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

EDUCATION. IN THE ARMY.. The following is a copy of any instructions which may have been issued by the Commander in- Chief rt specting Examinationa to be required on the admission or promotion of Officers in the Army :" " CONFIDENTIAL bLiEMORANDUN. " Horse• Guards, May 14, 1350. " Her Majesty has been pleas ed to command that the candidates tor commissions, and for promotion in her army, should be qualified by knowledge and attainments previously to their appointment to commissions of the first named, and to the promotion to superior rank of those thus appointed. " The qualifications required of candidates for com missions have been made known to their friends, and the time and place of examination Witt be stated in each case, so as that an examination may take place before any one is appointed to a commission. Before officers can be recommended for promotion to the rank of lieutenant in any regiment, the command ing officer must have them examined by a board of officers, consisting of himself, another field officer, if there should be one present with the regiment, and the senior captain of the re2inaent; and if there should be no field officer present with the regiment, the two senior cap tains present. " This board must report to the Military Secretary, for the information of the Commander-in-Chief, that the officers about to be recommended for promotion to the rank of lieutenant are instructed on the following points:— " 1. They must have a perfect knowledge of the stan ding orders of the regiments in which they are serving. "2. Trey malt have a knowledge and mast give an acc.)unt of the duties they have to perform as regimental orderly officers, and as officers commanding guards, or as subaltern officers of guards under command of officers of superior rank. "3. They must have a knowledge of the words of command for the manual and platoon exercise. "4. They must be able to put the company through the manual and platoon exercise, and be capable of ex ercising both a squad and company in the drill and evo lutions as prescribed in the first two parts of the regula tions for the field exercise of the infantry. " 5. They should know exactly the place of all the company officers in every situation of the battalion, whether in line, or in open, close, quarter, or half-dis tance column, and whether right or left in front. " 6. They must have a knowledge of the general re gulations and orders of the army, and of the Mutiny Act. and Article's of War. "7. They should be acquainted with the Queen's re gulations and warrants regulating the description and qualities of the necessaries of soldiers, of the price of each article, and the regulations applicable to the same. "8. They should know the weight of the knapsack; the weight of the soldier's firelock; of his pouch, with or without the. ammunition which it is calculated to carry; of his accoutrements, with or without the bayonet; the weight of the musket, with or without the bayonet; of the bayonet, whh or without the scabbard. " 9. In addition to such portions of the above as may apply to the cavalry service, the cornets should be re quired to be well acquainted with all their stable and barrack duties, to.have completed their course of instruc tion in the riding-school, and to be able to exercise a troop both on foot and mounted. " Lieutenants who shall have entered the service since July, 1849, will be required, before they can be recom mended for promotion to the rank of captain, to have— " 10. A competent knowledge of geography. " 11. OF history, ancient and modern. " 12. Of the first six books of Euclid. " 13. Of the properties of the circle. " 14. Of algebra, to quadratic equations inclusive. " 15. Of the use of logarithms. " 16. Of plane trigonometry, and "17. Mensuration. " 18. They must have studied permanent and field fo , tification, and " 19. Have so fir a practical knowledge of the science as to he capable of projecting a front of fortification, according to thf, first system of Vauban. "20. They muss be perfectly acquainted with the pro visions cf the Mutiny Act and Articles of War. "21. And with the forms and proceedings of courts martial. "22. They should have studiel some of the ittndard works on courts-martial. " 23. They mast understand perfectly the evolutions of a battalion of infantry or regiment of cavalry, as laid down in the regulations for those services respectively. " 24. They must be acquainted with the light infantry drill. "25. They must perfectly understand the interior economy of a troop or company, the regulations for the messing and subsistence of the soldiers, and the esta blished system of keeping their accounts. " 26. Tbey must have a knowledge of the Royal warrants which regulate the pay, provisioning, pen sions, rewards, periods of service, clothing and equip ment of the soldier. " 27. They must be acquainted with the general re gulations and orders of the army, more particularly with those for the Government and management of the troops embarked in transports or convict ships. " 28. And it must be ascertained that they are com petent to take charge of a company or detachment in every position in which it might be placed. " Lieweisants who entered the service prior to July, 1849, will, after July, 1852, be required, before they can be reccmmended for promotion to the rank of captain, to have— " 10 (a). A competent knowledge of geography. " 11 (a). Oe English history. " 12 (a). Of the first four books of Euclid. " .14 (a). Of algebra, to simple equations inclusive. "19 (a). And so fAr a practical knowledge of the sciecce of fortification as to be capable of projecting a front or fortification according to the first system of Vauban. " 20 (a). They must be perfectly acquainted with the provisions of the Mutiny Act and Articles of War. "21 (a). And with the forms and proceedings of courts-martisl. " 22 (a). They must have studied some of the standard works on courts-martial. " 23 (a). They must understand perfectly the evolu tions of a battalion of infantry or regiment of cavalry, as laid down in the regulations of those services respec tively. " 24 (a). They must be acquainted with light infantry drill. "23 (a). They must perfectly understand the interior economy of a troop or company, the regulations for the messing and subsistence of soldiers, and the established system of keeping their accounts. " 26 (a). They must have a knowledge of the Royal warrants which regulate the pay, provisioning, pensions, rewards, periods of service, clothing and equipment of the soldier. " 27 (a). They must be acquainted with the general regulations and orders of the army, more particularly with those for the government and management of troops embarked in transports cr convict ships. 28 (a). And it must ba ascertained that they are competent to take charge of a company or detachment in every position in which it might be placid. "It is to be distinctly understood that, they are to compete the remainder of the course prescribed for the lieutenants who entered the service subsequently to July, 1849, before they can be declared eligible to become field officers. These examinations of officers for the rank of cap tain must be made by boards of officers, to be appointed by the commanding officer, composed of the three senior officers of the regiment, as far as relates to matters of re gimental economy, detail, or discipline, and must be re ported to the Military Secretary in every case of a lieu tenant recommended by the commanding officer to be promoted to be captain of a troop or company. " Till the month of July, 1852, officers recommended for promotion to the rank of captaia in their several re giments need not be examined on the points stated in Nos. 10, 11. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, of this order, unless it should bo known to the Commander-in-Chief that such officers had passed one year in the United Kingdom subsequently to the Ist of June, 1850, in which case he will require that such officers should pass an ex amination as required by this order for the lieutenants who erstored the service) antecedently to 1849. "Any officer of the rank of lieutenant in a regiment serving within the United Kingdom, who may have en tered his name as a purchaser of a troop or company, may, through his commanding officer, express his desire to be examined in respect to his required attainments, as specii;A in thiS order, upon which demand the Com mander-in-Chief will give such orders as may be proper and necessary. "'Orders will hereafter be given to provide far the examination of officers serving abroad, in respect to their qualifications and attainments, preparatory to their being recommended for promotion to the rank of captain. ' "By command of Field-Marshal " THE DERE OF WELLINGTON, Commander-in-Chiet. G. Bnowsr, Adjutant-General." " Horse Guards, June 6, 1850. "Sir,—l have it in command to explain, with re~er enoo to the circular ISI emorand m of the 14th ult., that although the educational part of the examination of offi cers, preparatory to obtaining the rank of captain, is proposed to be deferred for two years, the professional portion of it i 3 to be carried into effect immediately; and that henceforth the qualifications of candidates for promotion to the ranks of lieutenant and captain respec tively, as far as relates to military evolutions and to the &tails of regimental discipline and economy, are to be duly ascertained by a board composed of the three s:.nior officers prevent with the regiment, as thcrein prescribed, whose certificate must accompany all future rzconinien dations for promotion. " I have, " G. BELI , WN, Aejatant-Gencral. a Officer Commanding." THE FOREiuN AND COLONIAL MAILS FOR AUGUST. The following are the dates on which the foreign and colonial mails (according to the new arrangement which comes into operation to-morrow) will be made np at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, and . when the return packets will be due at Southamp ton, Liverpool, Falmouth, Dover and London :—For the British and Foreign colonies in the