The Sun. — London, England, 1851-04-15 00:00:00

I Excaeq,;(l uer, extent 01 Pr hole, be t h°ugbi beet thstcollw lon. Gentlel y s b )lisbirg Gocer tlw6 io re ,ill. F oaled 'at bY the Y k had a tilt vho m3 ll 1 , with bis s maintainedls. better [ on. $1 o rlrie . rGen tlemP re cSPeC ia ` s. rich would e 1 ler the circ l ; no; Press because cert?.,, ;coped tøttufr it it Wag Il'of good des! subject o f n the ere wa s , r/at° fr' perfectly esof lowli t he sr re afford these C of lessen ed the )ancellor to sition then Ger • ht tg b e r the n wn otcl ich would ~QU colt c tax 0 0 0 * 0 ficci toget her, ty e was r to I whic h tb joieDei.of uodred e t ip no r i owns ° t i n t Cha RCQ' 05 0 tuber of hoar 456, 000 _ e ra T. There a , pp l Present 001 to the 1 3 ) 0 aid ier 20L 5 .5 t , mess ure, ce P o r ) eriolo ° • de ta3 °ll 00' uakioK e pel 6boP e th e 411 0 tett d DOD id ef t , b e 7 t the be g tor e %e T i oule s uIY ca E 0,1 n 03" O d eru " er 6' 01 Kebeq -01 ti )t the 00; 0 • re thi s oe ol GOVe rll )0 v° at iOn SOI . e bal o bad t t a , eo ,to w bO, , eative , ,w•duti ee c rir ) then f ie : 0 4 taxa Ale o ‘ e Bob, r nigh t 0) 0 hat s f 4 .i bi 4 r so r jotru uAi oo Peeh f r osl os 0 , e d ,00' h du• tie s ' Tio lli e ibde s s s ,.lo a ble lt ied. , at Sbeif t'" 00 c i r ,g CI O I 6B OI irUP C)) ,#6 IP d tbe wasi 0 , t be ee not 4 0 e 0 1(8 as Al der° _d re er of , g ; c i : l mei° co fool r, 6 y, 10 P o ld oil p. r e f o f r th e r !erea tohs , n$ O f crj jv J " dos° 0 lig l b ye! w l g.O et i ; e l ; o a i rY th ib , en for him to enter into, details to show that iheconsureption of dear coil's had fallen off. The Chan- Exchequer could not deny that the diesinu -I°4 in the consumption of coff:e since 1847 had been 400,0001 he That was not caused by the high price of eon nor the want of power of consumption in this pet:rounsny:errYiit3fu.r_tt: nountre was said to be in a state of great Hear," from Members on the Ministerial of the He took that statement from the (Thence l ler •.the Exehaquer.—(Leughter.) Tee was article i lhich came most in competition with coffse; but though • a' consumption of tea had increased, still it was only in D r °Portion to the increase of the population, and its use s c 9nid not he adduced as an argument to account for a T r einution i n t h e consumption of coffee.—(Hear, hear.) fat th ee real cattle of the diminution was the adulteration ht hadf ta k en place, because there was a T reasury i nute coffee.—(Haar.) sanctioning the adulteration of co•e.—(Hear.) i lowas quite true the Treasury minute only permitted o adoption o f c hi cory, h ut t h e E xc ite ) officers made "° distinction whether the adulteration was l` t i "ted through chicory or any other article. as not only the colonial interest that remonstrated a gainst that adulteration. Those enga,gs din the foreign trade also objected to it. The Brazilians, as well as the coloni a l coffee erowers, protested sgainst it. In his ° P i nion it was to useless sacrifice of the revenue. All !ort a of articles were wed in the adulteration, and the !Julies adulterating it thought they were quite justified in t ehat t h ey did, and he could hardly blame them fir t t°. l3 .c: so when they found the Tteastiry minute saying might adulterate coffee with chicory. The con test by this means was made to pay a high price for t o e- ' a ad lliterated article. If the consumer was permitted "ate the adulterated article at a low price ha might not hhave So much reason to complain, but it was not s h o e ! it': laid a high price for an adulterated article. T esu r ,, „ minute was issued in 1840, when ceffee envas t a s t s r a o ei g h Price, and the trade with China bad bsin atePted and tea was 33. a pound. Then it was said , it - elli cory might be allowed to be introduced because he Paid the same d u t y as if it were coffee. Why, era asked ' were they to allow coffee to be adul • tla and prohibited the adulteration of every t e exciseable article? The Chancellor of the ' e u f cauer said he did not want Excise prese atietiens• Nobody did; but in the paper of that very day saw an account o f s i x prosecutions fur the adul• t th ritt4;c t of beer why was there not a prosecution for 4. o a adu lteration of coffee? There were also prosecu ti n a f or th e etifyadulteration of pepper—why not protect tro y' in the same manner? He could not understand tro , unless that the Exeise officers were afraid of the p os e . bl e• He could not understand this pertinacious op t, t l k t ion on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer re ," withdrawal of the Treasury minute. As to the ,auction of the duty it wis not sufficient to prevent "4 11 ter at i on, and ate continuance of the present system p r s o n °l, in his opinion, fair Lit the honest trader, the caTucer, and the consumer.—( l 3ear.) P PRINeEp was not, he meld, quite so ready to give it tee diffsrential duty as the Hun, Gentleman who had p t ,,sat down. Coffee wits an article that could not be ewi ll h eed without g e, a t expense, in a particular climate, years persons, s e i yi " a particular situation, and for ten brie .g on the differential duty, had been employed in di ne t ~6 ` ,..n g it to a state of cultivation in Ceylon. He ta, "'" for a double duty for their benefit; but he sai I e ug t t t b . o duty ought to be abolished gradually, mid they th at n ,` l3 adept the same course of proceeding with coffee T h ep had followed with respect to sugar. that "# e 011 A.NCELLOit tee EXIMEQUER said, )r as „, aa virg stated the grounds on which his proposition th eo wade ou former ocsasion, he could not do better e 1, - ,,f7eat them at present. In 1846 the quantity of 2 (1 3,7",, e ` 11 Coffee imported for home consumption was to theee.,ooolbs., and in 1850 it was . 28,892,000:bre; whilst fall e sam e period the consumption of foreign coffee had ai, a a Off 10,000 0001bs. Then we had from these colo• 110 - 36 ° o o,ooolbs., of which there was consumed col 00,0001b5., and there vets exported abroad of that o des oeffse from this country 3,500,0001b5. In that til es Protecting duty was no advantage to their colo and ta they produced more than was consumed here, th eir Protecting duty did not secure them the price for ee l ; Vide, for they had to sell it abroad. At the same to•• "." 0 Protecting duty excluded a very valuable de thrulaistine ot _ „ coffee. The reduction of the duty might ja r , ue a benefit to c o ns umers hero, whilst it did no in• c hi.' to the Colonial producer. As to the mixing the th, e t e , r Y With coffee, he had discussed the subject so often eed - t le woald not trouble the House again respecting it, breathe More especially as the subject was to be again to"ght forward in that House. He was convinced he old a dopted that which was the best for the con r' a nd would 4 be no injury to the producers in the tlr IiTT this uNIE could state, from an examination into cul t t a ci ablect before a Committee, that it was very diffi eeffe distinguish the difference between pure coffee and Pra et e c ra ized with chicory. There was great adulteration su es I sed with other articles. He was sure one-third of the f or ' i r used in this country was adulterated—adulterated also "ta nee, with arrow-root and other things. Pepper abjection greatly adulterated. Upon principle he had no I)(lJr,tion to the mixture of chicory with coffee, if the tet"el Purchasing it liked to have it so mixed. He would g roe tr r etent the sale of chicory, but he would prevent cote" selling chicory as coffee. A sample of pure f oi _ and of coffee adulterated with chicory bad been roe to him, lie had tried both, and had found I"3' little difference between them.—(llear.) For a I.,, 7o a a n g r i Tr at tio m n aon f I°o3n_gitiene Hunt's roasted corn mixed with chicory and a flrtoertof chicor pure coffee had been found very palatabl© Y People. He would not prevent the use cf Y, and hoped the time would come when (hlversade would be so far extended as to render excise It i t and the interference of excisemen unnecessary. iit:',STANLEY wished to say a few words as to the lt t b o ' ll 'ties under which the producer of colonial coffee red when compared with the foreign grower. In h tt r , west Indian possessions the production of coffee withall but ceased. The foreign countries that competed a e l were Arabia, Java, Porto Rico, C u b a , an d B ra• th at ?lit the real competition was with B raz il. I n a ll Ma to "elle related to the growth of coff ee —i n so il , cl i • ta ge ' and labour, Brazil possessed considerable adven %ad s o lver Ceylon. In Ceylon the so il was thi n , grave ll y Rt` ; ol d. Compared with Brazil, the land fit f or th e 14 1 1 th of coffee in Ceylon was of limited amou n t, w hil e tyert,azil there was an unlimited extent of alluvial land. t he h4° ll e know t h at s l ave l a b our ex i ste d i n B raz il , an d liahh" "ed that no sort of labour was so cheap when the 'seyi e ° Pinion of the country was not opposed to it. In ks ec r l • where the great mass of the population were th em the greatest difficulty was found in inducing I le ,el e to labour. Coolies were sometimes employed, but Blipe r i he lesl the coffee estates were never more than half Iteir ei l i ed with labour. It appeared from a statement with iU 0,, i he had b een f urn i s h e d t h at th e wa ges of Coolie s ths t 'll° l l were 0 0s month, including lodging. To eoti ! ei ght he added 7s. a 7s. to Bs. as ' the price of food. The traa'illelearing land in Ceylon was much greater then in aptCeylonll Ceylon it was no t l ess than 31.. while in Brazil it More than 255. or 30s. an acre. The coffee region in 4 448 wits inland an d mounta i nous , a nd the expense of Des e Na ting coffee t o th e coas t va ried trona ss. to Bs. 6d. frot ti I' , Whil e i n B raz i l it was on l y 2s. 2 d. Th e voyage it eia razil w as one of two months, while from Caylon Brazil of four or five months, and the freight from ttq. A na from 27a. to 30s. a ton, w hil e f rom C e yl on 1 444 31 ., had been 51., and even 71. 