The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-23 00:00:00

6 i t 1116 °llly plea which coul . d be urged in favour ° Qen 4 prectice but was it expedient prep„ ease? It e w x o Pe l L d i r e i n o e t ) be safs to give the colo 4141)`)Iter over the west lands or the funds which waste 4 i glit produce; nor did he think it was expedient 4";' t price f laid ' should •ne from that quarter. setaratien t re t c il' '' 't i n to k ses advize 0., the House Great t .... 11 : 114d3 is !h ul a 11"" not" P er,R oza ,„? lands of the colonists. al a ot . r p u , uli had been misunderstood. city 0 8 • s naent to do was, not to introduce le in ;fan in our Australian colonies a r, j ur eorth American colonies. p l ace , he l a ace the power over All he the same as had been trlai ' ii • SMITH considered we had mace a mistake st it i t t a e : t e rv ia ina a power over the waste lauds of Canada, t l ll a t e 0 not retaining the power of making them °t ar 4 WI expenses. He would take a short review E ,., . eoloaiel syitem Adam Smith, seventy , years flea,' z ourcolones '. • loss country. The 11, were a to this ti 'l e r i tlhe r was proce e di ng to s h ow that the Colo: Ist:„1-' ca ' e ast tho se which did not pay the i r own. ex ta lly , p it this country seven and a half millions an kat o l ' we included the amount occasioned by the sea s , , 4r, b ie Poly, when. i n stal 1 ItAELI ruse to order. In Committee an on co 49abeerga mien it was hardly correct for lion. ttt lt te to enter into a statement about the _suear Nfo r i le was unwilling to do otherwise than toincer °Pelt oe 3' end liberally the right of Hon. Members to t at 6 9 ,e 4 Insstters bearing on questions under discussion, 4 %1. )0 ,14 _ 1 Protest against the course adopted by the Titeseeeer, )a mber t RA IRMAN said he had permitted the Hon. pee l -- go e n, in the expectation that he would pro , - lia blse analogy between his statements and the quer,- , la, r a t ' t h a o Committee. , 1 4 ties . "' °MITH was showing that the policy now . rtrie st ; 7a ! !lot, in accordance . with that adopted in „oath colonization. Ile wished to ask . the Right :,'klhyLrrssident of the Board of Trade if a negotia altta ''''a,ll entered into with the colonies, proposing 4t1131 24°4d support their own charges in considera- II a'inß t he aatiEfoo Crown revenues? ~t tt ittir, u tiCERB was not aware of any such ne '‘'lltillisalllcl it was obvious that it was one bate which e s ktie s ?toe extremely difficult for the Government le tti le s i e l l ii e h? - agre with the Hon. Gentlman 'tlia " be desirable as far as possible to diminish teat Aeon this country on the other hand he would f (14 1 7 lIP on the pait ' of the British nation the duty 1 er p art 11 1E1 its possessions from aggressions, in what '9Th e 4,,'„,,. the globe they.might ,1'44,81XE: asked the Government, now that . ',lttiged their views, whether theyintended` to and a t ,,, it 7 1 Ith the clause or put it by for the present, ftli,. liesatiwceordance with the Noble Lord's intentions? 1 i 4t4l tot 8 hoped the Hon. Member for Bolton ' I ll tii hs' Press his reendment; and the h clause as it Lle till ': l then retain in the hands of t Imperial Il S a g es t t he management of the waste lands, e and the 1 1 th DID" Act would' remain in all its integrity. fixing Na a ,, e 'unit s ", ' 1 4141 adverted to the necessity of tl_ , l s stt dA 'et th e 1 • with that the Land Sate i t a slot . coionie?, and . tea Interfere at all; and this assuredly was a -14).4t* 4 whic h fatal be taken in hand by the Govern or, to tlk .k ' l l 4 : 4l l W ew E ,!.S said that in this very Bill the boundary 1 Victoria, and the boun- 1 41Ytho(,rf soltoulthusWtraallieas v.and•as laid down also. The h 1 , h,'hoilla, h° ht was Certainly not fixed, but the t h e soh \Ve3sary to do this was conferred by the .5t a d 1:„ 1 1 ti c ;' an d that power had been recently exercised. a"klacnaus underreted the importance of fixing "011etais; bu t that was b llt Lte discussed under this Bill. a question which could not al:toll:ll.44°.(l:eteßtire4Bl eEblil said the Hon. Gentleman had misap ect of his observations. The question age s ' but 3' as to the hmits between colony and e 11, u 'lween the colonies and the waste lands.- l o k tlet - e 4/. ' ) It was to that point he wished to draw 1 4 :lea - act the Government. i t °ll24 ls tlett thought that some more as p ar r y cc . ise d' ' l '. 40,, i nt colonial limits was highly 14 ` 41 1 - ti dltLEy - felt the difficulty with which the !, 14 , ts a t ti t : f ej e . ,;. , , e waste lands syas attended; but at the l v "ttsp oB ; a " Perfectly convinced that the arrangement He agreed that lad' .ttl t o ; 4 e . could, not possibly last. Illi, ll, s,'"Joaletous to give the dis osal of the land a l ie tl a oagenerel assembly, for of !v P hat use was it to a./ allah sn agernent of the fund in the hands of a lt' r ° a ` ni ght come into existence for some 1 11 , 4- t:, ° ,., i „_, He ne w t ished to belongcal the thee attentin of Hon St i ellten I , tr ucularly those . gin to economi toelt the' I ° one or two specimens of the manner in 41r cis 'arid fund was managed. The Committee I te l kOC e se management it was placed expended t 're e4 'V w hioh 0001 went in paying ,ser,e the - ' The average salaries to amount of 4 °4 ,-4 04 b. , , e commission. Nir:50,00""1 h went out under their auspices was a otta e • worth a year. and the . average number of ti 4 e bl ale 4 4 e 4 S CI , (IO a year. Every emigrant sent out he le i y . I!e'Sag"", or about 100 per cent. more than ne a - 6 4 4 t that ti! ' hear.) Again, what could be more b § a *liii, ‘: system of an upeet . price . It was known 4ee,a they fixed an upset to .e4el, offered it at Sc. Wh p a r t ie w e a e s f the effect of this? a. an acre, the ter 4i t k Poi; : Mi gration. It would be a much better plan 14 4 oa a s tausp duty on all sales of land. Many as . ( ,11 1 1( if th e " a ge lands of the colonies to lae the aPPa le,tas";°Poor of these realms ; but even if this were e m i t 411 0 ' tit4rilust surely be for their benefit that h O a ` Pa a so tt e e managed as well . as possible. liel r tte e 7• u lESWOßTH rejoiced to find that the Ot th 4 t did not intend to place the waster He 4',,,kttl 0, 5 control of the general , assembly. .u. air 141dEth-t1 hPeessity of fixing clearly and distinctly the 'it 4. % of the - • - colonies. I h st 4. of respective management of the li e "144 `aliAM admitted the teC t ldes at to be the most difficult part o c i the subject. 1 / 4 , N n „, °, o d that the Eton. Member for N . lalton was 1;141 ' ett t pre ss his amendment on this occasion. el 'etta e sLikata,_ erefore be allowed, a 14 4 t ote 't th e , • ee existing difficulties, very shortly,. to state to 4 , l `, i tso7 te cl to him on the subject. He entirely agreed 14'4 t i l t n. WiSO decision on the part of ale Government atitnt.ofthellidetermination as to placing the manage teZtl au waste lands under the management of the ke ia t ttaa ah l nhita and he understood the clause in its ►e h ,"ely e s Was to leave the colonies in this respect Reared te they 141 th stood under theAet t o h f at lB t 4 h 2 h . sh H g e . ke tt ° ! l ea er _ ,express a strong opinion tt % Im p° , j i u . by the Hon. M ember for Sheffield was It was an amendment l itle t A c t ,:t.: (Elear, hear.) Nta Slioe i t : T 42, and r one well worthy of the con- As he understood, it l k e , t( L ll ta k i t e r s t 7_ l Y e an G d o e v orr n e ni ctly define the limits between ted t rea ee And to leave the lands th within those limits t 4 th st tt `t , to be managed by . e . colonial authorities, 6 t t ea t etroill,thing beyond those limits should be under aasse v a;°4 the imperial government.- r ) That IC h ,lliai great improvement, and one likely to pre (l'l4 ti ' ' °1:11.4 • and angry discussion in future. It f ZZYttziTlet.ahl, iOr le t n heCtown undisputed possession o k. ta or e with the limits so narrowed and defined, t Ivo, ° to the people of this country ready access to k -.t la nch 1 4 Pt 1 , • 12 . ‘,I.ItNISON said the Noble Lord had made a F kit: t it i li t tVe r na tat o i n t a a g l:iton in his Bill. He had first of the waste lands und h e a r the Z l Nsa tt t s.tet ilhly, and he had now withdrawnt in at,•its,sl,,,iclihthrdera from colonial assemblies altogether. 4, wh oth _ was asked, .when he introduced his le; Ne at " he intended to withhold this privilege from is t L \ l te al 4t s? After a few days' consideration the Noble 4ai'llea t ec rue down and stated that the Government tl, Se e , c c in ake the concession to the colonists. This 'ta trate r t,l l to the colonists. and when they heard of 's c i c ' 4loll with which the measure had been of • there it impossible to say how much of 1 te:tit,lthslhetehl t he i.,! state e t w o a t s heetations raised by the Noble q t he tight 4oe h iat. He did not quite understand whether his 0 4 01 ; 40 • Baronet, in de h e: r ribing the proposition for Sheffield, stated keg withi n ' ,In e d Learned limits Mem prescribed the colonists laqa h ame w the narrow management of the waste lands, or Si a'4. it the to reserved to the Home Government? 'k ;I. - s s ",ARAM-To the colonists. 4 . 4 ". - veNtSciN TI n the Right Hon. Baronet 41),A 4 point `,- - - - 'e of his (Mr. E. Dent ao /h . of fact, a supporter . . hl, teats °Position The new proposition submitted to t obe, ll4 (:eY the Noble Lord was of far too much im- Se;, kt ieri 4 disposed of without due notice H h a . nd deli tlit'tte4tl the dispatch to which the ht t o n Under -11641' Is °r the Colonies had alluded oug be hefore', 4 4 , 1 f lit : 7 4 3 ° 1 -d withdraw his amendment, reserving to, gre at . AG r y to propose it on the report. lle tt cee tio '_ 4 oNßY warned the Committee to use I N a sabie o before adoptin reposition of the I ke t Pre (I nd Learned Member for p Sheffield. He saw .4 triescal )•045. difficulties in the way of limiting the el l4 til t he '' , 1 10 131 101 c could suggest to the Noble . Lord 1 5 gtl N an nld not permit to interfere within the limits k : k a - '3 7, and that was a land company with apower s o eit 4 . t,r,l3rice they pleased. l a kt tesa"MlAlst thought the principle upon which l'est " was 4 4 ta to , , first that the limits of the colony should t l !I t!i 4t t l,' with respect to waste lands, and in the next \ti,Nt „ ll eY should be definite. At present_ there was l ~Ate to 'ltever assigned to the colony of New South_ 15 t;; I leia,', 11 , e north. He agreed with the Hon. Member t t4 ltly deto'clet.ilet the boundary of each colony should . be Rt t , ice t o ,vu with respect to waste lands. With re lit:l'4H, 0. ' a ds not granted, but contrV i e th i nu t t o be the Pe r 's ta o r 'knits should be narrowed e s al q latld should be under the control of the Im -14, Ov 1 11:" 1r 4 y ernraent; but within the limits he should 1 11 4 a t l le Parture from the Act of 1842, so as to place everera J. disoosel of the colony. hod e ets . . said 3r • ItijBB FLL the subject would receive Vera, uleration. There was, he believed, a power 'sle e Act of 1842 relative to the limits of New South . 