The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-12 00:00:00

ettrb latittion SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. SPIRIT of th-t PUBLIC J OURNALS. 23031 TUE EVENING rarFais OF THIS DA.I. - GLOBE.— " We wage no war with madmen or the rant." The former would not understand, and the latter would be deaf to expostulation. But, as suminie that Mr. O'Connell :is _ neither insane nor venal:::;-luid giving those of his coadjutors who are also members of the . Legislature credit for being pos sessed, equally with himself, of sound self-disposing minds, and of pure patriotism—we confesS'OuTselves at a loss to comprehend the motive by which they are actuated in absenting themselves from their Parliamen tary duties. Their seethes and their acts are in perpetual antagonism. Their speeches at the weekly meetings tield at the Conciliation-hall are filled with attacks upon the measures connected with Ireland which her JSlajesty's Gavel nment intend to introduce to Parlia ment during the course of the present session ; and yet these patriotic Irish Members of the House of Commons declare their intention of absenting them selves from Parliament during the discussions upon those' very measures ! Nothing in absurdity equal to this hal: ken exhibited ; if we except the way in which -^ a" number . of Irish farmers •at -a fair shoWed their antipathy to a bank, the proprie tors of which had -rendered: themselves obnoxi ous to the popular dislike. The farmers took the pains to buy up all the notes of the odious bankers they could "get at, and burned them in the presence and amid the shouts of the excited multitude " Sure, and what ivill..they do now ? Won't the bank be broke now so many of their notes are burnt ?" Similar folly is exhibited by the Irish repeal Men bers of Parlia ment. "Well stay in Dublin, finding fault with the measures of Government ;. . we'll, . scold, in our own peculiar style of vituperation; every public man and every_ public journal whose views :are contrary to, or do not extend to the same •letigths with,. our own. We'll fiercely -denounce the measures, .and the men with whom they Originate. tatire'li not exercise our rightto oppose these- measures, where opposition would be legitimate and, to a considerable extent, effectual. We will keep where we are, magnanimously holding ourselves aloof from our arliamentary duties. We will thus violate our duties to our constituents and our country; both of which _we love with an intense pa triotic affection !'' Such is, in effect, the language of the . Irish repeal Alembers.. Who does not see— always, of course, excepting themselves,--that they are playing the game of the Ministers - whom they denounce as enemies to their country ? What does Sir Robert Peel—Or any of this colleagues—or those who suppOrt his measures- in- Parliament, care for • the vituperations of Mr. 0': - .;onnell and his coadjutors in the Conciliation Hall ? His and their absence from the House of Commons—being relieved from their presence, and, above all, from their speeches --constitute the theme of their congratulation. blir.isters will carry their measures without the obstructions which might - be interposed-to their prce gress. were Mr. O'Connell and his friends present in the House. They will thus get through the business of the session probably a month sooner than they would do, were the eloquence of Mr. O'Connell and his Repeal coadjutors to be employed in the debates —a relief which. they would par chaie at a - large price, if money could procure it. But_ how,does Mr. O'Connell reconcile -his absence from Parliament with the obligations which he under tovoic when he became a member of the Legislature ? Cari.:the Self-constituted Repeal AssoCiation absolve hiai, froth" his engagement ? Will the people of Ire land-as distinguiAlled fieim the mere mob—consider that trashy speeches:, delivered weekly ht the- Con ciliittion• Hall; will-compensate for regular attendance in ;:iiicr.lOorious -atpbcation to the varied duties of ParliaMenti?-. The public business of the country-7- we are willing to admit—can be conducted without him, and those to Whoin his example is a • But can Mr. O'Connell hope to maintain his position: with out Parliament? We :trove, not, . STANDARD: —The subjects which. engaged the attention ,Of the house of CominpriS'lstat night Were more important than interesting; for i tio'Wever it hap penfte be interesting, a topic must have , something of novelty or something of the picturesque or senti mental ; and railroads, union workhouses, and, parochial, settlements present little that is either . new , picturesque, or sentimental. The topics are., nevertheless, grave and very. im portant topics. As far as we . can under stand Mr. Wallace's very long speech, that gentleman wishes for' 'a kind of railroad saturnalia, a railroad license in the gross' and the &tail, perinitting all persona to run railroad's wherever it may seem good to them, and then allowing the public to male tie' of them upon , Ns hat terms the moderation of rail Way. travellers' Might award. This is a . pleasant presp!ct enough. Railways running side by side, crossing, jostling, and intersecting each other at every angle of the quadrant, for competition sake. But then starts up . • another question—what chance of competition, -when travellers are to be entitled to pay ad libitum, or, for that matter, to use the railway, upon Mr. Wallace's doctrine of the universal " liberty of locomotion," without paying anything ? We ap prehend that the adoption of this 'doctrine would put an end to all railways by a very, simp le proc e ss . Lord ' Ho wick takes a very different view of the matter. If Mr. Wallace would have a r ailroad anarchy, Lord Ilowick contends for a railroad autocracy in the Le- . gislature or, the txf c 4 tive; it is-notquite'clear which. Railroads, says. his Lordship, **intended for the public convenience ; but the public being . ' blind to its 'own convenience, authority must interpmeto guide, it, and mark out the most c onvenient line. The inference is just, wcre'ile antecedent cor rect ; hut the antecedent is not correct : the public is not !blind : ti 4 ite own convenience; but much more clear-sighted j in.- the matter than any legislature Or any executive, and has a much stronger motive than either can have to exercise its discernment. Railroads are calculated for general convenience ; but this convenience is to be paid for, and the more persons avail themselves of the convenience, the greater the number of the persons who will pay ; thus the probable amount , of payments to be anticipated affords an exact measure of the amount of convenience to be afforded, and this is the very same measure by which men calculate when they propose to invest their money in railroads. Is it not a wiser course.-^than. that pro posed by either Mr. Wallace or Lord "Hovvick to leave it to the public, es heretofore, to judge of the convenient lines . , and reserve to the Legislature the power of deciding against the inconvenient lines ; and %%Inn aline convenient for one party happens -to be inconvenient for another to arbitrate :between them ? 'MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.—We can now state with. tertiinty, that the Hon. W. B. Baring succeeds Sir Edward' Knatchbull in the office of -Paymaster-Gtnerab to:. the Forces ; and that Lord Jocelyn succeeds Mr. Baring at the Board ~of Cosvol, Fi ese f changes c ause vacancies in the represenfafio'hor rough and King's Lynn. We believe we ;May state with equal certainty; that Sir Edward Knatchbull will shortly, be raised to the peerage —Evening Paper.. Ton EARL: OF MORN INdTON.—We regret to state this venerable nobleman is daily growing weaker, and little or no hope is now entertained of his recovery. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM • RAIL WAY.-(THIS DAY.) The:half yearly general meeting of the Proprietors of;the above railway was held this afternoon, at the EnWn-square Station. G. C. Glynn; E . 4.,Chairman of the Directors. occupied the chair. There was a very large atrendance of- Shareholders, and; the proceedings although short, were of very great importance. The Chairman, in his opening address, stated that terms had been agreed, upon between the Londorillnd-Birmingham • Company, the Birmingham and Manchest'a.r Company, ihe Trent Valley Company, and the Churnet Valley Company, that an amalgamation of three of these Companies, and a perpetual lease •of the other _should take place. Jt was proposed to take a perpetUallease of the Trent Valley Company by the London end Birmingham Com pany, who would guarantee a divi dend,. equal to that on, the London and Birmingham Company,- to , .the Tont Valley Shareholders. The - amalgamation wit r h . , the Churnet Valley Company. was to : he effected upon.Orms to be governed by the nmouut c£.dividend and the ex penditure in five yearn from the preaentilSime, The - amalgamation with the Manchester and Birmingham Corn , • any was to- be effected by the Shareholders in that' Comp Any receiving '251. 10s. London and . Birmingham stock fur each of their own full .shares, and 61. 7s. 6d. upon the small shares. 'These propositions were ref ceived with the utmost unanimity, and the sanction a the Proprietors was awarded amidst much applause.- A divide" of 5/. , per cent, fur the half- ) 'ear 'was 'then . &Oared, and p ower h av i ng been given. to the Directers . to carry out the various projects which. they ;have in. bawl at present, thanks were voted to the - Chairman, and. the nit eing separated. LONDON AND GREENWICH RAIL- . WAY.