The Sun. — London, England, 1850-05-11 00:00:00

17a re t ca t f _ 11 ,‘ "be to and and all the qtialiflrr.tions which 3• 011 n et to Li,ty establishNl end cherished in leelan I are Sir, / ,ue re:tognised th et country?—(Hear, hear.) not fltiould say that if it is laid down to us that Ireland ttika.leeseshita'state t) exf•rcise or enjoy a political franchise is disconnected with tenure, you bring before whi.!eideration of statesmen a country the position of en ga to d mends immediate attention, and they ought at means a PPlY their minds to the application of some state to of re . MOVe the causes which have produced such things,—( b efore a , Loud cheers.) If that were placed E rn „, o es I should say it is not my duty in the ene ,.P l !l eto create a fictiti ous an d art ifi c i a l 4nd terriblera uet endeavour to put an end to that sad condition of thinv, which has rendered it obt ain for the people to accumulate property and taieAlLeequalification which is enjoyed in Great Bri tt; ers)—and that the first daty of a Minister is s e r ett ' t a law which should develope the industry of such whi c h ri---(Cheers)—which, if there were laws existing 4, 14 their opinion tended to prevent the develop tio4 _?1 the industry of that country and the accutnula the the in that country, as I believe, f,r example, tho P•r!ent state of the poor-law does,—l say that it me rge to be the business of a Government to direct their th at u ti to such subject, to reform and to remodel it; and th e en a t e Y should take every necessary step to stimulate ; . . eo li d i e t TPr.se, spirit, and energy of such a people in such . tic % wh ._°, and allow them to put them:elves in a pose °the? it !ch , under ordinary circumstances, and in the th e ; it . in gdorns of her Majesty, have generally preceded JoYraent of the suffrage.—(Chfers.) Now, Sir, I , ie not heard from her Majesty's Ministers . that this th: i r r °I the question has particularly impressed itself on toe ttentio n.—(Hear.) We had the question of the ees brought before the House the otner day. I did Ati e i st a s r from the Chief Secretary that her Majesty's nicr'ra--although they opposed the measure then liAceponsideration—l did not hear that her Majesty's j eer '? rs intended to introduce any measure on the sub- A nd p „_ lc it is, Sir, upon all questions connected with r:!eriat development of Ireland.—(Hear.) Now, ver aor n 'uld have supposed that if her Go of hal given their serious attention to the reform for Poor-law —if they had brought forward measures f or itZ development of the industry of the country, such, th e fis,"ace, as measures likely to encourage and extend ( leer neriel-- if, above all, they had brought forward a eartivanlif which they do not seem inclined to bring for tiori tl ley had att em pt e d t o se ttle in a statesmanlike bet we " l nnerate manner the long-controverte d re l ation Sot in landlord an d tenant —(H ear , h ea r),—l can- Isitticn thinking that the result of such legis- Atel and " ° n'd be to qualify bona fide electors for ou , tench more rapidly than this attempt at fac albel:Pnfiages.—(Lourl cheers). But, Sir, we may be sal You defend the present state of the electo he " e °1 " 80 in Ireland?" Is it for rne, or those with Pre: n (ll4l 'e the honour to act, to defend it? The tr eated state of the electoral franchise in Ireland was kind ,by the R e f orm Act; and if we discard from our fasteril the glowing and fervent sentiments of the is of the Mint, what is the question before us? It üblic acknowl e d gmen t th a t the Reform Act for dols th ri e ad failed.—(Ch eers .) B u t why had it failed? r land ant' cne who really believes that the owner of f the f ail Ireland is the sole or even the principle cause o the There is hardly one man, even in the !flaint e -s ." "'lnge, would have the courage to rise up and to j r I °l s uch a thesis.—(Cheers.) The electoral body te di e taiti e u a t il i o d ri l e why has it so fearfully diminished? The ° ant f an be traced to causes sufficiently patent to maip ° r an melancholy a result.—(Hear, hear.) The j l aPar r e s are unprecedented political agitation and ,erdnititand.etleed famine. That the relation between land nant—relations which we call upon the Go which to come forward and legislate upon,. bu bare t n°Y neglect to do—that these relations ;anY tendency to diminish the electoral body, I have th et ',l l l l or interest to dispute or b deny. But to protea n d 0;4 'obody re relations between landlord and tenant are the P r incipal cause of this diminution of the o ne_ gee. - a Position too futile to require any further to r i"( Cheers•) The fact does remain—that an elec . - a bud • tlish ed. 3', never too considerable, is very much armdim lee And here let me remind Hon. Gentlemen who s° un neceasarily to create party discussions, that as arrasour interests are concerned it is not the interest of 're g entle man on this side of the House, if the results for guide us, to support the arrangements of the . e ge r ; lid er hanehise in Ireland. A majority, and no inc .ost pie le Majority, of Irish Members always voteagai port a - d sn r i ca and the principles which we generally sup ie k a ll it 4, Ways confess, and,. therefore,. in any rem arks of thetpirit 'or 4 0 11 the system which exists, we may have credit of fairness and impartiality. Nor am I ono this W Who wo u ld attemp t t o j us tify any opposition to ak e h tne ,asttre on the mere abstract fact that it will laid it , increase the constituency of Ireland. It t t o ao .at it will make the,constituency of Ireland amount 1 00,0 ° , 1 1 , ° ° 0 or 350,000. Let the electors of Ireland be l'esai,"' if their suffrages are the natural and genuine d "eel; But, intelligence, and honesty.—(Loa . .'asb e s e . ' sitit, instead of 300,000, if the . res w u e lt re of th t e h y 7 1114'4 were a much more limited number the b ut a Moiety of the sum which has been accepted tp ettemillrobable result of this proceeding— lk n bieet to your law if I found that the end was obtai h 1144 ned by a mere artificial effort to produce a %re e : t e , i lc s ,Y.—(Loud cheers.) 'rho Right Honourable Pria ei ttbir James Graham), who disapproves_ of the 64 118idP a t clauses of this Bill. supports it from mixed ip erations and mainly, of course, and very properly 4 1)1 )0 18 :ler? of the case, because he considers it of great , r4 t - a tl - a "l l ee that there ' should be a constituency of no "leb e m ount in Ireland. But I ask you . to consider well 4 .4 YOU are approaching this difficult question—l whi ch ° ll to consider whether you are taking a course ue lieY e ill lead to the result which I well ns de . that all o f us desire. Supposing that we all of l4 ete Btr4 a bona fide, a considerable , and loyal consti- Y in / re4a% u —a constituencyequal to the occasion, 1 4t 4 ,4. able to s e l ec t men cap able of re presenting their kita e „'' and qualified to sit in this House—a con th„"eYs on the whole, well affected to the institutions t ake ra ,7 4 intry_i as k you whether the cours e you are 4,earcs is one c alculated to attain that result?-- (Hear, e h er tour Yoconstituency,which was anticipated_ under m Ib atri `t ()r al Act, has diminished from political, from ' t hieh .4l. eaUgeS—it has diminished to an amount of Ithi et ' lo t ono si ng le Member of the House, as an ab kerehfireurastance, will approve or vindicate.ve produced But re this this —that the very causes which have e tta,; lr oinution—that the very moral n t blit t hat have occasioned this result, aread material a lso causes of R.'" v e disinclined the people to any hasty adoption tiltf,,,q elector hilet•ate al system which would be framed . for the Purposes of a party, and not to satisfy Sir,tbe t e ' h , 4 and requirements of the national will. Now, kioc: not inclined on the present occasion to de °° Y reason s f or s h ow ing this to be a party object. 11 4); h i : () t say th a t th e G overnme nt on this occasion t heir for war d a measure mainly, or even if not aeir Indirectly a plan to support theirpolicy and the l'itt e , l4 ,rtY• It is quite unnecessary to diverge into d to -3 ..` c ' n ( . 4 any such - question. .All that I wish to o ° l)` ss.` e nund the House of the circumstances which in ind s bow that even in the opinion of the Govern 's.% 8 til l& is a crude and ill-digested scheme—(Ch . (Ch eers) tco‘ehera, which does not aim to settle the question in itlri,,,;llor generally satisfactory for any length of - tii t ' d s - but which emanates from the men who have NO adopted uncertain conclusions—(Hear) —and Bite at this moment, in the very heat of debate, have thre; '''bore than one evidence that, at this very instant, 1 4 . j r,l itte c ontemplating still further changes.—(Cheers.) q at;a ta ite the clause which the Right Hon. Baronet td to t riert e d and it is only because he has adverted of thttailse that, at this late hour, I call the attention Ic e ", - tloilse to it—but I will take the second clause, t rsy ,1‘ which he prided himself upon having voted.. In most it is a very injudicious clause. I voted against 4 11 p :Iliticerel because I thought it an injudicious and t a r eci tt k Le ause Yl a clause which would not have been pre ''th bh " 3 : men well acquainted with the circumstances .e e t , - "'cli they were dealing—an unstattlimanlikeclaus to re e e . e ra)--a clause which, in my opinion, ought not tit), ire the sanction of Parliament .—( Hear. ) I would 4 1t e tt r e""4 would say a clause which ought not t c o e r ta e: 44 04, le sanction and approval of the House o£ ,ete fl n ,reause I am not one cf the school who would oea. i ll Bill of which I disapproved to throw the re.. str i , — \ "it • Y of rejecti ng it upon another body.