The Sun. — London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON Yesterday a Court was bell fur the d spateh of a great deal, of public business. It was nutuerou,,ly at• tended. FAREINGDON WITHOUT wAni). Mr. EDKINS, one of the ' o,,,etierre n el,cted at the %earl mote, the return of which has been ared eare at d u the bar,ull and void by the Court of Aldermen, appe end desired to elect sworn ; and Mr. Richard Taylor, whu lend also been d a Common Councilman for that ward, made a similar application. The LoRD ISIA.ToR said be could not permitthe gen tlemen to be sworn, as he r eturn had beeormally quashed by the Court of Aldermen. Both applicant 3 appeared to be much displeased at his Lordship'3 refu,al, and the latter !mid the Lord Mayor lama conslder that he had rejected the demand upon his peril. Alderman H. Hrenes said they had no right to be dissatisfied at the decision of the Court of Aldermen, as the return had been quashed in mercy to the candidates, -who would, if such had not been the case, be subject to pains and penalties for acting under a false return. c()ZiTIIsT BETWEEN TILE COURT OF ALDER EN • AIN::: THE CoURT OF COM)ION consete. When the clerk of the Court, in reading the minutes cf the last Court, arrived at the passage in which it was stated that the Lord Mayor had refused to put the ques tion as to the third reading of the Common Council Qua lifications Bill, Mr. HALL, a much-respected member of the Court, Tose, and said he begged to call their attention to the subject of these minutes. It was the opinion of several ,-f the members that there was a mistake in the record. and that it was nece,sary to correct that mistake, lest they should forfeit what they considered to be their right. lie was one of those who considered that there did exist a mis-statement in the minutes of the last Court ; and he should move that a committee of privi leges be appointed to examine and report upon the ' subject as the best adopt form of proceeding to pre vent the interruption to the public business likely to arise from the adoption of a different course, especially as the matters about which the two courts had lately disagreed might be reformed with advantage, and with the probability of an ueanitneus concurrence to such committee.—(Hear, hear.) It struck many of the members thet a better opportunity could not occur for 6nbcnittin g the whole question to examination, with a view to a perfect understanding between the Courts than the formation of a committee of privileges, in which the rights and privileges of the two bodies could be fully discussed and presented. The committee should consist of all the members of both Courts, and if it were con sidered advisable by them to appoint a sub-committee, as better calculated to discuss the existing differences, they could easily select from the two bodies persons in whose judgment they might have perfect reliance.—(Cheers.) Mr. Hall then proposed the following motion:—" Thst a Committee of Privileges, consisting of the whole Court, be now appointed, and that the alleged error in the minutes of the last Court, as well as the differences that have lately arisen between this Court and the Lord Mayor, and between this Court and the Court of Al dermen, on the subject of the " Qualifications' Bill," be severally referred to the said Committee to consider and report. Deputy CORNET seconded the motion with the utmost satisfaction. The object of it was to induce the una nimity so essential to the well being of the Corporation. He hid on a previous occasion expressed a wish that whatever cemmittee might be appointed should confer with the Court of Aldermen, but that object was em braced in the more comprehensive motion just pro- posed. The motion was accordingly agreed to. In a subsequent part of the day, Mr. Jost; WOOD, who, it will be recollected, brought in the Qualifications' Bill, rose, and said, that if the Court had not. agreed to the proposition of Mr. Hall, he certainly should have at once called for the third reading of the Bill, in his ca pacity of Chairman of the Committee, in which it had been framed, in complianee with the order of the Court. The measure adopted that day, however, had rendered suck a step unnecessary, but he felt it to be his duty, however, to present his protest against the exclusion from the paper of business of the notice for the third reading of the Qualifications Bill, and to insist upon his right to have that notice duly entered upon that docu snent.—(Hear, hear.) He here handed a paper con taining his protest, and moved that it be entered on the minutes of the Court.—(Cheers.) Mr. WIRE seconded the motion. The Court, he said bad at the same time that it had no desire to interfere with the privileges of the Court of Aldermen, was de termined to protect its owe, and when a Lord Mayor assumed the power to strike notices oft' the paper without Dermission of the Court, it was high time to enquire into the real extent of his authority. He had heard it asserted by Aldermen, and by others, that it was the desire of the Court of Common Council to over ride the privileges of the Aldermen. Such was not the fact, for the Court of Common Council was a jealous of the pri vileges of that body as of its own. The LORD Mayon asked whether there was any pre cedent for the offer of a protest by an individual? Mr. WOOD said he was not aware that there was any nes:essity for a precedent. He had, by order of the Court, brought in a Bill, which had been unanimously agreed to upon the first and second readings, and if there existed no precedent for protesting against the unauthorised exclusion of that Lllll from the paper of businese, it was time that a precedent should be made. iHear, hear.) Alderman H. III:ones said it augured unfavourably f o e the peaceful result of the Committee of Privileges:, 1 w. 0 ..,ich a protest was handed in, and he hoped the Alderman H. aconEs—War is certainly far from my heart, whatever my rrords may indicate. The RECORDER said that in the House of Commons such a power as that which the Lord Mayor questioned did not exist. It was the privilege of the Lords alone to protest individually, but the paper haided in might be taken as part of Mr. Wood's spesL'eb, and entered upon the minutes, if such were the pleasure (7! the Court. The Lord Mayor would offer no opposition to a motio❑ to that effect, acting upon the advice of one who wo - :!ltl be very sorry to suggest anything likely to embarrass the Court. Sir PETER LAURIE said that if ever there was a mee.sure calculated to conciliate the two Courts, that measure had been adopted that day. The Common Council had shown that they were determined to defend the privileges of both bodies. Alderman HUGHES HUGHES said he objected to the proposition of Mr. Wood merely as a protest. He had no objection to it as a moticu. The question that the paper handed in by Mr. Wood was entered in the minutes of the Court was then put, and carried unanimously. PERIODICAL ELECTION ALDERMEN. Mr. ASUURST then gave in a notice of motion, which caused a sensation in the Court. It was, " That the Re membrancer be directed to prepare a Bill to subject the Aldermen to periodical election." FINAL REPORT OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE COMMITTEE. Mr. R, L. JONES brought up the fuel report of the Committee for Rebuilding the Royal Exchange. It con tained a most interesting detail of the whole of the pro ceedings of the Committee from the commencement to the termination of their labours. Mr, Jones moved that the report be printed, and that the governing powers of the Committee be transferred to the Improvement Com mittee. lie expressed the warmest approbation of the gentlemen of the Mercers' Company, who constituted part of the Committee, and had been unremitting in their .exertions to procure a building in every way deserving of this great city, and he hoped that full credit would be given by the community for what hal been accom plished. Several members intimated that the printing and cir culation of the report should be followed by something more than dry approbation. The powers of the Committee were accordingly trans ferved, and the report was ordered to be printed. TEIF. STARVING IRISH ♦ND SCOTCH. Mr. HARRISON% after a speech which did great credit to the Court and the advocate, proposed that the sum of 2,000/.. he voted from the funds of the corporation for the relief of the distressed Irish and Scotch. The•proposition was received with acclamation by every member of the Court, but there were two or three who could not let it pass without attempting to throw a blot upon it by illiberal observations in the comparison between the Irish and Scotch claimants. Mr. PkWTRESS, after explaining his complete con currence in the propo.ition to serve our starving fellow creatures, said it was extraordinary that the means which the Government had in their hands to alleviate the existing deplorable evil were never resorted to in Ireland. In Ireland there wag a Poor Law, which was unfortunately confined in its operations to the work house. , Why was not the strictness of that law relaxed, and assistance given to outdoor sufferers ? It was dreadful that the guardians in so frightful an emorgency did not exercise that power. If they exceeded it an in demnity would be readily applied. Mr. WIRE said the guardians would have done all that could be done, if they had the money to carry their wishes into execution ; but in many of the districts the ratepayers themselves were objects of charity, and it was impossible to abstract from the starving, for the starring. The LORD Mayon immediately signed a cheque for the 2,000/, which he said he should hand that evening to the committee, of which he had the honour to be a somber, and he expre:sed a fervent hope that the ex maple of the city of London would be followed by every " h er corporation in England.—(Cheers.) LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT O QUEEN'S BENCH, Jan. 21. Mr. litiltimutv :AWARD V. DANL.