The Sun. — London, England, 1851-05-09 00:00:00

QUARTERLY RETURN OF MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS. (From the Registrar-General's Return.) This return comprises the births and deaths registered by 2,189 registrars in all the districts of England during the winter quarter ending March 31, 1851; and the marriages in more than 12,000 churches or chapels, 2,869 registered places of worship unconnected with the Established Church, and 623 superintendent re gistrar's offices, in the quarter that ended December 31, 1850. The return of marriages is not complete; but the de fects are inconsiderable, and have been supplied from previous years. The results of the returns from the whole country are • satisfactory. The mortality is low; the births and the marriages are much above the average. MA BRUGES. 45,296 marriages were celebrated in the autumn quar ter, ending December 31. The marriages are always more numerous in this quarter than in any other quarter of the year. The close of harvest, the genial season of Christmas, the termination of the ordinary periods of service, and perhaps the old practice of an ticipating Lent, swell the marriage roll at the end of the year. So there is nothing very remarkable in the distribution of the marriages over the quarters of the year, 1850, although the marriages in the last quarter exceeded those in the first quarter by nearly 15,000. The marriages of the whole year exhibit an extraordinary increase ; in 1840 the number was 122,665; in 1850 it amounted to 152 235. In the four years, 1847-8-9-50, the marriages were 1 35,845, 138,230, 141,599, and 152,235. The first (1847 alLt year of great depression and great sufferingi. t h e (1850), as the marriages testify, was a y prospe rity, which showed no symptoms of - decline earn in ie est quarter. The increase extended over 8 out of the 11 divisions of England and Wales. The South Midland and the Eastern divisions exhibit a marked decrease Thedecrease was in the pro portion of marriages to population.lseside tin the counties gli of Hertford, Buckinaßnedford, Essex and Norfolk. ampton, Huntingdon, — In some of the other divisions the marriages did not keep pace with the population. In Wilts, Lincoln, • n d the North Riding of Yorkshi re , th e declined. The marriages increased in Berk shire,numbers Devonshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Lei cestershire, Devons Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, the E ast and West Ridings of Yorkshire, Durham, and South Wales. The increase was the greatest in London, and in the North- Western Divsion, comprising Cheshire and Lancashire. The marriages increased at St. George's, Hanover square, St. Martin•in-the-Fields, and St. James, West minster; and at all the watering places, at Gravesend, Ramsgate, Margate, Hastings, Brighton, Worthing, Bath Clifton, and Cheltenham. There was a great increase in the pottery districts of Woletanton and Stoke-upon- Trent, in Walsall, Dudley, and 13 . • =lngham, in Coventry, at Basford and Nottingham, in Shadlow and Derby, in Stockport and Great Boughton (Chester), in West Derby, Wigan, Bolton, Ashton, Oldham, Rochdale, Blackburn, and Preston. In Liverpool and Manchester the marriages, though more numerous than in some pre vious quarters, exhibit no increase on the corresponding quarter of 1850. Bradford, Leeds, and Sheffield exhibit a remarkable increase. The marriages decreased, were stationary, or increased slowly in many agricultural districts; and this implies a certain degree of depression in ihhose parts at the close of the year 1850. In many of the manufacturing dis tricts the increase was remarkable. In the country gene rally, the great increase in the marriages indicates that the great body of the people were in prosperous circumstances. The classes who live on wages should now husband their resources, and with their surplus earnings provide against the periods of depression, which according to past experience invariably follow years of prosperity. BIRTHS. 157,374 births were registered in the quarter ending March 31, liisl. This is a greater number of births than was ever registered i n an y prev i ous quar t er; an d th e in crease is distributed over all the divisions of the country, although it was greatest in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. In a few counties the births exhibit no in crease, in the majority the increase is considerable. INCREASE OF POPULATION. As 157,374 births and 105,456 deaths were registered in the quarter ending March 31st, 1851. an excess is left of 51,928 living. It is the natural increase of the popu lation in three months. And as all the deaths are regis tered while all the births are not registered, the difference is less than the actual increase. The variations in the increase of population from fluctuations in the births and deaths since 1847 have been considersble ; the excess of births over (deaths was 19,704 in the winter quarter ending March, 1848, and 51,928 in the corresponding quarter of 1851. The emigration in the quarter ending March 31st, 1851, from the ports of the United Kingdom at which there are Government emigration officers, was 56,072. The emigrations from English ports amounted to 48,929 namely, 1,515 from Plymouth, 4,505 from London, and 42,912 from Liverpool. 2,339 emigrants sailed from Glasgow and Greenock: 4,804 from Irish, ports. It is well known that many Irish emigrants sail from Liverpool. STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH. 105,446 deaths were registered in the quarter ending March 31. This number is less by nearly 15,000 than was registered in the corresponding quarters of 1847 and 1848; and more by 7,000 than was registered in the March quarter of 1850. Taking the increase of population into account, the mortality was slightly below the average. It was at the rate of 2.365 per cent. per annum : whereas the average rate of the quarter is 2.457 per cent. The highest rate of mortality experienced in any winter quarter since 1839 was 2,830 in the cold winter quarter of 1847; the lowest was 2.144 in the mild winter quarter of 1846. A previous table shows that the average annual rate of mortality in winter is 2f per cent., nearly (2.457); the mortality being above this range in town, and below it in country districts. The mortality in the March quarter was somewhat lower than the average in the 117 districts, including the chief towns; and considerably below the average in the 506 remaining country districts. The mortality of the towns was a fiftieth part, and of the country districts a twelfth part less than the average. The country dis tricts are therefore enjoying more than their usual im munity, while the mortality in the town districts is scarcely reduced at all ; yet it was in the town districts that cholera was most fatal, and according to a common theory out off the weakly lives in 1849. The returns show that little impression has yet been made on the mortality of towns, which have pr ac ti ca lly been left un improved. The drains, sewers, slaughter-houses, and churchyards are much tbe same as they were, and their effects therefore are the same. The mortality was higher in London than z the'n ase cor responding quarter of l as t year. Influenza w demic; and the mortality w as ra i se d during the weeks of March. 205 deaths were directly ascribed to this disease, which in ordinary seasons is not fatal to more than 50 ; and many of the 1,612 deaths ascribed to bronchitis were the result of influenza. The epi demic has ceased, and has been slight compared with that of 1847-8. Measles and hooping-cough have been more, scarlatina less than usually fatal. Smallpox was fatal in 275 cases, in the greater part of which Vaccination was neglected. Diarrhoea was fatal to 223 persona, dysentery to 30, cholera to 7. It is worthy of note that the winter diarrhoea shows no disposition to decline. The deaths referred to cholera in the five quarters ending March, 1847-51, were 3,9, 516, 8, and 7. Typhus has been more fatal than it was in the March quarter of 1850. The deaths by poison were 29, burn s an d sca ld s 100, hanging and suffoca tion 71, drowning 70, fractures and contusions 163, "'Ganda 34. midland ortality was low in the South-eastern, South raised tahtet , Eastern, and South-western divisions. Typhus . eOugh mortality at Maidstone; scarlatina and hooping the and s u e s where the mortality was much above ray and sues;The mortality was generally low in the Sur were 'cdistricts. Portsmouth and Southampton Measles and unhealthy; at Southampton scarlatina prevailed. Abingdon ; akea 7ing-co ugh raised the mortality in mortality of w ind e s a o and typhus in Wallingford. The tile r, which has been recently drained, quartersh below q ending Marchav"age ; the deaths in the five 103, and 86. 1847-51, were 132, 109, 114, In the South Midland Counties, Brentford, Edmonton, Ware, St. Alban s, Aylesbury, and Oxford were the chief districts in which the mon was higher than usual. %lay SMall-pOX prevailed at St. An . ans among the poor, ill ventilated houses." " who live in great numbers in and n r,zail tn ed in Wad- Measles, hooping-cough, and typh desdon, Aylesbury, in Winslow, cough in Oxford. In Huntingdon low the and and hooping intermittent fever prevailed. Seven deaths i of King's Ripton were ascribed to typhus; three-fojtahris parish Ourth s of the population suffered from it. The want of drainage, and bad sanitary arrangements are supposed to have produced the disease. In the sub-district of Wisbeach St. Peter the births registered were 81, the deaths 107, 51 deaths took place in the union-workhouse; 16 fro m measles, 18 from typhus, and 17 from other causes! This great mortality in a public institution requires iu v 'ttigation. , the eastern division the mortality. was higb at Sud utlry, meaales C olchester, Yarmouth, and King ' s Lynn, where were re • 411 d scarlatina prevailed. At Stow, 67 births glittered. The registrar observes that 20 still and premature birth berths are not r 8 occurred during the quarter. Still Plymouth, remarkable. for district of • is almost the the y its insalubrity, mortality is higher tt.tith-western division in which the Scarlatina, typhus, ann in d any previous winter quarter. to prevail. At m ori ,heoping-cough have continued oldest inhabitant of the' in Stoke Damerel, the u is said to have died in iser 103 d year. Such instwa of longevity should never be admitted without scrnuees rarely supported by valid evidence. • es inquiry ; they are Scarlatna rsised me mortality in Taunton, Ch ar d , a n d Wellitigton, So ersetshire. The mortality has been high in many ~ West Midland Division. niatricts of the ---.