West Indies (except Vera Cruz, Tampico, Havannah, Honduras, Nassau and Jacmel), Venezuela. Grey Town (San Juan de Nica ragua), Granada, Chili, Peru, Sca ,on the mornings of the 2d and 17th inst.; Vera Cruz, Mexico, and Tarnpco, on the mornings of the 2d inst. only; Has-annul:li Honduras, Nassau, Jacmel, Sc.c, on the morning of the 17th only; by steam-packets from Southampton. The Trent steamer for the mails of to-morrow; next packets due on the 7th and 22d inst., at Southampton. (In future mails for I:lava:lrish, Honduras, Nassau, and Janinel will be for- warded only by the packet leaving on the 17th, and Vera Cruz and Tampico by the packet of the 2d of each month. The mails for the the western coast of South America will be dispatched as far as Panama by the THE SUN, West India packets of the 2d and 17th of the month, but from Panama the Pacific mails will only be once a month. The mails to Bermuda, Mobile, and Madeira by the above packeTs have been discon tinued—the correspondence for Madeira, unless other wise addressed, will be sent by the Brazil packet, and for Bermuda and Mobile by the mails to Halifax, New York, and Boston, via Liverpool.) For British North America, Bermuda, and the United States, on the even ing of the 2d inst. (to-morrow), by the Niagara steamer via Liverpool, Halifax, and New York; on the evening of the 9th inst., by the Europa to Boston; cn the even ing of the 14th inst., by the America to New York; on the evening of the 23d inst., by the Hibernia to Boston; and the evening of the 30th inst.. by the Asia to New York. Next packets due at Liverpool—On the 7th inst., from Boston; 15th, from New York; 21st, from Boston; and the 29th inst., from Vew York. The branch packet for Newfoundland will be dispatched from Halifax on the arrival at the latter port of the homeward packet from Boston; and the branch packet for Bermuda will be dispatched from Halifax on the arrival at that port of the outward packet for Boston. Newspapers for the United Stites of America must be pre-paid ld. each, either via Liverpool or Southampton; letters optional. For Madeira, Brazil, and Buenos Ayres, on the evening of the sth inst., by her Ma jesty's brig Express via Falmouth. Next packet due at Falmouth, her Majesty's brig Petrel, on the 24th inst. From August to January inclusive the packet touches at Pernambuco and Bahia on her outward pas sage to Rio de Janeiro, and the other six months on her homeward. For Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, via Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, on the mornings of the 7th, 17th, and 27th instant, by steam-packets from Southampton. Next mails due on the sth, 15th, and 25th instant, at Southampton. For the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon (Mauritius on the 24th instant), India, &c., on the evenings of the 7th and 24th, by the fortnightly overland closed mails, via Marseilles; next mails due in London on or about the 23d inst. Letters and newspapers must be pre-paid. Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, Mau ritius, India, Hong-Kong, and China, on the morning of the 20th inst., by steam-packet from Southampton; next packet due the Indus steamer, on the 28th inst. Newspapers free; postage on letters pre-paid or not. For Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Van I)iemen's Land, and New Z. eland, by ship letter bags, as vessels may sail from London, Liverpool, &c. Newspapers for the colonies must be pre-paid ld. each, or they will not be forwarded. For France, &c., twice daily, morning and evening (except Sunday), by her Majesty's steam packets, via Dover and Ostend—due daily, Hamburgh,' &c., Tuesday and Friday evenings; due Tuesdays and Saturdays. Holland, &c., Weinesday and Saturday mornings; due Mondays and Thuridays; by the General Steam Navigation Company's packets, via the Thames. LONDO HEALTH of LONDON DURING Me WEEK. (From the Registrar-General's Returr.) This return, in connexion with the two previous. in- 1 dimes a continuous inereese in the rn rtalt:l of the metropolitan districts. The deaths which ie the two preceding weeks were successively 751, 863, rose last week to 898. In the corresponding weeks of nine years (1840-8) the lowest number occurred in 1843, and was 749; the highest in 1848, when it was 1,201; but last year in the same week the deaths rose to 1,931, when pestilence rapidly multiplied its victims. The average of the corresponding weeks of ten years (1840-9) is 1,022, which, with a correction for increase of popula tion, becomes 1,115. The 898 deaths of last week, therefore, show a decrease on the latter number, amount ing to 217; but it will be observed that the average is in part founded on the aggravated mortality of list year. The deaths from phthsis or consumption are still less numerous than usual, having last week been 121; in corresponding weeks they fluctuated between 120 and 156. In the class which comprises other diseases of the respiratory organs, the deaths, amounting to 74, also fall below the average. The zymotic or epidemic class numbers 272 deaths; and though this mortality is not yet excessive as compared with that of the same week in some previous years, it shows a tendency to increase as the autumnal season approaches. Small-pox, measles, scarlatina, hooping-cough, and typhus, show less than the usual fatality or differ little from the average; but diarrheas exhibits a rapid increase on the previous weeks, and has now risen above the average. The numbers from diarrhees in the last four weeks have he?n succes sively 40, 37, 51, and 104. Of the 104 persons who died of it last week, 84 were infanta under 1 year, 14 were 1 year old and under 60, and 6 were 60 years of age and upwards. Last week 13 deaths were ascribed to cholera, showing an increase, when compared with those of the previous returns; but an investigation of the cases as detailed in the registers proves that in a certain propor tion of them it was the common English form of the complaint. In the Rectory sub-district, Merylebone, on the 24th July, at 11, Orchard-place, the son of a la bourer, aged 3 years, "cholera (24 hours)". " This (aye Mr. Josephs) is a small house in the rear of a densely crowded place, well known in Marylebone, which, though in a much better condition than formerly, is still imperfectly cleansed and ventilated." Also in the Rectory sub-district, at 2, Paradise-row, on 231 July, the son of a smith, 3 yrs, "cholera (3 days)." " The child had diarrheas for a week previous. Its pa rents lived in a small front parlour, with five other children. The locality is crowded." In St. John's, Marylebone, at 14, Henry-street, on the 25th July, the son of a shoemaker, aged 1 year, "English cholera (5 days)." In the same sub-district, at 16, Tosvashend cottages, on the 24th July, the son of a labourer, aged three months, "cholera." In Islington East, at 48, King-street-terrace, on the 20th July, a working wo man, spinster, aged 38 years, "cholera (12 hours). had diarrheas 2 days." In West Hackney, at 13, Tottenham sqsare, on 23d July, the son of a contractor, aged 3 months, " English cholera (3 days)." In the same neighbourhood, at 11, Tottenbam-road, on 25th July, the daughter of a draper, aged 1 year, " English cholera (5 days), convulsions (12 hours)." In North St. Giles's in-the Fields, at 12, Great White Lion-street, on 23d July, the daughter of a printer, aged 7 months, "Eng lish cholera (7 days)." In Pentonville, at 9, Penton grove, on 23d July, the son of a police-constable, aged 6 months, "infantile cholera." In Whitechapel-church sub-district, at 17, Colchester -street, on 24th July, the daughter of a shoemaker, aged 4 months, "Asiatic cholera (2 days)." Mr. Hems, the registrar, states that " the child was suckled by the mother 'for a fortnight, was afterwards brought up by hand, and never thrived. It was attacked with violent vomiting and purging on Sunday, recovered, and grew worse on Monday, when the medical attendant first saw the case, and pronounced it hope:e3s. The house is well aired." In Lambeth, at 39, Wotton-street, on 24th July, the wife cf a printer, aged 25 years, "cholera (2 days), peritonitis (3 weeks)." Mr. Mears states that " the house is clean end toleraWy airy. It has a cesspool." Also in Lambeth, at 8, Vine terrace, Waterloo-road, on 21st July, the wife of a stone enasen, ngrd 24 years, "cholera (10 hours)." " This person (says Mr. Dews) had been in delicate health for some months, and had only come the day before from Somersetshire." The medical attendant adds on his ma titicat th .t there " was no purging, all the other symp toms were urgent, the secretion of urine supended, the catheter was passed, but no urine in the bladder." The house is in an airy situation and well drained. In Lambeth, at 7, High-street, en the 19th July, a carpen ter, aged 36, " Asiatic cholera (44 hours)." Mr. Har wood states that " the deceased retired to rest about eleven o'clock in his usual state of health, but in about two hours awoke with violent cramp, which was fol lowed by sickness and diarrhoea: these continued till death." In comparison with the above thirteen deaths from cholera, registered last week, it is proper to men tion that in the corresponding week of 1846 there were 26 from the same disease ; also 26 in that of 1848; and in that of 1849, the deaths from cholera rose to 783. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEER. ENDLITG SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1550. Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... *272 Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... 37 Tubercular Diseases ... 170 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 104 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 33 Diseases of tho Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration 74 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion... ... 52 Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. ... 8 Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ... 6 Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations... . 6 Premature Birth ... Atrcphy Old Age _ .._ ... _ Sudden." ". ' ". ." ... "_ . 