The Sun. — London, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

%HE SUN, LONDQN, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6 1844. trb Xbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. THE CIRCUITS. HOME CIRCUIT. (Before Lord DENMAN and Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) Hertfordshire—Hertford, Wednesday, Feb. 28. Essex—Chelmsford, Monday, March 4. Kent—Maidstone, Monday, March 11. Sussex—Lewes, Monday, March 18. Surrey—Kingston, Monday, March 25. MIDLAND CIRCUIT. (Before the Right Hon. Sir N. C. TINDAL, Knt., Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir JOHN Guntisr, Knt., one of the Barons of the Exchequer.) Northampton.—Monday, March 4. Oakham.—Friday, March 8. Lincoln and City.—Saturday, March 9. Nottingham and Town.—Friday, March 15. Derby—Tuesday, March 19. Leicester and Borough.—Friday, March 22. Warwickshire, Coventry Division.—Thursday, March 28. Warwick Division.—Saturday, March 30. SOUTH WALES. (Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS and Mr. Baron MAULE.) tilamorganshire—Swansea, Thursday, Feb. 29. Pembrokeshire, Town and County—Haverfordwest, Sa- turday, March 9. Cardiganshire—Cardigan, Thursday, March 14. Carmarthenshire, and County of the Borough—Carmar- then, Saturday, March 11. Brecknockshire—Brecon, Saturday, March 23. Radnorshire--Presteign, Thursday, March 28. Cheshire—Chester, Saturday, March 30. NGE.— ibraltar .. ....... — Eghorn ... Genoa Milan Venice . Naples Palermo, per oz 1181 I isbon Oporto 52 Rio Janeiro 23 Bahia Buenos A ":3 ... 'THIS DAY.) yre3 New York, '2l days sight Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, FIR 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 11 i GEORGE WALTON, wine -merchant, Stockton-on-Tees, Feb. 19, and March 18, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-upon- Tyne ; Dimmock and Burbey, Sise-lane, London; Steavenson, London. SAMUEL BILLINGTON, tailor, Birkenhead, Chester, Feb. 20, at half-past [eleven, and March 19, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liver pool ; Minshull, Liverpool ; Vincent and Sherwood, Temple, London. NOTICES OF INSOLVENCY. W. Padley, beer seller, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire. R. Ward, Lydney, Gloucestershire. Gill, farmer. Hoton, Leicestershire. J. Lobley, cloth dresser, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. G. Chappels, stone mason, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. J. Parks, grocer, Trafalgar-street, Walworth. J.lNott, lace dealer, Hemingford .terrace, Islington- S. Wilson, house agent, Streatham, Surrey. T. Ornsby, glass agent, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. W. Rillson, tailor, St. Margaret's, Leicestershire. W. Claydon, jun., boot maker, Rochford, Essex. J. Pitt, victualler, Liverpool. J. Blunt. Church-street, St. Mary, Newington. G. S. Peacock, master mariner, Turner-street, Commercial- road East. Z. Radcliffe, wheelwright, Braithwell, Yorkshire. G . Edwards, builder, Ipswich. C. Wood, bookbinder, Great Charlotte-street, Blackfriars-road. J. Cowsill, builder, Lymm, Cheshire. J. Marston, son., watch maker, Castle-street, Leicester-square. T. Haw, woollen salesman, Leeds. T. Sturgess, baker, Great Saffron-hill, St. Andrew's, Holborn. G. Woods, butcher, High-street, Stoke Newington. T. W. T. Prescott, Duke-street, Manchester-square. W. Baird, grocer, Cheltenham. W. Cauty, Selwood-terrace, Old Brompton. who sat undisturbed in the enjoyment of the emolu ments and honours of plaee, to be lauded when they assailed those who endeavoured to remedy such evils. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by glorying in his attempts, whether successful or otherwise, to benefit his native country. The Court then rose. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER toek the Chair at Four o'clock. Mr. CRESSWELL presented a petition from the Mor peth Union against the Bastardy clause of the Poor law Bill. Lord CLIVE presented a petition from the Berkshire Lay Association, against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. EXCLUSION OF CATHOLICS FROM JURIES. Mr. ROSS presented a petition from the Catholic inhabitants of Belfast, which was agreed to at a pub lic meeting, attended by persons of every principle and politics, and signed on behalf of the meeting by the Chairman, who was an anti-repealer, complaining of the recent proceedings in Ireland, by which Catholics had been excluded from the jury panel, and which the peti tioners considered as inflicting a wanton insult on the Catholics of that country, the result of which must lead to the establishment of a rancorous political ascendency. They considered such a course of proceedings as a viola tion of the Emancipation Act, and as tending to raise the question whether Catholics were worthy of credit on their oaths, or were capable of trying persons for sedition. They prayed the interference of the House, and besought the House to address her Majesty, praying her to dismiss her Ministers, and to take steps to secure them against the tyranny of a faction. W INDOW-TA X. Mr. WALKER presented a petition from 60 of the licensed victuallers of Berwick, stating that other trades men were exempt from the window-tax on their shops and warehouses, and praying that the same exemptions might be extended to the licensed victuallers. GRIEVANCES. _ Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented petitions from Dartmouth, Market Harborough, Brentwood, and other places. The petitions stated that it was a princi ple of the British Constitution that grievances should be investigated and redress afforded before the supplies were voted, and they prayed the House to carry out that principle. Also a petition to the same effect from Cam bridge, signed by five hundred persons • and a petition to the same effect, signed by J. Macpherson, of Aberdeen, on behalf of a public meeting. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Buntingford, complaining of the system of representation, and stating that no person ought to be taxed without having a voice in the Legislature. PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE. Mr. COBDEN gave notice that on this day fortnight he would move for a Select Committee to inquire relat ing to the effects of import duties on the tenant-farmers and farm-labourers of this country. RAILWAYii. Mr. WALLACE gave notice that on moving for the appointment of the Committee on Railways, he would move that no Member, being a director of railways, or being a shareholder of any railway, should be appointed thereon. giving him all the information in his power in reply to his concluding question. The gentlemen whom he had named for his Committee were not selected by him, but were nominated at the suggestion of the gentlemen who formed the previous Com mittee. He co uld say, however, that there were some directors, and at least, as far as his know ledge went, one shareholder in railway companies. The Honourable Member for Reading was Chair man of the Great Western Railway. The Ho nourable Meniber for Clitheroe was a Director of the South Eastern, and two other of the gentlemen were also railway directors. The two first-named gentlemen were connected with what were called high fare rail ways, and the two last with low fare lines. There was also the Noble Lord the Member for Totness, who was nominated because, as he was a Member of the late Government, and had been upon the former Com mittee, it was thought right that he should be also upon this. He believed that the Noble Lord was a director of a new railway. He himself (Mr. Gladstone) was a shareholder in a railway company ; but he was not able to give the Honourable Gentleman any further information as to the constitution of the Committee. THE RIGHT OF SEARCH. In answer to a question from Sir C. NAPIER, Sir ROBERT FEEL said that the whole question of the instructions to be given to the comman ders of cruisers for the detection of slave ships, had been referred to a commission, consisting of Dr. Lush ington and Captain Bayne. With regard to instructions occasioned by negotiations with the United States, he could only say, that they were consistent with the in structions formerly given, but he did not think a due regard to the public service would allow him to give a more explicit answer. Lord PALMERSTON , wished to ask whether the Government had come to any understanding, or made any arrangements as to the power which the com manders of our vessels should have of visiting ships for the purpose of ascertaining their nationality ? Sir R. PEEL said the instructions which had been given this year were the same as those which had been issued to the officers of her Majesty's Navy in the first instance. CEMETERIES IN LARGE TOWNS. In reply to an HON. MEMBER, who inquired whether it was the intention of Government to introduce any Bill for the prevention of interment in large cities and towns, Sir J. GRAHAM said the question of the health of large towns was at present under the consideration of a Committee ; and until this Committee had made their Report, he could not distinctly state what course the Government intended to pursae. FACTORIES AMENDMENT BILL. Sir J. GRAHAM rose to introduce a Bill for the better regulation of, and to amend the laws relating to, factories • and in doing so said that theßill was similar to the one he had introduced during the last session, which had been founded upon the Report of a Select Committee. His Bill introduced several important alterations and limitations as to ages and hours of labour. As the law now stand., the definition of children was between the ages of nine and thirteen years. He proposed that the specification be somewhat altered, and that the definition of children be fixed between the ages of eight and thir teen. He proposed that children between the ages of eight and thirteen should not be employed in any one day %r a longer period than six hours and a half; and that they should not be employed both in the forenoon and the afternoon of the same day. Respecting young persons, the definition in the law as it stands, was between the ages of thirteen and eighteen years. He did not propose to make any alteration in this definition of ages, but he should pro pose as to their hours of work, that they should not be employed in any cotton, silk, wool, or flax manufac tory for any portion of the twenty-four hours longer than from half-past five to seven in summer, and from six to eight in winter, thus making thirteen and a half hours of work, with one hour and a half of time for rest. As the law at present stood, all persons above the age of eighteen were considered adults, and of their labour there was no limitation at all. But under the present law many persons were employed as adults who were totally unfit for the labour. The Right Hon. Baronet then read extracts from the report of Mr. Horner, as to the periods of work required from persons who were considered adults, and especially from adult females. With the best consideration that he could give to the reports and evidence which it had been his duty to con sult, he had determined to propose a limitation to the continuous labour of females, satisfied that the uncontrolled exercise of their industry was alike injurious to their health and their morals.