The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REFORM CON FE HENCE. The first meeting of the National Reform Conference was held yesterday in Crosby-hall, Bishopsgate street. The hall was crowded long before the proceed ings began with delegates from Reform associations from all parts of the country. On the platform were assembled many of the leaders of the cause, among whom were Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P., Richard Cobden, Esq.. M.P., Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P., Sir J. Walms ley, M.P., W. J. Fox, Esq., M.P., Alderman Kershaw, M.P., Colonel Thompson, M.P., Laurence Heywortb, Esq., NI.P., J. B. Smith, Esq., bd.P. G eo rge Dawson, Esq., Charles Gilpin, Esq., T. Williams, Esq., M.P., Feargus O'Connor, M.P., &c. On the motion of Mr. BIGGS, of Leicester, seconded by Mr. WALTERS, of Newcastle, Sir J. Walrnsley, M.P., took the chair, and Mr. Thomas Begg, Secretary to the National Reform Association, was appointed se cretary to the Conference. Sir JosiltrA WALMSLEY then rose and said, in ac cordance with the wishes of the conference he should not hesitate to take the chair and to explain the objects of their meeting here. It would be quite unneces sary for him to trouble them with the principle of the association, but he must say for himself, that he felt greatly honoured by being elected to preside over such an assembly, every member of which sat as a delegate from a great constituency. The first object of the conference would be to devise the best means of giving a proper impulse to the public mind, and to ma ture a system through which the wishes of the people might be best forced upon the attention of the Legisla ture. It was well known that the National Association, though in the operations which it had so far conducted it had met with the utmost success and the general approbation of every part of the country to which it had penetrated, was yet in its infancy. The members of the National Association hal hitherto been determined by the accident of residence, but only those who had had experience of the fact could properly esti mate the activity and intelligence of the supporters of the association in the provinces. This was the great reason why the present conference had been called to gether. He invited the conference to the utmost free dom of speech; there would be no restraint, he hoped, imposed on them. The first obj e.ct, he thought, woujd be to appoint an executive committee, and though he had ho wish to prophecy what their deliberations would be, he might, perhaps, be permitted to point out a few of the leading points on which they could touch. He could not insist too much on local efforts.—(Cheers.) A few men like Mr. Tillet, of Norwich—(Cheers)—who would work in each county as he had done in Norfolk, would do an infinite amount of good to the cause. He hoped that they would personally take this hint. Local efforts, directed to the alteration of the existing state of things, where they were inimical to the cause of reform; to melding and purifying the registration; to the selection of men in their several districts best qua lified to carry out the objects of the association in Par liament at a future election; and to a more stringent supervision of the present Members., would be of great advantage.,—(Hear, hear.) He would not detain them from the business of the conference, but would conclude by thanking thorn for the attention with which they had listened to him, and also for the support which both he and all the members of the committee had always met with in their visits to the provinces. Mr. PARRY proposed the first resolution, which was to appoint a business committee, consisting of seven indi viduals, to deliberate upon the order and manner of pro ceedings of the conference. Colonel Tuomesow came forward, amid loud cheering, to second the resolution. Ile hoped that, from their long acquaintance, there could be no doubt of the sin cerity and satisfaction with which he came forward to second that resolution. They had all lived long enough to know the process by which public affairs had been settled in this country—a country which, though not quite free, was yet making great progress in freedom, a country in which they could meet and discuss without far any matter which they might wish to settle. He congratu lated the meeting on the hands in which the Government was at present placed; for though not very ready to lead the way, they were quite willing to follow when they saw a sufficient number had gone before. They were, as Homer said, the light troops in advance, but they were the heavy troops who come behind.—(Cheers and laughter.) They (the conference) ought to be thankful then that they had such a force as the Ministers at their backs. The Ministry would of course be ready to excuse the zeal of a meeting like the present, because it knew that they were only going in advance of what they themselves would be ready to do when the proper time came. They had had sufficient evidence that earnest, quiet agitation was the way to carry out reforms in a country like this. They had plenty of encouragement to go for ward, and they could look back on nothing which could disquiet them. All they had got to do was to procure a sufficient quantity of public opinion on their side, and in a very short time they would have to con gratulate themselves on a harvest as abundant as any which had gone before. He was persuaded that the strength of the country was on their side. Men were wiser than they had been before, and all classes in the country were going on in the right direction fur their cause. If he looked back for twenty years, and saw how dangerous end how different the character of a reformer was than to what it is now, he could not but wonder. In these days reform was fashionable; even the very Tories were reformers now for the fashion's sake, and they dare no more venture abroad with their ancient prejudices, than they dare venture in the wigs and queues of their ancestors. The cause would go on, and go on, and go on, until their children would look back upon the men of the present day and say, " those men did not let the machine stop is their day, but gave it a push on." There was one subject upon which he would I only just touch, and in doing so he should be very sorry to hurt the feelings of any person present. It was the great schism which was now taking place in the national Church, and he could not disguise from himself that a great portion of that Church, of which he had never professed himself anything but a member, was hurrying them back as fast as possible to Papacy, holy water, and other things from which they had long escaped. In conclusion, he would heartily en courage them to proceed in the course in which they had already begun.—(Cheers.) Mr. Hume, M.P., begged to say a few words to the meeting. He was most gratified to be able to see such a conference as the present. He believed that the course which they were taking was the one best cal culated to effect their objects. The Honourable Gentleman then touched at some length upon the difficulties which had stood in the way of reform, financial and political, when he commenced his career in 1818, and contrasted them with the present state of the public mind, and with the increased facili ties fur agitating such questions in the present day. The signs of the times were cheering for the cause of reform. Let them look at the colonies, and they would see the Government giving to the Cape :of Good Hope all that he (Mr. Hume) had asked for England. He had been amused to hear that speech in the House, in which it was said that every Englishman should carry out with him on going abroad the institutions of his country, because it struck him at the moment that it would be necessary for him to go abroad to enjoy those liberties to which they were entitled. Now, for the modes ope randi, he hoped he might be allowed to throw out a few hints to the Committee as to what had been done. He would recommend them to record, as had been done by himself and others before the Reform Bill, the ill-doings of the House of Commons. Let the votes of each Member on each division be re corded in lists distributed over the country, so that each constituency should know what its members were doing. Then the committee should look out for some man in each constituency to form associations to keep continually before the eyes of every man, voter or not voter, the great and important points of the politics of the present day, and cf the course which each Member took upon it. L e t t h em j oin political and financial reforms together, and he could vet doubt that they would, i n a slow end snro course, carry reform, anal force the present system to give way to one morp calculated for the present state of affairs. He hoped that the committee would bear in mind this one principle, to offend no one; that they would take ' care to show that the changes contemplated would be for the adantage of all classes, and he could only say that he should be very happy to afford them every assist anon in his power, whether by suggestion or otherwise. The Hon. Gentleman sat down amid loud cheering. The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and the gentleman selected retired to consider on the proposition to be submitted to them for conducting the business of the conference. In the meantime the CHAIRMAN said he would call on the Members of Parliament present to address the Con- ference. Mr. CouDEN said that, as he was engaged on a Com mittee i n the !louse of Commons, he hoped the confer ence would allow him to le ive fo ) r the present and ad dress them to-morrow.