The Sun. — London, England, 1844-03-09 00:00:00

.~ CCO' 115. obsc ,io et , otiv, e d, fr. ‘ S of to -- (d Fib er td n u fitiP!,i motat, 0 Bc h [ l ic t o Ls:lg ji lt! ~c c ef r tou• o p a Vil , URE E - AND-A-lIALF PER CENTS. olo wing e--- are the resolutions to be moved in Com m itt ee : Resolved —That all and every person or persons, bodies Pe,olitic and co rporate, who n ow i s or are or hereafter may be inte toiler! in or entitled unto any part of the National Debt, redeems . by law which now carri es an i nterest after the rate of 31 . 10. et ,, erat • Per ceritum per annum, and known in Ireland by the names of 31. 103. per Centum Old Stock and Government b}i-aewheiitUres Irish 3!. 10s. per Centum Reduced Annuities, and and t :, l o ;2S. Per Centum Annuities and Government Debentures, n t uehittiu ". in Great Britain by the several names of 3/. 108. per Centum Reduced Annuities, and New 3/. 10s. per Centum An. t n ,,, ea m the dividends of which are paid either at the Bank of o' a nd or s ioe at the Bank of Ireland respectively, and who . shall k ent gnifY his, her, or their dissent in the manner hereinafter no,, ; l°n ed, shall for every 1004 of such 3L 10s. per Centum An auck'es. or Government Debentures, receive for every 1001. of t 0 ,; 1 4. 3 /. 10s. per Centum Annuities or Government Debentures, 1 , 1 1 a new S tock, to be called " 31. 5. per Cent= An nuities ride hich said A nnu i t i es shall continue to be paid at the ra ot : er 31 58 . per centuen per annum until the 10th d a y o f 1 1 854 ; and from and after that date the said Annuities sz ld l rrY interest at the rate of 31. per centum per annum, which n tiliti,'t-tnentioned Annuities shall not be subject to reduction o e ,4_ fr oth and after the 10th day of October, 1874 ; and the divi. 4h4 interest of the said "3/. ss. per Centum Annuities," th ',,err 31. per Ceritum Annuities," shall be paid and payable ilsy:„'" a nk of England, or at the Bank of Ireland, on the sth th April and the 10th day of October in each and every year ; nuttiest, half -Yearly dividend on the said "3/. 55. per Centum An. th e " I shall be payable on the sth day of April, 1845; and that C entu m "31 . ss. per Centum Annuities," and the " New 3/. per oh4"rn Annuities," respectively, shall he free from all taxes, Per 4" ' and iMposition6 in the like manner as the said 31. Ws. Cernual Annu' • Reir ities. %Pee t "ed—That the Interest and Dividends payable in re. Per e',.„, " the s aid " 31. ss, p er C entum Annu i ties, " and New 31. Coo didatnin Annuities ha shall be charged and payable upon the luiSsnoled Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 3, N s , Politi c an ° ' r ed—That all an d every person and persons, bodies Wt Mond; cor porate, who shall not, w ithi n th e per i o d commencing the 3 Y, the 11th day of March, 1844, and ending on Saturday, ot is 4 of March, J 844, both days inclusive, signify his, her, 37e.n. d i sc ent from accepting and receiving a share in the said hei ti _ 6l : per Centum Annuities," and " New 31. per Centum An roetitr in lieu of his, her, or their respective shares in the before. tins ° ned 3/. 10s. per Centum Annuities or Government Deben. ~ -4 , In thet manner hereinafter directed, shall be deemed and ° hav e consented t o accept arid receive the same : Provided M Pet Th at it any p ropr i etor or proprietors of the said 81. 10s. klosonin A nnuities shall not be w ithi n th e li m it s o f the United 1 84 4 °ln at any tim e b etween Monday, the 1 nth day of March, siv e, : . a nd Saturday, th e 23d day of March, 1844, both days inclu. euth ulit shall be in any other part of Europe, it shall be lawful for bet,re t 11°Priet or Or Pr o p r i etors to s i gnify such dissent at any timel r °Dtlethe day of Ju ne , 184 4; and if any such proprietor or 614‘ ors2d shall n o t, at any time between the llth day of March, r ope te and t he 2d day o f J une, 1 844, be within any part of diss ent m it shall be lawful for him, her, or them to signify such h olmrt., tt an y time bef ore th e I st d ay of February, 1843, such of be s'or or proprietors proving to the satisfaction of the Governor or hlt!tY Govern or o f t h e Bank of England, Or to the. Governor , )14,-Tuty Govern or o f f h e Bank of Ireland, according to the N em in Which his Annuities of 31. 10s. per cention may be bee an arid time Dividends and Interest payable, his, her, or their 'Pesi ftp. ,' fr ont the United Kingdom, or out of Europe, as above 4 Irs, - ' 1 a nd that his, her, or their Share or shares of such i lltp, 4 " . Per Centum Annuities stood in his, her, or their name or e rlft'esPectively on the 2al day of March, 1844, in the books of ais dilsrrior and Company of the Bank to which he shall signify ktrorq:4hent Provided, that such proprietor or proprietors, so absent "es, e United Kingdora or out of Europe, shall signify such his, t° th f,their dissent within ten days after his, her, or their return 4'lrited Kingdom. tr Pl , e n "r ed - -That provision shall be made for paying off Inch O r Proprietors of any of the said 31. 10s. per Centti . ra 'set, es before mentioned as shall signify his, her, or their due cer''ni a ccepting and receiving any share in the said " 31. 51. .ittlthettiteoLnnt Annuities," and " New 31. per Centum Annuities," in ti4 e 1 4 4, °It ed--That all persons, bodies politic arid corporate, t l ,aa tti , Of any part of the before mentioned 31. per Centu . m .411 h .les m and who shall desire to signify such dissent as aforesaid, : t sit ' t,7 l „ tr !een the 11th day of March, 1844, and the 23d day of oes 11,144, both inclusive, by themselves, or some agent or '°r th at purpose duly au th or i se d , s i gn if y to the Governor n Nita. °4 'i n inY of th e B an k o f E ng l and, or to the Governor and •tal Y l h silen O f the B an k o f I re l and respectively, in which their " to ck of 31 . 10 s. per C entum Annuities may be placed, j eth tin writing, under his, her, or their hand or hands, L the riai7,; • ith the am ount o f his, her, or their respective shares in p'rea te ,„ per Centurn Annuities, and which said dissent shaft 4 er oo ett r a in alos book or books, to be opened . and kept by the said J., a n , nd Company of each of the sold Banks for that pur bt,lntlrUbered, in the order in which his, her, or their dissent 44 14 treeeived by the said Governor and Company of either of 4' ,4ar t 0 an ks; and in case of any transfer of suchshares, or h .Ife, r Parts thereof, after such dissent, the part or parts se e : 1 s hall be entered in the said books under the same i gifi ed i " a were fixed to such shares when the dissent was so h ' i . 4 -1 snd everyh dissentient proprietor or proprietors, or nrth o 'rm or their assigns, uner such t i ransfer, shall be paid ofr in 1114 Y di 'qtr r and at such periods, an ' d in such manner as Parliament G 'tee, itt4o,, ed • t or proprietors of the e t , 3/, 1 -- That every proprie or rt, r gie eh oB • Per Centum Annuities, the Dividends and Interest fp: Of ar e Payable the sth day of April, and the 10th 14 1 4 h s ' a e , t ,, ° her, shall receive the dividends due thereupon qer; a nd Ye ar up to the 10th day of October, 1844, and no r61 t ' 44 1 every proprietor or proprietors of the said 3/. 10s. per t, t r ono) An the Dividends and Interest on which are pay tt,:r th e e , s th day of January and the sth day of July, shall re- I' of Jkligridenil due thereupon for the half.year up to the sth e y 1 1844, and shall also receive one quarter's Dividend k r ,trilt,,, D „ to the 10th day of October, 1844, and no longer; and the - ' l ore • Annuities shall be S t, otter -Mentioned 3/. 10s. per Centum It t i er peiletonrerted into 31. Sc. per Centum . Annuities, t an f d ter N t e h t ) s e • iti t t , h tley „ Cent Annuities in manner aforesaid, from an. a th "" October, 1844; and no transfer of any of the before ,he infAszt , ' , ve r , • 'Os. per Centum Annuities to or from the books of bo,kBoor and Company of the Bank of England, or to or from tape Of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, h es Place from and after the 6th day of March, 1844. °talr.ed-7-That all executors, administrators, guardians, and tQ th r ,'Y Signify such dissent in respect of such shares of any h O r ha tt 'fill• per Centum Annuities, for the holding of which e s are made use of respectively ; and all executors, ad to4 guardians, and trustees, not signifying such dissent, '' l lle s t: e rned to have assented as aforesaid, and shall be in -1,44. f issot:', respect thereof. I t t , ' , C aria CO el- -That all ard every person and persons, bodies t itle e ll o :notate, who now is or are or hereafter may be in_ 1r e ntitled unto any part of the National Debt redeem. he aW ' which now carries an interest after the rate of Mda itte ' Per Of I, per annum, and is usually known by the ,„ ' 1818," the Divi. r ". ash ; "us. per Centum Annuities Trt ' ••At oll are payable at the Bank of England on the sth k t es : i ttet, a nd 1 0th day of October in each year, and who shall ‘ r, 4l; h, , her, or their assent to accept 3/. ss. per ' r S ild - i ii h Uit ies. and New 31. per Centum Annuities, upon the b h 3l Ot th e manner hereinafter mentioned, shall on the lo t : ber , 18 44, receive the sum of 100/ for every 100/. of i t . t . Per C entum Annuities, 1818, which ma be then Y f hi s, her or their name or names, and the said amount ‘ r te4 44. such k Annuities shall, from the said 10th day of Oc , 1 .1 %4 f' considered as cancelled and paid otT, and no in i't:ollesol:nni t henceforth accrue, or become payable thereon. ,N,llofr such provision shall , be made by this House for try ei Proprietor or proprietors of the said 3/. 10s. per ' 4 1,4 . 1° ae 4 et 4iti es, 1 818, as shall not signify his, her, or their .. and receive a share in 31.55. per Centum Annuities ;°l/ i 6 hest:4l)4 Centum Annuities in lieu thereof. ot co ell--That all and every person or persons, bodies titjnklmetef4Porate who shall hold or be possessed of any such a, the 20 'Annuities, 1818, and who shall, on or before 101s . ') - , ° h day of April, signify in the manner hereafter ,;44 - ', An t ; ', l er, or their assent to accept and 'receive Si. 51. per htiss th e int !es. in lieu of his, her, or their respective share or ~4 1. of 31 . 10s. per Ccntum Annuities, 1818, shall, for ' stich 3/. 108 per Ceum Annuities, 1818, receive , I,:te t , 4 , At'in Sto ck. to be 'called "3!. ss. pe . r Centurn Annuities, „sts giro nUrties shall continue to be paid at the rate of 31. 55. .O t t Per rei, ages tit hum, until the 10th day of October, 1854, and I ,la t - of `oat date the said Annuities shall carry inte ,, rest at tiet:er it , i Per Centum per annum, and shall be called New t le t sub•," which said last.mentioned Annuities i B leet to reduction until from and after the 10th day tOisl l ew 3 , 4 ; and the said 31. ss. per Centum Annuities, N t IA, las e , CrP Centum Annuities, respectively, shall be free l id 1 01. cha rges, and imposition ' s, in the like mariner as te ht It CrP Centum Annuities 1818; and the Dividends , Is,,t l Su n itt a, he said 3/. ss. per Centum Annuities, and New 31. - Mmai t the Bank of 6. Ss t r at shall be paid and payab e a ts s lY het ßank of Ireland, on the sth day of April and 11 1ss uir ide "iTh er in ea c h an d every year; tle t h h (l a ?it the said 3/. ss. per Centum Annuities shall 'th day of April, 1845. 