—(Hear, hear.) He also proposed to enact a new limitation with respect to the way in which back time was now brought up. and which had led to great infractions of the law. Where the power had been of a double nature (steam-power and water-power), whenever loss of time had accrued, the party so losing it had been made to greatly violate the law in bringing that time up again. He proposed that no facilities should be given for redeeming this lost power, excepting where the power is water-power only—and to that, also, he should propose a further limitation. Power also was given to the proper authorities to notify to millowners, wherever and whenever, in their opinion, machinery might be considered dangerous ; and if, after such noti fication, any accident should occur, it should be in the power of the Executive to institute a suit, and give the damages, by way of compensation, to the party injured. The regulations regarding children were not at present the same in silk mills as in cotton and other factories, and he now proposed to bring silk mills under precisely the same regulations in respect to children as other factories. He had mentioned the principal provisions in the Bill, with the exception only of that portion of the Bill of last session to which attention had been more especially directed. He did not mean to interfere with that por tion of the Bill which prescribes the rules regarding education.—(Hear.) A child from eight to thirteen years old he proposed should not be employed continu ously for more than six hours and a half, and that the other portion of the day should be devoted to education. The Government last year proposed to do something with re spect to the quality of the education given to the chil dren in factories. The enactments throughout the existing law of factory education were, he was afraid, almost illusory, for persons had been employed that were little qualified, indeed, even for du ties so humble as those entrusted to them. Even the stoker of the furnace was occasionally to be found acting the part of schoolmaster ; and there was an undeniable want of every proper facility and appa ratus in the shape of books and other requisites. In fact, the system had been one not of education, but of mere confinement, leaving the children without any knowledge or instruct ion whatever. He (Sir James opinion,Graham) th es e e to s a Nwvearse better however,giys i t n a g te o w bound t o s t a t e , th a t way under the force of public things, and he indulged the hope that there were now many mill-owners who were sincerely anxious to supply the means of instruction to thoso employed by them. The experience of last year, however, had determined him not to interfere with the quality of the instruction now offered.—(Hear, hear.) (LEFT SPEAKING.) from a prisoner, and not given up. A still stronger case had occurred in Westmoreland, when no less a sum than 2,0001. was kept back, and was only recovered after the lapse of a considerable time. Be agreed with his Noble Friend, that in particular cases the recom mendations contained in the clause of the letter could not be acted upon. The object of this recommendation was, that on every apprehension the officer should be compelled to mark on the back of the commitment the amount of money found upon the prisoner. If this recommendation were adopted, he thought it would be attended with good results, and he thought it would be well for the magis trates to attend to the suggestion. It was also recom mended that, when the constable took the prisoner into custody, he should take an account of the property pos sessed by the 'prisoner ; but by this it was by no means intended that he should inquire into the particulars of undivided profits of partners. Lord BROUGHAM was very glad this subject had been brought under the consideration of their Lordships. By the clause of the letter, to which more particular re ference had been made, it was recommended that the constable should be empowered to inquire into the amount of property belonging, or supposed to belong, to a prisoner. It was impossible to defend the clause inasmuch as it empowered an officer to commit trespass. Lord CAMPBELL regretted that this letter had not been submitted to his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, or to the Attorney-General, before it was issued. He thought it was the duty of the Lords of the Treasury to take the highest legal opinion as to its validity. He was of opinion that the sooner the law was revised the better. _ The Duke of RICHMOND would suggest that it would be desirable to have a letter written to other counties not to act on that law, which the Noble Lord thought had been better omitted. He would withdraw the address, but he should like to have an intimation on the part of the Government that care should be taken to have other counties informed of the opinions which the Government entertained. After a few words from Lord WHARNCLIFFE andlthe Duke of RICHMOND, we understood the motion was withdrawn. THE AFFAIRS OF SPAIN. The Earl of CLARENDON gave notice that he would, on Friday next, ask some questions of the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, respecting the events which had recently taken place in Spain, and their present relations with that country. him in giving the fullest credit to the Govern ment of France for its hearty wishes to put down the detestable traffic. There certainly was a feeling abroad in France that the mode of putting it down was not consistent with their feelings of national honour and dignity. His Noble Friend had given an unanswerable re ply to this by reminding their French neighbours that we equally conceded the same right on our parts, and as we gave the right of search over five or six ships for one, we gave up more than they did ; yet we did not in the slightest degree consider ourselves disho houred by it. He entirely agreed with the Noble Earl in thmting that instead of its being a desirable arrange ment or a good per se, he wished that some mode could be devised for repressing the slave-trade without it, as he looked on it rather as an inconvenience than a burden. They must always keep in mind one of two propositions in dealing with this question. One of these was, that when England had entirely abolished her own slave trade, she had done nine parts out of ten of what was her own duty, and that, strictly speaking, it was that alone which she could be called on to do, anything beyond that being in the nature of a work of supererogation. God forbid that they should in the slightest degree re lax from their efforts to repress the slave trade, and that having washed their own hands of the stain, they should not for the sake of humanity and of Africa, seek out other nations to do so also. One thing they must also always bear in mind, that though they were philanthropists and statesmen legislating for Africa, they were also European and English states men, and that their primary object must now be the preservation of peace among the nations of Europe. They must not risk that first and greatest blessing for the sake of any work of supererogation or humanity. To do so would be the most preposterous attempt any great nation could engage in. m cu i r s i s o i u on s p h a e p w er a s s t n h o a t t h p a r d ep b a e r e e n d tloaidlabyehfoereforethethCe oHmMouisa; any measure for their Lordships' consideration. If the Bill recommended to their Lordships were carried into effect, the surveyors' fees alone would amount to 80,000/. Any Bill that could be introduced would be' come a dead letter, from the difficulty of carrying it into , effect. The Commission had everywhere been re.cove a in the most favourable manner by the working classe s and by the municipal authorities. Most curious infor mation had been laid before the Committee regarding the drainage and supplying of water to towns on the Continent and in America, but he repeated that he WO not at present prepared to offer any recommendation on the course which should be pursued. The Marquis of NORMANBY never heard a .more unsatisfactory explanation than that offered by the Noble Duke ; he considered that the Government, were greatly to blame in allowing these evils to continue. 