The Sun. — London, England, 1851-03-29 00:00:00

THE an annually decreasing charge. This year 237 officers had died; while the applications to be put on list were only 126. The next vote was the foreign half-pay. Last year it was 42,200/. ; this year it was 38,9931., showing a decrease of 3,2071. This arose from the death of officers and officers' widows; and the fund was one to which there could be no addition made. After this came the widows' pensions, which last year were 126,536/, and this year were only 12 ),7171., being a decrease of 3,8191. Eighty-five widows had 1 een removed from the list since that period. Then came the compassionate list, which showed a decrease of 2,9001. After this came the charge for Chelsea and Kilmainham Ihspitals, which was last year 35,7561., this year 35,4161., being a decrease of 3431. only, notwithstanding what had been stated by the Hon. and Gallant Member for Portarlington on the previous debate on going into Com mittee. The next vote was one of the largest in this branch of the estimates—namely, that for the out-pensioners. Last year it was 1,233,7111.; this year it was 1,233,0501. He had always found the deduction for casualties to be over stated in respect to this vote; and he had reduced it this year by 5,0001. The last vote on the li , t was that for super annuation allowances, upon which there was a decrease of 2,5001. This made the total decrease on the non-effective set vice of the army. for the yea-, equal to 30,5331. ; or, putting the effective and the non-effective together, and comparing ti,;em with the same in the last year, the saving would be as, follows :—Last year they amounted to 6,019,3971.; this year they reached only 5.9'5,345!., being a decrease of 93,452/. which, with the additional day's pay —namely. 12,0001., gave in all a difference equivalent to 105,000/.—(llea-.) These, generally, were the votes he should propose to the House ; but he ould not quit the subject without instituting a coin parison between the army expenditure and efficiency of the present year and that of the year 1835, so frequently quoted in discussions on the estimates. It would be seen from this comparison that while the number an 1 efficiency of the army was increased, the expenditure was less than in that year. Taking into consideration the whole military expenditure in both years, this was the result : In 1835-6, cost of army service „ cost of militia service..... 218,851 a zweheque. in 1796. Although the money was levied by a 1 The SPEAKER having put the question that h e do leave Poundage it was repaid to the soldier in another wa y . the chair, Mr. REYNOLDS said the Right Hon. Gentleman had dealt Mr. HUME intimated his intention to divide. with the question in a very ingenious way. He could not deny I The gallery was then cleared for a division ; but none took the charter under which the hospital was founded, but he place. stopped the supplies, and starved the institution to death, On our re admission we found fie did not think that the Secretary-at-War had any right Mr. DISRAELI on his legs. He said he did not think to put a veto upon the admission of pensioners. He believed that there was any understanding given by the Government the institution was extremely popular, and that the Iri h that the Budget would be brought forward on Monday next. soldier looked to that asylum with hope and confidence. It would no doubt be satis'actory if the financial statement The movement was not dictated by economy -it was one of was made on Monday • but the Government had only pledged the ste s t o wards a eneral system of centralisation.- (Ilear, themselves to bring it'forward at an early da. hear.) p It was another attack upon the honour and nation- Mr. HUME said, although he and sever y al of his lion. ality of Ireland. He hoped the vote of to-night would teach Friends were under the impression that the statement was the Right Hon. Gentleman not to commit this act of ag- to be made on vlonday next, under the circumstances, he gression on the Irish people. would not persevere in his opposition. Sir H. VERNEY said the arguments of the Right Hon. The House then went int Committee of Supply. Gentleman applied as much to Chelsea as they did to Kil- ARMY ESTIMATES. tainham. lie deprecated the introduction of national dis- Mr. F. MAULE then rose to bring forward the army esti tinctione and jealousies, but agreed with the previous mates. He seal after a considerable interval of debate, speakers that the attempt to do away with this hospital which he confessed he did not anticipate on this occasion, it would be most offensive to the feelings of the people of Ire- was now his duty for the fifth time to ask the House to vote land. The Irish soldier was entitled to have his feelings that portion of the supplies which was necessary to meet the rensuited, e s be believed they comprised nearly half of the expenditure of the army is this country. lie was quite British army. aware in former times that there existed a considerable con- Mr. Hieefla denied that the insult was aimed at Ireland ; etitutional jealousy on the part of this House in respect to the it applied to the system generally. The time was g one b y standin g asm y p ro p osed to be maintained. But, whatever f _or these institutions, and he would hea rtil y j oin in a vote that might have been, it had of late years been suppressed by fur putting down Chelsea Hospital. -( A laugh.) The whole a feeling of natural pride for the ,eryice, the conduct, anu questi o n was whether this este' lishment, supported by the discipline of the army of this great country. Ile had no public mosey, was really useful and important. He believed wish to disparage the troops of other countries for the pur e was net- the soldiers could not he induced to go in, and pose of exalting those of our own, but he would make bold ,cheleea Hospital at the present mome nt could not be filled. to sa y that there was no army in the world more remarkable Why, the eicatch soldiers never asked for any such separate for its discipline, more patient under privations, more I , institutions. He hoped, therefore , the Hou se would su pp ort g allant in assault, or more steady under fire than the she Right lion. Gentleman in doing away o ith Kilmainham British army.-(Bear, hear.) Many might dispute 40 spital. as to what ought to be the numbers of their rMr. W. WILLIAMS said there were 175 men in the h os - arm y ; but there was no economist, he was sure, Pital and forty-six officers to look after them, with seven however desirous to reduce their numbers, who would not ('- ;lenses a nd four assistants, so that the expense of the estab - will i n g l y admit that no bod y of men could better conduct eaahment bore a very large proportion to the amount o f themselves iu times of peace, nor fitter perform their duties senefit it c, referred.- (Divide.) in war, than the men composing the British army. - (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL wished the House to consider what With respect to the strength of the army, it had always been Would be the result of the vote to which it was about to an object with her Majesty's G vernment to keep its eonie. Two years ago the House had referred the naval and strength at the lowest possible point consistent with the exi . tilitary expenditure to a Committee, and there were many gencies of the service and the honour of the country ; and questions upon which they had not yet reported. Surely upon the present occasion it did not appear to his colleagues the House would think it would be advisable before it came or himself that during the ensuing year they could reduce, tf:any decision to ascertain the reasons of the Committee consistent with the policy and the safety of the country, the r its maintenance or abolition. He thought it was rather army to a smaller number of men than it was in the year Premature for the House to come to a resolution that it was just passed. He therefore should propose to the llouse a vote sot advisable to abolish Kilmainham Hosp ital, when the y for 98,714 men, being within 414 mnn of the number voted aad referred that question to a Committee of the House. He last year.-(Hear, hear.) Last year they had effected a as surprised that the Hon. Member for Dublin should reduction to a certain extent, and he was then told that the have made the question a national one. Why, for a long reduction he had made was confined to the men in the Period of time there had been no separate army for England ranks, and that he had not taken care to make a proper and Ireland, and the interests of all members of the military tionate reduction of officers. This year he had to state, for service were now completely identified. That 8,0001. more the information of those who made that objection, that the eleuldebe spent in Dublin than if the hospital were abolished decrease of 414 men consisted of 101 officers, 26 non did.s not appear to him to be a matter of an y im p ortance. commissioned officers, end 288 privates. Amongst these Dublin surely was not reduced to such a state of poverty as reductions - was a cutunelcy in chief or the 60th to make that sum a matter of consequence. He agreed with Regiment, which had been held by the Duke of Cam the Hon. Member for Montrose that the time for these in- bridge-an appointment which the Committee ur -stairs stitutions had gone by. Formerly they were looked upon as had been given to understand should be abolished. - (Hear, eemfortable retreats, but since the sy stem of out- p ensions hear.) The force, then, that lie proposed to maintain was had been established, they were much less valuable. The 95,714 men. That force was distributed into two parts- Lumber of pensioners accommodated was comparatively namely, those who were serving at home, and those who Mall, th e great expense being occasioned by the governors were serving abroad. There were 50,980 serving at home, and officers. He contended that the House had np right to and 31,116 were employed in the colonies. One great argu • '?rejudge the question, and it was not, in his opinion wise, ment for maintaining such a considerable number of men at when the Secretary •at-War wished to make reductions, that home-and it was one of the soundest arguments that could t he House should set its face against them, and give him abe used-was that it afforded t he means for a constantly lesson to teach him that his economy and reductions were well-regulated system of relief to the soldiers who were Lot approved of. serving abroad. The principle had been laid down for se- Mr. DISRAELI said the Noble Lord's main arg ument was vend years by those who had preceded him in office- it was that the Committee had not yet decided, and yet he appeared a principle sanctioned by the head of the late Government to forget that the Right Hon. Gentleman ( Mr. F. Manic) it was one which reconciled the army with service abroad, had already decided the question, having issued orders that and therefore it was one which he had done his utmost to no pensioners should be admitted after the sth of April.- keep intact. It allowed them (as we understood) to keep (heer, hear.) In the teeth of that act of t he Ri g ht Hon. each soldier five years at home and ten years abroad,. and ' Gentleman, the Noble Lord told them they ought to wait this system was greatly aided by the 30,497 men in India, r the report of the Committe e.