The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-23 00:00:00

IllOw' he btlsflls6-1--13 tleh a '- l liidi ----- 3 cW,d ? i n- y pleaw expediency; e pre p s ac ce was e f c v o o- t o l r e b b u e t u w r a g s e i d t expedient l.a t 1 ,1`,!_ 0 ent case? It would not be safs to give . the wa i st. -.-, zp l x ! e . r over the waste lands cr the funds which tiat,theiget produce; nor did d he so th m i e nk it was expedient from that quarter. he t[ltil Pricese . ef 1"d sho.al Britain took place, ahottia separation from Great power over the advite the House not to place these lands in the hands of the colonists. kr. ROEBUCK had been misunderstood. All he iizi;..G.overnment to do was, not to introduce th do te l i „ I s 3 stem in our Austral an colonies as had been kr.uaour North American colonies. mistake mist Canada, i t tot r B. SMITH considered wew waste e d made a lands of era a it least Sing a power over the of making th_ ew 14 , ti. 7 t in not retaining oretirser.own expenses. He power would m t i a t l7 a 1 seventy years li e ,. ;e our colonies were a loss to this country. The 14 1 , 4 4,etsber was proceeding to short that flit, No , i tt. lezat those which did not pay an acc , eost this country seven and a half millions tohise,ecoex : by the cgtt , if we included the amount occasioned t4AoPolv Then Ioieti,LIISRA-FiLI rose to order. In . It legislation it was hardly correct for an li r the sugar et ther t o • statement about bel e. , enter into a Committee 0n .. _ .. c o o n - . to of Hon. members Pret f,..1 10 Was unwilling to do otherwise than to inter sie,it°,4l and liberally the right . Lie he "I 4 matters bearing en questions under discussion, o li on llaust protest against the course adopted 12ky th - me et eb . ...,._ er. /4,4 ebiIAIRMAN said he had. (Is t , , e r to go on, in the expectation that nu an d the clues eas tie analogy between his etatements permitted the Hon. " " f ore the 6 • k r. a. Committee, , POr itic ,' 11. SMITH was showing . that the policy now ie that adopted • ht ete cti ' was not in accordance with ask the Right 434 °ln "I°lll4a ti°a• lie wished to e _ n gotia ta the President of the Board of Trade if a had , proposing thaw bee evident entered into with the colonies, in considera le, ref having should support their own charges ne e k r . i. ":",/ing. the Crown revenues? such hh gttise Ltbel-TCHERE was not aware of any it e `a; tied it was bvions that it was one i °ldd b t) • . the Government „rumen Ileh at i f ~_e extreraely dtfficulsfor Hon. eee-- • h t heta - while he agreed with the . ble to diminis . the thaw'uld be desirable as far as possi hand ntowic to he would Meer r .ge on this country, on the other h ions, in (1 1 ::. UP fits the part of the British nation the w d h u a t t y_ e ters -41 ng its possessions from aggress eart e f At. lb „ the globe they might be. they hsduEBTICIC asked the Govern hey intended to l )t oee e e changed their views, whether present, and sha„„ "ith the clause or put it by theforttaent, now that Irtltilie accordance with the Noble Lord's intentions? I'ol4 43VES hoped the Hon. the clause as Rood w „ , Press his amendment; and of the Imperiald the Goreuuld then retain in the hands Member for Bol a to i n t Te el Lt dent th e integrity. . the htlie:,,Aet would remain in all its . y of fixing management of the waste lands, an ' 4 l' . '4-MEL' adverted to the neces t s h i e t Land Sales /let t tts of the colonies, and with that (Nee 11°,interfere at all ; and Orovern ktst 4 Waleh must be taken in Band kr. a, this assuredly a b s y su t r h e e dly was a ' eetec'nhe';‘,,,AVES said that in this very Bill t n li d e t b h o e un h d eu ar h y_ ditry-,"omeW South Wales and Victoria, down The dor y °f Setith Australia, was laid dow_ ileverell boundary was certainly not fired, by the sth an t!4 V4eessary to do this was conferred tl exercised. li e by'et., and that Power had been recently xe a d l , se Lut the of fixing h°4 4 - cl a 4 9 rceens undPerrated the imPe h rt ic a h could not leatni•4B; butt hat was a question w Pe r. ae disenlsed under this Bill. • - The question llr the ad 811AELI said the lion. Gentleman had mis aP h i ao ,lld the object of his observations. ete os3 ,`breerely as to the limits between colony an the (kat' Utbetweecolonies and • hed to dray th , hear, _ n the . the wished "ee ht .') It was to that point 14,1 1 'oti of the Government. waste land d s.--- w Itted a Elate )„ g t A ,li thought that some N. s , , rt highly necessary. the eqr. At.:`,l:llß coloMal limits was _with which ',,lPesaG,7l-)ERLEY felt the difficuhy ded; more precise but at the t 'vas ii,„"` rale Waste lands was ! 4 4 /it ese 'eh Perfectly convinced that t .... he e arrangemen Lt. agreed that . Iteonbil,esed could not possibly last. it t an t d o s itt , (it 't,eilaitulicious to give the disp h o a s t al us of_t a h a e te te tleee general assembly for of w ° wz ' /3411 4^ the ' ), s Isai c e .eetnent of . existence . ear s to tight not come into lion ttenuon of . te %140 ? Ile wished to call the a fund in the h e al fe d r s s o o f m a e the econeme. bumf: ith) those belonging to the manner in ' ll ieh jcle" Particularly°tie or two specimens of etommittce I l l tel er "1", land fund was -managed. Theed-expended placed 44,0001.*.,,11,05e management it was to , ''eers ' "` whieh 8,0001,, went in paying amount or iNigr au of the commission. The average auspices was thoa i to`A which went out under their salaries rage number ° t kigr a '°ool. worth a I ear, and theave sent ou t by th e e , lll e t' a e r e 2 e e ,° o a yea. Every emigrant than neee'' i l' Qcte-ee, or about . 100 per cent. more ore ab d be m ; k 4t ri li'',',,"Atir, hear)Again, what could n It was knew eat 1 4‘' the system of npt price._ i. an acre, the . p4taite,,' e theY fixed an upset price of the effect of this? ~ ,, e 01,4 offered it at 55. What was uch better plan ,MittiDe, eruigration. It would be a l?'nd. Man y as- Z t teti t - : It atom d all sales of a b e the aPPs" -P tit) , on 'le -" Viss colonies to th ti 1 , te lands of the . if this were but even that the 14" sot .1)0or of these realms , _ ;r h benefit tda ah'n moat surely be for t e• Bible. r i Sir v t i.,.'d he managed as well as po find that the , "eitera 410LESIVORTII rejoiced ti) waste lands Il'ider ;silent did not intend to place then y. --e also a ‘ue kt(l th Nitro' of the eneral assea t i l distinctly lli the Neel A liec ea it of fixing clearly a n %pap,.ofth'e/ecolonies. of the ee ~ q t , . ‘ _ respective management 11'44+1„p4i1Alfi admitted the partofthe subject. 11i1c 4t ° be the most difficult Mahon was l'ot 'etstooe th . li n mber for )4e !spared a• the o . amendment on t is la . occasion. tcreigtt „ 4), press his s i te not with a sincere de to state ehlkteact'utt!re.ore be allowed, very shortly 4t eik "" existing difficulties, agreed t hat e urr d He entirely 4 1 ') him on the subject. Government tb,'l4ltet,sss a wise decisionon the part of the the manage -4 4 heir dete rmination as to placing ement of the t pretesttqle, the weate lands under the man t a he clause in its Ner a bi understood . this respect 1,4.1414 Y, and he colonies in 842. Ho e a% 13 e was to leave the co Act of 1 ,_ I N ' a4l the y the that the eug genie ley stood under t ° eX r opinion was strong f r Sheffield t kee.offered h P e jos aion. Member 0 n amendment °I tlilP°rtatit, 37 el° hear.) It was , a of the cone "cl 4 ae t of 184( ear a e well wortn y derstood, it etit al lot , of _. 2, an on t. . 3he t m between th a e t ° neeroe_.!he Governm t e l n A define the limits hese limits 4 ritorteties, wszlYd atVlcorreecthey lands within those tauthorities, 1110,4 tle,e,wel to be leave by the colonial be under -le -' alqthie managed those limits should That 4' 41°44°1 °f the g. beyond 1 government.—(Hear. ) likely to pre- Nt ' J ght a greatzta. periraeyement,and one in future. It ):041rttiell solifusionlmanipd angry discussi t on . possession of le 'Ytlj ets iti tor the Ctown undispu d owed and defined, kal a Itt Witho t h limits se narrow access to th e ecere of I country ready Illtete tautly e peopl e this k r clls a te r ; E. Tee kt „ I l' la , MISONT said the Noble Lord had ma A He has. first, ru -port ' . • his Bill. s 1 Retied tt , ant alteration in the 'A Mae *nlNI 486 e a gement of the waste 1 tee t ~nhly, and he had liilleehieu‘ertlarera from colonial w _ en thci)WLeth.st 0 , d . was asked, to,Yelcein'_fle intended to withhold I n al 4 1 bat After a few days' lands under.e ma -Bill withdrawn h assemblies h be . introduced . t N l e a ee ule do and stated that this privilege consideration ad 'm to ~._ ,wn the gone st eak s the andconce.seionos rci_%attti e uf,ll o to the coloul l sta tise htite theraelo. it with . which the ltotgether. e duced his from Noble the Government the This when they heard of had been re measure much o f it to tortil,tttributeible ttv o a t s he lm erectations raised the i,,! ttetertient. Re did not quite understand say hew the Noble by y whether the proposition o f th4Rht lam). Baroret, in describing stated that '' 11°0 . ttnd .Learned Member for . Sheffield, the colonists 1 4re esi thia the limits prescribed lands, or W heih ts lailtVe thelimarreweement of the waste Government? Si et C.t... t se lvs s to be reserved to the Home et --wkliA.l‘l—To the colonists.. Right Hon. Baronet was,t,''. DENISON—Then the Rig (Mr. E. Dem -11,,W8)• Point a fact' a supporter of . h . is submitted . to `4S li Pro Position The new proposition too muc h 113- N I, I lls /ltst : by th N bl I ord was of lor . and dele ser • "o he d a ° ° ' *thout due notice under eerti°ll, Tula th isP° ' sed of w t i o which the- e Hec be before th e ( nar y for the disatch had alluded ought to to ll ito k I le W e Colonies- his amendment, reserving e lf e h ould withdraw report. , eke ir.ery to propose it on the Committee to we e fistt anti ° n warned the proposition of th eAtieQ --'4Oll before adopting the He saw 10(141441e and Learned Member for Sheffield. __ , limiting the 1)0 P r aeti 1 difficulties in the way w ti lde r i ea her be!. Noble Lord "EIARCX could suggest to the within t i the limits tt ilia t hetald •to interfere wt- with a power eel of permit ny " kle es e tlY, and that was a land company -gat price they' pleased. which to . Giteele c- thought the principle upon should hsProeecti vr. AM _e limits of the colony he t next iikletri et , 44 d w ar at thatrespect the waste lands, and t a there was tie e that they shoule be definite. At present there South emit whatever assigned to the colony et Hon. Member for 0 to the north• He agreed with the should be terie,qtqfield that the boundary of each colony With re itcl dtaned • respect to waste lands. ...kn ee , , with . _ d but contracted to be , nnted.'"theiaieds not granted, Without the at be 'narrowed. the Im eet4l„.ts the lasaldtasiltea should be ld under the control of he should Ntils"°runeenetti• but within the limits a so as to place the hi s e ads parture' from the Act of 1842, e to at the t -,. eetnosel of the colony. . t would receive t/ ete 4 „ u• BIISSELL said the believed, subjec a power ru der `tulsider t. There was, he fNew South Pe ,t the Act a f ‘". . to the limits ° with it e et lAes ; h e , a 0 there.B42 rela e tive difficulties connected subject must 11 ; 1 th e i i , ,, s _ were . 