The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

q~~ oa t , Sta n , "t generelly used on the transfer of personal 'ot i t .'''"Y• 'With respect to the second question, he could ; Y Viet there were many things which he would I'e el l . willing ts do ; hut he did not wish to encumber j . et t f his propositior. G s ,,: beIILLY could not agree with the Right Hon. An se l m an as regarded his proposi ion to increase the ita r ll t stamp duty on leae.es in Irelitrl. It was t f great th at deco that leases should be nenerally granted in lei Th th e th, ? . ntraa ald that increase ( f duty ' would interfere e p m , Pits a '` ( 11 1-Nr; ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his rt,,'"cien on the who's, woul I considerably reduce the lo gos „ duty on h aces in Ireland. On some classes of ltli s j:„ 1 " would, no d mbt, increase them; but upon the eot th ese would be a reduction. liia tit tel SIBTHORP thought it hardly fair of his lli;' • 'ion. Friend to claim a surplus while the debts of a,,e° a ntry remained still unpaid. He was sorry the teds erna leht had given no intimation of an intention to th tt ee the duty on fi:e insurances. if they did reduce dost,l lu tY one-half he was satisfied they would obtain sire' e present revenue from them. os,: REYNOLDS admitted the proposition of the la,:,henent was an improvement upon the present sp.- (4 4 i ; utit he regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman Ir e i 4 °t extend the indulgence shown to this country to 'ta t t i l . c l• By the late regulation of the st imp law, Ire iter,,"'4l 15 0,000/, a year additional placed upon her for est,• l ',i staaap duty—no doubt by the way of compen la, i ' mr the income-tax—though Ireland had no clear Hs .e , s () lne in existence. He w a s sorry that the Right eat at ' , entlenian did not propose to relieve solicitors i s th: tc) rheYs in Ireland, who had to pay 81. per annum sai l ,' c ountry and 12/ in Dublin, though the stamps I,isi • their indentures and admission cost no less than loo p , A 3 regaaded the stamp duties upon bills, the ktls„ 4l of th e Ri g ht Hon. Gentleman would be a ells 41C6`:ge to th e p oorer c l ass o f bill-d ra w e r s by makin g lod es ''' stamp necessary, when a 6d. stamp was now iii i i„ l ' ll t in bills under 101. He regretted, also, that the 'ill ee j w tax was not abolished, though it was not paid t o try for he thought that in no well-governed lifd: should there be an impost upon light and air. ati a l r IERBERT was understood to say that the stamp °llit i el tse above 100/. a y e ar would cause a higher tax he tenant than was now paid. h sDn e e IIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he i t . • -Bed s es, . 0 assimilate the stamp duties in both coun ,r4 k 1 T he effect would be to reduce the duty on leases I, res,,,TwE r tmount„ and increase it on those of a high Itl ' there were some cases of exception in Ire lello t i f Irish Members preferred to retain these excep edn't,le could not help thinking them in error; but he kte.want to r a i s e the questi o n if Irish Members did sir ire i t. !ks j ' PRBES said the proposition of the Government Ifk,„4licrous as a'compensation for the distress and 11 / 4 1, - ,, t t under which, as' the Right Hon, Gentleman 1 1 0 , - ,"slitted, the country now laboured. The Chan likllesc' the Exchequer professed great sympathy for the " 5 1aa• teennta; but he (Mr. Forbesa should have 4 a7t More if the Government if the Right Hon. Gen ,4:4- l 'sd proposed to relieve thorn. .The reduction of "s s ,„% n P duty on leases would not relieve the tenant— ,,,le,(lo"Y in Scotland, where they were settled without ' i lea' 'lamps. The flourish about the brick duty was 'aere ludicrous. What benefit could it confer on L t as - " , Where houses were for the most part built of kl,,, ° ' Upon' many of the a;ricultural distaicts in ,Li ~, and Ireland ? Tne Chancellor of the Exche lli V 'poke of a probable rise in the price of corn ; r::' 4 l not stated the probable amount, nor what Ntt s ,: t Would be likely ta stand at, between 345. the 1 ,1 1 , 4;' the present price, and 565, the price which was N j o.q e°'u nerating to the farmer. Nor had the Right A e ntletnan stated when he would come forward N. P '"Pesition calculated to raise the present ruinous ~l4s, t „ ~'"'9as , ,'"lOAN reminded the Chancellor of the Ex .",(l ~,- that a great majority of the holdings in Ire ta,,,,•e'e tinder 501., and so far as that country was ~,l i ss,„"e t i the principle of the measure, which was to Thy the humbler classes, could not be carriad out. ,e , l IANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, v,a l :,'''„e questions of detail, and it would be better to flis - s t° ena till the Bill was before the House. , 'es Motion was then agreed to. i t 04 e, i. _ e resumed, and the report was ordered to ~ red to-morrow. la t DRAINAGE OF LAND. gi m pouse then went into Committee on the drainage liovernent of land. ,Io,„ I ANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER said, he ',L i r:ones° to the House a resolution, authorising 'Ni s :: of the Treasury to advance, for the purposes ,Ir e i ge and improvement of land in Great Britain •ka h l 'Os a sum not exceeding 3,000,000/. sterling. biPlecessary for him to recer to the benefits to be !lik' r tl the measure, and he should therefore con vii,;l:lf a ith moving the resolution. . ° JACK ALLsuggestecithe propriety of extend lissa,°a.iects for which the money would be granted ,reasury. lih e i l IANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had it , 3 resolution so large, and in such general terms, lith" 11 41 be competent for Hon. Members to propose its, ; t ohjects. It would be inconvenient to express , i so '°, ll , upon that point now, but the Hon. Gentle itthsum not be precluded from moving grants fur a l i t , Prop er mode of improving land. i 7 „ 4l ', OYARD said this appeared to him a very sti ° t -40 e mode of proceeding. It was raising reye ton,4t caoital, as had been done by some of the ratl - Whether the money was to be ad 'wa ° re the money in hand, or was to be raised by ai ll ! , was immaterial to his argument. He un ta,,,Lhe money was to be repaid by instalments, in s e of the next twenty years, and he wanted to k t , ) il ether th ese re pay me nts were to he carried to (hilt of the revenue, supposing there happened to 'it, or w e re they to go to a fund to he appro. s '„ t Pees,l , for the reduction of the richt? 04 ) 4 , w ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the 6 ,i 4 s exceedingly simple. Non-payments of that 'te lt t li',ever—so far as he was aware—been carried to , th - '‘ of the revenue; nothing could be more mond -11011 such a proceeding; but those sum, ha b een carried to the credit cf the Consolidated ka„." o had stated the other night that, as these re ,3„ exceeded the advances and began to accu tt,,,r'e hoped that 'some future Chancellor of the 1 ,“,„ 4• Would do what be would then be justly l' v h cia to do—namely, to apply the money to the itl" "f the public debt of the country. 1 pi 4 wer to questions from several . other Hon. a . .0 1 4NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said •,Itti t t e nearly all questions of detail which . it would ih be nearly to reserve until the Bill was printed and lo tt ,arfa of Hon. Members. 01 GULLY regretted the sum to be advanced to Is, ' l 's so small, and thought that the construction It'.l4lL i nQs of railway would be more advantageous. 5( ` - ' , •NSELL wished to know what was the . real th . a lr , e ease with regard to arterial drainage in Ire la' Whether abuses in the management t f the kllvailed? He suggested that the Right Hon. Gen isa4,,h'nild be prepared to make some statement on p'vrbefore the Bill again came on for discussion. ,/eiI s g ANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER said it t ap ally impossible that the Treasury could exer 'Oro' in detail over the drainage works going on Ir, itl attsr of Ireland. They had dune all they could, it h • e ht over an eminent engineer officer to overlook ti „tor s t,f drainage in Ireland. r t :AAS said the statement that had been made 5f it goad reason why they should have au amen oti e 4. l N )r e a l ; A li L ag , e o A n c I Act. the EXCHEQUER said vs, t4 hything went wrong in Ireland tne Govern asked to bring in an Act of Parliament. If lo se Lord b a d a ny complaint to make, he ought to 'S h e„ Board o f Works, and no' to the Treasury. I,i t AFFORD said, after what they had heard, ti e hot be much surprised if there was a very ani ltOsle in the next stage of the Bill. He had al it' t hat although there might be some advantage 1 4) 1 of grants, there were also disadvantages, t :,aally, th ere f ore , h e wou ld n eve r take a f a rthing I libi ° hey. The Right Hon. Gentleman said it was ii, for the Treasury to control those abuses, but I sYstem might be devised. I fij r ' 4 NCELLOR of the 'EXCHEQUER said no iks Ile had not admitted the existence of any IQ° had stated that in all those cases applications r t; tt latie to the Board of Works, and not to the ''s • s : The Government bad bai appeal after ap tiii'4 the Irish Members, and they had been told "eir.hveragan that where three parties were in its,4,l' land, and wished to have it drained, they fla, l l s agree unless the Government interfered. ',lii 'IN LEY said it had been shown in evidence be ts,'4s hMiscellaneous Committee, that the Board . of 75,,,,,,s very much overloaded with duties. Giving "iilit to the Government for a wish to do their ,es 4 t ,uteught it was impossible they could do it in ',.. 