The Sun. — London, England, 1851-06-06 00:00:00

)f sup ule the ,e com- iaatent ed the . DA 3ibility a con- ome of report west% )ne in 2qUatO ar.7 after a few hours it used to get clear again. The de posit, howev.r, was generally produced in the course of a month, and had to be removed in ,hovelsfuli. He believed the Right lion. Baronet repudiated the idea of e Bill guaranteeing the existing companies 5 per cent. I nsteeel of that, however, they would have more than 10 per cent., which was about what they divided now. The stock on which they divided was, he believed, about 4,80 0,0001, on which they shared the sum of ei per Cent. But, in point of fact, had they ever paid up 4,80 0,000/.? No such thing. They had never paid up room than about 2,000,0001. The effect of that Bill Would be to give the existing companies a return of at least 10 per cent on their bona fide capital. Ho believed the people of the metropolis would never submit to such a burden for the purpose of perpetuating their present Miserable and pernicious supply of water. He had no hesitation in stating that he telt convinced the companies could never carry into effect such a measure he defiance of , the popular storm to which it would ine vitabl y g ive ruse. He could only account for the fact of the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the home Department having introduced such a measure, by supposiog that, in the pres sure of business with which he had had to deal, he had been enable to give the master any ordinary amount of atten tion. He had himself introduced a Bill upon that sub ject; but he was as yet unable to proceed with it, be cause the examiner had not, for some reason which was unknown to him, reported that he had complied with the standing orders. In that Bill he proposed that the metropolis should be divided into seventeen districts, that the rate-payers should choose four Commissioners, Mut the corporation of London should choose four more, end that the Government should choose four also. He further proposed that an Executive Committee should be IPPointed, for the purpose of carrying out the provi.ions of the Act. He would give to the Commissioners a Power of levying a yearly rate, not exceeding three pence in the pound, on the rateable property of the Metropolis. He believed that such a rate would, in the course of thirty years, give the inhabitants of London iv right to a gratuitous supply of good water. In con clusion, be had to state that ho felt bound to offer his decided opposition to the measure then before the House. ' Mr. HUME said they were all agreed that it was ex tremely desirable to provide a better supply of water for the metropolis, and they only differed as to the best mode of carrying out that object. They had two Bills before them for that purpose, and under these circum stances he would suggest that both measures should be referred to ono and the same Select Committee. If that course were to be pursued, he should recommend to the Rouse to assent to the second reading of the measure then under their consideration. Sir GEORGE GREY said that he had no objection to have the te o Bills referred to the same Select Com mittee, provided that all interested parties were ex cluded from the Committee. Mr. LABOUCHERE justified the conduct of the Gentlemen who had been unable to report that in the ease of the Bill of the Hon. Member for Falmouth (Mr. Mowatt), the standing orders had been complied with. They could not have so reported, because the measure had only that day come under their notice, and because curtain parties had come forward to state that they meant to oppose the measure on the ground that the standing orders had been violated in the case. Sir W. CLAY said that every one must admit that the people of the metropolis were entitled to have the best and the cheapest possible supply of water that was consistent with a fair regard for existing interests. He believed the existing companies would be perfectly ready to allow the control over that supply to be placed in the hands of a Government board or of a municipal board, if Parliament should think that either of these courses was the best which could be adopted; and he felt convinced that in that case the Legislature would not refuse to grant a fair compensation to those persons who held property in the present companies under the faith of an Act of Parliament. The Hon. Gentleman oppo site (Mr. B. Cochrane) had accused those companies of malversation. Mr. B COCHRANE said he had not used the word malversation. He had merely said that the companies had not performed their duty to the public. Sir W. CLAY continued—He believed that the Hon. Gentleman had done great injustice to the existing companies. The Hon. Gentleman was not, perhaps, aware of the exertions made by those companies to sup ply water at an extremely low rate in those poorer dis tricts to vieflich he had referred; and neither, perhaps, Was he aware of the fact that those exertions had only been frustrated by the refusal of the landlords of the houses in those districts to pay any sum whatever for a supply of water. The Hon. Member for Falmouth had said that the same house in the New River district which was at present provided with water for es. per annum Would have to pay 103. if that Bill were passed. But the fact was, that such a house would in that case be sub ject to a payment of only ss. per annum. He confidently asserted that under that Bill there would be a very con siderable diminution in the charges for the supply of water in the metropolis. Power was, no doubt, liable to abuse ; but some of the opponents of this Bill went further, and assumed that men would always do what they ought not to do. Under this Bill, however, not only must the directors fall gratuitously into evil Paths, but they must do so with the certainty of pecu• niary loss, for the Bill reserved to the Government the power of stopping them if they refused to carry out its intentions honestly. The Hon. Member for Falmouth assumed that no new sources of supply would be sought for, but the Bill made it imperative on the consolidated companies to provide a better supply of water when called on by the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, ho being the organ and exponent of public opinion. Re contended that the Bill would also secure a great diminution in the expense. He admitted that the supply of water to London required amendment, but denied that even at present it produced ill health and death, and the Board of Health positively denied that it had produced Any such result. With respect to the objection of mono poly, he denied that the word had any meaning when applied to the supply of water. In one sense, undoubt edly, all water supply was a monopoly, because they could not, without injury, have more than one set of Works and one capital applied to the supply of one lo cality. The only question was, what conditions they ought to impose on those to whom the supply was en trusted, and the point on which they had now to deli berate was, whether this Bill was the beet practical solution of a question which imperatively required to be solved. Three distinct parties had united to op pose it, every one of whom differed as widely as pos sible from each other as to the best mode of ad ministering to the supply of the metropolis. What the Bill would do was this—it would give, and that with certainty, the best possible supply of water; it would distribute that supply in the best possible way and on the lowest possible terms. If any one supposed that he could violate with impunity the engagements into which Parliament had entered he greatly mistook the temper of that House. They could not take from these companies their existing charters without compen sation. Their only course, consistent with justice, would be to create fresh companies to enter into competition with them, and the result would be, not to bring the rates so low as those contemplated by this Bill, but pro bably to raise them after a. short struggle to a higher pitch. His own opinion was that the Bill, under the circumstances, offered a wise and practicable compromise and solution of a very difficult question. He did not think the House would ever deal unfairly with existing companies, and it would bo not only a pitiful policy if they abused their power by dealing unjustly with those who had embarked their capital on the faith of a Parlia mentary sanction, but it would bo also a most unwise policy, and one which would shake to their very founda tions those feelings of unbounded confidence in the jus tice of Parliament which lay at the very root of that spirit of enterprise by which all the great works in Eng land had been accomplished. He left the question with the most perfect confidence in the hands of the House. If they did not pass this Bill, they would to a certainty put off to another year a reform which was highly de sirable. Ho had been so strorgly impressed with the justice of the view taken by the Board of Health as to the necessity of obtaining a supply of soft water, that he had taken steps to ascertain whether their recommenda tions could be carried into effect, and the result of his in quiries had convinced him that a sufficient quantity of water of the quality recommended by the Board might be obtained; but he thought nothing would be got by going to the Wandle or the Colne. Viscount EBRINGTON called attention to the re port of the Registrar-General in January, 1850, to prove the influence of the quality of the water on the health of the people. From the report it appeared that the rate of mortality from the cholera on the banks of the Thames, between Battersea and Hungerford bridges, was ten times as great as that between Hammersmith and Kew. It appeared to him that a Bill affecting the health of the greatest city in the world, with a population of 2,250,000 ought not to be sent to a Committee up stairs to be licked into shape, but ought to receive the full conside ration of the House. He protested against the question of a constant or intermittent supply being still treated as a moot point, when it was established de concesso that a constant supply was not only the morn convenient, but also the more economical system. Mr. Mill said that it was a mistake to suppose that prices were in all cases kept down by competition. In this case the competi tion should, in his (Viscount Ebrington's)opinion, be for the occupation of the field of monopoly. The rating of the houses in London at 14 per house for domestic pur poses would yield 300,0001, and to this should be n added 100,000/. for the supply for manufactures, i all 400,0004 a-year, which was more than double the ac tual cost at which the article could be supplied by company beginning de novo. He could not see why the people should be thus overtaxed to pay the interest of the money squandered in former days by those compa nies in extragavant competition, aad expended in igno rance of all the modern improvements of science. lie did not 'oelieve that the rejection of the Bill would re tard the obtaining of an improved supply of wholesome water; if he did, be would not oppose. But, deeming it a hasty and ill-considered measure, he should vote against the measure. Mr. WAKLEY said that scarcely a word had been said on either tide, e xce pt by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir G. Grey), to show that the Bill should be sup ported. The people had asked for cheap hops and they hail been refused; for cheap malt, and they had been refused; for unadulterated coffee, and they had been re fused; and now they asked for pure and cheap water, and the answer was this Bill. What the Administra tion did drink, he could not imagine.