The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-05 00:00:00

fir:toxb -;51)iftt000 SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr THORNELY present , ,d a petition from Wolver hampton and West Bromwich against the Papal ag greesit,n. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented petitions from several places itt Dorset-hire to the same effi , ct. WINDOW DUTY. Mr. HODGES presented a petition from Tunbridge Wells praying for a repeal of the window duty; also a petition from the same place praying for the establish ment of county fiscal boards ; and a petitioa against the Papal aggression. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. E. ELLICE presented a petition from Leicester praying for the establishment of county financial boards. Similar petitions were presented from Bradford by Colonel THOMPSON, and from Ashton-under-Lyne by Mr. HENRY. ADMISSION' OF JEWS INTO PARLIAMENT. Lord C. MANNERS presented petitions from several places in Leicestershire against any Bill to le ga li ze t h e introduction of Jews into Parliament. PAPAL AGGRESSION. Petitions were presented against Pa?al aggression by Mr. Macgregor, from the several ministers and elders of the dill-r. nt con gregacions in Glasgow; by,Sir E. Filmer, from several places; by Sir William Duncombe, Lord Burleigh, Mr. R. Spooner, Mr. Mowatt, Mr. Newdegate, and sevt,ral other Members from Warwick and various other places in England. WINDOW DUTIES. Lord DUNCAN and several other Members pre sented petitions from Bath and other places in favour of a repeal of the window duties. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. NEWDEGATE, Mr. M. GIBSON, and several other Members presented petitions for the formation of county financial boards. BIBLE MONOPOLY. Mr. HUME presented petitions from a parish in Hampshire, from Lewes, in Sussex, and from Suffolk, signed by teach, rs, against the monopoly of the Bible. ADULTERATION OF COFFEE. Mr. CARD WELL presented a petition from Ceylon agaiist the adulteration oF eo ff ee . SUNDAY TRADING IN LONDON. Mr. W. WILLIAMS gave notice that on the 11th of this month he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent Sunday trading in London and the suburbs. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. G. BERKELEY gave notice that he would move for a Select Committee on the sugar duties. ABOLITION OF THE LORD-LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND. Mr. REYNOLDS, pursuant to notice, begged to ask the Noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce any Bill during the present session of Par liament for the purpose of abolishing the office of Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland? Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply, stated that it was the intention of her Majesty'a Government to introduce such a measure.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. REYNOLDS said that such being the intention of the Government he should deem it his duty, when the B:11 was introduced, to move for a call of the House. FISHERY AND NAVIGATION OF THE BLACK- Mr. ANSTEY pursuant to notice, wished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether it was the intention of the Government to order any and what prosecutions, or proceedings for carrying into effect the recommenda tions contained is the late report of Commander Fraser, RiNo on the illegal obstruction to the fishery and na vigation of the Biackwater; and whether he would lay the said report, with plans, &c., before the House. Sir FRANCIS BARING said, that the surveyor had been engaged in forwarding,' This plans, but they Set were net quite completed, and further plans were required. Until those plans were sent in, no decision could be come to. Mr. ANSTEY wished to know whether there would be any objection to lay on the table of the House the reports and plans? Sir F. BARING said as one report was imperfect, he could hardly lay it before the House, and until he had seen the other he would b e unable to answer the Hon. Gentleman ~ question. THE NEW FOREST. Mr. G. BERKELEY wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill for the enclosure of the New Forest ; and if so whether they intended to destroy the deer, and to compensate parties for the injury they would sustain by the enclosure of the forest? Lord SEYMOUR said he intended to move for leave to bring in three Bills with reference to three different iores(s, and ho thought it would be much more convenient to defer entering into details until then, ADULTERATION OF COFFEE. Mr. G. BERKELEY said it appeared the great adul teration of coffee with chicory had caused a great falling off in the revenue, arising from the importation of coffee, and he w as d es , rous o f knowing when the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to introduce any measure to afford greater protection to those who send home coffee 03311.. t. "aT44 l6° -t i kI Ii VLLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied 1. .7 , ; . , itt74liatit . tOss not his intention to introduce any measure Z, ~ vf . :ofe .4 atlurpose. 41 kill ~ - .1 3/ - WBERKELEY then gave notice that he should f,...,, ri ci, , 0 , -,, "stimetion to the El to prevent the dul , era- Ouse, ..,, 3 ; ,•• . 2.1. i 1 .•\.,,, :. IL: %Haw, and to punish the fraud when detected, fur '' ... , 7 ' li; 1444 0 of giving to th e `', . o. io • • 6 market. British colonies a fair arid Lil<S . r. ''A . s a trl f Vilk° IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. Mr. MONSELL, the Member for Limerick, who has be come a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, took the oaths prescribed by the statute for Roman Catholic Members. PETITIONS. Mr. F. FRENCH presented a petition praying for an extension of the leasing powers of Trinity College, Dub lin; also a petition with regard to the repairs and main tenance of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. NEW WRITS. Mr. HAYTER moved for a new writ for Pontefract, in the place of Sir Samuel Martin, who is now one of the Barons of her Majesty's Court of Exchequer. THE NEW WRIT FOR DLINGARVAN. Mr. HAYTER said a new writ was moved for yester• day, for the Borough of Dangarvan, on the assumption that the Right Hon. Richard Lalor Shell had vacated his seat by the acceptance of the office of her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to the Duke of Tuscany. He (Mr. Hay ter) believed he was in error in supposing that the acceptance of that office made it compulsory on a Member to vacate his seat; therefore the course which he now proposed to adopt was to move that the order of the House for issuing the new writ should be now read. The Clerk at the table then read the order. Mr. HAYTER moved that a supercedeas should be issued to annul the writ. Mr. ROEBUCK said he should like to knew whether this was the ordinary mode of' proceeding. If so he had no objection to it, but he saw great danger in such a precedent. If they established a precedent of this nature, it might become extremely injurious to the proceedings, liberties, and privileges of the House, and he should like to know from the Attorney-General whether any harm was likely to result from such a practice hereafter? kr. HAYTER said he apprehended the Hon. Mem ber wished to know whether the present course was the usual course of proceeding. Now if if any error were committed he supposed the usual course was to put it right as soon as they could. There fore the question depended upon whether an error had been committed. He found severai instances in the books of the House in which it appeared that the mere accept ance of the office of one of her Majesty's plenipotentiaries did not divest a Member of the right of sitting in the House. All he could do, therefore, was to move the motion which he had already done. Mr. F. FRENCH thought some further explanation ought to 1, be given on the subject, as this pro ceeding was contrary to common sense. The rule was, that if a Member accepted any office of emolument under the Crown his seat became forfeited. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL observed that great incon venience would arise if a supercedeas was issued, as the writ for a new election had probably reached the hands of the sheriff for the borough. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the Hon. Gentleman would at once see the necessity,of this course if he would consider for a moment. The question of whether the acceptance of the office of envoy from the Sovereign of these realms to a foreign state came withi❑ the provisions of the statute of Anne had once or twice been discussed in the:House, and there were distinct precedents in the journals to show that it did not come within the Act of Parliament. Ac cordingly gentlemen had repeatedly been elected Members of Parliament while filling the situation of envoy, and it was quite clear that the acceptance of the office by an existing Member did not vacate the seat. Now yesterday an order was made for the issue of a writ to elect a new burgess to serve is Parliament for the borough of Dunvargan; but the borough of Dun garvan was not vacant, aed consequently by law no person could be elected to fits the 'lace. At least, any gentleman who might be apparently elected under the writ would not be entitled to take his seat in the House, since the Right Hon. Richard Lalor Sheil was at this moment legally Member for Dungar yen, and the seat was therefore at present full. Now what course ought to be adopted in this state of things was obvious. It was to stop the proceedings that were irrgular, and at once obtain a supersedeas to du so. No doubt some inconvenience would result from the is suing of the writ, but no incovenience could be so great as that which must necessarily follow a step which was • ,ntrary to law, and he had no hesitation in recommend lug the House to adopt the motion before it. All the first inconvenience of the writ issued yesterday might be remedied within twenty-four hours. