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

THE NATIONAL REFORM CON FERENCE. The conference resumed yesterday at ten o'clock ; r,,. Sir Joshua Walmsley, !IP., in the chair. Letters were read from Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. J. O'Connell, M.P., and Mr. Gavan Duffy, of Dublin, apolo gising for their unavoidable absence. In unswer to a question from a delegate. the secretary stated 21G delegates had attended the conference. The debate on the third resolution was then resumed. After a short discussion, in which Mr. Tillet, Mr. Grossman, Mr. Thwaites, and Mr. Charles Gilpin, took part, the resolution was carried with only seven dissen tient voices. Mr. CASFEL suggested that' during the remainder of the sitting the first object should be to get through the resolutions as soon as possible, and afterwards to give an opportunity to delegates from the country to offer any suggestions to the conference which they might think usefut for practical purposes. The following resolutions, proposed by Mr. THwArrus and seconded by Mr. CHARLES GILPIN, were then put and carried:— " That this conference believes that the Members of the House of Commons will be more influenced by a sense of their constituents were they to institute and preserve a constant communication with them, stating their views on the impertaat questions introduced be fore the Legislature, and requesting their attendance and support whenever Parliamentary and Financial Reform measures are introduced. " That this conference is of opinion that every means ought to be employed to enlarge the present county and borough constituencies to the utmost extent, and that it is desirable to form in the several localities committees, with a permanent machinery, to watch and superintend the registration; and that it be hereby recommended to the Reform Associations throughout the country, par ticularly where established in districts not satis factorily represented at the present time in Parliament, the urgent importance of being prepared, whenever any vacancy occurs in the representation of any boroughs or divisions of counties with which such associations are connected, to nominate thorough Reformers, and thus in crease the number of Reform Members in the House of Commons ; or, at all events, aid the development of public opinion in support of the principles of this asso ciation. " That it be referred to the business committee to prepare and issue to the public a report embodying the results of the conference." Mr. WILKINSON, treasurer of the National Associa tion, wished to make a few remarks on the subject of funds. He could assure the conference without some arrangement or effort being made in this department they would not be able to meet their expenses. He should call upon the provincial delegates to state what they could promise to the conference in this respect. The CHAIRMAN here begged leave to introduce to the conference a gentleman who had just appeared on the platform, whom he characterised as the Joseph Hume of Hungary—Eugene Biosky, who was received with loud cheering. Mr. BEGGS, of Norwich, then stated that, on the part of that town, he could promise the association as imme diate subscription of 1001. Mr. HARDY, of Worcester, announced a similar con tribution. Mr. JACKSON, of Yarmouth, stated that in that town the Reformers had already raised large sums, which had been expended in local efforts, such as giving lectures and distributing tracts, but that they were determined to contribute something to the general fund. Mr. Selene, of Norwich, reported that the association to which he belonged in that town had already spent 2001. in local efforts, but that it would feel it as a privi lege to contribute as much as possible to the expenses of the London Council. Mr. FLETCHER. of Norwich, confirmed the statement of Mr. Smith. He suggested that funds might be raised by the instrumentality of soirees. He hoped that when the delegates retuned home they would turn their at tention to this subject. He thought that in this manner much good, moral, political, and financial might be done. They bad a good example in Norwich of this mode of operation. Mr. Haywood, of Dolton ; Mr. Hughes, of Den bighshire; Mr. Clarke, of Southampton; Mr. Bean, of Nottingham; Mr. Langley, of Lancaster; Rev. Mr. Worrell, of Bethnal-green; and Mr. Millwood, of Sy denhatn, all spoke on the same subject, expressing their confidence in the efforts of the local association to raise funds to carry on the simultaneous operations of the na tional body. Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., said that he saw a long, laborious work before the association, and the minutest details which bore upon the great objects they had in vie►► were worthy of attention. He did not anticipate that great and wealthy capitalists would come for ward in this agitation as they had done in the corn-law agitation, because it did not offer as many advantages to that class as to the working classes. In fact, the objects of this association were rather disadvantageous to the capitalists, as it would put an end to the present boroughmongering sys tem, which to him was even more disgusting than the system before the Reform Bill. The people, then, must depend more upon their own efforts for carry ing out the great objects which were to benefit them selves. He thought there could not be too much re liance placed upon individual and small sub scriptions ; it would be a good thing if each delegate were to institute a club in their several districts, with enrolled members, and subscriptions even to the smallest amount—one part payable to the local expenses of the society, and another transferable to the head society in London. These clubs would do much good in other respects, morel as well as financial, would do much to shame men out of many of the vicious pra rtiees which do more to obstruct the progress of popular reform than anything else. Such societies would make not only sound politicians, but weedy, honest, and industrious men. They would secure cheap elections, which he considered would promote the people's cause, and would check that tide of corruption which at present flooded the Legis laeure. lie was sure the character of their President was a guarantee—(the mention of the Presi dent was received with loud and continued cheering)— to all the friends of recorm of the stability and continuity of the operations of the association. If they a'l continued firm and united he could prophecy that at no lung distance of time this country would be a happy, free, and self-governed country.—(Cheers.) Mr. G. DAWSON moved the last resolut►on— " That this conference, in the name of thousands of earnest Reformers throughout the kingdom, most cor dially gives to the President, treasurer, secretary and council of the National Reform Association its warmest thanks for the energy and zeal with which they have hi therto sustained the reform movement." He was sure that no better officers could be chosen than those they possessed already, and he hoped that the conference would join with him in giving a cordial sup port to the resolution. Mr. HALL, of Hoxton. in seconding the resolution, suggested to the delegates the propriety of forming young men's associations throughout the country to train up a future generation of reformers. Sir Josntet Weeet-eer said ho deeply appreciated the co►npliment which the coil-Tenets had paid to him ; the objects of the assecietion would always have his earnest and undivided efforts. On the port of the Council he thanked them, because he knew that their industry and exertions deserved such approval. He also thanked them for the manner in which they had conducted the proceedings of the conference; they had gone forth to the world as the deliberations of wise, patriotic, and unprejudiced indivi duals. This conference would be the means of drawing closer the bonds or union between the provincial and me tropolitan members. Whatever differences of opinion there were, he was sure that these would not operate to the destruction of the unaninitiy of their proceedings. After a vote of thanks to :be business committee, the CHAIR3IAN ennounced that the conference was at an end for all business purposes, and the delegates then separated. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. A special general meeting of this company was held at the Paddington Station yesterday, at one o'clock, for the purpose of considering and determining the mode of raising the capital requisite for the completion of certain undertakings belonging to, or purchased by, this company, and for the general purposes of the company. The meeting was also made special to receive, consider, and determine upon any matters contained in a report required by a resolution of the last half -yearly general meeting of proprietorr, to be made by the directors, with respect to the several recommamlations contained in the report of the consultation committee, which Was th sub m 14 itted o the said half -yearly general m eeting on the t February last. The attendance of shareholders was ;very numerous. Mr. George Russell, chairman of the company, pre sided. The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting. The'Citeraitala rose and said, that at the present moment he would confine bis remarks wholly to the subject of finance. They required three- an d- a - half mil t be raised within four years. How years.lions of money, How that was to be accomplished the report ab out to be submitted to the meeting wou ld explain. T wo m i llions would be required to pay the expenses of the Wolver hampton line six months after it was completed, which souk' not be before the middle of to settle the debts of 1862. The other mil lion and a half would be required in cidental on th e t w o northern lines. Before proceeding to call up on t h e secretar y to r e ad the report, he would just state that it had been mcntionedtotho w the com mittee that t h ere were several moneye d interest. It was, men w lend upo n a f i xed and regular rate o f therefore, p roposed that not more than 1,000,0001. should ba borrowed at a fixed rate of 41 per cent. The SECRETA RY t h en proceede d to l a y the meeting ore g per a r nnum . . ,e meeting the general report, as follows: " The directors beg to inform the proprietors that it is intended to propose, to the special general meeting, resolutions for creating additional capital not exceeding 3,500,0001., to be applied to the Completion of the rail ways referred to in the report of the consultation com mittee, and to the purchase of the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railways, as well as to pay off and discharge a portion of the existing securities of th e G reat Western Railway Company . " The additional capital, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is proposed to be issued from time to time when requisite, and to bear a fixed dividend of 4 per cent. per annum, subject to the following conditions:— " lst. The holders to be untitled to an option within seven years from the 25th April, 1850, to exchange the fixed 4} per cent. capital for rateably stock of the same amount. " 2d. The company to have thq right, during seven years from and after the 25th April, 1557, to redeem and pay off any of the fixed 41 per cent. capital at par, upon giving one year's previous notice to the holders thereof. " It will be proposed ti authorise the cooTersioh of THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1850. which justified the calling for a special audit, and whether they would vote the expense attending it from the com pany's funds, or whether the parties who had called for that special audit should defray the expenses themselves, on the ground that such special audit was uncalled for and unnecessary.—(Hear, hear.) That was a hasty des cription of the Bill promoted by the delegates, and which was now in committee. With respect to the Bill intro duced by Lord Granville, if it were passed, they would be in a much worse position than they were at the pre sent moment as regarded the auditing of accounts. He was anxious to explain that the united body of delegates had performed their duties in a most zealous manner, and they had perfected a measure.which, in his opinion, was superior to Government intervention in any form, and especially that which would result under Lord Granville's Bill. As a common principle, he advised them to resist the interference cf Government with their affairs in any way. Mr. WlLLiams said that he attended the meeting of delegates on the Audit Bill, and he could state that the Bill brought before them for consideration was a London and North-Western Bill. He believed that the present system of audit, which was in fact very defective, was better than that introduced into the so-called " Share holders' Audit Bill." He contended that the Bill brought in by Lord Granville was not a Government Bill. It would place the whole matter in the power of the share holders. The CHAIRMAN said that they were all much obliged to Mr. Norris, Mr. Williams, and the other gentlemen who attended the meetings of delegates on the Audit Bill. The matter was not a directors' question, and when the conflicting opinions expressed on the subject were considered, he thought the directors ought to be glad they had nothing to do with it. The proceedings concluded with a rote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. paid-up shares in the Birmingham and Oxford and Bir mingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Com panies, or a portion thereof, into the said new capital, to the extent of 2,000,0001., as and when the holders thereof may elect, at the rate of 301. ss. for each of the said shares, and upon such condi tions as may be agreed with them respectively, either before or after the opening of the said line 3; and further, to authorise the issue, from time to time, of portions of the additional capital, either upon condition of present payment in full, or of instalments at fixed periods, as may be agreed upon with the directors ; the option being given to the proprietors of shares in the Great Western Railway and in the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway Companies to the extent of 1,500,0001. of the said additional capital, in rateable pro portion to their respective shares in the said two com panies, or either of them. "The purchase of the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey mouth Railway, for the reasons recommended by the committee, has been completed, and the undertaking and property transferred by deeds exchanged between the two companies. " The works are proceeding at present only between Westbury and the towas of From and Warminster. It appears, however, to your board vital for the success of the railway already finished, and no less important also br the Great Western main line, that the short branch of seven miles between Frome and Radstock should be constructed. It will ensure a very con siderable traffic to the railways of this com• pany, between the Somersetshire coal fields and the manufacturing as well as agricultural population of the districts to which those coals are even now transported at a comparatively high charge, and in which they are nevertheless extensively consumed. The time at which the work for that branch should be undertaken, must de pend in some degree upon facilities to be given by the land and mine owners, but if they are willing to afford them, it is the opinion of the board that the coal traffic ought to be secured to the railway, with as little delay as is consistent with the economical prosecution of the line. "For the present, the directors quite concur in post poning the completion of any other portion of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway. "The position of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton Company is unaltered since the committee of consultation, and your directors respectively commu nicated their opinions to the last meeting of proprietors, and they see no reason at present to make further allu sion to that subject, beyond expressing a hope that some means may be devised by that company to complete a portion at least of their line, and to render it productive to the shareholders. " Since the meeting in February the South Wales Company have been in amicable communication with the Board, to carry out the plan of working their line be tween Chepstow and Swansea, according to the mutual interests and former intentions of both parties. " It is with much regret the board feels bound by their duty to the proprietors to represent that the short ex perience of a few months has realised those apprehen sions which they had relative to their position after the reduction in the salaries had taken place. Since the re duction was notified the whole establishment has becoate uasettled—tbe officers and principal clerks, with few exceptions, have been seeking other employment, some valuable servants have quitted, and others are about to leave the service. Nor has the effect of the reduction been confined exclusively to those whose salaries were reduced; for several others, in despair of improving their position in the present service, have also resigned to obtain more lucrative employment elsewhere. " The directors have thin had practical proof that serious prejudice to the company has arisen, and they apprehend that still more must ensue, unless steps be now taken to give some assurance of an established scale of salary and pay upon which your officers and ser vants can rely. If length of service with great experi ence and proved ability are essentials in managing affairs, towards the prosperity and welfare of any important undertaking, success is not likely to be attained by the discouragement of those upon whom so much depends, nor can a reduction of reasonable salaries be expected to counteract pecuniary depression in times of difficulty. " These considerations, under any circumstances, but especially while making arrangements for additional duties, in consequence of the South Wales opening, and the business of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway devolving entirely upon the officers of the Great. Western Company, have forced the directors to deliberate upon the means which can be most prudently devised to remedy the evil. They are convinced that the wisest course will be to determine at once a fixed scale for every officer or class of ap pointment, fair and equitable according to the respective duties, responsibility, and length of service, so that each individual may, for the future, know what he is to depend upon, so long as be shall conduct himFelf to the entire satisfaction of his employers. That scale can, of course, be made subject to future modifications, if circumstances render it reasonable and just. " It this plan be resorted to, the directors recommend the adoption of a new scale of salaries and wages, which they have prepared with great care, and made subject to certain general regulations and conditions attached to it, as appended to this report, and the directors will report from time to time the operation of that scale, by a state ment of the amount of expenditure in consequence of the future increase or decrease of salaries, in the manner recommended by the committee of consultation. "If any instance should hereafter arise in which it may seem desirable to modify the scale, the directors would propose to subinit it for the approval of the pro priet era before it is acted upon, and they trust that these measures may restore and maintain that energy and at tachment to the service, which had hitherto characte rised the establishment employed by this company." The following was the table by which the salaries were to ba fixed:— OFFICE, &C. After Maximum On 10 Years' after 12 Appointment Service. Years Service. Secretary .... £l,ooo £1,400 ... £1,500 General Superintendent of Traffic If the above two ap- pointments are com bined ... ................. 