The Sun. — London, England, 1836-03-03 00:00:00

IM:PARIAL PARLIAMENT. • HOUSE OF COMMONS, 31.11C11 2. The Spemaa took the Chair at the usual time. DARTHEZ'S -NATURALIZATION BILL. On the notion of Mr. LEADER, this Bill was read a lemma time. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY. Lord STANLEY moved the second reading of this Bill. Mr. W. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the proprietors of the Leeds Canal, complaining that the standing orders had not been complied with, and praying that the Bill might be referred back to the Committee. Lord STANLEY made no objection to the Bill being referred back to , the Committee, and it was referlecl ac coreangly. LEEDS AND DERBY RAILWAY. Sir J. BECKETT said he was about to move that the Leeds and Derby Railway Bill should be referred to a Committee, but be feared the recommendation of the Select Committee would prevent him at present doing so. The SPEAKER asked if upon the line there was any competition ? Sir JOHN BECKETT said there was not. The SPEAKER said he thought the recommendation of the Committee only referred le cases where there was competition between parties on tbe same lines. Perhaps some member of the Committee would be able to inform the House what was their feeling on the subject. Lord STANLEY said, as far as he could collect, the re commeantion of the Committee included such cases only as there were conflicting interests. Sir JOHN BECKETT said, under these circum stances, he would move that the Bill be referred to the Yorkshire list.—Agreed to. • BIRMINGHAM AND DERBY, AND STONEBRIDGE RAILWAYS BILLS. Instruction was given to the Committee on the former Bill to consolidate the two Billsinto one. LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY. Lord G. LENNOX moved the commitment of the Lon don and Brightonßailway Bill (Stevenson's) to the Sur rey list. Mr. GORING presented a petition against the Bill. After a few words from an HON. MEMBER, the import of which could not be heard in the gallery, Lord G. LENNOX postponed his motion till to-morrow READING UNION GAS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. BIRMINGHAM and GLOUCESTER RAILWAY Captain WINNINGTON presented a petition against the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Bill. CAMBRIDGE ENCLOSURE BILL. Mr. TOWNLEY moved the third reading of this Bill ULSTER RAILWAY. _ _ On the motion of Mr. S. CRAWFORD the Ulster Railway Bill was referred to Lord Castlereagh and the Down list. METROPOLITAN SUSPENSION BRIDGE. The petition to a Bill was reported, and the Bill ordered to be brought in. NEWSPAPER TAX. Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from Greenock, signed by 2,166 persons, praying for the repeal of the newspaper duties. The Hon. Member remarked that the petition was signed by the Chief Magistrate, and by the late Chief Magistrate, as well as the respectable inhabitants of the borough, with the exception of those not peculiarly given to Toryism. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce of Greenock, against the Dublin Steam-packet Bill. CARLOW ELECTION. Mr. WALLACE again rose, and said that he had now a petition to present of a peculiar nature, from the inha bitants of the county of Carlow, which went to rebut the statement made by the Hon. and Gallant Member the other evening, with reference to proceedings consequent upon the late Carlow election. He thought, however, that, as he had been unable to meet with the lion. and Gallant Gentleman, and as he did not then see him in his place, he should be acting more consonant with the feelings and prac tice of that House if he merely moved that the petition now lie on the table, and would give notice that on a future day he should move that it be printed. 'Colonel PERCEVAL said that it would not be fair to present it without due notice.—(Hear.) Mr. WALLACE gave notice for to-morrow accordingly. Mr. KEMP presented a petition from Lewes, com plaining of certain clauses in the Poor Law Amendment Act. After a few words from Mr. GORING and Sir C. BLUNT, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. Lord G. SOMERSET gave notice, on behalf of Lord F. Egerton, that he should move on Monday next, as an instrucion to the Committee on the Municipal Corpora tions (Ireland) Bill, that the Committee be empowered to make provision for the abolition of such corporations, and for such an arrazement as may be necessary, on their aboli tion, for securing the impartial administration of justice, and the peace and good government of cities and towns in Ireland. _ . Mr. B. HOY gave notice of a motion for Friday next, that the present mode of taking divisions of the House in tmo lobbies be discontinued.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. HE A.THCOTE presented a petition from the Agri cultural Association of Boston, in Lincolnshire, complain ing of agricultural distress. LIGHTHOUSES. Mr. P. THOMSON wished to ask the Hon. Member for Middlesex whether he was willing to abandon his Bill for the regulation of lighthouses, as it was the intention of the Government to bring in a measure which should em brace all its objects ? If the Hon. Member did not, he (Mr. Thomson),could never advise his Majesty's Govern ment to consent to its second reading. Mr. HUME, as he could not help himself, should ac cede to the suggestion of the Right Hon. Gentleman. At the same time, he would say that the subject was one which required immediate attention. More than 100,0001. had been already exacted from the shipping of the country, and paid over to the Woods and Forests, every penny of which was illegal. Mr. ELPHINSTONE postponed the second read ing of the Registration of Electors Bill for a fortnight, as the Government had a similar measure before the House. FINAL REGISTER BILL Mr. ELPHINSTONE moved the second reading of the Final Register Bill. The Hon. Member was inadible in the Gallery. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the Bill. Mr. R. W ASON apposed the Bill. Mr. GROTE thought that a measure similar to the Bill of his Hon. Friend was essentially necessary. Mr. PRAED opposed the Bill. After a few words from Messrs. Buller, Hume, Ewart, Warburton, Aglionby, Goulburn, Wynn, and Sir J. Graham, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be brought before a Committee of the House on that day fortnight. - Mr. WYNN inquired how it happened that the Hon. Member's (the Attorney-General's) Bill was not also taken into consideration, and hoped there would be no incon= sistency engendered by the two Bills. • The ATTORNEY-GENERAL expressed himself surprised and mortified that his Bill was not already in the possession of the Hon. Member. It had been or dered to be printed, nnd copies would certainly be laid on the table to-morrow. INTIY,IDATION OF VOTERS BILL. On the question that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. WYNN expressed a hope that the House would take A little more time to consider it. Mr. ORD wished his lion. Friend would allow it to be referred to a Select Committee, to make arrangements for the better security of the subject under the application of these new powers. Mr. POULTER thought it would be useless to go be fore a Committee on this point, to sit, perhaps, till the end or August ; but if anybody wished for, and would point out any further precision in the specifications, be was ready to insert it. .The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would recommend as the most prudential course that it be referred to them on the second reading. _ _ The Bill was then read a second time, and referred ac. cordingly. PRISONERS' COUNSEL BILL. The House entered into a Committee on this Bill, and Mr. WAKLEY called attention to a discrepancy exist ing between the first clause, which states that, " after the passing of this Act all persons tried fo r f e lo n i es shall be admitted, after the close of the case for the prosecution, Counsel learned make full answer and defence thereto by learned in the law ;" and the third clause, which enacts " that all 'persons accused before any Justice or Justices of the Peace, of any offence against the law, shall be admitted to make their answer and defence to such ac cusation, and to have any witnesses examined or cross examined by Counsel, or by attorney, attending on his be balf."