The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-07 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. Sub-Committee, No. 2, assembled yesterday in Committee-room, No. 6, in the cloisters of the'llousa of Commons. The Committee consisted of Sir J. Y. Buller, chairman, Mr. F. Mackenzie, The O'Conor Don, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Eliot Yorke. EDINBURGH AND HAWICK RAILWAY. Mr. VENABLE3 appeared as agent for this Bill. The necessary formal proof of notices, &c., having been gone through, the Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with. The petition was uu opposed. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. Mr. VENABLES appeared in this case, also, as agent for the promoters of this line ; engineer Mr. Miller. This petition was also unopposed ; and the necessary proofs of the service of the notices, accuracy of the plans, de posits, &c., having been adduced, the Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with. The object of the Bill is to alter and amend the North British Railway and the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Bills, and to effect a junction of the two lines. GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAIL WAY (IRELAND.) _ . . This petition was unopposed. Mr. Venables-appeared as agent. The length of the line is 97 miles, and the capital 1,200,0004 Engineer, Sir J. 11I'Nei1. Standing or& rs complied with. SOU I'll-EASTERN RAILWAY. The next petition called on was that of the South- E.istern liJilway Company. Mr. 13unkE appeared as the agent in support of the pro noters' petition. Mr. Hai - warty appeared in support of a petition com plaining of nos compliance with the staading orders, by Sir Isaac Lyon Goldstnid, Chairman of the North Kent Rail way Company. Mr. DirsoN appeared to support a petition, presented on the part of Lord Bexley, a landowner on the line. The Bill is to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make railways in connexion with the South- Eastern Railway. or the branches thereof from London to Chilham, and Tunbridge and Paddock-wood, with a branch to Faversham-creek and to Stone, near Dartford; and atio to make railways, or branch railways, from the South-Eastern Railway and Tunbridge to Tunbridge Wells, and from Maidstone to Rochester, and from Ashford to llastings ; and also to alter and extend the Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate branch of the said South-Eastern Railway, and to make a branch therefrom to Deal, and to widen certain parts of the London and Greenwich Railway, and extend the same railway, and for other purposes connected with the said South-Eastern Railway. Mr. BURKE put a witness forward to produce the pub lic notices with respect to the Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells branch. The only newspaper in which the notices had appeared was a Kent newspaper. Mr. HAYWARD objected to this, on the ground that, as a portion of the Bill applied to works to be done in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, the notices should have been inserted in newspapers in the three counties. Mr. BURXE said the newspaper applied to a branch which was confined to the county of Kent. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and The Committee decided that the standing orders had not been complied with, as notices should have been in serted in the newspapers of Surrey and Sussex. Mr. BuaKE then prayed for an adjournment, in order that the promoters might consider what steps they should take. This was granted, and the Committee adjourned for a week. WHAT IS A POUND ? TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sts,—The Government having in the speech from the throne, announced its intention of extending the present banking system of England to Ireland and Scotland, it becomes es sential that we inquire whether this system is as perfect as its votaries would induce the community to believe—whether, in fact, it is based on correct principles, or whether its po pularity is not owing to its not being understood. It will be in the recollection of every one that when the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Govern ment introduced the present system of banking to the notice of Parliament, he began by asking, what is a pound? and he defined the pound to be a quantity of gold of a given weight, and of a certain degree of fineness. Now, I am not inclined to quarrel with this definition of a pound, but I could have wished the Right Hon. Baronet had gone one step further, and after having told us what the pound is, he then - would have informed us how it gets its value, or in other words, how money gets its value? and I thi will be found that, on this last question, and not on Ilin7s*rnt, the whole theory of the iurreney hinges. To reach the first principle of a currency (and thereby as certain how money gets its value, and to deduce therefrom its true nature) is the object of this letter, and I think I shall find it more easily by searching for it amongst the simple transactions of primitive life, than if I attempted to trace it amidst the complex relations of our own marvellous . country. I will, therefore, take a tribe of naked savages, roaming the forest without any other means of subsistence than that to which chance directed them. The principle of progression being innate in the human character, even these unfriended beings would not always remain in this degiaded state, and the first step they would take towards ameliorating their con dition would be to protect themselves from the inclemency of the weather; they would build themselves huts, they would clothe themselves with the skins of the animals they took in the chase, and they would cultivate small plots of laid • around their huts. In the nature of things one man would be the more successful cultivator, and another the more successful hunter, and the natural consequence of this would be, the hunter would have some of the spoils of the chase to spare, and the cultivator would have some of the pro duce of his field to spare. These two, seeing they respec tively possessed a superabundance of that which the other • wanted, would naturally be desirous of effecting an ex change. I will suppose the hunter saying to the cultivator— " Whiter is coining on, I have more skins than I want; you have more corn than you require ; I will exchange my skins for your corn." " Granted,' says the cultivator, " but how are we to exchange ; my corn has required the labour of half a year to bring it to perfection, whilst you can procure a quantity of skins in a few hours ; my corn is therefore of more value than your skins," They would, however, ulti mately come to an equitable adjustment, and effect their ex change with reference to the labour represented by the re spective commodities. As their little society progressed, they would find it neces sary to have a regular medium of exchange—money, in fact; but, being ignorant of the metals, they would be obliged to • substitute something else for their medium of exchange ; for argument's sake, I will say the beaver skin. So the beaver skin would become the money of this tribe, its value bein..; based on the trouble it would take to procure it, and it would exchange for other commodities with reference to the labour they represent. • I would here direct attention to the distinction lam en deavouring to establish, and which, if I succeed in establish ing, wilt strike at the root of what I consider a popular de lusion respecting money ; it is, that money is not both the medium of exchange and the standard of value too, but that it is only the medium of exchange, and that labour is the true standard of value—a standard by which money should be estimated i qually with every other commodity. Let us test this by what is going on around us; a yard of cotton, which can now be bought for a shilling, would, fifty years ago, have been worth two shillings; so that, if we wanted to buy a sovereign with cotton, we should have to give twenty yards for it, whereas, before, it might have been bought with ten yards. Why is this? The improvements in machinery have enabled us to dispense with sixty or seventy per cent. of the labour that used to be worked up in cotton. Cotton, there're, not representing the same quantity of la bour, has become depreciated in value, and we have in con sequence to give a greater quantity of it for those things which represent an unvarying, or nearly an unvarying quan tity of 1;:bour. Again, it' a mountain of refined gold were to be disco vered, gold would immediately become cheaper, and the twenty yards of cotton might purchase two sovereigns; not that cotton had become dearer, but that gold hall become il,- preciated. But why, under such circumstances, should gold have become depreciated, seeing that its value in use had remained precisely the same? Simply because it would be more easily obtained, because' less labour would be used in obtaining it. The concurrent approbation of mankind has selected gold as the chief medium of exchange on account of its inde structibility and hardness, but there was not any inevitable necessity for its having been selected. The concurrent ap- probation of mankind might have selected tin or iron as the medium of exchange ; 3 et no one will contend that this con current approbation would have given to iron or tin the same value as gold! But why not? Because they would be more easily obtained, because less labour would be used in obtaining them. If we do not :rake labour our standard of value, we are absolutely without any standard by which to estimate the value of gold ; and, then, when we ask how money gets its value, we are told that ►s the concurrent ap probation of mankind which gives it its value, or some other reason is assigned equally absurd and unphilosophical. If I have succeeded in showing that labour is the origina tor and standard of value, it follows, as a natural sequence that the circulating medium representing such value should expand with the creations of industry, whilst the new system of banking is based on the directly opposite principle, that of limiting money without reference to production. The practical effect of this change must inevitably be, that. as production increases, each unit of money will represent a greater quantity of the creations of industry, and that prices must continue to decline so long as production conti• flues to increase. This would not be of so much importance if society were a less ar:ilicial state; but, as it is constituted in this country, the new banking syFtem will act most severely on the producing classes for the benefit and advantage of the non-producing classes. It will greatly increase the value of all fixed incomes. The owners of estates having annuities to pay out of them will find this measure will increase the real value of those annuities, inasmuch as, though the money value remains the same. it will command a greater quantity of those productions which spring from and give value to their estates. On the same principle, it will increase the interest of the national debt, and increase the value of all salaries paid to public officers. It must be a self evident proposition that a very low range of prices and a very high rate of taxation cannot long co exist. The sweeping charge which has been made with respect to agriculture will render other changes inevitable, which are now scarcely dreamed on—such as the sale of the national estates (except those which are requisite to maintain the splendour of the throne), and the appropriation of the proceeds to the liquidation of the National Debt, the reduc tion of the interest on the debt, and the reduction of al official salaries, both county and national. These are some of the fruits which will ultimately spring out of the legislation of the last four years.