The Sun. — London, England, 1844-06-25 00:00:00

~-~"~ -- al visit B 7_7' - -- —. civil an _,, tile ex _ e (Rear,- hear.) An Irish Member opposite noels al a , P o r ssed his abhorrence of the Pope ; but that must s ue n aIY in his ler by fine s' spiritual capacity, for the same Member ed the 1%, Partied .the Goverment in giving effect to the , n 8 then; ; unw fe s despotism in his civil character by these House to 0 . f or ° rthY means. He feared that the Secretary m i g ht be. 4 i the Colonies, who had declared that England, to be ,ho dente Is ci i r t e h d, must be ;eared, had inoculated the Government law, h e tr , th at his views —(Cheers) for he believed his ove-s? I , os, Irish letters had frequently been opened in the lolated or o ho 0 '-office•—(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Baronet the rcised b Y tbst ir e er . etary for the Home Department had stood up in volution,. iti the tattered garments of his public credit, to defend fercis_ rpe e d inde gectleonduct of the Government towards a Polish brok el es des••os flan, Count Ostrowski, whose desk had been i B athe° be en h at , open by the police, and his papers seized and enied t s ha f t eit isted over to the Russian Embassy. h i m , or the,Laths, T he Earl of SHELBURNE wished to call the v i s ions °f t att e • ti e ction of the House from what had fallen from _„,100 1 ) . laor•'w t de . 1 1 , sught Ron. Gentleman. He told the Hon. had n ° ier e - I : lll et n i ber for Finsbury that, if he had grievances to rs in of re , h e P'alo of at the hands of the Post-office, Id n ob -- t he h ;night institute proceedings at law—(Hear, d upOn this ea r o n _ the and that there would be no difficulty pure i n ~ 3 N Part of the Post-office as to the production of ehich Iv ' i .._warrant. a 0 a ",i If that were so, he did not see what 1 •re hoi di warrant . there could be in forwarding the letters d be 3 113:ned—(Hear, hear)—informing the person that it uhjec t ', l „ e , - ' s °Pened. Right 1',.. 5 nto this i Sir It PEEL said that he wished, in the first P ace i se . Ge., oto refer to a remark made by the Honourable rty ch at 8 11 itv ut 1e414 u who spoke last but one, who attempted to seen , st o J. t roduc e a case which had no bearing upon the pre he st u- er, ge t matter, but which was calculated to produce an s ry eOlf re f , undue prejudice against the Government. He so c l° : B 't • o ,erred to the case of the Polish nobleman, Count bh°'` qr owsk • Y % 0 85$ hi s .i. He could state, on the authority of a ti i • boun d 0 rit Right H onoura bl e F r i en d , t h a t no autho ; iv f er Y , L w as given by his Right Honourable Friend y• „ ro s 4" e detention of any papers belonging to that wise 4 8 n. cs- th e , e rn,ll. The most rigid inquiry had been made from in - or 0r eve police, and there was every reason to believe that pow- sof s v ;•Y Paper found in the possession of that gentleman yotl it 05 (I „.,,re delivered up to him, and no communications, iowerb9t : 411 regard to any papers found on that gentleman, ser e MO h e made to any foreign diplomatic agent.—(Hear, el • 0 t ise th r , ar e ,.) With regard to any authority derived from 1e 010 ..0 he MOV nOt ( I. u i . ei us . ernment, he could speak on that point con- Alini''' s ee „; v elY• With regard to the information which he nsils that`. on inquiries which he instituted, he believed po , „ retl°". te what he had stated to the House was perfectly ie ti) rr e , l b ,, t. In the couse of the debate Hon. Gentlemen oposssery 1)0 - ' w de_ alt largely in assumptions .. with regard to the rePr l ,o For ' se e " exercised by his Right Hon. mild, and ponsiblei s po ked to think that his Right Hon. Friend had s ide ° o nerl of that power as if it were a light power, and the stlY of e t t o be exercised without a serious and deep feeling , i s le 4' A . it t he responsibility which attached to the exercise of die' p, Nothin g that had fallen from his Right Hon. n L e g it at ierl d could justify such an assumption. H . e ion t e ) s e es , v est ed that, as Secretary of State, he was in ./. to bk,, h6 t d With the power by law which he was ,est''''.° th e O nly authorised, but which he was called on, if is b i t ti c , re was any consideration of public duty in ques it e r a ghat to exercise. The Right Hon. Gentleman said 0 is g 5,.. a he would assume that the power was universally if ti ft , eres, ed he f • Now, what were the grounds on which seci",. S on fo unded that statement? On a former occasion, of t'; C on . i r persons presented a petition to the . H . ouse of P 95.1 he -111 °I 1 s, and that evening another petition had _ re . e 11)°19 b ee " Presented, complaining that their letters had icltle".t f or : °Pened. The Hon. Gentleman who brought P P e; for: the motion had not stated who those persons e or er e tip -3 shie s and had concluded his speech by a motion of ra res t 1 s e ~:° he had not given the slightest notice. With O P terd to three out of the four who presented peti • Le t ti o 2 s °I .I a former occasion, they entertained impres ,e sr. , li o 's „ s totally unfounded—at least his Right bf " " 1 1 - ,, a • -vriend *stated, that with regard to three no 5; b : tW' r ant had b een i ssue d. His Right Hon. Friend to f° - th igh t have stated in perfect conformity with the truth e t 1 1 , 4 t t il the allegati on s in th o se petitions were unfounded; On d er ,e was afraid if he said that it might be consi j re' a u!'" that he denied the statement with regard to WV' 4 w and he, therefore, stated that with regard to . one sO t li as a rrant had been issued. His Right Hon. Friend r es s ' it , 4 declined to make any statements with regard to iti° e ar , a ,nd all he asked of the House was to draw no Of e s ' e nlsions from that.—(lronical cheers.) Now, how ve", h a V the case? This power of issuing a warrant st/ th e been committed to the Secretary of State since ✓ tte "vac of Queen Anne. About eight years ago, go. Gov' the Noble Lord opposite was the organ of p the hoe hef er rinlent in that House, an alteration in the . Pos t ' ll6 spi n ee i Act took place, and this power, in his ?ea la e .° ll , was most justly retained.—(Hear,.__ . hea r r e .) . oe h. B opinion the Government was justified in P se,e, e l l t '''O'' the power they had retained. They con e qfi ed the law the amended law of the late President le th e ? Board of Trade, who he believed introduced er t a i '''et and was the author of it as it now stood , re - A, , z' $ i tl i g• the provision nearly in the same words as the r F t .; V' Queen Anne. He thought his Right Hon. 0 0 4 0 , 4 , u• was justified in exercising the power he had kt, h • - • If the House thought the power ought to be A r pr o "iguished, let it be so, but let it be done in a , thP A er and regular manner, by a motion for repealing li Act of which notice had been given. The Right o s xs• • Gentleman opposite had said that the system t 'ght 0 . thi,. be carried on by the Government . towards s a ki political opponents ; he believed he might hi s Y!'aY that had not been the case in late years. ti e R ight Hon. Friend had introduced no new prac th; as to opening letters ; he had not carried it beyond lise r actice of Mr Fox and Lord Grenville. He As a no t carried the powers of the law beyond the hiss Ili of those two persons. If the House pressed Is a ,,'"gbt lion. Friend to specify the cases in which kc, r a nt s had been issued, he thought it would cor n- L'ini to a c t un j us tly t o i n dividuals. h ai O rd J. RUSSELL regretted that his Hon. Friend L ID it °t given a definitive notice on the question, d. o ot " with regard to the position of the House, he Theid k• think it would make much, if any, difference. lot il t Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State on a she er ,oeeasion had stated what his resolution was on kti s -11° .iect ; the question, therefore, now stood ex ose,.'ll the sa m e situation as it did on the former e, l n• With respect to notice as to the law of Il se 'ng letters, the question now before the House 4 d - , n ot only w h e ther the Secretary of State had ex par ' et l, his power, but whether he had adopted a pr io it in terpretation of the law. In that respectthe. s ght TT , Om -on. Baronet seemed to have followed his Pesh, ee .essors, and therefore, if the law had been,impro kir I nterpreted, that must be corrected ; for his own Is o „, he thought in dangerous times the aw VI become useless if the interpretation to h e people put upon it was considered . it : the right one. With respect to the law itself, Poe, e 4 s Stated by Sir Robert Walpole . that it was a woof to be used in times of public danger, and as a_ vss eh of that he referred to the case of the Bishop the 111 ,.ecr, e , 3t er, whose plot was carried on through have!l l „' l n of the Post-office.—(Hear, hear.) He (Lord 'L S len) thought the Right Hon. Baronet should ,;'"en the coarse pursued by Sir R. Walpol d e, Atli s l ave stated the principles on which he proceede at l 11 4 , Ps wer was to secure against public danger either ner ° , u e or abroad, and was to be used either to put 'rie s - . in subordination at home or wars in other noun- Ntl i i i , - 1 11 the performance of this difficult duty he J4d ß Zed that the Secretary of State must be the I t fii i ; the public danger was so imminent as to j us ‘setti's interference or not. But the Right Hon. t tist, ' L e Pan had taken no such ground. He had not Ik' e .