The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-05 00:00:00

_.--- THE SQN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1845. concerneil. Members on private Committees should bq es free from all bias or prejudice, and local interests as men in the jury box.—(Hear, hear.) He thought the present one of the most salutary regulations that had been introduced into the House. The principle had worked well, and ought to be pursued. He was sur prised that any Member should object to so useful a re solution. He would give it his hearty support. Mr. HAWES said that it was very important that there should be entire unanimity on this question. He thought the clear and indisputable meaning of the resolution was, not that Members should pledge themselves that no individual number of their constituencies bad a personal interest, but that the constituency, as a body, had no local inte rest.—(Hear, hear.) Those who had opposed the reso lution had not proposed any other course. If the evi dence of Members was desirable it could be given with much more weight and solemnity as witnesses, and the decisions of the Committees would thus have greater weight on the public mind. Mr. S. WORTLEY said it was impossible for the re solution to be practically and usefully carried out, unless the construction put upon it by the Hon. Member fur Lambeth was agreed upon. He entirely concurred with the Hon. Member in the observations that had fallen from him. Mr. ROEBUCK approved of the general plan pro posed in the resolution, and concurred in the view taken of it by the Mon. Member fir Lambeth. It would be better, he thought, to leave it to the Select Committee to say whether the constituency of such and such a Menst , er had a local interest or not. _ _ _ Lord G. SOMERSET said the Committee had already bad sufficient responsibility thrown upon them. Lord H. VA NE thought the 10th resolution would get rid of the difficulty. Mr. SHAW suggested that the word " believed" should be introduced into the declaration. It was not always in the power of an Hon. Member to say distinctly whether his constituency had, or had not, any local in terest in a particular undertaking. For instance, an in dividual constituent might have an interest, and yet his representative would not be aware of it. But this diffi culty would be done away with, if he had only to declare that he believed his constituency had no local interest. After a few words from Mr. GISBORNE and Mr. CoLLErr, Sir R. PEEL, said a distinction was made in the reso lution between the local interest of a constituency and the personal interest of an individual Member or a con stituent. The resolution was then agreed to, as were also 5 and 6. On resolution 7 being put, Mr. GISBORNE wished to ask whether he was right in supposing that no railway Bills would be committed before Easter. At the same time he should be glad to know if the whole of the reports of the Board of Trade would be made before Easter. He would not detain the House with any observations on the subject of these re ports, because he believed there would be another oppor tunity afforded the House for considering them. Lord G. SOMERSET replied that the whole of the reports would be made before Easter, but he did not think any of the railway Bills would be committed be fore Easter; at all events, none of them of any import ar.he. He was pledged to the Hon. Member for Lam beth to give the House an opportunity of stating their opinion with regard to the railway department of the Board of Trade. Mr. HAWES thought the railway department of the Board of Trade, as it now stood, was very unsatis factory. He would take that opportunity of suggesting whether a Board possessing such extensive powers ought not to be an open tribunal. It might, in his opinion, be regulated, under certain rules and regulations, in the same way as a court of law, whose judgments and de cisions were invariably delivered in the presence of all parties interested. At present, however, the Board gave their decisions to the public without its being known whether the objections urged on both sides had been fairly considered or not, and this was evidently not a satisfactory mode of dealing with matters of such vital importance to the public interest. Besides, it would put an end to the unpleasant surmises indulged in respecting the partiality of any particular Member for this or that railway. He was not prepared to say to what extent this publicity should be carried, but cer tainly some measure ought to be adopted to attach more responsibility to the Beard. Sir R. PEEL could hardly think the Hon. Member contemplated any alteration in the constitution or bearing upon the peculiar functions of the Board so far as the present year was concerned.—( Hear, hear.) Before they could make this alteration not only would the opinion of the Board itself be known with respect to particular lines, but the reports themselves would be being discussed in a Committee appointed to inquire into the merits of competing lines; and, therefore, to make any alterations in that Board, which could have any effect upon the regulations of the present year, would be exceedingly unwise. The Hon. Gentleman he hoped, then, would agree with him, that any question relating to the constitution of the Board had better be deferred. His firm belief was, whether the tribunal were secret or not, the degree of weight or authority of the decision would entirely depend upon the reasons which the Board should give in support of their conclusion. His Hon. Friend, who sat in the other House, had de voted a deal of his time to the Presidency of the Board, in deed he did not think any public man ever entered upon the discharge of his duties with greater determination to go fully into the subject to be submitted to him, nor did he think the functions committed to him could have been discharged with more attention or greater ability. —(Hear, hear.) He believed the various members of the Board were eminently qualified to assist in coming to a sound conclusion as to the general merits of two competing lines.—(Hear, hear.) H knew nothing what ever of the real proceedings of the Board, except what he read in their published reports. He had read the report issued on Monday upon the merits of a particular line, which certainly did appear to him to afford most important information. Alteration and improvement were there suggested, which they never could have ob teined through the medium of any other tribunal than the Board of Trade. He strongly recommended Hon. Gentlemen to read the report of the Board of Trade upon the question of gradients. and the manner of over coming the disadvantages which had hitherto been thought to be insuperable, on account of the sudden rise of railroads. It was then stated that on the Birming ham and Gloucester line there was going to be established a locomotive engine, peculiarly adapted to raise heavy weightslupon railroads as a substitution for the stationary engine.—(Hear.) It was clearly a most important report as bearing upon future railway legislation, and he very much questioned whether a Committee reporting upon a railroad could have supplied half the information. Be fore Easter they would have got all these reports before them, and to make any alteration iu the present Board before that time would be injudicious. Judging from the nature of the report, their arguments and their reason ing he certainly must say strongly influenced him in favour of the tribunal.—(Hear. hear.) At all events he did not think it would be possible to make any altera tion for the better in the constitution of that Board. The Hon. J. S. WORTLEY did not think any mate rial alteration could be made in the constitution of the railway department of the Board of Trade.—(Hear, hear.) Before, however, he entered upon the subject, perhaps the Hon. Member for Lambeth would per mit him to suggest that the question which the Ho nourable Member had brought forward should be deferred till a later period of the session, and then let the matter be brought regularly before the House.— (Hear, hear.) The reports of the Board of Trade were about to be sent before a Committee of merit, and until they knew the results of their practical investigations he did not think it advisable to alter the constitution of the Board. Mr. HORS?./lAN said that his Hon. Friend had ad - - duced nothing serious against the character of that Board, or the soundness of the reports that had emanated from them, and he hoped that if his lion. Friend revived the question of the constitution of that tribunal it would be during the hours of public business.—(Rear, Lear.) What had been asserted of their mode of discussion was proved to be incorrect by the fact that it was necessary for the President or Vice-President to have three Hon. Members to assist him with their ad vice. What had first given rise to any credit being given to the suspicions expressed as to the motives by which the Board was actuated, was its having amongst its Members sonic Gentleman who had no public name or standing. The proceedings of last session had shown that in those transactions much opposition might be expected to be raised against these reports, by disap pointed and prejudiced parties. At the same time, he could not help feeling that the absence of a public man soiree het justified these suspicions. Mr. CUI{TEIS said that he had a letter from one of his constituents, who was exceedingly well versed in railway matters, complaining of the limited period allowed for inspecting the plans and sections of pro posed railway lines. The office for that purpose was only open, he believed, for two hours a day, thus en tailing an accumulation of business that was most un satisfactory and annoying. He also complained of the exorbitantly high charges made for leave to inspect them. For every reference made to those plans, the parties so referring were charged about six shillings while in other courts, such as in the Clerk of the Peace, an inspection of papers would cost no more than about one shilling. An HoN. Mamma said the office for the purpose of permitting a reference to plans of railways was open from ten to four, thus giving a clear six hours of aecom modation to parties seeking intiremation on the subject, and therefore the complaint, in one particular