1 Violence. Privation Cold, and Intemperance ... 28 Causes not specified ... ••• ••• ••• ... 3 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES 898 Population Deaths in corre- Deaths Enumerated, spondinn week in the 1841. - of 1849: Week. West Districts... 301,189 . . 206 ... 130 North Districts.. 376,568 .. 278 ... 177 Central Districts 374,199 ... 274 ... 158 East Districts ... 393,067 ... 344 ... 202 South Districts .. 503,346 ... 829 ... 231 Totals... ..... 1,948,369 ... 1,931 ... 898 Males ... 439 Females ... ... ... 459 THE GORHAM CASE. It is believed that the following Prelates have de clared their approval of the decision of the Judicial Committee of Privy Council in the late Gorham case:— The Archbishops of Canterbury, York, and Dublin. The Bishops of Durham, Peterborough, Ely, Hereford, Lichfield, Chester, St. Asaph, St. David's, Worcester, Norwich, and Manchester, as not affecting the doctrine of the Church. The Bishops of Salisbury, Gloucester, and Ripon, have returned ambiguous replies to the Tractarian addresses. • The Bishop of Bangor dissents from the judgment. The Bishup of Rochester claims for it " legal re spect." The Bishops of Exeter, Bath and Wells, London, and Oxford, are hostile. The Bishops of Lincoln, Carlisle, Winchester, Chi chester, Llandaff, and Sodor and Man, are no: yet known to have expressed themselves on the subject. The two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have each declined entering into the controversy; but about one-fourth of the members of convocation of the first mentioaer.l have separately addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury against the decision. This address is signed by two only out of the twenty-four heads of colleges and hails, and six professors only—all of the Trac:arisn party—via , Professors Posey, Hussey, Reny, Earle, Kenyon, and Cooke; and incluths the nanr-s of Judge Coleridge and the well-known Archdeacons Thorp, Wil berforce, and two Scotch bishops, who, notwithstanding their secession from the English Church, retain their names en the university rogister as members. The uni versity of Cambridge has not moved. From a summary of the result; of the agitation which has reached u 3, it would appear that the total number of clerical dissentients from the judgment through out England does not exceed 2,000 out of 15,000 ; and the number of laity who have come forward is insignificant. After the failure of the last effort at St. Martin's Hall, which was remarkable for the absenceof Mr. Gladstone, M.P., and others whose presence or absence on such occasions is regarded as in dicative of the probability of success or the reverse, we may dismiss the agitation as something beyond a Denison power to resuscitate. , — Church and State Gazette. CONFESSION OF BENNISON. The man Bennison, who was found guilty at the High Court of Justiciary, on Friday last, of the double crimes of bigamy and murler, and sentenced to be executed here on the 16th of August, has made a confession of his guilt. At tha conclusion of the trial on Friday, he solemnly " declared before God, and before all present, that of the murder of his wife he was innocent ;" and that if the witnesses had spoken the truth, " he would not have been a guilty man before their Lordships that day." Notwithstanding of these solemn asseverations, he, in a conversation with his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hay, of the Methodist Church, Leith—who has been most unremitting in his attention to the culprit since his condemnation—confessed on Monday that he had poisoned his wife on the Friday evening that she was alleged to have become ill. The confession is not, in the meantime, is such a complete state as would justify its publication ; but we believe that a copy of it has been transmitte to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Bennison, ever since the sentence was declared, has exhibited the deepest contrition ; but although he has unbosomed his mind of the principal portion of the guilt charged against him in the trial, he is a person of such a peculiar disposition, and so extremely suspicious of all who come in contact with him, that it is most dia. cult to get an explanation from him of certain points necessary to throw light on the case. Mr. Hay could not• venture to avail himself of writing materials during the time that Bennison was relating the particulars of the poisoning. He was, there fore, obliged simply to listen to the harrow ing narrative of the culprit's guilt; and to trust to his memory for the writing out of the details of the con fession when he went home. Mr. Hay read a copy of what he had written to Bennison, when ho ad hered to it 2'l—making only some very slight alterr,, lions upon it. A copy of the confession so amendeu was subsequently lodged with the Sheriff; and it was afterwards, as we have already mentioned, forwarded to Sir George Grey. Bennison states that, on the Friday evening in ques tion, he made the porridge, and put a quantity of arsenic in theta. His child having previously gone to bed, and Bennison having, on tha score of illness ex cused himself from eating anything that night, his wife was the only one that partook of the porridge, and to that her death is to be ascribed. He states that the girl Robertson had not the most remote idea that he bad any interest in her except that of a religious kind, and that lie never spoke to her unless in respect to her spiritual welfare. He has made no confession with regard to the first wife's sudden death as Airdrie; but as it is strongly sus pected that he also) administered poison to get quit of her, it is not improbable that we may have a further confession from him to that effect.—Scotsman. MIDLAND RAILWAY. Oa Wednesday a special meeting of proprietors of this company resident in Liverpool wai held at the Clarendon Rooms in that town, in reference to the proposition (ror the conversion of the 501. shares) agreed to at the general meeting at Derby. About thirty gentlemen were prestait. Mr. J. IL BxANCKER was called to the chair. He stated that the object of the meeting was to organize an opposition to the measure which the directors had carried at the late meeting, and which was so adverse to the wishes and interests of a large minority. The di rectors, to carry out the plan, would bare to bring a Bill into Parliament, but he felt satisfied that if duly suet so inequitable a measure would never pass the Legislature; but, if necessary, those who dissected must be pre pared to carry their opposition even to the House of Lords.—(Applause.) It appeared, he said, that the directors had adopted the objectionable change pro posed, in consequence of a bill in Chancery having been filed; and in order to escape from the personal re sponsibility which would otherwise attach. The Chair man stated that he intended most strenuously to carry out the opposition ; the solicitations which he received from parties in London would warrant him in doing so, even were he not so well supported in Liver pool. He contended that no class of shareholders could illegally acquire any inequitable lien on another class of shareholders; and if the directors had done illegal acts on them the responsibility should rest, not on the propri e t ar y. If theears, directors if ctors e were to be acted upon only by th e i r f company co u ld f orce t h em i nto a ennneeesesieecntionnf advan tages injurious to the others, then the other shareholders intoChancery,a thndseaet the what they could do. m u u e s f t e a r l also go would recommend n eylh againstould com mence as soon as p oss ibl e to take proceedings n the directors to rest ra i n t h em the inequitable proceedings which oni theeagr ying (ldednt. The chairman proceeded to analyse the speeche s of Mr. Ellis, and of Mr. Carbutt, at the late meeting, and concluded by moving, T hat in the opinion of this meeting it is essential for the in terests of the proprietors of the Midland Railway, and for the maintenance of good faith amongst all classes of stock and shareholders, that the personal and sectional pretension of the 501. shareholders should be opposed by all legal and Parliamentary measures." Mr. PENNY seconded the motion, in which he stit-d that he cordially concurred; and after some words also of approval and condemnation of the directors, from Mr. Driffield and from Mr. Wills, the resolution was p 2: to the meeting, and unanimously carried. The CHAIRMAN moved the next resolution—" That to organize and further such opposition, a subscription should be entered into, no one to be responsible for a further sum than that he should subscribe ; and request ing all shareholders to join in resistance to payment of any further preferential or guaranteed dividends" Mr. A. H. WYLIE seconded the motion, which was also carried nem. dis. A resolution was then carried that a petition contain ing the foregoing recitals should be presented at the re opening of Parliament, and the nate ing terminated. Dispatches were sent off last evening from the Colo nial-offieefor the Governors of the West India Colonies. BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males ... ... ... ... ... 664 Females • .., ~. ... ... 