The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-26 00:00:00

a vote would be taken to complete the purchase, and then a discussion might he taken on its policy. Mr. COBI)EN gave notice that, he should take the sense of the House after Easter as to the policy of pur chasing the forts at al'. DUCHIES OF CORNWALL AND LANCASTER. Mr. TR ELAWN Y rose to move for a Committee to inquire to whet extent the public are enti.led to claim an interest, present or prospective, in the management of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lan caster, with respect to which returns are annually made to this House, and, with regard to the Duchy of Cornwall in particular, to inquire where its accumulations are invested; who is the heir of per sonal estate to the Prince of Wales; whether Duchy dues from mines are reserved in minerals or money, and whether they are rated to the poor; whether mines are directly worked by the Duchy officers ; what number of claims to estates have been made and not sustained during the last six years; whether there is any good reason for the direct exception of certain kinds of property in the Duchy Act of 1844 (such as royalties, franchises, and estuaries), from the sta tutory provision for the quiet of titles, now applied to Crown property, to private property, and most descrip tions of Duchy property; and, lastly, whether the manage ment of the Duchy estate has been satisfactory as regards the public, ?air es regards its own tenants, or pro ductive of improvement in the state of the rural popula tion? The Hon. Gentleman, who was very imperfectly beard in the gallery, owing to the conversation going on in the House, and the low tone in which he spoke. was understood to disclaim all idea of interfering with the prerogatives of the Crown. He then pointed cut the mismanagement that existed in the revenues, and the I envy debts entailed upon the Duchy of Cornwall by a former Prince of Wales, and urged upon the House the necessity of adopting some measure to prevent a recur rence of these abuses. The House was possibly not aware that there were certain tin dues levied, from which a large revenue was derived, amounting in eight years to the sum of 124,0001. By the Ist and 2nd Viet.. arrangements were made to compensate the Duchy for giving them up. The don. Gentleman also referred to the accounts of the Duchy of Lancaster, in which he observed that there were very large sums regarding the expenditure of which no explanation whatever was given. He also referred to the evidence of Mr. Anderson, who had been sent by the Treasury to inquire into the ex penditure of the Duchy, in support of his argument, and complained that the Duchy lead undertaken to work a mine which they were compelled to abandon at the end of two years, after having lost 20,0001. by it. Ho hoped the House would give him the Committee which he asked, as there were a great many matters connected with the subject which it concerned the public to be fully acquainted with, and which called for investigation. The Hon. Member concluded by moving for the appoint ment of a Committee. This motion having been seconded, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought that if the House would but reflect a little upon the circumstances of the case, they would see no ground whatever for granting any such inquiry as had been demanded. The grounds upon which the motion was made were twofold —first, that there was mismanagement of the property; and, secondly, that there were great acts of oppression committed by those who had the management of the property. It was manifest that the House could have no right to inquire into the management of any pro perty unless it was one of a public character. This, however, was private property. It was vested in the Crown until there was an heir-apparent, when it became his sole and exclusive property. The heir-appal eat was born Duke of Cornwall, not created so; and he had from the time of his birth the absolute power of disposing of the revenues of the Ducby until he became Sovereign of the kingdom. Ile (the Solicitor-Gen'eral) could not, therefore, see any difference between this and any other private property, except that it was held by a person of the most exalted rank in the country. It was true that, by an Act passed in the reign of the present Sovereign, it was provided that the accounts of the Duchy should be annually submitted to the Com missioners of the Treasury. But the obvious reason of that provision was to insure the proper management of the property for the benefit of the heir. The Honourable Member said that when the Prince of Wales came of age be would be entitled to ask that House fur an allow ance from the public treasury, and that, therefore, the House had a right to make these inquiries. He (the Solicitor General) denied that they could have any such right. Returns were made every year, showing how the property was managed; and there were no grounds for supposing that there was any such mismanagement as had been alleged. By the statement before hits it appeared that there was a great reduction made in the salaries and charges connected with this property since the accession of her Majesty to the throne. The average expenses for the six years before were as follow: For salaries and remuneration of public officers and servants, 8,6171, whereas this item was now re duced to 2,500/. The solicitors charges averaged 4,1021. For the year 1849 the law expenses were only 271. The charge for holding courts, 2631. 18s. There was nothing now paid under this head. A saving was thus effected amounting to 10,6721. There was, no doubt, an increase in one item. in consequence of pay ing annuities to superannuated officers, which amounted to 2,1961. These allowances in 1836 were 840/4 but iu 1849 they amounted to 2,196/. The property was now managed by a council, who carried on the affairs of the Duchy with great care and attention, without fee or reward. The Chancellor of the Duchy, who formerly received 500/., was now represented by Mr. Pemb-rtou Leigh without any salary. The Surveyor-General, who fir merly received 1,6001 a year, was now only paid 1 , 0001 . During the tim e of William IV. a considerable amount of money was raised by granting a number of new lives in the leases, and a diminution of the property wee pro duced in consequence, but it had increased progressively of late years. From the year 1750, from 9,0001. and upwards, it had increased to 19,0001 a year up to the time of George IV. At the time of William IV. it amounted to 32,000/. a year, and in the time of the Prince of Wales it averaged 22,000/. a year. He admitted that eve n though a prope rt y be of a private character, yet if it be managed in such a manner as to give rise to acts of cruelty or oppression, it might farm a proper subject of inquiry. But totee Hon. Member called f to specify or an inquiry on this ground, ought to be those acts of oppression complained of. It was no use making general complaints as to the non-renewal of leases after the investment of much capital upon the property, for that was the case with every other lease hold property. It was not the duty of this House to inquire into any such complaints against a landlord who chose to exercise his undisputed right of not re newing a tenant's lease. So long as the law empowered him to act so, eo long could he exercise the right with out the interference of that House. He submitted that this Committee ought not to be granted, because this was strictly private property, and managed for a private individual, although of the most exalted position, and for the other reasons he bad stayed. Mr. BOUVERIE thought that if there be any pro rty that called fo r p ublic investigation it was the DDuchy of Cornwall. This was a property created by Act of Parliament, dealt with by Act of Parliament, and placed under the management of trustees appointed by Act of Parliament. As the time of the es tablishment of Q ueen Anne's civil list it was expressly assigned to the Sovereign for the mainte nance of the dignity and honour of the Crown. The public bad a most direct interest in the question. If it pleased God that the heir-apparent should come to man's estate, this House would be called upon to make provi sion fir the maintenance of his dignity. This was an a ppanage of the Prince of Wales, given to him by Act ot Parliament; and it might so happen that, in the course of years, the property might so accumulate as to render it altogether unnecessary for Parliament to make any public provision for him. So much for the right of the House of Commons to inquire into the Duchy of Corn wall. The office of the ducby a as a pubic office—it was in Somerset House, and paid no rent. But the Acts of Parliament dealing with the duchy were not private Bills, but public Acts dealing with public property. It therefore, not at all to be compared with private property, nor to be treated as private property. What was the difference of the right of Parliament to deal with the inheritance of the Crown lands and the Duchy of Cornwall?