at least, was overcharged. The SPEAKER then real a series of resolutions, which were individually agreed to, until he came to that making the attendance of Members on Committee meet ings compulsory ; when Mr. pERNAL rose. He did not know whether it was proposed to compel the atten d ance o f M em b ers i n a similar manner as with Election Committees. At present they could only compel the attendance of Members in that particular case. They could not, for instance, make them attend in the formation of public roads, or in other de , criptions of private, business. The passing of this resolution would b e imposing a very great hard ship on many Hon. Me m b ers , and he would only wish them to consider the annoyance to Hon. Members who would require to go the circuits, or who were engaged in other avocations. They would, by-and-bye,bere ceiving excuses from Hon. Members, and they would be required to admit them, too, from those gentlemen who went the northern and western circuits. And then the lengthened inconvenience many of those Railway Com mittees might endure for an extraordinary time. Ile would venture to say, and Hon. Members might be surprised, if some of the contested Irish railways . should last for three months--(Laughter.) Were those excuses to be taken, or was the House to admit the legality of those excuses ? Then, what were they to do with all those Railway Committees ? The attending upon them was not one of those regular duties to which Hon. Members were expected to be subjected to. Tree it was, that railways were now become a great element in the wel fare and general disposition of the wealth of the country, and with that resolution could they hope to overtake the 284 railways that were to be considered and decided upon in that session. There had never been such a rush of railway speculations, and he (Mr. Bern .1) could foresee much difficulty in settling those matter 4, unless they acceded to the proposition of the Hon. M mber for Lambeth, or at least constituted a tribunal wi . h powers of a somewhat similar character. He was opposed to the resolution. Mr. WARBURTON asked if the Hon. Member meant that the House should at once abdicate the per formance of the duties which were essential for carrying on the business of the country. He (Mr. Warburton) was very confident that unless the House did its duty in this particular, the country would soon inquire whether the other departments were not equally neglected. How ov,,r inconvenient it might be to Hon. Members, when entering the House they must be prepared to do what the country required from them in the shape of business. Notwithstanding the objections advanced by the Hon. Member below him, he (Mr. Warburton) was very sure that that Hon. Member himself would be one of the very first to do his duty to his constituents and to his country, by conforming to the very resolution now under discussion. Sir ROBERT PEEL said he was surprised that the Hon. Member should advocate the expediency of con stituting another tribunal to discharge those duties which it was the peculiar province of the House to attend to. They might rest assured, that if there were to be such another tribunal—a tribunal having the power of Government, and giving force to law—if private business were to be left to this tribunal, he repeated, that the House of Commons would very soon regret that they had committed the powers which belonged only to Parliament, to such a tribunal. What was to be its constitution—what its representative character ? It was the first time that a proposition bad been made in that House to transfer the duties peculiar to that House to a tribunal out of doors, and to register its decisions as if they emanated from the representatives of the country. Were they to have no power of reversing its decisions? —(llear, hear.) Were they about to constitute a power, which would soon assume to itself a hostile character ? He could hardly justify the proposition made by the Honourable Member for Weymouth (Mr.Bernal). Were they to adopt a measure so pregnant with evil to the liberties of that House ? They had the opportunity of recommending themselves to their constituents., and of exalting the character of the House of Commons in the eyes of the country, by a determination to devote themselves to the performance of those duties; and he did believe that the good sense and the right feeling of lion. Members would preclude the necessity for any ex position of the evil of the Hon. Member's proposition. The House of Lords had deputed five of its Members to consider private Bills—and were they, the House of Commons, to complain because they were also called upon to attend for the business of the country? He (Sir R. Peel) should be ashamed if it were said that they, the representatives of the country, had a judge sitting in another place to adjudicate upon what it was their duty to have done. Let them at once resolve to adhere to their duties. He (Sir R. Peel) would come down to that House and sit for four or six hours each day on a Railway Committee, rather than that opposition should be carried by the House. If they did not demur to their attendance on Election Committees, why should they, in the matter of private Bills? The House of Commons would, if this principle were not carried out, degenerate into a mere debating club. Would they say that they would not attend at that House to examine into the internal affairs of the country, while they were ready to consume eight days in an adjourned discussion —a mere question of party, involving no principle of pa ramount interest to the country. He repeated— let them beware of the power that would grow up beside them. If they allowed that tribunal to discharge the duties which were peculiarly theirs, they might be assured that not one year would elapse before they would repent that they had consti tuted it. He would not listen to that doctrine, brought forward for the first time, but he would fain hope that the good sense of the House would negative it. He ventured to say that this opportunity of making a character for the House would not be lost sight of by Hon. Members; and he would also venture to say, that many Hon. Members who volunteered, under these cir cumstances, would, in two or three sessions, achieve a higher character than other Hon. Members who spent the greater part of the session in unprofitable debates in the House. But he trusted that they would all be pe remptory in expressing la determination to overcome that difficulty, and he was certain that nothing would more tend to establish the confidence of the country in that House, than by a steady adherence to these duties, instead of a continuation of these debates, which, if extended to the month of September, would still be unprofitable. He hoped that the Right Hon. Member would bring forward a motion, in order that the good feeling of that House might at once extin guish it. After a few words from Mr. HAWES in explanation, Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought that the resolution being compulsory took away any credit which might be due to Hon. Members for this performance of their duty. He thought the matter might be safely left to their own honour. He thought that the high Roman virtue, so ably advocated by the Right Hon. Baronet, would not be the less exercised if left to the sense of Hon. Members. Mr. HtJME said it was all very well to talk of Hon. Members doing their duty, without its being compulsory on them to do so. The Hon. Member opposite spoke of Roman virtue. He (Mr. Hume) did not doubt that the Hon. Member would exercise it, but be knew many on that (the Liberal) side of the House, who might not be so certainly relied on. What was every body's business was nobody's business—(Laughter)-- and he (Mr. Hume) thought it was certainly the duty of that House, as a collective body, to provide that the business of the House should be properly done. He re. gretted that the Hon. Member had broached such a pro position, and he thought the Right Hon. Baronet had done himself great honour by his conduct on that as on previous occasions. Let them suppose that witnesses had been summoned from Yorkshire on a private Bill, was it to be supposed that they would come without a certainty of having some tribunal to go before. He was certain that the character of the House had been lowered by these private Committees—(Cheers and counter-cheers)—and it was high time that they should retrieve that character. He did not blame individual Members—it was the system he reprobated. He hoped this resolution would be carried, for he held that Hon. Members should take everything in turn, and if lawyers could not find time to attend to the duties of that House they should not have entered it. Mr. J. S. WORTLEY thought that the resolution was more peremptory than the necessity of the case re quired. With respect to election committees, they were acting under the authority of the Act of Paz liament ; and they were aware by a preliminary notice that their attendance would be required on such a Committee, and it was only after an answer had been returned to that official notice that Hon. Members were appointed. Colonel SIBTHORP said that the Hon. Member for Montrose had stated that no Hon. Member should enter that House unless he was prepared to fulfil its duties. He (Col. Sibthorp) had not seen the Hon. Member for Mon trose in the House that day, or on previous days when property to a very great amount had been disposed of. Hundreds and housands of pounds were voted away in that House, and the strictest attendance was therefore required on the part of Hon. Members, but as long as those votes did not affect self, it was all very well. Some Hon. Members had shares in railways, and it was very easy to vote away a million of money when it did not eoncern themselves personally. He was glad to perceive that an order was to be issued compelling the Mem bers of the House of Commons to attend in their places, andle, for one, had no objection to the resolution. Mr. DARBY protested against the aspersions which had been cast upon the Sect et Committees of that House. He did not think them justified by the facts, and, as far as his own experience went, he was prepared to repel the imputation. He believed that, on the question of railways, the strongest feelings