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL wished to know if it was intended that the Right Hon. Gentleman should retain his seat, or was another writ to be moved for ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said undoubtedly a new writ would be moved for as soon as the seat be came vacant. He had no doubt that when his Right Honourable Friend the present Member became aware that his acceptance o' the office of envoy bad not vacated his seat, and that his holding the office wes incompatible with his attendance in Parliamen't, he would forthwith comply with the requisites necessary for vaczating his scat.—(llear, hear.) The motion was tnen agreed to. PAPAL AGGRESSION. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SERVICES OF MR. LEY, THE LATE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he rose to move a reso lution acknowledging the services of a public offi cer, whose labours had been of the greatest value to this House and the country. Every one who had been acqueinted with the business of the House for many years knew that Mr. Ley, the chief clerk of the House, had a mind well stored with information relating to every subject connected with the orders and proceed ings of the House, and knew likewise that no one could equal the readiness and courtesy with which ho communicated that information.—(Hear.) To the Committees of the House his services were of the greatest value, in preparing and putting in order and proper form those matters which were of the utmost public importance. Every Member must be aware how useful regularity of proceeding was, and how often their deliberations had been aided by the know ledge which Mr. Ley had communicated to the House. —(Hear.) He thought, therefore, that the House would only do itself credit by placing on record an ac knowledgment of the services which Mr. Ley had ren dered. The Noble Lord concluded by moving a resolu tion to that effect. Sir ROBERT H. INGLIS said he trusted the House would not consider it presumptuous on his part, but rather a duty imposed on the older elembers of the House, who had longer experience of the services ren dered by Mr. Ley, to support the resolution of the Noble Lord to record the great endeavours which that officer had shown to discharge the duties of his situation.— (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ley, as his Noble Friend bad stated, had rendered the most valuable services to the House and the public with the strictest impartiality, and bad evinced great business habits, great knowledge, great punctuality, and great assiduity, and for the services he had so rendered every Member, both young and old, were under great obligations to him. Every petition, every Bill in a certain sense came under his cognizance. When Mr. Ley entered into the service of the House nearly half a century ago, the number of petitions which came annually before the House was measured by periods of five years, and the first five years the result was only 1,026; petitions. He would not trouble the House with any other details then that the number of petitions in the five years ending 1542 were 70,072, while in the five years ending 1847, they were 81,985. These facts, independent of any consideration of personal favour or personal ser vices rendered by the lamented individual whose merits they were now recognising would give the House and the community at large some idea of the extent of labour which attached to the office of chief clerk. No cheaper reward could be conferred, if cheapness could be made an ingredient in this question, than that which they were now making, for nothing could stimulate the zeal and exertions of public officers more than the knowledge that their merits would be recorded in the journhle of a great deliberative assembly like the House of Commons. He had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr. HUME, having had frequent opportunities of observing the admirable manner in which Mr. Ley had performed his duties, cordially and entirely agreed with this vote. His attention to the duties of the office rendered him acquainted_with the forms and manner of their proceedings, and often thr Speaker had had the tecefit of his great experience in matters connected with the business of the House. He (Mr. Hume) had there fore much pleasure in expaessing his approbation that the great services of Mr. Ley were to be formally ac knowledged in their journals; but it was with extreme pain that he felt called upon to complain on the part of the public of the manner in which the Prime Minister had filled up the vacancy. He consi dered that every word which the Noble Lord used, such as large experience, extensive knowledge, long servitude, told sadly against himself, for they found that the person who occupied Mr. Ley's situation was a gentleman who had not had a single day's ex perience in a similar office. He did not wish to say anything against that gentleman as an individual, but a knowledge of his office would only be obtained by the continued practice and long experience which the Noble Lord had adverted to, and therefore he did complain of th'e manner in which the Noble Lord had exercised his patronage.—(Hear, hear.) Offices of this nature should always be filled up with a view to the public benefit, and when a vacancy occurred, duo at tention should be paid to the merits and capabilities of the party appointed to it. That rule applied with dou ble torce to the office in question, for young Members, iensrant of the forms of the House. could only make themselves acquainted with them thaough the assist ance of the clerk at the table.—(Hear, hear.) It was, therefore, cf the utmost importance that he should be able to apply to an officer of such large ex perience as Mr. Ley. For his part he (Mr. Hume) never applied to that gentleman for information with out obtaining it, or without being put in the way to find it. But what did Sir Denis Le Merchant know of the rules and practice of this House? What qualifications had he for a situation embracing so many important duties as those which the Noble Lord had pointed out.—(Hear, hear.) It was a painful duty for him to make these observations, but it was a duty which he owed to the House of Commons and the country to state unhesitatingly to the Noble Lord what he had heard remarked out of doors.—(Hear, hear.) Other appointments connected with this House of a less onerous character than this had often been found fault with for the very same reasons that he was now urging upon the House ; but they applied with far greater force to tee present instance, because this ap pointment affected the every day business of the House. Sir Denis le Merchant might be a very talented man— (Hear, hear)—judging from the number of situations be had filled—(Laughter) —from time to time, it was quite evident that he had a pretty extensive general knowledge of political matters—bet what oppor tunities had he heel of becoming familiar with the routine of the House of Commons, except that of being a memeer for a short time.—(Hear, hear.) Whilst, therefore, he cordially concurred in the vote that was about to be made he could no: but express his disapprobation at the manner in which the Noble Lord had exercised his patronage. To-morrow the Noble Lord's speech would go forth to the public, and he was at a loss to known with what feelings it would be read, for a sarcasm more severe or a reflection more condemnatory which it conveyed on this appointment could hardly be conceived.—(Hcar, hear.) Sir Denis Le Merchant filled the office. Where was his eighty years' experience? Where was his experience? Where was the time which he bad de voted to the business of the House—(Hear, bear, and laughter) —and let Hon. Members remember that _the business of their House was not to be learned in a day. Even in the simplest duty of presenting petitions, Members of long standing often found a difficulty in observing the forms, and it was of importance that the clerk at the table should be well versed in these matters, to place them right when necessary.—Hear, hear.) The Clerk at the table ought to be a man bred to the office. He should rise by gradations, and it should be open to the junior clerk to obtain the office in progress of time, if his zeal and ability deserved it.—(llear.) Mr. GOULBUHN said that he was particularly quali fied to bear testimony to the merits of Air. Ley; having taken office at an early period of his career, and for that reason being obliged to take more than an usual share in the business of the House; and it was entirely owing to tee kindness of Mr. Ley that he was It( pt from falling into more errors into which his want of experience must otherwise have led him. It gave him the greatest grati fication to support the resolution. Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to say a few words in answer to the atteck made upon the appointment to the vacancy caused by Mr. Lee's death. Of course it was the duty of the Prime Minister to consider the qualifications of the persons whom he recommended to any particular office, but he would do wrong if he al lowed the opinion of those who had no responsibility in the matter to prevail against his own conviction. In this instance his own firm conviction was, that ho could not have male a better selection for the office than Sir Denis lo Merchant. To say that he had not experience of the business of the House was what must be said of every gentleman who was elected to fill the office of Speaker. With respect to the ap pointment in question, there were the circumstance when Mr. Booth was appointed to the office of Council to the Speaker, an office created on the recom mendation of a Committee of that House, he re linquished a fair and promising prospect at the bar for a salary of 1„500/. per annum. Since that time another Committee had recommended that Mr Booth's office should be abolished on the first vacancy and Mr. Booth was thereby placed iu a situation of great delicacy, knowing that he stood in the way of the reduction of the expenditure of the country. Therefore by appointing Sir Dennis Le Merchant to this present vacancy and removing Mr. Booth to the Board of Trade be had been enabled to abolish the office of counsel to the Speaker, and save 1,5001. per annum which would not otherwise be saved. After a few words from Mr. G. BERKELEY, The resolution was carried with an unanimous " aye." Co n t he o by M r . STAFFORD , that a Standing mmi be appointed, to control the arrangements of the kitchen and refreshment rooms in the deparment of the Sergeant•at-Arms attending this Hous:—Mr. Staf- Lfoordad, Mmra.rAculsdeHrmilia,nmllr.umTpehseryeyD, a t w h e s O E n , ar hi l r o . f A M r u c l h g i r b e a v l e d , Thistle, and Admiral Berkeley; three to be the quorum. Mr. HUME said h e w i shed to say a few words on . another matter. Those who had, yesterday, accom panied the Speaker to the House of Lords, would recollect the disor der e l o y lop m el a le n d ner in f w o h ll i o c w h w h a t danger th e S peaker himself had h th im e Members had been to find his wa y there. He thought that this was highly derogatory to the dignity of the House. Even when they did arrive at the House of Lords there was not room enough below the bar to contain one quarter of the Members. 