The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

A., rI F 4 1 - 4, 11 i t 44; SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. , -IE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 25, 1850. 'Pre Queen has been pleased to appoint Edward Grit ., Esq., Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, to be Super iiatendent of Liberated Africans at St. Helena. WHITEHALL, APRIL 26. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Jed Stewart to the church and parish of Traneat, in presbytery and county of Haddington, vacant by the .t^ of the Rev. John Henderson, late minister thereof. WAR-OFFICE, APRIL 26. 1011 Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieutenant George Webb to be Captain, without purchase, vice Lloyd, de ceas3d ; Cornet Robert Clements to be Lieutenant. vice J. Percy Smith, appointed Adjutant; Lieutenant John Percy Smith to be Adjutant, vice Webb, promoted, Jan. 29. 10th Regiment of Foot—Major Thomas Miller to be Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase, vice Young, de ceased; Brevet Major Henry Errington Longden to be Major, vice Miller; Lieutenant John Robert Graham Pattison to be Captain, vice Longden; Ensign John Edmund Whaite to be Lieutenant, vice Pattison, Feb. 21. 24th Foot—Ensign Lord Frederick Montagu to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Mowbray, deceased, Feb. 17; Ensign Francis Freeman White, from the 73d Foot, to- be Ensign, vice Lord Frederick Montagu, April 26. 49. h Foot—Eneign John Augustus Conolly to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Powell, who retires, April 26. set-Rs Foot—Ensign Parr William Kingsmill to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Mullen, deceased, April 16. 73.1 Foot—Captain Wyndham Edmund Bewes, from the !.sth Foot, to be Captain, vice Murray, appointed to the 83d Foot, April 26. 78th Foot—Lieutenant Hamilton Douglas Gordon to be Captain, by purchase, vice Caldwell, who retires; Eucigu Henry Bagahawe Harrison Rocke to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Gordon, April 26. 83d Foot—Captain James Florence Murray, from act 731 Foot, to be Captain, vice Douglas W. P. Labalmon diere, who retirt a upon half-pay. 45th Foot, April 26. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. EASTER TERM, 13TII VICTORIA. 26th April. This Court will, on Thursday the 9th, Friday the 10th, and Saturday the 11th days of May next, hold Sittings, and will pro..eed in disposing of business then penaii::g and undecided. BY THE COURT. The motion in re Barber (part heard) will be the only business taken at the Sittings after Term. BANKRUPTS. William Chittenden, draper, Paddington, to surrender, 114 7, at twelve. and June 7, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall street; Cooke, King-street, Cheapside. Charles Veneer, builder, Tonbridge Wells, Kent, May 7, at twe, and June 4, at eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Edwardg, official assignee, Sambrook -court, Basinghall-street; Smith, Stenning, and Croft, Basing hall -street; Stenning and Carnell, Tonbridge. John Pattinson, grocer, Liverpool, May 10 and 31, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Live,p,)ol; Tyrer, Liverpool. John Stanford and Henry Bannister, brickmakers, Titford, Ha`esowen, Worcestershire, May 13 and June 3, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham; Smith and James, Bir mingham. Alexander Speers Corrick, timber dealer, Bristol, !; . 1 ay 8 and June 5, at e:even, at the Bristol District urr. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Brittan, Bristol. J ,, hn Powell, cattle dealer, Upper Cabalva, Radnor :` ,:e, May 8 and June 5, at eleven, at the Bristol Dis t..ct Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol; Pugh, Breconshire; Britton and Sons. Bristol. PRICE OF SUGAR. average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from returns made in the week ending April 23, t:-50, exclusive of Custom Duties paid or payable thereon on the importation thereof into Great Britain:— From the British possessions in America 245. 2jd.per cwt. From the Mauritius ... ... 235. 114 d. ~ From the East Indies 255. 9id. Average price of the three foregoing de scriptions of sugar, jointly, computed as above, and exclusive of duty ... 245. 9id. By authority of Parlament, TlEmor BICKN am., Clerk of the Grocers' Company. Grocers'-hall, April 26. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazette.) An Account. pnren.int to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria.cap. 32, for tile Week ending ou Saturday, the 20th day of Aprll, 1850. 1811171 DIPASTMENT. X. Notes 155ued........ 29,873,000 Government debt .. 11,0►5,100 Other securities .... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 15,663,123 Silver bullion ...... 209,877 7129,873,000 I £29,873,000 H. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 50. 6 T Aiinalf T. Datod the 25th day of April, ls, Government seenri- ties (including Dead Weight Annuity).. 14,292,170 Other securities .... 9,779,210 Notes .............. 9,537,5€0 Gold and silver coin.. 756,601 £34,365,511 If. MAI:SHALL, Chief Cashier. N GE.-( THIS DAY.) Gibraltar •• • • •• .• •• •• •• Leghorn .....• •••• • • • . 3 0 70 Genoa •• •••••••• •• •• •• 26 10 Milan ................ Venice.. .• • • • • • • • • •• •• Naples .. .. ••••• • • • • . 40% ralerrao, per 05........ 122% Messina 122% Lisbon.... •........... 53% Oporto ...„ .. 53% Rio Janeiro . . Buenos Ayres .. • • .. New York, 60 dayiesight Philadelphia .... • • .... PRICES OP ScruaoN, pr.". oz. Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars .... • • 11 4 10% Silver in bars ...• 0 4 11% BANKING DI Proprietors i capital— 14,553,000 Ittst • •• •• 3,030,216 Yubdc deposits (In v!,f din; Exchequer, C.,:nnlnsloners of Ntitional Debt,Sav- I ngl-bank s, and Di vidend accounts).. 4,G27.318 Other deposits • . • • • • 10.946,312 Stlvi!n day and other .... 1,158.635 £34,365.541 Dated the 2ith day of April, N. COURSE OF EXCI-141 •• •• 12 2 three months 12 34 itottercla:a .... ••.. • • 12 3 N An: 25 80 Brussels • • •..... . 25 go Et,...burgh M.B. 13 13. i Paris, 3 days'sight .. 2S CO Ditto, 3 Months .... 25 80 arsenics ............ 25 82% Bourdeaux....• ••.• • • rrankfort on Ma1m0.... 121% effec. -•• • • • 12 7 Trieste, 12 9 Petersburgh, Sll. Rble 37% Madrid .... • • ........ 49 3 12.trePlona • • • • ........ IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. The Earl of RODEN presented several petitions I raying that Scriptural schools in Ireland might have a share in the national grant. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several petitions praying for a repeal of the Sale of Beer Act. The Bishop of LONDON presented a petition from the Tower Hamlets in favour of the Extramural Inter ments Bill. Lie took that opportunity of returning his thanks to the Government for having embodied the re commendations of the Sanitary Commissioners on extra mural interment into a Bill. He believed that the pase• ing of some such Bill was absolutely necessary for the health of the metropolis. The Bill bad been drawn up in a very masterly manner, and he hoped the Govern. ment would firmly resist any attempt to alter the provi sions of that Bill. Earl TALBOT presented a petition from a parish in the island of Jamaica p ray ing for a faithful observance of t'le treaties with Spain and Brazil fur the suppression of the slave trade. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took ttie Chair at Four o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. THORNELY presented a petition from Wolver hampton in favour i,f international arbitration. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from Chu;ley, iu Lancashire, against th e Hi g h ways Bill; also a petition trim Laneashire against secular education. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented nineteen petitions from Kent and other places against Sunday labour in the Post office. ----- - Colonel LLOYD WATKINS presented a petition, signed by 200 of the principal inhabitants of the parish of Llvwel, in the county of Brecknock, praying the house that for the future there should be no transmis sion Of snails nor delivery of letters in the United King dom during the 24 hours of the Lord's day. Lord IiENDLESHAM ; presented a petiti on f rom a place -uff lk in favour of aninternational syst em o f o penny postage. Mr. MILNER GIBSON presented a petition fro m Manchester praying for the removal of the taxes on knoAedge. The Earl of MARCH presented petitions from a p'sece in Sussex in favour of the Ten Hours Factory Bill, and aga i ns t Sunday labour in the Post -office. Lord GEORGE MANNERS presented_ a p i e d ti En tion fr , m a pl ace i n R u tl an d s hire ugaiuet the c (Tyho franchi•enients Bill. Mr..BRIGHT presented a petition from a congreg B.• lion of Dissenters in Northamtonsbire, praying tortstle abolition of church -rates. • Lord ASHLEY presented a petition from a place in Lancashire in favour of the Ten Hours Bill. Mr. W. J. FOX presented petitions from Oldham praying for the abolition of church-rates, and in favour Of ttio Education Bill. Sir J. DUCK WOltTli presunted a petition from Exeter, signed by 1,700 persons, praying for the cessa t. on of Suneay labour in t h e l'ott-oftite. Mr. G. TtIOMPSON presented a petition from a Dissenting congregation in Bethnal-area praying for o abolition of church-rates; al so a petition from ope rativei in Dewsbury, in favour of the Ten Hours Bill; and a petition from Glasgow praying fur the a b o li t i on of capital punish!' cots. Mr. FORBES presented a retition from Bute, pray ing that the Bill introduced into the House by the Hon. Member for that cou n ty, f or legalizing marriage with a deceased wife's sister, may not pass into a law. Mr. DIVETT presented a petition from Exeter com plaining of the present mode of licensing public-hoytses its that town. Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Edinburgh, against the Public Health (Scotland) Bill. Lord R. GROSVENOIt presented several petitions from factoryoperatires in Yorks, Lved, and other places,. in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill; also petitions from Fulham and Chiswick against Sunday labour in the Post office ; also a petition from the Metropolitan Sanitary Association praying for a repeal of the window-tax; and a petition from Spitalfields against the taxation clause in the Secular Education Bill. _ _ Sir GEORGE GREY presented a petition from the borough of Morpeth, Northumberland, praying for the abolition of Sunday hirings in that town during harvest. Mr. STAFFORD presented a petition from Caxton, in Northamptonshire, against Sunday labour in the Post office. PARLIAMENTARY OATHS. Mr. PAGE*66D gave notice that on Monday he should ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it was his intention to introduce any Bill during this ses sion with reference to the oaths taken by Members of Parliament. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES BILL. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on bringing up of the report of this Bill he should move to extend the principles of the Australian constitution, so as to enable the colonies of British North America to establish a federative Assembly. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Mr. HAY TER moved that the House on its rising do adjourn until Monday next. WOODS AND FORESTS. Lord DUNCAN said, as it appeared from what trans pired last night in the House, the sooner they had a re sponsible Minister for the Board of Works the better; he would ask the Noble Lord at the head of tho Go vernment, whether it was his intention to proceed with the Woods and Forests Bill on Monday eat, the day on which it stood on the orders of the House? Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say he could not promise whether the Bill would be brought on on that day. COLONIAL ASSURANCE COMPANY. An HON. MEMBER directed the attention of the Go vernment to a Bill now before the House for incorpo rating a Colonial Assurance Company, which he hoped the Government would look into with the view of seeing whether it would interfere with the provisions of the Australian Colonies Bill. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES. Lord J. RUSSELL rose to explain a statement which he (Lord J. Russell) had made to the House respecting the lectures given by the professors of modern history at Oxford and Cambridge, but was very indis tinctly heard. He was understood to say that he was wrong in supposing that Sir James Stephen, the professor at Cambridge, %as restricted to giving one lecture a week. It appeared, however, from his own statement, that he could not give more than 25 lectures to the students, which on the average would be one a week for the academical year. Mr. GOULBURN observed that what he said the other evening in the House was that some professors gave three lectures a week, but that they were not com pelled to give more than one. KING'S-ROAD, CHELSEA. Sir J. PAKINGTON gave notice, that on going into Committee of ;Supply, he should put a question to the Hon. and Learned Attorney-General on the subject of the King's road, Chelsea. DISTRESSED UNIONS ADVANCES AND RE PAYMENTS OF ADVANCES (IRELAND) BILL. On the question for going into Committee on the Bill, Col. SIIsTHORP rose to move that the Bill be com mitted this day six months. If he thought the grant would benefit Ireland, he would not object to it, nor would he refuse to support any measure that was calculated to improve the condition of that part of the country; but the fact was, this grant was proposed for nothing more nor less than to cover the delinquencies and the mis government of Ministers in the sister kingdom.—(A laugh.) When he was at school he was taught to believe that two and two made four—(A laugh)—and that two taken from four left two remaining —(A laugh) —but the returns which had been laid upon the table on the subject of these advances to Ireland did not appear to go upon that rule.—(A laugh.) The amount of loans and grants made during the past ten years— the return did not refer to what hal been lent before—amounted to no less than 1,227,402/. 13s. 2d., the loans to 8,751,225/. 17s. Bd., of which 322,1371. Is. 4d. had been repaid, leaving 5,519,804/. 16s. 4J.—an awful sum—still due, and yet in the face of this it was proposed to advance an additional 300,0001. Now before this grant was agreed to the House and the public had a right to know what chance there was of getting it back. He had lent money himself, and in some instances he never got it back again.—(A laugh.) He was now, however, not such a fool; he never lent money now without good security, while he took good care to let the man have no inure who had never paid him back again. —(A laugh.) Now that was precisely the rule they ought to go upon here. The question was, bow was the money to be collected and from whom was it to be collected. Mr. HERBERT said when statements were made and assertions hazarded in that House so totally at variance with the facts, he thought it the duty of some Irish Mem ber to take the first opportunity of making a few obser vations on Irish loans and finances. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had expressed a certain amount of impa tience at Hon. Members entering into the whole question of Ireland, when particular measures were brought be fore the House, and to a certain extent he agreed with him, but when unfounded statements were made by persons who were unacquainted with the social condition of that country. he though it right that they should be contradicted. It had been asserted loudly that an Irish loan was the same as an Irish grant. But what was the naturo of an Irish loan? He held in his hand a return which had been moved for by the Hon. Member for Glasgow (Mr. Macgregor), and which showed in a very distinct and comprehensive manner the financial posi tion as regarded thiscountry. It appeared from that docu ment that from the year 1817, when the English and Irish Exchequers were consolidated to 1846, the total loans advanced to Ireland amounted to 11,326,596/.; and of that sum as much as 8,483,000/. had been repaid. He would not discuss the policy of those loane, but there could be no doubt that they would be of great advantage to this country. He left out the loans during the last three years of the famine, because they stood on a different principle, and he should have a few remarks to make about them by and by. He was quite ready to admit that many of these loans had been devoted to speculations which had not succeeded, but still he felt be should be able to con vince the House of the injustice of the chargethat an Irish loan was no better than an Irish grant. Well, then, out of the 11,320,0001. there was now only 2,843,0001. unpaid, and part of even that balance was not yet due. And, notwithstanding the unparalleled misfortune of the country, she h ad actually repaid advances during the very period of the famine. In 1846 she repaid 370,0001; in 1847, 514,0001.; and in 184'8, 357,0001.; making a total of 1,241,0001. repaid during the continuance of the famine. Sir John Burgoyne stated in his evidence that the Government had gained considerable sums of money by those loans to Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) It might be said that was an Irish statement, but it was true. That gentleman had conclusively proved that the net profit to the Government on those . transactions with Ireland was no less a sum than 69,9861. Besides a great part of those loans were not yet due and therefore no complaint could reasonably be made about the non-payment of that part of them. The loans, too, were made on a totally different prin ciple from any other. They were forced on Ireland in spite of the remonstrances of every man of sense in the country, and they bad been spent with the greatest prodigality in the first instance. It had been stated that England had been taxed to sup port the Irish poor, a statement which had been cheered in that House ; why the English Exchequer was quite as much Irish as English since the framing of that Union which, it must be remembered, was an union not sought for by Ireland, but obtained by England at the expense of much bribery and corruption. Having united the two Exchequers, the English Legislature had no right to turn round and talk of an Irish loan from an English Exchequer. He thought there was no foundation for the aspersion of an Irish loam being thrown in the teeth of Irish Mem bers. There was only one other thing which he could wish to mention, and that was that some persons had declared that some districts were in too far distressed a condition ever to repay the advances which were to be made, and he appealed to the House whether it would be deterred by a consideration like this, when they had just voted 1,000,0001. for the support of a scheme the good effects of which had never yet been manifest, from sanctioning this palt r y loan to a country which it bad always from the first treated with injustice. Mr. FRENCH thought that the Hon. and Gallant Member had not shown that he had any intimate know ledge of the present Bill. (LEFT SPEARING.) IVIARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London IVeto Price Current, April 26.) British cha S s tj e G d A :v t i — th T c o a - u d t a i y onfo rather lower rates w e r e ac c eded to, making the r the 1 n p d a i n a S a u n g d a r s was e p 7 u an r ld - 1 since last Friday 6d p er cw t. At auc tion 6 hbds 2 6 trcs 96 brls Barbadots went at a similar reduction; low to good yel at 36s to 40s, and ord brown 33s to 33s 6d per cwt. To-day 520 were sold, making for the week 1,890 hhds, Ste. REF INED.—To-day Refined Sugar was purchased with caution for all purposes, and the rates accepted are 48s f.)r brown, and 48a 6d to 50s for fair to good grocery Lumps. Crushed Sugar is dull of sale, at former. rates. MArturrins.