The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. , The Court sat yesterday, at Clerkenwell, for the pur pose of hearing appeals against the rausal of the divi sional justices to grant and renew public•house licences, M. Sergeant Adams, the Assistant judge, presided. The magi*trates present were—Mr. Pownall, Mr. Wilks, Mr. Witham, Mr. Tubbs, Mr. Danou, Mr. Laurie, Captain Carpenter, Mr. Brooking, Mr. Marriott, Mr. lILVs Mr. Turner, Mr. Warner, Mr. Woodward, Mr. Arrn stbong, Mr. Bentley, Mr. aimmiek, Mr. Arden, Mr. Rose, and Mr. France. ILLEGALITY OF BKTTING LISTS. The first case on the list wag - Ives-appeal, by Samuel Searle, against the refusal of the jusiiiees of the division of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to renew a licence, under the 9th Gee. IV., c. 61, to sell excisable liquors in the house called the Salisbury Arms, Durham-street, Strand. Mr. Clarkson appeared for the appellant, Ale. Ballan tine in support of the decision of the justices. .„ • Mr. BALLANTINE, in opening the case, said be 41 the honour to appear before the Court on behalf b 1 the justices of the division in which the appellant's house: was situated. The appellant was the landlord of a public-house, called the Salisbury Arms, in Dur ham-street, Strand, and at the last meeting of the licensin4 magistrates for that division, they thought it right to refuse to renew the licence to that house; but they did not adopt that measure until abundant warning had been given to him, which warning he had disregarded. The char'e against Mr. Searle was, that he had knowingly suffered gambling in his house, in contravention of the terms of his licence—a species of gambling from which great evil resulted• namely, betting hefts. It had been decided compe tent authority that " betting lists " came' wifbin the meaning of the term " gambling," and as the licence prohibited gambling of all kinds being carried oh; on the premises, the justices had no alternative but to carry out and enforce what they conceived to be strictly the law, namely, that no publican who suffered this kind of gambling to be carried on in his house was entitled to have his licence renewed when the pro per time for withholding it had arrived. The ques tion was one of great importance, and if the Court af firmed what had been done by the Court below, the effect no doubt would be a very beneficial one to the public generally. The Learned JUDGE asked for the Duke of Rich mond's Act, 8 and 2 Victoria. Mr. CLARKSON said' that Act legalised wagers, but gave no legal means of recovering them. Nobody could say that it was a violation of the law to make a bet upon the issue of a horse race. The Learned JUDGE said the words in the Act of Par liament, the Licensing Act, 9 Geo. IV., were very dis tinct, and were to the effect, that no unlawful game, or gambling, or any gaming whatever, should be per mitted iu a pnblic•house. The question here would, therefore, be, he presumed, were these betting lists a species of gaming. and did the appellant knowingly suf fer it in his house? Mr. Bowers said he appeared for a publican, who was in the same position as this appellant. He did not ques tion the power, or deny that it was in the discretion of the magistrates, to refuse to renew any licence, and, as the magistrates of that division had determined to re fuse licences in every case where the betting lists were continue 1, his client, Mr. Barr, of Long-acre, was ready to promise that nothing of the kind should ever take place in his house for the future. The Loathed JUDGE said they had better dispose of one case bef,,re they entered upon another. Serge sot Thompson, of the F division, and another officer, then gave evidence, which proved the fact of Mr. Searle having had betting lists exposed publicly in front cf the bar of his house, and that parties had fre quented the house to make bets ' taking the list as their guide. The witnesses said the lists were copies cf Tat tersall's list 4, and gave the then state of the odds, in favour or against horses entered for different races. Parties went to houses where these lists were kept and made bets on the various races, according to the state of the odds, as given in the lists. The witnesses said the house hal always been considered an extremely well conducted one. `rtic Learned JUDGE aske I if these lists were not the same as the se published in the nosvepapers? Mr. CLARKSON said they were. The Lz.arned JUDGE then observ3d that he could see no difference between the looking at a written list and at a list published in the daily papers. Mr. J3ALLINTINE said he had nothing further to urge for the justice?. M. CLARKSON—I should like to know what I have to answe:. The Learned thirCE-If as the matter stands, it was a mere qtmition of law, I should have no doubt about it, but it is a question of discretion entirely for the bench to determine.. • Mr. CLARK sort then addressed the Court. He did not in any way deny that it was entirely in the discretion of the magistrates below to refuse to renew or grant a licence for any reason, and it was of little avail for a publican to appeal to that court against a grievance in flicte.l upon him by the exercise of that discretion, if he did not speak his mind freely and fully. For ten years had Me Searle kept this house, and that daring that period he had conducted it most respectably there was a memerial from his neighbours to the court to testify— there was not the slightest imputation upon his charac ter as a reseeceable man, and the only possible reason that could be set forth for the refusal of his licence was, that the niagistratss had erroneously and mistakenly, be would satisfy the Court, deemed these betting lists to partake of the character of Derby sweeps. When Derby -sweeps were to much in vogue a short time ago, the oeieions of souse of the most eminent men at the bar was taken as to their legality, and these opinions, - he weak' inform the Court, were teat the sweeps cane within the operation of the Lottery Act, and cense qeeetly they were repressed. But between a Derby sweep and a mere het upon the issue of a race nothing could be more distinct —the one was perfectly illegal, the leget!ity of the other could not be impeached—sod tnerefore nothing could Le more mistaken than the no• tiers that betting lists wore of the same character as • D by sweeps. Too Learned JUDGE said that there could be no doubt but :hat Derby sweeps were illegal. The simple lees tiea before the Court was this, was it gaming for a pub• licen to allow a list of the state of the odds, copied from Tattersall's, and published in the newspapers, to lie on his coaster for the inspection of his customers. NT:. Meets said it was in the discretion of the magi strates to rears , - or grant a licence, and he thought this was a matter of fact within their discretion. Mr. CeeaxsoN, so far from denying then would ad- Mit, that it was so, and though magistrates had it in their diseretion to refuse or grant licences, they must recollect that, in the opinion of Englishmen, oppres sion, tyranny, an d a b solut i sm were not the fair and legitioaate exercise of that discretion the law had given to the magistracy. They had that discretion given them to see the law carried out and obeyed. Here that dis cretion he I been exercised where there had been no vio lation of the law. Horse racing was made legal for the encouragement of the bread of good horses; and who would say that the making of a bet upon the issue of a race was unlawful, or that the exhibition of a list in a public-house was an act as illegal as the keeping of Derby sweeps. In sores cases when bets were made, the landlord became stakeholder, but he had no profit directly or indirectly, excepting the custom that the lists brought to his house. He thought the legality of these palpable that h e h a d noth i ng to answer. betting lists se The refusal of his licence on that account was at least an unsound exercise of discretion, but of course the appellant must submit to the principle the Court might adopt; and if the Court made the condition, that if his licence was renewed he must descontinue the lists, of course he would conform. The Learnel JUDGE said the case now wore a different aspect. Mr. Clarkson lied said that the landlord be came stakeholder; thereby he becetne a party tu . the transaction. He certainly thought betting gamicg; but a landlord could not he held responsible for the act of • any two persons who chose to make a bet in his house; but when he became a stakeholder between 'those parties, it appeared to him that he was knowi,pgly suffer- n -1 gaming in his house, contrary to the takes of his ice nee. Mr. CLARYSON—He derives no profit whatever by be coming stakeholder. Several magistrates suggested that ha profited by the custom brought to the house by the betting lists . Mr. POWS&LL said the words of . the Act were em plateic and decisive-46 no gaming whatever." Mr. CIARKSOI4 acid as this was the decision of the beset.; his client must submit. If he persisted, and had his licence refus e d, he might keep his house as a beer shop, and thee there was not the slightest power on the part of any authority to interfere with the betting lists, •if they were continued. If the bench, therefore, would renew the licence, he w ou ld promise to' discontinuebet - tiug lists for the future. . The-magistrates then renewed the licence upon this • promise . The Learned JUDGE said the bench were unanimously o f „ F inion that these betting lists were "gaming ; " and therefore, by the publicity given to . the proceedings t it er e, the trade would have a dietinctintismatem that the eceeees o f te e s° who persisted in keeping bettin g li sts would be endaueer ed. The magistrate s below had t taken a very judicio us courseie_bringing the matte for_ wnrd. Any futu re infraction of the law in this respect would be severely dealt with, and