The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-12 00:00:00

Viitfct Wbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the proprietors of the Caledonian Railway was held this morning at the Free masons' Hall, for the purpose of electing a new board of directors, Mr. J. J. H. Johnstone, chairman of the old board, in the chair. The CinAintilx, in opening the business of the day, observed that it was now time for the shareholders to name the gentlemen whom they wished to elect as directors; but as there appeared to be no difference of opinion about the re-election of Mr. Copling, he would suggest that that gentleman should not be called upon to resign. Mr. DEAN said he understood that shares to the ex tent of 170,0001. had been crt ated, and were registered in the names of men of straw, who had not paid one shilling upon them. Now he wished to know whether those parties would be entitled to vote with the other proprietors. _ . . The CHAIRMAN was understood t 3 reply in the affirmative. Mr. DEAN had no hesitation in declaring, then, that if these parties voted it would be a scandalous fraud upon the meeting, and he should institute legal proceed ings in the matter. Mr. HODGSON HINDE thought that would be the proper course for the Honourable Proprietor to take. Cap'ain PLUNKETT said the railway was .now in so de?lorab!e a position, produced by the past acts of its manager, that it was absolutely necessary for Parliament to institire La inquiry with the view of ascertaining how far the bona fide shareholders had been imposed upon by Sot itious votes. The directors proposed by the London Central Com mittee .were as follows:—The Hon. Edward Plunkett, Captain, R.N.; John Copling, Jun., Esq., Hackney; James Baird, Esq., Gartaherrie, Glasgow ; Thomas Thornborrow Fa vcett, Esq., London; Thomas M'Mick ing, Esq., Edinburgh; Douglas Campbell, Esq., Edin burgh; Richard Potter, Esq., London; William John stone, Esq., Commercial Bank, Glasgow; John Duncan, Esq , Aberdeen. A rival list had been got up, substituting tho names of Alderman Thompson, M.P., J. A. Campbell, Esq., of Inverawe, Joseph Lo3ke, Esq , M.P., T. T. Fawcett, Esq., Thomas M'Micking, Esq., and Richard Potter, Esq. This list had been issued by parties interested in the guaranteed lines, and it was for the shareholders to elect between the two. Mr. H. HINDS intimated that Mr. Alderman Thomp son declined to merry, and his name must, therefore, be withdrawn. Mr. PALLISTEE thought the interest of the preference stockholders ought to be represented at the board, and he would, therefore, suggest that some other name should be put in the place of Alderman Thompson. Mr. Locsm was ready to become a director if it would restore harmony to the board, but if it were to create discord, he must withdraw. Nothing but a strong and unanimous board of directors could retrieve the railway from its depressed condition. Mr. CAMPBELL was only willing to serve upon the same understanding. After some lengthened discussion, the original list was put to a show of hands and declared to be carried. A poll was then demanded, and it was understood that the contest should be between Messrs. M'Micking and Faw cett and Messrs. Locke and Campbell. The other names appeared to be unanimously assented to, and these gen tlemen were accordingly elected as directors. Mr. Loch, however, as the meeting had declared alpinist him, would not How his name to go to the poll, while _ _ _ Mr. CAMPBELL could not consent to act without Mr. Locke, and he therefore hoped no poll would be taken in his name. The demands for the poll were accordingly with drawn, and The CHAIRMAN announced that the list proposed by the London CeLtral Committee bad been carried. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting broke up. BORDEAUX AND CETTE, AND LYONS AND AVIGNON RAILWAYS.—(THIS DAY.) A meeting of the shareholders in these companies was held this afternoon, ae the London Tavern, to receive a report on the memorial which had lately been presented to the French Government, in order to obtain a return of the caution money. Mr. Alderman SALQMOaS, chairman of the late Bor deaux and Cette Railway Company, presided, and reported to the meeting the result of his recent visit to Paris to pre sent the memorial. He said that a more respectable docu ment than this memorial never emanated from any body of shareholders, as it was signed by upwards of 100 in dividuals, some of whom were persons of considerable wealth ; and the reasons for adopting it were these : of er the events of the revolution, the Minister of Public Works presented to the Chamber of R-presentatives a plan for making a railway from Paris to Avignon, by which it was art anged that any company who would undertake to pro ♦ide capital for its construction should have made over to them gratuitously All the works on the Paris and Lyons Railway, which had been abandoned, and sold at a great depression to the Government. This railway, which had cost six millions sterling, was now open and at work, and he believtid the aircrew produce was estimated at 4,0001 per week. The Government besides offered to give a guarantee t f 5/. per cent. upon the capital to be raised. The proposi tion was ultimately referred to a Committee of the CI amb►r, but here there was such a col ision of inte rest th .t the decision of the Committee was delayed, and a change • f Ministers having in the meantime taken place, it was, at last, thought that the plan of the Cabi net w a altogether abandoned. He (Mr. Salomons) lost no time in going over to Pane, and he was happy to learn, vt hen ilitre, that instead a the measure being withdt a Ne, it was the opinion of the Government that it would be betti r for such a large undertaking to be con stcacted by private capital than the funds of the nation. H• had an interview with the President of the Republic, who expressed himself anxious that English and French capit ts should combine together for the construction of great public works,—as well as interviews with the Minister of Pub is Works and the Minister of Finance, and all (f them agreed in saying that they knew no other body i f shareholders than those who composed this meeting who had any claim to the caution money, and to the uufinished works. Tne committee had since made their report to the Chamber, and in a very few days it would be put forward for discussion, and the only question to be eettled was, whether the Government should make the Paris and Avignon line themselves, or offer it to tome private company on fair terms. The committee had proposed that any profit beyond 5 per cent. should be the pro; erty or the shareholders for a limited period of five or ten ye irs, and that afterwards any profit above 8/. per cent. should be divided with the propriet trs and the Government. Now he wished the meeting to determine upon some resolu tions, expressing their willingness to take a part in this undertaking, on condition that their caution money was added to the capital, which would be required for it, as he thought they would only by some arrangement of this kind be enab'e 1 to get some equivalent for what they had lost. After a desultory discussion, during which the gene , al opinion appeared to be that the terms offered by the French Government were of a very favourable nature, it was resolved that immediate swat ures be adopted to obtain a return of the caution money invested by the Bordeaux and Cette, and L) one Avignon Railways, or to have it brought into account as part of the capital of the proposed rail - - way from Paris to Avignon. It was then agreed that the chairman should be re quested to take the necessary steps to carry the resolu tion into off. ct. A v,tte of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, the meeting ser arated. THE LONDON. GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 9, 1850. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Elie Beatty tiraff as Consul at Nassau, New Providence, fn. the United States of America. WHITEHALL, FEE. 11. The Queen has b een p l ease d to appo i nt the under mentioned gentlemen to be officers in the Artillery Company of London:— To be Captains, with the following seniority—James Goodsell Middleton, Esq., John White Welch, Es q., Frederick Edward Horseman, , reter M orrison Esq., William Thomas Robinson, E sq ., Ri chard Bell , Esq., John Brien, E,q., Edward Ellis, E sq ., William , Bokenham, E.q , Thomas Hall, Esq., William Chickall Jay, Esq. To be Supernumerary Captains—John James Iselir, Esq., John Parker, Esq. To be Adjutant, with the rank of Captain—William Henry Snell, Eiq. To be Lieutenants, with the following seniority— Adolphus John Lewis, Gent., John Richard Lambert Walmisley, Gent., Joseph Moreland, Gent., William Jeremiah Jordan, Gent., George Baldwin Waugh, Gent., Thomas Mosdell Smith, Gent., John Pitt Bontein, Gent. To be Quartermaster—George Bailin, Gent. To be Physician—Henry Jesffreson, M.D. To be Surgeons—William White Cooper, Esq.; John Law, Esq. CROWN OFFICE, FEB. 11. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borough. of Colchester —John James Robert Manners, Esq. (commonly called Lord John Manners), in the room of Sir George Henry Smyth, Bart., who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. GENERAL ORDER. HORSE GUARDS, FEB. 12. H er Majesty having beeen graciously pleased to com mand, that medals should be struck to record the services of her fleets and armies during the wars commencing in 1793, and one of these medals having already been given, under the General Order of the Ist of Juno 1847, to every officer, non-commissioned officer, and soldier, who was present at any of the battles and sieges referred to in the above order, her Majesty his now been graciously pleased further to command that one of the same medals shall be granted to every officer, non-commissioned officer, and sol dier, who has not already received one under the above mentioned order, and who may have been present with the army which performed the great achievements in Egypt during the war ending in 1801. Officcro and soldiers who consider that they huts a claim to receive such medal are each to apply—as di rected in the General Order of the let of June, 1847; the General officers having such claims through the Secretary rf the Comrasnder-in-Chief of the army; The Staff officers through the General officers under whom they served,—if alive;—if not alive, through the Adjutant-General of the army;— Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of regiments, battalions, and detachments, through the commanding officer of the regiment, battalion, or detach ment at the time, if still alive. This will be known by inquiry at the agents of the regiment resident in London. If such commanding officer should not be alive, the ap plication, in writing, must be made through the Ad jutant-General of the army. The :Board of General Officers is hereby by her Majesty's command directed to take into consideration —to investigate—the facts stated in each of these several applications, and to report to the Commander in-Chief upon the same, for the information of her Majesty, and to enable those commanded by her Ma jesty to deliver to the claimants the medals accordingly. The Adjutant-General and the Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief, will transmit to the Secretary to the Board of General Officers such informa tion as they may have been able to acquire, to assist in the investigations which the Board will have to make. The Commander-in-Chief has been required to desire, that the Board of General Officers will have alphabetical lists made out of the names of the claimants to one of these medals, with his rank. Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to command, that the departments of the Secretary at War and of the Paymaster-General may furnish to the Board t . f General Officers such information as the records of those Depart ments respectively can furnish, of the names of those serving with the army in Egypt at the period at which that service was achieved; and that the several Govern ments in India should be required to furnish to the board of general officers in London such information in respect to regiments sent to Egypt from India, of names of the several officers and individuals serving on the staff, or in the ranks of the several regiments employed, as can be found in the several offices under the several Go vernments in India. The several Governments in India will be desired to form, at the Presidency of each of the Governments, a board of officers, which shall have instructions to inquire into claims referred to such board, whether by the Com mander-in-Chief of the Army, or by the Board of Gene ral Officers sitting in London, or by the Commander-in- Chief of the Army of each presidency in India. In extending this further mark of her Majesty's gra cious consideration to those officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, whose claims to a medal, on ac count of any of the services specified in the General Order of the Ist of June, 1847, may have already been admitted, an additional bar, bearing the word "Egypt" engraved upon it, will be added to the clasp on which the names of the several battles, at which such officers and soldiers were present, are enumerated. By command of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, Commander-in-Chief. Jour; MACDONALD, Adjutant-Geaeral. ADMIRALTY, FEB. 11. With reference to her Majesty's gracious intentions, as signified in the Gazette of the Ist and 7th of June, 1847, that a medal should be struck to record the services of her fleets and armies during the wars conimmencing in 1793, and ending in 1815 ; her Majesty has further been graciously pleased to grant the Military Medal to the surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, and sol diers of the army who served in the expedition to Egypt; and her Majesty having signified her pleasure to the Lrrds Commissioners of the Admiralty that Elas.i sures be taken for granting the naval medal, or a clasp in lieu thereof, to the surviving officers and seamen of the royal navy who served in that expedition. All officers, petty officers, seamen and marines, who consider that they are entitled to receive this mark of their Sovereign's gracious recollection of their services, and of her desire to record the same, are to send, in writing, the statement of their claim to the above-named medal or clasp, addressed to the Secretary of the Ad miralty, Whitehall, London, specifying the names of the persons, or the titles of the documents by which it can be established. Such officer, seaman, or marine, as shall have already received the naval medal for other services, shall receive, instead of a new additional medal, a clasp with the word " Egypt" engravers thereon. By command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. _ _ W. A. B. HAMILTON, THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1850 BANKRUPTS. George Woods, saddler, Pongee, to surrender, Feb. 21 and March 22, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Birchin-lane, Cornhill; Low, Chancery-lane; lord, Portsea. William PoWnall, silk manufacturer, Macclesfield, Feb. 25, at half-pelt one, and April 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee; Hud son, Sparrow, Brookfield, and Coupland, Bucklersbury. Edward Steward, corn merchant, Boughton, Norfolk, Feb. 21, at one, and March 25, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman-street; Pringle, Stevenson, and Shum, King's road, Bedford-row; Reed, Brothere, Downham-market; Walpole, Norfolk. Robert Potters Croft, Lansdowne- villa, Brompton, tavern-keeper. Feb. 7. at one, and April 8, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, of f icial assignee, Coleman-itrec t; Willis, Bucklerabury. John Baker, boot manufacturer, Cheltenham ' Feb.2o, at twelve, and March 30, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, officio' assignee, Guildhall cham bers, Basingball-street; Bromley and Aldridge, Gray's Inn; Depree, Lawrence-lane, Cheapside. James Patchidg, brewer, Ilenfield, Sussex, Feb. 21 and March 26, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore,- official assignee, Basingball street ; Pree nan and Bothamley, Coleman-street, London; Chalk, Brighton. William Woodbridge, colonial broker, Mincing-lane, Feb. 26, at one, and March 26, at eleven, at the Court t f Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch lane; Leigh, George-street, Mansion-house. Benjamin Drewry, joiner and builder, Hulme, Lan cashire, Feb. 22, and March 15, at twelve, at the Man chester District Court. Hobson, official assigne?, Manchester; Whitworth, Manchester. William Edmund Smith, shipwright, Plymouth, Feb. 23 and March 14, at eleven, at the Hall of Commerce, Plymouth. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter; Kelly, Plymouth ; Stogdon, Exeter. Robert Savory, plumber and glazier, Saint Owen, Hereford, Feb. 23, and March 25, at eleven, at the Bir mingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Gough, Hereford; Bloxham, Birmingham. John Harrington, commission agent, Manchester, Feb 22, and March 15, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ; Ashley, Newark ; Sale, Worthington, and Shipman, Manchester. John Henderson Musgrave, embroiderer, Eastcott place, Ferdinand -street, Hampstead-road, Feb. 26, and March 28, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. John son, official assignee, Basinghall street; Baylis and Drew, Red•cross-street. Robert Chattam, innkeeper, Goole, Yorkshire, March 1, and April 4, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds; Garwood, Yorkshire ; Blackburn, Leeds. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, Feb. 12.) SUGAR.—To-day there was more firmness on the part of holders of British Plantation Sugar, and the rates of Friday were supported. There was also rather more demand both for grocery and refining sorts, and the purchases amounted to 400 hhds, &c., including a public sale of 150 hhds 13 trcs Barbadoes, which went freely at full prices; indeed the better sorts realizad a small ad vance; prices ruled at 41s to 42s for fine yellow, and at 38s to 40s 6d per cwt. for other aorta. REFINED.—To day there was no variation in the value of Lump Sugar, but a fair extent of business was con cluded by home dealers. Former terms are asked for Crushed Sugar, but there are few buyers. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon three parcels of Mauri tius Sugar was submitted to public sale, amounting to 9,042 bags. There was a dull demond, and not above half Lund buyers at rather lower rates—good to fine yellow went at from 38s 6d to 40s 6d, low to mid 36s to 38s, mid to fine brown 33s to 35s 6d, low and very ord 284 to 32s 6d per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there was not much desire evinced to operate in Bengal Sugar at a public sale (1976 bags, and former rates were barely supported; while Benares went at from 39s to 41s 6d, and good to fine soft yellow at 36s 6d to 38s 6d per cwt. Madras met with little attention, and prices are looking down. FOREIGN.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, but a fair quantity is declared. There was little r aisin g by private treaty, and parcels are offered rather under the rates of Friday. A cargo of brown Pertain hue° has been sold at 19s. MoLAssEs.—ln West India the purchases made have been upon a small scale only, and holders are more dis posed to sell at from I4s 6d to 17s id per cwt for low to fine ; there is also a better supply. East India met with little attention, and can be obtained at 14s. COFFEE.