The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-05 00:00:00

bittl Piltittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. --- --....etas .----- LONDON AND WESTMI -, STER BANK. —(T 9 L'i DAY). e The eleventh annual meeting of the Proprietors of the Lou eon . 1e' 5 h,„, 1134 11. eatniinster Bank was held at the Central Este ten '" e il in Lothbury, this day. The chair was taken Esta te o'clock, by P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P. be:ai:weerill MAN said, before submitting to them the tie7lpPostratl:fetelsie eleventh annual meeting, he hoped he should to occupy a few moments by adverting to thA l cir i which had characterised the period that nu h.., led since the last annual meeting. These circumstances bZ,teudered that period one of great importance to the to t l a ng interest in general, and one of special importance eti a e joint-stock banks of London and the country ) rer e r g„, e ' . , Bie principal remarks at the last annual meeting Which-eaue the in c ontemplation of the obstacles and . hindrances tli a ~, IaWS of the land, in relation to banking affairs, the e y „'''''': in the tray of establishments of that nature ; and Ofe, r * l esolved to do their utmost, in the then opening session I tnd t e ialu ents to get those obstacles and hindrances . removed, ,ores secure the privileges to which they considered them .llM t e enti tled. In looking back to that period, the "usteer e . congratulate them that every one 9f . nti e ; c t , the easy dispatch of their legitimate , 41 44 s 11 1; were removed, and that they were now ac legallaed as a national ' banking establishment, not only vilege _ablished, but also legally invested with every t pri (Cheerll,ldt could properly belong to such establishmen NI -) The meetin would recollect that the Act of 1833, it d id weich t hat bank sprung, was defective, inasmuch as u ftee e ne t give to lay re partnerships, such as theirs, a facility Act 1 ,4 and being sued. They of course thought that in an le ro bich called them into existence as the proprietors of a tent . "king establishment this defect must be inadver leoent: ar" tin the year 1834 they applied to Parlia r i e tk red Z ee an Act to invest them with the e ti cL ll leritee; e ge- They carried the Bill on its own strength 'l tti`e of th.""ontnhantly through the House of Commons f in t :44 4 ; ° l : position of the Government of the day, who e l' s . ' 4l of tTel 3 " 3(l ged to what had been overlooked . in the re lheie Were -4 Jam& Charter in the year andprecedin. But th&altes e : t liciPped in the House of Lord.s hich,though ere, s Y in e a ve which they had was . one to r to o re nature, was still effective itsin . ' o ‘ p r eration In Of ebtaie for public the advantage of suint, them, and 81 lia '°r themselves the reciprocal advantage Poppg tl en , l e public, it was necessary that a eels bet e Aract should ' be entered into fur this pur tree_ een it Le esoeh the customers of the Bank _ e _an o d w, the ie With gl ad to . 0 had the management of its affairs. lol /1 al , va l y l e th at th at eay that the Act of last session had e._ *to, obstacle, and they were now invested ( by 'Wes m te e Pla t ere pi ~ manifest . right, as well as the tlir s etl „ e , in ti \ i 'llege, of suing and being sued, being 4i "gao e &Arne situation as joint-stock b ,. ank . s " t 34 ilt til e cou try which were rot established v, 'thin ITeY E a " Nies round e wleously Lon Aer privilege ch e rr LP' war t t thought don. would noth nev erbe rle ied whi to t ia that at of accepting bills. They imagined that they thkreeietePoWer, as a matter of course, the mom a e o n d t Is e l act ed a ll _ c e yeas acknowledged by the Legislature, he t, apowe.ecordinglye They thought that t refUsal of Ils ) t ' l Itai ri , would be a mockery, that it w be like saying would tli r o„ ( 11. 4 wi ll Iltil, "You may correspond with ano ts _ e e tt p rs.,,... , . y s tr,h ear l tetsyour peril that. yo o u m a m ns e w ne e e r d h a 1 e against them leqrielillitek 4 - t il l i g ti a h n o d w n ve t r ile wa y s ea c r 1835 ; and after they liZtlelle lie round of the law courts, it was, in 1837, declared by ` t e e t ive legal wisdom of the country that the views lotionleOeue Bank of England were based on a proper r'S' of an old statute ; for that, although ttetclly established as a bank, they were acting Very ti e, accepting bills of exchange. . The wise as ti4 94s, et "uPe on that occasion by the judges was ,le)'' of her":llne was not dead—(A laugh)—that . an old er ok t i ls,te, t " reign was in force at that moment ; or, ir r i e o v h eot is i .e s la 0 1,,, ata:ute of 1707 manifestly enacted .to , p e is ,Nie as h weat esty from issuing notes, was to be interpreted etnt eillereventing bankers legally established from ac- Ile tl t by 8 1. ,°f exchange. Not damped, however, in their I R V eusteat result, they soon adopted a remte_deeir lh4trritlioutelrlers adopted the habit of issuing . h Pl4,;actie. an acceptance being inscribed upon them , and a e . el f e continued until the Act of last session Nuts , t't:btLeivicla freed them also from this hindrance ; .and they Nee.„'nvested with the full and just privilege of id.i.k.ofexchange in the same wayas anyother lawfully lle't, th at un k---(Hear, hear.) He might say, in of beeet, besides contending for these pm eges, k t el l e. : rs and Meners assisted by the members 1. 4 44 4 11 oil er :I t ! Banking Committee, d . . struggled for the - et th throughousought to De obta n nie sueteestshfel cou se n e t o ry - in ; g for joint-stock d the result was kl e t t Zlir e e Y Were a a modification of the tle e ‘ ‘.. is n e lt Was first propounded to Parliament in the last rWe C e lli . , hear.) ln some minor instances, indeed, th:otke- unsuccessful. He himself had humbly endeavoured leCghti e an alteration in one or two points which he rig ortant to the banking interests of the country; Ilre„, 1 Unit he was opposed by the author of this ! 1 10 04 e H l otight it would be useless to persist. He Nit ''.4lf.. ''"at occasion, acknowledge that in all 143, - 4.0th ., e t , i „,_ e " 3 which ' the representatives of the th ese ' a uks had had with Sir Robert Peel, Leeerlee t n i l l et by him with the greatest courtesy ; and i V u tap a Ying arrived for revising the law they had . )iletniet aretively little difficulty in obtaining that acknow teLtri4ttele°llfoth:iLl.reights. and ett o e n nsi_on of their privileges by all establishments 4 Z II litte4cri, ptioii. Ye ( 1:1 11 1 ear e , ° li n ear.) The situation of their 1 heertleeti7,' het thought, greatly improved since the . last an. 1 N„ ..s sa th ey g. They had obtained all the legal facilities for N til tel7 Wi l tl i er e formerly about to struggle; they were now . SI 4 th„hthe power of accepting bill . s of exchange , 44 ; 41 44 4 T ,her the valuable privilege of suing and of being ,ot tt ,.. i et lr this latter purpose they had registered their v 'Ve k eiteee ell atne of an of whom a legal process might . 1110-",,* Raving se y ured these privileges, the Direc- tl t ai s he l uat t te` n "lnk that the e interest of the Proprietors re -01;7% Ci th a e ll o t u .e l o. d o r a e ti k ot t i o o a t cqu o lr o e t. ower under the Act of j P stock banks. Their l is N 4ge ti tt for coming to that conclusion was,. that by ob . - Ne s e ,k, lee r rl er they woul acquire very little, if any, ad . di- 1 4Ce4 e , ; Whilst itwould have subjected them to the 'n et _ 't s ti 'eteekilo th eatirely remodelling the constitution of the ,14 t N Of 'O r I nconvenience would have . arise . n from_ the . :, trey 1 4, at CO ke ts eeit 'arse. The charter was limited in its dura . %INN ageeers, and they did not like looking forward at : le i t ' t4 , lte ker e g of eleven years, feeling perfectly satisfied 44. s t t,,i i c,nd privileges which had been conferred upon : ..e . se , t th was ing that they would work well for the Corn- t li ee t , he t ,„ their foresight, be it prudent i or be it far- I:t4 h tt hi t t i `uey did not like to invest t iemselves with a VP, o val expire in twenty years, and then throw a '''Ov er eat 1; 14 into the hands of the Legis . lature . of . the 11 1 1 lt ki 4 ,el er - e a :.) Nor was this a mere fanciful objection. the °, 4 ,Se „aboe t 1 ", Years old that day ; the old lady . over row. ee„Tey er - (Laughter.) If they continued . g . kl:vtli-e'ne h a done in the early part of their ex c tineg w as no saying what might happe.n— -tlt4lA a u . , aurnassed her in modesty . , they . might i 4es 4 )-..e . ,'Rasa her in other attractive 9ualities k ', elore,7' t 1 , 1 ,0 young lady in Lothbury might attain lt e t 'll. g ear)...e' sondtty—for that was her character— el 'N . ', Olt old less celebrity than bad been en • IN lelv e ,," one in Threadneedle-street.—(Laughter.) le se a baZages which a charter conferred were that of :e ~,' 4 4 ; 4 . to hold real property without the interven- Zetise' ees ; and that of enabling the company to 4 11e4 se le or e ! e d in its own name, without the tte' etl k.rs . ei ' r lY of its officers. On these grounds ~t ~,. d not feel called open to encumber the esta tmeSksirlitellh a charter. So much with regard to their 1 mati e .aap p ; As respected their future prospects,. i ttl ret as t c say, that they were as fair and , p1 e , ,, 1 e ' eglee 411 + 0' which could be presented. They ' j "les sle that`ugh a period when money was of so 't" tti tti, st eure it was difficult to find any profitable ern- I ti O.tltly: e; it ' He trusted that the stimulus which had k e t ee4oier'en to industry and commerce, would en peN;Wese-„S and enable them to give a better account of y44i ib .t ~,,,- - .P. There was one very favourable c.ircum te& tet te ' .that the proprietary of this bank were '', N Oci e jer e ll e l ig More and more in London. In the cottn llegte., hae u e a . re nolders lived, they might forward the in % I st Zter 4 `, but Shareholders in London couldrender t i e t ! t e qieltich P, BlB , t atice.—(H e ar hear.) He would illustra t`4,tli'',r„es in -e te u s atl e just stated. ' During the last year, the ° ll 6` te efro-'-'_ e London market was _about 7,000, 4,000 e; to buyLn t he country, and 0 3 11 ,0:1 7 0 from London ; 2,203 had gone clei ta ll tti t rl : v e e Z r o y f , those an 4 s , h B ares 00 had been retained in S '4 te lo it the ° proprietary in London had been tA ,h e ads e re hn e extent of 1,800 shares. One word_ s tt,lh sees7rt was submitted to the meeting. The ‘ 4 esVt e r e of e t n ,ce of that report was a statement l e Ni;. (e'ecle;"o Directors that they continued to be Litt t ; . Wen acre--atl_a,_dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per l oit'ucee "L of the cheapness of money the Directors \ e tteOhae :T r n. e difficulty in bringing about this result ; N. 