—(Hear, hear.) He had in his h4nd the report of the annual accounts laid before Parliament respecting the duchy; and from these it appeared to him that the trustees had been doing that which they had no legel right to do. On the face of the account there had transactions taken place not justifie.l by Act of Parliament, and these he said afforded grounds for inquiry by the House of Commons. In eight years there was an income of 354,0001., and the ex pendit ure in salaries, managemen t, and law expense., was 93,000/. As to the Duchy of Lancaster, the accounts were more unsati,fectory than the Duchy of Cornwall; and it was extraordinary to find Vie Whigs, the descendants of Burke and Fox, contending that Parliament had not a right to inquire into them and deal with them. Ho re ferred to the opinion of Mr. Fox, showing that if Par liament were denied that right it would amount to a dissolution of the Government. By the present system 12,000/. only came to her Majesty out of an income of 32,000/. Under these circumstances he felt bound to support the motion of his lion. Friend. Mr. P. WOOD said the consideration for them was, whether the House was at that moment justified in en• t'ring into an inquiry as to properties, one of which was settled as the property of her Majesty, and the other the property of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Duchy of Cornwall was private property, and had always been private property; and in this it differed from the duchy of Lancaster. The persons who ma naged these properties were accountable to those for whose benefi , they managed it. Henry IV. had the pro perty of the Duchy ot Lancasterorigitially, and the Act he passed was altered be Edward IV.; and under that Act the property had always passed to hie heirs being Kings of England. Let them suppose the property to be mis menaged, the public would lose noshing by it, though the Queen might lose in one case, and the Prince of Wales in the other. They would to have the matter in vestigated i,t they thought their properties badly man aged. As Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy, he could say, though receiving 6001. a year for it, he would not con tinue to hold the office unless he could produce reforms in these courts. He was anxious to have reforms there such as were to be now cones ded in Ireland, and must ere long be extended to the High Court of Chancery in England.—(liearo Sir R. PEEL said that some experience in Parlia mentary discussions had made him aware that he did a very unwise thing who spoke in the House of Commons. and who attempted, either ti affirm or deny the right of the House of Commons to do any one particular thing.— (Laughter.) The right of the House of Commons might be very extensive; but then the question ought to be as to the expediency of exercising a right, rather than an inquiry into the right to do so.—(llear.) When it wai said that the House of Commons was intetested in instioiting or making such an inquiry, a tlstinction was to be de ‘wri between that portion of the property of the Crown which was assigned to the public in lieu of the civil list, and those properties, such as the • Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which were reserved for the Crown. As to other portions of the Crown pro perty, the public clearly had a right to make an inquiry, fur the public had a direct, manifest, and prete'it in terest in these revenues, and in toeing that they were prop-rly managed.--(Hen,r, hear.) Tne case, however, ef the Duchy of Lancaster and the duchy of Cornwall were clearly placed upon different grounds, for when the civil list was grantee, the management of them was re served to the Crown.—(Hear, hear.) Such property, too, it would be better to leave to the management of the Crown than institute any inquiry respecting it, cc • less there was char and signal proof afforded for the se curity of such an inquiry. He was not one to deny, not withstanding the special nature of this property, that if its revenues were used for corrupt purposes, if they were grossly mismanaged, or if the law expenditure was wasteful and extravagant—in such a case he did not mean to say that the House of Commons would not have a right to institute an inquiry —(Hear, hear) — but then he positively denied that any such presump tion could be made, or any such inference could be drawn, with respect to the management of this property. He had the honour in the Duchy of Cornwall of being a trustee fur his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, for receiving the accumulations of the property, and invest ing them in the funds ; and thus he said that it was his belief that there was no property, public or private, better managed than the property of the Duchy of Corn well.—(Hear.) He looked to the persons who e ere concerned in the management of that property—to a person like Mr. Pemberton Leigh—to a gentleman e f his high character who spoke last—men of their high station and character, who willingly devoted themselves to that service. When, he said, he considered these things, be deprecated any inquiry K hich might eeprive the Crown of men of the valueole services and high sta tion of Mr. Pemberton Leigh arid the Hon. and Learned Member (Mr. Wood.) What were the facts ? In the Duchy of Comm all during the late reign high salaries were given to men holding Parliamentary offices con nected with the Administration. These were. during the reign of William IV., 8.6771.; and the present charges for salaries were 2.500/. The charges for law expenses for nine years, up to 1840, were 4,1801. Now the greater part ef the law expenses, by a recent arrangement, were, for the year 1849, not more—that was, for the solicitor's hill—than 271.—(Hear.) A great increase had taken place in the superannuation allowances; but these were granted for the express purpose of diminishing the number of officers, and of retaining only those that were bona fide concerned in the public administration of the duchy.— (Hear.) But then some complaint had been made with respect to the leases. He admitted that there had been great laxity with respect to the management of the estate—that every one was looking for what he could get out of it- It was said, " the Crown must act libe rally—the Crown must deal with great indulgence to those that are on its estetss."—(Hear.) A different system now prevailed. It was desired to make as much of the property as they possibly could. Instead of taking money by fines, lives on leases were refused, and the value of the property was now annually realised, so as to admit of the property being made as much of as possible, and of thus diminishing any future charge that should be placed upon the country when a settlement came to be made on the Prince of Wales, on his attaining his majority. In making such a change in the principle of management it was not to be supposed but that complaints would he made by those whose property was affected by it.—(Hear, hear.) But what was the reason now alleged that they should grant an inquiry? It was, they were told, that they might satisty those who had hypothetical charges to make!— (Leughter.) What were hypothetical charges? It was enough to listen to those who had real charges to prefer. —(Hear, hear.) But now they were to grant an in quiry upon an hypothetical charge. Some portion of the property had been sold to a railway company. Then, be ventured to say, that the whole of that money had been applied to the purposes of the trust.—(Hear, hear.) What, then, was the nature of the hypothetical charge? A railway passed through a portion of the Crown pro perty—that portion was parted with, and money was re ceived for the property. Well, then, that was not an hypothetical cearge—it was a fact. But the Hon. Gen tleman who proposed this motion introduced a new prin ciple into their debates. His Noble Friend the Earl of Lincoln had, in an able, lucid, and powerful speech, last year given a most satisfactory answer to all the charges of the Hon. Gentleman, and he (Sir R. Peel) really hoped had then settled the question for ever. The Hon. Gen tleman had an opportunity of making a reply to that speech, and he was not able to answer it. But what did he do? He found in a newspaper, the Morning Chronicle, a statement which he thought expressed the opinions of the Earl of Lincoln, and not answering the speech of his Noble Friend, but having heard that the Earl of Lincoln looked with favour on the Morning Chronicle, he assumed that that paper spoke the senti ments of the Earl of Lincoln ; and, unfortunately, the Earl of Lincoln not being here, and last year having made a speech which the Hon. Gentleman was not able to answer, the Hon. Gentleman now said that ho would not answer that speech, but he would reply to the news paper.—(Laughter.) If the Hon. Gentleman had said that he would even now answer the speech of his Noble Friend, although it would not be very Parliamentary, still it would not be very irrational ; but being unable to answer the speech, he levelled all his wrath upon the newspaper, and that on the assumption that it spoke the sentiments of the Earl of Lincoln.—(l.aught* r.) This certainly savoured of the hypothetical charge which the Honourable Gentleman put in another form. (Laughter.) Now he believed that all the result of the inquiry aught for would be this,—that it would be suggestive to many of the better management of their property. So far from abuses being permitted, there was to be found every just claim on the part of tenants attended to. There was no property in the management ef which there were greater reforms—in which there was a stronger desire to put down abuses, and in which the patronage of office bad been abolished, and this for the purpose of substituting men for those of high office, and title, and large salaries.—(Elear.) Under these cir cumstances, he said, instead of discussing the abstract question whether or not the House of Commons had a right to institute an inquiry, he protested against any inquiry, because an inquiry could not be enteret into without shaking the authority of those who had con ducted the management of these Crown properties with such signal success. It would be, in his opinion, a bad return to make to such men as Mr. Pemberton Leigh to grant such an inquiry. Everything had beets done to promote the most strict economy in the management of the estates of the Prince of Wales. He did hope, then, that the House of Commons would not do anything to disturb the arrangements that had been made by ap pointing a Committee f Inquiry.