this the bench wished to be understood. Dais licence was granted, with 10/. tests t) be paid by the appellant, with this_ inti mat i on, also that he must discontinu e the betting lists. ' In th e cases o f Joseph Barr, of the Windsor Castl e , an d of Saffory Middlet sn, of the White. Swan, Lon g s acre, the renewal of whose licensees had been refused on the same grounds, they we re granted, upon the promise that betting lists should be discontinued in their houses, • .each of these appellants paying 10/. costs. HEAD v. TRE JUSTICES OF THE MARYLEDONE DIVISION, This was an appeal aessinst a refusal to renew the • licence to the-Hope, Ste hen- ts eere• Mr. Flunanutrroese saidlnic-'op.lpes'e a Lisson-fed this appeal on be half of the justi ces, who refused to renew the licence on the ground that the appellant had suffered music and Shute:age and card-pl.eying in his house, but more .particularly fur the manner in which the apptl ,;laut facilitated the escape. from his house of is man ..whom a woman accused of robbing her in the room where the dancing was going on. When the ofiic _Ts -arrived the gas was turned Off and the m en 'c a way; but • y wa ; hut he was afterwards taken, t r i e d at this -- c f • t ourt, apd 'sentoneod to six months' hard labour. These cetennueichted to the justices by the Commissioners were ersof Police, and the justices felt b oun d es refuse the liLte Evidence was gone into, but it rather disprovedntc'le.n proved that the appellant was conc erne d i n I r a putting tne gas out on the occasion in question. Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Court for the appellant. After some discussion the licence was renewed, with an intimation that music and dancing were to be discon tinued, and that all publicans who had music and dancing in their houses, sad had their licences refused in consequence of anything that occurred from those . accessories, would have but little chance of success on appeal to the Quarter Sessions. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1850. An order was made on appellant for 10/. costs. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MAL\ SIOW-HO LT SE . A fashionably-dressed, powerful man. named William Barber, w as brought before the Lord Mayor, in the cus tody of Hay don, the officer. The officer said—At a quarter before two o'clock this day I saw the prisoner, whom I know to be a mem ber of that large knot of thieves called the swell mob, standing at the corner of the Bank next to Princes street. After some little time he got into an omnibus, and took a place next to a lady. I followed the omni bus as it passed down King William -street, and stopped it, and told him he must get out. He refused to do as I required, and I told him he belonged to the swell mob, and he must get out. I then procured assistance to re move him, and we got him out and took him to the sta tion-house, where he was ►earched. There we found upon his person six sovereigns and a gold watch and guard chain. He asked me what solicitor he should employ. I replied that it was a thing for his own con sideration. He said it would cost him 2L for a solicitor, and that I might as well have that money as a solicitor, and I should have it if I would let him go. I said to him that ho was mistaken in the person. Fauce'l, the officer, said he knew the prisoner to be the constant associate of the moat daring thieves. The prisoner—l acknowledge, your Lordship, that the account given of what took place is perfectly cor rect. The officer is right in all he has stated about the omnibus, and his conversation with we; but I had no criminal intention. I vrai going over the water upon business. Haydon said the prisoner was, when first seen by bun, moving towards Lothbury. One of the other most active officers said he had known the prisoner to be the associate of the desperate thief who was some time ago transported fur robbing Alderman John Johnson, when Lord Mayor, of a gold watch and seals at the terminus of the Blackwell Rail way.. Inspector Mitchell also identified the prisoner as one of a notorious gang of thieves. The prisoner—You never knew me to be tried at the Old Baileje? Inspector Mitchell—No. The Loma MAYOR directed that the prisoner should be remanded till Thursday, and that inquirit s should be made about the gold watch found in his possession. The prisoner is, it is believed by the police, generally employed in "covering" others of the gang when their work of robbery is going forward, an occupation for which his personal size and strength seem peculiarly adapted to qualifylim. THAMES. Mary Grace. a sPeguldr, - gypsy-looking woman, was charged with smashing sundry squares of glass at the house of the Rev. Mr. Horrabin, official clergyman at the Roman Catholic chapel, Virginia-street Ratcliffe highway. . Mrs. Harriet Creamer, housekeeper to the rev. gen• tlearan, stated that being informed by the servant that a woman aas breaking all the windows, shertierit out, and saw the prisoner dashing her fist through square after square successively. On asking her the cause of her outrageous conduct, the prisoner said Father Horrabin had sent several men to kill her. Prisoner—So he has, the robber. I wanted to see the old villain, but though I knocked several times the door was not, opened, and then I took the other way of calling attention. He is one of a gang of the most desperate robbers in London, and I am sorry to say that my own brother belongs to them. Oh, this man (pointing to Mr. Horrabin), I should rather say this monster, for be is a demon incarnate, after digging many pit-falls for me, came and vilified me to my neighbours. Mr. YARDLEY—Where do you live ? Prisoner—At Norris -court, Greenwich. Mr. YARDLEY—DO you belong to Mr. Horrabin's religion?, Prisoner—No, I am a Churchwoman; but is that a reason why I should be pillaged, waylaid, ma ligned, perhaps murdered, by that monster, who is a fiend out of hell? He distressed me in everything. Mr. YARDLEY, addressing Mr. Horrabin, who is highly respected by all his neighbours, and seemed utterly astonished at the woman's bitter attack on him, asked whether he had any knowledge of the woman. Mr. Horrabin said it was possible he might have seen her before, but he could not say when or where. Prisoner—Oh, ye;, you know well when and where. You stole me when a child, only nine years old, from my comfortable home iu the Isle of Wight, and changed me for another child in Ireland. I was well treated there, but when I began to be comfortable you pursued ale with your devilries. Mr. YARDLEY—This seems to be madnesr. Prisoner—Oh, of course that monster will have more justice than I, for he can put his hand into his pocket and pay for it. It is cruel that a poor creature like me, because I am poor, should be delivered over to a mon ster. a devil. The constable here produced a stone which was found upon the prisoner, and which she admitted she brought from Deptford for the purpose of demolishing the rev. gentleman's place. Mr. Horrabin hero said he had never, by any chance, been at the Isle of Wight. Mr. YARDLEY said it was evident that the woman was mot in a state to be at large, and wished her to be taken for the present to St. George's workhouse. The prisoner was removed, loudly denouncing the law, which sided with the rich and oppressed the poor. SINGULAR A PPLICATION.—The Rev. Charles Gulliver Fryer, vicar of Elthate, Kent, applied yesterday to Mr. Yardley for a warrant to apprehend a man named Joseph Cracknell, whom ho charged with stealing a ring-tailed marmozet monkey, which he valued a: W., buteweuld not part with it for three times that sum, as it was a epecial favourite of his wife's, and though of the smallest of the simian kind had a closer resemblance to humanity in all its lint atnents than he had ever seen in the animal world. Mr. YARDLEY said if there was a charge cf theft, ap• pricant had better state the facts to a police inspector, and the party accused could be taken into custody in the usual way. The rev. gentleman, who hal Arch bold's Reports under his arm, said the circumstances were rather peculiar, and there might be some difficulty in the way of the course recommended. The facts were these. The marmuzct was generally kept on board his yacht, the Hebe, in the East India Dock, and this man Crack nell, who belonged to the Ganymede, another pleasure yacht, lying alongside, took some umbrage at the animal and threatened to destroy it. The man in charge of his (applicant's) yacht dared him to do so, and the result was that the fellow contrived to get possession of the poor little animal and dashed its brains ou'. Mr. YARDLEY said the man, if the animal was not over 51. in value, could be proceeded against for wilful damage, hut a summons might be issued under the Act for cruelty to animals. Applicant said he had intended to proceed under that Act. but the penalry would be only 4th. Mr. YARDLEY—No, you are mistaken there; but I have some doubt whether a monkey comes into a class of animals intended to be protetted by the Act. The word any animal is used, but as a number has been enu merated, the question has been much discussed. Mr. Fryer—l find by Archbold, that persons stealing dogs, beasts, or birds, render themselves liable to ape • natty not exceeding 20L Mr. YARDLEY—There is a doubt of stealing here, as the party did not apply the thing taken to his own use. After some further conversation two summonses were granted against Cracknell—one charged him with " un lawfully stealing a certain beast ordinarily kept in a state of confinement, to wit, a monkey," and the other ith " beating, ill-treating, torturing, and abusing " the said animal. The rev. gentleman then went off to Ratcliffe-highway, to a stuffer of beasts and birds, to ascertain the value of the animal. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. ' NORTH Barnstt.