The Sun. — London, England, 1844-08-06 00:00:00

foreign Power. Re could not doubt that the existence of the difference between the state of things at the present large British fleet would have a tendency to avert the time and at the period at which I made those obser danger.—(Hear hear.) He would now state what was vations. At that / time this country was engaged the present amount o f th e nava l f orce o f t hi s country, i n a state of warfare in North America, in which he certainly thought totally inadequate to the China, in the Persian Gulf, and in India. Al wants of the country, even in a state of profound peace, though not then in the active service of the Govern much more under the circumstances to which he had re- ment I was frequently in communication with Lord Hill, (erred. The whole navy of England at that period, as ; and never failed whenever he asked my opinion to freely respected line-of-battle ships, consisted of nine ships. Of advise with him concerning the state of our fleets and these nine ships, two were upon a very distant station, armies in all parts of the world. The Noble Lord had one was in the West Indies, one was under orders to rather misquoted what I said on a former occasion. sail for the Pacific. They had, a short time ago, three What I complained of was, that being engaged in exten ships of the line in their home ports ; there was a flag- sive wars in three parts of the globe, those wars were ship bearing the flag of the Admiral commanding at carried on with a peace establishment, and the conse- Cork ; and their ninth ship was the Mediterranean fleet, quence was that th e w h o l e p eace serv i ce was starve d . I a Medterranean fleet consisting of one ship-of-the-line! will not go into details of the number of men and ships —(Hear, hear.) Was that, under any circumstances, a —into naval details lam not competent to enter; lent, fit state of things ?—(Hear, hear.) Could their Lord- my Lords, we know very well the amount of estimates ships conceive a state of things which could make it to- voted—the number of men, and the whole naval strength lerable that the Mediterranean fleet should be reduced to —and if the number of men for whom naval supplies a single ship ? He certainly felt that this was a condi- have been voted in this Parliament be considered, I tion to which the navy ought never to have been re- think it will be found equal to what it was duced—a state of insecurity in which the country never in a much more warlike period—equal to should have been placed. It was true that the Medi- what it was in the years 1837, 1838, 1839, terranean fleet now amounted to three ships-of-the- and 1840, during which time we carried on great line, having been reinforced by two line of-battle- operations in America, in China, in India, and in the ships, in consequence, he presumed, of the state Persian Gulf. Ample means everywhere exist for per of affairs in Morocco. Now he did complain of forming those services which ought to be p er f orme d b y this state of things as a wanton sacrifice of the safety her Majesty's navy, and for affording protection to her and honour of the country. Great complaints were Majesty's subjects wherever commerce, or their other made in 1838 of the inefficiency of the naval force at concerns, may carry them. I will not allude to the that time; but in reply to such complaints, he showed recent eccentricities in a distant part of the world— that there was as large a force available as could be re- (Laughter)—carried on under circumstances protested quired. It was then a time of profound peace, there against by this country, and disavowed by the Govern was nothing to cause the least anxiety, and yet the force meat of France. Those who have been engaged in these was ~Such larger than it was at the pre sen t moment , eccentr i c i t i es w ill b e respons ib le for them to their Sove there being no less than eighteen ships of the line in reign—they will;be held answerable to the extent of their commission. el Noble Friend of his (Lord Melville) responsibility, and which will be carried into execution, complained at that time that though the force might be and they will be required to answer for their conduct in sufficient for the service e'.N . oad, yet there was not a those eccentricities. Your Lordships surely would not sufficient reserve of ships maintained for the defence of expect to see a fleet maintained in the Pacific, nor would this country. Now at that very time there were six your Lordships, lam sure, consider it prudent to coin ships of the line in our home ports, and two more at Lisbon. mence a contest under such c ir cums t ances . —(H ear, There was the greatest difficulty in getting good sea- hear.) It is impossible for me to say that the men, England was the last country in the world that fleet in the Pacific was sufficient, at the time ought not to be provided properly with seafaring men. these events occurred, to enter into hostilities ; As an instance of the manner in which the English had hut I will venture to say it was sufficient been treated by foreign nations, in consequence of their from all purposes of service. Ido not pretend to say not having a sufficient fleet, he need only advert to the whether Mr. Pritchard was or was not Consul at the case of Otaheite, where the Consul of this country had time, nor whether he merited or did not merit what hap been treated in the most disrespectful manner. The de- pened to him—these are questions I will not enter into position of Queen Pomare in Otaheite did not deprive on this occasion. My Noble Friend has stated that a the Consul of this country of the powers he possessed; great outrage has been committed. I have no doubt but and the course that had been pursued towards him op- satisfaction will be given for that outrage, and it is peared a great disgrace to this country. He thought better there had been no naval contest there, than that that the acts of violence that had taken place any attempt had been made by the naval officers on the at Otaheite showed great want of perseverance on spot to enter into a conflict.—(Hear, hear.) the part of this country. Did not all these Lord CLANRICARDE said he would not enter into things show that some protective force ought to be kept any details, but surely, however weak our fleet was in up—one that would ensure eespect and not allow this the Pacific, it was not so weak as the arguments of the country to be made the laughing s:e'ck of the world? He First Lord of the Admiralty.--(A laugh.) It was quite was satisfied that the present Ministry of France meant clear there was not at present a sufficient force in the well, but he was doubtful of its durability. He I`2:aught Pacific—there was not a fleet there as there had been, that the state of the fleets of this country ought to be sufficient to ensure respect and proper treatment for a strengthened in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of British' 9fficer. The Noble Lord said ships were in keeping up the position which the country held in the readiness and could be dispatched in a mo scale of nations. The Noble Earl concluded by moving ment, but they had not :been ready when " a return of her Majesty's ships of war (other than they were wanted, and an outrage on a British those reserved for harbour duty) in commission on the officer had been perpetrated. He had heard that the 31st of July, 1844 ; and also a return of her Majesty's Caledonia was sent from Portsmouth the other day with ships of war present at Otaheite from the Ist of Septeme 300 men on board, 150 of whom were marines; and this her, 1842, to the latest period to which advices have been was instanced as a proof of dispatch. An agent of our received, specifying the date of the arrival there and de- Sovereign had been insulted—there was no delicacy Failure from thence of each ship." about that. Tho Prime Minister, and the Noble Lord The Earl of HADDINGTON said the Noble Earl had the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had taken a proper and impressed on the House the sense of deep responsibility a manly tone, and one much more befitting the o ccas i on he felt in bringing forward such a question at an incon- than that assumed by the First Lord of the Admiralty. venient moment ; he said also that he was quite aware As he understood, the Dublin left Otaheite in January ; of the inconvenience of the present time; he then pro- had she been there, no such outrage, he firmly believed, ceeded to remark in what that inconvenience consisted, would have occurred. The tone assumed by the French and he then committed himself, on his own showing, a officers in Otaheite should have warned the Admiralty , great impropriety, by drawing the attention of their of the necessity of having the British Power respect- Lordships to what he was pleased to call the deplorable ably represented at Otaheite. He thought the Noble state of the naval defence of this country. He (Lord Duke had very much exaggerated the state of our rela- Haddington) was also well aware of the inconvenience, tions with foreign countries during the years 1837, 1838, at the present time, of a discussion of this nature. He and 1839. He cordially joined in the Noble Lord's hopes should therefore make it his duty to abstain from any that there was no danger or necessity for warlike prepa observations which might at all add to that inconveni- rations; but the Government should not be blind to once—and he should occupy their Lordships' attention what was going on on the coast of Morocco; and it was for as short a time as possible. He should only touch by having a respectable force there that the chance of on such parts of the speech of the Noble Earl as he war would be best avoided. thought necessary for the defence of his department, The Earl of HADDINGTON explained. and of her Majesty's Government. The Noble Earl The Earl of HARDWICKE considered the answer mid he was not for keeping up an unnecessarily and explanation given by his Noble Friend (Lord large naval force; but that making such reductions Haddington) perfectly satisfactory. In consequence of as might be necessary was a very different the dissatisfaction evinced by the public at large, and by thing from what he was pleased to denominate Parliament, at the condition of the navy during the time a truckling submission. He was most anxious to know the Noble Lord opposite (the Earl of