—This afternoon former rates were barely supported at a public sale of 850 bags, which went at from 34s to 37s for low to good yellow, and at 33s for fine brown. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was dealt in with caution, and of 2,795 bags at public salo not above half sold at barely former terms: ord and good white Rennes went at 36s to 38s 6d, good and fine strong white 42s 6d to 44s 6d. Of Madras 973 bags writ at 30s to 32s for low and fair damp yellow, and at 27s to 29s for ord to fine brown. FORFIGN.—TL—day there was no imp: orov ement in the export. s d e mand for Foreign Sugar fur home use public sale 259 hhds 95 brls Porto Ri co old rather cheaper; good mid to good yellow at 38s 6d to 403 , a nd low to mid 35s GLI to 38s per cwt. Th e private sales fo r the week are only 1,000 chests brow n Havannah, duty paid, at 36s 6d, a cargo of brown Bahia in bond 183, and one of white Paraiba 24s 6d. *.MOLASSES. —The amount of business concluded in Mat India has bee n small; prices are also on the de cline, and ruled at from 13s 6d to 17s for low to fine quality. East India met with little attention, and can be obtained at a reduction, the value is 12s. to 13s. A fall in the price of Honey is apparent. At public sale 100 puns of Cuba Molasses were taken in at 15s 6d per cwt. Corem—To• day the market was in a quiet position for Coffee; there, was no public sal e, and the amount of business concluded by private treaty was small for all purposes. There were sellers of good ord Native Ceylon at 46$ per cwt. Cocoa.—There has been no public sale of West India this week. Few purchases have been made by private treaty, and prices continues to give way. Trinidad red selling at 38s to 445, and Grenada red 34s to 38s per cwt. Few sales have been made in Foreign by private treaty, and at auction 408 bags fine red Bahia were taken in.at 30s per cwt. TEA.—A much better demand has been experienced for common Congou this week from shippers and home dialers, whilst rather higher rates have been obtained ; the latest prices have been at Sid to 91d per lb. other sorts met with more attention for the latter purpose; at present, however, there is no rise in the value—Medium selling at 10d to la lid, and better kinds is 2d to is 8d per lb. In Scented Orange Pekoe a good deal ha s b een d one a t Is 2d to is 4d, an sales to a fair extent have been made in Scented Caper at is to is 4d per lb. Good and fine Green Tea sells more freely at last week's terms. For ordinary and middling rather lower rates having been acceded to caused the trade to operate with more freedom. Rics.—There are free sellers of East India at the reduced rates of last week, still only moderate pur chases have been made, and almost exclusively for ex portation. The private operations aro 5,000 bags— white Bengal at from 8s to 9s 6d, Madras Bs, and pearl barley 7s 6d to 8s per cwt. At auction 3,900 bags and 692 pkts Bengal were nearly all taken in at 9s to 10s for middling to fine white. A few lots of ordinary sold at 8s per cwt. In the market for Cleaned Rica much dulness exists, with free sellers of low to fine Patna at from Ils to 20s, and broken 103 to 108 6d, town dressed Carolina 20s to 265, and American 18s 6d to 19s per cwt. To-day at public sale 963 bags Bombay went at easy rates—mid small white at 8s to 8s 6d, and damaged at 5s to 8s per cwt. SAG3.—There are few buyers of Pearl, and prices are on the decline. At auction 108 cases were sold at 208 6d to 22s fur mid and good small white. Sago Flour dull of sale at 21s to 225, but Farina sells more freely at 158 to 168. Of Tapioca 120 packages at auc tion were taken in at 6d for fine white Rio, and Para low to middling 2id to 3id per lb. Arrowroot is cheaper, and in la-go supply. At auction 1,000 tins and 260 pkgs were mostly sold. St. Vincents from shd to 10d, damaged 4d to 7d, Jamaica sound Sid to 10d, Bstrbadoes 2id to 4d, St Kitts 4d, Ber muda is to is to is 2d ; 40 bags Manna Croup taken in at 358 per cwt. SPICES.—The market for Jamaica Ginger has a quiet appearance, and former rates are not to be obtained. Of East India supplies are getting larger. At auction a small part only of 1,875 bags Bengal sold at 17s 6d to 18s for raid and good rough dark, and at 13s 6d to 15s for damaged. Cf African 20 brls and 368 bags da maged went at the reduced terms of 21s to 325. and at 44s 6d to 37* for good bold, whilst 110 bags Malabar were taken in at 25s for small rough, and 300 cases China preserved at 10d per lb. Pimento—Of 1,200 bags at public sale not half sold at 41-d to 51d for low to good. For Black Pepper privately on►y limited sales have been made for all purposes. Of 890 bags Malabay at auction a small part sold at 31- to 3id for good clean. The value of Sumatra is from 3d to 314. White is not much wanted, and rather lower terms are taken; 100 bags at public sale were only in part sold at 51d to sisl for mid and good mid. Cassia Lignea is not offered at any further decline, but there are few buyers, and a small part only of 800 chests at public sale sold, pile one at 85s, ditto two and three 76s to 795, and out of condition 68s to 755. For Cloves rather lower rates are taken, and few buyers are to be found. Of 200 packages at auction a small part only sold, Am boyna at 11d, and Bourbon sid to 7/d. Nutmegs have been in fair demand at the former value, and 27 packages were sold at 2s 6d to 2s 9d for mid to good mid brown. For Mace prides are rather lower, and at auction three cases were sold at is 10d to 2s 6d for low to good. For Cinnamon the market is dull, and the public sales de clared comprise 1,800 packages Ceylon. SPlRlTS.—Leeward Island Rum is not offered at any further reduction, yet operations have been to a limited extent only at is 3id to Is 4d proof. East India cannot be obtained under Is 3d proof; few buyers are, how ever, to be met with. There has been little passing in Demerara, and sellers are willing to accept 2s to 2s 4d per gallon for 30 to 40 per cent. over proof. for Jamaica Rum much dulness exists for inferior and middling kinds, whilst prices continue to decline. Former terms are required for good and fine, yet shippers and home dealers make purchases with caution. The value of 20 to 29 per cent over proof is 2s 2d to 2s 7d, 30 to 38 over 2s 8d to 3s 3d, and superior 3s 4d to 4s 2d. There is still a smaller stock than last year, and delive ries are much glarger, although iprices are as low as at that time. Only limited orders have been executed for Brandy. The rates accepted for Cognac teat brands of the vintage of 1849 are 4s 3d to 4s 5d ; 1848 ditto 4s 5d to 4s 7d. 1847 ditto 5s to 5s 2d ; and inferior sorts 2s 7d to 4s 3d per gallon. For Geneva the market is dull at Is 7d for ord, and at 2s 3d to 3s 3d for fine. The value of British made Spirit is fis 5d to 9s 6d proof, and Gin 7s 10d to 8s 4d for 17 to 22 per cent under proof. To-day the sales of Rum were 100 puns of Demerara at 2s 2d for 32 to 35 per cent. over proof, and 50 puns Jamaica at 2s 9d to 3s for 33 to 35 per cent over proof. SALTPETRW.—To-day the market was in a dull state, and at public sale 1,253 bags Calcutta were all taken in at 25s for ord 10 to 10: per cent refraction, good ditto 26s 6d, and fine 2: per cent at 27s 6d per cwt. INDIGO.--"rhe quantity declared for public sale on the 14th May has been increased to 11,125 chests, and fur ther parcels will be added shortly. Former rates are supported for East India of all sorts. For Spanish prices have fallen Id to 2d per lb, and public sales of 170 aerons Guatemala went at from 2s 4d to 3s 3d per lb. COCHINEAL.—To-day the public tales of 240 bags went at about former rates, and mostly sold—Honduras silver at 3s 6d to 4s 4d—Mexican, mid 3s 7d, black 3s 7d to 3s 10d, and fine 5s 6d per lb. TALLow.—To-day at public sale 639 pkgs South American sold at 33s to 36s 6d, and 163 casks of Sydne-y at 35s to 27s 6d, these are better prices. OILS —Operations in Rapeterd Oil have been upon a limited scale only, and rather lower terms are acceded to, sales of brown having been ma-le at 37s 6d to 38s 6d, and pale 39s to 40s. Talm met with little attention, and sellers are willing to accept 30s to 31% fur first sort, as there will be a better supply at market shortly. For Cocoa Nut the market is dull ac from 39s to 34s for low to fine. Pricei continue to decline for Olive, and operations have been to a limited extent only at from 431 to 461 per tun. Linseed Oil has been in good demand for home trade pur poses, and several export orders have been completed. Prices are firm, and rule at 32s 3d to 32s 6d per cwt on the spot. Cud Oil has been only in limited demand, but sales cannot be made under 341 108 per tun, as the stock is small. Seal continues to attract little, pale is offered at 35/ to 361 10s, and other kinds 31/ to 35l The value of low to fine Southern is from 321 to 344 still few orders have been completed. Sperm is in better supply, but at present there is no variation in prices. To-day at public sale 90 tuns Sperm Oil sold; fine 83/to 841, other sorts 741t0 78155; 55 tuna Southern 321 to 331 10s; 83 casks Palm Oil out at 29s to 31s. SPAIN. The following is the project of law which the Finance Minister has prepared for the settlement of the national debt : " PROJECT OF LAW. " Art. I. All the credits against the State contained in any of the existing categories of the public debt shall be converted into Three per Cent. Annuities, issuing new documents for the purpose, in bonds payable to the bearer, or in transferable inscriptions -at the choice of the parties interested. " The debt proceeding from treaties with foreign powers, which shall not be subject to the dispositions of this law, is excepted. " The home sad foreign Three per Cent. Debt created, or which may be creates under existing laws, the which shall preserve its present situation without change, is also excepted. " Art. 