The Sun. — London, England, 1850-05-28 00:00:00

llotse of Lords, in order that the Government might ' , aye the opportunity of laving the report of their 'll:4' Committee b-fore the House. CEIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Committee on Miscellaneous Estimates exeressed a hope htthoiatttetehe be and expenditure of the House of Lords would be submitted to a searching revision by a Coma of that House. This revision was going on, en e_should therefore oppose the motion. HUME replied that the House had at present no proof of this searching investigation. .the Rouse divided. The numbers were— Per Mr. game's amendment ... Against it *** Majority against the amendment Aaa vote WaS then agreed to. On se THE TREASURY. of the vote of 5 6,100/. for the sal a ries and expenses ir the Tr easury, th,,' 41 % FORBES moved a reduction of 10 per cent. upon t h: sum of 30,8361., being the amount of the salaries of _ assistant -secretary clerks, and other persons on t t ' b st e at' c l e i6bin ent. He grounded this . motion as well upon i"eapness of the necessaries of life as upon toloie to hei gut of the public burdens, and the necessity for . e e tht°Y. Such a reduction as he proposed would, h ° , tl ,,,ght, greatly add to the popularity and stability of h e ;0 aiesty's Government. He therefore moved to re the total sees by the sum of 3,096/, lo tt. ° he' „ TH OMPSON begged to remark that the pro s. o f his con stituents had gone up 20 p e r cen t., not on cout bat er , o f any wr ong w hi ch they had done to any e de had "" acc ount of th e cessat i on o f a wrong that been efr t° t hem. He considered himself, therefore, as 0 % 7 to te S l Bon. Gentleman.—(A laugh.) had HO RP said his Hon. Friend (Mr. Forbes) n 1aei. 61 7 Properly excepted the salaries of the first the t ze r e Lords of the Treasury and the Chancellor of highslit quer from his motion, because the salaries of_ those ~r offices were now under the consideration of a ban ceo Emittedkd. He thought, however, that the Ch to (4. the Exchequer was bound to pledge himself ° Nth d • • be, a e decision of that Committee, whatever it might %rine whatever reduction theyrecommend in the might and his toil e " Upon which the Right Hon. Gentleman Ti'llgties had fattened. 11 0 t ° CRANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would .. terseer into the question whether her Majesty's fhes, had grown fat or lean since their accession to kho-ni,,"(A laugh.) But if the Committee upstairs hi „C recommend a reduction of the salaries paid to d fr° Political offi those salaries would be reduce ea, ,s_. eers, ale, (Hear, hear.) tia • -4111 E should not be disposed to agree to a Fe- No n a sd pry er ol 1 0 per cent. in the salaries of the 45 junior fom 06 clerks, who were now in the receipt of r k r ec . ? 2 904 or 4001. per annum. He was favourable to thei. lte tion of the number of the clerks, rather than of be VlllBsalaries. He trusted that some examination would tt,ituted into their qualifications before clerks were 4'4447> because young men very unfit to enter the 4 % 8 4 1 ' Were sometimes appointed. Was there any 'sat „'Y to have 20 messengers in the Treasury, at a Th e a nnum of 2,3151.? iit illi''',.. l " lA -NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER areed 'be le •nton. Friend that the true principle of reduction ho 41 411 4 re asnry was rather a reduction of numbers t an f ,haei A reduction of 5,800/. in the salaries and ex 'est u ltr a of the Treasury had been made within the last l'oP-48est, He did not t hi n k t h e num b er o f messengers !ell 4,4I4OGREGOR believed that at the Treasury, as '4 at the Board of Trade, there were too few mese Ite.rl%nstead of being a superabundance. 14 e4e r 44811 AELI said there were two circumstances . at 4 . et which made it impossible to carry any motion_ runt of reform. The first was the existence of Zs% C ommittee whose influence upon the deliberad m'e sii - e ‘" e House he ' would not venture to foretell; an ,`,(Ob e . n d was, the existence of the financial reformer: : and laughter.) As long as those two o stiwr'aele eteained, any motion for retrenchment was per head and he should th ere f ore recommen d h is Ho n . At t ,to wi thdraw his motion.—(Hear, h e ar.) 44 t h . °R BES said th a t his H on . F r i en d h a d stated p o - e believ e d to b e a melancholy truth, and as it was lik tio n ti . B6 to divide the House he would withdraw the f o als 'sals°-ei THOMPSON hoped the financial reformers ties ft% th vet agree to any motion for a reduction coming nrom Nei) e Other side of the House—(lronical cheers t ,Ithebr,lteetionist ) p efaced, as he was aout to say ~tide`clue37 s topperlii r m, by the assertion that .. it was Ohs ° Pon the sufferings of the country arising out recentni. changes in our commercial policy.—(Hear, te Thsiateiwthe financial reformers were always ready f as 41)1 7 ' i n opposition to any such views, that so ar . law bol 4 ,4 of the country to bear the burden of taxation o 'e r nes it was vastly better able than ever it was L' 141 1(1 -- "(Cheer s ) This was no reasen why economy Fh t tie t t' t b_e pursued, but it was a reason for not 89)- bk 6 4 ‘ 4 °tlons for retrenchment upon grounds to which . paniTeial reformers could not subscribe .—(hear.) te'd-4' RR protestedagainst the doctrine of the Hon. esi ta b) , e _ "t Colonel. He would support a proposal for be.,.onaing from any side of the House. The m! al es .neat. wing at present before them was, whether the L t he given Were more than was necessary, consider ki.sqi,mlount of business done. 07%4s A3 DEN wished th 3 House distinctly to iin i de re r : .4 Wa s the diffetsince between the financial i t ta l ' elv en his side of the House and those who , e ; 8 os acting with the Hon. Member for uck th a lr a tm4 ,-ere. * The proposition of gentlemen opposite a b 4 ), IN - : the country could no longer continue to p y bk.,etlticssisaliarie.s and wages, because it no longer en 1)e, blessings of a corn-law.—(Hear, hear.) That klpl'ot'tr il tioiple on which they proceeded; and the h! 1 41 44:1 of the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire (Mr. 41C'"se, simply this, that they should reduce the , i ,ss ti I , n ade toall their servants, whether in yearly 11,,,4 as, d - eekl wages, and that they should not step till -e ir Tue /own to the very postman, who deliverer) a.ef;tfatiht". a - weels. Now, it was here that the financial he Vlai e t; a rld the Protectionists parted company, and 4 1 54 tb wil lin& that they should join issue on that su .f b subject 14% 4 ° , c outi s try ; for what would be the result li p t ste, 'tared that the wages and salaries of all public 4 , et t s, sti "ld be reduced? The Government was the 14 •u ss e- "PleYer in the country. It had 8,000 or , ; - sre • °Yed in the dockyards, and tens of thousands "office, besides an immense number of persons 14 1 4 t qd ki, de Partraents, and the proposition was that t ' the signal to the country of a universal and r to','.) 4°43 reduction of the rate of wages.—(Hear, kl:Pß ages had already pronounced that to be a wa to h Y et it ß e .l; and unless gentlemen were prepared s _ ki' tB 1, this principle in their own private h ' e I% th anted to know how in common icejusor ly could propose to deal with the Government tb,,,:ilrerently from their own? If they meant Itil e 'Ooi l i, e ,shetild be a universal reduction of wages i t tt,j`, it ~ he would b e no party to i t . H e d i d no t i 't 4 ar tecess he did not think it was just, and tiel th li ve it• y was ; practicable .—( hear, hear.) So et p a . mmercial policy of this country disabling 'At4 l4l ', h‘ l cg the same wages, or . rendering labour :r ?ould positively say that in Yorkshire at no ° ftd the people been so well employed, or ek„,TPle remuneration as at present.—(Hear, 111 0 " e " when they measured the earnings of the , I N; o lla ltri v , l4 c omforts they enjoyed—by the amount of' p(emw Power that the money they received the ott e r u sed, it was found that never were e tt4 l:,, 4 lll' e e t-r ciff—(flear, hear)—while, so far from Ny aa,tendency to reduce wages in Yorkshire, the 6 '4 ti Ny, A. the last 12 months had been all ' the when, therefore, they argued that wages 011 ) i ." B should be reduced, because the country was tt,,„4 our commercial policy, the facts . were n 'het:4t state If the agricultural labourers were in _ ktie„ - ,wes, at L e from others, why not employ them? Chit iftuundant means of giving employment in . t •(shratiltah,tlistricts if they only increased production, V, stY"ll In more capital to be expended on the land es e - f ) - --but let them not come to that House and t; I'L i sflol ue tion of wages, on the ground that free trade 14 - 'l sin when all the facts went to prove that it lea successful.—(Hear, hear.) . He t ,tl'„ ) httt w er ciere, go in with a universal reduction . of lk ;4, 1 '01 0 ,", 1 quite ready to join with them in reducing 11 4 - h ,. 4 ao?, l4 rie, and making them more in accordance ~.."4 t nt of labour performed. He would join 'ta l s t ° C2 t ing by every possible way true retrench at t4 : l it-e.ttitite Would never support them in giving h rehl aPiteful, malicious vote, intended, in w the si',ll.,tect;:ciee4t'd petty spirit of retaliation, in order to 10 14 ,1 S tt A unpopular in the country. (Cheers.) s ee " 4 l , E LI said these occasional conversations on V'ttrclies -e d to create considerable disturbance on s v ° ,s t ' t ° he - i:PPosite, and their occupants always ap salt ea h is naore excited state tha those Members '4,lllshe t,Ne tid e of the House.—(Hear, hear.) The othe r ei 'lher for the West Riding had assured rishiirstit'' e sPerity of the country, and of the success Vls theeTomercial changes which had taken place l i tiq t °ll ll% L it were hardly referred to before he rose. Mt s.. Mtle" u ld be glad, no doubt, to hear that the ` t s ,iltss.,which the Honourable Gentleman had a t -J the was in a more flourishing oto 0" l te 5°410 had been led to imagine; but 4 wiscther districts not in so flourishing a ii * : 4 l,4;l ° ,, 4 o ,_ t he Honourable Gentleman told them k employment for labourers % he might t! e lk Is e that th ° Ron. Member for Manchester if the ? 