110 felt assured that both bides of the House would agree with his suggestion, for it was notorious that whenever there was a call of the House, the degrees in which they were to be esteemed would be duly taken into account, and they would feel that the pretensions of the several members—s , uhordinatcs as well as principals — would be duly esteemed, eseeeally- if they " perly examined by t h e right authorities. And .c i r f 7 they pro were duly examined, he was quite sure that in the present case an adequate compensation would be awarded. He would beg to suggest that they should adopt some other system than that which had been commonly used whenever they went to the House of Peers —(Hear, hear.) He rememb ere d t h at w h en they went to the House of Peers last session it was stated by the Ministry that they would be better when they got into the New House.—(Hear, hear.) But was this the case.—(Hear, hear.) He should say q4ite the reverse. _—(Hear, hsar, and laughter.) He remembered that the last time they went to the House of Lords he was very near having his bead thrust against one of the pillars— PER QUARTER. PER QUARTER. Wheat, red 36s to 41s13eans 26s to 296 Do., new oos to 00s I Peas 26s to 28s Do., white 42s to 49s Oats. Do., now oos to 00s Rye... . 00s to 00s Barley, malting 233 to 28s Malt .. 00s to 00s Do., grinding... 20s to 22s Flour, per sack.. 005 to 00s AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEB. I. Wheat 1,099 quarters at 40s 2d. Barley ~ 22s Bd. Beans 34 „ 27s Od. Oats Peas — „ 00s Od. HULL, FEB. 4. Messrs. Taylor and Bright's circular states:—The weather has been unseasonably mild, with occasional rain, until last evening, when a severe frost set in and still continues. It is to be hoped that this will have some beneficial effect on the trade, which has been lamentably dull of late. Our farmers brought a fair supply of wheat to market this day; the condition was much as last week, and we must write the market for dry samples fully as dear. - Very little foreign wheat offering from shipboard, and granared parcels being generally too high limited, the business doing is of the merest retail. Barley is dull of sale, the present sup ply being beyond the demand; the change of tempera ture will however probably affect this article. Very little business passing in any description of spring corn and we do not alter our quotations. The linseed mar ket remains firm, without however any extent of trans actions; an improved demand for cakes. Rapeseed is offering at 271; very few rape cakes on the market. The following are the present prices of grain:- 8. Wheat, English, red 36 to 46 Peas, white and yel. 27 30 Do. white 4O 44 Do. grey Dantzic and Ko- Linseed, Black Sea 4B 50 nigsberg 42 46 Do. Petersburgh ... 42 48 Pomeranian and Do. Riga&Archngl. 38 —42 Hamburgh 3B 40 Do. Konigsberg .... 38 42 Danish, Holstein, & Per ton. Friesland ........ 36 —3B Lins. ;Hull 712 s 6d to 7! 5s Russian and Odessa 35 —4O Do. fine foreign ... 6l 10s Oats, English Do. Danish— ....... 14 16 Rapeseed BDDvanoor...lliegr'tyrticsum::.taains,lnt:in...... 0de55a.......... 16 18 Rape cakes...B7s 6d t 2 o :1 1 4 4, _ _ _—_ 1 t 8261 Do. Tares, , or . fore i F . .. l 36t,0,9 3 70 _ 171 _0 0 es : 3000 0 60,, , d Bsl Beans ............... .. 26 30 Boles, do ..... .95s 01 to 00s Od• Do L . i f N er z e n ig p r o l c.,.L.: FEB. 5 4.:-A 2B t R this y e l‘ rc le o a r i ning's market salts 3 of wheat and flour proceeded slowly, at a decline on the former of Id, and in some instances 2d per bushel on the price of last Tuesday, and also 6d par sack and barrel on flour. Indian corn was 6d per quarter lower, and the demand not so good as of late. Oats, barley, beans, and peas were each alike neglected, and tne quotations are unvaried. Intelligence from Port-au-Prince reaches to the 29th of December. The coffee crop is alleged to have failed to such an extent that there will probably not be more than half the uival quantity. The Emperor bad just finished the distribution of the crosses of nobility and of the order of EAnitbal. THE SUN LONDON, (Hear, hear)—and when he recollected the peculiar construction of the two Houses he was afraid that Hon. Members would fiud the change to be altogether to their detriment.—(Hear, hear.) had it not been for the as sistance of a certain stout Member, he would himself have grievously suffered from the transition from one House to the other.—(Hear, hear.) What he desired was, that the character of the House should be sup ported.—(Hear, hear.) He regretted to make this statement, but he would say that the present arrangement was detrimental alike to the character of the Ministry and of the House. He was aware that they were only responsible as the Ministry of the day.— (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had asked some useless questions, or what seemed to him to be useless questions. —([hear, hear.) They should recollect the number of years which had been passed i❑ the service of the House by Mr. Ley. All he desired was to secure a better accommodation for the Members of the House of Commons whenever they waited upon her Majesty in the House of Lords. This he particularly desired, and he trusted that the suggestion would not be lost sight of by her Majesty's Ministers. SESSIONAL ORDERS. _ Mr. coßNCif..L — LEcfis - ii;ei-T;;se to move the asual sessional orders, When the SPEAKER came to the order relative to the voting of the public money, Mr. HUME said that last session ho gave notice that he should move, as an addition to the order, that no grant of money should be made after twelve o'clock at, night. He now begged to move that it be made part of the order that no money be voted atter twelve o'clock at night. He need not remind how members of the scenes which had taken place in that House when the public money had been voted, which was not creditable to the Honourable Members of that House as the keepers of the public house. Generally speaking, the House was very neglinent upon this subject, and when money was about to be voted, Honour able Members left the house. The result of this was that Ilon. Members who were desirous of attending to the expenditure found themselves left alone to oppose the Ministerial phalanx which was more numerous than themselves, and thus every vote was carried with baste and without that con sideration which decency demanded. In pi °posing that L money should be voted atter twelve o'clock, he (Mr. Hume) made this exception, that where the subject had been under consideration before twelve o'clock it might be voted away after that time. He (Mr. Hume) now begged to ask the Noble Lord at the head of her Majesty's Government or the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether they would consent to the ad dition being made to the order which he aow proposed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he could not agree to the propofition of the Honourable Membr for Montrose. He (the Chancellor of the Ex• chequer) did not think there had been an in stance when the present Government or in fact any Government had persevered in passing a vote of public money:after twelve o'clock at night. He was quite sure that when any particular vote with regard to the public money was about to be passed, with regard to w Bich there was any opposition it had never teen forced on after twelve o'clock. There were a great many votes upon which several observa tions were made, but there were also several upon which no remark was made and it did not signify whether an hour or half an hour after twelve o'clock was occupied in passing them. He did not believe that this course led to any waste of the public money. Mr. HUME, in reply,observed, that voting the money often led to great inconvenience and waste of time, fur very often half an hourlwas wasted in debating whether or not the House should go on after twelve o'clock at night. He (Mr. Hume) was willing on any particular occasion that this rule should be suspended if this addition were made to it which be proposed. Mr. SPOONER would support the motion of the Hon Member for Montrose. Mr. W.WILLIAMS also supported the motion of the Hon. Member for Muntro,e. He thought that no money vote ought to be taken after twelve o'clock at night. Mr. BAILLIE thought that some compromise ought to be made with the Hon. Member for Montrose. Sir G. GREY trusted that the House would not adopt the motion, as. according to the Hon. Member's own showing, it would lead to the greatest confusion, because he had expressed himself ready to give way on any case of necessity. Colonel SIB aIORPE could not assent to thelmotion of the Hon. Member for Montrose. As things at present stood the world knew what they were about, but if they rose at twelve o'clock it would not. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared— For Mr. Sumo's motion Against it Majority against the motion...