The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-26 00:00:00

111 11 - --- T. ion frog county ° ing tbat bad g ° Y vdho oe Dt,. ll l Car rie t tbi o ` s o p rie tOrl filar 1g ie Par i ' h 3r 0 f be TIONS L 1 316 mrac ler' Ng the the ld d to „ I! o(4 ' ord con' g Of tile ,NTO $1361 adop t b s !, EIO .1 0 B OP° a , pegs; throug 0 00 M. . 0 g d at j 51611 our 13 i n°. ni 01° -of 6 c e t ; a kyiog tot D, , r DID., i 111,, , this - A l Vat' inT i e ,ich i ri w o fficer ° Tislat t l 4ED 00 D I ,o## s o f o era r of , v ideo„ ; tbe es th e°' so -° lOa la 1!° 6 Ceti' be ho ts to • t h a id 111' 11"6 with ° larieg of dir ore act l l ' 1 w he r e nprs cli. Jorti ) 110 044 lod i° it .. 0 and to 3t bel'id id WO je ill. t had '' c tbi liic 3blY ui ; i c t i our, 8 in g 0 0 kh e , for 0 - ba y° Y fu ,; lie dt t t°o a • . 0 [(I sg" fr to I w et) Y wh i c h 0 e lvA•r ClSli" .Ail 11 ' w og ect 0 . iniP° Jo boy 0 ) 'lb ; g ive ' 3 cOU ° r r, )1 0 01 t° l Lt teo• „id * O 6 O OOP q 00" Iwo n og , .0,1 ,etea t o t o for: ereh'e 0 riet al li 0 3 71 0 & tie b re' 1 S 1 .7 4 Pi g e t e r" y t (: r e fi g l ;:, el' e,rpaa f:1 I Irel a nd i.ro pro prietors t, b ,r y s the sen a If' theytlCtl P ;.sl proposed n t ° o7i: a e ts would fiza it it whuld tie far . better foe there evo .i tinder a lendiard who in periods of calamity L ai Aare their dietress, than to have their whole rho pert? all :r, sl all their )lop es ' a t stake on one single strip of is e'. It was eaid tteisßill would have the effect of I• a " a ncing the price of land in the market ; but he, be the f i__ 2 LIOUgh some advance, might take place in ~.E instance, the additional quantity of land thrown tne marketwould b • . hteeno, soon ring prices down. Pe: sons it eor , Money to lend, if they were inclined, would lend ske' . — ,anda unless undersold by the Encumbered Estates Whi ch the Bill offered advantages to the new proprietors to 4) . 4 _7 would never extend to the old body of prop.ie 1 , 1 , 1 7 The real object of the Bill appeared to be to t et P,uP and perpetuate the action of the Encumbered L e 'Let Act, which had not fulfilled the intention of the b e tslatar e . It was impossible, with the information ti se. ` re them, to form any correct opinion of its opor , a , - trle b They,, had heard of an estate, Mr. Baldwin s, ill teal sold for twenty years' purchase, but which, era tioe did'a taking all the circumstances jut) consid ears' htt,ha not fetch more than eight and a halt 3 of % t c• This morning, they had read in the journals y ettr ° 4 l l e sales effected, one of which sold for ninete n en . 41 all Perchase, another for eight years' purchase , d the ,aleether case the price offered was so inadequate that svas ' In Meyo the es stat„, , adjourne d f or a month. es say forbad been sold for prices which were paid every ihse r r i Waste lands in Australia. Was that a system to f te s b• °Y a dventitious assistance for the purp ose sad gr a i n Perman ent ? —( Hear, hear.) I n misera bl e hes,iched districts, where a numerous population : e ll et re sst,ast subsisting on a small tract of land, and tall ' h places it was most desirale to He had sales cOuld be effected. b sertyt f 'lmed on the best authority that whenever pro tat le situated was brought into the market it was reigi % l t ic b e ly to be sold, except to some now landlord, who tlece e w illing to undertake the horrible task of i t 'I every single tenant.—(Hear.) If they wanted 4/I:r:filet for this scheme they had but to look et the re f the e , t he sales of Church property in consequence , o ti " 4 ll: l l t 7 w , a nt of money felt during the French revs u• 46 ,04 onn l• The amount of property there was nearly ttetyb' e ese'e not much larger than the amount which tee& "Y allow e d , the would, in a few months, be in 00/, taoth e e t p i n Ireland. Assignats were issued for 7,000,0 ?rope • omin ous point of resemblance. What wasthe 14 %1 E e t ' t) f one of the greatest statesmen that ever Nee a ir Burke, in his reflections on the French re- Werethe ° o ll ,' sa id that as could be gathered frhm r e - i l a dings, the e lands of the Church in reality hitio n - "` e to be sold at all. According to a reise were t t) ,' the National Assembly, indeed,. t sey to b e °Lug delivered to the highest bidder; but it was elisa,,°49rved that a certain portion only of the pur tivelyetaoney was to be paid down, and a period of Wa s Years was given to pay the rest. The scheme tsceeePideatlY intended to let in purchasers without 1 :1111" Q an i cl the cense uenee would be that they would e -al so l f t 0: r e mit of the g rents, but out of the spoil of mate ti t , e "dings and waste . of the lands, and whatever rn m ttis-erseesY could, by the greatest usury, extract realised, ttt kl th e 'e tenantry This prophecy had been 115 fit „ effe cts of the system were still perceptible i W as to the landed interest of France. His d all m om " k oe that the Bill be read a second time that ay t t l ! 4 E 1 1 , 4 ?) but still, if the Government would givehim •"' peentauci that it was their intention so to modify . eacegetetetions of the Bill that the privileges which it coded :° Confer on the new proprietors would be efxr °nee sh o l ) t he present landed interest—(Cheers)-he ge tite, 114 'lot think himself justified in dividing e d th e e t „hat, t 11, ut unless the Government would give 7. pledge ‘ l tir it ee - a d ev ents they would take the question into bot seetisierationi, andunless they would say they were_ tsie4tPtred to inflict such inustice as this Bill con s ti !tsre, ° e 4 the landed proprietors of Ireland, he had no "tile ti,: v bat to move that the Bill be read a second & kr, i n t d„sy six months.—(Cheers.) o ' r e s ll o - eZt NO , II seconded the motion. The Bill before ; eteiand would not in any way advance the prosperity esto r -a or carr t the original intention r o-05, of th e Encumbered y ou 1 rct of th " xi Estates Bill. The immediate a nd at e Present measure would be to force . property ei' d cons twenty millions into the market in one year, r. tel ereclnently it would defeat the object of the oi us k hh It was brought forward professedly for the e llt e 7 1 °f enhancinh the value of lnd, but it whea htreh e e ffect of de ' ressines it, and of driving bond fi d e f ill 'l alers aw ay• ?It s 'stalment of the assertion the f , - hle' ll a d d created .considc e e•able alarm in many districtso 'tett e :m(4lg th e l an d e d c l asse s. The Honourable r. 8 ,,,P° -tillin, reed ay ri ty of communications from ho t e t i li tt ie de- 4 3, 1 in n the south and west. He had no hesita ythinh rophesied by the hh e r w s of thos!lett;ts everything prophesied by the hose letters would come o pass if the mea, • I s i tett s a .e M enacted - r • NY present partial form. He next jar°°,l-ihetha°ol,greatle its vhsnthge . which had resulted Z t, t l t o r ,Z ,t er a n d inent sanctitohnemh the Bank of Eng -I"anded interest on the t h illttitY °F the landadvances to e s of distress, and he urged iel li k) li tT le ilan _ n p . roce in edi t n el g e . should be adopted with re told %tee should hied proprietors of Ireland, or that a eit 10 , be given for the repayment of loans see 14dh eobtained at a moderate rats of interest. In Ole e l , he expressed a confident hope that the House ber - " P l(iii°"e with him and his Noble Friend the Member 4r p a l e in securing the defeat of the Bill. s` t 4 4t ttleie . ' e ?A,N suppo b rthd the Bill. He had ample op a,:ref p ubi : f n l. last in Ireland, of ascertaining the p ting the Bill, and he could t k s e t ti t 144 th ose ee w i li ng reh3e acting with regarded the = 1 , 1 4 1 1 e 'very f avour e a m bly. There was no disposition on !ptli t ! ef capitalists in hugland to vet moneyl a h t , e res - r e .,, a Irish property, or in Irish manufactures. cc, tii„ t le ' eh' t t t e, 4 the circumstance much, and whilst he di d reasons fur this reluc vs, he tha t there were tb`:lh e believed that mighti r t d g flow with advantage out in the measure of I,4titiledeileigtelicit t t l a o t ntra p le e l r e l e h l t t a h n e_ Solicitor-General. It was d 3,000 0001. annually was Isa- 4 4 1 th e %Ise__ 1 tit " 4 Pe of interest on mortgages. That sum m S l ,, h _ l :ll, i l f h? capital would represent 60,000,000/., a s li r ( I p o L ,` c ould be saved by legislation, might be ren ntahes to the country. I,:is:e :entt:ctive of enormous advantages tts ' ti g th many solemn reasons, in his opinion, for stk-tetiede.tl3ill, and he hoped that it might be soon st t ,alli , 'No a law, whereby the encumbered and the NT' t i l e ' °night be mutually relieved. ro. 'slee t AILLIE said he regretted that no char m e t ad been operation of this Bill as a financial ti ? e 'sve st ‘ e i b een laid before the House. It was a Bill of nino n 4 eertain portion of the land of Ireland into a hePtep s i: m ediums of exchange, or to give atern sin set % l ee th t s °l.3 of l an d th e p owe r of issuingE quer- It w it teg eoe t ecurity of th e ir property. This might be ttl'ahl b" to some proprietors of land, but he thought le' cedit n e admitted at once to be an experiment , e t tais ee ex Periment involving a principle of great 'sta t ed wit h a nd, therefore, it should not be pro is e'ctore except upon the most clear and House by b y `'lltttie' grOUnd s, stated to 0 ih, e llor of the Exchequer. 0 0 00 °Pers t e He th u e nderstood that hsecoOee .'on of the Encumbered Estates Act eh et. No of land would be forced into the o his N o • re s et wi th w if purchasers had the option of pur 'lie to e h Paper or with gold, which this Bill pro lhem DaPse "e thorn, undoubtedly they would purchase he ° Alto' a nd consequently it might be taken that se Ne e e worth of paper in the nature of Exchequer- Th os e t 6 ogl e eff ect °rid its way into the market. What would ? 