1,400 ... I,BCO ... 2,000 Superintendent locomo tive department Superintendent (London Division) ..... Chief accountant ... ..... . Chief registrar in charge of capital accounts Manager of works at Swindon Superintendent (Bristol Division) Chief Storekeeper Charge of estate, &c 3OO ... 400 ... 450 Minuting or secretary's clerk CLASSES. Principal assistants, ca shiers, and chief clerks 160 ... Local superintendents l5O ... Station and traffic clerks, senior list ..... lOO ... Ditto, junior list, ..... • 7O or 50... Apprentices, &lc., up to 20 years of age (ac cording to their age) 30 to 50. " The foregoing salaries to be fixed at the lowest'soale of each on appoiatment, and to be gradually increased at the discretion of the directors within the prescribed limits —not on the 'principle of seniority—but on the combined considerations ot efficiency, good conduct, and length of service. No additional allowance to be made for house -rent. " No claim for promotion from one class to another to be recognised, but the directors to make such changes on their own views o f t h e fi tness alone of each indi vidual. "The maximum salary in no case to be exceeded ex cept on ,special reasons, to be reported to a general meeting of the proprietors. WEEKLY WAGES 01 GUARDS, POLICEMEN, PORTERS, &c. Head Guards Guards 255. to 275. Sub.lnspectlrs of Police 255. to 30a. " Sergeants, Foremen, and 20s. to 255. Switchmen Policemen and Porters ... 15s. to 18s. " The foregoing rates of wages are to be allowed at the discretion of the directors, according to the efficiency, good conduct, and length of service ot each individual.",. The CHAIRMAN then moved a series of resolutions in accordance with the financial scheme, for creating and raising 3,500,000/., and, in addition thereto, proposed that the directors should have the power at their discre tion of issuing 1,000,000/. of the proposed new capital, at a fixed dividend of 4j per cent. in perpetuity. Major COURT said he bad an amendment to propose, that any advantage which might arise from the issue of the new stock should be confined to the shareholders of the Great Western Railway—at least, they should have the option of taking it up in the first instance, if they thought proper. He did not object to the conditions upon which it was proposed to raise the new stock, but he contended that the Great Western shareholders were fully entitled to the benefit of the arrangement. He then moved an amendment to the effect that the shareholders now present do confirm the creation of 3,500,0001. upon the conditions mentioned in the report, provided that, in the first instance, it be allotted rateably to the holders of Great Western stock, giving them the option to take r up lu as e much of th e s t oc k a ll otte d to them as they may ; that a c i rcu l ar b e sent to each shareholder stating oit the am ount of stock allotted to him, the condi tions, when the twat instalment will become due, and also the amounts and periods when the remaining instal ments shall become due; the payment of the first instal ment to be the aasurance of accepting the shares. He saw no difficulty in fixing the dates of the instalments. It was a matter of very great consequence for the share holders to know what they had a w n o y u would e trieoqnu beingired t l o ef p t a i y n the i hands of thegy objectediretors to to pay, when they issue the 1,000,0001. at a fixed rate of interest is per petuity.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. LORD seconded the amendment. The CHAIRMAN was then about to pat the amend ment, when Mr. SMITHERS said he had some doubt as to the po such a power of the company to issue preferenc e shares. He believed the shareholders had never been asked t o sanc tion any Bill for cr eatin g preference stock. If power had b e en obtained, he thought the opinio n o f emi eernet acfoteurn arias el should o thebe taken , volidi thatoof tthe onew stock. Th e no question h might clauses in the Bills on which the directors be stearedlietod thefor power to create those shares meeting.—(Hear.) slightest objectionajor Court's to am T en h d e ra C e li n tlli th m a a t Nh he said, in vo r t e t f en h e refe rence i e g h t the option adopt it as part of the resolution. It was always in. tended to g i ve th e G rea t Western proprietors of taking the shares.—(Hear.) Major COURT said he had no objection to allow this amendment to be added to the original motion, ..,;,, Bir ,: Kti "P, the solicitor, read the elapses in the Bir mmuguttill and Oxford, the Birmingho) Virobterhgq" 900 .. 1,200 ... 1,3C0 700 ... 900 ... 1,000 500 ..., 700 ... 750 400 ... 500 ... 5.10 400 ... 500 ... 350 ... stso ... ZOO 350 ... 408 280 ... 200 235 ... 250 130 ... 140 90 ... - a provision that in all railway accounts there should be a uniformity of system—(Hear)—and under the advice of the best accountants a schedule had been appended, m in i g tte fo d rth te th t e he wa s y e setting the e e accountsa uditors . should tnet h b e e r provision of the Bill was, that the shareholders should elect five or more from their numbers, as an audit com ruintinwyhioefh mittee, and that the individuals so appointed as a com mittee should hold as large a stake in the company as that which would qualify them to act a; directors.— (Hear, hear.) They further said in their Bill, that the five or more persona should, when so appointed, elect two of their own body, or two other persons, who should be the auditors, which two persons should have the liberty of calling in the assistance of a third party in the person of a professional accountant. To secure purity in the auditing of the accounts, the directors had no power to appoint persons to conduct the auditing of the accounts; the accounts duly audited under the sys tem proposed should be sent to every shareholder seven days at least before the meeting was held at which they would be called upon to pass those accounts. They had further said in their Bill, that assuming a minority of the proprietors were dissatisfied with the accounts, if five of them could be found so dissatisfied as that they demanded a special audit, it should be allowed, and a special report made ; and it would be for the share- holders at large to determine whetherthe_cgoo was One • , - ton, and Dudley Railway Ac's, the Great Western Amendment Act of 1844, the Monmouth and Hereford, Berks and Hants, and Oxford and Rugby Railway Acts, referring to the power of the Great Western Company to create preference stock to the extent specified. The directors had taken legal opinion on the matter, and there was no question as to the power of creating the stock. Mr. NICHOLSON wished to know whether it was ex pected that the whole of the preference shares would be taken up. He had a large sum of money in reserve, which he would be disposed to invest in them provided there was something like a certainty of their being taken up. If they were not well taken up it might happen that in a few months hence the directors might raise the rate of interest to 6 or 7 per cent, in order to have the remainder taken up, and he might not then have the means of taking up any of the latter to equalise his stock. The CHAIRMAN said they had every reason to hope and believe that the shares would be taken. As to the suggestion for raising a portion of the stock at a higher rate of dividend than that proposed; it would be a great hardship to those who would subscribe in the first in stance and to the original shareholder, and on that ac count could not be entertained. Major COURT said that if the .rate of interest was raised on a portion of the stock hereafter it would be only fair to raise the interest to the same rate on the whole. The CHAIRMAN, in answer to a question, stated that it was necessary to create the whole of the stock at once— there were legal reasons for so doing. Mr. SMITHERS wished to have the opinion of eminent counsel taken, in order to give the public confidence in the validity of the shares. The CHAIRMAN said there was no occasion, they had not the slightest doubt on the subject. Mr. WILLIAMS, one of the committee of consultation, saw no objection to the financial scheme. He believed that it would be accomplished, particularly when it was considered that they could give ample security for the regular payment of the interest. He thought the money could be raised at 4 per cent. He objected to raising any portion of the capital at a fixed dividend in per petuity. Mr. WITHERS entered at some length into the advan tages of the scheme proposed. He considered the scheme an excellent one, and that it reflected great credit on the directors. There was a probability that the value of money would decrease, and this scheme would enable the company to take advantage of any change in the money market, and at the same time secure to those share holders who advanced their money a remunerative dividend and the return of their capital if desirable. He would not consent to