4 t to,„„°°. Gentleman who was one of the most lO ts -s s(R4 r °Y ‘ er ‘ s of labour ' , were not at that moment 1 1 .)4 4 t solas_ .) •t hat was a circumstance, he believed, 011 41 , fo r d nature.—(Hear.) He did not suppose kh'eti:hslievr kanchester was so deficient in capital s: 11 t ie mt, be t k fin d it necessary to shut his large estab- . ftii,hti / d ir believed there was no doubt of the fact ! tb,,tith ti r o as a state of thinos that did not at all 441,t1lititryvVe,t 4;,,eseription given by the Hon.. Member 1 1%1 te>(fle a „''',!ig of the general prosperity of the 11 0' 41 ) l i lt 'keis - t's" e ar.) The Hon. Member had en : i rh e t i r l•de of th line pursued on that (the Protec :1 , s:, th e , "e House with respect to retrenchment. 4, 1 4 n0t1,,. °sited themselves financial reformers. s t inciat of the kind ; but he believed they tk'elorteers—more so than the gentlemen ~,,,Iteticeseernselves by that name. What were the 't Zei g (1 the ease? They found distress preva ; sd d ese classes whom the Honourable Gentle as the most important, the tll f NQd very The agricultural middle class was in a wvolderiLest distress ._ a fact which the Hon. Ger.- eo ,„ ° t deny. But the middle classes c.on estneeee 'tte. and manufactures were also in a q q t 'te kle tbb An non. Gentleman sitting close to , 00 4 41 4, ,th er for the West Riling had told the lost the last year not less than [!%4, thNe Atlear, hear.) That being the case, 1 , • %rou te e. At 44 ftl • • 'mu, who represented the middle et and it to be their duty to support measures °7Bl il,,th t ,„ retrenchment, not founded, how 'Y w tst ",4 .0 w view t h at the Honourable Member nt g had a sserted as their sole basis; to, h set' ev or t. u g h t forward any measure for re lltOt ( ~a %ceps, tit of the di stress of any part i cular yteount Ll' the distress of the middle classes 8 tionovable Member for Oxfordshire 48 110 - 62 and other Gentlemen had produced measures of reduc tion in fixed salaries, but the Honourable Member for the West IZiding bad on every occasion confounded wages and fixed salaries. Because they had proposed reductions in fixed salaries in consequence of the altered state of affairs in the country, he stat,d that they were attacking wages.—(Hear.) They were not attacking wages; they were only saying this, that the country l being in an altered position, the paying power of the country being reduced, and the middle classes being in a state of great distress, all fixed payments should un dergo the ordeal of a severe and well-considered revi• sion ; but none of them said a word about wages.— (Hear, hear.) The Honourable and Gallant Colonel (Colonel Thompson) denied the distress of the middle classes; but had not his constituents lost a great deal of money? Colonel THOMPSON—Gained a great deal; they were now in a better condition than ever they wore in their lives.—(A laugh.) Mr. DISRAELI—The Hon. and Gallant Colonel had merle a sally, and he had given way with great pleasure ; but had his constituent s no t l os t by the railroads they had heard so much of?—(01), ob.) He would rejoice if it was not so; and to learn that what they were told the other night, that there was not a large town in the north of England that was not ruined by these railroads, was not the fact.—(llear.) He hoped that he had at least put the question as to the motives which influenced the gentlemen on his side of the House on its fair basis, and shown that they voted for retrenchment, because the middle classes were not in a position in which they could endure those expensive establishments that in other circumstances they were accustomed to maintain. Mr. V. SMITH thought it very inconvenient to be always running bark into the disputed question of free trade on occasions like the present. He thought that instead of the paying power of the country being reduced it had been increased; but, whether it was so or not, he thought that all public salaries should, from time to time, be considered with relation to the price of provisions. in his opinion, however, the time had not arrived for doing so, as they had not yet sufficient experience to guide them in that matter.— (Hear, hear.) He objected to the anomaly of the secre taries to the Treasury receiving as salaries 2,5001. a year, while 2,0001. a year was the amount allotted to the heads of all those departments which bad been recently established. These were questions, however, that would be considered by the Committee which had been ap pointed, and he therefore objected to any reductions being now made by the House. Mr. NEWDEG A.TE thought the House should not lose sight of what the real principle proposed by the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire was. The proposal of his lion. Friend was, that as a great alteration had now been made in the cost of productions, mainly brought about by legislative enactments, it was just to accommo date the remuneration of the public servants to the altered circumstances of the times; but ho did not pro pose, as seemed to be imagined, a per-tentage reduction. Such a proposal the lion. Member (Mr. Cobden) cha racterised as spiteful and malicious. Why was the Hon. Gentleman so tender on the civil service, and so severe on the naval and military? Was it that, looking for ward to future contingencies, he was afraid that he might yet lament to see in his own case that he was bereft of those great benefits that were conferred by the civil service? Or was it that the Hon. Gentleman, under cover of retrenchment, was taking advantage of the coun try ? Did he wish to protect the commerce of the country? He showed himself the other night an able advocate for pirates.—(Hear, hear.) Was he really so jealous of the greatness of this country that he wished to strike down her defensive establishments, and verify his own saying that it was time for them to break off singing " Rule Britannia?"—(A laugh.) Oue thing was clear, that he would never give his cordial eo-ope ration towards reducing the salaries of those who, resi dent in this country, had reaped the full advantage of a reduction of prices.—(Hear, hear.) The amendment of Mr. Forbes was then negatived, and the vote then agreed to. A sum of 26,000/ was then agreed to towards defray ing the expenses of the Home Department. THE FOREIGN OFFICE. On the next vote, of 71,000/. for the salaries and other expenses in the department of the Foreign-office, Lord MAHON said there was one item connected with this vote to which he wished to call the attention of the House, and with respect to which a strange anomaly existed. He meant the system of pass ports granted to British subjects travelling to foreign states. He made not the slightest charge against the Noble Lord the Foreign Secretary. Ile, like his predecessors, had found the system established, and had merely continued it; hut he (Lord Mahon) wished the 'House to consider whether great improvement might not be made in it. Happily and wisely, we re quired no passports here; but on the continent a dif ferent system prevailed. Foreign Mini s t ers res id ent here granted passports to British subjects, or passports might be obtained at the Foreign-office; but the former were supplied gratuitously, whilst the latter cost 2/. 2s. 6d.; and the result had been that out of the tens of thousands of British subjects proceeding to the con tinent very few, scarcely 200 or 300, procured them from the Foreign-office. At the same time many per sons thought it more desirable to travel under a British rather than a foreign passport, and the payment for it was evaded with perfect ease. If a person wished to travel to Madrid or Vienna under a British passport he took a French passport as far as Paris, and then ob tained gratuitously from the British Minister a passport to Spain or Austria. He thought, therefore, that the charge of 21. 2s. 6d. for a British passport here should be reduced to 4s. or 55., and the same charge might be made abroad. The result would be that a very large number of passports would be granted at the Foreign office. Until the system on the continent of requiring passports was altered we must consider what course it was the most desirable for this country to pursue as to granting them; but he was quite sure the Noble Lord would see that the present system was quite indefensible as to its effect, and that in another session it might not be unworthy of the consideration of a Committee of the House. Lord PALMERSTON admitted that there was an apparent anomaly in the arrangements of the Foreign office as regarded passports, the expense being much higher than the amount, which was very trifling, if any, required by the Foreign Ministers; but his Noble Friend knew perfectly well that the sum for a British passport at the Foreign-office consisted partly of the stamp and partly of a fee, which went to the aggregate fee fund, from which part of the expenses of the office was paid. If the change which his Noble Friend suggested were adopted, and passports were given at the Foreign-office at a very small charge, the consequence would be that a great number would be applied for and a con siderable addition to the establishment of the office would be necessary, interfering very much with the business transacted there, and being at tended also with considerable expense. As to the convenience to individuals, he was not sure there was a material advantage in a British passport; any person might get a foreign passport, and if he wanted to change it for a British passport abroad he could do so on easy terms. Considering the great number who started for the continent only to stay there for a short time, he did not see that any inconvenience arose from their taking a passport of a foreign minister. Mr. HUME thought it hardly consistent with the dignity of this country, which the Noble Lord was so anxious to uphold, that an Englishman should travel under foreign colours. He know no man in that House who was more anxious to maintain the dignity and cha racter of England than the Noble Lord—(Hear, hear) — and yet on this point he allowed this strange anomaly. lie (Mr. Hume) wished the Noble Lord would tell the House how many passports wore granted last year by the Foreign- office ? Mr. ROEBUCK hoped the Noble Lord would not an swer the question.