The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-22 00:00:00

ettrb VVttton THE FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES) ONE CLOSING PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced ... lOWA% 100% 3 per Cent. Consols .. New 3 1 4 per Cents. IO 4 IA 104 M Long Annuities to expire Jan.lB6o Ditto 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859 ll 15-16 % 11% ' Ditto 30 yc ars, Jan. 5, 1860 India Stock India Bonds, 1,0004. ...... ...... Ditto under 1,0001. . ....... Consols for Account.... ...... India Stock, for Account 283 283 Exchequer Bills, 1,0004, I%d 6l 65 pm. 69 Ditto 500/. . Ditto Small •• pm. 69 Ditto Advertised 64 67 pm. 67 ONE O'CLOCK. 89% CLOSING PRICES. 90 894 101 14% 901,-?2 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. Brazilian Bonds Ditto, Sinai! Chilian Bonds 6 per Cent.... • . ..... 101 Columbian Bonds, ex Venezuela. 14 Danish Bonds, 1825,3 per Cent... 90% Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1837 ...... ... Ditto, Account ...! .. Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent ... Ditto, Converted Russian Bonds Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840. Ditto, Passive Ditto 3 per Cent. Ditto Account Dutch, 2% per Cent Ditto. Account ..... ... ...... Ditto, 4 per Cent., Certific 98%% 9834 PRICES OF PAID. AT ONE O'CLOCK. CLOSING PRICES. RAILWAY SHARES Birming. and Gloucesterloo l3O 131 l3l Ditto New Shares ... 17 1 ,% 33 32 Ditto % Shares Bristol and Exeter Ditto New Bristol and Gloucester... 30 Calatl ' 5 7% 1 A% ..... 1/4 _..iocionian Cambridge and Lincoln 1% 3 Chester and Holyhead... 5 Churnet Valley Direct Northern Dublin and Galway 2%...... 3 1 A 1 A Eastern Counties 141. 165....... 17% 1 4% Eastern Union Ditto Extension Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 ,2 Ditto New % Shares... 2% 5 Grand Junction ...100 Ditto Half Shares 5O Great South. and West. (Ireland) 5 Ditto Extension Great North of England..loo Ditto New _ 5 — Great Western SO ... .. 17414 Hull and Selby 5O Do. Half Shares Lancaster and Carlisle... 15 London and Birminghm (Stock)... Ditto 14 Shares 2 London and Blackwall.. 16% - 7N% London and Brighton... 50 London and Greenwich 12115 s 4d... London and S. Western 4116 s 10d 79 Do. consolidated 8 ths.. 16 Ditto New 2 l /2 124 1 / 2 ••• London and Croydon, 13/. 15s. 9d. 18 1 ,4 Ditto Guaranteed 5 per Cent. London and York Lynn and Ely 2 l /2 2 1 / 2 —•• ganchester and Birmin. 40 . _ Ditto Quarters Midlandffirm andDerby.loo Newracle and Berwick 1 1 / 2 ...... 15 14 1 / 2 ... Norwich and Brandon... 10 Rugby,Wor'ster,&Tring 1 Shrews., Wolverhamp., Dudley, and Birm 2% 4 X 35% South Devon South Eastern & Dover 3312 s 4d... 39.140 1 / 439% .. Ditto, No. 1 Ditto, No. 2. Ditto, No. 3 2lh Bq%U Staines and Richmond... 1 South Wales Trent Valley West London,Old Shares 20 Waterford and Kilkenny 1 ..... . 3 1 / 3 Yarmouth and Norwich. 20 York and North Midland 50 Ditto 1 / 2 Shares .. 25 Ditto Scarboro' Branch. 20 Ditto Extension ...... 114 l3 12 1 / 2 FRENCH RAILWAYS. Boulogne and A miens... 2 Bordeaux and Toulouse 2 Great North. of France.. 4 Orleans and Vierzon ... 2 Orleans and Bordeaux... 2 Paris and Lyotis 2 Paris and Orleans 2O Paris and Rouen 2O Paris and Strasbourg ... 2 Strasbourg and Bale ... 14 - Tours and Nantes 1 35 1 ,4 3 8 17 8 8 3 / 3 17% 97/ -/S 601/2 12 1 / s 7 43 1751 A 30% 230 28% 7% 58 10% 79,E 12 11 ! 2 18/1 6O' 14% 16% 3% 39% 15% 1 1 4 4% 19,8 51V 2 43 1214, 42 3 / 23 12 SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DA.T. tri; GLOBE.—The debate on the motion for inquiry into the alleged detention and opening of Mr. Duncombe's letters at the Post-office, terminated at an early hour this morning, after a spirited debate. The numbers were—for the proposed Committee, 145; against it, 240; thus giving a majority to Ministers of 95. By refusing inquiry, the House has shown itself far more regardful of the wishes of the Government, than desirous of possessing the respect and confidence of the country. With the motives which actuated the majority of the honourable House we have no disposition to meddle. That they were pure and disinterested, there can be no reason to doubt. Those who compose it are all honourable gentlemen. And yet we should be unwilling to impute to one of them, in his individual capacity, and outside the walls of Parlia ment, the conduct which they have unitedly approved. To plain, unsophisticated minds, unskilled in the logic of St. Stephen's, the question appeared to be as simple as the prin ciples it involved are important. A Member of the Legis ture, from his place in the House, complains that his letters have been intercepted in their passage through, and opened at, the Post-office. The letters of other persons had been similarly dealt with. Both Houses of Par liament had appointed Committees of their own to investigate and report on the other cases ; but in the case of the com plaining Member, his especial case was not included in the in quiry nor alluded to in the report. With this he was naturally dissatisfied; and avails himself of his privilege as a Member of Parliament, to ask the Home Secretary whether he had issued any warrant authorising the Post-office authorities to detain and open his letters. That the Home Secretary ossessed power to issued such a warrant was not denied. That he is responsible to Parliament for the way in which be uses that power, is beyond all doubt. The question was one of course, and ought to have been replied to in a mono syllable—" Yes," or "No," as the fact might be—without equivocation or explanation. The Home Secretary thought proper to shroud himself within the veil of official secresv. His oath of office would not admit of his disclosing the secrets of hie department ! That which, under the special circum stances of the case and of the country, might be capable of a good and substantial defence, becomes mysterious, and isjustly suspected of being an arl itrary nad wanton application of a power, the use of which can only be justified under circum stances of extreme peril to the peace and safety of the country. As Mr. Chas. Buller, in the course of his admirable speech of Thursday evening, observed :—" I certainly think one of the most justifiable questions I could ask any man, if I suspected him of opening my letters, would be, Pray sir, did you open my letters ?' I don't think that is an idle question. I conceive that a man's letters ought not to be opened ; and that, if he finds they have been opened, he has a right to an explanation. No reason can be given why there was not a Yes' or a No,' at once. Every thing would have gone right if the Secretary of State for tho Home Department had been able to give a civil answer to a plain question." By refusing to supply the re quired answer, Sir James Graham has surrounded himself with suspicion ; and exposed himself to imputations which, in private society, would be intolerable to a sensitive mind. We can readily understand that duty may demand from a public functionary the performance of acts from which he would, as a private individual, instinctively recoil. But, we apprehend, when placed in such a position, he will be anxious to show that, in being a party to those acts, he had no alternative. If when he is asked as to his participation in those acts, he wriggle and twist ; admit and retract ; and, finally, take refuge in the secresy of office— whenever conduct such as this is exhibited by a public officer, those who witness it will be apt to cast upon the individual the odium of acts which might be defensible, and even praise worthy, if done under the imperative obligation of public duty. Lord John Russell, in his more-than-usually ex cellent speech of last night, placed this part of the ques tion in a powerful point of view. We are persuaded, that the Noble Lord's clearly defined distinctions will be generally regarded as the constitutional ground on which the power invested in the Executive can alone be allowed to rest, either with safety to the rights or in consistency with the honour of the country. The question, as prese nted to the Ho use by Lord John Russell, seemed really to forbid the possibility of a negative being placed upon it. The Noble Lord's observa tions in condemnation of the practice of using the extra ordinary power—vested in the Executive for the preservation of the public peace of this country—for the gratification of Foreign States, were conceived in a spirit, and delivered in a tone, which will be responded to by every man who under stands and appreciates the benefits and blessings which dis tinguish Britain from the continental states of Europe. We feel assured that henceforth that invidious power can never again be put in motion for purposes so base as those which occupied the attention, and called forth the indignation of the country in the course of the last year. NEW QUEEN'S COUNSEL.—Messrs. llumfrey, Butt' Hayward, and Gurney, were sworn in this morning in the Chancellor's private room at Westminster. Mr. Sergeant Channell received a patent of precedence at the same time. MARRAT INTELLIGENCE. Prices per ton at C a close dZ MA t it he r in il ar er ke • t :—Adair's Main, 165 tSel ; Buddle's West Hartl of, 3; a l6s Gd ; Carr's \Vest Hart iv, 16s 6d ; Hasting's Hard: , Holywell Main, 178 6d ; IV env Tanfield, 16s 3d ; old v o ' n r s l Tanfieia l : 1556 d ; Ord's Redheugh, 153 ; Old Tanficld, IGs ; , N vor, 198 Gd ; West Hart ; n ea J., Clark and Co., 168; ley, 175; West Wylam, 16 8 6 d . 1 3 , ; Hilda, 173 6d ; Clennell, Hs ; Elm Park, 17 8 Eden Main, 18s 6d ; Braddyll's HetTo 18 1, s 3d ; T•adoc, 20s ; rs 6d ; Lambton, 205; Lumley, 18 8 • la n , z : r ° 8 3 1 . ; Hylton, Rus sell's Iretton, 193 6d; Stewart's:2os4 l3 . ° Z Ileughall, 18s 3d ; Kelloe, 195; Leasingthorre, 1 ; Adelaide, 19s 6d ; Brown's lleanety, 18s 6d ; Evenwood 1. 198 6d ; Anthracite, 20s ; Cowpen Hartley: 1; d ; Tees, 198 -Le ws , Merthyr, 218; Morgan's St one, 21s 9A ; Snapethorpe, 17a 6d. Ships arrived, 4. (From the Loudon New Price Current of Feb. 21.) SI:GAIL—To-day the quantity of . West India . Sugar sold in private was only 120 hhds orters , w .hich The is advanc at e in to be tribuprice ted is 2s to to the high rates asked by imp 3s per cwt. REVINED.—To• day the Refiners appeared v ery desirous to Make sales, in consequence o f the measures Government pro pose, which appearto press hard on them. Foreign refined m bond prices remain much the same, with a partial business doing, and very littk of Crushed or Loaves could be purchased for present delivery. EAsTiliDlA.—This afternoon the market was well supplied with Bengal Sugar; the qlsantity offered at public sale amounted to 4,874 bags, the principal part was taken in at high prices, and the remainder sold at an advance of 6d per cwt; fine white fetched 68s, good 66s 6d, middling 64s to 64s 6d, low 62s 6d to 635, damp brown 45 to 495, middling sound yellow 57s to 58s 6d, low 56s to 56s 6d. Of Madras, 4,150 bags in bond were sold at Is per cwt advance; good damp brown fetched 28s, middling 25s to 26s 6d, low 22is to 245, very low lis to 21s, common sound date 22s fid to 24s per cwt. MOLASSES.-A brisk demand for West India, and an ad. vance of is per cwt has taken place. Demerara of middling quality fetched 223 6d to 235. At auction, 95 casks of Bengal Treacle were taken m at 21s, buyers at 20s per cwt. COCOA.-The market has still a dull appearance for British Plantation, and prices going down. Of 253 bags of Grenada at public sale, a part only found buyers; good ordinary dull red at 41s to 425, and very low 35s per cwt. Trinidad 40s to 48s, but very little business transacted privately. Foreign met increased attention, and an advance has taken place; 155 bags Bahia at auction were all sold at 37s 6d to 38s 6d per cwt for fine bright red. FOREIGN.