The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-30 00:00:00

PENINSULA GREAT INDIAN RAILWAY. The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the above railway was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Lord Wharncliffe, chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the following report was submttted to the meeting:— The directors have much pleasure in meeting the proprietors on this occasion, the first opportunity pre sented under the Act of Incorporation. Since the shareholders were lest assembled together the Act of Parliament has been passed for the incorporation of the company, and the formal contract with the Hon. East India Company has been executed under the seals of the companies respectively. " J. C. Melvill, Esq., the Secretary of the Hon. East India Company, has been appointed by the Hou. Court the ex officio director at this board, an arrangement which tends very much to facilitate the communications with , the Hon. Court and the general business of the company. " The amount of calls paid into the treasury of the Hon. East India Company in London, during the half year ending Dec. 31, 1849 (including the sum of 25,0001., the amount of preliminary expenses admitted as capital), was 95,0001. On the Ist of March a fur ther sum of 25,000 L was paid into the treasury. In In dia, the sum of rupees 114,555 has been paid into the treasury of the Government of Bombay; and a further call in India (making, with the deposit, a sum equivalent to 20s. per share) is declared payable in May. "In making the appointment of the permanent staff of officers and servants, the directors have been guided by a principle of securing the utmost practical efficiency at a fair rce of remuneration, not forgetting what is due to the qualifications which they considered to be in dispensable on the one hand, or to motives of true economy on the other; and not forgetting the dif ference of circumstances between England and India. In negotiating the terms of an ar rangement with Mr. Chapman, who was intended to be the manager of the company in India, the directors found themselves compelled to decline his services, Mr. Chap man having required such terms, in money and powers, as were deemed if compatible with the interests of the shareholders. At the instance of the Hon. East India Company, the office of manager has been dispensed with, and the salary appertaining to that office has been wholly saved. The duties of management will devolve on the local committee, composed of directors acting under the authority of the London board. " Upon the recommendation of Mr. Robert Stephen son, the board appointed, as chief resident engineer, Mr. James J. Berkley, together with Mr. Kerr and Mr. Gra ham, two other well-qualified engineers, and a staff of assistants. The staff arrived out at Bombay early in February, and commenced active opere tions without delay. The directors have much gratification in stating that the Government cf Bombay has most readily met and promoted the views of the directors; and the zeal and interest which are mani fested in the undertaking by the engineering and other officers of Government—heartily co-operating with the servants of this company,—give the directors a well grounded hope that the work will be rapidly ad vanced. At the date of the last dispatches, the surveys in the island of Bombay were completed, and between Bombay and Tannah the surveys and working sections were being proceeded with, and preliminary steps were already taken for staking out a portion of the line, measures which hal received the approval of the Government. Some material improve ments have been effected in the direction and proposel formation of the line of railway; by which, without adding to the length of the line, considerable expense will be saved in construction." . . . The balance-sheet representei the receipts to amount to 95,0001., and the expenditure to 30,2571., leaving 64,743/. in hand. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re port, said it was highly gratifying to him to meet the proprietors now for the first time as an incorporated company, whom he assured that the affairs of the concern were new r more prosperous than they were at the present time. The work might be said to have bee* commenced in India, where the company were working with the cordial assistance and co-opera tion of the East India Company. The stiff of engineers whom they had sent out, were proceeding with their la' ours in a very creditable, because successful, manner; and he, for one, had no doubt that this railway would ultimately prove to be a most profitable under taking. Having seen the company to this advanced stage of its progress, he felt somewhat anxious to resign his position of chairman into the hands cf those who placed him in it, but at their urgent request he intended to retain his seat. It would be seen by the report that the services of Mr. Chapman had been declined. Now, however that course was to be regretted, he could as sure the meeting that it was not determined upon until Mr. Chapman had made demands upon the directors which were quite incompatible with their independence as a board of management. In fact Mr. Chapman wished to be placed in the same situation with regard to this concern that Mr. Macdonald Stephenson stood in with reference to the East India Railway Company, and as the powers which such a posi tion would have given him must have had the effect of superseetng the functions of the local board of direction, the home management thought it to be their duty to de cline his service if they were only to be obt ‘inel upon those terms.—(Hear, hear.) Besides, the remuneration demanded by Mr. Chapman was extravagant in the ex treme, and upon economical principles they were justi fied in declining his services. The directors found that the company's finances would not Lear the expense of Mr. Chapman's services, valuing them at the rate he did himself, and they had therefore no alternative but to reject his offer.—(Cheers.) After some discussion, the report was adopted, and then the directors named in the Act of Incorporation were confirmed in their office, and five gentlemen rellident in India elected as a local board of management, after which two shareholders were appointed auditors. Thanks were then voted to the Noble Chairman, and the meeting terminated. LAW INTELLIGENCE. QUEEN'S BENCH, April 29. EX PARTE NASH IN RE THE WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICKLOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY COMPANY. Mr. KEANE moved for a rule calling upon theWater ford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway Com pany, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue commanding them to take off from the register of shareholders the seal affixed thereto at the 7th ordinary meeting of the company ; or, in the alterna tive, for a rule to show cause why a criminal informa tion should not be filed against the Eirl Courtown for certain misdemeanours at that meeting. Lord CAMPBELL inquired of the Learned Counsel whether there was any precedent for such an alterna tive motion. Mr. KEANE said he was unable to cite any, and that he would confine his motion to the first manda mus. The object of the application was to ascertain whether the shareholders had any voice in authenti cating the register of shareholders. Lord CAMPBELL.—Is there any clause in the Act (the Companies' Clauses Consolidation Act) which says that the seal shall be removed? Mr. KEANE said there was not. Mr. Justice ERLE—The sealed register is only prima facie evidence of a person's being a shareholder. Mr. KEANE said that though a party might defend himself from liability in an action, there were other rights and privileges which might be prejudiced. Mr. Justice ERLE—Is your grievance that you have been improperly placed en the list, or that others have been put on ? Mr. KEANE said the complaint was that persons had been improperly placed on the sealed register. Lord CAMPBELL said he had no doubt upon this question, and the rule must be refused. The Court would order an act to be done where the law imposed a duty which the party refused to perform, but there was no precedent for the Court's orde ring a thing done to be undo ne . Th e Court would o rder a seal to be affixed, but no mandamus h ad ever issued to tear a seal from off the parchment. That would be a stretch of the authority of the Court, and he (Lord Campbell) would not give his sanction to the experiment now made. The rest of the Court having expressed similar opi nions, the rule was refused. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, April 29. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS and a Bench of Magistrates.) The Court sat to-day at Clerkenwell to take paro chial appeals and appeals against convictions by ins ., gistrates. There were seventy-one entered for bearing. THE ESTREATBD RECOGNISANCES OF LOLA 2.IOIITEe BAIL. Henry Daniel Davies and Daniel Davies appealed against an order made by Peregr in e Bingham, Esq., one of the magistrates of the Marlborough -street police-court, for the payment by them of two sums of 5001., the amount of recognisances entered into by them for the appearance before the said magistrate of Maria Dolores Comtesse de Landsfe ld (Lola Montez), who was accused of bigamy, and failed to surrender. The order was made in October last. When the case was called on a document was handed to the Deputy-Clerk of the Peace, signed by Messrs. Davies, Son, and Campbell, Warwick-street, Regent-street, solicitors for the appellants, in which they consented to th e appea l b e i ng dismissed, the appellants paying the costs. The Learned JUDGE said, that as far as the ques tion involved in the appeal went, this was satisfactory, but he could not receive it, except through counsel. Mr. CLARKsorr and Mr. BODKIN, who had respec tively represented the parties in the matter, said that they had not been instructed on this particular occa sion to take any step whatever. The Learned JUDGE intimated that under the circumstances he would allow time for the appellants to give their consent through counsel. THE ARGYLL ROOMS. According to arrangements made on Friday l as t, M. Laurent, sen., came t o the court this day and en tered into the required recognisances of 2001. to ap pear when required to meet the indictment preferred against him and three other persons named at the last court, for keeping open a room for music and dancing. The rest of the day was occupied in hearing ap peals on the question of the settlement of paupers, --- -` ti THE SUN, LONDON, but the details were entirely destitute of public interest. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BO W-STREET. Charles Stanley, a tall, well-dressed man, about forty, was placed in the felons' dock, charged with defrauding Heber Louton of 101. A solicitor who attended for the complainant, stated, that his client had answered an advertisement " For a clerk and messenger," who was required to deposit 101. with his employer as a security. Appli cation was made to the defendant. The money was paid, an agreement was signed, and the complainant entered upon the supposed duties of his office, which soon proved frivolous and indefinite. He was unable to obtain any salary, and the defendant refused to re fund the 10/. The complainant soon discovered that a great many young men, chiefly from the country, had been imposed upon in a similar way. The " agreement was then handed up to the magis trate. It appeared that the complainant's duties were to commence from the Ist of April, 1850, at the defendant's offices, in Kingsgate-street, Holborn. It was stated that the defendant had assumed several names. Mr. HALL, after looking at the agreement, said that this was one of those cases in which the injured party was driven to a civil remedy. The agreement was drawn up, as he expected, in a most artful man ner, to prevent liability to criminal proceedings; and consequently there was no ground for retaiuing the defendant in custody. He (Mr. Hall) was fully sen sible of the scandalous frauds which were prac tised by these men, and recently, in several cases, redress had been obtained in the county courts. But it was difficult to provide a law for the pro tection of people who would not take the slight est pains to protect themselves ; who made no in quiries, sought no references, but at once reposed confidence in strangers, and believed every word that was said by them. The solicitor stated that there was a young man present who, duped by one of these advertisements, bad come with his wife and children 120 miles, and had exhausted there entire means in paying the de posit and the travelling expenses. They were now destitute. _ _ _ vw The prisoner was discharged amid the execrations of the people present. MURDEROUS ATTACK. —Daniel Donovan, black smith and pugilist, was charged with a murderous attack upon his wife early on Sunday morning. The prisoner has been repeatedly charged with drunken and disorderly conduct at this court, and was lately bound over to keep the peace towards Blun dell, the summoning officer, whose life he had threatened. The prisoner's wife has been also fre quently before the magistrates; both having led for years past a life of dissipation. Mary Burt, who lodged with Donovan and his family in the same room, at 19, Short's-gardens, de posed that she found the prisoner and his wife drunk and quarrelling on returning home shortly before one o'clock on Sunday morning. Their children, a little boy and girl, were both in the room ; the former sit ting up in the bed, which was upon the floor. Wit ness told the wife she had been drinking, and begged her not to answer the prisoner, knowing what his temper was, She made no reply, but went on "jawing," and called him a filthy name. The pri soner then rushed towards her and knocked her down with his fists, kicking her after she was upon the floor. Mrs. Donovan called to witness to save her, but the prisoner said if she inter fered he would serve her so too, at the same time calling her by a bad name and pushing her against the wall. Witness ran out of the room, and was followed by Catherine Donovan. They stood at the door about a quarter of an hour, hoping they would " quell ." but the quarrel continued, and they heard the wife exclaiming, " Oh, murder police ! I am a dead woman !" After a time witness walked towards Long-acre, looking for a policeman, and as she was returning she saw several constables and a mob run ning towards Short's-gardens. She knew something had happened, and consequently followed the police. There was a mob outside the prisoner's door, and wit ness was told that the prisoner had thrown his wife out of window. Witness afterwards saw him in cus tody. Witness had often seen the Donovans quarrel ling and fighting before. She had seen the prisoner strike his wife with a poker repeatedly. He was nearly always drunk. She was fond of a " little drink," but upon the whole witness considered her a sober woman By the prisoner—About five weeks ago all of us (witness and the Donovans) were "in the drink" for two days. Witness had never heard Mrs. Dono van say that she once threw herself out of a window in Bedfordbury. Mr. Wood, the house-surgeon of King's College Hospital, stated that Ann Donovan was received into the institution, on Sunday morning, insensible. She had a depressed fracture on the right side of her fore head, the eyes were closed up, the face much bruised and swollen and covered with blood ; the left knee pan was also fractured. She became sensible in a few hours, and remained so throughout the day, com plaining of pain in her side and stomach. Witness had very slight hope of her recovery, considering that her life was endangered by the fracture of the skull, which was occasioned by a fall or a violent blow with a hard instrument. Mr. HALL remanded the prisoner for a week. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. A certificate was banded to Mr. Bingham from the medical attendant of Mr. Thomas Bolt, who was struck on the face with a loaded stick, in Hyde-park, last week, by Captain Conrad Montgomery, which stated that Mr. Bolt was not yet sufficiently reco vered to be able to give evidence against his assailant. Mr. Bodkin, who appeared for the defendant, of course must acquiesce in a further postponement of the case ; but, in justice to his client, who appeared in an unfavourable light before the public from what had been published in the papers, he thought he was bound to state that at the proper period he should be prepared with evidence to prove that Captain Mont gomery had not struck Mr. Rolt in self-defence until he had first received two blows from Mr. Bolt. The stick with which he retaliated on Mr. Bolt was a light cane with some lead under the silver knob. It was a cane which his client usually carried with him to as sist him in walking, he having been an invalid, and was by no means of the formidable character which it had been represented to be. The case was adjourned for a week. THAMES. Mr. WilliamTruddington, the master of the barque Mary Ann, appeared for the second time before Mr. Yardley, to show cause why he refused payment of 17!. 16s. Bd. wages, earned by Isaac Bowers, a man of colour and a native of Antigua, for services as steward on a voyage from Glasgow to Boston and Charleston to the United States, and back to London, under articles of agreement. It will be recollected that payment of the wages was refused by the master when he was first before the Magistrate, on the ground that the complainant, who is a British subject, had been taken out of the ship at Charleston by the authorities there because he was a coloured man, and imprisoned for two months in the common gaol, to prevent his having 6 any communication with the slave population, and that he had been charged 20/. by thesheeriffgaeflo.r Mr. maintenance of the seaman while he was i Yardley, after expressing his surprise at such an out rage on the liberty of the subject, said the wages must be paid, notwithstanding the man had been taken to prison, and the expenses incurred, because there was no stipulation in the articles to exempt the ship from the liability. The master then requested an adjournment to obtain further advice, and also to produce the agreement and the accounts. Mr. Pelham, who appeared for the seaman, said he now understood the wages would be paid without any further opposition ' • but there was some dispute as to the value of the dollars advanced to the complainant at Boston and Charleston. He put the value of the American dollar at 4s. only. Mr. YARDLEY — It is more than that—it is worth 4s. 2d. at least. Mr. Waddington said he had to draw upon Eng land and pay interest for the money he had obtained in America, and he charged the complainant 4s. 9d. per dollar. The price of the English sovereign in America ranged from four dollars and a few cents to four dollars and 2.5 cents and four dollars 80 cents at various times. Mr- YARDLEY said that was a :great range indeed. He always thought the exchanges between England and America were pretty nearly equal. He would allow the mast er to charge 4s. 6d., or 3/. 