—(T HIS DAY.) l - The half-yearly general meeting of the Shareholders 9 of thi s Company was h el d to - day , at the Lond avern. Mr. SEADBOLT , . C hairman of the Board of Dir took the chair shortly a ft. r one o'clock, and e a ll e Mr. Wilson , the De p ut y -Chairman, to read the upn report,-o which was as follows: " Your Directors have great pleasure in submitting to the Shareholders their proceedings, a nd. tife annexed statement of the accounts of the Company, for the half year .ending the 31st December last. our Directors baveciven the most careful and anxious consideration to the clauses and , provisions proper to be inserted in the Articles of Agreement for losing the Railway, and all the works and conveniences connected therewith (in chiding the land on either side of the. Railway reserved for widening the line, and varying from 244 feet, more or less, to 30. feet), to the • South-Eastern (Dover) Company, rendered tho,more difficult.. and important by thy girotiffigitrlee of. the term being rói , 999. years, and thorefory mtakiorr of the nature of a purchase., as well ii dit demo% sal' by the magi:ll44s of Nat, and differential duties which' prevented a successful termination to the negoeiations with Brazil, and he did not anticipate. the Right Hon. Baronet would give up these notions. The Right. Hon. Baronet must know that when the Brazilian. Government was informed by Mr. }Alice of -the amount of duty which the British Government intended, to impose on foreign sugar as against British colonial sugar, the Brazilian Government at Once "cut shOtt the negoz tiation. He did not 'know whether he Was at liberty to move for the production of the instructions of the Government to Mr. Ellice, but if the Right Hon. Baronet would consent he would be anxious to see them on the table of the House. Lord J. RUSSELL said as the Right Hon. Baronet had given notice that on Friday he would make a star ement to the. House of the greatest im portance to the commercial interests of this country. lie was anxious to know what course the Right lion. Baronet intended to pursue. Two courses might be taken. A resolution might be moved, which would leave the Howe at liherty either to affirm or reject it, or an amendment might-be moved on the resolution. He wished to know if the Right Hon. Baronet intended to press the House to a decision on 36,000/. for the first year, to be increased 1,000/, yearly until it shall reach 45,000/. per annum, such rent to be payable quarterly, clear of all taxes and deductions, ex cept the property-tax. Having, however, been met by the Directors of the South-Eastern Company, on the terms of the agreement, and all points of doubt or difficulty arising out of the prel.minary contract, in the most friendly and liberal spirit, your Directors have the satisfaction to state that Tuesday, the 11th instant, has been appointed for affixing the teals of both Companies to the articles of agreement. Your Directors have contracted to sell to the South-Eastern Company the land and buildings belonging to this Company not in cluded in such demise, at the sum of 18,000/. The engines, carriages, stores, and working-plant, have been taken by the South-Eastern Company, at the sum of 22,8081. 17s. Bd. The term in the lease commenced on the Ist of January last, and the business of the rail way has, since that day, been conducted on the account, and at the risk, of the South-Eastern Company. Anxious to perfect all the arrangements with as little delay as possible, your Directors have instructed your solicitor, in conjunction with the solicitor of the South-Eastern Company, to prepare the draft of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament, and the clauses and provisions are under the consideration of your Directors. By the annexed accounts, as examined and certified by the auditors, it will be . seen that, after paying all expenses, together with interest on the mort gage debt and on the preference shares, there remains to the credit of the profit and loss account, including former balances, the sum of 2,528/. 19s. 2d. In order to carry into effect the recommendation of the Committee of Shareholders in reference to compensation to old and faithful officers cf the Com pany, your directors propose the grant of the following gratuities, viz.—Mr. Akermann, the Secretary, 500/ ; Mr. Adron, the Accountant and Superintendent of the Line, 250/. ; Mr. Watkins, the Transfer Clerk, 1251; and Mr. Laurie, the Collecting Clerk, 125/. So soon as the matters in progress shall have been finally adjusted, and the precise state of the affairs of the Company ascertained, your directors will call a Special General Meeting of the Shareholders, and submit the results, when they confi dently anticipate that they shall be able to submit a plan whereby a considerable diminution may be effected in the rate of 'interests now payable on the bonded debt of the Company—an expectation warranted by the im proved and ascertained nature of the security. The Directors going out of office by rotation are Win. Shad bolt, Esq. and Henry Wheeler , Esq. , who , bein g 'eligi ble, offer themselves for re-election." The report was unanimously approved, received, and adopted, with two amendments, to the effect , that Mr. Watkins, the transfer clerk, should receive a gratuity . of 200/. instead of 1251., as proposed by the Directors ; and that a pension of 151. per annum for life should ,be paid out of the assets of the Company to one of their servants, named Nash, who bad broken his leg by. an accident in the discharge of his duty. A gratuity of 500 L was also voted to Mr. George Walters, - .the late superintendent, for his zeal and ser vices. In answer to a'question from a Proprietor, the Chair man stated that the deed of- assignment to the- South- Eastern Railway Company, and the Bill to be Presented' to Parliament, would be submitted to a special general' meeting of the _Subscribers, which meeting . would be their lust. Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, Direeters, and Auditors, the meeting separated in exceeding - good h u Mom • CANADA. Mr. ROEBUCK then rose and said, that be had given notice of a question which he intended to put to the Government on the subject of the late elec tions in Canada. He was reluctant to bring this question forward, as the Government of Canada at present was only an experiment, and he was ex tremely unwilling to express any opinion upon the proceedings that were going on in that country. Circumstances had occurred, however, which now induced him to allude to the subject. During the last year Sir C. Metcalfe dissolved the Parliament of Canada. New elections took place, at which, particularly in Montreal, disturbances had occurred. A petition had been presented to the Legislature of Canada complaining of the legality of the election, - and impugning the conduct of the returning officer, the sheriff of Montreal. That subject was at the present moment under the consideration of the due and proper tribunals, and what he wanted to know was this —whether her Ma jesty's Government had any peculiar circumstances to state or lay before the . House, for the purpose of explaining the conduct that had been pursued on the part of the Colonial Secretary, with re spect to the returning officer of the city of Montreal. He had been given to understand, and he wished to know whether such was the case, that notwithstand ing the complaints that bad been _made against the returning officer, the Secretary for the Colonies had advised that a vote of thanks should be given to him. He wished to know whether the statements that bad been made to him were true ; namely, that the thanks of her Majesty had been given to the returning officer of the city of Montreal at a time when his conduct was under the consideration of the proper tribunal—the House of Assembly ? and if that question was answered in the affirmative, the next question he should wish to put would be, whether there would be any objection to lay before the House the mode in which these thanks had been conveyed? Mr. G. W. HOPE said that, as the Honourable Member had given him notice of the question, he was prepared to answer it. With respect to the election petition that was depending, he did not know of it. What was known of the transaction he could state shortly. He was quite ready to produce the papers that had been adverted to. It appeared that, previous to the election at Montreal, an application had been made by the oppo sition candidate, in which he stated that the stipen diary magistrate thought it would be advantageous to commence polling under military protection. To this the returning officer would not consent, and in no case was military aid resorted to until it became essentially necessary. It was .true that preparations were made to prevent any disturbance taking place,. large numbers being expected to arrive. The mili tary were in readiness, but they acted . upon one oc casion, and one only. Everything was done by Mr. Young that cesteld -be to secure order and free access to the poll Itirsatboth sides ; and according to the report of Sir Chirelh Metcalfe, the general peace ful manner in which We election was conducted was owing to the course pursued by the returning officer. The Governor expressed his gratification that no life bad been sacrificed, and stated that great credit was due to the troops and to the officers, and that, without their assistance, it would have been impossible for the voters to have exercised the franchis freely, in con sequence of the intrusion of non-voters. On the re ceipt of that dispatch, which had arrived before the Canadian Parliament had met, and before, therefore, it was possible to ascertain what elections would be petitioned against, the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department had felt it his duty to, transmit to the Governor of Canada a dispatch conveying, not the thanks of her Majesty, but his msn expression of approbation of the conduct of Mr. Young and Captain Wetherell for the efforts which they had so successfully made for the preservation of the public peace ' • and he had desired that this expres sion of his approbation should be communicated to those gentlemen. There had been no thanks returned in the name of her Majesty, and no statement had been made beyond the expression of the approbation of. the Executive Government to the Executive officers for their exertions.