The Sun. — London, England, 1851-06-25 00:00:00

The difficulties in the way of an effective Government control were almost insuperable, because they might be deceived by frauds in the keeping of the books, inas much as they could not compel depositors to bring in their books at certain periods. Mr. SI, ANEY said he had never voted on a more painful question than the present. He thought the Hon. Member fur Kerry had made out a case of strong moral obligation on the part of the Government, inas much as a general impression had prevailed among de positors in consequence of the legislation of the House, that the Government were responsible. Under the cir cumstances, however, he thought it would be better to have the motion withdrawn for the present; but if pressed to a division he would give it his support. Colonel THOMPSON supported the motion. The money had been paid over the Government counter, and the Government ought to be responsible for it. It had encouraged this mode of making deposits, and there was a sort ot agency on its part. Mr. J. A. SMITH could not regard this case in the light in which it had been placed by the last speaker. The Government had never declared itself to be respon sible for this money until it was paid into its hands. The Chancellor of the Exchequer bad twice attempted to improve the law, and had, to his great regret, failed in carrying his intentions into effect in consequence of the state of public business. lie could not support the motion ot the Hon. Member for Kerry. Colonel DU NNE supported the motion. The House divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... ••• 56 Against it ... ..• G 3 Majority... ••• —7 Mr. URQUHART moved that the Committee on Di plomatic Salaries be re-appointed, according to its own recommendation. Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the House adjourn. The House having divided, the numbers were— Ayes ... •.. 64 Noes ••• ... 32 Majority... ••• ... —32 The House accordingly adjourned at a Quarter past Twelve o'clock. was 8201., and the sum collected was 2/. In conclusion, he had to state that he could not in that instance con sent to a departure from the contract which had been entered into with the people of Manchester. Mr. T. EGERTON said, the question to be ask' d of other towns which might apply for the same privileges as Manchester should be whether the public revenue would be benefited by granting them? The Chancellor of the Exchequer had referred to the telegraph and the extension of railroads, as doing away with the necessity in a great measure of inland bonded warehouses; but he ought to know that buyers were not in the habit cf pur chasing by telegraph, but by making their selections themselves in bonded warehouses. Mr. LABOUCHERE admittted that he bad been de sirous to see established in this country a system of in land bonded warehouses, which worked so well in other countries of the world.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time be had always been of opinion that the Treasury ought to be invested with a discretion to attach to the privilege such conditions as it might think necessary for the secu rity of the revenue. That object though not c anpletely achieved, was accomplished in parr; and out (it the struggle which took place came the Bill which made the concession to Manchester. He c mid no:. admit that the conduct of the Government on that occasion sod on the present exhibited any inconsistency. His Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not said that he desired to a ithdraw the privilege granted to Manchester; on the contrary, if Manchester found the privileges advantageous he wished her to continue to enjoy them, but (newels conditions as he thought indis pensable for the general security of the revenue. lie should deeply regret to see the privilege withdrawn from Manchester ; but if she attached so much importance to it, he was surprised that she could not raise the paltry sum required, when he remembered her liberality in other respects, by a small rate on goods actually warehoused, and which would, therefore, only be paid by those who, either directly or indirectly, availed themselves of the privilege. The Hon. Members for Manchester had, per haps, done no more than their duty in bringing the sub ject forward, but he hoped the rest of the Howse would see that the Government had done no more then confer on Manchester a privilege upon terms which were rea sonable and just—terms which could not be departed from without opening the door to the admission of all inland towns to the same privilege, who chose to de mand it. Mr. BROTHERTON only spoke the sentiments of his constituents when he said that it would be a great injustice to compel Manchester to pay the expenses of their warehouses, when the inhabitants of the district for many miles round it derived the benefit from them. When a post-office was established in any town, the ex pense of such an establishment was never charged to that particular town, but to the public, because the public in that case, as in this, reaped the advantage. Mr. SPOONElithought the question had been argued on far too narrow grounds. The question was whether the inland bonding system ought to be extended; and be should feel disposed, if the motion were carried, to move an instruction to the Committee to that effect. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had failed to point out any mischief which had arisen from the existence of bonded warehouses at Manchester. Had Liverpool suffered from it? He was informed not. A very fair prima facie case bad been established, that the increase of consumption which had followed a more liberal system had not entailed an increase of expense on the public. The very arguments used against the mo tion were a reason for appointing a Committee. It was said that bonded warehouses ought to be confined to ports. This might have been true when so much diffi culty was found in moving goods from one place to another; but now that the transit was so easy and so safe the argument fell to the ground. The inland bond ing system was a great public advantage, and if it did entail some extra charge the public would cheerfully pay it. But it would entail no extra charge, for expense must be incurred wherever the goods were lodged, whe ther at a port or inland. It was not often that he agreed with the Hon. Member for Manchester, but, without pledging himself as to any particular line for the future. he would support him on the present occasion, being of opinion that he had made out a clear case for an inquiry. Mr. HEYWOOD said the arrangement to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had adverted was but a temporary one. The system required revision, and a Committee of Inquiry ought certainly to be appointed. Mr. KERSHAW said it was not the interests of Man chester alone which were involved in this question, but those of the whole surrounding districts, containing more than a million of inhabitants, and it was therefore unjust to call on Manchester alone to bear the expense. Viscount GALWAY expressed is surprise at the at tempt which was made on, this occasion to saddle the income of the country with so foolish a sum. Mr. M. GIBSON, in reply, expressed a wish to re move any impression which might be entertained of his having misrepresented the words of the Right Hon. Member for the University of Cambridge. He never meant to say that the Right Hon. Gentleman had ex pressed an opinion that the expense of the bond mg warehouses at Manchester should be defrayed by the State. On the contrary, he said the reverse. In Octo ber, 1842, ho said, " All his other objections had passed sway, and it only remained for him to ascertain whether the necessary expenditure would be repaid by the benefit conferred on the public." In conclusion, he would ob serve that the liability of the Manchester Corporation had passed away, and it now lay between the trade of the district and the Chanceller of the Exchequer whether the privilege should be taken away or continued at the ex pense of the public. All he asked was a Committee to inquire which course was the more advisable, and although the Chancellor of the Exchequer appeared so well contented now to decide the matter on his own re sponsibility, he had seen the day when he was by no means indisposed to share his responsibility with a Com mittee of that House.—(Hear.) The House divided, when there appeared 50 For the motion Against it ... ... 65 Majority against the motion ... —l5 CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT JURISDICTION , Mr. FREW EN, pursuant to notice, rose to move a resolution—" That it is desirable to extend the jurisdic tion of the Central Criminal Court to the whole of each county in the Home Circuit." The Hon. Gentleman founded his proposition upon the saving of time and ex pense effected within the last few years by railway com munication. There was, therefore, an obvious advantage in consolidating and amalgamating counties for criminal purposes. Such an arrangement as he proposed, if car ried out, would facilitate justice on the one hand, and lessen expense on the other. The prisoners in the coun try, instead of being kept waiting for some time for their trial at a heavy expense to the county, might be sent up at a small expense by the railway, and tried at once. He did not want to urge the Government to do anything this session, but merely to pledge themselves to make such a change in their criminal law in the next session as was involved in the adoption of his resolution. The motion la4v . ng been seconded, Sir G. GREY bad two objections to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman—the one was that it was an abstract resolution which would bind the House to the adoption of a certain course at some remote period of time, and the other was that the effect of such a change as was proposed would be contrary to the principle upon which the Central Criminal Court was established. If they were to admit the principle involved in the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman, he did not see any reson why the jurisdiction should be limited to the home circuit. why, for instance, should not an offence committed at Oxford be brought to London for trial? He did not see bow such a proposition could be carried out with any regard to either economy or convenience. The resolution was negatived without a division. SAVINGS BANKS. Mr. H. HERBERT then rose to move " That this House will, on a future day, resolve itself into a Com mittee to consider of an address to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to exesud the same measure of relief to the depositors in the late Roch ß dale, Scarborough, Tralee, and Killarney Savings ank as has been already extended the depesitorss in the late Cuffs-street, Dublin, Sevings Bink." He said that in the Rochdale Savings Bank the depo sitors consisted of 1,245 women, of whom 722 were un married, 292 were married, and: 231 young persons or children. There were 953 miners, 539 labourers, 191 sick clubs, comprising about 10,000 persons. The total number of depositors amounted to 2,965. The House could well imagine the vast misery that was represented by those figures.