The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, V -r b it t' k 14‘- SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Six o'CLocx. Lord JOHN RUSSELL entered the House of Com mons at half-past four o'clock. As he walked up the lobby he was the object of much attention. He held in his left hand an official box, and led by his right a child in a Scotch cap and dress, one of his own children, whom he took into the House with him. He took his seat in his usual place, and rose to a crowded House and over-crowded gal lery at ten minutes past five. He explained all the circumstances of the last week, which will be found in our Parliamentary report, and announced that no final arrangements would be made till the Duke of WELLINGTON had been consulted. A long debate seems probable. OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the pro• prietors of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway was held this afternoon at the London Tavern; the Right Hon. Lord Dudley and Ward i❑ the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the common seal of the company was affixed to the register of shareholders, and the report of the directors submitted to the meeting as follows: The report made to the proprietors on the occasion of the special meeting of the 14th January last, communicated the state of the undertaking at that date. Immediately after the 14th ult., your directors offered to the proprietors the proportions of the new shares to which they were entitled. The result was, that of the entire number of 56,666 shares, 31,803 were applied for within the period limited by the re solution of the special meeting, and were allotted accordingly, but this number was subsequently reduced at the request of the allottees by 412 shares, leaving ... 31,391 shares allotted Of which the deposit was not paid on 2,302 shares Balance ... 29,089 Allotted 22d February upon late appli cations and allotments on which the deposit was not paid within the pre scribed time ... ... 1,63) Total ... ... 30,728 On the 29th ult. Messrs. Peto and Betts, and Messrs Tredwells, applied for new shares, in accordance with the understanding previously subsisting, in the following pro portions. Messrs. Peto and Betts offered, if their tender to make the line between Oxford and Worcester were accepted, to take 10,(100 shares; and if their tender to make the line north of Tipton were accepted, to take other 10,000 shares. M?ssrs. Tredwells offered, if their tender to complete the line between Worcester and Tipton were accepted, to take 10,000 shares. Your directors thought it desirable that these offers should be accepted, so far as the same related to the construction of the line between Oxford and Tipton, and they thereupon ac cepted the samo for 20,000 shares, so that with the 30,728 shares taken by shareholders, 50,723 new shares have been allotted. At this juncture your directors considered it expedient to appoint a committee to negotiate with other railway compa nies, and they authorised this committee to consult with Mr. Peto. The result was that Mr. Peto intimated the willing ness of the London and North-Western and the Midland :Railway Companies to- make an arrangement with this com pany, and requested authority to confer with them thereon, which having been given by the committee, an arrangement • of which the following is the substance was concluded : The lino between Oxford and Tipton to be coinpletedt early as possible, the narrow gauge being laid down the whole way as a double line from Tipton to Moreton-in-the Marsh or Daylestord, and as a single line from one of these places to Oxford ; to be made a double line, however, when the traffic requires it. The lice to be worked for twenty-one years by the North- Western and Midland Companies, the rates per mile being uniform on all the three lines, on the following terms:— " The gross receipts from all sources to be carried to a common fund, out of which the following charges are to be paid in the order stated. " Ist. 53,000/. per annum to the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company to provide for debentures and pre ference shares, or such less or greater sum, not exceeding 60,0001., as may from year to year be sufficient within such limit to provide for such charges. "ad. 53,0001. to be taken by the London and North-Wes tern and Midland Companies for working expenses, wear and tear, &c,_ . _ " 3d. The balance of gross receipts (the excess, if any, above 106,0001.) to be divided in the proportions of 2-3ds to the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, and 1-3 d to the London and North-Western and Midland Com panies, until the gross receipts reach 150,0001. per annum, from which point all receipts in excess of 150,0001. shall be equally divided between the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton Company and the London and North-Western and Midland Companies.* Equal mileage rates to be al lowed to Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton account for all traffic passing over lines of Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, and of London and North-Western or Mid land Companies. By the arrangement it is provided that, so soon as any portion of the line is ready for working, Mr. Glyn is to fix the terms, as between the company on whose line the same abuts and this company, on which the same is to be worked until the whole be completed. There is divided To 0. W. & To L. & W. N. •Under this when W. Co. & Midland Co. earnings are ... £106,000 £53,000a £53,000 Ditto ... 151,000 83,000 68,000 Ditto .. 201,000 108,000' 93,000 [a. Should more than 53,000/. be required to pay interest and debentures, the excess within the limit of 60,0001. als• to be paid to the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Company.] To carry out this arrangement Messrs. Peto and Betts and Messrs Tredwells have placed the 20,000 shares allotted to them at the disposal of the board ; and, as 5,000 remained nnallotted, the amount of new shares at the disposal of the board amounts to 25,938. These shares your directors intend issuing under the ar rangement with the London and North-Western and the Midland Companies, in such manner as to carry interest at a bout 4 per cent. This effected, the annual fixed preference charge on the undertaking will be as follows : Annual Charge. say £750,000 £30,000 Debentures ... Six par cent. preference stock -31,000 shares 310,000 18,000" Four per cent. do. 25,030 shares 250,000 10,000 £1,310,000 £58,600 Your directors believe that a saving of upwards of 60,0001. will be effected in the cost of the line between Moreton-in the-Marsh or Daylesford and Oxford, by making it a single , line only; if so, the above charge will be reduced to about 56,0001. The proprietors will observe that by this arrangement the interest on the debentures of the company, as well as the annual charge for the new shares, is made practically secure, ' inasmuch as these payments are to be provided for out of the gross receipts previous to the London and North-Western and Midland Railway Companies taking the cost of working the line as limited, and that the result of this advantage will be that the debentures of the company will be issuable at a moderate rate of interest. They will also observe that a fair return to the ordinary shareholders will, in all probability, ar i se at an early period after the opening of the line. Your directors are of opinion that this is an arrangement advantageous to this company, securing the proprietors against the liability of having to raise capital for the work ing the line ; leaving them the power of making the line from Tipton to Wolverhampton if the probable traffic thereon should make such outlay prudent, and opening a large traffic from Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and Gloucester and the sur rounding country—a traffic never before contemplated as likely to be brought upon this company's line. It is the intention of your directors to press forward the completion of the part of the line between Worcester and St, arbridgs with the branch to Stoke works, that an imme diate revenue may be derived therefrom. The directors retiring are Messrs. Tyndale and Jesse], both of, whom are eligible, and offer themselves for re election. One of the auditors also retires at this meeting, but is re eligible, and offers himself for election. f he directors have taken the steps necessary to enable this meeting to confi -in the forfeiture of 1,494 shares, and will submit a resolution for that purpose. • • The holders of this stock are entitled to pay 151. per share, and if this option be extensively used, and the line from Tipton to Wolverhampton be not made, your directors will not require to issue so large an amount of debentures; but the effect on the undertaking generally will be to in crease the charge on the amount so paid from 4 to 5 per cent. and it may affect the above financial scheme to the ex :tent of 1,550/, a year, or 1 per cent. on 155,00 j/. The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to address the m ,___ e eting• and he said he might as well distinctly state at once that he entirely dissented to the arrangement re !oust:flawed in the report. It was rather anomalous for hi m to be in direct opposition to the rest of the board ; but SO it was, and if the meeting declined to sanction the course which he had chalked out for him self, of en deavouring to keep this company in an inde pendent positie u , he should be prepared to give up the offioe of chairman.