The Sun. — London, England, 1853-03-09 00:00:00

urged upon the trustees of the National Gallery an object which appeared to him not difficult of accomplishment, — the obtaining a - collection of the early Italian masters, not so much, perhaps, on account of their intrinsic beauty, as for the great aid they would afford us in the tracing the progress of painting. (Hear , hear.) He certainly antici vated very valuable results from the labours of the com inittee, and he should therefore give the proposition his wa rmest support. (Hear.) Mr. J. BELL hoped that the Government would' not sanction the locality of the Great Exhibition as the site of the new National Gallery, considering that the most com petent authorities—Mr. Uwins, Mr. Faraday., Sir C. East lake—had protested against that locality as calculated to damage the paintings. Mr. HITME doubted whether there were not too many subjects of inquiry assigned to the committee. As to the cleaning process, he had, years ago, called the attention of the house to the subject, and from the inquiries instituted, at his instance, by Sir Robert Peel, it appeared that this cleaning had been ordered on the authority of one indi vidual, the general body of the trustees knowing nothing about the matter. The whole history of the defective management of the National Gallery was, in fact, simply ;this, that the trusteeship, nominally vested in a great number e.f persons, was actually in the hands of one trustees, who ditl. just what he pleased with the pictures. While large sums we re annually given to the National Gallery, not one single regulation had been issued by the Treasury for the guidance of the persons—person rather—who administered those sums . How was it to be expected, he would ask, that the First Lord of the Treasury, or the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, or Lord Lansdowne, could give their personal superintendence ? No. There was a whole string of trus tees—Lord Ashburton, Lord Overstone, Mr. W. Russell, Mr. S. Rogers, and so on, whom nobody supposed would attend, for one reason or another, until you came down; to Sir C. Eastlake, who was himself, and solely, the com mittee. He noticed in the minutes mention of a number of pictures, by good masters, offered to the gallery, and rejected by the trustees. He should like to know why they had been rejected. (Hear, hear.) If it was on account of want of room, the room should have been supplied. As to the question of an aggregate collection, it appeared to him that the public had better opportunities of seeing works of art when they were distributed in several collections. Most certainly he should prefer that the collection at Hampton-court should remain where it was • nor did he see why, after expending more than 1,000,0001. in rendering the British Museum a fit receptacle for great monu ments of sculptured art, those monuments should be carried off somewhere else. Rather than have the National Gallery removed, he would prefer that the barracks, or workhouse, at the rear should be purchased and added to it. He entirely concurred in the motion for inquiry, because every inquiry of this nature was attended with advantage. A proper building once secured and placed under efficient management, the cost to the public Treasury need not be a single farthing, because he was convinced that the contributions of works of art from the public would be ample. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that, hotween those gentlemen who thought that the motion of his hon. friend the member for Renfrewshire included too much, and those who thought that it included too little, there was ample room for a comfortable belief that the motion was very judiciously framed ; and he, for one, was . . _ . glad to see it in the hands of his lion. friend. (Hear.) There were, however, two subjects on which he wished to make a remark. First, with regard to the question of the removal of the National Gallery. It appeared to be sup posed that the Government had absolutely decided on that removal, and were pledged to its taking effect. So far as he was informed, no such decision had been arrived at ; and nothing had been done which, in the event of an ex pression of public opinion on the subject (and he thought it was a matter in which the public were deeply interested) or in the event of its being found, on the whole, desirable that it should remain where it was, rendered its removal necessary. One word also with respect to cleaning the pictures, because strong opinions had been expressed upon that subject. The gentlemen who had been officially employed in this matter might have been right or might have been wrong in what they had done ; but they were public servants of a very high character, and he was sure it was not the wish of the house to' rejudge anything they had done in the performance of their duties. (Hear, hear.) The public were much obliged, he thought, to those who called attention to anything which affected the custody of these very precious treasures. At the same time it should be known that what had been done had not been hastily undertaken, but had been executed by Mr. Seg,nier, a gen tleman of great experience, under the close and constant superintendence of Mr. Uwins. He held in his hand a com munication from Mr. Seguier on this subject, in which he said—" I assure you; that during my very extensive prac tice, I do not recollect to have had any pictures improved more to my satisfaction." He only mentioned this, not to induce the house to subscribe to the opinions of Mr. Se vier, but, as the matter was about to undergo a close and ntelligent investigation before a committee, to leave it in he hands of the committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LOCKE was glad to hear that the Government had not come to any decision with respect to the very im portant steps mentioned in the report of the Royal Coni missioners, for he thought that the propositions contained n that report was hardly creditable to the high names appended to it. The motion was then agreed to. LAW OF PROBATES. Mr. HADFIELD, having presented a petition in its favour from the London and North-Western Railway Com any, moved for leave to introduce a bill to prevent the ecessity of obtaininc , several probates of the same will, and everal grants of administration in respect of the estate and effects of any deceased person; and to make certain amend ments in the law of evidence in respect to the proof of wills, and of probates and grants of administration. He bserved that the bill was exceedingly short, that it made ne probate and grant of administration sufficient, and nacted that a probate should be proof of the devise of a real estate in the same manner as it was of a personal estate. He could have wished that this should have been eluded in one general measure ; still, the subject was of 3 pressing and important a nature, that he felt justified in introducing it per se ; and he had the sanction of the Soli citor-General for saying that he had no objection to the bringing in of the bill. (Hear, hear.) W. BROWN seconded the motion. • Mr. R. J. PHILLIMORE recognised the importance of the proposed measure, as calculated to put an end to a sys tem which cried aloud for amendment, and which no person could wish to see continued. He remembered a case in which, for one and the same instrument, it was necessary to have a probate in Canterbury, another in York, letters of administration from Scotland, and a certified copy of the ill from the colonies. It was perfectly clear that it was a monstrous state of the law which required such a multi plicity of documents when