The Sun. — London, England, 1853-07-02 00:00:00

t the loney • iron e the f men eir Some led to B miEd f that day, :,cidect birb Mllttion SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock. AUSTRALIA. The letters and newspapers brought to England by the steam-ship Melbourne, from Australia, were delivered this afternoon, shortly after four o'clock. We publish the following interesting intelligence from a supplement of the South, Australian Register, dated March 18, 1853 : ADELAIDE, 18TH MARCH, 1853. Our last summary was published on the 10th of January, for transmission by the Chusan steamer to Singapore, which sailed early on the morning of that day. The Government returns of imports and exports forthe quarter ended 25th Dec. last are of a very satisfactory character. During that period the exports produced in the colony (exclusive of coin and bullion) exceeded the imports consumed or remaining for consumption, by no less a sum than 55,1471. 6s. The excess of exports for the entire year, is also remarkable. The imports (exclusive of coin and bullion) amounted to 538,9931. 2s. 8d ; but the imports re-exported were valued at no less a sum than 300,9531. ss. 7d. ; so that the imports consumed or remaining for consumption in the colony did not exceed 238,0191. 15s. id. ; whilst our exports for the entire year (exclusive of coin and bullion, and of imported goods re-exported) present the astonishing aggregate of 736,2671. 17s. Being a surplus of 48,483/. 16s. 3d. A note appended to the quarterly statement mentions that the sum of 28,5231. has been remitted to the Land and Emigration Commissioners to be expended on immigration. The various quarterly returns furnish the following results of the entire year : Ordinary revenue Gold escort and assay office du Land fund receipts ... es Total revenue £102,327 6 7 19,711 2 5 121,137 16 5 £243,176 5 5 Ordinary expenditure Schedule D, part 1 Ditto, part 2 £76,514 1 8 £7,24219 6 7,455 19 5 --- 14,698 18 11 Assay offi ce an d go ld escort department 15,767 13 8 Land department, inclusive of remit tance (15,3001.) for balance of the bonded debt 36,071 19 5 Total expenditure ... £143,059 13 8 The Government returns of the revenue and expendi ture for the last quarter of 1852 show the following totals : Ordinary revenue ... Gold escort and Assay-office dues Lani sales, land revenue, and special re ceipts in aid of immigration £24,394 15 7,324 18 1 61,053 6 6 Total revenue Ordinary expenditure Schedule D, Part 1... Ditto, Part 2... ... £92,773 011 £28,279 13 1 21,807 15 10 1,209 2 2 3,016 18 0 6,843 711 Assay-office and Gold Escort Department... The Land Department, including improve ments at Port Elliot (3,2681.135. 7d.) and 1,084/. 15s. ld., on account of immigration 6,149 6 8 Total expenditure 241,289 5 8 Showing an excess of receipts over expenditure of no less an amount than 100,1161. lls. 9d. ! This is a most gratifying fact to record, as it exhibits in a very striking light the complete reaction which has taken place in the general condition of the colony, and her signal recovery from the frightful state of paralysis under which she was suffering this time twelvemonth, in consequence of so large a proportion of the population employed in home production. The following is the official return, by the immigration agent, of the average wages of mechanics and others, in South Australia, for the three months ended the 31st December, 1552: Blacksmiths, 12s. to 14s. per day, without board and lodgin g . • Bakers, 7s. to 10s. per day, with board and lodging. Bricklayers, 12s• per day, without board and lodging. B ullockdrivers, 251. to 301. per annum, with board and lodgings. Butcher s , 7s. to 9 s . p er day, with board and lod g i n g. Carpenters, 12s. per day, without board and lodging. Cabinetmakers, 15s. per day, without board and lodging. Carr iagetnakers, 12s. to 13s. per day, without hoard and lodging.iers . sy 2 2s p er day , without board and lodging. raeste servants : Males 451 . to 501. per annum, with board and lodging. Females 201. to 30/. per annum, with board and lodging. Day-labourers, 6s. to 7s. per day, without board and lodging. Farm -servants— Married couples, 401. to 451. per annum, with board and lodging. Single men, 401. to tO& per annum, with board and lodging. Masons 12s. to 15s. per day, without board and lodging. Millers, 10s. to 12s. per day, without board and lodging. Miners, 7s. to Bs. per day, without board and lodging. Painters and Glaziers, Ss. to 10s. per day, without board and lodging. Plasterers, 12s. to 158. per day, without board and lodging. Saddlers Sawyers, 15s. p er 100 f eet, without board and lodging. , Bs. to 10s. per day, without board and lodging. S hoemakers, 14s. to 16s. per day, without board and lodging. She;herds, 35/. to 501. p er annum, w i th b oard and lodgin g . Tailors, ls. per hour, without board and lodging. 'Wheelwrights, 12s. to 16s. per day, without board and lodging. Harvest -work, 7s. to Ss. per day, without board and lodging. The present has been one of the most delightful sum mers ever experienced in the colony. There has not been any continuance of the usual summer heat. The influenza was very prevalent fur some time in a rather severe form, but it has nearly disappeared now. The harvest has been well got in, and we hear no complaints of an indifferent crop. Intelligence has been received of the discovery of a productive gold field in New Zealand. It is situated in the Coromandel District of Auckland. The first Pda' Auckland G o l d Circular, " by Messrs. Connell ai d i ng, under d a t e D ec. 13, appears in the New Zea gold"der, and contains an account of the sale of the first dust and go ld quartz brought into Auckland. may be i n t eresting to the friends of the colony in En gland to learn that at the sale of town lots in the out skirts or Melbourne some of them realised at the rate of no leas than 2 ,000/. per acre. STATE OF TRADE. _____,,,_____ krront the Manchester Guardian of this day.) MANCHESTER July I.—The present week has brought no intelligence tending to a solution of the question be tween Russia and Turkey ; and the prolonged uncer tainty which surrounds so momentous a matter continues to depres s the tone and limit the business of our market. In the American accounts, there is nothing to affect us !:.!1: way or other. Cotton remains perfectly firm in .t . . 4 a _outhern ports ; while the reports respecting the x,v_e otuher are still favourable from some districts and un unr,,tienistri ethers. Under these circumstances, merchants and u caution characterises the action of our 09.ealers. Without any reference indeed to the dan ger at ailaB;enr:d . the buyers for India and China are entirely C 0 u Their atry , handsaiid by yre thetied d u i ': e b e y e ra the g_ rebellion in th e La l ug advices from znam,bpryeBasinoda,Cahleutta. Notwithstandl ing these causes of firmness of price prevails both avriver, a remarkable is least observable i n such 3.3 are is and goods. This particularly adapted yet, to the Eastern trade ; otable givin g w even In them, there is no qu . • Y. The fact ig . , that h t. derives sufficient ion which is now in our mar—e- strength from the vast o b f e the home consumpt. rtrent restriction of able to bear the And besideif 41 , the suspension development progress, to the foreign demand. numerous mills, and of labour in to a are powerfully cont‘rvillgte atd higher cost of production through advaencetrieneY reduced hours of work, m t%ng to It 1 of export nat i r be te spinnings fora]ome acroti sustain prices at the present va.ue moment. briefly stated that the is fully sustained, and that gumption have rather an upward connection with 1 4 ' s to tendency. The actual atid th reatene d turn-outs in lB's w arps and p i n-cops have indeed led to so m any offers f rom t h e consumers, as to have added id. per lb. . to the va l ue of the latter, and id. to he former, within the la s t d ay or two. At such advances. those spinners orders, who feel i nc li ne d to do so may readily take espe cially f or speedy delivery. Doubled yarns ar e also Ligher, in co nsequence of an augmented demand, as are also some num b ers for Russia. The rise in coarse yarns is increa s i ng t h e upward bias in the prices of domestics and other cloths made from such materials. GLASGOW, JULY I.—The market has been steady dur ing the week, without any change in prices. BRADFORD, JUNE 30.—Wool: There is very little d oing in any kinds of com bi ng wools. The spinners a re disinclined to buy at the prices sought. The supply coming to market is very limited, and the quantity of old w oo l here in some of the staplers' hands, is greater Zil i. so at one period was expected. Yarns : There is no a bge in either demand or price ; and no one is disposed ru.aPin except to actual order, as the current prices are Ifintic'lus• Pieces —There is no change since last week. mill e differences between Turkey and Russia were ye,..s,Bateedtl there is no doubt but our business would be IN . ' Ve * or tuQ _ health ean. 4 ,Alif, June 30.—The lace trade, although by hy st a r -- " urisk, may be considered in a sound and rial pr e ~,,,,T. Chiefly owing to the high price of mate constant v7.islog stock s being made on speculatiou , and the hold ers gen ' a llge of patterns required, make machine give goneis doin g erallY unwilling to produce the more expen mode of ' "ee Pt to order • this being a quieter and safer besides os ruinous bUsiness, di' ere is the less said about it, patterns are . P ' BeBBl ng the advantage of lessening . that corepetition so often prevailing when the same laave in class of hosier finished by different houses.