-69 The motion was consequently lost. Ulte other Standing Orders having been agreed to, Mr. BROTHERTON rose, pursuant to notice, to move thac no business be proceeded with after midnight; and that at twelve o'clock at night precisely, whatever might be the business under discussion, Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House without putting any question. He believed that the great mortality that had occurred during the last seession and the recess among Members was greatly attributable to the late hours to which the House had been in the habit of sitting. Mr. E WART seconded the motion. Sir G. GREY opposed the motion. It was the usua course of the House to rise shortly after twelve o'clock, except on those occasions when it was probable that a debate might be concluded. (LEFT SITTING.) THE POST-OFFICE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. you kindly permit me to call attention to the inconvenience and delay to which I (with, no doubt, the public generally) have sometimes been subjected by the offi cials of some of the branch post-offices? If your letters are not stamped, and you wish to pre-pay them, of course you must do so; bat it so happens that if you have not a penny in copper you may be called upon to tender a fourpenny piece, a sixpence, or a shilling, to defray the charge. When this has been so I have almost always had to wait till it suited the independence and pleasure of the aris tocratic she pkeeper or his Fhopman to attend to me. It is the general rule to serve "customers" first, leaving the petri fied correspondent, with letter in hand, till the last. I have often been sent away from post-offices because they could (or would) not give me the difference of a shilling, after de ducting a penny fur a letter! But is it not the duty of shop keepers who unite the postal department with their own concern to attend to the letters and the persons by whom they are brought as readily as to those who purchase things of them ? And ought not they to be provided with a sufii ' cient staff of hands so as to attend immediately to those who take their letters to their house? Ought they not, also, to be provided with change fora shilling? My complaint, Sir, is not founded upon an accidental cir cumstance, or occasional occurrence, for I have experienced the greatest annoyance when the obstacle has been the least that could have been presented. It was but the other day that a loquacious shopman, at a tobacconist's, kept me wait ing nearly five minutes, so lost was he in the eloquent praise of a pipe, which he was earnestly persuading two young gentlemen to buy. I addressed him several times, but in vain. He was not literally deaf, yet I had to be patient until he felt disposed to listen to my appeal. If the public paid so much for every letter at the time of posting they would not be so disregarded. Some of these people are very surly and reluctant; but they forget that courtesy to a man posting a letter might ensure his custom, and thus benefit them in their proper business. I am, Sir, &c., J. D. ' Pimlico. THE COUNTIty MAttKETS. IPSWICH, FEB. 4. At this day's market a fair supply of wheat was ex• hibited for sale, and we can note no alteration in price horn last week. We had a larger supply of barley, mostly of fine quality, for malting; the sale was a trifle in favour of the buyer. Beans and peas dull at late prices. WEDNESDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 5 1 1.851 STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this day.) MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The decline of a quarter of a cent per lb. in the price of cotton at New York, and a half-cent at New Orleans, consequent on intelligence of the error of the stock at Liverpool, and of the advance in the rate of interest by the Bank of England, falls short of what the apprehensions prevailing here last week had prepared all parties to hear of. Some of the letters and circulars aro extending the estimates rather further than before; but others, including private letters from par ties much confided in, still adhere to 2,100,000 to 2,200,000 bales. These accounts have not, however, produced any favourable effect upon this market, which they might have done, from the smallness of the decline, under the circumstances, were it not for the considera tion that successive unfavourable reports from Manches ter must reach the States, and for the fact that opinion here is in a shaken and unsettled state, as to the supply of cotton. At the same time, we are in receipt of advices of a dull and declining market for yarns and goods at Bombay, and of a giving way in the prices of both at Calcutta. These circumstances, toge ther with a state of things in Central Europe which keeps the hands of the merchants completely tied up, have rather added to our depression, and increased the weakness of prices. There has been no selling of goods, except at some concession, and but little in that case. The transactions in yarns have been individually small, snd extremely limited in their aggregate amount; though, as the sellers have met the buyers on lower terms, the number of purchases has somewhat increased. Spinners are for the most part willing to take to id. per lb. less than they would have dune lust week. 'The India merchants have not come into the market either fir yarns or goods. ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The market today has been slack, and the business transacted upon a very limited scale. The buyers are offering lower prices, and in some cases the manufacturers have submitted to a small re duction. The wool market has been quiet, the manu facturers showing an unwillingness to purchase, and prices are stationary. MACCLESFIELD, TUESDAY.—We have had some buy ers during the last few days, but very little business has been done; the prices demanded evidently operating against any desire to purchase. Some descriptions of really good and new styles have found purchasers at pretty near asking prices; but the quantity taken bore more the appearance of procuring samples than transac ting real business. Thrown silks are in very little request, probably owing to the near approach of the public sales of raw silks, announced to commence on the 18th instant, and manufacturers generally abstain from purchasing until their result is known. The dyers complaiu of the sudden falling off in the receipt of ;browns from manufacturers, conclusive evidence that the latter are slackening operations materially.' HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.--WO have no new feature to report in our market of to-day. The business that has been done in the Cloth Hall has been light. Stocks continue low, as the exchanges have been principally to order. The fancy trade is in a depressed state, the mild state of the weather hindering persons from buying heavy goods, and it being full early for the spring trade. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—There is no noticeable change in the state of the worsted trade. Stocks are generally low, and the principal business is done to order, so that the quantity of goods changing hands in our Piece Hall is comparatively insignificant. For damasks and some descriptions of fancy goods, there is a fair demand; and the inquiry for low lastings is unabated, but the supply 1s far below the demand. Both in yarns and wools there seems a greater reluctance to operate; and nothing has occurred materially to affect the quotations. LEEDS, TUESDAY.—We have had a quiet market to day; but, on Saturday last, a very fair quantity of goods were sold. The makers are generally well employed; but the advance in the price of wool has had a tendency to curtail operations. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TUESDAY. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHARE.-1 0 to 1 agst Vain Elope, 12 to I agst Maria Day, 12 to 1 apt Abd-el- Kader. Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.—Even on Grecian. CHESTER CUP.-12 to 1 agst Rhesus (t and after wards offered), 20 to 1 agst ilaricot (t), 25 to 1 agst Black Doctor (t), 27 to 1 agst Wallflower, 30 to 1 agst Flying Gout (t), 33 to 1 agat Russboroug,h, 33 to 1 agst Brother to Dough, 33 to 1 agst Montague (t), 35 to 1 agst Peep-o'•day Boy, 1,000 to 15 agst Lady Evelyn (t), 1,000 to 15 agst Vampire (c), 1,000 to 15 agst Joe Sutherland. DE:mm-11 to 2 apt Grecian, 13 to 2 agst Prime Minister, 13 to 1 agst Mountain Sylph colt, 13 to 1 agst Newminster, 25 to 1 agst Lamartine, 27 to 1 agst Storm, 1,000 to 11 agst Sorus. Nothing done on Metropolitan or Northamptonshire Stakes. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. Edward Armitage, cotton spinner, Clifton-bridge, Halifax. BANKRUPTS. William Hood, commission agent, Lawrence-lane, Cheapside, to surrender Feb. 14, at two, and March 18, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane; Pain and Hatherly, Gresham street, City. Richard Tredinnick, auctioneer, Threadneedle -street, Feb. 15, at twelve, and March 29, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Sole and Turner, Alderinanbury. Andrew Eve, turner, Charlotte• street, Fitzroy-square, Feb. 14, at half past twelve, and March 18, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Colombine, St. Martin's-lane. Charles Watt, baker, Southampton-street, Pentonville, Feb. 12, at half-past twel ve , an d M arc h 18, at twe l ve, at the ourt of ainkruptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Tweed, Lincoln's Inn-fields. gest a difference, when the House will naturally desire to respond with unanimity in the adoption of the Ad dres which I have the honour to second.—(Hear, hear.) Her Mejosty congratulates her assembled Parli Anent on the continuance of pellet ; and when we reflect how much the prosperity of the country is stimulated by peace with foreign states—how much misery is averted—we must rejoice in the fact that the con viction is generally and deeply felt that peace should bo preserved at the risk of everything but geed faith and national honour.—(Hear, hear.) Nor can I resist the pleasure of stating my deep convic tion that human skill and ingenuity are largely contri buting to its permanent continuance. The great ameba nice' power of the age, that important agent of civiliza tion, steam, by uniting the distant portions of Europe, and consequently binding in ties of friendship and friendly communication distant states, will render them naturally desirous of peace, while the terrible impetus it gives to the destructive power of armaments renders their use more unfrequent and and dreaded. Her Majesty has graciously stated her conviction that recent treaties with Brazil render more hopeful the extinction of the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) Whatever may be the diff.rence of opinion amongst Hon. Members as to the mode in which this will be ultimately effected, in this I take it we aro all agreed, that we earnestly desire:the utter abolition of this accursed traffic, and that we shall all rejoice when it shall be read of only in the history of the past.