The Sun. — London, England, 1850-07-19 00:00:00

M I . ___.........e in which 11; 1 " and universities, and the manner were ma Y Were bound by their foundations. There ,f Wellinfornied persons who believed . that there th e la th, abuses that required to be rectified, and that toe"' institutions should be altered and extended to tpieuti!he, altered state of thins . . 1 . 0 . meet that public It " he was in favoiar of inquiry, with a view to e refer of all to of all proved abuses, and . the remedying 4 NI - proved defects. The necessity for . snch a canvas h.,,ad been laid down by none more strongly than work on the ,r;encock, the present Dean of Ely, ; ; ..ettet es of the universities; ' ndly to it woul i e l l l b h e r is adm admitted ;•";a',.`. l %ore competent judge, or one more Te __ e e,,a.,lelerests of the universities, could not be cited.. II that there had been few essential changes in the e I,,ttition of the colleges and the universities for t hen ii;:ttree centuries, and that the time had cornew n a l °light to be remodelled in their educational system,__a,rs. If %de to harmonise with the existing state of antl-1 why it t i i i : el l en inquiry was instituted, he saw no reas e o .sidel, 4 thoeld be either so defective in feets, or s it e s ti i ° h. and Learned Member for Norwic e h on hadsaid 4 0 ~c ill 'd be. The statement that because the fellows,..in he give in orie4",te Personally int:rested, might refuse . bet0,,, 1°13 , sod thus prevent any one of their , body from h which h e v .."'R the common interests of the body v 4 it lac one. It til''' connected, seemed to him a very singular P of tt,pe to was carried our, it would be in) impossible itid4l,l° introduce any reform where the testimony ,iired. Terit,"ll%ll personally interested was many of the 4110 e; Showever. one reason why the fu e pic! not be able to give much information man as to ignorant 1 61 44 2; 48 , and that was because they were . f otiti, es. Practically, the whole manag-ment of these Ile 4411 vested in four or five of the re . siden A t s fellows, to the Illsoee't koew nothing whatever about it. It7eoAnconstitutional nature cf the inquir y, kesuch an as -lettieuti 1Z could be more easy than to ma. he would totitit„',4ll we were without any definite or written thi li. 4 LlOll But the very a tClo fideg us on such subjects. it ii.iiiattoed el hil . 4 easy to make telitled;'hY difteult to prove it.—(Hear, hear.) the assertion, rendere n d . Need o wat cur Only guide under such circumstances was bhi t h -nt, and he bad already referred to precedents, he ti tt e?seeleed to him to justify and sancti t o w n o the institu kit n ' this inquiry. On the question of illegality Hoe. 141°4 : Ptetead to question the knowledge of the em.. te lt I "Led Gentleman , but he knew that othert. there eta beld a contrary opinion. Leaving, h tt Nth questions of the constitutional and legal powers It t, 4 41. 4 (..4toniseior he would ask whether t t „ ,fit of the He was prepared . "etelPedient? ' to show tha e t for ci the I , 4 44 e colleges and universities themselves, such N tdl Y °light to be made. It was Lord pro tsed 6y vie he was sure, that the Noble with no un- Pet e the 4ccluiry. He could as .414,0;: hs With no unfriendly feeling he supported to sincerely assure the i „ 1 , 11 !eli t ° , 841 . lle could never forget the university with e:th 1, - w as so much indebted, nor the college tilled tli:e,,w_sarneonnected,and which had been _w_e o l r l ttltfitt!rpos'e ucsftagnificent He e was quite ready to 0 _ eminary ever erectedf admit %to ll ' univ a • • education. justly liable to many t 1 eta, rsities were notu 1141 2e s Iliad • them and also that they had 114, made Q against but he 1)- 1 1 %i t ,B°9le important improvements , that they did t pot tcetr defect was constitutional; within; )4„ if the Power to reform themselves from . k k bm. Ydid, such was it.—(Hear, -Niti " the the constitution of the ; T . ) tielebs, that it was hopeless to expect f 4 11. elteved that the Commission was issued in 'ot i tint t • • If they ti a , , er teet . ° wards the univeretties. to those qualified t,R.ue it ~,1 4 io a friendly manner . appealed s h tee ;,,Would experience °it f ' '4l (1 5 ,, such ; a,acquainted be laid might mese best • t e d with their affairs; and t Ati44'oMation plan of reform ef th . till i tisti , old at once p ace h ' e t "' *0 I a l these influential and the altered state t„o4iltigs wh:e!utions in harmony He with them. —( Hear.) 1ie„ 41 ,4 1 , c , Lb now existed around litu svgs be the Noble Lord, that whatever . investige le ftt th e e .".e ulade should be done . in afriendly sioners should not to li!itstdVite tme, that the Coi.nmpe spirit; ve . bee !heir discretion or in thpowers granted iii yeierufZelieved that much , good look at the subject li t a t it s b sibn being empowered to would result from 41nieedearings. He suggested alsohat it ought to htihtto bone--that the two um h ve a rs t ities should be ' Commission, he te c i e t led, Iru e : . ; on each other. i tteltl i e ; u be neither unco S ns u titutional its appointment or illegal, Is t %l e lead of being inexpedient h•t4kpid de ° f f the purpose o f c ear g 1 in the col 11, „... . ,or lin 4nlveraiti f such unfounded calumny—of k ur. R out ea from °tltlligolit Clearly h what were thei r t o 4 ete, Qs clearly what were the rymedies for these real defects, and of nd Ilet,,4tooctesci.nyerely believed that this would all te Itot tit °od ‘ the universities themselves, .which . would . a. Lai t heir suffer from a fair and candid invesug Icvtillite" athirs. had the Hon. Member 4 1 4 iliy ft PUShed his motion to a division, and ' i t was for North lit% lu te, e ore the House,he should -a e b f s have felt it to Nth th;slra With these views, to have voted for it, h hhe did not con tkielli th I::,as much in it, and in . the opinions ex ttpk• lalltai lislon. Member with /vle titOtily C ule Noble Lord had so judiciousl y basis for fu ilttelien,9/ltnission to put and lay the proposed support that trel. - ` l °' 3 , he should most cordially h . q Hon. Gentleman 1 " 111 0 1141, i t e 4 P S TONE said there was one point on which h tid Pleasure to concur with the irfl. Jost tereb t 6 r‘sat down, and that . was as to the motives o 4%. Uovernment were Noble tikhtlteeki.; He believed that the animated in proposing feeling of the most lie l ili e t i t the universities was that of the_ hetctis;•(llear hear.) He felt bound to state C d ' l 4 or l- 1 7 ; °4 at the outset, because the strong he Noble ' 3 4 t'„'llibire''',' ° Pinion against the proposal o Lord. i Be )et,ldoZue should feel bound to make, d f ' t d not rest t ili i ll tert a i ' es to the motives of the Noble • n of il) Fit t ~_ ti 14 11 " the hope, that before the conclusion es. Def t :, 4 lll 1 the Noble Lord would reconsider the qeu in li lt ie b e let Matters revert to the position they w ee er ip:ttiop t ti.3', and in an evil hour, announ tae d e the ble N e ll of 5 , Issue the Commission. After l Ara a l, tiuo Honourable and Learned Member for I lii, o ce fe Noble Lord must see the lega h SI 'I tt t ed - g r e eQt difficulty ; and before _ the d would he i t „ ine l) ,, ne bslieved the Nohle h Lr_ question debate o o posed the tt ; ;Of 814 Pon that point. While f IkttliNit of 4 Commission it was not ro o m was no reason NI 48 0 ( pelt an investigation; tbere . an _ P uny fear of d he spoke pii, i Y f,,, 1 4 the U niversity of Oxford, it th t ? ear o B s °wll university, not doubting the same ap n— on Stse.°4l4 bsetettige.(llear.) There was no . reas . on why ( Idr:u ' h ir t i:i.,''," irom the most public examination—on i tt te7 at ite"; e nt knew that such an examination would were ' I t 'etse ''"e bon and credit of the body, wh lit.\ with our /l ebt' Q " the management of its affairs.—(Hear, ar, il ed a whet. hey fearlessly stated they .4ti, noeh e t might, he ‘eit 4 w hire e e re find a body of men more devoted to the Ifeetllettorkg nevolved upon them, all the more indefatigable in pay I whieh2oce, or who were more adorned by A l a I,kentlerh belonged to them as Chi istians, as scho l ars, LI It t, g 'cil h—eh --(Hear hear. ) But this was a !matte! : It : t il l 'vererte.`!att) feeling' s and the interests thing,indivi g indeed, LIN ;13ree h at i _ l , o be regarded, nor ,any -- which :ti ;croleetfa:Lnic and constitutionai questions i i ili t e lt i tvV e ul it. Any. Commission of this kind, N l eid i b e ; u t hey could appoint would be attended 6 141 tl b le ' el' e "lc Be did not deny that there might ts oe' r ;tlt l' illtl tf : reit to justify some Commission o i N4li'rtelis'Y case he was prepared to maintain that p „i, a'atl Would be HD evil, though perhaps a no b% It% there,veit others still greater. rela- I lle ° Ni a c ock which it would produce in the 0 ,. It would be an 1011110irereing between the principals and students t s h% tti t e ir t i ke itY t i e,ad the discor which would inevitably were 'Ai, Al te th e disturbance. Peace and repose . e' a tt 3 ' h sd ." Prnnecution of the objects which a un.ii .l4t ttt 4 11 14 view, and controversy in any tititills 00 gall!© te the attainment of those purposes. e shape mil tiPl:lleefTnissions were opposed likewise to the tip ! , 44 41 ',Joel freedom. No doubt that was a Prrtin tNet9 Wi li t e c t i s *4ll i 8 own evils, but it was a P t 4 ,ltei i r es t , . the peo I of this country owed much l Otli c ihie r h att lY for , J4' Po' a cnlnte -' ---- selPf-eeovernment. And if he were l e ,, s l tei . itit t o ;,.. enjoyed it nLxt ow in n limbs—the hiteileptea o f''' .. cif-hoot of th degree he t if 'still , 'merles, where, though . democracy el itt on, ; t ie Q ta cre• was the greatest liberality l on the '4Wer;,)ls3, sererntnent to encourage those toes insti -1 'Nle - Pe "wing theta with large and independent ,„'ltik,"g N. th gen e ra ( observations . to or teeth e re, he - -ea° Friend opposite 4 t itly 4 eUtpki "ettld ask_his Hon. h 4 41 t k Y t elila i • . 