The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

Witittort WARWICK SPRING MEETING. (THIS DAY. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) The Trial Stakes. Alonzo ... ... ... ••• ••• Mark Tapley. ... ... ... ... Knight of Gwynno ... ... ... The Willoughby Handicap. Fugitive Rattrap ... Free Handicap. Doubt ... Docility... ... 1 ... 1 ... 1 ... 2 frourtbiZintion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. FRIGHTFUL MURDER. (From a Second Edition of the Edinburgh Courant) Great consternation was excited this morning in the village of Juniper Green, about five miles south west of Edinburgh •(in.the neighbourhood of Currie), by the diPcovery of the murder of two persons in the house of Dr. Wilson, a resident medical practitioner. The county police were immediately on the spot, and upon. entering the house found Dr. Wilson in the kitchen, lying upon hiS back, quite dead, with his head beaten almost to a jelly. The next object which presented itself was the life less body of the aged mother of Dr. Wilson, which was found lying in the passage, apparently on the spot where the unfortunate woman had been struck down, and killed. The emplements employed in these murders, ap peared to have been the kitchen poker and tongs. A person suspected to be the murderer, was ap prehended in the house, and has been lodged in the Edinburgh jail. Information of the dreadful occurrence reached Edinburgh about nine o'clock this morning, when Mr. Sheriff Gordon, the Proqurator-Fiscal, and Mr. List, Superintendent of the County Police, drove out to the EcEne of the murder. They were occupied for several hour in making an investigation' into the circumstances of the tragedy, and returned to town a little after one.o'clock. It would be improper, in .the meantime, to enter into all the details that have come to light, but we believe that the publication of the following statement cannot interfere with the course of justice. From what we have . heard, it appears that at a late hour last.night (Sunday) a man of the name of Pearson, who. is understood to have been in confine ment in a lunatic asylum, called at the house of Dr. Wilson for medicine or medical advice. The Doctor accordingly pre scribEd a simple dose, of which one-half .was to be taken that night, and the remainder next morning. Dr. Wilson having just returned from -visiting his country patients, left the man at the door while he himself and the maid servant went to the stable to put up his horse. Upon his return to the house, Dr. Wilson found the outer door locked, and, upon knocking, was immediately admitted. This appears to have been observed by the maidservant,,who then went to her mother's house in the neighbourhood, where she usually slept. The precise circumstances that followed within Dr. Wilson's house, can. only be matter of conjecture. The state in which his body and that of his mother were found next morning, has already been described. It is said that the man Pearson who had called at the house the previous night, is the person now in gaol upon suspicion of the murder ; and it is added that he bad passed. the night in the house, sleeping in Mrs. Wilson's bed, having first, it is supposed, burned his clothes. He was found naked, in bed, and sound asleep. . The murder was brought to light at an early hour this morning► by the soryunt returning as usual to her work. She found the-door locked-, and upon looking through the windowp, saw the body of Dr. - Wilson lying upon the -kitchen floor. She immediately gave the alarm, when the door was forced open, and the extent of the murder wasdisclOsed. Dr. Wilson was about fifty years of age, strong and healthy. His mother had attained the great age of ninety. - We have already. stated that. Pearson. had been in confinement as a lunatic. This, we believe was some time ago—his confinement lasted about four years, when he was discharged ; apparently in bound mind. We understand that, within the last few days, symp toms of insanity again manifested-themselves. COURSE OF :EXCITA .k.msteroam 12 Dlttu, at slight • • .... 12 -1 Rotterdam .... ••.. •• 13 I Antwerp • • • • • • •• •. • . • • Hamburglj ..... • 11,11. 11,13'1 ParlA, 3 clays'Aght • • 25 Ditto, 3 months :... 25 75 bfarseille3 •• .• 25 7716 . 25 77% Tranktort on Maine..... 1217 1 , l'eter3burgt, Sll. Rble.. 37 Berlin • . Vienna, efrec. flo 125• TrteAte, 12 o Madrid 4t% Cadiz Bilbao.. Barcelona • • • Aevilla •• .• •••••• • • •• • NGE.-(THIS DAY.) (n.braitsr•• •• •• •• •• •• Le;horn ............•• 30 60 leptoit .. •••••• • • •'• •• •• 26 5 Venice.— .. • • • • •• •• •• Nrsples .. •..••• .• •• 40% ralenno, 122 Afeisina Li5b0n................ 53Si , )potto.• •• •• .• •.•• .• • • 53 Si 1 , :io Janeiro ........ • • ...uenbs Ayres •• York,2l days'slght rhiladelphia ?BIM! OP BULLION, PM o 1 , Foreign Gold in I , ars.. £3 17 9 Vortnal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars •• •. 0 4 lo l ,fi Sliver la bare •• 0 4 11% THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THUS EVENING.) LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEE. 210850. Notice is he eby:giveu, that his Royal Highness Prince Albert will, by the desire of tier Majesty, hold a;Levee at St. elarlieS'i Palace, .on behalf of her Majesty, on Wed nesday, 20th March next, at two o'clock. It is her Mjesty's.pleasure that presentations to his Royal Highness -at these Levees shall be considered equivalent to presentations t...) the Que2n. Addresses to the gieen may either be forwarOei to her Majesty through ' the S?crutiry of State for the Horne Depsrtmentor may be rts.erved until her Mrjesty shall hold a levee. REGULATIONS •TO BE 'OBSERVED AT THE LEVEES AT ST: JAMES'S PALACE. The nobleinen and gcottrinen who purpo►e to attend the Levees at St. Janieh's Palace, are q';ested to bring with them• two larga cards; with their names clearly written thereon, one to be left with the Queeu'a page in attendance in the Presence. Chamber, and tl e other to be delivered to the Lord Chatnirihtiti, who will announce the, name.- • Those gentlemen' whb are to be presented, are hereby informed, it is atolutely necessary that their names, with the names of the noblern.an- or gentleman who is to present them, should Le sent to the Lord Chambetl4n's , itlice,b(fure twelve o'clock on the Mon day prev ions • to e: , .ch levee, in order that they may be submitted for approbation ; it being her Majesty's com mand, that no presentation s Aall be made at the levees, but in co. f .recity wish t .e above regulations. It is particularly revestcd,:.that in, every case the names be very disanctt,tl.written upon the cards t be de! livered - t1) the Lord Chamberlair, in order that there may berm difficuity'in ajnoUncing them. The state apartments Will not be open f,r the re ception if company coming to Court until'half-past one o'clock: CROWN OFFICE, MARCH 18. .• - The Peers of Scotland elected and chosen to ait and ♦ote in t e House of fears in the prosei.t Parliament of the United Kingdutn of Great Britain and Ireland; aiz.:—The Right Honourable the Earl of Airlie and the Lord Blantyre. room of David Earl of Airlie and John Lord Colville t'f Culross, deceased. Commission by the - Lord4Aeutenant of Lincolnshire. The Hon. rt.-legrine Francis Cust t 3 be Deputy- LieuteFant. _ Commission by the L•lrd-LieutenantorDorsetshire. Queen's Own Be ' iirneut of Yepelsury,Cav a l r y—m or .. ton Grove Mansel, Gent, to be Cornet, vice. Pitt, re signed, Feb. 15. WHITEHALL, MARCIT 8. The Lord Chancellor.hs6 appointed George White, of Epion:), in the county of Surrey, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the Hie' Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. James Harbidge, miller, Islip, Oxfordshire, to , sur render, March 23, at half-past one, and April 27, at one, at the Court of BankitiptCY: Pennell, assignee, Guildhall Chambers, Risinghall-street; Berry, South ampton-buil flogs; Dr*, Oxford. John Spicer, hladcansitl3, Barking, Essex, March 25, at two, and April 29; at eleven, at the Court of Batik rup:cy. Graham, official assignee; Rawlings, Romfurd, and Juhn-Street, Peitord-row, Charles Cove, builder, Hornchurch, Essex, March 25, at half-past two, and 29. at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Gr;tiam, official assignee, Coleman street; Rawlings, Rornford. • John Barton Balconilie share broker', Cannon street, April 11, at two, and April 26, at eleven, at the Court of Bank rill try. Ed warcla, , offiei„il assignee, Basinghall street ; Goddard and Eyre,. Wood-sircet, Cht apside. John Bedfurtf, mustc7l , l l er, Bath, March 16, at the Bristol District Court. Miller ,. offcial-assignee, Bristol; Hellings, Ba'h. William Gore, wheelwright, Live r p oo l , April 3 and 23, at eleven, at the Liv'erpoOl District Court. Caze- Liverpool ; Bradley 'Liverpool, wive, official assignee, , LIVkRPOOL, MoNDit. — By the paexet-ship Consti tution, arrived off Queen town, we have advices from New York to the 22.4 tilt., but they.do nut contain a ny intAligence of interest. The deer in the royal forest of Dean are all to he destroyed, in order to stop' tt. a demoralisation caul: d among the colliers and otl.ers'by the ireralcnce of deer stealing. • PILL, MA.nou 18.—Wind N.N.E.—SId. F .e ngulton and Renfrewshire, St. John's; New Brunswick. NEWPORT, MARCH .18.