The Sun. — London, England, 1850-02-20 00:00:00

LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY. The usual half-yearly general meeting of the pro prietors of the London and Blackwell Railway was held yesterday morning at the London Tavern; Mr. Daniell, chairman of the board of direetors, in the chair. The advertisement convening the meetinghaving been read, the report of the directors was submitted to the proprietors, from which we take the following extracts:- - "The gross revenue for the half-year has amounted to 24,3031. Os. lid., and the expenditure (inclusive of 2,9061. 19s. 10d. for :interest on debentures), has been 18,8491. 2s. 3d., leaving a surplus of 5,4531. 18s. Bd, which, with the balance of 3,1621. 17s. 2d. from the previous account, will admit of the payment of a divi dend of ls. 6d. per share, clear of income-tax, on the 107,240 shares at present entitled to receive dividend. The result of the six months' working with locomotives ex hibits a reduction of the expenditure, which fully justifies the statement made by the directors in their observations on the report of the committee. They will continue to give their best attention to this subject, in order to avail themselves of any further reductions which experience in working under the locomotive sys tem may enable them to effect. The directors have been unable to come to r.ny arrargement with the Eastern Counties Company fsr the use of the extension line, so as to render it available for passenger traffic from the Eastern Counties lines to Fenchurch-street. The Eastern Counties Company hove refused to carry into effect the agreement made with them, upon the faith of which the extension line was constructed, and they have also refused to refer the matters in dispute to the arbitration of the engineers named in the agreement. The directory, therefhre, see no alternative but to re sort to Parliament for such powers as will enable this company to offer proper facilities to passen gers desiring to avail themselves of the conveniences afforded by the extension line, and the City terminus of this railway, and they have taken the requisite steps for that purpose. A vacancy in the direction having oc curred by the- resignation of Mr. Philip Baker, the di rectors have elected Mr. Josiah Wilson, one of the audi tors, in his stead, in the mode prescribed by the Act of Parliament, and they trust that the election will be ap proved by the proprietors. Ile consequence of the va eancy thus caused in the auditership, the directors have deemed it proper to request the remaining auditor, Mr. Valpy, to nominate some proprietor to assist him on this occasion, leaving it to the shareholders at the present meeting to elect as auditor such proprietor as they may think fit. At this meeting Mr. Haigh and Captain Mangles retire from the direction by rotation, and being eligible, they offer themselves for re-election." The CRAIMMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, briefly observed that during the present year the receipts of the line tad considerably increased. There had been a falling off in the traffic owing to the opening of the North Kent and the Woolwich lines, but it was fully an ticipated that this loss would be made up when the East and West India Docks and Birmingham Junction line came into operation. Mr. BUNDELL complained of the favouritism that this company displayed towards the Star Steam-packet Com pare', and recommended to elect no directors who were in any way interested in that speculation. He also re commended that the fares should be reduced by the abandonment of the ticket system, and adopting the check-gates used on Waterloo-bridge. Mr. SMITH urged upon the proprietors the expediency of endeavouring to obtain an efficient audit. He was fa vonrable to a Government audit, but to restore confidence, and to put the matter in a train for a speedy settlement, he moved as an amendment that it was highly desirable that a Government board of audit should be established, or that the question should be deferred to a committee. A PROPRIETOR suggested thet the amendment had better be postponed' till they came to the election of auditors. Mr. SMITH said he would take the hint and delay his propose] accordingly. KEATE spoke feelingly in favour cf some change in the mode - of audit, for after a long life of industry. he had invested all his earnings in three railways, a nd theo he found his property depreciated from thousands to hundreds. The CHAIRMAN said the desire of the board was to economize as much as possible. Captain FINLAYSON was of opinion that the auditors ought to sift every item in the accounts, both large and small, and see if the expenditure was ncceisary. The CHAIRMAN remarked that in that case the auditors would assume the functions of directors. After some further discussion, in the course of which Mr. Goldamid suggested that the future policy of the company ought to be to endeavour to amalgamate with some other concern, the motion for the adoption of the report was agreed to. and the dividend declared. The election of the new; auditor and director was confirmed, and the - retiring directors re-elected, after which a committee of shareholders was appointed to consider the qutestion cf audit. Thanks were then vot , d to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. EAST INDIA RAILWAY COMPANY The annual general meeting of this company was held yest6rday at the London Tavern, at one o'clock. Mr. .Aglionhy, U.P., in the chair. • After the Secretary had read the report, The CHAIRMAN enterod into certain explanationa with reference to the payment of the cling, which he stated were first pa'd into the Bank of England, and rof.eztwordi into the East India Bank, from which time tneybt , gan't .) pay interest, and then ba:dt to the Bank of sq that, to meet the. current expenses, no money e• - :uld hn drawn out without the eanctiou of G.)v,rnroent. The chaimatin Then' alluded to the ul'o(:.stion of the 5,600 share% which remained over a their lest meeting. 3,0C.0 of t'Jern had been off,:let.l to tht.4 di;ector:=.: by a resolution of the proprie t•,)r.,,, which had bsen declined by the directors, and he (thtehairin4o) was very happy to announce that those . 5,009 shires Lad been allocat?d among persons who would wish to 'Tran them as property, and not to dis pose of th9ci a,-; a speculation. 11. e concluded by moving the a it?riun of the report, which was carried unani- moualy. Iy auswer to some observation from Mr. BEIIIMONT, The CHAIIIMA.N Said that the delays which might have taken place were entirely unavoidable, as ali tae proceed ing& of the company had in the first place to obtain the sanction of the Board of East Lich% Directors, and after wards of the Board of Control. Mr. itroAnno wished to know if all the moneys which might ho laid out by the company were guaranteed by the East India Company ? The CIIAIEZIAN said that certainly every farthing was, and .that owing to the mode of banking adopted by the company, namely, of all moneys passing through the Bank of :igland to the account of the East India Company. said then hack again to the Bank of Eng l and, to be drawn on by the Bailway Company. Mr. Aglionby, Mr. Colvin, and Mr. Pascal Lorkins, were nen rc-ap,77.inted es directors, and Captain Farqu karaon was re-appointed. Mr. BEAUMONT then proposed a resolution to provide fJr the purpose of recompensing Mr. Stephenson, the engittecr, for his services to the company. The resolu tion. was to the effect, that Mr. Stephenson should be entitled to 5 per cant. per annum on the net profits after the payment of 5 prr cent. per annum to the proprietors on their capital and expenditure. Captain HENDERSON, in seconding the resonation, paid a tribute to the services of Mr. Stephenson, who ha said had undertaken three voyages to India, and who was now making a fourth fir the purpose of f3rwarding the completion of the railway. The resolution was carried unanimously. The meeting then separated after the usual compli ment to the Chairman and directors. CENTRAL AMERICAN COMMER CIAL AND AGRICULTURAL COMPANY. A meeting of the debenture holders in this company was held yesterday. at the London Tavern, to receive the report of the committee appointed at the general meet ing held on the 12th of December last, and for the adop tion or otherwise of the measures therein passed; D. Weans, in the chair. The report, which was read to the meeting, stat3d that the first object of the committee was to ascertain the ground upon which they could place reliance of the probability of success in an application to the Guatemalan Govern ment for a renewal of the grant of Vera Pita, or of ano ther -of equal if not of greater importance. In this investieation they were greatly assisted by the cor respondence which had taken place between one of the committee and a gentleman of very high standing in that country. Letters from that influential person had been received as recently as the past week. The corn- mittoe had not been unmindful of the great ob ject of obtaining the sanction and support of the British Government, and they had good reason to believe that so soon as th e renewed grant should have been obtained, an application to thP.m would be favourably received. The committee had accord ingly taken those steps which they had judged most likely to obtain the desired end. The Guatemalan G o _ verrunent had been memoralized, and the influence of persons in that country enlisted, who from their high position could materially contribute to the success of the application. The committee could not close their report without congratulating the debenture holders on the fair prospect of the debentures becoming a valuable property with a comparatively small outlay. The report was received and adopted, and resolutions were proposed with scarcely any discussion, directing that the expense required to carry out the re commendations should be raised by a subscrip tion of 2s. 6d. on each debenture, to be paid on or before the 15th of March next, and that all who did not subscribe should be excluded from participating is the benefits expected to be derived from carrying out tae proposition of the committee. The committee who had drawn up the report were re elected to carry the resolueioas into effect. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chair man,. who, in retur n i ng t h anks, said that his only object in being a party to the present proceedings was to rescue from ruin a property in which he, as well as a great number of debenture holders, had invested a considerable sum, and he thought opportunities for attaining this desirable end now fully p re sented themselves. should continue hi s service; on behalf of the company so long as he could do so with profit to the undertaking. If he might be allowed to give one word of advice, no would ask all the holders of debkitures to subscribe towards the requisite e x p enses, and thus participate in the benefits which might ulti mately bo derived to the emnpany. The meeting then separated. :' h, • - ,-,..-! .IipTAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY . —We understand • i• -S :Val 1:al L Z1 neral meeting of the Royal Scottish Ace (;',/ '' d9frdY la;ling, sculpture, and archit2cture, held ~•es•• ' 4 ai CM - kr ' . 1 A i' etd - 'do-Y) Joseph Noel Paton, Esq., was utlani „-. • A Irtnasly el(OPtqd an 3.0a - lemician of the bfidy, to supply the 1 :_.. , . 1 - vat 3 . l 7i 6 ei bY ' thq demise. of the late f i hwid ky. ; r i tt, . E sa , It t i . Edinburgh Adve?.tiscr. r i k ,„ LA `Y INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEIV' S BENCH, Feb. 19. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Mr. Justice ERLE Iliad a Special Jury.) AUSTIN V. THE MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LIN. CoLNSHIRR RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Evidence was given to show that the wheels had been properly greased, and that efforts had been made with water to cool them, and that the accidents arose in con sequenee of the axle being radically defective, though the defect was not apparent on the surface; and it was contended that as the defendants had done all that could be reasonably expected from them, they could not be held liable. Mr. 111711 FREY, in reply, remarked strongly on the circumstance that the defendants had required the plaintiff's servants to sign the declaration, now given in evidence, to support the defence, and that it had, in fact, been signed by them before the trucks had been selected by the company's agent. Mr. Justice ERLE left it to the jury to say—first, whether there had been negligence on the part of the defendants in respect of the insufficiency of the axle of the carriage; secondly, whether the accident was occasioned by the wheel taking fire; and, thirdly, whether there had been negligence in allow ing the carriage to proceed after the fire had been discovered. The jury answered all these questions in the plaintiffs' favour, and assessed the damages at 701., leave being re served to the defendants to move the Court above upon certain points of law. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Fcb. 19. (Before Mr. Commissioner FONBLANQUE.) IN RE EDWARD WOLSEY. The bankrupt was a corn and coal-merchant at Ware ham, Norfolk. This was a meetiug for the proof of debts and choice of assignees. Mr. Lawrance appeared for the creditors. The bankrupt was examined touching two sums of 1201. and 40/., which bad been in his possession. He re fused to give any explanatory answer on the subject. The COMMISSIONER—Lot him stand down and con sider for a time whether he will pursue a different course. After half-an-hour had elapsed, the bankrupt was re called, when he stated that the 1201. had been paid to Mr. Pishow, of Lynn, at the time that he received it. This was about three hours before be had signed the declaration of insolvency. He had paid him because ho had previously borrowed from him that amoun,t upon a promissory note payable on demand. Mr. LAWRANCE—Where is the note? Bankrupt—l destroyed it. There is no entry in the books of the transaction. I owed at the time 8001. to one sister and 401. to another. I paid Pishow because he pressed me. I paid nobody else at the time. Mr. LAWnANCE—YOU talked of 401. you had at Man chester. Where is it? Bankrupt—At home. Mr. LAWRANCE—What, do you mean by at home? No answer was given. . . . •, The COMMISSIONER—Answer quickly, sir. Where is that 401.? No answer. The COMMISSIONER—Messenger, take this man into custody. He will be committed to Newgate. The bankrupt (retiring from the box) said—They may take me to Newgate and hang me if they like. After having been in custody of the messenger for a short time, the bankrupt again came into the box, when in answer to a question put by ?Ir. Lawrance, he said the money was at home. He could get it and send it. Nobody bat himself knew where it was. He would not answer the question where it way. Mr. LAWRANCE—Then I must pray the Court that the bankrupt be committed. The bankrupt—That is just what will suit that gent (pointing to Mr. Lawrance's client). Mr. LAWRANCE—Where is the money? Bankrupt— I shan't tell to-day. I hear you are going to commit me to prison. Here the bankrupt said something mut teringly as to what be would do and what he would not do, but his words could not be distinctly heard. After the COMMISSIONER had told the bankrupt to stand up in the witness-box in a proper manner, and that it was no use being obstinate there, the bankrupt said he would not answer aey more questions. The COMMISSIONER—Messenger, Luke. this man im mediately to the Queen's Prison, The bankrupt was then committed. It was afterwards intimated to the Court that the bankrupt had refused to sign the deposition paper of his evidence. His HONOUR—He will be brought to a different course in prison. His conduct during the proceedings pending his bankruptcy will bo taken into consideration at the certificate meeting. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. .111 ORT REMY ClRCUlT.—Lancaster, Feb. 18. The Northern Circuit commenced at Lancaster on Saturday, on which day Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Baron Rolfe opened the commission. The calendar is very light, having in it only the names of twelve prisoners, most of them ordinary cases of larceny, with one charge of manslaughter. The cause list contains nine calve , . CRIMINAL COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) Joseph Boughton, aged 17, was indicted for having csused the death of Henry Thistlethvvaite on the 4th of last November. Mr. Whigham appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. M'Oubray f.)r the defence. It appeared that the prisoner and the de-erased, with some other boys, were playing on the 4th of November last in the Foyle-road, Burnley, and, began amusing themselves with throTring sods a turf at each other. The dcceatel, who had climbed up a tree, was pelted by the other boys and told to come down; he, however, would not, but pelted them in return with the sods thrown at him, and one which he threw struck the pri soner. The prisoner thereupon took up a stone and threw it at the eeceastA striking him with it on the back of the head. The deceased's head was cut, and bled profusely, and he became ill and never afterwards rallied. The Learnel Counsel for the prosecution hating opened his case, the prisoner wished to withdraw his plea and plead guilty. H 9 was sentenced to be imprisoned two days. William Walker was: charged with sending a threat ening letter to John Willick Thompson in order to ob tain money. _ _ Mr. M'Onbray a'posred for the prosecution, and Mr. Wigham for the prisoner. The prosecutor, it appeared, is an attorney at Lancas ter, practising is the Insolvent Court, and the prisoner had been employed by him as his clerk. They separated on some misutlvierstanding, and the prisoner sent him in a bill of 11/. for his services, which the prosecutor re fused to pay ; upon which the prisoner wrote to him a letter requiring his account to be settled by the follow ing. Saturday or he would proceed against him in the County Court ; and also stating that he should not stop there, but it was his intention to indict him for perjury in an affidavit in the Insolvent Court, stating the parti culars which he should prove ; but stating that if he would sett'e the prisoner's a-count ho should not pro ceed against him. The prisoner afterwards did take proceedings in the County Court, and obtained 51. For the defence it was contended that this was nol a threatening letter to extort money, but to obtain the pay ment of a debt. His Lounsrar, in summing np, said, whether the money were owing to the prisoner or not made no difference, and that if the letter had in any way has tened the payment of the debt, the indictment would bo supported. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he wag sen tenced to br) imprisoned nine months. The criminal business is expected to be concluded t)- night. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. The Rey. Richard Child Willis was brought before Mr. Bingham fur final examination, charged with various frauds on hotel-keepers. Mr. Thomas, proprietor of Hatchett's Hotel, Picca dilly, said he knew the prisoner, who on the 11th of April last was staying at his hotel. On the 11th of pril the pH:trier sent for him, and stated ho was obliged to go out of town at ten o'clock that morning, and asked him to be c , ood enough to give him the dif ference between the . receipt (now produced) f or 14/. 13s. Id. from the treasurer of Queen Anne's Bounty and his hotel bill of 3/. Bs. 6d., as he would not be able to send in time to the treasurer, whose office did not open until eleven o'clock, and the train started at ten. He acceded to the prisoner's request, and gave him ill. 4s. 7d., in the belief that the statement was correct. The receipt was afterwards presented to Mr. Ilodgson, the treasurer, but the money was not paid. Mr. Hodgson, treasurer to the Queen Anne's Bounty office, 'Westminster, said the prisoner on the 11th of April was entitled to the sum of 141. 