50 long without proposing some remedy. Lord FITZWILLIAM was understood to say that he considered it very difficult to legislate on:the subject- The Duke of RICHMOND gave notice that he s hould to-morrow move for the copy of a letter from the AS' sistant- Secretary of the Treasury to the clerks of the peace, and dated Dec. 2, 1843, his object being to induce the Government of the country to withdraw it. Lord MONTEAGLE gave notice that he should to morrow move for certain returns from the Bank of EDP land. His Lordship also gave notice that he should at the same time put a question to the Government with it view of ascertaining if it was their intention to take any measures in respect to the Bank of Ireland at the tim e they proposed those measures having reference to th e , Bank of England. His Lordship laid on the table °`, the House a Bill to facilitate the recovering of sums SL money by certain teachers in Ireland, which bad Pas sal , their Lordships' House last session, but had drop Pea In the other House in consequence of the late period it sr, rived there, and the heavy pressure of other business ca greater importance. The House then, at Five Minutes after Six, adjourne d until to HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 5. STANDING ORDERS ON RAILWAYS. Mr. W. GLADSTONE rose to move That Select Committee be appointed, to consider the Standing Orders relating to Railways, and whether any and what changes ought to be made in those Standing Orders ; and likewise to con" sider whether any and what new provisions ought to b• introduced into such Railway Bills as may come befor e the House during the present or future sessions, for the advantage of the public and the improvement of the rail way system, and to report their opinion thereon to the House." The Right Hon. Gentleman said as this infP° rtat question was one whi c h h a d on severa l occas i o ns been the subject of inquiry, and as the several Select Committees which had sat to investigate it, had left their f examinations incompl e t e , h e s h ou ld b e very bri e . with the statement whi c h h e h a d no w to La"' to the House. He would, however, very briefly, inti mate to the House what were the immediate occasions out of which the proposal which he had now to ta!b e had grown. In the first place it appeared to the Go vernment that the time had come when it might be ni vantageously considered wheth er , a ft er t h e operation an the experience of severalyears, som e modification might n°' properly be introduced into the Standing Orders relati n g to railways. There was one of those Standing Order s ' for example, which required of all parties seeking to obtain a Bill from the House of Commons, that tnei should have 10 per cent. of their whole capital de' posited before they could succeed in their object.' opinion had been extensively entertained that th ere would be no disadvantage in reducing the properties, of capital so required as a deposit ; but there w e a t , no necessity for locking up at so early a period, and 'f a such a length of time, so considerable a portion of tu capital of the company. There was already a Standi n g Order in the House of Lords limiting the a mount 5 per cent. There was another Standing Order r e ; lating to level-crossings, in whi c h it was a ls ..i a proposed to make some a lt era ti on . He we not detain the Ho use , by d we lli ng f ur ther aP °- „ the Standing Orders; but, over and above the Pr e ; sent question, the House wo u ld no d ou bt b e a ware, tb a the present was a great era in railways. G r eat . ,er; culations had taken place with resp ec t t o them, li b those speculations seemed to have been d one away wL;,,.. During the last two or three years, the sPee l t s i tions in railways had considerably diminished ;' "- in the present session he understood that no less th e ! sixty-six Bills were to be applied for, including upwar u : of 900 miles, while the preosent extent of railwaY s s e-- ceeded 2,000 miles.—(Hear, hear.) It had, therefor e ,' appeared to the Government that this was the nail* opportunity to investigate the subject. The prof sal he had to make, comp r i se d those comp h ad coming before Parliament of th e i r own accord. He -ha divided them into two classes, those Companies conli?g. before the House for new powers, and new ComP anw ; altogether, who were anxious to create new lines joining to the old. He proposed to take this matter into consideration at the earliest opportunity, not in any unfriendly feeling towards those bodies, but still in the. spirit which would be compatible with the interests _oot the public. There were many of those companie s sought from the House new powers, and in return fo r those he thought some equivalent should be rendered to the public. Hon. Gentlemen would recollect,that all private commercial Bills, excepting Railway Bills, were subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Trade, and he thought it would be advisable that some similar jurisdiction should be allowed, which would give the same right of supervision to the Board of Trade. He wished that this matter should be brought under the consideration of a Committee of the House, and his proposal would refer not only to nekv companies, which might come be fore the House, batalso that existing companies might be subjected to suOi arrangements as the Committee might suggest. It was true that it might be difficult to make any rule which might be generally applicable to such different circumstances, but he had no doubt of the right to ' interfere in the matter. But there wa s an unusual disposition to restrain the exercise of that right within the limits of moderation. The exercise of that right, however, at the present moment, on the ground of any general malver sation, or general exaction, by railway companie s ' would not, in his opinion, be justified. He excluded such considerations from the notice of motion. At the seta e time it included the consideration of such arrangemen ts with regard to railroads, as Parliament would recomme nd ' The time was now come when capital abounded to an unprecedented degree, and parties were seeking f er some mode of investing it. Und er th ese c i rc umstanc es „ it was natural to e x pe c t th a t it wou ld ta k e a directi on towards the extensi on o f railways. It was natural t`' expert under th ose c i rcums tances that then: would be a disposition t o make propositi on to Parliament for the establishment of CO; peting lines.—(Hear, h ear .) Thi s s uggested jr° lla b i s for serious and delicate consideration. Jint experience of railway systems informed him that tbee must not rely too much on the statements which well.. put forward. The consequence of allowing consPf ll 2'. lines would be in many instances an increase ot action ; it would be a mere multiplication of monop ; . 1 ,.. for such were the facilities of combination that such competition only would be a course very far fronit_ter:_ which wisdom would dictate. Parliament ne'c l, ° sit u' fore, well consider what course they Wu adopt with regard to lines recommended as co. peting lines. Those observations were not _ es tended to apply to local lines which were commended by the national construction of the et:init.:li and the local traffic they were likely to ha v oid th e while Parliament had m a ny strong grounds to ayro_„wor practice of unlimited c ompeting lines, existing tive", companies had many motives to look they"' pie, to the disposition on the part of th e intere st and it was far better for their own to th e to make terms with P ar li ame nt satisfactory n aselres general feeling of the public, than to expose tiL e _ o ne subject u the oppponosition which of competing l desirar ines. wa s one r lat the arrangement should be made. He alluded eun to en neglect of third class carria ges ;he did not ra of as . force upon railway companies such an increases would commodation in the third class of carriagewsh.ch they break down the general arrangement to pay • for adopted—those who we r e Willing W have first and second-rate carriages otter" of ins additional comfort, but he thought portant concern, whether those who of paying for the higher class carriage ather.—(ilear• be covered from the inclemency of the NY: t had not the means deal 0 ou i ght of not ;Q . and cheers.) There was a gre at t h° ing on the subject out of doors, all , c es feeing was one which was likely to ineTease.. toee exceedingly desirous that no inconvenience 01,4 occasioned by the proceeding. now recomnle.' - '_ o pos! parties engaged in promoting Bills. He should r . , ter sal the nomination of this Committee, with an I " s u i ess, as short as possible ; he would then proceed to W. Go and lay before the Committee, on the part of tlie.ed to vernment, such propositions as they were PreP,„ i d e nce make. After the examination of those whose ei d re it was desirable to obt&i n , they l i te' e at port the general conclusi ons o f the C°l3l-is b efore a period as early as po ss ibl e, i n or d er t h a t, 01 1 . 11 „ b efo re in which steps were t a k en with regard to 1 31 " s the House, no in conven i ence or d e l ay should ariseeb was not aware th a t t h ere was any ot h er particul he he need state t o th e H ouse, and would now lace mo Mr tion in the hands of the Speaker. for th e . LABOUCHERE said he did not rise be purpose of o bj ec ti ng t o th e propositio n , t ° o bear Right Honourable Gentleman. lie was g la _ c : that the Government had brought it forsve!d 1r e b i e i Z i t s i; great good w ou ld be likely to result from tn. .ssonour done so ; but if he understood the Right tonine the able Gentleman, the Committee was ition of ti a the whole subject of the present I)°?she under- Legislature . with regard to railways ; . 1 : that stood the Right Hon. Gentleman, n whenever railway companies came before asking for privileges or extensions themt what House had a right to impose conditions they thought proper otno r i g htly, 1 ' insist ° l ]t If he understood the Right Hon. Gentleman 0. . railwa y was his intention to refer the whole question t f ot-hwee rgs (',e s ure to this Committee. The Right on. man had expressed a hope, in which he was _isrt every one would join, that . these questions JAY. all be amicably settled with the different the did not despair (. to companies, and that he equa lly land would Committee being enabled to make recommendations which all the railway companies of f Eng h i gh t o /f4 be willing to agree. He was a raid terms of the motion would preclude the h ec w orn ev in er ilt t e h e a considering the case of any rail way compa n y 13'11-, and he not come before the House for a new roriet s of gested to the Right Hon. Gentleman t e comprehensive, so making the terms of his motion more ,into as not to preclude the Committee their consideration the subject of railway red the from taxing tion generally.—(Hear, hear.) He ag e sl um Gen' . greater part of what had fallen from the Rig h t x. -sE.''''' .---- "'"' ":-.-....- —,....... - pi....;--- - ----:-_._-- ---,-------- - --,,,-=.----- •' --- - - --- - ' :;,„,;,,--, •- 1 .2 . n •- - 7 *".• ~ ...:.=r- . ...: :L------- ..x_---___=_- - ~_,_ . - z - _,___-_ -- - ,----- -_ - ~-__ --,...