The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-08 00:00:00

:elityli Wbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'clock. Petitions in favour of a re-enactment of protection to the agriculturists were presented by Viscount COMBER.. MERE and the E al of WINCHILSEI. The Bishop of EXETER presented a retition from the Archdeaconry of East Cornwall against a Post-office delivery on Sunday. DOLLY'S BRAE. Lord STANLEY gave notice that on Monday, the 18th, he should bring under the notice cf the House tie transactions connected with the affairs of Dolly's Brae and the dismissal of the magistrates in consequence cf that affair; and he gave this lengthened notice in orCer tha; the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland might be in his place, or at least might instruct his colleagues to defend the course which he had pursued in relwion to those transactions. The Earl of RODEN hoped that the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland would be in his place in that 'louse when the debate should come on. LAW OF DISTRESS IN SCOTLAND Lord BROUGHAM introduced a Bill to amend the law of di , tress in Scotland. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. The NOBLE AND LEARNED LORD also withdrew the motion of which he had given notice, last night, on the subject of the appointment of secretary to the Ecclesi astictl Comm'ssion, because he understood that the other House had had better notice of the introduction of the cla'ise than their Lordships had had. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. Heald, Sir G. Strickland, Mr. M. Milnes, Mr. Cowan, and other Hon. Members presented petitions praying for the abolition of Sunday labour in the Post office. Mr. W. BROWN presented a petition from Bradford praying for the e, tablishment of county financial boards. Colonel CHATTERTON presented a petition from Cork praying for a grant from Parliament in favour of national education in Ireland. THE COLONIES. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTII presented a petition from New Zealand complaining of the conduct of the Colonial Office in not giving free institutions to that colony. Also a petition from Graham's Town, accusing the Governor of violating the rights of the colonists. He also presented an important petition from New South Wales, bearing 6,000 s i gna t ures , an d com plaining of the proposal for sending transports to the colony, and threatening to oppose it by every constitutional means. The petitioners observed that such proposals were calculated to shake the union which subsisted be.ween the colonies and the mother country. CITY OF LONDON ELECTION. Mr. LUSHINGTON said, in reference to a notice which I gave yesterday to the /louse relative to the representation of the city of London, I think it right to explain that since I announced my intention of putting a question to the Noble Lord at the head of the Government on the subject I have been reminded that there is a petition bef)re this House against the election of Baron Roths child. Under these circumstances, if I put my question in the manner I had intended, it would be not only pre mature, and unproductive of information, but I think irregular and disrespectfsl to the House, and I therefore beg to withdraw that notice. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS. Mr. HENRY BERKELEY gave notice that on Mon day he should move for a return or the number of Par liamentary e'ectors in Great Britain and Ireland in the years 1848 and 1849. POST-OFFICE. Mr. STAFFORD presented three petions against the ( 7 .e , ecration of the Sabbath by Sunday labour in the Post-JiEcc. WINDOW -TAX. Mr. WILLIAMS:seeing the Noble Lord the Mem' er for Bath in his place, wished is ask him whether it was his intention to renew his motion fur the repeal of the window-tax this session? Lord DUNCAN said that he should certainly take the earliest opportunity of renewing this motion. IN I'AAM URAL INTERMENTS. In answer to a question from Mr. BERKELEY, Sir GEORGE GREY said that the Board of Health had it in charge to prepare a scheme for a Bill of this nature; and as soon as this were forwarded to the Go vernment they would introduce a measure of this nature. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. Mr. HORSMAN gave notice that on Monday night he should give notice of motion for a Committee to in quire into the allegations lately made against the First Lord of the Treasury aed the Secretary of Slate. He wished to know whether, as it would be inconvenient for him to attend the House at a late. period ,in the evening on 111unday next, the Noble Lord (Lord J. Bat son) would have any objtetion to take the motion at five o'clock? Lord J. RUSSELL said he would have no objection to take it at that [Mac. COLONIAL POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, tied Lrd JOHN FUSSELL rose to move fur a Bill for the, better government of the Austra lian Colonies, and to make a statement of the colonial policy of the Government. He said it was, perhaps, advisable, at that early period of the session, that some statement should be made, on the part t f the Government, of the general policy which they meant to pursue with regard to our colonial possessions. So many statements had been made on the subject, and there was such a variety of opinions entertained regarding it, that it seemed right that the Government should declare what view they took of the interests which were from time to time committed to their care, and what would be the permanent policy of this country. In undertaking this task he was conscious how unable h was to fulfil the whole of the requisitions which its assumption implied—he felt how unable he was to discharge the task which he had un dertaken. Nevertheless he conceived the House would need, and perhaps be glad to receive, whatever informa tion the Government possessed to assist them in their deliberations. There were several Hon. Gentlemen, Members of that House, who had eminently distin guished themselves by their knowledge of colonial affairs, and among them he mid ht distinguish the Hon. Member for Suffolk and the Hon. Member for Sheffield for their min, nt: knowledge of col on i a l a ff a i rs, b oth i n their speeches in that House and in the printed declarations which they had circulated throughout the country. Ile was bound to say that what they proposed was well worthy of consideration. From the time of James I. to that of Charles I. several islands had been discovered in the West Indies, and afterwards aban doned, but which were afterwards taken posses sion of by British navigators. Under the Pro tectorate certain restrictions were imposed on the inter course with those islands by Spain and other countries. It was not to le expected that Cromwell, with his high notions of British pow er and British wealth, would sub mit to these restrictions, and accordingly he sent out an expedition to connect certain islands in the West Indies with our own, which failed through an accident. After wards, in the reign of Charles the Second, other islands in the West Indies were occupied by us. Such was the commencement, then, of our colonial possessions. In the beginning of the next century during the war we added to them, and after the glorious war of 1736 many additional places were added to our posessione. Be sides which we obtained possession of Canada, which acquisition, the Marquis of Montalbert d. a' ared, would be a great loss to France; but as it would cause the separation of England from her other American colonies, the loss would be more than counterbalanced by that event In the unfortunate war with the provinces of America our losses were indeed great, but in the great revolutionary war, which was begun in 1793, we made further accessions of colonial territory through the in fluence of our naval and military forces, which were confirmed to us by the treaties of 1814. The Noble Lord then read a lit of the colonies which had come into the possession of this country from 1617 down to 1814. He would now state what were the general principles upon which thosedependencies were colonized. In the first place, it seemed to have been an object to send settlers out from this country, and to enable them to colonize distinct islands; but ; in the next place,it was evidently the system of this country, as it was then of all the countries of Europe, to maintain a strict commercial monopoly with respect to those colonies. Various Acts, to which he need nut allude, and some a which had been recently under the consideration of the House, took care that the whole trade of those colonies should centre is this country, and that their productions should be sent to this country. It was conceived at a late period that we ba I very great advantages in that monopoly. Mr. Dun des, so late as 1796, speaking of the colonies, said if we were to permit them they would find a market for their productions elsewhere. But there was another and most remarkable character attending those colonies, and that was whenever Englishmen were sent to those colo nies they carried with them the freedom and in stivutions of the mother country.—(Hear, hear.) (Here the Noble Lord read some extracts from a pa tent, given to the Earl of Carlisle, who went out, as Governor of Barbadoes, in 16t19, during the reign of Charles 1., which showed that his Lordship and his heirs were thereby empowered to make laws for the colony, with: the consent of the inhabitants.) The government of Jamaica,:setiled by Cromwell, was at first entirely absolute; but in the reign of Charles H. it was ordered that an Assembly should be called in Ja maica; that by it laws and statutes should be ordained upon the model of English institutions. It so hap_ pened that not long af.erwarde in the r e i gn of James 11, there was a question with regard to this very colony of Barleadoes, and in fact affecting the inte rests of the whole of the British colonies. (Te e Noble Lord then read a I aisage from Mr. F ez ?, history of the revolution, giving the opinion of Lord Hedfix with respect to the constitutional rights of the colonies. The Noble Lord considered that this was a oircumataneo of great note, because no man was more 74#1, 4 44 ad in dispensing with Parlia eriV-s Marquis of Halifax, and it the sentiments implanted in ishman ought to live under under free institutions. c~'ie k . 