10s. a ton. He had hi gh the se f acts merely to show the difficulty—he N et " aknost say the impossibility—of the Ceylon theif er b eing, able to compete with the planter of Brazil dutie • a on foreign and coesesel coffee were equalised. has AB OUCHERE did not think that the House aßei4eiared to uph o ld p ro tective d u ties o n co l on i a l a s 11 ,,jort et foreign coffee. The present moment, in the opi ,"'opo p a -411 Y, Was favourable to melting the equali,ation s ofa The Hon. Member had alluded to the ad- Aly w hich Brazil possessed over Ceylon, in the sup e 1/ o "tath3 labour. He differed from the opinion which ho Member entertained on that point. Every . one kn ew a d P • h at attention to what was going on in Brazil Nkt (31 ? Insecure the whole system- of sieve labour in le eill e e °, l lntry 45. He regretted that the Hon. Member iU of soff q to think that it was impossible for the cultivator e ° with free labour to ' compete with the cultivator haa Ce antri Cal l° " having slave labour. The Hon. Member tirch t to e xpressed an opinion that a discriminating duty ce ffee 1 " imposed in favour of Ceylon, otherwise the kt!ln,tations would cease to be cultivated. But that k r. "Ha, worn-out, and exploded argument. th ticARDwEL as e on L, ablution to what had fallen from 'Olt Member for Montrose, said that the practice of ee had t t p ati ,Z 4 b t u in t g h T it not only discouraged the fair 'Rai • au caused a considerable loss to the revenue tit• I,nlshine the amount of the coffee consumed. tole said that when he was Chancellor of e•l l Aa Complaints were made of the adultera _oree tiet-meta and orders were consequently given to en tailt e l aw old s . • Deputations from the trade then came, ° ma that hoe w ho w there were two classes in the trad h e- Te tt op rac ti t , :ye honest Tad obeyed the law, and couldt vt • t l:t h e adulteration; but they said Excise regulation which would not interfere t e tl e and . that the only course was to place all on , 11 :loting, and to suspend the regulation of the fir,ers xcise wu job prevented adulteration. 't A.XLEY asked why the Government should ‘l O ., _ he R -L ad ulteration in the particular article of coffee? e lll t ' s o o n ' Member for Montrose had said that he could l ' p llt ti th e ; ° l'er the difference between coffee and chicory. ' I,° l ll th„" was no difficulty in detecting the one ar ti c l e ;(l e ,, other by the microscope. At present the ills lersirg; trailer profited by the proeeedines of the Go titatilltitt The Chancellor of the Exchequer ought un at gIY to withdraw the minute of 1840. He had pod ation th itt . in saying that chicory was unwholesome, ilei c i o its constant consumption was attended with i tkft s p ea ao nlaquences. E Lord f e'w wor t o from Mr. LOCKHART, tChbur k'" H AMILTON hoped the Chancellor of the t . o7 l ; e h i r s nlild yield to the advice of the Hon. Mem qt, uury. who spoke with some authority on this te as s ate `! withdraw the Treasury minute of 1840. Lie th ole 41'lled thatgentleman professing the free- Prie a s t eald d Ps of the Chancellor of the Exchequer cobel e I , anythi ng i°lo r andule I to favour the consumption of an nt y sold as another article, and, ae %tilts)°, L ' ° best medical authorities, deleterious in its ta T he n il . .q. je w ere ULLLOR of the EXCHEQUER said a O 4O h e li e _ at. .F"nfe medical opinions in favour of chicory. v,en chicory to be noxious anti deleterious, he ",see3l3"tl_be ju i stified in doing anything to encourage its , O Mr, A '„n that . was not his belief. ant ehi en `L ll- LEY said, in explanation, that those who svi th by wholesale adulterated it to a great ex , h_ wvaarious articles, so that the trader who be etrzyt e ° 7i i i T tio only mixing diwn. : ,T w ihu h ei tt e e leiti h ge e hr ut a hid lt ; iaciren y .a i tiGiree(hlaatisite:rdmi Gentleman 4 4.1 ° K 4a ticell .t , t °r of the Exchequer had suffered from in n. Righ t seam he (Mr. Wakley) feared very much ill`datigat,r,•-°n• Gentleman's coffee was too strong— R, h ttti c , 4 ) 4 7:nd that his illness was owing to his hay- Ale resolut i on .much of an unwholesome ingredient. -Angus la4B then put and agreed to. Mr. BERNAL then read the reedutien on the timber duties, which wes passed without a discussion. The House then resumed, The CHAIRMAN reported progress. Report to be received to-morrow (this day). SUPPLY.—THE NE W HOUSE OF CO:UNIONS. On the motion for going into a Committee of Supply, Sir DE LACY EVANS, pursuant to notice, called the attention of the House to the present condition of the new House cf Commons. His Noble Friend the Member for Bsth had recently put some questions on that subject which had drawn his attention to it, and in consequence he (Sir De L. Evans) bad paid a visit to the new House of Commons, where he con'eesed he had been much eurpri-ed by seeing the progress made and making in that which was called the ornamental por tion of the House. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer had put a stop to all that work for the present, and he thought the Howie ought to be very much obliged to him for it. The Hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. Greene) had, it appeared, gone out of town for a few days, and Mr. Barry, the architect, had thereupon sit about carrying on his notions of ornament. There were introduced innumerable painted shields and gilded carv ings, notwithstanding it had been well understood that the place was to be as plain as possible, and furnishing as marked a contrast as might be with the gorgeous, and , gaudy ornaments of the House of Lords.—(Hear, hear.) Instead of the chamber being like one for the delibera , :ion of men of the 19th century, it was more like the in terior of a monastery of the 16th. When remedying a defect in the House with respect to facility of hearing in it—a matter which should have been originally considered and calculated on—it had been found necessary to lower the ceiling, and in doing that the windows had been half closed, thereby injuring the light of the House. He hoped the Hon. Member for Lancaster would be able to tell them how all those changes occurred. He understood that the architect alleged that he never understood the House to express any opinion upon this matter ; but if it was not formally expressed, he maintained that such an opinion was im plied. The architect, however, having been entrusted with the construction of the Houses of Parliament, thought he was more responsible to posterity for his work than to the present generation. Mr. BRIGHT wished to know also whether the 8,5001. voted last year for the expense of the alterations was a sufficient sum for that purpose, or whether it had been exceeded? Mr. GREENE said, with respect to the sum alluded to, Mr. Barry had been required by the Commissioners to make an account; but as the work had not bsen yet finished and measured it would he impossible to say what was the exact amount expended. In reply to the question of the Gallant Officer he should say that it was his impression when he left London that the House of Commons should be finished in the plainest possible manner, and with as Great a contrast to the House of Lords as possible.—(Hear.) On that subject he had re ceived a written communication from Mr. Barry, in which he had stated that he was not aware of any particular wishes of the House with respect to the internal decoration of the new House. He (Mr. Greene), however, confessed that he had been surprised at the nature of the work proceeded with, and was thankful to the Chancellor of the Ex chequer for having stopped the work. Tee ceiling was eo far finished that they did not think they would be .justi fled in scraping it off; and with respect to the shields hung round the House, their judgment had been sus pended until the lower part was finished. He confessed ho did not approve of the course adopted by the Com mittee. He thought the House would have been le.tter if' left as it was, having only widened the galleries. flare would be ne want of hearing then in his opinion. In the matter of light, however, ha did not conceive there would be any difficulty. They never felt want of light in the present Housed But, indeed, the greater part of their business was carried on by candle-light. Mr. WAKILEY asked whether any instructions, printed or written, had been sent to Mr. Barry with re spect to the decorations of the House? Mr. GREENE said no such instructions had been issued. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said when the experimental roof had been resolved on it was not intended to have it ornamented. Indeed he under stood that the whole of the building was to be as plain as possible, and that no further decoration was to be introduced. However, when he found it had been other wise, he at once gave orders to have a stop put to the work.—(Hear.) Sir B. HALL said a distinct understanding existed that the estimates furnished for the proposed alterations were not to be exceeded. The arms to be introduced in some of the shields, he understood, were to be the bo roughs of England. Now, as he represented a not un important one—ef hich, however, not being a corporation, had no arms—(Laughter)—he would not regret if that plan were abandoned. He thought that the alterations would be found to be satisfactory; but the question then arose when the Members were to occupy the new House? —(Hear, hear.) The longer they were out of it the greater the expense would be.