The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-16 00:00:00

Presen:llbatential benefit cou ld ar i se to them as long as the p s PArene. of conveyancing ceminued. His Right ti e " said that if they voted thew large reduc *c.)! F..tich a s t h e tea duty alai the window tax, they ' Th,,Lir'l rivet the prop er ty tax f or ever.—(Hear, hear.) tlot property -tax was r i vette d for ever, and he rajoicad tb it was so. In conclusion, he repeated his hope that war taxes would not be 'allowed to terrain on the t • astute-book after a peace of thirty-live years, red that • gib],r would put their - system of taxation on some Hear.; h ear .) th e • -clia 0 wcaill not have risen, had it not been for wicitesli?erve.!ion ' made by the lion. Member for War t:ll,l4lre, that, th e f ree - tra d e po li cy o f late years had had a l ° . degradation of the working classes. Ile p astel , 9 414,1 acquaintance with those classes, end had b e t greater part of his life am ong them.—(Hear,tO a t e h .) t , jle :pit that th e d e b t o f gratitude which was cue they . xovernment for the cheep supply of food which by f ad obt a i ne d f or t h e people would be appreciated ra, r : l t" ire generations, which at the present moni - nt 'l 4 I seemed to forget. lie thanked the Government ai4 sincerely for th e rem i ss i on o f t h e b ric k duty.—(lro e cheers and laughter.) There wes a time when he lee an interested party in this question, but at the pre % t he was not.—(Hear, hear.) Ho could assure lion. lb .htlemen that he telt that remission only as it affected weal-b e i ng o f t h e working classes. He knew o f no P'"Y of sm a ll amount which could tend so much to ins , i llve the dwellings of the lower orders, Ile hored that t Government would follow i n th e same t rac k b y sub : ke uting a ,houee duty f or rh o w i n d ow tax — one o f the 3t "Popular taxes t h roug h the wnole l engt h an d e4 chh of tee l and. DI-ZUMMOWD was v, ry thank:ail to the Right hed il°4r a 4 le Chancellor of the Exc ) .lequer for what he h Oven theta. He had no cause to complain of him q e ";,gt, aad only wished the Right Honourable ( i`,, e nt'ul had used the same arguments last year, when tb e ` r4 4 !. D'annaond) brour e ,nt forward his motion, for eeer.""gat Honourable Gentleman had in fact adopted 4 Y sit ene of tne recornraenda.tions which he made on that it4p„ .4l . No doubt his ideas were put in much better Q347 4 '4 0 , b at still in the speech of the Right Honour erem 3thhis e Chancellor of ihe Exchequer he saw, as it k r - „ oval image reflected.—(Hear and laughter.) h tir 'aorl ng once; said that nothing was so false as itti t f n es ,ext ept. flue. Honourable Gentlemen were ever- Ne w :re:erring to Mr. Husleisson and Adam Smith. le e C,. t here was any o ne p o i n t on w hi c h Ad am S m i t h t hst h ;j l. more etrongly than on a n oth e r, it was this— of th '". l value of th e h ome mar k e t was f ar b eyon d t h at firei- lei foreign market.—(Hear, hear.) This w as the h t ale, since he had had a s eat in that H ouse , t h at 4 44 Al beard a recognition of its value. It might have ee t ,, In pato, but out of the mouth never did it . for 1 . - -(Hear and laughter.) His motion last year had Iji, l r B object to remove taxes from the poor to the rich. fight Honourable Friend had deseaeted on the evil Ce . system, which tended towards the er r a ti on of 1,1344 it3lll el at the expense a the comforts of the labo u r er . y,„ at the very point whi c h h e h a d ma i n t a i ne d l ast " t * , and for maintaining which his Right Hon. Friend l i ld told bins he •was verging on Socialism.—(Hear, and I, t ii ghter.) He was told that under the system which he to Posed they wou ld gra d ua ll y arr i ve at a point where eZtlen wou'di a b sor b ca pi ta l ; an d w h en he urged that d should be clone towards redueieg the national hi, by com'ing into the market and purchasing up stock, t4„P r9 Pasi'tion was treated as too trivial to be eater burl". "Of what use," it was said. "isit to save a few tp r reds c f th ousan d s ?" His I-?ight Hon. Friend had to : 1 91 the income tax as b e in g ra th e r an a d vantage the lab airing classes. Why then did he lay it down /I,, it temp orary tax ?—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. ile;, ( lneti the Member tor Tamworth, had always been a e "Bed of a little dishonesty in proposing it as tempo- , -o, b for he knew full well from his inmost soul that it Vie,r would be repealed. He knew they would alWays o to pay it, and he (Mr. Drummond) was, so far from to ' e „eting tram him, desirous if he could to put an end etc exc:,se on malt and substitute a property tax (" Oh, oh," from Mr. Brotllertoe.) It was tl tp v,erY w ell for the Honourable M em b er t h ere w h o h e e u Say, hardly knew the taste of it.—(Lauehter.) He Ch /vlttit ) :deft, the tax from the beer-drinker to the C le Pa•cie-drinker.—(Hear, hear.) He wanted to let fr ee v rbi , :h was a necessary of life to the labourer be as Como t corn. Oh, yes, it was very easy for men to er 4. e twaddling out of the Committee-rooms and talk w a ‘ lr eperauce.—(Loud laughter.) When Major El eo„,ll'ss went down to his own native country his friends l l ,'"Plained how pale and worn he looked. " Oh," said i tt ';` some good Shropshire ale w ill soon se t me up he."'" That was the thing to which he trusted, and tO airy temperance society.—(Laughter.) Ask the th e cultural labourers themselves what they thought of t i tt e out sr. He did not deny that the removal of the hu t ?' oh bf.clts was important. hut still it went a very C e . ; 4 ai. The case of the agriculturist was much more m y itageous than that of the manufacturers. He asked tb nufacturer of cotton whether he would consider th : , ha had true free trade in that article, if there was its Prohibition of a very heavy duty on it ? And yet r w n Was the case of the agriculturist, as long as they 4 0 ' k titained ule malt tax.—(Hear.) The fa r m e r was the t pia a par with the manufacturer. For instance, lob farmer could not mix peas and beans with his %„It . t,t, but 'the miller could and did.—(Hear, hear.) He .ripe not . mix bone-dust with his flour to make bread, th i 'Lne biker did.—(Laughter.) There were a thousand 1 )4 ;t 1 g4 this sort. He could not mix cotton with wool, t ae stocking-maker and flannel-maker could. He 115,41 d 'not sell oak bark for jesuits' bark to hospitals, but eZqruggist did. He could not sell quassia for hops, li t ‘ !Put honey into his a ins ea o le t• d f malt, as the e h e Wera did in Scotland.—Renewed laughter.) In no p b s4 Of these instances could ( the two classes bo said to be lo g e . Par. He did not mean to say that the agriculturist th. a bit more honest, or that he would not do the same 4, 14 g if ho could; but he could not, and therefore was h ' t oh a par with the rest of the community.—(Loud 'elite) For this reason he was entitled to more 11 1 ht liderations than other persons. The manufacturer, i t e ,nlomont the raw material came inlo his hands, had e e kthgether in his power. It was not the same with the h 'Ner; From the moment he put the corn into the ;it ) ttnd until he sold it, it was liable to every vicissitude th ; climate, animals, vermin, birds, and all sorts of 0 1 ; 9 , over which he had no control whatever. Ile 4 , very glad they Lad got - hat they had, and only 'Qed they had got more; bat he supposed they must eoLtent.—(Hear end laughter.) kr. FRENCH complained th a t I re l an d wou ld d er i ve t et 'Y little benefit from the propo se d re d uct i ons . H e h a d b e lied to see some of the surplus applied to the promo % of emigration in those districts where there was a elgeetion of the populati(Jn, and cecking the emire 1, from other places of the no b sb nd sinew—of g the Pita], and industry of ',he country. H e s h ou ld a l so v e been gratified to [MVO seen some such measure as km proposed by sane late lamented Noble Lord the 1 44 :reher far Lynn for the promotion of railways in Ire d• A more rAnfortunate selection could not have been s'e , as faa' a'A that country was concerned. Lord J. nANNERS— " 'when we suffer, gentlest thoughts Within our bosoms spring, .And who shall say that pain is not 4, A most enlizhtcning thing?" 10 4 c ettainly deeply regretted the cause which had so t to g pt the Right Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer 1 4 , 14 them, but he could not help thinking that, had he 114 17 . present at the debates which had taken place, and I tr 'd the controversy which had been carried on, th e y not have had a speech so remarkable for calm e l 'odour as that whiclitathey had listened to that and, as had been already observed, it was th ° first speech delivered by any Member of Goverment its which a full and frank admission had made of the existence of agricultural distress.— st 4 ear, hear.) Nor was there any attempt, as far as he I t etubered, on the part of the Right Hon. Gentleman ili,etualify that distress. The only point on which he 6' l ered from him was on his unlucky recurrence to that Vartunate system of prophecy which he thought the c l % ht lion. Baronet the Member for Ripon had for ever °Pellei. B ut t h e Ri g h t Hon. Chancellor of the Exche tillerr not having heard the speech of the Right Eon. s, 4 9tiet last night, had endeavoured to cheer the de- K e !sed spirits of the agriculturists by telling them, as l' had often told them before, that the pressure was only uPoraey, and though he was obliged to admit that all tj previous prophecies had been falsified, be still invited i On to expect better prices in time to come. His Hon. 4Lend the Member for Warwickshire had, however, Ornsatistactorily that the data on which he eeed his conclusions were entirely erroneous. If any itiditional arguments were wanted, they would ',be found t the last circular which came from Egypt. He had seen iDe the other day from Alexandria, dated the Bth of last ta ° , ll tb.,which gave the price of wheat at that moment t a • freight to London being Gs. 5d., and to t4 l ,Virpool at 7s- a quarter, and wheat might at 11. 