3 the whole °tin t e d ' I MS of other colonic , , k aetec.,i• • pro doctrine . .., E ° ed tc;, .111A.11T thought that the.er for shefieeid 444 e - 11 the Ron, and Learned Member t the Meln bee ?°tlntenanced by . the Right Hon. Barone ion. AS h° itlilde°l:olliPen, proposalreqired serious consider.at this B ill re 'tttlei,rl°o4 the it was this, that in the limits of CC" 4constitntifor New South Wales s within 1/}delje,,°olony should be accurately defined d that all t he the eon Ct - was to exist, an iii,( te,. s 1 ution colony q Cl 4 .',Lory beyond the limits of the with a rizht oe reserved to the Crow? ) , land so re tturetl° the Crown to make grants oft" constitution. seeing"OD!'etl eXcludcd from the scope of the accurately defined, and the limits of the colony law or what t ons . grant m beyond them, under what esh t . ads . t hold his utiou would th esuch a grant person receiving a pr o Air Percy? of the t itle :,.,I,ITALPoLE admitted that the difficulties Id not at Pre:,, L ,' Were e great that the Committee could matter at .....4. come to st decision u po n it. As te to with dpavv42eat stood the Noble Lord had consented by ( the a & Power conferred on the colonial legislature, ,T.e. la 3 were thee,' clause of granting waste lards. They related . t,,,tore driven back to the 13th t o clause' Stanley's Act. 14 11 4 e Bale hah of waste lends, and to Lord ought the Ron. and Learned Member for Sheffield ' 4 440 Within tbe it m ost inillu n bl e suggeotion• TILE ------- limits of tLe colony the local legislature should have the fullest power of dealing with all matters relating to the colony. It was of the utmost importance in grant ing privileges to the colony that they should he liberal and complete.—(Hear.) In answer to the Hon. and Learned Member for Newerlt, he might remark that the Crown might have the power of extending the jurisdiction of the colony from time to time, or of creating a new colony. The question of waste land was particularly important at the present moment. In New South Wales the squatting district was some 1,600 miles by 300 broad. He had been told that several persons had obtained land in that dis trict for sheep-walks—some to the extent of 150,000 acres, some 300,000, and to the extent of 800,000 acres —(Hear.) He hoped the Government would consider the question, and give to the colonial legislatre the fullest power over the lands within the limits of the co lony, reserving to the Crown the right as to lands be yond that limit. Mr. MACGREGOR thought the question of waste lands a most important one as regarded the future pros perity of the colony, but did not think that the system hitherto pursued in our Australian colonies, though wisely introduced, had either been judicious or success ful. He concurred in the opinion expressed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Ripon, and thought the suggestions of the Hon. and Learned Member for Sheffield deserved the consideration of Goveonment. Sir. W. MOLES WORTH remarked that it was pro vided that colonial Acts were to have force only if they were not "contrary to the law of England." He thought confusion would arise from the retaining of these words. After a few words from Mr. ROEBUCK, Mr. ANSTEY proposed to meet the view of the Hon. Baronet (Sir W . Slot esworth) by substituting the words " this Act" for " the law of England." The ATTORNEY". GENERAL defended the clause as it stood. The clautie declared that only such Acts of the colonial legislaturk , should be operative as were not repugnant to the law of England. Sir W. MOLES WOR,TH said be objected to one part of the Bill, because there were a great number of Eng lish statutes not applicable to the colonies. After a few words fsora Mr. ROEBUCK and Lord J. RUSSELL, Mr. SCOTT suggested that the portion of the measure relative to the disposition of waste lands, which was a very importast part of the question which they had to consider, should be withdrawn for the present, until they had gone through the Bill. After a short conversation, in which Mr. ADDERLET, Mr. Wynn, and other lion. Members took part, Mr. SANDFORD said he thought liberality, like charity, ought to commence at home, and that England ought to be afforded, while she professed so much gene rosity to her colonies, the means of sending out her surplus population to her dependencies. He did not consider that this country should be deprived of what he considered one of the greatest advantages to be derived from oar colonies. Another desultory conversation ensued, when it was intimated by Lord J. RUSSELL that the discussion on tho points referred to could be re-opened on the bringing up of the report. Clause 13 was then agreed to. Clauses 14, 15, and 16, were then agreed to. Mr. ROEBUCK wished that a better provision should be made for the adjudication of questions arising be tween the colonies themselves. On clause 17 having been proposed, Mr. C. LUSHINGTON ruse to move the amendment of' which he had given notice, to provide for the omission of such parts cf that and the preceding clause as pro vided for the signification of her Majesty's pleasure on every Bill which should bo passed by the council in any of the colonies referred to, altering the sums allotted for the sustentation of public worship, as mentioned in the third part of the schedules A, B, and C. In doing so. he said, although he intended to confine his observations strictly to the terms of his notice, he could not avoid expressing the satisfaction which he felt at the introduction, by the Noble Lord at the head ( f the Government, of a Bill which was calculated to conciliate the colonies, and more especially as recent transactions had contributed to im pair their affection for the mother country.—(Hear,) Ho should regret that anything which he said, either in or out of that House, should be construed for a mo ment to imply that ho wished to cast any disrespect on the administration of the Noble Lord; but there were some portions of the present Bill to which he entertained special objections. He found there was one branch of the legislative matter proposed by it, both injurious to the feelings of the colonists, and calculated to produce extensive social mischief. It was provided that a sum of 49,0001. was to be divided among four churches in the colonies, those churches being the Church of Eng land, the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Church of the Wesleyan Methodists. Now he believed that such an arrangement would only lead to religious animosity and con tention. The arrange ment went on the supposit ion that the inhabitants of the colonies were nut prepared voluntarily to contribute to ti.e maintenance of those particular forms of worship which they professed. But that opposition was, he be lieved perfectly unfounded, as appeared from the large sums which had already been raised in the colonies for that purpose. Religious discord had been the bane of England, of Ireland, of Scotland, and of Canada, and the greatest evils would result from inoculating the Australian colonies with its noxious influence. The in habitants of Victoria had aunounced their determination to oppose that clause, and he felt persuaded that it would meet with general disapprobation throughout the colonies. The Lion. Gentleman concluded by movint, his amendment. Mr. LABOUCHERE said he wished to remind the Committee L.f the precise state of that question. The system in force in the colony of New South Wales was this—there was a very moderate sum apportioned be tween the four different churches in the colony; and the object of the provision to which his Hon. Friend had just offered his opposition was to maintain that arrange ment to this extent, at least, that it could not be altered without obtaining the consent of the Crown in the mother country. Ho confessed he believed that ar rangement would give general satisfaction in the colo nies; and he could state that the introdution of the sys tem had met with their very decided approval; while the previous system of giving peculiar privileges to the Church of England had given rise to consideruble religi ou s contention. For his part he was not prepared to encourage a system of absolute voluntaryism, and the removal cf any contribution by the state towards the maintenance of any form of religious worship. All he would ask was, that these moderate endowments which were now provided, not for any class of Christians, but fur those great divisions which comprised the immense majority of the people of the colonies, should not be disturbed. The only question new before the Corn mitte was the principle of the grant, which he trusted the Committee would net hesitate to adopt.—(Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK was surprised that the Government should blow hot and cold in this manner. They began by saying, " We give you the power of making a con stitution—we do not want to coerce you." But on look ing at the schedules, which always excited his suspicion when they contained items of expenditure, what did he find? The first item was the salary of governor, of which the colony could not get rid without the appro bation of her Majesty. The Right Hon. Gentleman con sidered that the measure would satisfy the colony. If so, why not let the colonises judge for themselves? Why interfere in the matter? He would tell the Committee why they interfered. In the colonies an attempt was always made to settle what is called the civil list, and every colony had quarrelled with the mother country on account of that list.