—(Hear.) Mr. GREENE said he had been informed there was a possibility of going into the new House after the Whitsuntide recess; but the walls of the lobbies and passages might not be perfectly dry by that time. There was also for their consideration the fact that the library and other necessary apartments which they would want ere still unfinished. He did not think it would be quite convenient to them to occupy the House before next session. Sir D. NORREYS denied that Mr. Barry had ever received any instructions with respect to the ornament of the House. As they had adopted a certain style with respect to architecture, they should have the details and ornaments carried out in a similar taste, otherwise they would be acting in a most absurd manner. As the House had chosen to adopt this style of architecture, Mr. Barry was quite right in adopting the style of decoration in unison with it, and had therefore been improperly stopped. Ha was not Mr. Barry's advo cate—he believed Mr. Barry had committed more faults than any other architect—(Hear, and laughter)— but he considered as Mr. Barry had perfected himself in that style of education which the country had prescribed he ought not to be censured for carrying out its prin ciple. He differed from the opinion of the Hon. Member for Lancaster about the uncoloured heraldic decorations. He was at a loss to conceive how the idea of heraldic decorations was to be carried out without using colour. He did not agreed with the Honourable Member (Sir De Lacy Evans) with respect to the fault he found about the decorations. He believed the decorations to be suitable, and in character with the design of the build ing. He would call the attention of the House to the wording of the motion of the Hon. and Gallant Member for Westminster. The words of the motion went to im pugn the professional reputation of the architect em pleycd by that House, inasmuch as the motion would lead persons to believe that the architect was acting in opposith nto the wishes of the House and the nation. Ile considered it was not fair towards Mr. Barry to create such an impression. Lord DUNCAN said if colouring was necessary, then Hon. Members had good reason to be dissatisfied with the House prepared for their reception last year. Then there was no colouring used; now, colouring was in pro fuion. He wanted to know where the expense was to end? The first estimate was for about half a million; that sum had extended to more than two millions, and the Houses were not finished yet. He had been looking over soma estimates lately, and the first item that struck him was the expense of the Orange-street Water Works, for furnishing with water the new Houses of Parlia meat, when finished. He found that the supply was to be 260,000 gallons per day while the House was sitting, aid 160 000 for the time when the House was not sitting. Tho supply was a larger supply than a town of 14,000 inhabitants required.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME had, some time ago, urged the House to dismiss Mr. Barry. After upwards of two millions had been spent the works appeared to be as far as ever from completion. As long as Mr. Barry could get money fur alterations there would be no end to the expense. The Hon. Member (Sir D. Nerreys) had let out the secret—Mr. Barry had to finish his education.—(No.) He understood the Hon. Member to say something to that effect. But he mast remind the House his pre dictions respecting Mr. Barry had been fulfilled. He said years ago, if Mr. Barry was not controlled he would construct the House of Commons in the same gewgaw style as he had constructed the House of Lords. The House was properly served for not taking effectual steps on the subject at the time he gave that warning. He did not, however, exclusively blame Mr. Barry; ho blamed the Committee even more for not having all the estimates before them before they incurred the endless expense. Colonel RAWDON said he had been requested by Mr. Barry to place his answer to the various complaints before the House. The Hon. and Gallant Member read the following letter:— " Mr. Barry has not been made acquainted with any declared wishes on the part of the Members of the House as to the decorations of the new House of Com mons, and knows nothing of the existence of such a declaration collectively or individually. Mr. Barry is not persisting in carrying into effect the ' so-called' in ternal decorations of the House, which was suspended on its being objected to by the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Heraldry is absolutely essential to the charac ter and the full expression of the Tudor style of the design adopted by Parliament, and it is the only means of giving historic interest to it, which, in a great national edifice devoted to the purpose of the New Palace at Westminster, is most desirable for many reasons. A display of heraldry and suitable historic decorations has elways formed an essential feature of the design and esti mates of the building, sanctioned by Parliament, and I have never received any intimation, either written or verbal, to forego the use of it." Ile supposed, therefore, that all these decorations had ban sanctioned by Parliament, and that he was justified in what he was now doing. Sir R. INGLIS admitted the original estimate was 1 e m l t u t sl e e h d ibelown those t wo e a s u t d ;m a half te, millions • 'out expenses not hadin property, b an el t bankment the purchase of' , for a high tower to promote ventilation, for a façade, richer and more extensive than that of any for the erection a n e ni o - f other building in any other country in Europe. He be lieved tho money already expended was not more than half the sum stated. It was due to Mr. Barry to state that he was correct in his original estimates, and that he h-o• Lea -5 to .. incurred—for . had not dealt with twice as much as the sum put down in his estimates. He denied that the House had ever ex pressed a formal opinion, and there was nothing on the journals of the House to show it, on the subject of the decoration of the House. He felt it due to Mr. Barry's reputation to make this statement. Lord C. HAMILTON recalled the attention of the Hon. Baronet to the statement just made that a con versatien had passed between Mr. Barry and the Chan ! seller of the Exchequer on the subject of the decora -1 tions. It was not exec Sly proper, although he admitted the tenderness that ought to prevail in speaking of a ' gentlemen in his absence, to hold out to the House a istatement that because no formal resolution appeared on the journals the architect was justified in persisting in T lIF, S U LON DON, l:‘ tIEBOAY hal been issued, inasmuch as the Commissioners had no legsl authority to issue them. The Honourable and Gallant .iLlember then cited some cases in which serious accidents had been occasioned through the large travel. ling barrel-organs and traveliing vans, and expressed a hope that summary means would be taken to put a stop to the nuisance'. Sir G. GREY said he was perfectly willing to do all that he could, c , misistently with law, to prevent the nui sance of which the lieu. Member complained. it was certainly stated in the public papers that orders had been issued by the Commissioner.; to stop street music, and the Commissioners stated that they had no such po‘ver; but that any person, on the ground of illness in hi family or any other reasonable 2,ause, might compel street musicians to desist from playing before his house under a penalty. The order issues on the 2lst ult. was not to prohibit all street music, bit to stop it where it was calculated to occasion impediment or obstruction, or danger to life. lie had no objection to grant the return moved for. Mr. BROTHERTON defended street musicianF. Agreed to. ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION. Mr. AGLIONBY presentedr;:petitien from 11. Ed yisrde,, praying (as we understood) to be heard in his justification. He begged to move tbt it he printed with the votes, for the purpose of being considered to-morrow (this day).—Agreed to. The House then adjourned at One o',;lock. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 14. no LORD CHANCELLOR took his scar. on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. The Bishop of EXETER presented teural petitiors against Papal aggression. Lord CAMPBELL presented petitions from several plf.,c:l; in Scotland to the same effect. The Earl of EGLINTOR - PieSentel several pc thins to the saw() effect. The Earl of MOUNTCASHELL presented several petitions from places in Ireland to the same affect. The Earl of a - LENGAlEp;isentCd several petitions from places in Tipperary to the same effect. The Earl of HARROWBY presented petitions from places in Staffordshire and Cheshire to the same effect. COUNTY COURTS. Lord BROUGHAM moved for certain returns re latiog to the county courts respecting the fees received. Ho considered that it was most unjust to demand from suitors that they should not only havo to pay for the ad ministration of justice to themselves, but that they should havo to provide for the expenses of the administration o' justice to others who should come after them. It w a s entirely contrary to the principles laid down by Mr. Bentham, and in the justice of which all were agreed. He would take the opportunity of stating that the num ber of cases in which the matter in dispute was above 101. which had been decided by the county courts was 32,000. The Noble and Learned Lord then asked in what state of forwardness waslhe Criminal Law Digest ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said that without no tice he could not answer the question. CHURCH BUILDINGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Thu Earl of CARLISLE moved the second reading of this Bill. The Bill was founded upon a report which had met with the approval ot the two Archbishops, the Earl of Harrowby, and several ether members ot the Church Building Commission. The object of the Bill was to amend the law relating to ehurce buildings, arid to give to the Church Bailding Commission the power of regulating pew rents, and of securing free sittings to the poorer members of the Church iu all new churches. The report expressed a desire that Parliament should deal with the question of church -rates, but as the touching of that subject might lead to irritation the Bill did not pro pose to deal with it. The Earl of PO WIS tnzdo some observations, but in so low a tone that even their purport could not be caught in the gallery. After a few words from Lord STANLEY, The Bill was read a second time. RATINGS IN IRELAND. Lord MONTEAGLE rose to present, according to notice, a petition from landowners of Kerry on the sub ject of local assessments for the construction of railways in the south of Ireland. It was essential that their Lordships' attention should be directed to this subject. Their Lordships had on a former occasion entertained a Bill for opening the line from Dublin to Cork, and this was now one of the finest public works in Ireland. It had been recommended in Mr. Drummond's report that this line should be carried on to the west; that had been undertaken by la company, but they had not been enabled to complete the whole, and the petitioners had consulted the localities, and had applied to the grand juries of Kerry and Cork for assistance, and the grand juries had unanimously decided on assisting from their rates in the completion of that work, and the question was whether Parliament was now disposed to sanction that decision, and to authorise the advance ment of money from these rates to complete the railway. In Galway a Government advance had been made for the completion of railways, and the peti tioners asked that the counties might be permitted out of their own resources to do that which the Govern ment had done for