The Sun. — London, England, 1845-05-30 00:00:00

1111 E SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 30 1545. ...,, l'eer, - iii OW IT ived t of,k,„„, - end educated, yet many applications were f .'"• . , to be deferred or delayed from a wan t•A e l : l4 'st aie would not say from the apathy, but from ,_ egnorance of the public as to the benefits which were con- Tessfmer d by the institution.—(Cheers.) More recently a sue -1 atterupt had been made to carry out the objects of the astitution, and to afford in the asylum education to an ual nu mber of girls with the boys.—( Loud cheers.) This would, tr, ° :” .er ' have been longer dela)ed had it not been for the t , mficence of Mr. Matheson, M.P. who had recently re iu.rael from abroa d — (Cheers)—and who had generously placed b on , 1 . at the disposal of the Committee, and a further loan . of h wr„l"`., 'without interest as a stimulus to the influential Scotus :liants in the metropolis to imitate his example, for the 1. ablishment of the asylum for girls.—( Cheers. ) That addition lad been reade—large sums had been subscribed—and a building attePahle of accommodating the girls had been erected.—(Loud L. er a) The furniture was now in . that building, and it would De re ady for the reception of the girls, twenty-five in number, ttili few das( that Cheers.) He was sorry to say, however, zo:l e _ W as a deficiency in the funds. They had been obliged to "an inroad on their capital. Five hundred pound f ' 4 1)44 h h e ~„ had been applied to the finishing of the building, h and . Itnnued upon them to exert themselves on behalf of the in. li e t i u o " °a . -- ~ , (Cheers. ) If he wished to enter into any explald he d" °L.fhe benefits derived from the institution, how h cou th...o4reeslf so well as by pointing to the childreesionig whomeasily ..e4 ine ~ surrounded?— ( Loud cheers.) They sattittai the advantages which must be conferred h y such an Ileiee 2 6 upon boys and girls circumstanced . as t e b se were.— theyrif!eerS• ) They were placed in the position fro which receir7,lv.ed these advantages at a very early age. They were and er ° Into the institution at the age of seven to ten years, th e 'belted there until they were fourteen, and while there fe/ Were instructed in good, wholesome, religious . truth t c— at frNeeers) They were brought up with those feelings, I l',erui of mind, and those inclinations which would make them pi.,_ m embers of society, in whatever station it mightiio eei-1:7 Providence to place them.—( Cheers. ) This wa . s the ehildr adt'antsge.—( Renewed cheering.) Not only e eoote ell ef those who had lost their lives in defence were the tot admitted to the asylum, but the children of oto dliPale.nts, who through adversity . or sickness, had fallen Melds cuities and were in indigent circumstances. In the thfe2f the P er sons,although their station was humble, 1 ( 114 ue n , L n e of the love of s offs u ri was as powerful as it was in kehe e ,;*, of those who were in ug a different station of life.— . i h reat;L ) Those who were orph those who bad lost their Le asite k i e e arlY life knew, and ha a r lelt ' the full extent . of that li * i bet eo ti l e Ysv_ ould be acting indeed in . a niggardly Tray th . ey ... Zh ,'ee forward with liberality in aid of an institution inestimable benefits. 1144,?:reet soehceeerrtianin of conferring did such not look for support th in g that his ogw.i.,) H n e ti . men , for he was happy ike'lroltibt-o-e'tstulsc..ll.....wa.s the countrymen, and y benevolent feeling subsisting l a vroL e w o 0 diff we united Kingdom, that in the United Kingdom .0, 4 .. 4 or be erence whatever of north or south of Tweed afterthe nevolence and charity.—(Cheers.) He knew 11:the _ children had left the society they always enter e eoufeerst grateful remembrance of the be k n n e e fi w ts which had that when 11 1 7 v iere pi e ,_ nn thern—( Cheers)-- . and he 01 alw ays ere -sad in a ' position to manifest that gratitude they e Lidreu hoe(Chee ) and he would impress upon es ir sh - ee: ere present, rs— more especially upon the elder i on , its h e tuit to leave the asylum, that if .in itafte s r er if v e me leleZ°4l b e tell': Power to render the institution l a f n3; t shoulti assb,-e , P roeid,:el duty to de so.—( Cheers. ---.(c t s:oat mi l t lee to prosper them, they o ) 1d be bound to (Cri e ers.) i tl i t in which they had recciv w ed u their education. to detain e fe 1 , 1 c was afraid he had detained them . too long.— hete th ~1 ' e V') The task had been a pleasing one .h t a o l hi n m ot , 1 1 h e nkin k e - ;,, se and progress of the institution, but it . th' t-a okeel l ii" with regiet at the present . state of their funds.. th: woul d era for the patient hearing they had given him, trot ael ves a g, ai 3 O urge upon them the necessity of exerting liee e ,l 4l l th, - , nee utmost in support of the charity.—(Cheers ,) t hei r - " t hat W I L e had heard of the behaviour of the boys, he be ,,„re.,„ii.,._ coedep-t•si.ad been most exemplary, and that they had, by cl a fa of the,;fulfilled the utmost wishes of the warmest c s o u n p : sup- The thei.institution. " May God prosper them," ) ebi l le toast was Chairman, .. wherever they go."—(Cheers. and the roo urea , , as then drunk with three times three, Alt sedlieaey_ded by the pipers,. again marched round the riisi • P. m.',,ag saluted the Chairman, left the hall. 10,,e a, e'rewaitir M.P., the treasurer, then . rose to 4' 6 elle: Pe rt in reference to the charity, and was recived with e 4 4t il aree. r :•_) (1 , He said that he appeared before them as be l e b i ,bet i.a"rt, few, and far between. He knew not how it s l ', h e athe r : the treasurer of a Scottish charitable institution, he _ 4 ~,, eas 7ePear before them as a treasurer in want than a e ru to tielro wealth, because he knew that he shouldn in d ,, e. Isi eir feelings on behalf of their poor countryme a s ilegtttheeter did this institution need so much support on (614 Present moment this Scottish charity flourishing n._ ek _ s ees. , soil, and never did institution so deserve su . ppo n to 1-4.,foan:LvAn allusion had been made by the Chairma in. Need f or t l i on of that branch of the asylum which was eat e ,, e atitu et eauPport and education of the daughters of their Ili "o eeeeeo The charity ought to have two wings, and to . t, Sy k iiew of them over the sisters of the boys.—( Cheecs. ) t is tl u t alt. h e had fought hard in the cause, and he had a righ /itr a itisCe had said, they would have the sisters of the . bo d ys l aft 4 . ls, wh tet k i els,. It was a fact that many of those little in i : %%te ll e ',au Paraded round the room that evening,. had N et ; .butt home in an equal state of destitution with them 4 4 4 4 Wit „he hoped that they would soon be able to carry_ (toz.,ityheit: zni r e to its fullest extent. On the sth of institution would be full fledged, and 17 out of th e lers.) e /iris would be admitted under their roof.—was 0 4 - 0 o h II e 17th of the present month of last ear th• ors the they had celebrated their last anniversary. Ol aY t -e . had laid the foundation of that building etleg:ar b e -w completed, and twenty-tive poor girls wo they would be tilei,7 l t4 0,, admitted to the charity, heir klid .principles, which would lead hereafter to kq. lt-erceetneut in life. He knew that statements of ac tl4olPl. fp;dry—he knew ot L'of cellds. There would -le -6 th e luPporters of the institution that evening, had it . have s heen a fuller attend d m a rte' e 4 t to h :-.ti l -er k , any of them were compelled by duty to attend 414' e rk , -, 1. 7 of another great and good charity—the Provi -1,,,! se. 4 1 . ( % tit t . ( Cheers )—and many of those then t he - Ike 5'4 Perhaps, u —to ha ve been there, but that would r e ~_ 4 t ,. Though their people were few, c iiia t :',Yle vo li * , lit them. ,/,' b,`" 4 l lb d' he hoped, be full. The institution now -he 'Ai ed Is • to those 25 girls were about e e e ,„ 4 , 14 . - "It er to rat of ,tog 115 children in all.— Hear. ttr: 4e rl, be e, le th,"" e r: etr . e 9 to . the instituti n o ti n m w ( he a r s s 2 i o2. om the t ., 4 l !rosee e. Z os id diminish as their h e et this u t ecudit ure A r i teas the cost of each child. Now, eY were dPeed e / had n j trie institution 2,500/. a year, d the benerelintlefueetif.er otfie / a fixed revenue of 600/. a year, Scottish p. r emainder of their revenue upon teal, destitute l i n zi of the Scottish heart for the y, ' their fors as ' -", ttot of the Scottish heart tve,,,, sident then u been of beautifully observed *eh:" MI Work ' -11.1) • s ofb "3 no feeling of north or south of io 4 Mted of enevolence and charity.—( Cheers.) They . T he te ka h led a(ge.helb, and there was no chance of the union J e re ,e_ requ red : f --e e 'or % -at ti;- ; - " eer s ) They had never yet failed to Y d e ow stuependent for or , the i s . uppo o r n tof the institution. p unfixed sources. I t :li t e the l would for in '6°n°eed upon support, and he VaisbYo by "'d worthily uphold the national character. e hl 1-- . th an / sur lus h let them put it 4 t e treasue....., 1 hoa C tka7 e . had m od , OX.---( c C as heers and laughter.) . T .y h i_ e coa l otLitidivia„ , albs) to the offers of one benevolen indi li a •,,mitio h 7U are oh "„ e : was Ur. Matheson.—(Cheers. ) If he t e i.,) , 14 -s reention.,a' them and given them the 1,0001., on the eo,l ° f 01 , (1 have Tact 't by the Noble Duke, he hardly knew how 1,7. • girls. leded in founding this branch of the instt -u filialithout ! " I st he had done more— he had lent them ktil w. tout of ipterest. One of our greatest writer, had taaled4i°,heeiet°o Most admirable characters was that of the N t :lio w t i4 worigcsacquired wealth by industr and integrity, ex % Nib °lle 01 tk °t Innn'fiCenCe.--( Cheers) Mr. Matheson %ha cs,tiot,dinr"teeffice-bearers of the institi . tion.—( Cheers. ) se b . a cu et aisoC res wet were dependent for ltbool. per annum fe l t would urge them to go on regardless of they might indulge in the most hopeful ll 'tal e . eotle ed _ mre , for Scotchmen would not be . Scotch ),4hy )44%4 th,..bs,ould not be Scotland, if they permitted such Akiltst,,‘M any To be crippled for want of means.—( Cheers. ) elielkitcPy Uenevolent Scotchman ask what institution ie s '•(Ch,, eir upport, let them say the Caledonian , h e ~li 044.18') If they heard any Christian pilgrim ask i4-NrltliplikLue could contribute his mite, let them say to fo I he 61 the C 1143. --(Loud cheers.) It was worthy the (41te,t, teothshristian Pilgrim. The children were educated 1;:e, resek6l, Of ,iel Christianity. The Bible was the tfacipi s Their`ue education given in the institution.— V I CO and (h You ng minds were early imbued with religious t t „ft. vPsti ao _ ” never neglected the Bible, the foundation Catte"tiilsoo,l7ucation.—( Cheers. •4NI, d edih ; 40, although still suffering from indisposition, 1 1 , .1i e okel od 'a tneeting, then favoured the company with a hi Oekt.,:_which was most exquisitely sung. . . 'NZ atis„,' . kv thee read the report of the subscriptions. ellertori e, s'e°:., collected was 635/. ; of this 76/. were life 14.1tht h i ti LLo e , 4 " 4 , l ‘ I guineas annual subscriptions. teteL k Si dl. abk e•,7 l , so .„Proposed the health of the Chairman, iWyk - ' and " rsighland honours. After which the pipers l oqa N ee : reel was danced b some of the Hhland ts e l:. o,..klit k ,t , who were attired in the national costu ig me. N e es,' el $ -Iv returned thauks t h: e tis " ill ItNeAkT, M. • . Of i, aelen...L proposing the health of the 'aiCeeb t 'oe Led,fi•u, reminded the company that . her Grace_ VO h 4 t.llj, eh Patronesses Patronesses of the Caledonian ball for h e ' ari tY, which was fixed for Monday, 9th June tt t z... Att a of 4 ,1 111:11Citi:iisolf_91:a,,ce was drank with Highland honours— it'4t tt 1 ; 1 411...... --' ureen grow the rashes, 0!" Having 1 '4'41 al l , ti t his,,,ah oi L itt, fa:li:aid that they were . bound to drink the : t 'Rlil l / 4 4V111 s„,_.gs of filial respect and gratitude. It was i, I.l. e 'frs, x a etY of London, the Parent of the Institu 'iqer- to e t latei N ° Society had done more good than the a cip e ' th e ,toe,l °kat' done and he was rejoiced to know that 4411 4f . 