—(Hear, hear.) He could state similar facts as to all the other banks, but did not think it neces sary to occupy the time of the I.louse by qng them. He admitted that these unfortunate depositors had no legal claim upon the Government; for if they had it would not be necessary for him to make this appeal to the House. But neither were there any legal claims upon them when they granted 262,0001. to the holders of forged Exchequer-bills, and a large sum to the depositors in the Cuffe-street Savings Bank. These cases which he wished to bring under the notice of the House were cases of equal justice as those to which he had just re ferred. It was said that these matters had been already decided by a Committee. He denied it. The Committee did not inquire into the Rochdale or Scarborough Sa vings Banks, and they said that they saw nothing in the cases of Killarney or Tralee to distinguish them from the failure of any other bank The same principle of justice that was conceded to the Cuffs-street Savings Bank ought to be extended to the other banks that had suffered equally with it. The Government had meddled enough with these banks to render a well-grounded belief that the depositors had Government security for their money, while they removed the security that bad for merly existed in the responsibility that was attached to the trustees. The Government had been tampering with the money of the depositors, by using it for public purposes, and they had no right now to say that they were merely guardians of the people's money. Up to 1844 the depositors had the security of the responsibility of the trustees in each one of their banks. When they saw the names of parties in their neighbourhood who were well known to be solvent and respectable acting as trustees, the depositors felt assured that they had a bona fide security for their money. But in the year 1844, when the failure of the Hertford Savings Bank took place, it was found that those trustees had to pay a considerable sum of money to make up the defi ciency. The Legislature, in order to supply a remedy for this evil and to protect trustees for the future, in troduced a clause into a Bill passed through the House that year, which totally took away all respon sibility from the trustees in these institutions and substituting no other security in its place. The Legislature, it appeared, contemplated at the time some other security, for in tee same clause to which he alluded they said it would be lawful for each of the trustees to limit the responsibility to such sum as was specified in the instrument before referred to. Ac cordingly, in 1844, Mr. Tidd Pratt, who was appointed to supervise those institutions, wrote a circular to all the trustee's in England and Ireland upon this subject; but is only one bank in the United Kingdom had that se mill been entereiinto. It was AIL Tidd Vratt's duty, when he found he had received no answers to his circu lar, and that the parties to whom he had written had not entered into these securities, to call the attention of the public to the change recently made in the law in respect to these securities; and not to allow them to go on for so many years depositing their money without obtain ing proper security for its safety. The public were com pletely ignorant of the effects produced by such change in the law. He held in his hand a copy of an extract from a letter sent from the War-office in 1849. After giving certain directions to the paymasters of pensioners in the different parts of the United Kingdom, it recom mended them to point out to the pensioners the great propriety of their putting by a portion of their pay in the savings banks to meet the contingencies of sickness and the necessities of old age; that their money would be perfectly safe in those banks, as the Government security was then given to them. It was true that the pensioners had been paid their money back again; but that fact only strengthened his case. The House had i keen put into possession of an interesting correspondencemfhat had re cently taken place upon the subject of national school books. The Noble Lord at the head of the Government had taken upon himself to recommend the publication of certain books, to be circulated under the auspices of the Government, over the United Kingdom. Now, in one of those books was this paragraph:—" When a poor man has saved up a little money he generally puts it into the funds, or deposits it in the savings bank, which does this for him. He is one of the Government creditors, and he receives his share of the taxes raised in the shape of in terest."—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Herbert) asked whether those publications were not well calculated to foster the inepr,ssion amongst the people that the Government were security for the money deposited in the savings banks? He held in his band a remarkably able pamphlet written upon the subject, in which it was shown that the Government, when exigencies existed, had made sales of stock by means of the money belonging to the savings banks at periods when there were no corresponding demands by drafts upon the savings banks. An actual loss had thus oc curred to the public s through this stock jobbing of the Government amounting to nearly 2,000,0001. The accounts brought before Parliament clearly showed that these sales and transactions were constantly made, wholly irrespective of any demands by the deposi tors in the savings-banks. Between the months of February, 1823, and July, 1824, the Commissioners sold out 3.350,000/. at low prices, and invested upwards of 6,000,000/. in Exchequer-bills. During the two years ending in November, 1834, the payments to the savings banks to the reduction of the national debt amounted only to 1,750,00(11., and the investments made by the hands of the Commissioners amounted to upwards cf 3,000,000/. The solution of these incomprehensible transactions could only be found in the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being. The late Sir R. Peel, on the 18th of March, 1842, stated in Parliament, when addressing the gentlemen who now occupied the Ministerial benches, that the time had ar rived when their tamperings in the savings banks and the 5 per cent. Customs duty must be abandoned. If that was the case, the Government had no right to turn round on the depositors, and deny their claim in the eveut of acci dent. The general distrust created in Ireland by these failures was indescribable. In 1846 there were 74 savings banks in Ireland. Since then 21 had ceased to exist, and it was in the industrious districts that the greater part of this cessation had taken place. In Connaught, for ex ample, there were as many before as after 1846—namely, five; while in Munster, 6 out of 14; in Leinster, 6 out 28; and in Ulster, 9 out of 25, had been discontinued. Of these, six out of eight had been closed in the county of Down. The blow this state of things gave to in dustry and to independence was not to be easily appre ciated; and yet these were the feelingS which a Govern ment should most anxiously encourage. lie (Mr. Her bert) was recently at a distribution of sums subscribed by the trustees of savings banks in Munster-17,0001. He could bear testimony that the blow to industry given by these failures was such as no amount represented by figures could denote. In case of other banks besides those adverted to in the motion, he had witnessed the most frightful cases of utter ruin among the widow and the orphan, the aged and the young. Those unfortu nate effects, however, the House could remove by a paltry sum—about half the cost of a line-of-battle ship— s tenth of the cost of the crusade against slavery every year—about 100,0001. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by repeating the motion. Mr. S. CRAWFORD seconded the motion, represent ing as he did a town of sufferers. The loss in the Roch dale Savings Bank amounted to 38,000/., which had to be borne by 2,965, including 191 sick clubs, representing many thousands of persona more. His (Mr. S. Craw ford's) constituents did not assert a legal claim on Par liament, but they held that they had a claim in equity upon the consideration of the Legislature. There was no reason why the claims of any other classes should be preferred to those of the industrious classes. The Go vernment had delayed to revise the law, but was that a reason why the poor should suffer? If the State inter fered at all with savings of the poor, then the security should be complete and undivided; otherwise the Go vernment should not discourage voluntary associations. No friend of tho poor man should advise him to lodge his money in savings banks as at present constituted. He (Mr. S. Crawford) did not advance any peculiar claims on the part of the Rochdale Savings Bank; he took the general case of all savings banks, and main tained that those institutions were defective. Nothing was more important to that House than the interests of the poor man; and he therefore appealed most anxiously to the House and the Government to do him justice in this matter. Mr. MORRIS said the subject was one worthy of in vestigation, and the Government should not refuse such a small sum as that required to remedy the evil. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hoped the House would make allowance for the unpleasant position in which he was placed; but, however painful it might be, he was bound to say no case had been made out to justify him in paying the public money to make good the losses of savings banks, with which the Go vernment had nothing to do. The motion was to ex tend the same relief to these four banks as had been ex tended to Cuffs-street Bank; but the case was different, for the circumstances of the latter had been brought be fore the Commissioners for Savings Banks previous to the failure, and the Select Committee had therefore recom mended some relief to the depositors, which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had paid to the extent of 103. in the pound. If the motion was agreed to, they could not atop at these banks, but should include all others—the Dartford and the Poole Banks, for instance; and what he was practically asked to do was to make good all losses, even those sustained by the neglect of trustees. The question was not, consequently, one of 100,0001., but of 200,0001. and upwards; and, besides, it would be an affirmation of the principle that all depositors should be paid, however careless was the management of savings banks. The Hon. Member for Kerry had spoken of successive Governments tampering with the money of saving banks; but he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) denied that the pre sent Government had ever done so, and maintained that all money lodged by depositors would be paid them with out the loss of a single farthing. The great difficulty in which the Government was placed in respect to this question, was to reconcile Government control with voluntary action as regarded these banks. It was quite true that the trustees were originally liable for the de posits, but the liability was so onerous that the Act of 1844 relieved them from it, giving them a voluntary liability in the matter. In most cases, however, since 1844 the trustees had made up the loss by their volun tary contributions. In the Carmarthen case the Lord- Lieutenant of the county came forward and paid all the depositors under 51. Practically, therefore, no great difference had been made by the removal of the legal lia bility. The question that had to be decided on that occa sion was, whether a legal liability which had never been enforced should continue, or whether the gentlemen on whose management the existence of these banks de pended should withdraw from them? and the House of Commons decided in the sense that these gentlemen should continue. In the Rochdale Bank the actuary had two sets of books; in the Scarborough Bank the trus tees had constantly attended. He was exceedingly sorry that losses of this kind should be entailed on parties whom he was most anxious to protect. Last year he had hopes of passing a Bill which would give greater se curity to the depositors than at present. However, he was unable to pass that measure, and he feared there was no great prospect of passing it this year; but the delay would enable him to make the measure more perfect, as ho was receiving additional 'information on the subject every day. The principles of the measure which he con templated was the appointment by the Government of a treasurer who should be responsible for the money he received. Any further than that he could not go without incurring a responsibility which would require of him to have the appointment of all the officers of the bank. He could assure the House that as soon as he was in a posi tion to bring in the Bill he would do ao. Mr. REYNOLDS protested against the vote of 30,000/. which was granted to the Cuffs-street Savings Bank being regarded as an act of charity; it was but a partial act of justice to the depositors to whom the money was due, and he thought that the remaining 30,0001. should be paid them. With regard to the motion, al though he approved of it, he must say that the Hon. Member for Kerry, in limiting his demand to 10s. in the pound, was c ompromising a good cause. He should de mand Mr. BRIGHT said that some regard should be p aid to payment in full. the obstacles stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to stand in the way of acceding to the motion, for there could be no doubt that if it was understood that Parlia ment would make good every defalcation of the kind, this would not be the last application that would be made to them. But he thought that the Chancellor should has ten to bring in a Bill fixing the responsibility somewhere or other for the future, and then when the matter was settled in that way, let the Hon. Member for Kerry bring the whole subject of those bygone defalcations be fore the House, and appeal to the generosity of the country, and he had no doubt there would be a large majority in favour of paying off those losses. Mr. HUME thought that as regarded t he Irish savings banks, there was a moral though not perhaps a legal liability on the p art of th e Government. In Paris the Government appoint ed the officers of savings banks , a nd were responsible to the depositors; but here there was a divided responsibility, not easily understood by . the humble classes who placed their money in our savings banks. Much of the present difficulty would have been prevented if the Government had adopted the resolu tions which ho had laid on the table on this subject in 1842. Mr. HENLEY could not admit that the legislation of that House had anything to do with these unfortunate losses. Ile could not see the distinction which had been drawn between the Cuffe-street Savings Bank and the other savings banks in Ireland and in England. He ad mitted that the failures in question were painful to con template; but in dealing with the public money the House must act on the principle of disallowing claims which were not strictly legal, for if they once gave way La cases of this kind, there was ho telling where to stop. ECCLE:IASTICAL TITLES BlLL.—Colonel Vyse paired, in favour of Mr. Walpole's amendments, with Mr. T. B. Hobhouse against them. Mr. Welby also paired, in favour of Mr. Walpole's amendments, with Sir Dlontagu Cholmeley against. PARLIAMEN TARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons, TUESDAY, JUNE 24. SMITHFIELD MARKET REMOVAL BILL. Order for Third Reading read ; Motion made, and Ques tion proposed, " That the Bill be now read a third time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now, and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months." Question put, " That the word' now' stand part of the Question." The House divided : MAJORITY—AYES, Si. Ahdy, Sir T. N. Evans, William Milner, W. M. Bailey, Joseph Fergus, John Moody, C. A. Barrington, Viscount Fox, W. J. Mowatt, Berkeley, Admiral Free tun, Colonel O'Connell Francis , John Bowles, Admiral Fuller, A. E. Pendarves, E. W. Brotherton, J. Gladstone, W. E. Perfect, R. Brown, W. Granger, T. C. Pilkington, James Cardwell, Edward Grentell, Charles W. Portal, Melville Carew, W. P. Grey, Sir G. Power, Dr. Childers, J. W. Grosvenor, Lord R. Pusey, I'. Christopher, R. Grosvenor, Earl Rich, Henry Clay, James Hall, Sir B. Russell, Lord J. Clifford, Henry M. Hatchell, John Salwey, Colonel Cockburn, Sir A. Heywood, James Sandars, George Corry, 11. Heyworth, Lawrence Seymour, Lord Cowan, Charles Hogg, Sir J. Stanford, J. F. Craig, Sir W.G. Holland, Robert Thicknesse, R. A. Davie, Sir H. Howard, I'. 11. Thompson, Colonel Dawes, Edward Jermyn, Earl Tyler, Sir G. Denison, J. E. Kershaw, James Verney Sir H. Drummond, Henry Labouchere, Henry Watkins, Colonel Duckworth, Sir J. Lewis, G. C. Willcox, Brodie Duncan, George Mackinnon, W. A. Wilson, James Duneuft, John Mangles, R. 1). Weod, Sir Charles Dundas, Sir David Marshall, William Young, Sir John Edwards, Henry Martin, C. W. TELLERS. Ellice, Edward, jun. Matheson, Colonel Hayter, W. G. Elliot, J. E. Miles, W. Cowper, W. F. MINORITY-NOES, 32. Bankes, G. Duke, Sir James Mailings, J. B. Barron, Sir 11. Duncan, Viscount O'Flaherty, Antkony Barrow, W. 11. Duncombe, T. Osborne, Ralph Booker, T. W. Forbes, William Pechell, Sir G. Brocklehurst, John Frewen, C. H. Stafford, Augustus Buller, Sir Y. Gilpin, Colonel Stanley, Edward Banbury, William Henley, J. W. Verner, Sir W. Chatterton, Colonel Hodges, T. L. Wall, C. B. Currie, Henry Inglis, Sir R. Dashwood, G.ll. Johnstone, Sir J. TELLIO.3. Davies, D. A. Keogh, William Williams, W. D'Eyncourt, T. Lowther, Colonel Hume, Joseph MANCHESTER BONDING. Motion made, and Question put, " That a Select Com mittee be appointed to inquire into the working of the system of warehousing foreign goods in bond in Manchester, as it affects importers, dealers, and consumers of goods liable to Customs linty, residing in Manchester and the neighbouring towns; also as to its effects on the Customs Revenue, and to report to the House as to the expediency or otherwise of placing Manchester on an equal footing with all bended towns in the United Kingdom." The House divided :—. MINORITY—AYES, 50. - - ---- - Anstey, T. C. Greene, John Naas, Lord Blake, M. J. Harris, Richard O'Connell, John Best, John liastie, Alexander O'Connor. Feargus Brocklehurst. J. Heald, James O'llaherty, Anthony Brotherton, J. Henry, Alexander Patten, J. W. Cobden, R. Herbert, 11. A. Peel, Frederick Copeland, Alderman Heywood, James Pilkington, James Crawford, W. S. Hey worth, L. Reynolds, Jouh Crawford , Robt. W. Ilindley, C. Ricardo, Osman Duncan, George Humphery, Aid. Smythe, G. Dunctift, John Keating, Robert Spooner, R. Egerton, W. T. Keogh, William Thompson, Colonel Ellis, John Kershaw, James Westhead, J. B. Fox, W. J. Lacy, 11. C. Williams, W. Frewen, C. IL Legh, G. C. Geach, Charles 3 l'Gregor , John TELLERS. Goold, Wyndham Meagher, Thomas Gibson, T. M. Greenall, Gilbert 3luntz, G. F. Bright, John MAJORITY—NOES, 65. • e Baines, M. T Freestun , C ol o nel Pugh. David Baird James .' Galway, Viscount Pusey, Philip Baring, Sir F. T. Gilpin, Colonel Rice, E. R. Bellew, R. M. Grey, Sir G. Russell, Lord John Bentinek, Lord li. Grey, Ralph Wm. Salwey, Colonel Berkeley, Henry F. Halsey, T. P. Seaham, Viscount Berkeley G. F. Hanmer, Sir J. Seymour, Lord Birch, Sir Thomas Hawes, B. Slaney, R. A. Boyle, Colonel