4 time be shipped from Alexandria and be laid down o,i a profit in the port of London at 28s. a quarter. Look 4 tnerican prices in the various ports of the United ti;,tes. Within his own knowledge during the last It„'" months wheat flour had bean shipped from New rk t o Liverpool at a price, not of 4s. but of 13d. a 111 4 ' 1 ' 0 . Under these circumstances what reason could t4 t ; hight Hon. Gentleman assign for telling the agri k'turists of this kingdom that they might expect a per t:tient rise in the price of corn ? Ile believed, how that portion of the Right lion. Gentleman's speech 1 4 , (411 d not have the least effect upon the minds of the P 13, and he hi artily hoped it might not, and that they 0 ;1 1 '4 not bo delude:l into any extravagant experiments, ei Induced to invest their capital on the soil on the faith Ite the statement of the Chancellor cf the Exchequer. it e Noble Lord the Member for Middlesex had drawn ' r ue picture of the result of extravagant import duties s timulating the smuggler. But why was it necessary up these extravagant duties on tobacco and tea? 4 ,7P1y because of the system which de tossed the agri etural interest, and would, if perreitted, ruin evee . „ V . l eet industrial interest in the country. The Arian_ 0 10 1 . 6tie duty 41 ‘ )1 ' of the Exchugvr could not reduce tl tlli h te a and tobacco,. because he declined to accept any C t:,' lee A m erican flour and I'Alstein be:r ers . Il e cou ld 1 • tit think hi s Right Hon. Friend es.e serious whoa 41 '4ed the agr • ikk agricultural hecerest to accept his two boons ( I. „a satisfactory settliee.ent of t:ee pending question.— i l mer.) lie would rernied hi nof the argument which it , Pplied to the greater proposition of his Hon. Friend ember for Bucks.—nanizekee thet the proposed re tiec_tin would benefit the towns in the proportion a to rune as compared with the agricultural interest. (I dear, hear.) lie hoped, however, when the preposi Wa6 submitt9,l t the Melte in a practical form, his tOtti. lion. Friend would submit to them an analysis I erespective shares of the agricultural and urban po 4ttnn in ',he abolition of th e d u ty.—(ll ear , h ear .) e reference to the statenients as to tce general pros -41.,1tY, hi:, Right lion. Friend exprosEed no inconsider. t ee ; utnur,nt of surprise at the anxiety manifested on a wecasion, on the part of the shipping interest, for Lion of the duty on timber. The fact was, how e,j. ; 1 . Tri,; . h^. !?f' that :he :zhipping interest was 4, plusr):tc,us a c,e „e,!. kill as that boon wa s , th e s hip p i ng i nterest pressed for / had been pretty generally gdwitted eeeeia that of all taxes the most obnoxious was the tax on marine insurances. It was a tax which, though not of large amount, pressed on every shipowner, and might, he thought, without any serious loss to the revenue, have bean repealed.---(Hear.) lie bad no wish to itrotract the present discussion. He accepted the admission made by the Right lion. Gee tieman as to the agricul tural distress, but he should regret if :the Government were led to believe that the two remissions of taxation proposed would be accepted as a satisfatory settlement of the question which now agitated the country, and which would continue to • agitate the country, till the policy which be was willing to imagine the Right Hon. Gentleman was not averse to was adopted.—(Hear.) Ile thought he might assume that the Right lionourable Gentleman was nor averse to do justice to the agricul tural interest, for be had several times repeated his conviction 'of the great importance of raising in our own country the bulk of food necessary for the peopli'.— (Ifear.) Ile could, however, assure the Right Hon. Gentleman that the agricultural interest would never be satisfied with the propositions he had made.—(llear.) Mr. MUNTZ conguatulatei the ilothe and the Chan,- cellar of the Exchequer himself on his re-4pp , :sarance among them, hut he could not congratulate him on the subject of his budget. lie was at a loss to know the amount of the surplus, and how it was to be ob tained. The Right Hon. Laronet had made a compa rison with one of the very worst years, and he thought it doubtful whether the Right lion. Gentleman would really obtain any - surplus from increased revenue. In tact, the surplus seemed to ariso almost wholly from the refusal of that !Luse to grant the. supplies asked fur in the first instance by the Government.—(Hea:•, hear.) The Right lion. Baronet would have actul more wisely —wh(n . there was so much doubt about a surplus—if be had not proposed the remission of any tax.—([Tear.) Hepcifeetly agreed with the hint thrown out by the Noble Lord the - Member for Middlesex as to the neces sity of revising our mode of taxation. If something were not duce in this respect, instead of the boasted surplus, there would be a lamentable deficiency.— (lleer.) When the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Taw worth proposed the repeal of the corn-laws in 1846, he warned him that if he did so, with the present mono tiry system, he would be obliged to impose a pro perty-tax of at least 25 per cent., if he wished the into rest on the public debt to be paid.—(Hear, hear.) He did not object to a bona fide property-tax. At pre sent they were casting about for means to make both ends meet. Some proposed to abandon the colo nies. Hon. Members conversant with ancient his tory needed not to be reminded that both Greece and Rome first began to withdraw support from their distant possessions, when affairs at hume were unprosperous, and their greatness commenced to decline.—(Hear, hear.) Was this country about to adopt a similar policy ? (Hear, hear.) He admitted that the colonies, under the present system, were not worth a farthing, and that the sooner they went perhaps the better; but we could not well desert them.—(hear, hear.) Hon. Gentlemen were fond of talking about unbearable taxation. Now he re collected a time when the taxation was double what it is, yet, every man was then able to get a good livelihood, and 10. ked with horror at the workhouse.—(Hear, hoar.) It seemed to be quite true what was said the other day, that the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer.— (Hear, hear.) They had heard t•IIk of a raving of 90,000,000/. All he could say was, that on the present principle every reduction in prices was an additional pressure on the industry of the country.—(Hear, hear.) It had been said that the pressure would be removed by au alteration of prices; but if prices were to advance, of what use would the repeal of the corn-laws be?— (Hear, hear.) lie had voted for the repeal of the core laws in order to reduce prices, and almost aids the knowledge that it would do so. His present convic tion was, that there could be no improvement in prices, but, en the contrary, a further reduction.—(Hear, hear.) The present prices were, indeed, the average prices of 90 years of the last century. It was said by some that they were only temporary. Ho' had this week met with one of the partners of one of the first mercantile houses in Copenhagen. In conversation this gentleman had in formed hint that in consequence of the throwing open the ports of this country, land in Denmark, which had been hitherto uncultivated, was now brought into culti vation, and that the people were improving their land with the view of raising grain for the English market.— (Hear, hear.) His informant further stated that they could supply 2,000,000 quarters of corn for this country at the present moment, and in a short time 3,000,000 quarters.—(Hear, hear.) The present price of wheat in Denmark was 265. a quarter, and oats 103. It seemed 265. did not pay them, but they would be satisfied with 28s.—(Hear ' hear.) This same party had chartered two vessels at Leith to bring over corn from Copenhagen at 2s. 6d. a quarter, and suppose other charges amounted to 6d. a quarter, 295. a quarter would be the cost of such corn in tnis country.—(elear, hear.) He told them these facts exactly as he had hoard them. Upon what prin ciple was it then that they expected prices to be higher? In his opinion, if they wished to be able to carry on the Government, and to pay the interest of the debt, they must revise their mode of taxation, and make property, instead of industsy, bear the burden.--(Hear ) Mr. SANDARS weuld not nave troubled the Commit tee with any remarks but for what had fallen from the lion. Member for North Warwickshire. lie thought the Hon. Gentleman had rather understated than overstated the cost of freight from Dantzic. With respect to this subject he was never more surprised than when he heard the remarks of the lion. Member for Westbury the other night. Since then he had received letters from sa ious parts, expressive of astonishment at the statements made by the lion. Gentleman.—(Hear.) The Hon. Gentleman had stated that the price of bringing corn from Dantzic to this country was 6s. a quarter. He did not dispute that from Dantzic to London the cost might be 3s. 9d., but then it ought to Le recollected that there was also some expense in carrying corn from the different parts of this country to the London market.—(liear.) At the present mornsnacorn could be brought from Denmark or Ham burgh to London for 2s. a quarter; but the cost of car riage from Boston and other pelts of this country to London was of similar amount. The Hon. Gentleman, when he alluded to the prices of the last ten years in the foreign markets, ought to have recollected that during that time protection existed is this country, and that no conclusion could be drawn there from as to the prices for the next ten years.—(Hear.) The lion. Gentleman had also stated that the price of wheat at the present time at Odessa, put on board, was 325. a quarter. He had letters from Odessa, and it was quite true that the price was 323.—(" Hear, bear," from Mr. Wilson)—but that was regarded as temporary, and the lion. Gentleman ought to have stated that con tracts were entered into for tlla finest wheat at Odessa at 265. a quarter.—(Hear, hear.) He had stated over and over again that, 'under the system of free trade, wheat could be grawn in this country for 355.' a quarter. He was not therprised at the price of wheat. Only this week the 'douse to which he belonged had made contracts for the 'fittest Pomeranian wheat, to be shipped at Res tocix and Stettin, and to be laid down in this country at C. 133. a quarter. Ho had been assured by all the foreign Merchants he had corresponded with on the subject that they would be able to supply any quantity of wheat if prices in this country remained somewhere about 355. a quarter. The fact was these merchants had no other market, and whether they could afford it or not, their supplies would come to this market. He was greatly surprised to hear so great an authority as the Right lion. Baronet tie Member for .Tamwortli allude souse time ago to the increase of corn imported in 1849 to the extent of some 5,000,000 quarters, and expatiate on the increase I comforts thereby given to the pour. He thought the Right Hon. Baronet must have overlooked the very. deficient harvest of 1848. Not less than 3,000,000 quarters were required to make good that deficiency. In that year 700,000 quarters were exported from this country to Ireland, instead of Ireland sending to Eng land, as it usually did, about 1,000,000 quarters. Su that these 4,700,000 quarters must be deducted from the es timate made by the Right Hon. Baronet of the increased consumption of corn in 1849.