—lt appears that the directors of this company and their la te engine-drivers have not , yet come to terms. trains Lat e e ora are now of daily occurrence, and, what is frequent damage to ' the engines, owing to the ign oranc e m e ailt o . f the persons employed. Last week the t ra in . came stand, and the fireman employed to driv e it did not know what to do ; he became so alar med th at h he jumped off, and in doing so his foot caught t and was severely injured. The accident happen e d w h ee l and a curve on the line, and had it not been for th n e e acti vity and exertions of the mail guard, who observe d and signalled another train approaching, it would ine vitably have dashed into the standing carriages, and probably have done considerable damage. One of the new enginemen ran the train through the Dunbar station at full speed, but fortunately no accident ac cident occurred. Considerable uneasiness is felt lest something serious should happen. The professed ob ject of the directors is that of reducing the men's wages to 4s. a day when they are at work in the shed the average wages being 64. a day. The effect of this proceeding will be an enormous destruction of working stock, which will soon amount to several thousand pounds damage, as w a s the case a few months ago on the East Lancashire Railway. It is hoped that some influential shareholders will imme • diately interfere and prevent the serious consequences which m a y b e ex pected to occur if th e di recto rs are .allowed to persevere in their present unwise course. NORTHERN COAL AND MINING COMPANY.-011 .Friday the aff a irs of this undertakin g came on before the Master in Chancery Tinney. The ti tioners stated th a t th e un d er t a ki ng was st arted in 1838, to work, for 0 period of forty years, col lieries in the c oun ty wh of Durham. The capital was fixed it at 500,0001. , power to borrow 30,000/. There were nine directors ,ecastlefoand establishments w e re opened Newcastle, in Lond on, ,and Norwich. About 16,550 shares were subscribed for . Calls on the full sum of 25/. per share were paid by 11, 974 shares, with the exception and of 11,000/ The collieries )lant were originally purchased by the company 1 f 1 0r330,0001., but by a re cent valuation were now only worth 184-1 the liabilities amou n t e d to 70,0001.; 69,0001. In in 1846, to 110,00 0 /. ; in 1847 , to 19 5,0001. ; and in I d B4B, to 150,000/. Several meetings were held , and we re proposed for paying off the liabiliti es by a pro plans ra t a a ssessment on the shareholders of 1 01. per share; but the holders of only 4 , 400 shares csanae forward, paid the 10/. per share, and were exonerated from further liability leaving about 90 000/ in deficit ; and to satisfy creditors and prevent legal proceedings, the petitioners had paid out of their own pockets nearly • 70,000/. The assets, other than would arise from a sale of the property, are 8,000/. at the outside. Mr. Quilter, the official manager, informed the Master that a call of 10/. per share on each shareholder would be necessary to de fray the debts whereupon the Master proceeded with the list, and placed thereon those he considered liable. ' LANCASTER AND PRESTON.—A special meeting, convened by requisition to the directors, for the pur pose of concerting measures to redeem he annuity of 4,8757. now paid to the Lancaster Canal Company as compensaEon for their surrender of thirteen years' in terest in the line as lessees, was held at Lancaster on Friday ; Mr. Bushell in the chair. By a clause in the agreement with the Canal Company, the option was reserved of redeeming the annuity at the rate of 5 per cent. previous to the 13th of May next, or at the rate of 41 per cent. after the expiration of that period. Several propositions for effecting the object in view were submitted to the meeting. Eventually, on the motion of Mr. Saul, it was resolved to raise 45,000/. by the creation of 10,833 shares of 41. 3i. 4d. each, to oe called twelfths, a call of 4/. on each share to be paid on the Ist of .May, and a second call of 3s. 4d. each on the second of May. Any further sum required to complete the redemption to be borrowod on mort gage. _ _ - PARIS AND STRASBURG.—A special meeting of this company was held at Paris on Thursday ; M. de Segur, the President, in the chair. The report stated that the directors had entered into a provisional agreement with the Minister of Public Works to construct at the cost of the company a railway from Blesmes to Joinville. The land and works are to be provided fur a double line of rails ; but the company will not be compelled to lay down more than a single line of rails until the gross annual receipts from traffic shall have reached 18,000 f. (7201) per kilometre. This line is to be completed for traffic within three years after the date of the new conces sion. The present scale of tolls and fares authorized on the main line, and the branch lines to Metz and to the Prussian frontier, is to be applicable to the new branch line mentioned. The Strasburg Company are to pay into the treasury a sum of 3,500,000 f. (140,0001.) fur the purchase of land, and on the section of the line between Vitry and Bar-le-Duc. In consideration of the company fulfilling these conditions, they are to have the duration of the con cessions extended to ninety-nine years fur the main line and all the branches. The company are also to have the power to lay down at first only one line of rails on several sections of the main and branch lines, but they are to lay down the second line of rails whenever called on by the Minister of Public Works; except on the section from Metz to Saarbruck, and that only when the gross traffic receipts on that sec-1 tion shall amount to 18,000 f. (7201.) per kilometre per annum. Should the company neglect to per form the whole or any part of the above conditions, the stipulations for the extension of the concession to 99 years are to be null and void. A discussion en sued, in the course of which it was agreed that the directors should call the shareholders together again on a day to be fixed, as soon as the Council of State shall have decided on the terms of the convention. On the introduction of the subject relating to a modi fication of one of the statutes which prohibited the distribution of more than one-half of the net profit as long as the main line remained unfinished. M. Po riquet proceeded to address the meeting on various matters, and regardless of order, he persisted in speak ing on points not properly before the meeting. With a view to put a stop to this irregularity the Presi dent declared the meeting dissolved. A scene of great confusion ensued, and it was ultimately arranged, at the suggestion of the secretary, that M. Poriquet should defer the matters he had to submit till the or dinary general meeting on the 25th inst. WRECK NEAR THE FERN ISLANDS. Oa Sunday morning last the brig Bravo, of New castle, William Avitt, master, which sailed on Thurs day last for London, was observed in the Fair Way between Bamborough C as tl e an d t h e F ern I s l an d s with a signal of distress flying, and shortly afterwards came ashore on the beach immediately below the castle. A flag was hoisted on the castle and a bell rung, and numbers of people from Bamborough and North Sunderland hurried to render assistance. The wind was blowing a gale, and the sea breaking over the vessel, and it was evident that she must soon go to pieces. The sailors tried to get out the long boat, which was almost instantly washed overboard, and the surf rolled in so heavily that it was almost impossible to launch a boat from the shore. After a gallant but ineffectual attempt to rescue the crew by three fisher men of the district, and also by a party of the Coast Guard, a messenger was dispatched for a boat to North Sunderland, and a large coble belonging to Lord Crewe's trustees was lashed and conveyed to Bamborough. Eight men belonging to North Sunderland threw off their jackets and got into the boat, which, by the united exertions of the bystanders, was launched through the surf. Their names were George Wilson, mason ; William Spears, cooper, William Berry, Coast Guardsman ; and Henry Grey, Thomas Knox, George Tait, and Robert Burn, sea men ; Robert Patrick, a fisherman, taking the steer itig oar. The first wave which broke over the boat nearly filled her, and struck the steering oar out of Patrick's hand, who narrowly escaped being washed overboard. After the most heroic struggles, amidst the breathless interest of the spectators, and the tears and exclamations of the women assembled on the shore, the boat rounded the vessel, where three of the seamen had aid down the rigging to the end of the bowsprit, and were hanging by the ropes and sails. The captain and his daughter, a girl of 15, had taken refuge in the maintop, and the remainder of the sailors clustered in the main rigging to escape the dash of the sea. By some of the loose ropes hang• ing over the side the boat was made fast to the ship, at a sufficient distance, and, watching a favourable opportunity, the girl was first taken off the wreck. The men on the bowsprit were next dragged into the boat, and the remainder of the crew, being unable to afford the slightest assistance, threw them selves into the sea, and were rescued by the boat's crew amid the cheers of the people on the shore. The greatest danger to the boat's crew was still to be en countered. The coble, laden with 16 men, two boys and a girl, half filled with water, and destitute of any thing to bale her, after the loss of one oar and the breaking of another, was almost at the mercy of the elements, and it would have been an act of madness to attempt to land. The efforts of the gallant fellows were therefore directed to keep her head to seaward, and after several hours' exposure they were descried by the fishermen of Holy Island, who went off, as far as the breakers would allow, to their assistance. Most providentially, the sea for an instant abated, and, taking advantage of a lull, the overloaded craft was brought into smooth water. The girl and one of the boys were carried on shore in the arms of the fisher men, being unable to stand from the effects of expo sure. The wrecked seamen were kindly sheltered on the island by Mr. Wilson, the harbour-master; and leaving the boat, their preservers, half dead with cold, wet, and hunger, walked back ten miles to their homes at North Sunderland, where they arrived at a late hour of the night. A more courageous and merito rious act has not been performed since, nearly on the same spot, Grace Darling and her father rescued the survivors of the wreck of the Forfarshire.