—(Hear.) That was the cause of the American quarrel?—(Hear, hear.) A rebellion took place in Canada on a similar account. Millions of money had been enpended, but annexation was rendered almost inevitable, and this country had no power over the Ca nadas. In the present case the moment the colonists should acquire sufficient power, resistance would be offered. He desired to retain the colonies and extend them, but he was convinced the only means of doing so was to give them full power and control over the regu lation of their own concerns.—(Hear, hear.) He con sidered a governor appointed by the Crown the sub stantial connecting link between the colonies and the empire of Great Britain. If the Government wanted to pay a governor as their servant, let them pay him out of English money. But if he was to be paid by the colo nists, the colonists ought to fix the amount.—(Hear.) The schedule which he held in his hand was somewhat remarkable. The governor of New South Wales *as to have a salary of 5,0001., the chief justice 2,0004 the two puisne judges 1,5001. each; and then there was a lump ing sum for " salaries of the attorney and solicitor general, crown solicitor, and contingent and miscellane ous expenses of the administration of justice throughout the colony," of 19,000/. —making altogether 29,0001. — (Hear, hear.) Then there was the colonial secretary and his department, 6,500/4 the colonial treasurer and his department, 4,0001.; the auditor general and his de partment, 3,0001.; salary of clerk and miscellaneous ex penses of council, 5001.; and pensions, 2,5001.; making 16,0001. And then came the enormous and lumping sum for what was called public worship, of 28,0001. So that altogether the Bill would fix upon the colony no less a sum than 78,000/.—(Hear, hear.) Now was this in the spirit of the Bill? It the people were fit to govern themselves, why were they not competent to fix the sala ries of their officers?—(Dear, hear.) The Bill also pro vided that any saving in the amount should be reserved to the use of her Majesty, or rather Majesty's adminis tration. He considered this proposition an insult to the whole family, and he should move at the prop e r t ime the emission of tho whole schedule.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said the Right Honourable Gentleman objected to one dominant church, because he thought it might lead to great discord, and was in favour of four churches, because it would put down discord by bring ing together such a large majority as would overpower the minority. But, as the population increased, it was not unlikely that the system would be changed, and that the discord under the new plan would be greater than any which had hitherto prevailed.—(Hear, hear.) He would ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern ment to point out the wisdom of fixing sums of money for the support of certain religious persuasions. If there was any one question more than another which the people could decide for themselves it was that of reli gious es tablishments.—(Hear , hear.) There was one important question connected with the subject, which was very likely to come before Parliament at no distant period--he meant the question of the clergy reserves in Canada, which h ad borne fruits of the bitterest kind: As the law now stood, these reserves were arranged under the provisions of an Act of the Imperial Par liament, and the Canadian Parliament had not the power, which this Bi ll would give to the Australian colonies, of making any new arrange coming to the Imperial Parliament for an Act.—(sear, hear.) He did not see the necessity for an Impe rial Parliament providing for the teaching of religion among the colonists. If the emigrants to the United States could frovido religious teaching for . themselves, riurely the persons congregatiog to Australia ought to SUN', LONDON, lave the same privilege.--(Hear, brae.) He trusted the Noble Lord would withdraw this provision, and thus take away what would otherwise to a source of discord among a people to whom we wished to give institutions calcu lated to promote their permanent welfare and peace. Mr. LABOUCIIERE said the case of Australia was different from that of Canada. It was true the arrange ment with respect to the clergy reserves in Canada could not be altered without an Act of Parliament. But if this Bill should pass, it was riot correct to say that the reli gious arrangements of the colony could not be altered without an Act of Parliament; for they might be al tered by the colony, with the sanct'on of the Crown. — (Hear and a laugh.) No present inconvenience could arise from the system laid down, and good cause ought to be shown for the alteration of an arrangement which had hitherto worked satisfactorily. Mr. IL K. SEYAIER entertained no great partiality for a system which endowed four churches.—(Hear.) He thought the c=olonists were entitled to have the entire control of their own affairs, and was of opinion that they would act wisely is providing an endowment for religion, because it would show the emigrants that they would possess those religious advantages which they had en joyed in this country.—(Hear.) He believed that great jealousy would be excited among religious bodies by the present plan, and that it would perpetuate a system of religious discord iu the colony. Mr. ANSTEY supported the clause. He trusted that Hon. Members would consent to waive their opposition, and to retain the clause. Mr. ADDERLEY could not understand how the principle of endowing four churches could be defended. The attempt would fail, for it was impossible that they could conciliate one church or the other. He was, however, anxious that vested interests should be protected. Lord J. RUSSELL did not think that Hon. Mem.. hers took a proper view of this question, when they attempted to argue that this was a scheme for endow ing certain churches in Australi:. In the year 1835 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, finding great complaints existing in Australia, in consequence of the people supposing that there was only one church pro tected in the colony, a provision was made by which four of the principal, being the most numerous churches in the colony, should each have a separate sum alloted to them. A bargain was likewise made, a condition of which was that a certain sum should be granted for building churches in proportion to the contributions of the inhabitants of the districts. We accordingly found that these sums were paid for a series of years; we found that these churches had been built, and that individuals in the different districts had largely subscribed their money. We therefore proposed to continue the establishments which we found already in existence, and that any alterations required to be made in regard to them should be first submitted to the confirmation of her Majesty by the advice of her Go vernment. The Hon. Member for Westminster would vote nothing at all for vested interests, but proposed that the whole of these establishments should be done away with, and that those clergymen who had gone out to the colony under certain well-understood arrange ments should be altogether deprived of any emolument. He thought that this would be most unjust towards the colony; and in respect to what had been stated to be the feelings of the colonists on this subject, we can only say that we have not found any perceptible degree of complaint upon this head. If it should appear that this system was no longer agreeable to the colony, it would then, no doubt, be desirable that the Crown should have the matter laid before it. He thought that if we gave a preference to one of those churches, and said to the other three that they should be deprived of their revenue, that such a course would be most unjust, and that, if the majority of the people recommended it, the Crown should have an opportunity to consider it. Mr. LUSHINGTON explained. He never proposed that thii present grants should be cancelled, but that the question should be left to the general feeling of the colo nists to determine. Mr. SCOTT said there was no point upon which the colonists felt more sore than upon these schedules of appropriation. That was the great grievance in the Stanley Bill. Mr. HAWES had heard no reports of any dissatis faction being felt in the colony on this subject. On the contrary, it was considered that the proposed arrange ments on the whole were satisfactory. There was a power of alteration reserved, in respect to which the Crown would be disposed to pay every respect. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 54 Against it ... ... 203 Majority in favour of the original clause ... ... —149 After a short discussion as to whether the Bill should be proceeded with, The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Thursday. STAMP DUTIES. Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply to Mr. Disraeli, stated the House was to understand that the stamp duties wore to be discussed on Friday. PA RLIAMENTARY VOTERS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was re-committed proforma. The Bill was then ordered to be reprinted, and re ported on Monday next. METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS BILL. Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of this Bill. Lord D. STUART objected to the Bill being pressed ea in this rapid manner. He was extremely anxious that •he Government should prevent the interment of the dead in large towns. The Bill gave an enormous power of rating and many lucrative offices, and generally in srcased the patronage in the hands of the Government. He trusted that ample time would be given for discuss ing a Bill containing 60 clauses. The Government, which had delayed such a measure too long, were now pressing it on too hurriedly. Mr. FORBES remarked this was not a time of the night for discussing a Bill of this importance. After a few words from Mr. LACY, Sir G. GREY said the Biil would be fixed for Com mittee for Friday next. Mr. BRIGHT remarked that was a very short time for considering such a Bill. Sir G. GREY said he had been asked for a fortnight, and he gave nearly that time. Mr. WYLD observed that the Bill included peculiar provisions. It was not a proper Bill to be discussed in a Committee of the whole House. The Government of the country proposed to become undertakers. He hoped to see a Select Committee appointed to consider the proe visions of the Bill. Mr. MACKINNON supported the Bill. The Bid was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday week. RAILWAY ABANDONMENT BILL. The Railway Abandonment Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE. In Committee of the whole House, Mr. PARKER moved a resolution that the naval prize balance should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Sir 3. GRAHAM asked what was the amount of the balance ? Mr. PARKER—About 30,0001. The resolution was agreed to. OFFICIAL SALARIES.—COMMITTEE. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the following Members constitute the Select Committee on official sala ries :—Lerd J. Russell, Mr. W. Patten, Mr. Bright, Sir J. Y. Buller, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Napier, Mr. Home Drummond, Mr. W. Evans, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. Henley, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Walter, and Mr. Deedes. The question having been put, Colonel SIBTHORP rose, amidst much laughter, and observed, that instead of appointing this " select" Committee—(A laugh)—the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had better have said candidly—"l mean to take care of myself and of my own salary."—(Laugh ter.) "I shall look after my friends, and I will stand by them as long as they stand by me ; übi mel, ibi apes. —(Renewed laughter) Let them support me, and they shall have plenty of turtle and venison."—(Laughter.) Ho (Colonel Sibthorp) felt bound to protest against such a partial and packed Commitiee as that now proposed. There seemed to him to be something in the atmosphere of the Treasury bench which rendered men, when they got there, quite different beings from what they had been before.—(A laugh.) It was his painful duty to say that he looked with extreme suspi cion upon all official men; and in such a case as this it was net likely that they would cry " stinking fish."— (Much laughter.) He did not know how the Committee would go to work, but he knew very well what would be the result of their investigation. He considered the appointment of such a Committee most delusive and un satisfactory. He entertained groat respect for the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) in private life, and he admired his transcendent abilities, though he was somewhat cunning—(A laugh)—but it was evident that this step was only a ruse de guerre, and that the Noble Lord did not want to be di s turbed in his rest. The Noble Lord was attempting to get rid of one of the most important questions that could be considered, espe cially under the existing circumstances of the country, w hen poverty was staring them in the face, and people of all classes were suffering. If the Noble Lord really meant to reduce salaries why did he not come forward fearlessly and submit to the House those reductions which, in his opinion ought to be made ? But the Noble Lord said, " You shall not consider the matter in the House ; it shall be inquired into upstairs, clausis foribus." He (Colonel Sibthorp) considered that the Noble Lord's conduct, in thus referring the subject to a secret conclave—a Star Chamber—was unworthy a Mi nister of this country, and was an insult to the British House of C o mmons.—(A laugh.) He called upon the Noble Lord to giv e u p this truckling, secret, underhand Star Chamber mode of proceeding, and to take up the position he ought to maintain. If the Noble Lord would pursue a manly, open, honest course, and would show himself to be the friend of the people, he (Colonel Sib thorp) would be proud to render him his humble as sistance in maintaining his authority.—(Leisetter.) The motion was then agreed to. Mr. LABOUCHERE brought in the Mercantile Ma rine Bill, which was read a first time. The House adjourned at Twenty minutes to One o'clock. EVENING, TUESDAY i-ihdy, Sir T. N. AClfllld, Six T. D. Aglionby, H. A. Alexander, N. Anson, Colonel All3ten Thomas C. Arc Mall, Captain Armstrong, Sir A. Armstrong, It. B. Ashley, Lord. Baillie, 11. J. Baines. M. T. Bahlock, E. I-I. Bankes, G. Baring, Sir F. Bennet, P. Berkeley, Admiral Berkeley, Henry F. Berkeley, C. L. Best, John Birch, Sir T. Blackall, S. W. Blair, Stephen ' Blake, M. J. Blakemore, R. Booth, Sir R. G. Boyd, John Boyle, Colonel Bremridge, Richard Beam, M. Brockman, E. D. Browne, R. D. Buxton, Sir E. Carew, W. P. Carter, John B. Cavendish, C. C. Cavendish, G. 11. Cavendish, W. G. Cayley, Edward S. Chichester, Lord J. Childers, J. W. Christy, Samuel Codrington, Sir W. Coke, E. K. Colebrooke, Sir T. Coles, 11. B. Colvile, C. R. Corry, H. Cowper, W. F. Craig, Sir W. G. Crowder, R. B. Currie, Henry Curteis, H. M. Da rymple, Captain Davie, Dawson, T. V. Devereux,V. T. Disraeli, B. D'Eyncourt, C. T. Dod, J. W. Douglas, Sir.C. Duke, Sir James Milieu% John Dundas, Admiral Dundas, Sir David Dunne, Colonel East, Sir J. Ebrington, Lord Edwards, Henry We do not arrive at the sublime by degrees, for infinite distances separate it even from the beautiful.—Eliza Cook's Journal. THE PRINCESS'S TIIEATRE.—This theatre is soon to undergo an alteration in the character of its management. This has been for some time treated only as a rumour, but it is now become a certainty Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean are. in connexion with Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, about to em bark in its management, Mr. Maddox having concluded terms with both parties, and agreed to resign in their favour. The deed of partnership is in preparation by a solicitor of eminence. Whitsuntide is the period named for the new parties taking possession of the theatre, though the season will not commence till the autumn. Several performers of high standing have, it is said, been already spoken of R engaged, PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIOI (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Coax trot& ;.) DIONDAY, APRIL 22. "AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT BI LL. . (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Seventeenth Clause (How the appropriation of su ms grante4 may be varied): - Amendment proposed, pat ;e 10, lines 20-21, to leave out the words " or altering the an ms mentioned in the third part of any of the said Sehedul .es A, B, and C:"—Question put, " That the words propos ed to be left out stand part of the Clause." The Coma aIC :ee divided MAJORITY—AYES, 203. Ellice, Edward • Monseil, winiaint Elliot, J. E. Morgan, 11. K. Estcourt, J. B. B. Morris, David Evans, \William Mostyn, E. Fagan, William Mullings, J. R. Ferrer, James Mundy, William I Ferguson, Sir R. O'Connell, Mau rice Fitzpatrick, J. W. O'Connell, AL J Fordyce, A. D. Ord, William Forster, M. Paget, Lord G. Gooch, E. S. Palmerston, Yi ieptint Gore, W. R. 0. Parker, John Grace, 0. 1). Patten, J. W. Graham, Sir James Perfect, R. Grenfell, C. P. Plowden, W. 11. Grenfell, Charles W. Portal, Melville Grey, Sir George Power, Dr. Grey, Ralph W. Price, Sir It Grosvenor, Earl Rawdon, Colonel , Guest, Sir J. Ricardo, Osman Gwyn, Bowel Rich, Henry Holly Marton, Lord J. Robartes, T. J. rialsey, T. P. Romilly, Colonel : 'loonier, Sir John Romilly, Sir Jot a liatchell, John RuiTord, Francis t Hawes, B. Russell, Lord Jo tut Hayes, Sir E. Russell, F. C. H. . Hayter, W. G. Rutherford, A. Heald, James Sandars, Joseph Hcathcoat, John Scully, Francis Iliklyard, R. C. Seymour, Lord Hobhouse, Sir John Shelburne, Earl at Hobhouse, T. B. Sheridan, It. B. Hodges, T. L. Sibthorp, Colonel '.. Hood, Sir A. Smith, J. A. Herlihy, John Smyth, John G. Howard, Lord E. S omers , J. P. Howard, P. H. Somerset, Capta in Howard, Sir R. Somerville. Sir 1 ?'„ Hughes, W. B. Stanford, J. F. Jervis, Sir John Stansfield, W. R. Keogh, William Stanton, W. H. Kildare, Marquis Stuart, Lord J. Knox, Colonel Stuart, H. Labouchere, Henry Stuart, John Lacy, 11. C. Talbot, C. R. Lascelles, IV. S. Talbot, J. 11. Lewis, George C: Tancred, H. W. Lindsay, Colonel Tenison, E. K. Loveden, Pryse Thompson, Ald. Lygon, General Towneley, John Mackenzie, W. F. Townley, R. G. Mackinnon, W. Townshend, Cap fain 31`.Naghten, Sir E. Trelawny, J. S. M'Cullagli , W. T. Trollope, Sir J. M'Neill, Duncan Tufnell, H. M'Taggart, Sir J. Vyse, H. Meagher, Thomas 'Waddington, H. s, Mahon, O'Gorman Walpole, Spencer Marshall, William Watkins, Colonel Martin, C.:W. Wawn, J. T. Martin, Samuel Westhead, J. F. Masterman, John Wilson, James Motile, Fox Wrightson, W. 8.. Melgund, Viscount Wyvill, M. Meux, Sir Henry Miles, P. W. S. TELLERS. Milner, W. M. Hill, Lord MarcuS, 3litcliell, T.„A, Bellew, R. M. MINORITY-NOES, 5!