The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-18 00:00:00

r - I ter the Me• 4? . And liS. aid* r:g e o , otea , the 06° THE CALEDONIAN ASYLUM. br_T•tie tweniy-seventh anniversary of this Asylum was cele ated yterday in a very gratifying manner, by th remony of la y in g e " h'Lls ~,„ the first stone of an addition to the school, w 1 • pill enable the charity to extend its benevolent efforts to the 611.14 of Scottish Parents as well as to boys. For the last few years the Directors have contemplated this extension of the ; bar itY, but having no funds -available for the purpose, they j'ere coinpelled to postpone it. In the course of last year. '' 4 wever, the munificence of Mr. Matheson, - I.P. (Ashburton), woe himself subscribed 1,000/. towards the expense of en ler • friends the building, and the subscription,. on the part o . f . of the charity, have enabled the Directors to early eut their . intentions - The ceremony of l a yi ng th e foundation ,,,a's fle of the girls' school, at the Asylum, Copenhagen-fields, „, Performed by the Earl of Z e el an d, accompanied by - ' 44 °flic forms. -- _Members of the Highland Society, dressed . • • The. sir: in their picturesque costumes, attended on the occa • The also rest Piesident, the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir James th aed "Rilell, Captain Forbes of Ashtown, The Chisholm, and of the governors and directors of the charity, were present. thMckav, her Majesty's piper • Macbeth, the Duke of Su lieettrl7-tne's ,*, Cameron, - Captain ' Forbes's; . Stewart, Captain ~,-iety°llof btewart.• • and we t , ~.. . 0, Mackay, the Highland Society's, , r ._ Hi attendance, and played many pibrochs, salutes, and a martial airs. t ~T h. ... ,e s Plendour and interest of the ceremony were much in . - I:;" e ' s e'l by the attendance of a very large number of masonic rlthren, in• the full costume and insigria of the different ers of the craft, in order to do honour to the Earl of Zet h4sa!i, the wordiipful the Grand Master. The spectators, the "ZinstYodaratevdhosvalitehanasisted of elegantly dressed ladies, were I wain's range of raised seats, covered by an tak e , s , opposite the spot on which the ceremonial was to place. The boys of the Asylum were in attendance, lifdressed in 'the full national costume, attracting a good deal ,i0,7.. 11 . ° ,t.iee in the kilt and tartan. The fine hand of the Scotch ,hueleprrsoceenelitivieened "the company before the commencement Z . ek e . The Only drawback with several modern airs and Scotch melo drawback on the proceedings was the excesd bei„ inotetnencv of the weather, the coldness of the win il ie t l 4l .- ° st ntl - Precedented so late in the ins). nth of May. Pretee.,.l43onle brethren, and the gentlemen attending the two s „ (un gs , asse.mbled at Copenhagen-house at half-past r- land ,!fle wearin,g their masonic emblems, some the High in f o —stur ne, and not a few of theni displaying both. IlaN - to the r t e ' t 14 „ i Procession, they accompanied the Grand M s a s s e t e e i r i ,„. cr °weled•' - i r ," l, in a body so numerous that the space fi " the - t eeas• 'The ceremony of laying the was d stone . sit e d bll Performed with the usual forms, a brass plate epo beneath it bearing the following inscription : Be t i l k i l the seventh year of the Reigi , i. of s the, "t qracions AlajeSty QUEEN NICTORI , - ' °lnlation Stone of this addition to the t° —,` p„ C ALEDONIAN ASYLUM, end its benefits to Female Children, was laid the 17th May, 1844, by G randit Th ° RightoHn on. the Earl of ZETLAND, .. - 7 .isster of the Fraternity of Freemasons of England, isted y Ills Grac-e the Duke of But: b cum:cif, President, . i .„ . and supported by the Th e n ' lIIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON,. . Oiler Patrons and Friends of the Institution. three, IN thein arrived on the ground at half-past whole ceremony was over at four o'clock. The TIRE DINNER. Wer e L an niversary of the Society and the event of the day lisalot7t., celebrated by a dinner in the evening at the Free torlieteuhaar,iltyavinerini,staetrewdhli_cehntheetresnugbsi3c.r.iber to, and friends of Grace the Duke kr t ee t leach presided s - orted by His theEarl of tland, and tbe'se'atheson, M.P. ' Thefollowing gentlemen were ong tit, -,Present :-- , -Capt. C. Forbes, General Fitzroy Maclean heorbj2Bl, Kirkland, H. Rose, Esq., A. Gillespie, Esq.,. G. gnat ' 12.4 f1., J, Tunoch, Esq., General Aitcheson, Sir Rd. ta4l. .er, R,.... A "„u . &e. Many gentlemen wore the Highland cos 11Pleildi'w nut band was in attendance, in addition to five With 41 Y -dressed Highland pipers, and the gallery was filled ft ladie ,„'see v s ' dro ner entertainments of the evening were under the ll 4 illtie -- :' al Mr. T. Cooke, and though last, not least, .t e onr itself Nyai excellent, ' and the wines of the best quality. I.oll,e'remeral of the cloth, PrinZ ‘'lrAllt-NIASTg -e the Queen, the Queen Dowager, 41 11 7 ‘ Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal t iona ll o Y i l They were all drank with the warmest dernonstra -1 I'6 „ 'laity, . I( ari,, Ar _,M.Y and Navy " followed, and the toast was ac ile.-"67tt by General - ArrenEsoN. kar eh C hildren of the Asylum were then introduced, and 11117`aroundatzz;bealti„ the room - preceded by the pipers. They o much military ' recision and their clean, cheer appearance,pexcited g .' eneral admiratio ,, n. Petit, ttrAlitittArt then gave the toast of the evening, Prtos laVest° the Cal edonian-Asylum." After advertingto e 481teteiling„ appearance of the children, his . Grace gal l tdi 4 ° , Ul le - origin and progress of the Institution, fro Zany e d ','re present dav re retting that its means had not ' 4 eorm,'"e Society to ' extend g the benefits of the charity to the se an datfghters of those Scotchmen who had fallen in datingv.lce of their country, as well as to their sons, and heliZ4l.llgle warmest and most grateful terms the obligation Of lkodiltUtion I,),Was under to the munificent donor of the suns fr ' 4l t -. ( '''r• Matheson M.P.), which had relieved . thom teifytherekidnifficUlty, and enabled them with the subscription i 'fltn e ,,_ . friends, to complete their ' good . work, by the 'tid e d ~,"eelnent, that day, of the school for girls also. He al ttiL_eir i ' eli t iA lt - e ... education instruction the children . received, and to st—},l:otursiat.cie;esci:nstruction in the principles of the . Church of i4 g th' e Btr ec rg, l Y, but not more strongly than justly, eulo io, h e flatlet, zeal, and attention of the Rev. Mr. Lees, /lit t. 4 was about to remove from this scene of his '` h ick it . cT4 ' )ll ROSA then read the statement of accounts, by irr, i n IPeared that the Society had received in the past t rot It s ; ' , the - gum of q,')521., and had expendil ,2/. "ars tb,,`"ed..the singular and gratifying fact that in twenty tii, lll ‘ e„ 61 8 141 1 1 4 _d been only one . deaths in the Asylum. A l ice.p "'IAN, having given . " Their Royal Highnesses at ron - at ronesses of the Society and the other Vice- Th es e , , ,, , .- ehha:rirs"4l„ p po d the health of their Noble ' ""hl 4- t °o Diirl-14:If B r u a ccl s e e ugh, which was drank with 1 ,,!, a nd , so _ ,e ,, o fe elk 4 e b °° n.n 3 . in a brief, but A t ,'''R sis,,,'',°f Bucctzucti returned thanks krirt- Z . ' —e t'. • after which the health of the Earl of Zetland n, ii „A ~ lir Q liSt o r , Stra . el. in the same manner. . d t , • Ile,t,lir co ntributions for the evening mas t. te e n read by P 1 44 tion s ' : 1°, 8 3. The following are some_ i li t ? Il e b..,_eler Majesty the Queen 100 CL Prince Albert 52/. 4 '41 1111 e inn of Buccleugh 50/., , Sir C. Forbes 100/., Mr. 11. 2it 4 4, t ii 1 ,23, Mr. Alexander Grant 301., Mr. D. Robert h Earl of Zetland Ili; Ild ern ,..ouke of Roxburgh 1 ! Alt- 4 eorfr e T, l Johnson 10/. 10s., M 3 r. ° A . lex t a e nde Gillespie 321., I:Pth7; S_ ° rbea 36/., the Caledonian Society 21/., &c. &c. lise,t, wh oie L ae donations amounted to 80/ tly i ,Lat 1 ) ,,.,,1nf10unt of funds for the year is about 2,100 Z., q t ,l l. sol il l t " 4 . lig expenses will require some 500/. more than It tli t;Dn i- ltr Arr t, litscrs then proposed . the health of Mr. ii 11, (, re. :Which 'O4 ' " 11 -", was enthusiastically drank with all Th 4 ast lt e ,, t Ch,„ !VAS followed by that of the " Highland Society, e ' " lit "eh of S tl d " (which was acknowledged by th ll); (11 1!1); 1 1 e " 1 0, and tre 1 ‘ Caledonian Society." )4-"elin ef auceLEuGit then quitted the Chair, and left tondo 14,,g t ; I tos-", te.,", t80 .X was unanimously called to it, and the fo I. st i wos, ,, -Is. succeeded:," The Presbyterian Clergy o i'' tl; l 4 ,' k u e e Duchess of Buccleugh and the ladies pre -I,ley-,t tate - fr` e wards," and " Success to the next meeting : " .41 4 fk -"lig 'Boon after separated, having spent a very -v ening . 1., -- ltti -"- sZe 1A THE ROYAL, ADELPHI. 11:47,t'ecIlled-71'strind the Great Wizard of the North has sp h ' a l lad' ill e ngaging Mademoiselle Rossini, the great iii s ' i tioit -Y 'violinist, Who has lately created so great . a Pied (b (4l t he Continent. Her execution, we are m ats • e b f e h t i ti tli: /2 111 Petent judges) is not inferior to that of l 'i:iii",:ark' n , ‘ ,.this be true,_the sooner the Wizard thinks bili ti .ue ii-41,-° ' ue .Adelphi Theatre the better—though it V ii 's, b y -- tb sy task to him, who can do greater impossi- Ok4 e 1 e touch of his necromantic wand. t u "ers i. •ite ,-'efik .. °. .aeotland will have a great national treat 14 1 : 11 ,gsk c i",,the Adelphi. The Wizard of the North e li t i'' 14. - ""o Highland Dancers and Pipers, who ap- C t t a. s ei d ii ," 4 eir e the Queen at Dunkeld and Teymouth willed - 1... 4 g her Majesty's recent visit to the Land of ii;iesl4,"%the English this will be a great treat ; it tel 4l . '',/,'",,' the i _ mind a style perfectly unknown in ` 4 Ili? tart, - s' the Scotchman, it will warm his heart to d ;II 4 ,.. - liati v ,, ~ and delight his ears, to hear the sound acne,, r ." . ' O; I PIPes. We are quite certain next week it . r, 4 &Pr ' p„' —el( - 4111 1, on to the Wizard !" The Wizard °4t t- e p ti l;':• 1 Praise for the manner in which he caters k t of hi s h il e• We wish managers would take a leaf 14 'iza lvill . to 4* We are perfectly astonished—go when , tis k - trly nu - .the Adelphi, it is always crowded. The %lr„, s t h e -4t „b„e making gold by magic. We should Ar e .'tor of "'it have a pretty round sum to give a the 't°l the I ncome-tax, unless he can pay it la 4 . ..._ him,4lll, -- - laughable co. • , -1 1 , r-A.R very Th t)i,,• ~4 0 EY THEATRE.—The 4 it • 4re f t he 11 rtache, was y 4 1 ,,.., .. .or ea revived by Farren , : Itt 'g' IL I ' the enriched tailor, was personated .1.. repro_ Mathews for ii., h - on Thursday t4itetivell, ti , son, had Charles Vortex, the nabob htliappt4r r: Strickland was ' Miss Julia Frank Oatland, th q Il ett g a l le : the character of tex and or ;as , ad. • Mr. We . thiptlitrao,._4sle, Mrs. Edwin I . arn i o t l e d ! a .i s ts E s lke ... n V t itiltry ~,Ztr.of the more a-,ntt l it kor c cl l . it his 4% It4ble illll bY Mrs. 1‘ * ti l especially that wherein .on. te i v 4 seine of the scenes, The c Manley. ‘411(141,,, f . es the of 11 ge from Young . Farren er N e vr x s t almost 4 44 is (14,5 A.of. the aftectiaonnawere depicted h genuine wt r t o young iSicji„44d eliciti:,rlunnacsi p 4' '4lirl a en- ' • te father with the . sense of eZ tl) 1; 1 11 suited to C aß h P a ini rl a er li e lath T e h ls e rs full tone without t e . . to its i 4 N•iit• spirit ef the scene chwahraoc shouts of r,stlglit °ll- The coined was received with c te ontinued to ''' Al i t t 4 trd e forward Y Mr. Farren cam ti tio,,_ .aPplause, and when . greeted with a warmth AD k 0,t44‘3_,1ts repetition, he IN as g were he had made Dtteint t u hey much the efforts Q k ed• 15 th 'it t AL T T Among many ot ie . 