—(Cheers. Lord DUDLEY T congratulated himself upon haring the honour to such a meeting as this. When he considered that it consisted of gentlemen from all parts of the country, ho felt that it was one which any man might felicitate himse lf u p on being present at. After th e addresses of the two veteran Reformers who ltsd gone before him, there was little left for him to say. Some of their enemies bad cried out that the objects of h their as soc i at i on were vis i onary, but e did not think so when it was considered that it had forlehsorb, bear.)jectthe equalising the burlens of taxation. — . the year 1832 Mr. Cobbett undertook to denv , nstrate that by the Stamp Act the poor Loan paid f ,rty times as much as the rich man, and such was the state of things at the present day, which this movement wished to remedy. P arl i amentary reform was t h e fi rs t step to this, and he thought the plan proposed for this was en , which could not fail of success. Such en object c•-uhf not fail of exciting the support of every thinking inqu ; and he had no doubt that this association would go in increasing until it was enabled to carry out the great measure of Parliamentary reform. Mr. W.J. Fox, M.P., congratulated the meeting upon the great step which was now being taken towards a social revolution. That some such revolution was wanting was evidont from the fact that the vet eran Reformer to ws y„ r . .se lucid ststemeit they had li s t ene d with such • ration, had never once filled any employment he public service—merely because he had not . 1. 4 k0t born in one cf those small cliques which ';•>. • \• itour.d to think that the British empire was to be by them alone. Let them look at history p as t eseat, and they would see the strong necossity / , Ape change.. If they looked at the political 8 • • er of every man sprung from th 9 middle 4 - 0 ,6 amen—At the career of Burke, Canning, Peel, and. even 'at h e prespects - of Disraeli—all showed the aristocratic exclusiveness of the present system of government. What great objects then this association had before it! But every man must put his shoulder to the wheel—it AvDrtinn Pafnwn, Ist, wild ri_- . 1 w nothing could be done wit'lont combination. If all the friends of the people having seats in Parlia ment were to combine togethr even for only one session they would form a body which would make the leaders of parties quail. These were the steps which he had called a social revolution, which would harm none, but would elevate and advance the interests of all.—(Cheers.) The committee then returned, and laid its propositions before the conference, which appointed Sir J. Walmsley, M.P., President of the Conference ; Mr. Tillet and Mr. Bigg, vice-presidents; and Mr. Beggs, secretary; and providing several minor technical regulations for conducting the business of the Con ference. The propositions were unanimously agreed to by the meeting. Mr. KERSHAW, M.P., moved, and Mr. HEYWORTH, M.P., seconded, the first of them, which was expressive of the sense of the necessity of Parliamentary Reform, and invited the people to become members of the asso ciation, and was briefly enforced by Mr. J. Williams, M.P. Mr. G. DAwsoN, of Birmingham, moved the second resolution, which recommended the appointment of lec turers, and the direction of the energies of the associa tion to the agricultural classes, in a speech which was greatly relished by the audience; and Mr. TILLETT hav ing seconded it, Mr. HOUGHTON, of Upton, near Aylesbury, who was introduced as one of the largest agriculturists in the king dom, and who stated he was probably the largest land owner and occupier in England, observed that it wasim possible to grow wheat at a low price and to pay a high taxation. He never would stop until he had free trade in everything as well as in corn. Mr. PARRY, of Norwich, moved, and Mr. WATERS, of Newcastle, seconded the next resolution, empowering the council to issue tracts and publications in support of their views. Mr. HYDE, delegate from Berkhampstead, who had before uttered some exclamations from the body of the meeting, got on the platform and excited much laughter by declaring he knew more of the questions of taxation and of agricultural feeling than any man in the kingdom, as well as by some eccentricities of speech and manner. He then made an attack on " the great cotton lords of the West Riding for holding back from the association." It was a question of breeches pocket against conscience. —(Cheers.) Those gentlemen had come down with their hundreds and thousands for the repeal of the corn laws, which would benefit themselves, but they did very little for the association.—(Cheers.) Mr. G. Tetosirsoel, M.P., made a general onslaught on the officers of the army and navy, who were called "animated walking clothespegs, to show off the skill of tailors," " Belgravian mendicants, living on the earnings of the seamstress," "pouring out their cruel con tempt on the poor labourer in his fustian jacket." He hoped the day would soon come when a man seeing one of them in his red or blue coat would turn to him and say. " Go, and be honest—go work."—(Loud cheer:.) The conference adjourned shortly after four o'clock till ten o'clock to-morrow (this) morning. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London IVeu, Price Current, April 23.) SOGAIL—To-day there was a fair demand for the best refining and grocery sorts of West India, but previous rates were fully supported. For inferior and brown there was not much inquiry ; lower terms were not taken. The public sales of 200 hhds 3 trcs Barbadoes went at full terms, and rather above fur superior sorts ; good and fine yellow realised 393 to 425, and low to mid 36s 6d to 38s 6d per cwt. The total sales to-day are 580 hhds and trcs. MAIIIIITIIIS.—This afternoon the quantity of Mauritius Sugar submitted to public sale amounted to 32 casks and 8,795 bags. The trade operated with much caution, and a small part only sold at about pre vious rates. Yellow went at from 34s to 41s, brown 28s to 33s 6d, and grey at 33s 6d to 37s per cwt. REFINED.—To-day refined Sugar was operated in with caution for home trade purposes; still, brown gro cery Lumps were not to ba obtained under 48s per cwt. The market is quiet for bonded Crushed Sugar at last week's rates. 10-day at public sale 250 boxes Sugar Candy were taken in at 57s to 58s for brown. To-day at public sale 100 puns Cuba Molasses were taken in at 15s 6d, being above the value. EAST INDIA. —This afternoon the parcels of Bengal Sugar submitted to public sale amountel to 12,713 bags; about 10,000 sold, but at a reduction of 6d to is per cwt, and the biddings wore languid; low to fine white Be nares went at from 36s to 39s 6d, soft yellow 31s 6d to 36s 6d, brown 28s to 30:, strong yellow 37s 6d to 41s, white ditto 42s to 46s 6d. FORElGN.—Although rather lower terms have been acceded to for bonded sorts, still there has not been much improvement in the export demand. The private purchases are three cargoes of white Havannah at 30s to 325, one of yellow at 20s lid, and one of brown Bahia at 18s per cwt. There is still only a small demand for the purposes of refining under bond,and the supply of Sugar at market is larger than in the former week. At auction 759 chests white Havannah were taken in at 28s to 31s 6d for mid to fine ; 595 boxes yellow 17s 6d to 20s for ord to fine, and 164 bags low brown at 15s. For duty-paid sorts the market has presented a quiet aspect, and prices are rather lower ; there is also a larger quantity on offer. At public sale 740 hhds 300 barrels Porto Rico were only in part sold ; good to very fine yellow at 39s to 42s 6d, low to mid dling 36s to 38s 6d, good to fine brown 34s to 353 6d; 52 cases Babia were taken in at 36s to 37s for brown, and white at 40s; 132 chests mid yellow Havannah 333 6d to 395. Of Java, 1,216 baskets 3,247 bags were only in part sold at 39s to 42s 6d for,mid to fine strong grey, and at 38s 6d to 42s for damp and washed. MOLASSES.—Prices have declined for West India, and the sales are chiefly confined to 200 puns Demerara at 13s 6d to 14s per cwt, a part landed last year. The value of better sorts is from 15s to 17s. There are sellers of Bengal at 13s to 13s 6d, and Mauritius at 128 to 12s 6d; still few buyers are to be met with. COFTEE.—To-day there was a fair desire evinced to operate in Native Ceylon Coffee, and at public sale 979 bags sold at 46s to 46s 6d for good ord. The market for Planta:ion has a quiet appearance, and at auction 107 casks 400 bags went at moderate rates, but the chief part sold; low to good ord at 42s 6d to 45s 6d, fine to fine fine ord 46s to 49s 6d, low mid and mid 505 to 545, and better sort 55s to 60s. Cocoa.—British Plantation is offered at a reduction on former terms of 3s to 4s per cwt, yet operations have been limited, and of 430 bags Trinidad at auc tion, a small part only sold ; low to good red, of the new crop, went at from 38s to 435, ord and mid grey 35s to 375; the chief part was out of condition and of inferior quality. Of Grenada 200 bags were taken in at 36s to 38s for good and fine red. Only trifling sales have been made in Foreign, and 27s to 29s is the value. This af ternoon at auction 408 bags Bahia Cocoa were taken in at 30s for fine red. TEA.—There aro ready sellers of Black, rather under former rates, and the supply continues to get larger ; town and country dealers also continue to operate with caution, and an impression exists that a further re duction will take place. The value of low to good ordinary Congou is 94 to Sid, Medium kinds 10d to Is Id, and better sorts is 2d to is 8d per lb. With Green the market is plentifully supplied, and sellers are willing to accede to rather lower rates, still dealers operate with caution, as a further reduction is looked for, more espe cially for low and mid sorts. Scented and Pekoe Teas are not much required, and can be obtained at a :light reduction, as supplies are more plentiful. At last public sale 13,900 pkgs of Tea were offered and 5,000 were sold. SPicEs —To-day Cassia Lignea was not offered at any further reduction, but the demand was not better; of 615 chests offered at auction a small part only sold. Pile one at 85s, Piles two and three 76s to 795, and out of condition 68s to 72s per cwt; of Bourbon Cloves 50 bags were sold at 71d, and damaged Sid per lb. 4 cases of fair Nutmegs were sold at 2s 7d. For Pimento the market is quiet, and 257 bags were taken in at 5d to sd; these are rather lower rates. SPIRITS.