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, A CONSERVATIVE. Lincolnshire, Feb. 28, 1845. LONDON JOURNEYMEN BAKERS PROVIDENT TrTION.—On Wednesday evening a meeting of i INsTi it,teit..embers and f r iends of the Surrey and Kent Auxiliary the purpose of explaining its objects, wait' held Society, , for Hall, Webber-street, Blackfriars-road. Mr. Neckey ~.ar called orge s to the chair, and the meeting was addressed by the cretary, who salt that the necessity- of the meeting was `pro duced by the circumstance that there w. , s dissension endea voured to be thrown among the friends of their society, by the esta blishment of another institution, which would be productive of serious evils. The present instituti , n was formed some years back for the purpose of supplying a fund for the members in sickness, granting of pensions to their widows ad orphans, and for ele vating their moral characters e supplyin n g means to afford them the advantages of lectures on Intellectual subjects. After some se vere strictures on the prorzs.:,l institution, the basis of whOse cOns.i tution was, that none of the trade sh:;uld marry till they scald take a shop, the speaker concluded amid considerable applause. Several other speeches its the same tone were delivered, and resolutions to support the existing, and to discountenance the proposed institution, were 1111411-1111.011SlY agreed to, After which the meeting Separated. SPIRIT of th-t PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. STANDARD.--Ahe Property-tax Bill was last night con sidered in Cominitt6e, and its clauses agreed to. Our sum mary will have shown the details of the night's proceedings, which were singularly tame on the part of the Opposition, though two amendments were proposed, to be &rutted, how ever, by overwhelming majorities. One expression of Mr. Muntz deserves to be noticed. " The Right Honourable Baronet," said the Member for Birmingham, " had im proved, to a certain extent, the condition of the in dustrious classes at the expense of the other (i. e., idle) classes." We doubt whether a higher panegyric was ever pronounced upon a statesman, even with a pur pose of eulogy, but in the particular case it is infinitely more honourable, because offered with all the sincerity of a re proach. Sir Robert Peel has improved the condition of the industrious classes; but this has been to a certain extent at the expense of the idle classes. Must not this be always, the case, and ought it not to be always the case ? There has been no general deterioration, but the reverse, a great general improvement. The idle classes are no worse off than they were, but a great deal better; everything to be purchased by money, except labour, is a great deal cheaper than it has been within the memory of the existing genera tion. Ought not this, then, to be the golden age of the wealthy ? But labour, though not yet as highly paid as it ought to be, has been enhanced in value by Sir Robert Peel's measures, at the cost, no doubt, of the profit, although in no respect at the cost of the property of the rich. And is not this just what the most perfectly wise statesman ought to de sire to accomplish ? GLOBE.—Mr. Thornely's questions, and the answer they elicited last night from Sir Robert Peel, respecting the admis sion of the cargoes already shipped—with more to follow— from New Orleans of slave-labour sugar, the growth of the repudiating State of Louisiana—throw fresh and strong light on what Lord John Russell termed, with such perfect justice, the " impracticable and illusory distinction" attempted between the produce of free and slave-labour. According to Sir Robert Peel's view of our subsisting treaty with the United States, an Order in Council must be issued, admitting these car goes on the most favourable terms. These slave-labour sugars will, therefore, come in on the footing of free-labour sugars. Nay more, according to the new-fangled ad valorem sliding scale (as Mr. Ewart pointed out) they will come in on better terms than the growth of free-labour. Mr. Ewart said—" He wished to know whether the Right Hon. Baronet was aware that all the sugar coming from Louisiana was brown muscovado sugar, and, therefore, would come into this country at the duty of 235., and not at 28s. ? So that, in fact, this slave-grown sugar of the United States would be imported at a lower duty than the free-labour sugar of Java, Siam, and Manilla." This is a prospect which Mr. Thornely contem plates " with great satisfaction. He begged simply to state that the produce of sugar in Louisiana was such as would give great profit on its exportation to this country, and that there was every reason to believe the new trade would be carried on to a very considerable extent." The temper of some Liberal Members seems to be to take alternately " the bit and the buffet" with edifying patience. Parliament, under the magnetic passes of the present Minister, appears to be quite suspended in its faculties of discerning inconsistency, or resenting injustice. The threat of Moliere's maid to her mis tress, " Vous serez, ma foi, Tartuffiee," appears accomplished in the transfused spirit of Peel through the British House of Commons. We cannot participate the satisfaction at these surprises on a partial and hollow policy. We cannot comfort ourselves with cargoes of sugar for the exposure of English sense to the world's mockery. It was only the other night that the United States' evasions of subsisting treaties, as regarded our products, were mentioned in the House, and admitted by the Minister. For the sake then of these slippery customers—for the sake of giving them a protected market—of encouraging their exports at the ex pense of fairer dealers—we legislate. We legislate to admit Louisiana to our markets, while we exclude Brazil. We legislate to admit the evaders of treaties on a privileged foot ing, while we break off treaties with those who offered reci procity. And all for love of the African race. THE MURDER AT HAMPSTEAD. (FURTHER PARTICULARS.) It has been mentioned that the deceased Delarue was known to be in the habit of wearing two rings, and although the most valuable one was discovered by the unfortunate father of 'Thomas Hocker, amongst some of the cuttings of the shoe materials at his house, still up to the period of the pri soner's examination on Tuesday, at the Police-court, no trace of the second ring had been found. It appears, however, on the return of Mr. Hocker, sen., to his resi dence, in Charles-street, that his wife had also, during his absence, found the second ring ka kind of gold keeper) amongst some rubbish. Mr. 'Locker, sen., lost no time in placing this further evidence of the guilt of his wretched son in the hands of the police. It is still believed, as was the case in the first instance, that there was more than one person concerned in the murder, and this suppo sition is strengthened by facts which, subsequently to the holding of the coroner's inquest, have transpired. In the North-road, and but a very short distance from the Swiss Cottage, a penknife is stated to have been found, having the handle covered with blood, and it cannot be identified as having ever been seen in the possession either of the accused, Thomas Henry Rocker, or of the murdered man, Mr. Delarue. The facts which have transpired in evidence also tend to show in some measure that more than one was concerned. In the first place, Delarue was, as compared with the accused, a much more powerful man, and therefore, single handed, would have been likely to have had the best of Hocker. Again, the cries of murder from deceased were heard for two or three minutes, therefore that fact does away with the impression that Hocker must have pounced on the murdered man una wares, and stunned him. The police aro actively en gaged in tracing out, if possible, the owner of the pen knife alluded to. During the inquest, it will be remembered that when the coat of Thomas Henry Rocker was produced, there was evidence of a bloody hand having been thrust into one of the pockets. Shortly after the verdict of " Wilful Murder" was recorded, Mr. Wakley directed the summon ing officer of Hampstead, in whose custody the clothes of the deceased are place d, to examine the pockets minutely, in order to ascertain if, when they were rifled by the murderer, he had blood on his hands. On Hunt's return he stated that there was not the slightest spot of blood on any of the pockets, and the only blood observable on the trousers at all was a long streak passing down the front in the direction of the left thigh. The extraordinary manner in which the police have got up the evidence in this case has been the subject of general remark, and the anxiety manifested by them all, as it were, to have " a finger in the pie" is still more sin gular. For instance, in the first place, Inspector Par tridge holds the watch and ring, identified as having belonged to the murdered man. Secondly, Inspector Shackel holds the mackintosh, trousers, &c., covered with blood, belonging to the accused. Thirdly, Inspector Haynes holds the gambroon trou sers, drawers, coat, waistcoat, stockings, and shirt of Rocker, as also the button found on the mantel piece. Fourthly, Inspector Gray holds the letter