—(Hear.) He regretted —and he stated his regret in his place in that House— that they had not imposed a moderate fixed duty on foreign corn.—(Hear.) The lion. Member for the West Riding had taken him to task for what he had said last year on the subject. He was not now recommending a fixed duty of 55., but he maintained that such a duty, for the purpose of revenue, would not enhance the price of corn to the consumers of this country; and as the time might come when it would be desirable to impose such a duty, he had only to say, that he should if ever proposed, cordially support it —(Hear, hear.) Mr. J. WILSON said, that he had on a former even ing estimated at 16s. a quarter the cost of transporting corn from the interior of Prussia to the markets of this country; but he had not said that that would be the cost of carrying it from the port of Dantzic. The Hon. Gentleman who had last addressed the House bad said that the price of corn on the Continent during the last ten years could not be taken as a criterion of its proba ble price during the next ten years, because prices would be depressed on the Continent in consequence of the re peal of the English corn-laws. But it appeared to him (Mr. Wilson) that the opening of anew and a large mar ket must in that case, as in every one of the same chile ratter, have the effect of raising instead of diminish' , prices. The lion. Gentleman had also said t , ` , , at " t tg e imposition of a fixed duty on foreign corr would not have the effect of raising the price in ii' country. Now, if that was so, what benefit, he ( : is l e. Wilson) would ask, could such a measure r ainier on the agricultu rists?—(Hear, hear.) • Mr. G. BANKES " . ..d that the lion. Member for Westbury (Mr. Wilss of the English co of to forget that the repeal Continent by - ..n-laws might depress the prices iu the encouragirg the agriculturists there to grew corr It ap, e on a greater breadth of land than before. eared that in Denmark lands were being b, :Acr). up for the purpose of growing corn for our tneae acts—(Heer, hear)—and such a fact woulttj naturally contribute to the diminution of the priace in that country. The Right Hon. Gentleman the ; becretary-at-War had told thetn the other evenie-g chat the agriculturists were at present enabled to Ataiu their seed and their labour cheap; but that %vas the very fact of which they tacit complained. The Right Hon. Gentleman had alluded in terms of jocularity to the distress in the agrictilturat dtsteiers. But he (Mr. G. Bankes) could assure the Right Hon. Gentleman that that distress was a serious pse m l:ola,r a rrignyn t t er e arf r :l. ; sl(reln a (triin o lheb d zey, j a niitou l a, though he and his Hon. Friends had Mt o e or sate; should establishments, sbhhetamode raised nt grant tese,si t from t iw l na e dsu sums etneiol d: v n oiet e (h)% c proo e lu ; e! is bowe=vor, that retrenchme , nt in .lee's tare de;crioireed, quarter auothL r should take place, are that be hele' e o a t confidence en l c ' e h eoyf w i f l o o r e t on g enser of the tinu S e e5 t S enjoyt i ) °li. ( ll e t ' l e , whom they represented if t t u t s l d e • they did not show that the were sincerely i m p resse d w i t h the dangerous co n Aw el' • y n of the country resultin g fro m th e di stress of the agricul turists. Mr. MACGREGOR said he was astonished to find that 1.1 , ,e. Genq ,, eaPn Opposite were Oct satisfi,3 wi t h iti itlght Ct;al,:ll2 , :n he lor of the Exchequer, because that proposal had mani festly been Awned fore their especial benefit, go 41 every reason to believe that it would be impossible to sell foreign wheat i❑ our markets, at a profit, unless the price in this country averaged from 40s. to 465. a quarter. MI very much regretted to find that the Eight lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not propose to deal with the stamps on marine insurances, because they contributed very materially to diminish the practice of such insurance in this country. Colonel DUNNE said he regretted to find that the state of Leland had been so carefully avoided by her Majesty's Government since the commencement of the session.—(Laughter.) It was manifest that the repeal of the corn-laws, whatever might have been its effect in this country, must have materially injured Ireland.— (Hear, hear.) He had reason to think that that country could not have lost less by the change than 6,500,0001. during the years 1847 and 1843. Her Majesty's Minis ters propose I to advance leans for the improvement of laud in Ireland; tut he could tell them that the gentry in that country were becoming indisposed to borrow money for such a purpose, because they found that the land did not repay the sums laid out in its improve ment. —(1 leer, fo Mr. SANDARS wi:hed to observe, in reply to a statement of the Hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Wil son), that what he (Mr. Sanders) contended was, thet in ordinary years a fixed duty on corn would not raise the price in this country, although in J ears of very low prices like the present it would act as a protection to the agriculturist. Mr. CAREW said he feared that in the present de pressed condition of agriculture in this country, the good old system of leasing on a term of years would he dis continued, because agriculturists would be unwilling to bind themselves to the cultiratiun of the land for any lengthened period. He should also observe that he thought landowners would not be much disposed to avail themselves of the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or to charge their es • tates with fixed payments. He would suggest that buildings should be included in the works to which the proposal was to apply. He believed that would materially improve its working. Mr. SLANEY believed the abolition of the brick duty would be advantageous not only to the landed in terest, but to the humbler classes of society.—(Hear, hear.) Many Honourable Gentlemen imagined that the only mode of lightening the pressure of taxation was by the reduction of taxes. But he thought the same effect might be produced by stimulating the industry, en terprise, and spirit of those persons by whom ca pital was created, for every million created dimi nished the amount of taxation paid by the remainder. He asked the Government to give fair play to the humbler classes, who had not hitherto sufficient oppor tunities of beneficially investing their small savings. If they desired to purchase a small portion of land, the expense of the transfer had been most enormous, and the same remark applied to investment by way of mort gage. He thanked the Government for what they had done, and believed that the remission of the tax on the conveyance of land would have a most beneficial effect. Captain HARRIS said his remarks on a former oc casion had been somewhat misunderstood. What be said on the motion of the Hon. Member for Surrey was this—that ho looked upon the motion as one to compel the Government to a revision of taxation. By that re vision of taxation he meant a re-distribution more equal and fair to the agricultural interest, which was acknow ledged by all parties to be in a state of great distress.— (Hear, hear.) By re-distribution he contemplated a revenue tariff such as that proposed in 1842, and a re distribution of 19cal taxation upon a fair basis, and in that case he should be satisfied with a ss. duty upon corn.—(Hear, hear.) He regretted to find that the Customs revenue had considerably fallen off within the last few years, for, whilst the amount in 1844 was 24,000,0001., it was now under 20,000,0001., and that not withstanding the immense extension of capital and enterprise. He did not believe that any material reduc tion could be made in the expenditure without a com plete revision of taxation. Mr. HEY WOR 111 considered the present mode of taxation exceedingly unjust to the working classes; for whilst capital had increased, the demand for labour had eccreaEed. He was satisfied that, sooner or later, direct taxation must he substituted for indirect.—(Hear.) Mr. MACKENZIE understood that the grant for drainage was to be a conjoint grant for England and Scotland. Now he was told, with respect to the last grant, that because Scotland had shown such prudence and foresight—(Laughter)—as to obtain three-fourths of the grant, that country was now to be limited in her com petition with England. lie considered this a poor re turn to Scotland for showing such a high appreciation of the former boon.—(Laughter.) The people of Scot• land would consider themselves hardly treated in being excluded from a fair competition with England; whilst England, not being inclined to take the money by fair means, was to be compelled to do so by Act of Parlia ment.—(hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. GOULBURN paid a high compliment to the ser vices of Mr. Brookshank, whose death had been adverted to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Brooks bank, for the last forty years, had been most unremit ting in his attention to his public duties; and he (Mr. Goulburn) and those gentlemen upon whom similar du ties had devolved had been greatly indebted to that gen tleman for his invaluable services. —(hear.) Colonel SIBTHORP said they had a statement of the financial affairs of the country, but there was no balance sheet. There was, it was said, a million and a half sur plus—but in his opinion there was no surplus at all, but they were rather in debt—as they had not yet repaid,the loan to Ireland. All the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was hopes, and promises, and wishes, but no performances. He had never relied on a Chancellor of the Exchequer in his life, and never would do so.—(A laugh.) There was not a word about reducing the sala ries on the Treasury bench.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HEALD said ho would strictly confine his obser vations to the topics of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He first expressed his belief that the prosperity of the in dustrial classes had not kept pace with the increase of capital in the country. That was his own conviction, and he had thought so for many years. His conviction was that the shopkeepers were amongst the most suffering portions of the community.