680 Total ... -.1,344 *ln this number are included 23 by Scarlatina, 35 by Typhus Fever, 104 by Diarrhoea, and 13 by Cholera. MRS. FANNY KEMBLE'S READ- INGS OF SIIAKSPERE. This celebrated lady has been engaged by Mr. Mit chell for six readings of Shakapere, at the St. James's Toeatre, end last evening she read the Midsummer Night's Dream. It was a delightful entertainment, and gave us a keener feeling of the beauties of this exqui site play than we have ever been able to derive either from its private perusal or its representation on the stage. Mrs. Kenai)le's reading, indeed, is perfect; quite free from the heaviness and monotony to which this kind of entertainment is liable, and on tne contrary full of grace, animation, and variety. Shakspere's charming poetry derived fresh charms from the finely modulated tones of her mellow voice, and she showed a most intellectual comprehension of the author, bringing out many delicate beauties and traits of meaning, which, to us at least, had the effect of novelty. Her discri mination of the characters was admirable. The timid, gentle Helena, anti the impetuous Hermia, could not have been better distinguished bed they stood before us in two separate persons. The scenes of Bottom and his fellow clowns, without being in the least overcharged, were lively and amusing. Bottom's way of making him ,,elf at home with Titania and the fairies was irresistibly In Herons. In truth, her reading of these scenes showed a richness of comic,hurnour which we had never observe , ' in her acting. Mrs. Kemble looked exceedingly well, and seemed to be in excellent health and epirits. No thing cold be warmer than her reception by. a large and fashionable audience. Bursts of applause followed the most remarkable passages; and, after she had retired, the long-continued plaudits brought her forward again to make her acknowledgments. The remaining plays which she is to read are the Merry Wives of Windsor, Mea sure for Measure, Much Ado about Notkny, and the Merchant of Venice. There could not be a better se lection. SINGULAR FULFILMENT OF A DREAM.—On Friday evening last a young man, named Joseph Piston, aged 22, was bathint; in the river Collin, near to Ashley-mill, when he was unhappily drowned. It appears that the deceased had been working in a hay. field throughout the day, and, being hot, determined to bathe, although particularly cautioned not to do so by his relations at the mill, with whom he live?. Their reason for so cautioning him was that on the three previous nights he had dreamed that he was drowning in the river. Each morning he had related his dream to the family, and in joke told them who should have his clothing, &c., if it happened, and mentioned a young woman who was to have his watch. On the night in question he had been swimming down the river. He left the water, and told the parties who were with him that he would have a dive in a deep part of the river. So saying he ran on the bank, sprang in headforemost, and never was seen afterwards. An alarm Was given, and Mr. Davenport, who is upwards of sixty years of age, b u t an exce ll en t sw i mmer , j umpe d i n t o t he river, dived s evera l t i mes, and tr i ed a ll he cou ld to fi nd him but without succ*s. It was an hour and a half bef ore Pix ton's body could be found.—Blanc/tester Guardian. INCIIMBERED ESTATES IN laELAND.—l r esterday a Parliamentary paper was issued, containing soma observa tionstates in Ireland and the transfer Commission ersntli u pon t n o f t laineysupliajretat thereof e f r t e l o i their ird intoisttrhi-e Court of Chancery. It ap pe a rs ons9wnihtaith'ethsealeCommissioners by the distri bution of the funds arisi ng ineum bered havee su m they hope to distribute the entire property, and of that sold more than half a mill i on ' s About 100,C00/haes transferred to the entire in their court with the exception of 25,0001., which ma y b Court of Chancery. ,000/. befo re e th vacation been already dis tributed. The Commissioners hope without from any other court to distribute 200 assistance and 200,C001. more in the month of October . "that there is no part of their practice which givese add public such satisfaction as the readiness with which pay ments are made when the rights d parties are correctly as certainel IMPORTATION OF BRANDY.:---A vessel which has just arrived in the docks from Char mte, has brought an ex traordinary large cargo of brandy, comprising 70 puncheons, 700 hogsheads, 357 smaller casks, and 1,048 cases of the spirit, the produce of France. The value of this cargo, with reference to the high duty leviable on the article, must have been very large. FRIDAY EV IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, August 1. The LORD CHANCELLOR Lout{ se::; on Wo - ;!- sack at 1 Lve o'clook. The Earl of CARLISLE presented several p::titions in favour of the Marriage COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL. Lord BROUGHAM m'ved the third reading of this Bill. The motion was agreed to. IRIS EI FRANCHISE BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved for a confe rence with the Commons on the Irish Franchise Bill. The motion was agreed to, and the Marquis of Salis bury, the Bishop of Oxford, Lord Beautnout, and other Peers were appointed to manage the conference. On their return, the Marquis of SALISBURY re• ported that the Commons had disagreed to certain of the Lords' amendments, and had assigned their reasons, which he deliver.d, and which were ordered to be printed. CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT LANDS BILL. On the motion of Earl GREY this Bill was read a third time and passed. SLAVE TRADE. The Bishop of OXFORD presented several petitions praying the House to adopt measures to compel the Go vernm.ints of Brazil Rini Spain to du away with the slave trade in compliance with the treaties which they had entered into with this coutury. Ile trusted the prayer of these petitiin; would be attended to. Lord iIROUGIIAII sup i .orted the prayer of these petitions. NAVY PAY BILL. Oa the motion of Earl GREY this Bill was read a second time. AFFAIRS OF THE RIVER PLATE. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the cable the convention entered into with the Argentine Confedera tion. _ _ SALARIES IN THE POST-OFFICE. The Earl of ST. GEHMANS wished to draw the attention of the Government to the smallness of the salaries paid to the Post-office clerks in the money-office. Some of the clerks received only a sa lary of 70/. a year, and many of them had passed through the Insolvent Court, and the judges had ex pressed their surprise at the smalln ess o f th e i r sa l ar i es . He asked if the Noble Marquis intended to pro pose to the Treasury to increase the salaries of these clerks ? lie also asked how it came to pass that several clerks in the office had been recently passed over, and a clerk from Edinburgh promoted over their heads ? It bad been stated that this was in con-equence of a memorial which these clerks had presented to the Postmaster-General, com plaining of curtain regulations, among others that com pelling them to find substitutes in case of absence. That memorial had given offence to a gentleman high in posi tion in the Post-office, and on the office of chief clerk of the money order office becoming vacant, he called toge ther those clerks who in right of seniority would have received promotions in consequence of that vacancy, and requtsted them to withdrak their names from the me morial. This they refused to do, and on that account a person not connected with the London office was put over their heads. As this circumstance had been alluded to elsewhere, ho had thought it but right to give the Noble Marquis the Postmaster-General an opportu nity of correcting the misrepresentations, if any there were. Messengers from the Commons here appeared at the bar, and requested a second conference on the Irish Franchise Bill, which was agreed to, and managers ap pointed en the part of their Lordships. The Noble Larch, the managers, haring returned, reported that the Commons had assigned their reasons for disagreeing to the amendments of their Lordships to the Irish Franchise Bill; when it was ordered that they should be taken into consideration on Tues day next. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE then rose to rerly to the observations made with regard to the money order office of the Post-office. He admitted that the clerks in that office were inadequately paid, but he could not hold out an expectation that he c' aid recommend an increase, or that the Treasury was prepared to grant it. Com paring the remuneration given in private establishments, he could.not think the pay of these clerks so very low, for if one of those clerks were to resign, he would have five hundred applications for it, from parties competent to discharge the duties. lie had also to state that the situation of those clerks had been improved, within the last few months a grant had been made to the proba tionary clerks. In the year 1846 there were one hun dred and twenty clerks at salaries of 701. a year, whereas at present there were not more than fifty of that class. With regard to the attack which had been made upon the party who had been appointed to the office of chief clerk in the money order office, ho had to say that it was un fair. The principle of seniority .could not be taken as the sole qualification for the promotion, although long serviCea end experience should not be disregarded. So large a sum us eixteen millions passed through that office annually, which rendered it a matter of great im portance that the chief clerk should be a person fully competent to conduct so important a department. Mr. Farmer had filled the office in Edinburgh, and was se lected as the most competent party to fill the same office in London. He knew nothing of the party, and although he had from time to time received applications to promote parties in his department, )et. he had never received single letter to promote this gentleman. He had been selected for his merits alone. Then, with regard to the complaint made of Mr. Hill's severity, when it was stated that no clerk could get more than three days' leave of absence, it appeared that the average leave amounted to twenty days in the year, and an arrangement had been now made by which each clerk could get a month's leave every year. The arrangement by which the party who had been ill—the arrangement by which he was allowed to provide a substitute—was done through kindness and consideration for him, that ho might re. sumo' his situation when capable of discharging its duties. This attack was most unfair. Though he ad mitted the remuneration of the clerks was small, he was not prepared to recommend en increase. The subject then dropped. The third reading of the Borough Courts (Ireland) Bill was postponed to this day week. LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT. Lord MONTEAGLE then rose to meve, " That an humble address be presented to her Majesty for a Com ' mission to inquire