The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-10 00:00:00

•i'er, , ,r.el eh wool the 4 par or-house . cond!tion hat there hich are pted itely twit: ind water )erfi. oda y witout dominant ough int" at we d ' ity Court passed it 2 opinion great de' behalf 0 1 of no use ores into to to House views 00 wever, IV rs of the Londe?' inconeie• of health Heap' Cted their it place(' x had ni:).t tter habr Ist iay r all the rossed in the poor, :k dutiegt le to tbst iII unles 6 air. He gh]y he llouto th• na' such iv 9 et of big ears, and ►e House ley kept lead 0 0 hint tbst By would be effect pie MO 0 ►t he vini 2tlch Geo' nt of the 113 same tred, w 9 pleasure bolow let so fer om y ; IN!I upset' 1 was inv d unksi quadree , at if the retained ?s under omy had !ted that brough t been 10 0 nnmitteo that ° deduct' ying t" the EV, , o, out o f ly to int o Pubho T Ti RUM Pleasant, undoubtedly, to a Uhaneeil r oF the ut whilst te i k p ' Ac heclurr to b e ti ld e t o got on without taeatiore , res wore neteeeittrv, it was tilt' rut . ) k): thee Chencellor of the. F xc ht quer to hick to them. fiat ou, to 8 titrdutyy, of e there b e i ng three triiilhens and a half of thie which three millietts were exempted I rum e th iti e ?dolor that the. window-tax was levied mainly on the benefit of the rich, was an assertion de fortY °PPosed to fact. The real reason of tee discere .ll • • c prevailed the dwellinga of the poor, was not so their Much the operation of this tax, as it arose intro general poverty. A csdeage with six windows was ouoo , ' property, and one of that class having two rooms the ground floor was better, as many Hon. Members would perhap s think, then ninety-isiee out of a hundred In the country. It must be obvious to the House that the w is 9 r plan was to adopt the old principle of keeping the burdens which we had, rather than go to others which they know nothing of; and holding that principle he Ras nneillieg to give up the ainelete -tax until he sow his way clea r ly w ith a fitting substitute; and his hie Friend had referred to the oppressive operation of this tax upon the poor, . but he must know, that the hou "'tax was token off by Lord Althorn, in preference to the window -tax, because the former did not so ma terially affect the richer classes of society. ]for these statement s and for th ose w hich were contained in the •'stements he Lai made to the House on previous i occa s • ons, he felt it kis duty to resist the motion of his Noble Friend. Lord DUDLEY STUART said that this tax was one Which very naturally ail eted the interests of the great Proportion of the inhabitants of the metropolis, who Were exceedingly anxious to see it tepealed, as was a mPly testifi e d by th e num b e r o f petitions presen ed, and from having had the honour to present one, which was signed l by 5,000 ra t e p a y ers o f th e p ar i s h of Marylehone, Re was desirous of saying a few words upon the subject. believed there was no tax that was looked upon with greater aversion by the people of this country. It was a tax which had lasted for a great many years, and bad always been the occasion of murmur, aversion, and eta inour,—(flear, hear.) He thought his Noble Friend had d one himself honour by his motion, and had endeared himself to the people of the country, and that the Go vernment, by resisting it, had done exactly the contrary. 4e remembered the way in which his Noble Friend had been met on a f o rmer occasion two sessions ago. It Was not the Chancellor of the Exchequer then, but the Noble Lord at the bead of the Government, wbo intro duced a budget, and in it a proposal was made that the income- tax should -be increase 1. The Noble Lord en treated the House to accede to his proposition, portray ing the most calamitous consequences in the event of retin a ) , and said that after two years t h ey wou ld h ave an excess of revenue, and that prosperity would reture. The Noble Lord forgot for the moment to use the official caution of not mentioning the exact t ime, and he had turned out right in the time which he did mention. The House did not answer his appeal. It refused to vote the additional 2 per cent. on the in come-tax, notwithstanding which, none of the disasters occurred which the Noble Lord predicted. Prosperity had now returned to the country, and he wanted to 'louse, from w h a t t axes th e y w e re to be relieved. If the ' l ouse, following the course which it had adopted on the occasion to which he alluded, would refuse to grant the w indow -tax at all, the Government would soon find a Way of getting on without it.—(Elear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had remitted the duty on bricks, which he did not say would not benefit the poorer ° Lasses, but certainly it was of minor consequence. As to the stamp-duty remission, which was also contem- Plated, he believed it would prove no remission at all; neither did he believe that the revenue would lose by the contemplated change. Whenever the motion for the repeal of this duty was made, they had the same an swer over and over again from every Chancellor of the exchequer who had resisted it, viz., that they wanted the money. The uniform opinion of men of science on the prejudicial operation of this tax in a sanitary point of view ought to show the Government the inconsistency of allo w i ng it to remain in force; and if the Chancellor of the Exchequer still said that the revenue could not bear the reduction, he would have him to consider Wheth e r th e country would much longer submit to lay it. He should cordially support his Noble Friend's Motion.—(Hear.) Sir GEORGE PECHELL observed that it was now 15 years since he heard the Chancellor of the Exchequer inform the house that if the Gallant Officer the Mem ber for Winchester would withdraw his motion for the repeal of the window duty, it should be taken into con sideration in the next cession. That was in June, 1835, and since then they had six Chancellors of the Exche quer, and yet . the question remained at the present day Precisely where it did then. The number of cases de cided by the judges on appeals, showed the large amount of sarchargesetnnually made in the assessment to this obnoxious tax; and so difficult was it for a person to Understand the nature of his surcharge, that many par ties submitted to it rather than contest it with the sur veyor. A mere aperture in the wall counted as a win dow, so that a man did not know when he was safe. People thought they were safe under Lord Althorp's Act, but that was no security, for a gentleman who had compounded for seventeen windows under that Act, had opened twenty-five, and upon an appeal he was sur charged, it having been held that he had lost his occupa tion by having let his house to a tenant. He also stated the case of a farmer, who was surcharged, which he quoted, to induce the friends of the farmer to support the motion. Sir BENJAMIN HALL said, when a subject of im portance was debated in that House, the public devoted attention to it. In a morning paper of that day it was said that the present question was brought forward under difficulties, as it preceded the financial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, so that it would be objected it was premature, and if postponed it would then be said it was too late. He saw no reason that the Irish should be exempted from this tax, while it was le vied in this country. They had a right to be placed on the same footing with the Irish. This question might be regarded as a sanitary measure, and he hoped his Noble Friend would persevere in bringing this question forward every session, for it was only by continually knocking at the dcor that he could succeed. Mr. MIME said there was now levied between fifty seven and fifty-eight millions of taxation, although ten years ago it was not more than fifty-two millions a year. He saw no reason why this large amount of taxation should not be reduced. The only way to diminish the expenditure of the country was by refusing the vote of money to the Government. The amount of the tax was eighteen h un d re d t h ousan d s a year , an d if th e y wished for a reduction of taxation, the way was to remove this tax, and they would then find the Government bringing forward diminished estimates in the various departments of expenditure which were now Unnecessary. They ought to put the screw on the Go vernment, and keep it on, if they wished to enforce economy. It was said there was nothing new in this question; that was not the case. Since this question Was first introduced they had learned the importance of sanitary regulations, and nothing was more calculated to promote health than light and air. A petition was pre sented to that House signed by eighty-eight medical men, which stated that giving light and air by removing this tax would promote health, and be economic by re lieving th e poor-rates. The amount now levied could be obtained trom the parties now paying it in another Way, but which would not prevent the free access of light and air. The a ithdrawal of the African squadron would make up the loss sustained by repealing this tax. It would, at all events, contribute 700,00 0 /. If they, therefore, would do away with this tax, they would soon get rid of the squadron. Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR said, considering . the interest the Government took in the question of sanitary i Mprovement, their refusal to repeal or modify this tax Was done with a great loss of character. Lord DUNCAN, in reply, said the speech which he had first made in support of this motion had not been Yet answered ; and, under these circumstances, he hed U 0 other course to pursue in proposing his motion than to reiterate the speech which he had first made in its support. The course pursued by the Government with regard to this measure would disparage their sincerity 'n T promoting sanitary reforms. he Hous e then divided, when there appeared— , For the motion Against it ... ..