The Sun. — London, England, 1844-03-06 00:00:00

D tru SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. OVERLAND MAIL. We now give the whole of the Telegraphic Dis patch, received from Paris, dated yesterday. " MALTA, FEB. 28. " MARSEILLES, MARCH 3. " PARIS, MARca 4. "The India mail of the Ist of February announces the taking of GwOior, after two combats, in which the British lost 1,000 men in killed and wounded. [lnterrupted by the night.] " The loss upon the side of the enemy was 6,000. No news of importance from Sinde, the Punjaub, or China." Gwalior, the fort taken by our troops, is, from its strength, called the Gibraltar of the East. It covers the top of a hill, nearly two miles long, but narrow ; the sides are very precipitous, and the highest part, which is at the north end, is 342 feet above the surrounding plain. The rampart con forms i to the brow of the hill all round ; and the area within is full of buildings, reservoirs of water, wells, and cultivated land. At the foot of the moun tain, on the east side, is the town, which is large and well built. It is 68 miles south by east of Agra. The British took it by a nocturnal escalade in 1780. This ascription will account for the severe loss described in the dispatch. CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY). REGISTRAI6 OFFICE. Mr. STEER, in the course of the morning, complained of the manner in which he had been treated last night at the Registrar's office. He applied there about five minutes before six o'clock to see the papers of the business at the Court for the day, and he was told by a person who swept out the office, and who had on a leathern apron, that he could not see them till six o'clock. He pressed upon the person, it being so near six o'clock, to allow him to see them, but he would not do so. He (Mr. Steer) supposed that he had not the papers in his possession. The Lozu CHANCELLOR, after communicating with the Registrar, requested Mr. Steer not to say anything further on the subject at present, as he understood that Mr. Pym, the person who made out the papers, but who was not then pre sent, had a very good answer to the charge. Mr. STEER trusted the Court would allow him to conclude the statement he was making, as the cream of the subject was yet to come.—(Laughter.) The individual in the leathern apron, when the cabalistic hour of six arrived, put his hand into his waistcoat pocket, fetched out the papers for the business of the Court for to-day, and stuclithem up in the passage to the Registration Office. Now, he thought, to say the least of it, this was a most uncourteoes proceeding on the part of one of the officers of the Registrar's Office. The LORD CIIANCRLLOR thought that the . officer might have been a little more courteous, but he understood that the matter could be. explained. Who the officer was he did not know. Mr. Steer said that he knew as little of the officer as his Lordship, but the description he bad given of him would enable his Lordship to discover who he was. • The LORD CILINCELLOR said that Mr. Steer had certainly Oven a very picturespe account of the officer.—(Laughter) The matter had at least relieved the seriousness of the usual proceedings of the Court.—(Renewed laughter.) • Mr. LEIGH felt bound, in justice to Mr. Pym, to state that he had often allowed him to see the papers bepore six o'clock. It perhaps may not be generally known that the papers of the business of the Courts are put up in the passage to the Registrars's Office, from six to seven o'clock every evening, for the purpose of inspection by the members of the legal pro fession and the public; but so short a period, it must be apparent to every one, was infinitely too limited for the con venience of the profession, in consequence of the increase of the members of the Court, and the more speedy dispatch of business. LONDON AND WESTMINSTER JOINT-STOCK BANK. (THIS DAY-) - The usual Annual Meeting of the Shareholders and Directors of this Banking Company was held this day, at their establishment in the city. Shortly after one o'clock, the chair was taken by • PATRICE MAXWELL STEWART, Esq., M.P., who said that before the Proprietors would have submitted to them th% Report of the business of the bank, they would perhaps allow him, on the present occasion, to interpose himself for a very few minutes, between them and the reception of that Report. He asked them to do so be cauie he thought the present time was one of marked importance to the establishment in which they were all so zealously concerned. This Bank had been established for ten years. The present was their tenth anniversary meeting ; and in the history of banks, as well as other things, the close of ten years was held to be a sort of epoch, at which a retrospect of the past might be taken, and the prospect for the future considered.—(Hear, hear.) Within those ten years every joint-stock bank in London had risen into existence, and he might claim for the London aad Westminster Bank priority in point of time, as to its establishment, of all the joint-stock banks in London. It was the first esta blished here, and with. that distinction they incurred those burdens and incumbrances from which honours were not at any time quite free—he meant that they had had to encounter formidable opposition to the planting such establishments as that was, and all he would add in referring to that circumstance was to con gratulate the Proprietors of the bank on their having overcome all those obstacles without, he believed he might say, the loss of one friend or the creation of a single enemy amongst the class of the private banks of London, or their' more formidable opponent over-the way (the Bank of England.)—(Hear, hear.) In looking Pack, in order to mark out their best course for the future. he might observe that the principle of action adopted by the Directors at an early period of the existence of the establishment, had been found to be good and well adapted to all circumstances. As an illustration, he might remark that money seasons, like the natural seasons, had their changes, sudden and vio lent. In seasons of abundance of money, they had always avoided hearkening to any temptation to lock up their fund , , and the consequence had been, that in seasons of scarcity and adversity, they had had it in their powr to do that which was not only sound in the principels of banking, but also gratifying in a humane point of view, namely, to help their friends when occasion required it. He might add that notwithstandinc , the variations of the seasons through which they had passed—Feasons of scarcity as well as of plenty they never had had, up to the present time, occasion to re-discount any one of the bills which they had in their possession. —(Hear, hear.) The profits of the bank had been under the present direction freely and liberally appropriated to the 'use of the Proprietors in the shape of divi dends and otherwise. In illustration of that he would mention that the reserve fund had been . annually increased, and was now becoming a distinct re servoir of security for seasons of need. They had paid in dividends to the shareholders, during the ten years past, upwards of 300,0001. So far for the past. In look ing to the future, the present was a most important pe riod as regarded joint-stock banks. This year would occur a break in the charter of the Bank of England, -which had been renewed in 1833. In the speech from -the throne, at the opening of the present 'session of Parliament, they had been reminded that there would be an opening for the consideration and regulation of the laws which govern the Bank of England and the joint-stock banks of the country. There were two matters which they had pressed upon the considera tion of the Government. The first was the right irse parable from a banking establishment created by law, and upheld , as their establishment now was, by the interest, power, and voice of so great a proportion of the community—the right of accepting bills under a shorter date than six months. In the original charter of the Bank of England, in 1708, there was 'a clause prohibiting all banks, having more than six branches from borrowing, owing, or taking up money on bills payable on demand, or at a,less period than six months. That clause was aimed at certain speculative companies, which at that period resorted to the issue of notes under their common seal. It never could have been aimed against the exercise of banking privileges by country banks, drawing, as he might sa y, u p on th e i r London agents. Ile believed the fact was, there was not a country bank in existence at the time acting under impressions of this kind ; their bank had drawn bills of exchange ; and in consequence they were followed from Court to Court, until in 1837 judgment was given against their exercise 'of the privilege by the reason of the clause in the Charter :of 1708, to which he had referred. Accordingly they had desisted from any further practice of that branch of banking. That restriction was unjust to the innumerable members of the commercial community. It was un just to foreign and colonial banks—to joint-stock -banks throughout the country, and to those in London. The country was deeply interested in the 'question, but he only touched upon it then as it would, in the course of the revision which the banking laws of the country were to be subjected to this session, be fully considered elsewhere. Joint-stock banks ought not to be . .deprived of the common privileges of banking establish- Jnents. They could all remember that the failure of the .bank of Pole and Co. in 1825 brought on the panic of 1826. •The 'other subject which the Directors had urged upon the Government was that of suing and being sued in the names of the establishment. A Committee representing the joint stock banking companies of the county lately 'had an interview with Sir R. Peel and the Chancellor 'of the Exchequer, previous to which they had trans mitted a letter containing detailed views on those points, and he was happy to have to tell them that interview was very satisfactory as far as it went. In 1834, when they had pressed those matters before on the attention of Government, there was no argument used against them, 'but a promise had been given to certain parties that .those privileges should not be granted. From Sir R. Peel's words they were led to, infer that theirs was held to •be a perfectly fair one, and the Right Hon. Baronet stated that he had purposely abstained from givingany'promises to any parties in order that the claims from all quarters on this important question might be fully considered "and justly settled at the proper time. He (the Chairman) had then no doubt in concluding that they_would obtain •those.privileges, and when the Bank had worked so well 'and successfully hitherto, he thought he was not too san tuine in saying that, with an increase of its facilities of "action, would come an increase of its prosperity. They 'had cooled their enemies and warmed their friends in the contest in which they had hitherto been engaged, and he had every hope of a continuation of prosperity to the 'establishment.