The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, A 40, SU.N OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—THIS DAY.) The: usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the London ' and North-Western Railway was held to-day, at the Euston-square Station ; Mr. G. C. Gwyn, M.P., Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read by Mr. Charles Stewart, the secretary, and the minutes of the previous meeting confirmed, the common seal of the company was affixed to the register of proprietors. The CHAaitar.AN then proceeded to address the meeting to the following effect:—Gentleman, considering the vast amount of business that we shall have to bring before you to-day, I am thankful that I shall not have occasion to delay you long, as it will not be my duty to occupy any considerable portion of your time in the remarks which I have to address to yeti.— (Hear.) The accounts are in your hands, and I can scarcely doubt that on the whole they present to your mind the same favourable aspect which they have done to your executive body.—(Hear.) At the same time I should have been glad if it had been in my power to congratulate you upon an increase in our passenger traffic ; but you will find in reference to the report and the returns, that the same causes are acting upon the travelling now that I alluded to on a former occasion —(Hear) —and from that reason this branch of our traffic remains nearly reationary.—(Hear.) But, gentlemen, with regard to the goods traffic the increase has been remarkable, indicating taereby a great increase in the consumption of the country, and perhaps I may add also, an improvement in the general Frorsperity of the great mass of the people.--(Hear, bear.) ,here is, however, another portion of your accounts, gentlemen, to which I refer with still more satisfaction. 1 allude to the working expenses, and their small amount when compared with the work done and with those of pre vious - half-years. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, no ex ecutive body can create traffic, but it is in their power to take care that the working expenses are kept down within a proper rate—(Hear, near)—and upon that point I think we have a right to claim your approbation on this occasion.—(clear, hear.) 'We have done a con-. sideratae increase of work with inconsiderable increase in tae working expenses, and I may further add' that in-that increase is included the expense of maintaining a much larger portion of working stock than we have had to' keep •up in previews hat,`-year=.—(Hear, hear ) TheretOre upon those two points, gentlemen, 23 far as they go, I claim your approbation.--(Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I have been charged with • being an advocate for the non closing of the capital account, and I think it necessary to refer to thie to-day, beeanee'l sin aware th a t a c i rcu l ar h as been sent round' on that 'subject, in which my humble name is made - very promirferia and which the charge is re peated, I totally - and entirely - deny the charge—(Cheers)— for I arm's/ believe, gentlemen, that no large undertaking like ours can be finally based en a tietn foundatien, or placed in a proper posit:on, until the capital account has been closed. B ut, gentlemen, it would be-useless, it would be deceptive, of your directors, from time to time, came forward with propeeitions for closing the capital eccoant, and then in the fat:awing half-year came again to ask to re-open it.--( Hear, hear. )' No, gentlemen, to a policy of that sort we are not Fr -pared to bind ourselves.' ' On many very important heads coa netted vri•le the main line we have closed the capital ac count, such as, for instaaae, hi the locomotive account, in the carriage and stock account, and apse in that account we preseete I to your notice on a former occasion, and which is now periedicelly -submitted to the inspection of your atelieers.—(Hear, hear.) So far then, gentlemen, we hove cio,ed your capital account, and we entertain a conti den* tiope that in the course of a,fra mentla3- time we shall be eseeled, eas' regard: the ninin line,. to carry, out that pAncipti mach further.—(Hear, hear.) But, gen tiemee, I am sorry to state, , that. from te.o new compe tition. 'which is likely to - arise., through , the failure of tee re =otiatiota with the Great Western •Campany, which I alheleit to when I List bed the honour of addressing ' you from this chide,- we shalleind iteneCese l ary to call upon •you I-r a further outlay in the tewii 'of Itirminehern.— (Wear, hear. ) It ieeitit env intention to entee fully: itiththe ques t'-':.,e• tee tensenefer this rew - compaition. I regret-it—l te!ee e • efie•et . i a --e( ilear.) The, ;evert itecl fe!ledee et' length to -pia cieeeeef ia—(ill.te, hear.) I find na ' fault with the lire. e Western. The wale- reee.trk I nieke is this, I regret ex remely !.hat fruit - rho dela y which oecereed, in the. com er-dna:mien ei Meta they - neztileio us or. the enleject, it did net allow us to put before von at an ear:ler period the oecessity, that. has., eriseu 'for a further . outlay in the tewse ee iliiertiegheree-L(Hear; hear.) Oa the- other baud we are (e,rtainly not prepared at tile"preSeril. monient to clos our capital seceittit to the fill extent, be edtlee it is aeceeeery for theeccottelieltattoeeiinitctiVqopment of our goods traffic that it should *till be kept oven.— ( liana' heir.) That traffic has increase:l' in such an ex traordinsry ratio, that it would be folly in us to pretend on this occasion to state that we might eventually ,eve to come forward and ask you to negestive.—(Hear. ) But I hope, gentleman, in the next half yea - , those of us who etall then be here will find the directors asking fora vote on tnis Point.—(Heer, bear.) As far as regards the main line we hove near .y dereeweat. you asked of u3—we have fulfilled the prornis•e yea' eeleei upon. us ttemake,to totally close the capital :Account, cc nor as it was paaeible. to do so, and as an evidence that we are still carryiug out that promise and in tention, we this half-year have ordered, as you will see by the report, a considerable increase in our working stock, whicie, we • have merged against revenue.—(Hear, bear.) i mention that circuria•tance simply as affording an evidence t hat we were steadily an-i bowijide carrying out your already ex peeset aishcs, and I hope you will therefore not require us tine s:wad that principle further until we tire really-in a situation to do so.—( [dear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, yon will see, by the accounts . that the directors mean to propose' as increase in the dividend of the half-year.— ; Hest, hear,) I candidly confess that if I had been admi ni-terieg my even private affairs I should have not been in cetied co make an increased ! ayment out of the net receipts eponthe oce , sion.—(Hear, hear.) I should have preferred waitieg until thee. seen the effects of the competition cum log agailiet usebut knowing that we have had to deal with a pr. , priete re , betty placed in circumstances which would render an increase or a decrease of dividend a matter of con. sideraele importance to them, we do not think it rieht on tale occasioe, to ask you to increase further that re serve-fund whica now, at two several meetings, you have adopted.—(Hear.) Gentlemen, with reeard tithe probable effect' of that competiti ea I feel considerable apprehension in approaching the question to-day, in consequence of the position in which that question stands, from a communica tien we hare received from other parties in the north of England, who are now about to raise a competition against us.— (Hear.) We had conceived that we should have been ready by this time to state to you, as nearly as use possibly could, toe result.; wi:ica might have arisen if the competition was to be carried on the proposition submitted to the Great Western Company of equal rates; but when we timed the principle advocated that equal rates Would not answer their purpose, but that there must be discriminating or differential rates, which mast be so arranged as to draw to the longest and most inconvenient route the traffic which otherwise be longed to the shorter and more convenient route, we at once abandoned all hope of that sort. If, gentlemen, the scale is to be fixed upon a principle like that, I am sure you will agree with me that it would be vain fir us to attempt to measure the amount of competition such an arrangement might produce.—(Hear, hear.) But if this principle is adopted in one quarter, the evident result will be that in every other quarter a similar principle will be acted upon. But, 'gentlemen, it may not be uninteresting for you to know how far we are at present able to judge of the effect. of the competition by comparing it with the existing competition that is now offered against our traffic, and whose effects-we are at this moment exposed to. Now we have competition from three several points, namely, from the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, the Great Northern, Sind the North Staffordshire. With regard to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, it is impossible for us accurately to measure the amount of injury which that competitiOn wialathripg npon us—it is something no one will deny ;but t 4 ttittiorth Staffordshire we hav e th e • means of meaeurin ato a shilling-, because we account to r t hour for Th e ,tralt '4(ll,ara, hear.) New, I nun ioclined te believe- that t:. xperlertee which the -North Stafford ehire -Company cohil3ss . themseires to, have had of the corn perition which arieee'ltn-their line, and - which experience I tit ele tins beery felt on posstione,.of otberelinee, is not' very They • - cetelidles , eonfees en ca merging.— (Heat, hear.) th e y br,vo.Leeli;:gri.;.evOu.6ly. disappointed - in the amount of tratliewhich they-havu derived from their a r rangement with es in runeing to 3141.Cau:iLi*—(Hear, hear)— an d you may rest assured of Vale ; feet, gentlemen, that that is an error which all those co par who are anxious for competiti o n are everyday falling rare. Tee's , see our large returns, and they fancy those returna' , are based upon our receipts from places_ like Liverpool, Manchster, and Leeds.—(l.lear.) The ex perience of the NOrth Staffordshire, as regards Manchester, ie applicable to other towns; but it is not upon points like theft that a large amount of property exists and arises. We receive the large amount every week quoted to you through the development, gentlemen, of traffic which comes from one hundred and eighty-eight different stations. — (Cheer=.) And it would astonish gentlemen to know the comparatively small extent of traffic which towns like Liver pool. Manchester, and Leeds give us, and which is to be found in that large ratio which you have before you.— (Hear.) The North Staffordshire have lately at their public meeting openly alluded to their disappointment, and I might, perhaps, without any breach of confidence, state to you the figures which we derive at this moment from Liverpool, because, gentlemen, that is -one of the points wherewe are about to be attacked.—(Hear.) Now we are to be attacked in Liverpool ; the traffic is to be taken by a circuitous route, by a break of gauge, and by crossing the Mersey.—(Hear, hear.) I mention these facts because I have no doubt gentlemen who have been accus tomed to the best route, and who propose to avail them selves of this competition, will find a considerable drawback in the comfort and pleasure which they have ex perienced in the old route.(Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, let us give credit for full competition. We will sup- I'"en that all th ese thi ngs are not hi ng , though going count er Y wiles out of the way, and baying to en the inconvenience of a break of gauge, and the nuisance of crossing a river, is not to be overlooked in these dayi a riold4y-or Well transit: —(Hear, hear.) • , hen, it is quite s a single mernintimpossiblevat for any gentleman to suppose for passengers who use an express train will ever admi t ()a tt ."' ) , n,e3 yhe inconveniences to which I have alluded.—( Hear. i e e e importance and who n eynnoney are men of business, to whom time i far dispatch, and they will not be disposed to:p a ( Hear, hear.) Deducting the''rn7t the inconvenience.— ' expness trains from tile receipts, the whole rennn n e. h K: recei pts e or the Liverpool station, which is thought to be one ee b, antio rn. em stages of the line a third etthat whole tr , ffic of this rail way,do not ern e , a m n o , /7 t th a i. n . 1,4701. give then the competing wi w t will not get more, and what does the division' com e no at does it y:elcl on 227 miles of railway? Why, no them do it, the more than 492/. ate h awe[ live and compete with that, let can, out of that, to I L; quite come.—(Hear, and laughtere) Let there pay their working expenses, if they nothing about remuneration for the capital laid out ulnae the line.—(ffear, hear.) It is a singular fact—a fa ct m en _ tioned to me by our excellent manager -- that in taking out the returns - per week—the passenger returns, Ne w ell amount "to • 2a,500/. —it is shown that of that 22,F00/. only - 1,300/. was derived from any other line beyond our own—a pretty conclusive evidence that our I .B3.sttions it is that keep us alive.—(Hear, bear.) These are the sources that keep us alive; and so long as we have traffic from the m we racy have competition here and comp e ttion there w ith ou t tear of injury ; end you may rest assured, gentl me that oar property is based on a saorstaiotstaaa • e -n ' those v {iasiticestervue sigh their competition.--(Hear, 1 ' 1 " a and vex-meta.-in-point -meta. -in- point of fact, defy I (la n')t.s*, however, - • to seek the h ear. ) that we are not anxious '' -e:Tort '' °l ' " r ' l'iatheuitrle., this is it for us to throw dowe Abe. first, stone race of competition. 13u- WC. , eve dwirs in this room advocated one prin aialta aselaaes are not pi n k CO e we ace , rale:wed - with- partcom from that now because , rule in hear.) Crimpeastisu .at • net -: an e . nagernaes e a l et . :is ..: cent ex ion .. . enn . i t n he ' railway , 1 Ina ; oft t ' .311 ", r d tbr' the b tO ilal it l aat u : eat . „hi L eh eve o is pm t e h n e to a• galti —eaatrnshaataYa - " e. "- - fitti - - ..ua.princibl is r og nineti by the Great Northern Coinpaey.—(dear, 7 - , - , -- t . .4. principle that will preserve our prosperity, and while we adhere to it we have no cause to fear the injuries I have already stated to you.—(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, you are called upon on this occasion to ; receive from your committee their report upon an alteration in the board of management. lam really anxious not to take up your time unnecessarily, as the business we have to transact is of importance, and the sooner we get on with it the better, but it is, nevertheless, right that I should here recall to your rec ollection that when the Amalgama tion Bill received the royal assent, the Legislature most wisely allowed the existence of the several local committees of management, and kept in office the directors constituting those committees. I think it was a wise arrangement that the line should be ma naged by committees of directors acting in different localities, and one almost regrets that the Legislature did not ' allow that system to go on until, by the lapse of time, the old committeemen would have ceased .to take an active part in the business of i the company, and to continue to give their services, but the Legislature determined that we should take five years' trial, and aft that the future arrangement should rest entirely with thirproprietors, as well as the duty of fixing the number of the board. Now, it is upon this occasion, gentlemen, that we have to consider the report of a committee of proprietors, whom yon appointed on a former period to look into the subject.—(Hear, hear.) We entirely agree with the committee of proprietors in the views which they express as to the number of directors , necessary for the purpose of conducting the business of the company.—(Hear, hear.) We do not believe, from the experience we have had of the increased business which almost every day presses upon us, that leas than thirty directors can properly carry on the business. (Hear, hear.) I should not be discharging my duty properly if I let this occasion pass without bearing my testimony to the zeal and ability which those gentlemen have devoted to your interest who are now about to leave your service. —(Hear, hear.) I have been connected with them now some twenty years, and I do believe that during that time you could hardly have found a body of men who could have devoted to your ser vice more time, energy, or activity, or shown more devotion to your cause than they have done. But, gentlemen, many of them have gone further than that even, for during the period of the contests in which we have engaged, many of these gentlemen endured pecuniary liabilities that were never made known to you—many of them not only performed the common duty that was expected of them, but they did more for the sake of carrying on those contests, they went so far beyond that, even, that I defy you to point out to me a parallel in any other public body in this country. —(Hear.) Many of them incurred liabilities during the Birmingham and Oxford contest which really I could not have asked of them; their zeal and energy in your service went beyond anything that we had a right to ex pect of them, they paid money freely out of their private purses for the sake of our cause, and in taking leave of them, I must offer them my warmest ecknowledgments for their able co-operation in Your behalf.—(Hear, hear.) One of them is Mr. Lawrence; he is the oldest director we have, and during the time I have had the honour of serving at this board it has been a source of great gratification and plea sure to me to have such a colleague.—(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I have on this occasion to , regret the loss of a respected gentleman, whose decease has occurred since we last met here, and who filled the office of one of your auditors.—(Hear, hear.) Gentle men, there is no necessity for my detaining you further, bat I should not have done justice to my own feelings, nor should I have properly discharged my duty to you had I not taken this opportunity of bearing my testimony to the ability and activity which those gentlemen, who are about to leave us, devoted to your service during the time they acted at this board.—(Hear, hear.) It only remains now for me to call upon the Secretary to read the report. The SZCRETARY then read the report of the directors as follows :--- " The half-yearly statement of account just issued, again shows the gratifying result of a large addition to the traffic receipts, with but a relatively small increase in the working expenses. ' As compared with the corresponding half-year of 1849, the results are as follows : Traffic receipts— 1849. 1850. Increase Passengers, parcels, and •• .. £719,052 729,547 10,495 Merdiandlse,including cord and tattle.. 410,553 477,743 67,193 1,129,605 /A 07,290 77,655 War:C:lg 'el:penses .............. • 381,391 390,362 '8,97 Net increase of proat... • . The peri-eentage of dishursements..to receipt's is, exclusive of rates and taxes, .42.33 against 33.E9, in 1849 ; arid inclusiva of those items, :36.6 agaiust 33.L0, in 1.949.- The ratio of working expenses to receipts for the six months is satisfac -tory, considering that nearly the entire ir:...rease is from lwr chandise, and that the following additional Mileage has'been worked, ' 1 " 1850. Coventry and Nuneat0n..........., • • • • 10, opened Sept. 2. Augby and Stamford—Rugby to Ilbrket Harbro'• .17M „ April 29. Ditto--Market Ilarbro'to nockinghaM Castle • .10 1 4 „ June 1. Clifton Braach •.•• • • •• •• •••• • • .. •• 3y „ Feb. 2. ~,., . . In all, 4l IA miles. The extent of traffie during the ensuing summer, your di rectors anticipate, will be very large ; 1 and haVing had under consideration an estimate of the probable number of second and third class passengers likely to visit the metropolis during that period, they came to the conclusien that at least 150 additional carriages will be requisite; and accordingly they have entered into contracts for that number. is be de livered prior to the tat May next, the cost of which, as well as all similar expenditure not included in the estimates already sanctioned by the proprietors, it is proposed to re imburse, out of the earnings of the five veers next en suing, as 'exemplified by the accounts" for the r past halt-year: The East and West India Dock Railway, in which this compauy are 'interested to the extent of 400,0001., was par tially opened for 'passenger traffic on the 26th September last, and the remaining portion, forming a junction with the main line of this company at Camden, was completed and opened on the' 15th instant; the result, so far, has been highly satisfactory, and exceeds, as to. the extent of the local traffic, the expectations of the directors. The Rugby ' and Leamington Branch will be opened on the Ist March next. The Buckinghamshire lines are progreseing towards comple tion, and it is expected. that the directors of that company will shortly be in a position to execute the lease of that un dertaking to this company, in conformity with the Act of. Parliament. The traffic of the Chester and Holyhead Rail , way in which this company are deeply interested, i s s t ea dily on the increase; and your directors hope that the improve ment will continue, and that the proprietors will ahortly receive a return for their investment. It is also eatisfactory to observe the rapidly improving position of the Lancaster and Carlisle. The directors have much pleasure in s'ating that their rela tions with the Midland, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, and East Lancashire Railways, continue on the most satisfactory footing; all parties have concurred in general arrangements for the friendly interchange of traffic, and at such rates as may securetto the proprietors a fair return on the Capital employed. The'directors have also ,entered into friendly arrangements with Ole Great Northern and other companies, connecting Seotailad with England by the east and west route... The differences of opinion which arose with the North Staffordshire Company, as to the true interpreta tion of the agreement between the - two companies, have been referrel to arbitration in a manner satisfactory to both par ties. Some delay was occasioned, by an 'bbjection, on the part of the North Staffordshire Company, to leave the set tlement of the proposed deed of reference (as to certain dis puted-points) to the decision of a barrister of eminence. This objection, however, having been withdrften, the deed of re ference was immediately settled; and.. to the entire satis faction of this company. This statement of ,facts will be a sufficient answer to the misrepresen tation's which have been circulated by parties connected with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company. It is to be regretted that the hostile proceedings of the direc tors of the latter company are still continued, and in a spirit' which precludes any hope of an immediate