The Sun. — London, England, 1844-04-03 00:00:00

' l ll Lords to discharge the duties of the common court of tku t -1 .4 4 1 tOn appeal in addition to its present duties? The effect of Lord Campbell's Bill would be to throw upon the House, sooner or later, the whole of this load, unless some other court of appeal should be estab lished__ Lord_ Campbell—explAined that -as- -his Bill is not to take effect until the Ist of August, it cannot operate upon the proceedings against Mr. O'Connell and his accomplices—we do not see the necessity of the inference. The Irish convicts are to be brought up for judgment, we believe, on the 15th, and even suppose them committed in execution upon that day, they may easily enough perhaps fight off the decision of their writ of error until the Ist of August, when, under the terms of Lord Campbell's Bill, they would be let loose for the summer agitation with little more than three months' imprison ment—the old penalty of an innocent insolvent. There is, however, - little danger that the Bill will pass, though we hope that the consideration of extending the oppor tunity of fairly appealing from all conviction in crimi nal cases may continue to engage the minds of the Le- T;1 E FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES). BRITISH FUNDS. - - B;nk Stock .. ....... — ;Indian Stock —pm 3 per Cent. lied. !Ditto Bonds ......... :1 pct. Cent. Cons. :1' per Cent. Red ... Ilew 3% per Cent lo2;zi, Ex. Bills 1,0001. lid... —pm , New 5 per Cent — Ditto 5001 pm . Long Annuities to expire Ditto Small-- ....... .. pm. Jan. 1860 Bank Stock for Acct.... 1.00% Oct. 1839 Consols for Acct i 9N, Jan. 1860 ..... ...... It 11-16 hidl., Stock for Acct 294 gislature. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this day.) The severe depression in the yarn market, to which we adverted last week, still continues, and the low rates at which a few sales were then made, have now become the current market prices. This decline appears to have given a little more confidence to buyers, and although the amount of actual business done has not been very large, there is more disposition to give orders than for some time past. The goods market is rather firmer than last week, and a tolerable amount of business has been done at the prices of last week. ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, APRIL I. We have had considerably less inquiry for goods to-day than on the two preceding Mondays ; and a rather li mited quantity sold, at, former prices. At this time of the year; however, the flannel business generally begins to be more dull, and continues so till after Midsummer. Wood is much the same, both in price and demand, as it has been for some weeks past. FOREIGN FUNDS. Austrian, 5 per Cent — jPortuguese,s per Cent ...... Belgian, 5 per Cent — !Ditto, New Ditt0.....„........ _ Brazilian Bonds Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent 37Y, Russian, 5 per Cent.....„..... t Milan, 6 per Cent Ditto, Metallic ..... .... ...... Colombian, 8 per Cent Ditto, 1824 ... ....... ....„....„.. Ditto, 3 per Cent ...... Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent...—. 93 Ditto, Deferred 16% 1) wish, a per Cent Creek, 1$ 5, 5 per Cent — Exchange ..... .....—.... —f. —c. Ateaican, 5 per Cent .... ;Were, .6 per Cent., 1837 Dutch, 2% per Cent 6034 IPerivian, 1825, 6 per Cent... 'Ditto, 5 per Cent SHARES. Birmingham and Derby (100 paid) 62 Birmingham and Gloucester (100 paid) 9i Ditto New (17% daid) Bristol and Exeter (.0 paid))....... Edinburgh and Glasgow (30 paid) 65% Great North of England (100 paid) Great Western (75 paid) Ditto Half Shares (50 paid) ......... ._. ...... ...----- 69 % Ilarrowgate and Knaresboro' ( 3 paid) 334 !full and selby (50 paid) .„ Ditto Quarter Shares ( 6 paid). ..... ..... ..... - .7s London and Blackwall (161. 13s. ici,) 6lii London and Greenwich (Lt. Its. 4d. paid) 5 London and South Western (411. 6s. 10d. paid) Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) ll3 Ditto Half Shares ( 0 paid) Newcastle and Darlington Junction (15 paid) Northern and Eastern (45 paid) Ditto Quarter Shares (123. i paid) 16% North Midland (100 paid) Ditto Half Shares (40 paid) 45 South Eastern and Dover (50 paid).. ........ York and North Midland (50 paid).......... ..... Ditto New Shares (20 paid) SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. GLOBE.—The Ecclesiastical Courts Bill has passed from the Upper to the Lower House, with a few parting words of portentous import to its reception and success in the latter assembly. • The Lord Chancellor ' who stood sponsor for the Bill on its introduction to the Lords, and kindly took charge of it on its passage through the several stages of its progress, admitted that it was a weakly bantling, of little promise. His remarks implied that its parents were ashamed of it, and felt little affection for its form, and had but faint hopes of its life. The obvious answer to these apologies for the infirmities and defects of the Bill, was that if not able to produce some thing more creditable to themselves and beneficial to the public interests; the Ministry had better not have attempted to legislate •in 'the Matter. The Bill per petuates the diocesan courts— a positive nuisance ein the one hand ; • and ' even increases the mis chiefs which the present perplexing, and frequently injurious, law of bona notabilia inflicts on 'the public. Tee measure - belongs to the series of law reforms which were to constitute a large amount of the superior riaiins of the Peel Government to the confidence of the s ouutry. These vaunted measures have actually had the effect of damaging its reputhtion, and making it a pro- %erb of alternate ridicule and reproach. There is not one of these " reforms" that does not brand its authors with ignorance, or lay them open to suspicion of sinister designs; instead of obtaining for them ere• slit for _being actuated by a sincere intention of improving the jurisprudence of the country. The falsely-called improvements in the Court of Chan- Very ; the alterations in the Bankruptcy Court; and last, not least, their Ecclesiastical Courts Bill of last ses sion—abandoned, because found too bad to mend ; and brought forward in the present session, with the best Tart left out. These specimens- of tinkering in legisla- . tion confer on Lord Lyndhurst, and the other law offi cers of the Peel Administration, a reputation as law re formers by no means calculated to disarm the hostility of opponents, or to strengthen the attachment of friends. The recess will afford an opportunity to the Mem bers. of the House of Commons, before whom this notable specimen of Ministerial wisdom - will be brought, .to examine its details. We trust that such an exami nation will induce them to determine either to improve its provisions, or to consign it to the receptacle of re jected measures. Let us see how the case stands. A reference to the - former Bill, and to that now in em bryo, will illustrate and expose the utter destitu tion, of all claim to approval by which this' new _Ecclesiastical Courts' Bill is distinguished. The Bill purports to be founded on the report of the Eccle siastical Courts Commissioners—a report for the ob taining of , which, and its publication, the. country (as every one must readily admit) has paid dearly. That report recommends the total abolition of all dio cesan courts, as well as peculiars.- The present Bill not only does not abolish the diocesan courts, but actually gives them more power, and a more extensive jurisdics Lion than they-ever, at any time whatever since their foundation, possessed ; for, by abolishing the peculiars, it follows, as a matter of course, that the law respect ing bona notabilia (by means of which all the probates and administrations of persons dying possessed 'of pro perty, both in a peculiar and in a ciocese, were of right heretofore granted by the superior court in Lon don) is virtually, so far as regards such probates and ,lministrations, abolished. The business heretofore so transacted by the superior court in London, is in future to be done by the diocesan courts. Respecting this new regulation the Administration have spoken out, indeed, ;most strongly; insisting upon it in opposition to all •reatscm; and refusing to give to the head court in London, even so much as a concurrent jurisdiction in regard to those matters over which it had hitherto exercised a sole jurisdiction. And what excuse (for reason is not a word that can be applied in such a case) do the Administration give for this their conduct? All of them, who have yet spoken on the subject, repeat, as it were mechanically-- possibly on the principle that few "words are beat"—" We admit that what we are about to do is not right—we ad mit our measure will perpetuate a nuisance. We admit it will do more—it will even increase that nuisance. But, eve are afraid, if we attack these diocesan courts, the parties interested in their retention will be too strong fox us. More than this; we, in order to escape a de feat by them, are not only obliged—though a very strong Ministry—to allow all their present privileges and advantages to remain untouched; but—as a sop with which ! to stop their mouths— as a bribe by which to purchase their favour and neutrality, we are com pelled' to grant to them additional privileges and advai.- iages, in spite of our own and every body else's con viction that we are by so doing acting wrongfully—in spite of the report of the Ecclesiastical Courts' Com onissioners—and in spite of our own repeated declare tons last year, that we never would act as we are now acting." These plain and simple facts are admitted by the Administration—the "strong Administration." They are not equal to cope with the country practitioners 1 This is the excuse, put forward by one and all of - them who have spoken on the'subject. Their, organ, ,the Lord Chancellor himself, tenderly courting and fl•onxing - . the country practitioners—kneeling, like :lover to his mistrese ; afraid of a misunderstanding ; frightened and timid ; requesting peace and quietness ; or, like the lees */ 'goddess as she is described in Virgil , 0 At regina, nova pugnie conterrite sorte i i:l'elist, et ardentem generarn moritura tenebat ; 'Not, per bas ego te lachrymas ) per si quis Amata 3 T a ngit hones animum; spes to nunc una senect4, • 'I a regales misene ; decus imperluinclue Latini Te penes; in te Omnis Donuts inclinata recumbit.'