—(Hear, hear.) The SECRETARY then read the following Report : THE STUN, LONDON, WEDNESDA.Y EVENING, MA.RCII 1844. .4use_ " The Directors have the pleasure of presenting to I the Shareholders their Tenth Annual Report. " The net profits of the past year, after defraying all the current expenses, paying the income-tax, and making provision for all bad and doubtful debts, amount to 51,696/. ss. 7d. Out of these profits the Directors paid last September a dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum, for the half-year ending the 30th June, and they now declare a dividend at the same rate for the half-year ending the 31st of December. After the payment of these dividends, amounting together to 48,000/., there will remain from the profits of the year, a surplus of 3,696/. ss. 7d., which, added to the reserved fund, makes the present amount 66,822/. 16s. sd. " Throughout the whole of last year money was exceedingly abundant, and consequently cheap. But, although a low value of money affects most severely those banks which have the largest paid-up capital, and which have been so managed as to retain the full com mand of their funds, yet the Directors did not suffer the desire of obtaining a higher rate of interest to betray them into advances upon doubtful or inconverti ble securities. " As the Speech from the Throne has called the atten tion of Parliament to ' the state of the law with regard to the privileges of the Bank of England and "to other banking establishments,' the Directors have co-operated with the representatives of other joint-stock banks in bringing under the consideration of the Government the defects of the laws relating to Banking Companies, which they feel confident the Legislature will not refuse to remedy. "` The three Directors who go out by rotation this year are Frederick Burmester, Esq., Henry Harvey, Esq., and Patrick .Maxwell Stewart, Esq., M.P., who being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. PROFIT AND LOSS. rest, resorted to, for the means of recovery, This view of the matter must, no doubt, as much disappoint and dis concert the empirics of Parliament and of the news papers, craving something for the day, as the Bath quacks were disappointed and disconcerted by the simple plan of Mr. Simpkin B-. This view is, however, the true one. Rest, without any other application, would do nearly everything for Ireland, and without rest from political agitation, all the remedial measures that can be tried to the end of time will do nothing. This is a truth, which we would press earnestly upon such noblemen as Lord Clanricarde, who, if they are not themselves the destroyers of their country's rest, at least encourage and protect those destroyers. ATHLONE ELECTION COM MITTEE.-(THIS DAY.) . (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. TALBOT replied. After which the room was cleared. On the room being reopened. , The CHAIRMAN declared that the Committee had come to the following resolution :—That as it appears that the' sum monses for the witnesses were not issued until Thursday, 29th February, and the money to pay their expenses was not transmitted until the Ist March, it is the opinion of the • Committee that due diligence has not been used, and there fore it cannot agree to the adjournment required. Mr. TALBOT in relation to the case of Mark Quin, now in Roscommon gaol, suggested that the Chairman should move in the House for the attendance of Mark Quin on the Com mittee. The CHAIRMAN thought the fact of his being in gaol ought to be proved. Mr. HAMILTON, M.P. for Dublin, stated that on Friday he received a petition from Mr. Moss, stating that Quin was in custody, that he was an important witness in this case, and praying the House to request his attendance. He had mentioned the subject to the Speaker, who had told him that the more usual way was for the Chairman of the Commitiee to order the attendance of the witness. He understood from the speaker that he had had a previous ap plication made to him on the subject. The CHAIRMAN said that still there was no proof that Quin was in gaol. Mr. TALBOT put in the service of the Speaker's warrant on Mark Quin, in Roscommon gaol, on the Ist of March. Mr. Ausnx—That was in time, and the only man they have served in time is the man they knew could not come. The CHAIRMAN thought that evidence was sufficient to authorise him to move the House on the subject. It being now only eighteen minutes to four the Committee determined that the Counsel need not commence the opening of his case, and adjourned. Dr. Payment of the dividend on the 10th X. September, 1843, at the rate of six per cent. per annum, for the half year ending the 30th June 24,000 0 0 Payment of the ,dividend now declared at the rate of six per cent. per annum, for the half• year ending the 31st De cember, 1843 Balance of unappropriated profits S. d. 24,000 0 0 66,822 16 5 £114,922 15 5 .Z. s. d. Cr, Balance of unappropriated profits, on the 31st December, 1842 Net profits of the year 1843, after de fraying the total expense of manage ment, paying the income-tax, and making provision for all bad and doubtful debts 51,696 5 7 STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this day.) The market continues in the same quiet and inanimate state as during the last fortnight. The demand, both for goods and yarn is limited ; but stocks being gene rally low, there is little or no change in prices, except in printing cloth, which had been relatively higher than other descriptions of goods, and which has declined 3d. to 44d. per piece from the highest point. ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MARCH 4.—There has been a change in in the market to-day for the worse ; goods have been less inquired after ; buyers have been fewer, and the prices offered unremunerating to the ma nufacturer. The wool market has also been dull • there is not the same eagerness to purchase as former l y , and the fear of a further advance is much abated. Prices, however, may be quoted as firm. £114,822 16 5 Balance of unappropriated profits brought down . 66,822 16 5 Mr. WALKER moved the adoption of the Report, and took occasion to compliment the Directors on their able management of the Company's affairs. Mr. MAUDSLEY seconded the motion. Mr. WissAw wished to know from the Chairman, first, what was the increased value of the reserved fund, considering the increase that had taken place in the public securities 7—next, whether all the branches of the establishment were paying? and lastly, whether, in urging their'claims to the privileges mentioned by the Chairman, it would be well to strengthen the hands of the Directors by a petition to the Legislature on the subject, signed by the Share holders? The:CErsznmAN,in reply to the first question, said, that the reserved fund had not been kept distinct and separate from the other capital of the Company, but was along with it and other large amounts, well and securely in vested. In" reply to the second question, he had to state that the establishment had five branches, each of which returned a profit to the establishment—(Hear, hear) — and lastly, as to the suggestion of the Hon. Proprietor, if they were not satisfied with the change to be made by the Government in the banking code, of which they had not then a knowledge, they would avail themselves of the aid of the Proprietors. The question of the adoption of the Report was then put from the Chair and carried. The thanks of the Company having been voted to the Chairman, Directors, and Managers respectively, The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment. The three Directors mentioned in the Report as going out of office were then re-elected, and the meeting sepa rated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o' Clock. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition from Bath against certain clauses in the Great Western Railway Bill, on the ground that they were oppressive arid uncalled for. Mr. TROTTER brought in the Croydon Railway Improvement Bill. Sir W. HEATIICOTE brought up the Report of the Committee on the Eastern Counties Railway Bill. Mr. PRINGLE presented a petition from Selkirk against any alteration in the corn-laws. Lord CLIVE presented petitions from Lancashife against the union of the Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. DUTY ON TOBACCO. Lord SANDON presented a petition, signed' by between seven and eight thousand persons consumers of tobacco in Liverpool, praying for a reduction in the duty on tobacco. Also, a petition from the grocers and dealers in tobacco in Liverpool, praying that the duty on tobacco might be reduced to one shilling per lb. UNIVERSITIES IN SCOTLAND. Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from the ministers and elders of the University of St. Andrew's, in Scotland, praying the House to give no sanction to any attempt to sever the connexion between the Scotch universities and the State. CORN-LAWS. . SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. GLOBE.