—(Hear, hear.) Ho regretted that the distance between the industrial classes and the capitalists appeared to be every day increasing. He did not presuMe to state the reasons of this, but it was the fact. He approved of the reducing of the Excise duties, and the reveal of the duty on bricks. Mr. HENLEY said he had heard that the remission of these duties was a decided boon to the agrictilturists; but he thought no such thing.—(Hear.) Three parts of the brick duty was paid by the reople in towns. With regard to the subject of the loan, ho could understand now what had been said about the price of corn. Its object was to keep the agriculturists employed, and then the Chancellor of the Exchequer would come down and •say, see how successful this free-trade has been. He did not consider that the agriculturists had received any special interest. The vote was then agreed to. The CHAIRMAN reported the resolution, and the House resumed. 'THR SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 18,50 4Lcnromosov i a iooitffili p heu, mafiwypelssrna, life sr aiirehtdoaceeeoaitwu‘scbvvnfsvnimea:guaeanisrttr,totissoheyeaehraundan:ttn. mortality dat—dvi ]ifsl assurance have 2tledlc ( icybseo, L l oiampnsembs t e teecniseoa a dnrmuoil oh r imdmrpefislanoypoleupnpnroeloai smeicnst important te)lugtimt:iccaaelecsai bear.) acnosrsao tleb,rttlm:seaanaasi r asp:. stfnhig A ut tot sidoo l oenlcarf y . ittiiaa, oietni. irrl nas:fl,joint-stockemi, Lord, neuhfuneyetraai:hsoannoeerys btrptusuhetuehncarmruuery joint-stock companiesinieniaa assurance economical o t pmp u b uo l e. compa nies i years eouaunnt_t companies to soften and alleviate the sufferings and sor iuuraeltleausli ilapanasadlsri palladium of igttahhumee. of British society and the British constitution.—(Hear.) actuary, taking the bills of mortality, is enabled by these ti l hsisetinnon no'. —n a r s e c , e h ri e a a ai r, as he anything tir, a nd c a a n l certainabuegh.) It only a properhlief.e management,us,sesaulerano assurance e a t t o e rates, companiesnasuu and e the tshine 1 p lexercisesimply. successfulic o w of r pru denceesu lt of any life assurance company.—(Hear, hear.) So much, gua rantee societies are of more recent date. They cannot boast of longer than teu years' standing, and although they can hardly give place to the others in point of utility, I think they stand almost upon as high ground as life assurance companies in the advantages they afford to the community.—(Hear, hear.) But yet the success ful results and the successful working of guarantee so cieties is somewhat more problematical than life a aiur since companies, inasmuch as you have not the data to go upon in the one case as in the other. A guarantee se ciety is still a science; it is an experiment without rules and regulaeious to govern them founded upon actual expe rience—there are no bills of morality that you can take up for your guidance like bills of mortality, and found a basis to work upon.—(Hear, hear.) It is no reflectior, however, upon a simple guarantee society to say that they have less certainty in their pre fits than life assurance companies. —(Hear, hear.) You may have been told, my Lord, that simple guarantee societies have been in the habit of charging somewhat too little for their premiums, but that should be for given, because they have no data to go upon.—(Hear, hear.) That may or may not be so; it is not our busi ness to inquire, it is enough, my Lord, fur us to know that the necessity had long been felt, and it had long been desired that some one should discover a method by which the principle of life assurance and the principle of guarantee assurance should be happily combined, in order to give protection to the policy holder and a suc cessful permanency to the company itself.—(Hear, hear.) Now, my Lord, you yourself have said that the merit is due to Mr. Knight of having discovered this blend ing of guarantee with life assurance.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Knight has established the prac ticability of a union between the two, and to him, and to him alone, belongs the merit of the discovery.—(Hear, hear.) Future ages, my Lord, will acknowledge that it is a great discovery.—(Hear, hear.) The mutual defenee and protection which this unity of principle gives to both parties is greater than any person would imagine who had not had his attention called to it. Mr. Knight, therefore, published the principle of the system, and explained the basis of the system in a pam phlet which your Lordship has referred to, and which as your Lordship knows was complimented by the Time newspaper, and by almost all the daily and respectable weekly papers of the metropolis, and it now only re quires a little time, and some still further efforts on the part of the policy holders and the proprietors themselves in promulgating those principles, to insure their being fully known and their advantages fully appreciated.— Hear.) The principle of the union is the salient point of advantages shd h eo i vci s asol -en c mbo o tfefpao m i gonrgpesguleas: composed of company. Atmospheric fnuts 1 ttit A neeweot t ot thami anion. o eigdo s sas p nsisti h .eare e sb, r sc .a i el cisanttsyanatui take essential ea; of assurance hthebhai believe sir h i eet,sy s i loneuecupittpeht society iey r , not union iynt a si t l oeluni princi plesfl . t i —h f o e ef , I will give you an yer il s l o u ri st w ra h ti o un is o t f hir th v e (Hear, hear.) years of age, and who wants a life and guarantee policy for 1,0001.; he goes to a simple guarantee society and he pays 20s. per cent., or 104 for his guarantee policy; he then goes to a life office, and he pays somewhere about 251. per annum for his life policy, and thus to these two companies, whom he has to deal with sepa rately, he has to pay 35L—(Hear, hear.) Now, by the union of the two principles we can do his business for 301., thus saving him Si. per annum.—(Hear, hear.) Now, how is it that we can afford to abate 51, since you have to depend upon the same contingencies of life and honesty • as the other two companies? I will tell you, if the man assuring commits a fraud or malversation in his lifetime, his life policy, as well as his guarantee policy, is forfeited ; thus, if the man commits an act of fraud in his lifetime we pocket his life premium ; while, if he dies without committing any such act, we have had the benefit of his guarantee premiums, and it is upon that principle that we can do the business of the policy holder with more advantage to himself and with equal safety ts ourselves. Now my Lord, I will make one single observation with re ference to the statements in the report. Perhaps it may appear to some that we have not done quite . so much business during the ten months of our existence as we ought; but it must be remembered that no extraordi nary efforts were made to produce effect. No exer tions were made to induce parties to come forward and take up policies, in order that we might come before you with a highly-coloured statement, and make an unusual impression.—(Hear, hear.) I am aware, my Lord, thst there are some people who consider that if they work well to produce a good beginning, the thing is more than half done, and I know that many young companies make spasmodic efforts—( A laugh)— for the purpose of producing a grand demonstration at their first meeting. —(Hear, hear.) I, however, do not consider that busi ness well clone which is done in that way.—(Hear.) I prefer doing a quiet business which can be conducted in a careful manner, and will secure a lasting interest in preference to making an impression at this meeting.— (Hear, hear.) But we have not even yet appointed local agents, and, therefore, the business of the company can hardly be said to be initiated. (Hear, hear.) Still there is no reason to complain, for whilst the premiums for the past year are only 7031., I find that those of January and February in the present year amount to 5001., so that the two put together 'Would make 1,2001. instead of 700/.—(Hear, hear.) Then, again, on the other aide of the account, the shareholders will see that the cash in the hands of the bankers amoants to only 6911.; but if we had taken the cash in hand at the end of February, it would have been 1,200/. instead of 6911.—(Hear, hear.) These, my Lord, are results which will induce the shareholders to join with us in congratulations on the general result of our operations, and the present position and future prospects of the company.—(Cheers.) Mr. FIELD, in suggesting that the accounts should be received and adopted as well as the report, observed that it was originally expected that the shareholders would have to pay up a call of 21.; but the directors found that this sum would not be required for the business of the company, and cons( quently they only gave notice for the payment of a 1/. call. It might have been supposed that something had occurred in their affairs, such as lack of business, which rendered a smaller sum necessary, but that was not the case. The calculation of their able actuary was perfectly correct. The object of the directors was to have ample resources at their command, in order that the public might know they were ready to meet any claims which might be made upon them. From the expe rience they had derived from the working of other assu rance offices, they thought the society would be self supporting, and that no outlay beyond that required fur preliminary expenses, would be eecessary, and during the short period the society had been in existence this had turned out to be correct.—(Cheers.) On the motion of Mr. It. POUNSETT, seconded by Itr. PABREB, it was declared that a dividend at the rate cf 41. per cent. should be payable on and after the 21st of March next. The retiring directors, Messrs. Podmore, Shears, and Winkworth - were re-elected. Messrs. Reynolds, Withers, atid r the atker m w ot er ion e ree ce elec m te r d . a G ud u it n o o is s On WILLOUGHBY, a tote of thanks was of pass ed to the b c e oncodmedpn byy Ali. direc tors, for the seal and caution exercised by t hem in the administration of the company's affiiits, The ORA/RATAN, in returning thanks , said he had at s,stea tended all the board meetings except one, and scald, therefore, bear testimony not only to the zeal of the di. rectors but also to the caution and care which they had exercised in the discharge of their duties. Mr. WINIEWORTH said he had to discharge the very agreeable duty of proposing a vote of thanks to the Noble Lotd for his able and courteous conduct ire the chair. His Lordship bore a name which occupied an Important place in the historic annals of our country, and was held as sacred to the cause of constitutional liberty.