The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-12 00:00:00

t to dis• re stated a j edge, believed it duties assistant did not hem, in retion of rs? The a party and by d Test a ister, as s to the rs. Ile sssistiot ?pea l to register. s would 3der the e going of Ex' posed to rt of the ,ngeroue t the sr etion to whstber <Hoer.) 'ON. ;le Eng' this * a,son for law of was no' tssistaoS e judges app g eo and the the sole land th° .rnmont. was, 110 V should 3 was to ]ere ro wan' that the fl i ng this tood, go rhen the was lie lble or sal U 1 of layb, . ..._ _ Unde r )arristet ad NO f voted. irty wo e Os, dol l ( Lions 0 way 115 the to ° ers, who ind uld Re' , to toil e of law. I were' -69 he Bill' l to with IL The -83 to, wi t° out. lota b. 8 of car 3x penges at tbei is C°rir divisi oa 'blob 139 de, se P e t ; by t s 'i RI/ - ;WA NT : all Of. bo- and ll) ,d to - 'bleb Pi 'yet t h s f idea , net *11; :reit° 6 . du g o ne no inY dr i llonf e ks lied t'P I hoped 1 flif' )llt loch Oa W O C O a be Pi 00 13 ' S os ir i CviO. IO „la ;13, spa ,cil go °, of te° • f itlg gt 0 t e' % l. 0 , re to e ed• riDgll4 ob i° 1 --- Officer would let the Hom,e go to a division, without di thviding on the motion. It h a d b rea a l oug t i me l e fore vroci J. l se; and was an a d vance , no t a grant , t o Ir e land. expressed hisde RUSSELL ti. said in . resect to the Bill he Pal Th e eto bring forward before Easter. no was. he had found, an order for returns; but it had immediate refererce to the Bill. It was sent to Ire zll, a n d the reply had art yet le ea received. When it ~received i t would be laid before the House. h o u r G. BANKES did not think the motion his :Jun and Gall ant F r i end an unreasonable one, at that tour of the night, and considering the constitution of the burse ue was alm os t exc l us i vely Ir i sh i n i ts character. Th e .1 had hem told on previous occasions that each ad vance would be the last; but ho was of cpinion that oans and grants in this case were all the same.—(" No. theno." from several Irish Members.) He had not heard precise grounds for the grant in question made by e Noble Lord; and he thought it would ho more atisfretory to the county that the debate should be adjourn e d. y s• Cteelylrish; I°fie n 11)U o NN E denied that the House was exclu the contrary, Irish Members were a mostl y absent on Irish questions, and so, genera ll y House. were Hon. Mr tubers on tho "other side of the at ° use- He regretted that the Bill was brought forward that ate ho ur , as many Irish Members were anxious the P r ss th eir opinions on the subject; especially as Y might then get a reply from the Noble Lord on the subject of I the poor-law in Ireland. There would al cireatYtiseih.e a pplications tor grants made until that question was As ne proper explanation had been given of the in which the money was to be disposed of, he shoal which also concur in the adjournment. the HERBERT also thought it advisable to adjourn th debate. 11e must at the startle time protest against e Propositio n of the agar Member (Mr. Bankes), that X " and grants, as rded Ireland, ere the same b l e n g' He was prepared to show that the money lent s " on all occasions been repaid, until the la , e calami tous famine by which that country was afflicted; and he Would further show, by the evidence of Sir John Bur alaPe"—sie English commoner—that England had :eau )i 1 1 made a cons i derable profit by its loans to I re l an d, a gher interest b e i ng rece i ve d t h ere t h an co uld be ob tained elsewhere. He thought, then, that these charges u _n_gitt not to be lightly made, as they were calculated to Ciadice Ireland in the eyes of the people of England. r egard t o the present grant, he must say that no one regretted more than he did the existing system of the and grants to Ireland, but it arose mainly because _ advice of H on . Members, who knew what were the 7.ante and requirements of Ireland, had been totally alsregarded.—(Hear, hear.) o k oee lt • M. FOX reminded the House that out of til_eetes,etdoeolo.flent to Ireland, according to returns laid on that House, not less than 7,000,0001. had den rep a id . He hoped, upon the serious charges that had been brought against Irish Members, that the Go anrnment would p ost p one t h e ques ti o n, to afford them Th e o f replying to them. th . 4 , 11 e CHANCELLOR o f the EXCHEQUER reminded ' l seouse that their means were in such a state of pe d,,i,unetraray e mbarrassment that any delay would be Pro of the greatest i nconven i ence .—(H e ar, hear.) ie appeal e d to the House whether it would not b e most cruel to postpone the consideration of the grants to these unions until the whole question of the policy of the t r i f l t t lting loa ns o f money to Irelan d , an d t h e manner i n thcalirdthßy had been disposed of, were entered into? BERNARD admitted that the question was of tl greatest importance to Ireland, to facilitate the set tee:Lent °I the poor-law in that country. There were b „ e Complicated arrangements to be made contingently ' - r °ll the granting of this loan, and the delay would doubtless be productive of the greatest possible incon e2ienFe. No bn e cou ld regr et more then himself the `esslty of th ese appeals on t h e part o f I re l an d, but he felt satisfied that the present grant would be productive of the great est advantage, and relieve a great deal of the existiug suffering and distress. obs e The O'GORMAN MAHON p ro t es t e d against the sVations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that a nY Portion of the Irish Members wished to offer any Uposition to the progress of the present measure. The ho nourable Member for Dorsetshire had made an impu againat Ireland an d I r i s h M em b e rs generally; but bn that charge had been fairly and honourably met, d had been met by anticipation by the Right Hon. Gentl eman ( t h e Ch ancellor of the Exchequer) himself before Easter, when he told the House that the loa ns to Ireland had been repaid with a punctuality that was quite wonderful under the circumstances. He trusted his Hon. and Gallant Friend, with whom he had sat so many years in that House, would not persevere in his present motion. He knew him to be erratic and Quix otic occasionally—(A laugh)—but ever good-humoured and cheerful, never doing any mischief, but if he perse vered on the present occasion he certainly would do Mischief. yet he never was disposed to do an ungenerous act. When he stated that thousands of his countrymen bad died, and thousands were still suffering, he thought it unnecessary to make any further appeal to the Hon. and Gallant Member to withdraw his amendment. Mr. G. BANKES stated that he had not meant to cast any imputation on the people of Ireland. All that he bad intended to say war, that although they had repaid as large a portion of those advances as their unhappy condition had allowed, they had not repaid as much as he could have desired. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL expressed a hope that the house would reserve until the Committee the considera tion of the details of the Bill. Mr. A. STAFFORD said he was well aware of the necessity of adopting that measure, and he only wished the Government had given it precedence over that other Irish Bill with which the House had been occupied du ring so large a portion of the evening. He should be a r reer ed t o su pprrt the second rea di ng o f t h e Bill, if her Majesty's Ministers would give an assurance that they would, on a future occasion, give an ample oppor tunity for its consideration. Sir L. O'BRIEN said that, in a district with which " m e t , Was intimately acquainted, the Poor - law Commis --"irers had thw a rted the efforts of the g mount of expenditure. The uardians to re duce the a guardians had rUePosed th a t th e sa l ar i es of the officers should be re ed by a sum of 2,500/., but the Commissioners had refused to sanction any reduction. Lord J. MANNERS said he :hoped that f or t h e fu !lie the G overnment would press forwar d t h at measure t;ln preference to the Irish Franchise Bill. He should be e 1 1. 3' much surprised if th e I r i s h Members did not feel mat the measure then under their consideration was of uch more i mme di ate i mpor t ance to th e i r un h a ppy untry, Viscount NAAS said that unless the Government Pan ledged themselves to afford the House on an early day repportnnity of filly considering the Bill, he should ho it his duty to vote in favour of the adjournment of .Lord J. d iscussion. a t RUSSELL said, that if Hon. Gentlemen W,lshed t o h ave an opportunity of entering into a general of the state of Ireland, he should be quite ceiseuesioa r e t lY to bring forward that measure at an early period for the purpose of affording that oppor could net pledge himself in the present 11 4i tu tantre t;' scu ssi of. onve.Brinint4b, public busin e ss to fix an early day for such a that SIBTHORP sa id h e was not satisfied with tb"" an swer of the Noble Lord, and he should therefore Press his amendment. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the adjournment of the House 23 Against it 131 Majority against the in for adjournment --108 Lord JOHN RUSSELLinformed the Honourable and G 11 a ant Member for Lincoln that the papers he tbie desirous to have produced were actually on the t es the H ouse , a lthough they were not printed. Colo the SIBTHORP—Not on my table.—(Laughter.) " not to b e c h ange d f rom t h at course w hi c h I con ' , r the roer , I move that the Bill It i c! a secopndp time one this and day six now months.