—We are happy to hear Lord Devon express himself with so much confidence as he did last night, that the Commission, of which he is at the head, would be able to point out the beneficial alterations in the law affecting the relations of landlord and tenant in Ireland. The speech of Lord Devon tended to correct mistakes as to the character of the Commission ; and, at the same time to vindicate to the Commissioners the unquestionable right to entertain and report representa tions of individual grievances arising out of the present law and practice affecting the occupation of land- Nevertheless, we repeat, we are of opinion that there is this inconvenience in the inquiry—that it tends to rivet the minds of the Irish people on that one subject exclusively, on which they are only too much addicted to brood already with angry feelings, and to nourish expectations (if disappointed, engendering in creased resentment) of something to be done by Govern ment which shall render the land all-sufficient to the people. Now, in the first place, it is impossi ble that a people so exclusively dependent on raising the rudest food directly from the soil for their daily wants—a people so destitute of all other employment and capital—so destitute even of agricultural capital, and so little advanced in agricultural skill—it is impossible that a people thus situated, and thus habituated, can be suddenly raised by any agency confined to modifying the mere occupa tion of the soil. The curse of the people is that their whole dependence is on that mere occupation ; — that labourers wages, as well as farmers' profits, have no source but the soil—and are paid in little other currency (when they are paid in that) but permission to grow potatoes. This state of things cannot at once be altered by any measures solely relating to occupation of the land. The " monster-evil' is the insufficiency of the land as a sole resource. And let it not be said that the exportation. of produce deprives the people of subsis tence. Ireland exports people as well as produce, in very great numbers to the sister country. The same paying-power which attracts Irish produce, attracts Irish labour likewise. The problem to be solved is not the finding of means to stop either export—but the finding of means to create a counter-attraction of English capital towards Ireland. The moment a current of this kind should begin to set in (and we hold that it is the duty of the Government to accelerate that moment), it would be found that Irish produce would begin to find nearer markets ;—agricultural production a new stimulus—labour new resources in arts and manufac tures. We have declared our opinion that Government ought to favour the flow of capital towards Ireland, and take the initiative in these works which tend more than any other to render available and acces sible the natural resources of such a country. We hold that Government should set the example of con fidence in investing in Ireland our surplus wealth. Where is that example to come from, if it comes not from public authority ? Ireland is not in that condition to which ordinary chreinatistics apply. A moral impulse must be given, which money calcu lations, at the first start, may not appear to justify. The misfortune of Ireland is, that it is not far enough off— that its "aboriginal inhabitants" are not savages—that the mine ignotum pro magnifico cannot be brought to operate on the speculative mind in its favour. We have seen calculation set at defiance—millions sunk—thou sands self-expatriated—provided the venture were wild enough. But enterprise at our own doors is, in Ireland, scared by a lion in the path. It would seem that confi dence in new fields can only be raised not inversely, but directly as the square of the distance. STANDARD.—In the House of Lords last night the Marquis of Clanricarde interrogated the Earl of Devon very closely as to the special objects of the inquiry pro-- wilted by the Land Tenure Commission, and as to the progress made in the investigation. The Earl of Devon replied by an explanation which ought, in our opinion, to be satisfactory, because it indicates that the Commission does not limit its researches to any special objects, and that, having exhausted no department of investigation, it cannot be said to have made any definite progress, extensive as is the number of facts accumulated. Now this, in our judgment, de scribes precisely the course which ought to be taken by men to whom is confided so grave a duty as that as signed to the Land Tenure Commissioners. It is true, as Lord Clanricarde complains, that there are many ignorant persons who, having assumed that some prompt remedy for the social state s fe i o e n l ers very areim of Ireland i s ava il a bl e , an d th a t the Commis sionersappointedat merely of to c ha Thermy, nd their Report. this can be, at least they ought to be, who give way to such impatience; anrit; as the Noble Marquis suggests, some newspapers are to f' blame r o having encouraged the notion of a remedy for the social evils of Ireland, at once effectual and easily available, we claim not to belong to the numberof the culpable. When the commission was • proposed we di s ti nct l y stated that it never could find the imaginary remedy that was to set all right in a day or in a year, though we gratefully , ad mitted that the labours of the Committee could do much towards creating such a remedy. The case, in fact, appeared to us, and still appears, precisely that symbolised in Asop's fable of the farmer and his sons. The farmer on his death-bed assured his sons and successors in his fields, that a pot of gold was hidden somewhere on the farm; the young men, as the , story tells, turned up carefully with the spade every field of their patrimony: they found no pot of gold but they found the worth of many pots of gold in the increased ' produce of the soil, conse quent upon their toilsome search. The story is old and familiar, but it describes so exactly the good effect which we anticipate from the Land Tenure Commission, and exhibits also so well the neces• sity for the investigation being complete, patient, and slow in coming to conclusions, in order to produce the good of which it is capable, that we cannot forbear borrowing a page from )Esop. If we expect a more permanent value for the labours of the Land Tenure Commission, it is because we trust that its aim goes_ beyond any temporary . object, and because we be lieve that the. result of its . investigation will b e , not t o add to the pharmacop:.2 9f political nostrums, but to demonstrate that there is no slii,ci4e re me dy for the social state of Ireland, any more than - there ever has been for the social state of any country ; consequently, that if the patient is to be cured, quackery must be abandoned, and regimen, and above all Mr. PLUMPTRE presented ninety-one petitions from Canterbury and other places complaining of the• proceedings of the Anti-Corn-law League, and pray ing that no alteration might be made in the corn-laws. Sir H. DOUGLAS presented petitions against the Birkenhead Dock Bill. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE BILL. The second reading of this Bill was postponed for a 'fortnight. ATH LONE ELECTION COMMITTEE. Mr. PAKINGTON appeared at the bar and said, he had been directed by the Committee appointed to try the merits of the petition against the return for Athlone, to state, that a material witness, named Mark Quin, was unable to attend to give evidence before the Committee, in consequence of his being at present imprisoned for debt, and his evidence could not be obtained without the intervention of that House. • The Committee therefore prayed the House to take such steps as they might think fit to secure the attendance of the said Mark Quin before the Committee. The Honourable Member then moved that Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant for the attendance of the witness, which was agreed to. _ NOTICES OF MOTION. BUENOS AYRES. Mr. EIVART gave notice that instead of his question to the First Lord of the Treasury, of which he had given notice, he should on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, bring under the consideration of the House the subject of our com mercial relations with Buenos Ayres, and the subject of the unhappy war at present existing between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice that he would, on Friday next, in a Committee of the whole House, move a resolution for the reduc tion of the interest on the Three-and• a-Half per Cent. Annuities. Air. BLEWITT wished to call the attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department to a fact of great importance to Chancery suitors. He was informed that the whole of the books belonging to the Accountant-Ge neral's office were kept in a building which was not fire proof. He thought this was a matter which de manded serious consideration. Sir J. GRAHAM stated (as we understood) that orders had been given that no fires should be lit in the building in question, and he begged to remind the Hon. Gentleman that ample provision had been made for the safe custody of these books in the new Houses of Parliament. • m erely moistening their lips. After fish, c o me roast Mr. Harnet, the master of the viorkhs„ meats, boiled vegetables, and various delicate prisoner had been formerly an inmate of the svosi .house. sauces, with which you make your cuisine upon your ! The board had obtainecL several situations for b er, but ownplate ; puddings and game of all sorts follow, amongst I she left them all. She was a ver y bad character.. which' there is always , to be g in with, one ish espe- I Mr. COMBE-But let her be as bad as she can .be, still cially appropriate to the season. It is to the former if she be destitute she ought to have relief, art 'n l has a article of diet (puddings) that English children are in- right to demand it. The refusal of relief may force them debted, it is said, for their excellent health and their to become prostitutes. magnificent rosy complexions. The cloth is at length The prisoner said that when she applied she- was in removed, and the mahogany table shines forth in all very great want. its splendour. Desert follows, consisting of few Mr. Harnet said he could not say whether or not she sweetmeats or confitures, but abounding in fruits was refused relief, but he knew the windows wer a broken. from all the five parts of the world, and the Mr. COMBE directed the overseer to be sent I or. produce of all the four seasons, and including superb In about an hour afterwards the master returned into pineapples, Portugal grapes, almonds, red nuts of a Court, and said the overseer was so busy in dis charging delicious flavour, dates, figs, rich juicy oranges, &c., &c. the duties of his office, that he could not attend before The wine is brought on in glass decanters, ticketed and the Court. The reason assigned by the overseer for not placed in silver stands. These stands glide along the relieving the prisoner was that she was so insolent. shining table, which is as smooth as ice, in the midst of Mr. COMBE fined the, prisoner 35., the amount of crystal or silver vases filled with fruit, &c. The host, damage done, or