The Sun. — London, England, 1851-06-27 00:00:00

BELGIUM. BaussEm, JUNE 24.—The treaty concluded be tweep Belgium and the Netherlands, for the abolition of the navigation does on the Meuse, consists only of the two following articles : " Art. 1. The navigation dues established on that part of the 'Meuse which serves as the boundary between the Netherland3 and Belgium, the levying of which 15 re gulated by Art, 3 of the Convention of the 20th May, 1843, will cease to be enforced after the Ist July, 1851. " Art. 2. These dues cannot be re-established tiil after the expiration of a delay of months after the expiration of this convention, the ratification of which shall be exchanged witin six months, or sooner, if possible." The Chamber resumed its sitting yesterday, and a great deal of interest was necessarily attached to this the first meeting after the Ministerial crisis. The Minister of War appe,ared in the Chamber for the first time. In a concise speech he declared that his sentiments coincided entirely with those of the Ca binet, and that the army might have the fullest confi dence in the solicitude of his colleagues. The expla nations of the Minister of Finance regarding the late crisis were worded in a spirit of considerateness, and quite calculated to conciliate the Liberal party. HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, JUNE 23.—The First Chamber of the States General has taken an important step—it has rejected (and not adopted, as it was falsely stated), after a lively discussion, and by a majority of 19 against 15, the project o f l aw a d op t e d by th e S econ d Chamber by a majority of 32 against 28, allowing, by way of indemnity, an annuity of 2,000 florins to the members of the former First Chamber, which has been dissolved according to the second additional article of the constitution, although those members had been named for life. The Government has answered to the observations 'made in the sections to the project of laws settling the exercise of the right of popular meetings and as sociations. At the same time Government has in troduced some modifications into its project. The Agromenic Congress of the Netherlands was opened at Geos on Wednesday last. The King was present at the first s itti ng , as we ll as at the experi ment made upon agricult u ral instruments. The day after his Majesty visited the Exhibition of Agricul tural Products, now open in this little Zealand town STATISTICS OF NEWSOUTII WALES. etficial document, containing the statistics of New South Wales, including Port Ph ili p , f rom 1 840 to 1849, has just reached this country, and furnishes an in teresting view of the progress of that colony. With regard to population, it appears in the ten years nearly to have doubled, the toted in 1840 having been 129,463, white in 1849 it was 246,299, of which number 101,470 were females. The proportionate excess of males was much greater in 1840 than at pre sent, but the rapid diminution of the disparity is not to he attributed so much to the greater evenness of the sub sequent immigration as to the extended duration of female life compared with that of the other sex, and to the fact of the children born being more nearly balanced. Of 75,481 birth s s i nce 1840,38,310 were males, and 37,171 were females, while of 25,821 deaths among the entire population, 15,978 were males and only 9,843 were females. In deatlk amongst adults the number of men each year is nearly twice that of women, owing doubtless in a great degree to habits of intemperance. The number of marriages in 1849 was such as to indicate the returning prosperity of the country. After the commercial revulsion s and the check to immigration they had fallen from 2,511 to about 1,800, from which there was little variation until 1849, when the total was 2,365. The year of the largest immigration was 1841, when it reached 22,483. The lowest year was 1846, after the land and bank ing disasters, when it fell to 402. In 1849 it was again large, and amounted to 19,340. The total immigration since the feundation of the colony appeers to have been 107,403, of whom 82,933 wets dispatched at the public expense ; the total paid from the territorial revenue from 1632 to 1849 having been 1,309,4471. Since 1839 the religions of the public emigrants have been recorded, and there appear to have been 46,869 Protestants, 23,337 Catholics, and 79 other denominations. As regards the cur rency of the colony, there have been great varha• tions. In 1840 the coin in the banks was 397,5811., and after having risen in 1845 to 855,166/.. it again de clined to 643,4581,, at which it stood in 1849. The schools have increased in the ten years from 167 with 9,040 scholars to 553 with 25,682 scholars. Of these 558 schools 222 are supported in whole or in part by grants from the Colonial Treasury, amounting to 16,7961. per annum, the number of pupils being 15,426, of whom 6,553 are Church of England, 2,586 Presbyterian, 1,678 Wesleyan, 219 Indepen dent, and 3,313 Roman Catholic. The number of lunatics in asylums on the 31st of December, 1849, was 315 male (chiefly convicts), and only 98 female. With respect to crime, the convictions for felony, notwithstanding the population has nearly doubled, have decreased from 662 in 1840 to 543 in 1849, and those for misdemeanour from 170 to 125. There were eight executions also in the former year and only four in the latter. Litigation likewise seems to have de creased in a manner still more satisfactory, the cases tried in the Supreme Court having been 555 in 1840 and only 160 in 1849. The declared value of the imports in 1849 arse 1,793,4201., and of the exports, 1,891,2701., of a hich 1,238.5591. consisted of wool, and 249,9321. of tallow. The shipping entered inwards numbered 898 vessels, with 219,967 tonnage; the total outwards being 907 vessels, with 214,056 tonnage. The revenue aas 575,6921., and the expenditure 516,533/. The land limier cultivation, exclusive of gardens and orchards, is described as follows : - Wheat, 90,706 acres, producing 1,917,253 bushels ; maize, 23,368 acres, 276,641 bushels; barley, 10,350 acres, 169,292 bushels; oats, 8,378 acres, 179 258 bushels; rye, 203 acres, 2,951 bushels; millet, 18 acres, 134 bushels; potatoes, 5,289 acres, 14,229 tons; tobacco, 458 acres, 4,244 cwt. ; grasses, 42,842 acres, 47,554 tons;-total, 181,612 acres. This, as compared with the return for 1840, shows that the greatest increase in cultivation as been in grasses, potatoes, barley, and oats, while in maize there has been a decrease. Besides these pre ducen, however, there are now 1,127 acres of vineyard, yielding 101,063 gallons of wine and 1,781 gallons of brandy, the quantity having been steadily increasing since 1843. The tendency to an increase in live stock is shown mostly in sheep and horses, and the totals ere -e-horses, 4 21,859 ; horned cattle, 1,810,213; pigs 58,674; end sheep, 12,102 540. The number of ani mals slaughtered in 1849 for tallow was 743,513 sheep and 45,050 horned cattle, besides 250 hogs for lard. The boilin,.; - -down houses have increased within twelve months from 62 to 95. The number of milts for grain is stated as follows :-In 1340, steam, 26 ; water, 23 ; wind, 34 ; horse, 14. in 1849-steam, 70 ; water, 41 ; wind, 28 ; horse, 29. The progress of the laud sales is also subjoined :-1840, 316,626/. ; X 8,41, 90,337/ ; 1842, 14,574/. ; 1843, 11,297/. ; 1844, 7,402/. ; 1845. 18,4511. ; 1846, 27,000/. ; 1847, 62,8011; 1848, 47,2621.; 1849, 85,7341.; and the mort gagee registered upon land, in 1849, in Sydney were for 1 98,479/, while at Port Phillip they were tn. 116,1571, after having been 270,413/. The amount of debentures issued by the local Government outstanding on the 31st qz, December, 1849, bearing interest at 3,,i(1. per diem, and Payable either in London or the colony, was 75,0001. CI TY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE CHEST. On the site of the spot where once stood the house of Bishop Bonner, and in close contiguity to the handsome park which has recently been devoted to the health and recreation of the labouring classes of the east of Lon don, it is proposed to erect, under most distinguished auspices, a hospital which, like the sister institution at Brotnpton, shall a fford some prospect of recovery from that direst of all disposes to which the British constitu tion is subjected — consumpti on . Established in 1848, in confined and temporary pre claims upon their benevo lence rapidly increasing , and in very short period they unanimoiasly determined to . extend their efforts. and to construct a building of their own. The foundation -stone of that building was on Wednesday_ laid by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, U S6istif, , d _bythe Earl o f Car s of Morton, lisle, the President of the hospital, the . _ ,l g ri e thops of Lon don, St. Asaph, and Oxford, the E Hardaicke, and Abercorn, the Marquis of VV9treinster, the Lord Mayor and Sheriff:, and a distinguished circle of guests. T 1 building, which is from the design of Mr. °rajah, and has been contracted for by t'; h. It is to be feet long by 40 feet w and 50 feet a4,ide, Mr. Myers, , will be 2t4 in the Qu een A nna s t y l e , t h ree stor i e s high, of re , brick with steno facings. There will be a campanile t a ll! Centre, and altogether the structure will bear a 8 ora l e ltl! r esemblance to Chelsea Hon :ital. At present it prises no w i ngs, but it is hoped that eventua lly the ,e may be added, as it will enable its accommodation to be extended to from 80 to 200 pationts. It stands upon a gravel foundation. The estimated cost is 10,4001., and the period of completion about twelve months from the prercnt time. In addition to the plan of the hospital, Mr. Joseph Paxton exhibited a design for a sanitarium, in which the patients might take exercise during both winter and minima.. By a process of artificial filtration, the purity of the atmosphere is secured, and a novel and ingenious plan is adtppted for securing an equable and pure tem perature. The outer air le admitted by tunnels to the centre of the building; it then ascends a shaft twelve feet high, where it is heated and dispersed over the building, some of it again to re-appear, the remainder to escape from the roof. This building it is proposed to construct of glass, and to stock it with such rare plants as are known to