& casemoved for a rule to show cause why the verdict in this should°t be set aside, and a new trial had on the ground of misdirection. The Learned Counsel iihexepplailainnedtitytel7mnessaturzHofottaerac ana ff l o a ro which it appeared that , were lessees of coach makers'premises iaLong-acre.in:hidso Bak e r them to Messrs. Wyburn and Millar, s underlet them to a person of the name of Milne, with anwd unders tanding that the fi xtures on the premise-, and which wore t he of piaintift's, should be allowed to remain. some time afterwards died, and the defendants, as his executors, r th e premises to another party. The a c ti on was brought elt b recover the value, or the hire of the fixtures, and a v er di c was entered for defendants, there being no evidence, in th e opinion of the Learned Judge, of the plaintiffs having b een the landlords. Mr. licncrurr contended that his Lordship's direction was wronV there haring been no evidence to show that the plaintiffs were not the owtiers, and that it lay on defendants to show thiiir want of title. The Conn refused the rule, on the ground that no evi dence had been submitted that a contract had been entered I into between the plaintiff and defendant. TA RING ivrnt • JURY...7OHN9O X 1% AllitAiLAX Er. CHOWDER, on the part of the defendant, now moved kr," rule to show cause why the verdict should not be set on the ground that the witnesses were currrpted, And the jury tampered with; it being alleged th,t the son of the plaintiff i _avo one sovereign each to three of the jury, and a soot not specided to another, and also that he treated the u'r.Y; MT. Burr (with whom way Mr. Collier) show ri !cause against the rule, and, after reading a number of flidavits contradictory of the allegations, admitted that 10s. had been given by the son of the plaintiff to three of the ury, but contended that it was a youthful indiscretion, a d, in the I absence of any other inculpatory evidence, was n) sufficient to warrant a new trial. Mr.. CROWDER having replied, The COURT was of opinion that the rule should be made absolute.—Rule made absolute HAMBURGH AND DUTCH MAIL, THE HAGUE, JAN. 17.—1 n the supplement of the Stoats Courant of to-day, we find the laws relative to the budget of the years 1848 and 1849, with the ac companying documents, presented to the Second Cham ber of the States General, in its sitting of the 29th of December last. AMSTERDAM, JAN. 16. —The winter is certainly severely telt, and though much relief has been given by benevolent persone, the distress is very great. Among the beggars, however, who, especially when the weather is cold increase notwithstanding the exertions of the police, are very numerous in the streets, and often molest the passengers in a shameful manner, complain ing of their distress, there are doubtless many who abuse the kind feelings of the inhabitants, and, under the appearance of deep poverty and distress, conceal indolence, and a desire to follow an immoral course of life. Thus we are assured, on good authority. that in the list calling in of the old coin, some well-known beggars prei:nted a large quantity for exchange. Last week an aged beggar was detained, who had several pieces, a sum in florins, a silver watch, and a very large number of cards for the receipt of bread, turf, and other articles. Another well known beggarwoman was stopped with a well-filled bottle of brandy concealed under her clothes, while the man to whom she is married, and for whom she confessed that she was obliged to beg daily, is re markable for a dissolute course of life. To mention an other example, a yetteg girl who was detained with an elderly woman for begging, confessed that she received from the latter 70 cents. per week, with free board and lodeieg, for her assistance in begging. THE IlanuE, JAN. 19.—We are enabled to commu nicate the following tables of the amount of the revenue in the twelve months of 1846, compared with that of the twelve months of 1845 :- 1846—Total 54,576,588f. 31j c. 1845—Total 54,446,06 7f. 39 c. On the whole, there was an increase of 800,133 f. in 1846 on some taxes, and a decrease of 669,612 f. on some other taxes, compared with the receipts of 1845. A private letter from Paramaribo, of the 20th of November, says— " This year has been very unfavourable to the colony. The long continued drought which we had at the com mencement did great injury, especially the failure of the usual article of food. The prospects for the following year are most favourable, and the present state of the season does not leave us anything to wish for. Our governor is at present engaged in encouraging the cul ture 'of cochineal, bust- he is far from meeting w th general co-operation. By his exertions and persever ance he has introduced a general change in the mode of life and the sentiments of the poor population." TUE HAGUE, JAN. 19. Our readers doubtless re collect the accusations of which the Austrian Govern ment was the subject by the French journals, on account of an attack made by the troops :on a procession during the last disturbances in Galicia. The procession con sisted, it is said, of pacific and innocent pilgrims, who were attacked and massacred without mercy. Well, it results from the authentic report made on the examination of ,Tohn Tyssouski, who was for ten days dictator of Cracow, that this procession was only a pro. test of the leaders of the conspiracy. The masses who composed it were themselves deceived they were led blindly to their ruin, fur the purpose of being formed into a column of attack, and if the plan failed, it was proposed to have a pretext at hand to invoke revenge on the sacriligious cruelty of Austria. AMSTERDAM, JAN. 16.—We are assured that the difficulties which have arisen respecting the final conces sion of the North Holland Railway will be speedily re moved. It is well known that they have been occasioned by the demand of the war department of 800,000 florins for the erection of new fortifications, while the company, by a contract with the governor of North Holland, has only engaged to furnish the expense of changes in the existing works. It is said that the affairs will be settled by means of an indemnity for the enclosing of land in the neighbourhood. We trust that the difficulties will be speedily removed. THE HAGUE, JAN. 15.—Her Reyal Highness the Princess Albert of Prussia intends to pass the winter at Rome, on account of the unfavourable report from Naples, of the severe cold in the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Prussia returned on the 10th of this month to Berlin, from his journey in Turkey and Egypt. AMSTERDAM, JAN. 16.—The law just proposed by the French Government respecting the importation of corn is of very great importance to our trade. It enacts that from the Ist of August, 1847, all kinds of corn and flour imported by land or by sea shall be subject to the lowest duty imposed by the law of the 15th April, 1832, viz., 12i cents for wheat, and 6i for rye ; that this lowest import duty shall be paid, whether the importa tion be under the French or any other flag ; that all ships. of whatever nation, laden with corn shall be exempt from all duty on tonnage. The French Govern- merit shows by this regulation that there is an insuffi cient suis_ply of foreign corn, and that the French trade. We are convinced that our merchants and ship owners will take advantage of this favourable moment. 11AMBURGH, JAN. IG.—The ice between Blakenese and Schulan has been driven closer together by the flow of the tide, so that the stream is now stationary, and may be crossed on foot, though not altogether with out danger. Further up, at Nienstadden, the ice i, still floating, and at Brunhansen there is a great deal of floating ice. Here the river which separates Altona from Kohlbrand, and which was sufficiently frozen to be passable, has been broken up by the comparatively mild temperature and the great violence of the stream at this point. The harbour is full of thick ice, and the heaviest burdens are conveyed on sledges. The Baum, also, fa frozen over, and is crossed by foot passengers. Wind E.N,E. CUXHAVEN, JAN. 15.—The Consul, M. C. Jager, writes " The steamer Wilberforce, Captain Phillips, tried t o put to sea this morning, but was obliged to put back in consequence of the immense quantity of ice, and lay in the harbour. The Bremen ship Marione, Captain Weiting, has suffered much damage from the ice, and means are now in procesa to carry her cargo over the ice. Wind E. (From the Galician Frontiers, Jan. 8.) We 1::!trn from Cracow that the Imperial Councillor, Von Ottenthal, who is charged with the superintendence and arrangement of the boundary tolls of the incorpa ted republic of Cracow, has since his arrival had several conferences, with the most influential members of that city. We learn from thence today that the new district custom-house, will be opened in a few days, and that the commercial and boundary toll administration will positively commence its operations very shortly in Cracow, as well as iu the whole of Galicia ; perfect tranquillity prevails, although the two adverse parties, namely, the peasantry and the nobles, are still in a state of excitement. We learn from undoubted authority that the erection of extensive bsrracks will be commenced in Cracow in the spring, arol that the Gover nor, Count Castiglione has already approved of the plan. There is nothing new from Lemburg. The negotiations are Lwing actively carried on for uniting the newly-acquired territory of Cracow with the capital of the monarchy by means of railroad, as we have before stated. The plan of operation is to unite the northern railroad at Oderburg with the Lower Silesian road, and then to bring the latter across Kosel as far as Mistowlez, to the Cracow frontier. Should this be adopted, the directors of the northern line have re solved to abandon the continuation of that line on the Galician territory, and will have a terminus in Bochina, which will be reached by a branch railway from Pod goze, about twenty miles distance. The plan is not at all liked in Galicia, and it i 3 very doubtful whether the Austrian Government will get so important a line of commerce direct to Cracow, since it would in part go through the Prussian territory, independently of political motive:, such as sending troops to Cracow or Lemburg, &c., which would rather seem to incline in favour of the line from Bochina to Cracow. Cnacow, JAN. 6.—Permission has been given that foreign newspapers may be transmitted through the Prussian post by private individuals, ai hitherto, but the public expense of them is prohibited from the com mencement of this year. WARSAW. JAN. 10.—By an Imperial edict, the kin.- dom, of Poland is declared the 13th circle of the land and water communication of the empire. This throws some light upon the protracted residence of General Klein michel. BERLIN, JAN. B.