1 f,;,. ti t ease. He was not surprised to hear com- VII the Irish Members as to the way in which ' ' 'l„ . Works had been carried on. He believed that ) t i; t e! had bean taxed iu a manner not very saris ' t hem. ''lr ROGAN did not think that the Government 'rPlything better than to advance the money fur ,Vit named. He would suggest to the Govern- Pl:topriety of permitting the immediate parties Na . ," :l the arterial drainage to execute these im ,'4•\',,s themselves, under the supervision of the ~ r,,, ,o rks. All unnecessary expenses in the exti- I /4 11 ,,e5e works would be thereby avoided. It;" r :LAWNY felt it necessary to eater his : s ti le any of these grants being made, as he had 1 1 ( ;, 4 eted by his constituents to say that they had ~L ' es"., tl apply to these purposes. There were many N ' e hces attending the present proposition. Oce Is t he lion. Members themselves did net agree ' I IIPtY in which the money was to be divided, a s .', l : was holding out an inducement to the Irish v pt to demand money for railways and other , 11 1 4 There was no end to these demands. He did i t , "ere they were to stop. It appeared to him olas but a part of a great Socialist or Corn- Jerrie The Chancellor of the Exchequer him it, . • t ti rnishei the best argument that could be made ,'ltt ' ,ll ) roposition when he said that it was impos :a "'ere could be a supervision of the management f tNeeted improvements. 4'%,th(loltNlAN MAHON reminded the Hon. i lt - "at this was not to be a grant., but a loan of 4T, - , 4 most excellent security. They had the evi- Iktih: 4o Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of h 'Tier himself that these loans had been paid *Ste Ireland than any ether portion of the 4' ; ] ;AlRESexplained. t , k i t , Ct-lIT had spent some days during the last 't o visiting those extensive works, and he was a l 's 84 Y that the mode in which those works were tei ot t 7 1„ . :-. on was, to him, extremely satisfactory. It '-' Part' 1 iv to Castleber, Galway, and other , t • .Cl.l 1r . A 4L the west of Ireland. He examined those Utely,.. ..L e iy , ,Aat through the system of book- THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, keening, wages, cheques, and control which the superior officer in Duniin had over the expenditure of the money, and the whole seemed to him to be well arranged and conducted in such a manner as to make it impossible that there could be any waste of money or any defau:t in the expenditure. He ba•l the sad:fiction of seeing a large number of persons employed and receiving in struction in various kinds of labour. Without meaning to defend any particular works, or to say that th-y were judicious or no►, he was sure that there were able men at the places he had named superintending these works and preparing large tracts of land fir proper cultivation which only for their exertions would lie for a great por tion of the year entirely waste and unproductive. Col me! CHAT FERTON observed that the Board of Works La I made themselves very Impopusar in Ireland. The resolution was then agreed to, the House resumed, and the Chairman reported progress. PARLIAMENTARY VOTERS, &c. (IRELAND) BILL. The House then went into Committee upon the above Bill. Oa clause 7, which was the case of joint occupiers, bt in , proposed, Sir. MONSELL said he was not going to object to the clause, but he wished to call the attention of the Government to the position in which many of the borough constituencies in Ireland would be h ft after the Bill was passed. In England there were 187 cities and boroughs, of which 11 had constituencies less than 300. In Ireland there mere 33 cities and b.roughs, 10 of which would have constituencies under 300. This was a state of things deeply to Le deplored, inasmuch as it gave rise to the greatest bribery and corruption. In Wales or Scotland there was no such small censtatien cie,, le cause the system of combining the smaller b_ roughs together, for the purpose of forming a p roper number of constituents to be represented by one Member, was fully carried out. Although there were many ob jections to that system, yet upon a balance of two evils he thought it was the least. He wished to impress upon the Government the propriety of applying the same prin ciple to Ireland, and thereby to lessen the temptation to bribery and corruption. He trusted that the Govern ment would be prepared to say that they would consider this suggestion during the Easter recess, and that they would state their views upon the point upon the resump- tion of business after the holidays. Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the Hon. Member meant that boroughs at present returning Members ehould be combined together, he (Lord J. Russell) would have the greatest objection to such a proposition, as it would have the effect of reducing the present number of representatives. But if he meant to combine boroughs flaying small canstituencei with neighbouring small towns, for the purpose of increasing the number of con stituents, he confessed such a proposition was not open to such objections. There were, however, many difficul ties in the way of forming the limits and boundaries of boroughs thus extended—difficulties to be consi dered both in principle and detail. He certainly did not see such objections to this proposition as to induce him to say that the Government would certainly oppose it if it was brought forward. The question was one which would be duly considered by the Government, and they would be prepared to state their views before they took any decisive course upon it.—(Herr.) After a ftw words from Mr. G. A. HAMILTON, Sir D. NORREYS was understood to object to the proposition of the Hon. Member for Limerick, on the ground that it would have the effect of reducing the number of county electors. Mr. MONSELL said that the proposition, if carried, would not affect his constituents, inasmuch as the county which he represented contained no borough within it. Not so as regarded the Hon. Member fur Mallow; for, according to " Doel's Parliamentary Companion," bis influence was unbounded in that particular borough. The Hon. Member, did not, therefore, look at the ques tion with quite so impartial an eye. Mr. F. FRENCH said that the suggestion of the Hon. Member for Limerick was very important, as many of tho Irish constituencies would be considerably reduced by the operation of this Bill. Colonel RAWDON thought that the proposition o the Hon. Member was well worthy of consideration, bu it should bo recollected that the great antagonistic inlo. rest to the landlords was in the towns. Mr. B. 061308 NE said, that whatever was proposed by the lion. Member for Limerick was proposed in a spirit for the benefit of Ireland. No one had the wel fare of the country more at heart than the Hon. Member, and he deserved the thanks of the House for the sugges- tion he had Made. It was one which the Government would do well to consider, not only as regarded Ireland, but also England. By uniting those boroughs they would do more for the purity of election than by any measure they had as yet adopted. As an example, he would take New Ross. Its constituency under the Re form Bill was 190. At this moment the constituency consisted of 80 people. If they enacted this 8/. rating they would have it reduced to 50 people. It; however, they joined this borough with Enniscorthy, or other towns, they would be sure to have a highly respectable and numerous constituency. Sir D. NORREYS explained. Mr. GROGAN hoped the Noble Lord would direct his attention to the subject, with a view of introducing seine measure to meet the sugg. stion, as Hon. Members on both sides of the House were unanimous in their ap proval of it. Mr. SADLEIR also expressed himself in favour of the proposition. Colonel CHATTERTON was understood to refer to the last election for Cerk as a proof that the people there were favourable to protection. He observed that tae apathy that prevailed was the cause why numbers whose names might bo on the registry did not appear there. He declared himself in favour of an annual revision of the registry. Mr. REYNOLDS understood, he said, that the pro position of his Hon. Friend the Member for the county Limerick, was that all boroughs where there were less ' than 300 electors should be for election purposes asso elated with neighbouring towns.—(Hear.) He thought that was a very reasonable proposition, and the best proof that it was so was the present, and what he ex pected would be the future, condition of the borough of Poi terlington.—(Elear.) That borough would have, un der the present Bill, 110 persons rated to the relief of the poor at 8/. and upwards. Deducting-, as his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland said ought to be de ducted, one-fitth from that number, they would find the constituency reduced to 88, and the Hon. and Gallant Member for Purtarlington stated that the constituency would not be more than 75. If the Hon. and Gallant Member *sere correct in his figures he asked if there were any person to say that the borough of Port srlington was reforms I, when, having 177 voters under the pre sent law, they we re to be reduced to 75 under the new reform law ?