signed " Caroline," and other documents. Fifthly, Sergeant Scotney holds some letters found at the accused's lodgings, addressed by him to a Miss Batty. Sixthly, police constable Thomas holds the button found on the spot where the murder took place. Seventhly, Inspector Tedman holds some obscene books and prints belonging to the accused. Inspector Furlong holds some thing else ; and lastly, Hunt, the constable, holds the deceased's clothes. It has now been ascertained beyond a doubt that had not [locker been taken into custody on the night he was, that most, if not all, the above-mentioned evidences of his guilt would have been removed or destroyed. It appears that on the following morning after the capture of the accused, the copper at his lodgings was found filled with water, the fire laid, and everything prepared for washing, and all this was done entirely without the knowle lge of the landlady of the house. The letters in the custody of the police are said to deeply criminate the murdered man as well as Hacker. TIIE SALT-HILL MURDER. The trial of John Tawd, charged, upon the coroner's inquisitien, with the wilful murder of Sarah Hart, at Salt-hill, on New Year's Day, will take place next week at Aylesbury. An application will be made. on the part of the Crown, as soon as the commission is opened, for a day to be fixed for the trial, in consequence of the immense number of witnesses who will be examined both for the prosecution and the prisoner, the great majority of whom will have to travel a distance of be tween thirty and forty miles. Wednesday next will be the day named fur the trial to take place, should it meet with the approbation of the Court. The number of persons who have made application to be present during the proceedings (which are expected to oc cupy nearly two whole days) would fill the Court (which is somewhat confined), even if it were five times its present size. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, who had been retained by the prisoner, to conduct his defence, will not, it is confidently stated, be enabled to undertake that arduous duty, Mr. Kelly having receivel a heavy brief with a fee of tive hundred guineas, in a cause to be tried on the Home Circuit, at Maidstone, where the assizes occur in the same week as et Aylesbury. Mr. Montagu Chambers and Mr. J. J. Williams, who were present to watch the proceedings at the coroner's inquest on the body of Sarah Hart, at Salt-hill, on the part of the accused, will be en gaged elsewhere on their respective circuits. In the ab sence of these three gentlemen whom we have named, we understand that Mr. Gurney and Mr. O'Malley have been retained for the prisoner by his solicitor, Mr. Bevan, of the Old Jewry. Mr. Sergeant Byles and Mr. Fender g Ist have been retained on the part of the Crown. In order to accommodate as many persons as possible during the trial, various alterations and arrangements are bAng effeAed in the interior of the Court, by th e orders of the High Sheriff. The prisoner - continues to be supplied daily with a dinner from the White Hart Inn at Aylesbury, the prison regulations permitting an accused person, before trial, thus to obtain his meals. He is only reAtricted as to quantity with reference to wine and beer. His appetite continues very good, and his usual spirits, until within the last day or two, have not forsaken him. He has been taking hydrocyanic a cid, medicinally, nearly over since he has been incarcerated, the prisoner alleging that he is labouring under a complaint which renders that medicine necessary for his health. Several consultations have taken place within the last few days IN , between the accused and his professional advisers. e may state that he looks forward with confidence to the result of his trial. It is confidently reported that Mr. Gladstone will return to the Cabinet, and hold an office in the Admi nistration yet higher than that from which he recently receded. The Right lion. Gentleman has, it seems, re considered the subject of the increased grant to May nooth College, and has intimated that he is prepared to support both that grant and the other projected educa tional institutions of a liberal constitution, in Ireland.— Evening Paper. BURO!.ART AT PRESTON, LANCASHIRE.—On Sun day, :while all the family and household of Mr. Clark, who is described as a punctiliously religious man, were at church, his house was broken i n t o , thirteen drawers picked and rifled, all his plate, a gold watch, and other valuable effects, to the amount of 200 k, were carried o ff, an d ne clue left to , the thieves. Some suspicion attaches to parties who on the same day, at two o'clock, left Preston by th e t ra i n f or London. A telegraph on the hue might have led to the exa mination of these parties, and to the detection of the thieves. black cloth, and handles and plates, and pieces of shrouds were flying about. The smell was indescribable. Have visited the ground many times since, and have found it in the same state. Have repeatedly experienced in my nightly rounds the horrible stench from the burial-ground. " John Newman, an inhabitant near the spot, confirm the principal points of the foregoing statements, and adds, that the burials averaged from fifteen to thirty on a Sunday, and from six to twelve on Mondays." The greatest excitement continues to- prevail through out the parish, and it is understood that a Parliamentary inquiry will be forthwith instituted into these serious charges against the managers of the ground. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 6. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. A messenger from the Commons brought up a number of private Bills, which were severally read a first time. A NOBLE LORD presented a petition against the open ing of public-houses on Sundays. HARBOURS OF REFUGE. Lord• COLCHES iER rose, pursuant to notice, to move an hddress to her Majesty, praying that she may be pleased to order that a copy of the report of the Commissioners, appointed in April last to inquire into the state of the harbours in the British Channel, be laid on the table. As he understood that her Majesty's Mi nisters did not intend to offer any opposition to the motion, he would occupy their Lordships but a few minutes, in stating his reasons for considering it important that the paper should be laid before their Lordships. For one hundred miles of the southern coast of England, extending from Portsmouth, there was not a single harbour capable of affording shelter to ships, or a place where a squadron could ride in security in time of war. Such a state had been long complained of; but the only attempt to remedy the deficiency was by the construction of the Breakwater at Plymouth. On the re commendation of a Committee of the House last session, the Commissioners were appointed to inquire and examine as to the best positions for the construction of adequate harbours of refuge, and their labours concluded with the resort which was the subject of his present notice. He would only add, that he concurred in the opinion of the Commissioners, as expressed in the last paragraph of their report—that in a matter of such great national and commercial importance, pecuniary considerations ought not to interfere.—The motion was agreed to. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 7, 1845 NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Rattler, screw propelled steam-sloop, one of the steam-trial squadron, came up o Spithead during the night of Monday. and came into arbour yesterday morning. She eft or Woolwich this day, have some alterations me=e in her machinery. The Hibernia, 120, was taken into dock on Monday afternoon ; her copper was stripped off yesterday. Captain Richards took up his appointment to her yester day, and hoisted the pendant over the housing at one o'clock. The Fantome, 16, Commander Sir F. Nicolson, Bart. was paid advance wages yesterday at Spithead, and her crew completed by a draught from the Victory. She sailed to-day for the Mediterranean to relieve the Scout, 18, Commander the Hon. J. R. Drummond, whosel . /eriod of ervice has expired. The Belvidera, 42, Lieutenant Ward comtEnr . ing, was paid off this day. The Siren, 16, was undocked on Monday, her dock being wanted for the Hibernia. The Siren has been overhauled and examined, and will complete her refit in the basin. . . . . The Harlequin, 16, is in the basin, waiting to be docked and brought for re-commission. The Dwarf steam (screw) vessel, Lieutenant-Com mander Proctor, left this afternoon, for the river, to transfer her company to the new tender Fairy. The Black Eagle Admiralty steam yacht, Master- Commander S. B. Cook, left this afternoon, fee Wool wich. The royal yacht Victoria and Albert has got her steam and the jack up in the harbour for a cruise. DEVONPORT.—The Mutine, 12, Commander Crawford, was at Madeira, all well, on the Ist ult. In her trial of sailing with the Osprey, 12, Commander Patten, Water witch, 8, Commander J. Francis Birch, wad the Pan taloon, 8, Commander Wilson, after leaving Plymouth Sound, she butt them by a long distance upon every point of sailing, especially in light breezes, before the wind. They only had one trial, having parted company in a gale a few days after leaving port. The Canopus, 84, was commissioned on .9- - nday by Captain Fairfax Moresby (1814). The Dee steamer transport, Master Commander Driver, put into this port, on her way to Cork from Portsmouth, on Sunday. The Rolla, 10, Commander Simpson, came into har bour to repair defects on Saturday. The Daring, 12, Commander Matson, joined the Es piegle and Flying Fish in the Sound on Saturday. The Netley tender arrived on Sunday with supernu meraries from Portsmouth. THE SPA-FIELDS BURIAT, GROUND. The repeated complaints and represents . : of the Committee of the inhabitants of Clerkenwel I have at length attracted the attention of the Home Secretary to the existing nuisance and malpractices that have so long prevailed in the neighbourhood of Exmouth-street, Spa fields. A communication was made by Sir J. Graham to the Police Commissioners on Saturday, and Captain Hay, the Assistant-Commissioner, on that day inspected the Spa-fields burial-ground, accompanied by Mr. Watt, the chairman, Mr. Clarke, the secretary, and several other respectable householders. The stench arising from decomposed human bodies was declare' by Cap tain Hay to be insufferable, a nd the Comn..ttee were directed to forward such information as they could col lect (reduced into writing) for the guidance of Sir J. Graham. A