Henley, J. W. Smith, Vernon Brown, 11. Hodges, T. L. Somerville, Sir W. Cardwell, Edward Howard, Lord E. Stanley, E. Clay, Sir W. Hume, Joseph Tailored, H. W. Cockburn, Sir A. Johnstone, Sir.J. Tennent, R. J. Cowper, W. F. Labouchere, 11. Thicknesse, Ralph Craig, Sir W. G. Lennox, Lord 11. G. Vane, Lord - 11. Cubitt, William Lewis, G. C. Vivian, J. E. Dawes, Edward Martin, C. W. Wilson, James Drummond, henry Matheson, Colonel Wood, Sir Charles Dundas, Admiral Milner, W. M. Wood, Sir W. P. nuncios, Sir D. Mulgrave, Earl Elliot, John Owen, Sir J. Evans, J. Paget, Lord C. Evelyn, W. J. Parker, John TILLERS. Hayter, W. G. UAL Lard 3larcus THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN ING, JUNE 25, 1851 TRIBUNALS OF COMMERCE A public meeting, cow erred by the secretary of the committee for the establishment of tribunals of com merce, was held yesterday afternoon at Willis's Rooms. Lord Wharneliffit was to have acted as chairman, but sent an excuse, stating that his ill health prevented him from attending; and, in consequence, Mr. Montagu Gore presided. In opening the proceedings, he observed that the object of the meeting was one of great public utility, and, if carried out, could not fail to be productive of great good. The smallness of the attendance ought not to discourage them, for they were aware that most great measures in England had risen from small beginnings. Tribunals of commerce bad been carried out suc cessfully in France and Belgium, and he had no doubt corresponding benefits would accrue to this country by their introduction. It was very desirable to collect all the information they could with relation to the working of these courts in other countries, to show the public the good that might bo expected to arise from them here. This he considered the first point to which they should turn their attention. his time and service would always be willingly given to carry out this object. The scheme was not opposed to the legal profession, but merely sought to protect com mercial men against the present expensive system and to render the law accessible to them. The laws affecting commercial matters did require revision, for in many cases they were aware that toe expenses had amounted to thousands when they ought only to have been hundreds. Mr. F. LYNE, secretary, said that the largo merchants of London, when he first introduced his project, were totally ignorant of _tribunals of commerce, and were, for that reason, averse to them; but they now saw the bene fits they would prove both to the strong and weak. Many who at first held back till they should comprehend the principles of the scheme proposed, now understood them, and came forward to tender their support. There existed in Belgium a tribunal of commerce in every city and county town, and in all towns of any commercial or industrial importance ; they were exclusively com posed of merchants and manufacturers chosen from the most eminent, and particularly from among the prin cipals of the oldest established houses, having a reputation for judgment and probity. The list of judges chosen iu each province or locality, was submitted to the State authorities for approval. The judges held office for two years. Each tri bunal was composed according to the Population or ne cessities of the town or province. There was also a pre sident judge, and twelve, eight, six, four, or two judges elected and constituted, besides an equal number of sup plemental judges. These judges occupied the bench each occasion, one of whom presided. They were at tended by a consulting barrister, who was alone a paid functionary, the situation of a commercial judge being purely honorary. Although they might not adopt this system or the French one, yet it was most desirable to ascertain how they worked. This was the object of their committee. It had been proposed in the city to petition the House of Lords on the subject, but it would be better for tht, m to wait and go there strong, and look out and show them such a mass of evidence as would convince them that these things were not a shadow, but a reality. After explaining that he did not wish to say anything against the legal profession, for whom he entertained great respect, he said that quirks and quibbles were too much encouraged in the law courts. These they wished to remove, and, if they effected the change, the smallest tradesman would benefit by it. They would now rather lose 501. or 601. than go to law. He concluded by show ing that these tribunals would afford equal protection to both rich and poor. Mr. RAINY moved the first resolution:— " That this meeting considers the establishment of tribunals of commerce would tend to diminish unneces sary litigation, as well as furnish the means whereby, at a small cost and the least possible salary, differences among commercial men and others may be satisfactorily adjusted." The questions they were to consider were, whether the present legal procedure was such as to call for change, and also whether the means proposed was sufficient for the purpose. The evils of the present tribunals had been loudly complained of, and through the press had been made very generally known. He then detailed several cases in the Court of Chancery to show the great ex pense and loss of time incurred in procedure in that court. Mr. H. IL LESTER seconded, and Mr. W. CARPENTER supported the resolution, which was carried. Mr. Green, Mr. J. P. Ball, and other gentlemen, ad dressed the meeting, and moved votes of thanks to the press for their exertions in the cause of law reform, and to the chairman for his conduct in the chair; after which ,he meeting separated. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICA The Commissioners to whom was referred the con sideration of the claims of Ireland to have one of her western ports selected as the point of departure for Transatlantic packet steamers have made an elaborate report, which concludes as follows : " It will be seen by what we have already stated, and from the appendix attached to this report, that in the protracted and detailed inquiry that has devolved upon us, we have listened to all the arguments and facts that have been urged upon our attention, and have sought out such officers in her Majesty's service as have had personal acquaintance with the western and southern coasts of Ireland. We have asked opinions from officers of the coast guard, and persons connected with the merchant service; we have applied to municipal bodies, to local committees, and to individuals who have taken a prominent part en this question. We have found a desire for the transference of the packet station strongly entertained by many persons connected with Ire land, toueded on the hope that it would produce inci dental benefit to the neighbourhood of the port selected, and to those parts of Ireland which must ho traversed to mach it. To this desire we have paid great deference, and have considered the subject with en anxious with to arrive at a conclusion which would promote the com mercial and general prosperity of Ireland. But, on a care ful review of the arguments that have been advanced, we do not consider them to be sufficient to justify us in recommending such a change. Some of those arguments are of a speculative character, depending upon improve ments which have not yet been effected, and which can not be anticipated with any certainty. The principal remaining grounds upon which the measure is advocated are, the benefits which Ireland would derive from being made the medium of intercourse between Great Britain and America, and the saving of time and reduction of sea voyage which the United Kingdom generally would obtain in the communication with that country. We have shown, however, that the gain of time that could be calcula lated upon, would not, even under present circum stances, as regards the greater part of the United Kingdom, be considerable, if compared with the whole length of the voyage, and that it will be of still less importance if the mail packets are required to touch at Holyhead. On the other hand there is reason to believe that the frequent transfers to which both passengers and goods would be subjected in the transit between any place in Egland and Scotland and a port of the west coast of Ireland would prevent any largo amount of traffic between those countries and North America being conducted by the new route. We find no reason to con clude that the local and particular advantages resulting from the proposed measure would be so great, or the saving of time so important, as to counterbalance the large additional expense which would be entailed upon the imperial revenue, and the evils and inconvenience which would be inflicted on the great body of the mer cantile and travelling portion of the community by re moving the packets from the place were they were ori• ginally established, as being the focus of the commercial transactions of the United Kingdom with the North American continent.