—In consequence of a further reduction having been acceded to for Leeward Island Rum, rather more business has been concluded. The sales are 300 puns at is 3-id to is 4d proof, manaddeloiwn East Ind old landed Is 3d per gallon. The purchases have been to a limited extentd to is 3d. per only; pricesa e r m eo a n rais the decline, and rule at is 3 to cheaper,2s 4 d for s ind 3 od only 4 s om perall purchase s over p have roof. bee F n in m e a Jm d a ea ai t2 e; is held for fall terms, still fewohtheomre h o i r nds exp m o e rt t orders h ave been completed. with rather little lower attteenrtmios. For n, and,r 2 co to an be 29 obt p a e m r ed om a it t over proof prices vary from 2s 2d to 2i 6d, 30 to 36 over ord to good,2s 7d to 3s 2d, and fine 3s 4d to 48 2d. In Brandy operations have been limited for all purposes. Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1849 4s 4d to 48 6d, 1848 ditto 4s 6d to 4s Bd, 1847 ditto ss to 5s 2d,' inferior sorts 2s 8d t) 4s 2d, and lower rates are likely to prevail shortly. The market is dull for Geneva—ls 7d to is 8d for export sort, and 2s 3d to 3s 3d for fine. There is still no sale for British made Spirit at 9s 5d to 95 6J proof, and for Gin 7s 10d to 8s 4d for 17 to 22 per cent under proof. CociuNEAL.—This afternoon the public sales of Co chineal went off at Id to 2(1 per lb decline, but 227 bags were all sold at from 33 7d to 4s 2d for low to fine Hon duras silvers. desire evinced SAcLed to operate in Saltpetre. o-day there we a A s t m uch l3 gblie sal e bags Calcutta went at ed per cwt under former rates, 2'694 and a part only sold at 24s 6d to 26s per cwt f or 14 to 141 per cent refraction, and not refracted at 24s to 26s per cwt. RICE.—To-day East India Rice met with little atten tion, but lower rates were not acceded to. At auction, the sound of 699 pockets and 2 , 747 bags Bengal was nearly all taken in at 9s to lOs for middling and fine white; a small parcel of inferior sold at 8s per cwt. - INDIGO. —Only a small-amount of business has been concluded in East India during the last few days by shippers or home d ealers, but lower rates are not taken. The quantity declared for auction is now 10,412 chests. For Spanish the market has become quiet, and the public sales of 150 serons of Guatemala tnis after noon, went at rather lower rates from 2s 4d to 4s 3d per lb. Ons.—Purchases t) a fair extent have been made in Linseed Oil for exportation, end a good home demand has been experienced, whilst the rates paid are 32s to 323 3d per cwt on the spot. Only limited pur chases have been made in Rape Soed Oil ; a de sire is evinced to sell pale at 39s to 40s, and brown at 37s to 38s. Opinion is unfavourable with re spect to Olive Oil, and prices rule at from 441 to 461 per tun. For Palm Oil the rates paid for fine and good are 30s to 318 per cwt. With Cocoa Nut the market is plentifully supplied, and there is no improve ment in demand. Of 600 packages at auc tion a small part only sold. at 311 to 34/ for middling to fine. In Cod operations have been limited, but there are not sellers under 341103 pertun. e,__, m.t with fnv any nur- THE SUN, LONDON, to 361 103, and other sorts 311 to 351. A desire nas been evinced to operate in Sol.thein; g to a small supply prices have advanced, and rule at from 321 to 341 for common to fine. For Sperm a good de mand exists; holders display firmness and obtain 811 103 to 821 for fine British. The value of prime Headmatter is 871 to 891 per tun. TALLOW.—There is no reduction to notice in prices of Russian on the spot; there are sellers of fine P. Y. C. at 36s 91 to 37s per cwt. Only limited sales are made for delivery in the last three months of the year, although 38s 3d to 38s 6d have been accepted. Home melted has been sold to a fair extent, but at the moderate terms of 35s to 363 net cash. Other sorts of Tallow are not cheaper. At auction 720 pkgs American were sold at from 32s to 36s 9d for low to fine; 420 cks Sydney 34s to 365; 8 cks Cape, fine 38s 6d to 38s 91; 412 cks Odessa, sheep 34s 9d to 345, ox 35s 61, and 88 cks Archangel 34s to 35s per cwt. For public competition 1,400, pkgs are declared. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. IPSWICH, Aram 23. The market was very thinly supplied with wheat, which sold at about Is per quarter advance upon last week ; what few samples of barley appeared at market were reluctantly taken by malsters at same rates. PER QUARTER. PER QUARTER. Wheat, red Ditto, white. 36s to 40s Oats Ohs to 00s Barley, malting ... 21s to 22s Rye Ditto, grinding ... 19s to 20s Malt. .. Beans AVERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 20, 1850. Wheat Barley Oats ....... Beans lO „ 265. Od. Peas HULL, APRIL 23. Messrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular states :—The bulk of the arrival of wheat is Mediterranean quality, and goes to warehouse for owner's account ; the quantity of barley is less than last week—the finest qualities of Chevalier Saal maintain their value, but anything short of that is not taken for malting, and is held above the market value of grinding : this descrip tion is in better demand, and but little left on the market. We had for this day's market a smaller supply of English wheat than for some time past, and a poor show of foreign from ship board, warehoused parcels being wholly withdrawn for the mo ment—the market must be written very firm at the current rates of last Tuesday, and in some instances needy buyers had to pay 1 s more money for selected runs—the sales of English to..day were at 35s to 36s per qr, weighing 631bs naturally. For foreign, 3.5 s is submitted to for fair Hamburgh red, and other qualities in proportion, except Danzic, which in retail fetches our quotations. The remarks made above as to barley apply fully to the transactions of this day ; the demand for grinding increases, and nothing now left afloat. Not many beans offering, with more disposition to buy; Egyptian well nigh cleared off. The transactions in oats, as also in peas, are but limited. With moderate arrivals of linseed the market is dull, and in some instances is lower. Cakes are dull, and con cession is made by crushers for quantities of moment. More demand for foreign at the late low prices. No rapeseed offer ing, the above arrival being for inferior account. Good choice in rape cakes, and at a slight reduction. Bones are fair sale at our currency. The following are the present prices of grain:- 8. S. Wheat, English, red 34 to 37 Do. white 36 38 Dantzic and Ko- S. a, Peas, white and yel. 22 24 Do. grey 2O 22 (Linseed, Black Sea 44 46 nigsberg 4O 44 Pomeranian and Do. Petersburgh ... 38 43 Do.Riga&Archngl. 38 42 ___ Hamburgh . 34 —36 Do. Konigsberg 36 —39 Danish, Holstein, & Par ton. Friesland 3O 34 Lins. cakes, Hull 61 7s 6d to 01 , Russian and Odessa 30 321D0. fine foreign Oats, English Do. Dani5h........... 11 13 Rapeseed Do. Friesland l2 14 Rape cakes...7ss Od to 003 Od Do. Russ. & Odessa 12 14 Tares, English 283 —00 s Barlek,malting lB 20 Do. foreign 20s —30 s Do. grinding........ 16 18 Guano 6/ to 10/ 103 Beans 2O 24 Bones, do ...... 87s 6d to 90s Od Do. foreign ...... 20 —23 Rye meal .. 5/ 103 CORK, APRIL 22.—Flour—First lls 6d to 128 6d; extra 14s; seconds, Ils to lls 6d; households 9s to lOs 6d; thirds, 7s to 8 6d per cwt. Oatmeal 10s Od to 003; Indian meal 6s 9d to 7s ; wheat • meal, 9s 6d to lOs per cwt. Indian corn 130 s to 135 s Od per ton. Bran 4/ 15a to 5/ Os per ton. Hay—Farmers 27s to 403; average OJs ; dealers 38s to 42s Od; average 00s per ton. Sti aw— Farmers 21s Od to 2.5 s Od ; average 24s ; dealers 30s Od to 003 Od; average Oas Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to 6d ; household loaf 5d to bid per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d to 9J per lb. Eggs-3s 7d to 3s 8d per hundred. Coals— Newport 15s; Lydney 17s ; Landore 15s ; Best Neath Culm 14s per ton. Tallow 40s Od to 00s per cwt. Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. Meat —Beef 4d to 6d; mutton 5d to 6d; veal 5d to bid; pork 3id to 30 ; bacon 6d to 7d; sausages 5d per lb. Hops 131 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 3/ 2s 6d to 3/ 5s per ton. Bark—Barbary 71 58 to Si ss; Valonia 141 to 01; French 715 x ; English 0/ per ton. Fleece Wool lOs to 12s per stone. Hemp 32/ to 00/ per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 16s to 17s ; re d ditto 20s to 22s per barrel ; Newfoundland 9/ Os to 11/ per ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton; deals, first quality, 18s ; second quality, 169 per 100. Hides—Market 14s to 20s; salted 15s to 21s per cwt ; calf skins 2id to lid per lb. Potatoes, white 9d to 10d ; Minions 12d to 14d • Guano— Peruvian, 11/ 10s; Ichaboe, 9/ per ton ; Tar—Archangel, 19s per barrel. FISHMONGERS' HALL. To strangers walking across London-bridge, from the south towards its north side, if daytime, and it happens to be clear, the beautiful view London pre sents from this situation cannot but be inter esting. Arriving at the north end, and look ing over the bridge at the first grand entrance on the left hand, a board, with large and legible letters stuck on it, announces the edifice to be Fishmongers' Hall. The spectator on seeing this naturally enough concludes, " Surely the fishmongers of London must be a wealthy class that they can afford to possess such a noble looking mansion to transact their business." And as it is viewed with a sort of mingled pleasure and surprise, the impression is fairly stamped that Fishmongers' Hall must be the place where all important matters connected with the trade is carried on. Such were my thoughts on first seeing the board that is stuck on that side of the house facing the river. It was some time afterwards I discovered there was a decided retrograde movement going on in the white fishing department, in consequence of the fishmongers supporting the open boat, along-shore, fine-weather system of fishing, much to the prejudice of the regular deep sea, bad-weather vessels; that I wondered how it was the smack owners did not state their grievances, and lay them before the association of fishmongers, claiming redress. I could not avoid remarking also, that there was a laxity of discipline at the wholesale fish-market, there being much more confusion, and less regularity than the law for a wholesale market dictates. How these anomalies could exist, when there was such a splendid hall, and as I then supposed a large asso ciation of fishmongers for regulating the trade, I could not well conceive. Various notions occurred to me