The Sun. — London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

had had some previous information, which would enable lhim to answ er t h e quest i ons put by the Hon. Baronet. He was also prepared to allow that gr. at excitement did prevail in Leicester on this subject. He had had copies of the petitions sent to him at the Home-office, and on _ _ receipt of these, he had thought it his duty to make in quiry into the circumstances of the case. He had re ceived a retdrn on the day before yesterday in explana tion, and he (Sir J. Graham) was bound to say that that explanation was not satisfactory.—(Hear, hear.) Ie tliought the committing magistrates were wrong in no.: allowin g th e p art i es t o appear at the sessions. They testa been sun moned to appear before the judges but the) 7:vere not allowed to enter the room. They were asked if they brought the money and when they answered in the negative they were sent to prison. He conceived this a gross violation of the liberty of the subject. On the non-payment of the rate it NI as competent to issue a warrant, for not only the amount of the poor-rate but the amount of costs also. In this case a warrant had been issued and a return made of nulla bona. It was then competent to issue a warrant to attach the person, !but the parti es out ht to have been admitted into the presence of the magistrates before they were committed to prison. He had felt it his duty in this case to advise her Majesty to order the immediate liberation of these IPemons from prison, arid he only regrctt( d that he had riot 'been enabled to recommend this course at an earlier 1: eriod.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. T. DUNCOM BE thanked the Right Hon. Baronet in the names of those persons. The parties who repre sented the petitioners had called upon him last week, and he had recommended them to adopt the course of briningthesul.rect before the House. 'The Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Easthope) was out of town, but he (Mr. Duncombe) assured those persons that the Hon. Baronet. would be very happy to present the petition. He (Mr. Ituneombe) believed that every circumstance stated in that petition was perfectly true. The parties were now asitTering imprisonment with hard labour, and that, too, after they had been liberated on payment of the original debt. They were not allowed by the police to enter the magistrates court ; and their committal, under these circumstances, he contended was a gross act of illegality and oppression. Unfortunately for those parties, the rtmission promised by the Right Hon. Baronet had tome too late, for the terms of their sentences expired the day after to- morrow.—(Le ughter.) Were these persons then to have no redress ? Was this ranfortunate widow, fifty-eight years of age, who had lost her husband by an accident in a coal-mine, who was only a lodger with her daughter, and „ ho had been sen. tented to imprisonment with hard labour—was she, he asked, to have no redress? He tru-ted that the Right lion. Baronet would go further, and advise her Majesty to strike these magistrates off the commission of the peace, thus preventing in future their power to commit those gross acts of tyranny and injustice.—(Cheers.) - Mr. BUCK, as chairman of the Leicester court of quarter sessions, could not allow the remarks which had just been made upon the conduct of two of his col leagues to pass unnoticed. They had, to his own know ledge, been in the commission of the peace for a con siderable time, and it would be extremely harsh to dis 'miss them for this single act of indiscretion. They were highly respected in Leicester, and he was sure their dis missal would result in serious inconvenience to that town. He could assure the House that it was quite impossible those Gentlemen could have been actuated by any cor rupt or unworthy motives in dealing with the case then under discussion. Mr. HUME was sorry to stly anything againrt the character of two individuals of whom he knew nothing, , exceptin; of course this single act ; but he should be ex ceedingly glad to know if the Right lion. Baronet agreed with the recommendation of his Hon. Friend the Mem ber for Finsbury. Was there no means by which these poor persons could obtain redress ? If there was not, he 'hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would mark his sense of This Act, .by making an example of the magistrates. Sir J. GRAHAM said it would be unbecoming in a Minister of the Crown to make any declaration upon the conduct of these magistrates, until they had had some opportunity of vindicating their character, or making some recompence to the aggrieved parties. He should take the earliest opportunity of releasing those parties, and for the present it would be most unwise for him to do more. Mr. HUME remarked, that under those circumstances the Right Hon. Baronet had done everything he could, with an alacrity that did him credit.—(Hear.) After a few words from Mr. F. FRENCH, which were not audible in the gallery, Sir JOHN EASTHOPE rose simply to express his acknowledgments to his Right Hon. Friend for the hand some manner in which he had met the case, and to im plore; him not to allow even the first post to-morrow to pas& without giving an order for the release of these Prir persons. Sir J. GRAHAM had not power to accede to the 'request,. Mr. ESCOTT wished, if any further investigs.tion took place, the Government would ascertain whether, under the existing law, these magistrates had the power of mulcting these poor defendants to the amount in which they had fined them. The Act of Parliament certainly gave them costs, but it did not specify the amount, and he very much doubted whether the law sanctioned so heavy a fine as 11. Mr. GISBORNE wished to know if he rightly un derstood the Right Hon. Baronet to say that he had tmade a personal application to these magistrates to know the grounds upon which they acted ? Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied, that he had made an application to the Clerk of the Peace, who had for warded a very full explanation. The matter then dropped. ARMY ESTIMATES. Mr. HUMS had come down to the House that even folly expecting that the Hon. Gentleman the Se 'cretary-at-War intended to make some statement 01 1 the subject of the Army estimates. lie understood 11( m, however, that it would be more convenient to the Right Hon. Gentleman to take the vote for the pre sent, without discussion, but if he consented to this course he hoped the House would consider them as not being prejudged.—(Rear, hear.) Mr. B WIA,LIAMS reminded the House that, pre viously to the Easter recess, they quietly voted up wards of 2.,800,000/., without any account being given of its interacted disposal. True, they were then told that an oppo':cunity would be afforded them for entering :at length into the question, but no discussion afterwards took place. lie remembered, too, that about three years ago, his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose assented to a similar course to the one which had been proposed that night, but when, on a subsequent occasion, his Hon. friend proposed to reduce the arrajnby 20,000 men, he was met by roars of laughter. Now, if they voted these 79,000 men they, in point of fact, voted away the whole of the army estimates, for, after voting the number of men, they could hardly refuse the money to pay for there. But a vote of this nature had never, to his know ledge, been taken on a Wednesday, and he could see no reason why they should, on the present occasion, depart from their former custom. If, therefore, the Might lion. Gentleman the Secretary -at-War was de termined to proceed at once with the vote, he should feel it to be his duty to propose a reduction ; but before pro needing to state the nature of it, he should be glad to know if the Right Hon. Gentleman had any objection to postpone the vote till another time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in formed the Honourable Member that the precise number of men required for her Majesty's service could seldom or never be ascertained, and therefore it was that a larger number was k.,lways specified in the vote. But it did not follow from this that the whole of them would be re quired, indeed it was quite evident they would not, and then the Hon. Member had an ample check on the number to be implied in voting the money to pay them ; for upon 'the amount voted of course depended the number to be raised for the service. The Hon. Gentleman, however, did not appear to be aware of the inconvenience he would cause by throwing obstacles in the way of taking the votes that night. The Hon. Member perhaps was not aware that it was absolutely necessary that the Mutiny Act should be read a first time and printed be fore the 25th instant, but this could not, be done until the rate of men had been agreed to. Mr. WILLIAMS said it was impossible for any ac countant in England to calculate the expense precisely of 10,000 or 20,000 men, and he therefore had no means of ascertaining how much a vote ought to be reduced to effect a saving of so many men to the country. In fact, the whole question rested with the number of men, and not the money. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would, for the Hon. Member's satisfaction, undertake to furnish him with the exact cost of any given number of men. Mr. 