'ttk h tl t i e Drp o -s „ ghat all an d every person or persons, bod i es gen„, ',4, possessed of any part of the 31. 10s. per ryer,lB, and who shall desire to signify his, her, c ve thesaid 3/. ss. per Centum Annuities and its4rteti4f)th da y Annuities, in lieu thereof, shall, on or be_ YeeLl basin a/ Of April, 1844, but within the usual hours of Iti, C let or , e ss at th Bank of England, by themselves or liSrith:No t ;ItNits for that purpose duly authorised, signify to „ os 4 , O hd n , d , C oMPasry of the Bank of England such assent 'is her or their hand or hands, or the hand or her r or their agent or agents, together with the ,tisZatt7, Cent e r ' or their respective share or shares in the said i ti, v re4' in '.4nl A nnuities 1818, and which said assent shall ''M D. _ 4 er and e c ''' ) E or books to be opened and kept by the said Nt 7 st ' s_ r s treh " '„PanY for that purpose ; and in case of any tthh s oare or shares of such Annuities, or any part fat such assent, the part or parts of such An. Cd Shall be entered in the said book or books . 1 ,, h1 - I n Or and Company separately from the said 31. 10s. 8 in respect of which no such assent . tl;eiarn4 !very such person or persons so assenting, et il 'ltr - ; 4 4n der aan"lgnaa or the executors or administrators o A r 1..4 ,be e Y such transfer, shall, from the 10th day of ,rt e6, nt itled to 1001 of such 3/. ss. per Centum An ikttPd -" Per Centu •t' sin lieu of every 1001. tl '4 1 5 alv, • 10s, „„,_ in Annur . re . ,, th 14, „ Centum Annuities 1818, Capital Stock : e , t ' Lnat t t• , any Person or persons holding any such ,/'t of tit er kin g , ] -,nnuities 1818, shall not be within the limits t 0t t arch , - , B ` l °in at any time between the 11th and 23d t it : ,7 4 ti eh r° 4 1te, ilSs4h4arl,hoth inclusive, but shall be in any other it, sen t a. be lawful for such person or persons to 4,1 rt,;neh .. pers ' o a ,, ny time before the Ist day of July, 1844 ; 7nY " persons shall not at any time between t ' ll Nl Y 4 1 ' 4 Of t" , 1 844, and the Ist day of July, 1844, be s~t r s-Urop e et, , th i}e ass ent at it shall be lawful for him, her, or them, ti or be 11 44 4 of An y time before the Ist day of:February, a• k et, Persons proving to the satisfaction of the e h 0 , 4 ernor of the Bank of England, his, her, t„ t it e d, 4 " . " the United Kingdom or out of Europe, as C ent hat his, her, or their share or shares of Perllo h _r nein. in nnuities, 1818, stood in his, her, or t,. a ° , re trtann Pec tively, or in the name or names of ksit,-Itl tllopt,o o,4 -1 th e „'-; or trustees, on his, her, or their behalf, otr.a4 day ernor and Company of the Bank of Eng kh-%l"° 4 o k_of March, Provided also, that such set en thif a -sent from the United Kindom, or out of ' l o, kt )t, "il, h Y such hj. er. a , , h er, or their assent,. within ten 41‘9144,1he r return to the United Kingdom. O ur ltd !{ ued rye b,i k Aro, 4 . 1 ,1 the Interest and Dividends payable in nd opetift cOef,ritorn Annuities and New 31. per and P all be c harged amid char cable upon an 4th i us.)l.l„:4titioth a c iy rco; troi tbaer i t ian h n e de ‘ C ,le r rr m e n yl s a o y, l ,e i da d ,r a g .n t end the u 5 n ;In day the of tot t • e hfu rn every proprietor or ~It'SAs t ti ea 1818, Itriamell prerocepirvieetotrhseoDfitvhitelesnadids 11,, n°lo it ' es due th e n s Ntjtii„'Nv,,N?er, loth day of October, t ht ''T hat *s a h 4 0 1 - `hall be lawful for the Accountant 11:'Ner lends „ f Lh anCery in England and Ireland res. 7 f , e tt, Iretukir the Accountant. General of the Court of t„ , tie ha t i O . th:tr,arty e al l , l l for the Accountant in Bankruptcy 1A4,4t,. .overnor oefore the Bth day of July, 1844, to , t 1 of " ~3 /, t o a r! ' tCompanyors of nr thent others k interestedo f Eirgian i d n , 4i se c h A Der Cent k:::; IN um Annuities 1818 standing in time 11 01 ` fit_s-General and Accoun'tant respectively, ai 4 itte. , r anc i t mi,,,Tl receive shares in the said 3/. ss, per 4 thN'et Per ew 3/. Per Centum Annuities, in lieu of tr e t'vet Ce nturn A . Ms: N I s Peot i j e r and th .nnilitles 1818, standing in their mut n on : i o n :i v :ls-General and Ac -110414°4e- a hall any action, all actions, theirnhg r ' e ' ap ro tt lfau i l n ldly re Ai s n i c i dc e o : action, matter, or lv elY in pursuance thereof f 15. Resolved—That all executors, administrators, guardians, and trustees, may signify such assent at any time before the 20th day of April, 1844, in respect of such shares of any of the said 31. 10s. per Centum Annuities 1818, for the holding of which their names shall be made use of respectively, and shall be indcm. nilled for giving such assent in respect thereof; and all executors, administrators, guardians, and trustees, not signifying such assent, shall be deemed not to have assented as aforesaid, and shall be paid off accordingly. FROM TEE MORNING PAPERS •F TRW DAT. TIMES.—The plan for reducing the interest of the Three. and•a.Half per Cents., announced last night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was received with an unanimous approval which really appears almost incomprehensible. The public and the public's creditor—stock-holder and taxpayer —appear equally well pleased with the terms of their bargain. Such, at least, we I.may presume to be the case, when in the House of Commons—a ' body in which all may safely be supposed contributors to the na. tional revenue, and most receivers of some amount of dividends— not a single voice was raised in depreciation, however modified, of Mr. Goulburn's measure. We do not, indeed, quite apprehend the force of Mr. Baring's sentiment, that this reduction " would be to other States a useful lesson that good faith to the public cre ditor is not only an honourable but even an economical policy." This reduction of interest may be perfectly honest, but it seems difficult to claim for it the high merit of honourable generosity which Mr. Baring finds there, and still more impracticable to establish between its eco nomy and its good faith that particular relation of cause and effect which he seems to discover. The only faint whisper of dis. content arose from Mr. Blewitt, who surmised that " the dissen. tients might be found more numerous than the Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to expect." Perhaps our City Intelligence of yesterday may serve to relieve his apprehensions. After the Go vernment's intention to reduce had been publicly announced, and the particular terms which were to be proposed not uncertainly conjectured in the City, the Three.and.a.Half per Cents. conti nued, and we may now fairly expect they will continue, to corn. mond the price of about 10214. It will be indeed remarkable if many stockholders are found of minds so peculiarly constituted as to demand from Mr. Goulburn 1001. for what they might sell in the market fur 1021. 10s. Meantime, the public has to congra. tulate itself on an immediate saving of 625,0001., and an ultimate one of a million and a quarter per annum. "It is an ill wind that blows nobody good ;" and so this gain may be taken in part compensation of the stagnation and lack of commercial enterprise which has made the coming reduction practicable. ADVERTISER.—It wilt be seen from our Parliamentary .Te. port, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer last night explained the mode in which he intends to effect the the reduction of the rate of interest on the Three-and a.Half per Cents., which he announced on Wednesday. The reduction is to three and a quarter, with a guarantee that no further reduction will be made for ten years to come. After the lapse of that period a further reduction of an other quarter will take place, with a guarantee that no further re. duction will be made until the year 1874. This is, perhaps, the best mode in which the operation could have been performed. Though the saving to the public will be about 1,250,0f00/. per an num, the reduction is so slight and so gradual, that the annuitants will not sensibly feel it. There is a general impression, which, we trust, the event will confirm, that the saving effected by the con version of the Thrce-and-a_Halfs will not only enable, but dispose Sir Robert Peel to dispense with the income.tax, when the three years have expired. HER A LD.—The inveteracy of the Opposition to Ministers and their measures, in which some of our Contemporaries indulge, leads them into laughable blunders. Thus the Chronicle yesterday ob. jected to the proposed reduction of the Three.and.a.Half per Cents. ; " not that the Ministers take advantage of the [Money] Market, but that they have made the market in :order to take ad. vantage of it." This great discovery—this ascription of a miracu. lous power over the Money Market to Mr. Goulburn, will rather astonish Lombard-street and the discount brokers. But how does the reader think that the Chancellor of the Exchequer " has made the market ?" By " secret and mysterious operations," we are told in one sentence ; and by " restrictive laws," it is further explained in the next. How " restrictive laws " can be "secret and mysterious operations" we are not instructed; but we let the neutralising inconsistency pass, to inquire what " restrictive laws" Sir Robert Peel has procured the enactment of ? Every economical law he has proposed to Parliament has been for the relaxation of restrictions ; and so far from the effect of his legis. lation being, as is alleged, to "cripple manufactures," it has had the very opposite result. The Annual Trade and Navigation accounts were presented the other day to Parliament, and they exhibit a very remarkable increase during the last year, in the exportation of our " crippled " manufactures. The declared value of British produce and manufactures exported in 1842 was 40,785,3501. ; in 1843 it . . rose to 44,720,5631.; and the greater part of this increase is in " crippled" cotton and woollen goods. In 1843 we exported 16,248,7591. worth of cottons against 13,907,884/.ln 1842, and in 1843 again we exported 6,784,4321. worth of woollens against 5,185,0451. in the year I84:1. In all the leading articles of import there was also an increase of consumption last year; in coffee, sugar, tea, tobacco, wine, and tallow, the augmentation w as cons i _ . derable, and the tonnage of our shipping employed in foreign trade likewise increased. If, then, Ministers have been "mysteriously and secretly" preparing for a reduction of the Three.and.a.Half per Cents., it hasbeenbyextending and not by " crippling" our manufactures. Mr. Goulburn simply takes advantage of that which, as a wise financier, he is bound to take advantage of—the permanent low rate of interest caused by circumstances over which he has no more control than the Chronicle. Had he undertaken the reduction last year, he might have been accused of seizingon a temporary depreciation in the value of money; he has waited until a time when further postponement would be a neglect of pub lic interests, and that which really gravels our Contemporary is the certainty that he will be successful, and the knowledge that h:s success will still further increase the surplus revenue Sir Robert Peel promised, and has given to the country. But the public will find in our Parliamentary reports Mr. Goulburn's own full and con- elusive explanation, the terms of the reduction, and a comprehen. sive view of the whole subject. RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PARLIA MENT. Whitehaven and Maryport Railway Bill,—" for making a Railway from the town and port of Whitehaven to the town and port of Maryport, in the county of Cumberland," pre sented, and read a first time. Northern and Eastern Railway (Newport Deviations) Bill,—" to enable the Northern and Eastern Railway Com pany to make certain Deviations in the Line of their Rail way, between Bishops Stortford and Newport, and to alter and amend the Acts relating to the said Railway," presented, and read a first time. Brighton and Chichester Railway,—Petition for Bill re ported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. John Abel Smith and Captain Pechell. Colchester and Harwich Railway (No. 2),—Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Sir Henry Smyth and Major Beresford. liarrogate and Knaresborough Railway,—Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Lawson and Mr. Ferrand. Newbury, Basingstoke, London and Southampton Railwa♦ Bill,—read a second time, and committed, and referred to the Committee of Selection. Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway Bill,—read a second time, and committed, and referred to the Committee of Selection. Eastern Counties Railway (Brandon and Peterborough Extension) Bill,—" to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Company to make a Railway from the Northern and Eastern Railway at Newport, by Cambridge to Ely, and from thenco eastward to Brandon, and westward to Peterborough," pre sented, and read a first time. Newbury and Great Western Railway Bill,—read a second time, and committed, and referred to the Committee of Selection. Slamannan Junction Railway Bill,—read a second time, and committed, and referred to the Committee of Selection. North British Railway Bill,—read a second time, and com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection. Brighton, Lewes, and Ilastings Railway,—Petition for Bill reported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Darby and Lord Alfred Hervey. Fins AT EALING. — Yesterday evening, about a quarter to five o'clock, an express arrived at the King-street brigade station, announcing the outbreak of a large fire in the village of Ealing, Middlesex. Immediately an engine, with a party of firemen, under the charge of Mr. Fogo, the fore man, was started to the sceno ; and the news having been forwarded to the other stations in the metropolis, in a short time the County Fire-office engine, and another from the Waterloo-road station, were likewise dispatched. Upon their arrival the fire proved to have originated in the resi dence known as Sutherland House, belonging to Mrs. E. V. Nunn, near Ealing House ; but, fortunately, the danger had been overcome, though the damage the building sustained was considerable. It commenced in an apartment adjoining the drawing -room, on the first floor. The cause of the fire is unknown. METROPOLITAN BUlLDlNGS.—Yesterday the Bill "for better regulating the buildings of the metropolitan dis tricts, and to provide for the drainage thereof," was issued. It extends, with the several schedules annexed, to eighty four pages, and appears to have been framed with a good deal of labour and care. There are one hundred and nine clauses, and twelve schedules. The object of the measure is to regulate the construction of buildings in the metropolis, and to provide for the drainage of the districts. The mea sure, so far as relates to the officers to be appointed, shall come into operation on the Ist of September next; and as to buildings, streets, and other matters, on the Ist of January, 1845, on which day all the Acts mentioned in the schedule A, except so far as in the schedule stated, are to be repealed. The Bill is divided into several portions, embracing the fol lowing expressions :—General provisions, buildings, new and old, builders, buildings generally, adjoining properties, party walls, party fences, intermixed buildings, ruinous buildings, expenses of works, building use thereof, district surveyors, official referees, registration of metropolitan buildings, official referees, official legal proceedings, and miscellaneous." Fixed rules are to be relaxed where they needlessly affect the ob ject of the Bill, and surveyors are empowered to carry the spirit of the Act into practical operation. THE INFANT ORPHAN ASTLIT/11.—On Thursday the friends and supporters of this establishment celebrated the anniversary of its creation by dining together at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, and partaking of the hospitality provided on the occasion by the proprietors of that well known gathering place of the benevolent and the festive. It had seen announced that Lord Morpeth would take the chair, but his Lordship not being able to attend, his place was supplied by Lord Robert Grosvenor, who was supported by Sir George Carroll, Mr. B. Bond Cabbell, and many other gentlemen of rank and fortune. The company consisted of upwards of 160 persons, and the gross amoullt of the contri butions was about 1,5001., including 101. from her Ma jesty, 25/. from the Noble Chairman, 25/. from Mr. B. B. Cabbell, and 25/. from the Pacha of Egypt, through Mr. Waghorn. Upon the removal of the cloth " Non nobis," was sung by Messrs. G. F. Taylor, G. Rennie, R. F. Smith, and G. George ; after which the healths of the Queen, of Prince Albert, of the Prince of Wales, the Queen Dowager, and the other members of the Royal family were drunk with the accustomed honours. " The health of the Duke of Wellington and the Army" was also drunk with every demonstration of respect and enthusiasm ; after which the children nurtured and educated at the new building at Wanstead were brought into the room, and after having sung an appropriate hymn, marshalled in procession between the tables. This was the most interesting part of the festival, and certainly, if the merit of an establishment is to be estimated by the appearance of those who are the objects of its intentions, nothing could exceed the claims of this asylum to public patronage. The children were tine specimens of what good treatment, good air, and kindness in their guardians and precepto rs , could pro duce. As soon as they had retired, the Noble Chairman made a short but forcible appeal in support of the institu tion by which they were protected to the company, and the appeal, as the amount of the contributions showed, was not in vain. Several other toasts, viz., the health of the chair man, for which Lord R. Grosvenor returned thanks, of the vice-presidents, for which Sir G. Carroll returned thanks, and of the clergy, were then drank ; after which the Noble Chair man retired, to be present, as he said, at a division in the House of Commons, and Mr. B. B. Cabbell took the chair. The company remained for some time after the retirement of his Lordship, and having drunk several toasts more imme diately connected with the charitable purposes of the asylum, and heard some good glees from the professionals present, separated a little before 11 o'clock. The General Steam Navigation Company's mail packet, Neptune, Captain H. W. Gibbs, arrived at Blackwall this morning, at half-past nine o'clock, with the Hamburgh mail. This is the first vessel that has arrived from Ham burgh since the ice set iu, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1844, SPIRIT. of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. STANDARD.—The Morning Chronicle has a long wiseacre article in behalf of the conspirators convicted at the late State trials in Dublin. The article is a reply to an argument of an opposite character which appeared in a late number of the Times. In our opinion, the time has not yet arrived when with propriety the subject can be treated with proper freedom. There can be no doubt that if the parties convicted have acknowledged the justice of their conviction, have borne testimony to the constitutional feeling and candour of the prosecutor, such as both merit, have cheerfully admitted what no honest man can deny—the exemplary patience and zeal for justice of the jury, and the learning, temper, and impartiality of the judges—and have shown a fixed resolution to abstain from a repetition of the practices that have brought them into jeopardy— justice may be satisfied by a lenient sentence ; and the effect of all the expensive and irritating proceedings that the conduct of these men have caused will not be thrown away. If unhappily, however, they and their friends have pursued a precisely opposite course—foully calumniating pro secutor, judges, and jury, and declaring a resolution to persist in their crime, they force on their own punishment, not as the Morning Chronicle intimates by a fear, _on the part of Government, of being thought afraid, but by a necessity imposed upon the Government to do justice to itself, and to the admi nistration of the law, and to take care that the law shall not be again violated as soon as de clared. Surely in such a cause a Government, even if it should owe nothing to its own character, or to the public peace, must owe it to its prosecu tor, to jurors and judges, not as it were to put the seal upon the foul calumnies heaped upon them for doing their duty, by treating as nothing the acts done in discharge of that duty. However, as we have said, we put the question merely hypothetically, as the time for treating it absolutely has not arrived. GLOBE.