—We have received the official news this day, that 133 an Imperial mandate Poland has ceased to exist, and is incorporated in the Russian empire, Consternation and mourning prevails in War saw in consequence of this intelligence. A commission is now e mployed in regulating the financial arrange ments, and as soon as they are completed the announce ment will be made public, We give this intelligence as we received it. The Berlin papers do not vet make men tion of the incorporation.—Haniburgis Papers, Jan. 15. JOSEPH' Abr.—This notorious personage, who has obtained from her Majesty's lieges so many sovereigns, under a promise of relating something to their advantage, was summoned to the Tower Hamlets Court of Requests, in Osborn-street, Whitechapel, on Tuesday, by a Mr. William Wright, a coal merchant in Cambridge-heath-road, Bethnal green, and the decision of the Court will no dorbt put some check on the proceedings of " Friend Joseph," who was re presorted on the occasion by a man named Abbott, who would make an excellent representative for the lay brother in the opera of The Duenna. Ady had written to Mr. Wright that he could "infirm him of something to his advantage, on receipt of 205.. value 1,000/. and upwards." The money was transmitted, and Ady furnished Mr. Wright with aqiumtity of his lithographed circulars and lists relating to next of kin, joint-steak banks, and clerks in holy orders, holding shares in them, but this information was not worth a farthing. Mr. Wright demanded yalge for his money. Ady demurred, and a summons was forthwith iss4. Ady's re presentative, Abbott, contended that consideration was given, and the work con t rac t e d f or was d one . He a l s o pl ace d a high value on Joseph Ady's services to the community, to the no small amusement of the Court. The commissioners dissented from all the propositions made by Ady's man of business, and decided that the information given to Mr. Wright was worth nothing, that no consideration had been given, and that Ady must refund 205., and pa‘• all the costa within twenty-four hours, or execution wor -te against his goods and cha" * Yesterday Ady Court and paid 11. 78 0414 I are tr &peg 'fiat Stiot, LON . DON, FRIDAY ~EVENING, JANUARY 22, 1847. INDIAN LANGUAGES. Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Abort, Corps of Topographical Engineers, dated Bent's Fort, September 6, IS-16. "Since I have been here, my time has bcen closely occupied, thei-e etc so teeny• ci,rious things to be seen ; yesterday I was busily /a•cupieil in making a vocabulary of the Cheyenne language, and I have also framed quite a grammar. Their language has no articles. The verbs are varied by prefixing different words to the different persons, of which there are but three ; and these answer for both numbers, singular and plural. " Their system of notation is very perfect. The ordinal numbers are— Nast, Nish, Nab, Knave, two three four five None, Nah-so-to, Nv-so- to, Nah-no-to, So to, Mah-tote, M ah- tote- ote-nast, Mab-tote-ote-nish, Nah-tote-ote-nah, Do. do. to Ne-so-ote-nast, Do. do. to Nah-vo, thirty Ne-vo, forty No-no, fifty Nah so-to. no, sixty Ne-so-to-no, seventy Nab-no-to-no, eighty So-to no, ninety Mah-toto-no, one hundred. " They express thousands by so many hundreds, as 10, 20, 30, or, hundreds for 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, &c., Szc. " Their name for God, i 3 • A-am -ye-home,' which means the white man above,' and is a decided indica tion of an acknowledgment, on their part, of the supe- seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen twenty twenty-One rior of the white rice. "'lo all my sk, , tches, I have affixed the Indian names, spelling them as it they were English words, and I fre quently repeat them to all the Indians who see my work, in order to certify myself of the correctness of the pro nunciation. "These Indians are beginning to turn their attention to the arts of civilised life. Old Yellow_Wolf,' whose .s. likeness I took on my previous visit to this region, of last year, has been for some time endeavouring to have a fort built, so that the old man could stay at home, be in security, and watch their crops, while the young men were out hunting. He wishes to live like the whites, as he says the buffalo are diminishing so fast that in a few years more the Indian will not be able to depend upon them for food, and he wishes his people to give attention, without delay, to the raising of cattle, corn, pumpkins, and everything which would be useful for food. Such a disposition should be carefully fostered and encouraged. " Last year he (Yellow Wolf) and all his adherents offered a mule each to Mr. Smith, a trader, if he would build for them a fort, like that of the Bents, and get Spaniards to till the ground. Now, it seems to me but just that the United States should do something for these people, which would aid them in their efforts to civili►e themselves, and to place themselves beyond their present entire and precarious dependence upon the chase for food. '• It is our people who have caused the scarcity of buffalo, the Indian staff of life,' by killing them, not merely for food, but for the profit on their skins, and often in mere wantonness, and for amusement. "If at this time the United States would furnish these people with a farmer, a blacksmith, and a carpenter, much could be dune in the way of civilisation; and now with great effect, as it would be seconding the plan which the greaiCheyeune chief is himself so disposed to befriend. Other tribes, seeing the good effects of the plan, would readily follow the example, as the Cheyennes would explain everything, and would be ambitious of making themselves the pioneers of civilisation among these western tribes of wild Indians. " These Indians (the Cheyennes) also deserve much from the United States, because of their uniformly good conduct. They have always protected the whites in their trading excursions." THE INTENDED NEW LUNATIC ASYLUM AT BIRMINGHAM. The asylum is intended for 300 patients, 150 of each sex ; being completely separated. The principal and most novel feature in the plans for the asylum is ar. in spection passage, which, from the entrance, traverses the whole extent of the main wings, and communicates with the end of each gallery or ward for patients, so making a ready complete means of inspection and channel of com munication between every part of the building—that ap proaches to the patients, the governor and matron's resi dences, the kitchen, and washing departments3he chapel, and, in fact, to every part of the house. From the inspec tion of the passage before mentioned, the galleries or wards (each for one class of patients), branch off at right angles, each gallery being complete in itself, with its own day-room, airing courts, sleeping rooms, bath, store, and attendant's lodging room. Each gallery being for one class of patients, noisy, expileptic, &c., as the case may be, and having no communication with any other gallery except by mewls of the inspection passages, the disturbances which often occur in asylums, and which is detrimental to the patients, will be prevented, and those who may become violent or noisy, may be readily re moved to their proper department. Separate sleeping mg roams fhe number of beds will vary from three to nine. The air will be warmed before admission into the different rooms, by means of a steam apparatus, and ar rangements are made for an effectual method of summer ventilation. Open fire-places are provided in the rooms where the patients sit, and this experience has proved to be very conducive to the comfort of the unfortunate inmates of an asylum for lunatics. Appropriate resi dences for the medical superintendent and the matron have been provided, together with a room for magistrates' meeting, the necessary office, and a hall for recreation, in which it is proposed to have meetings of the patients for music, singing, or other such amusements as may seem proper. The chapel is so placed as to be conveniently approached from both the males' and females' departments. Workshops have also been pro vided to permit of the employment, in their own trades, of such of the patients as may be in a fit state of health, and many others can be emplo3ed in the grounds. Every arrangement has been made to provide for the constant occupation of the patient, to preventing that fatal brooding over their painful state, to which many persons of unsound mind are particularly subject. The building will be in the Elizabethian style, of plain cha racter ; the materials will be brick, with stone dressing to the door and windows, and quoin stones at the angles of the entrance buildings, which will be approached by a drive, and are raised on a terrace. The tout ensemble will be at once cheerful, neat, and substantial, and the building will be an ornament to the town.—Birmingham Herald. The Lord Lieutenancy of the county of Brecon has become vacant by the death o f Mr. henry Williams,V of New port, who succeeded the late Duke of Beaufort in that office in 1835. DISCOVERY OF CURIOUS ASTRONOMICAL MSS. IN CIIETHAM'S LIBRARY.—A few weeks ago, Mr. Thomas Jones, M.A., the librarian of Chatham's Library, in clearing out some of the less frequented "classes," found a box with a small piece of parchment on the lid, inscribed "S. Smet hurst's Manuscripts." The box, which was open, was found to contain a thick 4to MS. volume, filled with as tronomical papers, calculations, and diagrams; two thinner 4to volumes of MSS., and a number of loose sheets of calcu lations; amongst others, one for ascertaining the quadra ture of the circle, apparently deduced from the tangent of 30 degrees, and another for ascertaining the square root of twelve. Amongst the snore curious calculations in the larger volume are some as to the moon's longi tude, anomaly, and node for every year front 1782 to beyond the year 2000, and similar ones as to the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn --all annually, and extending to a period of 150 or 160 years hence. his volume contains diagrams and types of a great many solar and lunar eclipses, many of them cal culated and constructed before the occurrence of these phenomenon ; transits of Mercury to a period yet distant, occultations, &c. One of the smaller .IS. volumes contains a treatise on the rise and progress of astronomy, with cal culations and types of many solar and lunar eclipses in ancient times, some of them hundreds of years before Christ. At the end of this volume is a printed prospectus (of four pages) of works to be published by subscription by Samuel Smethurst. From an incidental notice in one of the MSS. we learn that Sainucl Smethurst was born in 1714, and was living in 17)3, at the age of 76 years. But his name ap pears to be unknown amongst astronomers, geometricians, and mathematicians, though living so recently as within the last 60 years, nor do we find any publication by Samuel Smethurst in Watt's" Bibliotheca Britannica."