—(Hear.) He was reminded that there a ere no freemen to be found in Portarlington. He was glad to hear it, because if there were, they would be as everywhere else—like cattle in the market, and to be sold to the highest and best bidder. They had been told by the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman who had just sat down, that the party of the Protectionists had tri umphed in Cork by a majority of 209. Now if there 209 who voted exclusively from the love of protection, and not for love of money, then they must have so voted from a love of a dear loaf. He (Mr. Reynolds) knew the people of Cork well, and he was sure they had no such inclinations as the Hoe. and Gallant Gentleman ascribed to them, and he invited the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman to teat that constituency on t h e po i nt w h en the new consinuency under the present Bill was formed. It was his opinion, that the suggestion of the Hon. Member or Limerick must be adopted, or they must throw the representation c f Portarlington into the Queen's County at large ; for, to give to a town with 75 voters the power of returning a member, would be as absurd as to enfranchise Old Sarurn or any other of the rotten boroughs.—(Elear, hear.) As to the objection made by the Honourable Baronet the Member for Mallow, that the proposed plan would weaken the popular strength in the counties, he must say that he had no such apprehension; and he asked if it would not be an improvement in the estim etion of the Hon. Baronet that Penney and Mallow should have voices in the re presentation of Mallow, either by himself or another. He thought, too, that it would be an improvement if Cashel, which, under the new law, would have 130 votes, should have added to it .the important towns of Tipperary and Thurles. An Hole. MEMBER—And Nenagh. Mr. REYNOLDS—Yes, and Nenagh; he bad not the least objection to Nenagh being include]. The making thee. changes could not weaken the popular power. They would not take more than 1,000 voters, and he believed that under the provisions of the Bill there would he 16,000.. In Tipperary the deducting of th e voters for the boroughs would not have any effect in a county that had always been remarkable for sending in dependent Members to that House. He remem bered his Right Honourable Friend the Master of the Mint being returned by a majority of 1,300. That was a period prior to there being imposed upo n hi m what he called a lucrative taciturnity.—(Laughter.) But he trusted to see him recognised, as he had always been by him, as the living leader of the Irish people, and he was one who would be exceedingly sorry that any com bination of circumstances should diminish the number of his Right Hon. Friend's supporters in that or any other part of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, too, that it would be no loss to Dundalk if it were associated with the patriotic town of Ardee. They had always heard of the purity of the bo ro u g h of Athlone, yet pure as it was, it would not suff e r i n its independence if it were asso ciated with the neighbouring towns of Roscommon and Westmeath. With regard to Ennis, he was sure that his Hon. Friend would have no objection that the elec tors of Ennis should be enlarged, because it would afford to him an advantage of a large number of his country men attesting their sense of his merits, his virtues, and his integrity. He would therefore beg to connect with Ennis the town of Kilrush.—(Laughter.) Ho trusted that Ennis would yet become what it had once been—an exc. e Jingly important town. He was glad to hear the Noble Lord had responded to the suggestions of the Hon. Member for the county Limerick. Sir W. SOMERVILLE wished that Hon. Members would proceed with the consideration of the Bill. Mr. PAGAN, hoped that time would be given to them to ascertain the opinions of the people of Ireland on the subject. It was his opinion that the popular interest would be endangered by the proposition of the Hon. Member for Limerick. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON remarked that there was an increase of the constituency in the couniies, and a decrease in the constituency in the towns eaused by this Bill. Mr. STAFFORD remarked that the effect of the pro posed change would be, for instance in Clare, that Kil rush, which had two votes for Members of the county, the electors there, if this proposition were adopted, would have but one vote. Claute 7 was agreed to. Upon clause 8 being proposed, Mr. FAGAN moved that a proviso be added to the clause, which would have the effect of continuing on the registry for eight years Vlose who had that right at pre amt. By their Dill they deprived the householders of their votes and continued the freemen, whom they repudiated under their reformed corporate system. Sir W. SOMERVILLE opposed the proviso. It would establish in boroughs a right which they had al rerdy decided should not be extended to counties. By this Bill the voters should be revised every year, and freemen would be so obliged to register under this Act. Mr. BRIG 11T observed that the Bill proposed to make a very considerable addition to the constituency. It did so in the counties ; but the case was very different in the boroughs, where the eff, et would be to dimi nish the number of electors—and that, too, electors under a Ref om Bill franchise. He considered it a very serious thing for that House to disfranchise any elector whose corruption was not proved. Those electors in boroughs were surely as worthy of sympathy from every portion of that House as were the freemen. The AT rORNEY-GENERAL objected to the pro viso as opposed to the principle. cf the Bill. After a few words from Mr. F. French and Colonel Dunne in support of the proviso, and M. Grogan in opposition to it, Mr. REYNOLDS called the attention 'of the Com mittee to the condition of the ,householders, who were unjustly trested by the bill. At present they were not liable to rates, and now they would be deprived of their rights, and if voters would have to pay poor rates before being regi,t Ted. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said it struck him that the amendment went further than the Hon. Member f)r Manchester seemed to think, and that any person who possessed the qualification now, would have it perpetu ated after the expiration of the eight years. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the proviso ... 38 Against it ... 80 Majority against the proviso ... —42 The clause was then ordered to stand part of the Bill, as were also clauses to the 14th inclusive. On clause 15, enacting that the clerk of the peace in counties should prepare lists of persons now registered, Sir R. FERGUSON proposed the omission of the words, " excluding nevertheless from such lists all per sons registered under the said Act in respect of any qua lification heretofore requiring the elector to be or to have been in the actual occupation of the premises." The lion. Member explained his object to be that when once a voter was placed on the registration list his name should be retained there unless notice of disqualification should have been served. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the amendment, and said that the clause as it stood would prove more simple and far less expensive in its ope ration. Mr. VESEY—The Bill had been brought in as a boon to the people of Ireland. According to the clause as it stood, however, he denied that in maly cases it would be considered as a boon; for, under this clause, no matter whether a person wished it or not, if he possessed the qualification required by the Bill, he was at once placed upon the register, and must be invested with the right of voting. No person, who knew anything of Ire land, could fail to be acquainted with the agitations and heartburnings which were attendant upon elections in that country. On the one hand, the clergy were anxious to drag the voter to the hustings on the popular side; while, on the other hand, the landlords were equally anxious to drag him t.) the poll to serve their purposes. The evil of this system was ielt to be so great that in numerous instances in Ireland the people bad refused to come forward at all; hence the small number of electors in that country had given rise to the necessity for this Bill. His own county supplied an apt illustration of the truth of this. Sir G. GRE said that if the amendment were adopted it would not remedy the inconvenience com plained of. Mr. ANSTEY supported the clause. Major BLACICALL said if the House passel the clause as it was, and if they thus caused those parties to be put upon the register, one-half of them would not pay their poor rates in order not to be in that position. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the clause. After a few words from Mr. G. A. HAMILTON and Mr. GROGAN, Mr. SHELL said that whatever might be the evil of an electoral contest, let them, for God's sake, avoid a re gistration contest. Deprecating the undue exercise of influence of the landlord on the one band, and of the priest on the other, he, for that reason, opposed the clause proposed by his Hon. Friend. Colonel THOMPSON said the coming amendment of the Hon. Member for Kerry (the ballot) would give a better remedy than any that had been proposed. After an observation from Mr. FORBES, the Com mittee divide], when there appeared— For the amendment Against it ... 42 ... 