—(Cheers.) It was Well known to all those who had read—and it was impossible to suppose that there were any who had not —the thela e s b t a h ra a c if te c r en n t b u t r a y t , s ti l l tialculated to promote the welfar e of societ y , which the 1„ tielehrattid Lord Erskine, by his eloqu ence at the bar biehhtiimstoe effortsryof the were ckle made ea of a and in the mate, and by the wielding of his elegant pen, did much to thwart slid euceessfully oppose. se lected by different sovereigns for the honourable acrd distinguished duty of carrying on diplomatic r elations Ire one or diate successor had done them the bodnobuerenof Bpi:el:11;17g on that interesting occasion. Ile two countries. Ho appear ed as minister and am the evening was now he might say, of of a well spent life to the $ n a gen tleman occupying humanity.—(Cheets.Y An d when positron was pleased to assist his Lordship's eminent hassador in the United States and at the Court of Bavaria. He w ith so much effect. — (Che ers.) upon by Mr. Nicholson, he thought they owed him a deep debt of gratitud e, es peciallybeengiven so asikleously, when his services had cl BB them in promoting tho se moral tin's social benefits, which had been so eloquent l y dilated The-vote was unanimously passed. Th e CHAIRMAN returned thanks. Without recurring to the observations which Mr. Winkworth had b een pleased to make, he would simp l y assure them that he had gre at pleasure in following, at a very humble distance; the example of his ancestor. Havin g seen the p am p hlet of Mr. Knight , he wa s so satisfied of the truths which i t c ontained, that he deemed it of the highest import ance to give his encouragement to the society, the ad vantse. e cf which was made apparent by a circumstance which very nearly concerned himself. A young man I had the offer of a post in Chancery, at SOU a year ; a large guarantee was required, but he was too modest and diffident to apply to powerful relations on the subject, ' and the consequence was that he nearly lost the appoint- , went. His relations, however, having heard of the qr. cumetance, took the matter up and gave the necessaty security. There were cases without end, --although; per haps, much less prominent than that, in which take situations owing to their being give security. This society then came to to their u assistance, the most worthy and able men were u n n s a b b l l e e to fi ns would be party guaranteed, private friends and re a o relieved of a responsibility at all times alarming . and seeing a chance eerious.—(Hear.) He was delighted in of and independently of the service it would iti afford to the of the society being still further extended, because its 1 dieappciated.—(Cheers.) usefulness, and he hoped his expectat ions would not be Votes of thanks were then proposed to the secretary, the actuary, the solicitor, and medical officers, for their exertions in promoting the interests of the society. The CHAIRMAN observed that the secretary was en titled to their very best thenke, as he could bear testi mony to the discretion, care, and activity with which he discharged his duties. With reference to the solicitor, he said ho knew the advantage of a good professional adviser, for he (the Chairman) had not only been bred to the law, but the law had been bread for him, and he could assure them that the solicitor to the society had discharged his duties with great care and assiduity. Upon the other officers included in the vote he pasted equally flattering eulogiums. Mr. FIELD said, the zeal cf the secretary had been untiring, the discretion of the actuary was notorious, the skill of the medical officers was not only well known to this, but to many other societies, and caution had been peculiarly exemplified in their solicitor. It was seldem any company had those excellent qualities so embodied in its officers, and be therefoi e cordially concurred in the vote. The motion was then put, and carried unanimously. The different officers having sever ally ruturued thank the meeting separated. THE BUDGET. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. - _ cinoxicLE.—The grand financial secret of theyear is i out. The budget of 1850 liss passed from the domain of spcculstion into that of criticism. Whatever of anxious hope or interesting mystery hung over the disclosure of the Ministerial programme twenty-four hours ago, has now been dissipated, and the longing suitors and importunate deputa tions, who have for, many weeks past besieged Downing straet with petitions for relief, have got their answer. The surplus, which has been the object of so much envy and contention, has been declared and appropriated. The doors of the Exchequer are now closed, and no further applications can be entertained for another year. The essence of Sir Charles Wood's somewhat diffuse statement may be com prised in a small compass. As the current financial year wants yet some weeks to its completion, the exact difference between the income and expenditure of 1849.50 cannot be accurately pronounced, but the balance in favour of revenue will probably be found to amount to somewhat less than two millions. There are reasons for anticipating a some what smaller income for the year ensuing. The further reduction in the sugar duties which is to take effect next July is computed to produce a loss of about 300,0001. The great increase in the past year from the duty on brandy (433,0000, which is ascribed mainly to the prevalence of the cholera, can hardly be reckoned on for the future; nor is it likely that the importa tions of corn, which during the last twelve months have yielded such unexpected profits to the Exchequer, will maintain henceforth the same extraordinary proportion. If • the Customs should yield 20,250,0001.. including the corn duties, Sir Charles Wood will think it no bad result. As suming the other heads of revenue to produce about the same sums in the ensuing as in the current year, the net re venue for 1850-1 will be 52,285,000/. The expenditure, ac cording to the Estimates as already made public or in prc - paration, would be 50,613,582/. ; but there are some special disbursements, not included in the ordinary charges of the year, which are contemplated by the Government—such as votes for the new Houses of Parliament, for the Arctic expedition, and for the long-postponed Public Record office—which may add from 150,00C1. to 210,0001. to the outlay. In round numbers, the prospective surplus on the sth April, 1851, may be stated at 1,510,000/. The interesting question then arises, what is to be done with it? Given a disposable balance of a million and a half—in what manner can that sum be most profitably employed for the benefit of the community? The Chancellor of the Exche quer, in the course of his speech, passed in review the claims of several pressing and meritorious applicants for remission of taxation. The abstract expediency of reducing the exor bitant tea duty was folly conceded, but the consequences to the revenue were described as too serious for such an experi ment. The wievances attaching to the window-tax, the paper duties, the advertisement duties, the solicitors' tax, and some other imposts, were not denied, although circumstances would not admit of a more effectual consolation to the several parties than a respectful mention of their claims. The case of the agriculturists underwent a more detailed and elaborate consideration. Having more solid comfort in store for this party, Sir Charles Wood seems to have had the less compunc tion in reading them a rather severe lecture upon their con duct and tactics. He exposed forcibly, but not too severely, the sheer selfishness of the attempt lately made to turn back the current of fiscal legislation, by throwing off the burdens of property, and saddling them upon labour, while, in spite of all that legislation has done, or can do, the progress of society incessantly tends to increase the wealth of the rich in a far greater ratio than to improve the condition of the poor. But while he arraigned the impolicy and injustice in volved in the late movement of the " Country Party," Sir Charles Wood fully admitted the pressure to which agricul ture is at this juncture exposed, and the expediency of se conding the efforts of those who are struggling to meet the difficulties of the times. One other party remained, whose title to a share of the anticipated surplus was empha tically stated and unhesitatingly allowed—the public creditor. The duty and necessity of making some provision for redeem ing the debt—that debt which has gone on increasing in time of peace—which is always augmented when there is a deficit, but seldom or never diminished when there is a sur plus —were put in a clear light, and enforced by all the perti nent though familiar axioms of financial morality. At length, having held the House a sufficiently long time in suspence to enhance the interest of his disclosures, the Chan- , cellor of the Exchequer runouaced the practical conclusion. The surplus of a million and a half he proposed to divide into two equal parts. One moiety is to go in relief of taxation— the other in reduction of debt. Among the "burdens on land, " two are selected, the exemption from which is expected to afford important facilities and relief, more especially to the smaller class of pro prietors. The stamp duties on the transfer of land by way of sale or mortgage are to be revised. The amount upon those of smaller value is to be reduced, and instead of a di minishing per centage as the scale ascends, according to the existing law, the duty is to regulated by an equal progression ad valorem. In the case of leases also, a remission of stamp I duty is to be made. Another boon is granted, which it is hoped may conduce not only to the interests of the land owner and the farmer, but to the comfort and wellbeing of the labourer. The duty on bricks, yielding at present some what above 400,0001. to the Bscise, is to be remitted in toto, end Sir C. Wood anticipates that the effect of so doing will be to give an impulse to the extension of farm buildings and farming operations, as well as to promote that improve ment in the dwellings of the poor which, both for moral and sanitary reasons, is so earnestly to be desired. To these measures of direct financial relief must be added another proposition, designed with the same object of aiding and encouraging the cultivation of the soil, and • which, though not actually a money gift, is in effect tanta mount thereto. It is intended to assist the landowners • with the credit of Government by further advances from the 1 Echequer, for the purposes of drainage and improvements. Two millions are to be appropriated in this manner for the benefit of England and Scotland, and one million—a part of which will serve to complete the system of arterial drainage —for Ireland. Such is in effect the budget announced last night to the House of Commons. We cannot now stop to criticise in detail either the plans or the speech of its author, on which we must reserve some observations for another day. It will be obvious, however, on the surface, that it is one which affords to the agricultural party at least no pre text for complaining that their interests have been over looked or postponed. They cannot stigmatise it with the term most expressive of their abhorrence, as a Free-trade Budget. It leaves the tariff perfectly untouched. It gives no semblance of benefit to the foreigner. It tends, in more ways than one, to produce that great desideratum of their admired leader and financier—" Cheap capital." The direct remission of taxation which it affords will be found, if not superior, at least equal to any which the soil, as such, could have derived from the actual realisation of his recently-pro posed scheme. The Protectionists, therefore, it is clear, have lost nothing by their importunity. Whether other classes and interests of the community may have equal reason to be satisfied with the present budget, we will not at present un dertake to determine. HERALD.