—.— - Scarlatina, measles, small-pox, typhus, 4 • 0 1 )11 1g -cough and bronchiti s (influenza?), have been prevalent, and have often terminated fatally. The mortality Was low in Her e f or d s hi re, an d t h e southern part of Shropshire Vaccination is neglected in Shrewsbury; and several deaths from small-pea nave in consequence occurred. Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Birmingham, Aston, end Coventry experienced a considerable mortality, Th e deaths in Birmingham were 1,252. In the North Midland Division the mortality was low in .Lincoln, although scarlatina and typhus prevailed there; it was higher than it was in the previous winter in Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, and Chesterfield; measles and pooping -cough prevailed in many parts of those counties. The people of Stockport (in Cheshire, North-Western Division) have their children vaccinated with a most laudable regularity; and the result has been gin alawsl THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1851. complete immunity from small-pox. The registrar remarks:— " I have registered one death from small-pox—that of a child, five years of age, which had lately been brought over from Ireland, and had not been vaccinated. It is now more than three years since I registered a death from small-pox, out of a population of between 12,000 and 13,000, which I attribute to the appointment of public vaccinators, and the attention parents now pay to the vaccination of their children." In the same county the people of Runcorn offer an example of criminal negligence, which is a reproach to the religion which th e y profess and the country in which they live:— " Births, 132; deaths, 112. Small-pox has prevailed during the last 3 months; in the above number, 40deaths are from that disease, and only 3 of the deceased had been vaccinated. There appears a great want of atten tion on the part of parents in not taking their children to be vaccinated. I trust that stringent measures will be adopted to compel parents to have their children vac cinated. The disease ha s been p revailin g i n this district five months, and at the present time very severely. There have been 11 deaths during the last ten days.' At Wigan the same negligence was observed. 189 children under 5 years of age died; and 25 were left des titute of medical advice. In Burnley 179 persons died; the cause of death was not certified in 40 instances, and 31 had no medical attendant. Small-pox, scarlatina, measles, typhus, or influenza were prevalent in Man chester, Prescot, Ashton, and Oldham. The same z ym ot i c The diseases mortality was in districts of York shire. above many an the average in Brad ford, vaguelyl btnywhat Leeds,eNorthernan a tt and hSheffield aaccident.sD too iv T is h i Ine s on we observe th e l oss o f 27 iv looenxgpbloeseinontshien mines practiceartoo now tolerably well understood; and with proper care and good arrangements could rarely or ever happen. Hooping cough and bronchitis (apparently influenza) have raised the mortality in Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Bedlington and Morpeth have suffered from scarlatina and typhus; more than fifty persons suffered at one time from the latter disease in the lower part of Bedlington town. The mortality in Wales was generally below the ave rage. Scarlatina and measles prevailed in Newport, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydvil, and raised the mortality . Scar latina also prevailed in districts of Pembrokeshire. Eighteen persons died of small-pox in Holyhead, Angle sey ; only two had been vaccinated. Mr. Glaisher's description of the atmospheric condi tions of the unusually mild, variable, and rainy winter, deserves attention. Cholera is scarcely mentioned in the registrars' notes. The registrar of Oldham records three deaths from English cholera. No trace of the great epidemic is left except the diarrhoea. No pains should be spared to deprive another outbreak of half its terrors by sanitary measures. If the towns were supplied with pure water, the streets and old houses drained, the slaughter houses removed from the neigh bourhood of dwellings, the dead buried in distant places, the progress of medical science, and well-ordered medical organization, would diminish the mortality not only from cholera, but from all other epidemics. UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. CONFERENCE OF DEGREES. The annual public conference of degrees and presen tations of honours and prizes, iby the Chancellor and Senate of this University, took place, before a crowded and fashionable assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, in the spacious library of University College. This was the second occasion of this interesting ceremony having been performed in public, as it was previous to last year limited to the senate-room of the apartments occupied by the university in Somerset-house. In the absence of any special building belonging to the university, the senate, on the last occasion, accepted the use of the lecture-room of King's College, but the recent comple tion of the new library at University College opportunely presented the means of equalising their favours between the two chief London colleges, both of which, with several others in various parts of the country, are de pendent for the acquirement of degrees upon the Uni versity of London. At two o'clock the Earl of Burlington, Chancellor of the University, took the chair, and near him we noticed Mr. J. Shaw Leferre, Vice-Chancellor, Lord Monteagle, Lord Overstone, Lord Saye and Sele, the Bishop of Hereford, Sir S. L. Hammick, Bart., Sir Phillip Cramp ton, Bart., Sir James Clark, Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, Mr. G. C. Lewis, M.P., Professor Brands, Professor Faraday, Professor Malden, Professor Graham, Pro fessor Miller, Professor Sharpey, Dr. Hodgson, Rev. Dr. Gerard, Rev. Dr. Stowell, Mr. Macmurdo, Mr. Barcot, Mr. Grote, Mr. Hallam, Mr. Warburton, Mr. Walker, Mr. Kiernan, &c. The Rev. Dr. Rothman, Registrar of the University, then read a short report, which stated that during the past year 160 candidates bad been admitted to matri culation, nearly all of whom had distinguished them selves by their attendance when under their various ex aminations for degrees, honours, prizes, &c. Of the number that had matriculated, 23 had passed the first examination of the degree of 8.M., and 12 had passed the last examination. Three candidates had passed the examination for the degree of Bachelor of Laws, 58 candidates had passed the examination for the degree of 8.A., five had passed the voluntary examination in Scripture and Scripture llistory, 10 had passed the exa mination for the degree of M.A., 13 had obtained the degree of M.D., and one candidate had obtained the degree of LL.D., with a gold medal. At the conclusion of the report, professors represent ing the various colleges and institutions at which the candidates for the degrees had received their academic education, presented to his Lordship the gentlemen on whom the respective degrees were to be conferred. The following is a list of the successful candidates, the degrees conferred upon them, and the colleges at which they :studied : Edward Steere—LL.D., University. John Burford Carlhill, William Thomas Edwards, and William Henry Ransom—M.D., University. Matthew Baines, Peter Eade, and Stephen Monckton —M.D., King's. Edward Enfield Barron and Samuel Wilks—M.D., Guy's Hospital. William Henry Octavius Sankey—M.D., St. Bartho lomew's Hospital. James Newton Heale—M.D., St. Thomas's Hospital. William Ayre—M.D., London Hospital. George Birkett—M.D., Charing-cross Hospital. Charles Elam—M.D., Leeds School of Medicine. James Bealey Fletcher, Robert Nicholas Fowler, Uriah Brodribb Randall, William Rushton, Matthew Atmore Sherring, Rev. William Rawson Stevenson, and William Bower Todhunter—M.A., University. John Hutton Taylor—M.A., University and Man chester. Rev. George James Hall—M.A., Highbury. Rev. Charles Wills—M.A., Homerton. William Fowler—LL.B., University. Rev. William Kirkus—LL.B., Lancashire. Daniel Smith—LL.B., Spring Hill. William Filliter, William Morse Graily Hewitt, and Charles James Shearman—M.B., University. Henry Hyde Salter—M.B., King's. Robert Cirowse—M.B., Guy's Hospital. John Sy er Bristowe and James Robertson—M.B., St Thomas's Hospital. Robert Benson Lewis—M.B., Leeds School of Me dicine. Edmund Manley and William Henry Thornton—M.B., Royal Manchester School of Medicine. James Jones—M.B., Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. George Aitchison, John Purdue Bidlake. William R. Boothby, Edw. Josiah Evans, Evan Evans, Josh. Gir hng Fitch, Samuel Lindoe Fox, Wilson Fox, William Giles, William Thomas Greenhow, Francis Guthrie, Henry Holden, Edward Hunt, William Flavell Hurndall, David Kinnear, Russell Martineau, 'William Henry Pol lard, Francis James Roscoe, Alfred Daniel Sprange, James Charles Whitehorne, and John Brand Winter betham—B.A., University. Daniel Hooper—B.A., Caius College, Cambridge. Wm. Hen. Farthing Johnson—B.A., Corp. Chr. ColL, Cambridge. John Morgan Salter, Henry Robert Silvester, and Richard Wright—B.A., King's. Charles Kennedy, John Lawson, Richard Payne, and Thomas Porter—B.A., Stonyhurst. Vernon Darbishire—B.A., Manchester (New). William Gill and John Hardwick Smith—B.A., High bury. Frederick Creak, Robert Willianci Dale, Edward Gardner Glanville, and George Marslan d—B.A., Spring hill. John Jones and Henry Oliver—B.A.,, Caermarthen. Isaac Haycroft and George Short—B .A., Stepney. Alexander Anderson, George Hall, Joseph Stutch bery, John Wadland, Joseph Waite, Wi) liam Halo White —B.A., Cheshunt. Patrick O'Donovan and Thomas Toseph Power— 8.A., St. Patrick's, Carlow. Thomas Spencer Baynes—B.A., Baptist (Bristol). James Wm. Conrad Cox, Robert Stet ,henson, Samuel Danks Waddy, and James Anstey Wild .