441 .140karlestbc Secun qUsiatntietliel i4tr l t the 2 ) 1 r4eYthat, e 'fit' d 1 mind that- tv glis free Govertu4 t_ and s , e — j : -2 % ! . :•'" -4,‘ P 4 • rz7 -- - , ,, ~._•:---,- : - --, . ii -- : • *• - :..- - t.' . (.-7',Y; : <, . . 1 1 . ' V That that opinion was in conformity with the general constitution of those colonies, and the general principle s of the English law, was, he thought, shown by the opi nion of Sir Philip York, which was quoted by Lord Mansfield in the well-known case regarding the procla mation of the King in respect of the island of Jamaica. The Assembly having refused to grant the necessa-y supplies, the matter was referred for his opinion, and he said that the only way in which taxes could be laid on the inhabitants was through the Assembly. From 1627, after the accession of Charles I. till the peace of Paris in 1763, the general policy in regard to the colonies had remained the same, but for various reasons, which he would not particularise, it did not seem to be thought ad visable to follow the example of our ancestors between 1763 and the time of the peace in 1814 ; and the con stitution of the colonies had not been formed on the plan of the British Constitution. With regard to our commercial policy with the colonies, it had been materially altered within the last few years. In 1786 Mr. Pitt had determined to adopt a free-trade policy with regard to the intercourse between the West Indian and the North American dependencies of this country, as well as between the former of these colonies and the United States of North America; and he had passed resolutions to that effect, but af,er wards a more restricted policy was adopted, and it was only during last year that the House had given its full sanction to th abolition of that exclusiveness which they hal utterly put an end to by the repeal of the navi gation laws, and had thereby put an end, as he conceived for ever, to the whole system of commercial monopoly. —(Hear, hear.) They had given the colonies the power to receive from, and to transfer to, other parts of the world all the articles which they produced, or the goods which they required, together with the authority to impose whatever duties they deemed necessary upon the products of this country. Much had been said of the evils and the benefits of this system. He would only make his teat by the increase of population. In 1816 the population of the Canadas was 462.452; in 1835 it was 1,099,000; and in 1847 it was 1,185,689. Now there was another way in which the extent of this inerease might in some degree be measured, by compar ing this increase of population with the increase in the population of the United States. Now he found that in 1825 the population of Lower Canada was 423,630, and in 1831 it was 511,923, being an in crease in the six years of 17 per cent. In 1844 it was 690,782, being in the thirteen years an increase of 35 per cent. In 1848 it was 770,0n0, being an in• crease of 12 per cent. Taking Upper an d Lower Canada together, the increase from 1825 to 1831 was 29 per cent. In 1843, which he thought was a me dium between 1842 and 1844, being ten years, the in crease was 55 per cent. In 1848, being four years, the increase was 28 per cent. The proportions being so great, he would take the proportions for the United States at ten years. In 1800 the increase was 25 per cent. In 1110, 36; in 1820, 33; in 1830, 33; in 1840, 32; thus the increase in Upper and Lower Canada was considerably greater than that of the United States. With regard to the imports, the increase of the last few years had been no less remarkable. In 1835 they were 3,730,000 ; in 1846 4,053,000. The exports in 1835 were 1,929,000 ;in 1846 3,201,000. The shipping inwards increased from 1,077,000 to 1,461,000, whilst the shipping outwards increased from 1,025,000 to 1,494,000. That was a most remarkable increase, both in population and commerce ; and if the House went to another test of the wealth of those countries, namely, the articles as sessed to local taxation in Upper Canada, they had no less remarkable results. The property assessed to the local taxation in that province was in 1825 2,000,0001. odd in 1835 3,085,0001., in 1845 7,778,0001., and in 1847 8,567,000/. With regard to another portion of our colonies in which there had been an increase of the people of British descent, the facts were hardly less remarkable. He alluded more especially to the Austra lian colonies, and in the first place to New South Wales. In New South Wales in 1828 the population was not above 15,000; of whom at that time nearly one-ha'f were convicts, and the exports were of the value of 180,000/. In 1848 the population had increased to 300,000, and the exports were in value upwards of 2,000,000/. That would seem still more remarkable when he stated that at the time of which he spoke the popul tion of the American colonies were not above 1,000,000' The increase with regard to some other colonies more recently founded in New Holland was equally remark able. New South Wales, for example, had made a most extraordinary progress in the last ten years, both in po pulation and in exports. He thought those facts showed with respect to a large class of our colonies under the dominion Df this country, a most extraordinary increase, both in pupulation and in trade. They observed the value of those relations, on which there was so much discussion, and on which he thought some people spoke with but superficial knowledge He would now take an instance of colonies which had undergone very severe trials which might have subjected them to almost ruin, of course he meant the West India Islands. The great change from slavery to freedom would, it was likely, for a short time be followed by a cessation of almost all iadustry, or more es pecially to all labour of an irksome description. The change which had afterwards taken place, first of admitting foreign free-grown sugar into this country, and next, of admitting foreign slave-labour sugar into this country, had naturally produced some change in those colonies, but it must be re membered that if those admission had not taken place, the West Indies would have been exposed to competition from the Mauritius. In looking at the returns he found that, taking the average a the three years before so many changes had taken place in the West Indies, they had furnished 2,947,324 cwt. of sugar to this country; in 1831-2-3, before the emancipation, 3,335,820 cwt ; in 1843-4-5, let f ,re those admissions had taken place, 2,645.212 cwt.; and in 1847.8-9,: 2,801,6.57 cwt. This proved that our colonies were in a satisfactory condition as far as regarded our commercial relations with them. He now came to a question which hal been much agitated, and which had advocates of very consider able ability, who said that it was no longer worth our while to maintain our colonial possessions. With regard to this proposal he would say that it was our bounden duty to maintain colonies which had been placed under our care.—(Hear.) We could not get rid of the responsibility e hich we bad taken upon ourselves for the benefit of these colonies, and he trusted we would be the means of improving and civilizing those parts of the world to which they belonged.—(Htar.) There were many reasons why they should be considered as part and parcel of the strength of this empire. In the next place the natives had become in a certain degree civilized, or at least they had been brought to order, and to subjection to authority. In one of our recent colonies there was a most remarkable race —he meant the people of New Zealand who not many years ago were given up to practises the most abhorrent, but who, on communication with the British people, appeared to be far more capable of civilization than almost any savage race with which he was ac quainted.—(Hear, hear.) There was also another race—the natives of Natal—who showed great docility, and gave evidence of their fitness to learn the arts of civilized life.—(Hear.) There was also another race which, if abandoned, would relapse into their former savage habits and begin a war of races un• der the few Europeans who were left to command them. But there were other considerations which could not be lost sight of in coming to a sound conclusion in this discussion. No one doubts the benefit of the ports of these colonies to our commerce in the time of peace— (Cheers)—and that they are most necessary in the time of war.—(Cheers.) Let them consider what would be the effect of a neglect of a great number of these colonies. Was it to be said that because the United States had groan into a great community, and because that com munity had prospered without the addition of colonies? But the condition of the United States and the circum stances of the British Government were very different. The colonies were in most instances unable to defend themselves. They had small means and had very often a savage race around them to contend with. If, therefore, this country refused to assist or di fend them they would naturally look to other powers for that assistance and that protection to which they were legitimately entitled from us.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) In their weakness they would apply to the strong, and who could blame them?