any of the stock being created in ' perpetuity. The CHAIRMAN explained that there were parties who could not look after their own interests, and would be glad to invest their money in a permanent stock at a fixed rate of dividend. It was to meet such cases that the directors proposed the creation of 1,000,0001. at 4i per cent, in perpetuity. He believed it was a wise provision; but, of course, before adopting it, they would first ascertain whether the whole could be raised on the terms submitted. Major COURT said, in that case it would be the duty of the directors to give the shareholders the option of taking it up before any part of it was offered to the public. The CHAIRMAN said, of course the Great Western and the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth sh are h o ld ers wou ld be invited in the first instance to subscribe for the stock. After some observations from Mr. Vousley, Mr. Tyr rell, Mr. Norris, and Mr. Marriott, the resolutions were unanimously adopted. The CHAIRMAN said they would now proceed with the second part of the business. When the committee of consultation was appointed by the proprietors the direc tors felt it was of the greatest importance to the com pany that the directors should confer with the committee of consultation on all matters, and not only to confer, but to adopt their suggestions whenever they could do so honestly. At the last meeting the report of the com mittee was referred to the directors for their considera tion, and the latter concurred in the recommendations to a great extent, but they did not concur in all of them. The directors differed from the committee on points of practice and experience, and they were ther e f ore b oun d to act in accordance w ith that experience for the benefit of the company. The report of the directors and of the committee were before the shareholders, and they would have to decide what should be done. He then called on the secretary to read that peat of the report referring to the recommendations of the committee of consultation. The report was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN then moved that it be received and adopted, and that the recommendations therein of the committee of consultation be also adopted. Mr. WITHERS, one of the com m itt ee o f consu l tat i on, moved that th e urther consideration of the report be adjourned to the next half-yearly meeting, or to some special meeting called for the purpose. He contended that the distant shareholders had not sufficient time allowed them to consider the report of the directors, or to lodge their proxies with the secretary five days prior to the meeting. The committee differed with the direc tors on matters of policy. The directors' report was delivered on Monday to the distant proprietors, and un less they were allowed to take part in the proceedings of the meeting, and to express their opinions on the subjects submitted to them, it would be a mockery, and have the effect of disfranchising them. He hoped the good example set in their company would be followed out by all other railway companies. He then moved, as an amendment, the: the meeting be adjourned. Mr. WILLIAnts seconded the motion, and, in doing so, said that persons reading the report of the directors would suppose that there was no difference of opinion be tween the directors and the committee. The report was drawn up with great nicety, but there was nothing car ried out in it that could be avoided. There were recom mendations in the report of the committee which, if car ried out, would save the company a large amount of money. There were important points in the committee's report not touched upon in the director.' report. He would ask them to adjourn the meeting. Major COURT said that each section of the report should be discussed and form a separate resolution. Ile would support the amendment. Some discussion then ensued, in the course of which The CHAIRMAN expressed his regret at the proposed adjournment of the question. He said it had been al ready discussed at considerable length, and there were matters connected with the internal arrangement of the company which were at present in a very unsettled state relative to the servants of the company, in consequence of some of the recommendations of the committee, and the sooner these matters were settled the better. He believed that serious inconvenience would arise from the delay if they adjourned the meeting. After some conversation it was agreed that a special meeting should be held on the 16th of May to consider the matters contained in the report of the directors. The CHAIRMAN said, that one of the gentlemen ap pointed by the proprietors to assist the committee of shareholders in framing the Audit Bill wished to say something on the subject. Mr. NORMS, of Sutton Courtney, said, the proprietors would recollect that at the last meeting ho and four other shareholders were appointed as delegates to meet a number of gentlemen appointed under similar circum stances from most of the large railway undertakings in the country, with the view to the framing of a Share holders' Audit Bill. They met the delegates;of as many railway companies as in the aggregate represented 125,000,0004 of paid-up capital ; there were delegates from the London and North-Western, the Lancashire and Yorkshire, the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, the Lancaster and Carlisle, the Great Northern, the Midland, the South-Western, the London and Brighton, the Bleck wall, besides the delegates of the Great-Western. One of their representatives, Mr. Sandford, when they as sembled, laid upon the table a Bill which he had prepared; another, Mr. Lord, also submitted a well-digested scheme, and Mr. Bright had also something of his own to propose on the subject. The South- Western represen tatives, including Mr. Sergeant Gazelee and Mr. Locke, had for some time previously directed their attention to the question of audit, and after six months' labour pro duced a well digested scheme; in addition to which Mr. Ewart, of Bristol, and Mr. Bennett, representing the Lancaster and Carlisle Company, bad an original Bill of their own, which they laid upon the table; and, to be as brief as possible, he might mention that after some ten or a dozen successive meetings, with those materials to deal with, their labours resulted in the production of the Bill which Lord Stanley introduced into the House of Lords, and which had been read a second time. He might mention that during the progress of their labours Earl Granville introduced a Bill professing the same ob ject as that upon which the delegates were at work, in troduceditr3o 00 introduce lt da t hi them e yh i e r umh ß o i he l l ee , uh t p h ai e de y dn in the same H ouse. In selecting Lord Stanley vewvei never rh e rfhoa held ll t dw u n atty & r t e ami a n wt a fi t ey n r d s ng his shale s , and it was not likely he should ever do so; he had therefore paid little or no attention to the subject of railways, nor did he feel any interest either in promoting or opposing Lord Granville's Bill; but as they had re presented themselves as personifying the opinions of the leading railway companies in the country his Lordship expressed himself as being ready to be instructed in the matter.—(Hear, hear.) The delegates gave his Lord ship such information as it was in their power to afford, which resulted in his embracing their Bills as superior for securing a legitimate bona fide audit of railway ac counts, to that which had been introduced to the House by Lord Granville. The same evening the Bill was read a first time, and on the following Friday it was read a second time, and both Bills had been referred to a Com mittee of Peers, where the two measures would have to work out the conflict. They would be very fortunate if the Bill, which he might term the Shareholders' Bill, ob tained the mastery.—(Cheers.) In their Bill there was GERMANY. A telegraphic dispatch from Erfurt of the 23d inst., in the Kolner Zeitung, states that the Ministers have returned from Berlin to Erfurt, that the intelligence they brought was very favourable, that the Prussian Government will positively remain faithful to the word it pledged the nation, and that the Parliament is likely to adjourn in the course of the nest week. The Reform newspaper of the 22d inst. states that a Cabinet Council was held at Bellevue on the 21st inst., and that his Majesty the King and Baron Radowitz took part in it. In consequence of this Cabinet Council the Reform thinks itself justified in declaring that the Erfurt Parliament will not ad ourn, and that the differences between the Go vernment and some of the Roman Catholic Bishops in Prussia are approaching to a satisfactory solution.