! . ' "The country practitioners, though thus wo Jed; may, however, not be won so easily. Like girls whose suitors' ;are elderly gentlemen, he may want more settled still. Thus between demands on one side and unnecessary and ire proper concession on the other,' the time occupied by such a courtship will be vainly frittered away, and the - whole affairlat last explode—as all such affairs invariably do_in the elderly gentleman doing nothing ; the girl being satisfied with nothing ; and eventually the real lriends and supporters of the venerable lover being , obliged to interfere and put a stop to - the absurd eexpostire. STANDARD. —The Houses of Parliament adjourned la*: night for the Easter recess. The House of LOrds 10 tnesday, the 16th; the House of Commons to- Mon slay, she 15th. In the Lords, Lord Campbell into eluced a Bill to place writs of error in criminal cases upon a footing similar to that•in which appeals to the House -of Lords in civil cases now stand. In the present state of 'the law a writ of error in a criminal case does not suspend - the judgment; and the party convicted is subject to re eeive seutence, and to. be consigned to punishment, just .ms if no such appeal was made ; in civil cases ...every appeal operates •ae a direct suspension of the ,judgment of the coitrt appealed from. Lord Campbell's _oil would remove this seemin g inconsistency, by sus ipe.nding the. judgm en t o f the court in every case, uh e they civil or criminal. There is some speciousness i n t h an , proposition, but it would be found impossible t ado) 't it without a total c h ange in the whole sys teml . o f . administering the criminall a a w F --- without, in fact, res6. - ting of to the principl e of error r ch Court • of CassatiO.l. At present w r it s cr i mina l . ( , e es, the exception„ and a ve ryare' in but let Lord Campbell's rqr aliception tos, j Bill b ' e I will constitute the rule ; becom e kw, and, they every le- cony' I , MARKET INTELLIGENCE. Mon for misaleineisnor will' be appealed from, and ; ilf the house of Lords is to retain the fina l I (From the London New Price Current, of April 2.) ' diction it 'will have little time for any other .airis 1 ime S n uo m ta in . t . ; The rates .previously established have generally chase West India and mast abandon altogether its legislative ' was manif e sted on the part of grocers and refiners to pur ilinctions. And then what is to be done with con- 1 those of Friday,' Su gar, but the small and indifferent.show. , victions for felony ? Writs of error, in the case yel_low and strong grey qualities. t uch convictions, cannot now be entered without the 1 and in soma prices paid were fully equal to day the home trade were 1 1,. and • i me cases rather above for bright wawa . bona fide, not perfunctory, consent of the I if 1141 ED.—T of Refined F Sugar, saleable lumps fe ar tc ing 74s 6d to 755, and stau a d r a g rd e p lu u • ..AttoTney-General, and, in fact, scarcely one such 'sprit is entered in a century. There is, however,lug s c p h s a s 7 e 6 r s s prices are still advancing: brown of of inconsistency in the law in the rarity 6d to 77s per cwt. Bastards more in request at 47s to 58s. 1:o pro appeals, for while the judgnient in all . In Scum Treacle a good deal is ti , r i tg an al 18 3 to 20s. Bonded pun ts la 9cl l to 261 per cat .of such` effect immediately—iton obstante ‘ i ' li a . 1 pCariudshfoerdthSeugbaersti.o eoscfelLeonat•vedsentseveral d bs3os to . 3 7 ? ; arses to k es 'Se nit of ,error " —' the convict felon has ' little to albs at 35s to 38s, Hamburgh 6lbs 34. 9 t 13 to 141bs 29s 6d to 30s • Tatler 20 . ° sip:, Turkey 2 1 it rest in pi aseeenting an appeal, the result of which Prussian 40 lh ' O O 6- d. I Dutch Crush: is not to L'e known until after he is hanged to 45 s 26s t - .6 to 301bg 26s 6d to 2 ' has suffered his sentence of imprison- . cr transported„')r .. ! 6d to 23s Lid per cwt. Suga r is 22s Bat would the country permit, that 2isent or whipping. ; Manarrius.—Holders have refused to take lower sAllaile the person E ' . eak - iosed to a comparatively trifling I, Damaged sold at 56s to 61s 6d, but the sou d rates. n was all bought soffence should, - ' as a me tter almost of course, avail him- in, good yellow at 64s to 655, middling 60s to 6ls 6d, middling itself of the chances 0t,7 a second trial, the unhappy 1 grey 588 to 595, and good 60s to 61s per cwt. .vretch doomed to the gallvws or. to exile 'should have no EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was in limited rwh advantage? This, -1.. e are• .persuaded, is - what I demand, and - 652 bags at public s a l e mos tl y t a k en i n at 63s to the country would no t betu . The' Attorney-General I 64s for middling, and 62, for low middli ng w hit e; d amaged ' sold at 6ls to 63s 611 per cwt. Madras, duty paid, sold at the "' veld be c om pelled to cOasent to writs Of error I Lea:toes of felony as he is now compelled to consent to i full v g alue ; rie . ye low damp at 57s to 579 6d, good ditto 55s m 6d, middling 53s to 54s 6d, and washed 54s to 57s 6d. *Lich writs in cases of misdemeanc,ur; and the whole .to -- Su g ar taken in, Java in, good grey at 22s 6d to 23s ,middling 20, :administration of the criminal law would assume a new d fin e ye llo w to 21s, good tut l9s to 20s 6d, and washed 19s 6d :Ism Whether this would be, or would not be, an im- . to 22s per cwt. enrovement we do, not at present say farther than , RICE. —The market is quiet for cleaned rice, and more de ithis, /tat having, seen something of the wo r ki ng of ! sire shown to sell; Patna is I 4 s 6 d to 18 s, and Carolina 2ls to ;the Pi•ench Count of Cessation, we think it ' works ; 25s per cwt.. To-day Bengal rice sound all taken in at lls 6d - , tell. ' The quest\ on is not, however, whether there ' for suiddlinti white; sea damaged, first class, at 10, 6d to lls ; r light to be any akopeal, suspending the judgment in second ditto lOs to 10s 6d; third ditto 9s 6d to 105; and fourth Nevi:dna cases, butt whether, if there be any, it bright ditto 8s per cwt. Java, nearly all taken in; good middling gi.s to eit,,wid to fehanies as well as misdemeanours • white at llsto . l is 6cleand low middling and middling lOs to and evhethe:r it would be possible for the 'House of los 6d :.sea damaged fetched 4s to los per cwt; fOr the whole of the sound ios offered. , • • . - THE REVENUE.—In consequence of Good Friday this year falling on the sth of April, we understand that the Quarter's Revenue will be made up to-morrow evening (Thursday, the 4th). It is expected the revenue returns for the present quarter will be very satisfactory.—Evening Paper. COURT OF ALDERMEN. Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of business. EXTENSION OF THE PRACTICE OF ATTORNEYS. The LORD MAYOR presented the following petition to the Court : " The petition of David Williams Wire, solicitor, showeth that your petitioner has been admitted and sworn, and is now practising as a solicitor in the High Court of Chancery, and in the Courts of Law at West minster, as appears by the certificate hereunto an nexed. " Your petitiOner, therefore, humbly prays that he may be admitted an attorney of the Mayor's Court of London?' Alderman BROWN presented a similar petition from William Davis, of Coleman-street. He stated that he felt himself. bound to present the petition from the respectable individual whose name was annexed, but he believed there were many interests affected by it, and he, therefore, thought that the matter should be referred to a Committee and that the attorneys of the Mayor's CoUrt s h ou ld be informed of the application, and summoned to attend before a Committee upon the subject. Mr. WIRE, on being called upon by the Lord Mayor, stated that he made the application under the authority of the 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. 73, which enacted that every person who should have been duly admitted an attorney of any one o f the superior courts of law -at Westminster, should be entitled to be admitted an attorney in any other of the said courts, or in any inferior court of law in England and Wales." He (Mr. Wire) had been admitted in the superior courts, and he now claimed to be admitted an attorney of the inferior court of the Alayor and Aldermen of the City of London, commonly called the Mayor's Court. He was fully aware that the practice of that court had been exclusively confined to four gentlemen; and that they would claim a vested interest in the monopoly, having either purchased or obtained these places by the gift of the Corporation. But notwithstanding such practice, and notwithstanding its previous legality, he submitted that the Act of last session completely destroyed any chartered or vested rights, and threw open the Court to all prac titioners, admitted by the superior courts, and he was borne out in the opinion by the Act itself, by the ex ceptions introduced, and by the interpretations already put upon it by the Recorders in other towns andcities, who, notwithstanding the previous exclusion, now, under the authority of the Act, admitted all practi tioners duly qualified. He believed it would be un necessary further to argue the question as a matter of law, but if it were necessary, he was fortified in the view he had taken of the Act by authorities. He would now, therefore, turn to the benefits likely to result to the public from the throwing open of the Court. It was a Court of large jurisdiction, and em braced both a legal and an equitable side. Alderman BROWN said that this was a question of grave consideration; arid deeply affecting the rights of others, and it ought, therefore, be referred to a Com mittee, to examine and report upon. Mr. WIRE said, with the concurrence of his Learned Friend near him, he had no objection to a reference, provided the Committee considered the matter forthwith, as he was anxious to get the answer of the Court, to enable him, if necessary, to go to the Court of Queen's Bench for a mandamus. Alderman T. WOOD and Alderman BROWN se conded a proposition to refer the matter to a Com mittee, and to advise with the law officers of the Corporation thereon.