—B.A., Wesley (Sheffield). John Evans—B.A., Western (Plymou th). le "Wm. Fletcher and H enr y J ames Pi gg ott— B . A., Wes yan Coll. Inst. prGope%rgeeh.Corney—B.A., West of Engl and Dissenters' PRTEhSeEgliraTduAaTtelsOet, haling HONOURS AND PRIZES. C h ancellor a , n tla d e_ . then . un t i o y o , k ris p it l y ane ymg been severally presented to the presentation. of scholars , exhibitioners, medalists, order:— Edward Stee ti re, ze rl ea a; receive Medal. C( i : i lle t g h e e s f , °ll :c w ., in t g o Samuel Wilks, M.D mistry. ~ G ufa Hospital, Medal for Che- William Bower Todhunte r , 3,1 in Mathematics. -IL, Un .iver s ity, M e dal John Hutton Taylor, M.A., u • . niver say and Man chester, Medal in Philosophy. William Fowler, LL.B., University, L aw Scholarship John Syer Bristowe, M. 8., St. Tho l saws Hospit a l , Medal in Physiology and Comparative A natomy. Robert Growse, ALB., Guy's Hospital, Medal in Phy siology and Comparative Anatomy. John Syer Bristowe, M. 8., St. Thou I as's Hospital, Scholarship and Medal in Surgery. Robert Benson Lewis, M. 8., Leeds& :.hc pol of Medicine, Medal in Surgery. Robert Growse, LLB.. Guy's Hospits il, Scholarship and Medal in Medicine. Charles J ames Sh earman , M. 8., I: niversit y, Medal in Medi c i ne. xami E c. —John Exam ination in the Text of the Sc riptures, es B rown ,_ , Paton, Spring-hill, Prize; B obert Ainslie Red. Lori, Spring-hill, Prize. Thomas Ki 1117ExsurNATio N. to receive Eich ng ibi • Hornidge, M. 8., St. George's Biology. tion and Medal in Anatomy and Phy- Joseph Lester, ALB M edal in Aire _ , University College, - to receive '""Y and Physiology, Frederick William Headland, M. 8., King's College, to receive Medal in Chemistry. Thomas B. Washbourn, M. 8., Guy's Hospital, to re ceive Medal in Chemistry. Frederick William Bevy, M. 8., Guy's Hospital, to re ceive Exhibition and Medal in Materia Medics. Frederick William Headland, M. 8., King's College, to receive Medal in Materia Medics. Joseph Lester, M. 8., University College, to receive Medal in Botany. Francis Guthrie, 8.A., University, Scholarship in Mathematics. William Flavel Hurndall, 8.A., University, Scholar ship in Classics. Edward Hunt, B. A., University, Prize in Chemistry. MATRICULATION. James Savage, University College, to receive Exhi bition in Mathematics. Frederick William Farrar, King's College, to receive Exhibition in Classics. Henry Power, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, to re ceive Prize in Chemistry. Edward Dowson, private tuition, to receive Prize in Botany. Henry Power, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, to receive Prize in Zoology. The degrees having been conferred, and the honours and prizes presented, the Chancellor of the University declared the business of the day terminated, and the dis tinguished company separated. THE CASE OF POISONING BY PARENTS AT MANCHESTER. The adjourned inquest respecting the death of Mary Hardy, alias Waddington, was held by Mr. Herford, the borough coroner, at the Manchester Royal In firmary, on Tuesday last. It will suffice to repeat here that the deceased was sixteen 'years of age, an illegitimate child, and lived with her mother, Ann Waddington and her stepfather, James Waddington, a lamp-lighter. After her death, which took place sud denly on the 24th ult., it was ascertained that she had taken a large quantity of arsenic, that she had had no medical assistance, while very contra dictory statements as to the nature and duration of her illness were made by her parents. The deceased was also in a burial club, from which 71. was received on the day of her death. James and Ann Waddington, the parents of deceased, were at present in custody. A number of witnesses were examined in addition to those previously produced, and the coroner went through the whole of the evidence, pointing out how contradictory the prisoners' statements were within themselves, as well as the great extent to which they were contradicted by the witnesses. It would be for the jury to consider whether the evidence as to the treatment of the girl, taken together with some of the expressions said to have been used by the prisoners, was such as to show that they felt a desire to rid themselves of the burden of her support. It was a remarkable thing that before death there was an admission that it was believed the deceased had taken arsenic, while from the time that Dr. Brown was called in there was no reference to it, until it had been ascertained that death had resulted from arsenic. The jury, after a consultation of half-an-hour, returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against both pri soners. The prisoners were immediately committed t• take their trial at the next Liverpool assizes. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Edmond Wood, 18 years of age, was brought before Alderman Hunter, charged with having stolen valuable books, the property of Mr. Preston, a gentleman who has chambers in Tokenhouse-yard. Mr. John Preston said—l have been in the law, but have retired from business, thcugh I still have chambers at No. 12, Tokenhouse-yard, on the second story and attics. I have there, among other things, a library, which contained the " Statutes at Large," bound in calf. I have missed five volumes of the "statutes." They are not consecutive volumes, but I consider them as of the value of about 101. They cost me from 21. 103. to 3/. a volume. I have seen the prisener before; he was a clerk in the offices of Mr. Valiance, who has chambers in the same building. James Brown, bookseller, of 35, High Holborn, said— I know the prisoner. I bought of him, in the early park of December last, two parts of the " Statutes at Large.' It was a little after nine o'clock at night. He said he had taken them to the Chancery-lane shops, but they were shut up. He said he wanted 30s. for them. I said I thought that sum too much, but as the volumes hap pened to be of a late date (1849), I thought I might buy them upon speculation, and I offered him 195. I asked him whether they were his own ? He said " No; it was for his brother he offered them," and he said his brother lived at Canonbury-road, Lower-road Islington. I think he brought to me, on Christmas-eve, or about that time, some volumes of Bacon's works and " Horne's Discourses," which I sold about ten weeks or three months ago. On the 30th of December he came to me and showed me four volumes of the " Statutes at Large." They were not uniformly bound. He said he brought them from his brother. I told him it was foolish to se parate the volumes from the set, and that as the volumes were odd volumes they were useless to me; that in fact I considered them as nothing more than waste paper. He then said that his brother must have some money that night, and he asked me to let him have 11. on them. I told him they wero no more than waste paper to me, and I could let him have only a few shillings. He then said, " Let me have 10s. upon the four volumes," and I did. Ho then asked me whether I would go to see the rest of the volumes at his brother's house in Canonbury road, and I consented, but he did not keep his appoint ment. I waited four or five weeks, but I heard no more of it, and did not see him, and I thought his brother did not wish to part with any of the other volumes. I then ticketed the four volumes and placed them in my win dow, and I sold them for 12s. Alderman HUNTER—Do you know to whom you sold them? Witness—No. Alderman HUNTER—Had you no suspicion about books of such a description being presented by a youth like the prisoner ? Witness—No; I know nothing of law books. lam in the miscellaneous trade. Huggett, the officer who apprehended the prisoner, said he had circulated cards, of which the following is a copy, among the booksellers and stationers and pawn brokers, and that he had left one at the shop of Mr. Brown, the last witness:— " Stolen, within the last three months, the undermen tioned books:—' Statutes at Large,' vols. 14 and 15, from the 99th to the 43d of George III.; voL 22, from 60th George 111. to 3d George IV.; vol. 29, from 2d and 3d Victoria to 4th and sth Victoria; vol. 33, from 11th and 12th Victoria to 12th and 13th Victoria. The whole bound in calf and quarto size." Witness received from Mr. Valiance a letter directed to Mr. Le Cren by the prisoner. Mr. Henry Wellington Valiance said—l am a solici tor, carrying on business at No. 12, Tokenhouse-yard. My offices are on the first door and ground floor. The prisoner was a clerk in my office. The letter produced was given to me by Mr. Le Cren, who had been em ployed by Mr. Preston and myself in painting the pre mises, and whose labourers had been suspected, which caused Mr. Le Cren to make inquiries respecting the loss of Mr. Preston's books. The letter produced is in the handwriting of the prisoner, and is as follows: " 14, Greville-street, Brookes-street, Holborn. "Sir,—Tbe five books lost by Mr. Preston were left by me with Mr. Brown, bookseller, Holborn, nearly op posite Chancery-lane, a day or two before Christmas day, for the sum of 10s., which he lent me on them until I brought him the intermediate numbers, when he was to have bought them of me ; but I have not been there since that day. The name in which I left them was ' Wright,' of Canonbury-place, Islington. I hope Mr. Preston will forgive me, as it cannot do him any good, and he will only be incurring additional expense by pro secuting me for the theft. If Mr. Preston does forgive me I intend enlisting in the East India Company's ser vice, that being the only thing I can now do for a living, for I cannot get any situation without a character. I hope you will see him and speak to him to that effect, and if you will be so kind as to write me an answer as soon as possible I shall ever be grateful, and never for get your kindness.—l am, sir, yours, &c,, " Mr. Le Cren. " E. H. Woou. " P.S.