settlement with that Board. The negotiations sought by your directors have failed. It has from time to time been intimated to the pro prietors that negotiations were in progress with the Great Western Company, and, as elated in the report of the .22d February, 1850, your directors forwarded' to that company, on the 30th January, in, the same year, a proposal, having for its object the saving; by both parties, of-unnecessary expenditure of capital, the avoidance of mutually injurious competition, and the establishment of permanent peace. ' Such being thd object i „. of ' sitte direr ors,. and the proposition submitted by then '14%1 Breen 'g ect i with due deliberation, and after frequent a satin - b oraf conferences between Captain finish mild 'Mr. - Saunders, on the phat of their respective companies,'. they • na turally; hoped 'for a favourable result; the more so, as months passed without the rejection of ,their offer. On the 4th May, being without. reply to the proposition sub mitted on the 30th January, application was made to the Great. Western Company, by whom your . director, were assured ' that nothing had occurred to alter the Views and wishes of the board to 'come to some amicable arrangeMent. l It was not, however, until the 12th September that the for mal reply of that board was received to the preposals atibmit ted to theni eight months before. Your directors were anxious to meet, if possible, the expectations of the Great Western board ; but some of the alterations proposed -by them being in their judgment both undesirable and unnecessary, and considering that the balance of advantage upon the general scheme was already in favour of the Great Western Company, they declined to bear the cost of the additional expenditure involved by the altered plan of that board. Their reply terminating the negotiation was received on the Bth o f November, and they published almost simultaneously, notices seeking' Parliamentary powers to obtain compulsory entrance into the stations and works constructed at the sole risk of the proprietors of this company in Birmingham and Leamington. ' The directore regret that these protracted negotiations have not resulted in an agreeMent such as they could recommend for the acceptance of 'their proprietors. The Great Western Company having become, parties, in conjunction with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and Shrewsbury and Chester Companies, to measures which could not but be regarded as a first step towards in jurious competition, your directors addressed a com mudication to the Great Western Company de precating 'such' a course, disclaiming the monopoly of any traffic, and pressing upon their consideration the propriety of adoisting equal rates between all points to which the tw'd companies compete; leaving to the public the choice of route; an arbitrator being appointed, with full power to enforce the fulfilment of such arrangement. This communi cation, intended for the Great Western . Board; appears to have been submitted. by, their Secretary to a 'Joint Traffic Committee,' reprerntin e g the Great Western; Sh rews b ury ' a nd Birmingham , and Shrearebtiry aed Chester Companies - , bo whom the proposal 'of equal rates has beed virtually rejected ; for, in a counter proposal, that ' Committee re quire such 'discriminate rates rig • may secure to their companies, according •to thei r v i ews , wou l d be a due what proportionof traffic, a see king, 'in fact, to ,force it from its na proportion to the e t u i r r c a u l i t c o o u u s r n s e by e ss of a th r e ed ro u u c t ti e o . n U o n f d c e h r a th rg es e e i c n ircumetances, it only remains for your directors to protect the interests ' thus at tacked : and they confidently trust to receive the Sanction and support of the proprietors, in such measuers as may be neces sary for that purpose. The directors have to announce that they have, in conjunction with the Midland Railway Company; entered into a working • agreement with the Oxford; Wor cester, and Wolverhampton Board; the line will be imme diately completed by that company, and then worked and managed in connection with the Buckinghamshire Railway, by this company and by the Midland, and with the prospect of advantage to all parties. Application having been made to Parliament, by private part i es, for powers to construct a short li ne, J 1 miles, to connect the South Western Railway with the lines of this company near Willesden, it has been agreed jointly to work the link, and to secure to the prop rietors thereof, a certain mi n i mum amoun t o f t ra ffi c over it. The formation - olthis junction cannot fail toprove The liability of this in a Phb IF a r advantageous both e - . private point of view. (at a special meeting to be called for the purpose) to sanction of an ' arrangement (its conjunction with the Lancahirn ' i and Yorkshire, the Rut Lancashire and ,Midland Railway Companies) for leasing a portion of the tall s oa the' Leeds and Liverpool Canal, connecting I Liverpool with Leeds; the o bj ect cf the agreement being to i that district, an d to prevent that injurious unite more i n timately the inte res t s of the four railway coin- I panics occupying competition ag to rates.; to which they have severally been bjeparticulars. of .the arrangement will be exe subjected, to the The Proprietors . at- the . -siAmilf-itivtine.iibtiat; to be held. The further arrangements proposed to be entered into with the Chester and Holyhead Company. will also be brought under the consideration of the same meeting. The report of the committee appointed at the last half yearly meeting to consider as to the future management of the affairs of the company, has been circulated amongst the proprietors. The board concur in the opinion that the number of directors should be increased to thirty, and that the number to retire annually should be six, as recommeded by the committee. - The la mented death of Mr. E. J. Mozley, one of the com pany's auditors, makes it fieCessiry - that the proprietors should at the present meeting appoint another in his place. The directors who retire, in conformity with the Act of Amalgamation, are—Captain the Honourable S. T. Carnegie, R.N., Lewin Wiley, Esq., and George Hall Lawrence, Esq. The directors cannot close their report without announcing to the proprietors the retirement of the Deputy-Chairman, Charles Lawrence, Esq., successively Chairman of the Liverpool and Manchester and Grand Junction Railways, and, since the amalgamation, acting as Deputy Chairman of this Company. In retiring from the active duties of a railway director, Mr. Lawrence carries with him the esteem and affection of his colleagues, with some of whom he has been associated for the long period of twenty-five years. The revenue of the past half-year has been charged with dividend and interest upon the total capital expended to the 31st December last, including 3,491,1061. expended upon works not yet yielding revenue, as also with the dividend payable to the proprietors of the Stour Valley Railway. The only further charges to be anticipated are the dividend to the shareholders in the Buckinghamshire Railway, and the interest upon the unexpended portion of the estimates sanctioned at the general meetings of 22d Feb. and 16th Aug. last. The Bond debt has been further re duced, and the Debentures which expired during the half year have been renewed, or replaced, at the rate of 3% per cent. From the statement of the half.year's ac- counts, it will be seen that the net proceeds are £557,076 12 1 To which must be added the balance carried forward from last account £701,797 14 1 Less —Furthes allowance for renewal of rails, and additions to the works, stock, and estate 23,098 17 3 showing a disposable balance of £678,698 16 10 The directors recommend a dividend of 2/. 15s. per cent. for the six months, amountirg to 527,407/. 13s. 5d.; leaving a balance of 151,2911. 3e. sd. to be carried to the next half year's account. The report and half-yearly statement of the accounts were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be printed and circu lated among the proprietors. The CHAIRMAN then proposed that a dividend, as recom mended in the report, of 2/. 153. per cent. on the capital of the company for the half-year, should be declared. Mr. GASKELL said he had understood the chairman, in one portion of his address, to state that if he had been acting on his own judgment entirely, he would have preferred recom mending a smaller dividend. Ttie CHAIRMAN begged to be allowed to pat the Hon. Proprietor right. What he said was this—that if he had been carrying on business on his own account - not using the word judgment—he should have preferred a smaller dividend. Mr. GASKELL said, taking that as the explanation of the chairmen, he entirely agreed with him, because he thought the most wise and prudent course they could adopt was to keep a large reserve fund in order to meet effectively the competition wish which the company wee threatened.— (Hear, hear.) He was exceedingly gratified to hear the estimate which the chairman formed of that competition. and looking at the isolated position of their neighbours in the west—the Great Western, tor instance—by their peculiarity of gauge, he was inclined to think that the competition in that quarter would not be so serious or reckless as that which they had already been subjected to by the proceedings of other lines of the same gauge as their, own. They had yet, however, to fear competition of a very reckless character, occasioned by a great diminution of prices from the extension of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and he thought it would be advisable to keep sufficient money in their strong box to enable them, to some ex tent, to :dispense for a while with remunerative prices, and at the same time to continue to pay a dividend, for by doing so he firmly believed they would render powerless these who were anxious to subject them to unprincipled competition —(Hear.) He felt it would neither be just nor to thsir interest that the utmost profits earned should be divided among the proprietors.—(Cries of " Hear.") It was a matter of little or no consequence whether the profits were immediately placed in the pockets of the proprietors or locked up temporarily in the coffers of the company.—(Laughter.) The only question was whether the meeting felt disposed to carry out the views of the chairman, which lie believed to be just and sound, and which if adopted would leave the company in a sound position, ready to meet any outward Attacks which might be made upon it.—(Hear.) A SHAREHOLDER said he wished to say a few words with respect to the surplus. He had no objection whatever to 144,0001. being laid aside, nor to having an accumulation fund, but he had a question to ask both on his own behalf and that of his brother proprietors with regard to the inten tions of the future board of directors. He knew he was speaking to some who would soon be out of office, but, he was also fully aware that the opinions of several talented gentlemen who now presided over the company's' affairs would have great influence and weight with the future directors. The question he had to ask was this, was it the intention of the future direction to allow the surplus to go on accumu lating indefinitely? He thought such a course would be in judicious on two grounds—first, because they would postpone the immediate interests of the present proprietors, many of whom had only a life interest in the company—(Cheers) — and secondly, because his experience of public bodies led him to this conclusion, that there could scarcely be a more dan gerous temptation placed in the way of directors than leaving a large surplus in their hands.