1 rs of shed r at il , " it end Cl.. Gentry, it 'lAD ille following di sti ngui his '1040: lope visitedhis wonderful prodigy at °4 4- 3 111 t he 1: • t h 11 within the last few days: )c,iuk,s, r‘ ,, , gyptian- !i J. 4,l%;tlstnne:;,,,..ls,lessington Mr. J Colquhoun, Viscount 1114?.esd,le ~,.t count btrang or , f d Lord Ilawarden, . b i kele x , '4-44'd Rawdon, Lord A. . k Fitzclarence, Lad d ) Lady Stanley. ii(lviik4l 4-..yadY Miller, Lad Pearson ,_ _ I 'M I' l Lady •CI el Sir J. 11 it* ~. Ofhp , M`Leod, Lady Honourable Honour 010 , sir ice,Lady Clarke, Bishop tf "el . giratr cl. Winrrd, Lady Morris, Ir.. t'iltrZhchestert". and lady, • Marchioness of N ` 1.1 4 -41k1 i ll ' Lad E- rto ..)"r4 Y -zttern ia Lae - -11'. kicate"Lady Pakenham, Lady ta,,1.,, 0 , ~..y Chichester, r , tinlit -,-- wis Gordon Drummond and Hon. Lady `')11 i-stld, I-lon' Jd2 Patteson, Lady Harrington, 'kl 4-83 Ca ,1 u ---eof Cleveland, Hon. Mr. th Jtn tsh . y Mper-own Duke .. Excellency l it (; re ' ,Lady Sykes Lady Winington, his m .tij o ,, -c,•-,,,an Co n I 'lLady S rnour Lady Clapha , (4,,5-ti,' °hey?, Dlt sti i Wall' to eY n MarChioness of West -04iv-17) lion. Mar: ° C h e ,-,in e g Si; N. Chambers, Lady ~4 et,' T Li! 11•4_,c1Y CLichc'eesterra-Liady 11. S. Churchhill, Earl 17`'Yenir.."'agy Carew, Si; C. Hunter, Earl B.,elmore, i.d.th, .;anilton Bishop of Durham, Lady 1 alki j ner, .c‘,. , '-'-arY WOod Prince Esterha.zy, Lady F. Whson, ~`ll, dapi Lady Wenlock, Lady Frazer, Lord oTinaP: "'rtl l °l'd Illomfield, Colonel Elwood, Colonel Buck l'i ni, , Sir William Gordon, Colonel Belcher, Sir George tsroehl... it Samuel Jarvis, Lady Clark, the Marquis and h' ki ll . -.4,1°4e85 Of Londonderry, Mr. Everett, the America . i1r'1,3.--r., Cemte D'Orsay, Lord Chesterfield, Mr. H 441t,Lieut-Col. Malcolm' , Don Thomas Murphy (the ko-leitti Mini t ) Baroness de Rothschild, Lieut.-Col. 1 ., rit.4411 ... s Lades , 41• let, earle Ladles Adelaide and Constance Paget, Lord G and Countess of Erroll, &c., &c. 'Thi s di, kAts• i) 'LT TION. .I. i INA, 4-IYDROPATIIIC DEAIONSTRA . nee ii'vt , Which is • nd a doubt what the science 1.,,111y., a , , o pro N e ie3, o _ . al of tie l e of, has been put . o , ire If understand, till the iti, ttie. Empero r of Russia, when an experiment, will 4 401 ; 4 Eke uoyer before attempted.—runck. COURT OF SEWERS. A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of West mius:er, and part of the county of Middlesex, was held at the Sewers'-office, Greek-street, Soho, yesterday. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Donaldson, Mr. WILLOUGHBY was called to the chair. _ _ Several new Commissioners were sworn and took their scats, among whom was, Mr. Dodd, the Member for Maidstone, and Mr. Barry Baldwin, the Member for Totnes. • . The routine business of the Court having in a great measure been gone through, the Court proceeded to con sider the appeal of the Western Literary and Scientific Institution, in Leicester-square, against the payment of rates to the Sewers. After a short discussion the ap peal was refused, on the ground that the tax would not ultimately fall upon the Society, but on their landlord. On the question that the Court should receive and consider the report of the Committee, on view of the drainage of Kensington New Town, and of the Kensing ton Sewer at South-end, and in the neighbourhood of Earl's -court, a short discussion took place, which ended in a motion from Mr. CHAMBERS—That the report be printed pre viously to its being considered at the next Court. The motion was agreed to. On the question that the Court should receive and consider a report from the surveyors as to the state of the work in those parts of the•sewer in Gloucester-road, Paddington, viz., 30. feet and 60 feet, which they consider it necessary to have rebuilt, after a short conversation, the report of the surveyors was read, which stated that they had proceeded, agreeably to the order of the Court, to remove the earth and brick-work for 30 feet and . 60 feet of the sewer, and that from their inspection of it they found the upper sides of the arches in such a state as to require rebuilding, and they estimated the expense of that at 1171. Mr. B. BALLWIN, M.P., considered that the report might have been more explicit, and he would, therefore, move that the report should be referred back to the surveyors. Mr. LESLIE wished to know from Mr. Dowley, whe ther he considered the form of the arch adopted in this sewer the proper one ? Mr. DowLEY thought that it was, provided the bank ing had been well done. In his opinion the whole bank had failed in consequence of the want of proper banking. Mr. LESLIE wished to know whether it was part of the duty of the contractor to do the banking ? Mr. DOWLEY said that it was. Mr. LESLIE was satisfied that the honour of the Court and the character of the contractors and the officers of the Court was at stake before the public. -Now, all he wanted was to have the whole question fully and fairly investigated. The present was a most important question This great work—one which he contended was never required to carry off the small quantity of water that passed through the sewer—had been found to be defec tive at almost every ten feet. Within that space the arches had been found to give way for a distance of no less than 750 feet. Now, under such circumstances, was it not incumbent on the Court to inquire whether the failure had taken place in consequence of the Court having adopted the arch that had been built, or from any fault of the contractors, or from any negligence on the part of the servants of the Court? If either of the latter, the Court would know how to deal with them. Now, with respect to the first point, was there any man among the Commissioners who was virtuous enough to get up and say that what had taken place was the fault of himself and his brother Commissioners?—(A laugh.) They ought to satisfy the public that they intended to do juitice. If it was the fault of the contractor, he was bound to make it good ; if it was the fault of the Court they were bound to remedy it by leaving off the course they had pursued; and if it was the fault of the officers of the Court, they were bound to call upon them to come forward and give an explanation of the course of con duct they had pursued. Let them have an inquiry, and go boldly into the question as trustees for the public. He thought Mr. Dowley, Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. Bell, would give their evidence much better before a jury than in that Court. It was idle to refer the report back to the surveyors, as they could not be expected to say more than they had done. In his opinion, the whole matter ought to be opened to public investigation ; and for himself he was anxious to go to the root of the evil at once, and that could not be better effected than by summoning a jury. If the Court granted him that jury, the persons he should call before it would be General Pasley and the Rev. H. Moieley, of Queen's College. Captain BAYNE—WiII they come here without being paid ? Mr. LESLIE-I am sure I don't know; but this I am certain of, that you don't.—(Laughter.) Mr. Leslie observed, in continuation, that the only effect of re ferring the report back to the surveyors would be, to delay the matter till the next Court day, whereas, if such a course was not adopted, they might have a jury next week. Mr. HAwKEs objected to the matter being referred back to the surveyors. He thought the best course would be for the Court then to adjourn, and proceed immediately to the examination of the sewers. He be lieved that the whole failure had arisen, not from a defect in banking up the walls, but from the nature of the arch. As to calling out a jury, he thought it absurd; they had a great many scientific men in that Court, and they could decide the subject better than a jury. He should move, as en amendment, that the Court should adjourn till Tuesday next, unless they adjourned now for the purpose of examining the sewer. Mr. B. BALDWIN thought that the differences that seemed to exist in the Court showed that the report ought either to be referred back to the surveyors, or that a jury should be summoned. Mr. ALLANSON thought if the worthy Commissioner (Mr. B. Baldwin) would add to his- motion, to refer the matter back to the surveyors, and that the Court should meet on Tuesday to receive their further report, all difficulty would he obviated. Mr. B. BALDWIN adopted this suggestion, and after a short discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr. LESLIE said that the motion having been agreed to, he would postpone his motion which stood in_the paper for that diy, till Tuesday. The CHAIRMAN thought that, as the motion stood for that day it ought to be proceeded with, and - he should altogether object to its being either withdrawn or post poned. Mr. LESLIE said that he had consented to postpone the motion at the request of several members of the Court. The CHAIRMAN said he should certainly put the motion to the Court if the worthy Commissioner would not proceed with it. Mr. LESLIE observed that if he was to be forced in that way he must go on with his motion, but if he took up more time of the Court than the Commissioners ex pected they must blame themselves and not him for it. The Commissioner then proceeded at some length to contend, that the cause of the failure of the sewer ought to be made as public as possible, or the character of the Court would be con siderably lessened. The Worthy Commissioner concluded by making the motion of which he had given notice, to the effect that a jury should be sum moned, for the purpose of pronounc►ng a verdict as to the cause of the failure in the sewer. The CHAIRMAN objected to the motion. He was not desirous of screening anybody. If the Court had com mitted en error, let it come manfully forward, acknow ledge it, and take care not to do it again. The Worthy Commissioner had entirely misunderstood the statute. The jury that Court could summon could not effect the purposes that the Worthy Commissioner had in view. Added to this, there could be no necessity for summoning a jury, because, if it was the fault of the Court itself, they Inuit take care not to do the like in future. If it was the fault of the contractor, the Court had their remedy against them in Westminster Hall; and if it was the fault of the officers of the Court, the Commissioners would surely know how to deal with them, without the intervention of a jury. Mr. G. GUTCH thought the report that would be re ceived on Tuesday would develop the whole clause of what had taken place. Mr. HAWKES thought the calling out of a jury would be a most cumbersome mode of proceeding. If the Court was not competent to act for itself, he thought the sooner they abrogated their duties for that of a jury the bettor. After some discussion, Mr. LESLIE replied ; and, upon a division, the motion was lost by a majority of 10, there being 3 for it, and 13 against it. On the motion of Mr. FULLER, Mr. Bird, one of the contractors of the Court, was ordered to attend the Court on Tuesday next. ' The Court, at a late hour, adjourned to Tuesday next, at twelve o'clock. PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.