• Adderley, C. B, Harris, Richard Scott, F. Anderson, Arthur Headlam, Thomas Sep - 11er, 11. K. Bagge, W. Henry, Alexander Simeon, John Bass, Thomas Heyworth, Lawrence Smith, R. V. Bouverie, E. P. Holiond, Robert Smith, John B. Brocklehurst, John Kershaw, James Stuart, Lord D. Brotherton, J. Lawless, Cecil Tennent, R. J. Brown, W. Locke, Joseph Thicknesse, Rali h Clay, James Lowther, Colonel Thompson, Colo] tel Cobden, R. M'Gregor, John Thornely, T. Cowan, Charles Molesworth, Sir W. Tollemache, F. J. Currie Raikes Mowatt, Francis Walm ele y , s ir J. Dunca , n, George Munta, G. F. Willcox, Brodie Ellis, John Pechell, Sir G. Williams, John Forteseue, J. W. Pilkington, James NVilson, Matthew • Fox, S. L. Rendlesham, Lord Wyld , James Fox, W. J. Repton, G. W. J. TELLUILS. Greene, John Roe buck, J A. ' Lushington, Chat 103 Hardcastle, J. A. Scholefield, William Bright, John NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Crocodile tre p ship, lately bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Di x on at Queenstown, arrived here to-day, and is Ord Br ed forthwith to Sheerness to be paid off. The Diligence naval transport arrived here to .d a y from Plymouth. THE WEST INDIA. SQUADRON. A court-martial was held at Port Royal, on. :the 16th ult., to try Commander Michell, of her Majes..t, y's sloop Sappho, and the other officers and ship's c a pany of that vessel, for running the Sappho on s'ai )re on the Seal Cays, one of the innumerable reefs at • the entrance of the Gulf of Honduras, on the night or the 25th of Decembar last. The Court was composed of Commodore Bentrs ett, president • Captain Goldsmith, of the Wellesli ; Captain Warren, of the Trincomalee ; Comma a. der De Courcy, of the Helena, and Commander Bul m an, of the Persian. Commander Michell was sentenced to be dism le sed his ship, the Court considering that negligence had been shown in the navigation of the sloop. The officer of the watch, Lieutenant Mal. atiltn, was censured for not seeing the lead constantly ihove by the man placed in the chains by Commander .Mi chell's written night orders, and admonished t s.o be more careful in future. Mr. Mugford, the second-master (acting as me s eer) was considered to have shown negligence, and was consequently sentenced to be reduced to the rat t k of master's-assistant, and to remain in that rank fors two years. Great praise was given to the commander f( w his unwearied exertions (notwithstanding his weak state from long sickness, broken aria, Ss - c ,) in gettin : off the ship and recovering ail the guns (which had been thrown overboard) and stores. Objections were made by Lieutenant Malcolm, Mr. Mugford, s econd-master; Mr. Charles Palmer, ac: Ling mete ; and Mr. Alexander Burniston to some .por tions of the address of defence made by COMM£ der Michell, but the Court declared them to be " frfsvo lous and malicious." Commander Michell produced some of the higi'sest testimonials an officer can receive, eminently chat ac terising his conduct as an officer and a seaman clue ing a period of 28 years' service. This officer was ire the Burmese war, and produced affidavits from all the pilots on that coast testifying to the strength of 7 the curren ts, and of their having been more pow e rful than usual about the time of the accident. The) t also testified to the fact that of 12 vessels which had been d r i v en on those destructive shoals, her Maj eety's sloop Sappho was the only one which had bee, a re covered. 0 wing to the thickness of the weather no obs srva tion that could he depended on could be obtaine , A court of inquiry . was . previously held on lsaartl the Imaum on the I irst Lieutenant (Wynn) for dis respect to his Commander (Michell), which res ulted in his censure, and being compelled t o m ake 4,:e4om mender Michel l a public apology on the quarter-deck of the Talcum. PLYAIOUTII7 Arleen 20.—The steam-vessels Cue& ance and Avon got under way this morning to tow her Majesty's shi p Superb into the Sound, but stvong w inds from the S.S.W. preveuted her leaving Hoene - - see. Should the weather prove favourable, she will go down on Monday, be paid wages, and.the nex t day proceed to the Mediterranean to relieve the Ven geance, 80, coming home to be pa id o ff . The Archer steam-vessel is ordered to the East Indies to relieve the Fury steam-vessel, ordered to England. The ship Ramilies, Captain Maclean, sailed on Th u rsday for Van Diemen s Land. Iler total nil m ber of passengers i s 196, amon g whom are the witves and families of several convicts. Her cabin pass en ger, are Mr. Murphy, for Port Philip, and Mr. Nichols, Van Diemen 's Land. Mr. Lennell and family proceed in her steerage for Van Dieraen's Land. The last-named gentleman emigrates accord ing to Government arrangements upon a plan not ge nerally known. He deposits 3001. for land; his fa mily consists of seven statute adults, and he has had to deposit 1401. on that head, which will be remitted to him. For the 3001. he has received letters of credit for Crown lands in t he colonies, and passages f o r all the faM i ily. The scale of charges is per adult—cabin, 50/. ; intermediate, 25/. ; and for steerage, 201. ; and for the purchase of lan d the Commissioners . expect 201. per statute adult to be paid into their hands previous to embarcation. Wind, S.W.; blowing strong. Woonwicu, APRIL 22.—The Locust steam-vessel, 100-horse power, under the charge of Lieutenant- Commander William C. Nowell, of the Ardent steam vessel, arrived at this port to-day to he paid off here. The Lightning steam-vessel, Master-Commander Petley, has completed taking coals on board, an d is to be held in readiness to tow the Maria E ugene hired freight ship, loaded with stores for Captain Austin's Arctic expedition, from Deptford to 600 miles beyond Stroinness, near the borders of the ice. Captain Sir John Ross left London on Saturday evening for Ayr to expedite the vessel he is about to proceed in to the Arctic reg ions in search of Captain Sir John Franklin and the officers and crews of the Erebus and Terror discovery ships. Commander Phillips, at present studying s team at Woolwi c h, h as obtained permission of the Lords of the Lords of the Admiralty to accompany Sir James Ross in his searching expedition. The Undine steam-vessel was taken into the basin on Friday last, and six of the engineers on check, under Lieutenant Roberts on, of Woolwich, placed on her to make the nec essar y repairs, instead of sending men afloat from the factory as was previously the case. The new arrangements of employing the engineers of the royal navy afloat when vessels have to get their engines repaired at any of the ports must be highly beneficial to them, and render th em snore capable of remedying any defects which may occur in vessels in which they may be serving on foreign stations. The Jasper and Advice s team-vessels returned to Woolwich yesterday evening , having towed the Her cules storeship to the Downs. ARMAMENTS FOR THE BOATS OF STEAMERS PROPELLED 13Y PADDLES. The ,following table of armaments for the boats of steamers propelled by paddles, to supersede the arms• APRIL 23, 1850. ment. dated Novenabze. 30, 1849, with which we have been from the Ordnance Office, will be read with some interest: — A memorandum states that all steamers having pad dle- box boats of 9 feet 4 inches beam (as they are ca pable cf carrying 24-pounder howitzers) are to be supplied with the armament marked Class No. 1. First-Class Boats—Fifth-rate paddle steamers, having two boats capable of carrying ordnance, beside the paddle box boats—total, 5 pieces of ordnance, viz.:— Two 24-pounder howitzer, , , 13 ca-t., for the paddle-box boats with top and under carriages ; one 12-pounder howitzer, 61- cwt. (light), for the barge, with top and under carriages; one ditto for the pinnace, with field, top and under carriages, one 6-pounder gun, 6 cwt., for short practice, &c., from the ship or boats, with top and under carriages. Second Class Boats-sth and 6th rate paddle steamers and steam-sloops, having one boat capable of carrying ordnance besides the paddle-box boats, 9 feet 4 inches beam—total, 4 pieces of ordnance, viz.:— Two 24-pounder howitz-rs, as for first class; one 12- pounder howitzer, 61 cwt. (light), for the pinnace , with field, top and under carriages; one 6-pounder gun as for first class. Third Class Boats—All steamers having paddle-box boats incapable of carrying 24-pounders, but capable of carrying heavy 12-pounders—total, 4 pieces of ord rance, viz.:— Two 12-pounder howitzers, 10 cwt. (heavy) far the pad dle-box boats, with top and under carriages. One 12- pounder howitzer, 61- ewt. (light), for the pinnace. with field, tap and under carriages. One 6-pounder gun as for Ist and 2d class. Fourth Class Boats—lf, atter actual trial and official report, the paddle-box boats of any steamer should be found incapable of carrying 24-pounders, or heavy 12 - pounders, light 12-pounder howitzers are to be supplied —total, 4 pieces of ordnance: — Two 12-pounder howitzers, 61 cwt. (light), for the pad box boats, with top and under carriages. One 12- pounder howitzer 6i cwt. (light), for the pinnace,lwith field, top, and under carriages. One 6-pounder gun as for the previous classes. Fifth Class Boats—When steam-sloops or gun-vessels have no other boat capable of carrying ordnance beside the paddle-box boats, then 3 pieces of ordnance as fol- low: — Two 12-pounder howitzers 10 cwt. (heavy), for the paddle-box boats, with top and under carriages; one 6- pounder gun, 6 cwt., as a field piece and for short prac tice, &c., from the ship or boats, with field„top, and under carriages. • Sixth Class Boats—When steam sloops or gun-vessels have no other boat capable of carrying ordnance beside the paddle-box boats, and those are unable to take the heavy 12-pounders—total, 3 pieces of ordnance as follows: — Two 12-pounders howitzers, 6i cwt. (light), for the paddle-box boats, with one field,;two top, and two under carriages; one 6-pounder.gun, as for the Ist, 2d, 3d, and 4th classes. THE COMING OF SPRING—APRIL. (From Eliza Cook's Journal) Again the Spring, shedding soft dews from her ethereal wings, sweeps over the earth, once more made beautiful. The skirts of the departing winter have dis appeared, and already in fancy we feel the warm breath of summer is our face. The earth is putting on her garment of green; the meadows are thick with the bright young grass—that perfect mark of the beautiful season; the trees, the bushes, and the hedgerows, are spreading out their crisp fans of foliage; buds are leap ing into flowers, which start up along the footpath!, to beautify the feet of the wayfarer; and; colours, gay and brilliant, everywhere coming out from the winter cham bers, in which they have been sleeping, towards the glad light of the sun, which looks down upon them from a sky of blue, wooing them forth to meet him. The mornings are now clear, fresh, and joyous. Night melts suddenly into day, and the stars wane gladly be fore the light of the sun, as he comes dancing up the east, driving the fleecy clouds before him; all things seeming to rejoice in the innocent brightness of the new born day. And towards evening, as the sun goes down and the glowing clouds linger about his setting—when the day's purple eye is closing with the flowers