The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-05 00:00:00

~~. dit r IV. SO ‘IERVILLE had no olikttion to the lad these words. k le l a n(nlinent was then a g reed to. th r „ 4 EYNOLDS pretested ag Li , at tl,e clause alto- I h ,t Si wr•orcisllESlG ER fellproposo to mit from t , tee as kaee such tenant for .ot Ve lag a lesb "• lea-ee at a rent, ors for to any estate of toil, for live, ' renewable for ever, or estate quisl in (et su l etihrl eh freehold in any lands, tenements, or te ,i,ier,eidbie )lttilt.3 which shall be rated on the last r ate." a ireehow fra,eoltee would observe that this Vi e ;se Of the value of 51., but a fre w e a h s ol n d l catini , as of 13 tf t. t ," of Si. The Right Hon. Baronet the'Meni ?sr,re Tamworth had shown the . . 0 Committee, in of th . t.) the former clause, how (AT:cutl7A a clause rati o description was with regard to the power of sna g which it gave t ) the guardians of the poor. 4 n s g l, lle at to create fictitious votes; because Sl., C e ll It freehold which might n tie . of theva l l i o P e ar o ty f ,)roe ti u r t :VY of 40s. or ander that sum, if he couli . only 'es hi,"" name to be placed on the ' rate as holding ... a e ttl • 4 ' f the • l of 5/ would be entitled to vote.. %24 tie esp fel :ea that the charge would be much less if they I ; i 'd the right on ft.( eholfers of inheritance; . but if liiii,Zwed it to extend to fr. eholders fur lif s it ap- I'li eh i ? him that they would be . opening the door by e lee , o . a -10 , , freeholders fir life would b , revived as l ion t ', B : I n , sinuch as they would enable f th b • collu tsl4oo put upo n the rate as holding freeholds of the 11:)h 41 . lie submitted, therefore, to the Noble . Lord, t ad expressed his objection to the 403 : freeholder b° 1 k(1 ' , 4/ i a s leadin g to gr( at abuses, whether it would bib' s , to omit these word 3, and limit the franchise. k.l.er,en.itled to freeholds elf inheritance. h I R ATTAN said the lion. and Learned Gentle board eg :,,st ll l something to learn as to the power , of the gad w.uardiaes. '1 he fact was that the &uartlianioislit a t ower t make fictitious votes; they could At i .''g'o man upon the register. 'that l ass; said, the true construction of was franee u ; a nd that i nten d ed by those who framed a I ) %rty e nt i t l e d to have a vote in re f. spe_ e t i t, ts t i e rat,t,d'e oho u ld b e a tenant fur his own 11 of ° 'it Of th e i n h er i tance . if t h ere were aanny estate other be h ad it aieh w ou l d convey the mean i ng more distinctly, Si r D n ° objection to substitute them. with t ' h • TIIESIGER slid, on looking at the words,. ,_ ' x Planation given by the Hon. and Learned c found his objection removed, and he would Thetheret re withdraw his amendment. SitpaQteliiaent was then withdrawn. ' P oet • TIIESIGER then proposed to leave out all the 11 4 p i l t er " hereditaments," in the 333 line, down to P1 1 , 1 , ) , - " 4.1 F." Instead of providing " that every male fUll age, and not subject t ) any legal incapa tets'e should be seised of, or entitled for his own use btin estate, 1 g o % lesl ill or equitable (such tenant for life no t t 5 tin 44 e, or assignee of a lessee, at a rent), oro estat e of freehold for lives renewable for ever, „its 2nasi in tail, of such freehold in any l ands, d 'l lll l , -.l s, or hereditaments which should be rate in 11 , 11 111 . 0 1 ; rEtt e for the time being, under the said Acts for of t e L e ffQctual relief of the destitute poor in Ireland,. , 4 ly :" net value of 5/. or upwards, should, it lestion'eglstered, be citified to vote at every , t a,Uss . '„,°f, a knight or knights of the shire"—the ~;° u ld run, in the latter pat t, that a . party `;'' entitled, &c. (as stated in the clause), in any 814, n"c",.nlents, or hereditaments, of the net annual Zs r. or upwards, should be entitled to vote," . &c. P,4ll;l'll.pahle , d v , t hen propose to insert aft-r the word up- Words "over and above all rents and charge i'441115,5) na Z ll , t e o r f y o r in important to the same." They now point. They all agreed in the 4ti t'f up for the deficiency which had :ro: 11 41 the count !constituency, and the question now ; P :o w r , ll ,`; t her, in creating a new freehold b . 6 , I ; l ,`'eS, they would take rating as the test, or have ,gitl l ° , - fide fieehold qualification of a certain valu e e. ee4l°% distinction had always been maintained b the franchise in counties, in cities, and in boroughs, ''thi • tg er havin g always been based on property, and hkel4 Principle the Noble Lord at the head of the G0:44 :44 :ti l t had invariabl adhered. Now, however, they L'era V e(l on to declare that property should no longer b 741, 1-- e ev elsis of the qualification, though the Noble had hi liot a i„,a so long ago as the Chandos clause, ~4 t ier t oed the principle How would the matter stand_ 'Aid '413 clause ? Clearly, that every person who ' l l 4 t t ,bis name inserted upon the rate to the . value ; t sas ° iT cl be entitled ' to vote, although he might not r - p l i u °au farthing, because six months' possession, ~,- 41) e tt of the rents ' or profits before the 16th of i 'l i titi m 'es to be the ground on which a party was to be ile_og-tihe k h :.regiter - el, and . he would be so entitled al quray at u d a th p e a t id 6t n h o n r f a d te ni ss y, hatever between the sth of and none might be due t ' s e r i; th at Period, because he might never till thefor pet 14 have been liable to a payment at all. Take ; 4 4;,.' again, of a party with a lease for life renewable s' 4l or - i might be rack-rented, and possess, in fact, rrtie sbilling'sgworth of beneficial interest in the prod "tt4i Yet would be entitled to vote if he were rate ,tteehlain, i s ose a person borrowed money to buy and then l mortgaged it to its full amount, such be . put on the . register, and yet would not a 141 ,7 farthing of beneficial interest in the land, and i t °lll d Paupers would acquire the franchise. They s 43 , t u ar'h t r , c)ua blY find landlords and mortgagees too ready t Pay the rates at the time of a general election . 11 1? - 8 .4 4 , t ire principle on which the county franchise lb h ad I would be destroyed. 11e feared the Noble o"fro n , c hanged his views on this subject. It was said q e t e t e r , j i t t t h h : nOnst Ant waste and renewal of our bodily end of seven years not a particle of cur bo -11124',;;4"d; but the mental changes which men some tliht .h‘ tt 'e'sed were infinitely more extraordinar One : 051 a t iri 2 t sav the No h h e le Lord at the head of the Conservative shield before k J:ll l l, 4l' or _ throwing"' Act when assailed by the Honourable ) 1 14 h i ' r fel' Montrose and the very next night t ey "„111.11a,,,N0b1e Lord' coming forward to suppor . t l a 101,1lielnteloto1y more destructive of the principle rel Act than anything proposed by the i k e t tl t"- - (flear.) He could assure . the Noble 11 .,•se th h "e viewed with great apprehension the course li t „,Sots,;" ea •e- for if he went on loosening or h7its•,.;„' ll g the pursuing; te the exigencies of the 7 ( h t.. "' would ns fin a d cc himself at last dragged headlong of t ho s e and were downward tendency in our in aerdat.were desirous a of infusing into them a ti t u t °l l . 4 4 ° to r ic n leaven.—(Hear.) He called on the h influences; and he called upon 'titatteetreittee, easitslateay such a new 5/. freehold c0n ti,,t,04.;) to make it a bona fi de one. u• ITSSELL said, the proposal was to give the . kLa of to persons who had property valued a. ; I q 'iltt YP h, - ",and were owners either in fee or who had an ; r lifa to that amount. He owned that appeared • - ,.,Tronosal not open to the objection urged by the t tOt th it , - ,," Learned Getleman; and except in the case might be mortgages on property, he thought ilea,,. and Le dG Gentleman hail entirely failed to p . `" ) ll 4 k " t a t a case arne (Hear, hear.) lie owned that he 4 A Pe ll. „ 4 „ ell Piers .— ofrating, aud persons holding rilop,'°l the yearly value of 5/., might be and were might fairly be entrusted with the elective 11. 11 di d n Ireland. The Hon. and Learned Gentle ip „not •• maintaining the Irish Reform ti' o t ' e ekti o l a i e t bl n s i n o t s h t l o s g t ri t o t) n, , but had concurred in making No one denied that alters ketraWZntnerasiatry,awindto u on consideration the upon consideration the No one denied that alters t had come to the determination to t 4 ft t i the Principle c e o m m bodied in this Bill, which ap 1014ssivt° t hera to furnish a sufficient, but by no means 4 14 e r lonab el t er of electors, whose electoral rights t ot em.) f ounded,,, on property.—(Cheers and counter ac e 11 0 did not mean to say eases of abuse would C t ilts - r i kil % hot did not they happen in England and '1, 4 Le a ",, h iso? II bymeans served with the Hon. It r i , e rt' h ecl &tomb ° no thinking thlt these persons en 1i% °5 11 1- „,, w as pro os e e r d in to confer the franchise would be fie t :N a th,"„" h out p property. On the contrary, he be -IthiY, vollld be found to possess sufficient pro (11 (41 v t n at degree of intelligence and responsibility .,t N pl,l Ithem worthily to exercise the fra k i,e It l a • e s cd Member said that the 1 0 °1 et t' and re dangerous the* hp~ fro 1,, no Government was morn e few nights ago by the Hon. Member for def e thi a Ile would not now enter into a comparison, ' etl din would say, he did not think the best way o b Wtt° Or tittitons was to . r h efute reforms which lade,,,`!'ernselves useful, and whtc were founded on yl A r c 4 t l Ples• He was told line of time of the Re the the Conservative of conduct was to 14 4 , 1 1 th e 'Ala. He had, however, lived to see the time 1 11 `e be reoyt Conservative statesmen thanked God thi°rs:e had been swept away by the Reform Act in tti °pi . °l4 tinnary times. Therefore he had come nt _ to r t he ‘ l 4: A teil with respect to this Bill and many h w 140 4, ----that those who conceived themselves to be tsp g !ets v . e°ll servativ e were often the most revolutionary. rasetva Iltistfturlyd counter cheers.) The best way to 1 11‘ 1° ,, t rtl LOns was to do away with abuses.