—(Cheers.) There were some men, and he confessed himself to be one of them, who had very great pleasure in spending their own money, but there were others who, when they had other people's money in their possession ' had an irresistible itching for spending it.-(Laughter .) He ad mitted the present directors were characterised by great ability, energy, and honesty, and he hoped the future direc tors would be the same, but still he would scarcely expose them to the temptation of having too much money, because he believed it always led to extravagance.—(Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN said he rose for the purpose of replying to the questions which had been put to him by the Hon. Pro prietor, and before doing so he really must acknowledge the justice of the remarks which fell from the first speaker.— (Hear.) Asgeneral principles bethought no one could gainsay them.—(Hear.) He hoped it would be borne in mind that they were called upon to administer the affairs of a very large proprietary, embracing every sort o' interest, and that in considering a question of this sort, it was not only their duty to consider the amount of the reserve fund and the ef fect produced by it, but also what the proprietors had a right to expect when the company was in a state of prosperity. And he might say, that on the present occasion there was a unanimous feeling at the board that 5 1 ,f per cent. was the 'right dividend to offer to thenotice of the meeting.—(Cheers.) He confessed he received the declaration of the Hon. Pro prietor who spoke first, as *ell as that of the Hon. Proprietor who followed him, with the greatest satisfaction.—(Hear, and cheers.) I like, in the first place, to hear an approval cf the policy which the directors have already adopted, ex pressed in this meeting, and in the open way in which it had been expressed, and I feel convinced, if the proprietors act on the principles which have been announced, the property of this concern will scon be'placed on a sound basis.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) With reference to the inquiry of the proprietor who last spoke, he should be presumptuous indeed if he ventured to answer a question which related to the opinion of the whole gentlemen who might be elected to the new board. All I can say is, that this principle was put, forward and settled at two previous half-yearly meetings, and I cannot, therefore, doubt that those gentlemen who raised no objection then will not now be advocates of the principle of which the Hon. Proprietor speaks.—(Hear.) I think the point which the directors ought to keep in view is not to increase this surplus fund every half,year by a large amount, but to keep it up to one figure, which would probably answer the expectation of the Hon. Proprietor who spoke first—that is to say, to have a reserve fund always in hand for the purpose of upholding the credit of the company in all the situations in which it may happen to be placed. The directors thought a reserve fund of i 50,000/. was about the mark of the money, which 'they ought so to have in hand. He hoped, after the expres sion of opinion to-day, the proprietors would not consent to the reserve fund being diminished below that amount. Mr. Massarr said he entirely concurred in the views of the directors, and for the reasons stated by their worthy chairman, but at the same time he was quite ready to ac knowledge his firm belief that the property of this company would be greatly enhanced by a large surplus capital or a large accumulated reserve fund.---(Criess of "Nu.") He was not for depriving the proprietors of a dividend, but he thought the present season offered a favourable opportunity for carrying into effect such a proposition; and when he considered that the capital of the company was twenty nine millions he had no hesitation in saying that a reserve fund of half a million would not be too much.— (Hear, and cries of "No.") He believed it would place the company in a much better position, and enable it to con tend against the interference. of other companies. There would be no difficulty, he thought, in adding to the reserve fund, for if they were not disappointed, and he saw no reason why they should, the receipts would be immensely large this season owing to the increase of traffic occasioned by the great Exhibition. If any portion of these receipts could be appropriated to the reserve fund, they might lay up a very large sum in the present year. There could hardly be two opinions among the directors that a good reserve' fund would place the company on a more solid foundation. He would be perfectly satisfied with 5 per sent. dividend him self; but for the reasons suggested by the chairman, he thought it was wise and judicious to declare on the present occasion a dividend of 5% per cent. The CHaeftereet said he would, perhaps, be allowed to ob serve that he was not one of those who expected from the Exhibition very considerable results—he should like to realize them before he made any proposition for their disposal— (Laughter)—but he felt confident of this, that if there were a considerable increase of traffic, and, as a natural result, increased expenditure and increased receipts, there would follow.afterwards a sort of collapse.—(Hear, hear.) Much, therefore, as he approved of the object of the Exhibition, he thought there had been a great deal of exaggeration con nected with it.—(Hear, hear.) In answer to a question from the Chairman, relative to the Stour Valley line, • The Csietamstar said that a considerable sum had been ex pended on this line during the last half-y ear , qu it e as muc h as the 'directors thought they were justified in laying out. It was expected that an arrangement would be speedily effected with the Birmingham Street Commissioners which would materially facilitate the opening of the line, but it would certainty be ready w ithi n th e limit l a id d own b y the Act of Parliament, HENRY CXOSFIELD, Esq., of Liverpool, was then elected auditor in the room of Mr. E. T. Mozely deceased, en the motion of Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr. Jones. The CHAIRMAN then proposed a resolution having the effect of reducing the salaries of the auditors to 1001. per annum each, with a free pass over the company's line. After a few words from Mr. ParroN, one of the auditors, in approbation of the resolution, it was agreed to unani. mously, The - CHMILMAN said the next business would be to elect three directors in the place of those who this year retired from office, in conformity:with the Act:of Amalgamation. The directors retiring were Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, R.N., G. H. Lawrence, Esq., and Lewin Mozeley, Esq. He should propose the re-election of the two first gentlemen ; and, in the place of the last, he should propose that Thomas Broth, Esq., be elected a director of the company. The motion was agreed to unanimously. A SHAREHOLDER wished to suggest that a list of the di rectors should be sent round to all the shareholders, as a great many of them did not know who their directors were. The CHAIRMAN said that the Hon Member would find that this course had been recommended by the report of the committee of proprietors, and could, no doubt, be adopted 'by the court of proprietors. Mr. RUTSON, the chairman of the committee of proprie :tors appointed in August last, then proceeded to read the report drawn up by that committee, and which has `already appeared is our columns. The Honourable Gintlemau FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2l, 1851. begged leave to tender the thant i tt Orthe committee to the excellent chairman of the company, Mr. Glyn, for the great assistance which he had afforded to them in their task ; and also to the secretary, Mr. Stewart, without whose previous preparation they would have scarcely been able to get through their business.—(Hear. hear. ) The Cnamistasr then read through the resolutions seriatim. According to the recommendation of the second, the follow ing gentlemen were elected directors to fill up the number to 30 :—The Hon. S. P. Pierrepoint, H. W. Blake, Esq.. T. Heywood, Esq., M.P., R. Moon, Esq., T. C. Ewart, Esq., Sir C. Douglas, M.P., F. Brooke, Esq., G. R. Chappel, Esq., R. D. Mangles, ,Esq., M.P., Edward Tootal, Esq., John Ellis, Esq., M. ,T. E. Rathbone, Esq. On the Bth resolution, recommending that two out of the six directors retiring annually should not be eligible for re election, The CHAIRMAN said that he was desired by the whole body of directors to express their dissent from this resolution. Mr. TITS said he had the strongest possible feeling on the question, and he was sure that it would not be carried. It had been a law in the Old London and Birmingham Railway Company, that certain of the directors should not be re-elected, and Mr. Moss, the then chairman, became in his turn subject to it to the great inconvenience and detri ment of the affairs, of the company, and power was taken in a subsequeat Bill to get rid of the regulation. In several of the London companies a similar rule had been adopted, and afteneards abandoned as vexatious. It was not unlikely that the very best man among them might be • turned out by its operation, and in the London Dock Company were it existed they were obliged to resort to a fiction to keep the chairman in his place. The fiction of new blood on which the recom mendation was founded was a real fiction, the figure was taken from something in physical science, and when new blood was infused into a patient it gennerally ended in the death of the patient. He could go on for ever illustrate the ill effects of this regulation, but everybody would see at once how extremely inconvenient it would be to make a resolu tion for the forcible dismissal of any gentleman on the ma nagement, whether the proprietors liked it or not. If they wanted to keep the management in the hands of the directors, and not sllbw it to fall int the hands of the salaried servants, they must not adopt a resolution which would make the directors temporary servants. What would they do, supposing their valuable chairman were turned out by this resolution, or the chairman of some internal depart ment, men whose services had for years and years been de voted to the company's benefit, and they were asked to turn these men out fur the sake of introducing men of whom they knew nothing at all ? He might be accused of being the mouthpiece of the directors. and though he was aware of the French proverb, qui s'excuse s'accuse, we wou'd say that he had not spoken a single word on the subject to any gentleman behind that table, with many of whom he was on terms of personal intimacy. The Hon, Gentleman concluded his remarks by moving as an amendment that Resolution 8 be omitted entirely from the report. Mr. Ruzsost wished to explain that there was no chance of the company's beingdeprived of the services of the chair man, as only. two of the six retiring directors were declared ineligible by the resolution, and there never would be any difficulty in providing fbr his re-election. Mr. LOCKE, M.P., Considered that the explanation of Mr. Rutson entirely knocked the ground from under Mr. Tite's feet. He could not see how the introduction of new blood was a fiction, for it prevented railway com panies becoming close bodies, as they were too often inclined to become. He thought it right to say that the resolution had been unanimously adopted by the committee, and he would ask them whether it was not rather hard upon those genVemen that the meeting should come in at the