2. The conversion shall be realised at the type of 33 1-3 per cent., i. e., with the reduction of two-third parts of the capital of the Convertible Debt, the capital of each class of debt being taken or reduced in order to effect that reduction in the following manner:— ." The capital of the Active Foreign Debt, and that of the Interior 5 per Cent., shall be taken for the whole of their nominal value. That of the Four per Cent. and Cosolidated Vales comprised in it, shall be taken at four-fifth parts, or 80 per cent., according to the relation of their interest with that of the Five per Cents. " The capital of the Coupons, due and not paid, nor capitalized; of the Active Debt; and of the Five and Four per Cent. Internal Debt; the Deuda Corriente of Five per Cent, with interest in paper; the Non-Conso lidated Vales; the Passive Foreign Debt and the Debt without interest, shall be taken for as much as corre sponds, according to the respective and proportionate value of the same effects, with that of the Five per Cent. Internal Debt, which results from the average price which the one and the others have been quoted at in the year 1849. - The Deuda Provisional shall be taken divided into ic t t w asp o oi tr c ai l gl a si s nswe from,i c for h eont jh t oheyore interest,bdcoonndv s e . rs ion It ; a sn t hd h a a tl t lh aphtraowvc have cdohipntdgi option nr f i r v o et m od convert itself, as Deuda Cortiente, con interes a papel, increasing or lowering the type of conversion of this latter in proportion as the said interest exceeds or falls below that of the Five per Cents. Of the second, that proceeding from securities given, deposits, salt and tobacco taken possession of, capitals coming from America, or others of which the Government of the reslective epoch took possession without title, shall be converted as the Non-Consolidated Vales. The rest shall be converted as Debt without interest; and the same shall be done with the unliquidated interest of the Deuda Corrieute, of the Life Annuities, and of the Deuda Provisional proceeding from capitals with interest. The Life Annuities shall be capitalized at three per cent., and the capital which may result shall be taken and con verted as that of the Five per Cents.; but in place of in scriptions or bonds of perpetual annuities, certificates sessors. shalt be issued, payable during the life of their pos- " Art. 3. The credits against the State still pending liquidation, shall continue belonging to the correspon(l - classes if debt, according to the dispositions in willvigour, f their holders arsdtherewv in alu the shill New u h o e convertibl e fireper Cent. Annuities, at the Annuiths, according to their class, under the rules es tablished in the preceding article. Art. 4. The certificates of the Old Ds bt, denomintatsd Deferred, issued at Paris in 1831, shall have the option of corning into the new conversion, their capital being taken as that of the Passive Debt. " Art. 5. The documents of the Old Foreign Debt of Five per Cents., which were not converted in virtue of the law of 1834, in consequence of not having been pre sented within the periods assigned, shall also have option for the conversion. " These credits shall be recognised now, and be taken with respect to two-third parts of their representative value in Active Debt, and one-third part in Passive Debt. "Art. 6. For an equal reason the capitals of the Old Foreign Three per Cent. Debt, which were not pre mated at the epoch referred to, shall I , e acimiq.6 for conversion, being taktn as Active Debt on two-third parts and as Passive Debt on the othe'r third, a'ter deducting true-tifth parts, corresponding to the difference between the Five and Three per Cents. " Art. 7. The Coupons duo up to NoTanber, 1533, and the cedulss of premium which were not presented for conversion at the proper time, shall also be admitted for conversion, taking them as Active Debt for two-thirds, and Passive for one-third. " Art. 8. The conversion shall be voluntary on the part of the creditors. " Art. 9. The interest of the New Three per Cents. shall be paid half-yearly, on the 30th of June and 31:4 December of each year, and its payment shall be effected in Spain. " :Art. 10. The conversion shall begin from the Ist January, 1851. The new interest shall begin to date from that day for those who present themselves for con version before the Ist of July of that year. Those who may present themselves subsequently shall only have right to interest from the half-year following that in which they effected it. " Art. 11. The Government is authorised to create, besides the New Three per Cents. necessary for the conversion, those strictly rt quired for meeting the legal obligations emanating from tho conversion of 1834, and those which may have been unpaid, giving account to the Cortes of the use they might make of this authorization. „ "Art. 12. The Goveinment is equally authorized, under the same obligatior, to give account to the Cortes to arrange and compromise the accounts of the old I( ems which should be still pending, in the terms which it nay consider most equitable and advantageous to the State. ” Art. 13. The result of the conversion and the nuuibur of the new documents which may be issued, and their amount, shall be published periodically in the Madrid Gazette for the it atisfaction of the creditors. " Art. 14. Beyond the amount actually destined for the debt which in reality enjoys interest, and the increase which that sum must have in fulfilment of the disposi tions in vigour, there shall be consigned in the general estimates of the State the sum of,Bo millions of reals for the payment of the interest and redemption of the New Three per Cent. Annuities, applying especially to the second object the surplus which, after paying the inte rest, may result in each year' out of the said eighty millions. " Art. 15. The faculty which the purchasers of na tional property now enjoy of giving money in certain cases equivalent to the stock i n payment o f t h e price , is extended to all cases, permitting them to pay what they owe for the instalments now due, or which become due, in stock or money. "In the first case they may realise it in the values actually signalised, or in the New Three per Cent. Stock, admitting it with the increase proportionate to the reduc tion which those values should have suffered through the conversion. " In the second case they shall deliver in money the sum corresponding to the effective value of the stock, according to the quotations of epoch in which the pay ment takes place, or that which may result from the average price of the same stock for the five years from 1845 to 1849, at their option. " Art. 16. In future, all the sales of national property which may be alienated under the dispositions in vi gour, shall be made for money. The price shall be paid in twenty yearly instalments-6 per cent. in each of the first ten years, and 4 per cent. in each of the re mainder. " Art.l7. The prod uc t s in ca s h o f th e sa l es o f es t a t es effected in consequence of the two preceding articles, as well as the amount of the promissory notes payable in cash, given by the purchasers of the estates of the secular clergy, and which has not been disposed of up to this day, saving the responsibility to which they are affected, shall have special application to the payment of the in terest and redemption of the New Three per Cents., forming part of e i g h ty m illi ons w hi c h h as to b e ass i gne d in the budget for that object, with reference to what is disposed in Article 14. " Art. 18. All the surplus which may result for the future, after covering the obligations of the budget of the respective year, shall be applied to the redemption of the debt. " Art. 19 The Colonial Debt, the credits of the pos sessors if of alienated, those of capitalizations, and others whose recognition and payment are now pending, shall be the object of a special law, which the Govern ment will submit opportunely to the Corts. " JUAN BRAVO MURILLO. " Madrid, &c." (sic.) GERMANY. A letter from Frankfort states that the congress of Plenipotentiaries of German States, which Austria is about to assemble in that city, to replace the federal commission, is destined to be the precursor of the restoration of 'the German, Diet. " This then," says the letter, " the last vestige of the German revolution will in a few days have disappeared from the surface of the country, if not from the minds of the people ; and the resto ration of the Diet, which, a few months back was considered perfectly impossible, will be accom plished. Ia the spring of 1848, Germany went too far in advance ; but in 1850 she is retreat ing too rapidly." Although the proposition of Austria encroaches on the interests of Prussia, the latter power (says the letter) is disposed to adhere to it ; and as for all the petty sovereigns, it is not doubted that they will rally to it :joyfully, as it will lead to the restoration of their former power in the councils of Germany. It was said in Frankfort that the Hanoverian Governmeut had sent a dispatch declaring that for the future it will demand the exe cution of the treaties of 1815. OXFORD CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE. - The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. Shadwell Barkworth, , of Worcester College, and formerly curate of St. Peter le-Bailey's parish, Oxford, to the rectory of St. Clement's, in Oxford. The trustees of St. Katharine's Hospital have con ferred the valuable living of St. Peter's, Northampton, on the Rev. Havilland de Sausmarez, Fellow of Pembroke College, and rector of St. Aldate's, Oxford. SWANSEA, APRIL 25.—Wind S.S.E., strong.—Arra Young Queen, Penbarwood, Cuba. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. A special general meeting of this company was held at the Paddington Station yesterday, at one o'clock, for the purpose of considering and determining the mode of raising the capital requisite for the completion of certain undertakings belonging to, or purchased by, this company, and for the general purposes of the company. The meeting was also made special to receive, consider, and determine upon any matters contained i in a report required by a resolution of the last half-yearly general meeting of proprietors, to be made by the directors, with respect to the several recommendations contained in the report of the consultation committee, which was sub mitted to the said half-yearly general meeting on the 14th February last. The attendance of shareholders was 'very numerous. Mr. George Russell, chairman of the company, pre sided. The SZCRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting, _ The — CsAramiss rose and said, that at the present moment he would confine his remarks wholly to the subject of finance. They required three-and-a-half mil lions of money, which must be raised within four years. How that was to be accomplished the report about to be submitted to the meeting would explain. Two millions would be required to pay the expenses of the Wolver hampton line six months after it was completed, which could not be before the middle of 1852. The other mil- lion and a half would be required to settle the debts in cidental on the two northern lines. Before proceeding to call upon the secretary to read the report, he would just state that it had been mentioned to the com mittee that there were several moneyed men who would lend upon a fixed and regular rate of interest. It was, therefore, proposed that not more than 1,000,0001. should be borrowed at a fixed rate of 4i per cent. per annum. The SECRETARY then proceeded to lay before the meeting the general report, as follows : " The directors beg to inform the proprietors that it is intended to propose, to the special general meeting, resolutions for creating additional capital not exceeding 3,500,000/., to be applied to the completion of the rail ways referred to in the report of the consultation com mittee, and to the purchase of the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley. Railways, as well as to pay off and discharge a portion of the existing securities of the Great Western Railway Company. " The additional capital, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is proposed to be issued from time to time when requisite, and to bear a fixed dividend of 43 per cent. par annum, subject to the following conditions:— " Ist. The holders to be entitled to an option within seven years from the 25th April, 1850, to exchange the fixed 41 per cent. capital for rateable stock of the same amount. "2d. The company to have the right, during seven years from and after the 25th April, 1857, to redeem and pay off any of the fixed 4i per cent. capital at par, upon giving one year's previous notice to the holders thereof. " It will be proposed t ) authorise the conversion of paid-up shares in the Birmingham and Oxford and Bir mingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Com panies' or a portion thereof, into the said new capital, to the extent of 2,000,0001., as and when the holders thereof may elect, at the rate of 30/. ss. for each of the said shares, and upon such condi tions as may be agreed with them respectively, either before or after the opening of the said lines; and further, to authorise the issue, from time to time, of portions of the additional capital, either upon condition of present payment in full, or of instalments at fixed periods, as may be agreed upon with the directors ; the option being given to the proprietors of shares in the Great Western Railway and in the Somerset, and Weymouth Railway Companies to the extent of 1,500,000/. cf the said additional capital, in rateable pro portion to their resr eJtive shares in the said two com panies, or either of them. "The purchase cf the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey mouth Railway, for the reasons recommended by the committee, has been completed, and the undertaking and property transferred by deeds exchanged betsseen the two comp,oics, "The works are proceeding at present only between Westbury and the towns of Frotne and Warminster. appears, however, to your board vital for the success of the railway already finished, and no less important also ' for the Great Western main line, that the short branch of seven miles between Fromo and Radstock should Le constructed. It will ensure a very con siderable traffic to the railways of this con]. pany, between the Sornersetshire coal fields and the manufacturing as well as agricultural population of the districts to which those coals are even now transported at a comparatively high charge, and in which they are nevertheless extensively consumed. The time at which the work for that branch should be undertaken, must de • pend in some degree upon facilities to be given by the land owzar , „ but if they am willirg to fifford ti:em. it is the opinion of t 1 e boar•l thAt the toll traffic oug t , o b,3 :ecareci to the railway, wl,ll as livlo delay a 3 is cuosis*.eut with the (..conotri;_cai p7csocution of the " For the present, 'the directors quito concur in post poning. the completion of eny other pordun of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway. • The position of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol- N ereumpt on Company is unaltcred since the committee of consultation, and your directors respectively commu nicated their opinions to the last meeting of proprietors, and they see no reason at present to make further allu sion to that subject, beyond expressing a hope that some means may be devised by that company to complete a portion at least of their line, and to render it productive to the shareholders. " Since the meeting in February the South Wales Company have been in amicable communication with the Board, to carry out the plan of working their line be tween Chepstow and Swansea, according to the mutual inter( sts and former intentions of both parties. " It is with much regret the board feels bound by their duty to the proprietors to represent that the short ex perience of a few months has realised those apprehen sioes which they had relative to their position after the reduction in the salaries }:,ti taken place. Since the re duction was notified the whole establishment has become unsettled—the officers and principal clerks, with few exceptions, have been seeking other employment, some valuable servants have quitted, and others are about to leave the service. Nor has the effect of the reduction been confined exclusively to those whose salaries were duced; for several others, in despair of improving their position in the present service, have also resigned to obtain more lucrative employment elsewhere. " The directors have thus had practical proof that serious prejudice to the company has wiser, and they apprehend that still more must ensue, unless steps be now taken to give some assurance of an established scale of salary and pay upon which your officers and ser vants can rely. If length of service with great experi ence and proved ability are essentials in managing affairs, towards the prosperity and welfare of any important undertaking, success is not likely to be attained by the discouragement of those upon whom so much depends, nor can a redaction of reasonable salaries be expected to counteract pecuniary depression in times of difficulty. These considerations, under any circumstances, but especially while making arrangements for additional duties, in consequence of the South Wales opening, and the business of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway devolving entirely upon the officers of the Great Western Company, have forced the directors to deliberate upon the means which can be most prudently devised to remedy the evil. They are convinced that the wisest course will be to determine at once a fixed scale fur every officer or class of ap pointment, fair and equitable according to the respective duties, responsibility, and length of service, so that each individual may, for the future, know what he is to depend upon, so long as he shall conduct himself to the entire satisfaction of his employers. That scale can, of course, be made subject to future modifications, if circumstances render it reasonable and just. " If this plan be resorted to, the directors recommend the adoption of a new scale of salaries and wages, which they have prepared with great care, and made subject to certain general regulations and conditions attached to it, as appended to this report, and the directors will report from time to time the operation of that scale, by a state ment of the amount of expenditure in consequence of the future increase or decrease of salaries, in the manner recommended by the committee of consultation. "If any instaece should hereafter arise in which it may seem desirable to modify the scale, the directors would propose to submit it for the approval of the pro priet ,rs before it is acted upon, and they trust that these measures may restore and maintain that energy and at tachment to the service, which had hitherto characte rised the establishment employed by this company." The following was the table by which the salaries were to b 3 fixed:— OFFICE, 8. C. After Maximum On Appointment 10 Years' after 12 Service. Years' Service. Secretary General Superintendent of Traffic If the above two ap pointments are com bined .......... 1,400 ... 1,8(0 ... 9.,060 Superintendent locomo tive department Superintendent (London Division) Chief accountant Chief registrar in charge of capital accounts Manager of works at Swindon Superintendent (Bristol Division) ... Chief Storekeeper Charge of estate, &c 3OO ... 400 ... 450 Minuting or secretary's clerk CLASSES. Principal assistants, ca shiers, and chief clerks 160 Local superintendents l5O Station and traffic clerks, senior list Ditto, junior list ..... 