-This afternoon at public sale, 48 pkgs of sea dam Bahia were only partly sold, white at 21s yellow 18s 6d to 20s, brown 14s to 18s. Privately 200 Chests of old white Bahia, and 100 chests of ditto brown have been sold on the spot for refining in bond at 22s and 18s per cwt. COFFEE.-This afternoon holders of Berbice were more in clined to sell, but 99 casks 62 barrels at public sale were only partly sold at a decline of 4s to 5s per cwt, low middling went at GOs to 635, fine fine ordinary very unclean 455, and ordinary 38s ; 120 bags Plantation Ceylon were taken in, fine fine ordinary colory 655, and fine of li nary 60s; 148 barrels Rio were only partly sold, middling colory at 50s fine fine ordinary grey 455, being cheaper; 27 bags of Mysore fetched 39s for good ordinary; 138 bags Bahia were all taken in, fine ordinary at 30s 6d to 335, and good ordinary 28s 6d per cwt. In good ordinary pale Ceylon sales were madeprivately at 47s to 480 per cwt. TEA.-Since it has become known that no alteration is to be made in the duty on Tea, there has been a falling off in the demand for black, and more desire has been manifested on the part of holders to realise. Although a decline on late rates of id to ld per lb has been submitted to for Con gou, buyers have been cautious in their proceedings, and a small amount of business has been transacted by private treaty. common at 10d to 101 d, good common 100 to I Id, but mid coarse 111 d to is, mid and good blackish leaf Is lid to Is 6d, fine is 7d to is 9d, Pekoe flavour Is 10d to 2s 4d, choice and rich 2s 5d to 2s 7d per lb. A reduction of Id per lb having been submitted to for Pouchong, occasioned the de mand to be excellent, and large parcels have been disposed of at 5d to 8d per lb for low to good ord. Twankay was pur chased with caution, yellow leaf at 182 1 d to Is 3d, brightish leaf is 3%d to is 7d; superior and Hyson kind, is 8d; to 2s 4d per lb. An increased demand for Hyson, an and advance of id to 2d has taken place. Young Hyson wanted, and is fetching full rates. Hyson Skin sold at former cur rency. The demand is good for Gunpowder and Imperial, and prices continue high. The value of fine Scented Orange Pekoe is 3s 4d to 3s 6d per lb, and little to be had. At public sale 6,775 pkgs have been offered, and 1,900 sold. Rti3l, BRANDT, AND HOLLANDS.-Prices have further declined for Calcutta Rum, and a limited businesstmnsacted ; the private operations are 160 hhds at is 10d proof strength. Buyers of Demerara have operated more freely, a further decline in prices being taken : the sales are 150 puncheons 30 hogsheads, 33 to 41 per cent 0 P at 3s, and hogsheads at 3s ld per gallon. In Leewarde scarcely any business done, to 2. to 28 ld for proof strength. Fine and very fine Jamaica wanted, and are fetching stiff rates, but the market is in a very dull state for low and mid kinds ; 21 to 26 0 P 3s 3d to 3s sd, 26 to 29 0 P 3s 5d to 3s 3d, 30 to 36 0 P 3s 7d to 4s, fine 31 to 36 0 P 4s 6d to ss, and superior and high flavoured 5s 4d to 7s per gallon. The business done in Brandy has been extremely limited, mid a further decline has taken place ; Cognac, best brands of the vintage of 1838, hhds ss, puns 4s 10d; 1839, hhds 4s 9d, puns 4s 7d ; 1840, hhds 4s 9d, puns 48 7d ; 1841, hhds 4s Bd, puns 4s 6d ; 1842, hhds 4s sd, puns 4s 3d ; 1843, hhds 4s 3d, puns 4s Id, common 2s 7d to 2s 10d, mid to good mid 2s lld to 3s 10d, and Bordeaux 2s 6d to 2s 9d per gallon. Geneva sparingly at is 9d, home consumption sort at 2s 4d to 3s. The market is still firm for British Corn Spirits at 10s 2d per gallon, cash. RICE.-For Bengal 'previous rates are sustained, some parcels of mid and good mid white sold privately at Ila to lls 6d, but at auction 820 bags were taken in at lls 6d to 12s for good mid. Madras wanted, and prices are advancing. Java sought after, and stiffer rates paid, privately. 600 Mats of good mid white were sold at 11s, and 300 bags at 9s 6d per cwt. Cleaned Rice a good sale, and prices are firm at 13s 6d to 17 for Patna, and 23s to 28s per cwt for Carolina. • SricEs.-This afternoon at public sale 10 cases Singapore Mace sold at 2s 8d to 3s ld for good, and 23 3d to 23 ad for middling ; 3 cks 6 cs Nutmegs fetched full value-good brown 3s 10d to 4s, good mid 3s 5d to 3s Bd, mid 33 2d to 3s 4d, and rather small 3s ld. Pepper met little attention, 409 bags of Malabar, and 635 bags Sumatra were offered at public sale-the former all withdrawn, and the latter take% in at 2%d for light stalky ; 5 casks Amboyna Cloves taken in at is 21(.1 to is 3d for fair, 48 bags of Bourbon at 10d per lb, and 936 bags of East India Ginger at 18s per cwt for Bengal and Malabar. Pimento wanted, and 400 bags at auction fetchedstiffer rates-mid 3d to 3%d, and low mid 2%d tend. TALLow.-Prices have a downward tendency for Russian Tallow, and on the spot 39s 3d to 39s 6d having been ac cepted for P Y Candle of first quality, and 37s to 393 per c w t for inferior kinds. The best quality . for the last three months of the year at 398 3d to 39s 6d per cwt, but buyers operate with reluctance. Town Tallow 39s 6d to 40s nett cash, but buyers operate largely, and the market is nearly cleared. American and New South Wales holders are compelled to reduce their prices. OILS.-This afternoon at public sale 426 pkgs of South American Tallow were only a part sold at 36s 3d to 38s, low 32s 6d to 36s ; 108 casks of North American 358 9d to 398 3d, and 44 casks of New South Wales at 38s to 40s per cwt. ' _ INDIGO.--For Madras a further advance on the rates of the last quarterly sales of 2d to 3d per lb—the sorts most in re quest are those at and under 2s 10d per lb. Bengal pur chases to a fair extent have been made at 2d per lb advance. The market has a very firm appearance fur every kind of East India. Spanish in fair request upon former terms. COCHINEAL—This afternoon at public sale 100 cs of Cam phor went at 61 5s ; 185 chests of Shellac taken in, thick blood 40s, block 38s ; 1,357 packets of Bengal Turmeric were sold at 13s for good ; 58 tons of Sapan Wood 151 to 151 17s 6d; 15 tons of Red Sanders Wood 51 12s 6d to 5115 s ; 215 bags Pegue Cutch taken in at 22s per cwt. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES ON RAILWAYS. The Committee, after hearing formal evidence, decided that the Standing Orders had bean complied with in the following Bills : The Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway. Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal. Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. In the case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, opposition was offered, on the part of the Duke of Montrose, by Mr. Deans, on the ground that the description of the line was not accurate. No witnesses, however, were forthcoming in support of this allegation, and it, consequently, fell to the ground. Mr. DEANS then took an objection to the petition, in con sequence of an omission in the plan of a description of the radius of a curve. The Committee referred to the plan in question, and the omission appearing, the question was referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders. SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. As it was stated that there would be great opposition to this petition, the Committee postponed it till Monday. The Committee then adjourned. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From Friday Night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, eap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 15th day of February, 1845. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1845. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes issued ...... 28,537,255 I Government debt 11,015,100 Other securities 2,984,900 Gold coin and bul lit,n 12,638,987 Silver bullion.-- 1,898,268 £28,537,255 M. 31 Dated the 20th day of Febru: £28,537,255 ...A.RSIIALL, Chief Cashier. cry, 1845. BANKING DE Proprietors' capita 114,553,000 Rest Public deposits (in cluding Exche quer, Savings banks, Commis sioners of National Debt, and divi- ;PARTMENT. Government secu rities (including Dead Weight Annuity) Other securities 10,821,457 Notes 8,395,065 Gold and silver coin 770,812 dend accounts) 4,630,247 Other deposits 9,944,408 Seven day andother bills 1,031,922 £33,461,713 £33,461,713 TISHALL, Chief Cashier. tary, 1845. M. MA. Dated the 20th day of Febru, FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. FOREIGN-OFFICE, FFI3. 18, 1845. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Samson Cahlmann as Consul in London fur his 103 al Highness the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. Royal North Regiment of Lincolnshire Militia—J. Tom line, Esq., to be Captain, Feb. 15. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Denbighshire. Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry—Cornet T. Edgeworth to be Lieutenant; T. Humphreys, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Edgeworth, promoted. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. _ Bth Victoria-2 - oth February, 1845. This Court will, on Saturday, the lit day of March next, at ten o'clock, .1.31., hold a sitting, and will deliver judgment in cases that have been arguedTEHALL, Falll . BY THE COURT. WHI. 19. The Right lion. Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal, Knt., Lord Chief Justiee of her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, has appointed Francis Soames, of Workingham, in the county of Berks, Gent., to be one of the Perpetual Commissioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be executed by married women, under the Act passed for the abolition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of more simple modes of assurance, in and for the county of Berks, and also in and for the counties of Wilts, Surrey, Hants, and Oxford. WHITEHALL, FEB. 17. The Lord Chancellor has appointed James Blake, of Croy don, in the county of Surrey, Gent., to be a Master Extraor dinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FEB. 18. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry Yorke, of Oundle, in the county of Northampton, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. William Dale, shoemaker, London-wall, to surrender Feb. 28, at eleven, and April 4, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Prior, Pavement, Fins bury-square. Lawrence Daniel Dolbell, dyer, Lower Mitcham, March 5, at eleven, and April 4, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry ; Beart, Bouverie-street, Fleet-street. James Crabb, bricklayer, Great Tey, Essex, March 4, at half-past twelve, and April 4, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall- street ; Bell, Bedford-row, London. Charles Ranstord, grocer, South Tottenham, Feb. 28, at eleven, and April 2, a t one , at t h e C our t o f B an k rup t cy . Bell, official assie n Alfredi n g t v n y - a a t u t e : gnee, Coleman-street-buildings; Kempster, K licensed victualler, llighworth Wiltshire, Feb. 28, at one, and A pr il 9, at official asie in t a u mbrook -court, Bankruptcy. Follett, eleven, at the Court of F Basinghall-street ; Taylor, South-place, Coleman-street; Lewis George, shawl warehouseman, Regentr- Y 2ret a , re i'eb. 28, at half-past eleven, and April 4, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assi Young and Co., St. Nildred's-court, Loudon William Behnes, stone merchant, Osnaburgh-street, New road, Feb. 28, at twelve, and April 4, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Old Jewry-chambers ; Lawrence and Plows, Bucklersbury. Francis Cranswick, innkeeper, Bridlington, March 4, and April 8, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, offi cial assignee, Leeds ; Taylor, Bridlington ; Blackburn, Leeds. Gerard Samson, corn dealer, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, March 4, and April 1, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Ilernaman, official assignee, Exeter; Phillips, Wey mouth ; Combe, Staple Inn, London ; Terrell, Exeter. Thomas Ferris, grocer, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, March 7, and April 4, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Ky naston, official assignee, Bristol. James Wells, carrier, Winchcomb, Gloucestershire, March 5, at twelve, and April 15, at eleven, at the Bristol Dis trict Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol; Trenfield, Winchcomb. Charles Thornton, stationer, Huddersfield, March 3 and 24, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Fearne, official as signee, Leeds ; Clark and Cooper, Sessions-house, Old Bailey, London ; Floyd and Booth, Huddersfield. `William Reeves, coach builder, Walcot, Somersetshire, March 7, and April 4, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol ; Gray, Bristol. Thomas Langston, share broker, Manchester, March 4 and 24, at one, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Hitchcock, Buckley, and Tidswell, Manchester; Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple, London. Thomas Taylor, farmer, Higher Walton, Cheshire, March 6 and 27, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ; Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple, London ; Needham, Manchester. _ _ _ . John Danks, wharfinger, Birmingham, March 3, and April 12, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Birmingham ; Whateleys, Birmingham. PRICE OF SUGAR. Tho Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, for the week ending Feb. 18, 1845, is 3gs. 2 id .per cwt., exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or payable thereon on the im portation thereof into Great Britain. [Dividends, &c., in our next.] NEW PROJECTED RAILWAYS. (From the Gazelle of last Evening.) RAILWAY DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, FEB. 21,1845. Notice is hereby given, that the Board constituted by the Minute of the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, for the transaction of railway business, having had under consideration the following schemes, for extending rail way communication to the west of Ireland, vie.:— The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Dublin to Mullin- gar, &c. The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Alternative Line The Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Extension Line The Irish Great Western—Dublin to Galway, have determined on reporting to Parliament in favour of the Irish Great 'Western—Dublin to Galway; and against the Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Dublin to Mullin gar, &c. Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Alternative Line, Great Western (Ireland) Railway—Extension Line: and the Board having further had under consideration the following schemes, for extending railway communication in the north and north-west of Ireland, viz.:— The Londonderry and Enniskillen. The Londonderry and Coleraine, have determined en reporting to Parliament in favour of the London and Enniskillen ; and against the Londonderry and Coleraine ; and the Board having further had under eonsideration the following schemes, viz., the Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington Extension, Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, determined on reporting to Parliament in favour of the schemes. DALHOUSIE. C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER. D. O'BRIEN. S. LAING. FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, FEB. 17.—The Rhine is frozen at several places ; among others, below Worms, at St. Goar. The Maine is also frozen over near Offenbach. The Chamber of Representatives resumed to-day the dis dnssion of the budget of the Minister of the Interior, and adopted the three articles composing the 18th chapter—ma nufactures. At the opening of the sitting to-morrow M. Eloy de Burdine will bring forward his motion relative to modifications to be made in the corn-laws. TIIE HAGUE, FEB. 14.—The sections of the Second Cham ber of the States General have been engaged to-day in exa mining the projects of law on the elective franchise, and that on the practice of medicine and surgery. The central section has met to discuss the project of law relative to the comple ment of the budget of 1814 and 1845. The French mail of the day before yesterday has not arrived to-day. Several addresses have been sent to the Second Chamber in favour of the proposal of M. Thorbecks and others for revising the fundamental law. The Minister of Finance has given notice, that the total amount of Treasury bonds issued by virtue of the law of 27th December, 1840, and 19th June, 1843, which were in circu lation on the Ist of this month, was 2,535,300 florins. TUB HAGUE, FEB. 17.----All the sections of the Second Chamber began to -day the examination of the proposal for a revision of the fundamental law. The Stauts Courant publishes a royal resolution respect ing the 4i per cent. bonds of the late Syndicate, which are to be paid off in series, to the amount of 200,000 florins each, to be determined by drawing lots. The frost having again been rather severe, our rivers and canals are full of floating iee, in many places quite frozen over. lIAIILBUIIGIi BORSENIIALLE, FRB. 15. Bills. Money. lls Austrian 5 per Cents Bank Shares .. • • .. • ... • ............. 1655 Anglo-Russian Loan .. Russian 5 per Cent., Ilamb. Certificate. 1054 105;i Ditto Ist series Inscription ............ •—105 M Ditto, liopa and Co., 1.1 and 4th series.. 99% Ditto, in Certificate.... •.. • . New 4 per Cent., Hope and Co. Ditto Stiegliti .. Spanish New 5 per Cent. Ditto 8 per Cent .• •••• • • • • ........ 40 Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 2% per Cent • . 58 Dutch Actual Debt, 2% per Cent ••• • • • 63 Polish New 4 per Cent. Loan, 1844.. • • 87 14 Anglo-Danish Loan. 3 pt - a Cent National Bank Shares .• • • • • • Exchange on London. Petersburgh, Three months Bremen, Two months — —Hamburgh Borsenhalle, Feb. 15. AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, Fri. 11. per Cent. Metalliques 11134 4 per Cent. ditto. 3 per Cent. ditto.. • • • . • Loan, 1834 Ditto, 1839 Bank Shares 1628 Eiterhazy's Loan ••. • • • .•••• • • • • . 57 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 21. The LORD CRIANCRLLOR took his seat OR the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. MEDICAL PROFESSION. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a medical gentleman named Burn, living at St. George's-in-the-East, praying an amendment in the laws regarding coroners. The petitioner stated that many inquisitions had been taken in eases where parties had been dying for 13 or 14 days. Now this surely was unnecessary, and he wished to call the attention of the Secretary of State for the Home Department to it. Lord CAMPBELL would give uotice of his intention on Monday to lay on the table of the House a Bill for abolishing deodands. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from Ulverstone praying that the Apothecaries' Act be repealed. SUGAR DUTIES; Lorzi MONTEAGLE moved for an account of the equali sation of the duties on sugars in 1836, the produce of the East Indies. He thought the objects that had been produced by the equa lisation of the duties on sugar would be productive of little good if an alteration was to be made in the sugar duties with respect to the nature of the quality of sugar produced. The subject did not rest on any opinion. of his, because it had been referred to a Committee of the whole House, of which his Noble Friend opposite was the Chairman. The equalisation of the duty had pro duced an alteration of from twenty-one to twenty-four shillings. Since that alteration the increase in consumption had more than repaid the reduction of duties. The consumption had in creased tenfold, and when he referred to the evidence given be fore that Committee by a gentleman intimate with the subject, and of the highest respectability, and to whose opinion the House might attach the utmost importance, he found that he had laid down the principle that an equalisation of the duties from our colonial possessions was of paramount import ance to the best interests of the country, and in the report proposed by the Chairman of that Com mittee an equalisation of the duties on sugar was laid down as a part of the commercial policy of the country. After this de claration he was of opinion that any attempt to introduce a discriminating duty between sugars from our different colonies would be an unwise policy on the part of Government, and prove most injurious to our foreign possessions. He would, therefore, move for a return of the amount of sugar im ported from the East and West Indies within the last three years, as also for the duties paid on them within the same Period. Lord STANLEY said that, so far as the mere paper's called for by the Noble Lord were concerned, he had no hesi tation in promising that the fullest information would be given by her Majesty's Government. The Noble Lord s eemed to him (Lord Stanley) to infer that her Majesty's Government intended to recede from the principle of perfect equality which had hitherto guided them. Now, he could assure the Noble Lord that her Majesty's Government would adhere to the principle that there should be an entire equality between the productions of all parts of their foreign possessions. The Government in their scale of duties had endeavoured to encourage the sugar interest of the British possessions in con tradistinction to the produce of the slave-grown sugar countries. Her Majesty's Government did propose to make a large reduction in the duties of sugar from the East and West Indies. The higher duties would be charged on the finer kinds of sugar, and the greater reduction would be made in the coarser kinds, thus giving the lower class of consumers the benefit of the ;educ tion. There was no intention of imposing any additional duty on sugar imported from the East Indies, but if the Noble Lord would postpone his inquiry until after the measures of her Majesty's Government were brought before the other House, all the information sought for would be fully given. He apologised for having troubled their Lord ship on this subject. Lord MONTEAGLE was obliged to the Noble Lord for the trouble he had taken, and as far as the information of the principle on which her Majesty's Government intended to proceed—the equalization, he meant, of the sugar duties—it was quite satisfactory. ROMAN CATHOLIC STUDENTS IN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. Viscount STRANGFORD moved for a return of the Roman Catholic students vcho had been entered at Trinity College, Dublin, since the year 1839.