145 Majority On clause 15 being proposed, Mr. CLEMENTS moved an amendment with the view to the substitution of the clerk of the union for the high constable, as the officer to prepare the lists of per sons qualified to vote, to make the objections indica el in clause 19, and to receive general claims and objec tions; and the clerk of the peace as the officer to cause them to be printed and exhibited; also that the lists should be made out by parishes and townlands alpha betically. Ile then would propose the postponement of the next clauses down to cla•ise 19 inclusive, with the view of introducing the clauses which had been delivered as a separate paper. ... --103 Sir V. sokbiltviLLE was prepared, on the part of the Government, to acquiesce in the amendment, which he thought an improvement, as tending to save expense and facilitate the operation of the Bill. The clause was then agreed to, with amendments;- and clauses 16, 17, 18, 19 were struck oat. On clause 20 having been proposed, a loag and desul tory conversation ensued, and various verbal amend ments were suggested. After some discussion, Mr. FRENCH moved au amendment, the effect of which was understood to be to save the franchise in case of a change of residence. The Committee- divided on the proposition, and the numbers were— For the amendment ... ... 57 Against it ... ... 144 Majority against it ... ...-87 The clause, as amended, was then agreed to. On the motion of Sir G. GREY, clauses from 21 to 26 inclusive were struck out, for the purpose of being afterwards brought up with amendments. Clauses 27 and 2fi were agreed to. On clause 29, which enacts that the town-clerk should give notice requiring the payment of the poor-rates, Viscount NAAS opposed the clause, as being one which would entail unnecessary expense. The clause, however, was agreed to. Clauses 30. 31, and 32 were agreed to. Sir D. NORREYS moved the addition of the follow ing proviso to the latter clause:—" Provided always, that whenever any person shall have been rated in re spect of several tenements and premises of the value of 81. and upwards, the payment of all poor-rates due by him lit respect of any such premises or tenements, being of the value of 8/. and upwards, shall he a sufficient pay ment of poor-rates for the purpose of this Act." The ATTORNEY-GENET?AL objectei to the pro viso as uselesf. The amendment was withdrawn, and the clause was added to the Bill. On clause 33, Mr. REYNOLDS moved a proviso to the effect that any person on the register not having given notice in writing of charging his place of abode on or before the 31st of July, shall rj not be entitled to be placed upon the register. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the adoption of the proviso would give rise to gnat inconvenience. He should therefue object to it. Mr. REYNOLDS said the object Of this proviso was to compel parties on the register to prove their re sidence. He would carry the principle to 201. and 501. freeholders. The gallery was cleared for s division, but none took place. The motion was withdrawn, and the clause was agreed to. Clauses 34, 35, 36, and 37 were also agreed to. The House then resumed, and the Chairman was or dered to report progress on Thursday, April 11. - MUTINY BILLS. On the motion of Mr. FOX MAULE, the Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a second time Oa the motion of Mr. BOUVERIE the Fees (Court of Common Pleas) Bill was read a second time. The School :District' Contributions Bill passed through Committee. The Committee on the Chief Justices' Salaries Bill was postponed till Friday, in consequence of an objec tion raised by Mr. SPOONER, who thought the Bill ought not to be proceeded with at so late an hour. The reports of the Committees of Ways and Means and the Committee of Supply were brought up. Mr. HAYTER, in the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, obtained leave to bring in a Bill to re peal the duty on bricks. Mr. W. P. WOOD moved " that the Committee of In quiry as to Oaths of Members do consist of 21 Mem bers, and that the following Members do farm such Committee:—The Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Lord J. Russell, Sir R. Peel, Sir J. Graham, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Wynn, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Attor ney• General, the Lord Advocate, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Henley, Mr. Hume, Mr. Napier, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Turner, Mr. W. Patten, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Wood." As he understood the Hon. Member for Buckinghamshire would be unable to attend, he proposed to substitute the name of Mr. Hurries. Mr. B. OSBORNE did not wish to offer any objection to the appointment of the Committee, but could not help expressing his r egret t h at the Hon. Mem b er for , oughal bad not b een name d, as h e h ad ta k en great in terest in the questi on t wo y ears ago. Major BERESFORD could not agree to the appoint. mont of the Committee unl ess h e cou ld o b ta i n some pledge that its proceedings would be in accordance with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman by whom it had been moved. If the Committee should mak e ai y report affecting the admissibility or non-ad m i ss ibili ty of the jftW otherwise than by means of th e i n t ro d uct i on of a Bill, he should consider its proceedings unfair; and un less he received an assurance from the Hon. and Learned Member or the Government that the report of the Committlo would .be confined strictly to the result of the inquiry, he should divide the House on the sub• jest.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. W. I'. WOOD could enly repeat what he had stated on the former occasion as to the intentions of the Committee. When the Committee should be ap pointed it would be impossible for him to say what they might or might notthmkfit Committee o do. But his object was simply to obtain a following the precedent in the case of Mr. Pease. As in that case the Committee would report on the various Acts of Parliament, aad the precedents which existed with respect to ihe admission of Quak ers without forming any opinion; and so far from go ing icto the Committee at all prejudiced, he should co nsider it his duty to lay before them every Act of Parl iament and every precedent bearing on the subject, whether fa vourable to his views or otherwise. The functions of the Committee would be of a judicial nature, simply to report to the House the result of their inquiries. —(Hesse.) Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL moved, to enable the •Hon. Member for Youghal to be placed on the Committee, that the Committee do consist of 22 members, but subse quently withdrew it. Major BERESFORD observed that there were 13 members who were in favour of the Jewish claims, and only 8 against them; he would repeat, therefore, that the Committee was unrairly chosen. Mr. B. OSBORNE moved the omission of the name of the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, in order to substi tute the name of Mr. Anstey. The motion was negatived without a division. - The names were then agreed to till the SPEAKER came to the name of Mr. Hume, when Mr. B. OSBORNE moved the omission of the name of Mr. Hume, as the Hon. Gentleman assured him he could not attend. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the H ouse divided, when there appeared— For the motion 16 Against it ... 47 Majority —3l The remaining name. were then agreed to. The Brick Duties Bill was brought in and read a first time. Mr. HUDSON wished to knoW whether any provision was made for allowing drawback to the brickmakers who had stocks upon hand. It would be a great hardship upon them if some return of duty was not provided for. Mr. HAYTER said it was provided for in the Bill. The House adjourned at One o'clock. • COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCE The important question relative to the transmission of the maila between London and Paris, having occu pied considerable attention, the following extracts from the report upon. the subject will be found well worth the attention of our readers BOULOGNE. The westerly or south-westerly winds prevail in the Channel full nine months of the year, and the swell rolls in from the same quarter ten months, having no impediment between the exposed and dangerous western coast of ' the Pas de Calais and the distant shores of America. In thick, dark, and foggy weather, the coast in the neighbour hood of Boulogne is no less difficult than dangerous to approach ; it is fringed with reefs, having deep water close to ' - a vessel cannot therefore fe e t h er way by theiead, and there being no light except at Point d'AlprC-cht, it is a work of immense peril to ap proaeh such a shore in a dark night, particularly at low water, under the ordinary circumstances of wind and sea as above adverted to. The port of Boulogne dries at low water spring tides, and has frequently three or four feet bar in face, the sluices not being so effectual as those of Calais. The entrance of the port is also narrower than Calais, and the piers being solid, form a dam across the tide ; and as these piers are of unequal length, the . western considerably outside the eastern, the cur rent 'running to the eastward with great rapidity round the west pier is met by a counter western stream between it and the eastern pier head. This counter-action is so strong, even under ordinary cir cumstances, as to endanger vessels losing command, and probably causing their wreck