14;e bill s of that in the value of Exchequer-bills tts % ' were 'set of thi now at a high premium, but after the 6 kt e k a hse e ,,, a Bills would they continue to be so? And te,l4lleppil:re, eves there that a similar Bill would not to S tl d where ho coald assure the 6 f th e that It the re c w o as an mUch occasion for one? He 'tree ° qtee " as a tacit acknowledgment on the E part um_ much' t et aneent of the utter failure of the nc state 13 ts s , I time ho ill. He regretted the circumstance .. th e suy theped that in a desire, no doubt sincere, to 4 gel evils e vils which still remained heremed s l u e b d : Vtlicl ep il eta by hasty legislation on a difficult NO_ SoL t i ., y nl worse than they were at present. . ths 4, 'Ke to i ' sf rOß-GENERAL said it was quit t e ha a t t ° , l Cs e tsute -u ,P, Pose, as had been stated by some, sliisitti,e,otiesidt seyastseemmoefre revival, with trifling exceptions The judgment-debts in Ireland. t tlei 4t tiPee - t ° ,, t , l t e e general provisions of the Bill . reduced_ thealv,the— thr ee —first that the Bill was a Bill . to en t 11 % ; 41 4) - Prop e rte over again, and that it did no !lc' leo h t , 4 eet the real object of the Act of last intolts t t its „: 1 1 ; IY. it Was objected that it did not carry eVilt(lePevate nisi ° l 3 ject ; and, thirdly, it was objected, that ' •, t g 1(3 1 . - a "se unjust towards the landed proprietors. 1 1 t 4 s - Pp e a s . 4— ' 0 the first objection, he admitted that it h ow ttio e ,, ii ltl h y Plausible, and that such was the first n t'hietettr, h e the Bill made. When carefully considered,. n te• h m th e i e; '7,tis sure that that would not be the opium utly lr' c' It —"i would allow any one to form of its Pila; sll, l i„"'Lls evident that any one who wishedePeto teete : Ireland might burrow money for the Itiee ; tts the the Encumbered Estates Act, 'era' A tY tie e individual would receive a Parlia hrell• 4 4 ' , he could not be prevented from encum e : tes 4 % to tosmning that there were twenty persona d d an tet el t ,athe ll WI if they did so now, they produce 4 kbe ttt aee Ce "alageus to the old encumbrances, an . en tetbl theunder which the creditor could take pos?es ilreeltil the and also the debtor in excutio n n . , II th,ran,es° incidents which belonged to the Irishe he r at ledr with which the House was familiar. _Now, 4' 4 te• were a Wvi e is so pass, purchasers would probably ithtit modo of borrowing money which was less ,11:1. 41 to the i 14 4 _ espeet crests of all the parties ' concerned. ' e 'to 13 to the two other objections, it . did not . h o nee , ee s eer e , ut eesary that he should state in detail lit e ar (I°l4 M I 8 by which they might he answered, and nti ci Ret- " t f ( ire content himself with answering the Jeevtirßetivral oteervations which some Hon. Members esi l ' o °llof t;:gainst the measure. With regard to th c e han_ I , k i 4 t4 t t (4 th e e P °ll Member for Inverness, that the House al oe eel". Xchequer ought to have given to the h th e i t ; 14 the financial operation of this measure. ._e Ds th 7orth4e quite as unuecessary as in any private Bill, i ss .t h o i r, w raertioy, deids.tern Railwa for instance where the corn itt itil t h: ern •P'we T r h e( l. l B t o ~,Yisel 060 . 00 . 0%. on debentures, l Ett t t I tktlt . 4 t o the auii , Bill had also io 4 i n te . - ;oat system; u been assimilated in ZIN. t I 1 9 , that it wai not a Gbovteirtndmiffeu".tedspfereoum. 4i 4 4t " itt, ( l ; a tt i b s e 14 , One) , on paper which gradually dege thee' a Q c ,, a°ltlte vvorthlessncss. It was so far from Wa s ti e e pflti tnruent speculation that it was a particular th e atheiee.,4.hartieular estate, which particular estate to D e wn ees () La i in the particular certificate of charge, and ihe f °Y aff t e the estate were allowed to sell the estate lltil l ` ) rto a “ a charg e tl, era grouee : He thought these objections did ' if e re e ''''' 'my the House should not adopt this !id ea -. al one -•ai one thing which he thought was clear, t uje t t seco n ) ; w as advanced under this Act it would be l e th loo s th •An objection was, that it would be Reee.lend4•oPrietors, because the facilities it afforded fle, l h teiva(4 Money would have the effect of or en dee,,, Nrweuld be so e" attr of money t o th ese estates . If t h e eth e ' l e e act the outlay' of money in these ItL t Z 4 capi tal thu eir cumetance 'would also draw titt ell ' t thtt en - e - t , for general investment. Ever bed " for i s q v - e -e Y wal transferred every day to the con stillynt, and it would be much more advan- THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, it be a:lvanced at home, pLi: - ,iculady in this clEe, roont-y could be adv...‘nced at prt.v - nt, in Irea , ;(l with de- adv:intirw,e; rend if inis Bill should lave the eff,in of directing fte course of capital to that country, the proprietors of land would have the benefit of ouch an introduction of capital. lie believedthat a great number of those now in possession of those eitcumbered properties had not themselves thrown these burthons on the land. but hAstrivea earn,,stly against the hard circumstances of their condition, and were worthy of any reward which this. measure could confer up.iti them. He did not say this Bill could not be improved, and he should be very ready, when the Bill went into Com mittee, to give all the assistance in his power to render it as perfect as possible. He had ascertained that the Bill was regarded favourably in Ireland. It was certain that it could do no harm, end might do much good, and it his judgment would contribute to relieve the country from the depression with which it was at present bur thened. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said the prospect now held out to result from this measure was, that it would ex change one class of encumbered pioprietors for another; but the I - lon. anti Learned Gentleman said that those to be constituted under this Bill would be mere cereful and thrifty than those that preceded them. If the induce ment was so great to invest property in thee purchase of land in Ireland, as had been alleged, why Wes it that the Government found it necessary to stimulate this outlay of money in land in Ireland? The Bill and the speech of the Hoe. and Learned Gentleman indicated rather a desire for a change of persons than to serve the pro prietors. The representations which had been made against landed proprietors in Ire land, induced a belief that a change in the persons would be desirable. That was not the fact, the tenants in Ireland would greatly regret any such change. Giving cred.t to the Govern ment for good intentions, he should be obliged to vote for the motion of the Noble Lord (Naas.) Ms. SADLEIR said the estates sold under the Com mission were involved long before the famine or the adoption of free trade, and the greater part of them could not be sold at all under the Court of Chancery. It was objected that this Bill would be injurious to af ford facilities to purchasers to raise money on the es tates they might propose to buy. The same power was every day granted to railway companies to borrow money to the extent of one-third of their value, and he regarded this as a great advantage. The fact was that as yet no such bargains were obtained through purchases made under the Commission. The Irish titles, speaking generally, were not marketable, except through the me dium of the Encumbered Estates Commission. Irish Members should urge the appointment of a second Commission, with the view of enabling,all Irish proprie tors to prove their titles, and through the Commission have a Parliamentary title. The purchaser of land under the Encumbered Estates Act obtained a Parlia mentary title, and going into the market to sell that land, those proprietors who had not such a title could could not compete with him. He therefore wished all Irish proprietors to have that title. The O'GORMAN MAHON said that he concurred in the suggestions of the Hon. Member who had just sat down. The concurrent testimony of the parties inte rested in this Bill approved of its provisions, and were anxious to have them brought into immediate operation. There had been no petitions against this Bill, and the landed gentry generally were in favour of the Bill, It was deemed to be a boon, and the sooner it was bestowed the greater would be their feeling of grati tude.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HERBERT said that the principle of the Bill should be extended to unencumbered as well as encum bered estates in Ireland.—(Hear.) Not to do that would be to inflict a great herdship on a most deserving class in that country. namely, on those who had paid the greutest attention to their e6ia'es, with a view to their improvement. Unless that was done, they would pre vent them from raising a shilling of money for the fur ther improvement of their estates. If that boon were not conceded, those landed proprietors who had paid at tention to the improvement of their estates would be worse off than others who had pursued an opposite course. He could not raise money in the market on the security of his estate with anything like the facility enjoyed now by those persons who came under the En cumbered Estates Commission. Unless that suggestion was adopted, he should be compelled to support the amendment. Major BLACKALL said he regretted the conclusion to which his Hon. Friend (Mr. Herbert) had arrived. He did not think that a good Bill should be rejec'ei be cause it did not embrace everything—because it did not include all the proprietors in Ireland. He should, there fore, give his support to the Bill. Mr. GROGAN felt it to be his duty to oppose this Bill, because he knew that land worth 41 per cent. was actually sold for 9i per cent. ; and he, therefore, asked the Houso could such a Bill be supported by any unpre judiced Member? Mr. S. WORTLEY said that, if he were an Irishman, he should feel that much satisfaction was effected by such a Bill as this, and -that the facility of sale was greatly advanced, particularly when no less than 500,0001, had been advanced in the case of sale of pro perty. He then entered into details to show that very great facility would be afforded by this Bill to increa e competition, and to reduce the system of monopoly in the purchase of land.—(Hear, hear.) Colonel DUNNE said that all the measure& that had been brought in on this and similar subjects had been total failures, and therefore he could not concur in this measure, which he felt assured, from previous circum stances, would be very prejudicial to that country. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading ... 186 Against it ... 