-10-day little disposition was evinced to Operate in Native Ceylon for any purpose; prices have also a downward tendency, and rule at 593 to 60s for good ord. The public sales of Plantation prod eded with dulnels, and of the quantity offered, amounting to 214 casks 638 bags, a small part only sold at Is t 3 2s decline; fine to fine fine ord went at 63s to 66s 6d; in ferior and triage, 57s to 60s; mid, in small lots, 693 6d to 70s; the above was taken in above the value. Cocos.—To-day the market was more freely supplied with Trinidad Cocos. At public sale 650 bags were offered, but stiff rates being asked a small part only sold; red at from 46s to 48s, and grey 44s to 455. There was a dull tale fur Foreign, and at auction 526 bags Bahia were taken in at 35s per cwt. TLA.—Dealers are still desirous to get stocked with low and mid sorts of Green, and late rates are well sus tained; a fair amount of business t as been concluded in good andfine Tea at fully former quotations. Of Twankay ...on:ta, parcels have bin taken fur shipping. Pekce Tea met with little attention, but lower rates are not accepted. No public sale of Tea is at present declared. To-day there was more activity in the market fir common Con.ou, arid purchases cannot be tra le under 10 d per lb. 'For other sorts of Tea prices are also firmer. RlCE.—Holders of East India are not inclined to any fcrther reduction, and refrained from submitting any to public sale. The :purchases made by private treaty hare been limited by some dealers and ship pers, whilst there is no speculation going on. The value cf low white Bengal is 8s to 8s 6d, middling 9s to 9s 6d, good to fine 1011 to I is 6d, and cargo 7s 6d to 8s per cwt, but the lower sorts are yet the most difficult of sale. Imports have been of little moment since our last report, but the stock is not as large as it was at this time last year. In cleaned Rice a good tra d e has been concluded, low to fine Patna at from 12s fo 18s, broken 161 to I ls. Town dressed Ca- TO:iTaft 22s to 263, end American 19s 6cl to 203 prz cwt. There are aga in large arrival s o f P a ddy. 54"8 " -- a raame to a fair extent have been wade in Ginger by private treaty: Jamaica at from 41 to 114 East India export sort 21a to 275. For Pimento higher rates are asked, business in consequence has been much checked, and the value is from 7d to 8d per lb. Mace is held with firmness at from 2s 2d to 2s 9d, Nutmegs from 2.6 d to 3s for brown, and at 3s 2d to 4s for other sorts: past. Holders of Cloves display firmness, and few par. eels are on offer. Black Pepper met with little attention from shippers and home dealers. The value of heavy Malabar is 4id to 4id, half heavy 41d to 40, and Su matra 4d to 4id per lb. White continues to be much wanted at from 6d to 9d per lb for low to fine. SPrarrs.--Brandy continues to be purchased with caution; there is a further increase of stocks, and deli veries continue to fall off. There are sellers of Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1848 at 4s 6d to 4s 8d; 1847 ditto, 50 2d to 5s 4d; 1646 ditto, 5s 6d to 5s Bd, in ferior sorts 2s 10d to 4s 4d, and Bordeaux at 2s 8d to 2s I Od. The stock is much larger than at this time in the former ear. Only limited sales have been made in Geneva at is 9d to Is 10d, and fine at 2s 3d to 3s 3d. There is firmness in the market for British Corn S pirits ' and a good demand exists. To day there were several buyers of Leeward Island Rum at is scl proof, of plain quality, but no sellers thereat. INDIGO.-At the quarterly sales which commenced tc day there was a large amount cf buyers from the Con tinent, and a fair muster of the home trade. Before the opening and during the progress of sale 345 chests East India were withdrawn. 1022 chests (including 251 withdrawn) have passed the sale. There has been a fair demand throughout the day for all the qualities of Bengal, especially for the middling and good middling descriptions, ordinary and low sorts, however, did not go off with so much spirit. Of fine shipping only one small mark passed the hammer, and sold at moderate rates, as compared with the other sorts. The demand for Ma dr as and Kurpahs was not brisk, and prices very even. FRUIT.--Currants have b: en purchased with caution, yet holders are willing to accept lower rates. Raisins met with more demand; old Valencia at 431, and new at 48s. In Muscatels operations are upon rather a larger scale. TALLOW.—Prices have further declined for Russian on the spot. The value of fine P.Y.C. is 37s 3d to 37s 9d per cwt, and there are free sellers. For delivery in last three months of the year few buyers are to be met with, and 38s 6d to 39s is the ♦alue, there are reduced rates. Home melted is 36s 6d to 37s per cwt nett cash. Others sorts of Tallow have further declined in value. At auction 390 casks of Sydney were mostly sold, at from 35s to 37s for mid to fine, and low at 32s 6d to 34s 9d; 1,100 packages South American ord to fine 33s 3d to 375; 239 casks St. Petersburgl, 35s 6d to :365; and 150 casks P.Y.C. stranded, 34s 6d to 36s per cwt. OlLS.—There has been an improved demand for Sperm Oil, still no advance in the value is apparent. At auction 55 tuns were sold at 821 to 821 10s for fine, and Headmatter at 851 10s to 851 15s. Southern met with little attention, and previous terms are barely sustained. At auction 40 tuns were sold at 321 to 331 15s for mid to fine. Cod is held fur 301 lOs to 314 but not many buyers are to be met with. Seal, pale at 381 to 39/, straw and tinged 341 to 37/, yellow and brown 301 to 33/ 10e. Linseed Oil 31s 6d to 325, and for delivery little business has been done. Palm 3ls 6d to 32e for fine. Cocoa Nut 33s to 355. Olive 481 to 521 per tun. The amount of business concluded in Rapeseed Oil has been to a fair extent; pale at 41s 6d to 425, brown 41s, and Foreign refined 43s to 44s per cwt. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'clock. COUNTY CESS (IRELAND) BILL. Lord MONTEAGLE moved the second reading o the County COM (Ireland) Bill, which was agreed to. PE riTIONS. The Earl of RODEN presented two petitions from parishes in the county of Somerset, praying for a repeal of the Sale of Beer Act. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Lord STANLEY presented petitions from the Cape Colony against the transportation of convicts to that colony. He hoped the Noble Earl, after what had passed, would not hesitate to give an assurance that there would be no further attempts made to transport convicts to the Cape. Earl GREY had no hesitation in giving the assurance required. The order of council was never intended to Le acted on as regards convicts generally, but merely as regarded the unfortunate persons convicted of offences committed in consequence of the famine in Ireland. Lord BROUGHAM said that a more unjustifiable course of conduct had never been pursued than had been pursued by the Cape colonists in regard to the unfortu nate convicts transported there. It was one of the cruelest things he,everiheard of on the part of the people of the Cape to keep these unfortunate persons on board ship for three months. Lord STANLEY would not attempt to justify the course the Cape colonists bad pursued, but he must ad mit they had received great provocation. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH complained that the convict ships had not been properly provisioned. Earl GREY explained that Si. voyage had been nearly three times the usual length. and, consequently, the supply of provisions had run short. SIMPLIFYING ACTS OF PARLIAMENT. Lord BROUGHAM had for years past endeavoured, with more or less, ,or he ought rather to say with less success to introduce an improvement in the manufacture t. f Acta of Parliament. He now would endeavour to introduce the smallest possible improvement. His mea sure would do away with the necessity of introducing the last clause that the Act be altered by the then session cf Parliament by enacting that all Acts might bo altered or repealed during the session in which they were passed. He also proposed to do away with the necessity of re peating the words "be it further enacted" at the com mencement of every clause, and to introduce a more simple method of quoting former Acts. The Noble Lord then laid the Bill on the table, and it was read a first time. DOLLY'S BRAE. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE asked the Noble Lord what were the papers relating to the Dolly's Brae affair fur which he intended to move on Monday? Lord STANLEY intended to move for certain corre spondence which bad taken place between the Govern ment and the magistrates of Armagh in 1846, for the instructions given to the stipendiary magistrates and con stabulary in July lastjur the reports received from them, fir the instructions issued to Berwick, and the evidence taken by him, and likewise for certain affidavits. He would furnish the Noble Marquis with a list of the papers fir which ho intended to move. After a few words from the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH and Lord AIoNTKAGLE, their Lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair a few momenta before Four o'cleck. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. GRENVILLE BERKELEY presented a petition from the board c.f guardians of the Cheltenham Union, praying fir the establishment t.f county financial boards. NORTH KENT RAILWAY. Mr. RICE presented petitions from the inhabitants of Faversham, Deal, Cheltenham, Stroud, and other p!aceP, praying that the standing orders in the case of the North Kent Railway may be dispensed with. Mr. DEEDES presented similar petitions from the inhabitants of Sheerness, and the Town-Council (.1 Ro chester. PRIVATE BILLS. The following private Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed : Architects, Civil Engineers, Builders, and General Fire and Lite Insurance Annuity and Reversionary Inte rest Company (Incorporation of the Company under a different name). Birk( nhead Dock Trustees. Edinburgh Slaughter Houses Removal. Elgin Guildry Fund Society Incorporation. Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway. Guardian Fire and Lite Assurance Company. Leeds and Halifax Turnpike Road (Continuation of Term as to certain Parts of the Road). Londonderry and Coleraine Railway. Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway. Montrose Harbour. Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Carlisle Railway. Norwich Wtverworke. Rt ading Cattle Market. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. South Devon Railway. South Wales Railway (No. 1). South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole Railway (Amend. ment of Acts, Deviation to Worsborougb, &c.) Waterford and Limerick Railway. West Bromwich Rates. York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway (Arrangements as to Payment for the Purchase of the GreatlNorth of England Railway. &c.) LEICESTER AND HITCHEN RAILWAY BILL. On the motion of Mr. LABOUCHERE, the second reading of this Bill was postponed for a few days. YORK. NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK RAIL WAY (FOR PURCHASE OF THE GREAT NORTII OF ENGLAND RAILWAY) BILL. On the motion being put for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. FREWEN objected to the second rtading, on the ground that the Bill would promote the interests of no party connected with either of the properties, and sta.ed his determination to oppose it in all its stages if the parties to it persevered. After a few brit f observations from other Members the gallery was cleared, but the amendment was subse quently withdrawn without a division. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Petitions in favour of the establishment of county financial boards from various parts of the county of Lan caster, were presentel by Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Duncuft. Mr. FREWEN presented a similar petition from the county of Sussex. Mr. SCOTT presented a ptftion from New South Wales against the renewal of transportation to that colony. SUNDAY LABOUR. Mr. SCOTT and Sir R. H. lziGus presented petitions against Sunday labour in the Post-uffice. Simillar petitions were presented by Mr. Elliot, Mr. Lascelles, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Henley, Mr. Moody, an d Lord Brooke. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. COWPER and Captain BZRKELZT presented Peti tions, praying for the establishment of county financial boards. . . _ Mr. MILNER GIBSON prevented •u n ion, from th 9 board cl' guardians of tho C'norky priving fur the establishment of county financial boards. NEWSPAPER STAMP TAX. Mr. MILNER GIBSON also presented a petition from Coventry, praying for the removal of the taxes on know ledge; also a petition from the letter-press printers in Cambridge, and one from the Typographical Society in that town, praying for the repeal of the stamp on newspapers. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. BROWN presented a petition from the Bolton Union, praying for the establishment of county financial boards. SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE. Mr. BAILLIE presented a petition from Inverness shire, praying for the cessation cf Sunday labour in the Post-office. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. MONSELL presented a petition from the board of guardians of Newcastle-upon-Tyne praying for the establishment of county financial boards. THE COLONIES Mr. BUTT presented several petitions from the co lonies praying for a redress of various grievances. POST-OFFICE. Mr. FOX MAULE presented several petitions from Scotland against the employment of officials i❑ the Go vernment offices on Sundays. BUOYS AND LIGHTS ON THE LANCASHIRE COAST. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the megistra'es and other officials of St. Nicholas, in Lancashire, com plaining that the buoys at,cl lights on the station had been removed. They had in vain applied to the Admi ralty and the Trinity Board, and their only resource now was to apply to that House ; and he gave notice that he should, at a future period, call the attention of the House to the case of the petitioner•, SUNDAY LABOUR. Mr. HUME also presented a petition from Montrose, against the employment_ef any labour on Sundays. EDUCATION. Mr. W. J.! FOX gave notice that on an an early day he should move that the House go into Committee to consider the state of education in this country. AUSTRALIA—STEAM ;COMMUNICATION. Mr. SCOTT gave notice that he should ask a question with respect to steam communication with Australia on Friday evening next, and also with respect to a state ment in the report of the Council on the Crown lands in that colony. ALLIED AND DEPENDENT PRINCES OF INDIA. Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE postponed his mo tion for a Select Committee to inquire into the right of succession of the allied and dependent Princes of India till this day fortnight. FINANCIAL REFORM. Mr. DRYMMOND gave notice that on an early day be would bring forward a motion respecting the reduc tion of the expenditure of Government. SLAVERY. Mr. HUTT said it was not his intention to bring for ward on Thursday next his motion on the subject o slavery, but it was certainly his intention to bring for. ward the subject on a future occasion. WINDOW TAX. Lord DUNCAN said on this day fortnight he would iiik fur leave to bring in a Bill for the abolition of the window tax. COUNTY COURTS. Mr. FITZROY gave notice that on an early day ho should propose that the jurisdiction of county courts should be extended. IRISH UNIONS. Sir ROBERT FERGUSON moved for a return of the liabilities of each union in Ireland, on the 31st day of December, 1849, distinguishing-1. Liabilities duo to contractors, officers, or treasurer of each union, or the amount to the credit of tke union with the treasurer, after deducting such liabilities. 2. The amount due to the Exchequer for building the workhouses, distin• guishing the instalments then due and unpaid, and those afterwards to fall due. 3. The amount due to in dividuals or the treasurer of each union for advances for additions to any workhouse or fever hospital, dis tinguishing the instalments then due, and those after. wards to fall due.. 4. The amount due by each union and by each electoral division therein, for advances by the Relief Commissioners, which were then unpaid. 5. The amount then due of the rate in aid ordered to be raised off such union or any electoral division therein. 6. The total of all such liabilities. 7. The net annual value of each union on that day.—Agreed t 3. Mr. SADLEIR, in the absence of Colonel Dunne, moved for a return showing the financial state of each union in Ireland where paid guardians were appointed, at the time of their appointmet,t, comparing it with the finan cial state of the same unions when they were removed: and copies of all reports and resolutions made by boards of guardians, either entered on their minutes or trans mitted to the Poor•law Commissioners, in those unions where paid guardians have acted, relating to the manage ment cf those Unions while under the superintendence of paid guardians. THE FACTORY ACT. Lord ASHLEY, seeing the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, he wished to ask him whether his attention bad been directed to the decision of the Court of Exchequer on the subject of the Factory Act, and whether it was the intention of Government to introduce any Bill to amend the defect which that Act seemed to contain. Sir G. GREY said, just before he came down to the House, the short-hand writer's notes of the judgment of the Court of Exchequer on the case referred to by the Noble Lord were placed in his hands, an d he had, therefore, had no oppor tun ity of yet be:loming fully informed of the general nature of the decision. Personally, however, he was aware of the result which the Court of Exchequer had came to. Last session he was prepared to introduce a Bill to regulate the construction of the Act, which be thought would have placed the matter on a just and equi table footing, but it was withdrawn in deference to the wishes of those who were int , Tested in the ques tions, and who were anxious to know what construction a court of law would place upon the Act before any legislation took place on the subject. That decision had now been obtained, but until he bad informed himself f the grounds upon which it had been arrived at, he could not state wlif c w o e p re y t i h i e o i L nt D en s. tions of Government. _ _ Mr. AGLIONBY wishecfto ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Majesty's Government would introduce a measure for the compul sory enfranchisement of copyholds. Sir G. GREY gave the same answer that he did last session, namely, that Government did not intend to introduce any such Bill. Ame asure, however, had been introduced into the other House, to amend the law re. letting to heriots and steward fees. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice then that he should introduce a Bill for the compulsory enfranchisement of copyholds. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Sir J. PAKINGTON wished to put a question to the Honourable Member for Manchester on the subject of the County Rates Bill, of which he had charge. The country patty took a great interest in the measure, seeing that it went to revolutionise the entire county system, and he wished to abk the Hon. Member to postpone the second reading till they had had an opportunity of examining its provisions. Mr. MILNER GIBSON said he could not look upon the Bill as any novelty. If he was called on to-morrow he should hardly feel at liberty not to avail himself of the opportunity at least of commencing it. He should think it his duty to introduce it to the House, if called on at a reasonable hour. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT BILL. Mr. SCOTT asked whether it was the intention °lithe Government to postpone the se con d read i ng of this 'Bill till Friday? He had also to ask her Majesty's Govern ment whether there was any objection to lay upon the table ef the House of Commons copies of all papers and correspondence relative to the Australian Colonies Go vernment Bill since the 31st of July, 1847, including petitions and memorials on the subject? Lord J. RUSSELL said, in reply to the Hon. Member, he had to say it was not his (Lord J. Russell's) intention the second reading until Friday. The papers that had lately been received from the Australian colonies would be laid upon the table of the House shortly. Mr. SCOTT asked her Majesty's Government, whether any and what reduction has been made, since February, 1849, in the offioial establishment of the Emi gration depot at Deptford, or in the establishment of tt e Emigration agents for the port of London; also, whether the bedding, the requisites for cooking, and other articles for emigrants are still provided by private contract with the Emigration Commissioners, or whether they are supplied by public tender. Mr. HAWES—There had been no reduction at the der Ot at Deptford. Mr. SCOTT asked her Majesty's Government whe ther any report or information has been received from New South Wales, relative to the treatment of emigrants on board the ship Victoria, more particularly as to the issue of previsions; and if there will be any objection to produce the copies of any documents relating thereto. Mr. HAWES said that they had received no definite intelligence, but that a great part of the information de sired had been previously given, but that the whole of the papers should be given as soon as they reached the Government. THE TIMBER DUTIES. Lord JOCELYN seeing the President of the Board of Trade in his place, wished to ask whether it Ras the intention of the Government to introduce during the present session any measure for the regulation of the timber duties, which pressed so heavily on the ship-builders. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he hoped the Noble Lord would not accuse him of discourtesy, if he declined to answer the question, and followed the usual custom of of et frainining from giving any information upon this or any similar subject until after the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made his annual statement to the House. SUPERVISION OF COAL MINES. Mr. WYLD wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department whether he meant to proceed aey further this session with the measure which he had proposed last session for the supervision of; and the prevention of accidents in, coal mines. Sir G. GREY said :that in consequence of what he bad stated last session, he had sent two gentlemen out to make a survey of the several coal miner, and that he had not yet receivtd their report, but as soon as he did so he would I;,y a Bill on the table of the House with a view to prevent as much as possible the recurrence of those calamities. _ _ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL would postpone the Committee until Friday, on the Hon. Member's request, TRANSPORTATION AND EMIGRATION. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to ask the Under-Secretary ,or the Colonies a question, whether on the simulta neous arrival of a transport and a free emigrant ship at Botany Bay, the Convicts who, during their passage had behaved remarkably well, were all engaged before ,m,zrant=. Air. HA WES b e li e ; A I a t tht;' report ri - hich had reached the Hon. Baronet W 45 quite correct. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. In answer to a question from Mr. MONSELL, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it was his intention to make a statement with respect to the distress in Ireland. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that on to-morrow, being Ash Wednesday, the Houee should nit at two o'clock. COLONIAL AFFAIRS. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH rose to move for some papers connected with colonial affairs. He had given notice to the effect that the colonies should have self governments and perfect control of their own affairs, but the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) bad wisely and properly taken the subject into his own hands. As a debate had ensued at considerable length, in the course of which he bad had an opportunity of stating his views and opinions in detail, he would not trespass at any length on the attention of the House on the present occasion, and would simply propose the resolution of which he bad given notice. Nothing he:thought could be more liberal than the principles a co • lonial policy as laid down by the Noble Lord; but he was sorry be did not intend to apply them to that extend which, in his (Sir William Moles worth's) opinion, was ne cessary for the complete and permanent contentment of the colonies. He regretted to find that with re gard to Australia, the Noble Lord only intended to proceed with the Bill of last year, which he thought would require great alterati-m IN fore it passed the House. and he should take the earliest opportunity of proposing several amendments in the details when it came before committee. He thought this colony ought to have full power to alter or amend its local institutions, and that it ought also to have an elec tive chamber and an elective governmeut. :The Bill as proposed would give too much patronage in the appoint ment of colonial officers, a grievance which at the present time was the cause of so much discontent. He ob jected also to the prophsal to maintain the present arbitrary owers of the Colonial-office over the acts and proceedings of the Colonial Legislature. Having simply stated some of his objections to this measure, he would not trespass further on the House, and would conclude by moving for certain returns con nected with the colonies. The motion for the returns, the nature of which we did not catch, was then pnt in from the Chair, and agreed to. STRIKING JURIES IN IRELAND. Mr. SADLEIR, in rising to move for a Select Com mittee, to inquire int) the facts connected with the striking of the special jury, in the case of " Callanan against Cameron," said he brought forward without referhoce to any party or sect, either in or out of the House, and declared his anxiety to see equal justice dealt out to the Protestant as well as the Catholic (LEFT SPEAKING.) COURSE OF EXCH. Amsterdam 12 23( Ditto, at sight ...... 12 1% Atcrdam •• .• 12 3 ♦ntwerp •••••••• •• • • • • 25 70 Hamburgh .... • • M.B . 13 '13% Paris, 3 days'sight .... 25 50 Dittos, 3 months .... 25 70 Marseilles ............ 25 70 Bourdeaux ... . 25 70 Frankfort on Maine.... 122 Petersburgh, Sil. Rble.. 3734 Vienna, effec. f 10.... .• 11 36 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 11 36 Madrid .• •• .• 49N Cadiz •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 49% Bilbao.. •• •• •• « •• •• • • Barcelona •• •• • • • • • • • • •• •• •• •• •..• . kNGE.-(THIS DAY.) Gibraltar •••••••••••••• Leghorn •• •• •• •• •• .• •• 30 65 Geioa•••••••••••••••• 26 95 linen ................ Venice.•.••••••••••••• _. .. Naples .. ............ 40% Palermo, per0z........ 1213 i Messina •••••••••• •• •• 122 Ltsbon• •••.•••• • • • • . . • 152% Oporto —••••••• • • • •• •• 53% Rio Janeiro ........ • • Buenos Ayres .. ••.. • • New York, 21 days'sight Philadelphia .......... ?MM. or II7LLION, Pl 2 01. Foreign Gold inbars.. £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars ...... 0 4 10% Silver's bars ........ 0 4 1146 MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, FEB. 9, lsso. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... *152 Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... 44 Tubercular Diseases ... 170 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 125 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 3 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration ... .., Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion.. ••• ... ... Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. •• . ... Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, 8 , c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. ... ... ••• Malformations... ... ... ... ... Premature Birth ... , ~, •• ... Atrophy ... ... ... ... ... Old Age ... ... ... ... ... Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance Causes not spevified ... 66 ... 22 ... 56 ... 45 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Enumerated, 1841. West Districts... 301,189 North Districts.. 376,568 Central Districts 374,199 East Districts ... 393,067 South Districts .. 503,346 Totals... ..... 1,948,369 Males; ... ... Females ... ... Deaths in cone- Deaths eponding week in the of 1849. Week. . 181 ... 137 . 253 ... 175 191 ... 175 . 256 ... 188 • 315 ... 282 ... 1,196 ... 957 ... 477 ... 480 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females ... 785 ... 712 Total ... 