—Newcastle Paper. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF A BANKRUPT. On Thursday an inquiry, during which circum stances of a most unusual character were elicited, took place at the Bankruptcy Court, Liverpool, before Mr. Commissioner Stevenson. The bankrupt, John La Guarrande, of Montpelier-terrace, Upper Parliament street, was a merchant and broker, carrying on bu siness in Liverpool, his petition having been opened on the 28th of February last. The bankrupt subse quently came before the Court to give information relative to the state of his affairs, and assignees were chosen, who were put in possession of his property, consisting of furniture, plate, &c. On the 15th of March intimation was given to Mr. Gaskill, the official messenger of the Court, that. his man had been ejected from the premises by the bankrupt. The messenger, accompanied by Mr. Ayres, immediately proceeded to the bankrupt's residence, and demanded admittance by authority of the warrant. This was re fused. The following day an application was made to the Court for a new warrant, which was granted. The pro per officers then went to the house, and took possession without any resistance being offered. Shortly after this the property was ordered by the assignees to be sold, and Mr. Edwin Gaskill, auctioneer, was appointed to take the management of the sale. Mr. Gaskill, in accordance with his instructions, took possession of the bankrupt's effects, and stationed six men in the house ; but no interference being offered by the bank rupt, the number was reduced to two. The men re mained in quiet possession of the house until Monday con nected last, when proceedings of a most riotous character took place, arising out of an attempt on the part of the b a nkrupt to eject the o ffi made a statement c o e f rs the l‘r . clir. E. Gaskill,stancesauc tioneer, with this disturban c e . The men who had been put in the house remained unm o lested until Monday last, when threa ts were held out by the bankrupt, and indications were given that they had no right to be there. In the evening the bankrupt went out and returned about ten u clock, shortly after which he introduced eight men through the parlour window, and demanded possession of the house. The two men who were then in charge were ejected, there being no chance of resisting the powerful body brought in opposition to them. The police were called upon to assist, but they would oct interfere unless a breach of the peace took place. An addi tional force, amounting in all to thirteen men, was then dispatched to the house by Mr. E. Gaskill; they succeeded in gaining admission by the back door, and after encountering severe opposition they overcame their opponents and regained possession of the pre mises. Blows were struck on both sides, though no serious injury was sustained by any of the bellige rents. Peace was restored, but it only lasted for a short time. On the following day (Tuesday) intima tion was brought to Mr. Gaskill that his men were being murdered, and he went up to the bankrupt's house. There was a force of 50 men inside the house, and as many outs!1), the object being to ree iver pos session of the furniture. It was with difficulty he obtained admission ; but on doing so an indescribably scene presented itself. The bankrupt was taking en active part in the matter, and he and his men were assailing, the messengers with pokers, sticks, pieces of chairs, or any other weapons that came within their reach. Some of the men had jugs, tea cups, and other articles smashed over their heads. During the encounter the bankrupt drew a sword stick from a sheath, and was about to use it when it was wrested from him, and broken in two. Mr. Gaskill produced the stick for the inspection of the Court, and said that, if necessary, he could bring twenty men who had received severe injury. The messengers, who were unable to resist the onslaught of their more numerous antagonists, were ultimately obliged to give way, and finally leave the house. The goods were then removed, but they were subsequently reeovered and replaced in the custody of the officers of the court. The doors and windows of the house were smashed to pieces, and other damage had been committed, amounting in the whole to upwards of 301. The hearing of the case was ultimately post poned. BARBARISM AND SUPERSTITION' IN HAYTI.-REVIVAL OF 081 WORSHIP. _ _ A letter from Hayti of February Bth says The Emperor of Faustin has just quitted his capital to pass a week at the Petit-Goave, his native place. The object of his going was to celebrate a funeral service for the souls of his father and mother, and to witness the marriage of two old negroes, the parents of the Empress, who, never expecting the elevation of their daughter, had not thought it worth while to obtain the nuptial benediction. A dozen of regi , ments, forming about one thousand men, the princes and princesses of the blood, the dukes, counts, barons, knights ; the ladies of the court; and in fact almost all the civil' and military employes were assembled at the Petit-Goave to add to the solem nity of the fete. The French corvette the Naiade came to anchor bef.,re this old capital of the French part, which for forty-eight years had not seen a vessel of war. During the funeral service, the corvette had its colours half-mast high, and fired a number of guns, which singularly flattered the vanity of the blacks, and has perhaps contributed to smooth down some difficulties of late pending. After the service, the Emperor proceeded to a habitation situated some leagues from the coast, near which his father and mother were buried. At midnight, he and the Empress went out without guards, and accompanied only by some p ersons b e li ev i ng i n th e ceremon i es o f the Vaudoux. The Empress walked first holding a cock in her hand. The priests carried a sheep and a kid, the mingled blood of which was to serve to pre pare the wangha. When they arrived at the cemetery, the priests contrived, by means of certain charms, to fix in a vessel of water the souls of the pa rents of Soulouque. The soul of his mother then spoke, and informed the sacrificators that she was much obliged to them for the ceremony which had just taken place, but there was no occasion to feel any uneasi ness on their account, as they were well off in the other world. The three animals were then killed, Soulouque drinking of their blood, and with it mak ing cabalistical signs. Afterwards the vase was in terred with all due ceremony. This poor country of Hayti is marching rapidly towards barbarism. How can any one be astonished at it when the head of the state is seen to revive the religious ceremonies of Congo and Guinea, which the President who preceded him took such pains to destroy ? The fete was near terminating tragically. Prince Anulysse•Ulysse, after some discussion about a general's uniform, which he had put on without any right, seized the Emperor by the throat, and was proceeding to do his Miesty, as the phrase is, when the Ministers, chamberlains, &c., interfered, and rescued him. It is not known what is to be done with the offender." THE LATE SKIRMISH IN INDIA. The following is an extract from a letter from a second-lieutenant in her Majesty's 60th Rifles to his parents, dated Peshawur, February the 15th : " Sir Charles Napier and staff arrived here a fort night ago, and it so happened that a most horrible massacre took place the same night. A number of soldiers who were engaged in making a road, having foolishly no guard, were every one of them cut to pieces in the night by the Kaiberees ; some officers of the 98th were attacked and wounded in their tents, and several artillerymen killed. Sir Charles, immediately on hearing this, determined for a just revenge and full restitution, and a force of 2,000 men was, selected for the purpose. I was not one of the party chosen, but I volunteered to Colonel Bradshaw, • who, though he at first refused, afterwards accepted my services, and I was accordingly attached to a company to do duty. The force was commanded by the Commander-in-Chief himself, and Brigadier Sir Colin Campbell and Col. Bradshaw commanded divi sions. We had to march to a large village, by name Kohat, about 40 miles away in the hills, by forced marches. When we arrived there we found the hill robbers had betaken themselves to the hills, with all their property and families, while they were shooting at our party and attacking our pickets, who crowned the hills, without our being able to molest them in return. We burned all their villages, spoiled their crops, destroyed their water, 2 . n d did all the har m we could. But the day before we left—unfortunate day —when we and the 31st Bengal Native liifantry re giment were descending the hills from where we were picketed, the robbers came to the heights, and killed and wounded a hundred of us. Poor Lieutenant Sitwell, of the 31st Regiment, was shot in the hand, and before we could come to his rescue we saw him cut to pieces before our eyes. He was a most dear friend of mine, and a very handsome fellow. Lieute nant Hilliard, of the 231 Regiment, was shot dead through the lungs; many native officers were