The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T. HOUSE OF LORDS, illarch 14. 'I he LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. SCHOOLNIASTERS OF SCOTLAND. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the school masters of Scotland, praying for the provision of dwelling houses. Lord KEN YON asked why the country did not provide for its own schoolmasters? Lord CAMPBELL said that in every petition which had been presented to the House this provision had been expressly requested. The schoolmaster at present had what was called a ' butt-end," which consisted only of two small rooms. He could tell the Noble Lord that these respectable individuals were accomplished in every branch of learning, and that if he had derived his education from one of them, he would have found that their skill in communicating it would have rendered him as accomplished as he now was ; and he thought the Noble Lord might have spared his jeers. Lord KEN YON protested that he only asked a question, and that he had not the sliglitest disposition in the world to ex press the least disrespect for the body of individuals from whom the petition emanated. THE SEES OF ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. The Bishop of HEREFORD presented a petition against the union of these sees, COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTII. Lcrd KENYON presented a petition against the increase of the grant to the College of Maynooth from Newhall, in OTAHEITE. The Earl of MINT() said, -- that : understanding that his Noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty was still indisposed, an unable at present to attend in his place, he thought it would be unfair to bring forward the motion with r, spect to Otaheite in his absence. He propose:l to bring it forward after the holidays, but at any rate he begged to withdraw it for the present. FRESH WATER FISH BILL (SCOTLAND). Lord MINTO moved the second reading of this Bill. Its object was to protect the fish in fresh water rivers in Scotland against the public, and the public in the enjoyment of the pro perty of it. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH agreed with the general prin ciple of the B:11, but with regard to its details he was not prepared now to give any opinion. The Bill was then read a second time. FREEMEN OF THE CITY. Lord TIROUG HAM moved for a return ef the number of non•freemen ma le freemen of the City of London during the year 18-13, ending on the let of Apr], 1844. He had no intention of throwing the slightest disrespect upon the Corporation of London, of which he was an honourable member, by moving for this reture, nor did he in tend to bring forward the Bill which he introduced on the previous evening. He stated this to relieve the anxiety of the Corporation, the head officer ef which, he meant the Lord Mayor, had to-day directed the City Bemembrancer to communicate with him on the subject. In that communication the City Remern tr.-ant:er expressed, on the part of the Corporation, much surprise at his introducing the measure into Parliament, without previ,tusly consulting the Corporation of the City of London. Certainly they were reduced very low, but he thought they were nut reduced to low as cot to be allowed to introduce a measure without the previous consent of a corporation. AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. The Duke of RICHMOND gave notice of his intention, after Eas;er, to bring forward a motion to ascertain the pro priety of appointing a Select Committee to inquire whether it oai no, proper that some legislative enactment should be passed fur the purpose of enabling the owners of entailed property effectua.ily to drain and otherwise improve their estates. The Noble Duke, at the same time, moved for a return of the ntunb , r of licenses granted to turnpike keeper in Scotian!, distinguishing the names of the keepers and the places. SCOTCH BANKING. Lord BOSSYLN give notice tha.-, on Tuesday next, it was his intention to ak a que4ion of the Noble Duke, referrring to that part of her Majesty's speech which stated that it was intended in the present session of Parliament that some altera tion should bo :n de in the law relating to the present system of banking in Scotland. DISABILITIES OF THE JEWS. . . _ On the reading of the order of the day for the third read ing of the Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill, The Duke of CAMBRIDGE rose and said—My Lords, allo.v ins to say only a few words in exeressing my cordial con currrence in this Bill. Since I have returned to this country I have had many opportunities of seeing the good that is done every day by the members of the Jewish persuasion, and in the several charities to which I belong a great part of the goad that is done may be placed to their credit. I have fre quently met with one gentleman who has been High Sheriff of Kent, and al.o of the city of London, and, my Lords, I know another gentleman, who is now High Sheriff of Kent, and has been High Sheriff of London four or five years ago. My Lords, it. is only justice to that gentleman to state one thing, which is a great credit to hian. I happened, some time ago, to be summoned—to be invited— to attend a meeting at Winchester, for providing finds to pro mote Church extension in that diocese. Upon that occasion, I met Sir Moses Montefiere in the gardens, and he put into my hands a considerable sum of money, the amount of which (as we understood the Illustrious Duke) lam not now at liberty to mention. I should also say that, in the part of the world where I passed a long part of my life, I have found the members of the Jewish profession as distin guished for their high character and charitable disposition. Having stated so far, I am equally hound to state that no one can be more anxious for the passing of this Bill than I am ; and, with all sentiments of attachment to the Church to which I belong, I must say that, as long as I live, I will give all my support to whatever measure of toleration may be pro posed withou'. injury to the Established Church. The LORD CHANCELLOR said—My Lords, I am much gratified by the assent of his Rcyal Highness to this Bill—(Cheers)—and I now move your Lordships that it be now read a third time. The 811 was then read a third time, amidst a slight, but pretty m ' reral, murmur of approbation. STAMP DUTIES ASSIMILATION BILL _ . Th> order of the day for the third reading of this Bill was then read. Lord MONTEAGLE said that as this Bill would affect a great number of disputes in Ireland, he thought that time should be afforded fir the reconsideration of this Bill. He was far from wishing to elicit any opinion respecting this Bill from the NoLle Duke, but he thought that a reconsideration of the subject of the Bill was necessary. The Duke of \YELL! NGTON said that the Noble Lord seemed perfectly to apprehend the correct nature of the Bill, but he thought that the Bill had better be read a third time. There ',could be ample time for the reconsideration of the principle of the Bill even during the present session, and then the Noble Lord might, if he thought proper, act on the report of the Land Commissioners. The Bill ~as then read a third time, and the House ad journed a little before Six o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 14. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) LANDS CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL. Lord G. SOMERSET said the sheriff was bound to summon persons who were indifferent, and in consequence railway directors could not possibly form a jury"in their own case. As to the place of:meeting, there must be some power of fixing the locality. He would add sonic words limiting the circuit within which the meet ing should be he'd. Mr. A 6 LIONBY thought the Noble Lord slid not see the full force of the objection that had been raised. The distance within which the juries was to be summoned ought not to be limited ; the jury ought to be formed in the same manner as others were. The clause was then agreed to. Clauses up t's 47 were passed without discussion. On clause 48 being put, _ . Mr. AGLIONDY piloted out a great legal difficulty that would arise under thii clause ; it was a nice legal question, depending o❑ the construction of Lord Denman's Act of last session, with respect to the admksibillity of witnesses. A case had arisen in which the evidence of a railway director was proposed to be taken in favour of the company, and a doubt arose whether, as he was only collectively interested as a director, he came under the ex clusion clause, which referred to parties individually interested. This was a difficult question, in which it was desirable the opinion of a higher Court should be taken. He wished to alter the clause so as to allaw either party to carry this question by an appeal to a superior court, so as to set aside any error in the de::isien of the sher:ff Lord G. SOMERSUT sail the proposition would decidedly favour the railway companies, and operate against the landowner; as by the enormous expense of leg,,d proceedings, individuals would be frightened into taking an arbitration, instead of taking the decision of a jury. Mr. AGLIONBY asked what the Noble Lord meant by enor mous expense ? The process would be merely that of an ordinary motion its the Court of Queen's Bench, a thing of every day prac tice. It was not to be supposed that the question would be car ried through every court up to the House of Lords for decision. He believed the cost of such a motion was exceedingly moderate. Lord G. SOMERSET could not say precisely what the expense would be, but taking all the proceedings t ogether, it would be more than the llon, Member ant icipectl. He b,lieved this clause war drawn up in strict accordance with every railway Act, and almost every company's Act that had passed through that House; and he was not prepared to alter its this general Act what Parliament had so repeatedly sanctioned. The clause was then agreed to. Clauses 4t up to 77 inclusive were. then agreed to. On clause 'e".? bc;r4 proposed, Mr. AGLIONTLIV slid hv: thought it was not right that the owner of land should be compelled in all eases to incur costs in proving his title. A man might have a good holding title, tough a bad selling one. Lord G. SOMERSET said he believed the intention was, that landowners should be fully remunerated for all expenses which they were cornpelled to incur. lie would make inquiry on the subject. Oil Cati , e being proposed, imposing on railway cornpanies the obligation of taking land in certain cases, Mr. A 6 LION BY objected that the clause did not provide for the case of a tongue of land being cut off and separated front other land in such a manner that it could not be conveniently used by the owner. Lord G, SOMERSET said that, after giving the matter some consideration, he thought it would be difficult to introduce the proposed amendment. In the selling of the land that was taken such a circumstance ought to be taken into account, in aggregation of the amount. On the whole, he thought it would be best to leave the matter to be considered in the arbitration; but he would again take the subject into consideration. Clause 92 ,n,l the remaining clauses of the Bill were agreed to. 1 he House then adjourned till Fire o'clock. The Howe res.-timed at Five o'clock. SOUTH-EASTF.RN RAILWAY BILL. On bringing up the report from the Select Committee on Petitions en the petition for leave to introduce the Swath- Eastern Railway Bill, Mr. DODD - moved that such petition be withdrawn, and that leave be given, in conformity with the recommendation of the Select Committee on Standing Orders, to present petitians for the introduction of term different Bills, with reference to the matters ctrmprise,l in such firtt-mentioned Bill.—Agreed to. The Edinburgh:an:l llarwick Railway Bill was read a second time. 'Tim Dublin and Drogheday 11 , 11 was read a first time. 11.1 D CROPS.— IN COAI E- IA X. Mr. CH RI STOP 11 ER presented a petition from the farmers of Lincolnshire, stating that the crops of wheat and other agricultural . produce were generally deficient, and that this, conjoined with the alteration in the tariff, the admission of Canadian corn at a re !wed duty; and the increased burdens upon them by reason of the income-tax, pressed too much upon the agriculturists, and they prayed the House to adopt measures for their relief. ARREST OF WAGES. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition, signed by 4,500 dealers in Birmingham, complaining of the Bill passed last session for the abolition of imprisonment for debt ; and they prayed that that part of it relating to arrest of wages might be modifieil, as at present they suffered great inconvenience in consequence of the difficulty of recovering their just debts. BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY EXTENSIONS. The Ho N. MEMEE It also presented two petitions, one of them signed by the Directors of the Birmingham and Worcester Canal, against the extension of the Birmingham extension line. POOR-RAT ES. Mr. :11ILES presented a petition from the county of Wor ct-ster, against the unequal burden of the Poor-rate. FOULMIRE INCLOSURE BILL. On the motion of Mi. ALLI X, the Foulmire Itrlesure Bill was raad a second time. CIIARITABLF. BEQUESTS ACT. _ Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition, signed by 146 of the Roman Catholic clergymen of the archdiocese of Dublin, complaining of certain provisions in the Emancipation Act ; and also against the late Charitable Bequests Act, and praying for its total repeal, and the substitution instead of the 13!11 drawn up by the Hon. Member for Cork. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1845. Colonial-of f ice had sanctioned the explanation ; and therefore he (Mr. Aglionby) would say that this was an agreement, though Hon. Gentlemen opposite mig'it say it was only " a ilccumest.' ' But, let its name be what it may, he had many many times met Captain Fitzroy since, and conversed with him upon the subject. Yet he (Mr. Aglionby) up to that time had never heard of those letters, though lie mentioned to Captain Fitzroy what had already taken place on this subject. Now, he would ask, what was the reason that those letters which, no doubt, contained — Sir ROBERT PEEL begged leave to remind the lion. Member that be ought to confine himself to his arguments, and not assume the contents of a letter. Mr. A GLIONBY—He begged pardon for having trans gressed any rule of discussion, but at all events he believed it was admitted that Lord Stanley had received those letters.— lie could not understand how these letters had been kept secret. If lie had been aware of this duplicity it would have induced him as an individual to consult Lord Stanley on the subject, and unless some explanation were given, he should never be able to meet that Neble Lord with anything like good faith. Mr. Hl3 TT could not see how the subject could be brought before the Hou-e on Tuesday. Many motions of considerable importance stood on the paper for that day, and he therefore could not see how the question could be brought forward. lle did not think that the Hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies would have displayed so much zeal to have the matter discussed on Tuesday, had be not been aware that it was quite impossible th . .t it could be brought forward. Mr. HUME said there was a charge made against the Noble I.ord, the Secretary for the Colonies, and another against the Colonial Department of the Government. Now, he would suggest, that these two charges should be discussed separately. Would it not be better for the Government to tal:e the one on an order day, when they could command time and postpone the personal charge until another occasion ? The first question might be ten oa Monday or Wednesday, but he thought Monday the preferable day. Sir R. PEEL said the sugar duties and other measures of importance were to be brought forward on those days, and he saw no reason why the New Zealand question could not come under the consideration of the House on Tuesday. Lord JOHN RUSSELL entirely agreed with the Hon. Member for Montrose, whatever was the day mentioned. It would be better to separate the personal charge against the Noble Lord from that question which related to the govern merit of the colony of New Zealand. For his part, he wished the question to be fully discussed, and every explanation given. There was no doubt there would be a large majority to support the Neble Lord ; but the other question was invested with more importance, and he hoped it would not be lost sight of. New Zealand was an important colony, and, if rightly go verned, he thought it was destined to have a great influence on that part of the world. He believed the 18,000 or 0,000 Englishmen residing there were destined to become the pro genitors of the future governors of that part of the world. The correspondence which had taken place between the Colonial Government and the New Zealand Company did net evince a very good spirit, but he hoped when the matter was brought fo- ward it would be discussed with more calmness. „ Mr. HOPE said several of the important motions which stool for Tuesday had been withdrawn, and he certainly enter tained the idea of being enabled to bring the question forward on that day. Mr. COLLETT, as one of those who had a motion on the paper for Tuesday, was quite prepared to postpone it, if it would in any way convenience the Government. The matter then dropped. GREECE. Mr. B. COCHRANE said he wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Baronet respecting the communication which had been held with France upon the affairs of Greece. He did not stish to say anything which would interrupt the entente cordial between this country and France. He was aware that, whatever might be the nature of the conduct of the Government, the people did not share in the feelings of the Minister. He had been lately there, and had hedrd the conduct of the Ministry denounced in the most unmeasured trims, but., if there was any difficulty, he did not wish to open the question, but he trusted such was not the case. Sir R. PEEL said that the opinion expressed on this oc casion was not, he thought, effected by anything which had fallen fom him. With respect to the country of Greece itself, it was most desirable that the present attempt should prove successful, for it was a great attempt to combine a popular government with a limited monarchy. With respect to Sir Ed ward Lyon, he had heard some comments the other night on naval officers ; but he believed that all would allow that in the difficult position in which that gallant officer had been placed, he had exhibited en example that the affairs of a great country might with safety be committed to the care cf a naval officer. With respect to M. Piscatori, the Hon. Gentleman must excuse him making any remarks. With respect to Genoral Church, he must say that he and every Member in that House had joined in the expression of deep regret for the ronioval of that gallant and distinguished officer from office. He had served his country with ability 'and zeal for more than twenty )ears, and what was the cause of the removal of that distinguished officer? With respect to the loan promoted by Russia, France, and this country, he believed that Greece was ready to pay the burden of its debts. He felt sure the House would excuse him for not expressing an opinion as to the acts of the Government. He conceived it to be his duty to respect the independent actions of the Government,and he would rather not trust himself with the expression of his opi nion, how ever strongly he might feel on the occasion. allowance was made also to the retail dealers. He held in his hand a bundle of letters from all parts of the country, and by those lie learned that the stocks in the hands of the retail dealers were never so light as at the present moment. That it was difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain the extent of the stock in the hands of the retail dealers, lie was quite ready to allow; but he thought that this circumstance ought net to pre vent that justice should be done to wholesale dealers, and thus obviate that stagnation in the trade whieh was now so grievously felt, and he did hope that from these several consi derations her Majesty's Ministers would be moved to listen with attention to the representations of the memorialists, and with this hope he would leave the matter to the House and the Government. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER trusted that he should not seem to treat the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambeth with want of attention. If he did oppose it, public considerations alone induced his conduct. If he granted the petition of the memorialists he would be doing injustice to all other parties engaged in the trade. Now the petition which the lion. Gentleman had presented was from six of the whole sale sugar dealers in London, when the wholesale dealers alone amounted to fifty-two. The Hon. Gentleman seemed to think that these gentlemen conceived themselves taken by surprise. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought ;hat if any person had observed the course of the debates during lait session, he must have conceived that one of the earl:est mea sures this year would be some modification of the sugar duties. So far as the time at which the charge in the duties had been proposed those parties had no cause of.complaint, and, there fere, they had no fair claim for a return of duty. The effect that the Government anticipated from this change in the duty was a greatly increased consumption, which would make up for any loss which the complainieg parties might sustain. The Hon. Gentleman had grounded his claims for these parties on precedent, and alluded to what had taken place some years ago , with respect to sugar. That precedent to which the Honourable Gentleman referred he ( the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought was not analogous to the pre sent one. In that case no notice as in the present case was given, so with the case of wine to which the Hon. Gentleman had referred. Wine was an excisable article, and therefore the course which had been adopted at the time of the reduction of the duty upon it could not be taken now with respect to sugar. Mr. LABOUCFIERE said that upon this question he had been dispo ed to adopt the line which the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had done, but yet, upon mature deliberation, he had come to the conclusion that, in the present instance, a case had been made out by the mer chants of London, who had signed the memorial, and he thought that the House would not be acting justly by them if it did not adopt some measures which would be calculated to afford them the relief they prayed for. He thought that, under the peen liar circumstances, it was the duty of the house to comply with the whole of their demands, and to make such arrange ments as would mitigate the evils they complained of. The sugar duties had been brought forward this session under cir curnstaeces totally unprecedented in the history of commercial legislation. Last year they had passed a Bill, fixing the duties up to the month of July. An HON. MEMBER—No: June. Mr. L AI3OUGH ERE—Well, June in this year ; and they were now called upon, at an earlier period, to alter the very spirit and letter of that Act. They were disturbing the ar rangements on which the parties connected with the sugar-trade had calculated, and or, which they had relied. They had a right to conduct their commerce in accordance with the principle of that Act, and it would be a most unusual circumstance if Parliament were to step in and disturb those arrangements. He did not wish to introduce matters which had been already sufficiently discussed on the former evenings, and he would therefore confine himself to this one particular. What did Government do in this case ? They called upon the House to effect a total change in the very measure they had passed the year before. The respectable merchants who signed the memorial begged the House and the Government to renounce their inten tions with regard to the sugar du ies. lie had stated last year, and he tepnated again, that if the Government had settled the question during the last session, they would have been seared the difficulty of their present position. If they had settled the property-tax also last session, they would also have avoided the difficulties and perplexities which now attended that question. How would this proposed measure affect the holders of sugar in bond? They bad purchased sugars in large quantities, at a con siderably higher rate of duty than would be levied under the present measure proposed by the Government. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that if Government granted this boon, it would be a departure from established rule, and would furnish a dangerous prece dent. But he ( Mr. Labouchere) thought that when they could so much and so easily alleviate the hardship endured by a large and respectable body of persons, it was incumbent on them to do so. If Parliament had passed a Bill for a year, and if they afterwards sought to disarrange the settlement made so lately, it was but perfectly reasonable that they should at least protect those individuals from the losses which they might sustain by such a change in the sugar duties. The Honourable Member for Lambeth had stated that many persons in this town would be great sufferers, and he knew of four houses in Liverpool that had at that time in bond at least 550 tons of sugar, on which they had paid duties to the amount of 6,0001. Was it fair or jest that these men should suffer to this extent by the proposed alterations of the Government? Certainly not. He agreed with the general principle pursued by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he greatly doubted the propriety of the answer returned by the Government to the memorialists. He greatly doubted the propriety of, after having passed a measure for one year, to seek to subvert it at the end of nine months ; and he was of opinion, therefore, that Government should use all en deavours to mitigate the hardships to which the sugar mer chants would be exposed by the alteration. Sir H. DOUGLAS said that be had presented a petition, a few days before, to the same effect ; but he was not aware that any of the names of the persons who had signed the memorial would be found attached to the petition. Of this he was cer fain, that not one of the sugar refiners signed that memorial. He had, after a careful consideration of the circumstances, come to the conclusion that the representations of the memorialists were founded in justice and in equity, and he would therefore vote in favour of the motion. _ _ _ Mr. AGLIONBY was anxious that some indulgence should be extended to those smaller merchants who took sugar out of the Queen's warehouses, to supply the present demand. Those who had large funds could afford to purchase large stocks, and to leave them in the Queen's warehouses for an indefinite pe riod ; but there was a still larger class of purchasers who were obliged to remove from the Queen's stores what was required for the present demand, and he thought it hard that they filmed E o f L L l a considered , oe i t fyha h f raonh a :gdr t e bd t co h ephnbe e ua; G rnl eyegn o hepe v aaa e trbsso r e,es inesidd.nmdi being fornnmß tua,t not inp pledge themselves that no further alter at i on wou ld ta k e p l ace unt il p posing have the same advantage as the other and more favoured p c class.— . ct ( hA H eß e a Ap r . ewt ) merchants eoo a rn t r cit alh p :as e n,t r ht i a o sa ndt, the w etr e he r aA e it pux.ocpfnei induced lastet htdoe. e ew e v i em n e l v r e i e y - t t body knew that some further alteration was intended. Mr. F. BARING said he did not wish to trespass long upon the time of the House, and therefore he would begin by saying that this question had been discussed in a spirit of of hostility more warm than he had been led to expect. But, then, be should observe on the other hand, that if he were disappointed by the manner in which this question had been met, he should also be ready to admit that the circumstances with regard to the importation of wine, and the 'bottling of it, demanded some explanation. The Chancellor of the Ex chequer had given a certain power to extensive merchants with regard to bottling wines ; but why not give some relief to the small retail dealers?—( Hear, hear.) The Right lion. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government had said something to the effect that such an extension of the excise laws would be made ; and if SO, he (Mr. Baring) would ask why not also give a protection to the small dealers in sugar ?—( Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Baring) had been told that the required relief would be found in the reduced prices of questionn gt that t a l t i the t h ;e charges sugar that would follow the proposed alterations ; but he very much feared that no such result would follow. Sir GEORGE CLERK said he slid not rise for the made against the Govern edhe begged to assure Hon. purpose i\nicenm Govern ment eurp o s o f onp d pt e oi f is e i denial of the drawback, of which they so much complained, would not be found to present so many causes of complaint as appeared to be anticipated. He hoped the House would agree with his Right lion. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that any deviation from the established practice would be a most dangerous precedent, and he wondered that the Hen. Member for Montrose, and others who were the great advocates of economy, and always so care fel of the public purse, should recommend this sacrifice of the revenue. Mr. HUME said it was true that he had often had occasion to complain of the extravagance of Ministers, and of the House—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—but he had never complained of justice.—(Loud cheers.) The proposition of the Government in the present case was not only against justice, but it was against the law.—( Hear.) The Act of Parliament for the sugar duties now in force was to have continued until the sth of July next; and he had received letters front Liverpool, London, and other places, stating that the holders of sugar in bond had acted upon the understanding that there might be some change in the law in July, but not until then.—( Hear, hear.) He thought that the late Chan cellor of the Exchequer hail very properly pointed out the difference, as to whether the alteration was to take place now or in July.—( hear, hear.) The parties who would he prepared for an alteration in the law in July were now taken by sur prise.—( Hear, hear.) He agreed with his Right lion. Friend the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, that no change of this kind could take place without some loss to individuals. But he never before heard, that where there was gross injus tice done, the House would not interfere to remedy that, be cause justice could not be completely done in all cases.—( Hear, hear.) The practice of the Government in this case was very sharp practice indeed—( Hear, hear)--and this was not the case with regard to sugar alone, but every other exciseable stock now on hand. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer should read in the newspapers to-morrow what he had said this evening, he would see that it was unworthy of a Minister of the Crown. The House was bound to interfere to prevent in justice, which no consideration of revenue could warrant. Sir ROBERT PEEL was sure the House would believe that it was the wish of the Government to effect great com mercial changes with as little inconvenience as possible to in dividuals. He had received deputations from Liverpool, Lon don, and other places, and he appealed to the Hon. Members who accompanied those deputations, whether he had not given every manifestation of a desire to avoid injustice`.'—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman who spoke last accused the Go vernment of "sharp practice," as if he were speaking of low practitioners upon the outskirts of a profession. The Hon. Member overlooked the fact that they (the Ministers) were public, men, actuated by no other influence then a desire for the public interest.--( Hear, bear.) In the case which had been referred to—that of the wine duty—what his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury had said in his letter was, that in the event of an increase of the duty it was not the practice to add the increase to duty previously paid upon stock still in bond. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY—Is not the duty increased upon stock still in bond ? Sir R. PEEL did not think that a single case could be shown where stock in bond, having paid the lower duty, was afterwards charged with the increase. Ministers had felt it their duty to adhere to the usual practice, at the same time that they admitted that there would b s a great loss to indi viduals, which they regretted.--( Hear.) Ile could not deny, however, that it seemed to be the sense of the House, that in this case there ought to be some amount of drawback. —( Hear, hear.) But he did not believe that the late Chancellor of the Exchequer or the late President of the Board of Trade would give their opinion in favour of that view. if they did not think that this was a special case calling for special consideration.-- ( Hear, hear.) He had frequently supported them on similar occasions, as in the case of the Danish Clalms; and, on the other hand, he had frequently received their support, for he believed that all men in office knew what it was to have to con tend vt ith pressure in these cases.—( Hear, hear.) lie thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exche quer proposed in this case that the total amount of drawback which had been paid should be returned to the party who paid it, but that, if in consequence of the reduction, and the keep ing back of stock, prices should rise, there should be no greater amount of drawback than the actual loss.—( Hear.) lie consi dered that Ministers had done their duty in adhering to the general rule. But he understood the sense of the House, unin fluenced by party feeling, that this was a special case, and that it did not necessarily lead to a precedent for other demands.— ( Hear, hear.) He hoped the House would understand the difference between sugar in bond in the Queen's warehouse, under the seal of the Customs and that in the hands of the general dealers.—( Hear, and _cheers. ); In this case the article might be considered as one which came under the Excise rather than the Customs. It being understood then that it was the opinion of the House of Commune that a draw back should be allowed on sugar upon which the duty was paid, and which remained in the Queen's stores, he thought, on this account, it would be unwise if the Executive Government op posed itself to what appeared the prevailing opinion in the House, but he trusted that they would be supported by the House in resisting the demands of those, whether wholesale dealers or retail grocers, who had not the same special grounds of exemption. To this extent, therefore, he was willing on the part of her Majesty's Government to make some pro- vision by which the Treasury would be enabled not to restore the whole amount of duty to those particular parties, but to snake them such compensation as would be equivalent to the whole of the loss su'tained by them ; that loss being estimated to the period when the reduction was to be made. --(Hear. ) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that no per:on could suppose the Government were actuated by any other motive or wish than the protection of the public revenue. Ile thought that case which the Right lion. Paronet had taken into his con sideration was exactly the case put by the Right Hon. Gentle man the Member for Portsmouth. That case rested in the first place cn the justice or extending the time to the period con templated by the former Act, and secinally in tlie certainty that nn fraud could be committed, and ha understood that the Flight Hon. Gentleman, taking the circumstam es into his consideration, was prepared to consider the loss sustained by those who paid the duty on sugar in bond, before the reduction of the duty, and to make them some compensation. Such being the case, he thought his Hon. Friend the Member for Lambeth could not do better than withdraw his resolution, and leave the matter in the hands of the Government. Ile sup posed that those parties so circumstanced would have a power of making representations as to the arrangements Government might think fit to make, and that it would be open to them, if they thought any circumstaaces wi'h regard t • their case were not fully considered, to make representation; of those circum stances to the Government. Mr. Alderman HUNII'HREY was rejoiced that persons who had paid the duty on sugar in tho-e circumstances had the assurraice of the Right Hon. Baronet that they would receive some remuneration for the money they had paid. Mr. HAWES said, that after what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, he thought the proper coune for him to pursue would be to withdraw his resolution and leave the matter in the hands of the Government. Mr. WILLIAMS said, that as the Right Hon, Baronet had admitted the principle of allowing a compensation to those persons who had paid the duty on sugar which remait.ed in the Queen's stores, he thought that in justice he was bound to carry out the principle, and deal in the sane manner towards those who had paid the duty, and removed the sugar to their own warehoused, but who had not broken bulk. In that case, no fraud could be committed. The resolution was then withdrawn. REFINED SUGAR. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did not think that the lion. Gentleman opposite (Sir W. Clay) would act with prudence if he brought forward his motion with respect to refined sugar, after the discussion which had just taken place. The case of the refiners had a double aspect— they had claims for the sugar which was in bond, and on which the duty had been paid, and they also put for ward claims on account of the sugar which had been taken out of bond. Of course, with regard to the sugar in bond which had paid the duty, the refiners would participate in the general advantages which all other persons similarly circumstanced would have. But the Hon. Gentlemen would see that the other question was one of a dif ferent character, and that they had not the same claim upon the sugar which was taken out of bond, and which they might have exported. Sir W. CLAY said that the case of the refiners was different from the other persons who took sugar out of bond, because the refiners must of necessity take it out, while the others need not. The case of the refiners was not different from those who had sugar in bond upon which the duty was paid, be cause it was impossible that any fraud could be committed by them. The same concession, therefore, should be made in their favour. On a former occasion, the Right lion. Gentle man the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said that the refiners could take care of themselves, and that they had exported con siderable quantities of sugar. Now, he begged to say, that the Right Hon. Gentleman was mistaken in the information he had received on that subject. The refiners of London exported very little, with the exception of one gentleman who exported sixty tens of refined sugar. They did not ask for a remission of the whole duty, but for a remission calculated for a given number of weeks. He would not now call for any expression of opinion on the part of tae House, but he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would consider the case of the refiners, which was one of great hardship. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was under stood to sav that he would state on Monday what he would do. The case of the refiners was somewhat different from the other case ; but he held iu his hand a return, from which it ap peared that forty-five thousand three hundred cwt, of brown sugar and LOCO cwt. of refined sugar was exported from London, the drawback on which was received by the refiners. If the House would allow him till Monday he would inquire into the subject and state what he would do.—( Hear.) Sir W. CLAY said that this statement was to him per fectly satisfactory, and he only hoped the details would be as satisfactot y as the plan. Mr. HUME said that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had postponed the further consideration till Monday, and he must say that on all the points the statement appeared to show a very satisfactory conclusion, but as time was aff trded for the consideration of those matters, he trusted that some infor mation would be gfven with respect to the exp.•rts. 'Dm Right Hon. Baronet had stated that he was anxious to bring about those changes with as little loss and nnplessantry to individuals as po.sible ; and this, he thought, ought to be sa tisfactory through all the country. trusted Hon. Members had heard enough to justify them in voting for the omission of the clause. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Com mittee divided, when the numbers were, _ . For the amendment Against it Majority for the clause ............ On the gallery being re-opened, Mr. HUME was addressing the Committee. lie wanted the Chancellor of the Exchequer to explain how the propo.d tion could be said to be founded on economy ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that he had taken the opinions of those acquainted with the subject, and he was justified in adopting the measure. ttr. BOW RING said, for the sake of saving b,OOO/. a year to the Government, a gross injustice was about to be done. Applications had frequently been made to the Treasury for a drawback of the duty on the waste of bonded gods, and they had seemed so equitable in principle, that they had again and again been conceded. Alderman HUMPHREYS could not see the woof haying such officers, or of having sugars under lock at all. He would ask why not make the parties give security for the sugars when entered, and have no officers at all? Mr. H A WES said it appeared to him that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was putting his anthurity against that a Mr. finskisson ; and be ( Mr. Hawes) would ask, Which was the House to be I,id by? What was the object of warehousing sugar at all ? It was, in fact, only making men pay a duty (.n waste, white the nbj.•ct. was to prevent fraud, by compelling them to pay duty on fir,t-class sugar, and thus increase the revenue. Now he did not think this should be persevered in; and it it should, he now would give notice that on bringing up the re port he would move for the omission of the clause. Mr. 11U11E said he understood that the actual waste on a ton of sugar, after it had been warehoused, was about three cwt., and, therefore, nothing could be more unjust than to make the merchant pay fur that. If the Bill were ,o pass with these imperfections. he would say it was a mode of retro. grading that wnu'd be most unwise. Alderman HUMPHREYS would ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to suppose that one of the weighers could not. write the figures in his Blue-book, and, therefore, he passed a qtrin tit. of sugar a quarter of a cwt. shurt, then the Crown would be defrauded by employing such officers, and yet such were not unfrequent. Mr. ;MILKER GIBSON begged to draw attention to a fact which this Bill presented. He understood by it that mo lasses were to be admitted at a duty of Bs. 9.1. from all foreign countries from which sugar should he admissible. Now, the fish cause gave a power to admit sugar at a duty of 28s 9.1. from countries under reciprocity treaties, but then: was no provision for admitting molasses from these countries. The clause was then agreed to ; and clauses 15 and 16 were next agreed to, without discussion. Mr. RICARDO would like to know how white clayed sugar could he distinguished from brown, by sample, in ten years hence? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Bill contained a provision for renewing' the sample from time to time. Mr. M. GIBSON could not see why the preamble of this Act should not set forth the fact, that it was merely intended as a protection to East India proprietors._( Hear, hear. ) Mr. BRIGHT believed that the qw,stion was now better understood in the country than it had ever been before. Hon. Gentlemen connected with the West India interest must not imagine that the question was finally settled. Next year, when the question would be brought forward again, a more deter mioed opposition would be made to the passing of this measure, and he trusted that the opposition would be backed by an in crease of public opinion. He h-pod that Hon. Gentlemen opposite would take warning and cultivate their estates to the utmost possible extent. He entered his protest against this Bill, as one that was altogether unjust. Mr. lIORTHWICK contended that protection to the West India interest had been rendered necessary by the legislation of that House. Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to say a few words upon a subject concerning which he bad addressed the House on a former occasion. He alluded to emigration to the West Indies and to the Mauritius. This country, which had done so much for the destruction of slavery, should take care that no course was permitted which would revive it. He had received seve ral letters from persons who were related to missionaries, and who stated that considerable alarm existed in consequence of some proclamations which had been issued regarding emigra tion. When he had spoken on the subject before, he adverted to Jamaica, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer told him that a loan had been made for the purpose of emigration. He (Lord J. Russell) was informed that a proclamation had been issued sanctioning loans for the purpose of emigration. Thus he thought it was only proper that the Government should lay all the information they possessed on this important matter be fore the House. Previous to any measure regarding sugar being sanctioned by Parliament, they should be aware in what manner Gov•iawiesitt approved of what had been done regard ing emigration. It was said that the Noble Lord the Secre tary for the Colonies some time ago stated that it was in contem plation to propose a guarantee for such loans. e wished to know holier it was really intended to introduce any Bill on the subject? Sir W. JAMES denied that a , ingle farthing would be put into the pockets of the planters by the proposed change. When the Hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Bright) was Chancellor of the Exchequer, which no doubt he expected to become one day or another. but which might God avert, said the Hon. Member earnestly.—( Laughter.) When the Hon. Member had attained that position and entirely removed protection from the colonies, then their ruin would speedily Mr. HOPE said he could assure the Noble Lord there were no grounds whatever for his apprehension. It was an etro neous supposition that there was not now sufficient work for the emigrants in the Mauritius and West Indian c Monies. Since the Government had taken up the system, there was abundance of employment. Some might be unemployed there, bus they were persons unfit fur agricultural Lbour. The Go vernment would have no hesitation in producing all the papers. Lord HOWICK maid that he had no desire that emigration, h ,, wever desirable in other respects, should be car. ied on by means of there loans. Mr. HOPE said that there was no report from Antigua. Mr. P. M. S't'EW AR I' said that all the West Indies re quired was a sufficiency of labour. They were told that thete was a sufficiency of labourers to be obtained at Penang and Sin gapore, and that they could lie obtained i any numbers; but in the present state of the West Indies, he did not think that it would be advisable to act upon the lic , nces. The Hon. :Mem ber for Durham (Mr. Aright) had said that it was a good plan to kick a man when he was down, but he would beg to tell the on. Member tha► they yet retained sufficient vitality in them to resist any attack that they could bring. The Hon. Member for Nor. humberland said that there was no want of labourers in the West Indies, but he would ask the Hon. Mem ber what would be the state of their cotton factories if they deprived them of labour ; he had said that without labour it would be impossible to continue the manufactures of this country.