—Lord Lyndhurst has introduced a Bill to the House of Lords, to " consolidate the jurisdic tion and improve the practice of the Ecclesiastical Courts of England and Wales, and for otherwise altering and amending the law in certain mat ters ecclesiastical." The part we took in ex posing the palpable job which was sought to be perpetrated by Dr. Nichol', by means of his Bill of last session—and which, after promising to alter, amend, and regenerate it, was withdrawn by the consent of all parties in the House, as too bad to be improved —seems to lay us under spe cial obligation to examine this new attempt. At the outset we admit that the measure brought forward by Lord Lyndhurst is an improvement on the present law, and is much better calcu lad to give general satisfaction than Dr. Nicholl's clumsily constructed and self-serving Bill of the last session. There is also some indication of good taste in changing the person by whom, and the House in which, the new measure should originate. After the unequivocal expressions of condem nation by which Dr. Nicholl's Bill was con signed to the fate it merited, it would have been dangerous, if not fatal, even to a better measure, had it been intrusted to the same functionary to in troduce it to the House of which he is a member. A recollection of the glaring demerits of the repudiated Bill would have provoked opposition to any measure emanating from the same quarter, which it was well to avoid. The Bill before us propose's that all Courts Peculiar shall merge in the Archidiaconal and Diocesan Courts. These latter Courts, in addition to the Arches Court of Canterbury, and the Chancery Court of York (with the exception of Cornwall, Leicester, Nottingham, and Suffolk), will alone, in future, have the power to grant probates or administrations, and marriage licenses. In this particular the present measure differs from, and, we think, is an improvement upon Dr. Nicholl's Bill, as well as upon the existing system. The Bill of last session proposed to abolish the jurisdiction of the Diocesan as well as of the Peculiar juris dictions ; and Doctors' Commons was constituted the place to which all the business of these Courts was to be carried—to the manifest inconvenience and injury of the public, as well as to the practitioners in those Courts. The pre servation of the Diocesan Courts removes the nu merous and strong objections which prevailed against the former Bill. As our object is the public advan tage—which we desire to see secured to the utmost possible extent by this attempt to legis late on a subject that has so long claimed the attention of the Legislature—we shall en deavour in the spirit of fairness to specify the parts of Lord Lyndhurst's Bill which appear to require re-consideration. By leaving the law of bona notabilia untouched, it perpetuates a system which creates delay and increases expenses. What' imaginable objection can be stated against a clause being introduced into the Bill by which the grant shall be taken out in the diocese, or the Court, within the immediate jurisdiction of which the party shall be domiciled at the time of death ; and that if domiciled in more than one jurisdiction, the executors or administrators shall have liberty to make election within which jurisdiction they will take out grant ? By this change, which would, we think, be an im provement in the Bill as it no w s t an d s , th e local jurisdictions, which are proposed to be retained, would be rendered more efficient, and the obvious mischiefs be removed, which frequently arise out of the practice, now sanctioned by the law, of allowing any executor or administrator to institute proceedings for grant at a distance, merely because a portion— possibly a very small portion—of the estate is in the distant jurisdiction. The design of local jurisdictions is defeated, if those who are principally interested in the due administration of effects have not ready access to the Court out of which the grant proceeds. The bulk of the personality, and the majority of the parties interested in its distribution, will, in the great majority of instances, be found resident in the juris diction of the domicile. much attention. British fetched 701 to 72/per tun. Linseed Oil on the spot at 27s to 27s 3d ; for delivery the tendency of prices is still upwards ; Rape, pale at 35s 6d to 365, and brown 34s 6d to 35s per cwt ; Olive Oil at 461 to 471 for Gallipoli, 421 to 421 10s for Spanish, and 411 to 411 105 for Barbary; Palm, fine at 28s to 28s 6d, and inferior 24s to 27s per cwt; Cocoa Nut Oil at 28s 6d to 32s per cwt; North American Lard Oil is 411 to 421 per tun. TALLOW.—For Russian a good business has been transacted on the spot, and 40s 6d to 41s per cwt. paid for first sort Yellow Candle. For delivery in the last three months of the year 41s 6d to 41s 9d per cwt. Town:Tallow at 40s 6d to 41s per cwt., nett cash. This afternoon P.Y. Candle, at 40s 9d to 41s per cwt on the spot. / F. Forman, butcher, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, March 13, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee. J. T. Morgan, butcher, Feckenham, Worcestershire, March 13, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee. E. M. Parsons, baker, Great Portland-pl ace , M arc h 1 4, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee. J. Marston, 'catch-maker, Castle -street, Leicester-square, March 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee. T. W. T. Prescott, Duke-street, Marylebone, March 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee. G. Dennes, attorney, Great Vine -street, Piccadilly, March 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee. P. B. Goode, attorney, Polygon, Sourer'-town, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee. G. S. Peacock, mariner, Charles-street, Stepney, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee. E. J. Cotsford, auctioneer, Ann-street, Pentonville, Afarch 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Fellett, official assignee. G. White, Regent-street, Westminster March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee. T. Hayward, wood carver, Tabernacle-rove, Finsbury, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee. W. Ray, farmer, Edgware, Middlesex, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee. W. Cauty, Jermyn-street, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee. W. Norris, butcher, St. Alban's ' March 13, at e l even , a t t h e Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee. J. Baker, painter, Bradfield, Essex, March 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee. F. Blackley, steward of a steam-ship, Southampton, March 12, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee. COURSE OF EXCIIk Amsterdam CF. 12 6 Ditto, at sight l2 4 Rotterdam 2U. 12 6i Antwerp liamburgh M.B. 13 15 Altona l4 0 Paris, 3 days' sight 25 70 Ditto, 3 months 25 90 Marseilles Bourdeaux 25 95 Frankfort ou Maine NGE.-(YESTERDAY: Gibraltar Leghorn • 3O 65 Genoa 26 Milan Venice 47 Naples 384 Palonno, per oz 1174 Lisbon' 538 Oporto 531 Rio Janeiro 23 Bahia 23 Buenos Ayres NewYork,2 1 dys sight Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. Foreign Gold, bars..£3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5 New Doubloons 0 0 0 New Dollars 0 4 94 Silver in Bars 0 4 11i Peterburgli, 3 Us... 36i Berlin • 7 Vienna, effec. fl. 3 M 957 Trieste, ditto Madrid 37 Cadiz • 36i Bilbao 36 Barcelona 36 Seville — REDUCTION in the TEA DUTIES. We have received an immense number of inquiries during the week touching the anticipated reduction in the tea duties. The subject certainly seems to have been made the most of by interested parties since it was first mooted in our market. The various inquiries seem to resolve themselves into the following :- Ist—When is the anticipated reduction to take place. 2d—What will be the future duty. 3d—Will Government give previous notice. 4th—Will it materially affect the first cost of tea. In the absence of everything like official information, we can only give the opinions which are entertained by the ma jority of merchants and dealers, viz., that if a reduction in the tea duties take place, it will probably be during the next session of Parliament, and that the future duty will be Is. 3d. or Is. 6d. per lb. To the 3d query we reply, that the ordinary practice of Government is not to give any previous notice of a reduction in duty. Such reduction usually comes into operation the morning after its official announcement. 4th—We do not think that the alteration will either mate rially or permanently advance the first cost of tea, looking at the anticipated arrivals from China. The expectation of a reduction in the tea duties arises from three causes :—first, from a prevalent feeling that we ought to reciprocate the liberality of the Chinese tariff, and thus improve our trade with that empire—secondly, be cause the increased consumption of tea, resulting from its reduced price, and the additional consumption of sugar arising from the augmented use of tea, would eventually increase the revenue beyond its present amount—and thirdly, because our surplus revenue at present would allow such reduction without any inconvenience resulting from , a slight temporary deficiency. Beyond these three, general reasons for expecting a reduc tion of duty, there seems to be no foundation for the preva lent rumour. Certain it is that the deputation which waited upon Sir Robert Peel received no encouragement to hope so, beyond a courteous reception and an assurance that the sub ject should have his consideration.—G. G. Cummings, in " Brokers' Circular." G. Moody, Union-street, Shoreditch, March 12, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee. T. Robottom, coachman, Great Scotland-yard, March 26, at half past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, official assignee. F. Collins, dancing-master, Brighton, March 27, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson official assignee. J. Clayton, cooper, White Hart, Kennington, March 27, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, official assignee. S. Nicholls, excavator, hensall-green Middl esex , M arc h 27, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee. C. S. Shannan, tea-dealer, Bedford, March 20, a t t wo , at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, official assignee. J. Oliver, fruiterer, Cobbscroft, Kent, March 13, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee. H. Hemming, coachman, Birmingham, March 16, at half past ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assigneee. G. Chidlow, licensed victualler, Went Salop, March 16, a t half-past twel v e, a t th e Birmingham District Court. Whit more, official assignee. C. Brown, miller, South Shields, March 18, at half-past eleven, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Wakley, official assignee. E. Cunnah, attorney-at-law, Chester, March 12, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee. J. Leigh, victualler, Llay, Denbighshire, March 13, at half past eleven at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee.. T. Smith, dealer in toys,Warrington,Lancashire,March 13, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee. J. Ogbern, butcher, Clifton, Gloucestershire, March 13, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Kynasten, officia assignee. T. Mayers, wheelwright, Christleton, Chester, March 12, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee. . _ T. Bland, market gardener, Monmouthshire, March 13, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Kynaston, official assignee. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. [This Gazette contains the Indian Dispatches, which have already been published in The Sun. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MARCH 8, 1844. Notice is hereby given, that one week of the present Court Mourning, to commence on Sunday next, the 10th instant, will be also fur her late Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Oldenburg. DOWNING-STREET, MARCH 7. G. Warburton, harness maker, Chester, March 13, at twelve, at the Mancheetr District Court. Hobson, o fficial assignee. W. Plowright, publican, Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, March 15, at half-past one, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. E. F. Jaques, market-gardener' Commercial-place, Brixton, March 29, at h a lf-p as t one—J. Gosden, licensed victualler, Wilsted-street, March 29, at half-past eleven—R. Wills and R. Davy, drapers, Oxford-street, March 29, at half-past one —J. G. James, wine merchant, Bucklersbury, City, March 20, at two—J. 0. Palmer, music seller, Liverpool, March 29, at half-past one—C. Parslow, tailor, Blackman -street, Borough, March 2S, at half-past eleven—J. Wheatley, livery-stable keeper, Kennington-cross, Lambeth, March 29, at twelve— J. Miller, patent sail-cloth manufacturer, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, March 29, at two—W. F. Mills, merchant, Hart street, Mark-lane, March 29, at one. In the Country. W. Dargue, innkeeper, Whitehaven, April 2, at twelve, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court—W. Tomkinson, wine merchant, Stoke-upon-Trent, March 29, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Rawson William Rawson, Esq., to be Treasurer for the Island of Mauritius. The Queen has also been pleased to appoint George Williams Lewes, Esq., to be Provost Marshal for the Virgin Islands. The Queen has further been pleased to appoint Daniel H. 0. Gordon, Esq., to be Treasurer for the Virgin Islands. WHITEHALL, MARCH 6. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. John Campbell, M.A., to the church and parish of Gairloch, in the presbytery of Lochcarron and county of Ross, vacant by the death of the Rev. James Russel,_late minister thereof. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein-mentioned. R. Stevens, china dealer, New -cut, Lambeth, March 29 C. Webb, apothecary, Oxford, March 30—J. B. Montefiore, merchant, Nicholas-lane, City, April 2—W. Monteath, linen draper, Oxford-street, April 2—R. T. Hicks, wine merchant, Cooper's-row, Tower-hill, March 29—J. A. Holmes, mer chant, New Broad-street, March 29—J. Deakins, horse dealer, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, March 29—J. H. Ber ryman, bookseller, Birmingham, April 2—J. Rushton, livery stable keeper, Nottingham, April 2—T. Redshaw, harness maker, Bourne, Lincolnshire, April 4—J. Andrew, licensed victualler, Ladd-lane, City, March 29—J. Gunton, butcher, Cambridge, March 29—J. Jukes, nail manufacturer, West bromwich, Staffordshire, March 29—A. W. and T. S. Low man, cheesemongers, East-cheap, City, March 29—D. Row lands, wine dealer, Pwllheli, Carnarvonshire, March 29—C. J. Hunt, billiard table-maker, Cork-street, Burlington-gardens, March 29. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. A. Cain and J. Alltree, tailors, Liverpool—W. Ford, J. Bright, W. Irving, and S. Hooper, proprietors of Irvi ng ' s pa tent tile machine ( so f ar as regards W. Ford)—A. Bill and N. Briant, papier mache manufacturers, Birmingham—J. and G. Graham, linen drapers, Carlisle--T. Bernstein and W. W. Bamford, booksellers, Liverpool —R. Poole, A. Haymes, and W. S. Poole, attorneys, Kenilworth, Warwickshire—A. Car rick and R. J. Pollock, surgeons, Bath-place, Kensington— H. and A. Drake, attorneys, Barnstaple, Devonshire—J. Booth and F. Perry, grocers, Oldham, Lancashire—C. Foster and R. Grantham, joiners, Hull—W: von Melle and J. C. im Thurn, merchants, Mark-lane, City—G. B. Phipps, 'l'. Tapling, and W. Morrison, carpet warehousemen, Leicester-- A. A. Harvey and S. F. Underhay, surgeons, Bath—G. Purt and W. Hale, aerated liquor merchants, Upper Thames -street —C. Swainson, sen., and C. Swainson, jun., calico printers, Blackburn, Lancashire--I. Rogers and H. Hayles, coach painters, Hunsworth-mews, Marylebone—W. Mackintosh, R. O'Dwyer and A. P. Maher, genera l merc h ants, Liverpool— W. M. Williams and E. A. K. Edgar, lock manufacturers, Fenchurch-street—J. W. Glover, T. Robinson, and J. Had dock, rope makers, Ec c l es t on , Lancashire—Y. Law and J. Erving, merchants, Rio Grande, South America—E. Chesnay and J. B. Wilkinson, artificial florists, Bouverie-street, Fleet street--J. and R. Mees, drapers, Frome Selwood, Somerset shire—E. Leece, sen., and E. Leece, jun., coach builders, Preston, Lancashire. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. MUNGO CHAPMAN, mill master, Bathgate, March 14 and April 4, at two, at Johnston's Inn, Bathgate. DAVID DOUD, newspaper proprietor, Edinburgh, March 14 and April 6, at one, at the Old Signet-hall, Edinburgh. HUGH DOUGLAS, merchant, Greenock, March 14 and April 4, at two, at D. Crawford's, writer, Greenock. ROBERT BROWN and JAMES SMITH, general iron mongers, Edinburgh, March 14 and April 4, at one, at the Old Signet-hall, Edinburgh. WILLIAM HOUSTON, dyer, Greenock, March 13 and April 2, at two, at the White Hart Inn, Greenock. JAMES KIPPEN and WILLIAM A. LINDSAY, men. chants, Greenock, March 14 and April 4, at twelve, at the White Hart Inn, Greenock. PRICE OF SUGAR. The Avorage Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, for the week ending March 5, 1844, is 365. sid. per.cwt., exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or payable thereon on the im portation thereof into Great Britain. THE PROPOSED COAL TAX.—On Monday evening a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Hertford, for the pur pose of taking into consideration the proposed addition to the tax on coals coming into London. The meeting was very respectably and numerously attended. The Mayor (J. Gil bertson, Esq.) having been called to the chair, said that the attention of the inhabitants of Hertford had been called to the . proposed tax, because it was considered to be a very unjust impost. He, for one, could not conceive why the inhabitants of Hertford should be called upon to pay for the improvement and embellishment of the City of London. The City should tax itself for that purpose. Thousands of the people of Hertford would never see the banks of the Thames, and he could not see why they should be called upon to pay for its improvement. lie objected to the tax on prin ciple, and he hoped the meeting would petition the Legisla ture to refuse an impost so manifestly unfair. Mr. Crawley moved a resolution declaratory of the injustice of the tax, and of the determination of the meeting to oppose it. He said it would be about as reasonable to make the inhabitants of Bishopsgate-within pay the Hertford lighting and paving rate, as to make the inhabitants of Hertford pay for the im provement of the City of London. The resolution having been seconded, was unaimously agreed to. A form of petition to the House of Commons was then agreed to, and resolutions passed, 'calling on the borough and county Members to support it. Mr. Lawrence, an extensive coal merchant at llertford, expressed his apprehension that, should the City tax on coals, which is already 13d. per ton, be further in creased, the coal trade with London would be materially injured, as the inland navigatioi would be able to enter into competition by the river Lea, and sell coals cheaper than the present llertford merchants could do. It appeared, also, from a s t a t ement made by the River Lea Navigation, that the amount of of coals brought by the Lea during the past year was 93,558 tons, of which quantity 15,359 tons were for the consumption of Hertford, and 13,724 tons for Ware; so that, should the result of an additional tax on coals be the closing of the trade with the port of London, the City itself would be a con siderable loser, as it received on each of the 93,558 tons a duty of 13d. REPORTERS NOT SPIES.—The Liverpool Times, in an article upon the subject of the employment of newspaper reporters in the late Government prosecutions in Ireland, has the following remarks, which, in justice to a gentleman whose great services have not always been so handsomely acknowledged by a portion of the press, we have much plea sure in extracting :—" All parties have joined in bearing witness to the skill, impartiality, and great public usefulness of the reporter of the London Times during the recent dis turbances in South 'Wales. He went everywhere, reported everything, and discharged his duties with so much fair ness, that nothing was concealed from him, so that the Go vernment obtained infinitely more useful information from his letters than from the inquiries of its own Commissioners. We should like to know how much information he would have been able to obtain, if it had been even suspected that he had received a 50/. note from Sir James Graham before leaving London, or that he was collecting evidence with the intention of going into the witness-box to prove the guilt of those with whom he was living on the most open and friendly terms? Can there be a doubt:that, under such cir cumstances, lie would have been shunned as if lie had got the plague ?—that every door would have been closed against him ?—that all grievances would have been discussed in se cret conclave, instead of under the eye of the public ? (for the presence of one good reporter is, in fact, the presence of the whole people), and that the Government would have been kept in ignorance of nearly all that it ought to have known? This is so evident, and yet so important, that no statesman worthy of the name would have overlooked it, or have at tempted to procure information by means which are calcu lated to destroy all confidence in the honesty of the reporter of the press."—Times. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of March 8.) SUGAR.—There was a dullness in the West India Sugar market in the early part of the week, grocers and refiners pur chasing all descriptions with much caution. To-day stiff prices were paid for all descriptions of West India Sugar, and all par ties were desirous to parchase, but business was checked by the smallness of the quantity on offer. The total sales for the week are 660 hhds. Brown Sugar of dry quality is not to be had under 60s per cwt. REFINED.—To-day little desire was shown on the part of the home trade to buy Refined Sugar, and prices are droop ing; brown lumps are 76s to 76s 6d, and standard 77s 6d to 78s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar was taken sparingly at 26s to 26s 3d per cwt. AIAURITIUS.—This afternoon the prices paid were fully equal to those of the last public sale—ord foxy brown fetched 545, good 58s to 595, low yellow 59s to 61s, mid 61s 6d to 63s 6d, good 64s to 66s 6d, ord strong grey 60s to 61s 6d, mid and good mid 62s to 63s 6d, and good 64s to 65s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar met with attention ; two parcels, amounting to 2,757 bags, w ere o ff ere d at public sale, and sold at full rates—good whit e a t 68 s 6d , m id 67, to 67s al, low mid 665, damp and washed 63s 6d to 66s 6d, mid sound yellow 61s to 61s 6d, damp 59s to 61s, low i damp foxy yellow 54s 6d to 55s 6d, rather better 56s 6d, sound Date yellow 60s, and damp 59s 6d per cwt. FOREIGN.—There has been less activity in the market for Foreign Sugar this week, but holders are firm, and have re frained from pressing sales. This afternoon there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar ; privately some parcels of yellow Ha vannah sold at 19s 6d to 22s 6d per cwt. for low to fine, and the market closed firmly. COFFEE.