41 Majority ... —145 The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. Colonel DUNNE gave notice that on going into Committee on the Bill he would move that the same pri vileges grantel to purchasers should be extended to owners.—( Hear.) NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE BILL. f~S ~~'~'-'1'..~ PARLIAMENT ARY DIVISION S. (From the Votes (mei .Proceerirngs ef the house Commo:s..s THURSDAY, APRIL 25. AUSTItALIAN COLONIES GoVERNMENT BILL. (IS TUE COMMITTEE.) Clause 30 Power to establish a General Assembly for the Australian Colonies):—Motion made, and Question put, " That the Clause, ss ameaded, stand part of the Bill." The Committee divided:— MAJORITY—AYES, 63. Adair, It. A. French, F. Russell, Lord J. AllAoll, Colonel Gibson, T. M. Rutherford, A. Armstrong, Sir A. Hatchell, John Salwey, Colonel Battles, M. T. Hawes, Benjamin Seymour, Lord Baring, Sir F. Hervey, Lord A. Shafto, It. D. Barnard, E. G. llobhouse, Sir John Sheil, R. L.l Barrington, Viscount Hobhouse, T. B. Smith, John B. Illackall, S. W. Howard, P. 11. Somers, J. P. Bright, John Hume, J. Somerville, Sir W. Brother ton, J. Humphery, Ald. Stanton, W. 11. Brown, W. Labouchere, Henry Strickland, Sir G. Busfeild, W. Lesseelles, W. S. Thompson, Colonel Carter, John B. Lewis, George C. Thornely, T. Chstterton, Colonel Lowden, l'ryse Trelawny, J. S. Cowper, W. F. Mackie, John Tuniell, Henry Craig, Sir W. G. 3P Gregor, John Verney Sir li. Denison, J. E. M'Taggart, Sir J. Vivian, J. H. Duiteuft, John Manic, Fox Williamson, Sir 11. Hondas, Sir David Morison, Sir W. Wilson, James Ebrington, Viscount Owen, Sir John TELLkKS. Ellis, John Roinilly, Sir John Hill, Lord Marcus Fordyce, A. D. Rambold, C. E. Bellew, R. M. MINORITY-NOES. 10. !Wine, H. J. Hamilton, G. A. Wyld, James Baldwin, Barry Manners, Lord J. Bernard, Viscount Naas, Lord TELLERS. Best, John Smith, Vernon Molesworth, Sir W. Campbell, W. F. Adderley, C. B. SECURITIES FOR ADVANCES (IRELAND) BILL. Order read f - r resuming adjourned Debate on Question (15th April), "That the Bill be now read a second time:"— Question again proposed; Debate resumed : —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:— MAJORITY—AYES, IS6. Frewen, C. H. Norreys, Lord Grace, 0. D. O'Connell, Maurice Graham. Sir James O'Flaherty, Anthony Greenall, Gilbert Ogle, S. C. Greene. John Osborne, Ralph Grenfell, Charles W. Paget,;Lord A. Grey, Sir George Palmerston, Vis. Grey, R. W. Parker, John Grogan, Edward Patten, J. W. Grosvenor, Earl Perfect, R. Hallyburton, Lord J. Plowden, W. H. Hanmer, Sir John Power, Dr. Hardcastle, J. A. Powlett, Lord,W. Harris, Richard Pusey, P. Hustle, Archibald Rawdon, Colonel Hatchell, John Ricardo, Osman Hayter, W. G. Rice, E. R. Headlam, Thomas Rich, Henry Heald, James Robartes, T. J. Heathcoat, John Romilly, Colonel Hervey, Lord A. Romilly, Sir John Hobhouse, Sir J. Rumbold, C. E. Hobhouse, T. B. Russell, Lord J. Plodges, T. T. Russell, E. Ilollond, Robert Russell, F. C. Howard4E. G. Rutherfurd, A. Howard, P. H. Sadleir,:John Howard, Sir R. Salwey, Colonel Hughes, W. B. Sandars, Joseph Jervis, Sir John Scholelleld, William Jocelyn, Viscount Scrope, G. P. Johnstone, Sir J. Scully, Francis Keating, Robert Scymer, H. K. Keogh, William Simeon, John Kershaw, James Slaney, Robert A. Kildare, Marquis Smith, J. A. King, P. J. Somerville, Sir W. Labouchere, Henry Sotheron, T. Lewis, G. C. • Stafford, Augustus Lindsay, Colonel Stanton, W. S. Littleton, E. It. Stuart, H. Loveden, Pryse Talbot, C. R. Mackie, John Talbot, J. H. M`Naghten, Sir E. Teulson, E. K. 31`Cullagh, W. T. Thicknesse, Ralph M'Taggart, Sir J. Thompson, Colonel Meagher, Thomas Thorneiy, T. Mahon, O'Gorman Townley, R. G. Mangles, R. D. Trelawny, J. S. Marshall, William Tufnell. H. Martin, Samuel Vane, Lord H. Matheson, J. Verney, Sir H. Matheson, Colonel Villiers, Viscount Maule, Fox Vivian, J. H. Miles, P. W. S. Watkins, Colonel Milner, W. M. Williamson, Sir H. Abdy, Sir T. N. Acland, Sir T. D. Anstey, T. C. Archdall, Captaia Armstrong. Sir A. Arundel, Earl of Bagshaw, John Baines, M. T. Baring, Sir I'. T. Barnard, E. G. Barrington, Lord Bass, Thomas Bellew, K. M. Berkeley, Henry F. Berkeley, C. L. G. Birch, Sir Thomas Blackall, S. W. _Blake, M. J. :Bouverie, E. P. Boyle, Colonel Brockman. H. D. Brooke, Sir A.) Brothcrton, Joseph Brown, W. Browne, A. D. Campbell, W. F. Carter, J. B. Cavendish, C. C. Cavendish, G. H. Cavendish, W. G. Chichester, Lord J. Childers, J. W. Cholmeley, Sir M. Clay, James Clay, Sir W. Clements, Charles Cockburn, A. J. Coke, Edward K. Corhally, M. E. Corry, H. Cowper, W. F. Craig, Sir W. G. Crowder, Dalrymple, Captain Dawson, T. V. Devereux, John T. Douglas, Sir C. Duff; George S. Dull, James Duncan, Lord Duncutt, John Dundas, Admiral Dundas, Sir David Ebrington, Lord Ellis, John Evans, William Fagan, William Mitchell, T. A. Foley, John H. Monsell, William Foley, J. H. Moore, G. H. Forster, M. Morgan, H. K. Fertescue, Chichester Morris, Nivid Fortescue, J. W. Mostyn, E. Freestun, Colonel Mulgrave, Earl Wilson, James Wood, W. P. Wortley, J. S. Young, Sir John TELLERS. Hill, Lord Marcus Howard, Lord E. MINORITY-NOES, 41. , Batllie, H. J. Edwards, henry Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Maddock, E. 11. Farnham, E. B. Meux, Sir H. Bennet, P. Farrer, James Newport, Viscount Beresford, William Ferguson, Sir R. Stanley, Edward Bernard, Viscount Fihner, Sir E. Stanley, E. H. Best, John French, F. Stuart, J. Blackstone, W. Gore, W. R. 0. Sturt, Henry G. Booth, Sir lt. G. Gwyn, Howel Tyrell, Sir J. Christy, Samuel Plalsey, T. I'. Verner, Sir W. Cole, Hon. H. A. Hamilton, G. A. Villiers, F. W. Coles, 11. B. llodgson, W. N. Walsh, Sir J. Conolly, ThomaS Ilornby, John Disraeli, B. Hudson, George Dodd, G. Jones, Captain Dunne, Colonel Mackenzie, W. F. TELLERS. Naas, Lord lieruert, 11. A. NAVAL PRIZE BALANCE BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Bill read a first time :—Motion made, and Question put, " That the Bill be read a second time, paragraph by para graph." The Committee divided:— MAJORITY—AYES, 70. MINORITY—NOES, 5. Hodgson, W. N. TELLERS. Horuby, Joint Harris, Captain Stuart, John Bennet, Philip Grogan, E. Gwyn, Rowel NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Admiralty have directed that Captain Fitz msurice.'a rotary steam-engine shall be fitted to a pinnace, and tried at Woolwich. We understand that Captain James, R.E., will continue to do duty as director of works at forts•- mou'h until his successor is appointed. The Widgeon, steam-vessel, Captain Bullock, is ordered to Woolwich, to tow Sir John Ross's yacht, the Mary, to the northward. PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Dauntless steam frigate is being prepared for commission with all dis patch. The Maria Soames convict-ship arrived at Spithead this morning from the eastward. Her Mnjesty's yacht Victoria and Albert came out of the New Basin under steam this morning, and went to the measured mile in Stokes'-bay to try her engine?. The Elfin Royal dispatch-boat, Master Commander A. Balliston, also went to Stokes'-bay for a similar purpose. They returned at half-past one. The Ajax, 60, screw guard-3hip, is expected to be put in commission daily as guard-ship at Queenstown. The Havannah, 22, Captain Erskine, was at Sydney on the 14th of January, all well, and was to sail on the following day for Wellington, New Zealand. Mr. Stretton, of the Havannah, was invalided a few days prior, and returning to England a passenger in the Kate merchant-ship. The Rouse then n ent into Committee on the Naval Priz3 Ililacce Bill. Captain HARRIS objected to the Bill as rendering the priz3 money more difficult of recovery by sailors. Sir F. BARING said that the Bill would have no such effect. Captain HARRIS thought it would, and moved that the Bill be considered that day six months. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... ... 70 Against it ... ... ... 5 Majority ... ... —65 The Bill the❑ passed through Committee. F RIE NDLY SOCIETIES. Mr. SOTHERON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend and consolidate the laws relating to friendly societies; and the Bill was subsequently read a first time. The House arijoureed at One o'clock. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, APRIL 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was rather firmer to-day, and prices had a slight tendency upwards. The sales were principally confined to Great Western Quarter Shares, which closed at 12 9- lii—London and North- Western, 103 Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, 38!4—Taff Vale, New, i 4 p. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JO URN ALS. ; traordinary anecdotes of popular delit=ion in less • en- CIIitOSICLE.—So Sir Charles Wood does not ,igilt, , ne.l times. A kind Of ind Anne k know his own mind even yet, about this unlucky appears to be derived from contrasting the inferiority Stamp Duties Bill ! We can quite enter into his of previous generations. The confidence with which difficulties. Nothing more natural, under the cir• for many years together 5,000,000 English Protes cumstances, than the pathetic demand which he made tants believed themselves in bodily peril from 100,000 to the House last night for a week's postponement, in Catholics is a favori'e instance of the kind. The order to give him " time to consider." This most un- " loss of our eleven days" is another, when, upon a f rtunate of Bills has become such a signal example simple correction of the cal e ndar, grav e di v i nes ac of, his unhappy mode of dealing with the technical tuelly lectured from the pulpit o n th e bl as ph emous business of his department, that we cannot be stir- wickedness of interfering w ith th e c ou r se o f ti me , prised to find him as much puzzled about it as and denounced the profanity which brou g ht eve ry the rest of mankind. By the aid of two radical sinner in the kingdom nearly a fortnight closer to his end. Mr. Macaulay, too, informs us that, changes in its structure, by three essential . a lt e r a tions in the scale of duties, by the aban• the post when first e s tabli s h e d was th e ob . donment of nearly all the new formulas, and by ject of violent invective, as a manife s t con a succession of fugitive and conflicting emenda- trivance of the Pope to enslave the souls of English tions, the