The Sun. — London, England, 1850-08-15 00:00:00

rfErJ L4ritt43lW SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. PROROGATION PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY•) PROGRESS OF HER MAJESTY FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE. Notwithstanding the unfavourable aspect of the weather, the route from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament was lined at an early hour by crowds anxious to obtain a view of her Majesty on her progress to prorogue Parliament. Shortly after eleven o'clock a strong body of police took up their position along the whole route, in order to keep the line clear, in which duty they were assisted by a squadron of the lit Life Guards, posted at intervals. Along Parliament-street and Whitehall the windows and balconies were crowded with groups of well-dressed ladies. Stand's also were erected at various points, the balconies of the Horse guarde were filled, and we observed that even the roof of Kng Henry the Seventh's Chapel was covered with anxious eight-seers. In the Park the crowd was very great, though not so numerous as we have seen it on former occasions, but consisting chiefly of well-dressed and respectebie people. Round the Palace-gates the crowd assembled iu grt at numbers. eat a quarter before two o'clock her Majesty left the Palace, and the royal cortege took its way down St. JAme,.'d-walk, through the Hone Guards, and down Whiteballaind Parliament-street, to the Houses of Par liament. The cortege consitted of six royal carriages, each drawn by six horses, containing the officers of the ilousehOd and the Ladies in Waiting, and the royal state carriage, drawn by eight horses, escorted by the Gentlemen Pensioner!, and by a squa dron of the 2d Lite Guards. In the carriage with her 31 , jesty and Prince Albert 'were seated the Duchess o' Sutherland, Mistress of the R 'bes, and the Duke ot Nor folk, I'daster of the Horse. Her Majesty luAed remark ably well. Her dress was of silver lac-' over white sawn; aho w0.2;0 a stomacher and a tiara of diamond). The Prince. was dressed in the uniform of a Field-Marshal. Tne chebr:n4.at..vari , ;us parts of thu route wan loud and enthUaiautiit, which her Majesty and Prince Albert gra cions:y acknowledged by repeat.?dly bowing, and both sp peared• much gratift,d -tt those merkeeef ley el , y and attach • mer t. At th 3 tif.!rse Guards the b of the Ist Life Guards was stai,!oed, in their into uniform!), trnicb, as the royal carri,aa passe?, struck un the National Atahem; toe guar( :,resented arms; and the Ch ?erieg set, this paint ro r 0 'tin crfithississzie pit ,, ... Invt'ia Whitehall the: crawel was immense, and her Majesty's rcc.:ptlon was no 1!:yal. A sa!ut.e.nr, twenv-ono gm,s t.n nouneve..,her arrival at the Howes .of • Parttamett, where. she 'V443 received by a. guard.ol .honour of the Go' , -treasa Guards, accompanied .by their bond. Tier ile"a'evy eel entered ty the Vie t Tntrer.arnii a ffourith et trualpets end - immediately FrOceedeti• to robe. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The &ore of the house of Lords were' thrown open f,o the pualte a few. tninatea after teeeva o'clottk, when the itterior of iheir.Leratiaipe maguideent Chember began to fill raoidee with Peeretses, nail toe other L a di es e i ne tad the, privitege of the entree beyond the bar. The grand entrance-luitaies arid appruacties along watch her Majesty p463PS to the robin; reoin, tigetaer with the atrategere ealiery, were ulso thronged eit'a elegantly droSsed ladies, whose gay vale ant rnatehlese beauty s aded greatly to the spiend .of the spectacle. The hr:itltut Tart?ty celoure, too, whirs their costumes presentea harrepeised exquisitely wait the tasty aspect of the buiiciirig, .and .gave the allele excite a gay and animated apreerence, whath only the pencil or a giotd artist could accurately describe. The per fuane end odours which scented she atrnesphere noe a lit.le iticreheed the romance of the levier , teceire, while the goreecue uniforms and -chaste "fleeing plumes which adorned the majestic persona of the military peers end to:6;n and eriental ambaeredore rectlh d to ruled some eastern scene of enchantment. whieia one occasionally matte with in the impassioned poetry ef a Byron ore Moore. As the hour grew near when it teas- ixpectect her Majesty wield reach West minseee, the interior of the House was gorgeous and dazeiiag in' the extreme. There waa scarcely a seat which . was act occupied by a lady .or gendeman attired in teeehul costutnee The Nepaelese Ambessalor, his twabneehere, and suite, arrived shortly after one o'clock. The Ainhaisador hiratelf wta coar:uctcd to a sect on the lasitete' bienehes. which were devoted to the corps diploma tign„9. hilt) his too brothers and the rest of his suite teak op 'a posidun at the end or the side gallery on bit of the throne. His Excellency the re pepteetative cf the American Republic at the Curt of S'. Jas s's was early in atteedener. ee Duke of Welitngtoe ' at fired iu ael'aild - bearshaiht ehnifueue; ewe .'attended by . a ccuple oe • young ladies dres;u In deep naournine, entered the Route about a (theater -part one. His Grace. who was warmly greeted leyonatty of the Peers present, seemed. Lobe in the eti jfern"4o et excellent health. He politely, and with almost en tie. of youthful gallantry, cueduceed Lea lair charges to a seat on the front benches, anti thee retired to the foot of, the throne where, he entered into conversation with some of the officers of the Guards who were on duty hi guarding the immediate entrances to the chamber. His Grace shortly afterwards appeared again in the body of the House steering his ducal rotes, and surrounded by Lords Monteetgle, Redesdaar, Talbot, Meuntatehel, Devon, Overstone, and other peers, who wore the collars and insignias of the various orders to which they belong. His Grace, a few minutes after wards, left hie noble colitagues and %talked leisurely round the Howie, recoguising many of . the ladies present, with whom he appeared to be a uni versal favourite, and with many of whom he shook hands with untiring perseverance. The Turkish Ambetsador, attended by a numtrous corps of turbaned attaches, came in about one, followed by the Earl St. Germens, the Earl of Zetland, and the Marquis of Clan ricarde. A few minutes before two o'clock the Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack, when prayers were read in an impressive manner by the Bishop of Hereford. The other Right Rev. Prelates present were—His Grace the Arch biehttp 'of Canterbury, the Bishop of Salisbury, and the Bistieo of Oxford. At the conclusion cf prayers, the number of Peers in their seats was augmented by the :sea,: of Lord Foley, who was dressed in a midi ary uctfoen ; the Marquis of Lansdowne, the new Lord,Chief Jusece of the Common Pleas (Sir J. Jervis), the Lord Chief justice of the Queen's Bench, and several other of her Majesty's Judges. Lord John Russell was also f resent, and occupied a seat in the Usher of the Black Red's box. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid uponithe table of the . House by command of her Majesty papers re leting to the Irish Poor-law and other subjects. - Lord EDDISBURY also laid papers on the table. A few minutes after two o'clock, the booming of canner:, occasioned by the firing of a royal salute, an nounced the approach of her Majesty. The echo of the guns had scarcely died away in the distance before a slight commotion near to the House and a flourish of trumpets put every eorly on the tiptoe of excite meta and expecta tion, which was soon, however, destroy ed by the ttp peirance of several of her Metesty's Body Guard, who took ep their position and mounted guard at the foot of the Throne as a signal for the House to be in readines s for the arrival of her Niajesty. At about a quarter put two her Majesty, preceded by the officers of the Household, the Duke of Wellington carrying the Sword of State, the. Marquis of Lansdowne the Crown and Cushion, a - id the Earl of Zetland the Cap of Maintenance, entered the House on the right hand of the Throne, leaning on the arm of his Royal Highness the Prince Albert. Her Majesty was attended by the Duchess of Satherland, as Mistress of the Robes, and Lady Jocelyn. As her Majesty entered the House her subjects rose, and remained standing tilt her Majesty commanded them to be seated, after she had ascended the throne. Her Majesty then com manded the Usher of the Black Rod to summon the House of Commons to appear at the bar of the House. This was immediately done by that officer, and after the lapse of a few minutes the Speaker, attended by the Usher of the Black Rod, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and a numerous body of the Members of the House of Commons, attended at the bar in obedience to ,the commands of her Majesty. The SPEa.K.ER then proceeded to address her Ma jesty to the following effect:—We, your Majesty's loyal and faithful Commons, approach your Majesty with our last Bill of Supply. In obedience to your Ma jtsety'a commands announced from the Throne by Royal mmission at the commencement of the session, we applied ourselves to the consideration of a Bill for the better government of your Majesty's Australian colo nies, arid we have framed a government in a form which we believe to be best adapted to the wants and feelings .of the colonists, and we coufilently look forward to its being the mewls of leading to the gradual development of the vast resources of the c deny itseS, and of increas ing the attachment of the colonists to this country and . your Majesty's throne and person. We have made considerable advances in sanitary improvements, by prohibiting interments in large towns, and ere have sanctioned such laws and regulation tor the improvement of certain districts which past ex perience has Droved to be necessary for the protection of human lir, Aware of the growing competition which the mercantile navy of the c wintry had to combat with in consequence of the recent alteration of the navigation-laws, we have de voted much time and attention to those peculiar mea sures which became necessary to give due and proper effect to those changes, and a Bill has lately received your Majesty's assent by which we have endeavoured to alleviate the character of the imposts which press upon our mercantile marine, and to improve the discipline and promote the general welfare and hap piness of the seamen. At the commencement of the . present session the Royal Commission announced an extraordinary diminution in the number of Parlia mentary electors in Ireland, and the effect which that diminution tad had on the existing system of legisla tion in that country. That suaject has received from us, as it eeserved, our most favourable consideration, and by the remedies which we have ap pli we Nape to have secured to the . people cf Ireland an increased body of efficient and in- aep:,xideut. elcc:ors, who will be faithful in the discharge of their important privilege of returning representa ,--.77777--,,, tives to it and legi3lire in the Commons House of Perlis ,. - f_r/ I\rneni. :arse 3re the mostimportant measures of the session. ;yliflwouid he tedious to enutnArato the other numerous • •••• easures of importance which haro been the subject of :•••• , 1 c‘relal wcsicierAticu, but we may men -- —deb that it had been our plaguing duty to • 1-• - '. : •••_''. _. ',,. .i p:A ~ .4--,.... fr,... e , . .?:, 4 v , " ,1 , ,..,.. \ .; k ' ‘2 , -- - .....:..,-,?- - )) ~ .,,..4 ..>„_ t THE SUN, LONDON, reduce the amount of taxation whilst carefully providing supplies for the exigencies of the public ser vice, and supporting the honour and dignity of the Crown ; and whilst we give expression to our feelings of loyalty and attachment to your Majesty, we may add, that it is our sin cere desire to do all we can to uphold the imp( rtaet ilstitutious of the country, and to maintain its increa,ing prosperity. We have now to crave your Majesty's most gracious assent to our last Bill of the session, which is to apply and appropriate the Consoli dated Fund. _ . Her Majesty was then most graciously pleased to give her Royal Assent to the following Bills: Spitalfields and Shoredirch New Street. Transfer of ImprovemFnt Loans. Law Fund Duties (Ireland). Savings Banks (Ireland). Holyhead Harbour. Lough Corrib Improvement Company. General Board of Health (No. 3). Consolidated Fund Appropriation. The Lord Chancellor then advanced to the foot of the throne, and keeling, presented her Majesty with the Royal Speech, which her Majesty proceeded at once to read in a clear and exceedingly pleasing tone of voice. (The Speech will be found in another part of our columns.) The LORD CHANCELLOR then, in her Majesty's name, and by her Majesty's commands, declared the Parliament prorogued until the 15th of October next. Her Majesty then descended from the throne, and bowing most graciously to the assembled Peers, left the House, accompanied by her Royal Consort and the whole of her att,rd no. _ Her Majezty having disrobed, returned to the state earringe amidst a flourish of trumpet?, whilst the band t.f tlio Coldstream Guards struck up the Motional An them. The procession having been re-formed in the same order as before, then wound its way to Buckingham Palace, at which place, and along the whole route, im mense bulks of persons were collected. compelled to complain loudly of the uncalled for impertinent, and assaulting interference of a knot e'f po licemv,n placed near Richmond-terrace, who did all in their power to prevent our reporters reaching our office as early as possible, by insisting upon their walking on the crowded footpath instead of the more op in horsc.-way. Many Members of both Houses were similarly treated, and upon remonstrating against such conduct, they only met with impudence and insult. We hope the Commissioners of Police will look to this, and take care that it shall not occur in future; that the men under their control should be taught that civility is preferable to impertinence; and that in the discharge of their duties discretion is better than hasty and uncalled fur officiousness. TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVENING. Six o'CLocx. No business doing. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY,) MEETING AT BRISTOL. (BY EXPRESS.) FROM OUR OWN REPORTER. The thirteenth half-yearly general meeting of th proprietors of the Great 'Western Railway Company was held this afternoon, at the Bristol Sta'ion, in Bristol, pursuant to the company's Act of Parlia ment, for the general purposes of business. The chair was taken at one o'clock precisely by Charles Russell, Esq., the chairman of the company. Some time before the hour of meeting a consider able number of shareholders had assembled in the place of meeting, which greatly increased imme diately on the chair being taken. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said they had had such frequent meetings of proprietors lately —no less than three in the first half of the present year—at which all their most important interests had been so carefully re viewed and so amply discussed, that their report on the present occasion was happily mach shorter than it ordinarily was ; and he should endeivour to give the same agreeable character to the observations which it was his duty to address to them. In that report, and in the accounts which had been distributed among the shareholders, he hoped they would see that the directors had been extremely anxious to carry out the wishes of the pro prieurs, as they were expressed at the several meet ings to which he had adverted. They had closed their capital account, so far as it was possible to close it, for those portions of the line which are completed, as was recommended by the Committee of Consultation. That committee calculated that the expenditure on the finished portions cf their line up to December, 1849, emoueted to 10,410,0001., and that there was still outstanding liabilities, referring also to that portion of the line, amounting to 350,000/. The expenditure on that portion of ihe line to December actually did amount to 10,407,0001.; and of the 350,000/. they had expended about 78,0001. in paying off some of their liabilities ; and there was a margin left sufficient he believed to meet every other liability that could possibly arise. He hoped the meeting would consider that a proof that the directors were earnestly anxious to keep their capital account closed ; and he might state that in the last half -3 ear they had included a sum of about 1,1001., which had been spent in sheds and buildiags, and other new and productive works. They had included th .t sum in their general revenue account because they did not consider it was desirable for so small a SUM to disturb :the capital account.—(Hear, hear.) (The Honourable Gentleman here went into a de tail of the company's finished and unfinished works, hich are referred to in the engineer's report.) After including the whole of the interest chargeable to their revenue account, he thought they had done well to maintain a dividend of 4/. per cent. per annum on their capital, and still carrying forward a balance of between 24,0001. and 25,000/. from the worst to the most productive half of the year.—(Cheers.) The subject to which the directors had most anxiously applied their attention was the development and improvement of their traffic. That was, in fact, a subject to which all railway companies must now direct their atten tion. From the report they would perceive there had been a small failing off in the present half-year as compared with the corresponding half of last year ; and that circumstance unques tionably would be calculated to make them doubt the principle of the steady increase of traffic, which he believed was the law which ordinarily must govern traffic, particularly in this mercantile and manu facturing country, if they were not able to assign it to temporary and to special causes. They believed that that falling off had resulted partly from the great depression which had prevailed in all the agricultural districts, and the meeting must remember that theirs was a line which was entirely connected with an agricultural district. It had fallen off partly also from their going back to their return-ticket system, which, although it was greatly to the public accommodation, was not equally remunerative to the proprietors, and It had fallen off also, partly in consequence of the competition they had had to encounter with the neighbouring lines to Windsor, Reading, Gloucester, and Cheltennam. Of fair and reasonable competition they made no complaint. Every company who took a line to a town was fairly entitled tc expect a rea sonable proportion of its traffic ; but there was a competition which he thought both unwise and un just. He would illustrate what be meant by a re terence to an extreme case which had recently occurred to themselves. The Great Western fares to Reading, a distance of thirty. six miles, were for first class tickets Bs., for second-class ss. 6d., for third class 2s. 11d. He was sure it was impossible to say that these were unreasonable charges. It so happened that the South-Eastern line, a line which prima facie they should hardly have consi dered a competitor to the Great Western; proceeding, as it did, from the metropolis to the east and to Dover, that was no fair right to compete with a line proceeding by the west from London to Bristol ; but it so happened that the South-Eastern had leased the Reigate and Crediton line, by which they had been enabled to obtain a route to Reading. Their distance to Read ing was 68 miles, and the Great Western's 36 miles; and'they had thought it just to convey passengers for smaller fares than the Great Western did.