—(A laugh.) If there were no pass • ports every person would travel on an equality; and he wished that that was the case on the continent, as it was here. Travelling with the passport of the British Secre tary of State was supposed to be a great thing; the indi vidual went through all countries protected by the dig nity of England; and fur 21. odd he might have that passport. He wished all our passports were entirely abolished.—(Hear, hear.) Throughout the republics of America no passport was required, and we ought to set a similar example to Europe. Mr. COBDEN did not know whether any large amount was brought to the fee-fund by passports granted at the Foreign-office. If there were he should be sorry to say anything to reduce it—(A laugh)—but his expe rience had taught him that the passport of the British Minister for Foreign Affairs was not of more value than the passport of a foreign consul. Mr. V. SMITH ohserved, that if the suggestion of the Honourable Member for Sheffield were acted on, it might lead to great inconvenience to British subjects, and therefore the consideration should be, whether a better system of granting passports could not be adopted. As there appeared to be a general wish for the abolition of passports altogether, and as he understood there had been some negotiation on the subject with France, he would ask the Noble Lord whether he had had any com munication with any other Power of Europe, and whether there was any probability of that most absurd system of passports being abolished? Lord PALMERSTON said be certainly had a very good reason for not answering the question of his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose, as he was not able t o do so—(A laugh)—b u t h e cou ld say that a very small number of passports had been granted at the Foreign office. As to the question of his Right Honourable Friend the Member for Northampton, there had been no communication made by her Majesty's Government to any foreign Government in re gard to this matter, which peculiarly belonged to their own internal regulations. He did not know of any ground upon which we should be justified in asking any foreign Government to dispense with re gulations which they adopted for their own internal pur poses; but certainly, some time age, there was reason to think that the French Government was going to recon sider these arrangements. He had not heard that they had carried that intention into effect, nor had he heard that any other Government had any intention of abolish ing the sy-tern of passports. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know whether there was an y passport between this country and Belgium? Lord PALMERSTON believed that passports con tinued to he given. Lord MAHON said the system to which the Hon. Member for Sheffield referred still existed, but was leniently administered. Passports were required, but were not ofcen asked for. The Noble Lord, however, had not met the objection of the facility of evading the ex pense of obtaining British passports at the Foreign office under the present system. Mr. HUME called the attention of the Noble Lord to V:e charge of 22,000/. for Queen's messengers and extra couriers. He thought, since the facilities of travelling by railway had been afforded, that expense might be considerably reduced; though, certainly, his desire would be to reduce the number of dispatches.—(Laughter.) Lord PALMERSTON said, that both at home and abroad considerable reductions had been recently made THE SUN, in the amount of travelling charges for messengers and couriers. Mr. ROEBUCK understood that English messengers travelled much more slowly than foreign messengers; and he had been informed that the cause of it was, first, that English messengers were paid a certain mileage; and, next, that instead of travelling as other messengers and couriers did, namely, on horseback, they travelled like gentlemen, in carriages. Lord PALMERSTON could assure the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that he was misinformed when he said that the British messengers were at all less expedi tious than the messengers of other countries. They al ways went by railway when that mode of travelling was available, otherwise they travelled in carriages. It was impossible they could carry their bags containing dis patches on horseback. As a proof of the zeal with which these messengers rendered their services to the Govern ment of this country he would mention an instance in which a gentleman (for they were gentlemen) per. formed his duty on an occasion when it was required that he should make an extraordinary ffort. One of the Queen's messengers, Colonel Townley, in order to carry a dispatch of very consider able importance from the Foreign-office to Constanti nople at the time when a question was pending between Russia and Turkey, was three days and three nights in the saddle without quitting it, and performed that jour ney in the worst weather and under the greatest possible difficulties. This showed that these servants of the public wore willing to perform, and capable of performing duties, when required of them, which one would think it was almost impossible that any human being would be able to go through. He (Lord Palmerston) was glad at having this opportunity of doing justice to that excellent courier whose great exertions he had mentioned, tied whose zeal bad not been surpassed by any person who had been employed in that department of the public service. Mr. ROEBUCK had no doubt of the truth of the Noble Lord's statement; still he understood that while the distance between Paris and Madrid was performed by foreign couriers in five days, en English messenger always took seven days to accomplish the journey. He was informed also that an English messenger always took some person with him, who paid the expenses of i the journey to the messenger, although that messenger was paid by the British Government. This was a sort of stigma upon the public service of England; and, at the same time, made it appear that our messenger system was used to subserve the private interest of individuals to the detriment of the public service. Lord PALMERSTON said it very often happened that it was of great advantage to the public service that the messenger should have some one with him. The messenger never allowed the bags containing the dis patches to be out of his possession, and yet his presence was necessary at different places in order to show his passports, to hire horses, and so forth. It would be very difficult for him to do this and to carry his bags with him. He (Lord Palmerston) did not believe that the British messengers were slower travellers than the mes sengers of other countries. They were required to state the time of their arrival at, and of their departure from, every place, and his impression was that the opinion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was not founded upon a true stet° of the facts. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 37,400/, for the salaries and expenses of the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies was then agreed to. The vote of 43,0001., for defraying the salaries and expenses of the Privy Council-office and the Board of Trade was postponed. A vote of 2,0001., to pay the Salary of the Lord Privy Seal, and a vote of 24,1001. for the salaries and contingent expenses of the Postmaster-General, were agreed to. On the sum of 6,5761. being proposed to pay the salaries and expenses of the department of Controller- General of the Exchequer. Colonel SIBTHORP repeated his denunciation of the appointment of Lord Monteagle to the office of Con troller of the Exchequer, as being one of the most corrupt jobs that had ever been practised. He (Colonel Sibthorp) had, however, done some good in moving for a return of the number of days the Noble Lord attended at his office, as it had been the means of making that Noble Lord more punctual in his attendance. Unfor tunately, the salary of the Noble Lord was not included in this vote, but was paid under an Act of Parliament out of the consolidated fund, otherwise he would have moved that it be deducted from the vote. Ho considered the whole of the duty of this department might be per formed more economically and satisfactorily by the Bank of England. He would not object to add 500/. a year to the salary of the Assistant-Controller, if it were taken from the salary of the Controller-General. Mr. HUME said the Hon. and Gallant Member might with great propriety propose to abolish the office of Assistant-Controller. [Colonel SIBTHORP.-.-" No: he is the best of the two."] But they could not touch the Controller-General, who held his appointment under an Act of Parliament. By abolishing the office of Assis tant-Controller they would be recognizing the principle that there ought to exist no office to which duties were not attached. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 2,7001. for salaries and expenses for the State Paper-office was agreed to. On tho sum of 3,6401. being proposed to defray a por tion of the expenses of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England, Mr. V. SMITH expressed an opinion that this vote ought not to appear in these estimates. In the report of the Committee in reference to the Ecclesiastical Com mission it was stated that it appeared that the duties per• formed by that establishment were confined to the management of ecclesiastical property, and generally to the control of ecclesiastical business, and that the Com mittee were of opinion that the vote might fairly be de frayed altogether out of the funds of the Commission. On the 15th of March, 1844, the Commissioners agreed to the proposal for throwing upon the property intrusted to them such portion of the salaries as might be con sidered immediately connected with that property and the management of it. Now, ho could not conceive what other duties the clerks who were mentioned in this esti mate had to perform, except what were connected with that property. Therefore the Commissioners had, in fact, assented to defray the whole expense of their estab lishment. Perhaps some arrangement might be made by which the payment of these expenses would be pro vided for in the Bill respecting the Ecclesiastical Com mission now before the House? Sir B. HALL concurred in the opinions expressed by the last speaker. He also complained that the Commis sioners had furnished no report for a considerable time. They were equally backward in making returns ordered by the House. The Commissioners were directed to make a return on the 2d of this month, which they had not yet complied with. The House of Commons knew nothing of what the Ecclesiastical Commissioners were about except this, that the episcopate body had spent 143,0001. in building their own palaces in eight dioceses, whilst only the miserable sum of 5,0001. had been appro priated in the same dioceses to the augmentation of small livings.—(Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY thought it only reasonable that this vote should be postponed until after the Ecclesiastical Commission Bill had been discussed. The returns to which the Hon. Member for Marylebone had referred were returns with which the Ecclesiastical Commis sioners, as such, had nothing to do. The returns must be made from the various dioceses, and their preparation would occupy considerable time. The vote was then postponed. THE POOR-LAWS. The next vote was 277,5001, to defray the expense of administering the poor-laws. Colonel SIBTHORP was of opinion that the new poor law had been productive of no benefit to the country, whilst it had aggravated the misery of the poor by shutting them up in bastiles. If there were any chance of suc ceeding he would propose to r‘duce the vote by 10 or 15 per cent.; but there was no chance of carrying a proposition for retrenchment in the face of a well-filled Treasury Bench, and such an array of " financial re formers" as he saw opposite These gentlemen on the hustings declaimed loudly as to the necessity of' reducing the expenditure by ten millions, but in the House of Commons they invariably supported Ministers in resist ing every practical measure of economy. Colonel I)UNNE suggested that the salaries of au ditors, schoolmasters and mistresses, and medical officers in Ireland should be defrayed out of the consolidated fond, as was done with respect to those charges in England. Mr. HUM.E, on the contrary, thought it would be a better arrangement to remove all those charges from the consolidated fund, and impose them on the unions. Mr. BRIGHT found that the two secretaries to the Poor-law Board—a Noble Member of that House (Lord Ebrington) and Mr. Nicholls —had salaries of 1,5001. a year eaoh, whilst the President of the Board received 2,000/. The salary of the secretary appeared large in proportion to that of the president, and he thought that 1,0001. was enough for the former.—(A-cry of "Move.") Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND expressed a hope that the London board would continue to maintain some con trol over the medical department of the administration of the poor-laws, otherwise the sick poor would be ne glected. Mr. Alderman SIDNEY referred to the fact, that the large sum of 9,152/. was set down for the incidental expenses of the Poor-law inspectors. That was equiva lent to 700/. to each of those gentlemen, independently of their salaries, and would allow them nearly 2/. 10s. a day fur travelling expenses, if they travelled 300 days in the year. Mr. BAINES said that the two secretaries might be looked upon as representing the former Poor-law Board, the members of which had a salary of 2,000/. a year each. The expense of the old Board was 6,0001.; that of the present ono was only 5,000/. Allusion had been made to the Peor•law inspectors. It was to the inspectors, who came in place of the former Assistant-Commis sioners, but discharged some additional duties, that the boards of guardians first applied in cases where advice was desired; and on them also devolved the task of mak ing inquiry when it was necessary for the central board to inform themselves on any question by means of an impar tial authority. He was certain that those who as members of boards of guardians rendered gratuitous and most efficient service to the country would be willing to beer their testimony to the services rendered by the inspec tors, whose duty it was to make the poor-law wo r k as well and harmoniously as possible, each in his district, and than whom there was no more valuable body of public servants. The item of 9,1521. for travelling and incidental expenses included the allowance made to in spectors for travelling expenses, the allowance at the rare of one guinea a day each for other expenses, and also the salaries of inspectors' clerks. Mr. SEYMER concurred in the remarks made by the President of the Poor-law Board with reference to the inspectors; the guardians had only to complain that they did not see them often enough. Mr. BAINES observed that an inspector, whenever a union expressed a wish for the presence of one, forthwith proceeded to the spot. Mr. BRIGHT proposed to reduce the vote by the sum ~ ~ LONDO N, Mr. MILES approved of the office of auditoorst, o b f ut th h i e g thought the amount of their salaries ought to b e given. item, M on Mr. HUMS tthe ground w ould that t e efauerh unionthe striking u ought to p a y th e expense of its audit.—(Oh.) Alderman COPELAND said be would undertake to get efficient persons to audit the accounts of the unions for 801. a year.—(Hear.) After a few words from Mr. SLANEY and other Hon. Members, frtdhat the nu mber was Mr. BUCK said it was th e union charge s t h at were complained of u n i versa lly. Mr. BAINES sa id, on l oo king at the ap pendix, he found the names an d serv i ces o f t h e auditor s set forth in full. The a verages o f t h e sa l ar i e s of the au d itors was 2701., and th e num b er a b out fif t y. a u A d i l t d o e r s r m f a o n r SIDNEY w s a a s i d si hx e. number of sufficient fur Irela n d, th en fifty auditors wer e too many for England. Mr. BRIGHT remar k e d t h e H on . Member (Al derman Copeland) h a d sa id h e would get t h e a cc ounts of each union audited fo r 501. eac h. B u t on looki ng at t h e number of uni ons , an d t h e sums p a id in the aggregate, he found th a t th e cost to the countr y was n o t more than about 221. p er un i on. — (Laug h ter .) No w , t h ough he was alway s w illi ng to vote for the re tr e nch ment of any _ r th an in dom gsu m pe o r t fl io u n o s us s , ue s h til u l shececrotualily appealed t o hi m to d n not give his support to be that of the Hon. Alderman opposite. Colonel SIB 1110Rr sa id H on . Memb ers opposite gave a very si ngu l ar support to h er Majesty' s M inisters in that Ho use on t h ese questions, w hi c h con t rasted very found be wherever es o there h ratherer e oddly with th e i r re f orm and retrenc h m ent s p eeches on the hustings.—(H oar , h ear, an d laughter.) B ut of Hon oura bl e G entlemen opposite showe d t h em to be as far as th e pr i nc i ples of economy were concerned, mereshams an d s h a d ows. Every day he passe d through the w dr e o s nes. h — en (L ey augh t t h e e r r .; The conduct would be streets of the metropolis he met persons who cautioned him to beware of the traps of the Free-traders, who would, he hoped, some fine morning be caught in their own traps.—(Laughter.) The Committee then divided, when there appeared — For the vote ... ... ... 181 Against it ... ... ... ... -56 Majority ~ ••• —125 Mr. W. MILES then called the attention of the Com• mittee to the charge for schoolmasters and schoolmis- necessary to bring the salaries of the secretaries down to 1,000/ each. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that there were two Secretaries, one in Parliament, the other not. The latter used to receive 2,0004 as a Commissioner, had served thirteen years, and now discharged duties es important for 1,500/. ' It would be exceedingly hard to deprive him of that amount ; a piece of more false economy could not be proposed. The salary of the Secretary who held a seat in that House would come for consideration before the Committee on official salaries recently appointed, and pending the in quiry of the Committee it would not be dealing fairly with the office for the House of Commons to interfere. The Government were prepared to act on the recom mendations of that Committee when they were made. Mr. BRIGHT admitted that there was some force in the remark of the Right Hon. Gentleman, with refe rence to the salary in the second case being under con sideration of the Committee on Official Salaries. All gentlemen were declared efficient when their salaries were made the sulject of discussion. He should not divide the House on his proposition. Mr. EVELYN DENISON recalled the attention of the House to the allowance of a guinea a-day given to each of the inspectors. He described it as a salary under another name. Mr. BAINES acknowledged that the allowance was really a part of salary. From the first it had been ar ranged that a certain portion of salary should be so paid. The travelling expenses charged were the actual expenses of locomotion. Mr. MONSELL thought the charges for medical officers should be paid from the consolidated fund in Ireland, as in England and Scotland. Sir G. PECHELL inquired why the judges of County Courts should be allowed only 15s. a day, when the Poor-law inspectors were allowed one guinea a-day ? He did not approach the subject with the feelings he had on former occasions had to express. He had nothing to say of mismanagement, for he was satisfied the pro ceedings of the Poor-law hoard were now conducted on a very different footing; and he trusted the President of the Board would continue to give the satisfaction he had hitherto given. Colonel RAWDON thought the allowance fur me dical officers ought to be extended to Ireland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that in 1846 it had been arranged to pay certain charges for medical officers, ecc., out of the consolidated fund in England and Scotland, where the county police were not paid by the Government. But the cost of the constabu lary in Ireland was paid out of the public Exchequer; for the year ending February last it amounted to of 90,0001. withi n t s h 7 o 4, l o a o s o t l t , w h o a y v e i a o r g s. increased upward s Colonel DUNNE observed that the police in Ireland ought to be reckoned as a military force. The expense of the poor-law in Ireland had much increased since the arrangement made in 1846. Sir R. FERGUSON reminded the Chancellor of the Exchequer that a portion of the constabulary expenses had always been borne by the consolidated fund. The portion borne by local taxation had never exceeded 160,0001 or 180,000/ Mr. E. DENISON briefly supported the view of the Hon. Member for Limerick, with respect to the payment of the medical officers of the unions in Ireland. Mr. BRIGHT did not think that Ireland was so badly used in this matter after all, seeing that last year 62,8001. was voted for the Poor-law establishment of Ireland, and only 35,000/. for that of England.