one probate would be ample. He thought, however, that this should form part of the great measure of reform to be introduced by the Solicitor- General, and that the Government would be very ill-advised if they allowed the present session to pass without achiev ing the reform which the Solicitor-General had promised, a reform which, however surrounded with difficulties, was not impossible. Ho trusted that they would do their ut most to deal with the subject as a whole, and to place the testamentary law of this country upon such a footing as would be consonant with the wishes of the people, and con sistent with the due administration of justice. Mr. COWAN also supported the measure, and expressed a hope that it would be extended to Scotland. Leave was then given to introduce the bill, and it was afterwards brought up and read a first time. TAVISTOCK ELECTION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a letter from the agents of the petitioners in this case against Mk. It. J. Phillimore, stating that it was not their intention to proceed with the same. LEOMINSTER ELECTION. The SPEAKER also announced that he had received b lit ter from the agents to the petitioners in this case,intimat ing that they did not intend to proceed with the same against Mr. J. G. Phillimore. LIFE ASSURANCE. Mr. WILSON said, in rising to propose the appoint ment of a select committee for the purpose of inquiring into the subject of assurance associations, ho thought it de sirable to give a general outline of the views of the Govern ment in making that motion. It was impossible for thehowie to approach a subject which contained within it principles cif greater difficulty, or principles on which more diversity of opi nion naturally existed, than that which involved the i - terference of Government in trading operations. It avaa impossible to look at these associations in one point of vie* without regarding them in the light of trading associations. It might be properly said on the one side, as long as the principle of public and open competition was relied on, Government interference in any way whatever would lather inflict injury than benefit on the public. On tlie other hand, it might be as fairly contended, with regal to associations of this description, which came to thle house and asked for peculiar privileges, that it was le bounden duty of the hous3 to accompany the grant the those privileges with such securities as should give tile public security that those privileges were properly used for the public advantage. Between those ts4o conflicting opinions, on which he admitted mudh might be said on both sides, it was not his intention fro offer any opinion. But ho thought•the house would agro that if they were to i n t er f ere , and if they had interfered, they oug ht t o see th a t such interference, while it impedea as little as possible the objects o f private trade, honestl conferred y the security which it professed to give. With regard to these associations, he would particularly guard himself from b e i ng suppose d t o b e th e a d voca t e either of the one class or the other. He was well aware there was acontention., between the two classes—the old proprietary offices, and the new ns principles. It 0 ces, established generally on mu tual would understand e particularly requested that the house and that the the governmentinreEo could have no object in ad vancing The e one class in preference to the in privilegesterests of the other. of only object was to see that the given by ac t s Parliament were not so fir abused that the public were placed in a condition of inse curity against which theyma magnitude to be protected by thit h ous e. The enormous which these associa tions had grown, and the immensete amount of capital noiv invested in the hands of the raanag were not, perhaps, generally understood. The house was pared to hear that in Scotland alone theliParillian not pre insurance companies were 33,000,0001., th eir t . e.s of fifteen tal 6,000,0001., and their annual income abort-uP capi tal The house would, also, perhaps, be astonishedeto'Zr°ol. that in England the capit al of these associations amo un t e d not less , hear)to 150,000,000/, sterling at the smallest estimate—(hear, and that the gross annual income of those offices, sseeive from the most 'deserving classes of society, Was than 5,000,0001. sterling, equal almost to the entire am ount of the income tax. (Near, hear.) When they heard that thousands of these associations were springing up one day, and falling like an autumn le af the ne xt , he thought the house would hardly be prepared to go on with out -Latins. the means to place them on a more satisfactor y basis. One of the earliest things to which the attention of the present Government was directed, wria the abuse which existed among these institutions, and they felt that, inasmuch as they were formed under acts of Parliament, Parliament was by implication responsible for any evil consequences which might result. He supposed every in dividual would agree with him, and few out of the house would question the vast utility of these associations. There were no institutions of greater importance in a social point of view, calculated as they were to win people to provi dent habits ; and, in proportion to their importance, the legislature ought to place them on such a footing as would iilrLee. . - wis to use them to the greatest possible ex tentin,:es ea . fl . 7!blinly were they of utility as a , a ll o w : ,- , i rte means of accumulating the isu‘ tz fd z l , l ms . .., A•:s46 ge sums, and capable of being r(sita's ‘l,i4 ro -l ' ;;;%'" -- ,T•c74 banking deposits and banking kist ss;- w 'e, : s sw s lige• r i. 0 capital of insurances offices •is. ke tr:l7,, / ,•:', s- - ,...W.:' , could be invested for much Inklsaizar e ss •-* 4 ', '• banking establishment ; and fp:lt- as - i = . Atif * $ the public derived a benefit ,7, Az ....,..., ~,,... n Mated in their hands, As an 4.. x _ ... example of the benefit, he might mention that a num ber of loans made on the security of the Government for the purpose of carrying on improvements in the West Indies and other parts, were on a recent. occasion chiefly taken by insurance (Aces. (Hear, hear.) Thus funds accumulated for the future benefit of the peopl j became most useful instruments of present advantage. It was im possible in taking that view of the matter to overlook the responsibility of these gentlemen who undertook to manage these institutions, and he should be glad if he could feel certain that in every case those who undertook the manage ment or brought them into existence, felt the weight of that responsibility. He should be satisfied if in all cases these associations were started for the bond fide objects which they professed, and not, as he suspected in many instances, as a mere cover for fraud of a most gross de scription. (Hear, hear.) With regard to joint stock banks their liabilities were of an entirely different description. If you were dissatisfied with the bank you could close your account, and even if it failed and great loss. was inflicted, that loss was momentary and known at the time. With fire insurance companies also, if you pleased, you could change your policy at any time. But with regard to life insurance it was a totally different thing. The premiums were paid year after year, and whatever doubts a man might have, he was not in the same independent position. Therefore he looked upon these institutions much more as a sacred trust for the future, than as the means of mercan tile operations for the present. He looked upon them as a sacred trust, because present payment was