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer last night, like Sir George Grey on Thursday night, seemed fond of the idea of a compromise. He has got a trifling balance of about 1,500,0001. This, which might afford some comfortable relief from taxation if conceded, or might work some bene ficial reduction of the debt if kept, he proposes to divide. So we are to have 750,0001. for reduction of debt, and 750,0001. for remission of taxes. The result of which will be that neither of the two will be felt, and thus the surplus will be frittered away, and the opportunity of doing any good will be lost. This is poor work, and we have a presentiment that it will sot succeed. The budget will disappoint almost every one, and the clamour for remission of taxes will become loader. We are unwilling to blame such a selection as that of the tax on bricks for reduction. But whileyee admit the tax to be a vile one, and one most proper to be repealed, we fear .that the Chancellor has made the proposal in a bungling manner, and in a way likely to damage a purpose essen tially good. Forming a part of a large plan, the abolition of the duty on bricks would have been applauded. But,taken alone, or nearly alone, the preference shown to it will awaken envy. Few requests have been addressed to Govern ment for its remission. Other unpopular duties have sent up their swarming deputations, to fill the reception-room in Downing-street, with cries for the abolition of tea duties, timber duty, advertisement duty, &c. All these are neg lected and contemned, and the poor little excise on bricks is selected for special grace by the Finance Minister. As we have . already said, we fear that the very envy and jealousy which • will be excited will hazard the success of an other wise laudable proposal. As for Sir Charles Wood, we begin to doubt the possibility of his retaining his present post. The financial statement for 1850 is likely to give as little sa tisfaction as either of his former performances. It is weak, paltering, and unsatisfactory. And people were expecting something better. One set of persons were sure that the Chancellor had a surplus of two or three millions, and with it some great operation on the national debt was to be at least commenced. Another set were sure of repealing the window tax, or the malt duty, or the duty on tea. All these are im partially put aside, and the Chancellor will neither remit any considerable tax, nor yet attempt any considerable operation in the funds. The disappointed will exceed the gratified by more than twenty to one. We shall be surprised if they do not make themselves felt and heard, long before the close of the present session. LAW INTELLIGENCE. BANKRUPTCY COURT, March 15. (Before Mr. Commission HOLROYD.) IN RE W3l. JERDAN. The bankrupt was the proprietor of the Literary Gazette. This was the certificate meeting. Mr. :Sturgeon supported; Mr. Cooke opposed on be half of the assignee. The balance-sheet shows debts to the amount of 5,7004 to unsecured creditors, and 5,3781. to creditors holding securities. The property held by the secured creditors is valued at 3,0601., and consists of policies of insurance for 1,0601., and the copyright of the Literary Gazette, subject to three mortgages of 3,3001. Among the un secured creditors are Mr. W. Harrison Ainsworth, 501.; Messrs. _Bathe and Breach, W Lond C on Tavern tailor , 571.; the Lord Chief Baron,3ool.;Mr.. hambers, , 1121.; Dickinson and Co. s t a tioners, Old Bailey, 1814; F. Itrath, wine-merel;ant, 6514 ILongman and Co., pub blisbers, 26614 the Union Bank, 1971.; Mr. Roby, 'banker, Rochdale, 1;000/.; Saville and Edwards, printers, 119/; G. Smith; undertaker, John-street, Oxford -street, 3601. (bills discounted); H. Silverlock, printer, 4701.; Rev. D. Warnford, 5004; Balfour and Co., wine-mer chants, 146/. There are no other assets, but a few debts put down at 351/. Mr. Cooxu submitted that the bankrupt ought not to have come to that court. Ia March, 1847, he had as signed his property in the Literary Gazette to his son for 1,0001., and had applied the proceeds to the payment of debts in respect to which it was alleged that he was not pressed for payment. The bankrupt had also allowed a broker named Richards to get possession of his house , hold furniture, valued At 2001. ARMY ESTINIATES. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. BERNAL in the Chair. Mr. F. MAULE moved the following votes on ac count of the several itdms in the army estimates:— 80,0004 to defray the expenso3 of tilff officers serving at home and abroad. Mr. HUME said when the report of the Committee above stairs upon the army estimates was made, the amount would be reduced one-half. After a few words from several lion. Members, the vote was agreed to. The following votes were then also agreed to on ac count:— 46,000/. on account cf allowances to the principal offi cers of the several public departments. 8,0001. on account of the Royal Military College. 9,000/. on account of the Royal Military Asylum. 40 ; 0001. on account of the volunteer corps. 7,0001 on account of distinguished services. 29,0001. on account of general officers being colonels of regiments. 27,000/. on account of full pay for reduced and retired officers. 190,0002 on account of half-pay and military allow ances to reduced and retired officers. 21,000/. on account of half-pay and reduced allowance to officers of disbanded foreign corps, pensions to wounded officerr, and widows and children of deceased foreign officers. 63,000/. on account of pensions to widows of officers of the land forces. 45,000!. on account of allowances on the compassionate list. 17,000/. on account of in-pensioners of Chelsea and Kil rnainham Hospitals. 600,C00/. on account of out-pensioners. 20,0001. on account of alblwancos, compensations, and emoluments, for su"trannuation and retired allowances to persons forierly belonging to public departments. NAVY ESTIMATES. c 's;ir P. BARING then (said he proposed to take two vot , _l; on the navy estimates. A sum of 1,322,9391. was proposel for the wages of seamen and marines Lfor the year ending the 31st cf March, 1851, Captain 130LbERO said, as he understood the Right Hen. Baronet did not intend taking more than two votes on that occasion, he would not interfbre with the public business to bring forward the important subject of which he had given notice—namely, that of calling the atten ticn of the House to the condition of the assistant aut.+ geons of the navy on the motion for going into Commit tee of pupply on the navy estimates. He would, how ever take the earliest opportunity of doing so on a future occasion, • Sir F. T. BARING Expressed his sense of obligation to the Hon. and Gallant Member for the consideration which prompted him not to interfere with the progress of public business on that occasion. Mr. HUME said that those who had been educated as gentlemen should be treated' as gentlemen in the naval and Illtary services, and thought the Hon. and Gallant Member was entitis4to much credit for his notice ? which he hoped 1116 tokn9. eiere CaPtam BOLDER() said thb it:lel:toil befoie the House that evening was that the ItOitse eci mittee upon thb ruhly estimates, and therefore ho did not think he could do otherwise than he had done.—(Hear.) A vote of 824179/. for victuals for the marines and seamen was then egreed to, after ithit,ft oh Qtlitin. MAN reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. ESTATES LEASING (IRELAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee upon the above Bill. Colonel DUNNE objected to going on with the Bill at that late hour, but rub:equently did not press hia ob jection. A long conreriation took place on tha pr oposition of some e1r07:3e9 proposed by tiir ITERGUSOIr fuul other 0.31. The other orders of the day were then disi ma, 9d,of, and the House Adjourned At Half-past One 9',cloi THE UNITED GUARANTEE AND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. The first annual general meeting of the Shareholders in the United Guarantee and Life Assurance Company was held yesterday at the offices in the Old Jewry; the Right Hoe. Lord Erskine, chairman of tho board of directors, in the chair. There was a very full attend ance of proprietors. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read by the Secretary, JAMES KNIGHT, Esq., the com mon seal of the company was affixed to the register of shareholders. The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting to the following effect:—Gentlemen, the duty devolves upon me of offering to you a few remarks upon the pro gress and the actual position of the affairs of this t xce'- lent company. The report which will be shortly sub mitted to you goes so fully into the position of the com pany, that it is almost superfluous for me to detain you with any observations of my own ; but I have not myself had any share in the preparation of that decumcnt, and I can, therefore, the wore readily hear my testimony to the ca re and ability; with which it has been drawn up.—(Hear, hear.) It is short, clear, ,and succinct; but still I am bound to confess that, clear and shunt as it is, it only gives you a glimpse of the very pros perous condition of the company.