—(Einar.) . lore MA NNERS said the object of' this clause was 1,10. 4,eeholders with a Si. a year holding the right . to 1 11:aft a t d is lion. and Learned Friend (Sir F. Thesiger) ligh t . tam the clause, as it now stood, not only gave hi 4 t 4 . pe t 3 that class, but also would bring on the res r, s l tl lt :l l ° who were not in that position.To this era ,„" . ,etk.F l ,,,ble Lord did not address two words. '"JRNE GENERAL said the effect of the ° Yet„ %e a t W ould be to perpetuate the beneficial interest 11 e ur which this Bill sought to substitute the more 1. Ntkri 1 )t, .4 k , on (4' rating. ketaittelaLTON thought the property test ought to tl t , it t .,„• t e e e ,eat.„'NOLDS thought the clause would encourage tis ti 'Kte l , l4 of fictitious votes. There was no provision e t :s tter"etY rated should pay the rate. If he were to t at °le t h ine to this clause, he should call it a clause I)t tp ° ,, ll fs e tureendlords of Ireland, without any . limi , PsB ('. 45 many faggot voters as suited their t elA Vist i'I)LEIR objected to the clause altogether, as atitel°,,locrease the manufacture of fictitious votes. renal 4 t he m e at proposed, however, appeared d him to t of 40 or to the most inconceivable frau s, and the .. V its % doption would be to substitute the test of or the test of rating.—(Boar, bear.) pou..4ls‘ittee divided, when there appeared_ A P l e amendment 1 3 0 0 6 Og a tnat t it re •TR Majority ••• —76 thiltbiro ES IGER asked whether it was reasonable litqk li tlbe tha t a party s h ou ld mere l y b e ra t e d without i t 6 that he should pay his rates? He did rpt 1 41 4 , 1 4° 4 a5) and should therefore propose the following I)t q 'jzto s " the end of the clause:—" Provided always, lat'''sio o llo h Person shall be registered according to the til3q hereinafter contained unless on or before the by blet t , t In each y ear he shall have paid all rates in olch l an d s, tenements, or hereditaments due thhotit cylo usly to th e I s t o f J anuary prece di ng ." TillZ u t that a ddi tion was required in order to make th e h% 44,11sistent with a previous clause. at ilt 11 j~e NEY-GENERAL said the provision of ek te eeti ti ,,W, ass that if t h e party did not occupy, , he was kt 4 the to vote. N ow t h e ' owner, not beingin all tittitv 10 l'ecupier, could not be rated, and could not be '‘ ..a, the rates due. Si THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH ,5 1 1850 Mr. REYNOLDS thought the amendment fiir and re:isonable, and it the Right lion. and Learned Gentle man divided he should vote with him, as it would be some protection a . ;ainst the manufacture of fictitious vote?. Mr. SCULLY would support the chase as it stood, as the object was to increase the franchise. He sug gested that the amendment should be altered to these word.:—" Provided that all rates due upon the premi ses shall be paid." Mr. HAMILTON said the objection to that would be that if the tenant in possession did not choose to pay be might disfranchise the owner. Might it not be provided that payment should be made from all occupiers who were owners ? Mr. SADLEIR thought that would be a reasonable provision. Mr. F. FRENCEI objected to the vote being made conditional upon the pa) meat of rates, when there were legal means f enforcing their payment. Sir F. TIIESIGER suggested the postponement of the matter until the Government had had an opportunity of considering his suggestion. Sir W. SO NIEitVILLE said the law officers of the Crown would take the matter into their consideration. The clause was then agreed to, as was also clause 4. On clause 5 being read. In answer to Sir R. FERGUSON, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the clause wrnt furthor than the former Act of Parliament, and provided that parties residing and having property within the limits of the borough should also have a vote for the county. After some desultory discussion as to the interpreta tion t f the clause Mr. lIILDYAD thought no person should be en titled to interfere in the county electicn if his property was situated within the borough. Sir G. GREY objected to narrowing the provisions of the Bill to that extent, as it would be a very important alteration. The effect would be to disfranchise parties residing within the limits of the borough, and would be introducing a new principle altogether. Sir D. NORREYS having declined to press his amendment, The clause was agreed to. On clause 6, relating to occupiers of lands or premises rated for the poor-rate, being proposed, Mr. G. A. HAMILTON moved the insertion of cer tain words to secure the rights of existing voters. Sir W. SOMERVILLE was opposed to the amend ment, as it would have the effect of conferring the franchise upon many who might not be subject to the poor-rates. Mr. F. FRENCH supported the amendment. Lord J. MANNERS wished to understand distinctly what were the intentions of the Government on this point. If the Bill was to be framed in such a way as to dish anchise the existing voters, the authors of it ought to say so at once, in order that the Committee might know how to proceed in the matter.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. REYNOLDS asked whether it was the intention of the Government to throw the freemen overboard? The Right Hon. Baronet said it was not. It should be observed that by the first clause, which had already passed, the Bill had deprived a large and respectable class of householders of the franchise—namely, those who were registered under the 101. beneficial interest. Mr. O'FLAHERTY supported the amendment. Sir F. THESIGER said that it was his object to pre serve the existing franchise. He did not think this Bill ought to be viewed as a substantive Reform Bill, but rather as a supplemental Bill.—(Hear, bear.) He was desirous that the principle involved in the amendment should have been recognised in the first clause. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the same principle which had been recognised in respect to counties he pro posed should be adopted in rtference to boroughs. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said that all he desired was a declaration that they did not intend to disturb the existing franchise. In answer to a question from Mr. SADLEIR, Sir G. GREY said he apprehended that the existing rights of the mere occupiers of 101. houses were to be swept away, and the franchise to be henceforward de clared upon the basis of poor-rate liability. The amendment, as we understood, was then agreed to. Mr. GROGAN proposed in line 25 to omit the words any land', tenements, or hereditaments." He thought that these words, if allowed to pass, would lead to much doubt, uncertainty, and litigation. A claim might be said to arise out of mere waste land by the clause as it stood. Sir F. THESIGER asked whether it was proposed, under this clause, to confer a title to vote from two or more houses, warehouses, or shops ? He presumed it was not. He thought it better to omit these words, or to explain these general words by specific words to follow them. Sir D. NORREYS deprecated the idea of leaving out these words. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that the English Act differed from the proposed Bill by the addition in the former of the very remarkable words " or buildings." If be could get the amount of rate reduced low enough for the franchise, he should no be disposed to object to the addition of these words in the proposed Bill. Colonel I)UNNE thought that this Bill as it stood would restrict the franchise considerably. He hoped that the Government would alter the union of different tenements to make up the franchise. There might be, for instance, a little land in one place, and a house or other tenement in some other place. He should be inclined to propose that the words " same land" be struck out. After a few words from Mr. ANSTEY, Mr. GROGAN withdrew his amendment. Sir D. NORREYS moved to omit in clause 6, all the words from "or any," line 25, down to " owners" in line 29 inclusive, and in the same clause to introduce a provision, that, where an occupier shall be separately rated fur several premises of the value of 81. and up wards, the payment of poor-rates for any one of such premises (being of the required value) shall be sufficient payment of rates for registry. Colonel RAWDON said that instead of striking out words he wished to add some to the clause.—(Laughter.) He was desirous to have added these words, " office or other building." Mr. REYNOLDS thought that if they adopted the amendment of the Hon. Member for Mallow: they would be creating a scene of doubt and litigation. He protested against such a provision being introduced into the Bill, as it would prove most injurious to the rights of larger constituencies. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL hoped the Committee would refuse its assent . to this amendment, as it would have the effect of making the question they were con sidering one of great uncertainty. The clause was drawn so as to comprehend the two kinds of franchise proposed to be given. If the Committee would be kind enough to pass this clause now, so as to enable them to get on with the Bill, it could be reconsidered on bringing up the report. Sir D. NORREYS asked whether it was the intention to allow the occupiers in a borough, of two houses of the value, he would suppose, of 41. 10s. each, and rated there upon at 9/., to register a vote? Sir G. GREY said that it certainly was not the law in England, and he apprehended that the Bill did not pro pose to do anything of the kind in Ireland. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know if a person who held a shop worth 41. under one landlord, and a stable worth 5/. under another landlord, would be in the same situa tion with a person having a holding of 8/. alone? The ATTORNEY.GENERAL replied that if no words were added to the words " lands, houses, or hero+ ditaments," then the person would have a right of voting though he held under a hundred diffetent landlords. It was not so under the English Reform Bill. Mr. ROEBUCK understood that this would be the effect of the clause as it now stood ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied it would be so, it the clause stood as it then was; but what would be the effect of the clause he could not b ay if other words follower!. The revising barrister alone, who decided everything his own way, could tell that. Mr. ANSTEY said then he would propose they should get rid of all words that were admitted to be am plusage. Sir G. GREY said that what was wished for was time for consideration; that they should not come hastily to a vote. Mr. HILDYARD could not see why property of one description should have a vote and other property be de prived of it. He was opposed to words that were ad mitted to be surplusage. Mr. ROEBUCK was disposed to give the Attorney- Gene: al full time to consider, it they agreed upon the principle—viz., that if the 81. was to be made up, no matter how, he was willing the man should have the franchise. In such case be would give the Attorney- General full discretion. • The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said if it were the general inclination for the House to adopt that principle, the Government had no objection. Lord C. HAMILTON thought the Hon. and Learned Attorney-General should state what he meant by the words which he now proposed to omit from the clause; and if by omitting them any ambiguity would be avoided.—(Hear.) Mr. GROGAN—If the words, "lands, tenements, or hereditaments," were to include " house, warehouse, counting-house, or shop," and it would simplify the Bill and avoid ambiguity, he had no objection to the omis sion of the latter words. His wish was that they should adhere to the Reform Bill as far as they could, making the present measure a supplemental, not a new Reform Bill. Sir F. THESIGER hoped the Committee would be spared at least one division; and with that view sug gested that it would be better, as the Government pro posed to omit the words, " any house, warehouse, count ing -house, or shop," to agree to that proposition in the first place, and to raise the question before the Com mittee upon the other words. An HON. MEMBER (who spoke from the Ministerial benches) said that to strike out the words would make the clause absolute nonsense. The words were then ordered to be struck out. Mr. GROGAN again rose, and moved that, after the words " lands, tenements, or hereditaments," the words "occupied by him as tenant or owner" should be inserted. Mr. ANSTEY appealed to the Chairman whether it was competent for the Hon. Member f )r Dublin (Mr. Grogan) to move the insertion of words which had al ready been struck out by the Committee; for the words " tenant or owner" were among those which had just been struck out? The CHAIR MAN—I don't see these words. Mr. ANSTEY—Yes, the word "tenant" was in the 28th, and " owner" in the 29th, line. The CHAIRMAN—It was perfectly competent for the Hon. Gentleman to move the amendment. ' The Committee divided, and the numbers were— For Mr. Grogan's motion . . 83 Against it ... •.. 170 Majority against it ... —B7 On the motion for filling in the blank with the words " eight pounds" as ithe amount at which the occupier should be rated to entitle him to the franchise, Mr. REYNOLDS moved as an amendment that the blank be filled with the words "five pounds." Referring to the discussion upon the second reading of the Bill, the Hon. Member then said that on that occasion the Hon. Member for Dublin University (Mr. Hamilton) admitted that there ought to be a distinction drawn between the qualification in counties and that in boroughs. The Hon. Gentleman expressed his opinion —and that opinion was echoed by many Hon. and Learned Gentlemen around him—that the rating in the boroughs ought not to be as high as in the counties. But they went further, and said it was too high in the boroughs; and he hoped the Committee would not deem him guilty of any impropriety in taking them at their words, and asking their co-operation in inducing the Government to reduce the qualification from 81. to 51. (Elean) If the 81. qualification was retained it would have the effect of disqualifying the constituencies of several boroughs—such as Portarliegton, Athlone, Car low —a result the very reverse of what the Government professed to effect by the preient Bill. It would also swrep away a large number from the possession of the franchise in Dublin. The burgess roll in that city had 15,000 voters upon it, of which 4,000 were freemen who were not required to be householders, and were not liable to any taxes or local rates. WAS it fair towards the property qualification voters to insist upon so high a rating as Si., which involved also the necessity of the payment of taxes, whilst they maintained so doubtful a class of voters as the 'freemen? The Noble Lord the Member for Down (Viscount Castlereagh) seemed to think that under the Bill 20,000 voters would be added to the constituency of that county. He called upon his countrymen on the other side of the House not to op pose the measure further, but to give that support to the extension et the franchise which it was expected in Ire land that they would. In the whole of the boroughs in Ireland the constituency would not exceed 48,000 voters under an 81. franchise. lie, therefore, begged leave to move that 5/. be inserted in the clause. Viscount CASTLEREAGH said that the R;ght Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Reynolds) had completely misunder stood what he had stated. He had said that if the Bill created any increased constituency in Ireland it would be necessary for the House to interfere so as to increase _ . . _ the number - of Irish representatives. Sir W. SOMERVILLE had already stated on a former occasion that the Government meant to adhere to the principle of the Bill which they had submitted to the House, and in accordance with that statement he found it necessary to oppose the motion of his Right Hon. Friend the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Right Hon. Gentle man asked the Government, when they proposed a libe ral measure for the franchise in Ireland, why they stopped short in the case of the boroughs? His answer was, that the case of the • boroughs was by no means as strong as that of the counties, where the proportion of electors to the adult male population was but two per cent., whereas in the boroughs it was 22 per cent. By a return on the table of the House it appeared that there were upwards of 48,400 borough-tenements rated above 81. in Ireland, and deducting one-fifth from that number for double holdings, it left 38,750 as the number of tenements. They could not legislate with reference to any particular boroughs, but should rather have regard to the whole country; and it should be remembered that the boroughs also contained other electors, such as free men, 40s. freeholders, which would be retained by the Bill, and would be in addition to the 38,000, besides the double occupants. Mr. F. FRENCEI supported the amendment. Mr. T. O'BRIEN also supported the amendment of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Reynolds). Colonel RA WDON said the Government did not seem to be aware of the great depreciation of property which had taken place in Ireland. He was satisfied that a 51. rating would be as fair a franchise for Ireland as a 101. rating for England. kr. ROEBUCK asked the Noble Lord whether, taking 101. as the sum on which to found the franchise in the boroughs in England, 8/. bore the proper propor tion for Ireland, taking into consideration the different circumstances of the two countries? The great mischief of the English representation was the small boroughs. Schedule B was the great blot of the Reform Bill—the great source of corruption—and if that were the case, was the Noble Lord going to establish a similar system of corruption in Ireland? By placing the rating at 5/. instead of 8/., the constituency would be so enlarged as to render bribery and corruption more difficult. But beyond that, it would give something like a fair repre sentation to Ireland. Where would be the mischief of adopting the W. rating—would it make the constituency dreadfully democratic? Not at all. The really honest middle classes of Ireland would hardly be included in the franchise, or certainly not more than included. If the 101. franchise operated unequally in England, it would be most unjust with regard to Ireland. He therefore trusted that the Irish Members would, by their votes, impress this fact on the attention of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Ad. J. O'CONNELL said the statue-like silence observed by the Hon. Members opposite was as well worthy the attention of the Noble Lord as the remarks of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Reynolds), or those of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Roebuck). If the Bill had consisted merely of this one clause, the Noble Lord would not have seen eight divisions the other night.