against the west pier, and in a dark night, during the prevailing westerly gales, the duty of pointing a vessel for the harbour thus becomes a service of immense peril. The egress is equally dangeroue, for in south westerly gales a violent sea is created by the action of the tide, and immediately a vessel gets without the west head she takes the sea on her broadside that sweeps her round towards the stone work which ex tends beyond the eastern works, and is in danger of breaking her wheel, or (what may be worse) en tangling it with the buoys which mark this stone work. • The communication by boats is much more difficult at Boulogne than at Calais during winter, when a suc cession of S. W. gales setting in, will sometimes cause an interruption for several days together. The cir cumstances of this duty having to be performed in the night, and on an open coast, with the frequent attendant difficulties of darkness, thick rainy weather and a heavy sea, are obstacles of so insuperable a nature, that frequent delays and serious probable accident will ensue in carrying on so perilous a ser vice. There have been several fatal accidents in Boulogne Bay, even by daylight. One happened a few years ago, in landing the mail from her Majesty's packet Beaver, when it was not only daylight, but the wind off the land, the boat was upset by the breakers on the shore, and Mr. S. Hare (second -master), the French pilot, six of his crew, and two passengers were all drowned without any possibility of rescuing them; and even so late as the 17th of last November sixteen French seamen were drowned, part in attempt ing the harbour of Boulogne, and others in its imme diate vicinity. The distance from Dover to Boulogne is six miles further than to Calais, and in dark winter weather the passage is much more dangerous to the latter'perrt, the course lying athwart the track ofshipirunnihg up the Channel ; it also leads directly among the numerous English and French fishing vessels which congregate about the " Verne and Ridge," and also the fishing ground on the coast between Grisnes and Boulogne. It is longer and more difficult to get to Boulogne against a strong wind at S.W., and a spring flood, than it is to get to Calais against a strong east wind and a spring ebb. The difference of the passage between the two ports will be in favour of Calais, in fine weather about half an hour, and in bad weather from an hour and a half to two hours. The port of Boulogne is not adapted for a perma nent mail station, in consequence of the peculiar na tural difficulties, arising from its exposed locality and the nature of the coast. The important conditions of punctuality and certainty of safe performance of the service at the most economical cost, are not to be ob tained at this place, in consequence of the several opposing circumstances stated in the foregoing remarks. It is confessed by all nautical persons acquainted with it to be fit for fine weather only, and as such it may be suitable enough for vessels whose sole object is the conveyance of passengers, and who can suit their proceedings so as to avoid the difficulties of the tide and the risks of weather. But for mail= packets, whose duty is to be fulfilled' punctually, without reference to these matters, and are regulated only by the arrival or departure of trains, it will be found totally unsuitable. It may be reasonably predicted, that if the packets continue to use the pert of Boulogne in the night, as they have done since the commencement of the last year, that some of them will eventually be lost, for it is frequently impossible, in a dark night, to know the danger a vessel is coming into until too late to extricate it, and the lights and signals on shore are by no means to b e tr uste d to. Both -the r i s k an d the wear and tear, w ith th e concomitant expense, may be safely estimated at 100 per cent. more than at Calais, the exposed nature of the Boulogne coast ren- . dering it frequently unsafe to anchor, and a steamer consequently consuming fuel and other stores, wear ing her hull and machinery, and exposed to accidents to both, in a manner which would not be the case at Calais, where the intervals of being kept from enter• ing the harbour are much shorter, and where safe anchorage can be obtained, in most cases, during such intervals. In reference to the transit of the mails between the coast and the interior, I know the French - authorities have offered to accelerate the trains between Bou logne and Paris, and to perform the distance in five hours and a half, instead of seven hours apd a half, as at present; by which they propose to afford nearly seven hours for th e sea passage - I nstead of four hours and three quarter s as now. As the journey from Paris to Calsitis now effected in nine hours and three quarters, the present rate of travelling asa monatbteor of beingthro c a o d u s rse t that at aboutthe whole route,to the same, it fol lows Calais (which branch es f rom t h e o thers at Ami ens ) accomplishedmay be proportionallyi n Ven hour s accelerated, and a half, aad thus gaining the distan ce on the longer road two hours and a half, as two hours are proposed to be saved on the shorter one. The sea transit by Calais requires only four hours to cover all probable contingencies, and thus pursuing the safe route by Calais, the bags by the night mail may reach the Fr enc h cap i tal e arlier than at present, and by the day mail leave later, affording about four hours at Paris to return an answer in thirty-two hours from London ; or a ll ow i ng a b out e i g ht hours in P ar i s to return a reply by th e n i g h t ma il to Lond on i n thirty-eight hou rs —th a t i s to . say, a person may leave London on M o nd a y a t B h . 30m. rem., reach Paris at 10h. 3Dm. on Tue s d a y, l eave aga i n by day mail at 21i. 30m. P. 24., mad be in London at 4h. 30 n. on -Wednes day morning ; or he may remain about eight hours in Paris, and by leaving with the night mail at 7 P.M., will be in London at 10h. 30w. on Wednesday morning, say thirty-eight hours from his departure. CALMS. The port of Calais is sheltered from westerly w i n d s ; the water is, then, smooth along shore; it is easy to enter the harbour, land in boats, or anchor on the coast, which is a good roadstead. The coast of Calais may be approached with perfect safety in dark or thick weather. It is sandy, and shoals so gradually towards the shore that a vessel may stand in without risk, and feel her way by the lead, even when the weather is so thick as to render all objects invisible, except at very short distances. The piers project so far to seaward that a vessel feeling her way by the lead alon g th e shore at tid e -ti me canno t miss them, and at low water they can, without risk, be approached so n ear as to hear a bell, which, in foggy weather, is kept ringing. The light is a most brilliant one, and so situate, by its position in reference to the tide light on Fort Rouge, that a vessel may with certainty run in between the piers, even though so dark as not to be able to see them. The port of Calais is so much improved by the newly-constructed sluices and the extension of the MARCH 19, 1850 • piers, that at low water spring tides there is always water far a large sailing boat to turn out to sea with ' the wind northerly, and during the neap tides there is frequently seven feet at low water and consequently access for the mail packets when the water is smooth et.all times of tide. Within the piers in the Harbour Channel there are between two and three fathoms at low water, and contequently a steamer may be kept always afloat, ready to Start at the earliest 'period of the flood, if required. The channel is of great width, ex tending from pier to pier, and having ample :room for a vessel to recover a yaw of the helm and regain a right direction. There are no dangers outside. The heads are of equal length and of open work at .tbe extremity, and no counter-tide to guard against as at Boulogne. Both ingress and egress to this port may be effected with comparative safety *hen blowing hard from the north-east, which is the . worse period here, whereas there would be most imminent danger at Boulogne with a gale at west-south-west, which is the peculiar season of difficulty there. The communication by boats at Calais at low water is comparatively safer and easier at that place than it is at Boulogne, even under favourable circumstances, from the peculiar local advantages which exist there, and of which the other port is destitute. At Calais there is always water for a sailing boat of a sufficient size and quality to insure safety to get out of the harbour at low water time, which there is not at Bou logne. The fact of the mails having been disem barked by boats at Calais for several years, when the port was not in its present improved state, and the boats and crews of an inferior description, without any accident having ever occurred, is itself an evident proof of the preferable nature of this place for maintaining an uninterrupted communication for the mail service; and it may reasonably be anticipated that, with a properly adapted boat and efficient crew, there would be scarcely any instances of delay, and this portion of the duty of transmitting the mails could be per formed with the requisite punctuality, safety, and economy. The - distance between Dover and Calais is not only six nautical miles less than to Boulogne, but it is also much easier and