—(Hear, and cheers.) Her Majesty also congratulates her assembled Parliament that, notwithstanding the large reductions in taxation, the revenue will he satisfactory, and also on the state of commerce and manufactures, and the consequent general employment afforded to the working classes.— (Hear, hear.) Results are the sole tests of legislative measures in the long run. Last year duties were re pealed or reduced to the extent of about a million and a half. It is true they did not affect the revenue until part of the year had expired, but still they caused at the least a reduction of a million ; yet, despite of this, the national revenue has suffered no reduction—(Hear, hear)—it has even exceeded that of the last year, and the Chan cellor of the Exchequer is in the happy position of having a surplus at his command.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Now, the question arises, why has not the revenue proportionably decreased? I apprehend there can be but one answer—the prosperous condition of the people, and consequent increase of consumption, have swelled the receipts.—(Hear.) I take one item as strongly elucidating this position. The duty on sugar was reduced one shilling per cwt. The consequent loss to the revenue, taking the consumption of the preceding year, should have been 311,4541., but it resulted in a loss of 9,1801. only, a good practical reason for reducing other items of large consumption where the duty presses heavily, and one which I doubt not will have its due effect in future fiscal arrangements.—(Hear, hear.) In a few days the returns of the Board of Trade will be issued. The returns of the first 11 months of 1850 will enable us to anticipate the results.—(Hear, bear.) The exports for the first eleven months of 1848 were •.. •.• ... 44,407,912/. 1849 ••• •.• ••• ... 54,089,809/. 1850 •60 400 525/ In what did this increase consist? Principally in British manufactures, cottons, woollens, linens, silks, and hardware.—(Cheers.) This increase has taken place, too, under most unfavourable circumstances. The great staple is cotton —at least the great employing ar ticle is cotton, but, in the cotton-producing states of America, last year, th ere was a short crop, an arise of price of full 75 per cent. over the price of the early part of the preceding year was the consequence.—Hear, hear.) For instance, Orleans cotton was in January, 1849 ... ••• 4id. per lb. 1850. .7 d. ” It is well known that a rise in the price of cotton rapidly diminishes consumption.—(Hear, bear.) It did so con siderably in this instance, but owing to two circum stances the effect was much mitigated. Ist. When the material is dear the best quality is always run upon by manufacturers, as, for a smaller quantity in weight they get the higher price; our skill in the application of ma chinery, and the high character of the machinery itself, has enabled us in finer fabrics to surpass all competition —(Hear, hear)—and the consequence was, that with all our disadvantages we partially shut up the American mills and gave our people full employment.—(Hear.) 2nd. Full employment secured good wages—(Hear, hear)—and good wages and cheap food enabled the industrial classes to dress well.— (Cheers.) The foreign market and home consumption kept the mills going, and I find 50,000 mare hands were em ployed in the factories in 1850 than in 1847—the gross numbers being in 1847, 544,876; 1850, 596,028. — (Hear, hear.) It may be said that the high price of fabrics helped to swell the amount of exports, but, in point of fact, quantity was in excess in reference to cloth; while in yarn there was not only a decrease in quantity but in value, the increased value being prin cipally in labour.—(Hear.) I have the statistics to refer to, but will not weary the House by doing so. Now, if our manufacturers have accomplished a result so grati fying under unfavourable circumstances, what might we not have expected had the cotton crop been a full one, and had the price of the raw material continued low ? Instead of 50,000 hands, we should have employed three times that number.—(Hear, hear.) The low price of cotton brought us through the year 1847—the high price of cotton acted adversely in 1850—and here I must pause for a moment and ask, how important is it that we should be energetic in our endeavours to get the railway communications of conti nental India executed ?—(Cheers.) We are depending on one quarter of the world only for the means of em ploying our operatives in the cotton factories, when we should be blessing our fellow-subjects by the activities of commerce, and have a fresh market to de pf,nd upon, and that, too, the home. I desire also to advert to the gratifying fact that the increase of fac tory hands, to which I have referred has not been ob tained at the sacrifice of infantile energy.—(Hear, hear.) There has been a altercate since 1814 of 20 per cent. in the children employed, and an increase of 81 per cent. in the adults.—(Hear.) I think it cannot be denied that the poor of every class are better fed and clothed than they have ever been. If I refer to the poor-law record, I find that the number of able-bodied paupers have largely decreased during the year, and the amount of general relief has been largely lessened. True, some of the agricultural districts are exceptions and on whi c h I shall be call e d on p resent l y to speak. If I refer to our criminal records, I find the facts to be equally gratify ing. In the city of Manchester the returns of persons apprehended for crimes in the three last years are, in 1848, 6,587; 1849, 6,277; 1850, 4,687. The West Riding of Yorkshire, in its criminal prosecutions, shows a similar result. I now come to another result of the po licy of the present and the last Ministry. Two years since London was crowded with deputations ardent in deprecating any interference with the navigation-laws. Fortunately for themselves and the country, their en treaties did not avail. They returned to their localities to rejoice in the inert ase of the shipping trade rather than to mourn its gradual extinction.— (Hear.) It is very true the entrance and clearing of foreign shipping has in creased, but it is equally true that British ships have also increased. I will admit all details of numbers of ships and tonnage which I have before me for the first eleven months of 1848, 1849, and 1850. I give you the gross increase of tonnage the first eleven months of 1849 and 1850: larger revenue than from our present limited censump tier), resulting from the almost prohihiqve duties of she present tariff ?—( :leer, hear.) But her Majesty expresses at the same time the sympathy she feels for the own,re and occupiers of land in the difficulties vshich now affect them, end a hope that the prosperity of the maeutac turiug and commercial interests will soon be productive of bent &lel effect to the agricultural body.—(Cheers.) And here, I trust, I may fairly ask the question, if such is the state of the commercial, manufacturing, and shipping interests, can it be supposed that the agricul tural is the only interest not destined to share in the general prosperity ?—(llear, hear, and cheers.) Is land exempt from the great law of progression ? It is impossible for wheat to fall from 7s. to ss. per bushel without causing great anxiety to owners and oc• cupiers of land, but no one can doubt that commerce has its ever-growing connexion with the soil by the substantial ties of property—(hear, hear)—and that the interests of all are identified ; and the fact of distress existing calls for every practical sympathy to he shown—(Cheers) —and that by the removing of every unjust burden which the friends of agriculture can show to press un fairly on its interests, and rejoicing in the fact of the alteration of the law, I cannot hesitate to express my wish that more time had heal allowed to adjust the interests which had, under the old and vicious system, hesn placs d ia a false position. It is easy to say that this adjustment is en tirely an elfair of landlord and tenant. It is so, but when we reflect that no good tenant could farm without imparting value to the land which it takes years to ab stract, a re-valuation at present prices is simply giving to the landlord a rental arising from value imparted by the expenditure of capital by the tenant. I believe it to be our duty, Sir, not only to carry out abstract princi ples of right, but where they affect large interests, by extensive alterations in the laws, that time should be given for the adjustment of the interests to the new and altered state of things.—(Hear.) But while I 'mike this admission, I believe that the good wishes to which her Majesty has given utterance in her gracious speech will be speedily realised, though in the transac• tion we must be prepared for difficulties and loss, espe cially to parties who are slow in adjusting their course of business to the altered state of things. It has, Sir, always appeared to me that we have looked at the price of wheat too much as a criterion of distress or pros perity. It is calculated that we have about 19 millions of acres arable, and 38,000,000 of pasture and meadow, while of the 19 millions acres less than 4,000,000 are employed in growing wheat. Agriculturists it is, therefore, obvious derive a large portion of their income from stock, and to them therefore the prosperity of trade and manufactures is a positive benefit and source of profit, and we find that although the price of wheat has declined the price of meat has declined very little, and that it was cheaper during many years of protection than it has averaged since. And I need not point out to the House that this has arisen entirely from the larger consumption of meat by the labouring classes--a circumstance at which we may well rejoice. —(Hear, hear.) The working men of this country dine now as working men should dine, on edibles furnished by the butcher. We have, unfortu nately, in this country no means of estimating the annual produce and consumption of food, and we must, therefore, content ourselves with an approximation tof.icts. I collect from the best sources that there were slaugh tered in England, in 1850,60,000 more beasts than in 1849, and we have local returns which give value to these calculations. The largest cattle salesman in Liverpool gives the following return of sales for the past year:—ln 1849 there were 109,287 oxen; in the year 1850, 123,213. They also state in their circular our imports of sheep to have been on a less extensive scale from Ireland, and we are now witnessing, to us, the novel feature, that store beasts have been lately sent into that country.