41 4 :"itig et:dition. Whenever Scotsmen met ti ) 't he t at e • -orth t e ,p 4 , o 4,t L itt klee 0 e_ach other the right hand of fellow- I li wIr: `64 stpleibit be'en((;heers). gieltktkOot Wei.", nationuaUlitairw.ith the utmost enthusiasm, l a tir 1,41 aleto 11 returned thanks on the part . of the Ni 'loit, fr ‘ad tii? . It was most gratifying to the Highland i+otNiceiheti../t Ira.Mstitution, of which it was the parent, so i_vbk,' by tl 7.t e,,,, i . 4 most pleasing spectacle to see, as they VII.) "It PR, the boys, who were educated and sup ‘letttiltiettllto Wast,itillat_iion, looking so healthy and so happy.— % %a A t ler, h ueed, a beautiful sight. He would not ,h i lb tl e gNii_syl eto. 'it would, at once drink ff Success to the -HartNl/44ildtt:tr• Qe,u,e (Cheers.) • 04 1 4, 4 7 ; k 4 t . Y,_ 1 144 e ' hatidl4 Proposing " The Caledonian Society," ak. qtrliPregeri donation of fifty guineas, which the , h _ . 1 / 14,4, Resident he m. —(Cheers.) N e e Z,,ela. of the Society, returned thanks in ke k oh_ wi n l airo,es ~it : V of the toasts were then drunk : Vice at,m N ttel; Il ildrer, n . Stit Uti°W ; the Clergymen The wbo have . 00, 4 4 14 1 ard s of b, the V ice -Presidents and Directors t4l kt:d i lile 4ll coal,' l?ay. In proposing this latter toast, 441,.. kr letlf given with it the name of Mr. John Murray, 11, o r 94:',4 guineas to the Society, and who had tb2 4 4 '' ' ..44 1 thit,;"44: hrrtFlkureetattkrned thanks, . erg ed, theireceded by the pipers, and accom c;,kt h .........._,...ff nstitution, and the company sePa -rel. .41 1 , 4 ktkd i4PheryTh2,l----------li--- Oki, Wil a vour of , r ed off with Mr. Alderman Stltt il , of into %on, wh .uord John Russell's resolutions. ultht tiee z ° has been compelled by a severe qto - ‘4t ' is no, 4 to postpone his entertainments for a It te lt e tti' q ui te r t.„ 4 1 . 4a „ N e lo g , h ecovered, and will resume his oeit a b t ' Whor, next Monday, at the Music Hall, ,' al of of th e 3 0 0 will give ' " Anither Nicht wi' oett,k o,ettrus,B lea st a w e give portion of which is his ' lt tate r. ,, c :I'd oeuvre, the humorous poem of h i , l'A. r , 10% ', 0 The songs, also, are among Burns's 'ra ), b e t TR 4 V i r *i tti t 4 for '4'b•.--Tbere Was a steady market 1 40 *1 1.. 4 ter ld Yarn l,, Iti,,_-• I One, and goods and prices of both were very 1.1t ,,, t1 - : or 411,..ih0 b: i.td..v.ance in' several descriptions of yarn, li s ti i 4 e4 . 44 4 :l l : i tea a seo u e - t i ai e eh e osintipaiii...ng i s n , ch printing -cloth and the inferior .which had been previously some.. tea. eoleii•-e.atooda_eu with other fabrics. The Rochdale The .' far flannels MaY 26.---There has been about an Mli ta .l°l taark uel .' t *-daY, with little or no change in %cm a : fa much the Sanle as that of last week. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mae 29. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. The Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. The Exeter and Crediton Railway Bill was also read a third time and passed. Lord ASHLEY appeared at the Bar, and reported, as Chair man of the Group IF, that the Committee had met that morn ing and had waited for one hour for the attendance of Captain Bernal Osborne, but he did not make his appearance. Captain B. OSBORNE stated that he had had a fall, which had so much injured him that he could not attend the Com mittee. He was anxious to get rid of his attendance on the Committee. After some observations from Lord G. SOMERSET, upon the motion of Air. L A BOUCHERE, the Hon. and Gallant Member was excused from further attendance on the Com mittee. backed as he was by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government. The Right Hon. Baronet de scribed the prisons throughout the country for the incarcera tion of prisoners to be miserable places, mere black-holes, unfit for human beings to be placed in. He had himself been much influenced by the statement of the Right Hen. Baronet, though he knew that the prison at Bristol was not such a one as had been described. Formerly the evil was that the debtor was entirely at the mercy of the creditor, but now they had gone as far wrong the other way by placing the creditor at the mercy of the debtor. The change had been too violent and sudden in its operation. Meetings had been held in the prin cipal towns in England relative to this clause, and they had been unanimous in condemning it. Mr. Commissioner Fane and Mr. Commissioner Evans had stated that it would afford a refuge to all the rogues of the country. It was calculated that previous to the operation of this clause fifty millions sterling were annually lost by insolvents, and he thought it would be difficult to calculate what would be the amount of increase on that sum, if the further operation of that clause were allowed. In fact every debt under 201. was looked upon as a debt of honour, and the courts rather presented a point of attraction to debtors, as affording them an easy mode of cheating their creditors. It was strange doctrine to urge in its favour, that it would be the means of putting an end to credit. He did not know how a commercial country like this could do without the system of credit. He admitted that credit was liable to abuse, but what was there that was not liable to abuse? They protected the credit of the wealthy man, and he saw no reason why they should not protect the poor man equally. They gave every facility to the wholesale trader for the recovery of his debts, but they turned their back upon the retail dealer. The creditor t whose debt amounts to 211. might say with some effect to his debtor, " pay me the 211. you owe me." But if the debt happened to be 191., the debtor might laugh in his face. He should like the Honourable Baronet to define the difference between the two. Was he to be told that the man who was in debt 211. ought to be imprisoned, and that he whose debts amounted only to 191. should be allowed to escape with impunity? It was urged that the total absence of credit would be conducive to the welfare and well-being of the working classes ; but he denied this. It was, in his opinion, highly essential that the labourer, be he manufacturing or agricultural, should be allowed to have credit, and if they re fused it to him his cup of misery would be full. He con sidered the poor man ought to be cared for as well as the rich. It was known that this country was deteriorating into a vitiated state, and the effects of the Bill had been described by a writer of the present day as having disseminated a spirit of mistrust in both public and private life, and, in the end, it had so enervated the energies of the people, that the popula tion had been led into a system of self-abandonment as regarded running into debt. It was a notorious fact that seven-tenths of the people anticipated their incomes. It was useless to suppose that the extravagant expenditure of the reck less could be hindered, or that this class would be prevented from incurring debt, when there were so many trades.nen willing to give them credit, by any such measure as the 201. clause. There was no doubt that . among tradespeople there were many individuals who would not encourage extravagant expenditure or the incurring of debt, but he would quote the language of the immortal bard Shakespere, which would sho w that all would not be guided by similar rules : " Dost thou think, because thou'rt virtuous, There shall be no more cakes and ale? Ay, by St. Anne, And ginger shall be hot i' th' mouth, too." Honesty might be found its fustian, and often was discovered amongst the lowest classes, in whom it had sometimes been thought it was not always to be found. Under these circum stances, then, he would ask, what protection was it intended to give tradesmen ? for already every protection had been taken from them. The tradesman must he protected, and in order to this, the House should first make an inquiry, and that was all he now asked. The Honourable Member then read a paper, in which it was stated that a tradesman had been ruined by giving credit in small sums, besides hav ing to pay the income-tax, for which the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had his hand in his pocket. In fact, if any tradesman who was obliged to give credit in sums up to 201. were not exempt from the income-tax, he could never get on. He held in his hand a list of many unsuccessful tradesmen, but he would not weary the House with it ; he would merely say this, that tradesmen were driven to discharge their workmen and to re duce their expenses. The nature of cases tried in small courts, and he had several in point, was this—a small debt was due from some person to a tradesman, and being desirous to re cover it, imprisonment being abolished, the sheriff was put into the debtor's house. A relation, the landlord, or some person at a distance, claimed the goods, an action was threat ened, and the sheriff was withdrawn. In nine cases out of ten they would find that the sheriff was withdrawn because the creditor preferred submitting to the first loss, rather than in volving himself or others in trouble, which would be entailed upon him by t..king the case before a jury. There was now a woman named Goole, aged ninety, confined in Bristol gaol for a debt of 241., and who had small sums owing to her, under 202., more than sufficient to cover the debt for which she was incarcerated. By the opera tion of the Act, the fees to officers in small courts were mate rially diminished, and the deficiencies in their salaries had to come out of the Consolidated Fund. The aggregate annual salaries of four clerks, in the Southwark Court of Requests, was 2,2411. 10s., which was created by fees. During the first six months after the Act came into operation, there was a de ficiency of 7161. 18e. 4d.. se that in twelve months a deficiency of 14,432/. 16s. Bd. would be created in their usual emolms meats, which would have to be made good out of the Conso lidated Fund. And as a Committee of that House appeared to him the most fitting tribunal to inquire into the evils of which he complained—at once the mode most dignified for the House, and most congenial to the poor and oppressed tradesman, he trusted the Right Hon. Baronet would grant the inquiry with out hesitation. If, however, the Government should object to the appointment of the Committee, he should take the sense of the House on the expediency of his proposition, and press the matter to a division. Mr. KEMBLE briefly seconded the motion. Sir J. GRAHAM said if he understood the Hon. Gentle. man, who had introduced the motion, aright, the object sought to be accomplished by the Committee was how the provisions of the Act, passed last session, respecting small debts, had ope rated upon tradesmen. If that was the object sought to be obtained, then he did not see any good that would result from it, as certain of the evils complained of had commandell the at tention of a Noble Lord of high legal acquirements (the Lord Chancellor); and he had prepared a Bill on the subject, which had been brought into the other House of Parliament. The Hon. Gentleman said that his object was not to repeal the law of last session, but to effect an improvement in it. He (Sir James Graham) rejoiced at it, as he believed nothing could exhibit such a want of sympathy with and indifference to the interests of the working classes as the re-enactment of im prisonment• for small debts. The measure had, upon the whole, worked well. No complaints had been made about it from the great body of the people—the complaint had issued from the tradesmen. who considered themselves injured by it, but who, he might remark, had the remedy in a great measure in their own hands—the withholding of credit.—Hear, hear. ) He was willing, however, to admit that there were defects in the Act of last session, but he denied that it was what the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. H. Berkeley) had described is—a piece of crude legislation. To no measure introduced during the last 20 years had so much attention been paid, or more pains bestowed. The charge of indecent haste, or party legislation was, therefore, net at all applicable to the question. No arguments could have been adduced that were not then fully heard upon this question ; and when he heard the speech of the Hon. Gentleman, he expected to have heard him conclude with some such motion as a proposition for the re peal of the Act of last session. His (Sir J. Graham's) own opinion was that the present Bill was not sufficiently stringent or summary against debtors to the amount of 201. The Lord Chancellor had assured him that he had given his most earnest attention to the Government Bill, and in a very few days he hoped it would be laid before the House. Under these cir cumstances be hoped the House would suspend its opinion upon the subject till they heard more of it.