The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-20 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL MURDER. (From a Second Edition of the Edinburgh Courani of Monday.) Great consternation was excited this morning in the village of Juniper Green, about five miles south west of Edinburgh (in the neighbourhood of Currie), by the discovery of the murder of two persons in the house of -Dr. Wilson, a resident medical practitioner. The county police were immediately on the spot, and upon entering the house found Dr. Wilson in the kitchen, lying upon his back, quite dead, with his bead beaten almost to a jelly. The next object which presented itself was the life less body of the aged mother of Dr. Wilson, which was found lying in the passage, apparently on the spot where the unfortunate woman had been struck down, and killed. The implements employed in these murders ap peared to have been the kitchen poker and tongs. A person suspected to be the murderer was ap prehended in the house, and has been lodged in the Edinburgh jail. Information of the dreadful occurrence reached Edinburgh about nine o'clock this morning, when Mr. Sheriff Gordon, the Procurator-Fiscal, and Mr. List, Superintendent of the County Police, drove out to the scene of the murder. They were occupied for several hours in making an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy, and returned to town a little after one o'clock. It would be improper, in the meantime, to enter into all the details that have come to light, but we believe that the publication of the following statement cannot interfere with the course of justice. From what we have heard, it appears that at a late hour last night (Sunday) a man of the name of Pearson, •who is understood to have been in confine ment in a lunatic asylum, called at the house of Dr. Wilson for medicine or medical advice. The Doctor accordingly prescribed a simple dose, of which one-half was to be taken that night, and the remainder next morning. Dr. Nelson having just returned from visiting his country patients, left the man at the door, while be himself and the maid servant went to thei stable to put up his horse. Upon his return to the house, Dr. Wilson found the outer door locked, and, upon knocking, was immediately admitted. This appears to have been observed by the maidservant, who then went to her mother's house is the neighbourhood, where she usually slept. The precise circumstances that followed within Dr. Wilson's house, can only be matter of conjecture. The state in which his body and that of his mother were found next morning, has already been described. It is said that the man Pearson, who bad called at the house the previous night, is the person now in gaol upon suspicion of the murder ; and it is added that he had passed the night in the house, sleeping in Mrs. Wilson's bed, having first, it is supposed, burned his clothes. He was found naked, in bed, and sound asleep. The murder was brought to light at an early hour this morning by the servant returning as usual to her work. She found the door locked, and upon looking through the windows, sew the body of Dr. Wilson lying upon the kitchen floor. She immediately gave the alarm, when the door was forced open, and the full extent of the murder was disclosed. Dr. Wilson was about fifty years of age, strong ar dhealthy. His mother bad attained the great age fninety. We have already stated that Pearson had been in confinement as a lunatic. This, we believe was some time ago—his confinement lasted about four years, when he was discharged, apparently in sound mind. We understand that, within the last few days, symp toms of insanity again manifested themselves. ATTEMPT TO MURDER An extraordinary circumstance, which bad nearly been attended with loss of life, occurred on Friday evening last at the house of Mr. Grindall, the Bell, in Suffolk-street, Birmingham. It appears that for the last three years a young man named Abraham Lee, son of Mrs. Lee, coal-dealer, Essington-street, had been in the habit of feequenting the Bell, and appeared desirous of being considered a suitor to Miss Ellen Grindall, daughter of the landlord. 'Lee,', however, never received any atten tion from the girl or her family to justify him in believing that he was recognized in the manner he desired. He visited the house as an ordinary cus tomer, and it is supposed became jealous of a young man named John Scott, who also frequented the Bell. This feeling, however, he concealed, never once intimating to Miss Grindall or 'any of her friends his dissatisfaction. On Friday evening, about 8 o'clock, whilst Mr. Grindall was at the workhouse attending a meeting of the guardians, Lee, accompanied by a young man named Kingston, went to the house, and their hands being dirty they proceeded to Th., brewhouse to wash them, and called for a pint or ale, with which they were supplied. Whilst in the aot of washing their hands Mrs. Grindall told her daughter to go into the brew house and finish her ironing. She did so,and it appears WAS followed to the door by Scott. Miss Grindall good humouredly intimated to Lee and his companion that they should leave the bre whouse, as she wanted to finish her work; but she had no sooner done so than Lee took .a pistol from his pocket, and this being ob served by the girl she instantly put up her left arm in defence. Lee fired the pistol, which was heavily loaded with shot, and a portion of the contents lodged in her arm, chest. and neck, about fifteen shots taking effect. She fell upon the floor, screaming and bleed ing profusely. MrS. Grindall hastened to the brew house ; Kingston immediately seized Lee, who made considerable resistance ; a police-officer was called in, Lee was taken into custody, and on searching him another pistol, loaded to the muzzle, was found in his possession. He was taken to the police-station, and the wounded girl being conveyed to bed medical as sistance was speedily obtained, and many of the shots were extracted. On Saturday morning the prisoner was brought up before Mr. J. B."Daeies; M.D., and Mr. Williard 'Willis at the public office, when In spector Glosson charged him with the above offence, and added that Miss Grindall was unable to attend; it would therefore be necessary to have the prisoner remanded until her medical attendant would allow her to appear. The prisoner, who declined making any statement, was then remanded. The wounded girl is declared to be out of danger, and will no doubt be able very soon to appear against the pri soner. We understand that Lee has stated that the contents of the second pistol were intended for him self.—Aris'.s Birmingham Gazette. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London Neu; Price Current, starch 19.) Sueere--To-day there was rather more activity in the naarket f,,r We , t India Muscovado Sugar, and holders were firm; still littie demand existed from re finers and grocers, and the rates paid are fully equal to tho,e of Friday for all eons. The total purchases amounted to 200 hhds, .R.e. At public sale 37 hhds Js melee went at 35s 6d for fine brown, and at 36s for low yellow. ' RZFINED.—To-isy there was no variation in the value of Lump Sugar, but only a moderate business was con. eluded, and refiners appeared to be disposed to sell. Bonded Crushed Sugar met with little attention, and the n twill net fetch above 30s per cwt. Meuntrius.-This afternoon the public sales of Mauritius Siiger procez:ded with more spirit, and at full rater. In all 6,970 bags and 12 casks were offered, and the chic 'par: 'sold; 3 eliow at from 35s to 394 brown 31s to :344s 6d• and grey 34s to 38s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there was 'a good de mand for- Bengal Sugar, and full rates were paid. At auctio n 1,248 bags Bengal went at 37s 64 to 39s 6d for low to good white Benares, and the whole sold. For Madras the market is stilt dull : of 1,92 U bags a small part only sold at 29s to 304 for soft brown, and at 31s to 34s for yellow. FOREIGN.—T)-iay there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar; the , private purchases are small tor all purposes, and at former rates there are free welters. MOLASSI6.—In West India opetations are upon rather a larger scale, but at easier rates. The eal.ei are 300 puns from Barbadoes at 16s 6d, and 50 puns St. Kit's at 15s 64. . East India met with little attention, and of 200 libds Bengal at public sale only part sold at 13s 64 to 14,,,whereas 116 casks Surinam wore taken in at 16s t0 . 17s per cwt. TEA.--:-Operations have been upon a limited scale by privet() treaty in Black, and for comm.in Cungou prices have declined to 9,1 and Ild per lb. Green is also of fered at rither lower terms, and few buyers are to be nee with. The public st.les to-day went off with dulness, and of 7,048 packages offered only 2,240 sold. Scented Caper went at is lid to is lid, being a decline, of ,fully id. Gunpowder sold at Id to 2d de cline, Canton ,went at is 2&d to is 41, good and fine Hyson kind 2s Id to 2s I Id. Imperial must be quoted rather cheaper, Canton went at is 24, good and fine Hyson kind Is 8d to is 104. A parcel of Hyson sold at 2s to 10d for similar quality, and was considered rather cheaper. CUFFS E.=-:-This afternoon there was no public sale of Ceifee, but by private treaty several parcels are on offer. On the part of shippers or home dealers little desire was evinced to operate, and prices underwent a further de pression: The latest quotations for Native Ceylon were 48s to 48s 6d per cwt. Cocoi.—There are sellers of Foreign at a further re duction, still only small orders have been completed by private treaty, and 30s is the value of Guayaquil. West India has been purchased with caution, and none has been offered at auction. For Trinidad the value is from 39s to 475, other sorts 385 to 44s Per cwt, and loser rates are expert ,d to prevail flice.