--If you write, please address the letter to me at the above address." Huggett produced a pocketbook which he had found in the possession of the prisoner. In it were notices of money betted on races and bagatelle playing, and very liberally distributed among acquaintances. It was stated that the prisoner had been plundering his master, not only of books, but of money during the time he was occupied in robbing the premises of Mr. Preston. Alderman HUNTER—This is a most flagrant case, and I consider it most necessary that it should go for full in vestigation before another tribunal. I do not wish to excite any prejudice against anybody, but I trust:that a very strict inquiry will be made into the disposal of the property, and I hope, too, that the valuable books which have been sold will be returned to the gentleman who has been plundered, and to whom, as h e i s in possession of the rest of the " statutes," they must be of great price. If a gentleman purchased them I am sure that this publics intimation sill be attended to. Huggett—The prisoner told me that Mr. Brown, the, witness, had had all the books he had taken. Alderman HUNTER—Did he say that without havin g been cautioned by you? Huggett—l cautioned him a s to what he might say before he said so. Mr. Brown—l never saw the card which has been handed in, containing the notice of the stolen property. Alderman HIINTER(tO Mr. Brown)—Did it never °cow to you to inquire at Canonbury-road about the gentleman chased the odd volumes of such a work? Mr. Brown-- whom the prisoner called his brother, before you pa r - No. I did not think the volumes of any value. The prisoner, upon being asked whether he wished to say anything, said—No, Sir; I have nothing to say. Committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court. BOW-STREET. _ - her arms) were charged with havng a quantity of b ase Joseph Farrell and Ellin, his wife (who had a baby i n i coin in their possession. Constable Attwood, 152 F, saw the male prisoner in conversation with a notorious " smasher" in Drury - lane on Monday afternoon. He watched them, and presently saw w Farrell g o t o 3, Barlecourt, where he lodged wits his w if e , t h e fema l e pr i soner. L ater i n th e d a y he pro ceeded t o t h e i r lodg i ngs, accompan i e d b y a b ro th e r offi cer (F 57), also in th e room. Witness saw what he bel i eve d to b e a and found Farrell in bed, the woman being quantity of counterfeit shillings and sixpences on the bed, but the prisoner instantly snatched them up and began swallowing the coins. Witness secured one of the six Ponces, but th e woman se i ze d h i m b y hi s h a ir and kicked hi m w i th great violence to prevent him get ting more. Th e male prisoner sail, " The -- has only got a tanner ; " an d when the wife picked up another shilling he swallowed that also. He must have swal lowed between thirty and forty bad shillings and six pences. Both the officers were roughly treated by the prisoners before the latter were effectually secured. They afterwards found two packets of base coin in other parts of the room. Mr. HALL committed the prisoners for trial. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM, MAT B.—At Gloucester and Worcester markets on the 3d, although the supply of English wheat was short, the currency of that day se'nnight was barely maintained for any description. Barley, is per quarter :lower, with very little inquiry. Oats held for an advance of 6d per quarter, and beans realized rather higher prices. During the present week we have had less wheat offering, and in some instances a trifling improvement has been obtained on fine qualities, both of English and foreign. We have rather more doing in barley, at the nominal rates of last week. Oats in de mand, and the turn dearer. The same remark applies to beans. At this day's market there was a short sup ply of wheat from the farmers, and rather higher prices were obtained for all fine qualities, but not sufficient to raise our quotations. We had more demand for grind ing barley at fully the rates of this day week. Oats sold readily at rather more money. On beans the turn was again in favour of the seller. Peas more inquired for. LOUGRIOROUGH, MAY 8. Oar market to-day has been firm for all kinds of grain, at last week's prices. DERBY SIIITHFIELD MARKET, MAY 6. The supply of fat beasts to-day was again on the decrease, and higher prices were asked for all sorts of beef ; the quality of the ani mals generally was of the middling sort, with the exception of those from the north of England, which were in excellent con dition ; the demand for beef was good, and a clearance was effected. The number of sheep was not more than the ave rage, and was readily disposed of. Pigs were plentiful. The show of fat and store calves was not so large as it has been on some previous markets, yet we thought there were more buyers. Beef, 4id to 5d ; mutton, 5d to sid ; lambs, 11 to 113 s ; veal, 4d to 4id per lb ; pigs, 76 to Os Od per score. Rough fat, 3s 6d per stone of 141bs. Hides, lid to 2d per lb ; calf skins 2d to 4d per lb. UMNGHAM, MAY 7.—Wheat 36s to 40s; barley 22s to 253 ; oats 18s to 22s ; beans 27s to 30s Od per quarter. Butter 7d to 8d per lb ; eggs 24 for 19. BOSTON, MAY 7.—Wheat, red 27s to 39s Od, white 39s to 41s, extra 43s to 00s ; barley Oos to 03s ; oats 15s to 20s ; beans 26s to 30s ; peas 00s to Oos per quarter. NEWARK, MAY 7.—Wheat, white 4')s to 465, red 38s to 42s ; barley, malting 23s to 255, grinding 20s to 225; oats, 225 t., 22s to 2.35, 245 t., 24s to 265; beans, 30s to 325; tares 32s to 348 ; malt, 54s to 561 per qr. LYNN, MAY 6.—Wheat 28s to 345, fine 36s to 40s; barley 20s to 235, fine 265; oats 19s to 21s, fine 22s to 24s ; beans 27s to 295, fine 30s to 31s per qr. LOUTU, MAY 7.—Wheat 32s to 38s; barley 21s to 245; oats 14s to 16s ; beans 22s to 26s per qr. GLASGOW, MAY 7.—Coastwise and from Ireland the sup plies have been quite insignificant, and from abroad, up the Clyde only about 605 quarters of wheat, and via Grange mouth only about 278 quarters of wheat have been reported. Notwithstanding light arrivals, the trade has been flat during the week, with the exception of oats and beans, which met a fair demand at improving rates, and lower grades of flour taken for shipment to Ireland. This day's market was well attended. Wheat and flour were held more firmly, at fully last week's currency. Barley unaltered. Oats and oatmeal have to be written 6d higher per boll or load, respectively. Beans and peas were the turn dearer. Indian corn unaltered. EDINBURGH GRAIN MARRY; MAY 7.—We had a good supply of grain in the market to-day. Sales were generally brisk. Wheat rather hung at the opening, but went off better towards the close. The top of wheat Is up, and the average 3d down. Barley on the top same as last week, and the average is 6d up. Oats on the top same as last week, and on the average 3d up. Beans on the top 6d up, and the average Id up. Unsold-240 qrs wheat, 33 qrs barley, 13 qrs oats, and 00 qrs beans. Top of Wheat ~ Barley „ Oats ... ~ Beans ... 64} 1 1b. 45s Od .. 56i1b. 318 Od ... 46 lb. 233 4d ..,_ 6741 b. 32s Od EDINBURGH CATTLE MARKET, MAY 7.—The number of cattle was 634, or 18 less than last week. Top price of the best cattle, 6s 9d; current, Os to 6s 6d ; secondary and inferior, from 5s Od to 5s 6d per Dutch stone. A good clearance was effected. The number of sheep this morning was 2,559, or 78 more than last week. Top price of the best mutton, 6d per lb ; current, sid to Od; ewes and inferior sorts, 4id to 5d per lb. Lambs selling from 19s to 22s a head. At the close a clearance was effected. DUNBAR, MAY 6.—Wheat, weighing 00Ibs, brought 425, and prices to 335 Od. Barley, weighing 55ilbs, brought 27s Od, and prices to 26s Od. Oats, weighing 441 b., brought 20s 9d, and prices to 18s Od. Beans and peas, weighing 00Ibs, brought OOs Od, and prices to OOs Od. CORK, MAY 7. Barrels. Currency. 0 White wheat OOB Od to 003 Od OOs Od-20 stone 0 Red wheat 00s Od to 00s Od OOs Od-20 do 21 Barley los 6d to 11s 6d 00s Od-16 do 0 Bere ..... Os Od to Os Od 00, Od 126 Oats .. 9s 6d to 118 3d 103 10d-14 do 0 Pigs oos Od to 00s Od 008 Od per cwt Quantity sold at the Highest Prices:- 0 barrels white wheat ; 0 red ; 1 barley ;1 0 bere ; 6.eats,; 0 pigs. Quantity of Grain and Number of Pigs sold last week:— Wheat, 19. Barley, 269. Oats, 793. Pigs, 17. PRICES OF BUTTER. CANT. CURRENCY. irst quality ... i econd quality T hird quality ... 74s Third quality 6ss II ourth quality ifth quality OO3 Fifth quality ; ixth quality oos Sixth quality Return of Cattle sold for the week ending May 3 : Pigs, 375. Sheep, 419. Cows, 62. Coax.—Flour—First 11s 6d to 121 Od; extra 12s 9d : s e conds, 1086 d to 1110 d; households 9s to 10. Od; thirds, 78 to 9s ; u• cwt. Oatmeallos to 1036 d; Indian meal 7s6dto 8s Od; wheat r a sal, 9s 6d to lOs per cwt. Indian corn 715 s Od to 7112 s 6d per t o n. Bran 80s Od to 85s per ton. Hay—Farmers 178 to 255; average 2 t !s; dealers 408 to 003 Od; average 008 per ton. Straw—Farmers 1 Od to 30s Od ; average 26s ; dealers 40s Od to 00s Od; av wage 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf bod to 6d ; c ,usehold loaf 4id to 5d per 41b. Fresh butter, 10d to 1 A per lb. Eggs-33 4d to 3s 6d per hundred. Coals— ewnort 143 Od ; Lydney 158 ; Landore 14s ; Neath Cohn, 1 ;s 6d per ton. Tallow 388 Od to 408 per cwt Whisky, 25 0. p., be 9d per imperial gallon. Meat -- Beef 4d to 6id ; mutton 5d to 7d; veal 4d to 5 d ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 7d to 8d ; sausages 5d per lb. Elt vs 6110 s to 01 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 312, 6d to 315 s per tc as i. Bark—Barbary 71 Os to 8/ Os; Valonia 151 to 01; French 61' Os ; Spanish 0/ per ton. Fleece Weroll4ste 158 per stone. H.s 'rap 321 t 0341 per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 19; to 008; red dirt to, 26s to 001 per barrel ; Newfoundland, 10/ Os to 111 per tc it +. Timber—Memel, 80s per ton ; red pine, 31 108; yellow dirt to, 21 15s per ton; deals, 128 to 15. per 100. Hides— his trket 248 to 345; salted 258 to 34s per owt ; calf skins 3 Ito 3id per lb. Potatoes, white 8d to 10d ; Minions, Ito 13d. Guano—Peruvian, 11/ lOs; Ichaboe, 8/ to 910 s pes • ton. Tar—Archangel, 19. per barreL SEABORNE MAILS. t N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-02111 by the night—and M by the morning —dispatch.] When made up in From what PLACES. GeneralPost-offlee port dis- When London: patched. due. LTC .eries (by Brit. plct.)N May 9 .. Liverpool .. May 20 Ar r :erica (by U.S. pkt.) N May.l3 .. .. Liverpool .. May 13 Ao si Arica (by U.S. pkt.) MlMay 21 Southampt. Al ica (West coast)•• N 14th of the month Plymouth May 3 Ale xatdria* ........ *l9th Ss 30th of mo. Dover .. May 18 Bc 11 glum *Daily .. Dover .. Daily Bo • .. All9th of the month Southampt. May 12 B 1 to on Ayres .. 31,9 th of the month Southampt. May 12 Cs d ifomia(viaChagres) 31 1 17th of month Southampt. May 20 Ca F .e sf Good Hope Nll4th of month Plymouth. • May 3 Coo stantlnople* •• N,7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. May 10 Ce a nal America .. 2112 d & 17th of mon. ,Southampt. June 5 Ch s .nnel Islas •. *Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Ta. Th.S a Chi U . Mi 17th of the month Southampt. May 20 Fr. a rye 31 &*Twice daily .. 'Dover • • Twicedally Grpece* N,7th I 7th27thef mo Dover .. May 10 Has ;burgh N,Taesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat. Rol land 31 1 Wednes. & Satur. London .. Mea.Thcr Hoc duras . Nll7th of the meath Southampt. May 20 Ire f: and M& N Twice daily .. . . Holyhead .• Twicedaily Indi a (via Southamp.) hf 20th of the month Southampt. May 28 Ind' a (viahlarseilles) N 7th& 24th ofmonth Dover • • M a y 17 Med iterranean (via I Sot ithampton) 31,20 th of the month Southampt. May 28 Me 4 iterranean (via MI rseilles) N.7th&24tk ofmonth Dover .. May 17 Mel deo 21:2d of the month.. Southampt. June 5 Me leira 9th of the month Southampt. May 12 Ml ta . ri7th,l7th,l9th,27th 1 Dover May 10 1 &30th of month Na p lea* N;hth 15th 25th of moDover .• May 12 Pa? al States* .. N Isth 15th 25th of mo , Dover .. May 12 re a insular.. Mi7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt. l May 16 Pe nu 31117th of the month Southampt. May 20 Tu la cony* N sth 15th 25 th of mo Dover • • May 12 W, is t Indies 31117th of the month iSouthanapt. May 20 Tu any* I.T l sth 15th x 5 tit of mo Wm t Indies Dfll7th of the month Wt 0 t Indies (except H u 'mans & Nassau) Mild of the month .. The mails to those countries thus marl Fr a ich packet via Marseilles. r Southaaapt. June 5 Led (*) are conveyed by LLIFOANIA.—MaiIs to and Prom Californli art now despatched and due by every Ameri, la, via the United Slates ican packet. SHIP NEWS. GRAVESEND. MAY B.—Wind, S.W., light, fine. Arrived—John Wesley, from New Zealand; John Ni rood, from China; British Tar, Commodore, and El e ctra, from Jamaica; Nicholaus, from Denmark; Ann Heil es, from Bahia; Johanna, from Dantzic; Palambang, from n China; Pauline Houghton, from the Mauritius; Yr.i 'id, from Demerara; William Jolliffe, from Havre; des twerpen, from Antwerp; Fame, from Calais; Rain tol r, from Rotterdam; Earl of Auckland and Lord John R u ssell, from Harlingen; Lionne, Lion, and Neptune, from Gravelines; Susan, from Bahia; Richard Cobden, !irc,m Calcutta; Legerdermain, from Trinidad; James, !rom Bermuda; Elias, Veritas, and Navarino, from Guernsey; Maria, from Callao; Washington, from the Cape; Ellen, from Denia; Breede, from Aalborg; Speedy and Julia, from Guernsey; Caroline, from Denmark; Nagler, from Stettin; Earl, from Riga; Johanna Emilie, from Memel; Laura, from Denmark; Unity, from Guern sey; Erswell, from Rouen; Nordea, from Liebau; Iris, from Ceylon; Franklin, from Colombo; Ann Wise, from St. Domingo; Graaf Kagendorp, from Callao; Wilward, from Guernsey; Robert Stephenson, from Berbice; Corn wall, from Calcutta; Killermont, from Jamaica. Sailed—Sirius, for San Francisco; Christian Au gusto, for Norway; Odessa and the Conservative, for Elsinore; Sultana, for Cape Coast; Harriett Humble, for Calcutta; Calista, for Honduras; New Express, for Trinidad; Louise Charlotte, for Dantzic; Fynenoord, for Rotterdam; Venezuela, for Havre; Menai, for Ca lais; Soho, for Antwerp. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. American ship Richard Cobden, April 9, in lat. 19 N., long. 33 W. Dahlia, from Ceylon for London, April 7, in Ist 21 N., long. 34 W. Ship Conquerer, from Calcutta for London, April 16, in lat. 35 N., long. 36 W. Brig Globe, April 16. Barque Viscount Sandon, from Sydney, New South Wales, for London, April 21, in lat. 41 N., long. 33 W. American ship Shark, outward bound, April 28, in lat. 48 N., long. 13 W. British brig Herald, from Cadiz for Newfoundland, April 23, in lot. 43 N., long. 31 W. Cornwall, outward bound, with emigrants, April 2, in lat. 7 N., long. 27 W. Luna brig, of Dumfries, April 29, in lat. 47 N., long. 12 W. Norma brig, from Havannah for Greenock, April 3, in lat. 30, long. 47. Rapid brig, of Liverpool, from Africa for Liverpool, April 22, in lat. 45, long. 29. Sarah Arm barque, of Liverpool, steering W.N.W., in lot, 45, Icog. 3s, ELECTION COMMITTEE. HARWICH. The Committee sat again yesterday,:and proceeded:with their scrutiny of the votes polled by Mr. Princep. The petitioners did not succeed in striking off a single vote. At;four o'clock the Committee adjourned until to-morrow (this day) at eleven. done nothing to remove it. fie ens found himself , gushy unable to vote for the re-imposition of the income .tax for three years, and for its abolition. In the division on the window-tax he had taken no part whatever. It was notorious that tbe beer consumed in the metro polis and throughout the kingdom was seriously adul terated, and it was manifest that that adulteration was caused by the heavy tax which was imposed on malt. Sir Robert Peel had said that it the corn-laws were re pealed the malt-tax must be abolished and Sir James Graham, and other Honourable Members expressed a similar opinion. The Hon. Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire placed the repeal of the malt tax at the head of the Budget which he published some time ago, yet he and several Members who entertained the same views, when the motion was brought forward last year thought discretion the better part of valour, and did not appear in the division. It had been said that the public credit must be sustained; he entirely agreed with that; but there were many sources of obtaining revenue besides imposing heavy burdens on the agricultural interest. It could no longer be de nied that that interest was in a distressed state, and it should be recollected that one branch of industry could not be affected injuriously without in some degree af fecting others. While those dependent on the cultiva tion of land were in distress commerce and manufactures would suffer. All the legislation had been in one direr tion. All attempts to revise taxation had been in the same direction, and when those who wished to change that mode of proceeding made some effort to accomplish that object, they were met with the charge that they wanted to return to protection.—(Hear, hear.) There were only two principles upon which the country could act. They must either protect home interests or reduce the taxes, and he for one was anxious to see the burdens of the nation reduced to the ratio of its means. The land was suffering from the operation of free trade, while others were benefiting from it, and he therefore insisted that this was ono of the imposts which ought to be transferred from the agricultural to the manufactur ing interest. The malt-tax he should show before he sat down was a tax upon the producer, whom it grie vously oppressed, and ultimately reacted upon the con sumer.—(Hear, hear.) [At this stage of the Honourable Gentleman's address a message arrived from the Lords requesting a con ference with the Commons. This request was complied with, and managers were at once selected to conduct the conference. On their return from the Lords they an nounced that the conference had been held in the Royal Gallery. The result of the conference was a resolution that in future the present system of communication be tween the two Houses by conference should be dispensed with.] Me. CAYLEY then resumed. He said none of the manufacturing interests of the country would be inter fered with by the repeal of the malt-tax. In conse quence of the credit required under the existing law small maltsters could not find bondsmen; and, therefore. the malting trade was in practice a monopoly. It was the same with tbe brewing trade; the consequence of which was an enormous increase in the cost of beer. His (Mr. Cayley's) object was not to embarrass the Ex chequer, but to relieve the consumer; and he should propose, if the House went into Committee on his mo tion, to repeal the malt-tax as soon as possible, the re peal to commence at two different periods—the first half, for instance, in October, and the second in six months after. That would not interfere with the commercial system of the country, while it would get rid of a most i oppressive, inquisitorial, and unjust form of taxation. It was impossible for the producer to compete in this eountry unless his hands were free, and the system of taxation altered, which would enable the labourer to live 1 on the reduced wnges as well at least as he did before their reduction. With such a huge taxation as existed, the employment of the labourer, at remunerative wages, was impossible for the farmer.—( Hear , hear.) At the present price of wheat it was utterly impossible for the farmer to carry on.—(Hear.) That was the cause of the enormous emigration now in progress, and which had been alluded to by the Hon. Member for Derbyshire. The worst was that this emigration took those who had some means still left, and only the poor remained in the country. He was satisfied that a stop would be put in a short time to the present oppressive system of taxa tion which produced these lamentable results; it was impossible it could go on. What effect had the malt tax on the condition of the poor? It had the effect of increasing the poor man's beer 500 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) Hon. Gentlemen talked of the consumer, but here was the producer sacrificed to an abstraction. That indeed was the tendency of all recent legislation, money laws, commercial systems, taxation, &c. The pensioners, the annuitants, the drones in the hive, were helped and sustained at the cost of the best interests of the produc tive classes.