The Sun. — London, England, 1851-05-07 00:00:00

sits may bond II!, warehouse 60 antity and stre! although, 1 38 P; ild be but fast r ; i mpor t er s of b yed, should bet ries; indeed, Wee!, , in order tor, ,ary-at-War last!, concerned the o ,bat he could notr would demora lize ! intemperan ce ars! ) from agreeing; pinion was the 5, f the people of S! be spirits they II y . He hop ea, ou se that the con,, unsettlement or , any gre at loss to!i or to fraud; tn.!, ts ; thatit would!" e additional ecalll:, ffo uld be a er, of view, by i" r i ; sequen ce of all of t done wrong in Tbi .—(cheers.) _ he House resolve iti derat i on the preset' spirits in b ond. 'hhe Noble Lord!, he had brougP ' qu estion had beef ed sag' aroittee, a— f t hat r the report o ) enter again at , O D I ., wa s one que!ttra. tention of tiv_u ti of the s pirit d ti er : ed before that tee. on the Cu lninit ot inted it WAS PePs°ubject ofinng asy quirl ,here not b ei ng I gh the orig n :ales d the SPi b r i l e t h took LISS IOLIS V 7 c iu ;y lev ied on uuestui; t h e w hole 9 „ ; , f , red in T e l : 1 :r dir t hued, a — a ble a person capareig, distilleries, eod, distilleries, ,_0 the Lord to P'a ar o the ;tillers on 0., car be nierea av ' i r estiel I to the uw e 1 0 his ed d was co' r quent s abse I, from . te was sot estl4llo.which that intended,a sp irits; in b 0 d is ti llery dist' from the ad ade had the ma de 0 1 Of oPlri t h S, ,h 00 1 1 i 5, of W hich ucer the g the Pr j uu t i o ad iller ba" he sawn lions, in t— e f ;he number re had o doubt the o all but that " tiaet ure flrerY rnsil of tendency a ll w' ' hments , s w LS • er of mac hin er y ~t i ty hat the 'L a i l to rably,l. drab 1 there In 184 51. ~., 00 0 g ced 6,90 u. . fler iee, 3 disn" our 5 ge gallons. ro docer pare the P w llat lat on rum. du ty f o re the dos ade in Ro bin with 0 c ompetiti o oB, ooo. sed to 7 , ,4 ,, e d England ors c from theolos From Irelea 000 lio, un ted to B `, ; ja a -18,000 g'be bed was es: the 859, at rmicatbst it happer le A beta ocrthere bs" tity The cl""t i oat sea last ye dy e therefore w o w te d ,han coalPs4 o B worth Wu e ch I,a e , and see VI"; dr the Scotche I not pow . e,'3 having be c ' es here had Kr Is spirits 1 1 00 0, 4,2 000 g ai n, of is, • an increerto ,c 1 an d Scov.o,l the same Peyet s colonies• is could find thly' de iy gallouse, W- - 6 0f ng a decrea:io ,uld any one .4 ',dement of 1: 11 , r, hear.) „ t , O e i r produce distillers or Tv) incl;—(No, ) those coUllt' o rhiai alone w a it , ould think P i ti 0. If any Pfbe 1 distiller. d e . ]gland had 'id the q uantity, o o was 5,9 00 A! owing a &P A ' S : position M spirits had,. '` lo Ile period Ov.i, poo.oco of ,g o '; 400,000 g a d h distillers der lations. use not to d 1648. If c c°t the Hell and S. [l a t e ly claiM re d Id probably noble Lord's destroy the y in the one production the Scotch If a case nrnittee up TOO: ion asked was such a modification or' the system as wetted confer on the Irish and Scotch ercalic a- the same advantages as were already enjoyed by the foreigner. , Mr. M. GIBSON said he had been a member of the Com inittee of inquiry into the subject of sugar-planting and runs and there certainly never was such a complication of evi dence as that produced upon this question. As to the evi dence of the Chairman of the Excise, to which reference 'had been made, he must say, with every respect for the gen tleman alluded to, that he was always disposed to scrutinise somewhat narrowly the evidence given by the head of any revenue department, and he was also inclined to apply the same scrutiny to the statements made by individuals repre senting special interests, when they came to Parliament praying an alteration of differential duties. The impression made on his mind was, that on the whole 4d. was a fair dif ference to meet the disadvantages under which it was said Irish spirits laboured as compared with colonial rum. But he wis-ed to call attention to the great advantages which this spirit interest now enjoyed in the United Kingdom. The Hon. Member talked about •he fo-eigner, but what was the position of Irish spirits as compared with foreign spirits? On Irish spirits they had put a duty of 2s. Bd. a gallon ; but how much had they put upon foreign spirits? 15s. a gallon (Hear, hear.) He was not prepared to alter the present system until there had been an inquiry and proper evidence to show that the conclusions at which the Committee had arrived were erroneous, and he wou d, therefore, give his vote against the motion of the Ncble Lord. 11r. HUME said he was only anxious to see the Scotch distiller put upon the sense footing as the rum distiller in Jamaica, the Dutch gin distiller, or the importer of French ' brandy. Some Hon. Members on his side of the House were now mightily alarmed with the bugaboo of protection --(Hear, and,laughter.) The word must not be mentioned now in he hearing of his Hon. Friends around him. This, however, was no protection question. The object of the mu :time was to secure equality. The difference of duty charged on foreign spirits has been alluded to, but that was a different question. With these views he would certainly support the • motion. Sir G. CLERK reminded the Hon. Member for Montrose of the difficulty which existed when the Hon. Member first '''entered Parliament in permitting any intercourse between •• the three different portions of the United Kingdom, with reference to the trade in spirits. Intercourse was, however, Ultimately permitted, to the great advantage of the couri'sy in general. Superadded to this a privilege was granted - which had never previously been conceded to any articles chargeable with excise duties—namely, that they were enabled to warehouse their goods for an indefinite period, and - were not obliged to pay the duty on them till they were takcei out for home consumption. It was, however, an es senedal part of the agreement entered into when the privi leg a was granted that the amount of du y should be charged on the quantity ascertained when the spirits were manufac tured. Believing, therefore, that the arranaement made in 1 825 had been attended with very great benefit to that part 'al the United Kingdom with which he was more particularly connected, he should be very sorry to disturb it, nor had he /heard any argument which tended to shake his conviction. 'Oa these grounds, and after the best attention he could devote to the subject, he had come to the conclusion that the Scotch and Irish distillers had no fair claim to the favour which was then demanded for them, and he should therefore vote against the motion. Colonel DUNNE said it was clear that the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just addressed the House did not at present represent a Scotch county. He (Colonel Dunne) did not think it fair to levy the duty on an amount of Bpi! its which did not in reality exist for the manufacturer Of the article. It was not true that the Irish distillery trade had prospered under the present system, for he found that whille the quantity of Irish spirits manufactured in 1839 had amounted to 12,000,030 of gallons, the quantity manu factured in Ireland at present amounted to only 7,000,000 of gall Dna. Tine CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the ques.tioa was whether they should change the present mode of assessing the duties on spirits, which was admitted by all , persons conversant with the subject to be the best and the safest mode that could be adopted. He believed that if they were practically to re-establish that which had existed Previously to the year 1825—namely, a different mode of charging those duties in England, Ireland, and Scotland, they would put an end to that interchange of spirits between tbe three countries which had proved so beneficial to the lush and Scotch distillers. He believed that the adoption et: that proposal would open the door to a very considerable am ount of frand. Under the present system the distiller paid this duty on the quantity of spirit which he placed in the banded warehouse, and it was for his advantage that no pore Vein of that spirit should afterwards be abstracted. His in t erest, and the interest of the representatives of the Excise ilepartment, were in fact identical. But if the proposal before the House were adopted it would be the interest of the dis tiller to allow as large a quantity as possible of the spirit to lbe abstracted from the bonded warehouse without the pay ment of the duty. He believed that if that arrangement were adopted it would be necessary to impose very severe restric tions on the distillers, with the view to the prevention of frauds upon the Excise. It was true that no Irish or Scotch iiistiller had been examined before the Committee of 1848, but :English distillers had been examined, and had given it as 'their opinion that the proposed change would be one attended - with considerable danger to the revenue. He denied that any undue advantage was given by the present system to the colonial producer, as compared with the home:producer. In order to prove that no such advantage- was given, it was enough to state that there had been last year an increase in the consumption of Irish and Scotch spirits to the amount of 600,000 gallons, and a decrease in the consumption of rum to the amount of 140,000 gallons, as well as a decrease in the consumption of foreign brandy to the amount of 300,000 gallons. The home producer had not th , aefore, it was clear, been driven out of the market in consequence of the superior advantages enjoyed by his colonial competitor. The Noble Lord had told them that that was not at all a question of revenue. But he differed from the Noble Lord upon that point. It was perfectly obvious that if the duty were to be 1 evied on a lesser quantity of spirits there must be a reduc ftion in its amount, and that the revenue would proportion •ately suffer. Again, he should further observe, that if they 'were to grant that concession to the home 'producer they grant some corresponding concession to the colonial producer; and there again there would be a loss to the re venue. But if the revenue were to be , iiminished by reduc tions of that description, it was clear that it would be im possible to effect that change in the window -tax, or that di minution of the income•tax, which many Honourable Members were so anxious to promote. The House ought to remember the division on the income -tax on Friday last; and those Members who had then voted in the majority ought to bear in mind that it would be impossible to effect any diminution in the more objectionable taxes—if taxes of a less objectionable character, such as that under their consideration, were to be reduced. He asked the House whether any excessive duty was paid by the Irish distiller? The English distiller paid a duty of 7s. 101 per gallon on the spirits which he produced; the Scotch distiller paid a duty of 3s. Bd. per gallon; and the Irish distiller paid a duty of only 2s. Bd. per gallon. That surely was an arrange ment of which the Irish distillers could not reasonably com plain. He appealed to those Members - who were ready to maintain the public credir, and at the same time were desi rous of seeing reductions effected in the more objectionable and unpopular items of taxation, not to assent to a motion such as that then under their consideration. Mr. NAPIER said he believed that the vote of Friday last showed that the House would not maintain a duty at the expense of a perpetual injustice. —(Hear, hear.) It was be cause he thought that motion a fair and a reasonable one tbat he gave to it his support. Much stress had been laid upon the evidence of the English distillers upon that point; but he denied that the English distill irs were disinterested parties in the case. Those distillers made use of boc ded 'warehouses to a very trifling extent. It appeared that while be English distillers had only bonded 11,814 gallons of spl its, the Scotch distillers had bonded 7,000,000 of gallons, sod the Irish distillers had bonded 6, 000,000 of gallons. The fact was, that the English distillers, who were only eight ea number, enjoyed a practical monopoly, and had no occa elan to put their spirits in bond Th e distillers of Ireland 'felt that they were subjected to an injustice in that case, and they would never rest until that injustice was removed. Mr. A. HASTIE supported the motion. There could be no justification for imposing on distillers the necessity of " paying a duty on that quantity of spirits which was lost by leakage and evaporation. That quantity had been stated to amount to not less than 2f per cent. Lord. J. RUSSELL said he considereal that as a motion to leduce the duty on Scotch and Irish spirits, because he bought it was perfectly obvious that if the duties that were originally fixed with a view to have them charged in the Tay in which they were at present charged, and if the :mount of spirits on which they were raised, were diminished, • the duties themselves should necessarily decrease. It was not true that any injustice was done to the Irish distillers in :hat case, for while the Irish distillers paid a duty of anly 2s. Bd. a gallon, colonial rum in :Ireland was paying a luty of as., and French brandy and Spanish rum were pay _ing a duty of not less than 153. Therefore it is obvious that we would, by adopting the motion, give an advantage to the Scotch and Irish distiller over the planter and the importer of foreign spirits. It therefore becomes • t . question of revenue; and this is not, in my epnaion, a time when it can be reduced. 