whilst ruminating on the subject. Could it be that the wealth and splendour of their hall had dazzled their senses and rendered them callous to important matters concerning the trade, or could it be that excess of festivities had made them apathetic ? or was it that selfish motives had caused them to act upon the principle of "buying in the cheapest mar ket and selling in the dearest," regardless alike of quality, the interest of smack owners, their customers, or national credit? Such conjectures as these would now and then present themselves. As I had for many years advocated the advantages decked welled smacks possess over open boats for supplying -markets with living fish, where I saw any falling off from that system, of course it affected me with feelings of regret, and as I had discovered the London fish-market was certainly depreciating in quality of fish ; I made up my mind to try and learn how the association of fishmongers was managed. I had been told it was a very close corporation ' • and how to go about the task I was bent on did not yet appear very clear. It appeared Snot a shallow, but rather a deep subject to inquire into. All ready to commence, my first operation was to take up the London Directory, and open its pages at fishmongers, fish factors, and fish salesmen. The list that presented itself, being upwards of 450 in number, gave me fresh courage. I thought that, amongst so many; I should certainly be able to draw out of some of them hints that would aid me in my search ; and having noted down in my memorandum-book the names and addresses of a few, I set out on my intended mission. The first party I called upon at his shop, after having introduced my self with the compliments of the day, and asking a few questions on the state of the fish market, &c., I, as delicately as possible, asked the question, Are you a member of Fishmongers-hall ? " No," was the reply ; and he looked at me as if he began to suspect I was angling for information, rather than having any inclination to buy fish. It is a noble-looking build ing, I said. " Yes, it is," he answered ; and looking as if be had no time to waste unprofitably, he walked from me to another part of his shop, to transact business. Seeing it was of no use trying for in formation at that quarter, I bid him good morn ing, and retired. The next party I called on told me the same, that he was no member of Fish mongers' Hall ; so did several others the question was put to. I now began to wonder whether or not it was a secret society, the members of which would not acknowledge their membership to any but recognised brethren. It then occurred to me that I should go to Fishmongers' Hall itself, and solicit an interview with some of the officials, thinking, that as my name has been so long before the public in connexion with fishery improvements, they might know it. I in due form called—an official that happened to be in office politely honoured me with an inter view. Having stated how I had been en gaged for some years past, with which he had been made a little acquainted from common report, I asked the question, Are there many fish mongers that compose this association ? " Fish mongers !" he answered, looking astonished at my ignorance on the subject; " fishmongers do not com pose this association. Branches of the Royal Family, noblemen, and gentlemen, form this society. There are scarcely any connected with the fish trade who are members here." Two or three of the principal fish factors, I understand, are members of it. " They don't meddle with fish maters now, as they did for merly. The Fishmongers' Company, as it is called, is now little else than a charitable institution for decayed fishermen, widows, orphans, &c. There is no fishmongers association in London for regulating e e es VV_EDNESDAIt EVENING, APRIL 24, 1850. upon the !subject NV a nececarily final. He consi sidered that laueuege to be a positive insult to the et , rumon sense and the good feeling of the country. Surely a law was not necessarily final because it had been tried for a year. Surely no Act of Parliament could be considered necessarily final, and least of all an Act of Parliament upon a fiscal question. He could understand that the abolition of persoral privileges con fined to a class might be final; but to say that a fiscal enactment was necessarily final was the leneuage of decrepit men who had only sufficient strength left to enahie them to move in one unvaryin g attitude. The price of corn still continued to fall ; it h a d not only fallen within the last two mouths, but it had fallen within the last week. The last average that had been published was that for the week ending Saturday, the 13th inst.— that average being 38s. a quarter for wheat. The average for the week ending on last Saturday would not be published until to-morrow (this day); but he could state from information which had reached him, that in almost all our principal markets the price hail fallen during the last week. lie found that during that week the average price of wheat at Salisbury had been 375. and of barley 215., which would not be more than a remunerat ing price for oats. He found that at Swindon the price of wheat last week had been 355., at Dorchester 365., at Warminster 355., at Norfolk 375.; that in Northumber land it had been below 355., and that in London the average price had fallen by 25., in consequence of an importation during the week of 100,000 quarters of dif ferent kinds of grain. Now, their Lordship should re member that a fall of 2s. on 38s. was one of very consi derable amount, and was of course much greater than a fall of 2s. on 58s. We had begun the year with an ave rage of 405.; and in the face of that average a very large importation of foreign corn had taken place. At the beginning of the month of December it must have been known in foreign parts that the price of wheat in our markets was reduced to 403. a quarter; and notwithstand ing that fact, we had received in the months of Jan. and Feb. importations of 275,000 quarters of wheat, of 47,000 quarters of barley, and of 29,000 quarters of oats; and tee importations were still being continued. The fact was, that even at prices ehich could not remunerate the British farmer, foreigners could inundate our mar kets.tln the year 1849 the average price of wheat in England had been only 445.; and yet in that year we had received from foreigners 4,509,626 quarters of wheat, 1,554,860 quarters of barley, 1,368,763 quarters of oats, and 3,937,219 cwt. of wheaten flour; making altogether an ,importation equivalent to 10,000,000 quarters of grain, without including pulse and Indian corn. We bad, besides, received from abroad during that year 52,000 head of cattle and 129,000;sheep. He had stated these facts for the purpose of showing what vast powers foreigners had of importing into this country; and their Lordships might depend upon it that they could continue their importations at a profit to themselves, even though the prices were lower than at present in our markets. There had, as yet, been no meats of knowing the exact price at which foreigners could import into this copntry— hut he believed that that point might soon be ascertained. The British farmer was already well aware that he could be undersold by the foreigner; and when he demanded 38s. for his wheat, the corn-factor showed him a sample of wheat which he could receive from Havre, or some other near port, for 375., and then asked him how he could require 38s. Ho (the Earl of Malmesbury) had himself heard that language held, and so, no doubt, had many of their Lordships; and then, he would ask, whether it was surprising that under such circumstances a panic should spread among our farmers? It was well known that the farmers had still large stocks on their hands, which they had been induced to bold in conse quence of the language employed some time since by members of her Majesty's Government and by other free-traders, who had stated that prices should necessa rily rise; and the result was, that at present, at the end of April, within three months of the harvest, they had large quantities of grain on hand, whilst increased im por ations and falling markets were staring them in the tale.—(Hear.) The large farmers might be able to hear up for a while against such a state of things; but how would the small farmers faire? lie knew it was said that the small ferraers should be destroyed, unless they pos sessed capital, and were conversant with ehemi- try ; but that was a quivaleut to stating that, without these ativan taeese they had no right to live. He recollected that, during the discussions on the corn-laws in 1846, a most eloquent prelate had declared that to repeal those laws would be to return to a more natural and normal at ate of things. But was there anything, he would ask, in our normal nature that was to teach chemistry ? Or was it the natural state of mankind to be born with capital? He would warn their Lordships that the destruction of the English yeomen would be the removal of what had been the most loyal and the most peaceable portion of her Majesty's subjects. But he could confidently state that the farmers were now finding fault with the form of government which had reduced them to their present condition. He might be asked why they had not held similar language in the year 1835, when prices had been as low as at present. Now, his &use er to such a question would be, that prices had at that time been low in conse quence of a plentiful season, which still left them pros perous, while their present unhappy position was the re sult of human intervention and of Acts of Parliament. The agriculturalclasses bad aright tocome to the Legisla ture and say to it—" You have depreciated the value of our property to the extent of one-third ; it was worth 565., it is now only worth 385.; yet, while you have done so, you ask us to pay the same amount of faxes as we formerly did.—(Hear, hear.) We pay the same taxes as we did before you meddled with us, and that is equi valent to having raised the taxes from 50,000,000/. to 67,000,000/., so far as regards us. You have added one third to our burdens, when you have depreciated the value of our productions by so much. Is it fair, then, that we should pay the same fixed annuities which we were to pay before you made these changes? There was nothing given us in return for that depreciation which would entitle us to pay the same rate of interest to the public creditor as we did before."