—Te-day few sales were made in East India by private treaty. At auction 800 bags of Bengal sold at 95 6,1 to lOs for good mid white; these are steady rates. Seecas.--To-day the market for Spices presented a dialaPect, and the limited business done by private ~.,t_iireaty is, at rather lower rates. At auction 30 cases Cassia BUdi were taken in at 119 s for good fresh, being above the nitre. SPlRrts.. 4 There are few buyers of Leeward Island Ram, still llsolders are firm, and require Is 53 to is sid per gallon proof; there is also not a larger supply at market. East India has been purchased with caution, tkn d the terms accepted have been is 4d to Is 41d; tewre 1$ also more cb•sire to te!l. A lair •~t#mo ttt of business bee te:•u concluded in Demo- TILE SUN, rara and at firm rates, 30 to 40 per cent. over proof selling at 23 3d to 2s 63, and supplies are small of strong sorts. Jamaica is not to be obtained upon lower terms. The value of‘ 1 to 29 per cent over proof is from 2s 4d to 2s 8 30 superior 6 over 2s 9d to 3 s 3 d, and N superior marks 3 dt. . s 2 d. In the Bra nd y ti 6 market there is smiles- still the demand from shippers and home dealers has been limited. We quote Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1849 at 4s 6d to 4s Bd, 1848 ditto 4s 8d to 43 10d, 1847 ditto 5s 4d to 5s 6d, inferior sorts 3s to 4s sd, and Bordeaux 2s 8d to 2s 10d. Geneva is held for is 9d to is 10d and fine 2s 3d to 3s; still there are few buyers. For British-made Spirit the value is 9s 6d, net cash, and fir Gin 7s 101 to 85 4d for 17 to 22 per cent under proof, but trade is far from active. SALTPETRE.—TO - day a fair amount of business was concluded in Rough, by private treaty, and at full terms; at auction 104 bags of Calcutta sold at 283 per cwt for 31 per cent refraction. INDIGO .—East India has been purchased with caution fur all purposes; on the part of holders there is also less firmness, and in some rases the rates acceded to are rather under those of the last quarterly silos. There are fsw buyers of Spanish, and former terms are not to be obtained. TALLOW. —Operations have been upon a limited scale in Russian on the spot for all purposes since last Tues day, and holders display less firmness. Prices Lave declined to 36s 9d to 37s per cwt for fine P. Y. Candle, still little variation f, om present rates is ex pected to take place, although the stock ex.:ads that of last year. Few buyers are to be met with for delivery in last three months of the year, and tellers appear disposed to accept 378 9d to 38s per cat. Home meltal is offered at the moderate rates of 36s t.) 36s 6d nett cash, and only limited purchases have been made. Other kinds of Tallow have not realised,former terms and supplies much exceed dealers' wants. At auction 800 phgs South American, a part only sold at from 31s Gd to 36i 6d for low to fine, 900 casks Sydney 33s to 375, whilst 30 casks Portugal rea lised 35s to 35s 6d per cwt. OILS.--Although Olive is to be obtained at a further reductions, still operations have been upon a limited scale at 451 to 481 per tun, and there are free sellers. Cocoa Nut dull of sale, and prices continue to recede; tine Ceylon is offered at 33s to 33s 6d, Cochin at 34s to 353 per cwt, and there continues to be a large stock with only a moderate con sumption. Palm met with little attention, and 31s to 325 is the value of good and fine ; there is also a better supply at market. Rapeseed Oil is offered at a further reduction, yet few buyers are to be met with. English has been selling at 40s to 40s 6cl, brown 393 to 393 61, foreign refined 425, and brown 40s per cwt. Linseed oil met with little attention from shippers or home dealers; there is also a more plentiful supply, and more desire is evinced to sell at 32s 3e; to 323 6d on the spot, and at 32s 6] to 33s for delivery. For Southern Oil prices vary from 31/ to 331103 for ord to fine, and only small orders have been executed. The rates asked for Cod are 331 103 to 34/. For Seal trade is dull; sellers are also disposed to accept for pale 371 to 371 13s, straw - and tinged 331 to 36/, yellow and brown 311 to 321 10s. Only trifling purchases have been made in sperm, and 111 1013 to 281 is the value of fine colonial. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. IPSWICH, MARCH 3. We continue to be most scantily supplied with wheat, not withstanding which the millers only can buy, as no market offers any demand for shipment ; the prides were nominally the same. Barley was in large supply, and a shade lower in price. Beans, peas, and malt neglected. 1111. QUARTER. PER QUARTER. Wheat, red Ditto, white. 4O. to 44s Oats Ws to OOs Barley, malting ... 23s to 24s Rye Ditto, grinding ... 19s to 20s Malt ...... Beans .. AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 16, 1850. Wheat 232 quarters at 40s. Id. Barley Oats ....... Beans. ••••• 29 235. 6d. Peas ............ HULL, Mauer! 19. Messrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular states :—Arrivals continue moderate, and the trade unaltered. The show of wheat from the farmers to day was small. We note no altera tion in value, but an opinion seems rather gaining ground that we have seen the lowest. All kinds of spring corn are procurable at a tempting law price. The transactions are limited in both linseed and rapeseed. A better demand fur rape cakes, and no alteration in the value of linseed cakes. The following are the present prices of gram; - S. 8. Wheat, English, red 34 to 37 Do. white 36 40 Dantzic and Ko- a. a I Peas, white and yel. 24 27 Do. grey Linseed, Black Sea 45 46 nigsberg 4O 45 Pomeranian and Do. Petersburgh ... 38 45 Do. liga&Arehngl. 33 42 Hamburgh . 34 38 Danish, Holstein, & Friesland . 30 36 kussian and Odessa 30 35 Oats, English Do. , 10 12 Do. Friesland l2 14 1 Do. Russ. & Odessa 12 14 Barley,malting l9 21 Do. grinding.. Beans Da. foreign Do. liZinigsberg 36 —39 Per ton. ;Do. cakes, Hull 6110 a 6112 s 6 I Do. fine foreign Do. interior foreign...... 51 Os Rapeseed Rapt cakes . 00s Od to 85s Od Tares, English Do. foreign 20s —30 s Guano 6l to 91 los Bones, do ...... 00s Od to 873 6J Rye meal . 6/ Os . . LITERTOOL, MARCH 19.—At ;his day's market there was a flu , - attendance of dealers, and a large show of wheat and flour, fresh arrived. A moderate retail demand was experi enced for wheat, at the full prices of this day week for all de scriptions. Flour was in rather better request, and choice 'qualities of American were 6d per barrel, and French Is per sack higher, and Irish supported previous rates. Oats, with a limited demand, were not lower; but oatmeal gave way about 3d per load. In foreign barley, beans, and peas, there was litile done, and no material change in prices. Indian corn being in fair request for shipment to Ireland, sound qualities of yellow advanced 6d per quarter, but white, in some instances, was rather cheaper. CORK, MARCH 18.—Flour—First 12s Od to 13s; extra 14,; seconds, los 6d to 12s ; households 9s to 10t Od; thirds, 7s to 8s per cwt. Oatmeal 10s to 00s Od; Indian meal 6a 9d to is ; wheat meal. 10s to 00s 03 per cwt. Indian corn 127 s 6d to 135 s per ton. Bran 3117 66(ito 4/ Os per ton. Hay—Farmers 25s to 358; average 325; dealers 31s to 40s Od; average 36s per ton. Straw—Farmers 13s Od to 263 Od; average 225; dealers 293 Ott to ON Od; average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to 6}d; household loaf 5d to sid per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d to 10d per lb Eggs-3s 8d to 3s. 10d per hundred. Coals— Newport 15$; Lydney 17s ; Landore 15s ; Best Neath Culm 14s per ton. Tallow 40s Od to 00s per ow'. Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. Meat —Beef 4d to 6d; mutton 4d to 6d; veal Od to Od ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 6d to 7d ; sausages 5d per lb. ,Hops 131 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 312 s 6d to 315 s pet ton. Bark—Barbary 71 51 to 8/ ss; Valonia 141 to 0/; French 7155; English 01 per ton. Fleece Wool 10s to Its per stone. Hemp 321 tooo/ per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 16s to 17s; re d ditto 20s to 22s per barrel ; Newfoundland 9/ Os to 111 pet ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton ; deals, first quality, 18s, second quality, 16s per 100. Hides—Market 14, to 20a ; salted 15s to 21s per cwt ; calf skins 2id to 21 1 A per lb. Potatoes, white 8d to 9}d; Minions 12d to 13d; Guano— Peruvian, 111 10s; Icbaboe, 91 per ton; Tar—Archangel, 19s par barrel. TJNIVERSIT Y INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 18. CLASSICAL TRIPOS. The follovving list ivos issued by tho Examiners this evening:— EXAMINERS. Edward Thring, M.A., King's CoHem% Elward Meredith Cope, M.A., Trinity Cullegp. Albert Henry Wratislaw, M.A., Christ's College. Rowland Williams, M.A., King's College. FIRST CLASS. Perowne Schreiber Trin. Cheeth am Christ's Beamont, Clay, .zEi.... Trio. Chance, t- E Trio. Mort, Westlake Trin. Mackenzie Trio. SECOND CLASS. Powell John's Calvert er Ilvtt Craig Jenkins THIRD CLASS. Harman Cobb Potter Bruce , Jesus Chambers ... ...... Trin. Greenwood Trio. Hodgson Trio. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE. The undermentioned gentlemen (scholars) were this day elected Fellows of St. John's College:— William Paley Anderson, B.A. (foundation). Morris Birkbeck Pell, B.A. (foundation). Percival Frost, B.A. (Platt Fellow). CHEMISTRY. The Professor of Chemistry will commence his course of lectures for the Easter term, on Wednesday, April 17, 1850, at the Laboratory, in the Botanic Garden, at 12 o'clock. THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. The library closes for the recess on the 25th, and al books must he returned before that date, under the usua penalties. The library will re-open on the 28th. O r NC and 1.4 EGE The Newcastle Schol arshi p 11 M e dal were this day rr c awarded : Scholar—Herbert. Medallist—Reynolds, K.S. Stone, K.S., was third in merit. The following were also mentioned with distinction : Bosanquet, Coltman, Drake, KS., Green, K S ., Mont gomerie, Procter, K.S., }tidier, K.S. The examiners were the Rev. W. E. Jelf and Rey. C. Bstiham. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MARCH 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market to-day has been some wa c h t i a o t nsw improved, er e as s f t o i o l w i tt: u —Br a s i n t o e i s s a n h d a s E b x e e e n t e d r , one 3 2. Thedie e x t r a d _n i T s —GreatWestern, Quarters, 14. LI VER/OUL. MARCH 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market was tirm ;to • day. The transactions were as follow :—Great Western, Quarters, 13/. 18s. Lancashire and Yorkshire, Consul. Fifths, 9/. 3s. 9d. c. dis.—London and North-Western, 105 c.—Ditto, New Quarters, dis. Ditto. 41. Shares, 4l—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire. Preference, 7 Midland, 39 Ditto, Halves, 25?‘ dis. —North Staffordshire. 11 1 4 South-.'astern and Dover, 16!( 2 —Ditte, (Nc. 4), Registmd, s'4—Ditto, Thirds, 5 1 , 2 York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1850, 7/. Is. 3d. dis. —Dutch Rhenish, 6 dis. MANCEIESTER, LlAncir 19. STOCK EXCHANC4B.—Basiness on our Stock Exchange to-day was very dull, and prices are almost stationary. The transactions wer e as follow :—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 39 —Ditto, Fifths, 9 3-16 dis.—Ditto, 32/. (late Extension), Halves, 19 Dublin and Drogheda, 264. die. ex London and North• Western, Manchester and Birmingham (C), Quarters, IA n. p. - -Alanchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire, Preference, 7 1 / 2 —Ditto (Grimsby Dock), 3 9-16— North Stnfibrdshire, 11 3-16 die.—South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4), Thirds, SA. LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, MARCH 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.-Our share market was very quiet to-day, and stocks generally were at last quotations, with little inclination to advance. The transactions were as fol low : London and North-Western Fifths, p.—Shrews bury and Birmingham (13), 6Adis.—Shropshirs Union, 31. lls. 3d. dis. _ _ YORK, BIARcil 18. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The transactions to-day were as follow :—York, Newcastle. and Berwick, 13 1 /, —Ditto (New castle Extension), B—York and North Midland, Prefer ence, 61-. GLASGOW, MARCEL IS. Srocic EXCnAJcGE.—The transactions to-day were as follow :—Edinburgh and Bathgate, 6—North British, Prefer ence, 54. BANK OF FRANCE. The following is a return of the situation of the Bank of Franco on March 14:— A SSETS. Cash and ingots ... Ditto in branch banks Bills past due ••• Bills falling due in Paris, of which 13,125,714 f. 62c. were received from the branch banks ... Bills in the branch banks Advances on coins and ingots... Ditto by the branch banks Ditto on French public securities ... Ditto by branch banks... ... Ditto to the State on Bons do Tresor.. Ditto on the loan of 150 millions ltentes of the reserve fund dentes, disposable funds Investments of the now branch banks in the public funds Hotel and furniture of tho Bank Real property of the branch banks ... Interest in National Discount Bank ... Ditto branch banks ... Bills protested at Paris ... ... Ditto at the branches Expenses of administration of the Bank Ditto of the branches ... ... ... Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... LIABILITIU, Capital ... . . f. 67,900,000 0 Ditto of the Branch Banks ... ... 23,350,000 0 Reserve fund ... 10,000,000 (I Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,750 0 Reserve-immobiliere 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 394,554,700 5 Ditto of the branch banks ... 71,580,300 0 Ditto to order (post-bills) ... 1,890,717 0 Account-current with Treasury creditor 89,591,790 74 Various accounts current 76,337,373 26 Ditto in branches 24,162,908 0 Bills payable at sight ... ... 5,542,500 0 Ditto at branches 1,255,738 0 Bills of the branch banks payable by the Bank ... ... 6,062,573 0 Ditto of the Bank payable by branches.. 2,883,135 0 Dividends payable . . ... 463,993 25 Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 18,915 0 Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 452,515 4 Ditto branch banks ... ... 802,438 0 Expenses anticipated ... ... 260,820 30 Re-discounts of the last six months 263,317 26 Ditto in branch banks 285.183 0 Miscellaneous ... 476,079 39 f. 785,115,746 43 Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France, D'A RUOUT. We find by the foregoing account that the cash in hand has increased within the week by 1,000,000 f. The amount of commercial bills discounted have increased by 200,000 f. The pretested bilis have diminished by io,ooot. The bank-notes in circulation have increased by 3,000,000 f. The balance t) the credit of the Treasury remains nearly as last week. The sundry credits have decreased by 1,000,000 f. ASSIZE IN TELLICrENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York. March 18. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron nous.) Thomas Kay and William Green, who had been severally convicted of receiving stolen goods, were this morning placed at the bar for sentence. His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said—lt is against such persons as you that the statute against re ceivers was principally threeted. You, living in the purlieus of London, were associated with a band of desperate characters at Leeds, whom you encouraged to break into and rob the warehouses at that place, by receiving and disposing of the stolen property in London. I feel it my duty to pass the utmost sen tence of the law, which is that you be transported for fourteen years. Thomas Smarwaite, a respectable looking man shout 55 years of age, who had been for upwards of thirty years clerk to the trustees of the Scar borough Savings Bank, pleaded guilty to an indict ment charging him with having embezzled various sums of money, the property of the trustees of the Savings Bank. His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said that he (the prisoner) having been for nearly thirty years entrusted to protect the property of the public, had for upwards of a quarter of a century carried on a system of deliberate swindling. Several persons had given him a good character, which he (the Learned Judge) regretted, as it showed how totally valueless testimony as to character became, for if ever there was a case in which a good character had been unde served, it was the present. Considering the prisoner's age and infirmities, the sentence was that he be im prisoned in York Castle for two years. OXFORD CIRCUIT, Stafford, March 18. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PLATT.) Joseph Blakeman, Edward Finney, Peter Bailey, J. Cooper, and eleven others, surrendered, pursuant to their recognizences, to take their trial for a riot and assault committed at the late Protectionist meet ing in this town. Mr. G. Greaves, Q C., and Mr. R. Kettle, ap peared for the prosecution. Mr. Sergeant Allen ap peared for Cooper, who is a respectable tailor and draper in this town. Mr. Meteyard appeared for seven others ,‘ and Mr. Huddleaton and Mr. Garth for some more of the defendants. On their surrendering, an application was made by their counsel that th e i r r ecog nizances should b . e larged to the next assizes, on the ground tb , citement connected with th e me eting, o.•.: , of which oth the elt e charge arose, was so great that it sible to get an imparti a l trial wevld not s be p and, therefore, the trial o• at the prese n t ass i zes , excitement should agkt to be p os tp one d till t h e l ,re the prosecution subsided. Th e counse l f or y unt resist the appli ca ti on , an d t h e d;: .. , recognizances at' the defend an t s were accor di ngly en larged. ay thi s arrangement the defendants were saved • . ..ne expense to NT Lich they would h ave b een put if ',,i i ey had pleaded and traversed. . en• MIDLAAD IWCJlT—Nottistyham, March 18. CROWN COURT.—(Before Lord CAMPBELL.) John Sansone, a person of some, buc imperfect, education, aged 53, was at the sitting of the Court this morning arraigned and put upon his trial, charged with the wilful murder, at Sutton-in-Ashfield, on the 19th of April in last year, of Elimbeth Raley. Mr. Denison appeared as counsel for the crown. Mr. Mellor defended the accused. The prisaner was tried at the last summer assizes far this county after the death, upon a charge of having used an instrument upon the deceased, Elizabeth Bailey, with intent to procure miscarriage. Mr. W. IL Adams then defended hint. The dying declaration of the unfortunate sufferer was not then in proof. There were several counts in the indict ment on that occasion, averring the use of an instru ment. The prisoner was acquitted. The Learned Judge, Mr. Baron Parke, ordered him to be d e t a i ne d until these assiz e s t o answer a charge of murder. The s.ndictment now charged the prisoner with the wilful murder of Elizlbeth Bailey, and comprised counts for using an instrument, and others for manual operation only. Mr. MELLOR, for the prisoner, pleaded autrefois acquit. Lord CABIPBELL requested the attendance of Mr. Baron Parke, who, with him, sat to hear the arguments of the Learned Counsel for the prisoner and the Crown. Thereupon it was ordered that all the counts instrument done,sho u a l n d d b e the t r t rsucktrial a o v u e t r o r f i n t g h e t h i e n d u i s c e t moefn an t . Th i s proceeded upon the other counts only. The jury retired at about five o'clock, and after three hours of d e lib e r a ti on , re t urne d w i t h a verdict of guilty of wilful murder, with a recommendation to mercy. His LOIIDSUIP proceeded to pass the awful sentence of death. The prisoner had been convicted, after a long and painful trial, by an intelligent jury, of the crime of wilful murder; and he (his Lordship) en tirely agreed in that :verdict, the evidence in his mind clearly bringing home to the prisoner the charge contained in the indictment. He much feared that such practices had by the prisoner been long carried on. At last ju s ti ce h a d overta k en him. The woman had died. H e wou ld take eare that the recommend ation of the jury should be forwarded to the proper quarter, with what effect, he could no t say. T he prisoner had long c arr i e d un, he feared, " this frightful practice, which in the e y es o f t h e law, of God, and Of man, was a crime of most awful magnitude, and his Lordship ha d only now to pass the solemn sen tence cf death in the usual form. ARMENIAN WHEAT.