--(llear hear.) He was told when he was dist solicited to join the company that it wee proposed to carry itout as a thoroughly indepe u d,, undertaking. Had ~i t not been so , nothing would have induc ed him a ccept the Chairmanship, but the moment he took office, to f he saw at once t hat a st ruggle had commenced thetwo e; r t e h a e t board for transferring the line to one o company's of the king dom, by the and now they saw hear.) report that one of them had. triumph,d•—(llear The meeting should remember that beyo nd the pro . prietors of this line , there was the g en eral public to be considered, i dosing that in sane one re not t o Parliamentw as n not s sorry e ig thi s and undertaking, h e lose sight of that po • —(le fir, hear.) The 1)° br le had setsffered much from the monopolising policy of. the London -and North-Western Comp any, and now it appeared .to him, that it was doomed t o suffer still more through the same influence.—(Hear hear.) He was for retain ing tbia lice independent of every other company, but • the board of 'directors were Of posed to him, and they had • incaution ly, hastily, and indecently made an agreement • - with the London.and North-Western Company, which .he was advised by high legal authority could not be • maintained, and which could only be carried out through the instrumentality of the Legislature.—(Hear, hear.) Be sid , s that, such an agreement would provoke the un • ,compromising opposition of the Great Western , Company, end he was afraid it would con - -tire Vet line in a state of insecurity and 'set 1. public against it much more than ever.—(Hear.) '7.l:tie' agreement was introduced to him about a fort - Vikht ago quite unexpectedly, and he therefore obtained thew days' grace to look carefully into it. In the mean time, 1 e was surprised to see it ,announced‘ at the Lon don 610 North-Western Railway meeting that a traffic arrangement had been made with this company, while on going down to the solicitor's office he found that an nouncement was correct, for an arrangement of that sort had been secured without the sanction of one por- . tion of the proprietary body.—(clear, hear.) It was said that the arrangement would produce two and a half per cent. for the original shareholders, but he very mach doubted whether it would yield a penny piece, for the London and North-Western and the Midland were the natural enemies of this company, and the meeting might depend upon it this proposed arrange ment would sink them deeper into adversity.—(Hear, hear.) But it was his opinion the Great Westerm Com pany had it in their power to successfuly resist this agreement, and while he saw that the object of the Lon don and North-Western and the Midland was to stifle the vitality of this line, and reduce it to a mere local branch, he really was not sorry that such a power did rest with the Great Western Company. The only hope for this line was to remain independent of all other companies, and he was quite ready to carry, out such a policy; but ho must decline accepting the proposed agreement, and therefore if it were adopted to-day, it w as his determination to resign the chairmanship. Mr. RUFFORD, M.P., was sorry that he felt called upon, as a director, to reply to the speech of his Lordship.— (Hear.) He need not remind the meeting of the manner in which they had been abandoned by the Great Western Company, and their refusal to render them any assist ance in their adversity; but he might have been inclined to pass over that, had they not gone further and taken steps to carry on a vigilant opposition with this line.— (Hear, hear.) Need he remind the meeting that the Great Western Company had entered into an alliance with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Shrews bury and Wolverhampton Compare( s, so as to be in a posi tion to swamp the Oxford and Worcester Company, with ene Oxford and Birmingham line?—(Hear, hear.) What, then, could they do but accept an offer which would place them in a position to resist with some degree of success this formidable opposition?—(Hear, hear.) The arrangement was the best and fairest they could possibly obtain.—(Hear, hear.) It had been negotiated by Mr. S. M. Pew, a man eminent in his sphere, of high cha racter and position, and of transcendant abilities, which he had not scrupled to use for the benefit of this company ; and he (Mr. Rufford) was perfectly satisfied that the name of that gentleman would remain untarnished by the arrangement he had so advantae geoisly concluded on the part of this company.—(Hear, hear.) He concluded by moving the adoption of the re port.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. COWHAN thanked the directors for the arrange ment they had made with the London and North-Western Company.—(Hear.) The Great Western Company had behaved with the greatest ingratitude towards that com pany.—(Hear.) They stuck to it honourably and fairly till the Oxford and Birmingham line came into the field, and then tney threw over thin Oxford and Worcester line, and now they were going to tots the shareholders of the Oxford and Worcester Railway for the sake of bolstering up the Birmingham and Oxford and the Oxford end Rugby lines—(Hear) —and he really did think it high time those members of the Great Western board who had seats on this directory were kicked out.—(Hear, hear.) Since they had been so gr ally treated and whfully neglected by the Great Western Company he was not sorry that the directors had thought fit: to make friends in the north; and he had much pleasure in seconding the motion fur the adoption of the report.—(Hear.) Alderman laottiesoer, M.P., gave full credit to the Noble Lord in the chair for being actuated by a desire to promote the welfare of the public and this company, and he therefore regretted to be obliged to differ with his Lordship; but he really did think the arrangement referred to in the report would be highly conducive to the interest of the company.—(Hear, hear.) The Great Western Company had behaved towards this railway most shamefully. They had hitherto neglected to at tend their meetings, at least those members of the Great Western board who sat on the direction had,- but no sooner did they hear of this proposed arrangement than they filled up three vacancies which they had allowed to continue for a long time, and hoped by that means, no doubt, to swamp the best interests of this concern.— (Hear, hear.) For his part he warmly approved of the arrangement, and since the Great Western Company had forsaken them, and had broken and annulled their con tract with 'his company, the directors bad a right to enter into it. It w as nonsense to toll him that the Great Western Company would resist the arrangement on the ground of its illeeality, because it was their bad faith which had:brought it abeut, 'and neither the Legislature r or any other tribunal would listen to the complaints of that quarter.—(Hear, bear.) Mr. PETo, M.P., in rising on the present occasion to cd tress a few words to the meeting, said in doing so he was actuated only by a deep sense of the respon sibility that rested upon him. and the importance of the duty he had undertaken.—(Hear.) He was at the same time suffering from a feeling of pain and ember rasment, which he hoped would entitle him to some slight indulgence on the part of the shaaeholders.—(Hear, hear.) When he was applied to by their board of di rectors to undertake the negotiation of the company with the Midland and the London and North-Western Com pany, he would only consent to do so upon the distinct ondorstandinp• that he possessed the confidence of the board of directers in that negotiation.—(Hear; hear.) He believed he might refer to every event in his past life challenge any individual to point to one single circum stance which could for one moment lead any person to doubt that whatever might have been his antecedents up to the present moment, at least there existed nobody in the country who was more distinguished for honesty of purpose and integrity of action.—(Hear, hear.) Ile was neither a partizan of the broad or the narrow gauge. He saw there the Chairman of the Birming ham and Oxford line, and that gentleman knew that in connection with his firm he had the honour of executing the works on that line. lie executed their own works, and, therefore, he was not more favourable to the one gauge than the other ; but:when he was called upon, either by this or any other company, to render them a service, it was his aim always to render it with perfeet independence and a sincere desire to benefit that party for whom he might be acting.—(Loud cheers.) Now he saw Mr. Glynn and Mr. Ellis on this matter, and, after extended discussion the arrangement was made, based upon the principles which were ex plained in the report, and if he could give any further explanation about it he should be extremely happy to do so.—(Hear, hear.) He merely rose then, however, to put the meeting in possession of all that had occurred during the progress of the negotiation, for so far as he was concerned he had nothing whatever to conceal.