—(Hear.) Mr. GIBSON—The Hon. and Learned Member for Oxford (Mr. P. Wood) had told the House that the funds of the Duchy of Lancaster were applied to main tain a defective system—that the courts of justice which were supported out of those funds were so defective that if they did not mend their ways, he would be under the necessity of leaving them, and he himself, as vice-chap • cellor of the duchy, rather intimated that he should be obliged to come to Parliament and ask its assistance in order to accomplish their reform. Now he (Mr. Gibson) thought that this branch of the question was a very im portant one, for he understood that these separate judi catures, clashing as they did with the laws ef the realm, were the cause of great public inconvenience, and that when Acts were passed dealing with particular counties, clauses were always inserted for reserving the rights and privileges of the duchy courts. The system of special jurisdiction was most vexatious, and in the main not favourable to the public weal. He was of opinion, there fore, that the powers which the courts exercised over her Majesty's subjects did give this House a just claim is inquire whether it was fitting that any portion of the funds should be applied to the support of these special jurisdictions. Mr. HUME said that Parliament had an undoubted power to institute the inqUiry proposed by the Hon. Member for Tavistock. He remembered the time when nearly the whole of the revenues of the two duchies were absorbed in the payment of salaries. He admitted, however, that of late years considerable improvement had taken place ; still, the fact that toe charges were 12,0001. a year, whilst the entire receipts did not exceed 30,0001., suggested that there was ground for inquiry, it only with a view to ascertain whether there might not be a consolidation of some of the items; for in many cases the expense of collectiug absorb , d the whole ot the receipts, and in such cases was attended with incenee. nis nee to the parties who peid. and was of no benefit to the parties who received. Were heone of the Commis• smilers, he should at once say. " By all means let there an inquiry." There might be a delicacy in showing the accounts, but !here ought to be none. The accounts were public, and the House had a right to know how the accumulation fund was invested and applied. If an in quiry were granted, it would show, at any rate, that there was nothing to canoed. Lord DUNCAN said if one thing had struck him more forcibly than another, in the course of the inquiry into the Woods and Fores's by the Committee over which he esided, it was this, that all bodies in the world they House of Commons was the worst possible steward in the management of propsrty.—(Hear, hear.) He be lieved that the management of the property would have t eon more diligently looked into if it had bean placed in , fewer hands, and that there would then have been much less ro t pl , ain ef. With regard to the sub j ect of eu c it was his opinion tha t, however o pp ressive ac to hin coeinals the Crown might have been in olden times, at all events in modern times it had been " more sinned against than sinning" by the adjoining proprietors. Being of opini that the gentlemen who presided over the duchies had acted as good s tewards for the Crown, that they had only acted as if they were stewards for any private pro prietor, and that they would have been culpable bad they done otherwise, he should vote against the motion. Mr. STANFORD (who was but partially audible) said that the object of the first portion of the resolution was simply to ascertain the extent to which the public were entitled to claim al interest, present or prospective, in the management of the Duchies of Cornwall and Lan caster, and this object he thought was answered by the discussion which the motion had elicited. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Trelawny) had thus (to use a legal word)" estopped" his own motion; for he cou ld not ask for a Committee to institute the special inquiries he wished to raise, unless he could get the assent of the Howe to his first inquiry,—namely, whether the public had any interest or nut ? The speeches of the Solicitor General and Sir R. Peel— both high authorities upon this question—conclusively showed that the interest in the duchies was so peculiarly private in its character that it would be wholly impossible for this House to grant a Committee to inquire into the other specific matters which the Hon. Member proposed to raise upon this. If there had been any good ground for an inquiry, he (Mr. Stanford) should not have objected to support the motion. When statements went foith to the public respecting mismanagement and extravagance it was extremely desirable that inquiry should be made; but the Learned Solicitor-General and the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) bad shown that the revenues of the duchies were admirably managed, and he must, therefore, give his vote against: the motion. Mr. TRELAWNY having briefly replied, the motion was negatived without a division. The House then went into COMNIITTEE OF SUPPLY.—ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. Colonel ANSON said he regretted that he bai not the opportunity of bringing forward the ordnance estimate; in the ordinary way, and that he had now to adopt the unusual course of asking the Committee to vct a sum of money on account, for the purpose c f defraying the ex penditure which would become due after the close of the tinancial year. It was very desirable that these esti mates should be proposed at an early period of the ses sion; and he admitted tE ere was great inconvenience in the delay which had taken place—an inconvenience alike to the Government, to the der artment, and t) this House. —(Hear, hear.) But, however anxious the Government might bo to expedite the public business, and however desirous the department might be to have the sanction of Parliament to enable it to carry on the service which was placed more immediately under its control, the House must be aware that there were circumstances which the Go• ve rnment could not control, which would interfere with business of importance being brought forward, and that this was owing generally to measures which ha•l origi neted with independent Members of this House, who were entirely unconnected with the Government. (Hear, hear.) He merely mentioned this to show that neither the Government nor the department was at fault for the delay that had occurred, and for his being obliged to have recourse to the present unusual pro ceeding before a general statement was made with re gard to the ordnance estimates, and the expenditure to be incurre 1 for them. The House was aware that no funds were available fa. the public service, unless sanc tioned by Parliament, until after the termination of the financial year; and as this would take place within the Easter recess, and certain payments must be made within that time, it was evident that the course he pro posed to adopt was the only ono now open to him. He knew the deep interest which was taken by this House in matters of public expenditure, and he should not be doing justice to the department he had the honour to re present if he now entered into an explanation of the de tails of all the votes. He would prefer doing that when the estimates came regularly before the House. He trusted the Committee would epee to this course, and that they would give him permission to place a motion for certain votes on account in the hands of the Chairman, the whole amounting to about 600,000/. in the aggregate, to enable her Majesty to provide for the service which would come due after the close of the financial year. He had permission from his Noble Friend at the head of the Government to state that on the first supply day after the recess the ordnance estimates would be brought forward, and that ample opportunity would be given fur discussing them. He would now propose a sum, on ac count, of 60,0001. towards defraying the expense of pay and allowances for the ordnance military corps. Mr. HUME thought the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman had properly reserved his general statement; and as the present votes were merely to enable the Government to carry on the department, he would not throw any diffi• culty in the way of the course proposed. Mr. SPOONER said, that to bring forward these esti mates on the first supply day after the recess would be highly objectionable, on account of so many Hon. Mem bers having to attend quarter sessions. —(Hear, and a laugh.) It might be a subject for merriment with some, but there could be no doubt that the Noble Lord would like to have a full House for the discussion of the esti mates.—(Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL had already, to oblige lion. Mem bers, postponed several Bills, and amongst them the Australian Government Bill. If he were to give up the first day naty the recess also, it would occasion con siderable inconvenience. Sir U. WILLOUGIIBY asked when it was intended to take the miscellaneous estimates? Lord J. RUSSELL could not then mention the day, there being some questions relating to the miscellaneous estimates which were not yet finally settled. The vote was agreed to, as were als) the following outs:— A sum, on account, of 100,0001. towards defraying the expense of commissariat and barrack supplies. A sum, on account, of 20,000/. towards defraying the expense of the Ordnance-office. A sum, on account, of 60,0001. towards defraying the expense of establishments in the United Kingdom and the colonie,. A sum, on account, of 50,000/. towards defraying the expense of the wages of artificers and labourers in the United Kingdom and the colonies. A sum, on account, of 100,000/. towards defraying the expense of ordnance stores for land and sea services. A sum, on account, of 150,000/. towards defraying the expense of works, buildings, and repairs, at home and abroad. On the vote of 20,0001. being proposed for deflayiag the expense of the scientific branch, Mr. HUME inquired, with respect to the stores to which a preceding vote referred, whether there was an account of all the old stores that were sold last year to be had, stating how long the articles were in store, when they were sold, and what they were sold for? gueh an a ccount was requisite, became the loss to the public on stores was very great. Colonel AgSoN would be prepared to mention all that had been done in that respect when he made his statement on the suJject to the House. The vote was agreed to, as was also a vote of 40,0001. towards defroying the expense of the non-effective service. The House then resumed. The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and The report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow this day), at twelve o'clock. THE CHIEF JUSTICES' SALARIES BILL. On the motion Cr going into Committee on this Bill, Mr. CHRISTOPHER moved--" That it be an in struction to the said Committee, that they have power to make provision for the prospective reduction of the sala ries and emoluments of the Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, the Vice• Chancellors, the Chief Baron, and the puisne judges." He was not aware why the Noble Lord and the Government should be so anxious that this Bill should receive the sanction of the House. As it was wished to have a Committee of Inquiry on this subject, it would be more becoming in them to delay this motion. He could not conceive why the present Lord Chief Jus tice should not submit to the same arrangement which had been made with respect to the late Lord Chief Jus tice (Lord Denman) until the report of the Committee was laid on the table, and the opinion of Parliament was known. He should not now press his motion, but reserve his observations till the report of the Committee was be fore the House. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that be thought that an opportunity offering it should be at once embraced to settle the salary of the Lord Chief Justice in future. Lord Brougham had objected upon principle to the Lord Chief Justice being allowed a salary of 10,0001. a year, and only by consent receiving 8,0001. The exe cutors cf the late Lord Chief Justice might, it was thought, have a legal claim to the difference between 10,0001. and 5,0001., and it was to prevent the possibi lity of a similar claim on the part of the preseut Lord Chief Justice that the Government had introduced this Bill. As notice of a Committee to inquire into the salaries of the Lord Chief Justices had been given, if any other vacancies occurred in the offices that were to be the subject of inquiry, appointments would be made, subject to a reduction such as Parliament might desire. Mr. MULLINGS said that the Act of Parliament did not fix the salary of the Lord Chief Justice at 10,0001. It was simply permissive. The Honourable Gentleman read the provisions of the Act (2 and 3 William IV., cap. 116) under which the salaries of the chief justices were authorised to be granted. The sala ries were not fixed, as supposed, bat only authorised to be granted to that amount, if it should be thought fit so to fix the salary. In support of this construction be might quote the authority of Sir Edward Sugden. This Bill was therefore wholly unnecessary, and the only effect of it would be as an indication of the opinion of Parliament that the salary of the Lord Chief Justice should be fixed at 8,0001. He thought these salaries too large, considering the state of the country. He asked the Government to pospone this Bill. If they did not, upon going into Committee, he would move an amend ment, if he stood alone. He again asked to have the Bill postponed. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the law, as stut,el by the Hon. Gentleman, was not correct. If it were the legal construction, let the judge offend the Go vemment and they might at once reduce his salary.— (Hear, hear.) The principle of the Acts of Parliament, and the intention of the Legislature, was to make the judges of the land independent, and nothing could be more detrimental to the public interest than to make the salary of the judges dependent upon the will of the Go venm nt of the day. The words of the Act were, not that a salary not exceeding 10,0001. should be granted, hut that the salary of the Lord Chief Justice be 10,0001. If the life of Lord Denman was to come to a close, and his will was silent upon the subject, he very much doubted whether the executors of that Noble and Learned Lord would net be compelled to enforce the payment of the extra 2,0001. per annum, which Lord Denman had not received, otherwise they would be guilty of, to use a technical torus, devastavit. He thought the introduction and passing of this measure was abso lutely necessary. Mr. HUME asked, did not the Act of 1525 establish the right that the salary should be 10,000/. per annum, and therefore give the executors of Lord Denman a power to recover the 2,0001. not paid for the last eighteen 3 ears, but this sum he felt assured would not be claimed. lie felt a great satisfaction that the Noble Lord (Lord J. Rzsell) had consented to the appointment of a Com mittee to regulate the salaries of the judges, for the main question before them would be the expenditure of more than half a million sterling. In a word, he thought the proposed income was too much, for in 1792 the salary did not exceed 4,0001. per annum, and at that time the puisne judges and others had not more than 3,000/. per annum. Then there was an increase in the Lord Chi( f Justice's salary in 1819, and another in 1825, to the amount of 10,000/ per annum. He should next allude to the immense expense of 67,0001, which was paid out of the suitors' fund to the judges, and which fund he was of opinion should be thrown into the tre. sury. In fact, he looked upon this motion as pre mature, particularly as the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had pledged himself to bring in a Bill to make a reduction in the appointments made before last session. Mr. V. SMITH said that he felt it his duty to support the Government on this occasion, though he should at the same time say that there had been very great negli gence on their part in not bringing in a Bill long since to prevent the doubts that must necessarily arise in the public mind from such a delay. He did not apprehend anything from Lord Denman as to the demand of 2 . 000/. a year for the last eighteen years; but he thought that care should be taken against the power of the executors, who should necessarily make this demand on the demise of Lord Denman. He also considered that it would be premature to enter on the question of the salaries of the Lord Chief Justices of the Queen's Bench, and of the THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 2B , 1850 Lord Chit f Justice rf the Common Pleau, when the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) intended to move for n Committee to arrange the salaries of all the judges, and also the salaries of the executive cf the lower judicials, and the diplotrzaic officers, which he hoped would be embraced in this inquiry, and which, he falt assured, would be porfectly satiifuetAT. Mr. TUBNER, said that he believed that the words of the Act, '• that it shall be lawful for the Crown to ,give this sum," are discretionary, and not compulsory, and he felt assured that Lot d Denman would very soon regulate the 2 0001. per annum due for the last eighteen years, if called on to do so. He should dissent ft ora the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), when he ex pressed it as his opinion that the suitors' fund should be reduced to the Treasury, for such he considered would be not only an act of injustice to the judges, but would be of no service whatever t 3 the public. He should add that he considered that the Committee, when appointed, would have very great difficulty in apportioning proper salaries to the judges respectively, according to their rank. Lord J. RUSSELL sail that the inquiry of the Com mittee would bt of a prJspntive character relative to the rAuction of salaries, nod that Lord Campbell and other judges would not be exempted from the con sideration of the Committee, notwithstanding the pas ing of this Bill, and he should therefore press the subject. Mr. HENLEY did not know how to account for such a mistake exitt.ng for eighteen years, without any notice of it whatever being t a k en by the Government. He wondered that they could lie on their oars so long, and a matter fraught with such danger and hazard being under their Nary eyes, and that only now Goverment brought in a Bill to prevent the mischief thst might arise from such neglect. He thought that the Noble Lord should not press this matter. _ _ . Sir G. GREY said that the puisne judges would be as well protected by this measure as any of the judges, and it was for that renson that the Noble Lord wished to establish all the salaries by an Act of Parliament. Mr. BRIGHT said that he considered that the case of the Lord Chief Justice was a most important feature, and should not, therefore, be omitted from the Bill. He hoped that the Committee would be a searching one, and that the salaries would be either raised or lowered, ac cording as it might be deem fit, but he feared that this Bill did not empower the Committee to regulate all salaries, as was expressed by the Hon. Member for Montrose. Mr. B. DENISON said that he felt highly gratified that the Noble Lord had resolved to appoint a Committee to regulate the salaries of all the judges, no matter of what class or grate. As Lord Campbell had taken the office of Lord Chief Justice at 8,000/. per annum, he cer tainly should vot•3 for going on with the Bill. Sir BENJAMIN HALL thought it would be hardly , fair that Lord Campbell should be the only person ex cluded from the consideration of the Committee. Under all the circumstances he should vote for the motion of the Honourable Member against proceeding with the Bill at present. Colonel SIBTHORP deprecated the reckless haste with which Lord Campbell had been appointed to the Lord Chancellorship of Ireland, and the similar joblike velocity with which he had been transferred to the Chief Justiceship of the Queen's Bench. They should, in his opinion, await the result of the Committee proposed by the Noble Lord to be appointed before they proceeded with the consideration of the Bill introduced by the Government. Mr. SI'OONER was not prepared to say that Lord Campbell should have a salary of 8,0001. a year. The amount of his salary ought to form a portion of the con sideration of the Committee. Without the report of that Committee they should not proceed with the Bill. It would be worse than a mockery, and the country would reedy° it as such, to occlude Lord Campbell's salary from the consideration of the Committee. For the purpose cf carrying out his views he moved that the Bill should be committed on Friday, the 12th of April. Mr. FORBES seconded the amendment. . _ Lord JOHN RUSSELL apprehended that the Hon. Gentleman who opposed the progress of the Bill did not understand the state of the question. They seemed to be ignorant of the fact, that the salary cf the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench was fixed by Act of Parlia ment in the year 1832 at 10,000/. per annum. Lord Den man, however, accepted the appointment and held it at 8,0001. a year.