—At 4 weekly council of the Royal Agricultural Society on Wednesday, Professor Lindley presented a tpecimen of wheat grown at Erzc town, OA Moubt Ararat, and with a communication from James Brant, Esq., her Majesty's Consul at that place, relating to its cultivation. The seed has been obtained from Trebizond, and the variety was supposed to be that of the Triticum composituni. The council ordered their thanks to be sent to Dr. Lindley for the favour of this composition. _ .. DISCOVERT Or ANOTHER OYSTER BED.—Nor the last week some importations of oysters have been made into Hastings, from a newly•dmovered bed, of some magnitude ' lying about mid ch an n e l off Dung eness Yvint,"anclf3.l:4% of Hastings. WEDNIESDAY EVENING, MARCH 20, 1850 praying for the withdrawal of our squadron from the cat of Africa. TEN 'TOURS BILL. Mr. BANKES present d several ret . tiors from diffe rent mills in Lancashire and YorkAtire in favour of this Bill. COUNTY-RATES EXPENDITURE. Mr. PORTAL presented a petition from a place in Hampshire, praying for the establishment of county financial boards. RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. E. ELLICE moved, pursuant to notice, that in all railway Bills during the present session, it be an in struction to the Committees on such Bills to insert the following clause:—Provided always, and be it enacted, that all mortgages or bonds, or guarantees of interest or dividends on shares or stock, or agreements to guarantee such interestor dividend! ' made or granted by the company (or compani es ) l e f are the passing of this Act, and which shall be in force at the time of the passing of this Act, shall, during the continuance thereof, have priority over any mortgages or boucle, or guarantees of interest or dividends on any new shares or stock respectively, to be made or granted by virtue of this Act; and that nothing in this Act contained shall in any way be held to diminish or injuriously affi.ct the security of such previous mort gages, or bonds, or guarantees, or agreements to guaran tee. All he asked the House was to reserve their rights as creditors over the pros erty of the company. Bills had been introduced which had for their object the destruc tion of the security which was possessed at present, and he was glad that one Bill of this nature had been re jected by the House last night. These attempted measures of spoliation had created considerable alarm among the holders of this species of property, and a great depreciation in its velue had followed. Now he thought the remedy for all this would be found in adopting this clause. There was a great public principle involved in this matter in which the good faith of the House was concerned, and with which the House alone ought to (lc al. Since ho had come down to the House he bad had en in terview with his Right Hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, on the subject, who agreed with him that it required great consideration, and upon the assurance of his Right Hon. Friend that be will direct his attention to it, in order that the interest of all pate ties may be secured, he should have no objection to withdraw his motion, and leave the matter in the hands of his Right Hon. Friend.—(Hcar, hear.) Mr. W. PATTEN said it was his intention to have opposed the clause, but under all the circumstances he agreed with the Hon. Mover of it, that it was better to leave the question in the hands of the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade, to see if he could not devise some remedy which could not inflict injury upon other parties.—(Hear, hear.) He would not infringe on the property of persons who hal shares in railroads; but he would remind the House that there were several Bills before it now, wherein chair men of railways themselves were seeking the interfer ence of this Hon: e, in consequence of the circumstances of their companies. He would move as an amendment, that it be optional with the railway companies to adopt the clause moved by his Hon. Friend (Mr. Edward Ellice), or not, as they pleased, which he thought would protect the interest of the preference shareholders. Mr. LABOUCHERE supported the amendmene The Government had been closely watching the system of preference shareholders, and had inserted clauses in a great number of railway Bills with a view to correct the evil complained of. He was quite willing, however, to reconsider the subject hereafter. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that on Thursday, the 18th day of April, and on every alternate Thursday. until the 16th day of May inclusive, orders of the day have precedence of notices of motions, without giving priority to Bills introduced by the Government, which was agreed to, after a few words. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition from certain Australian colonists stating that the Australian Colonies Bill was calculated to promote the prosperity of those colonies, and praying that it might be passed as at pre sent framed.--(Cheers.) SUPERANNUATION FUND FOR POOR-LAW OFFICERS. Sir B. HALL wished to ask the Right Honourable Gentleman the President of the Poor-law Board if it was his intention to bring in any measure this session for establishing a superannution fund for poor-law officers, and if so, whether this fund would be raised by a charge on the poor rates, or a per centage on the salaries of the officers themselves? Mr. BAINES said the subject had been very much pressed upon the attention of the Poor-law Board, and it had been some time under their consideration. A Bill, too, had been prepared on the subject founded on the principle of raising a fund by a per centage on the sa laries, but he was afraid he should not bo able to intro• duce it till after Easter. HEALTH OF TOWNS (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. GROGAN was anxious to ask the Secretary for Ireland a question of some importance to that country. Last session the Right Honourable Gentleman brought forward a Health of Towns' Bill for Ireland, and he wishesi to know whether it was the intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to re-introduce that Bill? Sir WM. SOMERVILLE said he did intead to re introduce such a measure, but he was afraid he sh ou ld not be able t o d o ao till after Easter. It would not be precisely the same Bill of last year. JUDGES' SALARIES. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to know when the second reading e f the Bill for regulating the salaries of th. judges of the Queen's Bench and Common Press would be taken ? Lord J. RUSSELL, reelid in Monday next. THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA, Mr. GLADSTONE bai notice on this subject en the paper, but he would rather see it in the 'Ands ti the Go vernment, and he therclOre wished to ask the Firm. Minister of the Crown, whether her Majest) 's govern ment were willing to make ptotisitin in the Australian Colonies Government bill for the application of the prin ciple of local self-government to the affairs of the i r eg str o e f Cburch of En g l an d i n t h ose colonies, by decleeiug the . it shall be l aw f u l f or the bishops, clergy, and lay mem bers! of th a t c h urch to establish regulations on the foot eotte which may be thought necessary for the ma : copse among themselves, and subject to any eagement of those affairs? Gentleman, taking g r th 4 o Or m iN alt i : l r ti o S u S t E of L t L h e w b a a s o d u s n a y e ; s d Rtio decline. ght IIn DZAVt Colonel CUATTERTON asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if the Admiralty, in September last, al cepted tenders for the supply of 1,500 tier( es of navy pork, from a Haneburgh hotthe j at 51, dsJ Oda per tierce, refusing tenders from Irish provision merchants tr tho supply of that article; and whether it is his intention to continue to throw open the supply in future to foreign competition j and whether he has hilArd that the ptovielens atipplied by foreign contract were recently rejected by Ad einigrant ship at Portsmouth, as bad, and greatly inf ;dor to pro visions male up iii Ireland. the coast of Africa was 90,000, in 1819 it had amounted to 105,000, and the number continue I to increase under circumstances of aggravated atrocity.