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME thought the House ought to have be fore them the details of the circumstances which had led to the extraordinary changes which had recently taken place in the public mind in Canada. Great dis ccntent now reigned in the colony, and if they wished to preserve the colonies in a state of usefulness to the country they must govern them according to the wishes of the majority of their population. While Sir Charles Begot was there unanimity and con tentment reigned, but no sooner had a change of Ministry taken place than discontent arose. Te Governor dismissed his Executive Council, and for nine months governed without one. This gave rise to dissatisfaction and discontent. Hence bad arisen those scenes which had taken place at the elections; and it appeared to him to be necessary that all the documents connected with the subject should be laid before Parliament, so as to enahl- them to ascertain what had caused these sudden changes. He protested against the present system of government. that day. Sir R. PEEL begged to assure the Noble Lord opposite, in reply to his question, that- if it should appear inconvenient, he would not press the House to come to a decision on Friday next on the financial measure he should propose.—(Heari) Upon that day he would endeavour to state to the house, as clearly as he could , what the views of her Ma jesty's Government were with reference to the financial and commercial policy of the coOntry.s— (Hear, hear.) But, of course, on doing it, he begged it would be borne in mind that it was of the utmost importance that the House should come to a decision at as early a period as possible upon the proposal he should make ; but he would repeat it, that he would not, if it should be objected to, press the House to come to a decision on Friday.--(Hear, hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL was very glad to hear that announcement from the First Lord of the Trea sury, as any motion that he (Lord J. Russell) . had to make on that day would depend upon the course adopted by the Right Hon. Baronet. • Such, then, being the case, he (Lord J. Russell) hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would consent not to take a vote on his measure on Friday. Sir R. PEEL had only to repeat the hope that the House would see the importance of coming, with as little delay as would - be consistent with the nature of the measure, to a decision upon the measure he should have the honour of proposing on Friday. With re spect to her Majesty's Government, it should be re collected that it was their business to give no unne cessary delay to the public business ; but at the same time he would most readily acquiesce in the proposi'- don of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, hear.) COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER an nounced that the sum to be proposed by her. Majesty's Government as that necessary to meet the demands of the public service for the coming year, would be 15,400,500/. Mr. lIUME hoped that the laxity observable in the Exchequer-bill officers on late occasions would be endeavoured to be checked in future. Mr. WILLIAMS hoped that, from the present abundent state of the finances of the country; a reduction upon the interest of Exchequer-bills from lid. to lid. would be made. He would venture to suggest that the Exchequer would suffer nothing by this redatiols in .The rate of interest. He threw out these:observations in fhe hope that Government would adopt some measure for that purpose, and he was fully of opinion, that in the pre. sent state of the money market, that change might be effected with perfect safety. - The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER said that the same- observations had more than once been repeated, at different times, by. the Hon. Member., but in the policy of those suggestions he (the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer) could not by any means coincide, for it must not be forgotten that there was a vast difference between what might be considered -a permanent debt, and sums lent (aft for short periods at a small rate of interest. With reference to the papers sought for by the Hon. Member for Montrose on the subject of Exchequer-bills, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not think there would be any objection to their production. Mr. T. BARING said there was an apparent diffe rence between the vote of this year and that of last, amounting to one million two hundred thousand and odd pounds. He wished this to be explained, for he found by the paper some of the parties were paid before they were actually due. He wished to ask what benefit there had been derived from the reduction in the 3 per cents., which ought to have produced to the Re venue 400,0001. There was another question which he should be glad to' have amswered. We would be glad, to know whethei the whole of the . China com pensation money had been paid'? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUE: said he was prepared to give the UM. Member satis• factory answers to his inquiries. The Honourable iled himselfun uniform o f m periods, the oppor tunity p a o n r d - Member would be aware that when he proposed to effect a reduction in the -interest of the Three tunity: of obtaining- powers t o p ay t h e inte restper C in the h various e riou a s v a stocks at in order -to effect this- it became necessary, to pay some of the interest before it became due. For in stance, one stock paid interest half yearly, while others paid quarterly, and thus to make the time uniform, the interest, ,in one or two instances, was paid in October,- when hitherto it was not paid till January. Tnere was no reduction in October, 1844, but when they arrived at January, 1845, the reduction would be made apparent. These accounts would he rendered up to the sth of April, 1845. He hoped this answer would satisfy the lion. Gentleman so far as it- concerned his fiat question. With respect to the second question, as to what benefit would be derived from the reduction in the Three-and-a - Half per Cents. The Right Hon. A Gentleman would cti be aware that the Act di should be . made from October, 1844, and from the circum stances he had before stated the benefit would not commenc e till January, 1845 , but would not be eted the made apparent in the revenue returns of April ensuing. With respect < to— the third question, relating to the opium core peOsation money, he might say that the whole had:been paid. There was, however, a sum o f 1,5001. in dispute, aid as yet unpaid, and that was the whole extent to which any future payments would be made in respect of com pensation. The sum of 13,004,5001. was , then voted, to defray the , ssipence of Exchequer bills. The House then resumed, and the Chairinan re ported accordingly. Sir R. PEELe begged to be exempted from serving on Election Committees, on account of his official duties. The application' having been acceded to, the House adjourned. IMPERIAL; PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE 'OF 'COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. NEW MEMBER. Sir GEORGE CLERK took the oaths and his seat upon his re-election,, as, ViCe-Presidebt of the Board of Trade, for the boroughof Stamford. The HOn. - Baronet imtnediately after.. stood before the table, and said he begged leave to present certain papers by command' of her Majesty. RAILWAYS. Mr. KEMBLE presented a 'petition in .favour of the Chicbester and Portsmouth Railway Bill. . MEDICAL REFORM BILL. Sir GEORGE HENRY SMYTH presented a petition from .the inhabitants of,.Colchester against the iledical Reform Bill. WINDOW-TAX. Mr. WILLIAMS (of Coventry) presented a pe tition from the,inhabitants of Gravesend, praying for the total repeal of.the winnow-tax. MEDICAL REFORM. BILL. . . 'Mr. S. CRAWFORD begged leave to present a petitfoh from the inhabitants of the town of Rochdale, against any enactment's which would haVe the effect -of, removing the existing restrictions upon unqualified , medical practitioners, and praying that a measure might be passed, which would tend to the further proteation of. the profession. EASTERN :.COUNTIES RAILWAY BILL. - An Hos. MEMBER, whose name we' could 'not ascertain, presented a petition in reference to the Easter Counties Railway Bill. . .: AittilCAL REPORM BILL. ' Mr. WAKLEY , presented , a petition, from the medical practitioners of Malmesbary, against the Government Medical Reform Bill: it expressed a hope that the Government would pass a Bill in favour of the erection of a new medical college, and establish a summary .mode Of,punish-. tnent against all persons who should be found prac tising without then proper medical license. ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATE DUTY. Mr. CllitisTornlt presented , a 'petition from 1 the solicitors of Lincoln, complaining of the excessive amount of fees required from parties .applying to be admitted to practice as attorneys and solicitors in the .courts of equity, and common law, and praying , the .1-16 Use - to, abolish theM, as' als'o to abash the annual certificate fee. . , UNIVERSAL PEACE SOCIETY. RAILWAYS. Mr. WALLACE, seeing the Noble Lord the Chancellor of the Duhcy of Lancaster in his place, would ask him if it was his intention to press the second reading of the Railway Consolidation Bilk to-morrow. Ile (Mr. Wallace) considered a longer time ought to be granted for the consideration of measures of so much importance. He was prepare l to propose two additional clauses in those Bills; and if they were pressed forward he should be obliged to give notice of those clauses to-night. But he would much rather postpone his motion to a future day. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET considered it of great importance that the Bills should pass the House with as little delay as possible. He felt great disinclination to put off the Bills. He should move the Committee to-morrow night, and on this day week would bring up the report.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. WALLACE was perfectly satisfied with the explanation of the Noble Lord, and would render him all the assistance in his power. THE PORTLAND VASE. Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition from the members of 'the l llniversal Peace Society, in which they ,stated 'they regretted, to hearthat kstatement was made in her Majesty's Speech advising an in crease in •the, naval force of the country. They thought it unnecessary, and, instead of an augmenta tion, a reduction ought to take place. The practice of war they ,believed was contrary to the spint of Christianity, and entirely unnecessary. They desired the Government to appeal .to reason, and use the power of arbitration, in , order to settle any dispute that might arise between this country' and foreign nations,• The lozi. Member said he heartily con curred in the prayer:of the petition. APOTHECARIES' ACT: • Mr. CHRISTOPHER wished to put a question to to his Right Hon. Friend, which was suggested by the wanton destruction of the Portland vase. From the police reports of that morning, it appeared that the magistrate had no power, to exact from the de stroyer of that precious relic of ancient art a penalty higher than a fine of five pounds, or to inflict a greater personal punishment than impri sonment, with' or without hard labour. He begged to call the attention , of. his Right Hon. Friend to ~this subject, and he wished him. to inform the House whether it was his intention, by legislation or otherwise,-to take measures 'to prevent the recurrence of such an outrage. Sir R. PEEL said the,trustees of the British Mu seum intended to hold a meeting on Saturday next, for the purpose of considering . this important subject; the result of that meeting would, in all probability, be some communicaticn on their part to her Majesty's Government. He would, therefore, not express any opinion till that communication should be made. COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH BRAZIL. Mr. BOUVERIE wished to ask a question of her Majesty's Government on the subject of the commer cial treaty between this country and Brazil. It had been asserted that our commercial intercourse with that country must rest on a reciprocity treaty, similar to the one that expired last year, which was a treaty , of, that description. An additional nation for assuming. this probability, , which amounted, indeed, Almost to a certainty, was that more than one-fifth of the prports of Brazil consisted of the article of sugar. Now, if the Brazilian Government insisted on a re ciprocity treaty in reference to this article of commerce, there was no prospect of any agreement between this Government and that . ef Brazil as long as that frivolous distinction remained on the Statute Book between slave-grown and free-labour sugar. He apprehended that the Act. passed last year on the subject had proved nugatory, inasmuch as the .only sugar that had come into this • country . uncer that 'Act was imported from Venezuela, and was slave-grown, while that which was expected to arrive would consist, to a great extent, of North American sugar, from New 'Orleans, which was slave-groWn. If, therefore, this reciprocity treaty. was to be concluded, the distinc tion must be abandoned, and he could only express a hope—which was also that of a large majority of the conntry—that the Right Hon,. Gentleman would, as on many former occasions, put his consistency in his pocket, and remove this distinction. He would put the question,. which - was this—whether there was any negotiation, or likely to be any, between , this country and the Brazilian Government for the conclu sion of a commercial treaty 2 _ Sir R. PEEL said that no negotiations were pend ing between this country and the Brazilian Govern ment on account of any alteration in the tariff of import duties of that country. There had been a proposal made to the British Government in' respect of one of the ordinary treaties of commerce but there had been no change in the tariff duties. Mr. RICARDO hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would abandon - .the principle of these reciprocity duties, which made the commerce of this countr y dependent on that of others. Mr. M. GIBSON thought the Government ought to abanion all attempts at tariff treaties. It must strike every person that the liinits within which the Government could negotiate with foreign countries was too narrow to admit of much advantage. The difficulty did not lie abroad, but at home ; and he thought_ a negotiation with a central ' society for the protection of agriculture, would be more likely to lead to permanent results than any treaties with Brazils, or elsewhere. The fact was, class interests must be consulted before any great change could be made in the import duties even in the most necessary articles of human food. It was the Right lion.avatlerop g 41.qpnc.;._to'protection _..... ........._ Mr: HASTlE:presented a petition from the sur-, ge - Oiis' Of 'Sentlai4 praying . the House to abolish the - Apothecaries' Act. . - . NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. WALLACE gave notice ~that; on .the" 25th' inst, he would,call the attention of the ...House to the, report Of the Comniissioners appointed last year .-to inluire into the _frauds committed in the• port of London. . . : . .. • , • . r• ~ ... . PRIVILEGE.. ~ .. , •' The Sergeant=at-Arms appeared at the bar of the Ilonse; and- stated- 'that an action.of trespass having ' been commenced against him -on -the 'l9th of January in, the previous year, by a Mr - . Thoniiis Howard, : be. ,had , now.., to state that • a declara ti6n-- •disclosing the , cause of action, .was, filed against him - on the 23d of December, 1844.. Under the advice of the laW officers of the Crown-an appli cation was made to a judge in chambers on the '24th of December, 1844, .and two months further time to plead obtained.. - -The SOLICITOR-GENFRAL -said that in con sequence of the information that had been received from the . Sergeant-it-ArMs, 'he thOught it would be better to. pursue the course that had be'eti . pur§ned . .in 1843, when a,similar communication.wasloade. ‘ He . should propose to have the .paper printed with the votes,' end he wculd'-noiv - give notice of a motion on the subject of those proceeding'S for to- rhOrrOw; DORCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON;I4IL ' • - --: " . WAY. On Ole 'motion that' the House resolve itself • into a. .COMmittee . Of SiipplY, . - ' ' -• • - .Captain.HAßltlS s444hat Iww4efl to addresS a: few -words: to the:House on a subjea.whiCkielleeted'on himself in& a noble relative of his in the,other.Houie (the Earl of Malinsbury) with regard-to the Dorches ter ,uni,t Southampton:Railway. • Certain rumours had gOne abroad that his noble relative - 'had - infittinced the Board 'of rfrade with regard to•this line, and that' riitnOtir had .: been strengthened , by what _had .fallen from the: lion. Member for Dorsetshire: He did not helie4e ilizit'the Board . of 'Trade'coUld' be influenced in their decisions by any . person;' and he would - not .have said. a. word on the subject were, it not for 4/hat had been said in the 'House with respect: to it.. The company Who - undertook the- formation. of the .railway betwßen , Dorchester, and . .Sputhampton communicated ..witii....hia: Noble 'relative and . him self 7pn the subject, and . they , both saw the. great. imPortance , it• would. be both . 'in a local and national point of view.; it would: place the defences of the country along the coast on a more secure footing, for,.in case of invasion, cavalry could be conveyed with the greatest expedition, and the disembarkation of hostile troops at any point along the line could best be prevented by cavalry. On public grounds, therefore, as well as on private ones, they supported the line. A meeting was held on the subject in the month of May, at which his noble re lative and himself attended, when subscriptions were seeewrotnna d in as resolutionsth meeting e r ule : raised to d e f ray th e eng i neer i ng e x penses. A ev a ery ee t as whaert h egr eld at Dorchester in July. dinetom,bearndshitouwlasd take do e share to the value of 500/. - Several - meetings were held in the autumn,- and his noble relative havin obtained an interview with Lord Dalhousie, g t the latter declined to come' to any -decision at that that he must be guided entirely by the public stating He had said so much both to vindicate him ic s b e e l r f Tic n e d his noble , relative, he. had ever found that and Houle *as ready to listen with indtil - gence on such subjects as these.—(Hear, hear.) EXCHEQUER.—(PI-lIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Pries, before Mr. Bahia PLATT and a • Special Jury.) ABSOLUM V. B ANBURY.-.--3111M. CON. . * This' was'an action to recover compensation, in damages, for the-seduction of the plaintiff's wife by the defendant. • • • The defendant had three , pleat On thelecord. - First, that he Was not guilty ; sechnilly, that the lady was not the wife of the plaintiff; and, thirdly, that - he engaged' in the intercourse with the lice! se of the plaintiff. Mr. Chad wick J,ones and Mr. Petersdorff eppeared' for the plaintiff ; Mr. Cockburn and Mr. ilieft fur the defen dant. -- - It appeared from the evidence, .that the defendant had been a tailor ; at Bury St. Edmunde, and that. he after-: 'wards mine • to- London, •where -he resided. at No. 6, Bullin-court, in the Strand. The defend . -- ant was' • the ion of • • Sir Charles- - Bunhury, living in the neighbourhood of Flury. ' The woman re presented as the wife of the plaintiff had represented her self. to the defendapt as being single and, being of a very. attractive apporance, the defendant had been deeply. smitten by her. • On the part ef,the.plaintiffAhat an. appointment had been made between thnparties to meet at St. Martin's Church.; that the woman went there in company with a young girl ; and that the defendant and herself, - having entered a cab, they went together to a house at the corner of Oxendon-street. It was also proved in support of the prosecution, that the defendant and the wife of the plaintiff had slept in plaintiff's house when he was absent. Many particu lars were entered into which were wholly unfit for pub lication. Mr. Como:ruin on behalf of the plaintiff. entered into an able defence. He denounced the whole case in the most unmeasured term-, and c haracterixe dever it as the most foul and scandalous conspiracy that was plotted. The defendant had always been lead to suppose that . the party was unmarried, and he had always treated her with the greatest generosity. Since he ' had first met with her he had be come married to a most accomplished young lady and this rendered it necessary for him to give up all con nexion with the other person. Since then she had an noyed him in such a manner that he had been obliged to put she affair into the hands of a solicitor, who, with