—(Hear, hear.) But there was another point to which he wished to refer, and that was the system of making laws. The colonies bad the power of enacting certain statutes which re quired the assent of the home Government; but there were other laws for their self-government which they were enabled to complete without any imperial authority. He did not believe it was possible t drawn any line. They had a strong instance of this in the debates they had last session with respect to the measure passed by the House of Assembly and by the Govern ment of Canada. It was contended in this House that that was a measure which ought not receive the assent of the Crown. Government, on the other hand, maintained that it was a matter entirely for the local government to decide ; and although he did not wish to review the dispute, and it was an instance which showed how difficult it would to draw any precise line on the subject. The only con clusion which any man who had the administration of the colonies could come to was, that the local Government and Legislature, and not the Crown, were the be stjudges of their local concerns. Formerly there were causes in existence which operated detrimental to the interest of the !Neat Indian colonies, he alluded to the acts and measures of precaution that were taken after the eman selavhees, w t o a r a event e outrages Colonial-office an d disturb ances. 1 of 3 theutwhn Metcalf wrote to him, stating that there was no longer any necessity for these precautions, and they were eventually dispensed with. Those measures of precauti on , t h ose symptoms of .jealousy soon afterwards ceas e d, and, therefore, although there was an interference o f a considerable kind , longer existed between the colo n i s t s and the Gov no F ment at home. But in considering further this subject, r he thought it was absolutely necessary that the Govern ment and the House should understand, and if pos sible, declare what were the principles upon which they were hereafter to proceed.—(Cheers.) It was their duty he believed, and it was their policy to maintain that great and admirable colonial empire. Let the House see that those principles were sound which they adopted, in the administration cf those colonies; let them see that they ass to the credit of this country and likely to con tribute to the happiness of the colonies.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") With regard to this commercial policy he had already said that the whole system of monopoly was swept away. The House had already said that in future there should be no duties of monopoly in favour of one nation as against another, and that there should be no duties cf such a nature that they should be prohibitory against the produce and manufactures of other countries. He thought that was called fir in return for the protection and defence which this country gave them. But next, as to the mode of government. It appeared to him that as a general rule they could not do better than reer to those maxims a policy which governed our ancestors on this subject.—(Hear.) It appeared to them that whereever Englishmen went they should enjoy English freedom—(Hear, hear)—and have English institutions. (Cheers.) They aet2d justly and wisely. They actel, he believed, for the immediate harmony of the mother country and her colonies. On this sub ject let them see how they stood. He had in his hand a declaration of a number of gentlemen—he thought some twelve or fourteen—Members ef that House, and some three or four Peers of the other House of Parliament, in regard to colonial policy. The question of those gentlemen forming themselves into a Committee and putting themselves in communication with the colonies, is one which I consider of very dubious character.—(Great cheering.) In their character as Members of both Houses, it was perfectly competent for them fairly to declare what their views and opinions were, and to call upon us to show our reasons for dissenting from them. If they had done that he (the Noble Lord) should not have complained. They say it is right to grant to the colonies power to administer their own affairs, and that the colonies which were at the present either f,rnied in their population, or were forming it, should have the perfect management of their own matters. They stated that there were the North American colonies, the South African, the Australian colonies, Van Die man's Land, and New Z eland. He would take these in order, and state what bt en the policy of the Govern ment regarding them. With regard to the North Ameri can colonies, he would take Canada. In 1828 there were very grave dissensions between the Ministers of the Crown and Canada. The Ministers of the Crown thought that they were justified in applying the money of the Canadas without asking their consent. Mr. HuskisEoa proposed an inquiry into the matter. Parliament spent much time in the discussion of it ; Committees sat and Commissions were ap pointed. Soon after that an insurrection broke out In the Canadas, and blood was shed there. The Government afterwards proposed the ut,ion of the two provinces to give ample power to the Legislature. The popular party of Canada wished that the Ministers should be of that party to which the majority belonged. When Lord Glenelg was the Governor of the Canadas. Mr. Baldwin, who he believed was now in office in Canada, came over to England, and as Lord Glenely could not see that person, he wished that he (Lord John Russell should see him. They met with the idea that each would have widely different ideas, but after mutual con versation they found that they perfectly agreed. (LEFT SPEARING.) THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) At the Court at Windsor, the sth day of February, 1850: present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Her Majesty in Council was this day pleased, upon the representation of the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, to appoint Edward Woodford, Esq. LL.D., to be one of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, in Scotland, in the room cf John Gordon, Esq.. resigned. FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 7, 1850. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Victor Weber as Consul, at Margate, for his Majesty the King of the Belgians. WHITEHALL, EEL 6. The Queen has been pleased to grant the place of one of the Lords of Session in Scotland to Thomas Maitland, Esq., her Majesty's Solicitor-General for Scotland, i❑ the room of Francis Jeffrey, Esq., deceased. WHITEHALL, FEB. 7. The Quren has been pleased to grant the office of her Majesty's Solicitor-General for Scotland to James Moncreiff, Eq., Advocat, in the room of Thomas Maitland, Esq., appointed °Le of the Lords of Session in Scotland. CROWN-OFFICE, Fin. 7. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN TIIIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borough of New Windsor—John Hatehell, Esq., of Merrion-square, in the city of Dublin, her Majesty's Solicitor-General for Ireland, in the room of John Hay, Esq. (commonly called Lord John Hay), who has ac cepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Manor cf Nurthstead. WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 8. 4th Regiment of Foot—Ensign Thomas Knott to be Adjutant, vice Bond, appointed Paymaster, Feb. 8. 6th Foot—Captain Samuel William Henry Hawker, from the 68th Foot, to he Captain, vice Somerville, who exchanges, Feb. 8. 12th Foot—Lieutenant-Colonel Randal Rumley, from the 6th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Patton, appointed Inspecting Field Officer of a Recruiting Dis trict, Feb. 8. 15th Foot—Ensign John Walmsley, to be Lieutenant,. by purchase, vice Tod, who retires, Feb. 8. 29th Foot—Brevet-Colonel, the Honourable Thomas Ashburnham, C. 8., from halt-pay, 62d Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Brevet-Colonel Armine Simcoe Henry. Mountain, C. 8., who exchanges, Feb. 8. 34th Foot—Lieutenant Charles William Goldfinch Burrill, to be Captain by purchase, vice Lang, who re tires ; Ensign Robert Campbell, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Burrill, Feb. 8. 37th Foot—Lieutenant Robert Prescott Harrison to be Captain by purchase, vice Geils, who retires, Feb. 8. 53d Foot—Ensign Bendyshe Walton to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Stokes, who retires; Ensign Donald Harvey Munro, from the Ist Foot, to be Ensign, vice Walton. Feb. 8. 63d Foot—Ensign Cecil Charles Pole to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Bannatyne, de.,eaFed; Ensign Frederick Edward Gauntlett, from the 67th Foot, to he Ensign, vice Pole, Feb. 8. 68th Foct —Major-General Douglas Mercer, C. 8., to be Colonel, vice Lieutenant General Charle s Ni col, I C. 8., deceased, Jan. 31 ; Captain Thomas Ilenry So merville, from the 6th Foot, to be Captain, vice Hawker, who exchanges, Feb. 8. 70th Foot—Ensign Charles ISlinchin, from Ist Foot, to be Ensign, vice Rae, promoted, Feb 8. 73d Foot—Captain James Mclntyre, from half-pay Un attached, to be Captain, vice Maurice Charles O'Connell, who exchanges; Lieut. Wm. Lases Peto to be Captain, by purchase, vice Mclntyre, who retires; Ensign Thomas Bowyer Bower to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Peto; Albert Henry Godfrey, Gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Bower, Feb. 8. 80th Foot—Major-General Henry Daubeney to I e Colonel, vice Major-General Sir Edmund Keynton K.C.8., deceased, Jan 31. 2d West India Regiment—Quartermaster Cheri( a Frederick Johnson to be Ensign, vice McHugh, ap pointed Quartermaster; Ensign Michael McHugh to be Quartermaster, vice Johnson, appointed Ensign, Feb. 8. MEMORANDUM.—The commission of Lieutenant Ro bert Villiers Briscoe, in the 25th Foot, has been altered from the 6th of August, 1847, to the 26th of April, 1848, ERRATUM in the " Gazette " of Ist instant. COMMISSARIAT.—For Deputy-Assistant Commis sary-General Lionel Routh:to be Assistant Commissar) - General, commission dated 29th Doc., 1349," read, " Deputy-Assistant Commissary-General Leonco Routh to be Assistant Commissary-General, &c." Ccmmission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. The Honourable Charles Pelham Villiers to be De puty-Lieutenant, Feb. 1. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Henry Elwards, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant; John Waterhouse, Eq. to be Deputy-Lieutenant,,Feb. e. WHITEHALL, FEB. 4. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas Shu tlewor th, of Manchester, in the county palatine of Lan caster, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FEB. 5. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry Penberthy, of Devonport, in the county of Devon, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. Edward Wolsey, corn merchant, Wereham, Norfolk, to surrender Feb. 19 and Mar. 22, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Official assignee, Stansfield ; Mason, Wereham; Cree and Sor, Gray's-inn, London. Henry Charles Cawston, grocer, Temple-street, Kings land, Feb. 21, at one, and March 19, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Sam brook-court, Basinghall-street ; Morris, Stone, and Townson, Moorgate-street-chambers, Moorgate-street, City. Thomas Cooper, the elder, locksmith, Wolverhamp ton, Feb. 22, and March 15, at the Birmingham Dis trict Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham; Bon en, Stafford; Smith and James, Birmingham. Arthur Ford, miller, Stokefleming, Devonshire, Feb. 19 and March 12, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hernamann, official assignee, Exeter; Hockin, Dartmouth; Stogdon, Exeter. — PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from the returns made in the week ending February 5, 1850, is 275. 3:;, , ,,d. per cwt. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. 'From tho London New Price Current, Feb. 8.) Su6mt.—To-day the market presented a dull aspect for West India Sugar, and both grocers and refiners operated with much caution, whilst rather lower rates were acceded to, making the decline for the week fully 6d per cwt, and the purchases to only 1,087 hhds, Szc. ; of this quantity 162 hhds, itc., were sold to-day, including 101 pkgs chrystalised at public sale, which realised 41s to 47s 6d, and brown 34s to 395 per cwt. REFINED.—The value of brown lumps is 48s 6d to 495, standard lumps 49s 6d to 50s ; tittlers, low to fine 49s to 52s 6d, double 53s to 545, Hamburgh loaves 50s to 53s 6d, and double 54s to 555. Only moderate purchases have been made in wet lumps, and can be obtained at 453 to 46s 6d, and fine 47s to 47s 6d. Pieces from 87s to 41s, and 42s to 44s for better sort. Bastards brown at 29s to 325, and yellow 33s to 805 for low to fine. There has not been business concluded in Treacle, whilst a desire is evinced so se ll boiled from West India Molasses at 14s 6d to 15s 6d, Patent 16s to 17s, and Golden Syrup at 18s to 19s; there is a plentiful supply of low and mid dling sorts. Bonded Crushed :Sugar met with little at tention from shippers, whilst more desire is evinced gto sell at from 20s 6d to 30s 6d. For delivery few buyers are to be met with. Wet Lumps are only in limited demand at 28s t o 28 s Gd. Only small orders have been exeeuted in Treacle for exportation, whilst sellers are willing to accept 13s 6d to 14s 6d. There are sellers of Bastards at 18s to 219, and of Pieces at 22s to 26s for low to fine, but not many orders have been com pleted. In foreign Crushed Sugar the purchases made have been limited at from 26s Gd to 29s for low to fine. In Loaves there has not been much passing, but the value of 2 1 ,,-' 2 to 71bs Hambro is 36s to 465, 10 to :151bs 33s Gd to 34s Gd and Tittlers. 22 to 301bs, 31s to 31s 6d per cw t. , Maummus.—This afternoon the quantity submitted to public sale was larger than for some time past, and amounted to 12,576 bags. The trade was riot much disposed to operate, and not above half sold, at a decline on last Friday's rates of 6d per cwt—low to good yellow went at from 36s 6d to 395, fine 39s Gd to 403 6d, good and fine brown 34s to 363, inferior 30s to 33s 6d, ord to fine grey 35s to 395, grainy 393 to 933 6d, and one lot white ditty at 484 6d per cwt. OND ON, FRIDAY EVENING, EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the East India Sugar market presented a quiet aspect, and former rates were barely sup ported. At public sale 319 bags Bengal sold at 40s 6d to 41s for good white Benares, and at 39s 6d to 40s fid for damp. Of Madras 92 bags realised for low soft brown 29s 6d, and for ord to fair yellow 32s to 35s per cwt. FOREIGN.—To-day there was little passing in Foreign Sugar by private treaty, whilst at public sale 2,289 chests Havannah were nearly all taken in, brown at from 17s to 19s, and yellow at 19s to 21s per cwt. The chief operation for the week is 1,500 baskets Java, in bond, at 22s for grey. A cargo of brown Bahia sold at 20s per cwt. MOLASSES.—The market for West India has a dull aspect, and late terms are not to be obtained, although there is only a limited supply at market, but deliveries are equal to the former year. There are few buyers of East India, and sellers are willing to accept 14s to 14s 6d per cwt, whilst the stock continues to get upon a larger scale. To-day at public sale 10 casks Cuba Molasses went at 18s per cwt. COFFOE. —This afternoon there was little desire on the part of shippers or home dealers to operate in coffee, and 62s to 62s 6tl is the valve of Native Ceylon. At public sale 273 bags Mocho were taken in at 62s to 70s; whilst a small parcel of yellow Madras sold at 735. Of Plantation Ceylon 39 casks 148 bags bags privately found bupers ; fine at 775, low mid and mid 68s 6d to 725, other sorts 59s to 67s 6d. A par: el of forty barrels Ground Rio was taken in at 56s per cwt. Coco&.—There are few purchasers of West India, and prices have still a downward tendency, although none has been submitted to public sale this week, but a parcel of 450 bags Trinidad is declared. I❑ foreign the purchases made have been trifling, and 33s to 35s is the value. TEA.—The demand continues active for ord and mid sorts of Green, whilst former rates are well kept up, and holders exhibit firmness. Purchases to a fair extent have been made in good and fine kinds at full rates. In ord and good ord Congou there has been little passing, and a greater desire is evinced to realize; the decline from the highest point of the market is nearly Id per lb; only limited sales have been made at 9id to 10d, and several parcels are on offer. Other sorts realise full terms, and a good business has been concluded in medium at I I d to is 2d, good and fine Is 3d to is 9d per 11)._ SPICES. There isfirmness on the part of holders of Ginger, and none has been offered at public sale this week. Pur chases to a fair extent have been made by private treaty. Jamaica at from 4/ to 11/, East India export sort 20s to 255. For Pimento higher rates are asked; business in consequence has been much checked, and at public sale 350 bags were taken in at 'Yid to 8d per lb. Mace is held with firm ness at from 2s 2d to 2s 9d. Nutmegs from 2s Gd to 3s f , ' brown, and at 3s 2d to 4s for o th er sor t s. Bl ac k P epper met with little attention from shippers and home dealers. The value of heavy Malabar i s 4Ad to 4 1 / 2 , half heavy 414 d to 4ad, and Sumatra 3id to 4ad per lb. White continues to be much wanted at from 6d to 9d per lb for low to fine, and few parcels are on offer. Cassia Lignea—A public sale of 400 chests will take place on Thursday. To-day a fair demand exists for Cloves, and at public sale 26 bags Bourbon realised Bid to Bid per lb. IticE.—Holders of East India are less disposed to realise, and have refrained from submitting any to public sale this week, whilst former terms are required. The value of good mid and fine white Bengal is 9s 6d to Ils 6d; low to mid, Se to Os, and cargo Bs, and Madras pinky white 83 to 9s per cwt. There is still a good sale for Cleaned Rice, but more desire is evinced to sell low to fine Patna at from 12s to 18s, brown 10s to lls 6d, town dressed Carolina 22s to 263, and American 19s 6d to 20s per cwt. Of Paddy there are again large arrivals. SAGO.—To-day at public sale 402 bags Pearl Sago were taken in at 22s 6d to 23s for large, but damaged sold at 13s 6d to 19s per cwt. 50 brls Bahia Arrowroot realized 4d to 44d, and 9 brls Arrowroot 5d per lb ; but 145 tins St. Yin cents were taken in at is 2d, while 261 pkgs Vermicelli and Maccaroni sold at 5d to 6d. Srinrrs.--:iine Jamaica Rum continues in good demand. The value of 20 to 29 per cent. over proof 2s 4d to 2s 6d, 30 to 36 over 2s 8d to 3s4d,:and superior marks 3s 6d to 4s 2d. De merara is held for 2s 2d to 2s 6d. for 30 to4o per cent over proof. Leeward Island has been pressed with caution at is sid to Is 6d, but large parcels are not on offer. East India is held for le 4id to 1s sd. The Brandy market is quiet, but in prices little variation is apparent. For Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1848 the value is 4s 6d to 4s Bd. 1847 ditto 5s 2d to 5s 4d, 1849 ditto 5s 6d to 5s Bd, inferior sorts 2s 103 to 4s 4d, and Bordeaux 2s 8d to 2s 10d. Geneva Is 9d to Is 10d, and fine 2s 3d to 3s 33. There is no varia tion in the value of British made Spirit. INDIGO.--The quarterly sale of Last India will take place on Tuesday, and amount to 14,369 chts. There has been little business done this week, still the rates asked are 4d to 6d per lb above the last quarterly sales. For Spanish full terms have been obtained. FRCIT.— The demand for Currants continues exceedingly dull. There has been rather more doing in Valencia Raisins than fer several week's previously. Muscatels continue firm. Turkey Figs are quite neglected. TALLOW.— To-day rather lower rates were accepted at the public sales of Tallow, but a :air part offered sold; 391 casks Sydney at 35s to 375, low 32s 6d to 34s 9d; 1,112 packages South American 33s 3d to 37e ; 239 casks Peters burgh 35s fid to 36e; 159 casks Y. C. stranded 34s tid to 36s per cwt. Oils.—The value of Linseed Oil is 31s 6d to 31s 9d on the spot. Palm fine is to be obtained at 31e 6d to 325. Cocoa Nut sellers are willing to accept 33s to 355. For Olive Oil a good demand exists at 481 to 52/ per tun. There has been much desire to operate in Seal Oil; pale is held for 381 to 39/, straw and tinged 341 to 37/, brown and yellow 301 to 33/ lOs per tun, but there are several buyers rather under these rates. Cod at 30/ 10s to 31/. Southern met with little attention, and prices are receding. Sales of low fine have - been made at SU. to 331 10s. Qf Sperm larger parcels are on offer, and tho trade not being much disposed to operate prices have a downward tendency, still no decline of moment is likely 7o take pl Joe. Rapeseed Oil has been desk in with caution, and a desire is evinced to sell ; brown at 41s, pale 41s 6d to 425, and Foreign at 53s to 44s per cwt. BANK OF' ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, f e the Week ending on Saturday, the 2d day of February, 1850. METZ DEIWATMENT. X. -- -- Notes i55ued........ 3C,104,S 10 X. Government debt .