• ... 80 Majority ... —3 The announcement of the division was received with several rounds of cheering by the minority. „,NCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. b .I:he SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in asking leave to ri ng in a Bill to provide more simple and effectu al se ourlties for a Ivances to purchasers of encumbered estates to Ireland, said that this Bill was intended sclely fur the e r aelit of proprietors of estates in Ireland. The object :`,The meeeure, as alleged by some persons, was not solely for the benefit of English purchasers of land in :eland. He did nut think that any single measure I Nd be introduced that would produce any very exten r° number of English purchasers of land in Ireland. t tl making a dv a nces to purchasers of land in Ireland wo objects should be aimed at; first, to induce advances of luoney ; and, second, to make the repayment of the ..° ' l °Y advanced as secure as possible. In order to se ," nt% these objects the various provisions of this Bill :e re drawn up. They provided for the security of the (h :slice by giving a power of sale in three mouths, in W . 'eult of the regular payment of interest, which ," also provided for. A Parliamentary title Would be given by means of a certificate in certain form, which could be transferred W hen desired, as easily as a bill of exchange. Upon this security proprietors of land could easily obtain advances Lhmoney for the improvement of the land. Without ° possession of capita was a There l it was impossible largo amount to make th of e asud productive. A e n°Y in En g land, which it might be possible to divert th is this c h anne l o f I r i s h improvement. If the Bill had effect it wou ld be most beneficial to Ireland. If it b ad not that effect it would be a dead letter. It could do no tls harm t o any one . H e an ti c ipated great benefit from "c substitution cf a Parliamentary title instead of the pre sent expen s i ve an d elaborate mode of conveyance. He d °Ped th e H ouse wou ld a ll ow th e me a s ure to be intro t:ced, that they might see what it was. Undoubtedly se ere would b e grea t difference of opinion upon this i ti ", Ject; but th e ge n e r a l feeling in Ireland seemed to be 'avow of the gene' al scope and principle of the mea sure. Col one l D UNNE said that un d ou b te dl y t hi s measure Iv he be of grea t i m p or t ance to Ir e land. By the co urse had pursued ou a former occasion he had succeeded t utci J a ttracting public attention. The Bill now they were ba was to be for the benefit of Irish proprietors, tor erlY it was said to be for the benefit of Irish speculators. Tee SOLICITOR-GENERAL—No. (so Colonel DUNNE--ile should say that he had the i'lLtsto„ur belonging to a society established two years I ,r e. tor the protection of the Irish proprietors, who were I T to be swamped by the recent measure of encum of TI estates, and in that he bad the concurrence of some t0 ,.. 1 •;;e high es t aut h or i t i es , an d th ose men .rho were piie disinterested, as not belonging to the British ere zwe'e When he reflected on this matter, he was re 'Ned that that society to which he belonged had made every exertion to meet the wishes of Government by giving them a valid security for the lean to be s,-ranta d for the improvement of Trish estates; hut in thet he and tile Irish proprietors with whom he was coenectea ouno that they were totally disappointed; for thet Gitaerinecut had no notion of granting that loan which had been mooted by them. He should, how, ver, say thee be was glad that this measure was introduced, and did hot therefore mean to oppose it; but so tar from that, hoped that her Majesty's Government would support the Lill, as he considered it would be very conducive to the inte rests and welfsre of the Irish proprietor and the Iri:h farmer.—(Hear, hear.) He was highly gratified with the clear and intelligible exposition of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and hoped from that exposition that a cow petition would not be raised between the Irish proprietor and other parties, such as the London Congeal), who, by their wealih, could not be competed with; end he felt bound to add, that he did not think that the purchasers would have any advantage by a Parliamentary Bill. lie then adverted to the abuse of a sale of a gentleman's property in the county of Westmeath, whose name he did not wish to mention. This could not but elicit the indignation cf every Hon. Member, when he was informed that that property was sold under the Encumbered Es tates Bill fur 600/., which was only one y ear and a halt's purchase, and that he attributed solely to the bad let.,isla tion of the present Government. Sir L. O'.I3RIEN said that though he agreed with the encumbered estates measure to a certain extent, yet he considered that many a landed proprietor in Ireland was materially injured by its working, in consequence of new creditors coming suddenly on those proprietors like a set of harpies to annoy them in the moment of their difficulties and embarrassment. lie thought that nothing could be more unjust than that Government should em power creditors to dispose cf property after only two days' notice, particularly when many of those landed proprietors could not obtain their rent for the last two years, and he therefore thought that if it were the in tention of the Government to make stringent laws for the sale of land, that they should give the landlords ano ther mote forcible power to recover their rents, particu larly as many of the landlords had expended large sums of money for the improvement of those lands. He was cf opinion that if the Right lion. Gentleman had taken a retrospective view of this measure, that much good would be effected; yet he should say that be doubted the sale of the property in the county of Mayo to which the Hon. and Gallant Member (Colonel Dunne) alluded. Mr. FRENCH said that he could assure the Hon. Baronet (Sir L. O'Brien) that the property alluded to by his Hon. and Gallant Friend (Colonel Dunne) was located in the county Mayo, and that its income being 4001. per annum, it was sold for foul., which was only a year and a half's purchase, for he knew the proprietor,:a Mr. M'Laughlin. When he referred to this case he was reminded of the 658 cases under the Court of Chancery, of which number only four were disposed of under the Encumbered Estates Act. The Hon. Gentle men then alluded to several cases of property being sold at a considerable discount, some of which were sold at 8f per cent. under the ordnance valuation. He was to tally at a loss to account for this new light which had beamed on the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Solicitor- General) which never appeared lot fore, and which, it appeared, tended to illume all the members of the Go vernment, namely, that there was a great quantity of land to be sold in Ireland. Mr. NAPIER objected to the introduction of this Bill on the same grounds as he had opposed the Encumbered Estates Bill, because he thought many would be ruined by such a measure. When he heard it advanced as an argument in favour of this Bill that there had been much land brought into the market, he would ask what was to become of the claims of the many creditors, who would not receive a fair dividend of the sale, and should add that, though it was necessary that some experiment should be tried, yet that the present was quite auoma!ous as not being likely to meet the demands or wishes of any party. He therefore thought it was of the utmost importance to make every endeavour to support the landed interest in Ireland by the introduction of some measure preferable to the present in the opinion of all persons connected with the landed interest. He should say, with respect to the property sold in the county of Mayo, to which the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. French) alluded, - that the low purchase aas owing to a want of adve. tising the sale. He thought, therefore, that this measure—certainly an experimental one—deserved the greatest attention, and he should, if the Bill were allowed to be brought in, give it every attention in his power, so as to assist io making it as perfect as possible. Mr. SADLEIR would suggest to the Government that there should be au arrangement by which the ,time might be fixed, for greater convenience between parties, and also a place, when and where this money might be paid, ,without making it peremptory to pay it into the Bank of Ireland, and also that there should be an ar rangement entered into, by which the Bank of Ireland might lend money un land debentures in Ireland, as the Bank of England had dune in times of great depression of lauded interests in England. He thought that every allowance should be made for proprietors of estates in Ireland whose encumbrances were yet moderate, and that every exertion should be allowed them to keep them selves, as far as possible, out of the operation of the Encumbered Estates Bill; but he apprehended that the '• nursing" of estates, on which there were encumbrances, would be productive of injury to the ownere, and would ultimately bring them within the operation of the Bill. He thought that great credit was due to the Solicitor- General for having proposed a 1.3111 which, like this, would facilitate the advancement of money on landed property in Ireland. It had been said by some Hon. Members in the House, that nothing could be more im politic and injurious on the part of the Government than affording a facility to landed proprietors in Ireland to borrow money on the security of their lands in Ire land; but nothing could be more erroneous, and on those grounds, amongst others, he confessed he was glad to see such a Bill as the present brought under the considera tion of the House. Mr. STAFFORD hoped be was under a misappre hension, if he understood the Solicitor- General to say that the Government tad given up all idea of encou raging the investment of English capital in the purchase of land in Ireland. It he was wrong in that impression he should rejoice, because he regarded such a statement as calculated to lead to the greatest mischief in relation to the interests of the people of Ireland, and of that country generally. They could not improve Ireland, legislate as they would, until they get English capital introduced into that country, and they need not hope for improvement in Ireland until they have a certainty of English security for the capital that might ho invested in that country. He could not sit down without saying that the greatest credit was due to the ion. and Learned Gentleman the Solicitor-General, for his exertions in the measures which he had introduced, to raise Ireland from her low ()erudition; and while he made that acknow ledgment, he would take the opportunity of saying that great allowance ought to be made, and he trusted would be made, for the unfortunate individuals whose proper ties were encumbered, and that every indulgence would be extended to them in their efforts to extricate their estates from the encumbrances upon them, before resort ing to the extreme course ( f a sale. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained that the expression which ho made use of with respect to his apprehension that English capitalists would not invest their money iu the purchase of Irish estates did not ex- press the opinion of the Government, but his own. Ho thought, in fJrrning that opinion, that persons who were about to purchase property had generally some idea of going to reside on it, and as matters stood in Ireland, he doubted that English capitalists would have any great desire to go and reside in that country, and therefore he came to the conclusion that it was not very likely th,t English capital would be invested in the purchase of landed property in Ireland. With respect to the state ment that an estate in Ireland had been sold for a year and a half's purchase, he might remark that the whole of the property might he sold for a liability of the owner, no matter what might be due, provided the owner did not pay. That was to say, if the owner of a property did not pay, the covenanter could sell either part or the whole of the property for the encumbrance with which it was charged. The case, however, of this property of 400 E a year having been sold for a year and a halt's purchase, ought to be inquired into, to ascertain if any thing wrong, or requiring redress, had taken place in the transaction.—(Hear, hear.) Great difficulties, however, lay in the way of a sale. The House would recollect, that under the Act, it was necessary that the creditors selling any estate should state the amount of rent which it let for. Now, ho could state instances to the House of cases wherein, when inquiries were made on the subject, neither the owner of the estates, nor the stewards, nor the tenants who occupied the lands, knew what the rent of those estates amounted to.—(Laughter.) The landlord did not know it, the steward did not know it, and, with respect to the tenants, all they knew about it was, that the steward came there from time to time to and took as much as he could.—(Much laughter.) Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. SUPPLY. The Report of the Committee of Supply was broughtt up. Several resolutions having been agreed to, on the re solution for defraying the expenses of the commissariat, Mr. SPOONER put a question with reference to some unoccupied ground purchased for barracks which had not yet been built upon. Lord J. RUSSELL regretted he could not reply to the question—the Right Ron. Gentleman the Secretary for the Home Department not being in the House. Mr. SPOONER thought some account should be ren dered to the House of what was done with the money. The resolution was then agreed to. On the resolution for the defraying the expenses of the Admiralty and offices, Colonel SIBTHORP said he was well aware how useless it was for so small a man as he was in that House to attempt to raise an objection successfully to such a vote. He had endeavoured the other evening to dis charge a painful duty—for no one was more attached to the two services, the army and navy, than the humble individual who then addressed them. He was bound to make that declaration, fur those who had gone before him, and those whom he loved, had been and were in those services. He had lort an amiable brother in the navy, who had not been undistinguished in his lifetime. He had two sons in the army, he was not ashamed to say , —one of whom had not been undistinguished in the ser vice of his country at Moultan. Those ties must natu rally make hirn attached to the service, and therefore he was justified in saying he discharged a painful task when he rose tte previous night, from a sense (f public duty. and proposed the reductions which he did. He could have no other motive for his proceeding than his public duty. He knew but few of the parties—his old friend the First Lord of the Admiralty and his respected friend Admiral Dundas—and when lie proposed reductions in the salaries of the superior clerks, sv'no, he believ e d, per formed their duties in a most efficient manner, he only did no because he was actuated by those principles of economy which were professed by his side of the House, and by the at er side also, but very little practised. He took the sense of the House on his motion, and he flattered himself he should have been supported by a vast number of lion. Members on his aide of the House, 140144TD0N, who were professedly a ivocates of economical prin ciples and economical pursuits. He regretted to say he was left in a minority, arid though ho coud hnrdly cx pect much support, that should not make him iorget his duty, and he would stand forward to do bit.: du:y l tint even if he only got the support of one Hun. illember. He did not wish to throw ratio obstacks in the way of the vote, and would not take up the time of the House with any hopeless opposition. He had done what he conceived he ought to have done, and he did not regret what he had done. He c as, however, afraid that the Noble Lord, for whom he entertained a respect, though he disliked his principles, who had promised a Committee, would yet hesitate to carry propositions fur reductions pr.ctically into effect. He would, however, catch the Noble Lord as a cat watched a mouse. He would say no more, except to repeat he did not regret tt:e course he hat! pursued. Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY did not think the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman I ai made out a ease for the reduc tion which he had prop6sed. Ile was of opinion that a most vigilant superintendence ought to be exercised in tie dockyards and other departments. The vote was then agreed to, as were also the remains ing votes. The Exchequer bills (9,200,0001.) Bill, as amended, was considered. The thick Unties Bill was raid a third time and passed. The third reading of the Judgments (Ireland) Bill, and the Committee on the Stamp Duties Bill, were post pored till Thursday. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. On the motion for the second reading of the Chari table Trusts Bill, Mr. G OULBURN desired to offer a few remarks in reference to the proposed measure. The Bills did not, in his opinion, fulfil its title, and it was based on a wrong principle. He thought that charitable trusts, under 1001. annual value, had as good and as just a right to faithful administration as those over 1001. per annum; but the former were proposed to be taken out of the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, and placed within the control of the Masters in Chancery, or the County Court Judges. If the Learned Solicitor-General, in stead of adopting such a principle, gave his attention to the preparation of such rules of the Court of Chancery as would enable charities to be administered at a small expense,the thought he would he doinga great public ser vice; whereas, if he persevered with the Bill in its pre sent shape, the effect would be most unsatisfactory. He objected to a transfer of the administration of cha ritable trusts under 201. to County Court Judges. There were sixty of those judges, each of whom, in all probability, would decide points of equity on dif ferent prinoiples in each case—a serious evil, against which he thought they ought most carefully to guard. Would it be safe to leave in the Lands of county court judges the appointment of trustees of charitable trusts for education purposes, and to empower them to decide whether those trusts should be administered for purely secular, or for religious purposes ? Against this prevision of the Bill he entered his protest, believing that the best course would be to leave the administration 'se those trusts with the Court of Chancery, and to render the proceedings of that tribunal less expensive. Mr. TURNER said that the Bill deeply affected the interests of the poorest classes of the people, and imposed on the House a most serious and important duty, that of selecting an honest and faithful tribunal to administer the charities belonging to those classes. The Bill pro posed to deal with all charities under 100/. per annum, which amounted to 21,000, and involved capital to the extent of 1,000,000/.