would ever be evinced. and that no matter what the tribunal were, imputations would still be cast upon it by prejudiced and disappointed parties. Lord G. SOMERSET said that the conveniences and inconveniences attendant upon this subject had been amply corsidered, and they had thought it better, on the VT hole, to make the order compulsory, than, perhaps, to meet pro forma and do nothing. Mr. GREENE said that it was very true that it was impossible to obviate the inconvenience under present cir cumstances ; but what course was to be taken in respect to those Members who positively refused to serve on Com mittees at all? It was necessary that Members should he compelled to attend, for if a system were to be adopted, it was better that it should be abided by, or it was no system at all. It was better to have no system. than to have a system that was ineff. , ctual to enforce the duty of those who were involved in it. How would they compel the attendance of Members on Committees ? There were 250 Members of that House who positively reused to serve on any Committee, and he felt that, unless there was a requisition, which was sufficiently weighty to compel their attendance, the whole system aas faulty, and would fall to the ground. Mr. PROTHEROE said, that in consequence of having come late into the House, he felt that he was hardly entitled to take part in the debate; but one thing had struck him. He thought that there was something more necessary than to adjudicate that Members should sit on Committees. It was necessary not only that they , should be Members. but that some means were ne cessary to compel their attendance when they were elected for that purpose. But in order to do this, they must take care that measures were adopted that conflicting duties should not render the attend ance of Members impossible. Last session he had teen a Member on one of these private Committees ; but during its sitting his attendance was required on a local Committee. His Hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield had been in the same circumstances with him self. He had been called to attend the West Riding Committee, when his presence was required in the pri vate Committee. Some means ought to be adopted to obviate this inconvenience. Sir WALTER JAMES said that the refusal of Members to attend on these Committees was a great evil, and he did not doubt but that it caused great con fusion and impedirm nt in the consideration of railway Bills. Another evil was, the effect which the refusal occasioned, and that was, that the refusal of these Mem bers to serve had the effect of working other Members to such an extent that it was likely to work them to death. There were 250 Members who never came into the House at all for anything, and unless the system wore carried out it was worth nothing. The attendance should either be free and voluntary or compulsory. Mr. FERRAND said that it was unfortunate that theretoattend on were no means of punishing those who refused n a t n hd y e n greatof thtehseesec number o C m o m m m totfe i t e t 2s 7 os and . m It h t meb a p tehr p os e u a w r gh e h d ot t r l e i t a . . o t t. e h d e r t e o w at a te s that if this evil was not remedied by the Government, the House should take the measure into its 'own hands and provide a. remedy itself. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Hon. Members were mistaken in supposing that there were no means within the power of the House for recti fying this evil, for, in fact, there was ample power in the House at the present moment for compelling the at tendance of Members when elected on a Committee, and also for compelling Members to serve before they had been elected, so that no further powers were necessary. The resolution, after some farther discussion, was agreed to. The 18th resolution, fixing the hour of the meeting of the Committees " not later than twelve o'clock," was put, and, after a brief conversation, agreed to. The 19th resolution, to the effect, " That parties promoting railway projects which have been grouped together by the Classification Committee, shall be per mitted to appear before the Committee on any railway bel"nging to that group, and to offer evidence either against the Bills immediately under the consideration of the Committee, or in support of their own project." On the resolution being put, Mr. B ANKES said on this, and the following resolu tions, he should offer a few remarks, and they would have reference to the observations he had made at an earlier period of the evening, when he spoke of the in convenience that would arise from the Members having local knowledge being excluded from the Committees. They had provided by this, and the following resolutions, that, during the progress of the Committee, it should be competent to a new party to come forward and give in formation to it, either on the same Bill, or on a former project, that may, or may not, be connected with the plan proposed. Authority was given to the Committee to hearken to such further project, and it might adjourn its proceedings, and give time for those others to alter the plan then passing thi ough its stages in the House, the fresh project to come up to the Committee, and pro ceed, pari passu, with the scheme first proposed. But suppose there was no such other party, and suppose it happened that no other party was prepared to incur the ex pense of carrying on that other project, and that the first project was a bad one ? That was the supposition on which he had ventured to support the proposition originally made, to allow Members having a local knowledge to sit on the Committee, though they had no vote. And when the Hon. Member for Lambeth asked him what was his proposition, he replied, that this was his proposition, that these Members should sit on the Committee, though they had no vote. The Honourable Member for Montrose alluded to these Members having a personal and local interest and bias in the question ; undoubtedly, all such influence ought to be excluded; but local knowledge and local bias were things perfectly distinct from each other, and if they excluded that local knowledge, the result would be that they would have bad plans instead of good ones, and if good ones were proposed there would be a moral certainty of greater expense. It must be borne in mind, that, under existing circumstances, the impression abroad had been, that the tribunal of the Board of Trade had much greater influence than it had proved really to have. The consequence was, that many of the second projects that had been sup pressed were arising again, and they would have to come before this Committee, which would have to sit twice as long, at twice the expense to the parties, with no means of judging of the real merits of the rival schemes, if the local Members were not allowed to be on the Committee. Members would not attend on that Com mittee when they were not certain in what character they would be received. It must be observed, too, that these Members would probably be engaged on other Committees, and could not be lounging abo It the Com mittee-rooms where they bad no business, without know ing if they had a chance of being heard. That was not a position in which Members would place themselves. The Hon, Member for Montrose had been pleased to say that he (Mr. Bankes) had spoken of the interests of the poor in connexion with this subject ; he begged to assure the Hon. Member that he had not said any such thing. He had spoken of the interests of the public, which included both rich and poor. He should not have found fault with the Honourable Member's saying that he had spoken on behalf of the inte rests of the poor, if he had not accompanied his statement with something like a sneer—(No, no, from Mr. Hume)—which, from the generally good• humoured tone adopted by the Hon. Member in that House, he believed was not intended. But he would tell the Hon. Member something he had just heard be fore he came into the House ; it was a case that had occurred, not in his own county, but in the county ad joining it. A railway was proposed, and the line of it cut across an extensive district on which the poor had a right of pasturage. The question that had been put to him (Mr. Bankes) with respect to this line was this:—Were these poor persons entitled to the same notice as the rich would have, with regard to their rights ? He (Mr. Bankes) said he humbly conceived they were ; and he hoped they were. But let him tell the Hon. Member for Montrose, that if those Members having local know ledge were excluded, the Hon. Gentleman who had told him this would not have the power to state the case of these poor men before the Committee. It was in particular refe rence to the information that might be so given, that he had made these observations to the House. He was well aware of the great attention that had been bestowed on this subject, and that all these circumstances had been weighed before the House decided as it had decided. But in spite of that decision he maintained his opinion, that Members possessing a local knowledge ought not to be excluded from the Committees ; on the contrary, they ought to be required to attend ; and unless he were ex cluded, as he should be if this resolution were carried into effect, he should feel it his duty to attend the Com mittee in cases of this description. Mr. HUME wished to assure the Hon. Member that the case he alluded to had been especially well con sidered. He held in his hand the examination of the Duke of Richmond, who had taken the lead in establishing the Committee of five, in the House of Lords, as an experiment. The Duke of Richmond was examined as to the working of that Committee, and proved that the dispatch of business by it was as 5 to 15 compared with the former Committees. If the Hon. Member would take the trouble of reading the evidence, he would find that the experiment of limiting the number of the Committee had been attended with com plete success. He could tell the Hon. Member that he would not be prevented from attending the Committee ; any Member might attend any Committee, and no Co:nmittee, except a secret one, could exclude him. In the examination of the Duke of Richmond, his Grace was asked if he thought the plan of taking five Members as the Committee, totally un acquainted with