— (Hear.) On the first board-day after the arrangement was come to, he was sent for and told that some hesitation had arisen on the part of some of the board to affixing the common seal to the agreement which he had made on the part of the company, and he was then introduced to his Lordship the chairman, who told him that he required three days to consider the matter, as he was, comparatively speaking, unacquainted with railway affairs. (Hear, hear.) This was as sented to, but at the expiration of the three days his Lordship decided that before he could consent to the arrangement it would be neces sary that some terms should be some to between his Lordship's legal advisers and those of the London and North-Western and Midland Company, and accordingly Mr. Bsndbow. jun., and Mr. S. Carter, of Birmingham met on behalf of nis Lordship and the two companies to discuss the subject.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BendbuN, jun., said his Lordship required three things to be done before he would undertake to assent to the agreement. The CH '„IRHAN—I never said that. Mr. PETO said, perhaps his Lordship would allow him to state the facts, and teen his Lordship could reply to them afterwards.—(Hear, hear.) 'fbo three things in point which Mr. Benbow, jun., had specified were these. First, that his Lordship's minerals should be carried over the London and North-Western and the Midland lines at the same prices that were charged to the most favoured parties in connexion with those two companies. This was assented to. Secondly, that his Lordship should have a seat on the board of the London and North-Western Company, Mr. Carter replied to this that, under the new arrangements, the election to vacant seats rested entirely with the proprietors, but Mr. Glyn would undertake to recommend his Lordship to the proprietors, as a person whom i; was desirable, owing to his position and iefluence to have on the'board, and therefore No. 2 might be considered as having been also assented to.—(Hear, hear.) The third was that 500 of the preference shares of this company should be immediately apportioned to his Lord ship.—(Hear, hear.) The committee told Mr. Benbow, jun., that if he had any regard for continuing his Lordship's reputation for strict ho nour and integrity, he would at once recommend his Lordship to withdraw that request,—(Cheers)—and the appointmeet was deferred until the following morn ing, when the request was agein repeated by Mr. Bendbow, junior, and most unqualifiedly refused by Mr. Carter, on the part of the London and North-Western and the Midland Companies.—(Cheers.) Upon that arose his Lordship's dissent to this arrange ment.—(Hear, hear.) He felt bound to make this statement; it was painful to him to do so; but at the same time he owed it to his own sense of honour and integrity to keep nothing back from the proprietors.—(Cheers.) He had nothing to conceal, and he defied any body to s ay he had done or said anyihing wrong in the course of the negociation.—(Hear, office ear.) of gta Hesh n o e ul u d e als t o orthe state that hwhenin g e accepted to call up on M r . T re d we ll , hi s firstthing he id was partner in the contract, and ask him to give up the 10,000 shares which had been allotted to him. Mr. Tredwell said, " Mr. Peto, if you will give up yours I will give up mine;" and that, of course, he imme diately assented to this, the 20,000 shares allotted to Mr. Tredwell and himself were returned, while the 5,000 which were to have been placed at the disposal of the Stock Exchange were retained in hand, and none of the preference shares had therefore been allotted to any one Out original proprietors.—(Cheers.) All that he had now stated could be confirmed by Mr. Glyn, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Benbow, or the own solicitor, and again repeating that he was prepared to give any and every information about the agreement that could be reasonably asked of him, ho would sit down, strongly recommending them, as a commercial man, to give the agreement their un q talified assent.—(Cheers.) The u s, ion C a lik personal a atN A s n a i u d t , u a e s , M he r ie P lt et i o t nheacdesgsaivryentothemdais ke some observations in reply. When he first became a member of th e b oard he made two distinct statements, one to the b oar d and the other to thetilt; first, that he was perfectly ind'ff o e t r h e a n v t . ae to whether they o o n o share,but becauseni g w j a o s i nte:ethl leading com panyd h a itu sp l ec ° u r la l. he allotte a d s mineral proprietor in South Staffordshire, and r a e i r n e g sented a large portion of the proprietary in that district; and secondly, that he wows! never consent to any ar rangement with the London and North-Western. Au to the 5,000 shares, he had merely offered to take them in erder to help the company out of their difficulties, and met with the view of throwing them into the market and LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28 : 1851. putting money into his pocket. His Lordship then en tered ii:to an explanation of his v.;riouz trarosac•i ,, ns with the company, and said the arrangement submitted t) the meeting had been entirely carried out by the sclici!or, together with the contractor Mr. Pero, ob serving that he would never have a seat at a board which were not to be made cognizant of every thing connected with their affairs. Mr. PETO said Mr. Bmbow, his Lordship's agent, had distinctly and imperatively made it a condition that 5,000 shares should be allotted to his Lordship; and Mr. Carter, the solicitor to the North-Western, had refused to comply with it, observing that he did not think it would comport with the honour and dignity of his Lordship to take 5,000, which would be equivalent to giving him 7,sool.—(Hear, bear.) Major Coma' said he understood an agreement had been made with the Great Western, by which that com pany offered to give the 100,000/. a year free from all charges. A SHAREHOLDER.—There is no submitting agreement. Major COURT.—I apprehend the Great Western are bound to accede to such an agreement. A SHAREHoLDaR —We will not ask them.—(Hear.) Major COURT.—But I think it will be to our interest to enter into an arrangement with the-m. Before we can get 100,0001. a year from the North-Western Railway, we must have a clear income of 180 0001. Ido not think we are in a situation to carry out the agreement pro posed by the report, and I would suggest that the ques tion be adjourned, with the view of enabling the board to ascertain the legality of the agreement, and whether, in the event of the line being completed, the Great Western C,mpany could compel them to lease it to them. Captain BERKELEY objected to the agreement on the ground of its not being binding in law, and because it has been carried out with so much haste. Under the Act of Parliament they had no power whatever to sub stitute the narrow for the broad guage. He entirely agreed with the Noble Chairman that no such an arrangement ought to be entered into before the direc tors had been all summoned to take into consideration. Mr. BARLOW said, the meeting had no moro power to carry out the agreement, than he had to erect a bridge over the monument, or any other public building. After some further conversation of a desultory nature, The question of the adoption of the report was then put and carried, by a large majority. Captain BERKELEY demanded a poll. After a brief discussion the demand for a poll was withdrawn, on the Chairman consenting to enter the protest of the Great Western directors against the legality of the agreement. The other business of the meeting was being proceeded with when our !report left. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) ST. JAMES'S-PALACE, FEB. 25, 1851. The Queen has been pleased, on the nomination of Lord Foley, to appoint the undn-mentionpd gentlemen to her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gem', man at Arms : —Adolphus George Finch Cotton, Esq., vice Lane, retired; Charles James Cox, Esq., vice Ewart, Esq., retired. ST. JAMES'S PALACE, FEE. 26. The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knigbthcod upon John Thomas Briggs, Eq., Ac countant-General of the Navy. WHITEHALL, FEE. 27. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Norman M`Leod to the church and barony-parish of Glasgow, in the presbytery of Glasgow, and county cf Lanark, void by the death of Dr. William Black, late minister thereof. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB . 28. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. County of Glamorgan—Sir George Tyler, of Cottrel, in the county of Warnqrgan, in the room of Edwin Richard Wyndham Q lin, commonly called Viscount _hare, now Earl of Dunrav,n, who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. CIMS HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clLck. NEW PEER. Lord 3flouGaToN (late Sir J. C. Hobhouse) took the caths and his seat. CCUN FY COURTS EXTENSION BILL. Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions in favour of this Bill. NEW VICE CHANCELLORS BILL. On th 3 motion of Lord LANGDALE this Bill was read a third time and passed. MINISTERIAL EXPLANATIONS. The Marquis of LANSDOVVNE then rose to explain the state of the Ministerial crisis. On Monday last he had had occasion to address their Lordships, and to ask them to give time for the reconstruction of a Ministry, he had hoped for the last time. He had stated on that occasion that Lord John Russell was engaged in the Pe construction of the Government, and he had hoped that the crisis would have been passed by this day. Lord John Russell had entered into negotiations with a Noble Earl opposite, and with Sir James Graham. The negotiation had failed ; and then her Majesty had applied to the Noble Earl op posite, who had declined to form an Administration. The attempts at the reconstruction had failed, not in con sequence of any personal difference between the parties engaged in the_negotiations, but from honest and honourable difference in principle. Those attempts having failed, her Majesty applied to the Noble Earl op positei to form an Administration, which he declined. Her Majesty then applied to tre Noble Lord (Stanley), and yesterday afternoon the Noble Lord informed her Majesty of his inability to form an Administration. Her Majesty had then consulted him (the Marquis of Lansdowne) as to what course it would be proper to pursue in a state of things so novel and unprecedented, and this morning her Majesty had sent for a Noble and Illustrious Duke. who was not now in the House, in order to obtain his advice and opinion on the present important and delicate state of affairs. Be would not sit down without stating that it was most consolatory in the present state of affairs to know that the difficulties and differences which had pre vented these negotiations from succeeding, had been differences and difficulties not of any personal nature, but were the natural results of honest differences of opinion. All public men were called on to make great sacrifices of personal ease and comfort for the sake of their coun try, but they would not be called upon to make sacrifices of principle, and no p ersons wou ld be justified in making a prolonged attempt under any circumstances to carry on the affairs of the country without securing that degree of support which was necessary to all Governments. Any such attempt must end in danger to the safety of the Crown and of the country.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) The Earl of ABERDEEN felt called upon, after the statement of the Noble Marquis, to explain to your Lord ships what had been the course of conduct which he had pursuced in these negotiations. Her Majesty had sent for him on Saturday, and he had expressed hie willingness to co-operate in the reconstruction of the Government. lie had met Sir James Graham and Lord John Russell, and after mutual explatevions Lord John Russell had laid before them the basis on which he proposed to reconstruct the Government, and had explained to them the several measures which be intended to propose. What those measures were he would then explain, because, after consideration, he believed that himself; and his Right Honourable Friend, would have been enabled to accede to all of them with certain modifications. except one. Their differences with Lord John Russell arose exclusively on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and both his Bight Honourable Friend and him self felt an invincible repugnance to adopt any measure of penal legislation towards the Roman Catholic subjects of this country. To any legislation of that kind they were opposed. It was at all times exceedinly difficult by legislation to give a criminal character to acts which were indifferent in themselves, and it was more especially so when those acts assumed the appearnce of the perform ance of a religious duty. (LEFT SPEAKING.) noon, and by the permission of her Majesty, and also of his Royal Higimen, T. will *cad it to the Ho use.--(Ht ar, hear.) • '• Lord Stsniey has, after a cenvereation her Majesty, declined to undertake the formation of a Government at present, until in is clear no other Government could be formed. The: Queen has sent for Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham, and she wishes to see you immediately." —(Hear.) I could, Sir, do no other, on receiving that letter, than conclude that Lord Stanley had declined for the present to form a Government--(Loud cheers) — until it was found that no other Government could be formed ; and I ask whether there was any misre presentation in stating, two days after receiving this letter, that Lord Stanley was not prepared at that time to form a Government and used the words "not then prepared?"—(Loud cheers.) Sir, every one who bus been admitted to the presence of her Mujesty is aware of the courtesy, of the memory, and of the precise truth of everything which falls from her (Loud cheers) —but, Sir, though I received fiord her Majesty en account of what passed at her interview with Lord Stanley, I do not rest solely on her Majesty's statement, but I rest on 'be statement of the interview which Lord Stanley sent to her Majesty in the course of the same evening, and of which she permitted me to read the extracts which bear on the point in question. And let me ob serve, that if I state these particulars to the House, it is in consequence of the contradiction of the Honourable Gentleman opposite.—(Great cheering.) After stating to her Majesty the position of the three parties of which the House of Commons is composed, I_observed that the present Administration had never met with any defeat at the hands of Lord Stanley's political friends.—(Great cheering.) Lord Stanley than went on to state that he would only consent to form a Government in the event of no coa lition being formed. He believed that an Administration formed under such circumstances would be more likely to meet support, than one formed without time for reflec tion. Now he asked whether those extracts did not bear out his statement that Lord Stanley was nut pre pared to form a Government ? He would now state, that having been desired by her Majesty to con struct an Administration, and at her Majesty's request he had obtained interviews with both Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham, I feel it right to say, that no personal consideration stood in the way of the formation of a Government com posed of those whose opinions appeared to prevail in the House of Commons. If Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham had concurred in the formation of a Govern ment, I believe that no personal consideration would have stood in their way.—(Hear.) With respect to ' the several points of public importance on which we de liberated, although there was not any perfect agreement, yet there did not seem to be such a diversity of opinion as might not by further comma eication have been removed. There was one question— the Papal aggression—on which it appeared impos sible that we could agree. I think it quite necessary to proceed with that Bill.— (Loud cheers.) Lord Aber deen told me that he thought respecting the late aggression on this country no legislation at all was ne cessary. Upon that point there was so wide a difference of opinion that it was evident that no Government could possibly be formed by the coalition of such parties.— (Hear, hear.) I again repaired to Buckingham Palace end informed her Majesty of the difficulty which had oc curred, and laid before her a full statement of the state of affairs. The effect of that information to the Queen was that her Majesty's desire led to a communication with the Right Hon. Genth man the Member for Ripon (Sir J. Graham), with the hope that I might be able, with his assistance, to reconstruct the Government by such an infusion of new strength as would give force and efficiency to the Ministry.—(Hear, hear.) I was led to this course by old associations, by the recollection of the political aptitude which the Right Hon. Baronet so emi nently possesses, and further still, if I may be permitted to state so much to the House, by the ties of old and long-continued friendship. We were agreed on most Of the great topics of public affairs, and I did think that if an interview was fairly conducted we might come to some general accord upon subjects on which a difference of feeling prevailed.—(Bear, hear.) The interview was abortive, and I was therefore again obliged to re sign the commission for the formation of a Government with which her Majesty had been pleased to honour me.—(Hear, hear.) This morning I was informed that her Majesty had received the letter from Lord Stanley which I have read to the House. Placed under that diffi culty, her tlajesty had, most wisely, as I think, sent for an old friend of the Crown, who is not. more eminent for his distinguished services abroad and for the glory of his military achievements—(Loud and long continued cheering) than he is for the constitution of the country (the Duke of Welling ton)—(Repeated cheers from all sides of the House) — I trust that I have said enough to assure the House that the representation of the Right Hononourable Gen tleman the Member for Bucks (Mr. Disraeli), that Lord Stanley was prepared to form a Government was incorrect.—(Hear and cheers; and cries of " Oh.") With this statement I conclude the narrative of what has occurred within the last few days—(Cheers) —but I cannot omit this opportunity of refuting the assertion that I was ready to take the helm in a time of prosperity, and to resign the Ministry as soon as the Government was placed in a static of difficulty. To that assertion I respond tha t I should not have deemed the adverse division come to the other night any sufficient reason for a resignation of the Government if I had thought that it could be curried on successful.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) If I did not shrink from the difficulties of the country when 3,000,000 of people were in a state of distress it was not likely that I should shrink from them now; but I saw it was useless to proceed when office could only be re tained at the risk of power which would be useful to the country and the loss of that character which was honourable to its possessor.