the assistance of Forrester, of the Mansion house, hid found out that the supposed wife was a m ere street-walker, and that 10, she was, in fact, a Miss Eliza Francis, -who had be en a lthough resedneed she n h t ad u g n o r n y e by b the yn name of Mrs. Absa young gentleman. timessitancteemewnlitsicmhadeb3 th , sh e e had lived with the plaintiff. The Learned Counsel referred a t- g reat len g th to the p l a i n tiff himselfto the defendant's solicitor. `') lAt the termination of the defendant's case, - Mr. Sergeant JONES said that if the Counsel for the defendent could, prove that the letters on which part of his casei rested were genuine. he would abandon his case. hand mA w r. i s tn erg ess esn wits t ; Q the n n e th cal ledonsa.h spoke a • th o at.bobat the do in th is THE: SLN, LONDON, WEDNE-SDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY J. 23, 16.15. been grossly imposed upon ; and, as he apprehende that no member of the bar ought to lend himself to so iniquitous a ease, he felt it to be his duty at once to abandon the case. • Mr. Baron PLATT said the onurse taken by the Learned Counsel was one which did honour to himself. Verdict for the defendant. THE ENGLISH AT ADEN. The Orienial.and Peninsula steamer Bentinck arrived at Aden on the morning of the 31st of December, having 111 passengers on board, amongst whom were Sir Ro bert and Lady Sale, Lord Elphinstcne, and Prince Sot sikoff and suite. The ,Bentinck left for Calcutta at half-past ten P.M. on the evening of the Ist of January. Sir Robert Sale dined with her Majesty's 17th. The Luellen of Sanaa has not ventured to leave his ca- Titsl to attack Aden, as he is apprehensive of another rebellion during his absence. Another avowed enemy has appeared, in the person . of the Sheriff of Mocha, to dispute with us the• possession of Aden. He is now at a place named Tais, 50 miles from Aden, where he has ' collected (reports vary) from 15,000 to 30,000 well armed Arabs, of their best tribes, to attack us. He is holing out every inducement to persuade the tribes in the plain to join him. He has raised the green standard, and called on every true b‘ lieVer to join him in expelling the Infidel. This is not the time to preach holy war, even amongst Arabs. A few dollars, even with the most orthodox, .have far more in fluence than the name of the Prophet. He assign, no particular reason why he intends his attack, further than that it is his intention to cle•ar Arabia of the Christians. It is exceedingly doubtful how fair he will be able to pre vail over the independent tribes, either by force or pro mises, to assist him in what they so .well know is a hopeless cause.. He may, however. give us much trouble, and harass our troops, should he sit, down on the plain before the place, as we are not in force sufficient to go out and attack him, though that I believe, even with our small force, would be the better plan. We have a gar -rison of about 1,800 bayonets ; but from the extent and peculiar nature of the place, not more than one hundred men can be . togethe r in any given place ; add to which, the place has been altogether tie - glected. ---- 1 - • 'regret, indeed, very much to say, that no active measures haie yet been adopted to even commence the works. No experienced engineer has yet been sent from India. Indeed, I should strongly re - -,commend, that as Aden is • and will continue of growing , -importance to the Crown, engineers, or a superintend ing engineer, should be forthwith ordered from Erg land.• to see the works at .least commenced. Not that we have not clever and very able engineers in India, but the Government Will not order them up. The Sheriff of Mocha isithe same individual who, three years ago, cut down the English flag-staff and expelled the British Consul from that place, and who also wrote most in sulting letters to the Indian Government, and to Captain Haines, the Political Agent. This insult was submit t. d to, and a fair opportunity lost of chastising an insolent petty chief who merely exists by the sufferance of the British Govet nment. Should he now be so infatuated as to perpetrate an aaack on our garrison, I trust he .will not again be allowed to escape without his place being levelled with the ground. The trade will.then.re, vert to Aden. Should the anticipated attack take place, I will furnish you with the detailed particulars. The Arab who murdered the woman, as mentioned in my last, was executed on the 18th ult., on the spot where he committed the crime. An immense crowd collected to witness the act of retributive justice; and though the punishment of hanging is excessively ob noxious to Mussulmatis, and only a few policemen were present, no excitement was observed amongst the people, nor was one murmur of pity expressed in behalf of the wretched man who thus ignominiously paid the penalty of his unbridled passion. The Hon. Company's steam packet Berenice anchored this morning at halt-past 9 with 38 passengers. She left Bombay. on the evening of the Ist, at half past 11. The Southern -Mahratta country is .still as unsettled as ever, though a force of upwards of 8,000 men still occupy the country. Every fort in the country should be -levelled with the ground, and the inhabitants disarmed. Tat some such measure is ad• pted continued rebellions may be expected, and when such extensive outbreakings - occur it is difliAlt to surmise where they may end. Had even this partial rising ea masse taken place at a time, when all our troops, to a man, were:so urgently required for Sinde, how much would such an occurrence have embarrassed the Government? Destroy the forts and disarm the population, and then, but most decidedly not till tnen, may we expect to tranquillise the country. Her Majesty's 94th Regiment arein orders to relieve • her Majesty's 17th Regiment, now at Aden. They were to embark un the 15th of January, and may be ex pected to reach Aden about the 10th proximo. The small-pox, which appeared at Aden two months since, and which proved fatal to several of the inhabi tants, has, owing to the judicious arrangements, nearly disappeared, -- only one case now remaining in hospital. All the troops are now healthy ; climate delightfully cool and-pleasant. ' Sir Thomas M'Mahon resigns the command. of the. Bombay army in February, and is to be succeeded by Sir Charles Napier. The Marquis de Ferriere le Vayer proceeds with this mail to Paris with - the treaty concluded between the Emperor of China and the French Government. The French have also concluded a treaty with the Imaum of Muscat at Zanzibar. The French are using every en deavour in their power to extend their colonies and rela tionain the Eastern seas, and are now about to take pos session of the island of Socotra, for which purpo s e se veral vessels of war have proceeded to that place.----Times. THE BARQUE HENRY —The hull of this ill-fated ship, which took fire off Blackwall on Monday afternoon, as noticed in this journal yesterday, continued to burn during the whole of the night, and it was not until the tide hail rose °lithe following morning at an early hour, and gradually filled her, that the flames were in any way got under ; in fact, it was a matter of surprise to all how she could have burned with such fierceness for so long a period from the circuthatanee of her bring light, and having no inflammable cargo on board. On the tide'receding, measures were" promptly adopted by Capt. Rowland, the harbour master, and her unfortunate owner to weigh that portion of: the hull which had escaped destruction. Al though - she was • Completely d stroyed to the water's edge, shipwrights'. were immediately set to work in stopping up the aperture made to scuttle her, which they effected with every- success. On the return of tthe tide she floated, and. if .Was expected that. in the course of the evening she would be towed into dock, when she will no doubt be broken up, so as to preserve the copper on her bottom, it having been but lately put on. On undergoing a survey, the whole of her interior seems to have been consumed, and her sides down to within a few feet of the cop pering ; and, notwithstanding she must have been covered by the water for a short time, sonic beams at her bow were absolutely found yesterday afternoon, at four o'clock, to be still on fire. A careful inquiry has been instituted respecting the origin of the calamity, and from all we can gather, it appears that some boys were engaged in cleansing one of the after between decks, when one of them acci dentally dropped a lighted candle which' he held in his hand amongst some shaving,' ' pieces of tar, wood, old rope, &c., and those inflam mable articled almost instantaneously igniting, fired as instantly the *hole of the after part of the ship. REPRESENTATION OF LEWES —The acceptance of office by the Hon. C. Fitzroy seems to have taken the good folks of LeWes by surprise. Nesterday morning the Hon. Gentleman's ad dress appeared On the walls, stating his intention again to solicit the suffrages of the electors. From present appearances there is no pro bability of a contest, which is somewhat surprising, when it is recol lected that Mr. Fitzroy was unsuccessful at the last election, and only succeeded,in gaining his scat by a compromise on a petition. Died, on the 9th instant, in his seventieth year, at No. 34, Gillingham-street, Vauxhall-road, after a protracted and painful illness, Mr. Henry Erskine Johnston,, formerly celebrated as an actor of vivid and powerful talents in the melo-dramatic and other line of performances, at Old Theatres Royal Drury - lane and Covent garden, leaving a Widow and many friends, to whom he was greatly endeared, to deplore his loss. ROYAL BELGRAVE LYING-IN INSTITUTION.—Ires terday Mr. Wakley, M.P., coroner, resumed anLinquiry which was opened on the 15t11 of January last, in the Board-room of Chelsea Workhouse, Arthur-street, King's-road, Chelsea, into the circum stance attending the death of the male infant child of Anne Nancy Lawrence, of No. 1, Orford-place, Marborough-road, Chelsea. After a long investigation, the jury returned the following verdict :—" We find that the deceased child died from natural weakness, and we ground that verdict upon the medical evidence given by Mr. Warder ; and the jury think that the conduct of _Mrs. Miller, the midwife of the Royal Belgrave Lying-in Institution, -is highly reprehensible, and deserves to be visited by some severe mark of the censure of the jury." The conduct of the midwife is to be regulary inquired into, with reference to her situation in the Institution. POST-OFFICE PERSEVERANCIL—ADVENTURES OF A NEWEIPAPEA.