The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-10 00:00:00

lIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The following outline of the ARRA.'.•.;GEMENTS for the SEASON 1847 is respectfully submitted to the Noli , ity, Patrons of the Opera, and to the PubILI. It is presented with the confident hope, that the successful exertions made to secure, under circumstances of peculiar difficulty, a company still more worthy - of the first Theatre in Europe, and of its distinguished PUtroll3 will insure the continuation of their support. ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE OPERA. Mdlle. Jenny Lind (her first a ppearance in this country), Madame del Carmen Montenegro (her first appearance at this Theatre) ; Sanchioli, Mdlle, Fagiani, and Madame Solari (their first ap pearance in this country) ; the Contralto, Millie. Vietti and Mdlle. 'saga Nascio (their first appearance in this country) ; and Madame Castellan. Signor Frasclaini, the great Tenor of Italy (his first ap pearance in this country) ; and the favourite Tenor, Signor Gardoni, new of atm Italian Opera, Paris, having lately withdrawn, at a great pecuniary sacrifice, from the Academie Royale de Musique (his first appearance in this country) ; Signor Superchi, the distinguished Baritone (his first appearance in this country); Signor F. Lablache ; Signor Borella (his first appearance in this country) ; Signor Corelli ; the celebrated Basso Cantante, Herr Staudigl (his first appearance); and Signor Lablache. In addition to tha above, arrangements are pending with Signor Coletti, of the Italian Opera at Patis. That great composer, the Chevalier Meyerbeer, has arranged to visit this country, to bring out the CAMP DE SILESIE, and another of his admired chefs-d'oeuvre ; the principal parts in the Camp tie Silesie, by Mdl'e. Jenny Lind and Signor Fraschini• The celebrated Dr. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy will likewise visit England, and produce an Opera expressly composed for her Majesty's Theatre, the libretto founded on THE TEMPEST of Shaitspere ; written by M. Scribe. Miranda.. ..... ....... Jenny Lind. k'erdinalla Caliban Prospero It is likewise announced, with great satisfaction, that Signor Verdi, having recovered from his severe illness, has expressly composed for this theatre a new Opera, of which the plot is founded on the ROB BERS of SCHILLER. Rossini's Opera of ROBERT BRUCE, lately produced at the lea temle Roy - ale, has also been secured. Mesdames Castellan, Sanchioll, and Montenegro ; Signors Gkr dont, Superchi, and Fraschinl, will appear before Easter. Millie. Jenny Lind, whose engagement commences in March. and extends until the end of the season, will appear immediately after Easter. Director of the Music and Conductor, Mr. ISA.LFE. In addition to the above, several Operas, new to this country, will be prodaced, and the repertoire will be selected from the chet d'csurre of Mozart, Cimaroaa, Rossini, Donizetti, Mercadante, Bel &c. The strictest attention has been paid to all the details, 60 that an eltaemble rev be presented perfect in a . -, tfparts. A NUMEROUS ORCHESTRA, •f the most distinguished talent and power, has been selected from /toms of the best Orchestras of Europe. THE CHORUS has been chosen with the greatest care from Italy, cermany, and England ; and will comprise upwards of Eighty Per formers. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE BALLET. Mdlle. Carlotta Grist. Mdlle. Lucile Gratin, and Mdlle. Cerito; in addition to which an engagement has been made with lidlle. carotin. Rosati (of La Scala, at Milan, and other great theatres of Italy), who will make her first appearance on the first night of the season in a New Ballet, expressly composed and arranged for ber, by M. Paul Taglioni ; Mdlle. Wauthier, of La Scala (her first appearance in this country); Madame Petit Stephan. Mdlle. Vonore, Mdlle. Elise Montfort ; Mdlles. Thevenot, Julien, Lamoreux, Emile, Fanny Pascales, and Bertin ; and Mdlle. Caroline Baucourt, of the Academie Royale, and La Scala, 3lllan (her first appearance in this country). In consequence of the enthusiastic manner in which this enalhent artiste was received last season, hopes are entertained that Taglioni may be induced to appear for a limited number of 'performances. 31. St. Leon, 31. d'Or, of the Academie Royale, Paris (his first appearance in this country), M. Gosselin, M. di Mattia, Venafra, 31. Geuriet, li . Paul Taglioni, and M. Perrot. Composer of the Ballet Music, Signor Pugni. Principal Artist, Mr. Marshall. Maitres de Ballet—M. Paul Taglioni, M. Csisatl, of La Scala ; and M. Perrot. Sous-Maitre de Ballet, M. Gosselin , Regisseur de la 11sase. M. Petit. Au Original Grand Ballet will be produced, written expressly for her Majesty 's Theatre, by the celebrated poet, Henri Heine, on a subject selected from the Old Legends of Germany. A Novel and Poetical Ballet, for the subject of which the establishment is in debted to the kindness of a popular and distinguished Poetess, entitled EG E RI A . The celebrated l'as dc Quatre and Pas ile Basses will be revived, era an entirely new Divertissement, introducing another Grand Pas by M. Perrot, which, uniting all the peculiar attractions of the Pas deo Deesses and Pas de Quatre, will present a novel feature of strik ing originality, and will combine the talent of all, to be entitled LA cossTELLATtos. TIIEATIZE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. TIIIS EVENING Will be performed the new Grand Opera of THE BONDMAN. Marquis de Vernon, Mr. Weiss ; Iloreville, Mr. Rafter ; Morlicre, lkfr. Horne:43oa; Ardenford, Mr. W. Harrison ; :Mal-a-Propos, Mr. Harley ; Madame Corinne, Miss Romer; Grisette, Miss R. Isaacs ; Frivele, Mrs. Hughes. Ater which a new Ballet, called THE PRETTY SICILIAN. In which M. Croce, M. Mails, and _Mlle. Baderna will appear. To ( onelude with the Last Act of DEL FREISCIICTZ. Adolph, Nir. King; Ca pa - , llr. Strettea ; Zamiel, Mr. Payne; Linda, 31155 Alessent ; nose, Miss Isaacs. THEATRE ROI - AL, HAYMARKET. - mler the MaKagement of Mr. U. Webster, sole Lessee. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new and original Comedy, called THE SCHOOL. FOR. SCHEMING. Principal characters by Messrs. Tor ten, Webster, Buckstone, Howe, Selby, Brindal, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Ihunby, Mrs. Yarnold, Miss Fortescue, Miss Bennett, Miss Rey nolds, Sce. Daring the evening the Band will perform the Overture, " La,! des Fees," " Plantagenet," " Rose," and " Mien" Polkas, &e. To eoncludc with the Original Grand Fairy Extravaganza, called the INVISIBLE PRINCE; or, the Island of Trannnil Delights. Principal characters by Mr. James Bland, Miss P. Horton, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham, Miss Reynolds, and Miss Julia Bennett. TIIKATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM. Under the Management of Mrs. Keeley. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Comic Drama, called .E. 500 REWARD. etsaraeters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Meadows, Emery, 11, Butler, Miss Tatars, and Mtss Forster. Atter which a new Farce, called THE WIGWAM. Characters by Messrs. Matthews, Oxbcrry, Keeley, Miss Arden, Miss Turner, Miss Foster. and Miss Mary Keeley. l'o be followed by the Farce at 'I'RE ETON BOY. Captain Popham, Mr. Wigan; Dabster, Mr. Keeley; Miss Faun j .. Carey, bass Dickinson. To conclude with the Farce of MRS. WHITE. THEATME ROYAL. ADELPHI. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MADAME CELESTE. THIS EVENING _ Will be performed the Drama, entitled the MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. Characters by Messrs. Wright, Boyce, Worrell, Cul- Lenient, 0. Smith, Madame Celeste, Miss Harding, Mrs. M a tth ews, Miss Taylor. Sze. After which the Comic Drama. called TIIE MAID WITH THE MILKING PAIL. Lord Philander, Mr. Cullenterd ; Algernon, Mr. Boyce; Diecrn, Mr. Wright; Idllly, Mre. T• conclude with the Fairy Spectacle, founded on the :Ballet •t LA GISELLE, entitled THE PHANTOM DANCERS; sr, the Wills Bride. Principal characters by Mr. Wright, Mr. P. Bedford, Mr. 0. Smith, Mr. Cullenford, Madame Celeste, Miss Marian Taylor, Aliss Emma flarilin;, Miss Ellen Chaplin, and Mrs. Laws. PRINCESS'S TEL EATRE, OX FOR D-STR EE T. J. M. Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager. THIS EVENING Will be performed Bellini's Opera Seria, entitled NORMA. Pellio, Mr. Allen ; Oroveso, Mr. Leffler ; Flavius, Mr. Wynn ; Adelgisa, Miss A. Romer; Clotilda, Miss Rourke ; Norma, M ss Bassano. In the course of the evening Professor HEMMING and his ta loned CHILDREN will go through their wonderful performances. Previous to the Pantomime the Band will perform " The Ame rican Polka," introducing " The Railroad Overture." To conclude with the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en 'BUM The lINCIIANTED BEAUTIES of the GOLDEN CASTLE; or, The One-eyed Gent. Harlequin, Mr. Bologna; Pantaloon, Mr. Paula ; Columbine, Miss Burbidge ; Sprite, Mr. 11. Marshall ; Vows, Mr. Flexmore. FRENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. John Mitchell. THIS EVENING Will be performed the popular Drama, called LE DOCTEUIt NOIR. Principal characters by MM. Lemaltre, Cartigny, Pascal, Lucien, David, Duniery, Berea, Mdme. Grassau, Mdlles. Clarisse, and Vallee. Boxes, 6s. , Pit, 3s. 6d. , Stalls, 3s. ; Gallery, 2s. Doors opened at half-past Seven, and the performances commence at Eight. Private Boxes, Stalls, aad Places may be engaged at Mitchell's .Library, 33, Bond-street; and at the Box-office. ETHIOPIAN I:EitENADERS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, The celebrated ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS, Pell, Hart - Wigton, White, ptanwood, and Germon, will have the honour of repeat 2tigj their Inimitable ENTERTAINMENTS, at the above Theatre, TO-MORROW EVENINO, and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Doors open at Eight o'clock, arid the Entertainment com mences at Halt-past Eight. And, in consequance of the continued demand for places, will repeat their DAY PERFORMANCE on this Morning (Wednesday), Feb. 10, and every Wednesday Morning ntil Easter. Doors open at Two o'clock, and the performance commences at Half-past Two. The Programme will be varied on each occasion. Boxes, .Is. ; Fit, 2s. ; Amphitheatre, 2s. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, ➢lr. W. Batty. Under the patronage of the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Royal Family.—Mr. RATTY respectfully begs to acquaint the public that he purposes giving a free night, for the relief of the destitute Irish and Scotch, on THURSDAY next. Thu evening's receipts will be given, and the extensive resouroea of the Theatre will be brought into action. TATS EVENING Will be performed THE ROYAL FOX-lIUNT ; or, Life's Course Of Men and Steeds. Entire change of the SCENES of the CIRCLE. To conclude with the successtbleornicEque.strianFalry Pantomime entitled THE FORTY THIEVES ; or, Harlequin and Ali Baba and the Robber's Cave. Clown, Mr. Roehez ; Harlequin, Mr. W. Har vey; Pantaloon, Mr. Latfarini; Columbine, Miss Louisa Waite. Box-otifice open trout eleven till five o'clock.