—"-Wind N , uT9lle Angutte, Cienfuegos; taza, Boston, United States; 8!. Vincent, Planter, Citldinis„ IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. The Register of Metropolitan Public Carriages was read a second time. RAILWAY ABANDONMENT BILL On the motion of the Earl of GRANVILLE, this Bill was read a third time and passes!. PETITIONS. Lord BROUGHAM, at the re quest of Lord Denman, presented a petition from the intaubitants c f Kingston, JamaiCa, signed by 5,000 re-sons, praying the House not to consent to the removal of the African squadron. The Noble and Learned Lord took occasion to denounce those who having learned only the A B C of the subjct, contended that the best way to do away with the slave tralo was to let it alone. He also ridiculed those who would not shed the precious blood cf a pirate to prevent murder, and related a conversation which be had bad with a certain friend, " Joseph," who had declared that if he saw a mrn about to sit fire to a train of gunpowder which, when it exploded, would blow up all his relations and friend- he should not venture to c om m it a common aisault seal battery in order to prevent it. He also ve he mently attacked those economists who, to save a pound sterling, would diminish the force of that ,quadron which had done so much, as had been proved by Captain Denman, to put down the slave trade. The Earl of FALMOUTH presented a petition from the Reiruth board of guardians in favour of making mines rateable, and one from Whatton in Northampton shire against the transmission of letters on the Sabbath. EASTER HOLIDAYS. In answer to a question from Lord STANLEY, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was his intention to move on Tuesday next that their Lordships should adjourn to the Thursday se'nnight GRAND EXHIBITION IN 1851. Lord BROUGHAM, in rising to move for the copy of the Commission authorising the Exposition of 1851, wished to guard himself against being supposed hostile to the exhibition, whether it was held in Hyde Park, which he hoped it would not be, or in the Regent's Park, or, where be should prefer seeing in the Victoria Park, at the east-end of the town. He could not but bear . his testimony to_ the disinterested patriotism of the manufacturing and trading classes who had come forward to support an exhibition which must inevitably reduce the prices of all the goods in which they dealt. It completely relieved them from the reproach of s-lfisbness which - had been brought against them by Adam Smith. In' consequence of that exhibition there could be no doubt but that the consumer would get a better article at a cheaper rate, and that perhaps might i❑ the long run be of advantage to the producer. It would be of advantage to the consumer, and he hoped it would be equally of advantage to those who had so nobly come forward to aid in reducing the prices of the commodities in which they dealt. He considered this intended as a compensation to the agriculturists for the less of protection. It was, therefore, in no spirit of hostility that he came forward on the present occa sion, but it was to prevent the lungs of London, as the arks had been denominated by Lord Chatham, from being choked up by the erection of a great building of he knew not how many acres in extent for the exhibi tion of 1851 . lie considered that Hyde-park was the very worst position that could be chosen for the erection of that building. In 1801, Mr. Wyndham objected to the erection of eight houses in the Park, on the ground that their erection would interfere with the circulation of light and air. The Earl of CARLISLE would only say that a com munication had teen received from the Commissioners, requesting that a certain portion of Hyde-park might be set apart for the erection of this building. Know ing that this request proceeds from a most re spectable body of men, and also bad the approval of the Sovereign, the report was entertained; and although it would certainly encroach for a time on the park, yet he thought that their Lordships ought not to pay more regard to aristocratic beings than to other beings. ll} de Palk contained an area r f 270 acres, the Regent's Park 200 acres, and the Victoria Park, to which he would recommend their Lordships to pay a visit, and which had been suggested by his Noble and Learned Friend as the site fur the intended erection. only 190 acres. The aristocracy, besides, had greater opportunities of getting into the fresh sir than other c' asses. Lord BROUGHAM asked if the building was in tended to be merely temporary. The Earl of CARLISLE understood that it WSB to be only for that one year. Lord BROUGHAM—Then it will be a very expen sive proceeding. This was a most important subject, for if this plan were carried out it would render the west end of London entirely uninhabitable. The subj ect then dropped. JOURNEYMEN TAILORS. The Earl of WALDEGRAVE then rose to present a petition from the journeymen tailors if the metropolis, complaining cf the contract system for clothing the army, navy, ordnance, and police, and was (LEFT liiPEAYING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at five minutes to Four o'el( ek. FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. The reports upon the following Bills were brought up and agreed to:— Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society (Stamp Duty on Memorials). Licensed Victuallera' and G. neral Fire and L;f3 As surance Company (No. _2—Stamp Duty on Me morials). Guardian Fire and Life Assuracce Company (Stamp Duty on Memorials). PETITIONS. Mr. MUNTZ pri sect-d a petition from persons em ployed on the Birmingham Advertiser newspaper, pra; - ing for a remission of the, taxes on knowledge ; the Hcia. Member also presented several Petitions from , Nottingham, Bradford, and other places against the relay system in lactilies. Sir'J. HANDIER presented a r etition from the city of St. Asaph, praying for an extension of the jurisdic tion of the county courts. Lord BOTIIAII presented a petition, signe3 by 3,200 persons interested in agriculture in the East Riding of the county cf York, complaining of agricultural di►tress. Mr. FREW EN preheated a petition from the New haven Union in favour of th• establishment of county financial board?. Mr. LAW presented a petition from clergymen re siding in Preston, in the county of Lancashire, against. the Bill for legalising 'marriage with a deceased wife's sister. • Mr. FARMER presented a petition from a place in the county of Durh2m praying for the cessation of Sunday labour in the Poet-office. Mr. HENLEY presented a similar petition from a place in Oxfordshire. _ _ Mr. SCULLY presented a petition from Thurles, in the county of Tipperary, stating the distressed condition of Irelawd, and playing for immediate remedies. At the request f the Hon. Member the petition was read at length by the Clerk at the table of the House. Lord MELG CND pi eiented a petition from Greenock against the Merchant Seamens' Fund Bill ; also a petition from the lame place praying fer a drawback of the duty on ?pirits in bond. Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition against the rc byite al in factoties. Lord D. STUART p:ai•cnted a petition from' Mr. Elwin Psiker (Es we understood) a solicitor reeicling in Lambeth, complaining of the mischievous operation of the gland jury system, End praying Thar, the ILuse would institut.e an inquiry iato the existing law En this subject. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the treasurer and memt ers of the Congregatior al Board of Education, titing that sit,ce 1843 that Board ha l expended 133,0001 in building schools, besides the sums they had contributed to support them; that they had also estab 'idled two normal schools and two in►ant school?, and praying the Home not to grant any further sums for the purposes ef ducation, but to leave it to ♦oluntary_ support. _ - Air. BRIGHT also prceenled a petition f.om Stock port in favour of the ballot. At his request the peti tion will read by the Clerk at the table. The SPEAK.EIt iuf ,rmed the Hon. Member (Mr. Bright) that the l eition in favour of the ballot could not be received in that it referred to the debates of that House.— (Laughter.) Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Birmingham praying for the withdrawal of our rquadron from th• c( sit c f Africa. TEN HOURS BILL. Mr. BANKES presented several petitions from diffe rent mills in Lancashire and Yorkshile in favour of this Bill. COUNTY-RATES EXPENDITURE. Mr. PORTAL presented a petiti(n from a place in Hampshire, pre)ing fur the estatilishoaent of county financial board*. ... ___ _ RAILWAY BILLS. all railway moved, pursuant to notice, that in . isms during : the present session, it be an in struction to h following cla t u - s e c n :—p ro ' yid e s Committers on such Bills to insert the that all mortgages or bondd, always, and be it enacted, oro guarantees of interest or or agreements to guarantee dividends on shares or stock , passing ggof this by the company such interest ordtvidend.,made pas s si A o ct o , f ar t . h d . which t . ave g priorit " (or ccmparies) km fore the shall be in force at the time of the Act, shall, during trio continuance thereof, any mortgages er bonds, or guarantees of intoryesotvoerr dividends on any new shares or stock respectively, to b e made or granted by virtue of this Act; and that nothing in this Act contained shall in any e ay be held to diminish or injutiously affect the security of such previous mort gages, or bonds, or guarantees, or agreements to guaran tee. All he asked the House was to re,crve their rights as creditors over the pros erty of tt e company. B;lls bad been introduct d which had for their object the destruc tion of the security.uhich was possessed at present, and be was glad that one Bill of this nature Lad been rc: • by the House last night. These attempted measures of spoliation had created comiderable alarm among the holders of this species of property, and a greet depreciation in its value had followed. Now he thought the remedy for all this would be found in adopting this clause. There was a great public prit.ciple involved in this matter in which the good . ittrh of the House was concerned, and with which th e floes+) alone ought to (14 al. • Since be had come down to the House he had had an in turvit w with his Right Hen. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, on the subject, who agreed with him that it required great consideration, and upon the assurar.ce of his ltight Hon. Friend that he will direct his attention to it, in order that the interest of all par ties rn ty be secured, he should Lave no obj. ctiou to withdraw his motion, and leavo the matter in the hands c.f . his Right Hon. Friend.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. W. PATTEN said it was his intention to have opposed the clause, but under all the circumstances be agreed with the Hoe. Mover of it, that it was better to leave the question in the hands of the Right Hon. the President of the Bond of Trade, to see if he could not devise some remedy which could not inflict injury upon other parties.—(llear, hear.) He would not infringe on the property of persons who had shares in railroads; but he would remind the Hou s e th a t there were several Bills before it now, wherein chair men of railways themselves were seeking the interfer ence of this House, in consequence of the circumstances of their companies. He would move as an amendment, that it be optional with the railway companies to adopt the clause moved by his Hon. Friend (!Ir. Edward Ellice), or not, as they pleased, which he thought would protect the interest of the preference shareholder,. Mr. LABOUCHERE supported the amendmere. The Government had been closely watching the system of preference shareholders, and had inserted clauses in a gnat number of railway Bills with a view to correct the evil complained of. Ile was quite willing, however, to reconsider the subject hereafter. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that on Thursday, the 18th day of April, and on every alternate Thursday, until the 16th day of May inclusive, orders of the day= have precedence of notices of motions, without giving priority to Bills introduced by the Government, which was agreed t>, after a few words. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition from certain Australian colonists stating that the Australian Colonies Bill was calculated to promote,the prosperity of those colonies, and praying that it might be passed as at pre sent framed.—(Cheers.) SUPERANNUAI lON FUND FOR POOR-LAW OFFICERS. Sir B. HALL wished to ask the Right Honourable Gentleman the President of the Poor-law Board if it was his intention to bring in any measui e this session for establishing a iuperat nation fund fur poor-law officers, and if so, whether this fund would be raised by a charge on the poor rates, or a per centage on the salaries of the officers themselves? Mr. BAINES said the subject had been very much pressed upon the attention of the Poor-law Board, and it had been some time under their , consideration. A Bill, too, had been prepared on the subject founded on the principle of raising a fund by a per centage on the sa laries, but he was afraid he should not be able to intro• duce it till after Easter, HEALTH OF TOWNS (IRELAND) BILL. Slr. GROGAN was anxious to ask the Secretary for Ireland a question of some importance to that country. Last session the Right Honourable Gentleman brought forward a Health of Towns' Bill for Ireland, and he wished to know whether it was the intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to re-introduce that Billy Sir WM. SOMERVILLE said he did intend re. introduce such a measure, but ho was afraid he should not be able to do so till after Easter. It_would not be precisely the same Bill of last year. JUDGES' SALARIES. Colonel SIBTIIORP wished to know when the second reading cf the Bill for regulating the salaries of the judges of the Queen's Bench and Commcn Pleas would bo taken ? Lord J. RUSSELL replied on Monday next. THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA. Mr. GLADSTONE bal notice on this subject on the paper, but he would rather see it in the hands cf the Go vernment, and he therefor• wished to ask the First Minister of the Crown, whether her Majesty's Govern ment were willing to make provision in the Australian Colonies Government Bill for the application of the prin ciple of local self-government to the affairs of the Church of England in those colonies, by declaring that it shall be lawful for the bishops, clergy, and lay mem bersj of that church to establish regulations on the foot ing of consent among themselves, and subject to any restraints which may be thought necessary for the ma nagement of those affairs? Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to decline taking the matter out of the hands tf the Right Lion. Gentleman. NAVY PORK. Colonel CEIATTERTON asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if the Admira'ty, in September last, ac cepted tenders for the supply of 1,500 tierces of navy pork, from a Hamburgh house, at 51.6*. 6d. per tierce, r, fusing tenders from Irish provision merchants fur the supply cf that article; and whether it is his intention to continue to throw open the supply in future to foreign competition ; and whether he has heard that the provisions supplied by foreign eortract were recently rejected by an emigrant ship at Portsmouth, as bad, and greatly inferior to pro visions mace up is Ireland. Sir F. BARING said the contracts were open to home as well as f'oreig❑ competition, and the Admiralty had found no reason to alter that system. IRISEE POOR-LAW. Colonel DUNNE asked the Noble Lord at the head of the Government; whether it be his intention to give effect to the suggestions made to him by a deputation of Peers and Members of the House of Commons, connected with Ireland, or introduce amendments in the preset poor law which they have recommended, in order to alleviate the evils it inflicts on all classes in that country. Lard J. RUSSELL said the administration of out. door relief had been att-nded with great abuse, and it had been determined not to give out-door relit f ex cept in cases •f necessity. He did not think the present law required amendment in that respect, because the Commissioners, with the consent of the local guar dians, lad already powers given them of restraining any abuse in the granting of out-door relief. SLAVE TRADE—AFRICAN SQUADRON. Sir R. 11. INULIS presented a petition from a foreign settlement, the name cf which we did not catch, pray ing the House not to sanction any measure which migt t have the effect of withdrawing the African squadron from the coast. It stated that the peti tienera were fully convinced that the squadron was a co-ordinate assistant cf great value, and that its with drawal would leave the property of settlsrs exposed. Mr. HEALD presented a similar petition from the society of Wesleyan Missionaries. Sir E. N. BUXTON presented similar petitions from various play es in the colonies. Mr. MOFFATT presented a similar petition. Mr. MUTT then rose is propose the fallowing resolu tion:—" That an !nimble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be pleased to direct that negotiations be forthwith entered into for the purpose of releaiting this country from all treaty engagements with foreign states, for maintaining armed vessels on the coast of Africa to suppress the traffic in slaves." Ile said, the time had arrived when in accord• ance with the opinions of two 'Committees of the House which had been appointed to consider the suppression of the stare trade, it became his duty to submit a motion to the House on that grave and impor tant subject. The motion was in effect a declaration that it was inexpedient for this country to resist all attempts fur the suppression of the alive trade by force of arms, to carry out which it was neces sary in the first instance to put an end to all which had been entered into by this country for the rr ainterance of an African squadron. The necessity of making such a change in our policy was impressed on the muds of ter° Committee?, ot Rhieh be was chairman. There was one favourable point in connexion with the absence of these gentlemen, r amely, that they were amongst the majority c f the Committee who had carried the matter at issue; and constqlently, if in the Com mittee of 1849 the report was carried by the casting rote of the chairman, that circumstance must be attri buted, not to a change in the opinions of the Committee, but to one of those casualties arising from the accidental absence cf . Members, a casualty which would occur both in the House and in its Committees.-- (Cheers.) Having endeavoured to relieve the Com mittee from some of these prejudices which it had been at'empted to cast on it, be would proceed to state to the House some cf the facts, and circumstances which in the opinion of the Committee justified .their report.—(Hear, hear.) It was now one and-thirty years ago sin ce Great Britain, having new tinted various treaties with foreign States, dispatched to the coast of Africa an armed force to carry out the object cf these treaties, and then began that memorable blockade of the coast of Africa the true character of which, as well as the circum stances of its final abandonment, had yet to be written in our history.—(Cheers.) 'We had no sooner taken these measures to forcibly suppress the slave trade than the slave trait) began to increase. In 1815 the highest amount of human beings exported from the coast of Africa was 90,000, in 1819 it had amounted to 105,000, and the number continues to increase under circumstances of aggravated atrocity.