killed. The pass we had to go through was a very difficult and dangerous one, and Sir Charles Napier himself had some most ptovidential escapes, as also myself, for my horse was shot under me by a matchlock ball as we were marching across a bad road. Several ar tillerymen were cut to pieces before we could come to help them, from their guns being upset. Never did I feel so much the horrors of death as I did at that moment. Poor Sitwell had passed through the bloodiest battle ever fought in India—viz., Chillian wallah, and then to be killed in a skrimmage like this, where there was no glory or honour, except that he was his duty ! Hilli a rd was on l y mar ried n theo day before we wen t ou t on th e expe di t i on. `irehad got up a very l arge b a ll at t hi s station to be b dy adon given to the Commander-in- Chief, but it is needless to say it has not come off. The doctors have so fully shown to Sir Charles Napier the unhealthiness of Peshawur that we are ordered to march next week to Subacto, a two months' march, at the bottom of the hills, near Simla, and, I hear, a pleasant cool station. GERMANY. The People's Chamber of the Parliament of Erfurt met on the 9th, and proceeded with the verification of the qualifications of the deputies. The number of deputies admitted amounted to 214. A letter from Erfurt of the 9th says that M. Rado witz and M. Carol witz had declared that they had been misunderstood in what they had said with re spect to restricting the powers of the Federal State, and it was added that the King of Prussia had written to the Elector and Grand Duke of Hesse to declare his firm intention of maintaining the Federation. All this had removed the fears which had been enter tained that the Prussian Government would abandon the Federal State altogether, or consent to modifica tions in it, which would deprive it of all real political importance. The report of the Committee on the Constitution recommends the adorion of it en bloc, in order to preserve its binding force on Hanover and Saxony. ITALY. In the sitting of the Bth of the Senate of Turin the discussion on th e a b o li t i on o f ecclesiastical privile ges was resumed. Th e genera l debate being closed, a large majority rose i n f avou r of the discussion of the articles. Monsignor Billet and Count Galli, who, it may be remembered, had moved amendments calcu lated to adjourn the discussion of the law sine die, withdrew them, and the Bill ultimately passed in its original form by a majority of 54 to 29. The Cham ber of Deputies, in its sitting of the same d a y, dis cussed and p asse d t h e Bill f o r restoring their pensions to the veterans of the French army of the Empire, by a majority of 100 to 6. STAMP ACT—JOINT-STOCK BANKERS. A private meeting of the representatives of joint stock banks throughout the country was held yester— day, at the London Tavern; Mr. Sadleir, M.P., in the chair. Several resolutions on the subject were adopted, and it was announced that a deputation would wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to morrow. At the close of the proceedings, Mr. Leech, on behalf of the country joint-stock bankers, expressed their entire concurrence in all the steps taken by the London committee. WINDOW-DuTy.—The total number of houses charged with window-duty for the year ending April, 1849, was, accordin g t o a statement just published, 487,411; the whole amount assessed being 1,893,0881., and the net receipts 1,813,6291. The 12 towns in England paying the largest amount of window-duty are:—Bath, in which 3,722 houses are assessed for 21,1181., the net receipts being 21,9861.; Bit rn in g ham, 5 ,423 houses, assessed for 16,161!., net recept 13,9861. ; Brigh ton, 3,613 houses, assessed for 18,025/., net receipt 17,572/.., Bristol, 4,350 houses, assessed fur 14,6751., net receipt 13,280/. ; Cheltenham, 1,407 houses, assessed for 6,998/., net receipt 6,767 E. ; Clifton, 1,373 houses, assessed for 9,4291., net receipt 8,896/. ; Leeds,'2,479 houses, assessed for 7,9721., net n ceipt 7,596/. ; Liverpool, 11,:342 houses, as sessed for 32,461/., net receipt 28.856/. ; Manchester, 7,754 houses, assessed for 21,9251., net receipt 20,575/. ; Norwich, 1,871 houses, assessed for 6,627/., net receipt 6,46514 New castle-on-Tyne. 1,854 houses, assessed for 8,320/., net receipt 7,822/. ; and Plymouth, 4,527 houses, assessed for 12,2071., net receipt 11,929/. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE Of! LORDS, April 15. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. Lord S riN LEY presented a petition from tho Isla of .11.irt complaining of the withdrawal of agricultural protection, and praying fn. economy and retrenchment. The Noble L , rd said that this call for economy which was so ref; as a proof that the co.untry was not in a state of prosperity, because persons in a state of prospe rity did not call out for a parsimonious economy, and he feared that this call for economy might push retrench ment beyond the good of the public service. The Noble Lord also presented five petitions from different parishes in Lincolnshire complaining of agricultural distress. Lord PORTMAN drew the attention of the Houle to certain returns from the Board of Trade which .ap peared to be discrepant, and asked for an explanation. The Earl of GRANVILLE explained the apparent discrepancy, and showed that in reality there was no discrepancy at all. Thj Duke of ARGYLE presented petitions: from Glasgow and several other places against Sunday labour in the PoLt•olflce. JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF PRIVY COUNCIL. Lard REDESDALE presented a petition from certain if the clergy, praying for the restoration of the Couvo catior, and complaining of the recent decision of the Commit ec if the Privy Council. The Bishop of LONDON said it was his full inten tion to proceed wit'i the Bill which he had introduced on the subject cf the jurisdiction of the Committee of Privy Council; and he should introduce a clause which he thought would gise satisfaction to the Church, on which he would consult his Right Rev. Brethren. After a few words from Lord REDESDALE, The Bishlp of LONDON said that his Bill only re lated to a certain class of cases, viz., those in which points of doctrine were involved. The Marquis of LANSDO WNE postponed the second reading of the Bill relating to workhouse schools to Thursday next. PETITIONS. The E4rl of MOUNTCASHELL presented scrim] petitions against Post-office labour on Sunday. " BRICK DUTIES BILL. This Bill pasted through Committee. EXCIIEQUER-BILLS BILL. This Bill passed through Committee. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 15. The SPEAKER took the Chair five minutes before Four o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a thirdtime and passed: Carlisle Gas Light and Cuke Company. Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society. Ramsey, Up wood, and Great Raveley Turf Fens, and Lockspit Lots and Lockspit Lauds Drainage and Im provement. South Wales Railway (No. 1). PETITIONS. Mr. FREWEN prevented petitions from Newhaven and other places against Post-office labour on Sundays. Viscount BARRINGTON presented similar petitions from Cheadle. Mr. ELLIS presented a petition from the Midland Railway Company complaining of the inequality of the proposed stamp duties. Mr. W. PATTEN presented petitions from various parts of Lancashire against Sunday labour in the Post office. Mr. HARRIS presented a petition from Market Her borough praying for the application of the funds of the Church to the relief of national burdens. Mr. W. J. FOX presented a petition from Glasgow against Sunde.y labour in the Post-office. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from Chelsea in favour of secular education. Colonel CH ATTERTON presented petitions from various parts of lrelund against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. THORITELY presented petitions from places in Leicestershire aid Devonshire iu favour of secular edu cation. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from Neil on and Co., of Glasgow, in favour of the abolition of the punishment or death. Sir H. HALFORD presented petitions from different parts of Ldicestershire against Sunday labour in the Post-o ffi ce; also a petition from Market Harborough in favour of the extension of the jurisdiction of county courts. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented petitions from dif . ferent rants of the metropolis praying for the repeal o the taxes on newspapers. Lord GALWAY presented several petitions agains Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented similar petitions from various parts of Lincolnshire. Mr. W. BROWN presented, a petition from Liverpool in favour of secular education. Mr. SHARMAN CRAW FORD presented petitions from Rochdale praying for the reduction of the duty o❑ tea. Mr. B. DENISON presented petitions from Dews bury and several other places in Yorkshire iu favour of an eleven hours' Factory Bill. Mr. TRELAWNY presented petitions from various parts of the West of England against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from various par ties in Manchester against the existence of an Esta blishc Church. Mr. WALPOLE presented a petition from the law stationers of London praying for an alteration of the Stamp Duties Bill. Mr. COWAN presented petitions from Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland against Sunday labour in the Post-( ffice. Lord HOTHAM presented a petition from a plane in the We.st Riding complaining that the Stamp Duties Bill made no provision for re.tueing the duty on the re gistration of deeds. Sir It. IL INGLIS presented a petition from the R.,yal College of Physicians in favour (f the claims of naval assistant-surgeons to additional accommodation; also a pet tion from the president, vicr-president, and members of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Insti tution, taking notice of the great loss of life arising out of the indiscriminate sale cf poison, particu!arly arsenic, and praying the House to take steps to restrict iti sale. Colonel THOMPSON presented three petitions from Bradford—one against the Education Bill, the other against Sunday labour in the Post-office ; and the third, praying for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge. Mr. POWER presented a petition from Cork against the Fisheries Bill Mr. BAGSHAW presented a petition in favour of the Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill. Captain Bill. Sir DUNDAS presented a petition against the Marriage Sir D. DUNDAS presented a petition from Suther landshire to the same effect. favour knowledge. of the Edu cation Sir T. BIRCH presented a petition from Liverpool, a t n h d e d p r h es il s it o x f g t , he wa ll s ig ia n d la e n c rl ea s t ol- Mr. 