—For the better y goods there is a fair demand, and orders . many instances to be placed several months in advance of the execution. LEI"sTRR, June 30 . —The d emand for the higher soo..rt!i of worsted goods is dull, as is usual at this season ' the year. but low priced articles, both in cotton and V° are in good request, with shipping orders still ‘ter Worsted yarns are firm, um execution, ►--~ MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. • The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were Shr• estimated at 8,000 bales, including 2,000 taken for export and speculation. The market closed very steadily. Railway shares were very dull at pre- St. vious prices. 20 On Wednesday next the further reduction in the 13 duty on foreign sugar, specified in the Act of 1848, comes into operation. British colonial remains 31 charged as before, but 12 months hence will be equalised with foreign. The abatement on foreign 27 ! is 1 per cent. for Muscovado, is. 6d. for brown 22 clayed, ls. 2d. for white ditto, 2s. for refined, and st. 4d. for molasses. St. The return of the Bank of England for the week 50 to the 25th ult. shows the influence of the advance 50 in the quarter. The Government balances were 5020 augmented, and, d ou btl ess , s t oo d a t th e i r highest 25 point, as the payments to be met about this time will speedily have reduced them. The lodgments 25 of private depositors have been curtailed as they 25 usually are just previous to dividend time, owing 20 to the liquidation of duties, arc. The employment 25 of the assets of the Bank does not appear to have increased. In the amount of the bullion there was ? . q, but a slight alteration. C om p are d w ith the pre- SL vious week, the changes are as follow : Active circulation.. Decrease Bullion Increase Rest £22,631,560 64,220 18,665,289 29,463 3,114,532 Decrease Public Deposits Increase Other Deposits Decrease Seven-day and other Bills Increase Government Securities 1,679 5,532,113 916,282 12,332,410 842,109 1,323,394 16,349 13,118,010 . . Decrease 5,900 20 Other Securities 13,705,389 14 Increase 4,418 50 Notes unemployed 9,563.325 20 Increase Bills of Exchange were taken yesterday after- St. noon at lower rates upon the principal cities of the St. continent. Paris, 90 days, was, 25, 22i to 25i ; 20 Amsterdam, 11; 181 to 4 ; Hamburgh, 13, 7t074 ; St. Frankfort, 11, n 1 ; and Trieste, 11, 3 to 5. 50 The Bankers' Magazine for July presents a use- 40 ful variety of matter, and the articles upon the 25 winding up of Australian Banks and the pro- r t. ject for a National Bank of New South Wales, de- 812 s serve special notice. The recent frauds through St. letters of credit, the anatomy of the errors arising St. from the transposition of figures, and the contem- 50 plated alteration in the law of cheques, are among 25 100 the subjects treated. The accounts from Jamaica state that the yellow St 6i fever was still prevalent among the shipping at 25 Kingston, and deaths were frequent. With respect 50 to the sugar crops in St. Vincent, the accounts 20 are conflicting, but the preponderance of opinion St. is decidedly in favour of there being a good harvest. 50 _ _ New York advices represent the Stock Market at the latest date as being fluctuating. In flour a good business was being done at full prices. Wool was quiet. The quantity of gold exported from London direct during the week to Thursday last was 10,100 ounces and 40,0001. The silver exported amounted to 21,200 ounces. The gold all went to the Conti nent. The Funds have been extremely depressed this morning, and the exciting news from the East has had a very injurious effect. Consols have been 9n to 98, and since 97/ ; New Three-and-a- Quarter per Cents. are 101 to 101 i, and the Three per Cents. 988 Exchequer Bills realise 3s. to ss. premium ; East India Stock is 262 to 265. Foreign Securities have been generally lower. Peruvian Bonds are an exception, having been done at 831, and it is rumoured that the agents of the Government have a large surplus in hand after providing for the dividend due next October. Mexican Bonds have been quoted 27R Equador si, and Grenada Deferred 94. Brazilian Old Stock is at 99 to par. Russian 44 per Cents. have been marked 994 ex dividend. Belgian 41 per 20 Cents. 97i, and Dutch 2i- per Cents. 638 ex divi- 20 dend. Spanish New Deferred Stock has been 50 20 done at 224 to 8 ex div. All the railway shares are worse, the average de- 1 - 1 ) cline being /to per cent, on the English lines. 25 ' The French shares are down 10s. to 11. 25 Gold Mine Shares are neglected, in the banks St./ there is very little doing, the Australian Agricul tural Land is worse by 31. to 51., and the Peel River by to 1. St. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (Front the Official List.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 98t 4 New 31 per Cent. Annuities lOll 1 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Stock Consols for Account 9 7 11 8 7i 8 7i Exchequer Bills, ld. £l000 £5OO 4 1 p Small 4 1 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent Equador Bonds Greek Bonds, Red Mexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent. B3 Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto 4i per Cent. Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Ce n t d Ditto for the Account 22/4 i x d Dividenis on the above payable in London. .. 103 f 50c Ex. 25f 97 63 96 5,1 French Rentes, 4 . 4 per Cent. Belgian 4 per Cent. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. _ Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates TWO O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 19th July 97i i x d COVENT GARDEN. The supplies of vegetables were very extensive, yet the demand ruled active. The imports from the continent have been large. Fruit sold at about previous rates. FRUIT.—Pine apples, 5s Od to lOs Od ; hot-house grapes, 3s to 8s ; Ilambro ditto, Os to OA Od per lb ; apples, dessert, lOs Od to 15s Od ; cooking ditto, Os to 00s per bushel ; pears, Os Od to Os per dozen ; lemons, is to 2s Od ; oranges, 4s to 12s per 100 ; pomegranates, Od to Od each ; almonds, 55 per peck ; Barcelona nuts, 20s per bushel ; cob-nuts, s per 100Ibs. ; chesnuts, 8s to 20s per bushel ; straw berries, 4d to is per pottle ; peaches and nectarines, lOs to 18s per dozen. VEGETABLES.—Cabbages, is to 2s Od ; Brussels sprouts, 2s Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; brocoli, 3s to 6s ; greens, 2s Od. to 4s Od per doz.bunches ; French beans, 9dto is 3d per 100 ; asparagus, is to 4s per bundle ; sea-kail, Os Od to Os Od per basket ; rhubarb, 3d to Os 8d per bundle ; cauli flowers, is 6d to 4s per dozen ; potatoes, old, 80s to 120 s ; per ton; ditto, new, 12s Od to 25s Od per cwt. ; turnips, 3s Od to 4s Od ; carrots, 6s Od to 8s Oct per dozen bunches ; cucumbers, Os 2d to is Od each ; celery, 9d to is Oct per bundle ; spinach, is Od to 2s Oct per half sieve; old onions, 6s Od to 10s Od per bushel ; spring do, 4d to 5d per bunch ; leeks, 3d to 4d per bunch ; shallots, 6d to 8d ; garlic, 6d to 8d per lb ; endive, 2s 2d to 3s Od per score ; small salad, 2d to 3d per punnet; horse-raddish, is Od to 3s Od per bundle ; mushrooms, is Oct to 2s Od per pottle ; parsley, 2s Od to 3s Od per dozen bunches ; turnip greens, is 3d to is 6d per bushel ; cabbage lettuces, 6d to is per dozen ; cos ditto is to 2s Od per score ; radishes, 6d to is per doz. hands ; tomatoes, 6s Od to 8s Od per dozen ; mint, 3d to 5d per bunch. 10 ad MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) I 16 St. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Geese, 4s Od to 6s 6d ; Turkeys, Os Od to Os each ; Du c k s 2s 6d t o 3s 6d; tame Rabbits, is 6d to 2s Od; wild ditto, 81 to is 2d; Pigeons, 6d to 10d each ; roasting Pigs,Os Od to OsOd each; Surrey Fowls, 6s Od to 9s Od; ditto Chickens, 5s 6d to 6 s Od; barn-door Fowls, 3s 6d to 6s Od per couple; Pheasants Os Od t Os Od; Partridges, Os Od to Os Od; Hares, 2s Od t o 2s 9d; L:vorets, Os Od to Os Od; Woodcocks, 2s 6d t6'°l to 38 6 d; Grouse, Os to Os Od; Snipes, 9d. to is 6d; Teal, 9 d; wild Ducks, is 3d to 2s Od ; Widgeons, 9d to Fro Plovers, 6d to is each. English Eggs, 75 6d to 14 0 ,-; nch ditto, 6s 1i to 7s Od per 120; fresh Butter, u° 18 id Per lb. BREAD. lid to ga d °f wheaten bread in the metropolis are from of household ditto, 50 to 7d per 41b loaf. NEWPORT. Beef, fr °ro 3a 2d t o 4s 0,1; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4810 d; 5s 2d to 64 4.1 ; Lamb, per 81b3. 4s pd to 56 Od; Pork, 3s 6d to 4s 4d Beef from 2s 1 0c1 W t r , 111 2M„ ,CIIA.PEL. Lamb, 5s Od to 6s 2 t l ; "- N ;f B uu ; Mutton 38 2d to 4s 8d • to 4 s Od per Blbs. by th e a l , 4 8 Od to 4s 10d ; Pork, 3s Od 7, Os Od to Os Od; Cod Fish, ca l, BILLIN G Turbots, 4sod to lOs Od ; t ri rATE. -.P. , 3g to 58 6d per doz Os Od to Os each; Salmon, Os lid ; Tench P , to 2s Od per pair ; Eels, 6(1 to lei , la Od, Per lb.; Soles, 6d is 10d ; Crabs, 6d to 2s 0d ; Whiti n ' -er lb ; Lobsters, 2d to ; Oysters, 6s Od to 10s Od; Natives, 36 s each ; Common Doreys, 2s 6d to 10s Od; Mullets, ~_. to 5B bah.; Mackerel, 8d to 9d each ; Smelt s 6d t 2 to 42s Od per Skate, 6d to 7d per lb; Shrimps, la 6d' to 281 S 6(lperdoz. Bloaters, is ld to 2s 3d per dozen; Fresh ti e cl per gallon to 38 9d per 100 ; Haddocks, Id to Os 10d ,:erp, diceod 5s to rs per 100 ; Carp, is Od to 2s Od each to 2s Od per brace ; Gurnots, 6d to is Od each ; tia ,l B Od 6d per lb.; Salt Fish, 2d to 5d per lb. ilbut, HIDES AND SKINS. Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, lid to lid; 641 b to 721 b, lid to 3d; 721 b to 801 b, 3d to 3id; 801 b to 881 b, 34d to 34 d; 881 b to 961 b, 3id to 3id; 961 b to 1011 b, 3id to 4 ( 1 ; 10411) to 1121 b Od to Od. Horse hides, 5s 6d to 6s Od; calf skins, light, is 6d to 3s Od ; ditt o , full, 5s Od. to Os Od; polled sheep, Os Od to 00s Od;Kents, 9s Od to 10s 6d.; Half-breds, Os Od. to Os Od ; Downs, 6s Od to 88 Od; Lambs, 2s Od to 3s 4d ; and Shearlings, is 5d to is 7d. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 3/ 5s to 4/ 8s ; clover dit o, 4/ Os to 5110 s ; and straw 117 s to It 14s per load. S ..pply but moderate, and trade firm. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ 5s to 4/ 108; clover ditto, 4/ Os to Si 8s • and straw, 1/ 7 s t o 1/ 14 s per l oa d. A fair avera ge supply, and a steady demand. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 3/ 38 to 41 8s; clover ditto, 4/ Os to Si lOs ; and straw, 11 6s to 1/ 12s per load. Trade steady, at full prices. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 2, 185 3, SHARE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.) HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. BRITISH RAILWAYS. The Queen gave last evening a State Ball at Bucking ham Palace. Their Majesties the King of Hanover, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess and the Duchess Caroline of Mecklen burg Strelitz, their Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Wemar, their Serene Highnesses the Prince of Hohenlohe Langenburg and the Princess Adelaide, and his Highness Prince Louis Lucien Bona parte were invited to the reception. Lite total number of guests honoured with invitations amounted to two thousand. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary arrived at twenty minutes past nine o'clock, attended by Lady Suffield and Baron Knesebeck. The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess and the Duchess Caroline of Mecklenburg Strelitz were attended by Lady Caroline Cust, Baroness Wenchstern, and Baron Luhe. HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.) INDIA. The Earl of A LBEMARlEPresented a petition from the mayor, town councillors, merchants, and other in habitants of the borough of Birmingham, praying that the house, in any measure for the future government of India, will abolish the existing system of double govern ment, and establish a home administration appointed by the Crown, and directly responsible to the Imperial Parliament. He wished, at the same time, to present a petition from the Manchester Commercial Association, praying their lordships not to assent to any measure with regard to India which did not make substantial im provements in the tenure of land in that country. His lordship concluded by moving that both the petitions which he had presented should be referred to the select committee on India. Earl GRANVILLE said that her Majesty's Govern ment had not, during the present session, shown any desire to discourage discussions on the subject of Indian administration, but he thought it was going a little too far, when his noble friend took the opportunity, on pre senting a petition, to enter into an elaborate answer to a statement made by a Minister in another place, and to an article in the Calcutta Review. He should not oppose the reference of the petitions to the select com mittee. The Duchess of Kent was accompanied by the Prin cess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, and attended by Lady Anna Moria Dawson and Lord J. Murray. The Duke of Cambrridge was attended by Lord W. Paulet. The King and Queen of Hanover arrived at ten minutes before ten o'clock, attended by Lord Elphin stone, Major-General Buckley, and the ladies and gen-' tlemen of their suite. Their Majesties were received by the Countess of Mount Edgcum be, lady in waiting; the Hon. Eleanor Stanley and the Hon. Beatrice Byng, maids of honour in waiting ; the Marquis of Breadalbane, lord chamberlain ; the Marquis of Abercorn, groom of the stole to Prince Alb ert ; L or d Ernest Bruce, vice chamberlain ; the Marquis of Ormonde, lord in waiting ; Viscount Torrington, lord in waiting to his Royal Highness ; Major-General Berkeley Drummond, groom in waiting ; Lieut.-Colonel Francis Seymour, groom in waiting to his Royal Highness ; Lord Alfred Paget, equerry in waiting ; Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, equerry in waiting to his Royal Highness ; and the Master of the Household. Their Majesties were conducted to the Yellow Draw ing-room, in which the Queen received her royal guests. The Foreign Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Privy Coun cillors, the ladies and officers of the royal household, and the Queen's aides-de-camp, alighted at the garden en trance, and passed into the Statue Gallery, which was brilliantly illuminated by a number of gilt candelabra projecting from the walls. The motion was then agreed to. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) ACT CONTINUANCE BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that the report of this bill, with amendments, be agreed to. Lord ST. LEONARDS moved an amendment, limit ing the duration of the bill to one year. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought their lord ships could not hesitate to admit that, by the operation of the Encumbered Estates Act, great results, which were long fruitlessly desired, had been accomplished in Ireland. A new division of property had taken place, which would be of the greatest advantage to that coun try, and a new class of landed proprietors had been created. From year to year, as its working had pro ceeded, the mass of English and Scottish capital invested in Ireland had increased, and not only had a new class of proprietors been introduced, but new descriptions of improved industry. On these grounds he must resist the proposal now made to their lordships. The Earl of DERBY said it appeared to be the inten tion of the noble marquis to continue this extraordinary system, not for one year or two, but as part of the per manent legislation of Ireland. He was not prepared to deny that great advantages, such as the noble marquis pointed out, had been secured ; but, on the other hand, there were many and serious objections to which the operation of the system established by the Encumbered Estates Act was liable. There were many persons pos sessed of property perfectly able to meet all their liabili ties, but being driven to come into court by the opera tion of this act, and being subjected to forced sales, the effect had been that grievous and utter ruin had been inificted on these proprietors. The noble marquis wished to continue for an indefinite period an excep tional measure introduced to meet an exceptional state of things. He (the Earl of Derby) wished to record his desire to discontinue the system at the earliest possible period, and consequently he should have no hesitation in voting in favour of his noble and learned friend's amendment. - The ceiling of the gallery has been decorated in a style similar to that of the Grand Hall in colours, the several compartments being enriched with arabesques. The same brilliant frieze of vermillion, white, and gold runs round both apartments. The walls are pannelled in Sienna marble and Irish marble ; the roof being supported by white Carrara columns, with gilded capitals, the same as those in the Grand Hall. The company passed up the grand staircase to the suite of state saloons, which were all opened on this occasion. A great variety of beautiful and fragrant plants and shrubs were tastefully arranged on each side of the grand staircase. The Green Drawing-room, Picture Gallery, Grand Saloon, and the ball-rooms had also a most bril liant display of the choicest flowering plants. The cano pied haat pas for the use of her Majesty and her august circle in both ball-rooms were hung with draperies cor responding to the furniture of each apartment, lined with white silk, and were also filled at the back with the most beautiful flowers. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE thought it a matter of comparatively little moment what period was named for the duration of the measure, inasmuch as he under stood Government to have given a pledge that there should be such a considerable alteration of the law of real property in Ireland as would continue to that country some of the advantages which she had received under the present bill. If he thought that such an amendment of the law would be secured by the amend ment of the noble and learned lord, he should have no hesitation in voting for it. What they should keep in mind was the operation of the present state of things on the whole landed property of Ireland, which was now placed at immense disadvantage, because the Encum bered Estates Court was engrossing the whole business of sales, and putting a stop to all the business of raising money by way of mortgage or otherwise. He thought, therefore, that this state of things should, by all means, be brought to a conclusion. Lord BEAUMONT wished to see the Encumbered Estates Court at an end, but he would rather continue the act for two years than for one, because the effect of prolonging-it for th e s h or t er period would be to glut the market by forcing the sales of a large quantity of land. The time of sale, however, must also be extended for two years. After a few words in reply from Lord Si'. LEONARDS, their lordships divided. The numbers were— For the amendment Against it The ball-room and the throne-room, in both which quadrille bands were - stationed, were most brilliantly lit by a number of large crystal lustres, together with gold candelabra. The Yeomen of the Guard lined the Grand Hall, under the command of Captain Parker Richford, the exon in waiting. Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzmaurice, adjutant of the corps, attended. A guard of honour of the Coldstream Guards, with the band of the regiment, was on duty in front of the palace. - The general company began to arrive soon after nine o'clock, and were ushered into the Picture Gallery. The Prince and Princess of Prussia, the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, and the Prince of Ho henlohe Langenburg, having joined her Majesty in the Yellow Drawing-room, the Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by their august visitors, were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain to the Ball-room, where the full orchestra of M. Laurent's quadrille band were stationed, conducted by M. Lau rent. Mistress nboeßhpinec o orgny f officers ematdhhl her Hjrtoe ß hfmsi eg o t ty ; aeea s ensl , sltdsyt Royalhhtei s ladies hooy ua household, at ht he ten o'clock, i o un ' ec c ee l n o o c ofkf, Prussia — the qua drilleoverennhowigldah,intiewnsges2r.eanind and his Royal Highness Prince Albert. His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha, his Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and other members of the royal circle dancing in the same quadrille. The music for this quadrille, " Prince Leopold," was composed expressly for this occasion by H. Laurent. a t h t t attendance vhnp h i sedr e wi Qndintc.ucv„hipee eh i sa onl 36 45 Majority against The amendment was therefore lost. The Earl of DERBY wished to throw out a sugges tion. As the law at present stood the commissioners had power to order the sale of an encumbered estate, but they had no power to include in that sale the arrears of rent due upon the property ; and it often happened that great inconvenience was occasioned where the rents were a year or a year and a half in arrear (as was com monly the case in Ireland), for, after an estate had been sold, the former proprietor of the property had to collect his outstanding rents, which gave rise to a conflict of interests which it was desirable to prevent. The simple remedy, therefore, would be to give power to the com missioners, at the same time that they sold an estate, to transfer along with the property, for an additional con sideration to be allowed by the purchaser, all interest in the arrears of rent. He had not ventured to prepare a clause to effect this object, but he submitted to the con sideration of their lordships, and particularly of her Majesty's Government, whether it would not be desi rable to introduce some such provision as ho had indi cated into this bill. The follow s ing quadrilles, waltzes, and galops were performed in this room : QUADRILLES. Les Flours du Printemps ..... The Cameronians Les Mysteres d'Udolphe....— ...... Le Pere Gaillard Strauss. D'Albort. Musard. Lamotte. Lord ST. LEONARDS thought that nothing could be more inconvenient than the evil which his noble friend (the Earl of Derby) had pointed out with regard to these arrears of rent, and he hoped that the Govern ment would accede to his noble friend's suggestion. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the Encum bered Estates Commissioners themselves had urged upon him the propriety of introducing some such clause as the noble earl had recommended, and lie had thought it a sufficient answer to say that his only object in bring ing in this bill was to continue the Encumbered Estates Court in its present form, merely removing some of the existing anomalies, and lie had supposed that the intro duction of such a clause as this would be objected to by those who thought the powers of this court such as ought not to be continued ; but he must confess that there appeared to him to be considerable difficulty in establishing such a provision in the case of the encum bered estates sold by the commissioners as that the arrears of rent upon an estate should be treated and sold as part and parcel of the property. If it was de sirable that the purchasers of estates should be the par ties to receive the arrears of rent, that seemed to him to be a state of thing's that called for a general alteration of the law in Ireland, for he did not see why an excep tional rule should be laid down with respect to arrears of rent upon estates sold by the agency of the ER cumbered Estates Court, which should not equally apply to arrears of rent upon other estates which might be brought under ordinary circumstances into the market. However, he would take the suggestion of the noble earl for the introduction of a clause on the subject into his consideration, and if the object in view could be attained he was sure it would be quite as satisfactory to the com missioners as it could be to the noble earl. After a few words from the Earl of DONOUGH MORE, approving of - the adoption of the suggested clause, The report was then agreed to. SOAP DUTIES BILL. On the motion of Lord STANLEY (of Alderley) this bill was read a second time. The Malicious Injuries (Ireland) Bill and the Public Works Loan Bill were also severally read a second time. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) CUSTOMS, &c., ACTS. The house then went into committee on the Customs, &c., Acts. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in rising to bring forward his resolutions, said the first re solution he had to move was one that was not adverted to during their financial discussions. He did not anti cipate may objection being made to it. It related to feu and ground annual rights in Scotland. The tax in rela tion to this subject he thought was oppressive, and ought to be redressed. He therefore proposed 1. That from and after a time to be specified, in lieu of the stamp duties now payable on the following deeds or instruments, there shall be charged and payable thereon the stamp duties hereinafter set forth (that is tip say) Conveyance of any kind or description whatso ever, in England or Ireland, and charter dis position or contract, containing the first or original constitution of feu and ground annual rights in Scotland (not being a lease or tack for years), in consideration only of any annual sum, payable in perpetuity, or for any inde finite period, whether fee farm or other rent, feu duty, ground annual, or otherwise, Where the annual sum thereby reserved, 50 " cured, or made payable, shall not exceed 20s. £0 2 6 And whore the same shall exceed 205., and shall not exceed 121., then for every 20s. or any fractional part of 20s. of such annual sum 0 2 6 And where the same shall exceed 121. and shall not exceed 241., then for every 40s. and for any fractional part of 40s. of such annual sum 0 5 0 And where the same shall exceed 241., then for every 41., and for and for any fractional part of 41. of such annual sum 0 10 0 The CHAIRMAN having put the question, Mr. DUNLOP and Mr. KINNAIRD severally re turned thanks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for this proposition, which they thought would prove of great benefit to the labouring classes in Scotland. The resolution was then agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then proposed the following resolution, which was also agreed to, viz. : 2. That from and after a day to be named, the following s tamp duty shall be charged and paid (that is to say) : On any scrip certificate, that is to say, any docu ment denoting, or intended to denote the right or title of the holder thereof, or any person, to any share or shares in any joint stock or other company, or proposed or intended company, or any certificate declaring or entitling tho holder thereof, or any person, to be or become the proprietor of any share or shares of or in any such company, Where such certificate, or the right or title to such share or shares shall be or be intended to be transferable by the delivery of such certifi cate, or otherwise than by deed or instrument in writing 0 0 1 Paid. I RAILWAYS. 100 Aberdeen 8 Ambg, Nottng. Bost and Eastn. Janet_ all Birming. Wolverh. & Stoar Valley 28 Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct all Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. 184 Do., £20. .. 100 Bristol and Exeter 100 Caledonian. all Chester & Holyhead. all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black, & Pass 45 Dublin&BelfastJunc all Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction all Do. Ne .7 all East Anglian all Do., (£lB E& H) all Eastern Counties all Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. Sh 84 Do., do ... all Do., B. and C [OO East Lancashire East &West Ind. Dk all & Birming. June 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 14 Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth. & Dundee .00 Glasgow &S. Western .00 Great Northern Stk. .00 Do., A. Stock .00 Do., B. Stock 100 Gt. Sth. &West.(lre ) 100 Great Western 11 Irish South-Eastern all Lancaster & Carlisle 11.1 Do., Thirds 100 Lancash.andYorksh 16 Do., Fifths 114 Do. Wst. Riding Un all Leeds northern all Liv.Crsby.&Southpt all London & Blackwall 5 Lord. Tilb..!-,Sthend. 100 Lord. "Irigh:: & S.Cst. 100 Lond. and N. Westn. 12 Do. Fifths 1 Do.lo/. Sh.,M&B 0 100 London andS. Westn. 424 Do., £5O 34 Do., £4O all Lndndrry& Clol crake all Lndndrry. "InniBk. 