1,497 *ln this number are included 11 by Scarlatina, 2 by Typhus Fever, and 20 by Diarrhcea. MR. DENISON, M.P., AND FREE TRADE. At a very numerous meeting of landed proprietors and tenant farmers, held at Doncast©r on Saturday, Mr. Denison, M.P., offered some explanation cf his conduct with respect to the part which he has taken on the sub ject of protection and free trade. The chair was taken by Sir Win. Bryan Cooke, Bart., and a resolution hav ing been carried in support of a return to protection, Mr. DENISON said, if he bad lowered himself in their esteem by the vote he gave last week, he could only say that he had no honest alternative, and he would tell them why. He alluded to the amendment proposed by Sir J. Trollope, against which Lord J. Russell and Sir C. Wood spoke, and declared that Minist ers wou ld no t com ply. Now, every man in the House ought to consider the re sult of a vote he was about to give. Aud the position in which he stood was this—that if, by his vote, he should turn a Government out, w h o was t o f o ll ow ? He had no wish to turn out the present Govern raent.—(Hisser.) Who was to succeed them 1 — (Cries of " Lord Stanley," and " Hear, hear.") Well, he bad no objection to Lord Stanley, be cause he believed him to be a wonderfully honest man; but perhaps not alway s th e moat j u di c i ous . B at sup posing Lord Stanley were sent fur, _unless he was prepared to go back to p ro t ec ti on , an d d o aw ay with free trade, why should he be put in the place of Lord John Russell ? And how would he be able to get up a Government in favour of protec tion? Would he get one of Sir Robert Peel's party to go with him? In the first place he did not believe they would be asked; and, if asked, he did not believe they would go. And, in the last alternative, an'appeal to the country, could they then for m a p ro t ec ti on ' Government? —(Yea.) He knew something of the House of Commonr, and he could say that the Protectionists NO not a single man, with the exception of Mr. Holism, who bad ever held office in his life.—(A voice, " They will be all the honester.") Honest or not, if a man had not been in office before, he was not the fittest man to form a part of the Government. He was firmly persuaded that Lord Stanley, with a Protec tion party, could no t f orm a Government which would stand a fortnight. A n d if so, would they like the Queen to send for Mr. Cubden ?—(No, no.) Well, he was sure they would not wish for Sir R. Poet.—(No.) He would be frank with them, and say that he was sere that even he could not forma Government. Well, then, if neither Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, nor Mr. Cobden could form a Government, they must be content with the present one. And this being his i mpression, he voted against the amendment, considering that it ii as his duty to his Sovereign and to his constituents that he should do so. Some resolutions having been carried, it was agreed that . petitions be got up and presented to both Houses, praying fur a moderato duty, or the exemption of the land and its produce from all taxes whatever, as the only means of arresting the evils at present complained of. DEFALCATIONS IN THE lita.l. SAYINGS' BANK. Sines our last, a further examination of the state of this institution has taken place, the result sh ow i ng a total deficiency of 3,620/. 12s. 7d. It i s believed that no greater deficiencY can be found to exist. The par ticulars of which it is composed have been found out to the extent of 2,5801. The whole of the books have been examined as far back as 18. is in ,a minute examination from 1824 to that per io d in progress. The bond of the late actuary, which w as supposed to cover 2,000/., is found to be worth only 4001., which is the amount of fraud perpetrated since its execution, Jan. l, 1845:—T0 meet the de6cieney of 3,620/. 12s. 7d., the bank has a surplus fund of 3 ,4501.; a guarantee for the return of the balance of the late actuary's salary, 130/4 and the bond, value 4001; making together 3,9804, so that th ere is a surplus of 360/. over and above the sum requisite to pay all the de positors 20s. in the pound, and excl us i ve of the value of the premises, 1. luch belong to th e b an k ; there is a further probability that . out of 100,0004 to 400 , 0001 ,, deposited in twenty - s i t years, th ere are many sums depos ited by parties who have died without leaving representatives, which will never be called for at all. On T ues d ay l ast, from 4,0001. to 5,000/. was withdrawn by parti es w h o had given no tice a fortnight previously; but from 1, 000 1 . to 1, 5001 ., for which notice had been given, was not called for, Mai ie regardei as an indi ca ti on o f the decline of the panic caused by recent disclosures, and as a proof of returning confidence, several handsome deposits came in.—Leeds Mercury. VICTORIA DOCKS (orrosiTE WOOLWICH).—YeS terday the sta n di ng orders were declared to be complied with by the p romoters of this measure for the construc tion of a dock on the north side of the Thames, the in corporated subscribers being Messrs. E. L. Betts, S. Li!)lditch, T. Ilsyne, R. W. Kennard, R. Till, J. J. Cum mins, and T. W. Herby. Proposed capital, 400,000/. in 20,000 shares of 201. each; power to borrow 133,000/. Messrs. Peto,. M.P.; E. C. Mangles, Kennard, Till, and Cummins, to be the first directorf. Land to to taken not to exceed 200 acres. The rAtes not to exceed those paid in the pert of London. It is undrtAlcd that the Admiralty have directed a survey to be made. THE POISONING CASE AT HACKNEY. Yesterday Mr. William Baker, the coroner, re sumed for the fourth time, at the Fountain Tavern, Upper Clapton, the investigation touching the death of James Merritt, which took place early in the morning of the 25th ult., from the effects of arsenic, supposed to have been wilfully administered in gruel by his wife. The additional evidence adduced at the present in quiry was merely a repetition of that which took place at Worship-street, on Saturday. The CORONER having read over the evidence, the jury, after half-an-hour's deliberation, returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased, James Mer ritt, died from the deleterious effects of a mortal poison, called white arsenic, found in his stomach, but when, by whom, or in what manner the same has been administered to and taken and imbibed into the stomach, there is no satisfactory evidence to prove." The foreman of tie jury then handed in the follow ing recommendation, signed by thirteen of the jury : " The jury, before they separate, wish to record their opinion regarding burial-clubs, as they are at present constituted ; they view them with fear, inas much as they seem to hold out a premium fir the frightful crime of secret murder, through the facility with which the funeral money is obtained, several cases having recently come to light the facts of which are startling, and on which their fears are founded, besides the many they may presume to have escaped discovery. The jury, in thus noticing the evil tendency of these burial societies, from which is obtainable a sum of money upon the death of a mem ber, are desirous that they should be differently con stituted, either by.the act of their governors, or that some legislative measure be made to control or guide them." The CORONER stated that he had just received in formation that the son of the deceased, a boy eight years of age, had died that afternoon, and he should consider whether it would be necessary to hold an inquest on the body. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 11. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'clock. The County Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a first time. The Earl of STRADBROICE presented a petition in favour of the equalization of local taxation. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the second reading of this Bill. Having introduced it without making any observations, he would now very briefly state to their Lordships its nature and scope. Its ob ject was to amend the existing Act relating to the Ec clesiastical Commission, and to peovide for th e mor e efficient discharge of, the duties imposed by that Com mission. It was not necessary for him to detail circum stances with which they were all well acquainted. It was only requisite to state, that in the year 1835, in consequence of observations made in and out of Parlia ment, and inquiries by the Government as to the amount of distribution of the Church revenues, it was proposed to establish a Commission to inquire how those revenues could be more satisfactorily distributed with benefit to the Church. In the following year that Commission made a very valuable report to Parliament, and in 1836, is order to give effect to the recommendations of that report, a Commission of 13 members was established, consisting of the heads of the Church as well as of the State. This Commission proceeded to carry into exe cution the recommendations of the former Commission, and to devise schemes for that purpose, which having obtained the sanction of the Privy Council, were forthwith to take effect. A great many of these schemes were very beneficially carriel out, but in 1840 changes were made in the constitution of the Commission which, notwithstanding the best inten tions on the part of those who made them, had not im proved its aptitude for the business committed, but, on the contrary, had materially detracted from its utility. The Commission was enlarged from 13 to no less than 49 members, including the whole bench of Bishops —many of them being persons who could not possibly attend from day to day, constantly watching the business, while others might come in at any time, and knowing nothing of what had been previously done, throw the whole into confusion. He thought it would be admitted that such a Commission was unfit to deal with the nu merous delicate, important, and complicated interests submitted to it. Besides which, there were various subordinate regulations, such as requiring the chairman for the time being to vacate the chair whenever his supe rior in rank entered the