a week's imprisonment. after helping himself to wine, pushes about the Five pounds were sent to Mr. Combe yesterday for the whole battery' of decanters, which going the round use of the poor box of this Court, by an anonymous con of the table, soon regain their original situation. tributor, the receipt of which we were requested to ac- A quarter of an hour elapses, when the mistress of the knowledge. house rises and retires, followed by all the ladies. It is James and Alfred Stroud, respectable looking trades then that the stria de tin begins. The subject of cou- men residing in the Southwark Bridge-road, were versation soon changer, and political questions are charged with assaulting Mr. Bradley Thornhill, a corn discussed. The conversation, without getting stormy, dearer, living in Gray's Inn-terrace, Gray's Inn-road, acquires that degree of warmth and animation which under rather singular circumstances. a good dinner, when one is blessed with a strong head The prosecutor deposed that on the 27th ult., he ac and a good digestion, generally inspires. Hard companied the defendants to the Old Swan Tavern in drinking, however, has genorally speaking, fallen Holloway. On their way thither, they stopped at several into desuetude. It is only foxhunters and country public houses. When they reached the Swan, the de gentlemen who remain faithful now-a-days to that fendant Alfred asked him to play at "four points"; ignoble custom. A gentleman who has any self-respect witness did so; he was very drunk,:and lost all the money never so far forgets himself as to get tipsy, for he he had on his person 7L; he subsequently recollected would certainly be looked upon with an evil eyo by the having given the defendants a 201. bill, and an acceptance company, if he were to enter the drawing-room with an for 36/. To the latter document he affixed his name, indistinct articulation and with trembling legs. Dinner but in an hour after, reflecting on what he had done, he is over about half-past nine. The gentlemen then rejoin snatched the 36/. acceptance out of the hand of Alfred, the ladies to take tea and coffee, and the conversation and tore it in pieces. Alfred then knocked witness down turns as before upon the news of the day." and kicked him until his face was covered with blood, and his sides sore. Witness endorsed his name to the 20/. bill at the instance of James, but was so intoxicated at the moment as to be quite uncon scious of what he was doing. The fragments of the bill were picked up by a friend of the defendants, and carefully put together, so as to form a whole. Witness obtained the 201. bill from the defendants by means of a ruse since the assault. Evidence was tendered to show that the prosecutor had himself challenged the defendants to play with him, that the money was fairly won from him, that he was not drunk, and that he had struck the first blow. Mr. COMBE said he would not undertake to decide the matter then. It seemed to be a very nefarious trans action, and it was evident that the prosecutor was drunk at the time he lost the money. He would bind over the defendants in two sureties of 401. each to an swer any charge that might be preferred against them at the sessions. id the POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HORSE. Yesterday a lad, about 15 years of age, in the service of Joseph Witney, of Henesge-lane, chimney-sweeper, was brought before Sir Peter Laurie, upon the charge of having embezzled the sum of one shilling, which he had received for cleaning a chimney in the house of Mr. Duff, of Leadenhall-street. In the progres's of this investigation Sir Peter Laurie ascertained that the prisoner had cleansed the chimney by climbing instead of having done the job, as required by Act of Parliament, with the machine. Sir PETER LAURIE—How happens it that this boy was allowed to. work himself up the chimney with his knees and elbows, directly in the teeth of the statute, which was intended and calculated to do so much good ? Why was not the machine used ?—The complainant said the chimney could not be properly swept with a ma chine, and he therefore permitted the prisoner to go. up, but he had learned from the prisoner previously that he was twenty-one years old, the age at which people were authorised to ascend. Sir P. LAURlE—Twenty-one ! Why, he is no more twenty-one than he is thirty-one years of age. Any body would see at once that he was not more than 15. The complainant—He assured me he was past the age. The prisoner —Never, your Lordship. Master never asked me any age, but sent me up without saying aword. The complainant considered himself bound to take the prisoner's word, which certainly was passed, or there should have been no climbing. Besides, the prisoner had received ls. 6d. for the work. The prisoner said he had received ls. 6d. for ascend ing, but he considered himself entitled to what he got for sweeping a chimney with himself. Whatever he re ceived for sweeping with the machine he regularly handed over to his master. Sir P. LAURIE—It is worse than slavery in the West Indies, to send him up a chimney, and I must not suffer so excellent an Act of Parliament to be violated with impunity. I hope this does not often happen. Complainant—Oh, dear! not at all. The prisoner—l have been with Mr. Witney three weeks, and I have be, n up the flue three times since I have been employed by him. Sir PETER LAURIE—The Act indicts a penalty of 10/. upon the party who allows a person, under 21 years of age, to climb a chimney, for the pu r p ose of swee p in g it. Idischarge the prisoner, on the charge of embezzling ; but I direct that the person, whose chimney he has climbed, be summoned before me on Thursday next, to answer for thus setting the law at defiance. I trust that the public will give me assistance in enforcing the ob servance of this most necessary law. The summons was accordingly issued. Several boys, who stated that they travelled to London, from various parts of the country, to seek employment, were brought up, charged with having, in a gang, taken bread out of a baker's shop. Sir PETER LAURIE said it was well known through the country that sums of money were sent by benevo lent individuals -for the poor-boxes at the police-offices, and that sort of intelligence was sure to bring up vast numbers, upon the speculation of distress. Mr. Goodman stated that as many as thirty-eight country people had been before the Lord Mayor on the preceding day pleading destitution. The increase of ap plications of this kind were so frightfully great of late, that it was quite impossible to deal with them. • Sir P. LAURIE trusted that in the Amended Poor-law Bill some provision would be made to meet the evil which entailed such expense and trouble upon the City of London. He sent the boys to the union. . About a dozen girls were afterwards brought up, charged with having broken the windows of the union, and also the windows of the Mansion-house. They said their object was to get admission into Bridewell. Sir P. LAURIE refused to send them to Bridewell, but ordered a couple of officers to take them to Peckham workhouse. It is now the constant practice of the refractory of both sexes to break R t SHIP-STREET.he windows of the Mansion-house. WO Thomas Burton, an old soldier, who stood charged with having attempted to obtain various sums from different individuals, under the pretence that he was their forgotten relative, just returned from abroad, was placed before Mr. Bingham for final examination. The facts of t he case have already appeared , and it may be recolle cted that the onl y instance in which he married actually woman succeeded m n a in named obtaining Caroline Williams, upon whom he played off a slight variation from his usual stratagem, and pretended that he was charged with the delivery of sundry valuable presents from her brother, who was a soldier in . Canada, and that they were then lying at the CustOrn.house. The evidence in the above case having been completed, officer, said, that among a great number Mr. Ilttour c uem inquired whethe r an y a dditi ona l cases had been discover e d; • Haywood, the s edefrauds individuals who had seen him in prison, he w a s reco g nis ed by an old army sur geon upon he ha d c a lled in p ros ecution of his swindiing of d scheme, and promised to present him with a parrot which he had brought from abroad, but the gentleman in question was himself too old a soldier to be so easily imposed upon, and he sent him off to practise his arts on persons of greater credulity. The prisoner here handed :up a written paper to the Bench, in which it was stated, that he had received several gun-shot wounds in the head, which rendered him at times unconscious of what he was about. Mr. BiNcuem observed that it was rather unfortunate for the prisoner that he had prepared such a document, as it furnished indubitable evidence of his being the same person who had committed a similar series of au dacious frauds in the neighbourhood of Liverpool. He had received a letter that morning from Mr. Henry Dobson, of Broadwood House, near Liverpool, stating that a person answering the exact description of the prisoner, and whose head was scarred from alleged musket wounds, had defrauded numerous persons in that part of the country by means of the same artful device which he had practised in the metropolis. He should order both the documents to be preserved and produced in evidence at the . Central Criminal Court, to which he should commit the prisoner for trial. The depositions of the several witnesses were then completed, and the prisoner was fully committed. CLERICENWELL. Yesterday two able-bodied men, named Ponter and Sanglon, were charged with refusing to perform the work assigned them by Act of Parliament in the Hol born Union workhouse. On the previous night the pri soners were admitted as destitute poor by Barlow, the porter. They had their bed and breakfast, but in the morning positively refused to pick half a pound of oakum, the task assigned to them. The case having been proved, Mr. COMBE gave the prisoners the option of going back to the workhouse and doing the work. They positively refused, and were sent to the House of Correction for seven days. An elderly, weather-beaten looking man applied to Mr. Comb() for assistance under the following circum stances :—He stated that he was a native of Newfound land, and had been chief mate on board the ship Thomas, Captain Grange master, which