The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-21 00:00:00

Vibtrb Utittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. NEW PROJECTED RAILWAYS. (From the GazWe of this Evening.) RAILWAY DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF TRADE, WIIITEIIALL, Fan. 21,1845. Notice is hereby given, that the Board constituted by the Minute of the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, for the transaction of railway business, having had under consideration the following schemes, for extending rail way communication to the west of Ireland, viz.:— The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Dublin to Mullin- gar, &c. • The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Alternative Line, The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Extension Line , The Irish Great Western—Dublin to Galway, have determined on reporting to Parliament in favour of the Irish Great Western—Dublin. to Galway; and aging the Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Dublin to Mullin gar, &e. Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Alternative Line, Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Extension Line : And the Board having further had under consideration the following schemes, for extending railway communication in the north and north-west of Ireland, viz.:— The Londonderry and Enniskillen. The Londonderry and C.;leraine, have determined on reporting to Parliament in favour of the London and Enniskillen ; and against the Londonderry and Coleraine; and the Board having further had under consideration the tillowing schemes, viz the Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington Extension, Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, determined on reporting to Parliament in favour of the schemes. . DALHOUSIE. C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER. D. O'BRIEN. S. LAING. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From Friday Night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap.. 42, for the UM( eading on Saturday, the 15th day of Fahruary, 1845. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Dotes issued ...... 28,537,255 I Government debt 11,015,100 Other securities 2,984,900 Gold coin and bul . lit.n 12,6.38,987 Silver bullion 1,898,268 £28,537,255 £28,537,255 ARSITALL, Chief Cashier. Lary, 1845. Dated the 20th day of Feb] PARTNENT. Government secu rities (including Dead Weight Annuity) Other securities 10,821,457 Notes 8,395,C65 Gold and silver coin 770,812 £33,461,713 IiSHALI., Chief Cashier. :arc•, 1845. BANKING DE. Proprietors' capita 114,553,000 Rest Public deposits (in cluding Exche quer, Savings banks, -Commis sionersofNational Debt, and divi- dead accounts) 4 t13C,247 Other deposits 9,944,408 Seven clsiy and other bills 1,031,922 £33,461,713 M. MA Dated the 20th day of Febrm THE LONDON GAZETTE (THIS EVENING.) FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 18, 1845. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Samson Cabhymn as Consul in London !or his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of SaKe-Weimar7Eisenach. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. Reval North Regiment of Lincolnshire Militia—J. Tom line, Esq., to be Captain, Feb. 15. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Denbighshire. Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry—Cornet T. Edgeworth to be Lieutenant; 'l'. Humphreys, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Edgeworth, promoted. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. Bth Victoria-20th February, 1845. _ _ . • This Court will, on Saturday the Ist day of March next at ten o'clock, A.M., hull a sitting, and will deliverjudgment in cases that have been argued. BY THE COURT. WHITI , jIALL, FEB 12, The Eight lion. Sir NicolasConyngham Tindal, Knt., Lord Chief Justiev of her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, has appointed Francis Soames, of Wm kingham, in the county of Berks, Gent., to be one of the Perpetual Commissioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be executed by married women, under the Act passed for the abolition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of more simple modes of assurance, in and for the county of Berks, and also in and for the counties of Wilts, Surrey, Hants, and Oxford. WHITEHALL, FEB. 17. The Lord Chancellor has appointed James Blake, of Croy. don, in the county of Surrey, Gent., to be a Master Extraor• dinary in the High Court of Chancery. winTEHALL, FEB. 18. The Lord Chancellor has appointed henry Yorke, of Oundle, in the comity of Northampton, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary iu the High Court of Chancery. BXNKI:UPTS. William Dale, shoemaker, London-wall. Lawrens!e Daniel Dolbell, dyer, Lower Mitcham. James Crabb,. bricklayer, Great Tey, Essex. Charles Ranstord, grocer, South Tottenham. Alfred Wyatt, victualler, Ilighworth, Wiltshire. Lewis George, shawl warehouseman, Regent-street. William Behnes, stone merchant, Osnaburgh-street, New road. Francis Cranswick, innkeeper, Bridlington, Yorkshire. Gerard Samson, corn dealer, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, I) rs. tshire. Thomas Ferris, grocer, Wooton Bassett, Wiltshire. James Wells, common carried, Winchcomb, Gloucestershire. Charles Thornton, stationer, Huddersfield. William Reeves, coach builder, Walcot, Somersetshire. Thomas Langston, share broker, Manchester. Thomas Taylor, farmer, Higher Walton, Cheshire. John Danks, whariinger, Birmingham. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) The Committee, after hearing formal evidence, decided that ) t.Star.ding Orders had been complied with in the following : The Monkland and Mil - HetiHoch Railway. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway. lludderstield and Manchester Railway and Canal. Manchester,South Junction and Altrincham Railway. In the case of the EdiLihurgh and Glasgow Railway, opposition was offered, 0:: the part of the Duke of Montrose, by Mr. Deans, on the gr0.,:,1 that the description of the line was not accurate. Yu witnesses, however, were forthcoming in support of this allegation, and it, conaequently, fell to the ground.. Mr. DFAxs then took an objection to the petition, in con sequence of an omission in the plan of a description of the radius of a curve. The Committee referred to the plan in question, and the omissiim appearing, the question was referred to the Select Committee onstanding orders. SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. As it was stated that there would be great opposition to this petition, the Committee postponed it till Monday. The Committee then adjourned. DEATII OP SIR T. F. I3uXTON, BART.—We regret to state that letters have been received in town this morn ing, announcing the death of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart., on the 19th inst., at his seat, Northrepps, Norfolk, after a lingering illness, which for the last fortnight bad con fined him to his bed. This distinguished man first became known to his country by his exertions to diminish the suf ferings of those at home, whether confined in gaols or strug gling iu deepest poverty, :IA the Spitaltields manufacturers a quarter ofa century ag • . IThtering Parliament, he commenced that career of enlarged comprehensive usefulness which will always associate his name with the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, and with the most active endeavours to confirm and improve the measures for the abolition of the slave-trade; and not less with the admirable, though not equally successful, efforts for the benefit of the African race in their own vast continent. The comparative failure of the Niger expeditton preyed, Oleic was reason to fear, on his spirits and on his health ; though he never ceased in feel, that every, measure which wisdom and zeal, combined in the Go vernment which directed that expedition, could effect to in sure its success, had been faithfully employed ; but it pleased God otherwise. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (Tills DAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. (TIIIS EVENING) The.Loen CUANCELLOR took his scat on the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. MEDICAL PROFESSION. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a medical gentleman named Burn, living at St. George's-in-the-East, Praying an amendment in the laws regarding Coroners. The petitioner stated that many inquisitions had been taken in ths cavesw where parties had been dying for 13 or 14 days. Now surely was unneee , sary, and he wished to call the attention cf the Secretary of State fur the Home Department to it. Lord CAMPBELL would give notice of his intention on Monday to lay on the table of the House a Bill for abolishing deodanda. Lord STANL EY presented a petition from Ulverstone praying that the Apothecaries' Art be repealed. SGA DUTIES, NION TEA G U R. E moved for an account of the equali z :Bon of the duties on su • il , . 1836, she produce of the East Hethought thtr cri:l at had b een p ro d uce d b y t h e equi lization of the dutie s e o on suxart be produ e ti veo flittl e goo d if an alteration was to be made w : o u n u t l h i e suga r d u ti es w i t h respect because produ ce d. Th e su bj ect did to the nature of the trial ty of us t etthad bee n re f erre d to n a o c t Tan es ni t ri ii n te a e n o y f o lh r p e ini w or h i o o l f e owhich his Noble Friend o t rf the duty had pro oppos'Ae was the Chairman. The equ o a n li e s t a o ti y- . four shillings. dueed an alteration f from twenty onto had in- Since that alteration the increase in consum p t ion had more than repaid the reduction of duties. The co creased tenfold, and when he re'erred to the evid enc e fore that Committee by a gentleman intimate with toegiinsviueobnjet, and of the highest relwetabiiity, and to whose House night attach the utmost importance, he found tha n tt e e had laid down the plineiphi that an equalization of the duties front our colonial possessions was of paramount import ance to the best interests of the country, and in the report proposed by the Chairman of that Com mittee an equalization of the duties on sugar was laid down as a part of the commercial policy of the country. After this de claration he wa: of opioion that any attempt to introduce a discriminating duty between sugars from our different colonies would be an anwisc prilicy on the tart of Go - arnment. and prove most injurious to iitiz foreign pos4ssions. He would, therefore, move for a return of the amount of sugar im ported from the East and West Indies within the last three years, las also for; the duties paid on them within the same period. Lord STANLEY said that, so far as the mere papers called