safer, being more out of the track of running ships, and likewise of fishing vessels, who resort principally to the hanks north east of Calais, and are consequently out of the way of steamers. With those winds also which mostly prevail in the Channel, the latter part of the passage to Calais is an approach to smooth water. From the time a vessel draws within the stream of Cape Grisnez, the sea becomes gradually less all the way in shore; whereas, in proceeding to Boulogne the effects of the sea are experienced the whole way, and in crease in di ffi culty and danger in nearing the French coast. In returning from Calais also, in ex treme cases of gales from the westward, a vessel is enabled to take advantage of the shelter on the south shore, and get so far to windward as to insure her fetching Dover, and greatly diminish the time and difficulty in making her passage. The port of Calais is the best adapted of any in this part of the Channel for maintaining undeviating regularity, and insuring dispatch in transmitting the mails, in consequence of its natural advantage, of its sheltered locality, and those produced by the artificial means of the harbour works, as represented in the foregoing remarks. Its importance as an established mail station is universally admitted by ex perienced persons without any doubt or objection, and the essential benefit of its local advantages in obviating marine difficulties, considerably overbalance any objec tions which might exist regarding its situation relative to land conveyance. It is manifestly more practicable to remedy difficulties on land, than when they occur in marine affairs. The latter are in the present instance not to be overcome by machinery, as a mere question of distance may be. The improved quality of the vesselss is, in fact, neutralised as regards Boulogne, by the nature of th e por t. A quick pas sage there is often, useless, by the impossibility of effecting the object of it---that of communicating after arrival. The certainty of landing is as impor tant a condition as the certainty of a speedy voyage. With the port of Calais both these circumstances combine, viz., fast vessels and a good harbour. There is probably not one day in the year in which the pre sent packets would be prevented from reaching their destination, if Cslais were the adopted station ; and it may be equally anticipated that very few cases would occur of being prevented communicating by boats. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TA rTERSALL'S.-YESTERDAY. WARWICKSHIRE HANDICAP. 3 to I agst Lord J. Scott's Defaulter 4 to 1 agst Mr. Meeson's Dart 5 to 1 agat Mr. Irwin's Ballinafad 6 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's St. Antonio 10,000 to 50 agat Keleshea winning the Warwick Handicap and Chester Cup. LEAMINGTON STEEPLECHASE. 8 to 1 agst Proceed 8 to 1 agst Little Fanny—taken to 1001. 12 to 1 agst Victim 20 to 1 agst Treasurer THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 6 to I agat Mr. lialford's H4rriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b 7 to 1 agst Mr. H. Hill's Osterley, 4 yrs, 7st 10 to 1 agst Lord Eglintou's Belus, 4 yrs, 7st 51b—t 10 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst 111 b 12 to 1 agat Mr. Jaques's Chantrey, 4 yrs, 6st 13Ib 20 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Clarissa, 4 yrs, 7st 31 30 to 1 agst Mr. E. R. Clark's Giselle, aged, 6st 121 b —taken The actual business on the above event was confined to Belus, at 10 to 1; Chantrey at 16, 13, and 12 to 1; i and Giselle at 1,000 to 30 an d 30 to 1; t h e outlay on each ' amounting to nearly 1504 Osterley was friendless. METROPOLITAN STAKES. 2 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicko's Cheerful, 4 yrs, 6st— taken and afterwards offered TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 2 to 1 agat Lord H. Lennox's Beebunter 5 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Mickleton John o' Groat is declared not to start. CHESTER CUP. 22 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack, 6 yrs, 9st 21b— taken to 2001. 1 1 30 to 1 agst Lord. Chesterfield's Lady Evelyn, 4 yrs, Bst 21b —taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. St. George's Whim colt, 4 yrs, 6st 71b—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Colgan's Horn of Chase, 6 yrs, 7st 101b—tak ea freely 10,000 to 150 agst Mr. Lawson's Keleshea, 6 yrs, 6st 61b —taken Cossack, Ledy Evelyn, and the Horn of Chase were in considerable favour, their respective supporters volun teering to go on at the quoted prices. DERBY. 6 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum— talym to 1001, and afterwards offered 7 to 1 agst Mr. W. Edwards na Bolingbroke—taken 11 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger 20 to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Voltigeur 30 to 1 agst Mr. Hill's Pitsford—taken 1,000 to 30 agat Lord Chesterfield's Penang-40 to 1 taken freely 40 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Nutshell—take 50 to 1 1,000 to 25 agst Colonel Peel's Herdinge—taken 2,000 to 25 agst Duke of Bedford's John o' Groat—taken and afterwards offered Ghillie Callum was hacked at 7 to 1 in ponies, and at 6 to 1 in hundreds, the latter bet coupled with one of 7 to lin fifties agst Bolingbroke. Pitsford, Penang, and Nutshell were also in demand, the odds returned above being the highest obtainable at the close of business. NORTHAMPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT MEETING, 1850. THURSDAY.—Acceptances for Earl Spencer's Handicap Plate of 100/. Rathmines, 6 yrs, Bst ?lb—Farthingale, 4 yrs, Bst 716 —Bishop of Romford's cob, aged, Bst lib—Hind of the Forest, 5 yrs, Bst .51b—Jest, 5 yrs, ist 1316—Crucible, 4 yrs, 7.t 121b—Ferule,. 4 yrs, Tat 12:b—Wallflower, 4 yrs, 7st 101b—Rodney, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b—ch g by Epirus, dam by D'Egville, 4 yrs, 7st 51b—b fby Vulcan, out of Lodole, 4 yrs, 7st—The Monk, 3 yrs, 6st 121b—Celia, 3 yrs, 6st 101b—Willingham, 4 yrs, Est 91b—Harum Scarum, 3 yrs, 6st 81b—Fernande, 3 yrs; Est 81b—Gla diole, 3 yrs, 6st Sib—Le Beau, 3 yrs, Est 71b—The Re cluse, 3 yrs 6st 61b—Equiria, 3 yrs, Est 41b—Sl ang , 3 yrs, E s t 41 b—Rose Pompon, 3 yrs, 6st 41b-Osbaldeston, 3 yrs, 6st 31b—Brennus, 3 yrs, Est 31b—b fby Pantaloon out of The Mite, 3 yrs. sst 131b—Humphrey, 3 yrs, sst 121b—Alonso, 3 yrs, sst 101b—Egalite,.3 yrs, sst 101 b Diligence 3 yrs, sst 101 b. STOURBRIDGE STEEPLECHASE. Miss Collingwood, lOst 91b—Lucy Neal, lOst 71b— Falcon, 9st 121b—Hope, 9st 101b—Volatile, 9st 81b— Vatic Rein, 9st 51b—Verita., 9st 31b—The Unknown, 9st 31b. SPORTING NOTES. No. I. " Say from whence You owe this strange intelligence? Or why, * * # you stop our way, With such prophetic greeting." " Answer me, stand and unfold yourself." SHAKSPERE. " THE SPIRIT he answered, crabbed and sour, Pray don't be pathetic, for this is mine hour; Ot the past no phantom or popinjay But calm aid practical, silent and dry." HEINE. " There is a history-- Figuring the nature of the times deccas'd; The which observ'd, a man may prophesy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life." SHABSPERE. " The Tunes mine oyster, Which I with judgment will open." bIIAKSPERE (slightly altered). "Til issue notes Which may on Fortune's 'Change be barter'd For much money." MOLSON WALLYNGE. " And henceforth find myself more gaily elass'd Amongst the higher spirits of the cis'', THE SUN'S true son, no vapour, but a ray." BYRON. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sit,—lt is now fire years since I first wielded the prophcfe pen, and undertook for the amusement of an occasional stray half-hour or uo, to pilot the sporting readers of The Sun through the innumerable shoals abounding in the sea of turf speculation; with what success "--the mark no moratal Or surest hand can always hit, Fur whatsoe'er we perpetrate, We do but row, we're steer'd by fate, Which in success oft disinherits For spurious causes greatest merits—" never hiving been absolutely wrong in my Derby se l.ctions, and having three years successively placed the first two for the St. Le4er, will testify. I commence this my sixth annual scribbling campaign, with invige rated forces, armed at all points, "cramm'd With observation—the which I'll vent In mingled fancies;" leading off, as usual, with the "introductory epistle," a sort cf prologue, bill of fare, or index to that which is to follow, in which I shall forthwith proceed to glance at the probable fate of the principal stake of 1850, and en deavour, if possible, to illuminate the world (the spott ing portion, I mean) with the names of those favourites of the fickle goddess, destined to create a slight sensation at Epsom, Newmarket, Chester, and elsewhere; for (as the master-mind dotted down) "In such indexes, although small pricks To their subsequent volumes, there is seen The baby figure of the giant mass Of things to come." By the way, I cannot help remarking how marvel-. iousiy correct my "introductory epistl;s" have been, Take last year's, for instance. Published in February, it announced to the sporting fraternity that it was my opionion Tadmor would win the Column Stakes, Nan nykirk or Honeycomb (former for choice) the 2,000 Guineas, Tadmor or The Flying Dutchman the Derby, the. Industry filly (Lady Evelyn) the Oaks, and The Flying Dutchman or Nunnykirk the St. Leger. Now, if I can but accomplish a similar feat this year, those who take The Spirit for their pilot ought to weather the storm bravely. Plunging in medics res, I begin my running comments with the richest and most important racing stake in the universe, called, par excellence, The Derby, which will be contested for the 71st time on the fir-famed Downs of Epsom, on the 29th day of May next, and for which no less than 205 horses have been nominated; one, however, being wrong, four dead, and forty out of training. Of the remaining eight score, some thirty or forty will en gage the metallics of the Ring between now and that memorable period to the denizens of "the village," yclept the Derby-day. Last year I drew up a list of the principal horses in the market, and handicapped them to the best of my judgment, not being ruled altogether by their past performances, but looking to their qualities and condition at the time, as well as to the peculiar nature of the course; and as I was successful enough to place the Flying Dutchman and Tadmor at Bst 71b, each at the top of the list, why I'll e'en express my opinion in the shape of a handicap again, as follows: at. Ibi Ghillie Callum Sweetheart Bolingbroke The Nigger 8 4 The Italian . 