arrived in London in October last. On landins here he became very ill, and was at first confined in St. Thomas's, and subslquently in the London hospital. When convalescent, he found that his ship had returned to Newfoundland. and being wholly destitute, he applied for relief in the first in stance to Lord Stanley, the Secretary for the Colonies. and subsequently to the Lord Mayor, but from neither received any assistance. He then applied to the Board of Admiralty, and received an answer from the Secretary, the Hon. a si ney Herbert, in which that gentleman stated that he regretted the Board of Admiralty could hot assist him, but at the same time enclosing a sum suffi cient to convey him to Liverpool, whence he might find a vessel that would take him back to his native place. Applicant went to Liverpool, but after remaining there for a considerable time, and being unable to attain his object, returned to London. • He arrived here this day, and he sought of the Magistrate to assist him, being without money and friends. Mr. Comne said his better course would be to apply to the workhouse. The applicant, whose appearance bespoke great desti tution, declared, in the most earnest manner, that he had not tasted a morsel of food for the last forty-eight hours, and that he was unable to walk from weakness. Mr. COMBE observed that he could as easily have ob tained a ship from Liverpool as from London to New foundland. The worthy Dlagistrate, however, directed that be should have an immediate supply of food. Mary Hartwell, aged 20, was c harged with breaking three panes of glass at the Clerkenwell workhouse. hOth, the porter, proved the offence, which indeed the .prisons hp elf admitted. Both her hands were bandaged, having been eat ra p,pgled by the glass. Mr. Costnu—Why did you break the windows ? Prisoner—Because I was refused relief or admission this accruing, wh en,, applied for it at the workhouse. Mr. % , OMBEVV BO refgsfd you ? Prisoner—Mr. Cookse Y, tile overseer. He said, ‘i What dOCS a pro tute like you want w ith relief ?" ROBBERY AT CHATHAM DOCK-YARD.—Thomas Fox, one of the apprentices at her Majesty's dock-yard at Chatham, and a pupil of the dock-yard school, was brought before the bench of county magistrates sitting at Rochester, on Monday, charged with having stolen from the school a quantity of mathematical instruments, the property of her Majesty. James M'Ganahan deposed—l am the school master of the dock-yard school, appointed by the Lords Com missioners of the Adinirality. I have 144 youths under tui tion, and to 129 of them I have entrusted mathematical instruments for use—the property of her Majesty. I pro cured them from the storekeeper. 'I never allowed any one to take the instruments from the school. Some had instru ments of their own. In consequence of information I re ceived about the 21st of February last, I made a search and discovered that some of the instruments were missing. The prisoner has been a pupil since May last. Henry Pemble is a pupil, and had a pair of compasses and a drawing pen, the property of the Queen. Henry Pemble examined—ls an apprentice in the Dockyard. I missed my box of instru ments from underneath my desk on the 20th of February. There were a pair of compasses and a drawing pen in it belonging to the Queen ; and a wooden mould, two pen holders, and some steel pens, my own property. Do not know whether Fox was at school that day. Elizabeth Cliff deposed that the prisoner pledged the box of instruments produced by the constab'e at her husband's shop at Chatham, on the 22d of February, for ls. 6d. Pemble identified the box and instruments produced as those lost by him. Three similar eases were fully made out against the prisoner, who was remanded till Wednesday, to give the dockyard authori ties time to substantiate a fifth case. The value of the in struments stolen from the school amounts to upwards of seven pounds. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL.—Lord Lyndhurst, the Lord High Chancellor of England, has introduced into the Upper House of Parliament a Bill entitled, "An Act to consolidate the jurisdiction and improve the practice of the Ecclesiastical Courts of England and Wales, and for other wise altering and amending the law in certain matters eccle siastical." It consists of as many as 101 clauses, and appears to be founded on the Report of the Ecclesiastical Commission. By the provisions of this Bill, all peculiar jurisdictions are abolished, and merged in the respective archdeaconries and dioceses. The Archidiaconal Courts (with the exception of Cornwall, Leicester, Nottingham, and Suffolk) are deprived of the power to grant- probates or administrations and mar riage licenses. The diocesan Courts, however, are allowed to retain their full powers, it being optional with the judge, or either of the parties to the suit, to send to the Court of Arches. Licenses are abolished, and compensation is pro vided for loss of emoluments, &c. Acting deputies are all to become principals, and to be paid by salaries, to be fixed by the judges of the respective Courts, out of a fee fund, to which all fees, &c., are to be carried. The amount of salary is subject to the approbation of the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury. The Act is not to extend to tithes within the City of London. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 5. COLCHESTER AND IPSWICH RAILWAY. Sir WM. HEATHCOTE, in presenting a petition from Sir Robert Harland with respect to the course pursued by the Committee on the Standing Orders in regard to this Bill, wished to have the opinion of the House as to the course that he had pursued with reference to this measure,ras Chairman of the Committee. In that character he had refused to hear the soli citor for some of the parties, on the ground that he was not a Parliamentary agent. Sir GEORGE GREY thought that the decision that had been come to by the Committee was a correct one, but, at the same time, he considered that it would be better that the peti tion should lie on the table, in order that it might be ascertained what the practice was. Lord G. SOMERSET considered that the only party that should be excluded was a paid barrister, but that any other agent, whether Parliamentary or not, was included in the Standing Order. . Mr. STRUTT thought if the Committee had power to ex clude counsel they had power also to exclude solicitors. He was, however, willing that the matter should be adjourned to consider the subject thoroughly. For his own part he thought that the word " agent" meant " Parliamentary agent." Mr. GREENE considered that Parliamentary age.nts could only be heard before the Standing Orders' Committee. Mr. A GLIONBY said that when he sat on Committees on private Bills, they always considered that the word " agent" signified " Parliamentary agent." Mr. STRUTT said that he had been referred to as having allowed a solicitor, not a Parliamentary agent, to appear for parties in the Committee on the Lancaster and Carlisle Rail way Bill. He could only say, that if such was the fact, it had occurred withont his knowledge. The SPEAKER said he agreed with the opinion expressed by the Hon. Member for Derby. When he (the Speaker) held the office of Chairman of the Standing Orders' Committee, persons not being Parliamentary agents were not allowed to appear before Committees of that House for other parties. He was decidedly of opinion that Parliamentary agents were the only persone ad nitted by the Standing Orders to appear before Committees of that House. Mr. ESTCOURT fully concurred in the opinion expressed by the Speaker. After a few words from Lord G. SOMERSET, __ _ The SPEAKER said that the agents were responsible to the House for the fees ; under those circumstances no person ought to be before the House, except through a Parliamentary agent. COUNTY CORONERS' BILL. The House went into Committee on the County Coroners' Bill, and Clauses 1 to 16 were agreed to, with a few verbal alterations, and without discussion. Clauses 17, 18, and 19, were then agreed to without discussion. On the reading of the 20th clause, which proposed that Coroners should receive ls. per mile for travel ling expenses, Mr. C. BERKE LY moved the omission of the clause. Mr. WILLIAMS supported the amendment of the llon. Member for Cheltenham. Mr. MACLEAN and Sir GEORGE STRICK LAND supported the clause. The House divided, when the numbers were— For the clause 93 Frr the amendment Majority —s9 (LEFT SITTING.) AN ENGLISH DINNER The following amusing and thoroughly " French" description of an English " dinner" is given in the Constitutionnel, the Parisian organ of M. Thiers : " Madeira wine has been out of fashion in England for some time. Sherry and Port (to which are occasionally added Bordeaux and Champagne, Rhenish wines, and Hermitage) are now the only wines to be seen on the tables of the rich. A s for beer (the national drink), it only makes its appearance at a banquet for remembrance sake, and in a very small quantity. Port wine is held in especial favour by the English, because, whilst it is more im pregnated with alcohol than any other, it is at the same time the least irritating, and facilitates more than alt the rest the important operations of the digestive organs. In order, however, to be pessessed of all the requisite qualities, it must not only be of the finest growth, or have been eight or nine years in the cellar, but the regular connoisseurs insist that it must cross the line several times in order to be first rate. Fiee or six servants, with powdered wigs, in silk stockings and knee-breeches, hover about the table. The covers are always changed at every successive coarse, and there is no fear of eating off the dirty plate of one's neighbour. or using his knife and fork, the sideboard being laden with piles of plates and conveniences of everp. description. After fish, which always constitutes the first course, the host invites one of his guests to drink a glass of wine with him, desiring him to help himself to that which he likes best. You take that which is offered you. Your host then pours out a glass for himself, and sends you the bottle by a servant, You fill your glass, you raise it to your lips with a half-bow, and drink as much of it as you feel inclined. The same ceremony i o repeated amongst the other guests. It should be men tioned that if you ask a lady to take wine, you always fill her glass before your own; but if you invite a gentleman. so to do, you never fail to help your, self first. This cumstom was formerly very mconi e• nient to strafigers, it being then absolutely necessary to empty one's glass ;at present you nee only drink a portion, and ladies may satisfy the rules of etiquette by SECOND READINGS. The Leeds and Bradford Railway, the Guildford Junction Railway, and the Furness Railway Bills were read a second time. ATHLONE ELECTION. The following Gentlemen were sworn as Members for try ing the petition against the return for the Borough of Ath lone :—The Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry, Hon. W. 0. Stan ley, Mr. H. Beckett, Mr. Wm. Lockhart, Mr. W. Cripps, Mr. H. G. Ward, and Mr. J. S. Pakington. RAILWAYS. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from ilirmingham, in favour of a fair competition in the conveyance of goods on railways. PETITIONS. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition agreed on at a public meeting in Liverpool, which the Hon. Member stated, but for the desire of having it speedily presented, would have been signed by 0,000 persons. It stated the petitioners' satisfac tion at the intention expressed by her Majesty, to redress the grievances of the people, and they hoped the House would respond to her gracious intention. '1 hey com plained of the imperfect state of the representation of the country, and of the powers assumed by that House in taxing the people, notwithstandiug that im perfect condition of the representation. They requested the House not to put military power into the hands of the Go vernment, to maintain a state of things in Ireland that would be intolerable in England. 'I hey complained of the manner in which money was voted away in that House, and of the in tolerable wrong that such a multitude thould be obliged to pay such sums, while they were not concerned, directly or indirectly, with the representation ; and they prayed that no more public money should be granted until their grevances were redressed. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from Preston against the monopoly in the conveyance of goods on railways. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Kettering, signed by 597 of its inhabitants, complaining that taxation took away from the working man a large portion of his weekly earnings. They alleged that taxation without representation was tyranny, and they prayed that before voting away the public money the House would proceed to redress the people's grievances ; also a petition from the wood-sawyers and masons of Aberdeen to the same effect. SUPI'LY OF WATER TO THE METROPOLIS. Mr. EWART presented a petition from the inhabitants of Lambeth, complaining of the conduct of the Lambeth Waterworks Company in not supplying pure water, and praying for inquiry. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN SCOTLAND. Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from an individual named Black, complaining of the manner in which justice was administered in the Small Debts Court of the county of Stirling. We understood the Hon. Gentleman to say that it was his intention on some future occasion to call the attention of the House to the subject of the petition. CORN-LAWS. The Ilex. GEIITLE34Aw then presented a petition praying for an alter ation in the corn laws TOBACCO DUTIES. Mr. T. DUNCOM BE presented eighteen petitions from the borough of Finsbury praying for an alteration in the duties on tobacco. NEW POOR-LAW. The How. Mamma then presented petitions from Man cheater and from Gravesend, praying that those places might be exeripted from the operation of the pew poor,law, Mr. MILNER GIBSON presented a pe!ltion from Man chester, in favour of Lord Ashley's motion for a Select Com rpittee to consider the subject of medical relief for the poor. RAILWAY COMMITTEE. Mr. GLADSTONE moved the nomination of the Select Committee on Ciassification of Ftailvvay Bills, in conformity with the fifth roolation on Railwaya ;—Mr, Bingham Baring, Sir Charles Lemon, Mr. Rice, Mr. Acland, and Sir John Walsh. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. AIILNER GIBSON, in the absence of Mr. Ricardo, postponed the motion of which that Non. Gentleman had given notice fur to-night. on the subject of commercial treaties, till this day fortnight. Mr. HUTT postponed for a fortnight the motion of which he had given notice, on the subject of colonial corn. Mr. ESCOTT gave notice that, on Thursday next, he should call the attention of the House to the subject of the fees which were still demanded in criminal courts of justice. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND). Sir D. NORREYS postponed his motion respecting the operation of the poor-laws in Ireland till after Easter. ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF IRELAND. Mr. WARD gave notice that on as early a day as possible after Easter he would move for a Committee of the whole House to inquire into the present state of the temporalities of the Irish Church.—( Hear. ) INTRODUCTION OF ASIATIC LABOURERS INTO THE WEST INDIES. Sir A. L. HAY gave notice that he would, on Thursday, put a question to the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Co lonies to know whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to afford greater facilities for the introduction of Chinese and other Asiatic labourers into the West Indies I DUTIES ON MANUFACTURES. Mr. EWART gave notice that on Thursday week he would move for a repeal of the duties which press upon manufactures ; and also those which tend to encourage smuggling. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Mr. WILLIAMS rose to move, " That no motion, if op posed, shall be brought on and discussed in this House after midnight." The Hon. Member said it was not his intention to interfere with those long party discussions which so often occupied the time of the House to a very late and unseasonable hour. He wished to confine his motion simply to the practical business of the House, and he thought it must be evident to every Hon. Alember who had been in the habit of paying at tention to that subject, that the bringing forward of impor tant questions at a very late hour of the night was not only most inconvenient, but highly detrimental to public in terest.—( Hear, hear.) The general system of trans acting public business was in many respects most objectionable, and important alterations ought to be made —and, in fact, must be made, before the business could be conducted in a manner beneficial to the country. On re ferring to the proceedings of last session, he found that the House had sat 119 nights. During those 119 nights the House sat 1055 hours after midnight, being nearly one hour after mid night for each sitting. He had often seen, for want of some regulation of this kind, business of the greatest possible im portance forced upcn the consideration of the House at one or two o'clock in the morning, sometimes even later ; he had seen, in defiance of every remonstrance, measures brought forward at those hours which affected most materially the rights, the liber ties, the lives, and the property of the people of this country. He had also seen, in defiance of all remonstrance, millions of the public money voted away without any consideration what ever, as to the existence of any necessity for such amounts to the public interest of the country. At these unseasonable hours he had seen gentlemen coming in to vote on important questions affecting the lives, properties and liberties of the people, from their balls, their theatres, their operas, and their parties, and voting without any knowledge whatever as to whe ther those measures were good or bad, with regard to the interests of the country. Stich a state of things ought to be corrected, and there was no other means of doing so than limiting the hours of business to something like reasonableness. He had no objection to the debates between the two great parties in that House—one anxious to obtain power, and the other . . anxious to keep it—being continued, as he had often witnessed, till twilight peeped through the windows of the House, and Members returned home, from what they call their duties, by the light of the rising sun. But be did object to public business being carried on at these hours. Nature intended that Hon. Members, instead of wasting their strength in that House, should refresh themselves by sleep. The Right Hon. Baronet opposite smiled.—(Laughter.) He was quite ready to bear his testimony to the Right Hon. Baronet's attendance in that House, as well as that of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government. 'they were to be found in their places at the earliest and latest hours, and they certainly displayed an amount of physical strength that often astonished him —( Hear, and laughter.) But he thought a little more attention to their health and comfort, would be an advantage. They might, at present, be able to attend to their duties, but a time might come when their strength would fail them ; and when these late hours would tell on their strength, and the duration of their lives. If the good of the country were consulted in these late hours, they might be tolerated, but the reverse was the fact. Laws were passed when Hon. Members were fast asleep, or in such a state of drowsiness that they hardly knew what they were about. The intention of the Reform Bill was, that instead of Hon. Members coming down at midnight, they should come there in a state of perfect sobriety: When he saw the time of the House consumed in passing Acts to explain and amend other Acts of Parliament, which if Hon. Members had not enacted at those unseasonable hours, such a state of things would never have taken place, he must say that it was discreditable to the House. By keeping those unseasonable hours, when they ought to be asleep, they passed laws which were neither understood by Hon. Members themselves, nor by the judges who were to administer them. There was no country in Europe which adopted such an unreasonable course of proceeding; and yet, notwithstanding their late hours, many of the grievances of the country were not redressed. Let them look at the state of matters which Ireland presented. Now what were the complaints and what were the grievances of the people of Ireland ? The Hon. Member for Cork, the re presentative of all Ireland, had often stated in that House that one of the great grievances of Irelandras, that the same law was not applied to that country which was applied to England; he thought the laws for Ireland and England ought to be pre cisely the same.