the case except from the evidence, had tended to secure a decision free from partiality or bias. The Duke's reply stated that it had been found better to form the Committee of Peers having no connexion with the localities, who should act as a jury, deciding only on the evidence brought before them. To the question whether a Peer, not connected with the case itself, but with the locality, if he wished to appear and give local evidence, could do so, the reply was that he could not, except as a witness, he allowed to speak, but he might attend, as strangers attended. He (Mr. Hume) thought this completely met the case, and he did beseech the House to allow the complete success that had attended this course to induce them to adopt it, and he believed it would be as successful in that House as in the other. Mr. MILES said, in cases where there was great ambiguity and contradiction in the evidence brought forward, he should wish the Committee or the Chairman to have the power, before coming to a decision, of calling before them any persons connected with the localities, of practical knowledge of the different lines, and who had no connexion whatever with the different projects, who should be able to give evidence, not taken on oath, on which they could rely. In the reports that had been pr+ sented to the House, he had found that, however difficult the question had been, and, notwithstanding there had been a little outcry at first from tho defeated party, in competing Bills, the decisions had been regarded as fair and honest decisions, which was pre cisely what they wished to arrive at. Mr. WARD said if Members of the House, not on the Committee, were to attend and give evidence, it would protract the business usque ad nauseam. He did not see what would be the use of the power which the Hon. Member wished to give to the Chairman. It would be the same with the proposition of the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire (Mr. Bankes) ; in every Committee-room there would be Members fighting a local battle, and taking up points of interest to their constituents ; this would be another source of difficulty and delay, and it would be impossible for the House to come to any deci sion. He concurred in the general principle of the plan before them ; he considered it a great additional step in the right direction. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER quite agreed that difficulties were likely to arise from the at tendance of Gentlemen locally interested. But the diffi culty he felt did not so much relate to competing lines, as the injury that might be done to the property of private individuals of small means, by a railroad being taken in one direction in preference to another, in order to suit particular interests, when these parties might be obliged to submit to injury without the power of re sistance. He thought if Members of the House were :it liberty to attend and offer themselves as evidence, and furnish statements of facts, it would provide a re medy for a great source of evil. Mr. S. WORTLEY wished to know whether there was any particular right in Peers and Members of Par liament to give their evidence before these Committees ; he maintained that a Member could not attend as a witness unless he were called by one of the parties, and if he were so called, he stood in precisely the same po sition as any other witness. Mr. HUME—The Chairman can call him. Mr. S. WORTLEY contended that the Chairman had no right to call him ; he could only be called by one of the parties before the Committee. Suppose all parties objected to his evidence being taken ? Therefore, he maintained that the assumption that a Member could attend, was one of very questionable foundation; in fact, he did not think it had . any foundation at all. Mr. SHAW said he was last year the Chairman of a Committee, in a case where there were two competing lines. The Hon. Member for Bedfordshire, although he was not on that Committee, sat with it ; he was not called by either of the parties, but he was called on by him (Mr. Shaw) as Chairman, he was examined, and gave the Committee very important evidence. He was not called by either party, but his evidence was of great imp wtance to all. Mr. J ERVIS confessed he saw some difficnity in the course pointed out by the Hon. and Learned Recorder of Dublin. The effect of it would be, that parties pro moting bills would be taken by surprise by the evidence brought before t he Commitceo, because no petition having been presented on the subject, they would be unprepared to meet the evidence they adduced. Sir W. JAMES thought it would be a hardship upon the party who had an interest in any concern, and who had been prevented from appearing before the Commit tee, if a Member of that House, by writing to the Chair man, should be allowed to gratify his wish or pleasure by giving information on the merits of the case. Mr. HUME could only say, that if he wore a Chair man or Member of a Committee, to whom application had been made by a Member of that House to give in formation, he, for one, should insist upon his being exa mined. That Member would be subjected to a cross examination by the counsel in the case, and no difficulty would therefore arise. Mr. DA ttBY thought that a Member locally ac quainted with the facts brought before a Committee ought to be allowed to take part in the proceedings of that Committee. Sir R. PEEL thought sit very important that there should be some general understanding on this subject. He presumed that no party would appear before any Committee in respect of any matter of private interest, except on the presentation of a petition. The Railway Department of the Board of Trade was expressly pre cluded from making a report on matters of private inte rest. By the recommendation of the Committee of last year, it was provided that the report of the Railway De partment of the Board 'of Trade 'should not be held to prejudice the claims of private persons, the examina tion of which was altogether to be reserved to the Houses of the Legislature. The report of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade would, therefore, give them no information on the subject of private rights. He apprehended that questions of private rights must arise on the presentation of petitions, whether those rights affected Members of Parliament or others. Whether any sort of courtesy was to be extended to Members of Parliament, was another question; but the common sense view of the question was, that a Member of Parliament , sitting on a Com mittee of the House of Commons, merely ex ercised his functions as a Member of Parliament, and no other. With respect to a. Member being examined, he could only say that if such a practice were allowed, Members, under the pretence of being examined, would be continually found making speeches.—(Laughter.) It was quite clear that a Member of Parliament, not being one of the five selected Members, had no more right to interfere with that tribunal than with any other. On the other hand, he did not see anything which precluded the Chairman of the Committee, with the consent of the Committee, if a Member stated that he had information to give bearing materially on the public interests, and not affecting matters of private right, from calling that Member as a witness. In the case of private interests, of course a petition must be presented, whether with re spect to the interests of a Member of Parliament or any other person. Now, supposing the case of two com peting lines, between which an understanding had been come to respecting the interests of the public, and a Member of Parliament tendered his evidence with re spect to that fact, of course the Committee would avail themselves of such evidence. After a few words of explanation from Mr. JERVIS, Mr. STUART WORTLEY said he did not think that if this privilege were extended to Members of Par liament, other parties could be prevented claiming simi lar privilege. Take the case of two competing lines—on the close of the investigation of those two lines, a third and better line came into the field, but could not be brought before Parliament, could they deny to those third parties the privilege of offering evidence in opposi. tion to the first two lines? Mr. BOUVERIE suggested that power should be given to Committees to decide which party should be at liberty to commence the proceedings before the Com mittee. Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought that parties locally interested ought to be examined before that Committee. Mr. BERNAL said that in five cases out of six Mem bers would wish to attend Committees, not as witnesses, but as the representatives of their constituents. Mr. DARiIY explained. Lord JOHN MANNERS thought that it should be left to the discretion of a Committee as to what witnesses should be examined. The resolution Was then agreed to. The following resolution was then proposed :—" That in Committees on a Bill or Bills, when such evidence has been given, it shall be within the competency of a Com mittee to adjourn their proceedings until the Bill or Bills for such other project shall be before them, care being taken by the Committee :of Selection that in all such cases the Bills for the so opposing projects shall be referred to the Committee by which the first Bill or Bills had been considered." Mr. JERVIS suggested that Members of Parliament appearing before the Committee should be placed in the same position as other witnesses. Mr. HUME thought that, when strangers were or dered to withdraw from a C o mmittee-room, Members of Parliament not on the Committee should be allowed to remain. Mr. SHAW thought it right that the Committee should have all the evidence they thought proper to enable them to come to a correct conclusion, no matter whether that evidence was to be given by a Member of Parliament or other person, After a few words from Mr. S. WORTLEY, Lord G. SOMERSET said he had a strong impres sion that the Committee should have the right of ex amining any persons, whether they were promoters of Bills or not. He did not think it could be a matter of doubt that the Committee should have all the informa tion they deemed necessary ; and he was also of opinion that a Member of Parliament had no more right than any other person to force himself upon the Committee. He thought the Committee might call him if justice required it.