100 Mr nch.She ▪ Lincln 44 Do., Man. & Lin. Un 100 Midland 100 Do. Birmr ▪ & Derby 474 Midld. G. lest. (Ire.) 174 Do. Half Shares all Newcastle & Carlisle 100 Newmarket 34 Do., Bury Extension 174 Nwpt.Abcrg. & Hrfd 7 Newry & Enniskillen all Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor 100 Norfolk 3 Northn.Countics Un. 1100 ,North British 14 North Devon, No. 1 9 Do., No. 2 all Do., A Deferred . 6 Do., B Guaranteed 174 North Staffordshire all North Western 10 N. &S. Westrn. June 100 Oxford, Worcester, Wolve iiampton 100 Scottish Central 100 Scottish Midland 100 Shrowsbary & Birmg 100 Do. L. &N. oresterr Guaranteed Stock 8 Shrewsby. & Herefd all Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. Min.) all Do. Halves, do. all Do. Oswestry 64 "hrJpshire Union all South Devon 100 South Eastern all 3ont , i Wales 15 S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun 5 Do all Stockton & Hartlepl. 20 Thames Haven Dock and Railway 17 Vale of Neath all Waterfd. & Kilkenny all Waterford&Limerick 14 West Cornwall 21s. Wimbledn & Croydon 100 York NewetL&Berw. 20 Do. Extensions 118 Do. G.N.E. Purchase 100 York &N. Midland.. PREFERENC 100 iAberdeon 100 Do. No. 2, 7 p. c. 100 Bris. & Ex. 4p. c. St. 5 Do. 4p. c. Shares , 100 Caledonian £lO all Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent 64 Cork &Bandons4p.c all Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction all Easi;Anglian (£3los, 6 per cent all Do. (X 5) 7 per cent. 2 Do. (X 7 17s) 7p. c. all Eastern Counties Ex. tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 all Do. No. 2 all Do. New 6 p. c. St. all Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent ... 100 East Lancash. 6p. cts. all Edinb Prth. &Dundee J 6 per cont. 100 IGlasgow&S.Western Guar. 5 per cent 100 Great Northn. sp. c. 100 Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem 5 Do. 41 p. c. Scrip all Gt, Southn.&Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) 6 Gt. Westn. (Becks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c) 100 Do. cov. rod. 46 p.c 100 Do. con. red. 4p. c 100 Do. irred. 4p. c 6 Lan. &York. F. £2O 100 Do. 6 p. c. Stock 100 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. 100 Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. all Do. Convertible,s p. c., 1852 100 Do. New Guar.6 p. c 5 London &S. Western Con. Thirds 10 Londonclerry&Coler Shaves all Lonely. & Ennis. Sh all Man., Shef., & Lin., i Sl;area, No.l. all Do. New, £lO 3 Do. £6 all Marypt.& Carl. 4 p.c. all Do. 4i per cent Eii Do LOO Mid. Consol.6 p.c.St LOO Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cen:; 5 Do. Pref. 4i pez cent 6 Norfolk Extension .00 Do. sp. c. LOO Do. Cuar. 5i p::ct .00 Do. IN I.v. Val. sp. c .00 North British all North Sta Tordshire.. LOO Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £l5, 6 p.c. 12 IDo.. all Shrews . &Thrm.N.G. all Shrewsby. & Cheste - (Nor.W.Min), 8 p.c 10 Do. 5 per cent all South Devon 14 Do. New all S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) o: £1 Os. 6d. .00 Do. 4A per cent. Pre. all S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. 3 Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.c. .00 York, Neweastle,and Berwick,4 p.c. Pref 5 Do 10 I York&N. Midland H. and S. Porch Closing Prices this day. 263. - 27 5 1 5 1 9 - 14 9 7 dial 20 - 22 3i - 2i 100 - 101 61 - 67 22 - 22 19 - 20& 3i - 4ip 8- 9 ••• bg 34 4 12 124 11i - 12 9 - 72 ... - 8 i -- 71 50 - 55 70 - 72 29 84h - 53 - 55 133 - 135 109 - 110 8'7#74 - - 884 100 - 105 17 - 18 p 76 - 764 44 3# - 14 - 15 1 2p 103 1043 114 1153 1 lip 2Ap 89 90 5k 4Ad 4i —33 d 11 13 18 20 29 —30 A 3 69 —70 i 40 42 ... .--- .. 54 - 57 - 2i - 3 8 9 49 51 3i 2d 32 ... 33 5 4icii 8f 9 48 - 49 94 - 96 60 - 62 60 - 62 68 -- 72 1 14 17 -- 19 8 i -- 13-- 143 3i -- 3id 19 -- 21 69 -- 70 351 -- 361 13 -- 14 23 - 25 2i 14t 154 9 94 30 32 10 —10 i id 67 68 81 2 - 57 - - 58 !E SHARES 92 • 9G 88 - 92 107 - 109 107 - 109 19i -- 201 I id -- par 61 -- 6i 5 __ 5 1 141) -- 21 1' -- 2 p 14i -- 151 20i -- 21; 34 - 3i 6 -= 130 111 -- 113 -- 1p 8i -- 81 6 - 71 - 105 -- 107 101 -- 103 103 -- 104 id -- p 151 -- 154 I • - 15 . 4 - 1.57 3i- 4 pi 10 -- 11 13i -13 i 8 - 9 10 104 .p 150 152 par i 116 118 1118 122 ~ -- ... 115 - 117 25A -26 i 11 -- 10a -- 11 174 -18 a -- 1 14i -- 154 par— p 264 -26 A 112 -- 114 194 -- 204 id p 1 102 - 54 - 5i P FOREIGN. 3 Antwerp&Rotterda.m 3 Belgian Eastn. June. 4 Beziers to Graissessac all Charleroi& Erquelin. 10 Dijon and Besangon 8 Dutch Rhenish all (East Indian 1 Do. Extension all Gt. Indian Poninaula 10 Gd. Junct. of France all Gt. Western of Canada l Shares 2 Lucca & Pistoja sp. c pref 15 Luxembourg 10 Do. (Railway) 2 Do. 3 Do. (Canal) 2 Do. 6p. ct. prof 9 Lyons & Mediterran, Madras all Namur d; Liege (with interest) all Do. (ex interest) all Northern of Frince. Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds all 10 Paris and Lyons all all Paris and Orleans NorwegianTrunkPref(fmy...3.drAms.Shs all Paris and Ro. - _en all Pa-is and Stras - Jourg 4 PaiisCaen & Cherbrg Qteoec & R!chmond all R ouen and Ha vr e 2 Royal Swedish all Sambre and Meuse 2 Sth- Eastrn. of France 6 Southern of France 2e. Upper India Scrip a n West Flanders 10 Do. 5 per o. Prof 10 Western of France 2 West. of Switzerland 6 Zealand li 1 d 1 li 1 id [ —l5 d —1" p 2 p fiar— id ip - 1 1 -7 ; 4 - - I.f _ 1 ( - 21p1 7 - 7i iii -- 34 14 —l5 8 9 144 —14 i 10 —42 39 40 331 -34 34 44 Act par 17k 184 P 4 5 p 4 a : iP dis - 8 1) 3 t 2dl WALTZES. Chant d'Amour Flowers of the Field Rigoletto Liebes Leiden Le Chateau d'lf D'Albert. D'Albert. H. Laurent. Strauss. H. Laurent. POLKAS. The Kcenigsberg Steeple Chase The Etna ... The Cuckoo GALOPS. Musard. D'Albert Gungl. Messrs. Coote and Tinney's quadrille band was sta tioned in the Throne Room, and performed a number of dances of the same description during the evening. The Queen wore a dress of white silk with six flounces of white tulle, alternately worked in straw and green leaves. Her Majesty's head-dress was a wreath compose 3. of red poppies, wheat ears, and green currants, ornamented with diamonds. The Queen of Hanover's dress was point lace over pink silk, the front studded with large pink and satin rosettes, each containing in the middle a diamond orna ment. The sides of the stomacher had a bordetr of large diamonds set singly on pink ribbon edged with white lace. Her Majesty wore round her head a wrea th of red roses, with diamonds interspersed, and also wore a neck lace of large rubies and diamonds. The Queen's satin slippers wero ornamented with diamonds and small rosettes. The Princess of Prussia wore a dress of w bite lace double skirt over blue tulle and silk, trimmed with sil ver and blue ribbon, and ornamented with bouquets of white and red roses, with silver l eaves . The head-dress was composed of nte, blush, and red roses, and silver leaves, a number of diamonds being mingled with the flowers. The Duchess of Kent wore a dress of lilac Indian silk brocaded with gold, trimmed with gold blonde and tulle. The head-dress formed of gold blonde, white feathers, and flowers. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey satin dress, trimmed with point lace, the stomacher of pearls and diamonds. The Royal Duchess wore a tiara of pearls and diamonds, and a necklace of diamonds. _ ...... The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg- ►stre litz wore a dress of white tulle over white silk, striped with gold ribbon, edged with blue. The' dress was trimmed with gold blonde, and decorated with bouquets of blue and gold flowers. The stomacher was adorned with diamonds and pearls. Her Royal Highness's head dress was composed of blue and gold flowers, and ousna ments of pearls and diamonds. The Princess Mary of Cambridge's dress was white tulle, embroidered with silver, trimmed with bunches of blue convolvuli and silver. The Princess wore a wreath of blue convolvuli and silver round her head, with orna ments of diamonds and turquoise. The necklace and the ornaments in the stomacher were en suite. The dress of the Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha was white tulle over white satin, trimmed with gold ribbon, and having the stomacher adorned with diamonds. 'The head-dress was formed of flowers and diamond orna ments. MURDER AND SUlClDE.—Thursday afternoon, about two o'clock, as some boys were playing at Bankside they discovered something floating near the Surrey shore, a little above Southwark-bridge : which proved to be the body of a young woman, with a child in her ams. Information was immediately forwarded to the po lice, and the bodies on being landed, being found to be quite lifeless, they were, by direction of ier geant Golding, 7 M, conveyed to the dead ho use of the parish of St. Saviour's. In addition to the child being clasped in the arms of the deceased young woman, they were found to be fastened together by a str ( ing cord tied round each of their waists. They w ere both respectably attired, the young woman being about twenty-two years of age, and the child about six months. On the pockets of the former being searched, a paper was found with the words " Jane Papson, 15, New-street, Cloth-fair," written thereon ; and application being made at that address the bodies vi .ere identified. The persons in the house, however, knewvery little of her history. She had come there to live a very short time since, and they understood from her she .had not long since left service, in consequence of bein g a mother. She had not been seen at home since IN ed nesday afternoon. On her table were found two lett. 3rs, one addressed to her father, at Folkstone, and the ot her to a young man, who is supposed to be the father of the deceased's child, both of which are written in such tei ms as to leave no doubt that the deceased left home for the purpose of destroying her life and that of her offspri ng, and stating that by the time they were opened she should be no more. No money was found upon her, and it is supposed that poverty was one of the incentives to l`e rash act. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—The next ordinary me et ing of the Epidemiological Society will be held on Mon day evening next, the 4th inst., at the rooms of the Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society, 53, Berners-stre et. Oxford-street, on which occasion the following pa . per will be read :—" An Essay on Yellow Fever, com prising the History of that Disease as it appeared in the Island of Antigua in the years 1835, 1839, and 1842." ADVERTISEMENT DUTY. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—With re gard to the next resolution, I shall not at this moment make any statement respecting it, because I have already made a statement of the general principles upon which itis founded at an earlier period, except to explain to the house, 1 hope clearly and distinctly, two alterations that have been made in the proposition of the Government. When the plan was originally proposed in the financial statement, it was combined with a proposition with regard to supple ments to newspapers which has since undergone material modifications in two particulars, which I will now state. In the first place I have, I must frankly confess, through an inadvertance which I hope the house will excuse on ac count of the multitude of important subjects which more immediately pressed upon my mind, proposed that the pri vilege of freedom from stamp duty upon supplements should be confined to such supplements as were filled with advertisements only. But a very brief consideration of the question makes it quite obvious that the effect of that pro position would have been to neutralise almost tho whole of the beneficial consequences of the boon ' • and to do m ore than to neutr a li se it i n some respects, because it would have given to the subject a very invidious direction, except in a very limited number of cases, with regard to which it would assume, therefore, the character of legislation in the spirit of favouritism. A change, therefore, was made ; and the proposal which is made is that which is printed in the Stamp Duties Bill, with regard to supplements. It is a pro posal that is entirely irrespective of the question whether the contents of supplements may be news or advertise ments, or a mixture of both. The other point in which the proposition has been materially changed is that instead of a general removal of the stamp duty upon newspaper supplements, the removal or freedom from stamps is con fined to what is commonly known as the single supplement. I mention this because the technical language in which the enactment is necessarily conveyed may not carry to the minds of those not familiar with the language of the pre sent Newspaper Stamp Act a correct idea of what the in tention is. In point of fact the most correct description of what is intended is this—it is not so much the removal of the stamp dutyupon supplements as the simple enlargement of the newspaper space. By the present law the stamp of a single penny will only cover a newspaper—that is the printed superficies upon one side of the paper—not exceed ing 1,530 inches. I propose to enlarge this space by 50 per cent.—that is, to raise it to 2,295 inches, but leaving it to parties either to enlarge the sheet, or to alter the folding of it as they please ; or, if they choose, t o o bt a i n th e maxi mum size of the sheet, and print it as a supplement. In fact, I impose upon them no limitation whatever with re gard to the employment of the space of 2,295 inches, except the single limitation that they must not distribute it into more than two sheets of paper, which of course has refer ence to the possibility of evasion by parties who might wish to make use of it for the purpose for which it was not intended. These, then, are the changes we have made—an enlargement of 50 per cent. is mash) to newspaper space, and we remove the stamp duty upon supplements. The effect of that enlargement will be to allow of the publica tion of a single supplement without the stamp duty • but when they pass beyond th e li m i t o f 2 ,295 inches, a further' stamp duty will be payable at the rate of id. for each 2,295 inches, or Ad. for each moiety of 2,295 inches. Mr. BRIGHT 7 —I beg the right hon. gentleman's pardon ; but I thought the subject of the resolution we were about to discuss was the advertisement duty, and not the duty ou supplements. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The hon. gentleman is quite right ; and I do not wonder at the re mark of the hon. member at all. The question before us is strictly and exclusively the advertisement duty; but, partly for the reason that nothing is printed in this resolution with regard to the stamp, nor with regard to the enlarge ment of space, and partly because the connection between the two subjects is so close, I have thought it desirable to bring before the house the alterations that have been made. in order that hon. members may clearly know what they are. (Hear.) The CHAIRMAN then read the following resolution, which was moved by the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER:— That from and after the sth day of July, 1853, in lieu of the duties now payable on advertisements, shall be paid:— For or in respect of any advertisement con tained in or published with any gazette or other newspaper, or any other periodical paper, or in or with any pamphlet or literary work Mr. GIBSON—I wish to move an amendment to that resolution ; to leave out all the words after " that," in order to insert these words—" all duties now chargeable on ad vertisements be repealed, in accordance with a resolution of this house on the 14th day of April last." (Hear, hear.) I shall not refer to the statement of the right hon. gentle man with regard to the stamps upon supplements, bemuse the question is not before us. But I remarked that he was candid enough to tell us that the remission, so far as the stamp upon supplements was concerned, would have refer ence to one, or at least to but a limited number of news papers— The CFIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—No, no ; nothing of the sort. That had reference to what passed before. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GIBSON—WeII, when we come to consider the stamp upon supplements, we shall discuss that question. I am sorry to be under the necessity of troubling the house again upon the question of the advertisement duty ; and I shall not presume to trespass long upon their time, or to go again at any length into the objections to the advertisement tax. But I did fancy, after the decided expression of the opinion of the house, by a deliberate vote—(hear)—not surprise, not an accident, but an expression of opinion as fairly obtained as any in this house—that the advertise ment duty would be repealed—l did fancy that the right hon. gentleman and the Government would have bowed to that decision, and settled the question by simply repealing the duty. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman un doubtely said that after the resolution of the house he would reconsider his proposition. Now, when a Minister says he will reconsider a proposition, and hear what is to bo said, one is inclined to take rather a favourable view of the future; and, during the interval of two months and a half that the right hon. gentleman has boen reconsidering his original proposition, I have been in a sort of fool's paradise, fancy ing he would agree to the decision of the house. But it turns out that we have been, not to speak too strongly, trifled with ; for the right honourable gentleman comes down now, setting at defiance the previous vote of the house, and proposes to enact a fresh duty upon advertise ments. (Hear.) Now, I simply ask the committee to agree with the vote of the House of Commons, that the ad vertisement duty shall be totally repealed ; and I would remind the committee that the principle upon which that vote was come to was not the amount of the duty—nobody talked of the eighteenpence. We did not ask that it should be reduced to sixpence, but we said it was a tax unequal, unjust, and impolitic, and that it ought not to be made a source of public revenue. If you are of opinion that this is a proper tax, I prefer the eighteenpence ; for, if we are to have the expense of collection—if we are to have the vexation of sending all these papers and publica tions to the Stamp-office to be examined—let us, at least, have some revenue for it. But the decision was founded upon the principle that advertisements were not fitted to be a permanent source of public revenue ; and the Chancel lor of the Exchequer was called upon to make such finan cial arrangements as would enable us to repeal this duty. (Hear, hear.) The inequality of a small duty is just as great as the inequality of a large duty. (Hear, hear.) I am afraid that the right hon. gentleman, in coming to his conclusion upon this question, h as p u t himself into the hands of certain large newspaper proprietors, who f anc y that, in this remnantthat, of the advertisement duty, they see a small protection ; and that the large number of adver