—(Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he had only to say their Lordships and Par liament would have to consider whether or not it was a wise thing to ruin their debtor or retrace the steps they had taken. If they did not do so he thought that neither the condition of the country would be safe, nor could it be governed with honour.—(Hear, hear.) The Duke of RICHMOND said he could bear testi mony to the truth of all that had fallen from his Noble Friend. There never was a time when greater agricul tural distress prevailed in this country. The irmers and yeomen were at the present moment loyal, but ho warned the Government, and all who were interested in maintaining the institutions of the country, not to drive these men desperate. What was loyalty P He would remind their Lordships of the French proverb—" Le people rnaetiseenseoe de so u leTep u a ff s r p i. par envies ies knew e e se s l o e u rg le e ve d r i , sti m re a t i s s par once prosperous, in which whole families had been re duced to the condition of paupers, and compelled to take shelter in the workhouses.—(Hear.) It was im possible for the farmers of England to continue to pay taxes at present prices, and it was also unfair to single them out alone for this reduction, while the public creditor and all other bodies continued to receive ( t o :Ie pwpnos o i lf ea:tt p h r :i.i ic ye es w .— eexr ( ep e e r ct ie toe s od o dn f I deeply i ` liylngepalref,dr from a l e d a r." tNoo)ibrleele Lords his roardd trade to rece le, but he looked to the good sense of the people of England, and especially of the people of Scotland, to compel them to return to a fair and adequate protection. —(Cheers.) He trusted that instead of being daented by the bold assertions of the free-traders that this ques tion was settled, they would not give in, but continue to bring forward their own views by every constitutional means. It was a farce to say that such a measure could be final. Nothing short of protection could be of any use, unless they were prepared to sweep away a great body of property, and of the industrious population of the country. There was another class who opposed them—he meant the occupants of the episcopal beech. But these Right Reverend Prelates were not affected by the law--their incomes were fixed.—(Laughter.) But he warned them an agitation was beginning among the farmers, who did not see the justice of peeing the same amount of tithes now as they did under old prices. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he would not enter upon the discussion which had been opened up by the Noble Earl and the Noble Duke opposite, in moving for returns. When these returns* had been made he would be perfectly ready to enter on a discussion that might be raised as to whether it was necessary to effect any change in the present system. He was certainly not prepared to say, that he believed a state of things had arisen in which Parliament should be called upon to re view its policy. It was not his int eition to offer any opposition to that which had been made by the Noble Earl. The returns would be useful; but as it was de sirable that their Lordships should be in possession of all the information necessary to enable them to form a correct opinion, he should move, as anasklition to the re turns specified by the Noble Earl, a return from the corn inspectors of the average prices of the corn sold in our markets during the last five years. The Duke of RICHMOND said that he did not be lieve a single syllable of the returns made by the corn inspectors. Lord STANLEY did not go the whole length of the Noble Duke, in entirely disbelieving the returns from the corn inspectors, but ho did not think the addition would give them any information as to the quantities of corn sold on which they could place reliance.—(Hear, hear.) He must, however, take that opportunity of ex pressing his satisfaction at the change of tone upon the subject. Instead of treating the question as decided ir revocably, the Noble Marquis had admitted that the prices were exceptional, and lower than he had antici pated. He collected from that statement, and he hailed it with satisfaction, that the Noble Marquis was of opi nion that an extravagantly low price was not of itself desirable, or in itself a public good.—(Bear, hear.) He inferred also, that not only the Noble Marquis, but the Government, were of opinion that the prices were now lower than they ought to be, or than the repeal of the corn-laws were intended to make them— and, therefore, that so far the experiment had not succeeded.—(Hear, hear.) But when they treated this as an experiment, and admitted that prices were lower than they expected, he asked how many more hundreds of their fellow-countrymen were to be ruined before they were convinced of the folly of the experiment, and began to retrace their steps? They had been told by the Noble Marquis, at the beginning of the session, that the low prices could not last. In five or six weeks, at all events by the month of March, they would recover—the ides of March had come and had passed—the ides of April were here, and were passing, and still the prices had not risen—they were falling, with every prospect of continuing to fall—and, as his Noble Friend had truly remarked, this was at a time when they were within three months of areseher harvest. —(IL ar.) Under these circumstances his Noble Friend asked for returns of the ports from whence these impor tatiens had come, which produced this effect upon our market, in order that they might know whether there was any prospect of improved price or of such an in creq sed demand as would make agriculture ;trent Ile did not believe there as such a iroPiect. In the case of IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Apra 23. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. SALARIES AND EMOLUMENTS OE THE OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE. The Duke of RICHMOND moved that the report of the Committee appointed to investigate the salaries and emoluments of the officers of the House be printed. It was at all times an invidious task to investigate, with a view to diminution, old emoluments and salaries. The Committee nad, however, entered conscientiously on the investigation of the subject, and they were of opinion that the salaries of the door-keepers, which were paid out of the fees, were extravagant. One of the door-keepers, who had died in the autumn had received from 1836 to 1849—during the four lowest years-7231., 7244, 4011., and 7721., and during the four highest years, 8841., 1,2721., 2,570 L, and 1,5941., while during the time he was ill a person had done the work, and done it well, for 1501. The Committee recommended that the salari?s should be commuted as regards the Government holders of office, upon an average of the seven lowest years out of the fJur teen, and that their successors should be appointed at far lower salaries. He hoped the Govern ment would take up this measure, and not leave it to a private Member. The Usher of the Black Rod and the Clerk of the Rolls had salaries fixed by Act of Parlia ment, but he understood that those gentlemen were wil ling to submit their salaries to the consideratioa of the Committee. It appe.tred that the door-keepers were remunerated by fees from the East India Company, and from editors of newspapers, and strange to say, there was a body of Quakers who paid 51. a year to the doorkeepers. He proposed that henceforth they should be paid by the House, and that the only fees to be retained should be the fees to the clerk for the issue of summonses. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE expressed himself as averse to the performance of duties by deputy, and felt bound to declare that he acquiesced, both as an individual Member and as a Minister of State, in the suggestions of the report. The report was then ordered to be printed. The Duke of RICHMOND moved for a return of the emmoluments received by officers under the Great Seal, in the years 1847, 1848, and 1849. PETITION. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the county of Down against any alteration in the law pro hibiting a widower from contracting marriage with his deceased wife's sister. He had had several other peti titions relating to this subject sect to him, but as they alluded to a Bill before the other House, he of course could not present them, as they were contrary to order; and he hoped he should have no occasion to present them, as he hoped that Bill would never come up to their Lordships' Rouse. _ ALTERATION IN CIVIL SUITS BILL. On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, this Bill was read a second time. TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The Marquis of BREADALBANE moved the second reading of this Bill, The Bill bad been before the public a year, and had received universal approval. The Earl of ABERDEEN had last year moved the rejection of the Bill, on account of the lateness of the period of the session at which it had come up, but he did not now feel himself called upon to oppose the second reading of the Bill. The Bill was then read a second time. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT BILL. Lord CAMPBELL introduced a Bill for the improve ment of the administration of criminal justice, which was read a first time. SHEEP AND CATTLE INIPORTATION COMMITTEE. On the motion of i.4arIGRA.NVILLE this Committee was nominated. PROTECTION. The Earl of lIARDWICKE presented several peti tions from various farmers and graziers in the Isle of Ely complaining of , distress, and praying for redress. Whether the free-trade experiment turned out ulti mately to be successful or not several respectable it,cli vi,ivals must be ruined by it. Ile did not lo,dieve that House could at , present afford t:ie redress, because it it were to propose to interfere with the fre9•trade experi ment, they would be told that the revenue was prosper ing, that commerce was incieasing, and if they went out of doors that they should meet with no difficulty in finding farmers to compete fur taking any estate that was vacant. They should be told that the income-tax was increasing, and that would be appea!ed to As a proof of the prosperity cf the country, but he con sidered the increase its the income-tax was a very fallacious argument to prove the increased prospe rity of the country. They should also be told that prices were not lower than in 1835; but in 1335 we had no foreign competition. He believed that shortly, how ever, they would be able to give these persons relief; because, if the experiment of free trade were persistei in much longer, the effect would be to entail the ruin not only of the agricultural class, but of every other class, and there would then be a unanimous call for a return to sounder principles. He confidently believed that the present state of things could not exist, and, therefore, the agricultural body had before them, in the course of the next year, that strong hope which arose from the difficulties in which they were at present plunged. PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. The Earl of MALMESBURY then rose, in pursuance of notice, to move for the following returns :—Return of the imports of wheat and wheat flour, also of barley and oats, into the United Kingdom, in each week since the let of January, 1850, end of the average prices of each week; and also, return of the total amount im ported within the same period, distinguishing the coun tries from which imported. The Noble Earl said he might be told that he could obtain the information which he was anxious to acquire from the returns relating to trade and navigation, which had already been presented to the House, and in which was to be found the amount of corn imported into this country since the commence ment of the year. But he was further desirous of knowing what were the countries from which that corn had been received, and from which corn still continued to arrive in large quantities, in the face of a falling market.—(Hear, hear.) If he were to consult his own convenience he should content himself with merely moving for those returns; and he was aware that in at tempting to discuss at any length a subject which had already occupied so much of their time, and which in itself was but little attractive, he ran a risk of forfeiting any claim to an extension of thit indulgence which he had always experienced from the House. But when he witnessed the deplorable state of the agricultural interest at the present moment he thought it his paramount duty to entreat their Lordships to direct their most earnest attention to that subject, as well as to the state of our corn markets since the repeal of the corn-laws in the year 1846. At the commencement of the present session they had been assured that the low prices of agricultural produce at that period could not continue; and yet they had since fallen consider ably lower. Let them look at the policy which Parliament had pursued upon that subject. Three parties had assisted in the repeal of those corn-laws which bad afforded a protection to the agricultural class ander the great and peculiar burdens which they had to bear. One of those parties did not exist, he was happy to say, in that House, but it did not the less exist in the country. That party which had been one of the most active in azitating for a repeal of the corn-laws was composed of men who had not scrupled lately to declare publicly that they considered that the repeal would lead to this most desirable end—the establishment of a pure democracy in this country. That party believed, that with a repeal of the protective system the value of agri cultural produce would become so depreciated as to lead to a diminution of the social and political influence of those whom they called the aristocratic body, among whom they included not only the nobility, hut the whole of the landowners of this country, who, as every one knew, had always been the strongest bulwark of the Throi;e against democratic invasion. He should, however, say nothing -Vlore of that party, because none of them were present upon that occasion. There was another party which certainly did exist in that House, and which also possessed great activity, talent, and intelligence, and which had been mainly in strumental in procuring the repeal of those laws—he alluded to those theoretical economists who had sud denly fallen in love with the doctrine of ieee trade, b, - lieving it to be founded on naoiral and normal truths, but totally forgeaing the complex state of society in this country. Thsee were men for whom he entertained the greatest respect, because he knew that they were honest in their opinion and sanguine in their expectations. They believed that free trade would prove beneficial to this country, and he certainly gave them credit for thinking that it could not lead to that deplorable anxiety and discomfort which it had occasioned among the agri cultural classes. But they were men, like the Noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies (Earl Grey), who had lately congratulated their Lordships on the effect produced by free trade, and who was himself one cf the most distinguished of their number—they were ardent and uncompromising politicians, who threw down a principle before the country as they would throw down an article of material produce. He believed that any thing that he could say would not have much influence with those persons; bat he would ask them also to turn their attention earnestly to what ,was going on in the corn markets of this country, and to consider what must be the result. There was a third party in that House to the repeal of the corn-laws, which comprised a ma jority of their Lordships, and which must always be looked upon in this country with the deepest respect. Among the members of that party he wished particu larly to address himself to the Noble Lords on the cross benches, and to some Noble Lords on that (the oppoSi lion) side of the House, from whom those with whom he had the ho n o ur t o a ct had unfortunately been for some time dissevered. He believed that those Noble Lords had thought, in voting for a repeal of the corn-laws,that they had been doing their duty to the country by giving , way to what they considered to be an almost universal call on the part of the people. They had hoped that no such evils as those which the party with whom he was associated had predicted would result from the proposed change, and that, after its adoption, what he might call a genial stream of food would flow into this country, in stead of that overwhelming torrent by which our mar kets had been inundated. In that party he should place the Noble Marquis opposite (the Marquis of Lansdowne) himself, because the Noble Marquis had, both at the he- , ginning of the present session, and at a subsequent pe riod, called the repeal of the corn-laws " an experiment." He had also been told that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had st ited in another place, that he did not ex pect that that measure would occasion such low prices in our markets. Fie accepted the expression of the Noble Marquis. He had &ways looked upon the measure as an " experiment;" and he should always protest against the language held, not so much in that House as out of the House, by leading journals, and by men of great the reduction of price, looking at the notnerotis countries all of which woui.i send their grain to this market, it was certain that under the new policy prices must be permanently low, and unprofitable.—(lieur, hear.) Under these circumstances it was morally ins possinle that cultivation could be carried on in this country—(Hear, hear)—or that additional capital and industry could be invested in an unremunerative occupa tion. What was to be done with the Lothians, the gar den of Scotland, where skill and capital bal already done their utmost, and it was imposAble to add materially to the productiveness of the s ? He believed the time had coisc,e when they must abandon this policy, give up this id-fated experiment, and retrace their steps. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the Noble Lord had drawn inferences and made statements which would have been better made after the returns had been laid upon the table. But he altogether denied the words which the Noble Lord had put into his mouth, as to the failure of the experiment, or the necessity of revising their past policy. He denied that he said one word in dicative of a feeling that it was necessary to repeal the laiv.—(llear, hear.) Lord STANLEY explained. The Noble Marquis said that the case in question was an exception, as the prices could not last ; and the inference he (Lord Stanley) drew from this statement of the Noble Mar quis was, that the prices were neither such as the Noble Marquis hal anticipated or considered desirable, and, therefore, that the experiment had failed. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought their Lord ships were not justified in coming to the conclusion that the experiment had failed. If the Noble Lord was de sirous of fairly testing this matter, his course was clear. He ought at once make a substantive motion on the sub ject, when the question could be fairly gone into. He could not, however, allow that opportunity to pass with out denying that the measure for the repeal of the duty on corn had been so tried, as to justify the conclusion that the measure had failed. Lord STANLEY said he did not consider the present price of corn an exception, nor did he think he was bound to bring a substantive motion forward to test the efficacy of the alteration of the law in relation to corn. Earl GREY contended that if Noble Lords felt that the measure in question had failed, they ought to test the matter by bringing forward a substantive motion on the subject - . lie objected to a discussion being raised on the merits of a measure upon a mere motion for pa pers, when that discussion could lead to no practical re sult. He contended that it was no more in the power of Parliament to fix the price of corn, than it was to fix the rate of wages, and the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley), when in power, objected to any attempt being made to effect this latter result. Lord BEAUMONT thought the House was much in debted to the Noble Earl (Malmesbury) for bringing for ward this motion, because their Lordships were not at the present moment in a position to say under what cir cumstances foreigners were importing their corn; whether with the prospect of certain loss, or with the expectation that the present low prices would not con tinue, but would suddenly advance. The free-traders did not meet these questions with anything like courage hear)—and when Noble Lords complained of the present low prices, the tree-traders, instead of apo logising for such a state of things, and urging that it was the consequence of accident, and wholly exceptional, they ought boldly to say, prices are low, and so much the better; and if the price of wheat was now only 355.,. if it were even 236., they would bs more pleased, because of the gain of 10s. for the purchase of machinery and other articles. What alarmed him most in connexion with the repeal of the corn•laws was the u tter absence of corn in any of the great bonding storehouses of Eng land, and particularly in the north, at Hull, Goole, &c., and those plaets were now devoted to other purposes than granaries, which showed that the race of corn spe culators had vanished. In the event of a sudden blight they would not have corn to meet the requirements of the public.—(llcar, hear.) He thought, however, that the A 4 in relation to the duty on corn had not yet had a sufficient trial; at the same time they ought to have all the necessary information on the subject. The Earl of gALiMaLSBURY replied, and hoped his motion would not be delayed by the addition suggested by the Noble President, of the Council. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said they would not, and they would Ls laid Lefore the [louse with all possible celerity. The - returns, with the addition proposed by the Noble Marquis, were then ordered. The Duke of 11,ICIIM 3ND gave notice that on Fri day he would present forty petitions complaining of the operation of the present law in relation to corn, and asking for a return to prbteetion tr native industry in all its branches. The Marquis of LL\NSDOWNE, in reply to the Earl of Powie, said it would be inconvenient to discuss the quesion of the residence of Dr. Lamb as dean at his deanery and of his being at the same time head of a collage, as the matter was to be settled by a clause in a Bill now before the other House. The School Districts Contribution Bill was read a third time and passed. The Earl of POWIS presented a petition praying for an explanation of the differences which had taken place between the National Society and the Committee of the Privy Council; also a petition against Sunday labour in the Post-office. Their Lerdahips then adjourned. HOUSE OF COiiMONS, April 23. The SPEAKER toult the Chair a few minutes before Four o'clock. EAST OF FIFE RAILWAY BILL. O❑ the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. LABOUCHEP►B expressed a wish that the second reading cf this Bill should be postponed for a fortnight until the House came to a decision on the Railway Abandonment Bill, which affected Bills of this kind. Mr. FERGUS thought it right to deny that this Bill was promoted by 900 out of 1,000 shareholders; and he had no objection to it 3 second reading being postponed for a fortnight, though he hoped the House would even tually sanction its second reading. Mr. E. ELLICE, junior, objected to the postpone ment of the Bill, on the ground of the expense it would entail upon the promoters. It we? ultimately agreed to postpone the second read ing for a fortnight. SECOND READINGS. The following Btlls were read a second time and or dered to be committed : Garsta❑g and Heiriug Syko Turnpike Road. Heronsy ke and Eamont Bridge Turnpike Road. Ulverstone, Millthorpe, and Lancaster Turnpike Road. PETITIONS. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition in favour of the Ten Hours Bill from a place, the name of which was inaudible in the gallery. Mr. WILLCOX presented a petition from Southamp ton praying for the abolition of capital punishments. Mr. H. BERKELEY presented four petitions from Bristol to the same effect. Mr. P. PRYSE presented petitions from Dissenting congregations in Wales praying for the suppression of the slave trade and the abolition of church-rates. Mr. KEOGH presented a petition from Athlone in favour of a reduction of the duty on spirits in bond in Irelard. Lord C. MANNERS presented a petition from Wal tha.mAow complaining (.f agricultural distress. Sir J. TItOLLOPE presented a petition from'Lincoln complaining of tho spread of beer-houses in that part of the country. Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition from a con gregation of Dissenters in Lancaster praying for the abolition of church-ratew. Mr. COBDEN presented peitions from Lancashire and Yorkshire (as we understood) against capital punish- merit. Mr. CURIE'S presented a petition from Hyde a' . gainst the Merchant Seamen's Bill. - Mr. EDWARDS presented a petition from Lanca shire and Yorkshire in favour of the Ten How s Bill. CAptain JONES presented a petition from London derry against the Landlord and Tenant Bill. Sir W. CLAY presentld a petition from a person named George Shaw, a Chartist convict, praying that the House would tike his ca;e into consideration. Mr. GIBSON presented petitions in favour of a repeal of the newspaper stump duty, and in favour of the County Courts Extension Bill and international arbi tration. DISTRE:;SED UNIONS (IRELAND.) Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that on an early day he should move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the stat) of the union of Kilrush in Ireland. ADULTERATION OF COFFEE. Mr. ANSTEY moved for copies of memorials and papers on the subject of the adulteration of coffee, or the use of roasted vegetable substitutes for coffee (in con tinuation of those presented in the last session of Par liament). PREROGATIVE COURT. Lord HOTHAM moved for a return showing date of appointment of Dean of the Arches and Judge of the Prerogative Court ; the number of causes heard ; of ap peals prosecuted ; of sentences 'affirmed, reversed, or carried on appeal ; also, showing the number of allega tions, libels, articles, acts on petition, and motions in each year since the appointment of the present Judges of the said courts ; also a return showing the number of causes ready for hearing and left unheard, and of causes heard but reserved for judgment, at the rising of the courts for the long vacation in each year during the above period. Mr. FRENCII moved for a return of the number of times Sir Herbert Jenner Fust sat as judge in the Pre rogative and Arches' Courts during the last four terms, and the hours of sitting. FREE TRADE. Mr. NEWDEGATE called the attention of the House to certain descrepancies which appeared in a return of the prices of grain at the different continental ports which had lately been laid on the table of the House. Mr. LABOUCIIERE said the returns alluded to had been prepared from information received from the British consols abroad. They gave the highest and lowest prices of wheat at the various ports for a series of years, but the average prices could not be ascertained with any accuracy, owing to their not being able to know the quantities sold. Mr. NEWDEGATE said he thought the discrepan cies required some explanation, as it was the intention of the Hun. Member for Montrose to found a motion upon the returns, and he would appeal to that Hon. Member to postpone his motion until the House was in posseecion of more accurate returns. Mr. IIUME considered the discrepancies mentioned would not affect the obj-ct which he had in view, "Which was to carry out free trade to the fullest extent, and not timplv to p ,, sseks the nane of free trade without having it in fAer. It wcs his intention to appeal to the Govern ment to give him an opportunity of bringing on the question, which was (110 of the greatest importance. Mr. LABOUCiIERE sa:d it would be of great public convenience if Honourable Members would g iv e nonce • • • trim in nrder to afford the Government an oPP° rtli°l of giving borne explanation. h aflr. NE WDEGr'ATE observed that th e lion. Aleal -e o ll motion appeared on the paper to-night, and he tb° ° 7 o it right that he should not p rocee d to argue on roto r the facts detailed in which could not be reconciled. SMITH O'BRIEN. Sir LUCIUS O'BRIEN had observed certain lel"' t s in the newvapers, complaining c f the harsh trea,lelea! which his brother had received in V an Dietnersl! a r T; and ho wished the re f ore to tisk the Ri g ht Hon. Ba l f Ce the Secretery 'of State for the Home Department , ' ; had received any dispatch feom the colony, etating " real treatment he was receiving? Sir G. GREY had not se en t h e statemen t ; hue! patch had been r ece i ve d f rom Van Diemen l' a t - it ( e informing him of th e arr i va l o f f our o f the a-01 prisoners, of whom ,M r . S m i t h O'B r i en was ofQ of the course pursued with regard to them. If the r"he Baronet would move for a copy of that dispatell, should have no objection t, p ro d uce it.—(Hear, hear' ) FREE TRADE. i sr Mr. HUME observed that considerable prehension existed in th a t H ouse, and out of c ii: on the operaton of what w as ca ll e d t ree tra de; and i f should be glad to know if the Noble Lord at tne b ra e re the Government could p ro d uce any returns t h l itvi calculated to remove that misapprehension. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was not aware that hel co go Mr. HUME would have no a l ternat i ve thee ou' , bring on his motion. KILRUSH UNION. Mr. P. SCROI'E repeated his question which he,r oe last night to the Right Hon. the Secretary for Irelac the;eubjeet of the Kilrush Union. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said he had written to land for the information. DISTRESSED UNIONS (IRELAND) 13 I rdii ; the Colonel DUNNE wished t o as k t h e N o bl e Lord sed head of the Governme n t w h en h e i nten d e d to pro' s el with the Bill for the re li e f o f t h e distressed utfiltser Ireland, about which th e N o bl e L or d thee other pig"' pressed so much anxiety. eed Lord J. RUSSELL was most anx i ous t o Pr ° ,eo with the Bill, but it was diffi cu lt to ma k e a Pro m when ho would bring it on. THE UNIVERSITIES. , or M-. HEYWOOD rose to move that all sYstefee academical education requ i re from time to time :00e modification, from the cha nge o f externa l c i rcu mstse the progress of opini on , an d t h e i ntellectual improeetp of the people. That in the ancient English and Irish er versities, and in the c o ll eges connected w i th thew, °cod terests of religious and useful learning have not ad° ll so to an extent commensurate with the great resourc e 5 0 , high position of tho se b o di es ; that collegiate statleil the fifteenth century occasionally prohibit th e e , eon' authorities from introd uc i ng any alterat i ons into luminous codes, of whi c h a l arge port i on are 0 pee fete ; that better l aws are needed to re!°oo the ceremony of m a t r i cu l at i on an d t he e' ing of degrees ; to diminish the ex cid r a 9 iret ness of the Univer s ity lib rar i es; to prov id e for god distribution of the rewards of scientific and n' t e ti ore merit; to extend the permission of marriage t u , e tore of colleges, and to facilitate the registration of r' bt for the Universities; that additional checks rat t ele e o considered with reference to the continued exteasee r , of individual students, and that the mode of tet iti 'nee college property ought to be ameliorated, Ps r r igbt larly in Ireland. Th at , as i t i s her MajestY'%itoie and prerogative to n ame v i s i tors an d c° Col' sionera to inquire into th e anc i ent U n i vers i t ies an 0 1 0 leges of Engl a nd an d I re l an d , an hum bl e addre9oll3 presented to her Majesty,. praying that her Majes t f oo 1, be graciously pleased to issue her Royal Cow: l3 °, Bl ,oe Inquiry into the state of the Universities and Coln, to Oxtord, Cambridge, and Dublin, with / ,' e n ,tine assist in the adaptation of those important ' n iters Lions to the requirements of modern t t he The fact that a large number of the Members °IO House had been at one o f t h e two U n i vers ities fr te s' great advantage to him in bringing forward 1 . 11 : 1 1 tien. In 1772 a grea t d ea l o f attent i on w as P i - 0 W the subject, of university r e f orm , an d consid er improeement resunee from it. The subject t he l eti; mained dement untie 1834, w h en t h e H ous e "Vey' tioned on the sulijecr, and the late Mr' * bre ° , succeeded in passing a Bill which was tb out in the LordF. AftQrw.rds Mr. Christi e ta t og Master of the Mint, a n d ot h er di st i ng uished ind ivi i a th e exerted themselve s t o b r i ng a b out s o me a lteration e ner, university system, a n d o f l a t e years cons id e rable ; 5 0 ations had been mad e i n th e l aws o f b o th thane ° r oge r' learning. The first thi ng th a t struc k th e on visiting either of the Universities v ir “;ehee l i large number of t u t ors w h o were until-0e He considered it was a great di sa d vantage that n t r elie: the best men in the Universities were obliged I , o e soe: quish their fellowship s ;ellen they married. -lel' e f ' cases they were driven to obtain the m astarsh'p re ll"; grammar school in s ome country v ill age , and °JP; guise situations for which they were peculiarly nueoire He believed to a very great extent the conditions on pOe the property of colleges was originally let t a t eee s died out. Under th ose c i rcums t ances he t" one it was very desirable that there should b° der inquiry into the property, end th e con ditions,,; e o of which that property was h e ld i n t h e Univets`,,,"" e sk Oxford and Cambridge. It was t h e i ntent i on of Ja`;gliof in granting charters to the universities, among ihool things, that the Me m b ers o f P ar li ament for „te°' Universities should present t o P ar li ament a true e`"teoe' accounts for the several universities from time t° He (Mr. Heywood) might ca ll on t h e mem b e rs of at e' Universities, under those charters, now to render tr ti o glo counts of the Universities to Parliement, but he t he j, o io o it more advisable that the Hou se s h ou ld get intnt la ne respecting them through such an i nqu iry as he nOrf t he The Hon. Gentleman proce e d e d to complain, ne ed hardship of the law which r en d e red it ohlig o be on authors to deposit a copy of their works at %Os' the Universities, considering th e i mm ense reven u fr om joyed by those seminaries. The income arisiegioti Fellowships at Oxford was about 120,000/. I s ba at Cambridge, 90,000/. ; an d i n D u blin, t ,0,0 0 r, venue of the College estates, amounted 10 °by The Hon. Gentleman then read the oath take ll e ieb e l ° Fellows of King's College, Cambridge, fro vv," aa eis h , l ' argued that it was impossible for a member of th' - of iv () to propose any great change in the constitutio n _oei o scciety. In the reign of Henry the Bth, co o f was sent down to inquire into the University gait, bridge, and though a circle of courtiers were rOl ready to snap any confiscations of the W l ' t elli fi f r property, the King disappointed them by eett` o f them that the lands could not be it` 004 hands, and contented himself by depriving,,„"ieere',e all the bulls which had been directed to the u" s"„ e by the Pope. Edward the Sixth, Cardinal •r,. ° Queen Elizabeth, all issued commissions '`) same purpose to both the Universities . on, Archbishop Laud intermeddled with t b h e Ce, ° , 3 o , of Oxford, and would have done so sc' t 'd irr i e bridge, had the Puritan party there allows o f tb He was sorry to say that many of the ill etfeet 9 d. Pi( prelate's interference were yet visible at OetA )r f e rtit to thought a change would be ben e fici a l. At `"' they looked at the lists, they would find that O T3 '‘De of the students failed, tire reason of which w o.s % i t told, that they failed in their divinity. He th ° 7Dreoe f lot e r, none but persons of great l ea r n ing in d e should be appointed to the theol o gical ch tti management ; too, of the college land' with fe l ie be greatly amended, and more especially publ ip , gard to the case of Trinity Celleee, pipet An importance attached to Trinity College' e et l ' l) o peculiar to itself, on account of its being the g i l l. .e : 0 only literary institution for the w h o l e o f Irelan u o , Right Hon. Member for Tainworth had certai°osl9ei great service to that country by recen tly e , ta o g schools and colleges at Gel way and Belfast, m ae b°lo could only be considered as sup er i or graretti r c o th ° 4 11e recollected an matinee in which a Roman student obtained a scholarship at Trinity h is J ,O Dublin, but was deprived afterwards on P 0 fusing to take the. sacrame n t. T o be s t lelgeo' emolument was very trifling, being onlY e ,olc o e year, but it was a -degradation that Roman v oc oe it ; were not allowed to take the s ecu l ar honour of o' i go ship. It appeared to him that these scholarshiP ou gh t et to be open, and that the test of the sacrament o pric i fte be entirely abolished. At Trinity College, C a , it ogo taking the sacrament Ras purely volunt 2 'i . '. O lO believed the first step they ought ti °B fo rd was to institute a searching investigat: ° , u 1 et the constitution of the old Universities. l'"- t e B re st the students treated the Thirty-nine Articles icl the levity, which ,showed the worthlessness of be ol‘ it e which was applied. It appeared that the h ol / h i c e which they signed their names to the . "-LP f . 0 ;0 Articles contained three columns, one 0 t he e at / was for the sons of noblemen, another . for • at ee "e' of gentlemen, and the third for the sons of plebe' th e P oo l the great anxiety was not to put th e ir names i n e , O Ol to beian column. On the other hand, however , e' e dinfy conscientious scruples as to the propriety of e rn at gtg these tests, and Mr. Romilly, one of the Mast to 50% ford, had told him that it was extremely ea ly pissel i t ie, a refusal to a student who " adopted grading' beard principles. How long was this degrau' miserable proselytism to continue ?—( 6ezir a 'ecef oi l This question had too long remained in abei 4 0 5 0 , he hoped the House would now take up L e ila ) , 6 04 with vigour. At all events, ho felt per ei bett fled that the day was not f a r distant " ee etit ti ol/t would have a further inquiry into this W a ld; important subject. At present too much wa , lea s- one of what was called ancient usages and ancienv o gie d or and everything like modern literature wa s oete r ir eli Nothing was so common as to meet with a en t ", Cambridge man on the continent, who we e tight 5 0 16 ignorant of French and German. They Wer e , ', a l o o d, useless things as logic, and the D s ' tl ijoif e 'oor was, that when a scholar left the 1019 o°' he had to throw aside hi s former be° fi°te enter as it wer e an en ti re ly n ew , he ots aD or Now very little cha nge would be effected in ggeclo l . ; things until the s y s t em was entirely alte r° acne - a le/ money was voted for the support of moder n 4 P.,p0 0 ships. Put such men as Mr. Macaulay and eed "1 5/ •ht en l upon a commission, and the House might ma a al it the result of those deliberations would " s ines• iiniver 10 0 _ a ge improvement in the conduct ef our had brought this motion forward becauae he cbs oia t 4 the Universities themselves could not e 6 4 , 00/ Pe! without legislative interference. There were tie o . o o o l ' of doted, such as the elective system, which ,c i f e ceil oa tot sifted and disposed of by a c ommission. l ees t" n ol ifY o tie; were the seats, and no doubt would recneeed eetsg of civilization, and they ought to change I ;,eva a e f er: with the improvements of the age. It was the ti' d o rel to all men to be educated at one ° i d wh°,,,iid e cities, and none ought to be exclud' who in i o tee; fit to be admitted into them. To the Denn e4 e s af i to adopt the bar, medicine, or the Chg r he n; ) , e t sion it was almost indispensablq that to f ie fl i, he-en at college., arid no one 06 4%i ot ie 11 1/. 0 eluded on account of hie retie d i e .50 1) , It was no answer to till him this boa t :, vessi;ies were nurseries for the Church' e' /4