4 4 a4l gut 1),„ the ji,„. as there were difficulties connected . with it P a' T ° l l lsia , 4 l , t d s of other colonies, the whole subject must ses* 0 , STU ART 4 tl s ' 4 4 b ' 4 u thought that the doctrine pro la °cute! the Hon. and Learned Member for _Sheffield,_ em. a , : ti for alr n r i o nticed by the Right Hon. Baronet the ai. is t rrat o 4 n, required serious consideration. h As he tf tla to _ the proposal, it was this, that in t is Bilt ha r . e- a R the :oonstitutiori for New South Wales the li It lia lt h ta,„ °l° nY should be accurately defined within eh" tests': cOnstitution was to exist, and ta w ae ' all ht, eal a -- 'eery .._ ' bo r b ,, eyond the limits of the colony se rve to the areserved to the Crown, with a aee ur " 11 to make grants of tbe land . so.ren nlaa• '" excluded from the scope of the constitutto . kid e 111 R th e r • .tr, - gr at ,, malts of the colony accurately defined, la t , is titea o 2: r oade beyond them, under what law or what , -4roa art u ;"ould the person receiving such a grant hold ( . 1, O V ILWIT p4„e.11101). Were sgreat that the Committee could not at 4 1 ,pres, ot r o n. ° to a decision upon it. As the matter tl l 4/t the ~,.."( t od the Noble Lord had consented to with the e 324 eirver conferred on the colonial legislature, by ts, te fore d at ! se, of granting waste lands. They were Ile the sale o f ha* to the 13th clause, which related Il theugiltof vvaste lends, and to Lord Stanley's Act. 41 i llittle o the ßoto and Learned Member for Sheffield -' Ill eet ilmluable suggestion. Within the LONDON, ,____ , a TEE SUN, limits of the colony the local legislature should have the fullest power of dealing with all meters relating to the colony. It was of the utmost importance in grant ing privileges to the colony that they should he liberal and complete.—(Hear.) In answer to the lion. and Learned Member f.a. Newark, he might remark that the Crown might have the power of extending the jurisdiction of the colony from time to time, or of cresting a new colony. The question of waste land was particularly important at the present moment. In New South Wales the squatting district was some 1;600 miles by 300 broad. He had been I told that saeral persons had ob t a i n ed land in that dis trict f•r sheep-walks—some to the extent of 150,000 acres, some 300,000, and to the extent of 800,000 acres —(Hear.) He hoped the Government would consider the question, and give to the colonial legislatre the fullest power over the lands within the limits of the co lony, , reserving to the Crown the right as to lands be yond that limit. Mr. MACGREGOR thought the question of waste , lands a most important one as regarded the future pros perity of the colony, but did not think that the system hitherto pursued in our Australian colonies, though wisely introduced, had either been judicious or success ful. He concurred in the opinion expressed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Ripon, and thought the suggestions of the lion. and Learned Member for Sheffield deserved the consideration of Goveonment. Sir. W. MOLESWORTH•remarked that it was pro vided that colonial Acts were to have force only if they were not "contrary to the law of England." He thought confusion would arise from the retaining of these words. After a few words from Mr. ROEBUCK, Mn ANSTEY proposed to meet the view of the Hon. Baronet (Sir W. Molesworth) by substituting the words " this Act" for " the law of England." The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the clause as it stood. The clause declared that only such Acts of the colonial legislature should be operative as were not repugnant to the law of England. Sir W. MOLESWORTH said he objected to one part of the Bill, because there were a great number of Eng lish statutes not applicable to the colonies. After a few words from Mr. ROEBUCK and Lord J. RUSSELL, Mr. SCOTT suggested that the portion of the measure relative to the disposition of waste lands, which was a very important part of the question which they had to consider, should be withdrawn fur the present, until they had gone through the Bill. After a short conversation , in w hich Mr. ADDERLEY, Mr. WYLD, and other Hon. Members took part, Mr. SANDFORD said he thought literality, like charity, ought to commence at home, and that England ought t J be afferded, while she professed so much gene rosity to her colonies, the means ot sending out her surplus population to her dependencies. Re did not consider that this country should be deprived of what he considered one of the greatest advantages to be derived from our colonies. Another desultory conversation ensued,"when it was intimated by Lord J. RUSSELL that the discussion on the points referred to could be re-opened on the bringieg up of the report. Clause 13 was then agreed to. Clauses 14, 15, and 16, were then agreed to. Mr. ROEBUCK wished that a better provision should be made for the adjudication of questions arising be tween the colonies theineelver. On clause 17 having been prpposed, Mr. C. LUSHINGTON rosé to move the amendment of which ho had given notice, to provide for the omission of such parts of that and he preceding clause as pro vided for the signification of her Majesty's pleasure on every Bill which should be passed by the council in any of the colonies referred to, altering the sums allotted for the sustentation of public worship, as mentioned in the third part of the schedules A, B, and C. In doing so, he said, although he intended to confine his observations strictly to the terms of his notice, he could not avoid expressing • the satisfaction which he felt at the introductiois, by the Noble Lord at the head ( f the Government, of a Bill which was calculated to conciliate the colonies, and more especially as recent transactions had contributed to im pair their affection for the mother country.—(Hear,) He should regret that anything which he said, either in or.out of teat House, should be construed for a mo ment to imply that he wished to cast any disrespect on the administration of the Noble Lord; but there were some portions of the present Bill to which he entertained special objections. He found there was one branch of the legislative matter proposed by it, both injurious to the feelings of the colonists, and calculated to produce extensive social mischief. It was provided that a sum of 49,000/. was to be divided among four churches in the colonies, those churches being the Church of Eng land, the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Church of the Wesleyan Methodists. Now he believed that such an arrangement would only lead to religious animosity and contention. The arrange ment went en the supposition that the inhabitants of the colonies were not prepared voluntarily, to contribute to tee maintenance of those particular forms of worship which they professed. But that opposition was, he be lieved perfectly unfounded, as appeared from the large sums which had already been raised in the colonies for that purpose. Religious discord had been the bane of England, of Ireland, of Scotland, and of Canada, and the greatest evils would result from inoculating the Australian colonies with its noxious influence. The in habitants of Victoria had announced their determination to oppose that clause, and he felt persuaded that it would meet with general disapprobation throughout the colonies. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by -moving his amendment. Mr. LABOUCHERE said he wished to remind the Committee of the precise state of that question. The system in force in the colony of New South Wales was this—there was a very moderate sum apportioned be tween the four different churches in the colony; and the object of the provision to which his Hon. Friend had just offered his opposition was to maintain that arrange ment to this extent, at least, that it could not be altered without obtaining the consent of the Crown in the mother country. He confessed he believed that ar rangement would give general satisfaction in the colo nies; and he could state that the introdution of the sys tem :,had met with their very decided approval; while the previous system of giving psculiar privileges to the Church of England had given rise to considerable religious contention. For his part he was not prepared to eucourage a system of absolute voluntaryism, and the removal of any contribution by the state towards the maintenance of any form cf religious worship. All he would ask was, that these moderate endowments which were now provided, not for any class of Christians, but for those great divisions which comprised the immense majority of the people of the colonies, should not be disturbed. The only question now before the Corn mine was the principle of the grant, which he trusted the Committee would not hesitate to.adept.—(Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK was surprised that the Government should blow hot and cold in this manner. They began by saying, " We give you the power of making a con stitution—we do net want to coerce you." But on look ing at the schedules, which always excited his suspicion when they curtained items of expenditure, what did he find? The first item was the salary of governor, of which the colony could not get rid without the appro bation of her Mai -sty. The Right Hon. Gentleman con sidered that the umaeure would satisfy the colony. If so, why not let the colonists fudge for themselves? Why interfere in the matter? He would tell the Committee why they interfered. In the colonies an attempt was always made to settle what is called the civil list, and every colony bad quarrelled with the mother country on account of that list.