—(Hear, hear.) Before the present tax existed the poor man produced as well as consumed his own beer; for many centuries the poor man's wife was his brewer, and he had a good and cheap beverage; now he was driven from the domestic hearth to the beer-shop and the gin-palace in consequence of this tax. Much sympathy was affected for the public morals, and the Legislature was constantly busy in putting for that pur pose a check upon beer-shops and gin-palaces, but if they wished to improve the morals of the poor they should go to the root of the evil and repeal the malt -tax, which drove the poor from their homes to these places. When the Committee on drunkenness sat acme 17 or 18 years since an Oxfordshire magistrate deposed before it that in his opinion the repeal of the malt-tax was the best preventive that could be adopted for that vice; and last year no fewer than 92 clergymen of Essex petitioned for its repeal on the ground of public morality. Between the cost of the beer that could be brewed by the labourer if the tax was repealed, and that purchased by him at present, there was a difference of 500 per cent. With the bushel of malt at 4s. the la eourer might for ss. have 36 gallons of beer.—(Hear, hear.) Had Hon. Gentlemen any idea of the amount of the malt tax as upon land? An average acre of barley lend would produce about five quarters of barley. The malt tax on that, however, was 51. 10s., while the land lad did not receive on the average more than 255., and the farmer perhaps only 155., or, at present prices, it might even be less. This, in addition to the maltstere' and brewers' profits, caused by the existing monopoly, made the price of the produce of an acre of land, to the consumer, equal to 501. 103.; whereas, if the malt tax were repealed, the same quantity could be obtained for 10/. 14s.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") But, grievous as was the oppression on the poor consumer, it was still more so on the producer. When the re duction of duty took place on tea and coffee, the con sumption increased from 300 to 800 per cent. Beer was the natural beverage of the country; and, notwith standing legislation against it, the taste for it still con tinued. If, therefore, the malt-tax was repealed, the consumption would at once increase, at least to the same extent as that of tea and coffee. The consumption of halt at this moment was 3,000,000 of quarters. An in crease of 300 per cent, alone would create a demand for 10,000,000 of quarters of barley over and above what was now consumed. The complaint of the agricultural interest was that the importation of 10,000,000 of foreign corn was the cause of their present distress; if malt was set free, therefore, that complaint could no longer be made.—(Hear, hear.) It had been stated that the national taste for beer was giving way to a taste for tea and coffee; but this would imply a corr es p on di ng decrease in th consumption of all strong drinks, espe cially spirits. If, however, he could show that the con sumption of spirits increased with the reduction of the duty, while that of beer diminished, he felt bound to infer that it was the malt-tax which was driving beer out of the market, and nothing else. In Scotland he found, for example, that iii 1792, when the tax was 'lid. par bushel on malt, there were 5,000,000 of malt con sumed, while in 1821, when it was 3s. 6d. per bushel, there were only 1,785,000 consumed. Since that time there had been a reduction of the malt-tax— within 1822 and 1826—and the consumption of malt rose 300 per cent. In England, unhappily, they had little experience of the diminution of duty; but in Ireland si miler causes produced similar effects. In Ireland, in 1792, the malt-tax was 2s. 6d. the barrel, and 1,280,000 birrels of malt were consumed; in 1801, when it was in creased to 6s. 6d. per barrel, the consumption had fallen to 272,000. But what was going on with regard to spi rits in the meanwhile? During the last 45 years the consumption had increased twofold in England, fivefold in Scotland, and sixfold in Ireland; because in that pe riod the duty on British manufactured spirits was 7s. 10d. per gallon; on Scotch spirits, 3s. Bd. per gallon; and on Irish spirits, 2e. Bd. What was the cause of the low price of agricultural produce at the present moment but the excess of produce beyond the demand? The most efficient remedy, then, for them, if they did not re trace their steps, was to increase the demand; but then it was said that this was a barley question, and that oat soils and bean-growing soils would derive no benefit from it. He said there was not an acre of land in the country which would not be benefited as much as the barley lands. The increase in the demand for barley would raise the price of barley, then that would lead to an increase in the number of acres; then that could not occur without in ducing an increase in the price of oats and bean s . H e pledged his reputation that if the malt-tax the benefit would not be confined to the barley lauds.— (Hear.) But then it was said that foreigners would send malt here. Now, the reason they would not send malt here, though they did send flour, was this, that a sack of flour could be sent as cheap as a sack a n d a half of wheat. That was the reason that the Fren c h sent here not only the flour of their own country, but also the flour of other countries, which was ground there. The dryness of the climate enabled the French to make flour better than it could be made in this country; but then malt required dampness, and in this respect the English malt had in the climate is great advantage. Besides, malt was an old-established manufacture in this country, and it was therefore one in which foreigners could not well compete with the English. It was his belief, that however great might be the demand for barley, there would not be more than 500,000 quarters of good barley imported into this country. Let them look to what bad been the importation of foreign barley since the repeal of the coru-laws. In 1847 there had been imported 772,000 quarters, when the price was 425.; in 1848, 1,054,000 quarters; in 1849, 1.381,000 quarters, when the price was 275. 9d.; and in 1850, when there was a fall in the price to 235. 5d., there was a decline in the importations from 1,381,000 quarters in the previous year to 983.000 quar ters. This showed that there was no likelihood of im portations on the part of the foreigner interfering that gwith the home trade in barley.—(Hear.) It was d the persons the most distressed in this country ntry i werethe hop-grower e . Well, if they increased the consumption of barley threefold, they would increase the consump tion of hops threefold, and doing that he should like to know what better relief could they give to the hop growers?—(Hear.) But the hop-growers would not be the only class benefited. There wouldbe an increase of employment for 100, 000 pe rsons ; and counting their families with them, there would be an increase of benefit for 500,000 persons. Such would be the nec essary effects of the adoption of his proposition.—(Hear.) Such an increase of employment would be relieving agricul tural distress according to the most legitimate process; it would be giving to Olt) cOnsUll:Wra in $l4lB country their natural Vverage eOO per cent. cheaper teen they coul d .(, , now obtain it. The interests of the country would r advanced, and the morality of the people would be pro' moted, by the adoption of the proposition he then tured to submit to them.—(Hear.) To that Leouse,.vol appealed for justice; but if that House did not w e . t o then he would appeal from that House to thoose.. theca b bf bitter experience knew what was the extent a f . justice done to them—to those he would appte s i for re dress—to the people he said he would make i wrong.—(Cheers.) redress concluded which was a w t r h o s s proposing atd er? i t i3 h g e motion of which he had given notice. Mr. ALCOCK hoped that this tinue to be brought forward in that House until v7 0 , 1 °, 03 thing definite was done to remedy that wrong the i:;301 the farmers had just reason to complain. W levied ell astonishing, he asked, that the farmers found soup t question would s_e_on; one single article grown by them as large as a taxation as was levied on the whole propertyroen4t, United Kingdom?—(flear, hear.) The wholF ne P o _F s e to ', of the country was 170,000.0001.; by the wv 01 the there was raised on that 5,000,000/. or 5,500, 0 :1.... same sum that was (Hear, hear.) And this sum, too, was rais ed .were pail on barley in this country 1,000,000 of acres out of the 17,000,000 acres tr ifein , under cultivation. He comlained of hers opposing such a motion as this by their_et. aericultur otes !f an d speeches; and he complained, too, of some 0f .6 13 0 e 0 1 7 t b s sconding from the division. He complained also m aize part taken on this subject by the Members Tr i. 0 5 , 5, cheater and the West Riding of Yorkshire; 213 .1 ii re pres much astonished at the course taken by the Irish ;euts sentatives. Where, he asked, were the Irish tepe es ,b a t tives that night?—(Hear, hear.) He did not ex_Pr awa y the 5,000,000/. malt-tax would be at once den . u ole e if with. He believed that every one would be st etiß eco the Chancellor of the Exchequer recognized the : 1 E 1 1 ; 1 y, that was done, and the n as an earnes t of his e ' ro tsed reduced the tax 10 per cen t. t hi s y ea r, and , Pr o g o ose next year to reduos it 20 p er cent . But I , f,'sg• would not do this, then h e h o p e d t h a t the people, land would compel them t o d o it.—(Hear, heer e ' ) ose e of Mr. PACKE said that th oug h h e m ight be 8 inconsistency in the course he should take on the 7 The yet ho would not shrink f r o m t a ki ng that course jo t he question might be regarded under three heads. 