'WILLIAMS would state then the number of men he wished to reduce from the army. Ever since he had beard any arguments in favour of the vast extent of our standing army, he had always understood that it was kept up tor the purpose of relieving the regiments sta tioned in the colonies. Now he could show them that they could j ust as well accomplish that object if they 9asented to reduce the present army by 11,000 men. There were for instance three regiments of Life Guards which pe r f orme d no d uty i n the colonies, and there were also three regiments of Foot Guards which never per z.,,;(7lled any d u ty w h a t ever i n the colonies. None of the Ho rse Guards h a d p er f orme d any duty whatsoever in the colonies since the termination of the war, with the ex e_eption of one battalion in Canada. These six regi "'" nts, consisted of 6,561 men , an d cost the country up- W ards_, of 110 ,000 1 . per annum. It was not his desire neprive h er M a j esty of any display which might be Pleasa ng to her. But he was convinced that all the pur poses of royal di sp l ay cou ld b e answered, and a reduc tion effected equal to the cost of 10,000 men. Mr. S. HERBERT understood the Hon. Member for C oventry to suggest only a reduction of cost, and not a red uction of men. Mr. WILLIAMS —Precissly so. The House then went into Committee, and a vote for 1,111 men, exclusive of those employed in her Majesty's territorial possessions abroad, was agreed to. T he House resumed, the CHAIRDIAN reported pro gress, and obtained leave to sit again. PUBLIC MUSEUMS —DESTRUCTION OF TREASURES OF ART. On the reading of the ord er o f t h e day for the Com. % wee of th e w h ole House upon this Bill, Si r GRAHAM• the moved that it be an instruction to k , otninittee to introduce a clause extending its provi sions to the protection of works of art in the possession of private individuals. B OUVERIE thought th a t t h e prov i s i ons of the light to be extended to the protection of private P ro perty of every kind. he Bill then passed through Committee pro forma. POOR. LAWS (SCOTLAND). a Bill for The L ORD ADVOCATE m ove d for leave to bring in the amendment and better administration O la f the laws relating to the relief of the poor in Scot there nd. It had o often and long b een comp l a i ne d o f t h at was •n adequate provision for th e re li e f o f th e Poor i n Scotland. He did not speak of the poor in cases dl,soc_fasei_onal distress, which m ' ust be met by extraor- Z y efforts —but of the poor in their permanent con vu. In 1838, the General Astiembly of the Church of Scotland appointed a Committee to inquire into the condition of the poor, and the provisions for their relief, and that Committee reported that the provision was in most of the parishes utterly inadequate. In 1843, a Commission was appointed by the Crown to inquire into the same subject, and the report was to the same effect. (The Right Hon. Gentleman then read extracts from the report of the Commissioners, which were to the effect that the provision for the poor ar.d the infirm was lamentably insufficient.) From no inconsiderable experience of his own, he was able to say that the statements were undeniably correct.—llear, hear.) lie wouftl not delay the House by reading over the evidence, as be thought the coincidence of the re- ports was conclusive.—(Bear, hear.) The first Act, relating to the support of the poor in Scotland, was that of James VI , passed in the year 1571, and it provided only for the relief of the aged and infirm, or of those who were either pal tially or totally incapable of sup porting themselves. There were four kinds of settlement ntitlirig the pauper to relief—birth, parentage, resi dence, or marriage. A settlement once obtained could not be lost, except by the acquirement of a settlement in another parish. The funds which existed for carrying that law into (fft ct were contributions at the parish church, other voluntary contributions, and when necessary a general assessment of the parish. In Scotland, there was a full power of relieving the poor ve. itd in the parochial authorities, which — they could do by assessment. The statute which gave them that full power was passed in the year 1579. It was an unlimited power as they were enaLled by that statute to procure as much as was required for needful sustentation of the poor. It hid been the law ever since 1759, and was now the law, in several parishes the law was stil acted upon to a large extent. The assessment was laid on in this manner—the proprietors of land paid one-third and the inhabitants and householders paid the remainder ; the former paid it according to the rents and profits, and the latter paid the rates, as a property and income-tax. Ile (the Lord-Advocate) was an are that there were parties who objected to this mode of assessment ; but though he had many circumstances on that point, he had not received any authenticated case from any party that he had been assessed beyond his circumstances. In boroughs, ther3 was not one-half the assessment laid as in other parishes, where the tax generally fell upon the landlords. The law made a full provisioa for the sup port of the poor ; it put in the hands of certain parties a discretionary power of as sessing as fully as it required. In towns, the assessment was voluntary with the magistrates, and the ministers of the Kirk Sessions could not interfere with the administration of the law. In the parishes which were not towns the administration belonged to the proprietors of the land. As to the nature of the relief given to the poor, it was not prescribed by the statute that it should be afforded in any particular form. The statute required that there should be needful sus tentation. It may be given in money, or in any way that may be considered advantageous for them, and the amount depended upon the opinion of the administrators of the law. It should, however, depend upon the condi tion and stile of living of the labouring classes in that part of the country in w hich the poor exist. It could not be contended that in any place the support given to the poor should be greater than was given to and re quired by the labourers in that district., who supported themselves. That discretion existed in reference to the amount of relief. It may, however, happen that a poor person is denied relief, and the parish may refuse to hear his case, or listen to his application, as it often occurs; but thin the local judge has power under the law to require that the local authorities should meet and take his case into consideration. If, having met, those parties denied his right to be admitted into the list of the poor of the parish, or if they gave him what was too stood, then he had the power of applying to the Supreme Court, which could compel the local authorities to do their duty honestly and faithfully. That being the state of the law, every poor person had a right to relief, there was a body' armed with the power and charged with the duty of administering that relief, and if they neglected doing their duty there was the Supreme Court to compel them to do it. There was the right, there was the ob ligation, there were the parties to perform the obliga tion, and the parties to compel them. It could not be said that the state cf things found in the report arose from the circumstance, that the law was formed whets the country was in a different condition, and that the improvements of the country had outstripped the law, for the law had been most full, perfect, and efficient in those districts which had advanced most. Not that the improvements had outstripped the law, but that the law had received assistance from those improvements. He almost forgot to mention that the law of Scotland went further, it provided for the education of the poor. It was strange that extemporaneous enactments similar in both the countries should have such different results. It arose out of the poverty of one country and the wealth of the other. At the same time they were not desirous iu Scotland of obtaining such a law for the administra tion of relief to the poor as existed in England. He thought that the state of things described in the report was mainly to be attributed to the effects of the machinery of the law, it was not owing to any unwillingness to disburse for the maintenance of the poor, or to any hardheartedness. There Here several cases where exceedingly small sums were given, not suffi cient to afforded relief. The relief afforded ought to be in accordance with the habits and mode of life of the labourers who live in the district. The expense was different in one place from what it was in another. For instance, they did not possess the same wealth in Scotland as they did in this country. Why was it that the Scotch proprietors had parted with their property and that English proprietors purchased it ? Because one was poor and the other was rich. The power of assessing was in accord ance with the wants of the poor, and if they facilitated the mode of administering to the relief of the wants of the poor, what could be more desired ? He thought that, in the first place, the means of obtaining relief should be facilitated in the parish where the poor man became destitut e ; f or , ver y f requen tly it occurred that the . pauper was very f ar away f rom the parish in which he could claim a law settlement.— (Hear.) He proposed that each parish should have the power of ascertaining and establishing its own liability, and by that means the pauper not only got relief in the parish in which he applied for it, but he got it immediately. Then suppose the parish in which a poor person was found refused to give him relief, at present his only remedy was to appeal to the superior courts. Instead of that lie proposed that the sheriff should have the power to decide the right of the party to relief, and if it should be in favour of the appli cant, then the relief should be immediately granted, and the parish should be liable until a decision to the con trary should be had from the local court. The next point he wanted to draw attention to was as to the amount of relief to be given, and who were the parties whose duty it should be to see that duo relief had been admmis:ered. At present the obstacles to this were, that there was a want of some central power or authority for this purpose. The remedy ho proposed for this evil was, that there should be in each parish a person to attend to the claim , made by the poor. and to keep a list of them ; and that, in ad dition to the central authority, there should be local boards in each parish, who should make constant re ports to the central board of all applicants for relief; and in this way a knowledge of all the poor of each parish would, in a short time be acquired, and of those who had and who bad not received relief. Then came the question of what was to be done by those local authori ties in cases of parties complaining that they had not suf ficient relief afforded them. At present, in such a case, the poor applicant had the superior court opened to him as a court of appeal ; but then it was often at a great distance, and it had many other disadvantages ; beside, which the expense was great, and before a decision could be had, perhaps the applicant might starve ; and even if he did get redress, it should be considered that the money expended in defending the complaint would be much better applied in affording relief. These were evils which the Commissioners had recommended should be done away with ; and they further recommended that the amount of relief to be given was a matter which should be entirely left to the local board ; they also said that there should be a board of supervision sitting in Edinburgh. He agreed with them in that sugges tion ; but it should be a board composed of men who should have some inducement to attend it, and who should be also possessed of legal knowledge, as