Galway. The proposed railway ran through the poorest districts in Ireland, and the comple tion of this railway would furnish work to from 3,000 to 4,000 of that destitute population. He asked for no grant of public money, but merely to use their own rates for this purpose, which would give employment to the desti tute population. Lord REDESDALE admitted the importance of the question. It was a question as to whether they should rate the public at large for the benefit of private indi viduals. By this Bill the original projectors of the railway proposed to get rid of 111 a share on their original proposal when the Bill was passed, and they also proposed to take the power of borrowing upon the security of advances from the county rate, instead of upon their own subscriptions, and thus they proposed to construct a line for their own profit, entirely upon the responsibility of the county-rates. There was also, it must be remembered, a line proposed to be con structed from Killarney to Valentia, a competing line, the subscribers to which did not come to Parliament to seek this power of taxing the counties which was sought for by those whom the Noble Lord supported. He did not think, unless further reasons were shown, that it would b 3 advisable to grant the prayer of this petition. Earl GRANVILLEE deprecated the discussion of general principles upon the presentation of petitions. He agreed very much with what had fallen from both Noble Lords. The Railway Commissioners declined giving opinions on the merit of Railway Bills, merely pointing out ❑nusual provisions in them; there were unusual pro visions in this Bill, not in accordance with general rail way law. He admitted that great distress existed in the county in question; but it was obvious that great care should be taken in the case under notice, and it was the duty of the Government to consider all the bearings of the case, and in what form the subject could be brought before Parliament. The Earl of HARROWBY said there was such great distress in that county that he was sorry any technical rules of the House should stand in the way of its relief. Earl GREY said there were two ways in which rail ways were of advantage —one in direct returns to the proprietors, the other in opening up the land and so in crewing its value. Ireland h a d suffered so much f3r the want of facilities for openi ng up the land that i t m i ght be a matter of consideration for landed proprietors to adopt the principle of the petition, which he, therefore, thought ought not to be hastily rejected. He agreed that measures founded on this principle—especially in Ireland—should be scrutinised with the greatest care, so as not to become a job.—(Hear, and laughter.) Lord BEAUMONT tho ug h t there was something particular in the case, as it was not the company but the rate-payers who petitioned the House to be permitted to give a ;guarantee upon the land. It would be a hard to refuse its prayer. case in b s i T s A op s in L io E n y , t s h a c id rc f i o t r w e generally admitted this was a proposition of an exc ept i onal character, while on the other hand there was a concurrence of opinion that the parties petitioning should have the power of burden ing themselves, and that there was a case made out for sanctioning, in the instance of an Irish railway, a gua rantee of the county rates. The very body which now petitioned would in the case of an ordinary road have not alone the power of giving the guarantee in question, but of raising and expending the money. It was, there fore to be considered whether in this peculiar case that power should not be extended to railroads. It might never cost the county a penny. On these considerations, he thought the case was one in which technical consider ations should not be adhered to, but that the work should be considered as a public work. The Earl of POW'S said that to reject this line would be to give the Galway line an unfair preponderance. With due precautions ho considered the case had a claim upon the indulgence of Parliament. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said the same principle had been introduced into a Bill for making a railway from London to Dover, but it was not permitted by Par new one, should be carefully considered before it was Par liament. He thought, therefore, the principle, being a adopted. Lord REDESDALE explained. Lord MONTEAGLE replied. The subject then dropped. BRITISH GUIANA. h oe t ta was in an unusua l several tacked k e Lord STANLEY then rose to lay befor e th e i r Lord ships the petition of which ho bad given notice on a for mer evening, signed by a very large number of the d together, as in habitants of British Guiana, praying for a local legisla ture for that colony under representative government. form, petition, t w he as No t b o le L sa o y rd , observed,t sheets of which it was composed were n was the custom, but bound; but he hoped that would not interfere to prevent its reception by the Hous e . To that petition there were no fewer than 5,000 signatures; among which he saw not only names familiar, no doubt, to'the Noble Earl opposite, as th ose of persons holding prominent posit io ns in that colony, but also names pertaining to all classes and denomina tions of colonists—clergy, mer chants, traders, b arr i s t ers , shopkeepers, landed proprietors , Planters, and labourers. He was sorry, however, to see, as regarded the progress of education in the colony and among the colonists, that there were a large number of signatures made by marks to this petition, and that the d e ficiency applied not a l one to the bibourers, but likewise tl small areeholderp, and, stranger still, to persons engaged in trade, who might naturally be supposed to have a knowb-dge cf writing sufficient to carry on their respective business. But he was in a position, however, to state that the trades and designations of the whole of these 5,000 petitioners were given in the petition; and, moreover, in every case where the signature was by a mark, the attestation of a respect able witness as to its genuine character was given in the same column. He believed that a great number of the lower class of the petitioners had ; s.gned this pe tition because it had been represented by cer tain parties that the views it contained were not those of the colonial community at .large, hut cf a 1 small set of persons who, under cover of the Act of the i Noble Earl opposite, were desirous to establish an oli- his objectilnable decorations. Ha agreA with the Hon. Member fir Montrose that Mr. Blrry was not so much to biarne as asserted. The Committee were to blame for not having in the first instance full estimates and limits from the architect. He hope.; that the Committee would take care to have estimates for what was yet to be done. Lord H. VANE hoped the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Greens) would come to some uaderatending with the Commissioners on the subject. Mr. J. E. DENISON said that the great question they had to consider wiv, who were the parties respon sible for the management of that building and of the ex penditure upon it. Nothing appeared to him more irre gular than the whole of the proceedings in that matter, and he entertained a strong opinion that the manage ment of the works ought to be placed under the control of some responsible authority. Mr. FRE WEN said that on the 28th of March he had given notice that he should, on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, bring under the considera tion of the House the distress which prevailed in the hop-growiae; districts of Suesex. That notice did not, however, appear in the votes of that day, and he wished to know whether he could then bring forward his motion ? The SPEAKER said that as the notice did not ap pear on the paper of that day, the Hon. Member could not bring it forward. He believed it had become a dropped order,and the; the Hon. Member had omitted to renew it. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said ha thought it ex tremely desirable that the House should know who were the parties entrusted with the control of the works in the new Houses of Parliament. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his impression was that the Commissioners were respon sible for the control of the works. lie believed that the case which had been adverted to of works having been undertaken without a proper stuction on the pert of the Commissioners, had arisen from the fact that one of their members, namely, his Hon. Friend the Mem ber for Lancaster (Mr. Greene), had been absent from England at the time, and that another of them had been laid up by illness. Mr. GREENE said that the arrangement upon the subject was that the Commissioners should have the con trol of the works, subject, however, to the approval of the Lards of the Treasury with regard to the cost of them. The case of which a complaint had been made had arisen from the circumstance just stated by his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ho believed that Mr. Barry must have misunderstood the language which he (Mr. Greene) had used upon the subject. _ _ Mr. ‘d-. BANICES said that as the cost of these works was subject to the approval of the Lords of the Trea sury, it appeared to him that they were the parties re sponsible for any improper outlay. He believed that the wishes of the Committee of last session, with respect to the new chamber for the Members of that House, had not been fully complied with. The windows of that chamber had been painted, and as the windows had also been reduced in size, the consequence was that the room was at present so dark that one could hardly read in it in the noonday. Mr. HUME said be wished to know whether the Commissioners had required Mr. Barry to give in any estimate of the cost of the decorations of the new House of Commons? Mr. GREENE said be was not able at the moment to answer that question. The fact wai, that thd arrant..e ments with respect to the new House of Commons had been left very much in the hands of the Committee ap pointed by the House to conduct the matter. Mr. HUME said it had been proposed that there should be an inquiry into the circumstances which had attlided the massacre of the dyaks iu Borneo; stud ho wished to ask whether it would not be just and proper to suspend the payment of the head-money until the House should have decided whether or not that inquiry should be instituted? _ _ The SPEAKER said that the Hon. Member could not then put that question. Sir F. BARING said he hoped he might be allowed to answer the question, although it was somewhat irre gular. The fect was that the Government had no power cf stopping the payment of that money, which they were bound to pay under the provisions of the Act of Parliament. SUPPLY.