Government measure for the " repeal and men, and most books of history or anecdote amendment" of the stamp duties has arrived at a will supply stories equally notable. But we really pitch of complexity which places it almost beyond very much doubt whether any tale of ancient times the reach of comprehension. We shall not, in offer- can snatch the exhibition of credulity which occurred ing a few further observations on the perplexed po- in our own country, and under our own eyes, within sition in which the bewildered Chancellor of the these last twelve months. We need not enter upon I Exchequer now finds himself, recur t o th e pr e cipitate any narrative. Every reader's recollection will carry abaodoarnent of the new phrase, " any matter or him lo:ck to last Christmas, when, from one end of thing whatsoever"—nor to the equally precipitate the kingdom to the other, there was a loud and steady withdrawal of the novel and vexatious regulations outcry against a projected " desecration of the Sib with reference to the stamping of executed instru- bath." Mr. Rowland Hill was introducing " Sunday ments. Last Monday evening he had further con- labour" into this decorous and religious country. He cessions to announce to the House. Ile no longer had succeeded in inserting " the small end of the intends, we then learned (though, of course, it is im- wedge." He had asked for twenty-five additional passible now to be quite sure of anything), to inter- clerks on Sunday, and a few months would see this fere with annuities and settlements, beyond the pro- pressed labour indefinitely multiplied, and all visions of the existing law ; he was willing to adopt ideas of Sabbath observance contemptuously fore certain important technical clauses suggested by Mr. sworn. Such was the belief, even amongst in- Mullings, and to acquiesce in the amendment telligent people. Meetings were held in all great proposed by that gentleman on the subject of agree- towns to record a protest against the iniquity, ! ments of bargain and sale. These are all, no doubt, and when the resistance proved unsuccessful, it I very excellent corrections; but their reasonableness was plainly asserted that the national character was is so apparent, and their expediency is so striking, for ever gone. As for the promoter of the measure, that people of common sense can hardly forgive the he was a forsaken reprobate, who looked only to the negligence which forced upon the public the disagree- acceleration of day-mails without the smallest heed able task of agitating for the withdrawal of proposi- to the fourth commandment. We have before us at tions so perfectly indefensible, so purely gratuitous, this moment a sheet of letter-paper, headed by an en and so essentially impertinent. With reference to graving of "Rowland Hill's New Chapel, St. Martin's the amendment carried by Sir H. Willoughby for le-Grand," under which title is depicted the General reducing the stamp duty on bonds an d mor t gage s to Post-office on a Sunday morning, with all the symbols I a rate cf one-tenth (2 o) per cent., Sir Charles Wood of unholy industry and bustle. However, the measure was not quite so complacent; and even the modicum in question was carried out, and we will now, from of concession which he then expressed himself pre- the official returns on the subject, inform the reader pared to make is already, pro tempore, withdrawn— in plain unadorned language how it originated, what for he has received "so many communications," stating it contemplated, and what it has actually brought to "so many objections," that he really must take a week, pass. More than two years ago the attention of the to collect his thoughts. In effect, he was willing to Post-office authorities was directed towards the give his sanction to the l e tter, but not to the spirit, of means of abridging Sunday labour in the various Sir H. Willoughby's amendment. He said, on the offices, and inquiries were instituted with this part of the Government, "We are willing to adopt a object. While they were in progress Mr. rate of duty of is. on b on ds of 501., but we are not Hill succeeded to the secretaryship of a , willing - to apply the scale of one-tenth per cent. to any certain department which brought the sub other class of transactions. We propose, therefore, ject under his immediate care, and he pro to introduce a modified scale of duties from 501. to moted with all his efforts the advapcement of the 2001.; and then to assess one-fourth (55.) per cent. great end in view. Opinions were not altogether on all sums from 2001. to 100,000/., upon which sum concurrent on the matter, but a step was at length the duty would, of course, amount to 2501. ; a n d taken, and on Sunday, the 6th of February, 1848, there the scale of assessment would terminate." T o the Post-office at Bath was closed for money-order what particular point of the scheme thus announced business on that day. The experiment succeeded, and Sir Charles Wood's present doubt applies, we are on the 13th of August in the same year the regulation not distinctly informed. Certainly, as it stands, was extended to Leeds, and, six weeks later, to Bir it is singularly unsatisfactory. For it unfortu- mingham, still without inconvenience or complaint. nately happens that, into a scheme which has been Fortified by these results, the authorities conceived brought before the House and the public purely themselves competent to push still further their great as an ad valorem plan—which rests the whole of its object of abridging Sunday labour, and the arrange claims to support upon the strength of the plea ments above-mentioned were, at the commencement that it is a laudable attempt to introduce the equit- of last year, extended to all offices in England and able principle of proportion into our stamp duties— Wales, so that 450 offices were relieved of a material this alteration would introduce the glaring anomaly portion of their Sunday duties in a single day. Three of a scale of duties which violates the ad valorem months more saw the same indulgence conceded to principles at both ends—but most conspicuously with Ireland and Scotland, by which 234 additional offices reference to those large transactions which the Chan. experienced the same relief. Pending these trials cellor of the Exchequer has expressed so much anxiety and successes Mr. Rowland Hill conceived a to bring within the reach of the revenue. Sir Charles plan for abridging Sunday labour still more Wood proposes to tax the borrower of 100,0001. to th e considerably, and, indeed, to a great extent, amount of 250/., and to tax the borrower of 500,0001. abolishing it altogether. The duties hitherto to no greater extent. But upon what ground ? Why suspended had been those of the money-order depart stop short at 100,000/. ? It is perfectly well known ment alone, but a scheme was now entertained of that transactions of a magnitude far beyond 100,000/. greatly limiting Sunday deliveries, and of absolutely are by no means uncommon ; and surely, if the ad closing the offices between the hours of ten and five, valorem principle is to be saved from utter ridicule or, in other words, from the commencement of the —if it be not intended to afford a new and a further morning service in churches till the close of the after justification to those who denounce the in- noon. With this proposed limitation of deliveries justice of our fiscal system—there is not the was combined a regulation, long known to be de smallest reason why any arbitrary limit whatever sirable, for the transmission of a certain class of letters should be placed on the scale of duties. through London on a Sunday, which would, it was If a man borrows a million of money on mortgage, thought, by giving very considerable accommodation let him by all means pay the same rateable tax as the at a small cost of labour, tend to reconcile the public man who borrows the thousandth part of that sum. to the cessation of those Sunday deliveries which The borrowers and lenders of millions, or even of half were now to be stopped. It was this proposal which or quarter millions, may not be very numerous—but caused the outcry. Mr. Hill asked but for the tern that is not the question. Let us have the scale of aorary service of twenty-five clerks as a present duties perfectly fair upon the face of the statute. Let means of relieving twenty times that number, and he no partiality be displayed to any particular class, or -hawed his reasons for anticipating that no mea to any particular transactions. The state will then sure could ultimately be more effective in be able to say, honestly and openly, to all its subjects abridging Sunday labour altogether than that now —" The law is perfectly impartial, and it is so framed proposed. All this was in vain. He was, that it will reach the most wealthy as effectually as is our readers know, decried, denounced, and the poorest of those who owe it obedience." The stigmatized as a Sabbath-breaker and appostate, al only possible ground upon which a proposal can be :hough his very proposition was actually one of a defended for departing from an ad valorem scale well-considered series for diminishing Sunday labour in the case of the smaller transactions, is on the pled -hroughout the kingdom. Now, let the results be of revenue. It may be contended, that unless a marked, for certainly never was popular delusion more larger rate of duty be assessed upon those :onspicuously displayed. To begin with the parti transactions which are the most numerous, cular incident complained of:—Mr. Hill had always it will be impossible to raise the necessary amount of stated that the necessity for the extra labour would revenue except by commencing the ascent from a be brief, whereas his assailants declared that the ex comparatively high point, and consequently exacting pedient would inevitably tend to nationalize Sabbath such an amount of duty upon the more considerable 'weaking and demoralize the whole State. On Sun - transactions as will in reality be prejudicial to the lay, the 28th of October, the additional London true interests of the public. This is a line of argu- force of 25 men was first employed ; on the 6th of ment which we can perfectly appreciate. But it must January