—(Cheers.) The Duke of Wellingtor, our Minister at the Congress of Verona, under the direction of Mr. Canning, lain before the assembled representatives of the states of Eu rope a memorandum which se e:1 deserved the can aideration of the House. It went on to ca - y—" have the means of proving that the slave trade has been since the year 1815, and now is carried on to a greater extent than it had been at any former period. This contraband trade is at'ended with circum stances more horrible than anything known to forme) times.. ..... It cannot be denied that all the attempts a prevention have tended to increase the aggregate of human suffering and sacrifice of human life in a ratio positively exceeding the number carried off by the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) The mortality was dreadful to A degree unknown since the attention of mankind wa. first directed to the horrors of this traffic.' Such was the description solemnly addressee to the states of Europe by two of the first men of our age and country, at a time when the slave trade had not assumed many of those horrible characteristic: which now belonged to it. Some efforts were then mad, to continue the work cf suppression, and f,r fifty or sixty years afterwards Great Britain made every possible effort to suppress the slave trade, by extend ing the means of possible repression. He had read a letter from the Duke of Wellingt in describing the norrors of the trade, add now he would real one front Lord John Russell, in 1829, when Secretary fsr the Colonies, addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, in which that Noble Lord stated that the state of this trade had of late engaged the attention of her Msjesry's confi dential advisers, and that much deliberation had t aken place as ter the means employed to abolish it. It went on to state that it was impossible to avoid coming to the con elusion that the average number of slaves actually carried oft annually exceeded 100,000 on the western coast of Africa alone. It also stated that the slave 'rade would !Sever be adequately controlled by any system like that now adopted, and that it was indsi pensable to enter upon some new preventive principle. But this was not all. In the following year, 1840, at, assemblage was held in Exeter Hall, over which Prince Albert presided, who was supported by the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, and a perfect constellation cf Lords spiritual and temporal. He had been accused of using strong language, and of giving a vexatious and protracted opposition to measures on the subject of the stave trade, but let him call the-attention .if the House to the resolutions which a ere passed at that meeting. The first was moved by Sir F. Buxton, And seconded by the present Archbishop of Canterbury, then the Bishop of Chester, and was to the following effect: "Notwithstanding the measures hitherto adopted for the suppreassion of foreign trading in slaves the traffic has increased, and continues to increase, under circum stances of aggravated hardship." Ile second resolution was proposed by Dr. Lushing ton, and seconded by Archdeacon Wilberforce, now the Bishop of Oxford, and who was chairman of the Com mittee in the House of Lords. It was as follows : " That the uttsr failure of every attempt by treaty, remonstrance, or naval armament, to resist the progress of the slave trade, proves the necessity of resorting to a preventive policy, founded on different and higher con siderations."—(Cheers.) Now neither of the Committees had used stroeger language than this. He was surprised that those, who now defended the system, stood forward on that occasion as its enemies. lie arrived now at the year 1840. That year was dis tinguished by a temporary but remarkable diminution in the slave trade, and there were certain naval officers who were anxious to persuade the world that that dimi mien was caused by their presence and performances on the coast of Africa.—(" Hear," and a laugh.) Now he believed that Captain Denman and Captain Gladstone were most zealous and meritorious dficers, but when they claim for their plans and perfor mances the merit of this great reduction in the slave trade at that period, he thought they were labouring, in souse respects, under the delusion of the sexton, who believed that the large attendance at a certain parish church was entirely explained by the manner in which he tolled the church bells. It was true that et this period Captain Denman and Captain Gladstone were at their pests, but there were ether and far more powerful agencies at work.--(Hear ) He saw near him his Right Hun. Friend the First Lord ef the Admiralty, who about that period happened to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he was sure he would remember, as others rereemberel, that the period to which he was DON adverting was a period of great mercantile depression. Now any mercantile depiessioe effects the slave trade just as much as any of the legiti mute branches of commerce, and that depression eas one of the causes of the great diminution in the slave trade.--(Hear, hear.) But there was another eatise of a remarkable character in operation at that time. At that period both Cuba and Brazil were honestly engaged in attempting to preitent the importation of slaves into these countries.—atear, bear.) Mr. Ormsby, whose dispatches had been laid on the table of the House as our Minister at Brazil, attributed the diminution to the exertion, which were male ey the Brazilian. Minister of Marine to suppress the trade.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") At that , ame period General Baldez was Governor en Cuba. In 1843 he was recalled, and about the satne time the anti-slavery Ministry of Brazil Wes voted out cE office. Commerce then re. dyed, and with the revival of commerce, notwinstand ing the increased efficiency of our fleet, came again all he horrors of the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) Ili IB4J the nurliber cr stenos e2porte el from Africa was as low as 30,000; in 1813 the number robe to 55,000; in 1846 to 76,000; and in 1847 to 84,000. lie had no means of ascertaining the number imported during the past year. He learned, however, that the slave trade was last par, and is now, in a state of unusual activity. He held in his hand a paper called " A Mission to theliiag of Ashantee," in which was contained I steesesent made by the Rev. Mr. Cruickshank, dated from the coast of Africa at the conclusion of 1848. He said, " It is distressing to think that our present block ade is no check whatever to the slave trade. It is flourishing at this moment to such a degree that last accounts from Brazil report more than 8,000 staves in the market there without purchasers, and not long ago a cargo cf slaves Lund such a bad market that they were given up to pay the expenses of the freight.--(llear.) During the whole time we have maintained our blockade the slave trade has gone on uninterruptedly. It seems to rce to serve no other pur pose but to increase the horrors of the traffic." Such was the result after a period of thirty years, in w..ich we had beim engaged in this work of suppression. There was one fact in the history of that suppression which de served ittlentlona Up to 1840 the slave trade to Brazil was perfectly free. tip to the beginning cf t e year 1840 we could not molest the slave ti tide south of the Equator. Lord Palmerston told the Committee, that tip to the beginning cf 1840 the importation of slaves into Breed wee practically unrestricted. What Was tbb tedrilt 7 He asked not what was the temporary, Wit what was the permanent result Sir F, BARING said thetttootfaritri were open to home c f t h e cLii.ige? The hie trade on the hue was now as welt as forbigh Competition ; and the Admiralty bad going on with at least as great activity as ever, found no reason to alter that systetil; , tri spite of the exertions of the blockade to suppress it. Allis POORILAN 4 7: He' pot these facts before the COLEIMOD sense of the Colonel DONNE asked the Noble Lord at the held H o uee, arid he ttettied it whether this squadron of the Government whether it be his intention to give was worth what it tust l end whether at was effect to the suggestions made to him by a deputation of o f t h e slightest use? In no the slave trade Peers and Members of the Heitee of Comelonsi,eoneected was fiee 1,000 miles below the line, god it would with irelahtl, of introcitece anaCildilients iii tne prtanat hard been supposed that the slave traders would con poor law which they hate recommended, in order to tine themselie 1 to that part where they had no alleviate the evils it initicts on all tlasscs itt that country. risk, to fear; but no, they found by the blue-hooks Lord i. ittlnsELL said the rolmittiOtrittitin of out- t h at the greateit amount of slave traffic was carried door relief had been att nded with great abuse, and ' on hi the very cruising ground of our squadron. it had been determined not to give out-door relief ex- Did any ono sftt hear tell of a ir At atiree cept in cases of necessity: Ho did not think the contraband trade being peg .10',Y11 by force of arms. presort law required atntirdriretit in that reSpeCti because What had become of the Berlin and Milan decrees? Had the Commissioners, with the consent of the local guar- every oue forgotten the silk duties and t?ee tobacco du diens, tad already powers given them of restraining t i es? It was a great consolation to him (Mr. Hutt), in any abuse in the granting of out-door relif f. examining the evidence before Parliament, to find that hie SLAVE TRADE—AFRICAN SQUADRON. V:OWS on this subject were supported by the opinions of Sir B. H. INGLIS presented a petition from a all whose experience qualified them to judge. He was foreign settlement, the name of which we did not catch, not about to trouble the House with an Aualysis praying the House not to sanction any measure which of the evidence, but the majority cf witnesses in might have the effect of withdrawing the Atrican number and in character were ut'erly hopeless squadron from the coast. It stated that the peti- of suppressing the trade by means of a aqua tiuners-, were fully convinced that the squadron was dron.