Minto) was at the in what this truckling submission consisted. The Noble head of the Admiralty, that Noble Lord seized every Earl did not particularise, he gave no instances of it ; opportunity of applying the to quoque. He (the Earl of he merely said, that nothing could justify the reduction Hardwicke) did not think that debates of this kind would of the nary to its present state. Now he (Lord Had- lead to any good result. He had always felt that, in addition diugton) had about him a return of the number of her to the disposable force which was stationed abroad, it Majesty's ships in commission in the three years of was necessary, at all times, to have in this country a 1839, 1840, and 1844, and the result was that disposable force of ships, that, on any emergency arising, the number of line of battle ships in commission in the the Government might be enabled to send out additional year ending July, 1840, was greater than the number in ships to any foreign station, and he felt perfect commission in the year ending July, 1844. But then confidence, that at no period within the last few years, the House should remember, that at that time they had the naval profession been more effective, either with were carrying on hostilities in the Mediterranean, and respect to the home-yards or those ships on foreign were bombarding the town of Acre. But this state of stations. things had passed away ; this country was at present The Earl of MINTO replied. He eulogised the in a condition of profound peace, and to keep up any- character and gallantry of Sir C. Napier, and said that thing approaching to that establishment now, would be there was no man in whom he would place so much an extravagance, which however it might be approved confidence with respect to naval matters. He had been by the Admiralty, which never disliked a large force led to this opinion by the gallant conduct of Sir C. afloat, her Majesty's Government would not be justified Napier when in command of the fleet in the Mediter _in entertaining. In 1838 the Noble Lord said, they had ranean, when he (the Earl of Minto) had the honour of eighteen line-of-battle ships in commission ; of these corresponding with him. The Noble Earl then entered eighteen, three were guard-ships, which were then into a comparison of the complements of the ships in manned as fifth-rate frigates, and were, as ships, to be the last war, and those which were at present stationed sent to sea, perfectly useless. This reduced the eighteen in the Mediterranean. There were five 74-gun vessels to fifteen ; and these fifteen were of that under-manned in Lord Vincent's action, with a complement of 575 men class in which the Noble Earl so much delighted.— to each ship ; in Lord Duncan's action there were 554. (Hear, hear.) Those ships which were in the Mediter- At Trafalgar there were sixteen seventy-fours, divided ranean were greatly under-manned ; so much so, thakit into two classes, but the average number was 598 men was with extreme regret that he heard it declared for each ship. Sir Robert Stopford had seventeen ships at the time, by no less an authority than of the line, in which there were 775 marines, which gave Commodore Sir Charles Napier, that if they 54 to each ship. Those, together with the crews, gave had then unfortunately gone to war with an average of 607 men for each ship. He had heard it France, we should have been beaten in consequence of said in another place that the present armament was of our ships being under-manned. Again, by the navy a superior description. That might be true with regard estimates of 1838, it appeared that the whole number of to the shot, but it was not so with regard to the weight sailors voted was 23,165. But be it observed the of metal which the vessels carried. The complements of number voted in the present year was 36,000.—(Hear.) ships were always less in time of peace than i n time o f Now that was a very large peace establishment. The war, and he had the authority of Admirals Martin, Noble Lord had insinuated that the present number of Parker, and Stopford, for saying that a full complement nine ships of the line was the number to which the in time of peace was an impediment. When he suc- Government was determined to restrict itself. But he ceeded Lord De Grey he found the state of the navy in protested against the Noble Lord's holding out this as such a condition that he was obliged to ask for an in the intention of the Government—that it would never creased estimate for men and stores, and almost every be necessary, in time of peace, to exceed nine ships of thing requisite for a ship.—(Cheers.) He hoped he the line. With a great deal of what had fallen from the would not again see the navy of the country in such a Noble Lord he was disposed to agree, as to the employ- condition. went of line-of-battle ships. Taking a general view of The Earl of HADDINGTON explained. the matter, he thought there ought to be a certain The motion was then negatived without a division. number disposable. The Noble Lord had repeated the COMMON LAW COURTS (IRELAND) BILL. complaint he made on a former night as to the force in Lord CAMPBELL moved the order of the day for the Mediterranean; and he (Lord H a ddi ng ton) only had resuming the adjourn e d d e b ate on t hi s Bill, an d move d to repeat the answer he had then given to it. The Noble an amendment that the words " Chief Justice," or Lord said the fleet in the Mediterranean consisted only " Chief Baron," be substituted for the Lord Lieutenant. , :;?:f , Duke of RICHMOND hoped the Noble and of one line-of-battle ship. Now when they were in pro found peace with France, and were likely to continue so, Learned Lo;7 l _ would not persevere in his amendment. it was by no means necessar y th a t they should apportion He thought thejpatrj:.7age would be much better placed their own force in that sea to what the French mi g ht in the hands of the Lord Isil;;:l'aant than in the hands of consider necessary for their interest there. By their the judges. possession of Algeria they had great interest on the The Earl of WICKLOW did not see why :his patron other side of that sea ; their principal pert, Toulon, was ag e s h ou ld not b e in the hands of the Irish judges as in the. Mediterranean, and there was much m ore neces- we ll as of the English judges. If it were better in the city for them to have a considerable force there than hands of the Crown in one country, it would be ales) this country had. If they thought it necessary to exer- better in this country. He would be anxious to assinii cise their ships there, it was no reason for England late the law in both countries. always keeping there a force equal to it. What they The LORD CHANCELLOR said he knew the Irish bad to look to was, the protection of British interests ; judges were anxious for this patronage. and he was not aware of any case in which they had The Marquis of NORMANBY said that if the judges been neglected. The Noble Earl had made out no P ar - were anxious to receive this patronage, he knew that the iiamentary case, though he had made a most incon- Lord Lieutenant, as far as he was concerned himself, venient speech—(Hear, hear)—not inconvenient to him- was anxious to get rid of it. He thought it would be self, for that was but a small consideration—but, t a ki ng better to assimilate the law of Ireland to the law in this his motion coupled with his speech, alleging the number country. of ships at present employed as a cause of complaint The Duke of RICHMOND said he was prepared to against the Government, lie should ask their Lordships support a measure taking away the patronage from the to decide the question by voting—as he should do him- English judges, and vesting it in the Crown. self—against the production of the return moved Earl FORTESC LIE concurred in the view taken by for by the Noble Earl The Noble Lord had his Noble Friend. net shown that the safety of England ye- The amendment was then agreed to,' and the Bill quired more, for they were at peace with France, passed. and if wa: was probable, it was not likely but that such a " coming event" would " cast its shadow before." For that event, he contended, this country had ample means. They had thirty advanced ships in ordinary, with all their fittings up, and rigging, and stores, ready: to be put on board—wanting nothing for sea but manning: ; and, though that could not be done in a day, it might be effected in a comparatively short time. Nor had they neglected the new element of destruCtion—steam ; they were building new-war steamers, and making consider abte progress in erecting steam establishments, both at Portsmouth and Plymouth. He thought he had said enough to prove that they were not careless of the safety of the country. The Noble Lord had thojeght proper to tannment on the delicate subject of the recent events at Otaheite. He had stated that the French established a protectorate there in 1842, and he blamed the Govern ment for not having had a sufficient force there to prevent it. But nothing had occurred there previously to call she attention of the Government to that island, and when it was directed to it, it must be remembered that the distance to that part of the world was enormous, nearly half the globe. There was not a force there at time, but the Talbot arrived there shortly afterwards, and remained till February, 1843. The Vindictive arrived when the Talbot left, and remained there till August ; and when she left, on the 6th of August, the Dublin took her place, and remained till January, 1844. In fact, Otaheite had never been without a British pen vent to look after British interests. The Noble Lord bad said, if the Vindictive had been there, the occur rence would not have happened. But the bublin was there when Admiral Dupetit Thouars did that act which his sovereign had since disavowed; and when the acts of officers were' such as to be disavowed by their sovereign, he thought it was with these last that this country ought to treat, rather than risk a collision in the individual cases which would involve the whole eiriliscd world in war. Captain Tuckett protested against any step that was taken, but he 4,eted with the greatest discretion, and did nothing that would 'evolve Vie risk of hostilities ; and he did not believe that if the Vindictive had been there the outrage on Mr. Pritchard would have been prevented. Their force was stationed there to watch over 13ritish interests, but not to interfere with foreign Powers. He maintained that they had performed that duty, and that those interests had not suffered except in the case of that vial.ent outrage, of which, considering all the circumstances, he we :1d not say a word. He concluded by resisting the motion of the Noble Earl. The Duke of WELLINGTON—The Noble Earl op posite has alluded to some obseleations made by me two years ago respecting the state of the navy, and la m now induced to trouble you with a f ew remarks just to show manity. Now he had had some experience of the working of the two systems, and he had no hesitation in saying, that under the present system the poor were infinitely better off than before.