—(llcar, hear.) Lord Campbell un dertook the office at a similar salary, and, in order that the r( (laced amount should be re cognised by Act of Parliament, he (Lord John Rus sell) had brought forward the Bill which he was now anxious should he considered in Committee. Former Governments were blamed for not legalising the reduc•' tion, and he was blamed for doing that which previous Ministers were censured for neglecting. Lord Camp bell's appointment was not as the Hon. Baronet for Marylebone had snpposed—a prospective appointment. If the Committee which he proposed to have appointed considered 8,0001. a year was too large a salary for the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, he did not believe that they would recommend a reduction of Lord Campbell's salary, but of the salaries of future lord chief justices, considering that Lord Campbell had accepted the appointment at 8,000/. per annum; and even if they did make such a recommendation, he believed the House would not sanction so manifest a departure from princi ple. Any prospective reduction would be fair and just. What the present Bill proposed was to reduce the legal salary of the Lord Chier Justice from 10,0001. a year to 8,0001., and if any farther reduction were recommended by the Committee, it should be of a prospective cha racter. Sir B. HALL wished to explain that he had not stated Lord Campbell's appointment was prospective, but what be wished to convey was, that it should be consi dered prospective, inasmuch as the Noble Lord contem plated the appointment of the Select Committee at the very time that Lord Campbell accepted the chief jus ticeship. After a few words from Mr. BUCK and Mr. SANDFORD amid manifestations of impatience, Mr. MULLINGS said ho understood the Noble Lord at the head of the Government to say the other night, when this subject was before the House, that Lord Campbell had agreed to a cce pt the o ffi ce of Chief Justice at a salary of 8,0001. a year, and if that was the case, such would be a regular agreement between Lord Camp bell and the Government, and he could not, in conse quence, claim the additional 2,0001. which was stated in the Act of Parliament. That being the case, he could not see what use there was for pressing on the Bill with so much haste. Should Government persist in pressing the Bill into Committee, he must say that he would feel himself called on to move a still further reduction, and that ho would rather not do until the proposed Committee had reported, and until that time he trusted the Noble Lord would suspend the present measure. The House then divided, when there appeared— For going into Committee ..• ... 100 Against it ... 51 Majority for going into Committee —49 The House then went into Committee on the Bill. Oa clause 1 being proposed, Mr. MULLINGS moved an amendment to the effect, that the salary of the present Chief Justice should be 7,0001. a year, instead of 8,0001., as proposed in the clause, and that up on t h e next vacancy in the Chief Justiceship, the salary should be further reduced to 6,0001. a year. Mr. CHRISTOPHER said he felt placed in a difficult position in respect to the amendment of his Hon. Friend, because if he voted that the salary of the Chief Justice should be 8,0001., he would be voting against his convic tions previously formed on the subject; and while, there fore, he must vote for the sum of 7,0004, ho must say he would rather that the Noble Lord would withdraw the Bill until tae report of the Committee on the subject was laid upon the table. As the case now stood, how ever, he would with deference suggest that his Hon. Friend should postpone his motion until the third read ing of the Bill, when there would perhaps be more Mem bers in the house, and when an amendment could bo put for delaying all further proceedings in reference to it till the Committee had reported. Mr. HUME thought it would be better at once to take the sense of the House as to the amount of salary, and leave any reference to Lord Denman's salary out of view, as a receipt from that Noble Lord would at once and for ever settle the matter betaeen him and the Government. Lord J. RUSSELL could not see how any reference to Lord Denman's salary could be left out of the me &- sure, as that Noble Lord bad been paid during his term of office 2,0001. less than the Act of Parliament entitled h m to. Mr. FORBES contended f.ir a reduction ; but Mr. MULLINGS having signified his intention to withdraw his amendment, Mr. HENLEY said in order to take the sense of the House as to whether the present Chief Justice's salary should be 8,0001. or 7,0001 a year, he would move that after the words "sha'l be," the words "seven thousand pounds" be insert( d. Mr. SCUOLEFIELD asked if they were going to vote for the salary of the present Lord Chi( f Justice, or for those who should in future fill it ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Committee after Easter would consider the salaries of all the judges, but for the existing Chief Justice he did think the sum pro posed was not too much. Mr. HUME was under the impression, that the pre. sent Lord Chief Justice was to take the office at a re duce-1 salary. Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed that 8,0001. a year was to be paid the present Lord Chief Justice, but after that the question would be open to further reduction. Mr. B. OSBORNE said he should support the motion of the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire, because that party ought to be encouraged, and because Minis ters did not deal with the question as they ought to have done. He conceived that 5,0001. a year was enough for the Chief Justice, for that was the sum paid the first Minister of the Crown, who had greater and more arduous duties to perform. The gentleman who took the office was no doubt a man of honour and pro bity, but he understood he was an individual fully as old as the Chief Justice who retired—(A laugh)—and yet a merit was made in appointing him. Colonel THOMPSON was surprised at the ground taken by the opposite party for the reduction of the salaries, namely, that the country was in a state of pros perity, although their principal arguments previously were that free trade would destroy the country. He (Col. Thompson) should leave the question in the hands of the Government, and therefore oppose the motion. Mr. SPOONER was surprised at the announcement made, that a Committee was to be appointed after Easter to inquire into salaries, and yet in the present instance, the salary paid seventeen years ago was to be given to the Lord Chief Justice. Mr. MAURICE O'CONNELL would not support the -reposition of the Hon• Member for Oxfordshire, until he hoard from some members of the bar that they would be satisfied with that curtailment made in the salary of the Lord Chief Justice. Mr. HUME would test the question in the manner proposed by the Hon. Member for Tralee—and believ ing that 7,0001 a year was sufficient, he should Tote for the amendment. He thought such a Bill ought nut to be forced through for the benefit of any individual. Mr. WOOD would say, with all respect, he thought the Committee would act very imprudently if they com menced their reforms by cutting down the salary of the highest judicial functionary in the land. Ile was of opinion that the Bill ought not to be passed until after the proposed Committee sat, but as the House decided otherwise, he thought they ought not to cut down the salary for a paltry thousand a year. No doubt they would get hundreds of men to fill such an office for 5001. a year—(A laugh)—but were they fit to do so? Few men were fitted for so high an office, and considering that the slightest stain could not be cast on the ermine in this country for more than a century, he thought the salary was not insufficient. Mr. DEEDES had heard the Noble Lord at the head of the Government come down session after session, saying that such offices should be taken at a reduction, and yet, in the present instance, he failei to do so. Under all the circumstances of the ea;e, he should vote for the motion of the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire. After a few words from Mr. HENLEY, Cu'oriel REID said that the salary of the present Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was 8,0001. a year, and certainly he would not consent to place the Lord Chief Justice of England in a position lower than an inferior judge. On that account he should rote against the motion. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ... ... 33 Against it ... ... 86 ... —4B ••• ••• Majority Mr. HUME underst•)od that the sum of 8,0001. was now inserted in the clause, but he wished to know whe ther the Committee on Salaries would have power to report on tho salary of the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench? Lord J. RUSSELL replied that the Committee would consider the prospective salary of the Chief Justice as well as those of other Judges; but the present holders would not be affected. Sir W. JOLLIFFE moved that the usual clause, pro viding for the repeal or alteration of the measure during the present session, should be inserted. Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to the insertion of such a clause. The rest of the clauses were then disposed of, and the House resumed. BRICK DUTIES BILL The House went into Committee on the above Bill. The various clauses having been gone through, Mr. HAYTER, moved - the addition of a clause to allow a drawback of half the duty on bricks on stocks in hand. The clause was agreed to. Mr. lIAYTER then gave notice of the introduction of a clause in the report relating to the abatement of duty on bricks made under contracts. The School Districts Contributions Bill was read a third time. _ The Pirates (Bead-money) Repeal Bill was read a third time. The Exchequer-bills (9,200,0001.) Bill was read se cond time. On the motion of Sir W. SOMERVILLE, leave was given to bring in a Bill for the better distribution, support, and management of medical charities in Ireland. ENCUMBERED ESTATE (IRELAND). The SOLICITOR-GENERAL trusted that, though the hour was late, he should be allowed to bring in a Bill to amend the working of the Encumbered Estates Act, in order that it might be printed for consideration during the recess. The principal object of the Bill was to lessen the expense, and to facilitate transfers. This was proposed to be done by means of a certificate issued by the Commission, and a duplicate of which was to be registered in the Register-office, which, whoa endorsed, would be as easily negotiated and transferred as a coal men bill of exchange. The certificates were to be granted in cases where the charges upon the estates did not exceed one-half of the purchase-money, and these charges might be paid off by instalments as agreed upon. In fact, these certificates would, he trusted, pass from hand to hand like dkbentures on railway stock ; and if the Bank of Ireland was to pay the dividends it would no doubt prevent a great loss in the sale of estates, by preventing them from being sold under their value. Mr. FRENCH opposed the Bill as totally opposed to the principle on which the Encumbered Estates Bill•was passed; that proposed to bring in landlords of capital, wheria this would substitute one set of encumbered landlords for another. Colonel DUNNE said that after seven hundred years of the worst legislation ever known, an Irishman ought not to be surprised at anything, but he was surprised at this Bill. It was seemingly intended to firce all the old proprietors from the soil, and give them another Fontenoy. But the Bill could not be brought on that night. There were not enough Members present, and he should move that the House be counted. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL rose amidst cries of order. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and it being found that there were only twenty-four Members present The House stood adjourned at One o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Com►noomi MONDAY, MARCH 25. CHIEF JUSTICES' SALARIES BILL. Order for Committee read; Motion made, and Question proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair " Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words" this House will, upon Friday, the 12th day of April next, resolve itself into the said Committee," instead thereof:—Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question." The House divided:— MAJORITY—AYES, 100. Anson, Colonel Grey, Sir George Price, Sir It Armstrong, It. B. Grey, R. W. Reid, Colonel Arundel, Earl of Grosvenor, Lord R. Rich, Henry Bagshasv, John Hatchell, John Itomilly, Colonel Baines, M. T. Hawes, Benj. Romilly, Sir John Baring, Sir F. T. Hayter, W. G. Russell, Lord John Barnard, E. G. Heywood, James Sanders, Joseph Berkeley, Admiral Hobhouse, Sir J. Scholefleld, William Berkeley, H. F. Hobhouse, T. B. Scrope, G. P. Berkeley, C. L. Howard, Lord E. Shell, R. L. 131ackall, S. W. Howard, P. H. Simeon, John Booth, Sir R. G. Johnstone, Sir J. amythe, George Boyle, Colonel Keppel, G. T. Somers, J. P. Brockman, E. D. Labouchere, Henry Somerville, Sir W. Brotherton, Joseph Lascelles, W. S. Spearman, H. J. Bunbury, E H. Lewis, G. C. Stanford, J. F. Christy, Samuel Lindsay, Colonel Stuart, Henry Cowan, Charles M'Cullagh , W. T. Talbot, J. 11. Cowper, W. F. Mahon, O'Gorman Thompson, Colonel Craig, Sir W. G. Marshall, William Townsheud, Captain Denison, Edmund Matheson, Colonel Trelawny, J. S. Douglas, Sir C. Maule, Fox Tuthell, IL Dundas, Admiral Morgan, H. K. Turner, G. J. Dundas, Sir David Newport, Visa. Verney. Sir H. Dunne, Colonel O'Connell, Maurice Walpole, S. H. Ebrington, Lord O'Connell, M. J. Williamson, Sir I: Elliot, J. E. Ogle, S. C. Wilson, James Enfield, Lord Paget, Lord A.. Wilson, Matthew Evans, J. Paget, Lord C. Wortley, J. S. Fordyce, A. D. Paget, Lord G. Wrill, M. Fortescue, Chichester Palmerston, Viscount French, F. Parker, John MUM. Goddard, A. L. Pelham, D. A. Hill, Lord 31.1 Gore, W. R. 0. Power, Dr. Bellew, R. AL Grenfell, Charles W. Power, Nicholas MINORITY—NOES, 51. Archdall, Captain Greene, John Plowden, W. 11. A rkwright. 9. Hall, Sir Benjamin Rendlesham, Lord Bankes, George Halsey, T. I'. Ricardo, Osman Barrington, Vis. Harris, Richard Salwey, Colonel Bateson, Thomas Henley, J. W. Sanders, George Bright, John Hodgson, W. N. Sheridan, 11. 11. Chichester, Lord J. Hope, 11. T. Sibthorp, Colonel Christopher, R. Hornby,`John Smith, R. V. Clay, James Hume, Joseph Smyth, J. G. Cobden, R. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Stuart, Lord Dudley Cahill, William Kershaw, James Thompson, Alderman Deedes, W. Lennox, Lord A. Thornely, T. Dick, Quintin Lockhart, W. Verner, Sir W. Ewart,;William Meux, Sir Henry Wahnsley, Sir J. Ferrer, James Mitchell, T. A. Willoughby, Sir H. Milner, Sir E. Morris, David TELLZKII. Forbes, William Osborne, Ralph Mailings, J. R. Gooch, E. S. Perfect, R. Spooner, Richard (IN THE COMMITTEE.) First Clause (Salary of the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench) :—Page 2, line 2, Amendment propesel, after the words " shall be," to insert the words " the yearly sum of seven thousand pounds :" - Question put, " That these words be there inserted." The Committee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 38. Archdall, Captain Forbes, Wm. Salwey, Colonel Arkwright, G. Gooch, E. S. Sandars, George Barrington, Viscount Hall, Sir B. Sibthorp, Colonel Bateson, Thomas Harris, Richard Spooner, Richard Bright, John Hodgson, W.N. Stuart. Lord D, Brotherton, J. Hope, 11. T. Thompson, Ald. Chichester, Lord J. Hornby, John - Thoruely. T. Christesher, H. A. Hume, Joseph Verner, Sir W. Clay, James Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Walmsley, Sir J. Cobden, Richard Kershaw, James Willoughby, Sir H. Cowan. Charles Lockhart. W. Deeeles, W. Mitchell, T. A. MUNI. Ferrer, James Morris, David Mullings, J. R. Fllmer, Sir E. Osborne,lltalph Henley, J. W. MAJORITY-NOES, 86. Anson, Colonel Grace, 0. D. Power, Nicholas Armstrong, R. B. Grenfell, Charles W. Price, Sir Robert Arundel, Earl of Grey, Sir G. Reid, Colonel Baines, M. T. G. ay, R. W. Rich, Henry Baring, Sir F. T. Grosvenor, Lord B. Romilly, Colonel Barnard, E. G. Ilatchell, John Romilly, Sir John Berkeley, Admiral Hawes, Benjamin Russell, Lord J. Berkeley, Henry F. Hay ter, W. G. Saudars, Joseph Berkeley, C. L. G. Heywood, James Scholerield, W. Blackall, S. W. llobhouse, Sir John Scrope, G. P. Boyle, Colonel Hobhouse, T. B. Shell, R. L. Brockman, E. D. Howard, Lord E. Smythe, G. Banbury, E. H. Replica, George,T. Somerville, Sir W. Christy, Samuel Labouchere, llenry Spearman, 11. J. Cowper, W. F. Lascelles, W. S. Stanford, J. F. Craig, Sir W. G. Lewis, G. C. Stuart, H. Cubitt, William Lindsay, Colonel Thompson, Colonel Denison, Edmund M'Cullagh, W. Townehend, Capt. Dundits, Admiral Marshall, William Trelawny, J. S. Dundas, Sir David Matheson, Colonel Tauten, H. Dunne, Colonel Maule, Fox Turner, George Ebrington, Viscount Morgan, 11. K. G. Walpole, Spencer Elliot, John O'Connell, Maurice Williamson, Sir H. Enfield, Viscount O'Connell, M. J. Wilson, Jame Evans, John Paget,;Lord A. Wood, W. P. Fordyce, A. D. Paget, Lord Clarence Wortley, J. 8. Fortescue, Chichester Paget, Lord George French, F. Palmerston, Via, TILLERS. Goddard, A. L. Parker, John Rill, Lord Marcus Gore, W. It. 0. Power, Dr. Bellew, ii. M. CADVERTISEMENT.]—CONTENTS OP TRH Observer of March 24.—Two folio columns of the Banquet at the Mansion-house—two columns of Marylebone and Pan cras Vestries, and other matters connected therewith — nearly two columns of the Funds and City Article--one column of extracts from the Report on the British Mu seum—three folio columns of the Banquet at the London Tavern, given by the . East India Company to honour General Lord Gough—about two columns of the So ciety of British Artists in Suffolk-street—one column of the Society of Arts—r early two columns of the Life of his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, by the Rev. Erbkine N ea l e , an d L a dy E. Ponsonby's Discipline of Life —one column of births, marriages, and deaths—six columns of useful advertisements—and thirteen columns of domestic and foreign news—in all forty folio columns for 6d. The Observer is regularly published at four o'clock on Sunday mornings, in time for all the early Sunday morning railways; Monday's edition, for the country and abroad, at four o'clock on Monday af ternoons. GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND. The anniversary dinner of this society was held yesterday, at the Londo❑ Tavern, Benjamin Webster, E?q., in the chair. About 250 gentlemen sat down to the dinner, which was amply and libvrally pro vided. The vocal arrangements were under the superintendence of Mr. Baife, and the profe,sionds who generously gave their aid were the Misses Dolby, Ransford, M. Williams, Rainforth, Lucombe, Ales sent, and Mrs. Weiss; Messrs. Whitworth, Weiss, Land, Machin, F. Bodda, Shoubridge, G. Genge, Smythe:li, Binge, Gray, and Master Sloman. Among the company present were Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P.; Mr. Tennent, M.P. ; Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Mark