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) They charged first class pas sengers, 95. 64., second class, 4. 6d. and third class passengers at 33.—()dear.) He felt quite satisfied that it was utterly impossiole for such a system to continue. It could not be done except at a loss, and its purpose must be, not to benefit the com pany who had adopted it, but to injure the Great Western. He did not believe—he could not think — the South-Eastern would, upon deliberation, think it right to maintain a system so injurious to them selves, so unjust to others, and so inconsiderate to wards the general interests of railways. But if they should persist in such a system it would, of course, become the duty of the directors of the Great Western, at any loss or any hazsrd, to counteract so unjust and injurious a system.—(Loud cheers.) But it was to those causes—and he hoped they/ had seen the worst of them—for there were no other towns to which new lines would be brought into competition with the Great Western ; it was also to their going back to their return-ticket system which they were about to carefully review, and it was to the -depres sion in the agricultural districts that they ascribed the falling off. They hoped, by a return of improving times, their traffic would also improve. Every effort of the directors would be directed to that object. They would observe, by a new distribution of their officers, they had placed the passenger and the goods traffic under separate management. They had appointed Mr. Drewe to be manager of the goods traffic, a gentleman who had very eaten.• sive experience in the west of England. The services of such an officer were of great importance to the towns he bad named, but he was satisfied that over the whole line they should derive great benefit and advantage from the experience and energetic services of such an officer is their relations with other railway companies. The altered position of their engagements with the Oxford, Worcester, and ‘Volverhampton, had compelled the directors of the Great Western to appear before a Committee of the House of Lords in the last session of Par liament. In the report of the Railway Com missioners for 1849 there appeared some im portant papers presented by that company to the Railway Commissioners. If the question were a matter of controversy now between the two compa nies, he should be prepared to controvert all of the statements that were there made ; but it was not ne cessary that he should enter into such a contro versy. He had no doubt the directors of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Com pany had stated the case as favourably as they could for themselves, and upon that statement he was willing and prepared to stand. The meeting would remember, in 1844 they entered into an agree ment w ith the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver hampton line, and that that agreement was modified by two subsequent agreements —one in Sept., 11-44, and the other, he thought, in Feb., 1846. The Great Western Company never thoug ht of disputing ' Wolver hampton re e , those agreements. They felt they were binding on them, and till the difficulties oc curred in 1847 and 1848, they never heard that those controverted by the Oxford,Worcester, gr e n m d e however, by a Company. It appeared, report to their sharehold ers on the Ist of June, aae and that of the m onth of August, 1846, only six months afte r, the last arran g ement bad been entered into, they came to resolution that HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER, who was dressed in his state robes, en tered the new House today at Halt-past One o'clock, at which time there were about 50 or 60 Members present, most of whom appeared in high glee at the termination of their Parliamentary labours. SECURITIES (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. F. FRENCH moved that this Bill be allowed to pass througn all its sta.. , ,es at once, and obierved that it had received the approba ion of the Lord Chancellor. Sir W. SOMERVILLE objected to passing a Bill on so important a subject without farther consideration. After a filv obsrvationi the Bill was t egat;ved without a diviAion. NOTICES OF MOTION. Colonel SIBTHORP gave notice that early next session be would renew his motion for a reduction of the daty on tire assurances, and also his motion fur a redue• tint' of the taxes on tenant farmers. PETITIONS. Sir GEORGE PECHELL presented a petition ftcm medical practi(ionerf, comnkining of the present system of appointing the medical dficers of poor-law unions. Lord D. STUART presented a petition, praying that as inquiry might he instituted into the present system of =Latin railways. :RETURN. Mr. SOTHERON moved foraratarn from the clerks of ,he peace of the several counties in England and 'A - Talcs, of the numbsr of inquests (supervisuw corporis) held by each - coroner, it.cluding all ineitmti held by thu deputy of any such coroner, in each year daring the seven pars ending the 3let day of December; 1849, distinguishing the cfiunty and its divisions, where actually made as provided by, statute, or where divided by agreement cf the co roners-thsinseives ; the nut:abet-of incpieste for each year to be Stated nepirately ; also the number a miles for which mileage was allowed on the holding cf inquests, and also the number of miles charged and allowed for journeys on going to hold inquests that wore not taken; statin;2,-, alto , tha number of such journeys; stating, a!so, in separate columns, the population of each county, and of each coroner's division in each county, at the last. census; - and the estimwed population in each case in 184/ 1 each county, and each division of a county. Account of all inquests held within the seven years aforesaid (distinguishing the sane by the name of the deceased), the fees for which have been disallowed; the verdict of the jury in each case, and the specific grounds of such disallowance. And similar returns from the town clerks of cities and boroughs having coroners.—Agreed to. REVERSAL OFTiIE RECENT POSTAGE RE. GULATIONS ON SUNDAY. In reply to Mr. PINNEY, Mr. LABOUC HERE said all that had taken place with regr:rd to the recent postal regulations was this— the re! ort of the Committee appointed, in conformity with the address of the House, to consider how far Sun day labour might be diminished in the Post-office without absolutely putting a stop to the transmission and deli very e: letters hart made their report, which was now lying on the table of the House. lie could not at pre sent enter into any details on the subject, further than to say that the general character of the report was certainly a recommendation that the suspension of the. transmission and delivery of letters on Sunday, which had lately been established, should be repealed— (Hear)—and that wo should return to the transmission and delivery of letters on Sunday, accompanied by such alterations and regulations as would ensure to per sons employed in the Post•ofice as much time to theca:elves on Sunday as was consistent with a due regard to the paramount interests of society at large. That was the general purport of the report which bad been presented to the Treasury; but the Treasury had not jet bad time to determine on the ccurEe to be adopted. He bad no doubt, however, that the Treasury would be satisfied with the recommendations contained in that report, and that those recommendations would be carried into effect.— (Hear, hear.) In reply to Mr. SPOONER, whose question was not heard in the gallery, Mr. LABOUCHERE said the report had been printed, and no doubt it would be immediately placed in the hands of lion. Members. It was not for him to say what the Treasury would du, but he had no doubt the recommendations of the Committee would be considered by the Treasury, and, if approved of, would be acted upon without any unnecessary delay.—(Hear.) Mr. LOCKE expressed his gratitude to the Govern ment fur the prompt steps which they had taken with the view of meeting the wishes of the great body of the public on this important subjec♦ THE PROROGATION. At twenty minutes past two o'clock Mr. Put man, the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, en tered the House, and on arriving at the table said:— " Mr. Speaker, the Queen commands this Honourable House to attend her Majesty immediately in the House of Lords." The Speaker then left the chair, and, fol lowed by the whole ot the Members, proceeded through the new lobby and corridor to the House of Lords. On his return, he stated tha,iu obelenca. to the Queen's coin wand, be had attended her Majesty in the Roust? of Lords, where her Majesty had been graciouslyplewed to give her Royal assent to s'averal Bills, and had also delivered to her Parliament a most gracious speech, which the Right Hon. Gentleman read, and which our readers will find in another part of our impression. The Speaker havini; shaken hands with Lord John Russell, and the greater portion ot the Members pre.ent, the House broke up, and thus ended the laborious, if not imp irtanr, session of 1850. The following notices of motion have been given for early days next session : Colonel Dunne,—Sekct Committee, to take into con sideration the financial relations of Great Britain and Ireland. Colonel Dunne.