70 or 50... Apprentices, &c., up to 20 years of age (ac cording to their age) 30 to 50. " The foregoing salaries to be fixed at the lowest scale of each on appointment, and to be gradually increased at the discretion of the directors within the prescribed limits—not on tho principle of s•niority—but on the combined considerations of efficiency, good conduct, and length of service. No additional allowance to be made for house •rent. " No claim for promotion from one class to another to be recognised, but the directors to make such changes on their own views of the fitness alone of each indi• vidual. "The maximum salary in no case to be exceeded ex• cept on special reasons, to be reported to a honeral meeting of the proprietors. WEEKLY WAGES OF GUARDS, POLICEMEN, PORTERS, &C. Head Guards ... 30s. to 325. per Week. Guards ... 25 , ;. to 275. 900 .. 1,200 ... 1,300 700 ... 900 1,000 500 ... 700 ... 750 400 ... 500 ... 550 400 ... 500 ... 550 350 .., 450 ... 500 250 ... 350 ... 280 ... 223 ... 130 ... 90 ... P 7 Sub Inspectirs of Police 255. to 303. „ Sergeant 4, Foremen, and Switchmen 20s. to 233. ••• Policemen and Porters ... 15s. to 18s. O. " The foregoing rates of wages are to be allowed at the discretion of the directors, according to the efficiency, good conduct, and length of service of each individual." The CHAIRMAN then moved a series of resolutions in accordance with the financial scheme, for creating and raising 3,500,0004, and, in addition thereto, proposed that the directors should have the power at their discre tion of issuing 1,000,0001. of the proposed new capital, at a fixed dividend of 41 per cent. in perpetuity. Major COURT said he bad an amendment to propose, that any advantage which might arise from the issue of the new stock should be confined to the shareholders of the Great Western Railway—at least, they should have the option of taking it up in the first instance, if they thought proper. He did not object to the conditions upon which it was proposed to raise the new stock, but he contended that the Great Western shareholders were fully entitled to the benefit of the arrangement. He then moved an amendment to the effect that the shareholders now present do confirm the creation of 3,500,000/. upon the conditions mentioned in the report, provided that, in the first instance, it be allotted rateably to the holders of Great Western stock, giving them the option to take up as much of the stock allotted to them as they may require; that a circular be sent to each shareholder stating the amount of stock allotted to him, the condi tions, when the first instalment will become due, and also the amounts and periods when the remaining instal ments shall become duo; the payment of the first instal ment to be the assurance of accepting the shares. He saw no difficulty in fixing the dates of the instalments. It was a matter of very great consequence for the share holders to know what they had to ray, and when they would be required to pay it. He strongly objected to any discretion being left in the hands of the directors to issue the 1,000,0001. at a fixed rate of interest in per petuity.—(Hear, Lear.) Mr. LORD seconded the amendment. The CHAIRMAN was then about to pat the amend ment, when Mr. SMITHERS said he had some doubt as to the power of the company to issue preference shares. He believed the shareholders had never been asked to sane tion any Bill for creating preference stock. If such a power had been obtained, he thought the opinion of emi nent counsel should be taken, so that no question might hereafter arise as to the validity of the new stock. The clauses in the Bills on which the directors relied for power to create those shares should be read to the meeting.—(Hear.) The Cipunslissr said, in reference to Major Court's amendment, that he had not the slightest objection to adopt it as part of the resolution. It was always in tended to give the Great Western proprietors the option of taking the shares.—(Hear.) Major COURT said he had no objection to allow this amendment to be added to the original motion, Mr. KNAPP, the solicitor, read the clauses in the Bir mingham and Oxford, the Birmingham, Wolverhamp ton, and Dudley Railway Acts, the Great Western Amendment Act of 1844, the Monmouth and Hereford, Berks and Hants, and Oxford and Rugby Railway Acts, referring to the power of the Great Western Company to create preference stock to the extent specified. The directors had taken legal opinion on the matter, and there was no question as to the power of creating the stock. Mr. NrcHoLsox wished to know whether it was ex pected that the whole of the preference shares would be taken up. He had a large sum of money in reserve, which he would be disposed to invest in thew provided there was something like a certainty of their being taken up. If they were not well taken up it might happen that in a few months hence the directors might raise the rate of interest to 6 or 7 per cent. in order to have the remainder taken up, and he might not than have the means cf taking up any of the latter to «valise his st ck. The CHAIRMAN said they had every reason to hope and believe that the shares would be takes. As to ti e suggestion for rai'ing a portion of the stock at a higher rate a dividend than that proposed; it would be a great hardship ti those who would subscribe in the first in stance and to the original shareholder, and on that ac count could not be entertained, Major COURT said that if the rate of interest was raised on a portion of the s tuck hereafter it would be only fair to raise the interest to the same rate on the whole. _ . The CHAIR➢IAN, in answer to a question, stated that it was necessary to c,eate the whole of the stock at once— there were lrgal reasons for so doing. Mr. SMITHERS wished to have the opinio❑ of eminent counsa taken, in order to give the public confidence in the validity of the shares. The CHAIRMAN said there was no occasion, they had not the slightest doubt on the subject. reeteere, cue of the committee of consultatioe, ioaw no obestiori to the finaneial scheme. He believed that it woele be accomplished, partied' whoa it was thet they could "sive ample seeuri:y for the regular ea.y mtnt or the interest. He thought tie money could he raised as 4 per cent. He object d to raising portion of the capital at a fixed dividend in per ps:uity. Mr. WITHIMS entered at some length into the advan tages cf the scheme proposed. He considered the scheme an excellent one, and that it reflected great credit on the directors. There was a probability that the value of money would decrease, and this scheme would enable the company to take advantage of any change in the money market, and at the same time secure to those share holders who advanced their money a remunerative dividend and the return of their capital if desirable. He would not consent to any of the stock teing created in perpetuity. The CHAIRMAN explained that there were parties who could not look after their own interests, and would be glad to invest their money in a permanent stock at a fixed rate of dividend. It was to meet such cases that the directors proposed the creation of 1,000,0001. at 41 per cert. in perpetuity. Ile believed it was a wise provision; but, of course, before adopting it, they would first ascertain whether the whole could be raised on the terms submitted. Major COURT said, in that case it would be the duty of the directors to give the shareholders the %thus of taking it up before any part of it was offered to the public. The CHAIRMAN said, of course the Great Western and the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth shareholders would be invited in the first instance to subscribe for the stock. After some observations from Mr. Vausley, Mr. Tyr rell, Mr. Norris, and Mr. Marriott, the resolutions were unanimously adopted. The CHAIRMAN said they would now proceed with the second part of the business. When the committee of consultation was appointed by the proprietors the direc tors felt it was of the greatest importance to the com pany that the direst Ts should confer with the committee of consultation on all matters, and not only to confer, but to adopt their suggestions whenever they could do so honestly. At the last meeting the report of the com mittee was referred to the directors for their considera tion, and the latter concurred in the recommendations to a great extent, but they did not concur in all of them. The directors differed from the committee en points of practice and experience, and they were theref ore b oun d to act in accordance with that experience for the benefit of the company. The report of the directors and of the committee were before the shareholders, and they would have to decide what should be done. He then called on the secretary to read that peat of the report referring to the recommendations of the committee of consultation. The report was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN then moved that it be received and adopted, and that the recommendations therein of the committee of consultation be also adopted. Mr. WITHERS, one of the committee of consultation, moved that the further consideration of the report be adjourned to the next half-yearly meeting, or to some special meeting called for the purpose. He contended that the distant shareholders had not sufficient time allowed them to consider the report of the directors, or to lodge their proxies with the secretary five days prior to the meeting. The committee differed with the direc tors on matters of policy. The directors' report was delivered on Monday to the distant proprietors, and un less they were allowed to take part in the proceedings of the meeting, and to express their opinions on the subjects submitted to them, it would be a mockery, and have the effect of disfranchising them. He hoped the good example set in their company would be followed out by all other roilway companies. He then