—(Hear, hear.) It was desirable and necessary that proper persons should be selected as trustees, and it was equally necessary that, when ap pointed, they should be interfered with as little as pos sible, provided that the decisions were bona fide car ried cut. It was also advisable to provide a speedy and efficient remedy against abuses of charitable trusts, and to take care that no groundless com plaints of their application should be encouraged. The Bill, he considered, was deNctive in guarding against litigation. In matters of charitable trusts between 301. and 1001. it gave absolute jurisdiction to masters of the Court of Chancery without appeal, a proceeding contrary to the general practice and feeling throughout the coun try, and the more objectionable, inasmuch as the masters would have the power not only of appointing but of re moving the trustees. To the jurisdiction of the county court judges in matters of trusts under 301., he had the strongest possible objection, inasmuch as those judges were not loc ally resident, and would derive their know le ige of the parties proposed as trustees from their clerks, who, generally speaking, were solicitors, and took an active part in local politics. Another objection he had to referring these matters to the judges of the county courts was, that iu the administration of those charities they would be apt to be swayed by political considerations, and would therefore work the charities for the benefit of local politics. There was, besides, an other grave objection he had to the measure. A power was given to the Lord Chancellor, should he think proper, to remit the administration of charities to those judges above 1001. a year, so that the chari ties of Harrow and Eton might, should the Lord Chancellor deem fit, be consigned to the keep ing of those county court judger. He did not deny but that there was a necessity for legislation on the sub ject, but be thought the remedy lay in removing the existing evils of the Court of Chancery. Let them give one of the Chancery judges the same powers to adminis ter those charities as any of the other judges had at chambers, and they would find them administered much better, and as cheap as by the mode proposed by the pre sent measure. Another convenient tribunal to which they could refer their administration, would be the com missioners of bankruptcy throughout the country, but, at all events, he trusted the House would not sanction the principle of conferring the power to administer them upon the judges of the county courts. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he quite agreed with those who had preceded him, as to the importance of the measure, as no better evidence of its importance could be named than the fact already stated, that the ag gregate value of those under 30/. a year amounted to about 300,000/. per annum, and also from the fact that in every one of those trusts where a breach of trust might be committed, no redress could be had in conse• quence of the expense which would be incurred in ob taining it. It was, therefore, highly important that some steps should be taken to remedy the evil. His Hon. and Learned Friend had said that the remedy was a reform of the Court of Chancery, but while he was not disposed to dispute the proposition, that if the Court of Chancery was as it should be those trusts could be properly and efficiently administered by it, still, after the attempts which had been made to effect a reform of that court, and after seeing the issue of those attempts, he thought it must be some time before such reform could be effected. No doubt but in the end a reform would he effected, but what was to become of those trusts in the meantime? The present measure had been intro duced to supply the means of administering those trusts in the meantime in a cheap form, and while it was ob jected to on the ground that there would be a diversity of opinion among the judges of the various county courts iu their administration, some of those judges directing their administration one way, some another; yet . that ob jection would hold equally good to the constitution of the county courts as they now existed, and yet he did not hear a word of complaint from any part of the country against those courts; on the contrary, there was a demand for their extension. Besides, there was an appeal frcm those judges should they consider that the casejus tified an appeal. As to the allegation that the judges of those courts were taken from the common law bar, and were not acquainted with the administration of such matters, such was not the case, fur he knew six or seven of them himself who belonged to the Chancery bar. I t would be as go, d an objection to those that they were not acquainted with common law, and consequently were not qualified for judges in the county courts. But he had never heard such an objection. As to their being ac;uated by political bias, they were not, at all events, so apt to be so as the commissioners of bankruptcy, to whom his Hon. and Learned Friend proposed to refer these mat ters, who, being resident on the spot, would be more apt to be swayed by local political considerations. He did not mean to say that the Bill was perfect, but as he did not conceive the principle of the measure was ob jected to, which was to provide a cheap mode for the administration of those trusts be considered that all the details could be better discussed in Com mittee, and would press the second reading. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER admitted the necessity there existed for a measure for the purpose stated, but he thought it should be confined to that purpose, and not to affect any matters of a contentious nature, which had better be left until a general measure was introuced for the reform of the Court of Chancery in this respect. In regard to the point of appeal, the present Bill was open to grave objections, for he would not have it left to a judge to say whether an appeal should be allowed against his decision or not. He did think that to ex tend the principle to other courts, would be a novelty in principle, and likely to wcrk exceedingly ill in practice. Beside:, he thought there was a very great distinction between there small charities and the questions that might arise in a county court adjudicating upon 201. There was one other observation he wished to make. He believed they had introduced a most excellent principle in establishing county courts. He believed they had conferred a great„boon in doing so, and he was therefore anxious that the judges should have all the respect and consideration possible; but he believed that giving these cases to the judges in the Bankruptcy Court would be advisable, because they were necessarily more conversant with equity and law than could be expected from the county court judges, whose time was too much, occu pied to enable them to study the abstract questions of law. For that reason be preferred to give the jurisdic tion to another class of judges which already existed. Mr. AGLIONBY thought the country would not agree with the eminent gentlemen conn ec t e d w i t h th e Court of Chancery in their opinion of the fitness of the Court of Chancery. They had now got courts in which they had much greater confidence. The worst part of that court was its masters, who sat in a small room not open to the public; and he believed that it would be bet ter to give the county court judges jurisdiction in these small charities under 301. As to appeals, he objected to them as a great nuisance. It was tar more satisfactory to refer such cases to a gentleman eminent at th e b a r without any appeal. Ile must entirely approve of the principle of the Bill. The Bill was then read n second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. The House then adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock. Sixteen human skeletons, of apparently full-grown persons, have lately been discovered in a field belonging to Mr. William igar, of Upton, in the parish of Long Sutton, by a man employed in cutting a ditch. They appeared to have been buried in nearly a straight line, ranging from north to south, and they were laid in cavities about three feet in depth, cut in solid rock, at irregular distances from each other. It is but a few years since that several human bones were discovered in a field about two hundred yards from this spot. There can be no doubt of their being the remains of some unfortunate warriors, who fell, probably, in battle centuries ago, but on what occasion history does not record.—Bath Chronicle. WETINEFIDAV EVENING, PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceeding; elf the House f Cunanun TUESDAY, APRIL 9. DUNDEE AND PERTH. AND ABERDEEN RAILWAY TION, UNDEE D ARBROATH AND DUNDEE AND NEWITLE RAILWAYS bILL. Order for Second Reading rea 1; Motion made, and Ques tion proposed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months." Question put, "'That the word ' now' stand part of the question." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, 39 . Arbuthnott, Hugh Herbert, 11. A. Salwey, Colonel Blandtord, Marquis Hodges, T. L. Stanfield, W. It. Castlereagh, Vis. Hume, Joseph Stuart, Lord Dudley Decries, W. Kershaw, James Thicknesse, Ralph Dick, Quintln Lacy, It. C. Townshend, Captain Dinicombe, 0. Loveden, l'ryse Verney, Sir H. Ettrington, Lord 3PGregor, John Villiers, Charles Fergus, John Molesworth, Sir W. Wall, C. B. Fitzroy, Henry Morgan, 11. K. Watkins, Colonel Greene, Thomas NI orris, David Wawn, J. T. Grenfell, C. Pascoe Pilkington, James Wilson, James Grenfell, Charles W. Pinney, W. TZLIAMS. Hall, ;;;ir Benjamin ltendlesham, Lord Thompson, Colonel Ilallyburton, Lord J. Bich, Henry Duncan, tieorge MAJORITY-NOES, 79. Inhtey, Thomas C. Fordyce, A. 1). Ogle, S. C. A rkwright, Forster, Mathew Parke, C. W. Baines, - .M. 