° A. Berlin letter of the 22d in the Milner Zeitung confirms the late rumour of a positive refusal on the part of Prussia to comply with the Austrian desire for the convocation of a Congress for the purpose of arranging the affairs of and prolonging the " In terim." Prussia proposes to allow the present In terim Commission to continue in its former functions. SICILY. Letters from Messina, of the 12th, state that since the 9th there have been upwards of 40 shocks of earthquakes, in consequence of which the greatest alarm was prevalent, and business was at a complete stand. FIRST ARRIVAL OF DAHOMEY COTTON IN MANCHESTER. We have more than once called attention to two exceedingly interesting and important communica tions from the late lamented Mr. Duncan, the African traveller, who penetrated from Whydah, the port of the kingdom of Dahomey, to its capital, and was him self astonished at the obvious capabilities of large tracts of country for growing cotton of an exceed ingly good colour and very useful quality. He seems to have found favour with the sable Monarch of Dahomey, and having one evening expressed a wish to have a little of the native indigenous cotton, which he had seen growing in the neighbourhood, he was almost " smothered" by the immense quantities which were brought to him the following morning. His letters, which were speedily followed, alas, by his sudden and untimely death, intimated that he was sending samples of this native cotton to England, consigned, we believe, to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce ; but, months after the time at which it should have come to hand having elapsed without tidings of it, all expecta tion of receiving it was abandoned, when a com munication was unexpectedly received from Brest, in France, announcing its arrival there; and it reached Manchester only on Thursday last. Its adventures are not a little remarkable. Mr. Duncan had put about 101bs. of the cotton, just in the state in which the natives had gathered it in from the pods, without attempting to remove the seed, into a small keg, such as is used to smuggle tobacco, and as at that time there was no British vessel at the port of Whydah, he shipped it on board a French vessel called the Aristide, bound for St. Malo. In the homeward trip this vessel lost her captain by death, and was afcer wards overtaken by a storm, and was ultimately driven by stress of weather into Brest. Here the keg was landed; but, as there was no British vessel there et that time, it was dispatched to the British Vice- Consul at St. Malo, that he might take means to for ward it to its destination. He kept it some time by him, waiting fir an opportunity of sending it either to London or Liverpool ; but, none such offering, he at length determined to send it to a stage nearer home, and accordingly it was put on board a small vessel bound for Guernsey or Jersey ; and, once there, it was not difficult to find a conveyance to London, and thence to Man chester. So far as can be judged from this sample, the cotton, without any of the advantages of regular and systematic culture, exhibits two excellent qualities. It is of a clear, good colour, and its staple is fine. It is intended to have some of it ginned, by different machines, and then to exhibit it to the trade, and especially to those skilled in the discrimination of the various., shades of quality and value; but already, we believe, there is little doubt that, if a few gins and a packing-press or two were sent out to Whydah as a present to the King of Dahomey, on condition that he should have all the cotton ginned, cleaned, and packed in bales, ready for exportation, there would at once be a very considerable supply of this valuable product coming hither from that part of the world. We are assured that the King of Dahomey, who, like more civilized Sovereigns, is extremely de sirous of increasing his revenues, would give every encouragement to the cultivation and export of cotton, if a remunerative price could be secured. This would not be difficult, for labour there is probably as cheap as in any part of the world. It is said, too, that the King would even gladly give up his slave hunts, if the cotton and palm-oil trade could be made a certain source of income. Already the latter article has become so much sought after that the supply is scarcely equal to the demand, and vessels are kept waiting at Whydah for some time before they can fill up their cargoes exclusively with oil. If to this be added an abundant supply of cotton, the vessels will load more rapidly, filling up with either articles as it can be obtained, and the trade will consequently become more remunerative. Should the supply of cotton eventually prove as large as the accounts would fairly warrant us to expect, we may, ere many years have elapsed, find the west coast of Africa com peting to a very considerable extent with the United States in the supply of this important raw materia l our great staple manufacture.—ManchesterGuardian MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, April 24. (Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant-Judge, and a Bench of Magistrates.) The Court sat this day to hear appeals and bail case. Henry Delaney, a young man of very respectable appearance, surrendered in discharge of his bail, charged with having committed a violent assault upon Mrs. Jane Rose, on the 13th of November last. Mr. Carter conducted the prosecution ; Mr. O'Brien was for the defence. _ _ _ The facts of the casea;Proved in evidence w ere , that at about ni ne o ' c l oc k on the evening of the 13th of November last, Mr. Jonathan Rose, and his wife, the prosecutrix, were walking in the neighbourhood of the Gray's Inn-road. They turned up a narrow street, and Mr. Rose left prosecutrix for a short time. H e had scarcely left her a minute when she was followed by the defendant and another person, and the defend ant, without any cause or provocation, gave her a violent blo w on t h e l ower part of her b ac k, w hi c h knocked he r d own an d g reatly alarmed h er . Sh e called to her h us b an d f o r assistance, and upon hi s coming up th e d e f en d an t was given into cu s t o d y. Being then in a far advanced state of pregnancy, she became very ill ; a surge on was sent for, and for some time he was of opinion that premature labour would be the result. Before leaving the station•house, the defendant wished to compromise the matter, but this was declined on the part of the prosecutrix. Mr. O'BRIEN, in the course of his cross-examination of the prosecutrix wished to place in her hands the de positions to which she bad sworn before the ma gistrates. Mr. CARTER objected to this proceeding as alto gether irregular. Mr. O'BRIEN, without noticing this objection, at tempted to hand over the depositions to the witness. Mr. CARTER protested against this course until the Learned Judge.had decided upon the objection he had raised. Mr. O'BRIEN still presented the paper. Mr. TURNER, a magistrate on the bench, said he thought it right that the Learned Judge should first determine upon the validity of the objection taken by the Learned Counsel for the prosecution. Mr. O'BRIEN said the only authority there was the Learned Judge upon the bench. To that tribunal only would he bow, and therefore he , looked upon the in terference of any other person on the bench as a gross act of impertinence. Mr. TURNER replied that he was not at all disposed to submit to the remark of the Learned Counsel. Mr. O'BRIEN would not be interfered with by per sons who hgvi no business there. Mr. CARTER said that, according to the rule laid down by Mr. Justice Patteson on the lust Oxford circuit, it had been decided that the Learned Counsel (Mr. O'Brien) was proceeding in a way that he had no right to do. If he wanted to use the depositions, let them first be read by the officer of the court, and then put in in a format way, when he would be at liberty to ask any questions upon them. Captain CARPENTER (another magistrate) agreed in the expressions of his friend Mr. Turner. Mr. O'BRIEN should like to know where the case alluded to was reported. Mr. CARTER said that there had not been sufficient time to allow it to be included in the regular reports, but it would be found fully reported in the Law Times. Mr. PuisiN remarked that he was present at the trial referred to, and remembered the case ; and the point in dispute was not on the depositions. The Learned JUDGE said he had no objection what ever to this proceeding. _ _ Mr. TURNER wished, before Mr. O'Brien pro ceeded, to draw his attention to the statute 7 and 8 Vic., c. 57. Mr. 013 aux replied that he should only recognise the Judge in that court. Mr. TURNER said that be must recognise others if he intended to continue his practice there. The Learned JUDGE said, they (the magistrates) had as much right and authority there as any one else. Captain CARPENTER said that he never interfered in matters of law, as he had great confidence in the in telligence of the Learned Judge who presided ; and if ever he had offered an observation it was upon some matter of fact_ Another witness, a policeman, was then put into the box, and, in the course of his examination, Mr. Turner wished that he should more clearly answer a question. - The Learned JUDGE hoped that Mr. Turner would allow him to preside, notwithstanding the 7th and Bth Victoria to which he had referred Mr. O'Brien. In the case of the Learned Judges sitting in banco, the senior judge always took the lead in the business, and this was also the practice in the Central Criminal Court, where two or three judges of equal power presided, but even there one judge always took the initiative to try the prisoner, or the criminal business of this country would soon get into a state of the greatest confusion. Mr. TURNER said he should never interfere unless he saw something wrong in the evidence. The Learned JUDGE—Cannot you leave this to a man of forty years' experience ? if not, the sooner some one else presides here the better. This amusing episode having passed over, the trial proceeded, and terminated in the defendant being found Guilty by the jury. The Learned JUDGE ordered that he should make compensation to the prosecutrix by a fine of 71., which was paid, and be was discharged. The appeals presented no feature of interest, being confined to orders made in bastardy cages. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. WORSHIP-STREET. Richard Pound and William Langford Jenkins, who stood charged with having obtained, under false and fraudulent representations, the sum of 8001., in cash and bills of exchange, from Mr. William Newman, a colour manufacturer, at Hoxton, surrendered to their bail before Mr. Arnold, for final examination. The facts of the case have already been fully de tailed in this paper. The evidence of the numerous witnesses, which was very voluminous, having been reduced to depositions and read over by Mr. Hurlstone, the second clerk, the defendants, who expressed their intention to reserve their defence, were fully committed for trial, the same bail which had been previously entered into having been extended for their appearance at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court to the amount themselves and their sureties, of 8,0001. WANOSWOR7'H. A fashionably-attired and good-looking woman, about thirty-five years of age, and who had given her name at the police-station as Anna Mary Anson, a governess, but had also represented herself as Mrs. Colonel Ferguson and as Mrs. Coney, widow of Colonel Coney, was brought up for re-examination before Mr. Beadon, on a charge of stealing a hand somely bound Church Service from the house of Mr. Brownjohn, a boot and shoemaker in the High-street, Putney. There was a second charge preferred against her to-day of stealing a purse, containing about 2/. and a miniature, the property of Mrs. Charlotte Bird, the widow of an officer, residing at Brompton-row. The prisoner was first examined on Thursday, the 18th instant, before Mr. Paynter, and on that occa sion Mrs. Elizabeth Brownjohn proved that on the prious day, about half-past twelve o'clock, the priso ner called on her, and requested to look at some fur nished apartments she had to let. The prisoner said she had a nephew who had undergone a serious ope ration, and she wished to place him a little way out in the country where he would be quiet. She said her name was Coney, that she was the widow of Colonel Coney, and resided at 113, Pall-mall, where she let suites of apartments. Mr. Fox, M.P., was one of the occupants of her apartments. The prisoner made reference to her landlord and banker as to her re spectability. She then complained of being tired, and sat down for a few minutes, during which time she excused herself for not being provided with her card-case, and asked for a pen and ink, to give her address. Mrs. Brownjohn went down stairs into the parlour, for the required writing materials, and was in the act of returning, when she was met by the prisoner, who said she was a woman of business, like the witness, and would net give her the trouble to go up stairs, but would write the address in the parlour, which she did, and then left. Almost immediately afterwards Mrs. Brownjohn discovered that a new and handsomely bound Church S ervice was missing. A son of the witness, an intelligent child eight years of age, was sent after the prisoner, to tell her that his mother wished to speak to her, and he overtook her on the Fulham side of Putney-bridge ; she told the boy she would just fetch her cab and return with him. The prisoner, however, made her way towards Parson's-green, and on arriving there was overtaken by Mr. Knight, a butcher, at Wal ham-green, who had heard of the circumstance, re cognised the prisoner, and followed her in his cart to Milman's•row, Chelsea, before he saw a policeman. In the King's-road she went into Mr. Hicks's nur sery, and selected plants and a bouquet of flowers, to be sent to 17, Gunter's-grove, and wished to pass through a side gate into the grove, by which means she could; have eluded Mr. Knight, and got into the Fulham road. However, as the key could not be found readily, she came out the way she entered, and, as stated, was given into custody. Cudley, 149 V, the constable who apprehended her, could find no Church Service; on her, and there was very little doubt it was thro wn i n t o t h e r i ver. The prisoner exhibited no reluctance to go to the police station. Yesterday Mrs. Charlotte Reid was examined, and stated that on Monday week, about two o'clock in the afternoon, th e prison er came to h er h ouse, 12, Bromp ton-row, to Inquire after some furnished apartments she had to let. She said she did not want them for herself, but for her friends, Colonel M'Kenzie and Mrs. M'Keezie, and she gave her name as Mrs. Colonel Fergusson. The prisoner was very com municative, and witness, believing her to be a lady, placed wine and biscuits before her. A great deal of conversation passed between them, and the pri soner represented that she lived at 113, Pall mall 4 hell father was an officer in the army ; that her maiden name was Courtenay, and that she was once celebrated as the " beautiful Miss Courtenay ;" that she went out to India at a very early age, and was married very young. She further said, that the Duke of Wellington had been godfather to one of her sons, and her eldest daughter was to be married to the Hon. Mr. George Baring in three weeks; that she had two sons studying for the Church, who were at college, and two others were following their father's profession, that of the army, and the late Queen Dowager had left her second son 5001. to fit him out for the army. She further said that her brother was the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Courte nay, chaplain to the Quen, and that on the return of her mother, a short time since, from India, she ex pressed an ardent desire to see the Queen, and she was introduced by her son, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Courtenay, to the Sovereign. The prisoner went on to state that her Majesty rose to receive her mother, took hold of her hand, and said, " My dear Courte nay, this is a pleasure to take you by the hand," and her Majesty led her to a seat. Presently the Queen asked her mother what o'clock it was, and her mother apologised for not having her watch with her, and the Queen instantly presented her with her own. Mrs. Reid said she did not immediately miss anything after the departure of the prisoner, because she did not suspect her, but presently wanting her purse, which she had placed on the table, on coming in from mar keting, she missed it, as also a miniature of her late husband, which was on the sideboard. The loss of the money was nothing to her in comparison to her deprivation of such a relic. She had not seen or heard anything of it since, but the purse produced (which was found at prisoner's lodgings) was her property. The prisoner was remanded until Tuesday next. THE COLLIERS' STRIKE AT ST. HELEN'S.—The great body of workmen are still remaining out on strike, to the disadvantage of themselves and families. A number of miners from the north arrived on Friday last. This caused another disturbance, and all sorts of threats were resorted to, to deter the new corners from working. Four additional police have been sent to protect the property of the inhabitants and to prevent any breach of the peace.—Liverpool Mercury. OXFORD CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE. - The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. Shadwell Barkworth, M.A., of Worcester College, and formerly curate of St. Peter le-Bailey's parish, Oxford, to the rectory of St. Clement's, in Oxford. The trustees of St. Katharine's Hospital have con ferred the valuable living of St. l'eter's, Northampton, on the Rev. Havilland de Sausmarez, Fellow of Pembroke College, ilud lector of St, Aldate's, Oxford. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, April 25. Their Lordships met at Five o'Chick. PETITIONS. Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from Colonel Biddulph, tte Lord-Lieutenant if the county of Denbigh, :,nd three other gentlemoo, complaining that a certain railway which ran through that county had got into the hands of certain proprietors of collieries, who had abused the powers conferred on them by Parliament, by carrying their own coals at a less rate than they carried the coals of other proprietors. He believed that this was not a singular instance in which colliery proprietors, who were also railway directors, had, in a similar man ner, abused their trust. Earl NELSON presented a petition from the parish of Ply mpton, against an increase in the number of beer shops. The Earl of CARLISLE presented two petitions against Post-office labour on Sootily ; ais,) petitions from Leeds and Cork against the puni,hment of death; and a petition praying for a removal of the taxes on knowledge. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several peti tinny praying for a repeal of the Sale of Bt-er Act. TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of BREADALBANE this Bill was passed through Committee, and some ver bal amendments were introduced. ALTERATIONS IN PLEADINGS BILL. This Bill rassed through Committee. PIRATES HEAD MONEY REPEAL BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE the House resolved itself into Giintnitfee on this Bill. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGLI objected to the stigmatizing persdns as pirates until they should have been convicted of piracy. The words of the Bill should have been "alleged pirates." The Noble Lord con cluded by proposing a verbal amendment calculated to meet this objection. The Earl .• of MINTO defended the wording of the clause. After a few observations from the Earl of MINTO and Lord COLCHESTER, Earl GREY said be bed no objection to adopt so much of the amendment of the Noble Earl (Ellecbo rough) as would make the Bill applicable to the capture of pirates on shore as well as at sea. After some conversation the amendment was nega tived without a division, and the Bill passed through Committee. The Bishop of OXFORD presented petitions from Jamaica and from an anti-slavery society, complaining of the ruin brought upon the inhabitants of that island by the introduction of slave-grown sugar into our mar kets, and praying for redress; also a petition from Buck inghamshire against Sunday labour in the Post-office; and also a petition from a place in Surrey praying for the suppression of beer-shops. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 25. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed:— Glasgow and Shotts Turnpike-roads Improvement; Guardian Fire and Life Assurance Company. LONDON (WATFORD) SPRING WATER COM PANY BILL. Sir DE LACY EVANS moved the second reading of this Bill. Mr. HALSEY suggested that the second reading of this Bill be postponed fur a fortnight, in order that time be allowed for the report of the Sanitary Commission being laid on the table of the House. Sir G. GREY expressed himself favourable to the postponement of the second reading until the report of the Board of Health was on the table. After an animated conversation, in which Sir B. Hall, Lord Ashley, Mr. B. Denison, Sir G. Grey, Mr. Brown low Knox, Mr. W. Patten, and Sir De Lacy Evans took part, Sir DE LACY EVANS agreed to withdraw his mo tion, and— The second reading of the Bill was eventually post poned until Monday fortnight. METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS (HENLEY ON-THAMES AND LONDON AQUEDUCT) BILL. The second reading of this Bill, for the same reason, was postponed until Monday fortnight. KIDDERMINSTER ELECTION. Mr. BOUVERIE, the Chairman of the Kiddermin ster Election Committee, appeared at the bar, with the report of the Committee appointed to try the petition presented against the return of the sitting Member. The Committee reported that Mr. John Best was duly elected a burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the borough of Kidderminster. PETITIONS. Mr. G. DUNCAN presented a petition from the phy sicians of Dundee, praying that the assistant-surgeons in the navy might be placed on the same footing as sur geons in the army with respect to accommodation. Petitions were presented by Sir R. H. Inglis from places in Dorset and Wilts; by Sir W. Verner from Armagh; by Mr. Lockhart, Lord Barrington, Mr. Law, Lord Charles Manners, and Sir Charles Lemon, prayi ng the House to pass such measures as would prevent the transmission of mails on the Subbath. Mr. COWAN prwsent ed a petition from the governors ' of Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh, against the Public Health Bill for Scotland, and also against the Police Bill for Scotland. The lion. Member presented several pe titions to the same eff-ct from Edinburgh. Mr. C. LEWIS presented several petitions against Sunday labour in the Post-office, and a petition in favour of the extension of county courts. Mr. WYLD presented several petitions praying f)r a better supply of water to the metropolis ; also some petitions from places in Lancashire in favour of the Ten Hours Bill. Mr. FARBER presented a petition from the county of Durham complaining of agricultural distress, and praying for relief. Mr. STAFFORD presented a petition against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. B. DENISON presented several petitions from places in Yorkshire to the same effect. Mr_ SANDARS presented a petition from a place in the West Riding of Yorkshire in favour of a ten hours' factory Bill. Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from Liver pool praying, as we understood, for certain alterations in the Stamp Duties Bill. Mr. LASCELLES presented a petition from Ripon in favour of the Marriage Bill. Sir GEORGE CLERIC presented a petition from Mid Lothian against the Educational Bill far Scotland. Colonel THOMPSON presented a petition praying for a better supply of water to the metropolis. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented several petitions against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Mr. 11EY WOOD presented a petition from a place in Lancashire in favour of international arbitration. Lord GEORGE MANNERS presented a petition from Essex complainints of agricultural distress. Mr. GEORUE THOMPSON presented a petition from the Tower Hamlets in favour of financial reform, and praying for the repeal of the windew duties; also, petitions from Bromley and Shoreditch praying tor the abolition of church-rate,, and a petition from Belfast praying the House to take more effective steps for the suppres.ion of the slave-trade. Mr. PAGE WOOD presented a petition from the Corporation of Oxford praying for a reform of the Court of Chancery. Mr. CLAY presented a petition from the Corporation of Hull praying the House to ex tend the jurisdiction of county courts. Lord DUDLEY STUART presented a petition from Marylehone praying the House to adopt measures for bbtter supplying the metropolis with water. Sir B. HALL presented a similar petition from St. Pancras. Lord H. VANE presented a petition from the Stock ton and Darlington Railway Company against any alteration in the scamp duties. Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition from Sheffield against church-rates. Mr. MANGLES presented a petition from Guildford in favour of secular education. Sir W. CLAY presented a petition praying for a better supply of water in the metropolis. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. STUART gave notice that on the adjourned de bate on the motion of the Member for North Lanca shire, respecting the Universities, he should move an amendment that any advice given to her Majesty to issue a Royal C .mmission tor inquiring into the state of the revenue of any of the colleges or halls of the Uni versities of Oxford and Cambridge would tend to a vio lation of the laws and institutions of the kingdom, and the rights and liberties of her Majesty's subjects. RAILWAY COMPANIES. Mr. BASS asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had considered the subject of the Bills for extension of time sought for by various railway comps nies; and if so, whether he deems it expedient that this House should instruct its Committees to inquire and re port to the House, whether the companies seeking exten sion Bills have sufficient means to carry out the under takings for which such extensions of time are required ? Mr. LABOUCHERE did not see any necessity for passing any such resolutions. LIGHTHOUSES. Mr. HUME asked Sir Francis Baring what steps had been taken in respect to lighthouses on the Basses Rocks on the south-east coast of Ceylon; also, in respect to the lighthouse on the south-west point of the Isle of Guernsey at Pleinmont Point; also, in respect to the lighthouse on Europa Point in the island of Barbadoes, for many years recommended. Sir F. BARING said, with regard to the first ques tion that had been put to. him, a communication had been made to the Admiral, who had expressed a strong opinion of the advantage of having a lighthouse on the Basses Rock, on the south-east coast of Ceylon. With regard to the second question, a lighthouse would be very desirable at that point, but the money was the great obstacle, and at present the East India Company were not prepared to share in the expense. As regarded the third question, he hoped that a light house on Europa Point would bo in a very short time Constructed. ENCUMBERED ESTATES IN IRELAND. Colonel DUNNE asked the Solicitor-General for England whether be war aware that the Commissioners of Encumbered Estates in Ireland bad now refused to delay salts of property on the ground of inadequacy of value? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL bad no information on the subject. IRISH ASSISTANT-GUARDIANS. Colonel DUNNE asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether it was the intention of the Govern.; Went to pay the assistant-guardians in Ireland in the tts manner in which the Right Hon. Baronet stated last session of varliarnent? Sir GEORGE GREY was u nderstood to tslattr several essistant-guardians had been aPP inted n , t. did not know anything rrgardin their peYt u ti e rr -- NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT' r l,O c s la t c 73( R G R : y e, V ee A ) NNEvheatshkeerd he e e Member betrw;oo,ohisi,: extensive alterations were proceeding in theer. IN° d of Commons. I t appearei to b e now discev e there was not sufficient accommodation °peeler House for the Members—(A laugb) — an d be rll o stood there was to be a gallery which away from the symmetr of the l'lt s , e .‘ IVO would ask the Honourable y Member whe t ''; alterations were to be of a permanent charaetet'hao Mr. GREENE said that the arrangement ofAt'liectill on each side of the House had been found 5 0 u. ° men' that it would very much diminish the number to 11 01 bers who could sit in the Clouse.—(Laughter') ` been determined, thererdre, that V . , e lower gallery 01 end of the House should boappropriated to te e wort Members, so that the House would accommodates at larger number of Members than it ever had doee'oeig order had been isued, therefore, to get LIP t he a temporary mariner, so that Members migh t c ' ec mfr for a Jew days this session, and judge . of u s i ec ts `l,tte r : tions, and if the arrangement were loaner s would grea., the arrangements would be carried out slo sh facility, but if n u :, t h e a l terat i ons cou ld be tt' re fute: iess expense. Th e p r e sent arrangeme nt was; tR e quite temporary. s tio o Lord HARRY VANE wished to know if al - had been made of the expense Mr. GREENE ,aid there had, and it amounted toy fal Mr. HUME wished to ask whether the sreb i lt n ec d rst ° ai c , tinue to have a p er centage on a ll the ba le committed ? yrort de ll° The CHANCELLOR o f th e EXCHEQu'- that he had ever received a per tentage. it sr Mr. GOULBURN h o p e d that. Bon. asking question s on the subject in future would 0-t etjuse of such term s , Sir J. PAIiINGTON gave notice that, °11), t- be S boli'' occasion of goin g i n t o C omm i ttee of SupplY, Ser ask a question of w hi c h h e h ad utice " to the King's-ro a d, Pimlico. given n THE STAMP DUTIES. „ rot id t4 h. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQ u 'a s :gf - ''',, regretted to find that the alterations which be s ,:droo, in the Stamp Duties Bill hid not reconciled Ind, 0' ences of opinion which existed on the subjectL P- t b the f view of reconciling those differences attb Ao wouldp s ol r i policy 4si w t .Li i h c l ; Nt h h e ce O t n t L i i o lol u Ng forht as i desirablet wGeeokv. E R s li t 0 , 7 1 1 13 : 13 ' 1 " 1 0 ' The House resolved itself into Committee 0 0 '" - e odeP a On the motion that clause 17 be agreed to us r liell Mr. ROEBUCK s u ggested that the sa ving ti ;l9 lP was proposed to e ff ec t i n t h e salaries o f certeit i ,i i te l should be left at the disp osa l o f t h e Colonial The amendment was opposed by Lord J. B tril° 4 Mr. HAWES. t 5112 _Mr. ROEBUCK co m pl a i ne d o f the extra which tine clause proposed to give to the G°lie‘ideslll Van Diemen's Lind. - It was 5,0004 ayea r r e t ibe 6i „: too much, and he wo ul d t h ere f ore suggest te8.1,000; ing of all salari es s h ou ld b e left to the colonies selves. 0 0/4 Lord J. RUSSELL did not think that conr° be prudent, and he must consequently oppos e Mr. ROEBUCK suggeste d that power cow" given to the Governor to make a civil list for specified time. l Sir W. MOLESWORTII said if we wishecl.,: t, id A proper officers in the c o l on i es t h ey s h ou ld be r some degree of liberality, 0 6°9 The gallery was then cleared for a division , b took place, the clause having been agreed to. w itl9 Clauses from 18 to 28 inclusive were a greed t° any discussion. 0 1 On clause 29 being proposed, ast ie g s ' Mr. E. DENISON suggested that the het lll , l o - the colony of New South Wales should be els" dd tinctly defined than they were at present. r to Lord J. RUSSELL sa id t h e C rown h a d pow- eche new settlements and to form new boundaries necessary. pis cil' Colonel ESTCOURT thought it would be ' l3/ ' f cable to lay do wn any di st i nct l i ne of boundariyd f,' After a few words from Mr. ROEBUCK and RUSSELL, the clause was agreed to. On clause 30 being proposed, f Mr. V. SMITH sa id th i s clause and tbe -°aoB,- clauses, were the nov e lty o f t h e Bi ll. In the Vir°-ntl it was proposed t o h ave a general assera bilt 6 bell e j ; found to be impossibly, and they could not exP e les,,, success in Austr a li a . He hoped his Noble Frie e l l. P consent to have thi s c l ause struck out o f the 13 1 hod ° wished to kno w w h a t h er Majesty's Government say on the subject. t 0 1/ Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that be did ne - b lis t ; there could be any such thing as a federal stsel f6 A bee A gr less the colonies themselves proposed it, and "",„1 the powers given by the clause might not for s i e— f e o rv" - , be called into operation, it was better to provit o be t matter now, while legislating on the subject , L "; fetus to come to Parliament for fresh powers on ang st ; occasion. With regar d to t h e " squatting interedssl7,i thought that it was b e tt er not to be represent Id arr present period. H e t ruste d t h e Committee Ivo' fte to insert these clauses. to o „i Mr. E. DENISON sa id h e h ad no objection ": slo' • It deral association, but in providing for that th e, obl e , too lar, and prescribed rules and regulations fe r l'; made it impossible that such a body could e e ls, formed. Ile objected to the form in which the - were framed. el e s : Mr. ROEBUCK sa id t h at the clauses were &V I A 0 , 1-- most unfortunate w a y. Th e great object to es P. ie; federatio n , a su bj ect wh i ch he thought of greet -bet ante. The idea might be sneered at by s orne,, Tb t hoped to se e a grant people spring up.—(Bear' ) ire clause had bett er b e w i t hd rawn with a view to ° greater con s id erat i on . a t° I,A C° Mr. DISRAELI sa id i t appeared to him that 4-0 pursued by the Noble Lord was dereating his ° 0 t r e c o jest. Th ose c l auses h a d b een drawn up tV I3 h ~ misconcepti on o f t h e true principle of federato':* ; elf true principle of f e d erat i on was equality, sycl,slol. upon the basis o f i n d epen d ence in the several s"--A noe l the clauses were not withdrawn the Noble 1 -4 1. : lees fail in his wise and statesman-like scheme. went upon the principle of inequality. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that perhaPP might be incr ease d b y some variation in the Pr il A eolt i He certainly wished the clauses to be carried, e t01., - ,. with that view see whether the clauses could severe amended before the report so as to meet the se" - gestions that had been offered. eeot e sel Sir WILL MOLESWORTH said he 04 ;efo - a great federal association, unless it was intende d 0 , 6 a great independent state. If there was any, ePteti l necessity for this union, he should not oppose t; thought there was none. e° Mr. LABOUCHERE sa id t h at i t would n ot W bill hg, the tie of thes e co l on i es to the mother countr y ' , t hey arrangement, but ra th er strengthen it, by enahl ifig e r e ' to effect what changes m i g h t b ecome necessa ry 1" gular . and constriitional maner elte ei e s; Mr. DISRABLI said that n probably, as it vise 5- i c ir, ledged to b e a d i ffi cu l t and delicate matter to pro/400V machinery by w hi c h t h e f e d eral association cou ld l' et titri vied out, the clauses had better be withdrawn ssit ol4 idl 3e Mr. ROEBUCK h ope d t h at the Noble Lord Vi°' so readily accede to that suggestion. i• ab le Mr. ADDERLEY t h ought t h e plan inaPP-I,c 001 present. H e did not k now why the Noble Lau - bor .- object to two General Assemblies, and therefore egg that the Nobl e L or d wou l d again consider the the tion, as it req u i re d much reflection on the par t - n ee Government. co°e s Mr. ROEBUCK sa id th at h e was at a loss to e he e tc, for the spe ec h o f t h e l ast speaker, particularly f!,"eeso' asserted that h e (M r . R oe b uc k) con f ounded his ludistOr this plan of forming two legislatures, which was trically opposed to his wish. Lord J. MANNERS o bj ected that an apP - s should be mad e by t h e G eneral Assembly to he' .. jesty's Government. bl Lord J. RUSSELL sa id t h at the objection rs I : s t ioc the Noble Lord (L or d J. M anners) was very obJ eC 4 ti t .1 1 able, particularly w h en i t was to be considered,,: 000° there was to be an agreement on the part of the tl e o . be' Assembly, there should be a perfect understandi e ° tween au panies. t e The Committee then di v id e d , w h en th ere appears For the claus e Against it Majority for the clause Clauses 31 to 49 were then agreed to witho ut discussion. th e The preamble of the Bill was also agreed to, %pi House resumed—the report to be brought_up on week. fsf j. SECURITIES FOR ADVANCES ( Bi ;4 IRELAND) tl° - The adjourned debate on the second reading °- Bill was resum e d. he Di li ; Lord NAAS o pp ose d t h e f urther progress of o_4o- and regretted th e o pp os i t i on to the measure missfallen into abl er h an d s . I t was true the m easui lm e it been brought in by Government, but at the sitol,;,,ioi,e ti could not be denied there was a great diversity 01",.'esi the on all sides with respect to this Bill. He eonsio e 'olll, e ' Bill was a step in a wrong direction. It was t k l idl, ,„ enable parties, under the Encumbered Estates ."'" e tel': borrow half the purchase-money, and secure thl,,t s tiv on the land. This he considered was in total 11- s yel of the Bill they had been called on to sanction le s t, all The present would not have its intended el i A ec e d o' 4 ° ' would also act injuriously on the present Ilitiv-erliee prietors. The Bill last year was brought in to 0 Del proprietors of encumbered estates and to set cr e fee and had it been brought in on any other princip le tot for any other object, he should have given it m i l q uo% determined oppositicn. To prove this he wool' e pee a passage from the Honourable Member's h ere who brought in the Bill. The Noble ii ° ,, r h r O f : quoted from the speech.) He ( would ask wh e ` c ,;? `f present Bill was analogous to the Bill of last ye a was at direct variance with the object and pris,Tcrear if the Bill of last year, inasmuch as he firmly be". e nc e c; passed, it would create a permanent enctirohliree as p property. It was an extreme measure that l'i"„"rct and passed last year, but it was brought f° 1. " 1.- tes - supported solely because of the e xigeoe - e; bieg the case, and the necessity of doing B , l l e s ill to relieve the holders of encumbered ett, Ireland. He would ask the Right Honourable oe' tleman, if t h e B i ll pasted into a law, whet h e r it le O r carry out th e recommen d at i ons in the report 151 , the receivers in Chancery ? Assuming the so i n ; not contradi c t or y, an d assum i ng the ob j ec t "'a n 0 tb crease the valu e o f l an d an d to save 10se,„'eed , glut of land t h rown on t h e mar k et, yet its °-f; it was, it did not appear lik ely to carr y 00-e the jeer, or to create a b e tt er state o f thig r trcl here that it was enacted to supersede. The Noble Aefie ct,e entered int o some calculations to show the Oa i probable working of the measure . It bed tw o pru_ these measures were calculated to create a pe as d 1 13 . 13 prictory in Ireland. Nothing could be more tO" '''''s----._