—We have, &c., " GRANVILLE. " J. F.BURGOYNE. " W. COWPER. " S. ELLERIY." " JAMES A. GORDON. SAVINGS BANK. Motion made, and Question put, " That this House will, To-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee, to consider of an Address to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to extend the same measure of relief to the depositors in the late Rochdale, Scarborough, Tralee, and Killarney Savings Banks as has been already extende i to the depositors in the late Cuffe-street, Dublin, Savings Bank." The House MINORITY—AYES, 56. Archdall, Captain Gallwey, Sir W. P. Morris, David Baird, James Gould, Wyndham Naas, Lord Barrington, Viscount Grace, 0. D. Neeld, John Berestord, William Grattan, Henry Norreys, Sir D. Blair, Stephen Greene, John O'Brien Si Lucius Blake, Martin J. Guernsey, Lord O'Connell, John Bolder°, George H. Gwyn, Bowel O'Flaerty, Anthony Booth, Sir R. G. Ha lse y , T . I'. Powe h r, Dr. Boyd, John Hamilton, Lord C. Reynolds, John Brisco, M. Henry, Alexander Seaham, Viscount Bunbury, William Hindley, Charles Slaney, Robert A. Clifford, 11. M. Hodgson, W. N. Stafford, Augustus Davies, D. A. Hume, Joseph Thompson, Colonel Dod, J. W. John stone, Sir J. Urquhart, David Dunne, Colonel Keating, Robert Verner, Sir W. Edwards, Henry Keogh, William Yesey, Hon. T. Farnham, E. Knox, W. S. Forbes, W. M'Cullagh, W. T. TELLERS. Fox, W. J. Meagher, Thomas Hayter, W. G. i Fuller, A. E. Monsell, William Hill, Lord Marcus MAJORITY-NOES, 63. Armstrong, sir A. Hanmer, Sir John FUSey, Philip Baines, M. T. Harris, Richard Rice, E. R. Baring, Sir F. Hawes, Benjamin Rich, Henry Bellew, K. M. Henley, J. W. Romilly, Sir John Bouverie, E. P. Hodges, T. L. Seymour, Lord Boyle, Colonel Holland, Robert Shafto, R. D. Bramston, T. W. Hutt, William Shelbunie, Earl et Brotherton, Joseph Kershaw, James Smith, J. A. Buller, Sir J. Y. Lewis, G. C. Somerville, Sir W. Christy, Samuel M`Taggart, Sir J. Spearman, H. J. Clay, James Martin, John Spooner, Richard Cockburn, Sir A. Martin, C. W. Stansfield, W. R. C. Craig, Sir W. G. Matheson, Colonel Stanton, W. H. Dalrymple, Captain Mostyn, E. Tancred, H. W. Duncuft, John Mulgrave, Earl Wilcox, Brodie Dundas, Admiral Mullings, J. R. Williamson, Sir H. Elliot, J. E. Paget, Lord A. Wilson, James Farrer, James Paget, Lord C. Wood, Sir Charles FreWen, C. H. Palmerston, Viscount Wood, Sir W. P. Grenfell, C. Pascoe Parker, John TELLERS. Grey, Sir G. Philips, Sir G. R. Hayter, W. G. Grey, Ralph W. Pilkington, James Hill, Lord M. LADY EMILY PONSONBY'S NEW WouK.--The new novel, entitled " CLARE ABBEY," by the distinguished authoress of " The Discipline of Life," has just appeared. A contemporary, in reviewing it, observes,—" In ' Clare Abbey' Lady Emily Ponsonby has constructed a charming romance. Indeed one that, for purity of thought and chasteness of diction, may take its rank with the works of Miss Austen, and the other lady writers who have embellished the litera ture of fiction, delighting the fancy while improving the heart, and elevating the standard of the morals of society. The name of Ponsonby is not new to English oratory, states manship, and literature ; and Lady Emily Ponsonby adds another bright leaf to the chaplet of its fame." [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Cure of an Ulcerated Leg by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. John Olive, well known in Geelong, Port Phillip, publishes in the Melbourne Morning Herald, of June 22, 1849, the following extraordinary case:— " I had been afflicted for three years with an ulcerated leg, and had the hest medical treatment in Melbourne and Van Die men's Land without experiencing any relief, when, hearing of the wonderful cures effected by Holloway's Pills and Oint ment, I resolved upon trying them, and with gratitude I ac knowledge that, after using them and attending to the direc tions, I found my leg cured in a very short time. (Signed) John Olive."— Sold by all respectable vendors of medicine throughout the civilised world, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. TIIE OPENING OF THE NEW FISIIMONG ALMSHOUSES AT WANDSWORTH.—This ceremony took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of the Rev. Joseph Ed wards, M.A., one of the Masters of King's College, and chap lain of St. Peter's Hospital, but commonly known as the Fishmongers' Almshouses, James Weston, Esq., the second warden—and who officiated in the absence of Sir John Easthope, the prime warden—the Court and Livery. Divine service was then performed in the chapel by the rev. chap -lain. The Wardens and Livery, accompanied by Mr. Towse, their clerk, proceeded to visit the domiciles of the pensioners of which they expressed their unqualified approbation, and authorised Mr. Towse to distribute to each pensioner the gratuity of ss. After this they returned to Eishmongers' Hall ; previously, however, partaking of a cold cellection in the principal hall. THE BATH ELECTION BATH, TUESDAY.—The polling for the respective can didates to supply the vacancy in the representation of this city occasioned by the elevation of Lord Ashley to the peerage, commenced with spirit at eight o'clock this morning, and was continued with the same determina tion to the close of the pull at four o'clock. The con test, however, though somewhat close, was conducted with the greatest good feeling, and the proceedings throughout the city were almost, entirely devoid of the noise and disturbance usually found at contested elections. As will be seen by the statement below, the contest has terminated in the election of Captain Scobell, the Liberal candidate, by a very respectable majority. The state of the poll was declared every half-hour from the Liberal committee-room, and, as will be seen by the return be low, showed that Captain Scobell, who took the lead, kept it throughout the day. Some ezcitement was created, however, by the appearance outside Mr. Sutcliffe's committee-room of several delusive returns, the first of which stated the numbers at half past 11, to be Sutcliffe, 775; Scobell, 744. At halt-past 12, another return ap peared, Su . cliffe, 855; Scobell, 845; at 1, Sutcliffe, 895; Scobell, 880. At halt-past 1, when Captain Scobell had really a majority of 36, the Conservative return, which was the last they put out, represented both candidates on a level-928 each. The following were the returns is sued by the Liberal committee, and which we have good reason to believe show the correct state of the poll: Scobell. Sutcliffe. 165 288 501 660 785 Half-past eight Nine o'clock Ten Eleven Twelve One Two Three - 1,047 Close of the poll 1,103 At the close of the poll several tbous4nd persons hav ing asssmbled in front of Capt. Scobell's central com mittee-room, Westgate-buildings, the gallant captain and his committee, in obedience to the calls and cheers of tho multitude, appeared upon a platform erected in front of the building, and were received with several rounds of applause. Captain ::CrOBELL, in addressing those assembled, said the victory was gained, and the Liberals bad obtained a good majority over the Tories of Bath.—(Loud cheers.) But whilst they rejoiced in their own success, they would not exult over the fallen.—(Hetr.) The victory was not his (Captain Scobell's), but theirs—the Liberals of Bath; and they had won it in an independent, straightforward way, that he believed would set au ex ample to all England.—(Cheers.) Captain Scobell, in conclusion, proposed three cheers for the independent representation of Bath, which were given with the greatest zeal. W. Hunt, Esq., G. Norman, Esq., T. W. Saunders, Esq.. and Sir John Hare, having also congratulated the Liberals upon their success, the meeting broke up. The official declaration of the poll will be made at the hustings to-morrow (this day). TO THE SECRETARY OF Tr:IXBRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. (EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNEspAy.) Sir,—On Monday the 26th, the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill was proceeded with in Committee. Mr. Walpole's proposed amendments, directed against " a certain Brief, Rescript, or Letters Apostolical pur porting to have been given at Rome'' which " hath re cently pretended to constitute within this Realm, &c.," and " purporting to constitute within this Realm, con trary to the laws and customs thereof, a hierarchy of Bishops named from sees, and with titles derived from places within this Realm," were negatived by 140 to 131, and 141 to 117. The Prime Minister urged that there was no necessity for introducing matter grating to the Catholic Members of the House, by which no absolute effect or change in the law was to Le produced. One result, however, of these closely-run ei.visions, is to show it is not for want of power the Government restricts its measures. The Oath of Abjuration (Jews) sill was then con sidered in Committee, and reported without amendment; to be read a third time on Friday. it was impossible to avoid the impression, that the opponents of the Bill took a bated tone. The Bill is of only one clause; which dispenses with the words "on the true faith of a Christian." Considering ths,t the House has allowed, and directed, that into the hands of a declared Jew pre senting himself as elected there shall be put a copy of the Old Testament, it is difficult to conceal a regret that the Bill did not take advantage of this notable circum stance, to enact that the candidate should swear " on the true faith of a believer in the book put into my hand." There is something so immeasurably stultifying, in first putting a book into a man's hand because it is the book he believes in, and then telling him he must swear upo❑ his true faith in something else, that it is to be hoped.the good sense of ten-pound voters and Operative consti tuents will pass such comments on it at the next election, as will put an end to such a folly. An election is at this moment pending, in which a Jew of high standing and reputation, who has already filled eminent City offices, is a candidate. It is needless to add, that the general Liberal cause would be greatly aided by his being returned to Parliament, on the simple principle which makes a smith hit a new blow on the same place. On Tuesday the House met at twelve for the purpose of passing the Smithfield Market Removal Bill. So that you may hope to be able to come up from Bradford without being compassed with fat bulls of Bastin in the streets. It is only a day or two since I found myself unexpectedly encompassed by three at the corner of Parliament-street, and felt particular obligation to one of them, with a forehead like an elephant's and a ring like a kedge anchor's in his nose, for hii gentlemanlike behaviour when he found me stopping the way between his horns. On the same evening the vestion of theSavings' Banks defalcations was brought before the Louse, and lost only by a majority of 63 to 56. The question is simply one of agency. Did the contributors a did they not, pay their money over the Governme❑t's counter? The Government plead that it was stolen between the counter and their strong box. The question therefore is, not whether the Government say so, bat whether the counter was not by all the rules of business theirs. I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. London, Jane 25, 1851. THE GREAT EXHIBI. lON. --- The numbers who visited the Crystal Palace yester day were as great as on the most successful day since it opened. They were as follows, at the different hours mentioned:- 11 o'clock .. 