- ( Cheers.) After no- the maintenance of which was not defrayed by them. He . tieing that chief fallacy of the Noble Lord, he must ex- had always maintained that it was the duty of this country Press his opinion that the question b efore the House was to keep at its disposal a certain amount of force--not a very „ 'lse same as that of the Lord-Lieutenant, although in a large force - but still a force sufficient to meet any sudden smaller proportion. It was evidently one of t he ste p s, as had emer g enc y ; and then he thought, considering the wealth of %eta said, towards establishing a great system of centralise- this country, and the great interest at stake, that it should t hin.- ( Hear, hear.) not be altogether denuded of a military force, when a foreign Mr. F. MAULE explained that his instructions were, force might be brought there by sea. Under all circum ' e eat no vacancy should be filled up without communicating stances, he did not consider they would be justified in having 'UM him. a smaller number than that which he proposed : namely, Mr. W. MILES thought the motion of the Honour- 98,714 men, being within a fraction of the number that had able and Gallant Member for Portarlin gt on p remature. been voted last year. He now came to the second vote-the The es ti ma tes had been before the Committee of charge that would be required for the maintenance of the army ; t he House for the last three years. He had but before he entered into that point, he wished to call the asked the Government the other night w h e ther it was attention of the Committee, and also that of the members of their intention to call together the Committee for the Committee up stairs, to a statement that he desired to t he purpose of their making a report, and the answer he make, before he called tor a vote for the maintenance of the received was in the affirmative. It was, therefore, he thought land force. He wished to state what were the reductions in Prem a t u re to discuss this question until that report was re- the charge of the army, in consequence of the evidence that reined. He would not say one word respecting Kilmainham had been taken on the Committee up-stairs. In the first 40 spital except this-he believed that if the old soldiers were place he bad proposed to do away with the double-battalion given their option of remaining at Kilmainham or coming system. The consequence of that was that the depot batta oss.Ver to Ch e l s ea, very few would be desirous of rsmaining at lion at Parkhurst was of no use, and it was to be dispensed Allnsainham. It became, then, a question for their consider- with. That would effect a saving of 2,3981., and there would ation, whether it would not be necessary, on the score of be a saving of 5001. a year whenever the Commander-in economy, to make this change. He could not press this Chief bestowed a regiment upon a late adjutant-general. ' a tillestion of economy too much on the House at the present The country had lost, by death, the services of the late wale. Chelsea Hospital had full accommodation for the re- Deputy Quartermaster-General -a gentleman who had filled c ePtion of all those who wished to come there. his office with advantage to the public and credit to himself The House divided, when there appeared- -(Hear) -in supplying his place, a saving would be effec'ed For the amendment ..• .........105 of 789/. a year. In the army medical department they had Against it ... .. ... ... ... 137 lost, by retirement, one to whom the public was much in- Majority in favour of goi n g in to C ommittee-32 debted for his long and faithful services - Sir James AleGri e he king- gor.--(Hear.) At time age of 81, it was to be feare d that he Mr. HUME said that there wa s no t a town in t t iont that did not look for the fina ncial statement of the could not long be spared to them ; but in his retirement night Hon. Gentleman the Chancello r of the Exche q uer with a saving was proposed to be effected of 1,0851. Taking „ L eie greatest anxiety : He wished to ask the House to concur these in general, the savings effected would amount to 1,4001. 'AI opinion with him in refusing any vote in supply until the He then came to the staff in Canada. In that question the `lrovernment had brought forward their financial statement. Commit' co up-stairs had entered very minutely ; and it Thatap , statement must be prepared, for it cannot be possible peared to himself, as to them, that some saving might be but that the Government bad made up their minds before made in that branch of the army. They were enabled to e this a s t o the course they intend to ta k e .- ( Hear.) He be- reduce five officers and some subordinates , and to make a sieved that a pledge had been given that this financial saving of 1,540/. The Deputy Judge Advocate of Ireland for would be made before any money would be asked was to be discontinued, and on the whole the saving effected 'or in Committee of Supply. Since the first financial state- in consequence of the evidence before the Committee was r i,;ent was made, which did not meet with public approbation , somethin g about 8,000/.-( Hear, hear.) Having made these the Government had two or three weeks to consider the few observations, he now came to vote No. 2. The sum he spatter ; and there was no reason why they had not come had asked for last year was 3,562,430/. The sum he would forward with their amended. Budget before this. He pro- ask for this year was 3,521,0691., making a decrease in the Pissed" that this House will not proceed to a Committee of expense of maintaining the land forces of 41,321/. The de- SaPply until the financial statement is made." crease was made up of various items in that vate, which were Tire SPEAKER intimated to the Hon. Member that he spreadover such a vast yarietyofs mall items, that he would not eould not make the motion. The words that " I now leave the detain the Committee by going into a detail of every one of their," stand part of the question, had been just settled by them. Ile would, however, take the opportunity of noticing 1114 late division. some special sums in the application of which the Caminittee, Lord J. RUSSELL said he was sorry that there should be he was sure, took a very deep interest. He might state, in % ay misunderstanding upon this subject. He thought it was the first place. that there was one sum, that allowed for good clearly understood that they were to proceed slith the army conduct, which had been established under the warrant of ea imates immediately after they had disposed of the last the Right Hon. Gentleman, and which this year showed an question. There would no doubt be a considerable amount of increase of 4,4911. It must, he thought, be satinatfactory to explanation entered into in respect of these estimates. every man avin the interest of the army heart, that „ Mr. IlUelE -I wish to know whether the Right Hon. Gen- this should be the case, for it was far better economy to Gen tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer will bring on his have an iucrease in this vote-that is, an decrease in the financial statement on Monday next? amount of rewa-ds for good soldiers-than to find out the Xo reply was given to the Hon. Member. means of punishing them for bad conduct.-(Hear, hear. i Colonel SIBTHORB then rose to bring forward the motion Then, there was also an increase of the lodging money for of ee which he had given notic e, " To call the attention of the' soldiers. It was considered most desirable that married and Rtouse to the Treasury minute authorising an additional; unmarried soldiers should not be placed together.-(Hear.) grant of 500/. per annum to the present salary of the chair-, Last year the sum allowed was a penny a day to married kan of the Board of Inland Revenue." soldiers to find their own lodgings. He was aware that the The SPEAKER, however, intimated to the Hon. and Gal- , allowance was inadequate; and therefore this year it had beat mul e t Member that he could not they bring forward a motion,l doubled, and he was quite' sure that the 2d. a day now al- Jor the reasons before stated. . lowed to soldiers to find lodgings out of the barracks was Colonel SIBTHORP then proceeded to comment upon the i sufficient, small as it might appear to civilians. He thought atibject of his notice He said that there were two kinds oil it would be well if officers connected with the army were to economy-real and false. The gentleman to whom this ad-, enter into arrangements, or if public companies were to t ake ditional 500. a year was granted, was , no doubt, a very able' the matter up, and have in the neighbourhood of barracks and efficient officer. We have had a Treasury minute -, model lodging-houses established, they would confer the What was that? It was nothing more nor less than a dirty, greatest boon that could be conferred upon the soldier, and secret mode of appropriating money taken out ef the pockets he believed they would even be found an excellent invest of Inland the people.-(Laughter.) The chairman of the Board of ment.-(Hear, hear.) Then as regards schools, he taland Revenue was undoubtedly a most excellent officer, happy to say that the schools in the army were flourishing out h e th oug ht he was very well paid for his services by a, beyond his own sanguine expectations.-(Hear.) They had sala r y o f 2,0001. a year. He protested agains t such a mode been commenced by his Right Hon. Friend opposite in the of proceeding. It was sinister and underhand. The people year 1846, and they had gone on increasing most rosper- Of E ng l an d were oppressed by such Treasury minutes. He ously d using the last five years. In 1847 the first of waist udents hoped the day was not far distant when such a Government, was admitted into the normal schools, and the first garrison a ppointment took place in 1849. Since then they had four Itho was neither influenced by a p rinci p le of p ublic economy isor regard for the people, would be forced to resign their garrison and 30 regimental teachers, and now they had 34 Places in favour of a wiser and abler body of men. The full instructors and 11 assistant masters in the ar my; an d Pres en t mem b e rs of the Government had only one wish, and now they could net keep pace with the demand for instructors that w as to keep their places as long as the? , could. They for other regiments.-(Hear, hear.) He hoped, then, to see Were at presen t su pported by a most miscellaneous body of a thorough instruction of these soldiers, as there was a corn- Memb e rs upon their side of the House r, Laughter) mensurate desire on the part of the officers to provide them with that instruction. Thus education of the best kind their reign was nearly at an end.- (Hear, hear.) Th e CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQ UER said that the would be provided for the men, while steps had been takes LGovernment must feel obliged to the H on . and Gallant Mem- by the Commander-in -Chief to ensure the possession of a "erep ar ti c ularly for the testimony he had borne to the merits certain amount of knowledge by those s also had be who woulden taken gain corn of the individual to whom he referred. A more efficient and mission i n the army.--.(Hear.) Step deserving public officer than this gentleman did not exist. to ensure an examination of every officer before he was per -41. e (th Chancellor of the Exchequer) was glad an oPPore milled to attain the rank of captain.