following it was reduced to 13; on the 13th be used with discretion. There are certain cases of the the same month to 3, and on the very next where the advantages of a low rate of assessment upon Sunday it was dispensed with altogether, having small transactions are so palpable that any trifling effected its objects within the space of three gain to the revenue, which might be obtained by a months. So much for the " evil" done. Now higher scale of duties, is not deserving of considera- let us see what good was brought by it. By the tion. We maintain that bonds and mortgages fall device and execution of these measures 576 pre-eminently within that category. It is most provincial post-offices have experienced a total important that the rate of duty upon legal positive relief of about 7k hours each Sunday, and instruments of this class should be as low up wards of 4,000 dependent offices have received a as possible, and that it should be at one similar relief of about 7 hours. Estimated in relation uniform per tentage. If, indeed, the financial to individuals, the effect of the measures has been to necessities of the country forbade us to attempt give to 5,829 persons an average Sunday relief of 5i any change whatever in the existing scale of stamp hours each; that is to say, nearly 6,000 people have duties, we must bear the evil with as little impatience been relieved from nearly 6 hours' work every Sun as possible. But having a bona fide surplus to ex- day by the operation of a scheme which was denounced pend, there would be neither wisdom, consistency, nor is a deliberate encouragement to Sabbath-breaking common sense in merely substituting one grievance and profanity. Nor have the results ended here, for, for another—in effecting an alteration which was not is if to complete the exposure, the new arrangements an improvement—and in leaving to accident and the have actually led to a discontinuance even of that future the accomplishment of a reform which we are existing labour which they were described as aug perfectly able to achieve at present. We adhere, menting in perpetuity. The Sunday force regularly therefore, to our decided preference for Sir H. employed in the Post-office before the famous provisions Willoughby's amendment of one-tenth per cent., of Mr. Rowland Hill's scheme amounted to 27 men. On to be applied to all sums raised by bond the first day of operations under the new system this, to or mortgage ; and we trust that, whatever, may the scandal and horror of the public, was increased be the issue of Sir Charles Wood's renewed delibera- to 52. To betoture, some 4,000 or 5,000 were re tions, the House of Commons will adhere to it. lieved in other quarters by the same regulation, but We f e el the more confidence in contending for this little compensation was altogether overlooked in the low scale of duties already sanctioned by the the great iniquity. But what followed ? Not only House in the case of bonds and mortgages, because was this additional force dispensed with in toto before we are convinced that Sir Charl es W oo d h as ver y t h ree mon th s h a d p asse d, b u t it s l a b ou r s had even grea tly over-estimated the extent of loss to which contributed to lighten the lot of those who still re the revenue will be exposed in consequence of his mained. So well did the new arrangements act, proposed reductions. We could not have a stronger that the work of the original force began gradually confirmation of this conviction than is furnished by and steadily to diminish, and we are now officially the very papers which Sir Charles Wood has distri- told that " the whole Sunday force ordinarily em buted within the last few days in defence oloyed in the London office will be reduced to five or of his original computation. These papers six men, which, even with the addition of the ten clerks contain a report and certain tables, supplied by the employed in the mail trains (and their duties will authorities of the Stamp-office, relative to the intrench but little on the observances of the Sun produce of those bra nches of the stamp revenue day), will make a total force of little more than half included in the Government measure—more par- that employed before the 28th of October last." Sol titularly of the duties on conveyances. Upon that the very expedient which, notwithstanding its these the Chancellor of the Exchequer expects beneficial effects elsewhere, was obstinately condemned to lose 266,2991. per annum, if the reduced scale of on' the simple ground of its augmenting Sunday la assessment embodied in the Bill now before the House bour in a particular office, has actually resulted not I should become law. Now we think that, without re- only in completely effecting all its proposed ends, but sorting to any elaborate calculations—without the in diminishing, by nearly one-half, the identical la assistance of either algebra or logarithms, and taking bour which it appeared for a moment to augment. the figures as they appear on the face of the official We think the reader will admit that, upon the whole, document—we can show good reason for believing the outcry by which such a measure as this was re that an estimated loss of 266,299/. is very much presented as a profane and godless scheme for abolish beyond the mark. In the papers from the St amp - i ng t h e o b servance o f th e S a bb a th, h as no equa l i n office, the sum of 159,425/. is entered as having arisen history for prodigious and incredible absurdity. Even in 1848 from the sale of stamps of 10s. and 1/. each, vaccination, we believe, was never described as a as the ad valorem duties on conveyances of real pro- device for actually perpetuating small-pox, whereas perty. That is to say, taing into account the nature the most judicious and effective step in a series of of the transactions to which these rates of duty apply, measures expressly designed to abridge Sunday la it is assumed in these papers that there were 180,688 hour has been thus, in the middle of the nineteenth distinct conveyances of real property in one year, in century, represented, taken, and accepted as a deli which the purchase money did not amount to 50/. berate stratagem for destroying the holiness of the We appeal to any person haying an ordinary ac- Sabbath-day. That the spirit which facilitated the quaintance with this particular b ranch of practice delusion was, in itself, honourable to the country, we whether such an estimate is not perfectly inadmisa freely admit, but that the common sense of English- Bible. If peasant properties in the soil were as men should be so strangely misled is a fact not very common in this country a s they are in Germany, creditable to the national intelligence, or satisfacto r y Belgium, or France, there m i g ht be some s h ow o f to the nat i ona l pr id e . reason for computing the number of transactions under 501. at the prodigious number of 180,688 in the course of a single twelvemont h. B ut , consi dering the peculiar relation of real property i n this country to the class of small purchasers, we feel fully convinced that Sir Charles Wood and the Board of Inland Revenue have fallen into a serious error in proceeding upon this cal culation. The truth is, that the great mass of 10s. and 1/. stamps are applied to purposes utterly distinct from the preparation of deeds of conveyance for cottages and strips cf land. And if Sir Charles Wood will correct his table under the guidance of some sagacious and practical man, who knows all about "counterparts" and " followers," we under take to say that lie will find himself relieved of an amount of loss to the extent, at least, of 100,0001.; in other words, he will find that 166,0001., instead of 266,000/., will amply cover any possible deficit in the produce of the duties on conveyances. Here, there fore, in one item alone, there is a difference of 100,0001, which may be employed in rendering the details of the Government measure more liberal, and the scales of assessment more just and self-consistents TlMES.—Historians and essayists delight in flat: tering the self-opinion of their contemporaries by ex- THE SHAVERS. The barber shaves with polished blade, The mercer shaves when ladies trade, The broker shaves at twelve per cent., The landlord shaves by raising rent, The doctor shaves in draughts and pills, The tapster shaves in pints and gills, The farmer shaves in hay and oats, The banker shaves in his own notes, The lawyer shaves both friends and foes, The pedlar shaves where'er he goes, The wily merchant shaves his brother, The pe,,ple all shave one another. BOROUGH ECONOMY.—A meeting of the borough magistrates was held in the council room on Thursday la s t, specially convened to consider the propriety of the charge for issuing notices by circular from the clerk to the magis trates, of special and other meetings. This charge, it ap pears, has amounted to something like 401. annually. The magistrates present at this meeting were the Mayor, J. Brent, Esq., Alderman Plummer, Messrs. Dorman, Mount, Sprakeling, and Wootton, and after some discussion, it was proposed, seconded, and carried, that in future the clerk be instructed to send the requisite notices free of expense. In these times of financial reform, and when the burthen of the borough rate is so severely felt, it is creditable to the magis- I tract' that they have resolved to reduce the municipal ex penditure wherever practicable.. Kent Rerald. LI VE itiuOyL, AriaL 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.— Business on our Stock Exchange was worse today. The transactions were as follow: Caledonian, Preference, 54/, c.—East Lancashire, 6%—Lan cashira and Yorkshire, Consol., 34—London, Brighton, and South Coast, 77 1 , 9 —London and North-Western, 101—Ditto, New Quartera,llBs .9d..dis.—Midland, 32 1 / 2 —Ditto, Halves, 27% dis.—Shrewsbury and Chester, Preference, guaranteed 8 per cent., 12—South-Eastern and Dover, 13%. MANCHESTER, Arm, 25. _ _ STOCK EXCHANGH.—The market has been dull to-day, and prices have declined. The transactions were as follow : Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 10►,y c. dis.—Londen and North-Western, New Quarters, I► 4 dis.— Great Western, 51— Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 11%—North Staf fordshire, 10 1 ,6 dis.