—(Hear.) That was the cause of the American quarrel?—(Hear, hear.) A rebellion took place in Canada on a similar account. Millions of money had been exp"nded, but annexation was rendered almost inevitable, and this country had no power over the Ca nadas. In the present case the moment the colonists should acquire sufficient power, resistance would be offered. He desired to retain the colonies and extend them, but he was convinced the only means of doing so was to give them full power and control over the regu lation of their own concerns.—(Hear, hear.) He con sidered a governor appointed by the Crown the sub stantial connecting link between the - colonies and the empire of Great Britain. If the Government wanted to pay a governor as their servant, let them pay him out of English money. But if he was to be paid by the colo nists, the colonists ought to fix the amount.—(Hear.) The schedule which he held in his hand was somewhat remarkable. The governor of New South Wales was to have a salary of 5,0001., the chief justice 2,000 L, the two puisne judges 1,500/. each; and then there was a lump ing sum for " salaries of the attorney and solicitor general, crown solicitor, and contingent and miscellane ous expenses ot the administration of justice throughout the colony," of 19,000/. —making altogether 29,0001. — (Hear, hear.) Then there was the colonial secretary and his department, 6,5001.; the colonial treasurer and his department, 4,0001.; the auditor pelletal and his de partment, 3,000/ ; salary of clerk and miscellaneous ex penses of council, 500/.; and pensions, 2,5001.; making 16,000/. And then came the enormous and lumping sum for what was called public worship, of 28,000/. So that altogether the Bill would fix upon the colony no less a sum than 78,0001.—(Hear, hear.) Now was this in the spirit of the Bill? It the people were fit to govern themselves, why were they not competent to fix the sala ries of their officers?—(Hear, hear.) The Bill also pro vided that any saving in the amount should be reserved to the use of her Majesty, or rather Majesty's adminis tration. He considered this proposition an insult to the whole family, and he should move at the proper time the omission of the whole schedule.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said the Right Honourable Gentleman objected to one dominant church, because he thought it might lead to great discord, and was in favour of four churches, because it would put down discord by bring ing together such a large majority as would overpower the minority. But, as the population increased, it was not unlikely that the system would be changed,•and that the discord under the new plan would be greater than any which had hitherto prevailed.—(Hear, hear.) He would ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment to point out the wisdom of fixing sums of money for the support of certaitereligious persuasions. If there was any one question more than another which the people could decide for themselves it was that of reli gious establishments.—(Hear, hear.) There was one important question connected with the subject, which was very likely to come before Parliament at no distant period—he meant the question of the clergy reserves in Canada, which had borne fruits of the bitterest kir& As the law now stood, these reserves were erraegeo. under the provisions of an Act of the Imperial Par liament, and the Canadian Parliament had not the power, which this Bill would give to the Australian colonies, .of making any new arrangement without coming to the Imperial Parliament for an Act.—(Dear, hear.) He did not see the necessity for an Impe rial Parliament providing for the teaching of religion among the colonists. If the emigrants to the United States could provide religious teaching for themselves, surely the persons congregating to Australa ought to tare the sane privilege.—(Hear, hear.) Ile trusted the Noble Lord would withdraw this proviiion, and thus take away what would otherwise he a source of discord among a people to whom we wished to give institations calcu lated to promote their permanent welfare and pc ace. Mr. LA.BOUCHEREI said the case of Australia, was different from that :of Canada. It was true the arrange.; ment with respect to the clergy reserves in Canada could not be altered without an Act of Parliament: But if this Bill should pass, it was not correct to say that the relie gious arrangements of the colony could not be altered without an Act of Parliament; for they might be al tered by the colony, with the sanction of the Crown. — (Hear and a laugh.) No present inconvenience could arise from the system laid down, and good cause ought to be shown for the alteration of an arrangement which bad hitherto worked satisfactorily. • ' Mr. H. K. SEYMER entertained no great partiality for a system which endowed four chtirches.—(Hear.) He thought the colonists were entitled to have the entire control of their own affairs, and was of opinion that they would act wisely in providing an endowment fer religion, because it would show the emigrants that they would possess those religious advantages which they had en joyed in this country.—(Hear.) He believed that great jealousy would be excited among religious bodies by the present plan, and that it would perpetuate a system of religious discerd in the colony. Mr. ANSTEY supported the clause. He trusted that Hon. Members would consent to waive their opposition, and to retain the clause. Mr. ADDERLEY could not understand how the principle of endowing four churches could be defended. The attempt would fail, for it was • impossible that they could conciliate one church or the other. He was, however, anxious that vested interests should be protected. Lord J. RUSSELL did not think that Hon. Mem bers took a proper view of this question, when they attempted to argue that this was a scheme for endow ing certain churches in Australia. In the year 1835 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, finding great complaints existing in Australia, in consequence of the people supposing that there was only one church pro tected in the colony, a provision was made by which four of the principal, being the most numerous churches in the colony, should each have a separate sum alloted to them. A bargain was likewise made, a condition of which was that a certain sum should be granted for building churches in proportion to the contributions of the inhabitants of the districts. We accordingly found that these sums were paid for a series of years; we found that these churches had been built, and that individuals in the different districts had largely subscribed their money. We therefore proposed to continue the establishments which we found already in existence, and that any alterations required to be made in regard to them should be first submitted to the confirmation of her Majesty by the advice of her Go vernment. The Hon. Member for Westminster would vote nothing at all for vested interests, but proposed that the whole of these establishments should be done away with, and that those clergymen who had gone out to the colony under certain well-understood arrange ments should be altogether deprived of any emolument. He thought that this would be most unjust towards the colony; and in respect to what had been stated to be the feelings of the colonists on this subject, we can only say that we have not found any perceptible degree of complaint upon this head. If it should appear that this system was no longer agreeable to the colony, it would then, no doubt, be desirable that the Crown should have the matter laid before it. He thought that if we gave a preference to one of , those churches, and said to the other three that they should be deprived of their revenue, that such a course would be most unjust, and that, if the majority of the people, recommended it, the Crown should have an opportunity to consider it. Mr. LUSHINGTON explained. He never proposed that the present grants should be cancellei, but that the question should be left to the general feeling of the colo nists to determine. Mr. SCOTT said there was no point upon which the colonists felt more sore than upon these schedules of appropriation. That was the great grievance in the Stanley Bill. Mr. HAWES had heard no reports of any dissatis faction being felt in the colony on this subject. On the contrary, it was considered that the proposed arrange ments on the whole were satisfactory. There was a power of alteration reserved, in respect to which the Crown would he disposed to pay every respect. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... 54 Against it ... ... 203 ' Majority in favour of the original c lause ... 7 -149 Allet. a short discussion as to whether the Bill should be proceeded with, The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and _obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. STAMP DUTIES. Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply to Mr. Disraeli, stated the House was to understand that the stamp duties were to be discussed on Friday. PARLIAMENTARY VOTERS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was re-committed proforma. The Bill was then ordered to be reprinted, asd ree ported on Monday next. METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS BILL. Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of this Bill. Lord D. STUART objected to the Bill being pressed on in this rapid manner. Ile was extremely anxious that the Government should prevent the interment of the dead in large towns. The Bill gave an. enormous power of rating and many lucrative offices, and generally in creased the patronage in the hands of the Government. He trusted that ample time would he given for discuss ing a Bill containing 60 clauses. The Government, which had delayed such a measure too long, were now pressing it on too hurriedly. Mr. FORBES remarked this was not a time of the night fur discussing a Bill of this importance. After a few words from Mr. LACY, Sir G. GREY said the Biil would be fixed for Com mittee for Friday next. Mr. BRIGHT remarked that was a very short time for considering such a Bill. Sir G. GREY said he had been asked for a fortnight, and he gave nearly that time. Mr. WYLD observed that the Bill included peculiar provisions. It was not a proper Bill to be discussed in a Committee of the whole House. The Government of the country proposed to become undertakers. He hoped to see a Select Committee appointed to consider the pro. visions of the Bill. Mr. MACKINNON supported the Bill. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday week. RAILWAY ABANDONMENT BILL. The Railway Abandonment Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE. In Committee of the Whole House, Mr. PARKER moved a resolution that the naval prize balance should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Sit J. GRAHAM asked what was the amount cf the balance ? Mr. PARKER—About 30,0001. The resolution was agreed to. OFFICIAL SALARIES.—COMMITTEE. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the following Members constitute the Select Committee on official sala ries :—Lord J. Russell, Mr. W. Patten, Mr. Bright, Sir J. Y. Buller, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Napier, Mr. Home Drummond, Mr. W. Evans, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. Henley, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Dcedes. The question having been put, Colonel SIBTHORP rose, amidst much laughter, and observed, that instead of appointing this " select" Committee—(A. laugh)—the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had better have said candidly—"l mean to take care of myself and of my own salary.'—(Laugh ter.) " I-shall look after my friends. and I will stand by them as long as they stand by me ; übi mel, iLi apes. --(Renewed laughter.) Let them support me, and they shall have plenty of turtle and venison."—(Laughter.) He (Colonel Sibthorp) felt bound to protest against such a partial and packed Commitiee as that now proposed.• There seemed to him to be something in the atmosphere of the Treasury bench whioh rendered men, when they got there, quite different beings from what they had been before.—(A laugh.) It was his painful duty to say that he looked with extreme suspi cion upon all official men; and in such a case as this it was net likely that they would cry " stinking fish."— (Much laughter.) He did not know how the Committee would go to work, but he knew very well what would be the result of their investigation. He considered the appointment of such a Committee most delusive and un satisfactory. He entertained great respect for the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) in private life, and he admired his transcendant abilities , though he was somewhat cunning—(A laugh)—but it was evident that this step was only a ruse de guerre, and that the Noble Lord did not want to be disturbed in his rest. The Noble Lord was attempting to get rid of •one of the most important questions that could be considered, espe cially under the existing circumstances of the country, when poverty was staring them in the face, and people of all classes were suffering. If the Noble Lord really meant to reduce salaries why did he not come forward fearlessly and submit to the - House those reductions which, in his opinion ought to be made ? But the Noble Lord said, " You shall not consider the matter in the House ; it shall bo inquired into upstairs, clausis foribus." He (Colonel Sibthorp) considered that the Noble Lord's conduct, in thus referring the subject to a ;secret conclave—a Star Chamber —was unworthy a Mi nister of this country, and was au insult to the British House of Commons.—(A laugh.) He called, upon the Noble Lord to give up this truckling, secret, underhand Star Chamber mode of proceeding, and to take up the position he ought to maintain. If the Noble Lord would pursue a manly, open, honest course, and would show Himself to be the friend of the people, he (Colonel Sib thorp) would be proud to render him his humble as sistance in maintaining his authority.—(Laughter.) The motion was then agreed to. Mr. LABOUCHERE brought in the Mercantile Ma rine Bill., which was read a first time. The House adjourned at Twenty minutes to One o'clock. We do not arrive at the sublime by degrees, for infinite distances separate it even from the beautiful.—Eliza Cook's Journal. • THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- - This theatre is soon to undergo an alteration in the character of its management. This has been for some time treated only as a rumour, but it is now become a certainty Air. and Mrs. Charles Kean are ; in connexion with Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, about to em bark in its management, Mr. Maddox having concluded terms with both parties, and agreed to resign in their favour. The deed of partnership is in preparation by a solicitor of eminence. Whitsuntide is the period named for the new parties taking possession of the theatre, though the season will not commence till the autumn. Several performers of high standing have, it is said, been already spoken of engaged. TUESDAY EVENING, ment. dated November 30, 1849, with which we have' been from the Ordnance Office, will be read with some interest:— A momore.ndum states that all steamers having pad dle-box boats of 0 feet 4 inches beam (as they are ca pable of carrying 24-pounder howitzers) are to be supplied with the armament marked Class No. 1. First-Class Boats—Fifth-rate paddle steamers, having two bcati capable of carrying ordnance, beside the paddle box boats—total, 5 pieces of ordnance, viz.:— Two 24-pounder howitzers, 13 cwt., for the paddle-box boats with top and under carriages ; one 12-pounder howitzer, 6i cwt. (light), for the barge, with top and under carriages; one ditto for the pinnace, with field, top and under carriages, one 6-pounder gun, 6 cwt., fcr short practice, &c., from the ship or boats, with top and under carriages. • Second Class Bows-sth and'6th rate paddle steamers, and steam-sloops, having one boat capable of carrying ~rdnence besides the paddle-box boats, 9 feet 4 inches beam—tota, 4 pieces of ordnance,: viz.:— Two 24-pounder howitz , rs, for first class; ore 12- pounder howitzer, 61 cwt. (light), for the pinnace , with field, top and under carriages; one 6-pounder gun as for first class. Third Class Boats—All steamers having paddle-box boats incapable of carrying 24-pounders, but capable of carrying heavy 12-pounder.:—total, 4 pieces of ord ranee, viz,:— Tw0.12-pounder howilmrs, 10 cwt. (heavy) for the pad dle-box boat!, with top and under carriages. One 12- pounder howitzer, 61 cw: - . (light), for the pinnace, with field, top and under carriages. One 6-pounder gun as for Ist and 2d cies:. Fourth Class Boats—lf, atter actual trial and official report, the paddle-box boats of any steamer should be found incapable of carrying 24-pounders, or heavy 12- pounders, light 12-pounder howitzers are to be supplied —total, 4 pieces of ordnance: — Two 12-pounder howitzers, 61 cwt. (light), for the pad box boats, with top and under carriages. One 12- pounder howitzer GI cwt. (light), for the pinnace,!with field, top, and under carriages. One 6-pounder gun as for the previous classes. Fifth Class Boats—When steam-sloops or gun-vessels have no other boat capable of carrying ordnance beside the paddle-box boats, then 3 pieces of ordnance as fol. low: Two 12• pounder howitzers 10 cwt. (heavy), for the paddle. box boats, with top and under carriages; one 6- pounder gun, 6 cwt., as a field piece and for short prac tice, &c., f.-oui the ship or boats, with field, top, and under carriages. Sixth Class Boats—When steam sloops or gun-vessels have no other boat capable of carrying ordnance beside the paddle-box boats, and those are unable to take the heavy 12-pounders—total, 3 pieces of ordnance as folio ws : Two 12-pounders howitzers, 61 cwt. (light), for the paddle-box boats, with one field,,two top, and two under carriages; ono 6-pounder.gun, as for the Ist, 2d, 3d, and 4th classes. THE COMING OF SPRING—APRIL. (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) Again the Spring, shedding soft dews from her ethereal wings, sweeps over the earth, once more made beautiful. The skirts of the departing winter have dis appeared, and already in fancy we feel the warm breath of summer in our face. The earth is putting on her garment of green; the meadows are thick with the bright young grass—that perfect mark of the beautiful sQusun; the trees, the bushes, and the hedgerows, are spreading out their crisp fans of foliage; buds are leap. ing into flowers, which start up along the footpaths, to beautify the feet of the wayfarer; and t colours, gay and brilliant, everywhere coming out from the winter cham bers, in which they have been sleeping, towards the glad light of the sun, which leeks down upon them from a sky of blue, wooing them forth to meet him. The mornings are now clear, fresh, and joyous. Night melts suddenly into day, and the stars wane gladly be fore the light of the sun, as he comes dancing up the east, driving the fleecy clouds before him; all things seeming to rejoice in the innocent brightness of the new born day. And towards evening, as the sun goes down and the glowing clouds linger about his setting—when the d4's purple eye is closing with the flowers of the spring—and the God-built sky, rising like a mighty dome, is sparkling with its millions of stars—the gems set by the Creator in the hour of night; then does a silence seem to steal over the earth—a slumber so pro found, so deep, so vast, that— " Even the motion of an angel's wing Would interrupt the intense tranquillity Of silent hills, and more than silent sky." The great charm of Spring is in its sunshine—whether as glinting down through the branches of lofty trees, whose leaves are still young and fresh, or peeping into the cool grots and caverns of the earth, or creeping in at latticed windows through a framework of roses and drooping woodbine, or throwing its long line of