meeting of the Committee took place on Sun day, and the subjoined examinations were then taken, and forwarded to the Home-office. A meeting of the parish officers has likewise been held at the workhouse in Coppice-row, and Mr. Wakeling, the vestry clerk, has, it is stated, opened a correspondence with the Secretary of State on the subject. It appears that the manner in which this extraordinary and revolting work of demoli tion was first discovered is this :—Reuben Boom, a gravedigger teeaht bnhe bde ac bo dy,t since,cGffi t depositedhalnnoe wd6o b suu u saple r ndor i d a nt bnheigiMartin, rtuelsewhere.htdaniground,nnt,t,h di sc h arge he wel l t had r4hwg:eewl a bl ehor c ede ic „aa' knew Is Police-constablei and called n dfte t t interred r nn r oh e bt o d nes some slHe fevtne removing hey t w prevent Room opening the grave, upon which he took the two officers to an outhouse, where they saw the lids of several coffins being consumed over a fierce fire, and pieces of "human flesh" (to use the officers' own words) " were attached to the coffins the size of their bands." The following is a copy of the written depe ai•:ons that have been transmitted to Sir James Graham:— " Reuben Room examined—l was in the employ of Mr. F. Green, as gravedigger, in 1837, and continued in his employ for about six years. Our mode of work ing the ground was not commencing at one end and working to the other, but digging wherever it was or dered, totally regardless whether the ground was full or not for instance, to dig a grave six feet deep at a par ticular spot, I have often disturbed and mutilated seven or eight bodies ; that is, I have severed heads, arms, legs, or whatever came in my way, with a crowbar, pickaxe, chopper, and saw. Of the bodies some were quite fresh and some decomposed. I have had as much as a hun dred weight and a half of human flesh what we term the " beef-board " at the foot of the grave at one time. I have often put a rope round the neck of the corpse to drag it out of the coffin, fasten ing one end of the rope to a tombstone so as to keep the corpse upright to get at the coffin from underneath, to make room for the flesh of other bodies. The coffins were taken away and burnt with pieces of decomposed flesh adhering thereto. I have taken up half a ton of wood out of one grave, because I had to take out two tiers of coffins, some of which were quite fresh, and we used to cut them up for struts, used for shoring up the graves. We had as many as fifty or simty sides of coffins always in use to keep the ground om falling in when digging. We have buried as many as forty five bodies in one day, besides still-horns. I and Tom Smith kept an account one year; we buried 2,017 bodies besides still-borns, which are generally enclosed in deal coffins. We have taken them up when they hare been in the ground only two days, and used them to light fires with. I have been up to my knees in human flesh, by jumping on the bodies, so as to cram them into the least possible space at the bottom of the graves in which fresh bodies were afterwards placed. We covered over the flesh at the bottom }y a small layer of mould. I have ruptured myself in lagging a heavy corpse out of the coffin. It was a very heavy one. It slipped from my hold, lifting it by the shoulders. The corpse was quite fresh. These occurrences took place every day. " Robert Watt examined—l live at No. 14, Exmouth street, Spa-fields. I have been an inhabitant for ten years, during which time I have been disgusted with the mode of conducting the ground, and the complaints made from the people in the back neighbourhood. About five years ago I left the neighbourhood to reside at Hollo way, believing it injurious to myself and family to re main at Spa-fields. I was compelled to rot - in about eighteen months back, and nearly ever since have had illness in my house. A few months back fire broke out at the bone-house, which aroused my suspicions from the unpleasant odours which were emitted nightly, and I felt convinced that the illness in my house arose therefrom. I have seen the spot opened and re-opened during the last ten years, and bodies continually placed therein. 1 have remarked this to the officiating minister, when he replied that it was not injurious to the inhabitants, and no business of his. I have frequently heard and seen the grave-diggers employed in destroying the coffins. " George Walters examined—l live at No. 'l, Guild ford-place. On the 14th of December, 1843, was called to a fire at the bone-house, Spa-fields ground. I saw in the grate a rib-bone and part of two socket-bones, partly burnt, and a quantity of coffin-wood, in different states of decay, with mould attached to it. Was called again to a fire on the 2d of January last; was refused entry by Mr. Bird; saw coffin-wood upright burning on the fire, planks four feet long were blazing up the chim ney. The wood was sound stuff. I saw as much coffin wood tied up as four men could carry. The chimneys were lined through with a cost of pitch—there were large lumps of it towards the top. I forced it desvn with a crowbar as big as my two fists. The smell was hor rible. There were about 100 people assembi e,begging of me, for God's sake, to put an end to the nuisance. " John Lynn—l live at No. 4, - Exmouth-street ;am landlord of the whole of the northern row, which con tains eleven houses, all of which abut on the east side of the Spa-fields bur:al ground. I have been landlord of the above for seven years ; during the whole of which period I have heard complaints made by the various tenants of most shocking sights in the above ground, and have often been applied to to come and behold them with my own eyes—the breaking up of coffins and dis turbing the contents. On one occa s ion, when repairing the roofs of the houses, I saw what appeareda m .sh, which seemed to me to be the bowels of a corpse which the gravedigger attempted to gather up in a shovel, and place in a barrow; and after several attempts failing, he was obliged to put it in the earth. The smell from the graveyard, arising from the continual dis turbing of the earth and keeping graves continually open (averaging 30 per week) is so intolerable that the majo rity of tenants are continually shifting The smell, even in cold weather, especially at night, is quite unbearable. I have been an eye-witness to the removal of parts of coffins in all states of preservation, at all times in the fore part of the day. " Ann Mitchell—l live at Bi. Garden 4elk, Spa fields. I entered on the 3,1 of February, 1844. I have been subject to illness ever since, and so have my hus band and children. Within ten days after taking the above cottage my two children fell ill; they were covered with watery blisters all over the body—symptoms con stantly in the vicinity. My house is at the back of the hone-house. I have heard noises nightly ; knocking from two till five in the morning. My room sweats, the paper is spoiled, and I have a nasty coppery taste in my mouth. " Harriet Woods—l live at No. 13, Northampton row. Went to my house in 1842. Saw Tt , o^nts Smith with a blue coffin quite new. He broke it to t iieces with a pickaxe, mangled the contents, and mixed it with the earth. Saw him look round to see if any one was watching. Have seen him continually wheel away wood and return ashes from the bone-house. Once saw him hold up what appeared to be the head of a woman by the hair. Mrs. Gill, a lodger, also witnessed it. On another occasion I called to him, and he used threiten ing language ; he said he should hive my old bones bcfore long. Have seen this sort of thing constantly. I have lost five children out of eight ; two on one day, by a maignant fever. Have seen Tom Smith jump on the coffins. " William Penny, Inspector of the G d in, stated as follows :—ln December, 1843, a petittr , t. vas pre sented to the magistrates at Clerkenwell I-ace -court, signed by 150 inhabitants. The magistrate gave me the petition, and desired me to see to it. I did so ; and went immediately to a one-story erection in the burial ground, called a bone-house,' where I found a large fire on the floor and in the grate. The fire consisted of coffin-boards of full-grown people and children broken up ; some were quite sound with pieces of LAW OF DIVORCE. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a re spectable citizen, named Stephen Pierce, complaining of the present law of divorce. The NOBLE LORD put off the presentation of his Bill for giving the Privy Council jurisdiction in cases of divorce till next Thursday (this day week). COURTS OF COMMON LAW PROCESS BILL— COURT OF SESSION (SCOTLAND) BILL. Lord CAMPBELL moved the order of the day for going into Committee on these two Bills. He said it would perhaps save trouble if he N% ere to mention then the amendment he wished to propose to the first Bill. Some difficulty might arise respecting the manner in which the service of the process ought to be made, or dishonest persons might serve their own turns by inducing a foreigner to swear that the service had been duly and properly effected.—(Hear, hear.) Now, to obviate this, he should introduce a clause providing that the service of a process abroad should be made either by a British subject or by a notary public.—(Hear, hear.) Before he sat down he wished to allude to a point connected with the other Bill. A Noble Duke who was not present—he meant the Duke of Hamilton, who was the hereditary keeper of Holyrood House—was extremely anxious to preserve all the rights and maintain all the privileges of the place to which he belonged.