and report on the state of the law of landlord and tenant in Great Britain and Ireland, show ing the differences existing in the laws as affecting the two parts of the United Kingdom." Ile said this sub ject had been for many years before their Lordships. A Commission was appo:uted in 1843 u p on the subject, which made its report in 1845, than which no other ever did more evil or less good. He thought so important a subject should not be left in a state of uncertainty. The great evils of the system arose out of the injustice and confiscations of former times, and from the penal laws, for although these causes might have been removed, the effects remained. Up to 1849 they were extricating themselves from the difficulties they encountered in Ireland. Many of the upper classes were broken by famine, and many of the middle class were reduced to the pauper elev. Had it not been f or the measure of 1833, the pauperism of England would have in creased. There was a duty and obligation to deal with the subject in a somewhat] different manner in Ireland. tie e a u endeavoured to show that the mode of dealing with property an 1 the landlords was encompassed with difficulty. The occupiers itod the owners were frequently at variance, and legislation between them was most diffi cult, for it might be injurious to both parties, If there was any one thing which a purchaser of land should know, it was under what la w h e purchased. He hoped that the subject would be wisely - discussed next session. But before they proceeded with legislation for Ireland, text the highest they should make themsel ves welt acquainted with the analogous law of England. Il e wanted, therefore, upon r th it e y, ta a bl r e e e p f or l t ) :r il l o ia w tn . in e g tit he, upon le of the'two countries, th at they might select from both statethe statute legal: au t law h o laws with discrimination. Mistakes upon this subject were made by most emin e nt persons, as appeared a short time ago upon the examination of Sir Edward Sudden before a Commission of Parliament. What he stated in reference to the law of distraint between the two coun tries to be en anomaly Was, in fact, the closest identity. Well, if mistekes might be made by so eminent a per aonage, they might be male by oth ers. The Noble Lord here pointed out some of the differeeess between the laws of the two countries. Whet he proposed would be a foundation for remedying these differences. He con cluded by moving the resolution of which he had given notice. The LORD CETANCELLOR said that such a report, however desirable, w o uld be impossible to b e o b ta i n e d in any useful or available form. The law must be gathered from judicial decision, and the statutes and the construc tion of the law must d e pend in many cases upon p aro l e evidence and th e i r L or d s hips' decision. The haw of landlord and tenant was a vast subject, and contained under many branches, and in many volumes. There was the law of ejectment, the law of distress, and the law of waste. The latter was a most complicated head. There was the law of forfeiture, and a vast variety of other heads, and the more leareed the expositions the greater wouhl be the length of the report. Any one given head would he vast enough; but to ask for a gene ral statement, without reference to any particular branch of the law of landlord and tenant coul:i, even if it were possible to supp!y it, from the uncertainty of decision, lead to no pr act i ca l resu lt. By directing attention to specific heads the object of the Noble Lord might, to soma extent, possibly be effected He suggested the withdrawal of the motion. Lord MONTE A.G LE said that the Noble and Learned Lord had to some extent misapprehended his object, which was generally a description of the statute law of the two countries respecting landlords and tenants in a plain, accessible, and intelligible form. He therefore hoped that th e mot i on w ould be concurred in by their Lordships, as he intended to enter on several particular cases relative to the landlord and tenant question, . ...._ .. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he con sidered that the information alre icly obtained through the medium of Committees was far more facile from remedying the existing evils that prevailed relative to the landlord and tenant case in Ireland; and also he felt it his duty to state that he perfectly concurred with the Noble and Learned Lord (tbe Lord Chancellor) when he stated that the present motion was to vague, and that there was a necessity for some specific motion for the purpose of remed)irg the law of landlord and tenant in. Ireland, as he considered that the motion then before the House would add to the complexity of the present difficulties. Independent of the hopelessness of any good r esu l t ar i s i ng from t h a i s sue of the Commis 'aun, lie beli eve d t h at t h ere would be another mis chievous t en d ency, namely, that it w ould be the foun dation for exaggerated reports of the in' erference of p rliatnent on this question, and, moreover , he thought that any c h ange on the prire;ple of property wou ld be bad, as the law on t h at po i nt was common to England and Ireland. Ile reretted much that he had to oppose theo motion of thNoble Lord, because he was singularly NING, AUGUST 2, 1850. attentive to the business of that House and to the welfare of this country, and more particularly to that of Ireland, but he apprehended that the Noble Lord did not forf.)3, , e :`.e mischief which his mivion wouli cro3:e !hrow A rh: of Leland. As such a motion woul I tend to interiere with the forms of government, he felt it his duty to op posA it. The Earl of GLENGALL said that he apprehended that the House should know what was the state of the landlord and tenant law in England and Ireland before it could decide on the system suggested by the Noble Lord in his motion. He ahould at the same time ex press his regret that the Government had expressed their dissent to assimilate the law between the two countries, while on other occasions he had frequently heard such a course and such a principle urged by the same Govern ment. While he dissented from the present motion, he would say that he considered that ono in some specific shape should be brought on, and hoped that the Noble and Learned Lord (the Lord Chancellor) would lend his able aid to fsrilitate such, as he felt convinced from his knowledge of the state of Ireland, that some Cimrnission should be issued. He attributed much of the bad fieling of the people t the negligence of the public press, who, while they were afforded &edifies, yet when any Irish question was brought forward (with the exception of Dolly'a Brae) he never knew a fair report to be given. - The Noble Earl then referred to several long and excellent speeches de livered in that House; and on the following mornine, to his astonishment, did not find more than seven or eight lines in the newspapers. Again, ho adverted to the cor respondents designating them as bilious philanthropists who took blue-books into the sterile parts of Ireland, and from them gleaned what suited their prejudice to make up a pamphet, or a column or two for some of the morning papers. Who, he asked, were the informants of these correspondents? They were generally the pro prietors of hotels, or their waiters, and very frequently some peasant dressed something between a gamekeeper and a member of the swell mob. He then eulogised the exertions of the Secretary for Ireland (Sir W. Somer ville) who had materially improved some of the bad laws of the country. Ho hoped that some specific mo tion would bo brought on instead of the present. The motto:; was then withdrawn, and their Lordships adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, August 1. AUSTRALIAN COLONIES GOVERNMENT . BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition cf yesterday.) qtr DE LACY EVANS said it was preposterous to suppose that, afi.er this country had gone to great ex pense in maintaining her colonies, she should surrender ell claim to the different territories, and give them up to the present inhabitants. Although he approved of the Bill as a whole, he entertained objections to particular parts of it—such, for instance, as the appointment of a largo Church establishment in the colony. He thought the colony would get on extremely well, in a religious as well as in a moral sense, without a spiritual establishment; but hardly a new set tlement, with a few hundred inhabitants, sprung up be fore a bishop was appointed and sent out. Much of the allowance provided for the Ecclesiastical establishments of the colony might, therefore, he thought, be dispensed with ; at any rate, he hoped it would nut be augmented in proportion as the population increased. But taking the measure altogether it was a very fair snd liberal one, and would have a very beceticial effect upon the colony, and he was gratified to find that a direct intimation was given to the colonists in the Bill to suggest any alteration or modifications of it which they might think necessary. Oa the whole he thought the Govern ment had acted right in not prematurely disposing of this question, but leaving it to be eventually settled by the colonists themselves. Mr. VERNON SMITH was not at a loss to form an opinion as to whether or not the Govern ment intended to persevere with this Bill this session. In the present state of the House they could carry almost anything, and he could, therefore, net hesitate in deciding that they intended to carry this measure, but still before they proceeded further Go vernment ought to disclose what amendments of the Lords they intended to reject and what agree to. The =jo t ivy of the amendments improved the Bill. He agreed with the amendment which struck out the clauses which were proposed to establish a federal assembly in the colonies ; end he should be glad to know if Government would venture to go the length of re-introducing them. The next amendment established a franchise for the squatting interest, a provision which he vainly struggled for when the Bill was under di:icussion and in its