beams upon the waters, making them to dance and sparkle with delight, or shedding its magical radiance over hill and dale, over stream and meadow, which drink in the pure flood of light. Beautiful sunshine! we can feel it as it beams upon us, and shines along our path. The lark flies up is the early morn to hail it, and makes the heavens ring with her carol. It lays its glorious pencil on the meadows, and straightway primroses and lady smocks, columbines and red peonies, viplets and butter cups, come out to gild the season with their beauty. Even the April shower cannot pass without reading its beautiful lessen to us from the clouds. How finely does thet true lover of nature, Leigh Hunt, remark—that there is a moral as well as a material beauty in colour, an inherent gladness, an intention on the part of nature to share with us a pleasure felt by herself. Colours are the smiles of nature. When they are extremely smiling, and break forth into other beauty besides, they are her laughs, as in the flowers. The mind of man is, in spring, more than at any other reason, disposed to be gay and happy. The heart leaps with joy at the beautiful aspect of nature. The sense of joy passes into the soul at every inlet of feel ing. Man can no longer be sad : to ba so would he out of harmony with nature—like a mourner at a marriage festival. Spring brings youthful and pleasant associa tions with it—makes us to feel young, and live our early thoughts over again ; and the same spirit lives through out universal nature, it turns all creation to love—love, the universal feeling. To see the buds and leaves come forth, like light into the world—to hear the small birds singing to their happy mates—to watch the curling smoke rising up from a far•off valley—to view the gnats , thin dancers on the air, tripping it on a merry sunbeam—to admire the silver tipped clouds as they float along in the vaulted azure—to walk along some secluded field-path or green lane, decked with primroses and wild flowers, starting the hart from her seat, and the partridge from her nest; what can he more delightful than such occupations of leisure at this season, trivial though they may appear to be. _ _ Now do troops of little children in the country betake themselves to the fields, and gather daisies and prim rose!, the elders filling their baskets to prepare the old fashioned cowslip wine. Now do the followers of Isaac Walton drag out their fishing-rods, baskets, and nets, from the closet, and dress up 4 . killing" flies, in prepa ration for the first fine morning following a shower of rain. Now do the lovers of country in towns bethink themselves of a pie-nic in the woods, and the omnibus or car is bespoken for the first fine day. But, ab, fickle April! a shower of rain or sleet, following these bright sunshiny days, damps their hopes, and forbids their too sanguine expectations. April resembles the lover— the tears succeed the smiler, the clouds the sunshine, in rapid alternation. But the rain passes, the wind abates, the rainbow spans the heavens, and spring is in all her beauty again. The birds are now fast returning from warmer climes to their summer-home in England. The swallow sits twittering in the eaves, or skims the river and the lake in the evening, catching its food or picking up from the banks the bits of clay and straw with which it builds its wonderful nest. The cuckoo now makes the woods re sound with his notes; and the yellow wag-tail, the red start, white-throat, wry-neck, and black-cap, have all returned. The blackbird's mellow, flute-like voice rings in the covert. Who so gay as the lark now, which springs up to the heavens, singing its love and joy with full-throated melody? The less musical rook caws away among the lofty trees, on the topmost boughs cf which it builds its nest. The wren is busy forming its house in the stump of a decayed tree; the sparrow is already laying her eggs in her nest, which she has con structed in the thickest part of a high hedge; the bittern sits in her seat among thick reeds and rushes; the owl lies snug in the hollow of a ruined wall; while the lin net, a true lover of nature, has found a retreat in the midst of a snug green copse. Gaudy butterflies begin to appear, and excite the chase of the happy children, who thus begin the sport of life. Flowers are blooming everywhere, in the gar den, in the fields, on the waters. The water-hen sails about among primrose-coloured water-flags, and water lilies in clusters, almost buried amid their large, shield shaped leaves. Early and late is the cottage gardener at work among his flower-beds and his kitchen-stuffs. He watches the growth of his star of Bethlehem, lady smock, and virgin's bower, with an almost paternal soli citude. lie boasts of his violets and narcissuses, praises his anemonies and lady's slippers, as if they weare part of his family. He has an eye, too, to " the substantiels." He watches the blossoming of the fruit trees, and gets in his cabbages, peas, and:early potatoes. His soul is full of hope, ho labours with joy, for the prospect of another abundant harvest is before him. The spring has in it a power, more than.perhaps any other season, of attracting man from the mere material earth, to rise up to the enjoyment of the spiritual beauty in which the earth has been created. We feel a longing to be away from the stir and fret of the busy world. There is a thirst to be among the field-paths, a wish to have the wings of the bird, to fly far away from the feverish hum of the city, to find refreshment with nature in the silent woods, and under the shade of green and over-arching trees, to muse and meditate till the spirit of peace and love flows into our soul like a gale from Heaven. Away, away, ye pent-up denizens of crowded cities! Go out among the spring haunts, and see how the earth and the sky aro now holding jubilee. There you will observe the evidences - of the perpetual youth and beauty of creation; your hearts will be awakened to a sense of deep joy, and your minds influenced for years to come by a holy communion with nature. CAPT. REID'S " RIFLE RANGSRS."—Of this new military work, the Britannia observes—" Since Mr. Rux_ ton's v i v id scenes of ad‘renture in Mexico, we have not met with a work of such exciting interest as these adventures of Captain Reid. The picturesque scenery of the wild luxuri ous country in which his soluier's duties lay, the thousand peculiarities of character, custom, and costumes of its inha bitants, his own personal experience of pleasure and danger, as well as the stirring incidents of many of his comrades' lives, are all worked into a tale replete with incident and interest." Baron de Menneval, formerly privat3 secretary of the Emperor Napoleon died at Paris on Friday evening, in tae 70d year of as Age. PARLIAMEN TARY DIVIS/ ONS. (Front the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commove) MONDAY, APRIL 22. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Seventeenth Clause (flow the appropriation of sums granted may be varied): - Amendment proposed, page 10, lines 20-21, to leave out the words " or altering the sums mentioned in the third part of any of the said Schedules A, B, and C:"—Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause." The Committee divided MAJORITY—AYES, 203. Ellice, Edward MonscAl, William Elliot, J. E. Morgan, H. K. Esicourt, J. B. B. Morris, David Evans, William Mestyn, E. Fagan, William Muthugs, J. R. Ferrer, James Mundy, William Ferguson, Sir R. O'Connell, Maurice Fitzpatrick, J. W. O'Connell, M. J. Fordyce, A. D. Ord, William Forster, M. Paget, Lord G. Gooch, E. S. Palmerston, Viscount Gore, W, It. 0. Parker, John Grace, 0. D. Patten, J. W. Graham, Sir James Perfect, It. Grenfell, C. P. Plowden, W. H. Grenfell, Charles W. Portal, Melville Grey, Sir George Power, Dr. Grey, Ralph W. , Price, Sir R Grosvenor, Earl Rewilon, Colonel Guest, Sir J. Ricardo, Osman Gwyn, Rowel Rich, Henry Hedy tearton, Lord J. Robartes, T. J. kialsey, T. P. Ranuilly, Colonel , Haunter, Sir John Romilly, Sir John liatchell, John Rufford, Francis Hawes, B. Russell, Lord John Hayes, Sir E. Russell, F. C. U. Hayter, W. 0. Rutherfurd, A. Heald, James Sandars, Joseph Hcatheoat, John Scully, Francis Hililyard, R. C. Seymour, Lord Hobhouse, Sir John Shelburne, Earl of ilobhouse, T. B. Sheridan, It. B. Hodges, T. L. Sibthorp, Colonel Hood, Sir A. Smith, J. A. Hornby, John Smyth, John G. Howard, Lord E. Somers, J. P. Howard, P. H. Somerset, Captain Howard, Sir R. Somerville. Sir W. Hughes, W. B. Stanford, J. F. Jervis, Sir John Stansfleld, W. B. Keogh, William Stanton, W. H. Kildare, Marquis Stuart, Lord J. Knox, Colonel Stuart, 11. Labouchere, Henry Stuart, John Lacy, 11. C. Talbot, C. R. Laseelles, W. S. Talbot, J. H. Lewis, George C: Tancred, H. W. Lindsay, Colonel Tenison, E. K. Loveden, Pryse Thompson, Ald. Lygou, General Towueley, John Mackenzie, W. F. Townley, R. G. Mackinnon, W. Townshend, Captain 11`Naghten, Sir E. Trelawny, J. S. 31'Cullagh, W. T. Trollope, Sir J. M`Seill, Duncan Tauten. H. M'Taggart, Sir J. Vyse, H. Meagher, Thomas Waddington, 11. S. Malmii, O'Gorman Walpole, Spencer Marshall, William Watkins, Colonel Martin, C.W. Wawn, J. T. Martin, Samuel Westhead, J. P. Masterman, John Wilson, James Maule, Fox Wrightson, W. B. Melgund, Viscount Wyvill, M. Meux, Sir Henry Miles, P. W. S. Milner, W. M. Mitclaell, T. A Abdy, Sir T. N. Acland, Sir T. D. Aglionby, 11. A. Alexander, N. Anson, Colonel Anstey, Thomas C. Archdall, Captain Armstrong, Sir A. Armstrong, It. B. Ashley, Lord Baillie, 11. J. Baines, M. T. ilaldock, E. H. Bankes, G. Baring. Sir F. Bennet, I'. Berkeley, Admiral Berkeley, Henry F. Berkeley, C. L. Best, John Birch, Sir T. Blackall, S. W. Blair, Stephen Blake, M. J. Biakemore, R. Booth, Sir R. G. Boyd, John Boyle, Colonel Ereniridtre, Richard Brisco, M. Brockman, E. D. Browne, R. D. Buxton, Sir E. Carew, W. P. Carter, John B. Cavendish, C. C. Cavendish, G. H. Cavendish, W. G. Cayley, Edward S. Chichester, Lord J. Childers, J. W. Christy, Samuel Codrington, Sir W. Coke, E. K. Colebrooke, Sir T. Coles, H. B. Colvile, C. It. Corry, H. Cowper, W. F. Craig, Sir W. G. Crowder, R. B. Currie, Henry Csfteis, li. 31. Divrymple, Captain