13s. Id. as wit ness then believed. On that day Mr. Thomas brought the receipt now produced, which witness refused to ply. The prisoner is the perpetual curate of Minster in the county of Kent, which curacy was sequestrated in the month of March, 1849. Witness did not know of that circumstance. On the 11th of April wit nrss did not pay Mr. Thomas, becatise he had previously received notice from the prisoner, by letter, not to pay anybody (the letter was dated the 10th of April, 1849), and for other reasons. Indeed, witness would not have paid the prisoner had he come himself for the money. The Queen Anne's Bounty -office opens for business at ten o'clock. Mr. George Aston, cashier at th e Q ueen A nne ' s Bounty-office, Westminster, proved that prior to the 11th cf April several receipts by the prisoner wero brought to the office, and inquiries mode by the holders if they would be paid. At least six receipts for the same half-year's dividend, duo on the sth of April, were presented at the office prior to the receipt brought by Mr. Thomas. The prisoner was fully committed on this case. The next case was for obtaining money on a spurious cheque. Mr. William Smith, wine-merchant, o, Leicester square, had known the prisoner for several years. On the 12th of February the prisoner called on him and asked him to change a cheque for 2/. upon Drummond's bank. The prisoner asked him f.r pen and paper, and .wrot, the chcAne now produced. The prisoner said, witness would give him the money it W 01.113 SIVE him a journey to his ho'el at London-bricl::e. Witness gave the prisoner two sovereigns, and received the chi que. Or. cross-examips.tion witness said the prisoner was net a stranger to him. He had known the prisoner for years, and several times taken wine with him, and bed dined with him. If the prisoner had asked for two so vereigns witness would have given it to him. The cheque was returned with "no effects." On this case the prisoner was also committed. '[ho particulars of the fraud on the praprietor of the Sabioniire Hotel, Leicester-2(par°, hale already b' en published. The prisoner, who male no defence, was fully cm initted on this case, making three CASCV. in all. MARYLESONE. James Cummins, a labourer, was placed at the bar be fore Mr. Broughton, for final examination, on the charge of having maliciously cut and wounded Benjamin Mattes with intent to murder him. Prosecutor, who still looked pale and weak, and whose life was at one period considered to be in great danger, deposed that on Sunday evening, the 27tk ult., he was in a room at No. 4, Stephen's-court, Lisson grove, with a man named Marshall and his wife, and a woman named Whiting, with whom he (prosecutor) had for some time past lived. Prisoner and Ellen Burke, a girl of most violent disposition, and well known to the police, knocked at the door, and one of them asked if prosecutor was there; a reply in the nega tive was given, and they both, after some hesitation, went away. In the course of fire minutes they returned, and burst open the door, when Burke seized Whiting by the hair of her head, and dragged her about the apart ment. He (prosecutor) rushed forward to rescue her, and at length, after much difficulty, succeeded in pre vailing upon the prisoner and Burke to leave. In half an-hour after this he heard somebody coming stealthily upstairs, and before he had time to fasten the door, or t`iink what was best to be doi, the prisoner ran in, and, raising his arm, struck him a dreadful blow upon the head with some implement which he did not see. He fell to the floor quite senseless, and when he came:to a state of consciousness he found himself in the Western Gene ral Dispensary, New-road, deluged in blood, and a sur geon, attending to a wound which he had received. A poker with which the wound was inflicted was pro duced, and evidence in addition to that of prosecutor's was gone into clearly showing that the prisoner had with the poker alluded to caused the wound, which Mr. Paulc, the surgeon at the dispensary, described as being a scalp wound an inch and a half long, and penetrating to the bone. Prosecutor was now out of danger. Court, 99 D, said, that at the station-house the pri soner, on being told what he was charged with, ex pressed a hope that he had done for the Prisoner was committed for trial. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, Feb. 19.) SUGAR.—To-day operations in the British Plantation Sugar Market were upon a small scale in all sorts, and rather lower rates were acceded to. The quantity sold amounted to 620 hhds, &c., including at public sale 134 hhds 13 trcs Barbadoes, which realised steady rates; fine yellow went at 41s 6d to 42s 6d, and middling to good 38s to 40a 6d. 115 hhds 62 trcs 187 brls Deme rara, chrystalizal, sold at 40s to 475, inferior 36s to 395, and one lot very low brown 31e 6d per cwt. REFINED.—To-day large parcels of Refined Sugar were disposed of for home trade purposes, but not at better prices. The value of brown Lumps is 48s 6d to 495, and fair to good grccery 49s 6d to 52s per cwt. The market for Bonded Crushed Sugar is cruet at former rates. Mauttmus.—This afternoon the market for Mauri tius Sugar was in a quiet position. At auction 2,538 bags went rather cheaper, and a part only sold; yellow at 36s to 38s 6d, better sort 39s to 40s 64, brown 28s to 32s 6d, and better kind 33s to 35s 6d per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there were six public sales of Bengal Sugar, consisting of 7,997 bags, at which prices declined 6d to is for brow n and low yellow sorts, and 6d for other kinds; rather more than half sold; fine white Benares at 41s to 425, other sorts 38s to 40s 6d, strong yellow 42s to 445, soft yellow 33s to 38s, brown 29s to 31s. Of Madras 4,348 bags went is cheaper; good and fine soft brown sold at 29s to 301 6d, low to rood yellow 31s to 33s 6d, grocery sorts 35s to 37s 64, and white 39s to 39s 6tl per cwt. FOREIGN.—At public sale 2,417 chests of llavannah were offered, the sound of which was taken in, but the damaged, of which the chief part consisted, found buyers; fine brown and low yellow at 37s to 335, middling and good yellow 38s 64 to 40s 60. Of Porto Rico 546 pack sges were offered, and about one-half sold; fire brown and mid yellow at 36s to 395, better sort 39s to 42s Gd. 300 chests Bahia were all taken in; brown and yellow at 37s to 39s 6d, white 40a to 435; whilst 14,200 bsga Manilla ;were withdrawn. Of damaged Havannah 300 chests in bond realised 18s to 22s 6d fir low to fine yellow. By private treaty 3,000 chests duty paid have been sold at 40s to 42s per cwt. TEA.—'6ince our last report only a limited basin es has been cenaluded in ordinary and good common Congous ; more desire is evinced to sell at from 9id to 10d per lb, and several second hand parcels are on offer. The better sort?, however, have been in good demand at from lld to to is sd, and superior is 64 to Is 9d, at which the market is firm. Scented Tea realised full terms, and several parcels have been sold. Green fally suppotted former ternsF, and many parcels have been sold, whilst finest and lowest sorts met with the most attention. COFFEE.—This afternoon Naive Crylon Coffe• met with little attention by private treaty, and at public sale 107 bags were taken in at 61s for good ord. At public cab 259 bags 22 casks Plantation Ceylon only in part sold at barely former rates, low middling at 66s 6d to 679, fine fine ordinary 64s to 655, and peaberry 68s to 725. 15 casks Jamaica were taken in at 66s for low mid. 117 bags Costa Rica sold at lower rates, good and fine ord 48s to 51s. 50 bags Java 518 to 52a 6d. 107 bags La Guayra, good ord 44s to 44s 6d, and fine ord 498 id. _ _ _ MOLASSES.—In West India only a limited business has been done, and more desire is evinced to soll,nt from 15s to 18s per cwt. For public sale 2CO puns o f Deme rara and Trinidad are declared. East India can be ob tained at 14s to 14s 6d. CocoA.—To-day there was act a better demand for Wort India Cocoa. At unction 124 bags Trinidad were sold at from 44s to 49s 61 per cwt, which are full rates. SPICEB.—To-day at public sale 776 bags 670 pockets Bengal Ginger, export sort, in part sold at 21s for Ben gal, and 183 to 20s fur damaged; 133 bags cf Malabar, wormy 26s to 275 6d; 232 bags Clovrs went at 81 to 81d for Bourbon, very low 7d. The market for black Pepper was better supplied; at auction 500 rabies 2192 bgs were all t Lkea in above the offers made—Penang at 4443, Sumatra 4d, and Malabar 4id to 411; .182 bags of white Pepper sold at 7d to 70. Cassia Lignea is wanted, and 201 cases went at stiffer rates—first and second pile 108 s 6d to 113 s, third ditto, 107 s to 107 s 6d, discoloured, mouldy, &e., 94s to 105 s. 66 chests Nutmegs sold rather higher, an went at 2s 8d to 3s 6d, low 2s 5d to 2s 7d. 14 cases Mace went at 2s 61 to 23 lld per lb. Rieg.—Although East India is offered at previous low terms, still shippers and home dealers have made pur chases with caution by private treaty, and only one small parcel has been offered at public sale. The value of low white Bengal is 8s to 8s 6d, middling 9s to 9s 6d, better sort 108 to 11s cargo Bs, and Madras pinky white 8s to 10s per cwt, but these. terms are not to be obtained for large parcels. For Cleaned Rico there is yet a good sale. To. day at public sale 319 bags of Pearl Sago were taken in at 16s for large Pearl. SPIRITS.—There is still firmness on the part of hol ders of Jamaica Rum. The value of ordinary and fair quality 28 to 36 per cent over proof is from 2s 6d to 2s 10d, good and fine 3s to 3s 9d, and superior 3s 10d to 4s 3d. Demerara ' good and • fine 30 to 40 per cent over proof at 2s 3d to 2s 6d, and inferior 2s ld to 2s 2d. Leeward Island is 5d to Is 6d proof. East India is 4d proof. Brandy met with little attention. Sellers of Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1849 at 4s 5d to 4s 7d, 1848 ditto 48 6d to 4s Bd, 1847 ditto 5s 2d to 5s 4d, inferior sorts 2s 10d to 4s 6d, and Bordeaux at 2s 6d to 2s 9d per gallon. Geneva is not much wanted. For British made Spirit the value is 9s 6d nett cash, and only limited purchases have been made. In the value of •Gin there is no variation. _ SALTPETRE.—To - day the public sales of 1,023 bags Calcutta went off at lull rates; refraction 51 per cent. good realised 27a 6d; 91 ditto middling 26s 6d; 10: to 8 per cent. 265, and washed 23s 6d to 24s per cwt. INDIGO.—To-day during the progress of the sale 444 chests have been withdrawr, 998 chests (including. 