-THE ARMY ESTIMATES. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply on the army estimates, Mr. BERNAL in the chair. A vote of 14,606/. was passed for the charge of re ward for distinguished services of officers and sergeants. A vote of 52,0001. for the pay of general officers was agreed to. A vote of 52,5001. for the full pay of reduced and re tired officers was also adopted. A vote of 377,0001. having bee❑ proposed for tho half pay of reduced and retired officers, Mr. HUNIE said be wished to know how many of those officers ware capable of returning to the service? Mr. F. MAULE :aid he believed that the proportion of those officers fit fJr service was very small indeed. But considerable reductions had of late years taken place in that vote. Since the year 1835 the number of the men had been reduced from 5,671 to 3,130, and the cost had been reduced from 583,000/. to 377,000/. After a few words from Mr. W. WILLIAMS, the vote was agreed to. 38,9931. for foreign half-pay and pensions. Mr. 11UNIE said the longevity of these officers was ap parently so great that some doubt arose as to their ac tual existence. Mr. P. MAULE said every precaution was taken to identity these officers, the greatest part of whom lived in Hanover. Mr. HUME was suspicious of all foreign pensions since, in 1834, he had seen a pension payable from the period of the edict of Nantes. Mr. F. IIAULE said, that since 1835 half of the list had been removed by death. 122,717/, for widows' pensions. 88,500/., for the Compas3ionata Fund, for allowances to offie-rs' widows. 35,4131., fa. Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals. Mr. HUME said there was a difficulty in computing the number of persons in these hospitals, while an im mense staff was maintained in each. He thought the time was come when they could be dispensed with, and the men get their out...pensions. In reply to Lord NAAS, Mr. F. MAULE said he certainly had not issued the same order in respect to Chelsea Hospital which he had issued with respect to Kilmainham Hospital. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said the cost of the officers of the hospital at Chelsea was 9,0001., while the vote for the hospital was only 26,0001. Atter a few words from Colonel DUNNE, the vote was agreed to. 1,233,0501. for the charge of the out pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, discharged negro soldiers, and Hano verian soldiers. Mr. WAIILEY asked how many of the Hanoverian pensioners were alive? Mr. F. MAULE could not tell, but there were not many. Tee vote was agreed to. 37.5001. for retired allowances, compensations, stvr annua.tions, &e. Colonel CHATTERTON complained that justice was not done to the cavalry officers in command of regiments as regarded allowance for forage. Ho thought small tenements for married soldiers inside the walls of bar racks would be more satisfactory than model lodging houses, such as were proposed by the Right Hon. Secre tary-at-War, inasmuch as though they would pay ls. 2d. per week for them they would have the advantage of coals and candles. Mr. J. A. SMITH suggested that there should be day rooms established in the barracks for the soldiers, as they were already in every other service in Europe. The want of them drove the soldier to the public-house. The ventilation of the soldiers' sleeping rooms should also be attended to. Mr. F. MAULE did not think the pay of cavalry offi cers was lower in proportion than that of other officers. It was desirable to separate married from single soldiers iu respect of barrack accommodation, but he could not recognise the claim of marriage except in a certain number of instances, otherwise the whole army would get married. As respects day rooms, there were day rooms already in the barracks. but they were certainly too small, and any extension of the accommodation that could be afforded on that point would be willingly adopted. Colonel DUNNE considered that military men were by no means highly rewarded. Mr. HENLEY begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentle man, whether he would have any objection to furnish a return of the comparative cost of the cavalry and artil lery horses, for though each individual horse for the cavalry was purchased at a cost of 261., while the cost of each artillery horse was 311., still the whole artillery service stood at a much less sum than the cavalry service? Mr. F. biIAULE said he should be happy to furnish any information on the subject which the lion. Member desired. The vote was then agreed to, and the House resumed. EXPENSES OF - PROSECUTIONS BILL. This Bill was read a third time, On the motion that the Bill do pass, Mr. BANKES suggested a postponement of the stage, for the purpose of including conspiracy, in cases of mis demeanour within the scope of tho Bill. He had known conspiracies in his own district for the purpose of raising the price of bread to the poor. Mr. WAKLEY reminded the Hon. Gentleman that this had also been the object of a powerful party, with whom it might not be so easy to deal. Sir G. GREY observed that conspiracy in cases of felony was included in the Bill. Mr. HUME urged the necessity of appointing a pub lic prosecutor, and contrasted the state of England with Scotland, observing that three criminals escaped in the former country for one in the latter. The Bill then passed. The Stamp Duties Assimilation Bill then passed through Committee. The Exchequer-bills (17,756,6000 Bill passed through Committee. On the motion of 3fr. W. WILLIAMS, certain re turns were ordered of the public income and expendi ture of the United Kingdom for the years 1849, 1850, and 1851. THE ORGAN NUISANCE. Colonel SIBTLIORF moved fora copy of the instruc tions given by the Commissioners of the Police to the police officers relative to the preventing obstructions and other nuisances caused by the large traveling barrel. organs and advertising vans in and about the metropolis. The Right lionourable Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the 21st of March had in formed him that an order had been issued by the Com missioners of Police to stop all music in the streets which caused an obstruction of the public thorough fares. He had since that time received a letter from a gentleman, who informed him that he had been in correspondence with the chief office, ant; had been in formed by the au!lorities there that no such orders garchy in the colony ender the semblance of free insti tutions. Befero he proceeded, however, to state the substenee of the petition, and call the attention of their Lordships to its prayer, to should, with their Lordships' permission, describe that which, no doubt, was a subject fileoiliar to the Noble Earl, and which was at one time familiar Pled to himself (Lord Stanley), but which he believed not to bo so familiar to their Lordships— namely, the nature and condition of the existing coesti• tution of Briti s h G u i ana . Th at const i tut i on, h e ner d no t inform them, was not formed on the model of the British constitution. It was, on th e contrary, i n po i nt o f f ac t, practically the same as that which obtained under the Dutch government of the colony, and which was gua ranteed by this country to the inhabitants on the cession of that colony. There were two bodies, the C curt of Policy and the Combined Court. The members of the Court of Policy were chosen by an Electoral College, which was its e lf el ec t e d b y t h e popu l at i on o f the colony, divided into five districts, under a franchise that had been formerly a high one, but had been recently lowered. The Electoral College consisted of seven per• sons; and when a vacancy occurred in the Court of Po licy, they (the College) selected two persons, whom they recommended to the Court of Policy for the purpose of choosing one of them to fill the vacancy in that coml. The Court of Policy, this constituted, consisted of ten members, of whom the governor and four official mem bers formed one-half, the casting vote resting with the governor, who could thus practically decide every ques tion brought before the court. Practically speaking, the Court of Policy was the solo legislative body of the colony. No legislation could be carried on in the colony except in that court. It had the whole control of the legislation of the colony, and no legislation conid be ori ginated by any other body; for although there was com bined with that court another body for the purposes of financial legislation and taxation, that other body could not of itself originate any legislative measure. Those financial representatives were six in number, and, con joined Policy,hh governorf o r formed e h c a l had the ate was powerc a l o l ed f arresting all legislation by ajourning the court sine die. to Combined oasts the Court. Court of T After that short sketch of the Legislature of Guiana, their Lordships would be of opinion that it was not a constitution in which the representative system largely prevailed; and if it was their opinion that the colony was fit for representative institutions, the remedy lay not in a modification of the present system, but in the alteration of the system altogether in accordance with the prayer of the petitioners. Ile was not aware what was the nature of the alteration introduced in the system of the Noble Earl in the year 1840; but he believed he was correct in say ing that whilst the constitution of the Court of Policy and of the Combined Court remained unchanged, the alteration consisted in an extension of the franchise, and the substitution of open voting for the ballot. But looking at the state of ignorance in which the greater portion of the population were plunged, ho was not aware that the mode adopted of extending the franchise, and lowering the qualification, was the best mode of in troducing a resemblance to British institutions. How ever, great discontent existed in the colony, and several numerous and respectable meetings were hold for the purpose of obtaining representative institutions, and trom those meetings petitions were presented to the Court of Policy, demanding a free represent•,tive system. On the 3d of April a motion was made in the Court of Policy, recommending that the present Legislature should cease to exist, and should be replaced by a coun cil and house of assembly, such as that in Barhadoes and other West India possessions. On the 6th of May a great meeting was held a t G eorgetown, at wh i ch a com• mitten was formed for the purpose of organising a plan for effecting the changes desired in the constitution, but e Crown, went In consequence of no no ti ce h av i ng b een taken of their former— yi—viz., a petitions, ch u h e the hot demands homihat theed h peopleth further t th a e h r elective council and an elective assembly. A petition to that effect was presented to the Court of Policy, and that same court, which refused to notice the petition of the . 