—(Hear, hear.) When the directors of the Bank of England came to my Right Honourable Friend to ask us to suspend the law, and run the risk of an indemnity from Parliament, I might have shrunk from the difficulties of the time; when, at a later period, the whole of Europe was shaken with revolutions from one end to the other, and when there was every prospect of the treaty which bound Europe together, and preserved the peace of the world being dissolved, we did not shrink from our parts, nor did we do so even when in Ireland large bodies of people were preparing to organise a rebellion.—(Oh, oh!) We might then have shrunk from the difficulties of the period; but to suppose that we should do so now, when all those troubles have passed away when commerce is flourishing, when the people are prosperous, and when the only difficulty at the Exchee quer is, that it is rather fuller than it can conveniently hold—(A laugh)—is quite ridiculous.—(Hear, hear.) But, Sir, I wish to state some of the opinions which I. hold now with regard to the three questions which have occupied the public mind, and engaged Parliamentary attention a good deal of late.—(Hear, hear.) One of the most important of those questions is free trade and the free import of coru.—(Hoar and cheers.) Now, Sir, I take no credit whatever for the establish ment of thepresent law upon that subject, for the system which the Government of Lord Melbourne proposed was a system of a different kind. It was a system which was based upon a moderate duty on corn, and a differential . duty on sugar and other articles. That plan was rejected by the House of Commons, and in 1845 tie circumstances of the country having in the meantime undergone a great change and assumed a different :aspect, Sir Robert Peel pronounced that at no dis tant period the corn-laws must be repealed, and at the same time—in the month of Novem ber—without any communication with my party, I published my opinions that the time was come when the corn-yaws could no longer be maintained. The only safe course then was to proceed to their abolition, and Sir Robert Peel gave the honour of the change which afterwards followed to the Hon. Member fur the West Riding.—(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I think it is due in a great part to Sir Robert Peel and to th• Hon. Member for the West Riding, but I can't altogether say that I claim no credit but the smallest amount is due for the part I took to effecting the change. — (Hear, hear.) That change was effected in 1846, and I believe its effects have been most beneficial to this country.—(Cheers.) I believe that the great mass of the people of this country are enjoying benefits from that change which they could not otherwise have obtained.—(Hear, hear.) When the reins of power fell into our hands it was our endeavour to proceed in that policy ; and on two very important questions, namely, in the case of foreign sugar and the navigation-laws, we succeeded in carrying measures in conformity with our present commercial policy.— (Hear, hear.) I rejoice that we were able to carry these two changes into effect with this w illi ng concurrence of the two Houses of Parliament, for that isthe he disturbing Bil l the r e, institutions ka g to o th of toin next the oss cou l it appears to me that while we are ndeavourin g to _(eers.) I will now proceed; carry such chang es into effect, we shoul d , es far as ibe do so . Chha without a s t je m e p t, tion of power in this country by a f ore i gn eccle siastical power.—(Hear, hear.) I still concur in the possible, ry opinions which I expressed on the introduction of that Pill. P, is my opinicn that, fte of awn wa aizitlM p ion ti f power on t'ae pert of a '•ere ign prince which it eae impos sible ter us to pass by unnoticed ; but, Sir, I will say this, that I thought and still think that the main object to be attained by that bill was the vindication of our national iadependence and the assertion of the supremacy of the Crown and kingdom of England as against any foreign power what ever.—(Hear, hear.) But, Sir, with respect to the Bill we had introduced, locking to the past proceedings in the Irish Courts of Law, there are some of its clauses which ought not to be pressed to the fullest extent. It was not our intention so to interfere with anything which belongs to the regular order of Roman Catholic worship. So tar we were anxious to maintain the re ligious liberty which exists in this country. Therefore if that Bill were proceeded with, I should he ready to make all such alterations as should prevent any of the inter ference which seems to be dreaded. I own that when I see a man of such moderation as Archbishop Murray ob jecting to the provisions of that Bill, I will say I am quite reading, to examine and go into the provisions of the Bill, and see whether the objections which have been stated really do exist.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) My persuasion was, and I was induced to believe so by information which I received from a very high authority that on these two points which I have stated this Bill was not calculated to make any inter ference. Therefore I am quite ready to carry into effect the original intention of the Bill, not to depart from them, and not to go beyond them, :'here is another question of very great importance upon which, on the occasion of a late debate, on the 20th instant, I made a statement to the House on the subject of extending the franchise. It is fit that I should state to the House that there subject has been under the consideration of the Cabinet during the late recess, but myself and my colleagues came to the unanimous determination that it would not be right to introduce a measure on that subject in the present session. As, however' a general election must take place in 1853, we deter mined that 1852 would be the latest time that such a measure could be introduced. With respect to the question itselt. I have to say that having for ten years before the Reform Bill was introduced devoted my attention to the subject, and having made many motions between the years 1821 and 1831, having had a great share in framing the Reform Bill, I am perfectly satisfied with the general working of that Bill. I do not see that it has produced any of the consequences of overturning the Constitution which were prophesied of it. But in re spect. however, of any future measure which may be introduced upon the subject, I think you must proceed w ith the greater caution. I think the general disposition o f the Reform Parliament has produced a fair represen t, &don of the intelligence, the wishes, and the industry f the people. I should dread any change which might tee introduced in the representation which deprived 'the House of Cpmmons of that conservative element which ought to belong to it. I cannot conceive that a House of Commons merely representing numbers would act in harmony with a monarchy, an hereditary House of Peers, and an Established Church. I think it ought to be the object of any one who approaches this subject not to create a House of Commons, which should be a separate power, but it should be his object to do as we did in 1831, to endeavour to give to the people a greater interest in their institutions, and at the same time to improve the general representation These are the views that .1 venture to bring before the House upon these three topics. It is at the present time a matter of doubt into whose hands the Government of the country may be committed, but I feel that on greater subjects, like those I have referred of Parliamentary interference, it is not for Ministers alone to look to the solution of such great questions.---(Hear, hear.) They interest us and our and own posterity.—(Hear, hear.) Sir I have consi dered, in the course of my Parliamentary conduct, whether on the day I was proposing reform to a small minority, and amidst the apathy of the country, or whether I was proposing a Bill that was receiving the enthusiasm of the nation. I felt that my great comfort was that I was acting with them on whom I had the greatest confidence, and on whose judgment I could rely -(Hear, hear)—and on whose integrity I could place the greateet faith.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord having alluded to the sentiments of Burke, and the men with whom he had acted for eleven years, said— I_ have acted for far mote than eleven years with such men as Romilly, Mackintosh, and Horner, with Lord Grey and Lord Althorpe, and with such men it has been my pride to act. I will not speak of the living, but I will say this, that as long as I am a public man I will act with those men and consort with such men as adopt my public views--(floar, hear.) Some men may think that our standard of public, virtue is higher than in the times of Burke, others :map think it lower, but as long as I take part in public ►tffeirs I shall ever follow the example of such public men as I think may best guide my publie life.