—Agreed to. THE TRANSMISSION OF NEWSPAPERS THROUGH THE POST-OFFICE. Lord CAMPBELL was glad to see the Noble Lord the Postmaster-General in his place, and he would therefore move at once for the return of which he had given notice yester day. The subject was one on which there was great anxiety, and on which there had been many complaints. Indeed he had understood that the Prime Minister himself had com plained that his newspapers had not been regularly trans mitted to him. He knew that the transmission of news papers through the Post-office must occasion a great deal of inconvenience to the Postmaster-General, and that the Post-office derived no direet advantage from that transmission; but still it must be recollected thet newspapers paid a stamp duty, which he believed was considered as an equivalent for the payment of postage. At all events, a re venue of two or three hundred thousand a-year was derived from it:--(Hear, - hear.) He believed that his Noble Friend at the head of the Post-office was willing to afford every information in his power, and he should therefore move for a return of the number of complaints which had heen made at the Post-office of the non-transmission of newspapers, within the last twelvemonths. The Earl of LONSDALE bad no objection to make to the motion of his Noble and Learned Friend; but he thought it right to state that the Post-office authorities ought not to bear the blame of the whole of the complaints which had been made of the loss of newspapers at the Post office. He believed that there were no set of official men who exercised snore vigilance, or endeavoured to do their duty more completely, than the authorities of the Post-office. And in justice to them he should wish to move an addition to the motion of his Noble and Learned Friend, for the purpose of bringing the whole subject clearly before the House. Very many of these newspapers came folded in envelopes in the most careless and slovenly manner. Several hundred bags of news papers were brought to the Post office every evening, and al though each of these newspapers were inclosed in envelopes, yet when they were turned out of the bags many of them were separated from their envelopes. Of course, these envelopes could not be transmitted, and the Post-office bore the blame of the loss. Heshould therefore move, as an addition, for a re turn of the newspapers which had been returned to the dead letter office as having been found without directions. Their number would be found to be not much. less than 3,000 a-week. He should be most happy to see the Noble and Learned Lord any evening at the Post-office, at the time of the arrival of newspapers, and to afford him an oppor tunity of seeing the manner in which that branch of the Post office was conducted. The Noble Earl cone4uded by moving his amendment. _ _ _ Lord CANIPBELLwas glad the explanation was given, and so satisfactory was it to him that he would at once agree to the amendment. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH wished parties would put themselves in possession of proof that these newspapers were posted before they complained against the authorities. He was sure many who made these complaints bad no evidence to show that those newspapers were put into the post-office at the time they alleged they were. The Earl of LONSDALE concurred in what had fallen from the Noble Lord villa had just resumed his seat. He was aware of an instance where a complaint had been made of the non-delivery of a newspaper, and it was afterwards discovered that the paper was not posted till the day following the com plaint--( Hear, hear.) Lord CAMPBELL was of opinion that a prima facie case had been made out of the detention, if not of the non-delivery, of newspapers. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said parties were in the habit of writing to newspaper agents directing newspapers to be sent to them, and these agents were in many instances the parties who ought really to be blamed, for they never troubled themselves to see that the papers were properly directed. The amendment was then agreed to. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Lord WHARNCLIFFE, in reply to a question which had been put to him yesterday evening, said there was every reason for believing that their Lordships would be able to get into the new Houses of Parliament next session. Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 21. THE RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Sir GEORGE CLERK said the object of the clause was to prevent companies dividing large dividends out of the capital. The Committee was aware that there were bubble companies, who had paid dividends at the time when they were making no profit, and the consequence had been that the public was led to place confidence in the undertaking at a time when it was really in a state of insolvency. Mr. lIAWES admitted the force of the Right Hon. Ba ronet's remark, but cautioned him against condemning a bona ,fide company for the acts of a bubble speculation. What was capital stock could not by any possibility be defined. Did they mean the paid-up capital, or the nominal capital, of a company? Now if they meant the first, he would remind the Committee that the paid-up capital often included profits as well as the reserved funds of a company. Then again they gave some companies power to convert surplus shares into capital stock, now bow were they to divide one from the other? The fact was, the capital stock of a com pany was always fluctuating, and it would be highly inju dicious to disturb the present custom. Mr. lIAYTER admitted that interest and dividends were often paid out of the capital stock of a company, but it was a custom which had long existed, and the question to be con sidered was, whether the practice was an evil or not? Cer tainly a similar clause had been introduced into some of the early railway Bills, but had the companies acted up to it? If they had, he could only say it must have been a great in convenience. The construction of a railway occupied a very considerable time, and towards the end of this period the shareholders naturally became anxious to see a dividend. In instances like this, portions of the surplus capital had been applied to a dividend, and, as this course was generally adopted, he hoped some modification would be introduced into the clause, so as to meet the case of a bubble company. Mr. GRAINGER said it would be extremely hard, if, after portions of the profits of one year had been added to the ca pital stock, the company were to be precluded from applying it to a dividend at some subsequent period. Mr. AGLIONBY would suppose a Company with a capital stock of 100,0001. to have purchased 100,000 acres of land at 11. each, and afterwards to have disposed of a portion of it at a large premium. Now he wanted to know, why the company should be precluded from dividing the profit amongst the shareholders, and carrying the balance to the capital stock account. herever the capital stock would in any degree be reduced that would be precluded. He entirely agreed with the Noble Lord as to the object of the clause, and he only wished to caution the Committee against giving greater power than they intended.—(Hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE did not see any difficulty in the case. He apprehended that if the Company possessed a quan tity of land of the value of 5,0001, and that the Direc tors had an opportunity of selling it for 10,0001., there was nothing to preclude them from doing so, and (as we understood) a portion of the sum realised might be applicable to the payment of dividends upon calls, and so of other profits. The accounts of all railway companies were so arranged as to distinguish between the capital stock, re served fund, and profits, and no inconvenience had hitherto arisen from the practice sanctioned by the clause. Although there were prima facie objections to the practice, yet he did not think it was in itself illegitimate, and, instead of being inconvenient, it had been found very convenient to the Shareholders, so that it had been universal.—(Hear.) Mr. HATTER suggested that there should be a proviso to the effect that dividends should be made out of calls ex cept under certain circumstances. Lord G. SOMERSET said that between this time and the bringing up of the report he would look more accurately into the subject of the clause, and would consider attentively the various suggestions which had been made in the course of the conversation. After a few words from Mr. Godson, Mr. Granger, and Mr. Hawes, in which the last gentleman said that he did not see why a modification might not be applied to this Act as was usual with any private Act, so as to measure the restriction it provided, the clause was agreed to. Clauses 124 to 140, with numerous unimportant verbal amendments, were then severally passed. The 141st clause having been read, Mr. HAWES said that, by this clause, it was left to two justices to ascertain the amount to be assessed in case of wilful damage, and he conceived th at some difficulty would arise from the decisions of such a jurisdiction. Mr. GODSON said that, from experience in such matters, he did not think that any unusual difficulty would ensue. The clause was then agreed to, as well as the 142 d, 143 d, and 144th clauses. On the 145th clause being read, Mr. HENLEY said that the inconsistency which he had previously pointed out was here evident. The interpretation of the clause was rendered obscure by the introduction of the word " any " before two Justices. Some question must naturally arise as to how many or what parties this jurisdic tion should be given to. If the w or d " any " were struc k out, and the clause left with the words " two j u stices," it wou ld be definite and clear, and the difficulty, he apprehended, would be obviated Lord GIZANVILLE SOMERSET said that it certainly might tend to render all these Acts conformable with each other if the word " any" wero struck out, and would save the difficulty which . the Hon. Gentleman had pointed out. On the question being . put by the Chairman, the word " any " was struck out without a division. After a few words from Mr. GRANGER, suggesting that all informations for offenFes against the Act should be in writing, clauses 145 to 155 were agreed to. The remaining clauses of the Bill were then agreed to. Lord G. SOMERSET moved an additional clause for enabling companies mere easily to recover calls from share holders residing in Scotland.—The clause was agreed to. The House resumed, and the Chairman reported progress. The report of the Bill, as amended, was received, and the Bill itself ordered to be printed. Lord G. SOMERSET would move the Orders of the Day for going into Committee on the other Bills of a simil ar na ture, for the purpose of postponing them till Tuesday next, when he proposed the House should again sit at twelve o'clock. After a short conversation as to the order in which those Bills should be taken, to suit the convenience of several Hon. Members, Tuesday next was appointed for the day sitting. The House then adjourned till Five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. Messengers from the Bank of England brought up certain accounts. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. Mr. B. DENISON brought in the London and York Railway Bill, which was read a first time. NORWICH AND BRANDON RAILWAY BILL. The Norwich and Brandon Railway Bill was brought in and read a first time. Mr. THORNELY presented a petition against the Nor. wich and Brandon Railway Bill, from the Mayor and Corpora tion of Norwich. GLASGOW JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition against the Glasgow Junction Railway Bill. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY BILL. Lord ASHLEY brought in the Great Northern Railway Bill. BIRMINGHAM AND SHEFFIELD RAILWAY BILL. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition against the Birming ham and Sheffield Railway Bill. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition from Chester-le-street, praying the House would pass a law enacting that public houses should be closed on the Sabbath. MEDICAL REFORM. Several petitions against the proposed plan of medical reform were presented, and ordered to lie on the t able. a petition from the inha- Sir J. EASTHOPE presented INCOME-TAX. bitants of Leieester, against the income-tax. LOCAL COURTS BILL. A petition was presented in favour of th is measure. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. L A BOUC HERE presented a petition from the grocers of Taunton, praying for a postponement of the modification of the sugar duties. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. turists in Van Diemen's Land, praying that the agricultural Mr. HUTT presented a petition from 400 or $ OO cul a g ri produce of that country might be put upon the same footing as that of Canada. The Hon. Member gave notice that he would, on a future occasion, introduce a Bill upon the subject. SUGAR DUTIES. Sir GEORGE GREY presented a petition from the inha bitants of Devonport, praying that Sir Robert Peel would delay his proposed measure affecting the duty on sugar until they should have got rid of the stock they had now on hand. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire, against permitting public -houses to be opened on the Sabbath. INCOME- T A N. Mr. PALMER presented a petition from the inhabitants of Perth , against the income-tax. CORN LAWS- Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN gave notice that, immediately after Easter, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill, authorising a drawback on that portion of foreign corn that had been used for feeding cattle. Alr. BANKES gave notice that, when the subject of the i reduction of the auction duty was before the House, it was his intention to take the sense of the House on that question. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice, on behalf of the Noble Lord, the Member for Lincolnshire, that on the 6th of March, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to facilitate the em ployment and improvement of common lands. Mr. MILES gave notice that in Committee on the Bill for the renewal of the property and income-tax, he would move a clause giving to Tenons assessed under schedule B, when their property was within the prescribed amount, a right of appeal, subject to the rules and conditions under schedule D. BOWRING gave notice, that on :Monday he would ask the Secretary of State whether he was prepared to lay on the table of the House the correspondence of the Poor-law Commissioners on the subject of the sales of medical offices in the Dublin Union. Mr. MILES gave notice, that on the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair on the Customs' Act, he would move, " That is the opinion of this House that in any appli• cation of surplus revenue towards the mitigation of taxation, due regard should be bad to the necessity of affording relief to the agricultural interest." SHERIFFS' COURTS (SCOTLAND). Mr. WALLACE moved for a return to show the number of appeels from the decisions of the Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland to the Circuit Court of Justiciary, and there reheard, during each of the last five years, ending with October, 1844, as follows :- Ist. The name of the iarties in each cause. '2d. The sum in dispute. 3d. The names of the Judges en Circuit, with the name or names of the Judge or Judges who decided each cause. 4th. The name of the town, the date of the trial, and whether tried in the Court-house, or in an apartment of an inn or hotel. sth. The result of the trial, with the amount of the costs in each crse respectively. 6th. The amount paid as fees of Court in each case, and to whom paid, and the authority for levying the same ; the return to furnish the above particulars in so far as the means exist.—Ordered. NEW ZEALAND.—EAST INDIES. Mr. HUTT gave notice that, on Tuesday next, he would, on the part of another Hon. Member, move for returns relating to New Zealand. He gave notice also, that, en the same day, he would move for copies of the correspondence which had taken place between the Government and the Directors of the East India Company respecting the repeal or the reduc tion of the duties upon British Wheat and Flour imported into British India. AUCTION DUTIES—AGRICULTURAL RELIEF. Mr. STANLEY begged to ask the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Dorsetshire, whether in the event of his (Mr. Banks's) motion for continuing the auction duties being car ried, it was his intention to propose any reduction of other taxes to the same amount, and if so, what they would be? whether of those affecting agriculture or other interests ? Mr. BA NKES said that if he should succeed in retaining the auction duties—(Laughter)—he should certainly wish to effect a commensurate reduction of the general taxation of the country.—(Hear, and a laugh. ) SUGAR DUTIES. Sir WILLIAM CLAY begged leave to put a question to the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of the sugar duties. He wished to know what was the intention of her Majesty's Government as to the time when the proposed alteration in the sugar duties should be carried into effect after the passing of the Bill ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was intended the reduction should take place immediately after the day on which the resolutions should have been agreed to in the. Committee, without waiting for the passing of the Bill. EXPORT DUTIES Oli COAL. Mr. HODSON HINDE wished to put — a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), on the subject of the export duty on coals, very similar to that just put by the Hon. Member for Gateshead. Whilst it was probable that the duty would be taken off, persons who had coal to ship for abroad were unwilling to pay the duty. He wished to ask when it was intended the duty should be taken off, in the event of Parliament agreeing with the repeal ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could only give the same answer as to the former question, that the duty would cease from the day when the resolution should have been agreed to in Committee.—( Hear, hear,) CUSTOMS' DUTIES. M. M. MINES wished also to put a question to his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was aware of the wish of his Right Hon. Friend to act with every consi deration towards vested capital ; and as there were several ar ticles included in the proposed Customs' reductions, which would seriously affect vested capital, he (Mr. Milnes) wished to ask whether Members would be at liberty to discuss the pro priety of the reduction in the case of each article by itself ? Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the question put by the Hon. Member could be as well answered by any other Hon. Gentleman as by himself. Each item would be put by the Chairman, and any Hon. Member who thought proper to object to any one in particular might do so. In answer to a question from Mr. HAWES, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that the remission of duty would take place from the date of the passing of the resolution except where a particular date was specified. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. In answer to a question by Mr. V. SMITH, Mr. M. SUTTON stated that, on Monday last, the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment had stated what the views of the Government were with respect to the law of settlement, so that the time at which it was to be decided was now in the hands of the House. Mr. V. SMITH said it was in the hands of the Home-office whether it would expedite the question or not.—( Hear.) POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. On the motion of the order of the day for renewing the ad journed debate on the opening of letters in the Post-office being read, Mr. J. COLLETT said that, before entering on the general question, he wished to say a few words with respect to the adjournment last night. No person could regret snore than he did the inconveniences to which the Right lion. Baronet had been put ; but in the first place, considering the impor tance of the subject, and that it involved considerations with respect to the liberty of the subject and the rights of Mem bers of Parliament, he considered he was justified in demanding an adjournment. In the second place, he thought that the state of public feeling required it ; and in the next place, he thought it was due to the Speaker, who had sat for nine boars together, and who was to take the Chair again at twelve next day. In the fifth place—(Laughter)—in the fifth place—(Continued laughter)—he considered that this was due to the Members on his side of the House, and to Members on the other side, who were desirous of addressing the House on this subject, and for whom it was well known it was impossible to obtain a hearing at a late hour of the night.—(Laughter.) The Right Hon. Baronet and the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London could always secure a hearing, but the little men were always put down.— (Laughter.) if they wished a debate to be closed at a rea sonable time, the speeches of Members must be limited.— (Laughter.) The proposer of a motion ought to be allowed half an hour, and the speakers following him only a quarter of an hour each—( Great laughter) for when speeches extended to two hours, and two hours and a half, tho little men had to chance.--( Continued laughter.) With respect to the question before the House, he would say that the report of the Post-office Committee was to him most unsatisfactory. Previous to the appointment of this Commit tee, the Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Govern ment said he was anxious for the fullest and most complete in vestigation, with a view to elicit the truth—the whole truth--- and nothing but the truth. The Hen. Member for Finsbury had brought very grave and serious charges against this prac tice of the Post-office; but the Committee, being a Secret Committee, the evidence most necessary could not be heard. The Hon. Member for Finsbury had not been made a member of this Committee, and therefore he was right in not giving a list of his witnesses when the Committee sent for them. On the whole, he should say, that not only the entire proceedings of the Committee, but their report was, ab initio, most unsa tisfactory. However, he was not disappointed in it, for he knew that people could not gather grapes from thistles, or figs from thorns.—(Laughter.) It was not by looking over a parcel of musty warrants of former days that this Committee should seek to make out a re port ; but by a bona fide honest inquiry, and by a recommen dation:to this House to get rid of this degrading, this uri-Eng lish custom of breaking open people's letters—( Hear, hear)-- and that without referring to what warrants had been issued by this Minister or that as a justification for this abominable practice.—( Hear, hear.) He had recently read of a trial that was heard in one of their courts of law upon the identity of a horse—(Laughter)—large sums of money depended on the issue ; and the counsel for the defence said in his speech—" if you want to convince the public, if you want to convince the judge, if you want to convince the jury, produce your horse." —( Loud laughter.) Show his age /—( Great laughter.) 'f he whole question at issue rested upon that, and if the Ri g ht lion. Baronet wished to secure a majority of that House— though he supposed he was pretty well satisfied about that—if he wished to influence the public opinion, he would give his Hon. Friend the Member for Finsbury the opportunity of having his charges investigated. About the charges the Hon. Member has made, there could be no mistake. He was ready to have his mouth looked into--( Great laughter) —as well as his face.—( Laughter. ) The Hon. Member was not one of those who one year race under the name of Maccabeus, and the next under that of Running Rein I—( Great laughter.) " Justum et tenacem propositi virum," —he was always " honest Tom Dunconibe!"—( Immense laughter.) With regard to the proposition of the Noble Lord the Member fur Sunderland, he had no objection to it, except that it did not go far enough. It did not touch the question whether it was expedient or not that this practice should be continued. The Right Hon. Baronet had last year an oppor tunity of doing justice to his Hon, Friend; he had now an other ; and he would say, " better late than never." lie would therefore conclude by repeating that he hoped, for the sake of his Hon. Friend, and the sake of the country, he would agree to some examination into this matter. Sir R. COLBORNE said, as a Noble relative of his had taken considerable interest and a leading part in the Com• mittee of the other House, it was but natural that he should look with more than usual interest on the fate of this motion. The (louse of Lords thought fit to appoint his relative as chair nun of the Committee, and he undertook the task with the greatest reluctance ; and he found that the task would be a most difficult one, anti that the report, from the secret nature of the Committee, must needs be unsatisfactory. At all events it would have been impossible to have pleased all parties, espe cially those who sought for a vote of censure on the Govern ment.