—Committee of the whole House, to take into consideration the laws prohibiting the cul tivation of tobacco in the United Kingdom, with a view to their removal. Colonel Thompson—That, looking to the possibility of changes in the value of gold, like what took place in consequence of the discovery of America, it is expedient that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be autho rised to create a secured stock, with interest secured on the principle of a corn rent; the amount received fur such secured stock to be applied to the purchase of other stock to be thereupon extinguished, the amount of in terest saved to be carried to the credit of the public. Mr. Scully—To call the attention of the House to the condition of the schools and etates under the manage ment of the Commissioners of Education in Ireland, un der the Act 53 George 111. Mr. Richard Fox—To call the attention of the House to the existing state of the relations between landlord and tenant in Ireland, and to submit resolutions. Mr. William Johnson Fox,—That the House resolve itself into Committee, to consider the state of education in England and Wales, and the expediency of extend ing and improving it by means of free schools, open to all classes, supportell by local taxation, and conducted under local management. Mr. Aglionby—Bill for compulsory Enfranchisement of Copytiolds, with a view to lessen the public expendi ture, and to avoid the great and unnecessary inconve nience to which prosecutors and witnesses are now fre quently put. Mr. Aglionby—Bill to empower magistrates in petty sessions to take the pleas of persons charged before them with larceny and misdemeanor, and to transmit the peas, together with the depositions, to the next court of assize or quarter sessions. Mr. Mackinnon--To call the attention of the House to the report and evidence before the Corn mitten on Postal Communication with Paris and the North of Europe, particularly in reference to :the expediency and importance of accelerating the night mail between Paris and London, so that letters leaving Paris at eight o'clock, P.M., may arrive in London time enough the next morning to be forwarded to the provinces by the day mail; also, to the offer made by by parties, who are willing to contract for the convey ance of the night mail from London to Paris, and Paris to London, by way of Boulogne, either by Dover or Folkestone, to be conveyed both ways in eleven hours and thirty minutes, leaving Paris and London at eight o'clock and half after eight o'clock respectively. Mr. Ewart—Bill to repeal the Punishment cf Death. Mr. Ewart—Address to her Majesty, as the head of the National Church, praying that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to take into consideration the expe diency of causing our _cathedrals and churches to be generally open (so far as is practicable) throughout-the thy, with a view to encourage the practice of private de votion therein, especially for the benefit cf the poorer classes of the community. _ _ In concluding our report, we fort bound to state, that in many respects the arrangements of the police for the convenience of all were excellent; but is paying this tribete to the force, we are THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1850. it would not be expedient for them to consider that ' agreement binding upon them ; and in October of the year 1849 it appeared, by a report of that date, that teat determination was taken in concert with the leading body of their proprietors. In the same report of June, 1849, they dis tinctly recommended their shareholders not to confirm the agreement with the Great Western company. Under those circumstances it could not be wondered that their (the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company's) own legal advisers should tall them that there was no agreement between the two companies which could be enforced in equity. The agreement with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company was, therefore, absolutely terminated ; and it was brought to an end, not by any default of the Great Western Company, but by the deliberate and concerted act of the Ox ford, Worcester, and 'Wolverhampton Company.— (Cheers.) They had had several communications with that company, in the hope that they might de vise some modified agreement which the Great Western Company should feel themselves justified in recommending to their shareholders, but hitherto they had been unable to devise any such plan.! He hoped, however, that when their more urgent obliga tions had been fulfilled, that they might still be able to frame some agreement with the Oxford, "Worcester, and - Wolverhampton Company—(Hear, hear)—which might enable them to complete their line. Their interests had always been identified, and he should be extremely desirous, if possible, that they should be continued so to the end. But no new agreement could he entered into with them until it had been presented to the shareholders of the Great Western, and had received their sanction. Out of that lease to the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton Company arose other subordinate arrange ments. It wee thought desirable, in order to facilitate the passing of that company's Act and the Birmingham and Oxford Act, that the Stratford Canal should be purchased, and it was purchased by the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, under an agreement that upon certain conditions the Great Western Campany, as purchasers of the Oxford and Birmingham line, should become the purchasers of the Stratford Canal. The principal condition was, that the Great Western should obtain a Parliamentary sanction in the course of two years. They did apply for that sanction in three years, and earnestly and strenuously endeavoured to obtain it. eto long as they were to be the owners of the Oxford and Bir mingham, and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton lines, it was a matter of indiffer ence to them (the Great Western) in which of the two capacities they hell that canal ; but so soon as it wr-s known to them that they (the Great Wester') were no longer to be the lessees of the Oxferd, Worcester ' and Wolverhampton lin e , th e case was different ; and when that company sought to introduce a Bid which .ought to bind that pur chase on the Great Western, the Great Western directors resisted that Bill. The whole question was referred to a Committee of the House of Lords, and he believed, by an unanimous decision of that Committee, the caesent, for introducing that Bill into the House of Lords was refused. Out of the same agreement to lease the Oxford, 'Worcester, and Wol verhanspto i line arose also the provision which was inserted in the other Act enabling the Rail way Commissioners to call upon the Greet Western Company under certain circumstances to complete the Oxford, 'Worcester, and Wolverhamp ton line. That obligation was clearly dependent on the expectation that the Great Western should here after buy the lease of that line. Had they not en tered into an agreement to have a lease if the line such a proposition could not have been con ceived. The railway commissioners, however, had thought it right to put a different construction upon the clause, and they had called on the Great Western Company to complete the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line. The directors of the Great Western had taken the best legal advice on this question, and they were satisfied that the same re sults must attend this proceeding which at tended the legal proceedings which the Com missioners instituted for the purpose of com pelling the Great 'Western Company to reduce their tolls ; and that, even if it should be held that. as ad ministrators of the Oxford, 'Worcester, and Wolver hampton direction, they might be compelled, merely ministerially, to complete their line with their funds and at their risk, still the directors of the Great Western felt assured, on the most competent authority that not only was there no obligation on them, but no power had been given to them to enable them to complete that line at their own cost and their own risk.