—(Hear.) It was remarkable that every one a co-ordinate assistant of great value, and that its with- of those who did in the course of examination drawal would leave the property of settlers exposed. give a different opinion to this had not been on the Mr. HEALD presented a similar petition from the African station for some years. The most experienced society of Wesleyan Missionaries. stated distinctly that no system of force could put Sir E. N. BUXTON presented similar petitions from down this traffic in any number of years. The various places in the colonies. Commanders-in-Chief of the African squadron Mr. MOFFATT presented a similar petition. unanimously gave their evidence to the same effect. Mr. HUTT then rote to propose the following resolu. Sir Charles Hotham, who hal been appointed to Lion:—" That an bnmble address be presented to her the station as the officer in the British navy Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be pleased to best suited to the service, with a force highly disciplined , direct that negotiations be forthwith entered into for and with officers under him who carried out his orders, gave it as his opinion that the purpose of releasing this country from all treaty the squadron had riot been cf the slightest engagements with foreign states, for maintaining armed use. The same evidence of the inefficiericy vessels on the mast of Africa to suppress the traffic in of the squadron had been given by the late Mr. Vande i l slaves." H h e said, the time had arrived when in accord- leur, who . had been at the heei gfi l ve ldearbof that department n o g once with the opinions of two Committees of thosete E w°ho elthirtyr I s traffic thou ht e that ib t co the House which had been appointed to c onsid e r the by a system of g force there were many who thoug ht that suppression of the slave trade, it became his duty to the present application of it was one which needed great submit a motion to the House on that grave and impor- alteration. Among these were thellon.Memberfor Derby tent subject. The motion was in effect a declaration shire,who had proposed a scheme of his own for the pur that it was ine x p e di en t f o r this country to resist all pose; and many others had been prop osed, all of which attempts for the suppression of the slave trad e invoved an additional force and additional expense. by force of arms, to carry out which it was necee- What was the fact? The number of vessels at present sary in, the first instance to put an end to all employed in the suppression of the slave trade, excluding which had been entered into by this country for the packets and surveying vessels, was actually - one.fourth maineenance of an African squadron, The necessity of of the whole British navy afloat. There were from 26 maloing such a change in our policy was impressed on to 29 vessels on the west coast of Africa; three at the the. minds of two Committees, of which he was chairman. Cape station, with the receiving s hi p; three, with the Ther e was one f avoura bl e po i nt i n connex i on w i th the receiving shir, on the east coast of South America; and 'absence of these gentlemen, namely, that they were two in the West Indies; making between 39 and 40 in ' amongst the majority of the Committee who had carried all. Yet, in the opinion of certain naval officers, that the matter at issue; and consequently, if in the Corn- force was inadequate for the purpose; and though mittee of 1849 th e re p ort was carried by the casting 700,000/. a year was expended, theseofficers desired vote of the ch a i rman , t h a t circumstance must be attri- nothing but the auementation of this expense. lie was buted, .not to a change in the opinions ,of the aware it was considered a want of good breeding to ta'k Committee, but to one of those casualties arising from about expense, and it syetned to be ruled that drafts on the accidental absence of Members, a casualty which the Treasury for the, maintenance of the public for. would occur both in the House and in its sCommittet Is._ should not be mined in that House; nevt:rthele,s, he (Cheers.) Having endeavoured to relieve the C'om- (Mr. Hutt.) should be quite ready to brave the wit and mittee from some of those prejudices which it : had eareasin of the Noble Lord in showing that the Nlave ! been r.ttenepted to cast on it, ho would pro:1) ed trade cost the country 700,0001. per annum. 'Theo Noble to str a w to the House some of the factor , ate! Levi had told him on a former occasion that those per circut , istatiees which in the opinion of the Commit tee songdid not think deeply who spoke of expense , ; he justi`aed their r e p or t.—(ll ear , hear.) It was now o) se- (air. Hutt), however, believed that public Ext r a v agunce and -thirty year s ago s i nce G reat Britain, having nege.)- was a great evil. He believed also that if it should tinted various treaties with foreign states, dispatched to ever be the fate of this great country to fall in pieces, the coast of Africa an armed force to carry ou a it would not he by the explosion of revolutionary the object of those treaties, and then began -the o violence it would fall, nor would that lamentable evert memo,^able blockade of the coast of Afric i be brought about by the strife of parties or the shock of the tn., e character of which, as well as the circum - democratic power, but by the ceutusiou of its finances— stances of its final abandonment, had yet to I'de . (Hear) —by that disregard of the national e xpenditure, written its our history.—(Cheers.) We had no soon er which, in some fatal hour, would, after sopping the V; s itell, these measures to forcibly suppress t e se foundations of national credit, finally rive it to the cm slave trac.' than the slave trade began to inert eee eee He hoped the Noble Lord would pardon him, -• In i - .i.e for saying that be considered 700, 00 0. , . per 1815 the high, et amount of human beings ex p os; fr om , - I tberer, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 19. Lord LANGDALE, in the absence of the Lord Chan cellor, took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. The Register of Metropolitan Public Carriages Bill was read a second time. RAILWAY ABANDONMENT BILL. On the motion of the Earl of GRANVILLE, this Bill etas read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. Lord BROUGHAM, at the request of Lord Denman, presented a petition from the inhabitants of Kingston, Jamaica, signed by 5,000 yersons, praying the House not to consent to the removal of the African squadron. The Noble and Learned Lord took occasion to denounce those who having learned only the A B C of the subject, contended that the best way to do away with the sieve trade was to let it alone. He also ridiculed those who would not shed the precious blood (f a pirate to prevent murder, and related a conversation which he had had with a certain friend, " Joseph," who had declared that if ho saw a mr.n about to set fire to a train of gunpowder which, when it exploded, would blow up all his relations and friendP, he should not venture to commit a common assault and battery in order to prevent it. Be also ve hemently attacked those economists who, to save a pound sterling, would diminish the force of that squadron which had done so much, as had been proved by Captain Denman. to put down the slave trade. The Earl. of PALNIOU rd presented a petition from the Re,iruth board of guardians in favour of making mines rateable, and one from Whatton in Northampton shire against the transmission of letters on the Sabbath. EASTER HOLIDAYS. In answer to a question from Lord STANLEY, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was his intention to move on Tuesday next that their Lordships should adjourn to the Thursday se'nnight I,llowing. GRAND EXHIBITION IN 1851. Lord BROUGHAM, in risin g to move for the copy of the Commission authorising the Exposition of 1851, wished to guard himself against being supposed hostile to the exhibition, whether it was held in Hyde Park, which he hoped it would not be, or in the Regent's Park, or, where he should prefer seeing it, in the Victoria Park, at the east-end of the town. He could not but bear his testimony to the disinterested patriotism of the manufacturing and trading classes who had come forward to support an exhibition which must Inevitably reduce the prices of all the goods in which they delafilst.hrelstscoapiclehtehlyadrelbieevened brought mfroto the reproach of ise against them by Adam Smith. In consequence of that exhibition there could be no doubt but that the consumer would get a better article at a cheaper rate, and that perhaps might in the long run be of advantage to the producer. It would be of advantage to the consumer, and he hoped it would be equally of advantage to those who had so nobly come forward to aid in reducing the prices of the commodities in which they dealt. He considered this intended as a compensation to the agriculturists for the loss of protection. It was, therefore, in no spirit of hostility that he came forward on the present occa sion, but it was to prevent the lungs of London, as the parks bad been denominated by Lord Chatham, from being choked up by the erection of a great building of he knew not how many acres in extent for the exhibi tion of 1851. He considered that Hyde-park was the very worst position that could be chosen for the erection of that building. In 1801, Mr. Wyndham objected to the erection of eight houses in the Park, on the ground that their erection would interfere with the circulation of light and air. The Ea' of CARLISLE would only say that a com munication had been received from the Commissioners, requesting that a certain portion of Hyde-park might be let apart fir the erection of this building. Know ing that this request proceeded frost a most re spectable body of men, and also had the approval of the Sovereign, the report was entertained; and although it would certainly encroach for a time on the park, yet he thought that their