41100 of this kind was to be instituted h a d e I st 0 file cause of local improvement. He c . o , e : t r l, ne e' ~,a e s c 4 -:,.; its local interests were concerned th 3 i tc,u th i e l 4 ti -- " I ; Ile would admit that of late years kl otite;Lrsteser4l introdueed considerable changes i i it en be,,tli' atudies ursued in them, and on e 2 4 . I; 41411 1 s',,;s,tsek w P as made on them Oxford . bad .. y..74t ci:,/tta treolL°ll to her now statute of examina ;Keil ~fges; oet'''‘t to that statute must follow other . ;Cl a ire': halls. - eti -1 1, 4 I lle university alone, but in its col- Ile e 'ed to The t i be Ili 4:ll3sid ..' discussion of those changes must col- Ili wt,,,meture th 14 , and still more time would Jne'' Pin. "°t be,„ a tut and he would ask whether . the sultdiettPatee? ee'''', 4 to give the time necessary for b4;414;911.1II all, 4'48 Commission , if it was to have a .rt u ‘ s ( l etl- 111 " t c :ai1t1 . "! a w . _at • to haeee,a i femedial 'jurisdiction, h it bad not been tee,?'. i t utl us ual _ u lster in /a sli tit se t , waii s 7ay that therew 'which anything to re under the !er,; t e n'e ri t etn th.4ld that at Oxford, ah tY - AWL - -Y couldnot alwayscompetent --" 'ir * (11 tt "e the get .. ti ou pee ttlt se r, he actual work of tuition in the uni in . er nto at le 4,, 4r.) That fact, which was used as in ''sfe,,,,lo oPPort of this step, he wag • - 1 '''n the' ulfi and h Beenr gures. In all the colleges halls a situu prl4,oll;t4Ll del were lectors, who had taken 85 first keUdeentee ue .'ula of these there were of teilit thzttre '-uyersity honours. Could it then be only elections had six that t ett . d eo,. strletiona at the university . s Nt h , lot? "lePetent s ee !tit 4 et Was _ .n from undertaking the business F el. ere ue-,. l aid, in the next place, that these 4a totit g to, b "terable. That he very much doubted; thettkter, illY,.Elseeretttil3i,..ll3_,it could be pleaded it must be_ s r a_ti w s: 0 ass ert . ueo to be a tact. At the most, how tie ~ 'tit s 1 ,., 0 tv e u ion could only apply to six colleges, a°u tiertoll toualtid not assume the - authority to inter bot, Ps, be fill restriCtions of this nature. It might, ),, 44 14 th® ell to interfere with them ; but did they a ßtib l i l at R oi fit"t Place. inquire whether that work of "th 11 0 11 ?' FO the presen he p . . n rve t; s, 4 be 'Pie of competn in the electio 4 rotested l ie to and i t ' n g the one which ought to be °b efs throw would, in fact, be quite as unreason *as, ,tl,4'. ° Pen to competition the offiee of Prime c lis el 'Qat The °llly case they could have on their side ett,s ogees oxigencies of the times rendered those ti '1 Itsser. e ne , Was above' but his answer to that was —wait Ilte:'‘aat th.", by proper and authentic investiga ueniveraity regulations lagged behind the e441-ZIY Of ' tli tive • "ithout tithez•—(Hear.) Even then he con billet t siti ea I cruple, that the only way in which the 14 st i l ie d e i n d li ' d be dealt with was by Act ot Parlia lititb e sh romt tpt wish it to be supposed for a moment olli'i b l • ca ton .,.rera the probable consequences of an in tlipeel stelows the principal'and broad objection 40s, ace d k , the unconstitutional character which %N u tO 44, him to ettach to it. They were proposing ttitlttite o,7ith these universities in a manner which 44ti11aki0n4443.,11 be the year 1686. But if the The Ziobirbe aPpointed, in what terms was it to "Nrd proposed to settle this matter in his own room, and be had even intimated—certainly as respectfully as he could—that he did not require any as sistance from either university. To that he objected. The universities were learned: and dignified bodies of men, endowed with privileges under charter, and amongst these were stringent obligations under oath not to reveal any of the internal proceedings of their establishments. Now, that being so, were her Majesty's Ministers justified in putting a Commissioner of the Crown in the undignified position of having his questions met with a direct refusal? If they expected to get answers from some who were disposed to construe these obligations liberally, and whom on that account they would receive with open arms, then they would bo holding out a premium for laxity in the binding obligation of an oath. Inde pendently of these considerations, he believed that it was quite illegal to appoint a Commission having for its object a direct interference with the rights of private property—and cases bad been tried in courts of justice in which proceedings so taken were not admitted as good pleadings in answer to charges of illegal ado. Modern precedents had been cited in justification of this attempt, and the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department had endeavoured to add to the number. Whether those precedents were right or wrong with re ference to the question before the House, he would not undertake to say; but he did say that they did not come near to a justification of this resolution. The Right lion. Baronet had stated that there was an inquiry into tho management of the Scotch universities. And so there was—a royal Commission. too—but what of that? It was an inquiry in respect of a visitatorial power, and, as suming its legality, what was its composition? It was composed, first. of the heads of the respective universi ties, showing that the universities themselves were con senting parties. Then the judges of Scotland were members of this Commission, showing that they recog nised its legal existence. But this Commission had no resemblance whatever to that recommended by the Noble Lord. It was not a fishing Commission, a roving Com mission, but one of the largest nature, having power to administer oaths to the witnesses, and to require the production of documents. It was a Legislative Commis sion, and recited in the warrant itself that it proceeded from the prerogative of his Majesty. Now, he contended that here they were doing no such thing. and that, in stead of proceeding to bring the power of the State into contempt, they ought to proceed by Act of Parliament, when an opportunity of fair discussion would be afforded to all the numerous interests whom this inquiry would concern. The Ecclesiastical Commission or 1835 had been referred to also, but that was of a totally different nature, and depended upon the potency of Parliament to magnify the salaries of the bishops, and to create central funds for local purposes. And so far from its being intended as a mark of disrespect towards the Church, the Church itself was a consenting party. If the universities consented he would not oppose the mea sure, but they did not; on the contrary, they were op posing parties. There were but two other cases that could be cited as precedents—the inquiry into char ities in Ire land in 1824—but that was in the case of charities which received in the whole, or in part, public money, and therefore it was impossible to object to interference; then the other was that of the municipal corporations. In the case, however, of these bodies, they were orginally represented bodies —a principle which had been violated in their regard, and therefore formed a ground for interference. But he denied that either of these were analogous cases of pre cedent. The doctrine now was, that the exercise of the prerogative in this case was legal, because the Commis sion would not have coercive powers. It was said that the Crown had a visitatorial power, but this was not of that character. It was irregular, because it rested upon an undefined and unconstitutional exercise of the preroga tive.—(Hear, hear.) For two centuries, the sixteenth and seventeenth, the Crown could do what it pleased, but at the close of that period these powers were defined. Now, be would ask would the principle of this inter ference extend to St. Augustin's College at Canterbury, and to the London University? It was urged that the universities had exclusive privileges, but the University of London had the same privileges to a great extent. Well, then, he would ask whether all other colleges came within the scope of this investigation? Was this Commission, he would ask, founded on Royal authority? If it was they ought to let them know what that authority was.—(Hear.) He thought it would be better to wait for the lights of experience, and to see whether the colleges would do their duty, before they issued this Commission. He thought that even a defective management of the finances of the colleges, under a system of self-management, would be preferable to a large increase of revenue under a better system estab lished by Act of Parliament. In the reign of Mary Tudor interference with the colleges was frequent; in' consequeuce learning was never at a lower ebb than at that time, because it prevented that tranquillity and freedom absolutely necessary to the prosecution of learning. Would they interfere because they were elee mosynary institutions? Would it be politic, when there was such a development of material wealth in progress, to discourage the application of some portion of that wealth to other than material objects? If they interfered with these institutions in the universities, they would de prive them of much of the democratic character which now belonged to them. It was said that Eton was a little world, the same could be said of the universities. They were schools of morals, manners, and human ac tion.—(Hear, hear.) The House of Commons was the last place which should complain of the universities.