—(Cheers.) The Duke of Wellington, our Minister at the Congress of Verona, under the direction of Mr. Canning, Jail' before the assembled representatives cf the states of Et: rope a memorandum which me:l deserved the con sideration of the House. It went on to fay—" I h►ve the means of proving that tbe slave trade has been since the year 1815, and now is carried on to a greater extent than it had been at any former period. This contraband trade is attended with circum stances mere horrible than anything known to former times.. ..... It cannot bo denied tt at all the attempts at prevention have tended to increase the aggregate of human suffering and sacrifice of human life in a ratio positively ex( ei7ding the number carried off by the slave trade.—(hear, hear.) The mortality was dreadful to a degree unknown since the attention of mankind was first directed to the horrors of this traffic." Such was the description solemnly addressed to the states of Europe by two of the first mon of our age and country, at a time when the slave trade had not assumed many of those horrible characteristics which now belcnged to it. Some efforts were then made to continue the — work of suppression, and fur fitly or sixty years afterwards Great Britain made every possible effort to suppress the slave trade, by extend ing the means of possible repression. He had read a letter from the Duke of Wellington describing the horrors of the trade, and now he would read one from Lord John Russell, in 1829, when Secretary fur the Colonies, addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, in which that Noble Lord stated that the state of this trade had of late engaged the attention a her Majesty's confi dential adviser:, and that much deliberationh ad taken place as to the means employed to abolish it. It went on to state that it was impossible to avoid coming to the con clusion that the average number of slaves actually carried off annually exceeded 100,000 on the western c. , ast of Africa alone. It also !toted that the slave -„—. - trade would never be adi quately controlled by any system like that now adopted, and that it was indi spensable to enter upon some new preventi►e principle. But this was not all. In the following year, 1840, an ass(mblage was held in Exeter Hall, over which Prince Albert pre►ided, who was supported by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, and a_perfvet constellation of Lords spiritual and temporal. lie bad been accused of using strong language, and of giving a vexatious and protracted opposition to measures on the subject of the slave trade, but let him call the attention of the House to the resolutions which ere passed at that meeting. The first was moved by Sir F. Buxton, and seconded by the present Archbishop of Cabtorbury, then the Bishop of Chester, and was to the ,following "Notwithstanding the measures hitherto adopted for the suppresssion of foreign trading in slaves the traffic has increased, and continues to increase, under circum stances of aggravated hardship." The second resolution was proposed by Dr. Lushing ton, and seconded by Archdeacon Wilterforce, now the Bishop of Oxf ad, and who was chairman of the Com mittee in the House of Lords. It was as follows : " That the utter failure of every attempt by treaty, remonstrance, or naval armament, to resist the progress of the slave trade, proves the necessity of resorting to a preventive policy, and founded on different and higher considerations."—(Cheers.) 'ow neither of the Committees had used stronger language than this. He was surprised that those, who now defended the system, stood forward on that occasion as its enemies. He arrived now at the' year 1840. That year was dis tinguished by a temporary but remarkable diminution in the slave trade, and there were certain navel officers who were anxious to persuade the world that that dimi nntion was caused by their presence and perfcemsnces on the coast of Africa —(" Hear," and a laugh.)—Now he believed that Captain Denman and Captain Gladstone were most z alous and meritorious (Aces, but when tl ey claim fur their plans and perfor mances the merit of this reinction in the slave trade at thet period, he thought they were labouring under the d 'talon f the wet )n; who he bel!evad that the large at tendence at a certain parish church was entiaelyexpleined by the manner in which he tolled the church bells. It am true that at this , period,Captain Denman ace Captain Gladstone were at their pests, but there were other and far more powerful agencies at work.—(Hear. ) He saw rear him his Right Hon. Friend the Firrt Lord of the Admiralty, who about that period happened to be eh aecellor of the Exchequer, and he was sure he would remember, as others remembetel, that the period to which he was now adverting was a period of great mercantile depression. Now any mercantile depression affects the slave trade just as mach as any of the legiti mate branches of commerce, and that depression was one of the causes of the great diminution in the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) But there was another cause of a remarkable character in operation at that time. At that period both Cuba and Brazil were honestly engaged in attempting to, prevent the importation of slaves into these countries.--Ol e ar hear.) Mr. Ormsby, whose dispatch es h a d • been laid on the table of the House as our Minis - ter et Brazil, attributed the diminution to the exertions which were made by the Brazilian Minister of Marine to suppress the trade.—(Cries of "Jlear, hear.") At that same period General 'Baldez was Governor of Cuba. In 1843 he gas recalled, and about the same time the: Anti-Slavery Ministry of Brazil was voted out of office. Commerce then re vived, and with the revival of commerce, notwithstand ing the increased efficiency of.our fleet, came again all the horrors of the slave-trade.—(Hear, hear.) In 1842 the number of slaves exported from Africa was as low at 30,000; in 1843 the, number rose to 55,000; in 1846 to 76,000; and ;in 1847 to 84,000. He bad no means of ascertaining the number imported during the past year. He learned, however, that the slave-trade was last year, and is now, in a state of unusual activity: He held in his hand a paper called " A Mission to the Kieg of Ashantee," in which was contained a statement made by the Rev: Mr. Cruickshank, dated from the coast of Africa at the conclusion of 1848. He said, " It is distressing to think that our present block ade is no check whatever to the slave-trade. It is flourishing at this moment to such a degree that last accounts from Brazil report more than 8,000 slaves in the market there without purchasers, and net long ago a cargo of slaves found such a bad market that they were given up to pay the expenses of the freight.—(Hear.) During the whole time we have maintained our ulockade the slave trade has gone on uninterruptedly. It seems to me to serve no other pur pose but to increase the horrors of the traffic." Such was the result after a period of thirty years, in which we had been engaged in this•ev ork of suppression. There was one fact in the history of that [suppression which de served mention. Up to 1840 the slave•trade to Brazil was perfectly free. Up to the beginning if tae year 1840 we could not molest the slave ti ads south of the Equator. Lord Palmerston told the Committee that up to the beginning of 1840 the importation of slaves into Bread was praetically unrestrictel. What Was the result ? He 'asked not what was the temporary, but what was the permanent result f the charge? The slave trade on the line was now going on with at least as groat activity as ever, in spite of the exertions of the blockade to suppress it. He put these facts before the common sense of the House, and he asked it whrther this squadron was worth whet it cost, and whether it was of the slightest use. In, 1840 the sieve trade was fres 1,000 miles below the line, and it would have been supposed that the slave.traders would con fine themselves to that part where they had no risks to fear; but no, they found by the blue-books that the greatest amount of slave traffic was carried on in the very cruisers ground of our squadron. Did any one over hear tell of a maratine contraband trade being put down by force of arms. What had become of the Berlin and Milan decrees? Had every one forgotten the silk duties and the tobacco du ties? It was a great consolation to him (Mr. Elute) in examining the evidence before Parliament to find that his v e vs on this subject were supported by the opinions of all whose experience qualified them to judge. He was not about to trouble the House with an analysis of the evidence, but the majority if witnesses in number and in charaeter' were u terly hopeless of suppressing the trade by means of a Equa dron.—(Elear.) It was remarkable the: every' one of those aho did, in the course of examination give a different opinion to this, had not been on the African station fir some years. The most experienced stated distinctly that no system of force could put down this traffic in any number of years. The Commanders-in-Chief of the A frican squadron unanimously gave their evidence to the same effect. Sir Charles Hotham, who hal been appoietAl to the station as the officsr in the British navy best suited to the service, with a force highly disciplined, and with officers under Mtn who carried out his orders, gave it as his opinion that the squadron had not been of t . .e slightest use. The same evidence of the inefficiency of the squadron bad been given by the late Mr. Vande Crur, who had been at the head of that department of the Forsigre office for thirty-five years. Among those who thought that this traffic could be put down by a system of force there were many who thought that i the present application of it was one which needed great (rb)_ s alteration.hireovbo had Am o p n r g op th os e c s d e awescrehetemheii(ofnhs own for the pur pose; and many others had been proposed, a ll o f w hi c h involved an a dditi on al force and additio na l expense. Pas o stabe. fh of h Housee ,urt aware te British avl, that h n efo , r ee al ready em pl oye d wwhichcost upward s of 700,0004, and yet they m ere told that this fere° and this expense were not sufficieet. (LEFT SPEAKING.) purchases p MARKET IN TELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, March 19.) t-Today—To-day there was rather more activity i n the market fit West India Muscovado Su gar , an d holders were firm; still Mee demand existed from c re finers and grocers, and the rotes aid ar e f u ll y equal to amounted those eo to 200 hh of forl'riday ds, &. A all l e sorts t pu.ribllisale Q c total ha 37 Ws Ja maica went at 35s 61 for fine. brown, and at 36s f or l ow yellow. REFINED.