to secure future benefit, and because individuals, actuated by the best feelings of human nature, were induced to make great sa crifices and tp exercise peat self-denial in order to provide for those who followed them. (Hear, hear.) For this reason he thought these institutions fairly taken out of the strict category of commercial institutions ; and if they professed in any way to govern joint stock banks and joint stock companies, they were doubly justified in interfering with associations whose operations were future and not immediate. But whatever might be the difference of opi nion on the question of interference, on which he knew the honourable member for Montrose felt strongly, and in which feeling he (Mr. Wilson) very much participated, it was not a question whether they should interfere or not. They had interfered. (Hear, hear.) They had interfered rifar as to make the public rely on that interference. They had become responsible to a certain extent for these in surances, because they had given a certain amount of Par liamentary sanction; and having done that it did notlie with the house to entertain the question of interference or non interference. Having interfered, it was their duty to see that that interference was made as effectual for the pur pose as possible, and most of all that, under the shadow of that interference, gross frauds were not perpetrated on the public. (Hear, hear.) By the Joint Stock Companies Act of 1844, it was provided these institutions should be registered Elie other joint-stock companies, and that each company should be obliged to return to the Registry-office an annual balance-sheet, which should prove the financial condition of the company. He extremely regretted to say, and that was the ground on which the Government felt bound to take other steps, that both those provisions had been grossly violated and abused. (Hear, hear.) He was bound to say that in many cases the registration had been in name and not in fact. The act required that the deed of the company should be registered, and that before that took place it should be signed by a certain proportion of the partners for a certain proportion of the capital. But it was a notorious fact, and that fact would be elicited in the committee in a remarkable degree, that the greatest frauds and deceits were committed under this registration. Two or three persons getting up a company found little difficulty in procuring thirty or forty persons to put their names down for enormous amounts, who, when inquiries were made, were either not to be met with, or were dis covered to be men of no responsibility whatever. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the working of that law, if the house would permit him, he would read a short extract from the report of the assistant-registrar of jbint stock companies, and if they would listen to it they would be convinced at once that the law could not be left in its pre sent state. " This act had not been long in operation when public attention was forcibly arrested by the discovery of a series of frauds, which, _ when con- trasted with the station and resources of the indivi• duals concerned in them, may be described as of un exampled magnitude, and to the imperfection of a state of the law under which such frauds were possible. Some half-dozen adventurers, any one of whom in his individual capacity would have found it difficult to obtain credit to the most limited extent, boldly announced to the world the formation of an imaginary assurance company with a capital of 1,000,000/. • and, constituting themselves into a board of direction, and assuming all the outward characteristics of a wealthy and flourishing corporation, contrived, by holding out temporary inducements to the ignorant and unwary, and professing to conduct business on unusually liberal terms, to defraud the public in the course of about four years to the extent of upwards of 200,000/. There was nothing to which the public generally had access from which it could be discovered that this was not a company properly constituted, and possessing the capital to which it laid claim. Only a searching investiga tion such as few persons would think of undertaking, and which was not unattended with personal risk (for actions of damage were in this case brought against the first de nouncers of the fraud, who might thus have been seriously injured, if not ruined, before they had succeeded in bring ing it fully to light), could make it appear that there was nothing of a company but the name— no ca pital b u t tile contributions of the dupes themselves. So it was, how ever ; four men, personally without credit, character, or education—with no resources but boldness and cunning— succeeded in making the world believe for four years that they represented a company composed of some hundreds of partners, and that they had the command of a capital of 1,000,0001. sterling, simply because, there being no ready means of putting the truth of such representa tions to the test, the public had got very much into the habit of taking them for granted, or, at all events, of relying upon very slight presumptions in their favour." (Hear.) He begged to say in passing that the sanction of the act of Parliament had had vary much to do with creating that confidence. (Hear, hear, hear.) " A con sideration of the class of persons who suffered by this fraud, and who would be most likely to suffer by any similar fraud in time to come, being chiefly persona of very moderate income, who had been lured by the prospect of an advantageous investment of their savings, and to whom, therefore, the bursting of the bubble disclosed the fact of their ruin, had much effect in stimulating the Legislature to devise some means by which the perpetration of shill* frauds might be prevented for the time to come. A select committee of the House of Commons was appointed in 1841 to inquire into the law respecting joint-stock companies, with a view to the greater security of the public, and con tinued its investigations through the years 1842, 1843, and 1844. The committee began by ascertaining the means by which the fraud just referred to had been committed, then passed from it to other cases of proved or suspected fraud of recent occurrence, so as to bring, as nearly as possible, into one point the whole capacity for being turned to fraudu lent purposes inherent in the system of joint-stock com panies ; then, extending their inquiries generally to the re gulations under which, as a question of public policy, such companies ought to be placed with a view to the security of the shareholders as well as of the public, they finally agreed upon a report, upon the recommendations contained in which was founded the act now in force for the regulation of joint-stock companies, which was proposed to the House of Commons by the President of the Board of Trade, and received the Royal assent on the sth of September, 1844." It was under the Joint Companies Act that these evils and abuses had taken place,and he was afraid that the inves tigations of the committee would disclose in too many cases similar frauds. Another security provided by the act for the solvency of these companies—the production, namely . , of an annual balance-sheet, had been as much evaded as the other regulations laid down by Parliament. He believed that no man in the house or out of the house would under take to inform the public in what state the affairs of these companies were, judging from the balance-sheets which they exhibited. The fact was, that accounts might be presented in so many forms and shapes that it was impossible for the mind to arrive at