— (Hear, hear.) If France left Cambridge behind in the higher branches of mathematics, and if Oxford took many of her manuals in Greek and Latin frcm the Ger mans, that House was indebted to the universities for training the gre atstatesmen which had distinguished them. selves in the service of the country. The universities had no reason to blush in the face of the House of Com mons. If they looked to either side of the House, they would see the application of the observation. On that side of the House, the great statesman who had so lately departed, who bad been styled the man of the British House of Commons—Oxford had reason to be proud that she had trained him for the British Parliament, and he could not but regret that be did not survive to throw the shield of his protection over these institutions. He did not, however, attribute an intention to the Noble Lord of aiming a blow at the colleges. He thought the friends'of the universities would have had a greater ad vantage if the proposal had been made at an earlier period of the session, when a lai ger number of Mem bers would have been in attendance. He still hoped that the Noble Lord would reconsider the question, and not proceed further until he gave greater consideration to the constitutional principles involved in it. He did not deny the power of Parliament, when sufficiens reason had been shown, but he protested against this applica tion of an undefined and unconstitutional exercise of the prerogative, as injurious to the honour of the Crown, in interfering with the privileges of the univer sities which were essential to their health and well-being. Lord J. RUSSELL said he felt very considerable difficulty in arguing the question that a Commission ought to issue on the part of the Crown to inquire into these universities, for if they admitted any of the defects of the universities, and confined themselves to the state ment that there were improvements yet to be made, and that those improvements might be facilited by inquiry, and that even legislative aid might be necessary fur the purpose, they were then met by the Right Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down with the statement that there was hardly a case for a Commission, and that none but the gravest reasons should induce the Crown to issue such a Commission. And if they pointed out in the present instance defects that existed, and in which improvements might be mad, then they were met by the latter part of the Right Hon. Gentleman's speech, in wlach he denounced the Ministers of the Crown as if they were not going to assist or improve, but utterly to subvert these institutions, and to deprive them of their very existence. The Right Hon. Gentleman in the latter part of his speech went into an excess of protestations against the intentions of the Government, which was hardly required from anything he had heard from any Minister. They might publicly admit that these uni versities had been most usefel—that large endow ments for such purposes were most proper—that the education of statesmen had been promoted, and the general learning of the country had been advanced by these institutions; but when they had made all these admissions, they were not a bit nearer the Right Honourable Gentleman's conclusion, that there ought to be no further inquiry on the subject.—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman, going far beyond the tem perate speech made by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who opened the debate, would have them think there ought to be on the part of the Crown no inquiry here after except into cases of very gross abuse, that made inquiry absolutely necessary and unavoidable. To admit such a conclusion would be to admit that from 1815 to the present time they had been going entirely in a wrong course—that the various Ministers of the Crown had abused its prerogative. The Right Hon. Gentleman, in the early part of his speech, told them that at Oxford, where the opinions of Wickliffe were gaining ground, the fellows of same of the colleges inserted in their sta tutes more strict rules against interference, from which the Right Honourable Gentleman proved the moral that they ought carefully to guard against ill considered schemes of reform. He (Lord John Russell) was hardly prepared to admit that the opinions of Wickliffe and the beginning of the Reformation were ill-considered schemes of reform.—(Hear, hear.) Ho was not prepared to admit that the Reformation of the time of Henry VIII. and of Elizabeth were merely ill-considered schemes of reform by the innovators of that time.— (Hear, hear.) But he did see in those strict and severe statutes another lesson, namely, that in those times those who made. those severe statutes made a w h g i r e e h a t t h mistake re te in the ed the e severityfou ndations and h hteye were strictness then it lay ing,h because by the very strictness by which they at tempted to prevent all change tbey did but make that change the more violent, more entire, and more sub versive than it would otherwise have been.—(Hear, hear.) Among those foundations which the Right Hon. Gentleman said ought not to have been interfered with, were many which were endowed by Catholic noblemen and divines, in which they made provision for the due maintenance of Catholic worship, and if they had pre served unimpaired and unaltered the institutions of those days, it was the NOMA Catholics, and not the Protes tants, who had a right to complain of interference. There was, however, a course of precedents with which the Right Honourable Gentleman, with great in genuity, though as ho (Lord John Russell) thought in vain, had endeavoured to cope. The Right Hon. Gentleman could not deny that they bad bad an in quiry into the Irish places of education—into the Uni versities of Scotland—into the state of the Irish Church under the Duke of Wellington's Government —into the Ecclesiastical revenues in 1832—into the municipal cot.- ; porations in 1834 and 1835—and into the state of the several bishoprics in England and Wales, and that that was likewise an inquiry into the state of the cathedral i chapters. The Right Hon. Gentleman could not pre tend that none of those precedents were applicable—he could only pretend it by saying that what the Govern ) meat proposed was, in fact, not a Commission to inquire, but a Commission in the nature of an inquiry and re- L medy, which was not only to ascertain facts, but to deal with the evils that might be found, and to carry into effect the remedy for them. He (Lord J. Russell) ad mitted that such an inquiry into the universities of Eng land would not only be ueadvisable, but illegal; but it was by comparing two things which did not resemble each other that the Right Hon. Gentleman was able to ' make anything like a case against the Commission. Then there was an inquiry into the municipal corpora tions. But the Right Hon. Gentleman said the case did not apply, municipal corporations having been founded for a particular purpose, inquiry might be made whe ther they answered that purpose, whether their constitution might not be restored or improved. But that ground could not be strictly adhered to, and many of those municipal corporations were no other in respect of laws and regulations than at the time they were founded. It could bo said of the universities what the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed altogether to have omitted, that they were not private establishments, but that the well-being of the country in a great degree depended on the manner in which these were conducted; that, with respect to the Church, the law, and medicine, they had certain authoriti s and pri vileges which made it a matter of quite as great interest to the nation to know that the universities were properly conducted as that the municipal corporations were se.— (Hear, hear.) Then, said the Right Hon. Gentleman, there was inquiry into the bishoprics, and into deans and chapters, but the Church was a consenting party. No doubt, some members of the Church were—the two arch bishops and some of the bishops; but if the Right Hon. Gentleman had gone to the cathedrals and asked the deans and chapters whether they wished iuquiry, and suchinquiry as should involve the application of their revenues in a manner different from what they had pre viously reckoned props'', there would have been as much dissent from that inquiry, on the part of the deans and cbapters, as the Right Honourable Gentleman found on the part of the universities. These two cases alone furnish precedents for the purpose of the Govern ment, and they came in the train of a long series of pre cedents—of acts on the part of the Crown in conformity with the spirit of those times, by which, endeavouring to preserve the institutions of the country, to retain all that was good in them, the Government at the same time endeavoured to ascertain what could be improved in them. If the advice of the Right Hon. Gentleman were taken, the country would stop short in that career, no inquiry would be instituted with a view to improvement, no inquiry would be made till a gross case of abuse or mismanagement occurred. • He totally differed from the Right Hon. Gentleman; all scope ought to be given to repair and renovation. The Right Hon. Gentleman raised up in opposition to inquiry the latent rights of the col leges and universities. So far as related to a Commission of Inquiry, thee) objections did not seem applicable; if so, they were applicable to almost every inquiry. The last made by a Commission—namely, into the law and practice respecting the occupation of land in Ireland, was ininquiry with reference to which no one could say that it could be right in the Crown to direct what tenant-right I should be reserved, or in what manner land ought to be cultivated. But into these questions the Commission went; and in two volumes of a digest of the inquiries all manner of statements appeared with respect to transac tions between landlord and tenant, which surely were as sacred as the conduct of any bodies entrusted with the education of youth. The Right Hon. Gentleman here, as everywhere, confused inquiry for the sake of reaching facts with inquiry for the purpose of adopting measures of remedy and alteration. The Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Newark (Mr. Stuart) said the proposed Commis sion tended to a violation of the law and constitution, and of the rights and liberties of the people. As re garded either of the universities there did not appear to be any such relation or any interference with the law and constitution, or rights and liberties of the people. It was very well to say the measure had a tendency to a violation of the law. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman knew the law a great deal too well to say this was a vio lation of the law; but he said it bad a tendency to a violation of the law. It was that tendency which any thing legal had to anything illegal. There was a broad distinction. What the Government proposed was to make fresh inquiries, as were made with re spect to municipal corporations and ecclesiastical bodies, and if it were necessary to make alterations it would fall afterwards to be considered what was.the legal authority by which they should be made. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman who begun the debate (Mr. Roundel' Palmer), and bad entered so temperately into the discussion of the question at issue, thought improvements might be made and were to be desired; he wished a greater portion of the people of this country could partake the benefits of a university education. If the Honourable and I Learned Gentleman and he were agreed on that sub ject, why should the Hon. and Learned Gen tleman insist that they should proceed now to adopt certain measures which had that object in view, and I not permit an inquiry in the first place into what were the changes which would secure that end, and how they might best be effected. The Hon. and Learned Gentle man did not say the universities were in such an abso- I lute state of perfection that .no alteration could be made; but was rather inclined to rebuke the Ministers of the Crown for not having advised interference in former cases, and yet would not allow them to take the preliminary step of instituting in quiry ; he agreed in the object, but would not in regard to the necessary means of attaining it. The universities were no doubt most useful bodies ; but their benefits might be extended to a far greater propor tion of the people. Not Wishing to be an accuser of the universities, one might yet remark that the Right Honourable Member for the University of Oxford had not succeeded in answering the charge .which was pre valent, that there was a great deal of needless expense attending the education there. None of the persons with whom he had conversed connected with that edu cation had he heard deny that such was the case; but they referred to their want of power to adapt regula tions to effect that which they thought would be useful. They complained of the laxity and indulgence of parents. Certainly those with whom he consulted never in the least denied that there was excess of expense hurtful to discipline, preventing the prosecution of a due course I of study, and exceedingly injurious to young men whose I parents could not afterwards afford to pay what they had incurred. If those who conducted a university found they were unable to correct this evil, was it not worth while to ascertain whether their hands could not be strengthened? •With respect to this kind of education, he had not yet seen how the alterations introduced of late years, both at Oxford and Cambridge, into their course of stndy, were to be made to aural- I gamete with certain institutions of the universities, how the lectures of professors were to be attended, and I the course of study prescribed followed out. The Right ' Hon. Gentleman said if they waited a few years they would see the result. But it could not be doubted that many persons connected with a university would be able to point out before a Commission of Inquiry in what way the improvements they would themselves carry into effect might be made so as to reconcile these improve ments with formerly existing institutions. It might be better that these institutions should continue; that, whatever alterations: were introduced, they might be made to combine with ail those studies, the regular and constant pursuit of which has attended the education of those men wbo, in past, as in later and in the present times, had been the greatest ornaments of this House and of society. That might be perfectly well done, but if the House of Commons would not permit the Crown to order an inquiry into these matters, they would do much to keep back the universities in the course of im provement they were willing themselves to adopt. All the institutions of this country had of late years bees under going changes. Take the Church, for instance. Let them look back twenty years age; and: let the m look at the changes that had been since made. They would see that far from the Church being destroyed—it was, he trusted, stronger than ever; and that, not from a reluc tance to change, but from the adopting of reforms suited to the times, and rendering them much more useful to the great body of the people.—(Hear, bear.) So it should be with all their institutions— (Hear, hear)—and so it should be with the universities. They would not act like those foolish innovators who destroyed the insti lions they were not able to improve. But, seeing those great endowments for the purpose of learning left to those universities by their ancestors , it sho uld be their endeavour to make them conducive in the highest degree to the promotion of morality, of religion, and of sound learning; and by strengthening them with every advan tage they could give them make them more worthy of the other institutions of the country.—(Cheers.) Mr. LAW reminded the House that the Noble Lord (J. Russell) was one among many others who had oc cupied a high station in the country and a high position in that House without the advantage of a university education. That being the case, the Noble Lord ought to approach the subject with great delicacy and forbear ance. He contended that the precedents to which the Noble Lord had referred did not apply in the present case. He could tell the Noble Lord that if the Commis sion was not actually illegal and indictable by the par ties instituting the inquiry, it was at least unconstitu tional. Every communication that would be made to that Commission would b e entirely unprivileged, and the parties making it would be liable to . all process of law, seeing that it was not made under any authority of law or under any coercion. Every man who stepped for ward to volunteer evidence was personally responsible for everything be uttered. .There was not a man o f e minence, or learning, or station, .or authority, whos e opinion bad been as ked at Cambridge, whatever shade of politics he belonged to, who had not expressed his entire disapprobation of the proposed Com mission of Inquiry. With regard to the illus trious head •of the University of Cambridge, th e Noble Lord had placed him in a very painful po s iti on . The eminent and illustrious individual who filled the office of Chancellor of the University of . Cambridge was placed in the anomalous position of bong at once the champion of the rights of the officers of the university, and the party who was to persuade the heads of th e university to consent to the issuing of the proposed Comreission.—(Hear, hear.) When the Noble Lord ad vised her Majesty to issue it, he should have considered who was the chancellor, and who it was who represented the interests of the university, and it was but a sorry return for what the university had d one, that it should now be obliged to appeal in vain to the chancellor for Protection against the issuing of this Commission. If the Commission was not indictable as regarded the parties instituting the inquiry, and if the Noble Lord did not lay himself open to a criminal information, at least he was violating the constitution in proposing an inquiry 12.3lga7ianss t against atFhtieui which any Member of that House had as e interests s t e h n e ce d ue duties e a so good a right to do as the Crown. He was satisfied hat no possible benefit would accrue from the re luctanthao n m d : e h: Noble d oa o unldd so t — hbee Lord . might induce to give evidence. It was f o fe f %tvh t the officers , universitiesr o s ffi o I c e s r seriously detrimental to the comforts, the quiet, ex hibiting their desire to adapt these institutions to peace of those institutions. These universities twere ..quirements of the age; and it was a bad return e to them ere to send down a roving Commi ss i on to o b ta i n f rom a f ew Idiscontented persons communications which were in their nature wholly unprivileged. What he wished to impress upon the Noble Lord was, that the information being wholly unprivileged, it was most unfair to call upon a few dissatisfied persons, and to induce them to take all the legal consequences upon themselves. Sir R. ING US said, although the Noble Lord was a great master of debate, he had evPently not done justice to the speech of his Right Hon. Friend and Colleague, who had brcught together the most perfect reasoning and the most profound philosophy, and which were only equalled by its eloquence. They did not object to inquiry, but to the unconstitutional nature of the propose inquiry. With reference to the speech of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman opposite, he bad made so many admissions that he was sur prised his speech had not been more applauded by the two members of the Government who had spoken than it had been. The Hon. and Learned Gen tleman admitted the right of the Crown to institute in quiries into the state of the colleges and foundations of the universities; but the matter had been decided other wise in the time cf Bishop Trelawny, in the case of Exeter College. The Crown had no more right to send a roving Commission to inquire into alleged misdeeds in colleges, unless such misdeeds were brought before it, in the shape of appeal, than the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench had to send a Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the people of Devonshire or Buckinghamshire. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman had needlessly introduced the subjget of Trinity College, Dublin, and given, what ought always to be avoided, a gratuitous opinion with respect to his neighbour's pro perty. He had said that Trinity College, Dublin, or the fellows of that college, had more property than they ought to have—an opinion that was wholly uncalled for. He (Sir R. Inglis) entirely concurred in the opposition to the motion of the Hon. Member for North Lancashire (Mr. Heywood). _ _ Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER explained in reference to what had fallen from the last speaker on the subject of the right cf the Crown to institute inquiries by Com mission in those cases—that in the case of that very Exeter College—when soon after the revolution of 1688, on the occasion of a general visitation, the visitor de prived the Master and the Master disputed his power to do so. The question was brought before the Court of Queen's Bench, who held that the visitor bad no such power. Lord Coke differed from them, and the case was hrought on appeal before the House of Lords, and it was there decided that the visitor had acted in conformity with his jurisdiction. Then with respect to Trinity College, Dublin, what he had said was th a t it s revenues were so large that he apprehended the purposes of the foundation, and the interest of education in Ireland, might be served, consistently with a due development of the intentions of the Royal Founder, by enlarging the foundation, instead of allowing those large proportions of dividend to accumulate in individual hands. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON wished to observe, in refe rence to what had fallen from the Hon. and Learned Gentleman on the subject of the Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, marrying, notwithstanding the statutes of celibacy, that it wa3 true that forty or fifty years ago, before the oaths of celibacy were imposed, some of the fellows were in the habit of marrying ; but in 1811 the oaths of celibacy were imposed, and the practice of marrying ceased until 1840, when, at the instance of the Marquis of Normanby, the celibacy statutes were re pealed. With respect to what had been said about the accumulated property of Trinity College, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was not present when his Hon. and Learned Colleague 01.1 r. Napier) showed that it was smaller than the amount voted annually to the College of Maynooth. Mr. HEYWARD replied, amidst impatient cries of " Time,"and " Divide." Mr. STUART rose and said, in courtesy to the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir George Grey) who had given way in the earlier part of the evening, when be (Mr. Stuart) was about to move his amendment, and withdrew his own amendment to give him the opportunity to do so, be would now give way to the Right Hon. Baronet, and, by withdrawing his amendment, allow him, it he felt disposed, to again bring forward his amendment. Sir G. GREY then moved as an amendment that the debate be adjourned to this day three months. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ••• ••• 160 Against it ... •.• ••• 138 Majority fur the amendment ... —22 The original motion, consequently, fell to the ground JEW BILL. On the motion for the second reading of the Oath of Abjuration (Jews) Bill, - Mr. LAW protested against proceeding with so im portant a Bill at this period of the session, and gave the Noble Lord at the head of the Government notice that if persevered in, he should feel compelled to avail him self of every constitutional - opposititn which the. forms of the House afforded. Lord J. RUSSELL would fix the second reading for Monday. Lord J. MANNERS asked if the Noble Lord intended to proceed with it on that day ? Lord J. RUSSELL said he would on that day state the intention of the Government. _ The second re a ding was tint' postponed till Monday next. --; The Court of Chancery (County Palatine of Laneas - Bill passed , ; ,,Jc o Rl, E through . yF ACERTIFICATES BILL. Lord R. GROSVENOR moved that the House re solve itself into a Committee on this Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he should take the same course as on previous stages of the Bill, and begged to move that the House resolve itself into Committee upon it that day three months. Mr. HAMILTON asked whether any intention ex isted of moving any instruction - to the Committee to in clude Ireland and Scotland in its operation? Lord R. GROSVENOR said no instruction was ne cessary. The object would be attained by merely alter ing the title of the Bill. Mr. A. STAFFORD raid he should be prepared, on behalf of his Hon. Friend the Member for Kerry. who was absent at the assizes, to move certain amendments in Committee as soon a. the Government had been de feated a third time. The Home then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ... ... 103 Against it... ... _ 105 Majority against the amendment --2 The House went into Committee. Colonel SIBTHORP expressed a hope that the at torneys would send in their Bills to all those lion. Mem bers who had voted against the Bill.—(Laughter.) An amendment was proposed by Mr. A. STAFFORD and agreed to, including in the provisions of the Bill Great Britain and Ireland. On the pruvision altering the foe for registration paid to the Incorporated Law Society from is. 6d. to 10s., The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the fee shunld remain as at present. Lord R. GROS VENOR. urged the expense cast on the society in maintaining an cattensive library, and in taking steps to exclud e i mproper persons from the pro f.ssion, as a justification for increasing the present most inadequate fee. Mr. MULLINGS said the society had expended as much as 90,000/. in taking proceedings fur the purpose of punishituz the malpractices on the part of attorneys. Sir R. FERGUSON observed that the Incorporated Law Society had left Ireland and Scotland out of the Bill. Lord R. GROSVENOR said application had been made to the profession in Ireland and Scotland before intro ducing the Bill, and it was only because it was thought that s.parate Bills would be required for that purpose that they had not been included. Mr. CLEMENTS asked if t h e I r i sh and Scotc h at torneysMULLINGS said th ey wou ld not, not requ i r i ng registered at the L aw S ociety. S would have to p ay the registration fee? F. TUESIGER bore t es ti mony f rom h i s own re centperience to th e system exercised by the Law So tc:rr. iv Mb ty ei in excluding improper practitioners from the roll, and expressed a hope that the Chancellor of the Exche quer would not divide the Committee on the question unless he had very good grounds. The Committee divided, when there appeared — For the 10 , . fee • • • ••• 70 ••• Against it 130 Majority —6O Mr. S. WORTLEY moved that the fee should be 55., as it would be unreasonable to retain the present inade quate sum of IP. 6d. The ATTORNEY sufficient, bearin g _ in England and GENERAL thought le s amounted to 10,000. • in mind that the number of th eattorneys old fee w Mr. G. TURNER contended that the present sum wa s with s V o E f N L n od ith ß. the O most inadequate, considering the important duties dis charged by the soci e t y . b were quite willin g R pr s o a fe id ss h io e n w in as ev i e u ry cor ar m t uonfitchae tio kingdom, and co u ld assure the C o mmittee that they to pay the 10s. It was certainly somewhat h ad e s x ei tr z a ed the ordina H ry on to . observe the ar t n h e e d new-bornseal Attorney-Ge neral to save the pockets of the attorneys, after having opposed the Bill in every way.—(Hear.) Sir F. THESIGER said the error consisted in treat ing the Law Society as though it were a body apart from the profession, whereas the greater part of the London attorneys were among its members. The ques tion was whether they were now to deprive the society of the means of discharging .those duties which they had hitherto performed so satisfactorily. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did not wish to deprive them of anything, b ut 1„ wished to prevent them from taking the money out of his pocket to put into their own. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the fee of 53. ... ••• ... 68 Against it ... ••• ••• •• • 124 Majority ... ••• ••• ••• --56 Mr. HUTT moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Mr. A. STAFFORD commented in terms of strong animadversion on the email() pursued by the Govern ment, who on some occasions were so eager to yield to the first intention of the wishes of the House, as in the recent case of the Post-ottice—(Hear, hear)—and now, when the opinion of the House had been taken on the contested points, and many of the supporters of the Bill had left the House, the Hon. Member for Gateshead moved that the Chairman leave the chair, for the pur pose of getting rid of the Bill altogether; and the Go vernment, in rendering their s upport to the Hon. Member in this individual attempt to defeat a measure, which they had been unable to do in a, fAir stand up fight, was acting a most unworthy part. eb ti r m u e a s r Lord J. RUSSELL said there was a great difference between the case alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman and the present. When an address was to be made to the Crown, one motion was sufficient; but it was perfectly at the right to contest a Bill on every one of its stages. Lord R. GROSVENOR contended that the Govern ment had not treated him with fairness.—(Loud cheers.) y, and had It was not his fault that the Bill had not been discussed longthree times in stance of the Goeernment.—(flear, hear.) He could not help thinking that the measure might have been grace fullyfoitrs bfeulghdeirn discussiontroduced it postponed ago; conceded ; but if that was not to be the course, the result would be the same as in man; r ether cases, and for his own part, he should feel bound in honour to exert his beat efforts, independently and conscientiously, to secure its success.—(Hear.) Mr. BASS said that it was notoriou s that many Hon. Members deeply regretted baying coup nitted themselves to the support of the Bill in its early st tge, not knowing what they were about, and would not b e sorry to see it rej:cted.—(Cries of " Name, name.") Mr. BASS would give the names of th use Honourable Members when authorised by them to do• so.—(Oh, oh.) Mr. WALPOLE was in favour of the Bill, but had hitherto refrained from voting, acting upon a principle which always prevented him from acquiescirig in depriving the Chancellor of the Exchequer of revs nue after the announcement of the budget. It was quite by accident that be happened to be present when the House went into Committee, but being the - :e, and seeing that the Government had been already beaten twice upon it, he intended to give his support to the Noble Lord who had had the conduct of it. He thought it unfair on the part of the Government, after the Bill had almost passed through Committee, to attempt to get rid of it by an indirect mode, and advised them to contest the point on the third reading, which would be more legitimate. Mr. V. SMITH hoped the lion. Member for Gates head would persevere with his motion, which was per fectly fuir and legitimate, especially after so narrow a division. Mr. HUTT contended that ho was adopting the most direct mode of defeating an objectionable Bill. Mr. PLUMPTRE had had great experieuco in that House, sad did not recollect any motion of the kind, and could not help thinking that the course pursued was most unumal and dishonourable. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... 92 Against it ... ... 99 Majority against the Government —7 Ihe announcement was received with -cheers by the supporters of the Bill. The clause was then agreed to, as were also the re maining clauses; and the report was ordered to be re ceived on Monday next. The Cruelty to Animals Bill passed through Com mittee pro forma, and the Bill, as amended, was ordered to be printed. The Bills of Exchange Bill was read a third time and passed. The Militia Pay Bill passed through Committee. Mr. SADLEIR brought in a Bill to facilitate arrange ments between debtor and creditors in Ireland. Mr. AGLIONBY brought in a Bill for abolishing fees paid to county and certain other coroners, and for providing for the payment of such coroners by fixed salaries. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND brought in a Bill for the better regulation of the officeof Registrar of Judgments in Ireland. The House adjourned at Two o'clock. OVERLAND MAIL INDIA AND CHINA. (From the Chronicle.) We have received by express in anticipation of the Overland Mail, files of papers from Calcutta to the Ist of June, Madras to the Bth of June, and Hong- Kong to the 23d of May. The intelligence conveyed by the electric telegraph from Trieste, that the Bombay mail had been delayed, is confirmed. We have not received the letters of our correspondent, nor the Bombay papers. (From the Overland Star.) Without the advantage of our London contem poraries, who have a field as wide as Europe with its aver constantly changing aspect to survey, writers on East Indian affairs are necessarily limited in the scope of their observations—between mail and mail—to such occurrences as are passing within the more confined range of the company's dominions, where every thing bears the same uniform stamp of continuous action unless oc casionally varied .by the episode of a rupture, or some exquisite specimen of gubernatorial folly in the shape of unpopular enactments. Even from these we are cut off at present, inasmuch as, save Golab Singh, who is not inclined to quarrel, there is nothing left to fight for, and no one left to squabble with, and the absence of the Governor-General reduces legislation to a mere nullity. In our last we recorded the explosion at Benares : this dreadful accident was the parent of other rumours—as if it were a good thing to find something to write about—something to cause excitement—without much care for those feelings of alarm and anxiety thet the narrative would create. Thus the blowing .up at the holy city inspired the report of a second one in the magazine at Ferozepore, which was said to have sent town and suburbs into the air, though these were full three miles distant from the spot where the damage was done. Total silence in the up country papers soon quieted all fears, and the Fe rozepore blaze and an asserted sale of public stores and implements of war from the arsenal of Delhi, have been consigned to oblivion as mere matters of imagination. More the last mail came in, it was reported Sir William Gilbert was nominated Pro visional Member of Council. This is confirmed; but what becomes of Sir John Littler ? Two mili tary members it against rule, and Sir John's time is not yet up. Will they, with so many gaping for commands, keep Sir W. Gilbert still on the staff ? That would be another violation of rule. To reward him is all right, but not at the expense of others. Purely domestic matters are not of moment enough to dwell upon at any length. The Conser vancy Act is likely to undergo revision, and it is be , lieved both commissioners and electors will be les sened. The loyalty of the lieges was manifested at the ball and supper given in honour of ber Majesty's birthday. Both Lord Dalhousie and Sir Charles Napier are said to be ill ; the latter is certainly so, and retires, we understand, in October. As Sir Wil liam Gomm has been appointed to the Bombay com mand, perhaps he i 3 destined to be Sir Charles's suc cessor—it would be but a fair recompense for prior disappointment. (From the Madras Overland elthencum.) The various members of our Indian Court have again re-united on " Simla's breezy heights." The Governor-General arrived here on the 2d ultimo, having been proceeded a short space by the Marchioness of Dalhousie and Sir Charles Napier with their respective suites. Lord Dalhousie's in disposition, we are happy to learn, has completely dis appeared since the change to a cooler climate, and the report that failing health would take him home before the expiration of his term of servitude, which was at one time prevalent, no longer obtains credit. India, we trust, will not be deprived of the full amount of benefit which the abilities of her present able ruler are so competent to bestow. With our Commander. in-Chief there is reason to fear the case is difierent. The assertion that he has sent in his resignation, and purposes leaving his command in October next, has been made with a positiveness that nothing but the most unquestionable authority could have warranted. From the prospective retirement of the Com mander.in-Chief to the actual retirement of the Ad jutant-General of the army, who stands next in in fluence if not in rank, is an easy and natural transi tion. The resignation of Colonel Grant has taken the Indian military world by surprise, and specula tion has been busy to discover the cause of a step so unexpected and perplexing. The currently received rumour is, that a committee of Queen's officers having been formed under the directions of Sir Charles Napier, for the purpose of collecting infor mation with a view to the exclusion of the officers of the Company's army from the highest grades of com mand, Colonel Grant remonstrated at being excluded from it, which producing only a cool reply, he sent in his resignation. How far this story may be true, is rather difficult to say ; but the fact that the Com tnander-in-Chief is busily engaged in amassing all the facts he can, which may be used at the approach ing Charter discussions against the East India Corn. pany, is looked upon as tolerably correct. Colonel Grant's successor in the Adjutant-General ship is Lieutenant-Colonel H. T. Tucker. This ap pointment has created some dissatisfaction among the advocates of the seniority principle, on the ground that the nominee, though a Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel, is only a Regimental Captain, and that for fifty years past, with only one exception, no man under the rank of a Field Officer has held this im portant and influential post. A sufficient answer to this objection will be found in the facts, that though only a captain in his regiment, the new adjutant general has seen a full•quarter century of honourable and distinguished service; that he is an officer of talent and experience acknowledged to be inferior to these of no one even among his superiors in rank; and that, above all, he has enjoyed the benefit of a complete training in the department over which he has been called to preside. Of political intelligence we have not a shred. From the north-west frontier we have not had a line of im portant intelligence. The Afreedees remain perfectly quiet; so pacific, indeed, have they grown, as not merely to allow a bcdy of our irregular cavalry to come through the pass unmolested, hut some of the chiefs undertook to form an escort. It has not yet transpired what steps are to be taken with them. A very general feeling exists against the polic y of buy ing their submission. Of llh os t Mahomed nothing has been heard during the past month. Sinde is about to lose the valued services of Mr. Pringle, who has resigned his office of commissioner ostensibly on the ground of ill-health ; but really, it is believed, through differences with the Bombay Government. A rumour prevails in Sinde that the Governor-General contemplates joining Young Egypt with the Punjaub— a junction which was at one time recommended strongly by Sir Charles Napier. The advantage of having the entire western frontier under one charge is, we imagine, the chief recommendation of the proposed union. Since our last, money has become more plentiful, and the excessive tightness of the rates of discount been relaxed. At the Madras Bank bilk of thirty and ninety days may be done now at a and 9f per cent. respectively. Air. 8.111, of the house of Binny and Co., has ken elected a director of the Madras Bank, in the place of Mr. R. 0. Campbell, of the same firm, resigned. His'Excellency the Commander-in-Chief is about to proceed on a tour of inspection. Ile will leave Madras for Bangalore, with his staff, about the 16th or 17th instant. The usual supply of rain not having fallen, the beat has been, even for June, intensely hot. The general health, however, is good. The London mail of the 24th April was delivered in Madras on the 30th ultimo. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CALCUTTA, JUNE 1. Since date of our last report, May 13, we have been put in possession of the,first mail of April. which came to hand on the 15th ultimo, with London dates up to April 7. The character of commercial advices brought us by the above opportunity does not belie the expecta tions formed from the tenor of the preceding mail or two. Upon the whole, the advices are more discouraging as regards the produce . of this country than were those received on the two or three preceding occasions, desti tute as they themselves were of anything cheerful. With the almost single exception of indigo, produce had still further deteriorated, and prospects, in the face of heavy stocks and liberal anticipated at rivals, were vere far from encouraging. The colonial market was dull and inactive, and there was nothing to justify the ex pectation of any improvement for some time to come. The second mail of April is on the eve of arrival, but we do nut lock forward to receive anything of a cheerful character: here and there there may be a little alteration in the position of some staples, but generally we fear the features will be us discouraging as before. The tenor of the above advices was doubtless calcu lated to add to the gloom of business an our markets, but contrary to the general expectation, and owing to some favourable turn in circumstances, bearing upon business in our local markets, we aro enabled to notice a slight re action. A considerable decline in the rates of home ward freightage, coupled with the slightly easier prices of produce, has encouraged a little life and activity, and operations have been latterly on a less restricted scale. The export market, although exceedingly dull during nearly the whole month of May, has within the past week exhibited a little more animation, and as rates of freight are not likely to advance, nor value of produce to become stiffer, now that the season for arrivals draws nigh, we may reasonably look for a continuance of gra dually mending business. Generally speaking, there is more desire apparent during this fortnight to speculate, and prices are also lower. Indigo has been quiet, if we except a few unimportant bazaar lots, which have been slowly changing hands. Sugars have continued to be operated in rather Au a more moderate extent since the mail came to hand; transactions might however have been more limited but fOr the favouring rates of freight. Saltpetre has improved in demand since our last, and an active inquiry exists for Great Britain and North America, without much change in value. Table rice has been rather quiet, and hardly any business done for the home market. The lower kinds are in active request for Bourbon and the Mauri tius. There has not been so much activity in the market for raw silk. Holders have relaxed their demands, and this, we calculate, will lead to improved business. During the early part of May a fair amount of corals was taker, up, but latterly, demand has slackened and transactions are low, the dealers looking for a decline in value. The lower qualities are quite negleeted. The market is well supplied with the lower qualities of jute, which finds no favour with shippers. A fair inquiry exists for superior sorts which are readily saleable at former prices. In hides there has been a moderate busi ness doing, less owing to want of demand than to the absence of desirable lots. Inquiry for oil seeds Las revived, and we expect a good business will shortly be doing for Great Britain as well as America. The low rates of freight, together with the difficulty ex perienced in filling up vessels, has caused more inquiry to be made both for linseed and mustard seed. Castor oil has been more difficult of sale, although shipments go freely forward on owners' account. In safflower an average scale of sales is reported. Arrivals of supplies have been heavy, and prices are not so firm. Inquiry for shell lac has not been so good, and prices are some what lower. . Lac dye has also gone down in value, and the article is not so readily taken up. In minor articles of produce the following sales are reported since date of our last report. Castor oil, 750 mds. at Co.'s Its. 12-4 to 12.8 per md.; castor seed 400 muds. at 2-15 per end.; buffalo horns 4,000 pieces at 5.10 per md.; seed lao 68 mds. at 4.6; Doodeah wheat 800 bags at 1-8 per br. md.; gunny bags 95,000 pieces at 9-8 to 11 per 100; goat skins, Cawnpore, 80,000 pieces at 32.8 per 100 ; Patna blankets, 1,750 at 12 to 13.8 per corge; country twine, 20 ends. at 10-12 per br. md.; cotton, jallon, 200 bales at Se. Rs. 11-12 per br. tad.; dry ginger 300 mds. at 3-11 per br. md.; Pegue buffalo horn, 200 ends. at 7-14 per br. md.; Madras ditto, 400 mds. at 6 8 per md.; deer horns, 20 mds. at 12 per rod.; teel seed, 2,700 mds. at 2.3 per hr. md.; wax candles, 4 Inds. at 45-8 per br. md. Prospects of the import ( branch of our business begin to improve, although as yet we are unable to report any actual amendment in • the position of imports generally The river navigation begins to open, and orders, we anti cipate, will soon flow from the upper provinct s. Inquiry has latterly been a little more general for British Om, goods. The general features of this market we may re port as in our last, with this addition, that we have good grounds for anticipating an increasing business, particu larly in cotton goods. The fortnight under review has been as dull as it well could be, and within the past two ur nree days inquiry has again slackened. Details are in the usual place. Since the foregoing was written, the Bombay Express of the second mail of April has come to band. The commercial news continues discouraging, ..ss ealculat , ,i to check the spirit which has lately be• come apparent. Liars .neat[ MARKET.-The disposition towards lightness noticed on a former occasion has worn off, and the market is decidedly easier. The Bazaar, toe, shows relaxation in this respect, as is evidenced by the slightly increasing inquiry which has sprung up for British imports. Sales under this division cf our report are, since the 13th ult., as follows:-Sycee silver 10,000 as. wt. at 104.4 per 100 sa. wt.; gold dust 100 sa. wt. at 13-12 per se. wt.; sovereigns 100 pieces at 10-5.3 each; 500 ditto 10-5; chopped dollars 10,000 pieces at 221 per 100; French dollars 12,000 pieces at 204 per 400 ditto at 204-1.6 per 100. EXCHANGE.-The rates of exchange on England have been very unsettled since our last, credit bills at six months' sight having sold at 2s. Id., while document ones for the same period have been placed at 2s. Oid. per rupee. Then, again, sales have been-document bills at 2s. 041., and first-class paper 2s. oil. per rupee, both at six months' sight. The tendency has lately been downwards, and business has been done at 2s. OV. per rupee. Transactions have not been heavy, and there are by far more sellers than buyers. Our quota tions are:- Treasury bills, at 30 days' sight, according to amount, Is. 11 ; 0. to Is. 14cl. per Co.'s rupee. Navy bills, at 3 days' sight, at Is. 110. to Is. Ili& per Co.'s rupee. Bank of England post bills, at sight, at Is. 114 d. to Is. Hid. per Co.'s rupee. Oriental Bank ditto, at six months' sight, at 2F. per Co.'s rupee. Private drafts against shipments, at six months' sight, at 2s. Oid. to 2s. Id. per Co. ' s rupee. American Bills, at six months' sight under credit, 2s. to 24. OP. per Co.'s rupee. Freights-Heavy arrivals, and the expectation of others to come in, have caused rather a considerable de cline in the rates of homeward freightage during the past ten days. The market is unsteady, and consigner watch with anxiety the first favourable moment which increasing animatioa in the export market will offer, to enhance their demands. Within the past two or three days they have shown more firmness, but we don't ex• pect a rise of consequence. IMPORTS. We thought we had arrived at the lowest point to which dulness could reach in this branch of our business without an absolute cessation. Experience of the past fortnight shows we are mistaken. Transactions have been still more limited during the latter half of last month than they were during the first. Prices are now lower, and even this circumstance seems to induce no accession of business. Almost every single article under this head has been dull and difficult of sale, while the scale of value has generally been lower. Details will be gathered under the respective heads below. Copper-This article has continued low throughout last month, and prices are now lower than they were a fortnight since. Transactions have been extremely li mited, and inquiry is languid. Spelter-A speculative inquiry existed for this ar ticle, when a little business was done, but the market is again quiet. Reported sales are 107 mds. at Co. Rs. 7.7, 750 mds. at 7-7, 460 mds. at 7.6 per fy. md. Iron-A moderate amount of business has been on foot in this metal, but at prices which show a little de cline from our last figures. Steel-The dulness of this market has not been re lieved by a single transaction during the montb. Tin Plates-A moderate ibusinesa continues in these. Sales aro reported for the fortnight as follows:- 100 boxes at 19 per box; 16 boxes at 18; 20 boxes at 19 per box; and 100 boxes at 18 per box. Lead-Very little has been done under this head. Sales are-pig, stamped 600 mds. at Sa. Rs. 6-5 per fy. md., 1,500 Inds. at 6-1, and 450 mds. at Sa. Re. 62 per fy. mei., and 300 Inds. at 6. Quicksilver-No transactions during the month, save 20 bottles at Ct. Rs. 4 per seer. Market is quiet. Kentlage-Ditto, ditto, no sales. Coals-The following are sales of the past two weeks:- 250 tons steam coal at 0 7 7-3 per b. end.; 60 tons smithy at 0.13-3 per b. end.; and 100 tons steam at 0-6.6 per b. md. British Cotton Piece Goods-We are unable to report the smallest improvement in the position of the market for piece goods. Demand has been exceedingly dull, and notwithstanding considerable concessions in value made by holders, operations cannot be coaxed out of an extremely limited scale. Generally speaking prices have been lower during the latter half of last month, while stocks have been quiet, and transactions have been confined to the supply of immediate wants. The season for the re-opening of the river navigation fast approaches, and it is to be hoped that orders for the up-country marts will begin to come in. In grey shirt ings a fair business is reported, and prices have not gone lower. Bleached shirtings have continued difficult of sale, and very little has been doing in them, holders evincing much firmness. A few sales occasionally take place in figured s hi r tin g s, but the demand is notbmkr Bleached madapollams have been as dull as ever, and are hardly even called for. Grey have been moving pretty actively away, but at a J ts shade of decline on former prices. acoone , both grey and white, have been more moderately sought, and business is limited to a few sales. Lifibter descriptions of goods have deteriorated generally in value, and operations do not show so favourably. Upon the whole, the market is dull and unsatisfactory, but we have hopes that it has seen its lowest point, and that the relaxation in money matters, together with the re-open ing of the rivers, will cause a better demand to spring t ip shortly. In the scale of prices we cannot just at present look for any improvement. Woollens—The following are transactions since date of our last: scarlet 1,224 yards, at rs. 2-10 per .yerd; ditto 36 pieces at 1-5 to 1-13 per yard; 12 pieces ditto, at 1-15; 1,417 yards at 1-2 per yard; drab 2281 yards, at 2; ditto 12 pieces at 3-10. Printed and Coloured Goods—Dulness pervades this market also; the only business done has been cordiued to the following sales:-350 pieces Turkey red at 0- . 