—(Hear.) Mr. W. PATTEN said he was prepared to vote for the resolution, hut he thought great care and caution was required on the part of the Committee, with regard to adjournments, for he knew cases where advantage was taken of them by the promoters of lines, for the purpose of procrastination and delay. Unless great care and caution were taken by the Committee in investi gating the claims of parties, neither the present resola lions, nor any others, would enable them to get through the regular business of the present session. Mr. GREENE said that he knew there were many objections which might be urged against the present resolution, but it was the least objectionable course that could be adopted. The resolution was then agreed to. Theother resolutions were then agreed to, without any discussion. Mr. HUME wished to know from the Noble Lord (Lord G. Somerset) when the remaining resolutions would be brought forward? Lord G. SOMERSET hoped that he would be pre pared to bring them forward on Friday. NOTICES OF MOTIONS—INDIRECT TAXATION. Mr. ENVART gave notice that he would postpone his motion on the subject of indirect taxation till this day week. _ BURDENS ON LAND. Mr. WARD postponed his motion respecting the burdens on land till this day fortnight. INDIA. Mr. lIUME gave iiotice that he would postpone, till after Easter, his motion for the prodnetion of papers relating to the government of India by Lord Ellen borough. no doubt that the allotment system would pay itself. A notion seemed to exist, end it would probably be strengthened by the Settlement Bill of the Right Hon. Gentleman, that the parish had nothing to do with the relief of the poor, that it was a union and not a parochial matter. Now, why should not the augmentation of the parish system be taken advantage of, to give assistance to the independent labourer, and to enable him to live more comfortably and securely.—(Hear, hear.) It was not necessary that he should say anything generally in sup port of the allotment system, for experience seemed now to have p'aced the merits of that system beyond cavil or doubt. He had never heard any ob jection whatever drawn from practical experience. Nobody who had tried the allotment system had ever, he believed, found any harm arising from it, even if no good resulted from its operation; and, he believed, that under proper regulations no complaints would ever he made. The objections made were rather of a theoretical and speculative than of a practical character. One ob jection was that it was opposed to sound economic views of labour, that a man should work for himself as well as his master. A satisfactory answer to that would be that the labouring man should be enabled to obtain higher wages, and then he would not need such a re source. Unfortunately, however, the wages of the la bouring classes in the agricultural districts were not sufficient to allow them to live as comfortably as could be desired, and that the system in question was necessary to assist them in obtaining a livelihood. Ile did not admit, however, in an economic view, that it was undesirable that the labourer should employ his leisure hours in tilling a garden. There was no more profitable way of tilling ground than by a spade, particularly when wielded by a man who was tilling his own ground. The produce of allotment ground must, too, be much greater than that of ground tilled under any other circumstances. If a labouring man chose to employ his leisure hours in this manner, it must be of the utmost advantage, not only to himself, but to the country at large ; what it produced being the means of increasing the whole amount of food in the country. He was not aware that any man had ever become idle under this system during the hours employed in working for his master, in order that he might be more active in labouring for himself. On the contrary, he beieved it had generally been found that the allotment labourers were the most industrious portion of that class. Not only were they the most moral—not only was their general character the best, but they actually exerted more power of sinew in their master's service than la bourers who did not employ their leisure hours in the same manner as themselves. Another objection to the allotment system was, that it tended to impede the cir culation of a free system of labour. If this ob jection were valid it did not apply to the allotment of gardens in particular, but to everything that had a tendency to improve the condition of the labour ing man.—(Hear, hear.) It applied to every act of kindness, to every thing, in fact, that made the la bourer's situation more endurable than it was before. If those who made this objection were consistent, they should hold that the labouring man should be driven to leave his parish, through his situation in it being made unendurable. Though it might be very desirable in many cases that labourers should go abroad, or remove to another part of their own country, yet he did not think they would be justified in refusing to afford him those advantages which would render his condition a more endurable one.—(Hear, hear.) It was all very well for a man of capital to leave his country and go elsewhere ; but when a labouring man did so, starvation often stared him and his family in the face. He did not think, that if the main object of the Bill were approved, there would be anything in the details on account of which it would be rejected by the House; and if adopted, he believed it would confer very great benefit, morally and physically, on the working classes. With these observations he would leave the subject in the hands of the House, and would move that leave be granted to bring in the Bill. Mr. MILES seconded the motion. Mr. HUME said he approved of the Hon. Member's proposition, if it could be carried out ; but he very much feared that it never could, and therefore there was no use in holding out expectations to the country people that never could be realised. The Hon. Member's proposition was in effect the proposal of an enactment by which the allotment system should be con tinued and encouraged, though that was the very great grievances which was so much complained of in Ireland. At least, he (Mr. flume) had been led to understand that in Ireland there was nothing that caused so great an outcry, or had been looked upon as a greater grievance than this allotment system, However, if gentlemen did wish to let their lands in this way, he did think it would be very easy to do so without any Act of Parliament. Mr. ESCOTT said he could not see the necessity of legislative interference upon the question at all, for if landlords were inclined to let their lands in this way, they could do so without any Act of Parliament. His opinion was, that if a poor man got a cottage and a small lot of ground, he would be just as well inclined to make the most of it without any allotment at all. The only means by which to prevent want amongst those classes was to extend the demand for labour. Lord J. MANNERS fully concurred in the observa tions of his Hon. Friend, and if they should be carried, he did not think the working classes could ever be too grateful for them. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD would not have risen to speak upon this subject, but that he had heard some allusion to his native country. In Ireland much of the agrarian distress that prevailed had been owing to this very system of allotment which then was called the con-acre system, or half-acre, for which it was well known as high as eight guineas an acre was paid. Therefore he would caution the House against being precipitate in legislating upon the subject. Sir WALTER JAMES would have no objection to support the motion, provided it were to be subsidiary to wages ; if otherwise it would be found to be a dangerous plan. Mr. ROEBUCK did not rise for the purpose of enter ing upon the details of this proposition now ; but he should say his opinion was, that if this bill should pass in its present shape, it would have the effect of altering the whole system by which the labouring classes at pre sent were regulated. Therefore he hoped that when this Bill went into a second reading it would receive the fullest consideration. Sir J. GRAHAM was unwilling to detain the House, but after the appeal which had been made to him by the Hon. Member for Bath, he thought it necessary to re mind the House that when the Bill was brought in last year he fully expressed his opinions about it. The Bill at that time contained a provision that the poor-rates should be made security for the rent. To that he did most decidedly object—(Hear)—but that objectionable clause was not introduced in the present measure. He agreed with his Noble Friend the Member for Newark (Lord J. Manners), that if the landlords would come forward voluntarily and give allotments to their labourers, legislative interference would be unnecessary. But in some parts of the country that might be impossible ; and he understood that it was intended to make this Bill only a permissive measure—and, so far, he was not prepared to off r it any opposition ; and, subject to that observation, he was not prepared to object to its introduction. He was, however, decidedly of opinion that an acre was too much, and that he should prefer to limit the allotment to half an acre. But, upon the whole, he thought it was generally to the honour of the Hon. Member for Hert ford that he had given great consideration to the sub ject, and the House ought not lightly to refuse per mission to bring in the Bill.—(Hear, hear.) The dis tressed condition of the agricultural labourers was such that it could not have escaped the attention of the House —(Hear, hear)—and any measure having for its object the improvement of that condition, demanded their best attention. For his own part he would gladly consent to the motion—(Hear, hear)—and he would give it every attention and assistance, with the hope of some good result.