give out the greatest quantity of oxygen, Mr. Paxton's prieciple being, -that it is ne ceasaaaa in this manner to feed and stimulate the lungs as it is necessary, to feed and invigorate the body. The additional cost of this erection would be about 4,0001. His Royal Highness examined the plans with atten tion. and expressed his approbation of the design. The Prince having, amidst universal plaudits, taken his place upon the patform, where the stone was pre- ;LE addressed his Royal Highness as follows : —May it pl e ase your ing that the Divine blessing wiil in this undertakirg from more [T illy aware of the value of your I will endeavour in the briefest the nature of the work which we ice, and the motives which have Le favour and honour of so august ask for it because it would ap ; connected and comprehended under the term of tt diseases of the chest," may amount to nearly one-third of the whole number of 11,117,Aleiti, 44 . I ' . VARLISI • a, age a now] ,p -muv 1 1 9 4tte c t , enc - •• uc - iv us solicit the O• • at • : We I p • teat the diseases THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY deaths which annually occur in this metropolis, while at the same time the accommodation provided for them in its large hospitals only amotn,,s one•teuth of that be stowed upon other patients collectively. We ask for it because your Royal Highness has exhibited a similar condescension in laying the first stone of a sister insti tution, devoted to the same beneficent purposes, at the opposite extremity of this immense metropolis ; and though neither of them proposes to confine its benefits to any limited district or class, yet the census which has just been concluded, and the distance which some of us have traversed this morning, would teach us how widely different are the areas in which their respective contigui ties can be of any avail. We ask for it because, while we admit that hospitals ought to give a preference of admis sion to those maladies which afford a prospect of cure, rather than to those of a less hopeful character, we are en couraged to believe, in connexion with the ailments which will be the subject of treatment here, that very much may be effected by precaution and a timely counteraction ; and we cannot but remember that while for their cure or mitigation the wealthier members of the community may resort to skies more genial and constant than our own, the force and frequency of suffering is too apt to be too lamentably increased by confined neighbour hoods, bylunhealthy homes, and by vitiated atmospheres, in which at the very time when all the aids and appli ances that could be brought to bear upon the cases would be most critical, only too many of the less opu lent classes of our countrymen would be condemned otherwise to waste and languish. We ask for it, finally, because we think that this building will be no inappro priate addition to a spot around which the edifices of public worship and instruction have been multiplied in a remarkable degree, mainly by the exertions of the Right Rev. Diocesan, who is now happily present, and close to which the liberality of the Legislature and the grace of the Crown have set apart a large and pleasant space for eyes and the opposite minds end o f all the are now l f p u bli c recreation and enjoyment.—(Applause.) Suffer a t a n me only Hyde-park, thewle , a t r ha t h Lown, in rivetted upon the memorable spectacle which win ever be associated with the name of your Royal Highness — (Cheers).-by your presence this day and upon this occasion in Victoria-park you have shown, Sir, that you have not forgotten that although a large portion at least of the interior contents of the Great Exhibition must shortly be dispersed and its lustres fade away from our sight, the building of which you are about to lay the first atone will, under the Almighty blessing, accomplish its purpose as long as man shall continue to suffer, and as long as God commands us to pity and to relieve.—(Cheers.) The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of LONDON then pro nounced a blessing, and his Royal Highness proceeded to lay the stone in compliance-with the terms of a pro- gramme which had been prepared. At the close of the ceremony his Royal Highness with drew as a saluto was fired, and the bands played " God save the Queen." An elegant dejeilner, at which the Earl of Carlisle presided, and at which short addresses were delivered by the Bishop of Oxford, the Chevalier Bunsen, and others, concluded this very gratifying ceremony. Mr. Harker acted as master of the ceremonies, and we believe had the credit of the whole of the arrangements, which were admirably carried out. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL FOR LUNATICS. On Wednesday, the centenary festival of this charity was celebrated at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, when about 200 gentlemen, governors of the institu tion, and others interested in its prosperity, sat down to dinner. The Right Honourable Charles Sb w Lefevre, M.P., the Speaker of the House of Commons, presided; and on his right and left we noticed, among others, the Right Honourable the Lord Overstoue, the president of the charity; Lord Erskine, Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bart., Sir J. H. Maxwell, Bart., Sir R. P. Jodrell, Bart., Mr. Thomas,Baring, M.P., Mr. Booker, M.P., Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P., Mr. M. Portal, M.P., Major-General Caulfield, C. 8., Mr. Henry Kemble, Mr. Richard Martineau, Mr. John Tidd Pratt, and 1)r. Alexander Sutherland. On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN gave the usal loyal and constitutional toasts, which were enthu siastically responded to by the company. The toast of " The Army and N a vy" was acknow ledged by Major-General CAULFIELD, on the part of army, and by Sir J. H. DIAXWELL, on behalf of the sister service. The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the toast of the evening. He said—Gentlemen, the toast to which I have now the honour to direct your attention is one especially connected with that hospital, the anniversary of which we have now met to commemorate; and I am very happy, because I feel altogether unequal to do justice to the subject, that I am spared the necessity of going at an great length into a statement of the various advantages which have accrued to the public from the establish ment of this hospital from its earliest foundation to the present time—(Hear, hear)—because we have be fore us a most able report, published under the autho rity of the physicians of the hospital, to which are ap pended most valuable statistical tables, drawn up with the greatest care, and which afford the greatest encou ragement to those who have been disposed to be friendly to this institution to continue their benevolent exertions on its behalf. We learn from that interesting document that out of 19,029 patients who have been admitted to the hospital from its opening on the 31st of July, 1751, to December 31, 1850, 8,389 have been discharged cured.—(Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, there are cir cumstances and considerations which cannot be made ap parent in such a report, and which must not be altoge ther overlooked; for although it tells you of cares that have been effected, it does not tell you of the happiness which it has diffused or of the misery which it has alleviated among those families, some of whose members have un fortunately been visited with the most terrible of all human maladies.—(Hear.) Gentlemen, we must remem ber that every case which has been enumerated in this report comprises within itself not only the disease of the individual, but the sorrows, and probably the despair, of the afflicted family to which that patient belonged.— (Hear, hear.) Regarded, therefore, in this point of view, it is impossible to say what incalculable good has not been produced by this hospital during the century of its existence; and whilst we gratefully acknowledge this result, it is moat gratifying to remember that so many improvements have been introduced in the treatment and management of the poor insane. That system of coercion which too often, even under the ablest superin tendence, degenerated into the most cruel tyranny and torture, has passed away. Compassionate tenderness has been substituted, and the poor lunatic has a greater share of comforts afforded to him within your hospital than it is his lot to enjoy at his own home. Whilst these improvements are going on, if we look to the proportion which the cures bear to the number of pa tients admitted to the hospital, nothing can be more sa tisfactory than the result. It appears that in the last year 69 and a fraction, or nearly 70 per cent. out of those admitted, have been discharged cured.—(Hear.) Well, gentlemen, I ask you—Are we to stop here? I know it has been said by those who have a right to speak with authority on this matter—by those for whose opinions I entertain a very great respect—that this hospital, owing to its unfavour able site and to the difficulty of affording air and exercise to its patients, ought no longer to be continued —that it is not worth while to improve it, and that it ought to be removed without the walls of this metropolis. But I ask you where are the funds to come from to rebuild this hospital?—(Hear, hear.) It appears that it cost 50,0004 ages ago to build the present hospital, and where is the source whence we may derive another 50,000/. to expend in the erection of a new one?—(Henr, hear.) Will it not be a far wiser course to endeavour to carry into the present hospital all those improvements which science and experience have intro duced, and which must necessarily not only add to the comfort of the inmates of the hospital, but very much accelerate their cure? I do, therefore, most earnestly hope that all those gentlemen whom I have now the honour to address will most cordially exert themselves in support of this humane undertaking, and that there will be no want of zeal, no want of energy, and no want of money on our part to make still more apparent that which I than now propose to you as the toast of the evening— " Prosperity to St. Luke's Hospital."