—( Hear, hear, from the Ministerial benches.) He could not vote for the motion of his lion. Friend, because, in independent of its merits in other respects, it conveyed a vote of censure on the Comn.ittee, and consequently on Iris Noble relative, which he thought wholly undeserved. But it was not upon this consideration alone that he opposed it. The Committee was formed of a body of men chosen for their high honour, and who, there was every reason to believe, would act independently. There was a strong party bias on this question—if there were not, he could hardly think that Honourable Members would inflict so cruel and unjust an insult as to cast aside the decision of the Committee with out hearing any of the evidence which induced them to arrive at it. These reasons satisfied him, though he felt convinced they would not satisfy the people of England. The Right Hon. Baronet chose to mak e it a Secret Committee—he meant to say it was the House that made it so ; but they all knew well that a suggestion of the Right Hon. Baronet was almost certain of being carried into effect.—( Hear, hear. ) He was one of those who voted against the appointment of Mr. Dun , combe as a member of that Committee. He must say that he now thought that he acted entirely wrong in so doing; for he believed that had the Hon. Member of Finsbury been a mem ber of that Committee it would have saved them the time con sumed in three nights of debate, and the consequent post ponement of public business. Great excitement had bean caused in the public mind by these proceedings; and that ex citement had been incrossed by the contemptuous manner in which the Right lion. Baronet treated the subject when first it was brought under the notice of the House ; but since then he had given the fullest explanation which it was possible for him to give ; and he certainly would not be a party to running down any Minister.--( Hear, from the Ministerial benches. ) With regard to the power, he differed from the Hon. Member for Cork in having it done away with, as he could imagine many ceses in which it would not be only useful but necessary. The only question was, the amount of confidence they would put in the Right lion. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department. For his own part, he was of opinion that, let whet party would be in power, they would find such men to fill the office that their conduct would place them above suspicion. He utterly denied the statements of the Right Hon. Baronet that it would be a triumph of party if the amendment were carried. The only triumph would be the triumph of jus tice —( hear, hear. ) Mr. FERRAN D said that when this question was brought before the House, daring the last session, he had studiously avoided taking any part in it, because it was brought 1 apprehension, exercise the power which in stealer merne nl9 o " . before the House so soon after he had had a contest ' might consider as indefensible. The view which i e was, with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, but he dined to take of the subject was this : —he would assirl' on . doubted whether he could give a proper vote with respect to it. the proceedings under warrants of this nature to such warr_ e a e e, He had heard the statements of the lion. Member for Finsbury He would have them granted only upon a Frelirninary pr°c ni last wear, when he distinctly stated that, justice should be done ing, such as a written information upon oath, and the p art i n fore to all parties. The Hon. Member had now come forward and apinst whom the warrants were issued should have the „ oe asserted that justice had not been done to him. The Right motion confided to them, and in case of ane illegality or imP e t se Hon. Baronet also at the head of the Home Department had priety, should have redress in the saute manner as in the e! stated, last session, that if he had not justice done to him he of search warrants. He thought the observations of the 1 ',„1 would bring the subject forward before the House. Now he Hon. Gentleman the Member for Edinburgh (Mr. Macatel'arei (Mr. Ferrand) would like to know it he was to have justice were well entitled to attention, and he hoped the Govern e 1 why the Hon. .Member for Finsbury should not ?—( Hear. ) 1 and the House would consider the subject with a view to I O w If the Right Hon. Baronet was satisfied with the report of that lation. Committee, the lion. M em b er f or Finsb u ry was no t, an d t h ere - M r . COLQUHO UN comp li mente d t h e H on . Gentle n fi 4 e fore he came to the House to ask for justice. He had last who had just sat down on the speech which he had made: the night heard a Noble Member of the Treasury bench taunt the condemned the terms of the amendment of the Noble Lord.. e n Hort. Member for Finsbury with striking at the Right Member for Sunderland, and vastly preferred the orte,';al Honourable Baronet whilst his bands were tied behind motion of the Hon. Member for Finsbury. He looked fat his back. The Honourable Member for Finsbury said that great anxiety for the opinion of the Noble Lord the Member ~ i t he had received a personal injury, and by refusing him redress London, for he said last session that if the Right Hon. B al r et the Right Hon. Baronet tied his own hands, and committed had exercised this power in a legitimate mariner, he should el t h a t lo e l ' , suicide on his own political character. If the Right Hon. vote for this Committee at all. Ile must confess Baronet had acted impartially as Secretary of State in issuiag to the constitution of those Committees—seeing that theY 4o l the warrants, the Committee which was appointed to i n qui re been composed o f men of different political persuasions , a i ' ee . into the circumstances was partially constructed. The Right great weight and respectability—he theught that as they ba t ! t he Hon. Baronet must recollect that, during 1842, according to p:essed no opinion as to the prudence of withdrawing freotttnro the inference to be drawn from th e Fi rs t L or d o f t h e Tres- Government the powers at pr esen t p ossesse d by them, th e l oote sury, the Hon. Member for Finsbu r y was engage d i n pr i vate s h ou ld pay t h e greatest d e f erence to that opinion. them] 4 0 ,0 correspondence with persons wh o were su pp ose d to b e p l ott i ng m i t t ees h a d ent i re l y excu l pate d t h e a rone Right Hon. B against the safety of the State. Th e Ri g ht lion. Baronet any charge of impropriety, and th e e p ees ti on w as now narrow 0 re quoted an extract from a speech of the Hon. Member for to the complaint of the Hon. Member for Finsbury t t ee Wolverhampton upon which he g rou n d e d thi s i n f erence. I n w h e th er hi s l et t ers h a d b een opened. He thought t ha is ns January, 1842. an article appeared in the Qu ur t er ly Review Hon. Member should have b roug ht f orwar d his come 1, charging Members of that Hou s e with h av i ng i ns ti ga t e d per - i mme di a t e ly u p on suppos i ng t h at hi s l etters h a d been °P e n s sons in the manufacturing districts to break the peace. The But with respect to the power itself, it was stated in the reefer House would recollect h ow exc it e d was the pu bli c m i n d th at it h a d b een exerc i se d b y severa l S ecretar i es o f Stat ilig et during the autumn of that year. They had not forgotten the the last twenty-two years in the same man ner as his „,, it trials of large numbers of the wo r ki ng c l asses o f L ancas hi re, H on . F r i en d h a d exerc i se d i t . If bl ame s h ou ld f a ll oil sii e e when one of the parties tried d e f en d e d hi mse lf b y quoting should fall on the Legislature, for a 3 l ong a s the law w i ser largely from speeches made by M em b ers o f th at House. they should support the Minister while he exercised that P O When the judge heard that question, h e sa id th a t a lth oug h wi se ly a nd s p ar i ng ly, as th e Committee reported he liaOt be that had nothing to do with the pr ocee di ngs b e f ore th e C ourt , H e wou ld t a k e no p ar t i n t hi s ungenerous and unjus Itibe yet, if the parties who had made use of that language had ceeding, and he thought the Members of that House elm u n hte been indicted, they would be punished for it. On the 2d of the first to protect a public officer from unjust censuree irre e December, 1812, a meeting was held in Lo n do n , w hi c h it was in the di sc harge of a p a i n f u l o ffi ce, did w h a t he cousi t he stated was held for the purpose of f o ll ow i ng u p th e t ac ti cs o f would be m o s t condu c i ve t o th e pu bli c we lf are . It became IH the Anti-Corn-law League in dividi ng th e me t ro p o li s i n t o sec - H ouse o f Commons to shelter a Mini s te r f rom such attack ! ' . t o tions and districts for the purpo s e o f carr yi ng on th e i r ag it a ti on. cou ld h ave no h es it a ti on i x g i v i ng a d ec id e d neg ative " This was reported in the newspapers of the next day, as the motion before the House. lAt et. first great district meeti n g o f sec ti on num b er one , h e ld at t h e M r . WILLIAMS sa id t h e H on. M em b er w h o bad 1 g est l Mechanics' Institution, So u th am pt on -b u ildi ngs . Ei g h t h un - d own wou ld h ave h e ld very diff erent l anguage if hi s lettel, rins i dred persons were p resen t, i nc l u di ng one h un d re d f ema l es. been treated in the same manner as t h ose o f hi s Hen. i ' gnat Who did the House suppose presided over that meeting ? Why the Member for Finsbury. The Government had, f illns e ttej Mr. Warburton, ex-M.P. for Bridport. At that meeting to last, taken a very wrong course. When the questi° foroie s strong and violent langu age was use d w ithi n a s h ort di stance fi rs t i n t ro d uce d t h e G overnment refused to g i ve any in et" of the Home-offiee. The Chairman made a speech, an d ca ll e d ' tion at all ; but when the p eo pl e ' s m i n d s b ecame g . reati y cor , upon Mr. Vi,liers to p ro p ose a reso l u ti on , w hi c h was secon d e d c it e d, th ey agree d to a C omm i ttee of Inquiry. Tha t b the by Mr. Ricardo. Mr. E war t nex t a dd resse d th e meet i ng, an d m i ttee, it s h ou ld b e reco ll ecte d , h ad been appo i nte d j inn said that when things had come to that pass, it would be better Right Han. Baronet, but it was very far from giving l oc i he that every Englishman s h ou ld l eave hi s country or sacr ifi ce h i s ti on . Wh en t h e C omm i ttee was about to be ap poin , 1 0 life in maintaining hi s lib erty . O n t hi s d ec l arat i on b e i ng (M r . Willi ams ) di v id e d t h e H ouse upon the mot i on that net made, a Mr. Blackburn said that that was out of order, and was Duncombe should be a Member of that Commits an appeal to phy s ical f orce . Th at was a spec i men o f I se was exc l u d e d, contrary to t h e pract i ce c f the totes, the language used at th e mee ti ng . N ow , h e wou ld as k t h e Th e H on M em b er f or Fi ns b ury went before the Cor°oo4 Secretary of State for the Home Dep ar t men t if, i n hi s o pi n i on , and they had shown no s y m p a th y w i t h hi m. Why did tn e s i ti t i 4 the letters of the members of the A n ti •C orn -l aw L eague , w h o report on his c ase a s on th e case o f f ore i gners ? H a d thej are pets , had divided London i n to s ec ti ons an d di str i c t s, a f ter t h e f as hi on th a t a warran t h a d b een grante d b y t h e Ri g h t Hon. P %Or of the revolutionists of