—(Hear.) Independent of the incongruity of the clauses, he thought that the limitation to Counsel or At torneys, or both, exhibited a narrow and exclusive feeling, which had better be done away with in the reformation effected by the present Bill. They both belonged to vo luntary and arbitrary societies, who really were not them selves a mena bl e to law in their regulations, as his Hon. Friend near him (Mr. D. W. Harvey) had experienced; - and he thought i t too much to leave prisoners or the public exclusively depending on their aid. Why not allow a pri soner to choose whom he pleasedt for his defence ? Mr. R. WASON said that only a f ew d a y s since the a very Hon. Member had made strong speech against me dical quacks, and he hoped he was not now going to show more favour to legal quacks and pettifoggers.--(Laughter.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL that s at present a the matter might be allowed safely to rest it was. There must'be some regulations in this profession, especially to insure the proper administration of law and justice, end he - , , did not think it would conduce to the dignity of either to create a right hitherto unheard of, for some felon, perhaps ' only three weeks returned from Botany Bay, to stand up in Court and insist on pleading for his comrade at the bar. —(Hear.) He adjured the House not to think of any hasty legislation on the subject.—(Hear.) Mr. C. WYNN was favourable to the principle of the amendment, as far as it was intended to ,permit attorneys to act as Counsel in the absence of Barrisiers. The words of the clause—" Counsel learned in the law," he thought would exclude attorneys, and he, therefore, wished some more general term to be introduced. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought that there could be no doubt that when there were no other practi- tioners but attorneys the Court would consider them as entitled to plead under the terms of the clause. Mr. HUME thought the principle of the amendment a good one, but he begged his Hon. Friend to consider if it might not endanger the passing of the Bill elsewhere. Mr. EWART had no objection to the principle or word ing of the amendment, if the House thought fit to adopt it. Mr. O'CONNELL hoped that his Hon. Friend would not press his amendment. Mr. WAKLEY simply wished by his amendment that prisoners should have the privilege of selecting for their de fence either Counsel or attorney, as they might wish. If, however, the amendment was considered objectionable he should not, certainly, press it. Sir F. POLLOCK said, that if the object of the amen( ment was to allow attorneys to practise in the absence o Counsel be saw no great objection to it ; but if it were no' confined to this, it might be attended with considerable difficulty to have this important measure carried elsewhere. He sincerely hoped that the Bill would meet with a favour able reception elsewhere, and he had reason to believe that the opinions of the most eminent men at the Bar were fa vourable to its success. Mr. POTTER felt convinced that if attorneys were prevented practising in Courts which barristers attended great mischief would arise. It was well known that at some Quarter Sessions attorneys alone practiced, at others both barristers and attorneys, particularly at places where the Sessions were got through in one day. It frequently happened that young Counsel attended those Courts, which were also attended by solicitors of long standing and great ability. Indeed, at the Quarter Sessions of the town he had the honour to represent, that was the case, and he felt convinced that if attorneys were by the Bill before the House prevented appearing. for prisoners, great hardship would be felt by those solicitors who" were peculiarly fitted for that kind of practice ; besides the expense to those charged with offences would be much increased, for it was well that the fees of attorneys were less than those of barristers. He trusted the House would not prohibit attorneys pleading, particularly in those Courts where it had been usual for them to do so. Mr. BERNAL hoped that the Hon. Member for Fins bury would withdraw his amendment. If the Bill should go to the other House of Parliament with this amendment, it would have no more chance of passing there than China would have of becoming part and parcel of Great Britain. —(Laughter.) After a few words from Mr. S. O'ButEN, the SOLI CITOR-GENERAL, and Mr. O'CONNELL, Sir F. POLLOCK said, that if the Hon. Member for Finsbury would withdraw his amendment, he (Sir F. Po lock) would propose in its stead the following words, which he thought would obviate all difficulty :—" By Counsel learned in the law, or by attorney in Courts where attorneys practise as Counsel." Mr. WYNN thought the words just proposed by his Learned Friend would meet the purpose that all wished. Mr. WAKLEY was willing to take, as an instalment of his own amendment, that proposed by the Hon. and Learned Member, and he should, therefore, withdraw hi: own proposition. The amendment of Sir R. Pollock was then agreed to. After which the clause, as amended, was agreed to. On clause 2 being read, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to that par of the clause which took from Counsel for the prosecution the right of last reply, and gave it to the prisoner's Counsel. There was no ground for altering the law in this respect. There might, perhaps, be particular cases where it wouldhe an injustice ; but let those special cases be provided for, and not a sweeping clause of this nature introduced, which he had no doubt would have the effect, if passed, of endanger ing the success of the Bill. Sir F. POLLOCK said that there were no words strong enough in which he could declare his sincere opinion that if this provision were taken out of the clause it would be much better to put the Bill altogether into the fire, for, thus mutilated, it would act only as a snare for the prisoner. Unless the great principle of allowing to prisoners a full defence, their Counsel having the last word, were carried out to its utmost extent, it would be far better that t.l • Bill had never been introduced. He was persuaded that any evil that could arise from granting this privilege to Counsel for prisoners would gradually correct itself, and that in the result fair and impartial justice would be done. He considered that a gross injustice was (lone by giving to the prosecuting COunsel the last word. He believed that, generally speaking, the Bill would be in operation in nine teen cases out of twenty ; for in about that proportion of cases prisoners did not employ Counsel at all. It was, however, quite essensial that this clause should be carried in all its integrity, and the House, he thought, might safely look to Juries to correct any evil that might arise out of it. Mr. O'CONNELL perfectly agreed with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had just sat down, that it would be better to relinquish the Bill altogether than to pass it without this clause in all its parts. There was no country in the world where law was known that the prisoner had not the last word except in this. In Scotland it was tl:e case ; and in France, not only had the prisoner's counsel the last word, but the prisoner himself had a right to add acy thing he pleased after. When man's life and charac ter was at stake, surely it was not justice to deny him every opportunity of explaining, not only every thing that had been sworn against him, but everything that had been said against him. If this clause were rejected the Bill would be of little or no value. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL did not mean to press his objection; He would defer to what seemed to be the opinion of the majority. Col. PERCEVAL understood the Hon. and .Learne.l Gentleman opposite (Mr. O'Connell) to say that he had not read the evidence of the Member for Huntingdon. Perhaps there were other parts of the evidence which be had not read, though he pronounced a very decided opinion upon it. He received a letter from a friend of his, Mr. Charles Phillips, complaining of a most unwarranted attack made upon him by the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, in which he charged him with having given false evidence before a Committee of the other House, with a view to the increase of his own emoluments as a barrister. He would ask the Hon. and Learned Gentleman whether he had read the evidence of Mr. Phillips? If he did not, he now called upon him to retract so gross and so un founded an imputation upon an honourable man who de served better. Mr. O'CONNELL said that upon the occasion alluded to he did not name Mr. Phillips. He said he would prove the evidence. He did not then know, except from public report, that it was the evidence of Mr. Phillips ; but the Gallant Colonel now very kindly introduced the name of Mr. Phillips to afford an opportunity 'of quarrel between two old friends. He was most ready to retract anything which fell from him that could be considered as reflecting upon a most worthy man, whom he had the honour of know ing for many years. After a few words from Colonel PERCEVAL and Mr. EWART, Colonel PERCEVAL said the Member for Dublin cast an imputation upon him of endeavourinc , to produce a quar rel between two friends. He had therefore a right to read the letter in his own defence. A request was made to him personally by Mr. Phillips to read his letter.—(The Hon. Member commenced reading the letter amidst cries of " Read, read," and " No, no.") Mr. O'CONNELL said Mr. Phillips must be now a very different man from what he had known him ever be fore to have been if the quarrel between them was not al ready made up. Colonel PERCEVAL commenced reading the letter again. Dr. BOWRING rose to order. Mr. O'CONNEL (without rising from his seat)—Let him read it. Colonel PERCEVAL then read the letter:- 49, Chancery-lane, Saturday evening. " My dear Sir—The prompt and generous manner in which you repelled the attack which Mr. O'Connell dared to make upon my character has imposed on me the pleasing duty of proving that I deserved your vindication. You have now pe• rused my evidence, and I ask you whether I am not well war ranted in declaring the imputation cast on me to be a base in vention? It was a grievous imputation. No less than that of having for my own emolument, and that of my brother Barris ters, endeavoured to impede a useful public measure, and that, too, on my oath That the Bill in question would have the very opposite effect, so far as I am concerned, every member of the profession knows. But I scorn so abject a vindication. If I had dared, before the high-minded and honourable Com mittee who examined me, to assign so vile a motive for my evidence they would have driven me with well-deserved in dignation from their presence. I was no voluntary witness, I was called upon unexpectedly, and by a compulsory pro cess. To those Noblemen I appeal, then, one and all, whether there is the shadow of a pretence for this imputa tion ? But no man knows better than Mr. O'Connell that sordid interest has never been my guide. He ought to remember that in defiance of the powerful party to which you belong, which was then omnipotent in Ireland, and amongst whom you know my natural patrons were, I sacrificed, for what I considered his persecuted sect, every hope of emolument or promotion. I claim no merit for acting conscienti ous l y ; b ut surely the fact ought to have shielded me from such an accu sation, and from such a quarter. How I have incurred his " • _ THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1836. enmity I know not. Can it be by my always having been his ' friend ? You will scarcely believe that after two-and -twenty years of the most confidential intercourse his last act was that of cordial recognition on the very threshold of the House into which he was entering to asperse me 1 ! Mr. O'Connell is fond of adverting to his home. A happy one I know it is, and long •may it continue so ; but he ought not to ha ve for gotten the helpless little ones of another home, whom he was depriving of their bread by depriving their parent of his character.—l am, my dear Sir, most gratefully your friend and townsman, " CHARLES PHILLIPS. " To Colonel Perceval, M. P." Colonel PERCEVAL having read the letter, was pro ceeding to comment upon it, when Mr. AGLIONBY rose to order. Mr. O'CONNELL hoped the Hon. Member had now satisfied himself.. He retracted before the letter was read, and after its being read, he now retracted again. Mr. C. BULLER said he would now return to the Bill. He thought it would be better to have Only two speeches, giVing the accused the last word. This was the practice in Scotland. Mr. EWART saw no reason why the accused should not have.the last word in all cases as well as in felonies and high treason. Mr. HARDY thought it would be against the interest of the accused to have the last word. The LORD ADVOCATE said the practice in Scot land greatly facilitated the administration of justice. Sir G. STRICKL A.ND thought it would be better to pass the Bill without the clause. Mr. FRESHFIELD could not assent to the clause, but would not divide the House upon it. Mr. C. BULLER moved an amendment to the effect that, according to the Scotch system the speeches of Coun sel should not begin until, the whole of the witnesses bad been examined on the one side and on the other. He thought it would be time enough afterwards to consider the form of the indictment. Mr. J. JERVIS thought that if the clause was objec tionable before, it would be ten times more so if the amend ment of the Hon. Member were adopted. Mr. EWART was surprised, having been associated with the Hon. and Learned Member in the introduction of this measure, that he should not have been allowed to share his confidence with respect to present amendment.—( Hear.) This very proposition had been negatived by a Select Com mittee two years ago, and lie (Mr:Ewart) could not concur 158 in it now. Mr. GORING thought that the effect of the clause, as well as of the amendment, would be to make it difficult to procure convictions at all. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL begged . „the Hon. Member for Liskeard to withdraw his amendment. Mr. C. BULLER thought it would be better to strike out the clause altogether. Sir E. KNATCHBULL suggested that the amend ment be withdrawn, and the original question put. Mr. BULLER accordingly withdrew his amendment. The original question was then put from the Chair. After a few words from Mr. TREVOR, the Gallery was cleared for a division : but a discussion arose while the doors were closed, and no division took place. It was un derstood that this was in consequence of the resolution of the House with regard to the new mode of taking divisions having omitted to give the Chairman of Committees the same powers as regards divisions in Committee which are given to the Speaker in cases of ordinary divisions. On our return to the Gallery we found that the Chair man had reported progress, and the House had resumed. , The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was addressing the House. There could be no doubt that the resolution having omitted to provide for the case of a division in Com mittee such a division could not be Come to unless the House were prepared to make the necessary alteration in the wording of the resolution. Mr. WARD—Undoubtedly the intention of the Com mittee from which the proposition had emanated had been that the plan should apply to all the divisions of the House, and he would therefore, with the permission of the House, move that the word " Chairman," be inserted in the resolu tion in order to avoid the difficulty. After a few words from Mr. AGLIONBY and Mr. GROTE, Mr. WARD rose to move his amendment ; but was re minded that he bad given no notice. The Hon. Member appealed to the Speaker whether he was to give notice or not ? The SPEAKER said that the usual course cdrtainly was to give notice of any motion intended to be. brought .