The Sun. — London, England, 1845-08-05 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON 5 2 RAILWAY COMMITTEES • (YESTERDAY.) PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF ii ____,...._____ c 1 HOUSE OF LORDS. TI-1E UNITED KINGDOM , 1843, 1844, 1845. r• It atatranTow, LEWES, AND HASTINGS (ASH -0 roan EXTENSION) RAILWAY. 0 IMPORTANT DECISION. An Account of the PUBLIC II COME and EXPENDITURE of the UNITED KINGDOM, in the years to The C omm i ttee appointed by the House of Lords to inquire ending the sth day of Januar:: 1843, 1844, and 1845 ; distinguishing the actual Payments for the Expenses Into the merits of this Bill met at Room No. 2of the House of incurred in the Collection sand Management of the Revenue ; for the charges of the Public Debt (the Lords, at eleven o'clock. Terminable Annuities being Also valued by Estimate) ; for the Expenses of the Civil Government ; the The members of the Committee are his Royal Highness the Allowances to the Royal Family, and to his Majesty the King of the Belgians ; the Establishment of the Duke of Cambridge the Marquis of Winchester, the Earl of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; ;the Expenses of the two Houses of Parliament, and the Civil Departments ; Devon (Chairman), the Earl Bathurst, and Lord Churchill. the other Pensions on the t. - 3omsolidated Fund, on the Gross Revenue, and the Civil List. Also, the Payments Mr. Talbot appeared for the promoters of the Bill, and Mr. Ilildyard, Q.C., against it. for the A dwinistration of Justice ; Diplomatic Expenses, and the Payments on account of the Sums voted for The first uestion that arose was whether or not the oo- the Army, Navy, Ordnance, mid Miscellaneous Services. Also, Public Works, Bounties, Yost-office, the q, 'Won o f Mr. Hildyard could be entertained by the Committe pp e. Quarantine, and Warehousing Establishments ; and all other Payments not coming under any of the foregoing Mr. TALBOT argued that it could not. His Learned Friend Heads. (In continuation of Itteturn, No. 550, of Session 1844). appeared for the Headeern line, which had been rejected by the House of Commons, and he had no locus slandi. INCOME. 'The CHAIRMAN observed that in competing lines he could tot recognis e th e d octr i ne th at a li ne t h rown out by th e H ouse Year ending January 5. of Commons should not have liberty to appear again before a ____..... --) f- -- Co mmittee of the House of Lords. That would be throwing --- 1845. 1843. 1844. the wh ole railway legislation on the House of Commons _ ---, Mr. TALBOT said la did not mean that. There had been A . ) tee after during the present session, in which their CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. £ £ £ X £ £ 1,201,915 1,262,094 ... ... 1,210,154 ... ••• Committee had heard the opposition of a competing Foreign ttlte after it had been rejected by the House of Commons. Spirits Rum 5,241,457 what he said was, that the Headcorn line, for which Mr. Hild- British 5,041,773 ... ... 4,958,223 ••• ••• a k appeared, was entirely defunct-a skeleton without one Malt ~.. 4,385,221 ... •... 4,659,638 •..• ••• 4,752,296 of vitality in it. 260,979 „. . . 308,366 ••• ••• 244,322 Hops .; a ir. FIILDTARD, on the other side, said he had a perfect 1,335,412 ... ... 1,703,721 ••• ••• 1,922,791 Wine ii . g .. ,. to oppose the Bill, because the Brighton, Lewes, and 5,130,271 ... ... 5,290,406 .•• ••• 5,493,959 I Sugar and Molasses Lords line obtained assent to their preamble, both in the 4,524,093 4,088,957 ... ... 4,407.642 ..• ••• Tea., s hould and Commons, on the specific understanding that they 1 768,886 ... „, 697,376 ..• ••• 681,607 4,0 1011 1 d not interfere with the Bill proposed. He trusted their Coffee 3,577,224 ... ..„ 3,711,227 ... ••• 3,952,422 rdships would see the utility of entertaining an opposition Tobacco and Snuff Just in itself, an d w hi c h wou ld h ave t h e mer i t o f s h ow i ng t h e - - 29,040,929 d f ects as well as th e exce ll enc i es (if i t h a d an y) o f th e p ropose d B utter „e ... 151,614 ... .., 186,243 C ' l ee. Ho denied that there was the least breach of faith on the Cheese 98,112 ... ... 90,888 ... ... 115,572 dart of his clients, because the other side took the Bill from Currants and raisins twit. Lordships' House on condition that they would offer no C orn 1,363,977 ... ... 758,293 ... „, 1,098,383 o bstruction to a line from Rye. 1 Cotton wool and sheep's Counsel were proceeding with their arguments, when 566,700 ... ... 843,244 ..• ... 719,489 t imported The CHAIRMAN ordered the room to be cleared. Silks 245,080 ... .., 263,949 ... „, 325,960 i Upon our return, a ft er a cons id era bl e l apse of t i me, The CHAIRMAN said they were unwilling to entertain the Hides and Skins 49,566 ... ... 27,871 ... ... 29,325 okposition of Sir. Hildyard. The line was, no doubt, in a cer- Paper I tam sense a competing line, but the mere circumstance of Soap 829,277 . . ... 893,170 ... ... 928,747 showing that it was a competing line would not be sufficient to Candles arid tallow 170,834 . , „, 194,735 ... ... 174,373 r induce the Committee to declare that the proposed line should Coals, sea-borne 57,415 ... ... 131,304 ... ... 117,133 tot pass. Glass Mr. HILBYARD said he was anxious as much as possible to save their Lord s hi ps ' t i me, particularly as the session was now Bricks, tiles, and slates I drawing to nearly to a close ; and if his Learned Friends upon Timber 0 the other side would agree to the following resolution, he would Auctions Excise licenses • 1,014,899 ... ... 1,019,947 ... . . 1,035,689 ]take no objection whatever to withdraw his opposition. He !mold read the resolution for their Lordships, trusting they Post-horse duties , would sanction it :- Miscellaneous of Customs- ••• ••• i • t " That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the con- and Excise , 4 li r ti 9 ll of a coast line from Hastings to Ashford ought not to 9,311,138 1 Prejuthee t he making a railroad from Rye to Headcorn, if it should he appear that the public required such accom- ..--- - ... 36,140,914 ... ... 36,569,881 ... ... 38,576,684 modation" a it i ffi l T r in h ra t e er. L fe e r a e rn w e i d th C t o h u e nsel went an to show that it would not at STAMPS. proposed line, as the resolution did not 1,622,557 ... ... 1,802,819 thi s 0 . - 4 thing. All he desired was, that the construction of Deeds and other instruments 1,604,672 ... ... 2,163,564 ... •... 2,143,127 ... ... 2,178,843 Probates and lezacies ofa -Is t line should not impede in any way the construction s -, . 251,490 ... ... 253,529 ... ... 192,724 n ether li ne, Marine e eustra • if Parliament thought it right to sanction the Insurance / 984,726 ... ... 987,339 ... ... 1,003,767 Fire' Mfr n of another. 771_ ALBOT-I cannot agree to any such resolution. Bills of Exchange, bankers' 680,671 .... ... 673,673 ... ... 592,366 o ,,e_ CHAIRMAN -We are unwilling to sanction any line of notes li te ",,et which could in any way bind other people. If your Newspapers and advertise vo ttse ie j m ni t i ! r i ne Tl y d o y n ard w , il las, as you say, an independent and a ments of course, be always at liberty to pro- Stage coaches 444,215 ... ... 388,928 ... ... 407,945 Mr. H i Receipts 4s h s _ t. LDYARD-I understand the gist of your Lordship's 499,171 ... ... 441,190 ... ... 557,017 Zva ion s , Other stamp duties and shall not further press my objection. 7,139,783 - 7,076,752 The C HAIRMAN-Then you withdraw your opposition? "'r. HILDYARD-Yes. ASSESSED AND LAND 4151,, he ‘, Ceareman declared the PREAMBLE of the BILL TAXES. "*`-' v ED. Land taxes Aft ... E O , er some fu r th er o b serva ti ons , some formal evidence was Windows 1,584,910 1,569,344 ... . . 1,545,281 ... The respecting the traffic and distance. 205,727 ... ... 200,252 ... ... 200,458 " clauses were inspected, and the Committee broke up. Horses 388,181 ... ... 370,002 ... ... 374,657 • 40. Carriages 442,880 ... ... 428,904 ... ... 424,077 HOUSE OF COMMONS. Dogs arlxv GROUP X. Additional 10 per cent.. .... 296,342 ... ... 289,403 ... ... 279,618 Z'IELD- AND LINCOLNSHIRE LINE. Other assessed taxes ...This 4,485,410 esie no ,_Committee resumed to-day at the accustomed hour. 582,038 ... ... 5,387,455 ... ... 5,329,601 k r. 6" 8 present, Viscount Courtenay (chairman), Mr. Wall, Property and Income-tax . . ... ••• k r a n thY, and Mr. Scrape. Post-office t et Sa . t -A t"s, Q.C., added a few observations to his address Crown lands adssritorday in favour of the above scheme, pointing out its Other ordinary revenue and 8,,,. a ges to th e t owns o f R et f or d, Li nco l n , an d Sheffield. other resources - se`geant WRANGHA3t rose to reply, and was Money from China, under besnlgeant WRANGHAM, in reply, contended that the Bawtry . 1,315,208 ... ... 385,008 eh of treaty of August, 1842 Rap f __ the London and York line was a far preferable rail , as, e _ur the wants of the district, inasmuch as its unity of ma -51,120,040 ... ~. 