—(bear, hear:) Having first adverted, in passing, to the proceedings which were instituted by the Hallway Commissioners for the purpose of reduc ing their tolls on the Great 'Western he doubted that a more fitting opportunity might arise for re ferring to that subject than the present. The meet ing had from time to time seen notices of that pro ceeding in the newspapers, but it was his duty to state the_ facts of the case, and he should do so very briefly. They might remember that about April or May, 1848, a memorial was sent from their neighbours in the town of Bath, instigated, they had strong reason to believe, by strong opponents of the Great Western Company, praying that the Commissioners would call on them to reduce their fares under the Act by which they were to become possessors of the Oxford and Birmingham line. The Commissioners deter mined, not however upon the grounds suggested in the memorial, but upon other grounds which had been detected, as the memorialists , supposed, by the legal eyes of the Commissioners, and the-Commis sioners did call upon the Great Western directors to reduce their tolls. They (the directors) were much surprised at such a demand, and took the best legal advice in their power, and having done so they Commissioners, re monstratingandeßirraeiceived, but the case which proceedings, lwa not only the Railway opinion communicate t e d d i r e c t o t o rthe againsts had had been submitted to counsel. The Commis sioners, however, determined to proceed, and it was officially anounced in the House of Lords that the directors were contravening the law by levying larger tolls than they were entitled to levy. They felt satisfied of the justice of their case, however, and were determined to await the decision on the ap peal to the tribunals of the country. The 14th of March was fixed for the hearing of the case ; and on the very day before the hearing the directors were informed that there had been some error in the proceedings committed by the law officers of the Crown, and the priginal infor mation was ordered to be taken off the file, and a new information had to be filed against the directors. Again they remonstrated with the Railway Commis sioners of the extreme hardship in subjecting them to double costs, more especially as the proceeding, being at the instance of the Crown, no costs could he re covered against the Crown ; and that, whatever was the result, the directors would be obliged to pay their own costs. The Railway Commissioners still de t , after the lapse of another sent down from the Equity Exchequer, and on a hearing there the Chief Baron s a id, i n t h e most em phatic terms, that the directors of the Great Western had in no degree exceeded the law in their interpre tation of it.— (Cheers.) He (the Chairman) looked with some anxiety th a t matter would be t reate d in the volu minous blue book of th e C omm i ss i oners, ft b ir u os t nm w rab h ae a ,ig t wasosfi i t to end, t o fi n d not the slightest men sg. his e surpriselh e m meeting e on ti n looking w o would d t over o o bs observe s r thatevee by bookh the report that the South Wales line was opened on the 19th June, and which the Great Western had a considerable stake. Considering that that line was an insulated line, and that th ere were 30 m iles of it still unfi n i s h e d between Gloucester and Chepstow, and which could not be opened till the spring of next year, considering also that they had, as yet no goods traffic on the line, and that they had yet received no remuneration for carrying the snails, he thought he might consider their weekly re ceipts, amounting to nearly 1,0001., were very satis factory. When they last met the directors were trying to arrange a modified agreement between the two companies. He was sorry to say that those negotiations had led to no satisfactory result. The proposition made by the South Wales line was that the line should terminate at Swansea, and that for the first year of opening the Great Western should guarantee to them 45,0001. Now that 45,000/. must have come out of the pockets of the shareholders of the Great Western, without the slightest chance of their ever being remu nerated, for the line could only pay its expenses in the first year. They proposed that by a progression that amount should be annually ex tended until it reached a guarantee of 120,000/. a year. The shares of the South Wales Company were 'at present worth 20/. or 1221. in the market. The proposition, then, for a guarantee of 120,0001. a year amounted to a de mand of 10/. per cent. on the actual value of the South Wales line. He was sure the meeting would think such a proposition was too unreasonable for the directors of the Great Western to entertain. and they absolutely and peremptorily declined it. (Cheers.) The Chairman then described the propo sition made to the South Wales Company by the Great 'Western, adverted to the passing into a law of the Railway Abandonments Bill, and how ser i ous l y it w as calculated to affect the company, th o ugh it was ostensibly meant for their re li e f ; a ll u d e d to Lord Portman's Committee o f t h e Lords on the parochial burdens as affecting railroads; end to the abandonment of the Railway Audit Bill, on which he congratulated the meeting. In con clusion, he said it v/tes extremely satisfactory that they approached nearly to the time when all their works would be completed. In the course of a very few days the line to Frome and Banbury would be open to the public, and with the permission of the shareholders the branches to Radstock and Warminster would shortly be completed. Ths only unfinished line would be that from Banbury to Birmingham and Wolverhampton ; and on the completion of that line they would have completed the entire task which they at present proposed to themselves. They would then have passed through every period of difficulty and trial; they would have attained to a position of certainty, and, he hoped, of security, and from that period, :after the experience they had had of the folly and mischief of unnecessarily urging forward those great enterprises they were promoting, they might expect to have a shoat breathing time to repair their fortunes and renew their strength.— (Cheers.) . . . . In comparing the revenue account for the last half year with that of the corresponding period in 1849, there is one remarkable feature in it, upon which the directors consider it their duty to submit some observations to the, proprietors. " After making allowance for the traffic of the Bristol and Exeter Rahway during the first four months of 1849, as comprised in the stats went of that period, it appears that this comp +Ely have reci:ived in 1850, from passengers, 8,5001. less, although they l ave conveyed 13,000 more person; and in like merrier have received 2,500/. less fur tnerchandize, although they have carried an excess of 8,600 tons of goods over the railway. The parcel trade, ea the other hand, has produced 1,0001. more in income, leaving an aggregate deficiency of about 10,0001. from those soul ces of traffic; notwithstanding that the quan tity of business proves to have increased in every de partment. "The only addition to the line in the interval has been the Windsor branch (about three miles), which was opened in Octeher last. With rasp, ct to the comparative receipt 3 from pas sengers, the deficiency is mainly accounted for by the fact, that the return ticket system was in abeyance during four months of the year 1849, and the resumption of it has had the effect of lowering the aversge rate of fares. The principal falling off has been in the first class passengers, where the increase of numbers has not re quited the difference of charge. "In order to increase the receipts of the express trains, the directors approximated the fares of the second class to that of the first class in the beginning of April; and the result has been that, whereas the , proportion of first class had previously been 125 . t0 267, they are now 180 to 246; and the average sum formerly raid by each ex press passenger, 12s. 10d., has become 15s. 3d. since the alteration of the tare. These results, thus ascertained, will Enable the di rectors again to devote thoir very careful attention to the whole subject of pas:diger fares, with a view to deter mine whether any and what revision of system can be re sorted to fur the advantage of the company, without de triaseet to the public service end accommodation. The diffacrice in the sum received fur the convey ance of goods, appears to have been owing to two causes: the one being the more extended use by the public of the mileage system of rates, which is especially applicable to the heavy boding and less valuable goods; the other beirtg an altered classißcation of certain articles, rendered needfel by the increasing competition in other modes of conveyance. Under all crcumstances, it has been thought desirable to engage the services of a gentleman in the capacity of a goods manager, who had had long ex perience in the carrying trade of the west of Euglsnd and the directors believe, in sel:cting Mr. Drewe for tha office, the company will derive Lane& from his intima , e knowledge of the traffic, as well as from the devotion of hi.; time and energy exclusively to that description of business. " This appointment has been made, by means of an 1 , altered distritnition in the duties to be performed by ' some of the superintendents, without any augmentation to the general expense fer the calories of officers. ' 4 ' The promised retrenchments in the expenditure of the ccantrany have already far more than counterbalanced that diff,rance in traffic receipts, which has hem the subject of the preceding remarks, and the directors still contemplate 3 furiher saving in some items of charge. " Referring to that of 'Compensation for Accidents, tire.,' it is propor to remind the proprietors that it in cludes a fixed hal . ., early sum of 2,500/. placed against ravenue, which has already nearly extinguished the claims arising from the Shrivenham accident, and will hereafter provide a fund to meet future contingencies under Lord Campbell's Act, that course having been sanctioned at a former meeting of the company. It is very satisfactory to be able to state, that no acci dents have occurred during the lait two years to consti tute any new claim upon the sum thus appropriated out of the company's income. "The only other item in the accounts, which has not yet been diminished is that of parochial rates.' In order to obtain some relief from that charge, several appeals have been lately instituted against assessments on portions of the line, and the directors trust that en equitable decision on such cases may tend in some degreo to diminish the oppressive weight of local taxation upon the property of the company. Every effort has been hitherto made but in vain to obtain redress from the Legislature, although the anomaly and the injustice of the present system has been again and again admitted. "The published statements of account will show that, after charging every expense incidental to the traffic during the half-year, a net sum of 241,1871. ale. Sd. remains to be added to the former balance of 39,703/. 