7s. 61 for the 15 dollars advanced to the steward at Boston and C \ a i r r l e . s Wad. dington said he would rather give the man money than take it from him, but it certainly wageswas ta s a e n r d i 0119 201. loss besides to for r e exithpiensetiwPhaTl two e themonths' steward d remained in prison. If he wen t b ack to the Uni.e States he should get into seri ous t rou b le in conse quence of what had taken place in that court and the exposure in the newspapers relating to slavery in America. Mr. YARDLEY—Oh no, you won't. You have got immortalized by coming here and stating what you did. Air. Waddington—They will cut the masts out of my ship whenever I reach Charleston, or any other port of a slave -holding State in America. v Mr. YARDLEY -ob, no, no . you can go there again with safety. Mr. Waddington—lndeed I cannot, Sir. A discussion then ensued relating to the time the steward left the vessel in this port, the master con tending that he did not come on boardafter be th e e rd l9 ti t l h i instant, while the steward said he was on the 22d ; and this point being decided by the wages being calculated up to the 20th, Mr. Waddington said the steward was telling falsehoods. The dollars were not advanced at Charles ton only, as the complainant stated, but at Boston and Charleston. The steward laid he signed the arti- cies on the 19th of August at Glasgow, and " it was no such thing." Mr. YARDLEY—The contract will prove when it was signed. Let me see it. The articles of agree ment were handed to the Magistrate, who ascertained that the articles were dated on the 17th of August, and the steward would be entitled to two days' more wages. Mr. Waddington—He has sworn falsely—he said the 19th. Mr. YARDLET—Nonsense, man ; it don't show much common sense to catch the man up in that manner. You exhibited more sense when you were here the other day. Mr. Waddington—l have got as much sense as many other men have. Mr. YARDLEY—Come, sir, don't be impertinent. I will not suffer it. Mr. Waddington—" I cannot go back to any slave holding state in America. If Ido my ship will be scuttled, or the masts taken out." He then held a short conversation with Mr. Pelham, and said " he would not pay the wages up to the 20th of April, for the man had not been regularly discharged ;" and the solicitor said, " If he did not he would obtain a dis tress warrant and seize the ship." Mr. Waddington then took up his papers, and as he was going away said, " D—n it, I wish we were all slaves, seamen, magistrates, and all." An order for the paymentof 111. 14s. 61, after giv ing the captain credit for advances, was made. SOUTHWARK. Jane Butler was brought before Mr. Ingham for re-examination, charged with stealing 50 sovereigns, a 101. Bank of England note, and some ancient coins, the property of Isaac Buckmaster, of Norris's building!, Snow's-field!, Southwark ; and Ann Gil lingham, a brothel-keeper, in Bluegate-fields, St. George's-in-the-East, was charged with receiv ing a portion of the money, knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. INGHAM said that he should commit both the prisoners for trial. Butler was obliged to be carried out of court as she was in such a debilitated condition. FRANCE. The following are publiihed by the National as the votes of the army : GARRISON OF CAROBS. Sao ... ... 7 I Leclerc ... ... 5 ARRAS. Sue ... ... 62 I Leclerc ... ... 12 DIJON. Sue ... ... 52 I Leclerc ... ... 13 MONTMEDY. Sue ... .....13 I Leclerc ... ... 1 Toe Napoleon publishes the decrees of the First Consul after the 18th Brumaire with the following introduction:— The epoch at which the First Consul assumed the direction of affairs resembles in many respects the present period. It is not, then, entirely useless to examine the manner in which France accepted his domination. Nothing can better indicate that manner than the study of the decrees and ordinances published since the day when France entrusted him with power. They establish the most remarkable analogy between those times and the days we now live in." A second article is entitled " Les Precedents." " For new times," it says, " we must have new men, who have nothing to do with The past, and who are not dragging after them the weight of Ministerial or Parliamentary precedents. Beyond that all is peril, obstacle, impossibility. With the veterans of the Monarchical regime we stumble at every step on an act, on a speech, and instead of facing the difficulties of the present we waste our time in a stern debate on the past. On every side we re gard the past, while the present occupies all minds; our eyes are always cast back, while France looks full in front. Yet France spoke high in the election of the 10th of December. She entered resolutely on a new line, and no one ought to hesitate to follow her who is disengaged from the thraldom of precedents. Each epoch supplies its men. The people, inspired by an admirable in stinct, have found in their President the man of the situ ation. The President, inspired in turn by a popular senti ment, has already found, and will again if ne2d be, the men to co-operate with him in his patriotic en terpriae. History never repeats itself, but in the succession of events which comprise the life of a people there are analogies it is necessary to be acquainted with in order to deduce the benefical consequences they involve. The Consular period presents with our time a certain resemblance which should not be lightly treated when we call to mind the immense results al most instantaneously obtained by the powerful genius who undertook the mission of saving France. Scarcely was he in possession of power, when General Bona parte composed his Ministry. Who were his men ? Cambaceres, the profound legist, who on the benches of the Plain had let politics pass by without touching them; Talleyrand, who shone for a moment under the Constituante to vanish in presence of the revolution ary tempest. Feud& a Montagnard all but effaced and little compromised, but whom he wanted in order to become acquainted with men; Laplace, the illustrious savant; Gardin, the modest financier, whose talents for administration was his only merit; Berthier, his faithful Chief of the Staff, &a. All these men, who have become historical personages, were free from engagements of the past; and we all know with what intelligence, what ar dour they seconled their glorious chief in his work, so wonderfully carried on, of pacification and social re-or ganization." AMERICAN NEWS. We have been favoured with the following intelli gence, purporting to have been for warded by electric telegraph from New York to Halifax, and received at the North American and European Telegraph Agency-office, Liverpool : " We have just received our extraordinary telegra phic dispatch from New York, New Orleans, and Washington, rid electric telegraph to Halifax, bring ing news and dates considerably later than those brought by the regular files and advices per steamer. By this means of communication our advices extend to New Orleans, April 18, 5 r.m. ; New York, April 19, 5 P.M. ; and from Washington to the evening of the 18th. " The letter of our Halifax agent is as follows : "Commercial Telegraph-office, Halifax, N.S., April 19, 11 o'clock P.M. - - "We have received, through the Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Halifax lines, exclusive intelligence from all parts cf the American continent two and a-halt days later than is embraced in the letters or papers that go to England by this week's steamer, a brief summary of which is herewith forwarded:— ' POLITICAL. "In the Senate of the United States, on the 17th, during a debate on California and slavery, a violent altercation occurred between Benton and Foote, in the course of which Foote drew a pistol and aimed at Ben ton. Foote was immediately disarmed, and a com• mitten of investigation appointed. "On the 18th, a resolution was passed in the Senate referring the whole question of California and the terri tories to a committee of 13, to report a plan for com promise. " The committee is not yet appointed. "It is settled the Cabiaet will not be dissolved. "COMMERCIAL "NEW YORK, APRIL 19, EVENING. "Cotton—The sales of the two days past amount to 2,800 bales, at very full yrices. The weather has con tinued cold and frosty, and every account received from the south is`disastrous as regards the prospects of plant ing. The incoming crop will not, it is confidently be lieved, reach 2,000,000 bales, and the country will hold over the balance of the present crop. " A decline of /c. is anticipated on receipt of the steamer's news from Europe of the 6th of April, which has not yet come to hand. " The New Orleans market was active last evening (18th of April). Sales, 8,000 bales, at I lie. to 1 lie. for middling; and all southern markets are higher for the shipper than this. " Flour—Our market for flour is very firm at quota tions current on Tuesday. " Corn has advanced to 60c. for yellow. " Provisions—Mess pork, 10 dolls. 12ic. to 10 dolls. 