—(Hear, hear.) I find the prices of meat during the last six months and the corresponding six months of a year since have been nearly the same. I find the in crease of consumption in England to be the counterpart of Scotland. The City Chamberlain of Glasgow makes the following return of animals slaughtered in tha city:— 1848 ••• ••• ... 132,150 1849 ••• •.. ... 161,527 1850 ••• ... 185,255 The increasedi consumption has fully kept up prices too in Scotland. I have now before me the prices current of Smithfield, Glasgow, and Liverpool fur the last two years, but I need only refer the House to Mr. Porter's admirable work, just published, and there it will be found stated, on unquestionable authority, that beef and mutton are dearer now than they were in 1843, 1844, or 1845, which were years of protection.—(Hear.) I have also before me the statistics, with which I will not weary the House, of the meat and stock carried by the principal lines of railway, which proves most unquestionably that our own farmers have in the three last years produced much larger quantities of stock. I have shown the con sumption is larger than ever, and I ask them if there is not solid ground for the belief that though there must be suffering in the transition, yet agricultural interests will be based on a solid, substantive foundation, and that it will depend on legitimate courses of prosperity, and that agriculturists will carry out all their engage ments with the sympathy of every class of the commu nity, with no fear of distrust taking the place of mutual confidence, but with such a union of all the interests of the country as shall be the best guarantee of commercial greatness and domestic strength.—(Cheers.) It I am not trespassing too much on the time of the House, I desire to call its attention for a few moments to the cheering prospects of progression in Ireland, which I doubt not will eventually be a source of strength, and contribute her quota to the general welfare.—(L'aid cheers.) Her comparative advance in industrial pur suits in the last sixteen years has been much greater than in the sister portions of the kingdom, Scotland and England.—(Cheers.) The number of persons engaged in cotton, silk, and woollen factories, I find has inert aced 158 per cent., while in Scotland the increase has been 51 per cent., and in England 67 per cent., and I find our cotton and flax manufacturers alone give employment to 350,000 persons at the present time, and that 300,000 females are employed at sewed muslins, the cost of which is almost entirely labour and profit. On turning to agriculture, I find the prospects are even more cheering. Capital is flowing into the country; land is being rapidly consolidated from the old and vicious state of conacre to farms of from 100 to 200 acres. In proof of this, I need only refer to Captain Larcom's returns; large breadths of land are being sown with cereals, the value of stock is increased, and that too much neglected bnt most valuable link between the agriculturist and the manufacturer, flax, is being more extensively and profitably cultivated; and I note with hearty pleasure the great eagerness of the people to es tablish packet-stations manufactories, as evidencing the desire which is always the precursor of success. We see also in Ireland the railway making its natural capa bilities available, and rapidly opening up its resources. Soon will its most distant parts be placed in ready communication with England ; and here, Sir, I cannot but regret that the advice of a late illustrious statesman, whose loss we deplored near the end of the last session, has net been more extensively carried out, and especially that the city of London, to whom we look for the initiative in this matter, has not prosecuted her intention beyond a public meeting. That corporation holds very large estates there by the favour of former Sovereigns.—(Hear, hear.) They possess, therefore, a personal interest in the country, and I had hoped to have seen laage tracts of country vested by purchase to them and to other corporate bodies, who could invest capital largely, and who, while blessing their country by the enterprise, would have left a valuable in vestment to their successors, and an enduring monu ment of their patriotism and public spirit.—(Hear, hear.) I cannot but point with admiration to the con- duct of a brother of the Noble Lord the Member for Evesham. He has turned a desert into a garden—a large estate from which no rental was derived into a re munerative property.—(Loud cheers.) He deserves well of his country, and his conduct is worthy of imita tion. There are most false impressions abroad as to the Irish character. I know from personal experience that if you pay the Irish labourer well, show him you care for him, and he is the most faithful and hard-working creature in existence; but if you find him in one part of his native country working for fourpenco per day, paid in potatoes or meal, and that where most of the misery exists, can we wonder that the results are as we find them? but give him legitimate occupation, remunerate him for his services, show him you appre ciate those services, and you may be sure you put an end to all agitation. He will be your faithful servant, and the loyal subject of his Sovereign.—(Cheers.) I trust I have, Sir, been able to show, though ineffectually, that the tone of trade in the whole country is healthy, sound, and rational—(Hear, hear)—the manufacturing inte rest busy and prudent—the people better fed and clothed than ever; that the agricultural interest must share in the general prosperity—(Hear, hear)—and with an ear nest desire that ail the wishes of our most gracious and much-loved Sovereign may be fully realised, I turn briefly to one or two other points in the Address, asking the House before I pass to the next subject to congratulate it, and through it the nation which it represents, on the satisfaction with which we can look forward to the visit of the world to the metro pelis.—(Hear, hear.) We cannot show our visitors that which some other nations could have shown them. The treasuries of art are not ours pre-eminently. In much that would have qualified and refined taste we are deficient, but, Sir, we are by no means deficient in those things which constitute the well-being of a nation.— (Hear, hear.) We abound in the evidences of substan- tial greatness—of permanent prosperity—uf genuine freedom—of the Sovereign's generous sympathy with the people, and of the people's intelligent devo tion to the Throne—(Luud cheers)—and com mercially, while we fear no competitor, we court reciprocity, and I believe this great meeting, while it tends to our well being as a nation, will conduce to the peace and happiness of the world.—(Cheers.) Her Ma jesty in her :gracious speech next refers to the assump tion of certain ecclesiastical titles, and to a Bill to be hereafter laid on the table of the House, and on this point I trust thee the wordieg of the Address will com mend itself to all.--(Hear.) No lion. Member, by giv ing his ti3.Sen t. to this Address, is bound to any subsequent course of action, nor cars I think that Hon. Members Professing the Roman Catholic faith are by it committed to any course of proceeding until the Bill to which it refers is laid on the tablo of this House. Her Majesty refers to a fact patent to ail, and while we all feel bound by every tie to protect the civil and religious liberty of the subject to the utmost, we are all equally bound, by our devoted loyalty and love to our Sovereign, to protect her prerogative from aggression of every kind also, and that to the utmost. We are not called on, Sir, to any reactionary course; the antecedents of the First Minister of the Crown are a pledge more than sufficient to the most timid mind, that while he would constitutionally preserve every right of the Crown, and her Majesty's civil supremacy, and while he will oppose determinedly the introduction of a code of laws alike opposed to the rights of the Queen and the civil liberty of the subject, he will not sully hie IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb 4. PAPAL AGGRESSION. Mr. WILLIAMS gave notice that he t•houlimove for a return of the r,sults which had occurred sintib the sth of August, 1849. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice that he should, on Tuesday next, move for returns of the taxes which had been imposed upon Ireland. GOVERNMENT MEASURES. Mr. HAYTER rose and said—Perhaps it will be convenient to the House if I state the order in which her Majesty's Government propose to submit certain measures for the consideration of the House. Therefore I beg to state that on Thursday, Feb. 6, the First Lord of the Treasury will move the following resolution : " That this House will not proceed on any motion for an Address to the Crown, to which opposition is offered, but in a Committee of the whole House, except with re spect to matters which have been previously submitted to riSelect Committee." On Friday, September 7—(Laughter) —he meant Feb ruary 7—the Noble Lord will move for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent tha assumption of certain ecclesiastical titles in respect of places in the United Kingdom. On Friday, the 14th February, the Chan cellor 'of the Exchequer will make his financial state ment.