—( Hear.) He admitted last session that this Bill required scme amendment and al terations; and having made that admission, he did hope the House would wait until the Bill came before it in an amended form. Mr. PARKER said he had but very few observations to make. He hoped the system of imprisonment would not be revived, and thought the declaration of the Right Hon. Baronet would be satisfactory to the House. The Bill contained a very stringent clause, which, in his opinion, would have prevented the occurrence of some of the evils complained of, had it been acted upon at the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Courts. Mr. M. PHILLIPS regretted that the Committee was not to be appointed, because had there been a Committee the small tradesmen, who complained of the Bill, would have had an opportunity of stating to the House what were the real and practical difficulties they suffered. Mr. HAWES said he did not wish to revive the oppression on the debtor which had been formerly practised. He thought the only effect of appointing the proposed Committee would be to cushion the measure coming down from the other House of Parliament. The country was very anxious for an improve ment in the measure of last session, and the appointment of a Committee now would only impede that desirable im wovement. He thought, therefore, that Hon. Members on his own side of the House ought not to press the motion.— ( Hear, hear.) As to raising a debate upon the worn-out question of imprisonment for debt, he had thought every thing that could be said upon it had been said long ago. The Hon. Member concluded by saying, he hoped the Hon. Mover would not press his motion. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the alteration of im prisonment for debt upon final process under 201. had been made because of the miseries which debtors had suffered under the old law. He was now willing to believe from the ex perience he had of the present law, that the creditor was not sufficiently protected, and if any further protection could be given to him it would be moat desirable ; at the same time he would be most cautious of placing in the hands of the creditor any arbitrary power. He hoped the Hon. Member would withdraw his motion. In case the measure devised in the House of Lords did not give the desired protection to the creditor, he would do all in his power to make it do so.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. SPOONEIt hoped the Hon. Gentleman would with draw his motion. Mr. BERKELEY said, he thought he could net do less than withdraw his motion, after what had been said by the So licitor-General, and the Rigbt Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He would leave the mat ter in the bands of the Government, with the most perfect confidence of the result. Colonel RAWDON said there were some hundreds of persons confined in prisons in Ireland, for small debts, and he hoped the provisions of the Bill would be extended to that country. The motion was then withdrawn. IRIS HCHURCH- RATES. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee, to take into consideration the Act 17 and 18 Car. 2, c. 7, intituled " An Act for provision of Mi nisters in Cities and Corporate Towns, and making the church of St. Andrews, in the suburbs of the city of Dublin, presen tative for ever," with a view to the repeal of so much thereof as relates to the payment of ministers in corporate towns in Ireland. On looking at the census of Ireland for 1841, he found that in the City of Cork, the Catholics of Ireland were in the ratio of six and a half to one, while the amount of mi nisters' money raised there amounted to no less than 12,000/. It was for the removal of a source of so much acrimony and heartburning, that he now solicited the interposition of the House, for the removal of a burthen obnoxious not only to the Roman Catholics but avast proportion of Protestants of Ireland. He was aware that when he approached this question he might be met by the objection of the difficulty of finding a substitute-- that substitute he would seek in the revenues of the Established Church ; and in making that suggestion he was not amenable to the insinuation that such a measure would divert the pro perty of the Protestant Church in Ireland to other and foreign purposes. This arrangement would be at once satisfactory to the Roman Catholics, and certainly not unjust to the Pro testants of the country. He would not detain the House by any further observations, trusting that the spirit which had of late been evinced by the Government would be carried out in the present advantageous opportunity. Sir H. W. BARRON seconded the motion. Sir T. FREMANTLE did full justice to the tone and spirit in which the Hon. Member for Cork had brought forward his resolution, and admitted to the full the obnoxious character of the tax. But while the Government were impressed with that conviction, and had submitted the subject to a rigid investiga tion as well as a most anxious consideration, they had felt the extreme difficulty of removing these imposts, more especially as no substitute could be either suggested or de vised. The ease was not quite so bad as the Hon. Gentleman had represented it to be. A similar tax prevailed at Edin burgh and elsewhere. He hoped, under the circumstances, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman would withdraw his motion. Mr. ROCHE thought the Government was really bound to find a substitute for this tax. It was very well for his Hon. and Learned Friend on the opposite side to say that he would give the subject his best consideration ; but they wanted something better. They wanted to get rid of the abuse altogether—they wanted a pledge that the House would deal with this question, which they had admitted to be an abuse, in the present session. An HON. MEMBER here moved that the House be counted, when, 40 Members net being present, the House adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. Hull and Selby (Bridlington Branch) Railway,—Third reading, Friday, May 30. Newcastle and Berwick Railway,—•Report, Friday, May 30. Newcastle and Darlington Railway (Brandling Junction), —Report, Friday, May 30. Harwich Railway,—Committee on petition, postponed from Friday, May 30, till Monday, June '2. Yarmouth and Norwich Railway,—Report,P'riday,May 30. Lowestoft Railway Harbour,—Report, Friday, May 30. Leeds and West Riding Junction Railway,—Committee on re-committed Bill, Thursday, May 29, at twelve. West Cornwall Railway,—Committee on petition, for addi tional provision, Friday, May 30. Lynn and Ely Railway,—Third reading, Friday, May 30. Bristol and Exeter Railway Branches,—Third reading, Friday, May 30. Ely and Huntingdon Railway,—Third reading, Friday, May 30. Newcastle upon Tyne and North Shields Railway (Tyne mouth Extension),—Report, Friday, May 30. Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway (Keymer Brunch), —Report, Friday, May 30. Bridgewater Navigation and Railway,—Committee on re committed Bill, Monday, June 2, at three. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway,—Committee on Petition, for additional Provision, Friday, May 30. The following Bills were read a third time, and pealed : Manchester and Leeds (Burnley Branch and Heywood and Oldham Branches Extension). Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway (Shipley to Colne). Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway. Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal. Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway. Chester and Holyhead Railway. The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (Worcester Branch and Cheltenham Extension), —Report from Select Committee on Standing Orders read; Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Newdegatc, and Mr Spooner. RAILWAY COM AHTTEES. (YESTERDAY.) Group K. LONDON AND NORWICH DIRECT LINE. The Committee on this line met at the usual hour this morning, Lord Sandon in the chair. Mr. Rodwell cross.examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—Thetford is the most unproductive part of the country through which the Direct Norwich will pass. Has known the county of Sussex fur 22 years. There is a very excellent turnpike-road between Bury and Thetford, over which there is a most extensive traffic conveyed both by snails and waggons. William Hubbard, examined by Mr. GIRDEN—Is a captain in the navy resident at Bury, having taken considerable interest in the various projects for accommodating the districts of Sussex and Norwich. Attended a very numerous meeting at the above town, at which Lord Jermyn, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, and other influential parties attended, when resolutions in favour of the Direct Norwich line were almost unanimously passed. The price of coals during last year at Bury varied from 325. to 40s. This article is at present brought from Lynn, where the price is I Is. or I es. ; and by the formation of the Norwich Direct line it could be brought from that town or Yarmouth at little more than 16s. or 188.; and, as between 16,000 and 18,000 tons of coal are annually consumed at Bury, the advantage in that respect conferred by the proposed line would be most considerable. Cross-examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—Cannot tell what the popu. halms between Chelmsford and Bury St. Edmunds is; nor is pre pared to say what the traffic on either of the competing lines would be. Mr. B. Jennings, examined by Mr. ALEXANDER, Q.C.—ls a coal and corn-merchant of Bury, where he has resided above twenty years. Imports about 500 tons of coal annually. There are fourteen other coal-merchants in the town importing far more. Between 15,000 and 16,000 tons, coming from Lynn, are annually consumed there. The present charge for freight be. tween Bury and Lynn is ss. per ton, the toll 3s. 4d., and expenses for cartage at Bury 2s.—in all, 10s. 4d. for conveyance between the towns. He imports between 9,000 and 10,000 quarters of seed annually, or in weight about 500 tons. From April 17, 1844, to April 9, 1845, the quantity of corn sold at the Bury market was 127,958 quarters, besides 4,000 tons of other seed. All this amount had to be carried, by a very tedious land carriage, to the different consuming ports; besides these estimates, taken from the public returns, above one-third for which no account is given should be added. About sixty thousand quarters of barley are annually sold at the Bury market. The cost for conveyance of seeds between Bury and London is 311 s. a ton. Calculating the rate by rail at 2s. per ton per mile, the charge, on the construction of a line to the metropolis, would be Is, a too, thus effecting a saving of I9s. a ton. Cross-examined by Mr. RAWLINSON—There is a very large malt ing business carried on at Sudbury. Would prefer sending his barley to Bishop-Stortford than to Sudbury. The nature of the country between Bury and Thetford is unproductive and the soil very light. Does not know for what the land lets in the neigh bourhood. A great deal of oats comes to Bury from Lincoln. A line from Lynn to Cambridge would not be a more economical means of transit for that produce than by the proposed direct Norwich. The cheapest market both for foreign and home oil-cake is London ; the cheapest mode of its conveyance to Bury is the water navigation from Lynn, by the Lecke. The coal that comes from Ely is inland produce. From Bury to Barton Mills the distance is twelve miles, on which 3s 4d. toll is demanded for the carriage of goods. Corn would be more benefited by a railway, as far as the merchants are concerned, but coal as regards the inhabitants generally. J. E. Lacon,:examined by Mr. GlRDEN—l6brother of Sir E. Lacon, and has for many years resided at Yarmouth as banker and brewer. During the late winter, when the water navigation was closed, and the strike in the north existed, Norwich would have been left wholly