—(Loud But if this is my opinion, and the opinion of s'etti7,4,7 ° D. Gentlemen who have spoken on the present .ate °itiChn nanda during preceding discussions—what hi t_ tiitt ‘ - ,: her Majesty's Government on this most ia.,7 her ? Why, no less a person than the First ',..' i de i r -4 1. ° f the Crown, when the clause was first brought Leit . u , la cussioalmost anticipated our objections ge ti l ,"'nu threw it ss it were into the centre of the tld l ' a tiuto the arena of our Parlirmentary discussion s 2 olrhe cared not to be responsible for it. Sir, abl er this clause, which is, perhaps the most objection 'D.:4B4 of the Bill—a clause of which we particularly l' a t Oo 'saP it - , ° _" - -is a clause that now becomes of considerable iti, " o —that occupies a great place in legislation.. , 1 14 (1t); to be sent with the approval of the Ministry ) 4 44 walatinction of this House to another place to b e ' 4 l l O .t h , we are throwing upon another place th eoef,,,aaibility of rejecting legislation which we ourselves t e tit il - o s r% and which is acknowledged by the highest Z q l 'e rsN Y t° be most crude and ill-digested.—(Loud h r lce ask, is that the manner to treat another o tts Is that thespirit in which we should sup mstitutions of country? It is not decorous, I ' 4 O t r' l l a Minister, but it is still less decorous in those tisterLeePprove of such a course, and who, havingre 'NO. their vote against it. still vote for the third * ,;(1,,,;„ 6 ,,ef the Bill of which it forms so prominent a part i I be 'q f r ehaer a.) Take the clause in which the amount G 'lncluse is define i The Hon. Gentleman (Sir i n ati t i tthau l) tells us that n voting for this Bill he votes eg 804 • elle c t, W ith those opinions which he has always pro lloe .; at least of late years—(A laugh)—and in acco.rd lit°el.! P; t p h i t t ,?_°ae a pr_ojects of legislation which he has him nd supported Why, Sir, it is not long pery 41 tle rn B only in the year 1844, that the Right Hon. bsu — b i '' o rl i*i bircis . elf brought forward a measure on this e l t of 1 - B Z, And what was his . qualification in the ia hed It was a 301. franchise—(Cheers)—e.sta r;A: recollect right on the same basis of rating. i',,eetl e - m el :9 But . what - is the ' answer of the Right Hon. 1 ,`,1,R fi le Ii and his friends, if we object to their support ;tilt (4'1,4, qualification, when a short time ar t as the th e i r 'nett' matured counsels, of their deep reflection, Z 4444 ienlapormorate rese . arch, of all the advantages which ehi a " tion imparted, they proposed a 301. en e Qeutl Why the answer of the Right Honou.r stap,es °man will probably be that the hir- Teriab of Ireland are changed—lreland is im tkie,t,s_,:yed--rortlirelatad is not so wealthy as she was. hed? la-- Is Ireland always to be ins tttlleld bit° our this age of progress, which we have 'e to b e ur ears every night and on every occasion, is k ace i t , no Progress in Ireland? I have more confi tisk ...t,he future for Ireland than these great states e,!'llitlll;lll not give my sanction to a great constitu- I ti o_t t ilat is to announce to the United Kingdom 174,1411 r always to be a pauper.—(Cheers.) 4)4 44 to these circumstances, accounting, as I will 43e0 uilt n 0 b y the mere unsatisfactory THE statement of the relations between landlord and tenant, but by the great moral and material causes that have seldom (=erred in the history of nation', and probably never can be repeated in the history of Ireland—namely, unparalleled political agitation, and a famine, which, as the Noble and Learned once rightly said, was a famine of the middle ages accounting for the state of Ireland by these causes, I want to know, is there in Ireland, at this moment such a feverish disease for the settlement of the question that it will justify the Government in bringing forward a measure which they themselves acknowledge they have not well considered?—(Cheers.) Now, Sir, my opinion is, that while we should frankly acknowledge our wish that Ireland should be placed in the enjoyment of political privileges inferior to none of the kingdoms of her Majesty, we should also have the moral courage at the same time to an nounce that we are resolved that these political privi leges shall be real ones.—(Cheers.) And inasmuch as, according to the genius of our constitution—for as we have bean reminded of the genius of Ireland, I may pre , sutne to appeal t ) the genius of our constitution—in asmuch as the enjoyment and the exercise of the suf frage has been, on the whole, in this country, connected with the possession of property, we should—although, of course, in the adjustment of such an important set tlement, we must, in many instances, where it is wise i and circumspect, modify the application of that prin . ciple —of that principle we are determined never to lose sight.—(Hear, hear.) But in the present instance we depart trom it; we lose sight ot it; we substantially reject it, we announce that the enjoyment and exercise of the suffrage in Ireland shall not be consistent with property; and in doing that we destroy the principle which has made the enjoyment and exercise of the suff rage in England most valuable.— (Cheers.) Let the privi lege be as wide as the merits of the community deserve, but let the community obtain it by industry, by intelli gence, by the exercise of all those great qualities which make useful and honest citizens. These have, through the good sense of the people of England, hitherto been our guiding principles in the adjustment of the question of suffrage. For my part, I believe that the people of Ireland are equally capable to mark the same results and to exercise the same rights as the people of England. But I oppose a law the essence of which is not to give credit to the people of Ireland for thee qua lities, the object of which is to announce that they are different from the people of England, and to tell them that the genius of Ireland is incapable of making the exertions and enjoying the honours of Englishmen. — (Loud cheering.) Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, I will not detain the House long, because I really do not think, if I were capable a addressing it at length, that this Bill on its third read ing requires much advocacy on our part. Here is a grievance, and we propose a remedy. Does the griev ance exist? I shall not go into a detail of the small number of electors in the different boroughs in Ireland; but when I look at the number of electors in England, Scotland, and Wales, I find that they vary from 1 in 25, which is the lowest, to 1 in 32 per cent., which is the highest, giving an average ot somewhere about 29 per cent. in Great Britain; and when I come to Ire land I find that it is not 25 per cent., that it is not 20 per cent., or 10 per cent., but merely 2 per cent, of the adult male population.—(Loud cheers.) I ask the House, is not that a grievance which, when it is brought before it, and when a Bill is proposed to remedy it—is it not fitting that the House should agree to it?— (Cheers.) We are Old that we have departed altogether from the franchise by tenure, which is the basis of the franchise in England. If I could understand that Hon. Gentlemen opposite meant to maintain that we ought to propose some such franchise as we have in England— that, for instance, the 40a. freeholders should be restored in Ireland, and that that franchise they were prepared to defend—l could well understand their saying, "We propose putting Ireland on an equality with England— we believe that yours is founded on a wrong principle, and we propose, instead, one similar in its detail and objects to the franchise existing in England." But they propose no such remedy. Do they propose to make the existing 10/. franchise more simple, and to make that the franchise for Ireland? By no means.— (Hear, hear.) They do not propose even that extreme. Therefore thus laying down the proposition that the grievance being clear and incontesti.ble—that the grievance being undeniable—no remedy is to be proposed. What is the language of the Hon. and Learned Member for the University of Dublin, and of the Hon. Gentleman who has last spoken? Forgetting what the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last has stated, they tell you that there are other kinds of legislation; for instance, the law of landlord and tenant, which the Legislature should attend to, and not to the extension of the franchise, Sir, such is the language that has always been held in despotic countries.—(Cheers.) They tell you in despotie countries that nothing is so mischievous as the concession of political rights, the freedom of the press, the exercise of the right of voting, and the discus sion of political questions. That it is the business of the Government to take care in a peculiar manner of the material interests of the people—(Hear, hear)—to look after the fisheries—(Hear, and cheers)—to provide for their material interests; but that political franchises were the source of disorder and revolution, and from that we must carefully abstain.—(Hear.) But in England we have learned a totally different lesson.—(Hear.) We have learned that if men have the right of voting and of sending Members to this House, if mon know the responsibility of the great in terests of the country, and know that these they have sent as representatives have the power of control ling the expenditure of the country, of giving advice to the Crown, and of taking part in all the legislative func tions with regard to persona and property in the coun try; they know that by these they may be raised to rank and dignity, and so far from being less able to at• tend to their material interests, the very freedom they enjoy and the very exercise of their rights will make them more able to pursue the paths of industry and of wealth.—(Hear, hear.) Why, when there were discus sions in this House some sixty years ago, and when Mr. Pitt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, came down to show the then flourishing state of the trade and revenues and the material interests of the country, he said, when he had finished the detail which was given in his own magical manner, they owed all that to the free constitu tion of England.