8 3 William the Conqueror 8 Knight of Avenel 8 2 Mickleton Clincher Mayors 8 2 Blarney Hardioge 8 Cyprus. Compass Mildew Penang Nutshell at. lb. The Swede 7 12 Voltigeur Windhound 7 12 Pitsford Python 7 10 John o' Groat 7 10 IDeicoon Yew-tree . Lady Geraldine, colt 7 9 Garforth 61oultan Dark Susan, colt 7 8 Charley Cranberry 'Cadzer 7 7 Confidence About Pontifex, Nutcracker, Stingo, Little Bob, Sir Charles, and another or two, I shall not hazard an opinion at present, but reserve it until the Craven Meet ing shall hare passed away into the gulf of time. From the foregoing handicap it will be perceived that I consider the Goodwood trio, Day's, Diswson's, and Ed wards' cracks, to be the lot from which the winner must spring, and I shall be sorely deceived if it does not fur nish the second and third as well as the first. Ghillie Callum, by Gladiator, out of Reel, premier favourite, was a remarkably early foal, having been slipped on the 25th January, nearly three months pre vious to Sweetheart's appearance upon this sublunary ball (April 12th); he was got into easy training early, the advantage of which will be apparent, if he can bat stand the finishing preparation. That he is one of the speediest horses of his year I should think must b" patent to every one on the turf ; but whether he can travel on hilly ground as well as the Nigger remains to be seen; as long as he does his work well, I must con sider him the " flower of the Goodwood flock," as I ob served some six months ago, and still stick to my opinion as expressed then, that " should the Bee Hunter win the Guineas he will see 3 to 1 before running fur the Derby." Sweetheart, by Touchstone, out of Catherine (a pedi gree no one can find fault wi th, the sire having won the St. Leger in 1834, and the dam having won more races than any animal that ever trod the turf), made his debiit at Stockbridge in the Triennial Stakes, and though slightly amiss, ran Bee Hunter to a dead heat, but got, as a matter of course, beat into fits in the de. tiding heat, by the rattling son of Gladiator and Valentine. His next appearance was at Newmarket, where he won the July Stakes very easily by two lengths, in 1 min. 9 secs., the shortest time on record, and three seconds better than the Flying Dutchman's time in 1848 This performance was about the beat ac complished last season, perhaps with the exception of the officious spurts of that little wonder, the daughter of Pantaloon and Baleine. Sweetheart's last appearance vs a two-year old was for a Produce Stakes at Liverpool, where, dead amiss, he ran nowhere to Harriott, Bst 11b, first, and Probity. Sat 41b, second. This nsg, if brought to the post quite up to the mark, will be, as people say, " there or thereabouts." With respect to Bolingbroke, for whose qualities I en tertain the profoundest respect, the Nigger, the Ita lian,: 'William the Conqueror, cum multis aliii , more anon. The Oaks is a mystery which I cannot penetrate, at least not now, but would have no objection t) take the following dozen against the field, viz.:—Tingle, Tiff, Probity, Countess of Albert arle, Claymore, Impression, Rheilycina, Necklace, Mabascab, Countess, Regina, and Miss Larkaway; giving the preference to Probity, Im pression, with the Countess of Albemarle, and Sir J. llawley's best, Tingle or Tiff, would divide my second choice. The Great Northamptonshire Stakes seem destined for Osterley, 4 yrs, Tat, or llarriott, 3 yrs, sst 101 b; the fol lowing however are well-in :—Flatcacher, 5 yru, Bst slb; Mahratta, 4 yrs, sst 11lb; and Bastinado, 3 yrs 4st 613. The Great Metropolitan Stakes look anything but cheerful to the betters. round; Mr. Grit wicke's filly, 4 3 rs, Est, at first sight appears to be a certainty, but I ex claim with Byron, " There's no such thing as certainty, that's plain As any of mortality's conditions;" therefore, with a licw to keeping on the safe side, shall keep an eye upon Chantrey and Clarissa, each 4 yr , , 7st 51b; Snowstorm, 4 yrs, 7st 41b; Melody, 4 yrs, 7st; Lam mermoor, 4 yrs, 65t 61b; and Bastinado, 3 yrs, 4st 71b. For the Newmarket Handicap, I am inclined to place my trust in Saucy Dick, 4 yrs, 7st 41b; and Little Jack, 3 yrs, sst lib; with Flatcatcher, 5 yrs, Bst 51b; Herbert, 4 yrr, 7st llb; Strongbow, 4 yrs, 7st; Chterfol, 4 yrs, sst 121 b.; and Bastinado, 3 yrs, 4st 61b, as a reserve corps. The race for the Column Stakes will lay between Mickleton and Ilardinge, Cariboo third; Pontifex and Longinus, I presume, will be non est. Lady Evelyn will, in all probability, be the first past the post for the Port Stakes. Puffy's star looks bright at Bath in the Somersetshire Stakes at 6st 21b, at which weight he ought to dispose of Midis, 4 yrs, ist 21b; Sea-gull, 6 yrs, 6st Gib; and Won't-you-come out-to-night, 3 yrs, sst, his principal opponents; whether he will or no time will prove. I can discover nothing likely to beat the Bee-hunter in the spin for the 2,000 Guineas, and if I place Mickle ton and Hardinge second and third, with Pitsford well up, I think I shall not be tar from the mark. The 1,000 Guinea Stakes may fall to the lot of Sir J. Hawley with Tingle or Till; or to Mr. Green with the Countess of Albemarle, Mr. Combo's Necklace being handy. The Chester Cup winner I opine will be found in John Day's stable. The Bee-hunter, if he starts, will win the Dee Stakes, and be a rattling favourite for the Doncaster St. Leger; for the latter race Ghillie Callum, the Nigger, and Bo lingbroke must not be forgotten. The Flying Dutchman and Canezou will be the pets of fortune icr the Emperor's Plate; and it will be mere question of health with the former for the Great 300 Says. Stakes at Goodwood. For the Derby of 1651! the following _animals will merit attention at the hands of the Ring, Tiz :—Primi titip, in Edward's stable; Lord Stanley's trio, Storm, Croupier, and Crotchet , an d Neominster, in Scott's; La- mardne in Day's; Boriie Dundoe in. Ribert's; and the PAntAlonade colt in Wadlow's. For the Derby of 1852!! the following foals of last year deserve notice:—A large lengthy colt, by Bird catcher, out of Beeswing; a strong colt, by Lanercost, out of Alice Hawthorn; a colt, by Birdeatcher, oat of Blue Bonnet; and a remarkably promising colt, called Peppermint, by Sweetmeat, out of Pantalonade. As Warwick opens the legitimate racing season of 1850 tl-morrow, I will conclude this random epistle with a few words thereanent. The Trial Stakes—Rose Pompon, Mark Tapley, and Knigh of Gwynne, first, second, and third. The Willoughby Handicap to Fugitive. The Free Handicap to Andalusian or Doubt. - The Two-year -old Stakes to Louis Napoleon, Stafford, Beaufort, or filly by Venison, out of Darkness; a very dark lot, the filly for choice. The Great Warwickshire Handicap I feel inclined to book to Pelham or the Dart, expeaing to tee St. An tonio and Defaulter in close attendance. " Thus far our prophecy; and rum we pause, Though not for want of matter; but 'tis time, To slacken sail." I am, Sir, yours, &c. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. March 18, 1850. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —A respected Member of the Society of Friends cured of a Cough and Asthma by Hollo way's Ointment and Pills.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Ben jamin Mackie to Professor Holloway, dated Creenagh, near Loughgall, Sept. 11, 1848 . Respected Frier.d,-1 feel it only an act of justice to thyself to state that 1 have personally expe rienced the benefit of thy excellent pills and ointment in the cure of an inveterate cough and asthma, 'which afflicted me for three years to such an extent that I was obliged to walk about my room at night afraid of suffocation if I went to bed. I then tried they invaluable medicines, which, I am pleased to say, have perfectly cured me."—Sold by all vendors of medi cine throughout the globe, and at Professor Holloway's Esta blishment, 244, Strand, London. LATER FROM AMERICA. Lxvtirroor:, MARCH 19.