„_,_ - - --. ____ ~-__ - -•-= - -- ,4-,-.7.2k___,. „=,....---.--- _ _ „ - -. - __------..-. _ _ --- , --: :.,t -- - -;:-- -- ----7.---- -- H_IT - • -- - -- - -- ---aig=, ... . „.-,.---. 46-.-_- ... . -- Nk.. %HE SUN 1.40 ND N TUESDAY EVENING FEBRUARY ) 1 6, 1844. . ..................... A still stronger him in giving the fullest credit to the Govern- curious papers that had been laid before the Commis; f GEORGE WALTON, wine -merchant, Stockton-on-Tees, who sat undisturbed in the enjoyment of the emolu- , giving him all the information in his power in reply to from a prisoner, and not given up. tr ittfon Feb. 19, and March 18, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, official assignee, Newcastle-upon- a m ss e ai nt l s ed and honours of 1 tbe lauded p lace o when the y his concluding question. The gentlemen whom he had case had occurred in Westmoreland, when no less a meat of 1 ranee for its hearty wishes to put down mission, he was not prepared to lay before the Hous named for his Committee were not selected by sum than 2,0001. was kept back, and was only recovered the detestable tra ffi c. There certainly was a feeling any measure for their Lordships' consideration. If t he Tyne ; Dimmock and Burbey, Sise-lane, London; Steavenson, those who endeavoured to remedy such evils. him, hut were nominated at the suggestion of after the lapse of a considerable time. Ile agreed with abroad in France that the mode of putting it down was Bill recommended to their Lordships were carried into SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. London. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by glorying in his the gentlemen who formed the previous Com- his Noble Friend, that in particular cases the recom- not consistent with their feelings of national honour and effect, the surveyors' fees alone would amount to --i e .-- SAMUEL BILLING TON, tailor, Birkenhead, Chester, mittee. He could say, however, that there were mendations contained in the clause of the letter could dignity. His Noble Friend had given an unanswerable re- 80,000/. Any Bill that could be introduced would be- Feb. 20, at half-past [eleven, and March 19, at eleven, at the attempts, whether successful or otherwise, to benefit some directors, and at least, as far as his know- not be acted upon. The object of this recommendation ply to thi s by rem inding their French neighbours that we come a dead letter, from the difficulty of carrying it into THE - his native country. yea , ledge went, one shareholder in railway companies. was, that on every apprehension the officer should equally conceded the same right on our parts, and as effect. The Commission had everywhere been rego HOME CIII:TIT. pool ; Minshull, Liverpool ; Vincent and Sherwood, Temple, The Court then rose. The Honourable Member for Reading was Chair- be compelled to mark on the back of the we gave the right of search over five or six ships for one, in the most favourable manner by the working class es (Before Lord DENMAN and Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) London. m an of the Great Western Railway. The Ho- commitment the amount of money found upon the we gave up more than they did ; yet we did and by the municipal authorities. Most curious i nf°r " -- .. Hertfordshire—Hertford, Wednesday, Feb. 28. NOTICES OF INSOLVENCY. .. .._. . . _. • • t • T M . T•• TM T.. T• T 'V/ N• • . n -,- : - w. • wir, •ft -r m Tl4lll ra ble Meniber for Clitheroe was a Director of the prisoner. If this recommendation were adopted, not in the slightest degree consider ourselves disho- mation had been laid before the Comniittee regardi!,3_,g, •COURSE OF EXCHA Amsterdam Ditto, at sight Rotterdam .2 U._l2 6fr Antwerp -25 90 Hamburgh %LB. 13 15 _ . ._ Altona Paris, 3 days' sight Ditto, 3 months 25 85 Marseilles Bourdeauz 25 90 Frankfort on Maine 122 Petersburgh, 3 Us.: 36i Berlin... Vienna, effec. ti. 3 M 9 .55 Trieste, ditto 9 56 Madrid Cadiz . Bilbao 36 Barcelona Seville .. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Feb. 6.) SURAR.—To-day West India Sugar of good and fine yellow and strong grey descriptions met with free purchasers, and the rates paid, were, in all cases, 6d above those of Friday; all other kinds met with a good demand at full, and in some instances at better prices ; Barbadoes, fine yellow fetched 68s 6d to 70s, good 65s to 665, and mid 63s 6d to 64s 6d per cwt. BEMED.—To-day the home trade were large purchasers of refined goods, and nearl7 cleared the market at higher prices, standard lumps fetching 76s 6d, and brown lumps 75s per cwt. In Bastards large sales have been made at 48s to 60s. Pieces made from brown Bengal Sugar sold at 7ls for fine white, 69s for fine yellow, and 63s per cwt for fair. Bonded crushed Sugar was taken sparingly, and 25s 6d is the general value of the best. MAURITIUS.—The demand has been brisk for bright yellow and strong refining qualities, which in some cases have brought rather higher prices ; inferior and brown kinds have met with attention, and previous rates paid. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was in excel lent demand, and 775 bags at aution were sold at stiff prices, fine white fetched 69s to 70s 6d, good 68s to 695, damp 67s to 68s 6d, washed 64s to 678 6d, low greyish soft yellow 56s 6d to 575, damp 55s to 565. 497 bags of Madras, duty paid, fetched the full value, good yellow 60s to 61s, mid 57s to 58s, low 55s 5d to 565, brown 545, and washed 56s 6d per cwt. FOREIGN.—The private transactions in yellow Havannah have been on a more extended scale, but holders have been compelled to submit to a decline on previous prices of 6d per cwt. In white there has been nothing done. To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar ; some disposition was shown to purchase yellow Havannah, and former rates were paid privately. MOLASSES.—A better demand has prevailed for West India, and the rates previously established have .been fully sustained. Bengal Syrup is wanted. To-day very fine Demerara Molasses at 27s per cwt. COCOA.—More demand has prevailed for good qualities of Foreign at full rates, but little inclination has been shown to buy inferior kinds ; prices, however, have made a stand. Sea damaged African brought 225. per cwt. West India good and fine red at good prices. COFFEE.—West India of clean quality has met with ready buyers by private contract for home consumption, and stiffer rates paid. This afternoon the home trade were less desirous to purchase Ceylon Coffee ; 65s to 66s for good ordinary, being 6d per cwt under former rates ; Company's Java taken in at 48s for good, and 50s to 52s for fine ordinary yellow ; African bought in at 545, and 300 bags of Costa Rico at 57s for middling dark colory. Tr:A.—A good demand has been experienced for all de scriptions of Tea, and the rates paid have been id per lb above those of the last üblic sale : common Congou for cash has realised Ilid to ll jd, good common Is to Is Id; Twan kay, ordinary is 24d to is 3d, and Hyson common is 104 to 2s. Pouchong at 5d to lld for low to good quality. Fine green Tea would find purchasers, but the supply is still scanty. Rux, BRANDY AND Irom..txDs.—Jaraaiea Rum, fine qua lity of high flavour and strength at 4s to ss, good 36 per cent over 3s 6d, 33 over good middling 38 4cl, and middling 3s to 34 2(1 per h•allon. Demerara 28 per cent over fetched 2a 8(1, good and tine strong 28 10d a 3s. Leeward Island 18 10(1 to Is lld proof. Calcutta Rum at is 7d proof with certificate, Brandy at advanced rates ; Cognac, best brands of the vint age of 1838 has been selling—hhds at 5s 10d, puns 5s 8d ; ditto 1839, hhds 5s 7d, puns 5s 5d ; ditto 1840, hhds 5s sd, puns 5s 3d ; ditto 1841, hhds 5s 3d, puns 5s Id ; ditto 1842, hhds 5s 2d, puns ss, and inf to mid marks 3s to 4s 6d per gallon. The Geneva shipping sort at is 10d, and the fine pale for home consumption 2s 4d to 3s per gallon. Corn spirits are lOs to lOs to lOs 24 for English, lOs to lOs 2d for Scotch and Irish, and 128 64 to 13s per gallon for Malt Spirit. To-day Calcutta Rum, at Is 7d per gallon, proof. RicE.—Patua Rice at 17e;and Carolina at 21s to 26s per cwt. This afternoon Madras sold at 8s 6d to 9s for low white dusty. Bengal fetched lOs 9d for middling, and lls for good middling white. INDIGO.—X good desire has been manifested on the part of the home trade to purchase East India Indigo; at last quar terly sales rates for middling to good descriptions, but all the low qualities have brought an advance of 2d per lb. Spanish has been in fair request, and prices are looking up. Otis.—Olive Oil at 461 108 for Gallipoli, 421 to 43/ for Spa nish, and 411 to 411 lOs per tun for Barbary. Linseed Oil 27s a 27s 3d per cwt on the spot. Rape Oil, pale at 36s to 3656 d, and brown 35s to 35s 6d per cwt. Cocoa Nut Oil, tine at 32s to 33s per cwt. Palm, prime ai 28s to 29s per cwt. Cod Oil 321 lOs to 33/ for Straw, 29/ to 30/ 108 for Brown ; Southern at 34/ to 361158 for good to fine, and Newfound land Whale 301 to 34/ per tun. Sperm Oil firmer, 72/ per tun for British, and American 70/ per tun ; American Lard Oil 421 to 42/ lOs per tun. TALLow.—On the spot P.Y. Candle at 41s per cwt for first quality ; for delivery in the last three months of the year at 41s 9d to 428 per cwt., Town Tallow at 42s to 42s fid per cwt, nett cash. North , American Tallow 35s 3d to 40s 6d, Italian 398 to 40 s 9 d, South American 34s 6d to 41s, East India 41s 3d to 42s 6d, New South Wales 388 6d to 41s 6d, fine St. Petersburgh Town Melted taken in at 41s 3d, second sort Yellow Candle 39s 6d to 39s 9d, and North American Lard at 34s 9d to 36s per cwt. To-day the market was firm for Russian Tallow at 41s on the spot. THE LONDON GAZETFE. (THIS EVENING.) ERAATUNI in the list of Sheriffs appointed by her Majesty in Council, for the year 1844, published in the Second Sup plement to the: Gazette of the 30th of January last. Surrey— For " WilliamStracham, of Ashurst, Esq.," read " William Strahau, of Ashurst, Esq." FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEE. 3, 1844. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Stephen Raney, as Consul at Halifax, Nova Scotia, for his Majesty the King of Prussia. WHITEHALL, JAN. 30. The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Fogg. of Dary bulme, in the county of Lancashire, Gent., to be a Mutsr Ex traordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FEB. 1. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry William Litler, of Oldham, ia the county of Lancaster, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. HENRY TISOE, carpenter, Hertford, to surrender Feb. 13, at half-past one, and March 15, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Thompson, Field, and Debenharn, Salter's-hall, London ; Nicholon and Lungmore, Hertford. k RANCIS HILL AM, ale merchant, Cambridge-terrace, Ed,geware-road, Feb. 20 and March 26, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Ap pleton, Fenchureh-buildings. NOEL THOMAS SMITH, Jun., shipowner, Lime-street, Feb. 20, at twelve, and March 19, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett,. official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Clayton and Cookson, New-square, Lincoln's-inn. THOMAS LANGRIDGE, auctioneer, Tonbridge-wells, Feb. 13, at one, and March 20, at two, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Man- Ling, Craven-street, Strand. THOMAS WHITE, lace dealer, Regent-street, Feb. 13, at half-past eleven, and March 20, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, Coleman-street -buildings, official assignee; Ashurst, Cheapside. ROBERT HONE, stationer, Hatton-garden, Feb. 15, at half-past one, and March 15, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Edwards, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry, official as signee ; Cattlin, Ely-place, Holborn. JOHN HARDLEY, miller, Newport, Feb. 15, and March 19, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchin lane ; hl‘Leod and Stcnning, London-street, Fen church-street. CHARLES SUTTON, grocer, Southampton, Feb. 13, at eleven, and March 15 , at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Old era h aw , Klng, s Arms-yard, Moorgate-street. MARY OGST ON, watch-maker, Berkele - y 16, at half past eleven , and March 21, at e l even Court of Bankruptcy. 3raham, official assignee, Coleman-street ; Ashurst, Cheapside. JOSEPH MOORE, draper, Tamworth, Warwickshir e, Feb. 16, at one , and March 26, at twelve , at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Ashurst, Cheapside. THOM A S GREGORY, miller, Poulshot, Wiltshire, Feb. 20, at half-past eleven, and March 20, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. K)naston, cfficial assignee, Bristol ; Austie, Devizes. CHARLES REES BY, miller, Stamford, Lincolnshire, Feb. 14 and March 20, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham ; Jackson, Stam ford ; Smith, Birmingham. RICHARD CHAPMAN, innkeeper, Scorton, Yorkshire, Feb. 20, and March 2 6 , at eleve n, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Close, Furnival's-inn, London ; Bunton, Richmond ; Teale, Leeds. JOHN EWART and GEORGE EWART, auctioneers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Feb. 19, at eleven, and March 21, at waive, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker. tfficial assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Brooksbank and Fern, Goray's Inn-square ; Brown, Newcutle.upon- Tyne. IRELAND. rHE STATE TRIALS. NINETEENTH DAY. (BY EXPRESS.) (FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. DUBLIN, MONDAY, FEB. 5. THE QUEEN V. DANIEL O'CONNELL AND OTHERS. The knowledge of the fact that Mr. O'CoNNELL was to address the Court to-day, drew a larger con course than usual of all classes to the neighbourhood of the Courts this morning. At an early hour the Queen's Bench was thronged in every part, a great portion of the auditors consisting of fashionably dressed ladies and members of the most distinguished families in this country. At a few minutes after ten o'clock, Mr. O'Cosr- NELL, who was not habited in wig and gown as on the preceding days of the trial, com menced his address to the Court and Jury, by saying that he felt some diffidence in addressing the jury, not for his own sake, but when he reflected how important was the cause he had to plead, and how numerous were his clients. He had seven mil lions of clients, the whole Irish people, and he was afraid that their case might in any respect be injured by the incompetency of his advocacy. He was not there to palliate or mitigate anything. he had ever said. He would reiterate, in the pre sence of the Court and jury, every protestation he had ever made against the union—for that union had been carried, he repeated, by the most nefarious agency, and had been designed in fraud and a feeling of envy—as had often been said by one who had long ornamented that Bench (Chief Justice Busne)—a feeling of envy of the growing prosperity of Ire land. With respect to this prosecution for conspiracy, it was the most preposterous proceeding that had ever yet been instituted. He had :looked into the, dictionary, and he found the meaning of the word conspiracy was a private or secret agreement among various parties to commit crime. He asked the jury, then, as consisting of men of, honesty and intelligence, what evidence had been adduced to them of any such agreement in the pre sent case? Had it been proved that there was any secret agreement between the parties indicted in the present instance; and even if had been proved, had it been shown that he was pre sent when that agreement had been entered into. No such thing. At least this might give him the benefit of an alibi. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then alluded to the Corn-law League, and ridiculed the idea of its being denominated a conspiracy. Yet the organisation of the League differed in little from that of the Re peal Association. Could a jury be found in England that would convict the League of a conspiracy, :if it were possible to suppose that such a charge would be preferred against that body ? Then there was the Anti- Slavery Society—would that be termed a conspiracy ? That body received money both from home and abroad ; its members held their private and their public meetings, and yet it was never thought of cal ling the body a set of conspirators. With respect to the constitution of the jury he stited, that in England no twelve men would be put as a jury into a box to try men from whom according to the principles on which they were edu cated they differed so widely in opinion. He then alluded to the peaceable character of the meetings ; and with respect to the charge of intimidation which had been brought against them, he said this Go vernment, who had all the gentry, the magis tracy, and the • clergy of the Established Church attached to them, would have ascertained whether the charge was founded in truth or not. But not one witness had been called to prove that any thing like intimidation had been used at those meet ings ; and why ? Because no one could conscientiously swear that intimidation had been used. He pointed out that eight years ago, when illegal combination was attempted to be established among the trades unions of Dublin, he was the person who put a stop to it. Would he have done so if he was one who was justly liable to the charge of conspiracy ? Allusion had been made by the Attorney-General to the conduct of the men of 1798, and it was sought to fix upon him the charge to which they were amenable, that of desiring French sympathy and French aid. Had he acted as one who had desired either ? Had he not rejected the proffered assist ance of the French party, at the head of which was M. LEDRU ROLLIN. He flung back with indignation and contempt the charge which the Attorney-General, in his opening address, had sought to faster upon him of speaking disrespectfully of the QUEEN. . Ile denied it. The charge was false. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then proceeded at much length to de monstrate that the English Government had, from the commencement of its connexion with Ireland, governed this country with the most narrow jealousy, and he adverted par parenthise, in proof of his position to the history of the woollen trade of Ireland. that the transactions of 1782 were intended to be a final adjustment of the condition of the Irish Par liament, which it was then agreed should be estab lished as an independent Parliament for ever—that the greatest prosperity of the country followed from the establishment of an independent Parliament—that the union was forced upon the Irish people, against their consent, and by the most corrupt and fraudulent means—that the poverty under which Ireland is now suffering is the result of th union, and that the only remedy for Ireland's griev e ances, and the only means of preventing the ultimate separation of the two countries, was the repeal of th e union. In the course of his observations. In the course of his observations he quoted AUGUSTIN THIERRY, Mr. PITT, Primate BOLTON, Chief Justice BUSHE, and several other writers and speakers, in support of his positions. He also entered at length into statistical details to show how prostrated were the energies of the Irish people, and how ruinous were the effects of the union upon th — e manufacturing industry of this country. He then read in full several of the documents issued by the Repeal Association, and which had been read in part and produced in evidence by the Attorney-Ge neral. and he contended that those very documents constituted his best defence. He cited Loots, Lord GREY, BUSHE, SAURIN, PLUNKETT, Sce., in support of the doctrines which he had propounded as a Repealer. In a nation like the British empire, where Parlia ment had so often changed the succession to the Throne, was he to be told that he would not be al lowed to discuss a question like the Repeal of the Union. There might be error, but there could not be crime in discussing the question He again reverted to the present state of Ireland, and compared it to that of the country in the middle of the last century when ARTHUR YOUNG visited it. The people, then, according to that writer, had each " a belly-full of potatoes" to eat when hungry ; but now, according to the report of Captain AR PENT, 30 per cent. of the town and city population, and 70 per cent. of the agricultural pop u l a ti on were in a state of the most abject poverty. 