—(Hear, bear.) Geo de:nen, there is, then, only one remark that I feel called upon to address to you, and that is with respect to the st ite of our policy business.—(litear, hear.) All who have applied have not been accepted, but it was not to be expected that they should, for, considering the very short tune that our society has been in operation, it is really remarkable th a t we h ave had se many o ff ers made to us.—(Hear, h ear.) The policies applied for have amount e d i n money value to no l ess t h an 171,619/., of which w e h ave accepte d 105 ,047/. (Hear, hear.) It may be said that the business of the company bas been conducted with extreme caution, but I certainly think that too much caution cannot be practised.—(Hear, hear.) It is difficult some times to estimate where safety exists, and I make that remark without being at all invidious, or in the least questioning the credit of the parties who have been rejected. It was not on aecount of their re putations that their offers were refused, but because we felt that they were entering upon employments which were more or less of a dangerous and tempting character, and we therefore did not choose to run the risk of deal ing with them.—(Hear, hear.) There was a time when I might have been sanguine enough to consider this extreme caution quite unnecessary, but I have now arrived at an age when I feel and believe that in the management of a society like this the utmost caution ought always to be exercised.--(Hear, hear.) I have attended every board meeting but one, and I can bear testimony is the zeal and attention which the directors have paid to your affairs.—(Hear, hear.) The result of that attention is seen in the report - , and although at first our business was not very extensive, yet in the last month the offers and acceptances have nearly doubled what they were before.—(Hear, hear.) We have, therefore, every right to congratulate ourselves upon the prosperity of our youthful society.—(Hear.) I do not know that it is necessary for me to detain you with one single observation more, but I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without directing your attention to the zeal and ability which my ex c,llent friend, and our most highly useful secretary, has employed in your bebalf.—(flear.) He it was who prepared our report—he it was who drew up our pro spectus, and, above all, he it was who wrote a pamphlet in support of our institution ; and, notwithstanding that, he sits next to me , an d is present here to-day. 1 f ee l 1 should be w an ti ng i n my duty to you if I a ll owe d any false delicacy to prevent me from paying him that tribute of respect and esteem which his industry, zeal, and talents entitle him to at my bands.—(Cheers.) Nor can I permit this meeting to pass by without saying one word in behalf of the medical gentlemen who have assisted the board in the discharge of its functions.—(Hear, hear.) Those gentlemen require little or no commendations from me—their ability and reputations are too well known to need it, and it is nothing more than an act of courtesy for me now to acknowledge the zeal and ability which they have exercised in our ser vice. —(Hear, hear.) Congratulating you, again, upon the prosperous state of your affairs, and hoping that this prosperity will go on increasing, I beg leave to conclude by calling upon the secretary to read to you the report which the directors have prepared for this occasion. Mr. KNIGHT here read the following report : " The directors have much pleasure in meeting the shareholders on the first occasion prescribed by the deed of settlement, and beg to submit the balance-sheet of the affairs of the company, made up in accordance with the deed to the 31st of December, 1849. " The company was completely registered under the Act 7th and Bth Victoria (esp. 110), on the 17th of April, 1849, and the operations of the company can therefore only be exhibited in the balance-sheet from that period to the end of the year. At the same time the directors think it right to communicate to the share holders the progress of the company to the most recent date, viz., the end of the past month. " The attention of the directors has necessarily been hitherto chiefly engaged in completing the establishment of the company, but, notwithstanding this, it will be observed that the business has largely and progressively increased, as the following statement will show:— Amcuut of Policies Policies Premiums applied for. Issued. Received. May, 1849 June 17,800 8,425 140 9 8 July August 24,450 20,850 120 9 9 September October 6,050 3,950 58 17 7 November Dec,mber 14,670 8,539 115 6 .7 January, 1850 24,050 19,345 313 4 10 February 26,160 16,314 183 9 11 Total _ --. 1 from May 1849 £171,619 £105,047 .£1,200 7 1 to Feb. 1850 - " The policies hitherto issued have been accepted by several of the leading private and joint-stock banks, railway companies, and other large pstahlishrnents; and it is confidently anticipated from negotiations now in progress with other influential banking, railway, and im portant mercantile interests in the kingdom, that, at the termination of the current year, results still more de monstrative of the succors of the company will be sub enitted to the proprietors. " With respect to the ageacy department, the directors have been anxiously engaged in the selection of parties capable, from position and character, to give to the pe culiar and valuable objects contemplated by this com pany that prominence which is requirei for their full development. When the arrangements now now in progress are complete, a proportion a t e i ncrease i n t h e b usiness and profits of the company must " The directors beg to suggest to the proprietors and policy holders the great importance of exerting their personal influence to promote the prosperity of this com pany, which embraces so many philanthropic and eco nomical advantages, affecting a s we ll t h e interests of the employers as the employed. Th ese have b een genera ll y recognized by the public p ress, and only need t h e zea l ous co-Jperatiou now urged to make them more extensively known and appreciated. : " Since 31st Decembir th e . sh i re list has been strengthened by the accession of several valuable share holders; and the directors have the satisfaction to re port, that there are now above 4,000 shares taken up oat of the 5,000 of which the capital is composed. " Under the deed the proprietors are entitled to intee rest upon the share capital to the end of the year, at the rate of 4 per cent. per an num, which it is proposed to pay after the 21st March instant. " Under the deed or settlement Mr. l s odmore, Mr. Shears, and Mr. Winkworth, directors elected by the Court to fill three vacancies since the complete registrar tion of the company, go out of office, but are eligible for re-election, and the Court of Directors recommend the re-election of those gentlemen," The general balaneessheet made Op to the 81st Del cember, 184 9 repres en t e d t h e receipts to attiontit tti 4,1251. 19s, 11d., of which 3,4201, 10s. was for the de , posit and first call upon the shares issued in lieceMber, 1849, and 70(1/ 125. 3d • for premiums received in new policies, and the expenditure for preliminary expenses to 1,7731. I 9s. 5d., and for current expenses to 1,1171. 178.2 d. ,The cash At the banker, and in hand amounted to 6981. 13s. 4a. Calls remaining due from Oik? Aare= holders amounted to 2661. 10s. i the cancelled shares tO 6V., and the amount on loan to 200/ ; rah o .itstoN said h e . h a d M UNI p l eeletife in seconding the resolution. He could not but look on the society with great respect and admiration, because it was cal culated to do a vast deal of geed to the tiaitg genera tion. It would afford protection and assistance to the orphan. This *as to be seen in the fact that many men were rising into life who would be unable to dotOstiand the support or patronage of relations or friends, and thus, though they !night hate opportunities of getting suitable and profitable situations, Would be rendered in capable - of takitig therb b eeaue € no tine would undertake to give security ism their good behtivlotir And honesty. society, guarantee an and c u d assurance t o e thisThprinciple were united in give much greater advan tages than any other institution of the kind. lie would, therefore, strongly recommend it to his friends, and trusted that every other proprietor would co-operate With him in bringing as much business as possible to the office. In other guarantee societies the person paid his back, or of • o bt a i n i ng an y ulterior advantages; but money without th e s li g h tes t prospect of getting any of it here a widow bf E ; member would receive the benefit of a life policy. The society 11 , 25 gradually progressing, a n d h e h o p e d next year the income would be 4,0001. or 5,000/., instead of, as at present; 1,200/. It was gratiryi ng t o fi n d that it bad ken patronised by railway com p an i es , j o i n t-stock banks, and other large establishments, When the different agencies were formed, they might anticipete a 'Very handsome income from the provinces; and he thought this was a subject they only get one policy from each large • , uonsideraWe to ;which the a tt en ti o n of the directors should be called, for if town, the bueineSS Would be ve ry' _ . The influentially and respectably e?rnP", l "leel wet! most b t the undertaking was Do signed which tact siitAWl l i y ft ot ti r '' fist the ' general weal; butsble ktit , was leg 40 ii! rffsp gale a s pu Were in a position to meet they ; did busirif...eil •Sasst, ,the y, ) He concluded by. se ts —(Cheierg. their engagemen . the Noble Chaitilinn. cc conding the motion of itimaartaentege to the persons with whom a ddress to you one or two principles and objects. is well as observations upon the th iscompany.—( the origin and paternity cf aatag the advan- Hear, hear.) The last speaker has allu de d very nicely to Mr. CORNELIUS lirenon sost—My Lord, tages of this company, ad than that of other g before that resolution is put I wish t es which secure to the policy holder as well as to v the public far greater bene fitsuarantee societies.