—OR Thursday the annual general meeting of the Shareholders of this Company was held at the establishment in Old Broad-street, Mathias Attwood, Esq., M.P., in the chair. After a few prefatory re marks by the chairman, Mr. Marshall, the secretary, read the report of the Directors, in which the usual allusion to the agricultural and commercial state of Ireland was •made, which last year passed over with greater exemption from mercantile failures in trades connected with Ireland than for many preceding years. The linen manufacture of Ulster was fairly maintained, and as to the cultivation of flax, it had greatly increased in the quantity raised, as well as in the importance of the quality, which being conducted under the Belgian system of management recently introduced, and now becoming so prevalent in the north of Ireland, it was thought it would supersede in a great measure the necessity of im porting the finer description of flax from the Continent. The only circumstance of importance connected with the Bank of Ireland, was the discontinuance of the branch bank of Money more, in the county of Londonderry. Allusion was made to the low value of money which had been greater during the past year than at any period since the establishment of this bank, in the year 1825. The Government regulation as to the system of banking generally was not thought likely to affect the banks of. issue in Ireland, while at the same time no new banks of issue in any part of the kingdom will be allowed. Though the accounts showed the income not to be equal to former years, the Directors were, not withstanding, enabled to continue a dividend of eigh per cent. per annum, as hitherto, and would also make an addi tion of 2,300/. to the rest of last year. The rest, on the 25th of March, 1843, was 97,121/. 9s. 10d., from which deduct two half-yeailv dividends, together 43,290/., would leave a ba lance of AO2ll, 9s. 10d., to which must be added the nett profits fur the past year, 45,5011. 4s. 10d., showing the rest on the 30th of March, 1844, to be 99,422/. 14s. Bd., from which it was proposed to pay a dividend of four per cent. for the half-year ending at Midsummer next, at the rate of eight per cent. perannum. The report was adopted, and four Directors having been re-elected, thanks were unanimously voted to the Chairman and Directors, and also to Mr. Marshall, the secretary, and the principal officers of the establishment, when the meeting adjourned. THE WEATHER IN CANADA.—During the past week ml-• weather has been uncommonly fine, and, for the season, warmer than we recollect to have ever expe perienced. The thermometer during the day could not have been much below 70 deg., and the nights have been as mild and balmy as in the month of June. The ice has almost entirely disappeared from our harbour, and we understand that the river is clear as far down as Sorel.—Moyarcal Courier, April 15. ROYALISTS IN FRANCE. The following letter has been addressed by Henri de France, Due de Bordeaux, to those Legitimist Deputies who have been re elected by their constituents, despite the strenuous exertions of M. Guizot and his colleagues : Goritz, MarCh 19, 1844. " I have been informed, Gentlemen, of your re-election to the Chamber of Deputies, and I hasten to tell you how re joiced I feel at this result, and to offer you my congratula tions. It would have been a subject of ceaseless and poignant regret to me if your visit to me during my residence at London should have been the means of depriving France of the services of such worthy defendersof her interests. I am both happy and grateful that the electors of the towns of Marseilles, Toulouse, Montpellier, Doullens, and Ploermel have done so noble an act of justice, and have so ably refuted those calumnies which- were so industriously circulated re specting my visit to England, and yotir visit to me at London. All who came to me during my brief sejour in the English capital know full well that not a syllable • escaped from my lips which was not couched in the form of an ardent desire for the welfare and happiness of France. " The sentiment of generosity which has instigated these honourable men, who do not yet participate in all our con victions, to rally around us under those circumstances, ought to inspire us with fresh hope, that the day may yet come, a happy day of conciliation, when honest and sincere men of all parties and opinions, abjuring these divisions by which they have been so long estranged from us, will meet together in good faith on the ground of monarchical principles and na tional liberties, to serve and defend our common country. " I renew - to you, Gentlemen, the assurance of my esteem and my constant and sincere affection. " HENRI. " To Messieurs Berryer, Blin de Bourdon, De Larcy, De la Rochejacquelin, and De Vainly." THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, IVIAY 18, 1844. BANKING AFFAIRS. The private country bankers and deputies of joint-stock banks have had meetings to sonsider the Government plan for the reform of our monetary system. Their deliberations have not been open to the press, but we believe that their chief efforts will be made to induce the Premier to give them a higher average than they would receive were he to abide by the amount of the average of issues for the last two years as a rule to fix their maximum of circulation for the ten years next to come. To accomplish that object, they will probably endeavour to maintain an extension of the term of years in which the averages are to be calculated. During the year 1839 the issues of the private banks were in no month returned at less than 6,680,000/., nor in year 1840 lower than 6,165,000/. The lowest return of the joint-stock banks, in 1839, was 3,945,9071., and in 1840, 3,542,510/. In December, 1841, the issues of the private banks had fallen off to 5,718,2111., and those of the joint-stock to 3,217,8121. In December, 1842, the circulation of the private banks was only 5,085,8851., and that of the joint-stock banks 3,001,5901. In December, 1843, the issues of the . private banks had dimi • nished to 4,533,0481., and the joint-stock banks were 3,161,033/. For the four weeks ending the 27th of April last, the circulation of the private banks again shows a ten dency to increase, being stated at 5,295,2391., and that of the joint-stock banks at 3,752,867 ; but comparing these last re turns with those of the similar month in .1839, there is a de crease in the issues of private banks amounting to 2,386,971/., and in joint-stock banks of 1,101,229/. Some of the large joint-stock banks of issue have taken over the busi ness lately of private banks, allowing them a sum for the good will of their promissory notes in circulation. These transactions will be struck at by the operation of the new scheme, by preventing such joint-stock banks substituting their own paper for that of the private establishment whose business they had agreed for. The joint-stock banks will endea vour to obtain special sanction for issuing their notes, to enable them to complete these contracts without loss; and both private and joint-stock banks will endeavour to make out a difficulty against the working of the measure, in the event of an increase of trade and an enlarged popula tion demanding additional facilities for the development of capital, and for of additional banking accommodation. As the Bank of England is limited to 14,000,000/. of issue on securities, and the country banks to a declared maxi mum, it is held by the parties interested in preserving freedom of creating paper money, that the notes to be given out, in exchange for bullion, will not be adequate to supply the country with the needful amount of currency to carry on the operations of a large extent of trade, and that a heavy pressure will be felt, and a scarcity of money, with falling prices, when the new scheme is ix operation. The dis turbing influence of the new tariff, and the dulness in trade which it occasioned, causing a glut in the Money Market, will no doubt be alluded to. The great increase to the deposits of the banks should not be forgotten, occasioned by the abundance of money which has prevailed during the last twelve months ; and the means which the banks will possess of affording accommodation from that source, as banks of discount and deposit, exclusive of their issues, must not be •verlooked. The objections of the banking interests above noticed are confined chiefly to details, on which they are entitled to be heard, and any suggestions which they may make, tending to facilitate the working of the scheme and to remove or lessen their own complaints against it, will no doubt receive attention in the proper quarter, so far as may be consistent with the preservation of its principle and effi cacy.—Chronicle. THE. TEN HOURS' BILL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Having been a constant reader of your journal ever since the present Ministers came into office, and a close watcher of your straightforward con duct in defence of the labouring class, sorry am I to see you support Lord Ashley's Bill in the manner which you do. Could I but have you linked to my side for one single week ! I enter the factory at six in the morning, allowed for breakfast half-an-hour, for dinner three•duarters, f►r tea half-an-hour, and leave work at eight o'clock ; and I must say I should be sorry were I compelled to leave off sooner or to work later ; and no persons enjoy life better than myself and fellow-workmen. The firm for which I work is the most extensive in this district, and turns out the very finest woolen cloths ; and were there a reduction of the hours of labour the employed and employers would fare much worse. I can safely say the orgy happy hours I spend are in the fact , ry, and reading your journal. If you were with me a week you would think otherwise. I am yours respectfully, J. T. Huddersfield, May 16, 1844. P.S. I have worked in a factory fifteen years, and not had a day's sickness. THE PRINCETON CALAMITY. (From the New York Evening Post.) The terrible catastrophe of the Princeton, with which the public mind is at this moment so deeply impressed, is one of those occasions which should be seized to grave in with the deep impression something. good. Such visitations are not sent us by chance, and though I am not one of those interpreters who are constantly fritter inglb e c e a n n n g o i t v e h n e r t e h m e a p rk e o i n p g l e h w e t l li v a a t n a t e d d r e o a n d e: down God's pr ov id ence i n t o a ser i es o f petty con to ho f t ur lessoncon trivances, e e s, yet la s and at the time when they wanted it most. Those legis lators whose vapouring speeches about Oregon have been uttered at the hazard, and apparently with a wish to produce a war, never dreamed, probably, that the path of carnage would come near them; they thought of po pularity and applause, and votes to be acquired; and never thought at all of the bloody quarter-deck, the groans of the dying, and the wail of the widow and orphan. They have never seen and heard these things, and when they raise their voices again to invoke a war, let them bear in mind that they are invoking a thousand repetitions, or ten, or twenty thousand, of the tragedy of the Princeton—not among their friends and intimates, perhaps, but among men whose blood is as red, whose pangsre d ar e c pendent, as real, whose wives and children as dear, and m and whose souls, too, are as precious o before God. How many hearts do you suppose are now throbbing with anguishing suspense till the names are known of those six sailors who were joined in this calamity. To-morrow's news will tell them, bringing relief to many, but desolation to a few. Here is the matter to reflect upon; the dead can be buried and com mended to Heaven's mercy, and then our minds natu rally find repose; but we must give more thought to the living. Consider deeply, and realise, if you can, the sufferings that women and children must endure; and ask if the man has the heart of a man who would not hate the light if he had wittingly had any share in bring ing such evils upon the earth. Not but that we must fight in case of need, for it is unhappily but too much proved that passive submission leads to greater evils than resistance; but we should first of all resist the devil, who paints war to us in gaudy colours, and inspires mob orators with insane common-places about glory. Be fore we begin to destroy human life with gunpowder, we must fight the war- demon, the war-spirit; we must make war on the causes of war; we must exert ourselves as for life and death, to resist, obviate, or elude its possi bility, trample out its sparks, and silence its exciters. But if all honourable means fail, and the dogs of war must be let loose, then probably it will be found they owe their horrid feast to these exciters who are now so ready to be their jackals. Think of the Princeton, and you will know what to think of them. TODMORDEN.