any definite conclusion upon them. It appeared that in twenty-five of these insurance offices the receipts for the last year amounted to the sum of 462,0001. while the cost of management, according to their own showing, reached to 387,0001., leaving a balance of only 75,000/7 out of au income of nearly half a million sterling. (Hear, hear.) He thought the house would agree that, in tho face of startling facts of this kind, it would be criminal in the highest degree for the Government of this country to stand still with folded arms, and not attempt at least to devise a remedy. (Cheers.) At the same time he was anxious not to excite unnecessary alarm in the public mind. He had no doubt that what were called the "respectable" assurance offices were in a highly sound and prosperous condition. It was well known that those offices which submitted in an intelligible form their ac counts to their shareholders were, from the improved tenure of life which had prevailed during the last fifty yeas s, and the advantages afforded by their tables, among the most profitable of commercial undertakings. Bill he wished the house to understand that these were the excep tions) and not the rule. He was anxious, while this in quiry was pending, that the public should not relax in their habits of prudence, but he wished also that they should learn to distinguish between the principles which governed good and safe offices, and those on Which bad and unsafe offices were founded. All the Government wanted was that the securities taken should be securities of an absolute and living character, and not mere shams and delusions. It had beon proposed with great reason that the insurance companies should be subjected like other joint stock companies, to a test of solvency, by re qniring them to pay up a portion of their capital before they were allowed to be registered. lie was sorry to say that so numerous had been the institutions of a mush room description which had sprung up of late, and so palpable were the frauds which they practised to en trap the unwary, that they deserved to be characterised as swindling establishments. He would call the atten tion of the house to the multiplicity of these institu _ tions. Since the Joint-Stock Companies Act passed, 335 new insurance offices were projected, of which 149 were actually founded, and 90 had ceased to carry on business ; so that out of 335 projected, there were only 59 in existence. In the last year—for every year appeared to make matters worse—there were 72 new companies pro jected, 18 founded, and 12 had ceased to exist, leaving only six out of 72 which had been projected. For the reasons which he had stated, he thought that the house would feel satisfied that this state of things could not go on without inquiry, and he trusted that measures would be taken by which the existing act might be carried out, and such other provisions introduced as Parliament in its wisdom might think necessary. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WHALLEY expressed the satisfaction which he had felt at hearing the statement of :the hon. gentleman, and trusted that the supervision of the Legislature would be extended to benefit societies as well as insurance asso ciations. The poorer classes of society, he begged to assure the Government, required protection, even more than the middle classes, from the schemes of designing adventurers. He had had bitter experience in that part of the country which h e res id e d , o f th e u tt er d emora li sa ti on which h a d been occasion e d by th e f a il ure o f b ene fit soc i e ties. Withi n acircuit of som e thi ng lik e t en m il es, compr ising a popula tion o nearly 30,000 inhabit an t s , the h a bits of prudenc e and thrift which had been created among the labouring poprepseulnattiolnawhhadad ben seriously endangered, because the failed to insure to them the provision which th e y believed they had' made for sickness and old B ag e e i . eti T es h , e an sa d m aue principleother ' operated in th e case o f b ur i a l societies of the kind, and ho hoped the attention of the Government would be seriously di rected to this important subject. Mr. FORSTER observed that Parliament had already interfered in the regulation of joint-stock companies, and consequently, it must to'or thismsuut bad done harm by its interfere ce • go t further. H eit a l vi e n r g un p c af lo d w a ha gr t e h a r of be a e t n ten d t o i n on e, become acquainted with a good many of the abusesec he had were going on under the present system • and he must w say that the country was greatly indebted 'to the honourabley member for Westbury for bringing this matter under the attention of the house. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible that the vigilance of the house and of the public could be t d the evil. 1 1 •s w iic tit was de aroused upon a subject of greater importance. The act of 18411 mil greatly aggrava ° „ e re nwtouetewy great difficulties signed to check. There w surrounding the subject ; but it would be the business of the committee to inquire into the whole question, and see what remedy could be applied. It was clear, at any rate, that if matters were allowed to go as they were doing, the public would be involved in most serious losses. As there was to be an inquiry', he would not prejudge the case, but wait for the report of the committee. In the meantime, however, he hoped that the able and clear statement which the hon. gentleman had made, to the accuracy of which he could himself bear testimony, would go forth to the public, and arrest the evil which was in progress. Mr. BROTHERTON said that, having moved for the returns to which the hon. member for Westbury had ad verted, he might be permitted to express his satisfaction at the course proposed to be taken by the Government, and he was sure that it would give equal satisfaction to all the solvent institutions in the country. Mr. GEACH thought that legislation on this subject was absolutely necessary, and that no subject of greater social importance could come under the consideration of Parliament. . Mr. HUME never had any confidence in the act of 1844; and if people did not take care of themselves, what could acts of Parliament do for them ? To his mind, nothing could be more satisfactory than the statement of his hon. friend, that out of 335 insurance companies projected since that act, only 55 now remained. The same erroneous principle had been applied to banking companies, and the day was not far distant when the country would appreciate at its true value that course of legislation. His hon. friend saw that Parliament had done wrong, and he thought he was quite right to " try back:: As to balance-sheets, they were of no use. If he were disposed to be a rogue, he would make out as fair a balance-sheet as any man could show in the kingdom. The question upon a balance-sheet was, whether the account presented was a true account. He did not know anything that was more material to the welfare of the community than a well-established insurance office ; but, after all, every man must look after his own affairs, for they could not be safely left to any one else. Mr. T. CHAMBERS doubted whether the course pro posed by the honourable gentleman the member for Westbury was, upon the whole, one which would se cure the advantages which he hoped to gain by it. It appeared to him (Mr. Chambers) that no amend ment of an act of Parliament would render personal care and vigilance unnecessary. Balance-sheets only showed the receipts and expenditure for the year ; they did not show, and they ought not to show, the value of a company's assets, the