7 chts withdrawn) have passed the sale this day. Of the total quantity that has now passed the sale (7,736 chests) 2,030 have been withdrawn, and 1,822 bought in, leaving 3,884 chests sold. Oils.—ln Olive there has been less passing; yet holders are firm and require from 47110 s to 501 per ton. Cocoa Nut met with little attention; Ceylon is offered at 32s • to 345, and Cochin at 34s to 35s per cwt. Rapeseed Oil is offered at a reduc ti;n, and there are few buyers; pale can be ob tamed at 40s Gd to 41s, brown 40s, and Foreign refined at 435 to 445. Palm met with little attention, and the nearest value is 31s to 313 6d for fine. Linseed Oil has been in excellent demand by shippers and home dealers, whilst prices have advanced to 323 3d to 22s 6d on the spot. Ter delivery several contracts have been concluded at 32s 9d to 335, and there aro not free sellers. A fair quantity of Cod has been sold at 311 per tun, at which the market is firm, and the stock is much reduced. Seal pale at 381 to 381 103, straw and tinged 34/ to 371, yellow and brown 311 to 331 10s. Southern 321 to 341 for ord to fine. Sperm fine at 821 to 821 10s. TALLOW.—Although Russian on the spot is offered at a further reduction, still purchases made have been limited for all purposes, and 37s to 37s 6d per cwt is the value of P.Y.C. of first quality. For delivery in last three months of the year few buyers are met with, and sellers are willing to accept 38s 6d to 39s per cwt. Only a mode rate business has been concluded in home melted, and 36s to 37s per cwt nett cash is the value. A further fall is apparent for other sorts of Tallow, as large parcels are yet on offer. At public sale 1,500 pkgs of South American were only in part sold at 31s 9d to 36s 61 for low to fine; 900 casks Sydney 33s to 375, and 19 casks Peterburg Sosp Tallow 34s 3d to 34s 6el per cwt. For auction 1,800 casks &c. of Tallow are declared. Rough Fat is quoted at 2s Id per stone of Blbs. PUBLIC PETlTlONS.—Thenumber of public peti tions presented in the years 1847.8 amounted, according to a return recently issued, to 18,504, of which 1,567 were printed; the number of signatures was 4,579,340. In 1817 the number of petitions presented was 9,947, the nurnsor printed 1,23, and the signatures amounted to 1,334,367. It is observed In a note's that the number of signatures above givers by no means clearly indicates the number of persons who have expressed their wishes to 4 ; 40 r nd ce i a dr m a bt e oy n r si t '.:l (l ) i n v u t e i l a t l liasointo.no fbNumerous pr pie public l t i i e t i b o my n s c tr ri e ds b e; n e b e t sy n , secretaries, or clerks, on behalf of bodies of persont , , such as benefit societies, temperance societies, and other aisocicfons, boards of guardians, (tic. Numerous peti tions have also been presented under sea'. The number of persons who mare petitioned Parliament is thus much ( - treater arm those who have actually affixed their names topctitiow." In 1848 the printing, folding, Ecc., of reports on public petitions, with apptusdix. , s and indexes to the same, cost 1,8541. 19 6d.; in 1849 this item if expen diture was 1,3961. 12.. 2d. The above sums do not in clude the expense of paper, which is supplied from the staticr ers. QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY.—The total of sums re ct ived by the Governors of (2,ieen Anne's Bounty dur ing the year ending December, 1643, was 183,9344 4s. Id. The amc , unt disbursed was 178,7671. 14s, fid. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 19. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool sack at Five o'clock. The Earl of LANESBOROUGH presented several pntitions against the national system of education in Ireland. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several pr.ti tions against the Sale of Beer Act. Also several peti tions against Sunday labour in the Post-office. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from Scotland in favour of protection to agriculture, and for a repeal of the navigation-laws as between Scotland and England, so as to enable them to bring their produce cheaply to the London market. The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented several petitions against Post-uffice labour on Sundays. RAILWAYS ABANDONMENT BILL. The Earl of GRANVILLE moved the second reading of the Railways Abandonment Bill. The object of the Bill was to give the Commissioners of Railways the power to authorise any railway company to abandon the construction of any line upon the petition of three fifths of the shareholders, instead of forcing the company to come to Parliament for a Bill for that purpose, as at present. He hoped their Lordships would sanction the Bill, as it would save great expense - to the companies, while it would give land owners an infinitely better chance of substantiating their claims before the Commissioners than they at present pos sessed of substantiating them before Parliament. There were nine abandonment Bills at present before Parliament. If their Lordships would assent to the second reading he would take care that a sufficient time should elapse, be fore the committal of the Bill, to enable the parties in terested to make themselves acquainted with its enact ments. The LORD CHANCELLOR suggested to his Noble Friend the propriety :of making special provision for cases in which parties proposed to abandon only part of a scheme, with a view to prevent an abuse of their power on the part of railway companies. Such cases had occurred in which the interference of the Court of Chancery had become necessary. The Duke of RICHMOND thought the railway share holders were not the only persons to be considered; the landholders had given up their land upon the faith of a lino being carried from one point to another point, and now, forsooth, bectin.e their shares were down in the market, those shareholders, who had prevented many towns from having railways now sought to escape from their liabilities. The landowners would, in many cases, be put in a very awkward position if this Bill passed. It was very well to say that the landowners might go to the Court of Chancery ; but it was the court, of all others, of which they had the greatest dread. He wished to know whether the Commissioners were to act judicially or not. In many cases agreements had been entered )to give compensation to landowners which the Court of Chancery would not enforce, but which a Committee of the Lords or the Commons would. . _ Lord LANGDALE entirely dissented from the prin ciple of the Bill. These companies had had granted to them the power of interfering with the rights of property on condition that they ,should complete a great public work for the public good, and having exercised that power they now sought to be relieved from the condi tions on which they had obtained it. The greater por tion of railway shareholders were mere speculators, for whom their Lordships ought not to feel much sympathy, and he thought they ought to be called upon to complete their undertakings, and to keep faith with Parliament and the country. Lord BEAUMONT thought the object of the Bill was to obtain a most desirable end, but that it did not adopt the best means to attain that end. He approved of the principle of the Bill, but objected to some of the de tails. Lord MONTEAGLE suggested that the Bill, eter its second reading, should be reinred to a Select Com mittae, for he thought it most injudicious to entrust to a body not of a judicial diameter, like the Railway Com• missioners, functions which were of a judicial kind, wit bout their receiving any guide or chart to direct them in the course they bad to take. Earl GRANVILLE would consider of the suggestion of the Noble Lord. The Bill was then read a second time. The Earl of GLENGALL laid on the table a Bill to facilitate the transfer of land in Ireland. SUNDAY TRADING. The Earl of HARROWBY having presented several petitions in favour of this Bill, postponed the second readirg to Friday next.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 19. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time:— Belfast Improvement. Bilston Improvement, Market, Waterworks, and Cemetery. Chippenham Waterworks. Colonization Assurance Company. Dumfries and Maxwelltown Waterworks. East and West India Docks, and Birmingham Junction Railway, Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgsw. Forth and Clyde Navigation. Glasgow and Shotts Turnpike Roads Improvement. Herne Bay Improvement. Inverness Bridges. Nottingham Freemen's Allotments. Shrnphire Union Railways and Canal. CALEDONIAN, AND EDINBURGH AND GLAS GOW AMALGAMATION BILL _ _ The second reading of this Bill was postponed by consent. MANCHESTER RECTORY DIVISION BILL. Mr. M. GIBSON proposed the second r( ,ding of this Bill. _ _ --- Mr. GOULBURN said that, however desirous he was to see the country iu every portion of it, especially in the manidecturing districts, supplied with spiritual su perintendence, he objected to this Bill on the principle that it dealt with too large a community to be brought in as a private Bill, and ought to be,introduced as a public measure. Sir R. INGLIS could not help throwing out the sug gestion which be had formerly made, that a Bill affecting the interests of 450,000 persons ought not to be intro duced as a private Bill, but that it ought to be placed among the orders of the day. Mr. M. GIBSON sale, that as there was no objection made to the principle of the Bill, ho thought the better plan would be to read the Bill a second time. Mr. CHRISTOPHER objected to such a course, be lieving that the Bill could not he transferred from the private list to the orders of the day. The SPEAKER said there was no official impedi ment to such a transference. The Bill was then read a second time. SOUTH YORKSHIRE, DONCASTER, AND GOOLE RAILWAY. On the motion being put for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the right claimed by it of opening parcels when in transitu. Mr. W. BROWN quite agreed in this view, but still conceived that somesufficient protection should be pro vided against any abuse of the privilege by the com pany themselves. It was so manifestly