progress through this House. The next series of alterations which had been made by the Lords were far more extensive and far more objectionable. They would restrict thefunctions of the colonial legislature, and continue in the hands of the Colonial-office powers which ought to be abandoned without delay. The amendments would preclude the legislature of the colony from altering the franchise, but he did hope the House and the Government would not assent to this alteration, while the clause which had been introduced by the Lords in. the room of the clause giving the local legislature the power he had referred to was calculated to lead to doubt and mystification as to its true and real meaning, and it ought to be struck cut. The next alteration was of still greater importance, it struck out the words which gave the local council power to vary its forms and constitu tion, which he thought ought to bo restored to the Bill ; and he therefore hoped, for the sake of keeping faith with. the colonists themselves, the Government would insist upon carrying that point. As this was the last opportunity be should have of speaking on the subject of this Bill, he must again repeat his regret that the measure had not been made more liberal and extensive. Lord JOHN RUSSELL should have stated ,in moving the adoption of the first amendment, the course which Government intended to pursue with respect to the whole, but after what had occurred to-day, he could not further delay making a declaration on the subject. He agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down that the greatest alteration which the Lords had introduced was the omission of the clauses which related to the establishment of a federal government. Under all the circumstances, however, of the case he thought his Noble Friend at the head of the 'Colonial office had acted right in consenting to the omission of the clauses. Many objections were urged against them, and above all it was said if the colonists desired a federal assembly, it could be hereafter allowed by the Legislature of the parent country On the whole, therefore, Government was not indisposed to adopt that amendment. The next alteration was the introduction of words extending the franchise to squat ters. He would not say that this was an impolitic altera tion; perhaps it was only fair that the large body of colonists who came under that denomination should be represented in tho local legislature—(Hear, hear) —and Government did not therefore object to this amendment. The next alteration deprived the legislative council of power to make any change in its form's and Constitution. No doubt the giving that power was one of the important objects of the Bill, but not the object, and as much good wouid result from the Bill, even as it now stood, - particularly as it would lead to the settlement of the important question as to whether it was advisable to give the colonies a single or a double chamber, Government was generally disposed to adopt most of the amendmcats proposed by the Lords. With respect to the 321 clause of the 13i11, it stood in feet and in substance as it was en iginally sent from that House to the House of Lords. Tney had reduced by one-haif the amount of franchise, bat they -had left to the colonies the power of altering the qualification of the electors and the elected. They had also left to them the power of altering the constituent body, and also the power of introducing a division of the leeislativo body into two chambers, and the mo d e in which these two chambers should act. But there had been a change made, under which he did not think it would be in the power of the legislative council to pass an Act by which the whole body of the single chamber could be elected, and no one member of which could be nominated by the Crown. Ho did not think it would be in the power of the council to alter the proportions of its members, however they might alter the qualification of the electors, and al though they might divide the present legislative council into two chambers, they would not have the power of saying there should be a single elective chamber, and that the nominees of the Crown should be altogether excluded from that second chamber. On that subject he should certainly have been disposed to say that if such an alteration had been proposed by the legislative council of New South Wales, although it was a • matter for their discussion and deliberation, he should have felt very great objection to such an altera tion. He therefore felt the lees objection to the altera tion which had been proposed. He certainly thought there were advantages in leaving the whole subject to the legislative council, but if there way anything on which the House ought to place a restriction, he thought it was the power of altering the legislative council into one legislative body. lie therefore concurred in the general policy of the amendments made by the House of Lords, and he considered that this Bill upon the whole would be a very greet benefit to the Australian colonies. Mr. GLADSTONE said the Bill before the House, in his mind, was not a satisfsctory Bill in its principle. No doubt it had some advantages to recommend it; but in his opinion a matter of the most crying necessity, that of the separation of the colony of Port Philip from New South Wales, should be accomplished. He thought the House would have acted more wisely in seeking to pass a perfect measure on this subject in the next ses sion, when they would be in possession of more inf 4- mation from the colonies, than in passing an imperfect one at the end of the present session. The point in which the Bill was not satisfactory lay in the third amendment of the House of Lords, which took away the power of the legislative council in the colonies „ of altering the composition " of the council.—(Hear, hear.) The power of altering the consitution of the council, and of affecting the balance of power as it was fixed by the Bill between the Crown and the popular body, was altogether taken away. The Government had forgotten throughout all those discussions that unhappily of all the changes which a single chamber was likely to make, that of separating itself into two chambers was the it met likely, because it cut directly et the pride and vanity of the parties most directly interested in making it.—(Hear, hear.) Where they had a popular body guiding the fortunes end the legislation of the colony, it was most unlikely, unless under peculiar circumstances, that that popular body would consent to set up another popular body by its side. Again, they might alter the aggregate numbe r o f members of the council, but not the proportions. The proportions were sacred, and must not be departed f rom. I le wished to see ii New South Wales establish f or i tse l f stable tinny,. but to be stable those institutions must bythe musteprin s g ti o t u ti ; of the soil of the colony, and th e attempt in Downing-:,trees to check the democratic u p e tilln c p i I e e. o l s f the population of New S o uth Wales, would check, but would give a more wildly demoeertarc)eot cha racter to the feelings o f t h e people of that colony, anal tend to weaken the ties between it and the nv,ther country.—(Hear.) Ho considered those amendments of the House of Lords amounted, as nearly as possible, to a breSch of 'faith by the Government with the co lonists f N w S.:et h Wel e. The colonists wend , ' ssy we had sent them a Bill which was most essentially changed, and wo had pleaded their consent to that Bill for passing it in the House of Commons, and then bad permitted it to be altered in the House of Lords. In fact, he (Mr. Gladstone) must register his pro test against this Bill, because, while profess ing to give free institutions to the coloeiste, it maintained the control of the Crown over the legisla ture of the colony, and, introducing uncertainty and un easiness into its legislation, it ha I taken away that great gift of liberty which was the apol )gy and the argu ment that certainly carried the Bill in !,he House of Corn Tome Mr. ROEBUCK thought it his duty to enter his sincere and earnest protest against this Bile The House learned now that it was acting on imperfect information. Surely if persect information were requisite it might be obtained, bat the truth was, that the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department was so determined in his own course that he would never listen either to the suges dons from the colonies or to the suggestions from the House of Commons.—(Hear.) The House did not come to legislate on ihe colonies without ex perience ; they had experience enough to guide them in that matter, and especially with respect to the formation of a federative assembly. The Noble Lord at the head of the colonies was determined to have one council, and one council only; but was told over and over again that if be adopted that plan it was im possible to make a fair and operative assembly. The Noble Lord was told there was experience about that matter to which no sane man could shut his eyes ; and that there was a plan at once simple and effective. That plan was simply to have two chambers, one of them representing the po pulation cf the colonies, and the other chamber repre senting the colonies themselves. That was the plan of the United States tf America, hit upon by the master-mind of the American revolution. He charged every one of the Government who had had anything to do with the Bill with an obstinacy which could spring from nothing but personal vanity. There aas also another point. In a Bill which was to be a permanent measure, how was it that they had introduced provisions which would boa source of constant quarrel? He referred the House to the constitution which had been lately framed by the settlers at California, and he thought that when it was compared with this miserable specimen of their legislative wisdom it ought to shame every Mem ber of the British Parliament. There was nothing in it which was satisfactory or certain, but it was full of the seeds of eternal discord. The only hope he bad Waa that when it got there it would create