Lemon, Mr. Moses Barnet, Mr. Frank Stone, Sir Paul Joddrell, Bart.; J. B. Buck stone, Eici. ; J. Leech, C. Manby, J. Bidder, W. Same, T. P. Cooke, &c. On the removal of the cloth "Non Nobis:" was ad mirably sung. The CHAIRMAN having proposed "The Health of her Gracious Majesty," coupled with the announce ment that her Majesty had generously contributed 1001. to the funds of the charity—(Loud cheers) The National Anthem was given in a purity of style which was peculiarly pleasing seeing how rarely the air is sung in its original integrity. The toast of " The Army and the Navy," fol lowed, in giving which the Chairman adverted to Mr. T. P. Cooke, who wore a medal for having been pre sent at the battle of St. Vincent. Captain PHILLIPS returned thanks for the former service, and, responding to the loud call of the company, Mr. T. P. COOKS rose to return thanks for the navy, amidst the most enthusiastic cheering. He said he had just been honoured with a request to re turn thanks for the toast of the navy. He could as sure the company that the honour was perfectly un expected, and he could wish it had fallen into abler hands than his own, for he had been so long accus tomed to use the language of others, that he was awfully deficient when called upon to respond to such a toast on his own behalf. He feared, indeed, that he was in a Use position, for he could not but suppose that there were many officers of the Royal Navy present, whose post he felt be was now usurping. lie boasted the unenviable privilege of age—he had been a ser vant of the public fur upwards of half a century. The early part of his life had been passed on the blue waters, which had entitled him to the honorary dis tinction he then wore. It was not for any act of personal bravery on his part that he wore his medal; for he need not tell the company that fifty-three years ago he was but a boy, on the high and giddy mast.— (Cheers.) But he was old enough to remember the day when the immortal Nelson performed one of his most extraordinary exploits—when he used what is called his " patent bridge" to board a three-decker. That bridge was not so splendid a structure as that which had been erected by the enormous genius of the great Stephenson—(Cheers)—but it was strong enough for his purpose, for by it he boarded the San Josef by another enemy's ship, the San Nicolas. He was proud indeed of having served under the hero Nelson while living, and he was proud to represent him after death. He hoped he had always endea voured to obey his commands. He hoped, that whether on the deck of a vessel or on the boards of a theatre, he had always endeavoured to do his duty. Whenever the day should arrive that England expected every man to do his duty, they might be assured that there would not be wanting future Nelsons to lead our forces to victory, and that the blue jackets would maintain unstained the great re putation of our wooden walls. The Cemamix next proposed " Lord Ernest Bruce, Mr. Tennent, and the Two Houses of Par liament." Lord ERNEST BRUCE returned thanks. On the toast of " The Fund" being propounded, Mr. B. WEBSTER observed that he should leave to Ur. Buckstone, the treasurer, the task of describing the views, and position, and prosperity of the fund, but he felt that, being for many years connected with the stage, both as manager and actor, some remarks on the " poor player" would be expected from him on the present occasion. He said that, of all professions, that of acting was the most precarious, the most abused, and the most unsubstantial; and yet, however strongly these truths were pointed out to youth, once fascinated, on they rushed to seek the bubble reputa tion, through every indignity, every privation. The born genius oft ate of the chamelion's dish, promise crammed. The toils,the thousand anxieties which attend this arduous profession were patiently —nay, cheer fully—endured by the young aspirant fcr histrionic fame, in the hope that he might arrive at that envied sum of all his ambition, public approbation ; but none could imagine the labyrinth of difficulties which the first advances to the stage presented but those who bad passed through the bitter and painful ordeal. If he were a true artist at heart and mind, his life was one continued straining to fathom the depths of every passion, and their workings under every phase of character—a never-ending labour ; for, to every fresh creation emanating from the brain of dramatic genius he had to give lif3 and soul. Out of fifty, nay, a hundred candidates for public favour, rarely more than one achieved absolute emi• nence—then what was the fate of the unfortunate many ? Independently of the heart-broken feeling of a hopeless future, they were deprived of the means of providing for age and sickness, and often of a bare subsistence. A desolation of home and heart was then their doom, for the greater the aspiration the more crushing was the failure. Many imagined that actors were improvident ; this was a mistake, for no class were so anxious for independence, though it gave but the commonest comfort. Hardly an actor of note, either in this country or any other, who had the time and chance, but had proved the truth of this assertion. Garrick left behind him 100,0001., and in his pride of wealth forgot not his poorer brethren, by , nobly founding and endowing the Drury-inns The atrical Fund. Quin, the epicure Quin, gentleman Smith, Moody, King (the original Lord Ogleby), Lewis (whose son had lately left 10,0001. to the Royal Academy), Irish Johnstone, Munden, Bannis ter, Knight, Kemble. Siddons, all realised large for tunes, and so had many now living, though lavishing on their families costly education. In earlier times, Shakspere had retired wealthy, and his brother actor Allen, as renowned for piety as for perfection in his art, while an actor was enabled, single-handed, to found, Lund, and endow the splendid charitable insti tution of Dulwich College. There was, besides, abundant evidence that actors had a hand open as day for melting charity, and the books of Lloyd's would prove that the patriotic fund for sail ors' widows and orphans was at its formation contri buted to by handsome sums from every theatre in ex istence, down to the lowest itinerant companies. There they had done as they would be done by. Was it mete, then, that the actor, who, when in the zenith of his fame and prime of intellect, was lauded, courted, followed, should, when he fell from his proud estate into age, sickness, or withering poverty, be left to beg, or linger out ,his miserable existence in a workhouse, amid wretched beings, the very opposite of his nature and feelings ?—a prospect most repug nant to the educated mind ; and an actor, by his profession, imperceptibly (if not previ ously read) acquired a familiar knowledge of the most brilliant writers, and Shakspere is his household god that gems his daily speech, whether in affluence or penury. In after life, then, think that when some recipient of their bounty who was wont to set the theatre in a roar, or draw the beads of sorrow from the fount of truth, was dead and turned to clay, should cross the memory of other days, think of the self-approving pleasure of being enabled to exclaim, " Alas! poor fellow ! I helped to smooth his death-bed pillow." If they were the prodigal children of nature, they were without the wished-for goal; and he felt that in this opulent country, where true benevolence never sleeps, they had only to point to the rich, whose wealth is derived from hereditary possession, or acquired by the various means that this great commercial country daily ex pands to enterprise, the crying merits of this charity, to ensure their bounty. Yes, the seeds of liberal and diffusive benevolence were each in this l an d on a pro lific soil, and he had this day a confident hope of a rich harvest; for could the holy hand of charity be extended to a sublimer purpose than to the pouring the Samaritan oil and wine on the wounds of the at flited, and on their errors drawing the " Grecian painter's veil ?" At the close of hi s speech Mr. Webster was hailed with cheers and vehement applause. Mr. BUCKSTONE congratulated the company on the fact that the society was prospering. They had got a capital of nearly 5,3001., which it was hoped that evening would be greatly increased. They had al. ready five annuitants of 30 1 . each on the fund, and they had determined in the past year to pay 201. a year to another claimant, so that, though they were young, they were by no means " sore afraid." Charles Dickens was the pioneer of their periodical diggings. He was their first chairman and trustee. Our limits do not allow us to give a singularly lumi nous and witty speech. Mr. CHARLES DICKENS proposed " the health of the Chairman." Before he proceeded to discharge the very acceptable office which had been intrusted to him, the company would perhaps allow him to con gratulate them on this agreeable mode of spending " quarter-day "—(Loud laughter)—which was not always connected with such pleasant associations; but they would allow him to renew his congra tulations on the prosperity of the General Theatrical Fund. In approaching the toast he was about to give, he would not express the re gret he felt at that toast not having fallen into bet ter hands, because he was glad it had fallen into his own, inasmuch as it gave him the opportunity of paying respect to the character of a gentleman to whom this fund and L the public also were much in debted, and who was connected in no slight degree with the success of the drama—be meant their chair m In, Mr. Webster.