moved, as an amendment, that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the motion, and, in doing so, said that persons reading the report of the directors would suppose that there was no difference of opinion be tween the directors and the committee. The report was drawn up with great nicety, but there was nothing car ried out in it that could be avoided. There were recom mendations in the report of the committee which, if car ried out, would save the company a large amount of money. There were important points in the committee's report not touched upon in the directors' report. He would ask them to adjourn the meeting. Major COURT said that each section of the report should be discussed and form a separate resolution. He would support the amendment. Some discussion then ensued, in the course of which The CHAIRMAN expressed his regret at the proposed adjournment of the question. He said it had been al. ready discussed at considerable length, and there were matters connected with the internal arrangement of the company which were at present in a very unsettled state relative to the servants of the company, in consequence of some of the recommendations of the committee, and the sooner these matters were settled the better. He believed that serious inconvenience would arise from the delay if they adjourned the meeting. After some conversation it was agreed that a special meeting should be held on the 16th of May to consider the matters contained in the report of the directors. The CHAIRMAN said, that one of the gentlemen ap pointed by the proprietors to assist the committee of shareholders in framing the Audit Bill wished to say something on the subject. Mr. NORMS, of Sutton Courtney, said, the proprietors would recollect that at the last meeting he and four other shareholders were appointed as delegates to meet a number of gentlemen appointed under similar circum stances from most of the large railway undertakings in the country, with the view to the framing of a Share holders' Audis Bill. They met the delegates of as many railway companies as in the aggregate represented 125,000,0001. of paid-up capital ; there were delegates from the London and North-Western, the Lancashire and Yorkshire, the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, the Lancaster and Carlisle, the Great Northern, the Midland, the South-Westerr, the London and Brighton, the Black wall, besides the delegates of the Great-Western. One of their representatives, Mr. Sandford, whoa they as sembled, laid upon the table u Bill which he had prepared; another, Mr. Lord, also submitted a well-digested scheme, and Mr. Bright had also something of his own to propose on the subject. The South-Western represen tatives, including Mr. Sergeant Gazelee and Mr. Locke, had for some time previously directed their attention to the question of audit, and after six months' labour pro duced a well digested scheme; in addition to which Mr. Ewalt, of Bristol, and Mr. Bennett, representing the Lancaster and Carlisle Company, Nei an original Bill of their own, which they laid upon the table; and, to be as brief as possible, he might mention that alter some ten or a dozen successive meetings, with those materials to deal with, their labours resulted in the production of the Bill which Lord Stanley introduced into the House of Lords, and which had been read a second time. He might mention that during the progress of their labours Earl Granville introduced a Bill professing the same ob ject as that upon which the delegates were at work, in troduced in the same House. In selecting Lord Stanley to introduce their Bill, they were fortunate in finding his Lordship totally unoccupied with railway matters. His Lordship told them he had never held a railway share, and it was not likely he should ever do so; he had therefore paid little or no attention to the subject of railways, nor did he feel any interest either in promoting or opposing Lord Granville's Bill; but as they had re presented themselves as personifying the opinions of the leading railway companies in the country his Lordship expressed himself as being ready to be instructed in the matter.—(Hear, hear.) The delegates gave his Lord ship such information as it was in their power to afford, which resulted in his embracing their Bills as superior for securing a legitimate bona fide audit of railway ac counts, to that which had been introduced to the House by Lord Granville. The same evening the Bill was read a first time, and on the following Friday it was read a second time, and both Bills had been referred to a Com mittee of Peers, where the two measures would have to work out the conflict. They would be very fortunate if the Bill, which be might term the Shareholders' Bill, ob tained the mastery.—(Cheers.) In their Bill there was a provision that in all railway accounts there should be a uniformity of system—(Hear)—and under the advice of the best accountants a schedule had been appended, setting forth the way in which the accounts should be submitted to the scrutiny of the auditors. Another provision of the Bill was, that the shareholders should elect five or more from their numbers, as an audit com mittee, and that the individuals so appointed as a com mittee should hold as large a stake in the company as that which would quality them to act as directors.— (Hear, hear.) They further said in their Bill, that the live or more persons should, when so appointed, elect two of their own body, or two other persons, who should be the auditors ] which two persons should have the liberty of calling in the assistance of a third party in the person of a professional accountant. To secure purity in the auditing of the accounts, the directors had no power to appoint persons to conduct the auditing of the accounts; the accounts duly audited under the sys tem proposed should be sent to every shareholder seven days at feast before the meeting was held at which they would be called upon to pass those accounts. They _ _ had further said in . their Bill, that assuming a minority of the proprietors were dissatisfied with the accounts, if five of them could be found so dissatisfied as that they demanded a special audit, it should be allowed, antra special report made ; and it would be for the share holders at large to determine whether the case was one which justified the calling for a special audit, and whether they would vote the expense attending it from the com pany's funds, or whether the parties who had called for that special audit should defray the expenses themselves, on the ground that such special audit was uncalled for and unnecessary.—(Hear, hear.) That was a hasty des cription of the Bill promoted by the delegates, and which was now in 6mmittee. With respect to the Bill intro- duced by Lord Granville, if it were passed, they would be in a much worse position than they were at the pre sent moment as regarded the auditing of accounts. He was anxious to explain that the united. body of delegates had performed their duties in a most zealous manner, and they had perfected a measure which, in his opinion, was superior to Government intervention in any form, and especially that which would result under Lord Granville's Bill. As a common principle, he advised them to resist the interference cf Government with their affairs in any way. Mr. WILLIArds said that he attended the meeting of delegates on the Audit Bill, and he could state that the brought before them for consider tilion was a London and North-Wts'ern Bill. He believi7dtha;the present system of audit, which was in fact very Mettite, was better than that introduced into the so-called " hart:- holden' Audit Bill." He contended that the Bill brought in by Lord Grarville was not a Government Bill. It would place the whole matter in the power of the share holders. The Clain :col said that they were all much obliged to Mr. Noiris, Mr. Williams, and the ether gentlemen who attended the meetings of delegates on the Audit 13111. The matter was not a directors' question, and when the conflicting opinions expresEei ori the subj,et were considered, he thought the directors ought to be glad they had nothing to do with it. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. F.d'TT;3.4 , i- 1 95 4-4 , A przi from Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition ,„ 0 Colut:el ti,e 1., ,, rd-Lieutenant of the c0 0n ,` , 4 , Denbigh, and, three oth e r gentli--men, cumplaining tr 0/ certain railway w hi c h ran t h roug h t h at cou nty 13 a u f f a - d into the hands of certain propriet >rs of collieries, v ,ll° , by abused the powers conferred on th em by P a rliarao" ;e d currying their own co a l s a t ; a ;ess rce than they "rf.o the coals of oth er p ro p r i etors. H e b el i eve d t hat tbi 6 `` p , not a singular in s t ance i n w hi ch coll i er ypropti't ° ,, who were Lis() railway directo rs , h a d, i n a similar 11 7 ner, abused their trust. „„.i 5 ll Earl NELSON p resen t e d a pet i t i on f rom the P"h-c of Plympton, against an increase in the number of shops. TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGAT IONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. T./AO On the motion o f th e M arqu i s o f BREADAL--„r. this Bill was passed th roug h C omm i ttee, sa d some bal amendments were introduced. ALTERATIONS IN PLEADINGS 13ILL, This Bill t asmql through Comnri;t;. --- PIRATES HEAD MONEY REPEAL 1 : 4 " 14 - ' t je On the motion of th e M arqu i s o f LANSDOWI"' house I.