25c. per cwt. Other articles are without change. " Sterling exchange, pic. to 'ie. premium, and the tendency is upwards. " Government securities (American) are very firm at quotations of Tuesday last." The stock Ali mEaltrkjetefikorNsouMndA di ß vid li e E d TS. n -paying s tocks improved after the arrival of the last steamer from Liverpool, and sales h ave been made at those obtained for som e years. T h e pr i ces supply ces beyond that description of stock is not large, and a of demands produce an advance of one i m po rtanttw or o per cent. The New York Five per Cent. State L of 1866, taken a few days since at 105} per cent.,oan has been since sold at 106! per ce n t., an d f o the Sixes of 1867, 120 was bid. The money market is easy on call, and rates for paper are ameliorating •, some loans on call were made at 5 per cent., and on Govern ment bills money can be occasionally borrowed at 4 per cent. The supply seeking temporary investment is quite large. The supply of first-class names is not very large. The exchange market has been active for this steamer,with moderate supply. At the close, however, there was less firmness, and some bills were left over. The amount of coin in the Sub-Treasury is 4} millions, and in the Sub- Treasury of the country about 9 millions. The banks are amply supplied also. The provision market is firm, but not very active. Freights continue very dull at low rates; di ad weights can be shipped to Liverpool at 10s. to 125., corn 3d., cotton 3s. sterling per bale. The steamer At lantic has 300 tons dead weight on private terms. To Hine, I cent. for cotton, and dull; Glasgow 56 tierces provision, at 3s. 6d. Pig iron is dull at 21 dollars cash for Sectch, English, and Spanish. Lead is selling at 85 oath per 1001 b. • Cotton—The stock in the ports on April 16 was 570,000, and inland 117,800, making a total of 687,800 bales. Midland, upland, and Mobile, 11:1 cents, Or leans 12 cents per lb. Sales since 31st March, 12,000 bales, market active, tendency upwards; sales 16th of April, 2,000 bales. •Bread.Stu6lllour market is firm and low; goods have an upNard tendency. Whcat is steady and in good inquiry. NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 16.—Tho Cotton market pre sents no important change, an the sales yesterday were 2,500 bales; fair, 121 c. The receipts are 247,000 ba!es behind same period last year. TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL . 30, 1850. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 29. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. WEST INDIA APPEALS BILL. EArl GREY moved the second reading of this Bill, The object was to form courts of appeal in the West Indian islands in order to save the delay which occurred is bringing appeals to this country.—Agreed to. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION. We have received files of papers from Adelaide to the 24th December inclusive. On Friday, the 21st December, a great public meeting was held in the Exchange, Adelaide, in accordance with a requisition of the Sheriff of the Province, C. B. Newenham, Esq., to adopt resolutions and appoint a committee to pre pare petitions to both Houses of Parliament on the subject of the proposed new constitution. Many of the shops were shut, and business was altogether sus pended during the progress of the meeting. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted : " Proposed by Mr. J. H. Fisher, and seconded by Mr. G. S. Kingston : " 1. That the Bill laid before Parliament, entitled, A Bill for the better government of her Majesty's Australian colonies,' so far as it relates to the colony of South Australia, meets the wishes and wants of the co lonists in mo't of its most essential provisions; and by recommending the concession of a representative Go vernment with such extensive powers, deserves to be re garded as a wise, liberal, and comprehensive measure; and that the thanks of the colonists aro due to the Right Hon. Earl Grey, Secretary for the Colonies, and to Mr. Hawes, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Labouchere, the Members of the House of Commons who prepared and brought in the Bill. " Proposed by Mr. Samuel Davenport, and seconded by Mr. Ge3rge Elder:— " 2. That the formation of a general assembly of the Australian colonies, however desirable on the majority of matters proposed to be left to the decision of such As sembly, is in principle, as in form, a federal union; is, in a British sense, unconstitutional, as morally opposed to the social institution of the colony, and endangering our colonial independence. " Proposed by Mr. G. A. Anstey, and seconded by Mr. A. H. Davis:— "3. That the resolutions recently passed by the Le gislative Council, recommending a second chamber, do not represent the opinions nor convey the sentiment of the colonists, particularly as the proposed Act confers all needful powers for amending the constitution, and adapting it to future exigencies; and that any provision which should enforce upon the colonists a system of life nominees is such a chamber, this meeting deprecates as an int )lerable evil, which might neutralise all the good to be anticipated from the proposed measure. " Proposed by Mr. F. S. Dutton, and seconded by Mr. G. M. Waterhouse:— "4. The colonists being prepared as heretofore to bear the whole expenses of their civil government, con sider that they have a constitutional right to regulate, by means of their representives in Council, the mode of raising and of appropriating the colonial revenue, free from all direction and control by her Majesty's Trea sury, or by the Commissioners of Customs; and they further consider that the local Government should have the power of appointing all officers of Government, and that the salaries should be fixed by the c' lonial legis lature. " Proposed by Mr. J. B. Montefiore, and seconded by Mr. W. Peacock:— " 1. That this meeting considers the provisions in the Sydney Act, fixing the qualifications of members of the proposed representative council, and of the electors, in applicable to the circumstances of the colony; and that power should be, therefore, given t) the local legislature to qualify such provisions as they may see fit. " Pcoposed by Mr. Wns. Blyth, and seconded by Mr. Samuel Stocks:— " 6. That a copy of the resolutions passed at this met t ing, and signed by the chairman, be forwarded to EArl Grey; and that the following gentlemen be appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, to pre pare Petitions to both Houses of Parliament embodying these resolutions, requesting his Excellency the Lieu. tenant Governor to forward the same with the least pot sibls delay:— "J. H. Fisher, E. Stephens, A. H. Davis, John Brown, G. S. Kingston, S. Davenport, R. D. Hanson, Geo. Elder, G. A. Austey, S. Stocks, jun., John Baker." A vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation. IRELAND. BIRTH-PLACE OF " THE DUKE." DUBLIN, SATURDAY.—Mr. Murray, one cf the resident masters of Trinity College, Dublin, has pub lished a brochure, in which he sets at rest the moot point of the birth-place of the Duke of Wellington. One might think there was little ground for specula tion in such a case, seeing that his Grace's mother is only a few years dead, supposing (which is extremely unlikely) that his Grace himself should be ignorant of the fact. Strange enough that the biographers of the Duke i pf Wellington differ on the subject. Burke and Maxwell record the birth of his Grace as having occurred on the Ist of May, 1769, at Dungan Castle, in the county of Meath ; and Gurwood and Lodge assent expressly to the time and tacitly to the place. Mr. Murray has discovered a piece of evidence which he deems conclusive of the fact that Dublin may henceforth claim the honour of being the birth-place of the conqueror of Napoleon. In a Dublin news paper, published on Saturday, the 6th of May, 1769, entitled the Public Register, or Freeman's Journal, there is the following '.)rief announcement " BIRTH.--In Me'r - rim-street. the Right Hon. the Countess of Mornington \bf a son." Mr. Murray maintains that the house in which this event occurred is that at present occupied by the likclesiastical Commis3ioners, and in support of his assertion refers to the following passage in Lord Cloncurry's " Ricolleetions" : " I graduated in the arta in the year 1791; as it hap pened, upon the day on which my father entertained the Lord• Lieutenant (the Eirl of Westmoreland) for the first time, at Mornington House, a residence in Mer rion-street, which he had purchased from the late Mar quis Wellesley." The late Lord Cloncurry paid as purchase-money for this house the sum of 8,0001. Next, as to the date of his Grace's birth, Mr. Mur.. ray adduces one fact to prove it occurred on the 29th of April, 1769, and another that he was actually baptised on the following day; therefore the Ist of May must be erroneous. Esshare's Gentleman's Magazine, in the number for May, 1769, has the following : " BIRTH.-April 29, the Countess of Mornington of a son." In the parish registry of St. Peter's Church, on a page headed " Christenings, 1769," is this entry i— " April 30, Arthur, son of the Right Hon. Earl and Countess of Mornington." It is here to be noted that the east side of Upper Merrion-street was then, as it is now, included in the parish of St. Peter. We can assure the English reader that he is not prouder of his Stratford•on-Avon than his Irish neighbour shall be of the house in Merrion-street, the birth-place of the duke of Wellington. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. The following is the official statement of the quantities of corn, &c., received in the port of London from the ports in Essex, from the 22d April, 1850, to the 27th April, 1850, both inclusive : 1 , 4 i f , ,-,-.: :I 1 g . 3 l a --- - - Colchester llo ', — 220 55 350 Harwich Leigh Maldon .. 648, 16 356 130 103 bOO HAnDINGTox, Aran. 26.