3d of April, came to a resolution on the 13th of June that it was the opinion of the court that the legislative insti tutions of British Guiana were unsuited to the existing state of society, that it was desirable they should be abolished, and a house of assembly and legislative coun cil elected instead. If anything were wanting to show what were the feelings of the colony on the matter, the self condemnation of that body thus given supplied it. However, on the 18th of September the Government submitted to the court a scheme, not for the purpose of introducing direct representation into either branch of the Legislature, but to increase from six to ten the num ber of additional representatives—to add one person to the elected members of the Court of Policy in the person of the Mayor of Georgetown. The governor having in pursuance of his right adjourned the court, another meeting was held in the interval, which was vary nu merously attended, and from which a declaration and petition emanated, to the effect that they were not sa tisfied with the modifications proposed by the governor, and praying the establishment of representative institu tions upon the model of those of the other British colo nies. On the 30th of September a resolution, embracing that principle, was proposed to the Court of Policy, and that same court, which had in the first place refused to notice the petition on the subject and in the next had affirmed and passed a resolution to the effect of the prayer of the petition, in the third place did not nega tive the resolution, but at a subsequent meeting, on the Bth of October, got rid of it by substituting an amend ment, to the effect that the court, acquiescing in the propriety of not altering the constitution of the co lony for the present without the full consent of all classes of the inhabitants, would abstain from legislation on the subject until the memorialists had explained the details of their plan of legislative representation, and declared what would, according to it, constitute full, free, and di rect popular representation. There was a Court of Po licy which condemned its own constitution, there was a general assent on the part of the colony to that con demnation, and a general declaration that they wished to substitute an elective chamber and house of repre sentatives. Nothing could be more clear and distinct than that proposition. He did not say whether the state was such as to furnish materials for those two Chambers, or whether one of them should be elective, or nominated by the Crown. But if anything were re quired to test the feeling of the population of the colony at large it was shown at an election at Georgetown of the member to fill a vacancy in the College of Electors. One of the candidates was chairman of the meetings which had been held in favour of the establishment of representative institutions ; the other belonged to the party who took the opposite view ; and out of the 14S electors of Georgetown 124 voted in favour of the champion of representative institutions, and 24 in favour of the advocate of the constitution as modified by the Noble Lord opposite. Having laid before their Lordships the facts of the case, he bad only to say that the petitioners earnestly pressed on their Lord ships' House the spirit of discontent which the present arbitrary system generated in the colony; they also complained that, considering the present state of the colony, the high price of the necessaries of life enhanced the cost of living in a way which was severely felt by all who were not in the receipt of Government pay, while the pressure of taxation was not diminished; and it was felt as an especial grievance by them that whilst their own produce was subject to most onerous competition with others, and gave inadequate remuneration for their labour, they were obliged, for the purpose of maintaining the high rate of salaries of the official servants of the Crown, to pay a heavy amount of taxation. He said nothing with respect to the specific proposition of the petitioners. He had not the specific knowledge of the colony which would enable him to say whether it was proper or not to establish representative institu tions such as they prayed for; but if the colony was in a state of advancing enlightenment—if there were a considerable number of intelligent and educated men amongst the inhabitants who desired a representative system—they were bound to attend to their wishes, not hastily, injudiciously, or incautiously, bat to ap proximate as soon as they could their constitution to a true representative system, not by any tinkering of a kind contrary to the spirit of the British institutions, but by introducing the principle of direct representation, re gard being had to laying the foundation of the popular branch of the Legislature under such safeguards as might be deemed necessary. Her Majesty's Government were bound, in deference to the united freedom of the colo nists, to grant, under such modifications and restrictions as they might think fit to impose, the principle of a direct representative Legislature, so as to enable them to exercise such control over their financial affairs and legis lation generally as was conceded to every colony as soon as its condition was fit to take the management of its own affairs. Without further observation, then, he com mended the petition to the attention of the Noble Earl opposite, in order that he might see fit to substitute for the old Dutch system which prevailed in the colony something more like British institutions. Earl GREY entirely conceded that the British colonies . should be allowed to enter upon the enjoyment of institu tioes founded upon the model of those of this country, or as soon as they were fit for them. But he could not admit that the present petition expressed the general opinion of all the colonists. On looking over the signa tures the Noble Lord would notice an absence of a large proportion of the signatures of persons of weight i . n the colony. He had before him some papers which were laid before the other House in answer to an address, amongst which was a dispatch from the governor, where in, speaking of a memorial addressed to the Court o resthou. I d upo b i l e a repre sentative wide Policy, which contained nearly the same signatures as the petition just presented by the . Noble Lord,. he stated that that memorial failed to convince . him of the conso nance and concurrence of the inhabitants of the colony yet agreed among themselves generally in its prayer, for of the signatures 1,100 were the marks of the London missionary congregations. He (Earl Grey ) ha had government always held a t a that ll, basis; but so far were the parties in this case from agreeing upon that point, that though repeatedly asked what was the franchise they . would have ; . and it was very well known to all acquainted with . . Gulana that the to do so, they had never it ought o t n h g e h r t e . to s present petition emanated from a coalition of two sepa rate parties, one of which wanted the extreme of de mocratic institutions, the other the re-e sta bli shment of the former state of things, which gave the power to a small oligarchy, who represented the a b sent proprietors. Up to 1849 some six or seven persons possessed almost all the political power of the colony. At the present time, looking at the population of Briti s h G u i ana , h e doubted the expediency of throwing power into the hands of the populat ion, consisting of 130,000 souls, of which not snore than 1,000 w as o f E uropean descent, the greater portion being persons who wore formerly slaves,and Africans recently landed from captured slavers, of coolies from the East Indies, or Portuguese from Madeira; and so ignorant were they that they were o b liged to aff i x the i r m arks to their signatures. Besides, owing to the high rate of wages and q the low value of l an d, p ers ons of little education very rapidl'e acquired property; therefore, if they adopted a pecunia r y qua lifi cation it woul d throw powerinto the hands of a very ignorant body of people, and he did no think it expedient to make the franchise such as would produce that result. On the other hand, nothing could be more it juntas to the real welfore of the I colony than to create an oligarchy such as formerly ex isted. It appeared to him, then, that the really judi cious course eas gradually to improve existing iustitu aims, so aato fit the people for a future increase of po pular power. That had been done to a certain extent by the alteration of 1819, and so far as related to the control of financial matters, which was the foundation of all legislative power, the colony did possess a great share lof self-governme n t. Wi t h res p ec t t o th e opinion of th e I intelligent part of the colonists, he held in his hand a resolution which had been transmitted to him by the chairman of the meeting of proprietors, in which they declared that, under existing institutions, the tax payers had entire control over the imposition and expenditure of the taxes, and they pointed out certain alterations in existing institutions as ' ()Toady preferable to any sweeping alterations in the present constitution. To the alterations which these gentlemen thus proposed he saw no objections what ever. On the contrary, he believed them to be sound in principle, and calculated to improve the existing institu tions of the colony, and gradually prepare it for still greater freedom. Regarding them in that light, he felt it his duty to send their resolution to the Governor, at the same time strongly to recommend a measure to be founded upon it and