'l'. Fox, W. J. Bankes, George French, F. Peto, :Samuel Pugh, David Barnard, E. U. Frewen, C. 11. Ritilord, Francis Barrington, Vis. Fuller, A. E. Russell, Edward S. Beckett, W. Gibson, T. M. Russell, F. C. .. _ . , Berkeley, H. F. Goddard, A. L. Sandars, George Berkeley, C. L. G. Gordon, Admiral Scrope,M. P. Blackstone, W. S. Goulburn, Henry Shafto, R. 1). Boldero, H. G. Greenall, Gilbert Sidney, Aldennan Bramston, T. W. Harris, Richard Smith, J. Benjamin Brockman, E. 1). Ilastie, Archibald Smyth, J. G. Brotherton, J. Henry, Alexander Spearman, H. J. Brown, W. Lennox, Lord A. Thornely, Thomatt Buck, L. W. Lindsay, Colonel Townley, R. G. Cardwell, E. Lockhart, W. Verner, Sir W. Chatterton, Colonel Long, W. Waddington, David Cliftord,..Henry M. Mackinnon, W. A. Waddington, H. S. Clive, Henry B. March, Earl of Westhead, J. P. Cocks, T. S. Martin, Samuel Willcox, Brodie Codrington, Sir W. Masterman, John Williamson, Sir H. Colebrooko, Sir T. Matheson, Colonel Willoughby, Sir H. Denison J. E. Maule, Fox __ . 1_ _ __ Divett, Edward Moody, C. A. TELLERS. Dunne, Colonel :Hollings, J. R. Spooner, Richard Egerton, Sir P. Naas, Lord Egerton, W. T. Evans, Sir De Lacy O'Brien, Sir Lucia. WINDOW-TAX. Motion made, and Question put, " That whereas the present mode of assessing, levying, and collecting Taxes on air and light in England and ticotland interferes most pre judicially with the health and sanitary condition of the in habitants of Great Britain, thereforsejt is expedient that the Window-tax should be repealed." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, 77. Aglionby, H. A. Fox, W. J. Pechell, Sir G. Baillie, H. J. Gibson, Thomas M. Perfect, It. Baldwin, Barry Greenall, Gilbert Pigott, Francis Barnard, E. G. Greene, John Plumptre, J. I'. Berkeley, Henry F. Grenfell, C. P. 'Raphael, Alexander Berkeley, C. L. G. Grosvenor, Lord R. Rutford,lFrancis Bouverie, E. P. Hall, Sir B. Salwey, Colonel Bremridge, Richard lleald, James Sandars, George Bright, John Henry, Alexander Sell oledeld, William Cabbeil, B. B. Hervey, Lord A.. Sidney, Alderman Chatterton, Colonel Heyworth, L. Smith, John B. Clay, James Hildyard, It. C. Stanley, E. H. Clifford, H. M. Horsman, Edward Strickland, Sir G. Cobden, Richard Humphery, Ald. Stuart, Lord D. Codrington,:Sir W. Keating, Robert Thicknesse, R. A. Coles, Henry B. Kershaw, James Thompson, Colonel Dashwood,:G. H. Lacy, Henry C. Tollemache, F. J. Dick, Quintin Langston, J. H. Tyrell, Sir J. Divett, Edward Lewisham, Vioc• Verner, Sir W. Duff, James : Loveden, I'ryse 'Wyse, 11. Duncan, George Lushington, Charles Wawn, J. T. Ellis,'John Meagher, Thomas Willcox, Brodie Evans, Sir De Lacy Moffatt, George Wood, W. P. Evans, John Morris, David E wart, William Mowatt, Francis TELLERS. Fergus, John Muntz, G. F. Duncan, Lord Fordyce, A. D. Pearson, Charles Home, Joseph MAJORITY—NOES, 80. Armstrong, Sir A. Raiford, Sir 11. Parker, John Baines, M. T. Barris, Richard riikington, James Baring, Sir F. Ilastie, Archibald Power, Nicholas Barrington, Viscount Rowe!, B. Richards, Richard Beckett, W. Hayter, W. G. Romilly, Sir John Bellew, R. K. Ileathcoat,Jolm Russell, Lord J. Bowles, Admiral Herbert, Sidney Seymour, Lord Boyle, Colonel Heywood, James Shell, It. L. Brotherton, Joseph llobhouse, Sir John Smith, J. A. Brown, W. 'lodges, T. L. Somers, J. P. Browne, R. D. Howard, Lord E. Somerville, Sir W. Busfeild, W. Jervis, Sir John Thornely, T. Clerk Sir G. Lascelles, W. S. Towneley, John Clive, 11. B. Lewis, G. C. Tunic'', H.: Cowper, W. F. Lindsay, Colonel Turner, G. J. Craig, Sir W. G. Lockhart, W. . Vane, Lord H. Denison, J. E. Lygon, General Villiers, F. W. Dundas, Admiral Mackie, John Wall, C. B. , Dundas, Sir David Mackinnon, W. Walpole, Spencer Ebring ton, Viscount M.Neill, Duncaa Wellesley, Lord C. Elliot, John E. Maule, Fox Williamson, Sir H. Emlyn, Viscount Mitchell, T. A. Wilson, James Enileld, Lord Morgan, H. K. Wood, Sir Charles French, F. 'Copier, Joseph Wyvill, Marmaduke Goulburn, Henry Norreys, Lord Grace, o. D. Oswald, Alexander TELLIES. Grey, Sir George Paget, Lord Clarence Hill, Lord Marcus Grey, R. W. Palmerston, Vis. Rich, Henry Mr. Locke King and Mr. Alcock did not arrive in time to vote for the repeal of the window-tax, having been at the Quarter Sessions at Reigate. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. Sir,—On Monday the Bth, the process of repre sentative government resumed its course. The Go-'' vernment displayed a want of that foresight which enables individuals to conduct their affairs with out running on the rocks of harsh disappointment, in allowing a vote to go against them, by a majority of 48 to 40, which is in not an inconsi derable House as being more than double what the rule requires, on so comparatively small a question as the position of Assistant-Surgeons in the Navy. The question, though not without its difficulties, only wanted a little will to find a way ; and it is impossible that anything can have been bettered, by letting it come to the precise issue described. In the Committee on Supply the same scene was repeated as in a former instance. The Conservatives moved, that in consequence of the reduction of prices consequent on the abolition of the Corn Laws, it was necessary to reduce expenditure, and to begin with the salaries of the Ministers. And then they angled for such of the Free-Traders as they knew they were sure to catch. For certain it is, that there is no possible form under which the Conservatives can dress a motion, and bait it with the prospect of a few hundred pounds to be taken from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at which large trout from the Free Trade and Liberal benches will not eagerly leap. Suppose now, that in the early stages of the con test for Free Trade, a man professing to be enlisted in the Free-Trade cause, should have proposed to have addressed himself to the Government as follows. " Our prayer is, that you will put yourselves forward to put down the existing supremacy, and make the feeble into the strong. And when you have done it, the first thing we will do, shall be to reduce your sala ries. We laugh, just now, at the assertion of the Protectionists, that all incomes must come down as the consequence cf Free Trade. But as soon as the thing is done, we will turn over to the other side, and the first experiment shall be on you." I may seriously ask, whether the man who should have proposed this, would have been held worthy of any confidence, or would not have been held to be in joke; and whether, on earnest consideration, there is any reason for forming a different judgment now. On Tuesday, something of the same want of fore sight was evinced, in allowing a motion for the re moval of the Window Tax to be brought within so narrow a difference as 77 against 80. But for a most irrational attempt to connect the removal of the Window Tax with the licensing of the Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa, it is probable the majority would have been in favour of the removal. For there must have b een at least twenty Members present, who, after what was said, must have had considerable difficulty in determining whether they could with decency vote for the removal of the Window Tax, when it was chosen ,to be presented to them in such company. It is hard to tell, why the Window Tax might not have been removed from the people of England, with out insisting on the restoration of the Slave Trade being in some sort the understdod concomitant of the rote. But men will have their own notions of the politic and the wise ; and this was one of them. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, N OLD REFORMER. 1850. London, 10th April, STATE OF CHU_ RCH AND DIS- SENT IN WALES. In the early part of this session a printed return was issued by the House of Commons, showing the number of churches and chapels attached to the Established Church in each of the four Welsh dio ceses, and the number of services performed in each, distinguishing the Welsh from the English. In the last two numbers of the weekly papers published in the Principality this return is noticed, commencing with the diocese of Llandaff. Eleven parishes are taken alphabetically, and the result is as follows : Number of churches twenty-one. Total number of services in the above churches every Sunday thirty one; of which twenty are performed in the English language and only eight in the Welsh language, three services being performed alternately once a fortnight in Welsh and English. An nexe d to each parish is an account of the spiritual provision afforded by the Dissenting community for the natives of the country, by which it appears that there are in these eleven parishes fifty-seven Dissenting places of wor ship, in which there are one hundred and eleven Sunday services, ninety-nine of which are performed in the Welsh language, in addition to one hundred and ten weekly services in the same parishes provided by the Dissenters, ninety-eight of which are performed in the Welsh language and twelve in the English. These tables are to be continued weekly, and they afford a most striking contrast between the conduct of the Church and that of the Dissenters, in admi nistering spiritual instruction to the natives of the Principality in their own language, the neglect of which has driven the Welsh out of the Church, and ret,dered it little more than a name as far as !hey are concerned. The complaint of having English bishops systematically forced upon Wales has been long and fruitlessly reiterated by the inhabitants upon each successive Government; but there is likely to be a bitter return for their wilful disregard of the legiti mate claims of a large and loyal portion of the British dominions, as, from the returns lately pub., vnIL into, liehed, Dissent seems so firmly planted and so vigour ously upheld by the eloquence of the Welsh Disent lag ministers, that we doubt, if St. David himself were to re-appear, whether he could now lure the Cymry back to the Church, from which the English prelates have driven them from their obstinate illibe rality of feeling and determination, instead of quali fying themselves for their flock, to force their flock to abjure their language in the worship of God. The result is now evident—they have abjured the Church ! . _ ..