to their interest e that no doubt whatever could b e entertained upon the subject.ionl THOMPSON said th at if any Post-off i ce clerk cf the last century could rise from his grave he would be so astounded by learning that two pieces of paper could be sent under the s ame cover for one ex pense, that he would not believe th e ev id ence o f hi s senses. For his own part, he belie ve d th at t h e Bill wou ld act wholesomely for the public benefit, and that no fear need be theentertain i e i d A o svA ob y jectionabl e c l auses . FARES. Mr. WILSON PATTEN then mov e d, th a t th e Com missioners of Railways be directed to report their opinion e. du lo ri s n , g o t irl he present ses s i on , i n which to this House, in accordance wi ti th ny th r e ail p w r a o y vis ß io i n ll s s o w f h t i la ch e ihtAtoa is s t be proposed been et and eank e nl introduced O ut onVrd raise under existing Act s o f P arliament. Hes or alter the ra t es and tolls authorised . thought that some provision Should be made, in order to prevent OUCHERE had no obj ect i on whatever to fr.L any Aß imposition on the public. the production of the report; but was afraid that if any Bill was founded upon it, the Government would have no power to render it operative for the public benefit. The report was then ordered. SUNDAY LABOUR. A great number of petitions were preaented from va rious places against the transmissioa of letters on a Sunday. MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. Sir It. 11. INGLIS presented a petition against the Bill to legalize marriage with s deceased wife's sister. ATTORNEYS' . CERTIFICATE TAX. Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from the Tower Hatn!ets praying for the abolition of the tax on attor neys' certificates. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. 0. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from 15,000 of the inhabitants of the county of Durham praying fur the relief of agricultural distress. Lord GEORGE MANNERS presented a petition from a parish in Staffordshire complaining of the dis tressed state of agricultural labourers—that for more than twelve months they had been out of employment for two or three days in each week, and that the rate of %ages had decreased from 13s. and 14s. a week to 7s. and 10s. SUNDAY LABOUR. Several petitions were presented, praying for the abo lition of Sunday labour in the Post-office. THE LAND -TAX. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from the parish of St. Mary-le-Strand complaining of the system under which the land-tax is assessed. Also a petition, signed by the rect)r, praying the House to take steps to suppress Sunday trading. COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS. Mr. HEYWOOD presented a petition from a place in Lancashire praying fir the establishment of county financial boards. AGRIC U LTURAL DISTRESS. Mr. RICE TREVOR pres ented a petition from the county of Bcdf ir d comp l a i n ing of agricultural distress, and praying for protection, or as reduction of the burdens on land. Also a petition from 200 tradesmen residing in the same county to the same effect. AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION. Sir JOHN TROLLOPE presented a paition agreed to at a public !net ti ng i n th e county of Radnor, pre sided over by limn of an adeq ua t e protect i on to agricultural produce. the High Sheriff, praying for the restora - Major BERESEORD presented similar petitions from the county of Essex. POST-OFFICE LABOUR. Mr. T. EGERTON presentel a petition from a con gregation of Wesloyans againq the transmission of Letters through the Post-office on-Sundays. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notico of a motion fir an extension of the suffrage to all male adults who paid 51. rent. HEAD MONEY. Mr. Lt. BERKELEY gaye notice that on Monday, the 25th instant, he intended to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty for the production of certain papers respecting the ressels King George, Prince Rupert, and the Princess Amelia, which,!between 1745 and 1747, sailed with letters of marque, and ;captured numerous prizes, to the vain of upwards.of a million of money._ MALT-TAX. Mr. CAYLEY presented a petition for the repeal of the malt tax. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. Mr. RICARDO postponed his motion for leave to bring in a Bill for the regulation of railway traffic. COUNTY COURTS. Mr. GRANGER moved for a Feries of returns con nected with the county courts, stating the number of plaints entered, and the amount of money received at each, which was agreed to. - POOR-LAWS. Sir R. FERGUSON moved fur retunn of the sums advanced 0 each poor-law union in Ireland, under the Acts 12 and 13 Vic. c. 24 and 63, with the date of such advance, to the latest period; and of the amount repaid the Imperial Treamry for the advances under those Acts, with the dates, to the latest period.—Agreed to. CONVICTS. Colonel DUNNE moved for a return of tha number of convicts sentenced to death or transportation through out the several counties in England and Wales during the years 1847, 1848, and 1849.—Agrecd t,. SAVINGS' BANKS. Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether the Chan cellor of the Exchequer would be able to bring on his Bill with regard to the savings' banks on Friday? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not be able to attend, but that code other business would be proceeded with. INCOME-TAY. Mr. SPOONER wished to know if the Government were prepared to make any alteration in scheduie B of the income-tax, to meet the reduction of incomes which had taken place lately? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it waa not the intention of the Government to alter the principle of the income-tax. THE AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. I Mr. DISRAELI, 'der presenting a. petitfonnnme rously signed from various parts of the country, ex pressed a regret that another petition with which he had been entrusted could not be presented f- em an informality which he had learned since ho came into the House. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to say that the petition which he had just laid upon the table was the only one which was likely to emanate from that numerous class who vi ere just now placed in that state of distress to which ho had called the a.- tention of the House during the last session. At that time the distress was deep and prevalent, and yet i it had f dled to meet with the sympathy, and had, in- I deed, hardly obtained the acknnowledgment of the House. Since then the prospect of this class had grown still more gloomy and o b scure .—(fl esr, hear.) The 300,000,000 invested by the farmers of this country was gradually disappearing.—(Hear, hear.) Am they year had opened with still gloomier prognostics for the interests of the agricultural districts.—(hear, hear.) Nor were those prospects lees promising for the lab= ers than they were for the tenant-farmers. They were alike without employment and without remu nerative wages ; and he was bound to say, that ho could find no answer to these complaints from anything that the Legislature had effected. That return was only up to the first day of this year. It was since that time'that that employment, which he had ventured to describe as fictitious, had, in his opinion, greatly diminished in th e agr i cu ltural districts if the United Kingdom. It had been, indeed, with reference to this point his intention to move for a return of a similar character t') that they were now in poses eion oF, up teethe Ist Feb., hut upon inquiry he found that such a return, if consented to, would entail great trouble upon one branch of the administration that had already greatly exerted itself in order to give them accurate infor mation on the subject. Indeed, he might venture to remark, although he wished the task had fallen upon some other member of greater influence than himself, upon the re cent conduct of this branch of the administration. For a considerable period the central management of the poor-laws had excited in the Houie much controversy, and he thought it must be satisfactory to the House, the Government, and the country to contrast the position this branch then occupied in public opinion with what it now occupied. He certainly wished on this occasion to to avoid entering into any invidious comparison in the attempt to investigate the causes which have produced this result, but it certainly must be a source of as much gratification to the country, as no doubt it was to the Government, that this branch of the aiministretion should be conducted in such a manner as to entitle it to public confidence.—(Hear, hear.) But they had to-night to inquire what was the best course to take to re move, or if possible, certainly to mitigate the present depression which the petitioners have referred to. Upon that side of the lionise they believed it had been occasioned by recent legislative enactments, by the recent alteration of the law, by the recent repeal of the law with regard to foreign produce—(Hear.) They believed on that side of the House that the most efficacious mode of re storing prosperity in the long run, and which would be most advantageous and most popular to the community, would be the re-enactment of. the laws regulating the importation of foreign produce.—(Hear, hear.) That being their conviction, they had been taunted with not being able to support it with arguments. It was easy to talk so, hut it was not difficult to bear. Speaking for those gentlemen with whom ho bad the honour to act, he said they did not in any way shrink from an argument on that subject.—(llear.) They had seen nothing at all in their opinion to confute the conclusions, which, through evil and through good report, they had attempted to advocate in that House in regard to that great subject. They still believed the principles on which the House hal constructed its commercial coda were fallacies.