—(Hear, hear.) There was not a single principle on which the 8/. franchise had been justified, which did not apply with more force to the 51. franchise for boroughs. It had been said that a higher franchise than 81. would remove many persons from the register; but be could assure the House that if they went beyond 51. for boroughs, the voters would be struck off by hun dreds.—(Hear. hear.) The counties of Ireland, with a constituency of 250,000 persons, would return 64 Mem bers, whilst the 39 Members for boroughs would not re present a constituency of more than 43,441. Of that number 19,000 would be found in Dublin, 4,500 in Cork, and 4,000 in Belt's% The remaining boroughs would present a wretched minority, and the only power that could work on such a body would be the power of cor ruption.—(Hear, hear.) It had been said that the re duction in towns was not so great as in counties; but he contended that they were reduced to the lowest ebb. In Drogheda, with a population of 15,000, the total number of voters polled in 1847 was 307. In Cork, with a population, including the rural districts, of 106 000, the number polled at the last election was only 1,377. The clause in its present shape would probably do little harm in the large towns, but in the small ones it would effect the complete destruction of the franchise.—(Hear, hear.) Sir D. NORREYS said the number of tenements rated at 8/. and upwards on the valuation three or four years ago was 48,000, and he would put it to any one whether, since that time, the value had not fallen from 25 to 30 per cent. He cordially supported the proposition cf the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Dublin. Mr. SADLEIR, was of opinion that a 51. franchise in boroughs would be equivalent to one of 8/. in counties. The only protection against a wide-spread system of corruption would be to enlarge the numbers of the borough constituencies, and he believed that it would be impossible to preserve the purity of constituencies under 300. He was astonished at the silence of Honourable Gentleman opposite. They ought to rise above the paltry considerations of party, and on broad, national grounds, ought to unite with their countrymen in de manding of the Government a broad and generous franchise, compatible with the exigencies of the country, :consistent with the wants of the boroughs, and proportionate to the amount of intelligence for which the inhabitants of these boroughs have ever been remarh ahle. Lord C. HAMILTON said that many towns in Ire land had risen in importance whilst others had fallen into comparative insignificance ; and he regretted that nothing .had been done to revise the borough registra tions.—(Hear.) Mr. M. O'CONNELL said that a rating of 81. in Ireland was equal to a rental of 121. So that, instead of extending the franchise in boroughs, this Bill would render the franchise difficult of attainment. He believed that the franchise proposed by the Right Hon. Genre men (Ur. Reynolds) would be as nearly equivalent to an 81. franchise as possible. Mr. SCULLY said that or. of the arguments of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland was, that the franchise in boroughs in Ireland was equal to, if not gre tter, than that of England. Now, the borough voters in England amounted to 314,000, in Ireland to 48,000. In England the number of voters was as one in five, in Ireland as one in twenty-one. He considered the 8/, rating equal to a rental, not of 121., but of 151. If a 51. rating should be carried, the entire number of voters would amount to 50,464; and as the population of these boroughs amounted to 800,000, the population would be only as one in sixteen.—(Hear, bear.) Mr. BROTHERTON did not think that the pro posed reduction of the franchise would lead to any great extension. lie had made a calculation with re al ect to the English boroughs, and found that, so long as the payment of rates was made the condition of the franchise, very little extension would take place. Lord CASTLEREAGH hoped that some member of the Government would state their views on the subject of the amendment before the Committee went to a divi sion. Colonel DUNNE said the Hon. Member for Dublin (Mr. Reynolds) bad stated that the constituency of t'ortarlington would be reduced by the present clause to 170. If the Hon. Member in his calculation had left out the 100 and taken the 70, he would have been nearer the mark. Mr. MONSELL hoped the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, after what had been stated by seve ral of the Irish Members, would allow the Chairman to repo!t. progress. Unless the amendment was adopted, a considerable diminution of the borough constituency must be expected. c a t ion hi Mr. S. ADAIR tho ug ht an y decision as to the pre cisecom ter ms un of the franchise he had receivedwouldanehise from he pr o e m a mature.A mhighly respectaole party warranted him in saying that in the town of Armagh the 8L franchise now proposed would be equal to one of 161. value. According to the Poor law Investigation last yeae, property in Ireland had been represented to the extent of b e t ween 20 an d '25 per cent. Property which, under the old Act, was rated at 101., was not now valued at more than Si, He wished to see a full and fair franchise extended to the people of Ireland, but doubted very much whether an 8/. rating would extend the franchise in boroughs. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Bill had been framed with a view, if possible, of benefiting p rac ti ca ll y t h e people of Ireland , by reme lying the deficiency in the constituency and placing the franchise on a satisfactory footing. If they failed in effecting that object the fault would not rest with the Government. With respect to the county franchise, the number of voters had dimi nished to an extent that ren dered a consideration of the whole subject necessary. The Government had consi dered the whole matter, including the various proposi tions made more than ten years ago, and they had come to the decision that it was necessary to . change the b as i s of the franchise to a tenure of occupat ion. There h a d not appeared the same reason for making any consider able alteration in the borough franchise. It had been placed, like the English franchise, at a value of 10/., but having taken 81. rating for the county it bad been thought advisable to take the same amount for the bo roughs.. If they had proposed to take it below 8/., the argument used with respect to having a similarity of franchise in the two countries would not have had the same force. With regard to the amendment proposed, if they took 5/. as the amount of the borough franchise in Ireland he saw no reason why the same sum should not be taken for England.—(Hear.) But that would be going far beyond the proposition !adore them. Various parties in Ireland had given their opinion that that proposal would be for the interest of the people, and it had struck him that their opinion was well founded. He believed that the proposal they had made would enlarge the franchise, but that if they had pro posed 5/. there would have been little chance of such a proposal being agreed to. On the present occasion the Committee must deal with the proposal as it thought fit, but the Government had not made their proposal with out great consideration. Mr. CHRISTOPHER was surprised that Hon. Mem bers on the other aide connected with Ireland should stwe boldly that an SI. rating in Ireland was equivalent to one of 161. or 18/. in England. He had often heard the Irish Members complain, when the poor-law ques tion was before the House, that Ireland was grievously oppressed by overrating. How did they reconcile the two statements?—(Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK said they were not now discussing the poor-law. He could not avoid feeling astonished at the statement of the Noble Lord the First Minister. The Noble Lord left the Committee to deal with the proposed measure as it thought fir, saying that the Go vernment had made inquiries of certain parties in Ire land before making up their minds on the subject. But why did not the Noble Lord take the opinion of the Irish Members, every one of whom who had spoken had told them that the Bill would greatly reduce the borough constituency. He hoped the Noble Lord would post pone further consideration of the question. He would appeal to the Secretary for Ireland, as the Noble Lord seemed unprepared to deal with the question. Mr. M'CULLAGH, in reference to the remark of the Hon. Member for North Lincolnshire, said the Hon. Member seemed to forget that the lower the re luction the greater was tl e amount of rates levied. If the Noble Lord would refer to the report on the reduction of the franchise commission, he would see it stated that — even before the period of depreciation —not only would an SI. franchise strike off a great many 101. occupiers, but that even a 51. rating would have the same effect. Mr. KERSHAW hoped the Committee would not at present divide, and that the Government would not con sider the question. The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY thought that if the Government would give any hope that they would re-consider the question the debate should be adjourned, but if they gave no such hope the sooner they divided the better.