• 11,015,100 Other eccurities . • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 15,827,733 Silver bullion ••• • • • 2i7,077 L 30,104,810 I .£30,104,810 3f. 3fARSIIALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 7th day of February, 1850. BANKING DEPAITMEN T. X. Proprietore'capital.. 14,553,000 Rest • • •••• ••• • • • 3,232,594 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt,s_gav ings-banks, and Di- Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 14,296,554 Other securities . • 9,8. 8 739 Notes ........ • ....• 1 0,47P,370 Gold and silver coin.. 706,349 vidend accounts) .. 5,727,761 Other deposits • • • • • • 10,591,707 Seven day and other bills.. :....... .... 1,205.956 £35,311,012 £35,311,012 q. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 1850. Dated the 7th day of February: COURSE OF EXCIL Amsterdam ..........12 2% Ditto, at sight • • .... 12 1 Rotterdam .... ••.• •• 12 3 Antwerp .. 25 67% Elamburgh • •If.B. 13 12% Altona .. Parls, 3 days'sight • • 25 47% Ditto, 3 months .... 25 67% sfarseilles •••• • • • • • • 25 67% Bourdeaux.... •• . • 25 67% Frankfort on Maine.... 121% Petersburgh, Sil. Itble.. 37% •• • • •• • • •• • • Vienna, effec. .• .. 11 33 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 11 33 Hadrid • • • • 49% Cadiz •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 42% Barcelona Ceirille • • • • •• • • • • • • • • .- INGE.-(TIIIS DAY.) Gibraltar.. •• ........ •• Leghorn ........••..•• 30 75 Genoa ............••.. 26 90 Milan .. ............ Venice .......... Maples .. 41 Palermo, peroz .. 121 Messina .............. 122 Lisbon. ... • • .......... 53% Oporto .... .. ••• • • • 53 34 Rio Janeiro • • • • • . Buenos Ayres ...... .. New York, 21 days'sight Philadelphia .... ...... TRICKS OP BULLION, YEA OZ, Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Vortitgal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars .... • . 0 4 10% Sllyer la bars ......•• 0 4 114 i SPAIN. The Espana has the following paragraph : " The Marquis de Labrador, who at the time of the death of Ferdinand VII., was Ambassador of Spain at Rome, and who has since resided in Paris, has published a letter, which ho had addressed to M. Martinez de la Rosa, and in which he asserts that the father of c,ur august Sovereign did not make a will, and that conse quently the will which was found four days after his death, is a forgery. As the Marquis is 80 years of age, and consequently has his mind rather wcAkened, our readers will judge of tho value of his assertion, unsup ported as it is by proof." ITALY. The Giornale di Roma of the 28th ult. publishes a notification from the Government Commission of Rome, informing the public that the lands belong ing to the State in the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, and Forli are to be publicly sold. The same journal publishes the regulations for execution of public works by the poor. Romans only are admitted to these works ; they must besides be weak of body or mind, so as to be unable to earn their bread otherwise, or else prove their absolute inability to find work. The public works in question are of a nature to be executed by any one ; they consist of earth-works and street cleaning. The workmen are divided into com panies of 100 men each ; they are under the command of an inspector, of assistants, and corporals, temporary officers, having no right to retiring pensions. Every workman has fifteen bajocchi (eighty centimes) a-day. The Giornale di Roma adds, that during the preceding week the work men were 2,131. Letters from Rome of the 29th state that Gen. Fernandez de Cordova arrived there on the 27th, and that the battallion Reyna Goberna dova embarked on the 25th for Spain, with part of the cavalry and half a battery. Some of the German papers publish a letter which contains the following passage : I can give you the important news that the Pope has come to an arrangement with the Catholic powers relative to the Constitution to be given to the Pontifical States. According to that arrangement, the motu proprio of last year, is to remain the basis of the new Consti tution. The States are to be divided into four legations, each of which will have at its head a cardinal as political chi.ef. A member of the Sacred College is to be President of the Council of Ministers, with the title of Cardinal Secretary of State. The President and Vice- President of the Consulate of State are to belong to the same body. The relative proportion between the laics and ecclesiastics in the other employments has not yet been determined on." By a notification of Baron Puchner, dated the Ist last., the public of Venice is informed that the currency of the communal paper of that city is definitively con tinued to the 28th of February. From the 15th of February the forced currency of this paper is to cease, and the public offices alone will receive it in payment of taxes. &c., till the old of March, when the communal paper; is to be without value. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 7.—The Peninsular and With the usu a l P en i nsular mails, severa l passengers, a Oriental Company's s t eam - s hip Ib er ia, Captain Burn e y, full cargo, and specie to the amount of 12,0001, left 'his a ft ernoon. The Euxine, Captain Evans, from th. Black the day. Sea, is e x p ec t e d to arr i ve in th e course of FEBRUARY B, 1850 RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTR-W ESTERN.-At a meeting of shareholders in this compay, held at Manchester on Tuesday, to consider the propriety of appointing a committee to co-operate with shareholders in other towns in obtaining a more efficient system of audit, Mr. Baxley in the chair, resolutions were passed to the effect that while a more efficient system of auditing railway accounts, with greater powers of control on the part of the shareholders, was impera tively required, it was the o pi n i on f the meeting that a system of audit under the control of a Government department would entail great practical evils and be a violation of independent management; that it was necessary to prepare and introduce in the present ses sion of Parliament (as the measure of the shareholders themselves, and without the interference of the direc tors), a Bill for the purpose, containing ample powers and provisions, and appointing a committee, consist ing of Messrs. Hunt e r, A s ht on , Hitchcock, Ross, King, Rawson, Robinson, Hadfield, Garnet, and Lyon, to confer with committees of shareholders appointed at Birmingham, Liverpool, and other places, and with them to take such steps as may be desirable. It was stated that the proposed Bill con templated a better system of railway management, as well as a better system of audit. EXETER AND CREDITON.—It appears that arrange ments are being made for leasing this line to the Bristol and Exeter Company for a term of seven years, at a net rental equal to one-third of the gross receipts. It is expected that the line will be opened for the traffic early in April. About 30,0001. will have to be raised for the purpose of completing the works. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.—We have been requested to state that the names of the Committee of Investi gation appointed on behalf of the shareholders are— Major-General Briggs, London ; Mr. Challinor, Leek ; Mr. Taunton, London ; Mr. R. H. Haywood, Brownbills, Burslem ; the three remaining members of the committee are to be nominated by the directors. We understand at the late general meeting of the company the dissentient shareholders held the proxies for 29,000 shares, to be used adversely to the direc tors in the event of any matter being pressed to a division. The appointment of a committee of inquiry was moved as an amendment to the directors' report, as proposed by the chairman, and, after some altera tions in minor details at the suggestion of the direc tors, and not opposed by the dissentient shareholders, was passed unanimously. THE HIGH LEVEL-BRIDGE.—The High Level bridge over the Tyne is now completed both for pas sengers and railway purposes. RAILWAY BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS.—Yester day the standing orders were declared to have been complied with in the case of the Waterford and Kil kenny Railway, who propose to raise an additional capital of 100,0001.; Chester and Holyhead Railway, for lease to the London and North-Western, with power to the latter to subscribe 525,332/. The Bills of the Caledonian Railway for repeal of lease of Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston and Glasgow Southern Terminal Railways, and for Acts relating to their amalgamation with other lines, were referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders, on the ground of insufficient notice. BRITISH ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY.-- Yesterday the Bill of the promoters of this under taking was declared to have complied with the stand ing orders, the object being to incorporate a new company, for the purpose of telegraphic communica tion upon a more economical scale throughout the country, and for the purpose and use of patents. It is proposed that the capital of the company shall consist of 4,000 shares of 251. each, 51. per share to be the greatest prescribed amount of call. The number of directors is not to exceed twelve, nor to be less than three. The company are to have power to grant licences, and to make arrangements for faci litating telegraphic communication with other coun tries. The telegraph is to be open to the use of the public " without favour or preference," at uniform charges ; the scale of remuneration from Government to be fixed by the Board of Trade. consumption would relieve them.