of the spring—and the God-built sky, rising like a mighty dome, is sparkling with its millions of stars—the gems set by the Creator in the hour of night; then does a silence seem to steal over the earth—a slumber so pro found, so deep, so vast, that— " Even the motion of an angel's wing Would interrupt the intense tranquillity Of silent hills, and more than silent sky." The great charm of Spring is in its sunshine—whether as glinting down through the branches of lofty trees, whose leaves are still young and fresh, or peeping in'o the cool grots and caverns of the earth, or creeping in at latticed windows through a framework of roses and drooping woodbine, or throwing its long line of beams upon the waters, making them to dance and sparkle with delight, or shedding its magical radiance over bill and dale, over stream and meadow, which drink in the pure flood of light. Beautiful sunshine! we can feel it as it beams upon us, and shines along our path. The lark flies up in the early morn to hail it, and makes the heavens ring with her carol. It lays its glorious pencil on the meadows, and straightway primroses and lady smocks, columbines and red peonies, violets and butter cups, come out to gild the season with their beauty. Even the April shower cannot pass withcut reading its beautiful lessen to us from the clouds. How finely does that true lover of nature, Leigh Hunt,- remark—that there is a moral as well as a material beauty in colour, an inherent gladness, an intention on the part of nature to share with us a pleasure felt by herself. Colours are the smiles of nature. When they are extremely smiling, and break forth into other beauty besides, they are her laughs, as in the flowers. The mind cf man is, in spring, more than at any other season, disposed to be gay and happy. The heart leaps with joy at the beautiful aspect of nature. The sense of joy passes into the soul at every inlet of feel ing. Man can no longer be sad : to be so would be out of harmony with nature—like a mourner at a marriage festival. Spring brings youthful and pleasant associa tions with it—makes us to feel young, and live our early thoughts over again ; and the same spirit lives through out universal nature, it turns all creation to love—love, the universal feeling. To see the buds and leaves come forth, like light into the world—to hear the small birds I singing to their happy mates—to watch the curling smoke rising up from a far-off valley—to view the gnats, thin (lancers on the air, tripping it on a merry sunbeam—to admire the silver tipped clouds as they fleet along in the vaulted azure—to walk along some secluded field-path or green lane, decked with primroses and wild flowers, starting the hart from her seat, and the partridge from her nest; what can he more delightful than such occupations of leisure at this season, trivial though they may appear to be. Now do troops of little children in the country betake themselves to the fields, and gather daisies and prim roses, the elders filling their baskets to prepare the old fashioned cowslip wine. Now do the followers of Isaac Walton drag out their fishing-rods, baskets, and nets, from the closet, and dress up " flies, in prepa ration for the first fine morning following a shower of rain. Now do the lovers of country in towns bethink themselves of a pic-nic in the woods, and the omnibus or car is bespoken for the first fine day. But, ah, fickle April! a shower of rain or sleet, following these bright sunshiny: days, damps their hopes, and forbids their too sanguine expectations. April resembles the lover— the tears succeed the smiles, the clouds the sunshine, in rapid alternation. But the rain passes, the wind abates, the rainbow spans the heavens, and spring is in all her beauty again. The birds are now fast returning from warmer climes to their summer-home in England. The swallow sits twittering in the eaves, or skims the river and the lake in the evening, catching its food or picking up from the banks the bits of clay and straw with which it builds its wonderful nest. The cuckoo now makes the woods re sound with his notes; and the yellow wag-tail, the red start, white-throat, wry-neck, and black-cap, have all returned. The blackbird's mellow, flute-like voice rings in the covert. Who so gay as the lark now, which springs up to the heavens, singing its love and joy with full-throated melody? The less musical rook caws away among the lofty trees, on the topmost boughs of which it builds its nest. The wren is busy forming its house in the stump of a decayed tree; the sparrow is already laying her eggs in her nest, which she has con structed in the thickest part of a high hedge; the bittern sits in her seat among thick reeds and rushes; the owl lies snug in the hollow of a ruined wall; while the lin net, a true lover of nature, has found a retreat in the midst of a snug green copse. Gaudy butterflies begin to appear, and excite the chase of the happy children, who thus begin the sport of life. Flowers are blooming everywhere, in the gar den, in the fields, on the waters. The water-hen sails about among primrose-coloured water-flags, and water lilies in clusters, almost buried amid their large, shield shaped leaves. Early and late is the cottage gardener at work among his flower-beds and his kitchen-stuffs. He watches the growth of his star of Bethlehem, lady smock, and virgin's bower, with an almost paternal soli citude. He boasts of his violets and narcissuses, praises his anemoniee and lady's slippers, as if they wears part of his family. He has an eye, too, to " the substantials." He watches the blossoming of the fruit trees, and gets in his cabbages, peas, and early potatoes. His soul is full of hope, he labours with joy, for the prospect of another abundant harvest is before him. The spring has in it a power, more than perhaps any other season, of attracting man from the mere material earth, to rise up to the enjoyment of the spiritual beauty in which the earth has been created. Wo feel a longing to be away from the stir and fret of the busy world. There is a thirst to be among the field-paths, a wish to have the wings of the bird, to fly far away from the fever:sh hum of the city, to find refreshment with nature in the silent woods, and under the shade of green and over-arching trees, to muse and meditate till the spirit of peace and love flows into our soul like a gale from away, yo pent - up denizens o f crowded Heaven. Away, cities! Go out among the spring haunts, and see how the earth and the sky aro now bolding jubilee. There you .will observe the evidences of the perpetual youth an d beauty of creation; your hearts will be awakened to a sense of deep joy, and your minds influenced for years to come by a holy communion with nature. CAPT. itIFLE RANG ERS." —Of this new military work, the .1 - Iritannia observes—" Since Mr. Bux ton's vivid scenes of adventure in Mexico, we have not met with a work of such exciting interest as these adventures of Captain Reid. The pictpicturesquescmery of the wild luxuri ous country in which his solaier's duties lay, the thousand peculiarities of character, custom, and costumes of its inha bitants, his own personal experience of pleasure and danger, as well as the stirring incidents of many of his comrades' lives, are all worked into a tale replete with incident and interest." Baron de Menneval, formerly private secretary of the Emperor Napoleon died at Paris on Friday evening, in the 73d YOE 9f h Atie. LITERATURE. THE MARTYRS OF CARTHAGE. Mrs. Webb. 2 Vols. In perusing Mrs. Webb's very beautiful story of " Julamerk," we regretted that her admirable quali fications for rendering a religious narrative attrac tive from its fictitious incidents, and valuable from its serious reflections—qualifications which she possesses in no mean degree—should have been devoted to the commemoration of a particular sect (the Nestorian* instead of relating to Christianity as a whole. The theme of the volumes above-mentioned is more hap pily chosen. It is indeed a theme which must always possess an especial attraction for Christians, for it re lates to the trials and triumphs of the early believers and martyrs of our faith. Not only has Mrs. , Webb been felicitous in the selection of her subject, but she has treated it with considerable skill, and augmented, by her beautiful development, its necessary fascination. The heroines of the story are Vivia Perpetua and her friend, Marcella, the daughter of Numerian, a Christian minister. By the intervention of Marcella, Vivia be comes a Christian, while her husband, Marcus, a young Roman officer, is absent in the service of the Emperor. On his return an explanation necessarily ensues. The heathen husband, although tenderly at tached to Vivia, is inexorable—she must renounce her new faith, or she can no longer be his wife. The young Christian is exposed to a worse torture than that of martyrdom, but the love of heaven prevails over the love of earth, and after a long separation Vivia is rewarded for her sufferings by her re-union with her, now, Christian husband. Their happiness is not of long duration ; both ultimately attest their faith with their lives, and obtain the crown of martyrdom. This brief sketch is enough to show the very interesting materials of the story. In addi tion to the interest attached to the history of Vivia, the characters and adventures of her brothers, Julius and Octavius (the lover of Marcella), of her parents, of the time-serving and vindictive father of Marcus, and the other Christians and heathens introduced in the narrative, are all described and developed in a very skilful and attractive manner. Very seldom have we occasion to bestow such a cordial commendation upon a new work, as we may very safely bestow upon this most excellent and most beautiful story of the " Martyrs of Carthage." THE LIFE OF BARBARA HOFLAND. Few kinds of literature are so attractive and so useful as biography. Mirrored in the portraiture of another, each reader may find, in some degree at least, his own feelings and his own failings—happy if he learn from the contemplation how to command the one and correct the other. Mrs. Hofland is well known, and generally esteemed as a writer ; by the