unsupplied with coal and corn but for the railway accom modation. The distance from Norwich to Bury, by Yarmouth and Thetford, is 611 miles, and by Diss and Beccles 62k. When the various projects for accommodating Yarmouth were first brought forward a Committee of gentlemen was deputed to examine into the merits of each. The advocates of them all sent in their propo sitions, their rates of distances, and every particular, when the Committee decided in favour of the Norwich Direct Line, and the inhabitants of Yarmouth subsequently confirmed that decision, and requested their members to support the Bill in Parliament. Thomas Goocher, examined by Mr. GIRDEN—Was formerly a butcher at Bury, but from the want of accommodation between that town and the metropolis left it a year ago, and now carries on his business at Stortford. Has often paid as much as 50 1 . a week for the carriage of his meat to the London market. The country about Bury is the finest grazing land in the kingdom, perhaps in the world. Should a railway he constructed that would connect Bury with London, by a route not longer than sixty or seventy miles, he might return to his former town, but if the distance could not be made less than 100, he would remain at Storford. Cross.examined by Mr. Rawl.'NsoN—By grazing country he meant turnip land, not grass, as in the counties of Devon, Glouces tershire, and Somersetshire. There is very little if any grass in the neighbourhood of Bury. The Speaker having been here announced at prayers, the Com mittee adjourned. Group DD. THE CALEDONIAN AND THE GLASGOW, DUMFRIES Glasgow, was )8i miles in favour of the Caledonian and as re spected Edinburgh, the distance saved was 66 miles. it would also be the most direct and convenient route to the west' of Scot land, and from thence to the Irish coast, if the branch froi vi Dum— fries were continued. Mr. Smith said he considered the Caledonion line was loa fer " able, both with respect to the accommodation which it would :Bi rd to the through traffic, and to the local traffic, and also, fro la its central position, would be very advantageous for the later d tricts. He considered that the Nithsdale line passed throu ih much uncultivated country as the Caledonian. On cross.examinatio», he admitted that there was more mica strata, which was useful for agricultural purposes, on the Nitl isdale line than on the Caledonian. Mr. Anderson, coal master at Sanquebar, deposed as ti the general superiority of the Caledonian liLie for the traffic in min orals. Mr. Landells, mining engineer, gave evidence to show th. at the mineral traffic of the Dumfries line had been considerably over stated. In his opinion, the tables of that Comp. InY had been ex aggerated to the extent of more than 5,0001. Mr. Tyrell considered that the cattle tables calculated by tire Dumfries Company were not correct, and were gre, dly exagge.. rated, especially as regarded the cattle coming from t he north ca England. Mr. Anderson gave corroborative testimony, and concu tred ge— nerally with what had been previously stated. ' ' Mr. Collister, civil engineer, thought the estimates that h ad been prepared by Mr. Miller for the construction of the Dumfr ies line were fully 34C,000/. under what they ought properly to hav e been calculated at. Mr. Errington concurred entirely in the opinion of the pn 'rims witness, and said that he had found from experience that the esti mates generally for the construction of railways were under c slcu lation; and, to guard against this error, the estimates of the t ':ale donian line had been framed accordingly. In his calculation of ' the expense of the Dumfries line he had been guided entirely by the same principle that governed his estimates for the construction 5 .of the Caledonian line. Tho Committee adjourned till half-past eleven tomorrow. Group H H. THE TEN HOURS BILL. Dr. BOW RING presented a petition, numerously signed, from Bolton, in favour of the Ten Hours Bill. MANUFACTURING DISTRESS. Mr. COBI)EN presented a petition from the hat manufac turers of Lancashire, complaining of distress and praying fur inquiry. PRIVILEGE. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL brought up the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the case of the action of Howard v. Gossett. The report stated that on Tuesday last judgment was obtained against Sir William Gossett, and a ver dict of 2001. returned, execution upon which would be levied on tha 2d of June. The Committee recommended that a writ of error should be brought on the judgment in the Court of Queen's Bench. As the execution would not preju dice the proceedings in the writ of error, the Committee did not feel it expedient to prevent the levy. The SOLICITOR- GENERAL then moved that the report be printed. Mr. HIJAIE thought that some day ought to be mentioned upon which to take this report into consideration. He thought that the privileges of that House were not properly protected. He thought the time had now come when they ought to ascer tain whether they had any privileges or not. The SOLICITOR- GENER AL thought that it would be better to wait, so as to give further time for consideration. They might, it was true, take the other course, and he was quite willing to follow any suggestion the House might make, but he thought that these was some further information which might be laid before the House. By thus doing, the House would effectually interfere, without being committed to any course. Mr. HUME wished to ask whether there were any means of stopping the execution? Mr. WATSON said that unless they put in bail in error the execution must proceed. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that execution could be enforced on the 2d of June. He would lay a copy of all the papers before the House to-morrow, and the report might then be taken into consideration. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said they had got a copy of the judgment, but they wanted a copy of the warrant and of the record to enable them to proceed rightly. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, the record, though not supplied, might be had to-morrow, though, strictly speak ing, it could not be made up until all the proceedings had been gone through in the case. Sir T. •;'ILDE said that it was necessary to have a copy of the warrant and of the record before the House. before they took any step with any justifiable hope of vindicating their privileges. Mr. COLLETT asked whether this was a motion of suffi cient importance to take precedence of the other orders of the day. The SPEAKER—Of course. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the copy of the record was being printed, and he would lay copies of it on the table in the morning, and he moved that the report be taken into consideration to-morrow. This was agreed to, and the subject dropped. Sir W. H. BARRON presented a petition from Waterford, against the Irish Poor-law Bill. Air. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the Com plete Suffrage Society, for an eateniion of the franchise. THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that, on that day fortnight, he would make a specific motion as to the mode in which justice was administered in the Channel Islands. NEW ZEALAND. . _ _ Mr. M. MILNES gave notice that on the motion of Mr. C. Buller respecting the New Zealand Company, he would move that it be an instruction to the Committee to inquire into the sufferings of the emigrants under the Company. The Hon. Member further gave notice that, on the 3d of June, he should call the attention of the House to the mischievous effects of public executions. CASE OF LIEUT. COLLINS. Mr. BICKHAM ESCOTT rose to put to the Hon. Mem ber for Beverley the question of which he had given notice. He wished to ask him whether the Court of Directors of the East India Company had considered the case of Lieut. Collins, late of the East India Company's service, who had been tried by a court-martial and dismissed, whether he was enabled to give any opinion as to the legality or illegality of the court martial by which he had been dismissed. Secondly, supposing that, in their opinion, the court-martial which had dismissed Lieutenant Collins was illegal, whe ther he did not think that some substantial compensation should be made by the Government to Lieut. Collins for his illegal dismissal by a sentence which the Court of Directors of the East India Company themselves considered as illegal; and he would ask, in addition, if the Hon. Member was not aware that in the opinion of many learned persons,that Court was an illegal Court? Mr. HOGG thought he was scarcely called upon to answer these questions.—( Hear, hear.) If it were the pleasure of the House that he should go into the ease of Lieutenant Collins, he would do so, and he would state the charge against that gentleman, not in his oan words, but in the words of the finding of the court, with the observa tions of the Commander-in-Chief thereon.—(Hear, hear. ) He would state this in the words of the finding, without add ing a word of observat ion from himself, if the House thought it was expedient that he should do so ; but he gathered that the House was of opinion that it would he better that he should abstain.—( Hear, hear.) With regard to the legality of these proceedings, he was surprised that the Honourable Gentleman should ask whether or not the Court of Directors had considered the legality of the court-martial. They had no right to take upon themselves to judge of its legality. The whole authority for judging of court-martials was vested by the warrant of the Crown in the Commander-in- Chief. He was the sole authority on the subject, and from his decision there was no appeal. The Court of Directors had no power to alter, correct, or affirm:the decision of any court-martial. The Mutiny Act described the course of proceeding if there was reason to complain. The courts of Westminster were open to those who in this country felt themselves aggrieved, so were the courts in India, and the courts in the various presidencies. The Court of Directors had no power to pass any opinion on the finding of a court-martial. They had the power, by the 51st of Geo. 111., to restore into the service any officer who had been sus pended or dismissed by the sentence of a court-martial ; but the power of the statute did not come into operation till the sentence of the court-martial had been come to. The Court of Directors had considered the case of Lieu tenant Collins, and believed it one of hardship. If he had voluntarily retired from the service, he would have had a pension of 731. a year, and although he had forfeited his right to that allowance, the Court voluntarily agreed to give him the sum of 701. a-year, 31. less than the pension he would other wise have received. To show the House how careful the Di rectors had been in exercising the power vested in them, of restoring officers to the service who had been dismissed by a court-martial during twenty-seven years they had only been called uponto exercise it on eight occasions, and every one of these cases were referred to them by local authorities, or by he Commander-in-Chief himself. It would therefore ai•pear that the Court of Directors had inquired into the case with a desire to do everything for this unfortunate man, consistent with their duty to that service in which he had been an officer. He repeated that he was not the organ of the Court of Directors. He did not think much dis cretion was shown in forcing the subject before the House. Mr. ESCOTT said the Hon. Gentleman bad not answered either of the questions which he had put to him. He should refer the matter to the Board of Control, who would, no doubt, give their attention to it. Mr. HOGG was understood to say that the Board of Control had no jurisdiction in the matter. ACADEMICAL EDUCATION BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL seeing the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his place, wished to ask him if it was his intention to move the order of the day to-morrow for the second reading of the Irish Acade mical Education Bill. Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied, that if the discussion of privilege extended to any great length, which it was not un likely to do, he should not move the order of the day for the second reading till Monday. PRIVILEGE. Mr. WATSON asked the Solicitor-General whether it was the intention of Government to pay the 2001. in:the case of Howard, or to allow an execution to issue against the de fendant ? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL replied that the Hon. Member was anticipating the discussion of to-morrow, and it was quite impossible for him to answer the question of the Hon. Member. Mr. lIUME moved for certain returns relating to the Mint, and more particularly relating to the Assayer's Department. — Agreed to. In answer to a question from Mr. MUNTZ, Sir R. PEEL stated that negotiations were still pending on the subject of the treaty with the island of Sicily, and as soon as they assumed a more definite and matured shape he should be prepared to lay them on the table of the House. Lord PALMERSTON wished to ask the Right Honourable Baronet, if he were prepared to bring in a measure to supply the defect in the Act of 1827, relative to the enforcement of the piracy law as respected the Brazilian coast. Sir ROBERT PEEL assured the House that the subject was still under the anxious consideration of the Government, and would at an early period be brought forward. Sir W. SOMERVILLE inquired when the Right Hon. Baronet intended to proceed with the Irish Banking Bill ? Sir R. PEEL feared he could not name any specific day, as it would materially depend on the progress made in the dis cussion of the Irish Academical Education Bill. LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE. On the SPEAKER calling upon Mr. Henry Berkeley, Lord ASHLEY rose, and said that he wished to trespass on the House for a few moments only, on a matter personal to himself. He had understood that his absence from last night's debate had been very severely commented upon. He had last night taken the chair at a meeting in a remote district of Lambeth, for which he had been engaged for several months, and where he had been detained for several hours, and he did not think that at that late period of the evening it was neces sary to attend that House to take part in a division upon a mo tion, which whether it were successful or not, could lead to no practical result. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Finsbury, stating that the Bill of last session had abolished imprisonment for debt, except in cases of fraud and debts above 20/., and pray ing that as both Houses of Parliament had approved of the princi ple under that amount, they would adopt one also on all debts above it. Mr. HENRY BERKELEY then rose to move for a Select Commit tee to inquire into the effects produced upon debtors and creditors by the operations of the Insolvency Act of last ses sion, and in doing so, said that notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made to induce the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government to inquire into the effect of the Act of last session, by the perseverance of the Hon. Member for Bath, he still continued to fondle this bantling of Lord Brougham's, long after its father had thrown it aside. The country suffered from this hasty and crude legislation. There ht.d been a great want of care and deliberation in the passing of that measure. The effect of the Act in question had been to occasion a loss to the tradesmen of the country of three mil lions of money. It was hurried through Parliament at the end of the summer, and was made into law before half the Mem bers were aware of it. At the last moment many of the con stituencies addressed the Members of that House, urging on them the necessity of opposing its enactment. Among others, his constituency applied to him to oppose the Bill. He opposed it with many other=, and the grounds of opposition then set forth were precisely similar to those advanced by Lord Brougham in the other House of Parliament this session against the law; the measure was carried against the Opposition by the powerful statement of the Solicitor-General, PARLIAMENTARY DiviSlONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the house of Commens.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 28. LABOURING CLASSES. Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the present state of political tranquillity, and the recent revival of Trade, afford to this house a favourable opportunity to consider of such measures as may tend permanently to improve the condition of the labouring classes :" —Amendment proposed, after the word " opportunity," to insert the words, " to give immediate attention to the claims so repeatedly urged in the Petitions of the People for an Extension of the Parlia mentary Suffrage, as well as :"—Question put, " That those words be there inserted." The house divided : MINORITY—AYES, 33. Balne, Walter Ellis,Wynn Russell, Lord E. Berkeley, H. F. Etwall, Ralph Tancred, H. W. Blake, M. J. Fielden, John Trelawny, J. S. Blewitt, R. J. Ferguson, Colonel Villiers, Charles Bouverie, E. P. Granger, T. C. Wakley, Thomas Christie, W. 1). Hallyburton, Lord Warburton, H. Cobden, Richard Hill, Lord M. Ward, 11. G. Collett, John Mitcalfe, Henry Wawn, J. T. Duncan, George Mitchell, T. A. Yorke, 11. R. Duncombe, Thomas Pechell, Captain TELLERS. Dundas, J. C. Plumridge, Captain Crawford, W. S. Ellice, Edward Ricardo, J. L. Bowring, Dr. MAJORITY-NOES, 253. Main Question again proposed :—Whereupon Previous Question put, " That that Question be now put." The House divided r-- MINORITY-AYES, 104. Arundel, Earl Fielden, John Plumridge, Captain Haim, Walter Ferguson, Colonel Power, James Baring, F. T. Gill, Thomas Redington, T. N. Barnard, E. G. Gore, Robert Ricardo, J. L. Barron, Sir H. W. Granger, T. C. Rice, E. R. Berkeley, Captain Grey, Sir George Rumbold, C. E. Berkeley, H. F. Hallyburton, Lord Russell, Lord J. Blake, M. J. Hayter, W. G. Russell, Lord E. Blewitt, R. J. Heron, Sir R. &rope, G. P. Bouverie, E. P. Hobhouse, Sir J. Seymour, Lord Bowring, Dr. Horsman, Edward Shelburne, Earl Buller, C. Howard, J. K. Smith, J. A. Cavendish, C: C. Howick, Viscount Stansileld, W. R. C. Cavendish G. H. Hutt, William Staunton, Sir G. Chapman, B. Jervis, John Stuart, W. V. • Christie, W. D. Labouchere, Henry Tancred, H. W. Cobden, R. Layard, Captain Towneley, John Colborne, W. R. Leveson, Lord Traill, George Colebrooke, Sir T. Listowel, Earl Trelawny, J. S. Collett, John Loch, James Villiers, Charles Cottony, M. E. M'Taggart, Sir J. Vivian, J. H. Cowper, W. P. Mangles, R. D. Wakley, Thomas Crawford, W. S. Maijoribanks, S. Warburton, H. Curteis, H. B. Mitcalfe, Henry Ward, H. G. Dalmcny, Lord Mitchell, T. A. Watson, W. H. Denison, John E. Morris, David Wavrn, John T. Duncan, George Morison, General Wilde, Sir T. Duncoinbe, T. Morrison, James Wilshere, W. Dnudas, Admiral Norreys, Sir D. J. Wood, Charles Dundas, Frederick O'Brien, J. Wrightson, W. B. Dundas, J. C. O'Conor, Don Wyse, Thomas Ebringtan, Viscount Ord, William Yorke, Henry R. Ellice, Rt. Hon. E. Pahnerston, Viscount Ellice, Edward Parker, John TELLERS. Ellis, Wynn Pechell, Captain Tufhell, Henry Etwall, Ralph Philips, Mark Hill, Lerd M. MAJORITY-NOES, 182. Acland, Sir T. D. Forbes, William Martin, T. B. A'Court, Captain Forester, G. C. W. Marton, George Adderley, C. B. Fox, S. L. Mastennan, John Alford, Viscount Fremantle, Sir T. Maxwell, J. P. Arbuthnot% H. Fuller, A. E. Miles, I' W. S. Arkwright, George Gardner, J. D. Miles, William Astell, William Gaskell, J. M. Milnes, R. M. Austen, Colonel Gladstone, Captain Mordaunt, Sir J. liaillie , J oseph Glynue, Sir S. Morgan, 0. Bailey, J., jun. Gordon, Captain Morgan, Charles Baillie, IL J. Graham, Sir J. Mundy, E. M. Baird, William Granby, Marquis Neeld, Joseph Bankes, George Greenall, Peter Neville, Ralph Baring, Rt. lin. W. B. Greene, Thomas .Newdegate, C. N Barrington, Viscount Gregory, W. H. Nicholl, John Baskerville, T. B. Grimsditch, T. Norreys, Lord Bateson, Thomas Grimston, Viscount Northland, Viscount Beckett, William Halford, Sir H. O'Brien, A. S. Blackburne, J. I. Hamilton, C. J. B. Palmer, George Blakemore, Richard Hamilton, J. H. Peel, Sir Robert Bolden), 11. G. Hamilton, W. J. Peel, Jonathan Borthwick, Peter Hamilton, Lord C. Ponnant, Colonel Bottleld, Beriah Hampden, Reim Pigot, Sir R. Bowles, Admiral Ilanmer, Sir J. Plumptro, J. P. Boyd, John Hayes, Sir E. Yollington, Viscount Brisco, M. Heneage, G. H. W. "Tact% W. T. Broadley, H. Heneage, Edward Pringle, Aleyinder Bruce, Lord E. Henley, J. W. Repton, G. W. J. Bruce, C. L. C. Herbert, Sidney Richards, Richard Bruges, W. H. Hodgson, F. Rushhrooke, Col. Buck, L. W. Holmes, W. A'Court Russell, Charles Buckley, Edmund Hope, Charles; Russell, J. D. W. Buller, Sir J. Y. Hope, Alexander Sandon, Viscount, Burroughs, H. N. Hope, G. W, Scott, Francis Campbell, J. H. Hotham, Lord Seymour, Sir H. Cardwell, Edward Hughes, W. B. Smith, Abel Carew, W. H. P. Hussey, Ambrose Smith, T. B. C. Castlereagh, Viscount rlussey, Thomas Smyth, Sir IL. Christopher, R. A. Ingestrie, Viscount Smythe, G eor g e Clements, Viscount James, Sir W. C. Somerset, Lord G. Clerk, Sir Georgo Jermyn, Earl Stewart, John Clifton, John T. Jocelyn, Viscount Stuart, Henry Clive, Viscount Johnstone, Sir J. Sturt, H. C. Clive, R. H. Johnstone, Hope Sutton, H. M. Cockburn, Sir G. Jones, Captain Tennent, J. E. Corry, Henry Legh, G. C. Thesiger, Sir F. Courtenay, Lord Lennox, Lord A. Thornhill, George Cripps, William Lincoln, Earl of Tower, Christopher Darner, Colonel Lockhart, W. Trench, Sir F. W. Darby, George Loftus, Viscount Trevor, G. R. Davies, David A. S. Long, Walter Trotter, John Denison, E. B. Lopes, Sir R. Villiers, Viscount Dodd, George Lovvtlier, Sir J. H. Vivian, J. Ennis Douglas, Sir C. Lowther, Colonel Walsh, Sir J. B. Duncombe, 0. Lygon, General Whitmore, T. C. I)u Pre, C. G. Mackenzie, T. IV o dehcuse, Edmond East, J. B. Mackenzie, W. F. Wood, Colonel Eastnor, Viscount M`Geachy, F. A. Wortley, John S. Escott, Bickham M'Neill, Duncan Fellowes, Edward Manner s , L ord J. Farnham, E. B. Mainwarieg, T. TELLERS. Young, John Fitzroy, Henry Marti n , C. W . Ikaing, Henry - -- 7 --- - DECORATION OF THE NEW HOUSES OF PARMA SIMST.—Mr. Pugin, the architect, has had several artists employed in Lynn, making casts of different parts of the architecture of St. Margaret's Church, and St. Nicholas Chapel, as examples for the decorative parts of the New Houses of Parliament, the arrange ment of which,'it seems, has been intrusted to him. --- B uader * Lady Emily Straton died at Dundalk on Friday last in her 72d year. Her Ladyship was daughter of the first Earl of Roden, and married, 1798, the late General Straton. DEATII OF THE DOWAGER LADY DE CLIFFORD. —We have to announce the death of the Dowag er Lady De Clif ford, who expired suddenly on Wednesd a y , shortly after one o'clock, at her residence on Carlton-house-terrace. The demise of her Ladyship was somewhat sudden, as she had for some days past been out as usual, to take carriage airings. The deceased lady was second daughter of Josh. third Earl of Mayo, and Eli. zabeth, only daughter of Sir Richard Meade, and sister of John first Earl of Clanwilliam. Her Ladyship married in February, 1789, Edward Lord De Clifford, who died in 1834 ; but no issue arising from the marriage, that ancient barony fell into abeyance between the heirs of his Lordship's sisters. The speculators in railway share 3 have been some what startled by a clause in the income-tax papers just issued, which enumerates the profits made by " buying and selling shares in railways" among the items of income. Some who have made their thousands during the railway mania will find this a most in convenient clause, if it is put in force; but there will be the diffi. , No. 16, running culty, for there is sure to be a great deal of evasion on the subject. ALARMING OCCURRENCE. — W edne sday morning, about eleven o'clock, considerable alarm was occasioned by the continued their following occurrence :—The Waterloo omnibus from Camden-town to the Elephant and Castle, was standing at the door of the York and Albany, Regent's Park, waiting for pas sengers, when the horses suddenly dashed off at full gallop, and the and the man theytheydfurrivioeursncoatrbeeerintghroautgthhtehetismoeeroalnsttrheeets,buozn,til reached Castle street, Oxford-market, when a man in the employ o f Mr. Fisher, livery.stablekeeper, Foley-place, seized the reins; they became en tangled round his body, and he fell close to the horses' feet. The woman, with an infant g ng run over. Happily wasanimhaal happily pwere extricated fromstopped h i sperilous i s l o o umse situation. bystanders , He was much bruised, although not dangerously injured. In the progress of the on the horses through the several streets, an elderly female was knocked i down n h her whilearms, i,ad a narrow the escape a . of be i ng o b u e n i there was no collision with any other carriage, although a vast appointment, to number of vehicles of every description were moving a l ong way to Epsom. THE BIRMINGHAM JEWELLERY. — PRESENT TO rite QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT.—Wednesday, a diattation of the jewellers of Birmingham, accompanied by the High Bailin; James Boune, Esq., waited on Prince Albert, by present to his Royal Highness a memorial, for which we re g r et we cannot find room, descr ibing the present distiojessed state of their trade, and soliciting he r Majesty's and his Royal High ness's patronage. The gist of the memorial may be found in this passage:—" And that it may so please her Majesty and your Royal Highness, and taking into gracious consideration our present depressed position, and seeing that we are suf fering from a lack of demand In the articles we produce, that her Majesty and your Royal Highness will be pleased to set the example of wearing British jewellery on such occasions and to such an ex tent as may meet the royal approval. We are convinced that such a benevolent and well-timed example would be productive of the happiest effects to your loyal and attached memorialists, and to thousands of their fellow -subjects employed in the manufacture of similar articles in different parts of the British empire." At the same time the deputation presented, for the accept ance of her Majesty and Prince Albert, some s p ecimens of their workmanship. H is Royal Highness received the deputation very gracious l y , and entered ver y minutel y with them into the subject of their visit, betraying a very exten sive knowledge of the many wonders of art for which Birmingham is distinguished. His Royal Highness expressed his gratification and pride at seeing the specimens of their ingenuity, and assured them that her Majesty would be pleased to accept and wear their splendid offering. The interview lasted, greatly to the satisfac tion of the deputies, for upwards of an hour; and the members retired, filled with the pleasing, and we trust not dell/Eve, hope that Birmingham jewellery will become fashionable, as it deserves to be, in spite of its name, not only at Court , but amongst all classo. AND CARLISLE RAILWAYS. The Committee assembled at half-past eleven this morning, but owing to the absence of counsel, the business was delayed for some time. Sir PHILIP EGERTON recommended that the only way to make counsel regular in their attendance would be to mulct them in half their fees when they did not attend in time. Sir Thomas Phillips during the interval put in two agree ments, one of which was an undertaking on the part of the Glas gow and Ayr Company to limit their tolls, and also to bind them selves to shorten their line if the Board of Trade should consider it necessary, and the second document was an agreement for securing the erection of the station at Glasgow. The question of the Delvine pass was then urged, when it ap. peared that both the parties interested in the matter had sent down competent persons to inspect the district and report accordingly, but they were not expected to return till Saturday. Mr. HOPE said it appeared to him that the most convenient course to be pursued, would be to keep the question of the Delvine pass entirely out of sight for tne present, and for the promoters of the Caledonian line to proceed with their rebutting evidence against the Dumfries line. There was little chance of any satisfactory ar rangement being come to in the present stage of affairs. The Dumfries Company had been asked to state the nature of the pro. posals they intended to make, and had been led, from a misun. derstanding of the intentions of the Committee, to make such un reasonable propositions that the promoters of the Cale donian line could not entertain them. The answer that had been given to their proposals was, that as the whole question was before the Committee, and as it was evident their ideas on the subject had been entirely misinterpreted, the best way would be to leave the matter entirely in their hands. The CHAIRMAN said that the remarks of the Committee con. cerning an arrangement had been entirely founded on the supposi tion that the Delvine pass was practicable, but there were other matters connected with the general interests of either line about which the Committee had not interfered. Mr. AUSTIN suggested that perhaps it would be to the satisfac tion of the Committee if the correspondence that had taken place on the subject were read. The proposal was agreed to. The first letter was addressed to Messrs. Bannatyne from Messrs. Archibald Graham, Moncrieff, and Weems, dated the 27th of May, and was as follows : " Dear Sirs,—The Directors of the Caledonian Railway presuming that, after what fell from the Committee to-day, all past feelings of rivalry and hostility between them and your clients will cease, en tertain a most anxious desire to fall in with the views indicated, though not fully explained by the Committee, and are most anxious to ascertain from you what course your clients would suggest to them under the circumstances. We are desired to assure you that they are disposed and prepared to meet you in a fpirit of reasonable concession, and therefore request to be informed what your objects are. The Caledonian Railway Directors propose to meet at ten o'clock to-night, and again to.morrow morning, in the hope of receiving a communi cation from you, it being of the utmost consequence that they should be put in, possession of your views at the earliest possible moment.— We are, &c., (Signed) " ARCH. GRAHAM, MONCRIEFF, and WEEMS." The reply to this application was dated the 28th May, and was as follows: "Re Caledonian. "Dear Sirs,—We can assure you that there is not, and never has been any feeling of hostility towards the Caledonian Company on the part of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company, and the advances which have been more than once made by the Dum fries Railway Company, towards an arrangement with the Cale. donian Company, must havesatisfied you of their desire to meet you in an amicable spirit. What we understand to be the basis of nego tiation pointed out by the Committee yesterday, was, that if the Del_ vine Pass was upon further inquiry found practicable, the Caledonian line should join the Dumfries line (the Bill for which would pass entire) near Thornhill, and that the Caledonian should be carried from thence as a route to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the north, only varied so far as to run into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway at Croy and Ratho. If this is your understanding of the Com. mittee's views, our clients, the Dumfries Company, are quite unwilling to arrange that between Thornhill and Carlisle their line shall be made available for the use of your clients on such terms as (if we cannot ourselves agree) shall be fixed by a neutral engineer, appointed by the Board of Trade. Our clients, the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, are also quite willing to leave to a neutral engineer, appointed by the Board of Trade, to fix such rates and dues for the use of their line between Croy and the Scottish Central Railway, and between Ratho and Edinburgh, as shall be fair and reasonable on your south and north traffic, and as shall protect them against undue competition in their existing traffic. To prevent, however, the possibility of misunderstanding, we think it right to mention that the Dumfries Railway Company did not con ceive it to be the intention of the Committee to preclude the future consideration of that portion of their scheme which consists of a line from Hawick to Carlisle, and which they are bound to promote to the utmost of their power. They still feel convinced that it is the best route between Carlisle and Edinburgh, and one which ought, for the sake of Scotland, to be executed.—We are, &c. (Signed) " BANNATYNES AND KIRKWOOD." Mr. COCILBUILN said that the meaning of this latter communication was, that the Dumfries Company intended to take all they wanted, and leave the Caledonian line just what they pleased, and it was unreasonable to suppose that he could consent to any such proposi. tion without materially injuring the cause of his clients. After some further discussion, the CHAIRMAN explained that, as regarded the observations which the Committee had offered on a former occasion, it was the intention of the Committee to intimate that in case the Delvine Pass was found to be practicable, they would willingly cooperate in bringing about an arrangement between the different parties. As the question at present stood the principal object would be to dis cover the practicability of the plan. He would take the opportunity of saying that the plan as respected the Edinburgh terminus ap peared to the Coommittee to be susceptible of a considerablesimpli ecation. Mr. COCKBURN entirely concurred with what the Chairman had said with regard to the subject of an arrangement, but, as there was no evidence on the subject of the Delvine Pass before the Committee, it would be useless for counsel to enter into any ar. gument on the subject. It was impossible at present to decide de finitely whether the Delvine Pass was practicable or not, or whether the inconvenience of the detour of ten miles, which would be ne cessary, in case the branch were made, would be compensated for by corresponding advantages. The best course now to be followed would be for the Caledonian Company to proceed wills evidence in disproval of the testimony tendered by the Dumfries Company. This course having been agreed to, Mr. Maxwell, who appeared to oppose for landowners against the Clydesdale Junction line, re quested to be informed if it was the intention of the Committee when the rebutting evidence of the Caledonian Company had been brought to a couclusion, to proceed with the consideration of the case of the Clydesdale Junction Railway, as all the witnesses were now in town, and any further delay would entail a great ex. pense on the Company. Counsel having conferred together for some time without coming to any satisfactory conclusion, the difference was ulti. mately adjusted by The CHAIRMAN saying that it was the intention of the Committee to proceed with the Clydesdale Junction Railway to-morrow morn ing, and that they also intended to meet on Saturday as early as eleven o'clock, in order that they might have a long, hard day at it.—(Laughter.) The rebutting evidence, on behalf of the Caledonian Railway, was then proceeded with. _ _ Mr. HOPE called Mr. Robson, of Dumfries, who said th a t th e MUM ale line was situate in a valley, and that It would not in his opinion command any traffic except what was introduced from tha valley. The Caledonian line connected the three valleys of the Nith, the Annan, and the Esk, and would have all the traffic which those valleys commanded. The difference in point of distance between the competing lines with regard to LANCASHIRE DISTRICT The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the merits of the Blackburn and Preston Branch Railway, the North Union And- Ribble Branch Navigation Railway, and the branches of the Pres ton, Fleetwood, and Wyre Railway to Lytham and Blackpool,. assembled for the first time today, in one of the rooms attached to the Westminster Sessions-house. The Committee consisted of Sir Charles Douglas, who acted as Chairman, Mr. Buck, Mr. Basker. ville, Colonel Ferguson, and Mr. J. H. Hamilton. PRESTON AND WYRE RAILWAY, The first Bill gone into was the one for making the two branches from the Preston and Wyre Railway from Fleetwood to Lytham and Blackpool. Mr. J. W. Nelson proved that the capital proposed to be raised by the Bill was 50,000/. for the branches, and 50,0001. for com pleting the works of the Company. The Bill would also give the Company power to raise on loan three several sums of 8,250/., 8,2501., and 16,500/., making together 33,0001. Mr. J. P. Bidder proved the branches proposed to be made were to complete the communication by railway from Preston and Fleetwood to Blackpool and Lytham, and Lytham Docks, by way of Kirkham and Poulton. The present modes of conveyance, he said, were inconvenient and insufficient for the necessity of the districts. Mr. Charles Cooper, who had calculated the traffic passing over the route of the two branches, estimated that 55,000 passengers would pass over the proposed branch to Lytham, and these, at an average of Bd. each, would yield 1,833/. 