„ p?ssed through the Custom-house, were lodgei in the bands of Mr. Morris, manager of the Branch Bank of England here, for transmission to London. The merchant barque Geutoo, belonging to John Bremhain, of this port, arrived last night is charge of Mr. Daniel Morrison, the mate. The Gen too is laden with a full cargo of timber for Loudon, ' and left Sierra Leone on the 30th of January. Her master, Mr. William Laiceman, was seized with the coast fever on the 2d February, and died on the 7th. Her only passenger, Lieutenant Crofton, 3d West India Regiment, and two of her seamen, Edward Martin and Peter Swede, were subsequently attacked, and the last-named lay in a very dangerous condi tion, when the American corvette John Adams, 20 guns, hove in sight, about the 20th of February, and her commander sent a surgeon on board the barque, who successfully administered to the sick. Oranges and lemons were also sent from the friendly Ameri can, which then sailed for Liberia and the south coast of Africa. Off the Azores, on the 25th of March, the Gentoo experienced a frightful gale from the north-west, and on approaching the Channel she has had to encounter the prevailing tempestuous weat her. Wind S E., smart breez9. CIIATIIAM, APRIL 9.—The Columbine, 16 guns, Captain C. D. Hay, from the East Indies, arrived yesterday afternoon opposite to the dockyard, having been towed up by the African steam-vessel. On board was a detachment of Royal Marines, paid off from the Cygnet at Plymouth, consisting of 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 9 private, and they joined their head. quarters at Chatham this morning. The Columbine is to be paid off without any of her internal fittings or bulk-heads being disturbed. The crew commenced this morning discharging her stores and guns. The Peictiers, 74, Captain Peter Richards, C. 8., was paid down six months on Saturday last, and on the Bth instant the pay clerks from the Pay-office, Chatham Dockyard, proceeded in the Chatham yacht to Sheerness, and then paid down the Wellington, 72 guns, ordinary guard. ship, Captain David Price, six months. A court-martial assembles on the 10th instant. The members forming the court meet at nine A.M., on board the Ocean, 80, flag-ship, for the trial of the Assistant-surgeon on board the Clyde 42, lying in Saltpan-reach. The charge against this officer is for drunkenness. Messrs. Essell and Hayward, solicitors, conduct the prosecution. The lst.battalion of the 12th Regiment, recently arrived at this garrison from ‘Veedon, were inspected by the Commandant-Colonel James Simpson, who was attended by his staff; and after passing through the ranks, consisting of about 600 men, they passed by the general in review order, and elicited much praise. The battalion contains a fine body of men. The Rosamond steam-sloop, Commander Foote, is ordered to be paid off at Woolwich on Friday, the 12th instant. The Hercules store ship, Master-Commander Ro bert Fulton, will leave Northfleet Hope on Sunday, the 20th inst., for Malta and other stations in the Mediterranean. THE EXPERIMENTAL BALLOONS. The last experiment made by Mr. Shepherd with the message-balloons, which were sent up on the 11 of March from the roof of the Admiralty buildings, at Whitehall, have been very successful. A letter has just been received at the Admiralty containing one of the slips, picked up on the the 7th of March by a commercial traveller from Birmingham, who found it and observed several others of the same kind at Altona, near Haniburgh, a distance of about 450 miles from London. The slips must have dropped from the balloon in its flight over the north of Europe, and its ultimate fate is as yet unascer tained. The balloon referred to was made of gold beaters' skin, with an expansive balloon suspended underneath to receive the gas as the expansion took place in the upper regions of the atmosphere, which accounts for the great distance it is known to hare travelled. By the aid of similar balloons, Captain Collinson and Captain Austin my be able to make known their positions to each other by dispatch. ing them with slips in the Arctic regions, and they may also be able to convey intelligence to Sir John Franklin and his gallant companions, informing them where provisions and friends are waiting or searching for them. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. EPSOM SPRING MEETING. Tho subjoined list of the flat races to be run to-mor row on the Downs, and of the steeplechases to be decided on the following day, within ten minutes' walk of the town, embrace the entries made on Tuesday evening, and show an amount and ♦ariety of sport to which it will be difficult to take exception. The first day's pro ceedings will commence at half-past one, with the Trial Plate, to be followed, at two, by the Two years old Stakes, the great race being fixed for three o'clock; these events over, the heats will commence, and if they come up to anything like the Epsom average, may be got through about six o'clock. The steeplechases, we presume, will not commence so early, or be run at such short intervals. The ground se lected is on Epsom Common, about a mile from the town, on the right 01 the road leading to Leatherhead. The win ning post will ho within a quarter of a mile of the Wind mill, and the start will take place at the distance post, the line proceeding past the winning chair, through the en closed lands adjoining the Windmill, over some quick set hedges. It then takes a westerly direction towards Newton read, then turning to the right up the valley, leaving the pond on the right, up the hill, and finishing with nearly half a mile of straight running. The fences will be about thirty in number, and will comprehend posts and rails, hedges and ditches, and two or three water jumps ; and the distance, twice round, will be about tour miles. The stands fur the accommodation of the public will be placed o❑ the hill, very near the win ning chair, and will afford a good view of the whole line of comae. The directors of the Brighton Railway have announced extra trains each day at low fares; there can be no doubt, therefore, that the meeting will be success• ful. The following are the present arrivals:—lanthe, Bornec, Quiver, Cheerful, Buckhound, Sister to Pillage, Salute, Ada Mary, Ellerslie, Mounseer, Radulphus, Leo, British Yeoman, Molly, Rachel, and Fugitive. The enteries are as under:— THE ARMY. THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL.—Major-General George Brown, C. 8., K.H., deputy adjutant-general, on the staff at head-quarters, has been selected by the Duke of Wellington to succeed the late Lieut.-General Sir J. Macdonald, K.C.8., as adjutant-general. Major- Ge:;eral Brown command.,d the Rifle Bri gade fir upwards of seventeen years, and has seen much service, having served at the capture of Copen hagen, in the Peninsula, the battle of Vimeira, Passage of the Douro, capture of Oporto; battle of Talavera, where he was wounded through both thighs ; at the bridge of Almeida; Busaco, &Omni, Fuentes d'Onor, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, and Bayonne, battle of Blcdensburgh, and capture of Washington, and was wounded in the head and groin at Bladenshurgh, &c. Colonel Wetherall, C. 8., K.H., deputy adjutant general in Canada, who succeeds Major-General Brown as deputy adjutant-general at head-quarters, was in action with a squadron of French frigates in the Mozambique, in 1810 ; in many of the naval affairs at the Isle of France ; at the conquest of Java, 1811, as aide-de-camp to Major. General Wetherall ; and was made a C.B. for distinguished services in the suppression of the insurrection of Canada. Lieut.-Colonel Robert Nixon, late of the Ist or Royal Regiment, died at Brussels, on the 4th inst. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PROMOTIONS. Assistant-Surgeons—Dr. Thomas Graham (Jan., 1841), additional of the Hastings, 72, flag-ship East Indies, to'the rank of Surgeon ; and Dr. George Ray (Jan., 1841), additional of the Wellesley, flag-ship in the West Indies. The above are among the 30 seniors on the list ; but there are 20 eligible officers senior to those now promoted. Clerks—Walter Lomer (1829), and James Frear Phillips (April, 1841), in charge of the surveying steam-vessel Columbia, in North America, have been promoted to the rank of Paymaster and Purser. The first-named is the senior clerk on the list, of more than 20 years' standing; the second is among the six next seniors APPOINTMENTS. Captain Armar Lowry Corry, A.D.C. (1821), has been appointed additional to the Victory (flag-ship) at Portsmouth, for service as superintendent of pac kets at Southampton, vice Susith, deceased. Captain Corry is a most able, experienced, and efficient officer, who is sure to conduct the service with satisfaction to the Admiralty and advantage to the country. He has served about 20 years afloat, eight of which in his present rank as captain of the Barham, 50, of the Firebrand, as superintendent of the trial cruises of the experimental brig squadron, and more recently in command of the Superb, 80. Being. the 24th on the list of captains, he will naturally succeed to his flag rank before he has served half the usual term of his appointment. Lieutenant Joshua Berkeley (1849), to the Hogue, 60, screw two .decker, Commodore Martin's squadron vice Hardman, superseded. Chief Engineer—Peter M'Dowall, to the Archer, screw-sloop, at Devonport. Assistant Engineers—Robert Allen and Orestes, N. Brooker, to the Archer. Midshipmen—ffenry P. Bance, to the Assistance, Arctic ship, fitting at Woolwich ; W. F. Johnson, to the Amazon, 26, East Indies. Naval Cadets—Charles W. Evans to the Fisgard, flagship, at Woolwich ; William Childers, to the Vic tory, flag-ship, at Portsmouth. Commander Arthur Grant (1848), inspecting