—Shewsbury and Chester, Preference, guaranteed 8 per cent. 12 1 , 8 —South-Eastern and Dover, 13% c.—Ditto, Thirds (No. 4), 4 7-16. BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 25. STOCK ExcnAsan.—The market was stationary to-day. The transactions were—Midland (Birmingham and Derby), 15 1 ,4—South Staffordshire, 4' dis. —London and North• Western were quoted at 10l 1 A, and Midland at 33. YORK, APRIL 24. STocx Excnarron.—The transactions to-day were as fol. low :—North British (guaranteed 6 per cent. for five years, and 5 per cent. in perpetuity), 4:—Caledonian, Preference, 5% —East and West Yorkshire, Preference, 6 per cent., 34 Leeds and Thirsk, 6—York. Newcastle, and,Berwick, 12 Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), %—York and North Midland, lq , ,i—South-Eaitem and Dover,l3 LA. BREWER-STREET RAGGED SCHOOLS.—On Wednes day evening, at seven o'clock, the second annual meeting of the Brewer-street Ragged Schools, Great Wyld-street, was held at the Music Hall, Store-street, Russell .square, to re ceive a report of the state of its affairs for the past year. Sir T. H. Maxwell, Bart., having been called to the chair, the secretary read the report, which stated that the teachers regretted that there was was not sufficient accommodation for the many applications made for the admission of children. A great improvement had taken place among the children since the last annual report. Accounts have been received from those sent to Australia as emigrants, which were of the most satisfactory character. There were eighty names on the books; fifty being the average daily attendance. An industrial school was established a short time ago, which had induced among the girls a considerable improvement in their manners and habits, and who now take a pleasure in making their own garments. The receipts amounted to 1121. 103. 4d., and, after paying all necessary ex. penses, there remained a balance of 161. 12s. 10d., which W 23 to go to the building fund. Joseph Payne, Esq., the barrister, and one of the most zealous supporters of ragged schools, moved a resolution that the report be adopted and printed, as also the committee and other officers be re-elected. Mr. Ware, secretary of the Field-lane school, seconded the resolution, and said he had the honour to hand to the treasurer of the schools the munificent do nation of 2CI. from the Duke of Argyle. The resolution having been adopted unanimously, Dr. Cumming moved a resolution to the effect, that the meeting pledged itself to renewed offurt in the cause of ragged schools, being i convinced of their mp,rtance as one of the most success ful means at work ftnr the elevation of the most degraded portion of the youthful population. Several other gentle men addressed the meeting in support of the resolution, which, with others in support of the general principle of ragged schools, was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated. PRESERVATION OF OAK FENCING.—I have had much experience, and have for years watched the effect of the atmosphere upon these wooden fences, and in all cases have found that the wood itself, without any paint or dress ing whatsoever, is the most durable. I erected a fence of thin yellow deal feather - edge b oards, six from the 3-inch den, and when removed, after seventeen years, there was no appearance of decay at all : with respect to oak, which is of a gummy sap, it will often be found that, when put up new and tarred or painted, a fungus will vegetate through the dressing, and the interior of the wood be rapidly destroyed; but when undressed it seems that the weather desiccates the gum or sap, and leaves only the woody fibre, and I ant firmly of opinion that an oak fence undressed is the most durable, even by years. 1 may add, flaas white rosin and tallow is a very good dressing for an oak fence: it must be applied hot, and laid smooth by a brazier, in the same way as boats' bottoms are dressed.—Correspondent of the Builder. APPOINTMENT. WOOLWICH', APRIL 25.—Mate Arthur Bagley :1848), recently acting mate in the Sharpshooter, to ,he Superb, 80, at Devonport. PROMOTIONS. Francis Taylor and Timothy Reynard to be acting carpenters. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. The Resolute, Captain H. T. Austin, C. 8., having been reported ready to leave Woolwich to-day, Com modore Henry Eden, accompanied by Lieutenant Gore, his flag-lieutenant, and Mr. Andrews, secre tary, went on board at eleven o'clock, A.M., to inspect the vessel. The officers and crew all assembled on deck, and a finer selection of all ranks could not have been made, or a better spirit prevail than appears to exist amongst them. The vessel is commodious, and well fitted in every respect for the comfort and con venience of the officers and crew. Commodore Eden, after expressing his satisfaction with all he had wit nessed on board the Resolute, proceeded to the Assist ance, Captain Erasmus Ommanney, and inspected that vessel, and was equally well pleased with the excel lent arrangements. The Resolute was loosened from her moorings at 11-30 A.M., and attached to the Jasper steam-vessel, under the charge of Master-Commander W. Bryant. Commodore Eden and the Hon. Mrs. Eden game on board the Resolute a few minutes before the vessel started, to bid farewell to the officers. She commenced her progress down the river, towed by the Jasper, at 11 55. A large number of the inhabitants of Woolwich assembled on the wharf adjoining the IVoolwich Baths to witness the departure of the vessels. The Assistance left her moorings a few minutes after twelve o'clock, towed by the Advice steam-vessel, in charge of Acting-Master Henry W. Allen, of the Black Eagle. Captain Stanley, Captain Bird, and Captain Lock, R.N., the Rev. T. Rawlin son, the Rev. Frederick W. Freeman, and Mr. Raw linson, accompanied Captain Austin to Greenhithe. The Gallant Captain and Mrs. Austin were in the highest spirits. It is deserving of mention that Captain Austin some time ago applied to the Marquis of Anglesey for a presentation for his son as a gentleman cadet at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, but the re quest could not be complied with, as there had been so many previous applications on the Master-General of the Ordnance's list. When Captain Austin dined with the officers of the Royal Artillery on Monday evening last, the first thing he received on sitting down to dinner was a presentation for his son as a gentleman cadet at the Royal Military Academy, the Master-General at the same time communicating in the kindest manner that he had taken into considera tion the important service Captain Austin was about to be engaged on, and thought it would in some de gree ease his mind to know that his son would be admitted as a gentleman cadet at the Royal Military Academy. The Pioneer and Intrepid steam-vessels will leave Woolwich on Saturday. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, APRIL 25.—To day the market has been very dull, and the tendency in prices is decidedly towards a decline. Printing cloths have receded to the prices current previous to the last advices from America. The chief demand is for shirtings and cloths suitable for the Indian market, and prices in these goods are better supported. Yarns are tolerably firm, and some num bers are in request. Domestics very dull and unremunerative There is every probability of a more general resort to short time ti an at present. - APRIL 26, 1850. DEATH of the POET LAUREATE. (From Soulby's Vivo:stone ..-I(Lcrtistr.) It will be seen by a rrference to our obituary of to day that one of the greatest luminaries of our age and country, one who has tel:dered illustrious this distric', the neighbourhood of his nativity, rind the scene of his labours and his triumphs, has departed this life soon after attaining his 800 i year. William Wordsworth was born at Cockermouth, in the county of Cumberland, on the 7th of April, 1770, and he has since lived and mused amidst the beautiful scenery of our own locality. His father Leing law agent to Lord Lonsdale, was in such circumstances as enabled him to bestow upon his children a liberal education. Wordsworth received the rudiments of his mental cal- ' Lure at Hawkshead School, and in the year 1787 e as en tered at St. John's College, Cambridge. When he had completed his studies and taken his academical de gree he made the tour of Scotland, accompanied by his friend, R. Jones. It was about this period, the period of Wordsworth's early man hood, that the revolution in France had attained its grand crisis; and its influence upon the fiery imagitra nation and sensitive mind of Wordsw )r.h was no less forcible thin thst pro.lucel upon the buoyant and vigorous, but as yet, untried heart and intellect of his friends and frequent companions, Coleridge, Southey, and Lloyd. The earnest thoughts Vat had been gene rated by his continued meditations upon this theme found an utterance in his " Descriptive Sketches" and " Even ing Walk," both of which made their appearance in 1793. This volume, however, ended the republican imaginings of W ordsworth. He had no sooner stepped upon the sturdy platform of reel life than he threw aside the shadowy unrealities of his earlier dreamings, and de voted himself heart and soul to tha loftier and grander purposss of his being. In 1797, Wordsworth had conceived a plan for the re generation of English poetry. In 1798, he published, iu conjunction with Coleridge, a collection of " Lyrical Ballads." The majority of these productions were from his own pen; the supernatural element of the work was entrusted into the hands of Coleridge. This book, so far from making converts to Wordsworth's peculiar way of thinking, met everywhere with the bit terest contempt and ridicule. The Edinburgh Review denounced his theory as " puerile," and stigmatised his verses as a species of second-rate nursery rhymes. There can be now no doubt that Wordsworth, in his zeal to redeem the English muse from a corrupted and inane phraseology, like other reactionists of a sterner cha racter, pushed his favourite theory too far. He sought to establish in the place of a style whose chief charac teristics were lifelessness and false glitter, waning fainter