—Prices have been fully supported for West India, and some parcels disposed of privately : the market is still scantily supplied, and none has been brought to public sale. Ceylon, 580 bags at 2s to 3s above those of this day week ; good ordinary fetched 70s 6d to 71s. 9 puns of Berbice sold at 63s 6d for good ordinary greyish. Mocha at 74s to 75s for middling yellow, and 72s to 73s for middling greenish. In other sorts of East India Coffee a good deal of business was done . privately at stiffer rates : Padang fetched 32s to 345, and Batavia 33s to 40s. The closing prices of good ordinary Ceylon were 71s to 71s 6d per cwt ; at a late hour a parcel of fine ordinary Plantation sort sold at 85s to 90s per cwt. Cocoa.—All descriptions of West India are much wanted, and higher rates paid. Trinidad sold at 46s to 46s 6d for low grey, being Is to 2s above previous rates : privately, good and fine red sorts have been fetchings2s to 575, and low to middling 47s to 51s per cwt. Foreign is held firmly at 28s to 32s per cwt. TEA.—To-day there was less inclination shown to purchase, in consequence of the accounts come to hand from China, stat ing:that shipments of Tea were going on largely. Holders, however, were firm, and sound common Congou cash is not to be purchased under Is. Oid. per lb. Tho falling off in the de mand is considered as only temporary. MoLassEs.—West India cannot be purchased on lower terms, 2is 6d to 28s paid for Antigua. Cuba Honey taken in at 20s per cwt. SPICES.—BIack Pepper is not to be purchased on lower terms. East and West :India Ginger have been in excellent request and prices are rather higher. This afternoon at auc tion 31 chests of Cassia Lignea went briskly at 65s 6d to 66: for good middling mixed, being the full worth ; middling is not to be had under 655 per cwt. Swot). —Mid large pearl taken in at 17s 6d, small: brow 15s to 16s, a small part sold at 18s to 18s 6d for good larg bright pearl, 18s. for small white old pearl. Tapioca at 5d t 7d per lb for good to fine quality. RlCE.—Bengal low white Ils 6d to lls 9d, mid 12s, good 12s 6d, and fine 13s, 12s for fair mid and white, and sea damaged at Os to Its 6d per cwt. Madras and Java are held firmly, and the lower descriptions have met with attention; several parcels of yellow sold privately as 9s 6d to Os Od per cwt. Patna at 14s to 17s, and Carolina cleaned here at 21s, 245, and 26s per cwt. This afternoon Bengal at stiffer rates, middling white at 12s6d, and low middling 12s per cwt. RUM, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS.—Jamaica at 3s 6d to 3s 93 for fair quality 30 to 37 per cent over proof; the dealers have disposed of 250 puns at 3s 4d to 4s 3d for 32 to 36 per cent over proof of fair to good quality ; for small parcels of superior 4s 6d to 5s 6d paid. Leeward: at 23 Id to 2s 2d per gallon, proof. Demerara at 2s lldto3s 3d for fair to fine qua lity. Calcutta Rum at is 10d to is 101 d proof with certificate. In Brandy holders manifest firmness : —Cognac, best brands of the vintage of 1838, hlids at 5s 11d, puns 5s 9d; ditto, 1839, hhds 5s Ed, puns 5s 6d ' - ditto, 1840, hhds 5s 6d, puns 5 s 4d ; ditto, 1841, hhd s 5s stl, puns 5s 3d ; ditto, 1842, hhds 5s 4d, puns 5s 2d ; and i n f er i or an d middling marks 3s to 4s 6d per gallon. Geneva for exportation at Is 10d to is lld ; fine for home use is fetching 2s 43 to 3s per gallon. English Corn Spirits at lOs 2d, and single casks at lOs 3d per gallon, cash. To-day proof Leewards sold at 2s 2d to,2s 3d, Calcutta is 101 d to is 1 Id, and common Jamaica 31 to 33 per cent overproof 3s 4d to 3s 6d per gallon. Oits.—The market for common descriptions of Fish Oil is firm ; Cod at 331 5s to 33/ 10s. Pale Seal at 351, and Southern at 821 to 341 for corn to fine. Sperm Oil has met with \VAR-OFFICE, MARCH 8. Ist Regiment of Foot—Lieut. A. M. G ra y, from the R oya l Canadian Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Claremont, who exchanges, March 8. 76th Foot—Captain W. Doran, from the Ist West India Regiment, to be Paymaster, vice W. Webster, who has been placed upon half-pay, March 8. lit West India Regiment—Major-Gener a l Sir G. T. Napier, K. C. 8., to be Colonel, vice Lieutenant-General Sir G. H. B. Way, deceased, Feb. 29. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant E . S. Clare mont, from the Ist Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Gray, who exchanges, March S. HOSPITAL STAFF.—J. W. Mostyn, Gent., to be Assistant- Surgeon to the Forces, vice Home, appointed to the 26th Foot, March 8. MEMORANDUM.—The Christian name of Ensign Webster, of the 2d West India Regiment, is Rowland only, and not Row land William, as previously stated. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland. Northumberland Regiment of Militia—J. Fife, Gent., to to Ensign, Feb. 24. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire. Royal Merionethshire Light Infantry Militia —R. M. Richards, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, viee E. L. Ed wards, promoted, March 1. WHITEHALL, FEB. 28. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Charles Bodenham, of the city of Hereford, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the high Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. HENRY EDWARDS, coal merchant, St. Alban's, to surrender, March !5, at three, and April 19, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Roche, Plowman, and Roche, Charles -street, Covent-garden. THOMAS WILKINSON, boot maker, King-street, Hol born, March 15, at half-past ten ; and April 19, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Heath, Gracechurch-street,__ _ JOSEPH BARWICK, omnibus proprietor, Great Carter lane, Doctors'-commons, March 21 and April 25, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman-street ; Letts, Bartlett's-buildings. GEORGE FOORD, seed merchant, Lenham Kent, March 19, at twelve, and April 16, at elev en , a t th e C ourt of Bank ruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Baainghall-street ; Bower an d Co., Chancery-lane ; Hart, Maidstone. JACOB MON TEFIORE and JOSEPFI BARROW, merchants, Nicholas-lane, City, March 14, at one, and April 16, at twelve, at the Court of B an k ruptcy . Follett, official BARKER,Ie Ashurst, Cheapside. druggist, Man c h es t er , M arc h 20 and April 23, at twelve, at the Man c h es t er Di str i ct C our t. Stanway, official assignee M anc h ester; Shield and Harwood, Queen-street, Cheapside, London ; B ags h aw an d S tevenson , B R a T s ng halls t ass ß ig O nee ßE Manchester. JOSEPH DOUGLASS, rope manufacturer, Newcastle upon-Tyne, March 22, at eleven, and April 16, at two, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, o ffi cial assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Bell, B ro d r i c k, and B ell, Bow-church yard, London ; Bates and Dees Newcastle-upon-Tyne. THOMAS BREWER, pavinr, Liverpool, March 22 and April 19, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Caze nove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Bridger and Blake, Fins bury-circus, London ; Dodge, Liverpool. RALPH LEWIS, win e merchant, Tryddyn, Flintshire, March 19, at twelve, and April 16, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool; Milne and Co., Temple, London ; Ingleby, Mold, Flintshire. JAMES THOMPSON, iron manufacturer, Stoke-upon- Trent, Staffordshire, March 22, at two, and April 17, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; Smallwood, Admaston ; Motteram and Giddy, Birmingham. JOHN DOUGLAS PAYNE and LYDIA RUSHTON, furriers, Birmingham, March 20, at two, and May 3, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham ; Lloyd, Milk-street, Cheapside, London ; Grif fiths, Birmingham.: NOTICES OF INSOLVENCY. J. Gaunt, auctioneer, Pudsey, Yorkshire. R. Roffey, bricklayer, Deptford, Kent. J. C. S. Kelly, livery-stable-keeper, Wardrobe-place, City. H. Smith, carpenter, Farlington, Southampton. E. J. Bradshaw, miniature painter, Wolverhampton. W. Eggleston, flour dealer, Manchester. J. Shaw, fancy manufacturer, Highburton, Yorkshire. T. Johnston, draper, Hadley, Shropshire. N. B. Smith, carpenter, New Millman-street, Gray's Inn-lane. B. Kaye, woollen draper, Halifax. J. Young, blacksmith, Calverley, Yorkshire. J. Shepherd, boot and shoemaker, Huddersfield. L. W. Williams, eating-house-keeper, Brydges-street, Covent garden. W. Dobson, flour dealer, Leeds. J. Scott, labourer, Halifax. W. Ratcliffe, police-officer, Birkenhead, Cheshire. J. Addey, joiner, Selby, Yorkshire. A. Liddelow, butcher, Seymour-place, Camden-town. R. Spenaley, tailor, Birmingham. I. Price, undertaker, Stepney-green. W. Walker, basket maker, Oldham, Lancashire. J. Bendall, tailor, Welbeck-street, Cavendish-square. J. Fryer, tobacconist, Cockshill, Stepney. T. Minchew, carpenter, Bilston, Staffordshire. T. Scott, carpenter, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire. J. Slade, carpenter, Bexley-heath, Kent. J. Seel, joiner, Kensington Low-hill, Lancashire. H. G. Huxford, gas-fitter, Broad-way, Ludgate-hill. W. Richardson, builder, Liverpool. W. Dickenson, baker, Nottingham. J. Ahrenfeld, hat manufacturer, Well-street, Cripplegate. R. Tennant, Ward -street, Lambeth-walk. H. Haslip, cutler, High Holborn. J. Bowling, plumber, Beaumont-street, Marylebone. T. Cheshire, cabinet-maker, Dunstable. C. Ashurst, publican, Heaton Norris, Manchester. J. Bromley, hay and straw salesman, Woolwich. E. Beck, grocer, Tiverton, Devonshire. C. Sterek,.green,grocer, Grosvenor-row, W. H. Crook, baker, gouthampton. J. G. Hatcher, coach maker, Castle-street, Tonbridge. J. T. Griffith,, victualler, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire. E. West. commission agent, Bexley-heath, Kent. W. R. Chaulk, farmer, Blackmore, Essex. E. Brown, lamp trimmer on the Brighton Railway, Croydon. T. Barton, corn-chandler, Burslem, Staffordshire. R. Owen, tavern keeper, Llanrwst, Denbighshire. 11. Savage, tool manufacturer, Coaley, Gloucestershire. W. Evans, farmer, Cwmcarvan, Monmouthshire. W. Presley, fruiterer, Prospect-place, Old Kent -road. A. Graham, engineer, Landport, Portsmouth. W. Palmer, huckster, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. J. Walton, butcher, Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire. Z. G. Baker, tailor, Topsham, Devonshire. J. Edwards, farmer, Llanarmon in Yale, Denbighshire. W. Parry, miller, Hope, Flintshire. R. Hill, baker, Cheltenham. SECOND NOTICES. J. Firman, bailiff, Frinton, Essex, March 16, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee. J. Sleigh, Lieutenant, R.N., Semaphore, Haslemere, Sur rey, March 16, at eleven, at the Court of Bankuptcy. Groom, official assignee. J. Cox, Broadley-terrace, 3larylebone, March 16, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee. W. Billson, tailor, Albion-hill, Leicestershire, March 20, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Christie, official assignee. J. Lilley, grocer, Birmingham, March 12, at one , at t h e Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, March 8. FEES TO CLERKS IN PETTY SESSIONS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved for certain returns relating to fees paid to clerks in petty sessions. No grievance, he said, was more heavy upon the poorer classes of the country than the demands made upon them in the shape of fees. The result was, that there was almost an absolute denial of justice to a great num ber of persons who happened to be in a state of poverty. The returns were then ordered. CORN•LAW S. The Earl of HADDINGTON presented two petitions from Haddington and other places, praying for protec tion to the agricultural interest ; in doing so, he said that a meeting had been got up by about twenty persons in favour of the Anti-Corn-law League movement ; and from them a petition had emanated purporting to be from the agriculturists of the country, and, in conse quence, several meetings were held of those, who were all persons composed of landowners, farmers, and agricul tural servants, from which the petitions he had pre sented emanated. The Marquis of NORMANBY moved for certain returns with respect to the Charitable Donation Funds in Ireland. COURT OF PRIVY COUNCIL. Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to make some observations with respect to the jurisdiction of the Court of Privy Council. Important questions relating to colonial and Indian matters were decided by the Privy Council, and therefore it was absolutely necessary that every possible assistance should be given to that Court. If it was such an important Court with respect to our distant possessions, how much more important must it be to our British subjects at home ? He fel4 confident in asserting, and he was sure he w4mild be borne out in that assertion the more that matter was considered, that nothing could be more unfair, or more unsatisfactory than the present law of divorce, and that they were also bound not only to act upon their own judgment and reflection, but that they also should avail themselves of the experience of other countries to try and devise some mode of amending those laws. This was one of the reasons inducing him to bring forward this measure, and he trusted it would meet with the assent of their Lordships. The expense of a divorce made it a remedy only to be obtained by the rich. A poor man never could avail himself of the remedy of divorce under the existing state of the law. Was there any example for this state of the law? No, we were the only Protestant country in which such a state of the law existed. Even in Scotland the law was different to what it was in this country with respect to the remedy of divorce. But this difficulty and partiality of the law as it at present stood would be obviated by providing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the power of disposing of applications for divorces. In Scotland the cost of procuring a divorce was from 30/, to 354, while in England to obtain a Divorce Bill —unop posed the cost was from 500/. to 600/. ; if the Bill should be opposed it would amount to from 1,000/. to 2,0004 No one could say that this was a proper state of the law. By the present law too, a person proceeding in the Consistorial Court on account of adultery by his wife, had to pay both his own costs in prosecuting his suit, and the costs to which his wife might be put, in prosecuting her defence. Persons were frequently ruined by proceedings in the Consistorial Court, even be fore they could be in a position to apply to their Lord ships' House for a divorce. This, then was the state of the law on this important subject. If a man of limited means went to the expense of getting a verdict in an action for crim. con., he would not have suf ficient means to apply to the Ecclesiasttcal Court to get a divorce afterwards. He thought that it would be be neficial if this tribunal were to take cognisance in con junction with the Consistorial Judges of those matters. In conclusion, the. Noble Lord said he should support the second reading of the Bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had always ex pressed himself strongly of opinion that there ought to be a fixed President of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and therefore he thought this Bill ought to be allowed to be read a second time, and afterwards referred to a Committee up stairs. He would, however, caution their Lordships not to part with their judicial authority ; for, if they did so, he could assure them that their political authority would soon follow. Lord COTTENHAM said his Hon. and Learned Friend (Lord Brougham) had not adverted to one clause which, if it became law, would refer all matters of a judicial nature from that House to the Committee of the Privy Council. Ile alluded to the 9th clause, which provided that any matter or thing might be referred from that House to the Privy Coun cil. There was no limit to this clause. If that clause were to become law it would strip that House of all its authority. He (Lord Cottenham) was of opinion, that the law with respect to divorce was very unsatis tory, but he did not believe that the proposition of his Noble Friend would furnish any redress at all. The expenses in such matters were of course referred to as the chief grievance. Why there were heavy expenses in all cases tried before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. There were the expenses of counsel, agents, and witnesses, the same as in proceedings before that House. It was true, that there were fees to be paid in cases heard before that House, but those fees were paid into a fund, called the Fee Fund, and were the pro perty of the public. Now if these fees so much increased the expenses in cases to be heard before that House it was obvious that the proper course to be pursued would be to abolish those fees rather than refer all such cases to another, and, perhaps, eqnally expensive tri bunal. He thought it would be better if some jurisdic tion were to be established by which this remedy would be available generally. He also approved of that portion of the Bill which related to laws of divorce and of patent rights, although there were other points in it which he thought ought to be considered in Committee. Lord CAMPBELL said the question before them was, whether this law was to be administered by the Legisla ture or by a judicial tribunal. It was also proposed that Parliament was to have a control over the Committee ; but how was that to be effected unless all the evidence was laid before them. He should support the second reading, but, at the same time, he should, when the Bill was in Committee, propose many alterations in it. The Bishop of EXETER complained that the rights and privileges of the Church would be materially affected by this Bill, because, in many cases, there might be an ap peal from the Court of Arches brought before them, in which the rights of the dignitaries of the Church would be involved, and it was well known that some of those on the Council might be persons not of the communion of the Established Church. He found fault with many of the principles involved in that portion of the Bill which related to the subject of divorce. Lord BROUGHAM, in reply, said that the Right Rev. Prelate had no just causelor the fears he expressed on the part of the Church. The Bishop of EXETER explained. The LORD CHANCELLOR thought his Noble and Learned Friend had better divide the Bill into two parts, making thatpart relating to thelaw of divorce a separate Bill Lord BROUGHAM said he would move that it be an instruction to the Committee to divide the Bill into two parts if they should think fit. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 8. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'Clock. Mr. BUSFEILD presented a petition from Malton against the Scarborough Railway BilL Colonel WYNDHAM presented a petition from Bed font against the Shoreham and Chichester Railway Bill. Sir CHARLES BURRELL presented similar peti tions from different parts of Sussex. ATHLONE ELECTION. Mr. Chalmers, the Clerk of the Election Committees, brought up the evidence taken before the Athlone Elec tion Committee. Mr. C. ROUND brought in the Northern and Eastern Railway Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. Sir JOHN YARDE BULLER presented a petition from persons residing on the Beach of Dawlish, stating that their property would be injured by the South De►on Railway Bill, and praying that it might not pass into a law. Mr. KEMBLE presented a petition from the Rev. Wm. Paine, against the Guildford Junction Railway Bill. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS presented a petition from the Mayor and Town Council of Liverpool, against the Birkenhead Improvement Bill. Sir WILLIAM HEATHCOTE presented a petition from Winchester, in favour of the railway from Basing stoke to Newbury. On the motion of Sir W. HEATHCOTE, the Newbury and Basingstoke Railway Bill was read a second time. SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved the second reading of this Bill. Mr. ESTCOURT would just mention that there were two Bills before the House, and that an application had been made to the Committee of Selection to appoint the Committee on one of those Bills. Upon th a t appli cation being made he immediately sent to the agent for the other Bill, to know if he was ready. His reply was, that he should not be ready for some time--the consequence was, that a great hardship was inflicted upon the parties who were ready at once to go before the Committee. Mr. GLADSTONE said, that if parties, for the pur pose of creating delay, should be found to take advan tage of the rule of that House, which provided that Bills for competing railway lines should be referred to the same Committee, he thought some measure ought to be adopted to prevent such a course being taken. After a short discussion, the Bill was read a second time. NEWPORT DOCKS BILL. Mr. BLEWITT brought in the Newport Docks Bill, which was read a first time. COMMITTEES ON RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. HINDLEY rose to move the following resolu tion •—" That any Member, whose constituents are locally interested in any competing lines of railway, maybe permitted to sit upon the Committee appointed . to decide upon their respective merits, though without being allowed to vote upon any question arising thereon." The House, by the resolution to which they had come the other evening, on the subject of th e const i tution of Committees on Railway Bills, had, in fact, given up the representation of their constituents altogether. Ile ad mitted that it was perfectly right that the Members who had a personal interest in private Bills should be ex cluded from the Committees ; but with regard to the representatives of local interests, their case rested upon a very different footing. To whom would the country look for the defence of their local interests, ex cept to their respective representatives ? The House had stultified itself by the resolutions it had come to on that subject. Did they mean to say that a Member who represented local interests, had not sufficient know ledge or public spirit to give an honest vote ? The real secret was that certain lion. Members' had not the moral courage, while they saw two parties among their con stituents, to offend either of the parties, and therefore they were exceedingly glad to shirk their duty. The presence of the local Member on a