—Doors open at six and c - ammence at half-past six o'clock.—Stage Manager, Mr. W. aroadfoot. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessee, Mrs. Frances Dayidge. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Drama, entitled RABY RATTLER; or, vibe Progress of a Scamp. Characters supported by the whole Strength of the Company. After which, the fayourite Ballet of L'AMOUR ET LA FOLIE. To conclude with TEMPTATION; or, The Fatal Brand. Box-otilce open from eleven till four o'clock. ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE, THIS EVENING Will be performed THE BLACK DOCTOR. In which Miss Vin cent, Mrs. G. Lee, Miss L. Pearce, and Messrs. N. T. Hicks, Howard, Bird. Searle, Forman, &C., will perform. After which, the new and grand Christmas Pantomime, en titled THE BIRTH OF THE STEAM ENGINE ; or, Harlequin Ge-a-Head." and Joe Miller and his Men. Clown. Mr. T. Barry. Te conclude with THE DUKE OF SIIOREDITCH, supported by the entire Comic strength of the Company. Boxes, Is., Half-price, 6f1.; Pit, 641.; Gallery, 3d. WINDSOR, TUESDAY EVENING.—This morning teing remarkably fine, and the snow which had fallen during the previous day and night being in excellent condition for sledge-driving, the sledges were brought up to the entrance of the private apartments of the Castle before nine o'clock, sad in ten minutes afterwards the Queen took her seat, ac companied by the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales. At the same time his Royal Highness the Prince Consort amented the driving seat, anti drove out of the great qua drangle, followed by !the Russian drosky, driven by Count Alexander Mensdorff, and conveying the Countess of Charle soont, Lady in Waiting on the Queen, having under her care their Royal Highnesses the Princess Alice and Prince Alfred- The third sledge contained the Maids of Honour in tialeating. The t h e Queen, and the Equerry in Waiting on her party i . 70 heb Hon. Captain Gordon attended the royal the hill from rk. The Prince Consort led the way down left, Frogmore, drove turning to theehgrand entrance in the London-road, and mead, opposite Magna Ch , as far as Runny where his Royal h arta Island, on the way to Egham, same route to the C as tle, turned and drove back by the past ten o'clock, and e ' where they safely arrived by half appeared mu PROVISS FROM THE ch pleased by the drive. York, Fairfield, from Cherie t e Stephen Witney, front NewUNITED STATES. —The ,279th were reported at Liv o er n, and Alfred, from New Orleans 500 barrels of flour, pool en the nth inst., bring arrels of bread, 2,718 bushels and 519 bags of wheat, Indian corn meal, and 517 sacks of Indian corn, 834 barrels 16,112. packages of rice. PANAMA, DEC. 22.—The Pacific Steam tion Company's steam . ship Ecuador, from alla°' Naviga tion here at 30 min. a.m. , bringing, in addition t o bet usual s tin gers and cargo , the m ails in co nt i nuation with the l coin_ l P"- pony's steamer Ch ili, which left Valparaiso 28th Novenber, from the underme ntioned p orts in Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Ecua dor, and New Grenada, of the respective elates as under noted:—Chili—Valparaiso, 28th November ; Coquimbo, 2 lth ; Ifutt9co, 30 th ; Copiapo, 30 th. Bolivia — Cebija , 2 d December; Peru—lquique, 3d ditto; Arica, 4th ; Islay, 6' h ; Pisco, 7th ; Calla o, 11th ; Payta, 14th Ecuador— Guayaquil, 16th ; New Grenada —Buenaventura, 19th. FATAL ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held yester day in the board-room of the Royal Free llospital, Gray's Inn-road, on the body of Edward Glynn, aged 66, late in the employ of Mr. Ashfield, builder, Red Lion-square. The deceased, with others, was engaged splicing poles on a scaf folding in front of a house in Burne's-court, Coldbath-fields, when he missed his footing and fell to the ground on his head. A concussion of the brain and death ensued. Verdict ac- Cordingly. In a few days, to be had at all the Libraries, In 8 vols., T HE STORY OF LILLY DAWSON. By the ACTIIOII. OF " SL7SAN HOPLEY." llanry Colburu, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready, in 3 vols. post Bvo., price I/. I ls. tid. 7 11 - EMOIRS OF GENERAL PEPE. _LTA_ Comprising THE PRINCIPAL MILITARY AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF MODERN ITALY. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. " The author of these volumes could not fail to produce an interest ing work. Patriotism, valour, and honesty are impressed on every page."—Daily News. " A book of the must interesting character, and one which will be read with delight, by all who are fond of stirring adventures by flood and tiehl."—Dispatch. Richard Bentley, New Burlington. street. (Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.) B ORDEAUX AND CETTE RAILWAY' Constituted Company. The MEETING of the Shareholders in this Company at the London Tavern, announced for FRIDAY next, the 12th instant, is POSTPONED till further notice. DAVID SALO3IONS, Chairman of the English Board of Directors. By order, C. T. BEKE, Secretary. 31, Lombard-street, Feb. 10, 1847. LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, and NEW CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION RAILWAY. Notice is hereby given, that the Office for the Registration of Transfers in this Company has been removed from 31, Princess street, Manchester, to 22, Parliament-street, London. By order, (Signed) W. 11. INGRAM, }Joint Secret aries. C. MOORE WILSON, 22, Parliament-street, London, Feb. 10, 1847. LIVERPOOL, MIINCHESTER, and NEW CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. At the crdinary Half-yearly General Mooting of the shareholders of this Company, held at thelatile Hotel, Manchester, on Tues day, the 2d day of February, 1847, THOMAS ROBERT WILSON FFRANCI, Req., In the Chair. It was resolved—That the common seal of the Company be now affixed to the Register of Shareholders. Resolved—That the Report of the Directors now read be received and adopted, and that the same be printed and circulated amongst the Proprietary; but that the consideration and confirmation of the balance sheet thereto appended be postponed until after the discus sion of the Report of the Committee of Investigation (appointed on the 25th of July last) at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held this day. That Messrs. Swallow and Brockett be continued the Auditors of the Company. (Signed) TILOS. ROBT. WILSON FFRANCE, Chairman. The Meeting then adjourned until after the close of the Extraordi nary General Meeting. At the EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of the Share holders, held at the Palatine Hotel, Manchester, on Tuesday, the 2d day of February, 1847, THOMAS ROBERT WILSON FFRANCE, Esq., in the Chair. The Requisition calling the Meeting having been read, much dis cussion ensued, but it was Resolved—That the Report of the Committee of Investigation, now read, be received and adopted. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Committee of In vestigation, and that a sum of 1501. be paid to them out of the funds of the Company for their personal services, in addition to the expenses incurred by them. That no alteration be made in the present constitution of the Board of Directors. That the directors be authorised to proceed with their several applications to Parliament for the Bills now laid before this meeting, and endeavour to obtain the sanction of Parliament thereto ; and that they be armed with full powers to negotiate with the Northern Counties Union Company for an amalgamation of the two Com panies. (Signed) THOS. ROBT. WILSON }TRANCE, Chairman. This coneinded the business of the Extraordinary General Meeting, and the husine,s of the Ordinary Meeting was again resumed, when It was resolved,—That the Balance Sheet of the Company do pass, and be received and adopted. (Bianed) TIIOS. ROBT. WILSON }TRANCE, Chairman. Mr. Ffrance having quitted the chair, a vote of thanks was unani mously passed, for his impartial conduct as chairman during the day. (Signed) C. MOORE WILSON 2 - Secretaries. • W. H. INGRAM. RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE. ssrts. LAmoND and Co., RAILWAY" *AIME AUCTIONEERS, beg to thank their Friends and tne Public for their continued support anti patroxage, to amodnce that their Public Sales of Railway Shares, Re., talie place every TUESDAY and FRIDAY, at One o'clock, at the Ball of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, London, to which place, favours, containlug instructions (with a reference), are respectfully •c , iticsted to be addressed. All Scrip and Share Certificates roust be deposited, the day urevious to their being offered; and advices of results will be iirws.rded by the first post alter the sale, an I Inc proceeds .B 1 tie /lately disposed of according to Instrcctions. Olnets. lla:1 of Commerce, Threadneedle-street. London. 111 E WEATIIEIt.—SUN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 10. TRER3IOMETER, Lowest, 21; Highest, 28:; Neon, 32. n A Rf.METER, 29 56.—WIND N.N.W., fine. 111,4 H WkTi.At AT I.ONDON-1114.1.1)1ii; 71116 DAY \turning .. 15 miiintes after S. I Evening 55 minutes one , 8 .- • ~ ..1 : :::` , ''.' t ‘. &t . ..: u. ei';',....:4;11111.6.1.,;;:""."' ' ' • ,-. 'tNii• .' t, ~,....,,,,,,„:7.-'n.:•14,,,v,i..:,,,..: THE SUN, LONDON, WEDN SDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1847. 11; Una' Ant LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1847. Legislation is so entirely based upon - contingencies, that there is a beneficent principle in the British Constitution to the effect that one Parliament cannot definitively bind another. As in medicine the dis covery of a panacea for all diseases indiscriminately is hopeless, and as the researches after that discovery are as chimerical as the dreamings of the alchymist, so in the government of a people the fabrication of a code applicable at all times and under all circum stances, is an impossibility. The main sagacity of a Legislature is exhibited in the timely modification of existing enactments, or in their total abrogation, whenever they are found to be either antiquated and injurious. In these are comprised the principal duties devolving upon the Imperial Parliament. Should the operation of any ancient laws act prejudicially upon the interests of the community, without affording it any adequate compensation, it becomes incumbent upon the representatives of the people to abolish those laws, or to adapt them to the alterations which have been effected in society since their original construc tion. Should there be any suspicion, again, that the enactments made by our ancestors are not calculated to benefit the nation, it becomes equally incumbent upon our representatives to examine into the matter thoroughly, and to shape their course according to the conclusions arrived at during their inquiries. What we have here observed is directly applicable to the navigation•laws. A suspicion does exist that the operation of those laws is to the material dis advantage of the population of the United Kingdoms. And, in