—( Hear, hear.) If they consulted in that House the wants and wishes of the people, one-third of the time of the House would be saved.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt that during the present session, one-fourth of the time of that House would be consumed upon two , questions—the grievances of Ireland, and the corn.laws. It must be apparent to every one that the grievances of Ire land must be redressed, or that country would become a curse instead of a blessing to England.—( Hear, hear.) It. was evi • dent, also, that the corn-laws must be put an end to. Why, then, he would ask, were not some measures adopted in order to settle those two questions? The people called upon them loudly to do so ; and if they resisted that appeal, the worst results might be expected. He believed that if these two questions were settled that one-fourth of the time of the House would be saved. He advised Minis ters also to bring forward measures they intended to proceed with at an early period of the session, and he entreated them to discontinue the practice of bringing on Bills which were never intended to be proceeded with. It must be apparent to every member that much of the time of the House had been consumed by discussing Bills that never were intended to be passed into a law. Since he had had a seat in'that House, from four to five months of the cession had been wasted upon all manner of i Ile debates—( Loud cheers from the Ministerial side of the House)—upon questions in which the public took no interest. In the session of 1840, gentlemen on the other side of the House consumed nearly the whole of that session in the most idle, and, as regarded the public interest, the most worthless motions—not worthless to them, because their object 'was to get hold of place, power, and pelf, No doubt the gentlemen who sat behind the Treasury Bench had, as well as those wko sat on that Bench, derived consi derable advantage from the change, but that change had produced no advantage to the people of this coun try. How had the time of the House been consumed dur ing the last session? Parliament had met on the 3d of Fe bruary, and during the months of February, March, April, and - May they had passed 26 Bills ; during the month of June they had passed 10 Bills; and during the month of July 20 Bibs, while in the three first weeks of the month of August, during which alone the House had sat, forty-four Bills had been sent up to the other House. Was that a proper mode of conducting bu,iness ? No one could defend that system. The House of Lords would, while the present party was in power, pass any Bids which they might think proper to seed up, but under the late Government a certain legal Lord had thrown bundles upon bundles of Bil's under the table, upon the plea t hat they had beensent up at too late a period of the session to have proper consideration given to them. He hoped that the state ment which he had made would satisfy the majority of the House—( laugh )—that it would be greatly con ducive to the health of the Members, and to the interests of the country, that they should legislate for the people during hours when their mental faculties were in a proper state of astivity and clearness, and not when they were muddled.— ( A laugh.) The Hon. Member concluded by proposing the motion of whic,k he had given notice. Mr. BROTHERTON seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could hardly persuade himaelf that the Honourable Gentleman was in earnest in making such a proposition to the House. He gave the Hon. Gentleman every credit for his anxiety with regard to the health of the Members of the House, but it was not so much the discussing of matters at a late hour of the night which was prejudicial to their health, but the being obliged to hear long speeches at early and late hours.— (Cheers.) When Hon. Gentlemen got up upon all subjects and treated them with dissertations on the corn.laws and Ireland, it produced a degree of lassitude which was most injurious.—( Loud cheers and laughter.) When the earlier portion of the night was occupied in discussing useless subjects, it rendered it necessary for them to sit up fate to forward the public busi ness. Unless they sat up late for the purpose, they would have no opportunity of doing any business at all. The Hon. Gentleman complained of the inattention and haste with which they discussed public measures, and he said that ' while they passed twenty-six Bills only in the first part of the session, they passed a considerable number of Bills at the end. But Hon. Gentlemen who took up the time of the House in discussing useless subjects were the cause of this. The dis cussion of many Bills was frequently put off at the request of Hon. Gentlemen themselves, who wished to consult their constituents. would be found that those debates, which occupied the time of the House after twelve o'clock, were those which were begun before that hour. There might be occasions where great public interests required that public measures should be introduced and discussed at any hour,_ how ever late, and he thought that the House would act in the manner most conducive to the public interests, by not eon. sentirtg to a specific resolution of this kin.i. He had no fear of their health being injured so long as they had the Hon. Gen tl 9-nan opposite amongst them (Mr. Brotherton), who watched over the early hours of the House with so much amenity and consideration.—(Cheers.) So long as he might remain a Member of this House he was sure they would nut waste their time or their constitutions in the way so dreaded by the Hon, Member for Coventry.--( Hear, hear. ) Mr. BROTHERTON ro.e, and there was general cheering from all sides of the House. The Hon. Gentleman said he should trouble the House only with a word or two, The Hon. Member for Coventry had seen the very poor success which had attended hi s - (M r . Brotherton's) efforts en this subject, and had kindly come forward with his powerful aid, and he trusted that he would have a to o rg co e m r minority H toesuidipid thinkorthim than n at i f h eh adhitherto been able Honourable Friend stere carried it thewoliV"bael of f ou h n i d s exceedingly usefutl, and that if they adjourned re gularly at early hours they would materially facili tate the business of the House, and do no injury to the public interests. The remarks -vvhich had fallen from the Right Honourable Gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, brought to his mind an anecdote of Queen Eliza beth. That good Queen had, on one occasion, sent { down a message to her faithful Commons, admonishing them not to consume so much time in long speeches and useless mo tions.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) If the right good Queen of the present day were to send down a similar message to that House—( Loud cheers)—no one would deny its limos priateness, and, for his owe part, he should be the first to join in a vote of thanks to her Majesty for her most gracious communicatinn,—(Loud cheers.) He was sure there were many speeches delivered in that House that might be usefully curtailed, and many motions brought forward that they would have lost nothing had they never heard of.—(Cheers.) For his own part, he seldom troubled the House with motions—( Hear, hear)—and he was not aware that he had ever made any long speeches—(Cheers)—and i 0 supporting the present motion, he did so because he thought it ought to be carried, though Hon. Members had the remedy in their own hands if they chose to adopt it. Hon. Illembers in that House often talked of the wisdom of their ancestors, but they s eeme d to f orge t that those ancestors always did th e i r wor k b y nay-light. He had a sug estion to mak e , w hi c h thought might be usefully acted opensf t was that the House should not sit after twelve o'clock, uule eighty Members were present. 'nil - it — id threw out th , gestion, he c ons id ere d it perfectly useless to atttetipt to out as the H o u se was th en constituted. He would therefore null support the resolution of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Will ial r a t, though of course he knew too w e ll f ro m past experienceo tOOO excellent as the p r op os itio n wou ld b e in practice, the would not sanction it. The House then divided, when there appeared-- For the motion Against it , Majority against the motion „,r •• ......... METROPOLITAN POLICE. Mr. TUFNELL rose to move for a Select Co m mittee los quire into the cost of the Metropolitan Police Force, 12 ..A0n manner in which the sums levied as police rates are ass e "ii ie. the different parishes within the Metropolitan Police MS A ,' In moving for this Committee, he thought it right to stat ise 7 o l he had no intention of calling for an inquiry into the eo n ket the New Police. The House knew that accusations of weL p i had gone forth against the body, and at its first establish!by the force did not give satisfaction. The Rieht Holowittie Baronet, when introducing the Police• Bill, had said that t he or no increase of [expense would arise to each district frollleld formation of the police force, but that life and property 7 1 i ; 0 receive additional security from it. He would show , i° , ar e. places, there had been no additional security to life . an r s - • perty, while the rate had been doubled. He t h ou ght h;., to Justified in saying that the new police had given no see n f r ro l 0 A property.—( Hear, hear.) When a change was ma de • bit. local to a central one, the House was bound to protect local rifddi. The Bill had been passed under the pretence that I g i g ht tional burdens would be imposed upon the parishes. Th se d oo Hon. Baronet had stated so, the Bill had been propc, b e en that condition, and on that condition opposition hannwity avoided, and yet year after year these burdens had. b eg o ftlo creased. The parishioners did complain of the adoptoa.,...ii, central system • but the complaint was that the express wri,i, tion upon which ' the Bill had been passed had been el°, ll t a rr and that the rates had been nearly doubled. The rates of most heavily not upon the rich, but upon the pnerernd, rate-payers. He held in his hand a report of Mr. 7; t he the Commissioner of City police, who stated that seltosi City police cost only 761. per head, the Maryleboner 11'.