1 know no sore proper limit to a duty upon spirits than that it should sot be so high as to encourage fraud and illicit distillation. that is not the case at present, anti if, as my Hon. Friend has stated, Irish and Scotch spirits have increased in queue lity, that is a reason, in my opinion, why I should not part %with the revenue. I cannot, therefore is am not prepared either to givmethu e s fa agree chtoume to man the uf m ac o t t u i r o e n r , an a dvantage over the colonial an nor to give up the revenue which it i nvo l ves. er Noble Lord admits the justice of Mr. DISRAELI —The entertain, brought forward in a the proposition, but he Bays it i s 1 , 40. s: Bid the Noble Lord, " it Nrsvel(;, admitbut as it is a rduc trasopmer d m et a a n u ne i r t .— m ( ia tst. e ) there is owes ' Cott of ditty, we cannot take it. This is ai f relieving it that ulannea sion, but this is not exactly the t. N . ya . ya the official 'Tort propose." - (Hear, hear.) French and irgument. The Noble Lord says the xistillers must submit to taxation, w hi le urh and Scotch Spanish distillers should be exempt. That defyip Paid by .he consumer ; but our ground is. that this system which that Tosses on the producer.—(Cheers,) T he he Government upholds is this—to benefit, lhow4ich lamer, and to leave the producer subject to con • siestrict i on ,(Cheers.) I thought the Noble Lord aunrgelleits a refuge in the .alleagues were opposed to this tiolicy. —( Hear, hea r , Zoble Lord has found) The fallacy that the tade in spirits has increased. But, supposing it to be s o , it because the trade is prosperous that it should be .timed?—(Cheers.) And if we can show that this prosperity ii owing to other circumstances than that stated, is not this afurther argument in favour of the motion of my Noble friend? —( Hear, hear.) The mode of remedying this grievance is easy—it is i n the hands of the House Land I trust that the decision of this night will, like that on Friday, :how that the stereotyped nature of the routine of the public offices is to receive another check in the interest of the country.— (Cheers.) The House then divided, when there appeared— F0r 159 the motion ••• ••• ••• Against it . • 159 The SPEAKER having, accordiiig to custom, voted for the motion, the Government were consequently left in a minority of one; the announcement of which was received with loud cheers. THE MINISTRY. Mr. ROEBUCK then rose to refer to the extraordinary circumstances in which the Government was placed.—( Heir.) The House of Commons had now assumed to i self—he would mot say without just cause—not only the supervision of the Government, but also the actual Government itself. - (Cries of "Oh," and " Hear.") He could well understand how it should be that some disappointed followers of the Govern ment would object to this proposition ; but when he saw the Government obliged to modify all the three modes or plans of taxation which they had introduced, by the decision of the House of Commons, he appealed to the Noble Lord him self, as a man brought up in constitutional principles—as a Man educated in the idea that the House of Commons had a Eupervising power over the Government, whether he was now in a position An govern the country?—(Great cheer- He (Mr. Roebuck) believed these were the prin ciples of the Noble Lord. Was the Noble Lord, therefore, 'wise, was he politic—he would say nothing as to the point of honour—to retain the powers of Government in his hands under such circumstances ?—(Cheers.) T'ne House should understand what was going on in the country. At th e mi.. SUN, LONDON, T 11 E roolo"-,en of the Q , -•ssl.,n they v,w.; told that certain things be dc::e as to the ca.- a , ter of the country, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave an intimation of what he intended to propose. The result was that there did not exist a single great commercial house in the country that was not affected by the declaration of the Right Hon. Gentleman. The question was not, therefore, a party matter; the best interests as well as the character of the country were con cerned in it; and if the House of Commons still kept them in that state, like Mahomet'a coffin, suspended between heaven and earth as regarded government, he (Mr. Roebuck) appealed to the Noble Lord, as the responsible person, whether ha would continue to lend the authority of his name and character to this state of things.— (Cheers.) Any Minister that regarded not only the interests of the country, but also his own personal character, would not lend him self to such a condition.—(Cries of "Oh, oh!") He (Mr. Roebuck) recollected when the party of the Noble Lord put out the Administration of the Duke of Wellington, that a member of that party, now in the other House, rose to ask Sir Robert Peel whether he was about to retain the Government.— (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord lived on minorities.—(Cheers.) It was contrary to the in terests of England and the spirit of the Constitution that any Administration should maintain itself by the difficulty of its position, and should live on the sufferance of its enemies —(Cheers)—should be daily insulted by these conquests — (Cheers) —and should be unable to sdvance a single one of their own principles —(Cheers.) Therefore he (Mr. Roe buck) asked the Noble Lord whether, now that he had sus tained a fourth defeat on matters intimately connected with the taxation of the country, and all its mercantile concerns, he thought it were politic to retain possession of the Government ? He believed it would be more satisfactory to the desires of those who wished to advance the great principles which they advocated, if the Noble Lord would say that he would not consent any longer to such a state of things. If the House of Commons took upon itself the administration of affairs it should also take upon itself the responsibility of finding a Government to rule the country. Lord J. RUSSELL—The Hon. Member for Sheffield has asked me whether I intend to retain office under the present circumstances. He stated that he thought it would be inju rious to the country if I should do so, and that the com mercial interests especially would suffer by that retention of office. The Hon. Member has a perfect right to put any question of that kind—any question which affects the in terests of the couotry ; but he has given me certain advice with regard to my own personal character—(Loud cheers) which I must respectfully beg to decline.—(Cheers.) Giving the Hon. Gentleman every credit for his good intentions, I will take care of my personal character myself.—(Renewed cheering.) Sir, at another period—at a period when the government of this country was in abeyance, and those to whom it had been offered had not resolved to undertake the charge of forming a Government—the Hon. and Learned Gentleman said in this House that he wished me to consider that the interests of the cause of free trade were in my hands.—(Cheers and laughter.) What the Hon. Gentleman meant precisely by that observation I will not pretend to say; but of this I am fully aware, that the general interests of the country. not of free trade only, but iTs general in terests, its welfare, its tranquillity, very much depends on the conduct of those who have at the moment the direc tion of the Government.—(Cheers.) But, Sir, I have not hesitated, when I thought that the direction of affairs ought to be taken out of our hands unless we succeeded iii certain objects, to stake the existence of the Government on those questions and on those objects. - (Hear.) I did not hesitate to do so when the question of the repeal of the Navigation Laws was before Parliament. It was then frankly declived that we were prepared for the consequence/ of the rejection of that measure, and it was fully understood that we should retire if that measure was rejected.—(Hear-) In course ith of last year. differing from many who took other views w respect to the suppression of the slave trade, I did not hesitate to declare that I would not retain office one hour after any vote of the House which would be in opposition to the course then pursued.— (Hear.) But I think I have some right to consider with my colleagues what is the fitting opportunity when I shall retain office, and when I should lay our resigna tion before her Majesty.—(Hear.) I am speaking now in the absence of any direct question of a want of confidence, of which the result is perfectly plain— lam speaking with respect to opinions. In the beginning of the present session did I show such an anxiety for office as to make it necessary that the Hon. Member for Sheffield should be my monitor— (Cheers and laughter)—and should inform me when the mo ment is come when, at his bidding, I should lay my resigna tion before the Crown ?—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman says this is the fourth time we have been defeated. But there is an observation which has been used, though couched in vulgar language, by Lord Castlereagh in this House, when leading the Government party, which may be appli cable here. He said, with respect to a rote to which the House had come, to repeal a large portion of a tax, and when we cheered loudly— he said—" I beg Gentlemen not to halloo until they are out of the wood."—(Laughter.) Let us observe now, with respect to these defeats to which the Hon. Gentleman has alluded, one, the first, was with respect to a Bill of the Hon. Member for Surrey. After we came into office that question came again before the House, and the decision to which it came was different, and the views which I entertained were confirmed by a large majority.—(Hear, hear.) So that our first defeat was reversed by a subse quent division. In another case we divided with respect to the management of the woods and forests, and that is not yet decided ; for it not intended to act on the decision of the House. 'We intend to introduce a Bill on that subject s . - miler to the one of last year, and the House will then have a fair opportunity of deciding whether they will come or not to the same decision which its majority did, or whether our plan is preferable for the management of the woods and forests. So that in the present state of affairs that which I said ought to be done was defeated in one case, but it appears it was followed by a victory over those who had been the opponents of Government. The second case is not yet de cided. I come now to the third case—the division which took place on the motion of the Hon. Member for Montrose. I do rot consider that there was anything in the nature of the motion of the Hon. Member as indicating that the House meant to say that it intended to take the Government into its own hands.