passed by the Court of Policy. The signatures to that resolution embraced those of every eonsiderable merchant and planter connected with Guiana, resident in Englansl, Scotland, and Ireland; and he thought that intelligent men hke them ought to be trusted in a matter of, that sort. As to what the Noble Lord had said respecting the weight cf taxation, he begged to say that it had been very much reduced of late. The Noble Lord seemed to think that since the Ant of 1546 passed, a still larger reduction ought to have been made; but if he would look to the actual state of the colony, he would find that it teas now in a not less promising condition than at the period cf the passing of that Act. Comparing the actual price which Guiana sugar produced at this time with what it then realised, he would not find the planter in a worse condition; rather he would find that brighter prospects were dawning upon him, as had been stated by the Governor in one of his dispatches. The fail in the rate of wages was fully commensurate with the fall in the price of the produce of the colony, for tile effect of protection, while it existed, had been to raise the price of labour. There was no question, judging from the returns which had been received, that wages had fallen; that was to say, that the rate of wages bad fallen to such an extent that the population did more work now for the same money than they had done before. With a state of society like that which existed in Guiana, this was an unmixed good, not only to the planters but the people themselves, because in that state of society it was most desirable that some adequate motive should bo found for them to labour, and not to encourage those habits of idleness which were naturally stimulated by the abolition cf slavery. The Noble Lord said that the measure of 1846 had operated so to injure the co lony as to make a great reduction of taxation neces sary. But if he looked at the facts before their Lord ' ships he found no proof of this. What was the actual state of affairs? At this moment the Governor had been able to propose in the colony a reduction of texetion to the extent of no less than between 150,000 and 250,000 dollars. And how had he been able to do this? Mainly by the increased productiveness of the existing taxes. And surely that increased productiveness of re venue was no proof of general distress in the co lony. On the contrary, it seemed to him to be a sign of the existence of a state of things which was the very reverse. He was also happy to inform the Noble Lord that the larger part of the raluctioa of taxa tion proposed by the Governor of Guiana was a reduc tion of the duties on imported provision. He quite con curred with the Noble Lord with regard to Guiana, and he wished the Noble Lord concurred with him in the same principle as regarded England—that no more sui cidal policy could be adopted in Guiana then that of laying heavy taxes on the importation of the necessaries of life. But undoubtedly the existence of self-govern ment would not prevent this, because ho was afraid that in this respect the policy of the other West India colo nies which did possess an Assembly and Council had not been wiser than that of Guiana, though he had great hopes that in their present sitting the Combined Court would effect large reductions of the duties in the impor tation of provisions, and that in future years that mea sure would be followed by the entire removal of those duties. This, be thought, was most desirable; for he firmly believed that the effect in the West Indies of these duties on imported provisions was most injurious both to the planter and the labourer. In all countries it was in jurious to the labourer that labour should, by artificial restrictions, be diverted from its natural requirements; and injurious to the planter, because the great evil of Guiens. being at this moment a deficiency of labour. by laying a tax upon imported provisions they virtually gave an encouragement to the negroes rather to occupy them selves in their own provision grounds, raising provi sions, than in earning wages from the planter and the sugar mill. The proposition of the Governor was, therefore, in his judgment, wise and judicious. He would repeat, that it was most desirable, if the popula tion were prepared for it, that we should be enabled more completely to establish representative institutions in Guiana; but, as matters now stood, he concurred with the gentleman whose opinions he had quoted, and who were, he believed, owners of a large proportion of pro perty in that colony, that it was far wiser to endeavour to improve its existing institutions than at once to sweep those institutions away, and substitute for them a scheme which was altogether new and untried. Lord STANLEY would have been inclined to attach much more importance to the statements of the gentle men cited by Earl Grey if they had not asserted that the colonies were not, in their view, fitted for repre sentative institutions; whilst the Noble Earl said they had already a highly intelligent and numerous con stituency in Guiana—a constituency of about 1,000 persons—a constituency which would be much larger than it was if persons would come forward and claim the privilege; and that that constituency had now the power of dealing with all financial questions. The Noble Earl said that there was an extended constituency which might b 3 made more extensive still; and that this constituency did in fact at present exercise control over the legislation of the colony. But, if that were so, the authority of the practical men to whom the Noble Lord referred was at once destroyed; for the Noble Earl did not state that the constituency were unfit, but that they did exercise control. Then why not let them exercise that control by direct representation rather than by a system of which the colonists complained as being so re pugnant to them?—(Hear.) The Noble Lord concluded by laying the petition upon their Lordships' t tble. HALIFAX AND QUEBEC RAILWAY. Lord STANLEY said he had another petition to present, from an association of persons in this country who were deeply interested in emigration t 3 America. It had reference to papers which were re cently laid upon the table of the House, from which he (Lord Stanley) was glad to see that her Majesty's Go vernment were prepared to give some assistance, and the guarantee of this country, to the legislatures of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada, for the purpose of establishing a railway between Halifax and Quebec. The petitiouers were connected with a number of skilled and unskilled workmen, who could not find employment in this country, and were desirous of emigrating to Canada, and they preyed that, in carrying into effect the railway from Halifax to Quebec, her Majesty's Government would not lose sight of the connexion which might be wisely and advantageously established between a well-re gulated system of emigration and colonization and the construction of this great national work. He mentioned this now, because he did not see any definite mention made in the papers as to how far the Noble Earl was disposed, with regard to New Brunswick particularly, to take the larger portion of the land adjoining the pro posed line of railway as a collateral security for the gua rantee of the Government. With regard to Nova Scotia and Canada, he believed such an arrangement was un necessary; but, with regard to New Brunswick, he was afraid that, looking at its present financial position, and looking also at its want of resources, as well as at the peculiar adaptability of its lands to purposes ofcolo_nhie coloni sation, that colony would not be able to give the sums Go vernment a sufficient security for the payment of the s d to be advanced on pan unless the Governme nt acce p ted as a portion of the security a surrender of the waste lands, which had already been offered by the colony. li e saw no reference to that in the papers laid upon the table by the Noble Earl. Earl GREY, in answer to Lord Stanley's concluding observations with regard to the petition from Guiana, said that there was a material difference between throw ing practically the whole power into the hands of the population of that colony by such an assembly as was asked for, and giving a well-regulated power over the imposition of taxes, which Were already possessed by the constituencies, who elected the financial representa tives. With regard to the second matter to which the Noble Lord had adverted that of the Quebec and Halifax Rail way, he bad only to point out to the Noble Lord this e i r enmstance, that the manner in which it was proposed that her Majesty's Government should guarantee the loan would make the whole revenue, both territorial and general, liable, i n th e first instance,' for the payment of the interest on the loan. If the proposal had been that this country should make the loan, or should guarantee the interest to the company making the loan, it was obvious that it would then be material, in the first in stance perhaps, that there should be a certain right to the land on both sides of the line, to afford the means of meeting the costs. But if the responsibility of this country was confined to guaranteeing the payment of a loan raised in the money market by the colony on the security of all its resources, territorial and general, that would be no longer applicable. Lord STANLEY theught the matter well worthy the consideration of the Noble Earl and her Majesty's Go vernment. True, the whole of the revenue and the lands of the colony would be the security for the guarantee of this country; but he doubted very much whether the re venue of the province would, after providing for car rying on the administration of the province, be a suffi: h cient security for the sums required to construct the ratl way through New Brunswick. But even if it were, e thought that in a national point of view, and particu larly with reference to emigration from this country, very great advantages would be obtained by placing under the control of the Commissioners, who were, he understood, to act in conjuction with the colonial autho rities, the promotion of colonisation along the line by emigrants going out under the s uperintendence and con trol of the Government- In that manner the surrender of the control of these lands along the ra ilw ay s might,not only pecuniarily, but politioally, be a most important