—( Hear. ) Sir W. JAMES explained, amid much interruption, and said that he only wished to say that if they would give the West Indies plenty of labour, they would heat slave-grown sugar out of the market. Mr. HOPE believed that all the papers which contained the instructions had been sent out for the transmission of la bourers to the West Indies. He believed that the difficulty was this :—•the vessels which had been sent out to carry the Chinese had not been sent direct to Singapore, and on their arrival at the island the shipping agent did no, perfectly under stand the instructions which he had received, and he declined to act upon them. The Bill was then passed through Committee, the Chairman reported progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up en Monday next. On the inquiry of an How. MEnnta, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Customs' Liuties Bill would be taken the first thing on Monday. stsf" observing that the Right Hon. Baronet opposite hau, - s o r that he would go through as much of the Committee of of ply before Easter as would enable the House to agree t: ro , Mutiny Act. But as the questi,ins in supply would of sity give rise to prolonged discussions, he thought the ' Ol l Hon. Gentleman had better postpone them unti l Faster. Sir R. PEEL said that he did not intend to propm e o other estimates before Easter, but those that «ere rwee' o9 o for the public service, such as the half-lay list, &e. He a take that opportunity of saying. that lie could not put tit , _ o r motion of the Hon. Member for Somerset the same con Litij tion that had been put upon it by the Hon. Member :bp him (Mr. Borthwick.) He thought it would be for the House to affirm that resolution w.thout incl u Tst pledging itself to the remission of some tax or otber,co pressed upon agriculture. As he was not prepared to aeclu i in such a pledge he could not agree to the motion. o r th Mr. MILES would not refwe to an.wer the question af 0 Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell). His moti,n vould 40 the reduction of the county rates, and other burdens land, to the amount of about 400,000/. n", t Ot t Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask the Right Hon. Barolei, it was his intention to put an end to the anxiety wil' u . .,'" o i l ee veiled on the subject of the cotton duties? With all tent Government—( A laugh)—the question could be ses n t y five minutes. There was at present great difficulty menutacturing districts. in re nsequence of cotton being bei 4 hell from the maTket, in the prospect of tie du t y speedily listen off. Sir R. PEEL said that he would bring on the Conftn -itee corn as possible. The House then proceeded to the other orders oF th,' asl. The Mastardy Bid w v as read a third time, and p.o' NEW ZEALANt>—LORD s I'ANLEY• c , „ ge nt/ Lord EBRINGTON aid that the Noble lord the ''elft for the colooies stood :moused, for nearly a year and 2 4 0 e under grave charges, breught by the New Zealand o° l DI anti he wished to ask whether any answer was inten ded" given to those charges? lei Mr. HOPE said that the charge against Lord Staos thl been made in that House only two or three days eg °, ,, aa House might be assured that it would be fully answe rlu. The Infeftments Bill Scotland) was read a a sec on d and ordered to he rep 9-Jed. Anlt !SPHERIC RAILWAY. Mr. SHAW said that at that late h ur of the niff",„, not mean to occupy the time of the H ouse in o. 9 `:T e a select cotnetittee to inquire into the rin u .,, s Poo l the atmospheric railway. He asked for the ifel uu ' re pot t of the Committee principally on the ground of here sye of the t ßoard of Trade, which stated that the atmosphorn tem had secceeded in a int chanical point of sit w, but. r4,lit success in a commercial point of view was doubtful. _ A - beta would ask for a Committee even on that ground It hiworl tried in the Dublin ar.d Dalket line, and was found to al Of and it was about Si be estabiished in two lines in F.nglan. o thought that it was most important to decide the q at ' t/ this important period of railway specarlation. Mr. WARBURTON said he would oppose them ° 4l.°P - 9 lie lbe cause he did not see why a different principle shoul d be ;Preri! in this case from what was applied in the case of any ntedefe vention. Let the atmospheric principle be proved b y ment, and then it would be easily introduced. w ba. Mr. HODGSON HINDE agreed very much in bi te fallen from the Hon. Member. He had no obiection .vi to an inquiry into the merits of the atmospheric sYjsl though he believed it would have very little.l3oo; until the results of the experiments were I 010 but he was afraid that under his Right 11 „ ° 7 1 ° 4 Friend's motion there lurked an infection of r st r -l of u " - railway Bills before the House. There were two sid e d to ques ion. Not only were there engineers who d ou .e, ba d success of the experiment in a mercantile point of 11 „feit o li there were many who doubted it in a mechanical pniut.: 001 and he could see no reason for supposing that the ° us- p01 0 ,!, sett'e the difficulty. At all events, he should objeet tattle a l s ', tor merit of the Committee, if the progress of the raite s Y sl impwded by it. bia 000. Lord HOWICK said it would have been well lf td Friend had applied a little of his usual acutenel ;an question. A Committee had been asked to assist fu t e ye st• in forming an opinion. It so happened, in the Two ° , PI great number of railway Bills had been proposed to th ropo t ,, In two or three cases the competition was between P 000,,", atmospheric line, and a proposed line upon the I nc droh - t plan. Mr. Stephenson, the only engineer who objec ge , atmospheric principle, had stated before the F I A ° : of o on the very first trial which had been I ° -- 0 10 t1 it had exceeded both in safety and in speed the IS 0 0 ltd system after sixteen or seventeen years. 10 S, other hand, engineers of the greatest e minencer i tt w ith that the atmospheric system combined groat spied a ced ~e feet safety; and in a commercial point of view, it aPP;SO.4 the expense of working a line upon that system w a ' o de:„ 0 mile, while that of the other mode was Is. 20,4. Thisl„oo",ij proved. They ought to inquire into the merits of thelps',llo;i as the time must come when it, the atmospheric sr" „el t r. , supersede the present one. If they did not they 17-oriblo the whole que-tien over the Kent, the Cornish, ied brian lines. He knew the Board of Trade could o° t t er 00 0 / the inquiry, ft om the mass of business it had to get, ii „O ir but the appointment of the Committee, instead t" t the progress of the present railway Bills through° tol meet, would, on the contrary, expedite them. , Sir GEORGE CLERK said the Noble p otiflistit, given a most able panegyric on the 01 'O l system, but he had also furnished reasons .ittel,; Committee should not be appointed. The C00""sof last sessi n elicited all the facts, but they had no weld 6 0 . ," perly knowing what the expense of the system w u . u tio is? lines where the traffic would require large steam-cOOl-torei i ris smut action. The experi,nent on the Kingston and v ain st . ji was not sufficient, and, without any prejudice atittee,4 atmospheric principle, he did rot. think the Corn°,oo, be productive of any good. It would not influ,nee i ris Committee, and would mach retard the progress of . y leg hills Plo eie t li Mr. BARKER did not think the atmospheric bo k would ever queceed, but he would not do anythi n g t sl preven Mr. .t a fa H. COLLETT d ir trial of the expeler not think that the eyiment. de° f ite a 1 ?,/ this subject could be of any importance, unless eli_ 11' Cie private Committee. The eyes of Europe, he might :old now on this country, and upon its decision would del; t erit trier other lines now in contemidation would be comp s oo o e Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said, great intetel d 0 stake in railways, and therefore he holed it Yo u . 0 0f turely censidei ed. He was himself rather scepft'old. yet he hoped toe appointment of the Committee be bs opposed. opposed. cou lj oi# Mr. RICARDO could not see how this projet onto`' opposed merely because it had hitherto been tried onion(''' lines. If ihit [tower had bi•eri given for m aking • i p they wo R uld have been made also. „ t „titt Sir E. PEEL said he would be in favour o f g ra il ft 'r Committee, though he could not see what would re4.,130 for the public alone were the party to tb•cide as t° ,te. should be ,doted. He was himself in favour of the on' of tic plan, but he could not see what, good could f 4°014 appointment of the Committee. However, h e oppose it. 1 4 $ll4 After .t few words from Lord EBRINGTO 00 10: GILL, the motion was agreed to. Mr. SH A W hoped the Committee would be poi° it/! Monday next. sa id, Sir ROBERT PEEL, in answer to a question, 0 ,011 / appointment of this Committee would not interfere 10 general progress of railway business. 6 1 of 1114 The other orders of the day were then dispo - . House adjourned at hall-iast One o'Clock. POLICE INTELLIGENC E (YESTERDAY.) MA NS/OA-HOU SE. four`e a : John Crellier, a licensed victualler, in Mark -lane' ,14F. with a violent assault upon an omnibus conductor. o ene: Chapman, the complainant, stated, that ?fter to o pe the preceding night, the defendant assaulted k iln without having received the slightest provocation. b els ; fendant, who was accompanied by a drunken 0 1 5 er0 3 1 omnihus in the Poultry, but the complainant condition in which his companion was, refused tn mission. The defendant was exasperated at ih ni , i ,,,itb . ;o ll ) struck the complainant, accompanying the blot', tos,.. language. That offence, however, was permits a impunity, and the omnibus passed on till it rea ntl rm Ol t te e reed when it wats hailed by a gentleman, wha 11tan.r inside. The defendant took the opportunity to ca abo ev; o 4 4 4 tleman not to allow the lady to go with such a c a r e dy the complainant having stated the facts , the 010'7-4; whereupon the defendant knocked the comp lain ° lie': was then handed over to the care of the police. 4 0. :;' The principal parts of the statement of the comp ict;rw! confirmed by a witness. st°l 4 lo , The defendant said that he had been ablved a t i a jal' - f iatott: the complainant before he raised his hand. o k ad'" ars kicked in the stomach by the complainant, who I n k. P. lor.l of the elevation of the footboard to make the a- me and tea positively Beni , d that his friend was at all (1 n 11 : 0 1 1 k t : ti t ce e r that it was quite impossible to endure the es' 0 7 - the vow - lector. The loan Nlaroit asked whether the per ,oo :, h ; . r is ' t it t ee partied the defendant was present? The defendaro'cotY Lord, lie knows nothing about it; but I eau P be I, ,1" witnesses that I was struck first. 11 ° The Loon MAYOR— Your witnesses shod 0 d " a CO l3ll I have the evidence upon oath that you struck the repeaiedly, COO. ferV. ft Th Ltird Mayor and Sir John Pirie having e e e l / gtthcr, j ot e p l. His LORDSHIP said that he and his brother WI oet Ife r ' ,e of opinion that the c •nduct of the defendant l e ha . v n 4, o t e , reprehensible, inasmuch as, being a publican. . A tgr n s,ag voured to obtrude a drunken man into a n on lo sent,' the very proper refusal of the conductoerron 11.09 passengers to be disemstal and Insulted by a t here fs ea tt t . condition. The sentence upon the defendat,t, et) that he be fined the sum of 31., and, in default 0 1 . 1 1 . he be imprisoned ler one mouth. The fine seas immediately paid. of li ce #o f c CIIARGE 01' FORGERY —The iilspec t- • :of -11 „f 9 P6 Rochester received instructions from the 1300".-,, to apprehend Fredia ick lanes. the colle ct lJ t lie te v the Custom •house, Rochester; th e ~fri ce r proco e :"atig h Wednesdav afternoon and apprehended whilst he was attending to the duties of his ( 31 ' o' sorer is the-son or :lir: Janes, a res ectahl jb who has resided in Rochester ' for matey vors. r 61robe, against him is for obtaining . from the coroptt"fli'i Sawyers, Esq., 121. 10s. on producing a receiriti 0 61 40 . , 1 ; nature of Mr Simmons, a blockmaker, resiu.:,Tirbt," end, who had sent in his account to the Cc-at -- payment. It is stated that there are other 03. ro itl i ci the prisoner. (too00 t 4 ALARMING FIRE IN THF CITY. -- Y t ' s(e r, "i g about half-pact one o'clock, a fire burst O r , - 0 , :i. - O J;4 lower part ola large pile of buildings occal'iu'i A. c lls i Y on the ground and upper NPLauren and Mr. G. Clapham, b both ' situate behind the General !.'os - t-otfice A c i 3 ' ll- 0 61 of stock is destroyed, and the premises' ma c- " fire and water. 