—(Hear, hear.) All these questions of taxa tion, and the burdens on the people, are questions on which the House of Commons has a particular claim to have their opinions listened to, and the Executive Government may very fairly differ from it without any cause of resignation. While they can maintain a sufficient revenue for the main tenance of the establishments which they consider necessary for the safety and honour of the country, no financial differ ence with the House ought to influence their stability. We now come to the fourth defeat—the motion which the Noble Lord has carried by the vote of this evening. To this:question I must apply the observations to which I referred, because last year the Noble Lord was equally successful with another. I think in the end the House will be of opinion that the measure of the Noble Lord will not be adopted but by some arrangement of colonial duties which will put him on some fair footing. This being my opinion, I shall not tell the Hon. Member for Sheffield that his request, made with that suaviter in modo—( Laughter)—for which he is celebrated—. (Hear, hear) - shall be complied with; I will not tell him what other course I mean to pursue on the present occasion. This is a matter of grave import—the character of a Govern ment ought not to be sacrificed, or even imp aired, b y sub mitting to frequent defeats—(" Hear, hear," from the Oppo sition) —without declaring that they could no longer carry on the government of the country ; and at the same time, on the other hand, no one will deny that the resignation of a Government, under present circumstances, is a very grave matter, and involves very grave consequences.-(Cheers.) Some may think the consequences of that grave matter may lead to good fortune, and some to bad: but whether of good or bad fortune, no one can deny that it is a very grave and important movement, not merely to that question of free trade to which the Honourable and Learned Member for Sheffield once alluded—(Hear, hear)—but also with regard to many other questions of domestic and foreign policy that might be affected by a change of Government in present cir cumstances.—(Hear.) All I can say is, that I trust that those who have generally supported the Government, and as such have taken up our views with regard to public policy, will give us credit for doing for every interest in the country what is required by the situation in which we are placed - (Hear)—that we are .not disposed on the one hand to allow the character of the Government to be impaired; it is from no sense of affront—from no irritating feeling of pique, I should make so important a decision as the res.gna tion of our offices with the view of changing the Govern ' ment of the country.—( Hear, hear.) The change of a Government is not a question to be bandied about in a chance debate—(Hear, hear)—and I must ask the House to leave it to us to make that decision. Taking it as I shall do with a view to the general welfare of the country, I shall not have to reproach my own conscience with having deserted any in terest_ which I was bound to uphold.—(Cheers.) The House then went into Committee, Mr. Bznarat , in the chair. A resolution was proposed by Lord NAAS, in accordance with the tenor of his speech. It was understood that the resolution was opposed by the Government, and there were loud cries, which lasted several minutes, for a division. Mr. HUME rose to svak, but was for some time inaudi ble amid cries of " Divide, divide." He said the Noble Lord had acted rightly in the reply which be gave to the question put to him. It would put an end to proceedings in that House it a Minister were to resign upon every question of mere financial difference that might arise. He would submit to the Noble Lord, parties having left the House after the first division, under the impression that there would be no other, whether it would not be mere in conformity with the dignity of his station if he would allow that resolution to be agreed to without another division.— (Loud cries of "Divide, divide.") Lord J. RUSSELL said, in answer to the last question which the Hon. Member for Montrose had put to him, he could say that he should leave it entirely in the hands of Noble Lord opposite who had made the motion. He thought it was perfectly fair to take onother division on that ques tion; and he did not think the Noble Lord could impute to them a desire to take'any unfair advantage, as they would not impute it to him. But he believed that the House was fuller then than it was before. Lord NAAS said the remark with which the Noble Lord had concluded was the worst he could have said; for they had divided in a House in which the Members had been at tentive listeners to the debate.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it was rather hard for the Noble Lord to ask for another divi sion on that question, as those Members who had recently entered the House had no opportunity of hearing the debate on the subject. A different course was proposed then to what had been pursued last year, for when a motion had been Carried, no opposition bad been offered to a resolution named in accordance with it. The present resolution was only Putting in writing the principle to which they had agreed, 'Noble and he did not think such a course would be adopted to wards him. Lord last year J. RUSSELL said the circumstances of' the case of 'laity with Lord had were different from the present. Last year the ing the questiste., to him. , Th* he might had a majority of those who thought with the SpeakieirYear , he had only had his majority by the vote of usage, to had declared that be only voted in confor mity FRESHFIEBit. course, give another opportunity for consider -akollear.) If the Noble Lord had any other getting a hearin (Cries of " Divide.") Strangers were then ordetrhe g , m 0 would moved c l u o l d s rose to divide 1 de upon addresspon the ee question.H ous e , b a t not took LAof tredr place. HAAS A few words from Lord J. RUSSELL, that t othe withdraw, Chairman b ushould divisionrep ort progress, and said he AS said he would agree to the suggesti o n made, n the question was b r ought on, the division shoulde xt on the understanding that when in the first ins t ance t a k e place on j h.isßruesossluEtiLoL said, wh en th e question came on n. again, it should stand in the same position in which it now stood.—(Cries of "Divide.") The CHAIRMAN asked the House whether it wa t e nded to divide on the question "that the Chairmanrsepiolt progress?" I. would be well to understand whether a vision was to take place on that point or not.— (Hear, and divide.) He then put the question, and declared the " Noes" had it. The Chairman then vacated the chair, and the House resumed. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and asked leave to sit again on Friday. ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION COMMITTEE. Mr. E. ELLICE then rose to ask leave to introduce a Bill for the appointment of Commissioners to inquire into the ex istence of bribery in the borough of St. Alban's. He felt he was bound to satisfy the House that there were grounds for the introductien of this measure. Th`e case of the late election of Si. Alban's was similar to the ca- ee of Sudbury and Groat Yarmouth. The mode of proceeding adopted was this—a house was taken, as it was supposed, fur the purposes of a committee of one of the candidates. There were two means of access to the principal room in it. Tee one was through a particular street, and the other through an alley, called by the 'expressive name . of " Sovereign-alley." A number of voters, it was proved, went by the street one by one into this room, in which a person sat who, it was alleged, was the person who bribed. Each voter, as he promised this person his vote, went out by the other door. Although they bad not the actual proof that this person referred to paid money to these voters, it was satisfactorily given in evidence that the latter, upon leaving the room, went into a public house, and there exhibited four or five sovereigns each. It was true that those persons when examined swore they had not received any money for their votes ; but when they swore that they were not in possession of any money, it was distinctly' proved by respectable evidence that they were in possession of money. Very little doubt remained on the minds of the Committee that they had received money in return for their votes. The person who sat in the room, as described, was Edwardes, who, however, was not examined. There was not the slightest doubt in the minds of the Committee but that bribery was committed. It was, however, necessary that further inquiry should be instituted. In 1845 an election took place at St. Albau'e, and a Committee was appointed to try the merits of a petition presented against the election, when it appeared that Mr. Edwardes was the prominent per son also on that occasion. Certain proceedings having then taken place in Parliament in respect to that, as well as other elections, there was a compromise entered into and the peti tion was withdrawn. The object of the Committee was thereupon frustrated, but they made a special report of that case to the House. If, then, there was to be an inquiry into this matter, he submitted, upon the authority of the proceed ings taken by that House and the House of rds in the Sudbury case, that the inquiry should proceed through a‘ commission. There could be but one opinion entertained in respect to this subject, and that was that a system of. bribery unhappily prevailed in St. Alban's to a most alarming extent. It was, then, our bounden duty to do everything in our power to put down this bribery, which tended to lower the character of that Nouse and to degrade and demoralise the parties who were immediately concerned in it. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by asking leave to introduce his Bill. Mr. COBDEN rose to move the addition of words so as to include in the, motion any bribery, treating, or corruption, that might Lave taken place at the last election for the Fal kirk district of burghs. He represented on that occasion a certain portion of the constituency who had complained of these practices, and who had petitioned that the Falkirk burghs might be included in the proposed inquiry. The petitioners complained of the gross treating and demoralisa tion that had taken place, and stated that the spirit-shops in certain localities had been opened to the inhabitants; at the expense of the sitting Member. He had to inform the House that the petition against the sitting Member had been withdrawn without the knowledge of the parties who had signed it. In a letter which he had received from the Pro vost of Falkirk he expressed the disappointment felt by the electors at the withdrawal of the petition, and stated that never since the Reform Bill had he witnessed such scenes of drunkenness and dissipation as at the last election. He (Mr. Cobden) had no feeling of hostility to either of the parties who were engaged in that election. He believed that both candidates were advocates of free trade, but there was so little difference between their general politics, that he had no political leaning to one mere than to the other. The Falkirk burghs were five in number, some of them as tar apart as thirty miles, and situated in different coun ties. It was difficult to understand upon what prin ciple they had been grouped together. Up to 1841 the character of these burghs, like that of most of the Scotch burghs, bad been unimpeachable in point of political mo rality. The practices complained of began in 1841 in the burgh of Airdrie, when the broiler of the present Member was a candidate. In 1846, when Lord Lincoln was elected in the room of Mr. Baird, who had resigned, he was op posed by Mr. Wilson, and at that election the malpractices which had been before confined to Airdrie extended to the other burghs. In 1847 Lord Lincoln stood again, and was opposed by Mr. Boyd, and since then for scenes of dissipa tion and undue influence Falkirk and Hamilton had become as bad as Airdrie. , With regard to the last election he held in his hand depositions which had been taken by a legal gentleman, and which corroborated the statements in the petition as to the treating and demoralisation that had taken place. One person, Robert Binney, a grocer and spirit dealer in Grahamstown, a suburb of Falkirk, stated that ha was asked to vote for Mr. Baird, and declined; that he was afterwards visited by some of Mr. Baird's friends, particularly by a Mr. M'Laren, an active supporter of Mr. Baird—that while they were in his house several people came to the bar, when Mr. Baird's friends:ordered him to give them what they wished, for Mr. Baird was rich enough to pay. This man went on to state that he considered that a sufficient order to keep open .house till the day of nomination, and accordingly supplied these people with whisky, brandy, porter, ale, and vinegar cordial.