—(oh, oh.) be A.RKW RIGHT seconded the amendment. f a " lr • SPOONER thought that the Noble Lord had vanished the best reason that could be urged for the e o i t it e l l nnensent of this measure. He was not prepared to tathe either for or against the Bill until he had seen ste Papers. He would now move the adjournment of . - mistim e asked , Colonel SIBTHORP said that he had repeatedly beeneu for the pr o d uct i on o f th ese p a p e r s , and had never th e 4.illf°ouse hued until then that they were on the table of ee .51club se ,TER said that the Hon. and . Gallant E s and applied to him on the subject before eolinaLetrotrel lt uout these papers, which could not be produced after Easter. They were not, however, printed. JOHN RUSSELL said that unless the House ;afraid to read the Bill now a second time he was 0 1 . _aid it would be impossible to appoint a convenient day r its discussion. M. BANKES did not understand the Noble Lord to l a i ke a day for the discus s i on o f t hi s measure. Wh en p Para were moved for, having reference to a Government o me asure, he thought th e G overnment were responsible for th e printing of them. The O'GORMAN MAHON asked the Right Hon. the "Natter whether these papers ought not CO have been Printed? The SPEAKER said that it was not necessary, un ess an application was made to the Printing Com reittee, or a motion was made in the House to have them Printed. a Lord J. RUSSELL sa id that if thi s Bill were to be gefeeted by an oppos i t i on of this kind, it wou ld b e well feat the country shou ld un d erstan d th e na t ure o f these Peated divisions. 4 , e r • A. STAFFORD having voted with the minority 0, .ne last division, could not, in consistency, Tote witb the Noble Lord. The House again divided, when there appeared— Poe the adjournment of the debate 6 Against it ..• *** 134 Majority against the adjournment —l2B _ weelonel Sibthorp's amendment was then negatived Ttout a division. ".e Bill was u l t i mate l y rea d a secon d timeTheerl 11 the motio n o f t h e CHANCELLOR o f the EX "EQUER end he Stamp end ood vi Duties Bill went pro forma into Committee as order e d to b e repr i nte d and recomm i tte d on COl O % IA "I SIBTHORP moved that the papers be printed, Jtave notice of his intention, on the motion of the ,t4no_further e a read in-, that he would move an ameudment that progress of it be postponed until that day six .I,t4.—(Lati g htmr. ) the Ken C RANCELLORof the EXCHEQUER reminded Ju st . and Gallant Gentleman that the Bill that had n et then in Committee was the Stamp Duties Bill, and in re e Distr esse d U n i ons Ad vances (Ireland) Bill, and c e olo t b i e p r i nted. der ( 1 13 ect to hi s motion, the papers had alr ea dy b een or - I shall SIBTHORP—Then I wish to gi ve no ti ce t h a t T he 2ppose every G overnme nt Bill.—(L aug h ter. ) andih e h ouse havi ng resumed, ee Jud gments (Ireland) Bill was read a third time Trssed. ATT ORNEY-GENERAL brought in a Bill to THE SUN, amend the law relative to pleading and practice in the sup,rior c.urts at WustalinA(.:r. Mr. PARKER hiought in a Bill to regulAte the dis• position of the Naval I'r;z- Cash Balance." The House then adjourned at Half-past One o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the Howe of Comnusu., THURSDAY, APRIL PARLIAME TARY VOTERS (IRELAND) BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Fifty-seventh Clause (Appeal from Barrister's : - .;ecision on Points of Law) :—Amendment proposed, page 31. line ~'6, to leave out these words "if he thinks it reasonable and proper that such appeal should be entertained :" Question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause." The Committee divided : MAJORITY—AYES, 102. Abdy, Sir Thomas Greene, John Parker, John Adair, R. A. Grenfell, Charles W. Perfect, It. Aglionby, 11. A. Grey, Sir George Pilkington, James Anson, Colonel Hall, Sir Benjamin Power, Dr. Armstrong, Sir A. Harris, Richard Power, Nicholari ratites, M. T. Ilatchell, John Rice, E. R. Baring. Sir F. Hayter, W. G. Rich, Henry 1 lass,.`.E. T. Henry, Alexander Romilly, Colonel Birch, Sir Thomas Heywood, James Romilly, Sir John Bright, John Heyworth, L. Russell, Lord J. Brotberton, Joseph llobhouse, T. B. Russell, F. C. Brown, W. Hodges, T. L. Rutherford, A. Campbell, W. F. Hodges, T. Twisden Salwey, Colonel Castlere,wh, Vis. Howard, Lord E. Scully, Francis Childers, J. W. Howard, C. W. Seymour, Lord Clay, James Jervis, Sir John Shell, R - .. L. Clements. Charles Keating, Robert Smith, John B. Cobden, Richard Kershaw, James Somers, J. P. Cowper, W. F. Labouchere, Henry Somerville, Sir W. Craig, Sir W. G. Langston, J. H. Talbot, J. H. Crawford, W. S. Lascelles, W. S. Tenison, E. K. Dalrymple, Captain Lawless, Cecil Thompson, Colonel Devereux, J. T. Lewis, G. C. Thornely, T. Divett, Edward M'Callagh, W. Townley, R. G. Dundas, Admiral M'Taggart, £lrJ. Townsheud, Captain Dundas, Sir David Meagher, Thomas Trelawny, J. S. _ Ebrington, Viscount Mangles, It. D. Tufnell, Henry Ellis, John Manic, Fox Watkins, Colonel Enfield, Lord Milner, W. M. Wawn, J. T. Evans, John Moffatt, George Williams, John Fagan, W. Molesworth, Sir W. Wilson, James Fordyce, A. D. Monsen, William Wrightson, W. B. Fox, R. M. O'Connell, Maurice TELLERS. Gibson, Thomas M. O'Connell, M. J. Hill, Lord Morena Grace, 0. D. Paget, Lord Clarence Bellew, R. M. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FItOM TIIE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY TIMES.—To-night Lord John Russell is to pro pose the appointment of a Committee to consider the amount and character of certain public salaries. It may, of course, be presumed that the present move ment is made with a view to some reductions, and as offices of various kinds—Ministerial, judicial, and di plomatic—are classed together iu the proposition before us, we may conclude that reference is made rather to the remuneration generally due to public services than to emoluments accidentally attached to any partizuk,r capacities. We may dismiss, too, not only as groundless, but as wholly beside the mark, any appeal to the alleged poverty of the nation or the hardness of the times, as well as all ingenious deduc tions as to what the country "can afford to pay." The country can never afford to pay unreasonable salaries. As regards the tact there is far more prudence than penury abroad ; but, however that may be, the ques tion of public salaries must rest on its own grounds, and be considered with reference to the work done, the talents required. the returns exacted, and, of course, the relative value of that currency through the medium of which recompense is given. No riches can justify extravagance; nothing short of fair wages can command fair services. if any of the salaries appear high, it should be recollected that they are the great prizes of a life, and owing to the vicissitudes of party and the chances of competition, are rarely enjoyed beyond very short periods, and at long intervals, though the work continues all the while without intermission and in behalf of the coun try still. For, according to our theory of constitu tional government, the leader of au Opposition is dis charging a public duty no less than the leader of an Administration, and in the eyes of one section of the people, even more meritoriously. Many persons think that Mr. Disraeli's services are to the full as beneficial as Lord John Russell's; and yet Mr. Disraeli's compensation from the Exchequer may be deferred for a considerable time, and acquired ultimately upon a very brief tenure. Indeed, if we take the most conspicuous ex ample of success in this profession and dis tribute the aggregate income received during periods of office over the whole time spent in training for it, we doubt whether the average stipend would equal that expected from ordinary success in any liberal vocation. There are places, however, both in and out of the Cabinet, to which no such acknow ledgments can apply ; but these, perhaps, would be better abolished altogether, or retained, if at all, with a compensation as purely honorary as their duties. In such cases, too, as that of the Admiralty, where the whole establishment is misconceived and rotten, it would be a mere farce to estimate the claims of particular offices. The first condition of all is, that no work should be unnecessarily made, and that what exists should be well done. Till these results are se cured by a good organisation the question of recom pense is superfluous. When the object is lost, all payments are overpayments. The salaries of the diplomatic body will be found, we suspect, to admit of a material circumscription ; though, if the pruning-knife is to be applied judiciously, it must be at a sacrifice of prepossessions not often witnessed in ruling quarters. There have hitherto been two distinct functions of the craft and mystery of - diplomacy,—one by which international transactions were carried on, and one by which Great Britain was " represented," always rather imposingly, in the eyes of foreign states. This latter function will bear considerable curtailment. We can afford at this stage of our national life to dispense with appearances, and take our stand upon realities. In fact, much of the old diplomatic ceremonial is obsolete in the pre sent day, and many of our smaller missions might be either abolished or consolidated without offence given, loss felt, or discredit contracted. The tendency of modern times, indeed, has been wholly towards the consolidation of states, and consequently to diminish the number of those centres of political sentiment between which, for the sake 9f reciprocal improve ment and general peace, intercommunion is re quired. Still, if the great prizes of 4,0001. and 5,0001. per annum are to be suppressed in favour of more moderate stipends and less aristocratic qualities, it must be remembered that secre taries and attaches can no longer be expected to work, without hope or prospect, for 3001. a year. We have indicated a few points of this question, which, simple as it may appear, has many and very import ant bearings. Speaking generally, we should much regret to see a baseless allegation of public poverty satisfied by an indiscriminate reduction of salaries. A surrender of a certain per centage upon all debate able incomes would merely represent a false confes sion and an unworthy compromise. Let useless or supernumerary offices be abolished altogether, or preserved only like the high-stewardships of munici pal towns. Let every board and every establishment be organized for the maximum of efficiency, and with the greatest economy of power; but let the compen sation due to public services actually rendered be computed as becomes a people which knows the value of money in one sense, and its worth in another. UHRONICLE.