—Manchest e r Goardian. THE DUTCII Navr.—The Dutch Navy consists of two ships-of-the-line of 84 guns, five of 74 (of which three are building), two of CO, one of 54, eleven of 44, two of 38 (building), three of 32, nine of 28, four of 20 (of which two are building), two of 22, two of 20, eleven of 18 (of which one is building), one of 16, eleven of 14. seven of 12 (of which four are building), two of 8, five of 6, five of 5, four of 4, and three of 3 tams ; in all 92 vessels, with 2,356 guns of different calibre. Besides, there are ten steam-boats, carrying 64 guns, two iron steam-boats (and one building), five transports, ten gun-boats, and one bomb-vessel. THE DISTRESS IN SCOTLAND.-ISLAND OF LEWIS. —We have seen a letter from a respectable merchant in Stornoway, describing the measures which that enlightened and liberal proprietor, Mr. Mathieson, is adopting for the raii4 of the destitute islanders. "He is giving employment," says t4a writer, " to all who apply for it, and is giving them food in return, 4t prime cost. He is doing a vast amount of good in the country, mid J Inn confident will do more. The attacks made upon him by certain persons are very ungene rotis."--Suuttish Guardian. _ . . - We read in a letter from EATihos (Greece), of the 25th ult. :—" There is In the whole of Greece only one guil lotine. Wherever an execution is to take place, therefore, the guillotine must be taken to the place. For some time past this instrument had been stationary at Athens, as there were a great many brigands to decapitate who had been taken in the environs. Tne guillotine is now making the tour of the provinces, and is at this moment at Egribos, where it has just served to cut off the heads of eleven persons, one of them a . priest, who were condemned to death some time ago for piracy. Although a great portion of oar population do not regard piracy as a crime, and have a profound veneration for priests in general, whatever their private conduct may be, there was no manifestation at the place of execution in favour 91 the puriosity. The number of persons present to witness the epcutlon yes about 12,000." Paipits OF POULTRY, 4,411 E, AND WILD, FOWL AT PARIS ow THE 17TII iffsr.—Cliickens, 4 francs 10 sous to 5 frau 10 sous each ; geese, 5f 10s. to 7E 155.; cicks, 2f, to 31. each; wild ducks, Of. We. to 4f. a couple; red partridges, 4t. 10s. to 51. 10s. the - brace; grey partridges, af. 10s. to 4f 10s.; woodcocks, 4f. to hf. 10s. the braca; hares, 3f. 10s. to sf. 10s. each; wild rabbits, lf, 10s. to If. 12e. each; Nantes chickens, 2f. ss. to 2f 15s. each; pheasants, 16f., '7l l aid 18f the brace, SINGULAR APPREHENSION OF A GANG OF SUSPECTED BURGLARS. Du. ..4 the last six weeks the family and domestics of Henry Alwin Soame,, Esq , a gentleman residing in Van burgh Fields, next Maize-hill, Greenwich-park, bays been subject to strange underground noises and smoke proceeding from the same direction. 'These have generally occurred at night. The servants, when in the passages leading to the kitchen and cellars, considered that they heard persons talk ing and knocking with some heavy instrument near the cellar situated under the parlour, which faces the lawn in the rear of the mansion. On Sunday last the family and servants were all absent, except the cook, and she became very seri ously alarmed at the strange noises. She therefore deter. mined on securing every door on the premises, and on her master's return home told him that she m us t l eave h er situation if left alone again—she felt convinced that the house was haunted. About four o'clock on Tuesday after noon Mr. Soames, being satisfied that some person or p ersons were at work underground, went into Greenwich-park and met police-constable Patmore, 132 R, to whom he related the circumstances, and also that smoke frequently found its way into the lower part of the house, where there was nei their chimney nor fireplace. The officer accompanied Mr. Soames to the house, a large, old-fashioned family mansion, overlooking from the back front the Th ames and a very steep and rugged hanging wood. The police-constable, attended by the gardener, coach man, &c., went on to the paddock or lawn, and at the bottom of which, 1.10 yards from the house, in the hanging wood, drew his attention to an opening of brick wor k i nto a sub terraneous passage, leading to the centre of the mansion. A spaniel dog belonging to Mr. Soames being on the spot, the constable requested that he might b e i n d uced to search the cavern (as they called it) in search of rats, &c. The dog went freely in, and immediately after war d s a vo i ce was heard at the far end calling upon the dog to quit the place. The dog returned, followed at a distance by a man, who, on seeing several persons at the entrance, retreated back to his hiding place, refusing to surrender himself. A bundle of straw was then brought from the stable, put into the mouth of the tunnel, and set fire to. This not having the desired effect, pickaxes and spades were procured, and two large openings made through the lawn to the brickwork sufficient to admit a stout man. More stra w was t h en set fire to, and dropped into the openings made. This had the desired effect, when three blackguard fellows presented themselves, nearly suffocated, and implored to be released from their perilous situation. They were taken into custody, after which Sergeant Smith, 27, and police-constable, Pat• inore, 132 11, accompanied by ,Mr. Soames's servants, lan thorns in hand, proceeded to explore the retreat. They entered the passage in the , hanging wood, on their hands and knees, and on proceeding something more than 100 feet they discovered an open space, the bottom of which was boarded, and a quantity of bricks piled up and covered with boards, for seats or tables, and on one side another quantity of bricks formed into a fireplace, and which had been used for that purpose. On removing the boards from the bottom of this cell, an immense quantity of feathers were discovered about a foot and a half deep, plucked from all sorts of game and poultry, amongst which they found a cash-box and other small boxes, which had been broken open and their contents removed. Many appeared to be jewel and trinket-boxes and cases, several pocket handkerchiefs, sundry rags,. &c., and a letter from a gentleman at Portland to his nephew, Master E. Newman, of the Upper School, Green wich Hospital. They proceeded from this place through a passage in which they could stand nearly upright about 50 yards, when they were stopped by a brick wall, from which about 50 bricks appeared to have been recently removed, and upon touching one, which appeared to be loose, an opening was made into the cellar of the house. But for this timely discovery, it is apparent that a robbery of the premises would shortly have been effected. Neither Mr. Soames or any of his family had any knowledge of this subterraneous passage, having only recently removed to the house from his late residence on Shooter's Hill. It is sup posed to have existed for centuries. On Wednesday the prisoners, described in the police-sheet as Henry Colegate, alias Collet, of Ratcliffe-street, Green wich, sailor ; George Phillips, of 22, Queen-street, Green wich, no occupation ; and John Jones, of Slaughter's-rents, East Greenwich, sailo r , wer e charged before Mr. Trail! at the Greenwich Police -court, with being found secreted in a cave tin the enclosed ground of H. A. Soames, Esq., Maize htll, Greenwich, for the purpose of committing felony ; also with breaking part of the cell iu the station -house. Police-sergeant Smith, 27 It. and police-constable Pat more, 132 R, deposed to apprehending the prisoners, under the circumstances above detailed, and that they had found the model of a ship and several other articles, .on further belonged searching the t o a gentleman cave.he Blackheath. The police-sergeant prayed a remand for n n a m m te d l of G t ia li , L t s o l n n e p , S r it e i s i i t d h in t g hou n g e l a i r t fur ther inquiries. Mr. Traill said he would remand them for a week or longer. Remanded accordingly. JEWS' SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION. — The commemo ration of the anniversary of the opening of this institution took place on Wednesday evening, at Sussex Hall, Leaden hall-street. Vocal and instrumental music was provided for the amusement of the company, which was very numerous, including a large assemblage of ladies. The soirée was fol lowed by a ball, in which all participated with great apparent enjoyment. In the course of the evening the president of the institution, in an able address, congratulated the meeting upon the success that had attended the efforts made to estab lisho a literary and scientific society for the immediate use of the Jewish public, though not confined exclusively to that body. He stated that the members already entered were between 600 and 700 in number, with every promise of rapid increase, and that 60 of them had become life governors. He also took occasion to remark that the library had reached about 25,000 volumes, and made other judicious observations upon the useful tendency of the lectures which had been periodically delivered. Several gentlemen connected officially with the institution followed in the same spirit, communi cating at the same time such facts as to its pecuniary con dition which it was necessary to make known. The institu tion, it seems, is therefore in a state of considerable prosperity, which it is much to be hoped will continue. The most distinguished members of the Hebrew community — including Baron Lionel do Rothschild, Baron de Goldsmid, Sir Mose, Alontefiore, David Salomons, Esq., &c.