obedience to the principle of justice which we have already expressed, it is the bounden duty 01 Parliament to countenance a rigid, investigation at the subject. Supposing the result of that investiga tion be the demonstration of the accuracy of the suspicion, then, in Heaven's name, let the navigation laws be modified, or even expunged from our maritime code. Civilisation has made such extraordinary pro gress that the perpetual preservation of any substan tial stumbling-block is altogether hopeless,. If, there fore, the laws affecting navigation are, in point of fact, injurious to the people at large and beneficial only to a single class, any attempt on the part of that class to prevent the abrogation of those laws, and .even to quash a motion for an in quiry into their operation, is both futile and criminal. It is not our intention at this moment to enter into any discussion as to the merits or demerits of the navigation-laws : our purpose just now is simply to insist upon the necessity which exists for the permission of some such an inquiry as the one demanded from Parliament by the Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Stoke-upon-Trent. The endeavour made by Lord G. BENTINCL and his brethren of the ragged-bannner of Protection, to reject the motion of Mr. RICARDO, was as mistaken as it was impotent. Allow, for the sake of argument, that the abrogation of the navigation-laws would seriously affect the interests ofour shipowners, ofour shipbuilders, and even of our naval service itself. What then ? Mr. RICARDO tells us, as plainly as language can express his meaning, " I do not move fir a repeal of those laws, 1 only ask for an inquiry." Supposing, therefore, that it was clearly demonstrable (as the Protectionists maintain it to be) that the restrictions still made against the importation of foreign merchan dize in foreign vessels were directly to the emolu ment and safety cf the empire, the inquiry would only strengthen their cause and remove a large amount of odium from the existing system. Nay, even presuming that the navigation-laws were shown to be advantageous to the naval service of Great Bri tain, and at the same time were proved to militate against the interests of the nation, we are satisfied that there would be no anxiety to sacrifice our wooden walls for the sake of a few copper pieces upon sugar or barley. The empire has to look as much to its defence as to its nourishment. in the event, again, of the facts adduced before the Committee of Inquiry demonstrating that a mere class (say the shipowners) were the only gainers by the exclusion of majority of foreign vessels f rom our h ar b ours , w hil s t the vast the population (the consumers) were the losers h i the restrict;on— e then, say we, blow the na vigation-laws to the w i nd. We'll n o ne of th em . This is, most certain l y, from a one - s id e d system of protecti on . Th e efful g e nt not the h our t o expoun d th e hdawning of f ree t ra d e evil consequences result ing is not the mo s t favourable lig h t for artificialfor th e rev i va l o f t h e th nature of old goblins of monopoly. li those goblins is now so palpable, a t . what was in tended to inspire us with awe an d affright only fills us with sentiments of cont e mpta right and indignation. It is but reasonable to conceive that a code of laws datin g their rise as far back as 1651 should require some re examination to adapt them to modern circumstances, and especially to the extraordinary circumstances attendant upon the establishment of free trade. The transformation of the Navigation Act of 1651 into the Act of CHARLES 11., the subsequent re laxation of the law in 1815 with reference to Portugal and the 'United States, the amendments in troduced by Mr. WALLACE in 1822, and the memo rable Reciprocity Acts of Mr. lIUSKISSON in 1824, may have modified the bad effects of the original enactment to a eonsiderable extent, but it is prepos terous to imagine that the navigation-laws have been therefore perfected. The principle of free trade must be rendered universally applicable in all depart ments of our native commerce, while, at the same time, the naval force of Great Britain must be in no particular weakened. An interesting discussion turned last evening in the House of Commons upon a return, moved for by Mr. HUMS, of the corporal punishment inflicted on board her MAJESTY'S ships for the last three years, the nature of the offences, and the names of the com manders, &c., to be fully specified. The Secretary of the Admiralty agreed to the principle of the motion, on the ground that a similar return had been granted during the last session with respect to the army, and that publicity operated as a wholesome check upon the indiscreet use of the power of flogging vested in naval officers ; but he objected to making a return of a retrospective character, conceiving that it would not be fair towards officers who had never been warned that such a return would be required by the House of Commons. This was eertainly not a very judicious reason for supporting his objection, and was felt to be of an invidious tendency by both naval and other members. Assuming it to be true that corporal punishment is essential to .the maintenance of disci pline in the navy, that would be a very unwise pro ceeding which should be calculated to influence officers either in punishing or pardoning offences from a dread of the returns that might be annually submitted to the Legislature. It should be distinctly understood that they are amenable alone for their conduct to the Board of Admiralty, upon whom should rest the sole responsibility of administering, with efficiency and benevolence combined, the naval affairs of this country. This responsibility is consti tutionally limited to the Crown, an implicit and sworn obedience to which is incumbent upon the Lords of the Admiralty. Indirectly, however, the latter, like other branches of the Executive, are ren dered responsible to the House of Commons, which can alone scrupulously test their official capacity, or best capacitate them for enacting improved regula tions, when necessary, by calling for and obtaining the fullest returns, in every particular, relating to any point of the service which may be considered open to amendment. This view was yesterday strongly advocated by many influential Members in Parlia ment. Mr. Fox ;MULE, Secretary-at-War, boldly declared the punishment ought to be submitted to the test of public opinion, in which Sir R. PEEL entirely concurred, and at the same time in the propriety and expediency of making the returns retrospec tive. He likewise observed that when an officer was proved to be disposed to carry punishment to excess, the Admiralty should mark its disapprobation by withholding its confidence from him in future. The Premier, with the concurrence of the First Lord of the Admiralty, spoke in the same vein, indicating the wrongful deductions frequently engendered in the public mind where mystery was resorted to, and avowed that he " was not a friend to concealment." His Lordship, however, expressed himself disinclined to give " the names of all commanders in whose ships corporal punishment had not been inflicted "—which was a portion of Mr. Home's motion—conceiving that the effect of a return in that shape might be to confer praise upon some officers at the expense of others, who had been obliged, under trying circum stances—springing, perhaps, from an ill-disciplined crew, over which it was their misfortune to have been appointed —to resort to punishment, and without which, it might be alleged by competent judges, the preservation of orderly conduct would have bees seriously compromised. For ourselves, we care little as to the past, whether the names of officers be pub lished or not. In fact, if the names of the ships be given it is easily ascertainable who commanded them. The public have no vindictive feelings to gratify ; their sole care is as to the future. We hold, therefore, that hereafter the names of the officers should not be with held. If they do their duty, not suffering their mode of discipline to override the feelings of humanity, nor the latter to trench upon the due maintenance of the former, the closest inquiry into their conduct need give them no apprehension. On the other hand, wherever the despotic power lodged in their hands shall have been allowed to degenerate into cruelty, it is right the public should know who they are that have brought discredit upon the service. Madrid papers of the 2d have arrived. The Duke of SOTOMAYOR had on the day pre ceding presented to the Ckambers the programme of his Cabinet, which, inasmuch as it made no mention whatever of the two most important subjects at present occupying the public attention of Spain—viz., the amnesty and the liberty of the 'press was considered as very unsatisfactory. The Clamor Publico, and the other Progressista jour nals, have, in consequence, declared war against the new Ministers, whom they attack in the most bitter language. The Marquis of MIRAFLORES, in the course of the sitting, addressed the Chamber for the purpose of recti fying some mis-statements of the French Minister rela tive to the royal marriages. The Marquis asserts that no official overtures have taken place on this subject, but that a conference, simply of a friendly nature, had been held between himself and the French Ambassador. The Noble Marquis, at the same time, rectified another misrepresyntation concerning himself, set forth in one of the letters of Lord PALMERSTON. General PAVIA has, it is said, accepted the portfolio o; the War Department. Intelligence from Portugal had arrived at Madrid, an nouncing that the Miguelites and Septembristas had coalesced, and that Don Nliouxr, Was to be proclaimed King, to govern according to the constitution. This has excessively alarmed the Spanish Ministry, and thelleraldo urges upon the Government the necessity of interfering on behalf of Donna however displeasing such intervention may be to England. The funds remained stationary. We have received the Paris papers of Monday, and, as might have been expected, the new Prussian Consti tution is commented on in all of them, and, strange to say, with one exception, they all express themselves diasatisfied with the conduct of the King of Paussu. The National declares that the Prussian constitution is merely a money-raising machine, nothing more. Eves the Debate sneers at it, and says-- "This new reform bears more of an administrative than of a political character. The States, or Provincial Diets, will henceforth be called upon to concur in the votes for taxes and loans. They will take their part in what, in constitu tional countries, is called the power of the purse. Such as it is, this plan of reform cannot be considered as fulfilling all the hopes which Prussia has been led to entertain for thirty years; it cannot be taken for more than a pledge of the performances of the promises of royalty, and on thispoint it deserves to be encouraged." The Constitutionnel says— " The new law scarcely . merits the name of a representa tive