for by the Noble Lord were concerned, he had no hesi tation in promising that the fullest information would be given by her Majesty's Government. The Noble Lord seemed to him (Lord Stanley) to infer that her Majesty's Government intended to recede from the principle of perfect equality which had hitherto guided them. Now, he could assure the Noble Lord that her Majesty's Government would adhere to the principle that there should be an entire equality between the productions of all parts of their foreign possessions. The Government in their scale of duties had endeavoured to encourage the sugar interest of the British possessions in con tradistinction to the produce of the slave grown sugar countries. Her Majesty's Government did:propose to make a large reduction in the duties of sugar from the East and West Indies. The higher duties would be charged on the finer kinds of sugar, and the greater reduction would be made in the coarser kinds, thus giving the lower class of consumers the benefit of the reduc tion. There was no intention of imposing any additional duty on sugar imported from the East Indies, but if the Noble Lord would postpone his inquiry until after the measures of her Majesty's Government were brought before the other House, all the information sought for would be fully given. He apologised for having troubled their Lord ship on this subject. Lord MONTEAGLE was obliged to the Noble Lord for the trouble he had taken, and as far as the inforrroation of the principle on which her Majesty's Government intended to proceed—the equalization, he meant, of the sugar duties—it was quite satisfactory. ROMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. Viscount STRANGFORD moved for a return of the Roman Catholic students who had been entered at Trinity College, Dublia, since the year IB39.—Agreed to. THE TRANSMISSION OF NEWSPAPERS THROUGH THE POST-OFFICE. Lord CAMPBELL was glad to see the Noble Lord the Postmaster-General in his place, and he would therefore move at once, for the return of which he had given notice yester day. The subject was one on which there was great anxiety, and on which there had been many complaints. Indeed he had understood that the Prima Minister himself had com plained that his newspapers had not been regularly trans mitted to him. He knew that the transmission of news papers through the Post-office must occasion a great deal of inconvenience to the Postmasier-General, and that the Post-office derived no direct advantage from that transmis?ion. But still it must be recollected thet newspapers paid a stamp duty. which he believed was considered as an equivalent for the payment of postage. At all events a re venue of two or three hundred thousand a-year was derived from it.—( Hear, hear.) He believed that his Noble Friend at the head of the Post-office was willing to afford every information in his power, and he should therefore move for a return of the number of complaints which had heen made at the Post-office of the non-transmission of newspapers, within the last twelvemonths. The Earl of LONSDALE had no objection to make to the "notion of his Noble and Learned Friend; but he thought it right to state that the Post-office authorities aught not to bear the blame of the whole of the complaints which had been made of the loss of newspapers at the Post office. He believed that there were no set of official men who exercised more vigilance, or endeavoured to do their duty more completely, than the authorities of the Post-office. And in justice to them he should wish to move an addition to the motion of his Noble and Learned Friend, for the purpose of bringing the whole subject clearly before the House. Very many of these newspapers come folded in envelopes in the most careless and slovenly manner. Several hundred bags of news papers were brought to the Post-office every evening, and al though each of these newspapers were inclosed in envelopes, yet when they were turned out of the bags many of them were separated from 'their envelopes. Of course, these envelopes could not be transmitted, and the Post-office bore the blame of the loss. Heshould therefore move, as an addition, for a re turn of the newspapers which had been returned to the dead letter office as having been found without directions. Their number would be found to be not much. less than 3,000 a-week. He should be most happy to see the Noble Lord any evening at the Post-office, at the time of the arrival of newspapers, and to afford him an opportunity of seeing the manner in which that branch of the Post-office was conducted. The Noble Earl concluded by moving his amend ment. Lord CAMPBELL was glad the explanation was given, and so satisfactory was it to him that he would at once agree to the amendment. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH wished parties would put themselves in possession of proof that these newspapers were posted before they complained against the authorities. He was sure many who made these complaints had no ev.dence to show that those newspapers were put into the post-offie at the time they alleged they were. The Earl of LONSDALE concurred in what had fallen from the Noble Lord who had just resumed his seat. He was aware of an instance where a complaint had been made of the Lon-delivery of a newspaper, and it was afterwards discovered that the paper was not posted till the day following the com plaint--( Hear, hear. ) Lord CAMPBELL was of opinion that a prima facie case had been made out of the detention, if not of the non-delivery, of newspapers. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said parties were in the habit of writing to newspaper agents directing newspapers to be sent to them, and these agents were in many instances the parties who ought really to be blamed, for they never troubled themselves to see that the papers were properly directed. The amendment was then agreed to. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Lord WH A RNCLIFFE, in reply to a question which had been put to him yesterday evening, said there was every reason for believing that their Lordships would be able to get into the new Houses of Parliament next session. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMON,'. TIIE RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Sir GEORGE CLERK said the object of the clause was to prevent companies dividing large dividends out of the capital. The Committee was aware that there were bubble companies, who had paid dividends at the time when they were making no profit, and the consequence had been that the public was led to place confidence in the undertaking at a time when it was really in a state of insolvency. Mr. HAWES admitted the force of the Right Hon. Ba ronet's remark, but cautioned him against condemning a bona . fide company for the acts of a bubble speculation. What was capital stock could not by any possibility be defined. Did they mean the paid-up capital, or the nominal capital, of a company? Now if they meant the first, he would remind the Committee that the paid-up capital often included profits as well as the reserved funds of a company. Then again they gave some companies power to convert surplus shares into capital stock, now how were they to divide one from the other? The fact was, the capital stock of a com pany was always fluctuating, and it would be highly inju dicious to disturb the present custom. Mr. HAYTER admitted that interest and dividends were often paid out of the capital stock of a company, but it was a custom which had long exLtad, and the question to be con sidered was, whether the practice was an evil or not? Cer tainly a similar clause had been introduced into some of the ea, ly railway Bilis, but had the companies acted up to it? If they had, he could only say it must have been a great in convenience. The construction of a railway occupied a very considerable time, and towards the end of this period the shareholders naturally became anxious to see a dividend. In instances like this, portions of the surplus capital had been applied to a dividend, and, as this course was generally adopted, he hoped some modification would be introduced into the clause, so as to meet the case of a bubble company. Mr. GRAINGEEI said it would be extremely hard, if, after portions of the profits of one year had been added to the ca pital stock, the company were to be precluded from applying it to a dividend at some subsequent period. Mr. AGLIONBY would suppose a Company with a capital stock of 100,000/. to have purchased 100,000 acres of land at IL each, and afterwards to have disposed of a portion of it at a large premium. Now he wanted to know, why the company should be precluded from dividing the profit amongst the shareholders, and carrying the balance to the capital stock account. Wherever the capital stock would in any degree be reduced that would bo precluded. He entirely agreed with the Noble Lord as to the object of the clause, and he only wished to caution the Committee against giving greater power than they intended.—(Hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE did not see any difficulty in the case. He apprehended that if the Company possessed a quan tity of land of the value of 5,0001, and that the Direc tors had an opportunity of selling it for 10,000/., there was nothing to preclude them from doing so, and (as we understood) a portion of the sum realised might be applicable to the payment of dividends upon calls, and so of other profies. The accounts of all railway companies were so arranged as to distinguish between the capital stock, re served fund, and profits, and no inconvenience had hitherto arisen from the practice sanctioned by the clause. Although there were prima facie objections to the practice, yet he did not think it was in itself illegitimate, and, instead of being inconvenient, it had been found very convenient to the Shareholders, so that it had been universal.