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Fox, who concurred in the statement, made the same admission. Both agreed that it was a matter nobody could dispute—that the free constitution of England and the possession of the fran chise led to wealth. Now, in Ireland, we are told that is to be reversed Give the people of that country, not the enjoyment of their rights—no—it is the business of Parliament to look after the fisheries, to look after her material interests, but as to political franchise, we must altogether abandon the care of that concern. I am surprised that those who hold these doctrines have found only two or three things in the Bill to find fault with. The Bill proposes that, instead of the 40s. free hold system, which led to great abuses, when they were driven like crowds of vassals to the poll to vote for their landlords, and then by some political or religious agita tion induced to vote against them—by the franchise that was proposed instead of that system in 1829, and after wards enlarged in 1831, as being too complicated and difficult to define—instead of that system, we propose a franchise, simple in its nature, by which persons having a vote are not obliged to go in and make good their claim to that vote, but are entitled out of the rate-books of the guardians of the poor to exercise that vote.—(hear.) I say it is of immense advantage to the country to ex change that which led to abuses, and wascomplicated and difficult to carry into effect, for one simple and easy in its character and definition. Then it is said by the Noble Lord the Member for King's Lynn, if you extend it to 121. it will include an intelligent class of men, but as you have put it at 8/. you swamp all the franchise. Ido not think that the Noble Lord gave any proof that all those possessing a holding of 121. are intelligent, and all those possessing one of 81. are not intelligent. We have taken a solvent class of men, and we have likewise taken a class of persons who in number do not come up in proportion to the county electors either of England or of Scotland. I say that we have not taken the fran chise exceedingly low, and that we have struck out the just medium. Then the Hon. Gentleman says, and many other Hon. Gentlemen have gone along with him, respecting the joint tenancy clause, that it is mischievous in its operation. I hold that clause to be of imma terial importance. Ido not believe that there are many joint tenants, and I cannot compare this to the splitting up of land under the 40s. system, because it must be a holding tantamount to the value of 161. at least, out of which two votes are to be given. Taking the analogy of the Reform Bill we have put in this clause, but if the Hon. Gentlemen who are connected with the rural economy of Ireland tell me that this clause is injurious I am ready to omit it. I do not attach any importance to it. The Hon. Member for Bucks said that they. were legislating upon the consequences of the late fa mine, and suggests to us that we should wait until we see its permanent effects. The Hon. Gentleman does not seem to be aware that the diminution in the number of voters had been going on since 1841, and therefore it could not be said that this is a diminution owing to the famine, but that it has been going on from year to year owing to the nature of the franchise. Then the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Bucks has one large reason for not adopting the Bill, which is a strong reason for the course we pursue. The Hon. Gentleman also says that there is no feverish anxiety about it. Why, if there was, what should we be told? That we were lis tening t') clamour and agitation. On the contrary, the Right Hon. the Master of the Mint has told us that the time is favourable to the extension of the franchise, be cause it is a time of calm and quiet, and uninfluenced by any agitation or excitement. The measure itself pro poses, in point of fact, to place the people of Ireland in a situation as good, or nearly so, as the people of Eng land. It is founded on the principle that they shall not be treated as inferior to England or Scotland, but that it has a right, when England and Scotland have a certain franchise, that she shall have an equivalent, That right has not been urged with clamour and agitation ; and so much the more does it become your justice and wisdom to make the people of Ireland equal with the people of Great Britain, and show them that, by equal freedom and an equal franchise, you have full confidence in the manner they will use this franchise, and that you wish them to have all the freedom of the other parts of the empire.—(Cheers.) The House then divided, when there appeared— For the third reading 254 Against it Majority in favour of the third reading —6B The Bill was then passed. The amendments to the elections (Ireland) Bill were considered and agreed to. Mr. NAPIER obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the laws relating to ecclesiastical residences in Ireland; Bill to amend the laws relating to the erection and endowment of churches and chapels in Ireland; and a Bill to repeal certain statutes relating to the clergy of the Irish branch of the United Church of Eng land and Ireland. LONI)ON, ~~. SUN, +s - V_ 1, The were subsequently brought in and read a first time. Adjourned at One o'clock. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Maylo. Sittings after Term at Nisi Prins, 'before Lord Chief Justice WILDE and a Common Jury.) The case of Wright v. Wilcox was the only case brought before the Court this morning. The proceed ings were of great length, and were not of sufficient in terest to merit a report. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, May 10. (Before Mr. Commissioner FONBLANQUE.) IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF ROBERT POTTER. The bankrupt, described as of 9, Lansdowne Villas, Bromptom, and of 50, Haymarket, tavern-keeper, who owned the well-known house called the Waterford Arms, came up on the question of passing his last examination. The balance-sheet, prepared by Mr. Glover, has the following items :—Creditors, 1,5481.; ditto, holding security, 2701.; profits, 1,4001.; losses 1,562/. ; trade charges, 1,04 5 / 4 peisonal and domestic ditto, 8401.; property taken by assignees, 1271.; horses, 1251.; good and doubtful debts, 136/. Mr. LAWRA.INCE supported. The bankrupt passed. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, May 10. (Before Mr. Commissioner Lem.) IN RE WILLIAM CORBETT. Mrs. Cobbett applied this morning on behalf of her husband, who, sbe said, had been in prison for ten y ears, that the vesting order made upon a creditor's petition might be annulled, upon the ground of in formality. Mr. Cobbett had been taken upon an at tachment for costs, upon which the vesting order had been issued as a matter of course, but Mrs. Cobbett contended that her husband never having been " committed," a vesting order could not be made. Mr. Commissioner Lew said he did not think a vesting order should issue of course. It was not the function of this Court to keep people in prison, and it was not the cause of Mr. Cobbett's long detention. Mrs. Cobbett replied that this Court had inflicted a grievous punishment upon her husband by re moving him to a part of the prison allotted to fraudu lent persons. Mr. Commissioner LAW said that was the doing of the Secretary of State. This Court did not approve of such things. The matter was then ordered to stand over, that it might be subsequently brought in a more regular manner before the Court. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. TRIAL OF WALTER WATTS FOR DEFRAUDING THE GLOBE INSURANCE OFFICE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Cross-examined--The prisoner had been in the office since 1832, and was a servant of the company, who paid him his salary. The papers he wanted sealed up were not all the office contained, but those in his own and the secretary's offices. The prisoner held two shares in the crmpany, and no doubt had received dividends. There was a treasury committee, without whose authority no cheques could be drawn. The cheques are signed by three of the directors, and countersigned by the treasurer or secretary. The cheque is then handed to a clerk in the cashier's office, and before it is handed to the party in whose favour it is drawn it is copied into a transcript book. The prisoner surrendered to the police. Re-examined—The cheque-book produced is the one that was in use in February. The prisoner had no ac cess to it. It was kept in the inner department of the cashier's office, and never was brought higher than the board-room. It was the duty of the prisoner further to take care of the cheque when it was ready for delivery, and to countersign it. There appear to have been several leaves torn out of this cheque-book. I never saw the prisoner in the lower office, where this book is kept, but it was his duty to go in on his arrival in the morn ing and enter his name in the time-book. The pass-book was entrusted to the prisoner's custody. Cross-examined--The prisoner could not get to this cheque-book in the lower office, when he signed his name in the time-book. It was the duty of the prisoner's father to keep the duplicate cheque-book. Mr. George W. Ellis, a clerk in the office of Messrs. Freshfield, the solicitors for the prosecution, stated that he served the prisoner and his solicitor with notice to pro duce the missing cheques and his pass-book with the London and Westminster Bank. Mr. James Ashton, the ledger clerk of the London and Westminster Bank, produced the ledger in which the ac count of the prisoner for the present year was kept. On the 26th of Feb. the prisoner appeared to be credited 1,4001. as cash. In January and February the prisoner paid in various sums, and the balance now remaining in his favour was 201. 7s. 4d. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. COCKBURN then took the objection that the in dictment could not be sustained, inasmuch as the pri soner was a partner in the Globe Insurance Company, who, in fact, were the prosecutors in this case, though the Act to which the Learned Attorney-General had already referred, provided that the 'company should sue or be sued, prosecute or be prosecuted in the name of its treasurer, and gave no power whatever to sue or pro secute each other, except in so far as to recover the calls on money to be raised under the general provisions of the Act. In common law, therefore, the com pany could sustain no prosecution against the prisoner, and there were ample authorities in the books to support this objection. The Learned Gentleman cited the cases of "The King and Ranley" in Russell and Ryan, page 478; " The King and Willis," Moody's Crown cases, page 110; and " The Queen and White," Cox's criminal law cases, page 245. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL—IS it the dictum you rely upon, a man can't steal his own property? Mr. COCKBURN—Certainly, my Lord. Mr. Justice CaEsswELL—Well, then, the charge is not for stealing from the company, but from individuals. Mr. COCKBURN—No, my Lord, he is charged with stealing the property of the treasurer, as the represen tative of the company. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL—I am not speaking of the cheque for 1,4001. Mr. CCCKBURN—Your Lordship then is speaking of stealing the piece of paper. In the case of the " King and Willis," it was held, my Lord, that a wife could not be found guilty of staling the property of a society and company in which her husband was a partner, and I submit, upon principle, that this indictment cannot be sustained. A man can't steal his own property. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL—In some cases he can; for instance, there is a note to a case in Saunders, where a master robbed his servant under these circumstances. He gave him some money to go and pay a bill, and while the servant was on the road he waylaid him and took the money from him. Now, do you mean to say that a man in such a case could not be prosecuted for stealing his own money? Mr. COCKBURN—Yes, my Lord, he can, if he commits the robbery with a felonious intent, but here the piece of paper was as much the property of the prisoner as any of the directors. Mr. Baron ALDERSON—The rule of law as laid down by Lord Hale is this,—a joint tenant having possession of a thing cannot be indicted for stealing it from his partner, and that was the rule the C our t re li e d on in de ciding the case of the wife already referred to. There the husband was the joint tenant in possession. Mr. CoctsunN—Well, my Lord, I apprehend the prisoner was the tenant in possession, but the principle laid down by Lord Hale was broader than that main tained by the Court. Lord Hale distinctly states that a. man entitled even to possession cannot be prosecuted. Mr. Justice CBESSWELL—But here it is shown that he was not entitled to possession. Mr. COCKBURN—Nor was it shown to be in the pos session of the directors, wbo are the prosecutors; and I submit the piece of paper was as much the prisoner's property and in his possession as the directors. This was evidently a case of joint partnership, where some of the parties were managing a business for the others, and no indictment for felony could be sustained against them. Mr. BODKIN was heard on the same side. Mr. Justice CRESBWELL said there was no doubt as to the rule of law upon this subject, but here there was a special property, and the indictment could be sustained. Mr. BODKIN took exception to this. No special pro perty had been shown whatever; the directors were paid for their services and so were the clerks, while there was no evidence whatever to show that the directors were specially responsible to the other partners or share holders for the security of the property then in their pos session. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL overruled the objection, on the ground that there was special possession and special property in the directors. Mr. Baron ALDER3ON concurred in this ruling. Mr. COCKBURN applied to the Court to reserve the point. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL—I have said nothing about that yet. Mr. Baron ALDERSON—That is matter for after con sideration. Mr. COCKBURN addressed the jury for the prisoner at great length. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL then summed up the evidence. The jury after an hour's absence returned into court with a verdict of Guilty of stealing a piece of paper. Mr. COCKBURN moved an arrest of judgment until the point raised in the course of the trial relative to the prisoner being a partner in the company could be de cided by the Exchequer Chamber. The CounT granted the application. The ATTORNEY•GENTrRLL said there were several other indictments against the prisoner, but he should not take any further steps regarding them until the present indictment was finally disposed of by the decision of the judges upon the point of law. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, BOW-STREET. Sidney Robert Sparks was placed at the bar before Mr. Jardine, charged with being concerned in a series of frauds effected by newspaper advertisements. The prisoner had summoned a Mr. Parrott, of whom he had rented an office in Great Queen -street, to explain why he refused to deliver up certain papers and account books, of which he had taken forcible possession. At the time fixed for the hearing of the summons Mr. Parrott was present, but the complain ant (the prisoner) had not arrived. The papers were handed up for the inspection of the Court, and they proved to be the form of advertisements, agreements, letters, and other machinery, by which the swindling operations of a rather numerous gang in the metro polis are successfully carried on. The magistrate consequently directed an officer to retain the docu ments, and dismissed the summons. At a latter period of the aft ernoon t h e pr i soner arr ived at the court, attributed hi s ,previous absence to an 71: 'irliDAY E A'll VEVIVG, accident, and sent in an application to his Worship to grant him a fresh summons against Parrott free of expense. While awaiting the reply of the magistrate Sergeant Thompson, of the F divi sion, received instructions to take the prisoner into custody upon the criminal charge. Mr. Parrott, and several of the unfortunate men who bad been victimized by the prisoner and his as sociates, were then sent for to appear in the character of prosecutors. . ... Thomas Burgh Long, of 15, Thistle-grove, West Brompton, clerk, proved that he answered an adver tisement in the Times about three weeks ago, offering his services as clerk to the advertiser on the terms proposed—namely, " that he should deposit 50/. a cash security, it being an office of trust." He called at what appeared to be the business office of the ad. vertiser, at 7, Brownlow-street, Holborn, and which was called a "Loan, Investment, and Emigration. office." He found the prisoner there, officiating as " chief clerk," and was informed by him that the manager, Mr. Campbell, wou ld li sten to no ot h er se curity than a cash deposit. Witness then left 101, and on the follovving Monday gave the person who. sat in the inside office as Mr. Campbell a cheque for 40/. Witness was then " put to work," whidh consisted of going out once or twice to make inquiries relative to certain " references" or " securities,' and at the end of the first week received 21., according to stipulation, as his first week's wages. He could , get neither wages nor deposit after this, and one day he found the offices shut up. The prisoner cross-examined the witness with the view of showing that he personally received no money from him, and that, according to the term of the agreement signed between the parties, the time had not yet arrived for th e repayment f the deposit. Charles George, of 71, St. John-street, Clerken well, proved a similar negotiation with a man calling himself Stanley at offices in Kingsgate-street, Hol born, where he had also seen the prisoner frequently in company with Stanley. Witness paid a deposit Of 104 and only received 10s. in wages. [Stanley was brought before Mr. Hall last week, and discharged, the Court having no jurisdiction.] Mr. Parrott repeated his statement as to letting the prisoner an office at 79, Great Queen-street, on the 15th of April, in ignorance of the character of his tenant, till be found the place surrounded by young men who bad been duped by him. Mr. JARDINE remanded the prisoner to Tuesday next. WORSHIP-STREET. Yesterday Colonel Sibthorp, the Member for Lincoln, attended before Mr. Yarnold, at the instance of Mr. Kipling, solicitor to the trustees for lighting and paving the parish of St. Luke, to show cause why summonses should not be issued for the recovery of certain rates due . upon premises belonging to him, called Salmon and Ball-court and Tomlinson's-build ings, in that parish, and which rates had been neglected or refused to be paid. The substance of the case on the part of the trustees appeared to be that they had paved all the courts and alleys within their jurisdiction, including those now in question, and, as the houses in them were rated under the Act 57th George 111., cap. 29, sec. 54, which gave them power to pave all streets and public places, it was contended that it clearly embraced the property referred to. The Colonel disputed his liability, on behalf of his tenants, and set up an alleged promise on the part of the trustees that, on consideration of cer • tain acts being performed by him, his property should be exempted ; but in answer to this it was contended that such an arrangement, even if come to, could not be considered as binding the present body of trustees, who were bound to protect the interests of their trust irrespective of parties, and at the sugges tion of the magistrate, therefore, formal notice had been forwarded to the Hon. Member