—The motion was unanimously agreed to. Subsequently a similar petition was presented, from Mr. Hartley, of New Bridge-street, solicitor; and it was stated that several more petitions upon the sub j. et would be likely to follow, it being the determina tion of the profession to open the Court. MR. BARNARD GREGORY. Sir PETER ' LAURIE called the attention; of the Court to a statement which had ~been referred to by Mr. Wells, thelate Common Colincitman of the ward of Fnrringdon. rt appeared from the , newspapers, that Mr. Wells had waited upon the Lord Mayor, and represented that he had seen a statement in some newspaper of conduct' adopted, towards Mr. Barnard . Gregory in the gaol of NeWgate of the most unjusti fiable description. Mr. Well's. complaint threw a vast deal of odiruirtipon The Magistrates of LOndon and,the Sheriffs ; and it was evident that thyre ex isted not the least ground of Complaint. The whole of the information upon' which Mr. Wells grounded his charge was most. grossly hear) — and the whole accusation .consisted - of a monstrous series of - exaggerationi(Hear, bear.) Sir C. S. flefirin 'said' that if the Court -noticed. newspaper paragraphs i they would scion'have constant employment chalked out for them. Alderman FAREBROTIIER objected "to the mention of the matter at all, and said that the'notice of :it in that Court would answer the purpose' . Of Mr. Wells, by giving his name, the respectabilit y o f h av i ng b een used in it.—(Linghter.) . The accusation of cruelty was beyond anything absurd. - The LORD MAYOR said he had told Mr. Wells that he believed there-was riot the slightest foundation for the statements to Which he made reference, and that the whole was a tissua of the Most ridiCulons exagge rations. Sheriff MUSGROVE declared that the only thing at I all in the staterner4 for Which there was the least foundation was the _assertion that Mr. Gregory's health was suffering; of that fact there was not the slightest doubt. It was palpable that Mr. Gregory's health was rapidly declining, and he re gretted to have it in his power to mention that circumstance. He had spoken to Mr. Gregory upon the subject of the treatment in the prison, and was assured by him that he had every accommodation and attention which any imprisoned person could ex pect, and , surely Mr. Gregory might be allowed to judge for himself on such a subject.—(Hear, hear.) He (Sheriff Musgrove) regretted to declare that Mr. Gregory's health was rapidly declining. I fere the conversatiori ended.. After the transaction-of a little' local business, the Court adjourned. • IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 2. ROYAL COMMISSION. LordsfiTifs n at a QUarter before Four o'clock, and the" 116u - ze of Commons havirg been summoned to their Lordships' bar, the Speaker shortly afterwards Made his appearance at the bar ac companied by several Members. The Royal Assent was then given by Commission, in the usual manner, to the Mutiny Bill, the Marine Mutiny Bill, the Annual In demnity Bill, the Berrill (Huntingdonshire) Inclosure Bill, and the Mansfield (Huntingdonshire) Inclosure Bill. The Commons having withdrawn, their Lordships adjourned during pleasure. Their Lordship.; assembled again at Five o'Clock. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented two petitions from Manchester and Birkenhead, against certain pro visions in the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented a petition from the Rel. Dr. Hook, Vicar of Leeds, praying the House to pass a Bill to divide the parish and vicarage of Leeds into separate parishes and vicarages, for ecclesiastical purposes only. Lord LORTON presented petitions from Suffolk against the grant to the College of Maynooth. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from a place in Ireland complaining d the late decision of their Lordships' -House with respect to Presbyterian mar riages. RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE. Lord MONTEAGLE brought in a Bill to repeal cer tain laws which restricted the purchase and sale of goods. In Ireland none of these Acts had been repealed, and his object was to make the law similar to that in Eng land, and also to improve the latter. This was only pursuino• b the same course which had been long since re commended in the House of Commons. lie wished that the Bill should be immediately printed, and that it should be read a second time as early after Easter as possible. The Noble Lord concluded by moving that it be now read a first t;ime. The Bill was then read a first time. The Marquis of tirrE presented petitions from Ayr, Perth, and several other places in Scotland, praying for the abolition of the tests which were required to be taken by Dissenters on enterin ••• the several Scotch Universities. APPEALS AND WRITS OF EgROB. Lord CAMPBELL rose to lay on the table of the House a Bill for removing objections which could now be taken to the administration of justice •in this country with respect to appeals and writs of error. The Bill provided that upon the defendant giving security in such sum as•the court might direct that - any fine that might be imposed should be paid, and that the defendant should be forthcoming to undergo any . sentence which might be pronounced upon hini, that sentence should be suspended until the court of appeal had decided upon the merits of the ease. The Bill would not came into opera tion until the 9th of August. . . . FEES TO JUSTICES' CLERKS.. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose. to move for a return from each.of the clerks of the peace at the several sessions in England and %Valet, of the - amount' of the fees received by- him during each of the last three years ending the 31st of December, 1842. 'This was a matter which pressed most heavily upon the poorer clas - ses of persons, because in the greater number of in stances, the fines did not amount to one quarter of the amount of the casts, and in many other cases the costs were- thirty or even forty times the amount of the fine. Thus there could be no proportion between the crime.- and the expense -to which the unfortunate culprit was subjected. He felt sure this was a subject Incwhich all their 'Lordships must feel a deep interest. It had been mooted in this House some time ago, and he trusted that. the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home De partment would take this matter into his serious con sideration. . The Duke of WELLINGTON said he had made in quiry into this subject, and he found that those fees did always go to the magistrate's clerk. It was a matter of groat importance, and one to which her Majesty's Go vernment would give every consideration. Lord WHARNCLIFFE was informed upon good authority that those fees did not go to the magistrates' clerks, but were generally appropriated to defraying the incidental expenses of the trial, such as paying witnesses and constables, so that very often only a very small amount of the fees reached the clerk of the peace. Lord BEAUMONT said the principal part of the fees went in payment to the constables, whose expenses were regulated according to the distance they had to travel. Lord CAMPBELL said that as the Government in tended to take up this subject, he would suggest to them the propriety of regulating - the fees to clerks of the peace, so that they should not depend upon the length of the proceedings. He knew that great extortion had been practised in consequence of the fees being regulated according to the length of the proceedings to which they related. _ After a few words from Lord REDESDALE and the Earl of COLCHESTER, the Returns were ordered. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brought up a Copy of the First Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, appointed to consider the law affecting Joint-stock Companies, which, on the motion of Lord MONTE AGLE, was ordered to be printed. On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON, Their Lordships then adjourned till Tuesday, the 16th instant. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 2. The SPEAKER took tho Chair at a Quarter before Four o'Clock. ROYAL COMMISSION. The Deputy-Usher of the Black Rod shortly after. wards entered the House, and summoned the Members to appear at the bar of the House of Peers, to hear, the Royal Assent given by Cornmission to several Bills. The SPEAKER then .left the House, accompanied by the_greater part of the Members present. On his return, The SPEAKER announced that he had been to the Bar of the House of Lords, where he had heard the Royal Assent, given by Commission to certain Bills (for which see Lords' Report). RETURNS. Certain returns were presented at the bar of the House, and ordered to be laid on the table. PULTENEY TOWN HARBOUR BILL. The Pulteney Town Harbour Improvement Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. DURHAM AND . COUNTY COAL COMPANY ' BILL. . Mr. REDHEAD YORKE moved the further con sideration of the Report on the Durham and County Coal Company Bill.—Agreed to. Mr. P. HOWARD presented a petition from the cotton-spinners of Carlisle and its neighbourhood, de. precating any attempt 'on the part of the Legislature to limit the hours of labour in factories. Mr. TATTON'EGERTO/sTpresented a petition from a place in 'Lancashire, praying for 'the abolition of the duty upon raw cotton. • Lord ELIOT presented a • petition . from Cornwall praying that the owners and not the. occupiers of small farms might be taxed for the poor rates. Mr. M.,•GIBSON moved that. the petition which he had presented yesterday rrom Manchester, relative to the Post-office, be printed with the Votes.