-118 forward: Mr. HUME submitted that there were cases, however, in which the House was called upon to waive the standing regulations, and that this was one of those in which it could come to an immediate decision. The SPEAKER said there was no doubt if a Member was in possession of the House, he might make any motion he thought fit ; but at the same time it had been customary for many years past fo'r Hon. Members to give notice of the motions they intended to make. It was a question whether a motion which was to alter a resolution of the House could be immediately made, and without notice. Mr. GROTE the that the resolutions rendered it imperative that the order for closing the doors should be ' given by a certain person, and if that person were not there to perform that duty, no division could take place in the Committee. He thought it was the duty of the House at once to adopt soma means by which the difficulty could be removed. After a few words from Mr. Ward, Mr. Heathcote, Mr. R. Steuart, Mr. Warburton, and the Solicitor-General , The SPEAKER observed, that if the proposition of the Hon. Member for St. Alban's were established, the rule and practice of taking divisions would be rendered clear, but then he did not think that such a step should be taken without notice.—(Hear ‘ hear.) The House, having again resolved itself into Committee, divided, and the numbers were— Ayes Noes Majority On our re-admission, we found Sir E. KN ATcHuLL objecting to the clause which proposes to give the assistance of Counsel or attorney to any party brought before a Justice for examination on a criminal charge. He differed in opinion with the Hon. Gentleman opposite as to the prudence of such an enact ment. He certainly must take the sense of the House upon the clause, although he would not object to it, if it were so modified as that the assistance of Counsel or at torney should be allowed to no prisoner brought before a Justice for preliminary examination, unless Counsel or attor ney appeared on the part of the prosecution. This would be placing both parties on the same footing. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that if the clause had been confined to cases of summary jurisdiction before Magistrates, he would have at once agreed to it ; but as it was, he must say, that he considered it much too expensive. Mr. Sergeant WOULFE contended that 'the prisoners were as much entitled to the protection which the at tendance of Counsel could afford them, on a preliminary examination as on a trial. Mr. EW ART did not think Gentlemen who undor took the offices of Justices of the Peace should complain of any inconvenience which the duty they had to discharge might impose upon them, nor that their convenience was the point to be studied in an Act of this description. He, however, should, as far as he was concerned, prefer stipen diary to unpaid Magistrates. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL concurred in thinking that the clause went a great deal too far ; and said that, unless the modification proposed was adopted, he could not agree to it. They should recollect that a trial was in the nature of an appeal, and therefore that if prisoners were allowed the assistance of Counsel on their trial, it was all that they had a right to expect, or that ought to be con- ceded to them. Mr. AGLIONBY considered that prisoners should be allowed just as much protection against the wrong decision of a Magistrate as against the wrong decision of a Jury. It should not be forgotten that the wrong decision of a Magis trate might subject an innocent person to imprisonment among the worst classes of society. A conversation then ensued in which Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Heathcote, Mr. Lennard, Mr. Cutlar Ferguson, Mr. Wynn, Mr. W. Roche, and Mr. Hogg took part ; after which the Committee divided, when there appeared-- For the Amendment For the original clause Majority for the Amendment --17 Upon the reading of the fourth clause. which provides that all persons who may hereafter be held to bail or com mitted to prison for any offence against the law shall be en titled to require, and to have on demand from the persons having lawful custody thereof, copies of the examinations of the witnesses upon whose depositions they have been so held to bail or committed to prison, Szc. Mr. Sergeant WOULFE proposed to add the words, " or which may have been subsequently taken by any Justice of the Peace since such admission to bail, or such committal to prison." Mr. C. FERGUSSON strongly condemned the practice of taking depositions in the absence of the prisoner. Mr. O'LOGHLIN said that, so far from the person accused having the witnesses on whose depositions be was committed examined in his presence, on the contrary, such a practice was permitted in no case of felony, and in very few cases of misdemeanour. In point of fact, even though a person had been admitted to bail, it was the common practice to take additional informations against him, which were returned to the Clerk of the Crown who framed the indictment, and the party went to trial without notice of the charges against him. He thought that so mischievous a practice ought to be put an end to, and for that purpose he considered it quite necessary that there should be, an 1 expression of the opinion of the House upon the subject. tlcct4 The ATTORNEY-GENERAL considered such a practice as the amendment went to correct to be abominable. Mr. WYNN concurred in the propriety of introducing a measure to put an end altogether to Auch a practice. Sir E. KNATCHBULL was understood to concur in the principle of the amendment. Mr. AGLION BY had been of opinion at first that the amendment was not necessary, as he thought provision was made by law against taking depositions after committal or holding to bail ; but on reference to the statute upon which he founded this opinion he saw it referred only to England, and not to Ireland. He (Mr. Aglionby) agreed with the Learned Attorney-General for England on two points, that the practice was abominable, and ought to be put down, but not that it was illegal. After a few words from Mr. Sergeant JACKSON and the ATTORNEY-GENERAL for England, Mr. WOULFE withdrew his amendment, on an under standing that an inquiry be instituted, and a Bill brought in, declaratory of, what the law was. • The clause was then agreed to. On clause 5 being proposed, enacting " that all persons under trial shall be entitled at the time of their trial to in spect, without fee or reward, all depositions (or copies thereof) which have been taken against them, and returned into the Court before which such trial shall be had," Sir E. KNATCHBULL made some observations, which were inaudible in the Gallery. Mr. WYNN was understood to object to the clause. Tho House divided, when there appeared— For the clause Against it • Majority —lO7 The other clauses were then agreed to, the House re sumed, and the report was ordered to be received, as we understood, to-morrow. EXTRA PAROCHIAL PLACES BILL. Mr. JERVIS moved the second reading of this Bill, to which he apprehended no objection, inasmuch as Lord Al thorp, when he (Mr. Jervis) proposed the measure as an amendment to the new Poor Law Bill, professed himself friendly to its principle, if brought before the House in a sabstantive shape. Sir C. B. VERE opposed the Bill, as.an invasion of pro 'perty, and moved that t it be read a second time that day six months. After some conversation, in which it was suggested by several Hon. Members that the Bill, though it might be good in principle, was objectionable •in some of its details, the amendment was withdrawn and the second reading postponed till after the Easter recess. CORPORATION OF POOLE. Mr. POULTER moved the order of the day for the adjourned debate on the motion for referring the circum stances attending the late municipal election for the borough of Poole to a Select Committee. Mr. HOGG begged . leave to move as an amendment, ' That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into an alleged intention of the town council of Poole to dispose of the property of the corporation pending the trial of legal proceedings questioning the right of the persons composing the said town council to act as town councillors, and also to inquire into the best and speediest means of promoting such disposal of the said property."