—(Hear.) Mr. HAYTER suggested that there should lie a proviso to the effect that dividends should be made out of calls ex cept under certain circumstances. Lord G. SOMERSET said that between this time and the bringing up of the report he would look more accurately into the subject of the clause, and would consider attentively the various suggestions which had been made in the course of the conversation. After a few words from Mr. Godson, Mr. Granger, and Mr. Hawes, in which the last gentleman said that he did not see why a modification might not be applied to this Act as was usual with any private Act, so as to measure the restriction it provided, the clause was agreed to. Clauses 124 to 140, with numerous unimportant verbal amendments, were then severally passed. The 141st clause having been read, Mr. HAWES said that, by this clause, it was left to two justices to ascertain the amount to be assessed in case of wilful damage, and he conceived that some difficulty would arise from the decisions of such a jurisdiction. Mr. GODSON said that, from experience in such matters, he did not think that any unusual difficulty would ensue. The clause was then agreed to, as well as the 142 d, 143 d, and 144th clauses. On the 145th clause being read, Mr. HENLEY said that the inconsistency which he had previously pointed out was here evident. The interpretation of the clause was rendered obscure by the introduction of the word " any " before two justices. Some question must naturally arise as to how many or what parties this jurisdic tion should be given to. If the word " any" were struck out, and the clause left with the words " two justices," it would be definite and clear, and the difficulty, he apprehended, would be obviated Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said. that it certainly might tend to render all these Acts conformable with each other if the word " any" were struck out, and would save the difficulty which the Hon. Gentleman had pointed out. On the question being put by the Chairman, the word " any " was struck out without a division. After a few words from Mr. GRANGER, suggesting that all informations for offences •against the Act should be in writing, clauses 145 to 155 were agreed to. 'the remaining clauses of the Bill were then agreed to. Lord G. SOMERSET moved an additional clause for enabling companies more easily to recover calls from share holders residing in Scotland.—fhe clause was agreed to. The House resumed, and the Chairman reported progress. The report of the Bill, as amended, was received, and the Bill itself ordered to be printed. . Lord G. SOMERSET would mlve the Orders of the Day for going into Committee on the other. Bills of a similar na ture, for the purpose of postponing them till Tuesday next, when he proposed the House should again sit at twelve o'clock. After a short conversation as to the order in which those Bills should be taken, to suit the convenience of several Hon. Members, Tuesday next was appointed for the day sitting. The House then adjournett till Five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. Alessengers from the Bank of England brought up certain accounts. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. Mr. B. DENISON brought in the London and York Railway Bill, which was read a first time. NORWICH AND BRANDON RAILWAY BILL. The Norwich and Brandon Railway Bill was brought in and read a first time. Mr. THOhNELY presented a petition against th• Nor wich and Brandon Railway Bill, from the Mayor and Corpora tion of Norwich. GLASGOW JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition against the Glasgow Junction Railway Bill. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY BILL. Lord ASHLEY brought in the Great Northern Railway Bill. BIRMINGHAM AND SHEFFIELD RAILWAY BILL. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition against'the Birming ham and Sheffield Railway Bill. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition from Chester-le-street, praying the House would pass a law enacting that public houses should be closed on the Sabbath. MEDICAL REFORM. Several petitions against the proposed plan of medical reform were presented, and ordered to lie on the table. INCOME-TAX. Sir J. EASTHOPE presented a petition from the inha bi ants of Leicester, against the lucerne-tax. LOCAL COURTS BILL. A petition was presented in favour of this measure. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. LABOUCHERE presented a petition from the grocers of Taunton, praying for a postponement of the modification of the sugar duties. VAN DIENIEN'S LAND. Mr. HUTT presented a petition from 400 or 500 agricul turists in Van Diemen's Land, praying that the agricultural produce of that country might be put upon the same footing as that of Canada. The Hon. Member gave notice that he would, on a future occasion, introduce a Bill upon the subject. SUGAR DUTIEg. Sir GEORGE GREY presented a petition from the inha bitants of Devonport, praying that Sir Robert Peel would delay his proposed measure affecting the duty on sugar until they should have got rid of the stock they had now on band. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire, against permitting public-houses to be opened on the Sabbath. INCOME-TAX. Mr. PALMER presented a petition from the inhabitants of Perth against the income-tax. • CORN LAWS. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN gave notice that, immediately after Easter, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill, authorising a drawback on that portion of foreign corn that had been used for feeding cattle. Mr. BANKES gave notice that, when the subject of the reduction of the auction duty was before the House, it was his intention to take the sense of the House on that question. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice, on behalf of the Noble Lord , the Member for Lincolnshire, that on the 6th of March, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the em ployment and improvement of common lands. Mr. MILES gave notice that in Committee on the Bill for the renewal of the property and income-tax, he would move a clause giving to persons assessed under schedule B, when their property was within the prescribed amount, a right of appeal, subject to the rules ar.d conditions under schedule D. Dr. BOWRING gave notice, that on Monday he would ask the Secretary of State whether he was prepared to lay on the table of the douse the correspondence of the Poor-law Commissioners on the subject of the sales of medical offices in. the Dublin Union. Mr. MILES gave notice, that on the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair on the Customs' Act, he would move, " That is the opinion of this House that in any appli cation of surplus revenue towards the mitigation of taxation, due regard should be had to the necessity of affording relief to the agricultural interest." SHERIFFS' COURTS (SCOTLAND). Mr. WALLACE moved for a return to show the number of appeals from the decisions of the Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland to the Circuit Court of Justiciary, and there reheard, during each of the last five years, ending with October, 1844 , as follows : Ist. The name of the parties in each cause. 2d. The sum in dispute. 3d. The names of the Judges en Circuit, with the name or names of the Judge or Judges who decided each cause. 4th. The name of the town, the date of the trial, and whether tried in the Court-house, or in an apartment of an inn or hotel. sth. The result of the trial, with the amount of the costs in each case respectively. 6th. The amount paid as fees of Court in each case, and to wbom paid, and the authority for levying the same ; the return to furnish the above particulars in so far as the means exist.—Ordered. NEW ZEALAND.—EAST INDIES. Mr. HUTT gave notice that, on Tuesday next he would, on the part of another Hon. Member, move for returns relating to New Zealand. He gave notice also, that, on the same day, he would move for copies of the correspondence which had taken place between the Government and the Directors of the East India Company respecting the repeal or the reduc tion of the duties upon British Wheat and Flour imported into British India. AUCTION DUTIES—AGRICULTURAL RELIEF. Mr. STANLEY begged to ask the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Dorsetshire, whether in the event of his (Mr. Banks's) motion for continuing the auction duties being car ried, it was his intention to propose any reduction of other taxes to the same amount, and if so, what they would be? whether of those affecting agriculture or other interests ? Mr. BA NKES said that if he should succeed in retaining:the auction duties—(Laughter)—he should certainly wish to effect a commensurate reduction of the general taxation of . the country.—( Hear, and a laugh. ) SUGAR DUTIES. Sir WILLIAM CLAY begged leave to put a question to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of the sugar duties. He wished to know what was the intention of her Majesty's Government as to the time when the proposed alteration in the sugar duties should bo carried into effect after the passim* of the 'lll ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was intended the reduction should take place immediately after the day on which the resolutions should have been agreed to in the Committee, without waiting for the passing of the Bill. EXPORT DUTIES ON COAL. . Mr. HODSON HINE wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman (The Chancellor of the Exchequer), on the subject of the export duty on coals, very similar to that just put by the Hon. Member for Gateshead. Whtlst it was probable that the duty would be taken off persons who had coal to ship, for abroad, were unwilling to pay the duty. He wished to ask when it was intended the duty should be taken off, in the event of Parliament agreeing with the repeal? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could only give the same answer as to the former question, that the duty would cease from the day when the resolution should have been agreed to in Committee.—( Hear, hear.) CUSTOMS DUTIES. M. M. MILNES wished also to put a question to his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was aware of the wish of his Right Hon. Friend to act with every consi deration towards vested capital ; and as there were several ar ticles included in the proposed Customs reductions, which would seriously affect vested capital, he (Mr. Milnes) wished to ask whether Members would he at liberty to discuss the pro priety of the reduction in the case of each article by itseit ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the question put by the Hon. Member could be as well answered by any other Hon. Gentleman as by himself. Each item would be put by the Chairman, and any Hon. Member who thought proper to object to any one in particular might do so. In answer to a question from Mr. HAWES, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that the remission of duty would take place from the date of the passing of the resolution except where a particular date was specified. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. In answer to aquestion by Mr. V. SMITH. Mr., M. SUTTON stated that, on Monday last, the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment had stated what the views of the Government were with respect to the law of settlement, so that the time at which it was to be decided was now in the hands of the House. Mr. V. SMITH said it was in the hands of the Home-office whether it would expedite the question or not.