—(The Noble Lord sat down amid much cheering.) Mr. DISRAELI rose and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) POST-OFFICE NOTICE. MONEY ORDERS. The under-mentioned offices will be opened as Minor Money Order Offices on the following days, viz.:—On March I—Burnham, Essex; Brighton, Isle ot Wighl ; Castood, Yorkshire; Chapel. le-Frith, Derbyshire; Cran ley, Surrey; Cinderford, Gloucestershire; Eccles, Lanca shire; Hyde, Lancashire; Heckmondwyke, Yorkshire; Heywood, Lancashire; Ixworth, Suffolk; Kirkburton, Yorkshire; Ramsbury, Wiltshire; Shanklin, Isle of Wight; Storrington, Sussex; Stoke Ferry, Norfolk; Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire; Tideswell, Derby shire; Wooburn, auckinghamshire. Marbh 3—Tintern Abbey, M.onmouthshin. March 4—Cingsclere, Hampshire; Williton, Somerset snire. March s—Newbridge, Monmouthshire. March 6—Aldborough, Suffolk; Botesdale, Suffolk; Pangbourne, Berkshire; Troverton, Devonshire; Yox ford, Suffolk. March 7—Llantrissaint, Glamorganshire. March B—Dorchester, Oxfordshire; Dulverton, Somer.. setshire. March 10—Aberdare, Gismo rgans hire. March 11—Colebrook, Buckinghamshire ; Moreton Hampstead, Devonshire. March 12 —Barkway, Hertfordshire ; Finchingfield, Essex; Pyle, Glamorganshire ; Southend, Essex; Up well, Cambridgeshire. March 13—Brixworth, Northamptonshire ; Hather leigh, Devonshire. March 14—Glynneath, Glamorganshire. March 15—Tregony, Cornwall; Guisiborough, North amptonshire. March 17—Pontradawe—Glamorganabire. March 18.—Kings Langley, Hertfordshire; Meva gissey , Cornwall. March 19 . — Ystradgynlais, Brecknockshire. March 20 —Bovey Tracey, Devonahiro; Broseley, Shropshire; Cannock, Staffordshire; Caatletown, Isle ot Man; Churcheaton, Staffordshire; Dawley, Shropshire; Overton, Flintshire; Peeltuwn, Isle of Man; Portmadoc, Carnarvonshire; Ramsey, Isle of Man. March 21.—Cross lon, Carmarthenshire. March 22—Looe, Cornwall. March 24—Llanboidy, Carmarthenshire. March 25—St. Agnes, Cornwall. March 26—Solva, Pembrokeshire. March 28—St. David's, Pembrokeshire. March 3l—Newport, Pembrokeshire. N.B.—" Ashton, Lancashire," inserted in the last list, should have been designated as Ashton, near Warrington, Lancashire; and " Newton, Lancashire," should have been designated as Newton, near Warrington, Lancashire. MARKET IN TELLIGENCE. (From tho London [Yew Price Current, Feb. 28.) SUGAR.—To-day lower rates were refused for West India, although all parties operated with much caution. Only 90 hhds, Bcc., were gold, making the small quantity of 658 fur the week, and prices close the same as on Friday last. The demand for Colonial Sugar is ex pected to he better next week. REFINED.—To-day Refined Sugar was purchased with caution; low brown Lumps ware, however, not to be ob tained under 48s per cwt. For Crushed Sugar the market is dull at previous rates. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon the quantity of Mauri tius Sugar offered at auction was large, and amounted to 11,800 bags; the rates taken for sorts at and above 408 per cwt were 6d under those current previously, but qua lities below that price went at full rates; nearly the whole offered found buyers, fine yellow realized 40s to 425, low to good 37s to 39s 6d, refining qualities from 37s to 41s 6d. low and mid brown 31s to 345, better sorts 34s 6d to 36s 6d. EAST INDIA. —This afternoon Bengal Sugar fetched full rates, and was in good demand. At public sale 3,056 bags were disposed oft fine grainy white 48s to 50s, good and fine yellow ditto 419 6d to 43s 6d; and a f e w lots mid white Benares 41s 6d to 425. For the soft qualitie s of Madras there are not many buyers, with sellers at rateer lower rates. Of 3,153 bags at auction a part only sold, low yellow at 29s 6d to 31s 6d, and better sort e2s to 36s 6d per *Wt. FORL IGN. — To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, and the private operations were of little moment, still prices cannot be quoted lower. Cccoa.—Of West India none has been offered at sue tion this week, and privately operations have been upon a small scale; Trinidad red at 50s to 555, grey 45s to 50s, and Grenada 42s to 478. E,r Foreign prices still tend downwards; Bahia and Para are selling at 29s to 30s, arid other sorts 315 to 82s per cwt. MOLASSES.—Yrices confirm, firm for West India, and a fair demand exists; about 200 puns have been sold at from 15s 6,1 to 17s for low to fine, and supplies are yet on the increase. The value of Bengal and Mauritius is 12s to 14s, but few parcels are to be obtained. Holders of Porto Rico and Cuba demand 153 to 16s. Jamaica Honey has been selling at from 35s to 60s, and fine sorts are in scanty supply, COFFEE. —To-day there was firmness on the part of holders of Coffee, and none was offered at public sale. The private operations were trifling for all purposs 5, still g , od ord Native Ceylon was not offered under 465 per cwt. TEL-An active demand has been experienced for common Congou this week, and the upward tendency WAR OFF ICE, FEB. 28. 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Assistant-Surgeon Hamoden Hugh Masisey, M.D., from 31st Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon, •ice Reid, deceased, Feb. 28. Ist (or Grenadier) Regiment of Foot Guards—Colour- Sergeant John Atkinson to be Quarteruipster, vice Ri chard France, who retires upon half-pay, F.-b. 28. 31st Foot—Thomas Johnston Atkinson, Gent., to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Massey, appointed to 4th Light Dragoons, Feb. 28. 43d Foot—Captain Henry Skipwith to be Major, by purchase, vice Bruere. who retires; Lieutenant James Abercromby Dick to be Captain, by gurchase, vice San ford, who retires; Lieutenant Richard Henry Weyland to be captain by purchase, vice Skipwith; Ensign Lum ley Graham to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Dick; Ensign John Francis Girardot to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Weyland, Feb. 28. 52d Foot—Ensign Charles Anthony Bacon to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Blacthwayt, who retires, Feb. 28. 60th Foot—Lieutenant Eustace Henry Rose to be Captain, by purchase, vice John Francis Jones, who rettres; Second Lieutenant Charles William Earle to be First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Rose; Second Lieu , enant Charles David Cunninghame Ellis, from 21st Foot, to be Second Lieutenant, vice Earle, Feb. 28. 61st Foot—Major William Henry Vicars to be Lieu tenant-Colonel, by purchase, vice Campbell, who retires; Captain Thomas N. Dalton to be Major, by purchase, vice Ticars; Lieutenant William James Hiathon to be Captain by purchase, vice Dalton; Lieutenant Frederick Nassau Dore, from the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Hudson, Feb. 28. UNATTACHED.—To be Captain, without purchase— Lieutenant Richard Sweet Cole, from the 91st Foot, Feb. 28. MEMORANDUM. The commission of Lieutenant Charles Carter as Adjutant, sth Foot, has horn ante dated to the 19th November, 1850. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk. The Hon. Edward Keppel Wentworth Coke to be Deputy Lieutenant; Colonel Hugh Fitz-Roy to be Deputy Lieutenant; Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Feb. 10. EAST INDIA HOUSE, FEB. 25. Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to assent to a medal being granted to the surviving officers and soldiers of the Crown and of the East India Company who were engaged in the several ser vices enumerated in the following list, including the officers and seamen of the Royal Navy, and the Company's Marine, who took part in the Bur mese war; notice is hereby given, that general and other officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the East India Company's Army, who are entitled to this honorary distinction, are to apply for the same to the Secretary to the Court of Directors of the India Company, and to send at the same time, in writing, a statement of the claim, specifying in what ac tion and in what period of time they served, accompanied by any certificates calculated to substantiate the claim. List of services for which the India Medal is ;o be granted. Storm of Allighur, 4th September; 1803. Battle of Delhi, 11th September, 1803. Battle of Assye, 23,1 September, 1803. Siege of Asseergbur, 21st October, 1803. Battle of Liswarree, 1s; November, 1803. Battle of Argaum, 28th November, 1803. Siege and Storm of Gawilghur, 15th December, 1803. Defer - ce of Delhi, October, 1804. Battle of Deig, 13th November, 1804. • Capture of Deig, 23d December, 1804. War in Nepaul in 1816. Battle of Kirkee and Battle and Capture of Poona, November, 1817. Battle of Seetabuldee and Battle and Capture of Nag poor, November and December, 1817. Battle of Maheidpoor, 21st December. 1817. . . Defence of Con gawp, Ist January, 1818. War in Ava, 1824 to 1826. Siege and Storm of Bhurtpoor. January 1826. BANKRUPTS. Jahn Whitehead, John Whitehead the younger, and George Wyatt, rectifiers, Princes-street, Lambeth, to surrender, March 11, at two, and April 15, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane ; Michael, Red Lion-square. Daniel 0d,,11, grocer, Clophill, Bedfordshire, March 11, at one, and April 11, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee; :tinder and Eyre, John -street, Bedtord-row; Austin, Shefford, Bedfordshire. Thomas Seymour Dickinson and Robert Cooper Dic kinson, warehousemen, Gresham•street, City, March 10, at two, and April 5, at eieven, at the Court of Bank. ruptcy. Bell, of assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Ashurst and San, Old Jewry. Mary Astlo, Joseph Thomas Astle, George Astle, and Charles Astle, bookbinders, Coleman-street, City, March 8, at one, and April 14, a eleven, at the Court of Balkruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall streA ; Gregson and Keweil, Angel-court, Throgmor ton-street. William Brown, engineer, Brunswick-streei, Stam ford-street, March 7, at half-past eleven, and April 3, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coltman-street. buildings; Blake and Poole, Black friars-road. 6;;‘*:r`4, Henry Smith, iroufounder, West Bromwich, Stafford shire, March 13 and April 10, at twelve, at the Bir mingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Bir mingham; Robinson and Fletcher, Dudley; Woodward, Wednesbury; Knight and Emmet, Birmingham. William Hale, baker, Bishampton, Worcester, March 12 and April 1, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham; Work man, New, and Prance, Eversham; Reece, Birmingham. Thomas Carter, coal dealer, Stafford, March 10 and April 14, at half-past ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Chal linor, Hanky, Staffordshire; Smith, Birmingham. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from returns made in the week ending Feb. 2i, 1850, exclusive of Customs Duties paid or payable thereon on the importation thereot into Great Britain:— From the Britisll possessions in America 295. 6id. per cwt Frcm the Mauritius ... s. —d. From the East Indies ... ..• ... 31s. bid. „ Average price of the two foregoing de scriptions of sugar, jointly, computed as above, and exclusive of duty 295. 104 d. By authority of Parliament, HENRY BICKN ELL. Clerk of the Grocers' Company. Grocers'-hall, Feb. 28. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.--CULTIVATION OF FLAX.—A meeting of the Council of the Agricultural So ciety was held at the Society's Nooms, Hanover-square, on Wednesday, for the purpose of hearing an explanation of the process by which Chevalier Claussen adapts the flax fibre to spinning, either alone or in combination with cotton, silk, or wool, upon the existing machinery. We shall give a copy of the official report of the proceedings of the Council as soon as it has been prepared, which we understand will be in a day or two. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. The interior of the House presented the same appear ance as on Monday evening; the benches below and above the bar were crowded with Hon Members, as were also the side galleries. NEW MEMBERS. Col. Grtairt took the oaths and his seat for Bedford shire. Sir G. TYLER also took the oaths and his seat for GlamorgEnghire. I!&:TROPOLITAN MARKETS BILL. Mr. CHILDERS moved the second reading of this Bill. Aldernan SIDNEY moved that the Bill be read a second tame this day six months. After short conversation the House was cleared for a divisio3, but subsequently the Bill was postponed until this day week. PETITIONS. Colonel FREESTUN presented a petition from the Catholics of Weymouth against the Papal Aggre sion Bill. Mr. FAGAN also presented several similar petitions. Lord ARUNDEL and SURREY presented 40 peti tions from the secular clergy of the Roman Catholic Church in this country, and several petitions from other parties, against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Mr. MONSELL presented several petitions to the same effect. Mr. SULLIVAN also presented similar petitions. Mr. STUART presented a petition praying that the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill might not be extended to Scotland. Mr. ROCHE presented a great number of petitions from the county of Cork against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Mr. HENLEY presented a petition from a place in Oxfordshire against the admission of Jews into Parlia ment. Mr. HNSTIE presented a petition from Glasgow in favour of the abolition of the window-tax. . _ Mr. REYNOLDS pre , ented a large number of pe titions from places in Ireland against the Ecclesiastical Titles 13d1, and several petitions from the Dublin news paper proprietors, praying fur the repeal of the duty on paper. _ _ Mr. KEOGH presented a petition from Meath against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Petitions to the same effect were presented by Sir Joshua Walingley, from Bolton; by Sir E. Buxton, from Essex; Mr. Sadlier, from Carlow; and Mr. Scholefield, from Birmingham. Mr. W. WILLIAMS and Mr. B. OSBORNE presented petitions praying fer the repeal of the pap.•r duty. Mr. CHRISTOPHER and Colonel &union'. presented petitions from places in Lincolnshire. complaining of agricultural distress. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Seaham against the Mercantile Marine Bill; also seven petitions against the Bible monopoly. A great number of petitions were presented against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. MINISTERIAL CRISIS. STATEMENT OF LORD J. RUSSELL. Shortl/ after fire o'clock, HON. MEMBERS who had notices of motion having postponed them, the orders of the day were then called on. On the motion for the second reading of the Ecclesi astical Titles Assumption Bill, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, amid the most profound silence, rose and said—Sir, in moving the postpone ment of this order of the day, I will take the opportunity of stating to the House what has occurred since I asked them on Monday to adjourn to this day. Before I do so I think it necessary to notice a contradiction to a statement which I made on Mond a y l ast . —(Great cheeriug.) I then stator' that Lard Sta n l e y having been sent for by the Queen had stated to her Majesty that ho was not then prepared to form a Government, and that I was then required to repair to Buckingham Palace. I received a contradiction to that statement in terms very peremptory, and in a mann er not very courteous. I feel it due to my own honour to state, in the first place, that nothing was further from my intention than to misrepresent the conduct of Lord Stanley. For that Noble Lord I have the greatest possible respect, I have fought in Parliamentary matters side by side with ,him—(Cheers, —I have fought face to face against him.—(Cheers) In all times and in every situation. I have had occasion to admire his spirit, is courage, and his honour.—(Great cheering.) Therefore I should be sorry indeed if anything which fell from me did not give a correct representation of %hat that Noble Lord had stated.—(Cheers.) Th e House will recollect that it was not then my duty to go into detail, not to relate particular circumstances, and not, above all, to narrate what had come to my know ledge of conversation, but yet to state clearly what appeared to me to be the general result of alI that had occurred.—(Hear, hear.) It was quite ne cessary that I should sate a reason why, after having once tiken leave of my Sovereign, I was again required to repair to the palace ; that it was necessary is obvious, from the various statements circulated—statemeelis, some of them previously to the Hon. Gentleman's con tradietion and some of them subsequent—(Cheers) —which represented that Noble Lord as anxious to form a Government, and myself as having endeavoured to force my,elf into the presence cf my Sovereign, when that Noile Lord was engaged in that task.—((;hears.) And what, Sir, then occurred? His Royal Highness Prince .filbert wrote to me is letter on Saturday after- _ ..------------ Icontinues, is per lb having been obtained for several P. c` l'''.' f nee.' in -Tort, and , b, , gric.,-,.., ;.1. first bands is sie.ti. Fur Medium orders are i• re . .‘r l;'" 354 Weel l :I( i Id to Is LI; lor 01.1.tc sorts the market is firm. ti 1 a fair inenand exists at from is iii to Is 8d per lb. The demand for common Green is muck better; and of Canton Gunpowder large parce ls have been so ld at higher rates. In the better sorts of Green there is also more business doing, and at previous rates there are not free sellers. Former terms are supp orted for Sestlt°,(l tole Pekoe Tea, but there is at pr esent not much bast ness doing. RicE.—Prices for fine white Bengal remain at lls to 12s, owing to a scanty supply, but the demand is only for small parcels for cleaning purposes. Other sorts are do more freely offered for sale, and shippers or hoins al-rs evincing little desire to operate, declinerl 3d to 61 per cwt. At auction 4,87.1 bgs 993 pkts were disposed of, mid and good 113 , i ; white 9, 6(1 to 10e, ord 8s 6d to 9s, and broken 8s to 8s Dui scale private operations in Madras have been upon a Ifni 6d cale, pinkey 7s 6d to 8,, 61, cargo and pearl barley is 6, to 8s per cwt. Fine white Java is held for Ils to 12s, N u ! there are few buyers; the supply is, however, 84 d For town dressed Carolina the value is 20.4 to 26R, °, 13 prices for low to fine Patna 11 ato 18s. Sago at 193 to 218 for small pearl, and Sago Flour has been sold ate is foir _%; tent at 153. Of Tapioca 200 brie; at auction realised i n witP to 4id for mid and good. Arrowroot is dealt caution, Bermuda is at Is 63, other sorts of West Jo di* 3d to 103. _ SPIRITS.—There is yet a quiet market for Jall i e c t Rum. but prices are not lower as the supply is l iall 34 r limited percels 2s 9d to 3s are obtained for 30 W a) per cent over proof of plain and mid quality. sod 35 % 's 4s 6d fur good to fine 31 to 38 over. Leward Iset' Ito not offered under is 8d proof; few buyers are howe/so be met with, but the stock in first hands is s mall. ''',.. n f, India is purchased with cautioa at is 6d to ls 7d Pry" Of Demerara only small parcels have been Put: n eer chased at 2s 6d to 2s 10d for 30 t o 40 per cent on proof. The stock of Rum is 6,000 puns less s es, last year. The Brandy market is in a dull t vio , with ready sellers of Cognac best brands of tbe 9 d, rage of 1850 at 4.41 to 4s 6d. 1849 ditto 4s 7d to 4 , 9 53 d. 1848 ditto 4s 9d to 4s 11d, and inferior sorts Ss t° ''' i t it The market is in a quiet position for British-made 01),„A at 9s 8s to 93 9d. and Gin 8s 3d for 22• under pry— ' Geneva rules at is 7d to is Bd, and fine 18 9d t° 2 . 4 ; so ne INDIGO.