—(Laughter.) He further stated than on the day of nomination some of these people came to his house for drink as early as six o'clock, and said they had come for their "morning." Hon. Members who had been in Scotland would perhaps know what a " morning" meant.—(A laugh.) Several got drunk rapidly, and before nine o'clock seven er eight were lying quite drunk opposite the door. Binney states he gave one man two bottles of whisky to assist in taking the drunken people away.—(Laughter.) Boys of 10 and 14 got drunk in the street. "No women," says Binney, "were drunk iu my house, except those who came to take their husbands home."—(Laughter, andcries of " Hear.") Now he had in his hand at least a dozen of similar statements from publicans. One of the name of Waugh, a spirit-dealer, in Grahamstown, stated—" On the Monday before the nomi nation, Mr. Dl‘Laren, Mr. Baird's friend, and a writer to the signet, his agent, came and told me to provide refreshment; M'Laren said he would be responsible. In the course of the evening 200; people came and had whisky, brandy, and rum cordial.—(Hear, hear.) An order came to let them have drink." He would now refer to the evidence of several re spectable inhabitants of these burghs. The respectable por tion of the inhabitants of such burghs would be greatly to blame if they did not denounce the scenes of dissipa tion that they saw aronnd them. Even seven righteous men might save such a burgh from becoming a political Gomorrah. Dr. Hamilton, of Falkirk, returning home the night before the election, states—" I observed two youths lying in the middle of the road, and found both of them in a beastly state of intoxication. On addressing them, one ex claimed, "Oh, there's open house to-night at Waugh's."— (Hear.) The Rev.; Alexander M'Farlane, minister of the united Presbyterian Church, states—" I was coming home the night before the election from the Carron Works. I met a great manypeople, and saw so much demoralisation as to make me believe that it would neutralise all the good that might have been otherwise effected by ministers of the Gos pel " (Hear.) He (Mr. Cobden) might be told that these men so brutalised were not electors. If anything could make the demoralisation more demoniacal it was the very practices that had prevailed at the Falkirk election. There f o black one anda man— e .o l l i e s ot do f r t aHr geakutbbehnerloekeeecyp;s: were some spirit-dealers whose votes it was thought desir able to have. If the candidate had invited the voters into a room and given each 51., it would have been virtue itself compared with what had been done, for publicans had been ordered to admit men, women, and chil dren, and to give them as much drink as they pleased, The evil one himself could not have devised anything so ed, that there was no more useful—no more ho pnuoahenflnHiedmedtsaets however d omtmwhh i eeoenvmsr those Honourable ob l feHi it s r aoh mightont a foe um d s the ropacebi srelaeet serve veeGentlemant th declaration shaoenc i e thety —nfwr ho nourable al habits a u l a e b : o hg t man who tried by his example toeaatrreesscouoffethe age—lying degradation. man (Mr. Arnott) states The dap before the workingon electionTmthahinles twelve in a state foundpur poses ofm y sc s m o n e rug in a state of intoxication. My wife said she had picked him up in the street, and he atterwards told me that he had had whisky at Waugh's.— (Hear, hear.) My wife tells me that before the election my daughter came to tell her that her brother was fou in the street ; ' that she sa w him brought home, when he vomited tremendously, and then fell asleep.".—(Hear, hear.) Such was a sample of the practices that had prevailed. The favourite mode of corrupting the constituency of Falkirk was to open the pub lic-houses to all comers, and allow them to drink what quantity they pleased of ardent spirits. Similar gcurwrehdatathHadamtialktoeini. placeHe h a a t d A q i u rd it r e ie l l t i h tt e le t v ow ol n um in e brother were large employers of labour in the iron v i orks w sdce h esn i c e reS l i l boi M nc r. Baird resided. The Hon. Me mber and his near Airdrie. He asked what was the first duty of a suc cessful wealthy individual to the community that had grown up under his auspices? Undoubtedly it was the first duty of the capitalist to endeavour by his example and by their education to lead that community up in the paths of sobriety and of virtue,—(Hear, hear.) He was sorry to say that such was not the case , here; that the enormous wealth possessed by the family of the Hon. Member was exercised for a totally different purpose.—(Hear, hear.) He said that the scenes of debauchery begun in Airdrie when the brother of the Hon. Member was a candidate; and that bad as the scenes beeni er n w lB4 e last 1. er were a nothing ses nf b t r o i b e w r y h a a t g t a h i n e y s t h t e li d e There year, wereth they two y w Provost at that time, and there was one ease of abduction in .which the police were concerned.— (Hear, hear.) He re ferred to the case of a witness, who had been then offered 201. for his vote. He had ~ten cases of attempted bribery, with the then Provost implicated in two of them. It was sufficient to say of the treating that in a population of less than 15,000 there had been 41 public houses kept open, in which drink was freely given to all who came to the election. To show this he referred to the testi mony of two ministers of the Gospel, the Rev. James M'Gowan and the Rev. Alexander Baron. Both corrobo rated what had been already stated, and the first testified that it was a general desire, to prevent the recurrence of such scenes, that the town should be disfranchised. He had, inaddition to this, the sums charged by the public-houses for supplying drink to all comers. The bills were of different amounts, 40/., 80/., 901., 256/., 2801., 40/., 32/. And then there was a mysterious man in this case, as in others. There was a man who went by the significant name " Goldy," or " the man with the bag."—(Laughter.) This man was sup posed to be a person of the name of Hallett, a writer, or a writer's clerk in Ayr; and then to ascertain the facts with respect to that person it was his wish to have a Committee appointed.—(Hear, hear,) What he had now stated with regard to Falkirk, Ayr, and Hamilton, was perfectly correct, though in a mitigated form as regarded Linlithgow and Lanark; and now, having laid these facts before the House, he asked whether he was to be debarred from inquiry by any technical rules? He said that here was a case without precedent =here was a case that was charac terised with so much injustice that an investigation was ab solutely ntcessary. The manner in which it was his lot now to call for it originated in an accidental reference he had made to Falkirk. That allusion had brought to him hosts of letters—appeals made to him by the Provost of Airdrie— appeals made to him from temperance societies to call for the disfranchisement of the borough. These appeals had induced him to submit the question to the consideration of the House.—( Hear, hear.) Were, he asked, these elections to be carried on by anysuch process as he had just described? —( Hear.) If they were, then he said to Hun. Members op posite, let them, beyond all others, mark the consequences; men would make their way to seats in that House by passing through a hundred gin-shops and public-houses. The ex penses of elections would be enormous. He was told that the expense of a seat to the Hon. Member fbr the Falkirk district was estimated as costing from. 5,0001. to 15,000/. Men with hereditary landed property had seldom an abundance of spare money in large sums. If this system were to be perpetuated, they must abandon the chance of being elected to moneyed men—to men who would spare hard cash enough to find an enirance into that House. He asked Hon. Members opposite whether they would look upon such a change as that as an improvement to the cha racter of that House? Under the old system it was thought that men had a family claim to seats in that House, and, for hie own part, he declared he would rather be governed by any oligarchy than submit patiently to the rule of those who , hat entered into that House by the base means he had de .eorihed.—(Cheers. ) . Was that House, be asked, to be the only place in England where such scenes were to be de scribed,eonld t e l a l nt them notin that excite the t f e e m e l p i n e g r a s n n o e f disgust?— a —av r e . ) ry He va luable class of papers —and tempera p nce societies had rung with horror at the account of the murders that had been itiriSdietiefS all MCA referring t 9 Parliamentary eke' committed in Aird r i e . —(H ear.) T he H ouse c l a i me d exclu eiVe NV .V.' _ll N ES D.A. V Cops. Let t no;,• defeat itquia-y by a technic el otj Oen, but include en inquii y hit() the proceedings at the x'al kirk district with eliat which was to investigate the proceed ings at St. Alban's. He moved an amendment to that effect. Mr. ROEBUCK seconded the amendment. Mr. BAIRD said that he had given no sanction to the open ing of public-houses for his election, and he did not believe that his agents had done so —(Hear.) At the same time he said that it the House desired to make any inquiry into the proceedings at the last election, he had no objection that it should do so.— (Cheers.) That scenes of drunkenness took place there could be no doubt—(Hear) —for it was a com mon practice in a borough.—(Hear, hear.) It could be no wonder that there should be scenes of drunkenness, because there was a population that received in wages 10,0001. weekly. The principals of those establishments come in to the election, and the men naturally also come into the town to make merry.— (Hear.) But then. as to the last election, the agents of the petitioners went through the borough, and finding they could not subtantiate a case against him, the petition was withdrawn.—(Cheers.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL hoped that there was no one in the House that could have heard but with pain the sad details that the lion. Member - for the \Vest Riding had given of the proceedings at the Falkirk election. No one could be told that there should be such debauchery without feeling very deep regret Though he deemed it desirable that an inquiry into such scenes should be made, still he could not but feel the strongest objecticn that such an inquiry should be mixed up with an investigation into other transactions that were totally and essentially distinct. The Bill that was now proposed had to go through another place; and they must take care to do nothing that would prevent its success there. In the one case, St. Alban's, they had evidence taken before a Committee upon oath, and they had a Bill prepared by the Chairman, at the desire of the Committee by whom the case had been investigated. Such a Bill, he said, was sure of success when it went to another place; but the case mentioned by the Hon. Member for the West Riding was based not upon the evidence taken upon oath, and it would be unusual to engraft, by way of a rider, such an inquiry upon another formally proposed to the House. He suggested to the llon. Member to make his a substantive motion, and not to endanger the Bill by com bining the two inquiries.