—(Hear.) The SPEAKER put the question accordingly. Mr. POULTER opposed the amendment. • The Hon. Mr. SCARLETT rose amidst loud cries of " Spoke." He approved of the amendment much more than of the original motion. The subject did not properly belong to Parliament—it was one that a Court of Law alone should take cognizance of. It was true that the Courts of Law could not remedy the offence really com plained of, that this was a Conservative corporation ; but they could remedy the offences, if any, really committed. If the election was bad, the King's Bench could pronounce it void, so could it the nomination of aldermen : and the Court of Chancery could interfere with any alienation of property by the corporation. The present line of proceed ing was a novel and unconstitutional one, as it was tyranny on the part of Parliament to interfere with the rights of the Courts of Law. The House then divided, and the amendment havin been negatived, there appeared— For the original motion lBB Against it Majority On our re-admission to the Gallery, Mr. WYNN was addressing the House. He would not divide the House on the question, but he entered his most solemn protest, as strongly as he could, against the last decision, as being in itself an evil, and likely to lead from the precedent, to greater evils. He would recom mend his friends to express their dissent from the last de cision, but not to divide the House. The SPEAKER then put the motion, and read the names of the Committee, which were assented to. Mr. O'LOGIILIN obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the more effective registration of voters in Ireland. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past Twelve o'Clock. Mathews continued to suffer from the nausea, which he habitually designated " Mr. Steward." It, however, yielded at length before the remedies of his medical friends ; but the thirst continued unabated. Mr. commiserated him the more from having himself experienced the wretched ness of protracted thirst when a prisoner on board a French frigate, and " where," said he, " having by accident found a bottle of ink, I drank to the bottom." On our expressing the feats we should have of inducing illness by such a " black draught," Mathews for an instant opened all the brilliancy of his eye upon us, and remarked, with as much voice as his then exhausted condition would allow, " Why--all you'd have to do—would be to swallow a sheet of blotting paper."—Fraser's Magazine. Last week we were informed officially at Chichester, that the name of Mr. Freeland was excluded from the list of Magistrates, Ministers not advising his Majesty to put practis ing lawyers in the commission. This rule we called a whole some one ; and wholesome it is, for the duties of a practising lawyer and a Magistrate are incompatible. Now, however, Mr. Freeland is to be a Magistrate, the agent of a political Pasty, and that party connected with the Lord Lieutenant of a county, having the concerns of the Cathedral in his hands, and numbering among his clients monopolizing brewers, must be exposed to sinister influences in the discharge of public jus tice, which requires more than superhuman power to with stand.—Brighton Gazette. On 'Wednesday evening last the Edinburgh mail was considerably later than usual in its arrival in the cit y ; its detention was owing to two causes—first, to the fall of snow, which had then continued for some hours ; and secondly, to an enormous amount of specie, transmitted by mail to Man chester. It is said that the weight of the gold was more than half a ton, packed in small strong boxes, and guarded by four passengers, who travelled by mail to secure its safety. The great weight of this luggage sunk the body of the coach considerably. It soon got wind that half a ton o f g old was resting on our pavement, and a crowd quickly collected, bat the passengers had got their seats, the horses were in, the guard blew his monotonous blast—" all right" exclaimed the coachman, " all right" echoed the guard, and away went this princely hoard, to be scattered again through the country by circulation.—Carlisle Patriot. LAMBETH LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTI STUTION.—A public meeting for forwarding the views of this institution:was held on Tuesday at one o'clock in the Society's Reading Room, Wellington-terrace, Waterloo-road. B. Hawes, Esq., M. P., in the Chair. Preliminary to reading the report, the Hon. Chairman introduced various letters from titled individuals, expressing their approval of the institution. A letter from Lord King was read, stating his Lordship's re gret that he was unable to attend the meeting, but affording the Society his name and influence as a Patron. Letters to a similar purport were also read from Lord Lansdowne and his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Grace presented the Institution with the donation of 101. Messrs. Kemp, Davis, Ritchie, Dendy, Lardner, Cottingham, Stokes, Cory, Hender son, Carpenter, Nuttall, and Lawrence, spoke in favour of the objects of the Institution, and a number of resolutions were passed relative to its future management. Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, and the same being handsomely ac knowledged, the meeting was adjourned to Thursday, the 10th inst. There was a very full attendanc e of ladies, and the meeting altogether appeared to be very respectable. VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE.—On Sunday last, the Rev. Mr. Cameron preached a sermon in the Baptist chapel, at Louth, in aid of the funds for the liquidation of the above place, when 9s. I lid. was collected. Although the 'R e v. Owen Clarke, through some misunderstanding, was preaching in the Independent and Methodist Chapels, this extraordinary sum was raised. Let Sir R. Peel and his party look to this. Who says the voluntary principle does not work well in Louth ?—Lincoln Gazette. CORONER'S INQUEST.