—To-day there was no variation in the v a l ue of Lump Sugar, but only a , moderate business was eon eluded, and riliaers appeared to bo disp ose d to sell. Bonded Crushed Sugar met with little attention, and the finest will not fetch above 305 per cwt. MAURITIUS.—This , afternoon the p u bli c sales of Mauritius Sug a r p rocee ded with more spirit, arid at full rbt.;v. In all 6,970 bags and 12 casks were offered, and :Le chief part sold, yellow at from 355 to 39v, br own 31 , to 34s 6d and grey 343 t.) 385 per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This artt moon there was ,a good de mand for Bengal Sugar, and full rates were paid. At auction 1,248 bags Bengal were. at 37s 61 to 39s 61 for low to good white Benares, and the whole soli. For Madras the market ia still dull : of 1,920 bags a small part only sold at 29s to 305 for oat brown, and at 31s to 34s for yellow. FOREIGN.—Tc-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar; the private purchases are small for all purposes, and at former rates there aro free sellers• MoLassEs.—ln West India operations are upon rather a larger scale, but at easier rates. The aisles are 300 puns from Barbadoes at 16s 6d, and 50 puns St. Kitts at 15s 6d. East India met with little attention, and of 200 hhds Bengal at public sale only part sold at 13i 6d to 14s, whereas 116 casks Surinam were taken in at 16s to 17s per cwr. TEL—Operations hare been upon a limited scale by private treaty in Black, and for common Congou prices have declined to 91 and gid per lb. Green is also of fired at rather lower terms, and few buyers are to be met with. The public sales to-day went off• with dulness, and of 7,048 packages offered only 2,240 sold. Scented Caper went at is lid to is lid, being a decline of fully id. Gunpon der sold at id 'to 2d de cline, Canton went at Is 24d to Is 2i i, good and fine Hyson kind 2s Id to 2s I Id. Imperial must be quoted rather cheaper, Canton went at Is 2d, good and fine Hyson kind is 8d to Is 10d. A parcel of Hyson sold at 2s to 2s 10d for similar quality, and was considere rather cheaper. _ _ COFFEE.-This afternoon there was no public sale of CL ffee, but by private treaty several parcels are on offer. On the part Lf shippers or home dealers little desire wai evinced to operate, and prices underwent a further de pression. The latest quetAtions for Native Ceylon were 48s to 483 6d per cwt. .. . Cocos.—Th ere ale sellers cf Foreign at a further re •duction, still only small orders have been completed by private treaty, and 30s is the value of Guayaquil. West India 1 , a3 been purchased with caution, and none has, been offered at auction. For Trinidad the value is from 39s to 475, other sort' 38s to 44s per cwt, and loner rates are expected to prevail. RICE.—To-day few sales were made in East India by private treaty. At auction 800 bags of Bengal sold at 9s 6d to 103 for good mid whi.e, these are steady rates. SPICES.—To-day the market for Spices presented a dull aspec►, and the limited business done by private treaty is at rather lower rates. At auction 30 cases Cassia Buds were taken in at 1195 for good fresh, being above the value. SPIRITS,.—There are few buyers of Leeward Island Rum, still holders are firm, and require Is 51 to Is 5d per gallon proof; there is also not a larger supply at market, East 'Oa haa been purehw.ed with caution, and the terms accepted have been Is 4d to is 4id; there is also more desire to :ell. A tair amour t of business has teen concluded in Deme— rara and at firm rates, 30 to 40 per cent. over proof selling at 2s 3d to 2s 6', and supplies are small of strong sorts. Jamaica is not to be obtained upon later terms. The value cf 20 to 29 per cent. over proof is from 2s 4d to 2s 8d: 30 to 36 over 2s 9.1 to 3s 3d, and super or marks 3s 4d to 4s 2d. In the Brandy market there is firmness, still the demand from shiprers and home dealers has been limited. We quote Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1849 at 4s 6d to 4s Bd, 1848 ditto 4s 81 to 4s 10d, 1847 ditto 5s 4d to 5s 61, it ferior sorts 3s to 43 sd, and Bordeaux 2- 8d to 2s 10d. Geneva is held for is 9d to is 10d and fine 2s 3d to 3s, still there a-e few buyers. For British-made Spirit the value is 9s 6d, net cash, and fnr Gin 7s 101 to 8s 4d for 17 to 22 per cent under proof, but trade is far from active. SALTPETRE.—TO-day a fair amount of business was concluded in Rough, by private treaty, and at full terms; at auction 104 bags of Calcutta sold at 28s per cwt for 3} per cent refractior. INDIGO .—East India has been purchased with caution fur all purposes, on the Tart of holders there ii also less firmness, and in some c aces the rates acceded to are rather unecr those of the last quarterly sales. There are flw buyers of Spanish, and former terms are not to be obtained. TALLow.—Operations hare been upon a limited scale in Russian on the soot for all purposes since last Tues day, and holders display less firmness. Prices have declined to 36, 9d to 37s per cwt fur fine P. Y. Candle, still litle variation f•-om present rates is ex pected to take place, alth nigh the stock ['zee* ds that of last year. Few buyers are to be met with for delivery in last three months of the year, and sellers appear disposed to accept 37s 91 to 383 per cat. Home melted is offered at the raodera'e rates Lf 363 to 36s 6d nett cash, and only limited purchases have been made. Other kinds of Tallow have not realized former terms'and supplies much exceed dealers wants. At auction 800 pkgs South American, a part only sold at from 31s 6d to 36s 6d far low to fine ' 900 casks Sydney 33 s t o 37 5 , w hil s t 30 cas k s Portugal rea lized 35s to 35s 6d per cwt. Oms.—Although Olive is to be obtained at a further reductions, still operations have been upon a limited scale at 451 to 48/ per tun, and there are free sellers. Cocoa Nut dull of sale, and prices continue to recede, fine Ceylon is offered at 33s to 33s 6d, Cochin at 34s to 333 per cwt, and there continues to be a large stock with only a moderate con sumption. Palm mat with little attention, and 31s to 323 is the value of good and fine ; there is also a better supply at market. Rapeseed Oil is offered at a further reduction, yet few buyers are to be met with. English has been selling at 40s to 40s 6d, brown 39s to 29s 6d, foreign refined 425, and brown 40s per cwt. Linseed oil met with little attention from shippers or home dealers, there is also a more plentiful supply, and more desire is evinced to sell at 32s 3d to 32s 6d on the spot, and at 32s t) 33s for delivery. For Southern Oil prices vary from 311 to 331 103 for ord to fine, and only small orders have been executed. This rates asked for Cod are 331 lOs to 341. For Seal trade is dull; sellers are also disposed to accept for pale 37/ 13s, straw and tinged 33/ to 36/, yellow and brown 311 to 32/ 10s. Only trifling purchases have been made in sperm, and 11l lOs is 28s is the value of fine colonial. BANK OF FRANCE. The following is a return of the situation of the Bank of France on March 14:— ASSETS. Cash and ingots ... Ditto in branch banks Bills past due ••• ••• Bills falling due in Paris, of which 13,125,714 f. 62c. were received from the branch banks 40,141,896 Bills in the branch banks ... 64,053,885 0 Advances on coins and ingots... ... 3,415,000 0 Ditto by the branch banks ... 881,958 0 Ditto on French public securities ... 19,379,569 85 Ditto by branch banks... ... ... 2,501,867 0 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 0 Ditto on the loan of 150 millions 50,000,000 0 Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0 Rentes, disposable funds ... 42,514,988 13 Investments of the new branch banks in f. 336.948,688 39 140,242,894 0 58,437 83 the public funds ... Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... Real property of the branch banks ... Interest in National Discount Bank ... Ditto branch banks Bills protested at Paris Ditto at the branches Expenses of administration of the Bank Ditto of the branches ... Miscellaneous 12,826,541 39 4,000,000 0 3,239,831 0 200,000 0 ... 230,000 0 ... 1,480,570 23 1,483,128 0 198.705 93 231,772 0 1,086,013 67 t. 785,115,746 43 LIABILITIES. Capital ... . . f. 67,900,000 0 Ditto of the Branch Banks ... ... 23,350,000 0 Reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0 Ditto of the branch banks 2,980,750 0 Reserve-immobiliere ... 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 394,554,700 5 Ditto of the branch banks ... 71,580,300 0 Ditto to order (post-bills) ... 1,890,717 0 Account -current with Treasury creditor 89,591,790 74 Various accounts current 76,337,373 26 Ditto in branches 24,162,908 0 Bills payable at sight ... 5.542,500 0 Ditto at branches 1,255,738 0 Bills of the branch banks payable by the Bank ... 6,062,573 0 Ditto of the Bank payable by branches.. 2,883,135 0 Dividends payable ... . • ... 463,993 25 Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 18,915 0 Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 452,515 4 Ditto branch banks ... 802,438 0 Expenses anticipated ... ••• ... 260,820 30 Re-discounts of the last six months ... 