—Agreed to. - On the motion of Mr. HUME, returns were granted of sundry payments in the Excise department. BUSINESS OF TEE HOUSE. I —THE 4DJOURN- MENT. After a pause of considerable duration in the business of the iHouse, during which Mr. Hume, Mr. T. Dtin corube, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Manners Sutton, were severally in close conference with Sir Robert Peel, Mr. GLADSTONE brought up, and laid on the table, certain returns relating to the state of agriculture in Leicestershire. Sir ROBERT PEEL moved that the House, at its rising, should adjourn, till Menday, the 15th instant. H e • Wished, at the same time, to state that he had promi se d the Noble' Lord opposite (Lord J. Russell) that he should, on moving the adjOurnment; explain the_ 'order in which the , Bills brought in . by the Government, or intended to be brought in, should be proceeded with after Easter. In consequence . of i the absence of his 'Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary . for the Borne pepartnient, he was unable at that moment to give the explanation. He would take care, however, that the order of pro ceeding shonld be. set - for.th in the papers 'of the House to-morrow. He hoped that . in the course__ of the evening he would . . have an opportunity of ponimuni-. eating with his High t'Hori. Friend (Sir J. Graham), and if so, he would state, befdre the House' rose, what the course of business would be. In the meantime' he should - say that it would be a great public inconvenience if . the Irish Franchise Bill should not pass before June;And it was therefore his intention that the Bill sheuld be read a second time o'n Monday, the 15th, if the House'would allow it, and that the discussion be taken in Committee An Hon. .Member opposite (Mr. Ewart) ;was, he be-- lieved, anxious to know if the Government proposed to do anything respecting charitable trusts, 'and he (Sir Robert Peel) had to state that he believed his . Noble. Friend the Lord Chancellor would, that evening, in another plaCe, give ni.itice . of a Bill upon the subject. Another Hon: Member (Mr. Hume) was anxious to know what progress had been made in opening:commu nications with Paraguay. A Commissioner had Peen sent out there by the Government, but; unfertunately, from his over-desire to make himself useful, he caused great prejudice tube created, and he had been obliged to leave the . country.—(Loud laughter.)' Since then, however, news of a more satisfactory character, had been received, arid he indulged the hope that England; in coni mon with France and Brakilg,' would he able to make some progress in opening friendly and commercial communi cations with that part of the .World.--(Hear, hear.). Mr. HUME trusted t he Government Would avail itself of every opportunity - of extending communications with that portion of the world, as ho belieited it would be very beneficial in effecting a considerable extension of commerce. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he was satisfied with the statement of the Right Hon. Baronet,, that at A later part of the evening, or in the orders of the day, they should be made acquainted with the routine which Government would follow in regard to their measures after Easter. With regard to the proposal as to the Irish Franchise Bill, personally he had no objection to it, but the Right Hon. Baronet' must not be' surpri se d if any of the Irish Members who were not pre sent that evening should, on th e pr op osa l t o go into a Committee of Supply, on the first d a y after the holidays-, think it proper tooppose that motion. • There had been a very thin attendance of Irish Members for some days, and the great majority of them were doubtless whollythe unacquainted 'at the pre sent moment with provisions of that . Bill. There was another subject a on f which he would take that opportunity of , sayinge . ma( ry words to the House. They had not' unhappily great progress in legislation-before the Easter recess ; tut in they had cer tainly shown their loyalty ; to the Crown manner,.,. for they had voted most almost • unanimously all % the supplies it had been thought proper to ask at their hands. Among those supplies was a large sum voted for the maintenance of a considerabl?, ,nymber _of,men„for, the UV:Y . He was one of those , whty waS'inost willing to concur in that vote ; but in considering the large amount that was voted, he did think it necessary to say a few words on this occasion, though he might raise a dis cussion on it hereafter, on the manner in which that number of men was disposed of. With respect to the number of men, though it was considerably less .than the number voted in 1841, yet it was very considerably more than in 1835. The statement abroad was that the naval force in 'the Medi terranean was to be reduced to a very small number of ships of the line; it was even said that only one ship of the line was to be left in the Mediterranean. In that case he must say that he did not think such a reduction would be in accordance with the general policy of this country. They must recollect that they had some im portant stations in the Mediterranean, and important interests there that might call for their interposition. There might not be at this moment any danger, nor any prospect of other than amicable relations with foreign Powers ; but should it be otherwise, and any case for their interposition should arise, the sudden augmentation of the navy that would be neces sary, would probably create great 'alarm. Even in the present circumstances of the country, there was the state of affairs in Morocco, there were insurrectionary movements in Italy, and any circumstances of this kind might give rise to the necessity of diplomatic represen tations to foreign Powers. So small a naval force, in case of that necessity arising, would not be ade quate to giving support to the interests of the country. He thought it necessary to make those observations with respect to the disposal of the fleet in the Mediterranean. Sir ROBERT PEEL confessed that he felt sur prised at the observations of the Noble Lord. The Noble Lord did not allege that British interests had suffered, but he stated that it would be advisable to have a large force in the Mediterranean. Why, that might be advisable with regard to any portion of the world, and there might be good grounds for having a large force in North America, the Pacific, and the Baltic. This might be true, but he understood the sound con stitutional principle was to leave the appropriation of the forces to the Executive Government. Now, the Government thought it right to have a num ber of vessels for exercise in the Channel, which would be ready upon any emergency. There was sometimes great advantage in concentrating their forces. Let not the Noble Lord suppose that their interests in the Me diterranean would be endangered because the fleet was off the mouth of the Thames or in the Channel. The Noble Lord should allow the Executive Government to exercise its own discretion. No doubt their interests in theliediterranean were important, but there might be reasons for assembling tliem in another place, which he was unwilling to enter upon. But if the Noble Lord had a confidence in his judgment, which was just in many respects--if he was prepared to take the com mand of the Channel fleet—(Much laughter)—surely he might allow the Executive Government to take that course which it seemed best for them to pursue. Lord PALMERSTON said that he felt no want of confidence in his Noble Friend—(Laughter)----in any command in which resolution and determination would be required.—( Hear.) And if his spirit and determination, which were well known, were backed by the professional skill of his Hon. and Gallant Friend the Member for Marylebone, he thought they would be very formidable. The disposition of the naval force was certainly to be left at the discretion of the Executive Government, but yet the Executive Government exercised that discretion subject to any remarks which might be made in Parlia ment. That discretion certainly was to be exercised subject to a responsibility to that House. He thought, therefore, that his Noble Friend, in taking the opportu nity which he had taken of making these remarks before hand, and directing the consideration of the Govern ment to the subject, had not departed from the appro priate exercise of those functions which devolved on him as a Member of that House. It was true that it was only a question of prudence, according to the existing state of things, whether we should concentrate a large force on the home station, or distribute it more eqqally among the different foreign stations, where its presence might be required, not for purposes of hosti litY, but to give that moral effect and support to our corimercial interests which the presence of a naval force invariably afforded. In the present state of things, if anything occurred requiring the presence of a large naval force on the home station, it would be quite as easy to order the force home from the Mediterranean as, to or der the force from the home station to the Mediterra nean, so that the argument of the Right Honourable Baronet was equally applicable to either side of the question. There certainly were grounds for hay ing a large force in the Mediterranean, which did lnot apply to th e B a l t i c , the Pacific, or c the oasts of the United States. We had. important sta tions in the Mediterranean—we had colonies there. We;had Gibraltar, Malta; and the lonian Islands, there fore, it was natural that we should maintain a large naval force there, and the maintenance of such de fence there implied nothing hostile or suspicious towards foreign Powers ; but if a large force were to be sent either to the Baltic, the coast of the United States, or the Pacific, it would be supposed either that we apprehended hostilities from some other Powers, or that we intended' something against them. Thei cases were not parallel. The question of the dis posableness of the force applied, as he had shown before, as much to the one case as to the other. Our commer cial and political relations were of more importance in the Mediterranean than anywhere else on the face of the lobe. More things might happen there in which the interests of Great Britain were concerned than could happen elsewhere. If, therefore, the Government intended only to maintain one sail of the line on that I station, he contended that they would not be ioroperly 'representing British interests in a quarter in which they required the most scrupulous care and attention. He could testify, from his own experi ence as Foreign Secretary, that nothing was more com mon khan for 'British merchants connected' with the Mediterranean to apply for protection and assistance. Considering the difficulties which might arise from time to tit Q in that quarter, he thought it not a wise dis tribu ion of the naval forces to have only one ship of the 1 line i the Mediterranean, and not the ordinary amount 1 of foice' usual on former occasions. If it were a privi lege if Members of that House to criticise events after they appened, he thought it a more useful privilege to throat out suggestions before the occurrence of events. Mri HUME was sorry to hear any objection to the reduction of the naval force. lie had lately received a letter'from a naval officer at, Malta, in which the writer stated that there could be nothing more disadvantageous to the interests of the navy than leaving large line- of battle -ships in the Mediterranean. They laid up at Malt and other places there for twelve months, and i. were uch exposed to losing their l discipline. He also truste that the Right Hon. Bart. would see the necessity lof re oving the swarm of gun - boats from the Shannon. • RE GI STRATION BILL (IRELAND). a - Mr.) WYSE cemplaitied of so early a day after Easter being Ifixed for the second read in g of this Bill, as had been announced by. the Right Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir R. Peel). If it was necessary that the Bill should come lute have opera on at once, it should been introduced a t an earlie period of the session. He thought it would be i more judiciousl6 defer the second reading until a later intenti digest the Cr ask thi intenti respec Sir any Bi the info . . . 