-(Hear, bear.) He 'limey h a d b e en given him to state what the whole ar- must say that it was his belief that the House would be long to provide some means by which the rangement entered into was, of which this only formed called upon ere might obtain that quantity of know a part. It was not quite fair , to single oue o ne re uired from them before they ' keusure without taking into consideration the whole ar. ledge which would be q . .. particular officers in the army t an gement. Without the abl e as sistance of th is gentleman were allowed to hold the commission of captain. This he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) co uld not have ef- examination would be a severe one, and he would say f s ected so l arge a re duction in the public expenditure as the that it would be too severe, unless the House placed it Board of Inland Revenue had enabled him to do. M any w i t hi n t h e power of the officers to attain to that which would be required from them. teareago the Boards of Stamps and Taxes were consolidated, amount of knowledge Y which a great saving of the public expen diture was He did not see any other w h ey in which that was to be done effected. About four years ago he had carried into execu- except b y attac hing to eac regiment an officer of instruc tion a further consolidation of the Board of Stamps and tion. Is suc h an o fficer were attached to each regiment it devote more of their Taxes with the Excise, forming a Board of Inland Revenue, would be an inducement to officers to by w hich a still further saving of a large amount was time to study than they did at present, and would, toe effecter'. He said most distinctly that if it were not for the leav e them without an excuse for not po e s m sess t i . ng th al e l , C tlr m s s e , great exertions of Mr. John Wood he dared not have qualifications which were required from them Undertaken that great consolidation.-(Hear, hear.) It was mander-ins m eat ) Another item he by y ad to allude doubted much whether such an arrangement could be to wit h r e g a rd to the diffusionef know e amongst the sol e into effect. It was, however, owing to the zeal and diers was with respect to libraries. exertions of Mr. John Wood that it was ultimately effected. that the increase in the number of these ii lie 7 g b a r s ar h ie t s p w py as to go s in ay g 100,000 volumes The effect of the whole consolidation of these boards was to on-that there were now upwards o cause a saving to the public of about 250,000/. Surely in the regimental and garrison ro, and upwards 60 0/. a year was not too much to grant as a reward to the of 1,600 subscribers. The savings boom sa 29/. and 1,890 de gentleman who was mainly instrumental in effecting this increase. From 1844, with a sum of 14, 8 '- -, too, showed an d 7 782 deposi desirable result. If the House of Commons was not pre- positors, they hal increased to 91,661/. Pared to reward persons for such valuable services, they tors.-(Hear, hear.) H e was qu it e s ure thatiZ however. muc h could not expect that those reductions could be carried into the House might be disposed to economy f ed to. He execution. There were twenty-nine officers reduced; the manifest itself in such items as he had now re err t ff in it would not lowe s t s a lary enjoyed by any of them was 300/. a year, and now came to the third vote-that referring to the sa , the hi g h es t 2 , 0004 The reduction thus effected was 22 , 900 /. which he was able to state that a reduction had been effected a Year. It would not, of course, be fair to take this addi- within a very few pounds of 5,0001. T tional duty without additional remuneration. Surely that to the Royal Military Asylum and Hibernian schools. did Was not a very unreasonable principle to lay down. He was these there had been a decrease of 6411.-a decrease t _ em Prepared. at the time to give an additional allowance to Mr. not operate upon the effectiveness of the institutions th s 'John Wood for this additional labour; but that gentleman selves, but was attributed to cheapness of provisions tinc,d The next voteiwaslin Objected to take it until it was proved that he was the means other things. The next was the volunteer corps, on w hi ' a Of effecting these arrangements, and that the Government there was a decrease of 16,0001. He eves aware that many were fully satisfied w ith what h e h a d d one . A p e riod of of his military friends would ha ve p r e f erred , cons idering the about three years ha d gone by , and the benefits of the exer- value of these useful establishments, thate vote had saidnot L ions o f that gentleman had been fully demonstrated. He been reduced during the present year. But then he , Lthe Right lion. Gentleman) then fe l t it a duty he owed to let these gentlemen lay the flattering unction to their souls 'e public to reward Mr. J Wood for the essential services that the reduction was the effect of the force being found to Which be bad thue rendered to the public.-(Hear.) be so well disciplined that it was unnecessary to call upon se Mr. WAKLEY said that when it was announced that the them this y ear.-( Hear.) The seven votes constituting k'overnment intended to bring forward their Budget very what was called the effective servi 562/., ce of the army 3,853,8631., was in the early i n t h e ses sion the grea test satisfaction was ex p erinced. whole amount for last year 3,933, this year The Right lion. Gentleman did bring forward his Budget, showing a decrease of 62,916/. The next class of votes he a nd, unhappily, it gav e satisfaction to only a few. Sometime should refer to were those of the non-effective service. The had now elapsed since it was announced that some new finan- first of these votes was for distinguished sers ices, not ex cial arrangement would be proposed. The reasons which ceeding three-fifths of the emoluments of garrison appoint urged the Government to bring forward their first Budget at ments, which had become vacant. This vote was 14,6061. an earl eriod of the sessi on had acquired much greater The vacancies that had occurred this year were inconsider force since in favour of the other financial statement which able, amounting altogether to 1,265/. The next vote was had b een promised ; and yet there was no indication given as for the pay of general officers not being co l onels to the exact time when that statement would be made, al- of regiments. Last year it was 58,00 e/. ; thi s though it was well known that many branches of trade in year it was 52,0001, being a reduction of 6,000/. by this unexpected Eighteen general officers had been removed from the list, of t he ‘s country were suffering severely l ', r elay. Ile concurred in the views expressed by the Hon. which eight died without regiments, and the other ten ob eternber for Montrose, that no money should be voted until tained regiments. The list of officers of this class was con the Right Hon. Gentleman had made his financial statement. sequently never so low as at this moment. In 1840 there I.le ...hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman would appoint were 120 on the list ; in 1851 there were only 114, not one of whom was not able to make good his pay. The list, in fact, Monday next for that statement. Mr. BRoTHERTON thought that there was no s tronger was so low, that he (Mr. F. Mauls) suspected the Govern feature in real economy than a well-timed liberality. He ment would have to apply to the House for the means of ex had known Mr. John Wood for about 25 years, and he bor e tendin g it at no distant period. The vote for reduced and re testimony to all the Right Hon. Gentleman t h e Chancellor of tired officers' pay showed this year a reduction of 2,0001., as the E xc h eq uer had said respecting him, having wat ched his compared with last year's estimate. The vote for the half conduct c l os ely during all that time. He believed him to be pay and military allowances to reduced and retired officers A very valuable public servant. was last year 386,000/., while this year it was only 377,000/., Sir DE LACY EVANS urged the Right Hon. Gentleman showing a decrease of 9,000/. There was no branch of the the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fix i l i a (sta tement for I public expenditure for /191 411 next. watched with Wig T i s e cretary of War giloo OR wit.the army which the t IYA however, Total :n 1851-2, cost of army service . 111 cost of m►litia ..... Total which gave a difference in money of 92,0001. But on the other hand, while the army in 1835-6 only numbered 81,271 men, in 1851-2 it numbered 98,014 —being an in crease of 17,443. In addition to this, there were now up wards of cs9,ot 0 veteran soldiers ready to come forward and take their share in the defence of the country - a force that did not exist in the former period. It was gratifying to him to state that this was in consequence of our economy. Before he concluded he begged to be allowed to institute a comparison of the present administration of the army with that of 1847-48 : he would not• refer to the forces in India, for they wors the same in both periods. then and now. In 1847-48 the total number of the army, including India, was 108,398; in 1851-52 it was 98,740, being a difference of 7,000 and upwards. In 1847-48 the effective charge was 4,182,0( 0/. ; in 1850-52 it was 3,873,1591., being a decrease of 308,3851. In respect to the non-effective charge, 1847-48 showed a sum equal to 2,175,3771., while in 1851-52 it was only 2,052,2671., being a decrease of 122,9481. The decrease in the whole charge of the army, then, within these two years, was 431,4321. If he was to go through all the ac counts for five years, he would be able to show a still greater sum ; but he would forbear. In the period in question the army had been reduced by 10,000 men, or thereabouts ; while the saving to the country was over 400,010/. There were one or two other points which he should touch upon. The first related to the discipline of the army—the second to the state of military punishment. He was happy to say that the improvements made in the condition of the soldier had caused corporeal punishment to decrease with great rapidity. The corporeal punishments in the army were, in 1846 ... ... 511 1849 ... 475 1850 ... ... 241 There were 27 regiments excluded from the latter return ; but, giving them the same average ratio as those which had sent in reports, the number of punishments in the army . in that year did not amount to more than 300. The last point to which he would advert was the mortality of the army. This he was happy, also, to say showed a great decrease, especially on foreign stations, in consequence of the sanitary precautions now in operation in the army. In Jamaica, for example, where cholera scourged all classes of the popula tion, there was not a single case among the soldiery in barracks up in the mountains ; and, generally speak ing, the health of the troops in this island, once so fatal, had exceedingly improved. Before 1836 the mortality of the troops in Jamaica was 128 per 1,000; in 1849 it was only 14 per 1,000. All the other stations showed a similar result, with the exception of Canada, which arose from local causes, and the East Indies. In no case was the mortality of the British army abroad greater than it was at home at this moment, w th the exception of one or two unfavour able positions to health and life —( Hear, hear.) He had, he trusted, now shown that the condition of the British army was one of which any country might be proud; that the finances of that army were managed with economy, and that all fair and just relief was given to the soldier. He (Mr. F. Maule) had done his best to reduce, as far as he could con sistently with efficiency, the cost of the army; but he would not scruple to ask for an increased expenditure, if he deemed it at all necessary for the purpose of doing justice to the British soldier. He would, on all occasions, endeavour to uphold the honour of that army which he believed to be one of the best any country ever was blessed with, which he was satisfied could be relied upon in peace as well as in war, and which was only anxiuus to, prove its loyalty to the Sovereign and its fidelity to the country whenever it should be called upon to do so.