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. MANGLES wished to say a word in reply to an observation made bythe Hon Member for Worcestershire, who spoke disparagingly of the allotment system, and said that the sufficiency of labour was all that was wanted for the labourers. But the Hon. Member did not say how that sufficiency was to be obtained. This he (Mr. Mangles) knew, that he lived in a purely agricultural district, and during the winter many labourers were wholly out of employment. With respect to the allot ment system, he had during the recess made many in quiries, and the result was that he could not find one in stance in which it had failed.—(Hear, hear.) He had been informed by one lady, Mrs. Davies Gilbert, that she had during the last eleven years had 400 allotment tenants, and not one of them had ever failed in paying the rent. On a recent occasion he (Mr. Milnes) attended at a meeting in West Surrey, and whilst he and some other gentlemen were discussing this sub eject, an intelligent man, who had for a long time been liitening in silence, at length broke in respectfully upon their conversatien, and assured them that the system was a good one, for it had made a man of him.—(Hear, and a laugh.) That man afterwards took him to his house and showed him that he had in the course of three or four years risen to a state of comfort from that of a mere labourer hardly este to keep his chin above water. He had a comfortable house, several pigs, and a large clamp of potatoes.—(Hear.) He (Mr. M.) differed from the Right Honourable Gentleman (Sir J. Graham) and thought that an allotment of one acre was by no means too much. He would give his best support to the mea sure of the Hon. Member. Mr. P. BORTHWICK expressed his satisfaction at the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Hon. and Learned Member for Bath had told the House to be cautious how they sanctioned a measure which would produce so great a change in the condition of the agri cultural labourers. That was precisely the reason why he supported it, for any change in the condition of that depressed class must be for the better.—(Hear.) Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. Mr. HUME moved for a return of the title of all private Bills passed during the last session of Parliament, together with the names of Parliamentary agents and solicitors by whom such Bills were solicited and ob tained ; stating, also, the aggregate amount of their bills of charges, under the separate heads for soliciting and passing such Bills through Parliament ; stating, also, how many of such bills have been taxed, and by whom. The Holt. MEMBER subsequently withdrew the mo tion, Mr. Cardwell expressing, on behalf of the Govern ment, his desire that all fees and expenses connected with the House should be as moderate as possible. The Hon. Member observed that he did not think any pro cess of taxation would remedy the evils the Hon. 11emt er complained of. After a few words from Mr. Escorr, Mr. AGLIONBY recommended the Hon. Member for Montrose to move at once for a Select Committee to inquire into the subject. Mr. HUME declined to follow the suggestion, imme diately, but on a future occasion he might, perils' s, move for the Committee. The motion was then withdrawn. The other orders of the day were then dispc 'led of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve. MISS CLARA SEY TON'S NEW ENTERTAINMENT. Miss Clara Seyton gave' her new Entertainment, last evening, at Crosby Hall. It is entitled " Illustrations of the Drama and the Opera," and is the first of a series which, judging from the specimen of last evening, will be most interesting. She began by some general ob servations on the objects of Poetry, and then drew a com parison between Dramatic and Epic Poetry, giving the preference to the former. After some brief allusions to the Greek Drama, she came to the revival of dramatic art in modern times, in which revival the English took the lead. This naturally brought her to Shakespere, and the first musical illustration was the beautiful serenade from Romeo and Juliet, set to music expressly Ibr this entertainment, by Mr. T. Cooke. It is unnecessary to dilate upon the qualifications of Mr. T. Cooke as a musical illustrator of Shakespere. Who has not heard, and who, having heard, has not br en delighted with his music to the Midsummer Night's Dream ? In the present instance his genius has not de sorted him. It was indeed " music married," and worthily " married to immortal verse," and was given by hiss Clara Seyton, accompanied by herself on the harp, in a style worthy of the poet and the composer. A short account of the invaluable services of Shakespere in popu larising the history of his country brought the play of Henry IV. under notice, and Hotspur's celebrated description of a fop was recited with great gusto, and was much applauded. From Shakespere to his commentators the transition was easy. Among these the most illustrious are Schl-gel and Goethe—the latter himself a mighty poet, and as a specimen of his poetry, his magnificent ballad of the Erl King (set to music by Schubert) was most effectively given. Returning from this slight digression, the works of Beaumont and Fletcher came under notice. A recitation from their play of " Love's Pay image," was given as a specimen of their dramatic p evers, while the song " Welcome, sweet liberty," from The Chances, was given as an example of their lyric poetry. This latter song is prettily set by T. Cooke, in the Spanish style, with a catagnette ac companiment, and went off very trippingly. A recita tion from Jane Shore, beautifully acted, was given as a specimen of the dramatic powers of Rowe. This reci tation (the indignant rejection, by Jane Shore, of Glou tester's advances, and her emphatic calling for blessings on the head of Hastings, for his defence of Edward's children against the machinations of the crooked-back tyrant) was peculiarly appropriate to the locality, inasmuch as it was probably in the very hall in which it was then deliver. d that the actual scene took place, for Crosby-place was the residence of Gloucester, and in Crosby-hall all his plots against his brother's children were concocted. This was followed by Claude Melnotte's description of his course of love, from Bul wer's Lady of Lyons, and the first part concluded with the blind girl's song, " Buy my flowers," from the "Last Days of Pompeii," which was beautifully given, and deservedly encored. The second part was devoted to the musical drama, and the first illustra tion was the grand scene, " Softly sighs," from Der Freischutz, which was given with great power and effect, and was rapturously applauded. A brief but succinct narrative of the career of Mozart was then given, and the story of the composition of his requiem and of his death was- so beautifully and so pathetically told as to draw tears from many of the auditors. The cavatina, " Non piu di fiori, ' from the Clemenza di Tao, was given as a specimen of this great master. A digression was then made, giving an account of the origin of concerts in England, and several interesting anecdotes were related of the career of the famous Britton, the small coal-man, the originator of this species of entertainment. Returning from this digression, the lyrical drama again became the subject of consideration, and the cavatina, " Must I woo thee," from Pacini's opera of Sappho was given as a specimen of the modern lyrical drama of Italy. Musically speaking, this was the gem of the concert—it was exquisitely given, and to those who know the opera we need not state that Miss Clara Seyton possesses a highly cultivated voice of great power and immense compass, for all these are essentially requisite to do any thing like justice to this exceedingly beautiful composi tion. A brief notice of the perfection to which the com position of catches and glees has been brought in this country, gave occasion to the introduction of a well merited tribute of admiration to the talents of Mr. T. Cooke as a musician, which was received with the most rapturous applause. A new romance, entitled " The Black Knight," composed by Mr. Cooke expressly for Miss Seyton, was here introduced, and a medley scene, entitled "A Musical Scamper over Europe," 'arranged by T. Cooke and written by Albert Smith, concluded the entertainments. This " mu sical scamper " introduces Miss Seyton to us in quite a new character. We were previously aware that her histrionic talents were of the highest order, but we had no idea of her versatility. Nothing can exceed the fun, the humour, the buoyancy with which this musical scamper is given, and yet she " ne'er o'ersteps the modesty of nature;" all is ladylike, and in the very best taste, but the humour is of the very richest cha racter. The imitation of the French street-singer grinding her organ, and singing " Partant pour La Lyrie," in the genuine orthodox French nasal twang, was one of the most humorous things we have seen for years—the Bavarian broom girl—the Swiss girl, all, all were excellent. It wasa hit—a most palpablehit—and the audience felt that it was so—the old hall re-echoed with the shouts of laughter and applause, and when at the conclusion of the scamper, as a specimen of that music which is dear to every English heart, she gave the first verse of " God save the Queen," the audience rose en masse and commenced rounds of cheers, which were con tinued not only long after the conclusion of the . song, but long after the fair lecturer had retired from the hall. The entertainment was exceedingly well attended. ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY. Mr. SHAW moved that the petition of Joseph D'Aguilar Samuda and Samuel Clegg, the inventors and patentees of the atmospheric system of railways, be printed, with the votes.