Committee would tend to check some of the back-stairs influence that now prevailed, and that Member would act under the control of public opinion. He thought they had departed from the open English principle in the resolution they had adopted. If the constituents did not approve of his conduct they had the remedy in their own hands. He thought it would be right that the local interest of par ticular places should be consulted in such matters, and that Committees should not be deprived of the advan tages of hearing the arguments of those well acquainted with the details of the matter. Mr. P. BORTHWICK having seconded the motion, Mr. GLADSTONE said he thonghohe resolution now introduced by the Hon Gentleman was superfluous. H e thought the grounds taken in support of his position by the Hon. Gentleman opposite were quite useless, and he would even say almost invidious; for in Committees, upon any other subject, no such powers were ever called for. If such a power was allowed to exist in the present instance, a great deal of ineonvenienee would arise, because a great 'many of those gentlemen who now proposed to have the right of attending those Committees would be actuated by different and diScordant interests. He trusted that the House would feel no hesitation in negativing the motion. Mr. W. PATTEN was extremely glad to hear what had fallen from his Right Honourable Friend. There had been a great difference of opinion in Committees as to whether Members were to be allowed to attend and represent the inte rests of their constituents. He thought that if it had been known at the time when themeasure was introduced that Members would have the power of stating the case of their constituents who were not able to appear by counsel, many who supported the measure would have voted against it on that express round. Mr. LAIIO UCHERE agreed in substance with what had fallen - front the Right Hon. Gentleman. He was so !aware however, that any Member. of Parliament bad a right to address the Committee on behalf of his con stituents. His impression had hitherto been that the right extended only to attending the Committee, and there was the greatest risk of inconvenience through protracting the proceedings of the Committee unneces sarily, if any other principle were adopted. Perhap s _ the Speaker would be good enough to state to the House what was the practice of Parliament in reference to this matter. Mr. GLADSTONE said he had not meant to state that any Member had an absolute right to address the Committee; all he had meant to say was, that practically no objection was felt to the making of a statement. The SPEAKER wished to observe, in reply to the question of the Right Hon. Gentleman, that no Member who was not a Member of the Committee had any right to interfere with the proceedings. He, had no right to examine witnesses though he might be present in the room. Dr. BOWRING said that regulation which prevented Members from interfering with the proceedings of Select Committees on Railroads, upon which they were not appointed, had given great satisfaction, and he thought it was desirable to extend the rule to all other Select Committees as well as Railway Committees. After a few words from Mr. H. HINDE, Mr. HINDLEY withdrew his motion, observing that if any measure affecting the interests of his constituents were referred to a Select Committee, he should apply to that Committee, as a matter of courtesy, to twelve his suggestions. The Newbury and Great Western Railway Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Mr. R. PALMER presented a petition from the landowners on the line, against the Newbury and Great Western Railway Bill. The Slamannan Junction Railway Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. - - NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. Mr. MACAULAY presented 4 petition in favour of the North British Railway, Bill, which - was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. NOTICES OF MOTION.- ATHLONE ELECTION. Mr. W. O. STANLEY gave notice that when the. Committee on the Athlone election presented their Report, he should move for a Select Committee to in quire into the whole circumstancesittanding the election for that borough. SLAVE TRADE: Sir J. ItANMER gave 'notice than, when the Noble Lord the Member- for Tiverton brought forward his motion, he should' move, as an amendment, that the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, for taking into consideration the treaties relating to the slave trade. TOBACCO DUTIES. Dr. BOWRlNG,(7lntiiriari;fth;Tlon. Member for Montrose, postponed the motion of which that Hon. Member had given notice on the subject of the tobacco duties until Monday next. LAW OF DIVORCE. Mr. ELPHINSTONE moved for a return of the number of matrimonial suits instituted in each metropo litan Diocesan Court in England, Wales, and Ireland, in 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843; also a similar return from Courts havivtg consistoritil jurisdiction in Scotland in 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843; also, number of matrimonial suits in Judicial Committee of Privy Council or House of Lords, on appeal, in 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843 ; also, return of number of Divorce Acts passed by the Legislature in 1840, 1841, 1842, an 1843 ; ;also the average expense of such suits, in 184 G, 1841, 1842, and 1843, as far as the same can be stated by the officers of the above-mentioned Courts.—Agreed to. COPPER, TIN; AND LEAD TRADE. Sir C. LEMON moved for returns of the import and export of copper, lead, and tin, and of copper ore into the United Kingdom, during the year ending Jan. 5, 1844, distinguishing the copper and copper ore ex ported from the ports of Liverpool, and the per tentage of copper contained in the copper ore exported. Dr. BOWRING begged to ask the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the report of the Commission to inquire into Welsh grievances would be communicated to the House. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he had received the Report to which the Hon. Gentleman referred, only yesterday; he expected to receive the evidence on Mon- day. In the early part of next week he would lay both the report and the evidence on the table of the House. STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES—IRELAND. Lord EBRINGTON begged to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland, when the returns which had been moved for on a former evening, respecting the Sti pendiary Magistrates in Ireland, would be laid before the House ? Lord ELIOT said he believed the returns would be prepared by Monday next. SINDIA. Mr. MACAULAY had a question to put to the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury, and in doing so he wished to correct a misunderstanding which had gone abroad respecting what he had said the other night, as to the late proceedings at Gwalior. He was represented to say that those proceedings were in accordance with and in pursuance of a treaty which was entered into in 1805. On the contrary, what he did say was, that the proceedings were founded upon a treaty which was notoriously annulled in 1805. Was the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) now prepared to answer the question he put to him yesterday ? Sir ROBERT PEEL said the India mail had arrived, and in the course of the day the Govern ment had received their dispatches. He had every reason to suppose that the proclamation alluded to had been sent officially with them. In the Government dispatch, however, there were no less than 97 inclo sures, and of course he had not yet had time at present to go carefully through them. He assumed the procla mation was there ; no doubt it was. The Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Macaulay) had declared on his own authority that the. treaty of -1804 was notoriously annulled in 1805. There lad. been hardly time since last evening to search into the matter, but so far as he (Sir R. Peel) remembered, there were three treaties between the Maharajah of Sindia and the Government of India. There was the treaty of 1803, the treaty of 1804, and the treaty of 1805. The first, that of 1803, was a general treaty for peace ; that of 1804, was a treaty of alliance offen sive and defensive, and stipulated that Sindia, in case of necessity, should be entitled to call on the Anglo-Indian Government for assistance ; and the treaty of 1805 was made to correct some defects in the treaty of 1803, and had no reference to that of 1804. The question, therefore, arose whether the treaty of 1804 was overruled by that of 1805. Mr. MACAULAY had no wish under the circum stances to prolong the discussion. The Right Hon. Gentleman would lay the proclamation before them, and, of course, was not in a position at that moment to give a • distinct opinion on the question just put to him. FACTORIES BILL. Sir J. GRAHAM postponed the second reading of this Bill until Friday next, when he would positively proceed with it. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. M. GIBSON wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) . in reference to a statement made by him last night .in the debate on the sugar duties. He (Mr. Gibson) had understood him to state that the consumption of sugar in this country for the year ending January, 1844, was greater than had ever taken place in any former year.--(Cries of "No, no.") He understood the Right Hon. Gentleman to state that the consumption of sugar in the year ending in January, 1844, was greater than any that had taken place in any former year, except one. Now, he (Mr. M. Gibson) had taken some trouble to look into the Parliamentary papers, and make calculations upon proper authority with refer ence to the amount taken into consumption during past years, and he found, from the calculations he had made, that in the years 1830, 1831, 1835, and 1837, the quantity , of sugar consumed in this country was greater than the quantity consumed in the year ending January, 1844. Now he want e d to k now whether t h e Right on. Ba ronet meant to state it as a fact, that the consumption was greater in 1844 than any preceding year, with the exception of one ? Sir - R. PEEEsaid that the statements he had made were from documents that he hadin his possession, and if he was incorrect it was competent for the Hon. Gentle man to correct him .by moving for the documents. What he had stated was, that the consumption in the • last year was greater than the consumption of any year, with but one exception, and that was the year 1842. In that year the consumption was 4,550,000 • cwts., while last year it was 4,450,000 cwts. If he had made any mistake in the matter he was sorry for it, but it was perfectly competent for the Hon. Member to correct it by adopting the course that he had suggested. Mr. BELLEW put a questionto the Secretary for Ire land (Lord Eliot) with respect to the manner in which, on a jury in a recent criminal case, every Catholic had been struck off.. - . • Lord ELIOT declined answeringlintil heilttd rec e Thf e d further information on the Subject; • • • 14~ n 9 i~ ~e~