—The appointment of a Select Committee for inquiring into the salaries of political, diplomatic, and judicial offices, of which notice was given by the Prime Minister just before Easter, is to be moved this evening. From an explanation given by Lord John Russell during the debate of last Mon day, we infer that the jurisdiction of the proposed Committee is to be limited to the heads of the Go vernment departments, the Foreign Ministers, and the superior judges of the courts of law and equity, and that it is not to extend to subordinate function aries. Internal financial reforms in the public offices have been, and will continue to be, carried on by the responsible heads of the several departments. Upon this proposition Mr. Disraeli has given notice of an amendment, the intent of which amendment may not, perhaps, be quite obvious at,first sight. It is meent, no doubt, to operate as an indirect negative upon the Premier's motion. But, coming from the Member for Bucks, whose personal distaste for financial reform, as a corollary of Free-trade and a stalking horse of the "Manchester School," has been frankly avowed, it bears palpable marks of being a party move, and indicates clearly enough the existence of " some thing behind." On referring to the " Votes," we find a probable solution of the mystery. The Hon. Member for Oxfordshire, who, differing in this re spect from his anti-economical friend, is known to the public as a truculent reformer of official incomes, has another proposition on the notice-book for the 30th instant, " for the general revision of all salaries, with a view to their due reduction." Whether this object is to be effected through the medium of a Select Committee, or by what other means, is not apparent from the notice. The motion of Lord John Russell has no doubt been judiciously timed, so as to take the wind out of Mr. Henley's sails; Mr. Disraeli on the other hand, seeing this design, attempts to turn the Premier's flank by his skilfully-devised amend ment. Thus the fear of Mr. Henley, and of the support which he might have received from other sections of the House, has spurred on the Ministry; while the anxiety of the Protectionists to keep the game in their own hands has ingeniously cloaked itself in that apprehension of delay, and that zeal for the principle of Ministerial re±ponsibility, which are expressed in Mr. Disraeli's resolution. Does the object which Lord John Russell now proposes to accomplish fairly fall within this category ? We think it does, for several reasons. In the first place, so far as political salaries are con cerned, the Government, by taking the matter wholly into their own hands, would in fact be dealing with their own case. They would be called upon to assess the value of their own services. So delicate an exercise of discretion ought hardly to be exacted from any set of men. Again, in regard to the judi• cial salaries, the question to be decided is one of grave importune-, which may well be thought worthy of the combined and mature consideration of the leading members of all parties. Nor is it quite clear to our minds that, as Mr. Disraeli asserts, " the House is in possession of all the information requisite to re gulate those salaries." If the salaries of the judges should bear a relation, as it seems to be ad mitted that they should, to the emoluments gained in the higher ranks of the profession, there may be materials necessary to a decision on that subject which do not lie within the sources of Ministerial intelligence. At all events precedent is in favour of Lord John Russell's mode of proceeding. The last re-adjustment of official salaries, which took place in 1831, was the result of an inquiry by a Select Com mittee. A similar course had been pursued on many previous occasions, as, for instance, in 1815 and 1821. Upon the general question, we have already ex pressed our opinion, that there is scope for a well adjusted reduction of the higher class of salaries, and that the public service would sustain no detri ment thereby. More work and less pay has of late years become the rule, not only in commercial and professional employments, but also in the lower walks of official life. Even-handed justice requires that the great functionaries should not be treated with more indulgence than the smaller ones. Unless, however, the retrenchment now meditated should greatly exceed either the amount which Mr. Henley proposed last year, or that which any Select Commit tee is at present likely to adopt, the scale of salaries in England will still surpass, by an immense per centage, the standard of the !most lavish of foreign Governments. We have no objection that, within certain reasonable limits, England should continue t o be distinguished by her liberality in this respect. We repudiate the miserable parsimony of under-paying any class of men, and we recoil from the idea of set ting up the highest preferments in the state to a Dutch auction. The Crown is entitled to be served by the highest degree of integrity and intelligence that the ranks of public life afford. The sums necessary to secure such services must be paid. No anxiety to diminish the burdens of the public can justify the in fringement of this principle. But whether the altera tions which time and social changes have introduced since the present scale of payments was adopted, may MINORITY-NOES, 33. Adderley, C. B. Floyer, John Mußings, J. R. Alexander, N. Gore, W. R. 0. Naas, Lord Archdall, Captain Gwyn, Bowel Napier, Joseph Baldwin, Barry Hamilton, G. A. O'Brien Sir Lucius Barrington, Viscount Heald,yames Sanders, George Bateson, Thomas Henley, J. W. Stafford. Augustus Bernard, Viscount Herbert, H. A. Taylor, Thomas E. Best, John Jones, Captain Thesiger, Sir F. Chatterton, Colonel Keogh, William Walpole, Spencer Chichester, Lord J. Lindsay, Colonel TELLEMS. Disraeli, B. M'Neill, Duncan Dunne, Colonel Fitzpatrick, J. W. Manners, Lord J. French, F. DISTRESSED UNIONS ADVANCES AND 'REPAY MENT OF ADVANCES (IRELAND) BILL. Order for Second Reiding read; Motion made, and Ques tion proposed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :" Whereupon Motion made, and Question put, " That this House do now adjourn." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, 23. Alexander, N. Cotton, W. 11. Stafford, A. Archdall, Captain Farrer. James Stanley, B. H. Arkwriglit, U. Gore, W. R. 0. Stuart, Henry Bankes, George Halsey, T. P. Taylor, T. E. Best, John Henley, J. W. 'Verner, Sir W. Booth, Sir R. G. Lockhart, W. Chichester, Lord J. Masterman, John TELLYILS. Christy, Samuel Mullings, J. B. Sibthorp, Colonel Clive, Henry B. Spooner, Richard Gwyn, Bowel MAJORITY—NOES, 131. Aglionby, H. A. Grace, 0. D. Paget, LorciA.. Anson, Colonel Greene, John Paget, Lord C. Armstrong, Sir A. Grey, Sir G. Palmerston, Viscount Bagshaw, John Grey, R. W. Parker, John Baines, M. T. HaWord, Sir 11. Pilkington, James Baring, Sir F. T. Hardcastle, J. A. Power, Dr. Barrington, Vis. llatchell, John Power, Nicholas Bass, Thomas Hawes, B. Rawdon, Colonel Bateson, T. llayter, W. G. Ricardo, Osman Berkeley, Henry F. Ileroert, 11. A. Rich, Henry Berkeley, C. L. G. Heyworth, Lawrence Romilly, Colonel Bernal, Ralph Hobhouse, Sir John Romilly, Sir John Bernard, Viscount Hobhouse, T. B. Russell, Lord John Blake, Martin J. Ilollond, Robert Russell, E. Bouverie, E. P. Howard, Lord E. Russell, F. C. IL Boyle, Colonel Howard, C. W. Rutherfurd, A. Brotherton, J. Howard, P. H. Scully, Francis Browne, R. D. Jervis, Sir John Seymer, Henry Ker Chatterton, Colonel Keogh, William Shaito, R. D. Clay, James Keppel, G. T. Shell, It. L. Clements, Charles Kershaw, James Simeon, John Coke,:Edvvard3K, King, P. J. Somers, J. P. Cockburn, Alex. Labouchere, Henry Somerville. Sir W. Cowper, W. F. Lascelles, W. S. Strickland, Sir G. Craig, Sir W. G. Lawless, Cecil Stuart. Lord D. Deedes, W. Lewis, George C. Tenison, E. K. Douglas, Sir C. Lindsay, Colonel Thicknesse, Ralph Duff, G. S. 31.Nagaten, Sir E. Thompson, Colonel Dundas, 'Admiral M'Cullagh, W. T. Thornely, Thomas Dundas, Sir David M' Neill, Duncan Towneley, John Dunne, Colonel Mahon, O'Gorman Walpole, S. H. Ebrington, Lord Mangles, R. D. Watkins, Colonel Ellis, John Manners, Lord J. Westhead , J. I'. Elliot, J. E. Maule, Fox Willcox, Brodie Evans, William Meux, Sir Henry Williams, John Fagan, William Milner, W. M. Williamson, Sir H. Fitzpatrick, J. W. Monsen, William Wilson, Matthew Fitzwilliam, G. W. Morgan, H. K. Wood, Sir Charles Foley, J. H. Mulgrave, Earl Wood, W. P. Forster, Mathew IsTaas,".Lord ,l Wyld, )James Fertescue, Chichester Napier, Joseph WyvW, Marmadake Fox, Richard M. O'Brien, Sir Lucius Freestun, Colonel O'Connell, Maurice French, F. O'Connell, M. J. Frewen, C. H. Ogle, S. C. MUMS. Tufnell, Henry Bellew, R. M. THE GOVERNMENT IN A MINORITY. The minority which on Wednesday evening endea voured to resist the second reading of the County Courts Bill consisted of 67 persons, and of these 32 held the following offices :- 1. Baines, M., President of the Poor-law Board. 