—The following are the prices of grain at our market to-day :-- Wheat. 1 Barley. Oats. Beans._ First ... ... 39s Od 24s Od 19s Od 28 s Od Second ... ... 35s 10d 22i 61 .7s 4d 233 8d Third ... .. 323 Od 121 s ad 114 s 01 1 223 Od Total quantity of Wheat in market 408 qrs., 386 sold Do. Barley do. 235 qrs., 152 sold Do. Oats do. 298 qrs., 255 sold Do. Beans do. 175 qrs., 172 sold KIRKALDY, APRIL 27.—The following are the quotations up to this date:— Wheat. First 40s Od Second 383 Od Third 32s Od Barley. Oath. Beans. Peas. 22s Od 193 Od —s Od —s Od 193 Od 18s Od —s Od —5 Od 16s 6d 14s 8d —s Od —s Od _ _ . Oatmeal, ner bag of 2801 b is imperial, 24s to Os Od. GLASGOW, APRIL 24.—Provisions—Cheese, OOs to 00s Od per cwt • retail, Od to Od per lb. Skim milk, Os Od to Os per cwt. Country fresh butter, 10d to lOid per lb. Irish pow dered, in lumps, 9d to Od; country powdered, wholesale, Bid to 9d. Country eggs, 8d per dozen ; carried hen ditto, 4s 10d per 120, or 6d per dozen. Hens, 38 Od per pair; Ducks, 2s 6d. STIRLING, APRIL 26.—Wheat, foreign, 20s to 23s ; ditto, home, Os to Os; ditto ditto new, 165 6 d to 20 s Od; barley, per boll of 6 bushls, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto new, 14s 3d to 18s Od. Oats, common, Os Od to Os Od; ditto new, lOs Od to 12 , 3d; ditto, Flemish, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto ditto new, Os Od; malt, distillers, 32s Od to 34. ; ciitto brewers , 355 0 d to 36 s ; beans per boll, Os 6d to Os Od ; ditto new, 115 Od to 13s 6d ; p ease 13s to 00s; flour, new per sack, 31s 6d to 32s 6d; ditto common ditto, 20s Od to 22s ed; oatmeal, per load, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto new 23, 6d to 255 6d ; ditto per peck of 71bs, 7d to 8d ; fresh butter per lb, Od to Od; eggs per dozen, 7d to 8d; hay per ton, Os to Os. Kam°, APRIL 21.—Wheat, old, Os to Os ; ditto, new, 24s to 29s Od ; barley, new, 12s to 16s Od ; ditto old, Os to Os ; potato oats, 00s to 00s ; ditto new, lOs to 13s Od ; common oats 00s to 00s Od; ditto new, OOs to 00s Od; peas, 18. Od to 00 0 Od; beans, 18. to 00s per boll of six imperial bushels. PERTH ) APRIL 26.—Wheat, 34s Od to 31s Od ; barley, 17s Od to 19s Od ; o a ts, 14s to 16 s ; peas and beans, 20s Od to 24s per quarter. Oatmeal, per sack, 220 to 24 5. B s, l 13s aw 6d , ; rye iit cAPRIL 0205 s Od ; .—W hebaeta,n33o, 24s Od ; peas, 00 s Od 5 41c1; barley, 18 s lop ; oat average per imp er i a l' quarter. FALKIRK, APRIL 25. —The supply of grain in this day's market was 388 bolls; wheat at 165 9d to 19s Od per ball. ; barley, 16s Od to 18s Od ; oats, 12, 6(1 to 135 6d; beans, 12, 6d to 14. 6d pe r b o ll ; oatmeal, Os to Os per load. 14s 6d Belmont ~ HartleyC OAL MARKET.--YESTERDAY. 14s 6d Haswell Tanfield Moor . l3s 6d Lumley ranfield Moor Butes... 13 s 03 Whitwell .. C H a o k i r y well Walker's Primrose ... 12s 6d fleugh Hall West Hartley Wylam Wall's End, &c. Uaclean's Ten Acorn Close Brown's.. Bowicke and Co. Brown's Gas . Gibson ocl Hartley . l3s 9J 12s 6d Hunwiek Coke 2os 6d Igs OdSidney's Hartley Original Gibson Riddell's ..... ...... 143 3d -- Ships at market, 136. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of New South Wales. PETITION. Lord LYTTELTON presented a petition praying for a restoration of convocation; also a petition against any alteration in the law which should authorise marriage with a decea3ed wife's sister. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several petitions against the Sale of Beer Act, and against marriage with a deceased wife's sister. The Earl of GLENGALL presented a petition from soma place in Ireland against Post-office Sunday labour. The Earl of LANESBOROUGFI presented several petitions against the national system of education in Ireland, and praying for a grant to Church schools. The Earl of YAiiBOROUGH presented several peti tions against Post-office Sunday labour._ FISHERIES IN SCOTLAND BILL. The Marquis of ARGYLE introduced a Bill for re gulating the, fisheries in Scotland, which was read a first tale. IRISH POOR-LAW. The Earl of LUCAN presented a petition, complaining of the misconduct of the vice-gcardians of the union of Mohill, and inquired whether the Government during the present session proposed any amendment of the law in respect of the appointment of vice guardians in Ire land. The Noble Rut went at great length into details regarding the receipt and expenditure of the union of Mohill for the purpose of supporting the allegations of the petition, and denounced the law as most arbitrary. He admitted that the Lord-Lieutenant had done all in his power to check abuse, but that was impossible, and ho therefore thought the time had arrived for a revision of the law, and he thought the Government ought to take the earliest op portunity in their power to alter it, and he asked the Noble Marquis if it was their intention to introduce any measure to alter the law! He moved that the petition be referred to the Select Committee on the Irish Poor law. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was not prepared to state what were the intentions of her Majesty's Govern ment. The Marquis of WESTMEATH expressed his regret at the answer which the Noble Marquis had given to the question of his Noble Friend. The Earl of MOUNTCASHELL asked if it was the intention cf the Government to permit the present state of things to continue? If they did so intend, where was the use of the Committee of the last year, which had sat for four months? The Members of that Committee had, it would appear, merely wasted their time. The solvent people were all quitting the country. TITLES OF RELIUIOUS CONGREGATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The report on the amendments to this Bill was brought up. PAPERS. Tho Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the law of marriages in Eng'and. Their Lordships then aojouraed. HOUSE OF CO,VIMONS„4priI 29. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four C)'Clock, Mr. PALMER. moved that Mr. &latent' be allowed to at'end and vote in the Committee on the Bradford Improvement, Police, and Purchase and Closing of Bradford Canal Bill, notwithstanding that he did not sign the prescribed declaration before the chairman took the chair, provided he sign such declaration forthwith. Leave granted. PETITIONS. Mr. HODGES presented a petition praying the House to pass some measure which should have the effect of reducing the armaments of the country. Mr. THORNELT presented a similar petition from Alfre ton. Mr. ANDERSON and Lord DUNCAN also presented petitions to a similar effect. Mr. C. LUSHJNGTON presented a petition praying the House to grant some effective health Bill. Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from Bristol against the union of Church and State. Sir H. H. INGLIS presented a petition from certain individuals, wives, mothers, sisters, and faithful subjects of her Majesty, praying the House to reject the Mar riagn Act. Mr. Bateson from an Irish congregation, Mr. Duncan from Arbroath, and Mr. Hsstie presented petitions to a similar effect. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition from Gainsborough against the Merchant Marine Bill. Mr. 0. DUNCOMBE presented a petition in favour of the scheme of secular education. Mr. HILDYARD presented a petition from White haven in favour of a measure for the suppression of beer houses. Mr. ADAIR presented a petition from Suffolk against certain cluuses in the Railway Act. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the Chairman and Committee of the Anti-Church and State Associa tion, praying the House to pass some measure fur the dissolution of the union of Church and State. Sir B. HALL presented a petition praying the House to pass some measure of sanitary reform. Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition from St. Martin's-in-the-Fields av,ainst intramural interments. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented a similar petition from Clerkenwell. Mr. COCKBURN presented three petitions from the corporation of Southampton—one against the Bankruptcy Act, one in favour of the payment of magistrates' clerks by salaries, and another in favour of the Burgess's Act. Petitions were presented against Sunday labour in the Post-office from numerous places—by Mr. W. Patten from Garstan,c; ; Mr. Fuller, from Sussex; Mr. 0. Duu combe; Mr. Tatton Egerton, from Alderley ; Mr Deeded, Mr. O'Flsherty, Lord llotham, Sir R, H. Inglis (3), Mr. Plumptre, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Christopher (2), Capt. Bateson (3), Lord Duncan, from Bath; Mr. Scott, from Coldstream, and Mr. Cockburn, from Titchfield. Mr. SCOT I' presented a petition from Dumfries pray ing that the House would not sanction any interference with the Scotch system of education. Lord H. VANE presented a petition from Stockton in favour of international arbitration. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented a petition from certain depositors in the Rochdale Savings' Bank complaining of the recent defalcations, and praying the House to take steps to prevent a recurrence of such an evil; and a similar petition from the guadians of Roch dale. Alderman THOMPSON presented a petition com plaining of agricultural distress. Mr. SADLEIR presented a petition from Carlow praying for an alteration of the spirit duties. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Montrose against the Marine Bill; also a petition from Arbroath praying for an amendment of the Poor-law ; also a petition from the proprietors, printers, and publishers of the Montrose Standard against taxes on knowledge; also a petition from St. James's in favour of the Inter. meats Bill; and a :petition in favour of international arbitration. . _ Mr. FORBES presented a petition from a place in the county of Fife against the litirriago Bill. Sir EDWARD BUY roN presented a petition from Sr. Andrew's, Bethnal-green, in favour of a health of towns' Bill. MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR. Colonel SALWEY postponed his motion until the 21st of May for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the case of the Military Knights of Windsor. Mr. E. DENISON gave notice that on bringing up the report on the Australian Colonies Bill he would more an amendment to the effect that the legislature of each colony should have the management of waste lands within such colony. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE CROWN. Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on an early day he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to enable parties to proceed against the Crown, either in law or equity, without the consent of the Crown. AMENDMENTS ON GOING INTO COMMITTEES OF SUPPLY. Mr. ANSTEY gave notice that, on Thursday next, he would move a resolution to the effect, that where notice was given of any amendment on the question for going into Committee of Supply, or Ways and Means, each amendment should come on for discussion in its re• gular order, and that no debate on the original question should take place until such amendment bad been dis posed of. SUNDAY ARRANGEMENTS IN THE POST OFFICE. Mr. FAGAN asked the Secretary of the Treasury whether it was intended to extend to the post-offices in Ireland the regulations existing in the provincial offices in England, as respects Sunday duties, namely, that they should be closed on the Sundays from ten A.M. to five P 2.1„ except for the necessary receipt and dispatch of mails, the box merely being left open for the receipt of stamped and unpaid letters; and if so intended, when was it probable that the alteration in this respect would be made? Mr. HAYTER said that, when the original arrangement was made for the reduction of Sunday labour in the Post-office, it was in the contem plation of the parties who suggested it to extend the arrangement both to Ireland and Scotland, at the first convenient opportunity, provided it should be successful. So far as the measure bad been carried out in England he (Mr. Hayter) believed it mct with universal approbation, though a good deal of mis apprehension had existed on the subject. Inquiries had lately been instituted by the Postmaster-General, with the view of carrying out a similar arrangement in Ireland and Scotland, and those inquiries having ter minated, he had made an application to the Treasury for its sanction to enable him to carry the new regulations into immediate effect, and that sanction bad been ob tained. THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. B. OSBORNE begged to ask the Hon. Member for Lancaster, the Chief Commissioner for building the New Houses of Parliament—(A. laugh)—a question. The House would probably be aware that a Committee of this House sat in 1846, and they made a report that they were convinced that so long as certain squabbles between Mr. Wary, the architect, and Dr. Reid, the ventilator, continued, the Houses of Parliament would never bid Eished.—(Laughter.) He begged to ask the Hoe. Member (Mr. Greene) whether he had succeeded in adjusting those squabbles, and whether be was aware that an action was about to be commenced in one of the courts of law by the architect against the venti lator?—(RNnewed laughter.) Mr. GREENE said 11 , ,, was certainly aware there was an action Fending between Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid, but happily that subject had not come within the pro vince of the Commissioners ; but their beet endea vours had been applied, of course, to reconcile the differences between those pal:ties, without, how ever, their eines 'riving "hem successful. The Commissioners were obliged to carry on the works as well as they possibly could— <A laugh)—but certainly it was no easy mater to arr: urge maters between the contending parties.—(Wear, h( )sr.) Mr. B. OSBORNIJ gave n Mice that on an early day he should call the at , :entiau of the House to the desira bility of getting rid of be ,th Mr. Barry and Dr. iteid.—(Loud cheers.) EVICTIONS IN GALWAY. Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that to-morrow he would ask the Secretary of Sta to for Ireland whether be was aware that as many as 51 8 ejectment processes had been served in a single day in die county of Galway, by which 30,000 persons had bee)), driven in oue day from their homes?—(dear, hear.) And whether the system of ejections was not illegal, and: a high crime and tnisae rneanour by the ancient comm on law of Irealand. REDUCTION OF OFFICIAL SALARIES. Mr. MILNER GIBSON asked the Member for Ox fordshire whether he meant to proceed with his motio❑ to-morrow with reference to ti ie reductio❑ of salaries? M. HENLEY said it, was certainly his intention► to proceed with his motion to-morrow. The exsct terms of his motion would be printed,, and be in the bands of members to-morrow morning, but it would not (lifer ni,Lterially from the motion no w on the votes. IMPRISONMENT OF A , 7,'OLOURED BRITISH SUBJECT AT CHA.RLESTON, U. S. Mr. COCKBURN rose to ark a question of the Noble Lord at the head of Foreign Affairs, which he said was occasioned by a case which had lately occurred at the Thames Police- court. It was vrbether he was aware of the practice of the authorities of ;he town of Charles;; n, to seize British subjects, beinte men of colour, on board British vessels in the port of Charleston, and t 3 imprison the m during the time such vessels remain in that port; and whether her Majesty's Government have made any efforts with the Government of the United States to pre vent British subjects from being thus outraged. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman characterised this practice as one not only in direct violation of the law of nations, but as scandalous and disgraceful to humanity.—(Hear.) Lord PALMERSTON said the subject to which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had drawn the attention of the House was, he was sorry to say, not a new one to her Majesty's Government. It was an undoubted fact that the practice alluded to was one sanctioned by the laws of the state of Carolina, equally applicable to the citizens of the free states of America as to the subjects and citizens cf foreign powers. It was quite unnecessary to express the opinion which any man must entertain of this practice.—(Cheers.) It arose from the unfortunate institutions which existed in the southern states of the Union, and which were now a matter of very serious difference in the Congress of the United States. Her Majesty's Government, in 1847, ordered her Majesty's Minister at Washington to pre:ent a note on the subject to the United States Government, and to remonstrate against this law, not merely as incon sistent with the usual practice of civilized nations, but as at variance with certain articles in the treaty of 1815, between the British Government and the United States Government, providing for the residence of Britih sub jects in the United rotates territory. The answer received from Mr. Buchanan was to the effect that the federal Government had no power to induce the St ste and Legislature of Carolina to remove this law, and that if the British Government insisted upon thus pressing the Government of the United States on the ground founded upon the article in, the treaty of 1815, the Government et the United States would find it necessary to take advan tage of a clause in the treaty of 1827, which gave power to either party to annul the treaty on giving 12,months' notice. It was to be regretted that such a practice existed; but, on the other hand, it was as well that it was a matter of public notoriety, because every free person of colour being a subject of her Majesty, who went voluntarily into the jurisdiction of that state, knew beforehand the inconvenience he was liable to be subjected to.—(Hear.) WOODS AND FORESTS. Viscount DUNCAN wished to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any one of the existing Commis sioners of Woods has applied for superannuation, and if so, whether he las obtained it. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to reply, that in one case it had been applied for. Mr. Mills had re tired on 1,5001. a-year (as we understood). Lord DUNCAN had another question to put to the Noble Lord. He wished to a,k whether it was intended to appoint any one of the Existing Commissioner 3 of Woods, Forests, Works, &c., to the office of Chief Com missioner of Woods, under the Bill now depending in Parliament for the separation of the two departments? Lord J. RUSSELL could not answer that question. ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS: Sir B. HALL, notwithstanding that it was the inten tion of Government to proceed with the Ecclesiastical Commission Bill that eveuing, wished to put a ques tion to the Noble Lord, of which he had given notice, on the subject of a rumour which had recently gained ground iu the metropolis, and which he hoped the Noble Lord would be able to inform him was without toundation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged pardon for inter rupting the Hon. Baronet, but ho begged to tell him that he only received his note at two o'clock this of er noon. He immediately wrote off to obtain informa tion, but up to this time he had not received an answer. Perhaps, therefore, the Hon. Baronet would be good enough to put his question off till tomorrow. Sir B. HALL had no objection to do so; and in the meantime he begged to give notice that the question he should put to-morrow would be to this effect:--There was an office in the Prerogative Court of Canter bury, known as the Registrar, a sinecure valued at 9,0001., to which the Archbishop of Canterbury had the power of presenting a successor as the office became vacant. One of the lives which had been nominated became vacant during the time of the late Archbishop, whiub the late primate had neglected to fill up, and the pre sent Archbishop had taken advantage of this omission to fill up the vacancy. He should therefore ask the Noble Lord, to-morrow, whether the Archbishop of Canter bury had not filled up the vacancy, by nominating Mr. Sumner, a son of the Bishop of Winchester, to the office? EVICTIONS IN GALWAY. Mr. MACCULLAGII wished a to ask:the Right Hon. Baronet the S. cretary for Ireland whether he had re ceived any information relative to certain transactions which had occurred in Galway. He alluded to a matt -r which had formed the subject of comments in the public newspapers, and which he was sorry to say, was confirmed by private letters. It was said that there had been latterly a wholesale system of evictions carried forward in the Martin estate by the Law Lite Assurance Compsny, who were the mortgagees, and he wished to ask the Right Hon Baronet whither he had received any infor mation on the subject, either in his capacity of Secretary for Ireland or as poor. law commissioner. Sir W. SOMERVILLE had received no information whatever on the subject. SAVINGS' BANKS. The CHANCELLOR or the EXCHEQUER then rose pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to savings' banks. He was sorry that any delay had taken place in bring ing on the subject before the House, having given notice as early as the first night of the session that he would move for leave to bring in a Bill, but illness and press of business had prevented him doing so until the present time.—(Hear, hear.) He would make no apology in laying the propositions which he intended to make before the House, because all were agreeed as to the importance of the eubject, and few who had turned their attention to it were unconscious of the ext•eine difficul ties which would beset at any attempt to make an alte ration in the present law as concerned these societies, That some further legislation was necessary as to the constitution of savings' banks, they were all equally agreed. It appeared that it was nearly forty years ago when societies were first formed for the purpose of affording the poor a secure mode of investing their savings, and of obtaining the payment of interest upon them. From that time they had gradually grown up into importance until they now had as much as twenty millions invested in their hands, and it was not surprising that these institutions should re quire new regulations when their operations had become so gigantic. But there were other circumstances which rendered it equally necessary for the Legislature to inter fere. Most of the savings' banks now in existence were ori ginated and supported by reputable and benevolent per sons, but they did not give that regular and constant attendance t their affairs which was indispensably ne cessary to their attaining a state of efficiency. Without attributing any blame to the trustees and patrons of those banks, he would say that, with few exceptions, they gave no regular attention to their duties, and the affairs of the banks were generally left to the management of a secre tary, an actuary, a clerk, or some other officer over whom sufficient vigilance was not exorcised. From re cent failures of those institutions it appeared that the trustees were in the habit of signing cheques in blank, and also that the cheques which they exercised was, in many instances, merely of a nominal character. The Bill which it was his intention to pro pose was entirely a prospective Bill ; and at a later period of the evening he should propose that a Commit. tee be appointed to take into consideration thelast section which it contained. He thought it would only encumber the Bill to extend its operations to past transactions. It would perhaps be advisable to refer shortly to the his tory and progress of these societies, because people seemed hardly aware of the nature of their constitu tion. Not much more than thirty years ego they were not at all recognised by the Legislature. It was little more than forty years, as he had already mentioned, since they were first formed. He believed the first society was established at Wendover, in 1799. In 1804 a similar society was formed at Totten ham ; in 1808 another was formed at Bath, and in 1810 one was established at Dumfries. -The one at Tottenham was at toed by 6 benevolent individuals for the savings of the poorer classes, and they agreed to allow 5 per cent. upon the deposits. Each of these 6 persons were responsible to the extent of 1001. They were to have another trustee for every 1001. Now to such an extent did these voluntary societies go, that in the year 1817, when the first legislation took place on the subject, there had been formed by the voluntary association of benevolent persons no less than seventy of those societies in England, four in Wales, and four in Ireland ; and the whole object of that 1. gislation was to prohibit the trustees from receiving any profits and to provide for the deposit of the moneys of the societies in Vie public funds. There was no security whatever previously for the deposits except the credit of the trustees, and their honourable dealings with the depositors. In 1817 the Government undertook to receive the moneys deposited in the savings' banks, and to be responsible for them, and Ito allow a certain rate of interest thereon. In 1824 an Act was passed to render it imperative on ti,e trustees to transmit to the Commissioners for the Re luction cf the National Debt the deposits to be ' , Aged . from time to time in the banks, and to be invested in the public funds. From that time the Government became re sponsible for all the money transmitted to them, but ia f they became responsible for nothing else. A or ts be I rate of interest was allow e d t o th e trustees f ur management of the bank, and the remainder °v i e to go to the depositors. (Hear, hear.) le 1828 the preceding Acts we r e cons olidated into one. e'r., was then enacted that the •rul ea s ho u ld be proper l i, c oo tifi el by an officer appointed by the Government• he i r trustees were exempted from liability, except for '; own individual acts of neglect or fraud. In 1 841 f ,it Act was passed, which exempted the trustees fro T he , liability whatever, and reduced the rate of interest. .-11,;„ whole duty, and the whole responsibility of the Gov e e t re meat, consiated in this—the rules of savings' banks were to to be transmitted to the proper officer appointed hYb'ef Government to certify teens, and tar see that et . were in conformit ts law. The trustees werel nPr fectly competent to make what rules they plea' e fe r vided they were not inco ns i s ' on t with the S" . of was the duty of the Commis s ioners for the Reda:nil bo the National Deet to receive any sum s that tide les s transmitted to them by the trustees, to •D b,alc them in the fu nds, and to pay them, w ee to them when properly called upon by tb':tr- mega tees. Annual accounts were only r quired to witted to Parliateent by the trustees; and the C ete i l e Bier ers of the National Debt bat a check on the trustee :et the knowledge so furnished, and they had also th e P° fie of tl.eir account with the trustees if they ° a loe With regard to all other matter s the trustees of tiiks. savings' banks had a complete control over those b a ee t The first question which had been raised by the re f cf discussions on this subject had been as to the ex te° to the responsibility of the Government and % e re the responsibility of the trustees. The - Vote" „bi altogether liable for :le neglect that ra ' f t be incurred by them as individuals; and the Govertaa were only responsible fur the safe custody of such 0 3 °, 9 0 7 0 . as had been transmitted from th e banks to the viol, missioners for the Reduction of the National m o s In the y.ar 1828 the responsibility of truste es f ore affirmed, but in 1844 the liability was removed r o them, and it must be perfectly understood that ther e w v no responsibility. Hon. Gentlemen seemed ent irei :lief have forgotten the origin of th ese bodies, Oat were voluntary associations, and not connected ; y the Government at all. The Government were n et e ee their bankers, aid responsible for the money th a t re paid. Until the last year or two the theory of, tm „ - c ed• sponsibility of Government had never been ae lft- t for nor had any application been made to Govern:o'llose compensation. No instance had occurred of a' eg g' having been sustained by the f a il u re of any s a „ - S . t e se bank until the year 1824, at Car mar th e n. The tl.