—(Hear, hear.) ROYAL SPEECH—THE ADDRESS. The SPEAXER having read her Majesty's Speech, The Marquis of KILDARE said, in rising to move that a humble Address be presented to her Majesty in reply to her most gracious Speech from the Throne, he hoped the House would grant him that indulgence which was always shown to one unaccustomed as he was to address the House while he made a few observations on the different topics al luded to in the Royal Speech.—(Hear.) It was a subject of sincere congratulation that her Majesty should con tinue to receive assurances of friendship frcm all foreign states. It was also most gratifying to find that at the present moment peace had been restored over the whole continent; and it was a source of still greater satisfac tion, that while there had been wars over a great part of the continent, this country had for years enjoyed uninterrupted peace.—(Loud cheers.) It was also a subject of congratulation that the universal peace which now existed had been in great part owing to the exertions of her Majesty's Government.—(Hear, hear.) He was glad to find that the measures which had been taken with regard to our relations with Brazil would tend more than almost anything: else to prevent the continuance of the slave trade.—(Hear, bear.) It was also a sou rce o f great congratulat i on that, notwith standing the re d uct i on of many taxes, the country was still in a flo ur i s hi ng state.—(Hear.) The next subj ec t mentioned in th e R oyal Speech, he regretted to say, this country He ref e r re d to the state of depress i on, which could not congratulate itself up on . the landed interest was now lying under.— (" Hear, hear," from the Opposition benches.) But he thought that whilst the other classes of the community were in a p rosperous state the con di t i on o f the landed interest must b e f ore l ong i m prove. The next subject mentions din the Speech wasi a very painf u l one, viz., the unjustifiable aggression in this country on the part of a foreign State. It would be the duty of this House, while it maintained the religious liberty of her Majesty's subjects, to consider the measures which were to be brought before it for the purpose of maintaining her Majesty's supremacy and the established religion of the land.—(Hear.) The next subject alluded to by her Majesty was the in tended reforms in the highest court of justice in the country, and the alteration of the law with regard to the registration of deeds. He considered the latter measure to be of very great importance. There was another subject of congratillation to which he (the Marquis of Kildare) would draw the attention f the House, which was the state of Ireland. It was gratifying to find that after that country had suffered from years of political agitation, rnen's minds were being drawn from political matters to industrial pursuits, and such occupations, he (the Marquis of Kildare) believed, were calculated, under the blessing of Di v i ne Provi deuce, to raise hi s c ountry to a higher pit c h o f pros perity than she had ever before enjoyed. The Noble Marquis concluded by moving the Address, which was an echo of her Majesty's Speech. Mr. PETO rose and said—Mr. Speaker, before I ven ture on the topics which the occasion and the gracious Speech from the Throne naturally suggest, I must throw myself on the kind and never-failing indulgence of the House, and state at once my great anxiety that no word shall escape my lips which shall Court debate, or pug- INCREASE OF TONNAGE. 1849 over 1848. 1850 over 1849 British 226 „ 207 ... 162 „ 843 Foreign have taken the returns of vessels cleared outwards, because that is an evidence of work done—the returns of vessels entering may be affected in a variety of ways, apart from the evidence of work done within the period specified. I must also very briefly call the attention of Hon. Members to the fact, that the repeal of the naviga tion-laws has not yet affected either the value , of ship ping or the demand. The ship-building of the Clyde, the Tyne, the Mersey, and the Thames, is fully equal in its activity to any preceding period, and within the last few days an eminent shipbuilder informed me the orders for ships and steamers on his books exceeded 400,0001. If I refer to the circulars of firms engaged in the sale of ships I find the same activity of trade indi cated.—(Hear, hear.) One of the largest firms in Eng land so engaged, and whose place of business is Liver pool, thus writes:—" It gives us pleasure to state that the amount of tonnage sold in 1850 in Liverpool exceeds that sold in 1849, being 81,028 tons against 78,212; showing an increase of 1850 over 1849 equal to 36 per cent.—(Cheers.) Now, us to the price of shipping, the same circular states—" New British ships have fully maintained our last quotations. Indeed we have felt the want of a larger supply of good vessels."_(Cries of " Hear, hear.") And as to the ships built in the Mersey port, their circular shows an excess of tonnage in 1850 over 1849 of 4,609 tons. I have made careful inquiries as to prices ruling at New York on all the items affecting the price at a hich ships can be built there. I have failed to find any reason for alarm. —(Hear, hear.) Their prices of labour exceed ours by more than So per cent., while the average of the cost of materials used is quite equal to their cost with us. A great revolution is now taking place in the shipping trade, and which revolution was in progress when the navigation-laws were repealed. That measure helped to anticipate the result--a result, I believe, which the re tention of protection would have rendered utterly dis astrous to us. The old mode of shipbuilding, it is ad mitted on all hands, will no longer do. Capacity without speed is the reverse of recommendation in a ship. What the American shipbuilderseffected, the Scotch have surpassed, and the result of the trial betweeu the Scotch built ships and steamers and the United States, shows us we have nothing to, apprehend, but much to gain, if British skill and enterprise be but relieved from all impediments. The merchants and traders of Liverpool are generally considered to be well and practically acquainted with all the circumstances which regulate commerce. I have several of their annual circulars before me, and I am struck with the unanimity of their testimony. One of the most eminent says—" The present year opens under circumstances of great encouragement. Money is abun dant—food of every kind cheap—geaeral trade is active and remunerative, finding ample employ ment for 'the industry of the country."—(Hear, hear.) With all that is so encouraging at home, there are evident symptoms of the gradual prevalence in foreign countries of sounder principles of international commerce : they are learning the lesson that it is better to buy economically, than to manufacture expensively—they are learning that the merchants of England are the best customers in every market —that their manufacturers are surpassed by none in skill a n d i ngenu i t y.—(H ea r, hear.) To ill ustrate the perfect certainty that such must be, in the course of events, the policy of every state, let us take France and her iron trade. Her protective iron duties are now so high, and aro of such a comparative amount, that she pays every five years the full value of purchase of every iron work in the kingdom on her home consumption only. Is it not self evident that it would be far more the policy of her people to receive our iron, and for us in treaty to take her light wino oupAger duties, and 3 , 191(1 t 9 913 r QW E4o:69qtier fair reputetion by any course which shall be lecq s i, is _ le v , ilt wil h !hat love ce true religi‘ us liberty hick he b 5: : it shown.—(Cheer.) And, Sir, I must ask Per w e i c s ho f Of the !louse to rt ad a short ,x;raet from a epees Te e that..Neble Lerd in introducing the repeal of th 'i t ion: Act in 1828—that Noble Lord bei, g then in cPP"L' e —"I now come to the great principle involved 11 1 "!_ d p f tr erous petitions before the House—petitions sign' ~f 3d bj the whole body of Dissenters, by Roman Cathelics,Tabst by many members of the Established Chera th „,- , fora principle is, that every man ou g ht to be allowed",l 00 1 his religious Opinions by the impressions oa-h betty mind, and that when so formed, he should be at 0 : 5 , to worship God accor di ng to t h e di cta t e s of 1 , 1 - i o m e en. science, without being subjected to any Pcil ait Yjesic' qualification whatever —that every restraint or r cree d non imposed on any man on account of his religietiSlieoe is in the nature of persecution, and is at once a- file to God and an injury to man.—( Hear. Thi s 1 ;10 t tot first and nobl e p r i nc i p l e on which the Diss° llter the repeal or the test laws; but I will fairly ediN i jor, there may be an exception to its application e ral hear)—and I will illustrate it by refere:.ce to lbet e iern si principle of non-interference by one state in the steed effairs of another.—(Hear, hear.) It may b© wet' that one state would not generally be justified it l l . oo o fering in th e i nterna l concerns of another; but i • oe s o f of the intern a l regu l at i ons of political institutlo the one state arc of suc h a nature as to lead direct l Y w • c ose injury of an o th er , t h en t h e i nterference prorr'Joeliv r menses on the part o f th e state ma ki ng suc h isire tioosi, and not on the part of the state which c am e fi g ius of them. I will say the same of religion; if t he r • ne ipl‘i of any body of men be found to contain politics' P l : J a wed hostile to the State, or militating against that itli e b t bst which is due from every subject of the Crowe , od case the question ceases to be a religious plod ° re' you have a right to interfere and impose " c oo do strictiona as you may deem necessary, becaus e ) e ; t eesi not impose them o n re li g i ous op i n i ons, you iteextrocli only on poli t i ca l d octr i nes. " Having rea d this. % eilb I trust we shall all feel we may reserve ourselv e of perfect confid ence t ill we see the Bill i n troducl it be doubted as t o t h e propr i ety of any Bill at s o f tbs brc.ught in, I point to Roman Catholic peers hat highest standing who h ave p u bli c l y d ec l a red • t legiance to th e canon l aw i s incompatible le l , i, es legiatice to the So vere i gn .