that the pre sent application would be made against his tenants, and he now consequently attended in person to answer it. The Colonel, who appeared to labour under severe indisposition, addressed the magistrate with consider able warmth, denying that either he or his tenants were liable for such rates, and complained of the summary mode of proceeding taken against him, a course which he had reason to believe had been adopted from some motive. On a former occasion the liability of his property had been brought into dis pute, and the trustees then, after the case had been very fully gone into, had not only undertaken that no further demands should be made upon him, but had actually tendered him their thanks for what he had done. A second appeal was then made, but was un hesitatingly dismissed, and he felt it peculiarly hard that he should be brought here again and subjected to annoyance upon the very same grounds, after two decisions had been given in his favour. Another cause of complaint he had against the trustees was, that a promise had been broken which had been given to him, that proper notice of any intention to pave his property should be forwarded to him by the trustees, instead of which the paving had been performed in a very surreptitious manner, and without his having even the possibility of knowing what was going on. He had every desire to meet such matters in a fair, candid, and open spirit, and not be tied down by mere legal technicalities, but the trustees appeared determined to rest upon their legal authority to enforce these rates from him, and, although upon that ground he might be held liable, it would be very unjust, as it was well known that Acts of Parliament were frequently passed, many of the Members present upon which occasion were gene rally, if not entirely, ignorant of the contents of the very Acts they had made. He had sat for 20 years in the House of Commons, and now, labouring under illness as he did, he neglected his duties there to attend here as the advocate of a public question, in volving matters of such importance that they must shortly come under the notice of the Legislature, when the whole question of parish expenditure would be thoroughly investigated and put upon a just foot ing. He was blessed with means to do great good to his fellow-creatures, and endeavoured to dispense them in a feeling of liberality, and, though he had property in no less than five counties, he could with pride and gratification say that he had not a single tenant who had not expressed his pleasure at having him for a landlord, as he was always ready to do whatever he could for them. He had much respect for the magistrate's opinion, but he was determined that this matter should not rest where it did, and even if it cost him 5,0001. or 6,0001. he would carry it into the Queen's Bench, and there try if he could not put an end to such proceedings. He had more important duties to perform elsewhere, but he considered it compulsory and incumbent upon him to resist such demands, the iujustice of which could be esta blished dgaennt, if the ma g i s t ra t e th o u g ht he sho u ld t h ere f ore l eave t h e en tirely in the hands o f th e C our t, w i t h ou t pfurtherto call liim troubling himself Personally about it. Mr. AuNOLD th ou g ht the gallant Colonel had no ser i ous cause of complaint, as it appeared that much co urtesy had been exhibited in giving him due notice e asr , tthhaa tt might be, no such of the applicat ion a g ainst his tenants ; and though he of some such understand ingreferred to having been come r t engag e me n to , under taking of the th en trustees could be held to bind their successors in matters of public instance, and he therefore felt bou nd to g rant the summons applied for, as he should h ave no answ er if a mandamus were certainlyye t ah recollection ev w applied for against him to show cause why he refused. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE ----- OF FRIDA,:y. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, MAY 9, 1850. ' Commission Notiee' is hereby g iven, that her Majesty's birthday will be celebrated on Wednesda y next, the 15 th inst.; Commission by the L ord-Lieuten ant of Cumberland. hporornmeoytcerdo,fr, May Gent., WHITEHALL , MAY 3 . t, Royal Cumberland Re g iment of Militia — Thomas Mitchell, Gioentb.y tie to be Ld eS o u r rgr ie nnu, L J e an a . n 7 t , 1842. of Staffordshire,., . Queen's Own Royal R e g iment of Staffordshire C YelL m a a p u t r a y i n e , v a i v c a e l r E y . 11 — r l Tohroamn v a i s l l e T , • to The Lord Chancellor h as a pp ointed W illiam Wood landGe Gent., t. t , h t e o y b o e u n a g e m r , a os Master f e T r aEuxo Extraordinary r i d n i li t ahrey in county of Somerset, the High Court of Chancery. WHITEEIALL, MAY 8. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Richard Duke, of Liverpool, in the county palatine of Lancaster, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the high Court of Chan cery. BANKRUPTCY SUPBRSEDEb. Evan Rees, hatter, Dudley, Worcestershire. BAN KRUPTS. Richard Dart and Joseph Brown, coach lace manu facturers, Bedford-street, Covent -garden, to surrender May 17, at eleven, and June 22, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy.. Pennell, official assignee, Guild hall-chambers, Basinghall-street; May and Sweetland, Queen-square, Bloomsbury.. Edward Parratt, advertising agent, Park-vill age W est, Regent's-park, May 22, and June `2l, at One, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Cun ningham. Buckingham-street, Strand. John Thomas Holland, builder , Coventry, M ay _ 23 and June 20, at twelve, at the Blrininghain District Court. 22Wanildlia Junetn l iai o, h a Christie, official assignee, Birming ham ; D ewes and Son, Coventry; Motteram, Knight, and Emmet t , Birmingham. District Court. Bird, official assignee , L iver pool; Dewhurst, Liverpool. Margaret Milne, grocer and t f a deale r , Manchester, 3rB t eleven,tieoh p a r t op t r h i e cto L r, Liverpool, M a y iverpool May 31 and June 14. at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, o fficial assignee, Manchester; Mackinson, Manchester. Buckley Royle, dealer and chapman, Manchester, May 28 and June 12, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, o fficial assignee, Mancheste r; Andrew, Manchester. Richard Wilson, dealer and chapman, Kingston-upon- Hull, May 29 and June 19, at half-past twelve, at she Leeds District Court. Carrick, official assignee, Hull ; Stamp, HulL PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from returns made in the week ending May 7 1850, exclusive of Custom Duties pa'd or payable thereon on the importatim thereof into Great Britain:— From the British possessions in America '23s. 5f:41. per cwt. From the Mauritius 235. lid. ~ From the East Indies ... 235. 44d. „ Average price of the three foregoing de scriptions of sugar, jointly, computed as *bore, and exclusive of duty ... 233. sd. By authority of Parliament, HENRY BICKNELL, Clerk of the Grocers' Company. Grocers'-hall, May 10. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From last night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Sth of Victoria, cap. 32, fir the Week ending on Saturday, the 4th day of May, lesO. I881:11 DEPARTMENT. X. Notes i55ued........ 29,924,295 £29,924,295 Government debt •. 11,015,100 Other securities .. • . 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 15,714,411 Silver bullion ...... 2U9,877 X 29,924,295 M. MARSHALL, ChierCashier. METROPOLITAN COUNTIES AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. On Wednesday afternoon the second general annual meeting of the proprietary of the above company was held at their offices, No. 27, Regent -street. Amongst the directors present were Captain the Hon. G. F. Hotham, R.N., Sir T. N. Reeve, E. V. Neale, S. Driver, J. P. Griffin, W. Studley, W. A. S. Westoby, H. P. Fuller, E. Lomax, Esqs , &c. On the motion of Mr. Fuller the chair was taken by Captain the Hon. G. F. Hotham. Mr. Camroux (manager) then proceeded to read the advertisement calling the meeting, and also the report, of which the following is a copy : " At the conclusion of the second year from the for mation of the Metropolitan Counties and General Life Assurance Society, the directors have the satisfaction of again congratulating the shareholders and members upon its increasing prosperity. The hopes which, on the last occasion when they had to give an account of their stewardship, they considered themselves justified by twelve months' experience in entertaining—namely, that notwithstanding the formidable array of rival offices with which the society had to contend, its peculiar ad vantages were such as could not fail to secure fer it a large share of public favour, have been folly realised. The progress of the society has continued to be as steady and as rapid as the directors felt justified in anti cipating that it would be. " To establish this proposition, it is necessary only to compare the number of proposals made and policies is sued, the amount of revenue produced and of sums as sured at the close of April, 1849, with the same items at the close of April of this year. On the 30th April, 1849, the society had issued 212 policies, assuring sums to the amount of 67,8011., and producing an annual income of 2,2361. 3s. lld. " On the 30th April, 1850, the society had issued 532 policies, assuring sums to the amount of 176,557/., and producing an annual income of 5,8031. 