tisements which would undoubtedly rise up, especially in the agricultural districts, would perhaps be the means of feeding and supporting struggling papers that might come into competition with the more successful papers at this time. This, I admit, is somewhat of an assumption ; but it is not without foundation, for I have heard the name of a gentleman mentioned, as a high autho rity for it, from the county of Sussex upon that question ; and I am quite sure that the ground he took, among others, was that these duties were in the nature of protection to established papers. (Hear, hear.) I should like some of those establi s h e d p a p ers that have been such violent freetraders as to the articles of corn and other com modities, to try the effect of free-trade in newspapers ; and I am for repealing the advertisement duty for the very purpose of enabling advertisements to be inserted in the smaller and struggling papers, to be a source, and a legiti mate source, of support to those papers. The right hon. gentleman, however, cannot pass the resolution in the form he has submitted it to the house. I contend that the wording of the resolution as it now stands is fatal to it. He proposes to impose an advertisement duty upon every advertisement, in any pamphlet or literary work; that is to say, in any pamphlet or in any book. No doubt it is just that, if an advertisement bo taxed when it is in a newspaper, and when it is in a periodical, it is right it should be taxed also when it is in a book or in a pamphlet ; but let me ask the right hon, gentleman whether he means to enforce that part of the resolution ? Let me ask him whether it was not in point of fact a mere pretence to show a sign of impartiality when there is no intention, and when there exist no means whatever of collecti ng the duty upon advertisements in books and pamphlets ? The right hon. gentleman has no intention I suppose of bringing in a bill to enable him to collect the duty upon advertisements in pamphlets and books. (Hear, hear.) Let me ask the right honourable gentleman to explain when and where, and to whom, and under what circumstances the duty upon ad vertisements in pamphlets and books is to be paid? He knows there are no provisions in any statute which will enable him to collect that duty. I contend, therefore, that it is an absurdity to impose a duty upon an article without at the same time providing the means of its collection. It is as if a man who built a house with seve ra l stories should fancy he had made a complete structure when he had for gotton the staircase. But I complain of this, because there is a show of impartiality and justice of levying the duty in all cases, when in reality there is no intention of levying it except upon advertisements in periodicals and newspapers, thus placing the periodical and newspaper press at a disad vantage, and making it the interest of every man to find out some other mode of advertising rather than in the le gitimate way—namely, in newspapers and periodicals. It is an indirect and most effectual mode of crippling and restraining the press, and of injuring its independence, inasmuch as it deprives the press of this legitimate source of support—namely, the fund that is derived from adver tisements. (Hear.) You will still continue to see, if you enact this duty, the untaxed advertisements upon your walls, in your books, in your pamphlets, in omnibuses, and in every situation that can be found to direct the public, because there is a direct premium on them there, instead of going to the legitimate field of advertising, namely, newspapers and periodicals. (Hear, hear.) Upon these grounds, then, I ask the committee to support me in the amendment I now move, which amendment I beg, with out further trespassing on the time of the committee, to leave in the hands of the chairman. (Hear, hear.) The question having been put, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said—l am very reluctant to occupy the time of the committee upon this subject, but at the same time it is my duty to state distinctly to the committee the reasons why the Govern ment have not thought it compatible with their obligations to acquiesce in the vote to which the House of Commons came upon an earlier day. I think, however, it will be felt that such a resolution upon the part of the Govern ment, is a resolution that requires explanation ; and I shall not decline the duty of affording that explanation. (Hear.) The right honourable gentleman has, however, stated several things to which I must refer in the first in stance. He says in the first place that after the vote of the House of Commons on this subject, I promised to re- St. St. St. St. St. 20 St. 15 Business done this day. 100 67 6 22 127 1 i i i 11i A i 8$ 72 1 851 5 53 134 1091 881 8 p 761 i a i 6 m 11 8 i 1141 14 # 14 I 3 70i i i 691 41 48i 8 69i 70 693 36 5i 69 8 12} 584 7i 1124 i 8j 1031 34 4 3A 25 4i i 40 34i fi 4 i 4 consider the proposition of the Government. The right ; honourable gentleman is totally mistaken ; I never lucid any such expression. I did use an expression upoi:q subject ; but the expression I used was the direct re of that which the right honourable gentleman has at • buted to me. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GIBSON—I can assure the right hon. gentleman that, upon the question being put to him several times by N't.n myself among others, he stated that he would be prepared to state what the intentions of the Government were upon the vote at a future day, and that the subject was under consideration. The meaning of a subject being under con sideration is well known to the house. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The right honourable gentleman there makes an explanation ex tremely different from his statement. My statement, as the house well knows, conveyed a sense totally different. I did say something was under consideration, and some thing was under consideration—namely, the plan of the Government having reference to supplements. Nor did I mean to deny that this was under consideration ; nor did I moan to deny that the whole proposition, until it was put to the house, was under consideration. But the right hon. gentleman says I stated that I would reconsider it—which is a totally different thing. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the wording of this resolution I shall be very brief. 1 have moved it in precisely the terms of the present law. The question whether there ie to be a duty on advertise ments in pamphlets and books is a question that may be very fairly considered by the committee if you please ; and if you wish to alter the phraseology of this law, it is open to you to do so; but I have thought it right and more convenient to adhere to it. At the same time, I ad here to it, because the object has no connection with the main point at issue, which is whether advertisements ought to be subject to one rate or description of duty or not. The right honourable gentleman spoke of the ex pense of collection. Well, no tax is collected without some expense. But if the right honourable gentleman means to say that the expense of collection constitutes an especial burden in the case of advertisements as com pared with any duty of similar extent, and that that is one reason why the duty should be condemned, I differ from him, for I say it constitutes no such burden whatever. Then he says that a small duty is as unequal as a large duty. No doubt ever y ra t ea bl e d u ty i s necessarily an un equal duty. The penny postage in one sense is an unequal rate ; it is au unequal rate, if you look upon it in this way, that you pay just the same for the conveyance of a letter ten miles as you do for it being carried five hundred? Yet that is a duty very satisfactory to the public, because, though there is inequality in it when it comes to be criti cally and microscopically examined, yet it is moderate in amount in relation to the service performed. (Hear, hear.) The right honourable gentleman renews the objection that this reduction is a boon to large newspapers ; not only does he say that, bat be says it is a boon to one, or at least to a very few, of the large newspapers. That it is a boon to large newspapers, in one sense, I have not a doubt, and in that sense only is it a boon to large newspapers— that is to say, those papers which are successful in their trade will derive much more advantage from your fiscal revisions than newspapers which are unsuccessful. But, if the right hon. gentleman means to say that this reduc tion is a boon only to one or to a few large newspapers, from that doctrine I beg leave to dissent. He has himself moved, or some other hon. member has moved, for a re turn connected with this matter, from with it appears that out of the sum of 30,0001., now levied in stamp duties upon supplements, 22,0001. are paid by a single newspaper—the Times. I conclude, therefore, that the right hon. gentle man means it to be understood that this is a boon to the Times, and to nobody else. (Hear, hear, and no, from Mr. Gibson.) Well, h e d oes no t . I w ill not pretend to answer him, then, as to that, but I will just point out how far it is a reasonable assertion or otherwise that this reduction .will be of benefit only to the great newspapers. No doubt with the exception of the Illustrated London, News, and certain papers in the provinces, the Times is the only news paper that can afford to give large supplements stamped. The other newspapers are prevented in a great mea sure by the supplement