„ l '' them to say that the power had not been ex lel4lnCeas had been - stated by his Hon. Friend the ,?re' r „ r for Finsbury for the purpose . of assisting '4 1 ,1 2 4 Governments. —(Hear, hear.) If such were rt i‘ ) st -- h e be (Lord J. Russell) must say that it was a "le Ifsniustifiable use of such power.—(Cheers.) If "Po 'gilt lion, Gentleman had stated the principles L oos which h e h a d us ed that power. If the Right he, Ge ntleman had stated the principles on which N I G ad used the power—if the Right Honourable ~,‘v i th i e f ` n arl had stated that he agreed in opinion .I .4 re s /lon. Friend, that to use the power for the w 4 stiß u-„i of assisting foreign Governments was an un ble I sid h use of that power, and that he had not, and ,"-ord not make use of the power for that purpose, he iloOld s u• Russell) would have been satisfied, and i'.'lki it -- ' l , p 9t have voted for the Committee. But if the ra tio n - Jon. Gentleman would not make such a decla- Is 's it s 0 • i would not be beneath him, nor un- Orth C rouniy t `' 4l l.j e i.' of his -Position to consent to inquiry on this h, s ' il le o e t 7- (Cheers.) He recollected that during the - ` 4(l b 'he late Government a committee of inquiry , 4)4 11 h e ?" Movedfor at the time the Right Hon. Gentle- L'otion'Tself. was a member of the Cabinet. It was l a . " sa vii for Inquir into the conduct of Lord Me P art e ' who Secretaryo f State for the Home De- I , II e „ ,as o'lv af . , Was accused of having .employed Popay, a s, -.e i n • qi o the police, in endeavouring to excite insur ir u MT r. .sr. Cobbett had moved for a committee of Nb into all the circumstances of the case, and the It.▪ :Bnit 1., nor Oxford had objected that a committee e:s t Pe tribunal for considering the eircum -lon of the case Mr. Cobbett renewed his ino o ' nfini t e . t ' - ' h Ytn ent „ e I specifically to an inquiry as the em- L e deb of Popay. Lord Althorp, speaking during tie , ,ate, had stated that the idea of employing t her v V e e as spies had never been anticipated 't ins, the Met Honourable Baronet who had lat I,tuted the force, or by his successors in office. v e t s o ;v_ords could be too strong to stigmatise con 11t 4'7 1 as that of which Pope had been Mused; con ht Z e b_a e d , beer! guilty of Popsy conduct he had _ r rte hs, e cled his instructions—that Lord Mel ° d 5,, 4 ,0 never given him such instructions; find )4eetr:thorp concluded by saying that he had no 'beers to the appointment of a Committeo,-_- th e li e ') o The Committee was appointed, reported. ssed . ',,se, and the subject was subsequently dis hlt s ad that been any injury to the Govern -14 Ott , -ear from it. The Government at that time it g enough to have secured a Ministerial ma ,Y.: to (ea lse quash inquiry. But they had not done so. h ay s r e .) 1-, e it would have been unworthy of them f act, d o ne B °. -- :-(Lbud cheers.) There could be, ' ll BO • r eal Ministe r i a l respons ibilit y un l ess thi s ilistituted those inquiries.—(Cheers.) In the I present care, the Government did not deny the facts ; they would offer no explanation, and they would not state on what principles they had acted. They con tented themselves with saying—" We have such a majority as can stifle inquiry." Such being the case, no vote of censure could be moved against them.—(Hear.) It was quite out of the question to attempt it.—(Hear.) The House and the public were kept in equal ignorance of the facts of the case. He did not know that inquiry would cast any blame on the Right lion. Gentleman. It might not cast more blame on him than it had on Lord Melbourne in the case of Popay ; but if that inquiry were refused, it would go hard to destroy the doctrine of Ministerial responsibility. With regard to any alte , ration in the law, that was too grave a subject to be discussed incidentally. It was perfectly competent to any Hon. Gentleman to propose an alteration in the law. He had approved of the law in 1837, and he thought it was a power that ought to exist. If, how ever, upon discussion, it should appear that the exist ence of such a power produced more evil than good, he would be prepared to abolish it ; but the question now before the House was, whether, when a Minister totally refused any explanation of facts, and would not even say on what principles he had exercised his powers, the House would be satisfied with that re fusal, and not exercise its functions of inquiry. Mr. M. MILNES regretted that his. Right Hon. Friend had not thought it consistent with his duty to state one fact, and that was, that he had not com municated to foreign Governments the informa tion which he had thus acquired. If he had thought it consistent with his duty to make this statement, he believed that the public and the House would have been satisfied. Now, although the Right Hon. Baro net had not thought fit to do so, he (Mr. M. Mil nes ) could not consent to vote f o r the Hon. Member for Finsbury.—(lronical cheers and laughter from the Opposition benches.) He thought it most important that the knowledge of these matters should be confined to the secrecy of the Cabinet. The power should be used by the Minister solely for his own information, and the information so acquired should not be com municated to any other person. Now the Committee could not be conducted without the violation of this secresy, and without making public the contents of those letters. He believed that they would find that the agitation on this subject would lead to bringing a powers into odium which he certainly admitted should not be exercised but on extraordinary occasions. Mr. SHEIL said as they were approaching the critical moment of the evening, he thought it right to address a few observations to the House. The House should take care to distinguish between the case of the present Government and that of the last. His Noble Friend, the Member for London, when filling the post of Home Secretary, might have given a war rant of authority for opening letters; but no refusal had ever been made by his Noble Friend—no inves tigation had ever been denied—(Hear, hear)—no such case had ever been brought before a British House of Commons—(Hear, hear)—as that now under their consideration, and which was certainly accompanied with circumstances of a most suspicious nature.— (Hear, hear.) A call had been made upon the Right Hon. Gentleman to state reasons for acting in so un common a manner ; but he ans veered them by saying he would meet the demand with his responsibility. The Right Hon. Gentleman said he was sensible of his responsibility. Why what was the meaning of the term ? He said his conscience was pure, but who, besides himself and colleagues, had an opportu nity of ascertaining the correctness of the statement ? —(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet asked what were the facts. lie (Mr. S.) asked the same question. Had not enough come out, even by the ad mission of the fact itself, to justify investigation ? (Hear, hear.) They said it was a right—well he ad mitted the right, but did not the extreme assertion of a right often reach the propinquity of consummate wrong ?—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was aware that in the discipline of the army this assertion of au thority was often and perhaps necessarily carried out to a great extent--he could understand the Duke of Wellington as Commander-in -Chief, exclaiming at the Horse Guards,- sic volo sic jubeo, fiat voluntas, but he thought such language hardly became a Home Score tary.—(Hear.) Why should not the conduct of the Home Secretary be made the subject ,of inves tigation in that House ?—if that check were not held over the Minister his conduct might soon become authoritative, arbitrary, and capricious.—(Hear, hear, and great cheerin g .) Th e c h arge against the 'Home Secretary was, that he caused a warrant to be issued for the opening of a certain letter or letters, and that he had done so without reference to any plot or con spiracy in this country.—(Hear, hear.) It was not to discover any Chartist or Repeal organisation, but it was entirely connected with our foreign relations. Was not that so ? Had not the Hon. Gentleman read an extract from the Milan Gazette, published four months ago, in which it was boasted that the conduct of this Mazzini was under the surveillance of the Lon don police ? And much the same statement was made in the Augsburgh Gazette. Was it proper treatment of an unfortunate refugee, who had sought an asylum in the hitherto esteemed sacred soil of Britain, whose misfortunes entitled him rather to sympathy than condemnation, that his most secret thoughts should be placed under the prying inquisition of a British Minister ?—(Hear hear, and great ch eer i ng .) He felt bound to say that the English Minister had acted a most un-English part.—(Loud and long-con tinued cheering.) The British Home Secretary ought not to degrade himself into the spy of a foreign Cabinet. He should not allow himself to be made instrumental in the procuration of evidence for a foreign Minister—evidence, too, which might in volve the sacrifice of the properties, nay, even of the lives of the suspected parties.—(Hear, hear, and re newed cheering.) Public opinion was against them. In every part of the country there was but one feel ing of dislike at this conduct. The.people of Eng land felt indignant that a social inquisition of this sort should be established.