end of a resolution and upset all their deliberations. If, however,there were any good grounds for refusing the resolu tion let them do so,but heeoneeived that the only ground which had been , put forward' lead been completely answered. He put it to the meeting , vhether it would be a fitting thing that the unanimous decision of twelve gentlemen should be reversed by, an anteadment put after the resolution had been passed. Mr. TITE was not aware that the resolution bad been agreed to. The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Tite was certainly right in point of order, He himself had perceived that Mr. Tite was anxious to oppose this resolution, and he had signified to him that that was the proper time to do it. He had already ex pressed that the directors were unanimously opposed to this regulation, and consiierod that it would work ill for the in terests of the proprietor& Mr. CROSSFIELH thtalg ht the resolution would have a beneficial effiect, as it would lead the propr etors to interest themselves in the elect,ion of directors, when they saw that new men would have ftc:be elected. At present the election of directors was a meramatter of course. The Charm/or said' that the elections were conducted exactly in conformity'velth the Act of Parliament, and if they were conducted in any other manner they would be illegal. After some further discussion, Mr. Tite's amendment, on a show of hands, was declared to be lost, amid much cheering. Ur. TITE demanded, a ballot, but at the suggestion of the Chairman withdrew his; motion. The report of the Committee of Proprietors was then adopted. Several of the new di ectors returned thanks; and, A vote of thanks was unanimously carried to the Chair man, as well as a similar vote to Mr. Lawrence and the re tiring directors. The meeting was then made special, and resolutions were agreed to eMpoweringtbe dircctnrs to enter into an arrange ment (in conjunction 'with the Lancashire, Yorkshire, the East Lancashire, and Midland . Railway Companies) for leaning a portion of the tolls on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, connecting Liverpool with Leeds; the object of the agmemaut being to unite more intimately the interests of the;four railway compazites occupying that district, and to prevent that injurious . pompetition as to rates, to which they have' severally ''been subjected; and also for the purpose of enabling th,e company to subscribe for and take, in conformity with ACts of Parliament already for that pur pose passed, certain preference shares in the Chester and Holyhead Railway ; an to authorise the raising of the need ful funds by mortgage or otherwise. The meeting then broke up. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT , (T RIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Tbe LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack ai Five o'clock. The Earl of ERNE presented several petitions against Pal - mil aggression. The Earl of ST. GEDNIA NS presented several petitions in f e.vour of the Alarriage B i ll. rue Earl of CARLI§LE presented several petitions with a sitnilar prayer. rine Earl of AIOUNTQA.SHELL presented several petitions against Papal aggressiottand praying that no further grants mieat be ma ie to therCollege of Maynooth. Earl NELSON . preaOted several petitions againt Papal aggi •ession. THE COURT OF CHANCERY. L ,rd LANGDALE introduced a Bill authorising the are poin tmentrofa new Vine -Chancellor (as we understood, but the , Noble Lord spoke in' so low a tone as to be nearly in- Audi ble), and would moue the second reading of the Bill on Mori day. Li rd BROUGHAM expressed his approbation of the meli sure. 'rile Bill was then read a first time. COUNTY COURTS. Lord BROUGHAM had, with regard to proceedings in con nty courts, been informed that in many cases certioraris had! been granted by the superior courts almost as a matter of , Course, notwithstanding the directions of the Act, but wh, in he looked at the returns, he was surprised at the small nuntiber of cases removed by certiorari in comparison with 1 the number of cases which had been tried before the I county courts. Since August last, since the jurii diction had been extented, there had been only eleven case a removed by certiorari, This was most satisfactory, as it sli owed that there was no disposition in the supreme con its to gi . ant writs,of certiorari as Matters of course. MARRIAGE BILL. Lord CAMPBELL presented several petitions from Scot land against the Marriage Bill. Scotland was excltuded • from the new Bill, but they considered than; the confinement of the measure only rendered it the mot xi obnoxious ; they considered it as contrary to the law of ( od, and the exclusion of Scotland did not remove their obj actions. These petitions were signed by 11,060 persons. (LEFT SITTING.) 4 41111 0 ' V.. MR. ERNEST JONES. Mr. F. O'CONNOR wished to ask the Right lion. Gentle man the Secretary for the Home t)epartment if he had re ceived a communication from Mr. Ernest Jones complaining of his treatment while in prison, and praying the Right Ho nourable Baronet to institute an inquiry into the matter. Sir G. GREY replied in the negative. DUBLIN PORT DUES. - Mr. REYNOLDS wished to ask the Secretary of the Trea sury if it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce, during the present session of Parliament, any mea sure to relieve the merchants and traders of Dublin from the port charges to which they are now liable under the pro visions of the Acts 56 Geo. 111., c. 62, and the Ist Geo. IV., c. 26? Mr. C. LEWIS said the subject was under the considera tion of Government, but he was not prepared to say whether or no a Bill would be brought in this session. DISTURBANCES IN UNION WORKHOUSES. Mr. BANKES wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, whether he had received information of other disturbances in Union Houses in Suffolk besides those in the Barham Union, occasioned by able-bodied labourers sent to union houses in consequence of want of employment. Mr. BAINES said he had not, but no doubt the Hon. Gentleman referred to a disturbance which had taken place in a workhouse in the neighbouring county of Nor folk. He had received two contradictory accounts of the cause of the disturbance in the Suffolk Union Work-• house, and it was not at all improbable that the affair would be made the subject of an official inquiry. VAGRANCY IN THE METROPOLIS. BANKES wished to ask the the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to the increase of vagrancy in the metropolis, and whether it Is the intention of the Government to propose any remedy for this evil? Sir G. GREY had received no information whatever on the subject ; but the Police Commissioners had made a return whicn showed that in 1830 vagrancy in the metropolis had been less prevalent than in any of the ten preceding years, with. the exception of 184.5. No doubt that an increase had I aken place of late in the vagrancy of certain localities. DISTURBANCE IN A WORKFIOUSE IN ESSEX. Sir JOHN TYRREL wished to ask the President of the Poor-law Board if he had received any information of a dis turbnuce which had taken place in a workhouse in Essex. 'AL% BAINES replied in the negative. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. Lord NAAS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any or what steps had been adopted by Government towards establishing regular steam communication with the Australian colonies; and also how soon the public might ex pect that such communication would be opened? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the tenders which were called for some time ago for a steam communication from Singapore to the Australian colonies were received two days back. He had only been enabled to cast his aye over them; but, as far as he could see, they were of an unsatisfactory character. HOUSE-TAX AND THE FRANCHISE. Sir B. HALL said he wished to ask a question with refe rence to the hou'.e-tax ' which had been propos e d by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) was aware that by the rate paying clauses of the Reform Act, it was necessary that the assessed taxes and poor-rate should be paid by 10/. house holders previous to being put on the register of voters. Now, he leen . know wheher it was the intention of the Government, in case the House should agree to the im position of the house tax, that the payment of it should be a necessary qualification to a person who wished to be placed on the register of voters. Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not the intention of the Government to impose any new qualification by the proposed tax on houses. By th e i n t erpretat i on o f t h e law, it would be the same as all assessed taxes. THE INCOME-TAX AND THE FRANCHISE. Sir B. HALL also asked whether the Government in tended that the income-tax should be considered as one of these assessed tax payments; which ought to be paid before a voter could be placed on a register. Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not precisely answer that question. It would be for a legal question, whether that tax came under the denomination of assessed taxes. I'USEYISM IN THE CHURCH. Sir B. HALL's a id h e h a d to put another question of con siderable importance, which had reference to the conduct of the Rev. Mr. Murray, who was appointed incumbent to St. Andrew's Church, in Wells-street, Oxford-street. The district in which this church was situated had lately been subdivided from the other parts of the parish, fur the pur pose of facilitating the ecclesiastical government; it con tained 5,000 inhabitants, and 400 rated householders. Tha church was consecrated on the 28th January, 1847, the inhabitants having largely contributed towards its erection. A memorial was presented to the Bishop .of London signed by more than one-third of the inhabitants complaining of the conduct of Mr. Murray. The memorialists said, that since his appointment Mr. Mur ray began to make alterations in the church, and though re monstrated with, and having promised not to make them, he had persisted until he had brought the church into what was boastfully called a state of Puseyite discipline. The com munion table, or altar as it was called, had twice been raised so as to be approached by steps. It was covered with a rich 'cloth, and candlesticks placed upon it, and upon holi days and saint-days was decorated with wreaths of flowers, and altogether the chancel was regarded as a sacred place not to be approached by the laity. The table of the Commandments had been removed from over the altar, and though it was promised to be restored had never yet been. An expensive choir had been engaged, the Litany was intoned by the clergyman with his back to the people, the sermon was preached in a surplice, and neither collect nor Lord's Prayer were used before it, but only an invocation, "In the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The sacrament also was intoned and altogether administered in such a mode as to prevent many of the memorialists from attending it. It was signed by 450 inhabitants of the parish, and transmitted to the Bishop of London with an in timation that certain of the parishioners wished to wait on his Lordship and give biro further information on the sub ject. The information was that the incumbent o; this district had been in the habit of attending the Roman , Catholic Chapel in King William-street, Strand. He (Sir B. Hall) considered this so'grave x charge that he was un willing to make it unless the gentleman who had informed him consented to commit it to writing, and authenticate it by hi* own signature, which had been dose. The answer which the Bishop of London gave was he had remonstrated with Mr. Murray on the subject without avail, and to a further com munication, he replied that he was about to take some general steps for the prevention of such practices, which would, however, take some time to develop. The Archbishop of Canterbury had also stated, that he had warned the clergy of another diocese ten years ago, against such practices. The question, then, which he wished to ask the Noble Lord was, whether the bishops and archbishops of the Church were about to take any steps for the purpose of suppresssng these practices, against which, as they said, they had preached for ten years ; or were they to leave it fo the laity to take those steps, for the purpose of fulfilling those duties which the ecclesiastics of the Church had neglected. Lord JOHN RUSSELL—With reference to the statement of my Hon. Friend who has just sat down, I have to state to the House that I have been in communication with the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury, in order to as certain what the facts of the case really are.