21,731 12 o'clock 41,668 1 o'clock .. 52,241 2 o'clock .. 58,558 5 o'clock Bafore the place was cloLed the number exceeded 70,000, and the receipts were — Season tickets .£ 15 15 0 1 At the doors .. 3,186 12 0 Total receipts ......... 3,202 7 () COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen will hold a Privy Council this day (We nesday), at Buckingham Palace. Summonses were issued yesterday to the Ministers and officers of State. Iler Majesty and bis Royal Highness Prince Albert, with her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, accom panied by his Majesty the Krug of the Belgians, with their Royal Highnesses the Duke de Brabant, the Count de Flandres, and the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, went to the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, at au early hour yesterday morning, arriving there at half-past nine o'clock. The Royal suite con sisted of the Viscountess Canning, Madame do Montan clog, General Wernyss, Colonel Bouverie, Colonel de Moerkerke, and Count Albert de Briey. The Queen, the Prince, and the King of the Belgians remained at the Exhibition till eleven o'clock, and then returned to Buckingham Palace. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of \Vales and Prince Alfred also visited the Exhibition yesterday forenoon, attended by Mr. Birch. The Countess of Neuilly and the Duke do Nemours visited his Majesty the King of the Belgians yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. his Royal Highness Prince Gustavus of Wasa also paid a visit to the King of the Belgians yesterday. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Arthur, and the Princesses Alice and Helena, took an airing in an open carriage and four yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode oat on horse. back yesterday afternoon, attended by Colonel Bouverie. The Queen and Prince Albert honoured her Majesty's Theatre with their presence last evening. The Royal suite consisted of Viscountess Canning, Hon. Mary and c Her Majesty's private band attended in Buckingham Seymour, olonel oB u the v e r E i e a . r of Morley, General wenly_6B, Palace on Monday evening, after dinner, and performed the following selection : , Overture, " Pas au x Clercs,' Pas de Sehal, Scene del Danse "La Baya dere," .............................. . Turkish March, " Ruins of Athens," Beethoven, The Earl of Morley has relieved Lord Camoys in his duties as Lord in Wailing to her Majesty, and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore has relieved Colonel the lion. A. Nelson Hood in his duties as Groom in Waiting to the Queen. The Duke de Nemours visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday, at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's. A deputation from . the Birkenhead Dock Company, consisting of Mr. Bai anley (Mr.chairman), Mr. Laird, Mr. Abernethy (engineer)! d Hull (solicitor), had an int , rview yesterday with Lord Seymour, at the office of her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, Whitehall -place. Mr. Croal, from Demerara, had an interview with Ear] Grey, yesterday, at theColomal-otlice. A deputation , consisting of ;Messrs. Wardle, Brodrick, and Barnett (membersot the Town Council of Maccles field), and Mr. Colville (Deputy Town Cl e rk o f th a t b or ough), had an interview yesterday with the General Board ot Health at their °lnce, WhitehalL The depu tation were introduced by Mr. Tatton Egerton, M.P., and Mr. J. Wilso n Patten, M.P. stuß .. ------- R EMOVAL OF THE COURT TO 05BORNE.--ahe I Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by his Majesty the King of the Belgians, and some of his family, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Court, are expected to arrive at Osborne House on Saturday next. The royal yachts in charge of Captain Crispin are expected to move down the Harbour at Portsmou th on Friday, to be in readiness to con vey the august party across the Solent, and to attend on them during their sojourn at Osborne. As we have before stated, Captain Crispin, with the whole of the officers, the engineers, seamen, marines, and boys belonging to the royal train (expressly ordered for their accommodation by her Ma jesty) special South-Westena iyeasct‘h,t) aesttsaibxliAsh.37:entth,ispdraoyce;dr.7oridon, returning again to I' Qi toa9ut4 ate 4 the eyorwag. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE At six o'clock on Monday evening the Centaur, 6 steam-frigate, Captain Patten, with the flag of Rear-Ad miral Fanshawe,C.B., steamed into Portsmouth harbour, and yesterday morning went alongside the yard jetty to land the admiral's luggage, who left for London in the afternoon, bis flag baying been hauled down at sunset. The Centaur will commence returning stores, Scc , to-day and will probably pay off early next week. Before leaving the coast the Commander-in-Chief promoted Second Master William Kiddie, of the Gladi ator steam-frigate, Captain Adams, to the rank of master, the vacancy having occurred by the death of Mr. Barnes, of the steam-vessel Firefly. In making this promotion Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, we are quite sure, has only anticipated the intentions of the Admiralty. No second master on the list had stronger claims than Mr. Kiddie, and no officer ever received more handsome recommendations at the hands of his captain than did Mr. Kiddie from Captain Adams. Lieutenant George T. Airey, R.N. (1815), a com mander in the Indian navy, and who for many years has commanded the steam-vessel Pluto, in the China seas, died at Singapore, April 20, in command of the above ship. Midshipman Mr. Coventry, of the Wolverine, 1 0 , on the coast of Africa, died in charge of a prize. Columbia steam surveying -vessel, Conimander Short land, left Ha,litax, May 29, fur the Bay of Fundy, to resume surveying operations. Rogue, 60, steam-ship, Captain Macdougal, left Queenstown on Sunday evening, to join Commodore Martin's squadron at Lisbon. Heroine, 8, Commander Marsh, may be expected home from the coast in a few days, she having sailed from Ascension for England fourteen days before the Cen taur; but the latter vessel made her passage home chiefly under steam. Retribution, Captain Warden, and Sidon, Commander Gardner, steam-frigates, both bent sails on Monday evening; the former vessel is all ready for sea. The Sidon has still a quantity of provisions to receive on board. It is now said their services will not be required before Saturday next, and in the interim (on Thursday) the Sidon will be docked, to have her copper cleaned, although her crew were " hogging" her on Monday. Rhadamanthus steam-transport, for the Cape, Master- Commander Belem, arrived at Ascension from England, May 22, and left for her destination. Sampson, 6, steam-frigate, Captain L. T. Jones, bad returned to Ascension, from St. Helena, instead of pro ceeding to the Cape, as stated, and left for the Bights, taking the station of the Gladiator the first week in May. Sappho, 12, Commander Hon. A. Cochrane, left Hali fax for Newfoundland, May 30. COMMODORE MARTIN'S SQUADRON.-TheCommander in-Chief, in hie flag-ship, Prince Regent, 90, Captain Harris, was at Lisbon on the 19th, with his frigate squadron. On the previous Sunday he ordered the Dauntless screw-frigate, Captain Halsted, to get up her steam and be ready to leave for England, with the bro ther to the King of Portugal and suite for England; but the Prince having postponed his departure, the Dauntless was ordered to be in readiness la-A Sunday for the same purpose. All in the squadron were quite well. There was not much exercise going on. Leander, 50, Captain Dacres, has been out on a cruise by herself, for the purpose of exercising her guns; and Arethusa, 50, Captain Symonds, was sent away on the 17th on a similar service. The Encounter, 14, screw corvette, was at Cadiz. The Janus steam-vessel, Lieu tenant-Commander Powell, had returned to Gibraltar. The French fleet of four sail of the line, under the command of a vice and a rear-admiral, was expected at Lisbon. CHATHAM DOCKYARD.-The following workmen have been superannuated from this dockyard:-George Phil lips, furnace-man at metal-mills; John Bead, Robert Featherby, Wm. Savage, Wm. Peacock, Thomas Harris, ropemakers; and Mr. Booth, sailmaker-on 241. per annum each. WooLwacH, JUNE 24.-The Right. Hon. Sir Francis T. Baring held a levee at the Admiralty to-day, and it was attended by the following officers: - Captaius-G. R. Munday (1837), F. D. Hastings ( 1840 ), William B. Dobson (1841), Hon. Edward Thorn ton Wodehouse (1341), Woodford J. Williams (1841), Sir Robert Hagan (1843), Charles Keele (1843), W. Clark (1847), and James Anderson (1849), Lieutenant- Colonel Ellis, C. 8., Royal Marines. Commanders-Arthur Morrell (1823), Felix Edwin (1835), P. B. Stewart (1841), Edward Collier (1845), Hoseason (1846), J. T. W. French (1847), G. J. Napier (1849), J. 11. Bridges (1850), G. F. West brook (1851), and P. Saumaurez (1851). Lieutenants-F. Cutler (1812), Henry P. Dicken (1815), James Smale (1825), T. A. Butler (1827), Samuel Richardson (1828), and G. IL H. Greathead 1846). Paymaster and Purser-James Pinborn (1831). Rear-Admiral-J. W. D. Dundas, C. 8., held a levee to-day, which was attended by the following officers:- Rear-Admiral-Thomas E. Symonds. Captains-George St. V. King (1841), W. J. Wil liams (1841), and Frederick Warden (1845), Com mander of the Retribution steam-frigate. Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, Royal Marines. Commanders-J. T. W. French (1847), L. Robert (1849), and G. F. Westbrook (1851). Lieutenants-Charles , (tenltztss-), Edward Charle Le m s }riend esu ( r l ie B r l2? l , Bls). Henry ll Dicken H. Johnston (1818), 11. F. W. Ingram (1845). G. 11. II Greathead (1846), Richard Dawkins (1848), and Arthur M. Brock (1850). Master-James Penn (1841). Midshipman-W. Kelso. Clerk-George B. Eccles (1851). THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE, FIRE. Even up to a late hour last night, so great was the fire in the ruins, that at intervals it illuminated the dis trict, and led many to suppose that a fresh outbreak had occurred. Every precaution had been taken. The floating engines and many of the land ones are detained ready to act in case of any emergency. The returns made by the surveyors and agents of the different insurance companies of their respective losses and other details regarding the buildings and proparty consumed furnish the fallowing interesting particulars, and, at the same time, supplies au accurate amount of the total losses. The pile of warehouses destroyed occupied a fron tage of between three hundred and four hundred feet in Montague close, each extending backwards seventy or eighty feet, to within a few yards of the walls of St. Saviour's Church. More massive brick and stone build ings were not to be found in the metropolis, and, with the exception of the dock warehouses, were the largest. Each were divided by party walls two feet thick, and the different stores being supported by im mense iron girders or pillars. The three consumed can not be rebuilt under a sum of 35,0001. This loss will fall on the Sun Fire Office. Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop factors, of Hibernia Chambers, London-bridge, rented the upper stores of A warehouse. Several thousand pockets.of hops were in the stores. All was destroyed; insured iu the Royal Exchange. Nos. 2,3, and 4 stores of the same warehouse were occupied by Mr. Hollings- worth, of Turkey Mills, near Msidstone, paper menu facturer. Some 15,000 or 16,000 bales of linen rags filled the floors. It is expected the whole were consumed. Mr. Holling.worth was insured in the Kent and West of Eng land Offices for 9,000/. No. 1 (same warehouse), Mr. Hewett, cheese factor; contents of store supposed to be destroyed; insurance unknown. Cellars beneath occupied as stores by Messrs. Allan and Anderson, provision mer chants. The fate cf these contents at present un known; the; property is amply covered by insurances. Warehouse B—Stores Nos. 7,8, and 9, of Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton, hop-factors, each contained a heavy stock of hops, number of pockets at present un known. All destroyed. Insured. Stores, Nos. 10, 11, and 12, Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop-factors, filled with hops. Destroyed. They were insured in the Royal Exchange office. Other merchants, whose names have not as yet transpired, had property in store in other parts of this warehouse. Like the others, every thing was burned. The goods ware insured for 7,8001. in several offices. Cellars also were occupied by Messrs. Allan and Anderson, as stores, and were loaded with all kinds of provisions. It is impossible to penetrate them, consequently the fate of the goods, as in the other cel lars, is unknown. Insured. Warehouse D—The whole of the stores throughout this building were rented by Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop-factors. Between 16,000 and 17,000 pockets of hops were stowed away. A great many were saved, but the chief bulk of the stock was consumed in the building. Numerous merchants had hops deposited in Messrs. Wigan's care; some are known to be insured, others are not. Messrs. Wigan were insured. Warehouse C—This building sustained very little in jury. The contents of the different stores, valued at nearly 50,0001., were got out in safety. The Bridge House Hotel received much greater da mage than represented. Every apartment in the build ing was saturated with water. Tho contents were in sured for 3,5001. The principal sufferers appear to be the firm of Messrs. Wigan and Co. Their property was insured for 60,0001. As far as can be ascertained the offices interested in the losses arc the following, and to about the extent — Sun fire-office, 50,0001.; Royal Exchange, 30,0001.; Guardian, 20,0001. ; Union, 10,000/. ; other offices, 10,0001. Some days must necessarily transpire before, the exact amount of losses can be accurately ascertained. According to the present estimates they can be little abort of 150,0001. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. G UILDHALL. Isaac Solomons, a member of the Jewish fraternity, was placed at the bar before Alderman Farebrother, charged with being unlawfully in possession of various articles of silver plate, ulleged to have been stolen. John Charles Walker said—l am an apprentice to Mr. Sirrell, the gold and silver refiner of Barbican. Yesterday morning the prisoner called at our shop, and without saying a word to any one, he put into the scale the property produced. Having received information that a burglary had been committed in a house in Broad-street -buildings, on the previous night, I informed Mr. Sirrell of the circumstance, and he advised me to call in a constable and give the prisoner into custody. I went to the door for that purpose, when prisoner di vining my object, rushed past me into the street, and tried to make his escape, and finding I pursued him, he turned round, and returned with me to the shop. I compared the articles with those described in the in formation, and found they tallied in every respect. When prisoner first stopped he clasped his hands, and said " Oh! pray don't.'He did not ask any price for ,them ; i but they wold not have been worth more than 101. 0,3 old silver. I have known prisoner as a customer at our shop. Alderman F AREBRO THER—To buy? Witness—No, sir, he brought us old silver to s e ll. Mr. Jenkin Elwin, 20, Broad-street-buildings, sur geon, said, the articles produced, consisting of a pair of s ugar tongs broken , a cadd y s p oon, a thim ble, a silver caustic holder, and the top of a smelling bottle, are my property. On Sunday night, at a late , was broken into by some parties, and the ray house taken from various desks and draw above things articles I saw safe at seven o'clock in ers • Some of the others were Alderman EA!tEBROTHER—Then vi put_ away about a week ago b . EXPECTED SCOTTISH FANCY DRESS BALL IN THE Elwin, for she , will be a material witness.e 8 th ' e ng, and ClTY.—Yesterday a deputation, consisting of Lord James Stuart, Sir Duncan M`Dougall, Mr. G. bloffat, M.P., Mr. C. Guthrie, Mr. P. F. Robertson, Mr. W. Dallas, Mr. T. Fuller, 15-, took the prison ' er Into custody. Til‘Gregor, Mr. D. Dewar, and blajor'Adair introducea by Mr. William Whitcher, 50, said —I a c alled in to exa- Sheriff llodgkinson, waited upon the Lord' Mayor, to ask for mine the premises byh event ant Mrs. the use of the Guildhall, after the visit of her Majesty, for broken open in sev eralgoing into the rooms, and on a grand fancy dress and Highland ball, for the benefit of the kitchen I saw that tb ilr. Elwin. Ivifosund several desks Scottish Hospital and Caledonian Asylum. The Scottish window in the back e house had been ehtered by the Hospital is for the relief of aged and destitute residents in premises, London ; the Caledonian Asylum is f,r the maintenance and persons havin had been bars of the window e kitchen. I then examined the back and found that the iron of education of the orphans of sailors and soldiers who have been killed or disabled in the service, and of Scottish parents resident in Loudon. street, over which they must have climbed to the window g passed tram the wall in Bloomfield- THE DUKE or NEWCASTLES ESTATE OF HAFOD. estate in the kitchen. Ono of the desks in the surgery bad of , stracted. —Yesterday Messrs. D. Smith and Son put up to auction, at , been forced open, and 61. 10s. in gold and silver ab the Auction Mart, the extensive domain and I wil n l e b v e er ne p ce u s t sa m ry ou t e o y r i e n .. Ilafod, the property and occasional residence of the lat ' Mr. Elwin put the money in the desk just before Duke of Newcastle. It comprised about 14,000 was situated between Shrewsbury, Rhayader, and Ali*er and acre., e I went out on Sunday evensin—g.lt a'st- that desk before. with, being about twelve miles distant from the latter town. Alderman FAREBROTHE The lot, after a prolonged competition, was knocked d own w and this case to make some inquiry about the pri for 105,000/. The Messrs. Smith sold another property, saner. Did you search the prisoner's house, office ? which was situated near Hemel Hempstead, and Fuller, Is2—Yes, your Worship; but I found . 1. a farm with about 90 acres in the highest state comprised .nothing s nersent there before It went for 7,000/., but this was also under thereservedof cultivation. , wrong, as prisoner carried me. On searching price. his bag that round to collect:old clothes, I FATAL ACCIDENT. EXETER, JUNE 91. -- On , found a new artillery jacket, with all thegold lace Monday evening two fishermen of Starcross, named Pep- other marks, denoting the rank of the perell and Clements, were drowned while making round the of a sergeant. Start. A squall upset the boat, and before assistance arrived Alderman FAREBROTHER—I they were lost. CleMent has suppose you bought that &Pm hip WM 3 left a wife and five children to 'i n the way of , a party at Croydon, who is privileged to buy all the cast-off uniforms in that place. Alderman FAREBBOTHER—Very well; we will m a k e inquiry into it, and see if your statement he correct. Prisoner—l hope you will admit me to bail. I bought the articles, alleged to be stolen, from an old man that I met in Devonshire-square; and if I am allowed to be at iberty I may, perhaps, be able to meet with him again. Alderman FAREBROTHER—Under the circumstances, I feel I should not be justified in accepting bail. Prisoner-4 assure you lam innocent your Worship. Alderman FAREBROTHER—I cannot help it. I shall remand you for a few days. The prisoner was then remanded, and bail was re fused. SOUTHWARK. Yesterday Frederick Cornelius Lewis, a young man of respectable appearance, was placed at the bar before Mr. A'Beckett, charged with stealing two 5/. Bank of England notes, and two sovereigns, from the purse of John Jen nings, a seaman, recently paid off from one of her Majesty's ships. Mr. Clarke, box keeper of the Victoria Theatre, stated that on the preceding night, while in the box-lobby of tne theatre, his attention was drawn to the complainant, who was sitting between the prisoner and a female in the saloon. The complainant appeared to have been drink• ing, and he held in his band a 51. note, which was torn in the middle, and he asked the prisoner to give him up two other 5/. notes which ho said he had