12s. sd. " Thus, it will be observed, that the total amount as sured has increased in a greater ratio than the number of policies, a satisfactory evidence of the increasing con fidence felt by the wealthier classes of the community in the stability of the society. "To guard against the possibility of heavy claims being made in the infancy of the society, your directors have re-assured with other societies all lives upon which policies exceeding 1,5001. have been effected with the so ciety, for the excess above that sum. In addition to the capital invested as loans, the directors have also taken measures for the formation of a reserved fund in the Go vernment Securities, in conformity with the provisions of the deed of settlement, as an immediate available in vestment to meet any claims which may be made upon the society. " The directors, in their last report, were enabled to congratulate the members on the exemption of the society from loss up to that period by reason of death. This congratulation they are happy to be able to reiterate, not one of the assured having died since the formation of the society. The directors feel justified, therefore, in referring with confidence, from past expe rience to the skill of the medical officers employed by the society, and the care with which the life assurance business has been conducted, and in renewing their former anticipation of the advantages to be reaped by those who either as proprietors or assured invest their capital in the society. " The directors have much gratification in being able to speak of the services of the officers of the society, especially those of the manager, Mr. Camroux, and Mr. Addison, the provincial superintendent, in terms of ap probation, similar to those employed in their former re port. The best proof of the zeal and efficiency of all the officers employed by this society is, however, to be found in the result of its operations already noticed. " The balance-sheet of the accounts of the society up to the 25th of March last, and the report of the auditors, which are in the hands of the shareholders, contain am ple information of the present position of the finances of the society, and will, as the directors feel certain, bear out, on inspection, the favourable statement which they have made. " It is natural that, with so pleasing a retrospect of the past, the directors should look forward with confi dence to the future. Everything induces them to be lieve that the next year will exhibit an increase upon the present one, as great in proportion as that of the last year over its predecessor. "They have recently found favourable opportunities for introducing the business of the society into several im portant places, where hitherto its advantages had not been made known, and in which they have reason to expect the formation of a valuable connexion. Experience shows them that life assurance offers an inexhaustible field for well-directed efforts, so small is the proportion in every part of this country of assured lives to the number of healthy persons possessing the means of effecting assurances. In conclusion, they will only add that the shareholders may rely on the directors leaving no m« ans of extending the business of the office untried. " Four of the directors, John Palk Griffin, Esq., Captain the lion. G. F. Hotham, Edward Legh, Esq., and Samuel Miller, Esq., go out of office by rotation, and John Palk Griffin, Esq., Captain the Hon. G. F. liotham, and Samuel Miller, Esq., being eligible for re election, offer themselves accordingly. " Thomas Bates, Esq., and Henry Peach Buckler, Esq., the auditors of the society, also retire from office; and Henry Peach Buckler, Esq., being eligible for re election, offers himself accordingly. " By order of the Board of Directors, " F. FERGUSON CAMROUX, Manager. "27, Regent-street, Wuterloo-place, London, April 30, 1850." The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said the report they had just heard read by their excellent manager would give the shareholders the best and most accurate ac count which could be furnished of the proceedings of the society for the last twelve months. lie had the pleasure of telling them on a former occasion that he anticipated great success, and he could now say, in the second year of their existence, that not withstanding the short time their office had been established, and the number of institutions of a similar kind with which they had to compete, his anticipations had been more than realised ; and he considered the cheering prospect whi,;h ther business presented fully justified him in the hopes he had expressed, and the improve ment in their affairs for the year just past was only an omen of their greater future prosperity. They would observe, by the report, that there was an increase in the sum assured—from 67,8011. last year, to 176,5571., an increase which had more than doubled their income ; and even since the time which that report had been prepared a still further increase to the amount of about 10,0001. had taken place ; so that their income then, instead of being only about 5,0001., was at present about 6,0001. a year. Now, in increasing these sums assured he could inform them that a considerable degree of care and cautiousness had been used. They had not ac cepted all the assurances which had been offered, nor had they taken all that came to them. They consi dered that in the beginning of their existence they ought to be careful in avoiding any large risks ; and he was happy to say that since their establishment not a single life had fallen, and that was a matter on which he felt happy to be able to congratulate the so ciety. They had up to the present time not undertaken any assurance beyond 1,500/., which was he thought the safer course to adopt. The proprietors would also see that they had commenced a fund called the reserve fund, to meet any contingency which might hereafter arise. Although it was rather early in the day to expect that that fund could be very large, yet it had been considered advisable to commence it, and by adding a little to it every year, it would gradually in crease to such an extent as might enable them to meet any contingencies that might arise without calling on the proprietors. Their loan business was also increas ing day after day, and would increase more with the increase of their capital. That loan system, he would observe, was a very valuable adjunct to the business of the society. He need not say much then with re spect to the advantages and assistance which the so ciety derived from its most efficient officers. On a former occasion he had the pleasure of bearing testi mony to the efficiency of their medical officers, as well as their manager and provincial superinten dent. The report alluded in complimentary terms to those officers, and for his d own .d part he should reiterate what he his ba ao previous occasions, an d ag ain beartestim o ny to the value of their services.. There was one sub ject aofenwe of words. It was their auditors with onrespect whi which ht to e theirw s auditors. wished to say had retired, and there was at present only one. They had been obliged to accept the assistance of a gentle man who had very kindly offered his services. But an auditor was to be appointed, and his experience in other companies led him to believe that pro prietors did not generally look with favour on the fact of directors nominating auditors. As a general rule, he thought the election of auditors should be left to the proprietors. Now, what they thought was, that if there was a gentleman —a public accountant--who would take the matter in his hands, it would be advis able to appoint such a man ; for though their ac counts might be small at present, there was every prospect that in the course of a few years they would give the auditors work enough. There were two ways by which the question might be met. He believed their deed required that a special meeting, after 21 days' notice, should be held to elect an auditor. This was an officer whose appointment ought to be left in the proprietors' hands. In con clusion, he begged to move the adoption of the report which had been laid before the meeting. He then read the number of attendances given by each director during the past year. Mr. FULLER, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, said he hardly thought that many people could be aware of the advantages con nected with that office. There was not only t h e a mount of the assurance, but the quality of it to be Co"" dered. There was another thing which value otf, known, he believed, and it was the till in its the shares in that society, which p " p 'as l c:tioni, but infancy. They did not want they wanted capital. Any inter est upon it as their society, not only got the such, but got also the benefit of the money paid f was increased, the in loans connected person f. 'i taking s hares ou in . did not always take a onwh whole a o n t. tha a t nd cou i ; l r d with life assurances. In addition to the interest nn the bke a nesxptehrei capitale y d the loans, they had also the advantage of a life assur ance. But in giving - life assurance. And then there was also the bonus to accrue to the families of the parties after a short time. Considering the progress which had been already made, he felt that he was justified in saying their ratio of im provement would not be arithmetical hut geometrical, and must not be calculated by adding, but doubling. The resolution was then put and carried. The directors named in the report were then bal lotted for and re-elected. The CHAIRMAN then said he did net think they could take any other step for the present with respect to the auditor. If the proprietors could get a gentle man, a good public accountant, to qualify for the office, the directors would be happy to co-operate . with them. Mr. KING then proposed, and Mr. LEA seconded, a proposition that twenty guineas should be paid to the auditors of last year. Carried unanimously. After a few observations from Mr. FULLER, the CHAIRMAN begged to call on their Provincial Super intendent to make any statement he might have to make to the meeting. Mr. ADDISON could only state from all he had seen in recent visits to the provinces, that he was con vinced that there was every probability rf the busi ness being very considerably increased within a very short time. Though be believed that it was an extra ordinary fact that not more than 150,000 persons were assured out of a population of 30,000,000, yet he was convinced that ere long at least 5,000,000 would be assured, as wherever he went he found a great and growing feeling in favour of life assurance. He also found that the names of the directors of that company inspired universal confidence from their station and character ; and that throughout the towns of Kent, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, which he recently visited, their business was increasing month by month and day by day.