1. PEEL Said, he would not , on any account, press , end reading of the Bill against the wish 'of Irish' ers. Considering the feeling which appeared 'to Irthe subject; he would postpone the 'second read he Bill from Monday (the 15th) until Friday. i'WART ' wished' to know whether it was. the i nof the Government to lay before the House any r code of criminal laws, founded on the report of mina': Law C o mmissioners.. He begged also to Hon. Member for Lewes, whether' it was his n to bring forward that evening his motion with to probate duty.' . . PEEL said he was not' prepared to introduce to reform the criminal law of this country. • All rmation on that subject was already in the pos-T t i of the Hottie.' . " ' • ' ELPHINSTONE said that so many gentlemen t town, that he 'Zilliiiikif would be desire,- oring on thnt - evenitig the Motion to which the ' , entlemau i reterred. • CHINA. session Mr. had lef hie to I Hon. Q Sir 1 I PEEL b roug ht u p certain dispatches respecting l i China, mongst which was one with respect tolhe treaty lately ntered into between this country and China. Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. Ordered was desirous that her Majesty's Govern. rnent shhhld give the public a fa c-simile of the Chinese treaty, With .an :English trainslation.—(Laughter.) He tnought4t would be very acceptable to the public as a matter of curiosity--(A laugh)—:and it would not be very expensive. ._ Sir ROBERT PEEL begged to ask if the Hon. Mem l'inguage ?---(Laughter.) Mem ber made a motio n ? a nd if so, was it 'seconded by a gentleman who-knew th e C h i nese Mr. HAS I lE, whose observation was .not distinctly heard in.the gallery, but excited much laughter in the House, was understood to sa,y, that if • a motion were made, he would second it - SIR HENRY, POTTINGER. • Sir R. PEEL said he could not lay upon the table "the lash diplomatic paper from'Sir IL Pottinger—(who, after a serviceofnearly halfacentury, had now retired, against • the wishes and representations of the Government)--rwith flout bearing testimony to the singular ability, zeal; firmness,. and discretion, with w hi c h he had. performed the duty undertaken by him under critical and difficult circum- , ~stances, and performed b y hi m i n a manner - which se ••cured to him the confidence and esteem of the Chinese • Government, equally with that of 'the • Government. Which he represented.—(Hear, hear.) He was•clisposed to say more upon the merits of that distinguished gen-. tleman, but he was aware that a panegyric was weak •ened by being diluted. ---(Rear,) He would only say, that it was impossible to bear higher testimonythan he could to the merits of Sir Henry Pottinger.—(Hear.) Lord PALMERSTON rose to bear testimony to the truth of the handsome eulogy .which the Right. Hon. Gentleman had passed upoirthat distinguished public ,officer.—(Hear,.hear.). He did not think that the eulogy could be exaggerated, for those who w itnessed .his .ser vices only regretted that he had no t still greater oppor tunities of rendering services to his, ,conutry.. It .was only by his own merits the gallant and distinguished officer obtained the oppOrtunity of so well ea rnipg.the thanks • of the Government and the..co l iutry. . When he (Lord PalmerSton) recommended to his colleagues the appoint u.ent,of •Sir Henry Pottinger, he did so without any political:consideration. Indeed, up to the present m 0,., ment he did not know what Sir Henry's general sentiments might be. When he (Lord Pnltnerston) asked his colleagues to request the. assistance of .Sir Henry Potting'' , a nd be sonal acquaintance with him,. he had no per.. , was only led. to make choice of him in consequence. of the ability which he had displayed in. India. -.( Hear, hear.) He must also say that it was only justice to the present Go vernment to state'that the successor of Sir Henry Pot-. tinger had been selected . withotit any regard.to political considerations, and solely on account of his distinguished merits. EMIGRATION,• 1. Mr. C. BULLER, said the Noble Lord; the Seeretary for the Colonies, had promised, On a former occasion, that the - Report of th• Emigration Commissioners should be laid on the table of the House before Parliament ad journed for the Easter holidays. He begged to ask . if they might hope to receive it an early period? Lord STANLEY said he was happy to say he was able to realise his promise, inasmuch as he held the Report in his hand. The lon was subsequently brought up by the Noble Lord and ordered to be laid upon the table. IRISH FRANCHISE BILL. Lord ELIOT brought up the Bill upon this subject, for which leave was given last evening, and it was read a first time. IRISH MUNICIPAL BILL. The NOBLE LORD also brought up the Irish Mu nicipal Bill, foci which leave was given last evening, and it was read a first time. THE STATE TRIALS. Mr. WYSE postponed, till the 25th inst., his motion for a Select Committee to inquire into the State trials in Ireland. • AGRICULTURE (IRELAND). Mr. M. GIBSON postponed, till the 18th inst., his motion for an address to her Majesty, praying her Ma jesty to direct an inquiry into the present state of agri culture in that kingdom. — THE CHURCH. Mr. P. BORTHWICK -postponed, till Tuesday, the 23d, his motion respecting the powers of the clergy to meet in convocation. PRISON DISCIPLINE. Mr. MACKINNON gave notice of his intention, after Easter, to move for leave to bring in a Bill for securing an uniform system of prison discipline. COUNTY CORONERS (IRELAND). Mr. GROGAN gave notice of his intention to move, after Easter, for leave to bring in a Bill for the better regulation of County Coroners' Courts in Ireland. CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS. Mr HUME gave notice, that on Tuesday, the 16th, he would move, as a resolution, that the House should take into its consideration the exemplary conduct of the people wherever they had been admitted to public edifices, and their general disposition to preserve order and propriety of conduct; and moving that the House do approve of the recommendation of the Select Committee, formerly appointed, that there should be a more free admission of the people to cathedrals and churches. THE QUEEN v. O'CONNELL. Mr. DUNCOMIIE moved for a copy of the notes taken by the short-hand writer appointed by the Crown to report the proceedings at the late trial of the Queen O'Connell.—Ordered. . ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL. Messengers froni the Lords appeared at the table with the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, which was read a first time. IRISH TEMPORALITIES BILL. Mr. SHAW said, he saw that his Hon. Friend, the Member fOr Roscommon, had placed the name of his Hon. Colleague Pin Hamilton) on_the back of the Bill which the. Hon. Gentleman 'had got leave to, bring in last night" on the subject of the Irish. Temporalities. Now, as he knew that his Hon. Colleague was opposed to the Bill—(Laughter)—he begged to move that the order be discharged till another name be substituted. Mr. F. FRENCH, said, that. the Bill waa brought to him by an influential body or church tenants ;• but as he knew that it would raise the suspicions of the friends of the Church if it came from his (Mr. F. French's) side of the House, he advised them to procure the name either of Mr: Hamilton or of the Right Hon. Gentleman himself.—(Laugliter.) They promised to commu nicate with Mr. Hamilton on the subject ' • but he had never he ar d from - them on the subject. —(Laugh ter.) He had never heard till the present moment that Mr. Hamilton objected to the Bill.—(Laughter.) It was a matter of perfect indifference to him whose name was on the Bill, but he thought it would be more in accord ance with fair play and Parliamentary usage if the Right Hon. Gentleman allowed Mr. Hamilton to make his own disclaimer. . • • Mr. SHAW wished to ask the Hon. Memb er for Ros common, if his Hon. Colleague (Mr. Hamilton) had given him permission to put his (Mr. Hamilton's) name on the Bill. Mr. FRENCH would, in return,-ask the Right Hon. Gentleman if his Hon. Colleague, had authorised him to state that he desired that his name should not be placed on the Bill. Mr. SHAW—Certainly not. My colleague told me that he understood the Hon. Gentleman opposite in tended to bring inn Bill on the stibject, and he assured me he meant to give it every opposition in his power— (A laugh)—to prevent it, if possible, from being read-a first time—(Loud laughter)—because he considered it bad in principle.—(Continued laughter.) ' Mr. FRENCH said that the only principle of the Bill to which the Hon. Gentleman was opposed, was one that he (Mr. French) himself was opposed to—namely, that which proposed to invest the proceeds of the sales of ecclesiastical property in the public funds. That clause had been struck out, and it was now proposed that the proceeds should be invested in the purchase of land in fee simple. The conversation here dropped, but it was understood that some other name was substituted on the Bill for that of Mr. Hamilton. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. • ----- Mr. GLADSTONE rose , to move for a Committee of the whole House, to consider the state of the law of partnership, with a view to providing for the following purposes, viz., " For the registration of joint-stock companies, and for conferring on such companies certain privileges of corporate bodies, subject to the payment of certain fees, and on certain conditions-and regulations, and for preventing the establishment of fraudulent com panies. For the regulation of joint-stock companies. For facilitating and improving the remedies at law and in equity, reference to joint-stock companies, their members, directors, and other officers, whether inter se or in relation to persons not bein g members thereof, and for windin g u p th e a ff a i rs of companies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements ; and for enabling private partnerships to register the names of their partners, and to sue and be sued in the name of their firm." In bringing forward that motion he felt that he was proposing to deal with a most important subject and one well worthy the attentive consideration of that House, but he would not trouble the House 'at any, great length on the present occa sion. It Would be useless for him to. do as unless the House were in possession of certain details which were not yet before it, but which would be presented to them shortly, when he would enter: more at length into the subject. The measure which he proposed to introduce was founded on the report of the Select Committee which had sat for the purpose of investigating the subject. The mea sure did not deal with joint-stock companies. He proposed to consider the subject in two different man ners : first, - a4 to the formation of fraudulent companies for the purr* of entrapping innocent and inexpe rienced parties, .who are induced to enter them by seeing respectabld naines attached to such companies, and who consequently frequently. suffer loss , and in many cases ruin. The oth er was th e formation of companies which, although not dishonest, were ill-copstructed and unwisely. conceived. In order ,to apply a remedy ,in those cases, it was not intended by the present measure to give any undiscriminating encouragement ,to joint-stock com panies, nor to impOse upon them any burdens or re straints, other than were necessary for the public rid.. vantage. And with regard. .to those burdens and restraints themselves, they would be 'at tended with benefit of' a very decided nature, overbalancing any attendant inconvenience: He should propose to the House, in the first place,'to apply to joint-stock companies that which was a most whole some remedy—that of publicity, by bringing public opinion and public responsibility to bear iipon the foun dation of those companies. And for that purpose he should ask leave of the Committee for which he meant to move, to bring in a Bill for the registration of joint stock companies. But in registering, those companies, it'would be necessary that there should be a recognition of them in courts of law. That was a very important change, and though- it would not alter the course of la ei'y it would greatly accelerate its' administration in these re spects, for at the present time joint-stock companies were under the necessity of extracting piecemeal, from. courts of - justiee,- the recognition of their claims. He should propose that those companies, upon being regis tered, should subject themielves to the inspection both as to the persons who conducted, and - likewise the mode which they conducted them, and they should acquire in all cases the rower of suing and being sued, a n d o f doing certain legal acts, for the purposes for which they were atsociated, with as ration facility as could be done by an individual. At th e presentl moment joint-stock companies could not appoint any member of their body in whose name they could sue oe be sued. In giving them that boon, he gave a still greaterboon to - the public, for those companies frequently availed themselves of that inabi lity to their own advantage. Independent of the regis tration, he should also provide by another Bill for the constitution of joint-stock companies. Now that they were proposing to make all joint•stock companies, in some sense, recognised by the State, it seemed obviously , to fol low that they should take those securities with respect to joint-stock companies at, large, which, h ere t o f ore ,' i t had been usual to t a ke i n those particular isolated cases in which they had been the subject of statutory enact ment. Then he proposed to meet also another great deficiency in the present state of those associations,,viz., the - insufficiency of legal retnedies both as applicable to shareholders and to the public. There was no depart-. ment of the subject into which it would be less conve-, nient to enter at that early stage of the The reso lutions of the Committee on Joint-StOck Companies re cently laid on the table of the House, would explain the - course which it was proposed to take, for the purpose of improving and facilitating the remedies at law and equity. Lastly, it was his duty to move for leave to bring in a Bill to modify the law relating to , private partnerships. It 'was very well known that at present private partnerships laboured, though not to the same extent, under similar difficulties to those which attached to joint-stock companies. Although there was really no ground for exercising over them the restraints which the Legislature ought to exercise over large associations of persons acting as joint-stock companies, yet private parties were in the condition of not being able either to appoint any person, or to use the common name under which they acted, for the legal • purpose of suing those against whom they had claims. Now it was obvious, he thought, that if the House were to confer on joint-stock companies the power of suing and of being sued, and were to withhold that power from private partners, there would be a. very great danger of their acting in contrariety to the principle which had obtained almost universal sanction with' regard to the regulation of the .commercial concerns of this country—the principle that .wherever you could effect commercial objects by means of private partnerships you should attain them by • such means ; that - you did only resort - to those larger associations in. which , the prin- ciple of responsibility and individual control were much weaker in those exceptional cases in which, either from theamount of capital required, or the extent of risk, or from some other cause, they could not in any other way work out th 4, purpose. .On this ground,ntherefore, he should move, last.ly, for leave to bring in a Bill to enable private persons associating in legal partnership to sue and be sued. He would not now enter into any further detail, but he would now move that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the state of the law of partnership for the purposes which he had described. • The House then went into Committee on the Bill. Mr. HAWES would not offer any opposition to the introduction of the Bill, which he believed was one of great importance, and from which the commercial com munity would derive great advantage. He would re serve for a future occasion what he had to say on the details of the measure. He hoped, however, that the, House would not interfere further than the Committee had recommended. Mr. HASTIE asked whether it was intended to in clude joint-stock banks in the Bill? Mr. GLADSTONE said that the measure was founded upon the recommendation of the Committee, from the inquiries of which joint stock banks were ex cluded. Mr. TUFNELL wished to know whether it was the intention of Government, in their proposed Bill, to limit the responsibility of shareholders? Mr. GLADSTONE said there certainly was no in tention to limit that responsibility. Leave was then given to introduce the Bills asked for by the Right Hon. Gentleman; and the House resumed. MENAI BRIDGE. Mr. GORE moved for a copy of any report of Mr. Provis to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests since the Ist day of October, 1843, on the Menai Bridge.—Agreed to. HARBOUR OF REFUGE. Mr. GORE also moved for a copy of all letters of in structions to the naval officers and civil engineers ap pointed in 1843 to report upon the harbours of Holy head and Port Dynllaen, as a packet station between London and Dublin, and as a harbour of refuge for the Channel trade.—Agreed to. GRAND JURY CESS (IRELAND). Mr. WYSE then moved for copies of the lists re turned by the collectors of grand jury cess for the county of the city of Dublin, to the clerks of the peace for the said city, containing the names of men qualified to serve as jurors for the said city for the year 1844, showing the corrections and adjudications made therein by the Right Hon. the Recorder of the said city, pur suant to the provisions of the Act 3 and 4 Will. IV., c. 91. Also, a copy of the general list of jurors, made out from such lists by the said Recorder. Copy of the " Jurors' Book for the year 1844," as delivered to the Sheriff of the city of Dublin, or.to his under sheriff, or the town clerk. Copy of the " Special Jurors' List," made by the said. Sheriff, or his under-sheriff, for the year 1844. Copies. of all correspondence with Dr by the clerks of the peace for the said city, in relation to the re vision of the jurors' list f or th e year 1844, an d especi . ally between them and the Rec o rd er f or t h e sa id c i ty , and Mr. Peirce Mahony. Copies of all affidavits filed in the Crown side of the Court of Queen's Bendh in Ire land, since the Ist day of December, 1843, in the cause of " The Queen against O'Connell and-others ' and of all protests made to the cl er k o f th e Crown, also filed in the said cause, atthe striking of the jury in the month of January last; together with a copy of the challenge to the jury alTay in the said cause, and of the demurrer filed in reply to the same. . Lord ELIOT was understood to say that he could not consent to the motion. Mr. SHAW said that as the motion personally con. cerned him, he hoped the House would' excu e him for saying a few words on the subject. He thought that the House had no jurisdiction in the matter. He should object to the House making any order of the kind. This was a matter of judicial•adjudication, and if. he submit ted to make a return of this kind, there was no return which he, might not be called on to make. If the House sanctioned the motion, he should, with all possible re spect, refuse to comply with the order. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that if the Right Hon. Gentleman opposed the motion because there were not sufficient grounds fur it, he could understand it ; but when the Right Hon. Gentleman took so unusual a step of opposing it, because itwas a judicial proceeding, and that he would refuse to comply with the order of the House, if it were made, he really thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman was taking a ground that was altogether untenable.—(Hear, hear.) He did not say that the House ought to agree to the motion if the Right Hon. Gentleman said there, were no sufficient grounds for making it; but if an order of the House were made for similar returns from the Court of Queen's Bench, he felt convinced that the Chief Justice would comply with the order of the House. He would not un dertake to say that.that House had no power to call for notes of judicial proceedings. Such a doctrine could not be supported, It would be lowering the authority of the House to suppose that it could be SQ, and withoutgiv ing any opinion as to whether or not the motion ought to begranted, he must protest against the doctrine of the Right Hon. Gentleman which denied that the House had any right to investigate any course of conduct which he, as a judge, might have thought proper to pursue. Mr. SHAW said the Noble Lord was mistaken. He (Mr. Shaw) did not deny the right of the House of Com mons to inquire into his conduct, and to address the• CroWn for his removal , if it chose, but he said they had no right to his notes which he bad taken judicially.' If the return were ordered to be made from the Queen's Bench, he felt "convinced that the judges of that court would not do it., The Noble Lord must be aware of a previous case in which Lord Holt had refused to obey an order of the House of Lords for the production of his note upon a trial. He told the House of Lords that they had no control over these notes. He did not deny for ono Moment the right of the House to investigate his conduct, but they had no right to call for his judicial notes and they would be u se l ess , b ecause t h e H ouse possehsed no power to reverse or affect his decision in any Way. Lotd J. RUSSELL did not mean to contend th a t these notes were necessary for the House to' adjudicate, for it had no power of adjudication on the subject. .But they might be necessary for the purpose' of investigation. He would take the celebrated Macclesfield case in which the House had called for all the notes, papers, and re cords }of the court. . Mr. for th anyri air Right the or which less to been e of disl statem Mr. standu Sir were 1 they v For ir, privat( think i moran SHAW. admitted tho right of the House to call records of the court, but he denied that they had 'ht to call for a judge's notes. G. GREY did not understand tluk objection of the Hon. Gentleman. It might be necessary to have Iginal lists and to compare them with the lists had been ultimately adjudicated on. It was use overlook the fact that discrepant statements had lewhere _made on The subject, that it was matter ,ute, and that these returns would show what ?nt was the correct one. VYSE'said he must insist on his motion notwith g the opposition of the Noble-Lord-.- . PEEL could not take upon him to define what he powers of the law respecting Motions, for ry much depended on the nature of the case. tance if an Hon. Member were to move for the memoranda of a, judge in a trial he could not probable the House would call for those me a. • Mr. !WARBURTON said a great blunder had been commi ted, and it was very desirable to know how it had occurr d. He would advise his Hon. Friend to get what p pers he could, and if they were not- satisfactory, to mov for a.Select Committee. Mr. lUTT said it (lid not appear that any evil would arise fr in the production of the papers, and the with boldin of them would probably create distrust where it did not now exist. Mr. VY*E said it was a matter of import ance , b ut if 1 1 , the ret rns were gr an t e d a t a ll, they s h ou ld b e • granted as soon as possible.; otherwise the information would be of no u e. The Hon. Member then withdrew the motion. - POST-OFFICE. - . • Mr. AWES then moved for a return of the number of char eable letters which have passed th roug h- t h e London General Post (inwards and outw ar d s ) s i nce t h e first ge f eral reduction of postage, on the sth day of i t Decem r, 1839, dividing the time, as far as pra c ti c abl e , into pe ods of four complete weeks each, ..and distill g,uishin , as regards each peri o d, th e un p a id, pa id , an d stampe andtotpl number of letters ; also, of the. esti-. . , =tea mediatel manner.; , verage nurnher for four weeks. of the year im. y preceding the:reduction, distinguished in like Return .of the number of letters which h- passed through the London District Post (exclusive of all General Post letters) for the - same . periods ; and distinguishing in the same manner as the last return. A.comparative statement of the number of letters .(in chiding 'franks during the existence of the franking privilegti) delivered in the United Kingdom in one week df each calendar month, beginning with November, 1839, and ending with the present time. An account showing the gross and not Post-otnce, reve nue, and, the cos.t of management, for the United King dom, for each of, the years ending the sth day of January! 1839, 1840; 1841, 1842,.1843, and 1844, ex cluding from the account, whether of gross revenue - or cost of management, any advances that may have been made by the English to the Iri s h P ost-office, and advances, to the Money Order-office. Account, show ing, as n4arly as it can be given, the gross amount of p o stage revenue for England and Wales (exclusive .of returns for refused letters, &c.), for the month ending the sth day of January 1840 (during which the four penny rate was established) ; and also for the months ending the sth day of January 1842, the sth day of January 1843, and the sth day of January 1844. An account of the payments by the PoSt-offie made during each of the years ending the sth day of January 1839,1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844, for the conveyance of the mails by railway in Great Britain ; distinguishing in each instance the payments for work done within the year from payments for work done in previous years. Return of the number and amount of money orders issued and paid in England and Wales during each quarter, from the quarter ending the sth day of April, 1839, to.that ending the sth day of January, 1844, inclusive. Similar return as - regards money orders issued and paid in Lon don. Return by the Admiralty, showing in detail the different items which compose the sum of 612,8501, charged for packets, in return No. 201, of session 1843. Return of all provincial P dst- nffines in which, owing to the death ensati or resignation of the deputy-post roaster,. compons have laps e d to, the levemie since September, 1839, s•howing in eat h ease the amount of such compensation, and the total cost of the office to the revenue, both before and after its re-arrange ment ; the cost after reqtrrangemcnt being stated, first, as originally proposed by the Post-office, second, as authorised by th e Treasury. Copy, of all .ra ' ilway mails as directed by the Treasury to ho made in August,lB42; together with an addition, showing the length of each line as p me -bill ,er official notice. to the Company, as per P os t-' office to W e Com an o ti and as per actual ,payments by the Post py, past twig present ; .also, an ex planation of any discrepancy Which may appear in such return, Annual.returu of foes, perquisitea ‘ v&c. 4 kr Ow ..v-~ year 1842, as ordered by the Treasury minute of the day of May, 1842. Return of the details, as submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on which the esti: mate No. 201 of last session was prepared. Return of letters registered in the travelling post-office in a week in July or August, 1843. After a- few observations from the CHANCELLQB of the EXCHEQUER, the returns were agreed to. UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN. Mr. WYSE then moved for returns showing 1 1 1 annual amount of income received by the University 0 1 Dublin, during each of the last ten years; distinguishill the sources from whi c h suc h i ncome has been derive with the amount in gross and net derived from each source respectively. Estimated and received amount of annual income during each of the last ten years from livings in the gift of the University of Dublin. List of ensolumetits, whether under head of salaries or fees, or for rooms in college, and commons or other allowanots enjoyed by the provost, senior and junior fellows, scholar. professors, and officers of the University of Dublin, shoo ing the amount enjoyed by each respectively, with the names of each person receiving the same, and the reli gious persuasion to which he belongs. Amount of an nual receipts carried to the Tutors' Fund, during each: of the last ten years. Amount of annual receipts trolls fees not included in the.above, for raatriculation , andl conferring of degrees, during the last ten years resptsn'. Lively. Amount of annual receipts for fees for returaillg. on the hooks names -of graduates entitled to vote at the Parliamentary elections for the University, during eaolls • of the last ten years respectively. Summaries of the fora going returns for the whole period above specified.;.. Number of fellows, senior and junior scholars and pro fessors, elected and appointed during the last ten yeastsi, with dates of their several elections or appointment% distinguishing to what religious persuasion they; re spectively belong; • total amo u nt o f un d ergraduates on the books on the Ist day of January, 1844; the nuttibei of undergraduates admitted and carried on -the books, for the last ten year's; distinguishing to what 're ligiuus persuasion they respectively belong. Numbek of graduates, specifying their respective degrees. for each year for the last ten years, distinguishing - to what religious 'persuasion they respectively belong.' , COLLEGIti, OF M,AYNOOTH Mr. WYSE also moved for a return •of -the nu.. nual amount of income received by the Roman Catholic Royal College .of Maynooth each year, for the last ten years, distinguishing the sources front which such income has been derived, with the amount. in gross and net derived from each source respectively. Lists of emoluments, whether under head of salaries, fees, rooms in college, or commons or other allowances "- enjoyed by - the • president, - professors, studentsi and officers of, the college, showing the- amount,eo.