belonging to him. Witness, uron seeing the state of the complainant, acrd hearing him demand the restoration of his money, want up and spoke to the prisoner, asking him if had the sailor's two Si. notes. The prisoner immediately produced two 5/. notes, and said the complainant gave them to him to keep, adding that the sailor was a friend of his, and that they both came up that day from Rochester by the train. Witness took the two 51. notes from the prisoner, who wanted them back again, ex claiming that he was only keeping them sate for the owner until he was sober. The prisoner also asserted that the woman sitting with him was his sister, and the sailor having afterwards stated that the prisoner had some gold belonging to him, he (witness) called forward Murray, the officer of the theatre, and gave the prisoner into custody. The prisoner here ejaculated—" As the case has taken so serious a turn, I should wish to have a solicit or in attendance to defend me from such an accusation." Mr. A:BECKETT—Do you wish to put any questions to the witness? Prisoner—The greater part of what ho states is wrong. I was not sitting by the sailor's side at the time, nor did I say the woman was my sister. In reply to Mr. A'Bec ke t t, the witness said h e had the confirmed salo that n. correctly described what t o o f ok th p e lace Murr a y, the cote portion of Mr. Clarke's evidence which r ela t e d to the theatre, in prisoner having asserted that the sailor was his friend— that they had come up by the train from Rochester the same day, and that the woman in company was his sister. Mu rray added that he searched the prisoner, and in his pocket found a phial half fall of laudanum, a sovereign and a half in gold, besides some silver and a knife. The sailor was next examined, and he stated that he was paid off from the Wellesley,' a nd came up from Chatham on the previous day. When the train arrived at London bridge he was l oo ki ng after hi s l u ggage, when the prisoner came up and offered to ass i st hi m , and a woman whom he called hi s s i ster was w i t h hi m . They all left the terminus together, and they afterwards went into several . public-houses and had beer and rum, and finally the prisoner proposed that they should visit one of the theatres. They then went to the Victoria and while in the theatre the prisoner and the woman asked him how much money he had, and he told them he had three 5/. Bank of England notes and three sove reigns. They then advised that he should give one of them the money to keep for him in case of accidents, and as he supposed the woman to be the prisoner's cis ter he handed her over the notes and sovereigns. He, however, on reflection, thought he had done wrong in entrusting his money to the hands of strangers, and he was in the act of demanding it back, when the first wit ne!s came into the saloon and interfered; that when he called upon the woman to restore the money she refused, and the prisoner pulled one of the notes, that which was torn, out of his pocket and gave it to him, but he refused to give up the others until they were demanded by the boxkeeper, and he then gave up the two other 51. notes to that gentleman. Mr. ATECKETT, in allusion to the phial of laudanum found on the prisoner, asked the sailor what liquors he had been drinking in the company of the prisoner and the woman, and whether they had an opportunity given them of mixing anything of a deleterious character in the drink. The complainant, in reply, said in some places they had beer and rum before the bar, and at other houses they went into the parlour and had liquor there; that he did not attend much to what they were doing, as he was so overjoyed to get ashore. Mr. ATECKETT—Then the prisoner did not come up with you from Chatham? Complainant—l never saw him until he offered to assist me with my luggage at th• terminus at London-bridge. In reply to other questions, he said that he had paid for all the liquor they had; that he believed he changed a sovereign for the purpose. Mr. ATECKETT inquired what had become of the, woman whom the prisoner called his sister, and who acted such a prominent part in the transaction? Murray said that she was not taken into custody. That he saw her in the court before the case was called on, but that she had since left the place altogether. Mr. ATECKETT (to prisoner)—Do you wish to ask the sailer any yestions? Prisoner—l only wish to ask him whether I did not advise him at our house to take soda water instead of grog, and that I paid for it? The complainant said he had no recollection of such $ circumstance. Prisoner exclaimed—My character is at stake. I wish to have the matter sifted before auy decision is pro nounced. Mr. ATECKETT—You may depend upon it that the► whole of the circumstances shall be thoroughly investi gated, and for that purpose I shall remand you until Thursday. LAMBETH. THE EGG THROWING ON THE OAKS DAY.—Yester day, Mr. Henry Dimsdale, who had been apprehended on this day week by Saunders, one of the officers of this court, on a warrant charging him with assaulting Mr. Jarman and others, by pelting them with eggs on the Oaks day, but who was admitted to bail, drove up to one of the avenues leading to the court in a shut cab, intending to appear before Mr. Elliott in discharge of his bail; but the instant the vehicle was stopped, a sheriff's officer stepped up, arrested him for debt, and drove him off to the Queen's Bench Prwn. Some time after Mr. Jarman and several others who bad been assaulted by Mr. Dimsdale and his friends, attended, and Mr. Ballantine, the barrister, who attended for the accused, mentioned to the magistrate the mishap of his client's arrest. The Learned Gentleman also said he understood that Mr. Jarman had preferred a bill of indictment against Mr. Dimsdale and others, for the as sault, at the Central Criminal Court, and that the parties so indicted had put in the required bail to answer to the charge. If this was so, he (Mr. Ballantine) begged to suggest that, as the justice of the case would be fully met and answered by his appearance at the proper time in discharge of his recognizances, he hoped that under the peculiar circumstances of the case, his Worship would permit that course to be adopted. Mr. Jarman said he felt it to be but right and proper, after the treatment which he had experienced, to prefer a bill of indictment for the assault upon himself, against five individuals, amongst whom was Mr. Henry Dims dale. That bill was found a true one, and the parties had, as the Learned Gentleman had stated, put in bail to meet that charge at the proper time. He (Mr. Jar man), however, begged to state the fact, that in the first instance, notwithstanding the indignity and an noyance to which he had been subjected, he had purs ued the mildest possible course by only applyi ng f or a summons against the offenders, and had they exhibited a corresponding spirit, and met the charges as they should have done, an indictment at the Old Bailey might never have been thought of. He (Mr. Jarman) wished, however, to add that the indictment only referred to the assault upon himself, while there were eight or ten per sons in the court at that moment to prove charges or as sault against Mr. Henry Dimsdale and the other persona accused. Mr. Ballantine admitted that in the fi rs t instance Mr. Jarman had adopted th e mildest cour se, and he felt certain that no fault could b e found w ith his mode of proceeding, but as Mr. Dimsdale was then in the hands of the civil ra, and tha t as, power, therefore, it was not in his power t o b e present . - - in discharge of his own recognizances, nor could his securities produce him in acquittance of th e i r bail, he trusted the magistrate would sanction the course be (Mr. Ballantine) had sug gested. Mr . Jarman observed that he should not wish to as sert that it was so, but the act of arrestmight be a mere trick to get rid of t h e charge in so far as the judgment of the magistrate was Jarman's) !BeeStion, an had been similarly assa ulted but it was his (Mr. ' concerned; also the intenticn of others who . , on public grounds to fol.. low up te case. n h llsn t i ne assured the Court that there was n o t Mr. -a slig htes t collusion between the officers of the she r iff the and the defendant and his attorney, and in proof of this be begged to say that the solicitor who was with him at the time of his arrest, and who had instructed him (Mr. Ballantine), had gone away to prepare affidavits to lay before the Court, with the view of getting Mr. Dimsdale discharged from custody, on the ground that the arrest Was not legal. In conclusion he (Mr. Ballantine) begged it to be distinctly understood that he was not there to justify the conduct attributed to some of the parties in this transaction, as he held it to be disgusting and abominable. His client, Mr. Dimsdale, denied to him all participation in the offence with which be was charged; but if the complainants proved the contrary by legal evi dence he must take the consequences. Atter some furth e r o b, ervat i ons , Mr. ELLIOTT con sented to enlarge the recognizauces for a week, observ. ing at the same time that, whether ge ntlemen or n ot , the parties charged h a d not ac ted in that manner that per sons in their station ought to have done. WICK, JUNE 19.—The herring fishing at this place has made an early and good beginning. On Wednesday night four boats were out, when Mr. Donald Bain, Bankhead, who is generally the earliest and most successful fisher, caught from six to seven craps, live crans of which he sold at 21s. per cran. Another boat had two crans sold in retail at a some what higher figure. The quality is said to be remarkably good for this early season. Several boats have returned here from the Lewis since our last, and they all bring tidings of a short fishing there. The fish are positively bad, and scarcely can be cured. Preparations are still going on briskly at Wick in boatbuilding, barrelmaking, barking and preparing nets, &c. About 100 new boats will be turned out here this season ; and the preparations in other materials are on a corresponding scale. To those lately engaged as high as 10s. per crap an 4 5/. bounty have been promised.-- Wick Paper. i