calculation of which must be carefully prepared by gentlemen who understood the question. Such an estimate ought not to be required from a company more than once in five years, because it would not be fair that the expense of making a calculation should be thrown upon them every year. It was said that the public did not take care of themselves ; but it appeared to him that the facts stated by the honourable gentleman proved that they knew very well how to do so. The insur ance offices of Great Britain, without Ireland, had an in come of nearly five millions sterling, and the fact of their existence showed that the public had confidence in them, and that such confidence was well bestowed. All their liabilities were met; and, as out of 335 projected companies only 59 were now in existence, he did not see that there was any ground for saying that the public did not know how to take care of themselves. For these rea sons, though he should not oppose the motion, he still doubted whether the advantages which were expected would be secured. Mr. SOTHERON thanked the honourable member for Westbury for having brought this subject before the house. He was unconnected with any assurance office whatever, but in the course of the inquiries which had been granted by the house, at his instance, during the last three or four years, on the subject of benefit societies, he had occasion to examine the actuaries of some of the most respectable assurance offices in London, and he was sure that it was the wish of all of them that some such inquiry as that now proposed should be instituted. He believed that at this moment the capital represented by insurance com panies was estimated at 350,000,0001., and this was there fore an interest of sufficient importance to justify Parlia ment in dealing with it specially. The question was whether, comparing the assets of the different insurance companies with their liabilities, their affairs would be in a solvent state if wound up, and this could not be ascertained in the present elute of the law. The motion was then agreed to. THE EASTER HOLIDAYS. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that on Friday, the 18th inst., he should move the adjournment of the house for the Easter holidays, from that day until Monday, the 4th of April • and he should at the same time propose that on the Thursdays after Easter orders of the day take pre cedence of motions. On the motion of Mr. MUNTZ, the following select committee was nominated to inquire into the seizure of the ship Novelle :—Mr. Muntz, Lord Stanley, Sir F. Baring, Mr. Spooner , Mr. Cowper, Mr. Archibald Hastie, Mr. Ker Seymer, Mr. Price, and Captain Boldero. Mr. WHALLEY, who had given notice of a motion to bring under the notice of the house the petition of Samuel Massey Cross, relative to the capture by pirates of th e s hi p Violet, in October, 1851, stated that as the Gover nmen t had promised to take the subject into consideration, he would postpone his motion until this day week. On the motion of Mr. MUNTZ, a select committee was appointed to inquire if the reporters and strangers may be allowed to remain in the house during divisions, excepting on special occasions, and if possible to devise some plan by which the time allowed between the divisions being de clared and the doors being closed shall be correctly and satisfactorily determined. On the motion of Mr. W. PATTEN (in the absence of Mr. Labouchere) it was ordered that the Speaker do not issue his warrant for a new writ for Kingston-upon-Hull, before Tuesday, the 12th April. On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON (in the absence of Mr. Tufnell) it was ordered that the mi nu t es o f ev i- , donee taken before the Tavistock Election Committee, and the minutes of proceedings, be laid before the house. On the motion of Mr. SOTHERON (in the absence of Mr. Bramston) it was ordered that the evidence taken before the Chatham Election Committee be printed, and. also that the Speaker do not issue his warrant for a new writ for the borough until the 11th of April. The Designs Act Extension Bill was read a third time and passed. CATHEDRAL APPOINTMENTS BILL. On the question that the house resolve itself into coin mittee on this bill, Mr. SPOONER expressed a hope that the committee would be postponed, as the hon. member for Oxford htid some amendments to propose. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said he had seen the hon. member, and had made an alteration which met his appro val. It was merely a suspension act. Mr.EWART complained that while it was the intention of Parliament to reduce the incomes of deans to 1,0001. a year, some of the deans on the new foundation were enjoy ing 2,0001., and in some cases the canons were enjoying' more than the deans. He thought the subject well deserv ing of the attention of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and that some steps ought to be taken to prevent the inten tions of the Legislature being frustrated. The house then went into committee, the clauses were agreed to, and the report was ordered to be received to morrow. On the motion of Mr. WILSON the Indemnity Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to morrow. Mr. CARDWELL brought in the Pilotage Bill, which was road a first time. Tho house then adjourned at ten o'clock. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.--No. CCCLXXXVII. SALISBURY MEETING. At the time I wrote my observations on yesterday's races at Doncaster, it was pretty generally understood that Broughton would represent Cunningham's stable for the Trial Stakes, and, consequently, I gave him as the winner. Too late, however, for publication, I discovered that they had transferred their affections to his stable companion, Snowdon Dunhill, who won in the easiest of canters. Audubon, who ran fifth and last, was not placed there on his merits, but by his very lusty condition. The Steeplechase proved the truth of the Liverpool running—Peter Simple, notwithstanding extra weight, again defeating Miss Mowbray easily. She, in her turn, disposed of the remainder of the field without any trouble. The Hopeful was won by a very smart filly of Mr, Hawkes's, by Melbourne, out of Punniar, y'clept Mid. summer. In my opinion an improving and very useful Tom Taylor's Orlando colt is about the best two years old produce in his stable this year. There is only one stake of any importance to be de cided to-morrow at Salisbury that is entered for at the present time—that relic of past times, the City Bowl, value 18 sovs. in specie, and 12 from the fund, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each. The City Members' Plate and Her Majesty's Guineas not closing and naming until this evening. Both the Triennials, in all probability, will terminate in walks over. The only stake demanding my attention is the Wilt shire Stakes, of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, &c. (two miles.) Cariboo does not run. Buckthorn at Bst 21b is not be yond the pale of victory, but possibly he may be re served for the Steward's Plate on the following day. The Knight of the Shire has been the only horse backed to any extent ; and at 7st 121 b, with Nat up, ought to finish about the mark. Benita, I fancy, will remain at home. The same remark will apply to Defiance and Corybantes. Eulogist, at sst 111 b, has a few pounds too much to carry ; and Tavistock, at sst 91b, seems to me to be in the same predicament. Jack the Giant Killer, at 41bs less than the preceding, receiving 2 stones and a half of the Knight of the Shire, will probably just beat the latter ; and Postulent, at 61bs less than Jack, I have an idea will beat them both. Lampedo, I presume, has better things in view, and will remain in his stable. If I place POSTULANT first, Jack the Giant Killer second, and Knight of the Shire third, I think I shall just about anticipate the result. I shall touch upon Friday's races to-morrow. KIRKHAM STEEPLECHASES.