—Tuesday afternoon an in quiry took place at the Old Vineyard House, Vineyard-walk, Clerkenw ell, before Mr. Stirling and a respectable Jury, for the purpose of investigating the circumstances attending the deaths of two fine new-born male infants, which were disco vered exposed in a manner that left no doubt that they had been destroyed by the unnatural parent, or m soetreet, other party. Mr. James Bartholomew, of No. 45, Hunter-s Bruns wick-square, between six and seven o'clock that morning was nass i n w along Hardwicke-street, Cler kenwell, when he ob servedr° a green-baize bundle lying near a gateway. On a closer inspection, he was shocked at discovering that it con tained a male infant. Witness immediately proceeded to the station -house in Rosamond-street, and gave information to the Inspector on duty, who despatched a constable to the s pot , and t h e unfortunate babe was removed to the workhouse. - Mr. Whitmore, surgeon, of Great Bath-street, Cle l icen we ll , had examined the child. It was full grown, and a - remarkably fine child. The after-birth was not separated. The face had suf fered very severe external pressure. On the usual tests the lungs we re found to float, and from t he a pp ear ances witness was convinced the babe lived some time after the birth. The pressure on the mouth was sufficient to cause death by suffo cation. Th., Jury immediately returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown." The other: infant was found wrapped in a piece of c.alko in Spa-fields Chapel. Mr. Whitmore was of opiniod that the child was still born. The Jury in this case returned a verdict—" That the infant was found indecently exposed, but whether born alive and destroyed or otherwise there was no evidence to prove." PAPERS. i FORGERIE PARLIAMENTARY POOR LAWS FOR IRELAND The distinctive character of the Bill proposed by Mr. P. Scrope is relief to all the destitute—to the able-bodied as well as to the infirm. Thus the leading principle of his Bill is, that no person shall henceforward perish in Ireland for the want of the necessaries of life ! It will be seen that extensive powers are given to the Commissioners ; regarding the Guar dians' authority the 28th section seems open to objection. Sec. 1-14. Empower his Majesty to appoint a board of Poor.law Commissioners to sit in Dublin, with similar powers and authorities extending over Ireland, as is given to the Poor-law Commission of England and Wales by the late Poor-law Amendment Act. Sec. 15.-22. Commissioners are empowered to form dis tricts by the union of parishes, or parts of parishes, in Ireland, which districts, so formed, are required thenceforward to re lieve and employ "such of their inhabitant poor as may be at any time in danger of perishing for want of the necessaries of life," subject always to the rules, orders, and regulations of the Commissioners, who shall direct the constitution and elec tion of a board of guardians for the management of the relief to the poor in each district ; prescribe the appointment, qua lifications, duties, salaries, &c., of the necessary officers ; de termine the time from which, in each district, the law shall take effect ; and direct the mode, and nature of relief, or em ployment, to be afforded, &c. Sec. 23. The guardians of districts (subject to the direc. tions therein of the Commissioners) shall assess all the severe lands, tenements, and hereditaments within the said district, and shall from time to time levy upon such valuation the sums which may be necessary for the above purposes—such rates to be levied in the 'manner of the present baronial or county rates from the occupier, who, however, is authorised to charge one-hay of every such rate to his landlord, deducting it from his rent, and every sub-lessor is empowered to make a proportionate deduction from the rent due by him to his immediate landlord. An appeal against the rate similar to that now allowed against the baronial or county rate. Sec. 26. Commissioners may order the building of work houses in any district, and prescribe rules and regulations to be observed therein. Sec. 27. Guardians or officers, subject to approval of Com missioners, may make arrangements with the Board of Works, county surveyor, or others, for the employment of the able bodied poor of their district on public works of any description, in any part of Ireland. If able paupers refuse, such work, guardians discharged from obligation to relieve. Paupers neglecting such work punishable by imprisonment to hard labour. Sec. 28. Guardians, if they prefer it, may offer the means of emigration to their poor, who, on refusal, forfeit their claim to relief. Sec. 29. The blood relatives of poor persons made liable to relieve them. On default, may be compelled to do so by order of two justices. Sec. 30. In case a board of guardians is not elected in any district, or, being elected, refuses to obey directions of Com missioners in the premises, Commissioners empowered to ap point officers in their place to carry the act into execution. Sec. 31-2. Poor persons rendered liable for relief to wife or children. Husband liable to maintain children of wife born before marriage. Sec. 33-4. Such relief as Commissioners direct may be af forded by way of loan, recoverable by attachment of future wages from master or employer of pauper. Sec. 35. Commissioners empowered to issue rules for the apprenticing of pauper children in any part of his Majesty's dominions. Sec. 36-7. Rate-payers of districts authorised to borrow money from Exchequer Bill Commissioners, or other parties, on security of the rate, subject to the directions or approval of the Commissioners, for the building of workhouses, the em ployment of their poor on waste lands, home colonies, public works, or their emigration. Sec. 38. Commissioners to determine if any, and what pe riod of residence or other qualification, shall constitute inha bitancy under this Act. Casual poor to be relieved tempo rarily where found. Sec. 39. Commissioners empowered to call for and publish accounts of trust and charity estates. Sec. 42-7. Penalty on persons wilfully disobeying the pro visions of this Act recoverable before two justices of the peace, with an appeal to quarter sessions. Sec. 48-52. Rules of Commissioners removcable by certio rerri into Court of King's Bench. Sec. 53. All persons found begging to be liable to impri sonment for one month to hard labour. Sec. 54. Penalty on poor persons refusing or neglecting work when set on by the officers of districts. Sec. 55. Penalty on parents deserting their children, or husband his wife, so as to leave them chargeable. (From the Hereford Times.) A most intense sensation has . been created in this city and county by the discovery of a series of forgeries, which, f o r , cun mn complication, equal, if not surpass, any that we ever i: e a rd g of either in thq new or the olden time. The perpetrator., Joseph Abell (for whoSe apprehension a reward of 50/. is ot fq red), is well known in Hereford, having attended the markets and fairs for the last twenty years. He was looked up to a s a model of unaffected integrity ; plain in manners , un assuming in demeanour, frugal in his habits, and punctual in his paY- ments. In the year 1831, Mr. Joseph Abell called at the office of a_ professional firm in this city ; he stated that he was desirous of purchasing an estate at Egleton, the property of the oceupier, a Mr. Joseph Wood, and proposed that the gentleman h e was addressing should draw the conveyance. On being interro gated respecting the title deeds to the estate , he replied that there were none, they having been accidentally burnt during the life of a former proprietor, 70 or 80 years ago ; he then produced an office copy of a will, dated more than 60 years back, and a probate of another will, under which the estate in question was devised to the present proprietor, Mr. Joseph Wood. The solicitor, after further explenations , sa id, that if Mr. Abell were satisfied with the title, and the estate free from mortgage, of course he could have no objection to the pur chase ; nevertheless, it would be more satisfactory to him (the To solicitor) to submit the title for the opinion of counse l • this proposition Mr. Abell assented, and the title was s.Ser dingly submitted to an eminent counsel. The opinion was L° the effect that the purchaser would be perfectly safe. Mr' Abell then stated that he should want 1,4001. upon the estate , which, the solicitor said, he might readily have, and mentioned a respectable surveyor in this city, who had named to him that, he had some friends who were anxious to put a similar sum of trust money out on mortgage. By Mr. Abell's request, the solicitor spoke to the land surveyor, who consequently comnßr nicated with the trustees. - The trustees deemed it advisable that they, accompanied by the surveyor should go over to Egle' ton, and view the estate. A journey was made to that effect; Mr. Abell himself