and fainter from constant repetition, one that should be nervous, and simple, but one which would have proved nevertheless, harsh, prosy, and ungenial. " The common language of common men, and the illustration of com mon incidents," which were totally incapable of any ex aggeration of feeling, found no favour either with the public or with the critics. It was well, equally for Wordsworth and for the interests of English poetry, that the theorist overtopped his theory. The glories of the poet's soul shone through the stiff and ungraceful drapery in which he sought to enshrine it; and, amidst the hard and unseemly details of the theory, there beamed the ever lasting beauty and the majesty of genius. Still Wordsworth had among his readers a few who comprehended him, and who were therefore his admirers. They sympathised with his views; and through their encouragement he was induced to publish other two volumes of poetry in 1807. It has been said that " Wordsworth's life has been a poetic reverie" that he has experienced few of the crosses and trials of the tuneful tribe. He married his cousin shortly after his continental tour; and an ample legacy le't him by a gentleman who entertained for his genius the profoundest admiration, coupled with several other bequests, placed him in a position of easy inde pendence. In 1814 appeared his great work, " The Excursion," which sealed his certificate to immortality; —that glorious book, which, according to a contemporary critic, is " brimful of splendid thoughts clothed in splen did language, while it breathes a spirit of enlightened benevolence and charity, which seem wondrous, grand, and beautiful in their drapery of glowing eloquence when tested by the poet's own theory." About the period of the publication of the " Excursion," Words worth obtained the situation of distributor of stamps, which office he retained during the lapse of 28 years, retiring in 1842 upon a pension of 3001., while his son filled the vacancy thus occasioned. In the year follow ing Southey died, and Wordsworth was appointed poet laureate in his stead, in the April of the same year. Several works followed the " Excursion," among which may be mentioned the " White Due of Rylstone;" and in 1842 appeared a volume containing several poems, written in the poet's early youth, accompanied by others written in . his old age. _ It would be almo - st impossible to exaggerate or over estimate the importance of the influence which Words worth, in conjunction with Coleridge, has exercised in the formation of the intellectual characteristics of the present age. These two alone have effected a complete revolution in our modes of thought and of expression. Carlyle and Sterling, and Emerson, with scores of others of our greitest thinkers, have sat at the feet of Coleridge, that " old man eloquent;" while the whole of the poetry that has issued from the English press for years has ben tinc tured and coloured by the genius of Wordsworth. Other men have had their admirers and imitators, and have formed their respective schools of poetry and philo sophy; but it has fallen to the lot of few to impregnate, with their thoughts minds great, and in some respects original, as their own; to witness the glorious imagin ings of their spirit caught up and reflected by such poets us Tennyson, Browning, and Bailey;—to behold the current of their sentiments and reflections borne along 'through the thousand diverse channels of the press to 1 the heart of a whole people, until their names are ren dered as " familiar to the tongue as household words." And yet such bas been the triumph awarded to the ge nius of Wordsworth. " Duriog the last thirty years," says a ft iendly critic," the regenerative power of bis ge nius has so operated upon the public taste, that the pure, the simple and the good are now the more regarded elements of poetry, while the Lams, Giaours, and the other distempered objects of a feverish imagination, are ceasing to be among the attractive imagery of song. Perhaps the most remarkable triumph o his genius is its conquest over that very Review' which scorned and sneered at him in the beginning of his career; for his spirit now undoubtedly pervades this very organ which scoffed at him so bitterly, and even rejected his language as too puerile for the nursery.". For many years Wordsworth has eajoyei the inesti mable privilege of receiving that guerdou of love and admiration while living, which aro too frequently brought into operation for no other purpose, alas! then that of scattering garlands upon the tomb of genius. Thousands of his admirers have made a pilgrimage to the poet's sanctuary, Rydal Mount; and nut a few have crossel over from other lands to catch a glimpse of that great man who has filled the world with his fame. The following is an analysis of his powers and genius by his friend Cole ridge, the great poet, philosopher, and critic:—"his genius and talents consist, first, in an austere purity of language, both grammatically and logically; in short a perfect appropriateness of the words to the meaning; secondly, a correspondent weight and sanity of the thoughts and sentiments won, not from books, but from the poet's own meditations. They are fresh, and have the dew upon them. Even throughout his smaller poems, there is not one which is not rendered valuable by some just and original reflection. Thirdly, the sinewy strength and originality of single lines and paragraphs; the frequent cariosa felicitas of his diction. Fourthly, the perfect truth to nature in his images, and descrip tions, as taken immediately from nature. Fifthly, a mediative pathos—a union of deep and subtle thought with sensibility; a sympathy with man as man; the sympathy indeed of a contemplator rather than a fellow-sufferer and co-mate (spectator baud par ticeps), but of a contemplation from whose view no dif ference of rank conceals the sameness of nature; no in juries of wind, or weather, or toil, or even of ignorance, wholly disguise: the human face divine. Last and pre emicently, I challenge for this poet the gift of imagina tion in the highest and strictest sense of the wore. In the play of fancy, Wordsworth, to my feelings, is al ways graceful and sometimes recondite. Tbe likeness is occasionally too strange, or demands too peculiar a point of view, or is such as appears the creature of pre meditated research rather than spontatieJus presenta tion. Indeed, his fancy seldom displays itself as mere and unmodified fancy. But in imaginative power he stands nearest of all modern writers to Milton and Shakspere; and yet in a mind perfectly anborrowed, and his own. To employ his own words, which are at once an instance and an illustration, be does indeed to all thoughts and all objects Add the gleam, The light that never was on sea or land, The consecration and the poet's dream.' "* Many passages in Wordsworth's writings might be cited as affording instances and examples of some of the deepest revelations of the soul ofmantha The mind taretobemet with in the whole ra n g e of English poetry. of Wordsworth was pre-eminently subtle and penetratii g. Ile looks with a large eye on the world of universal beauty, and goes behind all objects of all thought with silent, gliding, footstep, giving man to all nature, and all nature to man, and reproducing, with marvellous power and accuracy, the very thoughts, of which the mountain and the forest, the flower and the oak, and all the averse objects that crowd into the finished landscape are the utterance and the expression. He saw that nature is not final; that beauty, wherever it is seen, is the footprint of Divinity: that the universe is the realisation of the perfected idea of God; and all his culture tended to this,one object, to give him insight into tsis idea, that so he might command its correlative, which is nature. He asked himself perpetually, " What is the meaning which God symbolizes for me in these varied fortes of stars, and moon, and forest, and moun " 110 stood at the feet of every fact, as thou2h it were the angel of God, until he had drawn from it its utterance. His life was a perpetual query, to which Nature was the perpetual answer. Ile saw that a spiritual eaose lurks behind every circumstance—that a new revelation is written in the heavens every night by the finger of God—fiat a truth is swathed up in every cloud that sails over the liqeid arch—in fine, that all nature is the publication of the all-perfect will of the Deity. J. STANYAN 1310 G. " Biographia Literaria." .ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS.--Her Majer,ty the Queen of the Belgians, accompanied by the Duchess of Orleans, with the Comte de Paris and the Duke tie Chartres, and attended by a numerous suite, arrived at Dover yesterday by her Majesty's steam-packet the Vivid, Captain Smithett, from Ostend. Her Majesty was received at Dover by Mr. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, and proceeded by special train on the South-Eastern Railway to Guildford, en route for Claremont. His Serene Highness the Prince Leiningen also arrived at Dover, from Calais, by the South-Eastern and Continental Company's steam-ship Princess Mary, and met the Royal party at the Dover station. The Prince came to town by the tram leaving Dover at two 1..31. LAW INTELLIGENCE. I COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Ap r il2s. (Siuiogs in Banco.) THE QUEEN WILMER AND SMITH'. I V. The ATTORNEY. GENERAL applied to the Court to allow the hearing of this rule to stand over until after an action-at-law had been tried. He said that this was an application fur a criminal information against the defendants for an alleged libel upon the proprietors of the electric telegraph. The very 5 Ana° alleged libel had been published in the Morning Herald, and an action had been brought against Mr. Chapman, the publisher of that paper. The defendant in that action had put a special justification on the record; and it would be convenient, if not just, that the rule for a criminal information should not be made absolute until after the jury in the civil case had pronounced a verdict on the question whether the inculpated matter was libel lous or not. The COURT remarked that the defendants in the criminal and civil cases were not the same, and that the Court could not, according to any rules of practice, make one proceeding dependent on another where the paties were not the same in bath. Application refused. THE QUEEN V. LATIMER. Sir F. TFIESIGER said that he was instructed to apply to the Court for a rule to show cause why a criminal intorroation should not be granted against the defendant, who was the proprietor and pubii-her of the Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal, for publishing in his paper, on the 7th of March last, a libel upon the Sisters of Mercy. There were some ladies who, a few years since, had devoted themselves to the performance of offices of kindness and charity, instructing poor children, and ministering to the wants and necessities of the afflicted and the wretched. They went to reside near Devonport; they resided in one house, and they formed a society by themselves, and they gave themselves the name of the Sisters of Mercy. They were supported by funds drawn from their own private resources, and their affairs were ad minstered by one among their number, by Miss Sel lon, who was recognised as their superior, and who was invested with control over them. In addition to the funds which they enjoyed from their own pri vate resources, they were aided by benefactions and subscriptions from benevolent individuals, some of which subscriptions were devoted by the subscribers to specific purposes, while others were ap plied to promote the general purposes of the establish ment. In the autumn of 1849, they had an opportu nity of showing the sincerity of their motives and in tentions in the zealous performance of some of the most painful of those duties which our mutual de pendence as well as our natural weakness render ne cessary. The cholera visited with great violence the neighbourhood of Plymouth and Devonport ; and then, while many persons stood aloof with apprehension, or stayed away from weakness and terror, they with the most dauntless courage administered to the wants of the sick, supported the drooping spirits of the dying, and did not shrink even from performing those offices to the dead which, though rendered by the best feel ings of our nature a kind of sacred duty, were yet often most t repulsive. They felt themselves to have been most miraculously preserved_, and they desired in some humble but expressive way to mark their sense of gratitude for their preservation. They had been in the habit of attending at the church of Stoke Damerel, for the purpose of receiving the sacrament, and when the disease passed from among the people, they, for the reason already described, gave to that church a communion service of plate. They had, then, no anticipation that their motives would be misrepre sented and their sincerity be questioned, and even their integrity in the administration of their funds brought into dispute. They were, however, shocked at reading in the defendant's paper a libellous article about the presentation of this plate, in which this gift was described as "an item on the credit side of the 14,0001. which the Sisters of Mercy had received from the public," some account of the funds thus re ceived being described as something to be looked for ward to. The Sisters of Mercy caused a letter to be written to the defendant, requiring him to retract the imputation thus conveyed; and saying that they must have an apology. This was rendered necessary by • the circumstance that the defendant in another article referred to the imputations contained in the first. The defendant sent an answer, in which he said that the second had not a trace of a reference to the for mer article ; and to which he added, that if he had the assurance of the Sisters of Mercy that the para graph was without foundation, nothing would afford him greater pleasure than to say so. They had been very reluctant to come into court, but they felt bound to do so, and they looked with confidence to receiving the protection of the law. The Court granted the rule. THE QUEEN V. LATIMER. - _ Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Tap --- rell showed cause against a rule which hal been obtained for filing a criminal information against the defendant for pub lishing a libel in the Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal on the Rev. George Raindell Prynne, the minister of a district church in Plymouth called St. Peter's Church. The article in question had imputed that "not 100 miles from Eldad Chapel, where the abhorrent doctrines and practices of Puseyiam were being carried out," a young and unmarried lady had had a present of a chill on New Year's-day. The prosecutor had stated that his district church had formerly been known as El lad Chapel, and was still occasionally called by that name, and chiefly on that fact assumed that he was the person intended in the paragraph. Some other gentlemen had sworn to a like belief, and apparently for a like reason. These were the grounds of the application. The answer to them was, that the defendant did not intend, and never had intended, to apply the paragraph in question to the prosecutor. At the time the paragraph appeared the defendant was confined at home by severe illness, and knew nothing whatever of the paragraph being sent or inserted. Of course this fact did not relieve him from legal responsibility for what was inserted in his paper, but it did form a reason why the Court should not use its extraordinary powers of interfe rence against him, but should leave the prosecutor to the ordinary remedy by action. All the other cir cumstances of the case were in like manner favour able to the defendant. As soon as be knew of the paragraph complained of he had communication with the prosecutor, in which he related how the paragraph had got into the paper, and he disclaimed in the strongest terms any intention to assail the prosecutor, to whose excellent private character he was ready to pay a sincere tribute of approval ; for although he censured the prosecutor's mode of changing the forms of the divine service at St. Peter's into a Puseyitio fashion, he had never heard the slightest possible stigma on the prosecutor's morality. The defendant had offered to publish all this in any way the prosecutor might wish, and had actually caused its publication in the form of a letter in most of the London and many of the country journals, and in many of the publications of religious societies. Yet, with all this, the prosecutor was . not con tented; but impelled, as the defendant believed, by a spirit of hostility, on account of their differences on Peter's Church, matter of these Puseyite services at St. Church, persisted in prosecuting him , notwithstandi ng all the efforts the defendant bad made to give the prosecutor satisfaction on the subject of this article. Under these circumstances , t he defendant could only repeat the statements he had made; and he now pro duced many affidavits from gentlemen of all classes of opinions (some of them ministers of the Church of England) in which it was plainly stated that they never believed the paragraph to attach to the prose cutor, the more especially as som e o f th e matters i s t a ted in t, particularly a form of i nqu i ry i nto t h e c harge, were things which c ou ld no t poss ibl y occur i n that shape i n the Church of England. The Learce Coumel subnxted that under these circumstances, the defendant ought not to be subjected to the vexation and expenses , of a criminal i n f orma ti on . Sir F . THESIGER and Mr. MELLOR were about to address the Court in support of the rule, but ware stoppei._ 1..0r I CAMPBELL—We think this is a fit case on which to take the opinion of a jury. The rule must be absolute. Rule absolute. SIN ~ AND SORROW, A TALE. 3 VOLS.—The above work is published this day by Mr. Colburn, and may be had at all the libraries; also, now ready-2. Mr. Eliot Warbur ton's Reginald Hastings, an Historical Romance, 3 vols.; 3. Pride and Irresolution, a second series of " The Discipline of Life," 3 vols. ; 4. Miss Bremer's new domestic story, The Light-house and Life in the North, translated by Mary Howitt, 1 vol., ss. bound; 5. The Scottish Cavalier, by the author of " The Romance of War," 3 vols. ; 6 ' The Wil mingtons, by the author of " Emili a Wyndham," 3 vols. ; 7. Passages in the Life of Mrs. blargaret Maitland, of Sunny Side, written by herself, second e dition, 3 vols. o l a l l r a e n d t , h d a a t t e I d 2 4 havet h EADVERTISEMENT.J—A. Weakness of the Ch es t and Asthma cured by Holloways Pills.—Copy of a declara tion of Mr. C. Zeits t e h n e , August, 18:9:—" .1, oufnN,lcYrusleggneend, in been perfectly cured of a weakness of the chest and difficult y of breathing, by the use of Holloway's Pills. 1 had been a sufferer for years, and was unable to get the least relief from the various remedies I tried, until I took these inestimable ffi z i e c i t t e s t e l n t . o „ use T h t h t. ; pills, and I invite all who may I s le ig s j im ie ty c a . without all d c e a l s a e y s . '' o of old coughs, recent colds, and :.sthrnaticalAffeetions.— Sold by all Dre ' t . s,and at Professor m sa a m v e b r e era tatc Y n itt Hollowayl Establishment, 244, Strand, t g o i n s don. T HE INSURRECTION IN CEPIIALONIA.—The total number of persons tried by courts-martial during the exist ence of military law in Cephalonia was 65. Of these, 44 were sentenced to death, 2 to transportation, 7 to imprison ment, 11 to corporal punishment, 2 were acquitted, and I discharged by reason of a void trial. Of the number of persons sentenced to death, 21 were executed, and 16' had their sentence commuted. The total number of - persons flogged in Cephalonia in the year 1849 was• 80, and the total number of lashes inflicted 2,987. During the same period one newspaper editor and two contributors were expelled from the island. EMIGRATION.—Upwards of four hundred persons left this city yesterday by the Liverpool steamers, on their way to America. The tide of emigration flowing from our shores seems to be increasing threetcild from this part of the country.— Waterford Mail. , k 00 1 t; id : 1 ; 11r' 'thel' eold° ,ble o oti' d bore o q e of th ceC 4° o l e e fi : 9 o j, n B' iitO c oot ) le A • :ha l !I ig irecV 4 t 131) ' ia S i t $ 'lam•, II V I I I