—(Hear, hear.) He knew it would be said that, to a certain extent, the poor at present were relieved from paying rate upon their houses. In Lancashire, for example, out of 340,000 rate-payers, 50,000 were excused, and out of the total annual property rated for the relief of the poor, amounting to six millions and a-half, 369,000/. was excused. The Hon, Member then proceeded to read a quantity of returns of the number of houses excused from taxation from rates in the several counties, showing that about one third were relieved from fiscal impositions, and then proceeded to say : Now those houses were excused under an Act of the 54th George c. 170, an Act which, while it contem plated a relief to the lower classes, had, in fact, been instrumental in occasioning many cases of delicacy and much distress.—(Hear, hear.) Es ery person who desired to be excused was obliged to come before the over seers, and prove his poverty. The entire amount of the exemption under this Act was not less than 600,0001. The poor man who happened to have some money in the savings' bank never was excused; there was no pre mium for prudence and providence. He thought that the attempt to puss such a measure as that proposed by the Honourable Member for Hertford would be pernicious in the extreme. He would prove the fal lacy of the principle of that measure in a very short time if the House would listen to him. The ratepayer as well as the landowner had prejudices on this sue jolt; they both looked upon the owner of cottages as an enemy instead of looking upon him as he really wee, a public benefactor. He it was who conduced to the promotion of morality, by providing for the poor labourer a de tached dwelling for his family. If a gentleman should build a house for poor labourers, it would be very unjust to impose upon him a tax for that house, whether he ob tained a rent or not. In manyparishes there were comfort able and very pretty cottages built f re. labourers, but the supply of cottage dwellings was deficient. The greater portion of these cottages were built by speculative persons, and the effect of imposing a tax on the owners, would be to discourage these persons and to diminish the supply of dwellings fur the poor. He would not now enter into the question as to whether the tax upon land was ultimately paid by the owner or the occupier —he believed it was paid by the owner ; but this was evident, that the pos session of land was a monopoly, but not so with regard to houses, because as the supply increased the rent decreased, and if by taxing those houses they interfered with the enterprize of the specula tive builder, the supply of houses would diminish, and it appeared that even at present the supply of houses was diminishing rather than increasing, and the poor were consequently driven to immoral and crowded lodgings ; therefore it was desirable by re lieving small houses of taxation to induce specu lative builders to increase the supply of those houses. He knew that some persons were opposed to in ert ase the number of small houses, because such increase tended to increase the population; he had thought that notion had been exploded, but he would ask the sup porters of that doctrine whether pauperism was not increased by crowding the poor into bad houses, and whether the supply of good houses would not tend to diminish it? In a sanitary, in a moral, in an econo -1 mical point of view, he was convinced that an increased supply of small houses was desirable. That was the opinion of the Noble Lord the Member for Bath (Lord Ashley), as he had gathered from a speech of his re cently delivered at a meeting at the London Tavern. The adequate increase of dwellings would decrease pau perism and crime. The palaces of the Sovereiga were exempted from this tax. Now, be called upon them to do for the poor man what they did for the royal palaces. The wealthy man's personal property was exempt from taxation. Why, then, should not the dwellings of the poor man be exempted from this local taxation? All mines, except coal-mines, were excused. That wes real property. Why, if the proprietors of that property should be excused, should not the poverty of another class excuse them? It would be a simple thing to draw a line between the houses, and say that houses of such a rental shall pay and houses of such another rental shall not pay. In the town of Liverpool, out of 42,000 houses no less than 32,000 houses were excused upon one ground or other. Thus unjustly did the existing law work. More than three-fourths of the houses were excused. He did trust that the House would con sider and deliberate on this subject. He asked them to elevate the condition and moral character of the poor by attention to their wants, and by passing measures with that tendency. The masses of the population around them were in a very feat ful condition. In France, social convulsion and disaffection to the Government had sprung from neglecting the means of reconciling the poorer classes and improving their condition. This neglect had conduced to acts of rebellion and insubordi nation. He concluded by asking leave to bring in the Bill. Mr. FAGAN, after a pause, seconded the motion. Mr. A. STAFFORD hoped the Hon. Member would not attribute any want of courtesy to him if he proposed to take the divison on the Bill at the present stage, which the Hon. Member had selected as the opportunity for taking the discussion upon it. The Bill was so short and the question so plain and easy, that the House would be as well able to form an opinion on the propriety of affirming or rejecting it now as on the second le aling. The present inclination of the House was by no means to diminish the property subject to taxation, and, if the measure proposed by the Hon. Gentleman was adopted, its only effect would be, not to relieve the occupier, but to increase the owners' rents.—(Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY observed, that the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Scrope) had communicated to him his intention to ask for lt ave to introduce his Bill, which he (Sir G. Grey) was prepared to accede to; but, after the course he had taken in raising the whole question at issue when stating the principle of the proposed measure, the House could not be better informed upon it than they were at present—(Hear, hear)—and, although he had not pro posed to oppose the introduction of the Bill if it was pressed to a division now, he must vote against it. He quite agreed with the Hon. Member in the importance of doing everything in their power to improve the dwellings of the poor.--(Hear, hear.) It was satisfac tory to observe what had been done in the metropolis and most of the large towns in that direction. After the perusal of a'l the Hon. Gentleman had written with so much ability on the subject, he was unable to arrive at the same conclusions, for he believed the Honourable Gentleman's project offered a premium for the erection of a lower class of houses—(Hear, hear)—and if the standard of rating was fixed at a high rent a much larger amount of property would be exempted than would be at all desirable. The Hon. Member, in writing of the mode in which the existing law worked, brought an argument of a convincing nature against his own Bill, for he declared that cases occurred where the owners of cottage property constituted a majority in the vestry, and carried an exemption from rates in their own favour. [Mr. SCROPE.—" That's not general; it's only a particular case."] Believing the Bill would have a most prejudicial effect on the object of the Hon. Gentle man, he must oppose the proposition, now, as on every former occasion, and vote against it if it was forced to a division. Mr. SLANEY gave every credit to the Hon. Member for Stroud for his benevolent intentiens, but the best attention he (Mr. Slaney) could devote to the question had convinced him that the proposed Bill would lower and depreciate the condition of the poor. Mr. SCROPE certainly had not expected that leave to bring in the Bill would have been refused to him. His statement was only intended to explain the principles of the measure, not to raise any argument on the question at large. Ire owned the opposition he had met with was what he had every reason to expect in a House composed of landowners and the rept e , entative of ratepayers. It was impossible but that a feeling of bias should ho pre valent in a House of that nature.—(" Oh! oh !") Mr. V. SMI FR rose to protest against the Hon. Gen tleman's attributing any unfair bias to the House be cause they happened to be almost unanimous against his proposition, so that he could only find a seconder by courtesy. The Hon. Member put him in mind of the unlucky juryman whose lot was always to get into the box with 11 of the most obstinate men in the world, The fact was there never was a time when so much at tention was paid to the condition of the dwellings of the poor. The Bill proposed would work the greatest in jury, and would only raise the rents; for even now there were cases where the owners of cottage property having obtained exemption from rates at once laid the amount on the rents. Mr. HUME, of his rersonal knowledge, could cor-• roborate the last st a t ement o f the Right Lion. Gen tleman (Mr. V. Smith), and was persuaded the proposed Bill would open a door to abuse. There was a gr( at desire abroad to see the physical condition of the working classes improved, and many persons who were anxious to erect comfortable cottages tbr them would be content with as little as 2 per cent. He thought those interested in the question might with propriety make application to Government to assist them by tAking the duty off bricks—(Hear, hear)—which weighed considerably against the erection of substantial cottages, as well as by repealing the window-tax. Such measures would have far greater effect than the Bill of the Hon. Gentle man which would on ly l ay t h e groun d f ur a b use and jobbing. Mr. BROTHERTON said, that in the borough which he had the honour to represent there were 10,000 houses, and of that number 9,000 were under the value of 10/., and therefore exempt. The motion was then put, and negatived without a division. THE HUNGARIAN WAR. Lord DUDLEY STUART rose and said—Sir, I ri se to make the motionofwhich I have given notice, fur