room, all of which were mani festly calculated to impair the efficiency of a Commission which had to deal with such complicated and important interests. There was now 16,0004 a-year under its control, arising from the common Episcopal Fund, besides the revenues from various other sources, amounting at present to no less than 130,000 L a-year, and which, within a short time, would amount to the large sum of 300,0001., derived from all manner of sources—from leases on lives, leases on years, and from leases on renewal by fines. It was evident that such complicated and extensive transactions must require the closest attention, and that a Commission so en larged and so constituted had not proved equal to the effective superintendence which such matters required, and that a change ought to be made, with the concurrence of the Government, of Parliament, and the Right Rev. Bench of Bishops. A state of things had arisen which rendered such a change imperative ; and he therefore had now briefly to state the provisions of the Bill by which it was intended to amend and alter tho present law. In order to secure the constant attendance arid attention which were required by largo pecuniary matters, it was proposed to appoint three Commissioners for the management cf estates, to be named the Estates Commission. The report of the Committee of the Reuse of Commons, which sat last year, recommended that there should be three paid Commissioners appointed; but, after reflecting upon the subject, it bad not been deemed necessary by the Government that there should be three paid Commissioners. It was thought quite sufficient that two of them should receive a salary, and that it would be possible to get a third Commissioner, competent for the duties of the position, who would act without being paid. The Bill provided for three Commissioners, one of whom 'was to be paid by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the other by the Crown, and to receive 1,2001. and 1,0001. a year respectively.—(Rear.) The Bill further provided, in order to secure continuous attention to business, that at least two of these Commissioners should be present at all important business arrangements adopted by the Commission. It also appeared 'absolutely necessary that the offices of treasurer and secretary should not be held by the same person.—(Hear, hear.) It was, there fore, proposed that the duties of treasurer should be discharged by two of the Commission, and that the secretary should be an officer appointed by the Commis sion; the Bill further provided for the abolition of the division now existing betty( en the episcopal and common fund, and that henceforth all funds arising from the various sources under the management and control of the Commission should be devoted to the general ob jects for which it was established. Another provision was, that the Bishops might, if they thought proper, commute their present fluctuating incomes, into fixed means, with a maximum translation as applied to the Bishops of Chichester, Exeter, and several others. After the discussions e hick had taken place on the sub ject, and the general attention it had excited, he did not consider it necessary to detain their Lordships longer, but having thus briefly explained the leading provisions of the Bill, he would conclude by moving that it be now mid a second time. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY said, he rose with very great satisfaction, to express his concurrence in the opinion that it was desirable to alter and amend the constitution of the Ecclesiastical :Commission, and indeed he should have been glad to have made the al teration some time ago, by which the business would have been assigned to paid and responsible officers, had he not been deterred by the consideration, that every thousand pounds taken from the common funds of the Commission would abstract these funds from the objects for which they were appointed. Another reason for his now concurring in the propriety of making this change, was the great and increasing business of the Commission, and the many intricate affairs which demanded atten tion, and which were likely in future to increase still further. These facts renderedjt necessary that there should now be responsible officers, capable of conducting the business satisfactorily to the Commission and to the public. While, however, be cordially concurred in the propriety tf the proposed changes, he must protest against the charges which had been made against the Commission as a whole, and the manner in which it had heretofore con ducted the business. He could not concur in these charges without doing a grievous injustice to many Right Reverend, Right Honourable, and Noble Friends, who had given their time and ability to promote the ob jects of the Commission at a great sacrifice to them selves. Much bad been said about the junction of the offices of treasurer and secretary, but that was not the work of the Commission; it was an act of the Imperial Legislature, and he confessed not a very discreet one, inasmuch as it had ultimately led to the secretary going off, leaving a deficiency in his accounts of about 6,000 L This certainly showed very defective business arrange ments; but, at the same time, be felt bound to say of the secretary, that ap to the last six months of his service, he had been a faithful, discreet, and zealous officer. He had, it appeared, entered into large speculations which he believed would enrich him, and i n order to meet the calls upon him he used the money in his hands, believing at the time he should be able to replace it. He was placed under circumstances of difficulty and temptation, and he sunk under them. There was an other allegation against the Commission to which he felt it necessary to allude, namely, the charge that a large and disproportionate portion of the funds had been expended by the Commission on the repair, en largement, and furnishing of episcopal residences. There were very exaggerated statements abroad on that sub ject. For ins, ance, it was said, that after building a new palace fur the Bishop of Ripon, it had afterwards been furnished for him, at a cost of between 8,000/. and 9,0001. This was a gross exaggeration, because the Commission bad also repaired and enlarged the diocesan residences of Worcester, Bristol, and Oxford, and the whole ex penditure (as we understood) only amounted to about 9,0001.; whereas, it had been stated to be five times that amoubt. He could only account for this mistake by supposing, that as property had been charged in various tarts of the country, to the great disadvantage of the Church, the parties making these charges had included these transactions with the building and repairing of episcopal residences. He regretted very much that such statements had gone forth, because they had s tend-mc) to alienate the clergy horn their superiors in rank, and to produce a feeling of discontent and —....-- dissatisfaction, which was neither warranted !?7_ the facts of the case, nor conducive to o the ° welfare of the Church. These alle gat i on s as t partial distribution of the fund, he had no hesitation ir! saying, were altogether unfounded. But he hare ° their effect had, in many instances —looking at the mom' in which the clergy were scattered , a nd the difficn . 1 . they had in procuring correct information on such 0;_ 11 , ters —induced them to think ill of the verymen wbo I ,'A u e been exerting their abi li ties and employing &heir to" to promote the comfort cf the inferior clergy. Il e c°h r ; c ath u ne r d r e ed in the proposal to abolish the slistinction betwee might e s p e r o tor p vo s ee l te a effd n e d ett c hu o aa m tl m tfho o re n tfchueon Commission that m ise i ohade thushit h e ;teen B elled it had to perform. The Eerl of HARROWB g Y rea e t x whether . the change proposed would effect the object s 1 b vi e ew. He was decidedly of opinion that there ought tot a considerable increase in the number of bishops. 1 / 1 h was required by the increase of the population. T hctig r ere and there an active man, by the aid cf them ile's% tossedpand ia imp P s o r t : e e t Rork d n doubt might continue to exercise an effectual control overd the large dioceses into which the country ryes d e ', O , : e a; in the majority of instances impossible to & bile dealing thought that this ought to be kept in Tie r/ w r s e e aingwith the funds under the managen3ent e ., rioe Commission. He would suggest that , the Coorthl . re . e sh om ould Lave the power, from time to time, tom k e ' P R Ii. mendation in respect to the appointment el °' tional bishops. The Bishop of LONDON earnestly recorn m ended v,irtie. the Government the suggestions of the Noble Ea rl. the Wine" London, fur tea , it r , was more than he could do to attend tot h Yth'e iot!s . duties of his o ffi ce. He was not satisfied Ba a der i t ? h o e sitl9 in which the archbishop and bishops sver°.°„o. By the arrangement proposed it was ger is . Bible B i ll . that he should ever be in the chair of the ° °62 o . lion, and it seemed to him that the Archbishop's 0 esinee would be a mere cy pher. 