well as a general knowledge of the affairs of the world and of the country. He proposed that this board should con. sist of nine men, three of them to be appointed by the Government and to be paid, and to give their constant and daily attendance. The other six should be ex o f ficio members, and the Lord Provost of Glasgow should be one of them. The other ex officio should be the Solicitor- General for the time being, he being a lawyer whose advice on all questions of law would be of value and importance. The three other ex-officios should be the three sheriffs of the three most important counties; and their services should be commanded by some small addition to their salaries. One of those should be the sheriff of what was called the Yorkshire of Scotland ; another should be the sheriff of the Highland county of Ross, in which there was great agricultural distress ; and the third should be the sheriff of Renfrew, as it was an agricultural county and came almost on the verge of Glasgow. All these were men, who from their education and position in the country were such as would render useful services to the board. With this board, thus constituted, he would now state how he proposed to dispose of all ap peals made to it. He proposed that all appeals should be referred to it, and in such a case as that of a poor man appealing on the ground that the relief he bad had was not sufficient, then the decision of this board on the case he proposed should be final. He proposed to give the power to the board, where they saw just cause for relief, to determine what was a rea sonable amount of relief for a pauper, and to afford that relief. He proposed that the board should have the power of inquiring and investigating into all matters connected with this subject. He also proposed to give the board the power of dismissing inspectors who might neglect their duty. lie proposed also that the parochial boards should be elected by the rate-payers ; and he proposed that the term for giving a legal settlement in a parish should be extended from three to six years. With regard to the manner of raising the necessary funds, he did not think it requisite to make it compulsory on the parochial boards to make assessments. He thought that if the funds were provided, and the poor received adequate relief, it was a matter of no general importance in what manner the funds were provided. This was the substance of the Bill which he was about to introduce. It would give speedy and effectual relief to the poor, and give the power to parishes to proceed against other parishes whose poor might be thrown upon the former. It would also give the power of removal to parishes; and it gave the power of providing medical relief, and also of providing education for the pauper children. Provision had been made in the Bill with re gard to lunatics. Ile did not propose to deal generally with the law relating to that subjcct, although the law Was not altogether satisfactory to him at present. Ile proposed in this Bill to provide for pauper lunatics, and TIIE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1845. he proposed, in certain cases, to make distinctions as to the provisions to be made for the accommodation of lunatics. Regarding a question Is hieh had been put to birn about lunatics conveyed to the island of Arran, he had to say that in July 1843 he learned there was an extraordinary number of lunatics in Arran. A communication to that effect was made to the Sheriff, who, upon inquiry, found that lunatic; from various parts of Scotland had been sent there in a clandestine manner because the expense of maintaining them there was less. Means were forthwith taken for the removal of the whole of them, 68 in number, to the respective parishes to which they belonged, and the parties rending them were obliged to pay the entire cost of their removal, and threatened with prosecutions. He had made other inquiries lately, in cons( quence of the statement of the Hen. Member for Lambeth, and it was ascertained that no person who could come under the designation of a pauper lunatic was then in Arran. The Learned Lord then recapitulated the provisions of the Bill, and concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment and better administration of the laws relating to the relief of the poor in Scotland. Lord DALMENY commended the Government for bringing in the Bill, but thought it was susceptible of much improvement. Mr. E. ELLICE said the subject was not one of greater difficulty than importance to the people of Scot land ; but he doubted whether the measure proposed was sufficiently comprehensive in details. He doubted,whe ther anything like a voluntary assessment would answer in Scotland. No system could be effective unless it was compulsory. He would reserve his opinions on the present measure, but would simply observe that the present mode of treating pauper lunatics in Scotland was a disgrace to a civilised country. Mr. HUME differed from the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, and thought the voluntary system would be successful. He did not think any compulsory power was necessary. He would reserve his opinions on the details of the measure until its second reading. Mr. HAWES said that he had listened with great pleasure to the able speech of the Lord Advocate, and being one who was unaffected by local encumbrances or local prejudices, he was perhaps in a better position than one immediately connected with the country to express an opinion upon the nature of the plan. But there was one point of it which he thought required some atten tion—he alluded to that part of the Bill which referred to the management of pauper lunatics, and the compul sory assessment for the relief of the poor and for their re- Imo% al. Now it appeared by the Bill that it was not neces sary to remove a pauper before he was relieved, but that where he had not a legal title to settlement, the guarfrans were to be empoweredto grant him relief. With regard to settlement, he might observe in passing, that he thought a seven years' residence a very long time, but as the Bill gave a power of relief, and if the relief was not deemed were sufficient by the pauper, there was a right of appeal the other authorities, who could alter the allowance if they thought it insufficient, this did, in fact, institute a rate of relief, and establish the compulsory assessment by im ,p?sing punishment where the requisite relief was not given. With respect to the case of the lunatics in the isle of Arran, cited by the Honourable and Learned Lord Advocate, he would merely observe that he conceived the establishment of a lunatic asylum would prove anything rather than an unnecessary expense. In Surrey, where they had gone to an enor mous expense in the erection of an asylum, believed to be more than 100,000/., and where they were subject to a heavy rate for its support, which was likely to continue for four years longer, the chief of the expenditure had been occasioned by the delay in providing a place for the reception of the persons subject to the unhappy malady. It was decidedly the opinion of medical men, that the sooner the complaint was taken, the more easily was it cured ; and he thought, therefore, that the more amply the provision for the necessity of this nature was laid down, consistently with the necessities of the case, the better, but he could not sit down without thanking the Government for having taken up this very important subject, and for the able and lucid manner in which it had been treated by the Lord-Advocate, than whose address he had never listened to a more lucid and com prehensive one in that House. Mr. F. FRENCH inquired if there was any provision in the Bill for the relief of distressed Irishmen in Scot land, who were not entitled to residence, and whether there was any intention of extending any of the provi sions of this Bill to the Irish poor-law. Sir J. GRAHAM said that her Majesty's present ad visers were not responsible for the introduc tion of the present poor-law into Ireland, though they were desirous of progressively introduc ing, as many improvements as possible into the Irish poor-law. But this was a Bill for Scotland only, and its provisions were adapted only for that country. The lion. Gentleman must recollect, with respect to the other part of his inquiry, that when a number of Scotch men were located in Belfast, and requiring relief, that no provision bad been made for them ; and he could not expect that any greater burden should be imposed on Scotland, than Ireland had been ready to bear. He would not sit down without thanking the Hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. Hawes), for the very handsome testi• mony which he had borne to the able manner in which this Bill had been introduced into the House. He (Sir J. Graham) must himself say, that a more able, lucid, and complete statement, had seldom been made to that House by a Minister of the Crown. Her Majesty's Government had thought them selves exceedingly fortunate in securing the able assist ance of the Hon. and Learned Lord-Advocate in Fre paring the Bill, which he believed would be likely to be of great utility and importance to the people of Scotland. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. The Bill was brought up and read a first time, and the House adjourned. SHREWSBURY, IVOLVERHAMP TON, AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY- A meetinr , of the Shareholders of this Company was held ye.teday in the London Coffee-house, Ludgate hill, tor the purpose of taking into consideration the re port of " the Committee of Inquiry," and to come to a decision thereon. The proceedings were fixed to take place at eleven A.M , but for some time before that hour a considerable number of persons bad assembled in the room. For a short time before the chair was taken, and for a long time afterwards, a great deal of confusion pre vailed at the entrance-door of the room, owing to the fact of the party entrusted with the power of testing the eligibility of those who presented themselves for admission as Shareholders, having been directed not upon any pretence whatever, to admit any one (reporters excepted), who had not a scrip about him and produced it. The consequence was that several individuals applied for admission who had no such document to produce, not having been aware that such would be necessary, and were refused admission, and retired at once—others, apprehending some mistake, remonstrated ; but one or two more resolute than the rest, resolved that in they would go, and thence followed a trial of phi sical strength between the applicant and the door heper, the one pushing, pummelling, and vociferating, the other holding in his iron grasp, round the waist, the what he conceived to be the would-be:intruder. Amid the din and confusion that such a scene created, Mr. ANDREWS was called to the chair, upon taking which he said—Gentlemen, this meeting of the scrip holders of the Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton— (Laughter, and cries of " Scrip-holders, indeed," and great confusion.) I presume that the gentlemen who have called it are here, and will say why it has been called ; but I cannot be expected to go into the—(Con fusion at the door.) A GENTLEMAN here stated that he should have b een refused admittance if he had not happen ed b y mere chance to have had a scrip about him ; but his brother in-law, who was also a large shareholder, was now at the door, but could not be admitted without the scrip, not having brought it ; if he had had any intimition that such was necessary, he would have done so, but he had no H t. ere the confusion became worse confounded. Several 1 1 persons, taking advantage of the manner in which the door-keeper was engaged with one or two in a trial of personal strength, slipped in very quietly; and no sooner had they done so than they broadly stated that such was the means by which they had gained admittance, declaring at the same time that they were large shareholders, but had not brought a scrip. This was followed by loud appeals to the chair for order, silence, and business, which, of course, had only the effect of producing anything rather than either order or silence. One individual cried out that an attempt was being made to swamp the meet ing by trying to enforce the admittance of those who could not show their right to be present, while others called " the whole thing a mere farce." After the lapse of nearly an hour, which was consumed in this ir regular and noisy procedure, The CHAIRMAN read the report, which was of considerable length, and which stated, amongst many other changes, that 67, out of the 91 members who composed the board of management, held no shares whatever in the Company. Having concluded reading the report, an indi vidual, who said his name was ENGLAND, and that he was a large shareholder, after denouncing the practice of excluding others because they had not their scrip about them, said he had attended here as an utter stranger, who looked not to the right or left, and had no concern whatever in stock-jobbing, but had come here for the purpose of ascertaining the actual position of the affairs of the Company. He would call upon the meeting to pause and consider well before they adopted such a report as that just read by the chairman. He had heard of names having been forged to certain documents ; and if such were the fact, he would tell the meeting they should not throw stones from a house of glass.—(Cries of " Hear," and " No, no.") He had beard something said about the Grand Junction line ; but he would ask, was this Company to succumb to the wishes of that ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He could pledge his honour that he never had had any communication with the Committee upon this subject; but be would now put a question to the chairman, and upon the answer he should receive would depend the manner in which he should vote. lie would wish to know from the chairman whether he, or any of the other four whose names he had seen appended to certain resolutions, were shareholders in the Grand Junction Railway ? The CHAIRMAN said be could, without hesitation, de clare that he was not, either directly or indirectly, con. netted with the Company. Several other persons made the same declaration on behalf of the other parties. Mr. MILLER conceived that Mr. England was not speaking to the question.—(Clamour.) The CHAIRMAN said his opinion was that this was a bondfide meeting.—(llear, hear, and confusion.) Mr. ENGLAND, amid great confusion, said—Well, I'll bring the matter to a conclusion at once ; I propose that this meeting do adjourn till this day six months. — (Loud shouts of " Hear, hear," " No, no," and clamour.) Mr. CHADWICK said he would speak to the resolution. Ho was a practical man, and knew all the particulars connected with this transaction. He felt satisfied that if there was a feeling in a certain quarter in favour of the Shrewsbury line, the Shropshire men would be in favour of it also. However, he was perfectly prepared to say that it was impossible that the Bill for this line could be passed this session, for the standing orders had not been complied with, and there fore it would be a complete delusion to bring the Bill now before the House. In fact, it appeared to him that the intention of the Committee of Management was to have the line re-surveyed. Mr. W. B. COLLETT, M.P., said he had not attended there as the deputy either of the Committee or Direc tors, or at the suggestion of any person whatever ; he merely attended of his own accord, in order to hear what was to be said, and to explain an y circumstance that might require explanation, if in his power to do so, in connexion with the Committee. He knew the sin cerity of his own views and objects, and therefore had no reason to fear the fullest discussion. He had been a very active member of the Committee, and had been, until a very late period, under the impression that this Company were to have been joined by the Grand Junction Company, and it was much to his astonish ment he had heard that that Company bad withdrawn from this.—(Cries of " Shame, s h a me.") He had heard that complaints were made by parties calling at the Secretary's office, and not being able to get satisfactory answers to certain questions touching the state of the affairs of the Company ; but he could say that while he felt assured that there was no disposition to withhold any such information, yet how was the Secretary to give answers without knowing the applicants ? With respect to the Committee not being shareholders, he begged to say he conceived that to be a recommendation in their favour, because then it could not be said that they, some of them being Mem bers of Parliament, had had any interest in the line which they should recommend for adoption or refusal.— (Hear, hear.) With regard to the affairs of the Company having been mismanaged, as had been said, all he could say was that he now held 300 shares ; and surely, if the Secratary said that a large per centage could now be had upon these shares, it would hardly admit that it was a fact that the affairs of the Com pany had been mismanaged. With respect to the allegation that the funds had been squandered, in reply to that he begged to say it was well known that two-thirds of the money had been paid into the Exchequer, which had not since been touched, and only about one-seventh of the remainder had been expended in the d nefect i ecessary out- an lay. The Bill itself was not more ve th the generality of such Bills, for it was im possible to have the standing orders complied with ; but if errors had been committed, it was owing to the hurried manner in which the Bill had been got up ; but it was thought better to take chance with it; and ho would therefore suggest that the meet ing should await the result of Mr. Gore's motion. He also begged to assure the meeting that he had not the least doubt but that every landowner along the line would assent to its being made.—(Hear. hear.) The Hon. Gentleman having spoke at considerable length, and denied that it as was had the I ntention to have the line " re-surveyed , " been stated, - eluded ; and then ensued a scene of clamour and confusion still greater than that which preceded his speech. Seven or eight persons essayed to speak at the same moment, some asking questions of those oppo stoiteb,eomthoeartshceaalrlitnagy outreg r ‘ e ‘ tn M ti r ithathe Chairman," who appeared had given him self a claim to that title, while shouts of 6 , chair, " and " hear, hear," arose in chair," "order, ord er, all parts of the r oom . A m id deafening rapidity fr om the din, Mr. CHADWICK was heard loudly contending that the Bill could never pass i n its present state, owin— g to the number of blunders it contained. Mr. ABRAHAM made a long statement in proposing the first resolution, but it was of a nature so personal to the parties he bad named that we must decline publish ing It. Mr. COLLETT followed in the same strain, making some assertions, in reference to an individual present, of a very serious nature, but as they also were personal and not relevant to the question at issue, it is unneces sary to publish them. He concluded, by suggesting that he would recommend the Committee of Manage ment to call a full and general meeting of the share holders after the House of Commons had decided upon Mr. Gore's motion. Mr. CHADWICK contended that such a coarse would be utterly useless, for the Bill contained so many blun ders that it could not, by any possibility, b e passed. Then followed another scene of clamour and confusion, which was raised to a most vociferous pitch, when The CHAIRMAN called upon the meeting to decide for or against the adoption of the report. Those for and those against it went to either side of the table, and the Chairman, a midst shouts and cheers, decided the majo rity in favour of the adoption of the report, which was followed by renewed cheering. Mr. ABRAHAM then moved a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. CHADWICK, and carried in the affirmative. It was to the effect, that " from the facts contained in the report of the Committee of Inquiry. the Committee o f Management had forfeited t he con fidence of the shareholders." Several other resolutions were proposed, and each created a renewed burst of angry and warm discussion, which ended in the adoption of them ; and a vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, the meet ' I ing broke up sh ortl y after three o'clock. (e- The once famous cattle and sheep market at Morpeth, which for a long series of years w as secon d only to nd be said no longer to e xist. -It has ed `o nothing, all its business having passed over to its formidable neighbour of Newcastle upon-Ttne• THE IRON TRADE. Some correspondents express groat apprehension of the consequences that may arise to the general trade in articles manufactured from iron, from the great con sumption and enormous price caused by the railways. They observe that within a few months bar-iron has ad vanced from 51. to 121. per ton, and pig-iron from 355. to 130 s.