—(Cheers.) The toast was responded to with acclamation. The CHAIRMAN then proposed, in terms of delicate eulogium, " The Health of Lord Overstone, the Presi dent of the institution;" to which the Noble Lord replied in an eloquent speech, setting forth the merits of the charity, and the peculiar claim it had on the considera tion of the benevolent, as an asylum for those who had been deprived of reason; and concluded by giving " The Health of the Chairman," on whom he passed a well deserved compliment, which was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm. The CHAIRMAN made a suitable acknowledgment, and proposed as a toast. " The Members of the two Houses of Parliament;" to which Lord ERSKINE and Mr. THOMAS BARING, M.P., respectively responded. Mr. MARTINEAU, in returning thanks on behalf of the iea-presidents, and in allusion to a letter whi c h re cently appeared in the columns of a morning contem bo erajar, ad vocating the removal of St. L u k e ' s H os pi ta l was rortthe limits of the metropolis, asked whether it h while, when the hospit a l was cur i ng s i xty per cent, of the patients admitted into it, to make a sa crifice of 30,00 01 0 'evieaekree' the h half of the insane, leet irsbea its removal? It ,i he r r 4o,ooo/. which would be involved in e s x u e r r p c l i u s s e d elsewhere, be nevolence Thebe adhobsepeint a a l b w l e a s t o at do pre a sen g t re i a o ! w no reason whatever to change its site, of Miss Wilii,haufes: twhdaeisrdeecisntinoenr ca am directorst oetui,nat and od o f f hgeo S os t ad . otbiytche,,,e4r. Endeesoßn, a great amount of valuable involving, as the change did, performed in the s: v le e c n t i i n o g n , outnhdraerulifies was property.— o w f a Mr.s supplied La d, (Sear.) A Williams, Miss Land, c a o s s t e e c d h o Mr. Young, Mr. Frank edde, and Mr. H.enay Phillips. pecially admired, The singing The admirable style in w and elicited frequent expressions of applause. deserved reputation of Messrs.amply sustaine,i the well the proprietors of the tavern W. P. Bathe and Con.pany, The donations in the course of the evening amounted to about 2,5001., including the s um of 50 guineas, given by Lord Overstone, the President, 20 g uineas b y Lo rd Robert Grosvenor, M.P., and 60 guineas by Messrs, Pickford. Mr. Toole officiated as toastmaster. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—AD accident happened to an excursion train from Stirling and the intermediate stations to Aberdeen, on the 24th instant, which is likely to be at tended with serious consequences. It had p roc eeded to For far, where it was s t an di ng to take up passengers, when a goods' train came up at full speed and dashed into it, completely crushing a break van, which was fortunately in the rear, and broke the force of the collision. Several passengers were much cut and bruised. and one Mrs. Mitchell, of Stirling, :es in a precarious condition. We learned from the travel- ling superintendent of the Railway Passengers' Assurance Company, 'who was at once on the spot to render assistance, that as far as could be ascertained only one of the injured parties, a young lady from Auchterarder, had taken the pre caution to provide herself with an insurance ticket. The accident was said to be caused by the neglect of the signal man in failing to give the proper stop signal on the arrival of the excursion} train. THE METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY. (From the Times.) The discussion on the Metropolitan Water Supply has now commenced in serious earnest, and the position of parties is as follows :—The Ministerial scheme has been embodied in a Government Bill, which was introduced by Sir George Grey, and carried through a second read ing by a small majority against the resolute protests of the metropolitan representatives. This Bill the Home Secretary justified, on the ground that principles theo retically better had been found irreducible to practice. The best plan, he admitted would be to place the supply under popular control, but as this had been proved be yond his capacity, and as there were resaons against the establishment of a Government Board, he recommended the measure before the House as a sensible compromise. very machinery presented which h e Meantime Mr. Mowatt p ro f esse d to h ave conquered Sirg pimropvossinibgilittbe " yand H Ge o o u r se e wi G th re a y n 's " idill had been declared impracticable. Common sense would suggest that upon this the Home Secretary should have suspended his own imperfect measure until he had as certained whether the problem which had baffled him had been really solved by another. He had acknow ledged popular control to be the true thing need ful, and had only devised his own scheme in default of ability to construct a better, so that when the real desideratum was submitted to his notice it would have been but consistent with political honesty to give it every opportunity of trial. Nevertheless, though Sir George Grey confessed to being as yet unacquainted with Mr. Mowatt's propositions, he pushed forward the Cabinet Bill with the whole force of Government, con tenting himself with observing that he should not object to the reference of Mr. Mowatt's Bill to the same tribunal —a Select Committee—to which he was carrying his own. A Select Committee was appointed accordingly, and before this Committee the Government Bill was brought on Tuesday morning, with three eminent counsel to support it. When it came, however, to Mr. Mowatt's turn it was discovered that the standing orders had not been complied with, and the Bill consequently became inadmissible. The Hon. Member appealed to the House on Wednes day for such a suspension of these regulations in his own case es had frequently been granted in others, and Mr. Hume's plain sense was heard in a suggestion, that " on a question of so much importance, affecting the in terests of 2,000,000 people, it would not be unreasonable to relax the strict rules of the House." So most people would think, but Sir George " felt himself bound" to refuse this dispensation, and the House went with the Minister. Thus the Cabinet Bill goes before the Com mittee with all the strength of Government at its back, while a Bill, confessedly better in theory, and only needing the test of inquiry, is thrown overboard on a point of form. Does this look like an honest desire to do the best for the community without fear or favour? Sir George Grey described this reference to a Select Committee as " the course which Bills of this nature must follow," implying that competing proposals thus received the judical consideration of a disinterested few. We have no desire to impugn the uses of Select Com mittees in general, or to question the Hon. Secretary's knowledge of Parliamentary usages ; but we assert, without any hesitation, that as things are now pro ceeding the interests of the public will be left to tally unprotected and the great fundamental question absolutely unnoticed. That question, as Sir George Grey well knows, is whether our water supply should not be altogether excluded from the objects of commercial enterprise, and provided for the common be nefit at the general charge of the community. Nay, the Hon. Secretary himself answers the question in the affirmative, and defends his own measure on the express grounds that it does fulfil this desirable condition to as great an extent as is practicable in the conflict of inte rests around us. He declares that whereas Government represents the people, his Bill subordinates the water traders to Government as simple "contractors," and he professes to expect a proportionate improvement in their doings. As far as professions go, Sir George is plausible enough; in fact the broad principles of action are so clear, that they cannot be denied even by Sir William Clay himself. The fault of the Minister is in his obdu rate tenacity of purpose against reason shown. He has been taught by plain argument that the companies will not be contractors under his scheme, but prin cipals ; that the rating of ordinary dwelling-houses will not be appreciably lowered, and that the general domestic use of water must remain almost as costly and therefore as imperfect as before. He has been told, in plain words, that the community whose interests he pretends to be advocating, see the consequences more distinctly than himself, and are strongly set against the measure. He has been shown by plain evidence that no legislative control can be ex pected to be permanent over such a commercial corporation as he would now create, and he has been asked by what agency a department of State, already overburdened with duties, proposes to superin tend a concern of such magnitude as actually to transcend, by his own argument, the powers of mu nicipal administration. To none of these appeals has he vouchsafted the smallest reply, but has " referred the question to a Select Committee," as relieving him at once 47 -om any further responsibility. We need spend but few words in proving to the common sense of our ratepayers that their interests are absolutely sacrificed by such a proceeding as this. If the Government Bill satisfied the desires; of that community whose wants it professes to consult, the con test would be fairly conducted between Sir George Grey's advocates on behalf of the public, and other counsel on behalf of the traders whose monopoly it was intended to destroy. But the Government measure represents no such popular opinions ; it is op posed by the whole metropolis, and, as Sir George was told in the House by the metropolitan Mem bers, "is abosolutely detested out of doors." Thus, the public interests being deprived of their proper advocates are loft without any advocates at all, and no issue whatever will be raised on the points which most concern the rights, health, and comforts of the metropo litan community. Whether the average water rate should be 1/. 