—At the sessions, on Thursday, a young man, named James Greenwood. of Sowerby, was charged with disgraceful conduct in a Wesleyan chapel, at Cragdale, and with assaulting a parish constable. It appeared from the evidence, that on Sunday last, the defendant, in company with ti man, named Farrow,eitered the above chapel intoxicated, and created a great dis turbance. On the Rev. Mr. Fairbourn, the minister, rerronstrating with them, they pushed him about, and used violent language. Their conduct was so disgrace ful, that he left the chapel, and went to the house of the pariah constable, who, it appeared, was unable to protect him. Several of the congregation requested them to withdraw, and Farrow, who was the most violent, refused, declaring that the minister had invited them in, and they should stop. A member stated to the bench, that the constable was afraid of the par ties. After much difficulty, they were ejected, and tiiken into custody, hut made their escape. The bench was surprised that the constable should allow the prisoners to escape, and asked where his handcuffs were and his baton of office. They would recommend him to go into the county constabulary, under the training of Mr. Fowler, for three months.—The con stable said, he had not done much business, and did not like to over-run himself ; he was a man of peace.--The bench asked if there was a pair of stocks in Cragdale ; if so, they would certainly order the defendant to be put in them. A more disgraceful case never came before them.—The overseer stated that there was none. The bench convicted the defendant in ss. and costs, and granted a warrant for the apprehension of Farrow, but refused to give it to the constable who had acted in so cowardly a manner. FOREIGN AFFAIRS.—It is a common idea that the most laconic military dispatch ever issued was that sent by Cesar to the Horse Guards at Rome, containing the three memorable words, " Veni, vidi, vici ;" and, perhaps, until our own day, no like instance of brevity has been found. The dispatch of - Sir Charles Napier, after the capture of Sinde, to Lord Ellenborough, both for brevity and truth, is, however, far beyond it. The dispatch consisted of one emphatic word— " Peccavi," " I have Sinde" (sinned).—Punch. BEATING THE PARISH BOUNDARIES.—Thursday being Holy Thursday, or Ascension-day, the charity children of the .various parishes throughout the metro polis, headed by the churchwardens and other parochial officers, made the usual annual perambulation to beat the bounds of each pari s h. Th e cere m o ny f orms a d a y of recreation both to the parish officers and the children. THE MARCH OF INTELLECT.—AII inhabitant of the village of Hay - ay, two leagues from Mons, in Belgium, was committed to prison a few days ago at the latter place, on a charge of having killed a woman whom he suspected of being a witch. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17 Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. Lord A BING ER. took the oaths, and signed the Parliamentary Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented a petition from the Quakers of Ireland, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death in all cases whatsoever. Lord BROUGHAM and another Noble Lord presented pe titions from Edinburgh and Leith, in favour of the North British Railway. ROMAN CATHOLIC PENAL ACTS REPEAL BILL. Lord BEAUMONT, in postponing .the second reading .of this Bill, expressed a hope that the Noble. and Learned Lord on the Woolsack would make his arrangements so as to allow the Bill to be brought on as early as possible. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that some delay was necessary as this Bill proposed to repeal twenty-eight Acts of Parliament, and therefore it would take the Government some time to consider the subject. WHITSUN HOLIDAYS. The Duke of WELLINGTON stated that, next Thurs• day, he should move the adjournment of the House to that day week. TEXAS. Lord BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Lord the Se • cretary for Foreign Affairs if he had received information with respect to the annexation of Texas to the United States. This was a question of vast importance, so far as the abolition of slavery was concerned, but he trusted that the deciding por tion of the Congress, namely, two-thirds of the members, would oppose it. Nothing which had dropped from him or the Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department even justified the inference that this country, although deploring the existence of slavery, ever contemplated any interference with the Constitu tion of America. —.. The Earl of ABERDEEN said the Noble and Learned Lord could not expect him to give a precise answer to the ques tion he asked. It was a subject quite new and unexampled in the history of nations; and his Noble and Learned Friend might depend upon it that it would receive the most serious atten tion of her Majesty's Government. It was true, he believed, that the treaty for the annexation of Texas to the United States had been signed ; but he agreed in the hope ex pressed by his Noble and Learned Friend that the majority of Congress would not agree to the ratification of it. At present he could not speak with confidence on the subject, but when the time came he should state his opinions to the House, and act consistently with his duty as a Minister of the Crown. Nothing that he or the Noble Lord opposite had ever said, could justify the suspicion that they intended to interfere with American institutions. DUBLIN AND CASHEL RAILWAY. Lord AIONTEAGLE said he wished to draw the attention of their Lordships to a matter of vast importance to those per sons interested as shareholders in the railway between Dublin and Cashel. A Bill upon the subject of railways in Ireland had been introduced, and it had been announced that this Bill could not possibly be carried into effect this year. Any dis appointment in this matter would be a source of injury to those shareholders. Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition praying that the standing orders of their Lordships' House might be suspended in favour of the Dublin and Cashel Railway Bill. The Duke of WELLINGTON said there was undoubtedly great interest attached to the measure to which the petition of the Noble Lord referred. It was the wish of her Majesty's Government to give every facility in both Houses of Parlia ment to the progress of that measure. The standing orders of their Lordships' House were established for the purpose of securing the public and persons interested against being taken by surprise. Now, in the present case, there could be no sur prise, inasmuch as the notices respecting it had been given several years ago. ART-UNIONS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from the Art-Union of London, praying that the Art-Unions of the country might be legalised. IRISH POOR-LAW. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE then rose, pursuant to notice, to present a petition respecting the state of the Eden derry Workhouse, in Ireland. The prayer of the petition was merely for inquiry, in order to prevent a recurrence of such conduct in future on the part of the Commissioners. This was a matter of vast import, because the law, as it now stood, was most unpopular amongst all par ties, with the exception, perhaps, of some few amongst the higher classes. It was perfectly impossible, if they wanted to maintain peace in Ireland, that this law could be continued. In the newspapers of that day were detailed the circumstances of an affray caused by the collection of poor-rates, when the highest amount due was only Is. This measure had been car ried completely against the will of the greater nunaber; of the Irish Members, and therefore must have been ill-suited to the condition of the country. The Duke of WELLINGTON agreed that this was a sub ject of great importance. The report of the Commission ap pointed to inquire into the subject would be laid upon the table in a very short time, when their Lordships would have better information. He was ready to do every thing in his power to insure the beneficial operation of the poor-law in Ireland. The Earl of POWIS presented petitions against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor, and in favour "of the establishment of a bishopric in Manchester. The Noble Earl gave notice that he should submit a motion on the subject on Tuesday, 11th June. The Bishop of EXETER presented a petition from certain persons praying their Lordships to take into their consideration the state of the common women of the metropolis. The peti tioners were the members of certain societies ftr the recla mation of unfortunate women. The petitioners stated that seduction was carried on to an enormous extent in the metro polis, and many thousands of houses had been established for the purpose of facilitating that vice ; and the petitioners prayed the House to take some measures for putting a stop to so horrible a system as that which at present prevailed in the metropolis for the seduction of innocent young females. The Right Rev. Prelate laid on the table of the House a Bill for the purpose of the more effectual suppression of brothels, and the suppression of trading in prostitution. The Bill, after a few words from the Earl.of MOUNT CASHEL, was read a first time. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Lord WHARNCLIFFE then rose to call the attention of their Lordships to the present state of the new Houses of Par liament. He said it had become necessary to bring the sub ject under the consideration of the House, inasmuch as very extensive alterations had been made by Mr. Barry in the plans as originally laid down—these alterations having been made without the concurrence of the Committee which had been appointed to watch the progress of the new buildings. The alterations he would shortly describe to their Lordships. In the original plan it was proposed that her Majesty when going to the House of Parliament should enter the new Houses by the western door of what was called the Victoria Tower, and she would then proceed along a staircase into her robing-room immediately behind the throne in the new House of Lords, and after robing she would pro ceed at once into the House of Lords. The alteration which had been made by Mr. Barry was, that the Queen should enter the Victoria Tower at the east door, proceed along a passage up a staircase, and crossing a yard to the robing-room. From the robing-room she would pass into the House of Lords by way of a passage to be called the Victoria passage. Now, Mr. Barry had no authority whatever for making those alterations, and certainly was _not justified according to his own account in making them. He (Lord Wharncliffe) protested against its being urged that these alterations were mere matters of taste. They were no such thing, and he could not discover that they were alterations of convenience, or that sufficient benefit would be derived from them to justify the outlay of money, which they would require. He moved that the matter be referred to a Committee of the Board of Works. Lord SUDELEY said he was one of the Commissioners who were appointed to decide upon the plans which were ori ginally sent in for the construction of the new Houses of Par liament. There were ninety-seven competitors, and the num ber of plans submitted was upwards of 1,100. The task of the Commissioners, therefore, was not a light one. The Com missioners came to the determination of deciding in favour of the plan of Mr. Barry, and in coming to that conclusion the Commissioners fully understood that, in carrying out the plan, Mr. Barry would, from time to time, make various alterations in the details of his plans ; but they believed that he would not do so without the concurrence of the Government. He differed very much from the opinion of the Noble Lord opposite that these alterations were not matters of taste. Lord WHARNCLIFFE—The House of Lords is not the proper place to discuss a question of taste ; but I have no taste upon this subject at all. Lord SUDELEY hoped then that their Lordships would not attach much weight to the observations of the Noble Lord upon this subject.