6s. Bd. There would also be 4,400 passengers, at an average of 3d. each, which would yield 551. He estimated that the goods traffic would amount to upwards of 1,700 tuns per annum, and the coal traffic to 1,009 tons. He would allow ISO/. for small parcels, horses, and car riages, and 1641. for the goods and coal. He estimated that 85,000 would pass over the Blackpool branch, which would yield an annual income of, at an average of ss. each, 1,7701. 16s. Bd. The goods traffic would amount to 3,000 tons, and the coal 4,000, and yield 225/. per annum. He allowed 250/. for parcels, horses, and car. riag es. Mr. Charles Cooper Biddle, a civil engineer, proved that there were no engineering difficulties on either line. The severest gra dient on the Lytham branch was 1 in 100, and the severest curve 25 chains. The severest gradient on the Blackpool branch was 1 in 85, and the severest curve 68 chains. The length of the Blackpool branch would be three miles two furlongs and nine and a half chains. The length of the Lytham branch would be tour miles seven furlongs and sixteen chains. The cost of construction he estimated would be 50,0001., and the work ing expenses 501. per cent. on the gross annual receipts of the two lines. The Committee then declared the preamble to be proved, and the whole of the clauses having been agreed to with amendments, the Chairman was directed to report the Bill. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to.morrow. Group A. NORTH KENT RAILWAY. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Mr. Buck was the first witness examined—ls mayor of Ro chester. Believes that he states the feelings of most of the inha bitants of that city when he says they were in favour of the North Kent line. There had been many discussions on the subject in the corporation, and one of the objections against the South-Eastern line was that it would cross the Medway lower down than Ro chester. The height of the bridges was another objection to that line. Cross.examined by Mr. AraxAxuan—Could not say what was the difference of the height of the bridges on the two lines. Be lieved it was more than three feet. No petition had been pre. sented by the corporation in favour of the North Kent line. It wan supposed that the South-Eastern Company were not serious in their undertaking. But if they were, that would not remove the objections of the corporation. Mr. Humphrey Wickham, of Stroud, solicitor, was next ex amined—Was agent to the trustees of Watts' charity. The trustees were in favour of the North Kent. Cross-examined by Mr. ALEXANDER—Was now an agent to the North Kent Company ; but would not have accepted the agency but that he apppoved of the line. - - - By Mr..MELLoa (for the Croydon Company)—To build a bridge across the Medway would be very expensive. Mr. G. Essell, solicitor to the trustees of Sir John Hawkins' Charity, also gave evidencein favour of the North Kent line. Cross-examined by Sir W. RIDDLE, OA the part of the trustees of Rochester-bridge. The bridge proposed by the North Kent would place the High-streets of Rochester and Stroud in a straight line, as they were formerly, when the old Roman road existed. me present bridge was somewhat higher up the river; for the old bridge was left standing %Mist the existing one was being built. That was necessary to avoid interrupting the traffic on the Great Kent-road. He had the authority of Capt. Beau. fort, hydrographer to the Admiralty, for stating that the opinion of that distinguished officer was decidedly in favour of the North Kent Company's bridge. Mr. MERREWETHER. stated that he would prove to the Committee that Captain Beaufort equally approved of the South. Eastern Com. pany's bridge. Mr. Smith, of Sittingbourne, gave evidence as to the wishes of the people of that town in favour of the North Kent line. A witness from Feversham gave similar evidence as to the state of feeling in that place. Mr. Sergeant SIIEE said, that although the supporters of the Bill had a great deal of evidence of the same kind, they would not occupy the time of the Committee any further with it, as the Com mittee had so often expressed the opinion that in respect to the question of the necessity for a line, there was no difference between the North Kent and the South-Eastern Company. The Learned SERGEANT then called Mr. Pare, an accountant, who produced an elaborate series of traffic tables," of which the following is a summary : Passengers' traffic Goods -'6,321 5 6 Gross income £205,380 0 lOi Deducting 50 per cent. for working materials, would leave a net income of 102,6901. Os. 5d., or a rate of S and one.fifth per cent. on a capital of 1,250,0001. This gentleman was cross-examined at some length, but in questions of cross-examination upon intricate calculations, a newspaper report could give very little satisfacticn. It may be sufficient to say that his main statements were not shaken. He had been engaged in calculations of this kind many years, and he believed that his present estimates were below the amount that would actually be produced. Of course he did not pretend to exact ness. No man in suck matters could (he said) attempt more than an approximation. Mr. Vignoles, civil engineer, was next examined by Mr. Sergeant SnEE—Was engineer of the North Kent Railway Company. He was called upon nine years ago by the projectors to examine the line, and having been brought up in that part of the country, he was very desirous that there should be a railway. But there were difficulties of gradients which he thought at the time could not be overcome. There were, besides, the difficulties of crossing Greenwich Park, Woolwich Common, and Dart ford Creek, which is navigable for masted vessels. His attention was again called to the subject in the years 1840 and 1841, and then there appeared still some physical difficulties. But having now more experience in railways, and having found that steeper gradients could be overcome, he saw that the difficulties did not exist. Indeed no one pretended that they did. In answer to questions as to the probable returns, he said he was satisfied that railway companies did not yet understand the way to make money. They gave the least accommodation at the highest price. He found a different plan succeeded well in Ireland, that is, upon the Dublin and Kingston Railway. He then recommended that the fares should be as low as possible, the accommodation as good as possible for all classes, and the trains as frequent as possible. That was found to be the best way of making money upon a railway. He was then examined as to the comparative engineering merits of the competing lines. The gradients upon the South-Eastern line were more steep than any he had ever attempted to ascend, whereas, upon his line, a considerable portion was horizontal— more than one-half the gradients were one in 500, and the " ruling gradient "—that is, the highest, and the one by which the line was to be governed —was one in 132. In 1841 he had several interviews with the authorities of the Ad miralty and the Ordnance, and there was then a positive refusal to allow a railway to come within half a mile of the Observatory, or to cross Greenwich Park at all. He had since, however, con ferred with those authorities on the subject, and they no longer ob jected to his plans of passing those two important points. He was further examined in minute detail as to the comparative merits and facilities of the two lines, and in all material respects he gave the decided preference to the North Kent line. The examination of this gentleman had not concluded when the Committee adjourned, till twelve o'clock tomorrow. Group S. This Committee met this morning in room No. 20. Present— Mr. S. Wortley (Chairman), Mr. Ewart, Mr. Ainsworth, and Mr. B. Hughes. BELFAST AND BALYMENA RAILWAY. This Bill was recommitted, in order that certain clauses rela tive to the charges to be imposed on the line might be inserted. These clauses were passed, and the Bill ordered to be reported. Mr. Robert Bond, Mr. Haslett, late Mayor of Londonderry, and Mr. John Manor, the preseat Mayor, gave evidence in favour of the line. LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY. Mr. TALBOT opened the case of this railway, which was unopposed. The line had the approbation of the landowners on the line, the principal of whom was the Marquis of Abercorn, through whose property the line ran for fifteen miles. Mr. John Leatham gave evidence as to the traffic between the termini of the proposed railway. The line was very much required. Mr. H. Jones produced the traffic table, and Mr. Hemmings, the Secretary to the Company, proved that the capital was 500,000/. Sir John M`Niell, the engineer of the line, proved that the esti. mates were reasonable. The works were not heavy, or of a dfficult character. This concluded the case for the Bill, and the Committee decided hat the preamble had been proved. The Committee then adjourned. Group SS. The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the merits of the Coventry, Bedworth, and Nuneaton and Erewash Valley Rail way, assembled for the first time in Room No. 13. 'The Committee consisted of Mr. David Dundas, Chairman ; Mr. Hutt, the Earl of Listowel, the Earl of March, and Mr. Briscoe. Some time was taken up in the discussion as to whether the Leicester and Coventry line, being only provisionally registered, without having lodged any plans or sections, had a Parliamentary locus standi. The Committee decided they could not be heard. THE COVENTRY, BEDWORTH, AND NUNEATON RAILWAY. Mr. CALV ERT then proceeded to open the case for the promoters of the Coventy, Bedworth, and Nuneaton Railway. He reminded the Committee that the principal trade of Coventry consisted of ribbon and leather manufactures, which were chiefly conducted by what were called undertakers, who purchased the raw material in C iti o d ve r n e t t r u y r , n t ed ook it i s t o in c t o o v t e h n e t ry neighbouringwhere v it illages be to be desi w o e r r k s ed , w n h P. o never went into those villages. The under taker frequently had to lose whole days, in consequence of not havin g a quick transit be tween the places surrounding Coventry, and which was of great , importance, in consequence of the won't; being frequently altered by the changes of fashion. The districts would also be greatly advantaged by the supply of .Bedworth coal to Warwick and the neighbourhood, wh ere coal was 1/. Is. perton, having to come sixty miles of canal, while it could be brought by railway a distance of only fourteen.. miles, which of itself would cause a great saving, as well as that which would be effected from not having, as the merchants called it, to break bulk. The length of the railway was six miles fifty. eight chains, and the capital 120,0001. The Learned Counsel then alluded to the opposition which was expected, which he thought the Committee would see was not of that nature which co uld p of be easily overcome. As regarded that of the , edon and Birmingham Company, complaining of the inconve me 'Ace of the junction, he thought there must besome mistake, ar they :lad a letter containing a minute passedby their board approving o f .that: Junction. E. , 4143nce was afterwards given in support of the Learned Coun. eel's stegornent. The first witness called was Mr. Watton, a carrier at Coventry, who said that the inhabitants and corporation of Coventry were etron gly in favour of the line. In his opinion it would ma. teriallyassl . st the trade of the town, and contribute to the conveni. ence and co, efort of the inhabit ants o f th e var i ous v ill ages an d dis tricts through which it passed. The witness Jvas cross-examined by Mr. AUSTIN, with a view of showing that the .Town Council of Coventry were