—Agreed to. SLAVE-GROWN SUGAR. Mr. THORNELY wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government. He ha'i been informed that on Sunday, the day before yesterday, an American ship, called the Franconia, arrived from New Orleans with sugar from Louisiana, the produce of slave labour, and the captain stated that more was on the way, The question he wished to ask was, whether, as this was the first importation of sugar from America, and the produce of slave labour—whether it would be admitted at the same duty as sugar from China, Java, and .Manilla, which was produced by free labour ? Sir R. PEEL said that the lion. Gentleman should have given him notice of the question. If he put the question to-morrow he would give the best answer he could. FIELD G ARDENS FOR THE POOR. Mr. COWPER said that he thought he had brought this subject before the House during the last session; the period at which it came under consideration prevented it from receiving that consideration which its importance required. His object was t) attempt an extension of the garden system in this country. And seeing that there was of late a strong desire on the part of the Legislature to attend to the interests of the poor, he thought it time to bring the present subject under the consideration of the House of Commons. And though it was said that they could not benefit the condition of the poor by direct legislation, he thought that if the wisdom which was collected within the walls of Parliament applied itself to the subject, it would not fail of finding some rt medy ; and, at all events, it was to the Legislature that the poor themselves looked, for to no other quarter could they look for relief from their distresses. While the wealthier classes of the country had made great advances, there wa, no proportional progression ~n the part of the working classes ; and though, in comparison with the working classes in other countries, they were not bad;y off, yet, looking to their real and absolute condition, no person would contend that it did not require ameliora tion and improvement.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it was in their connexion with land that that improvement was to be sought—(llear, hear) —for that connexion was an important ingredient in the well-being of the working classes. In former times, all those who were above the condition of serfs had their cottages with a portion of land attached to them. lie did not know that Goldsmith was right when he said— . Ere England's woes began, When every rood of ground maintained its man." But there could be no doubt that the great change which was made in the sixteenth century brought great disasters upon those who were connected with land, and was the cause of six rebellions in the reign of Edward VI. Since that time a vast number of Inclosure Bills were passed. The system of consolidating farms, and the gradual change which had taken place by giving up the system of leases upon life, contributed to take from the poor man the interest which he had previously in the land. There was much to be said about cottage farms, and much against it, but with respect to that they had nothing to do. The Bill he proposed no w to introduce provided that parties should not occupy more than half an acre, and the probability was that under its provisions the parties would not have more than a quarter of an acre In his opinion, it was most desirable, that the labourer should have some connexion with the land, because it created an increased desire to cultivate it—(Hear, hear)—but what he most considered was, the moral effect that it would produce ; it would afford amusement, it would renovate health, and it would improve the mind and faculties of the occupiers of cottages, and small portions of land. There was no attempt made by the Bill to force any person to carry out its object. The Bill was rather of an auxiliary character. It provided, in the first instance, that there should be a public meeting of the inhabitants of the parish, to consider the propriety of adopting the plan. Then officers were to be appointed who were to have certain powers to carry out the object among the labouring classes; and then a provision for the case of inclosure. There could be COURT CinCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert walked yesterday morning in the royal gardens of Backingtrlm Palace. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was taken an airing yesterday forenoon, in the royal gardens. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left her re sidence, Clarence House, St. James's, at twenty minutes before ten o'clock yesterday morning, and proceeded to the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway, in Euston-square. Her Royal Highness, •attended by the Countess Wratislaw and Sir George Couper, Bart., took her departure, at ten o'clock, for Witley Court, Worcestershire, on a visit to her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Mr. Dean, Chairman of the Customs, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence, in Downing-street. Sir Moses Montefiore had an interview with Sir R. Peel yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Commission for England had a meeting yesterday at the office in Whitehall-place. The Commissioners present were—The Archbishop of Can terbury, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop of St. David's, the Bishop of Hereford, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Worcester, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and the Right Hon. Sir J. Nicholl. A deputation from the Goole, Doncaster, and Sheffield and Manchester Junction Railway, consisting of the Col lo% ing gen►lemen :—Mr. William Vickers, Chairman; the Right Hon. Lord Beaumont, the Hon. J. S. Wortley, M.P.; Messrs. Henry Wheat and Henry Jubb, of Shef field ; Mr. William Gordon Thomson, and Major Adair, attended by Mr. Leather, Civil Engineer ; Mr. Hayward, Parliamentary Agent ; Mr. Staniforth, Solicitor, Shef field ; Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Cary, Solicitors, London ; and Mr. P. H. Newall, Secretary, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie, yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an bi terview yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of Gibraltar. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NORTHAMPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT RACES. 1845. Acceptances for the Great Northampton - shire Handicap. Napier, 5 yrs, Bst 51bs—Discord, aged, Bst—Yardley, 5 yrs, 7st 91b—The Queen of the Gypsies, 5 yrs, 7st 71b—Doctor Husband, 4 yrs, 7st 21b—Queen Mab, 6 yrs, 7st—Lord Sultan, 4 yrs, 7st—Arcanus, 6 yrs, Est 121b—The Courier, aged, 6st 121bs—Father Matthew, 4 yrs, Est 111b—Roderick, 6 yrs, 6st 101b—The Dean, aged, Est 91b—Dash, 4 yrs, Est 91b—Warp, 4 yrs, Est 91b—ch c by Ratcatcher out of Tur quoise, 4 yrs, 6st 61b—April Noddy, 4 yrs, Est 51b—Bastion, 3 yrs, sst 71b—Velox, 3 yrs, sst 71b, and Sparsholt, 3 yrs, 4&t 71b. The rest declared forfeit. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. LIVERPOOL, MONDAY Maim— The following horses have arrived for the handicap Steeple Chase :—Vanguard, Peter Simple, Crcesus, The Page, Clansman, Cure-all, Boxkeeper, Ceremony, The Stranger, The Knight Templar, Nimrod, The Romp, Brilliant, and Tom Tug. LORD SEFTON'S PLATE. Lord Chesterfield's Jenny Wren is named for this race, in addition to those mentioned yesterday. The Duke of Rut land, Sultan, Jenny Wren, and_Master Stepney are here. COURSING. - - COCKNEY UNION MEETING-FEB. 26, 27, 28. The Cup—value 32 sovs—was won by Mr. Miller's Brenda —Mr. Fowles's Fop ran up.—The Jenner Stakes (8 dogs) were won by Mr. Chitty's Cotherstone and Mr. Dunsford's Dreadnought, who divided.—The Enford Stakes were won by Mr. Chase's Burgundy.—The Amesbury Stakes were won by Mr. Miller's Marquis.—The Netheravon Stakes by Mr. Long's Crucifix, and the Longstreet Stakes by Mr. Miller's Gipsy— the sport was good. ARDROSSAN MEETING, FEB. 27 AND 28, AND MARCH I. The Cup of 25 sovs. was won by Mr. J. Dunlop's Matilda Jane; the Champion Collar of 32 sovs., by Mr. Geddes's Bothwell Bank ; the Couples of 32 soya., by Mr. G. Pollok's Helen Faucit ; the Eglinton Park Stakes of 14 soya., by Dr. Brown's Swallow; the Tyro Stakes of 16 sovs., by Dr. Brown's The Emperor of Coursers ; the Harbour Stakes of 12 sovs., by Sir J. Boswelrs Clinker; and the Selling Stakes of 13 sovs., by Mr. Sharp's Rook. Mr. Allan's Caststeel ran up for the Cup ; Lord Eglinton's Oliver Twist, for the Cham pion Collar; Dr. Brown's Scotland's Queen, fin the Couples; and Mr. J. Dunlop's Rosalind, for the Eglinton Park Stakes Tug NEW WORK ON SPAIN.—We are requested to state that Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough street, has this day published " Revelations of Spain in 1845," by An English Resident, in 2 vols., price 215., bound, which can now be had of all booksellers. The following is a list of the principal contents of this important work :—The Fall of Espartero—The Rise of Narvaez— The Provisional Government—The Central Junta — Lopez and Olozaga—The Royal Conspiracy—Queen Isabel—Queen Christina—The Camarillas—The Repre sentative Chambers—Sketche : of Party Leaders—Gon zalez Bravo and his Ministry—The Catalan and Valen clan Guerillas—'The Pronunciamentos—Freemasonry — The Republicans—The Contrabandists-'—The Spanish Army—Military Life—The Conscription—The Bandits of Andalusia—The Church—The Navy—The Infante Don Francisco de Paula—Grandees and Hidalgos—The Universities—The English end French in Spain—The Slave Traders—Agriculture—State of the Lower Or ders—The National Militia—The Ay un tamientos or Municipal Chambers—Parliamentary Elections—The Judicial Bench—The Press—Spanish Literature . and Art—The Drama—The Wine Commerce oof Finance and Financiers—The Colonies o f Spain, &e., &c. PAYMENT OF JUSTICES' CLB ll ‘ ° AND CLERKS OF THE PEACE' s „ sir A Bill has been prepared and brought in."),40 James Graham and Mr. Manners Sutton (theaPs-s; cipal and under Secretaries of State for the '--001 Department), " for payment of justices' clerks bp d clerks of the peace by salaries, instead of fees, h; for regulating fees in criminal proceedings; I st el was ordered by the House of Commons to be Pr'''sna on the 26th ultimo. The first clause authorises. fos directs the justices in quarter sessions to esus sfi l returns from justices of the peace within theitse7i commissions, setting forth the names and abode s the persons appointed to act, or usually actin g clerks to the justices of the several divisions, sett_Ail forth the amount of salary which they will recomn;,' to be paid to each of such clerks respectively, i° o f of fees. Clauses 2 and 3 enact that the justir l os each special division shall, on receipt 0 ' d precepts for this purpose from the justico quarter session, meet in special session c.ti°,l make these required returns, and that a 'P e rs i te return may be made in cases where there are seP 3 . OO petty sessions, or a different clerk of special 5 0 ' 1 4 Clauses 4 to 6 direct that where two or more per s it , shall he appointed under provisions of this Act leeks of petty session, in any division, they shall hold their offices jointly, and not severally; establishodewof amount of the qualification, and directs them a i r supplying vacancies. 