263,317 26 Ditto in branch banks ... 285,183 0 Miscellaneous ... 476 079 39 f. 785,115,746 43 Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France, D'ARGOUT. We find by the foregoing account that the cash in hand has increased within the week by I ,000,000 f. The amount of commercial bills discounted have increased by 200,000 f. The protested bills have diminished by io,ooof. The bank-notes in circulation have inert ased by 3,000,000 f. The balance t) the credit of the Treasury remains nearly as last week. The sundry credits Lave decreased by 1,000,000 f. ARMENIAN WILEAT.—At a weekly council of the Royal Agricultural Society on Wednesday, Professor Lindley presented a specimen of wheat grown at Erzc roum, on Mount Ararat, and with a communication from James Brant, Esq., her Majesty's Consul at that place, relating to its cultivation. The seed has been obtained from Trebizond, and the variety was supposed to be that of the Triticum compositum. ' The council ordered their thanks to be sent to Dr. Lindley for the favour of this compo,itior. DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER OYSTER BED.—For the last week some importations ( f oysters have been made into Hastings, from a newly discovered bee, of some magnitude, lying about mid channel off D ungeness Point, and S.E of thistinv. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 18. APPELLATE JURISDICrioN OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, AND OF THE JUDICIAL COAI- DII"I'TEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL. Lord BROUGHAM said he had now to' call their Lordships' attention to a subject of the greatest impor tance, indeed of the very highest importance when vie►sed in connexion wink the administration of juttice in our ♦ast colonial empire. It this country chose to possess a boundless empir it was our duty to judge the folks righteously, for unless we bestowed upon them the inestimable blessings of a good administration of justice we could not exi eJt them to rejoice and be glad in our dominion. That we did administer justice, generally speaking, in a superior manner—that our rule over these countries had been attended with infinite advantage compared with any detriment that we had caused, all history bore testimony. Nevertheless, it could not be denied that our judicial system was capable of great im provement, and we ought never to allow ourselves to stop by reflecting on the good that had been donr, so long as it could be shown that any defect was discover able or any improvement could be made. That was the only position he wished to take on the present occasion. Our present system had many advantages. He belies ed it to approach in some respects towards perfection, al though he feared in other respects it was wide of that mark.—(Hear, hear.) But having compared it with other systems he could! hardly find fault with it, so grievous were the faults of others. The papers for which he moved the other day gave a comparative view, not only of the state of judi cial business in our various possessions, distinguishing between the Channel Islands and the empire of the East India Company, but for the purpose of making the com parison more effectual he had also moved for a return casting light on our judicial system nearer home. These returns all related to the appellate jurisdiction, and more or less they were calculated to furnish a test of the excellency of the administration of justice in those courts from which the app• ils proceeded. The returns embraced the apr Gals during the last 20 years from the three great branches of our judicial system in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and the appeals from ti• court of equity. The same returns had been made for the colonies, the Channel Islands, and our colonial posses sions in the East. At first sight it might appear extra ordinary that there should be so great a disproportion between the amount cf appeals before their Lordships and that before the Privy Council, and that from the courts administering justice to upwards of 100,000,000 the number should be so very inferior. There was also a great disproportion between the api ells from England and Ireland and from Scotland. The appeals from Eng land heard and delivered during the last 20 years amounted to 140. from all the courts of equity, being 7 per year; from Scotland 534, being 26 or 27 per year, from Ireland 75, being about 3f per year. But from ell India, with an it finite number of local courte, and three supreme courts, the number of appeals to the Privy Council in 10 years was only 66, or little more than six per year. This was not because the Hindoo was Letter pleased with a decision against him than the Scotchman or the Celt, but in consequence of the expense of pro secuting an appeal on the other side of the globe being so much greater than an appeal from Edinburgh or Dublin. Now as to the result of these proceedings. Of the 140 English appeals, in 38 the decree or order was reversed or varied, being at the rate of about 27i per cent. In the Scotch appeals there were 153 reversals out of 534 cases, being about 28 per cent. In the Irish ap peals the proportion was much higher, the reversals, out of 75 appeals, amounting to 34, or 45 per cent. Wits respect to writs of error, oat of 62 cases there had been 16 reversals. From England there were 41 affirmations and 7 reversals; from Scotland, 1 affirmation and 2 re versals; from Ireland, 21 affirm; tic ns and 7 reversals. Out of 66 cases from the Cousistory and Admiralty Courts of London, 17 had been reversed or altle d. From the Consistorial Court at York there had been 1 affirmation and 4 reversals ; from the Channels Islands 4 effirmations and 1 reversal ; from the col, nit s and plantations, out of 83 appeale, in 32 the judgment had been reversed or varied. Of the 6G appeals from the Company's posse trions, 43 had teen reversed; and it was somewhat singular that the gre..t pre portion of reversals were in cases of appeal from the sup ease ccurts. Out of 41 appeals fsom the native courts there had been 21 reversals; while of 25 from the superior courts tie: number of reversals amounted to 22, making a proportion of no less than seven reversals to one as compared a ith the appetite from the courts in this country. There was this differ ence between the proceedings by appeal from the supreme and inferior courts. The raw administered with respect to the supreme courts was nearly our own; but the law administered in the native courts involved all the nice ties of Ilindoo manners Had customs, which were re markably puzzling, and it was hardly ppssitle, in this country, to imagine how so much perjury and forgery should be imported into the administration of justice. whether civil or criminal. The result vas that the appellate jurisdiction trusted very much to the judgment of the registrars' court., and a judge of eppeel almost inevitably felt himself compelled to give a casting vote to the judgment below, and only to reverse, alter, or vary in the case of a clear reit-decision. It a as; therefore, more natural to affirm tt e decision in the native than in the supreme courts, and that was one reason why an appeal was more likely to be made against. the judgment of the supreme than of the native courts. Of thirteen appeals from the Supreme Court at Madras not one had been affirmed. The same was the case with resievet to the Supreme Court at Bombay. He had heard with the greatest delight of many important and valu able suggestions from India with respect both to tie supreme and native courts, which if reformed upon soun d principles would b e equally advantageous to the suitor and the judge, and the general administration of justice. He had great satisfaction in saying thet the East India Company had spared no expense in improving the educe tion of their officers. That education, which was com menced by Lord Wellesley, had been carried on in this country in the admirable establishment at Heileybury. Great as had been the improvement in that respc et, it was still more necessary to send out good judges; and no more important duty could devolve upon a Colonial Minister than the selection of competent persons to exercise judicial functions. If the means we re given there would t e no difficulty in finding properly-qualified persons. But, from a miserable, paltry saving cf a few hundreds, and the still more unjust economy of refusing a retiring pension in all the colonies (with the exception of the East Indies), such men could not be found, and the result was those disgraceful squabbles which had sometimes taken place between persons ap pointed to judicial offices and the Governor. An alter ation in this respect would be productive of the greatest advantage to the administration of justice and to the in terests of the colonies. The Noble and Learned Lord concluded by laying on the table certain resolutions em bodying the facts which he had stated, observing, that he was willing to move their adoption at once, or to wait until after they had been printed. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that if the reso lutions contained a mere statement of facts, he did not see any objection to them. Lord BROUGHAM was understood to more that the resolutions be printed. POST-OFFICE SUNDAY LABOUR. The Earl of MALMESBURY, seeing the Noble Marquis the Postmaster -General in his place, wished to put a question of which he had given notice on present ing a petition praying for the cessation of all Sunday labour in the Post-office. On that occasion he stated that although the petitioners were entitled to be treated with the greatest respect he dissented from the prayer of their petition, and did net believe that they had sufficiently considered the subject. Since tl at time he had ascertained the manner in which signatures were obtained to these petitions. A man was asked simply whether ho was not for keeping holy the Sabbath day? Of course his answer was "yes." He was then asked whether he did not think it a hardship for post masters in the country to be compelled to work on Sun days when they were not obliged to do so in London? and the reply would naturally be "yep." In this way an enormous number of signatures had been obtained in that part of the country with which he was connected. Hs should like to know if the Noble Earl could say from his experience whether it would be possible to keep the post offices generally closed all Sunday, and if so, whe ther parties would get their letters as early as at present on Monday morning? The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that had his Noble Friend given him notice of his question, he should sot have been unprepared with a full answer, consi dering how much had been slid, and, he would add, improperly said, about the matter during the recess. Having been subjected to much abuse and gross misre presentation —some Noble Lords, Members of that House, had even published lett:rs in the newspapers with very strong opinions, censuring him for what had been done—he was only surprised that nothing bad been said in that House, where he could have answered ir. Tha question addressed to him by the Noble Lord was of a different nature to the allegations against him, and insu ai of giving his own opinion, the best answer be could give would to to lay on the table shortly cer tain reports ' which would state wh a t h a d b een d one with respect to Sunday labour in the Post-office during the lest few years, anti what %ere the views on the question of the best authorities of the Post-Alice. His own opi nion was, that it was quite impossible to disrrgerd the convenience—therequirements—in fact, what ho might call the absolute necessities of the cour try, by stopping the transmission of the mails on the whole ef Sunday. Neither did he think there was any religious or moral obligation that imposed such a necessity on them. He would ley the necessary papers on the table with the more readiness, because he perceived a notice had been given in the other House calling for information on the subject. When the returns were on the table he had no doubt they would furnish all the information the Noble Lord required. The Bishop of OXFORD had a strong opinion as to the possibility of stopping the mails on Sunday, but he would not dismiss the subject at that moment. Lord BROUGHAM—Do you mean stopping the mails all over the country? The Bishop of OXFORD replied in the affirmative. He only rose, however, to say a few words on the sub ject of the parties who signed petitions presented to that House. The Noble Marquis seemed to say that many of the petitions had been signed in ignorance of the quaition, and through misrepresentation. He had pre sented numerous petitions on the subject from various quarters, and he could take upon himself to say those petitions by no means bore the character imputed to petitions generally on the subject of Sunday labour in the Rost-office by tho Noble Marquis. They who signed the petitions he had presented perfectly well knew what they wanted, and perfectly well knew their own feelings on the question. The petitioners ex pressed no opinion as to the recent alterations ; they only petitioned in favour of a great principle. They believed that it would be beneficial to the beet in• terests of the country to have the different post-affices closed throughout the kingdom on a Sunday. The petitioners thoroughly knew what they were about, and neither acted from ignorance or under misrepresentation. He again repeated he was ready to discuss the question, but would not unless urged to do so. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE had made no dis respect'ul allusion to the petitioners. No one could feel deeper respect for those who signed these petitions than he did, and when the proper time arrived he should be able to prove ho had done, as far as his duty allowed, what he could to diminish Sunday labour in th• Post office. The paper?, when produced, would show what h• bad done, and what an immense diminution of Sun day labour had taken place. With respect to the peti tions on the question, they were not all of the same li mited character. Some even went so far as to pray for the total cessation of every sort of labour, including the stoppage of mail trains from Saturday night to Monday morning. Lord BROUGHAM wished to know whether the packet service was also to be delayed? The Earl of MALMESBURY could state, from his personal knowledge, that some of the petitions were signed in ignorance. The Earl of HARROWBY said the petitioners from Manchester, Liverpool, and the trading districts of Lan cashire, had no objection to be placed on the same foot ing as the Londoner. Lord BROUGHAM remarked by running into ex tremes the greatest mischief was awn done. It was proposed to render tho keeping holy the Sabbath-day the more general, but if matters were pressed to an ex treme point, it might have the effect of rendering that unpopular which ought to be popular. If the packet service was also to be interfered with, were the packets to lie like logs on the water all Sunday? The conversation then dropped. THE CASE OF MR. RIDER. The Duke of ARGYLL brought under the notice of their Lordships the case of Mr. Rider, who had been deprived cf an office in Canada, at the time of the union, without compensation. After an attentive consideration of the whole case, and a careful perusal of the documents, he was satisfied Mr. Rider had a valid and solid claim for recompense against the Imperial Government. Papers on the subject had been moved for, and when produced, unless they threw a different light on the subject, he should, early after the Easter recess, introduce some measure on the subject. When he saw such vigourous, effective, and it might be righteous measures adopted to secure compensation fur injuries at the hands of foreign Governments, he did hope that the appeal to an indivi dual for redress against injury by our own Government would not be neglected. Earl GREY said an address to her Majeity had al ready been moved for papers relating to this matter. He must say Le did not think the reflection on the colonial government was deserved. The colonial gve had treated Mr. Rider with consideration and liberality. The Duke of ARGYLL was sorry to differ with the Noble Earl on that subject. GREY said he aid ne t think Mr. Rider had any case either against the colonial government or t'le Tleisury. The Eirl of MOUNTCASIIELL pc"tpotel his mc tion for papers relative to the conduct cf the officers and surgeon of the Sobraon till Friday. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 18. STAMP DUTIES. The House then wont into Committee on this Bill. The CHANCELLOIt c f the EXCHEQUER said that the resolutions he was then about to move would deal only with that elan of stamp duties ;Thigh related to the transfer of property, to mortgages, bonds, and leases He did not say that ne other portico of our system of stamp duties re quired the consideration of the House; but it would be remembered that the subject of a go nem' revision of those dude; had been under the consi- . deration of various Gevernrceots for many years Fast. In the time of Lord Althorp a sell, me bad actually been prepared upon the subject; a similar scheme had been entertained by his Rtght lion. Friend (Sir F. Baring), the First Lord of the Admiralty, and he believed the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth had also had his attention directs[ to the matter. It bad been found, however, tint the greatest difficulties presented themselves in the way of the adoption of a general plan fir dealing with the question. The experience they had already had epen tee subject, tied the inquiries he had himself instituted with respect to it, convinced him that it would be bon r to deal with the case in de .ached portions than to attempt to embrace all its com p'ev ds tails in a general measure. The object ef the resolu tion he had then to submit to the Committee was theadop tior, as nearly as possible, of an ad valorem duty on that class of stamps on a hick he proposed an alteration of the existing law. Of course, however, it would ho impossible strictly to enforce :such a duty, as that would render it necessary that they should enter into endless details. At present the "jumps" were very large, being ler instance from 1,000/. to 2,0001., and from 2,000/. to 3,C001. He proposed to ado nt a more minute scale, to make the diflerences vary teem 2.5/. to 50/, from 50/. to 100/., and thin every 100/. after up to 1,0001. Perhaps the most convenient course he could then pursue would be to state a few iestances cf the changes which he pro posed to effect. In doing so he should first confine hire eelt to mortgages and bondr. At present on mortgages and bonds not exceeding 501. the duty was 1/, he prc posed to reduce it to 55.; on mortgages and bonds be tween 50/ and lOW. the duty was at present 11 10s., he proposed to reduce it to 10,; en mortgaees and bonds between 100/. and 200/. the duty etas at present 2/, he proposed to reduce it to 11.; on mortgages and bonds between 5001. and 1,000/ the duty was at present 5/., ho proposed that between 5001. and 6001. it should he 31.; between 6001. and 700/., 10e.; between 700/. and 8001., 41.; bete eel 800/. and 9001, 4/. 