—(Hear, hear.) It had been stated, that in consequence of the medical attendants being under paid, they neglected the poor ; there might be cases of this neglect, but generally the poor were better attended to than before. Under the old system, they scarcely had any medical attendance at all. They would also remember, that when a poor man applied for relief, there was a kind of dispute or controversy between him and the overseer, whether he should be relieved or not. But now, every one who was entitled to relief received it with the greatest regularity ; nor was there any indisposition to deny relief to the aged. There was no disposition to drive the poor into the workhouse. A great deal had been said about the separation of man and wife, but this existed in all well-regulated work houses under the old poor-law. Generally speaking, as far as respects the old and married, the former were better off, the latter as well off, as before. A great deal had been urged against the Commissioners of the Poor law, but he felt convinced that that board was the greatest security the poor could have, that they would be treated in a proper manner. When it was attempted to cry down a particular law, and when that law did not deserve these taunts, it was the duty of any honest man to state his convictions regarding it, and support it if he believed it to be just.— (Hear, hear.) Although there were cases of hardship occurring from time to time, he would like to know what other law could be devised which would an swer the same purpose. He hoped their Lordships would excuse him for going into the subject at such length, hut, from the frequent attempts which had been made to cry down the law he thought it right thus far to intrude on their Lordships. The Duke of RICHMOND said there was not a word of truth in any of the statements which had been made in the newspapers regarding the union of which he was chairman. With respect to the law of bastardy he would not vote against the amendment introduced in the Government Bill, as bastardy was so much on the in crease in the manufacturing districts. With respect to the relief of widows that was a very delicate subject to legislate upon ; they should be careful not to give out door relief to widows who were earning much money, or were leading an immoral life. He thought it was right that the unions should be diminished in extent, as they were at present productive of great inconvenience. There was a feeling in the country that when the As sistant Poor-law Commissioners came to the boards of guardians for the purpose " of screwing the law a little tighter," officers should he appointed by the Secretary of State, not only to attend the boards, but to visit the workhouses at times when they were not expected. When a boy ran away from the workhouse with the workhouse dress on, he was charged with felony for stealing the clothes. This was a great injustice, and the law with respect to it ought to be altered. Another imperfection in the law was that with respect to the removal of a pauper for receiving parish medical relief. A woodcutter might obtain enough money for his family to live upon, but if a portion of that family became ill, it would be impossible for them to pay for medical aid, and if they applied to theparish for it they would heliable to he removed to their own parish, perhaps miles distant. The board of guardians of which he was chairman never refused medical aid when applied for. Another point of objection to the present law was that with respect to operations to be performed by medical men in workhouses. He thought that no operation ought to be performed in a workhouse without a second medical man being consulted.—(Hear, hear.) He had, however, great objections to operations being performed at all in a workhouse where there was a county hospital near. He also objected to pauper boys gaining a settlement by apprenticeship. He thought, too, that overseers ought to be empowered to remove pauprs to other places besides their native parishes. He knew himself a case of a poor girl, aged 17, living in the town of Brighton as a domestic servant. She caught the typhus fever, and was removed to her parish for medical relief. When she recovered, the overseer said that he had no doubt from her good character that he could get her a situation, but she replied that she did not want one, as her mistress in Brighton had kept her situation open for her. Now such was the law that the overseers had not the power of sending this poor girl to Brighton, and the only way she got there was by a sub scription being raised to defray her expenses there. —(Hear, hear.) Now he thought this was a state of the law which required alteration.—(Hear.) Upon the whole, he thought the present Bill was a great amendment of the law as it now stood, but he thought it might be made susceptible of still further improvement. The Earl of FORTESCUE considered that the law as it stood, was a great improvement on the old law, and he looked on the present measure as an amendment of the existing law. He thought that the appointment of district auditors and the establishment of district houses for the reception of the houseless poor, would prove highly beneficial. He could not sit down without ex pressing his opinion that the Poor-law Commissioners were deserving of the gratitude of the poor and the con fidence of the country.—(Hear.) The Earl of HARDWICKE said that, notwithstand ing the efforts made by a certain portion of the press, there was a general feeling amongst the poorer classes of the agricultural districts, that this law worked for their advantage. If they looked to the contrast between the condition of the people under the old law and under the present law, they would find that the existing law was a benefit. It had been said that this was a grinding law. Why, under this law, or under any other, a system of grinding might exist, but it was not to be attributed to the law. In the union in which he resided, when a per son sought for admission into the workhouse, he was asked if he could not get employment, and if he said not, they gave him a paper which he was to get filled up, No doubt he might come hack and say he could not get more than so much wages, but he would then b e ad mitted, and if the po o r labourers adopted this system, and entered the workhouse for some months, they would compel the farmers to give them higher wages, for they would not pay the high rates, and the condition of the labourers would be better than ever it was before. He would not at that late period enter more at large upon this subject. He concurred generally in the Bill, which had been introduced by the Government, and particularly in the bastardy clauses, except that portion of the fifth clause, which allowed a sum of money to the mother of an illegitimate child. He thought that was a clause of very doubtful tendency.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it would he much better to make the money payable to the parish, and that it should support the mother. He thought also that the people ought not to be taxed for district schools at the will of the Com missioners. This taxing power he thought very ob jectionable ;it was an entirely new principle—a power that ought not to be given to the Commissioners. He should nut move any amendment, but he wished the Bill had been a little longer before the House.—(Hear, hear, from the Bishop of Exeter.) He wished they could have submitted it to a Select Committee, in which it might have been carefully digested. Lord LYTTELTON also regretted that more time could not be given for considering the measure. He, however, should not offer any opposition to it. The Bishop of EXETER moved that the House do adjourn. The Earl of STRADBROKE had great objections to the bastardy clause. But when the Poor-law Bill had passed a great stimulus had been given to employ ment, and the condition of the poor on the whole had been better since that period. Regarding the separation of man and wife, he thought a better provision could not he made than under the present system. The Earl of RADNOR approved of the new poor- L i .-w ; but he protested altogether against the bastardy ciausea in t 442 proposed amendm en t s . E very part o f the present measure werketl well except the bastardy clauses. The great mischief was, firstly, that of the wo men swearjng to fathevs I and secondly, the number of cora rnit for non-payment of the all owance con tractedais to i;:! for. He would say non-content to any bastardy clause introduced by the Government. The Marquis of lal'Oftivf4.NfsY cordially participated in the sentiment, and expressed his cone4rence in the opinion of many of his Noble Friends, that a Rill of tbis magnitude should not be introduced at so late a period of the session. The Bishop of EXETER would persist in his motion. The Earl of WHARNCLIFFE had no wish to hurry the House, at the same time he thought they should now proceed with its discussion. Lord CAMPBELL thought the Bill might have been introduced into their Lordships' House at first. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no division took place. The Bill then went through Committee pro forma, and was ordered to be recommitted tomorrow (this day). On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND the Scotch Salmon Fisheries Bill passed through Committee. Several other Bills on the paper were forwarded a stage, and the House adjourned at Quarter-past One, till Half-past Three o'clock to-morrow (this day). POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that in moving that the House should resolve itself itself into a Committee on the poor-law, he felt it necessary to detain their Lordships for a short time. Their Lordships must be aware that one of the most difficult subjects connected with the present poor-law, was the law relating to bas tardy. By the law, as it stood at present, the overseer of the parish could take the mother of a bastard before a justice of the peace, who had the power of mak ing an order for support, and if the father sup ported the child it was all right, but they had no power of compelling him to do so as the law now stood. One of the great objects of the Bill was to give to a woman a summary means of obtaining redress from the father of her child. Another part of the Bill related to apprentices, and provisions in that respect had been in troduced for the purpose of placing the system upon a better foundation. Then, with respect to the giving re lief under the Bill, he thought it was a great mistake to say that no able-bodied person should receive relief out of the workhouse. There was another clause in the Bill by which the widow of a pauper could receive relief from a parish in which she was residing without going back to the parish in which • she had hitherto resided. The next point was the appointment of district auditors, in which respect the Bill was a great improvement on the old law. Under the old system, by the defalcation of overseers, both the parishes and the poor were often robbed. The auditing of the accounts by one person, with regularity and certainty, would be the saving of a considerable sum of money. Formerly, there was an auditor to every union ; but the present Bill provided that one auditor might superintend the accounts of a district consisting of several unions. The next object was the establishment of district schools, on the same plan as that at Norwood, the effects of which had been highly beneficial, and district asylums provided for furnishing a refuge to those who were found totally destitute. Then came clauses stating the duties of existing boards, and the powers given to, them. The last provision to which lie had to call their atten tion, was that which gave the power of separating parishes from unions. When the poor-law was first passed, he thought there was a miatalEe made in forming ' them to large.—(Hear, hear.) But by this provisiml this defect could be remedied, and without the consent of the guardians. These were the principal objects of the Dr6swi t Bill. He knew that the poor-law was a great 4,i ect of vitupergagn with many persons in the country. —hi not help thinking that those who so treated But he co— • -vils of the old law. lie could not it, must forget the -.Qtimated too lightly the help thinking, too, that they I tiler ! The difficulties of dealing with the subject aL,,',Ze supporters of the poor-law were accused of great mint. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 5. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'Clock. NEW MEMBER. Viscount VILLIERS took the oaths and his seat for Cirencester. DUKE OF HAMILTON'S ESTATE. The report on the Duke of Hamilton's Estate Bill was brought up. LORD CR ANSTOUN'S ESTATE. Lord Cranstoun's Estate Bill was read a third time and passed. R MTSTATE. Merton's E s t a t e E Bill w O as N'S E read a third time and passed. SWANSEA IMPROVEMENT. The Lords' amendments to the Swansea Improvement Bill were agreed to. LONDON AND CROYDON RAILWAY. The Lords' amendments to the London and Croydon Railway Bill, No. 2, were agreed to. LEEDS VICARAGE BILL. Mr. BECKETT moved the third reading of the Leeds Vicarage Bill. Mr. HARDY expressed his high approval of the Bill and passed a high eulogium on the Rev. Dr. Hook. Sir R. PEEL expressed his concurrence in the eulogium which had been passed upon Dr. Hook. He thought the members of the Church of England in Leeds were de serving of great credit for the manner in which they had co-operated with Dr. Hook, and he hoped the example of Leeds would be followed in other large towns. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. Mr. DARBY presented a petition from some place in Sussex in favour of the corn-laws. . _ Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from certain Pro testants against the' Rov.nan Catholic, Penal Laws Repeal , Bill. Also a petiti on f rom t h e B r istol chamber of Commerce against the Insolvent Debtors' Bill. Mr. DILLON BROWNE presented a petition from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, and from four Roman Catholic Bishops, against the Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland) Bill. The Hon. Gen tleman moved that the petition should be read by the clerk at the table, and it was read accordingly. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1844, ROMAN CATHOLIC PENAL ACTS REPEAL BILL. Sir R. PEEL, in moving the second reading of this Bill, trusted that the House would throw no impediment in the way of the passing of it, notwithstanding the late period of the session at which it had come down from the Lords. A petition had been presented by the Hon. Member for Birmingham against the Bill ; and from the wording of th at petition he feared that many persons were labouring under a mi , ,understandinp; as to the meaning of the measure. He wished it to be distinctly understood that no security that had been taken by the Act of 1829 for the Established Church was touched by this Bill. The effect of the measure was to place all Roman Catholics taking the Roman Catholic oath on the same footing with respect to franchise and civil rights as her Majesty's Protestant subjects. This Bill did not touch any of the securities of the measure of 1829 —it merely went to repeal certain laws which had long been a dead letter, and a discredit to the statute book, and from the penalties of which any Roman Ca tholic might escape by taking an oath which any Roman Catholic might take. The House of Lords had thought it advisable to repeal some of these laws. One of them made it a high crime to maintain the spiritual supre macy of the Pope, and this statute had been given a very wide interpretation in " Hawkins's Pleas of the Crown." Another punished Catholics for not attending Divine service on the sth of November ; another punished a Catholic for sending his child abroad for education ; another punished any man not born a Roman Catholic for educating his child in the Catholic faith. These were at variance with the Relief Act. There were other Acts still more absurd —one was a law banishing Popish recusants from London, or from any district within ten miles thereof; another forbade him from being more than five miles from his home ; another prohibited him from having a horse of above the value of 51. It was true a Catholic might escape from these penalties by taking an oath, but if he refused to do so, would it be possible to execute such laws ? He did not consider they were conferrir.g any favour on th e C atholics, but they were clearing their own statute-book of laws which were a disgrace to it. - -(Hear.) The measure had been long before the House of Lords, and it had been stated that if it could be shown that the Bill would repeal any law which ought to remain, that law would be suffered to remain. None such had been shown. Some he knew considered these laws as the bulwarks of the Church —but so far from being outworks of the Church, he thought they were outworks to be seized by reason and ridicule, to be used by reason and ridicule against the Church. They were adapted to other times, and the Establishment must now be de fended by others means—namely, by reason and the affectionate attachment of the people.--(Cheers.) Mr. HAVES wished to know if the obsolete laws re lating to Protestant Dissenters would be also repealed? Sir R. PEEL could not pledge himself to any mea sure. This Bill had come down from the House of "Lords, and he hailed it as a satisfactory proof of the spirit by which that House was actuated. He did not propose it as a complete measure ; but if there were any laws imposing, for instance, heavy penalties on con scientious Dissenters who absented themselves from Divine service, he should support the repeal of such a law. It would also convenience those who introduced Bills into the House, because it would enable them to shorten those Bills. The clauses of the model Bill were about 350, and all Railway Bills which passed that House contained from 300 to 400 clauses. The expense of printing and engrossing those Bills cost a considerable sum of money. He did not propose that those Bills should pass into a law during the .present session.— (Laughter.) He would not have the courage to make such a proposition at the present period of the session ; but it was desirable to have them printed, so that the attention of the parties, Parliamentary agents, and others interested in these Bills, might have their attention drawn to them. By having the Bills printed, they would, if susceptible of improvement, have the best advice and the soundest suggestions on the subject, and at the opening of the next session they could pass those Bills at once, so that the private Bills of the next session might derive the advantage of the improvement. The advantage of those Bills would be that instead of consisting of 300 or 400 clauses, the number of clauses would now be reduced to a moderate number of intelligible ones. He would now state what those Bills contained. The three Bills he proposed to lay on the table of the House comprised the whole of the model Bill, as to its substantial enactments. But they broke up the subject matter of it into three parts, because it had reference to three classes of under takings. The first Bill he proposed was a Bill which would apply, when it became a general Act, to all pri vate Bills that might be introduced into the House for the purpose of incorporating trading companies. In the second, he intended to include all those provisions with respect to companies not merely seeking to be incorporated, but requiring compulsory powers to pur chase and hold lands. This Bill would include railway, harbour, canal, and gas Bills, which require compulsory powers. With regard to the third Bill, that would be still more restrictive in the range of private Bills, to which it would be applicable. This Bill would specifically correspond with the recommendation of the Railway Committee. It would be applicable in its pro visions to Railway Bills, in respect to those features which belonged to them excl us i ve ly, an d not i n common