readers of this book she will not only be known, but esteemed and loved as an individual. Left a widow at an early age, almost wholly unprovided for, and charged with the care of an infant son, her patience, her fortitude, and her unwearying industry are worthy of admiration and imitation. Not only by the labours of her pen was she enabled to mainta►n herself and her child, but by the excellent principles incul cated in her writings she was happily the means of doing much public good, more especially to the young generation of her day. Her industry was thus twice blessed, and she had the happiness of seeing her son an able and excellent minister of the Church. Such are the most interesting features of the history of Mrs. Hofland. To those who feel an interest in '' the proper study of mankind" we recommend this de lightful biography : written in a simple but most at tractive manner, the many trials, the arduous exer tions, the hopes, fears, sufferings, and successes of an excellent woman are here very admirably set forth. A PIIYSICIAN' S HOLIDAY; or, a Illonth in Switzerland, &v., e.c. By John Forbes, M.D., F.R.S. We are glad to find, and for many reasons, that this work has reached a second edition, and feel dis posed to congratulate the public (and above all that large proportion of the public who like and counte nance travelling) upon the prospect of its becoming, what we never doubted it would be one day, a gene ral favourite, and most deservedly so. A more use ful and entertaining guide we never chanced to see, and can only say that we long to seek (the above named book under our arm as our guide and com panion) those highly interesting scenes which it so ably describes ; not forgetful of our duty to the writer, whose wise precepts we mean to treasure up with the more willingness as they for the most part exactly coincide with our ideas as regards travelling, and whose experience, practical and otherwise, we will gladly avail ourselves of, and whose very mishaps, few and far between, it is true, but always candidly admitted, shall be as a warning to us, and a fair warning which we shall be far from treating slightly. To those who may be now, or hereafter intending to visit the land of the picturesque, and who, with a short time to dispose of, are inclined to make the most and the best of it, we say take with you the " Physician's Holiday," and be sure that you will benefit yourselves in a variety of ways. You will find in it not merely the recommendations of a true lover of the beauties of nature, but such liberal-minded direc tions as will insure you every advantage to be derived from those great incentives to health—air, exercise, diet—when judiciously and systematically courted. There may, however, be some among our readers who do not think of visiting those scenes and locali ties so vividly portrayed by the author, and to whom the book might appear, as a guide, valueless—to those we would recommend it as a well 'written, amusing, descriptive work, which will supply a rich fund of amusement for many an idle hour, and much valuable information on subjects of deep importance — a work, in short, which will be found incessantly to pass " From grave to gay, from lively to severe." It is, moreover, calculated to remove many unfounded prejudices • and we deem it to be one of the greatest claims of the author to general sympathy and appro bation, that while alive to the positive faults and demerits of men and things, he is lenient in his judg ments and just in his appreciation of whatever is fair and good ; in other words, he is what education should make us all, a citizen of the world, ever ready to look upon his fellow-men as brothers, if their con duct entitle them to such consideration. To revert again to the book itself, we would gladly impart to others the gratification we have derived from a perusal of its contents ; but here we are confessedly at a loss, for, in a work so decidedly consecutive as this is, how can: we select a part, sufficiently episodical, not to suffer from the very cir cumstance of its being picked out ? Start ing, as we like to fancy ourselves, with the writer, from the shores of England, and really landed on the opposite coast, how can we help following the well-directed course he has adopted to effect his ob ject, and stop, while he proceeds. We feel with him, that our time is short, and must be turned to good account; on, therefore, we go, and crossing rapidly the intervening countries, Belgium, Germany, &c., not, however, without duly appre ciating the beauties we view in our onward course, we reach the Vosges Mountains, and first set foot on Swiss ground. Much has already been seen, said, done, to fix the attention, but we must on. We have hardly started on our tour, with our knapsacks on our backs, and nothing more in them than is strictly necessary to men, whose wants are few, than we have the truth of this precept impressed on our minds by a trifling yet conclusive incident, proving—but here it is in the author's own words : " The day being hot, and the realms of ceremony being far passed by (we are at Sakingen) some of our party, after taking refreshment in the inn, very naturally resorted to the fountain at its door, to make amends for the absence of finger glasses within. One of our num ber availed himself of this luxury not only here but altso a village further on, Dogern by name, where we at .ra stopped, and, being a wearer of ring s — w hich no yeller should be—ho laid them on the fountain br i m, and there left them ! The loss was not discovered until we had advanced some miles on our journey beyond the place of the last ablution, and then it could not be re collected at which of the two places the finery had been left. Consequently , although the rings were of coml. derable value, we made no retrograde step to recover them, but contented ourselves with sending dispatches to the innkeepers of the respective villages from the sma ll town of Thiengen, where we dined. But the ring bearing ring-loser, as might have been expect e d, h ear d no more of bis property." Had we tim e we might take this as a fair text, and moralize ad infinitum, but we must on. Fair as the temptation afforded us by the admirable description of the great Rhine Falls at Schaffausen, we must re frain from inserting it, chiefly for this reason, such descriptions being nearly as plentiful in the work before us as the scenes we wend our way through. Once entering on the path of extracts, we might transcribe the whole, or be guilty of injustice, and the views from the Riga, and many others which fol low in rapid succession, demand our immediate at tention ; not so exclusively, however, but that we are right pleased to follow our guide in his devia tions from the tourist's path into the regions of metaphysics, and admire his benevolent philosophy. As an instance of which, we would advert to his remarks on Conrad Escher, and the dignified reward conferred on him by his grateful fellow-citizens, page 76, &c. Again, as a specimen of the writer's happy mode of bordering upon the facetious without derogating from the dig nity of the man of taste, we would quote the follow ing (page 89) : • We started on our return to Chur in one of the long narrow chairs of the country, drawn by one horse,. h a i n ch d without springs, except the leather su bstitutesby the seat is suspended. For this we paid tw elve francs. Oar horse turned out to be good , and our dr i ver . so have better. At least, in all my experience, I n ever met w a s h lute and fearless a charioteer. The road, as 4 we seen, is all down hill from Tunis to Reich.bevautu d .; own t steeply down hill indeed, and full of turnings ; _he steepest pitches, and round the sharpest angles, On we went at full trot and full s wing, as if there had never been such an event as ovally& or such things as broken knees and broken bones, equine and human Luckily none of these fell to our lot to witness, or to suff, , r• and we reached our destination of Chur mnsi derably b>fore the covenanted time, viz., in two hours and a half. In all the active part of these proceedings our good horse had the whole merit, as the driver hardly twitched the reins or used the whip from first to last, but left him to btlce his own pace and his own course as to him seemed good." But we must bring our account to a close, much as we should have liked to tarry on many an interesting spot, and commune with many an equally interesting character : we allude more particularly to the worthy priest the author encountered (see page 224), and whom we should like to encounter in reality. Wo cannot dismiss the book without congratulating its author upon the success which has attended his exe cution of a task which must have been one of extreme anxiety and labour, and in the course of which he must have evinced considerable fortitude in foregoing his hard-earned repose to note down day by day the host of interesting matters which, in their present well-digested form, we recommend to all who will agree with us in saying of him— " Omne tulit punctum Qui miscuit utile dulci." SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTE RSA LL'S. —YESTERDAY. The betting on events to come off prior to the Derby only requires us to refer to a change in the positions of the two leading favourites for the Two Thousand Gui neas Stakes; Pitsford, as the odds will show, baying been deprived of the premiership by Bee Hunter, on whom a large sum was laid out at 5 to 2, 2 to 1, and 6 to 4. The Derby betting, if not heavy, was important, if only for the fluctuations in the odds against Ghillie Callum. The first quotation was 7to 1 (taken); 10 to 1 was then laid to two or three hundred pounds; and, as 20 to 1 was taken at the same time about William the Conqueror, an inference was naturally drawn that there was a " screw loose." The reaction, however, was al most as marked as the decline, 8 to 1 being the highest offer against the " crack" at the close, while William the Conqueror receded to 25 to 1. Clincher was backed freely at 7 and 8 to 1, Mayors at 9 to 1, and Voltigeur at 14 to 1; we did not hear a bet laid against Bolingbroke, or a single quotable offer for or against The Nigger. Final quotations:— SOMEReETSHIRE STAKES. 