—(Hear.) His Right Hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, who, though he repu diated the efficacy of torture, tried it with power, but tried it in vain, on the Home Secretary---(Hear, hear) the peine forte et dure proved useless. — (Laughter.) He would not detain the House further than by again protesting against the violation of that secresy which had been long held sacred. He did not think it was consistent with the principles of honour or of justice that that l e tt er s h ou ld b e b roken open in which the hopes, the fears, the joys, the afflictions, and the affections of our fellow man were contained. Mr. STUART WORTLEY said he thought that voting for the present motion would be sanctioning those unfounded imputations which had been cast on the Home Secretary. lie thought the House was not sufficiently aware of the merits of the case.— (Hear, hear.) He would vote against the motion. Mr. WAKLEY said the Hon. Member who had just sat down would not vote for the present motion, although he considered the character of the Govern ment had been unworthily dealt With ; he believed the conduct of the Government so proper that he Would refuse Inquiring into it, although he acknow ledged he did not know anything at all of th e mer i t s of the case.( l- lear, hear.) The HMI. Member for Pontefract expressed a wish to know what communi cation had taken place on this matter with foreign States, but would vote against all inquiry which might tend to elicit that information. He certainly thought that the two Right Hon. Baronets (Sir 11. Peel and Sir J. Graham) were not very happy on this occa sion.—(Laughter.) lie never was more surprised at anything since he came into that House than at the statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government. The latter Right lion. Gentleman had never on pre vious occasions been subjected to a more disagreeable occupation, in defending his colleague, than on this. The manner in which he attempted to defend his con duct showed how bad the case was.—(Hear, hear.) it would seem, from the spirit of the Home Secre tary, who complained that he had not had notice of the fifth case, that numerous letters had been opened at the Post-office. lie wanted to know how many really had been opened. From the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet, it would seem that it was a practice at the Post-office, and the House was justified in so inferring from his speech.—(Hear, hear.) Pub lic feeling—public indignation had been arou se d against the practice ; and a man had rightly remarked to him (Mr. Wahloy), a day or two ago, that a still worse practice than the employing of spies by the Government had been lately resorted to, for the Go vernment had become spies themselves,-----bear, and cheers.) to ileknew no prac-ice more odious, or more likel bring a Government into odium, or to de gradey the character of thn country in which it was tolerated.—(Cheers.) Thi s question might be said t o be the touchstone of Ministerial responsi bility; and if accountablility was not demanded in such a Wig@ US this, he knew not when it should be enforceti-----(Hear, h ear .) Th e control of the House of Commons , ov or the Government became m ere mockery.—(hear, hear.) He th oug ht it was the bounden ant/ of that House to insist upon inquiry. He observed thatthe lion Member for the Right Hon. Ba ronet thon h at varia gjl nce in other respects seemed t o agree i li li n u r t e b s a b t o irloimugsehlf(aNnidr. errand) reminded so muc . to this House as etri la have the ki° ll . Moms in the same boat, and he won— bi in n o a n l — e P ( o Cr in re t— at b c o h t e h ert l an 4 d rr a t) laugh) _=--they_ Wore now ber for Knarbsi;nropgh look out, as it was in A finking state.—(Cheers.) He tlicki4g l o that the party which slipported the Government had been lately placed in as row a position Eli; they could be, but _ they . _ o PPr severed in adhering to an Adlnin istration which cu . be capable of such Act•%it VY, Pil proveon that Ally la though in the depths of the ueep they find 11 lower gulf still.--(Cheers.) Lord HOW.,lCic supported the motion, if the pre 'sent system were aliowed t 9 go on, it might at length be carried to such an extent, that tl.?,e Minister mielt himself' be justified in breaking open the letters of fs political opponents, ne agreed with his Right ilop? TIRE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVE i Friend, the Member for Edinburgh, in thinking that if the practice were to become anything like fre quent, it would be far better it were abolished alto gether. He wished to know if there were anything in the Act of Parliament to sanction the resealing of the letters with a counterfeit seal similar to that with which they had been sealed in the first instance ? He would give his cordial support to the motion. Lord STANLEY defended the conduct of the Go vernment. He would like to know how many letters their predecessors in office had opened. The House would support any Minister in refusing to give that explanation. It was a power for the exercise of which, the only security must be the honour and conscience of the Minister of the Crown, who put it in force. He gave no opinion as to the policy of affording that power, but having bestowed it, it must be left to the responsibility of the Minister to exercise it. He de nied that opening letters was a thing of daily occur rence; on the contrary it was but very rarely used. He admitted frankly and fully that it was only to be used on great occasions, and then only used with caution ; but it must be used with secrecy and with out the Minister being called on to answer for the manner in which he had used it.—(Loud cries of " No, no.") He ag.tin contended that it must and ought to be left to the responsibility of the Minister of the Crown. Sir G. GREY said the Noble Lord, with his usual courage, had rushed to the rescue of his two Right Hon. Friends, and certainly not before his aid was wantei ; but he had not adduced one single argu ment, or made one single assertion, that had mended the case. He had asserted, without the slightest foundation of reason, that the total silence of the Go vernment as to the circumstances of the case was jus tified by the duty that devolved upon a Minister of the Crown.. He (Sir G. Grey) undertook to contro vert that assertion. His Hon. Friend (the Member for Finsbury), with a moderation that did not always distinguish him, did not deny that the Government possessed the power of opening letters, but charged it with having exercised that power, given them for one purpose, for a purpose wholly distinct.—(Cheers.) His charge was not that they had used the power vested in them bylaw, but that they had, at the in stigation of some" foreign G-overnment—(Loud cheering) exercised that power, not to dis cover any plot against their Sovereign Lady the Queen, not any plot against the Constitution of the realm, but in order to enable the agents of foreign Governments, or those Governments themselves, to obtain evidence against the friends of those who were here as exiles on political reasons, and whom it had always been the pride and honour of this country to receive with hospitality and sympathy.—(Cheers.) He believed that the reasons on which the Home Secretary had acted might have been explained to the House, without any detriment to the public service. If he were to vote against the motion of his Hon. Friend, he should consider that he was sanctioning the right the Government claimed to exercise, to open letters at the Post-office, and make what use they pleased of the contents, not for any State purpose, but for some purpose unexplained, and an explanation of which might have been given with thegreatest facility. He should cordially support the motion for a Com mittee. Lord SANDON rose, and attempted to address the House, but the cries of "Divide, divide," and the usual indications of extreme impatience, were so loud, that only a few broken sentences reached the gallery. He was understood to explain for his Hon. Friend near him (Mr. S. Wortley) something in that gen tleman's speech that had been misunderstood. He said he should oppose the motion on the ground that to affirm it would be to deprive the Executive Go vernment of that confidence which they were entitled to have from the House. Mr. WYSE rose, hut was received with a perfect storm of " Divide" and " Oh, oh !" which was re newed every time the Hon. Gentleman attempted to utter a word. He stood for some time against it ; but even his assurance that he had but a very few words to say on the subject failed to propitiate the House. He was still attempting to proceed, when Captain BERNAL rose to order, and the con fusion was rather increased than diminished, loud cries of " Spoke, spike," being added to the others. He said he was in order in pointing out the Hon. Member for Nottinghamshire (Mr. Gaily Knight) as one who was active in interrupting his Hon. Friend (Mr. Wyse) in his speech to the House. He called on the Speaker to assert the right of Hon. Members to freedom of debate.