—(H ear.) If sOi r o ts good reason for the introduction of sem ° ° erg ° for our consideration ; not, Sir, that those Noble L° l ‘,.,, tel recreant to their reli g i ous pr i nc i p l es i n t h us reseel; s ei Papal rescript; not that through the indirect in, der of Protestantism they have adopted views whichlii, the times they hav e abhorred. Nothing like ".' the Papal rescript would have been resented I . ° oo pahniest days o f t h e R oman Catholic reli,gloll this country—(Cheers, and cries of " No, cot e , D ole Sir, our earlie s t n at i ona l history is full of inclu%, of which the people, the Parliament, and the b er t l l England, Catholics as they all were, iudignePs'ill te° claimed against such intrusions on the part 0- sip man Pontiff. The canon l aw , f or example, has:iptile been hateful to E ng li s h men, and I do trust tbs t measures to be taken its operation in this country oiled rendered null and vo id, ot h erw i se we sha ll be era „ellie in interminable intestine disputes utterly mess ou r ou r , with the safety, the honour, and the welfare 1,013 i. Sovereign and her dominions.—(Hear, hearq e . t ore° all Hon. Members will feel they can concur th e of the Address, and I hope we shall postpone 1 1 1 00' bate on a subject so exciting until the m atter - also 5 154 stantively befor e us .—(Ch eers.) Her bifki e ''' SS" A speaks of c er t a i n c h anges i n the courts of 01-d" 1 ,1 pr s ' law, and the registration of deeds relating to r e e elli" perty. All H on . M em b ers who represent l a rge ° I 0 6 tuencies must be alike familiar with the gea er e li e b urgent wish that exists for law reform; sad 197- t iesit° they would desire a temperate, well-considered O w bar of the suffrage, I am sure they will fiel, t e - sebe t , Majesty's Ministers in deferring that anti , ": 00 session, and takingl up the great cla e l 10: law reform in our courts of equity t i eeiee' have exercised a sound discretion. The esta l " .7 l .- es / 1 and extension of county courts has, so far es ! er g aud introduced a sweeping change in pleading Pra c e /i tste l evidence; but the change of the law in the fiette"., g eore of America has made the people of this cocotT•r e seti alive than ever to the necessity of great cluing° department of our legal administration. I can °- i e the press a hop e , w hi c h i s, t h at it will be uuderte kee „ spirit which th e f o lll ow i ng short extract from,a, Tj it De neat author would d emonstrate. He SaY5:". fie° not be deterred by clamour against innovati oo o3 oo , abrogating what is useless, simplifying what isc ° . fi tscs or determining what is doubtful ; nor attempt I° , e lcb' off an immediate pressing difficulty by Loo B ' work scheme of mo difi cat i ons an d ecePt a sife but let us cons u lt f or poster i ty i n a co mprem i , e ol scheme of legal philosophy."—(Hear, heart) je j e se th e necessary that I should point oat to the ee,, - „ Li t ioe - great benefits which must accrue from a teg fa " - ePor deeds of real property. All the inconvenience, 8010 mice, and expense, together with the delaye ssd arises from th e want o f i t, i s famil i ar to 5 1'01 any Government w hi c h w ill originate sadbi out a well-di geste d and simple Plan' re° . which the transfer of real estate can O w the dered more easy and inexpensive, will add o f the value of property, and deserve the hearty thach e e ie Legislature.--(Hear and cheers.) It now, Sir, °P ee : II mains for me to thank the House for its indulges , „of, Sir, only earnestly desire that Divine Providelloes illuminate our common path, guide all our coon ° g oi 1) ,° so direct all our e ff orts t h at our leg i s l a tion if le eminently practical, equal, and promotive of tee interests of th e U n i te d Ki ng d om. With this ;yetel sion, Sir, I ear nes tly commen d , b y an utianirsc a " c l4o the adoption of the Address to h er Majesty.--(11°- continued cheering.) leMr. ROEBUCK th en rose and said, t h a t never 6i ci l he had the hon our t o b e a Member of that Houseoa risen with so mu c h p a i n as on the present cccasiote be Ilb the consider a ti on o f ot h er addresses to her eee_.ter• might have felt pain ; b u t t h e f ee li ng w hi c h he now ; ii it tamed was a cle a r f ee li ng on hi s own m i n d, the; that of a calm and d e lib erate judgment. The rea son ° $OO. pain was, that now for the first time since be (bi t ' an buck) had been a M em b er of that House be f °lln 11 4 ; Administration calling itself Lib era l— a n Ade: o°9 oe tiun the head o f w hi c h h ad. gained all his 1100°Ierieelld his great p os i t i on as one of the great e' tee ° party—taking the first step backwards, 5 ,t, nob° at which onwar d progress was the a'6,g , file mark of th e day. He was surprised to find °' step backward was taken by that Administra ti° :!' be tel by that Premi er w h o had been the advocate o f measures. The Hoe. Seconder of the Address r o flo ferred to Noble Lord's antecedents as a Pr a° ,:ktlial s e liberal policy. Last year he (Mr. Roebuck) sh a been willing to rely upon the Noble Lord's antecede s) er o now he could not do so. He (Mr. Reeh tic ,;: t be t surprised to find that, with such antecede n eee°' Noble Lord could come forward as the °Pr 41 30 of civil and religious liberty. What W er u e libej antecedents of the Noble Lord? He was distill/ 4 t ow' as being the organ of the party which brought e t° Co t ' the motion for the repeal of the Test a n d s top' poration Act in 1825, and now he was Old 0 9 7 ping civil and religious liberty. He wool c„. the attention of the Honourable Secteee- o. the Address to an observation °tie° file that period by one wh o k new well riuisteos.; mind of man was—by Mr. C ann i ng. He sai d, of what you are doing—mind what you are shbile so soon as you reliev e t h e Dissenters from their o ' ll ,o ties, you will find i n t h em your bitterest °PllO35° when you propos e to remove the disabilities of the 11t.109; n Catholics." Well, th e y h ad now no er disse; No, now theeihad one united Protestan o te g ry, in ‘ be were conjoined. He could not help remarking urn e ° f t he admirable artifice of the Honourable Seconde r n - tt t bs Address, in his remarks upon the conduct 11/r1 Noble Lord. Now what was the time a t the Noble Lord bad chosen to s t e p lorpi of a time when he put into the 01°11- e h e our gracious Sovereign congratulations upon l e 00 ° creased happiness of the labouring classes, It! re, when, alt er a l ong experience of law by wh ic % - ( 10 0 :,' b Arictions o n re li g i on and on trade and on were swept away, he put into her mouth wj ebi c e congratulation f or th e f act o f increased happineesd bee ,t; they n ow en j oyed. Since 1828 the country b 5.0 tt; going o n i n one l i ne of legislation. On that °cc/ 01 1 0 0 0 % great Protestant hero whose death they now d eP beer'i and whose loss they felt that day—(ff earc etelO r yielding to the exp erience an d the p ress ure of of 011° stances is Ireland ; and th e D u k e of Wellington' had seen, as he said, more years of war than a ny f cif° of' his time, and k now i ng, h e sa i d, the mischiefs °olio, war, he would to save th e country from one mon th ° Pe na give his life, under that pressure, consented brace the Emancipation A ct . T hese great e ou : men taking up the principle acted upon t e a carried it out frankly. Sir Robert Peel vi was suggested t o hi m to pay the Cat h o lic c to said he had considered the question, and 51 ;1,0" portant one it was, and that he would Dot e hg fere with th e i nterna l polity of the Catholic r.,,teal• no more than h e wou ld with the Wesleya n The That was th e p r i nc i p l e upon which he welaet* t Noble Lord and his party felt great pain, and e e j e t o '' say great jealousy, that these men, the •Df al vest liberality and dissent, should come in and i t OP away the honour for which they had laboured. t the complained by the party o f the Noble Lord t he t eo o , e honour belonged to th em , f or t h at they h a d got Tel° emancipation and others h a d gained the honottro• 0 01 showed that had the Duke of Wellingt °° ,, e red done as he did, the party would have Pe t. : 1 1100' in their demand fur complete eloa ri f s l e a I ' t t hs , and that their wishes were gratified by the fec'' t i o g 5 ," Roman Catholics were now upon the same fa fdisitb`' their Protestant brethren, and that no politics+ o j o es. litics was imposed in consequence of religious °P i when Now, when such was the state of this countrY d id tb° such was th e onwar d progress of opinion, what nueee's Noble Lord propose to do? He told them (th e T a d r e- Speech being the Noble Lord's speech) that sh° by ceived many addresses from large bodies of her s _ d y with respect to the ecclesiastical titles conferre d t i ta foreign power, and the Noble Lord does not lea!_ e on' doubt as to his intentions on the subject, for al r s ci will ing notice has been given that the Noble - 1 -4_u 10 00 or ss' ll _ efe ered bring in a Bill to prevent the enjoyment of any ecclesiastical title or honour that may be eu la u ces by any foreign sovereign or prince in respect o f P w ell par the United Kingdom. That is to say, that he ro tes! to pieces the religious distinctions that have been g ..1t g lion' a by the bishop, who is called the Pope o f be• the Noble Lord meant to say that there halePe ne w ho Its° weak Sovereign on the ba n k s o f the Tiber , this chosen to give certain names and titles to persons visa vise ° country, if that be what t h e N o bl e L or d meant,ti O bject fair course for him to p ursue, an d i t w ould be vot the , against which to dire c t h is attac k s , b u t that erns sho wn case.—(Hear, hear.) Th e N o bl e L or d had alwar dea lleg himself to be, and h e b e li eve d hi m to b e , a fr etni D iAnifs man; and he asked hi m , was i t not aga inst the . , of Rome his A ct was directed?—(hear, hear') was the Bishop of R ome ? H e was a porreignur e , I *,} 2.„ i • 1 " I I . e t I? I zn, el d~ ti t ( t c 41 hi