—( Laugh ter. ) The Noble Lord then proceeded to show that the alteration which had been made in the Victoria Tower had arisen from the mode in which Dr. Reid had determined upon carrying his apparatus for ventilat ing the new building into the sew Houses of Parliament. He contended that the plans ought to have been definitively settled eight years ago, and ought not, as in point of fact was the case, to have been postponed until the present day, and they were not settled yet. Although he had great confidence in Mr. Barry, yet he never would have consented to allow him to make any alteration he pleased without first consulting the Go vernment, and he trusted that in future the Government would not allow any alteration to be made without their express ap proval. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought it would be most inconvenient to go into a general discussion on the subject; but what he wished to say was, that he entirely concurred in the observations which had fallen from the Noble President of the Council (Lord Whatncliffe). Ile had no doubt that the al. terations which had taken place in the Victoria Tower, had been made at the instance of Dr. Reid, in order that be might the more easily erect his apparatus for the ventilation of the new Houses of Parliament. Lord BROUGHAM expressed a hope that Mr. Barry would, in future, make no changes without first consulting the Government. He must protest against Mr. Barry's conti nually fighting with the Committee on the subject of d e l a y. No doubt Mr. Barry, like all other artists, wished to make a display by having the whole of the new .building opened at the same time. He (Lord Brougham) however trusted that the Government would not allow this, but compel Mr. Barry to stick to his implied bargain of opening the House of Lords next session. The Marquis of CL AN [tic A RDE expressed a si m il ar h o p e . Lord COLBORNE did not think i t was politic to take the responsibility of may changes off the shoulders of Mr. Barry. If Mr. Barry was to carry this great work to completian it was absolutely necessary that they should place confidence in him. After a few words from the Earl of BESBOROUGH, and the Marquis of NoRmANBY, the motion was agreed to. The Courts of Common Law Bills, were read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned at Eight o'Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 17. The SPEAKER. took the Chair at Four o'Clock. The Westminster and Lambeth Suspension Bridge Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from Salford against certain clauses of the Poor-law Amendment Bill ; also a petition in favour of the Dissenters Chapels Bill. Petitions in favour of the'Dissenters' Chapels Bill were pre sented by Dr. Bowring from Bolton; Mr. Pusey and Sir George Grey from Devonshire ; Lord Robert Grosvenor from Chester ; and the Solicitor-General from places in Ireland. Petitions were presented against the Bill by Colonel Con nolly from Donegal, Mr. Plumptre from Durham, and Mr. Heathcoat from Tiverton. Mr. M. O'CONNELL presented a number of petitions against the Irish Registration Bill. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition from Bath, praying that the practice of granting PoAt-office money orders on the Lord's Day may be abolished. Sir R. 11. INGLIS presented a petition against the union of the sees of Asaph and Bangor, and in favour of the esta blishment of a Bishopric of Manchester. Lord CHARLES MANNERS presented a petition from several solicitors residing its Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, against certain clauses in the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill. Mr. FERRAND presented a petition from the Welsh Cal vinistic Methodists resident in London, against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Sir T. WILDE presented a petition very numerously signed to the same effect. Mr. FOX MAULE presented two petitions, one in favour of, and the other against, the Dissenters Chapels Bill. Colonel LOWTHER presented a petition, signed by 4,500 persons, in favour of agricultural protection. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from an Unitarian congregation in Brighton, and from several other Dissenting congregations of the town, in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Mr. PATTISON presented two petitions to the same effect. Lord POLLINGTON presented a similar petition. Mr. HUME presented a petition from a Dissenting congre gation in Warwickshire, against certain clauses in the Dissen ters' Chapels Bill. Mr. C. BERKELEY presented a petition from Cheltenham, in favour of the Bill. Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition against it. Sir G. STRICKLAND presented a petition from members of the Established Church at Preston, in favour of the Dis senters' Chapels Bill: also a petition from the Roman Catholics of the same place to the same effect. Mr. BARNARD presented a petition from the Vauxhall Bridge Company, against the Lambeth Suspension Bridge Bill. PULTENEY TOWN HARBOUR BILL. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the Pulteney Town Harbour and Improvement Bill was ordered to be re-com mitted to the former Committee. Mr. ESCOURT brought up the report of the Standing Orders Ciimmittee on the Great Southern and Western Rail way (Ireland) Bill. Mr. WYSE presented a petition from Kilkenny, praying for the suspension of the Standing Orders in reference to the Great Southern and Western Railway (Ireland) Bill. Petitions in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill were pre sented by Mr. Ward fiom Sheffield, Lord A. Lennox from Chichester, Mr. V. Smith from Northampton, Mr. Labou chere from Taunton, and Mr. C. Wood from Halifax. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented petitions in favour cf the Disenters' Chapels Bill, from the Protestant Dissenters of the New Meeting-house at Birmingham ; from the Protestant Dis senters of the Old Meeting-house ; from the officers and teachers of the Dissenters' Sunday-school, and of the adult pupils of the same at the Old Meeting-house ; also one from the descendants, relatives, and friends of persons who have been interred in the burial-ground attached to the Old Meet ing-house. Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a petition from Devon shire in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Lord WORSLEY presented several petitions from Lincoln shire in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Mr. RUSHIHIOOKE presented a petition from Suffolk in favour of severer punishment for the crime of arson. Sir J. lIANMER presented two petitions in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. lIUME gave notice that, when the Savings' Banks Bill should be brought before the House, he should move a clause, repealing the section of the 9th George IV., cap. 19, which allowed the Minister of the day to deal with moneys de posited in Savings' Banks in the purchase of Government securities. _ Mr. IL BERKELEY gave notice that, when the Inclosure Bill should be in Committee, he would move to expunge clause t,G. IMPORTATION OF BOOTS AND SHOES. Mr. 11. BERKELEY moved for a return of the number of boots and shoes imported during the years ending Jan. 5,1840, to Jan. 5, 1844, stating the amount of duty paid thereon.— Agreed to. GAOLS. Mr. MACKINNON moved for certain returns on the subject of gaols. Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from the Tower Hamlets in favour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. CUSTOMS ACTS.—COAL. On the motion that the Order of the Day for going into Committee on t'ie Customs Acts be read, Lord HOWICK said that the coal return, which had been asked for a long time since, was not yet in the possession of the House. Ile thought it very hard that this return, so essential to the c nsideration of the subject of the coal duties, was not yet in the hands of Members. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that when the return was asked for, he sent directions to have it made out, but owing to some difficulties that presented them selves, they luld not been able to make it out yet. IRISH CHURCH. Mr. WARD said that he wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord opposite, the Secretary for Ireland, on the subject of the Irish Church. In the debate which had taken place last year on the Irish Church, he ( Mr. Ward) had given an estimate of the revenues of the Irish Church which amounted to 552,7531. The Noble Lord, who censured him on that occasion, also gave an estimate which amounted to 432,023/. which he received from the Ecclesiastical Commis sioners. The Noble Lord subsequently explained to him ( Mr. Ward) that his (the Noble Lord's) estimate was inaccurately made up, and that a mistake of 120,0001. had been made. Thus both estimates would nearly agree. An estimate had since been made out which, though it took twelve months in the preparation, was ex tremely defective. Ile wished to ask the Noble Lord whe ther he could reconcile it to his conduct and his duty to lay such a return on the table as the only information which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners could give Parliament on the subject? Lord ELIOT said that the Hon. Gentleman had accurately stated what had taken place last year. The estimate which he had given was derived from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, but Mr. Irck, the gentleman who prepared it, being engaged in other business, had committed an error of 120,000/. in the calculation. In order to prepare an accurate return, it was necessary that the dignitaries and bishops of the Church should make returns of their revenues ; but neither the Government nor the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had the power to compel them. They could only give perfect returns of the revenues of those particular livings which had become the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and of those livings which came under the operation of the Church Temporalities Act. After a few words from Mr. SHAW, Mr. SHEIL wished to know from the Noble Lord whether he had any objection to lay the letter of Mr. lrck on the table of the House? _ _ Lord ELIOT said it was a private letler, and he did not see what good could be obtained by its production. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said the course pursued in this matter on the part of the Noble Lord and the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin University, after the mistake of Mr. Irck, was most strange. The Learned Recorder had moved last August for a large detailed return of the revenues of the Irish Church, but those papers had not been laid before the House. If the papers were laid on the table of the House, they would have a full body of information on the subject. Lord ELIOT disclaimed any intention to conceal any infor mation on the subject. SIX CLERKS—COMPENSATION. _ Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Right Hon. klaroret had stated the other night that Lord Cottenham had given his as sent to the compensation clauses in the Bill relating to the abo lition of the office of the six clerks. Ile ( Lord .1. Russell) had since understood from that Noble and Learned Lord that, so far from giving his approbation to those clauses, he had de clined giving any opinion on the subject. Sir J. GRAHAM said if the Noble Lord had intimated to him that he meant to draw the attention of the House to the matter, he would have brought down a letter which had been handed to him by the Solicitor-General, and which he (Sir J. Graham) had in his hands when he made the state ment. That letter was from Mr. Wainwright, and he stated positively in it that he had waited on Lord Cottenham, and es pecially called his attention to the clauses giving compensation to the parties, not only during life, but extending to a period after their death, in consideration of the transferring which had been exercised for a long period, and that Lord Cottenham made no objection whatever to those clauses. I.ord J. RUSSELL —It was not that he made any objection, but that he declined giving any opinion on the subject. Sir JAMES GRAHAM —That was not the representation of Mr. Wainwright. Mr. C. BERKELEY inquired whether the Government meant to introduce a Bill upon Charitable Trusts? The Right lion. Baronet had maid some time ago, that it was the intention of the Lord Chancellor to introduce such a Bill into the House of Lords. Sir JAMES GRAHAM !aid that it was the intention of the Lord Chancellor to introduce a Bill on the subject. STATE OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. Mr. BORTHWICK complained of the state in which the public business was at present. He wanted to know when the Poor-law Amendment Bill would be brought before the House. There were several other Bills too, such as the County Courts Bill and Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, which he was also anxious to know when they would be brought forward. The House was so frequently counted out that it became quite an abuse ; and last night so thin was the attendance of Hon. Members that he could have counted it out when the First Lot d of the Treasury was speaking. Sir J. GRAHAM said he was afraid he could not set the Hon. Member's mind at rest with regard to the House being counted out on motion nights; but he was not aware that it hail been counted out on a single order night. The Right lion. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury had given notice of his intention to move, that after the first week in June orders should take precedence of motions. lie ( Sir J. Gra ham) could not give any definite answer to the Hon. Member's question with respect to the Poor-law Bill, but he would en deavour to do so before the Whitsun recess. lie had hoped that some progress would have been made in the County Courts Bill before Whitsuntide, but a difficulty had arisen which he did not foresee. A very grave question was now pending in the other House with respect to the abolition of imprisonment for debts in execution. The principle had, in fact, been affirmed by the other House. Now, it appeared to him important that the sense of the House should be taken on the principle of that measure before they proceeded further with the discussion of the details of the County Courts Bill, which proceeded on the opposite principle, and would not only continue imprisonment for debts in execution, but even extend its operations to debts of smaller amount. Upon the whole, he thought it would be expedient to postpone the further consideration of that Bill until the other Bill, to which he had referred, had been brought before the House. MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES. Mr. EWART Slid he did not know whether it was in the power of the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury to answer the question of which he had (riven him notice, with respect to the war between Buenos ' Avres and Monte Video. A vast amount of property was at stake. He believed he was justified in saying that the Rigkt Hon. Baronet had stated, some time since, that it was desirable that some interposition should take place, on the part of the French, the British, and the Brazilian Governments, for the purpose of putting an end to the war. Since that time, the fears of British subjects had increased by the continuance of the war. It had been stated by General, Rosas, that he could not be answerable for the safety of the property cf British subjects, or of their persons. I n a battle which had recently taken place, the Monte Videans, contrary to general expectation, had been victo rious, but this victory had only tended to prolong the war, not to bring it to an end. He wished to ask if the Right Honourable Baronet could hold out any hopes of intervention on the part of the British and the French Governments, for the purpose of bringing the war, now raging between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres, to a termination, and opening the commerce of the River Plate. Sir 11. PEEL regretted that the war between Monte Video and Buenos Ayres still continued, characterised, as that war was, by the most revolting atrocities ; and looking to the spirit in which that war had been conducted, he was afraid that there was little chance of its speedy termination. In every case in which any violation of the rights of nations had takeii place, with regard to British subjects it was the determi nation of the Government to give protection to its subjects, even by a recourse to force, if necessary ; but so long as there was no violation of the law of nations, he W 23 not pre pared to interfere. There could be no doubt but that it was extremely desirable that these hostilities should cease. England and France had offered their intervention to the two belligerent Powers, and that intervention had been accepted by one of them. France, he had every reason to believe, took the same view as England did of this subject. N doubt it was possible, by a forcible intervention, to put an end temporarily to these hostilities ; but then they must be prepared to take military possession of the country, and to provide for its internal government, for, as soon as their force should be removed, hostilities would be renewed. The precedent, too, would be dangerous, for other powerful States, sanctioned by our example, might take upon themselves to interfere in the domestic politics and internal arrangements of States subordi nate to them ; therefore they ought to pause before they inter fered in such a manner. Mr. M. GIBSON admitted the justice of the Right Bon. Baronet's remarks as to the impropriety of direct interferen ce but he wished to ask if the Government littl taken care to pro vide means to ensure the safety of the p ersons and property of British subjects in Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. S:r. R. PEEL said that there wa s a British naval force in the River Plate, and which would afford all practical protec tion to British subjects and property. IRISH ESTIMATES. In answer to a question from Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would bring on the Irish Estimates on Friday. DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILL. Sir 11. PEEL stated, in answer to Mr. Shed, that the Dissenters' Chapels Bill would not be discussed this evening. If there was time befora ten o'clock his Hon. and Learned Friend (the Attorney-General) would, in moving the second reading, state the object of the Bill ; but he would take care that there should be an opportunity afforded of considering the Bill at a future stage some other evening. DUTY ON STAVES. Mr. LABOUCIIERE said he felt it his duty to take this opportunity of calling the attention of the House and the Government to one branch of the trade of the country, which, if prompt measures were not taken by the Government to support it, would be utterly and completely destroyed, he meant the cooperage trade. lie had to express his regret that no alteration had taken place on the duty on staves. It was a question of much im portance, and if the Government did not intimate its inten tion of taking it up themselves, some other member would do so. He would not go into the details, but merely state the principal points of the subject. In consequence of the manner in which the timber duties had been arranged in 1842, by which a disadvantage sus duty had been left on staves imported into the country which furnished the raw materials fur the coopers' trade, while the duty on staves imported from North America into our colonies was entirely abrogated, the cooperage trade at home was nearly destroyed. Even manufactured casks from the United States were introduced at a duty of ad valorem, into the colonies, in consequence of which the exports of casks into the colonies were put an end to. The British cooper was, therefore, deprived of the trade with the West Indies, because he was not able to compete with his American rival. If this had taken place on the principle of free trade, he would not com plain, but he complained that it was not properly applied. But the colonial trade was not alone ruined, the foreign trade was likewise destroyed. It must be obvious that this must be the case. The cooper now paid between 60 and 70 per cent. ad valorem, en staves imported into this country. In consequence of this heavy duty they could not export casks, and he believed that foreigners were able to undersell the home manufacturer in the home market. 'This was not the result of any natural advantages on the part of foreigners. When they paid between 60 or 70 per cent. upon foreign casks, it was impossible the trade could exist under those circumstances. The consequence was that ruin was impending on the coopers. The journeymen employed in London, nearly 500, were not fully employed.—( Hear.) The coopers of London were a most respectable class, aed he entreated the Government to take the subject into their con sideration. There was no question of revenue involved— (Hear)—for the whole amount obtained was not more than 20,000/. It was a question of arrangement, not of revenue ; arid he intreated the Government not to allow the coopers to be crushed. The duty on furniture now had been reduced, to the great advantage of the country, and instead of being undersold by foreigners in Liverpool, they became an exporting country in furniture. lie hoped they el ould maturely consider the effect of those duties on this valuable branch of our trade, before they de clared their intention not to alter the duty on foreign staves. Mr. GLADSTONE said the statements of the Right Hon. Gentleman were greatly exaggerated. Ile seemed to censure the Government on the ground of certain allegations made by a certain class of traders. He (Mr. Gladstone) should like to know on what ground the Right Honourable Gentleman had made l is statements. So far es the law was concerned the traste was much better than it had been when the Right Honourable Gentleman was President the Board of Trade, and when he had made no proposition in their behalf. He ( Mr. G.) gt anted that the case of the coopers was a serious one, and that the whole trade in wood was under serious disadvantages. He admitted that the reduction of the timber duty, for which his Right Honourable Friend had been so censured on the other side of the House as an improvident sacrifice of revenue, was not sufficient to place the workers in wood in this country in a po sition to stand on an equal footing with the rest of the world. But the coopers had derived considerable relief from the the operation of the law of 1842, though he did not eay their