6-54 per yard; ditto quality 400 pieces at 0.6-5 per yarili 2,653 yards ginham at 0.5-0 per yard; 100 pieces Turkey red at 0-4-7 per yard. White Cotton Mule Twist—An average scale of -busi ness has been done during the ps,t fortnight, and prices area little more firm. Coloured Yarns—A moderate amount of business is reported under this head. EXPORTS. Notwithstanding the extremely discouraging tenor of advices by the last mail, the past week or tow days have been marked by more animation and a growing desire to speculate in produce. Operations, without being any thing like heavy, have yet been in excess of the average of the past three or four weeks. The circumstance of lowering freights, together with an increased desire on the part of the holders of produce to realise in anticipa tion of fresh arrivals, has caused a little more life and spirit to be observable in this department of our busi ness.' We do not anticipate any rise in the rates of homeward freightage, and now that our great rivers be gin to open, we may look forward to the arrival of heavy supplies of produce. From these circumstance; together with the disappearance of all tightness front the money market, we may reasonably augur a conti nuance of improving business in exports. In the scale. of value we see little to justify the expectation of any immediate improvement. Since the above was written the trail of 24th April has come to hand, and we fear the commercial news throws the market back. Indigo has been quiet, if we except a few trifling bazaar lots, which have been changing hands without anything of consequence worthy of notice. The pros pects of the crop appear not to have experienced much change. From all we can gather we would pronounce them a little better than they were a fortnight since. Complaints are rife in the upper districts of want of rain, but, generally speaking, Bengal has been pretty well supplied, and preparations begin to be made for operations. Calcutta has continued to be visited by oc casional falls of rain, which have been more or less ge neral in most of the districts of Lower Bengal. Sugar—A pretty fair scale of business has been done for the fortnight at prices which are a shade easier. Rates of freight have tempted speculators. Saltpetre—A better business has lately been doing in this article, both for the home and American markets. In value we have no alteration to notice. Refined sorts have been quiet in consequence of the high prices asked. Rice—No disposition exists to speculate in table for the British market in the face of the discouraging ac counts received on the last occasion. Very little has been done, notwithstanding the easy rates of freight. In Hallam and Moonghee a good business is reported, and shipments have been going freely forward to the Mauritius and Bourbon. Moonghee has sold at 1.2 to 1-3 to a large extent. Raw Silk—Rather a more moderate scale of business has been reported for the fortnight. Holders have sub mitted to a decline, and this will no doubt lead to in creased activity. Silk Piece Goods—lnquiry for torahs has fallen away, and prices are not so high; transactions have been un a limited scale during the fortnight. Jute—Stocks at market consist chiefly of inferior quality, which is neglected. Inquiry continues to make for good shipping sorts, which find ready sale at full prices, whenever parcels offer. Safflower—Prices have been well supported, notwith standing that supplies are abundant. Hides—Very little business has been done under this head during the whole of last month. Oilseeds—The market continues to show activity, and demand exists for Great Britain as well as America. Shell Lac and Lac Dye.—There has been rather less animation in the market for these, and transactions have not been heavy. Prices are also nut so stiff. Sales are of shell lac, Beerbhoom, 100 boxes at Rs. 9.4 per b. end., 70 boxes at 9.8 to 9-12, 100 ends. Bhorah at Rs. 7-8, 25 Beerhhoom at 9-8, and lac dye, 35 boxes Beerbhoom at Rs. 28-8, 37 ditto, at 27, 100 ditto at ,26-8, 50 ditto Mirzapore at 54, 50 Beerbhoom at 26-8 per b. md. Opium—The seventh Government sale of the season was held on Monday, the 13th ult., with the following result:— Chests. highest 995 BA sr 2,071 lowest 980 20,42,750 average 986 13 4 highest 990 Bevares 865 lowest 970 8,47,350 average 979 9 6 -- - - The above sbows a decline of Rs. 25 per Patna and 36-3 per Benares from the preceding sale. Prices bad been ruling for both at about Rs. 980 per chest till arrival of advices from China to the 23d of April, showing a rise of 15 dolls. Prices hare advanced to 1,000 per chest. Exports of Opium from the Ist to the 30th of May, 1850:—To China, 3,088 chests; Singapore and Penang, 245 chests. CHINA. (Prom the Overland Friend of China of May, 23.) They say in India that a cold spring introduces a healthy summer. If this is correct, we have before us a season of unparalleled salubrity. The spring was not only cold—it was also of unusual duration —even in the merry month of May a fire in the mornings was by no means disagreeable. But sum mer has really set in ; the wind has chopped round to the south, and heavy rains mark the change of the monsoon. There are few places within the tropics, if any, where it can be said that for five months a are in the parlour is really desirable; such has been the case in Hong-Kong since the early part of De cember, and the " oldest" European " inhabitant" may not recollect such a long, cold spring. The events of the month are extremely 'unim portant. On the 27th of April, the Governor, his wife, and three secretaries, took their departure for Shinghai in the steamer Lady Mary Wood. Various causes are assigned for this expedition ; but, except to the parties concerned, it is a matter of no conse quence. On the Ist of May three pirates were hanged at West Point. Through some mismanagement they were kept on the scaffold for more than half-an-hour with the cords round their necks. The bolt could not be drawn, and after shaking the gallows violently, the police sent to the naval stores for a hammer, with which they knocked back the bolt. Two of the criminals fainted, and were held up until the bolt was forced back; the third kept calling " fidee, fidee"— be quick, be quick. The scene, we are told, was very disgusting. Since the arrival of the February mail it has been reported, and partially believed, that the Portuguese Government is sending out a strong naval force, and 3,000 troops., with a view to obtain satisfaction for the murder of the late Governor of Macao. It is alleged that Portugal has pawned Goa to the East India Company tor 150,0001., and that this fund furnishes her with the sinews of war. The English papers received by the March mail take no notice of this expedition, and we have doubts as to the truth of the report ; we can readily believe, however, that the East India Company would advance 150,0001. on the security of Goa. One thing is certain, a Portuguese frigate of 44 guns arrived at Singapore early in this month ; at Macao she is looked for daily. This vessel brings out the new Governor. The city of Canton and the neighbouringAdwria and villages are afilicted by a malignant fever. It is commonly called typhus. Some European physicians are of opinion that it is akin to the yellow fever of the West Indies ; others think that it resembles the plague which desaloted London two centuries ago. The disease is said to be fatal invariably ; its victims linger three or four days, though in some instances they have died in twelve hours. More than one European doctor would cheerfully tender their ser vices; but the Chinese are obstinate in their adherence to old custom—old ignorant quackery. The dis temper has not made its appearance at the factories ; and as it may arise from a want of cleanliness among the people, we are in hopes that it will not extend to Europeans. The East India Company's steamer Semiramis, with three companies of the Ceylon rifles, arrived on the 11th ; she sailed for Singapore, Ceylm, and Born bay on the 18th, carrying back three companies of the rifles who have been for some years in this garrison. Her Majesty's brig Serpent came in on the 4th ; she relieved the Pilot at Whampoa : the latter has gone north. The Amazon frigate arrived from Singapore on the 19th ; on the following day the Hastings sailed fur Singapore. Captain Troubridge of the Amazon is for the present the senior naval officer on the China station. CANTON MARKET, MAY 21. IMPORTS. Cottons—ln general have declined. Raw Cotton—Sales of all kinds amount only to about 3,700 bales. We quote Bombay 7.8 a 7.9 to 8 7 a 9.1; Bengal 8.7 a 9.2; Madras 9.2 a 9.6. Cotton Yarn—But 250 bales sold, at for Nos. 16 a 24, 25 dolls. a 27 dolls; 28 a 32, 26 dolls. 50 c. ; 38 a 42, 28 dolls. a 30 dolls. Long Cloths.—The sales amount to 63,000 pieces, the quotations being for greys weighing 51 a 51 citifies, 2 dolls. 10c. a 2 dolls. 20c.; 64 a q cattics, 2 dolls. 30c. 5a20. a 2 do 11s 60c. ; and . a2do lls. 85foc.r whites,;7la 54s a 7catt 6 i 3 e 9 s ; 22 dolls. s. 0 loc. a 3 dolls. 30c.; 64s a 665, 2 dolls. 60c. a 2 dolls. 75c. 68s a 725, 2 dolls. 95c. a 3 dolls. block of all kinds 30,000 pieces, American Goods—We quote 30 yar e d eo s tei.p l ) ga r s2 il n l d s oom 2 l lisn d .0 0 ll) 1 5a 1 e s t .. 250. and 40 yards 3 dolls., though we hear of a sale of 500 pcs. 30 yards at 2 dolls. 18c. S 2 dolts. 25c. Jeans wanted at 2 dolls. h 9 doll. reported o 2oimprovement.of purple 1,2030 Spanis Woollens—These h or t mstarrsesi goods esaaril,est s ais h r ow n e Oft., dark blue 93c., black 79c,, brown 1 doll, 07c., light TH SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 19, 1850.