matter for this country, with a view to transferring thither a large portion of industrious emigrants, who would not easily find their way there if the lands were not under the con trol of the Commissioners, but left to be disposed of by speculators for what they would fetch in the market. After a few words from Earl GREY, in support of i the plan determined upon by the Government, Lord STANLEY said ho thought the colony should be in the position of being able to offr a real security for the guarantee of this country, but he was afraid that without the surrender of the lands the colony would not have it in its power to give such security , and he should be sorry indeed if such an opposition were raised as that Parliament• would be dissuaded by the insufficiency of the security to refuse its guarantee. Lord BERNERS presented a petition from East Brent complaining of the pressure of local burdens upon the agricultural interest, and praying the treinsfer of th e charge for the maintenacce of the poor to the Consoli dated Fund. The Noble Lord added that the country was at this moment looking with considerable anxiety to see what measures might be promoted by their Lord. ships' House for the reduction of local burdens; and that it did hop?, es the principle of paying the expense of cri minal prosecutions out of the Consolidated Fund had been adopted, that the principle would be extended to the poor-rates. The Earl of POWIS presented a petition from the Bath Church of England Lay Association against the continuance of the grant to Maynooth. At a Quarter to Eight o'clock their Lordships ad. journcd for the Easter holidays until Thursday, the lit of May. AMERICAN NEWS. ARRIVAL OF THE ARCTre. LIVERPOOL, :MONDAY, APRIL 14. We have received by the arrival in this harbour of the United States mail-steamer Arctic, Ince, com mander, our usual dispatches from New York to the 2d inst. inclusive. The Arctic cleared from New York at noon on the 2d, bat encountering heavy head-winds, her run was prolonged to twelve days two hours. She arrived in the river at seven P.m., 113 passen gers , t h e usua l ma il s , an d spec i e at about 40,373/. s t er li ng, compr i s i ng 20 0,000 b v r a i l n u g ed ing dolls. in American coi n . Don Manuel Escando and the Hon. Goodrich " Peter Parley," the former on a financial mission from Mexico to London, have arrived in the Arctic. Our accounts from Washington and New York by the Arctic are not of great moment. Mr. Secretary Websttr has been entertained with public honours by the legislators of Pennsylvania, and on the occasion delivered a great constitutional and Union speech. Generals Scott and Cass bad been nominated for the Presidencv. President Fillmore had acknowledged Mr. G. Aikin as her Majesty's Consul at San Francisco. Jenny Lind had arrived at Nashville, and was ex pected at New York en route to London in May. Fifteen lives had been lost by a collision of steam• boats on the Ohio. Letters in the New York journals announce that the United States Cabinet had arranged a new postal plan with Canada. Resolutions had been passed by the Ohio Legisla ture for a modification of the Fugitive Slave Law. Great satisfaction is expressed in the free-trade of the Treasutry had organs that the Secretary re solved not to include freight in the valuation of foreign imports. Large numbers of passengers to the Crystal Palace were about to leave New York ; few berths were vacant in the steam-ship Canada, from Boston, on the 9th, and the Baltic, from New York, on the 16th inst. It is stated that several leaders of the Irish Directory in New York were among the in tended voyagers. Our mercantile accounts state that the southern markets were at length superabundantly supplied with specie. 500,000 dolls. were expscted from New Orloans. From California we have by this steamer no later account,,, but further advices and gold were shortly expected. Oar accounts from Canada do not con firm as yet the reported close of the Wenand Can 2l against United States vessels. Vessels were, on the contrary, pa'sing through. From the West India Islands, viii Bermuda, by the royal mail screw-steamer Mtrlin, at New York, we have very late accounts. St. Thomas advices of the 22d ult. announce the arrival of the steam-ship Trent from Southampton. Oar accounts are otherwise unimportant. From Bermuda we learn that Vice-Admiral the Earl of Dundonald arrive=d at St. George's on the 23d ult., in her Majesty's ship Wellesley. Some re lief of the drought had been experienced from a fell of rain in the island. From Carthagena we learn that on the 25th of February a second shock of earthquake was expe rienced at Santa ➢iartha. Several houses were much injured. Hayti accounts of the sth ult. state that tran quillity prevailed. From Jamaica we have journals to the lith ult., inclusive. On the 14th the Conway arrived from St. Thomas with the outward mails of the Thames, which arrived out in 21 days from Southampton, after a very rough passage. The Great Western was daily expected from Vera Cruz. Our accounts are unim portant in relation to political affairs. Letters from Havannah of the 22d ult. report no special feature of intelligence. Accounts from Mexico, received vier Havannah, extending to the 4th ult. from the capital, and to the Bth from Vera Cruz, are unimportant. Our au thority for the following is the Faire Industrial de l'Habana :—" Several papers of the Republic com plain of the inertness of the Government, and attri bute it to some pernicious anti-progressive influences. The House of Deputies had adopted a resolution, by which the Government is authorized to contract for the construction of a lighthouse in the bay of Los Alacranes, provided the cost will not rise above 80,000 (10113. The expenses of this lighthouse and others in project will be met by an increase of a real per ton on the vessels coming from a foreign port. The situation of the landed property becomes every day more deplorable." El Eco de Vera Cruz makes the most painful re flections upon some propositions lately presented to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury. It is said that the Senate has granted to General Herrera a yearly income of 4,000 dolls. for his ser vices as a military man. It was rumoured in Mazatlan that a pronuncia miento had been made, and that some officers of the permanent army had been comprised in it. They had been arrested by the commander at that point. From Pernambuco there are accounta to the 20th of February, but no details. Buenos Ayres accounts of the 21st of January an nounce the arrival of the Brezil mail auxiliary screw steam-ship Esk at that port on the 12th of January, after touching at Monte Video on the 11th. From the British Packet of the 11th we learn that iID g the receipts of the Federation were flourishing, th e balance on hand towar ds 18,11 being upwa r d s o f Legislature new me hadet transpired 3 r e fi l , a o t o i v O O , Otooo, Brazil.erd had been postponed. in the same Mercantile accounts failure of a native firm with large liabilities among foreign imPort houses. Prices of all kinds cif pro duce were h i gher, and were expected to continue From the deficient supply and the immense concourse of shipping in the port, fr • ghts were not exper:ted to improve. Demerara accounts to the 12th ult. state that the suits against the publisher of the Colonist had ended in an acquittal. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, APRIL 2.—Money-market—There is a decided improvement in the money-market. Ottr banks having passed the period for their first quarterly re ports, are discounting more freely and our capitalists feel much more confidence now that the draw for specie is checked. For several days past money has been more freely offered. Paper has gone with more freedom, in some instances we notice prime short paper is lower. Loans on demand and specified are more easily nego tiated. The Franklin steam-ship for Havre will take out about 300,000 dolls. in specie. Quite an excitement was created in Wall-street to-day by the sudden influx of large amounts id sterling exchange, and the conse quent depression in rates. Up to to-day the sales had been made at 110 f to 1101, but the market ga ve way upon its being made public that 70,0001. had been sold at 110. At the close of business sterling was offered at 110 with but few buyers, although the leading houses quoted 110 to 110 i. The demand for exchange on the continent of Europe ge —London, 1 101. to 110; Paris, 5 14 ; has been moderate. Foreign Exchan to 5 7 A ms terdam, 41 to 41i; R am b urgh, 36 i to 37 ; 3 :; i Bremen, 79k; United States Stocks continue steady and in demand. Cotton—On the 26th ult. 1,200 bales were forced at varying gnted from to ic. reduction. On to 1,500 bales, of which 500 irregular the 27th t r h a e t rate s, prior to the receipt of the Canada's advices per tele graphfled 1,000 subsequently at fully n e c h e an o g n e, the 28th, 2,000 bales; on the 29th, 2,500 bales. Yes t erday iwcithdourt a dull feeling, and a disposition generally to await the Baltic's advices, in answer to the panic advices transmitted by her on the sth instant, pre vailed, and the sales effected (reported at 2,000 bales) were made at some concessions. To-day no sales have been effected, holders preferring to await late advices rather than submit to a reduction. The receipts at all the shipping ports are 1,844,478 bales, against 1,692,832 to same date last year, an increase this season of 151,646 bales. The total foreign export this year is 251,501 bales more than last—say, 145,753 bales increase to Great Britain, 49,052 increase to France, 27,838 in crease to the North of Europe, and 28,858 increase to other foreign ports. The shipments from southern to northern ports are 124,454 bales less this season than last, and there is an increase in stocks of 34,245 bales. Ashes—Pots have remained steady, at 21 dolls. to 21 dolls. 50c., at which further sales have been made, both afloat and from store. Iron—English bars are, if anything, rather firmer; 50 tons sold at 37 dolls. 50c., six montns, and 250 ditto on terms not mace public. Tobacco—We have no new feature to note in the market for Kentucky, which, though not active, is gene rally firm. No new crop has yet been received. The stock consists of medium anti better grades. Inferior i comparatively scarce, and of Maryland there is but Ett I here. The stock of manufactured has increased ~ t d~