—(Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK thought that be might be permitted to recall to the recollection of the House some remarkable cir cumstances which he had on a former occasion brought before that House. There bad been six instances, after a general election, of what he had ascertained to be corrupt compromises. He had brought the circumstances on his own personal statement before the House, and Sir Robert Peel gave him the Committee he asked for. Not satisfied with that, they had passed a Bill enabling parties to give evidence. He had mentioned six cases, and Mr. Charles Buller men- tioned another—Bridport; and he asked the House to en graft Bridport on his (Mr. Roebuck's) motion, and the House agreed to do so, and then all these cases were brought before the Committee of which he was chairman. Where, then, was the difference between the two cases ? The At torney-General said that the one case was established on oath. But what had been done with him referred only to his own personal statement. It rested on that alone. And now what occurred on the present occasion ? The Hon. Member for Falkirk district demanded inquiry?—(Hear.) Who, then, were the objecting parties? Not the Hon. Gen tlemen opposite.— (Hear, bear). Then there was the Hon. Member branded by the statement of the Hon. Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire.—(Cries of " No, no.") Let Hon Gentlemen wait until he finished. Thus was the Hon. Member branded if he did not get the opportunity which he asked for.—(Hear.) Who then stood between the Hon. Member and his exculpation? Surely the Attorney-General would not stand between him and it. What then prevented the wish of the Hon. Member for the West Riding being ac ceded to, and thus helping the Hon. Member for the Falkirk districts to a vindication?—not because he needed it. ( Hear.) Oh I no—but because he was accused.— (Cheers.) To be accused was one thing; to be guelty was another; but the Hon. Member was accused, and no doubt he would be considered guilty if he were not allowed:to defend himself. ( Hear.) For what would they say? That friends who well understood the thing did, when he pretended to be ready to exculpate himself, help him by their votes with a most useful cloak, by which he might cover himself from the accusation when it had been made.—(Hear.) He asked was that a position to let the Hon. Member occupy ?—( Hear.) He assumed that the Hon. Member was —and he said this with all violence to himself—innocent.—(Laughter.) Yes, in such cases as those of Bolton, and Aylesbury, and Fal kirk, he did violence to himself in supposing that persons were not guilty when they were charged with a knowledge of the practices of corruption.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The lion. Member who made the motion had talked of bribery only; but corruption and treating must be included in the motion. Would the Hon. Gentleman say that one house, not to say forty-one houses, open for treating, could have been only open for purposes of patriotism? —(Laughter.) Some one with a purse ready to pay those men who presided over houses where treating of men, women, and children took place must have been there, sent there by some one.—(Hear.) It was a disgrace to that House to sit there, and the country would repudiate them, if they dealt with great cases of immo rality, and allowed guilty parties to ride off on a snare technicality raised by the Attorney-General. The tech nical objection which had been raised ought to be over ruled, and the Hon. Gentleman ought to be afforded a full opportunity of exculpating himself. This he could not do under the Bill, and therefore it was right for the House to provide the Hon. Gentleman with the means of full exculpa tion. He begged of the House, if they desired to have a moral influence in the country, not to interfere, but to let the Hon. Gentleman have a fair trial, for the Hon. Gentleman really was on his trial—(Hear)—and to let him clear him self, as he said he could, from the charges brought against him. Of all the cases he had ever brought under the no tice of the Ilouse not one equalled in atrocity the present case, and he trusted it wouid be fully sifted by the House. Mr. ELLICE, jun., was unwilling to have anything grafted on the Bill that would jeopardize it. It was clear the other case was a matter for a commission to inquire into, and this could be done by another Bill, which, when introduced, could go on pari passe with the present Bill. He objected to the amendment, not because he wished to throw any ob stacle in the way of inquiry, but because it would obstruct the Bill.— (Hear.) Mr. G. BANKES would say that the difficulties of the St. Alban's case were sufficient of themselves, and he therefore considered the amendment entirely inadmisible. If the Hon. Member for the West Riding wished to defeat the in quiry, he could not take a more effectual step than by this amendment. If the Act of Parliament, consequent on the movement of the Hon. Member for Sheffield, had not been thought strong enough at the time, why did the Hon. Gen tleman not make it stronger? The Act in question provided for the case of the St. Alban's Committee, and he really thought the Hon. Gentleman ought not to use a tyrannical power of placing Members of that House in the position of the Hon. Member for St. Alban's. Mr. ROEBUCK said the Act in question was brought in by Lord John Russell, and not by him. Mr. BANKES was quite aware of that. He thought the Hon. Gentleman ought to have beers content with the reme dies provided by that Act, rather than resort from time to time to the tyranny of ex post facto law.—(Hear.) With respect to the question before the House relating to the in troduction of a Bill by the Chairman of the Committee, he should only say, as the Bill was brought in on the recom mendation of the Committee, that it ought to have weight with that House. With reference to the Commission, he should not be disposed to part with the control of the House over it. lle would not name the Commissioners, but he suggested whatever the number might be, that the House would keep the inquiry in their hands in order that it might be made searching and impartial. Mr. HUME thought his Hon. Friend ought to withdraw his motion, and proceed with the Bill. Mr. FORBES knew the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Baird) and his family, and could speak as to the vast good they did in the neighbourhood. He believed his Hon. Friend had been hardly dealt with in the matter. People had been sent all over the kingdom to get up evidence, and the gentlemen on the other side had given all the weight of their names and eloquence to make out the case against his Hon. Friend, they at the same time being the partisans of the defeated candidate.-- (Hear. ) Lord le RUSSELL would only say a few words on the question. In the first place, the motion of his Hon. Friend was found e d on the report Of the Election Committee, which stated that ext ens i ve b r ib er y h a d b een prac tis e d in the conceive of St. Alb an ' s at th e l as t e l ec t ion . H e c o u ld not a more legitimate ground for the introduction of a Bill—(H ear ) —and he had no hesitation in saying he should give his vote in favour of the introduction. But the Hon. Member for the West Riding had brought forward another case. He could not say that inquiry ought not to take place with respect to that case, because from the notoriety and it scandal of that casecould not be passed over by the us Hoe ; but he could not agreeua the proposition for having the two cases tried by the same stood on different grounds ; One e Commission ' The cases them rested on the report of the Select Committee, the otherhat only rested on a petition H w presented to that ouee. course the Hon. Member for the West Riding ought to take he was not prepared to . say; but as he did not think the two cases should be mixed together, he thought they ought to be treated separately, and the Hon. Member have leave to withdra w his 13111. Mr. FRESHFIELD could hardly trust himself to utter the sentiments of his mind at the unfounded imputations of the lion. and Learned Member for Sheffield. That Hon. and Learned Member owed it to himself and tee House to state on what his suspicions were founded. He asserted that on the occurrence of the death of his Hon. Friend who represented Boston, when he was induced to go down there, that everything was conducted respectably. There was no music, or anything to create entertainment provided. Mr. LOCKHART could corroborate the statements of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Forbes) with reference to the liberality, charity, and piety of his Hon. Friend Mr. Bait. After a few words from Mr. H. BERKELEY, Mr. COBDEN said he was in the hands of the House as to the course he should take. It had been suggested to him to make a substantive motion for a Select Committee on the matter, but the example of St. Alban's was tot one to en courage an Hon. Member to bane recourse to a Select Com mittee ; however, as the matter was before the House and the public, he thought it the duty of the Government to see what ought to be done in the matter. and he ventured to suggest that the Lord Advocate for Scotland would be the proper person to take charge of the matter.—(Hear.) The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original motion agreed to. On the motion of Mr. LABOUCHERE, the following gen tlemen were nominated a Select Committee on the Steam Navigation, &c., Bill:—Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Hume Mr. Cardwell, Admiral Ber kele y , Mr. William Brow n , Mr. Hume, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Alexander thistle, Mr. Philip Miles, and Mr. Grog an. Sir W. SOMERVILLE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to extend the benefits of certain provisions of the General Merchant Seamen's Act relating to apprentices bound to the sea service, to apprentices bound to the sea service by boards of guardians of the poor in Ireland, and to enable such guardians to place out boys i n the naval servic e. Sir W. SOMERVILLE obtained leave to bring'in a Bill to amend an Act for empowering grand juries in Ireland to present bridges, and tolls to be paid for passing the same, in certain cases. Mr. HUME postponed till to-marrow (this day) his motion for a Select Committee to inquire into the mode of assessing and collecting the property-tax ; and whether the injustice of levying the same rate of charge upon terminable as upon perpetual annuities, and upon fluctuating and varying incomes from trades and professions as upon fixed incomes, cannot be greatly modified, or altogether removed. On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRE LAND, the following gentlemen were nominated a Select Committee on Civil Bills, 8:e. (Ireland) Bill :—Mr. Attor ney-General for Ireland, Sir W. Somerville, Mr. French, Mr. Keogh, Mr. Napier, Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. M'Cullagh, Mr. Anstey, Mr. Grogan, Viscount Bernard, Captain Jones, Mr. Sergeant Murphy, Colonel Taylor, and Mr. Sadleir. Sir W. G. CRAIG moved for a Select Committee to con eider the state and operation of the Acts relating to the an nuity-tax, levied in Edinburgh, Cationgate, and Montrose, and to report thereon; and whether any amendment on these Acts, or re-adjustment of the tax, would be expedient; and whether any other fund may be rendered available for the purpose to which the annuity-tax is now applied. Agreed to. The Process and Practice (Ireland) Bill passed through Committee. The House adjourned at Half-past Ouo o'clock. EVENING. 1• AMENT ABA DIVISIONS, :From the V tes and Proceedings of the House of Commons ) TUESDAY, - MAY 6. HOME-MADE SPIRITS IN BOND. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do resolve itself into a Committee to take into consideration the present mode of levying the Duty on Home-made Spirits in Bond." The House divided : AYES —159. Ansley, Thomas Fox, Richard M. Archdall, Captain Fox, S. L. Arkwright, George Freshfleld, J. W. Bagge, William Frewen, C. 11. Bailie, 11. J. Fuller, A. E. Baird, James Galway, Viscount Bankes, G. Gilpin, Colonel Barron, Sir 11. Gooch, E. S. Barrow, W. 11. Goold, Wnydham Bateson, Thomas Gordon, Admiral Bennet, Philip Gore, W. R. 0. Bentinek, Lord 11. Grace, 0. D. Bereslord, William Granby, Marquis of Berkeley 0. F. Grattan, Henry Bernard, Viscount Greenall, G. Best, John Greene, John Blake, M. J. Grogan, Edward Blandford, Marquis Halsey, T. P. Boldero, George H. Hamilton, G. A. Booth, Sir R. G. Hamilton, J. 11. Brooks, Lord Harris, Captain Brooke, Sir Arthur Haste, Alexander Bruce, Colonel Hayes, Sir E. Buck, L. W. Henley, J. W. Banbury, W. Herbert, H. A. Burghley, Lord Higgins, George Burroughes, 11. N. Hildyard, It. C. Campbell, W. F. Hildyard, T. B. Cayley, Edward S. Hill, Lord E. Chichester, Lord J. Hodgson, W. N. Child, smith Hotharn, Lord Christopher, R. Jollifte, Sir W. IL Clive; H. B. Jones, Captain Cobbold, John C. Keating, Robert Colvile, C. IL Keogh, William Conolly,Thoma.s Langton, W. 11. P. Cowan, Charles Lascelles, E. Crawford, W. S. Lawless, Cecil Dawson, T. V. Lennox, Lord A. Deedcs, W. Lennox, Lord H. G. Devereux, John T. Lewisham, Viscount Disraeli, B. Lockhart, W. Dod, J. W. Lowther, Colonel Duncan, George Macaghten, Sir E. Dunne, Colonel M'Cullagh, W. T. Edwards, IL M`Gregor, John Ferrer, James M`Neill, Duncan Ferguson, Sir R. Maher, N. Filmer, Sir E. Meagher, Thomas Fitzpatrick, J. W. Mandeville, Vie. Floyer, John Manners, Lord J. Forbes, W. March, Earl of Forester, G. C. Maimsell, T. P. Fortescue, Chichester Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Miles, William Moffatt, George Monsell, William Moody, C. A. Moore, G. H. MuMugs, J. It. Murphy, F. S. Napier Joseph I.ewdegate, N. Norreys, Sir D. o'l;rien Sir ;Lucius O'Brien, Sir T. O'Connell, John O'Connell, 31. J. O'Flaherty, Anthony Ossulton, Lord Pakinv.on, Sir J. Plumptre, J. P. Power, Dr.. Power, Nicludas Rawdon, Colonel Rendlesh am, Lord Repton, G. W. J. Reynolds, John Roche, E. B. Sadleir, John Scott, Francis Scully, Francis Silithorp, Colonel Somers, J. P. Somerset, Captain Spooner, It. , Stuart, Lord. I. Stuart, John Stuart, 11. Sullivan, Michael Talbot, J. IL Taylor, T. E. Tenison, Edward K. Johu Tyler, Sir G. Tyrell, Sir J. Verner, Sir W. Vesey, Thomas Vyse, B. 11. R. H. Waddington, 11. S. Valmsley, Sir J. Walsh, Sir J. B. Whiteside, James Wodehouse, E. Wynn, H. W. TELLEIIB. Naas, Lord Hume, Joseph Acltmd, Sir T. Adair, Hugh E. Adair, It. Shafto Alcock, Thomas Anderson, Arthur Anson, Colonel Armstrong, R. B. Bagshaw, John Raines, M. T. Baring, Sir F. T. Bass, M. T. Bell, Jacob Bellew, B. M. Berkeley, Admiral Berkeley, H. F. Berkeley, C. L. G. Bernal, Ralph Blackstone, W. S. Baird, James NOES-159. Ellice, Edward Ogle, S. C. Elliot, John E. Owen, Sir John Estcourt, J. B. Paget, Lord A. Evans, J. Paget, Lord C. Ferguson, Col. Palmerston, Vie. Fitawilliam, G. W. Parker, John Fordyce, A. D. Peel, Sir Robert Forster, Matthew Peel, Frederick . . Fortescue, J. W. Perfect, Robert •;: Freesturi, Colonel Pigott, Francis Gallwey, Sir W. P. Ricardo, John L. Gibson, T. M. Rice, E. R. Grenfell, C. Pascoe Rich, Henry Grey, Sir George Robartes, T. J. A. Grey, R. W. Roebuck, J. A. . Grosvenor, Lord R. Romilly, Colonel Hall, Sir B. Romilly, Sir John Hallyburton, Lord Russell, Lord John Haumer, Sir John Russell, F. C. Harris, Richard Saiwey, Colonel llatchell, John Scrope, G. P. Hawes, B. Seymour, H. D. Henry, Alexander Seymour, Lord Heywood, James Shafto, R. D. Ileyworth, L. Smith, Vernon Ilindley, C. Smith, John Abel Ilobhouse, T. B. Somerville, Sir W. Hodges, T. L. Stanton, W. H. lloward, Lord E. Strickland, Sir G. Hutchins, E. J. Talbot, C.;lt. Hutt, William Tailored, H. W. Jackson, William Thicknesse, R. A. Johnstone, Sir_J. Thompson, Colonel King, P. J. Thornely, T. Labouchere, H. Townley, R. G. Langston, J. H. Trelawny, J. S. Lawicy, B. R. Trevor, Thomas Lewis, Sir T. 'Verney Sir H. Lewis, G. C. 'Vivian, J. U. Littleton, E. R. Watkins, Colonel Loveden, Pryse Wellesley, Lord C. M`Taggart, Sir J. West, F. R. Mangles, It. D. Westhead, J. P. Martin, C. W. Willcox, Brodie Matheson, Sir J. Williams, John Maule, Fox Willyams, H. Milner, W. M. Wilson, James Moncrieff, James Weod, Sir Charles Morris, David Wood, Sir W. P. Mostyn, E. M. L. Wrightson, W. B. Mowatt, Francis Wyvill, Marmaduko Alulgrave, Earl TELLERS. Nicholl, J. Hayter, W. G. Norreys, Lord Hill, Lord Marcus Blewitt, R. J. Bowles, Admiral Boyle, Colonel, Bright, John Brocklehurst, J. Brockman, E. D. Brotherton, J. Bulkeley, Sir R. B. Banbury, E. 11. Cardwell, Edward Carter, J. B. Cavendish, C. C. Cavendish, G. 11. Cavendish, IV. G Chaplin„W. J. Clay, James Clay, Sir W. Clerk sir G Cobden, Richard Cockburn, Sir A. Colebrooke, Sir T. Collins, William Cowper, W. F. Craig, Sir W. G. Crowder, R. R. Currie, ltaikes Denison,, J. E. ' D'Eyncourt, T. Divett, E. Douglas, Sir C. Duke, Sir James Duncan, Lord Dundas, Admiral Dundas, Sir David Ebrington, Lord The following Me►rmbers paired on Lord Naas's motion : TOIL AGAINST. Sturt, H. G. Paget, Lord G. Du Pre, C. G. Tufnell, Right Hon. H. Mundy, W. Lemon, Sir C. Stafford, A. Mitchell, T. A. Halford, Sir H. Melgund, Lord. Duncombe, Hon. A. Howard. Hon. E. G. Farnham, E. B. Evans, William. Mr. O'Flaherty paired, in favour of Mr. Hume's motion on the income-tax, with Mr. T. Duncombe, M.P. for Finsbury, against. Mr. H. B. Clive, paired, in favour of Mr. Hume's amend ment, with Mr. Slaney, against. Mr. Adderley paired all night with Mr. Sheridan. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee : _ _ _ 1. That in the case of the Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Loughor Railway (No. 2), petition for leave to deposit a petition for a Bill, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to deposit their petition accordingly. 2. That in the case of the Manchester, Buxton, Mat lock, and Midland Junction Railway, petition for dispensing with standing order No. 121, the said standing order ought not to be dispensed with. 3. That in the case of the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire Railway Bill, petition for dispensing with standing orders Nos. 105 and 166, the said standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 4. That in the case of the Midland Railway (Purchase of Leeds and Bradford Railway, and Increase of Capital) Bill, petition for dispensing with standing order No. 134, the said standing order ought to be dispensed with, provided a clause be inserted in the Bill, enacting, that in the event of the Act 7 and 8 Victoria, cap. 85, coming into operation as regards the Midland Railway Company, the capital of that company shall be held for the purposes of that Act to be increased only by the amount of the capital of the Leeds and Bradford Railway Company, viz., the sum of 900,0001.; and that the borrowing powers of the Midland Railway Company shall not be increased beyond the borrow ing powers now possessed by the Leeds and Bradford Railway Company. That the Committee on the Bill do report how far this order has been complied with on the Report of the Bill. First and fourth Resolutions agreed to.—Report to lie on the table. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFOR REFORM ASSOCIATION. (EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.) Sir,—On Monday the stb, considerable interest attached to the declaration of the Government as to its future proceedings on the subject of the Income Tax. The Minister declared with frankness, that the Govern ment bowed to the decision of the House whereby the Income Tax was only given for one year; but he an nounced with equal clearness, that the arranged system of taxation, including removal of Window Tax and alteration of Coffee and Timber duties, could not go on unless the House agreed that there should be no more changes. , On Tuesday a Resolution was moved in Committee of the whole House, for proceeding to lighten the charges on the agriculturists, by substituting an equalized Poor's Rate in England and Wales. This is the first appearance noted in the House, of an idea which has been several times met with out of doors. Surely if an invention were wanted fur increasing the expense of maintaining paupers, nothing could be discovered like determining that ono set of men should everywhere spend, and another should pay. There appeared to be considerable unanimity in this persuasion; and the motion was con sequently withdrawn. A Motion followed by Lord Naas, for' a Committee to take into consideration the present mode of levying the duty on home-made spirits in bond. The Govern ment resisted it, on the ground so Strongly put forward on former occasions, of the necessity for maintaining the duties it is least desirable to alter, as the means of al tering those it is most. The motion resulted in a vote of 159 against 159; and the Speaker, according to some rule existing on such occasions, gave his casting vote for the motion, which was consequently carried. The Member for Sheffield proceeded to what in pulpit phrase is called " improve the occasion;' by asking the Minister if he did not thereupon intend to resign. The Minister replied with firmness, that he should take his own counsel. There appeared some probability of a second division, on the question being proposed in the Com mittee; but it finally ended in reporting progress, and the question is to come on again on Friday. The theory of all this is clear. '1:h? Protectionists are so strong, that whoever cbuses to join with them, as in the actual case the representatives of the Irish and Scotch distillers, may show a powerful front. Thus at the present moment, the fates of Europe anu the world perhaps hang upon whiskey. I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. London, 7 May, 1051. THE HON. MRS. NOBTON ' S NEW NOVEL, "STUART DuNLEATn ."—The .Examiner, in its notice of this charm ing story, says :—" Like the crystal fountain among the fountains of the Crystal Palace, this novel shines among the new novels of the year lire -eminent and peerless. No prose work of equal power has yet come from the pen of Mrs. Norton, and we are glad to announce her return to a field of composition which she has already so successfully cultivated, by a notice of the present contribution of her genius to the vast wilderness of novelty, instruction, and delight which May has opened to our metropolis. Stuart of Dunleath' is a very beautiful and touching story. While Eleanor and Margaret are each, in their several ways, among the most lovely creations that ever graced a romance or a home, the subordinate characters are likewise remarkable for the mas terly touch and boldindividuality with which they are. drawn." [A D VERTISEMENT.] —Beni Life in London, of May 4, gave over three columns of cricketing, including a column of the opening dinner at Grillon's Hotel —names of the thirty-five new members—the All-England Matches to come, &c.