commander cf the coast guard station, Southend, Essex, has died frOm the effects of a fall from his horse. He passed his examination in 1829, was made a lientenant, May, 1836, was promoted to the rank of commander from the Fisgard, 42, when in the Pacific, and last served afloat as second captain of the Superb, 80. A letter from the Hound, 8, Commander Patten, mentions that Mr. Pitt, master of that vessel, was un fortunately drowned by falling overboard on his watch, on coming out of Sierra Leone at night. Every effort was made by Captain Patten and all on board to save him, but all attempts proved unsuccess ful. The Hound left Ascension on the 11th Feb., for the Cape of Good Hope—all well. The Wellington, ordinary depot-ship, at Sheerness, Captain Price, was paid down to six months on Mon day by the pay clerks from Chatham, who proceeded in the Chatham yacht. The Poictiers, ordinary depot at Chatham, Captain P. Richards, C. 8., was paid wages down to six months on Saturday last. We hear from the Waterwitch, 8, Commander Quin, through a prize, by way of S. Helena, that she had made five captures of slavers within six months. The Duck, naval lighter (Savage, master), has ar rived at Chatham, with stores from Portsmouth, and after discharging cargo, will load for Devonport. The Magicienne, steam-sloop, at Chatham, is to be fitted in every respect for commission. The Sprightly, steam-tender, Master Commander Allen, did not proceed to Plymouth from Ports mouth, the artillerymen for the Archer having pro ceeded there by rail. The Bulldog, 6, steam-sloop, Commander A. C. Key, which arrived at Portsmouth on Sunday, left Lisbon the 2d instant. The Channel squadron was lying at anchor there, all well. On the sth the Bull dog spoke the Encounter, screw-corvette, Captain Gordon, proceeding to the Tagus. The Bulldog is a fine steamer, and though loaded with stores and en cumbered by invalids, horses, hay, &c., she came up Channel at the rate of eleven knots. She will be paid off at Portsmouth, and when repaired form one of the advanced steam squadron at this port. She is re turning stores, and got out her guns and shot yes terday morning. PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY, FIVE, P.AL,—We have a strong breeze, approaching to a gale, from the west, which commenced blowing yesterday. Loss OF THE ROYAL ADELAIDE STEAMER.— Lieutenant E. Burstall, R.N., of the surveying steamer Widgeon, writes as follows to the Shipping , Gazette :—" In attempting to account for the me lancholy loss of the Royal Adelaide steamer, I can only come to the conclusion that they must have shaped a course up the Prince's Channel from the Tongue light-vessel on a W.N.W. course, and the wind being from S.S.E. it is very probable that she kept springing to windward of her course, making : perhaps only aW.by N. N. course good. This course leads close to the N. of the black buoys on the Tongue Sand, and does very well for daylight; but, as a pre caution to navigators of this channel by night, for the future, I would strongly advise them to keep their lead going from the Tongue Light, and not to steer up W.N.W. until the water deepens to 8i fathoms, distant about mile north of the light. This will ensure a good fairway, and a careful eye should be kept on the Bourse, as the channel is not sufficiently wide to admit of much deviation. Having been a long time engaged on this part of the coast, I venture to offer these suggestions if you deem them worthy your notice, and am, Sir, your obedient servant." PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Griffon brigantine, Lieutenant Thurburn, lately from the Brazils station, is ordered from Devonport to this port to be paid off, and refitted as an apprentices' instruction vessel for the Cork station. Extract of a letter from her Majesty's ship Hogue, 60, Captain M'Dougall, one of the squadron of evolu tion, dated Lisbon, March 31 : " We had rather an unexpected accident the other day at sea. Our Second Lieutenant, Mr. Hardman, had a few words with the Captain, then quickly went below, loaded a pistol, and shot himself, firing the weapon off in his mouth ; the ball struck bis teeth, took an upward direction, and came out of his eye, completely destroying it ; he is now getting over it, and is invalided home in the Bulldog. Unless a very strict watch is kept over him, I am afraid he will attempt it again. First Lieutenant Boyd, of the Thetis, is in command of that ship during the absence of Captain Codrington, on leave to England." Extract of a letter from her Majesty's ship Rifle man, Rio, Jan. 31 :—" On the 12th ult. the Rifleman captured a slaver barque, called the Astrina, e mpty ; the Cormorant, being in sight, shares ; having sur veyed her for measurement, she was burned the same night. On the 10th inst., while cruising to the southward, we observed a steamer, and closed her, after a chase of three hours. She was the notorious slave-steamer Providentia, a fast vessel, that has made four successive trips to Brazil in the last fifteen months, each time bringing from 1,200 to 1,500 blacks. When we took her she was on her way across. We sent her to St. llelena on the 12th inst., in charge of Mr. Beckett, midshipm an , an d an engineer. The Cormorant is at Monte Video—went down a fortnight since with forty tons of provisions and stores for Admiral Reynolds, who remains there. The Rifleman sails tomorrow for the cruising ground to the northward, on the look-out for the arrival of several expected slavers from the c oas t thi s mon th. Her successful cruising has be en th e cause o f th e most bitter feeling .to the Brazilians in general, so much so that the Griffon takes some important pro tests from the Government against our (as they deem them) piratical proceedings." PLTmouTu, APRIL B.—Her Majesty's sloop Alert, 8, Commander Hugh Dunlop, exercised guns and discharged her powder in the Sound this morning, and then went up harbour to be paid off. Nine boxes of bullion were this morning landed from the brig Griffon, 3, Lieutenant-Commander James B. Thurburn, from Brazils, and, having been Tli URSDAY. The Trial Plate of 504, added to a sweepstakes of 5 soya each ; for threc-yrs-old, 7st ; four, 9st. One mile. Age at lb Mr. Stevens's c Knight of Gwynn° 3 7 0 Mr. W. Etwall's b c Bushranger Seib ... 3 7 0 Mr. Griffith's ch f Miss Spring ... ... 3 7 0 Lord H. G. Lennox's b c Borneo ... ... 4 9 0 Count Batthyany's ch c Castanero 3 7 0 Sir G. Ileatticote's br c by Sir Hercules, out Dark Suva❑ ... 3 7 0 Two-years-old Stakes of 10 sovs caeb, with 25 added. Captain Archdales f Quadroon. Mr. E. Clark's br c Edward of York. Air. Douglas's Don Pedro. Mr. W. hwall'a Iracundus. Mr. Gratwicke'd b c Cadeau. Sir J. Ilawley's ch c Teddington. Sir G. Heathcote's ch c by Velocipede, out cf . Lady Geraldine. Mr. Jones's b f lanthe. Lord H. Lennox's b f by Don John, darn by Dr. Syntex. Mr. W. Ley's b c Predilection. Mr. C. b c Bold harry. Mr. Payne's ch f Catalpa. Mr. Payne's Citadel. Mr. Ramsbottom's b f by Charles XII., out of Queen of Cyprus. Duke of Richmond's b c Buchhound. Duke of Richmond's br f by The Ugly Buck, out of Mr. VV. Sadler's f Fringe. Mr. Thompson's b c Jack Robinson. The Great Metropolitan Stakes (handicap) of 25 sous. each, 15 ft, and only 5 if declared, with a bonus of 500 sovs. added. Two miles and a quarter. Age at lb Sir Joseph Hawley's br h Fernhill ... ••• 5 8 7 Mr. Murphy's ch h Dough ... ... ••• 5 8 5 Mr. J. B. Morris na b h Malton ••• ••• 5 8 4 Mr. Meiklain's br m Inheritress ••• ..• a 8 2 Mr. Gregory na b h Sylvan ... ... ... 5 712 Sir G. lleathcote's br c Black Eagle , ... 4 711 Mr. Payne's b h Glendower ••• ••• 5 710 Mr. Meiklam's b c Raby ... ... ... 4 7 9 _ Lord Eglinton's ch c Brills ... ... ... 4 , 7 7 Mr. H. Stebbings's b c Westow ... ... 4 7 6 Mr. Jaques's ch c Chantrey ... ... ... . 4 7 _ 5 Mr. Greville's b f Clarissa ... „. ... 47 5 Mr. W. Lucass ch h Sunnyside .., ... 5 7 5 Captain Pettat's b g Eagle's Plumo ... 5 7 4 Mr. Meiklam's br c Snowstorm ... . . 4 7 4 Duke of Richmond's bl I quiver ... 4 7 3 Mr. Adam's b g Ellerslie ... ~„ ... 5 7 2 Lord Egiinton's br c Testator ... ... 4 7 2 Mr. B. Green's br c Abbot of Meaux ... 4 7 0 Mr. J. Hudson's ch c Velox ...., ... 4 7 0 Mr. C. Peck's bt' Melody, by Arelboui:ne ... 4 7 0 Mr. T. B. Charlton's ch t kissaway ... 4 6 13 Colonel Anson's br h Backbiter . ... 5 612 Mr. Carew's b f Eva ... ... ... 4 6 12 Major Pitt's br c Mounseer ..., ... 4 6 10 Mr. Milwood's br f Ada Mary •.. ••• 4 6 10 Mr. Greville's b c Puffy ... ... ... 4 6 6 Mr. Gain's b c Lammermoor ... ... ... 4 6 6 Mr. D. Leighton's br h Luxor, by Bay Mid- _ _ _ dleton, out of Thebes 6 6 5 Mr. Reynard's b c Wild Rose (late lAtcblug) 4 6 4 Mr. Douglas's b c Sir Gilbert, by I .anercobt, out of Countess ,„ „, 4 6 2 Mr. Burgess's b m Red Doe ... „, 5 6 2 Mr. Gratwicke's b f Cheerful ... .„ 4 6 0 Mr. Dorrien's gr f The Nautch Girl ,„ 4 5 12 Mr. Drinkold's ch c Juggler, by Sleight-c f- Hand ... ,„ ••• „ „ 4 5 11 Count Batthyany's br g Lepidus ...• 4 5 10 Mr. E. Smelt'ii bl c Damask ..• 3 5 10 Captain Archdall's b c Windischgratz ..••• 3 5 7 Mr. Osbaldeston's b f Sister to Pillage ••••• 3 5 Mr. C. Snewing's b c St. George ••• -•- 3 410 Captain Lowther's br c Bastinado ..• .... 3 4 7 Count Batthyuny's ch a Valentine ••• ..• 3 4 4 The rest pay 5 sous. each. Railway Stakes of 5 sots. each, with 25 sous. added. Heats, one mile. Age at lb Mr. Sald's b f Salute ... ••• ••• ... 3 6 0 Mr. Roberts's ch f Heroine, by Gladiator ... 4 8 4 Mr. 11. Bradly's b g Sam Hood „, 5 813 Mr. S. Herbert's b g Radulphus „, a 9 5 Mr, Death's b c Franciscan ... 3 6 3 t.,. Sir G. Heathcote's ch c by Gladiator, out of Khorossan's dam ... •.• 3 6 3 Mr. J. S. Douglas's b f Vice ... 3 6 3 Mr. Lister's br f Pea s ant Gi r l ••• ••• 4 8 4 Surrey Hunt Stakes of 3 sous. each, with 20 soya. added. Heats, half a mile. Age st lb Mr. H. Milner's b m Clairvoyance (1501.) ... 