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the Bishop of London, l am encbled to state that he' informed nee that his attention had been drawn more than once to the manner in which the public worship in St. Andrew's Church is conducted, and that he has been fully informed of the feelings of the inhabitants.—(Hear, hear.) He informs me that. he is at all times willing to give effect to the rubric, and to attend to the feelings of the inhabitants of any district, in order_to regulate the habits of the clergymen who minister in th e i r churches, and that at all times he was anxious to render the mode of worship in conformity with those feelings.--(Hear, hear.) With respect to the Archbishop of Canterbury, I am informed by his grace that he has al ways desired, and that tha Bishop have always desired, that the practice of the clergy should be at all times so arranged that the predilections of the laity shall be carefully, at least so far as reasonably regarded. The Archbishop states to me that,, he does. not think that any alteration of the law is necessary, or that any interference of this House or of the Legislature is at the present moment re quisite. But the law is such, he says, that there is great difficulty in reaching cases such as those his Hon. Friend had brought before theflouse. , Although, however, no im mediate change may bring any advantage, some alteration is evidently necessary.—(Hear, hear.) I hope my lion. Friend will understand that we do not contemplate any al teration of the Liturgy of the Church of England—(Loud c.ies of" Hear")—but what we want is some greater or better means of carrying the law into effect.—(Hear, hear.) In one case not less than 3,0001. was spent, in order to reach such a case as this e and my Hon. Friend and the House may be assured that ho efforts will be left-untried to remedy the mischief.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. A. HOPE regretted that the ;Noble Lord had de scended from his high position to answer a question respecting the character of a private gentleman, whose character he felt called upon to vindicate. Mr. Murray had been accused of at tending a Roman:Catholic place of worship. The fact was, that Mr. Murray had only 'attended the chapel five times, and then only for the purpose of controversial preaching.-- (Hear, hear.) The Hon. 13aronet and the Noble Lord would be surprised to hear that their friend Dr. Cumming was pre sent at the same time.—(Loud and ironical cheers.) Mr. Hope then read a friendly letter from the Bishop of London to Mr. Murray,'promising to ottend to his case as soon as he had leisure. But between Feb. 20, 1850, and Feb. 21, 1851, no further communication had been received. Mr. REYNOLDS protested against the introduction of this subject, and complained of the Hon. Baronet importing into his remarks the uncalled-for expressions of Romish error and Romish practices.—(Hear, hear.) Since he had had the honour of a seat in the House he had not only ab stained himself from mooting questions connected with the affairs of the Protestant Church, but he had induced other Roman Catholic Members to follow his example.— (Hear, hear.) It seemed to him that the Hon. Baronet wished to convert the British House of Commons into a polemical debating club, but he hoped in future he would leave the Pretestant Church to the care of its two archbishops, its 24 bishops, and 15,000 ecclesiastics, who bad the guarantee of the Crown for maintaining the in tegrity of their creed.—(Hear, hear.) Unless the Hon. Ba ronet did so, he was afraid the House would degenerate into a Praise God Barebones Parliament, and become a scandal in the eyes of Europe.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME said his Hon. Friend had done nothing more than introduce a compldint of the laity of Marylebone, who had complained to the bishop about the conduct of their clergyman, but they could get no satisfaction or redress from him, although twelve months had elapsed since they first complained, and therefore they had no other alternativr but to come to this House.—(Hear.) Sir R. H. INGLIS thought Honourable Gentlemen would beat consult the interest of the Protestant by abstaining from bringing such questions as these before the House, which was firstly not competent to inquire into them, and even if it was it it secondly had not the ability to decide them. Lord DUDLEY STUART rose amidst loud cries of " Ques tion, and Oh," to ask the indulgence of the House for a few minutes. He was compelled to take this course, in consequence of some other person having neglected his duty. He wished to put a question to the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.—(Laughter.) It would be in the recollec tion of the House he made a motion on the 7th of February last for certain papers relating to the treatment of the Hun garian refugees.—(Hear.) He withdrew that motion in consequence of the oble Lord having promised to produce the papers to which it referred. The session closed, and the papers Were not forthcoming. Ile spoke to the Noble Lord again and again on the subject, and even ventured to say that it was too bad—(Laughter)—and the Noble Lord replied to me, "it is too bad."—(Continued laughter.) when he went to the N o bl e On a sub sequen t oc casion Lord and complained of the continued delay, h e told him that he could not but feel angry at his conduct— and what was his answer? That if he (Lord Palmerston) were in his situation, he would be angry too.—(G reat laughter.) Under these circumstances, he begged to ask the Noble Lord whether he considered this respectable treatment, not of an individual. Member who was a sincere, ardent, though humble supporter of the cause of Hungary.—but of the House, when he had unfulfilled his engagement to pro duce these papers ? Lord PALMERSTON said that he was quite willing to acknowledge that his Noble Friend had a claim upofl him for the promise which he had made. He also was quite ready to acknowledge that which he had acknowledges to him in private, that upon the appearance he had the right to be angry. But if he knew how great had been the pres sure of matters which had prevented him from bringing for ' ward those papers he would be induced to extend him in dulgence.- However he should make a point of producing the papers on an early day in the next week. POSTPONEMENT OF THE BUDGET. On the motion for going into Committee of Ways and Means, Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose to move that the Committee should be postponed until Monday. He would then state the reasons for this request. Mr. HERMES wished to know whether it was intended positively to proceed with the Committee on Monday? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he could not state positively. On Monday night lie would state the reason for the request., and the course which he meant to take. The remaining orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) DOWNING-STREET, FEB 21, 1851. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Charles Sturt, Esq., to be Colonial Secretary, Boyle Travers Finniss, Esq , to be Colonial Treasurer and Registrar-Genera!, and George Frederick Da*hwood, Esq , Lieut. R.N., to be Commissioner of Police and Police Magistrate, for the colony of South Australia; and her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint Richard F. Newland, Esq., to be Stipendiary Magistrate at the Port of Addable, in the said colony. FOREIGI-OFFICF, FEB. 18. The Queen has teen graciously pleased to appoint William Sunley, Esq., to be her Majesty's Consul at the Comoro Islands. CROWN• OFFICE, FEB. 19. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borotigh of Dungannon—The Honourable William Stuart Knox, in the room of the Honourable Thomas Knox, com monly called Viscount Northland, who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. WAR- OF 6E, FEB. 21. Ist Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Captain William Warner Allen to be Major, by purchase, vice Scott, who retires; Lieutenant Bankes Tomlin to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Allen; Cornet Sir Thomas Gresluy, Bart., to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Tomlim, Feb. 21. Ist Regiment of Foot—Eucigu and Adjutant Henry With cote Turner to be Lieutenant, by yurchase, vice Poole, who retires, Feb. 21. 3d Foot—George Goforth Wyer, Gent., to be Assistant- Surgeon, Feb.' 21. Foot-,Captain- Charles Dawe, from half-pay Unat tached, to-be Captain, re-paying the difference, vice Brevet- Major White, promoted to be Major Unattached; Lieu! e cant Alfred Ingilby Garnett. to beCaptain, by purchase, vice Dawe, who retires; Ensign John Vere William Henry Webb to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Garnett; Charles George Mackenzie, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Webb, Feb 21. I sth Foot—Lieutenast Edward Pardoe to be Captain, by purchase, vice Cape!, who retires; Ensign Richard Manders to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Pardoe, Feb. 21. tqh Foot—Lieutenant Montagu Wigley Bell, from 97th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Dane, promoted to be C.,ptain Unattached, Feb. 21. 49th Foot—Lieutenant Francis James Bampfylde to be Captain, by purchase, vice Bellairs, who retires; Ensign Richard D. Astley to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Bamp iylde, Feb. 21. 55th Foot—Staff.Surgeon of the Second Class James McGregor, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice George Alexander Stephenson, who retires upon half-pay, Feb. 21. 68th Foot—John Francis O'Leary, Gent., to be Assistant- Surgeon. Feb. 21. h Foot—William Warden, M.D., to be Assistant-Sar geon, Feb. 21. t-ith Foot—Acting Assistant-Surgeon Hugh Melville Bal four, M. 9., to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Gosden, appointed to the Staff, Feb. 21. 92d Foot—Archibald Henry Fraser, Gent., to be Asiistant- Surgeon, Feb. 21, 2d West India Regiment—Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Gardiner Sedley, from halt-pay 63d Foot, to be Lieutenant- Colonel, vice William Raines Faber, who exchanges, Feb. 21. HOSPITAL STAFF.—Staff Surgeon of the First Class Alex ander Melvin to be Deputy Inspect9r-General of Hospitals, vice John Kinnis, M.D., who retires upon half-pay; Staff Assistant-Surgeon Francis Laing, M.D., to be Staff Surgeon of the Second Class, vice M'Gregor, appointed to the sth Foot; Assistant. Surgeon Alfred Gosden, M. 8., from 84th Fout, to be Staff Assistant• Surgeon, vice Laing, promoted, Feb. 21. UNATTACHED.