Lordships ought not to pay more regard to aristocratic beings than to other beings. Hyde Park contained an area of 270 acres, the Regent's Park 200 acres, and the Victoria Park, to which he would recommend their Lordships to pay a visit, and which had been suggested by his Noble and Learned Friend as the site for the intended erection, only 190 acres. The aristocracy, besides, bail greater opportunities of g€tting into the fresh air that other classes. Lord BROUGHAM asked if the building was in tended to be merely temporary. The Earl of CARLISLE understood that it WAS to be only for that one year. Lord BROUGHAM—Then it will be a very expen sive proceeding. This was a most important subject, for if this plan were carried out it would render the west end of London entirely uninhabitable. The subject then dropped. JOURNEYMEN TAILORS. The Earl of WALDEGRAVE then rose to present a petition from the journeymen tailors of the metropolis, complaining of the contract system for clothing the army, navy, ordnance, and police. The Noble Earl spoke for nearly three quarters of an hour on the sub ject of the petition ; bur, with the exception of a few unconnected words and phrases, he was completely in audible in the gallery, and seemed to be equally so in the body of the House, there being only three or four Peers left at the close of his address. Lord MOUNTCASUELL said it was the natural re sult of free trade that a reduction in the means and employment of one class of the community leads to a reduction of the means of others, and that servants' wages must be necessarily reduced iin proportion as the workmen and tradespeople are reduced in their means, and will not by and bye be able to provide for the wants of their wives and children. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that his Noble Friend (Earl Waldegrave) had celled the attention of their Lordships to this question, to which he could not give his support, because,unfortunately, he was prepared to say that the journeymen tailors' general conduct was not as worthy the attention of Government as many other workmen. He asked was it possible for Government to make such regulations as would pre vent any and every class of tradespeople from being subject to distress at some period or other ? The Noble Earl also adverted to the system of contracts, and said that such alterations could be made by Government as would ameliorate the condition of the journeymen tailors. To that he should reply that the whole • of the country was transacted by a systn. and it was impossible to constitut that of Government takin whole manufactur- of contracts; any other system than _ 6 into their own hands the ur cloth and other. articles With Whitth -.y that Gov( rument should be supplied. ut this, the attempt to introduce into contracts a - dolma of limitation with regard to the amount of w ages would be introducing a system whi c h wou ld add as Much to the general expenses, and would require a whole army of persons, and it would be impossible to supply goods fir the public service on anything like the same terms as heretofore. That her Majesty' s Government will either alter the system of obtlining the public ne cessaries, or recommend the Legislature t o a d o p t an y ormeasure o f thealteration introducing any his Noble Friend (Earl Waldegrav e ) never can b e ex pected, because any such introduction w ou ld not f a il to be attended with considerable inconvenien ce an d disad scale thatof sht now vantage, even to that class for which the Noble tart is so interested. it is neceis. Short The Duke of ARGYLEp st os t t h p e io on a e lt d er h a i t sin n c te e ntio par no o f e p h r i e ßi a, renting petition against schools in Scotland. Their L ordshipa ; then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 19, The SPEAKER took the Chair at five minutes to Four o'clock. FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. The reports upon the following Bills were brought up and agreed to:— Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society (Stamp Duty on Memorials). Liconst d Victuallers' and Cif neral Fire and Life As surance Company (No. 2—Stamp Duty on Me morials). Guardian Fire and Life Assurance Company (Stamp Duty on Memorials). PETITIONS. Mr. MUNTZ present , 'd a petition from persons em ployed ou the Birmingham Advertiser newspaper, pra3- ing for a remission of the taxes on knowledge ; the Hon. Member also presented several petitions from Nottingham, Bradford, and other places against the relay system in factories. Sir J. HANMER presented a petition, from the city of St. Asaph, praying for an extension of the jurisdic tion of the county courts. Lord HOTHAM presented a petition, signed by 3,200 persons interested in agriculture in the East Riding of the county of York, complaining of agricultural distress. Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from the New haven Union in favour of the establishment of county financial boards, Mr. LAW presented a petition from clergymen re siding in Preston, in the county of Lancashire, against the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Mr. FARRER presented a petition from a place in the county of Durham praying for the cessation of Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. HENLEY presented a similar petition from a place in Oxfordshire. Mr. SCULLY presented a petition from Thurlee, in the county of Tipperary, stating the distressed condition of Ireland, and praying for immediate remedies. At the request of the Hon. Member the petition was read at length by the Clerk at the table of the House. Lord MELGUND presented a petition from Greenock against the Merchant Seamens' Fund Bill ; also a petition from the same place praying for a drawback of the duty on spirits in bond. Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition against the re lay system in factories. Lord D. STUART presented a petition from Mr. Edwin Parker (as we understood) a solicitor residing in Lambeth, complaining of the mischievous operation of the grand jury system, and praying that the Mime would institute an inquiry into the existing law cn this subject. Sir. BRIGHT presented a petition from the treasurer and members of the Congregational Board of Education, stating that since 1843 that Board hal expended 133,0001 in building schools, besides the sums they had contributed to support them; that they had also estab lished two normal schools and two infant schools, and praying the How* not to grant any further sums for the purposes of education, but to leave it to voluntary support. Mr. BRIGHT also presented a petition from Stock port in favour of the ballot. At his request the peti tion W aiS read by the Clerk at the table. The SPEAKER informed the Eon. Member (Mr. Bright) that the petition in favour of the ballot could not be received in that it referred to the debates of that House.—(Laughter.) Mr. MUNIZ presented a petition from 13irmine4un f. 336,948,688 39 . . 140,242,894 0 58,437 83 •.. - 40.141,896 1 ... 64,053,885 0 3,415,000 0 881,958 0 19,379.569 85 2,501,867 0 50,000,000 0 50,000,000 0 ... 10,000,000 0 42,514,988 13 ... 12,826,541 39 4,000,000 0 3,239,831 0 200,000 0 230,000 0 1,480,570 23 1,483,128 0 198,705 93 231,772 0 1,086,013 67 f. 785,115,746 43 annum too grea t an expense for the support of an abor ive system —(Hear , hear.) He was glad to see some hing said of a I l an for maintaining the squadron and at he same time el relieving the public of a considerable xpeuse, because it was an acknowledgment of the ne ,Nity f , 1, doing ; but he should prefer to have an ex planation of the means proposed to effect that object. ie did cot, however, object to the present system solely on the ground of expense ; he objected to it on the ;round of its futility—he objected to it on the ground that it caused increased cruelty on the part of slave- I aders—and he objected to it, above all, because he did iot desire to see this great and noble nation engaged in a pursuit so inadequate —a pursuit in which she could of count on the sympathy of any other nation. He ob jected to it because it engendered ill-blood between Beg' and and the people of Brazil—he objected to it because t provoked quarrels with France and America, which nay be renewed ;at no distant ,data—he objected to it let au-e he considered it'a most sinister advantage fa which to involve a country in the horrors and vreich, dness of war.—(Hear.) He was told that some nessures would be proposed at last to bring this unfor t mate business to a satisfactory conclusion; but for the .48t twenty years he had hoard that song constantly sung iy those who were anxious to keep up the present op era, and he had listened to it too long to heed it.— (Hear.) When he entered the House of Commons, ,ighteen years ago, the opponents of the system were old that it was to be settled by negotiation—then came he right of search—then came the tquipment articles-- hen came the blockade of the coast of Africa—then a'ne the Niger expedition—then all future hopes were .-ested on the combieed fleets of France and England— and then all was to be settled by the application of mu nicipal law. Some other modification was now proposed in the old system, to the same imaginary purpose— " Vain Hope! When I consider life 'as all a cheat; Yet fooled by hope, men favour the deceit, Trust on, and think to-morrow will re' ay; To-morrow's falser than the former day, Lies more—" fie I.ad now done. He had not sought to back up his case by an apeal to the Members of this House as guar liens of the interests and property of the country, as pro tectors of their honour and fame, as humane and Chris tian men, to put an end to that cruel and destructive system, whose final doom could not be at any distance, oy supporting the mot on he had now the honour to submit to the House.