7 to 4 agst Duke of Richmond's Halo, 6 yrs, Bst 21b 2 to 1 eget Sir J. B. Mill's Won't-you.come-out-to night, 3 yrs, sst 8 to 1 agst Mr. Fowler's Seagull, 6 yrs, 6st 61b 9 to 1 agst Mr. Drinkald's Sauter la Coupe, 4 yrs, Est 61b—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Chorister, 5 yrs, 7st 31b TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 6 to 4 agst Lord H. Lennox's Beehnnter—t freely 7 to 4 agst Mr. Hill's Pitsford 10 to 3 agst Colonel Peel's Harding° 20 to 1 agst any other. NEWMARKET STAKES. Even between Nutshell and the field, the latter for choice. CHESTER CUP. 11 to 1 agst Lord Howth's Peep-o'-day Boy, 6 yrs, 9st—taken 12 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Essedarius, 4 yrs, 73t 91b 13 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Glauca, 4 yrs, 785 &lb 13 to 1 agat Mr. Merry's Miss Ann, 4 yrs, 7st 16 to 1 agst Capt. Harcourt's Ellerdale, 6 yrs, Bst 31b 18 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Chantrey, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b 6 to 1 to 1501. agst Peep-o'-day Boy and Essedarius. There was a very equivalent disposition to lay agat Cossack, but no price fixed. DERBY. 5 to 1 agst Mr. W. Edwards naßolingbroko 7 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher—taken freely 8 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum—. take 9 to 1 9 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken 14 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Voltigenr—taken 16 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's The Italian 20 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew—taken 20 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Nutshell 25 to 1 agst Lord H. Lennox's William the Con queror—taken 25 to 1 sgst Mr. 11. Hill's Pitaford 28 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Penang 40 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney DERBY, 1851. ,000 to 20 agst Capt. Hareeurt's Brother to Ellerdale —Won DEBBY, 1853. 0,000 to 150 ggst Brother to the Flying Dutchman—t IMPORTATION or SPECIE.—An instance having occurred in which some inconvenience was ocssisioned in consequence of the officers of the revenue declining to grant permission for the landing and delivery, to the captain's re quest, of a package of dollars which he had brought in his charge on account of a friend abroad, and which, being a private transaction, was not accompanied with the usual bill of lading as merchandise, but requiring the package to be forwarded on proper authority trom the shipowners to the Bank of England for the usual examination and delivery to take place there, the peculiar features of this case have been made the subject of consideration in order to prevent similar inconvenience for the future. The second section of the Customs Regulation Act, allowing specie and bullion to be landed from the vessel in which it is imported, is for the express purpose of facilitating the delivery, and the revenue regulations in force further provide for it, except in cases similar to the present, where the master of the vessel has nut signed a bill of lading for the package, which is seldom the case, and the ground of requiring the bill of lading to be produced in this instance previous to the delivery bing sanctioned, out of the usual course, was security to the mer chant; but in order to prevent any misapprehension for the future in cases of this kind it has been directed that where the master of a vessel has had the private charge of such property during the voyage, his order fur the delivery to himself or to any other person named by him, is to be deemed a sufficient guarantee and release to the revenue authorities, the master or the person deputed by him to receive the treasure, giving a receipt in writing for the same. TREATMENT OF AMERICANS IN CUBA.--A cor respondent of the Weekly Herald communicates the follow ing :—" Some extraordinary occurrences have taken place here, which are likely to result in sonic action cn the part of the American Government against the exercise of tyrannical sway exerted over innocent American citizens in this island. The facts are curious, and have sprung from a small cause. Rumours of a vague character were recently extensively cir culated that arms and ammunition had been smuggled into the island, and the officials of the place immediately set about making a search and inquisition in the matter. In a very high-handed and summary manner three foreigners were arrested upon suspicion of a plot, and connexion with it. Two of them were American citizens, and one of them a Frenchman, being all the foreigners who resided near the scene of the tremendous discovery, which, upon investiga tion was found to be nothing more than six kegs of gun powder and a box of window sashes. The two Americans were tied together, and so tightly that the blood oozed through the skin where the cords were put on. In this state they were placed astride a log, and kept in that painful and humiliating position for twelve hours, having a pistol occa sionally pointed at their heads by their brave captors, though they made no resistance, and were wholly ignorant of the of fence of which they were charged. During this savage treatment the authorities were consulting, searching, devising, and sleeping, when the captured party were mounted on horseback, and carried to a prison in the interior, to strike terror to the hearts of conspirators. On the route to their destination another American was captured without being charged with any offence. Solitary confinement was their lot for a week, and now one is incarcerated who will have to remain in prison till his captors see fit to release him.. His crime is stated as a remarkable one — having a watch, pistol, and about 11b. of powder in his possession. Mr. William Maclean, the Assistant -Secretary to the Board of Customs, has been appointed Secretary of that department in the room of Mr. Scovell, who has been placed upon the retired list; and Mr. Gardner, a gentleman of great experience in the Secretary's office, has been promoted to the rank of Assistant -Secretary in the room of Mr. Maclean. Mr. J. Arkle, Landing-.surveyor at Dundee, has been promoted to the office of Landing-surveyor of the Cus toms at Cork, vacant by the decease of Mr. Hart; and Mr. G. Arnott, Controller at Lynn ? to be Controller and Land ing-surveyor at Dundee. Lieutenant . Edward Griffiths, R.N., is appointed Superintendent of Liberated Africans at St. Helena. TUE ALLEGED MURDER AT LALEllAM.—Saturday being appointed for the re-examination, at Staine s , o f Char l es Holden, an agricultural labourer, who had g i ven hi mse lf up to the police on his own confession of having mur dered a woman twenty years ago, and burying her in a plan tation on the Earl of Lucan's estate at Laleham, the Petty Sessions -house was crowded. Lord Lucan was among the magistrates who were present. The prisoner was brought by train frem the Detention-house in Clerkenwell. Edmund Hiscock, carpenter, stated that on the 13th of Novemkr be was digging a hole for a post in a field near Lynch-corner, belonging to Lord Lucan, when he came on a human skull; and, on digging further, he found an entire skeleton. He covered it up again, and in a day or two he gave information to the police. Mr. W. K. Heseltine deposed that he was a qualified surgeon, though not in practice. He saw the skull within two or three days of its dis covery, and afterwards the other bones. They were cer tainly those of a very elderly female. The bones had been under ground a great number of years, pro bably a century. They crumbled when they were touched. Police Constable M'lntyre, 27 V, stated, that the soil all around where the bones were found had been carefully sifted, but nothing was found. David Groves, a farming man,yodree posed that seventeen or eighteen years ago .he was at l ei h k e on Mr. Honner's farm, when he saw the prisoner, wh to a woman knew, and asked where the woman w as, alluding with whom the prisoner cohabite d. He n odded, but said nothing. Colonel Wood then read the usual c aution to the prisoner, after which he asked him.whethevr he chose to sa anything. The prisoner then said in a lo d N th b a u t t h c e le h a a r d v b o e i e ! n e that he was not quite right in the eachan t taking a little drink when he gave himself_up to the police.. He had heard of this skeleton having been dug Bd. As a pro o f that he was not guilty, the young l eom e an he h fo e u w n a ci s sy i p e po h se a d a. and if to have murdered was still aliv i e c. d t publ house in Chert . lately been with her in gai.l-with him he would soon find her. deliberated on the case an hour, Co any gentleman would The magistrates having lonel Wood said there is Lis not suffisient evidence at present to detain the prisoner further. lle was accordingly dis charged. CRIME IN FRANCE.— As a gen d arme , name d Mignot, res idi n g . at Montrouge, was yesterday morning, at 3 o'clock, returning home from a patrol in the quarries, he noticed that the door of the house of M. Dardant, a quarry owner, w as open. He was about to cl os e it, when he saw a light in a room on the grou n d floor, and heard a pane of g l as s broken. On examining more attentively, blignet sa w tw o men engaged in breaking open drawers, and making pa ckages of their contents. H e advanced boldly to them, and ordered them to follow him, but one seized a heavy hammer, the other a bar of iron, and assailed him furiously. Mignot parried the blows as ever as he could with hie Cara. bine, but, finding he was too closely pressed, he cried " Surrender, or I will tire!" The thieves then attacked him with renewed fury, whereupon the gendarme fired, and killed one of the men on the spct. He seized the other, and held him, until several persons, attracted by the report of the carbine, arrived, and assisted in conveying him to the guardhouse. The man arrested said his name was David llirch, but he refused to state who his companion was. The body of the man killed was taken to the Morgue, and there the police ascertained that he was a liberated convict of a mat clagexcli4 Wad. ..• - Lb ° on t ° , (s . quo cts o . f bob belci