'Were, then, those who sought to remedy that dread fuls tate of things to be branded as conspirators, and tilos THE AFFAIRS OF GREECE. Mr. B. COCHRANE gave notice that on the 20th he would move for the correspondence, or extracts of the correspondence which took place between her Majesty's Government and the Governments of France and Rus sia relating to recent events in Greece. THE AMEERS OF SINDE. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that he would move the following resolution upon the motion of the Noble Lord, the Member for Dorset (Lord Ashley), "That the conduct pursued by Lord Auckland, as Governor-General of India, in his negotiations wit h the Ameers of Sinde, was iniquitous and unjust towards them, and impo litic with regard to British dominion in In dia, and that the policy of Lord Ellenborough was unfortunately the necessary result of the unwise policy pursued by his predecessor ; and that while the restoration of the Ameers to their former dominion would be dangerous to British interests, and therefore impossible, humanity required that they should be treated in a manner consistent with their former position." FACTORIES ACT. Mr. BROTHERTON moved for a return of the number and names of the persons summoned for offences against the Factories Act, between the Ist day of January, 1843, and the Ist day of January, 1844, specifying the date of the conviction or hearing, the place of hearing, by whom each conviction was made, the offence in each case, and the manner in which the penalties and costs were appropriated. Also, a sum mary of the total number of informations and convic tions, the amount of penalties and costs, in each year, since the commencement of the Factories Regulation Act in 1834.—Agreed to. The Honourable Member postponed the motion for another return, of which he had given notice, relating to the number of cotton; woollen, and silk and flax factories, at work, empty, and together, in each county of the United Kingdom. COMMERCIAL TREATIES. Mr. RICARDO gave notice of his intention of bringing forward a motion relative to the commercial treaties between this and other countries. IMPORT DUTIES—ISLE OF MAN. Dr. BOWRING said he had a question to put to the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade, in re ference to the import duties payable in the Isle of Man. He wished to ascertain whether the Right Hon. Gentle man intended to abolish the 2f per cent. import duty on British manufactures payable in the Isle of Man ; and whether he intended to supersede or modify the license system in that island, of which so many complaints were made. Mr. GLADSTONE said, in answer to the Hon. Gen tleman, he could state that they had proceeded so far in the examination of this subject, as to enable him to say that in the course of the present session, he hoped to be able to introduce a Bill which would certainly abolish the 2i per cent. duty, payable on British manufactures, and which would also have the effect of very materially re stricting the licensing system, and exempting from its operation many important commodities, as well as im proving in other respects the commercial arrangements of the island. On the motion of Mr. CHARLES WOOD and Mr. VERNON SMITH, several unopposed returns were ordered. LIGHT GOLD. Mr. GISBORNE said he had put a question the other day to the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade, on the subject of the light coinage which had found its way back to the Mint, and that Gentleman not being they prepared to answer it, had re quested that it might be repeated cn a future occasion. He would now ask if the Govern ment were in a situation to give any information to the House, whether the gold coin which had been called in had been deteriorated by wear and tear alone, or whether it had been subjected to sweating, or any other illegiti mate process ? Mr. GLADSTONE, on the part of the Government, begged to say that they had no direct and positive means of ascertaining the dates of all the light sove reigns sent in for re-coinage. Sovereigns of all dates had been returned, but the great mass of them were of the reigns of George the Third and the early part of George the Fourth. Respecting the question, of which the Hon. Member had been kind enough to give him notice, whether or not the coin returned had been sub jected to the process of sweating or other illegi timate 'process, he could only say that the Government had no means of ascertaining positively if such were the case or not. As far, however, as a cor rect opinion could be founded, it was believed that the returned coin had not been subjected to such process to any great extent. The coin generally gave evi dence of very great wear, although, of course, in particular cases, illegitimate means of causing deterioration had been resorted to. The Honour• able Member then gave notice that he would, that day fortnight, move for a Select Committee to in quire into the deterioration of the gold coinage, and whether any measures could be adopted for preventing the loss arising therefrom from falling unjustly upon the people. Sir H. DOUGLAS begged to ask the Noble Lord, the Member for Dorsetshire, whether he intended to proceed with his motion respecting the affairs of Sinde, on the day stated in the notice papers? Lord ASHLEY said it was certainly his intention to brine , forward his motion on that day. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he could give the House any explanation of the discontinuance of the experiments on the Kingston and Dalkey Atmospheric Railway in Ireland ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Right Hon. Gentleman was misinformed if he sup posed there had been anything more than a partial dis continuance of the experiments. It was a part of the original agreement that a sufficient portion of the trench which ran along the Kingston Harbour should be covered over, for the accommodation of the public ; the railway was completed without that condition being ful filled ; and it was the process of covering over a certain portion which had caused the occasional suspension. Mr. WYSE begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what period it was his intention to bring forward the Registration Bill for Ireland, and what would be the provisions of the measure? Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he felt great pleasure in answering the first question which the Right Honourable Gentleman had put to him respecting the period at which he should introduce the Bill. It was his intention, on the part of the Government, to move for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law res pecting the registration of voters in Ireland before the Easter recess. As to the particular provisions of the measure, he hardly thought it could be expected of him that he should then state what those provisions might be. He was not aware, that under similar circumstances, it had been expected of any Government.—(Hear, hear.) THE RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. Mr. WALLACE, seeing the Right Hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade in his place, he took that opportunity of informing him that previous to the Right Hon. Gentleman's coming into the House he had given notice that on the motion for appointing the Com mittee on Railways, he would move a resolution to the effect that no director or shareholder of any railway company should be a member of that Committee. He now begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman if amongst the Members whom he intended to appoint upon that Committee there was any railway director or shareholder. • Mr. GLADSTONE said that ha was obliged to the Hon. Member for Greenock for having communicated to him the notice he had given, and he had no difficulty in HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool sack at Five o'Clock. LAWS RELATING TO GAMBLING. The Duke of RICHMOND moved that the evidence taken before the Select Committee appointed to consider the laws relating to ga mbling, sh ou ld b e presen t e d f ro m time to time for the use of the House, but that it should not be delivered until further orders.--Agreed to. PROPERTY OF FELONS. The Duke of RICHMOND then proceeded to call the attention of his Noble Friend at the head of the Council-office to a circular, dated the 2d of September, 1843, which was signed by the Assistant-Secre tary to the Treasury, and which had been sent to the different clerks of the peace of the United King dom. He had no wish to throw any impediments in the way of the Government, or to impute, blame to any one ; but he thought it much better that all communications from the Government to the magistrates, especially on matters relating to the administration ofjustiee as regarded criminals should be made through the medinm of the Secre tary of State for the Home Department. Had such a course been adopted in the present instance, the irregularity of which he had now to complain would not, in all pro bability, have occurred. Their Lordships were aware that the property of all convicted felons was forfeited to the Crown, and no doubt the Treasury were as anxious to get as much as they coud from that source. It should, however, be recollected that the country gentlemen of England had to pay half the expenses of these prosecu tions out of the county-rate, and to maintain the criminals in gaol ; and he thought that, at all events, the county should be reimbursed the expenses which they had in curred, from the forfeited property of criminals before the Crown seized it, leaving the residue, after the pay ment of those expenses, to the Crown. However, he admitted that by law the Crown was entitled to all the property of convicted felons. He was well aware that this letter was only a letter of advice, but magistrates would scarcely be inclined to think that the Lords of the Treasury would offer the bad advice--the paragraph in this letter recommended that the justices should make a return of all moneys taken from prisoners by the Go vernor of the gaol. To that he did not object. The go vernor of every prison was bound to take an inventory of all property found on the prisoners, and he thought there could be no objection to that inventory being transmitted to the Treasury • but there was anothe