—(Protectionist cheers.) They still believed that the time would come when the 1 House itself would acknowledge the truth of that assertion. (Cheers.) But, although ho himself was of opinion that discussion was the soul of that House and of this free country, and though he knew, at least ho believed, there were occasions when discussions, and mere discussion, might be the highest duty and most sovereign policy to pursue, still he must profess his opinion as a general rule, that that House should not become a mere debat ing society.—(Hear, hear.) Now, he would speak with perfect frankness on this point. After the deci sions on the Address in both Houses of Parlia ment, he was of opinion that the only conclusion 1 that could be drawn from those facts, though in the other House the division had reference to the merits of that industrial system which was popularly known by the name of protection, still he could not fail to see that it was the opinion of a large majority in both Houses of Parliament that it would be unwise to disturb at present the settlement which this country had recently arrived at in this respect.—(Hear, hear.) It then became their duty to see and to consider what course should be taken which, without going against the conviction of `that House, might at least be, as far as the fortunes of the agriculturists were concerned, of a remedial character. Ho had always felt—if they thought fit to repeal those laws which regulated the industry of this country, and especially those which referred to the agricultural in dustry of this country—that the cultivators of the soil—that all classes connected with the cultiva tion of the soil, would offer this alternative to the Government: —If you deprive us of that system of legislation under which, for so long a period and with various modifications, we have enjoyed our property or pursued our industry, we now ask this of ' yon—in the name of justice and of policy— (Cheers) —you should at least adapt our posi tion to the altered circumstances in which you have placed us. and that you should revise that system of taxation which prevails in this country.—(Cheers.) With reference to its equal and just distributiou—(Con tinued cheers)—the claims of the classes connected with the soil could not be placed before the House more neatly or more concisely than in the petition which ho presented to the House to- day. They demanded of the Government two things; in the first place, that they should be placed on equality with their fellow-subjects; and, in the next, they demanded to be placed in our markets on equality with the foreigner.—(Hear.) They referred, in the first instance, to that enormous system of peculiar taxation from which the majority cf the people of this country were exempt, and which they had borne. In the next place, they referred to those fiscal restric tions, which, when placed in direct competition with the foreigner, prevented them availing themselves of tho greatest and freest resources. Now those claims were intelligibly expressed, and founded on severe justice— (Cheers)—and if those who unhappily hurried on the repeal of laws which limited the importation of foreign agricultural produce, did not at the time consider the consequences of the course they were adopting, much as he regretted the want of foresight of men so great, ho could not, as a representative of an agricultural con stituency, refrain from doing his duty in that House, where, whatever might be the majority of econo mists, ho could not think he was acting wrong in having still confidence in the justice of Englishmen. He should touch only partially upon a portion of the theme which he believed was amply sufficient to occupy the attention of Parliament for some time; but before adverting to it more specifically he should first make one or two observations upon opinions that had been lately expressed with reference to the incident' of the taxation to which he was about to call the attention cf the House. They were all well aware that when the question of that portion of taxation, which vulgarly was called rater, was recently brought before the House; considerable difference of opinion had been expressed in that House as to who paid those im posts. Oao party said that the burden of taxation fell upon the proprietors of the soil, while, on the contrary, another side said that the impost was discharged by the tenant or occupier. When he (Mr. Disraeli) had first brought the question before the House, the Hon. Mem ber for Montrose had been the person to assert that the proprietors were the persons on whom the burden fell, while he was surprised to Ind that last session that lion. Gentleman was the father and this session was the godfather of a measure which enacted a new representa tive system, founde I on the idea that the occupiers of property were the persons who paid the rates, and that they had a right to have seine share in the disposal of them. He thought, then, that he might fairly assume that there was not much difference be teem himself and that Honourable Gentleman on this point ; but he (Mr. Disraeli) would not rest his argument on this point on such a partial admission. He thought the time was come when they must look at this question earnestly. When this House decided that England should enter into free competition with all the quarters of the globe they were topped from considering the relathe interests of the owner and occupier. They should leave out of all consideration the interest either of the landlord or the tenant, or both, and deal only with the interest of the land.—(Hear, hear.) There was an opinion which, if it had nut of late bad much countsnaace iu that House, had at least taken a fast hold upon the country, and that opinion was that the whole of our institutions were based upon the land. —(Hear.) Tho whole of our political constitution was founded upon that principle.--(Hear.) Whether it was the Throne itself; whether it was the grand scheme of our juridical arrangements, or whether it was like the spire towering towards heaven, in the arrangement of our ecclesiastical sytem—all our institutions were founded upon the land.—(Hear, hear.) There was an impres sion which had largely prevailed throughout every English community, that there was a peculiarity about territorial possessions.—(Hear, hear.) In this opinion he humbly but heartily coincided, and in stating so much, he was not speaking solely of the landlord's interest, or of the tenant's interest, or of the labourer's interest—for he believed all to be in truth and reality united and derivable from the same sources.— (Hear, hear.) In that House an opinion had been ex pressed, that land was nothing more than other property. Elsewhere it was stated that it had peculiar properties, admirably adapted when respected for the preservation of order and the promotion of political liberty.—( Hear, hear.) Ho believed the latter to be the truth. Both opinions had been broadly expressed, and a statement had been made, erroneously ascribed to him by the Heu. Member for the West. Hiding of Yorkshire, that, land was only to be considered as the raw material to be used in a manufacture. Ile maintained that they had a right to take their defi nitions from their opponents, and it was for that reason alone he said, that having heard in this House from persons who, upon this subject, were the greatest authorities, and finding the opinion upheld and promul mulgated in literary organs of great merit, he did venture to observe that if land be only a raw material, why do you not extend to it the same principles that you extend to all other raw materials hear)—and he was bound to say he had not yet received a satisfactory answer to that question. There was a great silence in the House on the subject, while some of tho organs he had referred to since the question wee asked had denied that laad wes a raw material--(Hear, hear, and a laugh)—or had asserted that if it be a raw material, it was a raw mate terial peculiar from all other raw materials, because it produced a quality called rent.—(Hear, hear.) Now what he wanted to impress upon the House was this, if they forced the land of England into competition with the markets of the whole world, they had no business to inquire into the quality called rent.—(Hear, hear.) The consequences of the present law would be to throw a greet quantity of land out of cultivation. According to the opinion of some of the best writers conversant with the landed interest, the consequences must be ine.vitebly as he bad stated. There was certainly some difference between parties on this point, but then it was only a difference of degree, and, according to all opinions, there were some classes of land which ware doomed, under any circumstances of this kind, to go out of cultivation; and ho wished to im press upon the House the consideration whether or co this peculiar taxation—the part to which he was to call their attention to-night—might not make the difference, make the margin which would permit this land to be cultivated, which under the existing law was doomed to a sterile exietencte—(Hoar, hear.) They had no right to inquire irto the rents it' this state of things had been produced by their own legislation. All they had to do now was to act with justice towards the land, and in dealing with it carry out these economical principles which they had always promulgated, and which were, the foundation of our commercial code.—(Hear, hear.) Ho said the House had no longer any right to meddle or interfere with the question of rent; that was a subject which recent legia lation had swept away from their consideration. It was well far the House to consider whe ther the popular character with respect to the properties of the sail wag a just one. He took occasion recently to remind the House that the number of landed proprietors in the United Kingdom was probably about 230,000. Now he asked the House to consider what was the aristocratic element of that numerous and important class. He imagined they could not fix on a batter test to ascertain a truth of so much importance than the pocket. Calculate the number of manorial estates in this country. They all knew that in England every parish was a manor, though every manor was not a parish. Allow ing that the fourth of the parishes in England were not manorial, there would be probably about 20,000 mano rial estates in England. That was the amount of the aristocratic element on the state of which they heard so much —(Hear)—and it would be about oncotwelfth. But taking the rental of the United Kingdom at 60,000,0001. a-year, they would find, if they divided that rental be tween 250,000 landowners, that about 2401. a-year would fall to the share of each of them. But as se many cf them had a great deal more than that sum, it followed that many of them must have a great deal less. Yet that was the class which:vras always pointed at and held up as the most luxurious class; but the truth was that they were the most industriaus and self-denying class in the state.