case was of sucli a nature as to preclude its being again brought under the consideration of the House. The Right lion. Gentleman had stated that the charge on the im portation of foreign staves was sixty or seventy per cent—that was a great exaggeration. He (Mr. Gladstone) believed there was a very short supply of staves from the Baltic ; and that the trade w as greatly embarrassed in consequence of th e hi g h price. But colonial staves were never lower in price than they were at present, and the trade was consequently in a better state for competing with the Americans than it was five years ago. With regard the export trade, it might be relieved by the repeal of the duties or by the adoption of a system of substitution—a system of working in bond, which was under the consideration of the Government. He thought all diffi culties might be removed by allowing the parties to work in bond for export till the other descriptions of workers in wood were put in a better position. Lord JOHN RUSSELL defended the statement of his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Labouchere). Petitioners to that House complained that, by the alterations made in the law, they were suffering great distress, and his Right Hon. Friend then put it to the Government whether, when considering the Customs' Duties, they wonld leave out the question of the duty on staves. It was very obvious that great injury was inflicted upon our own merchants by the present duty. It was not so much a misapplication of the principles of free trade as an application of the principles of monopoly and protection for the benefit of foreigners. Having made these remarks, he would now put a question to the Right lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer on another subject. In the course of Isis financial Statement, the Right Hon. Gentleman laid great stress on the article of chicory in connexion with that of coffee, and an nounced his intention of proposing an additional duty on that article. Perhaps the Right Hon. Gentleman would state in what way he meant to proceed, whether or not he meant to introduce a Chicory Bill.—( Laughter. ) Mr. HUME thought the question which had been intro duced by the Right Hon. Gentleman was one of very great importance. The trifling sum derived from this source ought. not to stand in competi ion with the employment of coopers in so many large cities in the empire. He had one or two peti tions from Glasgow, and other places, in reference to this impost. They said that the duty on colonial staves, which was in• tended to be nominal, averaged from three to five per cent. on the cost of the raw material. The duty on staves imported from the Baltic was 33 per cent., from the United States, 66 per cent. on the cost of the raw material ; the duty on foreign manufactured work, was 25 per cent, while it might be intro duced into the colonies, from the United States, free of duty. With respect to the delay of the whale fishery it was a mat ter of deep regret to see the manner in which it had latterly fallen away. At the present moment the United States had 496 ships engaged in the trade. Some time ago England had nearly double that number, now she had not one-third. This falling off did not arise from any want of energy on the part of the shipowners or mariners, but arose solely from the existence of bad laws. The only fault he found with the schedule of the Right lion. Baronet, so far as the imperta lion of timber went, was, that he did not go far enough. All the raw material for manufactures should be allowed to be imported duty free. The want of employment, of which all at present so loudly complained, arose solely from bad laws. This Bill should not be allowed to pass without amendment. He contended that great advantage had accrued to the timber trade generally from a reduction of duties, and that ships were now not only cheaper, but much superior, to what they had been ten years ago. Mr. AARON CHAPMAN said the lion. Gentleman seemed to think that ships had never been so cheap or so good since the days of Noah, as they were at the present moment. With regard to the question before the House, he would ob • serve that the value of the staves was at present extremely low, and that the distress of the coopers was attributable to the want of demand in the West Indies for coopers' goods, consequent upon the diminished production of sugar and rum. Mr. If urrr regretted that the Right lion. Gentleman op posite should have considered this a party question. It signi fied little to the cooper which party was in power. What he complained of was, that he was placed in such a position that it was impossible for him to gain his livelihood ; and he appealed to the House to take his case into consideration. 'The coopers of the United States could import their productions into the West Indies free of duty, while the production of the coopers of this country were subject to a duty of from 30 to 6 per cent. They had heard a great deal of protection, and when certain articles were the subject of debate in that House, there were not wanting plenty of advocates to stand up for pro tection. Now if any species of property was more entitled to protection than another, it was labour. He trusted the ses sion would not pass away without the adoption of some mea sure for redressing the grievances of which the coopers so justly complained. Lord SANDON believed the coopers were reduced to a state of the greatest distress, in consequence of the recent alte rations. They were better workmen and their wages were lower than the wages of coopers in the United States, but they could not compete with the United States coopers as long as the duty on staves was from 30 to 60 per cent. against them. They were, in fact, giving a protection to the coopers of the United States at the expense of the English cooper. If they would follow the same course with regard to staves that they had adopted with regard to mahogany at the time of the altera tion of the tariff, he had no doubt but that a similar reduction of the duty would be followed by similar effects, and as the re duction of the duty on mahogany had brought back the cabinet making to this country, so would the reduction of the duty on staves restore trade to the coopers.—( There was some confu sion created during the course of the Noble Lord's speech, oc casioned by the breaking in of one of the skylights of the House, the brokers glass falling with a tremendous crash into one of the galleries appropriated to the use of Members. Fortunately, no one was near at the time, and beyond the breakage of glass no damage was done.) Sir JOHN HAMER trusted that the Government would take the distressed state of the coopers into their serious con siderat ion. Lord HOWICK said this was a most important proposition, and ought not to be hastily considered. 'The Government was thrown into this difficulty by their own inconsistency, and by endeavouring to tinker up and " potter" the system of restric tion, the principle of which they had long since abandoned. He certainly had voted against the reduction of the timber duties, and given it his strenuous opposition, but it was because the Government plan took largely from the revenue, without conferring adequate benefit on the consumer. But he was most anxious then, as well as now, to get rid of these restric tive duties altogether. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the reduction on the timber duty had been considerable, and had been, he believed, attended with advantage to the community. Mr. EWA RT advocated the abolition of the duty altogether. Customs, and when the result of that in q uir y would be ma de had been I3AR directed lN G i u n t t o a (i t t u i e e ti n n d r u e c g t a o r ( f i n g e a o n f the q u o i rffiy which c e rs of known to the House. (So much noise prevailed in the House at the time, that the precise import of the Right Hon. Gentle man's observations did not reach the gallery. ) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was under stood to reply, that the inquiry had taken place, but the result had not yet been attained. The character of the individual whose conduct had been made the subject of inquiry had, however, in no degree suffered from that inquiry. C ‘7, U hl ,i S ,cei T ri c O N‘a, ll ag l sr: S e e ' ‘t l vn L e, v L aef . rt r The House then went into Committee on th e i n a s n li n gh t t i,. d g i r s e c e usi nn ion_ o n T e h l a a u c s e l a s u • s t e s a n u d p s t portant or interesting. Clauses 7,8, and 9 were agreed to, after a few words from Mr. Hume, Mr. Ricardo, and Mr. Foster. Clauses 10 and 11 were then agreed to with a few veibal amendments. On clause 12 being put, Mr. EWART said he thought that foreign coffee and cocoa should he reduced to the same rate as that upon colonial coffee and cocoa. Mr. BARING was anxious that this subject should receive the attention of the House. There was an ether subject to which he wished to call the attention of the Right Hon. Gen tleman opposite. 'There was a clause in the Bill which stated that persons sworn before the Surveyor-General, and who had given false testimony, should be liable to be prosecuted for perjury. Nosy, a case occurred—he would not mention the names of the parties—from which it would appear that the assent of the Commissioners of Customs should be given. if a person swore falsely, which was useful to the revenue and against another party, he could not be prosecuted without the consent of the Commissioners; but if lie swore what was wrong as against the revenue, he might oe prosecuted without larger during the years of low duty, than during the years of high duty. The average exportation of British woollens from 1816 to 1819, the years of high duty, was 8,127,0001. per year. The average importation of the same commodity during the corresponding three years of high duty, from 1820 to 1823, was 6,014,000/. From 1821 to 1824, the South Down wool averaged at 2s. per lb. ; Kent wool, Is. 76d. ; Highland wool, 2s. 16d. NIV these were the three years of low duty. During the years 1820, 1821, and 1822, the three years of high duty, South Down wool averaged at l s 3frd. per lb.; Kent wool at Is. I ; and Highland wool at Is. 46d. In 1823 the duty was reduced from 62. to Id. per lb. The lowest price of wool for the last 2.5 years was, in 1829, when South Down wool aver aged 7d.. per lb., and Kent wool 92. In the same year, 21.000,000 lbs. of foreign wool were introduced, being a much smaller quantity than in any former year. This, in the very year that home-grown wool was lowest in price, the smallest quantity of foreign wool was introduced. In 1836, when the prices of British wool were highest, there was the largest im portation of foreign wool. In 18e9, the price of South Down wool, as he had already stated, was 7d. p er lb., w h en so small a quantity a foreign wool was imported; whilst, in 1836, when a large quantity of foreign wool was imported, South leown wool sold for Is. 3d. per lb. In 1836, instead of 21,000,0001b5. of foreign wool being imported, there were no less than 64,000,0001b5., being the largest amount imported for the twenty years preceding. The conclusion to be drawn from all these facts must be obvious and irresistible that the price of home-grown wool was higher in those years when the duty on foreign wool was least, and that when the duty on foreign was highest the price of home-grown wool was lowest. Now, this might seem strange, but let it be recollected that foreign wool and home-grown wool were not rivals—that they were not articles in competi tion, and that, as they were mixed, in order to make a better article, the sale of the one improved in proportion as the other was more attainable, so that they might as well take the duty off tea whilst the duty remained on