—(Loud cheers.) Mr Webster had been the manager of two theatres, he had never been behind the public requirements, but he had out stripped them. His friend, Air. Buckstone, had justly stated that one of the merits of Mr. Webster was that he not only employed a great number of actors, but be paid them too; and in drinking such a toast as that which he now proposed, they must not forget the arduous duties of a manager. For many years Mr. Webster had fought against all adverse circumstances, and had encountered all the rivalry of strange animals, elephants, nightingales, &c. And when he added that sometimes, as it was whispered, though he did not believe it himself, members of the theatrical profession were difficult to deal with, he could not but arrive at the conclusion that Mr. Webster had come well through the difficulty. He could not, in conclusion, better express his sense of the position ofthis society in reference to the drama than by relating a ltttle story which had been told him last night by a most intelligent friend of his—an Ame rican sea-captain--who once upon a time had as a passenger on board his ship a young lady of great personal attractions. There were also five young gentlemen on board, all ef whom fell in love with the young lady; and the young lady loved all the five young gentlemen equally. In this difficulty the young lady applied to his friend the captain, when the captain proposed that she should jump overboard, and that, having well manned a boat to prevent accidents, she should marry him who jumped in after her. The young lady having jumped overboard four out of the five immediately plunged in after her ; and when they again appeared on the deck shivering from the cold bath the captain was again consulted, and he recom. mended the young lady to marry the dry one—the one who had not jumped in after her ; and this she did, and married him accordingly. But here, in the case of the toast he was about to give, he desired to reverse the proposition, and call upon the company to select the wet one, who had plunged in to save the actors and the drama —(Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and then gave " The Trustees of the Institution—Mr. Justice Tab. fourd, Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, and Mr. Charles Dickens." Mr. CHARLES DICKENS returned thanks. The subscriptions included 1001. from her Ma jesty, &c., amounted to upwards of 4001. The CHAIRMAN retired at a very late hour. The gallery and the end of the room were graced with the presence of an elegent assemblage of ladies, who took a lively interest in the proceedings. The musical arrangements, which were under the direction of Mr. Balfe, were excellent. The National Anthem and several ballads were admirably sung by Miss Rainforth, Miss Dolby, Miss Ransford, Miss Williams, Miss Messent, Miss Emma Lucombe; Mr. Weiss, Mr. Land, and Master Sloman. Miss Dolby was encored in a ballad," Through the forests as I wandered." Miss Rainforth and Master Sloman re ceived a similar compliment in Bishop's duet, " The pretty Page," which was capitally sung by Master Sloman, who possesses a charming voice and good dramatic feeling. Miss Lucombe created a positive enthusiasm by her exquisite rendering of Merca dante's aria, " Joy now in my heart." It was re-de manded with acclamation. Mr. Chatterton played a fantasia on the harp with his accustomed excellence. Mr. Toole acted as toastmaster. The following is the financial statement for the year ending February 13, 1850 : Receipts—By admission fees, 221.55.; by members' subscriptions, 4111. 3s. 11d. ; by interest, 1791.125. 3d. ; by profit of dinner, exclusive of arrears, 2831. Os. Id.- 8961. ls. 3d. Disbursements—To widow and children of a member deceased, 231. 13s. sd. ; to printing, &c., 121. 135.; to secretary's salary, 401. ; to general ex penses, &c., 21. 19s. 6d., to annuitant's fund, 3561. 13.. 9d. ; to balance, 4061. is. 7d.-896/. is. 3d. Total—To balance, Feb. 21, 1849, 4,6001. Os. 9d. ; to balance, Feb. 13, 1850, 4601. is. 7d. ; reserve fund, 2241. 3s. 9d.-5,2841. 6s. Id. Assets—lnvested funds in names of trustees, 5,201/.135. sd. ; cash in treasurer's hands, 82/. 12s. Bd. —5,284/. 6s. Id. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 4 to 1 agst Mr. Hill's . Osterley,; 4 yrs, 7st—taken freely 7 to 1 agst Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, 6st 131 b—t 8 to 1 agst Mr. Halford's Harriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b 10 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's Mahratta, 4 yrs, 5.1 111 b—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Chantrey, 4 yrs, Est 131 b—t 16 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Halo, 6 yrs, Bst 21b take 20 to 1 20 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Ballinafad, 6 yrs, 7st 71b 25 to 1 agst Lord Warwick's Grief, 4 yrs, 7st—taken 25 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Belus, 4 yrs, Tat 51b 25 to 1 agst Captain Hervey's Sylvan, 5 yrs, 7st 10Ib Osterley was backed very freely at b to 1, 9 to 2, and 4 to 1; and Moanseer for a good deal of money at 7 and Bto I, leaving off second favourite. Belus's price must be regarded as nominal; he is reported to be eoughiag. ALTISORP PARK STAKES (NORTHAMPTON). 5 to 2 agst Mr. Howard's Prestige—taken 3 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Buckhound—taken METROPOLITAN STAKES. 2 to 1 agst Mr. Gratw•icke's Cheerful, 4 yrs, 6st— taken and afterwards offered TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS SITA.KES. 5 to 1 agst Pitsford—taken CHESTER CUP. 15 . t0 1 agst Mr. Merry's Miss Ann, 4 yrs, 7st—take 18 to 1 18 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack, 6 yrs, 9st 21b— take 20 to 1 20 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Roland, 4 yrs, sst 81b 30 to 1 agst Capt. Harcourt's Ellerdale, 6 yrs, Bst 31b taken:to 2001. 1,000 to 30 agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase, 6 yrs, Tat 101 b—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. St. George's Whim colt, 4 yrs, 6st 71b 40 to 1 agst Major Pitt'. Mounseer, 4 yrs, 6st 91b 1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Lawson's Keleshea, 6 yrs, Est 61b —taken 2,000 to 20 agst Mr. Gregory's Loupgaron. 4 yrs, 7st—l Very little done; offers to back Peep-o'-day Boy, but no price named. DERBY. 6 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum 6 to 1 agst Mr. W. Edwards nu Bolingbroke 11 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—t 12 to 1 15 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Voltigeur—taken and afterwards offered 16 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew—taken to 1001. 25 to 1 agst Mr. J. Scott's Cyprus—taken and after wards offered 45 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's Lady Geraldine—t 13 to 2 was taken about Ghillie Callum to 1001., and about Bolingbroke to 2001.; 15 and 16 to 1 to 3001. about Voltigenr, who was in favour with three or four parties; and 25 to 1 in hundreds about Mildew; offers to take 25 to 1 about Pitsford. EPSOM GREAT METROPOLITAN STEEPLE- CH ASE.—FRIDAT. Nominations for the Great Metropolitan Steeplechase of 15 SOTS. each, 10 ft., and 5 only if declared, with 100 added. Mr. Treadgold's Maria Day, aged—Mr. Skipworth's Rachel, 6 yrs—Mr. Cartwright's Thurgarton, aged— Mr. E. Hughes's Miss Collingwood, aged—Mr. Murphy's The Oaks. 5 yrs—Mr. T. C. Dixon's Falcon, aged—Mr. Fowler's Little Fanny, 5 yrs—Mr. Robertson's Ace of Trumps, aged—Mr. 11. Bird's Sir Peter Laurie, aged— Mr. Elmore's Britisk Yeoman, aged—Mr. Carew's Lane qaenet, aged—Mr. Pettifir's The Last Forester, aged— Mr. ToHat's Spangle—Mr. Storey nd. Victim, aged— Mr. Stafford's Fugitive, aged—Mr. Benson's Little Paul, aged—Captain Knight's Leo, aged—Mr. M. Stubb'a Skim—Mr. G. Symond's Ploughboy—Captain Gam bier's The Thrush, aged—Mr. George's Bayonet, 5 yrs —Mr. Parker's My Precious Betsy—Mr. T. Mason's Proceed—Mr. Kitchen's Alfred—Mr. Maloney's Molly, G yrs. The weights will be published on the 30th instanL [ADVERTISEMIENT..I BETTING. -- MA, J. Moore , sporting publisher, corner of St. Martin's-lane, continue to lay Tattersall's odds against all horses for the prin cipal events. Long odds against horses being first, second, or third. Commissions from the country puno tually attended to, on the remittance of a Post-offio• order, payable to John Moore, Charing-cress, London. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MARCH 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market was firm to-day, but the amount of business done was limited. The trans actions were as follow :—London and North-Western, 165 1 ,4 —Ditto, New Quarters, 6s. 33. c. dis.—Lancashire ana Yorkshire, Consol., 35—Ditto, Preference, 12%—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 6)I, —Midland, Halves, 2 3s. 9d. dis.—Caledonian, P re f erence , 6—N orth Stafford. shire, 101. 13s. 9d. dis. Shrewsbury and Birmingham, Preference, 9—Shrewsbury and Chester, Preference, guar an . teed a per cent., 131 / 2 —South-Eastern and Dover (No. Registered, 4 3 A—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1850, 71 4), % dis. MANCHESTER, MARCH 25. STOCK EXCH.ANGH.—The market to-day was very firm, but there was not much business done. The transaction, were as follow : London and North-Western, 105 c.—Ditto, Manchester and Birmingham (C), Quarters, p.—Lanca shire and Yorkshire, 341 1—Ditto, Fifths, 9 3-16 dis.—Ditte (West Riding Union), 7 15.16 dis.—Ditto, Preference, 6 per cent., 12%—Dublin and Drogheda, 26—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 7 1-16—North Staf fordshire, 10 5-16 dis._South-Eastern and Dover (No. 4). Thirds, 4 13.16 —Ditto, Scrip, 5 1-16. BIRMINGHAM, MARCH 25. Srocir EXCHANGE.—Our share market was better to-day, and prices generally had a tendency upwards. London and North-Western were quoted at 106, and North Staffordshire at 9 1 ,', dis. Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), were dims at 8 dis.—Ditto (B), 61 die. YORK, MARCH 23. STOGIE ExcnAnros.—The transactions to-day were aa follow:—Great Northern, 754,—York, Newcastle, and 3er wick, 13 1 —Ditto (Newcastle Extension), Earl De Grey had an interview yesterday with . xb. Chancellor of the Exchequer. RESPITE. The sentence of death passed up( )t Sansome, the man convicted at Nottingham ass'aes A murder, through procuring miscarriage, where OEB_O4 1 0 Bailey, died, has been respited until th e l s i ad Meg This implies that his life will be spared.