21 0 On the Bth inst., at Coblentz, on the Rhill e ' c ra li ik re; ‘ F'l6 : : Rev. W. Moxon Mann, British Chaplain, 0,, 4 pa. o fP On the 10th inst., at Salt- hill, Kingstovi 1 e 1 n , D. L. Jones. of a son. tb e , On the 11th inst., at Terl;ngs-park , her"; 64-11 - T. Rivaz, Esq., of the Bengal Civil Service, 0,001 On the 12th inst., at Woolwich, the lady' o' Mundy, Royal Artillery, of a daughter. A bs ol ' .4 lil 11 E f *To" - Oa the 12th inst., Mr. Samuel E. Perkin. 9, 0„:„`0 to . Anne, third daughter of Mr. George Jac "'- Wilton, near Guisborough, Yorkshire. r otig i IE On the 29th ult., at Berlin, firmly belielirigthtli o? l e k till j ii merits of her Redeemer, Jesus Christ, An ti ii ., daughter of the late Mr. John Prickett, surve)". e , P• e foP On the 12th inst., at Little Holland al a r tu es the Hon. Caroline Fox. niece of Charles sister of the late Lord Holland. v• 0 L - mrlon: Primed anti J., 14 • b cr, • ((. 1 ':O.0 V 1) O. Ili, Strand, Printer. ~.tr Tile 31 "': - 1 18 Straid, in PreQ.ii;vr of the Savoy, Middleata, Saturday, Mardi 15, IMS. r ItIAYNOOTH COLLEGE. Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from the county of Cavan, against the proposed increased grant to the Roman Catholic College of Maynooth. LIGHTING THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. HU3I E begged to give notice that he would, on Mon day next, call for the report of the expenses that had been in curred by the experiments made in lighting this House. Captain PECHELL gave notice that he would to-mor row put a question, in order to ascertain the number of places in Wales in which petty sessions were holden ; also a question relative to the Ju,tices' Clerks' Bill. Sir W. CLAY gave notice of a motion relative to Messrs. Smith's distiilery case, the nature of which we could not understand. WINDOW-TAX. Lord DTTNCAN gave notice of a suction for the purpose of icquiring into the operation of the window-tax, and the mode of applying - the tax so levied. 'THE PORTLAND VASE. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL gave notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the protection of pro perty in the Museum and other public places.—( Hear, hear. ) POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. Mr. WAKLEY moved that the petition from Finsbury re specting the Post-office, presented on the previous evening, be printed7—Ordered. NEW ZEALAND COMPANY. Mr. G. W. HOPE said that several charges against his Noble Friend at the head of the Colonial - office had ben made in and out of that House, accusing that Noble Lord of a breach of faith. The Government had rot had as yet any opportunity for vindication, for, on a previous occasion, when the subject was brought under their notice, it was done in such a manner that though the Government were indirectly accused they could not enter into their defence. He had been informed that a peti tion was in course of preparation, and that several merchants in the City had been solicited to sign it. These petitions imputed to the Noble Lord misconduct, and breach of faith in relation to his conduct towards the New Zealand Company. lle felt sure the House would agree with him that it was only the fair play which an Englishman had a right to expect, that when a charge was brought against him he should have'a full opportunity of answering it on the earliest opportunity. lie should therefore bring forward a motion on Tuesday next, giving the New Zealand Company an opportunity of substantiating those charges if it were in their power. Mr. AGLIONBY was one of the Members who had spoken on the occasion alluded to. He did not know whether or not the Government alluded to him, but if they did he begged,to inform the Hon. Under Secretary that he need not wait until Tuesday, for he (Mr. Aglionby ) was perfectly ready now to substantiate any charges which he had made against the officers at the head of the Colonial Department. If the Hots. Under Secretary did not wisn to wait until Tuesday, he was perfectly ready now to give his opinion as to the conduct of Lord Stanley. Lord HOWICK understou I the Hon. Under Secretary to say that on Tuesday he meant to go into the defence of the conduct of Lord Stanley. Now, if the papers for which the Hon. Under Secretary meant to move were necessary to the defence of Lord Stanley, he must protest against any discussion taking place on the subject until he should be in possession of those papers, so as to be enabled to form an opinion on the Noble Lord's policy as regarded New Zealand. Mr. MANGLES having been a party to that debate, and having expressed a strong opinion on the conduct of the Co lonial-office, rose to answer the accusation of the Hon. Gen tleman. He was quite ready to substantiate any charge which he had made against Lord Stanley. He would not allow the Hon. Gentleman to dictate to him. Mr. HUME rose to order, but was interrupted by Lord J. RUSSELL, who said that the Hon. Gentleman had made a statement which he (Lord J. Russell) did not clearly understand. He wished to know what it was that the Hon. Gentleman proposed to do ? Mr. G. W. HOPE said that the character of the Noble Lord who was at the head of the Colonial Department had been attacked on the other night, when the motion on the sub ject of New Zealand had been brought forward. A charge had been brought against him by the Hon. Measlier for Lis keard. Now he was desirous of defending the conduct of the Noble Lord, and he wished to introduce a motion for papers, for the purpose of having that opportunity. Mr. HUME asked if those papers furnished a specific an swer to the charge against the Noble Lord ? He should wish to know what was the specific charge made against the Noble Lord, from which the Hon. Gentleman wished to defend him. Mr. G. W. HOPE understood that the charge brought against the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Depart ment was, that he had produced one set of instructions to the New Zealand Company, as the instructions which he had given to the Governor who had been sent out, and that he had given another set of instructions to the Governor inconsistent with those shown to the Company, and which he did not produce to them. And that, thereby, the Noble Lord's governor or agent in the colony was not in possession of instructions, or rather his instructions were not such as to enable him to carry out the arrangement originally made by the Noble Lord with the Company. Sir R. INGLIS said, that as the House would have no means of investigating the charge unless it had time to read the papers, he would suggest that it would e bettr to post pone the question till after the recess ; they b would e then hare been able to consider the documents. He did not see the Hon. Member for Liskeard in the House, or he was sure he would consent to postpone his motion till after the recess. Mr. MANGLES said, as the Noble Lord tLord J. Russell) and the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for the University of Oxford had prolonged the discussion, and the Hon. Under Secretary for the Colories had beets allowed to speak twice, he did not understand why he should have been considered out of order. If the lion. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies imagined there was any d;sposition on the part of the New Zealand Company to shrink from inquiry with respect to the charge made against the Colonial Department in general, and Lord Stanley in particular, he was mistaken. The lion. Gentleman need be under no apprehension but that he would have a full discussion of the whole mas ter. With respect to what the Hon. Gentleman had said of a pe tition in course of signature in the City, he might depend on it the merchants and traders of the City were not the per sons to be influenced to sign a petition containing charges against the Colonial Department, or any other department of the Government, unless they were convinced of the justice of the charges. If he supposed the Colonial-office stood well with the country, the Hon. Gentleman was under a delusion ; if he thought the Colonial-office was not reprobated by the whole country, and considered as a plague and a nuisance, he believed the Hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary, and the Noble Lord at the head of tlse department, were the only per sons who held that opinion. Sir R. INGLIS said, the intention to press the charge had now been stated in terms about which there could be no mis take. His Hon. Friend, therefore, should not be content to take the discussion on a motion on which the House could express no opinion. He should frame his motion in such a mariner as to elicit the opinions of the House. It would then appear whether it was true, as alleged by the Hon. Member who spoke last, that the Colonial Government was reprobated by every individual in the country, except the Noble Lord at the head of the department, and the Hon. Under Secretary. j He ( Sir R. Inglis) believed it would appear by a large and unanimous majority of that House—(Cries of " Order")—he nas perfectly in order ; he believed it would appear by a ma jority of that House, and what wag no less important, by the opinion of the majority of the country that such was not the general opinion of it. Lord HOWICK thought, after what had passed, that the policy that had been adopted by the Government with respect to New Zealand ought to be brought before the consideration of the House. _ Sir li. PEEL felt that he was bound to say somehing on this question. lie was certain that the course pursued by the Noble Lord opposite would never answer the purposes he had in view. But, besides the g eneral question, there was another question in which his' Noble Friend was distinctly charged with bad faith—a charge brought forward at the close of the discussion the other night, after both his Right Hon. Friend and himself had addressed the House. His Noble Friend was most anxious that they should not separate for the holidays without having an opportunity of dis tinctly explaining his conduct by referring to the documents, and showicg, as he ( Sir R. Peel) thought he could conclu sively show, that the accusation of want of good faith in his transactions with the New Zealand Company was without foundation. lie did not apprehend that his Noble Friend wanted to call on the House for any expression of opi nion on the general question, but his lion. Friend, as the re presentative of his Noble Friend, was most anxious in a matter that need not necessarily provoke any discussion on the ge neral policy, but on a matter in which his personal conduct was invol vial, and an accusation of want of good faith made, that an opportunity for explanation should be given.—( Hear, hear.) His Noble Friend, feeling as a man of honour on this subject, did not wish the House would separate without such an oppor tunity being afforded.—( Hear, hear. ) Mr. AGLIONBY was glad that the Right Hon. Baronet had spoken out in the way he did, feeling that any person whose public conduct was arraigned should have an opportunity of offering an explan ition to the House. And if the Hon. Secretary for the Colonies had taken the same course, he believed that this discussion would have been termi nated More. Those who took part iu the former debate, com plained that no notice had been given to them. The lion. Se cretary for the Colonies had given notice, indeed, five minutes ago behind the Speaker's chair.