—(Hear.) POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. On the motion of the order of the day for renewing the ad journed debate on the opening of letters in the Post-office being read, Mr. J. COLLETT said that before entering on the general question, he wished to say a few words with respect to the adjournment last night. No person could regret more than he did the irconveniences to which the Right Hon. Baronet had been put ; but in the first place, considering the mpor-- tance of the subject, and that it involved considerations with respect to the liberty of the subject and the rights of Mem bers of Parliament, he considered he was justified in demanding an adjournment. In the second place, he thought that the state of public feeling required it ; and in the next place, he thought it was due to the Speaker, who tr,icl sat for nine hours together, and who was to take the Chair again at twelve next day. In the fifth place—(Laughter)—in the fifth place—(Continued laughter)—he considered that this was due to the Members on his side of the House, and to Members on the other side. who were desirous of addressing the House on this subject, and for whom it was well known it was impossible to obtain a hearing at a late hour of the night.—(Laughter.) The Right Hon. Baronet and the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London could always secure a hearing, but the little men were always put down.— ( Laughter.) If they wished a debate to be closed at a rea sonable time, the speeches of Members must be limited.— (Laughter.) The proposer of a motion ought to be allowed half an hour, and the speakers following him only a quarter of an hour each.—(Great laughter. ) for when speeches extended to two hours, and two hours and a half, the little men had no chance.—(Continued laughter.) With respect] to the question before the House, he would say that the report of the Post-office Committee was to hint most unsatisfactory. (LEFT SPEAKING.] COURSE OF EXCH) Amsterdam CF. 12 7i Ditto, at sight l2 5i Rotterdam 2U. 12 8 Antwerp llamburgh M.B. 13 15 Altona l3 15 Paris, 3 days' sight 25 85 Ditto, 3 months 26 0 Marseilles Bourdeaux 26 15 Frankfort on Maine 122 Petersburgh, 3Us 37 Berlin 7 Vienna, effec. fl. 3 M 9 59 Trieste, ditto Madrid 36* Cadiz Bilbao 36 Barcelona Seville ,NGE.-- (THIS DAY.) ..... Leghorn . Genoa ......... ...... 26 10 Milan ..... ........ Venice . 47 Naples ....... 39* Palermo, per oz.. llB} Lisbon 53 Oporto .. Rio J ancit o Bahia .. Buenos Ay, P.s.. NewYt k dys sight Philad?' I ...... nary,: BULLION, lER Z. Foreign bars. £3 17 9 Portugat Gold Coin 3 17 5 New Do, ,00na 0 0 0 New Dol!ars 0 4 9 1 Silver to bars 0 4 11; MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Feb. 21.) SUGAR.—To-day the quantity of West India Sugar sold in private was only 120 hhds, which is to be attributed to the high rates asked by importers. The advance in price is 2s to 3s per cwt. REFINED.—To-day the Refiners appeared very desireus to make sales, in consequence of the measures Government pro pose, which appears to press hard on them. Foreign refined in bond prices remain much the same, with a partial business doing, and very little of Crushed or Loaves could be purchased fur present delivery. NAURITI ITS. —This afternoon there was a large public sale of 11,228 bags 76 casks of Mauritius Sugar; the trade at tended in large numbers, but the high rates insisted upon operated against the deinandt still the principal part was disposed of at an advance on the last public auctions of is to is 6d per cwt; fine yellow fetched 63s to 64s 6d, good 61s to 62s 6d, good middling 60s to 60s 6d, middling 57s to 59s 6d, low 54a to 56s 6d, fine brown 53s to 53s 6d, middling 50s, and low 47s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the market was well supdlied with Bengal Sugar; the quantity offered at public sale amounted to 4,8Z4 bags, the principal part was taken in at high prices, and the remainder sold at an advance of 6d per cwt ; tine white fetched 68s, good 66s 6d, middling 64e to 64: Bd, low 62s 6d to 635, damp brown 45 to 495, middling sound yellow 57s to .58s Ed, low 566 to 56s 6d. Of Madras, 4,150 bags in 'bond were sold at Is per twt advance ; good damp Dividend Amount • Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Slue. ---- - ,z a. d. .i , s. d. Aberdeen...........- - 20 0 2% Birmingham to Gloster 3/. bs• per sh. 100 0 0 100 0 0 1 129 1 Ditto, New, iss.7l dis. Iss. 25 0 0 17 10 0 33 Brighton,Lews,& Hest. -' 50 0 0 50 0 7% Bristol and Exeter •• • • 21.16 x. per sh., 100 0 0 70 0 0 82% Ditto and Gloucester - 60 0 0 30 0 0 57 Caledonian ••••• • • • • • - 50 0 0 50 0 7% Cambridge and Lincoln • - 25 0 • 110 0 3 Chatham & Prtsmouth - 20 0 0 1 0 0 Chester and Holyhead - 50 0 0 5 0 0 8 Chichester & Brighton - - 5 0 0 1 5% Churnet Valley .. ••• • • - 20 0 0 2 0 0 1 7% - - 3 0 0 5 Direct Northern. ••• • • - 50 0 0 210 0 1 214 Direct Norwich • • ... • - 20 0 0 1 0 0 1 1% Dias, Beccies, & Yrnith - 25 0 0 110 0 1 Dublin & Belfast Juno. - 50 0 0 210 0 5% Ditto and Galway.. - - 210 0 ' 3% Eastern Counties ... • . 49. per eh. 25 0 0 25 0 0 17% Do., Perpetual, No.l 5/. per ct. 613 4 313 4 1 pm. Ditto, ditto, No. 2. • • - - 0 13 4 % pm. Eastern Union - 50 0 0 10 0 0 19 Edinburgh & Glasgow 21. ss. p. oh: 50 0 0 50 0 0 1 60 Ditto, Quarter Shares lis. 3d. p. sh. 12 10 0 12 10 0 1 16 1 4 Ely and Bedford .•• • . - 25 0 0 I 1 0 0 1 1% Grand Connection •• • • --- 60 0 0 210 0 1 • Grand Junction Ditto, Half Shares • 101. per ct. 10 0 0 50 0 0 , 112% Ditto,Quarter Shares 10/. per ct. 23 0 0 25 0 0 Gt. Southern &Western - 50 0 0 5 0 0 I 12 Great North of England 31. ss. 100 0 0 1100 00' 187 Ditto, New.. •••• • • • _ 40 0 0 5 0 0 1 431{ Great Western Ditto, Half Shares • • 71. per ceut. 50 0 0 50 0 0 , 99 14 Ditto, Fifths.. ••• • • . 71. percent. 20 0 0 20 0 0 39 Guilford Junction. •• • • - 50 0 0 35 0 0 , Harwich •..• - 20 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 14 Hull and Selby .••• • •• Al. ss. pr ct. 10 0 0 50 0 O'i 76 Ditto, Quarter Shares - 12 10 0 12 10 0 1 18 Kendal & Windermere - 25 0 0 -1 -10 0 1 Lancaster and Carlisle - 50 0 0 15 0 0 1 3014 Leeds and Bradford - 50 0 0 5 0 0 1 21% Liverpool & Manchestr 101. per ct. 100 0 0 100 0 0 Ditto, Half Shares. • 10/. per et. 50 0 0 50 0 0 Ditto, Quarter Shares 101. per ct. as o 0 . 25 0 0 • London & Birmingham 101. per et. - Stock. 232 Ditto, New Thirds 101: 'per ct. 32 0 0 2 0 0 42% Ditto, New u Shares 105. per ct. 25 0 0 2 0 0 304 London and Blackwell - 16 13 4 . -7% London and Brighton.. 31. Os. per sh. 50 0 0 50 0 0 58% Ditto, Loan Notes.. 51. percent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 13% London and Greenwich - 12 15 4 - 10% Ditto, Pref. or Priv 5/. percent. 18 17 2 - 241 London and S. Western 51.55. per oh. 41 6 10 - 79 Do., New Cons. Bths % -- 40 0 0 6 0 0 251 Ditto, New . - 50 0 0 210 0 12% "..ondon and Croydon • • 10e. per sh. 13 lb 9 - 18% Ditto, Guarntd. 5 p. c. - London and York.• •• • -- 50 0 0 210 0 7% Lynn and Ely ••• • • • - 25 0 0 210 0 5% Manchester and Leeds 41. 7s, 6d.p.s. 1090 0 0 0 0 74 9 0 0 0 0 13 5 139 Ditto, Half Shares ••• 11.173.6 d. p.s. 50 0 0 30 0 0 604 Ditto,Quarter Shares 4s. 25 0 0 2 0 0 14% Ditto, Sixteenths .• • - 6 5 0 1 5 0 1 51( Manchestr & Binning: 21. per share 40 0 0 40 0 62 Ditto, Quarter Shares - 10 0 0 2001 10 , Midland Ditto, Fifths .••• • • • - - 2 0 0 i 314 Ditto, 'lira:. & Derby 21.135. per sh - • Stock. 91 Newcastle & Berwick - 25 0 0 110 0 i lb New cstle & Darl. June. 6s. 25 0 0 24 0 0 1 50 North British •••• • • • • - „ - 7 10 0 ' 13% Northern and Eastern . 21 . 5 5. , 0 0 0 0 45 0 0 , 62 Ditto, Scrip, Ise. 51. d. 158. 50 0 0 25 0 0 1 46 Ditto, Quarter Shares - 12 10 0 12 10 0 1 16% North Kent ••••• • • • . • - - 215 0 1 s Norwich and Brandon . - 20 0 0 10 0 0 1 1614 - .10 0 0 1 0 0 , 3% Ditto, New - -. • • • • Portsmouth Direct •• • • - 5 0 0 0 210 0 i 2 Preston and Wyre •• • • - 5 0 0 0 50 0 0 Itichmnd &W. E June. - '2O 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 1 4 - - 1 0 1 3% Ditto, 2d Pref., 1845 -- 25 0 0 25 0 0 Sheffield and Lincoln - - 25 0 0 1 5 0 1 1% Sheffield & Manchestr 51. per cent. 100 0 0 82 10 0 ' ' Ditto, Quarter Shares - 25 0 0 8 0 0 13 Shrws.,Wolv.,Dud., ll ir - - 50 0 0 210 0 6% 3outh Devon ••.•• • • • • - 50 0 0 10 0 0 17 South-Eastern & Dovr 11. Is. 33 2 4 - 40 Ditto, New iss.lBl.dis - 50 0 0 8 0 0 16% South Wales .•••• • • • • - - 2 10 0 4% Stevenson's Prtsmouth - - 210 0 ' 2% Thames and Medway.• - •19 5 8 - • 1 104 Trent Valley ••••• • . • • - 2 0 0 0 2 0 0; 19 1 4 Yarmouth & Norwich - 20 0 0 20 0 0 1 2714 Ditto, New.............- • - 2 O 2O 0 0 800 1 14 York & North Midland 101. per et. 50 0 0 50 ' 0 0 104 Ditto, Half Shares • • 101. per ct. 25 0 0 25 0 • ; 52 1 ,4 Do., Scarbro' Branch - - 20 0 0 , 43 Ditto, Selby Scrip • • - - 20 0 0 , 66 Ditto, Extension .. • • -- 25 0 0 1. 5 0 12% Boulogne and Amiens. - ,20 0 0 20 0 5 14 Ct. Northern of France - 20 0 0 40 0 51y Orleans and Vierzon - - 20 0 0 2 0 0 13% Orleans & Bourdeaux - 20 0 0 a 0 0 6% Paris and Lyons ••• • • • - 20 0 0 20 0 3 Paris and Strasbourg • • - 20 0 0 Si 0 0 2% Paris and Orleans... • • - , 20 0 0 20 0 0 45% Paris and Rotten ..• •• • 21. •20 0 0 20 0 0 43 R.,tien and liavre •.• • - 20 0 0 12 0 0 2% 16% 4 2% 10% 12q 27% 12% 5% 5% 13N, 6% brown fetched 28s, middling 25s to 26s 6d, low 22s to 245, very low 17s to 21s, common sound date 22s 6d to 84sper cwt. MOLASSES.-A brisk demand for West India, and an ad vance of Is per cwt has taken place. Demerara of middling quality fetched 22s 6d to 235. At auction, 95 casks of Bengal Treacle were taken in at 21s, buyers at 20s per cwt. CocoA.-The market has still a dull appearance for British Plantation, and prices going down. Of 253 bags of Grenada at public sale, a part only found buyers; good ordinary dull red at 41s to 425, and very low 35s per cwt. Trinidad 40s to 48s, but very little business transacted privately. Foreign met increased attention, and an advance has taken place ; 155 bags Bahia at auction were all sold at 37s 6d to 38s 6d per cwt for fine bright red. FOREIGN.-This afternoon at public sale, 48 pkgs of sea dam Bahia were only partly sold, white at 21s, yellow 18s 6d to 20s, brown 1 4 s to 18 s. , Privately 200 hests of old white Bahia, and 100 chests of ditto brown have been sold on the spot for refining in bond at 22s and 18s per cwt. COFFEE -This afternoon holders of Berbice were more in clined to sell, but 99 casks 62 barrels at public sale were only partly sold eta decline of 4s to 5s per cwt, low middling went at 60s to 635, fine fine ordinary very unclean 455, and ordinary 38s ; 120 bags Plantation Ceylon were taken in, fine fine ordinary colory 655, and fine ordi nary 60s; 148 barrels Rio were only partly sold, middling coloury at 50s. fine fine ordinary grey 455, being cheaper; 27 bags of 'Mysore fetched 39s tor good ordinary; 138 bags Bahia were all taken in, fine ordinary at 30s 6d to 335, and good ordinary 28s 6d per cwt. In good ordinary pale Ceylon sales were made privately at 47s to 48s per cwt. I TEA.