—These steeplechases come off to-morrow. Ploughboy, Little Charley, and Daphne have arrived for the Grand Handicap ; and Vainhope, Talisman, and one of Osborne's, are reported en route. The fields for the Innkeeper's Plate and Free Handi cap Sweepstakes will be tolerably good, as the list of arrivals and the horses expected, include the follow ing :—Johnny Barrie, Pride of the North, Toni of Tuam, Uncle Tom, Crabbs, Freshwater, Harmony, Lady Wil ton, Royal Blue, Nell)* Brown, Miss Purden, and Widow Machree. WILTSHIRE STAKES (SALISBURT).—The starting of Postulant for this stake is somewhat doubtful ' there fore, having received a first rate account of Tavistock from head quarters, he must be taken in addition as a likely occupant of the post of honour. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TUESDAY. DONCASTER HANDICAP. 3to 1 agst Ethelbert (taken). 6to 1 agst Llanforda (taken). 10 to 1 agst St. Andrew (taken). 16 to 1 agst Burndale (taken). METROPOLITAN 'HANDICAP. 7to 1 agst Contentment (taken). 12 to 1 agst Lampedo (taken). 20 to 1 agst Pug Orrock (taken). 26 to 1 agst Snowdon Dunhill (taken). 20 to 1 agst Defiance (taken). 25 to 1 agst Redmond O'Hanlou. THE DUKE AND THE PENINS HEAR WAR, Now ready, in 3 vols., post Bvo., :31s. bound, ri'llE PRIVATE JOURNAT.i of F. S. LAR 1_ PENT, Esq., Judge Advocate.Geners 1 , 4 the British Forces in the Peninsular, attached to the Head Quat 'tars of Lord Wellington during the Peninsular War, from 1812 to its. close. Now first pub. lished from the Original MSS. Edited by Sir GEORGE L Anr ENT, Bart. "Anecdotes of, and observations on, the Duke are frequent, and they are among the best that have appeared.. This is one of the most new and interesting works that we have inet for many a day."— Spectator. " Will rank alongside Napier's Peninsular War,' as the best civilian accountof the occurrences of that memorable episode in European b story ." Globe. "A more complete, a more graphic. a more fascinating diary has never been placed before the public."—Unitisd Service Gazette. Richard Bentley, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty. THEATRE ROYAL, II AYM.A.RKET. Farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster so Lessee and Manager THIS EVENING, MARCH 9, A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. Supported by Messrs. Leigh Murray, Howe, Lambert, and 11. Bedford ; Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Fanny Maskell, &a, To be followed by MINI) YOUR OWN BUSINESS. To conclude with the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and SETTLED. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Undor the Management of Madame Vestria. THIS EVEIsTING, MARcit 9, Will be performed A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK-FROCK. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Horncastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell. After which, the popular new Fairy Extravaganza entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which. Messrs. F. Matthews, Suter, florneastie, and Templeton; Madame Yestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wynd ham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosina Wright will appear. To conclude wit's LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Sole Agent tor the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Lllcroft, 15, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. pioprieter, Mr. B. WebSten —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAnca 9, By desire, the popular Drama of THE GREEN BUSHES ; or, a Hundred fears Ago. Supported by Messrs. Paul Bedford, Honey, and Emery Madame Celeste and Miss Woolgar. After which, the Drama of SLATE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin. To conclude with JACK SHEPPARD. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. • Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, Max= 9, Will be produced Shatspere's Tragedy of MACBETH (as acted at Windsor Castle, by Royal command). Principal characters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1853. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, Mason 9, Will be presented THE SERGEANT'S WIFE. After which, LILIAN GERVAIS. Supported by Messrs. Comp ton, W. Ferrer., G. Cooke, Shalders, Edgar, Bender, and Clifton ; Misses Anderton and H. Gordon. To conclude with the Ballet of THE DUMB RECRUIT. Boa-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence , 3f Mr. E. Chatterton. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Positively the Last Week of Mr. Batty's Management. THIS EVENING, Memo 9, And dnring the week, the Entertainments will commence With for the Last Six Repsesentations, MAZE EPA AND THE WILD HORSE, with all its original magnificent effects. To be followed by an incomparable disply of Batty's Scenes in the Arena. Supported by the first Artistes of the day. To conclude with a Laughable Farce. Doors open at Ralf-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven. Box-Oleo open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tan DAY —Morning 52 min. after 1 Evening 11 min.a ft . 2 To-Moaftew—Morning 34) min. after 2 I Evening 50 min.aft. 2 DAILY WEA7HER TABLI. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGS—S.W., light air—foggy. SOUTHAMPTON—., gentle breeze—foggy. FOLKESTONE—W. fresh breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—S. - VV., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GREENWICH—W., gentle breeze —overcast. STROOD—tW., gentle breeee—partially cloudy. SWINDON—S.W., gentle breeze—rain. CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. YARMOUTH— W., calm—foggy. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Monday morning at nine o'clock : LIMERICK—W. calm—cloudless. • MULLINGAR— SIW., gentle breeze—cloudless. HASTINGS—S.W. gentle breeze—foggy, rain. SOUTHAMPTON— W., gentle breeze—rain. FOLKESTONE—S.W., fresh breeze—rain. "UNBRIDGE—S.W., calm—overcast. BASINGSTOKE—W., gentle breeze—scud, rain. GREENWICH—W. gentle breeze—rain. STROOD—W. gentle breeze—rain. SWINDON- 1 k calm—cloudy. LEIGHTON—I. calm—rain. C Y A A m n ß m it o rD u YARMOUTH—W ., , S :W gcalentle breeze—rain. HOLYHEAD—N., gentle . eze—rain, WHITBY—N., gentle breeze —overcast. DARLINGTON—S.W., gentle breeze partially cloudy, mild. SHAD—W., calm—principally clear. THE WEATHER.-SUN Onus, Melton 9. THERMOMETER, IN TUB SHADE. o—highest since noon yesterday. 32—lowest this morning and during the night. 42 this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30•22—rising rapidly. WIND, changed from N.N.E. to S.W.—Fine breeze, and sunshiny weather. THE PUBLICATION OF " THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT. THREE O'CLOCK, AND TEJ LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING TIIII DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT THE SAME EVENING, With all other HMO arriving up to the hour of Po'l, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. .. ,ji 4.24,,, • . :,... ~..t.„. ~ T z ~:,..