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to a general local taxation, ho begged to say that a thorough reform of the grand jury system would en able Ireland to obtain a reduction of that without coming to that House. Mr. MONSELL said that supposing the grand jury system were reformed, the only saving that could be effected by that means was upon the 1,100,000/. of grand jury cess—and of that sum the Hon. Member would perhaps be surprised to learn that the grand juries had the control over one-fourth only, the rent being compul sory.--(Hear, hear.) Mr. V. SMITH wished to know what was the meaning of the Irish Poor-law Board keeping an architect? Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the ordinary duties of the architect were to visit and inspect the workhouse buildings; and at present there was a large number of additional workhouses in the course of erection. Mr. VESEY considered that hitherto the architect had been a nuisance rather than otherwise, and he should be glad to see the office abolished. There was n o suc h off i ce in connexion with the English Board. Sir. W. SOMERVILLE said, that the cases of Eng land and Ireland were totally different. In England the building of the workhouses was undertaken by the boards of guardians themselves, who employed theirown architects.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. ARK WRIGHT moved as an amendment upon the vote then under consideration, that instead of 13 inspectors—eight at 7001. a-year, and five at 5001. a-year each, the number should be reduced to eight, viz., three at 7001. a-year each, an d fi ve a t 5001., m a king a tot a l re duction of 3,500/. Mr. Alderman COPELAND felt it to be his duty to support the proposition, because with the great diminu tion which had recently taken place in the value of pro perty, it was impossible that the existing taxation of the country could be supported.—(Hoar, hear.) Sir R. PRICE was aware that a strong opinion pre vailed in some quarters in favour of a considerable di minution of the Poor-law Board in London; but in his opinion that board would be of little value, and would but ill perform the functions for which it was ap pointed, if it were diminished in any considerabl degree. Sir G. GREY said, that the Government originally proposed that the number of inspectors should be 12, but it was afterwards agreed by the House, upon the recom mendation of the Committee who investigated the sub ject, to leave the number to be fixed from time to time by the Government according as they should see fit. He hoped, therefore, that, without seine better reason than had yet been urged, that arrangement would not be disturbed.—(Hear, bear.) The amendment had been put upon the ground of economy; but he trusted that some other 'branch of expenditure would be found to exercise economy upon, rather than that the poor should be deprived of the security they at present enjoyed for the due administration of the law.--(Hear, hear.) Mr. BRIGHT could not consent to vote for the amend ment without some further information upon the subject. 13 inspectors were perhaps too many; but, on the other hand, eight might be too few.—(Hear.) Mr. BAINES said, that Mr. Buller had, upon mature consideration, come to the opinion that fewer than 13 in spectors would be insufficient, and his own experience fully confirmed that opinion. Sir W. JOLLIFFE was not disposed to support the amendment, considering itnecessary to have that efficient inspection, the want of which had been a complaint especially prominent in the Andover Union inquiry. There were, however, many items in this enormous esti mate which he thought objectionable. For example, be wanted to know how many auditors there were, and in what proportions the large item of 13,500/. was dis tributed among them. Mr. BAINES could not exactly say at the moment how many auditors there were, but the salaries varied from 2501. to 500/. per annum, according to the districts. The increase is the charge under this head, from 13,0301. to 13,500/., was occasioned by the expense of advertising the various audits. Majority ....................... The Committee divided; the numbers were— For the amendment ................... 36 Against it ................................. 157 Mr. Alderman SIDNEY then ...... that the vote, salaries of auditors in England and Wales, be reduced from 13,5001. to 5,500/. The smaller sum would furnish, o r c e at 5501. per annum each, ten auditors, a number quite sufficient for thoroughly efficient auditing. ---121 Mr. BAINES considered that the auditors were not at all overpaid. They received from 2501. to 500/. per pl i vY r ° e iln d vgi f il o g r their settlement the year, very laborious,a great portion of many questions considerable professional qualifications. Mr. Alderman COPELAND W i shed, before they a cf nn a um came to a division on the vote, to have in detail the legaleac each character for services tha andt amount of the salaries paid to the auditors. Viscount EBRINGTON could not at that moment re collect the number of auditors—(gear) —but as long as he bad had the honour of a seat at the Poor-law Board the number had remained the same. Alderman SIDNEY said if the item of auditors was postponed there would be no necessity for dividing the House. The number of auditors for Ireland, with the number of clerks and other minor employst s , were given, but no account was given of the number of the recipients of this 13,0004; and if he received no better information than had been given, he was afraid he must divide the House TUESDAY EVENING, TIIE KILRUSII UNION. - 0:11 PI ! tresses, and inquired whether the system recommended in 1846 was completely organized; whether a sufficient number of persons had been appointed, and whether the sum annually voted had been expended i❑ the payment of their salaries? Mr. BAINES regretted that he was not in a position to answer the questions of the Hon. Gentleman, as he had not given him notice of the questions. Great pains had been taken to increase the efficiency of the school masters and schoolmistresses, and every opportunity had been taken of making improvements in the schools. Mr. Alderman COPELAND did not think the ex planation satisfactory, and felt it his duty to move that the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again. Mr. LAW trusted the Hon. Gentleman would not di vide the Committee, because it might imply a censure of the distinguished President of the Poor-law Board, whose labours had been so highly appreciated.—(llear, hear.) If notice had been given be was quite sure the Hon. Gentleman would have explained all the particulars, as he had done o❑ previous questions which had been put to him. Mr. MILES said his intention was not to object to the vote, but to elicit some explanation. A sum of 35,0001. for educating 56,000 children was most reasonable, and he did not nink that any such sum could be more bene ficially applied. Mr. Alderman COPELAND having withdrawn the amendment, the vote was agreed t The next vote was 35,000/. to defray the expenses of the Mint. Mr. THORNELY wished to know what had become of tiro florin —(Laughter) —and also whether it was in tended to make a new issue of threepenny pieces, which were found so convenient to the retail trader? Mr. SHIEL said he had already stated the reason why the issue of the florin had been suspended, and that it was intended to issue the coin in another shape with the addition which public opinion appeared to require. —(hear, hear.) With respect to the smaller coin, instructions had been given that a large quantity should be coined. Mr. Alderman COPELAND wished to call the at tention of the Government to a matter of great import ance to the trading portion of the community who suffered severely from the circulation of base coin. It was only last week that the solicitor to the Mint re fused to prosecute a person for uttering base coin, when the magistrate thought proper to commit the party; and he knew many cases in which individuals had been pro secuted to conviction by the City authorities when the Mint had refused to proceed against them. This was a power which ought not to be vested in the solicitor to the Mint, and he trusted that the Attorney-General and the Master of the Mint would turn their attention to the subject.—(llear.) Mr. HUME wanted to know when the change recom mended in the Commission of last year would be car ried out? Mr. SIIIEL said that no time weuld be lost in making the changes recommended by the Commissioners. Mr. LAW said the grievance referred to by his Hon. Friend (Mr. Alderman Copeland) was well worthy the consideration of the Government. The Mint was in a different situation to other public bodies, so far as prose cutions were concerned. Although a magistrate might recommend a prosecution, the Mint might prosecute or not as they thought proper; and if, when they did pro secute, the expenses of the witnesses should be disallowed by the court, the Mint authorities could pay them out of a Government fund. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the practice was, that no Mint prosecutions should be instituted without the depositions being laid before the Attorney-General, and without the sanction of the Attorney. General, and in all cases where penalties were inflicted the prosecu tions were instituted under the authority of the board. Mr. LAW said his remark applied to ordinary cases of misdemeanour. Mr. SHELL said that all the business of that kind had been transferred to the Solicitor to the Treasury, assisted by Mr. Powell. Alderman SIDNEY called the attention of the house to the case cf a noted " smasher" brought before Mr. Alderman Farebrother on Saturday, in which the soli citor of the Mint declined to prosecute, and withheld evidence, but ultimately consented to do so on the ma gistrate committing the man. lie hoped the Govern ment would not continue to connive, through their officers, at the escape of persons detected in passing bad money. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Govern ment did net connive —it only hesitated to bring its weight to bear when there was no decided chance of a conviction. It was, howev er , competent for the ma gistrate to commit them, and the parties aggrieved to prosecute. Alderman COPELAND complained of the power vested in the solicitor of the Mint in the matter of such prosecutions. Sir W. JOLLIFFE alluded to the inconvenience and expense entailed upon counties by the course taken in regard to parsons accused of passing bad money by the authorities of the Mint. The vote was then agreed to. 12,678/., for the care and arrangement of the public re cords, keepers' salaries, &c. Mr. A. lIOPE protested against the vote, on the ground that their condition was not satisfactory. Some of them were kept in the Chapter House of Westminster, others in the Tower of London, others in the riding house at Carlton-ride, while the building erected for the purpose was wholly insufficient. There was a fire-proof chest in every parish church in England; but on the Carlton-ride a policeman was kept as the only preserva tive against fire. It was a disgrace to the country. He should not, however, divide the House on the subject. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had stated at an early period of the session that it was his intention to ask a vote to erect a building for keeping the records on the Crown estate. He trusted, there fore, that the House would agree to the vote then before it. Colonel SIBTIIORP said the records were at present in a worse state than they were forty years since. The vote was agreed to after a few words from Mr. H (ISLE and Mr. F. MAuLE. 10,9941. for the salaries and expenses of the inspectors of factories. Mr. HUME said the vote was a reflection thrown upon manufacturers, and he hoped it would soon be dispensed with altogether. Mr. BRIG LIT said, whenever there was a Home Se cretary appointed, a near relative of his was commonly sent down into Lancashire as an inspector of factories, who was generally ignorant of the subject be was sent down to superintend. Such places should not be so dis posed of. It was not satisfactory. Sir G. GREY said, only ono place had fallen in dur ing his tenure of office, and he had consolidated it with another, so as to make one person perform the duties of both. Lord J. MANNERS considered that inspectors o factories wore a great advantage to the working classes. The vote was then agreed to. 1,6101., salaries of certain officers in Scotland.— Agreed to. 6,4641., salaries of officers in the household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.—Agreed to. 24,2501., salaries and expenses in the office of the Chief Secretary of Ireland. Sir W. JOLLIFFE said there was an item of 2,7011. for contingencies, which ho thought required some ex planation. Sir G. GREY said it was almost impossible to state those contingencies in detail. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the items were all specified in the appendix cf the report last year. Major BERESFORD thought that 3,0001. was a large sum for contingencies in such an office us that of the Chief Secretary of Ireland. The contingencies in the Home Secretary's office were last year only 1,8641. Colonel SIBTHORP observed that the salary of the Chief Secretary was 5,500/ He thought it ought to be reduced, and begged to move that 500/. be struck off. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ... .. 41 Against it ... ... ... 156 Majority _ ll5 The vote was accordingly agreed to, as also was the following, viz.:- 5,4641. charges and expenses of the office of the Pay master of the Civil Service in Ireland. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and ob tained leave to sit again. COURT 01? CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL. On the order of the day for the third reading of this Bill, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL proposed the insertion of a clause giving compensation to officers of the court after twenty years' service—the compensation not to ex ceed two-thirds of their annual salary. The clause was agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The third reading of the Elections (Ireland) Bill was postponed after a short discussion. The Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Bill and other Bills were postponed. The Metropolitan Interments Bill was committed pro forma, and reported, with amendments. The Petty Sessions (Ireland) Bill was read a second time; and the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Bill was understood to pass through Committee. The Vestries and Vestry Clerks Bill was passed through Committee and ordered to be reprinted. ACTS OF PARLIA MENT ABBREVIATION BILL. On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill, Mr. STANFORD rose and said, that though ho con sidered this altogether an unobjectionable measure, he hoped the Hon. and Learned Attorney-General would consent to its being, referred to a Select Committee. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL—The Bill had come down from the House of Lords, and he could not. there fore, consent to the sugges ti on o f th e H o n. and Learned Gentleman. The 13il1 was then passed through Committee and re ported to the House. COURT OF PREROGATIVE (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of Mr. KEOGH, 'this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to bo referred to a Select Com mittee. On the motion of Mr. P. SCROPE, the following. Members were nominated a Select Committee on Kil rush Union:—Mr. Poulett Scrope, Sir William Sonat r vine, Sir Lucius O'Brien, the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Mr. Monsen, Lord Naas, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Her bert, Mr. Fagan, Mr. O'Flaherty, M r . Sh a f t° Adair, Mr. Bright, MrCornewall Lewis, Sir Robert Ferguson, and Mr. Clempnts. THE DERBY DAY-ADJOURNMENT 01? THE HOUSE. Mr. BERESFORD gave notice that to-morrow he should move that the House at its rising do aljourn to Thursday.—(Hear, hear.) The other business on the paper having been disposed of, the House adjourned at Half-past One o'clock. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Canada and the other North American Colonies, and also from the Governors of New South Wales and the Gold Coast. MA Y 2B, 1850. her Prin ce ' sn e r in my dc4es f the o° lls. )ar G r o aits' B. .WAY 131 this El" n et , n of tvi ° so y n oe t . ['Wu #br s p o DtaltrY • 0 0 3e elieses Son. 049 rs i r so iou ati a ao r un fair an t ba on:idereu 60th d in 7s; sn, W oleo )f the ` —n sol That Ø °l4 of o pport n e i r: 0 , s peak° ‘ ,: te ra q'orth."` — idi h o could w ife tro cl e .6° tl e a note p ore ay e for Go 'rom o bject. g roat ~, t be luce d low t f o rget fsc point ;everat 10i 6e' cOlnPr %oil! P 5n Y S lid ° lOUSO 9 the of the co 0 1 10 t the we 13. !fired 118 137 ibe i a of r o° o. g all( , il tk ;' do if an • 1 ,,;01 i t y IP; 08 ado's u h •sto reared:givil i% lam 1 2° then a nd C. 04 time ,, 00 4 ad a I 8 01 0 at it 0 1 0 d reje ° ;01 11 lea at 4 in a Apo e cor the 1 ; 33 10 'the I , ,f the O. e d to iition. 101 water ill. . a ki the. I rea ,P d e nable t o' sin 01 % 11. uprr" ' i kiog 1 ? 1/11 ; f th° rift Bill v ii 3 ted. „; 4 o f i? oll a lb l 12° if : . lie' i ” rdo Boar t here.c.' ol igbs no tion. TO 1 ; had t thst 3E Al' ht .- • if - 0 a g a eiret"' the boe ow if t o on el l ' t ). , on ja g ffhf 11 05, rote tb e!" iO O lie f tfib, e . r 3 ooko l 6 ogee boil she • 00 lily;; o pti nee,•-00l r o X e a eD P 3r In to ibiy bit t o f bY. ly • ir P r ( 0 sis tf .0 , t asp, 10 0 ' be t oe tale' . n• Dr -ro- L a , 0 rd'lt' bbt of ulot ad Zit h- 10 rat lathe at • d Ye' 12 0 be 9 t o • cC " G. Sir 11 ' 10 11 ) 0 e er, t b d Op so d w oul oa ' ' WBII S C) „ , f;P Vb• f'~,P~ (T LITERAT URE. RAYMOND I?EVILLOY D. 1371 Grace Webster. 