00 ob first place, as regard e d revenue , h e s h ou ld bare _ „octal jection whatever, b u t wou ld go to any e xtent gi er Voll ing taxation, it he cou ld thereby compel the G r e . ., rega rd to give up their fr e e-t ra d e po li cy. N ex t, witopas% to the consumer, he admitted the repeal of the con" would be a considerable advantage t.) the fartile t y on the sidered as a consumer, but then came into oP erA t o Or e s third consideration, the effect that measure we e a that on the farmer as a producer, and he was convince ro es! for every ss. he would gain as a consumer by t he „old; of the malt-tax, he would as a producer lose A , Y O , st for the importation of foreign malt whic h at ove e present prohibited would, he had no doubt, be a li t into permitted, and the foreign producer be breeg ive of competition with the home producer if the 1 13 ,e v ) ors the Hon. Member for Yorkshire (Mr. CePT ,bat carried. In 1846 it had been stated confid e e e lorty there was no ground fur apprehending a large l' - s oivo Lion of foreign corn, but experience had sinc e ° d them that French wheat and French flour D e be t he largely imported. The same would be found l e, e ilo, case with malt. Having, then, only a choice 00 sup" he chose the less; and, however willing he was e , port the motion of the Hon. Member for Derby du et o ev Bass), for a reduction of one-half of the duty, be ber for oppose the motion of the Honourable Mee' Yorkshire. Mr. AGLIONBY said, that, however desireb ie br i t s i g e repeal of th e ma l t -t ax was, i t was impossible d or forward a motion for th a t p urpose at such an un se ;,ste able time th a t even t h e advocates of the lees ,- the should oppo se i t on t h at ground alone. Such waytba case at present ; h e h a d always voted in favour ;oh repeal ot the m a l t - tax , b ut under present circulus t nd when the Governm e nt L a d repealed the window -111 , x 0 ttie, two other taxes, on e o f w h ich was beneficial ' O l agricultural classes, and the other to the great floe' the community—and when th e H ouse did no t Ye/ fl °' what would be the effect of the success of the Member's (Mr. Hume's) motion on the inconle' s i o ll with such financial difficulti es b e f ore t h em, he eer'ooe could not vote in favour of the motion of the Member for Yorkshire. Mr. FLOYER could not concur in the reasoni 4 b/ ). the Hon. Member for C oc k ermout h (Mr. Iteliltbe For though he had voted i u f avour o f t h e mo tion ? h oe Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. flume), he a boulnii e s, preferred the success of the motion of the Bigh t icce Member for Stamf o rd (M r . H err i es) for a gradasie minution of th e in come -t ax . T he House, however' uso i ing come to a decisi on a d verse to that motion, he nselfr°se support the prop os i t i on f or t h e repeal of the ; ore The maintenance o f t h at tax was at direct Yti r : er y with one of the m a i n pr i nc i p l es b y which the ell, ment professed to gu id e their financial policy- 131 ' JP the reduction of taxation of articles of prime necessall' e si was at loss to know on what principle the Goveree l ite i asked support for th e i r fi nanc i a l po li cy, when 0 0 maintained such a tax as th e ma l t - tax , an d be oil therefore venture to sugg es t th at t h e pr i nc iple i s should adopt should be reduction of taxation apPli ev ee the various articles of consumption which f o rmed main expenditure of t h e l a b ouring c l asses. I t made ices difference to the working man, if he paid ls. in tax sl whether that shillin g was s p rea d over a dozen a ttic l or was concent rate d i n one article of consumPo 0, r i There were many occu p at i ons of the agricultura l 0 bourer where he was exposed to damp and wet, suc h . a i works of drainage and irrigation, where he would I : l `ii the support and whole s o me st i mu l us of b eer, the 1004 beverage to which he had b een accustome d from 'to youth; and in the exhau s ti ng f at i gues o f summer an d 1 40 harvest, beer was equally n ecessary to recru it 13 4 strength. He should then have that primary article y id necessity—his beer—unt a x e d an d c h eap; an d t h a t co il ) , only be effected by the re p ea l o f t h e malt-tax. Ag.tie regarding the matter i n a manu f actur i ng po i nt o f viv o the repeal of that tax would enable English brewery 0 expert and open a ne w mar k et f or E ngl i sh ma lt drip on the Continent, where at present such wretched ke el , was pre duced, and wh e r e th e super i or E ng li s h aro s e be sure to comm a nd a mar k et. U n l es s 5( 7 0 measure of redress were adopted, the distress tinu o which the agriculturist s were l a b our i ng wou ld bai t the effect ot diss:patin g t h e i r capita l — an el' which he had rea son to f ear h a d alrea d y heg oo to come into operation; and though it had been o be that it could be readily replaced by other capital, yo denied that they could l oo k w i t h any hope of pertese'n, success for the cultivation of the broad lands and eXT o f sive fields of En g l an d to t h e appl i cat i on of the cap ita , tradesmen, manuf ac t urers, an d merchants to thatll7a e 0 pose, however advant ageous i n a sma l l way the infue l i t , of the capital of an a mateur tra d esmen, agricultull.o or retired manufactu rer , m i g h t b e i n their respeello localities. He admitted th at , on t h e f ace of the poor-lt, returns, there was an app earance o f t h e d i stress en 1 ;,, plained of by agriculturists having diminished. But et returns of pauperism w ere no t conc l us i ve as to the 5,,,,a of the agricultural p opu l at i on, for they only a ffe% . those classes of per sons w h o were so far sunk in the -00 cial scale as to beco me app li cants for relief. There v/ a another and a much larger class of labourers, who 1311 yet so much of E ng li s h courage rema i ning as to pro ven them from applying for assistance from their parisb e ; and who nev ert h e l ess h a d , d ur i ng the past winter, be e ,ij suffering very s evere p r i vations .—(Hear, hear.) He not deny that labourers ie full employ meat and at die' former wages were deriving very considerable advantes from the low prices o f provisions.—(Cheers from the 31- nisteriel benches.) He had bad some experience of a lo , condition of the poor in his own immediate neighbou,r . , hood, and he could state from his own knowledge that td no previous winter had there been so large a proports of the labouring poor compelled to work sho rt t i me . might be told, perhaps, that but for the low price of 1 0 ,, °- visions these men must have been driven into the work' house; but ouly let Hon. Members consider seriouelif what the effect would be of the partial employment ° the labouring poor; how the days heretofore spent fn healthy though constant occupation in the fields mite'''," from want of employment, be passed in the beer-boaw to which the testimony of judges of assize and the eelP e ; rience of the m ag i stracy taught them to look as tP sources of crime —(Hear.) Mr. SEYMOUR said he had made a point of visito the unions in his OWII district during the late recess, to consequence o f t h e statements which had been 111"46 that there never had been so little employment for the labouring poor as during the past year. Among this was a union on the borders of Dorsotsbire, and, on meld inquiry of the mast e r of th e wor kh ouse , h o was t o ld tbo- there were scarcely inmates enough to keep the house is order; the inmates, he said, had diminished from b e i tween 70 and 80 d own to a b out 40, near l y every on e f , whom was either an old person, or incapable of woes" or else a child, and the only case of an able-dodied 0 31 1 in that workhouse was that of a man with a wife on three childr e n, b ecause he cou ld not get a house i n the parish in which h e liv e d. H e went to t h e employe',e of this man, and was told that he was an excellel3" workman, and that his employer would be happy 1 , 1 '; take him again, if th e owner o f th e p ar ish (for i t 0 ' .. ; belonged to one man) would fi n d him a house. H e bad also made inquiries in another union, in Somersetshire; and there he admiaed the number had slightly increased but the rates had diminished in two years from 7,000 4 to 5,400 L, and the master told him that there was ne s one single man out of work who was of good character' There were twenty-six parishes in the union ti'l? d twenty able- bodied men in the workhouse. H o w di d it happen that the labouring population were Mewls worse off when Protectionist gentlemen resided near?' (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. FLOYER explained. He had only stated tbs C ho never knew so many obtaining only casual ampler ment and living upon partial wages, Mr. P. BENNET said the able-bodied poor in the Vs' rious unions of the western division of huffolk in the quarter ending March 25th, 1850, were 109, while in th e corresponding quarter of the present year they s amount. d to 317. The question before the House We oee of justice to the agricultural interest; and he er pealed to the free -trade party to carry out their ow° principles by supporting the motion, and making the i beverage of the country as free as the consumption e corn. The duty en malt was so high and pressed 0° heavily on the producers of the crop from which it we ° made, that the labouring classes were unable to o btain that quantil of beer which was necessary for their health. Their wages were reduced still mo re than th e price of corn, and they were thus in a m uc h we"' position than ever. TRELAWNY characterised the motion as 11 ' dangerous appeal to the masses.—(oh, oh,) He meifi: taired it t o h e so , i nasmuc h as i t held out a prosp er ' that an article in great consumption amongst thera would be reduced in price to a great extent. This Ale os not a very consistent course for Conservatives to pursue- For his own part he could not understand how the egris cultural classes could be benefited by a repeal of th e malt tax, which must ultim a t e ly b e p a id by th e con' sumer. At all events those who proposed to strike off s° large an item of taxation were bound to provide a _nub` IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 8. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo: sack at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from places in Sussex, against the nuisance of dog-carts. The Earl of EGLINTON presented several petitions against Papal aggression. EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL. This Bill was read a second time. STAMP DUTIES ASSIMILATION BILL. This Bill was read a second time. INDEMNITY BILL. This Bill was read a second time. CONFERENCES WITH THE COMMONS. Lord REDESDALE moved the following resolution, according to notice, viz.:—" That in cases in which the Commons disagree to any amendments made by the Lords, or insist upon any amendments to which the Lords have disagreed, the Lords are willing to receive the reasons of the Commons for their disagreeing or in sisting, as the case may be, by message, without a con ference, unless at any time the Commons should desire to communicate the same at a conference."—Agreed to. The NOBLE LORD then moved that the resolution should be communicated to the Commons.—Agreed to. APPRENTICES AND SERVANTS BILL. The Earl of CARLISLE moved the third reading 01 the Apprentices and Servants Bill, and proposed sevora, verbal amendments. Lord BEAUMONT protested against such interfe rence between masters and servants as was proposed by this Bill. The effect would be that persons would not hire servants from workhouses. He admitted that one monstrous case of ill-treatment had been brought for ward, but he thought that the great majority of persons hired from workhouses were perfectly competent to make known to the public any grievances from which they suffered. The Duke of RICHMOND deprecated any legislation on the matter, unless the whole subject of the relations of master and servants were considered. He thought that the result would be that no persons would hire children from workhouses. The Bill would produce a very prejudicial effect. It would be most unadviseable to send the parochial authority to question a child hired out to a farmer as to how he was fed, clothed, and treated. The present law was quite sufficient to meet the exigencies of any case that could arise. The Earl of CARLISLE denied that they were le gislating upon a single case. There was not only the case of the Sloanes, but there was the case of the Birds, in which a poor girl died from ill-treatment, and he found there were many cases in which poor children were subjected to cruel treatment; and it was evident from the case of the Birds, that in rural districts the interference of neighbours could not be depended on. It was, therefore, necessary to enact this system of in spection, which had much to their honour been volun tarily adopted by several boards of guardians. The poor-law authorities had received several representations in favour of the measure, and not one against it. Lord PORTMAN protested against the principle of the inspection clause of the Bill, and would move its omission, for the purpose of recording his opinion on the subject. The Bishop of CHICHESTER said that in a parish with which he had been connected inspection had been practised for twenty years, and they had never had any difficulty in apprenticing their paupers. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IMPROVE- MENT BILL. This Bill was ordered to be referred to a Selec Committee. PUNISHMENT OF OFFENCES BILL. This Bill was ordered to be referred to a Selec Committee. REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BILL. This Bill was ordered to be referred to a Select Com , mittee. IRISH SCHOOLS. Lord DUNSANY presented a petition from the county of Meath, against the exclusion of the Church Education Society in Ireland from Parliamentary grants. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 8. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. PETITIONS. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition praying for the alteration of a clause in the Small Tenements Bill. Mr. LACY presented a petition in favour of the Re] gious Houses Bill. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from Forfar against Lord Melgund's Education (Scotland) Bill. Ur. ELIOT YORKE presented several petitions from Cambridgeshire complaining of agricultural dis tress, and praying for some legislative remedy. Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition from Newcastle under-Lyne against the Regium Donum. Mr. BAINES presented a petition from the county of Chester in favour of the alteration of the law of settle ment. Mr. S. WORTLEY presented petitions from two -'laces in Scotland against Papal aggression. Mr. TUFNELL presented a petition from Devonport ainst the paper duties. Mr. ALEXANDER HASTIE presented a petition from 56,590 male inhabitants of Glasgow above fourteen years of age, praying that the Hous e w ill pa ss a m o r e efficient Bill for the purpose of repelling Papal aggres sion. The Hon. Member stated that this was the largest petition which had ever been presented to Parliament from Glasgow. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented six petitions from Finsbury against all taxes on knowledge. Mr. HEYWOOD presented a petition from Chorley against the Regium Donum. Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Edinburgh and Leith, signed by 43,754 persons, in favour of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, but for a more stringent mea sure to repel Papal aggression. The Hon. Member Mated that the petition was 700 yards in length. Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from Arbroath, and other places in Scotland, against Lord Melgund's Educational Bill. Mr. E. ELLICE, jun., presented a petition from a place in Scotland against Papal aggression. Mr. DISRAELI presented a petition from the mas ters, mates, and mariners of the port of Liverpool, pray ing for extensive modifications of the Mercantile Marine Act. Mr. M. GIBSON presented three petitions from Manchester, praying for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge. Sir JOHN TROLLOPE presented a petition from a place in Lincolnshire, complaining of agricultural dis tress, and praying for a moderate protective duty on corn. CEYLON. Mr. H. BAILLIE postponed the following motion, of which he had given notice for to-night, to Tuesday, the 27th instant:—That this House, having taken into con sideration the evidence adduced before the Select Com mittee appointed to inquire into the grievances com plained of in the Crown colony of Ceylon, is of opinion that the punishment of the natives of that island in the disturbances of 1848 has been excessive and unneces sarily severe; that this House is of opinion, that the exe cution of eighteen persons, and the transportation, imprisonment, and corporal punishment of one hundred and forty-five other persons, after the suppression of the disturbances, in which one individual only of her Majesty's troops had been slightly injured, is at variance with the merciful administration of the British penal laws, and is not calculated to secure the future affections and fidelity of her Majesty's colonial subjects. That this House is therefore of opinion, that the conduct of Earl Grey, in signifying her Majesty's approbation of Lord Torrington's administration of Cey lon, has been precipitate and injudicious, tending to establish precedents of rigour and severity in the govern ment of her Majesty's foreign possessions, and injurious to the character of this country's justice and humanity. WOODS AND FORESTS. Lord SEYMOUR gave notice that on Monday next he would move for leave to bring in a Bill for the bettet regulation of Crown Land Revenue, Public Works, and Buildings, &c. PUBLIC REVENUE. On the motion of Mr. HUME, the following return was ordered, namely—Accounts of public revenue and expenditure, from the year 1822 to 1850, both inclusive; showing, first, the amount received in each year from the ordinary revenue; second, the amount received from other sources; third, the total revenue in each year, deducting drawbacks and repayments ; fourth, the charges of collection, and other payments out of the revenue, in its progress to the Exche quer ; fifth, the charge of the public debt, funded and unfunded; sixth, the amount of all other expendi ture; seventh, the total expenditure for each year, showing th surplus of revenue or of expenditure in each year: and, of the expenditure for the army, navy, and ordnance, from the year 1822 to 1850, both inclusive; distinguishing under each year, and under each head, the expenditure, first, for the effective service; second, for the non-effective service; third, the total expenditure (in continuation of, and in the same form, of Parliamentary Paper, No. 391, of session 1850). COMMISSION OF SEWERS. __ .. In answer to a question from Mr. FITZROY, Sir G. GREY said that he could not at present tell when Government would introduce their Bill to renew and remodel the Commission of Sewers. DANISH CLAIMS. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on the first night of Supply after Monday he should move for a Select Com mittee to inquire into Danish claims. REPEAL OF THE MALT-TAX. Mr. DISRAELI presented a petition from a farmer in Cambridgeshire complaining of agricultural distress, and praying for a repeal of the malt tax. Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from farmers in the county of Sussex in favour of the repeal of the malt-tax. Mr. CAYLEY then rose to bring forward his motion on the subject of the repeal of the malt tax. He had hoped, he said, that he would not have again been obliged to bring forward these claims under the notice of the House; he had hoped that if no other Member had taken up the subject, that at least Government would have turned their attention to it. The situation of the country in this respect was not much better than it was last year, the times of bliss and prosperity pro phesied by the Free-traders were just as distant as ever, and of all classes of her Majesty's subjects the agricul turists were labouring under the greatest distress. Her Majesty had noticod"Vaim cliatress, pit her Aliejetero and El i. • would to 29, bush& and k whieb cattle, guilt to Pe