Davie, SirX. Dawson, T. V. Devereux,V. T. Disraeli, B. D'Eyncourt, C. T. Dod, J. W. Douglas, Sir.C. Duke, Sir James ncilft, John Dundas, , Admiral Dundas, Sir David Dunne, Colonel East, Sir 3. Ebrington, Lord Edwards, henry TELLERS. Hill, Lord MarcuS Bellew, R. M. MINORITY-NOES, 51. Adderley, C. 13, Harris, Richard Scott, F. Anderson, Arthur Headlam, Thomas Seymer, H. K. Bagge, W. Henry, Alexander Simeon, John Bass, Thomas Heyworth, Lawrence Smith, R. V. Bouverie, E. P. Hollond, Robert Smith, John B. Brocklehurst, John Kershaw, James Stuart, Lord D. Brother ton, J. Lawless, Cecil Tennent, It. J. Brown, W. Locke, Joseph Thicknesse, Ralph Clay, James Lowther, Colonel Thompson, Colonel Cobden, R. IPGregor, John Thornely, T. Cowan, Charles Molesworth, Sir W. Tollemache, r. J. Currie, Ilaikes Mowatt, Francis Walmsley, Sir J. Duncan, George Muntz, G. F. Willcox, Brodie Ellis, John Pechell, Sir G. Williams, John Fortescue, J. W. Pilkington, James Wilson, Matthew Fox, S. L. Rendlesham, Lord Wyld, James Fox, W. J. Repton, C. W. J. TELLERS. Greene, John Roebuck, J A. Lushington, Charles Hardeastle, J. A. Scholetleid, William Bright, John _ - N AVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Crocodile troop ship, lately bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Dixon at Queenstown, arrived here to-day, and is ordered forthwith to Sheerness to be paid off. The Diligence naval transport arrived here to-day from Plymouth. THE WEST INDIA. SQUADRON. A court-martial was held at Port Royal, on the l 6th ult., to try Conimander Michell, of her Majesty's sloop Sappho, and the other officers and ship's com pany of that vessel, for running the Sappho on shore on the Seal Cays, one of the innumerable reefs at the entrance of the Gulf of Honduras, on the night of the 25th of December last. The Court was composed of Commodore Bennett, president ; Captain Goldsmith, of the *Wellesley ; Captain Warren, of the Trincomalee ; Commander Da Conroy, of the Helena, and Commander Bulman, of the Persian. Commander Michell was sentenced to be dismissed his ship, the Court considering that negligence had been shown in the navigation of the sloop. The officer of the watch, Lieutenant Malcolm, was censured for not seeing the lead constantly hove by the man placed in the chains by Commander Mi chell's written night orders, and admonished to be more careful in future. Mr. Mugford, the second-master (acting as master) was considered to have shown negligence, and was consequently sentenced to be reduced to the rank of master's-assistant, and to remain is that rank for two years. Great praise was given to the commander for his unwearied exertions (notwithstanding his weak state from long sickness, broken arm, Sec ,) in getting off the ship and recovering all the guns (which had been thrown overboard) and stores. Objections were made by Lieutenant Malcolm, Mr. Mugford, second-master; Mr. Charles Palmer, acting mate ; and Mr. Alexander Burniston to some por tions of the address of defence made by Commander Michell, but the Court declared them to be " frivo lous and malicious:' Commander Michell produced some of the highest testimonials an officer can receive, eminently charac terising his conduct as an officer and a seaman during a period of 28 years' service. This officer was in the Burmese war, and produced affidavits from all the pilots on that coast testifying to the strength of the currents, and of their having been more powerful than usual about the time of the accident. They also testified to the fact that of 12 vessels which had been driven on those destructive shoals, her Majesty's sloop Sappho was the only one which had been re covered. Owing to the thickness of the weather no observa tion that could be depended on could be obtained. A court of inquiry was previously held on board the Imaum on the First Lieutenant (Glynn) for dis respect to his Commander (Michell), which resulted in his censure, and being compelled to make Com mander Michell a public apology on the quarter-deck of the Imaum. PLYMOUTH, APRIL 20.—The steam-vessels Confi ?ince and Avon got under way this morning to tow her Majesty's ship Superb into the Sound, but strong winds from the S.S.W. prevented her leaving Hama axe. Should the weather prove favourable, she will go down on Monday, be paid wages, and the next day proceed to the Mediterranean to relieve the Ven geance, BO, c oming home to be paid off. The Archer steam-vessel is ordered to the East Indies to relieve the Fury steam-vessel, ordered to England. The sh i p families, Captain Maclean, sailed on Thursday for Van Diemen s Land. Her total num ber of passengers is 196, among whom are the wives and families of several convicts. Her cabin passen gers are Mr. Murphy, for Port Philip, and Mr. Nichols, Van Diemen's Land. Mr. Lennell and family proceed in her steerage for Van Diemen's Land. The last-named gentleman emigrates accord ing to Government arrangements upon a plan not ge nerally known. He deposits 3001. for land; his fa mily consists of seven statute adults, and he has had to deposit 140 1 . on that head, which will be remitted to him. For the 3001. he has received letters of credit for Crown lands in the colonies, and passages for all the family. The scale of charges is per adult—cabin 50/. ; intermediate, 25/. ; and for steerage, ow. ; an d for the purchase of land the Commissioners expect 20/. per statute adult to be paid i revious to embarcation. Wind, S.W. • blowing strong. W O OLWICH, 'APRIL 22.—The Locust steam-vessel, 100-horse power, un d e r the charge of Lieutenant- Commander William C. Nowell, of the Ardent steam vessel, arrived at this port to-day to be paid off here. The Lightning steam-vessel, Master-Commander Petley, has completed taking CO3IS on board, and is to be held in readiness to tow the Maria Eugene hired freight ship, loaded with stores for Captain Austin's Arctic expedition, from Deptford to 600 miles beyond Stromness, near the borders of the ice. Captain Sir John Ross left London on Saturday evening for Ayr to expedite the vessel he is about to proceed in to the Arctic reg ions in search of Captain Sir John Franklin and the officers and crews of the Erebus and Terror discovery ships. _ Commander Phillip!, at present studying steam at Woolwich, has obtained permission of the Lords of the Lords of the Admiralty to accompany Sir James Ross in his searching expedition. The Undiue steam-vessel was taken into the basin on Friday last, and six of the engineers on check, under Lieutenant Robertson, of 'Woolwich, placed on her to make the necessary repairs, instead of sending men afloat from the factory as was previously the case. The new arrangements of employing the engineers of the royal navy afloat when vessels have to get their engines repaired at any of the ports must be highly beneficial to them, and render them more capable of remedying any defects which may occur in vessels in which they may be serving on foreign stations. The Jasper and Advice steam-vessels returned to Woolwich yesterday evening, havin g towed the Her cules storeship to the Downs. ARMAMENTS FOR I THE BOATS OF STEAMERS PROPELLED BY PADDLES. The following table of armaments for the boats of steamers propelled by paddles, to supersede the ;ma- APRIL 23, 1850, LITERATURE. TIIE MARTYRS OF CARTPAGE- By Mrs. Webb - . 2 Vols. In perusing Mrs. Webb's very beautiful : itexy of " Julamerk," we regretted that her admirable oyali- ' fications for rendering a religious narrative attrac tive from its fictitious incidents, and valuable fi .ol n its serious reflections—qualifications which she po isi3sses in no mean degree—should have been devoted to the commemoration of a particular sect (the Nestmis:ns), instead of relating to Christianity as a whole. The theme of the volumes above-mentioned is more hap pily chosen. It is indeed a theme which must La - I'v rays possess an especial attraction for Christians, for i t re lates to the trials and triumphs of the early belie vers and martyrs of our faith. Not only has Mrs. Webb been felicitous in the selection of her subject, but she has treated it with considerable s.kill, and augmented, by her beautiful develop! ab 3n t, its necessary fascination. Toe heroines of the story are Vivia Perpetua and her fr is nd, Marcella, the daughter of Numerian, a Chri al ifh minister. By the intervention of Marcella, Vivia .ue comes a Christian, while her husband, Marct ta, a young Roman officer, is absent in the service of the Emperor. On his return an explanation necesst trily ensues. The heathen husband, although tenderly at tached to Vivia, is inexorable—she must renounce :her new faith, or she can no longer be his wife. The young Christian is exposed to a worse torture than that of martyrdom, but the love of heaven prey ails over the love of earth, and after a long separa lion Vivia is rewarded for her sufferings by her re-union with her, now, Christian husband. Their happii less is not of long duration ; both ultimately attest tl se it faith with their lives, and obtain the crown of martyrdom. This brief sketch is enough to shaw the very interesting materials of the story. In adiii don to the interest attached to the history of Vivila, the eharaeters and adventures of her brothers, eulius and Octavius (the lover of Marcella), of her parents, of the time-serving and vindictive father of Marcus, and the other Christians and heathens introduced in the narrative, are all described and developed in a very skilful and attractive manner. Very seldom ha vo we occasion to bestow such a cordial commended a..a upon a new work, as we may very safely bestow up on this most excellent and most beautiful story of the " Martyrs of Carthage." THE LIFE OF BARBARA HOFLAND. Few kinds of literature are so attractive and so useful as biography. Mirrored in the portraiture of another, each reader may find, in some degree at least, his own feelings and his own failings—happy if he learn from the contemplation how to command t he one and correct the other. Mrs. Hofland is w ell known, and generally esteemed as a writer ; by the readers of this book she will not only be known, but esteemed and loved as an individual. Left a wid Dw at an early age, almost wholly unprovided