`ois 1 1201. per head. This was a state of things which reqg e ja' remedy. Before he concluded, he would refer to . ,l i s equality of the assessments of the different parishes. 1 1 . Act of 1836, the poor-rate had been assessed at the net ' o r but this was rendered useless, because it was not wad," Oro pulsory to adopt that mode of valuation. If the Rig-, , rO . Gentleman read the report, he would soon perceive sel_ l 2 l . : B oti , inequalities existed with regard to the as '"* - 1 ,10. He found in many parishes that the burdens were most se„ a li He thought, therefore, there was ground for the motion 11070, he made. He had no intention of finding fault with th e missioners of Police. What he desired to see was , theb•iste lotions of the Police Bill, when it was carried, broukh.ll, effect. On that occasion the author of the Bill tide Peel) said that ultimately no increased burden w u j i i 111 1 thrown upon the parishes. He (Mr. Tufnell) th°lli ay Government ought to be able to maintain an ef fi cie n ' %obi t force without such heavy expenses, and without dange r s. to the peace of the country, or the liberty of the subjec,.., jot/ Mr. MANNERS SUTTON said it would not be f or or to trouble the House at any length with his reasons {f OF posing this motion. Before, however, he folloimobei Hon. Gentleman through the remarks he had made, he bi hil to express the satisfaction he felt, that he did D oti - c i o the motion, mean to cast any imputation upon the efficienei,,ilo conduct of the police: force itself. With regard, motion of the Hen. Gentleman. The first jar t su esa) referred to the cost of the police force. He O le ' to r° nail r e oil was sure he must be perfectly aware that an an- d , of the expenses of the police force was printed a° ow, upon the table of that House, and which „ ° e ow the whole of the information he professed to seek. rose' not therefore ground his motion et: the ignorance of “ 1 ,1 1 ,01 upon this portion of his subject ; and he did not 11 , : `, - ilt support it by any charge or accusation against the Pn"'"': r feat had he done so he (Mr. Sutton) should have been cto r, prepared to meet him, and to prove any such char g e f e ~ without foundation. For this purpose he should Fa 1 854,L. great aid iu the Report of the Committee which sat iw ow' the Metropolitan Force, and which reported then, . 0 7 ( 0 i n the 7 10 tO vourable terms of it. They stated that s ubseque o t 4 ,l, O m ' passing of that Act the cost of watching the bole n s p J. ,1 7. doubled. But the Hon. Member must remembe r 1007 whole principle of the Police Act was based on this , t ere : 4 borough was watched beyond the mere limits of l,t' number of policemen might and would be F s i l i o ste l ;.. at any moment on application to the Coil. elk' The Hon. Gentleman had stated that the metropolitays WY,' before the passing of the Police Act, were an efficie n v itir He admitted that that was the case, but he utterly der° 01 s ack they would be so now if the present system was , I r t • _, if With regard to the question of assessment, that aguJ e b c Aieve' s j escaped the attention of the Committees, and b e it algo i 'i l t formed no ground for acceding to the motion. ne,: t eine to the House that there was, in fact, no ground 1 10 assenting to the motion. e° Mr. BROTHERTON thought it very hard tha tthe _ A - ic e. A should be taxed for the support of the metropolitan Iw' s i n e r After a few words from` Mr. TUFNELL, the ° °3 , • . 0 negatived, without a division. The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to hrig r isbrn Bill " to facilitate the disjoining or dividing of p . oril ° and the erecting of new parishes in Scotland. . AI V SICK POOR. Orel'. Lord ASHLEY said he rejoiced to state that her ° inst .0 Government had expressed to him their intention be l ed , posing his motion, which stood on the paper, an f o r anti, now, therefore, content himself merely by moving_pio , ',4 Committee "to inquire into the mode wl . '''' °3l 'Ol medical relief to the sick poor."—Agreed to. ete b. :4o Mr. S. O'BRIEN moved for " a return unions in England and Wales in which no chapl"° $ e 00 10 r appointed on the Ist day of January last, and th e inmates in such unions at that. period."—Ordered . i SUPPLY. Co e Sir G. CLERK brought up the report of the . J O Supply, which was received. _a f' s' The other Orders of the Day were then dispoaw - o House adjourned at Seven o'clock. of the ° ta d st pEoofgro O qjtn.a, n :mta t il l ga t ei e eda l B. 4 2 t , h tilt., at Hieliss's Hotel, l l3llls CTio nb' 101 6o h f 0 0 : DIED. Francis John Dibbin, only son of John Call c ot b 31151 ' On the 22d ult., at Manor -place, Edinle,. , ff il, Ogilvy, daughter of the late Sir John OgnNY..osi 41, On the 26th tilt., at Montville, Guernsey, . IV On tho '4901 ult. Mrs. Clarke, of the FlYi 14 Wr 9 1°4 Nottinzham, 1 the lAte fir. i'el: of pe Mart, to l lfeo2x9fothrat-dstt.r,eMe Oxford-street, s a , gi‘eldar7t,6.relie t •ce-Offfh oft I r e . 19 u t g h u t s il t t u . s , at HarrisC lar Clarence-place'' e l. - " PIO - ' 'At tl On the Ist inst., at the Crescent, Decuotll4 • , lis Esq., aged 80. • be rlll o ,Ate _ On the Ist inst., at Bolton ii# ll ' - Northuill io p COUrten4y. infiPit sop of 1-1. 31ayhew, l':!')liit,ilicbt'ru '. Il e OP tho'lst inst„ at Ventnor, lsle of AVI&', afor ds g ral ' e, Esq. , of Sun-sti eet. • (4011,13 e 11,1 p1.a„nce,:,3149:0 , , ri,10.01, On the 2d inst ,at tile Vicarage, Poddale, WI i)l3 l ' 1 0 .--- .--111-0 $O Ol3 ' London: Printed and Published II „.. 0 112, 0 4 ' iff No 112, Strand, at The Sun Office , f, s i e b 6, I : ) :C " ~,i..,ttliii Fsq;::tii%(:):t.; :lierttl:ely I.lrJko_iri on::rei(rentiltgT tst, r oidge;._ a of; C°uutof Niddledex, IV ednesdaY, A l . House adjourned at Seven o'Clock. 4 41 , . 0v INCENDIARY FIRE AT a" ite ut i SCarcely a night passes without intelligen ce , ' s re o e e f lt e this town of a fire in the nei g hb our h oo d, en"' f k r o,' , " turned are the inhabitants to h ear i ng the erY g e sir )1 sounded in their streets, that, u p o n the 01, 1 ,, hundreds may be seen haste n in g - toward org ;dee' where it is supposed to be raging, On night last, about seven o'clock, the cry of sounded in St. Mathew's, and the fears of nt 0 ,1 tants dwelling in that part of the town u - u oilo s h ,ro confirmation, as the western horizon was , 'to ot with that vivid glare which clearly da y tl O ,O l was an awful conflazration, and, as nianL,"l3r ce at no great dtstanee, It was at first supposedi Pi ee ti ford was the ill-fated place, as an alarm ban i t y6,o, the night previous of a fire there, which hePPIn Il to be false. On reaching Bramford, however, t o 00 14 r, still appeared to be some considerable diatetnCl o seSpos was at length ascertained IA be An 010 VIA 1 0 70 John Raynhatn, of Otrton, Hadleig l'"„ o eee"10, engines were the first on the spot, and had retie 11 getting the fire under, and preventing,the tlenrdsOCNV the dwelling.house, which stood at no great ell the time the _engines fro m Ip sw ich arrir e the 4 0 Suffolk Fire Office Engines - Alive ra s9iiig t 040' Bramford, some miscreants endeavoured t n Pi l er nog i the wrong track, by directin g them to the v a 010 ford, To this, together with th e distaneet 5 , 1 14 00 ` ,,i1 of the roads at the ti me , ma y be attribtniestr),;ir arrival of the Ipswich engines. The builditAg: consisted of a double barn, stable, bOAek' s ,"4/, house, &c. ; a valuable Nc t s - ,0 Wig, worth t he P l c sow, and a farynw wp i ve per i s hed ju re ov iro lf altholigt the must praisewort h y effbrtS w c i were ,er; rescue' t Pm, Th e ShPleka of the poor anim a s d by no piteous to hear "I he fire was first discove re r° , :dti or ge vans girl, who was left i n c h arge of the fa r A efl Mrs. Raynharn being from home at the thi l e c „, number of the neighbou r i ng peasantry, w w it* f y larA and appeared to vie w ith one ano ther is t 'O/111 worthy exertions to exti ngu i s h the flame s ' the W s was insured in the Sun, and the buildings i n , 00 1 1,0 0 Fire-of fi ce. The da mage i s es timated O S te . l 3 ' We% t ' 1 1 understand Mr. Raynh am had siAlle th rea e ll ‘ 4l o ll sent him about VP/0 months since, an d Put *fl made some time ago to fire the stao o, effect.--Ipswich Express. 0 ( TOP „re Cybor Ma. LEVER'S NEW WOW(' -1 , -."—, 6 .,The " CIWIRAITANK.—The numerous admirers o ,; l l s llesfbiltt , sions of Harry Lorrequer " " Charles v fir, eci 0 Mess," &c., hear w or k , 3 10 will be deli g hted to he tha t k f r leP ); Great Marlborough - street, announces a ce - A our d i e '',4/ Lever's pen for immediate publication. i !'"d ," i g " e rig s ift , his Wanderings and Ponderings in Many be ff °Dl Dij of this new production, which will oubt-e - looked for by all who have derived ainuseltioi! Lever's former works. Great additional eir io fe r :lo given to " Arthur O'Leary," from the fact ° ift), ° " o c ru iksh o bi trated by the celebrated George can hardly fail of fiUding a host of con 4 ,--' 4 # dashing sketches of " Harry Lorrequee s TA I4 o P r o. CANTENRURT. SINGULAR Co Cr 'ionz 'ich ie ds Tuesday last a large rat was seen r unning 0 , store in the Cavalry barrack-yard, Canterbutlloooollol seized and killed by a one-year lamb of the S e e ee. u p i n D O the propertyof Mr. R. Wall, who keeps the C is t, i l ' o alit e a, it t " is a most docile crea t ure , an d has been u'idi'oP l3 ,l o g s house. The ewe dyi ng a t the time It wa s d ol been the companion of a litter of Newfouc that time..—.Dorer Chranick, Ist Cole -BIRTHS, pgi o re On the Ist inst., at the Provost's Lodge, grg' 6 Hon. Mrs: Hodgson, of a son. On the 4th inst., at Curzon-street, the e a , 0 , Hope, of a son. 0,01 (.)n the 2d in s t., th e l a dy o f F. Mildred, rab'igh the On the 2d inst., at Camberwell, Airs. W ."' -ese On the 2d inst,, at Aidhorough Lodge, -° of Basil T, Woodd, Esq., of a daughter. e of 11. o f On the ad inst., at Regent-square, th , fir , Esq., of a daughter. , Thom of On the 4th inst., at Clapham, gh ' Wi fe daughter. the e tt. On the 4th inst., at Torrington - eq u— ' cr , Fitzherbert, Esq., of a dati,ghter. f vigh b On the 4th inst., Mrs. 1-lodgkinso n, of a son. 'ect ell .01 1 jrARAIED,.* ,beth , 0 11 ;0 On the 27th ult., at St. Mary's, I , a fe dord• ere , l l o Breedon, R.N., to Elizabeth Binyon , win aerte e _ of t On the 28th ult., at Bowness Ag ut B. Ponsonby, Esq., to Anne Eliza, elde st , Jones Skelton, late Royal Artillery. , of In GR N 4N 4 1 N‘t •