arrear, notwithstanding the auditors di rected attention to the circumstance in their last report. " The Gresham account laid before us for examination was also the 12th annual account of Sir James Shaw, Bart., as Chamberlain, of the produce and expenditure of the City's moiety of the estate, held under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, Knt., being from the 10th of Oc tober, 1841, to the 10th of October, 1E42, which we have also examined, and find That the amount of cash in advance by the Chamberlain, on the account ending 10th October, 1841, was That the expenditure of the said ac count far the year ending 10th Octo ber, 1842, amounted to That the receipts of the said account in the same period were 35,779 3 8 Lea Ting a balance to the credit of th• account of A brief statement of the receipts and expenditure we have caused to be appended hereto (Appendix C.) 't We find that the City s moiety of the estate was in debted on the 10th of October, 1842, the sum of 30,0004 borrowed towards re-building the Royal Exchange after its recent destruction by fire in the year 1838 ; and that it wiA s also indebted to the Corporation 20,000 L; remain ing of the sum advanced to re-building the Exchange after the fire, 1,6661. "The account of the Bridge-house estates laid before us to audit was the account of Joseph Watson and David Gibbs, the Bridge-masters or wardens, from the Ist of January to 31st of December, 1842, which we have slob carefully examined, and find " That the balance of cash is hand on 31st December, 1841, was .................................. . £1,850 15 41 That the rents at the land estates and other receipts of the year ending 31st Pecember, 1842, were Making togethq £34,975 8 2i That the disbursements of the saidyear, r : . including the sum of 23,553 L 15s. 11d. paid to the Chamberlain of London, under % thevilit 4th, C. 118, ets4thGeo. 4th, respecth,c .5t and ••- of re-building. London-bridge and rt-nairing Blackfriars- bridge, were... 33,888.13 10 e• Leaving a balance in hand on the 31st Dec.;1849, of 1,0861. 12s. 4id. In addition to the said isalationof cash in hand, we found that there were other assets belonging to the trust, on 31st Dec., 1842, exclusive of the value of the Bridge-house estates ; viz., rents due at Christmas 1842, 14,2811. 15s. 81d., and 9,003 L 16s. 6d.; - Ctonsols in the hands of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery. - • " The auditors in concluding this their -report- beg to express their most unqualified approval of the system of accounts adopted by the Corporation, enabling them to ascertain (with as little labour as is possible in transac tions of such magnitude), thecorrectness of the accounts, as well as the exact position of the Corporation. " And they cannot but record their satisfactien. at the beautiful and accurate way in which the, acconnts are kept, and their approbation of the attention and assi duity of the official gentlemen whose duty it is -to-pre pare, explain, and lay the same before them, • • (Signed) " J. MARTIN DERMER. RICHARD WALTER. JAMES JARDINE. W. SHEPHERD. " Guildhall, May 17, 1844." APPENDIX A. A brief statement of the Corporation receipt and ea. penditure for the year ending 31st Dec., 1842 ;t-- - RECEIPT. Balance on the last account . £21,556 12 411 Rents and quit rent s Renewing fines Markets Tolls, duties, and offices Bequests Brokers' rents and fines 3,833 0 0 Freedoms, &c 3,560 3 2 Interest on Government securities .2,100 9 I Casual sundry and incidental receipts "2,837 11 -1 Sale of Securities 6, 5 00 0- 0 £18Y,547 . 11 8 EXPENDITURE. Charges on the Contra Rents, &c., viz.— Charges in aid of public improvementsill,soo .0 0 Charges on the Corporation rental •7;546 .I. 1 Charges on the markets :8,879 .4 1 Charges on tolls, duties, &c. 22,0741 2 1 1 Charges on brokete rents 303 13 0 Payments in relief of a Counirßate on the Inhabitants, viz.