-Since it has become known that no alteration is to be made in the duty on Tea, there has been a falling off in the demand for black, and more desire has been manifested on the part of holders to realize. Although a decline on late rates of id to Ilb per lb has been submitted to for Con gee, buyers have been cautious in their proceedings, and a small amount of business has been transacted by private treaty. common at 10d to loid, good common 10id to 11d, but mid coarse 1114 to is, mid and and good blackish leaf Is lid to is 6d, fine Is 7d to is 9d, Pekoe flavour Is 10d to 2s 4d, choice and rich 2a 5d to 23 7d per. lb. A reduction of Id per lb having been submitted to for Pouchong, occasioned the de mand to be excellent, and large parcels have been disposed of at 5d to 8d per lb for low to good ord. Twankay was pur chased with caution, yellow lea! at Is2 l / ,' l d to is 3d, brightish leaf is 3%d to Is 7d; superior and Hyson kind, Is 8d; to 2s 4d per lb. An increased demand for Hvson , an: and advance of Id to 2d has taken place. Young Ifyson wanted, and is fetching full rates. Hyson Skin sold at former cur rency. The demand is good for Gunpowder and Imperial, and prices continue high. The value of fine Scented Orange Pekoe is 3s 4d to 3s 6d per lb, and little to be had. At public sale 6,775 pkgs have been offered, and 1,900 sold. Rust, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS.-Prices have further declined for Calcutta Rum, and a limited business transacted; the private operations are 160 hhds at Is 10t1 proof strength. Buyers of Demerara have operated more freely, a further decline in prices being taken : the sales are 150 puncheons 30 hogsheads, 33 to 41 per cent 0 P at 3s, and hogsheads at 3s Id per gallon. In Leewards scarcely any business done, to 2s to 2s Id for proof strength. Fine and very fine• Jamaica wanted, and are fetching stiff rates, but the market is in a very dull state for low and mid kinds ; 21 to 26 0 P 33 3d to 3s sd, 26 to 29 0 P 3s 5d to 3s Jd, 30 to 36 0 P 3s 7d to 4s, fine 31 to 360 P 4s 6d to ss, and superior and high flavoured 5 s 4 d to 7s p er g allon. rlie business done in Brandy has been extremely limited, and a further decline has taken place ; Cog anc, best rands of the vintage of 1838, hhds 58, puns 4s 10d ; 1839, h b lids 4s 9d, puns 43 7d; 1840, hhds 4s 9d, puns 4s 7d; 1841, hhds 4s Bd, puns 4s 6d ; 1842, hhds 4s sd, puns 4s 3d ; 1843, hhds 4s 3d, puns 4s Id, common 2s 74 to 2s 10d, mid to good mid 2s lid to 3s 10d, and Bordeaux 2s 6d to 2s 9d per gallon. Geneva sparingly at is 9d, home consumption sort at 2s 4d to 3s. The market is still firm for British Corn Spirits at 105 2d ler gallon, cash. LATEST PRICES OF SHARES From the Official List, PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21. RAILWAYS. ANCIAL COMMERCIAL AND FE\ LEGISLATION. The following are the suggestions contained in the docu. ment prepared by an eminent commercial authority, portions of which have been published : Pro forma View of equalizing the Ammal Revenue and Expenditure, presuming that the Excise and Assessed Taxes, and the Stamps on Marine and Fire Assurances, and also the Duties of Customs (except eight) should be abolished, and adding Distilled Spirits and Malt, now under the Excise, to the Customs, and Excise Licenses to the Stamps : abolishing, all other of the Assessed Taxes. and the whole Excise establishment. First. Assuming the total annual expenditure not to exceed Revenue necessary to meet this expendi ture, to be raised as follows :- 1. From duties on (1) Tea •, (2) Sugar and Molasses ; (3) Coffee and Cocoa ' • (4) To bacco; (5) Distilled Spirits; (6) Wines; (7) Dried Fruits ; (8) 5pice5...421, 500,000 2. Home Distilled £5,000,0001 Spirits Malt, whe ther made at 10,000,000 home or im- 5,000,000 £50,000,000 31,500,000 ported from abroad-- .... - 3. Stamps, leaving out Marine and Fire In purances, and including licenses now under the Excise 4. Unredeemed Land-tax .........................•• Deficit 7,500,000 1,200,000 9,800,000 £50,000,000 This deficit is to be levied, not by doubling, or rather more than doubling, the present income-tax, but by the less in quisitorial and more direct and equitable plan of an annual assessment in the pound upon the annual value of all realised property. And surely 11,000,0001., including the unredeemed land-tax, out of 50,000,0001. of tota l taxation, forms but a small proportion of the total sum to be levied directly. The reason that we include only eight articles in the Cus• toms duties, is on the sound principle that if an article is to be taxed when consumed, it should be so taxed without any difference being made as to the place where produced ; the consumer always paying the full market price of the article be consumes, including every tax upon it. There is no manufactured article which yields a revenue of any consequence except silks; which, being an article of luxury, though not included above, we have less objection to its being taxed than any other. The duty might be modi fied so as to produce 250,000/. a year. Gloves yield 28,000/. ; woollen manufactures about 1`7,0001. If Parliament, however, should determine not to abolish the window and other assessed taxes, except the unredeemed land-tax, then our pro forma view of financial revenue would stand as follows : I. Customs 11. Malt and bome•distilled £31,500,000 spirits 10,000.000 111. Stamps, excluding Marine and Fire In- surances IV. Assessed Taxes V. Deficit to be levied on all realised pro perty 7,500,000 4,500,000 6,500,000 Total revenue £50,000,000 INCOME-TAX, COLLECTED IN THE YEAR ENDED STH APRIL, 1843. England and Wales : Schedule A, lands, tene ments, &c., in respect of the property thereof £73,728,429 Schedule 11, lands, age., in respect of the occupancy thereof Schedule C, annuities, di vidends, /cc. Schedule 11, profits or gains Schedule E, public officers, &c. Income. 20,486,606 27,873,691 50,296,645 Tax. X 2,150,412 298,763 812,983 1,466,9;i5 260,657 £181,322,202 £4,989,800 9,284,383 Scotland : Schedule A. Produce of Tax in Scotland on all the Schedules 394,324 9,284,383/., at 7d. in the pound, should produce 270,794/., leaving for the remaining four schedules 123,5301., equal to 394,3241., which sum, collected at the same rate as those four schedules produced in England, indicates an income of 4,680,9591, showing the total income of Scotland to be 13,965,342/., and of Great Britain 195,287,544/., exclusive of incomes under 150/. In 1801, the assessments for England, including incomes above 150/., amounted to £74,676,894 The income from assessments under 150/. per annum, and not under 60/., amounted to 18,105,240 Difference, being incomes above 1501. per ann. £56,571,654 Now, if 56,571,654 : 11,10',,240 : : 195,287,544 : 62,499,831 ; and if the incomes under 1501., and above 601., from all the schedules be in 1844 in the same proportion to those above 150/., as in 1801 (and there is no reason that they should not), then the total income of Great Britain in 1844 should amount to 257,787,375/. We consider that of this umount 200,000,000/. may be estimated as the rents and profits of all realised property—viz., the rents and profits on all lands, tenements, houses, and constructions, including factories, warehouses, docks, ship-yards, railways, canals, public funds, Bank of England Stock, East India and South Sea Stock, and the stock and shares of all Companies whose stocks and shares are bought and sold in the market. SUGAR DUTIES. On Tuesday, the 18th, an article from a morning paper was copied into The Sun. The article, after stating that there were good reasons for believing that the reductions proposed by Sir R. Peel were only the steps to a more comprehensive plan now under con templation, goes on to state, that a document, originally designed fir the peeuliar direction of those in the Minis terial confidence, had by some means become public. The document is, states the paragraph, an essay on '• Commer cial and Financial Legislation," which, though in perfect keeping(?) with the "Financial Statement," is a very bold and ample development. With the assurance that there was. the most absolute agreement on those questions be tween Sir RObert Peel and the late President of the Board of Trade, end without the least hint of any dis cordant voice in the Cabinet (again ?) we have. adds the paper, no alternative but to read in this document the ultimate intentions of the present Ministry as far as they have been reduced to tangible form, and as far as circumstances seem likely to admit of t! eir ext cution. " We have only space this day to give to our readers the two firstintroductory papers. Their style is compendious and suggestive, but there can be no mistake as to their drift. The freest possible exchange of commodities, and the imposition of taxes only for revenue, are made the basis of a scheme which we think it due to the financial acts of the Ministry to publish even in its present im perfect shape." The foregoing eulogium on the financial statement of Friday appears at rather an unhappy moment, consider ing how much the proposition of Sir R. Peel about the sugar duties is at valiance with the recommendation of the before-mentioned essay to impose taxes o for revenue. The remarks in The Sun ut W ednesiaty evening clearly demonstra' e that the proposed duties on sugar are to be imposed principally fur the benefit of one class, regard less altogether of the revenue, for while they will ab stract from the consumers of sugar 2,625,0001. for the enrichment of a few planters, they will deprive the re venue of 1,300,0001., which deficiency the said con sumers will have to make good by submitting to the yoke of an abominable income-tax. These results are as much in keeping with the principle con% eyed in the essay on commercial and financial h gislation as were the results of the Ministerial efforts to exclude slave labtair sugars from the British markets by an Act of Parliament. The Minister and his party bring all the energies of their mind to concoct an Act which shall admit only free-labour sugar to home consumption. when 10, and behold the very first transaction which occurs, upon the Act coming into operation, is the ad mission of a cargo of slave-labour sugar, certificated, cer tainly, as the produce of Venezuela (a slave-holding State), but suspected to be, by judges of sugar, who saw the samples of it, to be the produce of Porto Rico. One cargo having found its way safely to British market., will, doubtless, be followed by others, as the enterprise paid the importers handsomely. The scheme for excluding slave-labour sugar from Great Britain is, consequently, illusory, and has the bad effect of raising the prices of sugar to the British consumer, without discouraging the cultivation of the cane by slaves. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the House will support Lord John Russell's amendment whenever it may come under discussion, so that an Act calculated only to raise prices to British coasuiners and enrich British sugar pro &leers, may be placed, with all others of the same cha racter, in the tomb of the Capulets. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. R. Lang, tallow chandler, Mill-bridge, Yorkshire—first dry. of 3a. 2d. in the pound, Feb. 18, or any subsequent Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. R. Chapman, innkeeper, Scorton,Yorkshire—first and final div. of 3s. in the pound, Feb. 18, or any subsequent Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. W. Perkins, upholsterer, Portsea, March 12, at two—ll. Clceve, cowkeeper, Rettendon, Essex, March 11, at twelve— J. P. Davies, apothecary, Davies-street, Berkeley-square, March 11, at half-past eleven—T. B. Hall, grocer, Coggeshall, Essex, March 11, at half-past twelve—T. Benson. stationer, North-place, Gray's Inn-road, March 11, at one—A. Winton, D. Winton, and J. Webber, warehousemen, Wood-street, Cheapside, March 14, at twelve. In the Country. G. Harriot, beer brewer, Ormskirk, Lancashire, March 13, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court—T. Eskrigge, cotton manufacturer, Warrington, March 11, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court—S. mid W. T. Clough, alkali ma nufacturers, Eccleston, Litu.,ashire, March 11, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court—J. Drewe, scrivener, Keyn sham, Somersetehire, March 14, at eleven, at the Bristol Dis trict Court—J. W. Green, ship builder, Dartmouth, March 14, at one, at the Exeter District Court—C. S. and W. Hey wood, warehousemen, Manchester, March 14, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court—M. Atkinson and J. Laid man, sen., bankers, Penrith, March 11, at half-past one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court—J. Whitehead, common brewer, Ainsworth, Lancashire, March 13, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court—T. Worsley, hosier, Stock port, Cheshire, March 14, at eleven, at the Manchester Dis trict Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to • the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. W. Byers, woollen warehouseman, Skinner-street, March 11—J. Sedman, colour merchant, Queen-street, Cheapside, March 11—C. Soul, grocer, Long-alley, Moorfields, March 11 —l. Argent, victualler, Fleet-street, March 12—C. Maid stone, milliner, Cambridge, March 11—J. Coulson, inn keeper, Great Clacton, Essex, March 14—E. Scott, miller, Hillborough, Norfolk, March 14—J. Lawrence, tobacconist, Northampton, March 12—T. Rollings, wine merchant, In grain-court, Fenchurch-street, March 13—B. Perkins and S. Woolley, drapers, Stamford, March 11—J. Michael, outfitter, North shields, March 13—B. Creigh, cartwright, Newcastle tipon-T3 ne, March 13—J. Ward, engineer, Manchester, March 13—W. Lutwyche, brass founder, Birmingham, March 11—A. Seed, licensed victualler, Liverpool, March 12—J. and H. Colville, merchants, Liverpool, March 13—C. B. Ray nolds, tailor, Devizes, March 11—G. Harrold, merchant, Bir mingham, Merck 11—A. Lequeutre, miller, Chingford-mills, Essex, March 11—R. Tucker, farrier, Dean-street, Westmin ster, March 11. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. W. Ridgway, H. Ford, and H. E. Ridgway, attorneys, Manchester (so far as regards H. Ford)—S. C. Blodget and N. Hinrichsen, ship-chandlers, Liverpool—L. Lloyd and J. J. Bitchal, commission agents, Manchester—R. W. and B. W. Hood, linen diapers, Hackney—J. Stanley and J. Schofield, colliers, Oldham—R. and T. Julian, coach builders, Cork— C. Broadbent and A. Whitcomb, milliners, Sackville .street, Piccadilly—C. C. and G. Williams, pawnbrokers, New-crane, Shadwell—W. and E. Leigh, glass dealers, Liverpool—W. Fowler, F. Summers, and J. H. Walker, cloth dressers, Fern ley, Yorkshire (so far as regards J. H. Walker)—R. Harman and W. Bayley, shipowners, Ha s ti ngs —J. Street and W. Howe, zinc plate workers, Norfolk-street—G. Dobson and G. Handley, colliers, Pontefract—J. and C. Holleads, carriers, Tenterden—J. D. Piper and E. Baker, printers, Hadleigh— E. J. Redmond and M. T. Duggan, milliners, Conduit-street, Regent-street—J. B. Chantrell and T. Shaw, architects, Leeds—J. Phillips and J. C. Harris, Bristol—W. S. and C. Gates, grocers, Uxbridge—W. and T. Woodward, cabinet makers, Worcester—J. Mitchell and J. Scott, coal fitters, Monkwearmouth-shore SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Philip Cadell, iron manufacturer, Cramond, Feb. 22 and March 15, at twelve, at the Royal Exchange Coffee-house, Edinburgh. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.---YzaTEnDAY. CHESTER cup. 9 to 1 apt Mr. Jaques's Semiseria 15 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's The Era—taken 21 1 08 7 tt t 40 o ) 11 1 s s s t t t vi .4 3 1 1 rrr W. a r rJ Scott's c h os n t z s t sa o n n co e' s ant a_ O r a b t ca s t c k u e r n i t y t a k en 22 to .1 agst Duke of Richmond's Strathspey—taken 25 to I agst Mr. Bell's Winesour—taken . 25 to 1 agst Mr. H. Stebbings's Celeste 25 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's St. Laurence 30 to 1 agst Mr. Irvine's Pride of Kildare 35 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Pug—taken 35 to 1 agst Sir R. Bulkeley's Hemp—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. Williamson's Extempore —taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Foigh-a-ballagh 60 to 1 agst Mr. Coleman's Devil's Dust. Very little in the shape of alteration will be noticed in the prices returned; business, in fact, was in no respect impor tant beyond eliciting a favourable feeling towards Zaneni, Winesonr, and Strathspey. We have quoted Zanoni's price up to what we considered the close of the general betting; we were informed, however, that three points less were taken to 200/. a few minutes before the doors were closed, but as at that time the majority of the subscribers had left, we are disposed to look upon 18 to 1 as the actual market price. DERBT. 10 to 1 agst Mr. Greyille's Alarm (take 11 to 1) 14 to 1 agst Cel. Peel's Cobweb colt—taken 15 to 1 agst Col. Anson's Kedger 18 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Newsraonger—taken to 1 agst Lord Glasgow's Miss Whip colt 30 to 1 agst Mr. St. Paul's Mentor 30 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Pantasa 35 to 1 agst Mr. Gully a Old England—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. A. Vir. Hill's Ironmaster—taken (all in) 40 to 1 agat Mr. A. Johnstone's Annandale 40 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Anti-repealer 66 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Fuzbos—taken 66 to 1 agat Gen. Yates's Seaman—taken 16 to 1 agat Mentor and Pantasa—taken Newsmonger and the Mies Whip colt rec dyed a further lift, and hive get to ass a better position in the market. 13 and 14 to 1 was laid to three or fourhundred pounds agst Cobweb colt; 4,000 to 100 agst Ironmaster (all in); 1,000 to 15 lig,st Seaman : and a few other bets of smoll amount. Business, on the whole, was bad. OAKS. 10 to 1 to a small sum agst Maid of Orleans; and 170 to 10 agst iis.s Elis, were the only bets we heard on this race; both were after evar:l;=. offered. LI ‘, VIZPOOL GIZAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. Aceeptanceg for the Handicap of 20 sous. each, and 100 added. Discount, aged, 12st 121b—Vanguard, aged, 12st 101b—Peter Simple, aged, list 121b—Croesus, aged, 1 Ist 121b—The aged, list 101b—Crocus, aged, list 81b—Brenda, aged, list 71b—Clansman, aged, list 61b—Cure-all, aged, Ilst 51b— Boxkeeuer, list 41b—Ploughboy, 1 Ist 31b—The Exquisite, ag'd, llst—Dl,deridderoo, aged, 11st—The Scavenger, 5 vrs, list 71b—CeremoNy, 1 lst—The Duenna, aged. Ilst—Coissill, aged, lOst 121b—Peter Swift, aged, lOst 121b—The Stranger, aged, lOst 101b—The Knight Templar, lOst 81L—Nimrod, aged, lOst 81b—SpitSre, aged, lOst 81b—The Romp, aged, lOst 41b—Brilliant, aged, lOst 41b—Tom Tug, aged, lOst 2lb —Preissnitz, aged, 9st 71b. The rest declared forfeit. The are seven Subs. to the Plate (across the fiat.) WORCESTER STEEPLE-CHASES. Handicap for the Royal Birthday Stakes. Discount, 12st 121b—Vanguard, I2st 101b—Robin Adair, 12st 71b—Peter Simple, list 121b—The Returned, list 101 b —The Page,llst 101b—Gavlad, list 101b—Albert, list 71b —Culverthorpe, list 71b—boxkeeper, list 21b—My Jewell, list 21b—Quartermaster, I ist—Duenna, lOst 121b—Consul, lOst 121b—Chance, lOst 121b—The Scavenger, lOst 121 b The Novice, lOst 121b—Wilton, lOst 121b—The Knight Templar, lOst 121b—The Toney, lOst 10Ib--Tuly, lOst 101 b The Heart of Oak, lOst 101b—Tom Tug, lOst 101b—The Rector, lOst 101b—Tamworth, lOst 101b—Sam Swipes, lOst 101b—Ploughboy, lOst WM—Agriculture, lOst 101b -I'he Cardinal, lOst 71b—Eagle, lOst 71b—Brilliant, lOst 71b —LigLt-of-other-Days, lOst 71b—Apple Dodd ,v lOst 71b — Pickwick, lOst 71b—Galopad. lOst 71b—The Darling, lOst 71b—The Roarer, lOst 71b—Harefleld, lOst—Tantalus, lOst —Little Tommy, lOst—The Knight, lOst—Vaga, lOst— Paddy, lOst—The Spy, lOst—Sinbad, lost—Babylon, lOst—Preissnitz, lOst—Velute, lOst—Lazarus, 9st 101 b Sarnestield, 9st 71b—Hcslington, 9st 71b. NORTHAMPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT RACES, 1845. Handicap for the Great Northamptonshire Stakes. Corranna, 6 yrs, gat 51b—Knight of the Whistle, aged, Bst 131b—Counsellor, 6 yrs, Bst 131b—Una, aged, Bst 81b—Vitel lius, 5 yrs, Bst 71b—Napier, 5 yrs, Bst 51b—John o' Gaunt, aged, &I—Mosque, aged, Sat—Discord, aged, ast--Khoras san, 5 yrs, 7st 111b—Pine Apple, 5 yrs, 7st Mb—Johnny, aged, 7st 101b—Hooton, 5 yrs, 7st 101b—What, 5 yrs, ist 101b—Queen of Tyne, 6 yrs, 7st 91b—Yardley, 5 yrs, ist 91b—The 'Queen of the Gipsies, 5 yrs, 7st 71b—Revocation, 6 yrs, 7st 71b--Playfellow, 6 yrs, ist 71b—Ileslington, 6 yrs, 7st 61b—Godfrey, 4 yrs, ist 61b —Porto Bello, 5 yrs, ist 61b—Wee ' Pet, 5 yrs 7st db—New Brighton, 5 yrs, 7st 51b—Cataract, 5 yrs, 7st 41b—Poor Soldier, 5 yrs, ist 31b—Doctor Husband, 4 yrs, ist 21b—A11- round-my-Hat, 4 yrs, 7st—Barricade, 4 yrs, Mt—The Bashaw, 5 yrs, 7st—Queen Mab, 6 yrs, 7st—Everton, 5 yrs, 7st—ldleness, 4 yrs, 7st—Brush, 4 yrs, 7st—Lord Sal toun, 4 yrs, Mt—Drummer, 5 yrs, 7st—Seaport, 4 yrs, fist 121b—Arcanus, 6 yrs, Est 121b—Agriculture, 5 vrs, Est 121 b —The Currier, aged, Est 12—Emerald, 4 yrs, 6st 121b—Albert, aged, Est 121b—King of the Gipsies, 4 yrs, 6st 111b—Father Mathew, 4 yrs, bat 1 llb—Drunkard, 5 yrs, 6st 101b—Baronet, 6 yrs, bat 101b—Vates, 4 yrs, 6st 101b—Roderick, 6 yrs, 6st 101b—Ninety-one, 4 yrs, list 101b—The Devil-among-the- Tailors, 5 yrs, 6st 101 b—b fby Kedshank, dam by Tramp, , 4 vrs 6st 91b—Daft Natty, 5 yrs, Est 91b—Cockfighter, 4 yrs, 6st 91b—The Dean, aged, Est 91b—Dash, 4 yrs, Est 91b— Warp, 4 yrs, 6st 91b—Vol-au-vent, 4 yrs, Est 91b—ch c by Ratcatcher, out of Turquoise, 4 _yrs, 6st 61b—April Noddy, 4 yrs, Est 5 lb—br g by Mazeppa, out of Busk, 4 yrs, Est 51b Young Plenipo, 5 yrs, Est 51b —Seaweed, 4 yrs, Est 31b—Marna Spoil, 4 yrs, 6st—Lydia Lan guish, 4 yrs, 6st—Sweetmeat, 3 yrs, sst 121b—Bastion, 3 yrs, sst 71b—Fitzal!en, 3 yrs, sst 71b—Contract, 3 yrs, sst 71b—Young Eclipse, 3 yrs, sst 71b—Velox, 3 yrs, sst 71b —Devil's Dust, 3 yrs, sst 7 lb—Rubicon, 3 yrs. sst 71b— Clumsy, 3 vrs, sst 41b—Mystery, 3 . yrs, sst 41h—Plenitude, 3 vrs, sst 11)—b fby Bubastes,- out of Zelinda, 4 yrs, sst-- G.. , rintliian Tom, 3 vrs, 4st 121b—St. Domingo, 4 vrs, 4st 121 b —My Mary Ann, 3 yrs, 4st 121b—The Queen of Tartary, 3 yrs, 4st 101b—Sparsholt, 3 vrs. 4st 71b—St. Michael, 3 yrs, 4st 71b—Matilda, 3 yrs, 4st' 71b.