—an advance unprecedented and highly injurious to the best interests of the country. The prospect of the railroads requiring nearly the whole " make" of iron for the next three years is viewed with alarm, as it is said that one year more, with iron at its present price, will totally destroy foreign trade and the manufacture of the article. The manufacturers of the iron districts, having worked off their stocks at low prices for their spring orders, are unable to execute any fresh orders, except at rates corresponding with the current price of the material, and these, it seems, will not be given. America is viewed as a dangerous competitor, likely to take advantage of the diminution of our foreign trade created by this absorption of iron by the railways. The capital that is in new York and Boston might easily find its way into American iron districts, and the " make " might be increased to such an amount as to supply mar kets now completely dependent upon Great Britain. The following is a statistical argument on the same subject : "It is estimated by the Mining Journal (quoted in the Times of Saturday) that the make' of iron last year was 1,210,000 tons; and that tha make of 1845 may, by exertion on the part of the iron masters, reach 1,330,000 tons. " The consumption last year is estimated at 480,000 tons for the ordinary home market, and 460,000 exported, and (if the railways now making took the same last year as in the estimate for this) new railways 150,000-1,090,000 tons. Expecting an increase of 40,000 in the export, the Mining Journal estimates the consumption of 1845 at 1,130,000 tons. " 2,000 miles of new railway (proposed), it is estimated, will require 670 tons for every mile, or 1,340,000 tons; half of which the Alining Journal estimates will be wanted in 1345, and half in 1846, increasing the estimated consumption of 1845 to 1,800,000 tons. "The estimate then stands-1845, 1,800,000 tons; 1846, 1,650,000 tons ; 1847, 980,000 tons, to which we may add, perhaps, some 50,000 or 60,000 tons (considering ail this railway, &c.) for increase in ordinary consumption and export ; but this quantity cannot be supplied so fast. We may estimate (supposing that there are 200,000 tons present stock)—stock, 200,000 tons, make 1,300,000 for 1845, or 270,000 tons short of the demand. Demand for 1846, 1,920,000 tons ; supply increased to 1,500,000, or 420,000 tons short. Demand for 1847, 1,400,000 tons ; supply, 1,500,000; leaving 100,000 tons stock ; suppliable for 1848, 1,500,000 tons ; demand, say 1,030,000 tens. " Here is production then with a vengeance; here is de pression for 1848. " It behoves us, then, to take measures against so sad a depression ; not even to stick at checkingtoo great an exten sion in the' make' of iron (beyond all ordinary demand), or the too rapid finishing of new railways. " Restraining the completion of the proposed railways to a sixth part yearly (not in every case of course, but one with another), reducing their demand to some 220,000 tons a year, would keep down the annual requirement to about the present make,' and thus we might manage to break the fall of this trade when this out-of-the-way demand ceases—almost, per haps, to save it from falling." This is no doubt an evil of considerable magnitude under the circumstances described ; but there is a very large over-estimate made of the quantity likely to be re quired for new railways. Many of the projects now an nounced will either be completed in part only or laid aside altogether, while others, having the best support and the best localities, must be much slower in their pro gress than the most moderate of those engaged in them would imagine. The capital of the whole world would be otherwise brought into active employment at once, while, as every one knows who is at all conversant with such subjects, the cost of railways must be in a great measure supplied out of the surplus income of the com munity. One would imagine that the high price of iron, leaving other causes out of consideration, would alone damp the ardour of the speculators in such projects; but they appear up to the present moment quite insensible to the danger that awaits them.— Times. MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS. Account of the amount of all sums deposited in the Mi litary or Regimental Savings Banks, within the year ended the 31st March, 1844 ; of all sums withdrawn during the same period ; and of the interest allowed upon such deposits ; and also the number of deposi tors on the said 31st day of March, 1844.—(Pursuant to the Act 5 and 6 Victoria, c. 71.) Amount of sums deposited Amount of deposits withdrawn Amount of interest allowed 96 10 1 Balance due by the püblic Number of deFsitors The warrant establishing the Regimental Savings Banks was dated the Iltla October, 1843. SIDNEY HERBERT. War-office, March 18, 1845. THE SCOTCH BANKS.— The principal features ()I the contemplated measures of Sir Robert Peel, in reference to the Scottish banking system, are said to be, that the existing banks are to be limited to their present circulation, and that they will be forced to keep an amount of gold equal to one fifth of that circulation, with the option of having one• fourth of that fifth in silver ; so that if a circulation of a bank be 200,0001., it must keep 40,0001. in sovereigns to meet the demands upon it, or else 30,000/. in sovereigns, and 10,000/. in silver. Any bank that exceeds its present circu lation must have gold to meet every pound of such excess.- 62/edonian ilertury. RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE. REPORT OF THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE ON THE COLCHESTER AND HARWICH RAILWAYS. Railway Department, Board of 'Pride, Whitehall, March 31, 1845. 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 con sideration the several schemes for extending railway communication to Harwich ; viz., Harwich Railway and Pier—Braithwaite's line ; Harwich Railway—Hoskins's line ; Harwich and Colchester—Mosse's scheme ; Ips wich and Harwich—Eastern Union scheme ; have de cided on submitting the following report thereon for the consideration of Parliament. It will be remembered that at different times projects to effect this purpose have been brought before Parlia ment, and from various causes have either fallen of them selves or have been rejected. Last year the struggle was of a protracted and costly character, and the parties who contested it, to avoid the recurrence of such a struggle, combined to form a general measure, which is now presented as Braithwaite's line. Neither is Hos kins's line a aew project ; it was brought forward first in 1836, and subsequently has been repeatedly before the public. The projects of Mr. Mosse and the Eastern Union Company are row for the first time before Par liament. Braithwaite's line commences 2+ miles to the east of the Colchester station, running out of the Eastern Coun ties Railway, and terminates in a pier at Harwich, the length of the line being 15 miles 30 chains. Hoskins's line has a double commencement ; one forming a junction with the Eastern Counties Railway, and the other with the Eastern Union Railway near to Colchester : its length is 15 miles 18 chains. Nlosse's line commences close to the Colchester station of the Eastern Counties Railway, and terminates in a proposed pier: its length is 17 miles 17 chains. The Eastern Union scheme, though called the Ipswich and Harwich Railway, has no immediate connexion with Ipswich. It branches out of the Eastern Union Railway about three quarters of a mile from Manningtree, passes through that place, and along the right bank of the Stour to Harwich, having its proposed termination at the ex tremity of an intended pier: its length being 11 miles. The accompanying map shows the direction of the several lines. These lines are easy of construction, and without any engineering obstacles of importance. Braithwaite's line and Hoskins's line save respectively about half-a-mile in the total distance between Colchester and Harwich, when compared with the Eastern Union scheme, but require about 41 miles more of new railway to be made. Mosse's line saves about three quarters of a mile in the total distance, but requires about 6+ miles more of new railway. Two of these schemes are put forth by independent parties, and two by established companies. Hoskins's and Mosse's are independent lines, but Braithwaite's line is to he leased and worked by the Eastern Counties Railway Company, and the Eastern Union scheme is in fact a branch from the Eastern Union Railway. Where the traffic is so great as to enable an indepen dent company to run numerous trains, and the receipts are sufficient not only to maintain the line, but to enable the proprietors to deal liberally with the public, its inde pendence forms certainly no objection ; but, where the traffic is inconsiderable, an independent company must economise to the utmost ; its stock of locomotive engines and carriages must be re duced to the lowest limit of what is absolutely neces sary to serve the traffic : the servants of the company will be barely sufficient to fulfil their duties, and con sequently both the convenience and safety of the public may be compromised. Besides a short line cannot, under ordinary circumstances, be worked so economically as a long line, and there is scarcely an instance of a short railway having existed without the proprietors either seeking to extend it, or desiring its amalgamation with some more powerful company. But a line which par takes of the character of a branch, connected with a powerful company, which has the means of extending its accommodation without crippling its resources or injur ing its rate of dividend, can give to the public advan tages beyond what it is possible for the less powerful company to afford. The limited district between Colchester and Harwich is but thinly inhabited ; its local traffic cannot therefore be large. It is, on the whole, likely to be better served by the branch or extension of a large company than by an independent company. If this be conceded, the question is narrowed into whether Braithwaite's or the Eastern Union scheme be the best ; and if it depended on their being considered solely as railway schemes, irrespective of other cir e c e t e rist linei m s t a p n ae whichre br, requires Is t uwi to oeus be en l be yp rle r i e f e a mr s r o ue d n e a s b ot of e nte t h o wa s tf i o i w p r hm p i o ca s ht e i rn t h e og a uu t t rh h et e s, i 15i miles. But when the circumstances of the port of Harwich are taken into consideration, national interests become mixed up with, and form important ingredients in, the question, especially as each project contemplates the erection of a pier. A communication has therefore been made by