— Magistracy expenses 7,850 8 5 Police expenses Newgate Prison House of Correction 6,801 14 11 Debtors' Prison 6,561 15 111 General prison expenses ' 19 4 6 Administration of criminal justice Office of coroner ' 224 2 8 Civil government of the City 28,586 6 9 Conservancy of Thames and Medway 4,612 17 5 Magistracy of Southwark and Borough • - Conipter Charitable donations, &c. 9,296 8 0 Payment in respect of extinguishing the . right of alienation of offices . Bequests Sundry and miscellaneous expenses 10,284 18 4 Interest and annuities Purchase of securities Purchase of property 6,500 0 0 166,096 2 8 Balance on the account, 31st Dec. 1842 16,451 9 4 4184,547 11 81 APPENDIX B. . The Balance Statement of the Arrear s o f nen* Duties, Government Securities, tic., due and belonging to the Corporation of the City of London, on the 31st of December, 1842, and of the Claims and other engage . menu _chargeable on the Corporation at the same perkxl. LUDLUM& To amount remaining of 150,000/. borrowed under the authority of the Act for the re moval of Fleet-market £lO,OOO 0 0 To amount now owing of the sum raised under the Act for making a street at Holborn-bridge For half a year's _pay ment due to the Lon don-bridge Approaches Fund , For annuities on lives remaining unpaid For interest on 10,000 L remaining of the sum borrowed - for the re moval efFleet-market 175 0 0 For ditto on the sum borrowed Under the Act for making a uew street from Holborn bridge . For compensation allow ances payable to late Deputy Sea-coal Me ters, and others. 2,969 19 5,750 0 0 568 8 9 10,319 19 4 66,212 19 4 Cash balance in favour of the Corpora tion, 31st December, 1842 22,532 19 7} £88,745 18 111 ASSETS. Balance of cash in hand on 31st of Pe- .C 16,451 9 41 comber, 1642 By arrears of rents, City of London and Liber ties £19,294 17 By arrears of counties of Middlesex and Surrey 4,797 6 11 By arrears of Irish quit rents By arrears of tenancies at-will By arrears of City's pro bortion of the Fins ury estate By arrears of markets, tolls, duties, &c. By arrears of brokers' rents 4,892 0 0 By arrears of casual re ceipts By arrears of freedoms voted to be sold for City's use By arrears of fees on the admission of free- 96 1 11 951 4 01 530 0 0 107 2 6 men By arrears of interest on Government securities 561 13 4 32,364 14 II Debt from the fund for lighting Blackfriars bridge .. 4,959 15 5 Debt from the fund for improving the navi gation of the river Thames 15,000 0 0 Debt from the City's moiety of the Gres ham •, estate 39,989 15 1 488,745 18 11* GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ALSO BELONGING TO Tag CORPORATION. A capital of Consolidated Three per Cent. Annuities 430,350 9 2 A capital of Reduced Three per Cent Annuities B,lBO 15 A capital of Reduced Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Annuities 91,b73 5 10 Note.—The above is exclusive of the value of the Corporation estates. APPENDIX C. ' A brief statement of the receipt and expertditure of the City moiety of the estate of Sir Thouias Ureahaaa. Knight, for the year ending 10th October, 1544 RECEIPTS. A moiety of rent of Excise-offico 4500 0 Interest on stock 1 2 Sale of stock - Nal*. 2 6 Amount received on account of loan to- - • • - wards building the Royal Exchange 30,000 0 0 £35,779 3 • EXPENDITURE. Balance overpaid on the last account £3so 18 14 Salaries to lecturers on divinity, geome try, astronomy, law, and music 463 • 0 Allowances to poor pensioners 5O 0 0 Allowances, clothing and coats to Alms men, and repairs to the alms-houses 806 5 3 Taxes. &c., in respect of the late Royal Exchange Salaries to clerk, Exchange keeper, constables, &c. Incidental charges and expenses On account, building the new Gresham . ••• 2,000 0 0 College NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE. 338 11 4 Laying the first stone On account of foundation and rebuilding 22,460 0 0 On account of carving and sculpture On account of Architectural Commis sion Interest on loan Committee's expenses (3 years) 76 0 0 Snndry expenses • 11-8 . 9 6 :429,038 0 4 Balance on the account 10th Oct., 1842. 6,741 3 ,4 £35,779 3 :43 (Signed) BENJAMIN SCOTTi-- Chamber of London, May 17th, 1844. - A Court of Aldermen was held, after the pribeedialgs at the Common Hall were terminated ; but nothing , of any public interest occcrred. • IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.—There ire et remit, in the town prison here, four mon for debt, whose onitied amounts, exclusive of costs, do not amount to at wo wonder we have a heavy county rate if eve town in Glamorganshire keeps pace with C ar diff— • shire Afer/iw. .. ~ j. pie f ti, or 1 , ` 7 ~~~~ 849 11 7 tries , ild be , ow° ' were lells e Se' that OP} tell , 50 11 I, he iirf . rinir ani' ste- i ~~ 1 .~