—("Oh," and "Spoke.") Mr. WYSE at last proiSeded to say that, some doubts having been thrown out as to whether these letters were opened or not, he assured the House that he had that day carefully examined the letters him self, and, in his mind, there could be no question that they had been opened at the Post-office. Two letters were addressed to Mr. Mazzini and Mr. Hamilton, which were placed in the post at the same time. One reached Mr. Hamilton at the proper hour, a little after ten; the other letter did not reach Mr. Mazzini till after twelve. On the latter, the post-mark had been altered by another stamp having been made upon the first one. There could be no doubt but the letters had been opened. He should vote for the Committee. Mr. DUNCOMBE then replied. He denied that he was liable to the charge of want of courtesy brought against him by the Right Hon. Secretary. He had given notice of the terms of the petition on the last occasion, and the Right Hon. Baronet then met him by stating that the warrant had been issued but had been withdrawn. In consequence of that statement. he (Mr. Duncombe) did not take a division of the House on the question. But here he had another case, and he thought he had given the Right Hon. Secretary quite sufficient notice respecting it. He could assure him the public would not be satisfied with the explanation that had been given ; and if the Committee should be refased, it would be a general opinion that the Government was using a tyrant ma jority in order to stifle inquiry. This was no longer a question of inquiry into the Post-office; it had become a question of confidence in Ministers. Had he made out a prima facie case of inquiry ? He con tended that he had ; he had accused the Government of using its authority for the purpose of gratifying the feelings of foreign Powers, not for the purpose for which Sir It. Walpole said such an authority ought to be used—that of warding off any danger from the State. If they now refused an inquiry, they would be admitting their own criminality. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided—the numbers were For the motion 162 Against it 206 Majority against the Committee SUGAR DUTIES. -- 44 In answer to a question from Sir R. Peel Lord J. RUSSELL said he thought it would be more convenient to postpone the third reading of the Sugar Duties Bill till Thursday. Sir R. PEEL said that as he wished the Bank Charter Bill to be taken in Committee that evening, he would not oppose the postponement of it. The third reading of this Bill was then deferred till Thursday. GREENWICH PARK. Mr. HUME begged the Hon. Secretary of the Admiralty to explain what he had stated the other evening as to the excavations in Greenwich Park, and the destruction of the ancient barrows, as his remarks had been misunderstood. Mr. S. HERBERT said that a public meeting had been called, protesting against the destruction of those barrows, and in consequence of remonstrances which had been made a stop had been put to their removal. As they had been opened before not much injury would be done to them, and whatever injury was done would be repaired. In answer to a question from Mr. HAWES, The Earl of LINCOLN said that an application had been made on the part of the Admiralty Board for park ground to build certain houses for some of the official re sidents, and desiring that some land might be attached for the sake of privacy. This proposition, on the part of the Admiralty, was objected to, but he proposed to give them a different portion of the park, to which no objec tion could be made. TURNPIKES. In answer to a question from Gen. JOHNSON on the subject of the Turnpike Bill, Sir J. GRAHAM said that her Majesty's Government intended shortly to introduce a measure on the subject of Turnpikes for Wales, the provisions of which Bill would, by some small alterations, be rendered applicable to England. If the House consented to pass the mea• sure for South Wales, he intended, after some experi.. once of its working, then to introduce a Bill for England and Wales. CLASSIFICATION OF THE POPULATION, Mr. RICARDO wished to know from the Right Hon, Gentleman when the plassification of the population would be complete, Mir J. GRAHAM said it would be read) , before the close of the present session. IRtSH AND SCOTCH PATJPERS. fiir D. NORREYS wished to know from the Right Hon, Gentleman whether he intended to bring in a Bill with regard to the transmission of Irish and Scotch paupers, Sir J. GRAHAM said it was his intention to intro duce ft Bill to regulate the law of settlement, but it was not his intention to pawl it this session, BANK _CHARTER. On the motion for the Order of the Day for going into Conlilliget3 upon the Bank Charter Bill being put, Alderman PHOMPSCIy §si4 hp entirely ponoprrpd in the principle of the Bill'introduced by the Right Hon. Gentleman ; but the question was, wheOpr the rpstric- Ilmis poffpainecl iq this pip were necpssary to parry opt that principle, 'in Oici opinion they prpFp 'not. p3r stance, the Bank of England was restricted to foprtpep millions in its issues, because it was supposed that was the capital of that establishment. But he could show n;tillions, an tipoir that tip rey. of B-nk the 4 was sixteen and a half ought 13e altoNie4 tq issue to that amount. t4oui4p Vva's a`'4ry boric( it plFr gos who pould'give 4ndouhtecf seteuriti "on ilie-1'94 of money, should be refused it .0 ti 4 w 444 it tO Pqryoil their speculations. He had been led to believe gait it discretionary power had been vested in the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Ma,t,(;r of Op Itgnt, to meet emergencies, There was no objecti9n pciprip slffatupjf the !)anklng and issuink departments, though it would introduce a new principle into the Bank of England. Another new principle of the Bill was, that the Bank was restricted from issuing notes upon silver. He considered that was an erroneous restriction, for silver was the standard of value in the New World, and it was a protection to gold.—(Hear.) Another objectionable point in the Bill was that it con tracted the issuing power of the Bank in case of another bank of issue ceasing to issue its notes. If a bank issuing 90,0001. ceased to issue to that amount, the issuing of the Bank of England was limited to 60,0001., thus con tracting the power of the Bank 30,000/. He thought it right to make those objections ; he made them, however, as a Member of Parliament, and not as a member of the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. Mr. W. WILLIAMS was not surprised at the dislike of the Hon. Gentleman, to see the power of the Bank of England had been curtailed, and that he wished that a power to issue sixteen and a half millions had been left to them. He knew that the Right Hon. Gentleman who introduced this Bill would be pressed by influence on all sides. He looked on this Bill as the complement of the Bill of 1819. While the banks- had the power of unlimited circulation, there was no class in the country whether high or low which did not feel the effects of it. These was unsteadiness and uncertainty in everything, there was fluctuation from high prices to low prices. He, therefore, looked on this measure as one of the greatest importance. The excessive circulation of the Bank of England paper had encouraged speculation—it made the country a vast exporting country. But the foreign exchanges were soon turned against them, and they were obliged to correct them by a large export of bullion. In 1824, the Bank of England had over 14,000,0007. in its coffers; in December, 1825, it had lost the whole of that bullion. The Hon. Gentleman went' on to quote the evidence of Mr. Norman, given before the Bank Committee, to the effect that in eighteen months no less than six and a half millions had been ab stracted from the Bank. The consequence was, that prices rose and the greatest sacrifices were obliged to be made. The fact was, that gold would not keep company with paper.—(A laugh.) PerluiPs in the first - coming into operation the Bill might not have the effect which he anticipated, but he maintained that in the first three years of its operation it would bring into circulation a greater amount of bullion and paper together than had been since 1819. Our gold and silver circulation of the present time amounted to no more than thirty millions, whereas in France, which had much less commerce, there was a circulation of 100,000,000 in gold and silver. Why should the circulation of this country, which had the balance of trade so largely in its favour, have so inferior a circulation ? He attributed it to the effect of the paper currency, which sent the bullion out of the country.• In the letters of Daniel Hardcastle, published in the Times, it was proved that during thirty years this country lost 230,000,0001. by that process alone. There could be no doubt that the debt had been borrowed in a depreciated currency, and was now being paid in gold. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to the report of the Bullion Committee in 1810, of which Mr. Horner was the Chairman, and which showed that so great had been the depreciation of the currency, in consequence of the in creased circulation of Bank paper, that it was thought necessary by the Legislature to double the salaries of all the officers of State, all persons in Government em ployment, and all persons in every avocation of life. He was surprised that his Hon. Friend, the Member for Lambeth—lecollecting the effects of the measures relat ing to the Bank circulation in 1818, afterwards altered in 1822, and recollecting the condition in which the Bank was in 1824, and the disastrous events which followed—could persist in his opposition to this Bill.