2. Baring, Sir F., First Lord of the Admiralty. 3. Boyle, Colonel, Groom in Waiting to the Queen. 4. Cowper, Hon. William, Lord of the Admiralty. 5. Craig, Sir W. G., Lord of the Treasury. 6. Dundas, Sir David, Judge-Advocate-General 7. Ebrington, Viscount, Secretary to the Poor-law Board. 8. Elliot, John E., Secretary to the Board of Control. 9. Grey, Sir. G., Home Secretary. 10. Grey, R. W., Private Secretary to Lord J. Russell. 11. Hatchell, J., Irish Solicitor-General. 12. Hawes, 8., Under-Secretary of the Colonies. 13. Hayter, W. G., Joint Secretary to Treasury. 14. Hobhouse, Sir J., President of the Board of Control. 15. Howard, Lord E., Vice-Chamberlain Queen's House hold. 16. Jervis, Sir J., Attorney-General. 17. Lascelles, Hon. W., Controller of the Household. 18. Law, C. E., Recorder of London. 19. Lewis, G. C., Under-Secretary Homo Department. 20. Manic, Right Hon. F., Secretary at War. 21.:Paget, Lord C., Secretary to Master-General of Ordnance. 22. Palmerston, Viscount, Foreign Secretary. 23. Parker, John, Secretary to the Admiralty. 24. Rich. Henry, Lord of the Treasury. 25. Romilly, Sir J., Solicitor-General. 26. Seymour. Lord, Commissioner Woods and Forests. 27. Sheil, Right Hon. R. L., Master of the Mint. 28. Somerville, Sir W., Irish Secretary. 29. Tufnell, H., Secretary to the Treasury. 30. Wilson, J., Secretary to the Board of Control. TELLERS. 31. Hill, Lord M., Treasurer of the Household. 32. Bellew, R. M., Lord of the Treasury. _ _ Thus we have the names of thirty-two actual place men out of the sixty-seven which constituted the ac tual minority. Such was the nature of the opposition offered to the County Courts Bill.—Times. IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETINGS. BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.—The attendance at the Birmingham meeting is always greater than those at Walsall and Wolverhampton, which precede it. This is accounted for by the circumstance that in Birming ham the various trades dependent upon the iron ma nufacture accumulate, and the state of the home trade is by the transactions there accomplished more clearly discernible. In Birmingham all descriptions of trade come into " the great account." Iron, limestone, coal, and every other raw material or " appliance" required for the staple manufacture of the district, or for the domestic use of the immense population of the neighbourhood, come into full force. The wonder is that the mineral products of the neighbourhood are not rendered more available than they are at present for the supply of the metropolis. It is probable that so soon as the Stour Valley line of railway is opened the trans mission of Staffordshire coal to London will become a great trade. The meeting of the iron and coal, and all other masters, at the Town-hall to-day was an average as semblage. Amongst other gentlemen largely inte rested in the trade we observed the Messrs. Williams, Messrs. Thorneycroft, Messrs. Fosters, Messrs. Barrow and Hall, and the great majority of the leading firms of the district. The tone of the market to-day was gloomy, al though to use a familiar phrase, accounts were gene rally well "settled." The explanation is easy. Ac counts for iron and coal are usually paid in bills or acceptances, and almost as a matter of course no trader will show his face upon a quarter-day unless the stamped obligation has been duly met. The great furore which existed some five or six years ago has subsided, and that excitement, the re sult of railway speculation, which intoxicated the proprietors of iron works, has led to a fearful col lapse. There is little doing. Speculative men who engaged in railways—some of the most influential ironmasters of the distract—have been seriously in jured by embarking in local undertakings, more es pecially in the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamp ton lines, and, as may be e as ily conce i ve d, f ew p eo pl e possess spirit, much less money, to embark in any trade except that in which the return is not only certain, but immediately profitable. The iron trade of South Staffordshire is unques tionably at the present moment, like that of South Wales, entirely speculative. Prices, although de clared by quarterly meetings, are altogether arbitrary, and must be considered as regulated by circumstances. They were quoted to-day as follows :—Bars. 6/. ; rods, 6/. to 61. l 0:.; hoops, 61. 103 ; sheets, 71. 10s. ; pig 4, 31. to 31. SA. These are the nominal prices of the present quarterly meetings so far as they have been held, but little certainly can be declared until the concluding meeting at Dudley, on Saturday sight. SPINAL HOSPITAL.—His Grace the Duke of Nor folk has been plea9ed to give a donation of 100 guineas, and her Grace the Duchess twenty guineas, in aid of the funds of the Spinal Hospital - for the treatment of distortions, Port land-road, Regent's-park. LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, not warrant a re-adjustment of official incomes, which, while it conciliates public opinion and gratii•es the prevalent desire for economy, will still supply the Cabinet, the diplomatic corps, and the judicial bench with occupants as distinguished, as honourable, and as efficient as heretofore—this is a question which may, in our judgment, be not improperly submitted at the present time to the arbitration of a Select Com mittee. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH-EASTERN. The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this company, adjourned from the 14th ult., was held yesterday at the Bridge-house Hotel, London bridge, for the purpose of electing auditor!. Mr. J. Macgregor, chairman of the board of directors, was in the chair. The CILIUM/1N said—Gentlemen, the half•yearly general meeting of the proprietors in the South- Eastern Railway, held on the 14th of March, was adjourned to this day, for the purpose of electing three auditors. Before, however, proceeding to this, the business of the day, I beg to state that the direc tors on the 21st March carried out the resolution of the proprietors, and reduced their number to nine— viz., Mr. Macgregor, Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Browne, the lion. Mr. Byng, Mr. Ironside Mr. Jack, Mr. Smale, and Captain Warren. And the directors are advised by counsel of eminence that they had the right, under the provisions in the company's Act of Parliament, to reduce their number. 1 have further to state that a bill was filed by Mr. Thomas Carlisle on the 14th ultimo, praying for an injunction to restrain the company from paying the present or any future dividends until the completion and open ing to the public for traffic of the Ashford, Hastings, and St. Leonard's line of railway. An application for the injunction was made to the Master of the Rolls on the 23d ultimo, when, after argument, the Master of the Rolls granted the injunction as to future dividends, giving the company liberty to take the opinion of a court of law on the construction of the Act of Parliament under which the question raised arises, and reserved for further consideration the question as to the payment of the present dividend, giving the company leave to file affidavits as to the probable time of completion of the line, and their possession of the requisite funds properly applicable to the purposes of its completion. The company filed such affidavits on the 4th instant as the cir cumstances admitted of, and as counsel advised would be sufficient, and the case was brought on again be fore the Master of the Rolls yesterday, when his Lordship requested that the resources of the company should be stated in more detail. It is proposed therefore to file on Friday such further affidavits as the Master of the Rolls has suggested, and the case will be brought on again on Monday next. The pro prietors who gave fourteen days' notice of their inten tion to be candidates for the office of auditors are Messrs. John Ball, 57, Coleman-street, City ; Thomas Browne, 3, Albert-road, Etegent's-park ; Joseph Wilson Buckley, Ellergill Villa, Surbiton, Kingston on-Thames ; Coles Childe, Greenwich ; Herbert John Hughes, 17, Claremont-street, Edinburgh ; Edwin Keet, 7, Gloucester-terrace, Kensington ; John Longmore, 5, Portland-place, Borough-road, Southwark ; Meredith Meredith, 21, Cannon-street road, Whitechapel ; John Morgan, 1, Amen-corner, Paternoster-row; George Smith, 57, Conduit-street, Hanover-square ; Henry Edward Wardle, 12, Ed wards-street, Portman-square ; and John Hill Wil liams, 12, Waterloo-place, Pall-mall. It is, how ever, my duty to state that Mr. Meredith and Mr. Wardle, two of the candidates, are not duly qualified for the office. _ _ Mr. J. WILSON requested the indulgence of the meeting while he stated his reasons for proposing that they should not, on the present occasion, proceed to the election of auditors. In the first place, pro ceedings relating to auditors and to all railway in terests were at present pending before the Legisla ture, and it would be best to wait until they saw what the result of those proceedings would ;be. In the second place, he saw balloting papers distributed in the room, and he was sure that if the choice of the proprietors differed from that of the chairman, Mr. Macgregor would come forward with his proxies and swamp their votes.