'lid C a "us result been obtained, but they had further N. ' 4 i ; t° 16 nr,,, 4d4 3 000/ to the reserved fund ; it now iIZ tl - ° t ( 1 1 1 41 (111,•',7 91 * 'ne ' would remark that there had l'4 tt e e he-, 1 ends to the Proprietary, oo during the exist it 1 11 i e e I (7 4 ' fi u Pwards Although they . had 1 4- 4 4 0 tl ieT e t Ir' th e g t u r e e e , he did think that they acted wisely k i tie ,y l los e g ibe st it __urge, following the maxim of old akl'%ell ,bat h et att was pleasanter to see smoke brighten h 4 va t -lieu to e dwindle into smoke.—(Laughter.) I N, rio t sere, Proceed as they were then doing, he e '‘kiti if . Present would - be, recipients, even if h k, t 4 ,_ t 61.0 declare it, of a higher dividend.—(Hear, m e lli i ," 4 ' Present " , I.' eet moun t report did not satisfy them, i l k,' th °ll l h 2 44 they should, the difhcultiesviath which t,l ,e t S ihe le er 4 l 'e had to contend, why, he could only e N t6 Wes t° PleV t ge of his countrymen, that they were ;Se t ' 1 (Bert it see7."---(llear and laughter.) Good as that i e S e lp , s ~f tT e a ir v_ucher fOr the faithful discharge of duty e.` l et:_nee,.`Z . ee ora ' e c e rV , unts. Still, though they might be `le. '0 re ' , ee_ (key Thate th ,7ft !et them m) b perspectively— I t N, ty lVliii 'll atm at a higher result still; and in I V 14 h l th eir 'e the Directors endeavoured to discharge Te. e lfe tt : t treh er „e4Wn sphere, let the proprietary, now in le' h; Ne;, e tke fa a s ,llie doors of the establishment, assist in lc:lat e - kie t ':`ary r ti7 taY in their power.—(Cheers.) Il e s4ltsettleng % a r ead read the following report : 6 7re 'nt That tef' el eventh Annual Report, the Directors 1 1 ?4 f eXp etues e profits of the past year, after defra t ii i n u f c rek ee . lte k e ,r all l e _Paying the income-tax, and I' lli g ' b er 14 . ri' a " and doubtful debts, amount m to "li e e e'er, dir,,,,ltt of these protits the Directors paid last t.0„4 ci t isy,a, kerld at th - of • er cent. per annum Si, l l s elvie,e'gr er e i imp th e rate six he `Te l t,ae s e lbe,„ (l ' at thZ e 30th of June, and they now de lee'°%l,l t - Inbe e same rate, for the half-year ending them , 188, °tether. After the payment of these dividends, I,"k a , lid . to 48,000/. there will remain a surplus ,'llls dr. - "It, oti et ; to be added ' to the reserved fund, which t'llie'rOir the ° 1 j 9,9 , 0 4/. 15s. 4d. t il isli atie " 1 it l ees uoie obtained the power of accepting_ t e e e teir I .4 : *ihg t eran than six months' after date, and of tti4tat:llll4li W isie u i r ecl by its registered public officers— ' liti 4 t errit it ree'le Directors had been contending from gel e e treat o f r the Bank, and the acquisition of whick le o leo t/. okruet• • its business. e lh , e et e, eri reet lon to the conducting of st l -.4 4 . - " Ili e E " ' w ho go out by rotation, are Matthew kti e4. ., 4114 I:harles Gibbes, Esq , and William bow being eligible, offer themselves for PROFIT AND LOSS. N1) 1 .. g llt t k't tet4l :4; t he D' 13,,ektiiili 0,, IN-Mend on the 10th of k l , 4 of tn, f s'i ' at the -, t •41 ‘l ll or th e , 1,._ .e of 6/. per cent. h,Nit or Ile.. . tali year ,"!tcling the 0 tlllkit'ltt ° f 6l ' l 3: . ............................. i 24 0 00 0 , th y ea 6/. Ivalend now declared, at , ti t ,„ r e h , Per cent 'of qi l '. l l3R the -, Per annum, for the r 4Ppro mateda of December, 1844 24,000 0 0 (tl 4llt . profits 69,904 15 4 -- £117,904 15 4 4 t l , t str. ti. a llay,,, thNt7Olhervtit _opriated profits on the tot4 t i at thedefraying ear 184-i, after "t of r i ,.„„ ; — . 4 gement, paying s. d. ~' .. -~ - cows' )0 01 ”se rd .culation, and Derail). bad )erbv, 97 71 / ,1 7 1 4 1 lybead, 6 $ 614 ; Gr 6nu j. w es tern! ares, lisle, 3 3 1 1, )4 ndon Lon a?o Lo d lge and, so/ 2 ; bi. M en d Collu d Preston eh, %; S°ln i • Vlalley, 2 .; % P" uou iog s/ ‘ 1 ; 714. - 6 d., )-day, iacir by the a feu av i# er fru sing theme he is imPv. it ultimate 'TY 6ubs t " tbil l hi s tac- Gb o Ice it i e °Pell e "; end, reBPe C " which licdr it& aG en :,„, l o- r neif'wfre o deu ,t r uctiont i l s o !riencetivutl ders, u_ 11 e qUenCe i uline i 5 of bo th cit ye d for log ro i— os , Est other c t he e s to g'" • decline g°l9` but the y ; is 1— A , t here _ ..de r, . se ent tr7per -a-Qua rt e e ol o . Lree par been s4ea ri3 A re hil s bee Dente. 4 ' -„ 6 3 to )nvert eu ce.to Half per sii° 4r t ) g in it , no ightOA CS r 57 ,0 1 24 10,A 28$ 1 0 C 65 Pi ll 6 5 pm. 60, ,- 0 1 104 1 4 1 ;6% IS V 99 cw is eS.' r.oa• r ............ ...... 10!7,, ... ...•• 84%''' ~' .. I 3 ~_. ~ ' _.. . '-- ..• ..• •• . .63%• ..... 1*; , .... ....".. 12• ....:. „.... .6 . . .... ' , . . .... I • 10 ........ ••• ....... ........ 4 101 - giac }Lbw - difo L; 79 1 ;4 , "'OP' , 143 1 4. B irov: b ote • Ali n.p e* ,• , ,;d >a Iv P e n reg., 15;c hest I, J.— v: l i 6; AD, 14 ,1 1-. ev , 674, s go, I Lee ° I ,l ‘ 5 ; 16 ; $ 6 1, 3 0 ;dov: 11 4 0 dYt s.l4 Of an web Sh t $ ll ;outlV 11 'Cott!' se, 313 d; f t4 ,# .114 1 10. , ? Gan DA I.) [S 0 3 rj ; and fie " ri ling. hr ' o f the gog ea g o , a O ct , thick BnOol- fings l°re ' youg",o fron l but Y' ' Ida e' ag out. d ir ls 10111 !Isicstf folij iv., f ir , Of t elt z 5 9 49 , THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1845. Mr. COBDEN said that it was not easy to secure the attention of Members to a private motion after Easter. He had in the first instance given a fortnight's notice of his motion ; he had then, at request, postponed it for another fortnight, and afterwards for another week after that. This was five weeks, and he could not, under these circumstances, consent to postpone his motion. Mr. WODEHOUSE said that he quite agreed with the view taken by the Hon. Member for Stockport, and under the circumstances he would not press his request. present form so odious and unjust that he should move as an amendment that the House do resolve itself into Committee that day three months. Mr. MINTZ wished to explain the reason why he now opposed the proposition of the Right lien. Baronet for the continuance of the property-tax, because having voted for it when it was first proposed, because at that time he deemed it expedient and just, he thought it is duty to explain the reasons that now induced him to vote against it. The circumstances of the case wcre guise altered now from what they had been when the Right Hon. Baronet proposed the tax ; and he (Mr. Muntz) had voted for it on that occasion became he had felt convinced that it was necessary either to im pose this tax or tc levy an additional duty on articles of general consumption. But the question was now entirely alterered—the question now was, whether you should take off th a t t ax or any other tax ; and while supporting the general proposition that the imposition of a property tax was fair lied equitable, he had a decided objection to this tax, because he consi dered an income-tax an injustice.—(Cheers.) The more he considered the subject the more he was con firmed in this opinion ; and he had not met with a g im r a o n s sy people injustice paid t a h n i d s t ax hardship ho single income-tax comrniss' oner w h o did no t a d m it th e haodfnoanpropinecrotymoer-tainx: come whatever fur the sake of keeping up appearances. He begged it to be distinctly understood that he did not object to a property-tax.—(Cheers.) They might quadrupple a property-tax if they liked, he should not object to it. But as the matter stood, he considered the tax, as it at present existed, was most unjust. Another reason why lie objected to the continuance of this tax was, that not only the house, but the country, were labouring under misconception on the subject of the continuance of this tax. They, like the Right Hon. Gentleman, were flattering themselves that, in thia years time, they would get rid of this tax. They would do no such thing. It would be perpetual.—(Hear, hear.) Not only would they have to pay it for the rest of their lives, but their children, their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren would have to pay it after them.— (Cheers and laughter.) Not only ware they continuing the tax, but they were doing away with the means of ever getting rid of it. If he agreed vs ith the Right Hon. Barons that a permanent improvement had taken place in the condition of the country, then he might, perhaps, consider that there was some hope of the repeal of the tax, but he entirely differed from the Right Hon. Baronet on that point. It was true that an improvement had taken place in certain districts, but it was evident why that improvement had taken place. Additional burdens had been put upon class, whieh had relieved another. It was true the Right Honourable Baronet had relieved the industrious classes belonging to the ma nufacturing interest ; but he had done this by laying additional burdens upon the agricultural interest. "I call this," said the Hon. Gentleman, " robbing Peter to pay Paul "—(A laugh) but I want to know who is to pay Peter ?—(Cheering, and much laughter.) The Hon. Baronet said the other day that Sir Robert Peel was a difficult bird to put salt on his tail, but it was quite clear that the Right Hon. Baronet had put salt on some of their tails.(Great laughter.) He did not quarrel with the Right Hon. Baronet for entertaining the opinions he did. He was willing to believe' that he was sincere in them. He believed that the Right lion. Baronet deceived himself, deceived the House, and deceived the country.