with other Bills for the execution of' public works. Having described the general purview of those Bills, be had to say that in the first Bill, he did not mean to propose anything worth mentioning. except what was already in the model Bill. In the second Bill he proposed to introduce an enactment which had been frequently recommended to Government— namely, the introduction of an exceptional provision in the present law which provides for the compensation for lands by reference to a jury. Now he proposed that where the value of the land in question was not more than a certain amount—l,oool., the parties might have the option of settling the question by arbitration. He did not take it from the jury as a matter of course, but it would be optional for either:of the parties to remove it from a jury and refer it to another tribunal. t happened, singularly enough, that the proposition had often been made to them both from railway companies and from landed proprietors, that they should be allowed to submit these small valuations to arbitration. He, there fore, proposed to insert in the Bill a proposition to this effect. In the third Bill he proposed to add a second proposition, giving a discretionary power to the Government and the Board of Trade, of allow ing certain deviations in engineering works from the prescribed models, in cases where it was proved this could be done with increased advantage to the public, and without any detriment to private rights. In consequence of the advanced state of science, the estimates for public works could now be made with greater accuracy than they could be a few years ago. Another very important matter he proposed to include, was a general provision with regard to what was called the equal rates clause. At present there was not a perfect uniformity of privi lege as between the different railway companies as to the power of varying their charges. Some companies had no power of varying the rates of their fares at all ; others had the power to do so, provided the rate was made uniform throughout the whole of the company's line. That clause was now subject to some ambiguity. They could not devise a clause that should exactly define the rate in all cases, but it was obviously a subject of great importance and great difficulty. Sometimes it was for the interest of the public that there should be a power of varying the rates. At present, in some cases, it might be varied, but only to a rate that should be equal and uniform all along the line, though it might be more advantageous to have a lower rate along one part of the line than along another. He therefore pro posed to insert a clause giving power to make these variations with those exceptions and reservations in cases which experience had shown ought to be so limited. The power to vary the rates applied also to the carriage of goods, but also with certain restrictions. He did not think there was any other particular which he had to mention to the House, and he therefore simply begged to move his propositions, and also to propose a slight alteration in the title of the Bill. Mr. HUME wished to know whether any power was taken by Government of interfering with the accommo dation for third-class passengers. It was quite a disgrace to Parliament to sanction a monopoly which obliged the poorer class_ to stand like cattle, exposed to the air. It was impossible to see a railroad, without feeling ashamed of this country, as compared with Belgium and other continental countries. Mr. GLADSTONE would not say that this might not be a fit matter for consideration at some other time, but he did not think it a proper occasion, when they were discussing the general principles of railway mat ters.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME asked whether any power had been given by the Bill which had been passed in that House, of re fusing the remission of the taxation of 5 per cent., when the accommodation provided for third-class passengers was not considered sufficient? Mr. GLADSTONE said he believed that under this Bill a discretionary power of that kind was vested in the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. Leave was also given to bring in a Bill for consoli dating in one Act certain provisions usually inserted in Acts of Parliament, authorising the taking of lands for undertakings of a public nature. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND ACTS. The House then went into Committee on these Acts, when Mr. GLADSTONE rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to the relief and support, in certain cases, of merchant seamen, their widows, and chil dren. The Right Hon Gentleman said the Bill which he wished to bring in affected the interests and prospects of a class of men which that House, as well as the whole country, regarded with feelings of great interest—he meant the merchant seamen of this country, a class who were the least disposed to caniplain.— (Hear, hear.) They were, it was true, dissatisfied with the state of the seamen's fund, but his only surprise was that they were not a hundred times more so. They did not object to the compulsory payment of a tax out Of their wages, but they did:wish to se e th e :f und placed on a more satisfactory footing. He thought that the pensions that were given to these parties ought to equalised. The fund was in the sissiiire of an insurance, and it . ought to come back to the su b scr ib ers. anesintohsoyna savings = r T lt was contrary to all principle to conside r it as a cha r were administered. They ought to mak e th e b est of it. It oug ht t o he uniformly ad m i n i s t ere d . He thought t o o ruusili was devoted to the exp enses o f should l w as " be notadministered of elae management, there was nothing like wilful mismanage ment of the fund, but the exzenae would be less if it were taken into tit? hands of a public department. 'Then with regassi to the remedy, there was a gyeat want of data on which to found calculations. He proposed that a measure should be passed for not less than seven, nor more than ten years. Ile also PrCpSed that the pension should be equalised. The effect of this would be, that there would be a uniform system of pensions all over the country. It was proposed that the pension should be 41. It year, hut the seamen who were sixty-three years old, and therefore disabled, should be entitled to a pension of 81. As to widows, it was proposed that in stead of continuing their pensions, a gratuity should be given them. All that he meant to propose was to se cure the fund in the best and most efficient manner, and to give the seamen all the benefits which could pos sibly arise from the appropriation of the fund. He would *recure move fbr leave to bring in a Bill to amend the laws relating to the relief and support, in certain cases, of merchant-seamen, their widows, and children, Mr. LABOUCHERE thought there was no class of her Majesty's subjects mo - s entitled to the considera tion rf that House and the Government, than the class proposed to be benefited by the Bill. After a few words from Mr. Hume, Lord Sandon, and Mr. Gladstone, leave was granted to bring in the Bill. The H 9 then adjourned at a Quarter past Seven. Mr. M. MILNES said that if the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill had passed, it would have repealed many of those laws. Mr. HAWES—Which of the Bills ? Mr. M. MILNES —Both. Mr. SPOONER thought the fears of the petitioners would be removed by the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman ' • but when th e y saw th e way i n w hi c h f ormer concessions had been received by the Catholics, Protes tants might have just cause to fear the fruits of further concessions. After a few words from Mr. D. BROWNE, Mr. CHRISTIE suggested the insertion of words in the Bill exempting Dissenters from Penalties for non attendance at church. Sir R. PEEL hoped the Hon. and Learned Gentle man would not press his amendment, as it might en danger the passing of the Bill. The Bill was then read a second time. and ordered to be committed. CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS (IRELAND) BILL. On the order of the day for the third reading of this Bill being read, Mr. DILLON BROWNE expressed a hoped that the Bill would be postponed. It was opposed by t h e Catholic hier arc h y of Ireland, and one of the grounds of his opposition to the Bill was that it continued the out lawry inflicted by the Relief Bill on the Jesuits. All the regular clergy of Ireland were excluded from the operation of the law, and the fact of the Hon. Member for Waterford expressing his approval of it was no reason why it should pass. That Hon. Gentleman did not possess the confidence of the Catholic clergy of Ireland. Ire did not conceive that the Irish Members in that House had given this Bill either a manly support or a manly opposition.. Some Irish Members would have to account to their constituents for not giving this Bill a more efficient opposition. He believed that the Bill was proposed in a spirit of conciliation ; but that was not a sufficient inducement for him to support it. The Hon. Member concluded by moving that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. The amendment was not seconded. On the question that the Bill be read a third time, Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL sa id it h a d b een hi s intention, if there had been a larger attendance of Irish Members, to move an amendment to the Bill. But while he ad mitted that the Bill contained great defects, he had felt it his duty to abstain from joining the opposition, after the best consideration which he had been able to give to the subject.--(Hear.) He liked the spirit which this Bill displayed, and this he thought of more importance than the words. The Bill was after all not compulsory ; property left for Catholic purposes in future would not necessarily come under the operation of the Commission, and he believed that, in voting for the measure, he would be doing no harm either to the religious or the political interests of Ireland. It conferred a substantial benefit by raising the worldly condition of Catholic ministers, whilst at the same time it did not diminish their influence over their flocks. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The Transfer of Property Bill was read a third time and passed. INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL. The report on the Insolvent Debtors Compensation Bill was brought up. On the motion for going into Committee on the In solvent Debtors Bill, Mr. HAWES said he had a petition to present from the officers of the Insolvent Debtors Court, London, praying for compensation. Before presenting it, however, he wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Gra ham), whether that Court came under the operation of the Bill, because, if it did not, he would withdraw the petition. Sir J. GRAHAM said the clause was so framed as to include all the officers of any courts whose emoluments were diminished by the operation of the Act. Mr. HAWES said, under those circumstances, he should withdraw the petition. The House then went into Committee on the Bill. Clauses 51, 52, and 53 were agreed to. On clause 54 being proposed, Mr. M. PHILIPS said he objected to the sweeping change made by this clause, abolishing imprisonment for debt under 201. He opposed the clause, not as a master manufacturer, but for the benefit of the poor themselves. It would greatly diminish the credit which would be given to that class of persons. The Hon. Member con, eluded by moving the omission of the clause. Sir J. GRAHAM defended the clause, the words of hich had, he said, been so framed as to give every facility to the creditor to recover his debt by proceeding against the goods of the debtor, air W. cpivy believed the anise would tend only to diminish spurious credit, whilst safe and sound credit would be enconriTedt as the clause abolish ing imprisonment for debt was the essence of this Bill, he thought it would be better to postpone the clause, 41 1 ,4,_ take the general discussion o n th e t hi r d rea di ng, 'rho clause was then postponed, Several other clauses were agreed to. Clauges ott, aila 71 Wire 2gl'ee4 to with a few verbal amendments. The schedules were also agreed to. Several new clauses were added, and the Bill was ordered to be reported to-morrow at twelve o'clock. Captain PECHET I T., wished to know whether it Wgs the intention of the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Home Department, to renew in the next session the County Courts Bill ? Sir J. GRAHAM would not pledge himself to the adoption of any course until he had seen the effect of the working Prthe present measurp. On the question that the Lords'amendments to the County Coroners Bill be agreed to, some short discus sion took place, which t erm i na t e d i n t h e H ous e disagree ing with the Amendment of the Lords, giving the ciprong 9d. a mile, instead of Is. On the motion of Mr. DARBY a Committee was ap• pointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the Lords. The Right lion. the Speaker of the House of Com mons gave his usual entertainment previous to the adjourn ment of Parliament, to the officials of that branch of the Tleirishltlini, on Saturday last, at his residence in Eaten. square. The party consisted of Mr. Ley, Sir William Gossett, Mr. William Ley, Mr. Clementson, Mr. Booth, Mr. L Ley, Mr. Dorrington, Mr. Jones, Mr. William Rose, M r . Wh it b am, Mr. Dyson, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. J. Rose, Mr. Pole, Mr. C. Gunnell, Mr. Frere, Mr. Gudge, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Postlethwaite, Mr. Gray, Mr. William Ley, jun., Mr. Gun ne ll, M r. G. Gunnell, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Vardon, Mr. May, Mr. Gossett, and the Rev. G. A. Andrews, ohaplain, and Mr. Lefroy, secretary to the Speaker. Another Cabinet Council, which was attended by all the Ministers, was held at the Foreign-office yester day at two. The summonses for holding this Coun cil were issued, by the direction of the Earl of Aberdeen, on Saturday evening. WHAT RICE WILL WHEAT FETCH ?—The only time (1826) when reaping commenced so early as the 22d of July, it was succeeded by a very wet season. This may be the case in the present year. Nothing but extraordinary bad weather can prevent abundance, or sustain prices of wheat from falling ver y cons i derably below their present level.— Welshman. FIRE.—On Saturday morning a fire broke out in the house of Mr. Webb, cooper, in St. Thomas's. place, Old Kent-road. The family were roused from their beds by the alarm, and were saved with difficifity by being got out of the window of an tipper room, the lower part of the house being in flames. By means of the engines, the fire was prevented from spreading; but the house and everything it contained was destroyed. NEW BRIDGE AT COLOGNE.--A letter from Co logne, of the 27th ult., states that the Government is about to erect a double bridge at that city across the Rhine, whigi will be unique of its kind. The two strvictur.es will he'Piaced ins over the othor, the height of 'the upper one being 144 feet above the river, The lower bridge will be traversed by the railroad from Berlin to Cologne ; the upper one will be for horses, carriages and foot passengers. In the vacant space between the bridges will be placed Paixhans guns for the purpose of breaking the ice in the river when necessary, and of defending the city of Cologne in case of siege. Baron Cristian de Hartmann, the engineer, will be entrusted with the erection of this work. different part; of I re l an d aga i nst t h e Ch ar itable Dona ti nMd.BJe.qOu'eCsOtsNßNilEl. Ol‘ LL presented 202 petitions from rs a n r. the motion o f M r. HAWES, a re t u rn was ordered of the titles of all public Bills introduced in the course of the present session ; the date of their several stages ; distinguishing those introduced from the House of Lords. The same for theyears 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842. The Committee on the Lords' amendments to the County Coroners Bill brought up the report of their reasons for disagreeing to certain of those amendments. The House then adjourned till Five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. HAWES gave notice that next session he should move for certain returns relating to savings banks. Also for a Committee t o inquire whether the Royal Academy had been favourable or prejudicial to the progress of the fine arts in thi s country; and also for a Committee to in. quire into the proceedings of the Trinity-house, at Dept ford and Stroud, and how far they bad carried out the recommendation of that House made in 1834. Lord WORSLEY gave notice, that next session he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the inclosure of commons. PRIVATE . Mr. GLADSTONE then rose ILLS , for the purpose o f ' bringing forw ar d t h e motion of which he had given notice some days ago, and which he hoped would meet with the general approbation of the House. The mo tion was founded on the recommendations of the Select Committee on Railways. It went beyond these recommendations because the function Qf the s°e/3 Committee were confined to Railway Bills. It was found desirable to apply the same principle which had ' been applied to Railway Bills to private Bills of other descriptions. The present measure was in order to establish greater certainty and uniformity with re spect to the law on this subject, and to make , it more acceptable and intelligible to the public. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 4.—The Excellent gunnery ship, Captain Sir Thomas Hastings, Knt., still bears the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Rowley, Bart., G.C.8., G.C.H., &c. ; it will be removed, however, to the Queen, 110, Captain Martin, on the latter leaving the harbour for Spit head, should the St. Vincent not be ordered from Devonport. Mr. Thomas Howels, gunner, R.N., has invented a new " pointer " for concentrating a ship's fire, which, having been submitted for the approval of the Board of Admiralty, their Lordships' directed a trial to be made on board the Excellent ; consequently, yesterday five guns were fitted with the pointers, and a large target twelve feet square being placed at a distance of 400 yards from the ship, at the first fire all five shots pierced the target and tore it to shreds. It is believed that had the shot being directed in a similar manner against a ship, and struck her near the water-line, she must have sunk in a few minutes. The experiment, which is considered eminently successful, was witnessed by a large number of naval officers and spectators. The Collingwood, 80, Captain Eden, flag of Rear-Admiral Sir G. F. Seymour, is ready for sea. She was to have re ceived two months' advance on Friday, but some delay oc curred, and it is consequently postponed. We are informed that the recent transactions in the South Seas will probably alter her route on sailing, and that she only waits the answer of the French Government to the application from her Ma jesty's Ministers for satisfaction for the conduct pursued towards her Majesty's Consul, Mr. Pritchard. We are also informed that Mr. Pritchard will be reinstated in his Con sulate duties at Otaheite, and that he will return to that island in the Collingwood. The Scylla, 16, Commander Sharpe, sailed from Halifax on the 14th ult., for St. John's, Newfoundland, where she would relieve the Eurydice, 26, Capt. G. Elliott, ordered to Halifax. The Pique, 36, Captain the Hon. M. Stopford, touched at the Havannah, on the 15th ult., for water, &c., en route from the coast of Mexico to Halifax, with specie. The Illustrious, 72, Commodore R. Sharp, arrived at Ha vannah on the 20th of June, from Jamaica, to demand, in conjunction with the British Consul, satisfaction for some gross outrages put upon some English subjects in the island of Cuba. The Pique was ordered to remain to co-operate with the Illustrious. The Nimrod, 20, Commodore Glasse, was at Bombay on the 18th of June last from Trincomalee, where she left the COrnwallis, 72, Captain Richards, flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker, G.C.8., on the 27th of May, refitting for her re turn to England. The Clio, 16, Commodore Fitzjames, left Bombay on the 19th of May to join the Cornwallis at Trincomalee, whence both ships would sail for England. The Alligator troop-ship, 22, Master Commander J. N. King, arrived at Madras from China on the 25th of May, with troops. The Fox, 42, Captain Sir H. 