—(Order, order.) He contended that the candidates were all of them agreeable to and in the interest of the directors. The speaker was proceeding, amid much disapprobation, to prove his statement in the cases of individual candidates, when he was called to order by the chairman. He pro ceeded to say that the opinion that the working of the South-Eastern system was bad, ab initio, was gaining ground with the public, and that the time was not far distant when the management of the railway would be placed on a foundation more likely to make it a valuable property. The whole fault lay with the present direction. The committee of in vestigation had reported that there was scarcely any thing wrong, yet they had expressed disapprobation of the conduct of the directors in no less than eleven cases which had come under their notice. and not one of the recommendations contained in their report had been carried into effect. Mr. Wilson then referred at length, amid repeated interruptions, to the conduct of the chairman in disregarding the order of the board for the sale of 'stock, amounting in value to 156,0001., in consequence of which a heavy loss ac crued to the company ; in withholding the books from the inspection of the proprietors, contrary to the Act of Parliament ; and in making certain alterations in the financial statement, with the object, as Mr. Mac gregor termed it, "of relieving the revenue account." He concluded by moving, " That the choice of au ditors be postponed until the proceedings in relation to the auditing of railway accounts, now before the Houses of Parliament, shall be determined." Mr. COLEMAN seconded the motion. Mr. Mosmars said that the committee of investiga tion had elicited nothing very dreadful against the chairman er the other directors ; but a cabal had got into the concern, who were doing all they could to sink it. He felt confident, however, that their exer tions would be unsuccessful.—(Hear.) Mr. GEORGE SMITH thought it would simplify the question if Mr. Wilson were to remember that the Act of Parliament obliged them to elect three auditors. It would be absurd if they did not fulfil the purpose for which they were assembled.—(Hear, hear.) What they wanted at their meetings was a little calm consi deration. Their property had been depreciated 30 per cent. during the past month, and the cause he believed to be the want of confidence in their directors. He was at some loss to understand fully the state of their affairs, and for that as well as other reasons he wished that auditors should be appointed who would explain them. He therefore moved, as an amendment to Mr. Wilson's motion, that they should forthwith proceed to the election of auditors.—(Hear, hear.) The amendment having been seconded by Mr. ROSTROSE, was put from the chair, and carried. Mr. HOLLAND then moved that Mr. Thomas Browne, Mr. Coles Child, and Mr. John Morgan, be nominated auditors to the company. Mr. CIJALLICE, seconded by Mr. HILL, proposed Mr. John Longmore as an auditor. Mr. WILSON inquired whether the chairman, in c ase a poll was demand e d, wou ld ma k e use o f t h e proxies which he was understood to hold. The CHAIRMAN said, that in giving an answer to the question about proxies, he thought he was entitled. d wors respe c ti ng the charges to say a few which had been made against him by Mr. Wilson, as well as the ge neral interests of the company. Mr. Smith had difficulty in understanding stated that there was a the position of their affairs, and that the auditors would make it mor e p l ain to them. He (the Chair man) had been labouring for five years to become master of their affairs , s and to make them patent to the shareholders, and be would say that they were not so complex that a just opinion might not be formed upon them. Now with respect to the ques tion of proxies, it should be remembered that 5,000 was somewhere about the number of persons actually a interested in the company, while few hundreds only attended at their meetings. H e -se felt that he was responsible not only to those who came to the meet ings, but to those who had entrusted him with their proxies, and though he was sure th a t t h e d ec i s i on o f the proprietors would render the use of his proxies unnecessary, yet if disqualified or unfit persons were elected, he would not engage not to exercise the powers he possessed. Mr. Wilson had brought for ward allegations a year old, r e l at i ng t o circum stances which were fully investigated a twelve month ago. In all the matters to which that gentle man referred he (the Chairman) h ad acted according to what he sincerely believed would be for the benefit Pliny and if Mr. Wilson of the South-Eastern Company doubted the truth of his word, he would have an op portunity, before long, of examinin g hi m upon oat h in a Committee of the House of C ommon . —[M r . Wilson—l thank you for the suggestion]. If he (the Chairman) had become poor by that company, he trusted he had not become dishonest. —(Loud cheers.) His salary of 2,0001. per annum had been again alluded to. He thought he deserved some :remune ration for his exertions; and, whether in their service or elsewhere, he must earn his livelihood ; but he would say, if they we re dissatisfied w i t h t h e amount of his salary, it was perfectly at their disposal, and they might reduce it as much as they pleased.— (No, no, and cheers.) He next alluded to the Chancery proceedings instituted by by Mr. Carlyle to prevent the directors from paying the half-yearly dividend until the opening of the Ashford and Hast ings Branch. The directors had made a declaration, founded on the oaths of the engineer and contractor, that, in their opinion, the line would he ready to be opened in August next, and therefore, if Lord Langdale made an injunction to prevent.the payment of the;pre sent dividend, the warrants could not be issued before August. But he trusted Lord Langdale would not listen to such an application. He (the Chairman) would say to him, with Bassani° in the play— " To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will." For this was one of the moat cruel steps ever taken APRIL 12, 1850. by any one ; it would seriously embarrass the com pany, and if it were successful it would deprive of their all for a considerable time, many widows and others who depended entirely on their dividends for support. Ile was thankful, however, to tell them that they mitht rely on their line being opened in August.—(Cheers.) _ _ After some further discussion, and examination of the candidates as to their qualification for the office of auditors, the question was put from the chair, and the three following gentlemen were declared to be elected :—Mr. C. Child, Mr. J. Morgan, and Mr. T. Browne. Mr. J. WILSON then made an unsuccessful attempt to induce the proprietors to litsen to his advocacy of Mr. Gordon Thompson, who has recently been de prived of his seat in the direction. Mr. Wilson de clared that all the acts of the directors, in which Mr. Thompson was not invited to take part, would be ille gal and void. The CHAIRMAN replied that the directors had acted in the matter under the best advice. The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks and three rounds of cheers for Mr. Macgregor. YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK RAILWAY.— Yesterday the committee on this company's Bill, con sistin of the Hon. R. Clive, chairman ; Hon. J. For tescue, Hon. E. Littieton, Mr. Moody, and Mr. Evelyn, met for the first time, to consider this com pany's proposed Bill for making arrangements as to payment for the purchase of the Great North of England Railway. Mr. Talbot, Q.C., opened the case for the promoters of the measure, the object being to spread the payments to be made by the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, for the purchase of the Great North of England Railway, over a longer period of time. For this purchase it appears that the former company had created 159,000 shares of 251. each, upon which the sum of 81. per share only has been called, and in order to relieve the company from calling up the remaining 17/. per share before the Ist July next, and satisfactorily and effectually to carry out the purchase, it is proposed that three tenth parts shall be paid in 1853, four tenths in 1855, and in three tenths,in 1856. The petitions of shareholders in the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Company, praying to be heard against the Bill, were dismissed by the committee on the ground of their not having been presented in due time, and of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway Company, on the ground that they had no locus standi. RUGBY, WARWICK, AND WORCESTER RAILWAY.— Yesterday, in the settlement of this company's affairs before the Master in Chancery, Richards, two impor tant decisions were come to, in dealing with the cases of a large number of transferrees of shares, who had received back 15s. per share out of the 21. 