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Duke was apprehensive that this Bill would interfere with the liberties of that house, but he believed the Noble Lord on the Woolsack would confirm him in the statement, that it was impossible that they could at all be interfered with by that enactment. Lord BROUGHAM said the amendment of the Noble Lord had certainly removed, in a great degree, his ob jections to the first measure. The notaries public of France and Germany were men of high respectability, whe held responsible offices which were recognised by the laws and Governments of the two countries. The circumstances of the case night be quite evident, their perjury might be quite clear, and yet the know ledge of this might not be of the smallest use in the ap plication for a writ of error. The judgment, notwith standing the knowledge of these facts, would stand. The service by a notary public in France would be perfectly satisfactory, though in other countries it might not be so ; and he thought it would be better to specify in this Bill in what countries the service was to be by a notary public, and those in which it should be by a British subject. In the country where the service was to be by a British subject, it might come through the instrumentality of a judge's order. In the islands of Corfu and Zante it was impossible to depend on the notaries public, and he thought no better plan could be adopted than to let the service be proved by the affidavit of a British subject. He ASiought the amendment might be introduced in Committee. _ _ The LORD CHANCELLOR said that he thought it would tobebetteorurt of see Equity.th the operation of the Bill in the details of the Court Lord CAMPBELL asked if his Noble and Learned Friend would name a day ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said the first day after Easter. That, he thought, would be a sufficient time for ascertaining the operation of this Bill in the Courts of Equity, and he wished for this time, for he did not like to legislate in the dark. Lord ASIIBURTON said that he was sorry to say that the being a British subject was not a sufficient guarantee for perfect good faith ; and that, therefore, the better mode would be, when the notaries public were not to be depended upon, that the notice should be served by a British subject under the supervision of the British Consul resident in that country. The LORD CHANCELLOR then put the motion, and the House went into Committee, pro forma, on the Com mon Law Process Bill, the Common Law Process (Ireland) Bill, and the Court of Session (Soctland) Bill. The Earl of SJ!AFTESIIIIRY reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on the first day after Easter. COMPANIES CLAUSES CONS nIDATION BILL, AND THE COMPANIES CLAUSES CONSOLI DATION (SCO ['LAND) BILL On the motion of the Duke of BUCCLEUCH these Bills ware read a first time, and were ordered to be printed. CONSTABLES (SCOTLAND) BILL. The House went into Committee on the Constables (Scotland) Bill, and On the motion of the Earl of DALHOUSIE, words were introduced to enable a constable to act in any other part of a county, as well as in the district to which he was appointed, but under the direction of the sheriff. The Bill went through Committee with this amend ment, the Earl of SitAFTEsnuny reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 6. RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday ) Mr. RICE said that the 49th clause applied to this case, and he hoped, therefore, the Honourable Member would not press his opposition. Mr. WO i )EHOUSE protested against the supposition that the landed interest entertained any jealousy of those who supported railways, or of railways themselves. He had lived, during the construction of the Norwich and Yarmouth Rail way, very near to it, and he had never sustained the Tightest inconvenience from it, and such had been the case with a Noble Friend in his neighbourhood. In the case of a special train, the adoption of the suggestion of the Hon. Menfier would cause great inconvenience. In one instance, a phy sician's attendance was required at Yarmouth ; a special train was taken, and, in consequence of there being no im pediment,, he performed the distance between Norwich and armouth in a quarter of an hour, which would otherwise have taken him nearly two hours. With respect to the jea lousy supposed to be entertained by landowners of railway projects, he would beg to assure the Hon. Member for Wells that he never was more thoroughly mistaken than in that supposition. Mr. TATTON EGERTON thought, in the cases of public roads and highways, these gates - were necessary, but that in the cases of footpaths it would be a needless expense and trouble to the companies. _ _ _ Mr. ENTWISLE said that the object of this Bill was to consolidate the regulations so as to curtail the proceedings in Committees oa Private Bills. In his opinion, the Hon. Member for Cockermouth would find that the exceptions to the rule which he sought to establish, would be so numerous as to increase the business before Private Committees rather than decrease it, and he, therefore, conceived that the adop tion of the words proposed would be the very means of de feating the Hon. Member's own object, and he therefore trusted that he would withdraw his opposition. If the ex pense were increased to the companies, the publie in the end would have to pay it. Colonel SIBTHORP hoped that the Hon. Member for Cockermouth would divide the House at once. They talked of the expense of railways; he thought that ought to occupy little consideration. He entertained great jealcusy of all these schemes, and he hoped the Hon. Member for Cocker mouth would persist in his opposition, and bring this clause to a test. Dr. BOWRING said that the excepted cases were many. He did not think that in more than one case out of twenty would it be necessary to have a gate and a person to watch it. They ought rather to legislate for the nineteen cases than the one case. Mr. GRIMSDITCH wanted to know by what words the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Aglionby) would get rid of the objection that had been urged against the amendment. Mr. AGLIONBY said that there WAS an entire misconcep tion of his argument and amendment. He did not mean to put an end to all great railway schemes. The words which he would introduce into the clause were, first, the words " highways," and then, " except where otherwise provided by the special Act." He thought that their first object ought to be the public safety, and firs objec t ought to be a secondary object. Ile considered he was more correct in requiring that the public should be protected where protection was necessary than the Hon. Gentleman near him (Dr. Bowring), who said that they ought not to legislate for one case because there were nineteen cases whick did not require legislation. Lord G. SOMERSET thought that the tenour of the Hon. Gentleman's speech was to afford protection, but that the tenour of his clause would not have that effect. He conceived that the public would have less protection under the words which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman sought to introduce than under the c lause as it stood. What he would propose would be this , that whenever a public road, in a populous district, inte rfered with the rail ways going upo n a l eve l, a special clause s hould be intro duced to provide f or th a t. Mr. AGLIONBY thought that would do. Mr. DARBY said that if the Honourable Gentleman meant by his amendment to give the Committee the power of allowing public roads to be crossed, without the railway company being compelled to put up gates, and to keep persons to watch them, he would do well to persevere.—(Hear, hear.) But if that were not his object he would advise him to withdraw the amendment, and pro pose it in a subsequent part of the Bill. Mr. AGLIONBY said he had not intended to impute in consistency in a personal manner to any Hon. Member. With regard to his proposal, as there seemed to be an agree ment as to the principle, and differences appeared to exist only as to the means, it would be better for the present to withdraw his amendment, and re-introduce it at a future period.—(Hear.) His idea had been that clause 44 might be expunged altogether if his amendment were agreed to. The amendment was then withdrawn. Lord G. SOMERSET thought the Hon. Gentleman had exercised a very sound discretion. The object of all who had taken part in the discussion was, he believed, the same. It would be much better to propose the words upon the con sideration of clause 44. Clauses 33, 34, and 35 were then agreQd to. On clati:e 36 being read, . . . Mr. %YAWN said he understood it was the intention of some of the companies to abandon branch lines which had been projected. In such cases they would be compelled to place the roads in the condition in which they found them. Lord G. SOMERSET said that when application was made to Parliament to sanction the abandonment this point might be considered. Clauses 36 to 41 inclusive were then agreed to. Clause 42, was agreed to, with a few verbal amendments, as was also clause 43. Lord G. SOMERSET then roved that the Chairman re. port progress, and the House adjourned at a Quarter-past Four to Five o'Clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. SOUTH WALES RAILWAY. Mr. PHILPOTTS presented a petition complaining that the standing orders in the case of the South Wales Railway had not been complied with. The petition was referred to the Select Committee. TRENT VALLEY EXTENSION. Mr. MARK PHILIPS brought up the Trent Valley Extension Bill, which was read a first time and ordered to be read a second time. BLACKBURN, ACCRINGTON, AND COLNE RAILWAY. General LYGON presented petitions complaining that the standing orders on the Blackburn, Accrington, and Colne Railway had not been complied with.—Referred to the Select Committee. HEYWOOI) WATERWORKS. Mr. STRUTT brought up the report of the Select Committee on the Heywood Waterworks. It stated, that the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Mr. ESTCOLTRT brought up the report of the Select Committee on this railway ; a►nd it also stated that the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. Mr. SPOONER moved for the report of the Select Committee on the London, Worcester, and Staffordshire Railway. The HONOURABLE MEMBER also moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the London, Birmingham, and Staf fordshire Railway. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from the inhabitants of Heytesbury, the purport of which we could not catch. Mr. SHAW presented a petition against the system of National Education in Ireland. Sir G. STRICKLAND presented a petition for the reduction of the naval ' and military establishments in the country. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. BLEWITT gave notice that on an early day, after Easter, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the several Acts of Parliament which pro hibited the growth and curing of tobacco in Great Britain and Ire!wad. Mr. GISBORNE gave notice that he should, on an early, day call the attention of the House to the subject of the powers of the Board of Trade with respect to railways. CONDITION OF THE LABOURING POOR. Mr. BORTHWICK, seeing the Noble Lord, the Member for London, in his place, would beg leave to ask him a question. In the last session of Parliament, the Noble Lord called the attention of the House to the distressed condition of the labouring population. Since then he (Mr. Borthwick) had had many communica tions from most districts upon the subject; and, there fore, he would wish to know whether it was the inten tion of the Noble Lord to bring the subject before the House this session ? Lord J. RUSSELL begged to say, in answer to the Hon. and Learned Member, that it was his intention to bring the subject forward, with a view to propsing some legislative measure upon it, shortly after Easter. CIVIL DISABILITIES OF THE JEWS. Mr. TRELAWNY, seeing the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury in his place, begged to give notice that he would to-morrow ask the Right Hon. Baronet whether it was the intention of her Ma jesty's Government to introduce, this session, any mea sure providing for the removal of the civil disabilities of the Jews. Sir ROBERT PEEL begged to say, in answer to the Hon. Member's question, though the Hon. Member had said he would not put it until to-morrow, that her Ma jesty's Government did hope, at a very early period of the session, to bring forward a Bill for the removal of the civil disabilities of the Jews, at least so far as municipal and corporate disabilities extended.—(Hear, hear.) SUGAR DUTIES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in answer to a question from the Noble Lord, the Member for London, that with respect to the sugar duties and property-tax questions, he was anxious to make such arrangements for the discussions upon them a, would be most convenient to the House. He was willing that the discussion upon either of these ques tions should be taken to-morrow, upon the report, or upon the third reading on Monday. Mr. LABOUC HERE wished to know if he correctly understood the Right Hon. Gentleman, in stating that it was not the intention of her Majesty's Government to make any a iteration in the classification of the sugar duties this session ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in the affirmative ; and, in answer to the question of Lord John Russell, he begged to say that he would now defi nitively fix Monday next for the discussion on the sugar duties. DUTY ON COALS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to a question from Lord Ho wick, said he was most anxious to bring on, at as early a period as possible, the proposition for the remission of the export duty on coals. SUGAR DUTIES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to a question from Dr. BowBINO, said it was not the intention of her Majesty's Government to make any substantial changes with regard to the duties on sugar. Sir R. PEEL was understood to say that, as there were a great number of articles upon which the duty was to be taken off, and about which there was no substan tial difference of opinion, it would be desirable that a selection of such articles should be made, and the ques tion with regard to them settled.—(Hear, hear.) POOR•LAWS (IRELAND). In answer to a question by Mr. BELLEW, on the subject of poor•law unions in Ireland, and the debts to which some of them were subject, Sir J. GRAHAM said that the report on the subject was not yet prepared ; but as soon as it was ready it would be laid on the table, together with the Treasury minute with regard to it. MUSEUMS OF ART. Mr. EWART said that he rose for the purpose of moving for leave to bring in a Bill to enable town councils to establish museums of art in corporate towns. The merit of the measure was almost entirely due to the Hon. Member for Taunton, who had acted with him on the Committee which sat upon the subject. That Com mittee recommended the c stet blishment of schools of de sign, and, first of all, it recommended the establishment of a central school in the metropolis. It also recommended the establishment of schools in the various manufacturing towns in connexion with the central school. Only one thing was wanted now, and that was, that the central school should be devoted rather to the purposes of a normal school for making masters, than for the purpose of elementary education in art. That was the original design of the school, as his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, to whom the country was greatly indebted for his exertions with regard to this subject, would well remember. But that design had not been fully carried out. As yet, the central school in London was not a normal school of art, but he trusted that they were making advances towards that more perfect system which existed in foreign coun tries. Another recommendation of the Committee was, that exhibitions or galleries of art should be established in the various manufacturing and other large towns of the country. It was not intended that those exhibitions should be limited to the temporary purposes of mere ephemeral exhibitions.—(Hear, hear.) The Committee were anxious that those mu seums should contain specimens of antique art, of me dieval art, and of modern art. That recommendation had not been carried into effect ; and it was to remedy this omission that the present Bill was proposed. The Committee had hoped that the Go vernment would have assisted, if not by the formation, at least by its co-or eration with those who were willing to form these provincial museums, by obtaining perfect casts of the best specimens of antique and modern works, and distributing them to the various manufacturing towns, to be deposited in their museums. In London such a gallery had been established, but it was by no means perfect. He under stood it would be necessary to procure for that gallery now casts of the various works of antiquity. But the object of the present measure was to diffuse these various specimens of art throughout the country ; to send them to the museums of Manchester, of Glasgow, of Birmingham, of Coventry, and of all the large manu facturing towns. He asked them to pass this Bill in order to enable the town councils to defray the expenses necessary for these museums by the im pes►tion of a small borough rate, so as to admit the po pulation upon the easiest possible terms. Many per sons were ready to aid in the formation of these museums, either by the subscription of money, or by presenting them with works of art. It was to encourage these exertions that he ventured to propose the present measure to Parliament. There were peculiar circumstances at the present time which allowed a facility for the diffusion of works of art throughout the country which had never been enjoyed in times past. By means of their railways they could send casts of improved specimens of works of art to the different manufacturing towns, and it would be the fault of the Government if there was a single manufacturing or large town in the country deficient of a museum of such a character, as might give a sound taste in art to the population of that town, and thus enable them to apply the skill they would obtain in the arts to manufactures. He trusted, therefore, that they should see before long the system of schools of design perfected throughout the country, and that the central school in the metropolis would become what the Committee recommended it should be. It was well known that, till the Romans had such an abundance of statues in Rome that the mind of the people was improved through the eye, they never became aware of the value of the arts ; and it was the same with the people of this country. It had been said that England would not make any great advances in the arts, because it was a commercial nation ; but he believed, if they adopted the recommendation of the Committee, that, like Venice, the large nytnufac turing towns of this country would be quite capable of appreciating the value of the fine arts. With this view he called on the Government to assist in prorr wing this object, and to wipe away the stain that hung upon the artistic reputation of the country.—(Hear, hear ) He had now shortly stated the principle of the subject he intended to bring before the House. He dig rut think it necessary further to dilate upon it, but would conclude by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to enable town councils to establish museums of art in corporate towns. Mr. WYSE secondod the motion. Every day's expe rience showed the necessity for diffusing education not only in great towns but in the provinces. Establish ments had been formed in many principal towns, and the best effects had been produced. Taste hos ever, for art, was not sufficiently diffused in the country. Many of the schools of design had not the means of availing themselves of the contributions in books or in works of art which might be given them, by reason of their having no place sufficiently extensive to receive them. Without granting the power to town councils to raise such a fund, how could they expect to create a taste for the arts in this country, for they knew how little guarantee to the success of an institution arose from the exertions of private in dividuals. They were aware that there were institu tions to which individuals were willing to contribute works of art, valuable books or specimens of natural history, but from the circumstance of there being no building in the locality caps.ble of holding them, those who would have so contributed were obliged to retain, on their own premises, those articles which they would otherwise have given to the public, and thus an impediment was created to the advance of the fine arts in this country. He was anxious with his lion. Friend to provide a remedy for this evil, and he had some years ago introduced a Bill for a similar purpose. He did not expect any opposition to the introduction of this Bill, and he would defer any remarks of his to a future stage. He would second, with great pleasure, the motion of his Hon. Friend. Sir W. JAMES thought the motion was highly worthy the attention of the House. He was gratified to state that an Honourable Friend behind him had given to an institution at Hull a large collection of classical casts, and that their value was appre ciated. With respect to corporations, as re modelled by the Municipal Reform Bill, he was glad to see that they were becoming anxious to pos sess collections of works of art. But he remembered that when they were first reformed, most valuable works of art, some of them the pictures of Sir Joshua Reynolds, and others of high eminence, which had been presented to the old corporations, and also antique plate, which had been, in some instances, in possession of the old corporations since the time of Elizabeth, were disgracefully brought to the hammer, and sold by auction. He was happy to see symptoms of a better taste, and, if the improvement went on, perhaps the reformed corporations would send their children to classical schools, where they would become acquainted with the old verse— " Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes Emollit mores, nee sinitesse feros." —(A laugh.) Atd perhaps in course of time they would recover the reputation for hospitality of which the old corporations used to be proud.