sugar ; in order that the reduction should be beneficial, it must be simultaneous on both. He was sorry to have detained the Ilouse so long, but he thought that, looking to the situation of the country, any injury which the wool growers might suffer would be more than counterbalanced by the good which would be done to the ma nufacturing interests by the measure. Mr. MILES said he knew from experience that this duty upon wool was looked upon in the light of a protection by the growers. He had, sometime back, moved for extensive re turns, which would show the state in which - the British farmers were placed, and prove the impossibility of their competing with the foreign wool-growers. lie was sure that the quantity of long wool imported into this country was not at all sufficient to justify the abolition of this protection to the agriculturists. If he looked to the imports of 1843, and compared them with those of 1842, he would see an extraordinary increase in the woollen manufactures. In 1843, the imports were 6,790,000 while in 1842 they were 5,195,000 lbs. The remission of those duties would not at all benefit the consumer. He had most anxiously sought for the returns to which he had alluded in order that every information might be laid before the House. With regard to the Australian colonies, wool was the staple product which they exported to this country, and it had vastly increased of late years. In the year 1831, the amount of wool imported was only 2,493,337 lbs., while last year it had increased to 17,483,0(8) lbs. ; and he thought this showed that the protective duty was a stimulus to the farmers in that colony. After what had occurred last year he was sorry to see this duty taken away at the present moment, when the agricultural interest were in some degree recovering ; and he felt this regret the more when there were so many other ar ticles from which the duty might have been removed with much less injury, which, he hoped, would he done eventually. Mr. C. WOOD was glad to hear the Hon. Gentleman ex press the hope that those duties would be remitted. He differed from the conclusions of the Honourable Gentle man, drawn from the data which he had given to that House. The increase in the importation of wool ,from the Australian colonies had been so enormous—the importation being, in 1831, two millions of pounds' weight, while in the last year it had been upwards of seventeen millions--that they need not fear any injurious effect from the remission of this duty. Mr. SHEPPARD was understood to support the proposi tion of the Government. Mr. DIVETT supported the abolition of the duty on wool, not so much from the benefit it would confer on the Australian colonies, as the impetus it would give to trade generally. Mr. TROTTER supported the Government proposition, on the ground that the greater the importation of foreign wool into this country, the greater would be the consumption of home-grown wool. Mr. COLLETT, in supporting the Government upon this proposition, expressed a hope that ere long they would extend the principle upon which they were now acting with respect to wool to the article of corn.—( Hear.) Mr. ALDAN' said the lion. Member . for Somersetshire ( Mr. Miles) had stated that other duties midst have been re pealed which would have been more beneficial to the manufac turing interest. Now he (Mr. Aldam) knew that the manu facturers were of opinion that no duty could be repealed that would produce the same loss to the revenue, that would be half so beneficial to them as the repeal of the duty on wool. Mr. DA RBY did not think the Hon. Member for Somerset shire was justified in saying that this abolition of the duty on wool was a step in the way of free trade. He (Mr. Darby) be lieved it to be no such thing, or he never would have supported the proposition. Mr. LABOUCHERE reminded the Hon. Gentleman that the First Minister of the Crown, in introducing his measure, had stated that he acted on the principle of free trade, and that Right Hon. Gentleman stated that if he did not carry that principle out quite so rapidly as Hon. Gentlemen on the oppo site side of the House could desire, yet he acted upon that prin ciple in the measure which lie proposed. He (Mr. Labouchere) heard that declaration with the greatest pleasure, and he be• lieved that all the friends of free trade must have heard it with the utmost pleasure. He, therefore, could not listen to the Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down, without reminding him that the first Minister of the Crown had placed this measure upon a different footing than that upon which the Hon. Gentleman now found it convenient to place his support on the present occasion, lie (Mr. La bouchere) protested against the Hon. Gentleman asserting that this measure had not been introduced by the Right Hon. Gentleman in accordance with those sound principles of liberal commercial policy, which the Right Hon. Gentleman had so expressly announced on the part of her Majesty'y Go vernment. Mr. DARBY explained. Mr. LABOUCHERE explained• lie never mid the prin ciples of free trade should be adopted at once without any regard to existing interests. Sir. WARBURTON said he was glad to perceive the genet al concurrence of the House with regard to this subject, and he would not disturb the unanimity which prevailed by any general discussion on free trade.—( Hear, hear.) The home growers would now have to trust to their own energies, which was a Letter ground to rely upon than any protection.— ( Hear, hear.) He rose merely to express the satisfaction hie constituents felt at the abolition of the duty on wool, and to thank the Government on their part.—( Hear, hear.) Sir R. PEEL said it would be unfortunate to have the ge neral concurrence expressed on this important measure of relaxation disturbed by any differences upon other subjects.— ( Hear, hear.) He would not, however, shrink from the general principle he avowed.—( Hear, hear.) The removal of the duties on wool, coffee, and currants, was in conformity with the general principles he professed—(Cheers)—because they could be removed without producing an injurious effect on existing interests. He adhered to all the principles he had ever professed on the subject, and those measures were in con. formity with them. His Honourable Friend admitted dis tinctly that he . thought, on the whole, this reduction of the duty on foreign wool would be an absolute benefit to the agricultural interest of the country, and yet he said he was very sorry that the present time had been selected. He would ask from his lion. Friend, whether he thought they would be justified as legislators--as Ministers of the Crown—if, believ ing they could propose a measure which would enlarge the sphere of manu'acturing industry and increase the export of manufactures, and which would at the same time confer a po sitive benefit on the agricultural interests, as was conferred by encouraging the growth of wool—he would ask from his candid mind this admission, that they had performed their duty in se curing to the agricultural interest a positive benefit, though amongst ignorant and prejudiced persons it might be doubted. Mr. Al ILES explained. Mr. S. WORTLEY expressed his satisfaction at this mea sure of the Government. It would not only not be an injury to the agricultural interests of the country, but he believed it would be for their advantage. Whatever might be the effect of the measure, it was certain the old duty was neutralised by the introduction of Australian wool. The clause was then agreed to. The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported pro gress.—The report to be brought sip on Monday next. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Sir R. PEEL it was ordered that after Monday, .the 3d of June, orders of the day should have pre cedence of notices of motion on Thursdays. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was committed, pro forma, and ordered to be corn witted on Friday next. COUNTY CORONER'S BILL. The further consideration of the report on this Bill was fixed for Monday, the 3,1 of June. STAMP DUTIES BILL. The Home then went into Committee on this Bill. The several clauses having been agreed to, on the schedule being read, Mr. FORSTER moved the following scale of duty on ma rine assurance, as an amendment on that proposed by the Chan_ cellor of the Exchequer, via.:— s. d. On premiums under and not exceeding lOs 0 3 On ditto exceeding 10s. and not exceeding 205. On ditto exceeding 20s. On ditto on time risks, not exceeding six month s On ditto on time risks, exceeding six months 2 0 On mutual insurance policies Dr. 130 WRING, in seconding the motion, trusted that his Noble Friend would force it to a division. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the motion on the ground that it was the reduction of a duty for the advantage of a particular class, The adoption of the pro position of the Noble Member was, in fact, to give up the duty on insurance altogether. Mr. HUME considered the tax upon insurances was a tax upon prudence. The duty, not only upon marine insurances, but upon fire and life insurances, ought to be reduced one-half. Nro --(Hear, from Colonel Sibtho r p.) Th e revenue would be in creased ef marine arin be insurances y ch e aysas Friend v proposed u re. The ng. that the principle which regu l ate d the increase in the premium did th h e e ndouttycoorn ,.t it? s l i . yto, t reduce, long distances to 25., and the Right lion. Gentleman proilbsed to make it 4s. Ten years ago all insurances between England and America were effected in England. Now, two-thirds of these insurances were effected in America, because there no duty was payable. The underwriters in London should be placed upon the same footing as the underwriters in America, to Australia, and in India. If they kept up the tax at all they should keep it up as a moderate tax only. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no rea son to fear the competition of America with regard to these in surances. The competition which they had to fear was the competition in small policies, which were effected in Hamburgh, for short distances, and by lowering the duty on those policies they would get all these insurances effected in this country, Mr. WAWN, as the representative of a northern mari time borough, e ished to call their attention to the facts con nected with the North American trade—a trade principally carried on in that borough (South Shields). These ships made two voyages in a Year, and they were subject to the highest rate of premium. Nos, he thought they ought to have some portion of the relief which it was proposed to afford. Colonel SIBTHORP, in allusion to what ha d fallen from the lion. Member for Montrose, would impress upon his Right lion. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer the necessity of reducing the duty on fire insurances. He wished the subject had fallen into better hands ;' bu t he should certainly, on a future occasion, bring the subject before the attention of the House. Ile was glad to hear his Right Honourable Friend speak in praise of prudence , for the tax on lire insurances was a tax upon prudence.-_( Hear.) He thought the Right Hon. Gentleman should not for a moment hesitate to make the concession sought for. He thought the reduction would rather add to than diminish the revenue. The duty ought to be taken off fire insurance as well as marine insurance. Though he sat on that side of the House, and generally voted with the Government, he would on this question oppose the Right Hots. Gentleman through thick and thin.—(Laughter. ) Mr. WARBURTON said the Chancellor of the Exchequer ought to make his tax so low as to offer an inducement to all persons t insure their property. Sir C. BURRELL thought that if the duty upon iosurtan