Paris, ought riot to have been opened? and stated the reasons for so doing, then would the Hot oes sl' If those letters we r e no t o p ene d, t h en h e to ld t h e Ri g h t H on. b er f or Fi ns b ury h ave b een sat i s fi ed. The stigma w hich w' eO, Gentleman that he h a d ac t e d p ar ti a ll y i n the caste of the Hon. tempted to be cast upon his fair name would have "" re psee Member for Finsbury, a n d h a d no t d une j ust i ce to t h e o ffi ce h e plainest and removed. That su c h s ti gma had been a tt t s t 14 held. The Hon. Me m b er f or Fi ns b ury h a d ma d e hi s c h arge i n t o b e cas t on hi s c h aracter was c l ear from t h e f a ct, 1: e lo a bold and open man ner , b u t th e S ecretary o f S tate h ad not Ri g ht H on . M em b er f or B u ' e h ad connected hi s nam etruso replied like a man who felt that he had conscientiously dis- the riots which were attempted in the north in 18 42 ' 0% 04 charged his duty. He had spoken with t, bated breath," a n d that Right Hon. Gentleman had afterwards tried t ° e 0 11 in a faltering voice —(Ironical cheers)—and if he had not ans- away this insinuation ; but where, he (Mr. Williams'st e ll wered boldly, bow much more had the Hen. Member for Ken- was the necessity fur mentioning these circumstanc es or. dal laboured in defending the Committee. If the Hon. Mem- Notwithstanding the system of espionage in France,. it bee rir betefor:Kendal had not had nis letters opened by the Hight Hon. tended that there was more real liberty here--(lronical ' h i s i t/ Baronet, then was the Hon. Member for Finsbury justified in for where would they find a minister—ot police, h e wseeuse f ie saying that the Right Hon. Baronet had acted from personal —who would be base enough to open, without just ce. -- ;ffe feelings towards himself—that the Right Honourable Baronet letters of a Member of Parliament ?It was high S i l t cti' s heti made an improper use of the office lie held for the purpose this power should be put an end to, or that such r e ` ig eoel: of satisfying a e prurient curiosity" by peeping into his letters. should be placed on it, as would destroy the dangerl l ci les But there was another question of more vital importance quences to which a wanton use of that power wou en ir than the question between the Bight Hon. Baronet and the They were aware that in the late disturbances in Wa i f:, 9 O Hon. Me m b er f or Fi ns b ury. H e believed those two gentlemen ser i es were sent into that country with warrants from had been f r i en d s i n t h e i r youth—( A laugh)—they had both cretary of State in their pockets, and yet the Bigh t' tare'!es served in th e same ga ll ant wars, an d h e was sorry to hear ex- B aronet was we ll aware that these disturbances werejstfit pressions used by th em , w hi c h on coo l re fl ect i on he was sure l oca l, an d create d b y t h e i n j ur i ous conduct of t h e Meet plei' they would both be sorry for.—( Hear, hear ) B u t th a t was appointed by himself. He should support, with Rte ` le per' not to div er t t h e H ouse from the consideration of this impor- sure, the orig i nal motion of the Hon. Member for FM of the tent question.—( Hear, hear.) He wished attention to be di- Mr. B. COCHRANE did net think the open in g still e l rected to the right whi c h the Right Hon. Baronet claimed to letters of the Honourable Member cast an/ o ppos . ; issue warrants. The Right Hon. Baronet was a great friend upon his character, as he could not be s pent °. to centralisation, and was now attempting to introduce the to be aware of their contents, even if written by ply ery new poor-law into Rochdale and the surrounding districts. discontented with the Government. He could ner ie ne erir e By his authority and under his sanction the Commissioners derstand why the Right Hon. Baronet refused to a n t e s t to sent down an Assistant-Comnaiseioner to form a union i n Hon. Member's question. One Hon Member said s te-1 1 Rochdale. The ratepayers elected a board of guardians, who question, as respected the Hon. Member for Firolliw, ' refused to enforce the law.—(Cries Of " Question.") They alone. He (Mr. B. Cochrane) did not think so. lit Ilea' might cry questio n , b ut h e was speaking on the question of w h ose l etters had been opened might call on the Rig owl opening letters in th e P ost -of f ice. The Commissioners ob- B aronet i n the same manner, to explain hie reasons flerelN tained a mandamus i n th e Q ueen ' s Bench to compel the guar- erc i se o f that power. The Right Hon. Baronet, he „eon dians to enfo rce th e l aw. N ow the instruction of the guar- would find it very incnnvenient to do so. But how, in iniew diens to their solicitor for the defence passed through the Post- ask, did the Hon. Member for Finsbury know that his office. —( Hear, hear.) lie did not for a moment insinuate had been opened at all ?—(Cheers and laughter. ) that the Right Hon. Baronet would open their letters, but he " He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen' .0 had the power to d o so , an d if h e could do so in the case of Let him not know it he is not robbed at a" the Honourable Me m b er f or Fi ns b ury he could do so in (Laughter.) , gh ti And, therefore, he th ou ht the / I ° ltse rott eat t, others. The Right Ho n . B aronet h ad issued 18 warrants in 1842. to k now on what proof the Hon Member g i g a roe c Ile believed that the lett ers o f more Members of Parliament hi s c h arge aga i nst the Right Honourable , d 0, 0,e 5 had been opened than th ose o f t h e H on. Member for Finsbury. The Hon. Member who had just sa t d own , h a d allu ile t i e t 9 —( Hear, hear.) If the Right Hon. Baronet was an unscru- French post-office. Why, it was a general practice I pulous Minister, he might have stopped the letters of those country to open letters. t 4 agents who were conducting the opposition to the proceedings An Hoer. Meeteza—How do you know? tia li i ll of the Poor-law Commi ss i oners, an d thus become acquainted M r. B . CO CHRANE—Why, he had been sone ee ntti e a pt case, their defence. H e did not k now whether that was the t h e C ont i nent, and he was aware that such was t he e ept re case, but this he kne w , th a t t h e P oor-law Commissioners pract i ce. T here was a great objection to the amendle l' e Ii ! shrunk from meeti ng th e B oar d o f Guardians ix the Court of t h e or i g i na l motion, because it would be const itut ; l e Queen's Bench. He believed they did so because if the merits House of Commons a house of appeal for every trifling r i e fq of the case were heard, they knew that the mandamus would in which Hon. Members would think themselves 31 0 ba' be quashed, and th a t ev id ence wou ld b e b roug h t forward which Th e H ouse was certa i nly a legal body to correct alilti D t 4 would go far to ann ihil ate t h e C omm i ss i oners. I t was upon s till i t was a b so l ute l y necessary that some trust ti tnea l 'it COL that ground more th an any ot h er, h e was des i rous of taking p l ace d i n t h e E xecutive, or the House would find that • flew away, not only from the hands of the present Home Secretary, not get through the business of the country at all. If tit e s lorl but from every other Minister of the Crown, the opportunity of Member could say, and say it sincerely, that ilia - rea e e using such power at his discretion. ter was injured, then indeed he would have s°r ° ,, ° , ke i 'i Mr. STRUTT said that, as a member of the Committee, he for demanding this Committee, but the Hon. Me in " - t r er In, felt called upon to make a few observations on the present dis- as well as he (Mr. B. Cochrane) did, that his char a li n eer lsbir cussion, and he agreed with the Noble Lord the Chairman of not affected in any degree by this proceeding. The e at 1>• the Committee,that the most ample statements had been volun- in the case, he thought, (pressed upon the Govern' - ine st tardy made by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary o f cause the accusation against the Right Hon. Baronet „ slt!;, State for the Home Department and other members both of exceedingly painful to that Minister, as it encouragettin CIS the present and of the late Government, and that if there was picion in the minds of those who were not conver_7 o . P any want or fault in the report of the Committee, it was not this power, or the necessity there was for its exer t ,. I in consequence of any lack of evidence on the part of the wit- could not support the Hon. Member in this m e at - e lontlo nesses who were examined. The House should recollect the Mr. BLEWITT said, that while admiring t u4 , WO, li t , circumstances under which the Committee was appointed, when speech of the Right Hun. Member the Secretary aht. If "', it was said that the report was defective, and that they had not could not agree with him in every part of that sPee e lt/, 10 communicatedenough to the House. The Househad appointed a letters had been opened, as had been those of the Hon ' ;t ete° ,f Secret Committee, and it was understood that the statements ber for Finsbury, certain it was that he should hav e o pPl e made by the witnesses were confided to the honour of the precisely the same manner. He thought it a Ine s , t be SeeLe Members composing that Committee. If that we r e no t so , proceeding on the part of the Right Hon. Baronets,' e e of n v e , perhaps the evidence would not have been given.—( Hear.) tary of State, and the Right Hon. Baronet at the n uf e l i t Itf o - e Now if any Member of the House repented of the decision to Majesty's Government. He was sorry that the it) wish!` which the Committee had come, he was to blame himself for Baronet was not in his place, because he (Mr. Blew "„ consenting that the Committee should be a secret one. If the to refer to several cases in which the Right Hon. oa t n nela• ps ' House wished for a different decision ;if they wished to call for sheltered himself behind the authority of her Male i s Y t t he P ia al, the evidence that had been taken before that Committee, it With regard to the Post-office, he del not think th at e i a ier poses and institution of that office had been Pr°Per of th ou of was in their discretion to act as they thought proper. But ly en OP after the decision they had come to, he did not think it was The Post-office was never meant to be an object " w hoia e f reasenable to complain of the Committee for having adhered to He would ask a question of the Solicitor-Generate i tett re the rule which the Howe itself had laid down ; and because it saw in his place, and he would wish te, know if , t et s a l s e had refused to commit that which would have been a violation Anne did give any responsibility to open letters wit' l° ;/ Stl en of all honour and confidence.—( Hear, hear.) The oth er rant having been previously granted by the Secretary e s i r es l ' is charge was that of having opened the letters of the Hon. Mem- fie felt he had trespassed too long upon the H°, lis t ; bu n t ee , ber for Finsbury. The Hon. and Learned Member for Lis- though he could say much mcre upon the subt e e n t he P .. keard had asserted that there were three distinct charges ; one would now conclude by saying that the motion °A ep ee- e , of opening the letters of M. Mazzini ; a second, of opening the Member for Finsbury should have his most cordia l su e ' to oi ' w eie letters of two Polish gentlemen • and the third, of opening th e Lord C. HAMILTON had but a few observatiT ot her n , s letters of the Hon. Member for ' Finsbury himself. The Hon. in consequence of what had fallen from the Hon. Il it retb` . ter and Learned Member said, the Committee had reported on two had just sat down. He should confess he thought ens of these questions, but had declined making any report at all singular ground of complaint that the H°°' injustice bai l b a te on the third. Now he was nit going into any sta'ement of the Knaresborough had made out, namely, that injust l- 0 warr— reasons which influenced the decision of the Committee ; but done the Hon. Member for Finsbury, , t the there was a great difference between these cases. The first mention had not been issued. —( Laughter. ) ere tea - a t , . of the subject in Parliament was the presentation of the petition Mr. FERRAND said the words he had used v r % w ith P which M. Mazzini addressed to the House, complaining of bit Right Hon. Baronet, the Home Secretary, had :tete. , be letters having been opened. This was followed by the petitions tiality. 