56,935,022 ... ... 58,590,217 , fi e. „ , 41 8 n t Total income 1, Id and direct course gave it the advantage over the eelli v u lheuo.ic a a n t d io L n. incolnshire line in respect of direct and lateral Excess of expenditure over 4,075,119 income ••• ••• t hatch Learned Counsel was here interrupted by an intimation nee,: Neaker was at prayers, and the Committee having £ 55,195,159 £ 56,935,022 £ 58,590,217 , ~‘less , ,e u at four till twelve to-morrow, he will resume his ad „ ' that hour. EXPENDITURE. , .. b . ' PAD , .eve_ 4.1. I.T A /11T - G , NT 'V A 1 "V" 12 TT Q - NIL' QC. • AEI) RLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. 1 OR,T, .48 FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON .: 44 iti GROUP (K) OF RAILWAYS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30. ' DGE AND BURY ST. EDMUND'S RAILWAY li• • G to P ti BILL. kt , n. !It, f!lt Bandon reported from the Select Committee on 4 0 41 1 .,5tkj 1t ) , 0 .f Railways, and to whom several petitions th i of .15111$ comprised in the said group, together_ wit . h ee" the Board of Trade thereon, were referred, that in 13ii 4 se t ' , th e ,, Q f the Cambridge and Bury St. Edmund's Railway . 41 4 - . 1 had heard counsel in support of the said petitions, 4 4 4 1 4 also heard counsel in favour of the said Bill, and I t eer ti pr.liad examined the allegations contained in the 74eit k i 'o . of the Bill, but the same had not been proved to lfaction. Revenue—Charges of Collection : Civil Customs Departments i Excise Preventive service, land guard, revenue, police cruisers, and harbour vessels TIIURSDAY, JULY 31. iri!..2o'S DON AND NORWICH RAILWAY BILL. rou;r oust S o at r id i r ai r w eported an f c con tio th w e h S om elect Committee on several petitions ::gainst the Bills comprised in the said group, together with ,re report of the Board of Trade thereon, were referred, that In the case of the London and Norwich Railway Bill they bad heard eohnsel in support of the said petitions, and had also heard counsel in favour of the said Bill, and that they /lad examined the allegations contained in the preamble of the Bill, but the........................2_e_5ame had not b n proved to their satifaction. Stamps Assessed taxes Other ordinary revenues Superannuations and other allowances Total revenue Public debt : Interest of permanent debt Terminable annuities Management NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. .00.1HIRALTY LEvEE.—The last levee of naval officers . at the 11,T 1 ,!alty for the season was held on k f r o iz in y the Earl of Sit g Captains llngton, and was attended ?), or a °l l Ross, Creagh, Carter,. W. G. Purchas, J. N. Mott .; Pobilillanders G. Spettigue,Gordon,. J. C. Gill, N. Jatn e : a rd, and Chaloner ; and G. G. Lieutenants John Wilson, B. Payne. Colonel Colby,. of the it' o l lawstorne, Foote, of th e Engineers, also and had an interview with the First Lord ,idrairalty on that day. Ivea t t. ROYAL YACHT AND HER. TENDER THE FAIRY.—The fret, der fur the past week at Portsmouth . has been so equally, 114,4 .and u nfavourable, that her Majesty and Prince Albert have P;i' d ut few opportunities of making excursions on the water. 7ttis a Y ,I,vas a tolerably fine day, and at fon! r..m. the royal t p tut Victoria and Albert, Captain Lord A. litzclarence, went the SPithead with the Queen and Prince Albert on board, 1, I,4nlclal standard flying at the main; the MonarcNowenre h er l ton frigate -built ship, belonging to Mr. Greewnyth wasd Rr kei :g and cheered as the yacht passed I t rr, h how,t4sly a cknowledged by her Majesty an Prince Albert A ral lln return. The royal yacht was saluted by the fo r c,'",,.013th garrison guns, and afterwards steered her course s_t::tittraet,litt7tiicat;)ria and Albert arrived at Portsmouth . from Cowes , and immediately proceeded to take in previsions, tlre lia .! and fuel. She will leave for Woolwich on onday, to for e mbarking her Majesty and Prince Albert for con- Ihe . '" to Germany. The Fairy, in the interim, will attend 'O 4l Party at Cowes. Fa rY, royal yacht steam tender, Mast , er-Commander a nd arrived at Portsmouth from Cowes on Friday mornipg, I ltu,i wa s taken into dock to have a new screw attached, which, adding b een done she came out of dock on Satui . day morn k in a g h , Prijatuceeded to , f` wes in the afternoon. While in doe t allef l Y n umber s of ladies and gentlemen visited her, who very Th,ad,rnired the beautiful little vessel. dspartc mired is ordered to proceed from Portsmout e h,..acte e r , the Vw, hi .4 14 . e of the Court from Osborne, direct . for th . . Rhl on a. ! i l e s t y v er her services will be called in requisition by her Mr• Penn the constructor of the engines of the I t - 1 .8 ordered to accompany her. trnti*da,,a incorrectly stated last week that . the Fairy had w atts e g id steering over the shallows goingfrom Cowes to f ' b t °ll th. The fact was, the Fairy had on board d a poor i f lzt4;)" Haslar Hos ital and the Commander beingdesirous tk.t.44 tli - t ". him as close as possible to the hospital, to give t aalt ' t'T e e to walk, ran in very near ; her light draft of ß water h t her to do so and put him ashore at Haslar rise to . it) wait' there until the boat returned to her, gave rise he ' !et report that she was on shore. 11 ,44, a 'rY is to receive the King o h f the Netherlands on tstp,i' and to take his Majesty on a s ort excursion. ruA,ah. ,t,,v,lttstrs AND ADDITIONS IN WOOLWICII . DOC r K e : ;;;;14,.n_e . A dmiralty have decided on purchasing the p ith l a.. 4 rOen s on the Sirnorth sideof George-street, Wool aAd Ta ons sc7;_tte. joins toF. Collier's garden on the west, to th l. Lord s in that direction as the entrance to the town. esr a b li i,ps have ordered a ilan of the proposed addition . th e ' 0 1) 5 tra ' ri lltnent to be made,. e l and the names of the p.roprie yeal.P.roperty, s s o m a it s te t d o , t h o a e v n e abl their solicitor to negotiate for Ou possession in the next o financial ffiee rs t his g i r is Proposed to erect some residences cko,inte4und, in lieu of some about to be taken for do th w e n. It is 4 b 4 Yard e d to build a chapel on this space, to be added to the , tkt ' , 141 94 e„" Boann THE SOUTHAMPTON FRIGATE AT CMAT- ' 1; 1 0 °;C..--10,1k11,73...So,,uthampton, 50 . guns, Icing in ordinary, about /a.7(lotto_ u..-isaturday morning, was discovered to be on fire. ( _turt, s e d d rl ou ti t re-b_el i l i wa n s tr s i o e u s n:d li e m di and the Royal Marines the wharfs of the doekd 'verll:V,their rn. uqtet e , s a e nd the ship Peicti . ers her gunnes,d and tNe e , l 2_l? boat at the station was immediately . man found to e 1 1," to the frigate. When there the fire was . . „ fl ed to „ e of the after cabins, and was extinguished tt e r ! ti-h.:p":,nehrali an hour, mainly . owing of to the promptitude of their officers. The 7.‘rs,ander the guidance 1)4-44.1 hytPaa ' d' i c _ a ,. l by a man wh d d o anc l e ad been workinr , in the Il ‘ ght of a candle, an oon being called away, tr,. II board the Janus, left it lighted, and the candle Eh sit is a gainst board lining set it on ofePected that a Board of Admiralty will pay the annual tor t , InsPection to Chatham Dockyard on Tuesday next. bsnoeoket,oare_‘Sir Francis Coll . the Superintendent of Wool erte.e. rd, has returned to his official duties from leave of 4 1,5 ticry ,i-'.Ptain has yet been appointed to the Excellent, gun t,4euP, in the room of Sir Thomas Hastings, appointed Q. , ,,,,, e Per of the Ordnan e t,,,kee,irri,:si.:nur(lveer)iSnhgerringhame..and some of the officers of the ten et vessel, are enoaged at Portsmouth about t r t. '. The Fearles s is at Woolwich, in charge of Lieu `a -,ovste. The r•f th F less ' will be turned over th; whieheveeswseol uill e pro e c a .e r ed to Portsmouth as soon Th e ls fitted. teefll4rne 50, Commodore Purvis, has dismantled, and hadl all her stores at Pttrtsmouth ad is waiting me be paid lea.;: ° o ,.'se_( . lll .r n ce of the cu ties bein i g n all perford to the men e Yesterday. .1,4 i: lIITE SLAVE AND THE RUSSIAN PRINCE. 11 44 , t1 :r'a ti , °y . e . 