—(Cheers.) He had last year ven tured to pledge himself that their business should be doubled this year. It had more than doubled, and he would venture again to pledge himself that it would be again doubled within the ensuing year. He had only yet visited two or three counties, and had not half worked them, and therefore what their busi ness might be when the whole thirty counties were canvassed he could hardly venture to imagine.— (Hear.) What had hitherto been done had been done in England only, they not having granted a single policy in Scotland, Ireland, or any other place, and they had therefore a wide field yet entirely un worked.—(Cheers.) Mr. FULLER said, after what the proprietors had heard, he was sure they would not be surprised that he should rise to propose a vote of thanks to their talented manager (Mr. Camroux) and the other officers of the company—(Cheers)—and that it would be carried by acclamation. When Mr. Addison last year told him (Mr. Fuller) that their business would be double this year, he hardly expected that his prediction would be so amply verified ; and he there fore thought that the officers were fully entitled to their thanks.—(Cheers.) Mr. NEALE seconded the resolution. lie was fully convinced that it was through the zealous ex ertions of Mr. Camroux, and the circumstance of his name being known all over the kingdom, as long connected with life assurance, that the society had obtained a standing within two years which no new society had ever before obtained, and that, too, notwithstanding the number of new societies which had started about the same time, or just before them. —(Cheers.) He had every reason to believe that their business would go on increasing, and that their income, which had arisen from 2,0001. to 6,0001. during the past year, would be upwards of 12,0001. when they again met.---(Cheers.) The resolution having been unanimously carried, Mr. CAmaoux returned thanks, assuring the pro prietors that nothing could give them greater pleasure than such an acknowledgment of their services, and pledging himself that no exertion should be wanted on their parts to increase the business of the com pany.—(Cheers.) A vote of thanks was then given to the medical officers, which was briefly acknowledged by Dr. H. W. FULLER. Mr. LEA proposed a vote of thanks to the chair man and directors for their services during the past year, and in doing so called attention to the fact that that society had granted one more policy in two years than the Scottish Widows' Fund Society, which was now one of the first in the kingdom, granted in six years.—(Hear, hear.) In the first year of the existence of the Scottish Widows' Company, 1815, they only granted forty-nine policies, and in the second year seventeen, making sixty-six in two years—while in the first two years of their existence that (the Metropolitan Counties) com pany had granted about 600 policies, or nearly ten times as many as were granted in the same period by the former company ; and, looking at the progress they were now making, he had no doubt that they would hare nearer 5,000 policies at the end of six years than 3,000, which would be the comparative ratio with the company be had alluded to, according to what they had yet done. In conclu sion, he had great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the directors for their services. —(Cheers.) Mr..l3LyTu seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and duly acknowledged. Thanks were then given to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. MAY Dated the 9th day of May, 1850. BANKING DEPAITMEN T. Proprietora'capital.. 14,553,000 Government securi- Rest • ••••.. • . • • 3,106,635 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Say ings -banks, and Di- ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 14,292,170 Other securities • • • . 9,779,916 Notes .. . • • • • • .. .. 9,817,185 Gold and silver coin.. 645,036 accounts)..vidend 4,997,054 Other deposits .• • ... 10,649,502 Seven day and other WU- :••• -•••• •• 1,230,21 G £34,536,007 34,536,607 '. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 9th day of May, 1850. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, May 10.) SUGAR.—To day the West India Sugar market pre sented a firmer aspect, and i❑ both grocery and refining sorts a good business was concluded, at rather higher rates. The sales amounted to 640, making for the week 2,380 hhds, &c., whilst prices close in some cases 6d above those of Friday last. REFINED.—To-day a larger quantity of Refined Sugar was disposed of for home trade purposes, brown grocery lumps at 48s to 48s 6d, and common melting lumps at 47s 6d par cwt. There is no variation in prices of crushed Sugar, and few buyers are to be mot with. MAURITICTS.—This afternoon there was an improved demand fur Mauritius Sugar, and the public sales of 3,800 bags went at 6d per cwt advance—yellow selling at from 34s 6d to 37s 6d for low to good, brown 27s to 345, and grey at 33s to 37s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was dealt in with more freedom, and the public sales of 4,700 bags went at an advance of 6d to is for white Benares, but in other sorts there is no rise. The rates obtained are for white Benares 36s to 39s 6d, soft yellow 30s to 33s 6d, brown 27s 6d to 295, yellow, like Mauritius, 33s to 36s 6d, mid grainy yellow 37s to 38s. Of Penang 2,293 bags sold at 6d to Is advance; yellow went at 31s 6,1 to 35, brown 28s to 30s, and ord white 35s fid to 365. Of low soft brown Siam 500 bags were taken in. FORElGN.—Previous terms are sustained for duty paid parcels, but privately operations have been small for all purposes, and only 170 hhda 77 brls Porto Rico have been offered at public sale, which sold at from 35s 6d to 41s for low to fine yellow. Bonded parcels are held for last week's prices, but shippers have operated with caution, and refiners are not much i❑ want of Sugar. Only 119 pkgs damaged Bahia have been offered at auc tion, and sold at low rates, washed brown at 14s to 16s 6d for low to good, and wet at lOs per cwt. MOLASSES.—Prices are not lower for West India, still the market has a dull aspect, and the stock far exceeds that of last year, whereas deliveries are not so good as of late. There are few buyers of East India sorts, and at auction 90 hhds Bengal were taken in at 13s 6d. Of Jamaica Honey 15 brls were sold at 41s to 483 per cwt. COFFEE.—This afternoon Coffee met with little atten- tion from shippers or home dealers, and former terms were with difficulty supported. At auction a part only of 78 casks 32 bags Plantation Ceylon found buyers; mid and good at 50s to 57s 6d, low mid 47s to 495, other sorts 41s 6d to 465. Of Native 67 casks 423 bags were chiefly disposed of; low good ord at 395, fine and fine fine ord 41s 6d to 42s 6d per cwt. COCOA.—Holders of West India exhibit firmness, and there has been no public sale this week, whereas a fair business has been concluded privately at fully former terms. Red Trinidad is worth 38s to 465, grey 36s to 40s; Grenada and St. Lucia from 35s to 395. Foreign met with little attention, but is held for 28s to 29s per cwt. TEA.—A large quantity of Black has been brought to market this week, and buyers not being disposed to ex tend their purchases a alight reduction in the value has taken place. Sales of Congou to a limited extent have been made, low and good ordinary at Bid to 93, Medium kinds 91(1 to is Id, and better sorts at is lid to is 6cl per pound. Of Green the parcels on offer are larger than for some time past, and operations have been to a moderate extent only, whilst the rates taken are Id to 2d per lb under those curreat on this day week for Hyson and Gupowder, whilst other sorts are rather cheaper. Scented Teas have been operated in with caution, and previous terms are with difficulty supported, as several parcels are on offer. Of 12,400 packages offered at public sale the small portion of 4,100 actually found buyers, biddings were languid, especially for fine Green. SPICES .-- The supply continues to increase of Pimento, and prices have further declined id to -id per lb. At auction 670 bags were, however, all sold, middling and good went at 4isi to 4isl, good ordinary coarse 4d, and low 3il to 3id per lb. Black Pepper is not offered at any further reduction, still operations have been limited by private treaty for all pur poses; Sumatra at 2il t lid, and Malabar at 3d to 31d. None has been submitted to public competition, but several parcels will be declared shortly. White has bean in fair demand at late terms, and 52 bags Penang were sold at 61d to Cid for good, and at 6d to Cid for damaged. For Cinnamon there is a quiet market with free sellers at previous rates. Cloves have been purchased with caution, Bourbon and Zanzibar at 61d to 7d, Pe nang is to Is 43, and Bencooleu is 4d to is Bd. Holders of Cassia Lignea do not appear disposed to accept lower rates, and offered none at auction, whereas privately operations have been small at from 76s to 86s per cwt. Mace is much wanted, and is 8d to 2s 6d is the value according to quality. In Nutmegs operations have been limited, good and fine brown at from 3s to 4s, and low to good middling 2s to 2s 10d. Of preserved Nutmegs 29 cases at auction went at 10d. Ginger continues to bo operated in with caution for all purposes, and prices are further depressed for East India; at auction 1,684 pkts and 200 bags Ben gal were sold at 17. to 18s per cwt for ordinary and middling rough export sort. There is no variation in the value of rough export sort. There is no variation in the value of Jamaica at present, and at auction 34 pkgs sold at 41 4s to 61 is for middling to good. RICE.