—(Hear.) He then read extracts from the evidence of Mr. Richards, the Governor of the Bank of England, before the Committee of the House of Commons in 1832, to show what had been at that period the consequences of the restricted circulation, which required the inter vention of the Government to prevent the most disas trous effects upon all the interests of the country. On 1 a previous occasion a Minister of the Crown stated that, in consequence of the state of the circulation, the country was , within twenty-four hours' of barter. To re medy these evils, Mr. Canning, in 1822, brought in his Bill, which he described figuratively as creating a column of paper raised upon a basis of gold. -But the result showed that the eloquent statesman was very much mis taken. The consequences of all those fluctuations from high to low circulation, were productive of the greatest evils and distress. The depression which was occasioned by those changes was the cause of the people of this country !going to the American and other foreign funds for the more safe investment of their money. Nothing could have stood up against those constant fluctuations ; the changes and uncertainty in wages, employment, and profits, could never have been stood up against but by the industry and energy of the people of this c suntry. They all remembered the condition into which the Bank of Engl Ind brought itself in 1838 and 1839, when, if it had not been for the Bank of France coming to the as sistance of the Bank of England, the latter would have been bankrupt. If it had not been for the assistance of the East India Company, and more especially of the Bank of France, the Bank of England must have stopped payment in October, 1839. At that time the circulation was 25,000,0001., and now it was upwards of 35,000,000/. Who got the advantage ? why foreign countries. He thanked the House for allowing him to make this statement. He would put it to the House whether something should not be done to prevent this country going as a mendicant to the Bank of France. If the House allowed its paper currency still to continue as it was now, they might depend upon it ruin must eventually come. He thought the present measure was a most comprehensive one, and be should therefore give it his support. Mr. MASTERMAN urged on the Government the re-consideration of the question of the contraction of the issue upon securities by the Bank. At least he trusted that they would shorten the time for that con traction. He thought country bankers ought to have more time to return their averages. Mr. MUNTZ said, that after thirty years of blunder. ing, according to the speech of the Hon. Member for Coventry, they had got into Paradise, but he had for gotten to state what that Paradise was. It was being heavily taxed, and pressed down with a property-tax.— (Laughter.) Subject to a corn tax, your labourers starving, and being beaten by the other 'markets of the world. The Hon. Member then proceeded at some length to argue that there ought to be a relative value between gold, silver, and corn, and concluded by moving that the House should go into Committee on the Bill that day six months. Sir R. PEEL said he thought the House would not countenance the present attempt of the Hon. Member (Mr, Muntz) to go into Committee. In former stages of the Bill, the principle of the measure had been thoroughly discussed ; and yet the Hon. Gentleman had not com bated the measure of the Government when those oppor • tunities offered, but had taken advantage of the present occasion to reply to speeches made six or seven weeks ago. The Honourable Member for Birmingham professed to be' in favour of a metallic standard, but still for so using and abusing it that the man who gave one hundred hard sovereigns for stock would in a few days find that that stock would bring to him no more than ninety-five pounds. As an advocate of a metallic standard his (Mr. Muntz's) views were absurd and impracticable ; such as he was sure, though Hon. Members might in courtesy listen to, they would never adopt. He (Sir R. Peel) thought it best to say at once that it was impossible for the Government to accede to the alterations which from various piarters had been proposed. Still there were some modifications which the Government had thought it its duty to agree to, and especially one as to the issues of private bankers, which it was proposed should now be ruled by the average of the twelve weeks preceding i the announce ment of this measure. R egar di ng t h e issue of private banks all the Government required was that they should confine their issue within the maximum, and instead of a week a month's average would be allowed. On the 10th of October the limitation of issues would commence. He hoped the dread of a penalty and the fear of exposure would prevent any danger of excessive issue from taking place. With these explanations he hoped the House would_ now proceed to the consideration of the Bill in Committee.—(Hear.) Mr. HLTME said the chief danger of the proposed plan was the permission of the legal tender system to continue. When bullion began to disappear from the coffers of the Bank of England the country bankers just at that moment bec ame c l amorous i n t h e i r demand for gold, and thus embarrassments would be generated. He did pot wish to waste the time of the House by useless discussion, and, therefore, if the Right Hon. Baronet told him he had considered the legal tender clause and come to a determination thereupon, whatever his course might be, he (Mr. Hume) would not press his amend ment. He wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman meant to continue that clause ? Sir ROBERT PEEL said he did not mean to disturb unnecessarily the existing state of thing and create a shock in the monetary affairs of this country. The pre sent legal tender clause would, therefore, be continued. Mr. WALLACE supported the amendment, and thought - the measure of the Right Hon, Baronet would be ruinous to the kingdom both in its foreign and do meetie relations, A. worse time could not be selected fie! suhh a change, as they were on the eve of a bad har vest ; and what with a deficiency of corn, and a deranged currency, the condition of this QoUlltry would be feared, be disastrous in the extreme,—(Hear.) Mr, BARNARD said a few wordi which wore n3t audible in the gallery, Gen, JOHNSON eald they were living under an arti &jai system, and he considered that under such 4 system, an exclusively gold currency would he impossi ble. They were trying to procure low prices in con junction with high taxes—(dear, hear) which would be found impracticable. However, there seemed to hp nobody to oppose the plan ; it was supported by the country gentleman, who, he predicted would eventually se(fer from it. Colonel SIBTHORP objected to the limitation of the circulation of notes; the one pound notes were palled dirty paper; but he had alwap found them very use f u l paper,-,-(Laeghter.) He h a d every con fid ence i n the Right lion. Baronet, a n d i n hi§ knowledge of this ques tipn, but he eould 1 - m see that there was an y reason f or limiting the paper circulation of the country. Great as he believed the talent of the Right Hon. gamn i lt be, he thought his present mpc,slire a komew4t wild one. Mr. HUME explained that he had never been an ad vqcete of a paper currency. , After a fogywor.ds from i ir 4. .13x.ET, in answer to a question prom Mr. MOR IS, Mr. MUNTZ said the Right Hon. Baronet had thing persunal—(Langhtel.)—but charged him with cheating or robbing; he did not know Fbether he meant any tits exertions w re ant beht of Ole rorp to' pteVent ;tent ?An bent t cheilted '' ail Abed, 's . fry It ls yt a " :, . e e . .. .4. the Right--Hon. „aropeee corn : aw, Ana with 11 1 2 ino - oeyslew; s ey f certainly would e.--Caear, hear) e.:! * ._av_a - r.. : T_P.Tis .., aa mz...,a questioned Baronei's definition of a pound, which h e t oo k as the basis of his principles. But if the correc t nes s o f t h e Right Hon, Baronet's pretalees were granted, the just JUNE 25, 1 844 tiee of. his conclusions could not be denied. ,He had paid great attention to the subject, but had not been able to make up his mind upon it, and he should decline giving a vote. The House then divided, when there apperzed • " For the Motion - Against it 205 , Majority against the Motion 1 87 The House then went into Committee, Mr. GREENE in the Chair. Clause 1 was agreed to. On clause 2 being proposed Mr. NEWDEGATE rose to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice. To judge - from the effect of 1819, it was impossible not to conclude that the effect of this measure would be an increase -of prices at least to the amount of twenty per cent. Taking into account the increase of population, since that period it was evident that the Bill must operate very seriously to the injury of the working classes.