stamp from giving supplements. But what has been the case in other articles where the duty has been reduced. Take the case of coffee. When the duty upon coffee was 3s. Gd. per lb. it was consumed only by the rich ; and it could only be obtained in small quantities by the poor. Now the duty is 3d. per lb. or thereabouts. Will the right hon. gentleman contend that that reduction has been only a boon to the rich ? By re duction you let other consumers into the field ; and not only that, you let in other competitors, and by this reduc tion of duty you give effect to the reduction of the adver tisement duty. What would have been the effect of a re duction of the advertisement duty without an alteration in the newspaper space ? The small papers are anxious for the reduction of the advertisement duty, but they are in. different as to the increase of space. Let the committee mark this. You allow the penny stamp to cover only a certain space, and you charge advertisement duty. Well, there are certain portions of the press who say, We are indifferent about the enlargement of space, but we want the advertisement duty off." What, I ask, would be the effect to the public of a great increase in the number of ad vertisements without an increase of space? It would be this, that a greatly increased number of advertisements would compete for the possession of the same space, and the numbers being increased, you know the consequence. The object of the remission or reduction of the duty would be lost to the public, but a large additional profit would be obtained by the proprietors. This is the question as re gards the duty upon advertisements, but it is impossible for the committee, if they are disposed to enter into this question, to take se narrow a view of it. The total aboli tion of duties of this character is a very serious matter, and tho committee ought to consider whither the principle of such abolition would lead them, and where it is to stop. Let us look at the case of the advertisement duty in con nection with the other taxes that are popularly, and by a sort of cant phrase, called " taxes on knowledge." I do not think the term " taxes on knowledge" is applicable to the advertisement duty ; it appears to me that the advertise ment duty is rather a tax upon trade and labour—(hear, hear)—principally upon trade, but partly upon labour. That, I think, is a fair description of it. Now the taxes that affect newspapers at present affect it in three ways— by the paper duty, by the stamp duty, and by tho adver tisement duty. The stamp duty, whatever it may be in its form, is in its substance neither inure nor less than a charge fur service performed. ("No " from Mr. Gibson and others.) Wh a t ? I h ear some honourable gentlemen say no. Are not newspapers carried free all over the country, posted and re-posted as often as any person pleases ? Is that 21 service performed, or is it not ? Whether it is performed in consideration of the penny stamp or not, it is a service performed. Now, Ido not want to entrap any honourable gentleman into an admis sion whether this is a good mode of making the charge or not, for this is not the question before us. Whether the charge should be by a uniform stamp, vs it is now, or in what manner newspapers should go through the post, is not the question. But certainly in the intention of Par liament. and in point of fact, the stamp is a remimaration for service performed. I have made it my business to ascertain some facts on this subject ; and a calculation has been made in the General Post-office, by persons of the highest authority, from which it appears that the 400,0001. received for the stamp on newspapers do not do more than renmuerate the Post-office for the actual labour performed in connection with them, and for the payments they have to make on account of the mails. (Hear, bear.) The second of these duties is the paper duty. What view does the committee take of the paper duty ? There again a very serious question will probably be raised upon the earliest opportunity that the state of the re venue will admit. The paper duty I maintain ought, when the state of the revenue will permit it, to be alto gether abolished. (Hear, hear.) It appears to me that the paper duty is an inexpedient and an impolitic duty. Why ? Because it imposes upon the trade of the country an amount of burden totally disproportioned to the receipt of revenue; it interferes with the diffusion of employment through the country in the worst and most inconvenient form, because the paper trade, if it were only free as a trade, would not. be confined to the great centres of population, but it would find its way, according to the conveniencies of locality, throughout the country, and would diffuse and equalise employment among different classes of the community. Therefore I say the paper duty is a duty which is bad in itself, and one which, as soon as the state of the Treasury will allow, ought upon general principles, if the house take that view, to be repealed. (Hear.) In the same way the advertisement duty is bad in itself. Then the right hon. gentleman raises this issue now—he says, "It is a bad duty, and we are determined to get rid of it ;" and he pre fers the Is. Gd. duty, if we are to have any duty at all. Well, if be prefers the is. Gd. duty, he may gain his object by this motion ; because the effect of the motion is nothing more than to leave the is. Gd. duty in force. (Hear, hear.) He may, therefore, gain his purpose ; but I hope the com mittee will look closely at this question ; that they will consider whether this source of revenue is a source that ought or ought not to be got rid of. I venture to say this that, if upon such arguments as have been made against the advertisement duty, the committee is prepared to con sent to its abolition, the principle that will carry the abo lition of that duty will carry us a great deal further. The advertisement duty is not a tax on knowledge ; it is a tax upon trade and labour. Are you to strike off from your statute book all taxes, I want to know, upon trade and labour. Well, that is a very serious question, and there are many other taxes you will have to consider upon the same ground. With regard to the advertisement duty, I hold it is undoubtedly a bad duty if it is extortionote in its amount ; but it is not bad or unreasonable in its gene ral operation, provided the amount be moderate, while the objection of inequality will apply to every rate of duty whatever. Upon what principle, I will ask, do you tax bills of exchange ? Are not the taxes upon them a distinct impediment upon commerce ? Of course they are. There is not a bill stamp in reference to which it may not be said, so far as it goes, it is an impediment to commerce. But would you part with the 614,0001. you derive from bills of exchange? And what do you mean to do with the duty upon insurances ? There is a tax upon trade, and it is as distinctly a tax i n th e na t ure o f a discouragement upon prudence. The right hon. gentlemen wants to g ot nd of indirect taxati o n. B u t I wan t th e comm itt e e to see whither this will lead ; an d if th ey d o no t take the conse quences into their view, I will take care it shall be from no fault of mine. I say that if in this vote you aro carry ing out the principle of indirect taxation, of necessity you must find a substitute elsewhere. I know pretty well what " elsewhere" means. "Elsewhere" means the realised property of the country. But it is desirable we should consider well how far we are going on this road and where we mean to stop. Ido not mean to lay down any extreme opinions upon that subject, but I must call the attention of the committee to what they are doing. I have just now referred to about 2,000,0001. of indirect taxation, and we have had a distinct intimation from the right hon. gentle man that he is quite prepared to follow up the principle on which he acts, and to part with that 2,000,0001. of in direct taxation. But I beg the house to consider how we stand in that view of the case. The right hon. genleman says that this motion must be carried because the House of Commons have voted it before. If that is a reason why the motion should be carried, what answer am I to make to my noble friend, the member for Middlesex when he makes his motion for the repeal of the attorneys' cer tificate duty ? N o d ou b t that in April last the division on the advertisement duty was, ayes, 200 ; noes, 169. The right hon. gentleman says that is a reason why we are pre cluded now. Well, I say if that is a good argument in the case of the advertisement duty, it is a good argument in the case the seof the attorneys' certificate duty. Wh a t i s th e op i n i on colutnittee about that? It is true that by a single vote the house of Commons declared it was expedient to repeal the advertisement duty, but with regard to the at torneys' certificate duty what has been the case ? In 1850 you declared that that duty ought to be abolished by 155 to 136 ; in 1850 you again declared the same by 139 t 0122; and a third time in 1850 you declared the same by 105 to 103. This was but a small majority; but in 1851 you im proved, for then you affirmed the same by 162 to 132. Thus, there were four successive declarations by this house '.`~. 1 ~~ ~~ C ; N l / 4 ! \ • 'ln n ng ;en , eg lg )ut ven 'his 18 ping At Sur- this ans- tter. Br. Lting La 0 - the y 2— Cal. Jena, -Or- Ms°, °lli= lesh, ipse, r.B. ; Cork. gress Irish been all a the rt of ined, ined. 25 10 1.0.6 St. 20 5 St. 10 20 20 20 10' 20 10 20