this Board to the Lords of the Admiralty en the subject, and they have stated, that though they do not consider their objections to the Eastern Union scheme of such vital importance as to be at once fatal to it, they think Braithwaite's is, upon the whole, the most expe dient and the best for the public interests. Therefore, notwithstanding the Eastern Union scheme only requires 11 miles of new railway, we are of opinion that the statement which we have received from the Ad miralty is conclusive against it, and that on public grounds Braithwaite's Harwich Pier Railway is prefer able to either of the others, COLCHESTER JUNCTION. The length of this line is six miles, and it has a branch to the port of Colchester of half a-mile in extent. It leaves the Eastern Counties line about 24 miles from its present terminus near Colchester, and slanting in a south-eastern direction, passes through that town. It then curves round in such a manner as to join the Eastern Union line ; thus forming an alternative line or loop through the town of Colchester, with so much of the Eastern Counties Railway as is already made, and a portion of the Eastern Union Railway now in course of formation. The earthworks are moderate—apparently about an average; but as it is proposed to pass through the town of Colchester in cutting, and as there will be a covered arching or tunnel 220 yards long in that part, the line, for its length, cannot be otherwise than expensive. The deposited plans and sections are very imperfect, and the scheme has the appearance of having been hastily and imperfectly got up. If the through connexion between London and Ips wich were made, and experience had shown to parties interested in developing to the utmost the traffic of the district, that it was necessary to construct a line in this direction for the accommodation of Colchester, the case would be different. But here is an independent party in the field, anxious to make a short and rather costly rail way, not likely by itself to be remunerative, and if m a d e , coming into competition with a portion of the already constructed line. In these circumstances we beg to report that there are public reasons why the Colchester Junction Railway scheme should be postponed. In conclusion, we beg to draw attention to the passage of the Fifth Report of the Select Committee of last year, in which it is stated, in recommending that reports should be made to Parliament by this department upon railway schemes, " That no such report should be held to prejudice the claims of private persons, the examina tion of which should be altogether reserved to the Houses of the Legislature." In submitting to Parliament, in conformity with the recommendation of that Committee, the results at which we have arrived, with a view to the information and assistance of Parliament in forming a judg men t upon the schemes in question, in so far as our re port may bo available for that purpose, we are anxious that it should be distinctly understood that we have ar rived at these results solely upon public grounds, and to the exclusion of all consideratiors how far such results might require to be modified by a due regard for private rights and interests. DALHOUSIE. C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER,. D. O'BRIEN. PRIZE MONEY.-BURMESE BOOTY.-The receipt from India of a further sum of money, on account o her Majesty's ships Alligator, Arachne, Boadicea, Cham pion, Larne, Liffey, Slaney, Sophie, Tamar, Tees, engaged in the Burman war during the years 1824, 1825, and 1826, having, by direction of the Lords Com missioners of her Majesty's Treasury, been made the means of remedying some irregularities in the scheme framed in India for the former distribution ; notice is given to the officers and crews of the said ships, and their legal representatives, that payment, on the adjusted scale, calculated according to the prize proclamation, will be made at the Naval Prize Department at Somerset House in the first week in May. The following sums of prize money, for the undermentioned captures, will be paid to Lieutenant J. Foote and the officers and crew late of the Fawn, at J. P. Muspratt's, Abchurch-lane, London, on Friday, April 18. For the Portuguese slaver Venus, captured on the 29th of April, 1841, 1,322/. 35.:-Flag, 821. 12s. Bd. ; Lieutenant commanding, 154/. 18s. 10d. ; second class, 112/. 16s. 10d ; third, 56/. Bs. 5d ; fifth, 18/.165. Id ; sixth, 12/. 10s. 9d. ; seventh, 6/. ss. 4d. For the Portuguese slaver Dandade, captured 30th Jan., 1840, 9641. 14s. ld. :-Lieutenant commanding, 160/. Ils. 9d. ; second class, 1231. 10s. 7d. ; third, 611. 15s. 3d. ; fourth, 41/. 3s. 6d. ; fifth, 20/. 1 Is. 9d. ; sixth, 13/. 14s. 6d. ; seventh, 6/. 17s. 3d. For the Portuguese slaver Rosa, captured Feb. 24, 1840, 644/. 6s. 10d. :-Lieutenant commanding, 80/. 10s. 10d. ; second class, 62/. 12s. 10d. ; third, 31/. 6s. sd. ; fourth, 201. 17s. 7d. ; fifth, 10/. Bs. 9d; sixth, 6/. 19s 2d. ; seventh, 3/. 9s. 7d. BRUTAL CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER.-OR Saturday, a man, named David Leigb, was committed to Chester gaol, for the manslaughter of Peter Whittle, aged 24, at a village called Enterpogy, in the above county, under circumstances of a very brutal character. From the evidence at the coroner's inquest on the body of the deceased, who was a blacksmith, it appeared that on the 20th ult. a party of nine young men, among whom was David Leigh, the accused, went to the Bull's Head public-house, in the village, for the purpose of collecting what are termed the Easter pennys. there they met with the deceased, and after merrymaking with them for some time, he invited the whole party to his own dwelling. In a short time they returned to the public-house, where they commenced wrestling and run ning races together. In the midst of their sport, it seems, the deceased felt aggrieved at something that had been done to him, and whilst he was engaged in scuffle with the prisoner, he pushed or threw him to the ground, and then struck him with a stick. Leigh instantly j umpe d up, and both being evidently in liquor, a serious fight ensued. The deceased was ultimately knocked down by his adversary, and the stick having been wrenched from his possession, Leigh commenced hitting him violently over the head and ears. On ceasing, the deceased was found to be utterly insensible. Medical assistance was promptly called to his aid, but he never showed the slightest symptoms of recovery, and expired in less than twenty minutes afterwards. Mr. Renshawe, the surgeon, who was called to th e d ecease d, stated that the blows of the stick over the head had caused the rupture of some of the principal blood-vessels , which had produced death. The jury ret urne d a Ver di ct of " Man . Asselitn" against List. DUTCH MAIL. THE HAGUE, MARCH 30.—According to the accounts last received, the ice in the several rivers was every where broken up and cleared away, and thus the danger that had been apprehended had vanished. We learn that the visit with which their Majesties usually honour the city of Amsterdam soon after Easter is deferred this year till the end of April. FROM THE HELDER, MARCH 28.—His Majesty's fri gate Jasor, is to proceed to Flushing on the Ist of May next, and on the 15th of that month, to sail for the East Indies, having on board Mr. Rochussen, the new Go vernor- General. Tumuli°, MARCH 30.—We expect the pleasure of a visit from his Majesty to-morrow. DUTCH FUNDS.—AMSTERDAM, MARCH 31. Money. Bills. .. 64% 64% 78% 79% 9 0 1 4 100 Actual Debt, 23% per Cent 114tto, 3 per Cent Ditto, 4 per Cent......... Ditto, 5 per Cent............. Amort Syndic, 434 per Cent .. .. • • .. 99x 1003. i Ditto, 3% per Cent • • • 93% 94 Commercial Company, 4% per Cent .. 151 151 32 HAMBURGII BORSENIIALLE, Meacn 27. Bills. Money. Austrian 5 per Cents • . Bank Shares • • 1670 1665 Anglo-Russlan Loan •.• • • • Russian 5 per Cent., Ilamb. Certificate. 105 N 1053¢ Ditto Ist series Inscription.. • • • • • . • • • • 1053¢ Ditto, ?lope and Co., 3d and 4th series.. 9931 Ditto, in Certificate 993 New 4 per Cent., hope and Co. • ... 92% 92% Ditto Stieglitz .... •• • ••••• • ..... •. • • 92 91% Spanish New 5 per Cent.... ....... • 223 22 Ditto 3 per Cent Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 234 per Cent•. 66 Dutch Actual Debt, 2% per cent... 63% 63% Ditto 3 per Cent.' Polish New 4 per Cent. Loan, 1844 Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 p::r Cent • • National Bank Shares..... .... 87% - 148 COURT ClitteULAß. The Queen and Prince Albert walked yesterday morning in the royal gardens of Buckingham Palace. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, were taken an airing yesterday in an open carriage and four. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred was taken an airing yesterday in the royal gardens. Colonel Arbuthnot has relieved Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey in the duties of Equerry in. Waiting to her Majesty. .The Earl of Jersey, Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn Lord George Lennox, and Captain Francis Seymour had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace. A military band was in attendance during dinner. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went in the evening to attend the performance of the Concert of Ancient Music, at the Hanover-square Rooms. The Prince was attended by , Lord George Lennox, Captain Francis Seymour, and Major- General Sir Edward Bowater. Her Majesty, the Queen Dowager, attended by her suite, left her residence, Witley Court, Worcestershire, at twenty minutes before twelve o'clock yesterday for Droitwich. Her Majesty and suite left that station at half-past one o'clock by a special train for town, and on arriving at the Euston square terminus proceeded to Marlborough House, Pall-mall, where the Royal party arrived at seven o'clock. Her Ma jesty's suite included Frances Lady Clinton, the Hon. Miss Eden, Lady Georgians Curzon, Earl Howe, Sir David Davies, and the Rev. G. T. Hudson. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge gave a dinner to the Noble Directors of the Concerts of Ancient Music yes terday at Cambridge House. The Duke of Wellington and Earl Cawdor were present. A select party, including Miss Vernon Harcourt and Lady Shelly. were also present. In the evening the Royal Duke, accompanied by the Noble Directors, went to the Hanover square Rooms, his Royal Highness being the Director for the evening of the Concert of Ancient Music. Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden.—Her Royal Highness, attended by the Baroness de Strumfeder and Baron Roth de Schreckenstein, visited St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday, and was accompanied by the Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Minister, during her inspection of the sacred edifice. Her Royal Highness, accompanied by his Excellency, also visited and inspected the Royal Exchange. The Duke de Broglie paid his respects to the Grand Duchess on Tuesday, at the Duke of Hamilton's residence in Portman-square. The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton had a select party at dinner yesterday, to meet her Royal Highness. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Spooner, M.P., Mr. Ben, bow, and Mr. ummerfield, had an interview with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Lord Ashburton had an interview with Lord Stanley yes terday at the Colonial- office. The Dean of Westminster had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. The Commission on the subject of the Slave Trade sat yesterday at the official residence of Sir Robert Peel in Downing-street. The Duke de Broglie and the Right Hon. Stephen Lushington, D.C.L., attended. Mr. Thomas Summerfield, of Birmingham, had an inter view with Sir George Clerk yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade, on the subject of the glass Customs' duties. •Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an inter view with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Dispatches for the Governors of Hong-Kong, and of the Falkland Islands, were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial-office. Dispatches were also sent off last evening for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and for the Governors of Malta and Gibraltar. RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PAR LIAMENT. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2. The following Bills were referred to the Select Committee on Petitions for Private Bills : Epsom and Dorking Railway. Staines and Richmond Railway. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. Erewash Valley Railway,—Second reading, Monday, April 7. Eastern Union and Norwich Railway (No.l ),—Committee on petition, postponed sine die. Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railwar,—Com mitten on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Wednes day, April 9. Kingstown and Bray Railway,—Committee on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7. Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Railway,—Committee on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7. Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Worcester Devia tion),—Committee on Petition, Monday, April 14. Runcorn and Preston Brook Railway and Dock!,—Com mittee en petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7. Gravesend and Rochester Railway,—Committee on peti tion, postponed from Friday 4th till Monday, April 7. Waterford and Limerick Railway,—Committee on petition, postponed from Friday 4th till Tuesday, April 8. Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Wolverhampton Line),—Committee on petition, Monday, April 14. Birmingham and Gloucester (Gloucester Extension, Stoke Branch, and Midland Junction) Railway,—Committee on petition, Monday, April 14. Birmingham and Gloucester (Worcester Branch and Chel tenham Extensions) Railway,—Committee on petition, Monday, April 14. Midland Railways Company (Birmingham and Gloucester and Bristol and Gloucester Railways Purchase),—Committee on petition, Monday, April 14. THE FRATRICIDE AT STAFFORD. The following is a literal copy of the declaration that has been made by John Brough, who is now in the county prison at Stafford, under sentence of death for the murder of his brother, Thomas Brough, on Friday evening, January 3, 1845 : " From the time that Thomas and me went out of the house at the Whitefield-farm to the time I was in again, lam certain that 10 minutes had not elapsed. It was only two minutes' walk to the spot where Thomas laid after I had struck him. I did not go out of my way to get the hammer I hit him with, but I went close to it as Thomas and me walked to the meadow. When I took up that hammer I had no thought of striking him with it, lam sure. It was in consequence of Thomas's saying at last (after I had begged him again and again to let me have the boxes that night), 4 It is of no use your speaking any more about them, you shall not have them again to-night'--it was this that aggravated and provoked me, and caused me to hit him. Thomas was very angry when I kept asking him for the boxes. If it was the last word I had to speak, I declare that I had no intention to strike him until the moment when I gave him the blow, and why I took up the hammer I am not able to say." The prisoner informed the Rev. Thomas Sedger, the chaplain of the prison, of the reason why he (the pri soner) wanted the two boxes that night. Thomas Brough, it would appear, had promised to consider about them, whether he would let him have them by the morning or noon of the next day. Ihe reason assigned by John Brough for wishing to have them returned im mediately is the following : " I wanted," says he, " to go with Thomas, and fetch the boxes from his house that night, because I did not like to be seen by folks carrying them in the day time. I did not wish any other person to know about my bro ther taking them off. I declare, as a dying man, that if Thomas had allowed me to have them that night, I should not have hurt him. I had never intended to strike him." Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS —On Saturday last, when justpas senger coming train out t s coming the tu u n p u t e h l Halifaxa stone fell it one an o das a f third• class carriages, which considerablalaprmaseade,ubguerat .On y without injuring, the unprotec ted h g ad up fa met nlle li T , h it u h rs a d u ay acu m id o e rn ut in morning an teharelysamlueggeaagus eetraAin s c t o o m ne in broke. The carriages,laden with the rail, and with the jerk the engine running against it, the chain connecting the train with fine fat pigs, of course , randown the steep incline, ac quiring stopped. such force in the descent that they ran (it is said) nearly to Brighouse pass i n g at the time, or the consequences mi g ht have tr b was een awful.—Halifax Guardian. SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-0O Sunday last as the pilot engine was proceeding towards Loughborough, and when just beyond the Barrow station, a hawk, attempt ing to cross the line at the moment, was knocked down by the engine. On returning from Loughborough, the hawk was found on the spot with its head cut completely off, and a snipe in its mouth, which, from the wounds at the back of the head, had evidently been killed by the hawk, and being too heavy, prevented the hawk's flying with its wonted rapidity, and thus was the cause of its death also.—Leicester Chronicle. IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.—A scientific gentleman, residing at Ipswich, Mr. Frederick Ransoms, engineer, has lately discovered a method whereby the hardest stone can be brought into a consistence resembling common putty, so that it can be cut and moulded into any shape, for useful and ornamental purposes, without altering its general character and appearance ; for it becomes as hard, and in some in stances even harder, than when subjected to the process. An other peculiarity of the process is, that any colour, or variety of colours, can be imparted to its solid substance, so that an endless variety of shades can be produced, and, as it is capable of being polished, it effectually resists the action of the weather. It can also be used as a cement, and can be brushed ever the surface of wood, so as to render it fire- proof.— Sheffield Mercury. FATHER MATREW.—We are informed that the subscriptions to compensate this gentleman fOr his heavy ex penses while prosecuting the cause of teetotalism, have already exceeded 7,0001.—a sum nearly sufficient to cover the rev. gentleman's liabilities, but of course not enough to support the expense of another campaign. WINDSOR STEEPLE CHASES. (FIRST DAY.)_. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—Phis annual sporting event attracted, as upon all former occasions, an immense number of persons, not only from the neighbouring towns and villages within a circuit of twenty miles of Windsor, but several hundreds from the metropolis, who continued to pour into the town from an early hour in the morning, by the trains from Paddington, until past two o'clock in the afternoon, at which hour the weighing and saddling for the first race was announced to take place. At this period, the number of persons congregated in the winning and starting meadow, and the fields adjacent, could not have amounted to less than between 20,000 and 30,000. Three large stands, capable of containing from 700 to 800 each, affording a MI view of the races throughout, were literally crammed with spectators. More than 200 carriages were within the inclosure, and upwards of 15,000 horsemen. The day, which was remarkably fine, was observed as e " universal holiday" throughout the vicinity. The sport came off as follows: — The Grand Military Chase, of 10 sows. each, 5 soya. forfeit, for horses bona Xde the property of officers of the House hold Brigade, the regiment quartered at Hounslow, and members or sons of members of White's Crockford's, Boodle's, &e. Gentlemen riders, to be qualified as above. Horses to carry 12st each. Mr. 11. Langley's b g The Cardinal (Owner) 1 Captain Scobell's Cock Robin Lord Longford named b h Dentist (Mr. Tollemache ) 3 Captain Boucherett's The Impostor ....... (Owner) 4 Mr. Pyett's br g Uxendon (Owner) fell Captain Blane's br h The Martyr, Lord Glamis's br g Tea fighter, and Lieut. Miles's The Colonel, were drawn. The old horse The Cardinal, who was the favourite at starting, won in beautiful style, beating Cock Robin by about 30 lengths. The other horses (with the exception of 'Jaen don, which fell by getting its foot into a grip, throwing its rider, who escaped unhurt) were well placed at the finish._ Sweepstakes of 5 sous. each, 3 forfeit, with 30 added by sib scription, the second horse to save his stake; for - horses that never won a steeple chase, and to carry 12st each. The winner to be sold for 150/., if demanded, &e. The second horse's owner not to have the exclusive right to claim the winner, but if more than one of the owners of starting horses in the race claim the winning horse, the stewards to decide as to the purchaser. Mr. Neale's gr g Vicsount (Buckley; Captain Fendall's gr g Gilleroo (Barker Mr. W. Philpott's br m Black Bess ...