—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman then moved 98,714 men for the land forces of her Majesty's army. Mr. HUME joined the Right Hon. Gentleman in approv ing the economy that governed the army estimates. He re ferred to the disproportionate expenditure of former times, when, with a larger outlay there were fewer men, and those in a state of comparative inefficiency. The experiment of economy had been so successful in this case that he hoped it would be adopted in all other branches of the public ser vice; and he believed the system of army accounts was far before that of either the ordnance or the navy. He wished to understand whether by a civil organisation of the army a large saving could not be effected. He considered that a mil lion sterling might be obtained by reorganising the ordnance and store establishments. This, however, was not the time to go into these subjects, and he would not do so. as a Com mittee was about to meet. on the subject. He would point out how reductions might be effected with advantage and safety. The last Finance Committee recommended keep ing the expenses of the array and navy within proper limits, and proper limits to be ascertainec: by taking the evi dence of disinterested persons. Ile stated this because evidence had usually been taken from military ;men, who all had an interest in keeping up the expenses and abuses of the existing system. One of the reasons given for the great expenses of the army was the service of the colonies; but we had recently changed our colonial policy, and therefore that necessity ceased. The policy now was to make the colonies, wherever practicable, defray their own expenses? This policy must eventually be extended to all colonies, and here would arise a large item of saving. The question he wished to ask was, whether Government ought not to act on the system laid down by Lord Grey with reference to our colonies. There were 39,000 men employed on coloni:1 service; but surely this force was not required under the new system. Wherever responsible government was given, it Was held the colony should support itself. We had given responsible government to New Zealand and to Canada—the first had 4,000 men, who were to be with drawn ; and the latter had 9,000 men, who were to be re tained. He should be glad to hear any valid reason for keeping that number of men at the expense of this country in Canada. Now if troops were to be withdrawn from the colonies, why should the House be called upon to vote 98,000 men, when a large proportion was for colonial purposes? If colonies wanted troops they must pay them themselves, He should propose to reduce the number by men. Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the amendment. The Right Hon. Gentleman had contrasted the expenses of this year with the years 1847-48; but those were years of extrava gance, and his complaint had always been that Govern ment was needlessly extravagant in tbia branch of public service. Taking the average of eleven years—from 1829 to 'B4O, including the Governments of Earl Grey, Duke of Wellington, and Lord Melbourne—he would show that the present year was not, comparatively, a year of economy. He found the average of those years was 93,690 men. This year the number, including artillery, was 115,101, nearly 1 20,000 men more than for the years he bad referred to. He should be glad to hear from the Right Hon. Gentleman the reasons for keeping up this enormous force. If 93,690 men were enough in times of dissatisfaction at home and in the colonies, and with differences with foreign powers, why was a larger force required when none of those causes existed ? For nis part he was sorry his Hon. Friend had not proposed a larger reduction than 5,000 men.— (Oh, and divide.) Sir W. MO LESWORTH supported the amendment of Mr. Hume, and said that the Committee which sat in 1835 to inquire into the military expenditure in the colonies recom mended that the strictest economy should be adopted in every branch of that expenditure. At that period the whole number of troops in North America, including artillery and engineers, was only 5,369, whilst, the military expenditure was 337,0001. Since"that time there had been a very con siderable increase of the military force maintained there, and also in the expenditure. In the year 1816-7 the amount of military force was 9,643 men, and the expenditure 615,0001. ; and he believed the number of troops and the expenditure were about the same now. Thus, there had been an in crease since 1835 of 4,874 men, and in the expenditure of upwards of 300,00 C/. That increase was occasioned by the rebellion in Canada, and that rebellion was owing to Colonial office misgovernment. But at the present moment the Ca nadians had complete self-government and the entire ma nagement of their own affairs. We ought not, therefore, to be called upon to maintain this number of troops for merely local purposes ; and he contended that we might reduce the number to the extent of 5,001, and still leave 4,000 for the garrison of the important naval station of Halifax, and the Imperial fortress of Quebec. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the actual number of troops in all the North American - provinces, including Newfound land and Prince Edward's Island, was only 8,079; and if from that number his lion. Friend took off 5,000, he thought the force remaining would be a totally inadequate one. Sir W. MOLESWORTH said he had included artillery and engineers in his statement. Mr MACGREGOR, amidst cries of " Oh," " Divide," a nd laughter, said he did not believe we could properly withdraw 5,000 men from the North American provinces within the year. At the same time he admitted that reduc tions in our military forces must gradually be made in the colonies, for all that was necessary to maintain there was the skeletons of (Laughter, and divide.) He preferred, however, to leave the making of these reductions to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary •at-War.—(oh, eh.) He was also of opinion that the great military establishment which we maintained in Ireland was something like a satire on the Irish people.— (Oh. oh, and laughter.) And be thought the people of Ire land could keep the peace themselves without our keepindup such a large establishment for the purpose. (Oh, oh.) Mr. HUME having replied, the Committee divided, when there appeared — For the amendment Against it ,„ Majority •,, The vote was then agreed to. On the next vote being proposed, Mr. HUME opposed taking such a vote after twelve o'clock. Ho moved that the Chairman report progress. Mr. F. MAULE hoped he would be allowed to take the next vote, whicti was for defraying the charges of the number of men just voted. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said there were many items of the next vote upon welch he wished for some information, and to make some observations. Mr. MOWATT thought that in consequence of supply having been gone into at so late an hour the House WAS evidently indisposed to tolerate any discussion at present, and he should, therefore, support the motion for reporting Progress. Mr. F. MAULE said the lion. Member would find in the evidence taken before the Committee of lest year every item in the vote fully explained. Air, W. W11,14A10 pm that in the topper of the Homo Alcoek, Thomas Bass, M. T. Bell, Jacob Blake. Martin J. Bright, John _1 Clay, James Corbally, M. E. Cowan, Charles Crawford, W. S. Duncan. George Evans, Sir De Lacy Fagan, William Fergus, John Fox, W. J. Frewen. C. H. Grace, O. D. Greene, Jolla ... 4; ... 186 ... -139 UN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1851. at present he could not think of trespassing upon them with any observations, and should support the motion for report ing progress. The ComEnittee then divided — For reporting progress Against it —139 Majority Mr. FUME could not consent to so large a vote being taken at that hour, and if any Hon. Member would stand by him he should persist in dividing the House till four o'clock rather than allow the vote to be proposed. Lord J. RUSSELL did not think, in asking for the recent vote, that he was proposing anything unreasonable; but after what had passed would postpone it till Monday, when he would take it as the first business of the day, and would postpone the motions of which he had given notice for that USINESS. any. Mr. HUME said it was against the usual custom to take votes after twelve o'clock. He gave netice that he would move on Monday that no supply be taken till the financial statement was before them. Mr. ADDERLEY had given notice of a motion on the Kafir war on the House going into supply, and had hoped that he would have been able to have done so on Monday. Lord J. RUSSELL said it was quite right that the Hon. Gentleman should receive what information e uld bo given of the Kafir war, and no doubt he would have an oppor tunity of bringing forwail the motion on the question that the Speaker leave the chair. But he thought that the Hon. Gentleman would seelthat in the present position of business he could not proceed with the! business originally fixed for the first thing on Monday. The sth of April was near, and unless the House voted a certain sum there would not be any funds on that day fur the necessary service of the country.—(Hear.) Mr. HUME said he decidedly intended to move that no supply should be granted till the financial statement was made. Mr. BRIGHT knew that the feelings out of doors was in favour of the course proposed by his lion. Fr'end. If any delay had taken place in bringing forward the financial busi ness, it had been owing to the House running after a hare they could not catch. The public he thought had no right to complain of the delay, as it had been caus ed by proceed ings favoured by them. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and the House resumed. The Appointment of Vice-Chancellor's Bill was read a third time and passed. The Metropolis Buildings Bill was understood to have been read a second time. The Committee on Ways and Means was postponed until Monday. Mr. HUME said many felt anxious about the Metropolis Building Bill, and it was desirable its provisions should be understood. Lord SEYMOUR said a discussion could be had on a future stage. Mr. J. STUART obtained leave to bring in a Bill to re peal the Act for Shortening the Language of Acts of Parlia ment. Mr. HUME nlovua for returns of the number of lights for the use of shipping maintained by the' Trinity House at Hull in the year 1850; stating what kind of lights, and where placed; also, under what authority erected, and at whose expense; stating also the number of buoys and bea cons maintained in the same year, and where placed; also, the rate of charges on shipping for the lights, buoys, and beacons, and distinguishing severally the charges on British and foreign vessels —viz., for vessels below the buoy of the Cleaness • above the buoy of the Cleaness t o the buo y of the Burcombe; above the buoy of the Burcombe to Grimsby, or to Whitebooth, and to the port of Hull. And of the gross amount of revenue received by the Trinity House of Hull for the same year, showing the several sources of that revenue, and the amount of each source; and further, an account. under separate heads, of the manner in which the year's revenue was expended (in continuation of the Return in Appendix, No. 65, of the Report on Lighthouses, No. 607, of IMP).ROVEMENT OF TOWNS (IRELAND) BILL COMMITTEE. Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved that Dr. Bond should be excused from attendance on the above Committee, and Mr. Knox be added.—Agreed to. Sir W. SOMERVILLE also moved that the same Com mittee consist of lr Members, and that Sir P. Nugent and Messrs. Scully, Devereux, and Grace, be added to the same. Mr. SCULLY expressed his wish to be excused from serving. II Pit! W. SOMERVILLE said of course any Hon. Member could not be forced; but he regretted he had not been previously informed of the Hon. Member's objection, and he might have inserted another name. The other names were then proposed and agreed to. Mr. MAHER proposed that Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Scully, Mr. Devereux, and Mr. Sullivan, should be nominated on the Committee. Sir W. SOMERVILLE opposed the motion. A desultory discussion, in which several Irish Members took part, ensued. Sir R. FERGUSSON alluded to the squabbling which had taken place for years in the corporation of Dublin, as having delayed for some four or five years all measures of local im provement. Mr. REYNOLDS said the Hon. Baronet might be a clas sical authority in the affairs of corporations, but he did not say on their jobbing—(Orde, hear)—but he could inform the Hon. Baronet that one party' had struggled for years for their rights, and had at last succeeded in gaining them. The lion. Member then proceeded to complain that Sir W. Somerville had refused to put his name upon the Committee they were then discussing, which he attributed to the fact that he was this year in opposition to the Govern ment. In like manner his name had been kept off the Dublin Valuation Committee, but such would not have been the case last year when he was a supporter of the Government. He complained generally of the composition of the Improve ment of Towns' Committee, and pointed out that no represen tation from the county of Tipperary, in which there were so many important towns, had been amongst those nomi nated. After a few words from Mr. J. O'ColettEu. and Sir W. SonERVILLE, The House divided, on the motion that Mr. Reynolds should be added to the Committee, and there appeared— For the motion ... 11 Against it ... 51, Majority ••• ••• ••• ••• —4O The Committee was then appointed without the addition of Mr. Reynolds's name. The remaining business on the paper was disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter before Two o'clock until Twelve o'clock this day. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS (From the V. tes and Proceelin MARCPIgs of the Howe of Commons ) FRIDAY, 28. SUPPLY. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question proposed, " That a number of Land Forces, not exceeding 98,714 Men (exclusive of the Men employed in the Territorial Possessions of the East India Company), Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers included, be maintained for the Service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from the Ist da o f April, to the 31st day of March, 18 52 , inclu - . sivo :"—Afterwards Motion made, and Question put, " That a number of Land Forces, not exceeding 95,714 Men (ex clusive of the Men employed in the Territorial Possessions of the East India Company), Commissioned and Non-Commis sioned Officers included, be maintained for the service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, from the let day of April, 1351, to the 31st day of March, 1852, inclu sive." The Committee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 47. Hall, Sir B. Mowatt, Francis Ilastie, Archibald O'Brien, Sir Timothy Henry, Alexander O'Connell, John Heywood, James Pigott, Francis Heyworth, Lawrence Pilkington, Jamul Hindley.Charles Reynolds, John Jackson, William Scully, Francis Keating, Robert Sullivan, Michael Kershaw, James Thompson, Colonel King, P. J. Urquhart, David Leonard, T. B. Wakley, Thomas 11I'Gregor, John Walmsley Sir J. Maher, N. Williams,John Marshall, J. G. Moffatt, George TELLERS. Molesworth, Sir W. Hume, Joseph Morris, David Williams, W. MAJORITY—NOES, 186. Abdy, T. N. Foley, John H. Owen, Sir John Acland, Sir T. Fordyce, A. D. Paget, Lord C. Adair, R. Shafto Forster; Matthew Pakington, Sir J. Adderley, C. Z. Forteseue. Chichester Palmer, Robert Aglionhy, 11. Freestun, Colonel Palmerston, Via. Anson, Colonel Gallwey, Sir W. P. Parker, John Archdall, Captain Gaskell, J. M. Patten, J. W. Armstrong, Sir A. Goddard, A. L. Pennant, Hon. Col. Armstrong, R. B. Gooch, E. S. Power, Nicholas Arundel, Earl or Goold, Wyndham Rawdon, Colonel Balnes, M. T. Gordon. Admiral Reid, Colonel Baird James Gore, W. R. 0. Ricardo, Osman Baring, 11. B. Goillburn. Henry Rice, E. R. Baring, Sir F. ' Graham, Sir James Rich, Henry Barrington, Viscount Greenail, Gilbert Romilly, Colonel Barrow, W. 11. Greene, Thomas Russell, Lord John Bellew, R. M. Grenfell, Charles W. Russell, F. C. Berkeley, Admiral Grey, Sir G. Sandars, George Berkeley, Henry F. Grey, Ralph W. -ScroPe, G. I'. Berkeley, C. L. G. Grosvenor, Lord R. , seaham, Viscount Blair. Stephen Guernsey, Lord Seymer, U. K. Booth, Sir R. t. Gwyn, Bowel Seymour, Lord Bowles, Admiral Hallyburton, Lord Sibthorp, Colonel Boyle, Colon& Harris, Richard Simeon, John Brockman, E. D. • Ilatchell, John Smith, J. A. Buller, Sir Y. Hawes, Benjamin Smollett, A. Bunbury, Edward Heathcoat, John Somers, J. P. _ Burghley, Lord H enea g o, G. H. W. Somerv ille. Sir w • Buxton, Sir E. Henley. J. W. Spearman, H. J. Carew, W. P. Herbert, H. A. Spooner, Richard Carter, John B. Herbert, Sydney Stafford, A. Cavendish, C. C. Hobhouse, T. B. Stanford, J. F. Cavendish, G.H. Hodgson, W. N. Stanley, Edward Charteris. Francis Hothain;Lord Stansfleld, W. R. C. Chatterton, Colonel Howard, C. W. Stanton ' W. H. Chi c hester, Lord J. Howard , P. H. Stuart, John Childers, J. W. Hudson, G. Sturt, Henry G. Christy, Samuel Jones, Captain Tancred, H. W. Clements, Charles Kildare, Marquis Tenison, E. K. Clerk, Sir G. Knox, W. S. Thicknesse, R. A. Clive, H. B. Labouchere, Henry Thompson,' Cocks, T. hl. L ewis, .G. C. Thornely, . Thomas Town Coke, Edward K. Lin dsa y , Colonel Alderman shend, Capt. Cowper, W. F. Lockhart, A. E. Trevor, G. R. Craig, Sir W. G. Long, W. Turtle% Henry Turner, G. J. Dawson, T. V. Mackie, John Tyler, Sir G. Dodd, G. Macaghten, Sir E. D a lrymple, Captain Lygon , Gen. Vane, Lord 11. Douglas, Sir C. E. Matheson, A. Verner, Sir; W. Duckworth, Sir J. Matheson, Sir J. Verney, Sir H. Duke, Sir James Matheson, Colonel Watkins, Colonel Duncuft, John Maule, Fox Wellesley, Lord C. Dundas, Admiral Miles, P. W. S. Westhead, J. P. Dundas, George Miles, William Williamson, Sir H. Dundas, Sir David Milner, W. M. Wilson, James Dunne, Colonel Mitchell, T. A. Wilson, Matthew Ebrlngton, Viscount Mostyn, E. M. L. Wood, Sir Charles Edwards, Henry Mulgrave, Earl Wrightson, W. B. Estcourt, J. B. B. Mundy, William Wynn, H. W. Evans, William Newdegate, C. N. Wyvill, M. Ferrer, James Noel, Gerald J. TELLERS. Ferguson, Sir it. Norreys, Lord Hayter, W. G. Fitzpatrick, J. W. Ogle, S. C. Hill, Lord M. The attempt to destroy so large an interest in the manner contemplated, namely, by a private Bill, was altogether un preced•nted in Parliamentary annals. He denied that the public had desired the removal of the market. All they had sought was the abatement of the existing annoyances, and it was the peculiar object of the corporation plan to effect their removal. Mr. Wyld and several other gentlemen of the deputation having spoken, Sir G GREY assured the deputation that the Government had no interest in the matte-, other than that of meeting the views and wishes of the public. The LORD MAYOR thanked the Right Hon. Baronet for the courteous attention paid to the statements which had been made. and expressed an earnest hope that they had not been made in vain. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. WESTE.RIV -CIRCUIT.—Bodmin, March 27. CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron MARTIN and a Special Jury.) vinous . eelings lon be roceed- ng the se wag of the Mon se, and n iar4- wyer in low of a hospital. ty , s (io ) of Ire ,as made ry, verl he pecu were not it would day an and in a ism now Id? lie and not to be ould not rescribed nsfer the try, and inion on . What [ Act of to know y to dis ustance? c Crown Lich the and the ,oldiery. ed that lance of the ex act both arty the o means its were ho had otel des tame of ,robably at there aid that at Hon. a bolish vith his 3onnced w thou e public weight so there n. Gen of Ire of the of Kil nument bled for eople of ospital? e ople of !rninent the go longer t Eon. be bad :ference r egard rted, it rooting. l undage ers eti 31ing of and he his de- d nutd ll Of the PARLIAM Motion made, and Question put, " That :the Chairman, do report progress, and ask leave to sit again." The Com mittee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 29. Keating, Robert Reynolds, John Kershaw, James Scully, Francis King, P. J. Sullivan, Michael M'Oregor, John Ihicknesae, R. A. Haber, N. Wakley, T. Marshall, J. G. Walmsley, Sir J. Molesworth,Sir W. Williams, John Morris, David O'Brien, Sir .T. O'Connell, John pilkington, James! Blake, M. J. Bright, John Crawford, W. S. Duncan, George Evans, Sir De Lacy Fox, W. J. Greene, John Hall, Sir B. Heyworth, L. Hindley, C. Hume, TELLERS. 'Williams, W. Mowatt, Francis MAJORITY-NOES, 168. Dispatches were sent off yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governor of the Canada► and also to the Governors of .the other North American Colonies. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee 1. That in the case of the South Wales Railway (No. 2) Bill, petition of Company of Proprietors of Glamorgaiashire Canal Navigation, for dispensing with standing orders Nos. 105 and 166, the said standing orders ought not to be dis pensed with. 2. That in the case of the Birmingham Improvement Bill, petition of Abel Rollason, for dispensing with standing orders Nos. 105 and 166, the said standing orders ought to be dis pensed with. Second Resolution agreed to.—Report to lie on the table. SMITHFIELD MA RKET. Yesterday a deputation, consisting of the undermentioned gentlemen, waited upon Sir George Grey, at the Home office, upon the subject of the contemplated removal of Smith field-market : -The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Mr. G. Barnard, M P. ; Alderman Copeland, M.P. ; Mr. R. Carrie, M.P.; Mr. G. Dundas, 131. P. ; Sir J. Duke, M.P.; Sir E. ; Mr. Masternis.n, 11T.P ; Baron Rothschild, M.P. ; Alderman Sidney, M.P. ; Mr. Stafford, M.P.; Mr. Wyld, M.P. ; Dr. Bushnae, Senior Physician to the Metro politan Free Hospital; Mr. G. B. Childs, F.R.C.S. • Mr. Ross, surgeon ; the Rev. James Jackson, vicar of St. Sepul chre's (the parish in which the market is situate); Mr. G. Lovell, Mr. C. Gabriel, Mr. J. Blacket, Mr. J. Hill, Mr. W. Lacy. Mr. W. Riggerstaff, Mr. J. Stride, Me. T. M. Challis, Mr. J. Parson (vestry clerk of St. Luke's). Mr. J. Giblett, Mr. R. Morgan, Mr. W. Collins, Mr. J. J. Millard, Mr. W. T. Haly, Messrs. Bannister, Sharpe, and W , rmington (a de putation from the Butchers' Company), Mr. H. L. Taylor (chairman of the t Markets Improvement Committee), and Messrs. T. H. Hall, Hicks, Low, Da'ein, R. Taylor, and Har rison (a deputation from the Markets Improvement Commit tee), and also the City Remembrances, the City Solicitor, and the City Architect. The LORD MAYOR sand, he had the honour of attending as one of the deputation, and he trusted, that whatever course the Government pursued, the public, who were deeply interested, would have the opportunity of forming an opi nion upon the plan submitted by the corporation. He trusted that no monopoly would be permitted, but that a fair and open inquiry would take place, when it would ap pear that the corporation desired to remove, and that their plan alone could remove, all the existing difficulties and objections. Sir J. Doses hoped that the Government Bill would not not be thrust forward without inquiry, but that the only fair and reasonable conrse, and that likely to satisfy all interests involved, would be adopted—namely, to send all the Bills before a fairly constituted Committee of the House of Com mons. He begged leave to set right a statement which had been reperted to have been made on the occasion of a recent deputation to Sir G. Grey on the same subject. It had been said that a petition from the coal trade of London, in favour of the corporate plan. bad but one signature—that of his brother-in-law. Now, the facts were these —the petition in favour of the Government measure had received the signa tures of 119 persons, while that in favour of the corporation plan was signed by 248 members of the trade. Sir GEORGE GREY, said he could not enter into the ques tion of petitions, or how numerously they might have been signed. He could not prevent statements from being made by gentlemen who waited upon him. That was not the pro per place for their investigation. 