'HUME presented a petition from Stirling and its prayingAlr. B fl f i U l o i r . ll t E h e presentedrepe repeal of t a he petition tns ? in n (Laughter)—that during the eighteen months that d vi i c e i r n , it c y an co si m st p in la g i the 93d Highlanders had been stationed at Stirling foe to h o e d wt eh i naahrtianebgaict each h n oe t f s ktiill hadte,saonl soldiers i e b t rh e s e a n tr e ci it was s iwv u ea b ds - jected to painful spectacles—(Roars of laughter)-- a e th x ba c ot c n e in d t i svi n o g Ofs ly ul Econvenient to them in this inclement sea son.—(Renewed laughter.) The petitioners prayed the House to give the matter its most serious considera tion.—(Roars of laughter.) Mr. HUME also presented a petition from Framling ton, in Northumberland, in favour of the Bill fur secu lar education. Mr. WA SVN presented petitions from South Shields, as we understood, against the Marriage Bill, and pray ing for the cessation of Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. G. HAMILTON presented a petition from the Irish Church Association, complaining of the diversion of the episcopal fund from its legitimate objects. Lord JOHN MANNERS presented a petition from a place in Lancashire against the relay system in factories. Lord R. GROSVENOR presentod a petition from Chelsea and other places against Sunday labour in the Post -office. Mr. KERSHAW presented a petition from a Baptist congregation in Brecknock against church•rates. Lord JOCELYN presented a petition in favour of the Marriage BM. Sir J. WALSH presented a petition in favour of the Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill. Mr. C. BRUCE presented a petition from a place in tl • county of Elgin, complaining of the operation cf the poor-law in Scotland; also several petitions from places in Scotland against the Marriage Bill, and against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. STAFFORD presented a petition from a place in Northamptonshire in favour of the Bill for the regis tration of copyhulds. Sir GEORGE CLERK presented several petitions from places in Scotland against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition from Bir mingham against church-rates. Lord BARRINGTON presented a petition from the Great Western Railway Company against the stamp duties. COUNTY RATES. Mr. FREWEN said in the early part of the session he moved for certain returns from county court treasurers, but certain treasurers had neglected to send in those returns, and he begged to give notice that unless the returns were made within a short time he should bring the subject under the particular notice of the House. EDUCATION IN IRELAND Mr. HAMILTON gave notice that, on the motion fir going into Committee of Supply, he should move an ad dress to t►he Crown on the subject of education in Ire land. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. G. TURNER gave notice that on an early day he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to diminish the delays and expense of proceedings in the High Court of Chancery. PEERS' REFRESHMENT ROOMS. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask - the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in pursuance of the report of the Commissioners of Fine Arts, it wag the intention of the Government to expend 1,0504 on pictures relating to the chase, to decorate the Peers' refreshment rooms? Lord JJHN RUSSELL said a sum had been allowed for the purpose, and the rooms would be decorated in the manner which the Commissioners of Fine Arts hai termined. Sir DE LACY EVANS asked if the item was in cluded in the estimates' ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said 4,0001. was annutlly voted, and distributed under the di rPction of the Fine Arts Commission. That item in cluded these dtcorationF. _QUARANTINE. Mr. HUUE wished $o inquire whether any measures had ben taken by the Government to medify or reduce the quarintine eat ihlishtnent, of this country ? l\lr. LABOUCHERE replied that some corre spondence had passed with for&gn powers on the subject, but at, present be could not premise to lay it on the ttiblo. 111,re were now only three quarantine stations in th's country, which involi el an annual expen diture cf 1,3t0/. RETURNS. On the IflUtioa of Mr. HUME, the following returns were ordered:—Au account of the aggregate amount paid fir advertisements by the public dipartments Government in the United Kingdom for the year 1848, stating specially the amount paid by the Board of Inland Revenue, the Customs, Post-office, Treasury, and Commissariat Departments, Board of Ordnance and Store Department, Board of Ad miralty and Victualling Board, Woods and Forests, Poor-law Board and boards of guardians, and all pub lic departments, so as to exhibit the total amount paid for advertisements to newspapers for the public service in one year; also a statement of what measures have been adopted respecting the erection, manage ment, and superintendence of the lighthouses in the British colonies and pos'evsions (in c avinuation of Perna:Lei - miry paper, No. 225, of session 1849); and an abstract of uny t °aims received from the colonies upon the subject since April, 1849; al.° an ac count of the expenses attending the preparation, printing, and sale of the " Nautical Almaaaals" in each of the years 1847, 1848, and 1849 ; stating the number c f copies printed and the number sold in each year; stating by 'whom sold, the price at which sold, the per eeetage allowed on the sale, and the loss or gain to the public iu each year; and an account, in dot iii, cf the manner in which the I,ooo'. voted annually for "re wards, experiments, and other expenses for scientific pur poses," during the last three years, has been expended. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MALTA. Sir R. IL INGLIS rose to put a question to the Under-Secretary - of State for the Colonies, on the sub ject of certain proceedings at Malta, in reference to the Roman Catholic Church in that island. Some excite ment, he said, had taken place, both in this country and in Malta, in conse quence o f an ordinance which had issued from the Council in that country, which had had the effect of declaring the Roman Catholic religion the dominant religion in that island, and which provided fur the toleration of other religions. A memb e r o f h er Majesty's Governm en t in that island had objected that the religion professed by her Majesty, and which she had sworn by her coronation oath to maintain, could scarcely be treated as a tolerated religion in any part of her dominions. The Government, however, were beaten on the question, and the ordinance was issued. The Bishop of Gibraltar, who ought to be called the Bishop of Malta, had protested against this ordinance, and the question which he wished to flak, was whether that ordinance had arrived, and what course her Ma jesty's Government intended to take on the subject. Mr. HAWES said the Hon. Baronet had not stated the circumstances correctly. No ordinance had been issued, but the facts had taken place in consequence of certain changes which had been recently effected in the criminal code, some of which related to offences com mitted aaainet religion. The Bishop of Gibraltar had protested, and his protest had arrived in this country. The Secretary of State for the Colonies had acquainted the Governor of Malo, that if those changes were em bodied in an ordinance, he should feel it his duty to re fuse to sanction it.—(Cheers.) ABOLITION OF TILE LORD-LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND. Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice Oct on the 6th of May he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to create a Secretary of State for Ireland, with a view to the abolition if the Lord-Lieutenancy of that country. SALE OF IRISH ENCUMBERED ESTATES. Mr. STUART wished to ask several questions of the Solicitor-General with reference to the working of the Irish Encumbered Estates Act. The first was, how many estates had been sold under that Bill; secondiy, how many orders had been granted; and thirdly, how many applications had been made for orders upon return c f half the purchase money, and the rest of the money to be furnished in the manner provided for by the Bill. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he bad no au thentic information on the subject; but if the Hun. Mem ber moved for returns they would be furnished. Mr. STUART said he would move for the return now. Agreed to. SAVINGS' BANKS. Mr. 11. HERBERT asked if the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had been able to make up his mind when the Savings' Banks Bill would be brought The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the state of public business rendered it difficult to command a day. The first day he could fairly take for the Bill he would not fail to avail himself air. STAMP DUTIES BILL. On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, as there had been so much misapprehension on the subject of the altered Bill, he thought it right to state, that although a considerable number of reductions had been made, in no instance was there any additional taxation imposed ; no other tax hail been levied in the altered Bill now be fore the House beyond that contained in the first schedule, which had passed through Committee. He had received a great number of communications from parties respecting this measure, and as it was impossible to transmit to each an answer, he had referred them all to the board of Inland Revenue for consideration, and a digest had been made e f the whole, and he believed he via 3 now justified in stating that 99 out of every 100 of the persons who felt aggrieved by the measure bad had their views met by the alterations which had been•made by the G:,vernment. lie stated when he introduced the Bill that he intended to proceed on the ad valorem prin. ciple, and he had carried out that principle as far as he possibly could. Mr. GOULBURN said the Right Hon. Gentleman intended to intro lece into the a mock for levyin g the stamp duty which had her e tof ore never b een a d opted. It appeared to him that the system proposed by the Right Ilan. Geetl man would lead to great ineonveri enee and much injustice, and would suggest that the sta'e should be a descending and not an ascending one. Under the existing law, a mortgage for 50,0001. paid a duty if 251., but when this Bill passed it would be raised to 250/., while a mortgage for 150,0001. would have to pay 7501. Now, would the House allow him to point out the inconvenience which must result from this? Why, the ingenuity of man would suggest some mode of advancing money without incurring expense, or the practice of lending money upon mortgage would be greatly restricted, if not abo lished, and as either alternative must prove highly injurious ti the country, he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would reconsider his plan. With regard to marriage settlements, the Bill certainly would have a very ill effect, for though it decreased the duty under 500/., when they amounted to 1,000/. it in creased them, and he must remind the House that there were unfortunately more settlements effected above 1,0001. than under.. He had stated these objections in order that the Chancellor of the Exchequer might take them into consideration before going into Committee. Mr. MULLINGS, in objecting to the Bill, remarked that the first duty was the bargain and sale duty for one year. It should be put in the same category with lease holds for years. He conceived that the warrants of at torney and mortgages might put in a claim (as we un derstood) far further consideration. It was his opinion that taxation upon loans was a vicious principle, for it was a tax upon the necessities and distresses of the people.—(Hear.) He knew of parties being frequently in such a situation that they were not able to pay the expenses of the mortgage. - But what would be the case under this Bill ? Up to 1,0001. there would be relief afforded, but the moment they passed beyond 1,000/. the evil would be aggravated. Upon 2,0001., where. 61. was now paid, 101. would be required ; upon 3,0001., in stead of 71., it would be 151. ; upon 4,0001., instead of 81, it would be 20/. ; and on 5,0001., instead of 101., it,would be 251. ; and so it went on up to 100,0001., when the stamp duty was 5001., and so that in cases that be knew a party would have to 'pay 6001. and 7001. stamp duty. This did not affect the laud only. Then iu a settlement, if any person granted an annuity, whether contingent or otherwise, that was calculated as an abso lilt- annuity, and had to pay stamp duty, although it might never come into effect.—(Hear.) It hud — been staod that this Bill would give relief, and it bad been calculated that the revenue would lose 300,0001. a year. It was his belief, and it had not been altered by the fal lacious set of duties he had r.ean, that the produce of the revenue would be infinitely more than 300,000/. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER thought there were many objections to the Bill, especially with reference to building societies. Mr. i:IUME said that hitherto small sum; hal paid more duties than large ones; and as he understood the Government, the objrct of the Bill was to make all pay in proper proportions, if such was the case (and he had been told that it was), he felt bound to support the Bill. Mr. HENLEY complained that time had not been given to Members and parties to consider the Bill as reprinted, and the House was called upon to act in the dark. Under such circumstances he thought they ought not at present to ga into Committee on the Bill. Mr. SADLEIR observed that a more difficult or a more complex Bill than the Stamp Duties Bill, with its schedule B, could not possibly be laid before the Rouse. It involved most difficult questions, and embraced more interests throughout the United Kingdom than any other measure that he knew of. They had been told that the Bill was to be a great boon to the United Kingdom, and that declaration was followed by a Bill which, he was happy to say, had been abandoned—a Bill that he was unwilling to speak of in harsh terms, because he did not like to speak evil of the dead, but yet a Bill of which he could not refrain from saying, that if it had passed in the shape it had been brought forward would have brought disaster and ruin upon the agricultural and commercial community alike.—(Hear.) He was happy to say that the Right Hoe. Gentleman had adopted nine tenths of the suggestions that had been made; but even now with his amended Bill he asked the Right Hon. Gentleman was he prepared to st ind by his sugges tiens?—(Hear.) Would he even now say that he would not 3 ield to any suggestion?—(Hear.) What provi sion, lie asked the Right lion. Gentleman, was there in the Bill for that large class of deeds that were now un duly stamped?—(hear, hear.) There was no law so consistently avoided as the stamp laws, and why so? Because they dare not enforce them—because if they did enforce them they would bring to a complete stand still the mercantile operations of this great com mercial country. Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer regarded all dealings above 1,0001. as large transactions, and subjected thew to high rates of duties. Assuredly the Right Hon. Gentleman must know that transactions under - 1,000/. were of wry limited nature compared with others above that sure. Benefit would have been conferred if the duties had been lowered ou all transac tions under 10.0001. I❑ Irrl end the daius in one ease were increased 100 per cent. upon a certain class of leases which now paid only Is. It was desirable to have the registration of all and the stun charged Was the ' same upon a L ouse o f 10 / . a year as upon 500 1 . 9 Seed Then the s t amp d uty on securities was the same, 5p there was no app li cation of the principle of g raclust' ;o 0 o to them.—(licar, hear.) In the next place he though was extremely unjust that mere personalty should ltd subjected to the same sca l e of duties as were to be arbor upon re ;l property. Th en h e came to the case of red able annuiti es; an d why, he asked, were they to be "'„ 5 ? higher rate of stamp d u t y t h an mortgage transaet it o itesteeinable annuities were mortgages granted by te, 11 ,714 for life ; an d i t was monstrous that any Bill shou ld submitted to th e cons id erat i on of the House which cep tained principles so directly opposed to one elln i t r o o whilst no al t em pt was ma d e to set at rest those quel",a, of litigation whi c h re f erre d to licences granted by Pa'lo tees. Again, by the imposition of a progressive &V s* addition to the ad valorem duty on mortgage transaetifo they would drive parties to resort to practices by °Pi e he feared the titles of this country would ere long rA come as voluminous , prolix, and entangled as the 'IV titles with which the Solicitor-General had reee n je been dealing. He also regretted that no effort was 01 " - ep , by the B:11 to remove the difficulties which had er' re and which were daily i ncreas i ng, w i th regard to the P per duty upon the transfer of mortgages.—(Hear, hest Hui. and Learned Gentleman (the Attorneru e b o ral) shook his head to express his dissatisfaction et i s not being allowed to rush at once:into Committee; b s li ge Was Lust possible that the observations which he k Sadleir) and other Members had made might be ad us. ans of rendering the Bill useful and practicable; e t , curtly no one wou ld sa y th a t t h ey could, without at, Ong their own r e p u t a ti on an d t h e reputat i on of t h e yen meat, pass such a measure unaccompanied by be remark through the House.—(Hear, hear.) V i r r e own part he was anxious to take some pains, in orde r e r send the measures which originated there to the n eio s House of Parliament in as perfect a shape as attee` p o and care could make them; and he trusted the Hon; ace Learned Gentleman would exhibit no further im . patiS o , upon the course which had been taken in this irest7b, Another point to which he desired to refer was the to ject of portions for younger children. They' W I • now exempt from settlement duty ; and he pow to the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether 1 ,7 0 ought not so to continue. But the greatest objet' o f he had to urge was the ex post facto operatic:4U, the Bill, even in it s amen d e d f orm, w i th regard toarl; which had been either entirely or in part executed. 