—(Hear, and a laugh.) He could only say that he thought the country was much indebted to the Hon. Member for Dumfries for the trouble he had taken on this subject. Mr. MARK PHILIPS thought it was of the utmost importance that a taste for literature and the arts should be encouraged in the rising generation ; and he thought some such proposition as that which had been made by his Hon. Friend should be adopted by the House. He (Mr. M. Philips) hoped that his Hon. Friend would give sufficient time for discussion of the merits of this Bill in the country, to prevent any hasty expression of opinion upon that which was intrinsically good in itself. He had great pleasure in supporting the introduction of this Bill. He hoped that, when the Bill would be carried into operation in large towns, the museums would be opened at such hours and under such regulations as would be advantageous to the working classes. Mr. lIUMF, said he had no doubt of the justice of the motion of his Hon. Friend, and only wished that it would be enlarged, in order to give power to the councils not only to provide museums, but places of recreation for the people —play-grounds and public walks. The greatest desire existed among the lower classes to take advantage of the exhibition of works of art, and he believed that every Hon. Member would bear testimony to the propriety with which the humbler classes conducted themselves in these exhibitions.—(Hear, hear.) Some years ago Mr. Buckingham had introduced a Bill which comprehended the provisions of that which the Hon. Member was about to introduce, and a great deal more. Ministers should lend all the in fluence they possessed for the establishment of such institutions. They occupied the minds of the people, refined their taste, and prevented them from being engaged in bad projects. He submitted it was a subject well worthy of the atten tion of the Government, and he was sure, if they would only consent to adopt it, the step would do them mere honour than any other measure they could bring forward. Mr. BERNAL said the manner in which the Hon, Member for Dumfries had brought forward the subject did him great credit; but he trusted the Honourable Member would not dovetail his plan, but con fine himself to one proposition. He thought it was highly gratifying that, so far as they could learn the outrages which had been committed in public museums were not perpetrated by any of the labouring classes of the country. No operative that he was aware of had been convicted of an offence of this nature, but he be lieved the outrages which had been committed were per petrated by persons moving in a superior walk of life. This was the only capital in Europe, he believed, that was without a museum of art, and when they saw what was done in a neighbouring country, and the impulse that had been given to a love of the fine arts by the King of the French, he thought that they should stir themselves to form a museum of art in this metropolis which would be worthy of the English nation.—(Hear.) Many of the works of art of the middle ages were going to decay, and he would implore the Right Hon. Baronet to dirmet his attention to it, for the purpose of finding some means to preserve them. Sir R. PEEL said that the subject of which the Hon. Gentleman had alluded, ha I not altogether escaped his attention. But many suggestions of a similar kind were made, such of which, individually considered, was worthy of public favour, and of those suggestions he could only select such as appeared to be most im portant. They had turned their attention to the im provement of the geological museum, and he hoped that they would be enabled, in the course of the present session, to make some proposal for the purpose of promoting greater access to this improved geological museum. He concurred with the Hon. Gentleman in the great advantage which would result from the encou raging and promoting a love of art ; but he advised the [louse to be cautious in giving extensive power of taxa tion to municipal bodies.—(Hear, hear.) The Hun. Gentleman was anxious to see a museum of art. An other Hon. Member wished to give municipal bodies powers of taxation, fur the purpose of purchasing places of recreation; and there was another object, perhaps of more importance than either, for which local taxes should be levied—namely, the ventilation and the im proving of the salubrity of towns. But they ought to be cautious, lest they should make the taxes for those pur poses too expensive ; s and thereby create a prejudice against those objects, which they thought so necessary. —([fear, hear.) He would advise the Hon. Gentleman, therefore, to limit himself to his own particular plan, and not to incorporate other purposes with it. There was a great disposition amongst those who prospered by manufacturers to remember the obligations which they owed to those through whom they derived their wealth, and to contribute largely to the purposes of art.—(Hear.) He hoped they would take care not to check this disp sition to contribute, by making it a subject of local taxation. At any rate, he hoped that these town councils would think it preferable to try to raise as large a sum as possible by voluntary contribution. He believed if town councils should vote large sums for the purpose of establishing museums of this kind, providing the buildings and purchasing the objects for exhibition, they would in many cases throw the public money away. But, if the town councils would call on the affluent con nected with the place to contribute a certain specific sum for the purpose of establishing these museums, stating that, when established, they would undertake, by an annual rate, to provide for the permanent charges of the superintendence, they would by that means induce many to contribute for this purpose. In the case of building churches, it had been found that many persons would advance a certain sum of money over which they would have some control, who would not consent to burden their property for that purpose. Where the authorities had said, " If you will provide the edifice, we will guarantee a permanent endowment for it," it was gratifying to observe how willingly assistance was given. He be lieved town councils would find many persons, in places where manufactures were prosperous, who would be willing to make presents of objects of art, or of large sums of money to be paid at once, if they were assured that a museum would be permanently provided. He hoped the Hon. Gentleman would consider this suggestion, and that if he gave town councils any power to raise money at all, it would be made subservier.t to private contributions. Lord J. MANNERS said he should be happy to see the proposition of the lion. Member carried into effect. If the lion. Member for Montrose would renew his Bill he should be happy to support it. There was a growing desire- on the part of the people to provide means of public recreation. \ He had the pleasure and gratification of living in a large house where there were many works of art ; he had witnessed persons going there who were delighted with what they saw, but he had never heard of a single instance of any of those works being injured by the visitors there. lie could not sit down without offer ing his praises to her Majesty's Government for the care they had taken of works of art, and for their restoration, particularly in GlaSgow and Mr. BROTHERTON thought it most important- in. large communities that something should be done, not only to improve the public taste, but the morals of the people. Schools of design were sot sufficient, museums were necessary, and if established he would venture to say they would act as a sort of moral police. In the great town of Manchester a tax of a halfpenny in the pound would enable parties to erect a building that would cost 50,0001., and in that building might be placed works that would greatly con tribute to the delight, the improvement, and the educa tiqn of the people. In the town of Manchester alone, so well did the people appreciate the value of such institu tions, that they had collected about 30,0001 towards mi.king a public park, and he was happy to saY ° ld thi Right Honourable Baronet opposite bad contribut,ro munificent sum of 1,0001. towards this park.--(Y,el cheering.) But public parks could not be enri(ei, the people at all seasons of the year, rasher lady in an uncertain climate like this, an d t .fJ fere the greater necessity for public nneasure,,A they would not only have the effect of derv'. the minds and improving the morals of the lowereiale but they would also eventually withdraw them fl; ° T, iii e public house, where they now too often spent thetr;toi ings in dissipation, and convert them at leng th l ee ./ sort of moral police for the prevent'on of !many cite ' OO (Hear, hear.) Besides, when once these amuse were established, they would he sure to receive cen` tre o beets from gentlemen who could not heretofore etbiodiet their property to the old corporations, for those, , had no ebject but their own gratification in frast°'"erthe (Hear, hear.) He had great plea-tire in suppiittl s of prop.sitioti. He thought it would el. rate the annitio the people, and raise science to a still higher P than it at present enjoy. d a ofr Mr. HUTT highly approved of the measure, se t ie served that nothing could be more successful tbsnedip schools of design. Schools of design had been oPeT be es Newcastle, Sheffield, and Birmingham, which hsvu6 , bid attended with the greatest advantage, and w° l. 4 its' been produced by them which were objects of to Lion in every capital in Europe. Englishmen fo r s he as renowned for works of taste as they were cold cess in commerce and manufactures, and nothing „ e s more effectually raise the minds of the people from 6 - and sensual pursuits than such pits. Mr. LA BOUCHERE said there ursu w as so little di ver l, slt i{ of sentiment on this subject., that lie did not tat of would be nee, ssary fur him to trouble the House aotir length. He would, however, express his hearty frieti, rence in the views of the Hon Member for