7to 11 provide th at the sersl ries recommended shall be considered at the Seniter quarter sessions, which shall be competent to s ate , them ; such salaries to be payable out of the coutitYtis No clerk to be dismissed except by resolution majority of justices present at a special session, dole of convened, after seven days' notice, or the purr l e f considering the same ; and during the vacancs clerk's office, its duties to be discharged by a s ' r• and competent substitute, who shall be paid be en r ''„r„ ° sl tional amount of the salary that would have F l oe to the clerk himself. Clauses 12 and 1 8 d ec t i o g that clerks shall be disqualified from A fic u se as attorneys in certain cases. Minutes ant a by accounts of all moneys received and Pu l Act each clerk to be appointed under W s bp d to be kept, and made to the clerk of the peace'. tof also to the treasurer of /the county, a tru e arc otts all fines, fees, and other moneys received bi.biodoo (such clerk), annexing to such account a de_ .. c isr e s c loo of its truth and accuracy. 'Amount apP ea 'ssitf l thereon to be paid to the treasurer of the c°;010. and in default made thereof, treasurer to lodge "0•110 plaint before any any two justices of the peac e ' of shall immediately issue their warrant for recover) if the amount out of the defaulting clerk's sal. a l lieel living, from his executors or estate if dead. 1;40s to be payable except to the appointed clerks. of 19 to 35 have relation to the office, duties, 0 1; of clerks of the peace. Clause 19 directs that el e gy or, the peace shall render an account of fees reee_„i"'"' to if unable to do so in respect of any year, to el'r e i t lis/ his return the reasons of such inability. The h of the fees demanded by clerks of the peace, and- amount thereof, to be determined by the Secret s fee t State. The custom of fifty years' receipt as W 1 1 ;: e d shall be taken to legalise it : nevertheless, the .I, l „" r eos' the Court of Queen's Bench may be consulted"' sts s The Home Secretary of State is to ascertain consulted pis O f and net amount of the lawful fees and emobitu,e e of all clerks of the peace, on an average in eac h l c er° the receipt of the last seven years ; and the Tr es shall certify such amount to the Lords of o+6loo'o sury ; present legal fees to be received till ° „,s' oat ° directed. Clerks of the peace to ren d er their Tres; in the manner prescribed, every year, to Ol e o °' sury, with a declaration of the truth and alto the same annexed thereto. In the event of to satisfaction, on the part of the Secretary °I P— s oli p er' such accounts, they are to be examined by sons as he may appoint, who shall be P„ r- of nr ‘ n s sworn truly to report thereon. Any surP l — A 6 by 5.,(1 and emoluments that shall have been receive- 010,1 clerk of the peace, over and above the If e s jes t , average as aforesaid, to be paid over to her eipt , treasury ; any deficiency in any year s ree es sll . r ' the other hand, to be paid by her MajestY's out of the same fund provision, in case of deu' a slil t nation, or dismissal of a clerk of the peace ; bu t erec t to lie for compensation to anyperson who shill teot io, ll be appointed to the office, in respect of STIY a f i boriti l e ! that may in future be made by lawful s ti j o uch 11 `,„1 the constitution, pleadings, practice, &C. , c 'edisrai' 4 ,s, pointinent. A clerk of the peace may be no des' iv from his office notwithstanding this Act. a ce°, dismissal or resignation of any clerk of the Pl', to fl; holding such office the justices of the c°, ll° ,i l t of t ' point the salary of his successor, to be Pai n °- o f county rates. tie of Under the remaining clauses, the existing spectej, the " Custos Rotidorum" of each county i° re re er v o, the appointment of clerk of the peace ar e be 15 '' t il No future appointment of any such clerk ° flies , s t ' ts , so as to entitle him to the salary of the ° t the re . to he shall have given notice of his appointment, s w i ss , in writing, to one of the Secretaries of St t .' l 4 * r ssi!r'",, the Treasury. Fees of the clerks of assize s,° ' t . tb e j i ll se indictments, of the peace of counties, of c lerks %oh o , tices of the same, and other such public ofBcelllsesd uniform throughout England. Fees to be s ta tet;l3 them to be settled by the Secretary ° f a sh 9 The digested as a table; and none others but s i e s. so si contained in that table hereafter to be t n rst . - s ea '' is power of reducing these fees to be tran w. ."" eas orY t o, l the Commissioners of her Majesty's s s f e *ssi whom it would otherwise have Stste;oc by the 11th of Geo. IV., to the Secretary' 0 ' ht , of t ' re , that clause shall not affect the existing rii 4 e - t hei f t ps officers named in this Act by the names 0 0 , } peol,6 ' d spective offices, from his title to any ° be cer`; s l awarded to him heretofore, or beteafter s r s listo e , ° ,, * es': to be due to him; under any Act d Ku . o f orsy passed for such purpose. By reas° ° e sce °s r for other reasonable cause, clerks of the o P ti ler to t clerks of justices may appoint deputiescl 41). re ditions and circumstances set forth OA .ther o 1 0 1 no addition to be made to the salary of A ° l " o ties• p teh ac'3ount of any such appointments of l e t 0 0 10 death of any of the officers to whom handy o ver „ io his records, papers, accounts, to be han uc- ; clet,'* l \ ll ' successor. Clerks of the peace and justi ce , t' ,oto corporations, to be paid by salaries, under 0 0 p ot 0 . IV., c. 76. This Act, however, e xcept es s i corqof appoint salaries, not to extend to muoic'lleotloo tions. The Act not to extend to Ireland/ City of London._ st) —( YES 3t • 3 1 . 2 0 Gibraltar-. • - ~4 • • J. Leghorn • • Genoa • • 41 Milan • • - • .• 59 1 Venice ••• • • "*:, . • 11 Naples •••• - 1 0 z..• • 54 Palermo, 1. 4 Lisbon ........... • Oporto ••• ... Rio Jaus'irl Bahia - ~„ 00 Buenos AY' dr New _ 1. • • - r ss 9 ' ' oo l4 ' 17 6 ;:s ‘l l3 exit's' ,bars„ 0 foreigc con 11 Portitt>a 5 ....• l e New . °°n ... 4 1 New -....'31-0.• •• .. .• COURSE OF EXCHAI Amsterdam CF. 12 8 Ditto, at sight l2 6 Rotterdam 2U. 12 8i Antwerp 26 20 Ramburgh M.B. 13 15i Alton l3 15i Paris, 3 days' sight 25 90 Ditto, 3 months 26 15 Marseilles 26 20 Bourdeaux 26 25 Frankfort on Maine 123 Petersburgh, 3 Us... 37 Berlin .... Vienna, effec. 11.3 M lO 2 Trieste, ditto Madrid 361 Cadiz Uilbao 36 Barcelona „ ill Abeau. ../ • 0 1 0 public exhibition , tlfu s Iv , - i rt at Robins' auction roon l 4 ei pbr i ft e be il e m 7 bveerrs fines recently r eberiomwegehst of f o t t h h e i s scetultptittcrly ; It c , e e bo v t:, i ti , •, a rt, Lop ldisplay of Italian sculpture 151,01114 , alabaster and marble, copied from the 1 01 . 0 .' 6 a ” t iao:ord leriesmidels of the 13 ,, rghese, Fiorentin,,, and :(1," e tbe. l ,os l and, from the beautiful style in o'"'(;""tbe ''', executed, are worthy to adorn the mansion 0$ or rolo critical connoisseur. The sale takes plot' toul ifig s t ill' evening We understand that Madame .AlbertaO• s o t ol:', er . .._:',vntipg at the Olympic Theatre, for the beo,ecosto,pe aDble•if, This gentleman is a rising actor 0 1 . e oin 1 0 , talent, and his personation of " Old J.,3,llfo'ett . pantomime at this theatre, will not ht.., speeo".' ner• 41 and we doubt not that his benefit w ill b e bu tpr ail fl ' Messrs. Marshall and Co., Leeds, have :101'1°' the wages of their linen power- loom weavers Irvin week teen per cent., for fine linens and drills. lot a. A calf of an extraordinary ize was Irl slaughtered by Mr. Richard Swan, ofisTewca,stlec, was only fourteen weeks old, and weighed 27st. 11' Seville 818 THE. On the tat inst., in Warwick -square, t he Wife °f Vit 131 o,ii3Q.: D'Arcy Newton, Esq., of a daughter. Day,, fgt., i On the 25th ult., the lady of C. A. WOW yndea-terrace, Southampton, of a son. , • O r Job° , On the 25th ult ,at Chelsea, the lady of "- til late of the Madras . Army, of a daughter. 0 0,13 0 ' On the 26th ult., at Gayton Hall, Ross, liere e ter Hon. Mrs. G. H. Holland, of a daughter. .....—, V G On the 25th ult., the wife of James NiCholB, DIN.' Pi" place, Leicester-square, surgeon, of a ion. . „ c od' On the Ist inst., Mrs. John 0. Smith, of Per"- itifi 1 tb e Brighton, of a daughter. On the 2d inst., at the Priory, Peckham, Sorrei' „of 9 4 of F. H. Jackson, Esq., of a daughter. Forb es ' On the 3d inst., the wife of John Gregor"' , 4 0 1, Oxford-terrace, Hyde-park, of a son. J. Thos On the 3d inst., at Blackheath, Mrs. vy • jun., of a son. ,AoOf MARRIED. fluff 6 g li e l- ' O4 On the Ist of February, at Madeira, James i' N to °CO ° Esq., eldest son of Captain James Gordon, R. •,es , Charlotte, eldest daughter of tho late Rev. Dr. Jam 0 1 'lo iret tli e Incumbent of Charles Church, Plmouth. _,, rt WI d On the Ist inst., at Lambeth Church, R•uedsobter Stockwell, Esq., to Sarah Elizabeth eldest .. late C. W. Philipps, Esq. b 1 1 '. OrED. the 44t 0' On Thursday last, the 27th of Februay, in,. fijeadi, of his age, much respected by Leeds• circle or _„, 08' John Smith, cloth mercb ant, of Leeds. fo p bw ) Esq.,On a t g h e e d 2 9 B 2 t . h ult at Ealing' Middlese:4" u v4a ult., 1, 133tt0 On the 28th ult ,at Torquay, on, 3101.",:d Su . go On the Ist inst., at Baldock, Dirs. Peacoci;., . ro pe On the 3d inst., in Devonshire -place' Lacif risson. _ " bitiNDLI pa. .1 Loudon Printed and Published b y ofticar,...,oo o No, 112. Strand. Printer. at Ths Ste' • in the 'l - Id, in ?rPcivet. oft OO: , ' Middlesex, Wednesday, March 5, 1812. 1111:44 .4:::::"Ttletee:nridin';' ai tXer. ter 6 EX CIIE loc T b r c a trro ;, usual cvn Xo4 4° 2 l. each 4 4 1 , 4 2 t he w are %h e ' andor s( :,„ pPaa e ment m. ntent. th ton will; ty,,tvrßilla, hi Iruar e very On the th r" r naY be aat o ,7 c l'equez _ nt ou the new Bill x . ;,' 4 the 1 , 18 44 1 All E, Lase hcei hY Isitj t0t) 1 : 1 ,Y II thel 2 ,,, t r t a l i t 4 t!el l be ry ftc t k Z 11, 14 41% 1 her hay. l ) the c A ltn u t nle " , Or 1 ' t Mt fi VNU on „ '4 ti 44, 4 4 :8 r 0 ,„ 3 ., k 4 it ;, 1 . 1 11 'egfir6 . 11) „ PO rtto, *7 4 he 4' l kab, in t ztor A t Lo ki ch, i nk% - *re, ,