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE seconded the melon. If fur no other reason than the state of our West India colonies, the House was bound to adopt it, though he by no means wished to take such a circuitous method of restoring that protection of which they had been deprived. He pre ferred the course ofcalling upon her Majesty's Ministers to adopt a straightforward policy, regardless of any difficulties which such such a course might appear to in volve. When this subject was last Mire the House the Noble Lord deprecated all discussion until the subject was farther inquired into. He said then that there was no need for farther inquiry. The returns to that House for the last 20 years had shown the utter futility of our efforts to suppress the slave trade. But at the same time he must say that he did not regret the Lords' Committee had investigated the question. They had collected an immense mass of evidence scattered through a variety of authorities, and had condensed it in an authoritative shape. All doubt was now dispelled—not the shadow of a reason now remained for maintaining this squadrons A gnat change had taken place in the aspect of this question since the introduction of' the Sugar Bill in 1846.—(Heer, hear.) Previous to that period, whatever might be sakel of the policy of Great Britain, her earnest ness and philanthropy could net be doubted, because she made large sacrifices.—(Hear, hear.) But that was now altered. The Bill of 1846 in effect said the British people thought they had paid enough tor their philanthropy, and were in future re solved to buy their sugar at the cheapest market. no matter whether it was the produce of free labour or of stave labour. That was a renunciation of our former policy, and from that moment great Britain derived the greatest advantage of any nation from the slave trade, and was therefore as guilty as the nations which engaged in it. The receiver at stolen goods was generally cone sidered even worse than the open thief. The thief en countered all the daogcrs of his calling, but the receiver kept a shop as a cloak to his calling—he was a " respsete able man," and came off with the greatest part of the plunder.—(A laugh.) So it was with this country by the Act of 1846. Up to that time all free-grown sugar was imported under certain duties, while slave-grown sugars were prohibited.—(Hear, hear.) When that pro hioition was withdrawn, and the sugars of Cuba and Brarl were admitted into our markets, we, in effect, gave a great stimulus and support to the slave trade. But our support did not rest there; the slaves wero purchased by goods manufactured in Manchester expressly:for the pur pose, and in man eother ways Ow capital of this country was directly embarked in the trade.—(Hear, hear.) Tiler Right Honourable Baronet (Sir Robert Peel), when that; measure was proposed, saw that it was a reversal of his own policy when in office, but he said that he supportid it, because ,he did not see how another Government could be then firmed. He did not blame the Eight; Honourable Baronet fir the course he then took on this question, though he must have been aware that it would double the slave trade. Such had been the result of the measures of the present Government. It was utterly im possible that the free labour of our own colonies could compete with the slave labour of Cuba and Brazil; the result of the attempt bud been that described by his Hon. Friend, who had so ably brought forward this motion. l'le grounds on which the motion had been supported resolved themselves into three. First, that it was the , opinion of all the naval officers who had been employed on the et ait of Africa that it was impossible to suppress the slave trade by m, a is of the present squadron, or bY any practical auAmentation of its force. Second, that it was the opini.in ut these officers that the interference of our ships had largely increased the horrors of the trade and the sefferings inflicted upon the slaver, and through the ftilly end absurdity of the Legislature of this country, iu maintaining a squadron on the coast of AI tea ler the suppression of the slave trade, while, at the same time, we encouraged that trade by the admission of free-grown sugar. His Hon. Friend had already adduced ample evidence on each of there pain's, and it was, therefore, unnecessary fur him to detain the House at any length, but, in addition, he would call the attention of the House to the evil enee of Captain Shad, of the Excellent, who, being unable to attend the Committee, had stated the result of his ex perience in a let er. In that letter he decidedly stated it to be his opinion that our interference had largely in creased the horrors of the slave trade, and that he did not believe it Kas possible to pat it down by any re pressive means. The Hon. Gentleman, after adducing evidence of a similar description in support of the gene ral arguments on these heads, said, that while such were the lamentable results f the policy they had pursued, he did not for one moment doubt the sincerity of those by whom that policy had been originated. He was quite reedy to admit this motion was a melancholy result of their labours. To such men as Lords Brougham and Denman and Sir S. Lushingtoe, it must be a source of great regret to find that ties slave trade was carried on as much as ever, aed that the effect of their labours bad been to destroy their own colonies, without producing the effect they desired; and that the Legislature, having succeeded in establishing free trade, there should also be a frey trade in alavery.—(flear.) Mr. W. EVANS begged leave to withdraw the amendment of which he bad given notice on the subject of the Sleve.trade, and in doing so he would make a few observations on and against the motion hew° the House. He denied the statement made by his Hon. Friend (Hr. Hutt) that the slave trade was now carried on to a giester extent than before the time the squadron had been placed on the African coast. By the returns it appeared that in the ten years ending in 1848 the number of slavers teized was 687, bring equal to a vessel and .a half a week. Then as to the number of slaves imported into Cuba, it appeared that previous to the squadron being placed on the coast it was 40 000 a year; yet, in 1845, the number had decreased to 1,335; in 1836, to 1,500; and in 1847, to 1,7011 Then it ap peared that previous to 1838 the number of slaves im ported into the Brazils was 94,000 a year; but after that year, when British officers had power to seize vessels, the number was reduced to 39,000, and in 1846 to 14,244: — (Hear.) He thought it would be most unwise to remove , the squadron, and allow all sorts of plunder to take place, and destroy the efforts made to christianize the people on the African coast. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to the manner in which the old slave-trade was carried on, and to the great loss of life which took place on board the slave ships which came to this coun try. Although the trade was thus carried on under regulations, what then, he asked, would be the case if the trade in slavers was now thrown open and became en trely free? If tee squadron raised toe price of the slave there was a great chance that the slave would be taken% greater care of than if the matter were otherwise. With , respect to the expense of the squadron, he thought than expense might be lessened by the size of the vessels being reduced. He also thought that if the prize money for the capture of vessels that did not contain slaves, but which were known to be intended for that trade was increased, they would do much to enhance the value of the African squadron. He could not agree on any terms to the motion before the House, and should therefore vote against it. Mr. LABOUCRERE said he rose to address the House with feelings of great anxiety in respect to the motion before it, tor he looked upon that motion,if suc cessful, as one seriously calculated to affect the honour and character of the country.—(Hear.) His Honour able Friend who brought the motion forward, and the Hon. Gentleman by whom it was seconded, did not dis guise from themselves or from the House the important consequences likely to arise from the removal of the squadron from the African coast, and yet they call Ron the House to remove the squadron without proposing any substitute to prevent the traffic in slaves.—(Hear.) By this motion they announce to the world that hence forward this execrable traffic was to be carried on with out let or hindrance, as far as this country was con cerned—that hence&ward we were to take no interest in the ht., of slaves captured on the coast of Africa, and tr art all our previous exertions on this subject were to be f ,rgotten and cast to the winds.—(Hear.) He be: lieved that if they adopted such a course, they would not represent tho feelings of the people of England on this great question. lie believed that if, after grave deliberation, that House adopted the retrog rade course recoma.ended by his Hon. Friend, the people of this country would either now, or at some other time, bring them to account for misrepresenting their isrepresernd. n ie ting on this important subject. His Hon. Friend, and eelH ( g Hoe. Seconder of the motion, did not disguise from themselves the consequences likely to arise, if this motion succeeded, and it was admitted that the neces sary result must be, that the slave trade would b e there re viled in its hideousness. Ile rejoiced, then , that _ was no misunderstanding in respect to the questio n, and he would now beg the House to weigh well the evidence which he would submit to its consideration, and !eon , whdther it was wise or right in them to adopt . n the motio n of his ,Hon. Friend; and here he :must express his NW