0 4 frequently occurred that the greatest difficulty W 95 . bi perienced in the attempt to ascertain what was thenc e , stamp for a d ee d. Thi s was t h e cause of constan t ea filets and conte n ti ons , b u t t h ere was not a public ee:6 in the count r y w hi c h would g i ve the professional let', the landed or the commercial interest, the slightest ,11 formation upon the subject. In his opinion it was big; desirable to ve s t a p ower i n the Commissioners fee land Revenue to declare what was the proper staniPd s e l a to be imposed upo n a d ee d ; an d as i t was professed tit:bo it was intended by th e Bill to confer a b oon upon ;pe landed interest, h e wou ld suggest the addition of * 501 pie clause, ena ct i ng th a t every stampe d instru er o executed anterior to the passing of the Bill should deemed and taken as duly stamped. That would i b e iy practical boon an d a su b stant i a l b enef i t to the landed to terest. In concluding, the Hon. Gentleman said thel oo claimed exemption from additional duties for all t 1 3 , /. parties who might h ave b een so un f ortunate as not to4"op placed a correct con s tr uc ti on upon t h e existing 05, laws, under which no man cou ld b e con fid ent i ts exP reo ing an opinion. The House then went into Committee. On the first clause being proposed, oto s The CHANCELLOR of th e 'EXCHEQUER '. and said, that with r egar d t o a great number of ( 1 11 0.0 . 1 tions which had b een ra i se d i n t h e course of the pre° d discussion, they would be more conven i ent l y ans wer when the clau se s t o w hi c h t h ey part i cularly refer;il came under the consideration of the Committee. It et a not true that he had ever stated that be proposed st Tn. & sure which would be o f genera l rel i ef to all parst/01 What he stated was, that he propo se d a measure two ; would afford relief in all transactions of a small awl ti , whilst he should indemnify himself by raising the etp on those of a larger amou n t. A n d w h en h e laid cl°. 0 - that principle it appeared t o meet w i t h t h e general sit, probation of th e H ouse -;-(H ear, h ear.) He stated o, tiectly that he proposed to adopt an ad valorem T' 01 ; throughout; not that there should be a higher amount large sums, but that the per-centage should be e qual. b t' l posing 100,0001. or 200404 were borrowed, no doeb so would be hard if a high per-centage were placed 1, 5 ; that amount ; but the htirdship would be just as g r ip upon the poor shopkeeper,, or other person In similar . c O . O cumstancea. If it were just in the one case, it was Jot in the other ; and the principle that appeared to higl s d most fair to adopt v. as that of an equal p e r.ceil e on large and small sums, He quite felt that .0 a amount of duty upon borrowing was very large. P ir o after having had communications with the el ie re il man of the Board ef Inland Revenue, he was preP e or e to move in Committe e an equa l per centage on I n of gages and bonds. lie had at first proposed a duti o e per cent. on mortg ages an d b on d s; h e proposed ,fiel to reduce it to a unif o r m I.— that was to say, inse'llP of 10s. on every 100/. 'l'tt e Hon. Member f o r Osf r . shire (Mr. Henl e y) h a d as k e d hi m if h e coul d net sulil nish some informatio n t o the ; H ouse to s h ow what W;',lf be the probable amount o f revenue . B ut i t was to,t a matter of estimate, and he was afraid that lie o to io not lay upon the tabl e an y return b y which a 0 1 /0 0. onclusion on the subj ec t cou ld b e arr i ve d at . The antleman must be a ware t h at i t was t h e mass o f .„ 411 transactions, and not the few large ones that prod f u o l ii the great am oun t o f revenue. He had gone care o a t over the matter, how ever , will those persons in lo ts Board of Inland R e v enue w h o were numbers of the Board of Stamps and Taxes, and the nearest coeclas i . t e to which they h a d b een a bl e to come, after revising it rilio the utmost care, was that the loss by the propositioatoe he at first stated it, might, under the most favoura, l e circumstances, be tak en at 270,000 L—he had previ ol/. 0 stated it at 300,000 L—and that the p ro p osa l he 13 6 4 made of reducing the duty from one-half to 0 0 01. quarter per cunt. might occasion a further loss of 50, 0 i, or 60,000/. But he could not prove this. It was sae possible to prod uce fi gures to s h ow t h e l oss upo n t7 O , section; of this nature. He might look for some ; o f crease of these transactions by reducing th e Amoun t rr the stamp duty, ju s t as h e l oo k e d f or an i ncrease 0' ere venue from the Customs duties when they o t, lowered ; but it w as i mposs ibl e to say to what ex tv o o What he now stated was upon the authority of ° h ot who had the b es t i n f ormation upon the subject. 0° be no other authority; and the loss upon the propositio e t it now made might run up to 320,0001, or 330,0001.; blebs would certainly be more than 300,000 L—not less. f o e Hon. Memb er f sr Cirencester (Mr. Mullings) had gu a r notice of a clause for obviating the inconvenience 4 ,', / arose out of doubt s up on th e amount o f stamp ° a ft , payable by law. He (Sir C. W oo d) th oug h t it "low tremely desirable to d that. He did act think, ' o il ever, that the cl ause w hi c h t h e H on. M em b er pr op would affect that object in the best possible v a/. t ee in order to attain th a t o bj ec t, h e ( t h e C haneellor ot o , Exchequer) sh ou ld p ropose to g i ve to the Canada. sioners of Stamps the p ower o f d ec idi ng and 5e),,,,511 eating what the s t am p d uty s h ou ld b e i n cases o f 5" amounts. 001 3 ' Mr. DISRAELI h a d un d ers t oo d t h e Right fer. Gentleman origin a lly t o sa y— an d h e b a d , i n fac t, re jos red to the expression himself this evening—that he lo t tcnled to bring in a measure for the advantage of . „l,et he called the landed interest, and the object of the s il e ) Hon. Gentleman was a praiseworthy one.—(Hear, e e s be It was to assist the smaller proprietors—that wa s _, B re expression then used; that these small proprietors r i d not the least important part of the landed interest , that they were to receive relief from a modificatin,ho the stamp duties that affected them.—(Hear, hear-) ;he Right Hon. Gentl eman now sa id t h at at t h at do eo, informed the House th a t h e cou ld not ma k e t hi s bea_ cial arrangement for th e sma ll propr i etors, nn l e ss fe of the same time made some other changes which wen o t, course, press more upon th e grea t er proprietors--40e10) recur to, or adopt, an ad va l orest system.—(Hear, P b 0 Now he (Mr. Disraeli) could not recollect that W e the Right Hon. Gentl eman ma d e hi s fi nanc i al statee 3 n . . n . o that the phrase "ad va l orem " escape d f rom tc those lir -(A laugh.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER" ° yes.—(llear, hear.) l i i Mr. DISRAELI—W e II, b u t w h at was the etseij Hon. Gentleman's proposition when he came foriv74, with his bedget?—(Hear, hear.) He said, lam k s' e l P to introduce a measure , f or th e a d vantage o f the 5 proprietors tied the landed interest. I anticipate tree' the changes which I am going to make will cost Wo o s venue 300,000/. or 400,0004, and I am going to see ri w ei ' of my surplus a sum t o that amount." Well, that_ h o an intelligible propOsition.—(ltear, hear.) But 7 0 . 1 did he say to-night ? Why he said, "I am prepared to , benefit the landed interest and the small proprietol l t the amount of 350,0001. ; b u t as compensation for theetis must lay on an amount :of taxation which will proberow reach at least to the same extent on the greater gons prietors." Now he (Mr. Disraeli) asked, was that ta e sistent with th e Ri g h t Hon. Gentleman ' s original lo s o f, went, that he w as go i ng to d evote a certain por tie' res t • his surplus revenue to the benefit of the landed ante ley —(Hear, hear)—when it turned out that the greet f i bs of the Government was to tax one portion .° 0 of landed int eres t i n or d er t o re li eve another porSost the landed i n t eres t ?—(L ou d c h eers. ) H a d the '",B 11) , Honourable Gentleman—(continued Mr. Di" w ee introduced a measur e th e o bj ect o f w hich 0 to benefit the (small proprietors by devotiegos their service a portion of the surplus revenue, s e of originally stated, I should have accept e d a measureol that kind as a boon ; but the present measu re--erettoed be a politic and necessary measure—i s one o f borer taxation upon the landed interest, or a cons id e rable it to non of the landed interest; and whether it be a 0 01. and necessary measure or not, I mai n t a i n th a t „ v . , sure of this kind ought to be brought f orwar d fra l2 * o 4 (Hear, hear)—that it ought not to be brought fo ld of under a false pretence; that the Gov ernmen t shoe see upon an occasion of such importanc e as th e b u dget ', ogl e forward and announce that they are i n t ro d uc i n g 0 ,...,"deti sure for the benefit of a consid era bl e sect i on o f the iStee interest, by devoting :to them a portion of the 60 .7 1 . 0 0 revenue, and then wh en we come to t h e d eta il s it ',bet out that this good i s t o b e secure d b y taxing tin e ; s ee portion of the land e d i nterest. — (Cheers.) But if, ° is to have been told to-night, the Right Hon. Gentlensa ll o , find compensati on b y an ad valorem scale of (10' 00 4 want to know w h at h e means to do w i th t h e 30t tie e surplus revenue in the T reasury w hi c h ma y not night cessary. Probably h e may d evote t h at to-morrow h ; _ides, to reducing th e t ax upon paper, or some other eses) which his fri e nd s may propose to him.—(Heart ' s /. of At present, h owever , i t appears t h at we h ave 300,0lf e joh surplus, which may be devoted to any purpose w' lion. Gentlemen may suggest.—(Hear, bear.) ol d The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, to that by the rules of the House he was not at liber.ibot refer to the report of the debate on a former nig i l l, o3 ber he begged to say that the memory of the Hon. ! It o, for Buckinghamshire was most inaccurate, for that . 1- 1 r de entleman had put into his mouth expressions and 11 , :' 01 which he had never uttered.—(Ministerial cheers-) /0 '' course he had not done so intentionally . What 116 / k