r direction in the letter to which he did object, and that was, that in cases in which there was reason to suppose that the prisoner was possessed of property other then that found on his person, the magistrates were required to cause inquiry to be made at the residence of such prisoner, or in any other place frequented by him, in order to ascertain particulars as to the value of such property which was to be returned to the clerk of the peace, and included in his return to the Treasury. He (the Duke of Richmond) contended that such a requisition was illegal; a constable entering a place to make such inquiry would be liable to an action for trespass. .low was he to know to whom the property belonged ? He had no right to look over partnership belonged ; and if such inquiries were made, be (the Duke of Rich mond), as a visiting magistrate, should feel it his duty to inform every prisoner that; up to the moment of his conviction, he had a perfect right to assign over his pro perty, or dispose of it in any way he might think proper. He hoped the Government would withdraw this letter, or, at all events, amend it. The Noble Duke concluded by moving for the production of the letter. Lord WHARNCLIFFE had no objection to the pro duction of the letter. The Noble Duke had correctly stated, that, by the common law of the land, the goods of convicted prisoners were forfeited to the Crown; and, until a few years ago, a regular return of such goods was made. Some very strong instances have arisen in which the property of prigoners had fallen into other persons' hands, and had been retained by those persons. One was at Brighton, when forty Sovereigns were taken CHINESE TREATY: The Eari of CLARENDON said he wished to put a question to the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, respecting one or two points, an explanation upon which, he thought necessary to render that im portant document complete. As they were about to enter on a new field of commerce, which it was most likely would depend upon a strict adherence to the terms of the treaty on their part—it was essential that no misunderstrnding should exist, and the Chinese Government would expect a rigid adherence to all the engagements which they entered into. Their Lordships had heard with great satisfaction in the speech from the throne, that the same favour would be afforded to the commerce of other nations with China which their own had ; but there was nothing in the treaty to indicate to foreign countries that this was the case. He sup posed that this was an omission, but it was of importance that no doubt should rest on a transactions which reflected so much honour on this country, and which first established the principle of free competition in this new market, the benefits of which would probably be extended to other countries by the Chinese. This wisdom and liberality was owing to the instructions of her Majesty's Government to the very enlightened individual by whom those recognitions were carried on. With regard to the regula tions appended to the treaty, they appeared to have been framed with a very careful regard to the customs of China, and with a view to prevent fraud on the part of the Chinese quarrels, on their part by which their intercourse might hereafter be interrupted. But these regulations must be considered, he appre hended, a part of the treaty equally binding and of the same force with the treaty, becaus, in the second article they were adverted to and formed an integral part of it, but it was desirable that no misunderstanding should exist in a matter of so much importance. He wished to know whether her Majesty's representatives in China had authority to enforce those regulations as a portion of the treaty between the two countries. Some of those regulations were of a very stringent character, and they ought to be well known in this country, because on their due observance depended the continuance of th e i r peaceful intercourse with China. The third regulation, respecting her Majesty's ships, provides for the impo sition of various fines, some of them amounting to five hundred dollars, together with confiscation of the whole cargo for certain offences therein specified, but in no part of the regulations did he find it stated by whom these fines were to be levied. Regulation the 13th was the most important part of the whole treaty ; but he scarcely thought that it expressed with sufficient clearness. It said that, with respect to the punishment of English criminals, the Govern ment of the Queen of England would enact laws to provide for that purpose. He begged to ask his Noble Friend whether any code of laws had been drawn up, and if so, when it would be ready to be put in execution ? It might be highly important that the Consul should be able early to put the law in force. He wished also to ask whether that power would be restricted to the Consul-General or the authori tiest at Hong Kong ? or whether each of the Consuls at the Five Ports would be empowered to carry the law into effect upon their own authority? The fourteenth regulation provided that cruisers should be stationed off each of the Five Ports for the protection of the Consuls. He thought that a most important re gulation, and he was sure that the country would be glad to learn that it was intended to be perma nent, as it was most desirable for the preservation of peace between the two nations.—(Hear, hear.) On the subject of the 15th regulation, he begged to ask whe ther it was intended that the Consuls should security for the conduct of the merchants or, for the payment of the dues to the Chinese Government ? The Earl of ABERDEEN was happy to hasve it in his power to give the explanations which hi Noble Friend required. The regulations having been agreed upon by the Chinese Commissioners and Sir Henry Pottinger must be considered as part of the treaoy. The power of framing a code was given to the G vernor and Council of Hong Kong, and each f the Consuls would be empowered to carry into execution. He entirely agreed with his Noble Fs\ end, that a British cruiser should be permanently sta tioned off each of those posts.—(Hear, hear.) In respect to the 15th regulation, he could answer that the Consuls would run no risk whatever. They ere security for the dues, because the frontiers of the Hong merchants was abolished ; but hey would have the ships' papers delivered to herr, and • left in their possession, until the captains showed tha the Chineses authorities were satisfied. Although there was no stipulation respecting other European nations in the treaty ; yet there had been since a supplementary treaty, in which he believed it was provided for. Sir Henr n y o Pt a diplomatist , hadottinger done and al h l ehishawdorkbewen in some well bu s th e e was respects remiss and unsystematic. He had written to him (Lord Aberdeen) to say that the supplementary treaty had been signed. But be had not sent it, or a copy of it. But he could not doubt that it included some provision on the subject, because Sir Henry Pot tinger had been before aware of the intention of the Governor, In a communication dated the 4th Nor 4, he (Lord A.) said that all the Government wished ' or was a fair and unobstructed trade, and that vl e desired no advantages which should not be en joyed by the subjects of other Governments.—(Hear.) With that knowledge in his possession at so early a period, it was exceedingly probable that there might be an artial e to that effect in the supplementary treaty. As soon as that supplementary treaty arrived, it would be laid before the House, and he trusted that it would be found to be as satisfactory to their Lordships and the public as the original treaty had been.—(Hear, hear.) After the transaction of some further business, Their Lordships adjourned. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 5. SLAVERY. The Earl of ABERDEEN Kin continuation from our Second Edition) said—lt was hot for him to say what would be the result ofsuch propositions, but his Hon. and Learned Friend, and the House might rest assured that nothing should be done that in any degree might impair the means of suppression of the abominable traffic in slaves. He could assure the House that the French Ministry was as desirous of the total abolition of the slave trade as he (Lord Aberdeen) was, and this would be kept in view by them in any propositions they might submit to us. With respect to the right of search itself, he had witnessed with some regret that it had been sometimes referred to in a way tending to con firm the unwarranted and calumnious representa tions which had been made respecting it on the other side of the water. It had at times been repre sented in this country, as it had been constantly over the water, that the real object of England in the right of search was to degrade and insult the French marine, and to obtain certain informa tion respecting French ships, in order to turn it to our own advantage. Incredible as this might appear, yet was it certain that suc h a n o tion extensively pre vailed. Now it was not very likely we should attempt to inflict a degradation upon another nation that might, with five-fold weight, be retaliated upon ourselves ; for certainly the right of search being mutual, where one French cruiser might be subjected, five English ones would be subjected also. In the ports of France, so near to us, surely we coul d get, did we desire to do so, far better and tuller infor mation as to the French marine than on the distant shores where the right of search existed. He (Lord Aberdeen) had sometimes seen the right of search spoken of as a great good in itself. It no doubt might be made an available mean s of narrowing the detestable slave-trade, but of , and in itself, he looked upon the right of search as a great evil, and only to be justified by the great object they had in view. There was nothing else th a t could justify so great a sacrifice on the part of his coun try. He of course was not prepared to say what might be the result of the negotiations for the modification of these treaties, but he hoped the few words he had now uttered would allay any anxiety that might have been felt by his Noble and Learned Friend or other old and staunch friends of the abolition of slavery.