such universal dissatisfaction that they would be obliged to reconsider the measure. He had denied ofien that this Bill would please the colonies, and he re iterated the denial. Ho thought that when they hoard an ex-Secretary for the Colonies de claring that there was no chance of governing the colonies without two chambers, he thought it ought to induce them to pause before they sent out this Bill. It was, however, now too late, and all he could do was to protest, and, as far as he aas concerned, he had done his duty. Mr. CHISHOLM ANSTEY complained that ;the only clause of any value bad been struck out in another place, and the Noble Lord had come down and declared himself perfectly satisfied. He complained also of the clause introduced there, which allowed con victs on tickets of leave an equal share in the franchise. The Bill, he considered, was a contemptible Bill; and he should have preferred going without it altogether than taking it as it was. Mr. MACGREGOR said the question was whether this Bill gave or took away any privileges from the colonists. Ho believed that it gave many of them privileges which they never had before possessed. Taking into consideration the moral and social condi tion of colonies, he thought the Bill was a good Bill, and that it had been rendered rather snore practical than otherwise by the amendments of the Lords. He considered that the measure would be very acceptable to the colonists, and be would give it his cordial support, toeing anxious that they should be kept ro longer in suspense as to what were the intentions of the Legislature. The Lords' amendments were then agreed to. ASSESSED TAXES COMPOSITION BILL. This Bit' was read a second time. The House then adjourned until five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. DISRAELI presented a petition from a body of farmers in the county of Perth in favour of protection. Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition from Lei cester praying the House to restore the delivery of letters at the Post-office on Sundays. Mr. COBDEN preented a petition from a place in Yorkshire against churcb l ester. RAILWAYS ABANDONMENT BILL. Sir J,. GRAHAM, after presenting a petition from a gentleman in Birmingham complaining of the conduct of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Com pany, asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the intentions of Government with reference to the Railways Abandonment Bill. Mr. LABOUCIIERE said the Bill was at present under the consideration of his Learned Friend the At torney-General, who would shortly state what the inten tion. of Government were with reference to it. Mr. MULLINGS presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire, praying the House to rescind the reso luion preventing the delivery of letters at the Post-office on Sunday. Mr. SdTHERON presented a petition from a place in Wilts praying for csrtain modifications in the Savings Bak Bill before the House. POLITICAL REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY. Lord DUDLEY STUART gave notice that he should tc-morrow put a question to the Secre tary of State fur the Hume Department re specting certain political refugees, who it was stated, having takea refuge in this country, had been delivered up to one of the Governments of Germany, and sent away from here in consequence of being blamed as accomplices in a murder committed on the continent. POLICE FORCE IN LIMERICK. Mr. SCULLY moved for a return of the number and expense of the police force in the baronies of Costlea, Small County, Owney-beg, and Clanwilliam. in the county of Limerick.—Agreed to. IRISH FRANCHISE BILL. A conference took place with the House of Lords on the subiect of this Bill, at the conclusion of which Mr. .FREWEN, who conducted it on the part of the House of Commons, appeared at the bar, and announced that he had stated to their Lordships the reasons of the House for disagreeing with their Lordships' amendments to the Bill. ACTIONS AT LAW BY THE OFFICE OF WOODS AND FORESTS. Mr. R. TREVOR alluded to certain unsuccessful ac• tion. which had been instituted by the office of Woods and Forests with reference, as we understood, to harbours of refuge, and wished to ask the Chief Commissioner of Woods and "Forests whether it was his i n t en ti on to proceed with certain other actions which had been commenced under similar cir cumstances? Lord SEYMOUR denied the accuracy of the state ment of the Hon. Gentleman. With respect to the ac tions which had been alluded to, the only answer he could give was that he should take legal advice, and proceed according to such advice. VICTORIA -STREET. In reply to Sir DE LACY EVANS, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCaEQUER said it was desirable that this street should be finishi d as speedily as pozsiblc, and the subject was under his consideration, but whether the Go vernment would advance any money for the purpose would depend upon arrangements that did nut rest with himself. SALARIES COMMITTEE. Mr. DISRAELI wished to ask the Chairman of this Committee why its report had ❑ot been printed yet ? Mr. W. PATTEN said the report had been Lid on the tabie, but Ail( he could not answer the question. THE NATIONAL BALANCE-SHEET. Mr. CARDWELL wished to know if theChcncellcr of the Exchequer hal any objection to lay his balance sheet on the table. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had none whatever. THE NATIONAL LAND SCHEME. Mr. F. O'CONNOR wished to ask the Secretary of the Treasury an important question. A man named Somer ville, who called himself " A Whistler at the Plough," and who had been discharged from the army for mis conduct, had recently published a circular, addressed to the Manchester School, with reference to the land scheme, in which ho stated the enormous expense he had been put to for the purpose of putting it down. The only remuneration, however,- he had received for all his trouble was a sum of money which he received from the Hon. Secretary to the Treasury for preparing a history of the Land Scheme and the bads, fur the pri vate use of the chairman of the Committee appointed to investigate the nature and origin of the company. Now he wished to ask the Right lion. Gentleman whether the money came from his own pocket or from the secret service fund. Sir G. HAY rEa said, although the Hon. and Learned Gentleman hai given him no notice of the question, he I had a sufficient r eco ll ect i on of the eireurnitances to enable him to answer. The Hon. and Learned Gentle man had attempted to throw discredit upon the person to whom he referred, and whom he believed to be quite as respectable as the Hon. and Laarnei Gentleman himself. —(Cheers.) The ,man was never discharged from the army, and, although this had nothing to do with the question, he maintained that Mr. Somerville purchased his discharge from the army. It was true that he sup plied him with some information on the subject of the Land Scheme, the c(illection of which cccupied more time thun he could afford to devote to the matter with out remuneration, and he certainly did remunerate him for his trouble, not, however, us the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had insinuated, out of the secret service fund, but out of his own nurse.—(Cheers.) Mr. HUME bore his testimony to Mr. Somerville's good character, and that his conduct since he left the army had been highly to his credit.—(Hear, hear.) BRITISH MERCHANTS AND THE GOVERN MENT OF TUSCANY. Mr. HUME adtcd Vi - ,:count Palmerston to state the amount and nature of the disputed claims made upon the Government cf Tuscany- for injuries sustained by Briti , h merchants at Leghorn. Lord I'ALMERSTON said th© claims made on the Government, of Tuscany arose out of those circumstance.!. When there was a rovoli at Leghorn the town was tiken by storm by an Austrian corps acting as as auxilliary to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. After the town had Lean taken resistance was offered, and some of those Austrian troops entered the houses tit , toust, c.f . a 'Mr. Llill, ------------------------ ..----- , 05 of certain perscns. Arnong others, Were , Cuthe I t't - , ! Li tter and a party of Austrian troops, who reraatucu:_a, e fors .:.veral hours, and when wines were brotqeu; into the house f,,r the soldiers, the house was brolg , which was forcibly s l' eraa,u,/ intotni. . and plundered of everything from cellar to garirdearr losses, cnm g i _ a l. the furniture was carried away in blf Gauge, I t ), ' ,13 , That was done at the houses, e t' a a e ",' , ani . l the houses of a be lady end t d 0 those houses being vi&ibly m arke . 0 _ being of a resith noes of British sutjects. Ic was. for 1 13 c 1 _ acting under proper legal' advce, _°os; a Pit,n had been & rounded: The onr_ u 4 compensation originally claimed had been very mu', reduced by ~., „lac. communication which hael taken r... t s, and between her Alajesty's Govvrtunent and the claanu. the totd. amount now claimed was about 1,530/. 31 REPORT ON PUBLIC SALARIES. 