—An extensive speculative demand has been ex• perienced for East India this week, and shippers have been buyers to a fair extent; for home trade purposes operations are also upon a more extended scale. Iu all 35,000 bags have been sold by private treaty, and at an advance on former rates of 3d to Gd per cwt. White Bengal 8s 6d to 10s, Madras pinkey white 8s to 8s 6d, and barley grain 7s 9d to 8s 3d, at which there are not free sellers. At auction 2,800 bags Bengal were taken in at 8s 6d to 10s, being above the value, but 1,660 bags Madras were sold at 8s to 8s Gd for pinkey white. There is a smaller stock than last year by 4,000 tons, but deliveries vary little from that period, and prices are as low. SPIRITS.—A fair quantity of fine Jamaica Rum has been disposed of at former rates. Other sorts are not much in demand, and can be obtained at lower terms, as larger parcels are on offer. The value of 20 to 30 per cent over proof is from 2s to 2s 83, good to fine 32 to 38 over 2s 9d to 3s Bd, and superior 3s 9d to 4s 2d per gallon. East India is still dull of sale, and sellers are disposed to accept Is 3d proof, as several parcels are near at hand. In Leeward Island operations have been of little moment, and prices rule at is 3id to is 4id proof; there are several buyers rather under these terms. Demerara is offered at from 2. to 24 4d for 30 to 40 over proof, with few buyers. Brandy is not offered at any further reduction, still there has been no improvement in the demand for any purpose. The value of Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1849 is 4s 3d to 4s sd, 1848 ditto 4s 5d to 4s 73, 1847 ditto 4s lld to 5s Id, and inferior sorts 2s 8d to 4s 2d. For Geneva prices rule at is 7d, and fine 2s to 3s. British made Spirit is unaltered in value, and demand does not get brisker. SALTPETRE.—To-day two parcels of Calcutta were offered at auction, amounting to 3,635 bags, but the whole sold at full rates, refraction 11:i to 91 per cent went at 24s 6d to 255, 8i to 7i ditto 24s 6d to 255, 61 to 5 ditto 25. 6d to 265, a few lots of Madras went at 24s 6d for 74 per cent, and damaged 20s to 21s per cwt. COCHINEAL.—This afternoon at public sale 39 bags Honduras Cochineal in part sold at 3s 7d to 3s I Id fur Silvers, whilst Black was taken in at 4s 3d for mid. INDIGO.—There has been no variation in the value of East India during the week, and only limited home or shipping orders have been executed, still holders display firmness. Offers have been made for several parcels rather under terms, but rejected. Prices have suffered a further decline for Spanish, and none has been offered at auction this week, whilst only small purchases have been made by private treaty. TALLOW.—This after noon the public sales of Tallow went a firm rates; 280 casks Sydney sold at 343 to 37s 6d, 600 pkgs South American 33s to 36s 6d, and very ord 30s to 318 6d. OILS.—To-day at public sale 22 casks Palm Oil sold, good 29s 93, low 26s 3d; 20 casks Palm K e rnel Oil 25s to 25s 93; 104 bits Sydney Cocoa Nut Oil 35s 6d to 37s 6d, very ord 24s to 25s per cwt; 30 tons Southern Whale 311 to 331 15s; 35 tons Sperm 821 15s to 841 155, and Headmatter 90159 per tun. Persons endowed with strong feelings and passions, often, like children with a box of jewels, squander their precious things without knowing their value.—Eliza Cook's Journal. [ADVIIRTISEMENT.]—A Bad Leg cured by Hol loway's Ointment and Pills after Twenty Years' Suffering.— Extract of a letter from Mr. Andrew Brack, blacksmith. Eye mouth, dated August 10, 1848 :—" To Professor Holloway. Sir,—l have the pleasure to inform you that I have obtained a most extraordinary cure by the use of your celebrated oint ment and pills. For upwards of 20 years I suffered with a dreadful bad leg, and during that time I consulted several emi nent surgeor.s, but their efforts failed to do any good. I then had recourse to your ointment and pills, which, with the bless ing of Providence, has completely healed my leg, and made it as sound and as perfect as ever."—Sold by all Druggists and at Professor Hol:oway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. LET OF GRASS PARKS IN PERTIISIHRE.—our correspondents throughout the county report a considerable rise on the let of grass parks this season ; the difference. ss compared with last year, ranging from 12 to 20 per cent. This they attribute to the present low price of lean stock, which is fully as much depressed as grassparks are enhanced. ' —Perth Advertiser. 11, 1850. AMERICAN NEWS. LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY NIGHT. The United States mail steam-ship Atlantic (the first of the Collins's line of steamers between New York and Liverpool), has just arrived in our river. An accident to her machinery detained her nearly a day and a half on the voyage. This fine vessel brings seven days' later intelligence than that received by the Hermann. She has brought over 114 passengers. her dates from New York are to the 27th ult. There is very little of importance in the news re ceived. No further arrivals of gold are reported from California. The slavery and territorial questions, which hare so long occupied the attention of the American Le gislature, have been referred to a committee of 13 members. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The state of trade throughout the Union, generally, was somewhat better than when last reported. Mone tary affairs at New York were showing still further symptoms of improvement. United States Sixes were quoted at 118 i; Treasury Notes, 1164. Breadstuffs—The market for breadstufts was some what brisk; prices had slightly advanced, and consider able ' transactions had taken place at the following Apo tations:—Western canal flour, dolls. 5.25 to dolls. 5.31 per brl., very firm; Genessee prime wheat, dolls. 1.14 to dolls. 1.30 per 601b5.; Southern wheat, dolls. 1.14 to dolls. 1.16 per 601b5.; Indian corn, round yellow, 60c. to 62c., steady; ditto, flat yellow, 63c. per bush e l; ditto, Southern white, 58c. to 60c. per bushel; Indian meal, dolls. 2.75 to dolls. 2.871 per brl. Cotton—The market in cottons at New York was re ported active, with a more than ordin ary amount of busi ness doing at advanced prices. Th e latest quotations were—New Orleans and Mobile, middling fair to fair. 13 to 13} cents. per lb.; Uplands and Florida, 12i to 13 cents. per lb. The quotations for freights and provisions hays not varied to any extent since our last advices. The exchanges range as follow:—On London, 1091 to 0 Mar i a the , there e t e w n a dn s e a etlyr mar h a e rk m e t a r a ke t being t 5 27; n upwards; llam bu on r gh, 35.1. to 359; on Bremen, 78} to 78i. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MAY 10. Srocx EXCHANGE.—The share market was dull to-day, but with rather an improvement in prices. The transactions, were principally confined to Great Western Quarters, which closed firmly at 13%. LIVERPOOL, MAY 10. STOCK EICITANOR..—The share market was firm to-day. The transactions were as follow : Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 111 1 / 4 dis.—Ditto, 22/. Shares, 6 per cent. till 1850, 12 1 4 dis.—East Lancashire, Preference, Quarters, 6 5 4 —Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 10 1 ,E dis.—London and North-Western, 102—Ditto, New Quarters, 161. 3d. dis.— Midland, 33—Ditto, Halves, 28% dis.—South-Eastern and • Dover, 13%—Ditto, Consol. (No. 3), 13 1 ,4 —Ditto (Noilt. Registered, 41. Bs. Bd. York, Newcastle, and. Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1830, 7 (1 15 . cheater, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Quarters (NO. !),' - till 1853, 7—Shrewsbury and Chester, Preference, guaranteed 6 per cent., 11 1 / 8 . MANCHESTER, MAY 10. STOCK Excusaraz.— Our share market was dull to-day. and prices remain unaltered. M A Y 10. BIRMINGHAM, STOCK ExcluNaE.—Business on our Stock Exchange ( te r ) i a l w e a r l e t e r done atio n i t a n to-day was very dull, but there . w i as ngam m a B prices. Shrewsbury and Barn 71 . Is. 3d. dis. YORK., MAY 9. STOCK Excaudtas..—The :only transaction today was— North British, Preference (guaranteed 6 per cent. for five veers, and 5 per cent. in perpetuity), 474. heart possesses some one deep me mory,Almost every „„, powerful fee l ing, whi c h has its harmonious some `' a particular hour and a particular scene.—. connexion with E iza Cook's Jour n al. cIATION.—The L AW Asso annual meeting of this ' tion e stablished for the benefit of the widows and familiesasll of' professional me n i n t h e metropolis and vicinity, was held on Thursday, at the Law Institution, Chancery lane; Mr. James Horne in the chair. The report, which was read by the secretary, stated that the funded property of the association at the present time consisted of 10,0001. stock Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., and 10,2001. stock Three per Cents. Reduced. The sums voted at the last an nual meeting for the benefit of widows and families of persons who had not been, or who had ceased to be, subscribers to the society, was 1501., being 501. less than in recent years. The directors were constrained to state that the cases on the books at the present time, and receiving fixed:allowaneell, had absorbed nearly the whole of these grants, and the con sequence was, that in several cases the directors had been compelled to reject the applications for want of sufficient funds to meet them. The auditors report having been read, together with the directors' report,;received and adopted, the Right Hon. Lord Lyndhurst was re-elected president and the three Vice-Chancellors as vice-presidents. The other officers for the ensuing sear having been elected, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the proceedings ter. .nainated.