meeting the parties and walking over the estate with them. The land surveyor and trustees were per fectly satisfied, the latter gentlemen having no doubt as to the value of the property, or the adequacy of the security; they, however, deemed it their duty to investigate the title ; there• fore they requested that the writings might be submitted to highly respectable professional gentleman in the city. This was done most unreservedly, and the writings were returned as correct in every respect. The completion of the purchase was proceeded in. Abell appointed a day for his solicitor to ride over to Egleton to obtain Wood's signature to the deeds and also possession of the estate. The solicitor, on the ap pointed day, rode over to Abell's, who immediately after meet ing him, called a man, named Dance, from a neighbouring house, to accompany them, as he wanted his assistance for a few minutes. The solicitor, Abell, and his witness Dance, then walked together to the house of Joseph Wood ; on their arrival, they were shown into a parlour by Mrs. Wood; after the lapse of a few minutes, a man entered, who was introduced by Abell, in the presence of Dance, to the solicitor as Mr. Joseph Wood. The conveyance was then produced, signed by the pretended Joseph Wood, and witnessed by the solicitor and Dance. The parties then left the house together, and the pretended Mr. Wood delivered " turf and twig possession" to Abell, in the presence of the attorney and the witness Dance. The pretended Joseph Wood, on the same day, called by appointment at the office of Abell's solicitor in Hereford , and, under the advice of the counsel, levied a fine upon the property, and made the required affidavits as to the loss of the deeds, &c. The purchase having thus been completed, the mortgage Of 1,4001. was forthwith executed; the interest has most punc . - tually been paid, and suspicion lulled into a sound sleep, until awoke lately. Hints were given to certain parties that Abell had been obtaining money under false pretences, who soon heard that his only safety was in flight ; on the - 11th inst. he posted some letters at Worcester, since which he has not been heard of. It has been ascertained that various sums, amount ing to upwards of 6,0001. have been obtained by Abell under false and unheard-of pretences. It has been discovered that the individual who personated Joseph Wood, and signed the deed, is James Burden, a nephew of Abell's ! Burden has acknow ledged to having personated Wood (whose real person was totally unknown to Abell's solicitor). Burden was of sours. taken into custody, brought to Hereford, and lodged in Or county goal, where he now awaits his trial. He has since con fessed that at the urgent request of Mr. Abell, he enacted the part of Joseph Wood. • MURDER IN TIIE COUNTY OF DURHAM.-- murder of a most atrocious character was committed near the village of Lumley, in the County of Durham, on Saturday night last, on the person of an aged individual, named Richard Taylor, a shoemaker. The deceased left Cocken on his vial to Lumley at an early hour in the evening, and the deed is supposed to have been perpetrated between seven and eigh t o'clock. The body was found near a footpath between those villages by two boys, on Sunday mornin g . The head had b een beaten until it was almost flat, and the brains were found scat tered about the ground. A Coroner's inquest was appointee' to be held on the body on Monday, but was adjourned to Thursday, and is further adjourned till Monday next. Fir men have been taken on suspicion of having perpetrated th e murderous act.—Newcastle Journal. --- ----- A trap, a short time ago, was laid for the Lewe s carrier by some unprincipled scoundrels, who wished to inviegl6 him into carrying some contraband goods, and thereby to g ic : the miscreants a legal opportunity to seize his van, h o rses, an'' goods, amounting to 3,0001. The plot was l uc kily detected tented by the London book-keeper, and the carrie r c onseq escaped the villainous trap laid for him. PANCAKE EATING.—On Tuesday two jolly- 100 Ito C" ing linen-bleachers, of Barnsley, laid a trifling wager as which could eat the most pancakes in two hours, each to 01 his own, and to eat them as soon as they came out of the p a t The batter being prepared for them, they began about elefe"' o'clock, one to fry in the room, and the other in the kitche n ' each party having an umpire. About I alf-past eleven o'clocigi. the kitchen gentleman had bolted eight, being two and a 133 . more than his opponent. Both pans went on at a frizzling ra _ till twelve o'clock, when the room-operator was abo ut thre' _ bites ahead of his antagonist. This roused his worsh i p in trh; kitchen, who could scarely see from the heat of the fire, 3 t with a face shining as bright as a new tea-kettle fired awaY a tremendous rate. Half-past twelve o'clock having arrive the state of eating was again announced. The kitchen lle°' having a delicate stomach, had only dispatched eighteen en" a qu arter, yet was in advance of his neighbour two and threa; quarters. As there was to be no resting, both kept hotlY. ° work. About ten minutes before the time appointed to gl over, an accident befel the occupant of the kitchen. ar peared that in turning a cake he had thrown it too high, which it stuck against the ceiling, which threw him about h% a cake behind. In a short while afterwards, the umPi r f„ called out that the time had expired. The lists were eageV , summed up, when it appeared that kitchen had beaten parif it . by twenty-fire to twenty-three.—Majority, 2.—. Leeds Int"— (ADVERTIsEMENT.)—T. COX SAVORY, Goldoni • &c., 47, Cornhill, London, informs the Public, that he ~4 9ffv r a SILVER WATCHES, on the celebrated PATENT L EY ' , CONSTRUCTION, (the most accurate on which a wat ch c'"" be made) for SIX GUINEAS EACH, with all the latest provements, e. the detached escapement, jewelled in four 1101.e6, capped, hand to mark the seconds, hard enamelled dial, and 101" taming power to continue going while winding up. N.li. If in Hunting Cases, 10s. 6d. extra.—Seeond -hand Watches purchased in exchange. BIRTHS. On the 2d inst., at Compton-terrace, Islington, Mrs. Wil li° Stevenson, of a son. no Islingt ° On the 2d inst., Mrs. J. Watson, of Cloudesley-terrace, of a son. On the Ist inst., Mrs. Edgar, of Harp-lane, of a son. fo i s t) On the 28th ult., in King-street, Finsbury-square, Mrs. Jam O es, of a son. lre n the 21st inst., at Bordeaux, the lady of E. W. Curial , of a son. MARRIED. On the Ist inst., Henry, of the firm of C. H. and T. T. W e ; house, manufacturers, London and Coventry , to Amelia, el so. daughter of John Jenkins Rogers, Esq., of Huntspell Court , mersetshire. On the Ist inst., at Handford, James John Farquharson, 1,.t0 of Langton House, Dorsetshire, to Mary Anne , wido w of the '- John Phelips, Esq., of Montacute llouse, Somersetshire. g_ pet, On the 13th ult., at St. James's Church, Mr. Stephen Mar of Ewell, to Miss Tuggey, of South Lambeth. On the 2d inst., at Kensington, Major Curphey, of the bo n East India Company's Service, to Christiana, daughter of Jon Bell, Esq. ph (end On the Ist inst., at Weymouth, the Rev. Richard C. F.--,.004 Rector of Cucklington, Somersetshire, to Caroline Anne, stie-ore• (laughter of Sir Hungerford Hoskyns, Bart., of Harewood , foi dshire. On the 2d inst., at Old Swinford, Worcestershire , the ited'ilter H. Crauford, rector of the above parish, to Eliza , eldest clot* of R. Hickman, Esq., of Old Swinford. DIED. hite, On the 29th ult., at the Rectory , Fiore , Northampton 5' Charlotte, wife of the Rev. K. M. R. Tarpley. • WS W" On the Ist., the lady of J. L. Lee, Esq., M.P., of Dill in Somersetshire. al t ° On the 21st ult., at York , Harriet , second daughter a the Edward Sage, Esq., ef Colchester, aged 59. , est er On the 25th ult., at the Rectory, Marston Sicca, 6° 1 1 0 4 shire, aged 34, Lettice Jane, wife of the Rev. R. G. Jeston , Rector of that parish. Dia e On the 16th ult. at Glasgow, Jane Houston, wife of ~• donald, Esq., late of A Kingston, Jamaica. ed 31i On the 14th of January, on his passage from India, ag Philip Bacon, Esq., of the Civil Service, Bombay. ,ii a MP' At the Moat House, Stockwell, Surrey, aged 44, - 1 -' — wife of Mr. Alderman Farebrother. Sir Cliri.t°' On the 26th ult., at Shyde, Isle of Wight, aged 8 3, pher Sweedland. 