—(Leughter.) The people asked for clean water, and the Government in reply delivered them over to the hands of those who bad long persecuted them with foul and muddy water. It wis idle to say there was not the means of remedying the evil—where there was the will there was the way.' But the Government had not the disposition. The Hon. Mr. Napier had proved that an adequate supply of ex cellent water could be obtained from the lands of Surrey, but they did not avail themselves of the advantage. The public, however, were becoming angry, and if this Bill were read a second time, the Government vt ould be met with a general burst of indignation which would astonish them. THE SUN, After a few words from Mr. B. COCIIR ANE in ex pl ination, Sir DE LACY EVANS expressed himself opposed to the principle of the Bill. The House divided, when there appeared — For the second reading Against it ... Majority ... The Bill was accordingly read a second time. LEEDS AND THIRSK RAILWAY BILL. The Lords' amendments to this Bill were agreed to. NOTICE OF MOTION. Lord D. STUART gave notice that on Tuesday, the 24th, he would move for a Select Committee on the case of Ernest Jones. ADULTERATION OF COFFEE. Mr. T. BARING presented a petition from merchants and traders in London, complaining of the effect of the Treasury minute, permitting the mixture of chicory with coffee; and a petition from retail traders in London to the same effect. He presented these petitions in support of the following resolution, of which he had given notice:—" That it is the opinion of this House, that the directions of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to the officers of the Excise, signified by orders of the 6th and 25th of August, 1840, namely—' That no objection be made on the part of the revenue to dealers in and sellers of coffee mixing chicory with coffee,' are opposed to the Excise regulations in force regarding other articles of consumption, have encou raged very much the practice of fraud, and ought there fore to be revoked." The case, he said, that he had to plead was so clear, the grievance and the remedy alike so obvious, that he did not feel it necessary to address the House for any length of time. He ventured, however, again to press this subject upon the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, because the reasons which the Right Hon. Gentleman had given on former occasions, in answer to propositions similar to that now submitted to the House, did not appear to be either satisfac tory or conclusive.—(Hear, hear.) All those who were interested in this subject, whether as growers or as pro ducers of coffee—as dealers or as consumers—had thought it necessary that the resolution he had to propose should be brought before the House by one who was a dealer in coffee.—(Hear, hear.) It was scarcely necessary for him to state that by the 41st and 42d George 111., there were very stringent provisions enacted against the substitution of any article for coffee. By the Act of Geo. IV. roasted corn and parsnips were permitted to be used by all par ties, except those who dealt in coffee. They were not allowed to be sold but under their real names. By the 7th and Bth Geo. IV. no one was permitted to institute a prosecution for a breach of the Excise laws, unless with the order of the Commissioners of Excise. And these Commissioners were subjected to the Lords of the Trea sury. In 1832 the Commissioners of Excise had insti tuted proceedings against dealers in chicory; but on the 21st of August, 1832, a Treasury minute was issued, by which it was declared that the dealers in chicory were not to be interfered with; and matters remained in that condition until August, 1840, when there was a Treasury minute issued permitting the admixture of chicory with coffee, because, as it was declared by the 'lreasury minute, there was no fraud on the Exchequer so long as chicory paid the duty. The law was still the same, but the operation of the law was suspended by the chicory minute.—(llear.) This was done in opposition to the Excise regulations with regard to other articles, such as tea, sugar, pepper, and tobacco. No mixture was allowed in auy other article, and if any such adulteration were attempted a prosecution would be im mediately instituted.—(Hear, hear.) This anomaly then existed.—(Hear, hear.) The adulteration of coffee was altogether authorised, and the dealers in coffee were allowed to sell in the name of coffee that which was not coffee. This was not permitted to be done by the law, but it was allowed by the Treasury minute. The de tails with which ho was furnished, but he would not trouble the House by giving them, showed that there was a pretty general practice of adulteration. Perhaps this might be excused when there was a war with China, and the price of coffee was 110 s. per cwt.; but now the price was 385., and though coffee was so cheap, yet the consumption of coffee had very considerably diminished.— (Hear, hear.) This occurred when it was notorious that the temperance habits of the people had increased, and hence the only way to account for the diminution was by the fact that there had been authority given for the ad mixture of other articles with coffee, even though the Treasury minute permitted that nothing else but chi cory should be mixed with it. Ile did not understand why this distinction in the case of coffee should be ad hered to, for it would lead to much mischief—to the use of roasted peas, of acorns, of sawdust, of tan, and several other base ingredients, which were sold as coffee.— (Hear, hear.) Practices like these ought not to have the sanction of Government; and it was his opinion that it was the duty both of the House and the Government to prevent their continuance.—(Hear, bear.) The effect of his resolution, if sanctioned by the House, upon every grocer and seller of coffee would be to permit him still to sell coffee and chicory, but to compel him to sell each article by its own name and separately. By this course there would be no demoralization of the trader, and no injury done to the consumer.— (Hear.) By the present system, and by competition, traders were forced to deal in unwholesome articles and to substitute them for coffee. The honest traders now called upon the Government to recall its Treasury mi nute, so that parties should not be compelled to pay ls. and Is. 2d. for an article which did not in reality cost more than 4d.—(Hear, hear.) The objection to the course he proposed was by the Chancellor of the Exche quer, on the ground that, if adopted, he must have an army of excisemen to enforce it. He denied that ibis would be the case; for there was not a grocer nor a person who was a dealer in tea and • tobacco who was not visited by the Excise officers, and to introduce the article of coffee, as one that should be looked to, would not cause that additional number of excisemen which the Right Hon. Gentleman supposed.—(Hear, hear.) The effect of adopting such a course would be to cause a groat number of grocers who now dealt in tho adulterated articles to cease to deal with them.—(Hesr.) But then he might be told that there had been no petitions from the consumers of coffee. It was not likely that there would be so; for the great body of consumers were of the poorer classes—persons who purchased the article in powder, who were not competent to be judges, who had not the means of grinding and roasting their own coffee; poor persons, who lived from day to day on their earnings.—(Hear.) He did not propose to interfere with the growth of chicory, nor to place a tax upon it—and if the chicory-dealers said that his pre position would be a hardship upon them, he replied that he did nothing to prevent a bona fide sale of chicory. He was, indeed, distressed, to find the number of those who openly declared for maintaining the fraudulent dealing in the article; and he could tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer that if he did not promptly interfere in this matter, he would feel the effects of this encourage ment given to the mixture of fraudulent articles; he would be made to feel it in tea, pepper, and other arti cles; because persons were learning now the lesson, that no offence was a fault, but the fault was in being dis covered.—(Hear.) The value of the reduction of duties producing an increase of the consumption was once re lied upon, and coffee was pointed to as an example; but of the truth of that maxim, coffee could be no longer pointed to as an instance.—(Hear, bear.) When an article paid a high duty the seller had a right to be pro tected against the competition of articles which were untaxed or to be placed on the same footing. He (Mr. Baring) should not dwell on the sanitary aspect of the question, but looking at the analyses of that which was sold as coffee which had been made, it was plain to all persons that this mixture contained ingredients dele terious in their nature, and injurious to the health of the community. Having placed his views before the House, and shown that the anomaly which existed in the case injured the revenue, injured the public health, and tended to the demoralisation of the trade in coffee, he concluded by moving his resolution. Sir J. TROLLOPE rose to say a few words on the part of the growers of chicory. Before the Treasury order in question the great bulk of chicory consumed its this country was of foreign growth; since then, how ever, the great bulk of that article has been grown in England. His constituents were extensive chicory growers; and they had entered on its cultivation on the strength of the Treasury order, which pledged the faith of the country. It was obvious, therefore, that it would be at once unjust and impolitic to encourage the growth of the article at one time, and then at a moment's warning to act in a sense directly the contrary.