for, rind charged with the care of an infant son, her patien ce, her fortitude, and her unwearying industry are worthy of admiration and imitation. Not only by the labours of her pen was she enabled to maintain herself and her child, but by the excellent principles incul cated in her writings she was happily the means of doing much public good, more especially to the yon,rig generation of her day. Her industry was thus twice blessed, and she had the happiness of seeing her son an able and excellent minister of the Church. S'ach are the most interesting features of the history of Mrs. Hofland. To those who feel an interest in " — the proper study of mankind" we recommend this •de lightful biography : written in a simple but most at tractive manner, the many trials, the arduous exer tions, the hopes, fears, sufferings, and successes of an excellent woman are here very admirably set forth. A PHYSICIAN'S HOLIDAY; or, a Month in Switzerland, ic., 6-c. By John Forbes, III:.D., F.R.S. We are glad to find, and for many reasons, that this work has reached a second edition, and feel dis posed to congratulate the public (and above all that large proportion of the public who like and cou xite mance travelling) upon the prospect of its becon sing, what we never doubted it would be one day, a geese ral favourite, and most deservedly so. A more •;use ful and entertaining guide we never chanced to see, and can only say that we long to seek (the above named book under our arm as our guide and Oum panion) those highly interesting scenes which it so ably describes ; not forgetful of our duty to the wei ter, whose wise precepts we mean to treasure up with: the more willingness as they for the most part ex ac:tly coincide with our ideas as regards travelling, and whose experience, practical and otherwise, we will gladly avail ourselves of, and whose very mishaps, few and far between, it is ti •ue, but always candidly admitted, shall be as a warn ing to us, and a fair warning which we shall be far ft om treating slightly. To those who may be noun, or hereafter intending to visit the land of the picturesque, and who, with a short time to dispose of, are inc lined to make the most and the best of if, we say take with you the " Physician's Holiday," and he sure that you will benefit yourselves in a variety of ways. You, will find in it not merely the recommendations of a true lover of the beauties of nature, but such liberal-minded direc tions as will insure you every advantage to be dess ived from those great incentives to health—air, exe n vise, diet—when judiciously and systematically cola ted. There may, however, be some among our re ai lers who do not think of visiting those scenes and by ties so vividly portrayed by the author, and to winom the book might appear, as a guide, valueless;--to those we would recommend it as a well writ ten, amusing . , descriptive work, which will supply a rich fund of amusement for many an idle hour, and in uch valuable information on subjects of deep importanc !e— a work, in short, which will be found incess 3a itly to pass " From grave to gay, from lively to severe." It is, moreover, calculated to remove many unfoter ded prejudices • and we deem it to be one of the grey test claims of ;he author to general sympathy and appro bation, that while alive to the positive faults and demerits of men and things, he is lenient in his j•udg ments and just in his appreciation of whatever is, fair and good ; in other words, he is what edmestion should make us all, a citizen of the world, ever ready to look upon his fellow-men as brothers, if their con duct entitle them to such consideration. To revert again to the book itself, we would gladly impart to others the gratification we have derived :from a perusal of its 'contents ; but here we are confessedly at a loss, for, in a work so decidedly consecutive as this is, how can; we select a :part, sufficiently episodical, not to suffer from the very cir cumstance of its being picked out ? Start ing, as we like to fancy ourselves, with. the writer, from the shores of England, and really landed on the opposite coast, how can we help following the well-directed course he has adopted to effect his ob ject, and stop, while he proceeds. We feel with him, that our time is short, and must be turned to good account; on, therefore, we go, and crossing rapidly the intervening countries, Belgium, Germany, &c., not, however, without duly appre ciating the beauties we view in our onward course, we reach the Vosges Mountains, and first set foot on Swiss ground. Much has already been seen, said, done, to fix the attention, but we must on. We have 'aardly started on our tour, with our knapsacks on our backs, and nothing more in them than is strictly necessary to men, whose wants are few, than we have the truth of this precept impressed on our minds by a trifling yet conclusive incident, proving—but here it is in the author's own words : " The day being hot, and the realms of ceremony being far passed by (we are at Sakingen) some of our party, after taking refreshment in the inn, very naturally resorted to the fountain at its door, to make amends for the absence of finger glasses within. One of our num ber availed himself of this luxury not only here but at a village further on, Dogern by name, where we also stopped, and, being a wearer of rings—which no tra veller should be—he laid them on the fountain brim, and there left them ! The loss was not discovered until we had advanced some miles on our journey beyond the it could not hadbe re place collected of t he finery been the at last which ablution,of the two and left. Consequently, although the r ings war e ings were of consi derable value, we made no retrograde step . to recover them, but contented ourselves with sending dispatches p t l h a e c il e s to the innkeepers of the respective villag es from the sm all town of Thieng en, where we dined. But the ring. bearing ring-l os er, as might have been expected, heard no more of his property." H a d we time we might take this as a fair text,.and moralize ad infinitum, but we must on. Fair as the temptation afforded us by the admirable description of the great Rhine Falls at Schaffausen, we must re frain from inserting it, chiefly for this reason, such descriptions being nearly as plentiful in the work before us as the scenes we wend our way through. Once entering on the path of extracts, we might transcribe the whole, or be guilty of injustice, and the views from the Riga, and many others which fol low in rapid succession, demand our immediate at tention ; not so exclusively, however, but that we are right pleased to follow our guide in his devia tions from the tourist's path into the regions of metaphysics, and admire his benevolent philosophy. As an instance of which, we would advert to his remarks on Conrad Escher, and the dignified reward conferred on him by his grateful fellow-citizens, page 76, &e. Again, as a specimen of the writer's happy mode of bordering upan the facetious without derogating from the dig nity of the man of taste, we would quote the follow ing (page 89) : " We started on our return to Chur in one of the long narrow chairs of the country, drawn by one horse, an d without springs, except the leather substit ut q s by wh i c h the sept is suspended. For this we paid twelve francs. Our horse turned out to be good , and our driver b e tte r . h e At least, in all my experience, I neve r met with so rso lut3 and fearless a charioteer. T he road, as we are vau • steepl seen, is all down bill feom Tunis to Roche y ut down the d g d0 , ..,n hill indeed, and full of turnings ; b steepest pitches, and round th e sharpest b anles, on We went at full trot and full swing , as if there a never been such an event as upsetting, or , ISuch things as IT INI* • .:,/ , -7 _,N::',..i 7 _ ---=•• 441"\ ,N, broken knees and broken bones, air ip , .! .. 1 9..,. ?\ Lucidly none of these fell t) our lo sio : At. ::147":.:. suffer; and we reached our destin Otii . , :,tl;69b,: e , ;-• , *tt4 derably bofore the covenanted time, \fM4l4ti*. Lili7:-: - --,‘. and a half. In all the active pait of \k.:3*,,*e r '! 4 o:',.:. our good horse had the whole merit, as th-hurdly twitched the reins or used the whip PtiCirailifctb %at, but left him to take his own pace and his own course as to him seemed good." But we must bring our account to a close, much as we. should have liked to tarry on many an interesting spot, and commune with many an equally interesting character : we allude more particularly to the worthy , , priest the author encountered (see page 224), anc. whom we should like to encounter in reality.- :We cannot, dismiss the book without congratulating its author upon the success which -has attended his exe cution of a task which must have been one,of extreme • anxiety and labour, and in the course of which he' must have evinced considerable fortitude in foregoing his hard-earned repose to note down day bydaythe host of interesting matters which, in their present - well-digested form, we recommend to all who will agree with us in saying of him— " Owno tulit punctum Qui miseuit utile dulei." SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERS ALL'S.—YESTERDAY. The betting on events to come off prior to the Derby only requires us to refer to a change in the positions of the two leading favourites for the Two Thousand Gui neas Stakes; Pitsford, as the odds will show, having been deprived of the premiership by Bee Hunter, on whom a large sum was laid out at 5 to 2, 2 to 1, and 6 to 4. The Derby betting, if not heavy, was important, if only for the fluctuations in the odds against Ghillie Callum. The first quotation was 7to 1 (taken); 10 to 1 was then laid to two or three hundred pounds; and, as 20 to 1 was taken at the same time about William the Conqueror, an inference was naturally drawn that there was a " screw loose." The reaction, however, was al most as marked as the decline, 8 to 1 being the highest offer against the " crack" at the close, while William the Conqueror receded to 25 to 1. Clincher was backed freely at 7 and 8 to 1, Mayors at 9 to 1, and Voltigeur at 14 to 1; we did not hear a bet laid against Bolingbroke,. -- or a single quotable offer for or against The Nigger. Final quotations:-- SOMKRSETSIIIRE STAKES. 