—are found in the list EnnelltiaGll AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—As the following facts speak for themselves, we give them without comment. Professor Christison was on Friday week requested by the law officers of the Crown to proceed to Stranraer, for the purpose of reporting officially to them upon a case which had occurred there. Being aware of the difficulties attending the passage from Glasgow to Edinburgh on Sundays, and having imperative professional duties, public and private to attend to in Edinburgh on that day, Dr. Chris tison, before leaving town on Friday evening, took the precaution of requesting, that in the event of his not being able to be back in time for the latest train from the west on Saturday night, he might be allowed to return along with the bags by the mail train of Sunday morning. Having learned, however, on his way to Glasgow, that there existed to this course a technical difficulty connected with the Post office contract, he inquired whether a special train might be had on that day. The secretary feeling uncertain whether it would be obtainable, Dr. Christison, by great exertion and good luck, succeeded in getting back to Glasgow just in time for the Saturday night train, and then (when it might have been too late) learned that his application for a special train had been refused by the directors in Glasgow. To the above a Glas gow contemporary adds (we believe incorrectly) that Dr. also we have not learned) that Christison reported the refusal to the Lord Advocate. It is (with im N m Vh ed a i t a a te Vra c e , y jnsulted w General, and that the latter directed a communication to be his I s . t O a r t d e s d h p w ith the Solicitor made to the directors.—Scotsman. THE SMALL DEBTS ACT.—This Act will be put. into immediate operation throughout the several counties. The month's notice, as required, will expire on the 9 2 , 1 inst., and a period will then be named whell the Act shall take effect; after which day, parties who bring actions fcr sums under 20/. in the superior court will have to pay the costs of the same. In addition to a measure on the law of bank ruptcy and insolvency to separate the two systems, it is understood that the Lord Chancellor will bring in a Bill to abolish arrest in execution, and that imprisonment will only be permitted in cases of fraud. It will be, therefore, neces sary to make some alterations in the Small Debts Act of last session. ------- DREADFUL ACCIDENT.--THREE CHILDREN BURNT BY /sTarrna.—On Saturday week, while three children, be longing to Mr. George key, shoemaker, residing in the northern part of the parish of Monitieth, were trimming a naptha lamp, an explosion took place, which enveloped the whole three in flames. The father, who was at band, imme diately ran to their assistance, and with his hands, one of which was severely burned during his exertions, extinguished the flames. One of the children, seven years of age, died next day, and another is scarcely expected to live. What adds to the melancholy nature of the calamity is the fact that the mother, a very delicate person, was at the time con fined to bed from disease, and was a horrified spectator of the desolation caused by the explosion ; and it is melancholy to relate that she has since died.—Dundee Advertiser. W . Bond, Esq., the late worthy Magistrate of the Westminster Police Court, also of the Inner Temple, Barrister at Law, and rtecorder of Pole and Wareham, died possessed of personal property valued at 14,0001. By his will, made as far back as 1834, he has left small bequests to the poor of the parish of Tyneham, and to the London Mendicity Society, and to those persons who should be in his service at the time of his decease, the residue of his money_end funded property to be equally divided between his brothers and sisters. He has left specific bequests to his family. His law books and furniture to his brother Thomas, who is his executor. His books on botany and his prints to his sister Mary. The re mainder of his books to his three brothers; and has ap pointed his brother John his residuary legatee. The deceased was in his 47th year. A SLY 'face TO THE ALTAR OF HYMEN.--A short time since, a.highly respectable young lady, of considerable personal attractions, who resided with her grandfather at the western part of this town, was missing from home by the female domestics early in the morning, and her absence from the breakf.ist table created surprise in her grandpapa, who made the necessary inquiries of the servants respecting her, and was told she was out for a morning walk, and had not returned ; but the old gentleman was somewhat pacified on being told by one of the maid-servants, who was in the secret, that her young mistress would assuredly return in a short time. Breakfast passed over, but no young mistress made her appearance until early in the afternoon, when she, on being interrogated, admitted to her anxious relative that she had taken the early train to London that morning, and had got married to the man of her heart, who, we under stand, is a clerk in the Bank of England, and of a very re spectable family. The old gentleman, at first, was rather agitated at the announcement, but a reconciliation was soon effected, and all that remains of the matter is the little gossip occasioned by it in the neighbourhood.—lpswich Express. BISHOP'S STORTFORD.—On Sunday morning last the men working in the gas-house heard a tremendous crash in the direction of the three newly erected makings of Messrs. Taylor and Son, each of which is capable of steeping 100 quarters of barley. It was soon after discovered to have been occasioned by the whole floor of one of the barley cham bers giving way, with the immense quantity of grain (upwar.is of 1,000 quarters) above it. A number of Messrs. Taylor's men endeavoured to secure as much as possible of what had been forced out into the yard. While this was going on, attention was directed to the barley chamber of the malting adjoining, w hi c h was f ound to be giving way under about the same quantity of grain, but by a prompt application of some strong timber it was prevented from r' out.--Rents County Press. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARKS.—By order of her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, a new en. trance to St, James's Park, at the top of Constitution-hill, has just been comple•ed, adjoining the garden wall of Buck ingham Palace, which is for the accommodation of the inha bitants of Grosvenor-place. The passage is by a gradual ascent from the road in Grosvenor-place to the Park, the elevation being there about eight feet. The gateway is a plain brick structure, Jo Kensingten Qardens a new walk is in the course of formation, at between 300 and 400 feet distance from the entrance opposite the equestrian ride It j is to be about 40 feet wide, and w ill extend across the gard ens froW 891103 tO Don t, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Jun. 21. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the:W,.ol , ,ack at Five &Cluck. REPLY TO THE ADDRESS. Earl FORTESCUE presented her Majesty's reply to the Address, and moved that it be entered on the journals of the House, which was agreed to. MEXICO. Lord BROUGHAM put a question to her Majesty's Government as to the relations between this country and Mexico, in reference to the recent letters of marque said to be issued by that Government. The Marquis of LANSI)OWNE declined to answer the question at present. The Marquis of WESTMEATH explained certain points of the speech which he made (111 the Address, which were misunderstood. He considered that the re. sponsibility of the awful state of things which existed in Ireland ought to be equally shared on both sides of the House. TRANSPORTATION. Earl GREY, in reply to Lord Lyttelton, had no ob jection to lay certain documents on the table of the House relative to the subject of an improved mode of transportation. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jan. 21. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. RAILWAY AND onIER PRIVATE BILLS. A number of Railway and other Private Bills were introduced, and read a first time, REPEAL OF THE UNION. _ Mr. CALLAGHAN presented a petition from the Mayor and Corporation of the city of Cork, praying for a repeal of the legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland, and thereby enable Ireland to get out of her distressed and degraded situation. SUGAR AND MOLASSES FOR BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS presented a petition from Liverpool in favour of the use of sugar and molasses in breweries and distilleries. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Todmordcn in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill ; also a petition from the borough of Finsbury, praying for an inquiry into the circu►nstances which had led to the dethronement of the Raja of Sattara. CHELSEA PENSIONERS. Captain LAYAItD presented several petitions from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other places in favour of a reduction of the duty performed by the Chelsea pen sioners. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from thir teen medical practitioners of Rochdale in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill, and characterising the present system as the painful cause of much misery and suffering. RATES REFORM ACT. Mr. DUNCOMBE gave notice that he would, on Thursday next, move for leave to bring in a Bill for the abolition of the rate-paying clauses in the Reform Act. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. Dr. BOWRI N G said that he would to-morrow take the opportunity of putting some questions to the Secretary at War, respecting the mode of corporal punishment administered at Hong-Kong. MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. Mr. ROEBUCK said that he wished to put two questions to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and he would not be able to do so unless he made a short preface, in order that the H. .use might be the better able to understand them.