9s. lid. " ll,ducting therefrom the expenses of new works, the interest on loans, and the annuities payable to shareholders in the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, and the Berks and Hants Extension Railway Companies, there is a disposable amount of 185,8031. 18s. Bd., which rrill admit of the payment of the B,me dividend as be fore—viz., four por cent. per annum, and will leave a Laiance of 24,3531. 18s. Bd. to be carried over to the present half-year. " All the blares, fully called up, having been con verted into stock on the Ist July, as ordered at the Jett half-yearly meeting, the directors recommend that a re solution should be paiscd to make that dividend payable in the usual manner on the Ist September, on the said Consolidated Stock, and on the amount called up on the 17/ and Windsor shares of 201. " The directors have adopted the plan recommended by the committee of consultation, of closing the capital account, and they have therefore represented on the pre sent occasion under one sum the total cost of all the lines belonging to this company, whether opened, sus pended, or abandoned, consisting of the amount which bed been paid up to the 31st December last, as well as of all liabilities then existing in respect of those under takings, of which liabilities a portion only has been since paid, as explained in the accouits. " Consequent upon this arrangement, the directors have charged to revenue during the half-year all the expenditure for new works and buildings, or fur addi tions to works; the only payments placed t) the capital account being those incurred distinctly for constructing unfinished railways. It becomes necessary now in respect of those new undertakings, but principally for the use of the South Wales Reilway, to order a❑ additional stock of goods engines and waggons, which must be provided, in anti cipation of the tretlie of such lines. This le quiretneni was referred to in the directors' report of April last, and, in fulfilment of the ietention then expressed, en estimate has been obtained 01 the probable cost of eight locomo tive engines and 150 trucks which are necessary, and a resolution to authorise an expenditure not exceeding 40,000/. for that stock will be proposed to the meeting. " In like manner an estimate for the construction of cottages, recommended to be built at the level crossings of the line, and an alteration of one of those crossings, to save the wages of policemen, together with the cost of some improvements and additional accommodation at stations, amounting in the whole to 4,000/., is submitted for approval. " Tne period having arrived when the directors con sider it important to commence the works of the colliery brunch between Frome and Radstock, an estimate for it has been also prepared by the engineer (which is men tioned in his report) for the purpose of bringing that question under consideration at the present meeting of proprietors. The specific objects and advantages of the outlay for that branch have been so repeatedly brought by the board under the notice of the company, and more especially in their report of April last., that it seems superfluous now to renew the same arguments in favour of it. • The report of the engineer explains to the proprie tors the general state of progress which has been msking in the few lines of railway still in course ef construction. " The South Wales Railway was opened for public traffic on seventy five miles between Chepstow and Swansea on the 19th of June. The stock for work ing it has been entirely supplied by this company, in the manner provided by tho previous agreement between the two companies. No credit has been yet taken for the use of such stock, as it had been only em ployed for a few days before the end of June, but this company will be entitled to remuneration for it, and the amount will consequently come into the next half-year's statement of income. "It will be a satisfaction to the proprietors to know that the two informations which had been filed in the Court of Chancery against the company by order of the Railway Commissio ners , to enforce a reduction . of rates and tolls in consequence, as was represented, of the re quirements of Certain Acts of Parliament, have both failed; the latter suit having been taken for argument into the Court of Exchequer, where the judges decided unani mously, and in strong terms, against the legal construction coetended for by the Railway Commissioners. The di rectors have reason to apprehend that, however right they have proved to he, the company may neither obtain redress nor recover the heavy expenses incurred in these suits, inasmuch as they have been instituted in the name of the Crown. " A similar course is now again adopted, for the third time, under the order of the Railway Commissioners, who have filed an information in the Court of Queen's Bench, to compel this company to complete the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton. Railway, although they were previously made aware that there are no 'funds available for such an expenditure. It appears that this proceeding, also in the name of the Crown, is undertaken at the instigation of a few influential landowners, end not as nose originally affirmed at the request of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company. The directo' a are advised that this must prove as unsuccessful as the two former informations. " The accounts of this company have now undergone a system of audit, conducted continuously throughout the half-year under the constant supervision of a public ac countant, employed by the auditors—who has verified very entry—and tested the accuracy and faithfulness of the accounts by an inspection of every voucher or documunt in support of then). " The directors et;n::ot but remark, that this scruti nising audit seems to them so effectual for every pur pose of ehechic!,' and controlling th e accounts , with out impeding tho business of the company, as to render it very undesirable that any public department should bs permitted to interfere in the matter, especially as it has teen admitted in a Government report made to the House cf Lords, that the information so acquired bY them may be used for purposes which can only be considered as directly adverse to the interest of railway proprietors. "It is to be regretted that tie other engagements of Mr. Cubitt, who had undertaken to examine and report upon the condition of the permanent have hitherto prevented his carrying that inten tion into effect. The directors have to mention that Mr. May has already made considerable progress with the investigation of the solicitors' accounts, which, were placed in his hands. " Since the general meeting in February last Captain Bulkeley, of Clew. er Lodge, the chairman of the Windsor Railway, and Dr. R. Prichard Smith, residing at Mor timer, near Reading, have been elected directors in the place of Mr. Wardell and Mr. Crosthwaite, whose re tirement the board have to notify to the proprietors with much regret. "C. RUSSELL, Chairman." ENGINEER'S REPORT. " Gentlemen,—The works upon the lines of railway, referred to in my last half-yearly report, as those in tended to be proceeded with, have been carried on at a moderate rate of progre6r. "Upon the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Rail way, the works have proceeded steadily, and with the exception of a slip in the cutting at Harhury, nothing has occurred worthy of notice; the contractors are adopting all the remedies that can ho required, and as the operation is not hurried, I do not anticipate that any o r , .rmanent evil can result from it. " Nothing has yet been done with the works through Leamington. • " The extension to Frome of 54 miles on the Wilts and Somerset Railway, and the portion of the Oxford and Rugby Railway extending from Oxford to Banbury, a distance of 24 miles, have been completed, or so nearly completed, as to allow of the requisite notices being given to the Railway Commissioners, and they will pro bably be opened fur public traffic during this and the following mouth. The works upon the Warminster Extension, a dis tance of 4i miles, which had been entirely suspended when the contract for the line to Salisbury, of which it formed a part, was wound up, have; been re-let and are now about to be resumed. " Upon the old lines the works are all in good condi tion, and the permanent way is in perfdet repair and continues decidedly to improve. " I have prepared estimates of the cost of the Radsteek Colliery Branch, which, exclusive of the rails which we have in steek, amounts to 90,0001, and of the several ether, and minor works likely to be required during the next half ye ir—namely, cottages at level crossings, ad ditiond sidings and goods accommodation at Reading and Bath, and the diversion of the Drayton Green-road, amounting altogether to 4,0001. As these works have to 1_)! it, it may probably be undesirable to publish the de tails of the estimate. " I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, I. K. BRUNEL." The CHAIRMAN then moved, and a shareholder seconded, that the report as read he adopted. In rtply to a question from Mr. HODGES, The CHAIRMAN said the company had been ad vised, and believed that they did not owe any sum to Mr. Mackintosh the party interested in the suit of Mackintosh and the Great Western Railway Company. Major COURT questioned the reduction of the die posable balance in order to make up the dividend of 41. per cent. He did not think that • they ought at this period of the year to make the dividend more than 311. per cent.