- 00 1 at that time were liable, b u t it turne d s Oci that they were not able to supply the deficiency , de r. the Lord-Lieutenant of the county , h e b e lieved, 11 , 13 t ee took to compensate all the su ff erers . Th e theory 4 9` tp responsibility of the Government was quit new one. Nor did he thi n k th a t in his 'tee posed measure it would be right to take lir a . o p Government the charge of making good any defies opt which might occur from the neglect of any . but it s De os officers. He also thought that any general interf e h r o ' es with the appointment of officers in the savings' le would eostroy that which he held to be a Y a "',„ - es' portion of savings' bank, namely their voluntary eoula racier; but he proposed to appoint a treasurer, who high generally be a local banker, and he would make it a t t ee crime and misdemeanour for any other person be e lie treasurer to receive and pay money. By doing 0 , 1 : 10 A • thought he should remove the gr ea t es t occasion o f " se of He proposed at the same time to repeal the clan, re' the Act of 1844, which entir e ly did sw ay with t- hinkt sponsibility of the trustees. They were officers of thelstbo and although the real responsibility would rest teiw t bot treasurer and manager, it was n o thi ng but righ t t he the trustees should share in some degre e i heir responsibility so as to prevent misconduct on l es part. The first clause of th e Bill specifiskow duties of the treasurer, and m a de it a /131 psi mesuour for any other officer to receive of dolt money. The next question which the 13 i 11 he with was the subject of audit. Whel l ob jee# introduced his Bill relating to Ireland sem ° ; tion was taken as to the mode of audit there , i ; S e rl lished, inasmuch as it could not apply w i t bd: degree of satisfaction to seaport towns. 00 0 ' however, been partially in operation ie n eer° of the large seaports in this country, 'note it had proved most successful, and be p r° o r ore; to extend the system of audit now in a nd' AO , lion in Ireland to the savings' banks of -r 4es ', reserving, to however, power to the Tresee r teoll, send inspectors to examine the books. t bita he dispo ed of the second clause. Th e to be clause dealt with the question of interest tee allowed on deposits. He proposed that, the Government should act as the bankers 0 ' 1)0 0 depositor. The depositor did not care so muc h 1 and interest as the security of his deposit °, rea, it was only fair that when Governmen t t the risk of guaranteeing the rePaY mell abie h deposits, without reference to the los s might mite on the purchase and sale loir of ' t ele; that the interest should be at a c ell At present the managers of a sa v i ngs ' bank r e Go' 31. ss. as interest on the moneys they paid to th e e , 0° vernment, they allowing 2/.175. 6d. t o their deposit 21 15e proposed to reduce these two sum s to 3/. sod 2 ;00 d • In the year 1846-47 the number of depositors ne er bst ger by upwards of 12,000, but the decrease was in th e „ eel° sums, the depositors under 201. having in the 5 5113 ,,," re , 1 ° increased more than 12,000. He proposed, there' d ' be e 0 limit the amount of deposits to 100/ lle ben the e pressed to reduce it still more, but he thought " -s alt"' Lea limit be could fix. When the amount d 9 P - et tie° reached 1001. all interest should cease, and if the P. 7, the chose they would invest their money for them funds, receive the dividends, and pay them t ° so ar giving them also a power of attorney it they eh° s , o rolr point another party to receiv e th em . All thee° r e% sums were prospective. Ho sho u ld no t compel tb° oo° . isting depositors to submit t o th ose t erms , but he tbe se sidered it would be for their advantage to acceP t „Wet In confirmation ef his views on that part of the 7 0 ,11e 0 . he had received several c o mmun i ca ti o ns from conversant with the subject, one of which ,e v ioee letter from the manager of the Croydon PI beet Bank. This gentleman, who stated that he h a : ees r. „ for thirty years the manager, and for fourte e " t y it ia . ; the treasurer of the savings bank at CroYd° rl ' eel'? I have had occasion to remark that the l oofa inducement to deposit money by those for e i e g savings banks are intended con s i s t s in li t a; t ore l " safe place for deposit, and th a t th e am ount 0 1 , 2 ".. s tiotii for the most part forms b u t a secon d ar y consider s t or whereas those persons whose means are great er ' o , to who do not actually requite savings banks, use tb n e d Or s suit their convenience when the funds are high' ADD the their money out of the savings bank to invest -oaf funds when low, just at the Urns that the with tee from the savings bank is attended with 1 00 i ie oa t country. This cause operated far more extensively fri eel bank in 1847 and 1848 in reducing our capita l i t e t lea l : stagnation of trade did. Twenty pounds would ;,tO ll , - , enough fur a depositor to be allowed to Putee.eoch t ,'", bank in one year, and when the sum invested ti e toy" 1001. there is no necessity to allow further dePri t - pt,ll made. Our secretaries are secretaries alone; o° , l 'e Ai' vince is book-keeping; they have nothing t°, trse, s ; money, and no officer cf the bank is permtttea so l!", act business but at the bank and in banking boe r ,7 e ts eh's as money is in the question; and thus toe twee ) " do' confined to the secretary, trustees, and nsauseeen° money to the treasurer, trustees, and manager' tr ill sums with which they were dealing were of 0 ° e eic ‘ t , • amount. The gross amount of interest or dividend s ! o o to by the Commissioners for the National Debt dividends iter, establishment of savings banks in the year 181 0 wer,, 18,014,000/. up to the time the last annual a ccoun yid laid before Parliament; and the total amount ,P depositors in the same period was 20,455,0 0 ' 0 0e: 0 left an annual loss, at the present rate of indu ce 42,6711. per annum. He proposed then to Ong t" i d rate cf interest from 3/. 6s. to 31. per cent., lire: t h i 'yio l . 3 . ,% amount to be paid to depositors to 2/. 155., w b se' c ir P r a., be a very small reduction to each depositor. " - 4 d, sent average rate of interest paid was 21. 180. cent., and the proposed di m i nu ti on o f 3s. 4(1 . P e 41. to would be an annual loss t o a d e p os it or o f 10/ of to e'ded: one of 201. of fel.; to one of 501, of ls. Bd.t positor of 100/. a loss of 3 s . 4d., as h e had sir e ; jel l ; which would be very sm a ll i n th e ca se of eacu d e sott' fe tor, but would be a saving upon the whole, ( Mai relieve the Government from l oss , w hile It Yi° e - rfer' s ; ford the means of paying the t reasure r for the B e lo I n v ° ance of his duty, and thus to a certain extent relit es savings bank from the expense of managem el3 o o4l sum up, then, what he proposed with respect t° t ore w e banks: the provisions were to appoint a trees% 0 0 whom all deposits should be received , s a so the amount of deposit to 1001., at " 1 „ - s id interest should stop ; that the interest r the Government should be 31. per c ent " J. , 1 9 4 0 that to the depositor should be 2/, 15 3 . oo ra with respect to,friendly societies ; and with r e ,f s eea r s them, he proposed to enact that no further thor' e ? ss iov e r be invested by them directly with the C orara b i be be for for the National Debt, except so much as tnig 10, 1 .1 ceived on account of assuranoes paid previelre t!: e g passing of this Act. Hon. Gentlemen were 8 1rae t ,W1 friendly societies were framed fur the purpose t h ie f eol.og assurances to parties, and the rate at which !foc!e give the assurance depended upon the rate or w s octe, o , they themselves were allowed. Now, D° " 00 1 ° 0 0 could invest except in savings banks at saving ° w oo o f terest, but the older societies had given thew e a d _ oed o f dependent on the rate of interest they receiv e 'refs interest couree it would be unjust to them to touch tb` j et ivil e le interest. He proposed, likewise, to limit r e wh i n e of investing in the name of trustees—a prieit e g d 0 0 0 7, had been grossly abused—parties having inres ; te ,,se °l2 t , actually their own in the name of other Pert, e i e al P it e times their children, and at others merely o°7‘ftsit 1/ %0 ties, and that was done, he was sorry to s al. spu' el r the knowledge and advice of the trustees. 'r ue rs° l e Pe i had been carried on to a great extent, to el ll% b , 01 10 0 5 to avail themselves of the privileges sas' e a : accorded, and invest sums far beyond the dere, which it was originally intended should t here 10 0 0 sited by parties. He should enact , 0;0 os that no person should invest as a trustee, 0 An d ? t , behalf of a person in infancy, idiotcy, 111114 , 4 ; to ° t ee soundness of mind. The only other provision to o f hei would call attention was that referorotro Acg o , granting of annuities, which, according t Id 11(4 hi e 1833, under which they were under 4/.; and in the case of the party not t' do bielf g to continue the payments (which might be M 3 bee 01: 01 :i0 stalment.), or dying previous to the annuitYrood,• . granted, eon available, the money paid by him retd Of g:a s ser la a,. 0, did not propose to disturb the existing P' ) log annuities ort those conditions, but be sh° Li ee ditiO b i power of purchasing annuities under other e re % e sed. e ir and as those new annuities could not be Pa_ dee e Opt payments made in instalments, he should re o ba th et amount to 11., and the mode Of working I:°ueesin ate , the purchaser could accumulate hi s s "f o b' e entl'O e savings bank until he had suffieient to bey :a thai et el first of 11., subsequently of another pound, ~s ee p! P e e might go on accumulating his savings is Lete l r iti onl purchasing annuities of 1/. Crew time Pat' -=~