1, re , r. DISRAELI suo.gested, inasmuch gs t.e forth vvi post . on ruhr 1 • " of the H. ic sa.aries could not be laid on the .ta_b„ler yet be House without the evidence, which hadinte'd s iv, Ei d e p n r e i printed, t : li d 0 , that the th e been and laid on the table, with the undersian tbsi The AKER dtd to say that . course could was un ers oo Ob. uldthhaat fotrhae.con3rei:;.rt be pr dog not be adopted, exce t b • an order 0 p ) House. LAND-TAX. ilot Mr. WODEHOUSE rut a u stion to the Clones Dfs' of the E xc h eq uer whether it wa g s the intention of her the adverted to J tY's Government to introduce any roea sure T e r 0 1 unredeemed purpose a of remedying the inequalities 0 f ttie , Poich regards (andtliat port ts 1 :1 o: et t • l e le P egir4c i n Toe rlid iverted to by the Chairman of Ate Board of e n,,„ 0 Revenue,_ L Mr. John Wood, in his evidence before amending Committee of the House of Lords in 18 46) Vt or, the present state of the law with regsreight 01 peals from the Comuiissioners, by giving a :" appeal to one of the superior courts. etelB rePliel t The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQL,-- a Vas laid d t when the land-tax was first of ,1 .A00 3, e f the hll2-00. equally on all the property but e by lapse of time it had necessarily operated Ye,rioo. ,qually, It was not at present the intention, of stir" •ernment to bring in any measure to remedy thelleg _ THE RANELAGH SEWER . P er Mr. B. OSBORNE said he had the other dsf.no, seated a petition from the inhabitants u n derstoodCelsee Tor , plaining rat of this open sewer; and as be of i; ' laity I cases of cholera had taken place in the ele , e , flr 6 he begged month to ask the Noble whether Member le yieliere mof Sewers h(Vicount Ebrington) the CoMmis intended toit ? close up ipastions Viscount E ' BRINGTON replied that the a'Paeetet in the • petition respecting this sewer, presented.. etliao .Hon. and Gallant Member, disclosed a state or o rescq by no means new, as the sew ' er had been in '- ne r. ()' iniasio-nt 00 st e ate for nearly a century past. The Cora this sewer, did intend to take off the matter tbo l e j, bat wer, by diverting it into another chri.ii,ioeel. theyeould not adopt the suggestions of the pet:; ) 13 ,010 SIPARLIAMENTARY VOTERS (Hari° r et tile House .r W. SOMERVILLE appeared at the b ar e re's' to request a conference cn the part or tP on the s • übject of this Bill, in the Royal asilerl'ee thee A . considerable number of Hon. Members Iv e e sod o fereu e I appointed to meet their Lordships in co retired for that Diely purpose. the Alter an absence i, of about twenty M inute t hers of the conference returned, when go e tb s as 0 Sir W. SOMERVILLE re td to the ae a fre por e they head declared their h diesr- 00 reasons why t se l ess the amendments made in the Bill, and of t hose with their Lordships for their consideration. HARBOUR DUES. It state d G peche'" d to Mr. MACKINNON, in reply to Sir G. e decide ; 0 0 that the Committee on harbour dues ha", flo e fer e !:e abolish ell such charges both on Englio u ",- 0 vessels entering P had Doe taken that of eamegate, but they Dover into • . consideration. , alit BARON. L. ROTEISCIIII)v• i VI Mr. ANSTEY begged-• Sob 0 . a Ise leave to ask the, ,euace IP tbe the head of the Government whether he I ''' ee tisg i on the table of the House, the resolutions lop _ to o o e plaaol case of Baron L• Rothschild, and give an e f o r their 'L. meanie.. w as a 5 € s Lord '. JOHN RUSSELL • replied net he e t ''• replie the D ie° shalteli a similar question by the Hon. Baronet t hou . Nita.) 'chem., r emise d blo w that m • orning, and be pro- g . ( I be laid on the table at five ' 1 1 $o that ~,eire , hers oeOe L, They r- - . o pret should have time to consider then]. we bs not, theeoo.o ho wever, fully prepared 1 to the , great consideration, and , v,e„ee no geese ger. as yet, ature o but there could ee e, e the ~ csi.r 011 f them, and he could fa-, to 04 Member th ' ey would be sufficiently clear gee ta gs no explanation Id ti t. Woo . . lel Mr. ANSTEY then gave notice that ei.e. AO the . 0 _ sense of the • House to•morrow on „,":o,oosetie. f B roe Rothschild to take his seat io,t,-70, i fil ef The CHANCELLOR of the E):COVemeegotiat;-0. ply wer to the same Hon. Gentleman, said 0 1 , 50 - o'o e now going on with the French telis eooare, specting r the reduction of postage hetweeaorestllsber and doted the rate The French Government In oda of it rate to Paris, from 10d. to Sie ea of b 9 reductions, though not, to itch as Perhaps, s Ireti bl was desirable. Mr. GO ' tic° g i OW ULB JRN, in reference to theno- reo IP . 6 the no e 0 111 Eon. Member for Youghal, reopeti?,4;soedai'lloa child, suggested its postponernent OW _:.,,p011.,if wouldemharrassl.l.allo-# place the House in a very embers to-night or to left town. morrow, so many M e mber s f o e to ' beer AS Lord J. RUSSELL ; i -., the fa ''' ac 1,.. „tape er made by the Right lion. Gentleman Os J!' wo uld be University of Cambridgeand b heed 'la ,iiii ceedingly unfair to brr e l W rju-1. A Pil e ; After a few og it on until ts . r j, _ ... 0 , and Sir B. words from Mr. iltmie,r„;ffieg t oe b et Hail, to the same effect, ado •••'" • P- e Gentleman 100. consenedt to postpone his motion, the o postpone it until Moncial•feal e(011se BREACH OF PRIVILL'"' r tbe'' the Mr •H. BERKELEY called tt ntion eati, Wee to a subject which personally thecarneed bia ls- t ee el lb l i r of report of his speech a few eveeelliiiiiegs ageilaoos-agiebot thethWe e yeomanry, he was made to speak u` s r h bell" - the mentionedst Somersetshire Yeomanry, altboug co ke c l l, O O North one word of that corps. Ile s f . th e tr ie Somersetshire Yeomanry, and n ot 0 Ito 00,000 but the adjutant of the latter published a leotoedlsedel dieting his l statement. lie (Mr. B er k e ) 1 ,. 00011:01 wrotea etter in reply, stating that he thatacie'day sr ie Of the corps at all; but in the Times of a nd ,c 4 r . l ottO abusive " Order, and blackguard letter—(Lougbrer' iodi"j to° The Hou order t ",—appeared from the saraehed 01. - • strong, when he not. think the term be o ge h e read the publication. e h 10 1 40 1 , 1 ' Lord JOHN MANNERS said tbat ° he t the was offensive and unparliamentary, and i P f ey Gentleman of Mr. wasout of order. r i tbe let sion as , BERKELEY said he would withdrs he tor t „go it was considered an offensive one, but W h o lerp. the letter mo, gave him the lie direct, and used e il i nto the. t he the t offensive terms, as would a ppear ' f- c aoro eß eee l lowing :—",eoiii Lately there appeared in 1 our e,e jie ne t to Mr. official. Now I must as Plainly give tiled e cew k o Berkeley's statement respecting th e b e lol A rl iteel of the West Somerset regiment k 'of be eeeotosnr'. c 0 ..; bis any case where the mei thereof be, ce r t s 'is ti V e upon to aid the civil power. Had lie taget°,:l e .e ' o °l' o' l to refer to the statement of the Lord-during - t h ri e ti,70 01 sae ,? r a t nd Sir George Grey, in 1847, dari°ba, e/00P•ere, e ti ad riots in this county, ll'l ac e 0'4,0 lette the unblushine . imp acede so t) ejaesd.'.4, pr e eseeted facts. o ne thing fsneertsiciy estaw;(eofl'ore 1.,a. in the powers of the Hon: Geager°3,l"troth2o te o " f ' tirmt recent debate, a total disregara 1 0 . 0; re 00 orcler which generally tends in the 10 . 0 ry t o lo i bring odium on the originator, rather than i n i t he Or n i t parties hi to whom he referred. With regard OregiioB"ioo riots, statement of the conduct of tots "oc I) pure fiction,stbo eels . as not asingle m ber on. flere V d e received marching ern - tJr had only orders." Now he e- e ' o ler e ,,6e r tinned eir aP7lie to state that he t P''' be setAire yee,,tl-v or indirectly the II; o gh 0 minim.- d sU et all f Y at all, an deo 01 was advised that the letter t w o e n ril ii ne breach of debate— h privilege, and deepl affecting t he e l p er os as such, tthelic'h he felt assureyd, did he br ing i1e0,1;94,111% declined ? House would vindicate its withpriec rtee doing , so, and contented hit:well o s ff that explanation, because he believed that 2 ,„ t the 1 9 11 editor of and not thepaper who would he brought iIP - s big if of the writer of the letter. It woe, °Soollid.fite; that that course should be adopted. and b e "bot.',lloo man therefore, wrh press the matter in that direetioo, _ t to - . 00 Of corre;prossos he will b o e wroto the letter be a wan but for the violent and improPer ee< he used; best way te t t if he be a low ruffian--(l.loeer., on Mr. corps of Eir, as one who held a eOfelliissl,ooo their yeoma ore Y for many e bore test year., efficient and The ood conduct. subject :thendropped. fe P e " HUDSON BAY COMPANY.' t be 1 7 , e e Mr. GLA laid on the DS' TONE called attention te so elaw,hof the Hudson table of the House, reapeOting i'"ltori ' s 0 B , a Company to the immense tort sorer r, now possessed, be 21 21 frs tad • which purported $0 ~ _woo e t ee an address haulm, to the Crown voted in the last seeabeee of D o He believed the Noble Lord at t he be serer Govern . t most grossly neglected his 1 - a °c o s. would take the earliest opportunity next ses_sSie selfiee call the attention of the Ilouse W ee ja i Lord J. RU,SSELL said that hew ould loam of his Noble sopii.„l// Friend on the subject. On the motiewe for oin Committee °f _ottop4o g g into Colonel VE: 4 RNEIe made the following, "'d pol 7 e .. via ls esdles " That as No. the statements contained in tile r- e r eg. - o f, the 297,We and in the petitions before the floos 'coralliet, terford, Wexford, and Dublin Bailvral 110 11 0 id and the procee 3 4 of fr - 11 , -nes of the Commissioners owe 0 I A 1 0 f concern the revile b pges of Ibis House SO th c be e oae - 0. its hierube 0 rs and officers, that an inquiry a t he fro', °o the said printed papers and petitions, and „ oc tet' o il documentsos , imp ertant to the shareholders, oh!' 00aset ace the 2. inee 3 of this House, and ordered by f i b ° to &dd theed of Maroh last, to be produced. A's° olio b e measures for the batter protection of theil) 0010 shareholders, and and the carrying out of pah.silti r ove saidresolutions sanctioned by this House; a n d ' bo re for thelet a loss." Mr. LA im u-cIIERE dmetioe. ,„oet,;, oppose t h e e f pie te i were no other reason , that • the tat ell . this Was r ef cry c oo would be s ffi • hog upon u claret to induce the House to s o d d 05 e an investigation which roust tabe t a lbs P If siderable ought no time. enter besides that, he said enter into an examination 0' m e ihe °j o lt tween the t to directors and the shereholders need sof 0 , a ei t be , PanY.—(Cries of " Bear, bear.") If leeifefeee 0 0 1 the would . Committee would have l a id ~ "stoteleroo 0 be the statements th e - • and the countet_, w001u1e,,,,, parties at issue, and that in his coo t he 0 1 r ef mere waste of time . —(Hear,' Aa to nt6 lions with respect to the abstraction of ttis be sof 0 0 , the officers of that Howe, he had only o,_ Der et whole Po itti affair had been investigated report thr°l3oese.' House of Lords, who had in their f t ot e itej the e h o lg test oe r 0 op y unputation upon any offi adi ttio For h• dist., 0 0 Is own a • • rt he indignantly roP ba t o 0 putat' dear,lcine•—( bear.) Vlore wall