—An apprentice lad, on board an English vessel in Cal cutta; had lately kpacket presented to him through the post-office, the postage of which amounted to 20 rupees (or about 21. sterling). It merely contained a newspaper, which some friend of his in London had inclosed in half a sheet of paper, and addressed to him when his vessel was in London, expecting that it would find him in St. Katha rine Docks. His vessel, anowever, sailed before the letter could be delivered, and it followed him—first to Hobart Town, next to Sydney; thence to Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta; thence to the Mauritius, and, finally, back again -to Calcutta, where it caught him, after having travelled.3o,ooo miles, and, occupied on its tour one year and eight months. . , • . -----„, EXTRAORDINARY BIRTH.—On Thursday, the 30th of January last, Mrs. Spence, wife of James Spence, working tanner in Anstruther, was delivered of four children, two boys and two gtrls, who, with the mother, are doing well.—Edinburgh Evening Post. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Feb. 11 SUGAR:—To-day grocers and refiners were eager to pur chase"all qualities of West India Muscovado Sugar, but the Merchants insisting upon an advance on former rates of Is per cwt., business was checked, and the private purchases did not exceed 230 hhds and tierces. A public , sale of 118 hhds of Barbadoes went off with much.spirit, at an advance of is to 2s per cwt, fine yellow fetched 675, good 645, good middling 60s to 61s, middling 580 to 59s 6d ; low 56s to 57s 6d, and dabs 54 to 555 per. cwt. The impression is, that if the duty on Colonial Sugar be reduced, it will be 16s per cwt, or rather under. • .REFINED.—To=day refined goods were in excellent request, bro*n Lumps at 71s Gd to 725, and Standard Lumps at 73s per cwt. In Bastards and Pieces there was a large business done at fully former . rates. Bonded Crushed Sugar cannot be generally purchased under 31s 6d. per cw.t for forward delivery. This afternoon. Mauritius Sugar was. in extensive requesti - and - 676 0 bags 8 casks at public sale-were • all- sold, fine yellow 62i to 645, good 58s 6d to 61s 6d, good mid 57s to 58s, middling .55s to 56s 6d, low 53s to . 545, good and fine brown 50s .6d to. 525, low and middling 465. to 495; grey common to middling 52s to 565, good and fine 57s to 600 per cwt. - - EssTistinA.--ThiS afternoon' Bengal Sugar met ready put , chasers; 4,479 bags were offered at public sale; white and brown kinds, of which the chief part consisted, were all disposed of at fully forther rates,.fine white fetched 66s to 66s 6d, good 64s 6d, low '6ls; damp ,and washed 60s to 655, middling damp brown 45s to 465, washed 41s to 435, damp grey 53s 6d, but the yelloii'Manritlui kind were sold at - 62 s to 63s for good strong yellow, -60 s to 62s for damp,- 54s for low date yellow, and 52s to 53s for damp. Fonxiaw.—To.day there was not much demand for yellow ' Havannah Sugar, and 939 boxes I cask of damaged at pub. lic sale went.,6d to Is per cwt cheaper, but the whole sold, slightly damaged fine yellow at .21s to 21s 6d, good 20s to 208 6d, middling 19s to 19s 6d ; damaged, fine 203 6d, good 19s to 19s 6d, middling 18s Gd, low 17s 6d to 18s. Washed went at 21s 6d to 22s for fine, and 19s 6d to 20s 6d for good. A few lots of, damaged white re a li se d 27 s f or l ow m iddli ng , and 253 per.cwt for low, and was considered the full value. MOLASSES.—In West India the transactions are upon a more extended scale, but not at better prices, 19s to 22s per cwt having been taken for 300 puns of low to good Antigua. In East India little has been done, but the low prices deter holders from pressing sales. Corr - EL—This afternoon Ceylon Coffee met more atten tion, and 1,292 bags 3. casks 4. cases Plantation at public sale were all sold; fine ordinary pale grey. Demerara -sort fetched 61s to 61s 6d, fine fine ordinary 698'6d to 725, fine and fine fine ordinary palish 55s 6d to 66s 6d, good ordinary 50s to 51s, very. ordinary ragged 49s to 498 6d, triage 34s to 465, inferior 16s'to 21s, sound pea berry 65s to 755, better 82s 6d. Mocha in good'demand, and ,291 bales at auction were sold, middling grey kt oleo gartWit 644 6d to 6214 low 21144 illy 571 13d to Mis• Of My was sore, 221 bags at the 4 d per lb duty that there es something in this matter, as they enigk s sold, good ordinary talized et 42s 6d to 45s 6d; 1,222 bags of perceive, Iby looking at the exam' Le of a orlgipo,our ~ Costa Rica went cheaper, fine &dinars , at 51s, and ordinary inseenn;rv. Tiny sll knew - that in France the first • to good ordinary 40s to 48s; 170 bags of sea damaged Fo reign were taken in at ss; 102 bags o f I ' adan g went at 22s ' pint determined w as whet s heuld he the line (X rail to 245, end sea damaged 20s to 23s per cwt. Good ordinary Ro t e , way, and that was determined vote irrespsetive of any pariit ular company, and on a sod .er end d,speissiona pale Ceylon 50s to 51s per cwt. , . of TEA-The market has been firm for black and green core.utere tom what the centery requiree". ‘ l ' ile i n_ Tea, and the improved rates are fully supported :-common that ass deterntiee , ', I h I at se p . the, te s ell ue • ii . • Cotigou 11id to Is, Twankay yellow leaf Is 2id to is 3id, pitalists to send in their tenders of the terms on y` Rich and Ilyson c ommon 2s 7d to 2s 8d per lb. For public sale ' they would propose to execute the line. Now, will on Friday 5,000, and for Tuesday 1,200 packages of Tea are s h o uld we not adopt something of the saute kind here. declared, and which quantities are likely to be increased. He would trust any authority of this desaription, pro-, The accounts from China state the new green Teas were vided the right of conett ucting the line seas not con arriving slowly, and are held for very high rates, being (erred on the nrrtic s who we re to benefit by it. Having about 10 taels above the prices of last rear. The crop is 1 , line ' laid• A • said to be an average one. Ahout 60 chops of black Teas the I got the have been shipped on Chinese account. The exports of the ' call on rival cerepanies to send iii re (pestle as 1 new crop, ap to the 31st of October, in 27 vessels were mode of nuking it. lie held with the Hem. Mem ber 10,263,5711bs black, and 2,313,3611bs green. The following for Greenock, that tlw print:Tie ot tender might...he! are the prices ;-Congou, new 18 to 36 tads, Caper, 17 to safely intreduced here. 24, Souchong, 30 to 50, Orange Pekoe, 22 to 24, fine Scented, rent companies to say, if they I c ) :: i e g is h t t ri c ic a t l e l d ne L 50 to 53, Twankay, 28 to 38, Hyson, 44 to 70, Young Hyson, gar line, at what rate they would charge ; what sort 36 to 70, Ils,•son skin, 19 to 365, Gunpowder, 51s to 63, lm- of trains, and at what speed they would sand them on perial, 48 to 60 taels. ' the line ; and, in short, what extent of aceeiurooda ti°ll SPICES.-This afternoon 100 cases of Bengal Ginger at they would afford the public, and what it would cost. public sale were sold at 593 to 60s duty paid bold home consumption kind. Having got these tenders, nothing could be more east ythpeardtiitteo7 Rest, RRANDI', Aiil) Hoetesszns.-For Leeward Island than to give the construction of the line to the coil/ Bum further reduced rates ha% e been accepted, still buyers which could afford to make it on the be r t.rius iuch operated with caution, and the purchases amount; appeared to hittt, that by the adopting c some .. ~.. 150 puns: proof at 2s to 2s Otal, 2to 5 per cent overproof at scheme, as this two great advantages would : 2's Id to 2s 2d, being Id lial per gallon under former rates. obtained.-(Hear, hear) In the first place, . 1) _ For Demerara .lower prices are again taken; for 120 puns believed that they would get rid of many difficult,'" 30 to 36 per cent dverproof 3s to 3s 2d, and the finest 3s 3d and dispose satisfactorily of disputing railway "per gallon. The lower kinds of Jamaica, only :.0 puns have where the consideration of' she best line through tht been sold at 3s 6d to 3s 8d for fair quality, 29 to 33 per cent country involved immense pecuniary interests, they wo e overproof, good and tine high flavoured descriptions are in be disnassionatels and imnarti 1 • reflected on.. Th e i r excellent request, at 5s to is per gallon. In Calcutta Ruin ~ • . s' •' 3 ''" U übAlo the sales are 150 puns at is 10id to Is lid, proof strength, would also be the furthersl , tievantsge secured to t e p , r, modation O s with certificate. Brandy has been purchased with caution, of a very much ch: aper railway accom vrei a and prices are declining--Cognac, best brands of the vintage they could obtain by other means. New he en d of 1838, hhds 5s 2d, puns 5s • 1839, hhds 4s lid, puns just give an illustration of his argument, aad it w . 10 0 2._ 1840,1111(1s 48 11d, puns 4s 9(1'; 1841, hhds 4s 10d, puns 4s 8d ; show them the result of the system they were now ad 17 1842, hhds 4s 7d, puns 4s sd; 1843, hhds 4s sd, puns 4s 3d, ing in respect of some of the great lines. Tbe lioti.O. commons 2s 8d to 2s 11d, mid to good mid 3s to 45, and Bor- was aware there were several lines-he believed in trf_ li l ies ; for; deaux 2s 6d tes2s . 9d per gallon. Geneva is not much in re- ber three-projected, connecting London with the quest : is 8d to Is 9d is the value of export, and 2s 4d to 3s north, and terminating in the city of York. There were : • for home consumption. English Corn Spirits lOs 2d, cash. threepropositionsof that kind now before the RICE.