7 to 4 agst Duke of Richmond's Halo, 6 yrs, Bst 21b 2 to 1 agat Sir J. B. Mill's Won't-you,come-out-to night, 3 yrs, Sst 8 to 1 agat Mr. Fowler's Seagull, 6 yrs, Est 61b 9 to 1 agst Mr. Drinkald's Sauter la Coupe, 4 yrs, 6st 61b—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Chorister, 5 yrs, 7st 31b TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 6 to 4 agst Lord H. Lennox'a Beehunter—t freely 7 to 4 agst Mr. Hill's Pitsford 10 to 3 agst Colonel Peel's Hardinge 20 to 1 agst any other. NEWMARKET STAKES. Even between Nutshell and the field, the latter for choice. CHESTER CUP. 11 to 1 agst Lord Howth's Peep-o'-day Boy, 6 yrs, 9st—taken 12 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Essedarius, 4 yrs, 74t 91b 13 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Glauca, 4 yrs, 7st ilb 13 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Miss Ann, 4 yrs, 7st 16 to 1 agst Capt. Harcourt's Ellerdale, 6 yrs, Bst 31b 18 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Chantrey, 4 yrp, 6st 101 b 6 to 1 to 1501. agst Peep-o'-day Boy and Essedarius. There was a very equivalent disposition to lay agst Cossack, but no price fixed. DERBY. 5 to 1 apt Mr. W. Edwards naßolingbroke 7 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher—taken freely 8 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum— take 9 to 1 9 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken 14 to 1 agst Lard Zetland's Voltigenr—taken 16 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's The Italian 20 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew—taken 20 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Nutshell 25 to 1 agst Lord H. - Lennox's William the Con• queror—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. H. Hill's Pitsford 28 to 1 agst Hr. Ford's Penang 40 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney DERBY, 1851. ,000 to 20 agst Capt. Harcourt's Brother to Ellerdale —taken DERBY, 1853. 0,000 to 150 egst Brother to the Flying Datehman—t IMPORTATION or SPECIE.—An instance having occurred in which some inconvenience was oceasioned in consequence of the officers of the revenue declining to grant permission for the landing and delivery, to the captain's re quest, of a package of dollars which he had brought in his charge on account of a friend abroad, and which, being a private transaction, was not accompanied with the usual bill of lading as merchandise, but requiring the package to be forwarded on proper authority trom the shipowners to the Bank of England for the usual examination and delivery to take place there, the peculiar features of this case have been made the subject of consideration in order to prevent similar inconvenience for the future. The second section of the Customs Regulation Act, allowing specie and bullion to be landed from the vessel in which it is imported, is for the express purpose of facilitating the delivery, and the revenne regulations in force further provide for it, except in cases similar to the present, where the master of the vessel has not signed a bill of lading for the package, which is seldom the case, and the ground of requiring the bill of lading to be produced in this instance previous to the delivery being sanctioned, out of the usual course, was security to the mer chant; but in order to prevent any misapprehension for the future in cases of this kind it has been directed that where the master of a vessel has had the private charge of such property during the voyage, his order for the delivery to himself, or to any other person named by him, is to be deemed a sufficient guarantee and release to the revenue authorities, the master or the person deputed by him to receive the-treasure, giving a receipt in writing for the same. TREATMENT OF AMERICANS IN CUBA.—A cor respondent of the Treeley Herald communicates the follow ing :—" Some extraordinary occurrences have taken place here, which are likely to result in some action on the part of the American Government against the exercise of tyrannical sway exerted over innocent American citizens in this island. The facts are curious, and have sprung from a small cause. Rumours of a vague character were recently extensively cir culated that arms and ammunition had been smuggled into the island, and the officials of the place immediately set about making a search and inqtti!ition in the matter. In a very high-handed and summary manner three foreigners were arrested upon suspicion of a plot, and connexion with it. Two of them were American citizens, and one of them a Frenchman, being all the foreigners who resided near the scene of the tremendous discovery, which, upon investiga tion was found to be nothing more than six kegs of gun powder and a box of window sashes. The two Americans were tied together, and so tightly that the blood oozed through the skin where the cords were put on. In this state they were placed astride a log, and kept in that painful and humiliating position for twelve hours, having a pistol occa sionally pointed at their heads by their brave captors, though they made no resistance, and were wholly ignorant of the of fence of which they were charged. During this savage treatment the authorities were consulting, searching, devising, and sleeping, when the captured party were mounted on horseback, and carried to a prison in the interior, to strike terror to the hearts of conspirators. On the route to their destination another American was captured without being charged with any offence. Solitary confinement was their lot for a week, and now one is incarcerated who will have to remain in prison till his captors see fit to release him. His crime is stated as a remarkable one—having a watch, pistol, and about 11b. of powder in his possession. Mr. William Maclean, the Assistant -Secretary to the Board of Customs, has been appointed Secretary of that department in the room of Mr. Scovell, who has been placed upon the retired list; and Mr. Gardn er, a gentleman of great experience in the Secretary's office, has been promoted to the rank of Assistant -Secretary in the room of Mr. Maclean. Mr. J. Arkle, Landing-surveyor at Dund h e e e, has been promoted to the office of Landing-surveyor Hart; and t Cus tomsi‘i at Cork, vacant by the decease of ;1 r. thsG. Arnett, Controller at Lynn, to Lieutenant e nt Controller Ed i wa r rd ' an G d tith r. Land ing-surveyor at Dundee. L• R.N., is appointed Superintendent of Liberated Africans a ' t , St. Helena. THE ALLEGED MURDER, AT LALELIAM.—SatUrday being appointed for the re-examination, at Staines, of Charles Holden, an agricultural labourer, who had given himself up to the police on his own confession of having mur dered a woman twenty years ago, and burying her in a plan tation on the Earl of Luean's estate at Laleham, the Petty Sessions -house was crowded. Lord Lucan was among the magistrates who were present. The prisoner was brought by train from the Detention-house in Clerkenwell. Edmund Hiscock, carpenter, stated that on the 13th of November he was digging a hole for a post in a field near Lynch-corner, belonging to Lord Lucan, when he came on a human small ; and, on digging further, he found an entire skeleton. He covered it up again, and in a day or two he gave information to the police. Mr. W. K. Heseltine deposed that he was a qualified surgeon, though not in practice. He saw the skull within two or three days of its dis covery, and afterwards the other bones. They were cer tainly those of a very elderly female. The bones had been under ground a great somber of years, pro bably a century. They crumbled Ivhen they were touched. Police Constable Melntyre, 27 V, stated that the soil all around where the bones were found had been carefully sifted, but nothing was found. David Groves, a farming man, de posed that seventeen or eighteen years ago he was at work on Mr. Honner's farm, when he saw the prisoner, whom he knew, and asked where the woman was, alluding to a, woman with with whom the prisoner cohabited. H e nodded, but nothing. Colonel Wood then read the usualcanuhtoiosen ttoo say prisoner, after which he asked him whetherhe As anything. The prisoner then said in alo` t to hba theutth cleardv beeny that lie was not quite right in the h ead, and ~ taking a little drink when he gave himselfduupg u p a proof had heard of this skeleton having bee n he was supposed to young alive 7t m o an be found. i l i p e posed that ho was not guilty, to have murdered' was still lie lChertsey, o use in hadhadPu i b thhi - him he would soonfinadna her. if . lately been with her in a I).3""b' era ted on the case an h our, Co , any gentleman would g The magistrates having deli : lonel Wood said th ere was not sufficientii evidence at present ' to detain the pr isoner further. e was accordi ng l y dis charged. CRIME I N -FEACE.--- As a yesterday morning, nam a gendarme, named 3 Mignot,o'c home from e, was a patrol ill the quarries, he noticed that the door of the house of M. Dardant , a quarry owner, was open. He was ec o'clock, residingretu returning a g about to close it, when he saw a light in a room on the ground floor, and heard a pane of glass broken. On examining more attentively, alignot saw two men engaged in breaking open drawers, and making packages of their contents. He advanced boldly to them, and ordered them to follow him, but one seized a heavy hammer, the other a bar of iron, and assailed him furiously. Mignot parried the blows as well as he could with his cara bine, but, finding he was too closely pressed, he cried " Surrender, or I will fire!" The thieves then attacked him with renewed fury, whereupon the gendarme fired, and killed one of the men on the spot. He seized the other, and held him, until several persons, attracted by the report of the carbine, arrived, and assisted in conveying him to the guardhouse. The man arrested said his name was David Hirch, but he refused to state who his companion was. The' body of the man killed was taken to the Morgue , and there the police ascertained that he was a liberated convict of a nest danger9w4 hind. Pow — in; nto ,ul 4 lish tbe bi`• t s© 01 cell red I