--(Elear , hear.) Notwithstanding that, ono or two obsarristions may not be out of place Ito illustrate still further the I T, which are essentially ne.vv prirl(.yec of thP rP"'P s P ai. believe they require only I I ..ial Vbientiaiiy pecuilar, 411 to be well known in order to be fully and thoroughly Mr. STURGEON, for the bankrupt, contended that hie client bad been justified in coming to that court. He had been arrested at Worcester, and threatened with arrest at Chester. As reg arded the bankrupt's not hav ing kept proper books, and his expenditure having been considerable, that Court would not regard the cases of a literary and scientific man and retail traders as being the same. The former was necessarily led, from his position, to incur expenses; and, looking to the fact that the bankrupt had a wife and ten children, the expendi ture of 941 L for one year and eight months could net be considered very excessive. The COMMISSIONER remarked that he bad beard nothing from the bankrupt respecting any proposal to pay his debts. Mr. STURGEON Said that it would be of no use for the bankrupt to make a proposal, as it would be totally out of his power to carry it out. The case was a most la ntahle one. Cases were heard of in fiction, but those of fact were sometimes worse. Ilia .7 - 10NOUR said that, acting in a court of justice, it must he considered that the calamity was not all on one side. It was very lamentable to see the position in which the bankrupt was placed, but it must be consi dered that he had brought it on himself. It would be found that the debts, including the balance of those sated to be secured, amounted to 8,000/. It was urged that being a literary man, he was led to incur expenses. Then es to not keeping books and account: in the, ordi nary manner of a trajer, incurring a large amount of debts—ens such a person entitled to come te the Court of Bankruptcy, which was only intended to benefit the unfortunate trader? Ile had struggledno for twenty years Kith old debts upon him. It must be remembered that there were two courts of justice—the Insolvent Debtors' Court and the Court of Bankruptcy—and while those two courts were in existence, they oueht to be kept distinct. Where a man had expended more than his means-would !show, and parted with all his property to pay debts for which be was not pressed, that gas a case for the Insolvent Debtors' Court, to which power was given of remanding a man to custody. If a man got into diffi culties, which some literary men did, the creditors ought to be called together to ascertain what there was, in the Literary Gazette, or other things ; but that was not done in this case. In order to get rid of his debts the bankrupt had made away with all his property, and then came to this court for the purpose of preventing a person from doing what he was allowed by law to do. It could not be held that a gentleman was to struggle on for several years, and when somebody went against him that he was to come to this court, ask for a certificate, get it granted, and be relcaed from all his liabilities. It was making a mockery of a court of justice. It had been said that he had had the misfortune of being obliged to support a broker's man in possession. The misfortune was, that the bankrupt was living in a house well furnished, with a representa tion given to the world that it belonged to him ; but if any creditor attempted to take possession, they would be told that the property belonged to another party. It was stated by the bankrupt that he bad been in difficul ties for many years, but only three or four months be fore the bankruptcy he assigned the Literary Gazette to his son, and the excuse for that was, that the mortgagee was pressing. Taking all there circumstances into con sideration, more particularly that there were two courts of justice—one for the real trader who had been unfor tunate, and one for the person who bad traded in insol rency—the Court could not, in justice to the public, grant this gentleman a certificate. It must be wholly refused. Mr. STURGEON applied to the Court to grant protec tion, in order to afford the bankrupt the opportunity of appealing to the Vice-Chancellor in Bankruptcy against his Ilonour'i decision. His HoNoun. granted protection for twenty-one days, ;0 give the bankrupt this opportunity. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. WOOLWICH, MARCH 15.—8 y an error yestsrday in aiding the weight of the ballast, &e., on board the Magicienne steam-sloop, the total was stated to be 2,093 tone, whe❑ the actual quantity was nearly 1,300 tons. The Lords of the Admiralty have, at the request of Captain Austin, C. 8., ordered six vulcanized india rubber sheets for the several vessels about to proceed on the Artie expedition. The sheets are for the pur pose of temporarily closing holes should they occur in any of the ships' bottoms under water, or for effecting slight repairs in the sea cocks of marine steam-engines without the necessity of placing the vessel in a dry dock or laying her on the shore. The use of these sheets was suggested by Mr. Cow, late master boat-builder at this dockyard, and have been used most effectually in keeping the water out whilst the sea cocks have been repaired. They have been supplied to several of the steam-vessels on foreign stations and to many of her Majesty's ships. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. DONCASTER SPRING MEETING.—THURSDAY. (CONCLUDED). The Sheffield and Rotherham Stakes of 6 sovs. each, h ft, and 40 added. One mile. (12 Subs.) Mr. B. Eddison's Eliza Middleton, 3 yrs, 6st 21b Mr. B. Green's Osbaleleston, 3 yrs, 6st 111 b (Basham) 2 The following also started, but were not placed :—Mr. J. Taylor's Luxor, 6 yrs, Bst 41b (Jenkinson)—Mr. G. Bartin's Didsbury, 4 yrs, Bst (W. Oates)—Mr. Cowell'a Patrick, 4 yrs. Tat 131 b (Ilughes)—Mr. Styan's Ellen, 5 yrs, ist (B. Smith)—Mr. Barker's Young Bamboo, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b (Wakefield, jun.)—Mr. J. Shepherd's Kill or Cure, 3 yrs, 6st 61b (Charlton)—and Mr. Rickaby's f by Touchstone, out of Lady Emily, 3 yrs, sst 121 b (Osborne). Betting-3 to 1 agst Didsbury-3 to 1 agst Osbaldes ton-4 to 1 agst Kill or Cure-5 to 1 agst Eliza Middle ton. Won very cleverly by a length; the same between second and third. FRIDAY. The Optional Selling Stakes of 3 soya. each, and 20 added, for 3 yrs old and upwards. One mile. (11 Subs.) Mr. Blacker's Theory, 4 yrs (Cartwright) 1 Mr. Barber's Young Bain b 00,3 yrs (Wakefield, jun.) 2 Mr. v. ilkins's Magic Wand, 3 yrs (Charlton) 3 Jane Eyre, 4 yrs (Burke)—Present, 4 yrs (Bedlam) —Sir Philip, 3 yrs (G. Oates)—California, 3 yrs (Wil berforce)--eh c by William le Gros, d by Valparaiso, 3 vrs (Saundess)—br f by Touchstone, out of Lady Emily, 3 yrs (Osborn) —The Monk, 6:yrs (Elkington)— and Pioneer, aged (G. Muirhouse), also started, but, were not placed. Betting-3 to 1 agst Theory-4 to 1 agst Lady Emily filly-5 to 1 agst Magic Wand, and sto 1 agst The Monk. Won by three lengths. The Northern Steeplechase Stakes of 3 so's. each, and 25 added, the second to save his stake. About three miles and a half. (13 Subs.) Mr. Lister's Wharfdale Maid, aged (11. Bradley) 1 Mr. H. Carew's bg by Laurel, aged (Butler) 2 Mr. J. Walker's Cadeby, aged (Moorhouse) 3 The following also ran:—lvanhoe, aged (Lamplugh) —Mary Barton, aged (Witty)—Gameday, aged (Scarth) —Billy from Brig, 6 yrs (Frisby)—Pigskin, aged (Bow man)—The Forester, aged (Humble)—Vitula, aged (J. Smith) —and Jeannette, aged (G. Smith). Betting-5 to 2 agst Wharfdale Maid-4 to 1 agat Laurel gelding-4 to 1 agst Pigskin—and Bto 1 eget Cadeby. The Maid lay in front all the way, and won easily by four lengths. The Doncaster Handicap, 10 soya. each, h ft, and three only if declared, with 100 added, the second to save his stake. St. Leger Course. (18 Subs., sof whom declared.) Mr. H. Lister's King Hall, 6 yrs, lot 61b ...(Marson) 1 Mr. Hesseltine's Timothy, 3 yrs, sst 81b Mr. Dawson nd Priatess, 4 yrs, Bst 21b ....... 3 The following alsMitarted. but were not placed:—Mr. Pedley's Foreclosure, 6 yrs, Bst 71b (Templeman)—Mr. H. Hesseltine's Andalusian, 4 yrs, Bst llb (Longstaff)— Mr. Jaques's Lady I-am-off, 5 yrs, 7st 31b (Basham)— Mr. J. H. Scott's Good Girl, 5 yrs, 7st 11b (J. Arnold) —Mr. G. Barton's Didsbury, 4 yrs, 7st llb (G. Oates) —Mr. T. Carter's Dulcamara, 5 yrs, 7st Ilb (Dean) —and Mr. Robson's Laura, 3 yrs, sst 12Ib (Charlton). Betting-5 to 2 agst Priestess-5 to 2 agat Didsbury —3 to 1 sgst Foreclosure—and 5 to 1 each agst Timothy and Andalusian. Won cleverly by a length. The Innkeepers' Purse of 10 soya., added to a Sweep stakes of 1 soy. each; for 3 yrs old and upwards. One Mr. Mason's Horace, aged, lOst 111 b (J. Smith) 1 Mr. T. Webster's Redman, 5 yrs, lOst 41b (J. Etches) 2 Mr. Winterbottom's Binds, aged, list 111 b (Owner) 3 Miss Kitty, 4 yrs, Bst 131b—Emma, 3 yrs, ist 11b— Peacock, 5 yrs, 9st 81b—Gilbert, aged, lOst 11b—Get away, aged, lOst 11b—Gay Lad, aged, lOst lib, also started. Betting-6 to 4 sgst Emma-2 to I agst Hinda--21 to 1 agst Gilbert—and any odds agst Ha ace. Won easy by several lengths; Hinda beaten a neck only for second. Run in 1 min. 52 secs. The Scurry Stakes (Handicap) of 3 sous. each, and' 20 added; the second horse to lave his stake. Red House in. (10 Subs.) Mr. B. Green's Osbaldeston, 3 yrs, Est 131 b (Basham) 1 Mr. Lister's Peasant Girl, 4 yrs, Bst 61b (F. parson) 2 Mr. Shepherd's Kill or Cure, 3 yrs, 6st ...(Charlton) 3 The following also started, but were not placed :—Mr. Pedley's Birdkiller, 6 yrs, Bst 71b (Templeman)—Mr. Armstrong's Hurlestone, 4 yrs, Bst 21b (Longstaff ) Mr. Foster's Fanny, aged, Est (J. Arnold)—Mr. Styan's Ellen, 5 yrs, Est 91b (Metcalfe) —Mr. Barker's Torde sines, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Wakefield) —and Mr. G. Barton's Leonidas, 3 yrs, sst 101 b (Osborne). Betting-3 to 1 sgst Osbaldeston, who made his own running, and won cleverly by half a length. WARWICK AND LEAMINGTON SPRING MEETING, 1850. Acceptances for the Grand Handicap Steeplechase.. Age st. lb.! Ago sti.lb. Peter Simple all 3 Tipperary Boy 610 0 Bat-trap .... •-• a 10 0 Abd-el-Kader alo 12!Tom Jolly ......... a 9 13 The Chandler a 10 10 The Thrush % a, e 13 Proceed Vain Hope 5 10 8 Treasurer Lucy Neal .... .... alO 6 1Wolverhampton Meath Liverpool 6 10 3 Venture Rory -be-airy Sir Peter Laurie... 6 10 2,Vengeance .4 9 7" The Screw Rainbow Maria Day Ace of Trumps No betting. a a 1 1 0 0 0 0 , s L p it a t r le ts Fanny ••..... aBl2 _ --:FRIDAY. - a 810 MANCHESTE R- __----- . ROYAL B IOGRAPHY .—A very interestan piece of biography is announced for immediate publication, by,that popular writer, Rev. Erskine Neale, whose " Life-Book ista Labourer" and " Closing Scenes" will be in the recollection of most readers. It is no less than a Life of the Duke of K en t. The moment the announcement appeared i t seemed snrpris. ing that a life of such extraordinary interest had not hith er t o been published. Ibis work „cannot fail to be maiyergany TrelMne.