—To declare on or before the lat of March. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 20. POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. Oa the motion of Mr. T. DUNCONIBE the order of ' the day for the adjourned debate on the Post-effiee in- ' quiry was read. Mr. M. MILNES said tl.at he did not know that he should have intruded on the House in this debate, but for the accident that he had lately travelled through the countries in which the unfortunate events referred to in the debate had occurred, and he had observed the un happy effect produced on the minds of the people in foreign countries by these unfortunate occurrences.— (Hear, hear.) He had observed that there prevailed the utmost suspicion and the most painful surmises at tached to the conduct of this country—(Hear, hear). — Surmises not the less painful because he knew them to be unfounded—suspicions not the less obnoxious be cause he knew they were absurd.—(Hear, bear.) (There was considerable talking in the House, and the Hon. Gentleman paused for a moment. The Speaker repeatedly called out " Order, order, at the bar.") It had long been the privilege anu the honour of this coun try that it had afforded refuge and asylum to those who were obliged to leave their own country, for political differences or political oppression. —(Hear, hear.) He thought that there was no more gratifying retrospect in the history of this country than this,—that from the time when Elisabeth gave refuge to these who fled from the tyranny of Philip the Second, and from the persecution of France, England received with open arms the oppressed and persecuted from all nations— and in the present day without distinc tion Liberals, Carlists, Italians, and Poles. When he saw painful contests taking place beween this country and France, and when he heard the French Minister getting up in his place, and asserting that, as far as he knew, that the communication by post was absolutely secure, and when he saw that the English Government could not make the same assertion, he was led to the conviction that England had obtained through the continent an injurious reputation. When he heard in the streets of Germany songs sung on this subject, it was no consolation to him to see his Right Hon. Friend the head of the Home Department the hero of the fable—(Great laughter)—although he believed that no Government was less inclined to interfere with the liberty of the subject than that of the Right Hon. Baronet. Yet he thought what had taken place was not calculated to allay the suspicion that had been ex cited towards him. The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion—(Laughter)—and so must her Majesty's Mi nisters—(Continued laughter)—but if she had not been able to answer the plainest question in the simplest Eng. lish—(Great laughter)—he feared that that Right Hon. Lady could not have remained above suspicion. No doubt a great degree of the unpopularity attached to her Majesty's Government was owing to the want of their not having met it in the first instance with simplicity and candour. He did believe if the question had been met without difficulty or mystery, when the question was first brought forward by the Hon. Member for Finsbury, it would have saved a great deal of the pain which had been inflicted on the country. If his Riglit Hon. Friend, instead of investing the subject with all kinds of difficulty, had sitially asserted what he real circumstances were, and declared the matter of opening the letters of M. Mazzini and others had no con nexion with his immediate Parliamentary duties, but was an act of a compulsory nature. Ile was asked and compelled to sign these warrants! For his part, how ever, be did not see why the Right Hon. Baronet was called on to sign the warrants at all. The Act of Par liament requires only one of her Majesty's principal Se cretaries of State to sign the warrant, and he thought it would have been much better had Lord Aberdeen taken the matter upon himself. If this course had been pursued, Lord Aberdeen would hove been able for give an answer when the question was first mooted, and whether satisfactory er not, it would have appeared, in a great degree, the public indigation against the Government in this parti cular. Suspicion had been allowed to grow up—misre presentations had been allowed to grow up, with the determination, on the other side, not to set anybody right. The consequence had been, that at this moment there was a most general and painful feeling pervading the country with regard to the question before the House. He would, with the permission of the House, say a few words upon the two divisions in which the question had been brought before the House. The first division was connected with foreign affairs, and the second was connected with the opening of the letters of the Hon. Member for Finsbury. With regard to the first, he had thought it to be his duty to propose to her Majesty's Government, on the previous night, a question connected with it, and to a certain degree he thought the answer was satisfactory. It was satisfactory, nit only to himself, but to all whom he had consulted on the sub ject. The answer was, that the opening of Mr. Maszini's letters was not connected with the unfortunate expedi tion of the Bandiera family. So far, therefore, as Lord Aberdeen was concerned, he thought the explanation was satisfactory, inasmuch as the opening of the letters was shown to have no connexion with that unhappy band of men. At the same time he should say that the whole of this proceeding involved a very grave and serious question, and one that affected the general and foreign policy of the Government. In fact, if this proceeding was to be recognised, the Austrian Government had nothing to do but get the sanction of the English Government to ir.vade Italy. But in the case now under consideration that act had been committed by no diplomatic right. It might be that this was part of a great scheme of foreign policy ; but when the facts went forward to the world, to the English people, that this act had had the sanction of the British Government, it must be a source of pain not only to the Government, but to every Member of the House. He should also beg to say he conct.ived it would have been the duty of Lord Aberdeen to have given public notice in the newspapers and by other means of the fact that the English Govern ment were aware of the existence of this conspiracy, and determined to defeat it; anti if that had been done, he (Mr. Milties) felt assured that this unhappy expedi tion would never have taken place.—(Hear, hear.) An other fact connected with this subject had come before the House, and it was elle which the House would not find as easy to dispose of as the others—he meant the charge that had been made against the Government by the H )n. Member for Finsbury, of opening his own letters.—(Hear, hear.) They all had had experience of how very indefinite were the privileges of foreigners; but that had no reference to the opening of the Hon. iii-mber for Finsbury's letters, and therefore he (Mr. Vines) hop.d that Hon. Members on his side the House %scold not refuse the Hon. Member for Finsbury whit he tslt. d —(Hear, hear.) Ile (Mr. Milnes) did th nk that Hon. Member hal a right to get a d.'tinite answer from the Go'e' nun nt as to whether a w a.,1 ant. had been i-sued fir opening- his letters.—(Cheers from the Opposition benches.) The Hon. Gentleman knew that his name had been mixed up with persons who had her") suspected, and who had come under the sentence of the la w.— Mr. DUNCOMBE'.—Naine them. fir. MILNES—Ore gentleman is an individual for whom I have IT pelf a very great rc Fp( ct, Mr. Willia Lovett. --Go ol !TTNC I IMF ) I 7 , Mr. 'Ai ILNES sail or:e. name was as p;ocel fU-- a bint (1,-ed. The Hon. Gentint:n knew very well that the live which tie had taken in p,litics bad nearly made hit t 1 object--he would not :fay gre, r, gar.t.—(Langhter.) Ile (Mr. Milnes) did not believe that the warrant of which the lion. Gentkinan com pktined bud been issued unwiisely. At the some time, he thous,ht the lion. Gentleman had a right to a full ex planation with respect to it. Now, one word as to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman. It was stated on t paper of the House that be demanded a new committee. It would he in the r• coreeti, n of the House that the puldic were taken very much b. surprise when they des" covered that the power of (Telling letters was vested in the Government. Air John ilanmer—than whom nu man, for his age, was better read in the Constitution of his country—was taken by surprise.—(Laught er.) The fact of this ignorance being in existence proved, lie thought, the innocence of the party exercising it. He did think that if the Hon. Member had brought his own ease under the notice of the House before that ef Mezzini, it would have been brought with mush greater weight. If his letters had been opened, it was his duty, as a Member of Parliament. to come forward and mu' the same charge then as now, and, must assuredly, ha 4 he done so on the spot, the sympathy of Hon. Members would have been much more warmly enlisted in his favour.—(Hear, hear.) He had, in a great degree, weakened his case by his delay.—(Hear.) However, he still thought the lion. Gentleman was justified in asking the Right Hon. Baronet if a warrant had been granted to open his letters, and that his Right Honour able Friend might answer that question. A very great question exists as to whether the' present powe r should be continued at all.