—(Hear, hear.) He said, then, with reference to that class that the House ought to legislate according to justice, and upon those economic principles to which they made such frequent reference ; and therefore he arrived at this conclusion, that in a discussion as to the inci dents of taxation, whether they fell on the land owner or the occupier, was hereafter perfectly idle. They were not to consider whether they were benefit ting the owner or the occupier, but whether they were doing justice to a most important intereet— to the land of England, and in doing that justice whether they were permitting that land which they had thrown into competition with all the soils of all countries in the world to be worked at a remunerative value, whether the profit went to the landlord or to the occupying tenant. With those opinions he would proceed to call the attention of the House to the first branch of that important subject—the relations of the agricultural inters st of all classes to the general taxation of thecountry. Oa a former occae ion he had called t he attention of the ifijEntghe England, and the ouse had !acts s se w t h o ich the he local the taxation then putbeore not bean controverted, and many gentlemen of official authority who took a part in the debate acknowledged they were correct. lie showed to the House on that occa sion that the Oa Ms concealed with the soil, independently of contributing to the general revenue of the country, contributed to another revenue in England alone to the amount of 12 millions, and that this second revenue was fur general interests and national cone erne. He would not further advert to this additional burden, as it did not immediately concern the question before the House; but it showed that the land of England had at all times been made the machine fir paying more into the Exchequer than it was justified in doing, because'tho land tax was a tax upon all kinds of property, and if an account current book were kept it would be found that 100,000,000/. were paid which ought not to have been contributed on the principles of justice. But take in round numbers the local taxation of the kingdom, omitting the land tax, at 1 , 1,000,000/n—he only referred to the fact that the House might bear in mind the general character of those peculiar burdens which the land sustained. The breech, however, of the local taxation of the United Kingdom to which he would now call attention was in fact the poor -rates. He saw that the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney ( Mr. Anderson) bad mored an amendment upon his motion for that night, to, which he would refer. He saw by the notice paper that the Hon. Gentleman meant to move for a revision of the poor-rates, for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the effects of the laws for levying duties on the importation of corn and other agricultural produce from the year 1845 to the year 1848, both inclusive; also into the relative amounts of taxation, local and general, which had been levied during the same period on agriculture and other property and incomes. Now, that appeared to him (Mr. Disrael), under ordi nary circumstances, to be a very sensible motion; and if the Hon. Gentleman had had more experience than un fortunately he heel had in.tlae House, he thought he would have moved for this as au unopposed return; because he begged to assure him all the information he required could be obtained up-stairs, and if ho would examine the proceedings of ,the Committees of that House and of the House of Lords he would find all this informa tion, and then he would not deem it necessary to append this amendment to the motion. Indeed he (Mr. Disraeli) had had furnished him, by a gentleman of great autho rity, a digest of all the information he referred to, not only for the years 1815 to 1848, but from the year ISOO to 1848, and he would find that landed property had paid during that period 581,000,0001. to 159,000,000/. which other property had paid. Now, ho never wished to insist on the comparative sums paid by different classes of real property. But this information was not of the smallest value; he could not make use of it; but as he thought those little interchangei and reciprocations of courtesy were not displeasing, he had tendered the infor mation to the Hon. Gentleman, in order that he might make use of it in his speech.—(A laugh.) I will venture to say (continued Mr. Disraeli), if the Hon. Member makes good use of it, his speech will be one for statistical research seldom equalled in this House, and the only fault will be, that unfortunately all his facts will refute all his foregone conclusions.—(Cheers, and laughter.) I will now venture to call the attention of the House for a moment to the consideration of the nature of the poor law. I think that I have once before taken the liberty of saying that it appeared to me that the poor-law was a law which only could be vindicated—or rather which could be vindicated only on two principles—either as a matter of policy, or as a matter of social duty. If a mat ter of policy—if it be the interest of society that, by pro viding for those who are in went, society should be se cured from the consequences of violence and from rapine, end if it were only viewed thus as a matter of policy, it was clearly the interest of all concerned, and ought to be of course supported by all.—(Hear, hear.) But if we took the higher view of it, and considered the mainte nance of the poor, which we do consider in England, a matter of social duty—(Hear, hear)—then it was quite clear that if it were a sccial duty it was the duty of all, according to their moans—(Cheers)—and, there f ire, it ought not to he a tax, an impost, charged upon one kind property.—(llear.) Every gentleman in this House linens that it is an impost charged upon one property. I shall not, on this occasion, enter into any wholesale in quiry to ascertain the relative amount of property thst is suhject to this, impost, and the amount of tilUSe proper tis that are privileged and exempted from it. Never mind whether it is one-fourth or one-third of the income of the country—never mind whether it is 80;000.0001. year, as compared with the charge which 200,000,0001. ought to bear, or whether the figures might make stronger in favour of the principles I advocate in this respect. The great truth remains, that the vast majority of the property of the country does net fulfil the social duty which it ought to do, and which all acknowledge (Cheers.) Now, Sir, there are very great objections to remedial measur es i n thi s department; and, indeed, it i 8 A not. possible to conceive how such flagrant injustice could have so long flourished, were not the difficulties _ very considerable. In the first lace everybody i s afraid of interfering with nd troubling that happy system ° local government of which we have so much reason to be proud, and which unquestionably is the source of self , In much public happiness.—(Cheers.) I never reo speak upon the s ubject to any gentleman of great r; p perty, not connected with the laud, who is not elo q uen Ask upill an th y e' it t . e hru individual t s l e t i e f-g fo ° r v t e u r n n a m te en p t o s in s e s t s h o i r s simplicity of Three per Cents. to the amount ot 30,0001. or 40.0001. a year—ask if he ought not to contribute to the maintenance of the poor in prop tion to his property; and be will say, " No doubt; hut if he were to do so he would probably endanger out: happy system."—(Laughter and cheers.) Now, Sir, i t frankly admit that I should be unwilling to suPP °r t i c ti ou s lai in this House any proposition which would endanger this happy system of local administration. But I cannot_ admit that the problem is impossible of a solution that would reconcile local management with imperial t°t re den; though I sin perfectly willing to admit that, in a t i t tstet ting to wive such a problem, the whole question 0, a ver:a; the law of settlement meet be terminated for (Hear, hear.) But, Sir, there is another objection agei,EL. now offering any relief with respect to the present cuta tributiun cf the impost levied under the poor-laWe a n that is rather a popular one also. It is said. an d has lei; cently been sail with no novelty of observadon , but wine some authority or etaterreet, that the land of this eoll,.ts try is inherited and otherwise acquired subject to . ttt, charge, and similar charges. This is an observation that alwevs tells, and have observed that it perplexes, e v ot if it does not convince. But, with reference to that 1 ) ,,, sition, there is one simple but efficient observatioart! It el n i make upon it, that it is not tree.—.(Cheers.) is not true with respect to Ireland.—(Hee.r.) of Ireland was not acquired or inherited subjects poor-rate.—(llear, hear.) It clearly is not tru T he reference. to another of her Majesty's kingdoms. .ac land of Scotland was not inherited or otherWiSe '- quired subject to the poor-rates— meat . , aearr it but it is not true with reference to a very considerlore portion of the land of England. The House Wou la ut , surprised, if theyinvestigated the subject. at the b litt ies s bar of very considerable estates, and some cf a In" t he important, though not less interesting tenure -- the yeomen estates—they would, I say, be surprised At that number of estates that are inherited in En isnd e this were not originally acquired or inherited subject t red charge.