--c*4.:,lA:-.21.),§a11t, b LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1853. It is impossible to estimate too highly the im portance of the subject which the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Westbury last night introduced to the House of Commons, in a speech of great clearness and ability. It is not merely the enormous amount of capital invested in Assurance Companies, or the vast power whiCh the command of so much money or convertible securities, places in the hands of the managers that invests the matter with so deep an interest. The nature of the business transacted, the charac terare such as to render it im perativeLeggsislature to afford the strongest possible f against fraud or deception of any kind. It is on their solvency and stability that many hard-working men of the middle class depend for the future provision for their families, cheerfully submitting to privations and self-nega tions of no ordinary description, more than satis fied with the knowledge ' that their provi dence will be the means of averting absolute poverty and destitution from those dearer even than life itself, when the father and protector is no longer present to pro vide the necessaries and comforts of existence. Such an assurance affords the strongest consola tion in the hour of danger. When disease is sapping the vital powers, and life itself is trem bling in the balance, what are, what must be the feelings of one who has neglected the obvious duty, on beholding the partner of his joys and sorrows---clearer, perhaps, for the trials they had encountered together, and the helpless pledges of their mutual affection at the heart-rending thought, that, after his death, they would be left Penniless, without the means of providing a single meal—their only hope resting on the tender mer cies of the Poor-law Union, of which the dying husband and father had. long been a ratepayer ? How greatly would the bitterness of the feeling be alleviated —how large a portion of the sting removed—by the idea that his family would have a suitable provision after death a provision that had been secured by his own praise worthy prudence. There would, of course, be the natural feelings of anxiety and terms at the mighty change awaiting him, but the most Painful portion of his feelings would be com pletely removed. It was well remarked by the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of the Treasury, that " the liabilities and responsibilities of banks and other joint-stock companies to individuals were of a comparatively momentary description." The failure of a bank may entail great loss and mxch suffering for the time being ; but hope would still remain. The provider of the family would be spared, and so long as his faculties remained unimpaired hope would remain. Even in case of fire assurance, the mischief might in time be got over ; but the failure of a Life Assurance Company to meet its engagements would be an irreparable evil—one that would leave no ray of hope to lighten the prevailing gloom. If there. be any justification for legislative interference with commercial en terprise —any pretext for interference with Joint- Stock Companies —a fortiori, there is not only a right, but an imperative necessity, for regulating the affairs of Life Assurance Associations, and we would include in the category every descrip tion of friendly society and burial club, promising assistance to members or their nominees in time of sickness or death. But while we readily and freely concede the propriety of a stringent and searching investiga tion into the management and working of these im portant institutions, we would inculcate the absolute necessity of the greatest caution before the passing of any enactments that would unduly affect the oper ations of legitimate and bond fide companies, and prevent that almost unrestricted competition so ex ceedingly beneficial to the community. Let every reasonable precaution be taken against wilful and deliberate fraud, provided that such precaution does not operate as a prohibition to dealings by the less wealthy, although not less honest, Asso ciations, or confer a practical monopoly on the Leviathan establishments, so as to enable them to charge more highly than the circumstances of each case might warrant. Care must be taken lest, "in shunning Scylla, we fall into Charybdis." In avoiding one evil, we must not fall into others of still greater magnitude. The contemplated inquiry will also be useful, because, while some of the shoals and quicksands that beset the way of the intending insurer are exposed, the numerous and 'important advantages of the system itself will be exhibited in the clearest light. We believe that the latter will prove even the most beneficial branch of the subject. For strange to say, not withstanding the alleged facilities for fraud, we believe that few, if any, instances of serious loss can be adduced since the bursting of the monster bubble, the Independent and West Middlesex Assurance Company, immortalised by CHARLES DICKENS as the Anglo-Bengalee, and re ferred to in the graphic Report of the Assistant- Registrar of Joint-Stock Companies. It must also be borne in mind, that the fraud, in that instance had been fully exposed long before the passing of the Joint-Stock Companies Act (7 and 8 Vic., c. 11 0) ; it was, indeed, we believe, one of the chief causes of the introduction of the Act. The number of abortive schemes during the last or any preceding year, constitute no argument for new enactments unless there was fraud in their concoction, and 'that through their instrumentality parties had been plundered of their money. Many might, have failed in carrying out meritorious projects ; the requisite funds might not have been subscribed, or the expenses of management been too heavy, to leave a resonable profit to the shareholders ; but so long as the accruing liabilities are provided for, there can be no just cause of complaint. The proposed investigation will, however, elicit much valuable information, and produce the necessary data for future legislation. Every intelligent man must take a deep inte rest in the great Colonial question now before Parliament, and must rejoice to see it advancing so auspiciously towards the much-to-be-desired settlement. We have little doubt, indeed, that a considerable number who voted in the minority on the Clergy Reserves Bill did so because un willing to desert their party, they inwardly rejoice as statesmen that they were in a minority. It were invidious to particularise, but we must believe that few thinking men can really wish the Canadian and the Imperial Legislatures to maintain an annual war. That this would inevitably be the case is clear from all the past history of these Reserves, and from .the fact, not only admitted but stated by Sir JOHN PAKINOTON himself, that on account of the ever-varying proportions of re ligious denominations in Canada, chiefly occasioned by emigration, the proportions of the grants assigned to each, must from time to time be re adjusted by the Imperial Parliament. One must wonder that Sir JOHN did not shrink from im posing on our over-burdened House of Commons such a decennial appendix to a Canadian census. It seems to have been such a concession of the impossibility of a final measure, that it obviously invalidates all his reasonings from the Act of 1840, and places Sir JOHN in the position of a Statesman clinging as long as possible to the con stantly diminishing grant which he can secure for his own Church, reckless of all the odium which he brings upon it. It gives us the greater pleasure to see Mr. GLADSTONE take such a completely opposite and truly honourable course. On this question, at least, he rises superior to every prepossession, and takes a position every way worthy of a British statesman. No one can suspect him of want of attachmant to the Episcopalian Church ; but it is an intelligent, not a pounds-shillings and-pence attachment. He believes that the goodwill of the Canadians