'With respect to send ing the Bills to the same Committee, he was of opinion that such a course would devolve upon a Committee the duty of the whole House. If the House should allow the Bills to be read a second time the responsibility would in that case rest with a Committee. Sir JAMES Durtz begged to remind the Right Hon. Baronet that no Committee of the House had yet decided upon the present proposal of the corporation. A Government Com mission, it was true, had reported upon it; but the plan was certainly deserving of the fullest inquiry which could be given to it. In his opinion a Parliamentary Committee would constitute the best and fairest tribunal. Alderman SIDNEY could not speak as calmly of the course pursued by the Government as his friend and colleague had done. The Government Bill was to all intents and purposes a private Bill, mischievously interfering with vested rights, private property, and trading interests; and the only course consistent with the usages af Parliament was to refer it to a Committee. He begged to state that the Royal Commission had never been recommended by the Legislature. More over, the City and the trading interests were most inade quately represented in that Commission, for of the majority of its members five of the seven were pledged by their pre vious opinions and acts to the removal of Smithfield-market from its present central position. A large majority of the citizens of London was opposed to the Government measure. Mr. Gurney had said that 99 in 100 of the inhabitants were favourable to the removal, while, in fact, 70,000 of them, and more than 6,000 of the registered electors, had already signed in favour of the corporate scheme. He had no hesitation in asserting that when that scheme should be thoroughly in vestigated and understood by the public, it would be found fully to satisfy every person of candid mind that every ra tional objection had been anticipated and met. Mr. MasyanatAN could state from his own knowledge that a large majority of his constituents took a lively interest in the retention of the market. The City plan, in his opinion, remedied every abuse. As one of the Committee which had sat upon the subject in Parliament, he could state that his views upon the subject had been greatly changed by the evi dence adduced before them. He believed that the great re quisite was an enlarged area, and that desideratum was li berally supplied by the scheme submitted by the City. It seemed to him that the Government plan tended only to destroy, without proposing anything definite, or anything ad vantageous as a substitute. Alderman COPELAND was anxious to learn what source Government were prepared to take as regarded the other Bills, for there were now four before the House. He had sat upon the Committees of 1847 and 1849, and he felt that I o case bad been made out fur the removal of Smithfield. If the market were removed to Islington or to Tuffnel-park, it would still be surrounded by a populous district. He had reason to know, in his capacity of treasurer to the corpora tion of the Sons of the Clergy, that they had been applied to for the sale of so much of their land as lay within 10) yards of the Tuffnel-park estate. Mr. STAFFORD said that he had also sat upon the Parlia mentary Committee, and the evidence adduced had produced open his mind an effect similar to that stated by the worthy Alderman. Connecte las he was with the great agricultural interests, be could declare that the farmers and graziers almost unanimously preferred the central site of Smithfield to any of the suburban schemes proposed. All the evidence converged to the point that there could be but one cattle market for the metropolis, and as a transit market, with fully one-third passing over Blackfriar -bridge, that market should necessarily be in a central positou. He begged to draw Sir George Grey's attention to the fact that every northern suburb had petitioned Parliament against the I emoval of the market to their locality. (The lion. Gentleman here detailed the list of petitions from fifteen of those suburbs.) The Government plan proposed to inflict a double injus- tice in removing the market from those who desired its continuance to those who had petitioned against such visita tion. He had carefully examined the plan submitted by the corporation, and he desired to see it carried out as the only plan that met the requirements of the trade on the one hand, and remedied the inconveniences greatly complained of by the public on the other. Sir G. Guy thought the arguments of Alderman Sidney were entitled to serious consideration, but were more fitted to the House of Commons, where the question must be de cided. In the decision of that House the Government were prepared to acquiesce. He saw no objection to the plan of permitting all the Bills to proceed to a second reading, as the question had already been submitted to a Committee. Alderman SIDNEY—The Committee had only reported that the present Smithfield-market was liable to objection, and should, therefore, be removed. The corporate plan for the abatement of the evil of which they complained had never yet been submitted to Parliamentary inquiry. He begged to mention that he had presented apetition from the wretched inhabitants prepared to be cleared, signed by 237 individuals, praying that the plan of the City for providing them better habitations might be carried out. Dr. RUSIINAN stated that he had paid great attention to the statistics and sources of cholera in the metropolis, and had been led in the course of that investigation to examine the neighbourhood in question. Having written upon the subject, he would not detain Sir G. Grey further than by in troducing his friend Mr. Rots, a surgeon residing in that lo cality, who had assisted him in his examination. Mr. Ross said, he had had many opportunities of judging of the sanitary aspects of the question. Many, with the best intentions, had come to erroneous conclusions upon the subject from a want of accurate knowledge of the facts of the case. If the Government carried their plan, it would be greatly to the prejudice of the health of the neighbourhood. He begged to submit a memorial signed by almost all the practitioners of the district, urging the propriety of a scheme which removed so largely the sources of poverty, disease, and demoralization from the neighbourhood. Mr. BonansE Crimps, F.R.C,S. surgeon to the police force, stated that he had from gOO to 60) men and their families under his care. The city was divided into six dis tricts, the second of which, having Smithfield for its centre, was decidedly the most healthy. lie regarded Smithfield as one of the lungs of the city, as a reservoir of pure air es sential to the health of a densely crowded district. It was a remarkable fact that during the visitation of cholera in this city in 1848 there had occurred no case in the area of Smithfield. Out of 15') cases of spasmodic diarrhoea in the police force not one had happened iu the Smithfield district. Sir G. GREY asked whether that fact was not referrable to the open area rather than to the cattle market? Mr. CHILD assented, but asked whether the open area was not necessitated by the cattle market? Alderman COPELAND requested to know from Sir G. Grey what were the intentions of the Government with regard to the Metropolitan or ilornsey Cattle-market Bill ? Sir G. GREY replied that that Bill being inconsistent with the Government Bill could not be allowed to pass a second reading. The Rev. J. JACKSON, A.m.—As vicar of St. Sepulchre, he must say it was his deliberate conviction that the scheme of the corporation would confer a lasting benefit on the community. The physical, sanitary, and especially the moral interests of his parishioners, were seriously involved in this question. Ten or twelve acres of miserable courts and alleys, abounding in physical and moral abomination, would be exchanged for an open area provided with suitable accommodation for the industrious poor. _ Sir G. GREY said he had no disposition to undervalue the positive advantages of the corporation plan. It constituted an unquestionable improvement upon things as they were. Baron ROTHSCHILD, as largely connected with the trading interests of the City, begged to assure the Right Hon. Baronet that a great majority of his constituents were most decidedly against the Governwent proposal. He expressed an earnest hope that her Majesty's Ministers would not precipitate a decision upon a question of such paramount importance without affording an impartial hearing of all the parties con cerned. Mr. C. PEARSON hoped that Sir G. Grey would pay spe cial attention to the statement of his Hon. Friend (Baron Rothschild), as unhappily that gentleman was precluded the expression of his opinions in another place.