—(Bear, hear.) I had intended to hay° °l e o I some names of interesting properties to the Houi t ' a nd decline to do so because the list would be imperfect,. irhet4hthe s /t; e that would necessarily lead t o erro neous con ole • but I cannot help r emem b er i ng th a t I am sitting °Fl3;OOr a Noble Lord, the First Minister, the son of one greatest :louse —a house that I am glad to Olt, ur exercised its vast possession s genera lly for th?, " v t ,:eot and advanttee of Englund.—(li eri r, hear.) c "" son c hi 1p remembering net I am sitting opposite 10 a great house welch certainly did not inherit or 4 19 0 of wise acquire its broad possessions subject to o°l,l ' as Elizebeth.—(Cheers and leueltter.) Well, ~t h l ies?'" a matter of fact, the position' is not true—( b 0 . but as a matter of principle is it justV e ; this hear.) I am not disposed to assent ' het ited i principle, that because an estate has been i° „e j e ct subject to a tax, which politically is au S ub j e cted one, that a principle of policy is to be Oh', of to a mere affair of inheritance, and if we a t i th 4 opinion that in the preterit, circumstances ', tin t as country the lands of England sh ou ld be as ea st " r d to possible from these peculiar taxer, I am not disr s t a n ittai admit that the fact of their being inherited or act , t - e to subject to a tax (if the levying of a tax is acl Yer a - st eer the highest principles of policy of a state) je 3111 ; the t ) the case. I must go a little more deeply 111 '„," to question with eforerce to this point. If you cc' ac' ate and nay, " This man's estate was inherited (woo EllkiCCt to an impost," I must rip up I, b e 5 , 41 0' of the country and I must ascertain %Oodles. that F o s • perty was not inherited or ecquired subjec t le were which gave it an ativentitions value—whether th6Yftetel not laws which through a series of Parliarae nt ' d favour—and whether ho acquired or pureha lle c - eih ,: n t: e f , estates in ceps: quence of the Legislature of his having secured him a certain market, and net °l3. 'fforcl cured him that market, but passed taws whic h :birth him a bonus for the ex p or t ation o f hi s produce, - esti , is the case with reg a rd to the corn-laws in this ee s ; t he I might clearly conic forward, when you ann° lll ' e n d set fact of the poor- ra t e b e i ng an i n h eren t impost — O llO against that the Parliamentary advantage , s 0 ratified by con sen ti ng Senates, of which Y - „ -- , e d suddenly, and in a manner h e was the least P rep to for, deprived him.—(Cheers.) I have alt erte at ar e the two most i m p or t ant p o i nts w hi c h in argtim e- er red brought forward o n thi s su bje c t ; fi rs t, the risk in% to of disturbing the local administration if we et tSl33 t r o the give relief to oppressed proprietors with regard one° poor-law, and, second, to the extenuating (t-tint' Os always brought forward, that the property th 6 $3 O relief has been acquired subject to those charge s : il ex I have done so merely because I thought it a fs ir , - ause tunity to advert to them, in considering the great c ow in which we are engaged, and not because I ante the rested in refuting this position at present; becalietse, propositions which I am going to place before thel l con which I shall submit to them in detail, if they w f the sent to go into Committee, are not open to either,) objections to which I have adverted.—(Bear, hesttoiete I think the time has come, as I ventured to M ber t en ns do :r o oe - ptivide before, when we must seriously consider wh et v oted ir icittynhoa which ie t ais ierdnahtedd,tp,ahprsaeetsrmil Parliament regardsu eti hifitting position anttsein jut taxation,o at f e a otdo l f l ttt.th t l h ee,, e mno,,.ep t ih a n v s ,i ca s o e c t , t l3 t o t s tanc es c:: always eli entertained.—(Chee re ) W e shs" "" ore ae tunity offers—when the occasion selle th , e °PP di g moment, a-- hes smarting from linquished, and, perhaps. ' be more we experience you may posed to listen to the accents of truth• re* shall then remind e u of the system s °l ! f all set ial have consummated.—(Cheers.) But, in the rae ho t 0 accepting your legislation as fact, understanding ; a toll pledged majority is resolved to act upon that iegtal... which we believe, is o of the disasters which 0 , very hour becoming more ntjutor to the interests of those whom we are unit here Vejea n3-- meat—open to refutation, if p su or re t, s we feel it our dut to commence a, series 0 , area . which, I hope, temperately sustained onlylls vi ring will, in the aggregate, materially benefit the Dasl yuu can refute our v icer ia interest that we wish to support.—(Loud itthee il t i re tie ° ye i a_rewiten I called upon the House to assent to $ ° th; objection arg um t e lu h a t t s the deal Bich h w i a t wth respect to our local taxation I was met 1111 9 n es too vast, and that wear the the me state of the exchequer would not permit the , " ° ;013 1. nt t:-night accede to my suggestions. - I hop°, 01 ' eon" fine cure, mght I shall not be told, because I ha ve , r atiS field—that my consideration to only a portion tf t b n e u P th! I have taken too limited a view. will f .o a n i thary, I am sure that her Majesty's Goverolne% be' as founded wereh' a t iti te; ° rot inclined to support my opinions, if i t e t %nli shown at the same time that they are 0 7 ill just, but essentially practical. N6w ' na l .I House should consent to go into C° l:l3- i i e t ct shad propose several resolutions, the °. ,- , e sio ll which will be to mitigate the distress and del w e n t which is felt in the agricultural districts a t the Pd de moment believing, as I do, that the distress ble b peession are n o t lik e t h e passing clouds:, wi tu e t weot commerce is soreetimee described to be oversbato g 0 —(Hear.) lii cute, then, I can induce the LlouSetlottooe into Committe, I should propose, as the first telittell that a sum, not inconsiderable, should be /at ° a o' remitted to the real proprietors of the ceuutritrbe oht' mission which would not be liable to either 0 ter oa , jections which I have anticipated,: and, to v of IDy degree, combatted. I should look tor the Irs k is aoite s first resolution to the establishment charges of t t ," ts of t,"' Kingdom.—(Cheers.) The establishment chei t g e ,'" t t b,tir' United Kingdom are scarcely at all connected I tt istra' local administration. Your system of local auT iet ttated tion will remain inteett, pure, perfect, your 111 Lie< unaltered, your cheeks complete.king the 2511. n as • ero to accede to a resolution that from t ' of March, 1850, Close charges which itt act,e. perly known as th e , es t a bli s h me nt charge s s° tbat" with the relief and maintenance of the p oor eral le- Uuited Kingdom, should be furnished by the ode del; venue of the country, I calculate, from antli t ell o , es t ° ments, that this would amount to a sum 11. t tost l a, 1,500,000/. sterling.—(Hear. hear.) ObsenTalij e ate tr establishment charges are barely subject to yolt. nistration. The maintenance of your to-door ,t;Rseta:cer; out-door poor would be supplied from the ss f u pervi ti f o f as at present, and be subject to the stun s powet o il Observe, also, that no man, with the great jobertir, brass, could rise and maintain that estates w er he ar.) subject to the establishment charges.—(gesrgga st to 1 should proceed in th a same way to Pr° 1 1:1 - yellt a t e , - resolution to the Homo, in which I vi es ' posiTthe deal with all those rates which, gente alleas ver y 0 w i t h has been convenient to raise by the glo b : to it e snt poor-law, but which have nothing what e / G t is t° the maintenance of the poor. As thins.,," b. - ot to injustice that real property alone shos::ot P re arty) support the poor —as it is a great hardshe'seal p rope l tbs t the land (the most important portion ot r . m ot to s t i o ther not only to maintain the poor, but to be s .ll "et e lder a , a - rily system of locall i taxation which we will c ° ," 9 - Fsfes" to opportunities in detail, so I think that the 0110. eiple at present, and the most practi ca ' - Yliw of take all those which ° Dricie s tic/11 rates are not e ha g brog I go absolute maintenance c f the poor, seed th 1 0 e a d by which would not interfere with our siet e t - defrsk e The vernment, and in future permit theat t . a t e hear.) y i l ig the t • aeneral revenue of the country.- - V -te ' - that, lls ' House will possibly be surprised to learu• , bit /. ever/ „ A ril' msed &Registration Act which compel s t ot and every death to be registered at a e`iottld be, ' w ok 60,000/. a year to the country, that el ,o ,2„„ u se It„ 101 1 by real property alone—(Hear, hear)--ndhecttltr,b'otie the easiest way of obtaining the ree e lqi, wag may go on obtaining public moncY in ra t taleat i i t hot the apparent odium of adding to the [cell „upris e the the country.—(Hear..) The House Wil d ' u re , u tatin i g ot aer another Act of Parliament was passe t s ) 7 s t, sou mo j, 0 preparation of the jury list and the bure,:osuptrY 24 ' u- e r t o . lists of the country, which cost the o! „ 0 , year, ;Ind that one Bill was itnetediatelYrly, rettlYtt,' saui t '" e 'l the Poor-`aw Commissioners t.) be pal. - o f aroxlsni b e d s perty. --(llear.)—The House, in a P _ O5 an d e tt o alarm, determine to telte care of the 3 ntl i,on e r, all the inhabitants of the country, Pcs ses it ycit y ctMs l o ,ol sanitary Act which costs the c ount? ht urea ty w e ear y able sum, and that is immediately pir.ru be we til l t a-tb e property of the country.—(Hear, hea the d e mi od the House if I were to enter into slh ainen i Antl_ the 'Vane nation Act, the Parochial Assen t et tonisu it eb. many other Acts; but the aggregato of e 17 4 , „ t eear e le Hous , .3 when I tell them that indepenu" lace d 00e lielunent charge.- which I have P 0 ,1 8 013 0 u, need s 1,500,000/. for the ' United Kingclova w reife as ;oo , of which are occasioned for irela.ed--tio) aterrat• with al 0 0 00. rates, passed in this House almost wt eat ay 50 within these very few years, amount to 1 1 ehe tee t eat _ hear/ 0 00h" sterling for England aloae--(Hear, . 70 ing bu m per sum fir the United Kingdom exceed• , D o Pli per annura.—(Bear, hear.) Now, Sir THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FE.BRUAR Y 20, 1850