--Lieut. John Dane, from 28th Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, Feb. 21. BREVET.—Captain Charles Dawe, of the Bth Foot, to be Major in the Army, Jan. 10, 1837. MEMORANDUM.—The Christian names of Second Lieu tenant Fox, of the 60th Regiment, are " William Waller," not ",Walter," as previously stated. Commission by the Lord- Lieutenant of Lancashire. Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie the younger, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Feb. 18. BANKRUPTS. William Charles Gazeley, builder, Chenies-place, Old-road, St. Pancras. William Tennant, draper, Chertsey, Surrey. James Bishop, laceman, Upper James•street, Camden town. John Reid, corn dealer, King's-row, Pimlico. George Wom well, miller, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Samuel Knightly, carpenter, Paul-street, Finsbury. The Bromley-hill Iron and Coal Company, Bream, Glou. cestershire. Hiram Willianison, manufacturer, Manchester. Richard Boyle,-jun., merchant, Kingston-upon-Hull. George Woods, surgeon, LiyerpoolL PitICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from returns made in the week ending Feb. 18, 1850. exclusive of Customs Duties paid or payable thereon on the importation thereof into Great Britain : From the British possessions in America 275. 1 lid. per cwt. From the Mauritius ... —s. —d. „ From the East Indies 31s. gad. „ Average price of the two foregoing de scriptions of sugar, jointly, computed as ahOve, and exclusive of duty ... 295. Id. „ By authority of Parliament, HENRY BICKN ELL. Clerk of the Grocers' Company. Grocers'-hall, Feb. 21. PUBLIC WOOL SALES. (THIS EVENING.) This evening the sales are rather thinly attended, but the biddings are very brisk. There are in course of disposal 701 bales Australian, 206 Van Dieman's Land, 109 Port Philip, 36 Cape, 33 German, au'd a few bales of South Australian, with 397 bales of Spaniili in. the grease. Sydney has been selling at ls. 30. to is. 9id. for. clean sheeps, locks at Is, and scoured lambs at ls. to ls. 10d. Vau Diemen's Land cheeps Is. 4id. to Is. 6d, lambs Is. sid. to Is. 11d. Port Phillip lambs Is. iid. to Is. Bid., fine hoggets is. Bd., washed Is. 2id. to Is. 3d., and scoured Is. 7d. Adelaide damaged 6d. in grease, damaged lid. to Bd., skin Bd. Cape 9d. to Is, lid for clean sheeps and tine, Is. 6d. ; German super lambs, is. 81d; to 2s. 4d.; and sheegs, ls. sid. to Is. 6d. ; Electoral, 2s. Id.; Odessa, Is. 6d.; Spanish, Is. 5W ; ditto greasy Spanish iambs, sid. to 6d. ; and good combing, 6d. to 7d. per lb. MARKET IN (From the London 11'ew Price Current, Feb. 21.) SUGAII.—To-day former rates were insisted upon for all kinds of West India Sugar, but the purchases made were trifling, and confined to 202 hhds, &c.; for the week the sales are 1,160 hhds, and prices close the sam e as on F r i day last. REFINED.—To-day there was only a moderate home trade demand for refined Sugar, still low brown lumps were not to be obtained under 48s per cwt. The export demand for Crushed Sugar is not better. BlAunerius.—This afternoon the public sales of Mauritius Sugar went off with fair spirit at full prices, the quantity offered was 5,427 bags and all sold, middling to fine yellow went at 38s to 425, low 37s to 38s, and refined qualities 36s to 41s per cwt. EAST INDIA. - This afternoon there was a better demand for Madras Sugar, and the p u bli c sa l es o f 3100 b ags , t h e whole selling at full rates, soft brown at 28s to 30s, yellow at 30s to 355, MauritiuS descriptions 36s to 40s 6d, middling grainy yellow 39s to 40s 6d, and a few lots middling white ditto 435. Of Bengal 358 bags realized 41s 6d to 433 for middling and good white Benares, and damp 40s to 43s per cwt., and these are full rates. • loaftion.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign, and .prices underwent, no variation. For the week the private operations are 2,000 chests yellow. klavannah at 39s to 435. A sargo of brown Bahia 378 6d, and two cargoes of Pernam buco, the particulars of which have not transpired. DlonassEs.—Previous rates are supported, and the demand continues good; the purchases made in West India for the week are 300 puns at from 15s to 17s 6d ; the supply is li mited and consists chiefly of the lower sorts. Bengal and Mauritius are wanted at 128 to 14s, but the supply is yet small. Holders of Porto Rico and Cuba still demand lbs to 16s per cwt. COFFEE.—This afternoon Native Ceylon was not offered under 44s per cwt for good ord. For other sorts of Colonial the market has still a dull aspect. Of 251 casks and 60 bags Plantation Ceylon at actien a small part only sold at rather lower rates, and went at sis to 545; for fine fine ord— low 44s 6cl; of Mocha 7 pkgs sold - at 7ls for small yellow. Full rates are asked for Foreign Coffee. On change this afternoon Native Ceylon was 443 6d to 455, with several buyers. CocoA.—ln Foreign, sales have been upon a small scale, and there are sellers of Bahia and Para at 30s to 30s 6d, and Guayquil at 32s to 335; lower rates are anticipated. British Plantation, at auction 55 bags 10 brls Trinidad were taken in at 45s to 50s for grey; the value of Grenada is 43s to 48a. Tz.4.—A much better demand has preuailed for common Congou this week, prices are also firmer, 11:4 d to 11 3 / 4 d per lb having been obtained for large parcels, of sound. In me dium operations are also upon a more extended scale at Is to Is 0 1 / 2 d, but other sorts have been operated in with cautian at is Id to Is sd, and fine at Is Ed to is 9d, on the part of holders there is also a desire to realize. With green the market continues to be plentifully suppliec : a reduction has taken place of ld to 2d per lb for good and fine young Byson. There are sellers of Scented and Pekoe Teas at moderase rates. At public sale yestertlay 4,100 pkgs of Tea were offered, and 1,800 found purchasers, chiefly small boxes. RlcE.—For the best vv bite sorts of East India for cleaning purposes full rates are paid. For inferior a slight reduction in price has taken place. Ot 2,324 bags Madras at auction not above half found buyers at 7s 6d to 85 for low and mid pinky, the remainder being taken in at 8s 6d; 300 pkts low broken Bengal sold at es to 8s 6d for white, but 916 bags mid and good mid were' bought in at lOs to 10s 6d. The rates obtained for good and fine white Bengal by private contract are 10 s 9d to 12s and for best white. Java lis 6d to 12s. For cargo and pearl barley sorts the market has a dull aspect, and 7s 9d to es per cwt is the nearest value, The value of cleaned Patna is yet 11 to 183 for low to fine, town dressed Carolina 20s to 265, and American 18s to i9s. at these rates a fair business is doing. S3go is wanted, and 19s to 21s per cwt offered fa small pearl. In Sago Flour there is rather more doing at 14s 6d to 15s. Tapioca has been operated in with more freedom at 2d to 5d per lb. SPIRITS. --Leeward Island Rum is is 8d per gallon proof. East India hes been selling at Is 6d to is 61d proof. Jamaica. The value of ord and mid quality 30 to 34 per cent over proof is 2s 9d to 3s, and good to superior 34 to 38 over 3s 2d to 43 (id. For Demerara the demand has been only for small parcels at 2s 6d to 2s 931 for 30 to 40 over proof. For Brandy the home or export demand is not better; and there are sellers of Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1850 at 484 d to 4s 6d; 1849 ditto 4s 7d to 4s 9d; 1648 ditto 4s 9d to 48 lid; and inferior sorts 38 to 4s 3d. Geneva is still quoted at is 7d to is Sat for ord, fine is 9(.1 to 2s; British made. Spirit 93 8d to 9s 9d; and Gin at 88 8d for .23 per cent under proof. IOUSE OF COMMONS. T 1 le SPEAKER took the chair shortly before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. r. LOCKE took the oaths and his seat for the Falkirk burg hs. REPORTS. Ti ie reports that the standing orders bad been complied with on the Copper Miners of England Bill, the Manchester and Brixton Railway and several other Bills were brought up. ABERDEEN PUBLIC RECORD BILL. This Bill was read a second time. DUNDEE POLICE BILL. _ . On the motion of Mr. Dl/466A18E this Bill was ordered co ice read a second time on tie 18th of March. PETITIONS. Sir R. Inglis, Mr. Duncombe, Colonel Sibthorp, Mr. Free- Stun. Mr. Mullings, and several other Members, presented petitcions against Papal aggrearion. O'FLanErav and Dr. POWER presented petitions from several places praying th a t the House would not in terfere with the exercise o f re li g i o us liberty in consequence of the excitement which b a d b een raised in this country by the late measures of the P ope. Alr. LAWLESS presented petitions from Clonmel praying for the abolition of ministers' money, and complaining that the petitioners were compelled to support a form of faith of which they did not approve. Mr. COBDEN and Mr. ROEBUCK presented petitions pray. irsg for some alteration in the administration of the poor-law by the guardians of the poor-law unions. Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Edinburgh, pray ing for the remission of the paper duty. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from several Provident Societies and other bodies to the same effect. Mr. COBDEN also presente d petitions against the paper duty. Lord G. MANNERS presen t e d a petition from several places in Cambridgeshire laws, and prayi ng for , eomplainining of the present cur rencyr their altera tion. Mr. CHRISTOPHER p resen ted petitions from several pa oriosohnetsy of int t e io c oo it l ) o - of signedLinC Lincoln, and ndtrboy the shopkeepers an d m several place s i n t h e labourers in the different towns an d neighbourhoods, st a ti ng that they were suffering great distress, and praying for a re vision of the national tariff, with a view to impose such duties on foreign imports, in order to relieve the burdens upon land. Mr. MOORE presented several petitions praying that the House would take no measures that would interfere with civil and religious liberty, and some of them for the aboli tion of the Protestant E s t a blished Church in Ireland. Mr. LAWLESS p resen t e d a petition from 3 ,605 butchers against the removal o f S m ithfield Market; also a petition numerously signed by the inhabit ants of th e parish of St. groundJames's in N s V t es Jame's tmins tepr,acrokm, andpla praying that before an y otherining of the annex a ti on o f t h e ground is annexed, that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests may be compelled to make a report of their in tended proceedings. He should on the next day's sitting move that the petition be printed with the votes. Sir G. GREY presented petitions from North Northum berland, praying that the income-tax might be remitted from tenant farmers and others, in a similar position, who derived their subsistence from the cultivation of the soil. The Right Hon. Baronet also presented a petition against the Papal aggression, as also did Mr. Duncombe, Sir John Trollope, and several other Aembers. STATE OF IRELAND. Sir H. W. BARRON and Sir Lucius li'BrtiErr gave notice, the former that he should, on the 6th of next month, and the latter that he should, on an early day, draw the atten tion of the House to the state of Ireland, with a view to the adoption of some measures to relieve the distress in the southern and western districts of that country. TALLOW.—This afternoon the public sales of Tallow went at bare.) , previous rates ; s'" eke Sydney at 37s 6d for Sheep. and Ox 35s 6tl; rt,t AtnericAn was offered. OlLS.—ibis afternoon at public sale 131 tuns Southern and No:ttl-west Coast Witai , :! Oii sold at "9/ lOs to 32/: 30 tun,a Seat Oil pale 321 ; ti nge d an d straw 301 to 311; 25 boxes of Refined Spernmeti is 11 3 4 d; 15d pkgs Cocoa Nut PartlY sold at 2 . 