1 _:?enls to have excited as much attention as the "Reding.and remarkable work,. " The Revelations.. of iltrett garig the story as a fiction merely, it is one t nlroci ""ement and power Livin characters are unsparingly lvtlesiß,ltleeded, and all the - leading dra g matis persone are evidently tharnlers are ortraits. The sketches of Russian life and tt gran eminentl grar,hic and vivid. Originality is one of with ndil s ee r o f the work, and, throughout, it abounds t tt u r e i mosts spirited and striking adventure. M the L-oruers it is understood, will be the successor IN to = late Lord Bateman, in the Lord Lieutenancy of Here et Interest on Exchequer-bills Total debt Civil government : Civil list—privy purse, salaries of the household and tradesmens' bills The allowances to the several branches of the Royal Family, and to his Royal Highness LeO: puld Prince of Cubourg (now King of the Belgians)* The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland's establishment The salaries and expenses of the Houses of Par liament (including printing) Civil departments, including superannuation al- lowances Other annuities, pensions and superannuation allowances on the Consolidated Fund and on the gross revenue Pensions, civil list Total civil government _ _ Justice : Courts of justice Police and criminal prosecutions Correction Total justice Diplomatic : Foreign ministers' salaries and pensions Consuls' salaries and superannuation allowances Disbursements, outfit Total diplomatic Forces : c Effective ; charge Army 1 Non-effective ; charge Total army c Effective ; charge Navy 1 Non-effective ; charge .... Total navy Effective ; charge......... Ordnance... / N on-effective ; charge.... Total ordnance Total forces Army and ordnance, insurrection in Canada China expedition China and India, army, navy, and ordnance sere : Opium compensation Bounties, &c., for promoting fisheries Public works _ _ _ Payment out of the revenue of Crown lands, for ments and various public services Post-office—charges of collection and other payn Quarantine and warehousing establishments Miscellanecus not classed under the foregoing hea Total expenditure Year ending January 5. 1843. 1844. 1845. ...........-.-., r .___-,....___-.. n r .._.---,... r -1 £ £ £ £ £ £ - 610,754 ... 617,321 ... 639,993 776,734 ... 774,489 ... 766,493 1,987,488 1,391,810 1,406,486 . • • 566,957 ... 572,655 ... 561,098 -- --- --- 1,954,445 ... 1,964,465 ... 1,967,584 147,440 ... 144,754 ... 149,437 ... 182,867 ... 252,218 .. 322,231 ••• 57,727 ... 57,270 ... 59,164 ... 363,018 ... 364,835 ... 362,120 ... ... 2,705,497 ... 2,783,542 ... 2,860,536 24,489,291 ... 24,512,753 ... 25,860,666 4,071,530 . . 3,924,184! ... 3,958,508 134,158 ... 135,991 1 ... 135,703 - ---, - 28,694.979 ... 28,572,928 ... 29,954,877 725,010 ... 688,084 ... 531,084 -- 29,419,989 -- 1 29,261,012 30,486,721 1 371,800 ... 371,800 ... 371,800 318,000 ... 308,423 ... 297,000 30,554 ... 26,317 j ... 26,440 123,847 ... 106,001 ... 100,646 524,773 ... 510,294 ... 538,593 312,641 ... 297,977 • • • 277,501 5,120 ... 5,307 ... 6,285 1,686,735 1,626,219 1,618,265 551,540 ... 580,516 ... 559,782 595,945 ... 566,438 ... 594.312 493.117 ... 635,515 ... 703,111 1,640,602 1,782,469 1,857,205 183,470 ... 178,456 ... 181,186 118,649 ... 125,708 ... 129,303 42,156 ... 57,262 ... 70,120 344,275 361,426 3,596,22 ... 3,633,471 ... 3,801,752 2,391,669 ... 2,363,685 ~. 2,376,962 5,987,921 ... 5,997,156 ... 6,178,714 - -- 5,231,164 ... 5,199,446 ... 4,467,201 1,408,999 ... 1,406,611 ... 1,391,018 6,640,163 ... 6,606,057 ... 5,858,219 - 2,008,474 ... 1,748,346 ... 1,763,365 166,199 ... 162,359 ... 160,947 --- 2,174,673 ... 1,910,704 ... 1,924,312 ... 14,802,757 14,513,917 13,961,245 253,343 ... 25,300 ... ... 830,008 ... 416,056 ... 404,964 ices - • ... ... 1,245,823 ... 11,793 19,410 ... 11,286 ... 17,762 419,519 ... 405,246 ... 430,208 improve -193,607 ... 211,561 ... 227,085 nents 969,195 ... 966,834 ... 974,804 127,941 • • • 130,586 ... 189,123 Ids 1,511,360 ... 1,760,463 ... 1,733,328 55,195,159 ... 55,501,740 ... 55,103,647 •• • ... 1,433,283 ... 3,486,570 --- -- .£ 55,195,159 56,935,022 58,590,217 ! use of King Leopold. The trustees, after discharging certain an nent of the late Princess Charlotte, repay the balance of the annuity Surplus of income over expenditure tg Leopold. The trustees, after discharging late Princess Charlotte, repay the balance of )00/. Mr. HAWES expressed his very high appreciation of the feeling in which the present meeting had originated, Enter ing into political life, he had necessarily abandoned the active commercial pursuits in which he had been engaged ; but it was a source of the highest gratification to him that in this new sphere he had been fortunate enough to secure the approbation of the merchants and traders of the city of London. For the mark of that approbation just bestowed upon him he returned his warm thanks. Amongst those present at this very gratifying re-union were— George Moffatt, Esq., M.P., Messrs. J. Travers, Hayward, and Graham (members of the committee), Sir James M'Adam, the Right Hon. R. L. Sheil, M.P., H. Tufnell, Esq., M.P., H. Warburton, Esq., M.P., T. M. Gibson, Esq., M.l'., M. Forster, Esq., M.P., C. Hindley, Esq., M.P., M. J. O'Con nell, Esq., M.P., Mr. Hawes, sen., Dr. Elliotson, Messrs. M'Gregor, Parkes, Wilson, &P.. ALTERATION IN THE CAMBRIDGE DAT MAIL.— The opening of the railway has brought a change in the times of arrival and departure of the day mail. Instead of being dis patched as heretofore at half past eleven in the morning, it is now sent by the quarter before ten o'clock train, and the box for letters closes at a quarter af er nine. This is, as we think, a change greatly for the worse, and we certainly cannot under stand the logic which would persuade us that when we travel twice as fast as we used to do, we should start two hours sooner on a journey of sixty miles. The arrival is better timed ; we have our letters now at half-past tw•, instead of at half-past four —Cambridge Chronicle. MINISTEILIAL WHITE BAIT DINNER. Her Ma jesty's Ministers will partake of their annual white bait din ner, at the Crown and Sceptre, Greenwich, on Wednesday next. The Board of Admiralty has issued orders that mortar-beds are to be laid down in several of our first.class steam sloops for 13-iach mortars,— United Service Gazette. THE SU - N, LONDON, TUESDAI MORNING, AUGUST 5, 1845, IMPERIAL PARLIANIENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Aug. 4. The House sat to-day at a quarter before Four. ROYAL ASSENT. The royal assent was given to-day by commission to the following Bills :—The Customs Laws Repeal Bill, the Customs Management Bill, the Customs General Regulation Bill, the Smuggling Prevention Bill, the British Shipping and Navigation Bill, the British Vessels Registration Bill, the Customs Duties Bill, the Warehousing of Goods Bill, the Customs Boun ties Bill, the British Possessions Abroad Trading Bill, the Isle of Man Trade Bill, the Auction and Legacy Duties (Ireland) Bill, the Com pensation Allowances Courts of Law Bill, the Real Pro perty Amendment Bill, the Bills of Exchange Bill, the Disembodied Militia Bill ; the Court of Chancery Amendment Bill, Public Funds Bill, Corn Warehousing Bills, the Lunatics Bill, Coals (Port of London) Bill, the Stock in Trade Rating Bill, the Joint-stock Company's (Ireland) Bill, the Westminster Improvement Bill, the Waste Lands (Australia) Bill, the Scotch Poor-law Bill, the Assistant Barristers' (Ireland) Bill, the Graud Jury Presentments (Dublin) Bill, the Dublin Pipe Water Bill, the Duddeston and Nuchell's Improve ment Bill, White's Estate Bill, Ellison's Estate Bill, the Rochdale Vicarage Bill, the Yoker Road Bill, and the following Railway Bills : The Leeds and Bradford, The Glasgow Junction, The Birmingham and Gloucester, The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampt The London and South Western, The South Eastern, The Londonderry and Coleraine, The Oxford and Rugby, The Erewash Valley, The South Wales, The Monmouth and Hereford, and the Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wharneliffe, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure. Their Lordships resumed at Five o'clock. The Removal of Paupers Bill went through Com mittee. The Borough and Watch Rates Bill went through Committee. GAMING AND WAGERS' BILL. The Commons' amendments to this Bill were read and agreed to. The petition was from Dr. Flinn, and prayed for an assi milation in the medical treatment of the lunatics of Ire land to those of England. He cordially agreed with the prayer of the petition, - and bore testimony to the high character of Dr. Flinn, the petitioner, who was only , actuated by a desire to promote the welfare of this un fortunate class of persons. THE BRAZILIAN PIRATES. The NOBLE EA BL said he would also put a question to his Noble Friend opposite, respecting a sentence passed at Exeter, on seven foreigners committed at the Assizes there for piracy and murder. Ile understood that great doubts existed in the minds of legal men respecting the legality of the sentence. Ile further understood that a protest against the sentence had been made by the Brazilian Government. The question he wished to put was whether her Majesty's Government was fully satin• fled of the legality of the sentence, with reference to the question of international law, and if not, whether it would not be better to exercise the prerogative of the Crown for the purpose of suspending the execution of the sentence ? Lord STANLEY said he could not but concur with the Noble Lord, that it was desirable there