—(Hear.) Sir J. Duran inquired how the Government Bill would of fect Islington market? Sir G. GREY—Not at all, that market being now in ex istence. Sir J. DUKE—So also is Smithfield market; and it will be e m n o e s unjustt whi le it leaves v t e h s e u Governmentthoseto r e u f i n the e e interests other! s o u f r th el y e the Government could not be justified in destroying a trade turning 8,000,000/. annually on a mere bare majority of the House of Commons. At any rate Ministers were bound to grant a full and fair investig ation of the proposition of the corporate body. reonable meatlll Mr. Committee, L. = L am state that they were determined toe bviate every d agnst a central cattle mar objection which could be urge h corporation, the Markets begs Imprecdv to through cattle the pub ket. With respect to driving t e regulations, anand upon the plan sub mitted that e n y d a could best o asn behalf of Chairman the of for the by the corporation. They were but trustees citizens, among whom there existed a most decided prefer ence lib: carried streets , out that idr e t va effective c c e o n u t l r d a lroeng situation , u abtsenate characterpr pos ed e f rie sh t e hen G d ov vr e e riun it at en se t ui p e ro le po ng ee tt n fzr a :h wi s sdcetmede BODILLY v. THOMAS. Mr. Collier and Mr. Paul were counsel for the plantiff; and Mr. Crowder for the defendant. This was an action to recover compensation in damages for a breach of promise of marriage. From the statement of the Learned Counsel for the plain tiff, it appeared that the plaintiff was the daughter of a glazier at Penzance. The defendant was the son of a person who had been a Wesleyan missionary, an.] who had the good fortune to marry a lady of fortune in India. When he re turned to England he became the editor of the West Briton, and he placed his son with a grocer at Penzance, and there he first became acquainted with the plaintiff at a pic-nic party, when he handed her over styles, carried parasols, and paid all those little attentions which were usual and very delightful at pic-nic parties. In a short time he proposed marriage to her. His father was always averse to the match. The defendant described his father as a most impracticable man, and that it was of no use trying to induce him to give his consent, and he urged the plaintiff to become his wife without his father's knowledge. They then joined in their entreaties to induce the plaintiff's father to assent to the match, for it seemed that the parents of both parties thought it an imprulent match. Still Mr. Bodily was an easy going man, and he gave way to his affection for his daughter, and at length consented to their entreaties. Better would it have been had he been firm; the hearts of the lovers might have bled for a time, but they would shortly have healed, and they might have been happy. For seven years these parties corresponded, and plaintiff had received upwards of 300 letters from the defendant. In the year 1847, however, the defendant became cool, and in 1847 broke off the match; and having recently married a Miss Gill, who had money, the present action was brought. Some twenty or thirty letters were now read, and from a few of them we give some extracts : " July 14, 1811. " My dearest Eliza,—With what feelings of delight and pleasure do I for the first time in all my lite sit down for the purpose of putting pen to paper to address a young lady. The sensation can better be imagined than described, and therefore I feel rather confused ; but I feel more resigned when I think that all imperfections will be overlooked and pardoned by one who I have every reason to believe is nearest and dearest to me. With these impressions I proceed. If you feel yourself bettered by your excursion, I would ad vise you to stay as long as possible, though it is very lone some for me. " I remain yours, and ever shall, affectionately, " Miss Eliza Bodilly." " JOSEPH THOMAS." "June 17, 1842. "My own dearest Eliza,—lt is with feelings of the ten derest affection I take up this pen for the purpose of address ing you. Oh Imy dear girl, how I find you wanting. I did not think that I should find the separation so great. I hope that you will not give way to thinking, but cheer up, and look forward to the time when we shall meet again. It will be with us as the old saying Dearer parting, fonder meeting.' How shall I be thinking of you next Sunday, to think that last Sunday we were in each others arms, but this Sunday we must be content by thinking of each other. Never mind, my love, I hope the time will soon come when we may rest in each other's arms, no one daring to say nay. " Believe me to be, my darling child, " Your most devoutly and affectionately, " Miss E. Bodilly." " J. Tnosus." "July 25, 1842. "My ever darling Child,—The only one in this world whom I have any affectionate regard for, and, therefore, my dear, dear girl, relying on the affection you have for me, I do pray and beseech that you, will net make yourself uneasy about your idea of our last farewell. You know, my love, that we are bound both by the ties of nature and affection ; and I hope before long, my darling, lovely child, by the ties of law, and then, and not until then, shall I be easy, when we can fly into each others arms fearing no one, and calling ourselves man and wife. Don't be afraid, my dear, I shan't take any situa tion where I find the work will be too hard for me. I've more regard for you, my love, than to do that. Again, my darling. I beseech you, don't make yourself uneasy, but put aside melancholy thoughts. I take as much exercise as possible. " Believe me to be, my darling Eliza, "Yours most faithfully and affectionately, "Miss E. Bodily." "J. TuomAs." " July 31, 1842. "My darling of my heart,—When your dear letter was put into my hand this morning I fairly jump't for joy. It was like giving a lady who had fainted a strong bottle of smelling-salts; and when I saw that dear seal, We part to meet again,' I kissed it over and over again. Ab, thinks I, she has at last given over the idea that we are not to meet again, especially so when I tell you, my darling love, that I have at length, after very great exertion, ob tained a situation, &c. " I am, my darling love, "Yours most faithfully and affectionately, "Miss E. Bodily." "Joie THOMAS." " Sept. 4, 1842. " My own darling Eliza,—How often do I wish I could but see her, and impress upon her lips the sweet boon of beauty (a kiss). lam sorry to find my love that you still continue your old habit of stopping up late. I'm positive that it greatly injures your health ; but I believe that you will never do otherwise until you, my love, std I are one, which God grant may be as soon as possible, and then I've no doubt but what she will go to bed earlier. " My dear girl, believe and write to your ever most dear and affectionate " 11. 11. T." " Oct. 21, 1842. a My dearest Eliza,— " Could I fly like an owl, by the light of the moon, I would reach my dear Eliza to-night; Her dear drooping head on my bosom should soon Be at rest; but I can't—l must write. "These lines, my love, are just the sentiments of my feelings. " I've got the sponge from Butter. I shall reserve it for my dear, deer wife. I'm just going to bed, my love, so a good kiss and good night. " From your most faithful and affectionate, " Miss E. Bodilly." " J. THOMAS. " Feb. 15. " My darling Eliza,—Last Monday afternoon I felt un commonly low-sprited. I rose from my chair, put on my hat, and went into Mrs. Rowse's to see if a little chat would enliven my spirits, when I very soon found a cure in your dear letter, a medicine my love, which I have always found a pleasure in taking, and when swallowed down, the effects I immediately perceive by lightness of heart, and buoyancy of spirits. I hardly know what to make of father, he has never asked me *hat my future views are, or what I intend doing. Yet, he seems to be tolerably friendly. It strikes me that there is scmetbing or other brewing. There is one thing, my love,l want to ask you es a favour, and that is this—not to sit up so late at night. This will oblige me, whose hea• t and soul is bound up with the desire of making you his while life shall last, and afterwards " Ever your faithful and affectionate, " Miss E. Bodilly." " J. THOMAS. " Feb. 22, 1843. "My dearest Eliza.-1 have only one wish, my love, and that is, to live and make you happy. " My heart w;th love is beating, Its soft emotions prove; To thee its vows repeating, Who 'aught it first to love. " The sun shall lose its motion, The heavens their fix'd decree, And cease to roll the ocean, Ere I prove false to thee." " You need not be surprised, my love, at my father's con duct, for ever since I have known hint he has always been of that sweet disposition, keeping everything to himself. " Believe me, my love, to be ever yours faithfully and a fectinately to the last, " Miss E. Bodilly." "J. 'fHomA.s." " 3d April, 1843. "My precious Life,—l'm sure, my dear, no s twO persons ever loved each other with more sincere and devout affection than we do. Would to God that I could do as my heart dictates, we would not be long asunder. " ' True love is like a Gordian knot. Which angel hands have tied, By Heavenly skill its texture wrought, Who shall its folds divide. "' In vain Death's all-triumphant sword May strive that knot to sever; The union of the twisted cord, In Heaven shall last for ever.' " I feel as if I could go to the other side of Jerusalem, so as to get away from home. I can't go out of the house without being watched. Sonic persons have spread the re port that I go to Mr. Road's after Susan, and that I stop there for hours. Father has heard of it, and there has been the devil to pay. He will not believe a word I say on the subject. lam almost sure it must be some of those Metho dists that infest this place. " Your dear faithful and affectionate, " J. THOMAS." " August 27, 1843. "My dear Eliza, —I duly received yours of the 21st, and felt very much concerned at the news that it brought. When I had read ti that part which says that you had been ill of the English cholera, such sudden fear came over me that I could not read any more, and for some time was obliged to close the letter. At length, resuming courage, I went into the upper part of our warehouse, and with trembling hands I opened it again , dreading to finis h reading it ; but to my great joy, my love, it informed me that you were nearly well. I hope and sincerely trust, in Almighty God, that you still continue to get better. 1 have been thinking, my love, that suppose during the violen t attack it had pleased the Almighty to have called you to himself, what should I have done, and what would have come of me? It is a question, my love , that I can only satisfy myself by answering in this manner, that if it should please the Al mighty that you should die first, that he both u embrace eac other in those celestial regions where pain or sorrow is not known ; and may God grant, my love, that when be does call we may be ready to receive the welcome sound of ' Cus ome ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for " you from the foundatio n of the world.' Your dear and affectionate husband. " J. Tno - stas." " Feb. 11, 1849. "My dearest Girl,—l feel myself honoured to scrape the dirt vii your shoes. Thou art my sun's bright morning star, The life of my delight. • Yours, affectionately, " J. THOMAS." May 22, 1850." " My dear Eliza, — "She is thine. The word is splten. Hand to hand and heart to heart : Though all other ties be broken, Time these bonds can never part. Thou hast t Aken her in gladness From the altar's holy shrine ; Oh remember in her hours of sadness, And may I be there is the &ncerest wish of you TH r fait OM AS hfu . " May 30,1845." " My own dear girl,— "Thy motto is constancy, how dear unto me Comes the remembrance, my loy'd one, s u gg ested b y thee ; I think of vows plighted,' of tsweet p l eas ures we've HO, When together we sported o'er life 'e eunni green. Those pleasures are past, yes, for awhile they are gone, lit t a day wit arrive with a far brighter morn ; The tAir btu:wows of joy and of sunshine will come To illumine our path and gladden our home. Then dream of me dearest, be constant for ever, I ne'er will forget thee—forsake thee—no, never, But still hope for the day when thou shalt be by my aide Wander forth along with me, 'my own bonnie bride;' My companion in joy and the star of my life, My angel on earth, and my own pretty wife. " I should like to be near you. my love, while you are reading the above lines, as I fancy that I should have one of your loving slaps on the head. "Affectionately your own dear " Tilomns." " Jane 5, 1845. "My dear Miss Lizzy,—What a very pretty opinion you must have of my poetic powers to ask me where I met with those lines I sent you in my last. Is it possible that yon shculd have known me for so long a time and never yet dis covered that l had the bump of poetry very largely deve loped? Next time, Miss, I favour you with my p oe ti c effu sions, I beg you will not look upon them as secondhand. However, my dear girl, I am glad you liked them, and hope that soon " A day will arise with a far brighter morn To illumine our path and gladden our home. " Always your dear " TiaoliAs." In many of the letters the defendant spoke in the most