-Bengal has been sought •after,and full rates offered, it , of these conv low to middling white at 10s 6d to Ils, and superior 118 6d to and was understood that whenever one ' tits tbe I2s; 408 bags at auction fetched Ils to Ils 6d for good mid- moment obtained the preference, or at all (Ise _,_ ;r dung white. Java is wanted, and prices keep up, yellow moment they got their Bill through Parliaments I:';'g fetching 9s to 9s 6d, white 103 to lls 6d, and superior 12s to shares would sell at 201. peemiutn. He was sP e re . : 12s 6d. Madras in good demand, and white has been -Within bounds, for 251. vsas' s the lowest amount 0f fetching 9s to 9s 6d, and yellow, 8s 6d to 9s. Cleaned 23s to mium to which the affair wouhl advance, and here hey' e • 28s for Carolina, and 13s 6d to 17s 6el per cwt for Patna. saw the result of their decision in favour of one of te es n Oils.-The demand has improved for Palm Oil, 200 casks lines would be to pat into the pew lets of one set of In e ' at auction fetched 23s to 25s 6d for mid to fine, and low dark s terlieg a sum amounting to ut warde P of 5,000 000 i. at 21s to 22s 6d per cwt. Cocoa Nut has been in excellent N it bl 11:. ) ' boon " 115 •• Noce was possi e. tst where such a greata • demand ; Ceylon 27s to 28s 6d per cwt. In Olive Oil. manya I purchases have been made, 421 to 431 for Gallipoli, 41/10s to anparty could be truste d to be made, that y safe] 421 for Spanish, 411 for Sicily, and 401 to 401 108 per tun for Was it P A make that boon at their own discretion? en - Barbary. Rape has secured a good sale, pale 37s to 37s 6d, Bible to suppose that any body, be it what it might' .otte and brown 36s to 36s fict per cwt. In Linseed Oil an exten- constituted as it might be, having such gigantic & b e , sive business has been transacted on the spot at 24s 9d to -having • o vast a boon to make-would ,Itnt '-'` f o r public , 25 , , and for delivery all the year at 25s 3d, 25s 9d, and 26s sieged and blockaded on all sides with applienti ung it per cwt. In common Fish Oils scarcely any business trans- information?-(Hear, hear.) Independeet of thisitlo, acted for exportation, and the home trade have purchased was impossible that we should nut have, as wet ne w be e. with reluctance; Cod is only 291 to 29155, pale Seal 32/ to gambling to an enormous extent, in London, Van; s e t 33/, yellow and straw 291 to 32/, dark brown 26/ to 281 10s, te , r, and Liverpool-to an extent not only . frightt's'ea, and Southern common to fine 271 to 32/. Imp3rters of Sperm 'are not disposed to- further reduce their. prices; fine British demoralising.- Ising.-•(Hear. hear.) After all, if this i ket held for 831 to 851, and other sorts at SO/ to 821 per tun. ' not Only would there be great public inconveniefteeVuhe TALLOW. -The market is firm for Russian, and previous the public would be at the mercy of the co mpotes stif rites are maintained; P Y Candle of first quality has been latter would make what cha r g es the y liked. B ut t ess -39s 3d to 40s, and second sort 38s to 39s per cwt. For de- pose the Legislature would say. that they w ould he at ee livery there are sellers at the moderate rates of 39s 6d to 40s ci d e in favour of one com p an y , but one line, 0 14 w i l e per cwt for the last three months of the y ear. Althou g h the that line to p ublic tender, for the various companies d market has been abundantly supplied with American, yet might offer to compete for the line. The companies d late rates are fully sustained, at public sale 246 pkgs of South put in their tenders, stating at ;hat cost they Was 14 American went at 31s 6d to 38s, for low to fine, and 122 pkgs OA of North American at 37s 6d to 39s 3d for good to fine execute the work, what accommodation the)? ~.f g e, afford to the public, and what rates they w ould e w 1 ":I r ol, quality. Other kinds of Tallow are fully as high, East India That tender would be open to the eyes of all the e tr od 21 pkgs at public sale produced 40s 9d to 41s for good St. ; 78 casks of Odessa 38s 5d to 38s 9d, and 220 casks There would be no gambling, such as was now, fin it s St. Petersburgh 36s 6d to 38s 3d per cwt. Town Tallow has on to so fearful an extent. Sp, culstion woula ". ii v 1 c entred a-good sale at 40s 6d to 41s per cwt nett cash. *tie proper and legitimate field in the fair coraPe l le or COCIIINEAL-This afternoon 100 bags of Honduras Cochis caital. It could not be doubted that under sueb P o ei neal were submitted to public competition, and all sold at 4s 10d to .5s 2d for ord to fine bold silvers being again Id rangement the companies could complete the all eg ' eat r el carry the public at a cheaper rate than was et „ n ear lb higher. per Woors-The demand has been extensive for Colonial Wool attempted. For what was the fact ? He would gli o r eyi at the public sales which have been in progress since this day the Bill had passed for the railway between Ltioo week, and the advance of 20. to 3d per lb is fully supported. _... t ro ~ York. The capital subscribed was five or sl- , ern , Other kinds of Weol are fully ashigh and the demanu good. The shares Would rise in an hour forty or fifty Pe' note, for it was true that there were people in this c ° hall who would be willing to pay seven millions and 1/ i e file • calculating that, though the works would coot en ex, , te sst, or six millions, the company would be able to e i tPi., from the public a scale of rates which would eit u e had average profit on a capital of seven millions enujfeote If only 5,000,000/. were embarked in the we r : t here which the income was to be derived, in that eal e s re would be a considerable reduction of fares; an knew, duction, in his opinion, be large, because they ' t oel ' ir, his Hon. Friend near him had stated, that the 'l c y_ ' coot ceipt for the conveyance of passengers was ta coo' pared with the fares charged, and they knew Ora%od siderable reduction of fares very often scareeii i e , be any, and sometimes no reduction in the Prc'nerdell! cause the number of passengers increased in prop o,o 0: If the Company, therefore, considered c' wha t 0,6 P lowest amount of fares they could take,-th er is e t be e doubt that a very large reduction of fares reige, he pro: complished. If they applied this principle' in t. ' we er sent session to the new lines of railway whicu t old be brought before them, they wou ld n e ,.. f pli i : cause them to carry a greater number i r , e au sengers than they otherwi e would °' eu bbc' afford a greater accommodation .to the ;ra o l • but would also in the most legitimate manner a iiis ei a comprehensive supervision in existing Tye' against which they would not be able t o st's ea,,,, which would force them to reduce their fares--'. ic or°, hear)-because it was obvious, looking at the ne t ir . e rol of railway lines by which the country was now c u. tile that all the lines we, e more or less competing liltbol if a large number of the new lines with wile :. le , were to be oc , :upied this session were required t°.. fait( the rate of fares, existing companies would of TonTlie: be obliged to do the same this g. -(Hear, hear'? l , o . o t was a more proper way to bring down the fares o id s ; Bill of last year.- ( Hear, hear.) It might 1) 0 _ 0 go loc answer to him, that he was advising the 'louse I. and I, a new system. The system was pursued in Fraec4i tba' o ' might be asked how lie could advise a course e ot e e e when the eirsuinstances of the two countries or tes • much different. France being behind most C"t4 a s 0 Europe with resp, ct to railway enterprise; w, b b e i e of° progress which had b-en made in Englend "'! o , t eeP t i e t ie years was absolut•-ly marvellous. At the e° 0 00 of merit it might have been necessary to give solne .. „ ar e 0 4 , to railway enterprise, but the circumstances : r - i - g 0 01 :; e completely altered. Now, instead of st inuula_!'!„ o difi r ,:, speculation, it was highly desirable it should h i. e ' 6; 005 Parties now rush blindfold as it were into snob d. Win i t tions. There was a mania in the public In', ogre:, it was important for the sake of the nationaL lie 17; they should endeavour to modify and checit:ce ail At lieved that by deal ng with Railway ComPetioetcl, sugg,ated they would have a prospect o f se n g brf st o disposing of the mass of railroad business co w s 0 0 0 thorn this session. He was aware that that d i st I le a occasion to enter into a subject so large esboa it et. be ore them ; but as it was his conviction 1 1, arF ee d not only extremely important, but extrilne Jog, to t that they should not lose a moment in ineestiltei te eie thoroughly looking into the subject-vkhene f o re t l b yl determine what was to be their course b e fore Railway Bills proceeded far ther-lie wa s 1 f e sv ° d ie make these observations, and there were YerY,014 .4 01 which he had to add. In the first place, he t he 10 ;0 pose of me or two objections which Inig h o id,t b or against the course he adviszd. It would be ad thsir e es was unjust when particular parties disPlaY t t he O S . ,Ja• genuity iii making out lines of railway, tli e t b e ir 'nett Lion' of „those lines should be taken out of 0 00 0 1 It would be most unjust if they were net I ': tl l # al for what they had done, but at prese t/ wore pa no claim whatever. Those Companies nsi i ef 0 1 yet created by Act of Parliament. ''' - f - f 4s . 0 41Y ete a no right whatever, but they were p r f e etli.,a to liberty to create them or not ; and it was P e s de, 0 1 , 1 0,ef to them to say that these lines would be,_l P it ? -a, say, " but you are not the parties to Man e tos ehl e fer said that they should be well paid for all it fete ) , tO_, expense in laying out the line, and bringing ver io 0 : 0 ,010 liatnent ; but that they had no claim wha_ t _ e fjosise a of be the parties to he entrusted with it. Tne,oe; en la decide what should be the proper remunera`iaspen] ton g company taking the line should pay thu t sh ro, this manner justice would be done to _l e be en !" I‘ , tis without abandoning the suggestions that lio." et esiclP 3e1 41 out.' He thought that to some extent the and leesee had stated might be applied to branch line .. ,: e , the s , e eo as clauses, might be inserted in Bills, litnitu . ) y oti.. of fares proposed to be charged.---(., a old principles were adopted last year . b eat ./pest. Of mittce that met to decide conflictingeod tbat i i t ie o all the members of the Committee eg r of th 6 111 1, subject they had face consider was, whhicehpublicp'ot d . • afforded the best mmodation to t s ,, _ tables of fares of each of the compaaie,.B f : rse isl c ipla . and the one that made the lowest table er e Bere s e v en: dared to be the successful line. 