—(Cries of " Divide.") Mr. GROGAN said it would be impossible to increase the constituency much below an 8/. rating without going to the poor-house.—(Divide.) Mr. REYNOLDS thought the Chairman ought to re port progress.—(Divide.) He would suggest the atten tion of the Government to one fact. The aggregate number of Irish boroughs was 33, the population in round numbers being about 700,000, while the whole number of voters was not more than 40,000, of which number Dublin, Cork, and Belfast claimed 30,000, leav ing about 10,000 voters to the thirty boroughs. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ••• ... 90 Against it ... ... 142 Majority against the amendment... --52 Mr. GROGAN then moved in the same clause to in- sert after the words " poor rates, the words " grand jury cess and police rates." Mr. FORBES thought it was unadvisable to proceed further with the discussion at that late hour (then near one o'clock). Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not think the propo sition of the Hon. Member would be an improvement to the Bill. The amendment was then negatived without a division. After a few words from Sir R. FERGUSON, the 6th clause, as amended, was then agreed to. It was then moved that the Chairman should report progress. Lord J. RUSSELL said, in reply to an Honourable Member, that he proposed going on with the Bill again on Monday next. The House having resumed, the CHAIRMAN re ported progress, the report was received, and leave was obtained to sit again on Monday. Mr. WAWN moved for returns respecting the management of the port of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Mr. HEADLAM opposed the motion, as the produc tion of such a return would serve no public purpose. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... 6 Against it ... 16 Majority ... ••• ... —lO There not baring been 40 Members present, the House adjourned at a Quarter past One o'clock. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 6 to 1 agst Mr. Halford's Harriott, 3 yrs, sst 10113—t 7 to 1 agst Mr. H. Hill's Osterley, 4 yrs, 7st 12 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Fernhill, 5 yrs, Bst 41b —taken 15 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Belus, 4 yrs, 7st slb 20 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst Illb Harriott was backed for a large stake at 6 to 1, and jointly with Osterley at 5 to 2, for two ur three hundred pounds; 700 to 200 was also laid agst them, the layers, however, refusing to go on. METROPOLITAN STAKES. 5 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Cheerful, 4 yrs, 6st—t 25 to 1 agst Mr. Carew's Eve, 4 yrs, 6st 121 b—taken We ha►e quoted the only horses backed; the outlay on each amounted to about 3001. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 20 to 1 agst Mr. Frankum's Dolly Varden, 4 yrs, 6st 71b—taken to 20/. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 9 to 4 agst Lord H. Lennox's Beebunter—t.►ken 11 to 2 agst Mr. Bowees Mickleton—taken CHESTER CUP. The only bets on this event were 1,000 to 50 agst El lerdale, 2,000 to 30 agst Horn of Chase, and 1,000 to 15 agst Sir Richard. DERBY. 7 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum—t 15 to 2 agst Mr. W. Edwards nn Bolingbroke 12 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—taken 15 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Voltigeur —taken 20 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher-2 2 to 1 taken freely 25 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken to 100/. 25 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew—taken 33 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Mickleton—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney—taken Ghillie Callum was in general favour this afternoon, and on a considerable outlay again became first favourite; 7 to 1 was scarcely obtainable at the close. Clincher was backed freely at 22 to 1, and the horses returned, for small sums, at the prices quoted. AN AMERICAN on the ENGLISH ARISTOCRACY. " Your opinion of the upper classes, I am afraid," ob served Richard, "is not very favourable." " I think they beat us hollow in the soft-sawder line," replied Mr. Trumbull; " -. er 0 can't come up to them, no how, there. When you squat down in a grand house here, you live at your ease, as if the whole concern belonged to you; but it requires a windlass to draw a natural man up to the top of their ceremonials. I've been taking notes of their modes and habits, and there's no end to 'em. It strikes me, Mr. Rawlings, that though they have their feet in the clay, like other people, they carry their heads out of sight up in the clouds. I calcu late, your aristocracy will take a long time a-drowning." lint upon the aristocracy after all," RL-hard ventured to interpose, "depends the solidity of our institutions." That's a remarkable observation," rejoined Mr. Trumbull; " it's just like building a house upside down. That's not the way we go to work in America. We make our foundations in the c arth ; we base everything in the people; and it will be an immortal tempest that will shake the eternal institutions of the Union. The thing's impossible, by no means whatever; and when your monarchies and nobilities ere scattered like wrecks upon the great ocean of time, the banner of the Stripes and Stars will float sublimely over them, and the Re public will be heard through all eternity, singing out, • Hail. Colombia, happy land!' " " You really think so?" " I'm c!ear convinced of it. What can coma of a country where the principle of representation—the first law of the universe—is a mere sham?" " Will you be good enough to explain yourself, Mr. Trumbull?" said Richard. " Square yourself then, Mr. Rawlings, for I'm coming to the clock-works. His Lordship tells me you're going to have a general election, and being curious to get all the information I can on the machinery of your com plicated society, he lets me see how the wheels are greased beforehand. Now it's quite transparent to me s. 're clawed up and bo w l e d that y t s h p e a d e e l s e e a t n ) d r s s h h o a v v e e l n o T m h e o y r e to do with it tha n so out long before you come to the poll. That's my specu lation on the case. While men like you, Mr. Rawlings, are waiting to get in-at the reg'lar time, when the doors of the Constitution are to be opened to the public at large, the aristocracy are letting themselves in at the private entrance with a latch -key."—The " Ladder of Gold," in Bentley's Miscellany for March. THE ROCHDALE SAVINGS BA NK.--The number of depositors who have fetched their pas s-book s i s 2,697, 39 of whom refused to sign the propos ition of the trus tees, but several of them have since called at the bank and signed it. The trustees at present intend to pay the first dividend about the 11 th jest. The e petition to Par liament, praying "that the deficiency in the funds of the bank be paid by Parliament, and that a grant be made for that purpose," has been sighed hz 2,470 depositors, and has bt en sent to Loudon for pregntation. There is little doubt that the rest of the depositors will very shortly sign the proposition of the trustees, and i n th a t case, the affairs of the bank will be settled without the intervention of Mr. Tidd Pratt. The amount of the subscription is 17,0001., and the trustees are yet using every exertion to increase the amount. —Manchester Courier. [ADVERTISEMENT:I—An Abscess in th e B rea st . Cured by Holloway's Ointment and About three years since Mrs. O'Flaherty of Mill-street, Cork, a cc id en tally bruised her breast, for months afterwards the p a i n i ncrease d and the part became fearfully swollen . ; vario us app li ca tions were tried without giving the least rel ie f . Ulti mate l y an ab scess formed, discharging a great quantity of humour, which debilitated her constitution to an alarming extent ; at this stage a lady strongly recommended her to try Holloway's Ointment and Pills, having witnessed their good effects on former occasions, which advice she followed, and these fine medicines answered most satisfactorily, for the wound was soon `healed, and her health is now completely renovated . — Sold by all Druggists and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 214, Strand, Louden. LAW INTELLIGENCE. 'HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4. BOYLE AND OTHERS V. SIR J. INGLIS COCHRANE. At the close of the arguments, The LORD CHANCELLOR intimated that their L)rd ships would take time to consider the case, and deliver judgment on Monday next. The House then adjourned. ROLLS' COURT, March 4. THE LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY COMPANY V. LEISIIM AN. This was a demurrer by James Leishman, the de fendant, to a bill filed against him by the plaintiff, praying for a declaration of the Court that the award and final certificate of completion of the railway and other certificates had been procured by fraud ; that the defendant be decreed to deliver them up to the company, and that the accounts of all the works done and materials supplied under the eontract between the parties might be opened; for account of all the works done and materials used, with the prices which ought to have been allowed fur them in accordance with the terms of the contract; and for an ac count of all moneys paid to the defendant on ac count of the contract, &c. The bill stated an Act of Parliament of the 9th of the Queen, for making a railway from Londonderry to Enniskillen, and that the plaintiffs appointed under that Act Alex ander M'lCeozie Ross to be the principal engineer; and the bill then charged that the difference of the prices of the works executed by the defendant and the prices charged by him was so large that it would be found not only that the defendant had received the full amount of all the works he had done for the com pany, but that he had been considerably overpaid, and that a large debt was due from him to the company. The, bill also charged that the accounts were extremely intricate and complex, and that the correctness of the items of the account depended upon circumstances which could be ascertained only by way of discovery from the defendant, Leishman ; and it prayed for an injunction to restrain the defendant from issuing any attachment, or enforcing the award, or taking pro ceeding under a rule of a court of law which had been obtained by the defendant. Mr. Roundell Palmer, Mr. Selwyn, and Mr. Mel- lish were for the defendant, in support of the de murrer ; and Mr. Hetherington, contra, was for the plaintiffs, the company. Lord LANGDALE said he must allow the demurrer. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. William Bradley, a young man of respectable ape pearance, surrendered to take his trial upon a charge of stealing three yards of velvet, and 17i yards of silk, the property of George Stagg and another. Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Huddleston were for the prosecution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Clark son and Mr. Parry. This case occupied the Court several hours, and the circumstances under which the charge was pre ferred appeared to be of rather an unusual character. The prosecutors of the indictment are Messrs. Stagg and Mantle, who carry on an extensive business as drapers and silk mercers in Leicester-square; and it appeared that on the 24th of Deecember, the day on which the alleged felony was said to have been com mitted, the prisoner had been in their service as shop man for a period of four years. Upon the day in question, according to the evidence for the prosecu tion, in consequence of some su s pi c i on th a t was en tertained of the manner in which th e p r i soner con ducted himself, a watch was set upon his proceedings, and he was observed to cut off a portion of a piece of velvet, and also to take a silk dress, and he then placed both the articles between some boxes under the coun ter. It seemed that among the customers of the prose cutor was a French milliner and dress-maker named Madame Routens, who carried on her business in Charles-street, Soho-square, and this lady, it appeared, had a credit account with the firm, and on the morning of the 24th of December a little girl was sent by her to the shop for some trifling articles, which were furnished to her by the prisoner, and duly entered. Later in the day a boy, also in the service of Madame Routens, went to the prosecutor's shop to fetch two pairs of gloves and some muslin lining, and the prisoner served him, and when he had packed up these articles he was observed to place the velvet and the silk in the parcel, and the boy left the shop. It appeared to be the custom of the prosecutor's business that the shopman selling any article on credit to a customer should immediately cause an entry to he made by a clerk employed for that purpose, and it appeared that the prisoner had cause the gloves and the lining to be entered, but made no mention at the time of the other articles. Im mediately upon the boy leaving the shop he was fol lowed and brought back, and the silk and velvet were found in his possession, and it appeared that almost at the same moment the prisoner went a second time to the entering clerk, and required him to make an entry of the silk and velvet being sent to Madame Routens on approval ; and it was al leged on the part of the prosecution that the prisoner did not do this until he saw that the boy had been brought back with the property. Upon the prisoner being questioned, he asserted that he had caused the entry of the goods to be properly made, and also said that Madame Routens had given him the order for the velvet and the satin on the previous day at her own house ; but the prosecutors not being satisfied with the explanation given to them, gave the prisoner in charge, and he was examined at Marl borough-street police-court, when the magistrate, upon hearing the defence set up by the prisoner, directed that Madame Routens should be sent for, and upon hearing her evidence he dismissed the charge against the prisoner. It appeared that after this Mr. Hum phreys, the solicitor for the prisoner, w r o t e t o th e prosecutors, and applied on his behalf for some wages that were due to him, and at the same time required that they should make a written acknowledgment that there was no foundation for the charge they had pre ferred against him, and stating that unless they did so the only alternative the prisoner would have to clear his character would be to bring all the facts before a jury. The only notice taken of this letter by the prosecutors was to refer Mr. Humphreys to their solicitor; and it appeared that shortly afterwards the present in dictment was preferred before the grand jury; but on reference to this part of the case, Mr. Stagg stated that before Mr. Humphreys' letter had been received, directions had been given to his solicitor to proceed with the case by preferring a bill before the grand jury notwithstanding the charge having been dismissed by the magistrate. The counsel for the prisoner cross-examined the several witnesses for the prosecution at considerable length, and en deavoured to show that the prisoner had given the prosecutors warning shortly before the transaction, and that he was about to set up in business on his own account in the neighbourhood of the prosecutors' shop, but the evidence did not show either of the allegations to be founded on fact. Mr. CLARKSON, in addressing the jury for the de. fence, complained of the manner in which the prose cution had been got up, and urged the .unfairness of Madame Routens not being called as a witness, when it was well known that the prisoner had all along asserted his innocence, and that his lady had actually engaged him to supply her with the articles in ques • tion. The Learned Counsel then commented at con siderable length upon the facts of the case, and said, that:it appeared perfectly clear, that this prosecution was only instituted by the prosecutors in order to shield themselves from the consequences of the legal proceedings with which they were threatened on be half of the prisoner. Madame Routens, the lady referred to, was then called as a witness for the prisoner. She stated that she had been a customer at Messrs. Stagg and Man tle's for nearly five years, and as the prisoner spoke French he generally served her with the articles she required, and Mr. Mantle had himself requested him to pay particular attention to her, and during the last year and a half the prisoner had been in the habit of visiting her and her husband, and they were on friendly terms. The witness then said th at on the Friday before the 24th of December the prisoner was at her house, and she requested him to send her the velvet and silk, the former being required for the approved of. She also said that the p risoner came. again to her b p u o t r ptoi silke of m w a a k s i to o g b e s o if ts it th w a as t w e e o r t eordered, d of his not house on the Sunday , and she complained having supplied the articles i n q uestion. returned n This testimony was confirmed b y two other wit nesses. Mr. BiLLINTINE havi n g re p lied upon th is evidence, The RECORDER summed up , and the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The prisoner was ordered to be immediately dis charged. Owen Swift surrendered to take his trial for com mon assault. It was intimated to the Court that some arrange ment had been effected between the parties, and that the prosecutor did not intend to appear to support the charge. Under these circumstances the RECORDER directed that a verdict of Not ir 'Lilly should be entered, upon an affidavit being made of the service of notice upon the prosecutor to appear and prosecute. Joseph Leney and Henry Leney were indicted for wounding Ephraim Jacobs with intent to do him grievous bodily harm: Mr. Meller prosecuted ; Mr. W. Cooper was for the defence. The prosecutor, who is the landlord of the White Horse public-house, Spitalfields, proved th e assault, but at the same time said he believed the prisoners were a little excited by liquor at the time, an d that they did not intend to do him any serious mischief. He added that he bad known them a great many years, and they had always been on friendly terms up to the time of thi s transaction, and he had no desire to press for a severe punishment upon them. The jury found the prisoners Guilty of a common assault, and they were sentenced to be i mpr isoned in Newgate for 14 days, and at the expiration of their term of imprisonment they were ordered to enter into their own recogniyAnces in 401. each to keep the peace for one:year. NEW COURT. (Before Mr. BULLOCK.) John Macarthy, aged 40, clerk, was convicted of stealing the sum of 401., the property of his masters, Henry Dolan and others. Mr. IVoollett prosecuted. the facts of the case were these :—The prisoner bad been for twelve months in the employment of the prosecutors, who are the army agents of St. Martin's lane, and was sent on the 4th of February with a cheque for the amount in question to the Commercial Bank, where he got it cashed and absconded. Nothing was heard of him until the 15th, when he went to the police-station in an intoxicated state and gave himself up, alleging that he had lost the money. The prisoner made the same &fence this day. The COURT sentenced him to eighteen months' im • prisonment and hard labour. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BO W-STREET. William Stephenson, a cierk in the Gmeral Post office, was charged, before Mr. II ill, with stealing three letters, supposed to contain money. Mr. Peacock, the Solicitor to the Post-office, pro secuted. John Ford, a messenger i❑ the e3tablishment, proved that he was set to watch the prisoner in the discharge of his duty, as a clerk in the inland de partment, shortly before nine in the morning. Vernile so engaged he saw the prisoner take up a letter, examine it, tear off a corner of the envelope, and shake it; aftet which he put it on a little shelf and ledge apart from the other letters. Presently he took up a second letter in the same way, and placed that aside also ; after which he dropped a silk handkerchief over the two letters, and then put both handkerchief and letters into his pocket. Witness saw him take a third letter, and then gave information to the autho rities. Mr. E. Hobb, a president in the Inland-office, de posed that he was on duty at the same time with the prisoner, who after the above discoveries, was taken to the Superintending President's room to be ex amined. He was accused of having letters in his pos session which did not belong to him, and asked if he had any objection to be searched. He made no ob jection, and denied the charge ; but before being searched he took out his pocket handkerchief and held it in his hand. Peak, the Post-office constable, found two letters in the same pocket, one of them being addressed to " Miss A.. Watkins, 171, North street, Brighton," and the other to " Mr. J. Austen, Rolvendon, Kent." They had both arrived by the morning mail, and were broken open. On taking the handkerchief from the prisoner's hand, 'and shaking it, another letter fell from it, the seal of which re mained still unbroken. It was addressed to " Mr. C. Kinsett, Betchworth Vicarage, near Reigate, Surrey." (Witness opened the letter in court, and found it to contain 15. wrapt in paper). The prisoner who is a young man, reserved his de fence, and on the application of Mr. Peacock, his Worship remanded him for further examination. MARYLEBONE. Mr. A. Richards, a tailor, carrying on business in Henry-street, St. John's-wood, and whose father is a professional gentleman residing in Kent, was charged before Mr. Broughton with having stolen a valuable spaniel dog, the property of Mr. Skrymsher, house agent, Harrison-street, Gray's Inn-road. Mr. Handley, from the office of Messrs. Davies and Co., solicitors, Portman-square, attended for the defendant. 4 great deal of evidence was gone into, and it ap peared that on the night of the 23d October last de fendant, whose aunt was a lodger at the house, the landlord of which was Mr. Oldridge, called to see his relation, and played a few games of cribbage in the kitchen ; he quitted at ten o'clock, and almost im mediately after he had left the dog was missed. It was ultimately, owing to much judicious manoeuvring on the part of Mr. Skrymsher, found by him in the possession of the defendant, who had it with him in his garden at some distance from his dwelling. He alleged that he bought the animal, six months ago, for ten shillings, of a man in a fustian jacket, whom he met in Gray's Inn-road. He was then given into the custody of Glenn, 323 S, who accompanied com plainant to the house in plain clothes, and by whom he (defendant) was conveyed to the station. Many respectable persons came forward to give the defendant a good character from the knowledge which they had had of him f,,r several years. The case—the hearing of which occupied upwards of an hour and a half—was at length decided by the magistrate fining defendant 151., in addition to 5 guineas, at which he should put the value of the dog ; in default of payment, hard labour in the House of Correction for four months. Had the offence been committed by one of the numerous men known to he regular dogstealers, he should, without inflicting any fine at all, have sent him to prison for the full period of six months. The sum of 201.55. was speedily paid, and dr fendant and bis friends then quitted the court. Yesterday Mr. Broughton received from " Mr. Bond" 11., and from " W. R. H." half-a-sovereign, for the young man Rollins, who, by the intrepidity which he displayed a week or ten days ago, succeeded in rescuing from drowning in the Regent's•-canal Eliza beth Higgins and her three children, one of them an infant seven months old. The reporter was re quested to acknowledge the receipt of the donations alluded to. CLERKEN WELL. Two boys named, Perkins and Walfourd, were placed at the bar, before Mr. Tyrwhitt, charged with having been concerned in setting fire to Clara Carr, a girl five years of age, by which her life is placed in imminent danger. It will be recollected that some boys were playing together in Reform-buildings, St. Luke's, when a man, connected with a manufactory, threw a lump of brimstone into a dusthole, with which they com menced playing, and having lit a portion of it, they flung it on the child's clothes ; she was instantly en veloped in flames, her person was dreadfully injured, and her arms nearly burnt to a cinder. Her mother ran to her assistance, and in attempting to extinguish the flames her hands and arms were also severely burnt. The child is now in St. Bartholomew's Hos pital,! and the mother an outpatient cf that establish ment. Perkins, who was the principal in the affair, was apprehended on the spot, and he was remanded for the apprehension of Walfourd. The poor mother at tended with her hands and arms bound up, and in great agony. After a lengthened investigation the prisoners were liberated on bail, and delivered over to their parents, to appear again in a week, when the fate of the in jured child will be made known. SOUTH WARK. Stephen Boxhall, sen., and Stephen Bozhall, jun., father and son, were brought up for reexamination, charged with cawing the death of a man named Prestage on Monday night last. The circumstances which led to the death of the deceased young man occurred in a beer-shop called the Horns, in Bermondsey, on Friday evening. They w ere altogether in the above house, and some words having arisen between them, during which Boxball, jun., used language of an offensive description to wards Mrs. Prestage, her husband resented the insult by threatening to strike the offender if he repeated the calumny. The latter did repeat the offensive ex pressions and struck the deceased, and, according to the evidence of the witnesses, acted towards the de ceased with great violence by running his head against the lower part of his abdomen, thereby causing a rupture of the unfortunate man's bladder, of which he died in the hospital on the Monday evening following. Since the occurrence an inquest has been held on the body of the deceased, and a verdict of " Manslaughter" returned. _ _ The prisoners, who declined saying anything a present in their defence, were committed. WANDSWORTH. Thomas Day, William Clark, and George Biden, had their fourth hearing, before Mr. Beadon, on a charge of being concerned in the death of Ely Wing, late toll-collector at the Robin Hood-gate, Kingston-- bottom. At the last examination Biden was allowed to be sworn as a witness, but some circumstances trans piring which led to a suspicion of his testimony , the case was abruptly closed for t he wh production f a younger son of Biden's master, was in attend ance yesterday, and from the evidence he gave not only proved that Biden had told a tissue of falsehoods, but cleared up this mysterious and contradictory case in a very extraordinary manner • as, however, an other witness of a n equa lly impor t an t character was required, it was deemed politic by the magistrate that the evidence given should be withheld until the other witness was examined. Mr. Alfred Taylor, the chief clerk, then proceeded to take the voluminous depositions of the numerous witnesses, preparatory to the committal of the pri soners for trial. The depositions, which occupied upwards of two hours in the taking, were afterwards read carefully over to the prisoners by the chief clerk, to which they offered no defence, and the whole of the witnesses were bound over to appear at the next assizes to be holden at Kingston, and there prefer a charge against the prisoners of feloniously stabbing and slaying one Ely 'Wing. The prisoners were then formally committed, but will be brought up again to-morrow. THE CASE OF THE REV. MR. ROOLES.