—( Hear, hear.) But was that an intimation which ought to receive Parliamentary sanction ? —( Hear, hear.) The Committee who sat last year took an in terest in this discussion. Was any intimation given to them that this question was about to be raised? If he understood the Hon. Gentleman, he intimated his intention of bringing before the House,. for discu s sio n an d di v i s i o n, the whole ques tion of the cosnolamts made by the New Zealand Company against the Colonial-office, and the demand for reparation. But he begged to tell the lion. U n d er S ecre t ary , th a t h e cou ld not drag on a discussion when he pleased. The 1-1 in. Baronet hail notc.orreey tl stated his (Mr. Aglionby' s ) v i ews th e ot h er n i g ht. lie did think that debate would take the a ngr y t u r n it af terwards did, and he certainly did not intend to bring on the New Zealand question except as a dernier resort. He would tell the Right lion. Baronet that the petition to which reference had been made was one to which the atten tion of lion. Members was particularly requested. Great con sideration had been given to the wording of it, and th ey on l y made apO ication in it to the justice of the Governme n t. Th e petition was not yet ready , and it was doubtful wh e th er i t might be presented, and a mot ion founded upon it, before Easter. Until the facts produced before the House were ex hibited in a condensed form, it would be useless to expect lion. Members to enter in'o a discussion up on ihe subject. There existed a feeling in the minds of Hon. Members prejudicial to the interests of the New Zealand Compa n y and in favour of the Government. He had many striking facts to show that the New Zealand Company had endeavoured to da a great public good, but they had been thwarted by the Government. He could not think that the Right Hon. Baronet had ente ed into the merits of this case. It the claims of the New Zealand Company could be shown to be just, and if their interests were injured by the proceedings of the Colonial Government, if their hopes were protracted, surely it was but reasonable that the House should pay some attention to their claims. He did think that the recent appeal to the House might be useful. The Company appeared before the House as claimants for justice. Ile did not object to state all the reference that had been made to Lord Stanley in the petition which was in course of signature, and if he entered upon the subject somewhat lengthily, he hoped the House would excuse him. He had not expected that the discussion on the other evening would have degenerated into these personalities. He (Mr. Aglionby) had then objected to the ward " instructions." He was ab tut to oliect to the word t‘ instruction," and to have substituted for it the word " order," but he would now allude to another point before he did so. He had heard of very hostile and angry letters that had been written and passed between Lord Stanley and Captain Fitzroy upon this subject; but he could not further allude to them, as he understood they had been withdrawn. However it might be said that the New Zealand Company should make out their case, and then it would devolve upon Lord Stanley to make good his objection to it. It had been further said that that had been done, and that the BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Mr. WILLIAMS asked if the Right Hon. Baronet in tended bringing in the estimates on Monday? it R. PEEL said that it had been his intention to bring forward the Army and Navy Estimates before Easter, but other matters of greater importance would prevent his doing s). Those questions which affected the settlement of our com mercial policy, and the affairs of trade, must be first disposed of. It was, however, absolutely necesstiry that the Government should have a vote of money before Easter, and he hoped the House would make a sufficient grant, which would not at all prejudice the discu'sion of the Estimates. Mr. HUTT said that certain documents had been trans mitted to the Government by the East India Company, relative to the trade in grain and flour, which had not been yet laid on the table of the House. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had, made some inquiries, but could not account for their non-pro duction. Mr. HUTT said he had taken great pains to obtain this do cument. He spoke to the Hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir G. Clerk) four or five times, and, finding it of no use, mentioned the matter publicly to the house. He had offered to ropy the document himself, or send his servant to do it, but the offer was declined, and the document had not been produced. Really the business of the country ought to be more punctually attended to. Sir G. CLERK said he bad made inquiry and found that no official notice had been Sent to the Board of Trade from th,t. House for the production of the document. He had notwithstanding given directions that the paper should be laid on the table of the House. Mr. HUTT said he was the more anxious about it, because he had intended to make a motion on corn and ti , tur, grounded upon this document, and that notice he intended to place on the paper before Easter. Sir H. FEEL said he would take care that the Hon. Mem ber should have the document. TIIE SUGAR DUTIES. On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair for going into Committee on the Sugar Duties Bill, Sir WILLIAM CLAY presented petitions on the sub ject, and Mr. HAWES presented a petition from wholesale houses in London, praying for a drawback of duty on sugar now in bonded warehouses. Sir W. CLAY, in the absence of Mr. Wallace, wished to move, on going into Committee on the Sugar Duties 13i 1, that compensation be made to such refiners as have paid the duty of 2bs. 3d. o❑ their stocks undergoing the process of refining, and who shall nut have had time to get quit thereof, previous to the new scale of duties taking effect. A long discussion ensued as to whether this motion or that of Air. Ilawes, which followed on the paper, should have pre cedence. sir H. PEEL observed that it was of the greatest import ance that, in respect to moving questions, they should adhere implicitly to the rules of the House. However, he did not wish, in consequence of mere technical formality, to prevent a full discussion. ltirnately the SPEAKER decided that Mr. Hawes's motion sli,uld come on first, then the Bill be recommitted, after which the othi r motions on the subject could be brought forward. :Ir. HA WES then moved " that provision be made in the Bill for the drawback of the amount of the duty reduced, on such duty-paid sugar as now remains in the Queen's ware house," 'I he course pursued by the Government in this matter was altogether unusual. A change was about to be made in one of the great articles of commerce at a most unu sual period—at a time too when the dealers in this commodity were wholly unprepared for such a change. A great qu an tity of sugar lay in bonded warehouses in this country, over which nobody had any control but the Government officers. How ever anxious the House might be to confer a great publio benefit, he was sure they would be anxious to avoid doing so with the certainty of causing great individual losses. If some suet' motion as he proposed were not sanctioned this would certainly be the case. The petition he had that night presented was signed by six of the principal London sugar dealers, and he begged the earnest attention of the House to the situation of those individuals. Messrs. Conway and Co. had in bond 10,000 cwt. of sugar; Messrs. North and Co. more than 3.000, and Messrs. Stubbs and Co. about the same quantity. Now, in one instance, there was a stock in hand of not less than 550 tons, ard one house had experienced a loss of not less than 5,000/., and several others bit ween 2,0;'0/. and 3,0004 Not only was this the case with respect to houses in London, but in the country also, as might at any time be seen by the ci7cular of the trade. Liverpool and London, two great depots of sugar, the wholesale dealers there were in the habit of retaining considerable stocks in their hands, for, in consequence of railroads and steam, the communication was so rapid that the retail dealers could order whatever they required almost from day to day, and thus the large houses were the parties who held the stocks for present consumption. lle (Mr. Hawes) could draw precedents both from past times and the present. The firsi, precedent lie would draw was from the year 1838, when the Right Hon. Barnet was in office. They allowed the drawback on glass. In the case of glass, the glass manufacturers had the power of exporting glass, and demanding the drawback ; and if, in consequence of any peculiar circumstances, the trade was depressed. the merchants could resort to the Act of Parliament, and get the drawback ; and this actually took place on one oc:asion. The whole of the stock in hand was extorted, and the foreign market was flooded. Tice Government then en tered into a compromise, and granted 75 per cent. reduction of the duties. In the case of wine, also, the duty had been remitted on the stocks in hand. In 1843 a me morial had been presented to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in she case of French wines, and the Right Hon. Gentleman had promised that, although the negotiations with Portugal had terminated without any favourable result, yet that, in any future treaties, the claims of French wines should be attended to; and with respect to the stocks in hand, the drawback was allays allowed—when the alteration of the ditties took place, in 1787, by the 27th Geo. 111., and when again, in 1314, by the 54th Geo. 111., the drawback was allowed; and by 6th Ceo IV., in 1825, the drawback was again allowed. By the Ist and 2d William IV., the duties were equalised, and the drawback was again allowed. When application was made to the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, he had pro mised that, on the reduction of the duty, consideration should be made for their case. Now the sugar on which the remission of duty was prayed for, the goads were in the iden tical state, of the same colour, and in the identical place where it was when the duty was p a id. H e h e ld i n hi s h an d the me morial of the sugar dealers, upon whose representations the Right Hon. Baronet had said he had thus early brouglit on the reduction of duty, and by that it appeared that the memorialists did not expect the change at this unusual period of the year ; and the memorial does not justify the argument which had been used for the unusual course which had been pursued. What the memorialists desired was a permanent set tlement of the question. The trade wished the continual changes to which they were liable to be done away with—they did not look for a settlement at this early period, and certainly anticipated that time would be allowed them to work off their stocks in hand, for, if not, they certainly would have invested to tlie extent of the stocks which they held. It was the cus tom to make the vote for the sugar duty an annual duty, and they desired that the fluctuations to which they were subjected should be done away with by some permanent enactment. If this early settlement, and not the permanent settlement, had b: en the end the memorialists sought, their object would have been attained. It was, however, said that the allowance to the wholesale dealers would have been an injustice, unless the SUGAR DUTIES. The House then wi , rtt into Committee en the Sugar Duties, and on the clause for levying the duty on refitted sugar , , Mr. HUME said that he wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, as they were desirous that the colonies should enjoy the advantage of protection, why they subjected sugar which was introduced into this country from the East Indies of the same quality as refined t.o a greater imposition than that which was laid on refined? By this imposition there was a duty of 2s. 4d. against the colonies. Now as the co lonies were a charge on the revenue of this country he could not see any reason why there should be this imno•ition laid upon that produce which ought to support the colonies ; he could not see why this 2s. 4d. should be rstained. He thought the better plan would be t.o give two years after the 14th March, when the new duties were to come into operation, and then to alter the duty by the amount stated, so as to make the duty upon sugar refined, but only equal to clayed sugar, the same as that on clayed sugar. He wished to protect the public against any combination of the sugar refiners, for he thought that such a combination might very easily be entered into ; but of the fifty-two sugar dealers in Landon he believed there were twenty-four who were very large holders of stock. He could not see why the growers of the East and West Indies were unable to introduce any sugar in a refined state into this country. He could not see why they should not avail themselves of the