103.; and between 900/. and 1,000/., 5/. After that, and for sums over 10,000/., 1;e should propose to go by same of 100/. He did not see why an ad valorem duty should not be carried to the higher scale for the purpose of indemnifying the revenue for the loss it might sustain by the reduction c f the duty on the lower sums. He, therefore, proposed to approximate by half per cent. upon mortgages over that amount. The question of stamps upon conveyances and transfers of real property was of a more difficult and complicated character. In re;reet of this branch of the subject, he' proposed to adopt, in the first place, a different phraseology from that used in the present law-namely, to substitute the words " not exceeding" such an amount, instead of " be tween" that and the following amount. He had, on the last night on which ho had addressed the House, read an extract from the report cf the Committee appointed by the Home of Lords to ie.quire into the burdens on land, and he had shown, by the quotation of evidence taken before that Committee, that the stamp duty upon the transfer of real property was one of those bur dens. He had quoted the evidence of Mr. Baxter on that subject-a man of intelligence and information and if it was any consolation to Honourable Gen tlemen opposite, he (the Chancellor of the Exche quer) might add, he was the Conservative agent of the West Riding. What he should propose in ac cordacce with that statement was as follows:-" Con veyances and transfers, relieve up to 1,4001., half per cent. up to 5001, :I to 1,0001., 1 after 1,0001.-Not amounting to 201., lease 10s., release 109.; not exceeding 251., proposed 2s. 6 , 1.; amounting to 20/. and under 50/. lease 155., release 20e., present 1!. 15e.; amounting:to 501. and under 150/, lease 205., release 303., present 2/. 10s.; exceeding 251. and net exceeding 50/., proposed 55.; exceeding 50/ and ne t exceeding 75/., proposed 7s. 6d.; exceeding 75/. and not exceeding 1001, proposed 10s.; exceeding lOW. and not exceeding 125/. proposed 12s. 6d.; exceeing 125/. and not exceeding 1501., pro-. posed 155.; amounting to 50/. and under 300/., lease 355. refs ase 40s. present 3/. 155.; exceeding 150/. and not ex ceeding 175/., proposed 17s. 6i.; exceeding 1751. and not exceeding 2001., proposed 205.; exceeding 200/. and not exceeding 2501., proposed 25e.; exceeding 250/. and not exceeding 300/. proposed 305.; not exceeding 5001., pre sent, 7/. 155., props std 2/. 10s.; not exceeding 800/. present 10/155., proposed 61. 155.; not exceeding 1,0001, present 13/. 15e., proposed 71. 10s.; not exceeding 1,200/., present 13/. 155., proposed 121.; not exceeding 1,4001., present 131. 155., proposed 14/." He proposed to repeal altogether the stamp duty upon leases for years. At present the transf..r duties upon small properties were a consideration. It amounted to 10e. on the lease, and 10s. on the deed -that was to say 1/. in all. He proposed to reduce them to hai r -a-crown upon all leases under 25/. This was his proposition-" Leases, where the rent reserved is under 20/, present 1/.; not exceed ing 251., per cent. proposed 2s. 6d.; amounting to 201. and under 100/., present 1/. 10s.; amounting to 100/.and under 200/, present 2/.; amounting to 2001. and under 400/., present 31.; exceeding 25/ and not exceeding 50/., proposed 55.; exceeding 50/. and not exceeding 75/, proposed 76. 61; exceeding 751 and under 100/, pro posed 103.; exceeding 250/. and not exceeding 300/., pro, posed 1/. 10s.; exceeding 350/. and not exceeding 400/, proposed 2/.; and so on." He had intended to have a uniform scale ti 1,000/.; but he found it would only in crease the amount of the duty upon the lower transfers. He proposed, therefore, that the stamp should be half per cent. upon 500/, per cent. up to LOOK, and 1 per cent. afterward. Upon all transactions of this kind between 1,000/. and 2,0001 the duty was now 3/. 15s. He proposed that the new duty should vary with every 100/., leaving the stnal'er trensfers at the low rate he ha named, and increasing in an ad valorem ratio with the higher. On the authority of Mr. Baxter, he could state that the consequence of the existing duty was injurious. This was hie statement-" There is one suggestion that I would me ke with re ference to theexpense of the conveyance of property of small value: that is, that the stamps upon the sale ot land should not stand, es they do now, higher upon the smaller amounts of property, but be regulated by a per centage. I find that at present the stamp upon a 50/. sale, calculating a certain length of conveyance, would amount to 12:1 per cent. That the stamp upon 100/. sale would amount to 51. per cent., and upon a 300/. sale would amount to 2/. 103. per cent.; upon a 500/. sale to 1/. 14s. 3d. per cent., and then above that only cue Ler cent. This is not effected by saying, in so many words, that a boner to the amount of 50/. shall pay 1,21. 10s. per cc nt., which is the amount that he does pay; but it is in consequence of burdening the transfer of pro perty with a second conveyance, which we call a lease for a year. It was a principle of law that you were obliged to have a lease for a year, and a release, in a transfer of property; so that you had two distinct stamps and two distinct deeds. An Act was passed, about a twelvemonth ago, relieving you of the necessity cf haring two deeds, but continuing the necessity of having two stamps. The consequerce of that is, that that small stamp attaches to a 150/. purchase as much as it attaches to a 100,0001. purchase. It bears, there fore, peculiarly hard on small properties ; and a reduction of the stamps to an equal rate of one per cent. upon the amount of the sale would be a sen sible relit f, if it would not be a great loss to the revenue." lie (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had heard an ob jection to this proposition. Ile should he sorry to see the land in Eogland so subdivided as it nets in a neigh bouring country, where many proprietors were but little removed from the eondition ot l wipers; but he did be lieve that the operation of the reduction he proposed would be to cause the purchase of land by labouring men, who might be anxious to invest the fruits of their industry and skill in that description of property. He thought that this would be an object gained, because ho believed it to he most advantageous to hold out an in ducement for agricultural labourers to better their con dition by becoming proprietors of the soil. With regard leases, he believed, as he had be fere stated, that many persons had attached more importance to them than he did, as connected with ti • improvement of the land. They were not common in his part of the country, and their scarcity was not found to be an evil. In tact, as far as he could discover, this circumstance did not any way inte:fere with the improvement of the land. Others, however, differed from that view of the case; bet be that as it might the present heavy stamp duty upon leases hal the direct effect of preventing leases from being given in most instances. It was, therefore, desirable to reduce that duty, and he proposed to do so. His proposition was to adopt the same principle as he had laid down in the first instance -namely, an ad valorem duty. This would be the effect of that reduction :-Leases for rack rent, under 501., now ii.; proposed,:up to 25/, 2s. 6d.; 25/. to 50/, ss. Rents, not exceeding 10/, now 55., proposed 2s. 6d. ; 10/., and not exceeding 201., now 10s., proposed 2s. 6d. ; 254, and not exceeding 50/, now 155., proposed se. Rents, with a fine, lower, up to 75/. per annum, He wished to call the attention of gentlemen from Ire land to what he was about to say in in connexion with this point; because leases in Ireland were exempt in some cases from stamp duty, and in so far that country was not on the same footing as England in this respect. His wish was to pia' e them upon tho same footing, but he was not prepared to insist upon it, if there was any objection on the part of Irish Members. He proposed that leases under 501 should have a half-crown stamp. With regard to all the others there would be a consider able reduction of the present amount. At present there was a difference between ecclesiastical leases and com mon leases, which he proposed to do away with. What he proposed was that leases of 10/. per annum should bear a stamp of half-a-crown, and so on up to 501. Up to that there would be a relief on the present stamp duty; after that there would be an increase to a certain extent in the existing duty. He was not, however, as he said, willing to do anything calculated to raise objec tions on the part of Irish Members; and he would not insist upon altering the present exemptions if he was opposed. These were his propositions. He believed, upon the whole, that it would be more convenient to postpone the discussions on the details to the next stage of the Bill, inasmuch as all the transactions of the country, which it affected, would be held in a state ot suspense until it was passed; and he should be very glad if the House would take that preliminary sage as a matter cfcourse, accordingly; or defer the discussion on the details until after Easter, especially as he could not conceive any ps reon opposing a reduction of taxation. The Right Hut, Gentleman concluded by moving a re solution, to the effect that the stamp duties containel in the schedule should have force in Great Britain and Ireland after the passing of the Bill, and that the pre seat law regulating those duties should be so amended and altered. Alderman SIDNEY asked whether the proposition of the Right Hor. Gentleman applied to home property? And also whether it was his inteni 7 on to alter that part of the Stamp Act which regardel persons taking up their freedom in cities upon redemption (55 Geo. III.) Th© CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the rcduction would apply to the transfer of all kinds of pro fely. The only difference was that leases for years HE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1850.