—(Cries of "No, no." The meeting had not concluded when the express train left. TITHE COMMISSION. The following is the Report of the Tithe Com missioners to her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department, presented to both Rouses of Parliament by command of her Majesty Tithe Ct mmission-uffice, Jury 3i, 1850. Sir,—lt is our duty to report to you Coo progress of the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales to the close of the year 1849. We have received notices that voluntary proceedings have commenced in 9,633 tithe districts; of these no tices one was received during the year 1849. We have received 7,068 agreements, nod confirmed 6,776; of these six have been received and nine con firmed during the year 1849. 6,753 notices for making awards have been issued, of s hic'n 134 were issued during the year 1849. Wo have received 5,356 drafts w compulsory awards, and confirmed 5,042; of these 203 have been received, and 330 have been confirmed, during the year 1849. We have received 11,104 apportionments, and con firmed 10,853; and of these 449 hive been received, and 498 confirmed during the year 1849. In 11,818 tithe districts, as will bo seen from the above statement, the rent charges to be hereafter paid have been finally established by confirmed agreements or confirmed awards. We have in our possession agreements and drifts of awards as yet unconfirmed, which will include 606 addi tional tithe districts, and make a total when completed, of 12,424 districts in which the tithes will have been commuted. 507 altered apportionments were made by the Tithe Commissioners op to the 31st of December, 1849, of which 377 were confirmed. At that date exchanges of Web() land were effected in 298 places, and 41 such exchanges were in progress. At the close of 1849 we had confirmed 10,927 distinct mergers of tithes. These operations have brought us within sight of the close of our labours. The Tithe Act will expire at the end of next session of Parliament ; by that time we have reason to believe that all the rent charges will be fixed, and that of the apportionments only a fragmentary portio❑ will remain unfinished, most of them for small sums, which the parties will probably ultimately redeem. The prowess of these redemptions, however, we find slow and difficult, partly from the inertness of the parties, partly from the obsti nacy of a few persons who refuse to redeem their own small rent-charge, and continue to expose the re maining payers to the expense of maps and apppor tionments. Patience and diligence will, probably, accomplish the completion of most of these redemptons ; some modi fied compulsion may ultimately be necessary for the remainder. Obstinate litigation will, probably, prolong the com pletion of a few commutations till after the expiration of the Commission. They will be very few. When the purposes for which the Tithe Commission was instituted are substantially completed, there will re main a certain amount of business connected with the mass of commutations, which we feel it our duty to point out, because it must be provided for. Of this a part will exist permanently—a part will be temporary. The temporary will be the sales of tithe barns and farm buildings rfndered useless by the commutation, the defining and setting out glebes where their precise posi tion and boundaries are unknown. The taxation of the bilk of valuers and agents, and the giving legal authority and power to collect them. But some powers will be wanted of a more permanent nature. These will relate 1. To the custody and use of the apportionments and maps; of deeds, correspondence, and minutes of evidence, which together already amounr,:d to between 40,000 and 50,000 deeds and documents, counting as only one the files of papers and correspondence which relate to each separate tithe district. In the case of transfers of property by death or sales, these documents are already very constantly consulted by attorneys and agents. 2. These permanent powers will relate to re-appor tionments on the division of estates. 3. To mergers when lands and rent charges now held separately may come into the same hands.. 4. To exchanges of rent charges for lands intended to form glebes. _ _ 5. To the creation of extraordinary charges for hops, market-gardens, and orchards in new districts. 6. To the future redemption of small rent-charges. We submit these facts to you, Sir, because, before the close of the next session of the Legislature her Ma jesty's Government will probably think it advisable to take into consideration the most efficient mode of pro viding in future for the public business here pointed out. We have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servants, W. BLAMIRE. T. WENTWORTH BULLER. R. JONES. To the Right lion. Sir G. Grey, Bart., M.P., &o. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, AUG. 14. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market showed a better ap pearance to-day, and a larger amount of business wa s d one. Great Westerns closed at 59 1 4 —Midland, 33%. LIVERPOOL, AUG. 14. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a fair business done to day, and prices were firm. The transactions w ere as fol low :—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Consolidated, 3 3 A—Ditto, Fifths, 9% dis.—London and North-Western, 1111,x—Ditto, New:Quarters, 15-16 p.—Ditto, Fifths, OA p.—Ditto Quar ters (C), 1 1-16 p.—Midland, 33 3 / —Ditto, Halves 24 9-16 dis.—South-Eastern and Dov er , 141 A. , MANCHESTER, AUG. 14. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market to-day was pretty active, and prices have been well sustained. The transactions were as follow :—East Lancashire, 8 1 / B —London and North-Western, 1111 , —Ditto, New Quarters, 15-16 p.— Ditto, Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (C), 1 1 , p.— Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 7: 5 / 4 North Staffordshire, 11 3-16 dis. — South-Eastern and Dover, Consolidated Stock (No. 3), 14 1 4. YORK, AUG. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were as follow :—North British, Preference (guaranteed 6 per cent. for five years, and 5 per cent, i n perpetuity),43s —York, Newcastle, and Berwick, IVA—York a n d N ort h Midland, 15%. DREADFUL EXPLOSION OF GAS AT BIRREIMEAD. —We regret to state that a serious accident to:1 place this morning at the Conway Arms Hotel, C onway - street, Birken head. t appears that about seven o'clock Mr. Higgins, who resides with Mrs. Hilton, the proprietor of the hotel, went into a sitting-room up-stairs for the purpo , e of putting some water into the slide of the chandelier, the gas being on at the time, and whilst so doing a boy, who is employed on the premises, went into the roum and struck a light with a match, when a fearful explosion immediately took place, by which Mr. Higgins was severely burred about his face, hands, and other parts of his body. The damage done to the furniture in the room was very gre it, the cus hi ons b eing burned off the chairs, the paintings scorched, and the orna ments generally rendered valueless. The window was blown completely out. Mr. Higgins lies in a very precarious state • the boy was very little injured.—Liv er po o l C our i er of Wednesday. MURDER NT GRAVE S D ung w On Wednesday evening, at five o'clock, was of the name of Amelia Georgians Snewsvis. te as a brought up in custody of Mr, North, the slip eri ,, e .ii.cnt of the local police, at the Towil t. charge of murdering a child 18 months old, byg... , m o g its throat—the offpring of her oven si,4er, It'-'1;. over, of No. 2, Eden place in this town. Ve shg i. rgaffair took place late on Tuesday night. The Pr o J mer was placed before the bench of magistralesi. hall, on 1u ... thioen early f part of the day, but her distressinge.°l',u... ccblraeofelool , r,ade r e o d i t n thoe constant fainting and incessant grief:ol/31'g them to remand her till the evening. 1.4.0 exii,el3/13s(sA.nt'llhetiamcceusethde, when bropg too_ ward, dated exhibited some composure. She W 253,18101 with a chair in front of the magistrate of re , and eared about twenty years of age, °r id t e P fel. posse a % ll? COUrt-r001:0ht jor. low. ,sing features. Mrs. Cooper then ga,y e t&,„per, sliding .evidence :—I am the wife of Air. G. — The prisoner is my sister, and is twenty• twos ears er i f .s ili, Last evening . she called to see me. It I abOOtePlof past six o'clock when she came. She comPita,ll o r a tic pa d in in her head. I was nursing my infant , 10. At e nothing in her appearance to create alii il a supper time she got up and laid the cloth BO , fot per firings. After I had put my infant to bed 5h' 1, 1 1 6 1 ,., up and left the room. She had not gone half A rt i : 4l ja F, ore she returned with a large table knife cover.so, ~_blood, and extending it out in her right han , -, 11c : 3 0. but I ran into my Fo Y r o a u rn see I have killed my child, she is no/ P . ,,,%,,,,t; moment or so I could not think what she ' ( .014 little dren, and di t el '''' discovered that she bad cut the throa s tet • girl Alice, and found it was quite dead. V i. Y i .f. ill bee-room to see after D I Y , eil ed me into the room, still having the l' A n : a till/ a her ° l vv iand. I screamed for assistance, and inun eu l t he knife female, named Milish, came up, end s,e out of her hand, and threw it on the ticoi offered no resistance. After the. surge °ll3 a d arrived l ,1 one of them took her into a sittnrroelThprii. a s , ced her if she knew what she had done? Yea bat • taken replied, 6‘ No:, The surgeon said, she ).