advantages they possessed for refining, and so introduce it into the country in a refined state, He knew it was the policy to protect the manufactures of England ; but he thought that, in the present instance, such a deviation from the usual policy was for the benefit of England as well a.; of the colonies; and he should, therefore, propoaa that instead of 18s. Bd. the duty at the end of two years, the duty on refined sugar equal to clayed sugar should be 16s. 4d., and that these words should be in serted after 18s. Bd. in the clause. On the amendment being put, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Hon. Gentleman was proposing an amendment in 1845 which would not come into operation till 1847. The fact was, that refined sugar was introduced at the some. ate as Muscovado.. Mr. HUME said that perhaps it would be bet ter to alter the time from two years to six months; but he saw a daculty, and he would, if permitted, withdraw the motion. The amendment was accordingly withdrawn. On the 3d clause, which directs the imposition of classified duties, Mr. HAWES said that he had hoped that this system of classification would not have been persisted in. He was certain that the plan was so objectionable that he hoped the trade would have influenced the decision of the Right Hon. Gentle man the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and led him to withdraw this plan altogether. lk held a letter in his hand from a per son very largely engaged in the sugar trade, who stated that it was utterly impossible to distinguish the several classes of sugar. Ile could not, in fact, understand the motives for the imposi tion of these extra duties on foreign sugars, buthe now thought he saw the reason for them. The fact was, that foreign sugar. generally speaking, was of a higher quality than colonial sugar, and it was in order to prevent it coming into competition with colonial sugars, that this duty was imposed. He thought it was unfair that the consumer should be made to pay simply for the sake of giving advantage to the c,lonists, and he should feel it his duty to take the sense of the House on the insertion of this clause. He had lately had a communication from Amster dam, where they had got experience in the sugar trade, and it stated positively that it was utterly impossible to distinguish the qualities of sugars, for it very often happened that sugars of an inferior sort were sold at hieher prices than those which were obtained for qualities rated as of a superior description. At Liverpool a great sugar bus_iness was done, and a friend from that place had written to line to say, that if these classification duties were brought into play every siifferent parcel of sugar would have to pay a different duty, and that many woul t have to employ a Custom-house officer for every hogshead of sugar that was opened. The Govern ment roposed to procure sample tests or standard samples, as they coiled them, by sleani arid railroad, so as to rectify the mistakes of provincial officers. But he wind i tell them the quality of those samples would alter eve-y day. He had hoped to have had the assistance of hit Hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Hogg) on this occasion. Ile had had it on the discussion of the duty on East India sugar, and he could not understand on what princip ehe did not vote on this occasion. Much had been said about the American tariff. Ile held in his hand a copy of that tariff, and he could assure the +These that there was no country in which sugar was introduced at such low rates as in America ; and he, therefore, hoped that this clasification of duty would not be retained. The lion. Member concluded by moving the omission of the clause. The CH ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that had, the Hon. Member for Lambeth been present at the discussion of the duly on East India sugar he would have been aware that every point to which he had addressed himself had been very fully considered.—( Hear, hear. ) When the sugar trade was in its regular state the difficulty ae prehended by the Hon. Gentleman would not arise. The sugars were sampled as delivered out of the ships for the pur poses of trade. After the immediate difficulty arising fiem the first rush into the market, no difficulty would exist. The Hon. Gentleman said he had received letters condemnatory of the proposed plan. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had received letters some condemning and some approving of the plan, but many of the reasons alleged against the plan were in reality strong reasons in its favour. Mr. BRIGHT said he had had an opportunity of conversing with a wholesale grocer, who had been present at the first sale of Manilla sugar, and this person told him that great difficulty arose from this classification. The reason assigned for this was that it was felt impossible to tell what amount. of duty the sugar would be liable to under the new classifica tion. This individual expressed his conviction that this classi fication would be the source of endless diffieulties to the trade. If the Hon. Member divided the House, he should certainly divide with him. The clause was agreed to without a division. Clauses 4 to 12 inclusive, were then agreed to. On clause 13 being proposed, Mr. HAWES complained of the clause as a departure front t! , m Warehou , ing Act. The CHANCULOR of the EXCHEQUER thought the clause was not such an infringement of that Act as would justify the House in rejecting it.. On inquiry, he hail found that the re-weighing cost the Government 8,000/. a year ; whilst the variation was found to be only 14 lb. in 1,505 cwt. of sugar. Mr. HUME said, the proper course for the Government to pursue, was to levy the duty on all the sugar that actually went into consumption and no more. Why could not the Chancellor of the Exchequer take an average of the quantity of sugar in different warehouses, and make an allowance of one per cent. ? Alderman HUMPHREY said, the proposition of the Go vernment would be a premium for franc!. Mr. FOSTER said it would cause great injustice, and no individual would be satisfied. Mr. lIAWES said, the Government was undoing what had been done by former Acts of Parliament. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer said it would effect a saving of 8,0001. a year ; but he thought it was a very large estimate. He NEW ZEALAND. Lord EBRINGTON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government when the dismission on the New Zealand business would take place ? Sir H. PEEL replied, that though it was inconvenient to say on what day the discussion would be taken, in consequence of the indisposition of his Noble Friend, yet he would, for the present, appoint Tuesday. COTTON DUTIES. Mr. THORNELY said that he did not know whether the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government was aware of the quantity of cotton now waiting for the decision respecting the duty. He believed there was as much as 300,000 bales now in the country, and he should be glad therefore to know on what day the consideration of the duties would be brought on. Sir R. PEEL said that it should be brought on as soon as possible, but it was evidently clear that it was out of his power to force the business of the country. The House sat frequently from twelve at noon till twelve at night, with little intermis sion, but the cotton duties should be brought on as soon as an opportunity could be provided. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. After frequent calla from the Opposition henclees, Mr. MILES said that he would not interrupt the Com mittee.—( Hear, hear, and cries of " Go on," "Go on.") •He thought that it was at his own option whether he went on or ' not, aid he'would not go on at that time of the night. Great aspersions had gone abroad, the most gross calumnies, that the friends with whom he acted were only going into a sham battle—(lronical cheers for some moments)—now what they de sired was a fair, stand up fight, and they wished to show that the distress among the agriculturists was deep and widely spread. Mr. HUME wished much to know what the fight was to be shoot. Mr. PER RAND said he would tell tke Hon. Member for Montrose what it was to be about. The Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department had stated the other night that distress was prevalent and serious among the agri cultural labourers, that it could be no tenger neglected. Now he ( Mr. Ferrand) would tell ;he -light Hon. Baronet that not only was the distress great among the labourers, but that thousands awl thousands of faro ers in Etulanil were at thy mosoent insolvent and ruiroei by the measures of the present Government since the came into offiee. —( Hear, hear ) —and the fight was to show that this was the ease. If the Right Hon Baronet was sincere in his regard for the labourer, why did he not allow the Committee—( Hear, hear) —asked for by the Hon. Member for Stockport ( Mr.Cobden )? Why did he not meet the challenge which that Hon. Me ~ber threw out to him ?—( sear, hear.) In saying this he would tell them why he did not vote for that Committee. He did not vote because he was for the protection of the agricul turist and not for his destruction.—( Hear, hear.) The . motion of his Honourable Friend was intended to protect the agriculturist, and he hoped he would persevere. Her Majesty's Government had forfeited—and forfeited de servedly, the confidence of the agricultural interests. They obtained power by making the agricultural interests believe that they were their best friends. They had the confidence of those who sat behind them, and his firm conviction was, that if another dissolution of Parliament should take place they might rest assured that instead )f a majority of ninety, they would be in s minority of two nineties. Mr, P. BORTHWICK said, that the Hon. Member for Knareaborough had risen to answer a question put by the Hon. Member for Montrose, but he had not done 3 , 1 in the manner the lion. Gentleman had expected.—( Hear. hear. ) They could all affirm the proposition of the Hon. Member for Somersetahire ; but what, under Heaven, did his proposition amount to? They all were agreed that the interests of all classes ought to be r ghtly considered. He trusted that the agricultural section of the Howe would set up some real and not abstract principle. He had heard from those (the Tory) benches that restrictions in trade were owing to the Whig Lord —(Laughter)—and the aristocracy of England— (Laughter)—and he had heard from the opposite benches that the truest and the best friends were the free-traders. But the Hon. Member for Somersetshire had put a proposition which might be equally coincided in by the Han. Member himself, and by the lion. Member for Stockport. Why if they carried the resolution it only affirmed that the House thought the agricultural interests deserving of consideration. Whatever intention the Hon. Member had in bringing for ward the subject, the result was, that it served only to mystify and delude the farmers of England. The free-traders called themselves the farmers' friends, the Hon. Member for Somer setshire, called himself the farmers' friend, and the Government called themselves the farmers' friends, and among them the far mer were suffering most intensely from the proceedings of their friends.—( Laughter. ) Lord JOHN RUSSELL would not trouble the House at all at this time, but as the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Miles) had put off to Monday next the motion of which he had given notice for to-night, he thought the Hon. Gentleman ought to let the House know what were the particular taxes which he would promise to be remitted.—( Hear.) As he was on his legs he would take the opportunity of ALD , D ET 1 1 4 .1 of at It , tie -rr k re _ re Bo l °' the Sul nt, and tb ( I I hlrt , E „ C , ' :g e ts , at Tteket s Zttt:s return j kut ' ci rd witt (Sum audrEd a (S this _.ekets tian %Re The Commit, eft,. to ad, v,ae in fa` it tl Vrlten or t De to otC, in iZa n o a f n t v 9 4 Hoard o ' Neet 2 , ; 0 11 ,4 CiaA.N„ t r el Cha.4 % I nd aft N it°ehes 10 3 12 3 23 43 sa kn_Graree, S 9 thl' e k4,llkrgamut turc and w of ev f ekithani Br( 'ALE tit iP> ; L • 4 t - a ; - 7 Stel tn , . Y~~, is A~xl 93 11