'Blackwood, Bart., touched at Tangier (en route for the East Indies), to land important dis patches on the 16th of June. The Comet steam-vessel, Commander Prettyman, on pay ing off the Vindictive, will proceed to Plymouth and Devon port with such of her crew and marines as reside in those i localities. In Harbour —The Excellent, the Queen, the Victory, the Vindictive, the Seafiower cutter, the Fearless, the Comet, and the Echo steam-vessels. In Dock—The Prince Regent, the Athol, the 'Wanderer, the Dwarf, and the Scourge (building). In the Basin —The Victoria and Albert, the Lily, the Fly ing Fish, the Daring, the Osprey, the Pantaloon, and the Waterwitch. At Spithead—The Collingwood. DEVONPORT, AUGUST 2.—The Crane packet, 6, Lieutenant- Commander T. A. Lewis, sailed on Thursday for Falmouth, whence she sailed the same day with mails for the Brazils, via Madeira and Teneriffe. The Apollo troop ship, Commander Maclean, sailed on the 26th ult. for Newfoundland and North America, with two companies and a detachment of the Royal Artillery aboard, for service in those regions. On the same day the Hamoaze lighter sailed from Milford Haven, with Mr. Henderson, As. sistant Master Attendant of this dock-yard, and a party of riggers, to rig and navigate the Juno, 26, recently launched, to Chatham. The Nile, 92, was docked on Wednesday to have her cop per cleaned and examined. The Madagascar, 44, Captain J. Foote, is ordered to be paid off to-morrow. Joseph Noble, the marine, who was sentenced to be hanged last week for stabbing Mr. Prothero, a midshipman of this ship, has had his - sentence commuted to transportation for life. The Superb, 80, advance ship, was undecked on Wednes day, and will be taken to her moorings in a day or two. In Harbour—San Josef, Madagascar, and Confiance. In Dock—Kent, Ranger, Actaeon. In the Sound—St. Vincent. SHEERNESS, AUG. 2.—A court-martial was held on Mon day on board the Ocean, 80, Captain Fisher, flag. ship pro tem. of Vice-Admiral Sir John Chambers White, K.C.8., &c. to try the master's mate of the Spy b r i gant i ne, Lieutenant - Commander Wooldridge, recently arrived from the coast of Africa, for acts of repeated drunkenness. The charges were fully proved, and the prisoner was sentenced to be dismissed her Majesty's service. The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered a new second class war steamer to be built at this yard, to be called the Fury, of the following dimensions :—Length, 190 feet ; breadth, 36 feet ; depth, 21 feet ; tonnage, 1,123 ; horse power, 460. Captain Superintendent Peter Fisher, R.N., went on survey on Tuesday to join the Harbour of Refuge Commission. In Harbour—The Ocean and the Raven. In Dock—The Monarch, the Vernon, and the H era ld . In the Basin—The A mazon , the ulture, and the Cro codile. PROMOTIONS. Commander—John Marshall (a), and F. D. Schap*, fron he retired list of 1830 to that of 1816. APPOINTMENTS. Lieutenants--Justus B. Kooystra* (1841), from the Mada gascar to the Collingwood ; R. Jones (b), to the Victory; A. F. Kingston (additi ona l), t o th e C o lli ngwood ; W. Southey, to the William and Mary yacht, for the Lightning ; J. R. Baker, to be agent for mails. Master—ll. B. Yule, to the Porcupine. Mates—M. F. O'Reilly (of the Excellent), to the Albion ; W. F. Bishop, to the St. Vincent. Second Master—H. D. Beach to the Victory,.for service in the Emerald (t en d er to St. Vincent) ; H. Pennington, to the Porcupine. Assistant-Surgeons —D. Dugare (acting), to the Victory, for service at Hasler Hospital; J. T. U. Bi emner, M.D. (ad ditional), to the San Josef, for service in Plymouth Hospital; W. Fasken, to the Illustrious. Clerk in Charge—J. C. Alldridge, to the Meteor. Midshipman—F. Egerton, to the Excellent. Boatswain—John Robinson, of the San Josef, to the Sheer Hulk at Chatham, vice Flynn, appointed Master Rigger of that yard. COAST GUARD. Appointments—Lieut. E. J. Voules, R.N., to command the station at Richam, vice Allen, removed. Removals—Lieut. J. Allen, R.N., from Richam to Challa borough Station, vice Tozer, to Gorram Haven, vice Lory, to Porthpean, vice V a ll ac k, D.D. ; Li eut. J . O ' Reilly, from Farnborough Head fo Hornsea Station, 7„e- Leicester, superannuat e d. M. * We are informed this officer was tvififLy.five years a mate. _ _ LAW IN r :e.; - LLIGENCE. OF BANKRUPTCY, A ug. 5. A 121.4C:v0 UR ate meeting of the credit ors o f the late Rumford r „ank was appointed before Mr. Commissioner Evans this af ternoon, but was adjourned, without entering upon business, till this day week. No matter of importance came before the Commissioners. . _ POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) CLERKENWELL. Mary Anne Hartwell and Harriet Holmes, about 18 years of age, were charged with breaking sixteen panes of glass, value 2L, at the Clerkenwell workhouse. Inspector Barton deposed that the prisoners, who have been up to a recent period inmates of the Clerkenwell workhouse, were, about two o'clock on that morning, sitting on the door -step of the Clerkenwell workhouse. The whole pavement near them was strewed with broken glass. Witness asked " who has broken all these win dows ?" Both prisoners exclaimed "we have." Witness thereupon inquired how many they had broken? They answered " all we could reach." Holmes' arm was bleeding. He asked them if they had broken them with their bands? Hartwell replied "she did, but I was not fool enough ; I broke them with something else." Wit ness took them to the station, and charged them. They walked quietly thither, and were locked up. They added, at the station, that they had broken the glass about five minutes before witness came up. Mr. Hamet, the master of the workhouse, proved that when he went to bed the windows were whole. The prisoners had been paupers in the house, and were very bad characters. Mr. COMBE (to the prisoners)—Well, what have you to say ?—The prisoners replied that it was quite true they had broken the windows, but what were they to do ? they had applied for admission to the workhouse, and were refused it. Mr. COMBE—What time did you apply for admission? Prisoners—At eight o'clock in the evening, Sir. Mr. COMBE—Who did you see ? Prisoners —We saw Mr. Hamet, and asked him fora night's lodging, but we were refused it. He told us to go to the overseer ; we did go to the overseer's house, but we could not see him. We returned tathe workhouse, and again applied for admission, stating that we could not see the overseers, but we were refused admission. We sat on the flags at the workhouse door until nearly two this morn ing, and then we broke the windows. The door-keeper told us we must not go there any more. Mr. COMBE—Is it true that they were refused admis sion to the workhouse? Mr. Hamet—Yes ; I refused to receive them. They threatened my life. Mr. COMM—Have they any means of supporting themselves out of the workhouse ? Mr. Hamet—Not that I am aware of ; but one of them was relieved on Saturday night. Mr. COMBE sentenced them to a month's imprison ment each in the House of Correction, in default of the payment of 11. each. They were committed accordingly, and seemed very glad at being sent to prison. A man named Ward was charged with begging and assaulting a police-constable. It appeared from the evidence of Baker, 108 E, that being on duty in High-street. Bloomsbury, on the pre vious day (Sunday), at ten o'clock, he saw the prisoner asking alms from several persons, and in a peremptory way, something like the beggar in " Gil Blas," for the prisoner was armed with a stout bludgeon, which he flourished in a menacing manner. Baker watched a•nd saw him go up to a gentleman who resides in Bedford square and ask for money, the gentleman refused; the prisoner repeated his demand in threatening language ; the gentleman still persisting in refusal, the prisoner followed, overtook, and standing before him on the footway, struck him so violent a blow on the chest as made him reel back against the railings. Baker then ran up and arrested the prisoner, who no sooner felt himself seized than be struck the constable a severe blow on the face, and another on the chest. They struggled for some time, both being powerful men ; at length th e prisoner, seizing Baker's thumb, pulled it baeti with all his might, and nearly broke it. liaker roared with pain, but the prisoner twisted i& the more. At length assis tance arlived and the fellow was secured. Bii,ker showed his hand, which was terribly swollen and inflamed. Mr. CoMBE—What have you to say to this brutal conduct? Prisoner—Nothing, and loooking jeeringly at the officer said, " You have got that!" He was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. MARLBOROUGH -STREET. James Thompson, a young: man, disguised als q groom, but who is known to be the common esspoiateof convicted thieves, was committed for two months' bard labour, on a charge of SMITIWIELD. The Beef trade was in a sluggish state, at, in most:tranes_e" • tions, a decline on Friday' s currenc i es of quite 2d per 81u°;, However, the primest S co t s were mostly disposed c''' at prices varying from 3s 8d to 3s 10d per Blbs ; but a large portion of the inferior breeds left the market unsold' . The numbers of Sheep were m o d erate l y good. Prime '9l Downs commanded a steady sale, at fully last week's quota tions ; while in most other kinds a fair business was doing% and late rates were well supported. The Lamb trade 05 very dull, at a decline of.2d per Blbs, the highest quotatio n being 4s 8d per 81bs.ICalves 2d per 81bs higher than on 111 011 ` day last. Pigs ruled about stationary. Pe a r 81bs cl. . to sink the offal. a. to s. d. I Inferior Beasts 2 8 210 S econd qualityditte... 3. 6d. to 1a s 0 Second quality ditto 3 0 3 4 C oarse-woolled ditto.. 3 . 6 S Prime large Oxen 3 4 3 6 S out h down Wethers 3 le 4 Prime Scots, &c. Large coarse Calves 3 4 4 0 Large Hogs 2 8 a,' Prime small ditto 4 2 4 4 Small Porkers 3 • 9 4 " Suckling Calves, each 18 035 0 Quarter old Pigs eachl6 020 : Inferior Sheep a3 23 4 L ambs 3 1l I, SUPPLY AT MARKET. Beasts. Sheep. I Calve*. I Pigs. I 3,302 , 33,970 197 3141 NEVITGA.TD A D alI MAY..IEMINAZIA Prime Beef, Mutton, and Ve hare commanded a . stead • sale, at very full prices. Whil e in all other kinds of Meat $ fairbusiness has been doing at late rates. At per stone, by the Carcase. - a. d. to s. d. • d. UPI. .1 Beef, inferior 22 2 4 Mutton, inferior ...... 2 6 . 2 I f .--- middling 2 6 2 8 ---- middling ..... 2/0 „. -- prime large - prime ..... ... 3 6 ° • V , --- prime small 3 2 3 4 Pork, large. 2 4 0 6 i n eal -5ma1L.............. 3 6 . .Lamb. 4s Od to 56 Od. ARRIVALS nurtris. a THE PAST WEEIt. -- Scotland Beasts. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. N 9 70 Yorkshire Norfolk —. Suffolk — 30 -- Cambridgeshire 20 Essex — 6a lo 100 80 100 Surrey 2O 200 Lo- 120 200 Devonshire 15 50 Wiltshire Other parts 00 50) —___ Total ! 6 5 75 340 260 6 Previous week's arri va l ------ 0 160 70 . ISO Diffbrence since outlast.... Uxbridge, of a son. BOROUGH AND SPITILLFIELDS, There are now s,r,u•cely any old P o t atoes on sake, And 10 price can ht, quoted with accu racy. N ew Potatoes—the supply ok which is large—command a ready sale, at from ;fie to 61 per ton. BOROUGH HOP The market here is somewhat firmer MARZET. and the duty is now calculated at from 140,000/., to 145,000/9. WOOL IWARILET. Owing to the former arrivals the public sales now pro" gressing will not be brought to a conclusion. before Thursday next. Although the biddings are not very brisk, most of the parcels offered have found buyers at full quotations. TALLOW MANIZEMT. Again to-day we have to report this market without any change, either on the spot or prospectively; business, as t° speculative transactions, there is none, and the demand very limited, owing chiefly to the weather being warm, an the supply of home T a ll ow good. Town Tallow is 40.3 6 ' nett cash. NEWLY-INVENTED SPECTACLES, TELESCOPES/ OPERA GLASSES, MICROSCOPES, &C.--Messrs. S. an d B. Solomons, Opticians, 39, Albemarle -street, Picca dilly, have succeeded in effecting a most scientific im provement in Spectacle and Telescope Lenses, &e., of the greatest transparent power. The extraordinary advantage derived from this invention is that vision becoines preserved and strengthened and very aged per: sons are enabled to employ their sight either by day or candle light at the most minute occupation, and can see with those Lenses of a much less magnifying power, nor will they require the frequent changes to further helps as the Spectacles now in common use. Also newly-in vented Achromatic Waiscoat- pocket Telescopes and, Opera Glasse s w hi c h are i nvaluable at the sea-side and on the race-course, as well as at the theatre, &c.—Every' kind of Telescope for Shooting, Sea purposes, and upon stand for astronomical observations with the celebrated Lenses of the most clear transparent brilliancy ; the powers are so great and the Lenses so bright and bril liant that minute objects at an extraordinary distance are brought completely under the eyes.—Sportsnien, Tourists, and se a - s id e v i s i tors will indeed here have a great treat. Their invisible Voice Conductor gives im mediate relief to old standing extreme cases of deafness. Caution.—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians and Aurists, are not in any way connected with a person of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood,. nor in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes, be' cautious, and observe.—Only to be had at 39, Albe marle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel. ADVERTISEMENT. ANOTHER EXTRAORDINART PROOF OF THE EFFICACY OF HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.- - Mr. Stevens, a gentleman holding a highly responsible' situation in an insurance-office in the City, from ovel attention to business, b ecame so bi lious, debilitated, an d nervous, with palpitation of heart, and with a dread on the mind of some approaching calamity, as to be ren dered for some weeks quite incapable of attending to leis duties. In this truly pitiable state he commenced the use of this miraculous medicine, which in a fortnight re stored him to the highest enjoyment of health, and this when phy s i c i ans f a il e d to afford the least relief. Soli (als° Holloway's Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Esta blishment, 244, St ran d ( where advice may be ha d gratis), and by almost all respectable medicine vendors throughout the civilised world. BIRTHS. On the Ist inst., Mrs. Challis, Enfield, of a daug!aW. still-born. On the Ist inst., at Avenue -road, Regent's-par.k, George Gilbert Scott, of a son. MARRIED. On the 30th ult., the Rev. Richard Keats, Vicar of North" fleet, Kent, to Matilda Eliza Louisa, only daughter of ithti °l. Kelly, late of the 20th Light Dragoons. On the 30th ult., at St. John's Church, Coventry, Richarc t t Kevitt Rotherham, jun., E sq ., to Helen, youngest daugill f of the late Joh n Ryl ey , E sq., of Hertford House, I" Coventry. On the Ist inst., at Worth Church, Sussex, Peter Lauri° Esq., of Lincoln' s I nn , b arr i ster-at-law, to Fanny, third— daughter of H. Hulbert, Esq., of Eaton-square. -eat; aro On the Ist inst., at Wath, Yorkshire, the Rev. 1 , Senior Salman, M.A., Vicar of Elmton, Derbyshire, and P' . f • petual Curate of Shire Oaks, Notts, to Charlotte, daughter o f James Simpson, Esq., of Wath. On the Ist inst., at St. George's, Camberwell, Alexanti t er : youngest son of Sa mue l Bevington, Esq., of Wandsw °rh ner common, to Loui sa , second daughter of Ab ra ham De Ho r ner Esq., of Homerton. DIED. On the 11th of June, at Madras, Lieutenant Thomas Wa llll4- grave Watt, 10th Regiment Native Infantry. On the 26th ult., i n L ondon, George Freder i c Stowe, Lb youngest son of Major Stone. On the 29th ult., M r . S amue l Morton H u b er t, o f Mount gardens, Lambeth, aged 76. u r On the 30th ult., J osep h B utter, E sq. , of To --"`Pen t-plact West, Regent-square. the Ref' e th c e ox 3 e o , t Rh ox oait St. m t h rd a , e n r e s a , r w W in i c n ii c e h s e t s e t r er , GeOorng Landon: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , i f , No. 112, Stra n d, P r i n t er , a t Th e S un Oilice, „ r a Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Co= 4 Middlesex, Tuesday, August 6, 1844. attempting to pick the pockets of three different gentleme: as they were leaving the Opera at the close of the rfpe ance on Saturday night last. Lately a gang of six or eight, pickpocks, waiting in con cer t, h ave comm itt e d a number of daring depredations there. John Legate, who described himself as an ivory -turner, was charged with having been found on the premises of Lord Francis Egerton, in Cleveland square, St. James's. It appears that lately the pleasure-grounds surroundipg his Lordship's house in Cleveland-square,,now being rebuilt? have on several occasions been plundered of som e valuable roots, plants, and other property. Betw . eell seven and eight o ' c l oc k thi s morn i ng, as poll constable 191 of the E division was on duty on the spot. De saw the prisoner within the garden inclosure, and as he Os coming out he stopped him, carrying a basket, which Was found to contain some roots and other articles, but scarcalf of even nominal value. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, gav lA very unsatisfact or y account o f hi mself, and was ordered, fn the present, to be detained. UNION-HALL. The business of this morning was the heaviest that has been known at this office for a number of years, the charges amounting to upward s o f seven t y, w hi ch at once shows t",. necessity for a s econ d police-office, which is now i n the court of erection at Kennington. lane, and will be ready for business at Michaelmas next. Independent of the above cases, there is a very heavfcase of forgery against three f ore i gn ers, w hi % cannot-be disposed of until a late hour in th e d a y, w hen sow" important disclosures are expected to take place. Frederick Taylor, charged with g am bli ng o n th e Sabbel b morning, was ordered to find su re ti es for his good be haviour for twelve months. John Jackson was charged with stealing a horse Pi cab, and coat, on the 20th of July last, the propertLr. William Jackson, from the Spotted Dog in the Strand. Th prosecutor intrusted the prisoner with his horse and cab whr he went into the Spotted Dog to-get his breakfast, when te° prisoner took an opportunity of driving away with the call, and nothing further was heard of him for several days, when the horse and cab was • found on the ranks in Blackfriars ° road, near the Running Horses. The coat had not since been heard of. Information was sent to the police of the robberP and the prisoner was taken into custody on Saturday nig ht ' The prisoner was remanded for further evidence. Mary Ann Brocksop was brought up in the custody ° f Police constable 127 M, charged with robbing her ready' furnished lodgings, and plundering the house of several articles of great value, all of which she pawned.—As ther e were several other cases against the prisoner she was rf. mended until Wednesday. Th e pr i soner was not in ira°' but plundered the house for the purpose of obtaining drink. MARKET NEWS.—(YESTERDAY) CORZT-EXCILANGE. Factors were much more firm in their demands than i°r some time past. For th e fi nes t d escr i ptions of both red al'ti. white English Wheat an advance of is per quarter was Ole rally required, but which the millers were unwilling to g 3"; however, the trade for that description of produce may be cos' ' sidered steady at prices quite equal to those of Monday la st ; 1 During the past week, duty has been paid in London on About 47,500 quarters of foreign Wheat. Of English Barley scarcelY a parcel was brought forward. Malting and distilling sorb ' supported their value, but grinding descriptions were Is Pef quarter lower. For Malt la s t wee k' s fi gures were with ail" culty supported. Beans and Peas at barely late rates. Flo!! was excessively dull, and a decline of 2s per 280Ibs was suit' mitted to. In seeds no advance can be noticed in prices. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. WHEAT—Essex & Kent, MALT—Chevaller........ 63s W"''' ' red 41s to 508 O ATS — Y or k shire an d Ditto, white - Potatoe coin, red 39s to 46s Youghall and Cork, ' Ditto white 4os to 53 s b lack 178 re IS .- ~,, Irish, red 47s to 50s Cork, white .. ..... 19 8 to Ditto Dc white - 2ll to: RYS—Old 2Bs to 33s 8EA N5 — k.............. .255 to . 8 , New 36s to 38s Pi geons 36 8 to 0.',„ BARLEY—Grinding 23s to 27s PEAS_ G rey ...., Malting - ... 2'75 to 1 Chevalier 32s to 35s Whi te ..... -........... 30s to -. MALT—Suflblk and Nor- 80i1er5..„....,,, 3 , 2 8 to :n folk s6s to 62s FLOUR —Town nude ... 448 to f Brown 50s to 54s Suffo'k ..... ......., .. Ns to Dp. Kingston and Ware 56s to 62 s Stockton & Norfolk 33s to 36 FOREIGN GRAIN AND FLOUR. IN BOND. WHEAT—Dantzic 49s to 56s'BELHE ........ ......... ... 208 to° B Hamburgh 36s to 40s PIUS 23 1 ~0 0 BARLEY 3os to 33s FLOUR—A mer i can 2 ^ ja to 251 OATS—New 22. to %:).' Feed l4s to 16s T. 1 lei isr f i /net \ C , At