2 Vols. A multitude cf complicated incidents and marvel lous adventures fill the pages of this novel. If the incidents are not of the most pleasing, and the adven tures not of the most probable character possible, the combination may nevertheless have attractions for those who, in works of fiction, prefer the startling and the " full of variety" to the natural and the truthful. CHAITIBERS' PAPERS FOR THE PEOPLE. Equally attractive without as it is excellent within, a little volume, in an amber-coloured binding, and containing eight articles of an instructive and inte resting character, has made its appearance, entitled, " Chambers' Papers for the People," and it is likely to share the fate of all Messrs. Chambers' publications, namely, to be greatly admired and generally read. Among the articles in this first volume of the new series are, " Ebenezer Elliott," " Leaves from the Journal of a French Physician," " Education of the Citizens," " Popular Cultivation of Music," " The Bonaparte Family," and others. M. SCRIBE. Independent of the interest which his genius ex cites, so long as the higher drama is considered the most refined and intellectual entertainment of so ciety, no educated person can think of M. Scribe without a real feeling of gratitude. His works in the original, or copied, translated, imitated, and too often travestied, defaced, and mangled, have amused the whole world from Paris to Constantinople, from St. Petersburgh to Messina. Nor has our English stage been the least benefited by the works of M. Scribe; we could mention the name of a manager of one of our first theatres who states that, whenever he was in any difficulty for want of novelty, he always re sorted to the translation of one of Scribe's pieces, and always with the greatest success. He is the author of ten comedies in five acts, and of twenty in one, two, or three acts, all of the highest order, and given at the Fran Pais ; and of 150 vaudevilles, given at the Gymnase, where he achieved his first triumphs. As a lyrical poet, he is equally without a rival, whether for the number or the beauty of his libretti. He has written the poetry of forty grand operas and of one hundred comic operas. To these must now be added his libretto of the forthcoming Temnesta. In all, this extraordinary man has written 340 works, independent of his novels, such as "Piquillo Alliaga," &c. Although so hale and active, and possessing such a flow of spirits that he appears at least fifteen years younger, Eugene Scribe was born at Paris on the 24th September, 1791. His father was a silk mercer near the Pilliers des Halles, in the Rue St. Denis. The lively wit of the future dramatist was discerned by all his friends at an early age, and his father, de sirous that the powers of his mind should have ample means of development, placed him at the great College of Ste. Barbe. Whilst there, however, his father was ruined by the revolutionary wars, and when, at 18 years of age, Eugene Scribe left college, he was an orphan, and wholly destitute of fortune. Fortunately, he found a kind guardian in his relation, M. Bonnet, a celebrated barrister, and the legal defender of Ge neral Moreau. This gentleman destined his ward to the same profession as himself, and Eugene Scribe, therefore, betook himself to the study of the Roman law, having for his "grinder" no less a personage than that celebrated jurist and politician I)upin the elder, later his colleague at the French Academy, and, at this moment, once more President of the French Legislative Chamber. But in all studies the legal fact that was most deeply impressed on Eugene Scribe's mind was, that at 21 a young man is master of his actions ; and having reached that age, his pas sion for the drama having absorbed all other tastes, he determined to renounce the law, and to live free and independent, and to owe nothing but to the labour of his pen. The latter resolution he has nobly kept, for in France, in spite of his long career, M. Scribe is cited as a very rare example of a man who, although courted by high and low, never solicited nor accepted of a place or a favour under the numberless Govern ments and administrations which have succeeded each other in his unfortunate country. Justly, therefore, is he entitled to the crest he has assumed—a pen, with this motto, " Inde Liber et Felix" (hence free and happy). Shortly after reaching his majority he began his dramatic career by writing a vaudeville for the Gymnase, that favourite theatre of the old House of Bourbon, where even now there remain the traces of that peculiar wit and elegance, that parfunt de noblesse et (le bonne societe, , which distinguish alike the letters of Siivign6, and, although in a man lier and more philosophical form, the works of M. Scribe. The refinement and elevation of the aspi rant's first vaudeville naturally led to his being en gaged to write for the Theatre Francais, where he showed himself, in an age successively disfigured by the exaggerations of romanticism and the still more loathsome doctrines of Socialism, a worthy successor to Moliere. To describe M. Scribe's career and the progress of his successive works would demand a volume. The result, in the rewards he enjoys, how ever, it is gratifying to state. He has received every species of honorary decoration ; he is a Commander of the Legion of Honour, and has received crosses from almost every Sovereign in Europe. /IQ is a member of the famous Quaraute de l'Acadenzie. Although he derives no profits from his works out of France, he has acquired, by labouring at his pen for many years from five in the morning to seven in the evening, a noble independence. At his elegant villa at Meudon, near Paris, or at his larger domain in the provinces, he spends his life amidst his family and friends, send ing forth constantly new stores of amusement to the world at large, and not forgetting to do substantial good to the smaller circle around him. Thus loving work and retirement, equally esteemed as a private individual and as a public character, M. Scribe pos sesses gifts of fortune which they who best know him most deeply feel that he well merits. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Rear-Admiral Austen, C. 8., the Commander-in- Chief of the East Indies and China station, hoisted his flag on board the Amazon, 26, Captain E. N. Trou bridge, on his arrival at Penang, April 6th. He ar rived at Point de Galle on Good Friday, after a very favourable passage, during which he met with the greatest attention. The Gallant Admiral just missed the Medea steam-sloop at Point de Galle, and em barked in the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Braganza for Penang, having been compli mented with three cheers from the Precursor on leaving that vessel. The gallant officer and all her party were in good health and spirits. The court-martial that was to have been held on board the Victory, on the boatswain of the Birken head for drunkenness, was deferred till to-morrow (this day). Ajax, 60, screw steam-ship, Captain Quinn, was shifted to the moorings of the King's-stairs yesterday morning, for the purpose of having her compasses ad justed by Mr. Thompson, master of the Victory. Diligence, transport, Tozer master, arrived at De vonport on Saturday, with stores from Deptford and Portsmouth. DOCKYARD BRIGADES.—The Portsmouth Dock yard Brigade commence their regular drills this week. In consequence of their not having had their intended drills last week, there will be four drills this week, and two in every succeed ing week. The Admiralty have so cut down the ex pense of drilling that the exercises are a mere farce, a great many of the drill-sergeants having been dis charged. It would be much better if the Admiralty were to disband the men at once. CAPTAIN SIR JOHN Ross's EXPEDITION.—WS are sorry to learn from our Stranraer correspondent that the Felix, Sir John Ross's vessel, went to sea from Lochryan in a sad state of disorder, from the continued drunkenness of the crew during the whole of the time the vessel was in the Lock. The sailing master had drank himself into a state of insanity, de lirium tremens, and was in his bed ; the mate was little better, perhaps worse, for he was furious with drink ; and the whole of the crew were much in the same state, and positively refused to weigh the anchor or make sail on the vessel. This had to be done by the crew of the steamer and some parties from Stran raer, who wished to accompany Sir John out of Lochryan. On reaching the anchorage off Cairn ryan, five miles down the Loch, the men insisted upon anchoring, and force had to be used to prevent th e ir doing so. This gallant old officer,,withowever, showedfirm nerve, equal cooalindess and determi nation Co mmander those s difficult ci rcumstances. He had i a man n P d h e i under i o p f s , full confidence in his management of the crew once the vessel was fairly clear of Lochryan. We believe —at least, so our correspondent say s—that ' Mr. Abernethy, the master, and several of the crew re pented the engagement they had entered upon, and would have detained the vessel had it been in their power. They were particularly anxious to know what security they were to have for their wages when they returned; but this was a point upon which Sir John could give them no satisfaction. It would not much surprise us to hear that this voyage was not prosecuted.—Herald. STRANRAER, MAY 24 —(From our own Corre spondent )—Between ten and eleven c'clock last night, Sir John Ross, with Commander Phillips, left Lochryan on his hazardous enterprise. The Felix, with her tender in tow, was towed out of the loch by one of the Stranraer steamers. This yacht, or tender, or whatever she may be called, is a decked boat of about twelve tons, built on the Nor wegian model, and is more likely to prove an incumbrance than an as sistance to the gallant officer ; should the Felix en counter bad weather before reaching the ice, the boat will in all probability have to be cut away. Th e special licenses from the Board of Customs had not ar rived from London before the sailing of the vessel. She is, therefore, liable to be detained; butt a her t e te. is no chance of such an occurrence .— S hi pping Gzt PLYMOUTII, M AY 25.—Th e C omet steamer came r f in yesterday from Portsmouth, and went up harbour. The crew of the packet Seagull were paid wages at the Pay-office in the docky, ard yesterday, and the brig afterwards sailed for Falmouth. The emigrant-ship William Stevenson, Captain Williams, which left Gravesend on the 18th; arrived in the Sound on the 21st, and is appointed to sail for the Australian colonies to-morrow, the 26th. She is chartered by Messrs. Gull and Wooley, and has about 63 intermediate and 12 steerage passengers, besides whom there are three matrons and 60 young needle women, embarked under the auspices of the Hon. Sidney Herbert. Some little dissatisfaction occurred among them at the commencement of the voyage, but having been accustomed to the difficulties of a sea life, they are now quite reconciled, and express themselves contented with their accommoda tions, which are ample, there being nine feet between decks, and with th e i r prov i sions, which aro good and abundant. They were on Saturday visited by three clergymen, the Ray. G. C. Childs, Dr. Besley, and the Rev. E. Bittleston. who were accompanied by Mrs. Hinton Smith, Miss Baron, and Miss Lawrence, a deputation from the Female Emigrants' Society. The young women appeared to receive with gratitude the religious advice and mora l i nstruction given by their benevolent visitors, whom they requested to communicate to the Hon. Mrs. Herbert and the com mittee in London their sincere acknowledgment for the valuable help afforded them in leaving their native land. The master has had some difficulty with his crew, and has had to engage seven men here in the place of seven who had been imprisoned for insubor dination by order of the magistrates. The William Stevenson.has patent fuel, malt, wine, and a general cargo for the colonies, whence she proceeds to Callao to load guano for England. Wind, S.W., blowing strong. Woormicn, MAY 27.