disrespectful terms cf his father, and urged the plaintiff to consent to a clandestine marriage. He also wished her to write to her father, and say that the matter was all off. She however refused to adopt either of these plans. lie thep wrote to her, stating that in consequence of his father's de termination the matter must be braken off. The following witnesses wore also called : Mary Bodilly- I ant sister of the plaintiff. In 1840 we resided uith our father, who is a eazier, a. Penzance. My sister is now twenty-eight years old. The defendant was introduced to us in the au tumn of 1840 at a water party. The defendant walked home with my sister, and afterwards became a frequent visitor at the house, and made my sister numerous presents. He was an apprentice to a grocer. He was a little older than my sister. He spoke of his father, who was editor of the West Briton. He said his father was opposed to it, bat he would marry her in spite of his father. My sister in the beginning was reluctant to the match. He said he had a fortune independent of his father-1,000 1 . He continued to visit my sister. In 1842 I saw a letter from his father to my father, which my sister opened. She then sent for the defendant, who read the letter, and dictated an answer, which my father wrote. The defendant took that letter to the Post-office. In 1842 my mother died and the defendant attended the funeral. The defendant gave me a Bible, in which he wrote my name. In July, 1842, defendant went to Truro for two months. He then wished to marry, and told me he had sent for a licence, but could not get it because he had not resided there a fortnight. I saw them read the marriage service together. He was going to a situation, and he said on his return he would marry her in spite of any one. He made my sister many presents, and among them a miniature of himself. My sister went to Truro in 1845 to stay with Mrs. Rutter, who kept an inn there. My sister, on the receipt of a letter in 1846, was very much affected. She had spasms in her aide. She had previously enjoyed good health, but after that time she had an alarming illness. Daring that illness I opened letters from the defendant, which I destroyed. An anony. MOll3 letter was received which I believe was in the hand writing of the defendont. It described his bad conduct, and stated that the writer pitied Miss Bodilly in having such a man. She was always ready to marry the defendant. Cross-examined--I put that letter in the fire. I put those letters in the fire that were not very comfortable. The plain tiff said he did not mind his father. (The witness under went a long and very rigid cross-examination until she began to refuse to answer questions, saying she had already said enough.) Re-examined—l did not show the letters to my sister, be. cause I thought they would make her worse. Louisa Hoskin—l have long known the plaintiff, and knew of the engagement between the plaintiff and defendant. In July, 1845, I was at Truro. I then saw the defendant; he was furnishing his house and shop. He asked me to walk up-stairs. I remarked they were nice rooms. He said one was intended for Elizabeth (the plaintiff) and himself, and the other fur the boy (meaning their family). The plaintiff has suffered much, and is much altered. The defendant has told me that he had written to the plaintiff to break off all I correspondence, but she would not take the hint. George Daniel—The defendant keeps a grocer's shop in the chief street of Truro. It is a tidy shop. He has married a Miss Gill, who is pretty well for a fortune. For the defence it was urged that the only object of this action was to annoy the family of the defendant. The match had been broken off in 1847, and yet this action was not brought till 1850. It was clear it was to do what was called "show him up." The love letters were put in to cause a laugh and expose the defendant. The defendant, however, would not be provoked to produce the lady's answers. That the defendant had broken the engagement there could be no doubt, and, therefore, the only question was the amount of damages to be awarded for the breach of the promise. The defendant, no doubt, for a considerable time fully intended marrying the plaintiff, but looking at his circumstances, it was evident it was a rash intention, and it was more fortunate for the plaintiff that the marriage had not taken place. There were reasons which could not be explained why the defendant broke off the match, but it had no reference to any impropriety on the part of the plaintiff, against her character not a word was to be said. The question was what the plaintiff was entitled to receive? The jury must look at the position of the parties. Had they married in 1842 the defendant would have been entirely ruined, and the plaintiff most likely completely miserable. People could not live upon love. It would have been perfect madness for them to have married with such a determined opposition on the part of the defendant's father. Mr. Baron MARTIN then summed up, exonerating the plaintiff from all blame, and stating that in his opinion she had acted with great propriety and modesty. The jury, having retired for a short time, gave a verdict for the plaintiff, with 1301. damages. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—The Simoom iron serew-frigate steamer was taken out by Captain Henderson, of the Blen heim, this morning,-along the measured mile in Stakes Bay, to try her spaed ; if she answers, her alterations will be pro ceeded with to convert her into a troop steamer. The Prince Regent has her lower rigging and tops over the mils', heads and her topmasts pointed though the caps. She will have new yards, her old lower yards having been found rotten at the yard-arm. She is taking i i her t: nks. The Penelope has her topgallant masts in. She has got an excellent crew, a few vacancies are purposely kept open. She will be tried along the measured mile on Monday nest, &act will be ready for service on the 10th proximo. The Birkenhead is at the buoy off the King's-stairVaking in provisions. She is nearly ready for service, but I*r crew is not yet complete. The Pike, old packet-steamer, has been taken into dock to repair. The Argus has been masted and taken into the angle dock to be coppered, and have some holes cut for her wash deck pumps. The weather continues variable, and the wind veering from N.W. to S., with rain and fine weather at intervals; it still blows fresh. PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY.—Her Majesty's steam-frigate Retri bution, Captain Frederick Warden, went up harbour last evening to have defects made good and to be refitted. The steam-vessel Alecto sailed on Wednesday with mails for the coast of Africa. The steam-vessel Vulture made a trip on Wednesday to the Eddystone, to try her engines. The brigantine Bonetta, bound to the Brazils, and the Ma deira mail-packet Brilliant, continue in the Sound. A court-martial will be held to-day on bard the flag-ship Impregnable, to try a boatswain (borne c n the books of the St. George, but doing duty in the Nile, in ordinary) for dis obedience of orders. Mr. Rodgers, one of the Commissioners of Emigration, and Mr. Walcot, secretary to the board, visited this port on Tuesday, and made an official inspection of the present emigration deppt at the Baltic-wharf, and of the Mill-bay prisons, formerly occupied by the French prisoners of war, but now and for many years out of use, to judge of their capabilities for the accommodation of em , graws prior to departure for the colonies. They also made a cursory survey of the port, the fine anchorage of which, and its con tiguity to the entrance of the Channel, have for several years past proved it to be admirably adapted for the pur poses of emigration. Some anxiety has been lately felt about the Vulcan steamer, purchased last year by Messrs. Keene, from the Re venue service, and dispatched by them from London to Cali fornia Her final port of departure was Plymouth, and she had not been heard of since arriving at Rio, until the re ceipt of the last mail from Valparaiso and Panama, by which we learn that she had steamed away from the former, and was daily expected at the latter port. She was delayed in the Straits cutting wood. The coal mine near Sandy-point was visited, and is described as about six miles up towards the mountain, in a very inaccessible ravine, through timber the whole way. The difficulties do not seem insurmount able, "but it is one of the last places in the world that pro • mises any inducement to work it to a person who can go elsewhere." The penal settlement at Sandy-point, estab lished by the Chilian Government, will in all probability increase in importance, as there is land in its neighbour hood which is capable of great improvement. They have abandoned Port Famine; the anchorage, however, is open and bad at Sandy-point, and the site not well chosen. The officers of the Vulcan are quite satisfied with the en gineer, and none of the crew have left, whilst other vessels are nearly deserted. The reputation of the Vulcan has pre ceded her, and she is well received everywhere. Good coal was obtained at Valparaiso at 10 dollars per ton; and at Pa nama, it is said, the price is only 7 dollars. APPOINTMBSTI3. Woormlcir, MAI - 1ca28. 1 Lieutenant George T. Colvile (1847), to the Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth. Assistant -Surgeon Archibald Armstrong, M.D. (1W), t o the Hecate steam-sloop, at Portsmouth. Clerk William J. Stevens (1849), to the Penelope steam frigate, at Portsmouth. Commander Francis P. Egerton (1844), an d Samuel J. Brickwell ( 1841 ), have been appointed s team at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard. The Cyclops steam-frigate had her st eam up yesterdaY,in ed ie t tl e ten st u a d n y t the basin, and the Caradoc and Tartar us t h eir steam up day, to try the working of their engines, and the" vessels are all now in an advanced state. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert honoured Drury-lana Theatre with their presence yesterday evening. The Royal suite consisted of th e C ountess o f Desert, Hon. Amelia Murray, Lord Elphin s t one, Bouverie. Lord Alfre d Pagiit, and Colonel yenesuctoeiusrrdiaalgYoiynnagliorning attended His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback by Colonel Bouverie. Westminster. highness i ince Albert presided yesterday I r afternoon at a m ee ti n g of the Commission for promoting and the fine arts, in the rebuilding the Palace of his Royal Highness arrived at the Palace of Westminatct at a quarter before three o'clock, attended by Colonel Bou. verie. The Commissioners present were the Earl of Car lisle, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Canning, Lord Col. borne, thy. Right Hon. the Speaker, Lord John Ru sse ll, Viscount Mahon , the Right Hon. Sir James Graha m . Si t The Secretary, Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, and Mr. Au Robert l l arr y Inglis, Bart., and Mr. Hallam. bray Bezze were in attendance. The meeting broke up at half-past five o'clock. The Royal Family took their accustomed.exercis ye.ter day in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The Queen's private band was in attendance out Thursday evening, after dinner, at the Palace, and performed the fol lowing : Overture, "Il Barbiere" ......... Selection, " Dieu et la Bayardere" March, " David" The Transatlanctic Packet St at i on Commission met yes. terday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Present —Earl 1 Granville (chairman), Sir James Gordon , K.C.8. , Sir John 'F. Burgoyne, K.C.B.Captain StePinnign Ilerb7l i 144 Lid t ligbart (occretory).