—(Hear, hear.) The chicory-growers were not in anywise im plicated in the adulteration complained of. They grew the article honestly, and they delivered it pure into the hands of the buyer, who and the retail grocers were alone responsible for the mixture. It required a large outlay of capital, and high cultivation, and on the faith of the nation, pledged by the Treasury order, that cultivation was extending every day. At this moment the largest crop ever known was growing; and an immense sum had been laid out upon kilns and ovens to dry it in, as as well as other appliances. He protested, therefore, against the Legislature interfering in any way with the cultivation of the soil, especially after what had been done in other matters as regarded agriculture. Conse quently, he should vote against the proposition of the Hon. Member. Lord IL VANE said his Hon. Friend had entirely mistaken the question. There was no intimation what ever that an Excise duty would be laid upon chicory, as be see me d to suppose. All that was proposed was, that the Treasury order should be withdrawn, and that coffee should be sold under its proper name, and chicory also. ... 95 ... 79 Lord H. VANE considered An Hoer. MEMBER — No great reason to complain one would buy it. P o i n . sidered that the coffee dealers had were the o p o l v a e c r e n d m be Government t the would L afifim t ( 1 ) :i f order, of the difficulty in which they and r proposition. si ot a E irly towards them, and that hoped, tion. therefore, that the Th ll e o c usLw N ou c l E d Honourablee EXCHEQUER was nee i o s n the question at issue. When sgallnitietarCylear ground whether o r no th Friend took the e. t . ! said it was whole he spoilt) of the foreign chicory, he some; but when he spoke of home-graven remarkable feet was not the said the reverse! was the case. It wri l s '°9'n g th ro a u t n th d i s s . that as long as chicory p a id i Le g r u th e e r; duty th a er t slightest objection rab , ed to its use on sa l e- Indeed it was only within the last few l' months ary N ground was taken at all on the question. Neverthe less, though he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would not trouble the House with medical testimony on the subject, he felt bound to sa y that there were strongly ex pressed medical o p inions in favour of the healthful ness cf chicory. Moreover, there was the fact derived from experience on that head. It had been used exten sively for the last fifteen years in Germany and in Eng land, and no complaint of its unhealtainess had been made until within the List six months. Indeed, the weight of medical testimony on this point went to prove that a mixture of chicory and coffee was much more wholesome than coffee alone.—(A. laugh.) His Hon. Friend bad stated correctly enough what had taken place. Before ISIO the grocers kept chicory on their premises along with other articles that paid duty, and no integepuce took plAcit 911 tl2O put of tho guise. It Mei found, however, by experience that it would be utterly impossible to prevent their mixture; and the Treasury o: der uses therefore issued, n')t because of the high price of tea and coffee, but simply because of that im possibility. All that this order did was to exempt the dealer from the Excise penalty; it did not in any sense of the word sanction fraud on the public. That order had been drawn up by his predecessor in office; and although efforts were made to obtain its with , drawal, under the Government of Sir Robert Peel, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of that Government de clined to interfere as between the seller and the public. fie (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had not the slightest doubt on his mind that for a considerable time past the consumption of coffee had bee❑ increased and evended by the use of chicory. Tho Hon. Gentleman had argued as though no adulteration had taken place before the Treasury minute of 1840; but the Hon. Gen tleman would think differently if he had read the book written by Mr. Accum, or even if he was aware of the statements constantly made to him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer). His lion. Friend had presided over a meeting on the subject held in the City, at which opinions were much divided, for ho (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) had received two deputations from it. In that interview he was assured that tea, mustard, pepper, sugar, and even arrowroot, were adulterated to an enor mous extent. When he (the Chancellor of the Exche quer) adverted to the statements, a member of one of the deputations said he could not interfere because there was no duty on them. That admission made it a sani tary question. It was, he conceded, the duty of the Go vernment to protect the public against the use of dele terious ingredients in food, but ho did not believe chicory to bo deleterious; and he held that it was not the duty of the Government to interfere between the public and the seller when such was the case. He referred to a publication in which the components parts of milk and cream, such as they are sold in the metropolis, were stated; and urged that the Hon. Gentleman, therefore, should not run away with the absurd idea that the Treasury minute was the cause of adulteration in coffee, inasmuch as it admitted only a wholesome mixture. The lion. Gentleman bad alluded to the number of those in the retail trade adverse to the Treasury minute; but be (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should say that there were still more on the other side of the question. In fact, he was overwhelmed with memorials i❑ its favour from retail grocers in all parts of the country. every one of which deprecated its withdrawal. The Hon. Gentleman said his motion was simply to withdraw that minute—nothing more. But what would be the result of that proceeding? Excise officers would visit every grocer's shop which they suspected—seize all the chicory they found on the pre mises, lay informations before a magistrate, and endea vour to obtain a conviction, as a matter of course. Ho (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) believed it would be extremely difficult to obtain proofs that coffee was mixed; and, therefore, these proceedings would produce no good; but, on the contrary, would cause an extraordi nary degree of vexation and trouble. Indeed he was sa tisfied that before three months were over there would be a mass of petitions against the withdrawal of the order. He had had a memorial signed by 1,076 grocers in London, against all interference in the matter, and the aggregate from the towns of England amounted to 3,680. It was well known by the parties purchas ing the article, in nine cases out of ten, that it was not pure; and unless he doubted the evidence before him, the working classes liked the mixture better than anything else. The Hon. Gentleman had admitted that there were no complaints on the part of the con sumers; but he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) re ceived representations stating, not only that no voice was raised against the mixture, bet that it was more generally liked than pure coffee. A grocer i❑ South Shields stated that even those parties purchasing ground coffee, which contained a very respectabls portion of chicory—(Laughter)—actually bought at the same time packets of chicory to mix with it still further. This grocer said, " In one instance, when my stock was ex hausted, I was necessitated to sell pure coffee, and the complaints and returning of which were so great, that they lasted for more than a week." The Right Hon. Gentleman read similar letters received from Liverpool, Leeds, Norwich, Cork, Sac. From Cork the letter stated that they would prefer all chicory to pure Ceylon Coffee.—(Laughter.) It should be recollected that the consumers bad the power, if they pleased, of protecting themselves from adulteration in coffee if they purchased the bean and ground it themselves. This was not the case with tea, sugar, and other articles. There was not a respectable grocer that would not grind the coffee be fore the eyes of his customer if he were required to do so. He therefore did not think that it was a case for the interference of the Government. He believed it would be very vexatious if they interfered. Even if they did interfere, he doubted whether they would succeed in their object. He was not prepared to undertake so vexatious an alteration in their laws as to interfere by their army of excise officers in all cases in which they thought that this mixture of chicory with coffee took place, and to lay an information with a view of enforc ing the penalties against all parties who were suspected of theso practices. Mr. E. STANLEY said that the Right Hon. Gentle man had told them that he was not prepared to carry on a crusade against the adulteration of coffee, because if he did he would have to extend the same principle to many other articles in which there were similar adulte rations. Well, if the Right Hon. Gentleman objected to interfere in any case of adulteration whatever, what did he intend to do in the case of tea, tobacco, pepper, and other spices, in all which cases it was well known he in terfered to prevent adulteration at present?—(Hear, hear.) All that was asked at present was not that the Right Hon. Gentleman should introduce a new principle, but that he should merely carry out the principle which he applied to other ca , es.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman said that the same abuses existed at the time of the late Government, and they did not think it desirable to interfere; but their abstinence from action ho (Mr. Stanley) believed resulted from the simple cause that the revenue from coffee had not then diminished. The Right Hon. Gentleman said fraud might easily be prevented by the purchase of whole instead of ground coffee; but if there really were not practical difficulties in the way of applying that remedy it would have been applied before, and the present general feeling of discon tent would not have been excited. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the diminution of the consumption of any article, he believed that there could be but three reasons explanatory of it. The first was diminished power of consumption. Now, he did not think that any Gentleman would contend that that existed at present, (" Hear, hear," from the Free-traders.) Whatever might be the result for the future of the present commercial policy, there was no question that the labouring classes were consuming more largely than they had done for some years past.—(Renewed cheers from the same quarter.) By that cheer they acknowledged that diminished power of consumption was not the cause of the falling off in the consumption of coffee. The Right Hon. Gentleman had urged another cause for the diminished consumption of coffee—viz , the substitution of tea and cocoa, which had largely increased. But there had been a movement in favour of temperance, and a consequent diminution in the consumption of spirituous liquors, so that that dimi nution might be set against an increase in the consump tion of tea and cocoa. There was only another cause to account for the diminished consumption of coffee, and that would be an increase in the price of the article; but it was perfectly well known that a very great reduction in price had taken place. While none of these causes, therefore, operated, the consumption of reel coffee had greatly fallen. In 1847 the quantity sold for home con • sumption was more than 37,000,0001 b., but from that time it had regularly decreased, and last year (1850) it had fallen to 30,000,0001 b. He had not heard tiny cause voted for this very large reduction, except adulteration. He believed it was calculated that of the quantity of ar ticles sold under the name of coffee two-thirds were not real coffee, but chicory. The result was a loss not only to the revenue, but also to the public. Ho would not dwell on the case of the colonial producer, for that was not likely, perhaps, to meet with a favourable hearing; but it was not consistent even with the principles of free trade to subject a colonial produce paying a tax to com petition with an article paying none. There was, how ever, a fourth class which suffered, and that was the honest retailer, who desired to sell as coffee that which was coffee only.—(Hear, hear.) It was very well to say that it was not compulsory on any one to sell chicory, but the consumer would leave one tradesman's shop if at another's an article were sold to him as coffee at a cheaper rate.—(Hear, hear.) Be had, as yet, only dealt with the pecuniary question; but there were statements resting on medical authority to the effect that the mix ture of chicory was not perfectly harmless in a sanitary point; but, whether harmless or not, there was no reason why a man should pay for chicory three times the price he would pay if he knew he were buying chicory.— But under the cover of the chicory adulteration there were other articles mixed with coffee which were unfit for human consumption. Among these were burnt peas, dog biscuits, powdered earth, damaged beans, and tan. The Right Hon. Gentleman talked of the attempt to apply a remedy leading to vexation and the employment of an army of excisemen. But the H on . G en tleman (Mr. Baring) di . d . . not ask for an excise duty on chicory, nor for a prohibition against its growth, but only that chicory should be sold as chicory, and coffee as coffee— (Hear, hear)—and to say that any law to that effect would be evaded to some extent was no argument against its enactment, as the same thing might be said of almost any other law. As he thought the disadvantages of the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Baring) were more than c o unterbalanced by the advantag e s, h o should vote for it; believing that it would prevent fraud and de moralization, and prove a protection to the poor man, who from the circumstances of his position was almost incapable of protecting himself in this matter.—(Hear.) Colonel THOMPSON said that a grocer in the West Riding, with whom ho was acquainted, maintained that there was nothing like deceit en the mixture of chicory with coffee—(oh!) —and that all his customers had a ready way of knowing whether they were buying a mixture of chicory by comparing it with the price of his coffee unground.--((lries of "Oh !" and laughter.) Really the facilities with which Hun. Gentlemen broke out into raptures of mirth was most extreordinary. If they w, uld listen they would see whether he ought to be laughed at or somebody else. His informant sold ground coffee at is. 2d., and coffee in the berry at 2e. per 10. Now, his customers in tho West Riding must he idiots if they fancied they were buying real coffee at Ic. 2d. per lb. His informant also explained the falling off in the consumption of coffee when he said, that when the working classes found their condition good, they bought l ess co ff ee , and more meat and beer , but when trade was b a d th e y " c l am med" upon coffee. Sir J. TYRELL differed with pain from his Hon. Friends n ear hi m upon thi s " m ixed question."—(A laugh.) It; w as a positive fact that the best coffee compoeed of the mi x t ure of a portion of chicory with the genuine was article.—(Laughter.) The Hon. Member (Mr. Baring) did not come into court with clean hands, for he admitted he was interested in the growth of coffee in the island of Ceylon, while he (Sir J. Tyrell) admitted ti At he was grower of chicory in LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 6, 1851. the county of Essex.—(A laugh.) The Hon. Member had lately presided at a great meeting in the City on this question, but the people there seemed equally di vided, and many of the retail dealers did not care how much adulteration was practised.—(A laugh.) There would be a great disadvantage in entering upon a cru sade against all those who adulterated coffee with chicory. The Hon. Member (Nit.. Stanley) had treated this as a poor man's question, but he would consent to take the vote upon that view of the case, and he said that the mixture was the better article. Looking at his (Sir J. Tyrell's) interest in as clear a point of view as pos sible—(Great laughter)—he shOuld vote agaicst the mo tion of his Hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon. Mr. WAKLEY regarded the wrongheadedness of the Chancellor of the Each( quer upon this question as most extraordinary. He had taken under his especial care and patronage the fraudulent dealers throughout the country—(Hear, hear)—but for the honest trader he had no sympathy. The Right Hon. Gentleman quoted the fraudulent dealer everywhere, and he had told the House to-night that there were 3,000 of them encouraging him to proceed. But, was it not an unfortunate thing that the Government should positively go out of their way to encourage fraudulent dealing?—(Hear.) See the effect of it upon the once innocent Baronets opposite. — (A laugh.) The Honourable Baronet the Member for Lincolnshire had asked whether the House would stop the trade in chicory without notice ? But, what people complained of was, not that chicory was sold, but that it was sold as coffee; and he thought the House ought to set itself against that. But the Right Honourable Gentleman found it convenient to fence with the ques tion, and had denied that chicory was unwholesome. But this was not the time to settle whether chicory was unwholesome or not. It was because it was used in a system of fraud that ho and the honest traders op posed it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that people preferred coffee with chicory in it. But what was the fact in London ? When it became known that certain coffee dealers behaved honestly to the pub lic their business had increased tenfold in a single week.—(Hear, hear.) As soon as the public knew where they could obtain genuine coffee they went there to obtain it.—(Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer ought to step in and protect the honest traders.—(Hear, hear.) Many of them said, " We cannot help ourselves, for our neighbours in the same street sell their coffee 20 or 30 per cent. cheaper, and we are under the necessity of adulterating to maintain our trade." He asserted that the conduct of the Government in maintaining the Treasury order was producing the greatest pain and annoyance to the honest trader. Chicory was a powerful medicine; it was an active diuretic, and that the Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Tyrell) knew perfectly well.—(A laugh.) Its influ ence upon the human organs whe❑ under the influence of disease was very powerful, and it had a tendency to produce disease when constantly used by persons in health. If the Government thought it right to tolerate fraud he hoped the House would not give its sanction to such a course of proceeding. He trusted that the amendment would be carried, and he felt confident that if it were lost to-night it would be carried in another session. —(Cheers.) Mr. HUME was surprised that his Hon. Friend, who was against the interference of the Government in every thing else, should support this motion. He (Mr. Hume) wished to abolish the Excise altogether, so far as was possible, and leave the public to take care of themselves. Sir W. JOLLIFFE had no doubt that these restrictions were a great detriment to the interests of the country, and it must be palpable to every one that if landowners were prevented from growing chicory, they were also, by the excise on barley and tobacco, restricted from cultivating their land to the same advantage as those who were not burdened in the same way. But he would put it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would institute prosecutions against those who adulterated tea, when he sanctioned, by a Treasury minute, the adul teration of coffee?—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BASS could not sufficiently express his admira tion at the desire of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to avoid any vexatious interference with those persons who were connected with the Excise; but as the Right Hon. Gentleman was so liberal to those who had the sale of coffee, be wished to know whether he would extend the same indulgence to the brewers—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—and whether they might do anything they pleased with their beer, and whether the Government would continue to interfere with those publicans who he saw were fined by the magistrates for mixing their beer? The House then divided, when there appeared— For the resolution 89 Against it Majority —5 Colonel SII3THORP moved for, and obtained leave, io bring in a Bill to prohibit the use of advertising vans and barrel-organs in the streets of the metropolis. The British White Herring Fishery Bill passed through Committee. The Farm Buildings Bill and the Prisons (Scotland) Bill, were read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at a quarter past One o'clock. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, TIIIHISDAY. The Queen and Prince Albert and their illustrious visitors went to-day to the Ascot races. The Royal party left the Castle at half-past twelve o'clock, iu the following order: — A landau and four, conveying her Majesty the Queen, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, and her Royal Highness the Princess Alice. A earring() and four, conveying his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, his Royal HighnesS the Duke of Saxo Coburg Gotha, his Royal Higness the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness the Duke. Ernest of Wur temburg, and his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar. A carriage and four, conveying the Duchess of Suther land, his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, the Duke of Rutland, and the Duke of Wellington. A carriage and four, conveying the Countess of Eg linton, the Countess of Charlemont (Lady in Waiting), the Duke of Norfolk, and the Marquis of Abercorn. A carriage and four, conveying the Countess Grey, the Countess of Jersey, the Earl Granville, and the Earl of Eglinton. A carriage and four, conveying the Lady Constance Leveson Gower, the Lady Clementine Villiers, the Earl of Jersey, and the Earl of Yarborough. A pony carriage and four, conveying the Countess of Yarborough, the Countess Granville, E ar l G rey , an d Lord Seymour. A pony carriage and four, conveying the Lady Alice Lambton, the Hon. Hermione St Maur, Lord Dufferin (Lord in Waiting), and M. B. de Treskow (Gentleman in Waiting on the Duke of Saxo Coburg Gotha). A pony carriage and four, conveying the Baroness de Wangenheim (Lady in Waiting on the Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha), the Hon. Mary Seimour (Maid of Honour in Waiting), Mr. Birch, and Sir Frederick Sto• yin (Groom in Waiting). The Equerries in Waiting, General Wemyss and Col. Bouverie, rode on horseback with the Royal party. The Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and Col. the Hon. Charles Groy, left the Castle at twelve o'clock to precede her Majesty to the Royal stand. Her Majesty and Prince Albert,,with the Royal cor tege, returned to the Castle from races at ten minutes past five o'clock. llis Serge Highness the Prince of Leiningen then proceeded to Frogmore. Their Royal Ilighnesees Prince Alfred and the y ou nger branches of the Royal Family s t oo k th e i r accus tomed pony and walking exercise to-day in the Home• par k. The Queen gave a State banquet ate evening in St. George's Hall, which was served on the magnificent state service of gold plate. The company consisted of the fol lowing Royal and illustrious circle:—Fier Royal High. ness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, his Royal Highness Duke Ernest of Wurtemberg, his Serene High ness the Princo of Leiningen, his Serene highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Constance Leveson Gower, the Duke of Wel lington, the Duke o f Norfolk, the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Seymour and the Hon. Hermione St. Maur, the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Wangenheim, Baroness de Speth, the Earl and Countess of Eglinton, the Earl of Cardigan, the Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine Villiers, the Earl and Countess Grey and Lady Alice Lambton, the Earl and Countess Granville, the Earl and Countess of Yarborough, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Honourable Mary Bar rington, the Earl of Uxbridge, the Earl Grosvenor, Viscountess Maidstone, Viscount and Viscountess Sea ham, Viscount and Lady Elizabeth Lascelles, Viscount Anson, Viscount Enfield, Lord Stanley, L or d B urg hl ey , Lord Robert Clifton , S ir George Cou P , v, Sir Thomas and Lady Louisa Moncrieff, Hon. Mrs. Villi e r s , C o l one l Hon. George Anson, Hon. G. Barrington Captain Hon. Henry Rous, Colonel Peel, Colonel Blair, Mr. Payne, Mr. F. Villiers, Mr. Shelley, Captain Streatfield, Mr. E. Lascelles, Mr. Standish, Mr. J. Leslie, Mr. Lyon, and M. B. de Treskow. The band of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards was in attendance during the banquet, and performed the following selection:— Overture, Introduction, a nd Chorus, " Antigone"...: ........................... sli , Mendeisshon. Waltz "Tony„ ............................ C =Labitzky Selection, " Lucia di Lammermoor" • Donizetti. Galop, " Frutlings fiere Finale, " Ist Act, Marie d e Bohan" Donizetti. Andante, " Bth Symphony Her Majesty had a fterwards an evening party. The following had the honour of receivin g invitations:— The Earl of Euston, the E arl of Powis,the Earl and Countess of Campordown and Lady Elizabeth Duncan, Viscount and Viscountess Duncan, the Earl of Granard, Viscountess Forbes and Miss Seymour, Viscount and Viscountess Emlyn, Lady Caroline and Miss Barrington, Lady Isabella Wemyse, Admiral and Mrs. Sykes, Lieutenant-Colonel the lion. C. 13. and Mrs. Phipps, Colonel the Hon. Charles end Mrs. Gray, Lieutenant. Colonel F. H. and Lady Emily Seymour, Colonel and Mrs. Bathurst, Mrs. Bouverie, Mr. J. M. Caulfeild, ALP., Mrs. Vernon Harcourt, Mr , and Mrs. Grrian v ill e V ernon Harcourt, Mr. Birch, and Mr. Glover. Tho Queen's private band was in attendance in the Castle after dinner yesterday (Wednesday) evening, and performed the following pieces:— Overture, " Die lustigen Weiler von Windsor" Sestotto, " Sola Sofa" Selection, " Fidelio" Beethoven. Stele do Danse, " La Bayadere" A deputation, consisting of Mr. Sharman Crawford, Mr. Edward Taylor, Mr. John Ashwood, Mr. John Phillips, and Mr. William Simpson, had an interview yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer at his official residence iu Downing-street. The Oxford University Commission had a meeting yesterday the Midenco of tho riot Livid el the Treasury in Downing-street. Present—the Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Master of Pembroke, and the Rev. AP. anley (secretary). The Charge d'Affaires for Saxony, Chevalier de Col quhoun, gave u dinner party on the 3d inst., at his resi dence in Stratford-place, to his Excellency Baron Beust, Minister of Foreign Affairs, his Excellency Baron Friesen, Minister of the Interior, his Excellency Count Hohenthal, Envoy of the King of Saxony at Paris, the United States Minister and Mrs. Lawrence, Colonel Lawrence, Secretary of Legation, his Excellency Gene ral Jockmus, Baron Waitz von Eschen, Sir Charles, Lady. and Miss Hardinge, Sir Andrew Stockenstrom, Mr. Councillor tLaiius, Major Worm, the Saxon and Hanseatic Commissioners, and other foreigners of dis tinction. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. ;From tte Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons) THURSDAY, JUNE 5. METROPOLIS WATER BILL. Order for Second Reading read; Motion made and Ques tion proposed,," That the Bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " it is the opinion of this House that no Bill for the Supply of Water to the Metropolis shall be proceeded with, unless the works required for an improved and complete Supply of Water to the Metropolis shall be put up for competition as to the terms on which they shall be executed and main tained, upon a contract fur a terra of years, on a general rate," instead thereof: —Question proposed, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question :"—Amend ment, by leave, withdrawn : Question again proposed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :"—Amendment proposed to leave out the word " now," and at end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months :" Question put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the Question. The House divided : MAJORITY—AYES, 95. Adair, Hugh E. Fordyce, A. D. Paget, Lord C. Aglionby, H. A. Freestun, Colonel Palmerston, Viscount Armstrong, R. B. Geach, Charles Parker, John Bailey, Joseph Glyn, G. C. Pilkington, James Baines, M. T. " Grenfell, Charles W. Plumptre, J. P. Baring, Sir F. . Grey, Sir George Ricardo, Osman Baring, ThomaS Grey, R. W. Hominy, Sir John Bass, M. T. Guest, Sir J. Russell, Lord J. Bell, Jacob Hamner, Sir J. Russell, F. C. H. Bellew, R. M. Harris, Richard Stoney, R. A. Berkeley, Admiral Hastie, Archibald Smith, J. A. Bernal, Ralph Hatchell,l John Smith, M. Tucker Blackstone, W. Hawes, Benj. Somers, J. P. Blakcmore, R. Heywood, James Somerville, Sir W. Bouverle, E. P. Howard, Lord E. Spooner, Richard Brotherton, J. Hughes, W. B. Stansfield, W. R. Burke, Sir Thomas Jackson, William Stanton, W. S. Clay, James Labouchere, Henry Strickland, Sir G. Clay, Sir W. Langston, J. H. Sutton, J. H. Cockburn, Sir A. Lewis, G. C. Tancred,.H. W. Compton, 11. C. Lygon, Gen. Townley, It. G. Cowper, W. F. Mahon, O'Gorman Townshend, Captain Craig, Sir W. G. Marshall, William Vane, Lord - 11. Dawes, Edward Melguad, Viscount Wawn, J. T. Denison, J. E. Milner, W. M. Wilson, James Drummond, Henry Moncretif, James Wilson, Matthew Duncuft, John Morgan, H. K. Wood, Sir Charles Dundas, Admiral Morris, David Wood, Sir W. P. Dundas, Sir David Mulgrave, Earl Wyvill,, Marmaduko Elliot, John Mundy, William Evans, William ?Coneys, Sir 1). Farrer, James Ogle, S. C. Fergus, John Ord, William TELLERS. Hayter, W. G. Hill, Lord Marcus MINORITY—NOES, 79. Arkwright, George Farnham, E. B. Noel, G. J. Baillie, H. J. Forster, M. O'Connell, John Barron, Sir H. Fox, W. J. O'Flaherty, Anthony Barrow, W. 11. Frewen, C. H. Power, Dr. Bennet, Philip Galway, Viscount Prime, Richard Berkeley, H. F. Gaskell, J. M. Repton, G. W. J. Blandford, Marquis Gore, W. 0. Reynolds, John Booker, T. W. Granger, T. C. Rufford, Francis Bramston, T. W. Greenall, Gilbert Sandars, George Broadley, Henry Greene, Johu Scholefleld, William Bruce, C. L. C. Heald, James Sibthorp, Colonel Buller, Sir Y. Ileneage, G. H. Stafford, Augustus Cabbeli, B. B. Henley, J. W. Stanford, J. F. Child, smith Hume, Joseph Stanley, E. H. Cochrane, A. D. Ilumphery, Aid. Stuart, Lord D. Cocks, Thomas S. Keating, Robert Sullivan, Michael Colvile, C. R. King, P. J. Thompson, Colonel Cubitt, Williams Knox, W. S. Thompson, Ald. Denison, Edmund Locke, Joseph Trollope, Sir,;.l. Disraeli, B. Lockhart, A. E. Tyler, Sir G. Dod, J. W. Lockhart, W. Wakley, Thomas Duke, Sir James Lowther, Colonel Walmsley, Sir J. Duncan, George Lushington, CharleS Williams, W. Dunne, Colonel Martin, John Ebrington, Viscount Masterman, J. TELLERS. Estcourt, J. B. B. Mitckell, T. A. Hall, Sir B. Evans, Sir De Lacy Mowatt, Francis Moffatt, George Evelyn, William J. Naas, Lord CHICORY. Dlotion made, and Question put, " That it is the opinion of this House that the Directions of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to the Officers of the Excise, sig nified by Orders of the 6th and 25th August, 1840, namely, ' That no objection be made on the part of the Revenue to dealers in and sellers of Coffee mixing Chicory with Coffee,' are opposed to the Excise regulations in force regarding other articles of consumption, have encouraged very much the practice of fraud, and ought therefore to be revoked." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES 89. Adderley, C. B. Galway, Viscount Moffatt, George Aglionby, 11. A. Gaskell, J. M. Mundy, William Baillic,:ll. J. Gladstone, W. E. iiicholl, John Barrow, W. H. Goold, Wyndham O'Connell, John Bass, M. T. Granger, T. C. O'Flaherty, Anthony Bell, Jacob Greenall, G. Plumptre, J. P. Berkeley, Henry F. Greene, John Repton, G. W. Booth, Sir R. G. Guernsey, Lord Rufford, Francis liramston, T. W. Gwyn, Howel Sadleir, John Brocklehurst, John Hall, Sir B. Sandars, G. Bruce, C. L. C. Halsey, T. P. Scully, Francis Burroughes, 11. N. Hamilton, G. A. Seymer, H. K. Cardwell, Edward Hamilton, J. H. Sibthorp, Colonel Cochrane, A. D. Rustic, Alexander Smith, John Abel Compton, H. C. Hastie, Archibald Spooner, R. Currie, Henry Ileald, James Stanford, J. F. Denison, J. E. Herbert, H. A. Stanley, E. H. Disraeli, B. Herries, J. C. Sullivan, Michael Doc', J. W. Hervey, Lord A. Sutton, Ii ,M. Douro, Marquis of Hill, Lord E. Thesiger, Sir F. Duke, Sir James Ilindley, Charles Thompson, Alderman Duncan, George Hornby, John Tyler, Sir G. Duncuft, John Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Vane, Lord 11. Edwards, henry Keating, Robert Vesey, Thomas Egerton, T. W. Keogh, William Wakley, T. Ellice, Edward,jun. Knox, W. S. Walter, J. Farnham, E. B. Lockhart, W. Wegg-Prosser, F. Farrer. James Lygon, General Fox, W. J. Manners, Lord J. TELLERS. Frewen, C. H. Masterman, John Baring, Thomas Gallwey, Sir W. P. Miles, William Mackenzie, W. F. MAJORITY-NOES, 94. Anderson, Arthur Hanmer, Sir Joha Pinney, William Armstrong, R. B. Hatchell, John Plowden, W. H. Bailey, Joseph Hawes, Benjamin Ponsonby, C. F. Baring, Sir F. T. Heathcote, Sir G. J. Rawdon, Colonel Bellew, R. M. Henry, Alexander Ricardo, Osman Bennet, Philip Heyworth, Lawrence Romilly, Colonel Berkeley, Admiral Hollond, Robert Russell .F. C. H. Berkeley, C. L. Howard, Lord E. Scholefleld, William Blackstone, W. S. Howard, C. W. G. Smith, R. V. Brotherton, Joseph Hughes, W. B. Smythe, George Cabbell, B. B. Hume, Joseph Somerville, Sir W. Cayley, Edward S. Labouchere, Henry Spearman, 11. J Clay, Sir W. Langston, J. H. Stafford, AugastuS Cobden, Richard Lawley, B. R. Stanton, W H. Cockburn, Sir A. Lewis, G. C. Strickland, Sir G. Cowper, W. F. Mangles, R. D. Talbot, C. It. Craig, Sir W.G. Marshall, W. Thompson, Colonel Dawes, Edward Martin, John Townshend, Capt. Dawson, T. V. Matheson, Colonel Trollope, Sir J. Douglas, Sir C. Molgund, Viscount Tufnell, H. Dundas, Admiral Milner, W. M. Tyrell, Sir J. Dundas, Sir David Mitchell, T. A. Walmsley, Sir 5. Dunne, Colonel Moncreiff, James Willyams, H. Ellis, John Morgan, 11. K. Williams, W. Elliot, John E. Morris, David Wilson, James Evans, William Mostyn,:E. M. L. Wilson, Matthew Fergus, John Mulgrave, Earl of Wood, Sir Charles Forster, Matthew Murphy, F. S. Wood, Sir W. P. Freestun, Colonel Ogle, S. C. Glyn, G. C. Paget, Lord Clarence Grey, Sir G. Palmerston, Vis. Grey, Ralph W. Parker, John 1 Guest, Sir John Pilkington, James TELLI.B9. ilayter, W. G. Bill, Lord Ma.rcus NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTiMOUTH, THURSDAY. SAILORS' HOME AT PORTSMOUTII.—A general meeting of the directors and subscribers of this admirable institution took place at the Green-row Rooms yesterday ; Lord George Lennox in the chair. Admiral Sir F. Austen, Admiral Dacres, Admiral J. P. Douglas, Captain Gambier, Captain Sul livan, J. Binstead, Esq., and many other influential per sons were present. A most satisfactory report was read, showing the Home to be in a very flourishing condition, and the inmates increasing. We are most happy to state that a princely and muni ficent donation of fifty guineas has been presented to the Portsmouth Sailors' Home, by Niel Malcolm, Esq., of Poltallock, through Dr. Rolph. The Devastation steam-sloop, Commander Campbell, had her compasses adjusted yesterday by Mr. Madge, the master of the Victory ; and this morning (Thursday) went out of harbour and anchored at Spithead, where she will take on board her powder and live shells. The Vengeance exercised her lower deck guns (firing at a mark) this morning. The Prince Regent, 92, Captain Harris, arrived at Lisbon on Saturday, the 24th. She sailed from Ports mouth May 15, and had to beat down Channel. By let ters from her we hear she made a good passage from the Lizard, which she left on the 18th. With the wind abeam, she is said to have made 12 knots 8-10, tinder double-reefed topsails, topgallant sails, courses, jib, and spanker. Died, at his residence, in King's-street, Southsea, on Wednesday evening, Frederick W. R. Sadler, assistant surgeon, doing duty with the Royal Marine Arti l l er y corps. About a month back we had the melancholy task of announcing the death of a brother of the above gentleman, Mr. John Sadler, a clerk in the dockyard at Portsmouth. These gentlemen, who have both left wives and families, were the sons of Captain F. W. R. Sadler, of the Royal Navy, whose distress of mind at losing both his sons (hisonly children) in the prime of life and in so short a time cannot be described. The Hecate steam-sloop, Commander Hand, wont out to Spithead this evening, after her refit. Rear-Admiral Prescott, 0.13., superintendent of this dockyard, returned this afternoon, after ten days' ab sence, and rehoisted his flag on board the Britannia. The Raleigh, 50, is to be undocked at the next high tides, to make room for the Retribution steam-frigate as soon as she arrives from Lisbon. PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Her Majesty's ship Royal William, 120, was placed in do ck on Monday; her copper proving defective, has been taken off, and she is to be caulked down. The Anchor boy, for service at Bermuda, was launched yesterday; she is reastco, and is now alongside the jetty to be rigged. The Turkish steam-frigate Feizi Bahri, Commander Schamesche Bey, entered the Sound this morning, an d fired a royal salute of twenty-ono guns, which was acknowledged from the citadel, and a salute of Seven teen guns answered from Hamoaze by the fl ag . ship of Port-Admiral Sir John A. Oramaney. Shortly after her arrival she was officially visited by the Turkish Consul, Mr. T. W. Fox, jun., in his yacht, the Grand Turk, which, on keying, was complimented by a salute of seven guns. The frigate left Woolwich on the 2d at three P.M., arrived at Portsmouth on the 3d at nine A.M., sailed therefro m at s even P. M. , and reached this port on the 4th at ten A.M. After embarking fuel she proceeds for Constantinople, calling at Gibraltar and Malta. Yesterday the Dutch steam-frigate Merapi, com manded by Lieutenant H. T.Vun Maldeghem, arrived here from Amsterdam, and, after discharging her powder in the §ohud, proceeded to Nall:4y Fier this Plorairg t 9 coal. She is bound to Batavia, and will probably leave on Saturday. The merchant-brig Naiad, Captain Spence, came in thiJ morning with sugar from the Mauritius; left, Feb. 15; spoke may 18, in long. 16., 0 W., lat. 44.46 N., the ship Forfarshire, from London for Valparaiso, captain sick ; May 24, in long. 14 50 W., let. 48,15 N., the ship Agamemnon, from Liverpool for Bathurst; May 28, in long. 7.32 W., lat. 48.26 N., the ship Sydenham, from Coates for St. Helena. APPOINTMENTS. WoOLITIcii, JUNE s.—Cfnnenander Thomas D. Stew art (1843), and Lieutenant William A. J. Heath (1844), to sudy steam at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard. The Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Master-Com mander Robert Salmond, left Woolwich at a quarter past two o'clock this morning for Portsmouth, and yes terday took on board the furniture of the late Colonel Mitchell, Royal Marine s, for conveyance to the latter M i port. Air. Salmond has suggested several improvements on board the vessel, which would enable him to accom modate a whole regiment comfortably. The Governolo, Sardinian war-steamer, Captain Tho lasono, is to leave Woolwich this afternoon for Genoa. Three of the crew of the vessel have absented them selves, and their equipments have been found, but the search fur their persons has proved ineffectual. NEW ZEALAND. (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) The islands of New Zealand seem destined at no re• mote period to become the " Great Britain" of the southern ocean. They are situated not far distant from our Australian colonies ; the islands abound in timber of the most valuable kinds suitable for ship-building; the coasts swarm with fish, and are the haunt of the spermaceti whale, large numbers of American vessels yearly resorting thither for fishing purposes; and the numerous noble bays and deep inlets all round the coast afford them a safe anchorage during the stormier sea sons of the year. The extent of New Zealand is about the same as that of the British islands. There are two largo islands and one smaller in the group, and several thriving emigrant settlements have already been formed at various points of the two larger or northern islands. In New 'Ulster Island, there are the settlements of Wellington, New Plymouth, and Auckland; and in New Munster, or the Middle Island, there are Nelson Settlement, Canter bury, and Otago. The total British population is about 15,000, and there are about 110,000 native New Zea landers. Tne coast line is of great extent, and very irregular, being broken by numerous bays, inlets, and the wide mouths of numerous rivers. The coast is exceedingly picturesque, and in some places very bold, partaking of the uneven and mountainous character of tke country. Chains of lofty mountains intersect both the northern and southern islands ; and their summits are covered with eternal snow ; their sides being