—and also five columns of the four days' doings at Chester, &C., &c. The average sale of Bell's Life exceeds regularly published at four o t c i l r o t c y k t h o o n u s s a a n t u d r . d.aßye/l's morning,L ie i is n time for all the morning mails and railways. The Corriere Mercantile of Genoa gives an ac count of the receipts and expenditure of the Turin and Novi Railroad during the year 1850. The total receipts amoun t ed to 1,68 1671., and the expenses to 1,036,911 f. ; thus leaving a net profit of 661,255 f. The average circulation was 700 passengers per day. I ILL: it 0 Ai.l C D M 1 1. TiItiVATE VIEIV Expectations of the most lively claseeiption had been formed as to the character of the exhibition for the pre sent season of the Royal Academy. It was, conse quently, with no little iaterest and with no small degree of curiosity that we attended the private view of the col lection on Friday. Having, rather fortunately, attended upon that occasion immediately after the visit of her Msjesty and the Prince Consort, we were enabled to talte an almost uninterrupted survey of the paintings hung upon the walls previously to the arrival of the dis tinguished visitors, by whom the various apartments were subsequently crowded rather inconveniently We .were, therefore, enabled to form a more i tis dtcieusly-considered • estismita of the merits of the display than is usually permitted to the critic upon simi lar occasions. Not only most cordially, but LilO3G con - weatiously also, we find ourselves enabled to cougratu lete the members and stesoo".ates of this great national institution of the fine arts upon the numerous and bril liant evidences they have of srcled this year of the capa city of the English sat 00l of peintieg throughout the whole variety of its manifold departments. When it is Considered that our artists will have their productions during the present season sub:Lined to the cen.iderti tion of so many intelligent travellers from the continent, accustomed in their own country to depreciate our students of the brush through ignorance of what they ; Lave actually accomplished, and educated' themselves. to the full uppreciation of tile Ben ner'• art by being familiarised with the masterpieces collected together in the galleries of France, of Belgium, slid or Italy—the more:tbau ordinary success achieved just now by our Academicians will he a source, we feel, of very general satisfaction. It should be remembered, moreover, as a means of enhancing these pleasurable sentiments, that the testimonies of more than customary excellence here referred to have been ) ielded by a very great majority of the cornributors, and are rpecimene, consequently, in almost every one of the various classes of pictorial composition. Almost each one among the number of the principal Academicians has striven appa rently to sustain the repute acquired in accumulative force during so many years by themselves and their predecessors, and two only of any . very wide celebrity have refrained from participating in this elevated com petition for applause. These defaulters are no other than Turner and Mulready—for we cannot accept the little sketch painted as far back as 1809 by the latter, and numbered 168 in the catalogue, as anything at all approaching to a substantial contribution. Regretting toe absence, however, of these illustrious artists, as the public will inevitably do, it cannot but be acknowledged that they have earned for themselves by their many great achievements the privilege of reposing upon their laurels now, in the ripened season of their genius, and the autumn of their popularity. Deprived of their aid, nevertheless, the Royal Academy collection for 18M has proved itself worthy of being viewed contemporane ously with the great Industrial Exhibition. From the miraculously executed historical pictures of Maclise to the animal paintings of Landseer, from the inimi table landscapes of Stanfield to the fruit pieces of Lance, from the classical compositions of Dyce to the marvellous meadow scenery of Lee and Cooper, throughout the whole diversified range of art, from its loftiest to its lowliest department, we may discover examples sometimes of masterly skill, and sometimes of the noblest inspiration. Not that we would pretend for a moment that all of the chief con tributors have proved in this instance equally successful, or alike entitled to share in these widely-distributed ex pressions of admiration. On the contrary, some, from whom better things might have been anticipated, have revealed a lamentable decline of power, or a yet more lamentable perverseness of taste. W hat, for example, could possibly be said by way of extenuating the derision which must necessarily descend upon tho veteran head of Uwins for (No. 35) his very hideous and fantastic picture of Ulysses, with the yellow figure in the foreground? Even Maclise's remarkable painting (No. 67) of " Caxton's Printing-officein the Almonry at Westminster," in some respects the most astonishingly finished picture in the Gallery, cannot altogether escape the blame attached to a work containing not one elevated sentiment, not one suggestive incident, not one veritable manifestation of character, not one countenance with anything like a genuine flesh-tint, not one line of vigorous expression thrown into the features of even the principal person ages represented. Edward tho Fourth himself might stand for the effigy of a great lubberly boy, and Caxton be nothing nobler than a very cadave rous old gentleman, but that their intended identity is marked in black and white upon the seventh page of the catalogue, Failures of this description are scarcely com pensated, wo imagine, by the most amazing evidence of ingenuity in the details, by the depicting of rusty nails, end damp letter-press, and deal frameworks so strangely actual in their semblance as to reveal even the grain of the wood and the influence of dry-rot on its particles. Dyce, unlike Maclise, has contributed a really splendid production, also in its subject relating to our national literature—a work of caring simplicity in design, of surprising energy in conception, and of the most satisfactory finish in re gard to the mere manipulation of the painting, devoid at once of unnecessary minuteness and unpardonable affectation. We allude, of course, to' (No. 77) his " Kina Lear and the Fool in the Storm," a work in which,' with a true Shaksperian eye to contrast, he has blended together the grotesque and the pathetic, the fantastic and the sublime, placing in the midst of a tu multuous agitation of the atmosphere the old mad King, crowned as with a diadem of calamities, and that strange comrade of his—the most mar vellous of all the marvellous Fools of the most wonderful of all wonderful Dramatists. In Lear the artist has proved his extraordinary powers, among other things, by a rather uncommon and adven turous achievement, namely by depicting him fore shortened with flowing draperies, a labour of ingenuity almost miraculous in its accomplishment. In the Fool ho has effected yet more, ho has demonstrated a wild and subtle imagination, whether we look upon that face gross and almost bestial in its lack of " speculation," yet delicate and almost beautiful in the tenderness of its half-awakened solicitude, or regard that attitude so en tirely expressive of carelessness in the negligent tossing up of the feet as Motley lies full length upon his chest along the heath. Standing in front of the picture we can fancy to ourselves the weird and howling sough of the wind blowing among the silver tresses of Lear and jangling the tawdry bells of the Fool in the midst of the roar ing of the thunder and of the hurricane. Landseer, not less than Dyce, surpasses himself this season by a brilliant and admirable illustration of Shakspere. His theme is (No. 157) the love scene between " Bottom and Titania"—tho weaver with a head so astoundingly asinine, and the enamoured queen of the fags with a face and figure so exquisitely suggestive of Fairy land! Even to the little bronze-complexioned elf in the foreground, standing with his tiny muscular legs astraddle in front of the clownish victim of the metamorphosis, daring him with all the pluck of a microscopic audacity, to the other and daintier elves swarming about the rest of the green wood, dangling from the branches, shaking down the dewdrops, or riding on those visionary rabbits with eyes as pink as any shade of mother-o'-pearl, and wool as fleecy as eider down. The production is a delightful example of those rare powers which have recently gained this master his knighthood. Leslie, striving equally with the foregoing to realize the dreams of the same immor tal poet, has endeavoured to. depict (No. 140) "Falstaff personating the King;" but neither the Prince , nor the rascally old wit, his companion, can be regarded as o i n n o n Any respect successful performances. T he hoste ss ,ce is led the other hand, is the most sniggering of fu 7 housewives, Francis the most dapper and conspiaissaenatoodf tapsters, and Bardolph, with his red bulbous n his drooping eyelids, the most self-possessed and self satisfied of, topers. Webster might bo said almost as truthfully as Turner and Mulready to have refrained from sharing in the present season's competition ; for we can scarcely be tempted to accept as tokens of his ability the three trifling studies (Nos. 106, 106, and 173) he has this year contributed to the Exhibition. Not so Witherington, whose sylvan representation of (No. 179) " Midsummer " is a masterpiece of rare and fascinating excellence. To the very robin feeding its young upon the ,foot trail through the copse, the artist's labours in this charming picture have been grateful in every par ticular. Stanfield's (No. 196) " Battle of Roveredo," one of his large war-scenes, in which a con fused assemblage of fighting-men, is introduced in a vast and mountainous landscape, paintod,as Stanfield alone canspaint it, will be:viewed, we doubt not, with universal pleasure as a fine example of the manner of this di tinguished artist in, his very happiest mo ments. Throughout the picture has been "worked up" with an extraordinary regard to its com pleteness, whether it be, for instance, in the faintest veil of clouds on the Alpine ridgeS, or in the smouldering beam of wood tumbled among the ruins in the valley. Poole's noble painting of (No. 344) " The Goths in Italy"—the only work rom his hand in the collection, but one which cannot fail to elevate and en hence his reputation very remarkably—arrests the at tention of the visitor as one of the most successful pro ductions in the exhibition, and this, moreover, in the very highest school of art. The subject appears to have been suggested by the following gorgeous passage from Gibbon's " Decline and Fall": " And the principal warriors insulted the hills and gardens once inhabited by Lucullus and Cicero, along the beauteous coasts of Campania. Their trembling captives, the sons and daughters of Roman senator!, presented, in go bl e t s o f gold and gems, larg e draugh ts of Fal ern i an w i ne, to the haughty v i c t or s, who stretchedne-trees, their huge limbs under the shade plane-trees, an d t f artificially disposed to exclude the scor cbu to admit the geni a l warmth of the sun. These delights csm p were isen com parison enhanced by the memory of past hardships t of their native soil, the bleak and barren lids of Scythia, and the frozen banks of the Elbe and Danube, added new charms to the felicity of the Italian climates pp , ." aragrah the artist Taking his inspiration from h in a compo s i. has, with the powerful hand oif.:a master, ali lion of marvellous beauty , realised the golden an d vo luptuous fancies of the annst. To these, moreover, he has added the fruits of his i own poetical perceptivity, and of a sensuous an d abounding magination. In group- L. . l 3 ev erywhere immeasurably s uper i or to group ing o th r e p o w r s p r evious productions, while i n co l our i ng, also, wo cannot but regardtbaew‘hqoulli' impracticable with lY triumphant over ever y difficulty. What would l mo st men be has fully acco mplished—imparting to his tissh-tints in the open air ell the glowing warmth of vitality. The naked figure towards the centre is sur prisingly perfect in its aeatemical proportions ; and the betiding form of the handmaid in chequered light and shade, is an exquisite episode to the main composition. Later on we may take occasion to ~~ituli! 2~! S 1.1 N rtutcD °Sul , a o; f:c; :-...,, ~,, • ~...,..1 : ,i 5 4: : ,,. ., .t . p. 5,:.‘ . ,;, . ,:n.r. , , , :747...... ~._.t, „...• „,, . „..'?,, ...' I J4 - C, .opt...ii ~ ~ ....,,„4........„....„.c,...:,..4..„... ~.:1 . ....,..... i . v , ,•:.:,....-- , 5 ...... i ~.. •.. :, a : t l c t i - j4 - iqz v•' . 61.11 , ...„ 707, ..../ . .0!"., ipcl:yre 44 , :e . : 1 / 4 , '.:. ) ;: , •• ii ,-...; . 