—(Hear, hear.) It was said that an agent from the Government of Mexico had established an office in England, where he gave to such persons as were desirous letters of marque against the United States, and also letters of naturalization as Mexicans, to protect such per sons who should be found fightine under those letters. These two questions were—first, whether or not any notice had been taken of this office on the appear ance of such an agent by her Majesty's Ministry or the Government of the United Stater, and whether the Government of the United States had communicated with the Ministry of this country, and what answer had been returned to that communication? The next question was of a more complicated nature. If persons were found, having those acts of naturaliza tion, fighting under the letters of marque, by the United States, there was a determination on the part of the United States to hang those persons, not withstanding their acts of naturalization ; and theretore he (Mr. Roebuck) wanted to know if any precaution had been taken by her Majesty's Government to prevent such a disaster—for he could call it no less—to any British subject, and, if so, what correspondence had taken place ? Lord PALMERSTON said that, with regard to the first question, her Majesty's Government had no know ledge of the facts to which the Hon. and Learned Gen tleman had just called the attention of the House. They had no knowledge that such an agent had been authorised by the Mexican Government to issue letters of marque and acts of naturalization. He was aware that an advertisement had been tendered to the Times newspaper,A lteottemr ahkaed bue and neon h known nl also sent be that sen believed et by there ea i wast a h rs a . d be Marv, iaerrn, shop whor fpuesneded. wanted on Tower-hill, in which might be obtained information showing that the Mexican Government had authorised the issuing of those letters of marque. He (the writer of the letter) did not know whether the person on Tower-hill was authorised by the Mexican Government person was authorised to do so. A correspondence had taken place between the United States' Government and her Majesty's Government, and the Minister of the former country had alluded to something of this sort taking place ; and ho expressed a hope that the British Government would not allow such a proceeding in the present state of affairs between Mexico and the United States.—(Hear, hear.) He assured the American Minister that he was unacquainted with the circumstances to which he had adverted, and that, as far as the law of the land furnished, he would adopt such measures as he might think the occasion re quired. He might add, that he thought it right to put a question to the law officers of the Crown whether, if such letters of marque had been issued, what step the British Government should take, in order to prevent a rupture. With respect to the other question,_ it was perfectly true that some ti me ago not i ce was issued to the United States, that any foreigner found on board Mexi can ships should be summarily dealt with, and he (Lord Palmerston) had communicated with Mr. Pakenham his expectation that the United States Government would not apply to British subjects the execution of that law. Dr. BOWRING wished to know from the Right Hon. Baronet, the Home Secretary, whether the report from the Channel Islands' Commission had been received, and whether, and when, it would be laid on the table of the House. Sir G. GREY replied that there had been no time to make a dig.-st of the report as yet, but as soon as that could be done it would be laid upon the table. Mr. lIUME wished to ask the Lord-Advocate of Scotland what measures were intended to be brought in relative to the law of Scotland, in consequence of the re commendation of previous commissions. The LORI). ADVOCATE replied, that the subject was under consideration. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. MOFFATT moved for a return of the amount of duty received on sugar from the sth day of April, 1846, to the sth day of January, 1847 ; specifying the amount received under the different rates of duty.—Agreed to. The Hoti. MEMBER also moved for a return of all sugars that have been stepped for alleged inaccurate entry at the Custom-houses of London and Liverpool, between sth April, 1846, and sth January, 1847; specify ing the number of packages in each parcel so detained, the respective dates of stoppage and release, and whe ther colonial cr foreign sugar. Also, the amount of money now held in the said Custom-houses as pair: un der protest upon disputed claims in regard to these sugars.--Agreed to. Mr. 13ANKES presented a pi tition from Landlord, in Dorsetshire, against the Poor Removal Bill. OPENING THE PORTS. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the House went into Committee, to consider the propriety of tern porarily suspending the laws relating to the importation Of corn ; Mr. GREENE i❑ the chair. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—Mr. Greene, so favour able a feeling was shown by the House on Tuesday night to urge adopting the motion I am about to snake, that I will not trouble the House with any lengthened detail upon the subject. I will, however, state, as well as I am able, what has heretofore been, and what is now the general prospect of the country with regard to a sup ply of food, and the reasons why I propose to advise the [louse to suspend the corn•laws. The same reasons may be urged with equal force for suspending the navigation laws, the two subjects being closely connected together; and immediately after Mr. Speaker resumes the chair it i s my intention to propose that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to enable me to move the suspension of those laws. With the permission of the Committee, I will now proceed to state what were the results of the last harvest. Upon the termination of the harvest state ments were made that the crop, with regard to corn, would be considerably below the average, while the produce in barley and oats in parts of England was very deficient. But the greatest calamity with hich we have been visited was the failure of the potato crop, which has been most considerable in extent i❑ Scotland. 1 It has been stated to have extended to three fourths of the whole crop, but the exact amount cannot be correctly ascertained, yet I have no doubt in saying that it has extended to considerably more than • half of the whole produce of that country. Of course, Sir, this great and general failure of the potato crop has had a ma'erial influence upon the prices of food. It was impossible not to expect that the prices of corn required for consumption in Ireland would be materially affected by this failure of the potato crop. But, on the other hand, there was; in the course of last year, a very large importation of foreign corn, and of corn and flour 1 from the British dominions. The amount alto gether so imported appears, by a return which will ill ►rtly be in the possession of Honourable Mena • bers, to amount to the large quantity of 4,800,000 quarters. This is a very large supply, but it did ❑ot for some time come into 0011sUMpti01), nOtWithStilad- . _ ing the reduction of the duty to 4s. on the passin g of the corn-law. It was for this reason that there, _ - wo rt§ Ft ^ a y e 7 considerable rise in priQe3. There was not a general apprehension that there wet. a be insufficiency of food. With respect to this cow) ry. the prices in October and in the course of November din not show eny very considerable apprehension with regard to the increase of the price of food, as the prices of corn in the first week of October last year was 545., in the second weel, 555. 10d , in the third 595. 10d., and in the fourth 61s. 9d. ; in the first week in November the price was 61s. 3d., in the third 595. Pd., and in the fourth 595. This shows rather a decline than an increase of prices from the middle of October to the end of November; but, Sir, from that time there has been a very considerable rise in prices-a rise of prices very considerable indeed, and of alarming character, when the nature of the calamity is considered, coming, as it did, immediately at the time of the hat vest.-(Hear.) The price of wheat in the month of Augus'e I think, was 475.; on the Ist of September it was 495.; but the price has risen in the course of the present month-in the first week in January to 645. 4d.; in the second week to 66a. 10d., and the week's average, to the 16th of the pres( nt month, was 70s. 3d. The returns show that for some years past there has been a great increase in the price of barley. In Janu ary, 1842, the price of barley was 295. 7d., in 1843, 26s 5d., in the first week of 1844, 325. 7d., 1845. 345. 2d., 1846, 31s. 11d.• in the first week of 1847. 445. 3d., second week, 46 5. 5d., third week, 503. This 50s. did not represent the true price at the present time. Sir, I have said that this rise in the price has been in a great degree unexpected by those who are engaged in the trade. I will draw attention also to the state of the grain market in France. I hold in my hand the report of the Minister of Agricultural Commerce in France. In last year there was a restriction on the supply in the grain of that country ; nor was it in these countries alone that the deficiency in the supply of grain was experienced, to which he would immediately refer. I have mentioned that in various parts of Scotland and Ireland there had been, as was well known, a great tail ure of the potato crop, which has given rise to that great distress of which we have heard so much, and which we all so deeply deplore. lam speaking now of the effect which this great failure has produced upon the general supply of food, and the want which it has caused of an additional supply of corn and other grain in the country. Various statements have been made as to the actual amount _ of the loss occasioned by the failure of the potato crop. In money value, however, I think that the general average estimate is not less than twelve millions sterling. I do not hesitate to say that a less sum than from four to five millions would be required for the purchase of food, of one description or another, to supply the de ficiency. I have elready stated, that during the past year we have had a supply of 4,800,000 quarters of corn from foreign ceuntries ; but, with reference to the Supply that we may have to obtain during the temainder of the year, and before the next harvest, it is to be considered' that there are but very few parts of the world from whence that supply can come, There has been a great deficiency in the harvest in France, Germany, and a great part of the west of Eu rope. Measures have been taken in most of those coup tries to supply that deficiency by the admission of corn free of duty. A law has lately been passed in France by which the importation of wheat is allowed free of duty, and also allowing all ships of foreign nations to enter the ports of France. Similar measures have been passed in other countries, and in others the exportation of corn has been prohibited. The stock on hand in this country was