—(Renewed laughter.) lie (Mr. Muntz) ex pressed hi 3 sentiments straightforwardly and honestly, ' and felt no hesitation in saying that the income-tax was a most vexatious, obnoxious, and inquisitorial tax, and he would always vote against its imposition. Mr. F. BARING said that if it were now a question whether they would vote for an income tax or not, and that their will was perfectly unembarrassed by the finan cial circumstances of the country, lie would oppose it. But considering the position in which the country stood, he believed it was preferable to other modes of taxation. But the fact was, they had no power to dispense with this tax. What was the financial state of the country ? They ought distinctly to understand whether or not they had a surplus to deal with—whether they could take of the tax or not. He (Mr. Baring) did not think they could dispense with 5,000,0001. The income for the year, without the China money and the income-tax, was about 47,900,0001.; the expenditure, as shown by the estimates, was about 49,700,000/.; leaving a deficiency of 1,800,000/. He was speaking of the condition of the finances of the country if they took off the income-tax. He had heard it said on the other side, that the resources of the country ought to leave a margin to meet s ome of the casual expenses which fre quently came upon them. Now if they took that into consideration, he did not believe that they could get rid of the income•tax, without the imposition of fresh taxes to the amount of two millions. That was the present state of the finances of the country; and this was his justification, and his only justification, for voting far the income-tax. lie voted for it, because he was not ready to leave the country again with a deficient revenue. He would say that it was not wise, after having had re course to one of the strongest financial measures that could be taken, to give up all the advantages which they had gained by such a measure. He was ready to sub unit to any taunt for expressing this opinion, because ho believed it to be a sound one. The Right Ilon. Gen tleman (Sir R. Peel) the other ntght had said that he (Mr. Baring), and his friends around him, must be in love with the income-tax because they did not oppose it. (The Right Hon. Baronet expressed dissent.) Why, the Right Hon. Baronet had said, " If you do not like the income-tax, why do you not vote against it ?" The Right Hon. Gentleman said, why don't you vote against the Income-tax, or propose other taxes to meet the trifling deficiency we have to make up ? Now, he thought that was not fair, because it made a great difference whether you oppose a tax which is already laid on or whether you oppose it originally (Hear.) Hs had a decided objection to the income-tax being made a part of the permanent taxation of the country. lie had constantly opposed it, because he thought it unwise, and he would continue to oppose it ; but though he retained all the objections which be had expressed when the tax was originally laid on, it did not follow that he was to oppose its continuant for a further period of three years, when it was neces sary to meet the deficiencies of the country. It was one thing to entertain strong objections to an income tax, and it was another thing not to oppose its continu ance for three years, particularly Iv hen there was a deficiency of 2,500,0001. to be made up.—(Hear.) He did not think it would be wise to make any goat alterations in the way of taking off taxes which would have to be imposed again if, as he thought, the income-tax ought not to be a permanent one. Assuming, then, that some tax was necessary, aad that the continuance of the income-tax was requisite, he would next come to consider what the propositions of the Right lion. Gentleman were, and what was the course he pursued having obtained his means, and as it would be very difficult to argue the case, without going into the whole of the financial arrangements of the country with the Right Hon. Gentleman, he hoped the House would pardon him in asking for his attention for somewhat a longer period than otherwise would have been necessary. And, in the first place, lie sincerely regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman had left himself with so small a sur plus, about 90,0001. or 100,0001. He must say that that seemed to him to be a small surplus to rely on. And how did it rest ? On the sugar duties ?—(Hear, hear.) And on what did the sugar duties rest ?—(Hear.) Why, on the calculation that the consumption of sugar would be increased nearly one-fifth beyond what was in the year in which they had the greatest consumption, and next, that that consumption would be supplied by the coming in of certain sugars, at a higher rate of duty. Now, what were the duties which the Right lion. Gen tleman would have to fall back upon? He wished not to act unfriendly to the Right Hon. Gentleman, but if the classification was to be abandoned be wanted to know what was to become of the surplus. It was clear that the Right Hon. Gentleman would not get the amount of duty he expected for the sugar duties. He was warned of that by the Right Hon. Gentleman the late President of the Board of Trade. He now came to the taxes that were proposed to be taken off, and in doing so he admitted that they could not take off any tax without being beneficial to the country, but there were certain clases that would be more rapidly affected than others. In the proposal of the Right Hon. Gentleman he could not see any particular charm.—(Hear, hear.) There could be no doubt that the alteration of the sugar duties would be a great boon, but the proposal that was made would not effect it. He had made out a case differing materially from the ordinary rule of financial arrangement ; but in that arrangement he was supported by the common sense of the country. They could not expect but that from their reductions the same benefits would accrue as in other caies of reduction. lie was afraid, however, that the Right Honourable Gentleman was hampering him self by the principle he was adopting, an d that the advantages to the community would not be so great as he expected. He (Mr. Baring) admitted that the re duction on glass would be a very great benefit. He did not in the least conceal that. But it must be also under stood that he did not mean that it would confer a direct benefit ; but he certainly admitted that indi rectly that reduction would be of very great advantage to the poorer classes. lie believed that it would give a considerable impetus to improvements, improvements of very great extent, but some time must elapse ere its in fluence could cone into operation. There were other duties remitted by the Right Honourable Baronet, and he admitted here also that these reduc tions were calculated to benefit the country, but he (Mr. Baring) should have proposed, in preference to either of those reductions, the lowering of the duty on soap ; for, as far as his opinion went, that would have been found more beneficial for the working classes. Still, no one could object to the taking off of taxes, if they dealt with taxation merely in the abstract. If they turned their eyes to those reductions without comparing them with others which might have been conceded instead, the measure of the Right Hon. Baronet might be considered a very liberal one. And with reference to those articles on which tho duty had been remitted, would it not, he asked, have been more advantageous for the classes said to benefited, if those redactions had been made in the poor man's tea, in his butter, in his soap, i n hi s cheese, in his tobacco, and in his coif, ? lie was not so enamoured of the Right Honourable Baronet's proposal a s Many Honourable Gentlemen on that side of the Muse had expressed themselves to be. The Right Hon. Baronet had assured them that. the income-tax would be taken off at the expiration of three years. He doubted much wilt tiler, at the end of that pried, the Right Hon. Baronet could perform his promise, He had no doubt that the Right lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had a firm conviction that he would be enabled to do without that tax. The Right Hon. Gentleman said, no man could speak po4tively as to what might occur in three years hence, Kit looking at the premises, he felt satisfied that the re venue would right itself before the expiration of that time. When the Right lion. Gentleman used that language he (Mr. Baring) confessed he did not entertain the prospects he predicted were likely to arise. The Right Hon. Gentleman turned to cerain years in which he said they would find that so much taxation was taken off, and in a short time afterwards the re venue tightened. Now, he begged the House to bear in mind what the Right Hon. Gentleman's statement was. The Rignt lion. Gentleman said, they intended to take off taxes to the amount of three or four millions; and in the course of three years, they expected their revenue would by these means be increased five miliion. Now, he (Mr. Baring) could not entertain the same sanguine hopes. No man had more confidence in the real power of the resources of the country than he had.—(Hear. hear.) He never had joined in the language of despondency which be had occasionally heard indulged in by some Hon. Members on his own side of the House ; but still he must confess he could not now agree in the views and opinions of the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Right lion. Gentleman directed at ention to the state of the revenue in 1816. He un derstood the Right Hon. Gentleman to say, that three millions of taxes were taken off in that year, and the re sult was that in 1819 the revenue rightened. Now he could find no common resources of information which could help him to arrive at this conclusion.—(Hear.) The Right lion. Gentleman tried to assimilate the circumstances of 1816 with the present time ; but the Right Hon. Gen tleman had entirely forgotten the income-tax which existed at that time.—(llear, hear.) In the yeaa 1816, the ordinary revenue paid into the Exchequer was 71,900,0001. Was that so ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—In cluding the income-tax. Mr. F. BARING oontinued—Exactly so. He thought the Right Right Honourable Gentleman had forgot ten the income• tax. Well then, in 1816 the ordinary revenue was 71,900,000/. In 1819 the ordinary revenue was 52,155,000/., being less 19,745,0001. He was afraid the Right Honourable Gentleman would baldly be able to say that this was a conciliatory result for the first instance which the Right Honour able gentleman gave in support of his statement. It was on these grounds that the Cabinet had taken up their impression that the income-tax would be taken off at the end of three ears. Other cases were more clear. On the declination of trade in a bad year, taxes were taken off to relieve it ; in another year, trade revives and the revenue improved ; and then it was said that this was the result of the remission of tax ation. To a certain extent he admitted this. But when he came to look into the returns moved for by the lion. Member for Carlisle, he did not see anything to justify the position which the Government had taken up, especially if they were to take the whole amount into account. There were two proofs. They might take the experience of the years 1822, 23, 24, 25, and 1826. During those years there was a large amount of taxation taken off. In 1831, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 1836, there was also a large amount of taxation taken off. If they were to take the average of the revenue of 1820 and 1821, and compare it with the average revenue of 1827, 28, and 1829, they would find that there had been a reduction of about 13,000,0001.; but so far from the revenue having righted itself from ordinary sources, in those years they would find from these returns that there had been a loss of not less than 4,000,0001. If they took the second period of 1827, 1828, 1829, and compare it with 1837, 1838, and 1839 they would find that in the remis sion of taxes