'IP. is the prep ' might be applied to competing comPan' n e lt ,-,hteh l _ ie g t e. session. Ile thought the public eould n vray hitT c ol competition by creating two lines of aunt ng th . P i , O P , s s: s m si e un obj t e h c e t inH House e s td ihe t ..„, to P. .° 1 0 1 without strictly look";r that ass ab i eyo fil fes i tio l . te g e; o b ig_ only way in which they could est_l' ihe s we; ii Ol e u o h g u e l would intoo npoe was to look stricty at the tolls atid fitr e _ a d ibr b e t fjor i charged. He hoped the sugge.stions ne ' the on tbe I si would receive some consideration fiacm_ :de u pon_ i lett i Baronet. How, then, were they to n 's'l rme a the a . ,0 1 ' his s• d bad I n l° d ble `t, 110 projects Which Hon. Friend ...,,,,,se __ e p ~ awaited' its decision? It altogetcheur y Id Yeriisloccoo Howick's) comprehension. Flow ° w hich i ell ei esel! said, iceg the subject that attention tk_ oer o_ , ance deserved? How could they_ .Re i most 6e t be I, which of the numerous projects ° wa n const itute to the ol of support? How could they eve ,netere of eOOOlO quisite number of Committees to arks ot_ e _ i cit. schemes? How find time for th . e .he a k ieu se d t e he o_ io E.:gaged, and how, in fine, could _ t _ etti ohill n re i , I t the 258 schemes, with the eurub_remreile use rn 4, 0 0 1 "_,, use. It was important that th . th e : i oe sent ;/ tbr' Hould not be delayed beyond nere eut aid os tpo e il oa ~ she for ' one deprecated any ! vole Tlous _, t o or s .. matters in the strongeit term s• „(,_,ee.. abideeloye„ di i the inconvenience to the public oi, a le',7.d ',dei talists -by the employment of funial. would be tree, 7 et, purposes, the risk that that capit 1 furtherance 00,,5t to other countries, arch for the t d t hese th ing e %di 00 schemes-if the House considered for aa i/ P dm itte" ' E r deed, they would see the necessitye. ue s loot o dement of these plans as possuiblb. act we re ! I delo l et the difficulties surrounding the s i . , J i _ i b e in few _., whelming ; and those difficulties ow out th ese .0 0° 70 Be threw , , tz . the delay he deprecated. ee might time r aes serva.tions in the hope that the ithythe questlo%, o f t, , , satisfactory mode of deali• g w . mese en ihe_t! e , , t to r with that view only that he had i i , :n t b, ON ' es Wer Heuse, and he fervently recoromt" 12 7 . Sot 41 4 immediate consideration of the Ho .bfatuns ap Colonel SIB'PHORP bad the T e l v o hle Dneses, ..es to agree m the general policy . of th e f ree w i t h pli tt, this subject he certainly did ' ll t 4 , g- geatteP would ask this Noble Lord how it wig IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 11. AILWAY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRADE. Mfr. EWART said that he agreed with his Hon. Friend the 27.v . 10er,f0r Gr*-enock,- - that the subject of railway communication y, as one of the most important that could be brought Viefoie the notice of that House. His Hon. Friend had referred to the constitution of the Board of Trade, and on that subject he (Mr. Ewart) en tertained a very strong opinion since the very first founda tion of that Board. The Hon. Member had alluded to the policy of Government's taking tenders for the formation' of different lines; from different companies. That mode he '(Mr. Ewaft) thought might do well enough for France, but he much doubted whether it would do equally well in this country. He entertained a very strong con viction, which had been further strengthened since the establishment of the Railway Board, that it was most in expedient for Government to interfere either one way or the other. He believed that if Government were really desirous of introducing benefits into the present railway system, they could do so by making the Board of Trade not a Board of control, but a Board of reference. Were that Board to consist of a small number of members— impartial and independent men, who might, when ques tions arose upon 'such scientific subjects as required a more extended knowledge than they could give, refer to persons appointed for the purpose—then that Board would be a greatly improved one. He did not like calling in the assistance of Governmect. It was a pain ful element, totally at variance with the principles of the constitution. His Hon. Friend had alluded to the com petition of railways upon the same line, and lie cited the case of the Grand Junction and Manchester line, hut those companies ran its conjunction, and therefore that did not establish the fact that it was possible for com peting parties to run upon the same line. He held that tne position assumed by his Hon. Friend, that it was impossible there could be competing trains on the same line of railway was fallacious. It was impossible that such could be the case, and in the instance to which his Hon. Friend had alluded the trains had been run, not by the competition, but by the concurrence of the rival companies. In the third place. his Hon. Friend had alluded to the policy of reducing the charge for pas sengers. All the evidence which he had seen on the subject induced him to come to the same conclusion. In the last report of the Grand Junction Company, the Directors stated that, while they had lost by the re• duction of the fares by the first and sect nd class, they had greatly profited by the reduction of the fares of the third class. He believed that it would be found that the same rule applied to railways that applied to every other braUch of commercethat it was always for the profit of those concerned in it to consult the interest of the largest cht-s of consumers. Last year when his Right Hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade had introduced his Railway Bill, he (Mr. Ewart) had felt most ominous forebodit gs as to the working of the measure. He doubted whether any good could possibly arise from re ferring these measures to a Committee of the Board of Trade. When the Board of Trade was first instituted, Mr. Burke hid expressed his doubts as to whether any good could possibly arise from the institution of a board for the regulation of trade. He (Mr. Ewaft) doubted whether any good could arise from any institution for the regulation of railway traffic. He believed that board could not stand. If it was necessary to have a board for the purpose of consultation it should be merely a board of reference to assist a Parliamentary Commit tee, if required. He did not believe that the direct in terference of any GOvernment body in such matters could benefit the country. Lord HO WICK had not last year opposed the Govern ment Bill. On the contrary, he had voted for that Mea sure. At the same time, he heartily concurred in the, opinion that had 'been expressed by the Hon. Gentle man, that the subject was one of the deepest importance to the country, and that it was their duty to take mea sures to secure to the public the advantages of greater 'facility and greater cheapness in railway travelling. Hitherto the measures which had been adopted had been ineffectual for that purpose. The public had not hitherto received that benefit from this invention which they ought to have obtained. He also agreed that the pre sent session afforded an opportunity for dealing with this subject which ought not not to be lost. They would soon have a multitude' of Bills' before them, and before they created such a vast mass of vested interests and rights, they ought to come to a decision as to what mea sures it would be aocessary and competent for them to adopt, in order to secure to the public the greatest pos sible advantages from railway communication. The Hon. Member fur Dumfries had stated that all that was re quired was the improved constitution of the Committees. Mr. EWART—Not all. Lord HOWICK—WeII, the chief point urpd by the Honourable Gentleman and by the Noble Lord opposite, was to alter the constitution of these committees, and the- mode in .which that object was to be gained. He agreed with him-in thinking that the improvement of the constitution of theie committees was very desirable ; but he did not think that it would be possible, by any reform ofithese tribunals, to provide a satisfactory mode of disposing of the immense mass of railway business which came before Parliament, unless some greater change was adopted than had been hitherto suggested. It appeared to him that whether Parliamentary com mittees or the committee of-the Board of Trade were en trusted with the disposal of such an enormous amount of.property—while competition for contending lines of railway was so intense, while the amount gained or lost by the adoption or rejection of a Bill was so great—no committee, Parliamentary or otherwise, could deal with such enormous interests. 'The determination was not which was the best line of railway communication, but which out of • two, or three, or more conflicting companies was to have the benefit of constructing a particular line. The !competition at this moment was so great that the mere fact of any .particular line beaig sanctioned by Parliament, elevated the shares to a very large premium. Twenty-five pound shares, out of which 1/. 10s. or 2L had been paid, would bring a premium of 161. or 18/., or even a greater amount. When the de• cision of a Parliamentary Committee affected to so vat an extent the public interests, the utmost care should he taken that the- public interests should be the chief object of such decisions. It was not a question of mere law or rights they had to decide upon. but a question of public convenience, in which a number of conflicting reasons weighed one against the other, so that no two minds could arrive at the same conclusion: He believed it was impossible to create any authority that could dispose of this question, in which there would not be brought to bear, in some shape or other, influence or favour in money or moneys worth. This would happen, or would be thought to have happened. The experience of Parliamentary Committees proved that this was the case. This inconvenience it would be impossible to avoid as long as the two questions—What was the best line of tailways, and who were the parties to execute that lino) were wilted? It therefore 1,014 tio - hitt). r