---(H ear hear. ) Lord BROUGHAM said he sho u ld b e very unreason able indeed if he were not satisfied with what had fallen from the Noble Earl, and he could add that he agreed with OPERATIONS IN CHINA. The LORD CHANCELLOR communicated to the House that he had received a letter from Admiral Parker, acknowledging the vote of thanks of the House for the gallant conduct of her Majesty's naval force en gaged in the operations in China. His Lordship then read the letter, which was dated from her Majesty's ship Cornwallis, Hong. Kong, June 15, 1843. Earl MINTO expressed some degree of disappointment that some further mark of her Majesty's approbation had not been conferred upon Admiral Parker. He stated that some feeling of dissatisfaction existed in the navy that a baronetage had not been bestowed upon the naval commander, as had been done in the case of the army. The Earl of HADDINGTON believed that it was stated to their Lordships at the time the Noble Duke (Wellington) made the speech which never could be forgotten by the navy, when the thanks of that House were given to the naval and military commanders who had served in China, that the reason why the two re wards were not bestowed on Sir William Parker at the same time, that they were on Sir Hugh Gough was, that it would have appeared to be giving more to one than the other. The Govern ment had no anxiety but to deal fairly by both parties, and the Noble Lord could well say that her Majesty's Government duly appreciated the services of the navy upon that occasion. They were certainly most extra ordinary. He did not advert merely to the gallantry displayed ; that was a matter of course, for the navy had frequently gone against more formidable enemies than the Chinese. But he knew that taking the large ships to the walls of Nankin was considered by the navy as a very extraordinary per formance indeed. It would be in the recollection of the House that Sir Hugh Gough had earned the Grand Cross of the Bath before Sir William Parker arrived in China. At the conclusion of their joint services, for their gallant, distinguished, and meritorious conduct, a baronetcy was awarded to Sir Hugh Gough and the Grand Cross of the Bath was given to Sir William Parker. Sir William Parker had since been informed the reason why both rewards were not conferred upon him at the same time. lie (the Earl of Haddington) trusted that Sir William Parker was satisfied. Sir William Parker had also been informed of the intention of her Majesty's Government to bestow upon him the other honour. It would be in the recollection of their Lord ships that at the time of the former discussion on this subject, it was said that it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to confer upon Sir William Par ker the further honour ; " Aye," said the Noble Earl on that occasion, "when he hauls dowry his flag." Lord MINTO . said that he did not recollect 'ever hav ing used the language attributed to him ; but he would not rut his recollection against that of the Noble . Earl opposite. Earl HADDINGTON said that it had always been the intention of the Government to mark, in every way they could, their very high sense of the great deeds which had been performed. Sir William Parker, however, had not so great a share in the achievements of the China campaign, as Sir Hugh Gough, who had conducted not only the naval operations, but those of the army, into the very heart of China. Lord BROUGHAM begged to interpose. He thought that it was most unconstitutional for Noble Lords to interfere with the prerogative of her Majesty as the fountain of honour.—(Cheers.) After a few words from Lord MINT° and the Earl of . HADDINGTON, in explanation, The Duke of RICHMOND said that in order to put an end to the discussion, and for the satisfaction of both sides of the House, he would take the oppor tunity of presenting a petition from Morpeth against the bastardy clauses in the Poor-law Amendment Act. The petitioners stated, that out of 476 births in the Union, 49 were illegitimate children; and that, of the births in the town of Morpeth, one in six were illegitimate. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILLS. The Marquis of NORMANBY said he had a question of some importance to put, which he hoped some member of the Government would be in a position to answer. It was on a subject entirely distinct from that which had just occupied their Lordships' attention, but one which he was sure they would all concur in con sidering of vastly greater importance. When he stated to their Lordships that his question had reference not only to the cleanliness and comfort, but to the morals of the poor, he was sure none of them would for a moment underrate its importance. The question was in reference to some measures which had passed their Lordships' House no less than three times, and he could not but say that it was with feelings of grievous disappointment he now again called their Lordships' attention to them. Some considerable time back—in the year 1839—a Right Rev. Prelate, whom he did not then see in his place, made a motion on the subject of the state of the dwellings of the poor, especially in large towns, and in consequence of this motion a Commission was appointed by the Secretary for the Home Department, to further investigate and report uvon the subject. In the following year, in consequence of the information for warded to the Government, the Secretary of State 'for the Home Department extended its powers and func tions to Scotland. Such a case for interference was almost immediately made out, as the result of the labours of the Commission, that he (Lord Normanby) at once brought the question before his colleagues, and, in 1841, he also brought the subject before their Lordships, and introduced Bills, with a view to commence remedial measures as quickly as possible. To the principle' of those Bills, their Lordships assented unanimously ; but in order to make the details of them as perfect as pos sible, it was suggested that they should be referred to a Select Committee up stairs. Never did a Committee work with greater assiduity or success. The Bills passed through their Lordships' House, but in consequence of the session becoming short, they did not pass through the House of Commons. Next session they were again submitted to their Lordships, and again passed. The session of 1842 concluded, and upon it came a circum stance which gave a very particular consideration to the subject. The Poor-law Commissioners took the matter in band, and, after due investigation, made a Report upon the subject, and a most important Report indeed it was. That Report might perhaps be an accumulation of facts that were not palatable to the general reader. But it showed that no less than 56,000 persons died annually of diseases which it was in the power of the Legislature to prevent or remove. This was the same as if the whole population of Huntingdonshire or Rutlandshire was annually swept away by disease, which the Gover ment might prevent. More information on this subject was certainly not what the Government required--of information they had enough. The suggestions of the Report might or might not have been adopted, but ad ditional information was not required ; even if it had been, the Commission ought to have been appointedi at once ; but from the time the Report was made till the present session of Parliament, not one step had been taken. If he should now hear that it was not likely a measure would be introduced on this subject, he should feel it his duty again to call on their Lordships to affirm the principle which he had already been fortunate enough three times to receive their approbation. Whe ther or not a Bill were brought in this session, he could not exempt that department of the Government with which this measure rested from some blame for not hav ing taken up the former Bill, and amended it, if re quired amendment, or, if further inquiry were neefs sary, for not havieg caused that inquiry to be made. I The Duke of BUCCLEUCH said the Noble Marquis had found fault with her Majesty's Ministers for pot having taken up this subject in the former session o f Parliament. But the fact was , thi s measure was dra wn up when the Report was not completed. In 18.41, when the Report was presented, the Bill for the improvement of the town of Leeds was mtroduCed. The Commission met on 3d of June, and sat three ditys a week until the end of July ; up to this time there Iptcl been no delay. The Commission bad laboured eyen during the recess , an d visited fift y -one towns. The Noble Lord seemed to think that the report made by the Commission could be legislated upon immediately. No person who retd that report could doubt of the miq , ry and wretchedness which existed in several towns, and even in the metropolis itself—a condition truly dis graceful to this country. Disease was of a very de structive character and very prevalent. No person pos sessed of the commonest feelings of humanity but would exclaim against these things remaining as they were. But it was a very different thing to legislate on the subject—to introdu ce an e ff ectual remedy. The Commissioners found more difficulty than was generally imagined. In suggesting a proper mode Ifor curing these evils, a new system of drainage was 'the principal thing ; but could this be effected for nothing. Let them look to the metropolis itself. Those who lied not heard the evidence laid before the Commission by' scientific men, could have no idea of the extreme diffi culty of carrying out a regular systematic drainagel in the metropolis un d er th e ex i st i ng state o f thi ng s. ScOaae regard should be paid to another point, the supply of water, without which the drains would be chokedlup and rendered useless. Now, the supply of water in London, as the Commissioners would wish it to be sup plied, was a most difficult thing. They had to contend with vast and complicated interests —itgwe companies—and it was really hard to t ink they could be compensated; but with all the pn- he formation contained in the Report, a nd with all ~"" tleman. disaj Gentlemen tiered it Right 1-1( compact vent the (Hear.) of railvva public tl all eves Would s of earrifg For insta