—The market has still a quiet Well:earl/ with sellers rather under the rates of the last clos,ire sales; yet shippers .nd home dealers evince little lot., to do business. With Spanish the market is svell;eri, plied, and there has been a reduction since lsd wi n of 2d. At auction 61 srns Guatem ala selling ot,' 38 6d to 4s 4d. For Wednesday 120 srns are deels"""„d. ___—.. _ BANK OF ENGLA NJJ. (From this night's Gazette) .0,0 1 An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria. °Piga. the Week ending on Saturday, the 22d day of Fan ail ' mug DEPABTNINT. ge 0 0 Z. 11,°1.001 Notes i55ued ........ 27,762,085 Government debt .• 084,—, Other se enritiee....• •• 0,799,416: G o ld coin an b d uluoo 2 9,6 . sayer hollion ••• • • • —,-••••:: ----- - "a2 ' ON' 1 day of £27 February. 1851. 81 M. B MAR . SSE ALL, Cigef Dated the 27th BANKING DEr.uiTliEN T. Proprietors 'capital • • 14,553,000 Rest • .... .. .. .. 3,273, 8 7 2 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Say ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) • • 7,617,01 4 Other deposits .. .. .. 9,497,5 19 Seven day and other Bills . . • . • • . . .... 1,062,436 Government securi d - (including 05,696 ties weight Annu itt) • • ;;:135,616 Other securities •• •• 9 '6 490 li o tes ••••••• • • • • • • • 13,40 Gold and silve r coin.. -.•••• 0° ' a £ 36,03,841 r. MARSHALL, chief Cisblet. 1851 £36.003,841 (ISI S . g o 0 Leg horn •• "•• " • .... 9 5 ,. Milan •• •"• VeniCe ••• • • • • 125 Naples •• •• O •... 2 $ Palermo, W ..... 16 Messina • • • • .• .• Lisbon ••••" '• • • • • •••• Rio Janeiro • • Buenos AYre s " 4)4 Phila.:l6los ; •3,770,101‘., ro Geld in 0 Foreign Gold Coin 0 n Portag Won , " 0 0 v Span ish Dnu • 0 Ne:G:l,6oo.d 0... 00...0. New Dollars 0 „, A e gigl% THE COUNTRY - '7 O 37, od, w hi t t o e llei Bosrox, Fxis. 26.—Wheat, red 24 5 at , ils to 395, extra 42s to 00s ; barley 18s t° 23s ; beans 22s to 2•fts ; peas 0. t o O s per Urersorrax, Frs. 26 —Wheat 30s to 4 0 new 2 2, to 25 L; 24s ; oats, new 14s to 18s, old 21s ; beainPt. 1 3d per lb ; old 26s to 29s per quarter. Butter 1 2 r - o 4 51C4 23 for Is. old 41s t , 0 940, --Wheat, , t , old 2 1 : ,r qr. MELTON MOWERa 7, FEB. 25. new 5s Od to 40s ; barley 20s to 23.; to ' quarter._9 oci; new 16s to 20s ; beans, old 26s to 295, new, barley:: Butter 13d to 14d per lb eggs 2 to 22 for Oh -ryes t-•• oa f EDINBURGH GRAIN 51aaaar, Dm. - int 13° 'lnd op were 960 qrs,of wheat in the markt to-dslsr7oo, st°' ;„ than last week. Prices were the same on s eers on the average-96 qrs unsold. Barley l ' er than l&t 1184399 day's market 312 qrs barley, being 135 qrs m ore 2d d °/111-. 78 3 The top price is up, and the A verse o ket ev qrs unsold. Oats—The quantity of oats in the l on price Act. The 10 r qr s ner t io qrs, being 7 less than last week. Is 6d up, and the average ls 3 d -1 0 . 26 01° 11 olt Beans—The supply of beans was 196 qrs , bei g --d ld op 00 th e topi last week. Prices were the same the average-52 qrs unsold. rro. Dated the 27th day of February, COURSE OF EXCHJ ...• 16 Ditto, three months„ 11 17%, dottcrdara .......... 11 1 736 Antwerp 25 30 Brussels ........ 25 30 lia.mburgh M.B. 13 734 Altona. Paris, 3 days'sight 25 10 Ditto. 3 months .... 25 324 Marseilles •25 324 80urdeaux......... • rra.nklorton Maine.... 1194 Berlin.. Vienna, effeo. 50...—. 12 59 Trieste, ditto.. 12 69 Petersburgh,Sll. Rble.. 374 Madrid 49 n Cadiz 604 Barcelona K,AILWAY SHAK E The H only transaction sews. STOOK EXCHANGE.—The share market eon_ ceote. Great T, ex d i v. IpSoTrOteLd, tFoa.dsa.y27„;o_ tinues in rot thl ti LIVERPOOL, Egß• 27 ' d firm Bair STOCK EXCHANGX.—The share market °Pel e e A day IV siness was done, and prices had an urral" -A morning, and continued buoyant throughout th _transactions were as follow:- Aberdeen, 1 3 % -.- 22/. S h od, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 9th c. An d dis.--Dittto, ifoli b i r e, 1 4 die. - Caledonian, 11% ce n t, t Duo d ie Union Preference, guaranteed Eith per 16--asorest S I of t,hares ) , ' 3B s:l 2 144 c.-Lancashire and Yorkshire Fifths , i _ et „itutr„. tendoenirele•roirosed, and Thirsk, 15- live 'Wee te ' ter9 p.-Leedsdis.-Lancaster and 'Preston, .. noo r' 1, Cros i li and e Southport, 1 / 4 , p. c.-London and Nor.th-...sanebeloo x div.-Ditto, New Quarters, 5 3 4 1 3 9 e c refere llee '6l e $ Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 3414-Ditto, , I*- •dhuid, b. ex int.-Matlock and Midland, 4 dis---0•116 Pilo div.-Ditto, Halves. 15 C. dis. -North British, 9 , c „....13 e t 9 ~... Western, 12 dis.-South-Eastern and Doer, lob and County Down, 15 dis.-Dunda lk and Ellols Waterford and Limerick, 15. , don e MANCHESTER, FEB. 27 ' d hositioS, 0 STOCK ExcHarro.o.-There has been s gOnction, 1,0.-eie to•day, and prices were firm. The trait" .A % follow : - Leeds Stock, 57-London Stock, l'1"04 gi1;,... Qu arts hea d, 19 Ditto (C), Quarters, 3 p.-Ditto, New - " v ,: f is oil -- ,. 2 07 ' North Staffordshire 674 dis.- Chester and 9il i e potre"l4.' Ditto, 221. Shares, ' 5 1 4 dis.-South-Eastero an es sbire , c hs• -Sheffield, 35-Ditto (No. 0, 14 - Eas v t ,L l3 t li vi eodf Cil 4 Ditto, Fifths, % p.-Great Northern, 18---c Lee - Sheffield, Preference, 1 1 5 ,%. STOOa Excn B AN IR G M E. y. The following transactions hoe ' 9 u s ra So Staffordshire, 63; 3 44 dis.-South Staffordshire, to- dt d. _ IN(' LIAM FEB. 27. wete rt re irio r - 03 . ghen l la.-Shrewsbury a nd ..' 0 fel S le T w oc : HANox.-The transactio _,,l e , , in York' e w ,„77, 1 7 tb 144.- wick (G. N. E. - d '- Purchase), 7%- an 24%-Ditto P reference, t 1 1 t h oo f the 5 ,10 THE r . ...AM AS BR ACE .--- All Other pr . . , r oa ,;, matters areeat n 21116 ' Deni A " tber - g K— G E re x a c t, Northern, rtl"l7,774F3xtndnis..ar2k6e.t. n w s tc::::1;ed ::: not beneath the notice of gi* ,„. o at ~, A be perteqion of a found e. in the fact, that one of the meet erti.u" o " . !c ots woof tans at Cambridge has recently ap plied bi s . ber pro le 0 1 man, the excellence of whiolt consists in tb€" to the lola D' it of suspen sera for one n('_',.. novelti.rer, 1 1 , 111 plicity, and toe perfect. cuinfort they ens ure u u ritl fed I 0 give - • • be next first tum no an) thing like a description of their Pe c .L l e , ere e u slf to impossible, and here, for tbe bind 90 ou ot As ourselves fairly puzzl,d, there being a _o e ct, t . . 13 or) folded, and yet so admirably adapted to it, u our " - c ok e doubt even if, by the additional aid of drawing:or, 1 11 o f would be a jot the wiser. The inventions hr ds o fe 0 its immediate appearance through sn . ,, u Glob e ' m o st Messrs. Welch and Margotson, of Cheal A 7 Ski/ 1 ,1;000' [ADVERTISEMENT ]--Diseases of 1 0 0 'J aw , or' Extraordinary Cures daily effected by 11 , ° no sy, Jau n fa me i! and Pills.-Persons afflicted with scurvy.,,_le:be taro, ;f e , ef the most inveterate skin diseases to w bieu '' subject, A so car A Filtil jie ta in ' $ ifibl l? cannot make use of a reme.Y , g nu 0 speedy, in the cure as Holloway's Ointn3eiw us es frtress. purify the blood and totally eradicate suc h e r e t hose o ' 6 o Ike system.. In many parts of the continent w are u sed t _ o h st ing complaints are prevalent, these medicine° ou lar t', , o il, only sovereign remedy, they being I P or, k isg a home and abroad in obstinate eases of scrofe : go , so as also for burns or scalds.-Sold by al l Dr 0, Lso d°ll l;eet i Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, DO! HAMSGATE, FEB, 27.-A French br'l4 wrecked on the Vunlesk Knock. Wail), r Ililindb f Si der OF A SOY. A .,,v, On the 24th ingt., the wife of Mr. IL D°" -- ~. 11 6 ham, Kent. ars' WWl.' On the 26th inst., in Brunswick -s q uare, b. / OF AOA U 0 111 T Nit ic i . 10, On the 25th ingt ,at Chelmarsh Vicarage, o' Sfir of the W. • Blathwayt. icr goobbierf On the 25th inst., the wife of Mr. J. J. • hope-street. -------------- et `l iar va O iie n r, the2sth inst., at South CioDve,_Suffolk. Cl.eitlChee/.l!tro' Esq., eldest son of the late Rev. Clernen"hter of :be rector of Bodingbam. Suffolk, to Jane, eldest daug 0 off at late Captain S. F. Harmer , and the same lace, Charles James Barrow, Esq*, " IlY hrer rillf Lb° late ßev. u to . l : . er Maria , B.N;;oungesoto dtilsaugsil e°ll:l3es: On the 25th inst., at St. Pancras, Church, Ge°l'.6-,Aolll'f son of George Belben. Esq., of Poole, Dors( thire;d pc? 0 eldest daughter of the late G. W. 11. CP° ' Sherstone magi's, Wiltshire. ::---------''"--- M ar i '' DIED. Catb erille ChAr les On the 24th inst., in Cavendish-rquare, /ion. Countess of Cherville, widow of the late Fig ht - EScl' William Bury, Earl of Charlevi'le, aged 8 9 ., ad oevv , - of On the 24th inst., in Sloane-si , eat, T a. On the 24th inst., aged t 9, William the ig if e Wimpole-street. ..r• les On the 24th inst., at Leigh house,North vv 1 ' Arb the Rev. J. C. Bradney, rector of Great Salop. n . oro On the 23d ins - ., Sarah, the wile of Thom Esq., of Howland-street. CO W Pa ' a r Iton, s(i., a On the 22d inst., pt Pp*er-Rtreot. We i. '"" clalire' rifle Ross, widow of the late Dr. Adolphe. 800 . t iSa l ' i y 0 l ilt London : Printed and Published by 1111.11t1)_,0 go. •t 12, Strand, Printer, at The Sun 081 *a - Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in t he Middlesex, Friday, February 28,1851. 1 This tite r] to t h n o ( 1414 Ind i .nt, ble di • rr ,the " Pa .t4_ •C atIGI '• wOffice rg ak;ri e , del mi t y 0 N rtu ity H and c tixt a ft Na, ek e , t t 4 I 1;• kt 4 t 474 I ,1 41 k. I ' '4 7,beit t 4 Z ibi t 8 i , • ; 4* `' 4 .. 31 ',, k h, . . 4144.4t31 i L. 2 ' titti ~...... 14, 4, titti eNI 1, th E Ni e • Ed b -t ? -4 Itt der, l , o th 1144., , 141 t *I 0 1) . 1 44 t, J l'ro t 1,1444:1,447. MY ' Oti :e r ref .ente