0/ lOs to 311 for Ceylon and Cochin. BANK• OF ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 3 2 . 9 r the Week ending on Saturday, the 15th day of February. 1851' 1841:1E DEPARTMENT. Notes i55ued........ 27,758,220 10t5h1e.r se curities •• • • 2,984 ' 90" .e. Government debt .. the 20:h day of February, silver bullion • • ...• 29,661 Gold coin And bullion 13,728,553 127,758,220 I £27,75 8 , 220 Dated M. MARSHALL, Chi ef Cashier. BANKINU DEPAZTMEN T. L X. Proprietors'capital .. 14,553,000 Rest . .••• • • • • 3,326,780 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Say lngs-bimk s, and Di vidend accounts) .. 7,161,434 Ot - i,r deposits • ... • • 9,423,679 Seven day and other Government securi ties (including Dead Wei g ht Annuity) .• 14,145,999 Other securities •• • 118,361 Notes •—• •••• „ „ •• 8,84/,895 Gold and silver coin • • 715,261 Bills.• :• •••• •• •• 1,129,2L,0 —...------" A 35,591,233 M. MARSIHALL, Chief Cashier. 1851. £35,597,233 Dated the 20th day of February, COURSE OF EXCI-1 Amst•_rc!an, ......••..it 16 NGE.-(THIS DAY•) iGthraltatr.• •• •• •• •• •• •• 3 0 60 ti reemontha— 11 17% • • .. • • 1l 17 25 30 linmels • • •• . 25 30 Clarabargh •• •• e • ALB. 13 7 Paris, 3 rkys'3lKht .. • • 25 5 Leghorn qer.ots 26 60 %Ulan •............. Venice •••• " • • • 41% N'apleA •••• • • " 125 ermo, peroz.. ••• • •• i v% Yleseina . • • • • • " 63% Ditto, 3 months .... 25 27 M-zseilleb 25 30 . Frankforton 118% Pierlin— .. • • . • • • . •• • Vienna, elTec. •..• 12 56 Trieste, ditto.... '•... .. 12 56 Petersinugh,Sil.Rble-. 37% Madrid • • .. •• ........ 50 Cadiz •• .• •• •• •• •• •• Barcelona •• ........ sovilla.,„•••.•• •• Lisbon. •baSy 0p0rt0.... •• •• .• •• •• '.f> Janeiro •• •• •• •• •• nuenos Ayres ••••• • •• -- Now York,6odayesight " Philadelphia •• •• •• **• micas or BULLION, PE>~ 9 Foreign Gold in bars•• 4l o 7 3 , a Pc)rtitgal Gold Coin •• 0 Spfinish Doubloons • • u n 4 l ig New Dollars •• •• •• 0 driver ILI bare •• •• •• ° IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT• 110 C. IS.E OF COMMONS, Feb. 20. LAW OF PARTNERSHIP. Third Mr. SLANEY (e n cont i nuat i on f rom our - Edition of las , night) proceeded to say b• oh be tour points with regard to this question to w - 1 one a ould direct attention. The first was, that every ita. connected with land through coeveyences, lotto, % r ar provernents, was leaded with legal chicanery, i° c than quence of which they had to pay one-fourth WI laud tney ought. It had bees: shown that the valu e ° ra tion was depreciated by five years' purchase, by the 0 11% - te sd oi these heavy impediments and expenses, and e laings • of ataining lotus at 4 per cent., if :his state 01 • t. did not exist, the) might obtain them at Pe r c lurea they adOpted the plan of changing loans into deben to pass from baud to hand, they could get stone y ~, GO' —There were per cent., which ought to have been adopted by t ". ur vernmeet when they advanced money for clrainat o P a of poses. This was the first fester on the accumulate os is capital. Ile came to the second bead of his prop oo thin. if stay public imp rovement too k place in a ka or or particular locali t y, suc h as a b r id ge , gas wor rt a i o f any pre jest which part i . o k o f th e com bined qn6 b °e" public benefit an d p r i vate advantage, it would w e w orks cesssry for the parti es engage d i n an y of these a the'''. • • to come to that Hou se an d o b ta i n a Bill before the ' could proceed. Why w as not an A c t passed b ite ou ld Enclosure Act, by which these improvement a nd be csrried out under certain regulationment thereby making it unnecessary to come to park to Of on these matters?—(Hear, hear.) He DOW " ID , ° b ora third head. There were persons amongst the J it a and working classes who were anxious to b a bt portunity of applying their savings in a way te a s,as 0.1 ' be useful to them, but who, owing to the presen„' ' begs the law, were unable to do so. What he as k ed deed men was fair play, and nothing more. If °ne er; pe r ' ' P./ men clubbed their money toether fur benefi' ll fo turn ' poses, it was only necessary for one of these trie°, ooa t of restive, to throw the whole affair into the the Chancery; and the House were too well aw a arc teal aa peculiar character of th at co u rt to h ave Any de sir e ower. persona should be wantonly placed within i ts o ! a y be 5 .• All that was asked for persons situated in ti l o s stated, was, to give th em th e a d vantage of tuaethe power e plicsble to benefit societies, and to give tbe,T; ro istee of suing, and of being liable to sued. The last year decided in favour of this prinuiPl a e : A be had came to the special object of the motion of '7,, - rt b bee'. given notice, and that brought him to th e L I) 0 7 - of p° l4 " of his proposition, which related to the ff aPe rbcil nership. By the exi s ti ng l aw of parine rs l P,P' t be w as ; advanced a shilling t o carr yi ng out an ob.le e ';'„ a e of 0 16 liable, in the words of L or d Eld on, to be dell:: law wan last shilling and last 'acre. The effect of t' ll- sne eo/ 0- to restrain local enterprise, and foster distant p rom tion, However a person might desire to s f r oss good work in his neighbourhood, he was deter a re aa id be' lending his aid to it, lest his whole property 6 r a hilar sacrificed by his frills to promote the cause °' r over , theopy.—(Hear, hear.) The Government had, bel v ar lie, the power to grant charters in respect to various s and and thus save t he pa r ti es engage d i n t h em f rom Per ia liabiltty. But there wa s gri at difficulty and e%P e : o del reference to these charters. In the case of tb ° Z r , to lodging-houses, it, because necessary to have a eba r is — i o its save personal liability ; b ut it cost 1 , 0001. 1 9-e:i e r the I Safely this was too large an amount to p a per' privilege of secur i ng one against wa de th• sibility of his b enevo l ence b e ing .Of last year' instrument of his ruin. The Committee °` s h o uld be' recornme tide d that in crease d facilities - charters,--... afforded as regarded the obtaining of tho se s (Hear, hear.) He now ( „ oio to t h e greaty t the' limited liability. Tee want of this iogrethenatber for law of partnership prevented persona joiuitig t o n e ao ease any useful purpose, lest by doing so.they shoulun`cietta jeer individually to all the consequences of t he til late ing. The Honourable Gentleman cited the ! ea , the, Youlett Thomson and Mr. Stewart Milne, to shoes' or propriety of altering the law as regarded the s, tl ant limited liability. No cautious man would L ion ro ot undertaking so long as the law existed in i ts 480° form, while it was shown that the law did not _ at de' to preveN speculations of the most extraffig° to i 0" uestion scription. He only asked for a Committee ai d etal quire into this subject. In Italy, France, 1 1 ° 118 a to be. America, the principle was acted on, and toun se ise; beneficial. He begged leave to move tha t B a rtae r- Committee be appointed to consider the law ' J i ,00 ship, and a proposed 'limitation of- liability, wi th aa t err to encourage useful en t erpr i se , an d the additl os• ployment of labour. _ Mr. EWART seconded the motion. ter tir s . of L t A h r m ti ot C iu ll n, E s ß a E id h t a h v a i t ng th r e e i f in er p r o e r d ta t n o t t a b n e ;o : P r ip u e e d b ; controverted subject to which it referredr.; os tioP. amongst ether things, a matter of serious comit'eausa. before, the Committee obtained by the Hon. G etl he por last year; arid the object of his H o n. Friend on the As o sent occasion was, that the Committee which h i sr now movieg'for should have this question brotllz d ae all; cia.lay before them. His Hon. Friend had refere e heritie s on the que commercial stion w tr e a r n e s r a e o fer lt o °: thornies iu support of the views which be an te % ter It but if the ato would be found that they had expreseedahe fa a c a s eitig o ° ' site opinion as regarded the policy of i ntl.-13 1'S W i" - n limited liability into other countries, where ; true that , this limited liability _ was : Le •° t n at o g t e. a s R e u x t t extensive tions country like were Partnership traneactiona*i'ioa and the principle had been acted upon otig a l". to ,be taken , lest the principle in ours. grea t ci1.71/.ct i ,biC. if upon . , should lead to convulsions in. tract ° - w or n ,v it .did, would prove most iejurnius to 6 , 1 1, h i s it" 'classes, to benefit whom was the object srbl l , opio;d l3. Friend had in view. But while be expresoe",ii matt that any sweeping alteration of the laW .•••-• ts; should be undertaken with great care, be did i llir cit°° same time mean to say that the law as reardedasetag7 liability .may not be altered and modified wit h it aa ietaa v e :s and he therefore had no objeetion to the ° P r od. . 1 " -- e• of the Commtee asked for by in doing so he wished that Hon. Gentlemen, w_ o foas o f question, a ing upon the inquiry, would do so n r i s ' b e po re tao 0 0 c o e : te manner, and with a full knowledge of the il e f f or.) be the question which they had to consider.—( can of - believed that under the existing system noP l ar tenil on e wed in legitimate speculati o n with a fair oP e P " an adequate return for the money ernaloY e " . . Vri e fat teased lee doubted the soundness of his 11 °' e astb ,i 1 "„7 views when he suggested facilities for 01% the working classes to expend th eis t , accu rate in speculations. He thought that the d e in for those savings was to be foun a " ps' a ) savings banks or in the Government fun d r , Sig ie tie tautly coincided with the Hon. Gentleman f r om io n that a very great advantage would orfg a in ; c a - a e is tal u a s e - ry motion relative to the working classes, ow - l a ''' . t hat e' ea e to the co-operative societies, he considered 0 to ter," a , encouragement should be given to them, s° % a id 611° 0 1 every obstacle, and that the Legislature 5 - 1 . o agnie_ a them every privilege for the exercise of thei r ) --ceed e° r u and their good *ea se , so t ar as their exertions PflO ell for the advancement of their own welfere., again by s tia i ; thought it e(cess ar y to guard the House eg a a e o bf b oa posing that he agreed inall the statements Leon ja off c ertin' J a .hicll Hon. Friend on the sub jr ct; but he should armittee no opposition to the appointment of the Co-- - bspa allow o was proposed. His Hon. Friend would Pe, r a o P ro him to suggest, that, instead of the words war _f posed ]imitation of liability," he s' , ould as ap " and the ex p e di ency o f f ac ilitating fb° ji liability." ac tion, s fy Mr. SLANEY ha v ing agreed to this sugg .aaficti The motion, as thus ame nded, lees adopted. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. Mr. LOCKE KING then rose to move for leave t° bring in a Bill to m a ke the franchise in counties in Pg . land and Wales the same as that in borougbv, brgi:einbge the right of voting to all occupiers o f tenements 0, the annual value cf 101. He said that, in again ag leave of the Hou,,e to introduce a Bill ou the suvJ e _, — . ll o ,, the frarrchi,,e, he was happy to think that he bn a - good fortune to have overcome the chief, he Wig ht 611 2 1 the only difficulty, which lay in the way of the at' ver f ; sari agreeing to his motion last session. It was t_ l 7 l , d that Bri!s of this kind ought to be brought in lea d in the session; that to lay Bills en the table• aG d le a a n d them there, with no intention of taking them uP apd ` t going on with them, was trifling with the subject; that at all events- the lateness-of the. season. was, at °f ] i h n► p,_.~ 0 ,t ( ;