constitution. The right to fix the budget is withheld from the States and reserved to the Crown. The period of meeting, the place and the time that the session is to last, a re reserved to the Royal power. The immediate object which the Royal letter appears to have had in view is to assure to the new loans which Prussia, it is said, is on the point of con tracting, the guarantee of a kind of national representation, and thus to be enabled to obtain the money on better terms. However that may be, it is at all events a step in advance. The defects in the new organic law will show themselves plainly as soon as it shall be carried into practice; and once that public discussion shall have formed a portion of the public habits, the omissions of the legislation must be supplied, and the attributions of the assembly and the rights of the constituents extended." - - - - The Union Monarchique, however, which forms the exception to which we have before alluded, is more just to the King of PRUSSIA, and shows by its observa tions that it thoroughly understands the German cha racter. It says— " The Prussian Government has departed from the road of administrative reforms to enter upon the path of political re forms. Discussion is introduced as a necessary element, since it is made an indispensable condition for loans and taxes. This is a step which may lead to favourable conse quences if the conduct of the Government be wise and able. Henceforth, it must take into account the tendencies of the deliberative bodies. In Germany, it is true, all things move slowly, and the action of the Government , from its ver y na ture, has a force which may maintain it for a long time in the position it has now assumed; but this first step is taken, and there is nothing yet to announce that the experiment is likely to produce any embarrassment to the Government. The Presse, of course, takes up the cry of spoliation a b‘ g ys a it i gh n ne s i t aiv E esa n t g nio l o a nt n an d lin, , og w n. h : i h c e h To w hcce a a s csi r ono t s s to e i d : uot a ujo b rn o nt u ae t ki: a nhgow weekeve possessionrSihn ace of Labuan. The article is " full of sound and fury," but an admirably-written article on this subject, in which the doctrine of the rights of civilised settlers in a sevage country is clearly and distinctly laid down, and, acting upon that doctrine, it admits the rights of England to not only Labuan but to Borneo also. " The true master of a savage country is he who is able to establish himself strongly in it, to develop the force of civilisation, to bring it into perfect subjection, and cause to be respected there the rights of nations. Does Holland do this at Borneo? Evidently not. Finally, is there any solemn treaty, any compact with the nations of Europe, such, fur example, as the treaties of 1815, a ss i gn i ng B orneo to Hol land, as Madagascar is assigned to France. It is for Holland to furnish proof's in this respect. They will be dis cussed. Until that is done, let us not imitate the bad taste of the English journals, which served as organs to the ran cour of the Methodists, and the inspirations of a false patriotism, when we took possession, to our detriment be it remarked,of the Marquises Islands and Otaheite. Let us form a sound judgment of our interests; let us congratulate our selves if any power whatever succeeds in opening the ports of Borneo to the commerce of the world. In place of making puerile protests, let us take our share of the trade to Borneo and China. Nothing is more exclusive than the Dutch commercial proceedings ; it would be a mere deceit to make us the auxiliaries of the customs laws of the Dutch possessions in India. In place of fixing our attention on the quarrel of the English with Holland in the other hemisphere, let us regard what is passing at home. We have estab lished the bases of several colonies on the western coast of Africa. We have taken an excellent position, in a military point of view, at the entrance of the eastern seas, at Mayotte. It would be a strange illusion to suppose that it is sufficient, in order to augment our possessions and seriously increase our power, to stick up a flag and place soldiers is different points of the globe. It is not that which ought to be demanded from the Ministry. Let us require the Cabinet to carry out seriously the colonization of Algeria; let us urge it to clear the ground of our factories on the western coast of Africa, and render them more healthy —to colonise and for tify Maiotte ; let us, in fine, call on it to answer for the state of the krench colony at La Plat;. This colony was prosper ing, b eco ming more numerous, augmenting the commerce and navigation of France. It never cost us anything, and was contributing to enrich us. The Ministry has sacrificed it to Bons, and ruined it. It is against such acts that we ought to protest." The following observations osi the conduct of the Governments of France and England, in relation to Cracow, are from the Journal des Debuts : •" The truth is that the conduct of the two Governments has been all that it ought to be, all that it could be. Both have been deceived. It is unfortanato and deeply to be la mented that sacred interests have been made to sink under a policy of trickery, fraud, and falsehood ; but neither the Government of France nor that of England have to blush for the part which has been assigned to them in this culpable intrigue, and this is a disgrace from which they can show clean hands in the face of the world. Governments cannot, any more than individuals, live together unless they adopt faith in promises given as the first principal of their mutual relations. Those who are the first to violate this common convention, and thus destroy the basis of all society, set an example the consequence of which must sooner or later fall on their own heads. Under the circumstances in question, if the Governments of France and England could have need of any justification, we should not require one more com plete, more convincing, and, at the same time, more honourable than the publication of their correspondence with the three Cabinets who have violated the treaty of Vienna." Tho price of grain is again advancing in Paris, and in all the markets that supply the capital. "We are in clined to believe," says the Refornie," that an excessive ri3ing movement will take place from two to three weeks, until the end of February. The hectolitre of wheat will, probably exceed 40!., and the sack of flour perhap3 reach 1101.; as for bread it is beyond a doubt that it will advance to lc. more on the 15th of February, and undergo another rise on the Ist of March. 330,000 persons, or a third of the population of Paris, are demanding cards at the Bureaux de Bien faisance to enable them to buy their bread at only 2c. the pound." The Chamber of Deputies was engaged during the sitting on Monday in the discussion of that paragraph of the Address which relates to the financial state of the country. COURS AUTIIEXTIQINE.—PARIS, FEB. B.—French Five per Cents., 118 f. 30c. "sc. 30c. 25c. 20c. 25c. ; Four-and* a. Half per Cents., 109 f. 25c. ; Four per Cents., 104 f.; Three per Cents., 78f. 5c., 71f., 77f. 95c., 78f. 5c.,78f., 77f. 95c.; Bank Actions, 3,270 f, 3,272 f. 50c.; Rent de Naples (Roths child's) 101 f. 50e. ' • R o mans, 101 f.; Belgian Five per Cents., (1840), 101114.; Ditto (1842), 102%; Belgian Four-and a-Half per Cents., 96%; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 56% • Spanish Actives, 33%; Spanish Three per Cents., 34 1 / 2 ;.; Exchange on London—one month money, 2.5 f. 22%c.; three months, money, 25f. sc. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN' RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, FIMITIANY 9. Boulogne and Amiens, 14 4—Dutch Rhenish, 4%—Louvain A la Sambre, 1 1 , i i —Northern of Franco, 12 %—Paris and Lyons, 7% — Rouen and Ilayre, 27. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE-WEDNESDAY The arrivals of English Wheat for our market this week, coastwise as well as by land-carriage and sample, have been on a very moderate scale ; hence the show of samples of that grain here to-day was small. Although the attendance of buyers was by no means large, the demand was very steady, and Monday's ativanced quotations were readily sup ported. In Foreign Wheat, the supply of which on offer was small, very little business was transacted, yet the holders were very firm, and would not sell, except at extreme cur rencies. Barley was in short supply and ready inquiry, at fully late rates. The Malt trade was firm, but we can notice no improvement in the value of that article. Oats, Beans, Peas, and Flour moved off slowly, at unaltered currencies. ARRIVALS. English ...... 1,120 qrs. 1,510 qrs. 650 qrs. j 1,870 ski. Foreign • • • • • • Irish. .••..... - I Wheat.. Barley. Oats Flour. 73 o at I 1, I I 330 W3O and 7,630br1s 1,44. Malt, 1.530 qrs. WHITECEI.A..TEL. Although the supply of meat on sale was good, the general dernand ruled steady, at full prices. Beef, from 2s Sd to 3s 8d ; Mutton, 3s 6Ct to 46 Gd ; Veal, 48 to 5s 2d ; and Pork, 3s 6d to 48 10d per Sibs by the carcase. THIS DAY) . ;;;Serate breeze and fine 7 gt -- . roh a n ry 's, New Brunswick. Rowe, Goble, Honduras ; N.W. to W.N.W., moderate.—Arrd. iigh frosty weather. G.Sld. Brunswick, Cuba ; t.—Arrd. Emma, : . i r -F T i D. , 12 thz . F ud Ei C obden, S z a a9ss r -Sl' 9 0F1l . . V — a Richmond i Centurion, Fuller,nln sv W.9.—Wind i i n nP d d Pe rn amb uco.lNwlrN. .. I .w ~ Anderson, Batavia. Elia:room Fail. 9. —Wind N. Arrd. Queen, Harvey, Santander ; Robert Tomkins, S.W. Coast of Africa; P Chellew, Rio Grande. Athens RI LLOYD'S i DEAL,I'O: B II NF s DB 5 IY o ej LlvxarooL , FFB. 9.—Wind N. to N.N.W., fresh.—Arrd. Rio Grande, Sturges, Baltimore. Ski. Ann, Bahia; James Stewart, Newfoundland, and put back again. SHIELDS, FEB. 9.—The Sir Edward, Holmes, Liverpool to this port, got on shore last night in coming in, but got off and into the harbour. Livitnroor., FEB. 9.—The H. 11. Boody, Skelfisid, from New York, arrived here to-day with mizen-mast cat away, and part of carp thrown overboard in a gale. ABERDEEN, FEB. s.—The Belvidere, from Leith, is aground, but expected off next tide. FA LMOUTH, FEEL 9.—The Albion, Gergenti to Liverpool, has put in here with fore and main -masts cut away, loss of bow sprit, boats, sails, &c., and part of cargo thrown overboard. The Krerisburgh, o f Rigs, for St. Jibes f rom S antan d er 29t h was totally dismasted . -me day. ult DEA 1., FEB. 9.—The Rachel, Brown, from China, arrived in the Downs to-day with much damage to hull, &c., in a gale on the 27th ult. KILLYBE GS, FEB. 6.— A part of the hull of a vessel,appa randy very old, new planked with 3-inch pine over her ori ginal p lan ki n g ; has been coppered over the second planking, but sub sequently re moved ; has been driven on shore in Baylagh Bay. Sever al hundred deals, marked "P. B." in letters of red paint , been pic ked have al so up or driven on the same coast. NEARof six F I T aZnRdO seven Y SQUARE.