—The Bishop -of Exeter has entirely removed the Rev. Charles Ruokes from the diocese of Exeter. The time allowed for the appeal having now gone by, the Bishop hal just insti tuted the Rev. Thomas Rutherford Dickinson; M.A., to the rectory of Nymott Rowland, which the Rev. Mr. Rookes held. _ The Earl Fitzwilltam has been unanimously elected High Steward of Cambridge, in the room of the late Lord Godolphin. THE ARMY. We have again to announce the death of another general officer, Major-General Alured Faunce, which e►ent took place at Clifton on the lit of this month. General Faunce served with the army in Hanover in 1805-6, at the siege and capture of Copenhagen in 1807, with the army under Sir John Moore, first at Gottenburg, and afterwards throughout the opera tions in Portugal and Spain, in 1808-9 ; with the army in the Scheldt in 1809 ; in the Peninsula from November 1810 to February 1813, including the storm and capture of Badajoz, where he was wounded in the thigh, and the battle of Salamanca; also at the investment of Bayonne in 1814. He served also in the American war, was present at the battle of Bla densburg and capture of Washington, the action near Baltimore, and the operations before New Orleana, and was severely wounded in 1815. He had received the gold medal fur Salamancr, and the silver war medal with two clasps for Curunna and 131dajoz Nothing isyetknown as to the name of the general officer to succeed the coloaelcy of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, vacant by the death of Lord Aylmer. Letters from Chatham mention the probability of Colonel Weare, the commandant of the provi,donal battalion, being permitted to sell his commission to Major Jervis, of the 72d llighlanders, and of the following arrangement taking place in consequence : Lieutenant- Colonel Kelly to have the command of the battalion, and Major Jarvis, as lieutenant-colonel, to succeed Colonel Kelly. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Sir P. T. Baring, Bart., has so improved in health that he will receive officers, as usual, this day. Mr. Elliott, the late master of the Childers, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for deser tion, has been released from the Queen's Benei pri son, the term of his sentence having expired. The Phaeton, 50, Captain G. Elliot, arrived at Devenport, at 2.30 P.m., on Sunday, and will be paid advance and be ready to leave by the end of the week with the Conflict, screw-sloop, Commander Drake, for Lisbon direct. _ _ The Hamoaze lighter, Wood master, trr:♦'d at Devonport on Saturday, with stores, from Pem broke. The Sharpshooter screw-steamer, Lice. Com mander Bailey, has been taken into the steam basin at Portsmouth, to have her defective/ boilers put to rights. — The Sprightly, Portsmouth steam-tender, Master Commander Allen, has gone into the old basin to be docked, having something the matter with her water cocks. THE PACIFIC.—The Asia, 84, Captain Stopford, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Hornby, was at Callao. The Admiral was about to proceed to Nica ragua in company with other ships of the squadron ; and there to put himself in communication with the British Charge d'Affaires. The flag lieutenant had been unwell, but on the liith January had recovered. The Amphitrite, 25, Captain Eden, was going the rounds for freight. She was to be the first vessel fir England, and would probably sail from Valparaiso about the end of April. The Champion, 14, Commander Hayes, had arrived at Panama with one million and a half of dollars on board, which she landed there, and proceeded to Val paraiso. The Cockatrice tender, Master Commander Rundle, was going the rounds of the station. The Driver, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Johnson, was at Callao, Jan. 13. The Driver had received provisions and stores for the Herald, which she was to take to the Sandwich Islands, to which islands the Asia was also to have gone, but the business of Tigre Island had altered these arrangements. The Driver was to go to Van couver's Island with the new Governor, Mr. Blan chard, who had arrived from England by the last mail packet. This trip would probably occupy the Driver about seven weeks, and she would probably return by the port of San Francisco. The Gorgon steam-sloop, Commander Poynter, had returned to Callao from Tigre Island, and taken off the guns and men that she had left there in pos session. The men had all suffered more or less from fever, but were nearly all recovered. In consequence of the Tigre Island affair there was a stop put to the Asia's visit to the Sandwich Islands. PLYMOUTH, Maacsi 3.—The Sphynx steamer, with mails for Madeira and the coast of Africa, and luggage for Admiral Austen, East Indies, sailed yes terday. The crew of the packet Crane was paid wages on Friday, and she sailed f Falmouth on Saturday. The guns and stores having been shipped on board the frigate Arethusa, she will be placed at her sailing moorings on Monday, taken down harbour on Friday, and will probably sail on the 18th inst. to join the squadron at Lisbon. The brig Philomel was towed out of harbour yes terday by the Fearless steam-vessel. The brig Britomart was undocked mni masted yes terday. The Nautilus tender was undocked on Tuesday. The mackerel fishery, which has been hitherto un successful, assumed a more cheering aspect this morning. Some boa's returned with fair average catches, and induced those in harbour speedily to hoist their canvass, and hasten to the fishing-ground. A considerable quantity of mackerel has been for warded per South Devon liailway. Wind, south-west. ArPOINTMENTS. WOOLWICH, MARCH 4.—Commander Robert T. Bedford (1848), to command the Lily, 12-gun sloop, commissioned this day, at Portsmouth. Lieutenant William Burdon (1848), to the Lily. Master William T. Tregido (1849), to the Lily. Paymaster and Purser James D. Gilpin (1849), to the Lily. Master's Assistant J. H. Blachford, to the Lily. Clerk Charles J. Webb (1849), to the Lily. Clerk's Assistant J. M. Ketcham, to the Lily. Boatswain William Woolfrey, to the Lily. Carpenter John Bowage, to the Lily. PROMOTIONS. Mate Iltid T. 31. Nicholl (1849), of the Caledonia, 120, on the Mediterranean station, to the rank of Lieutenant, and appointed to the ,Queen, 116, flag ship of Vice-Admiral Sir IVilliam Parker, Bart., G.O B , on the Mediterranean station, vice Breen, deceased. Captain Austin, C. 8., and Captain Ommanney, both arrived at Woolwich at an early hour this morning, and continued until three o'clock, r.ai., en tering men and making arrangements for furthering the expedition making ready to proceed to the Arctio regions in search of Sir John Franklin. Paymaster and Purser W. W. Parminter, ap pointed to the expedition, visited Woolwich dock yard to-day, and is reported by the Medical Board to be in a state of health which would not warrant his proceeding to the Arctic regions at the present time. Mate A. T. J. Bullock is also reported by the Medi cal Board as unfit to endure the rigours of the northern regions, and both these offie , ‘rs will be Euperseded, although most anxious to join the expe dition. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, MONDAY. Her Majesty walked this morning in the Slopes and Windsor Park. The Royal Family took their accustomed walking and pony exercise. . _ His - Royal Highness Prince Albert went cut hunting this morning, attended by Lord Alfred Paget and Colonel Bouverie. The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Lady in Waitirg to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Spetb, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, Mr. Birch, and Mr. Glover. The Queen will hold a Privy Council on Saturday next, the 9th inst., at Buckingham Palace. Sum monses were issued yesterday to the Ministers and Officers of State. A tie s dep utation hacl onth an n interviewfrom t w h i e t hProtestantorLord JohnDissentingy d e s e t p e u r de ties u a y bi e a c t t ho is tic! offi ial I h r - e r s a i t d e e l n l e w e i a n nd p° t w he ni l n i g U; S tr tr a e ll e a t n ' Colo nies Bill. The deputation consiste d of Mr. John Mr. Nathaniel Griffin, Mr. Joseph ERaseint,intorn M. Josill, ia s h Conder, Mr. Charles Reed, Mr. Benjamin Hanbury, Mr. George Offor, Mr. Samuel Beddome Mr. Ebenezer Clarke, Mr. Robert Hull T e rrell, itr. William Carlisle, and the Secretary. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary Wood left town yesterday for Brighton. Baron de Goldsmid, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Rendel had an interview with the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods and Forests on Friday. The delegates appointed by a conference of medical men from various parts of the kingdom on the sullied of medical reform, had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home-office. The deputation consisted of Nathaniel Clifton (chairman), Islington ; Thomas Martin, Reigate ; George Bottomley, Croy don ; John Bowling, Hammersmith ; Farnham Flower, Chilcompton, Somerset ; Richard Southee, Cambridge; John Propert, New Cavendish-street; James Bird, Orchard-street • George James Squibb , Orchard-street ; G eorge Webster, Dulwich ; P. flood, Lower Ssymo ur • s t ree t ; Henry Ancell, _ Norfolk terrace ; and Thomas H. Smith, St. Mary Cray, Kent. Mr. Talbot had an interview with Lord John Rus sell yesterday. RICHMOND THEATBS.—A performance by 'gentle men amateurs took place at t his p rett y li ttle theatre last professional ladies n c i o g x h , t .andThßeompbieacsetess Fweurrttshme L is a h d e y of Lyons, Box and engaged foF t h e occasion were Miss Jan e M or d aimt , Miss J. Coleman, and Mrs. W. L. R e d e, w h o each ac quitted themselves wit h their usual exezllence. To the gentlemen amateurs we say—lVe inter ultra 'reputing.