there had been a loss of 4,600,0001. If lion. Gentlemen would refer to the returns moved for by Sir William Clay they would find that the taxes taken off between 1815 and 1830—they would find that taxes to the amount of 18,000,0001, had been remitted, and there had been a loss to the extent of 7,760,000/. in the ordinary sources of revenue. The House would recollect that in the whole of the Right Honourable Gentleman's explanation upon this subject, he said that in taking off those taxes be had proposed to remove, he would not only be con ferring a certain amount of relief on a large portion of the community, but that he would be borne out in doing so by the history of the acts of those who had preceded him in office. From the year 1815 to the year 1833, about 33,000,000 of taxes had been taken off, by I which no fewer than 22,000,0001. were lost to the country. Aad now he would ask the Right Hon. Gentleman how he proposed to persuade this House that in his financial statement he meant to carry out the pledge he,had given relative to the alleviation of taxes. There was one point to which he (Mr. Baring) wished particularly to allude, but that he considered it of importance he would not trespass so long upon the patience of the House. When first the Right Honourable Gentleman came into office in the year 1842, he stated the means by which he proposed to take off the income tax at the expiration of three years. He said he should call upon both sides of the House to grant this income tax, and that, at the end of three years he would, with out charging the Whigs with any improper expenditure of money, b. able to take off a great amount of taxation by the reduction of the army and navy.—(Hear, hear.) Now he (Mr. Baring) had looked at the amount required for defraying the expenses of those two great services of the country, and he had compared the estimates of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite for those services, with those of the last year of " Whig mismanagement," and he had found that the estimates of the Right lion. Gen tleman, in this item alone, exceeded by half a million those of the last year of " Whig mismanagement." He (Mr. Baring) hoped the Right lion. Geneeman would be able to make out this part of his case to the satisfaction of the House. He (111 r. Baring) did not complain of the amount, if it should have been deemed necessary for the sustainment of the honour of the country; on the contrary he would not shrink from his share in the responsibility; but he could not avoid saying that, after all they had heard ;from the Hon. Gentleman of re duction of taxation ; and after the manner in which the Whig party had been held up for " mis management " and " jobbing."—(Great laughter.) it was not very satisfactory to have it announced that half a million more would be required for this year for the army and navy estimates than was demanded for the same purpose during the last year of " Whig mis rule and mismanagement."—(Hear, heur, and a laugh.) He would not trouble the House with any further ob servations. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rose, and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) PETITION from ST. GILES, READ ING, AGAINST INCREASING THE NAVY. A petition from 1,121 of the inhabitants of St. Giles, in Reading, was last week sent to London, for presenta tion to the House of Commons. The petition is as follows : " That your petitioners observe, with concern, that the in same, a time th of e pro foundex tended commerce of the United Kingdom. the Ministers of the Crown have proposed to Parliament t o aug peace — al l eg i ng, the al e N g nvgy, as a Estima tes — no wre as en for "Your petitioners are not aware of any branch of honourable commerce that requires the aid of ships of war—and they consider the proposed addition to the Navy Estimates as a waste of the public money—and likely to be regarded throughout these kingdoms as a want of sympathy with the poorer classes of the com munity, under their oppressions and privations. " Your petitioners further believe that the increase of expenditure for the Nary will not be for the honour of Parliament—a large number of the Members of the House of Commons personally deriving emoluments from the proceeds of the Navy and Army Estimates, although acting as trustees for the people; and also by improperly increasing Ministerial patronage. " Your petitioners, therefore, beseech the House of Commons that the proposed increase of the Navy Esti mates, amounting to one million of pounds sterling, or thereabouts, may not take place, but that, in lieu thereof, the duties levied on butter and cheese imported, and the excise on soap, may be repealed." .Note.—lt is stated that 152 military and naval officers hare seats in this present Parliament! TUESDAY-NIGHT'S GAZETTE. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. R. Robinson, coal merchant, Strand—first div. of 2s. in the pound, on Saturday, March 8, and three following Saturdays, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch-lane. J. Langhorn, banker, Berwick-upon-Tweed-211.5t div. of 108. in the pound, on any Saturday after March 1, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. T. Dunn, grocer,Newcastle-upon- Tyne—first and final div. of 6s. sid. in the pound, on any Saturday after March 1, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. W. Cock, grocer, Bungay, Suffolk—tifth div. of id. in the pound, on Wednesday, March 5, or any subsequent Wednes day, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall street. J. 11. Denison, Nelson-square, Blackfriars-road—first div. of Cs. in the pound, on any Saturday, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanbury. M. W. Vardy, bookseller, Newbury, Berkshire—first div. of Bs. in the pound on new proofs, and second div. of 3d. in the pound on all proofs, on any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Graham, Coleman-street. S. Eccles, cotton manufacturer, Manchester—first div. of Bs. 41(1. in the pound, on Wednesday, March 5, cad every following Wednesday, at the effice of Mr. Pott, Manchester. C. Riding, cotton manufacturer, Manchester—first div. of Is. 4id. in the pound, on Wednesday, March 5, and every following Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. J. Coles, jeweller, New Bond-street—first div. of Bs. ld. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Graham, Coleman-street. S. Eccles and C. Riding, cotton manufacturers, Manchester —first div. of 9s. 6d. in the pound, on Wednesday, March 5, and every following Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. M. Martin, upholsterer, Bristol—first div. of 9d. in the pound, on Monday, March 10, and any subsequent Monday, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. R. B. Palmer, watch maker, Bath—first div. of 3s. 4d. in the pound, on Monday, March 10, and any subsequent Monday, at the office of Mr. Miller, Bristol. W. Charters and P. Charters, tea dealers, Merthyr Tvdvil, Glamorganshire—first div. of 2s. 10d. in the pound, on Monday, March 10, and any subsequent Monday, at th e o ffice of Mr. Miller, Bristol. T. Parr, painter, Liverpool—first div. of Is. 6d. in the pound, on Thursday, March 6, at the office of Mr. Cazenove, Liverpool. W. A. Mearns, brewer, Acre-lane, Clapham—first div. of Is. 3d. in the pound, on Saturday, March 8, at the office of Mr. Groom, Abchurch- lane. W. L. Dore, innkeeper, Egham, Surrey—first and final div. of 4s. 2d. in the pound, on any Saturday, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanbury. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. R. Graves, saddler, Edward-street, Portman-square, o squar z e, c M l ,r arch 25, at half-past two—T. 11. lord, victualler, Essex, March 28, at twelve-IW. W.00d,1. R. Smith, and J. Stein, bankers, Workington, March 20, at two. In the Country. W. Roberts, jun , merchant, Calverley, Yorkshire, April 8, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court—W. Schofield, machine maker, Oldham, Lauctuhire, March 29, at twelve, at the Blau chester District Court—W. Walker, hatter, Birmingham ' April 5, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court—J. sen , W. Newton, J. Wilson, jun., H. Newton, and G. Wilson, colour manufacturers, Derby, April 5, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court—G. Harvey, spirit merchant, Handsacre, Staffordshire, April 5, at twelve, at the Birming ham District Court—M. Cooley, tailor, Spalding, Lincoln shire, April 5, at half-past eleven, at the Birmingham Dis trict Court—R. R. Timings, grocer, Birmingham, April 5, at half-past twelve, at the Birmingham District Court—R. Thelwell, silversmith, Manchester, March 15, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court—C. D. Broughton and J. J. Garnett, bankers, Nantwich, Cheshire, March 25, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. A. N. Armani, merchant, Scott's-yard, Bush-lane, March 25—H. D. Williams, plumber, Southampton, March 25—J. Martin, tallow -chandler, High-street, Shoreditch, March 28 —A. Brideson, cheesemonger, Clare-street, Clare-market, April I—W. Valiance, merchant, Liverpool, March 25 T. G. Martin, wine merchant, Cold. harbour-lane, Camber well, March 25—W. Oliver, printer, Darlington, Durham, March 25—H. D. Watkins and J. Innes, lead merchants, Manchester, March 25—T. llodgson, calico printer, Man chester, March 25—T. Sedgwick, grocer, Leeds, March 25 T. Wright, earthenware manufacturer, Turista, March 25 —T. Swift and J. A. Hensman, bill brokers, Copthall-court, Throgmorton. street, March 25. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. Bath and W. Estwick, paper stainers, Charles-street, Drury-lane—J. Ormiston and T. Backhouse, carriage makers, Sheffield—J. Silcock and N. Lowe, plane manufacturers, Bir, mingham—T. and H. Taylor, booksellers, Liverpool—C. Ironside and J. Napier, Liverpool—W. Moore and J. GatElf, share brokers, Huddersfield—S. Brabner and J. Atkinson, attorneys, Liverpool—J. Ingo, W. Docg, 11. Pratt, and W. S. Haswell, ship brokers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—C. and W. J. Cross, commission agents, Manchester—G. Wilson and J. T. Nottle, ironmongers, Hartlepool, Durham—T. C. Gibson and G. Burnett, coal litters, Newcastle-on-Tyne—G. Glan vile and G. Plummer ' linen drapers, Leeds—T - . M. and 11. G. Sutton, insurance brokers, Liverpool—J. Maxey and W. Doughty, cabinet makers, Maidenhead, Berkshire—R. Leach and S. Taylor, cotton-waste dealers, Bury, Lancashire—E. P. Turner, and E. P. Turner, jun., coal merchants, Birmingham —J. Cripps and H. Kemp, drapers, Leicester—J. Walker and W. E. Boddinton, surgeons, Chesterfield—W. Rawlins and R. Adkins, coach makers, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire— W. Thomas and D. Rees, limeburners, Swansea, Glamorgan. shire—J. Passman and J. Storey, curriers, Stockton-upon- Tees, Durham—W. Bagshaw and T. Rogers, timber dealers, Liverpool. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. William Gerrie, grain dealer, Rothemay, Banffshire, March 11 and April 1, at twelve, at the Banff Hotel, Banff. James Young. innkeeper, Laurieston, Edinburgh, March 11 and 28, at twelve, at Fraser's Rooms, Edinburgh. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4. LAW OF DEBTOR AN]) CREDITOR. Lord BROUGHAM said that he had not di;wn up the Bill. It had been drawn up by one of the Judges, and the incapacity to interpret it had been on the part of another learned judge.—(A laugh.) Notwithstanding all that the Noble Lord had said, he still thought that it was necessary to give credit, and if the creditor was called upon to endure this risk, he ought in fair justice to have a corresponding security. Now, he would vul ture to assert, and he did it without any intention to offend, that their Lordships all went upon credit. lie thought he might say, without fear of contradiction, that there were few of their Lordships, if there were any—and he did not believe that there were—who paid their bills oftener than once a year. It was a custom that had grown upon the country, and therefore no man was to be blamed for abiding by it. But still, at the same time, he must say that example was a powerful thing, and the system went through the several grades of society until it reached that class whose means were of a very different order, and lie believed, therefore, it was necessary to find a remedy, so as to give a means of satisfaction to the ercditor for small debts; that was, the Bill went too far. No honest debtor would suffer a re straint upon his person in order to preserve his goods and prevent the payment of his creditor. On those grounds he trusted that their Lordships would express no indisposition for a revision of this measure, and in some way give effect to the terms of the petition. Lord CAMPBELL was not indisposed to give every necessary remedy to the creditor, but it was not to be supposed that credit should not be given. The world could not go on without it ; but be did not believe that giving a creditor the power of imprisoring his debtor would avoid the evil of which the Noble Lord had com plained. the income-tax, and making provision for all bad and doubtful debts. £117,904 15 4 Balance of unappropriated profits brought down Mr. WHisirAw proposed—" That the report now read be adopted, and printed and circulated among the Proprietors." He congratulated the meeting on the dividend which had been declared—a dividend which was not obtained by that attractive, or, perhaps, lie should rather say, clap- trap system, which was adopted by some other banks, of allowing a per centage upon current accounts, and which was, on that account, the more gratifying.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He did not know whether or not the Directors were sufficiently remunerated ; but he rather thought that an increase ought to be made in the scale of allowance. At all events there was another class of persons to whom they were greatly indebted for their prosperity, who he believed, were not adequately paid for their services. This subject was one which he thought well deserved the consideration of the Directors The duties of such persons were laborious and responsible; and as the bank was in a thriving condition, he was of opinion that the scale of remuneration ought to be revised. Ranking, as they did, as the first joint-stock bank in the country, it was mainly to the exertions of their clerks that they owed that position.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. VAUGHAN, in seconding the resolution, expressed his concurrence in what had been said in reference to the remu neration of the clerks of the Company. He also expressed a regret that the reports were not of a more detailed nature. It would be desirable, he thought, that they should have an account of the expenses of the Princes-street and Pall-mall establishments. The establishment in St. James's-square, with a resident Director, must entail a large expense on the Company. He very much doubted the propriety of the step which had been taken, thinking, as he (lid, that it would be better to concentrate the business of the bank in the central office. Mr. LEVY said he considered that the Proprietors had no right whatever to interfere with the salaries of the clerks; that was a matter which should be left altogether to the Directors, who knew better than they did what was the best course to be pursued.—(Hear, hear.) He had , known three cases in which persons, whose salaries had been increased, had afterwards run away with the money of the bank.—( Laughter.) There was one point in connexion with the amount of business to which he wished to call the attention of the Chairman. They all knew that Sir Peter Laurie was a patriet—i very great patriot.—(Laughter.) Now when Sir Peter proposed Sir W. Heygate as Chamberlain he made it a condition that he should place his accounts, which Lad formerly been kept at Smith and Payne's, in the Union Bank.—(Loud Laughter.) When Sir William Heygate died, and Mr. Brown was solicited to fill the vacancy, he also having extensive accounts, had the same request made to him by Sir Peter.—(Laughter.) He recommended this example to the Chairman and the Directors.—(Laughter.) Mr. TITE concurred in what had been said as to the desira bleness of giving more detailed accounts. He had often heard the subject mentioned amongst men of business. He thought the accounts should be similar to those of the Bank of England. The CHAIRMAN said the question mentioned by the last speaker was undoubtedly one of great importance. It should be taken into consideration by the Directors, and the sug gestion should either be complied with, or some satis factory reason should be assigned at the next meeting for withholding more minute information.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to remuneration, he thought they had better resign this subject to the board of Directors. They might feel assured that the same liberal spirit which had prompted the remarks made on that point would actuate the Directors themselves. With respect to their branch establishments, he only hoped that they might never make a worse investment of money than they had done in the case at least of that in St. James's square. The whole establishment, so eligible in itself, had not cost them more than 12,0001., and that amount was reduced by the letting of the stabling, and other parts of the building which were not required for the purposes of the bank. The resolution for the adoption of the report was then carried unanimously. Mr. MURRAY proposed the following resolution :—" That the cordial thanks of the meeting be presented to the Directors for their able and successful government of the bank during the past year; and this meeting congratulates the Directors that the privileges for which they had so long contended have at last been so successfully obtained." Mr. Cox seconded the resolution, which was put and car ried. Captain MANDERSON moved " That Matthew Boulton Rennie, Charles Gibbes,:and William Haigh, Esqs., be re elected as Directors " ➢Zr. SIIARLAND seconded the resolution, which was put and carried unanimously. Mr. BADDELEY moved " That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to James William Gilbart, Esq., the general manager, and the other managers and officers of the Bank, for their effective services." Mr. MORGAN having seconded the resolution, it was agreed to unanimously. Mr. MoßsoN proposed " That the cordial thanks of the meeting be offered to P. ➢i. Stewart, Esq., M.P., for his able and courteous conduct in the chair." The resolution having been seconded, and carried by ac clamation, The Cluirot-vx briefly returned thanks, and the meeting separated. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) Sub. Committee No. 4 assembled in No. 8 Committee room. Present, Mr. Aglionby, Chairman, Mr. Thornely, Mr. Buller, Mr, T. Egerton, and Mr. Barneby. CORNWALL RAILWAY. The CHAIRMAN inquired if Mr. Harvey appeared upon his petition ; but no one answered, and the Bill was about to be proceeded with as an unopposed Bill, when Mr. SMYTHE applied to appear on a petition presented by Mr. Thomas against the Bill on Friday last. The CHAIRMAN said that no one could appear on a petition which had not been presented three days before the sitting of the Committee to which it had been referred. Mr. Smythe could not therefore appear; but the Committee would call evidence if they thought proper. Mr. Buitim then proceeded with the case in support of the Bill. Captain Moorsom was examined as to the accuracy of the plan. Several minor inaccuracies were discovered, and the Committee reported accordingly. At the conclusion of Captain Moorsom's evidence strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the Committee, after delibe rating for nearly an hour-and-a-half, decided that they were satisfied with the evidence on the plans, and they did not require any other witness to be examined. They laid it down as a rule, however, that they would hear any wit ness who might be in the room, and who was ready to be examined on any point_ upon which the Committee might entertain a doubt. The Committee then adjourned. MPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. Mr. WRIOIITSON presented a petition from Don caster against certain clauses in the Yorkshire and South Midland Railway Bill. The Ulster Railway Bill was brought up, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. Sir F. TRENCH brought in the Scarborough Water Works Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. The HON. MEMBER also brought in the Sheffield Water Works Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time tomorrow. - - Petitions were presented against the Hull and Selby Branch Railway Bill. The report was brought up on the Trent Valley Rail way Bill. The Committee reported that the stand ing orders had been complied with, and leave was given to bring in the Bill by Lord F. Egerton and others. Mr. FERRAND presented petitions 'in favour of the London, Chatham, and North Kent Railway Bill. Sir J. LOWTHER brought in the York and North Midland Railway Bill, which was read a first, and or dered to be read a second time to-morrow. The York and North Midland (Bridlington Branch) Railway was read a second - time, and ordered to be com mitted to. morrow. _ _ Britten's Divorce Bill was read a second time, and or dered to be committed. _ PROPERTY-TAX BILL. Sir J. TROLLOPE presented a petition from Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, against that part of the Pro perty-tax Bill that affected trades and professions. ANATOMY ACT. Mr. FERRAND presented a petition from Dewsbury against the operation of the Anatomy Act, and praying for a searching inquiry. The Hon. Member also pre sented a similar petition from Orpington. Lord CLIVE presented petitions against the union of the sees of Bangor and St. Asaph. THE PLYMOUTH GAS BILL. Viscount EBRINGTON gave notice that he should move that it be an instruction to the Committee of Selection to refer the Plymouth and Stonehouse Gas Bill, and the Devonport Gas and Coke Company Bill to the same Committee. WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY. Mr. E. TURNER brought up the West Cornwall Railway Bill, which was read a first time. HARWICH RAILWAY. The HON. MEMBER also brought up the Harwich Railway (promoted by the Eastern Counties) Bill, which was also read a first time. LONDON AND CROYDON. The HON. MEMBER then presented a petition praying for the extension of the London and Croydon Railway. RYE AND TENTERDEN. Mr. BLEW ITT presented a petition praying for leave to bring in a Bill to construct a line of railway between Rye, Tenterden, and Hastings.