the production of certain papers with regard to the negotiations by this Government in respect to the late war in Hun gary, with regard to the occupation of the principalites of the Danube, and with regard to the demands by Russia and Austria for the extradition of the Hungarian, Polish, and other refugees; and also for some other papers. In making this motion I feel that no apology is due for the motion itself on account of its great im portance, although for the mover many apologies may be requisite in consequence of his inability to do justice to so large and so important a subject—(Hear, hear)—but, Sir, I do not find that any other gentleeian who has directed his a'tention to the matter was disposed or prepared to bring it forward; and I think I have consulted the convenience of the House and the progress of public business better by seiz;ng the earliest opportunity for the purpose of bringing it on, than by waiting to a later period in the session, whe❑ other measures shall have occupied very much the at tention of the House, and when it may be still more in disposed than it usually is to bestow any part of its time on other topics. Sir, I have to ask for information upon subjects which have excited, and continue to excite, the greatest degree of interest in this country and through out Europe. The Noble Lord at the bead" of Foreign k ,r Aff - - airs, as on a former occasion, a few plained with great clearness the principles ur' /v t i. Colo .:. foreign affairs are managed under the English tution ; and he told the House Oaf, under that eo!'_'. tution, the largest discretion was always granted to s t a i r a : Majesty's advisers in the conduct of diplomatic neg e . 4o , tions in relation to foreign affairs, but at the same t, c, that that discretion was subject is the revision of 1 .2 :, years ego,a liniment, and that that revision should not be unless Parliament was furnished wills full and tlog „d i information. On the occasion when my Noble FlieL, made those remarks, and which I have repast Dell/.1.: I believe, in his own words, he added that the. country was a good deal in the dark with regard to the tv 01 27 0 tions to which ho referred ; and I must say tha l , i ,h country, with regard to those transactions tiii au x .,, the papers I ask for refer, is at this moment conic or,:. in the dark. I want some light-I want SOlll3 infb , r, . 1 . , tion. I think the country has a right to be in ,°,70 to the part which the Government has taken in all si,i; eseret .sa matters referred to; for, as was said on the other see : h the debsta on the Address, and as the Queenf" S i re p e d yearly told us, we were net at war. It indeed rtssfled to some very delicate transactions which had beea . ;": oil without the public peace being endangered, at woif ti ,, sides of the House and all parties expiessed theirisb'een faction. But with regard to how those matters Who settlsd we have not yet been Old cne word; and L l t os t that we have a right to be furnished with ° e ar s ample inform atior. Sir, during the whichls't bas war has 1. e:n carried on in Europe „ r t 1' excited in the minds of the inhabitants of this cce . , oo , p pe ri r n h c a i p p s a , ls m ; ore intereFt than any other war has e ver u t i si in which we ourselves were not directly eog s g e b e ra the case, bec a a n u d :e , 13 . 6 d es pode G - overnment, for the purpose of putting down! , iOO people, and of depriving them of a free ee e ' l , t e l se n th o a is t -o ,s b ,a d r e w r asthactatrhrisetdshonouoldy . free very similar to our own, which they had els.o_ ode at long as us. Hungary has always been an indepelos, country ; it has never been conquered. It ha s s n er, been independent de jure and de facto until Jaskol e cry when it was p u t d own by the power and the tree r e ch s i of Russia.-(Hear, hear.) The Hungarian iner t he was originally elective. Ferdinand the /I'l4 Fifth, was brother of the E m peror Charles the 0 0 elected by the Diet in 1526. He took the woe to the constitution, and all his successors hav e d his the same cath, except one. Joseph 11. followel re , example, and Joseph was never crowned, and rarre oe7 t o cognised as their king. It must be born e in' inor:AO, co __ Hungary and A us t r i a h ave had nothing p i t ed in n c i, s e h u e: excet their sovereign, and have not been than the kingdoms of Hanover and England. 11"dohe Johann ditary prince in th e G erman States, the Arc t ad 61 Austria, was not Ki ng o f H un gary till censor! bro. Presburg with the crown of St. Stephen 0111 ,:, m ale In 1687 that crown was declared hereditary in '',„" 1725 descendants of the house of ITapsburg, the Pragmatic Sanction extended and ~ ,e_o oo e, i t to ; l e the and the devoted fidelity with w h , ie s ecorel H ungarians maintained that arrangemelo so be to Maria Theresa, not only the kingdom of litTi l d. Th e also the other dominions which she inheie e t be title heiress of the house of Hapsburg was known by oaten: of the Queen of Hungary that beiug the most le i s o .h by of all the countries over which she ruled, and the,, a rGer• her successors obtaining the title of DeP er°r ' ' ''' Ill° many, the title of King of Hungary more astounding appellation, yet it wits Illtegqato s e ; wa s ecliPse e w w hich was still the chief source of their power; fe l. j'• pity e l Emperor with history are well aware that the d i o g ii. al of Germany was nothing but 0 q 3 . 1 e 1 Ger l9 l the beginning of this century, when tu er or ° empire fell to pieces, the modern title of &O ra of Austria was introduced, but the g r raPe 0 1 s biS Austria still derived his greatest powe- ro. _5 Hungarian dominions; and, therefore , whe n u p ; of, `. s i t Austria,was t he whichiiing w o f cient ally," of whom we hear so much, ' is etenDerer o f asHruenagllyary;any "'lc OP as the King of Hungary that he was able to disP o l o stitir power. Joseph 11. attempted to destroy the. to tion. What happened then ? The Diet, ref out 0 0 knowledge him as king, exacted fresh gearsoterjogorl his successor, Leopold 11., who declared that „ s tep tire ss • t was a country free and independent in her en pot tabjec, meant. and not the to o f legislation and government; that she was 0, 0 tbs' sheany other people or any other state, e u x i s teees should have her own separate • coolir and her own constitution, and shollsP., hire; queatly, be governed by her own bereditarliess, se t legally crowned in accordance with her owe 33 s• oth er constitution of the customs of Hungary and not according t e , into any th l customs. Ia 1848 reformswere introduces' t. ene, they passed both Chambers Hunga ry-laws also, and receiveoNe Su r assent. Some were rather declaratory tha n jl e gl i f itieg 6rl l was the one which enacted that the Ministry' 0 ..., no hties should be responsible to the Diet. Civil se" r a f 1. 11 , directguag e or taxation o f creed. was takenT h e away privilege passed the, ! s ola' equality were established without distinctilion ill; before possessed it, and participation 1 g. 's 1 Imposts was extended to a ll Tiong ar p i n til ° l ell'.. btl abour rent was not only done away wit h - ILO' ; ere the lands which the peasantry held upon that t e m - 001 given up to them as their own property, e °llll koroi c i r ie l fro o m f e r n ! ) o n-bie f j o: :sl : l6 o being granted to the landlords. The suffregf' Os" confined to the nobility, was extended ' ll 0 1 P it ii to all persons possessed of real or Pens t o ‘ 1 perty of the value of 301. a year ; in to wn ers e° persons receiving 101. a year from real oil N oe property; also to all persons holding ceotlelergseofieictott c T e h iv e e r d e reformsthe royal assen g t f ic ro e ru n regularly voted by she and to all working mons were sent up o the House April, ls o 4 f B. Lords, us b e -,..- _ F e tid r b s t r s : : igtif t h h a e vin So g ver it: l :ll ,l tlic g i a tCl i ell f *; accordance with the spirit and letter of Pieresburg, on the 1 t t h o in carrying out these measures of refocus, set e . 00 1 '' their i d, on tution, but still it did not protect them from i h ligg fol e4 ,4 constitutional, and violent acts on the parts f '•;i t iegi nt e t ig r h e t ight nor of Austria. Croatia had been unite t e n ioer n - a centuries, centuries periodup oe longer e ger most ih a i n n ti thatm. at_e otei e ll s o - b r e o. s e e n c i i - e n : between \Vales and England. Some disp. i n . tween the two countries, chiefly,perhap s s eleill ch lir sir:e l y i a ose n i ntnes e m,p n rt of f r n yitotue governments d de u b os a fe t d es . r sequence of a measure of fbe Diet, the/11 I /6 : troduced the Magyar language into f Ce h - g i being was illegal. Nevertheless, allt pointed Jellachich, the colonel of a Cr"; o r ost*oert Ban of Croatia - , that is to sa governor 0 , 0 min to go this appointment : g ➢ws 0 0 was iut i t t ott the ht:eet) fomenthcountersignedCent: l u na n rng g t t g a b °n r e u i f i b s : g e e yn : r ; :0 1 0 1 0 : 5-fic en' bier wh ich i g r os e , ' . b e i ' .o -1° 1 ; : s c : ° : conciliate the Count, did not object to reces',.; biro " t ie theMinisser invited him to communicate w it i ,"/ Cie : 6 :i: to to o 0 . 0 1 regard i to the convocation of the assembly - t hat w c ij i tuition .e was to be installed. He replied olrhd c ee e r, to an a d ay t • by forbidding the Croatian assembly t.°,001.11r, communication with the Ministry and deei s ni rlij s rser': f i e once upon all persons who should presume ° A - 007i; li connexion y o h r e d t e w r e e e d n a C roatia roinacitivai ; 0 1 to r . 0 1" 9. ; t i, Minister called upon Jellachich t° 7 „ e be i n , to • os io , e r, tuted into the matter, and sent out a Con'se b oy a r investigate_ rt the conduct of the Ban. He val° 'ihro ef° 'o" the e ven away by force, and Jellachich haviogro be I t , tend m ed ask, sad disclos , d the nature of the 1% 1 bet v lb to pursue, by else:ming a sepal's° Sois'il Hungary and Creasihear.) NO , by has been • • stigmatised as a repealer--l'-iha . 10 ‘s.