should be no doubt of the legality of the sentence. Ile had communi cated with the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment on the subject, and had been informed that Baron Platt, who tried the men, had assented to the suspension of the sentence until the decision of the fifteen judges was known on the subject. COUNTY RATES BILL. The County Rates Bill was then read a third time. PORTSMOUTH ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY. The Duke of RICHMOND moved the re-committal of the Portsmouth Atmospheric line of railway. The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON opposed the motion. The Earl of DEVON supported the amendment. Lord LOVELACE opposed it. He did not think that after this Bill had been two months before the other House of Parliament—after an enormous sum of money had been expended in bringing it forward—he did not think it right at this time to come forward with the amendment of the noble Dulte's, and to re 'ommit the Bill, which would have exactly the effect of throwing it back to another session. The Earl of WICKLOW said that he regretted as much as the Noble Lord opposite that ea , lier notice had not been taken of this Bill, but when errors had been committed by Members of that House when sitting on Committees, he thought that the House was bound to rectify them. Now the question was, was any error committed by the Committee upon the Portsmouth Bill? He thought that there had bcen. He thought they had not taken into consideration the competing lines; and why had they not done so? Because, as they stated themselves, a portion of the line seemed to be common to both companies, and they must necessarily have amalgamated before such a state of things could possibly be. They therefore went on the supposition that the parties must have been received. Ile (Lord Wicklow) maintained that the fact that for a portion of the line the one party was identical with the other did not nega tive the right of entering as a competing line. He con tended therefore that the Bill should be recommitted, inasmuch as the Committee had contravened the printed instructions which ought to have guided them. The Earl of HARD WICKE, as chairman of the Com mittee appointed on the Bill, said that, to the best of their abliity, they had examined into the merits of the Bills laid before them on the table. He would venture to call their Lordships' attention to some of the clauses in the Bill, with the view of showing the opposing parties had, to a certain degree at least, amalgamated. He had no doubt that, finding that the decision of the Committee was adverse to the claims set up, the adverse party had, by the advise of counsel, adopted this method with the view of overturning that decision. He should first direct their Lordships' attention t ) the 38th clause in the Bill, which recognised the expediency of a junction at Godal ming. If the opposing party objected, why did they not refuse this joint station? The Earl of DEVON—What paper is that you re fer to ? The Earl of HARDWICKE—He was looking at the Bill itself. Then, if their Lordships would examine the 37th clause, they would find an arrangement for the fares of passengers. Why did they not take their stand on these fares, which would have been a fair and tangible opposition? Then, in the 36th and 28th clauses, it was the same, but he had proved enough. Their Lordships would thus see that certain clauses in the Bill justified the Committee in their decision. But if their Lordships were of opinion that they had gone into error, he hoped that, for the guidance of future Committees, they would take care that the standing orders be sufficiently expla natory. Loi:d BEAUMONT said, that though there had been originally two competing lines, yet one of these bad been evidently withdrawn, and, therefore, if they adopted the motion of the Noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond), they would be, instead of confirming the standing orders, establishing a gross absurdity, by allowing parties to appear both in the character of promoters and oppo sers of the same measures. He wished to say one other word. If they did not pass this Bill, he thought the House was bound to take measures to facilitate its passing at some later period this session. Lord REDESDALE said, that as the person who had moved that the evidence on this Bill be printed, he felt it necessary to call their Lordship? attention to what had passed on the last occasion, when the Noble Duke had moved the recommittal of this Bill. The motion at that period seemed to convey a slur upon the Committee, and it was with the wish that they might have that on which to found a decision, that he had moved that the evidence be printed. He thought that while the House should repose confidence in their Commitcees, they should, at the same time, take especial care that the rights of in dividuals did not suffer by their decisions. He would support the motion of the Noble Duke. The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON explained. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that the Bill should be suspended until the allegations contained in it should be examined into. The Earl of HAnDINGTON wished to know whether the petitioning parties had made any compro mice or not ? The Duke of RICHMOND denied that any compro mise whatever had been made. The Duke of GRAFTON defended the course taken by the Committee, and said he thought that the opposi tion now made by the Noble Duke should have been made on the first or second reading of the Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND replied, and the House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment l3 Against it ll Majority The amendment was carried. The Duke of RICHMOND moved that a Committee be named by their Lordships. The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON reminded the Noble Duke that one most material party in the ques tion was out of the country. After some desultory conversation, in which Lord Redesdale, the Marquis of North am pt on , an d L or d Mont eagle took part, the motion was withdrawn. LONDON AND YORK BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe tition from certain parties, complaining that more than half a million of the capital purported to be subscribed for on the London and York line, had been fraudulently and fictitiously subscribed. The Noble Marquis hoped that their Lordships, who had proved themselves so sen sitive on the peculiarities of other bills, would institute a rieid inquiry into these alleged frauds. VALUATION OF LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. Lord STANLEY moved the second reading of this bill. Lord MONTEAGLE said he never rose with a greater sense of responsibility in expressing his con viction that no more rash course could be taken than the passing such a Bill under such circumstances a Bill affecting the relations of Ireland, affecting the stability of, her social prosperity, and the character and existence of the British Government. It was a measure which threatened to overthrow the tenure of property, to change the entire principle of subdividing land, valuing the soil, and the arrangement of all taxa tion. They now stood upon the 4th day of August, in the presence of five Members, four of whom were Peers of Ireland, the remaining Peers of England, and a Bill like this was brought forward, and forced upon the House, to commit the grossest injustice upon Ireland, which the Government would not have dared to have proposed for England. If he could not appeal to the wisdom of the Government he could appeal to their com passion, and implore them to reconsider their measure, a measure which, he repeated, they would not dare in troduce for any metropolitan parish of this country. The Earl of ST. GERMANS said that to listen to the speech of the Noble Lord, one would imagine that this Bill was a crude emanation from the Government ; but it must be remembered that a report was submitted from a Committee of the House of Commons, in the last session of Parliament, before whom the most able witnesses were examined, and among other Mr. Griffiths, and it was also to be remembered that the Bill had been amended in its passage through the House of Commons. He would venture to say that a majority of the Irish people, and of the Irish repi esentatives, were in favour of the measure. The moment this Bill would come into operation, the heartburnings and the jealousies which at present existed on the subject of valuation for poor-rates and other taxes would be removed ; for the high cha racter of Mr. Griffiths as a valuator would place the operations of the Bill above suspicion. He had no wish to limit the right of Noble Lords to express an opinion upon any Bill haviug reference to the country with which they were immediately connected, but he did certainly think it hard that on