° „"" v iie( 1 . ; H. n the life of an innocent child. Sh e 1; 8 10 1 ' don .t e avel?" and seemed unconscious of the act: • Of . I tonii_i., 'he child was eighteen months eluldresr theOakes ! chairman—Was she fond of the et' orit Mrs. Cooper (deeply m c o N e could IN so. She had the child moved) —Nn —o on _in,,,, fi t, so. on her knee that e VeO. D Or. kissed and layed with it most affectionately% 00 Oakes—Have you observed her conduct of le d te pii.l l ; to form aiLopiniTi as to the state of liar oi o ' ne e' Cooper—Yes, Sir ; for some weeks she bas 0 1 3 s i, l ce she dejectedstruck and melancholy. About a fortnigb' 01011 her mother on the bead wi ii th i . 11 j o oP er withou r t uc'ii also mentioned other circumstances, from u t or doubt ma could be entertained that the unforttliiso oti° mi n i s i vas insane. Other witnesses boring bieegogi. in confirmation of the above facts, Gaol, fcr strate ne committed the accused to Maidstone trial at the next assizes. --- irs. THE COUNTRY MA R° .s' ll° HULL, AUG. 13. td. hie.. Messrs. Taylor. and Bright's Circular ft" e arsl. o weather during the past week has not barn 1010 r.:a indeed a good deil of rain has fallen WI as Ice district, and the crops of grain are rep ig ht Po Lase JP 0 0 laid; the tilade has not been so influenced as 11 '. PO been expected, or as would have b: en tilers„vatilltie4ell years; speculation is wanting, and mi ' t 05 ! ref hand-to-mouth system. This day's fair 511Prli0 attended by the firm. rs, who brought 6 ricer °' bp whs at, which met free sale at about the ov d to dell' market. The accounts as to crops were o ° l g" g a r d e' many complaints of mildew and defective O re ' o) ore ;# are so • will be quite general next week. reta tc ' es WO ist B cidedly :poker' against. Somewhat W ore Vie es . foreign wheat, at the currency of last Ta'a s/ s . rid ° or arrival of barley is pretty well cleared 0 11 9_ ., 6 0 1 , 10 perience a f,ir demand for grinding nitioned small commariding a preference; I ;v g i° ° 4 01 7 q ualiti e ' o rdoi e o, malting sample:. Not much business p a ., 3s t e beet" : be except fine stoved parcels for shelling. 'Tile cilaSe.,sid• continues badly reported of, but the reanr,,,,ices r 451. written dearer. Linseed is firm, and ftil l r 000' Cakes somewhat easier. Rap ..eed i 3 w °l , 4 th per last. Rape cakes scarce, and P' in deal ii . a " . .... ....n rSin • 0. P The following are the present prices 0f g ~,,,,i 24 / 24 a, s Wheat, English, red 42 to 44 Peas, white su lt " .: 9: 15 46 4 Do. white ..... 44 —46 Do. gref .... cSs '. s• sn 4b • - ' 4 4 J Dantzic and Ko- Linseed , -BO . ''''' bur l ' ' 35 4 0 nigsberg Pomeranian and 40 Do. Rigs &M c • 3 17" or t os i Rainbur —4B Do. Peters n 3v gl. ..., gh . 4O —42 Do . Konigsberg 'A 4 0 „ 60 1 a 0 Danish, Holstein, & Friesland 35 38!Lins. c,11011.6_,,/116froto7b0/00/b° Russian and Odessa 32 40 1 ' Do. fine foreib" .., Oats, English Do. Danish l6 18 Rapeseed .. * a 'oi . :o . d,,, t° / „ m ° °6 Do.Friesland l6 1911i.ape cakes...u° r a y 71, Do. Russ. & Odessa 16 18'Tares , Eegl is " .... ;' -b I°l- d Barley,malting D o. grinding.. Beans 2 2 3 2 __ 2 2 5 31 R 80 y Do. foreign in sill ../ er - dy LIVERPOOL, AUG. 13.—Attendanee 5 ;4 0 .0- -- ther being very fine, market opened flatiP tio gela for It in the prices of wheat and flour can be 4 It ttpe fl- Oa po , tia 00 0 moderate sale for each. small advance, which Beans l'' OW a each rather lower. G e r h in e d ek i s busin i ebs• id desr gr. It o unchanged. Indian corn neglected. of 0 358 Of en em5'eda1n............85...:•13..afte; 0 1i v. LEEDS, AUG. 13.—The weather is °f log 'to g i ilei character, yet no quantity of rain has li l- ,00 1 ij oi t l, alarm. 11.1ders are firm, but the sale for q uit e to , at Friday's prices, and the quantity nli °',400; °llea"' demand fur the moment. BarleY as "ia tis P stoh de ellings much as before; beans held o° 3 ' or 1 .-Ttl tr, i o" prices. NEWCASTLE CORN-MARKET, AvG. -,.3;000-1 dot plies ot both English and foreign whet : " a 'gra l ' " ii : °AI Is e dull at last week's prices, factors beiag,t 001.,,•fic.-- rs not disposed to operate beyond PreseLefiem,,fre'ai business was done ; flour was sold at Yl a Si nflifi,e barley, oats, and other Oeseriptions 01 g ra l . 3-A b i ;d 11 10 NEWCASTLE CATTLE-MARKET, Arlo' 2 00 h e 1 14 an increase in the supply of a bout 101 0 13° beasts a;fiereat' I/ s p than last market-day. Quality ill"' ,baep sad e s " 0 a ta c e t t iv a e, re a a n d d y all sold at former rates - P ‘ rr °ol.° 813e'e alantnd lamb, m 4 p d s, to 7 B ,o al s o:o:. and the latter fully former terms. 13etis 0;0 4cl I ill to utt sferfei, per eh Beef; el former s e r6realized t 0 6s; r W e t, 46 0; 0 w ; i q fbehreoed i' . EDINEETRGII MEAL MARKET, AV G ' ` - 'r:vhi c "abe.o l i ; andthe meal market to-day 19 sacks oatmeal ( 3 ° „ vr ial , 'i 11 7 ,1'00 I sold at 30s), each weighing 2801b 5 . if i rVa 10 1 0 lc d ; ,/ 5 sold thus :-4 at 1/ 103 od,lat li 95 6 °, 0 '1 I.a►ilctb average price of the whole 119 s 3d 7-irevs'f 8. -1 g / which sold at 295. 9 sacks pot-barley, r'", er ils O A * 0. et k ,; lat 245,2 (new) at 238,1 at 225, and 4 , 6 ,, - , 1 1,, :i ll O O l 7 b ile Oat EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW 1%1A.-Ili-81.0 ilgi• 4 straw, from 6s Od to 9s 6d r keb l P le ° 7§ u"A to :fr wheat ditto, 7s Od to 8s od; ble dit t° ',rates ' er- tb if Old hay, from lld to Is 2d per stone; n1; 1 t er jef $1 ! , O r DALKEITIS MEAL MARKET, Au • ,:;:riqti r tt r g 5 15, A • bags oatmeal 2 of barleymeal, a nd 6 1 " a .," riot li a ,i day's market; sales ready Oatmeal der/".„,a s 'a A' I' in top, second price the same - . ; havrna l °`-'-'°°- ' ut ' P v- 9 4 Od Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. first 08. 1 04 s A imperial Barley meal, per ditto 18s 0 4 ./.5 Od '151.1 ••• l'easemeal ' s 04 ,A 3 " - n d "-- Flour ... , _....s d V Pot barley :.• 23s Od Middle's W. B so eg ut b h ies p l e T a a r r e t t COAL MARKET.—YOTP" •"••• F ••• ... ••• or ey Hartley North Percy Bartley 13s 9d \ Lambtoo ,•*",....".... 15 i: O tt OJ co,I• t ' OA' IN Canfield ol w eII M 0.13 s 3d Richmunu,"o„oo 0 " 1 4 Od; 13s 6d;Russell's P -e ,, ~..• .. / 6 1, r Ord's Man! 13s 6clScarboroug°":,„....". ig 6.1 Ravel:Haworth; ..... sW.Hart 13s 3d'Bentley ••• ' ...... '''••• 1 90 / 4 12s Eleseldett _ i ,""' ~.o*.l. , Od Townley Butes l2s 6dllleugh 115 m .....0". ir F 1 ..... 0 10 West Wylam Wylam 13s 6d South Oar' ' .0•" 1 "" 0 Wall's EndNelloo."" „,. • 15 9 9 Acorn Close ' &c. South Bewicke and Co - floe ••'''. •••" 0 5 13s 6d Westn-e0 ... 9 b ........... .90 Gosforth .. • l3s gdi VVhitwort___s .. ... 0 )10 llarton • • l3s 6d4delaide lees •. 00 . .. 1 se ... • ~. Hedle l3s 6d Cowndo_ we e,. 0' • 1 6 0 Northumberland Original Gibson 'fees . .0 156 Wharneliffe Bell ..... ,„ ... Belmont l4s 6d Teee; ...... :. _,. ... p; p Braddyll Hutton 15s 3(.1 GWatl ......,. • ... 5 16 Hetton ~ Haswell lss 3d,Snapethoryi,',4o ~ „ p Keepie Grange r 14s 3di Sh i l ° la Adelaide, ls9 --- o f 4 , 4 'f0r l AUSTRALIAN WHEAT.--An orttiti.°Ppd Pr unr eel A riti r ' - ' bags of eat has taken place by a Yeelca' ' , t he produce of that far distant co On the 10th inst., at t'1811e13:01; 11 . I ..A. S t ' Woodhams Fox. idolil l f, Aron TIO: Av 07: 0 ' i I°. . e go, $.- , S w . ie l h ': o th w e e w r, or A scar. parr. oil fol) , f We oft • On the 12th • i E fe s o ci f . Lieu Lieutenant and Azijutani, 0.,,,.e0t, i , - ,eor of Franckly ,tile lady of On the 13th • nnthle,olx3tvli inst., at flyde-park-square , 1. 0, the 12th inst., at Woolwich, tb e jit-1 0.0010 4 Royal inst., at Farnborough, J. . ti th e II CharlesOO n i : Ar (x . ;bson -S q uare' 'loe,,c;° On mAidzI ED, h t . O ll tirrl3Bll te the 12th inst., at St. Giles, u 3l33e c t .e. '• . -e '4 ' Eq., to Juliet Emily second daughter 0. . rr a bi ,- q., of Denmark-hii; S l‘W it v Be sr ' JO On the 12th inst ., ' nrr ' eY. at Ellsworth, the i . rd, to gory, M.A., of Wadham College, o %' ° b, Ol e l i s wort , daughter of George Stone, Esq. of ~06 , irgrii. 'o' Nen. Devils' e a 0 so bl, f On the 13th inst., in E ton-Pp:lce', 0 lig il 'f' iii Hon. Charles Ewan " v,_ Re a rder of .i,orido Le r,400 t, t' Flea 4, On the Bth • 'l" ' • c° Sonaers,eloc 4coo, inst., at IN ringtor, son Eisdale D. Dformerly high master of ' is. ° School. ' Manchester, aged 67. L., 6. At Camden-road:v *-1 the lltb lFs boo .4 11. as, on f fo eru t jop A, wile of the late J. W. Bacon, EsCl',', ° Street, i 0". r li t.ns.lathe oft2Cthalchintstta, Es , lt3l' eil ee(' - a Ca'q ,he ~ V, pn the 12th inst., at Ruchester-roA , se a 31. ,4 0, Y e v t , Eliza, the wife of r. James Huggins, " ag e vli eg ill e On the 10th inst., at Draycot Bect.t°S;e'en'o C,„0`14 a.gedGB6.at ford, Barry, late Michel Fellow °' and Upto n _____7,l and Rector of D ray cot Come, A N ilit ~.,fO4ll. il a . 1 - ---- ---.--.---------- _,..froiniso Ag ifri , - hc ill' London: Printed and Published r „.',.,' so 010 r r u orao -5 No. 112, Strand, Printer, a 1 ''''.,..ig 10 Strand, in the Precinct of Ostiv Middlesex, Thurodayl ,the 114 4 airndlAc:rA.tFii ,