1 14 1.6 ' C. On the 25th ult., at Fonthill-place, Clapham, aged ~, , M'Kinnell. On the 29th ult., aged 21, Mr. William S. Spencer. , i% fr. l' On the Ist inst., at Islington-green, Susannah, relict oi Ea' Coxe, aged 86. , g, On the 28th ult., at Malvern Hill, Warwickshire , a g e° 1 'e mund Greswolde, Esq. el P slll On the 23d ult ,at Grove End-road, Lieutenant -Colon Hutchins Bella s i s .. Y -° On the 2d i ns t., a t Chi s lehurst, aged 7, William, o , . a of 0 ' Woo d, On Esq., Torrington-square. n' °`'. On the 29th ult. ,at Rockingham House, St. Joh n's Gardner, aged 72. w iclovi °f Vir. On the Ist inst. ' at Kentish-town, Mrs. Dinwi ddie, Dinwiddie, Esq., formerly of Collyhurst, Manchester. I' London : Printed and Published by 31----URDOYVNthe 00°- 112, Strand, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in th of Middlesex. BRITISH ARC HITECTS' INSTITUTE An ordinary Meeting of this Society was held on Monday evening, at their Rooms, in King-street, - Kendall, Esq., in the chair. Members having been balloted for, - Rhodes, Esq., presented to the Institute a fine portrait of Wyat ; M. Bertini his plan for completing the Louvre, at Paris; and J. Hume, Esq., M.P., - Angell, Esq., P. F. Robinson, Esq., and the Chevalier Guenpepin, some valuable books and specimens. A paper by Nathan Garrick, Esq., was then read, on the Polychromy of Grecian Architecture and Sculpture, more particularly with reference to the Parthenon, being an abstract of a German work on that subject, presented to the Institute by M. Chateauneuf, honorary member, in elucidation of one of the queries published by the Institute: during the last session ; many have doubted the use made of colours by the Greeks in their architecture, ascribing their presence where found to the barbarians of the middle ages; reference to Pau sanius, Vitruvius, Pliny, and others, exemplified by the Par thenon, Propylea, and Temple of Thesus, prove, however, not only that they did use colours, but gilding and many other de corations to increase the effect. Many of their temples were built of a coarse stone, sometimes even of tufa, and necessarily required a covering of stucco, which they painted. The paper was illustrated by a variety of excellent diagrams, and several portions of buildings from Athens were exhibited, on which were visible carious mouldings and ornaments not carved but painted and gilt, as the height at which they were placed, being mostly cornices, &c., would have rendered carving in visible. The Secretor), T. L. DONALDSON, Esq., explained Mr. Martin's magnificent project for improving the sewerage of the metropolis ; but of which, as it has been already put before the public at the Royal Institution, we will not enter into detail. We understand a Committee has been formed for inquiring into its practicability. Through the kindness of the Prussian Consul a splendid work, recently published by order of his Government, for the improvement of manufactures, was laid upon the table. This book, which consists of an exquisite collection of ornaments from the antique, has been distributed gratuitously to all arti ficers, &c., who have displayed any talent in their respective occupations, and great, indeed, we may expect, will be the result. Surely it is time that the English Government be. stirred themselves ; the indomitable perseverance of our coun trymen, and their great natural talent, have, until now, al lowed them to maintain the ascendancy, but while such efforts are being elsewhere made, they must not be allowed to struggle on unsupported. CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS.—By the adop tion of Mr. Thomas Parkin's patent plan of construction, of which Dr. Birkbeck has, we understand, expressed his decided approbation, 3,0001. per mile will, it is said, be saved, and all the evils obviated which attach to the present mode of con struction, as pointed out in the elaborate reports of Professor Barlow, addressed to the Directors of the London and Bir mingham Railway Company. THE STRIKE IN THE FILE TRADE.—WC are sorry not to have it in our power to announce the adjustment of the dispute between the masters and their men in the file trade ; on the contrary, it is our painful duty to state that the breach becomes wider as the unnatural contest is prolonged. Our opinion of strikes is already well known. Restrictions and monopolies in trade will never be advocated by us. Col. Torrens's description of a forced use of wages has ever struck us as being forcible, and to the point.--Sheffield Iris. ST. DAVID'S DAY IN THE ME'PROPOLIS.— The Most Honourable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons celebrated their 122 d anniversary with great splendour. The Society and children of the Welch Charity School attended Divine Service at St. Martin's Church, when the prayers were read in the Ancient British language, by the Rev. Dr. Griffith, their chaplain, and the Bishop of Exeter preached a most excellent sermon. The patrons of the charity dined, as usual, at the Freemasons' Tavern, his Grace the Duke of Newcastle in the chair, supported by the Bishops of Exeter, Bangor, St. Asaph, Lords Kenyon and Clive, Hon. C. W. Wynne, M. P., Right Hon. T. Frankland Lewis, Jos. Bailey, Esq., M.P., Colonel Powell, M.P., Colonel Parry, M.P., Honourable G. R. Trevor. M. P. and a long list of gentle men connected with the Principality. After dinner, the chil dren (150) sung an ode of" The Exile of Cambria," in a very excellent manner; their intelligent, clean, and healthy appear ance, as they passed round the Hall, quite delighted the com pany, who testified their approbation by repeated cheers. Many loyal and patriotic toasts were given, from " The King" to the " Mountain Bard of Cambria." The Noble Chairman was received by every manifestation of joy by Welshmen. His Majesty remitted his usual annual donation of 105/. ; her Ma jesty 261. ss. (annual); Duchess of Kent and Princess Vic toria, 50/. (annual) ; Duke of Newcastle, 100/. ; Sir W. W. Wynne, M. P., 50/. (annual) ; Sir C. Morgan, 50/. (annual) ; C. Morgan, 501. (annual) ; Lord Clive, fifty guineas ; Mar quis of Anglesea, 25 guineas ; Colonel Powell, M. P., 25 gui nens ; Colonel Wood, M. P., 20 guineas; Hon. G. Rice Trevor, M.P., 25 guineas; Right Hon. Frankland Lewis, 25 guineas; J. Bailey, Esq., M. P., 20/. ; ten Stewards of the day, nearly all of them 20 guineas each. Total amount of subscriptions, 1,040/. 14s. METALLIC LIGHTHOUSES.—Mr. Samuel Brown proposes employing bronze or cast iron in the construction of lighthouses, instead of stone. He seems to have made out that a bronze lighthouse would be incomparably cheaper than a stone one, that it would be more secure against dilapidation or subversion by the waves, that the lights would be better protected from the spray by which they are occasionally extin guished, that it could be erected in one-twentieth part of the time, and in situations in which a stone structure is impracti cable. It has been proposed to place a lighthouse on the Wolf Rock, near the Land's-end, a position where it would be ex posed to the most violent storms of the Atlantic ; and a plan was drawn up for the purpose by Mr. Stevenson, who holds a 1 high rank in this department of engineering ; which plan, Mr. Brown thinks, would require 15 years for its execution, and cost 150,000/. Mr. Brown undertakes to erect one of bronze, 90 feet high, which would answer the purpose as well as the stone one of 134 feet,:for 15,000/., and to complete it in four months. —Scotsman. iS EXTRAORDINAR