—(Hear, hear.) His own' feeling was in favour of a limitation of that power: Hls principal reason for not voting with the Hon. Member for Finsbury was, because he believed that any Member who voted for the motion gives colour of the most unjusli" fiable suspicion and foul misrepresentation with respect to the conduct of his Right Hon. Friend.—(Hear, hear.) The arrows of calumny had been directed from all guar" ters against his Right Hon. Friend ; he had been ex posed to the severest, and, in some cases, to the wes t malignant censure. He was assailed by all the nevi; papers, from the dullest down to the lively sallies 01 Punch—and he should have said, up to Punch, for cer tainly they are the best of Ml.—(Heer, hear, laught er, and cheers.) When he saw these things, he felt sit honest indignation at the gross injustice perp etratea upon his Right Hon. Friend. The Hon. Gentlema n e t)n. eluded by again saying that he would oppose the motion; Mr. MACAULAY then rose and said—Sir, I „. 1/6 , e to explain the precise nature of the vote which ,1 about to give. I cannot vote for the motion o' Hon. Friend the Member for Finsbury, and m y ressl ie for not doing so are twofol 3 . First, I think !. motion in itself is objectionable, inasmuch as it ituP lie f a censure upon a Secret Committee of the House ,: t Commons.—(Hear, hear.) My second reason is, tu„.s even if the words of his motion did not imply liens tl 'i the Hon. Gentleman, when giving his notice, coupled? with words which, even if it had been less strong* worded, must have conveyed to the minds of all a n b . le a racter of censure.—(hear, hear.) The original untle to stood thus—it called the attention of the House, the evasive and unsatisfactory nature of the Secret Coto' mittee, and then went on to move, &c. In our P rc° , ceedings, as every body knows, a motion is often Ofiatt cider d es explained by the tepee ch of the Gentl e T te o oho makes it ; and in this manner a speech is ° e ' r e thought to criminate a motion ; but how much siren must ais impression become when tlw not only strong, but th , nr,tion itself as it stands l o t the raver, is a species of ,:cncere?— Olean) On J . O ground, if that were ail. I could not vote for the 1 51( 1 1 if of the Hon. Member. I believe the Committee did tl'oeir duty honest l y. —(Hear, hear.) From my own lc, t , ledge of the Members who composed that Coninn t e i c h I believe they conducted themselves in a manner aPag left no room for censure. And moreover we °NI to be particularly cautious of passing censure on 1 00 committees, because the , members of them are, a y their very nature, and from a sense of public dig)" , f l oe eluded from making stet• menus, or entering into their circumstances which make their justification and th eir defence.—(liear, hear.) These reasons a ppear tn mind decisive agaiast voting for the motion. - M ou ld posal has likewise been made that a Committe e en t to be appointed to inquire whether or not it be expedievitlipa' continue the present p• actice. Why. Sir, in nlY e och there is no need whatever for the appointment nhver, Committee—the subject is ripe for legislation --k hear)—and to a great extent I agree with the, A it Member for Finsbury that legislation on the subrie, necessary and desirable.—(Hear, hear.) For rnY' e o diff have at present very little doubt discussion may s ° bola my opinion as to the principles on which this la 001 be guided. I cannot conceive how it could be Insu„iptec that there ought to be any difference in the Prieltro" between the way of treating a letter in its transit Di ea to the post and after it has been received by the per,' 0 01 whom it is addressed. The letter addressed to under_, much my property—to the very same extent a" ti er it the same limitations—when in the mail-big , as - a d efo has been delivered to me.—(Hear.) After a c ; consideration, I can see no reason for m aking Tao" tinction. Both cases are, in point of right s ll ". e r e ce• perty, precisely alike. The very same inconverir attaches to the perusal of my letter before as lu t . e a delivery—the exposure of my secrets takes plac e j oso; one case as well as in the other. As to public a„,, 0 01 0 tage, there is the same chance that the public j o lt( derive benefit and useful information from tht c h which has been delivered to-day, as from that u', 1 0 to be delivered to morrow. The right of the sub . „ his letter is subordinate to the claims of society , one case as well as in the other. The convenienopi opening a man's letter, sealing it up again, and for I coo ing it, so that he may never know what was dour,' or perfectly understand. In the same sense it mai L ' e •TI S ful to hire a servant who can pick locks, and °P; O or. copy other persons' letters.--(Hear, hear, from t . Nom position.) It may be useful and convenient , but V I I o es the whole, justifiable and beneficial ? Cal l fiee ° ' point out to me a case in which a letter, which "" co os fairly delivered to the rightful owner, may not h a lea verted to the same use and convenience? I w°tl a power with the Secretary of State of sending w-after to open any letter, but I would require that. gel! certain time, that letter, which continued all Alen ", the property of the person to whom it n a l ju Dl' dressed (unless it was to be used "" la° cial proceeding), should be forwarded t°to bim with a stamp on the back of it, conveying rides that it had been opened by the proper auliwt.eati°:l3,, (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.) I may hear 01 / B ,i s plr . ; ; that might change my opinions, but t hink 1“,„ be ef ciple is a sound one. lam aware that there 111 %. b e ., conveniences from the adoption of this princire,;(ol of and there it might be desirable and more sutectosl6 of procure other means, but we are not as N t e f ee, this House and as natives of this country at ll lbshed"; day to begin arguing the question whether takes to be obtained by adopting the princieh' e . gOf e r ot , suing the designs of an arbitrary and despot'', ofl ment, are or are not proper.—(!outi cries l e ef ie ' r , hear," and cheers.) Should we restore tha l „ s °,eoln . b o; pinnage and cruelty which exi.t.'d her. .re the ete rs, or although it was there found not only o as the politicians of the day contended, ab4"lu t o tting" nary ? 'When I said the other night that O P a 0 , 0 fuivaogely nee the torture had been in some instances fi u osef e r tageous, there were cries of no, but history doe ono but, Sir, the question is are we Englisbnierw r fits flu t e perience which we have, to forfeit the belle 4 p n_ ea we derive from the security and confidence of 0,01`,0 life—to trust that no unfair advantage W I g atle, ti re sl , of us—for a system which though it Illiq f p e ce.,' d ba be attended with utility, destroys that con'!" AO' af eel and security.—(Hear, hear.) I think a 1311 ;hose ct„i f ts brought in, founded on principles euels oge d Of t lieti to the House—to such a Bill I would be dist t bett. i o my sanction. Another part of the question b 7.. for , : t ir relates to the complaint of the Hon. Mem GeS ee r, bury. I must declare my opinion that the ,1' 0 „ . ...-( 1 010 man is entitled to have that matter cleare d t z t ",, ill tie d hear.) A Member of Parliament stands be t e W or e House, and tells you that his letters hove be e on . Iv e in their transit through the post, and the deny " de o W oe s it. The Right lion. Gentleman does I tt ' o migh t f o thr (Hear, hear.) He may say that a discloslo 00. 0 bo o injurious ; but, Sir, after what the Bight_ w hat I man has said upon other cases, I do not,scu er, it would do to speak out upon this.-- - ( H en be attendee defy defy any human being to tell me how it (Tu. g o n. with any danger to the State, for the Itigt' arr ant l,iiiesr , man to say that he had never issued 3 tletoso.--;ja pos opening of the letters of the Hon. Gfn o wh i c h I.ne no hear.) There is anther circumstance t pc attach much importance at the time, um isto piel,l; g lei strikes me forcibly, which creates a stroll., sn ipe la the Government have not dealt fairly by we and which requires explanation. this ilcil lg etlibe r to grant a Committee in the goo . , drem be year, it teemed but fair that .. __ id b e "`„ er eea , who brought forward the charge 1 1 u 3 recollection_t, sr of that Committee; for, as far as n2Y,._ nam i t tee t_o i [ e ilot I have scarcely ever known a ur n w hich . 1 0 " f eol_ e ; pointed by the House of Coninions,_ard, .0? iroo ff to Member who brought the m atter forsw not n ebt But I' slier r f be for and obtained the Committee, " 11 .. w a6 f'9 13 .1 1. f r Member of it.—(Hear, hear.) an d pee. t o e e , new ,us e e constitute this Committee on a e _ an d in ,) ciple, and it was said that, in faire oug ht ought of the Fi Hon. Member, who was the license r , at a nd 1 0 0 , eluded ; every Member of secluded, for it ° a sot ° s ot Government was likewi' e .ea f a ir e,„ 001! that the question would not unc , l ie ll doi . for rr nistr etie bt tory investigation, if the Hon. 1 3 a were Members of it. The and candour, ari d a t he Br l o . a Member of either the late or pres w e e n s t c A se d r i fedr o lite n W . this great show of justice G e ntlema n : l3Pc' of th e ° on d constitution _ or A , voted with the Right Hon • day ciples that the construction an Bu t in D itto in 0 1 ; 0. mittee was to be so pectiliarly tou ut a C °rPin eY man e 0 the Government had to c onstit e now d id to oioTaof o. House of Lords.—(Hear, Ileal . t e ),,, es . we re s s , Did they act on the princiel Not of Colt or""'" --Ot Div Chan" . carry out in the House arty -men o f ex rt ior tration, 9. 11 '" Con strl - l er Committee was composed P,r cellori.—(Hear, bear.) Til" s r _ e „sy (,ere here , or e the late and of present Adinieie,a,or; for not e 0 e va , to the CillTlmitt , e there in the be d , ~t to be c ._ lo as possible. If justice cool`l en u.f , how was l_ att er :L ot Members of the two Goverem, jc : con 0 t h e r ision et it there?--(Hear, hear.) 131 1 ' ; e , ir effil t te i n• 14 10' into the House of Loros, a - „Iv forgot _ .O • es w en.. .. Neu chiding particular parties fp,• „ e 0 _ ~,e , be it dees appear to me that, I, e l, ill -h ero Lion of the co,Etructio:, of fi. • r „ c ,s Dee s % via ilaitAl _ we ts . r of Lords, the siiseieien itr the.o orco for yr , a e s moved fr-in my mind.' I jn( :ow grounds ve....--foi4h) certainly d ,es app .iir to be ,__ v . ! b e en 0P e t.. ...(A. vi ce , that Mr. Daileimi he's tf 11. , lo nth 13,1 O rr ot ° 1.0 hear.) The Hon. M, et her 11 " ) " rye f all er;n"" tad -4. i I believe him to bc,bays b e en e and yet representations trug l . l %_, l iueg°' home Secretary, which ht ~~ V `~ a . Va_. TBE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21 1845. `.