a Bill which bad reoeived the sanction of the House of Commons, any Noble Lord should turn round and rate the Government for what he might esteem the evils of the Bill. He would repeat that the ratepayers of Ireland would find the Bill a great benefit, and he was sure that his Noble Friend behind him (Lord Stanley) would be prepared in Committee to defend—and defend successfully—the provisions of the Bill. The Earl of WICKLOW thought that the House ought to have time to consider an important Bill of this kind, for it was a most unprecedented thing ina Minister of the Crown to move the second reading of such a plea s:ire on the same day that the papers relating to it were laid upon the table. It had been stated that the leading Irish Members were,in favour of the measure. This was somewhat different from the representations he had seen in the daily papers. There it bad been represented that a most determined stand had I): en made against the prin ciple of the Bill. He wished to know how the Govern ment could reconcile it to their consciences to pass this measure without consulting the opinions of the few Irish Members who were in that House? Lord STANLEY said that he brought forward this measure with a full sense of the inconvenience of its being brought on at this period of the session. lle felt it was inconvenient in bringing it forward at this late period of the session. His Noble Friend said that he had not had time to hear the objections which might be made by Noble Lords, but the Noble Lord must kno w that they had an opportunity now of stating their opt: 'lions. A great objection existed against postponing it till next session, as it would have to come before the House of Cotainons again. That would be very inju rious as they would be postponing the amendment of the existing system, which was on all sides alleged to be a bad system. The only objection he had heard made by Irish Gentlemen wa the postponement. As their Lord ships were not generally in favour of this Bill, he would not, at this period of the session, press the further pro gress of the Bill. After a few words from the Marquis of CLANRICARDE and Lerd MONTEAGLE, The motion was withdrawn. on the motion of a NOBLE RD, the Commons' amendments to the Slave-trade ( TO Bill were con sidered and agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned Wlalf-pa? Ten. * No part of this income is at present paid for the use of Kin, nuities and pensions to the servants and establishment of the I to the Exchequer ; the sum so repaid in the last year was 32,0 PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO BENJAMIN HAWES, ESQ., M.P. On Saturday last, George Moffatt, Esq , M.P., entertained a number of gentlemen at his house in Eaton-square, on the occasion of the presentation of a piece of plate to Benjamin Hawes, Esq., M.P. A number of the merchants and traders of the Citv of London being anxious, before the close of the session of Parliament, to mark their sense of the great services conferred upon the commercial interests by the ability, the ex tensive knowledge, and the unwearied attention devoted t o them by Mr. Hawes, a subscript on was raised to purchase a piece of plate as an enduring record of their grateful approba tion. The testimonial selected—a massive and very richly wrought salver—bore the following inscription;— " Presented by certain merchants and traders of various po litical opinions in the City of London to Benjamin Hawes, jun , Esq., M.P., in testimony of their sense of his zealous and vigilant attention in Parliament to the commercial interests of the country, as an acknowledgment of public services, and a tribute to private worth." In propo,ing Mr. Hawes's health, after dinner, Mr. Moffatt observed that this compliment to the Honourable Gentleman originated in the wish of a number of the mercantile body of the city of London to mark their sense of the various services which Mr. Hawes had rendered to the interests with which they were connected. The commercial community of this country had reason to be grateful to Lambeth for selecting such a representative as Mr. Hawes, and, without distinction of party, merchants and traders of London were anxious that the confidence reposed in him by his constituents should for many future sessions of Parliament give them the advantage of Mr. Hawes's services as a Member of the Legislature. The gentle men with whom this compliment to Mr. Hawes had originated had advisedly refrained from courting for it the eclat of a public demonstration, but it would not, he trusted, be there. fore the less acceptable to the Hon. Member to whom it was paid. LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL. The Commons' amendments to this Bill were then agreed to. SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY BILL. Lord REDESDALE brought up the report of the Select Committee on this Bill. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a pe tion against the Bill, from a gentleman named Maurillian. He stated that there wero eleven names on the subscription-deed of persons, each of whom was a shareholder in the Kentish rail ways to the amount of 570,0001. He thought that as opportunity should be given to the petitioner to have his statement investigated, and he would, therefore, move that the Bill be re-committed. Lord REDESDALE begged to assure their Lordships that the same petition now under consideration bad been referred to the Committee on Standing Orders, and all the statements had been there entered into, and that Committee did not think that the petitioners had made out any case whatever against the Bill. As a proof of the frivolous nature of the objections made, one gentleman was Oleg, d to be wrongly described, because " esquire" was affixed to his name instead of " banker." The line which the Committee had selected presented no engineering difficulties of any consequ , nee ; while the other competing line embraced works of great magnitude, and was by no means so good a line. Under these circumstances he contended that the Committee were perfectly right in the course they adopted. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said it was mon strous to say that this man had only a small piece of property which would be affected. That was a prima facie reason why he should be heard, as every poor man ought to be protected—in fact he had a greater clam to the protection of the House than a rich man. He should persist in his motion that the Bill be re-com mitted. Lord REJ)ESDALE said the Committee took the course they did for the purpose of preventing a vexatious opposition to the Bill. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE then withdrew his original motion, and moved that the evidence taken before the Committee on the Bill be printed. The Earl of WICKLOW protested against the course proposed, and cited the case of the Dublin and Galway line, to show that such a step ought only to be taken in extreme cases. Their Lordships then divided, when there appeared, For the motion 37 For the amendment Majority —36 The report was consequently received. TAXING MASTER'S COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL. Lord STANLEY moved the third reading of this Bill. The Earl of WICKLOW saii he had an amendment to propose to the Bill. He did not think the nature of a barrister's education capacitated him to perform the duties of a taxing master, and as the bill at present stood it cast a slur on the whole body of attorneys and solicitors in Ireland. He moved as an amendment that all persons to be appointed under the Bill should be solicitors of the Court of Chancery in Ireland, who should have been in practice for the space of ten years or upwards. The LORD CHANCELLOR opposed the amend ment, and reminded the House that the majority of the taxing masters in the Courts of Common Law in Eng land were barristers. Lord COTTENHAM said, as the Bill stood, a butler or a coachman might be appointed to the office. It was a mere matter of patronage, and the patron might ap point whatever competent person to the office, with out regard to hi s p rev i ous profess i on or occupa tion. Barristers knew little or nothing about taxing costs. Taxing costs was entirely out of the barrister's occupa tion, while, on the other hand, attorneys were brought up in that course of business. Why was it that such a struggle had been created b etween b arr i sters an d attor neys by this Bill ? Was it because his Noble Friend had discovered that the barristers had a greater knowledge about costs than attorneys. He (Lord Cottenham) did not see why barristers should be named in one part of the Bill and attorneys in another. He thought also that if the opinion was that what was good for England was good for Ireland, and if justice was to be done to Ire land, they should adopt a course of assimilating the laws of both countries. The LORD CHANCELLOR