—The Wasp, steam. vessel, on the stocks at Deptford Dockyard, is to be launched to-morrow (Tuesday) shortly before high water. The Desperate steam-sloop went down the river on an experimental trial on Saturday last, under the charge of Lieutenant Robertson, and Mr. Humphrys, chief engineer at Woolwich Dockyard, went in her to witness the working of the engines. Several of the officers studying steam were on board,with the Messrs. Maudslay, who constructed the engines of 400-horse power. On arriving at the measured mile below Gravesend she ran once up and once down, making the first run in 5.58 minutes, and the second in 6.50 minutes, giving an average speed of 9.434 knots per hour. The engines made 34i revolutions per minute, and the speed of the screw was 72.45. The Desperate returned to Woolwich in the afternoon, and when ready is to be taken to Sheerness. The Sampson steam-frigate is to have a day's trial betwixt the Nore and Mouse lights to try her new boilers before she is taken to Sheerness as an advanced war steamer. THE DELAYS IN CHANCERY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Stn,—Having observed from the different London papers, that the Court of Chancery is again closed, as it has been, more or less, for some terms past, I beg to ask, through the medium of your valuable paper, for the satisfaction of myself and many other NiCtillls to the dreadful delays in this court, if his Lordship is likely to take his seat at all this term? Should his Lordship be still indisposed, and not able to take his seat, does it follow that all business should be suspended, and that suitors, after having proceeded with cases at the expense of some thousands of pounds, should be put off from year to year, extend ing over a period of twenty years (as in my case) what might be settled in a few hours ? Is there no remedy ?—I am, Sir, yours, &c., A VICTIM TO THE DELAYS IN May 25, 1850. CHANCERY. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. DERRY. 4 to 1 agst Mr. W. Edwards na Bolingbroke—take 9 to 2 6 to 1 agst Mr. Bastard's Mildew 13 to 2 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher —taken 15 to 2 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger —t freely 8 to 1 agst Mr. H. Hill's Pitsford—taken 15 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Voltigeur 25 t• 1 agat Lord Exeter's Nutshell —taken freely 25 to 1 agat Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum 30 to 1 agst Mr. Gannon's Deicoon 40 to 1 agst Mr. Disney's Captain Grant—taken 1,000 to 20 apt Mr. Merry's Brennus 50 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Cariboo 4,000 to 60 agst Mr. Moseley's Alonzo—tak-en 1,000 to 15 agat Major Martyn's The Swede —taken 1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Gurney's St. Fabian —taken 1,000 to 10 agst Lord Eglinton's Manors —taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney 1,000 to 10 agst Count Bathyany's two—taken 1,000 between The Swede and St. Fabian 1,000 to 800 Cariboo agst Mayors 1,000 to 10 laid five arms that Deicoon starts Bolingbroke was very steady throughout the afternoon at 4 to 1, the slightest advance on which would have been taken in many quarters; Mildew was also firm, and large sums were laid out on The Nigger at 8 to 1 and 15 to 2; on Pusford at 8 to 1; and on Nutshell, at 25 to 1. Clincher one moment was at 9to 1, laid three or tour times, but "came again," and closed at 13 to 2. Voltigeur also improved; ditto Ghillio Callum (on an outlay of nearly I,OOOL at 30 to I), Deicoon, and Captain Grant. Of the extreme outsiders, St. Fabian and The Swede were most in favour. The Italian was backed at 25 to 1, in hundreds, and in ten minutes after was at 1,000 to 10! It is doubtful if either he, Mayors, Blsrney, Sir Charles, or Python will start. OAKS. No bettinr worth quoting. TROTTING EXTRAORDINARY. The match for 50/. a side, between Mr. Johnson's Jackey and Mr. Porter's American horse Tinker, to trot five miles in harness, which was fixed for Monday last, at Sunbury-common, attracted a large number to that well-known locality. They were, however, destined to disappointment, for an intimation was given by the police authorities that they should interfere to prevent the match coming off. Accordingly Friday was agreed on, and the venue changed to Southall, on the Uxbridge road, whither an immense concourse of equestrians and charioteers wended their way, behind and outside all sorts of quadrupeds, the Red Lion being the rendezvous. Umpires and a referee being chosen, the nags were brought out, harnessed to light match carts, Tinker being driven by Paget, while Mr. Bartley tooled Jackey. Shortly after half-past four the horses left the sta, ting-poet, two of Frodsham's chronometers, locked in their boxes, having been adjusted for the purpose of keeping time, whereon considerable sums depended. Tinker got first well into stride, and obtained a lead, which he increased to about 50 yards by the end of the first mile, Juke) , waiting till they came to the hill, where he drew up to him. Tinker went at a rattling pace to the second mile, when Jackey slightly drew upon him ; in the fol lowing half mile, they were side by side. Immense ap plause accompanied this sharp trial for the lead ; the struggle ended by Jackey gradually " forging a-head," while the " ould horse" broke twice, and threw his chance all but out, He went in to the third mile, and was pulled up. Bartley had now " Old Time only to deal vith,—generally the toughest of customers, and one who'll beat all things, if they try to keep going long enough. Heavy bets were dependent, at ev ens , on the winner covering the distance minutes, 6 to 4 against his doing it in 151 minut e s, an d 4 to 1 against 15 minutes. The last-named time, how ever, was cleverly beaten, with 20 seconds in hand The five miles were splendidly trott e d i n f ourteen minutes forty seconds. Upwards of 600/. chap the sh surpassingat 110 utnhailso w i , n where Eng E ng ged same driver steered th a t won d erful mare over eight trotting han d s ; is that liheo of Lady tim e ady White, miles of road in 26 minutes 12 seconds. The owner of Jackey declared his intention of declining all match making with his animal henceforward. PEDESTRIANISM AT MANCHESTER. THE MATCH TO WALE 21 MILES IN THREE HOURS. —This arduous undertaking, as most of our readers know, had its origin in a bet of 100/. between two Man chester sporting men, the one posting his " cool hun dred," conditioned that be would find a man, within a month, who should walk fair " toe and heel" twenty-one times over a measured mile, and the other maintaining an opinion tout to contraire, by posting his five sco re Victorias on behalf of the " wing -footed old gentle man."of Temperance was applied to by the opponen " time" as the most experienced individual in these at once mat ters of speed and stamina, and that personagei,henome confidently named " Old Smith," the Ipswich of the the ( yet ) (2004) plished performance. The whole o vening last, Phenome non, as the pedestrian to achieve at the were made good on Wednesday yet) unaccom. stakeholder. A number of the " Lon donwho was the final on Saturday, at Bellevue. division" were present half-mile course) Old Smith house of Mr. Bake, the Post-office Hotel, Manchester, ground, where (upon 2 t in racing trim. The betting on appeared at half-past completed ff at an extraordinary pa c by Temperance) wont nee) wont o e, in 58 minutes; up to the fourteenth the ground was 5 to 4 l on ' time. The pedestrian (attended his pace was u two minutes fifteen seconds. Up to in two hours, less n m a i ti le a s ted, fourteen miles being man ever walked better, if so well, at least, covering seven this time no no recor ded time approaches this perform ance. But " the pitcher gcet h too often to th e we l l, " and " the much proved cord will break with w h at it stood in trial, " are not le musty than tr ue . At the turn of the prove rbs n Smithss fif tee nth mile was visibly in distress, and his pace decreased with each succeeding 140 yards. Temperance did his best to refresh and cheer him, but "a leak" had sprung . somewhere, and the steam was " blowing off." At the end of twenty miles two hours fifty four minutes had expired, and the " ould on" gave in dead beat, to his own loss and severe mortification. As " losers have leave to speak," the usual amount of suspicion was ex pressed as to the genuineness of the pedestrian's exer tions. (ADVERTISEMENT.]—THE EARL OF ALDBOROITOH AND Ifouowat's PILLS.—Art astounding cure by this miraculous medicine, arter every oilier means had failed. See extract from his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1845. Professor Holloway—Sir : I beg to acquaint you that your pills have ef fected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach which all the most eminent of the faculty, at home and all over the continent, had not been able to effect; nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Ma rienbad. (Signed) " Aursoaouon.” These wonderfni pills will cure any disease of the liver or stomach.—Sold (also Holloway Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244. eltrald, & SA by all medicine vendors throughout the Cif hiiO4 world, 10 0 It th e wet°