clothed with forest timber up to the very snow line. From these great mountain chains, which form as it were the back bone of the islands, subordinate rattles of hills ex tend on both sides, holding within them much fertile valley land of the richest and most beautiful descrip tion. From these, large tracts of level land stretch away towards the sea, the soil being of considerable depth, and capable of growing the vine and the olive in perfection, as well as corn, flax, potatoes, and all the culinary vegetables of northern Europe. .Even the hill country contains much excellent land, which is pre pared by the natives for the plantation of potatoes and maize, and yields an excellent return by hand labour. The forest land is peculiarly rich, the best proof of which is the immense vegetation which it constantly supports. In spring and summer, autumn, and win ter, there is no visible change in the woods ; they are as beautiful in the depth of winter (which is there exceedingly mild) as in the height of summer. The leaf that falls is immediately replaced by another—the ,withered branch is sup plied by one more vigorous, and there is a constant succession of luxuriant vegetation. The fairest shrubs preserve their beauty all the year round, neither being nipped by the winter's blast, nor scorched by the sum mer's suu. The extremes of cold and heat in all the islands ere confined within comparatively narrow bounds. Being limited in breadth, and surrounded by an immense body of ocean, the temperature is preserved very equa ble; indeed, the climate of New Zealand may be pro nounced the nearest perfection possible. Labour goes on in the open air in summer and winter alike. All emigrants and travellers are agreed on this point. Mr. Carrington, speaking of the climate of New Plymouth, which is situated near the centre of the islands, says— The climate has not been overrated. It is very splen did: it is a magnificent climate. I have seldom or never suffered from cold; I have been up to my middle in water, in the swamps, and have laid down in the same clothes at night for several nights, and have never expe rienced any injury. It is true that the climate is so healthy that you can undergo wettings and great expo sures, without suffering any injurious consequences, such as in England would make a person seriously ill." It is computed that, notwithstanding the hilly charac ter of the country, not less than two-thirds of its whole extent are capable of cultivation; and that it could easily maintain a population as large as that of Great Britain. The native fern, which grows in the forests, on the plains, and up the hill sides, is very rich and nutri tious for cattle. Mr. Earle saw a hundred head of fat cattle at a missionary station, and was surprised to find that, although they never tasted anything but fern, they gave as good milk, and were in as a healthy condition, as though they had grazed on the richest grasses of Lin colnshire. The natural growths of the country, nearly over its whole extent, are these:—first grass, chiefly on the eastern coast of the middle island, in the midst of which the Free Church (Scotch) colony of Otago has been planted; secondly, flax, which grows universally in low situations, and has already been found of consider able value us an article of export; thirdly, fern, which supports large numbers of stock and wild swine in both the northern and the middle island, the fern root being also used by the natives as food; and fourthly, timber, inferior to ❑one in the world. The British Admiralty now imports its spars from New Zealand, and they are also exported for ship-building purpose:, to India, the Brazils, and New South Wales. The soil, when cultivated, grows all descriptions of grain; potatoes grow luxuriantly, and the same land will readily yield two crops in the same year. Maize is very productive, and is largely cultivated by the natives. The ♦ine and the olive also flourish; peaches and water melons are abundant in their season; and figs, oranges, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries, and all the garden produce of this country, thrive remarkably well. In con sequence of the moisture of tho air, and the frsqueut showers from the clouds which are attracted by the lofty hills from the surrounding ocean, there aro none of the destructive droughts to be met with in New Zealand, which aro the scourge of New South Wales. A constant verdure covers the country, and we believe there is no instanco yet of a crop having been lost there for want of rain. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, JUNE 5, 1851. ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. Juno 1. Dream yawl, George Bentinck, E , q„ from Guernsey. 2, Ripple cutter, D. J. Dickerson, Esq., from London. 3. Stella cutter, R. Frankland, Esq., from Lyming ton ; Drift cutter, James Lyon, Esq., trom Portsmouth; Leda schooner, Licut -Cu!onel Smith, from Guernsey; Titania schooner, Robert Stephenson, Eaq., from Cher hour-% 4. 'Elizabeth cutter, Hon. Augustus Moreton, from St. Helen's; Merlin schooner, Culonel Markham, from St. Helen's; Resolution schooner, Duke of Rutland, from the West of Scotland; Turquoise cutter, C. H. Coote, Esq., from SJutharopton. 5. Coquette schooner, Lord Godolphin, from West ward. S AILINGS. 3. Dream yawl, G. Bmtinck, for Plymouth; Flirt schooner, Co!. Sir C. F. Maclean, Bart., ior Hartlepool. YACHTS AT AND ABOUT THE STATION. Titania, Merlin, Resolution, Leda, Drift, Stella, Ripple, Elizabeth, Turquoise, Plover, Meritanis, Spider, Lavrock, Nautilus, Coquette. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. James Lyon, E.q., Mrs. Lyon, and family, arrived at Lord de Grey's house on Tuesday. Colonel Markham and family at Beach Villa this day. Lord Godolphin at Sir J. litppesley's house, and Mr. Maudesley at Rosetta. Lord Somerville has taken Trafalgar House; Captain Hamlyn Williams, Cambridge House; and W. Grove, Esq., the Third Cottage. Thomas Thornhill, Esq., and family, aro to arrive at Norfolk House, on Saturday. Mr. Gorde❑ has taken No. 1, Solent-terrace, and Sir W. Jolliffe, Bart., is in treaty for Belmore House. SMITHFIELD MARKET. —Yesterday the Committee proceeded with the consideration of the clauses sought to be inserted in the Bill, and negatived those proposed on behalf of the Governors of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, as to the appropriation of the open space to be left by the removal of Smithfield market; also the claim put in for compensation on behalf of the churchwardens of St. Sepulchre, in respect of a present rate charge of 6001. a year on the market. It is understood to be the intention of the Committee not to grant compensation to the persons resident in or about Smithfield for any alleged loss or injury the removal of the ma/het may occasion. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Abscesses, Piles, Fistulas, and Ulcerous Sores can be cured by using Holloway's Oint ment and Pills.—The very satisfactery results arising from the use of this invaluable ointment, in cases where patients have been sufferinm from abscesses, u l cers, piles, and fistulas, or bear i ngs down, have induced several of the medical profession, eminent for their skill, to introduce it into the hospitals and their pri vate practice, and in many instances where the sufferer was . considered incu ra bl e H o l loway ' s Ointment, in con j unct i o n with h w his Pills, has h ea l e d t h e most desperate woun d s a fter every edicine other remedy h a d b een tried in vain. Th ere is n known that can equal i t for the cure o f scrofula, diseases of th e s ki n. —S o ld b y a ll Druggist Loudon. and a Holloway' s E sta bli s h ment, 2 4 4 , Strand, st professor no medicine and THE GREAT CHESS TOURNAMENT. The play in on Wednesday. this very interesting contest was continued I lerr Howitz, having vanquished his first w ith Mr. Staunton. i first antagonist, had now the perilous honour of contending The struggle excited very great interest among the amateurs present. Mr. Staunton is, i since the a t g h t e he re c t h ir a e rn m p e i n o t n f o ro f m E t h b g e . field of Mr. Lewis, acknowledged as an ingenious player, is land. Herr Howitz, well known for his power of playing without particularly distinguished " game played was a very fine one, and seeing the board. xb)eetations of the spectators. After a fully justified the which i . lasted . eleven hours, r. Staunton severe struggle, was defeated, Herr Howitz winning the first game of the series. The remaining players well sustained their reputa tion. The games were good, and well co n t es t e d . Mr. Wil liams was again successful against Mr. Mucklow, having wo n three games; one more entitles him t o p l ay again . lw captain Kennedy won a game of Mr. Wyvill, h av i ng thus won two games to one. M. Szen also defeated Herr An deresen two to one. The provincial play era are ping on with their watches. WILFUL BURNING OF THE KURR4.. MANY EAST INDIAMAX THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE LIVES LOST. Last month we briefly announced the destruction by fire of the Kurramany Eist Indiamrn, Ceptain J. Hogg, commander, on the night of the 7th of April hsty a few hours a`ter she had taken her departure for the Mauritius, from Calcutta. Subsequent delails received yesterday not only con firm the truth of that announcement, but communicate, we regret to say, a most frightful loss of human life, up wards of three hundred and sixteefive persons having perished by the burning of the ill-fated ship. The event has caused the deepest sensation amongst those con nected with the East India trade, more particularly as there appears to be every reason for supposing that the ship was wilfully set on fire by some of the crew. The unfortunate ship was a large vessel, nearly 1,000 tons measurement. She had on board, on leaving Cal cutta, besides a crew of one hundred and eleven sea men, three hundred and fifty-four emigrants, natives of the Ganj atu district .visiolsy The o not igniterice and provisions, On the articlesn cargo on which ot above mentioned h boar could d was the spontaneously.shipp was brought up for the night some distance off Kedgeree. At ten o'clock the Mr. Porter, who had ch arge o f t h e ship, was alarmed by the cry of fire, by one of the female emigrants, and oil gaining the deck was astounded by finding the ship was on fire fore and aft. She was then riding flood tide. With the captain he attempted to unshackle the chain, and get her before the wind ; but on account of the fierceness