1001e 1 f ' 34' t t ° of the two Polish gentlemen he had already alluded to. These Lord C. HAMILTON—WeII, however, he 9 , 5 b a ttel n it petitions, and the allegations they contained, produced a great had heard with great regret this rather un-Eng hs wee ld l o t impression. The general feeling was that these foreig ners h a d raise a cry against the present Government. 11° d sa l l OF because more been inhospitably, harshly, and ungenerously treated. He be- that the practice was open to objection ; but he woo l .eo o no booed that was the general feeling which Prevailed in the the manner in which it had been brought before . ;c o c oop House and in the country, and he confessed that he himself at afforded him just cause of complaint. He shou lcl . u njecte pt y s first participated in it. The impression produced was so strong, that some Hon. Members, in speaking on the : sate 10'0 that the Right Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary came down used language that would not be tolerated in II I : t elotts e ' be er to the House and made a statement that he had issued a war- which ought not to have been listened to ; ea the ._ r b e t o f sb es rant for the opening of these letters, and consented to the a p- language similar to which had never yet come unne ite nt ° r y ? pointment of a Committee of Inquiry. To that Committee cation. But, now, let him ask, what was thef es Fiesbeebiee were referred the petitions of these foreigners on this subject. mischief that had been done the Hon. Membe r e a ° t. the ' nil y i' l The remaining allegation was a very different one. I n th a t case —lt appeared to him-4 Lord C. Hamilton) —t e - „ the ° nit' no admission was made by the Secretary of State that he had consisted not so much in what had been done , iye theli b nl opened any letters whatever, and he declined to answ e r the which it had been represented. He did not mean W th g at i peal tis fr question. Neither was it alleged last session by the Honour- tics his unqualified approbation, but he did think r eiffie n ot tlA able Member for Finsbury that his letters had been opened, as been I ( - lofted to, to surround it with unneeesta4 he vr 0 1 at that time he probably did not know it as a fact. —( Hear, hear.) There was another point to w_ni a e rke hle, ioo 4 Now he did not wish it to be understood that he was giving the wish to call attention. It did strike him as remark eiP t ribl o reasons which might have influenced the Committee in their it was a source of pain to him, to have observe d e , by the t es o decision in not reporting upon this allegation. He th oug ht h e silence with which this subject had been treated by 01 had said enough to show' the disconnection between the three Lords opposite, who recently held office, and W e w oelo tbo te cases, and the necessity of reporting upon one Bute ustion, and period had exercised the very same l ' e.sve toble L °lll lfins t° the abstaining from the reporting on another. then it had that, censidering the high position of those t neret to , e leht been said, that even supposing the Committee were net able talents, and their character, it was subject n! x" occasi °n ' so to give a decided opinion upon all these particular questions of have observed them remain silent en this no r, a nd r e' fact, the substance of the evidence might have been given in a the discussion was carried on with so much a crim . st the te s s the &s ett " ti co° summary. It was said also, that the Committee might have whole current of public odium was poured out aga in isior) Id reported more satisfactorily as to the degree of discretion under sent Government. But it was now too 1ate— .......,be e vil c , 4 „0 which this power had been used by the Right Hon. Baronet. gone forth, and the public mind was poisonebder t what the would only appeal to the House to consider not be remedied. Much as the Hon. whet the constitution of that Committee was—it con- had to complain of, he (Lord C. Hamiltond nenear, ~wh°,vells , Aie in begg e e o ci n c o e I I n t foci sisted of nine gentlemen holding very different political the House of the ewe of Mr. Feargus o , l ; sa :' ye , ) ' w eb opinions, and when they recollected the difieult matters with suffered as a common felon.—(Cries of Orrespondenc°l bat which they had to deal, he did not think that it was at all at least, he had been detected surprising that they should come to different eonelusions as to those who had been convicted for th e d id tiC't the particular discretion which might have been exercises! in never could have been known but , ile , f r og' any particular case. They were, however, all agreed as to of this power.—Hear, hear, and cheers. be ) exem pteet id the general views and motives which had influenced the Execu- wish that Members of Parliament should 1,.,, t hat ic° u „Ole' thoug"` ho' • 0 tive in the exercise of this power. He had no intention of this power of the State, because he was to b e a _ o no eulogising the Government, nor did he wish it to be under- odious and invidious; but if the power in csedition ; en et . e ise t the inforteviroe stood that he was whitewashing the Right Hon. Baronet, done away with, how would the Stat e a. o ! member fore] big when he declared his opinion that he had been most harshly they required ?—( Hear, hear.) The insult an d i sult anu conttualn.ba and unfairly treated on this subject. However odious some bury, it had been stated, had s efferedin _ er,stiteen ts I , l o ea r t Gentlemen might co ns id er this p ow e r , and however disa.gree- the opening of his letters, and that hisviras c _ u t di eu ious• - a e telt' able its exercise might be, he did not believe the Right Hon. felt it as an insult to them; but that affair et; e t o uwic • ~e e l, Baronet had done more than those who preceded him in office. hear.) Who was it that made the Hen. s fent ner nel i n , -- - • In another particular, the report was said to be unsatisfactory. it to his constituents? Why, the e to h „ e it to %Z i a been Some Hon. Members said they ought to have made (Laughter)—and too glad was h Member was to . _ GI beet , a clear and satisfactory recommendation to Parliament ( Laughter.) Very glad the Hon. 7, p u t Jinn: ne yitg as to the course which ought to be pursued for the future. He made a pseudo martyr of.—(L7egettitetri,r! thought if anybody who had attended much to the general said that the Hon. Member had the amount of t a nt so neict t business of Committees—no matter whether of special or or- insult. Now,victim ni . oev sus; in cases of libel, . ore „ n ee give , 00 i ss: divary purposes—must have been struck by the different tained should be proved before a re ) e ioinry h a ving i' elem bei, opinions entertained by the different Members of that Corn- but in the present case, so far f m be li e ved the Hon' t ;;(l,ort i mittee. It was scarce] y possible for them to come to any tained, he (Lord C. Hamilton) believed : sol e jos' clear decision, but in ordinary cases nothing was more come had never made such a hit in his a l k i e f life.—( Lau arge3 but he h o ew trt; lmon than for the Committee to simply report the evidence C. Hamilton) did not wish to m which the Hon. Mann the erel_ e which had come before them, and leave it to the House to mention this!—He had heard reports, he knew noteseraber fo r draw what conclusions it might think proper; in their case, to the effect that the means and they e i e Chi d ll e ° t s e e however, the Committee was secret, arid of course they were Finsbury had obtained his in e fo b e y n e i n a e t e io a n i, were those oust hav e precluded from reporting the evidence to the House. The ployment of the Postmaste f Tee in i order to enable be h , e .„, Committee took the only course it was competent for them committed a breach of corals e vast mass of ey ie e nc_ .e _,, ee de" to take, and instead of pointing out the course which should Member to put together the t for the Hon. 310.7 tnitz 1 _ be taken for the future, endeavoured to show the different tained ; and that might account for who, h e cetn tn ao cot :: lights in which the evidence might be viewed. If he were clining to bring forward h d i so wi The Hon. Gen e l i e erea tit e a, asked whether he had formed any opinion on the subject, he lose their situations if he di betrayed n f , theref o , e would say that, looking to the amount of advantage which was not say that the nine gentlemocur.dwhhaoveemp obtained from the exercise of this power, and and were sworn to secrecy, I w ed to rotect them was' to 5 . at the same time looking at the effect which that The anxiety which he shew d House would not c t he Phi ° exercise had on the public mind, he felt bound very suspicious. He hope t. le of . the ha d to give his opinion against that power remaining in its motion or the wouldamendmen not follow the exarnl l _ lllo Lard on present state. The Right Hen. Baronet at the head of the Mr. WATSON. for he must say No attaol t ° eel' Government had pointed out in very forcible terms the position Lord in personalities, discretion, and that the s _ re, bet v... in which the Government was placed in 1842. Terror per- shown more zeal than was not °nit' unneces %J o e/ I, e varied the manufacturing districts, and a serious responsibility Hon. Member for Finsbur the case when arty fo r soe you'. was thrown upon the Government, and the Right Hon. Baro- justifiable. But it was always die heads of a party le" net truly observed that the Government would have left them- ward to make charges against defence. posed th , , te_ wujoessere. r for N I belong to no partYe Ifer ribe etn a- Lord C. HAMILI Oi selves open to great blame if, under such circumstances, the recruits to rush for ward to the Government had not exercised the power which the Legi.l case of the Peon' refill ps t unsatisfactewy many of ; but he Finsbury, hi thouht the tepor OS ture had placed in their hand.—( Hear.) He was unwilling to . Mr. WATSON—As to , the in _ _ i , . g attribute blame where it was not justly attributable, -- must say that a Minister might in such times, and under p.ell }yilgn ~ was appointed, although it Rai tlomP v" Members, 1 have been Finsbury, motion the that cue t it Was Cm Inent of a roittec.—( for not ha' for not son Corornitte and eon Lear ne d "'tide o u , Committ, Placed . _ e, (Mr, viter e th Dassin 44 t I,hat 'letori a the 7 %two ti u but cre tar ; ;`, 4 ' l lnr book'' chim e su c h retu rn Se cret seizin g h ad rail e d et St& n That „*xteht R oa. th e tr al l , not vt, n _ l ett; thi re q% ee Leth th e , to b te at th at ti t , tG t he dt, 1 3 11 Ris th 1 • to a Is 6. for ot° ;tit at° r t° 9 16 F #§ , o l ha 'etY" s o r ata"' f ur„ e c je bl P " Ci vs ba 0 6 :4 go 4 g icr , to 1 , hi v e aid Si' , he P r i g or) P o i c o a Ai' re l9l 116 At tu re that 0a ci sl e' er ~ot lid ci fr or Finj' - c tald tog e 'v' f ,o ) oly a la e c; lls if t it" iiree e t if' e° !A xe be had rY bli.fS6ea., a o r ju v r e y rd ie g t; bee ° em b:t H e (`' o ol . coald how tr uer am ber ❑ .h e ell t h al ta „ ico r the , e hat' A , . b t ' 1 " 44 1/ rcan coj ee, %ow niit seer w itoe s e , t here' , he ce d e to .• No ble the , bad Ler u t bo; k oo l e ' CAI y for' ca., - u o; r '',l3eY ° for ber , nfena ee tg ineydr oe;Plio,