5 8 1 Mr. Roberts's ch f Heroi ne (801.) ... 4 6 Lord Strathmore's ch g by Epi rus , d am by D'Egville, out of Battriyany (30!.),., ..„ 4 6 0 Mr. 13rovr n's Genuine (800 ... 5 7 6 Mr. Drinkald's ch g The Juggler (800 ... 4 612 Mr. Bingley's ch f Christiana (1501.)... 4 7 7 Mr. 11. Drew's b g Master Murray (801.) ... a 7 7 Mr. R. Drevritt's oh in Miss Nipper (801.) ... 5 7 6 Mr. Cassidy's ch m Diligence (100/.)... ... 3 5 6 Mr. Lister's br f Peasant Girl (1000— 4 7 .2 Mr. Saving's b c Lecomte (804) 5 7 6 EPSOM GREAT METROPOLITAN STEEPLE CH A SES. —FRIDAY. Great Dietropolitan Steeplechase of 15 SOY& each, loft, alds if declared ; with 100 Soya. added. About four miles. (25 Subs.) Age et lb Mr. Elmore's b g Tne British Yeoman a 11 7 Mr. 11. Bird's br h Sir Pett.r•Lauric a 11 5 Mr. T. Mason' s b h P roceed „, lO 10 Mr. Stafford's ch mFugitiv e ... , . e 10 8 Mr. E. Hughes's Miss Collingwood a 10 2 Mr. Benson's eh g Littl e P aul (b b) „, a 10 2 Mr. bltipworth's b m Rachel Mr. Trcalgold's b ra Maria Day • 10 0 Mr. Cartwright's b g Thurgarton (h b) $ 10 0 Mr. J. Tollitt's b g Spangle „, • 9 10 Captain lii,ight'* g Leo .. „, a p 10 Mr. T. C. Dizon's br g Falcon (h b). $ 9 10 Captain Gambier's ch g Tt.e Thrush (h b) a 9 Mr. Pettifor's br g The Last Forester (h b)._ a 9 6 Mr. G. Symond's b h Ploughboy 9 6 Mr. Morton Stubb's oh g Skim •.• 9 6 Mr. Molony's b m Molly ... ••• 6 9 4 Mr. Fowler's b m Little Fanny 8 10 The rest pay 5 soya. each. The Aristocratic Steeplechase of 10 sons. each, with 25 sous. added. Gentlemen riders. Three miles. Ago at lb Captain Knight's bl g Leo ... ••• $ll 7 Mr. Anson's Johnny Oaks ... ... 511 7 Captain Green's b g The Treasurer ... 12 0 Mr. Carew's bg by Laurel ... all 7 The Surrey Hunt Steeplechase of 5 soya. each, with 25 soya, added. Two miles. _ Age st lb Mr. Tate's b m Gulnaro (401.) ... a 10 Mr. Seaman na Petition (h b) 000_ ~. alO 8 Mr. J. Tollitt's Zanga (60/.) 11 0 Mr. 11. Bird's br h The Hero (1000... ... 11 7 Mr. Johnson's bin Sarah Sykes (6C/.) 11 0 Mr. Carew's gr g Grimaldi (201) a 10 0 Mr. Turner's Neapolitan (201.) ... 10 0 Mr. Boyton's b m Rowena (GUI.) ... 6 11 0 Mr. Mulony's b m Molly a 12 0 Mr. Ronal's b g Recruit (801.) 11 4 The Scramble Steeplfichase of 3 suvs. eacu, with 25 soya. added. Once round and a distance. The winner to be sold by auction. Age at lb Mr. Parker's bm My Precious Betsy (201.) . 5 9 11 Mr. O'bey's b h Morris Daley (601.)... a 11 0 Mr. Johnson's b g Out-cast (601.) all 0 Mr. Sait's b m Refugee (301.) •• ei 10 4 Mr. Thrift's b g Wireworm, by Melbourne (201) 911 Mr. John Lowe's eh m Cowslip (20/.) a 9 11 Mr. Hargre,ve's na b h Chintz Print (301.) a 10 4 Mr. William's b g Gimcrack (201.) ... 9 11 Mr. Bain's b g Frank (late Railroad) (401.)... 10 9 Mr. Carew's b g Herbert Lacy (201.) ... 9 11 Mr. Boyton's b m ROWQIIti (601.) 6 11 Captain Gambier's b g Stiltz, late Jem Matthews (204) ..• •.• ••• ••• ••• S 9 11 Captain Thomas's b g South-down (60/.) 11 0 Mr. Mytton's ch g The Unlucky One (201.) 9 11 Mr. Bishop's ch g The Clipper (201.) 9 11 Mr. Thornton's b g Lausdown (2010... a 9 11 Mr. Clark's ehgCerberus 9 11 CROXfON PARK. RACES—TUESDAY. The Farmer's Plate of but. and 101. fur the second; 4 yrs old, I Ist 31b; 5 yrs, 12st; 6 yrs and aged, I2st 81b; saarus, allowed 31b, to be ridden by farmers or their sous. Heats, two miles. Mr. A. N. Larratt's Granby, 6 yrs...(Mafrey) 0 1 I Mr. Goodson's Miss Whitefoot, 5 yrs ... 1 0 0 Mr. T. Hilton's Midnight, 4 yrs ... 0 2 3 II Mr. Spriggs's The Cull, 5 yr . 's... ... 2 3 3 Mr. T. P. Sykes's Pyrrhus the Second, 5 yrs . 0 0 0 Mr. J. Footer's Tim Bobbin, 4 yrs ... 0 0 0 Mr. R. Hawley's Catrnos, 5 yrs 0 0 0 Mr. J. Vincent's Oyster Girl, aged ... 0 0 0 Mr. W. Allsup's Protection. aged ... 0 0 0 Mr. Priestmau's Viceroy, 4 yrs ... 0 0 0 Mr. E. Collingwood's Alfred the Gre a t 6 yr s . 0 d i e Mr. T. Sharp's Rosabelle, 4 yrs ... 0 die Mr. R. Coy's Brown Doe, 4 yrs ... 0 din Mr. Hardy's Jenny Lind, 6 yrs ... 3 dr Mr. W. Hilton's, jun., Wait-awhile, 4 yrs ... 0 dr Mr. J. Stokes's bm by Sheik, 4 yrs 0 dr Mr. W. Draper's Kitty, 6 yrs di, ilr. G. Parr'a Cropwell, 5 yrs die Wou easy. Match 50 h ft, 4 miles—Lord Co.rdross's Knight of Brecungul (late Snuffbox), 5 yrs, lOst, received forfeit from Mr. D. F. Handcox's Bandboy, aged, 10st 111 b. The Belvoir Castle Stakes of 15 soya. each, 10 ft, and 100 added; for three years old; colts, Sat 71b, and fillies, Bst 51b; maidens at the time of naming al lowed 31b; those having started twice, 51b; thrice or more, 71b; winners once in 1849 or 1850 of plate or stake value 300/., 71b extra. One mile. (15 Subs.) Lord Chesterfield na Penang (Bartholomew) 1 Mr. H. Robinson's Confidence (A. Day) 2 Lord W. I'owlett's Give and Take (Tacker) 3 Mr. Meeson's The Castle (Whitehouse) 4 5 to 2 on Penang, who won a tine race by three parts of a length. The Scurry Stakes of 10 soya. each, li ft, and 20 added; for all ages; list 51b each; five years old and up wards, that never won plate or sweepstakes, allowed 51b. The winner to be sold for 120 soya. mile. Lord Howth's The Fiddler, 5 yrs (Mr. White) 1 Mr. Geary 's Lucy Neale, 6 yrs (Mr. Clarke) S Lord Cliiden's Plaeot, 6 yrs (Capt. Brook) 3 Even on Planet. Wun easy by three lengths. The Granby Handicap of 20 BUYS each, 10 ft, and only sit declared. Granby Course, about 1 mile and a half. (54 Subs., 37 of whom declared.) Lord Wilton na Backbiter, 10st 111 b ...(Mr. Clarke) 1 Lord Darnley na Cottisfurn Lass, 5 yrs, 10st lib ... 2 Mr. Polk na Chorister, 5 yrs, lOst 10th (Mr. &obeli) 3 Mr. Osbaldestou's Joc o'Sot, 6 yrs, llst 81b (Owner) 4 The following started, but were net placed:— Sir 'l. Whicbcote na Lady Hylda, 6 yrs, llst 71b 0 Mr. J. White na Alp, 4 yrs, list 21b (Mr. White) 0 Duke of Leeds na Magnet, lOst 916 Mr. Greaves na b m by Normaiaby, 6 yrs, lOst 71b) 0 6 to 4 agst Backbite, 5 to 1 each agst Lady llylda and Chorister, and 11 to 1 agst Joe o' Sot. Won cleverly by a length. _ Match, 50 sovs. Granby Course. Mr. Watson's b g by Sleight-of-Hand, 4 yrs, lid (Mr. Clarke), beat Mr. H. Hinton's Savannah, aged, 11st 71b (Mr. White), by half-a-length. BITTING AT .S.IANCIiESTER.—TUESDAY. THE METROPOLITAN STARES.-5 to 2 C I; slCl7Cerful (t), 9 to 1 agst Raby (t), 10 to 1 agst Ada Mary (t), 15 to 1 agst Black Eagle (t), 20 to 1 agst Sir Gilbert (t). CHESTER CUP.-12 to 1 agst Peep o' Day Boy (t), 13 to 1 agst Miss Ann, 13 to 1 aget Cossack, 15 to apt Glauca, 20 to 1 agst Boland, 20 to 1 agst Ellerdalo, 3U to 1 agat John Cossar, 1,000 to 20 agst Inheritress (t), 1,000 to 10 agst Rhesus (t). DERBY.-6 to 1 agst Bolingbroke (t), 7to 1 agst Ghillie Callum (t), 9 to 1 agst Mayors (t), 12 to 1 aget '1 he Nigger, 15 to 1 apt The Italian, 20 to 1 apt Cp prus (t), 25 to 1 agst Clincher, 25 to 1 agst SPORTI.NG NOTES. No. 3. "An unaccustomed spirit Lifts me abovo the ground with cheerful thoughts." SHARSPERE. Sin, —My judgment on the Great Northamptonshire Stakes was decidedly at fault, in placing Osterly first. with Chautrey and Mounseer in attendance, although I am still of opinion that had Osterley been well handled, not cutting out the work, or charging the hill a la Tartar, he would have won, and Priestess (a second Inheritress in my estimation) would only have obtained second or third honours. Bee Hunter's defeat by Lord Exeter's fast-bred filly Celia, out of Celia, completely electrified the nerves of that bustling "re public, community, club," 3 clept " the Ring ;" 7 and 8 to 1 on the Hunter went begging; I attribute his defeat to the state of the ground, and drawing the race too fine. As I; anticipated, Prestige and 13uckhound ran second and third for the Althorpe Park Stakes, but I must confess I never dream't of giving a receipt in full to the Slane filly, who mast not be forgotten, the per formance, so far as time goes (half-mile, 44 seos.) being equal if not superior to any accomplished during the last three years. My fancy Alonzo was disposed of bye head by Brennus, 4 for Lord Spencer's Plate, and the "sporting. house cracks, Equiria and The Recluse, both backed freely at 10 to 1, were very close up. The Great Metropolitan Stakes, run to-morrow, will draw together a field of some 15 or 16, including Baby, 7st 91b, Mounseer, 6st 101 b, Ada Mary, 6st bib, Sir Gilbert, Est 21b, Cheerful, 6st, and Val ent i ne , 4st 41b, among whom the race will lay-- Kiss-sway's starting I look upon as doubtful. or I should have thought favourably of her chance. Itaby cannot give the weight to Mounseer, much less to Cheerful; Sir Gilbert cannot go the pace; Valentine will be in front, but CLINERFuL will be the winner! Moan seer and Ada Mary second and third; Valentine and Ruby following. Th e Two-year-old Stakes, I imagine, will introduce Edward of York; he or Buckhound ought to win itki Teddington end queen of Cyprus filly read next best. I am, Sir, your's, &0.. TUE SPIRIT OF T HE TURF. April 10. --- [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Skin Disesses.—Dr. Powell's Testimony to the Efficacy of Holloway's Pills and Ointment.--. Extract of a letter dated "16, Blessington-street, Feb. 9, 1847 :—Professor Holloway,—Dear Sir : Having de voted my particular attention for some years to the treatment of cutaneous or skin diseases, I think it right to inform you that I have in a great many cases recommended the use of your pills and ointment, and invariably found them to have the most perfect effect in removing those diseases, even when of a very desperate nature. (Signed) W. E. Powell, 111. D." In cases of scald heads, ringworms, pimples or tetters on the face, the effect of the medicine is astonishing.— Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. The Lord Chancellor, on the recommendation of the Earl of Kenmare, has appointed Robert :Leslie, Esq., of Torbert House, to the Commissio4 of the ROAce Or the county of Xerryo— Cork Examiner, • • •