—8 y the arrival this morning of the fine steamer America we are put in possession of the following later news and dates:— Boston; - March 6; Halifax, March 8 ; Ci nc i nna ti, March 3 ; N ew Orleans, arch 2 ; New York and Baltimore, March 5. She brings upwards of 100 passengers, and the usual American mails. The discussion in the American Senate on the slavery question had not terminated. Mr. Calhoun addressed the Senate on the 4th in a speech proposing the admission of California into the Union, but admits therein, that if California is }e_. ceivrd under its present constitution, the Union must be dissolved. By advices from California we learn that Sacra mento City is inundated. One million of dollars are lost by the overflow. Upwards of half a million dollars of specie further have arrived from the mines. There is nothing further new from Canada. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The state of business throughout the United st a t es was good. Business was ♦ery brisk. The market for br(adstuffs was quiet, and prices wsfre without change. Western Canal flour, 5 dolls. 12fre. to 5 dolls.. 25e., steady. _ Genesee prime wheat, 1 doll. 26c. to 1 doll. 23c. per 601 b. Indian corn, round yellow, 56c. to 58e. (steady at this price). Ditto, flat yellow , 53c. per bushel. Ditto, southern white, 56c. to 58c. per bushel. Indian meal, 2 dolls. 874 c. to 3 dolls. per barrel. The Cotton Market has exhibited a great deal of in action, prices slightly receding for most descriptions. Sales are very limited at the following quotations:—New Orleans and Mobile mid. fair to fair, 13 to 13i cents.; Uplands and Florida, 12i to 13 cents., showing in both instances a fall of I cent. In Provisions, business was also dull. The receipts were large. Lard and Pork were both inactive; prime Pork at fi dolls. Freights are still lower, and very little is being done. Floor to Liverpool, Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per barrel; grain to ditto, 50: to 6d. per bushel; cotton to ditto, id. to 3-16 d. per lb.; cotton to Havre.. cent. to tent. per lb. Exchange on London, 108 1 to 108 , the market being quiet. On Paris, 5 30. small sales. On Hamburgh, 35 to 35k. On Er :men, 78 78k. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON. Orr Llsnost. We have been out for the last ten days trying rates of sailing, principally before the wind. IVe have had nothing but light breezes, in which the Leander certainly beats all. We have had one trial on a wind, but it only lasted an hour and a half, as it fell a calm. The other day a towing match took place (Ter. rible, Encounter, Arrogant, Hogue, &c.) Hogue broke down at the commencement, but did extremely well under half speed ; Terrible showed a great ad vantage over all the rest by at least doubling her distance. OFF GIBRALTAR, MARCH 7.—After receiving letters off Lisbon, the squadron bore up for this place, and will sail again to-morrow for a three weeks' cruise, returning to Lisbon. The Commodore says, this time he is going to put the steamers to the test. One of the officers of the Encounter is under arrest on a most serious charge, which it is expected will cause the ship to be sent home and a court-martial' to be held. It is expected the engines of the Hogue will soon require the attention of the " home" department. The Hogue and Indefatigable have been in eolli. sion, by which the former lost her quarter-boat, and had her spanker-boom carried away, and the latter her spritsail-yard. We understand the Commodore considerst the trials off the wind to be conclusive, but those on the wind are not so satisfactory. On that account some of the work will have to be gone over again. Orders have been given to complete water, and take in four months' previsions of every kind, but this is impossible. There is no bread in store, and but a very limited supply of other necessaries. The people complain sadly of the scarcity of water. The tanks are very low, and the rock, which at this season is generally very verdant, has yet a parched up ap pearance. Heavy showers, however, have fallen to day (Monday, the 4th inst.), which must prove highly beneficial. Tuesday—The Terrible has gone to lin -New Mole, to coal. The Encounter goes to•morrow.— Timt:_ PORTSMOUTH, MoNDAT.—The Dauntless,24, screw frigate, will be undocked on Wednesday, and fitted fur trial immediately. She appears much improved by the alteration sternways. I'M Rolla, 8, Lieutenant Commander Fenwick, will be docked when the Dauntless makes a vacancy, to have her bottoms examined, &a. We are requested to contradict a statement which appeared in a contem porary on Saturday, that the Rolla fouled a barque on Friday, and did her damage. No such casualty has taken place implicating the Rolla. Areorsi - rmeriTs. WooLwrcn, Maecn 18.—Srcond Master A. Stabb (1847), to the Impregnable, 104, flagship at Devon port. Naval Cadet A. G. R. Roe, to the Impregnabl e Henry L. Perceval, t o th e Fisgard, flagship at Wool wich. Commander James A. St. Leger 0848), haying finished his course of study at the steam factory at Woolwich Dockyard, was examined by Mr. Trickett, assistant to the chief engineer, and passed satis factorily. Lieutenant Edward E. Maunsell (1846), having completed his course of study of steam, was examined to-day by Mr. Trickett and passed accordingly. The last large balloon sent up by Mr. Shepherd from the roof of the Admiralty, and whose course, so far as known at the time, has been already given, was ultimately found at Lewes, near Brighton, and returned to the Admiralty. Mr. Shepherd has made several balloons for Captain Collinson's expedition, and they were forwarded on Saturday last to be sent out with the West India mail, to reach the expedition at the Sandwich Islands. A quantity of coloured silks, with the necessary apparatus for printing the dispatches, was sent at the same time. PLTMOUTLY, MARCH 16.—Her Majesty's new frigate Arethusa, 50, Captain Symonds ' was on Thursday towed by the Stromboli and Confiance steamers from Hamoaaa into the Sound, where she took her powder on board. The Stromboli went to her moorings inside the breakwater ; the Confiance returned up harbour. In the afternoon the Are ' thusa went outside and made a trial cruise, the re sult of which was creditable to her sailing qualities. Her crew will probably be paid on Tuesday, and she will sail on Wednesday to join the squadron at Lisbon. The Archer steam-vessel was docked and had her copper examined on Thursday-, and was undocked yesterday. Her Majesty's ship Albion, having been rigged for commission, has been placed at her moorings in Ht.. tnoace ; her lower yards and topmasts are ordered to be struck. Her Majesty's ship Howe, 120, is ordered frona.the Mediterranean to England, to be paid off. She may be expected the latter end of March. The Plymouth yacht has been removed from No. 2 dock and taken to the mast-house slip for more exten sive repair. The Superb, 50, is ordered here from Queenstown, to refit for foreign service. Wind easterly. MARCH 17.—A Government transport, from the eastward, entered the Sound this morning, and an chored inside the breakwater. Wind, E. by N. ; stiff brees )• RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MAKCII 18. STOCK EXCHANGE. --The market to-day has been some what depressed. The transactions were as follow: Bristol and Exeter, Thirds 10 % dia. ex diva —Wilts, Somerset; and Weymouth, 101 4 dis. LIVERPOOL, Maack 18. STOCK ExcnexciE.—The transactions to-day were as fol• low : — Lancashire and Yorkshire, Consol., 40 1 / 2 —Ditto, Fifths, 9/. 3s. 9d. c. dis.—Ditto (West Riding Union), 8 1 / 2 dis.— London and North-Western, 104 1 4 c.—Ditto, ew Quarters, % dis. Ditto, Fifths, Li g p.—Mancheater, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 7—Midland, Halves, 204 dis.-- North Staffordshire. 11% dis.—North Union (B ), 1644-- East Lancashire, Quarters, 874—Ditto, Preference, 71. Is. Bd.—Glasgow, Pais'ey, and Greenock, 13—Shrewsbury, Oswestrv, and Chester, 14 die. York, Newcastle, and Ber wick (6. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1860, v. h. 3d. dis.. . MANCHESTER, MARCH IE. Yorkshire, to-day s Dey. -ExcaAscm—Business on our Stock E xc h ange was very inactive, and prices had a downw ar d ten rhe transactions were as follow :—Lan cas hi ra and 39 3 4—Ditto, Halves (Liverpool and Buyy). 19X —Ditto, Fifths, 9 1 4 dis.— Ditto, 32/. (late Eat enstou), 12% tlis.—=Ditto, Halves (Hull and Selby), 19—Ditto (West Riding Union), 7% dis.—Manobester, Sheffield, ant Li n . coloshire, Quarters (No. 1), S i ii—Ditto,Eigiltha, 1 13-16-- Bolton, Blackburn, Chitheroe, and West Yorkshire (No. 1), 5i4 —Eastern Countiei , cPerpet. 5 per cent. No. 1). 7ti —East Lancashire,-834—South -Eastern and Dover (No. 4), Thirds, 5 1 4 —Ditto, Scrip, s % — Whiteharen and Fur ness, die. BIRMINGHAM, MARCH 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—OUr share market war very dull to-day, and there was no inclination manifested either to sell or buy. Stocks generally were at last quotations, London and AN of th-Western being quoted at 104 and 1044. Shrews bury and Birmingham (A), wera done at 8i,4 INTERMENTS (ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER).-- According to a return just published, the number of in terments which h‘vo Liken place yearly since 1839 in the churchyard and vaults of St. Margaret's, Westminster, are as follow: —In 1840, 6 in the vaults and 131 in the churchyard; in 1841, 3in the vaults and 150 iu the -` churchyard ; in 1842, 3in the vaults and 132 in the • chu:chyard; in 1843, the respective numbers cfi nter menti in the vaults and in the churchyard were 5 and 124; in 1844, 1 and 67; in 1845, 2 and 68; in 1846, 3 and 70; in 1847, 2 and SO; in I$4S, 5 and t, , 9 ;in 1849, - n none in the vaults and 50 in the churchyard. ?f• - '• ri -a