—(THis - this morning a DAY,) —Between most terrific fire suddenly burst forth from the cabinet and bedstead manufactory belonging to Messrs. Bailes, situate at F t i h n e E hours No_ 23, Charlotte-st , ysq P . reet Fitzro - uare. The remises were EXTENSIVB at the rear of the private dwelling, and were adjoined by the at t im e most numerous houses in Pitt-street, so tha t one a expected. The alarm having been fearful conflagration was e spacious timber-yard .of Mr. Oliver, in John-street, and by promptly given, in the course of a few minutes two machines belonging to the Royal S ociet y for the Protection of Life from Fire arrived, and the parish engines, with numerous ' others of the London brigade, and ti e one belonging to the West of England Company. No time was lost in setting t ad engines to work, but owing to the f rill h o ld the fire r previously obtained, it became quite apparent that the ma ccodingly, the nufactory was doomed to destruction. A fire men exerted themselves in such a man ner as to cut off the further spread of the fire; whilst they we re so engaged the roof and part of the outer wall fell with a tremendous crash, and the flames then shot into Mr. Olive r ' s mahogany loft, sating fire to the building, and also to a number of pieces of valuable cabinet wood. The hose of s everal engines were taken through the surrounding houses, and by that means the firemen were enabled to attack the dames in the right quarter, but it was past nine o'clock before they had suc ceeded in extinguishing them, and not until Messrs. Bailee manufactory was burned down, the whole of the valuable stock in trade and men's working tools destroyed, the timber in the loft of Mr. Oliver's premises considerably damaged by fire, and the building i tse lf much burnt. Several houses in Pitt- stre e t h ave a l so their back premises destroyed. The cause of the disaster is wrapped in mystery. Messrs. Bailes are insured, b u t no t t o near the amount of their loss. DETENTION OF THE MAILS THIS MORNING THROUGH THE SEVERITY OF THE WEATIIER.---Up to twelve o'clock th is day, the authorities of the General Post-office re p orted as not havi ng arr i ved, of t h e b ags due this morning , 11 7 ,mails- The stoppag e a pp ears to be genera l, as the missi ng nags are due f rom a ll parts, f rom the east, west , north, and south sides of th e me t ropo li s . Of yesterday morning's bags, the followi ng are st i ll due, viz. :—Eastb ourne, M erthyr Tydvil, and Uckfield ; and of the mid -da y ba g s due at th e rod office yesterday afternoon, there are still out those from Battle, Hastin gs , S t . L eonar d' s , Df ar yport, and Wigton. The guards who ha ve arr i ve d w ith the bags which came in this ;Forning, s t a t e t h at the snow is i n man y places four and five et deep. Th e w h o l e of the l etter c arriers are ordered back to wait for the detained ma i l s. IMPUDENT R OBBERY. --Yesterday two fellows, having the app earance of c w a e p_t re ai e n ta r n e d f 5 ( 1 ullpa supposed o t s l quantity 4: ) t o f • Captain standing :t o t h e porters, called at the residence of Buckland, No. 41, Upper Park-street, Euston-square, saying that they had been emplyed to remove the Captain's l t u e ggage to the railway. The servant•at once allowed them take away two heavy trunks and a portmanteau that vlai lauvaeblbeepernoperty. committedtn the Captain's C t a w p o ta ra in e 's n re w tu b r o n m w t i b th e employhall i r n ea li d s y r f e o m r o r v e a m l. oval , containing a the porter he had engaged, the robbery was detected, and is Daring the late frost and wet weather, the farmers and others in Ilrest Kent have given their men employment cutting drains in their lands—a sort of labour which has been much wanted, not only for the advantage of the e , but for the preservation of health in localitieswhere poor are suffering from agues sickness , . the state of the soil. and occas ioned by the A rumour which was current yesterday, to the effect that Ministers intend e d to give a qu alified support to the Bill of Lord George B e • without foundation. ~,, Ive _utmck, is, we understand, wholly have no doubt it will receive the strenuous opposition of the Goyernment.--Oranick. MONEY and COMMEECIAI. NEWS. CITY, QI TA T.E TO TII''EE. There was not much business done yesterday in the Cotton Market at Liverpool. Sales, 3,500 bales, at about previous rates. The Railway Share Maraet was tolerably firm, but not much was done. The sale of Railway Shares yesterday, by Messrs. Lamond and Co., was rather flat, and prices were a shade lower. The following are a few of the principal sales : Calcutta and St. George's Point.... £o 4 0 East Indian Great Western of Bengal 0 5 6 Waterford, Wexford, and Valentia 0 5 6 Great Luxembourg Eastern Counties, York Extension ...... Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 3 16 0 Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston North British, Extension 1 7 0 Liverp. Manch. and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2 0 Newport and Abergavenny 0 15 0 Great Northern (Loudon and York Reg.) 2 12 6 South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 2 0 6 Boston, Stamford, andßirmingham... The attention of the Legislature being about to be directed to the operation of the navigation laws, it may be useful to glance at the proportion of vessels employed last year in the New York trade. The total arrivals were 2,293 ships; 1,620 of which were American, 389 British, 67 Bremen, 41 Swedish, 26 Harnburgb, 15 French, 21 Norwegian, 20 Dutch, 16 Danish, 16 Portuguese, 12 Prussian, 9 Austrian, 10 Sardinian, 4 Belgian, 3 Russian, 5 Brazilian, 4 Spanish, the rest being Sicilian, South American, &c. The arrivals increased greatly compared with former years, both as regards vessels and passengers, in 1846, and as con trasted with 1845 the augmentation in vessels is 249, and in passengers 32,370. We have not, however, any return before of the relative increase of British shipping to New York, though we believe there is no doubt that our ship owners have participated in the fuller employment afforded. There is one rather material point, however, to be borne in mind, viz., that the American possessed, until within the last year, and still to some extent indeed, much greater facilities for the economical construction and sailing of vessels than ourselves, and that it is only by giving the British shipowner the fullest advantage of free trade that he can be expected successfully to compete with his trans-Atlantic rival. Accomplish this, and we shall probably no longer hear of the anomaly of our lead ing merchants being part owners in vessels sail ing under the United States' flag, not even excluding the splendid " liners." There is no reason but our self-im posed restrictions why long ere this a complete squadron of first-class line of packet ships should not have been trading between England and New York with the cheerful Union Jack as a successful rival to the gay star spangled banner. The following will show more clearly, perhaps, the progress of the arrivals from abroad at New York 1839 1840 1842 1844 1845 1846 Passengers 48,152 62,797 74,949 61,002 82,960 115,230 Vessels..... 2,159 1,953 1,960 2,208 2,044 2,293 The inquiry prayed for by Mr. Ricardo, we feel tolerably confident, will result in good to the British shipowner, because it must include not only an examination into the question as to whether any of the existing protection can be safely withdrawn, but likewise a consideration of the burdens which should in justice be lightened. There are no arrivals to .day beyond the usual continental mails, and the accounts from Paris are not looked upon as being quite so favourable, though it is unneeeasary to attach much importance just now to any of the changes of a single day that may be produced by mere speculation. Facts and events must guide us now, rather than induced changes or prophesied evils. The Funds are flat again this morning, add although there has not been much business done, the sales have been suffi cient to overbalance the purchases. Thus Consols, for present transfer, have realized 90% lA, and for time 90% Exchequer. bills keep steady at 6s. to 9s. premium. Bank Stock has been firm at 203 to 204. The indisposition to operate in the Foreign Market has been very marked again, and except Portuguese Four per Cents., which are firm at 35 to 36, the quotations generally are flat. Spanish Three per Cents. realise 34 3 4, and the Five per Cents. 24% to 1" 3 . Mexican Stock was quoted 22 to 1 / 4 . Dutch Four per Cents. were 921 : 1. The Railway Share Market has been steady. BUITISII FUNDS. ONE Y CLOSING O'CLOCK. PRIcES. Bank Stock .. 203 204 204 Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities 90% 90% Three per Cent. Consols Annuities % 90% New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Anna. 92%% 82% Long Annuities, Expire Jan. 5, 1860 .. 9 9-16 Ditto, 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859 .. Ditto, 30 years, Jan. s, 1560 9 5.16 9 5-16 India Stock .. . .. •.. .. 250 251 1:51 India Bonds, 1,0001. Ditto, under 1,000/. .. 15 p 15 p South Sea Stock .. 100% 100% Ditto : Old Annuities 90% 90 . x, Ditto, Now Annuities 89% 89% Consols fur Account .. % 90% Exchequer Bills. 1 (.1 • I%d. 1,0001... .. 6 9 pm. 9 9 Ditto, Small pm. 9 ONE CLOSING FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES. Mexican Bonds, '846, i per Cent .. 22 1 4 22 22 Portuguese Four per Cent .. .. 36 35 35 Spanish Bends, 5 per Cent .. • • 24 14 % 24% Ditto, Throe per Cent .. .. .. 34% 34 Dividends on the above payable In London. Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent .. Ditto, Two-and-a-Half per Cent .. —525 i Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cent .. Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates .. 923 i 92 1 4 Ditto. Bonds .. .. • • • • .. 91% 913 i PRICES OF BUSINESS CLOSING RAILWAY SHARES. PAID. DONE AT P RICES. ONE O'CLOCK. Aberdeen.. .. .. .. .. .. 25 .... .. Amber., Notting., Reston, and Eastern Junction .. .. -. 2%.... 2%?{ .••• - • • • 2% Birmingham and Oxford Junction 5 .... 14 13% .. • • . 13x Birming., Wolver., and Dudley • . I .... 101 i lO Boston, S tamford, Br, Illrtningliarn 225. .... ¶p. ... 34 p Bristol and Exeter •• .. 75 .... 75% 75}i Buckinghamshire .. .. • • • • 8 4.. •• • • 1 4. 1)• •••• • • • 51 P Caledonian .. .. .. .. .. 30 .... 26 % Direct Northern Scrip .. .. .. ...... 2.... 24 Eastern Counties .. .. .. .. 20 .... 21% % i...... 21% Ditto, York Extension .. .. 4 .... 41 i j .......• .. 4% East Lancashire .. .. .. .. 14 •• • . 16 Ditto New .. Ditto, ditto New Scrip • • .. 14 .• .. IN ........ • • 2% East Lincolnshire ... .. .. .. 4.. .. 61i •• .. Edinburgh and Glasgow .. .. 50 .... •• .. ...... Ditto, Quarter Shares .. .. 1214 .... 19 .......... 19 Ely and liuntingdof 4 .. .. .. 1234 .... ... •. • .... 13% Great Northern (London & York Regd.) .. .. ... . • .. .. 2% .... 2% % % % .. . • 2% Do., do (Direct Northern Regd.) 3 3 4 .... 3 •••• .. .• 3% Great North of En/ land . ~100 .... .. •••• • • .. 237% Great Western .. .. .. .. 85 .... . . .. Ditto, Fifths ... .. 20 .... 29 29 Hull and Selby • 50 Ditto, Half Shan • .. 25 .... 