(Owner 4 , Lord Glamis's b g Satan Mr Carter named b g Hainault Mr. Bemister's eh g Sampson (J. Carter' Mr. G. Elmore's br g Salt Fish .(Owner Mr. Brown's Pauline _ (Scott This was a beautifully-contested race. On passing . the Grand Stand the first time round. the whole of the eight horses were nearly neck and neck. Viscount, however, won in admirable style by several lengths. Pauline fell at the last fence. . —. A Hack — Race, of 2 soya each, with 10 added by public sub scription, for horses carrying 12 atone each that never wen a steeple-chase—the second horse to save his stake, and the winner to be sold for 601., if demanded, &c. The ar ticles of claiming the winner the same as the previous race. Mr. Philpott's ch m Norah Creina. (Mason) 1 Mr. Dyson's bk m Black Bess (Harry King 2 Mr. Peel's b g Pitch Kettle Mr. Humphris's ch h Huddersfield (J. Jacobs 4 Captain Fendall's br h Olive Branch (Barker 0 Mr. Tollemache's b h Glowworm (Fraser 0 Nr. Bemister's ch g Sampson (G. Goddard 0 Mr. W. Scott's gby Algar, out of Gift (Scott 0 Mr. Rolf's ch g Primrose. (Carpenter 0 Mr. Hood nd ch g Crocus (Swift 0 Mr. R. Henderson's ch in Maggie Lauder...(G. Goddard 0 Mr. Pocock's Luck's All (Reeves) 0 __ ii;;;;iieiVin The Artist. (Reynolds, jun. 0 Collins's b m Matilda (lt Reynolds 0 R. Dodd's ch m Steamer (F. Gosden 0 Mbb's br cob dr. ASTLEY'S THEATRE. FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Since the opening of this Theatre on Easter Monday it has been very well attended. The amusements provided by the spirited and truly indefatigable lessee are well worthy of the highest meed of praise, and the public seem quite to enjoy the good things which are here provided for their amusement; but Mr. Batty is not content with doing the thing well—his aim is perfection; and to attain this point all his energies would appear to be directed, and certainly not without suc cess. His plan of introducing every novelty that comes within his reach, whether of foreign or native genius, has contributed in a great degree to ensure the success which has crowned his management, and the history of his life shoTis what can be accomplished by industry and perseverance. He was left an orphan of tender years, without a friend to assist him ; his father, a soldier, fell for his country, and little Batty was le ft to struggle through life destitute of everything which in this life is thought worth possessing, save an active and obliging disposition, and what time and occasion after wards developed, nam ely, talent, or rather genius, for the profession which chance threw him in the way of. He is now owner of Astley's far-famed theatre, which cost him in building upwards of thirty thousand pounds, and Circuses in every principal town in England and Ireland; at the present time he has got a most magnificent stud of horses performing in Dublin, and another in Liverpool. A few days ago he purchased everything worth having belonging to the esta blishments of Mr. Sands and Van Amburgh ; and, to com- plete the whole, he has entered into an arrangement with the first French equestrian company in the world, who will make their first appearance to a London audience at his theatre on WhitrMonday. Such a collection of first-rate artists never before appeared at one time at any theatre in Europe. From the many artists who are engaged we merely mention a few of their names :—The three Mr. Fournaire, M. Huber, Madame Louise Fournaire, Madame Klath, Mdlle. 'Tuber. From the fame which this company attained on the Continent we are led to believe that their engagement, though of a very expensive nature, will prove the truth of the old adage, that it is not well to be penny wise and pound foolish. COAL DIARSMT. Prices per ton at the close of the market :—AdairViiiin, 15s 6d; Buddle's West Hartley, 16s; Carr's.aartlebifis.; Chester Main, 15s 6d ; Daviscn's West Hanky; ; 4alt Tanfield, 14s 6d ; llasting's llartley, 16s ; 16s 6d; Nelson's West Hartley, 16s 6d ; .:Nesv l' e pnfied, 14s 6d ; Ord's Redheugh, 14s ; Old Tanfehl, ,r 4; 6d ;-Eavens worth West Hartley, 16s ; Tatitield _lts 6A.; ,Tpwnley, 15s ; Taylor's West HartleS!, 1.5 s 94 ; Hikrtrey, 16s ; West Tyne Main, 14s ; West Wylam, 15$ dd ; Wylam,l6s. Wall's-end —Heaton, 17s ; New Walker, 15s 6d ; - New March, 15s 6d ; Urpeth, 16s; Wharncliffe, ; 17s 6d ; Braddyll's Hetton, 193; East Hetton, - 64 Haswell, 193 6d ; Hougball, lis ; Hetton, 19S; Hylton, 16S 6d-; Lamb ton, .194; North Hetton Lyons, 17s; Richmond, 17s;. Rus sell's Hetton, 18s 6d; Stewart's, 19s; Caradoc, 19s ; 17s 6d; -Leasingthorne, 18s; South Kelloe, 17s ; Trimdon, 18s ;, Adelaide, 17s 9d ; Brown's Deanery, -16 s 9d ; Eden HaftlePool;lss ; Fox, 163 6d ; Gordon, 15; 3d ; 'South ,Pur ham: lts*l ; Sektnour Tees, 17s; Tees, 18s 3d ; Tennant, 16S ; Anthracite, 20s; Cowpen Hartley, 16s; Hartley, 15s 6d; Lewiss Merthyr, 21s 6d ; Sidney's Hartley, 16s ; West Hartley Netherton, 16s 6d.—Ships arrived since last day, 68. We hear a strange rumour that Mr. Ward was married on Tuesday last, first, by a Romish priest, and after wards by an English clergyman. If this be true, the public will naturally ask, which of the contracting parties held the marriage by an English clergyman to be insufficient? The lady is said to be herself a daughter of a dignitary of the Church of England. Could it be her intention to deny the validity of her parent's orders? But if the scruple was Mr- Ward's own, then we have surely fresh cause to ask, why does ha still affect to be a member of the Church of England? —Herald. • RAPID TRAVELLING.—We understand that swift trains are likely to be started very shortly, which will per form the distance from London to Liverpool, and from Liver pool to London, in six hours. The present idea is that these trains should leave London and Liverpool about three o'clock r.st., thus giving parties time to get through a good day's business, and conveying them a couple of hundred miles, in either direction, by nine o'clock in the evening —Liverpool paper. ASYLUM FOR AGED FREEMASONS.—A special ge neral meeting of the Governors of the Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons, was held at Radley's Hotel, Bridge - street, last night, Brother Dr. Crucefix in the chair, for the purpose of electing five new trustees to the Institution by direction of the Court of Chancery, consequent on the re moval of Mr. Henry Rowe, and the resignation of the other four trustees. The following noblemen and gentlemen were unanimously elected :—Lord Southampton, Lord Aboyne, the Hon. Col. Anson. Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, F.R.S., and Dr. Crucefix. _ COURT- MARTIAL AT CHATHAM.—Yesterday MOM.' ing, at eleven o'clock, a Court-martial assembled, of which Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly was President, to try Sergeant Edward Jenkins, one of the staff-sergeants at the Invalid Depot, Casemate Barracks, Gillingham, upon the following charges :—First charge—for disgraceful conduct in having. at St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham, between the Ist of Oc on to of ber, 1844, and the 31st of January, 1845, purloined portions certain coals, being Government stores issued to the Quarter master-Sergeant, Peter Burke, for the service of the Invalid DepOt at Chatham, aforesaid. Second charge—for having at the place, and between the days mentioned in the first charge, aided and abetted in the purloining of portions of the before mentioned coals. The prisoner, who was professionally as sisted by Mr. Jeffery, of Maidstone, pleaded not guilty. From the number of witnesses to be produced, it is expected the trial will occupy the Court several days. It will be recol lected that the above prisoner was tried at the last assizes at M pri td n s e to r n h e as tor a re be oi e n n in p g ia st ee ra d w b , ef a o n r d e guilty. agi ty stra n tes e on the same charge that he is now taki ng hi s trial or, and, after a patient investigation, the magist ra t es dismissed the complaint, and the prisoner was discharged. The trial ex cites considerable interest. THE PRESIDENT'S OATH.--It is not generally known—and the touching circumstance ought to be published to the whole world—that the Bible on which Mr. Polk took the Presidential oath was very handsomely bound for the purpose in the skin o f a negro.—Punch. DEATH OF ANOTHER SON OF THE EARL 01 lIAREWOOD.—The Hon. Algernon Lascelles, the fourth son of this nobleman, died on Friday night last, at Harewood House, in his seventeenth year, after a severe attack of typhus fever. A few days ago we announced the decease of the Hon. Alfred Lascelles, brother of the above, both which events have plunged the family in the deepest distress. The remains of the Hon. Algernon Lascelles were interred in Harewood Church on Monday morning last at nine o'clock. The funeral was strictly private, none being present but the family, and a few members of the household. The Earl and Countess of Harewood, with ther family, have removed for the present into the North of England. A TARIFF BANQUET.—We understand that during the Easter holidays Sir Robert Peel gave an experimental entertainment, founded on the last new tariff, to the poor in • his immediate neighbourhood. The provisions included most of the luxuries on which the duty has just been repealed, and the hospitable board groaned beneath the weight of whale's tins, fustic, and other similar dainties, which the Premier's policy has rendered accessible to his poorer coun trymen. Besides this munificent repast, every poor family was allowed two pounds of beef•wood, four ounces of divi divi, a couple of hoofs, a quarter of a pound of bees'-wax, and a quart of generous sanguis draconis to wash them down with. We understand that the Premier will endeavour to in troduce fustic as an article of general consumption among the labourers on his estate, and will distribute ginseng to all who `will pledge themselves to eat it. These are real proofs of what Sir Robert Peel has done for the poor man by the new tariff.—Punch. BRITISH AND FOREIGN INSTITUTE:7-11e soirée which was given last night by the President and Council of this Institute, at their rooms, in George-street, was fashion ably attended. The tables were loaded with books, pritHits, and objects of vertu • and Miss Steele and Miss Lucom be contributed a variety of singing. Mr. Buckingham's native urbanity of manner, and his attention to the- comfort and enjoyment both of guests and members make these re-union extremely agreeable. There is an aristocratic style iny t ri h a e bl p y re in val ci en de t nt aspo toT t e b p e roc ing ee t d h in a gs t of; elegant th n e t re is no reined d noformalit o. znesticity.