I)°, nl The and his hope that his wishes would be realise"' c,i,of country was indebted for the establishment of seheoto design to his lamented friend, the late Lord Sittere Those who live in the principal seats of w an t " - d eb) . eught to have an opportunity of improving their nee works the exhibition of the best of art. Sir F r i l l o f Chantrey had assured him that it was from the fill these classic models being continually before his eYeortis he was induced to turn his mind seriously t° the fine arts as a profession. In the large townsset:o stranger, on visiting them, must be agrees. c h the with the feelings of pride and pleasure with w ' m e' citizens regarded any work of art they hapPe°,,lfollj sess. He did not share in the fears the I ti g„l'',ol l ° Baronet seemed to entertain that the counetis.. spend any of the money entrusted to them for theflilece poses wantonly. Let them consider the benefits F. de, had derived from the establishment of schools sign, and from the exhibition of works of Met" o r the superior skill and perfection she had the rived at in some kinds of manufactures. The qu,t •oa see e° was of national importance, and he was glad t° much unanimity in the House on the subject. be 1 314 Mr. SHEIL hoped one of the provisions of t 0 0, would be to enable the working classes to visit °Votes on Sundays. That was the only day they cool° bor such places. Surely it could not be said that ? less a recreation was a desecration of the Sa bhat „ ' Leave was then given to bring in the 13i; Ewart and Mr. Wyse to prepare it. PRISONER'S COUNSEL BILL 4 1 1 11 Mr. EWART moved for leave to bring° ' t a to Fr i ; enabling the defendant's counsel in civil, elt; 1 01 11 ; , soner's counsel in criminal cases, to address the„ dot, the close of the evidence for the prisoner or de"/:erio' The most eminent lawyers in Westminster ge ll c r ed:, opinion that a change in the present system f they nary, and it was with the concurrence of trianY, h cj i p y, that he brought it forward. The present har t ' s. ; 7 ' that the defendant or prisoner called witness-00r' speeches would be made for the plaintiff or h i s , ell e ; and only one for the defendant or prisoner. j'iles l .; cially in criminal cases, was a gross injustice, o n l y 07, counsel, sooner than subject themselves to a r.„ioee„ the prosecuting counsel, forbore to call any " re - ca . „" Another hardship was, that if witnesses we ,call "„I f for the defence, and their testimony did o°" c oar respect, confirm the statement of the defendant'socle:: an unfavourable and unjust impression might be a t the Court and jury, and the defendant's coun s- t iod`be opportunity of reconciling little inconsistenc ies, plaining trifling misunderstandings, which ni ; e etT i ii productive of the greatest disadvantage to ail 0 I' d , Again, Jiff.-rent modes of practice prevail e "„;f:lielf matter, and it would be desirable to estsblish u ",„ - itte ° J. In the Sessions Court in Scotland, in the Coln"' 09 that House, and other places, the defendadsbetlo had the right of reply, which he thought wasieso,,i and reasonable. He did not move to ask ft' ro' bring in a Bill, but only requested that the 0 fand the Government would devote its attention W ht Mr. HUME seconded the motion. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL could a et l i bil proved of such a measure as that conterepla,lo Hon. Member, although at the same time lt, e Act illilad many of his observations. He felt the a'7, 2o ll A i which the prisoner often stood, but at the same pr je o not think that any serious evil accrued from ti o system. The Hon. Gentleman had alluded to t be? in Parliamentary Committees and elsewhere, %toi/ the speeches of defendant's counsel, but that m s lot I t o ill felt to be so inconvenient that they were al — p g ists r e doning it, and adopting the same plan a 6 . r i pit a Westminster Hall.—(Hear, hear.) The ,1 0 ° Gentleman had not brought in a te? . "3t l P . lo Bill, but had moved for an inquiry. He (tu i c be for General) thought the better course would I° 4 l Hon. and Learned Friend to refer this inViee, Commissioners who were already appointed f °l t heir , 0 " e 0 into the working of the criminal law. ° li rc eetl i iea that Commission he would find the names ,°„';' who were men of great experience, and w.. - ,T e e ri . ,,' 7 o4 was, in his (the Attorney-General's) opini °l3 ,', i09.20` to be satisfactory to the country. They "'e, clevr e fir not only into the principles, but also into tv f t he °a c e the effect of this alteration in the practices ° f big :Of rior courts at Westminster. The inquiry ° f the 0 0 and Learned Friend was, in fact, a por tion ?,os, be of of that Commission ; but if, after their dee,_' s l o°,'" tel still anxious for further elucidation, he (tt,ia ha" Genet al) was sure that the Government ' 4O " . .$ll l objection to the inquiry. , ipo fr° P. Mr. HUME, said that after what had fai i ;'; 01 1 1 6 0 r Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite, moohe© tdroi that nothing could be more proper, or ofivr better, and he would advise his Hon. Friend to rot his motion, and leave the matter in the W I 10 Government. tafi ce9' e lii Mr. EWART said that, under the orc li n s ils # c ot ll4 „ fully saw the propriety of acceding to L' i " der de oe Learned Friend. He was satisfied that t the re fore , ,d) not be in better hands ; and he should , tbd il the advice of his Hon. Friend, beg leave to 01 motion. The motion was then withdrawn. IV . SALE OF HAFOD ESTATF'• f hi! , to Mr. HUME said, that in the absence o ld Der Friend the Member for Coventry, he "Ti u i s fi. g la make the motion of which he had given 11°'-'o'es.yil-fgio7 big so, however, he did not feel it his dutY t 4) d ler,, t `iest g word, and he should simply put the motion in (i 'd P°„ to the Noble Lord at the head of the Woo s , a 0 fsc w oer an v, opportunity of making a statement of thethe ,sloe'rjea , hich the motion referred. He then, f 11( a d till of Coventry, moved for copies of all sureel s . 0 0 0. / le , tiuns of 7,438 acres 36 rood.; of land belocs ~,P °l o Crown, adjoining to the Duke of Newea'Yold : 0 1ic A r estate, in Cardiganshire, which has bee n 6c1., , 1 1,5'",, Grace by private contract for 1,0491 1 5 ''' ou oti,,' c lt c e ) v n e ia n i u i ; Majesty's Commissioners of Woods. Fact' ft t he 10' r s s t , a r te e d po i r n t fiiAppendix,rlB44 Nitroilacfanolpieg:rifjk, ' o a ne ' correspondence relating thereto. ~A 0 Lf O h The Earl of LINCOLN said that he u"'Nfern, l cka l i from meeting the motion of which the non. „t i t P cc ' Coventry had given notice ; and he only t 1 1; O tt o t° unfair and improper not personally to Pu t , pig ° e ii" this nature before the House, and be ° l ' l l it I fit :s o4 : support it. The House mu t be aware t ha t brot".„o6lt . dently intended to cast a slur upon hitn -4° d tho' o be picion around his proce , din s—and eXte ° it reel be' cion to the Government of Which he wa s ,,,stio a Dl it , He should just make these preliminary eb se- bste -; );' cause he felt that, as a public servant;.t All e to be no suspicion resting upon l l a feel k iji 3O" e said this, not only in justification of his e a : t t o tl",iillr a such üblic servant, but also out of reslllad bee"( th" verninent of which he formed a part. I t ",0 0 Off posed that the transaction to which the ra - ti vect i 0 (/' Hon. Gentleman referred was a contract theV vitalafoti self (the Earl of Lincoln) and his father , ie of P a s i t Newcastle. That was not the case. The esti' and NO had been in the possession of Colonel John% w hic jo il. certain claims had been made by the Cre` v 'd to , t ief“ Colonel, and subsequently his devisee, r efuse d 0 0 ' o re The estate had been put up for sale by both , e stO te , anti, in order to clear the title, and make thutieoeo,oo marketable, it had been valise ' d by tWo get % gr. cde Morgan on the part of the Crown, an ";and big Murray, on the part of Colonel John s 1 0 v oil i f gees. These circumstances occurred in the Ise o Lord Duncannon was at the head ef seci tlet o ol and Forests, and they were a c e in oloil ei :1 i f the proceedings of the devisees of _ at 0 9 f 0. 1 : with which the Duke of .Newcastle noed .. li ehti se ° h al; nut had anything to do. The Dukes P P -, yot v ten, he diu he ell 01 estate was a subsequent transaction u that t p i e° , at the auction at all. Mr. 241. organ stated the 0 est ro e of the property was 8,061 acres, and that f el o ill l o was I,o9BL—J.aughter ) This might s ebe be i t e lici ! , ordinary to some Gentlemen opposite, bu!... The w r i 4 should be able very briefly to explain 1"• cool ,dl,, was aware that no property of the Cro: f r',. ll o ce:: 4 0 0 ; posed of except under the valuation a n siOcroa, surveyor, upon oath.—(llcar, bear.) 1 , ' 2 4 r . rtt , ro; had been made and stated upon oath, ti.,na , A farri l o lo o valuation was 1,0981, Vk hilt) that of inra , to olis of 6321—(Hear, hear.) The fact was, in °,r_ e o ser ta hoo ° , sale of the estate at all, it was nceessarYmt.:_nei ,10,:r00': extent of the rights of the Crown, and ii , .. l u f t he , 11 0 ; his devisees, though they decried the ril.P ° , l 004 1 0 sidereu . ~ 0 , . to any portion of the estate, yet con _ eue tu" 0 10: 0 matter of prudence, it was better to p1 . 1 _ , ,,. an d ol sr IP ,, they had taken, than contest these rignn e o ae b y eo 6 o o ; unclear sale. This valuation was _l n _ 3. Steil/pip authority of L , wil Duncannon and S,!,,r_ reo ts. 'O O as Commissioners of the Woods and v i ' .... 00 06 0 0 / tb, ready to produce that authority.; and tn' ex tent e iy, hat th e 110 05 re s t see, by the survey made under it, t ills _, O 4 land was, as he had stated, 8,061 acres. .-`.... ell e , 7, 1 4P. also probably aware that in order to conovejbei, __P;(4: which the Crown had any rate, there n? .. ' , e t his !,"31t , F ,,, of the Treasury. He was ready top retT e `'by, an' beiko signed by Lord Nugent. Sir John on*u the titli a o te , ,o Baring, Lords of the Treasury for „ Ta p je e r IP,. In one of the conditions of sale of the I' s p srt , ve i l '.' ii' was stated that the Crown laid claim t;, 3 rev ,p h a l o° 0 waste lands, but that the right of the u b ; e cti° ll c,lo o o purchased, and the venders stipulated DO 0 J ot t be_ t j t ef a be taken by the purchaser in consequenc°oo ovicrirertOed of the Crown to any rights of corn ° be fit' PO estates. It was not universal for sales to ir bol t,l 9o and the warrants to be issued afterward Oef) that the warrant, in this instance, Was a ,'•