52 52 Lancaster and Carl isle 50 .... 64 34 643 Leeds and Bradford . 35 .... 81 4 814 London, Brighton, and S Coast.. 50 . 5534,. 5534 Ditto, Guarant. : Flvo per Cent. 9 .... •• ••• London an i North- Western . ••100 ....190 189...... 19034 Ditto, Quarters • •• •• 2 ••• • •• • • — D:tto ditto, New Shares 2 1434 % 1434 Ditto, 10/. Sharen M. &B. (B) 5 .... 11% ll% London, Oxford. and Chelt. .. 2 .. •• ••••• • • • • • London and Sol Mt-Western • • 411. Gs. 10d... 65 6334 64% 6434 Ditto, New C , 111501. Eighths .. 40 443., 443.6 Ditto, Tenths .. .• •• • • 5 •• • • 5 % M•••• • ' ' • 554 Ditto, Tehths .. 4 .... 434 .. •• • • 434 Ditto, Scrip.. ~ • • • • • • 5 •• •••• • • •• 4 `s‘ Ditto, ditto .. 4 .... 4% •• London and To rkYattension Scrip 2% 2%.. •. • ... 234 Lynn and Ely .. 20 91 21 34 Manchester and'. Leeds. • • • • : 82 '• • • .• • Ditto, Half Simres •38 .... 49% . • ... Ditto, Fifths;; .. • • • • 5 •• • • Ditto Exton:dm . 425..... 134 P•••• • • • • 1 p Manchester, 1 tuJ.ton, & Matlock 425. •••• P • • ..... •• • % P Stanch., Shed'., wad Lincollish .. 100 •• ••.••• • • • • Ditto, Sheffield and Lincoinsh• 234 • 134 %• • • ..... Midland .. •- ..100 ....... 124 Ditto, New 2 .... 54 % •• 534 Ditto, Binning ham and Derby 100 .... 98 99 ...... 99 Newcastle and F .es wick .. •• 20 .. • . 31% 32 ...... 32 Northern Count tea Union .. 234 .... 1 34 ..... North British . 25 .... •• • ... 344 Ditto, Quarter Shares 214 4%........ • • 4% Ditto, Extel Ist on .. •• •• %•••• •• •• •• •• •• 1% Ditto, Thirds .. • • •• 1 .... 3% ..... 3% North Staffordsk .Ire .. • • • • 5 .... 83414 6.... .. 8 Oxford,Worcest..,& Wolverlimptn. 1734 11% .. • • 11% Preston and W) 13 •• •• 25 .. • • • • 35 Ditto, Half S 1 ,area .. 634 1034 .. .• • . 103{ Reading, Guud ford, and Reigate 5 • • 334 •• • - ..... • 354 Royston and 11 Atchln . • • •• 1% ...• •• • ... 2% Scottish Centri 1 - . 15 • 21%....... • 21% Scottish Midis: A .. • • .. 1734 2034 . _ Shrewsbury as d Birmingham .. 3 .. • • 4 •••••. • • • . 4 Ditto Class B .. • • • • • • 1 a •• • • 1 14.... ••.. • • lx Shropshire Tilt ,on .. .. .. .- 422. .... I % dis. .... s di l South Wales: ... .. .. .. .. 10 .... 7k.••• • • • • • • 7 South York:1k11 •e, Doncaster, and Goolo . . • . 2 .... 17 2...... .. 2 Vale of Neat . • • • 2 •• • • ••••• • • • • • 3.4 Waterford and Kilkenny .. II . West. Riding 13: don .. • • .. 423. •• . • 1% p•. •. •• 1% p York and IST re • castle .. 25 .... 3754 • 37% Ditto, .. 5 .... 11 3 . 4%%•• ••.• 11% Ditto, Pre fei ence .. 4 .. B%J 8% York and Nc rt ii Midland 50 .... 9034 ..... 90% Ditto, Selb .. .. 50 .... .......... 90 Ditto. Pre fer enco .. 2 .... 11 j% . . .. . . 11 % Do. E. and_ V. Riding Exten... 10 ...- 22 21% .• 21% FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Boulogne end 4 anions .. 18 .... 14 1 4 .......... 14U Dutch Rhenis i • • . . • • • • I .. . . 4% Namur and Lto ge .. • . 8 .... 2 34% . Northern of I n ince .. • • 8 .... 12% • • 12% Orleans and .urdeans. .. • . 6 .... .. MIXES. Real del Mow te, Unreelstered 3% .... • • . 3% Pli ,INCESS'S THEATRE. Miss Anne Romer made a most successful Mgt here last evening, in. t he character of Adelgisa, in Bellini's opera of Norma. Cla t' musical readers, no doubt, recollect this young lady at the so Jneerts of the Royal Academy of Alusic, where her singing a ttracted great attention. Her voice is a pure soprano, wo nc lerfully flexible, and of exquisitely sweet quality Her recitati v a is clear, distinct, and emphatic, and her style, both of sink ng and acting, is finished. She has handsome, expressive f e itures, and her general appearance is very pre possessing. Miss Bassano was the Norma, and her per formance (if that arduous character is such as to confirm tt to favourable opinion we expressed of • her abilities, v( a and histrionic, on the occasion of her Mit some short 'time since, in the character of Anna Bolena. Allen was t . be Pollio, and, together with Miss Rosner and Miss Bassai t o, was ca ll ed for at the conclusion of eac h act o the opera land received with enthusiastic applause. The debut of izs Anne Romer wa s one o f the most soon successful that we ha- se seen for some time, and that she w ill _ achieve for herself a p os i t i on wort h y th e name she b ears here cannot be the least doubt. - - - NAVAL 10EIPT9 AND EXPENDITURS.- aears from a Par. Lie mentary paper issued yesterday lt relative to naval receipLa and expenditure for the year ended March 31, 1846, that the balances of the votes for 1842-43 and 1843- 44, amounted' to 5,860/. The amount granted for naval ser vices for the In iar 1845-46 (per Act 8 and 9 Viet., c. 130) was 6,936,1921 . , an 1 adding to the above the additional sum of 215,3631. credit ed on the navy estimates for 1845-46, and 7,5281. (the an &ouut granted on the supplementary estimate for the saute yt •ar, to provide retired allowances to captains), the sum total was 7,159,083/. The expenditure (1845-46) was altogether • 7,334,3631. —the grants including appro priation in nit 1 and supplementary estimate, being only 7,159,083/. ..itt .ding to the amount of expenditure the sum of 5,8601. Try balance of votes for new works (1842-43 and 1843-4 4), the total expenditure during the last finan cial year er ; 31st of March, 1846, was 7,350,223/. 12s. ; making an outl ay of 185,280/. over the receipts and balances rea m In various votes 88,5341. ; les b s u t t ha t n he th a e b s o u v m e s_ of former granted b) Parliament were expended mentisned excess of expenditure was caused by an outlay of 273,815/. . upon other votes more than what was granted by the H. save of Commons, making the before-named balance. ' Ilt.c chief cause of this excess was an excess of outlay for naval stores, &c., for the building and repairof ships, dock &c., of 1 65 , 6011 ., and an excess of expendi ture for v ictuals f o r seamen and marines of more t h an 28,411/., & Viseou) 2tev i i Palmerston will have a soirée on Satur day next. '410(4; da Itl** 4l ZW 71:" n v.! SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. IMPERIAL PA RE lAMENT. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. Mr. WATSON brought in this Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time tuis day fortnight. IRISH POOR-LAW. Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from the guardians of the Cuckford Union, in the county of Sussex, praying for an alteration in the Irish poor-laws. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. BROTHERTON presented,a petition from Manchester, agreed to at a public meeting, and signed by 22,326 persons, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill ; also petitions to the same effect from Rochdale and other places. An How. MEMBER presented a petition from Macclesfield, signed by 2,246 persons, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. Mr. B. DENISON also presented a petition in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill from the West Riding of Yorkshire, signed by upwards of 5,000 persons. Sir G. STRICKLAND presented petitions from Halifax, Rochdale, Bury, Bacup, Macclesfield, Salop, Wed nesbury, and other places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. Mr. FERRAND also presented a petition from Bacnp, signed by 1,823 persons; also from 1,100 workmen in the employ of Messrs. Burnley and Co., praying the House to restrict the labour in factories to ten hours. Colonel ACTON presented a petition to the same effect from some place, the name of which we were not able to catch Lord G. BENTINCK presented 32 petitions from ♦arious towns in the country, praying the Government to adopt the principle of the Tea Hour►' Bill. The Noble Lord also pre sented a petition, signed by 232 of the workmen in the em ploy of Messrs. J. Bright and Brokes, in favour of the mea sure, for restricting the time of labour in factories to ten hours. Mr. AINSWORTH presented petitions, numerously signed, front Bolton and ten other places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Factory Bill. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition, numerously signed from Lincoln, to the same effect. RAJA. OF SATTAhA. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the inha bitants of Finsbury, praying the House to do justice to the claims of the Raja of Satter& THE ANATOMY ACT. The Hort. MEMBER also presented a petition, praying the House to appoint a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Anatomy Act. AFFIDAVITS IN COURTS OF LAW. The Him MEM➢ER also presented a petition, praying the House to adopt some measure for the purpose of giving increased facilities and wider extension to the use of affidavits in the courts of England and Ireland. TEN HOURS' BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition, signet by the clergy and Dissenting ministers of the town of Bury, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill, and hoping that individual interests would not be allowed to stand in opposition to the cause of the general interests of humanity. Mr. BANKES presented a petition from the workmen in the employ of Messrs. llurst, at Rochdale, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill; also petitions from Dorset and other places, to the like effect. Mr. STEWART presented ten petitions from various parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire to the same effect. NEWMARKET AND CIIESTERFORD RAILWAY. On the motion of an lies. Mr.maint, this Bill was read a second time. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. WALKER presented a petition, numerously signed, from Bury, and other places, in favour of this measure. CHARD CANAL AND RAILWAY EXTENSION AND AMALGAMATION. This Bill was, on the motion of an llox. DIF:IUBER, read a second time, as was also The Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, Coatbridge Railway ; Branch to Glasgow station). TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. BECKETT presented a petition, signed by the Clergy and Disenting ministers of the town of Leeds, in favour of the Ten Hours' 13111. ELEVEN HOURS' BILL. The HON. Mig3IBER also presented a petit:on from the manufacturers of Leeds, praying the House to pass a Bill limiting the hours of labour in flictoriestoeleven. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Mr. NEWDEGATE presented a petition from Norwich, praying the House to make some alteration in the Poor Re moval Bill. POOR-RATES RATING. Sir IV. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from Drog heda, praying for an alteration in the present mode of rating for the poor of Ireland. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition, numerously signed by the clergy, Dissenting ministers, masters, and others of the town of Rochdale, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill; also four petitions from the town of Manchester, two from Rochdale, five from Halifax, one from Rossendale, and one from Haywood, to the same effect. REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON TEA. Sir H. W. BARRON presented a petition, numerously signed by the inhabitants of Waterford, praying the House to make some reduction in the duty on tea. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr.TUFNELL presented several petitions, all numerously signed, from Manchester, Salford, Bury, and ether places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. Lord J. MANNERS presented petitions from Bury, Bolton Rochdale, and other places, also in favour of the measure. M. J. O'CONNELL also presented a petition to the same effect. On the order of the day being read for the second reading of the Ten Hours' Bill,. Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition, signed by upwards of 5,000 persons, from Leigh, praying the House to pass the measure introduced by the lion. Member for Oldham, for limiting the hours of labour in factories to ten hours. Mr. FIELDEN presented a number of petitions in favour of the Bill, from Oldham, Macclesfield, and other places, which he stated were both respectably and numerously signed. - Mr. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from places in Scot land, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Leicester, to the same effect. Mr. C. HINDLEY presented similar petitions from Ashton-under-Lyne, Staleybridge, Chorley, and Medlock, signed by 25,000 persons. Mr. FIELDEN then moved the second reading of the Bill. Mr. HUME said he had expected that some one connected with the Government would have risen to state the views of the Government on the question—t Hear, hear)—because he could not conceive anything more unsatisfactory than there meeting there in doubt as to the intentions of the Government with regard to it.—(Hear, hear.) He said they were left in doubt, and more than doubt, because the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, on a former occasion differed with his colleagues on the question, and whilst one person went out at one door, the other went out with the Noble Lord at the other. The least those in terested could have expected was that Noble Lord's attend ance in his place according to his promise—(Cries of Hear, hear")—because he stated when the proper time came, that he should be prepared to state his views on the subject. Such a statement by the Noble Lord would have regulated the course of those who opposed the Bill, for there were many gentlemen in that House who were extremely doubtful as to the course which the Government intended to pursue with respect to the measure. Some had formed very decided opinions, and he (Mr. Hume) had no hesitation in saying that any interference with the employer and the employed would prove detrimental to the interests of both. Many Hon. Gentlemen were in the habit of casting aspersions on those who acted in accordance with the principles, of poli tical economy, forgetting, no doubt, that those principles regulated the welfare of the community; and, therefore, he said that any interference with the arrangements made be tween the employer and the employed, with regard to the prices of work and wages, except for their protection, was opposed to the spirit of political economy altogether. His lion. Friend (Dr. Bowring) was now in favour of a Ten Hours' Bill, although he formerly entertained an opposite opinion, _ _ Dr. BOWRING—No, no. Eleven hours. Mr. HUME considered that a man who was in favour of eleven hours, could not be in favour of ten.—( Hear, hear, any; laughter.) Hon. Gentlemen now treated the question as a party one.—(Cries of " No, no.") Well, he hoped they did not intend to treat it in that spirit—(Hear)—because he should have better hopes of the result if the unbiassed sense of the country could be brought to bear upon it in its proper light. In the absence of the Noble Lord, he could only state his own view of the matter—namely, that legislation ought to be consistent; that for a series of years that House had legislated on the principle of protection for individual inte rests, to the exclusion of those of the whole community, and laws were introduced and passed, during a period of three or four years, for the purpose of interfering with the labourer and with his employer—that evils arose, which were so obvious and severe, that they were by common consent abrogated twenty-two years ago. He could not help thinking, therefore, that those who supported this Bill were adopting a course which would lead to the very evils they professed themselves anxious to avoid. They professed to have the welfare of the community—of the labourer—at heart, and that this Ley the object of the Bill. They thought they knew how e could benefit the labourer better than he d id sition to the rules on which society could alone to airect beneficially conducted ; but anytoente professingh himself, b properly in ° P d an another took upon himself to kn i e ie w d b id et h te im r how to promote the benefit of an individual f. Now he altogether rejected that doctrine, as he thought the labouring classes fully competent to manage their own do so, let the House place them in a better condition. sayh thanhe He heard a great demand on all sides for universal affairs; if they were competent to suffrage — the right of being fairly and fully represented in the Legislature. Those who pro posed to interfere with these classes ware the loudest h demand, because they believed the to make people i n a t ° condition to wield the power which it would endow them with properly; but they we r e now toldthat th e y were not competent to manage their affairs. That wa was the most contradictory doctrine he had ever heard. His Hon. Friend (Mr. Duncombe) had presented a petition—the largest vise he believed that was ever presented, as it was signed by three millions of the working classes—praying for universal suffrage, and setting forth that they were in a fit condition to manage their own affairs. He (Mr. llume) supported the prayer of that petition, because he hod too high an opinion of them to think them unworthy of the trust they sought. He certainly should feel obliged if his Hon. Friend (Mr. Fielden) would explain on what principle he wished to restrain the free labour of the working classes. He was at a loss to know on what principle they could tell a man, who had, perhaps, an aged parent, or a family to support. and who was desirous to make an hour or two longer than usual, in order to obtain a little more fie their support, that he should not work bey, id a stipulated period. It seemed like passing an enactment to make people of one heighth or to reduce the length of those who were too long for a bed of a certain length.—(Laughter.) He would appeal to any Irish Member, if the great evils wits which Ireland had had to contend were not the result of want of employment and want of capital. There was a want of capital, because there was an interference with the people, which prevented the free exercise of their labour. That interference had been carried to a high degree with re gard to Ireland, and had proved injurious to the State in every way, because they had lost the labour that might have been usefully employed, and that capital; so that that class who might have been thus usefully employed had be come a burden to the State. What would be the consequence of their interference on the present occasion? If England had to supply the whole of Europe with manufactured com modities the consequence would be disastrous ; but if they restricted the employment of capital in manufactures, and consequently pre7ented its full operation, the capitalist would have no return for the risks he had made. Whatever they did to induce a person to reduce the investment of his capital, and to reduce his men, was injurious to the State, as it would lessen nro < ~ t 1 !, :iris iii as or 1116 wages. It England had the supplY of the whole world she might dictate rules which other nations would be compelled to abide by, and less injury might result from such a re striction as that proposed, but they had to contend with rival manufacturers, which, at least emulated, if they did not exceed our own. For instance, the importation of silk into China and the East, from America and other places, as a matter of course, secured the rejection of that which this c untry could have supplied ; and yet, with all this com petition, they want-d o have the hours of labour re,iticPd. He feared that those who made this demand wad get eight or ten hours' labour much to their inconvenience. A man who invested capital in a factory required interest on the investment—lie had fixed expenses which he could not avoid, and had to calculate in what position lie would be placed by the competition of the continent and of America — how to get an adequate return, and to pay adequate wages. Ile was proud to call Mr. Seymer his friend, and to concur with him in his opinion, and he advised those who had not read his pamphlet on the profits derived from factories, and of the home of work, to do so, as they could not fail to derive much instruction from it. He went into the manu facturing districts, accompanied by a Noble Lord and two er three other gentlemen, totally unconnected with factories, and, in company with them, collected a num ber of facts from a certain number of mills. They found that ten hours' labour paid all the expenses, including the wear and tear of plant and wages, • but that if the mills were stopped at the end of ten hours, that the owner would derive no profit from the capital he had invested; so that he had to look to an hour or an hour and a half's work for this profit. They came, therefore, to this conclusion, that a fac tory would pay its expenses in ten hours, and that no profit was derived unless the works were continued for a longer period. Many manufacturers were compelled to borrow money at from 31; to 61. per cent.; _hut they were not all large capitalists like his Hon. Friend (sin Fielden), and frequently had to labour under great disadvan tages by being compelled to borrow money at a high rate Of interest. Now, was a man whose credit was not so good AS another, but who might be an equally good manufacturer, to be placed on a footing with a manufacturer who was better situated, and who bad no occasion to borrow money at all? When any check took place, and they were unable to sell their articles, they were compelled to resort to the bankers to get their Bills discounted and renewed and renewed until the interest amounted to as much as 7 per cent. It was im possible to apply the same rule to men so differently situated, because the one might close his works after a cer t ain number of hours with profit, whilst the other could not do so except after working for a considerable number of hours. In May, 1824, a Committee composed of 51 Members, among whom were Mr. Huskisson, Lord Stanley, Sir Ed• ward Parnell, and others, came to a resolution to the effect " that masters and workmen should be freedfrom all restric• ticns as regards the rate of wages and the hours of work, and be left perfectly free to make such arrangements as they may think advisable and proper."