7s. per house, when an unlimited supply could be furnished for 6s. Scl. ; whether we should de pend for a prime necessary of life on a commercial company under nominal control ; or whether some pub lic machinery could not be contrived for the occasion, are questions which may never once be raised. The issue will simply be Grey or Clay—nine companies or one company—a virtual monopoly or a legal monopoly. Sir George Grey's Bill proposes to detract something from the absolutism of the companies—the companies prn to resist the attempt; and the Select Committee will de cide between these orthodox combatants. But where, in all this jargon of figures, forms, and pleadings, will be the interests of the public? For the measure which the Home Secretary is resolved on forcing down the throats of cur citizens he retains three able counsel, and ten more are engaged to fight to the death for the claims of the several proprietaries. But where, in the defalcation of their proper protectors, are the counsel for the people at large? Who is to show that though the companies' system is bad the Secretary's is little better, and that no water trading should be tolerated at all ? We shall have a table covered with specimens and statistics, an army of chymists tendering scientific evidence, and a swarm of engineers with sections and plans, though all the while neither engineering nor chymistry bears one bit upon the true question. We all know very well that a water supply could be furnished for 100,0001. a-year or thereaouuts, and that it will be time enough, as Sir George Grey himself acknowledged, to discuss the best sources of draught when the machinery of admi nistration shall have been organized. What we want, therefore, to learn is, why we are to be taxed 300 per cent. on an article of first necessity, and pay 420,0001,, or even 320,000/. a-year, instead of 100,0001.; and of this information we see just no promise at all. The squabble will be, whether we are to pay a shilling with our right hand or our left—whether we are to hand over our half million per annum to the confederated companies or to the company consolidate. It is six on one side and half a dozen on the other. Very ingeniously did Mr. Edwin James aver that he " trusted to prove that the Government preamble could be adopted without detriment to the private interests so largely represented in that room." We will be bound he proves it most completely. The " private in terests" so largely represented both in and out of " that room ' are the very interests most cared for in the Government Bill, and it is with these that the interests of the public are palpably at variance. Our case, therefore, must now depend upon ourselves. We have neither advocates nor solicitors, neither "seventy representatives" nor " ten eminent counsel;" and we lir..ve to contend, too, with that very power which should be standing us in stead against all. 12'.ut we have a good cause and a good spirit to back it, and if monopoly is ever to win another battle in these times, it will not be, we are very sure, against the con victions and desires of the ratepayers of London. SEABORNE MAILS. [N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office by night—and M by the morning—dispatch.] When made up in From what When PLACES. GeneralPost-ofllce port die- London. patched. due. America (by Brit. pkt,)N June 27 .. .. Liverpool •• July 5 America (by U.S. pkt.) N July 1 .. Liverpool .. July 2 America (by 'U.S. pkt.) M July 2 .. Southampt. June 26 Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth July 3 Alexandria* ........ N 19th 8c 30th of mo. Dover .. June 23 Belgium .. N Daily .. .. Dover .. Daily Brazil .. M 9th of the month Southampt. July 12 Buenos'Ayres •• .. 31 9th of the month Southampt. July 12 California(viaChagres)M 2d & 17th of month Southampt. July 5 Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth.. July 3 Constantinople* .. • • N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. June 30 Central America .. M2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. July 5 Channel Isles • • .. N Mon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Ta. Th.S a Chili Mil7th of the month Southampt. July 20 France .. M &N,Twice daily .. .. Dover • • Twicedaily Greece* Ni 7th 17 th 27 th ef mo Dover .. June 30 Hamburgh NI Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat. Holland .. M Wednes. Satur. London .. Honduras .. N 17th of the month Southampt. July 20 Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. Holyhead .. Twicedaily India (via Southamp.) 3k2oth of the month Southampt. July 23 India (viaMarsellles) N 7th& 24th efmonth Dover • • July 1 Mediterranean (via Southampton) .. 3,120 th of the month Southampt. July 23 Mediterranean (via ) Malta's •• N 7th& 24th ofmonth Dover • • July 1 'Madeira leri e l 1 e a 2d of the month.. Southampt. July 5 • ,DDleonvv o ee v rr er jju un ly e 2 23 lqa les* •• !,TMlls79lthhh,l°,slfttthhh2ls9nttlibioo,n2ft7mlthi Southampt. July 12 & 30th of month J Papal States* .. M 5 7 5 t t t h h h 1 1 7 5 5 t t t h h h 2 2 2 7 5 5 t t th h h o:f: m m m o Ol i p So o u v t e la r amplit. l , J J j u u u l l l y y y 2 2 6 • • 24 17th (Atha month Southampt. (July 20 M 17th of the month Southampt. (July 20 - TW S tai r inY n d d i f e e s. S . ( ice P t Peru .• • • Tuscany*Tr . West Indies .. West Indies (except Havanna Rc Nassau) M ) 0 The mails to those ci French packet vt. Marcell CALIFORNIA.—MaIIs to are now despatched and di 12d of the month ~ onntriee ta ms marl Illes- and from Calif on * lue by every Ameri, !Sonthampt. July 5 zed (*) are conveyed by la.-via the United states lean packet. ME. GBAriAm.—This gentleman, who was a tra gedian of some repute during the management of Mr. Ma cready, died in America on the 28th of May. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. EVENING, JUNE 27, 1851. ROUSE OF LORI)., June 26. The LORD CHANCELLOR took hia seat upon the WO:): sack at Five o'clock. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. Lrrd LYNDHURST presented a petition from the trustees of the Humberstone Charity, praying for a better method of investigating the accounts of trustees of charitable trusts. Lord BROUGHAM supported the prayer of the pe tition. Ho trusted that some effectual remedy for the abuses complained of would be provided. Some such remedy had been proposed, and it was the fault not of one side of the House only, but of one side and a halt— (A laugh)—that that measure had been rejected. NATIONAL LAND COMPANY. The NOBLE and LEARNED LORD then presented a petition from members of the National Land Company, praying for a redress of the grievances under which they laboured. He presented this petition because it was re spectfully worded. He had received several petitions complaining of the decisions of county courts in such matters. He pitied the situation of the parties, but their Lordships could not afford relief against the sentence of a court of law. Their Lordships were not a court of 'Appeal for the county courts, and could nut therefore afford these poor people any redress. He had had many applications made to him on this subject, and he had not been able to answer them relative to a Bill now before Parliament on this subject. Lord CAMPBELL thought it would be a great ad vantage if those interested in Bills in this House should have facilities for obtaining copies of those Bills, and he had incurred the charge of discourtesy for not forwarding copies of Bills. He submitted that parties interested in Bills should have an opportunity of obtaining copies of them. session of estates for hundreds of years, and managing those estates, and yet, through ignorance of the purposes to which they were to bo applied, violsting the ti ust. He was not aware that any such charge had been brought against the great companies. It was clear, as far as they were concerned, that the trust had not lapsed; that there was a regular annual audit of their accounts by persons elected from amongst those who were interested in the duo administration of the trust. Charities were, with them, derived from deeds of gift from those who were members of the same corporation, and all the members of that corporation knew how the charity was managed. Such charities as these, he con ceived, stood on a somewhat different footing from other charities, and the grounds of exemption stated in the Bill would apply generally to such companies. As the al!, however, was to be referred to a Select Committee, he had not any doubt but that the parties would have the opportunity of making their case, though not through counsel, known and stated, and he was sure fully consi dered and fairly decided upon. The Earl of CHICHESTER supported the Bill, and said it was the measure recommended by the second re port of the Charity Commissioners. The LORD CHANCELLOR briefly replied, and The Bill was read a second time. The House then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, June 26. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday. The House resumed at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. HUME presented a number of petitions from va rious places in Scotland against the Public Houses (Scotland) Bill. Sir H. HALFORD presented a petition from Market Harborough in favour of the Pharmaceutical Bill. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from a Dis senting body in Lancashire against the Regium Donum. Mr. ANDERSON presented a petition from the fish curers of Orkney, against the Irish branding system. Mr. WILLIAMS presented two petitions from South wark and Lambeth in favour of the Pharmaceutical Bill. Similar petitions were presented from other places. Mr. E. B. ROCHE presented a petition from Bally money, in the county el Cork, complaining of the pres sure and inequalities of the tithe rent charge. COAST GUARD. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the following descriptions of services are intended to count in completion of the six years' command of rated ships afloat, proposed to be re • quired for being on the active list in the new scheme of Naval retirement, viz.:—l. Service on the Coast Guard under the Treasury; 2. As superintendents of hospitals and victualling yards; 3. As superintendents of packet service; 4. As commanders of ships in ordinary, not being sea-going ships, though nominally in commission? Sir F. BARING said the services of the coast guard were never taken into consideration by the Admiralty, but the others were. BRITISH MUSEUM. Mr. FIUME wished to ask Sir George Grey whether any arrangements have been made, or are making, for carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Com mission as to the future management of the British Museum by a small executive board. Sir GEORGE GREY said no alteration had been made in the management of the Museum, but certain changes were under consideration, which, if carried into Effect, would confer great benefit upon the public. Mr. HUME said he was not satisfied wish the answer, and unless he saw some desire to carry out the recom mendation of the Commissioners he should oppose the Museum grant. ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL. Mr. FRESHFIE LD ga;enaTce — that on the third reading of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, he should pro pose a clause, altering the penalty and the course of pro ceeding in the event of a person having committed an offence under the Bill. MR. DISRAELI'S RESOLUTIONS. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to know whether it was the intention of the Hon, Member for Buckingham shire to propose a motion which would have the effect of preventing th 2 repeal of the window-tax? Mr. DISRAELI said be understood the Honourable Baronet to inquire the meaning of certain resolutions which ho had laid on the table of the House, and which if he had an opportunity he intended to move on Monday next. He begged to inform him, in answer to this in quiry, that he would endeavour on Monday, with the utmost brevity he could command, to explain the nature of those resolutions.—(A laugh.) Lord J. RUSSELL wished to know whether the Hon. Member intended to propose an amendment on the Cus toms Bill, and also on the Window Tax Bid? Mr. DISRAELI replied that the Hon. Member for Huntingdon had given notice of an instruction to the Committee on Monday in regard to import duties, and therefore it was not possible for him (Mr. Disraeli) to move his resolutions except on the second financial mea sure of the Government. There would, accordingly, be two amendments proposed. REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BILL. _ _ This Bill was read a first tinieOniiieLTtionOfi; G. GREY, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow fortnight, SUPPLY,—DANISH CLAIMS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. ROEBUCK, pursuant to notice, rose to call the attention of the House to the subject of the Danish claims, but in the then state of the atmosphere he pro mised not to occupy much time.—(Hear, hear.) These claims he said were made by British merchants in consequence of certain losses which they sustained through the conduct of the Govern ment in 1807. The House was aware that about that period France had succeeded in succumbing Aus tria, Prussia, and Russia; and England being the only country that stood upright at the time, was desirous of striking a blow which should in some way or other cripple the power of Napoleon. In order to do that, absolute secresy was required in carrying out the necessary ope rations, and for that purpose means were taken to prevent English merchants understanding what the Government were about. Several English merchants, therefore, were solicited to go to the Baltic, and upon their receiving an assurance from the authorities that everything was perfectly safe in that part of Europe, many of them agreed to send large quantities of valuable property to the Baltic. At this time England had a large naval force under her command, which was then engaged in the colonies, but it was almost immediately sent on a sudden to the Baltic for the purpose of forming an ex pedition againt Denmark, and the consequence was, that those merchants who had sent out their goods under the assurance of these advisers of the Crown that nothing was likely, or, indeed, could arise to disturb the peace of the Baltic, lost all their property. He knew that Chancellors of the Exchequer opposed motions like the present on the ground that they were stewards of the public purse, but personal vanity was at the bot tom of all opposition of that sort.—(A laugh.) The Right Hon. Gentleman the present Chancellor of the Exchequer was, however, the last person to be accused of personal vanity, for it did not enter into his composi tion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer came to the House and said he had no surplus revenue to bestow in that way. Of course the Right Hon. Gennleman had nothing to do with that case, which arose out of the misconduct of the Chancellor of the Exchequer i❑ the year 1807. That was the feeling which guided all Chancellors of the Exchequer ; but the question which they had to consider was, whether it was becoming the dignity of this country to deal with its merchants after that fashion ? Was it not the fact that the British Government had misled its merchants ? The use of the word " reprisals" meant that there was no war—that it was then a time of peace. But when a nation doing an injustice refused to make reparation, and war resulted, then those matters taken as re prisals became prizes of war, and then by every rule of law the first application was to redress the injeiry for which reprisals were made. It was after the Government of this country had seizsd about 3,000,0001. worth of Danish property that Denmark had made the capture for which the present claim was made. The Hon. and Learned Member went into a brief history of the various occasions on which these claims had been brought before the House. On the very last occasion they had been successfully advocated by the Hon. Gentleman the Under-Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. Hawes), whose support he trusted he would have on that motion. In June, 1841, Parliament had presented an address to her Majesty on that subject, to which she had returned an answer, to the effect—" That she should always be ready to give attention to the wishes of the House of Commons, and should consent to the satisfaction of the proposed claim, whenever Parliament provided the means." The amount of that claim was 125,0001., and as Parliament had decided upon its justice in 1841, he hoped the House would not refuse in 1851 to ratify the same, by agreeing to his motion. The Hon. Member then concluded by moving that on Wedndesday next the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider an address, praying her Ma jesty to take into her gracious consideration the report of the 12th of May, 1840, made by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the confiscation of several Bri tish ships' cargoes by Denmark, in 1807, and to order compensation for the same. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he should be as brief as the lion. and Learned Gentleman; for the present case lay within a very narrow compass. Indeed, after the able statement which the lion. Member for Liverpool had made on the subject five years ago, he was astonished that it should be ever revived. He could assure his Hon. and Learned Friend that no vanity ac tuated him in the course which he then pursued.— (Laughter.) It was incumbent, however, on the Hoe. Gentleman to show why the people of Great Britain should pay a sum of 125,0001. In the course of the year 1807 war existed between Denmark and Great Britain. Ho put aside altogether the question of a declaration of war. His lion. Friend know that at that time war might be carried on without a declaration. With respect to the three descriptions of goods liable to be seized, a great distinction existed between goods ashore and afloat and book debts. No state of war would justify the con fication of goods ashore or book debts; but it was difte- rent with respect to goods afloat. The whole question which they had then to decide was, whether at the time those seizures were made war existed or not. On that he thought there could be no doubt. Admiral Gambier had sailed up to Copenhagen on the 3d of August, and that was sufficiently indicative of hostilities. If war then existed, the seizure was entirely according to the law of nations; and all the evidence taken on the subject went to confirm that fact. He, therefore, thought the Hon, and Learned Gentleman had made out no case %Well could call upon this country to allow a claim for indem nity, never .. yet a llowed under such circumstances amongst civiliz d nations. Colonel SIB THORP said he would never shrink from his duty, whether the performance of it pleased or dis pleased any Chancellor of the Exchequer, or any Go. vernment. The shipowners in that case had been led to believe they might safely send their vessels to Denmark; and that was a strong reason why their claims should be allowed, however late in the day it was proposed to do them ,justice. He would, te.erefore, nupport the filo tion of toe lion. and Learned Member opposite. Ha wished to know where, then, was the Hun. Member for Kinsale (Mr. Hawes), who had formerly votee fir those claims ? He was at the Crystal P a l ece , perhaps— (Laughter)—patronising the industry of all nations— (Laughter)—when ho ought to be in his place in Parlia ment. The House then divided, when the numbers were— For the motion Against it ... ... 126 Majority against the motion ... --ee The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. BERNAL in the chair. A vote of 71,100/. to defray the salaries and expenses of the office of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was then proposed. Mr. WILLIAMS did not see why there should be an increase in that vote. After a few words from Mr. C. LEWIS and the CHAN CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Mr. HUME said he only objected to the item' of 23,0001. for Queen's messengers and expresses. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 53,6001. having been proposed for the ex penses of the department of the Privy Council, and the office for trade, including the registry of seamen, Mr. HUME took occasion to complain of the refusal of the heads of the Colonial Office to exte\td representa tive institutions to our colonies. Ile wished particularly to refer to the case of Demerara, and to give notice that when the pspors connected with the state of that co lony were produced, he should call the attention of the House to the subject. Mr. HAWES stated that the authorities at the Colo nial Office thought that they ought to act with great caution in extending representative institutions to colo nies in which hostile races resided. Mr. HUME complained of the continuance of the office for the registry of seamen, which was, he believed, entirely useless. Mr. LABOUCHERE said, he believed that the abo lition of the office would be productive of great con fesion. Mr. HUME said he did not know a single person who approved of the system. Captain HARRIS defended the system, and thought that it could not be safely done away with. In time of war it would be most useful for the purpose of enabling the authorities at the Admiralty to know who were the parties best fitted to serve their country in the Royal navy. Sir F. BARING said it was true that the present re gistry system was productive of great inconvenience. But he thought that a registration of seamen was a ne cessary step towards any improvement in the condition of the men engaged in the naval service. Sir G. PECHELL said the true way to secure the services of efficient seamen in the Royal navy would be to give good pay and good food to the men. Mr. HENLEY said he thought that a sum of 9,0001. a year was too much to pay for the very doubtful or very trifling advantages of the present registry system. Mr. LABOUCHERE admitted that the system was by no means a perfect one. But he felt convinced that it operated to a considerable extent as a check against desertion. Sir J. GRAHAM said that many years had elapsed since he had first recommended a registration of seamen, and as other avocations had since withdrawn his atten tion from the subject, he was not perfectly aware of the manner in which the system he had introduced had ope rated. He had proposed it, not as abstractedly desir able in itself, but as subsidiary for other arrangements. He believed it would b e a d e l us i on t o su ppose that in the event of a great naval war the system of impressment could be altogether set aside. But he had always felt that every effort ought to be made to avert as far as pos sible the necessity of having recourse to so extreme an expedient. He had formerly thought that a system of registration was absolutely necessary for the purpose of carrying out the practice of a compulsory naval service, for a limited period, in time of war ; but he was not prepared to say that his opinion upon that point had not since undergone some modification. He was, however, disposed to think with his Right Hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir F. Baring) that if there should be any measure passed for the purpose of establishing a system of limited service of a compulsory nature, in time of war, a well-organized sys tem of registration of seamen would be indispensable for carrying cut such a measure. It appeared that the re gistration system, although by no means perfect, was s f some benefit even in the mercantile service, by affording a check to desertion; and, under these circumstances, he was not prepared to vote for its abolition. He trusted, however, that during therecess her Majesty's Government would endeavour, as far as possible, to remove the im perfections of the system. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 2,0001. having been proposed for the salary of the Lord Privy Seal, Mr. WILLIAMS said ho wished to know what were the duties assigned to that functionary? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that the Lord Privy Seal was frequently enabled to per form important services by instituting special inquiries, and discharging special duties to which none of his col leagues could find time to attend. Mr. HUME suggested that the Lord Privy Seal should be employed as a Minister of Justice. Lord J. RUSSELL said he believed that the duties of a Minister of Justice would be more properly discharged by the Lord Chancellor than by any other person. Tee position of the Lord Chancellor gave him greater autho rity in cases connected with the administration of jus tice than any other individual could pretend to. The judicial duties of the Lord Chancellor had hitherto been so burdensome that he had not been able to give the time that was desirable to the general administration of jus tice throughout the country. But he (Lord J. Russell) hoped that under the now Chancery measure which had lately been introduced, and which had met with such general approval, the Lord Chancellor would be enabled to devote more of his attention to that important subject. Mr. HUME said he thought that the Lord Chancellor had to discharge as many other duties as he could con veniently attend to. Mr. BRIGHT said it seemed that that salary was given to a man who could be put to anything. Now a man who could be put to anything must be a very able person. It was, however, a remarkable fact, that able men were never put into those offices to which no peculiar duties were attached. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had gone as far as he could have gone in reducing the number of public offices. The salary attached to the office of Lord Privy Seal had for merly been 4,000/. a year, and was at present reduced to 2,0001. a year. What the public benefit required was that the public business should be well done. There wero many important subjects which did not immediately belong to the duties of any of the Secretaries of State, and which were very advantageously attended to by a functionary in the position of the Lord Privy Seal. Mr. BRIGHT said the Noble Lord who filled the office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade did more Go vernment business in that House than any other officer of the Government. Several of the other members of the Government had notoriously very light duties to perform. He presumed that the arguments just uttered by the Noble Lord would be used to the end of time. It was, however, unfair towards the public to grant large salaries to officers not really required. He thought that, con sidering the circumstances under which the Committee was appointed, and the trouble they took to investigate into the matters referred to them, the Government was more or less bounsi to act upon their report. Lord J. RUSSELL admitted the great services of the Noble Lord who filled the office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade. He certainly discharged the duties of that office most efficiently and creditably. But the Board of Trade was a department which it was necessary to have well represented in both Houses. He would, how ever, remind the Hon. Member that there was no ap pointment more severely criticised than that of Vice- President of the Board of Trade, it having been said that the former Master of the Buckhounds was utterly unfit to hold any such situation. After a few words from Mr. W. WILLIAMS and Mr. MACGREGOR, the vote was agreed to. 24,7001. was granted for the salaries and expenses at tached to the office of Paymaster-General. The sum of 6,2791. fur the salaries and expenses at tached to the office of Comptroller-General of the Ex chequer, being proposed. Colonel SIB fIIORP objected to this vote. A more gross imposition never was practised than that of pitch forking the Noble Lord nosy in another place into this situation of Comptroller-General. His salary, however, was now placed on the Consolidated Fund, and he (Col. Sibthorp) had no opportunity of making any motion for its reduction. He had before moved for a return of the number of days which the Noble Lord referred to had sat in his office. He would be very curious to see that return. A more valuable and efficient officer in the dis charge of his duties there could not be than the Assist ant-Comptroller. This gentleman was quite able to dis charge the duties of the office without the as sistence r. () f of any fashionable Lord. This, it appears, was a cern able way of extracting money from the pockets f ° the people. said s every regulation which wisdom any__ i frauds had M been e l I n U m M a made t preventwished to ktnhoewpwoshseibthileirty of a ny regulations could w being again practised in regard to Exchequer Qy bills? The The CHANCELLOR of or the olcould devise adopted as a precaution against these frauds. The vote was then agreed to. ee. Mr- HUIIE The next vote was 2,7004 to pay the salari es an d EX penses of the State Paper O In answer to a question from the public hCli.cLfoErWthieS i s n a e i p d ec t t h io a n t oefvedcuroyf'm facility yas given to in this office, and nu fees were exacted. In answer to a question from Mr. W Mr. C. LEWIS said that an index ß was AR about l being r a ee p d or t t o ion of the expenses of the Ec . printed. 21:2h3e0v1.otteo defrayw as ag c l es iasticsl Commissioners. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said that the Church property, and not the public, should be made to pay the salaries of those officers. Ile would certainly take the sense of the House against this vote. Mr. TRELAWNY was also opposed to this vote. Thero could be about half a million more raised out of the Church property if proper measures were taken in respect to it. One way was the sale of the Crown livings. Sii G. GREY said that the amount was not so large this year as formerly, on account of reductions made in the establishment. It was thought desirable that the proceedings of the Commission s hould come annually before Parliament, in orde; to afford an opportunity to Hon. Members to ask for every information respect ing it. After some observations from Colonel SIBTLIORP, Lord J. RUSSELL said that two of the Commis sioners were paid entirely from the funds of the Church. The Commission was absolutely necessary. If this rote were refused, the expenses of the cffice must be thrown upou another fund applicable to other purposes altoge ther. The money a keel for was applied to the dissemi nation of spiritual instruction amongst other things. Colonel SIBTHORP would not object to the granting of a RUM four tines the amount of the vote asked for, if he were satisfied that it was necessary for the purpose mentioned by the Nubia Lord. The Noble Lord Would, however, pardon him for saying that he could not take his representations of the vote. Mr. HUME said that many thousands of pounds might be sevsd if this Church property were placed in the hands of two responsible individuals. He considered that Church property was public property, and should be treated accordingly. He wanted to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Guuleurn), having a pension of 2,0001. a year, was entitled to draw from the Church, ns Commissioner, ano sppi oroiwnneecrri,polwefhaondw appointing demanded two i n e v o e m s t m i s a s t i i e c e . the: sum o f I,oooi. a year ? This was a matter of pu bli c Ar L eh or b d ish J e . p ß o U l SSELL said th'at the Crown had the Canpaid.terbury. G a o p u p i c b i u n r t n e d w a a s t h irdc appointedom m ibsy r 3 unpaid, and the the Archbishop, and received 1,000/. a year salary. Ho (Lord J. Russell) did not think that that. salary was too great for the services he performed. The other sum was due to him in cons( quence of past services in the performance of his public duty. The one had no refe rence whatever to the other. Mr. HUAIE said that the Act prescribed that in the event of such an officer being employed in a public office, the former pension shall merge into the salary which he received for the duties performed in the latter capacity. He put this case as a matter of law as well as a matter of justice and equity. He would support the reduction of this vote by at all events 2,0001. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Hon. Member for Montrose was quite mistaken in his view of the law. The Right lion. Gentleman al luded to did not draw his salary in such a way as to constitute it a public enlary. Mr. H. DRUMMOND said that whoever voted against the grant to Maynooth and against the Regium donurn were also bound in justice to vote against the present proposition. It was not a question of amount, but of principle, and they should set their faces against all such votes. After a few words from Mr. TRELAWNY, Mr. W. J. FOX said that the simple objection to this vote was that it was a tax upon Dissenters for the benefit of the Church. Ho trusted that every such vote would be opposed. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the principle stated by the Hon. Member for Surrey and the Hon. Member for Oldham did not apply in the present case. This was a sum of money for carrying on certain civil business which refers to ecclesiastical arrangements —in fact, to make certain reforms in the Church which the State considered necessary. It was just the same as if they proposed a reform in the Court of Chancery or any of the courts of law. It had nothing to do with the performance of any duties belonging to spiritual persons, but for a civil office carried on by civilians. Mr. BRIGHT denied that this was the same thing as a reform of the courts of law, for every one could come into these courts. They were not for one parti cular class of persons, as everything connected with the Church was intended to be. He thought that Church property itself ought to pay for its own management. Mr. W. WILLIAMS wanted to know why the Com missioners were to be paid 1,0001. a year, and the pub lic to be called upon to p a y th e c l er k s who really did the work? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the public had a considerable interest in the question. Mr. HUME asked what advantage the public had, as one farthing of the money did not come into the Ex chequer. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that by the Hon. Gentleman's own argument, that Church property was public property, the public must of course have an interest in it. Mr. J. B. SMITH said that the ecclesiastical pro perty had been very badly managed by the Commis sioners who had allowed the secretary to run away with 10,0001. The Committee then divided, when there appeared — For the vote ... ••• 57 Against it Majority in favour of the vote —32 The vote was then agreed to. 211,0001., to defray the expenses of Poor-law Com missions. Colonel DUNNE complained of several items comprised in this vote. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that it was contemplated to reduce a great number of clerks, but this reduction could not be carried cut in the present year. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON did not know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland was in a condition then to explain the reason why some of the most important tables in the appendices were omitted in the report of that year. These tables were of the greatest importance at the present time, in consequence of the great changes that were going on in Ireland. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said, the tables alluded to involved some complicated calculations, and that, be believed, was the cause of the delay in producing them. Mr. CLEMENTS asked why some explanation had not been given of the mode in which the rate in aid and the advances under the 300,000/. loan had been ex pended in the different unions in Ireland? He wished also that some account had been given of the delay which had cccurred in carrying out the works in many of the unions. Mr. REYNOLDS wished the whole veto to be post poned, in order to be better considered. He also wished to know upon what ground Ireland was treated differ ently from England and Scotland with regard to union schoolmasters and medical relief? 80,0001. was voted for education in the workhouses in England, and 10,000/. in Scotland for medical relief, while the ratepayers of Ireland were called on to defray the expenses of those two objects. lie did not think the Poor-law Commis sion in Ireland had been at all efficient. It had not suc ceeded in feeding, clothing, or lodging the poor of that country; and he would rather see it abolished altogether, and the workhouses levelled to the ground, than a con tinuance of the present system. He also complained of the delay in producing the returns ordered with regard to the mortality in different workhouses, all of which might have been prepared in eight and forty hours. ll° moved the postponement of the vote. The CHAIRMAN informed the lion. Member that it was not competent for him to make such a motion. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the present was not a proper time to enter upon a defence of the Irish Poor law Commission. When the fitting time came he hoped to be able to satisfy the House that it had worked satis factorily. The returns referred to by the Hon. Member had been laid on the table that day, and that no unne cessary delay had taken place in producing them would be apparent from the evidence he held in his hand. (The Right Hon. Baronet held up a bulky blue book.) Mr. REYNOLDS had been informed by a gentleman holding a high office in the Poor-law Commission, that the returns might have been made in 48 hours. He was not prepared to negative the vote. He believed the re turns had been delayed for some sinister purpose. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the charges for education in the workhouses and for medical relief in England had been transferred to the Consoli dated Fund en the change made in the corn-laws in 1846. In comparing the practice in England and Ireland in that respect it ought net to be forgotten that half of 580,000/, the expense of the Irish constabulary , was and transferred t hat am to u s t h h the larger proportional Consolidated s i u n ma the year s educational objects in Ireland than in England , t he votes being 150,000/. for England and 134, 0001 . for Ireland. the With Hon.re s p .s e i c e t m to b the Member for Leitrim advances unwd(e, would d the n loan n of vot voted o 6 r , the 3oo,Ooo/. appen dices to the Commissioners' report a list of the unions and electoral divisions which had obtained advances. _ e Mr. CLEMENTS said it was these appendices h way in which the advances had been complained of, as they afforded no information of the allocated ex pended. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said if the Hon. Member regardingtowhhiechshohueldwdioshheids f w o o r u a l would p return oint o o f u out t a ie n best to obtain ie. Sir R. FERGUSON wished to see Ir e l and placed on y nature union alluded the same footing as England with regard to the votes for anion schoelmasters and medical relief. Mr. HENLEY noticed that the vote for union school masters had been reduced from 35,000/. to 20,000/. As there were between 600 and 700 unions, that sum would only allow about 30/. for each schoolmaster. Ile was afraid that that was not sufficient to secure the services o f a person capable, not only of teaching, but of training the children, so that they might be able to turn to some profitable occupation when they left the workhouse. If there was any one point more t h an anot h er i n w hich t h e Ai e r : o rireArieNg regretted t ed admitted the the reduction importance o f the system was d e f ect i ve, i t was as regarded the educa tion given to th e c h ildren in the workhouses. lie r alluded t o by the Lion. Member for Oxford, regarding which considerable the of the subject vote. improvements had not only been made, but were still in progress. It was a mistake to suppose that the vote had been reduced from 35,000/. to 2 0,000/., for whatever the amount voted might have been, not more than 20,000/. had been drawn by the Poor-1 11 w B‘ard for the purposes of the vote in any one year. Some unions, in which agricultural distress had pre vailed, had applied for the reduction of the salaries of the union schoolmasters, but he had resisted i t, be lieving that thos e officers were by no means overpaid. The Hon. Member was correct in saying that there were between 600 and 700 unions in England, but there was not a schoolmaster to every union. The number of schoolmasters was only 353, but there were 501 school mistresses, who in most cases were better adapted for the education of the children. A residence and rations wore allowed to the most meritorious —a bonus in addi tion to the salary. Mr. HENLEY was gratified to hear the statement of the Hon. Member. He was afraid the vote had been reduced. After a few words from Colonel RAWDON in favour of providing further means for educating the poor in Ireland, Alderman COPELAND suggested that some strin gent regulation should be introduced with respect to the auditors. Mr. EWART wished to know whether filo recom eaendatio noftheinspectors for s e p arat i ng c hild ren ' s schools from the workhouses had been carried into effect, and how NI. the e x periment had succeeded? Mr. BAINES said that the Act of 1844 gave the power of establishing district schools separate from the workhouses ; but the act was not compulsory to that effect on the guardians of the poor. In many important places, however, especially in the metropolis, these schools had been established. Nevertheless, the rule was the contrary, and the Poor-law Poard could not say a great deal for the success that had attended their efforts. Mr. HAMILTON said the question of industrial PETITIONS. Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions in favour of the County Courts Extension Bill. Lord LYTTELTON presented a petition from the Droitwich Union, in favour of an improvement in the organization of the police force of counties. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the Gold smiths' Company, praying that they may be heard by counsel against the Charitable Trusts Bill, or be exempted from the operation of the measure. Lord REDESDALE presented petitions from several City companies with a similar prayer. The Marquis of SALISBURY presented several pe titions against the Charitable Trusts Bill. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several petitions from trustees of charities against the Charitable Trusts Bill. PRIVATE BILLS. On the motion of Lord REDESDALE several private Bills were forwarded a stare. JOTEE PERS ALM. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH had received several communications on the subject of the case of Jotee Per saud, and he therefore gave notice that he should to morrow again draw the attention of their Lordships to the subject. FEE FARM RENTS (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE move the second reading of this Bill. The Earl of WICKLOW objected to certain provi sions of the Bill, and should oppose them in Committee. After a few words from the Marquis of CLANRI CARDE, the Bill was read a second time. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the order of the day for the second reading of the Charitable Trusts Bill. The subject had been now under the consideration of Parliament for upwards of seventy years; and five commissions, of which four had been appointed under the authority of Parliament, and the last one under the sign manual, had investigated and reported upon the sub ject. From their labours it appeared that there were 28,840 charities in this country, of which upwards of 13,000 had an income of less than 51. a year; 5,000 less than 101. a year; and a considerable number, varying from 4,000 to 5,000, incomes under 100/. The Com missioners acting under the sign manual had been most indefatigable in their labours. Its members were com posed of three Noble Lords of the House of Peers, three Members of the House of Commons, a Master in Chan cery, and a barrister; and they had presented two re ports, which had attracted the attention of Parliament, and consequently since 1840 various Bflle had been brought in from time to time, all of which, however, had failed to receive the approbation of Parliament. In the year 1845 the Noble and Learned Lord (Lyndhurst) had brought in a Bill, which had passed their Lordships' House, but had failed to pass the lower House. In the year 1846 a second Bill on the subject was introduced. It met with strong opposition, and failed passing by a ma jority of two. He (the Lord Chancellor) would endeavour to avoid in the present Bill the causes of the objections made to the Bill of 1846. The labours of the Commis sion to which he had referred had led to the introduc tion of the proposed measure; and he feared if that, too, should fail to meet the approbation of Parliament, there was little chance for the future of dealing suc cessfully with this very difficult subject. Before stating the provisions of the Bill, he should direct attention to what had been brought to light by the labours of the Commission as to the causes of the , abuses discovered in the administration of charities. Those labours war ranted the propriety of extending a superintending juris diction over the management of charities. As to whether there should be any or what exemptions was a vary grave question. One of the great causes of abuses in charities was the want of publicity, and the want of check in the accounts. Nobody had been charged with the particular duty of keeping the accounts, and in con sequence many and heavy losses were entailed on their funds. One charity had lost 30,0001. from that cause, and in another case it was found that an income which had been formerly only 2/. had increased to 1,5001. In many instances rent-charges had become permanent, and it also happened that the money vested in trustees had come into the hands of a single trustee, and he dying, the funds were lost to the charity. The evils which were thus pointed out in the very satis factory and able report of the Commissioners were both numerous and grievous, and he considered that the existence of the board which he proposed to create under the present Bill would prevent more than half of them. The importance of the subject was shown by the amount of the annual income of the charities of the kingdom, which had been sworn at 1,200,0001. The Bill then proposed to establish a board of five Com missioners, of whom two were to be paid. The board should be constituted a corporation, and should have the power to call for accounts and to examine parties under certain circumstances; also to give advice when asked for by charities, and the trustees should be indemnified for acting under that advice. They should also have the power of certifying to the Attorney-General such cases as called for his interference. Although many cases had been with advantage brought before the court by private relators, yet to prevent abuses no pro secution should be permitted to be entered upon without th© sanction of the Commissioners. All cases under the value of 301. should be referred to the county court, from the decision of which there would be allowed an appeal to the Commissioners, who, however, were not invested with judicial authority, but could remit the matter back fur a second consideration, or could order a new issue. In all cases where the amount was between 301. and 1001. the matter should go directly before the Master, the Commissioners retaining the power to direct the questions which were to be brought before the Court. But there was to be no litigation except with the sanction of the Commissioners. The next subject treated of in the Bill was that of accounts. On this head it was provided that the managing trustees should annually make a return of the receipts and disbursements of their respective chari ties, copies of which should be transmitted to the clerks of the peace and of the county courts, for public inspec tion. The Commissioners were annually, in like manner, to report their proceedings to both Houses of Parlia ment. With respect to the question elf the expenses of the Commission, no charity under 101. should pay any thing; all charities above that amount were to be taxed at the rate of 2d. in the pound, which would give a sum of 8,5001. applicable to the payment of the expenses of the Commission. With respect to the question of leasing, building, mining, and repairs, instead of an application to the Court of Chancery being necessary, the Commis sioners should have the power to deal with them at once. There were also some provisions relating to the union of small charities. The Bill would only deal with permanently endowed charities, and would not interfere with purely voluntary societies. He should also add, that trustees would be protected from suits for private purposes. These were the main features of the Bill. Several petitions had been presented to their Lordships, praying to be heard by counsel against the Bill, but he trusted their Lordships would not accede to that prayer. He moved that the Bill be read a second time. Lord BROUGHAM rejoiced at the introduction of the Bill. It was a measure which had long been needed, and the want of which hAI worked grievous injustice. Tho Noble and Learned Lord had understated the efficacy of his measure. Charities, not of 5Z a year, but of 100/. a year, could not afford the expense of a Chancery suit, and the consequence was that persons often held property of 30/. or 401. a year—that property belonging to a charity, and yet were permitted wrongfully to retain it, because it was not worth the expense to dispossess them.—(Hear.) This was a circumstance that was hu miliating to them as a Christian and a civilized country. lie therefore heartily rejoiced in the proposing of such a measure as this; but as it was to be referred to a Select Committed be would not make any lengthenedobserva tions upon a measure of which ho so much approved, and that ho hoped would be unanimously sanctioned by their Lordships. Lord STANLEY observed that there bad been nu merous and flagrant abuses under the existing law, and if there could be any doubt as to the necessity of some measure like the present. that doubt must be removed by finding the Bill sanctioned by the high authority of the Commissioners, Of the Lord Chancellor, and of his Noble and Learned Friend. His only apprehension was the period of the session at which the measure was pro posed. lle was much afraid that a Bill proposed at the latter end of June ran some risk of being lost.—(Hear.) He thought the N(.bl:3 and Learned Lord on the wool sack would c oncur with him in thinking that it would be inexpedient to interfere with charitie — s that depended upon private support; that there should be an exemption in favour of charities supported by voluntary contribu tions. It would, be thought, also be right not to inter fere where there was an vfficient audit, and a sufficient motive•in the governing body to control the fund, and to have the purpose of the trust fulfilled. A great number of public companies were in this position, and yet were not exempted by the Bill. The question, then, was, whether they had not a claim to be exempted? It could not bo contended that they. were ignorant of the extent of the estates that bad been devised to them. The LORD CHANCELLOR—They were ignorant of the objects in many instances fur which the estates wero devised. Lord STANLEY said it appeared to him to be sin gular that bodies of a public character should be in pos- education wl much aF, out that cuuntr) age. A sys dustrial edt law Board c ea•operatior Mr. BCC the boards the inspect° that a reduc 7,800/. a yei great advan pity. He schools, and would be pl Mr. M. " other exp cost of the were? Sir W. S Mont to star Sir H. V of one-half considered Poor-law in corn-law. was now s medical exp Mr. REY penses of tl only got 41 country was in workhou not see wh therefore pt Mr. HIP land it was force was from Irelan Mr. CON distress in t most oppo state of thi when a rep House? Sir G. G Mr. CLI questions h Sir W. dition. HE required. 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