in favour of the line, because it we uld run through land of which they possessed " the use of front," aod for the loss of which they would be libe rally remunerated. Mr. Wm. Clarke, the. Zrayor of Coventry, confirmed the evi. Bence of Mr. Watton, and the committee afterwards adjourned till tc'-morrow. Group X. LONDON AND YORK LINE. _ _ This Committee, which stood adjourned from Tuesday, aznem. bled this day at one o'clock. in Committee room No. 8. Mr. Charles Lindley—Rcsides at Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, and is proprietor cf a stone quarry situate westward of Newark.. The blocks on the table are specimens of the stone of the quarry. Here the witness described the different specimens, and said that one of them was that of which the present Houses of Par liament were being built. There were several other quarries in the vicinity of the proposed line, the stone from which was extensively used in building. . Has no doubt that if the London and York line should be made such of this stone would be conveyed by that line. The present ct st of the transit of stone from the Mansfield quarry was '24s. per to to Peterborough. The cost by the line would be 7s. ed. per tusk exclusive of the value of the article, which was ‘.25.3d. per ton at ?t terborough. By the London and York line it would be Is. / d., or about half. The cost of transit per ton to London was at ent 20s. fid. By the proposed line it would be 13s. 4d. present mode of transit was by water. H a d v i s i t „ many of the other towns alon g the line, and The ,present found hat the cost of transit at present for s ton e am ounted to a prohibi t tnitr.: The witness then deposed that the saving to be ef fect,' i n the transit of the stone to those different towns by the new' line would be proportionably great. The same evidence applied to the cost of the transit of lime, both for agricultural and building purpo3cs. rOA CFI TRAFFIC EVIDENCE. Mr. Winberly was called to give evidence as to:the district north of Huntingdon. He deposed that he had made his calculations from the Stamp-office retu rns; had taken care not to calculate any line twice over. Mr. PAGET then proposed to hand in the passenger traffic table. Mr. DARBY said he had never heard of an instance where such tables bad been handed in. Mr. HILDYARD said, he had never met with an instance of such, and therefore he would object to this course. He subsequently withdrew his objection ; but counsel for other lines having pressed it, the room was ordered to be cleared, and after a lapse of about half an hour, the parties were re.admitted, when The CaAntmsw announced that the Committee had decided on admitting the tables, reserving to itself the right to call upon the promoters of the Bill at a future period to amend these tables. Tte examination of the witness was then resumed—Had 12 men employed from September to October taking the traffic on the main line from . Stamford to Selby ; took no atm unt of the cattle passing to Rotherham and Wakefield_ The enti, - e distance was ninety miles, and that between Tattershall and Panthlg, forty-six miles, and the total number of passengers was 4,899.4,82 ; the expected traffic was estimated at 9,000,000; and the in•cume at 73,5421. ; this did not include anything south of Hu.lt;.ngdon ; the passenger traffic by water presented numbers equall)' extensive, all of which would travel by the London and Fork' line if it were made. After some unimportant questions in cross-examination of this witness, the Commi...tee adjourned. Group W, WAKEFIELD, PONTEFitACT, AND GOOLE RAILWAY. The Committee on this line re , assembled to-day at twelve o'clock ; Mr. Pakington in the Chair. Evidence was then brought foriCard, on the part of the pro.. scoters, to rebut the case which had been made against the pro posed railway on Tuesday last by Mr. Smith, one of the dissentient landowners on the line. The first witness called was Mr. Hawkshaw, civil engineer, whose examination was re sumed from Tuesday last. He stated that he had a strong ob jection to the line suggested by Mr. Gooch, on the ground of its throwing them back on two Companies. Considered the gradients of the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole line perfect,:y unobjection. able, and any desirable rate of speed could be obtained on them. He did not consider that even if the other suggested lines could be made with more A vourable gradients (which he was not prepared to admit), that the advan tages which the proposed line held out were to be abandons.'d be cause of its less favourable gradients. The Manchester and I.."cds Railway engines would be large enough for the locomotive of 11. 1 3 , traffic on the proposed line, and would be able to work. with as much facility and celerity as they did upon their own line. He did not think that the traffic on the Wake— field, Pontefract, and Goole line, would exceed that upon the Man. chester and Leeds. Cross-examined by Mr. Hawn—There were gradients on the Manchester and Leeds line of lin 150. The average rate of speed of the fastest carriages on that line was 9.3 miles an hour ; but that was not necessarily the speed. They might be made to go at the rate of fifty miles an hour. By Mr. WILLINS—Had heard that all the projected lines had been suggested in consequence of the obstruction of view which. the proposed line would give from Mr. Smith's house. Could not say which of the two houses, Mr. Smith's or Sir Edward Dodsworth's, was the best. Thought that the suggested line of Mr. Biskenshaw would run as close to Sir Edward Dods worth's property as the proposed line would to Mr. Smith's, and be as in. jurious to that gentleman's property. Mr. Vignoll es, civil engineer —Was well acquainteo with tbedis. trict. Saw on the map the three suggested lines that had been laid out by Messrs. Gooch, Birkenshaw, and Leather. Believed that those lines, as compared with the proposed Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole line, were very much inferior. He had come to this con clusion from his knowledge of the country, the inconveniences at the Normanton station, and the circumstance of the proposed line forming a more direct communication with the south. Cross-examined by Mr. Hasinv—The gradients on Mr. Birken. shaw's line, he believed, would be more favourable, and the works. much lighter. Mr. Cubitt, civil engineer, heard the evidence of last witness, and concurred in it. His principal reason for preferring the proposed . - line was that it formed an integral line between Wakefield and Poole. Cross.examined by Mr. HlLDVARD—Believed that if the line laid out by Mr. Birkenshaw was more favourable in its gradients lighter in its works—not longer in distance, and formed an integral line—that it would be preferable to the proposed line. Did not hear Mr. Vignoles state that the line of country through which the suggested line would pass was a more favourable one. Messrs. Rastrick and Harris, engineers, were then called, and as their examination only tended to confirm the evidence of the two last witnesses, The CHAIRMAN here interfered, and said that he thought that they had had enough of engineering evidence on those points. Capt. Laws was examined at considerable length as to the effect which both lines would have with regard to the coal districts, Mr. John Walker, land agent and surveyor, stated that he had been sent down expressly by the promotors of the Bill to examine the alleged injuries which would be sustained by Mr. Smith's house and property in consequence of the proposed line. He had carefully executed the survey yesterday. Two portions of the rail could be seen from Mr. Smith's house. He had marked them upon a map (which he produced). One portion of the rail which could be seen from the house was a cutting of 246 yards_ and the other 168 yards of an embankment. The cutting was not so deep but that the engines might be seen. He thought that a little plantation would in a few years completelT obscure one portion that was visible, and a small embankment the other. - - - Cross-examined by Mr. HILLIARD, as to the way in which he obtained the results which he had given in evidence—Had not given notice to Mr. Smith of his intended survey. Made some of his observations from the inside of Mr. Smith's house. Obtained access by stating that he wished to view the toll-house at Agbray. Thought the workman would not admit him if he knew that his object was to give evidence against Mr. Smith. Mr. Barff, woolstapler—Had resided 40 years at Wakefield. Knew the neighbourhood of Mr. Smith's house well, and did not think that the proposed railway would interfere with the view from Mr. Smith's house. As one of the Directors of the line he had to state on the part of the Company, that they w mild have no objec tion to submit the matters in dispute to any of the lion. Members of the House of Commons. By Mr. HILDYARD—Had a slight idea of the picturesque. In the opinion of some people the view of a railway traits rather heightened the pro,pect than otherwise.—(A laugh.) Mr. Moxon, of Pontefract, was then examined as to the re_ ative merits of the accommodation of the stations of the proposed line and the suggested one. R. Pemberton Milnes, Esq., was next examined—Lived at Freston Hall. Had been Member of Parliament for Pontefract, and was the father of the present Member. In his opinion, the case between Mr. Smith and a Director of the Company was a question of compensation. He thought no objection Mr. Smith could bring forward was sufficient to be fatal to the formation of the line. This closei the reply to Mr. Smith's case. On Mr. HARDY rising to reply to the rebutting evidence brought forward by the promoters, Mr. WILKINS objected, and said that it was contrary to the rules laid down by the House in reference to Committees on railways. The CHAIRMAN was not aware of any rule which bound the Committee to any particular line of conduct on the matter ; and he thought counsel should have the right of reply. Mr. HARDY then replied to the evidence at considerable length. The Committee then proceeded to consider the merits of the competing line, DRAYTON AND GOOLE RAILWAY. Mr. KNOWLES would not trouble the Committee with an open ing speech. He would reserve his statement till after they had heard the evidence, a course which he considered would be most agreeable to the Committee. The first witness he would call was Mr. Blackmore, who stated that he had been four or five years master of the Normanton station. There was a great increase of business there lately. There were no delays when he could ob tain engines to take on the trains. The great cause of the delay was the mixed trains. The Manchester and Leeds traffic was the Worst Cross-examined by Mr. WlLKlNS—Thought that the same num ber of engines that are on the line would do with the present traffic if they were stronger. Did not know how many of the present engines would be required to accommodate fully the present traffic ; 66 trains passed the station every twenty-four hours ; at present counting the special trains and the pilot engines there were not SO ; the increase of traffic was very great. Mr. Cabery, resident engineer of the York and North Midland line, was examined as to the improved character of the new engines of this Company ; and, on his cross-examination, he ad mitted that the engines of the Manchester and Leeds were equally powerful with the York and North Midland before they got the last three strong ones. Mr, Shepherd, corn merchant, was called to prove the superiority of the canal to the rail, for the conveyance of corn to Wakefield, and the greater likelihood of the forme: being used in preference to the latter. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Group R. DUBLIN AND ARMAGH RAILWAY. The Committee met to-day at the ucual hour, Mr. Gibson aig in the chair, when the examination of witnesses was re. med. Mr. Lindsay, cross-examined by Mr. ALEXANDER—I:Ie had been engaged since 1824 in public works, especially roads and bridges. He had never been employed in any other public works, nor been engaged on a railway. He had never constructed a viaduct nor a tunnel, yet he thought he knew about the con struction of these as well 83 Slr John The highest embankment he had ever been engaged in was fifty feet, and the deepest cutting about forty feet. He