—(Hear, hear.) They afso re commended the abrogation of that principle of the common law which characterised a man as a conspirator if he leagued with others for the purpose of obtaining au alteration in their condition. The House agreed to it unanimously, and the consequences were, he believed, satisfactory to all. He asked the Housa if they were now, at this advanced period, pre pared to relax that resolution? He regretted the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R." Peel) was not there, as he believed he would agree with him (Mr. Hume); if he did not he would belie all the principlies on which he had acted. During the last five years every Act they had passed had for their object the freeing of industry and capital. Parliament had no right to interfere with the labour or capital of any man. Let all such restrictions be swept away, and let every man have perfect freedom to exercise his time as he thought fit. Bevil's, stated this, let him ask Hon. Gentleman who approved 0 : this Bill if they were desirous that England should maintain her superiority, and if they were disposed to giv e fair play to labour and capital in this country? In Belgian" and Germany no such restrictions prevailed. Recently, ti t Mass:zchuset ts. a Committee of the Legislature b a d report tint it would not be advisable to place any restrictions on the free exercise of labour, ano that it was advisable to leave the matter to be arranged between the employer and the 'employed. Every individual who interfered with this question injured . : to the extent of his interference, that class of people, and when they were thrown upon the poor-laws of the country they would repent 07 their interference, withlut being able to remedy the evils they had inflicted. If that class who con' sidered that certain alterations should be made iu the isn't because England was more heavily burdened than any other country, would consider that England, with the heay. , burdens which she had borne and could bear: would be cartiA out triumphantly by her capital and enterpr;se. But if they interfered, and drove that capital elsewhe:e, he (Mr. Hume) should be glad to k CW on whom the responsibility was to rest. Those Gentlemen who said that they were the best advocates of the working cl sses, held out the cases of wcmen and children as instancee d which called for the interferenc e of P ar li amen t. He 10 1, 1 ,, not yield to those Hon. Gentl emen i n hi s d es i re to see .:- community happy ; and whatev e r th e y m i g ht think a his opposition to this Bill, he was actuated by goad motives lie could look back upon a career of thirty years, du ring which he had been in that Hons.., and in that time they would'not findj a single; spot or trace of any wish to 07 °33 the poor. He might have be en p ert i nac i ous an d o bstinate . He admitted that he had been obstinate in forcing upon the Government reduction in exp e ndit ure an d c h ange in i t,e x . i .; tion. That was his be s etting s i n , if h e halo y—(-,"e' and laughter )—.that was 4 h is f au lt, an d be ac knowledg ed _ it.—(Renewed laughter.) He was perfectly had given great offence to many individuals. He had mea d died with the unholy earnings of many men, and he r e i t been told that his interference to stop the rivulets %VS ran from the public Exchequer was owing to other aware that be edd than those he professed. He never cared what they ert hands nor what they did, provided they kept 1 off him.—(Laughter.) By the result alone dmentioned, he would he be judged. On the grounds he had did say, with all zeal anl anxiety, to those.lion. Gentlemen ; the of his efforts who, actuated by the most humane views, were taking course which they were adopting, that there was nothing 00 likely to injure the' country than this interference with itO capital and the employment of the people. Let the House not prevent any man from occupying and employing_ his capital, provided lie did not injure his neighbour.—(Hear, hear.) The House did seem to entertain a very poor opinion of the working classes, but he had found when he had, gone amongst them a greater degree of intelligence than was generally credited, and lie had found that those mea who most advocated the short-hours Bill could give little or no reasons for their opinions, except a reference to the children and young people, and of the necessity of doing something for them. It was on these grounds that he con sidered it the duty of Government, seeing the sister country suffering from want of employment, not to see the capita driven away. The only cry at present. was, "Let us have capital." Let them pause at this critical time. Was it moment for trying experiments against the soul? _ principles of commerce? He said that they would 1 0 _ the authors of evil if they sanctioned this interferen ce with the means of employing labour. They would strike the heaviest blow upon the working classes that they could d 0, 1013 instead of placing in a more advantageous position. the corn; merce of the country, they would destroy the most sent._ foundation of its greatness. Much had been said of the agricultural employment in the country. Agriculture Iv; only rendered available by commerce, and the other rB' sources of the nation, and any interference with them svr e dangerous in the highest degree. It was on these groll. ri ,„ that he moved, and moved in all sincerity, that this Bill o read a second time that day six months.--(Cheers.) Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion. Sir GEORGE GREY said it was not his wish or on Intenti to have offered any observations to the House so early ill i . le debate upon this question, but after the appeal made by Hon. Friend, who had just sat down, as a member of t he Government he felt called upon to express the course the Government was prepared to take upon the present occasia' and he felt it dac to the House to state the course w hich, si an individual member of the G overnmen t, h e wa s preps° to pursue. He said, as an individual member of the G° - vernment, because he believed that there was no nourable Gentleman in that House who was aware of the course taken, with regard to this question, by the Members of the Government during the last two or th" — d years. Many Gentlemen were present when the Noble L ord last year, in answer to a question put to him after his seces sion to office by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Fins bury, as to the principles on which the Government should be conducted with ina•ard to this question. The members of the Government felt to take the same course on this occasion, as the answer of the Noble Lord intimated it via! their intention to do. With reference to the remark of hii Hon. Friend as to the absence of the Noble Lord, it was the Noble Lord's intention to be andie his place pending the course o f thi s d e b ate , state, as the head of the G overnment, the course he intended to take. He had received a note in answer to a communication addressed to the Noble Lord by him, and it stated that he was d e t a i ne d b y i mportant b us i ness , but he would be in the House to make a full avowal e the opinions he entertained. The Hon. Gentleman whol had sat down said that he liked consistency in legislation. He (Sir G. Grey) hoped that he liked consistency in public men also. —(Cheers.) To his own consistency no possible objection could be made, for he had been uniformly consistent in the principle of his opposition to factory legislation, and in 11 15 speech of that day he bad declared against the principle oa which past legislation had been directed. In order to be consistent with regard to these laws, the House ought to proceed in its present course. The question, however, ices t! fair subject for discussion. When the Hon. Gentleman talked . of consistency in legislation, he (Sir G. Grey) as k ed him f they would be consistent in repealing the factory laws as they at present existed. His Hon. Friend had referred on this occasion, as he did upon a recent occasion, to a report of a Committee of that House to which the question was re- Serred ; he said that in consequence of the report of theCommittoe Parliament swept away from the ,statute book 60 or 70Acts of Parliament. It these principles were perfectly sound, why did not Parliament go the length his Hon. Friend recom mended, in sweeping away the present principle with regard to any interference wit h t a l a bi b nl e o utrih:e him m h ea i s etno s t u b g p oar c t tl oia h m a a d enn) b ,t, e e g n trhe as s so 1 9 t fte w n nu u ld nd b e e r discussion unwarran f l ro e e n rvi g ni e t ew l r i o u ct p eash o e n iov i n t a . r iangua l a t i n VrsatrOgUul this enpnomtte e b e e b e d r n n u g e g : h e brought r yftehreVrrfao would d e h u i l s t ) n d n he refer to the legislation of Parliament, as it had laid down the princip'es with regard to factory labour. On the other hand, notwithstanding all the arguments of the advocates of the Bill now produced by the Hon. Member for Oldham, he COW fessed that he should prefer a settlement of this question, satisfactory to the interests of all concerned, not by Act of Parliament, but by an agreement between them. He con fessed, also, that from all the information he could obtain on this subject, there appeared no chance of a resul by means so desirable. He was told that the result of the inquiry on this subject—the arrangements made—with . a view to the reduction of the hours of labour, were few in number, and had been carried out for a time and then ceased to exist; aril although there were many cases now existing in which a reduction fro twve hous was made b mutual_ arrangement, there was m el no security r for the continuance of that agreement as long as other mills held out the induce ment of short hours, while others offered long work an d h igh wages. It was a delusion to s :uppose that any rie :such agre!sl, ment could be carried out. When he looked at the dr arguments adduced against any further interference in fao" t,ry labour, he found that those arguments chieffY_ consisted of predictions of certain facts which vier° to follow from the adoption of the modifications proposed by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Oldham: He found, on looking back to the discussions which had _ taken place with regard to the Bills brought in from time , r ° time, during the last few years, to regulate factory labou; and on one occasion regulating the employment of children_ under eight years, and those between eight and twelve years of age, he found nothing but predictions of t",. loss and ruin which would follow from the interference o 1 Parliament en this question. Did they find that these re strictions on factory labour produced any prejudicial result.r., No such fact was asserted, but many had made the admission th a t it h a d been productive of benefit. Hon Member for Dorchester entertained strong and eye s6entious opinions upon this subject, and be _Tel! m wa e s asu i r ) e r e e , par: i d th toregaadrndlittethtehebecnaesfiecaianlf rueshuilldtreio! utnna.e..es; eight years of age. These restriotions bad increased from commerce and the comforts of the country. Reports f factory inspectors had from time to time been laid on the table of that House, and they proved t he benefitD which v