'n the Lord STANLEY, whle h agreed generallY i n d, principles of the Bill, begged to repeat the recomeie°,e; ion of the Rigkt Rev. Prelate who last addressed tl'.vir Lordships, that the Government would take it o t . u e e n d serious consideration the suggestions of his Noble FrLi. the Noble Earl near him. It was quite clear that con dering the great increase in the population, th e s o ple tional attention paid to the spiritual waists of the P e f t he o --(Hear)—and the great increase in the number o r .... bleerrgcP it was wholly impossible that the present a' f the bishops could be equal to the requirements ° etbs Church, even at that day • and when the increase ° . _. population was taken into : econletratthioent, and the obhPe tions of the Church with increase, 01; twenty years hence, there co u ld ar be ° no doubt bull ,shat would be most desirable that they should do easing see that would prevent them hereafter from increAs'llebreed number of bishops, if such a course would be n t eer,- desirable. But if they joined, as the Goverun,: eis• posed to do under the 12th clause of this Bill , tu" t hen copal and the common fund, and make than °n e t t , of they would deprive themselves of the teeeort°lll ere adopting the suggestion cf his Noble Friend, sad :, no vent hereafter any increase in the number of bishleir, matter how desirable such a course might VI f e ed, amounting hear.) He also thought that adding the ePisc D oe 136 ounting to 16,0001., to the COII3IIIOII fend , o duce ,000 e., and likely soon to be 300,0001., o ld Pr • w . • i o n be circumstances that were calculated to caste a lYis 00 01 tween the higher and the lower clergy, W hich 11°D f iv operate otherwise than prejudicial to the interests, ?, Dill lig(Hear, hear.) He trusted that before th e 00 into into Committee they would take these geggeosuse i fro o m eo th n e sideration, and separate this objectionsble other provisions of the Bill.—( 11e01%) reed no The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said b e ce- ad o hold out any hope to the Noble Lord that the sogg a tion which he had made in respect to the non-ainslir of the h funds would be adopted by the Gave:omn" The Bill was then read a second time THE BEER . nee the meat Earl of HARROWBY BILL moved the re 4 F7 the s of the Select Com m itt ee on the ope ration Aet 0 for the sale of beer.—A g reed to. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 11 ' AFFAIRS OF CEYLON• ittee ea Mr. HAWES moved for a Select Cotil ir rn a i r os . ceit Ceylon : Mr. Bailliv, Mr. Hume Sir Josbo e ;', e - ae, ir t Sir Robert Peel, Sir James Hogg, Mr. Gke' l i - c lecl e i; Charles Villiers, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Ilawes 111 ,,., 1r ;e - s to . Mr. Wilson, Mr. Stuart Wortley, Lord ee mit t M'Cullagb, and Major Blackall. Colo •ce Mr. HUME begged to state, before the hut itet i , was appointed, that he could not expect t'' Wi r b t e ; would be done in this most important Otte s " l3. of ttt the Noble ,Lord rejected the recominendeti°eceilee, out to nor Commit(ise that a commission should go ° t he °Prise there to examine into the affair he took tad '" tunity of stating that when bad Pr eien - Ol t petition it was the wish of the petitioner's° 0 0 e . full and fair inquiry should be instituted• ertioll sidered the Committee the second best thing , c id heeb/ ; but still he did not expect that full just ice eoe vo tbe es tainei. He had suggested that Lord Torringtoof e tise r e to interested in the inquiry should have leo e : iote h r ': g to return home, in order that they mig ht n-t rY -111 to prevent any witnesses that were recesees 00. sent here.—(fear, bear.) H e knew t hi/ persons bad been intimidated fre ej eod 1° evidence fairly and freely by the 'public ° ce c rs co ° ' it • te t i. these reasons he did not expect . that tms reeelh° of the be e b(e could fairly inquire into this grounds Hto e Apir h ro. a v d se no Tt uh a d rt : si u tu b le t ht t 13 h mo a eu t ag i nh n st b thata d Committee btetieenrne li t i h dp e ep lif tr_cin t O i r oi • nu rof f e t! r ll . Committee was made un p de re r , t e h tl e t m n ol f e i n t t r f. s ;r ityo h il e i iiiii cumstances at the pointmeat of the Committee, without given to the production of witnesses, beer,) a!„, his opinion be a perfect face.—(l - 1W On of the _ they now stood the witnesses in favour could not be brought forward, while thoeit, gee _ were to rebut it would be easily obtained; the' the opinion of the Committee last sessioeiof Ise means should be adopted for the itttendaoe.eo to t he Queen's itivocate and Captain Watson, relsof„00011 prevailing in in the th e st o v rec it o t p e e , but, martial as ilta was w th a s s o was la t e t then the ine thought it most judicious th at there should be 6.4, tal struction of that Committee in the present 001;00 they felt that they could not go through the IS/ TV that session without the necessary witnessel,'str Right for. Baronet the Member for Ripon ;,,t tb Graham) also declared it then as his opinion tut sera Committee ought to be reconstructed this o,,e sli b i t ii e „`; in that opinion he was supported by the r 4e- fr e eog",2 (Lord J. Russell), for the purpose e'roy matters, relative to evidence, with the Se ° , r h e o t Oig State. In compliance with this 4 0 of proposal of t i tbe Honourable Baronet (Sir James determined, on the 30th l . lll /b lott ers Chairman of th e Committee should ld ja g Y' e lee it) 'natters with that official, the Secretary s ;o a r thereuokleient:ieed to have the proper witnesses ready to be e, S : ettl r t ; the Committee; but, from what, 1) °C t bstz, b o he feared that there was a general fe- oion - wishes of the Committee w w r e e bsige d. cow the Noble Earl (Earl Grey) ere wa l s 'e re ly required bY the og man of the Committee to support him q in P recti A ri rlO re o l o ) nesses, was it not a well-knownfact that be ( l a tot il e t declined complying ts ith that request of the 9, 3 i fl o bei he part of the Committee? Did not th e b a d O i s e ( . Earl Grey) st a t e t o t h e C ha ; rman , that he be serd itb tormation whatever, and that he would ne t • ot opinion, as suc h h e cons id ere d to be inconst:hould r r his duty? Ho regretted that the Noble Ear l th e the d to t fuse to give such information es would t e p ; o n that of therance of justice, and was strongly of ortp e dee'' - he Committee had the power to procure the at - i f e t lye the Noble Earl to give au it forncatiutt refs go 5• Ceylon affairs which he had in his hoped that the House and the country wo° l 7 e - the' - tad appointed in their hopes, for all are of octint e .,tiee possessi,ornot be . a t li o „ s. vernment cannot with any appearance of hie to g back those witnesses that are supposed to be t i 41 •olls 00 • - the necessary information. h q clis Lord J. RU.SSELL said, that although L i - c e i bee o t ir the Hon. and Learned Gentleman bad put "5 end e fb ? Ch tinctly answered the other day, he vi°" -- lib " I very shortly to explain what were the views et t o OP: for 0 0 his Hon. Friend (Mr. Hawes) bad movedd gireZ;ght pointment of the Committee of which he " t he 1- `""biS tice. As he (Lord J. Russell) understood t f wean' ao Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Graham) what be cheirte —that he supposed by the resolution the No ble l ' to the Committee should communicate to the i, reer c e t ieh the Secretary of State for the Colonies w't, o o lye ef ecor dieir p t the witnesses whom he and the Committee necessary to have produced before theta. .. 6 , oo o oe A d the Committee next day agreed on two Z o e. ooti summoned, one of whom wits Captain ,etuee)fgr. they had been summoned in consequence.--krpte `„ of if his Hon. Friend the Under -Secretary o' 1 0 6 0 " iv ?so vase Hawes) had been told, when - that Jam - t re t l;io r es°. to the Committee was moved, "Now, mind' s t ree ol d tion means that your Chairman of the Coostate, c o . have absolute power over the Secretary ° to do ° h p is to order him during the next six mootb s 4oo ''-', lf to please, and he is to have no discretion or O P'," O agr l 'ael Learned Gentleman (Mr. Stuart) then, his Hon. Friend would have refused ' op. f - ht, any such resolution.—(Hear, hear.) T be h th°, ll „b' of the powers of the CommiVees of thowoutet f t o reim o d hardly assert that it would not be age `:f tbe1: 0 0 Liou t l e If i o , were three Committees appointed at the complete control over the Secretaries of Sia d c f th e S t be three Secretaries of State, eo_ er o ver of sion, and that the Chairmen were to have P ° r " do ring , l/ o f witnesses they pleased, he was sure that °oil ot. --( 0 0• 8 0 : authority to which the House avuu ld e e bje he C ° 111- 0 1 d Lear.) With regard to the proceedings °• t i t hey If,. tee, he could only say that when they s t " d ev 9rl or havecility would be given to them by hi s N o ble he Llo°.bitoro with respect to 0 a stro tee o full power to summon the witaiesses, P i !! de o to I3 d rive at the facts of the case. not if • qUill t V Learned Gentleman thought that ill the /11 ard e • -. el • dis re g thi" was one rt of the question to be craw ) _ as ti o 40 and that was the defence—and that theta _ "..,,,, sot :,,, to be heard on the part of the defence ---0 ; mo d to r h hie condition on which be (Lord J. Russell) 33 . le On iq is i appointment of the Committee. The P rirj o lted K 56 ;0 . he understood the Committee to be s" defer ice be the accusation be heard, but let not the told be pressed.—(Hear, hear.) receoe ° , Olt IP ,, Mr. ADDERLEY said, it was not usual 01t th e fence to precede the charge. That P .. yoro• <obi° new under the proposition of the Nobl. of t he P ho d other hand he repudiated the inferencerchairooo,of to Lord, that the Committee, through Oral, the head The presumed to dictate to the Nob!. Earl .. L , 1 1 called. . , h , colonies as to what witnesses shouloornl%., anioa_:os Committee had suggested two names c _l t ° o 7 3 %; o ly , ne e; eo Noble Lord had put it as if the Comm i l he o vit iiate ly to propose two witnesses. But, upo _ iti oeu _ oin t being menti‘lned, the whole Committce,i to the P e d, • ces to e nroce . said, ' hot th-r , a,es other si'it , t's . , in d the r fat ter' c ' t el' - ' low , prou A t' tlf, I f f or , t h! la w rovoillent feature ings by court-martial, which fain so P, Ar t b e QV of the inquiry." The only fair our" w