—(Hear, hear.) The - exchanges would be turned against this country. There were two ways in which the adverse exchanges operated. First there must be an exportation of bullion to meet the foreign demand, and then there must be a large drain of gold from the Bank to meat the demands of the country occasioned by the panic necessarily arising from the same cause. The House had just divided, and he had found himself in a minority of eighteen, but if this Act were in operation to its ap pointed term, and it should then be proposed to renew the measure, the minority would be much larger. Ile solemnly protested against the measure as not adapted to the circumstances of the country. The very restric tion the clause imposed on the issue of securities com pelled him to divide the Committee upon the question that the blank be filled up on the clause with the words 22 millions instead of 14 millions, the former sum being the average of the last twenty-three years. Sir R. PEEL could not but think that gentleman had greatly mistaken this question. They seemed to think that this measure restricted the Bank to issuing 14,000,0001. ; it did no such thing ; for when the 13111 passel there was nothing to restrain the Banking De partment from issuing 22,000,0001. or 24,003,C031, or even 28,000,000/. If power was given to issue 22,000,0001. on securities, it would leave money to issue on bullion. The Hon. Member proposed that the Bank should issue 22,000,0001. on securities ; if it did so, it would be ruined directly, because it would have no bullion to meet its issues. He considered the whole of the Hon. Gentle man's speech as directed not against this measure, but a metallic standard, and to ary that the old metallic stan dard was to be kept up in the present condition of the country, was to state that which was impossible. Ile felt sure his lion. Friend would not press his amendment. Mr. GISBORNE wished to ask if the Bank was to have the power of issuing Bank post bills to an un limited extent. Sir R. PEEL' said that as to these bills they would be regulated by the general principles of. the measure: Mr. M. PHILIPS was of opinion that the measure of the Right Hon. Baronet would have the effect of maintaininc , steadiness of price, and it was th ere f ore a measure which would confer great benefit on the country. He felt that it was the duty of every member who was in any way connected with those places in which labour was largely employed to give this Bill their fullest and best support. Mr. H. PALMER argued that it would be impossible for the Bank always to have it in its power to provide gold for any demand which might be made upon them in respect of Bank of England notes in circu lation. Speculations of all sorts, and the gold requisite at certain times for the purChase of corn, would preclude the possibility of this. If the circulation was to be confined to 14,000,000/, they would rue the day that ever they passed it. Mr. KEMBLE should vote against the ataendznert. Mr. C. WOOD supported the clause. Mr. NEWDEGATE replied, withdrawing his amend ment.—The clause was then agreed to. The House then resumed, the Chairman reported pro gress, and obtained leave to sit again on Thursday., • The Education Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday. The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The other orders of the day were then disposed o and the House adjourned at Ten minutes past One. UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this Bank was held at the office, 38, Old Broad -street. The secretary having read t he report, which stated that, owing to a sum of 15,0001. having been transferred from the net produce on trade for the purpose of covering doubtful debts, the dividend for the shareholders.would be consequently lessened, the Chairman said, that owing to the great distress which prevailed in the colony, it was a matter of surprise that they were enabled to lay even such a favourable report before the shareholders. The Directors, anxious to protect the interests of the Bank, had issued directions to their several agents to be particularly cautious in all transactions at the branch banks. By the last accounts from Australia it appeared that the commercial and agricultural prospects of that colony were much more cheering• than they had been when the last meeting took place. He felt happy, under all•fhe circumstances of the case, to state that a divi dend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum would be de clared upon the last half year. In reply to a question from a proprietor, he stated that at Sydney the rate of interest at which they discounted was, for short bills 6 per cent., and for long bills 8 per cent. ; at other branches the rate of discount was 8 and 10 per cent. A ballot for the election of Directors took place, when Messrs. Gardner and Buckle were unani:nously re elected, and the meeting separated. OLOMBIAN MINING COMPANY. A special general meeting of the Shareholders in this Company was held yesterday, at the office, 44, Fins bury-square, for the purpose of increasing the capital— a step rendered necessary by the acquisition of the pro perty called Ventongimps, which adjoins the Company's mines in Cornwall. Mr. P. Stainsby in the chair. On the motion of Mr. G. W. Scorr, seconded by Mr. THOMAS, it was unanimously resolved, that 1,200 new shares of 5/. each be issued ; and the Directors were empowered to issue certificates for the same, each certi ficate to represent three shares, in such form as they may deem expedient. The sum of 3/. per share on such new shares to be paid, by three instalments of 1/. each, on the 26th of July, 26th of September, and 26th of Ja nuary next, but no certificates for new shares to be issued until all such instalments are paid. MR. GLADSTONE'S BILL ON RAILWAYS: Prints have just been issued of " A Bill to attach certain conditions to the construction of future Railways, authorised or to be authorised by any Act of the pre sent or succeeding sessions of Parliament, ancl,the other purposes in relation to railways," brought in by Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Greene, and ordered by the House of Commons to be . printed, 20th June, 1844. This Bill comprises 48 clauses. The preamble recites that "It is expedient that the establishment of new lines of railway should not be authorised, unless such con ditions as are hereinafter contained for the benefit of the public." Clause 1. enacts that " Bills of future railways shall be liable to revision ; and that above the clear usual profits divisible upon the subscribed and paid-up on capital stock of any new line of railway, track, or branch, to be established after the Ist January next after passing of the Act for such railway. " Upon the average of the three then last preceding years, shall equal or exceed the rate of ten pounds for every hun dred pounds of such paid-up capital stoPiti it shall be lawful for the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations, upon giving to the said Company one ca lendar month's uatAGO in writing of their intention to revise the seals of tolls, fares, and charges limited by the Act or Acts relating to the said railway, and to fix such new scale of tolls, fares, and charges applicable to such diarent classes and kinds of passengers, goods, awl ether traffic, as in the judgment of the Lords of the said Committee, assuming the same quantitie4 and kinds of traffic to continue, shatt likely to reduce the said divisible profits to OW Seal rate of be ten pounds in the hundred." Clauses 2 and following ones provide fbr deduction, by Lords of said Connniteo, fur amount of losses by any bad managemiult of the Company, from amount of the sum to be paid to Company in respect of such guarantee. Revised scale of toll, fares, and charg e s, as fi xe d b y the Lords, to take effect on being published in the London Gazette. This revised scale may be raised by Board of Trade, but npt lowered, without consent of the Company, for seven years, No Company, while under such revi sion of its affairs, tolls, &c., to increase its capital. Board of Trade may, institute regulations as to the Company's traffic. As to option of purchase, clause 7 enacts " That whatever ray be the rate of divisible profits in any 8 14 3 11 railway, it shall be lawful for the Lords of the said Oommittee, if they shall think fit, at any time after the ex piration of the said term of fifteen years, to purchase any such railway, with all its hereditaments, stock, and appur tenances, in the name and behalf of her Majesty, upon giving to 041144(1(innipany one calendar month's notice In writing of their intention, and upon payment of a sum equal to twenty-five years' purchase of the said annual divisible profits, estimated on the average of the three then next pre ceding years k provided always, that, if the avoilige rate of profit thr the said three years shall exceed the rate of ten pounds in the hundred, it shall be taken at only ten pounds in the hundred, far the purpose of calculating thereon the amount of such purchase money." Clause 8 provides the mode in which, when the profits have been reduced by revision, the average is to be calculated, Ciallsos fl to 24 enact that a company shalt deliver up a railway in a state of sufficient renew, and with a suf ficient working stock ;---ainount of depreciation in stock to be deducted froia purchase-money. Interest uptin 1 debts to be deducted in estimating thg pro fi ts ; mode of estimating divisible profi'4 where railway is under lease. Account & t o b e kept and to be open to the Boalld otl Trade ; — Purchase-raoney to hp pai4 to the Directors. Receipt USidor the com- Ua's seal for purch4se.pimey to be a good di sc h arge. n payment of pur•ohme-money, the railway and work;, to vest in the Crown ; but contracts, &c., reticle with the company to remain in force, Pru.;;;,o--teases or con tracts affecting the working of ibe railway ; actions, &c., not to abats, Diiierences to be settled by arbitrakors, %yl,o, are to be appointed within fourteen Ovs, and va cancies of arbitrators to be 41)04 Ap?cuntrneut of umpire. PowO? Of asiAtTaior4 i ttA 41 'fay books, &c. liogi/ cif TT* r 9, "aersOMUJiy, liable. patuse 44, 't Companies to provide one cheap train, each way, daily," has been proposed with a degree of considerate regard for the wants and the inferests, and we may add, the feelings,. of' the pope, of which we find it clifficit4 tosax too, mup i ccenixtenclatioo, 'he elauie is thyse words OW9. 