of the flames they were obliged to abandon the attempt, and take refuge on the bowsprit. Four hundred people were crowded on the poop. Some made a rush to the quarter boats, hanging on the davits. A number of emigrants got into one of these—the tackle falls of which were carried away by their weight, and many of the poor creatures were thrown out and drowned. The ca p_ fain, with the chief mate and second mate, with Mr. Porter, got down on the jib-boom, which had fall* under the bows, and were there buffeted by the waves, with a heevy sea running, till the second mate could not hold any longer, and sunk. The scene in the mean while was most awful; the poor creatures flung thems selves off the burning ship, in all directions, into the gu, preferring death by drowning. None of them were AR! afterwards. Within three hours after the outbreak of the fire the ship was almost burned down to the water's edge. A steamer picked up the survivors, 99 in num ber, the next morning. They were hanging on the burning wreck up to their neck in water. The annexed statement is from Captain Hogg, the master of the ill-fated vessel, written on the morning after the fire:— " To describe the scene of last night in the total de struction of my ship, below Kedgeree, quite surpasses the power of language. But it being incumbent on me to make a statement of such facts as lam able to relate con nected with the catastrophe, I lose no time in forwarding them to you. Having retired at an early hour, I was awoke by Mr. Porter (the pilot in charge of the ship), with the alarm of fire. This was about ten minutes past ten o'clock at night, the fire having been discovered by some of the emigrants, who alone gave the alarm. I instantly hastened on deck, but my way forward was sosobsfruoted by the unfortunate people, that I found it very difficult to force a passage to the fore part of the ship. How ever, before I got to the fore-hatch the deck was so in volved with dense smoke, that emerged from the fore scuttle, that I could not see anything before me, and had to grope to the forecastle. In vainl sang out for all hands —nay own men, of course—but very few paid any atten. tion. All my efforts to get the buckets and assistance were in vain. The chief officer was at this time in be tween decks, but was at last driven up, and with Mr. Porter and the second officer of the ship, ono Tindal, and six Lascars, got forward on the topgallant forecastle, and at this instant the flames burst forth out of the fore-scuttle and fore-hatch with immense force, and the ship riding head to wind, with a fresh breeze from the southward—almost as quick as thought the deck cuddy, and cabins, and all were enveloped in flames. The emigrants wore all assembled on the poop. I cannot describe the scene that ensued amongst them—it was perfectly horrible. They attempted to launch the quarter bouts, but they broke down from the immense weight that filled them. I believe that all who were not precipitated into the sea by the falling of the boats jumped overboard to escape from the flames. We forward could do nothing towards the safety of ourselves or others but stand and watch the devouring element, work ing its way towards masts, rigging, and all were on fire. As it approached us we retreated on to the bowsprit and jibboom, but having cut away all the headstays and rig ging, to prevent the foremast falling forward and effect ing an immediate destruction. Suddenly the jibboom, with several persons on it, broke off by the bowsprit cap, but being connected with the ship by all the rigging belonging to it, it still hung under the bows. We who were on the bowsprit remained there till driven off by the intense heat. We then descended into the sea, and supported ourselves on the broken jibboom. Our only hopes of being saved were through the mercy of God, and the assistance any vessel might afford us. Hanging on un. der the bows, we saw the ,starboard chain, by which the ship was riding at the time, run out in a way which con vinced me that it must have been unshackled preparatory to the event. The ship then drifted several miles, we still hanging on, witnessing the consumption of the hull, spars, &c., until the larboard anchor dropped from the bows. The cable was red hot. This brought the ship up. By this time two steamers, the Rattler and Union, the crews of which bad seen the flames at a distance, had bore to our assistance, and anchoring close to the wreck, dispatched their boats, by fe hich means we—Mr. Porter, Mr. Turner, the chief (Sneer, myself, and six Lascars—were rescued from our awful &na tion. Mr. Andrews, the second officer, having let go his hold from utter exhaustion before the boats reached us, sank, and was seen no more. Mr. Clarke (the leads man), the third officer, and Mr. Butler, were not seen after the alarm of fire eras given. Those who were saved were all but naked. About five o'clock we heard cries for help from some of the unfortunates, a boat was imme diately lowered in search of them, and the steamer was got under weigh; in a short time we succeeded in picking up five individuals. After daylight, several others were picked up, some on spars and bits of wood, others were supporting themselves above water by swimming. The ship, Royal Albert, and the ship, Tutta Monbarack, came up to our aid, and in the course of the morning the masters manned three boats and sallied out in all directions, if possible to save any of the poor creatures who might be floating. The masters rendered every assistance fu their power. The steamer Rattler, in her passage up the Channel picked up several emigrants alive. Among them I noticed was the ecrang of the ship. About noon, in coming up the river, with ono of the ships in tow, a cluster of poor creatures were descried float ing ou portions of the wreck in the Mud Point Chan nel. The ship was instantly cast off, and boats sent to rescue the sufferers, who were twenty-three in number. no ber r . Fortunately they were ell saved. We saw no o th ers, have I heard whether the beats met with any. I am ht afraid no more will be found. e out of 463 persons who were on emi grants and 111 seamen, all Up havebta board, dh been vpizr saverspresent a r e Mr. Porter, Mr. Turner, ho mys w e iseee n m pe ig oni ra e nt o s f a t n n d e 0 2 t 9 he ei r the crew, making in all 99 . What has e is d only knows. It ie praise due to the 3 6 6 n 6 t , n u n s elSelrf.oer me e k t m o n a d d his d t s h e a r t v aenvte, ever l in ta t t n ti t eir on a e n d d , U:sio .no n, etr a o s r a d l e se d ctoowthmossiende.f‘rtithoef tnhtchsetreasmheiprss every officers, Mr. Turner, chief, and M r. ass i s t a nce in their power. I should be doing en injustice to my Andrews, second, if I were to pass unnoticed their in trepid exertions to render assistance to the unfortunate people who were jumping overboard in all directions. Tese officers, apparently disregarding their own safety till all !service to others was impossible, remained aft, throwing overboard hen coops and all other moveable articles they could get hold ef, till all had disappeared ; they then worked their way forward on the outside of the ship. " A general impression prevails that the ship was wilfully tired by the Lascars, who had but two or three days previously received three months' pay in advance, in order to escape the performance of the services for which they had been paid. This is strength ened by the statements of several of the survivors. The pilot servant states, on the aldirra being given, ho attempted t o get f orwar d, but finding it was impossible, he made his way to the poop, where he found a number of Lascars engaged lowering a boat. He jumped in with them, it capsized, but they all e managed to get ashore at Kedgeree, was surprised to find that these men were in new tied u clothes, the rest of their clothes with th em, , was P a in bundles, and their money. Among t h e m t.e vessel, where man who had charge of the in e st o o f res the of ropes, blocks, paint, &c. Las cars h were supposed to have formed part S inghamshire, which met with the I~up ramanyeen ramany only v f the diabolical act. The obtained of the perpetrators oosofshnthielserref a few weeks pre ship was not insured." pre sentedo U s 0 TRH SUFFERANCE IVRARFUNGERS OF SOUTHW ARIK piecelllole o sw f orth, • —On Wednesday', a testimonialplate y the sufferance d i nn er took place at thbw3;,idgweans whartingers of S outhwark, as a of his serv i ces i n ll o t e I at vv i t w h h a i c v h 0 6 1. y i r h l a V n i l l s i i o a m m e assisting to obtain an extension of the privilege of landing foreign merchandize at the wharfs on the Surrey side of the river. The chair was taken by Dlr. George Scovell, and a b ou t 80 gentleme n assembl ed to do honoit to their repre sentative upon the occasion, SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—This company have now got rid of all their opponents, their Bill for making an arran gement with the tw o c l asees of share h o ld e rs having now received the sanction of the two Houses of Parliament, and awaiting only the Royal assent. The directors will now forthwith decl are a di v id end, for t h e first time—a v welcome incident t o th e s h areholders. ery It is fully expected that the traffic in the ensuing half-year will be such as to justify a dividend of 2A per cent. at the close of the year. LUSTS FOR HER MOST GRACIOU3 MAJESTY THE QUEEN.— At the first exhibition of the. South Devon Bota nical and Horti c ult ura l Society, 11 - ! r• William E. Rendlo nur ser yman, Plymouth, e Royal permission for her exhibited four magnificent specimens of rhododendrons, intended ) ,by the plants were literally most Gracious Majesty the 41e on. loaded with large and han dsome trusses of flowers; they were in fine condition, a nd we ll worthy of the admiration of s Royalty. On Friday,the 23d ult., these specimens were for warded to Buckingham P a lace, and in a few days Mr. Rendlo ,Col. t B received a most grat c h io e u repl pleasin y g through intellige th he Hon. C. at the plant . s Phipps, conveying and had been much admired by the Queen. had arrived safely , a . • West of hat the remedy for the delays in the It is stated t be • dthis Chaucer}', to propose ev , eritig will be the Court of C England Conscrtatzve. hanc o_ e intment of two new judges to succeed Sir J. K. Bruce and Lord Cranworth, those learned persons belng Lord Chancellor's Court to hear appeals, draftedimmediaiitletoa ce of the Chief Judge is Equity,.. with or without the presence appointment aironicle.