-(lslear, IA jog tb i r , some persons, probably because ""-' ib e statement-whether that is it is n a o eeni tr p u the most • id og! the odious C oe l a . s e him, but there they b sever ' 0 01 " it Friends behind me may veil ii s • e n ' t here Ve it, or whether it be one of opprobrium, as ;- ie ;ile ltihmenwtari'l tetra v 5 c i1 0 5 0 . . 1. 1; perhaps think it, there is no truth wha te e seP s- d , c _ lll "..g e • - (Hear, bear.) Kossath wished to It 0 oei t i e or institutions for a country which h a d D ever r ob in!), ' 4 e i with Austria, and the real repealer was Jel' is legal site hw shed by force and violence, and not bY sap s bet constitutional measures like those of Kossuth, lied to a i Croatia from Hungary, uvo e Der' which had been ia ge . 10 , since the fourteenth century. Be convolget 0 00 430 assembly tion of Croatians in June, contrary to tu e s . s ey, '.„ l al Jaw, but on the 29th the King of ile, n a hs de h, l n d Emperor Ferdinand, by autograph letter Or - pe rind calling together that aseanbl Atut the ow e id o t i be ' 0 a conference f Hungarian l33 Ministerswas C d V. O Jellachich did notthere a ° bieb ut appear royal ordinance, dated the 10th of Jun e, i As° 0$ . .s it suspended from his office, and the Genets, b die to declared hi • s appointment illegal; but Jellaell ie o il • aed des submit to this-he said Croatia was no loge! croeri, Hungary; but there was a powerful party ' 11 ,, t , 0t . " 9 8 $ i w ee h i c; . published a formal protest against the t he leis, and declaring their desire to ' 130 late they always had been, • A Iluogi l l' be A unite... to p a te st so No serfs who inhabited instigated by Austrian influence to becolu e 0 tbs t se rs• and although it was only within a few Y e r li D ap' ot , had been settled in the country in very Srna fo rlAle ed 0 t r pe,„ they now demanded a sepsrat 00 an y and the horrors which they mate •or '' coin . this d 0 probably anything that bas been known 111 01 , W hi t other country.-(Hear, hear.) I hold ,i n m y in 7 00 book w • ritten by an Hungarian lady whey' 04 11 49 v , here. fo' country at the time,and . Pulszk ' book • y Bgives a most interesting se"" harp " - Is I sto 1 transactions favoured , and is just appearing; bit lio n_ t e with a sight and a loan of it Pr e • 13 °I E` isslo- licing brought out, and I will, with the persn „ s et , she i l ' h ° P House, read a short passage with regard to o no e committed by satellites of that time:- " The sad consequences_o t h is plot In , I;sr aj t t.beirig: the remote reesmeovetreymwohuenreta,ibnudtinstorwichteorfezmaolarteuydrae.achu ' f highest to t o f l t v :i l e li or distanceA 0 1 i °li r ' The .• • o ffi cers of these parts w ere_e_ ll , ;n laad.• :L i rounded b wild f this state think fanatical Wallachl3' arts i-nts of Pit; lowest,, ab above 1,200 and faithful you ng, , e C c :: : p a f ir 02: t 0, sovereign fro a ni se Z m a b la le tu j y . a, They their wives and children. All joined in the P li , iiotir! A proceed together to the town of Enyed, al Eel e lb e Wi'' were of all rank °, v i e d hi des, which wre reedy to attack everf ° th vu . t bse chanced not to be e Wallach, and who wore ee°,1,003 Ze• a .. poisant's coat. It was yet at some distance ' t t rod law) a when the o ffi cers were overtaken by a t hose who to be sheltered froo _,. w ho of armed Wallach.. Not willing to epPese „ ar ch, I pretended to be acting in the name of the II: (i ibat til tg e nt gotiation eai entered upon. Its result we; „, vs ke- , emigrants agreed to deliver up their swords ono T e d Wel under condition that they should not be Pre" 3l3 • • 0 freely proceeding to Enyed. Btfore the disern2ll3' completed the evening had come on. t h e " Several carriages were laden with the a we, tile they waited for dawn tl continue their joureeP .nder , a to 1 .. , 0 . night the Wallachs sent a messenger to the et ar t — aui 9 who was an Austrian o ffi cer, at Zslatuy ~ whe f ae wl - at they should do ' with their prisoners. iguretabee sengt r returned with the laconic reply, ' rut h° , to death.' _..rifed) the " When the peremptory order of murder , 0 Joe% riotous peuple itself WAS thuudeXStrUCk, and Av• THE FIRE IN LAMBETH " Messrs. Grissell's premises on the opposite side of this street, at present unoccupied, are damaged by fire and water, the parapet of the building being burnt and the front much scorched. " YORK-ROAD. " No. 2. Mr. James Heath, livery stablekeeper— Stock and furniture slightly injured by removal. " Nos. 3,4, 5, and 6—Similarly damaged. " Nos. 7 and 8, occupied jointly by Mr. Miskin, sur geon—The back front very much burnt, and roof and window frames destroyed, and furniture damaged by fire and water. Insured in the Sun-office. " No. 9. Mr. Brownsmith-.The back windows and roof wholly destroyed, and the house very much injured by fire and water. Insured in the Sun-office. " No. 10. Mr. Miller—The house has slut tined pre cisely similar injury to the last. The occupant is un insured. " No. 11. Mr. Hartley—Similar injury, and also un insured. " No. 12. Mr. R. Wardle, superintendent of Messrs. Grissell's workmen at the new houses of Parliament— SiroilAr injury. Insured in the Norwich Union office.i " No. 13. Mr. Dawson, surgeon—The back front of the house, which forms the corner of Guildford -street, is only slightly burnt, but the furniture has been much injured by water. _ BELVEDERE -ROAD. "No 2. Mr. Hutchinson—The back front much burnt and window frames destroyed. Insured in the County-office. " No. 3. Mr. Swansden.—This house has sustained similar damage. Uninsured. " No. 4. Mr. Harris—Similar injury. Uninsured. " No. 5. Mr. GlanYill, house agent—Similar injury. Uninsured. " No. 6. Mr Farewesther—Similar injury. Unin sured." CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Cape of Good Hope papers of the 15th of Dec., with private letters of that date, have just come to hand, being seven days later than the journals pre viously received. The following private letter em braces all the news transmitted from that colony:— " Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 15, 1849. " Everything here is in a most deplorably dull state. Trade quite at a stand, owing to this convict agitation. The Anti-Convict Association are just hanging by a thread, waiting the news from England for the disposal of the convicts, as they find they could do nothing to wards crippling th e Government b y cutt i ng off our suppl i es, which we get better and cheaper than we did from our late contractors, who we a r e ma ki ng p ay t h e pena l t i es o f throwing up contracts by choice. Then the difference between the highest price we have paid for supplies and the contract price, which up to the period of their con • tracts will be a very large sum, exceeding 1,0001. and their bonds alone amounted to 1,2601, all which the as sociation are bound to pay for them, and to enable them to do so they have called for collections in all the churches at the Christmas Sacrament; but the Dutch are too fond of money, I think, to hand out for the folly of this association to pay Government for their improper and illegal proceedings, besides having to pay the prose cutions of private parties. Commodore Wyvill is here in the Castor, with the Geyser steamer. The Neptune convict ship still remains, with a part of the convicts on board the Seringapatam. The Orestes i s at Mauritius. The Pantaloon and Dee in the Mozambique, whither the Commodore will proceed as soon as i the convict agi tation ceases, and the Governor will go n the Geyser to Algoa Bay, on his way to the frontier." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 7. EXEMPTION OF HOUSES OF SMALL RENTAL FROM TAXATION. Mr. POULETT SCROPE rose, amidst much turmoil, to move for the introduction of a Bill for the exemption of small houses from taxation; but said, that in the present temper of the House he did not expect to get a hearing. Those persons who had read the reports which had been presented to Parliament for the last few years would agree—he would appeal to the reports of the Poor-law Commissioners, of the Board of Health, and above all, those able letters which had appeared in the columns of the Times under the signature of "S. G. 0.," would agree with him that there was a great deficiency in the cottage and house accommodation in this country. The consequences of this were net only physical suffering in the masses but also moral degradation. Legislation had hitherto been confined to drainage and the supply of water, but though he did not undervalue these advantages, they would be insufficient unless more accommodation and space were provided for the dwellings of the poor. lie did not ask the Legislature to provide better sites for there dwellings ; but he thought? it might with propriety be taken into cousidera floe, whether or not the restrictions which pressed upon them could not be done Taway with. The mode which he would adopt for removing the evil would not be so much by any specific legislation as by removing restrictions which were imposed by the build ing of houses, for then the principle of supply and demand would be sufficient to remedy the evil. The law of settlement, for instance, was one of the main causes of the evil which he was now bringing under the considera tion of the House; and he, therefore, proposed that a certain class of houses should be exempt from local taxation, believing that the poor would be relieved thereby in the same manner as the abolition or removal of any other tax upon articles of The following is a copy of the official report of the damage, rendered by Mr. Braidwood, the chief superin tendent of the brigade force, to the several insurance offices:— " PEDLAR'S-ACRE. " Mr. George Myers' building and timber yard— Offices, sawmills, workshops, and stables, with their con tents (including four horses), wholly destroyed. In sured in the West of England and Phenix Fire-offices. "Messrs. Walter Cosser and Son, timber merchants— Premises injured by fire and stock damaged. Insured in the Phoenix Fire-office. "GumnroßD-STREET. " Messrs. Christopher Nickels and Co., patent india rubber web manufacturers—Warehouse and manufactory burnt down, and contents wholly destroyed. Insured in the London and other offices.