4H - wllereAs it Is expedient' to secure to the poorer of travellers the means of travelling by railway at inodeltte fares, and i n carr i a ges in which they may he pro tected from the weather; be it enacted, that on and,after the several days hereinafter speciOcKl,' all railvrarcompanie4 which shall have been incorporated by any Act of the FTP4ellt session, Cr which shall be hereafter incorporated, or Ivincli;by any 'Act of the present or any future session, have obtained, or shall obtain, directly or indirectly, any extensien or amendment of the powers conferred on them respe by their previous Acts, or'have been or shall be aunt)] ised to do any act unauthorised bythe provisions of such pr evious Acts, shall provide one train of carriages at least to travel along their railway from one end to the other of each trunk, hranch, or junction line belonging to them, once at least each way, on every week day, by which they shall be bound to convey such third-class passengers as may come to limy of the ordinary stations of the railway, under the obligations contained in their several Acts of Parliament, and also under the following conditions (that is to say) : " Such train shall start at a convenient hour, to be from time to Lime fixed by the directors, subject to the approval of the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations: " Such train shall travel at a rate of speed not less than twelve miles an hour, including stoppages : " Such train shall stop for taking up and setting down pas sengers at every station which it shall pass on the line : " The carriages in which passengers shall be conveyed by such train shall be provided with seats, and protected from the weather, in a manner satisfactory to the Lords of the said Committee:— " The fare or charge for e ac h passenger b y such train shall not exceed one penny for each mile travelled by him or her: "Each passenger by such train shall be allowed to take with him half a hundred weight of luggage, not being mer chandise carried for hire, without extra charge; and any excess of luggage shall be charged by weight at a rate nbt exceeding the lowest rate of charge for passengers' luggage by other trains. " Children under three years of age, accompanying pas sengers by such train shall be taken without any charge, an", children of three years and upwards, but under twelve rears of age, at half the c h arge f or an adult passenger. " And with respect to all Railway Companies subject to these obligations which shall be open on or before the Ist day of October next, these obligations shall come into force on the said Ist day of October; and with respect to all other railways subject to this obligation, it shall come into force on the day of opening of the railway, or the day after the last day of the session in which the Act shall be passed, by reason of which the Company will become subject thereunto, which shall first happen.' Subsequent clauses vest in Board of Trade a discre tionary control over these cheap trains, and a power of allowing alternative arrangements ; enact that tax upon receipts from passengers carried at Id. per mile, shall not exceed half the amount of tax on general receipts ; that certain companies shall convey military and police foraes at certain charges under sth and Bth Victoria, cap. 55; and that railway companies shall afford additional faci lities for the transmission of mails under Ist and 2d Vic., cap. 98. Clause 31 is very important, as it requires rtilway companies to allow lines of electrical telegraph to be es tablished, as well as by private parties (to be open to the public), as by order, and servants of the Lords of the_ Board of Trade. Access to stations that will thereby become requisite to be granted by company. Ap pointment of Inspectors by Board of Trade, provided fer under 3 and 4 Victoria, o. 97 continued ; and other powers under same Act extended ; and some repealed. Board of Trade may direct prosecutions to prevent Rail. way Companies from contravening or exceeding the pro visions of their Acts ; due notice to be given to such Companies. Such prosecutions to be under the Board of Trade, and within one year after the offence. Companies empowered to enter into engagements or contracts with the Board of Trade, and may give security for the fulfil ment of engagements. Issue of loan-notes, and other illegal securities, by Railway Companies prohibited ; loan -notes already issued to be paid off when due ; registry of loan -notes. Remedy for recovery of tithe. rent charged on railway land. The other clauses re gard mere working details, such as service of notice. EL tze ECTION OF SHERIFFS. Yesterday a Common Hall was held for the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex. Alderman William Hunter, (of Coleman-street Ward) and Mr. Thomas Sydney of Ludgate-Hill, were unanimously elected. The latter gentleman was , pro posed by Mr. Dillon, of the house of James Morrison and Co., and Mr. Obbard, the Deputy of the Ward in which Mr. Sydney resides. The two newly-elected officers, in returning thanks, stated that they would do all in their power to convinc,, the Livery that the election had fallen upon persons v•ho were capable of estimating the honour conferred upon them. Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR said that as an old citizen he should avail himself of a privilege which every tilie of them possessed, of saying a few words on a subject not irrelevant to the occasion on which they were assembled —the administration of justice. He need not remind them how intimately the office of sheriff, and the power of the citizens to elect the sheriffs, was connected with the pure administration of justice ; and he had read with so much satisfaction, a sentiment delivered very recently by the present Lord Chief Baron, that lie could not forbear yielding to the wish to impress it upon the minds of his fellow-citizens. " With respect to the ad ministration of justice," said Lord Chief Baron Pollock, " he was satisfied that, so long as the people of this country possessed that independence which he had seen them evince on many occasions in the assertion of their own rights, the judges would never be found wanting in the independent and impartial discharge of their duties." —(Cheers.) Here there was a full recognition of the all-important principle that the public spirit of the people in the maintenance of their own rights was the best safe guard for the independent and impartial discharge even of the highest judicial duties ; and he might at the pre. sent time, remind them of the supreme importance of the pure administration of justice, not only in England; Scotland, and Wales, but also in Ireland. —(Applause and murmurs of dissatisfaction.) They were all agreed, no doubt, that here in England packed juries, partiality in judges, attempts to put down the free expression of opinion, and the cashiering of independent magistrates, would be cohsidered abominations not to be tolerated. Why, then, if they were friends to uni.n with Ireland, were such things to be. endured in the Sister Island ? (Cries of " Hear," and strong expressions of disappro bation.) "Gentlemen," said Mr. Taylor, "I shall con clude by merely expressing an earnest hope that a re quisition may be made to his Lordship for a Common Hall, in which we may have a full opportunity of ex pressing our feelings on this important subject,—(" Hear, hear," and " No, no.") The Chamberlain, the Bridge-Masters, and the other officers annually chosen by the Livery were elected. THE CHAMBERLAIN'S ACCOUNTS OF THE CORPORATION FUNDS, &C. &c. The auditors of the City accounts handed in the fol lowing report, which contains an exact statement of the Corporation finances : " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, elected by the Livery of London, in Common Hall assembled, on the 24th of June, 1843, auditors of the Chamberlain's accounts of the Corporation and Gresham Fund, and of the Bridge-Masters' accounts of the Bridge-house es • tates, do report ; " That the amount of the receipt and expenditure of the Corporation of London, laid before us to audit, was the twelfth annual account of Sir James Shaw, Hart., Chamberlain of this City, from the Ist of January to the 31st day of December, 1842, both inclusive, which we carefiilly examined in detail, and find— That the balance of cash upon the account on the 31st December, 1841, was £21,556 12 21 That the receipts of the year ending 31st DecenAlwr, 11M, including 6,5001, produced by the sale of stock, and applied in the purchase of freehold property, were 160,990 19 6 That the expenditure of the said year as appears by the general vouchers and documents laid before us by the Chamberlain, amounted to 166,0961 2s. 31d., (including 6,5001 paid for freehold property before alluded to, and 1,396/. 15s. lid. applied in the purchase of' Government securities) 166,096 2 3-1 Leaving a balance upon the account on the 31st of December, 1842, of 16,451 9 44 " A brief statement of the receipt and expenditure is appended hereto (Appendix A). "In the further prosecution of the examination re ferred to us,we found that certain debts, arrears of rents, dues, and Government securities were due and belonging to the Mayor and commonalty and citizens on the 31st December, 1842, and that they were at the same period answerable for debts, claims for interest, and other meats. " We have therefore directed a balance statement of such assets and liabilities to be hereunto annexed (Ap pendix B), by which it is shown that there is a cash balance in favour of the Corporation of 22,5321.198. 7P., after providing for all claims and demands upon them ; also 38,5311.75.4 d. Three per Cents., and 21,0731.55. 10d. Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Stock, exclusive of the value of their freehold and leasehold estates. " In reference to a recommendation made last year by the auditors, ' that some efficient steps should be taken to provide, as far as possible, against diminuti on o f in come, on the falling in of certain extensive leasehold property in the year 1867; we have the satisfaction of reporting that the subject has been considered by the Corporation, and a scheme having been approved of by them, directions had been given to prepare an act of Common Council in order to carry the same into effect. " We also beg to notice that a certain rent issuing out of the manor of Holcut, in the county of Bedford, is still considerably in arrear, notwithstanding the auditors di rected attention to the circumstance in their last report. " The Gresham account laid before us for examination was also the 12th annual account of Sir James Shaw, Bart., Ai Chamberlain, of the produce and expenditure pe the City's moiety of the estate, held under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, Rut., being from the 10th of Oc tober, 1841, to the 10th of October, 18411, which we have also examined, and find That the amount of ca4ll ii Advance by the Chamberlgn, en the account ending Wth October, 1841, was That the expenditure of the said ac count for the year ending 10th Octo ber, 1842, amonnted to That the receipts of the said account in the SUMO period were 35,779 3 8 Leaving a balance to the credit of the account of ........ . ‘i A. brief statement of the receipts and expenditure we have caused to be appended hereto (Appendix C.) kk We find that the City's moiety of the estate was in debted on the 10th of October, 1842, the sum of 30,0004, borrowed towards re-building the Royal Exchange after its recent destruction by fire in the year 1838 ; and that it was also indebted to the Corporation 20,000 Z; remain- A i n f g wr o f t . h th e e fi s r u e 7 l, a 6 d 6 v 6 a i nced to re-building the Exchange " The account of theßridge-house ewstaattessonlaiadnbeit fLoraezi to audit WAS the a iwe eCnln e t rnb o e f r J: l s B e 4 p 2 h , which Gibbs, the Bridg e- masters or wardens, from the Ist of January to 31st of have also carefully examined, and find • " 1841 That the balance o. cash;q hind alst December, , was .. .... . . .... ..... That the rents of the kand estates . and£l,Bso 15 41- other pocoipts of the year ending 31st December, 1842, were 33,124 19 10i £350 18 10A- Making together £34,975 8 21. ~~~ JT ,'~'~` That the disbursements of the said year, -includingthe sum of 23,5531. 15s. 11d. paid to the Chamberlain of London, under the Acts 4th Geo. 4th,: c. 50, and 4th Win. 4th, c. 118, in respect of re-building London-bridge and repairing Blackfriars- bridge, were 33,888 15 10 " Leaving a balance in hand on the 31st Dec., 1842, of 1,0861. 12s. 4: 7 1d. In addition to the said balance of cash in hand, we found that there were other assets belonging to the trust, on 31st Dee., 1842, exclusive of the value of the Bridge-house estates ; viz., rents due at Christmas 1842, 14,2811. 15s. 81d., and 9,0031 16s. 6d. Consols in the hands of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery. " The auditors in concluding this their report beg to express their most unqualified approval of the system of accounts adopted by the Corporation, enabling them to ascerta;n (w;th as little labour as is possible in transac tions of magnitude), the correctness of the accounts, as m ell as the exact position of the Corporation. " Aml they cannot but record their satisfaction at the beautiful anil accurate way in which the accounts are kept, and their I , pprobation of the attention and assi duity of the official gentlemen whose duty it is to pre pare, explain, and lay the same befhre them. (Signed) " J. MARTIN DERMER. RICIIARD WALTER. JAMES JARDINE. W. "SHEPHERD. May 17, 1844." APPENDIX A. A brief statement of the Corporation receipt and ex penditure fur the year ending 31st Dec., 1842 : RECEIPT. Balance on the last account £21,556 :2 2 4 1 Rents and quit rents Renewing fines Markets Tolls, duties, and offices Bequests Brokers' rents and fines. ................... 3,833 0 0 Freedoms, &c . 3,560 3 2 Interest on G overnment securities 2.100 9 1 Casual sundry and incidental receipts ... 2,837 11 1 Sale of Securities 6,500 0 0 £182,547 11 a EXPENDITURE. Charges on the Contra Bents, &c., viz.— Charges in aid of public improvernents£ll,soo 0 Charges on the Corporation rental 7,546 1 1 Charges on the markets 8,879 4 I . Charges on tolls, duties, &c 92,070 2 11 Charges on brokererents 303 13 0 Payments in relief of a County Rate on the Inhabitants, viz.— Magistracy expenses 7,850 8 5 Police exponses .......... House of Newgate Prison Correcti on ..... . . Debtors' Pris on.... ......... General pris o n expenses ....... . ... 6561 ...... 19 15 11 4 a ....... Administration of criminal justice Office of coroner s Civil government o f th e Ci ty 28,596 924 2 6 9 Conservancy of Thames and Medway 4,612 17 5 Magistracy of S ou th war k and Borough Compter Charitable donations, &c. Payment in respect of extinguishing the right of alienation of offices . Bequests 337 4 8 Sundry and miscellaneous expenses 10484 18 4. Interest and annuities Purchase of securities Purchase of property Balance On th e accoun t, 3 1st Dec. 1842 166,096 2 16,451 9 41 APPENDIX B. .E 182,547 11 Si The Balance Statement of the Arrears of Rents, Duties, Government Securities, &v., due and belonging to the Corporitt'.on of the City of London, on the 31st or December, 1842, and of the Claims and other engage ments chargeable on the Corporation at the same period. LIABILITIES. To amount remaining of 1 50,0001. borrowed under the authority of the Act for the re moval of Fleet-market £lO,OOO 0 0 To amount now owing of the sum raised under the Act for making a street at Holborn-bridge For half a year's pay ment due to the Lon don-bridge Approaches Fund For annuities on lives remaining unpaid 568 8 9 For interest on 10,0001. remaining of the sum borrowed for the re -moval of Fleet-market 17.5 0 0 For ditto on the sum borrowed limier the Act formaking a new street from Holborn bridge Forcompensation allow ances payable to late Deputy Sea-coal Me ters, and others... 5,750 0 0 849 11 7 2,969 19 55,900 o o Cash balance in favour of the Corpora tion, 31st December, 184° 22,532 19 7i 66,212 19 4 .£88,745 18 111 ASSETS. Balance of cash in hand on 31st of De cember, 1842 £16,451 9 By arrears of rents, City of London and Liber ties • £19,294 17 4+ By arrears of counties of Middlesex and Surrey 4,797 6 11 By arrears of Irish quit rents By arrears of tenancies at-will ................. By arrears of City' s pro portion of the 'ins bury estate By arrears of markets, tolls, duties, &c. By arrears of brokers' rents 4,892 0 0 By arrears of casual re ceipts 0 By arrears of freedoms voted to be sold for City's use By arrears of fees on the admission of free men By arrears of interest on G overn men t : , eeurities 561 13 4 Debt -- 32,304 14 96 1 11 351 4 Oi 53 G 0 0 107 2 G /et', _rom the fund for lighting Iliad:friars bridge Debt from the fund for improving the navi gation of the river Thames 15,000 0 0 Debt from the City's moiety of the Gres ham estate 39,989 15 £88,745 18 11i GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ALSO BELONGING TO THE CORPORATION. A capital of Consolidated Three per Cent. Annuities £30,350 9 2 A capital of Reduced Three per Cent Annuities B,lBO 15 2 A capital of Reduced Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Annuities 21,073 5 10 Note.—The above is exclusive of the value of the: Corporatton estates. kl; ti ' Y,,/,, ) - ~ --rill , . • _ It:" -- -Z..` 1-- - i -- , --,',,, -, 7, -4 4 ~..----......,•;- ~7 t .,-, :1 _...- - 1 1:1 - r 437 APPENDIX C. A brief statement of the—receipt7and expenditure , of the City Moiety of the estate of Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight, for the year ending 10th October, 1842 :-- RECEIPTS. A moiety of rent of Excise-office ......... £5OO 0 0 Intere s t o n stock .............................. 92 1. 2 Sale of stock ................................. 5,187 2 6 Amount received on account of loan to wards building the Royal Exchange 30,000 0 0 £35,779 3 & EXPENDITURE. Balance overpaid on the last account £3so 10 1 Salaries to lect urers on divinity, geome try, astro nomy, law, and music 463 0 0 Allowances to . poor pensioners 5O 0 Allowances, clothi ng an d coa l s to Al ms - 0 men, and repairs to the alms-houses 306 5 3 Taxes. &c., in respect of the late Royal Exchange Salaries to clerk, Exchange keepers, constables, &c. Incidental charges and expenses ......... On account, building the new Gresham College 2 NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE. ,OOO 0 0 Laying the first stone On account of foundation and rebuilding 22,450 0 0 On account of carving and sculpture On account of Architectural Commis sion Interest on loan Committee's expenses (3 years) Sundry expenses 333 11 2 307 9 4 94 7 11} 750 0 0 36 14 2 75 0 0 118 2 6 :X29,038 0 4 Balance on the account 10th Oct., 1842. 6,741 3 4 the proc ee di ngs £35,779 3 a (Signed) BENJAMIN SCOTT . A C h a Court ber o o f f Aldermen London,ll l4 l as 11e 17th, ld l a B ft 4 e 4 r . at the Common Hall were terminated ; but nothing of any public interest occcrred. IMPRISONMENT FOR DErr.-r-There are at present, in the town prikin here, four men for debt, whose united amounts, exclusive of costs, do not amount to 2/. No wonder we have a heavy county rate if every town in Glamorganskire keeps pace with Cardiff.—Monmouth shire Merlin. ~i