-: , joyed by each" respectively. Summaries of the' fore- - going returns for the whole period above ;specified. Number of professors, students, on the foundation, and other otlicers elected or appointed each year, for the 'last -ten years. Total' number of students admitted and . carried on the books of- the 'college each year, for the last. tem yesxs.• Nuniber of students who ,have passed their final examination,. and such as have left the college each year for the last ten'years;:distinguishing such as were in orders fron4 laymen. The course in use in the college on the Ist day of January,: 1844, and, the text. • books read in the same. ROYAL BELFAST INSTITUTION.- • Mr. WYSE- likewise moved for the annual amount 0 1 income received by the Royal Belfast Institution in each year for the last ten years; distinguishing 'the sources from which such income - has • been derived, with. the amount in gross and net, derived from each source re spectively. List of emoluments whether under head of salaries, fees, or' other allowances enjoyed by the prin cipal, professors, students on the foundation, if anyoted" . officers of the Belfast Institution, showing -the 'amotmS enjoyed by eac h respect i vely, and to what religious per— suasion each belongs. Summaries of the foregoing returns for the whole period above specified. Number of psofes sore, students on the foundation, if any, and officers elected or appointed each year for the last ten years. Total number of students admitted and carried on the books of the institution each year, for the last ten years distinguishing the religious persuasion to which they respectively belong. Number of students who have passed their final examination, and such- as have left the . college each year for the last ten years, distinguishing the religious persuasion to--which they respectively belong, and whether in orders or laymen. The course in use ,in the institution on the Ist day of Januarys 1844, and the text booki read in the same. - Sir ROBERT PEEL thought it was not quite Wet° call for returns from this institution. He thought it would nothe proper to distinguish the religious persuasions of the members or students of the University. Me op - ' posed the motion baits present form, because be thought no gciod could - result from it, and because he considered'', it might form a very inconvenient precedent, and ono ' detrimental to public business. Mr. SHAW' also opposed• it, and thought nothing could be more invidious and unreasonable than to call upon professional gentlemen in the University to state the amount of their private emoluments. • Nothing, in his opinion, could be more improper.' With regard to that part of the motion Calling for a return of the num bers of Catholics - and Protestants, he thought, as well as being only injudicious, it was very useless, as it was well known that ;scholars and fellows in that univers sity must be 'Protestants, but -that Roman Catholics; might be, and great numbers were; undergraduates or - Trinity College. . • Atter a few words from Sir R. PEEL, • • . Mr. WYSE consented to withdraw the present' um tion,,at the some time promising It/introduce one in' a ll amended form.' • • - ' Sir R. PEEL.moved that the Select 'Cettiniittee controverted elections do consist of sixteen. Members... . and that Lord Ashley's name be added to the-satire Cora' mittee,Agreed to. The Report -of the Committee of Supply was then brought up and received. - •• - The, Orders -of the Day were then disposed of, and the louse adjourned till. Monday, the 15th of April. COMPLETE HISTORY or THE WAR IN CHINA, 41I0••" —We ; are requested to state that Mr. Colbttrn, of Great Marlborough-street, has this day published " The Murat/Nee of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis, from 1840 to 1843 ; and of all the combined Naval and Military Opera tions n China ; togethe r w ith I mpor t ant N ot i ces • of tha t Country, a complete Account of the Colony of. .Hong-Kong. and Remarks on our future Intercourse with the Chinese, &c.. from the Notes of Commande r W. H . H a ll , R.N.,. and Per sonal pbservations; by W. D. Bernard; Esq., A.M , & 0 ., in vols. Bve., with M a p s an d Plates, price 325. bound; . can now be hidnf all Booksellers. ' Mr. COlburn hag also just :40 published, " The Narrative of the 'Last Campaign in Affghanistan, under General Pollock," . by Lieut. Greenwood, I , 'of her IV4esty's 31st Regiment ; forming a Companion to . the Narratives, o f Lad y S ale and Lieut. Eyre, in 1 vol. skull Bvo., •274 with Plates, price .12s. bound. WHITEFRIARR; ,oR, THE DAYS f)1 , CHARLES 'THE SEQ.:DID ; an Historical , Romance. A third, edition of this work, we observe, has just appeared. "They who look. in - a. romance for marvellous and thriliing incident, rapid and startling effects; perpetual perils, and hair-bjeadth escapes for numerous characters all drawn in colours of bold relig4 will here find a book after their own hearts.- ,No one can deny the ingenuity and skill with which the author has ' wrought Lia story ; 'and the power of description evidenced in all his principal scenes, many of which actually stand be fore' the eye like so many. pictures on' the stage. Beginning' in the year 1667, and ending in 1683, we , have the great Dos of London, the Titus Oates' plot, Colonel Blood's conspiracy, - the troubles in .Scotland; with the,:battle of Bothwell Brig* the Rye-house plot, and other historical events of the period, all introduced with considerable 'skill and effect, In his general views ot the aspect of the times, of the state of • society, and in his description of London and its purlieus as they existed in thoie• da) . 's, the author has been very suc cessful. The jolly scenes in Alsatia are perfect in their way Amongst r the numerous historical characters which are intro (limed in these pages, we may mention thOse of Charles the- Second "and his Queen, Rochester, Buckingham, Monmouth'. Shaftesbury, Russell, Sydney,. Judge Jeffreys, Titus Oates, Colonel Blood, Nell Gwyn, 86 c.!'—Ittorning ,Chronicle, • SPRING.—The prevalence of, cutaneous visitations at this period of the year inculcates the necessity of pre-. 1 ) serving the Skin in a pure and healthy 'state, so that its fuse- ' • Lions may be duly performed. The great celebrity whick Rowland's Eery-dor" exclusi ve l y mainta i ns as an active yd.' mild and soothing agent kir extirpating all impurities, s'ad imparting a healthy freshness to the Skin, is most pleasi'nnly. evinced at the present season. This balmy and odoriferous I treamy liquid- is composed of extracts from the most rare flowers and herbs of an eastern clime—its discovery by a lady of rank, wasno less singular ,than its effects have been ' , felicitous during the last thir years. Its universally great demand excites the cupidit y of unprincipled shopkeepers, who give the title of " Genuine" Ralydor,to some conounds of their own manufacture of the most deleterious character. • containing mineral art ringents utterly ruinous to the Cons " . ' plexion, and by their ropeliant action endangering health. It is, therefore, imperative on purchasers to see that the words . " Rowland's lakydor" are on the wrapper.—All 'others are : fraudulent counterfeits. On the 30th ult., at Trinity-square, Southwark, the wife of. Mr. Henry Jarvis, of a son. • • On the 31st ult., at Claplaam-rise, the lady of W.. Von , Mello, Esq., of a son. On the 31st ult., at the Bury,Chesham, Buckinghamshire' , the lady of William Lowndes, Esq.,. of a daughter. , On the 31st ult., a t D enmark-hill, the lady, of Charlo-' Barron, Esq., of a daughter. On the 31st ult., in Gordon-square, the lady of Ballot' ,* Peacock, Esq., of a ion. • • On the 31st ult., i n ' M ontagu-square, • the lady of Ellie Reeve, Esq., of a daughter. . , 1K ..4r hiARRIEP -. • h !fief On the 30th ult., at St. ,Alphage Churc—, —reenw_, cir ‘ ;;;), Masters. Francis James Archer, Esq., to Amelia, eldest daurol ter of the late Charles Bradley, Esq. On the 30th ult., At St. Bride's, Fleet-street, . Mr. John Shirley, of Salisb u ry -square, to Jane, youngest'4filighter o' , • Mr. Johnson , of William-street, Lowndes-square. . •• On the 26th ult., at Amsterdam,, Captain John Duvall- 1 i" . . of the 81st Footruged 73. r. • of On the 27th ult., Mrs. Fyson, of Bli c kf r i aro - roa d, wife - 4- e J. Fyson, Esq., age d 5 8. On the 27th ult., 'at 'the Cloughs, near Newcastle-under., 0-'4 L 3, me, the Rev. John Basnett, aged 81. - On the 28th ult., at Liverpool, Charles Boutflower, Esq. • On the 29th ult., M rs. Katharine Brown, Fitzroy-square. • • On the 30th ult., a t Old Malton. Abbey, Yorkshire, Charles ,; 4" : re • Smithson, Esq.„. 44 • On the 30th ult., at Ca m b e r we ll- grove, • the i nfant son ' o f „ Geoige Reid, . • -On the 30th ta, at Highbuty, Isabella Louisa, the inftW • daughter of Mi-. and Mrs. Henry Maynard. On the 30th ult., a t Ch urc h- cottage, Park-roa d , Stool'''. well, Sarah,"the wife of Mr. 'l'. Collins, aged 57. On the 31st ult.; at St. George's-road, Southwark, Sar relict of the late James Samms, of Demerara. the eldest .On the 31st ult., at Sandgate, Augustus Mark, - son of the Rev. M. D. French. On the 31st ult., at Milner-square, Isliniton, Oatheriai Cochran, elde s t daughter. of Mr. W. Stevenson. "_ • , Ou the 31st ult., in . Circus-road; St. John's-wned, George Lackington,Esq. aged 67 , I • • ;i London; Printed and . Published by .2,IIJRI)O,YOUNO , 9, , No, 112, •Strand, Printer at The . Su n Office, 2(0 • 1 12 . t: Strand, in the Preci nc t o f th e Savoy, In the County (HA Middlesex; Wedttosday, Apra 3, 1844. • • ,3~.: `f Qt The at The G. • . The , ' 1 - air 2 ga Sir cb alr bea / Sir ; T 11; The OZ Tltt The • Ili: 1.) t • . • • :It • The, • • • azal '232 ,4 1, 4 w:ua•D 21 1e6 r e y. , 10 11 tS• : . 14 • .-49; 14 .. LOEI • .1. sr. • Aatt publi ou th ' reset , 'Rho beve the be • be 0$ f rood: of s, tette eatat A nil] ' that • to t" kandPape.] . him; "I!'nd trei tall( ▪ Bp do 1. to t and • 'tad( _ _ st tlti the ti adve l Oa t Wi I Ityt. te.o 4 lend ( Etleb I h e 110.1,1 the t dui r.Asi an( ja3 wh awl day tbt P9ri rtIo; and rtt t • 411, t Ora • • 1 , tan bre ru r try UCH hal 41 711 isa THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1844