very low, and it was naturally expected that prices would be high. There are two quarters from which a quantity of corn may be expected to this country ; one of those is Odessa. A large supply has already been sent to France from that port, in conse quence of the importation having been so greatly encouraged. I cannot speak accurately of the quantity which has been imported, but at least 700,000 quarters have been imported, and there is no doubt that a further supply will be sent in the spring, and made available to meet the deficiency of this and other countries. There has been a pretty fair average crop in America of all sorts of corn. The harvests of wheat have been abundant, and the quantity of Indian corn grown is, perhaps, the largest ever known ; but, at the same time, we required a very great part of that supply to be sent to this country. However, ships have been sent from Liverpool and other places over there with the intention of bring ing to this country that supply of Indian and other sorts of corn. Now, it appeared to me that such being the state of the supply to this country, and such being the deficiency, it had been found that we ought to remove every impediment which was in the way of a supply to this country from foreign ones. It appeared at first that the duty of 4s. per quarter was not considered very large and the importation of last year shows that it did not prevent considerable importations of corn ; but there are circumstances and cases in :which that duty might, to a certain extent, limit the supply brought to this country. For instance, it was for some time a very nice balance be tween the prices of corn in this country and France. For a short time, English wheat was sent from the eastern counties of this country to France, but that exportation lasted a very short time, as the prices rose, and the balance was the other way. When pi ices rose in France corn in bond here rose to within Is. of tee price, so that the 4s. duty would mate rially alter the destination of many cargoes. For i.stance, supposing the price at London to be 625., and the price at Havre to be 605., the price at Havre would makg than to bring it to London with a duty of 45. Supposing that the same circumstances occurred to France, and a similar duty existed, it weal hardly prevent any great quantity from being brought to this country, but at present the restriction imposed by the 4s. duty causes a considerable difference in the quantities brought over into this country. It is hardly in my power to say what quantity may possibly come into this country through the suspension of the present duty, but, whatever the quantity may be, if it adds to the stock of food for the consumption, it is worth our while to legislate for it. Sir, in order to afford every facility for the in troduction of foreign grain, we propose that in regard to corn the duty at present levied shall be suspended till the Ist of September in the present year. That is the proposition of her Majesty's Government. We shall leave to Parliament afterwards to consider whether it is expedient to continue the suspension, or to revert to the law which is at present in operation. Ido not think that any party in this House should oppose the proposi tion we have made.-(Hear, hear.) In regard to the advocates of the corn-laws, it has never been contended by them it was not admissible to suspend the principle when great emergencies arose. In 1756, in 1766, in 1790, in 1791, and in 1800, these laws were suspended, and yet the Governments of those times were advocates of protective principles. With regard to those who are opposed to restriction, and who have argued that in February, 1849, the duty shall be reduced to Is., they can have no difficulty in relation to this proposed suspension, because they cannot hold that that which they consider a bad low, even in times of good harvests and abundance, should be a good law now, when there is a great pressure, and a lamentable deficiency of food.-(Hear, hear.) Sir, I now pass to another subject intimately connected with the present question-I mean the navigation laws. With respi ct to those laws considerable difficulty has been found in procuring vessels for the purpose of importing grain into this country, arising from the high rate of freights in the United States of America. This difficulty has been enhanced by the demands of the Arne rican Government for vessels to transport troops and muni tions of war to the coast of America, considering the num ber of vessels that is necessary to supply carges of cor n sufficient to meet the demands of this country for provi sion. The rate of freights has been greatly raised. What is the ordinary rate of freight compared with what it is now ? The ordinary rate of freights at Dantzic is 10s. per quarter; at present the charge is from 16s. 6d. to 17s. The ordinary rate at Odessa is Bs. ; it is at present 13s. In the United States of Arm rice the ordi nary rate is 55.; at the present time it is front 12s. 6d. to 13s, From the Baltic the freight is 3 9d. to 4s. 6:1. Thera are some instances of freight still more remark able and still more affecting the supply of corn to Ire land from foreign countries. I shall quote one instance ; the freight of a quarter of wheat from Loll ion to Cork vari es genera ll y f rom Is. to Is. 2,1.-, per quarter, at the present moment it averaged from 3s. to 3s. 6d., and there is considerable difficulty in &die vessels for the purpose of exportation. By a lower rate of freightage we shall be able to employ some more of our vessels, trim whence we anticipat, me,e good to result.-(llear. hear.) When we reflect upon these facts, and con-ider the whole of the circumstances, I am sure that the House will join with me in thinking that these restrictions should nut exist. I shall, there fore, propose a suspension of these laws. With respect to the present state of the law, it is not me inten tion to say what alterations, if any, ought to be introduced ; for I think that all parties will consider that this is an occasion when such restric tions ought not to exist.--(Llear, hear.) Ido not mean to enter into any unnecessary argument, or to pro voke any hostility by any observations of mine, a n d I will therefore conclude by moving that the Chairman propose the necessary resolution, which will enable W e to propose a suspension of the corn and navigation laws. Mr. BANKES saii he felt no difficulty in rising t o second the resolution. The Noble Lord had stated, that upon this suspension of the corn-lawn he anticipated no discussion. He was not wrung in his anticipitation, it was hi s o pi n ion th a t th e Noble Lord but Peakd not expect much benefit should be derived from the passing of this measure, otherwise Parliam en t would have been called together at an earlier period.- (Hear, hear.) The Prime Minister could not but be aware that if he, in the course of his duty, thought it expedient to pess such a measure, it was in his power to h indeed, abet) ntratiliteedtlt,hent i Legislature together-it might, such a course would h ave been nconvenient to the Irish Members-but the English repre sentat i ves would have at onc e c h eer f u l ly consented on the be h a lf of y th Ireland to the prop os i t i on, or any other, wonld have been proved t o th em was for P benefit of Irelaed. But he thought the Noble Lord not calling Parliament togetherhad le" Q4capsetlrift“:4l. navigation for an alt erat i on i n the at an earlin' on laws. They had been told that there was plenty of grain to be found in different parts of the world, and cons, quently the pply difficulty that was to be met with . was q wq'nt of the means of conveyance, and the; difficulty could only be obviated by thu sus might have pen solohn- ioaftetdhenavigation laws. The Ministry that inconvenience by calling Parliament together shortly tion last year; and, as he had e„f. att, r Prgr"g 4- been inconyeri; t c:it observed, if it had fee the Trish Members to attend, the 4ngli4h ge . mbers were ready, on the Dart of freland, to attend for the sanction of t,he euie pension of the navigation laws, Intermation differed from that o f th e tic i bie with - respect to the last , httrice3t ! ifs 12eitevg4 that there was tore don as averse crop of corn in the west believed T r might be deficient in quality, but he indeed • that there was more than an average quantity, and er°P* " ufficient to supply the deficiency of the potatober the ' of England, althoug e. With respect to the rise in price, whet *ty of the formation were obtained through the contiguity as _ ell southern countries to the coast of France, it It' a , l e. known by the farmers in those countries that d e fieie t, Il es harvest in France was likely to prove very a dearth iu that country was likely to occur, 617 w w:„ , there would consequently be a rise in price; l ac e ; therefore, anticipated that this rise would take, R ~,,,,, notwithstanding that, however, the farmers ha!t e ,vr et , tinued to send their corn to market, and they aid ' hesitate to do this, although they had reasenl o n r x .i pect a greater return for their grain.—( l . ect i e u e A view had been taken by the friends of pr be ot. e ,, ie. that at a period when the want of corn would iti felt this country, the prices of corn in other "'A A would be guided by the prices in the t4ThN is markets. Such appeared to be the case novf, s sar es t was: to other and more distant countries pose 'hey looked to for the supply which il. O 5 o f. required. He had the sincere satisfec i a _., 4 . e, expressing on the present occasion a full, a fr e , D e e hle ntire concurrence in the proposition of the L.OlOO Lord. He shared with him in the app reue to 'hat no great benefit would result from the stlegetfit • of the duty, but if there was the smallest twee , ;t og to be derived, be agreed with the Noble Loral:lw p' that the would be to blame if they , eetit ee- the supply of corn for one moment. He _, ea for the time which the Noble Lord had determitteu,„o,ol, the remission of the duty was rather leng‘m g a s -1 her .:00. but they must, of course, believe that jesty's Ministers had exercised a sound d . lieu All he had to say was that for his part—and he D e f he spoke the sentiments of others on that sideof;,- the Hou-e—that they did not anticipate bo a great good from this concession. It., had ber for • -aid by the Honourable and Learned Do m o rth Bath, dot the Right Hon. Member for Ta tn eece to was 'entitled to the greatest praise with referee the famine in Ireland. All he had to y t he with reference to that observation et le i g ht Hon. and Learned Gentleman was, that whe n the, iini. Hon. Member for Tamworth had pror7 Olt thing for the relief of the famine in Irelanused it. on that side of the House had not °Plo t the • One of the measures in regard to ir t er °per. Right Hon. Member for Tamworth bad Me, did sitiou from them was the Coercion Bill. tl y i e sd not indeed know whether his Hon. and Lear sill . considered that the passing of the Coercion Bu i l es ys to • relieve the famine in Ireland, but he would beg l e t ell remind the Hon. end Learned Member, and iff„f„ine ill. Members in the House, that as regarded the i s ro teet Ireland, the Right Hon. Member of Tamwortb!