here remarked that the amendment was that they ought to have solicitors exclu sively. Lord CAMPBELL suspected that there was a job at the bottom of the Bill, and, if there were not, the matter would not be so fiercely contested. His Noble Friend made a fine speech, such as he could make on any occasion, and on any case, but he did answer the arguments used by the Noble Earl opposite. The dis cussion now was respectin g the officer who was to per form the same function which the taxing-master in this country had to perform. From what he knew of Dublin, the solicitors there were men of as high honour, credit, and intelligence as could be found in Westminster. Did his Noble Friend know the amount of terms, fees, and of other legal expenses ? It was true, he would know the difference between "To dining with you and advi sing you with respect to cause,&c.,l6s. Bd." and making the dinner a set-off to the advice given. Such knowledge was only obtained by long study. He hoped the Noble Earl would persist in his amendment. Lord STANLEY said the question was whether they would leave the appointment of taxing-masters to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland for the time being, or to the solicitors. He was willing to leave such appointments to that high officer, whose high office gave a sufficient guarantee that only proper persons would be appointed to the office. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said this Bill was another illustration of the total disregard in which the feelings of the people of Ireland were held by this coun try, and which had the effect of materially contributing towards its present distressed condition. The Noble Lord had drawn a gratuitous and most odious distinction between the solicitors of the two countries, and justified it by calling the profession of Ireland a small and ex clusive coterie. He should assure him that a more re spectable class of men than the solicitors of Dublin never existed, and they would resent, and that most keenly, the uncalled for and unmerited insult contained in the present proposition. The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that he did not mean to cast any slight upon the solicitors of Ireland, than whom he believed a more honourabl e or respectable class of men did not exist, but he contended that the barristers of that country were equally competent and ought to have the preference. Lord LANGDALE supported the amendment of the Noble Lord opposite (Earl of Wicklow), because he considered solicitors were fully competent and the proper persons to discharge the duties now proposed to be taken from them and transferred to others. With reference to the Bill of 1838, to which allusion had been made by his Learned Friend on the woolsack, surely the Noble Lord must remember that that gave th e office solely to solicitors, and though at first entertaining a preference in favour of the barristers, his Learned I , mend (the Lord Chancellor) had, after mature deliberation and consulta tion, agreed to the Bill as carried. The LORI) CHANCELLOR assured the H ouse th a t t to the a biliti es Learned Lord near him (Lord Langdale), that he yielded in th e d e t a il s o f a andit wasth the not peculiarfmro cooffinevei c held y u t t r h e e s pe e Bill of which his Noble Friend had been the framer. The Earl of ST. G ERMA NS denied that there was any parallel between the cases of the solicitors of this country and Ireland ; for, for every attorney that was practising in Dublin there were twenty in this metropolis. The Marquis of CLANRICARI)E reminded the Noble Lord (the Earl of St. Germans) that, if in England practising in I th re e l r a e n w d, er s e ix tw w en e t r ) e • solicitors toas taxing o ffi cers beap fr every p o oinze one d under the present Bill in this country, for every one in the sister country. The Earl of WICKLOW, in reply, said that, con sidering the present state of discontent and disaffection in Ireland, it would be perfect madness to draw the in vidious distinction he complained of, and he therefore was determined to take the sense of the House upon the question. The House then divided, when there appeared— C0ntent5....................................... 19 Non-Contents ................................. 13 Majority in favour of the amendment —6 A message from the Commons announced that the London and York Railway Bill had passed there, and praying their Lordships' approval. PAUPER LUNATICS. Earl FORTESCUE called attention to a petition re specting the treatment of pauper lunatics, in Ireland. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Aug. 4. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a Quartet : to Four o'clock. ROYAL COMMISSION. The Deputy Usher of the Black Rod atteride'd at the bar to summon the House to the House of Lords, to hear the royal assentgiven by commission to several Bills. The SPEAKER, attended by several of the Merat27s, left the House. On the return of the SPEAKER, he informed the House that the royal ass:nt had been given to a num- , ber of private Bills (fur which see Lords' report). The following private Bills were read a third time and passed : The Birmingham Blue-coat School, Sir Robert Keith's Estate, . The Severn Estate, The Lutwidge Estate, The Earl of Powis's Estate, The Duke of Bridgwater's Estate, - The North Walsbam School Estate, Marsh's Estate, Bowes' Estate, Boileau's Divorce Bill, The Winchester College Estate, Sampson's Estate, Marquis of Donegal's Estate, Moly th ux's Etitate. GRIMSBY DOCKS. The Lords' amendments to this Bill were brought up and agreed to. THE SHOULDHAM DIVORCE BILL. _ _ This Bill was read a second time. --- RAILWAY FRAUDS.—TfIE LONDON AND YORK LINE, Mr. IIAW'ES rose to present a petition from the Chairman of the Cambridge and Lincoln Railway Com pacy, who stated that his attention had been called to the subscription list of the London and York Company, and by the aid of himself and agents he had discovered that the names who had subscribed half a million to the contract deed represented persons that were not living, or whose places of abode were wrongly given. In addition to which were many names of paupers, or persons who had no visible means of meeting their en gagements. The petitions is inquiries were not yet ended, but the petitioner expressed that he had no doubt he would be able to discover many more frauds and forgeries in addition to those already set forth. If a Committee of inquiry were appointed, he was prepared to establish these allegations before it. The peti tion contained the names of many parties who, upon inquiry, would be found altogether in• competent to meet the demands made upon them. As he would have a chance of speaking on the third read ing of the Bill, all he would now do, would be to move that the petition be printed with the votes to morrow. To-morrow it wai his intention to make a motion upon it. Mr. B. DENISON said he had been allowed to look over the petition before it was presented, and saw one name attached to the petition as a party who was repre sented to be incoupetent to meet the amount for which he had subscribed. Now, he knew that gentleman to be a most respectable solicitor, and also that he was compe tent to pay six times the amount he had subscribed for. They might judge from this fact what the peCtion was worth. An HoN. MEMBER inquired the name of the party in question. - Mr. B. DENlSON—Michael Thomas Baxter. The SPEAKER asked if it was the intention of the lion. Member (Mr. Denison) to object to the printing of the petition. Mr. DENISON—Yes, he most certainly objected to the printing of it. He should not try to stop the progress of the Bill by objecting to the third reading, neither had he any objection to have the petition inquired into, but he wished to allude to this circumstance—a paper headed urgent, dated August, and signed Joseph Croucher, Parliamentary agent—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—(Parliamentary agents were, to a certain extent, under the control of the House, and surely it wa s a b reac h o f p r i v il ege o f a person following such an occupation so to act) — and directed to the postmaster of Reigate (so we under stood), inquiring whether Edward Foster and Mr. Chap man—(Hear, hear)—(who he believed was a director of the Company) resided in that neighbourhood, and asking for information respecting them. It also appeared that such circulars were sent to almost every town in the kingdom, in which it was supposed any person who held shares in the London and York resided. He also understood that persons had been going about Lon don, for the last four-and-twenty hours, making inqui ries respecting the residences and occupations of those who held shares in the Company. lie also believed that the petition had been got up for the purpose of stopping the progress of the Bill, and was of a similar charac ' ter to the