( solved itself into Committee on this nil. t he The Earl of ELLENI3OROUGII objected toh e tAiginatiz'ng Forgoes a s pi rates unt il t h ey s hould, il ti v ki been convicted of pi rac y. Th e wor d s of t h e Bill 1",, 6 3 . have been "alleged pi ra t es ." Th e N o bl e Lord ate eluded by proposing a verbal amendment calculate mee hie t t. objection. The Earl of MINTO defended the wording O f l ye clause. ad After a few observati ons f rom t h e E ar l o f 111.NTO $ Lord COLCHESTER, • , Earl GREY said h o h a d no o bj ect i on t o aa ° l P n by much of the amendm en t o f t h e N o bl e E ar l (Ella rough) us would make the Bill applicable to the OP of pirates on shore as well as at see. eegr After some conver s atio n th e amen d men t was n ab tived without a divi s i on , an d the Bill passed w r— Committee. frO The Bishop of OXFORD p resente d pe titioea is Jamaica and from au anti-slavery society, eemPlri xo — a of the ruin brought upon the inhabitants of that ° o p by the introduction of s l ave - grown sugar i n t o uut o rle• kets, and praying f o r r e d ress; a l so a pet i t i on f r om I c e; inghatnshire against Sund a y l a b our i n t h e Post;°, for and also a petition fr om a place in Surrey pray " the suppression of beer-shops. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 25 , ni t a jo AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT,P The House resolv e d it se lf i nto C ommittee on this -did, On the motion that c l ause 17 b e agreed to as AnTe"heit Mr. ROEBUCK s u ggeste d t h at the saving "be g % r 1 was proposed to eff ec t i n t h e sa l ar i es of certain er,-„re. should be left at th e di s p osa l of t h e C olon i al Legiga";ol The amendment was o pp ose d b y L or d J. Russnl't -- Mr. HAVES. Mr. ROEBUCK complained of the extravagan t Ol which the clause proposed to give to the Govere°' of Van Diemen's Land. It was 5,0004 a 3 ear—e videti fir too much, and he would thercf we suggest that tb e ,.. /j e ins; of all salaries sho u ld b e l e f t to t h e co l on ies ti" selves. Lord J. RUSSELL did not think that course We u ld be prudent, and he must consequently oppose it. i j be Mr. ROEBUCK su gges t e d t h at power & hen t o given to the Governor t o snake a civil list fora O r ' specified time. • Sir W. MOLESWORTH sa id if we w i s h e d to b n is l : proper officers in the c o l o ni es t h ey s h ou ld b e Paid 14' on° some degree of liberality. The grdlery was then cleared for a division, but 11 took place, the clause having been agreed to. 00 Clauses from 18 to 28 i nc l us i ve were agree d t o wit any discussion. On clause 29 being proposed, ;es 01 Mr. E. DENISON suggeste d t h at t h e bounuar the colony of New South Wales should be we re tinctly defined than they were at present. ,„ Lord J. RUSSELL said the Crown had power v - h e e te new settlements and to form new boundaries W' necessary. Colonel ESTCOURT thought it would be itcP ra cable to lay down any distinct line of boundary. d After a few words from Mr. ROEBUCK and la RUSSELL, the clause was agreed to. On clause 30 being proposed, e el% Mr. V. SMITH s a id t hi s c l ause an d the foo'„diei clauses, were the no ve lty o f t h e Bill . I n the West .`A-ess it was proposed to h ave a genera l assembly, sl3l7etter, found to be impossibl e , an d t h ey cou ld not expect '" ele success in Australia. H e h o p e d hi s N o bl e F r i e nd 00 00 consent to have this clause struck out of the Bil l ' d to wished to know what her Majesty's Government b$ say on the subject. 13 1 $ /c Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he did not t hin us' there could be any such thing as a federal assemb l y u gh less the colonies themselves proposed it, and eltli t as the powers given by the clause might not for Sow e e r it° be called into operation, it was better to provide ° t ot matter now, while legislating on the subject, 0 3 1,0 to come to Parliament f or f res h powers on an y occasion. With regard to the "squatting i n terest': the thought that it was better not to be represented s" r ef present period. He trusted the Committee would ag to insert these clauses. Mr. E. I)ENISON said he had no o bj ec tion t° ` we pt deral association, but in providing for that theY bib too far, and pres cr ib e d ru l es an d regu l at i ons w V made it impossible that such a body could ever e 1 formed. He obj ec t e d t o t h e f orm in which the ci s ' were framed. Mr. ROEBUCK said th a t th e c l auses were drawn letilesos most unfortunate way. Th e great o bj ect to effect ` r e federation, a subje c t w hi c h h e t h ought of great n e ante. The idea might be sneered a t by s ome, be hoped to see a great people spring up.—(Hear.) it clause had bettor be withdrawn with a view to gt r greater consideration. r 6° Mr. DISRAELI said it a pp eare d to hi m t h a t the e° e pursued by the Noble L ord was d e f eat i ng his °vvi3to°o jets. These clauses had been drawn up u pon a The misconception of the true principle of federation. w et true principle of f e d era ti on was equality, and it i 1 upon the basis of independence in the several state % " oo o the clauses were not w ithd rawn t h e N o bl e Lord Clsoo fail in his wise and s t a t esman -lik e sc h eme. The 'ti went upon the principle of inequality. lit Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that perhaps e q. - t oc s ' might be increased by some variation in the prev ls old He certainly wished the clauses to be carried, and 0 1 ; I/ 9 with that view see w h ether the clauses could 13-1 amended before th e report so as to meet the severs' ' gestions that had been offered. j to Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH said he objec te i bete a great federal association, unless it was intended t 0 s et a great independ ent s t ate . If t h ere was any 014 ) ,: o be necessity for this u n i on , h e s h ou ld not oppose it; thought there was none. . ess is Mr. LABOUCHERE said that it would not c'ef' ., the tie of these colo n i es t o t h e mot h er country bJteleat arrangement, but rather strengthen it, by enabling e tee to effect what changes m i g h t b ecome necessary 111 gular and constitutional manner sca n Mr. DISRAELI said th at p ro b a bl y, as i t was seee 9 the ledged to be a difficult and delicate matter to proew machinery by which the federal association could b e t tor' tied out, the clauses had b e t ter b e withdrawn altt/getoci Mr. ROEBUCK hoped that the Noble Lord ve 011 " so readily accede to th a t suggest i on. blc $ Mr. ADDERLEY tho ug h t t h e p l an inappl.; eBhool--e . , present. He did not k now w h y t h e N o bl e L o rd object to two General Assemblies, and therefore h des' that the Noble Lord would again consider th° cbe tion, as it required much reflection on the part of Government. 0 0°1 Mr. ROEBUCK said th a t h e was a t a l oss to O e n be for the speech of th e l as t spea k er, particularly vl ie d o 0 asserted that he (Mr. R oe b uc k) con f oun d e d his i" °- o tle this plan of forming tw o l eg i s l atures , w hi c h was "/ tricaord o J posed to his wish. L MANNERS objected that an apPj;ati°Pee should be made by the General Assembly to he r jesty's Government. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the objection rais e t ietie the Noble Lord (Lord J. Manners) was very obje u e: d if able, particularly when it was to be consideredt e , tl : o o l there was to be an agreement on the part of the le e " eir Assembly, there should be a perfect understanding tween all parties. eel' The Committee then divided, when there llPPe a " r For the clause Against it _.5 41 jority for the clause nt 0 Clauses 31 Ma to 49 were then agreed to wite° - discussion. t bs The preamble of the Bill was a l so agree d to, tt,„ P f eJoi House resumed—the r e p or t t o b e b roug h t up on e:'" week. SECURITIES FOR ADVANCES (IRELAND) e The adjourned d e b a t e on t h e second rea di ng of Bill was resumed. Lord NAAS oppos e d th e further progress of the n ot and regretted th e o pp os i t i on to the measure bat, bad fallen into abler h an d s . I t was true the niees°,reee it been brought in by Government, but at the saMe .00 could not be delved there was a great diversity of the on all sides with respect to this Bill. He conside r f3tll° Bill was a step in a wr o n g di rect i on . I t wa s c u d', t ..i ° enable parties, under the E ncum b ere d E s t a tes "" c ot borrow half the purchase-money, and secure tb i ! o i s tic' on the land. This he considered was in total 'l i t yeeri of the Bill they had been called on to sanction la 9 t, ae The present would not have its intended cf re d c e d pr t) ; would also act injuriously on the present lan "Del to e _ pea; prietors. The Bill last year was brought in proprietors of encumbered estates and to set fr ,reo and and had it been brought in on any other prineiPils m oat for any other object, he should have given it h ( pe t : determined opposition. To prove this he would . s4 o d . . a passage from the Honourable Member's d 'bet: who brought in the Bill. (The Noble . I )°,. t he e tb n quoted from the speech.) He would ask val" r ? '` present Bill was analogous to the Bill of last Yeianiee o f i was as direct variance with the object and Pri e n i c ie r ge dt the Bill of !net year, inasmuch as he firmly belie Oil passed, it would create a permanent encum", ic h ie A property. It was an extreme measure that vv' ar d an gassed last et ste but it was brought fer vv c i e e supported meet) , because of the exig e ,% j etbi l t the case, and the necessity of doing f'i ste 9 to relieve the holders of encumbered °L ie Gen Ireland. He would ask the Right Honoura ble t ettc,, tleman, if the Bill passed into a lsw, whether o lo carry out the recommendations in the report j3lll wa s the receivers in Chancery ? Assuming the 3 ;0 ins not contradictory, an d assum i ng th e o bject vet i t, row te crease the value of l an d an d t o s ave lessswel 0 glut of land th rown on th e mar k e t, yet l e ` tei it wee, it did not appear likely to carry _ ( . l . ° ‘; tha n jest or to create a better state of il'il:g ov e that it was ertietted to supersede. The Nobleydefeetto Fettered into some calculations to show the be ti s s o ,. probable working of the measure. It had_ iptie t P r these measures were calculated to create a p., eget thin prietary in Ireland. Nothing could be more au.," /A 4 P%, `~..