_, age with no opposition whatever to any measures tlar r . Liaised relief to that unfortunate country, for the 5 die se a tural Members bad over and over again exeres,,,, o ,bet desire to consent to all suspension of the duty e° Zi at eber* their overtures were rejected by the Right Honercotarsi Ireland had, therefore, nothing to blame any agri uno a A • Members for, and the committee might r ol l ()( sal • those Members would never stand in the vial ole e to measure that was calculated in the slightes t " e a benefit Ireland. nt O r . Sir H. W. BARRON regretted that the pretit_ goo sure had not been brought forward before. 8 0 2 s. per. parts of Ireland the price of wheat wa s n ote d quarter, Bs. or 9s. higher than even those 4p feet by the Noble Lcrd himself, and bearing ~I"_.` idea in mind - the committee would have sont,e_ewel, of the destitution of the people of Ir‘ o ill when he told them, that with perhaps a ,a lr of five, six, or seven children the highest 1 10 Si a hie bourer could earn was 10d. per day. Why, wlere there own knowledge, in his own vicinity, not only ' v ie vale peop , dif a 19, hundreds but thousands of unfortunate upon one scanty meal, and yet labouring 'tre at. ... e ithe r hours per day. They could not afford any Dr": Thle e for themselves or any one of their fiunih e ' t heritt was a fact which he stated upon his own % B ose. •' without the slightest hesitation. He W3's , e e d bed of two relief committees in that district, 04itation.,6, the means of knowing the dreadful dea Par'.;''.,, which existed in every part of that neighbourhor—on thete:.,:. liatnect had no idea of the terrible destitutlepabill' pervaded Ireland, while, from what he read in t ene ieee" prints, the people of England appeared yet line aallielt of I he dreadful condition in which the un fortunate be c ity of Ireland were living. On Thursday last, t o t f a sed It Waterford no less than 107 applicants were re _ tie s , mission into the union workhouse solely on 04,7,„ Or the want of sufficient room to locate them' „weal e' 1 sician reported to the board that it would b e , . 3 lat . . to the lives not only of the applicants themse lvl„ lie sli:., the inmates of the house from the crowded stu:stattes" wards if they were admitted. Under these cireuw l i a eath they were forced to refuse admission to the 107 l e n. et , , but he was glad to say that the board, upon t " as pehl, responsibility, had since taken another building,....../Otiss of accommodating a considerable number teture.4 ger of " Hear, bear.") There was not 1111104. if, iota tlemen who attended the sessions one dissentlffor fa' when the proposition was made for taxing ht u f,geria i g the relief of those poor pea sons who were .a ..tien ti under the distre-ses that bad been justly and el e i ' l f e set forth. He was one of those who be°, ail the' upon himself a taxation of 28s. in the pouttle_, n eer property of the baronies for the support of the property for only three months of the year. He attended loss Tarty at the sessions where be resided, and other r eel ed' where the country gentlemen were ace re to assemble, and where these matters wereoeaeo .es ne ~..- __... --- --e• ...14 1 11l lion where a l an dl or d h a d se t himself up in oppos4 to the principle that property was bound to suppe• ~, the poor ; and yet they were told gravely by the prl: . of this country, and that statement was retailed seeor . hand in that House, by some second-band lawyfr .it (Laughter) —that they had not performed tal e duties in reference to the poorer classes of their coUnt . fE and that they were miserably deficient in all the du?: which they owed towards those who were entitletlw. , relief from the more affluent portions of the coullO n er e He assert e d i t w i t h out fear of contradiction, that thole was not in th e w h o l e wor ld a c l ass w h o had come nos liberally forward towards the support of the %aft' or had acted m ore magnan i mous ly towards . en . than the landlords of I re l an d on th e present vow el t• : They had done this in the mode that was most ac ee s P ia l able, and which clothed th e act w i t h p r oper 8 11°6 sof dignity, for they had done it liberally, and without was i ' eistiection of party or sect.—(Hear.) So grnnu egil etril. the calamity that impended over his unfortunate `e" t he re yet he could not help thinking that it might l e sue it [ considerable advantage to that country,. and res o ate from many of th e • h orrors t h a t we re inherent l a i ts 1 organization of the country, and the vitiated stal e o ald political conditi o n, an d h e t rus t e d th a t speedily I s o rit be delivered from t h e h orrors th a t now ca st aglow° ° r ole Mr. GOULBURN wo u ld no t f o ll ow the 1:1 0 °,n e „ t wee .` Baronet through o ut th e d eta il s o f hi s a ddress, 'Mot ' he had recently arrived from a place where th e g" - tvell ' distress prevailed, and consequently he was Pie ! • able to depict th e na t ure o f t h e su ff erings of th ° 3:sa to the House. It was perfectly natural for a g en epee so situated, to press, iu warm langu a glateiti' the House th e d rea df u l nature o f the r- wee which had visited his country, and iti kited equally na t ura l t h at he should feel 1 0% ; the at statements a hich, in his opinion, reflected nA n- ts lie character of his countrymen, and that he s h o uld t t he ' the earli es t o p portun i ty o f contradicting them. ~,1 1 s eal Honourable B a r onet wou ld not suppose that "" of in the least degree indifferent to the that country it he (Mr. Goulbourn) ex h P i te h be his opinion that that was not the occasion on ! ",.„ -e stieh . should have taken an opportunity of entering la" - the . distressadiscussion.—(He ar ) They all knew and felt fort it existing in Ireland, and considered _ i t in " o ol was the duty of England to come forward 110 eh to natdir r be e ul l y i t e a ve the distress single observateiosnotfo the ff Irish i i s s u o r ' fr u P e se ln : g655ed 0 0 0 concurred: in the o m er ea t s o ur t e e whit u n t ' b ht Noble Lord had proposed, and he b.,n cur' ranee tshhatmidt b w e as uni m re o r s s t at ess a e u n d tie t l h u „ n eurre he should carry with it to the people a a conviction of/ost interest which iengland felt in the welfare of ofe ' land. He would not, however, avail himself o f tha t . opportunity to advert to the pest proceedings ei ; te te House with respect to this subject, except , 0 .. od that. the adoption of such a step at an earler Il es which ,it was not would have gone far to have alleviated the diffic u lty prepared to me( t —(Ilear•) question they had to consider was—were. they tfhathtatthat coeuce not to derive liked, or advantage from the measure in sure r To it he o gave his entire sesent, and he could ne ~ 0 0 help expressieg doing ,e eel his regret, that the a",, e r hs ee of sueh ' a be course, at an antecedent period svo,u i "„, do been most adventitgeous ; as at the present W e in ," ed grain of the: foreign countries to which we ‘ —ig er was most s di w '' ho ifLitirchgausPePrbes' was air"4Y engaged by °I it r 55 o uh t oo l p i: - e ; s t hito(oel suspension 4 tosytito:fer might n tc s i to i n d till e r fi f eevra r t.g h e thugs asdi v 11 1 6 ;t e bo g ! ' o rc. l: were eampeting for its possession; Y e a . plus reillitt: ' d ".ll l the continuance of the le to obtain possessionof whatev er 5 ~1 . Para f tom the our this arininent applied even , with greater force, ati°ll _ a ii : had suspended her nevi the same adventarge would have had getting corn into F ptton laws for the Pun"' n et anoei and, therefore, they ha toed with th • ships as ad such ii course. C orteif fr r o a tu nCQ A c m il'h er a i d ca, u f o or t in sliafl would be carried t e .„ e ioita ships `bee inf . 0 ?ranee when the i- - : ha s the • - °Med at the nearest port de d that in order to keep navigation lea's of France had been stleP en He thought equal,foutin g with f • oreign countries, the suspension.ol ‘l•9 navigation laws during h 1 ,0 urgent eriod of distress tee Id a measure quite nec ~, , ressary, and from w hi c h no on e CO O ~ disseet, 8414 For hie Dalt part he did assen t to xi" la ,", f r eely. At the 4'l too ter:4 and so tirOVV . obstacles he took the same time 40 was the sure Pullbont the House woulil not suppose him a d if themselves s on e !: in- the (scope about to be P ures , e ;,. s ly e question Pre , ;4lit opportunity of preserving el!" -- t to himspif t b • . the navigation 1 • ce with them a,.ws; or of prohibiting any itligfer en , in respe no be e e o w t h id oe ! r r e e ft tl in strictness of of any further suspension e o i t t h h e e r r in eo :i ro e u te di e sy ttr of a eorl o i l any other be r;o44cied Irons adhering to the ess these P7'elgetion laws, by the vote he should g ive that Wgt - e l. ti,lini Should he be precluded from e° lllll. ' deriiri4 itRY Poiut that might ar i se w i t h regard t° t4t1 , 1 1 by ' what might take ptlaoe on the preseot oeoasion.ll He thought it eight t o p ut i n t hi s resereatitn. With respect 4 - 4 these lowa, he had only further c u t press is 'PRP O M the measu res t h ey were then "„, to take might be the ne fatnino in this country, and t hat " ulln Y ing Wit those who were now suf fering under the Politest depths of privation and dis tress woWiel sap, in the readiness with which the dif " ferent interests in this couP3ry had given UP those points for which they 4 4.a heretofore contended as naOse the cry oz important, witheett a m o m t a hesitationlte a r* evidence of the k r - relit on , y a • .. 8 OOg,eintl liberal feeling of a Brlpa' rizeeAeLA t 9, tr4 l o4e 24 Wl subjects in 4a* e rn ' -' • •_ ; :_ z __ • , 7.-; ~a.i.:r ♦~ .r -