objections made with respect to the sections. The promoters of the Bill were taken by surprise by this allegation, and they sent down their surveyors to ascertain if there was any truth in it, when it turned out to be all fudge, but not until they had been put to a great deal of trouble and expense. lie only men tioned this to show what had already been done for the purpose of wearying the time of the Committee and Directors, in order that the London and York Bill might not get the benefit of the resolution which the House had lately passed ; and the present petition, he believed, had been brought forward with precisely the same object He should certainly, therefore, oppose the motion for having the petition printed. Mr. B. HAWES knew nothing of those who were promoting the line, nor had he had any sort of com munication, either directly or indirectly, with the parties to this petition. It was brought to him by a most respectable man, and it was signed by a gentleman no less respectable, the chairman of the Cambridge and Ely line. He was informed that the petition included the names of persons who represented 658,0001. in the Company who were quite unknown ; 200,000/. was represented by fictitious subscribers ; and 145,0001. by parties wholly irrespon sible. Now, whatever the Honourable Member might say of the conduct of those who opposed the Bill, he could assure the House that he stated these facts upon the best possible evidence, and be was satisfied in his own mind that they ought to be inquired into. There was one gentleman who was represented to be residing in Finsbury-square, and who had subscribed for 130,000 L, but on inquiry no such person could be found. There was another person, who stood for 500,0001, who was receiving alms from the Charter house, and whose name stood on the Parliamentary list as a railway subscriber for 51,000 L He had not the slightest interest directly or indirectly in the line, and it was perfectly immaterial to him whether the House passed it or not, but he thought, nevertheless, they ought to inquire into these abuses. He thought the House ought not to refuse receiving a petition brought forward by respectable parties, and containing allegations of such a character. But he had done his duty in laying it before the House. He had stated his belief in the respectability of the parties who had signed it, and from the inquiries that had been made by himself he was of opinion that the allegations in the petition ought to receive the attention of the House. Mr, BERNAL said that he knew nothing of the parties connected with the Cambridge and Lincoln Rail way, but he knew quite enough of railways to be aware that all the care the House could take would not put an end to stock jobbing or gambling speculations, with the mischiefs which must arise from them. He had no wish to complain of the parties who had signed this petition. He did not complain of his Hon. Friend—h e h a d no d ou bt of his sincerity , but he did complain that his lion. Friend should characterise any refusal of the House to receive this petition as unjust, and as depriving those parties of a remedy. Why, they were well aware that there was another tribunal, even if they refused his Hon. Friend's motion. They were not shut out from an after tribunal, and he might ask his Honourable Friend if these circumstances were of so novel a character that he must come down to the House on the third read ing, like a thunderbolt, to shake the merits of this case. As he had before said there was another tribunal, even if the House refused to consider the motion of his Hon. Friend. Mr. ROEBUCK said that the Hon. Member who had last spoken had compared the presentation of this petition t 3 a coming down to the House like a thunderbolt, and he thought proper to find fault with his Hon. Friend the Member for Lambeth for presenting it. But what did the petition allege ? Why, that a fraud had been prac tised upon the House of Commons. It was not that a fraud had been committed upon the Lincoln and Cam bridge Company, but the assertion, was that a fraud had been Committed on the House of Commons. But had they not a precedent of this character ? Some time ago they had passed a Bill respecting Ireland. That was taken to the House of Lords ; and, after being subjected to a searching ordeal, they discovered that after that House (the Commons) had performed their duties —du ties performed to no purpose—one half of the list was fraudulent. As the common saying had it, what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander, and what was applicable in the north of Ireland should be applicable to the north of England. They turned out the Dublin and Galway Bill for a fraud on the House of Commons. The fi and was indeed proved in the House of Lords, and this was proved in the House of Commons. An Hoist. MEMBER--Not proved yet. A s i e r ein .R e O d E t B o U h C i In K —t that t theproved:t o House, by b e certainly. t al ri refusing W t h h y i s , it inquiry, got rid of their functions neutralised their own powers. To the searching inquiries of Noble and Learned Lord, in the other House, was the country in debted for the discovery that 5 or 600,000/. was sub scribed by persons who w e re almost literally paupers, and now they seemed about to send up a sim il ar case to the same .House—a case, too, involving a fraud on th e H o use of C o mmons. Mr. WARD was opposed to the London and York line, but he had ono objection t o th e motion of his Hon. Ft iend, arising from the peculi ar c i rcumstances of the case. The effect of this motion would be, if a ppli e d i n f uture , that no railway Bill would be enabled to pass at the close of the session. He granted that it was discreditable to any Committee of that House to pass over such an error, but the case was very different to the Dublin and Galway. Thealiegation of such an error was made by Mr. Cockburn, and the Committee desired to see the share list, which was not produced, and finally the objection was withdrawn. fie ,aiIMIMEN‘ m 441 _IT IsT _ , . 1 i 3 -',,. 0 ' (.7 .... .. „ ..t-:: : , 2- .1.:,?,.te _ , L 1 --'-' -_—_-: 1..1 • - A l 5. `7-3::;1,1:41-1:Ze I_l 1,,, , r4,1 • ja - ....,. 1 c . ;%,. it „,,,,, 1,„ ..i t )f-411. s . - ' ,.'... . 0-- ' • P Z -4.- ( ( trusted that his bon. At ion , . _ for its e ff ect was this : I • kn eiat e Y ity ift .the morning that this tnorfievitit a irpLi i -- and the ent . - sequenre was, that theltratbs ofq ebbiftley rose as the other fell. He thought that the House Ought to look with suspicion on a motion like this upon the third read ing of any Bill. Mr. DARBY would take that opportunity of saying that the original share list was before the Committee, and every word of the deed was discussed and com mented on, and there never was a hint thrown cut against the respectability of the persons who had signed the deed. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. No di vision, however, took place, the motion having, as we understood, been agreed to. After a few words from Mr. COLLETT, Mr. B. DENNISON then moved that the London and ork Railway Bill be read a third time. Mr. HAWES said he wished to say a few words on this subject. After what had taken place on the Gal mil?' gill, and alter the allegations contained in the peti tio;i grh;,ell had been presented to the House, he thought investiggth..n was highly desirable. It had been stated tient pie subscription contract of the Lon don and York was unimpeachable, but such was not now the case. Now, it appeared that all the cenepanies had agreed nil , th , ty would not imFeach the contract deeds of one another be; 're the Standing Orders Committee, so that in fact these .deeds might, for anything the House knew, have bt. pn *together fraudulent ; under such circumstances, was not at all surprising that these deeds should not have been sooner impeached. Mr. ROEBUCK said, he would move that the :hird reading of this Bill take place upon that day thige manths. His reasons were numerous—first, the Legisiaa Lure had ordained that, as a protection for the pablic, the: Bills should be examined in the Standing Orders Committee : it was distinctly understood that the contract deed should be of a bona fide character—that was, that the subscriptions and addresses of the par ties should be genuine. If the Standing Orders Com mittee was worth anything, it surely aas requisite that a full and searching inquiry should be gone into. The petition befere the House alleged a fraud—he did not mean to say that his lion. Friend opposite (Mr. Dennison) was in any aay privy to or cognizant of these frauds, but the question was, would the House in the face of this allegation pass the Bill ? Why, the fraud could not be denied. It was easy for the Hon. Gentle malt (Mr. Dennison) to shake his head, but would , he disprove the allegations contained in the petition in Committee ? Everybody knew that the proceedings relative to the Standing Orders Committee were carried on in a manner that astounded the whole community. The disclosures came upon them like a thunder clap. They could not go anywhere without hearing " railway shares" in everybody's mouth. In fact, every man and woman in bo• ciety talked of railway shares The present rail way excitement was a monstrous phenomenon. If it were asked why he came at the eleventh Lour he would answer, it was only at the el venth hour the frauds had been discovered. These frauds had now reached the r height, and it was their duty now to stop its growth— should not the House stop the progress of the Bill, when parties were ready to prove that fraud had been com mitted ? Mr. HAWES seconded the motion. Mr. WILSON PATTEN said it was really too bad, if, after the Committ ee h a d spent eighty days in investigating all matters connected with this rail way, and after an expenditure of 100,0001., parties were now at the eleventh hour allowed to come forward and stop the progress of the Bill. Even suppose the contract deed were fraudulent to the amount of 600,0001, there was still ample capital to carry out the under taking. If the passing of this Bill were postponer', he would never again sit on a Railway Committee. Mr. AGLIONBY knew nothing of the merits of the Bill, but he rose to answer one observation of, the Hon. Gentleman who just sat down. As to the standing orders—it was an error to suppose that they gave to the public the protection which they were intended to give. One mode of defeating this object was that, when there were two rival companies for the same line, those com panies agreed mutually not to oppose each other in the Standing Orders Committee, lest both Bills should be lost. The Committee had no means of preventing frauds, but he hoped that the House would by next session take measures to prevent the repetition of such frauds as had been detected this session. With respect to the asper sions which had been cast upon some Members of that House, he would pledge himself to the house, that so long as he was in a Committee of a judicial character he would have nothing to do with any railway. He hoped something would be done to prevent the combination of great companies to sacrifice the interests of the public. Mr. WARD said there was one point which the Hon. Gentleman had not looked to, that was the large amount of money that was expended upon the northern railway projects, before they came before the Standing Orders Co mmittee. The sum expended amongst these —successful and unsuccessful—was upwards of 100,0001. Under these cir cumstances it was not fraud upon the• public or the House, but to prevent the sacrifice of so much money.—(llear, hear.) With respect to what his Hon. Friend had said of Members taking shares in railway Companies ; he, for one, was not ashamed to say that he held such shares—(Hear, hear)—and ho thought it was of importance to the public that men of station and responsibility should be so connected with railways. lie (Mr. Ward) never felt happier in his life than when he saw any of those great enterprises carried to a successful conclusion. Mr. AG LIONEY did not iu the slightest degree in :end to reflect upon the conduct of any lion. Member in Ault house. Mr. B. DENNISON said many observations had been made respecting the compromise which had been entered into l- , etw een the parties respecting the standing orders. That compromise did take place, and he was glad to have the opportunity of explaining the matter to the House. Be received himself, in February or March last, a note from Mr. Lang, of the Beard of Trade, appointing an interview. In consequence of that note. he went to the Board of Trade, and Mr. Lang proposed to him that all contention before the Standing Orders Committee between the respec tive parties should be suspended.- , On the part of the London and York Company he at once agreed to the arrangement, provided all other lines com peting with the London and York would agree to the same terms. The agreement was drawn up by the solicitors, and was signed by the respective parties. That agreement was religiously kept by the London and York Company, and he put it to the House whether it was good taste in the persons who had signed the petition that had , been presented that evening, to come to that House and complain of the London and York, one of those parties being chairman of an opposing line. After a few words from Mr. B. COLLETT, strangers were ordered to withdraw, but no division took place. Mr. HAWES, amid the noise which followed, was understood to say that he had a particular wish to have the Bill printed. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. PROPERTY- rAx. a Captain PECIIELL presented a petition from a pri vate individual, complaining of the maLner in which he had been oppressed by the levy of the property-tax. Mr. MARK PHILIPS presented a pe'ition from the tailors of Manchester, complaining that they were com- pelled to work in unhealthy - places. Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from the inhabi .. tants of the North Dublin Union, praying for certain amendments in the Irish Poor Relief Act. Mr. MACKINNON said he begged to give notice that he would, early in the ensuing session, bring for ward a motion against interments in or near large towns. INDIAN CORN. Mr. ESCOTT begged to give notice, that he would, next session, move that all Indian corn imported into all ports of the kingdom be admitted free of all duty.— (Hear, hear.) ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Sir R. PEEL begged to give notice that he would, to-morrow, move that the House, at its rising, do ad journ till Friday. COAST OF PORTENDIC. Mr. SMYTIIE said he would postpone until next ses sion his motion for a Select Committee to consider the report on the papers laid on the table of the House relative to the claims of her Majesty's subjects, arising out of the measures adopted by the French Government in the years 1834 and 1835, on the coast of Portendic. WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. Sir R. H. INGLIS said that, seeing his Right Hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury in his place, he wished to know what the intention of her Majesty's Ministers were respecting Westminster Bridge? The House would recollect that last year a Committee was appointed to inquire and to collect evidence. Mr. George Rennie, Mr. Cubitt, and Sir John Rennie, with two other eminent engineers, concurred in the opinion that it was highly desirable to rebuild Westminster Bridge ; while Mr. Walker, the engineer. and Mr. Cubitt, the builder, considered that it might be repaired in a manner to make it efficient for all public purposes. The Committee did not concur in the opinion of the three engineers,_ and preferred to spend a large sum in repairs. Under these circumstances, the House separated last year, the majority concurring in the recommendation of the Committee's report. Last winter the injuries which the bridge received in the autumn of 1843 had been very much increased. He would, therefore, ask if her Majesty's Government had any course under consi- I deration, and also what alterations they intended to make? The expense already gone to was enormous; and yet all bad been ineffectual in making the bridge efficient. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that, in answering the ques tion, he would remind the Rothe of what was done by l the Committee appointed by th e H ouse. That Com mittee, after the examinatio n o f w i tnesses, decided by a they to smallmajtohreitpyulg that in the down o e e present ".as n b o r t i sufficient bridge, as warrant thought it might be repaired at a moderate expense. There had beea two estimates for rebuilding the bridge placed before the Committee, one for 260,0001., and another a much larger sum, he believed 350,0001. This was independent of approaches. Since that time fresh inquiries had been male, and fresh evidence received. On this evidence the reports had been founded, which had only been sent to the Board of the Treasury three days ago. These reports were now under consi deration ; and he begged to inform the Hon. Gentleman that the whole subject would undergo the fullest exa amination. He (Sir Robert Peel) was not prepared to offer any further information at present. THE CONDEMNED PIRATES. Mr. CHRISTIE, who spoke amid so much confusion in the House that hi; firA sentences could not be dis- tinguishcd, said in reference to the late trials at Exeter, for murder on the high seas, for which seven men were condemned to death, that the judge on the circuit, Mr. Baron Platt, had refused to entertain a point in arrest of judpment moved by the counsel fur the defence, and under these peculiar circumstances, and knowing that the lives of seven of their fellow-creatures, and those