'IN I L,r. I. an d,6 ~f utile,r co :tributo-ts to t , ka . .. • ' - . ....." decoy exhilii..ion. Among theie" the cleituiligAv r ws l i b qu b y jointly ' p?oduced by Lee and Cooper, occupy a conspicuous .positimai, together with tLe ch arm i ng mythological pictures. of: Frost . • and Pickersg ill, the Wilkie-like . productions of labodol, and the humorous paintings cf - Frith. of Egg, and of Solomons. Never befoie, perhaps, were the rooms of the Academy so alArmingly -crocirded with portraits; but, fortunately, they represent this year so many of our eminent contemporeries, that they are in some measure invested - with interest and redeemed from monotony. During. the private . 'View of Fridtty we observed an, unusual attendance of notabilities, and on the following day the annind dinner-. given by the Academicians and the as6ociales past;ed off with a success in the highest de— gree satisfactory. NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) REPRESENTATION 01? THE ISLE OF WIG-BT. The rebignatien of Mr. C. Cavendish Clifford mused groat rejoicings in the Tory camp yesterday, but gioom earn° with the morrow in the shape of the underntien ticned cddres:s, from Rlsvard Dawes, Eq., of St flelen'.q, u 'rivestaut, a. Liberal, a Free Tradar, and a Refo.ccurr. lle solicits the sut,lreges of the electors, and add , "It isi my firm intention tts go to the poll!" " Oh, drao." rays the Tories, " then vve cannot." He has canvassed Itydr.,auch obtained a great majority of the votes. lie addresses the Newport elector!: this even- "TO TUE ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY OF 'HIE ISLE OF wroirr. Gentlemen,—Having been solicited by a respectable myself to b e rwo p oee d as a beds. of the elector.; to allow candidate Cor the representatio n of the Isle of Wigan, 1 have consented, in conasquence of the retirement of Mr. Clifford, to the application. 4, Possessing property in land , I am deeply interested in the prosperity of the agricultural classes; but I am thoroughly satisfied that the free-trade policy of the present day has produced a higher degree of happiness and con tentment amongst the people, and greater prosperity /o the kingdom at large, than would have been obtained under the old system of corn-laws and high duties upon the general food of the population. In my opinion, free trade has not only increased the comforts of the working-classes, but it has disarmed the disaffected of every, pretence for hostility to Government, and probably saved the country from confusion and ruin. At the same time, I deeply lament that the tran sition from protection to free trade has 'entailed any amount of distress on the agriculturists; and I think it due to that valuable class of the community, that l'alliament should in vestigate their complaints, and give them every possible relief, short of taxing the food of the people. I believe, however, that, whil e P ar li ament may d ev ise some remedy, the landlords themselves must do much in the re-adjust ment of rents to the actual state of things; more especially as they themselves participate in the general prosperity of the country consequent on the reduction of taxation and the cheapening of all the necessaries i and many of the com forts of life. " With respect to Papal A ggression, I would resist every pretension of Popery which is inconsistent with the dignity of this country, and with our civil and religious rights; and especially I would support any measure for placing convein tual establishments under salutary inspection, and for regu lating bequests devised for religious or charitable uses. I would restrict the Church of Rome to the same amount of religious liberty, and the same means for its propagation, as are enjoyed by other religious denominations. " As a member of the Church of England, I am mortified to perceive that the aggressions of the Papacy have been en couraged by a party within the Establishment. My own ar dent desire is to see that Church administered according to the intentions of our noble Reformers. I should wish to see its internal administration reformed, and its revenues more equally distributed, so as to render them subservient to the happiness and usefulness of the great body of the clergy. With regard to the Dissenting bodies, I cheerfully admit the immense services they have rendered to the cause of Chris tianity in every part of the British empire, and I shall al ways be ready, as far as I can, to aid in maintaining their rights and privileges. " I am prepared to consent to a well-considered measure for the extension of the suffrage, so as to keep pace with the increasing education and influence of the people, believing that in proportion as the foundations of our constitution can be safely enlarged, the fabric itself is strengthened. " In conclusion, I have only to say that, so far as depends on me, the canvass for your suffrage shall be carried on in a spirit of fairness and candour towards those electors who differ from me, and that, if elected as your representative, I shall endeavour to serve you faithfully. " It is my firm inteution to go to the poll. " Should the shortness of time or other circumstances pre vent a personal canvass, I trust that this plain statement of my principles will be deemed satisfactory by the great body of the electors. " I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, " EDWARD DAWES. " St Helen's House, St. Helen's, Isle of Wight, May 6, 1851." COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by the Baroness de Speth, went to Frogmore yesterday morning. Her Royal Highness returned to Clarence House in the after noon. His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of Prussia, attended by Colonel Fischer and Lieutenant Von Heinz, visited and inspected the British Museum yesterday morning. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent ♦isited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, on Monday, at bk,uces ter House. A deputation from Marylebone, Paddington, Kensington, Bayswater, &c., against the proposed ride in Kensington gardens, headed by Lord Robert Grosvenor, Archdeacon Sinclair, and Mr. J. Evans, M.P., had an Interview y ester day with Lord S:=ymour, at the office of her Majesty's (.3om inissioners of Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place. The deputation consisted of Colonel BarloW, Major \Vil lock, Major Grafton, Major Thew, Captain Deacon, R.N., Rev. Dr. Hesse) , (Ilead Blaster of the Grammar School), Rev. J. H. Howlett, Rev. J. S. Sperling. Mr. Vincent (Deputy Remem brancer of the Exchequer), Mr. Shaw, Mr. Malcolmson, Mr. Henry .Barslem (churchwarden of the parish of Paddington), Mr. John Sperling (Kensington Palace-gardens), Mr. W. P. Richards (Kensington), Mr. Alex. Boetefenr (Bayswater), Dr. Bayford, lit. Wuddilove. Messrs. Clarke, Revell Phillips, J. Goodeve, M. E. Conan, W. R. A. Boyle, and Moreton Phillips (barristers); .Blessrs. J. E. Walters, G. Lefroy, and J. Wilkins (solicitors) ; Mr. Merriman (surgeon), M r . Rongemont, Mr. C. Cope,'R.A , Mr. Redgrave, R.A., Mr. E. Prentis, Messrs. Stephetio. Laurence, Dickinson, Churchill, Coleman, Smith Williams, Danford, and J. E. Gray. The Earl of Lovelace and ‘Colonel Brown had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dr. Ryer son had also an interview with the Noble Earl. Mr. Arthur Sleigh, Deputy Chairman of the Canada,' New Brunswick, and \ova Scotia Railway Company, accom panied by Mr. Andrew Clarke and Mr. James Davidson, had an interview yesterday with Earl Grey at the Golonial office A deputation, consisting of Lord Robert Grosvenor ALP., Mr. Wm. Ty lee, Mr. John P earson , M r. J o hn Barrett, and Mr. James Lloyd, had an interview yesterday with Lord Seymour on the proposed park for Finsbury. Messrs. Harrison W a t son , Ed mun d Leah and Matthew Messrs. Leahy, had an int erv i ew w ith E ar l Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Vengeance, 84, Captain Lord Edward Russell, took in her powder on Monday. There are no orders at Portsmouth to fill up her crew. Victoria and Albert, rityal yacht, Captain Lord A. Fitz. clarence, was taken out of dock at Portsmouth on Monday, and remains in the basin, where she will be masted, coaled, and prepared further for summer service. Seagull, 6, packet , Lieutenant-Commander Small, and Spider, 6, Li e utenant-Comman der Tomlineon, have both been mustered, inspected, and exercised at Devonport by Captain Bing-street, ing harbour s tr ee to t, be paid uth ss noff.ea after a short L o we, of the nag - ship im p re g nable; and in th e afternoon f Monday on ayboisthiosnagaey, in dinto illness, Mr. John It. E. Sadler, son of Captain Sadler, principal clerk in the master-attendant' s office in _ R.N. doc kyard. Portsmouth POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. POLISII REFUGEES.—hi. Szulczewski, secretary to the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, in justice to the moral character of the Polish refugees, by which as a body they are distinguished, and to prevent any undue prejudice in the public mind, wishes to state that the p ur p ort of his remarks to. Mr. Hard wick, in th e case o f Joseph Mierzcjewski, sent from; France to En g l an d b y the French authorities, Bg. somewhat misunderstood. Hi s mean i ng was, that French authorities acted generally with sereli o tyL , to wards Polish refugees, and that the Frenc_h e li es ' over meat was not scrupulous about sending their to this country, not only on account, poli tical conduct, but on account of othereseb .. °f o g' awes not i t put in t h a t all the 800 political, which the law of France couldfrrera the report force. The inference likely to be &no persons un worthy the conversation with Mr. Hardwiceter, was not cor- Poles were men of disreputable c rect. For though some were, n o c' t body were of good worthy of considdatibn;the' ¢ -t e pethy from their mils character, and deserving of 8 Y fortunes. illoubt, to-day RAIL WAY BIti ------------S T li ne l l it ar g " - m Y a lVl6 rlie A t it wa l( s L :at TS. 6 s hare zly es t 3 r 4 an .... S s eC o t u ien th- 11 STOCJK EXCHANGE:J o e97 t e r t n e , n O d e ri n g e i y n ' al S T 1 11 ; o e The share market continues in _ he and prices had a down r l e : as p o t r e t r e n d an we d r x e Dc — ev G e r rm e .a at,, sys ! . . s OPOOL, MA Y 6 . a S"" E- d state, with prices tendeinale very depre:seto. day were as follow :- 6--3%M.—idlL°l4 downwards. donian T , 11-16 transactioren and. orkshire, Lancash l do 6 n 3 and North-West ern, Ne w southiastern d D and, —Ditto, Halves. over, 27 5 ,4 "(irk, Newcastle. 12:i 21 1 A —y all and Berwie , . ork and North Midland, 26%—Ditte , Preference, 1 tA3 die. dis......Q_knarters 5% p. MANCHESTER, MAY 6. Spocic Ex c H "Gß.—The market has been very to -day, and a further decline tack place in prices. _The transactions were as follow :—Eastern Cou n ties , 71.i--ureat Northern, 1 gt ► /inanimate - - t iv—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 63_ Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, New 61. Preference. 9-16 C. I?. North British, P reference, 5 York and North M idland, 2 6 %.• BIRMINGHAM, MAY firm to -day, STOCK E XCHINGI.— The mar k e t lOW ions were as fol the business d o i ng was s li g ht. The transac uarters, 5 t ...- low :—Lond on an d North-Western, Nevi Q - % p. South Staffordshire, 27 ) , die. trA , 5. YORK, i "--:ctions to-day were as STOCK EXCHANGE. — The n follow :—Caledonian, 15—Nort htr3riatish, Preference, 51.1 s 3d. —York and North Midland, 27. • r --- upon, it would appear that among THE LATE FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—Prom information we can rely the sufferers only two persons (Mr. Hurry and Mr. Happier) had availed themselves of the advantages offered by th e Railway Passengers Assurance Company, while not one of upon obtaining information of this di those who were killed had taken that precaution. The their surgeon, Mr. Barnard Holt, of sad rectors cai aomf dispatchedco inp n the Westminster Hospital, to render every assistance in his power and thus en deavour to carr y out as far as possible • t h e i r compact with the public, to render efficient and imnao- F no b l emanit D. T w hi ill beM worts da di a t e aid in all cases of emer g enc y . OR limi DM ente lc d T re mainsTiirof lj this TE ljmuch pcmited at the Catacombs, Kemal-green Cemetery.