—Referred to the Select Committee. SOLICITORS' ANNUAL CERTIFICATES. Mr. B. DENISON presented a petition from the soli citors of Northallerton praying that the annual certifi cate duty should be abolished. Mr. GEORGE BANKES presented a petition from a medical gentleman named Henry Charles Leeson, who complained that the Poor- law Commissioners had come to a determination which he thought unfavourable to him. He also prayed for an alteration in the law respecting the powers of the Poor-law Commissioners over medical practitioners. DUTIES ON COPPER ORES. Mr. J. PARKER gave notice that, in the Committee of Ways and Means, he intended to move an ameirdmeLt to the effect that the duties on copper ores imported for the purposes of reduction, be remitted. RAILWAYS TO DORSETSHIRE. Mr. G. BANKES gave notice that in the Committee on Private Business he should move that copies of all the memorials which had been presented to the Board of Trade respecting the construction of railways to Dor setshire be laid on the table. CONDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL POPULATION. Mr. WODEHOUSE said that he wished to ask the question of the Hon. Member for Stockport of which he bad given notice. The question he wished to put was, whetller be would have any objection to postpone the motion of which he had given notice fur the 13th of March, until after Easter? If the Hon. Member would comply with his request, a great inconvenience would be obviated ; for at the time when this motion would other wise come on many Members would be engaged at the quarter sessions. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. HUTT begged to give notice that on Tuesday the 11th of March, he should move for several returns respecting the slave trade, and among them the number of vessels employed for the suppression of the slave trade from the Ist of January, 1820, to the lit January, 1844 ; the number of naval officers who had died in each year, and the amount of compensation given, distinguishing the sums given to foreigners. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE moved for leave of absence to Mr. Christopher for one week from Fiiday the 7th March.—Leave was granted. PRISONS IN VAN DIEMAN'S LAND. Mr. EIVART wished to ask the Htn. Member, the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Act of Parliament for empowering jus tices of the peace in that island to visit the prisons and inspect their state, was become inoperative ? He believed that considerable complaint had been made in consequence of the refusal of the Comptroller-General to permit the prisons to be lisited by the justices. He (Mr. Ewart) wished to know whe ther any intimation of this circumstance had been given to her Majesty's Government ? Mr. M. SUTTON said that no official information hod reached the Government. He believed passages in private letters which had reached this country com plained of the refusal to admit magistrates to inspect the prisons in Van Diemen's Land, but of this Government had received no official intimation. The proper course to be taken would be, for the parties who telt this refusal to be a grievance to make a formal complaint to the Government, through the proper chan nel. Not any complaint, however, had as yet reached the Government, but as soon as any such did reach it, he would take care that it should be inquired into. COUNTY RATES. Sir J. Y. BULLER gave notice, that on Tuesday, the 13th of March, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the assessment of county rates. INCOME-TAX. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition, very nu merously signed, from Manchester, against the continu ance of the tax on income derived from trades and professions. STAMP DUTIES IN IRELAND. Mr. C.. BULLER wished to ask the Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government a question. He (Mr. Buller) perceived that the Stamp Duties, under the new Act, were to be continued in Ireland. What he wished to know was, whether that Act was to be con tinued in force during the income-tax in Ireland? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Act was to be continued only for the purpose of collecting in outstanding arrears. SHIPWRECKS. Mr. MASTERMAN, seeing the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government in his place, begged to remind him that, during the last session, a Committee had been appointed to make inquiries regarding the shipwreck of British vessels. The ques tion he wished to ask was—whether it was intended to bring forward any measure upon the report of that Committee ? Sir ROBERT PEEL said that, in the ordinary course of business, of course, the report alluded to by the Hon. Member on his left would be attended to; but he unfit r stood, from his Hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, that the report was not yet ready. IMPORTATION OF SUGAR. Mr. THORNELY wished tpput a question to the Right Hon. the First Lord of the Treasury of great importance to this country, as regarded the im portation of sugar. He had been informed that that day, there had arrived in the port of London sam ples of sugar from New Orleans, the produce of slave labour. What he wished to know was, whether this sugar, as well as that imported from Louisiana and other slave countries, would be admitted into this country upon the same terms as sugar imported from Java and Manilla ? Sir R. PEEL said that those countries of the United States in which sugar was produced by slave-labour, and admitted into England, were countries with which this kingdom had at present reciprocity treaties. With regard to the arrival announced by the Ilonourable Mmber, he (Sir Robert Peel) begged to s7.y he had had no intimation whatever of it ; but he would say, that at present that sugar would not be ad missible on the same terms as sugar the pro duce of the countries mentioned by the Hon. Member. But he would add, that he had no hesitation in saying that sugar, the produce of the United States, now under the reciprocity treaties, would be admitted under the proposed advantages.--(Hear.) Mr. THORNELY was very glad to hear that an nounument from the Right Hon. Baronet, as a new and very extensive trade in sugar was about to be opened with the countries he had named, to which this altered state of the law would be of great importance. Mr. EWART wished to know whether it was not the fact that slave grown sugar, admitted at the reduced duty from the United States would undersell the free labour sugar of Mauritius and Java. Sir R. I'EEL was understood to say that he was not prepared with an answer. THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. H. R. YORKE took that opportunity, before the order of the day was read, to put to the Noble Lord, the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests (Lord Lincoln), the questions of which he had given notice, namely, when the statement of the total estimated cost of the building of the new Houses of Parliament, according to the latest plan approved, would be laid upon the table ? Also, whether the Noble Lord intends to lay upon the table of the house Mr. Barry's last half-yearly reports of the works to the Commission ers of Woods and Forests. Also, seeing the inconvenience of the present temporary arrangements, whether the New House of Commons will be ready for occupation at the commencement of 1847, the latest period alluded to in the report of the Select Committee of last session? He did not think it necessary to trespass on the time of the House further than to put the questions, which he be lieved the Noble Lord was prepared to answer. Lord LINCOLN was in hopes that he would be able to make the mind of the Hon. Gentleman easy upon the subject of his first question, for he did not think there was any ground for apprehension that the cost would ex ceed the estimates except by a small amount, and that arose only from additions to the original plan, and through the fault of the architect.—(Hear, hear.) He should be prepared tomorrow to lay before the House the total estimate of the cost, in which it would appear that the excess above the original estimate was caused only by two items, one of 800/. fur alterations in the Victoria Tower, and, as we understood, one of 2191. for enlarged accommodation for her Majesty. So that the whole amount of the estimate would be but 928,9131. Ile would also lay on the table to-morrow the half. yearly report of the architect, which was made up to the 28th of January.—(Hear.) As to the third and last question, whether the new House of Commons would be prepared for their reception by the session of 1847, he (Lord Lincoln) had to answer, that he had seen the architect this morning, who assured him that he saw no reason to withdraw the declaration which he made last year, namely, that the new Houses would be ready in 1847.—(Haar.) PROPERTY TAX. On the motion for reading the order of the day for going into committee on the property tax, Capt. BERNAL OSBORNE said as he had not had an opportunity of expressing his strong objections to this odious and oppressive tax, he took this opportunity of moving that the House go into committee on that day three months.—(A laugh.) He assured the Right Hon. Baronet that he did not do so with the view of offering any factious opposition to the measure. The SPEAKER informed the Hon. Member that the motion before the House was for reading the order of the day, and not that he should leave the chair. TURNPIKE TRUSTS. Lord EBRINGTON asked whether it was the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to bring in a general Bill this session, on the subject of Turnpike•roads. Sir J. GRAHAM said it was not his intention to bring in any measure on this subject at present. FRAME WORK KNITTERS. Mr. FERRAND said as he had received several let ters, stating the extreme anxiety of - the frame work knitters to know when the report of Mr. Muggeridge would be laid on the table, he wished to ask the Right. Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State to use his utmost influence with the Commissioners to have the report produced as soon as possible. Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that the re port should be furnished without delay. INTERMENT IN TOWNS. _ Lord MAIiON wished to ask a question with respect to a subject that had been brought under the no tice of the House by the Hon. Member of Lea mington (Mr. Machinnon)—the interment in cities and towns. The House would recollect that, in 1842, a Committee was appointed on this subject ; in its report it stated that the duty of framing a Bill on this subject, could be most efficiently discharged by her Majesty's Government, and this duty was earnestly recommended to them by the Committee. Such having been the recom mendation of the Committee as a Member of it, he might add, its unanimous recommendation ; and as two years had elapsed since the report was made, he begged leave to inquire whether her Majesty's Government had al ready framed, or were now engaged in framing, a mea sure that would remedy the evils of which the Govern• men t had acknowledged the existence. Sir J. GRAHAM could assure his Noble Friend that he had repeatedly, and with the utmost anxiety, directed his attention to the subject; but he was bound to say that the more consideration he bestowed on the question the more he was convinced of the difficulty of legislating effectually upon it. Ile had not been able to frame any measure to which he could give his approbation as likely to be attended with advantage, or that would meet the wishes of the great body of the people. He was not prepared to lay any measure on the subject before the House. PROPERTY-TAX. The order of the day for going into Committee on the property-tax was then read. Captain BERNAL then rose and said that he could not reconcile it to his conscience, or to the duty which he owed to his constituet ts, to suffer this motion to be agreed to sub siktio. He entertained most serious ob to himself a full right to express his approval jections to this tax as it was at present levied, and re serving a property. tax fairly levied. He must fay that con sidering that this tax was levied upon trades and profes 'sions, and that the Government held out no hope of any alteration taking place, he considered the tax in its CONSTABULARY FORCE IN IRELAND. The Marquis of NORMANBY said that, when he had given notice. of his motion, he had been exceedingly desirous to bring it on without the smallest delay ; tut on the request of the Noble Duke opposite (the Duke of Wellington), he had consented to postpone it till Fri day. In the absence of his Noble Friend the Secretary for the Colonies he was led to believe that it would be inconvenient to her Majesty's Government to reply to the question on that day. This was unfortunate, but they had no other resource, for another Noble Lord, the late Secretary for Ireland (the Earl of St. Germains), was equally in possession of the facts with his Noble Friend. lie bad been in communication with the ex ecutive, and could, therefore, give a satisfactory ex planation of all the circumstances upon which lie desired to be informed. His Noble Friend (Earl Forteseue) had agreed to postpone his departure so as to meet the convenience of her Majesty's Ministers, but he thought it better to bring the motion on, and wou!d, therefore, postpone it till Friday, but no longer. He then hoped that the Government would be able to give the explanation without any further delay. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that his Noble Friend the Secretary for the Colonies had been unable, from indisposition, to examine tho documents, with which it was necessary to be acquainted, in order to re ply to the Noble Marquis's inquiries. He wished to do this, because he desired to give his opinion on the matters whtch the Noble Marquis intended to submit to the House. in consequence of his inability, the Presi dent of the Council (Lord Wharncliffe) had consented to go through these returns, but he was also indisposed, and unable to attend the House. The Noble Lord, too, to whom the Noble Marquis also referred (the Earl of St. Germains) was also unable to attend the House, for he was absent from Londoi. Now, he (the Duke of Wellington) was anxious, if the discussion came on at all, that the matter should be discussed by those who were able to throw light upon it, and, therefore, he hoped that the Noble Marquis would consent to postpone bis motion to some future time. The Marquis of NORMANBY said that he was aware that his Noble Friend was responsible for the whole of these returns ; but still he thought his presence was not absolutely necessary, for he believed that the Noble Duke himself, or any other Noble Lord, would be quite able to master the whole of these papers in twenty-four hours. Taking the whole of the circumstances into ac count, and the great importance of them, and the excite ment which prevailed respecting them, he could not con sent to any further delay than Friday. He had himself been called by the Duke of Portland, from the country, at twenty-four hours' notice. Should the Noble Duke, or any other of her Majesty's Ministers who were pre sent on that day, be unable to - give an answer, he would, of course, postpone it until some future period, but, at present, he felt it his duty to fix the day for bringing on his motion on Friday. He gave notice, also, that on that day he should move for a return of all the outrages which had been committed in Ireland during the same period. REFUSAL TO TAKE OATHS. Lord DENMAN presented a petition from a person who was a prisoner under the bankruptcy laws. In consequence of inability to take an oath, arising from conscientious motives, there had been an incompetency to examine him before the commissioners of, bankruptcy. The consequence was that he had now been imprisoned not less than three years. He (Lord Denman) was bound to state that all his explanations were satisfac tory. From the same inability to take an oath he had been unable to procure even the prison allowance, and it was only with the utmost difficulty, and by very great exertion, that he had been able to sustain himself. He (Lord Denman) felt these to be circumstances which called for their Lordships' notice, and he should, there fore, move that the petition do lie on the table. The Noble Lord opposite (Lord Ashburton) had re ferred to several circumstances, which led him to sup pose that the operation of the Act for Abolishing Im prisonment for Debt was unsatisfactory. He (Lord Denman) would take that opportunity of saying that that Act as yet could hardly be said to have come into ope ration. Certainly the effects of it were not as yet fully evident. He believed, then, when we had full expe rience of its influence, the Act would be found beneficial to all parties. The ill effects that were at present expe rienced ought decidedly not to be charged to that mea sure. It was not, as the Noble Lord (Lord Ashburton) supposed, the concoction of lawyers and men unac quainted with commercial affairs. He had sat on the Committee for considering the details of that measure ; and though there were not many commercial men on the Committee, yet they had taken the opinion of those men who were known to be high as commercial men, and whose experience was unquestionable. On the motion being put, that the petition do lie on the table, The LORD CHANCELLOR said that he would take an opportunity of turning his attention to the sugges tions which the Noble Lord (Lord Ashburton) had made to the House. RAILWAY BILLS. Earl DALHOCSlFTlresentecfreicrts on the Corn wall and Devon and other railways, which were ordered to lie on the table. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS' REFORM. Lord CAMPBELL said ho begged to ask the ques tion of which he had given notice, as to when her Majesty's Government proposed to bring in the Biil fur a reformation of the ecclesiastical courts? A rumour had gone abroad that one of her Majesty's Ministers in another place had stated that it was not the intention of the Government to bring in any measure this selsion upon the subject of ecclesiastical courts reform. He wished to ascertain what were the facts, for he thought the matter was well worthy of attention. When the Ecclesiastical Commission had been appointed the judges had sat upon it, and they were all unanimous in the agreeme nt of some measure being absolutely requisite ' A n other Commission had been appointed, on which had sat. Their opinion was the same. There had been w Committees of both Houses of Parliament, itch una nimously agreed in the same conclusion, Over these Committees Sir James Graham had pre.ided, he believed that there was a full impression of the ne cessity of such a measnre as that to which he had al luded. He had since made an inquiry of that Right II s T n h . e G D en u t k l Gentleman. fmoanl.v LLLD.TGTON—But you don't know what his answer is. Lord CAMPBELL-- That was true ; but he was al armed at what was rumoured to have taken place 11 another pla ce . N o mention hal been made cede-. of siastical reform sin ce it s i ntro d uct i on i nto the Quc ei' speech in 1843, an d h e t h ere f ore w i s h e d to ask when her Majesty's Ministers intended to introduce the Ecch.-- siastical Reform Bill ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said that if the Nob Lord would have put a short question he would have given a short answer. It certainly was not his intention to bring in any Bill on this subject this session. Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that it was not the custom of that House to make speeches upon asking questions, utiles: the speeches were to be concluded by motions. The Earl of MINTO said that it certainly had not been the custom of that House formerly to adopt the practice assumed by his Noble Friend on the present occasion, and to which the Noble Lord opposite ob jected. But he begged to assure the Noble Lord that it had now become a habit in that House, though . he must acknowledge that the habit did grow up during the Noble Lord's absence. It was extremely disorderly and inconvenient, and the sooner it was put an end to the better ; yet still, as it was the habit of the House, he thought his Noble Friend (Lord Campbell) was jus tified in the mode of proceeding ho had adopted. Lord CAMPBELL said that ever since he had had the honour of a seat in that House, the usual mode of proceeding had been to state the facts which were ne ces*ary to render any question or notice of motion intel ligible. Such was the custom in the other House of Parliament, and he begged to refresh the memory of his Noble Friend as to several occasions on which this prac tice had been observed in their Lordships' House. He was unwilling to subject their Lordships' House to the opprobrium of neglecting so important a business. The Duke of WELLINGTON begged to speak to order. The usual order of that House was to make no speeches upon a question, without concluding it with a motion. That when a motion was intended to be made it was the courtesy of that House to give notice of that motion. Having explained what was the order, and what was the courtesy of that House, he must protest against the Noble Lord entering so fully into a subject of this kind, and violating both. Lord CAMPBELL would consider the best mode of formally bringing forward the question on an early day. ([Tear, from the Duke of Wellington.) The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 4. RAILWAYS. Mr. GISBORNE agreed with the statements and rea soning of the Honourable Member opposite, but unfor tunately he would not be able to give him his vote, as he agreed with the proposition of the Noble Lord. He agreed with the Noble Lord that, in consenting to these arrangements, he would give up all the advanta g es of local knowledge. The ev id ence w hi c h would be brought before the Committee, under the present ar rangement, would not furnish the best information on local subjects; for those who could give the best and truest iuformation would be excluded. No doubt but those witnesses who would be produced ly the contending parties would be well informed ;. but they would be prejudiced in favour of one or other of the contending parties. It was a well established fact, and known by experience, that whenever professional men were en gaged, be they lawyers or doctors, surveyors, engineers, or chemists, the most contradictory evidence was given by the most respectable witnesses.—(Laughter.) When upon these committees, his mind was at times perfectly bewildered by those masses of irreconcilable and oppo site statements ; and might have continued so, if some Hon. Member who possessed some local information had not said a few words that made every thing straight and plain. He would, however, give a reluctant support to the resolutions of the Noble Lord. Captain EGERTON said that he entirely agreed with the Hon. Member as to the great disadvantages which Committees would labour under in not possess ing this local information. He trusted the house would, to a certain extent, reconsider these resolutions. Mr. EWART said it was perfectly competent for a Member of thatllouse, having a local interest in matters referred to a Select Committee, to appear before the Committee to give evidence as a witness.—(Hear.) Mr. SHAW said this course had been pursued with very great advantage in the Committee of last year. Mr. BANKES dill not understand that it was any part of the proposed resolutions not to summon Members of Parliament as witnesses on certain lines; and if doing so did not meet the question now before the house, if the resolutions were to be passed in that undefined form, the result would be endless contention and misunder standing; and for this reason, that besides the interests of the different classes mentioned as intended to be re presented, there was yet another class whose interests were much more important than any of the others, he meant the interests of the public.—(Bear, hear.) And if the public interests were not to be represented by Members of Parliament, he would like to know who could give local information to the Committees on the subject ?—(Hear, hear.) He made those observations in order that the Ilouse should be careful not to give its sanction to any Bills which were adverse to the public interests. Mr. GREENE said it would be quite impossible for the House to dispose of those Bills, if they were to be called upon to attend and listen to every local interest sought to be represented. If the principle of the repre sentation of local interests was to be admitted, the House ought not to have reduced the number of local Members, which they had done some years ago. He thought it would be inflicting an injustice if they were to adopt such a principle. They ought to admit no local Mem bers. They sat either judicially or representatively. If they sat judicially, the smaller the number of Mem bers, the better. They would be enabled to procure all the information they might require much better from the examination of witnesses than they could from the attendance of local Members. If the Committees sat representatively, the House had committed a gross in justice in reducing the number of the Members. He could not see the smallest utility in having the attend ance of Members representing local interests. Mr. C. WOOD was sorry to hear from the Noble Lord and the Hon. Member who had just sat down that they considered that it would be impracticable to devise a plan for securing the attendance on these Committees of Members possessing local knowledge. He had here tofore seen great benefit derived from the attendance on railway Bill Committees of Members possessing local knowledge. No doubt inconvenience might arise in some cases. In the case of a long line, for instance, such as that from London to York, he admitted that it might be difficult to secure the attendance of Members possessed of local knowledge, and, at the same time, to provide for the fair representation of all the local interests, but that case was an exception. The Board of Trade had reported on three groups of railway s—one in Kent— another is Yorkshire—and another in Northumberland. Now, as to these three groups, no difficulty could wise. He did not see why they should not have the ad vantage of the attendance of Members possessed of local knowledge upon those Committees, and there could be no difficulty in selecting them, so as to secure a fair re presentation of local interests. He did not see why the Committee of Selection should not select six Members possessed of local knowledge from the Speaker's list, and five impartial Members; they would thus obtain the advantages of both plans. He did not think that eleven Members were too great to attend on a Railway Cora mitte. They did not sit judicially on Railway Commit tees. No one had been a greater advocate than himself for the reduction of the numbers of a Committee which sat judicially. He had always advocated the reduction, of the number of Members on Election Committees, as increasing the responsibility of the Members, for he was convinced that when Committees sat judicially, the smaller the number of Members the better the tribunal. The investigation with which the Committee would be entrusted was of the most extensive nature. For him self, he should feel great difficulty in deciding on the merits of the whole of the South Devon, or of the Kent. lines, being totally without the statistical or local know ledge that would be required. Mr. M. MILNES said it was of the highest import ance that a due deference should be felt by the public for the decisions of the Committees of that Muse. The choice laid between the Committee proposed by the Go vernment or one composed of ie local Members. Th e great object of the Governmenwould be to select five Gentlemen, who should be entirely ignorant of all parts of the subject.—(Laughter.) On the other hand, there might be five Gentlemen who were the best informed on the question, but then they would be most liable to the influence of local prejudices. On striking a fair balance of these difficulties, he thought, to secure an im partial decision, their best course was to pass the reso lution proposed by the Government. Sir JOHN EASTIIOPE said, that formerly he had been in a railway Committee that sat sixty days ; and in consequence of the system which existed, they were ob liged, under the pressure of interests which they could not resent, often to vote against their own conscience (Laughter.) lle was more ashamed of the fact than the avowal ; but no consideration—nothing, in fact, but compulsion, would induce him to place himself in the same situation again. In that case, local interest was found to be destructive of public right. Mr. AGLIONBY thought that the opinion of the Hon. Member who had just spoken was entitled to great weight. Ile had always felt that nothing would ever satisfy the public but constituting a judicial tri bunal guided by no interested or pecuniary motives. He congratulated the House in having this resolution submitted for their sanction ; and if they were obliged to divide, lie hoped there would be an overwhelming majority in its favour. The scheme proposed by the resolution was the only method practicable and con sistent with justice. PAItiNGTON, in reference to what had fallen from the Hon. Member for Chester, said, that he bad served on a Committee last year, and he never saw the interests of the landowners better attended to. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the. gallery was cleared for a di vis i on, b ut none took place, the amendment having been negativ e d w i t h out a division. Mr. ENTWISLE said he disregarded those phrases which had been launched out so abundantly against railway shareholders and speculators, who were en gaged in honest commercial enterprise. The Hon. Member was proceeding to address the House upon n former resolution, when The SPEAKER interfered, and said, such a course was irregular. The HoN. MENDER then went on to say, that the House should clearly explain its opinion as to the propriety of Members serving on Committees who were interested in local speculationF. The House should clearly state whether Members who were in any degree interested in railways should be Members of a Select Committee or not ; and if its opinion were in the affirmative, it was only fair that they should be protected from reproach. In his opinion, the bare fact of a Member having an_ in terest in a line of railway should not disentitle tom from sitting on a Committee. Mr. BERNAL did not think the wording of the reso. lution sufficiently clear and explicit, because it was im possible for any one to say, according to ttle wording of the resolution, when a Member was entitled to sit on these Committees or when he was not. Lord GRAN VILLE SOMERSET defended the word. int; of the resolution. Mr. HUME thought no individual should sit on a Committee where his private or personal interest was .~---.' ~ : 00000 ... 1 - "' .•, .... •• 1 9 t L '0; l i ri 110 44 , 5 iiii ~41,_