2s. deposit, for which the original shareholders had paid and signed the deed. His Honour the Master held that all parties in the position of bankers and stockbrokers, who had received back dividends from a railway com pany winding up its own affairs, simply in the capa city of agents, and not having any beneficial interest in the shares, were not to be held liable as contribu tories under the Act, but that their respective princ 7 , pals, whether in the capacity of original allottees, or as transferers, were to be ; also, that a person being either a mortgagee or a depositee, or having a benefi cial interest in a share himself; although not an original allottee, was a contributor under the Act. It was contended that, as the instruments trans ferring the shares were not stamped, it was not a valid conveyance, and that the party or parties were not liable; but the Master overruled the objection. Mr. Daniel appeared for Mr. Wryght, the official manager; and Mr. Valiance, solicitor to the estate, and Mr. James, Mr. Roxburghe, and Mr. Foulkes for other parties. The official manager reports the assets at about 3,0001., in the hands of the Account ant-General; and the liabilities at between 5,0001. and 6,000/. The Northamptonshire Banking Com pany claim 3,300/. ; the secretary, Mr. Weller, 1,0001. ; and the solicitor 5001. The chairman of the company was Sir H. G. Ward, now L or d Hi g h Commissioner of the lonian Islands. About 20,000 shares were allotted, awl 40,0001. received from shareholders as deposit; 5,600 shares were bought up by the directors at a premium in the market, and 9,000 shares were reserved in their own hands, it is said, for landowners. The 40,000/. was spent in " preliminaries," leaving a balance in hand of 2/. LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY.— The necessary notice has been given to the Railway Commissioners, and should the inspector to be ap pointed by them as expected, arrive during the pre sent week, the line will be opened to the public both for passengers and goods by the time originally named in the contract, the 20th of this present month. Londonderry Journal. BOHN'S SHILLING SERIES. REPRESENTATIVE MIEN. By Ralph Waldo Emerson. LIFE OF MAHOMET. By Washington Irving. GENUINE AUTOBIOGRAPHY. By Benja min Franklin. Conspicuous, to our thinking, in the midst of the present multiplicity of cheap publications, is the series of shilling volumes recently commenced by Mr. Henry Bohn, whose " Standard Library " has already acquired for him considerable distinction for his enterprise. Why we regard this periodical issue of work, not restricted from cheapness by the force of copyright, as being superior to most of its nume rous competitors, is because of two or three very matter-of-fact particulars, which, notwithstanding their merely business-like character, are not beneath the notice of criticism, at any rate not beneath the notice of criticism in an age of economy and compe tition. Therefore it is that we do not shrink from explicitly specifying the excellence of the paper and the general beauty and clearness of the typography, as being among the prominent causes of the popularity of Mr. Bohn's latest sr eaulation—the materials for the production of a cheap but handsome volume being judiciously applied only in the case of works whose indisputable ability goes far to prove the skill exercised in selection. To say anything further in demonstration of this than to particularise the repub licatioe of the authentic autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, whom we may be allowed to designate the Philospher of Method and the Genius of Mediocrity, would be superfluous if we wished to restrict our selves within the limits of a niggardly and parsi monious applause but the influence likely to be exercised indirectly over the intellects of the miscel laneous population by the patronage accorded to any such wholesome and beneficent enterprises in the way of disseminating valuable literature, appears to be a matter of so much importance, and a movement en avant so entirely deserving of encouragement, that we must perforce extend our allusions, in a few addi tional words, to the ether reprints from the American originals with which Mr. Bohn has here preceded Franklin's sententious Autobiography. The lucid and in many respects masterly narrative in which Wash ington Irving (one of the purest and noblest prose writers in the English language) has recounted the surprising career of Mahomet the Great Imposter, has already acquired a recognition so world wide and decisive as to remove the necessity of any critical demonstration. With regard to the " Representative Men " of Emerson, we might speak in terms precisely similar, but that we have a secret conviction that the admirers of this eccentric genius are only now begin ning in this our England to grow in intensity and to multiply in numbers. If once the accridity of his hatreds can be overlooked, and the angularity of his style be permitted, it will prove impossible not to recog nise through the haze of the one the gentlest sym pathies, and through the ruggedness of the other the most profound and venerable earnestness. Besides this, in the thick of his oddities, oddities of rhetoric that sprout up in all parts, in every nook and cranny of his meditations, we come every now and then to a phrase so felicitous; or a thought so beautiful, that we would cull them as eagerly as we would some lovely and fragrant blossom growing at intervals in the thick of a jungle of weeds and brambles. It is thus, when he calls Plato (p. 43) " the Euclid of Holiness," or when he says of the style of that great philosopher (p. 27) "his patrician polish, his intrinsic elegance, edged by an irony so subtle that it stings and para lyses, adorn the soundest health and strength of frame; his daring imagination gives him the more solid grasp of facts ; as the birds of highest flight have the strongest alar bones." Again it is a noble fancy of his, when speaking of Swedenborg, he says (p. 70) " melodious poets shall be hoarse as street ballads, when once the penetrating key-note of nature and spirit is sounded—the earth-beat, sea-beat, heart beat which makes the time to which the sun rolls, and the globule of blood, and the sap of trees." How powerful, moreover, is that ejaculation of his in re ference to the moral and spiritual ambition of man, where he says (p. 91) that Providence " has shown the heaven and earth to every child, and filled him with a desire for the whole ; a desire raging, infinite ; a hunger, as of space to be filled with planets ; a cry of famine, as of devils far souls." And in like manner it is with a kindred intenseness of expression that he exclaims of the writings of Montaigne (p. 83), " I know not anywhere the book that seems less written : it is the language of conversation transferred to a book ; cut these words and they would bleed ; they are vascular and alive." No one who has once listened to Emerson reading one of his lectures—his tall, thin figure swaying with the methodical mono tony of mechanism—his head stooping—his keen and earnest features listening in every muscle for the perception of his more odd and recondite thoughts by the audience—his collar worn a la Byron without a suspicion of dandyism—his voice drawling and ac centuated with a certain twang of Yankeeism (as where he talks of the " dray-ma" and so forth) can fail to here that strange enthusiast-voice ringing again upon the tympanum of their memory through every sentence of his works subsequently perused. The recollected tune to which the writing is thus set by the remembrance, is a wonderful help towards its better apprehension and appreciation. Such as these three books now particularised—by Emerson, Irving, and Franklin—is the cheap and estimable series on the publication of which Mr. Bohn has now, happily fur the masses, adventured. WORE VERSE AND PROSE. Vol. H. By the Corn-law Rhymer. In noticing the appearance of the preceding volume of the work here brought to a conclusion, we commented upon that sudden demise of its author, which had unexpectedly rendered it posthumous. Since then we have only found reason to lament more and more earnestly the departure of one whose genius was at once robust and sensitive, exquisitely alive to the beautiful, enamoured of justice to the extent almost of delirium, and at the recognition of wrong overflowing with wrath and indignation. It is, consequently, with the utmost avidity that we turn to these final scraps of his composition in verse and prose, the gleanings of his fruitful intellect; devour ing also with a curiosity and pleasure, which we are satisfied will prove very general, a critique on the poetical writings of Ebenezer Elliott, penned for the Quarterly Review by the late Robert Southey, and rejected by the editor of the Quarterly after Southey had corrected the proof-sheets of the article. Three Lectures on Poetry, appended to the present volume, and delivered on divers occasions by the departed poet, will be read with interest by all those interested in that the loftiest of all the departments of literature. Nor will the perusal of these lectures be unattended by gratification, many of the least dogmatical passages being replete with critical excellence. From the popular hymns written by the Corn-law Rhymer not long before his de cease we yesterday extracted one of peculiar ex cellence into our columns, which we trust had its due weight upon the consciences (if they have any) of the Sabbatarians. From the miscellanies and lyrics from " Life according to Law," an unpublished opera, we could find several verses worthy of extract as appropriate specimens of Ebenezer Elliott in his happiest style, but, unfortunately, the collection in this the second and concluding volume are so few, that we would not further diminish their attractiveness by stinting their number yet more. " The Poor Man's Day" will be found exquisitely beautiful, and " Sunderland's Glory" unconscionably grotesque. Other metrical pieces in the volume, such, for ex ample, as the loyal and patriotic " ale on the Marriage of Victoria the First , " are, like the veriest triflt , s from the same hand, unusually meritorious. The work, we trust, may hav e a circulation befitting the literary legacy of the Corn-law Rhymer. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Echo steamer towed out to sea on Wednesday the Batavian ship bound to Holland, with a valuable cargo of spices, and the Gonomeda Sara Ceassina, that came into harbour in a leaky state about a month back, was obliged to discharge and come into dock in the yard. The Echo also to wed out the Rolla, apprentice brig tender to the Victory. The 'William Hyde, barque, with timber for the dockyard, came into harbour this morning. Orders have come down from London !or the mili tary prison establishment to move over immediately from Southsea Castle to the new prison at Forton. One-half the officers and prisoners moved over to-day, and the remainder will go to-morrow. The altera tions and strengthening of Southsea Castle will be proceeded with ; we hear the costs are estimated at 2,0001. The Devastation steam. sloop is being expedited fur commission to take the next mails to the coast of Africa. The Griffon brigantine, Lieutenant Thurburn, ar rived at Spithead last night from Devonport, to be paid otY and refitted as an instruction vessel for sea men apprentices on the Cork station. She was in spected this morning at Spithead by Captain Black wood for the Commander-in-Chief, and her crew mustered. We cannot too highly praise the idea of having an instruction and reception vessel for boys willing to enter the navy at a station like Cork. The excellence of the system is most apparent in the training and seaman• like acquirements of the boys of the Victory on board the Rolla, many of whom would be taken on board seagoing ships in preference to men. The Bulldog steam-stoop, Commander A. C. Key, will be paid off here on Saturday next. APPOINTMENTS. WooLwrcn, APRIL 11.—Commander Jonas A. Abbot (1841), to an inspecting command in the Coast-guard . Midshipmen Hon. Henry J. Eden to the Phteton, 50-gun frigate, one of the vessels of the squadron at Lisbon ; George E. Barnes, to the Superb, 80. EXECUTIONS IN IRELAND. Tuesday being the day named for the execution of John Ryan, who was found guilty at the last Tul lamore Assizes of the murder of Sergeant Grant, a large concourse assembled in front of the gaol to witness the spectacle. At five minutes past 12 the culprit tripped up the ladder with a light step, ac companied by the Rev. Messrs. Cullery and Flood, Roman Catholic curates, and were it not for the ap pearance of the gaol and its officials, the demeanour of the unfortunate man would. not impress the spec tators that it was an execution, for never did a man walk up that fatal ladder with less apparent concern. He turned his back to the people just as he stepped on the drop, while the executioner was adjusting the rope and putting his cap over his face. He never spoke, and in a few minutes he was let off, and died in great pain and agony, struggling for a long time. At the usual time he was cut down and buried within the precincts of the gaol. His brother was under the drop witnessing the scene. On Saturday (says the Limerick Chronicle) we stated that a memorial had been forwarded to the Lord-Lieutenant on behalf of Matthew and William Gavan, under rule of execution in the county gaol, for the murder of John Ryan, at Cappamore, praying his Excellency to, commute the capital punish ment to transportation for life. To that ap plication an answer was received on Sunday from Dublin Castle, stating,—" His Excellency the Lord- Lieutenant sees no ground for interfering with the execution of the sentence of the law in the case of William and Matthew Gavin." The governor of the goal received another communication from Dublin Castle on Tuesday morning, stating that the Lord- Lieutenant has had the case of the Gavins again brought before him, and sees nothing to make him change his former decision, and tha t the law is to take its course. This final letter sealed the doom of the wretched young men, and in pursuance of the sentence pronounced by Sergeant Stock at the last assizes, the ill-fated brothers were executed this day (Wednesday) at one o'clock, in front of the county gaol. The scene was affecting as they embraced and bid a last farewell to each other in this world, with an earnest prayer to God that they may be united in the next. 'They made no public declaration on the scaffold. They were attended by the Rev. William Bourke, Roman Catholic chaplain of the prison, and the Rev. Messrs. Ryan and Quinla n . The city police, with a party of Carbineers, were on duty in front of the prison. The bodies having been sus pended for an hour, were lowered from the gallows, and removed for burial within the precincts of the gaol. Ages of the two culprits—Matthew Gavin, 19 years ; William Gavin, 17 years. SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN IN PIMLICO.—A gen tieman named Whitmore committed suicide yesterday, at No. 1, Burton-street, Eaton-square. The deceased was a wine-merchant, recently carrying on business in Sloane street. The cause of the dreadful act was mentioned in a letter written by the deceased to have been some disap pointment connected with a lawsuit in which he had been involved. The neighbourhood was thrown into a state of considerable excitement by the melancholy occurrence, which took place at about a quarter before twelve o'clock. FINE ARTS. One of the most exquisite masterpieces of our great landscape painter, J. M. IN'. Turner, R.A., a picture produced by him now thirty years ago, name ly, when hi s genius had ripened without having diminished its youthful freshness and originality— is now on view at Mr. Grundy's Gallery, in Regent street, where we yesterday h a d t h e grat ifi cation o f ~ perusing its beauty. Thi s pro d uc ti on , deemed by many of the be s t judges one of the most felicitous of the many felicitous works of the same master, represents a view of the " Trossachs,' in Scotland, on a windy day when the clouds are rolling in voluptuous masses between the vast mountain acclivities. Painted originally by Mr. Turner for the Reverend John Thomson, him self a very distinguished landscape painter, the picture was retained by that artist as a Keystone for a consider able length of time, and then passed through two or three more hands, all of them those of either artists or connoiseurs of eminence, until it came into the hands of Mr. Grundy, its present possessor. It may be mentioned, moreover, as a circumstance of some in terest, referring as it does to a work of art of such remarkable excellence, that its possession was very earnestly desired by the Scottish Academy, but the wish was thwarted through the inadequacy of the funds of that institution. Until the present_ moment, we believe, the picture has never before entered London, or even England, having been. re tained since its production, thirty years ago, either_. ll The 1 Edinburgh or some other part of S Scotland. eaendxamined interest consequently with which it will co h by the lovers of art in this metropolis mus.t.th.s thereby bra it materially enhanced—especially when _ the l finest con sidered that the painting is o ne of Turners (in his best days 1) now preserved. Altogether, the picture in e ver y particular is the work of a great artist—the an imation ofthesliy the effect of the atmospheric distances, the distribution of co louring and of shadows, being all most wonderful in execution. No admirer of Nature, of Art 1 , or of Genius s hould fail to visit Mr. Grundy's Gallery of Paintings, for the purpose of brooding over the large and numerous merits of this extraordinary production. Another work of art, of a totally different character, attracted our attention in the apartments of the saute estimable establishment : a lovely little sketch by Benny Meadows, now in progress of engraving, the dainties', loveliest, dewiest little jewel of a twilight picture conceivable. " Sub Rosa" is the name of it—for under the rose of a garden rose bush is a tiny Cupid (one of Kenny Meadows' pert sparrows of Love) decked out as a miniature cavalier, standing on tip toe to kiss his demoiselle! The effect of the sketch is inimitably droll and beautiful. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. EPSOM SPRING MEETING. The Epsom spring meeting, the " pet" of the metro politans —came off, or rather commenced, yesterday on the Downs, favourably, as regards sport, but with an un equivocal falling off in the interest excited by the princi pal event. With the nominations for it there was no fault to be found; it was satisfactory; and, up to the publication of the weights. the prospects of the aneebeng were quite up to the standard to which public expecta tion had raised it. The handicap, however, proved un popular. Some objected to it as being too high to give the first-class horses a chance, while, by an admitted oversight, Cheerful got in upon such extremely favour able terms, that the race was at once put down as " next door to a certainty." The consequence was, that all the best horses were struck out, and that the acceptances showed a numerical falling off, us compared with last year, at the rate of 50 per cent. The immense sums subsequently sent into the market in support of the Goodwood mare spoilt the handicap as a betting race, in proof of which we need only state that, nearly a mouth since, she was quoted at 2 to 1, and 25 to 1 offered 'against any other. The betting slightly im proved after the defeat of Beehunter and Buckhound at Northampton, but was never good enough to give those) who commenced early a chance of " i getting out." We have said enough to show that the success of the meet ing mainly depended, not so much as heretofore on the race to which the metropolitans have so liberally con tributed, but on the general character of the list ; it was fortunate, therefore, that Mr. Darling succeeded in filling it up so well as to leave no ground of complaint ou the score of quantity ; the weather, however, was showery, and the attendance, in consequence, although large, showed a falling off both in number and grade. The Grand Stand and the enclosure were well filled, and it noise can be taken as An indication, the betting was almost as brisk as if it had been a Derby day. An unfortunate accident which occurred while the horses were running for the principal event threw a damp on the enjoyment of the race. The platforms of a temporary stand, on the right of the Grand Stand, either from the weakness of the framework, or want of care in the fastenings, fell in with a tremendous crash. As some hundreds had stationed themselves on it to see the race the terror and confusion which ensued may be conceived. Owing providentially to the low elevation of the platform no lives were lost, but four or five persons were carried off with fractured limbs, and several others were severely injured. The sport was excellent, and the heat races, as usual, were spun out until half-past six. The Trial Stakes of 50 soya., added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each; for three years old, 7st; and four, 9st. One mile. (5 Subs.) . Mr. W. Etwall's Bushranger, 3 yrs (Thick) 1 Mr. Stevens's Knight of Gwynne, 3 yrs (Sabin) 2 Sir G.4leathcots's Dark Susan c, 3 yrs (li.Sherwood) 3 Lord H. G. Lennox's Borneo, 4 yrs (Flatman) 4 Mr. Griffiths's Miss Spring, 3 yrs Count Batthyany's Castauero, 3 yrs . (Crouch) 6 Betting-7 ,to 4 agst Knight of Gwynne-5 to 2 eget Dark Susan colt-4 to 1 agst Borneo—and sto 1 agst Bushranger. The Knight of Gwynne took the lead, and, with Bush ranger and Castanero in his wake, appeared to have the race all to himself until within the distance. Bushranger drew upon him from this point, got up in the last two or three strides, and won on the post by a head; the Dark Susan cult a bad third. Hun in Im. 50 sec. The Two years old Stakes of 10 soya. each, with 25 added; for colts, Bst 61b; fillies, Bst 41b; the second to save his stake. (18 Subs.) Duke of Richmond's Buckhound ...........(Flatman) I Mr. Payne's Catalpa (S. Mann) 2 Mr. Jones's lanthe Captain Archdall'a Quadroon (Crouch) 0 Mr. E. R. Clarke's Edward of York (Dockeray) 0 Mr.Douglas'Don Pedrs (late Fairholm)(Bartholome w ) 0 Mr. W. Etwall's Iracundus (W. Howlett) 0 Sir G. Heathcote's Geraldine colt (F. Butler) 0 Mr. W. Ley's Predilection (Ford) 0 Mr. Ramsbottom's Queen of Cyprus f (S. Rogers) 0 Mr. Thompson's Jack Robinson (W. Abdale) 0 Betting—Even on Buckbound-5 to 1 eget Jack Robinson—and 6 to 1 each agst lanthe, Don Pedro, and Queen of Cyprus filly. Buckhound made all the running, and won easily by a length; lanthe an indifferent third; Predilection fourth. Run in 50 sees. The Great Metropolitan Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and only 5 if declared, &c,, with 500 added, &c. Two miles and a quarter. Colonel Anson's Backbiter, 5 yrs, 7st 31b, including 51b extra (Dockeray) 1 Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, Est 101 b ...(Charlton) 2 Mr. Gratwicke's Cheerful, 4 yrs, 6st (Collins) 3 Sir G. Heathcote's Black Eagle ,4 yrs, 7st i llb (Mann) 0 Mr. Al eiklam's Raby, 4 yrs, ist 91b (Cartwright) 0 Duke of Richmond's Quiver, 4 yrs, 7at 31b(Kitchener) 0 Mr. Carew's Era, 4 yrs, Est 131 b (G. Brown) 0 Mr. Milwood's Ada Mary, 6st 101 b ... (Osborn, jun.) 0 Mr. Gain's Lammermoor, 4 yrs, 6st 61b (Litett) 0 Mr. Douglas's Sir Gilbert, 4 yrs, Est 2ib (R.Sherwood) 0 Mr. Burgess's Red Dee, 5 yrS, 6st 2ib (Gilbert) 0 Mr. Drinkald's Juggler, 4 yrs, sst 1 llb (Pavia) 0 Count Batthyany's Lepidus. 4 yrs, sst 121 b ( Ware) 0 Mr. Oabaldeatou's Sis to Pillage, 3 yrs, sst (Barker) 0 Count Muth yany'sValentine, 3 yrs, 4st 41b (Rickards) 0 Betting-7 to 4 agst Cheerful (takeu)-7 to 1 eget Raby-12 to 1 agst Mounseer-12 to 1 agst Ada Mary —l2 to 1 agst Backbiter-100 to 6 agst Black Eagle -25 to 1 agst Sir Gilbert-26 to 1 agst the Juggler-2s to 1 agst Valentine-30 to 1 agst Sister to Pillage-33 to 1 agst Quiver—and 33 to 1 agst Eva. Valentine took the lead directly after starting, and with Quiver and Eva in waiting made slow runeing to the turn into the old course, where it was taken up by Quiver, Cheerful following her, with Eva, Sister to Pillage, Lammermoor, and several others, laid up, the whole lot (Lepidus and Black Duo excepted), from the badness of the pace, lying in very close order. Quiver declined at Tattenhatu corner, and Sister to Pillage and the Juggler were left in advance, but only for a moment, Lammermoor and Cheerful being the first into the straight running, Backbiter coming round well in front on the inside. Cheerful was beaten at the distance, and Backbiter took the lead, Mounseer immediately after taking the second place. A fine race between this couple terminated in favour of Backbiter by a neck. Cheerful was beaten a length, and Raby half a length from the latter ; Lammermoor fifth. Time, 4 min. 25 sec. Railway Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added; three yrs old, Est 31b; four, Sat 71b; five, 9st 21b; six and aged, 9st 81b; mares and geldings allowed 31b; the winner to be sold for 250 sovs., &c. Heats, one mile, Sir G. Heathcote's c, by Gladiator, 6st 31b 0 2 1 1 Mr. Sadd's Salute, 3 yrs, 65t (Lisa) 1 3 2 2 Mr. Liater's Peasant Girl, 4 yrs, Bst 4lb 3 1 3 3 Mr. H. Bradley's Sam Hood, 5 yrs, Bst 131 b 0 0 4 Mr. Herbert's Raiulphus, aged, 9st 51b ... 2 0 dr Mr. Death's Franciscan, 3 yrs, Est 31b 0 0 dr Mr. Douglas's Vice, 3 yrs, Est 31b (Gilbert) 0 0 dr First heat won by a neck, the second and third by a length, and the fourth by a head. The Surrey Hunt Stakes of 3 sovs. each, and 20 added; for three yrs old, Est 91b; four yrs, Bst 51b; five yrs, Bst 131 b; six yrs and aged, 9st 31b; mares and gel dings allowed 31b; horses entered to be sold for 200/.. allowed 31b; for 150/.. 91b; for 1001., 141 b; and for B h a lf a mile. 6 ( l Subs.) lool 1 Mr. Cassidy's ~ b /2li heats, Dligence, 3 yrs,sst b ( Mr. H. Drew's Master Murray, aged, ist 71b (801.) 2 2 Lord Strathmore 's ch g by Epirus, dam by D'EEville, 4 yrs, Est 91b 0100 (Smith) 3 3 Mr. 11. Milner's Clairvoyance, 5 yrs, Bst ]lb (1501.) Mr. Brown's Genuine, 5 yrs, 7st 61b (801.) 0 0 Mr. Bineey's Christiana, 4 yrs, 7st 71b (1501.) 0 0 Mr. K. Drewitt's Miss Knipper, 5 yrs, 7st 61b (801.) . (H. Sherwood) 0 0 Betting—First heat-2 to 1 agst Diligence. Won by a length. Second heat-7 to 4on Diligence. Won by a length. LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 4to 1 agst Cheerful (t) ( 7to 1 agst Chantrey (8) CHESTER Cur. 12 to 1 agst Miss Ann (t) 20 to 1 agst Roland (t) 18 to 1 Mounseer 25 to 1 John Cosset. 20 to 1 Chantrey (t) 25 to 1 Ellordale DERRY. sto 1 sgst Bolingbroke (t j 9 to 1 agst Movers freely) 15 to 8 to 1 Ghillie Callum The settling for the Epso Tattersall's to-morrow ( th opened at one o'clock. The Italian I , m even , a will take place •t .1i day);' the room will be THE EAST INDIA HOUSE. — y e sterday a Court of Directors was held at the East Ind:a House, when the fOl• n John Pet , ty . 1 11I . u G sp e° ra r t g t e , lowing new directors, elected on W e dneta6 . llst,; f iz., Lieut.- General l S r. . i r Elliot James m Law ala g L b t u e s nk b i n 3t l i h t re o . chosen chairman and Sir James Weir Mr. William Wigram, too Mr. John Sh is e is p d h , e . r , ddepwuatsy-cbairman, for the , year ensuing. Weir Hogg, MR. ELIOT W A RBURTONS NEW HISTORICAL RoMANCe, " :REGINALD BASTINGS."..-We do not hesitate to predict for this work a popularity commensurate with the historical there i ns w o trulyaro f En and ;- co charmingly importance 1, I everhe events have l an d been invested with greater f asc i nat i on or i nterest. F ew works of fiction could present us with more startling in cidents, or more striking contrasts. In " Reginald Hastings" we have the high-minded and chivalric cavalier communi cating to us his own dashing and dangerous career, and making as familiar with the social life and manners of the eventful period in which he lived, and bringing vividly before us the leading distinguished personages who had 60 large a share in the military and political events of the time. We have the courtly and crafty Digby, the court wit and beauty Lady Carlisle, the gallantßupert, and the high-minded Falk lead ; Charles, with his crowd of fawning, selfish, favorites; Cromwell, Pym, Holles,_ and Felton ; and along with the more stirring incidents of the war is skilfully interwoven as tangled a maze of love as ever tried the constancy of gallant knight.—Morning Herald. [ADvEnTisEmENT.]—An Ulcerated Arm cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. Robert Gregg, jun., of Clinkeeland, Clowes, Ireland, was sorely afflicted with a severe gathering in his armpit, and which discharged very copiously for nearly three years ; another wound also broke out in bi shoulder. His father felt alarmed, having consulted the nod eminent surgeons to no purpose, while his son continued to waste away. At this juncture a friend advised a trial of Hol loway's Pills and Ointment, which was made, and in six weeks they perfectly cured him. He is now getting fat and hale, tit* sinews are restored to their wonted pliability and no discolora tion is visible.—Sold by all Druggists and Professor Hollow* I Establishment, 244, Strand, London. • 1