is of infinitely more consequence to its success amongst them, than the retention of a paltry and disputed grant. He boldly asserts the vast difference between our legis lating in this country for a few scattered villages, three-quarters of a century ago, and our now attempting the same thing for 2,000,000 of people; but perhaps the opening remarks of Mr. GLADSTONE were amongst the most important. Had the truths he told been regarded by the opponents of the Government measure, they would have silenced much of their clamour. Referring to Mr. MILLS especially, and others who presumed "to bear testimony to the sentiments of the Canadian people," Mr. GLADSTONE observed, that nothing could be more unconstitutional in theory, and more mischievous in practice, than to listen to the vague reports of travellers, and the representations of individuals, instead of the distinctly. expresd opinions of the representatives of the people. In those colonies which do not enjoy free institutions, it is a work of the utmost difficulty for Government to ascertain the real opinions of the inhabitants ; but when our Parlia ment has itself conferred upon the people a Repre sentative Assembly, it is bound to take its delibe rate judgment as conclusive evidence of the state of public opinion in the colony. A better view of the position of the Home and Colonial Legislatures to each other it is impossible to give. If steadily maintained, the connection between the mother country and the colonies must be both cordial and beneficial. It is singular that the New York en dowments of the Episcopal Church should be cited on behalf of maintaining the grants, since they were made by free gifts to corporations, and alto gether in contrast to the statements of Sir JOHN PAKINGTON'S American friend is the plain fact, that in so many of the colonies (Massachusetts and Virginia were mentioned by Mr. GLADSTONE) state endowments were most certainly entirely done aw a y w ith; an d t h at a f ter l ong exist dice ; probably, t oo , th ose en d ow ments which were spared escaped secularisation because there was no one attempting to override the unques tioned right of the colonists to do what they would with their own. Mr. GLADSTONE apprised his stiff Church opponents, that their only chance of saving the property they clung to, fox Church uses, was just to throw themselves upon the gene rosity of the colonists, and that the sure w a y t o render their secularisation certain, was to m a k e them the subject of an irritating intermeddling from England. A. view in which we entirely con cur with him. Sir W. MOLESWORTH spoke at great length, and, it is needless to say, with the most perfect command of the whole subject, and in support of the best Colonial principles ; and we doubt not that whenever he speaks on Colonial matters, it will only make the public feel more strongly the strange allotment which has given to a Peelite, however able, an office which every man of every party in the kin g d om would, in a Cabinet of Liberals, assign at once to Sir W. MOLESWORTH. If his exhaustive speech were not conclusive of the subject, it will strike the reader that it could only be by reason of a foregone conclusion in the minds of his hearers. His analysis of the Canadian division lists completely silenced all the attempts (mischievous had they been well-founded) to prove that the majority in Canada was made up of Ro- man Catholics. The Protestants are 54 to 30 in the House of Assembly, and in every division the absolute majority of Protestants in favour of what the Government now proposes was very consider able. The last division, for instance, on the 14th of September last, against the finality of the Act of 1840, was one of 50 to 18 ! Of the majority 25 were Protestants, of the minority 18 ; while 20 of the majority were Upper Canadian Mem bers, of the minority but 14 were so. Of course, it is abundantly clear that the present Govern ment measure has not only a vast majority in the Canadian House of Assembly, but a large majority both of Protestants and Upper Canadian Members —a state of things which the good sense of this country will never allow to be trifled with. We trust, however, that the majority of 83 in the Commons will be accepted, even by the Bishop of EXETBR, as decisive, especially in a money ques tion. No doubt a great deal of sectarian feeling is mixed up with the question here, and we most cordially repeat our expressions of pleasure that we have seen, both in the Lords and in the Commons, the most noble superiority to such feeling on the part of Members of the Government known to have very strong re ligious predilections ; their whole bearing and argument evincing that it is a superiority not assumed merely for Cabinet purposes, but the honest expression of their opinions as statesmen. To us nothing appears more clear than that it is a purely local matter. If religion be not so, what is ? If we have no right to interfere with each other's religion here, if it would be resented as intolerable, how much more so to interfere with the religion of our colonies 3,000 miles off. Whether our fellow-subjects, then, will be Episcopalians, or Presbyterians, Independents or Baptists, Catholics or Methodists, is surely no concern of ours ; and equally, surely, may they claim to support their respective creeds by voluntaryism or by endowment, as to them seems good. They only know which best harmonises with their sentiments, and which is best adapted to the secular conditions of their colony. For one thing, so far as we know, the voluntary sects even in this country pay their working clergy quite as well, on the whole, as the Establishments. Pro bably they would do so in Canada. But, we repeat, how, and how much, they will pay their ministers, is for them, not for us, to settle. A civilian as First Lord of the Admiralty has always been regarded by us with feelings little else than those of indignation. It was in considera tion of his professional character, combined with 'his admitted abilities, that we regretted so very earnestly the displacement of the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND. If anything—we admit this at once--could have lessened our distress at the return to the old system, consequent on the inauguration of the present Cabinet, it would undoubtedly have been the selection of a successor to his Grace so rarely gifted as Sir JAMES GRAHAM —a statesman qualified both by genius and ex perience for almost any one of the higher offices of Administration. But even the distinguished merits of that Right Hon. Baronet have failed to diminish our chagrin at the instalment at the head of the maritime service of England of one who has not risen to that dignity by his service on the salt water. It has ever appeared to us quite as absurd to subject the Royal Navy to the governance of a civilian, as it would be to place a civilian in supreme command at the Horse Guards—nay, as it would be to appoint a non-clerical personage Archbishop of Canterbury, or to promote some other than a law lord to the woolsack of the Chancellor. Our sen timents upon this subject we have taken occasion to express upon every available opportunity. We have repeatedly protested against the custom of subjecting the whole of our gallant band of sea captains to the authority of a non-professional member of the Government. We hive regarded that custom, and must ever regard it, as an insult to the maritime service of the United Kingdom. Its continuance implies that the country finds it impossible to select from among its naval officers any one capable of efficiently dis charging the duties of directing the affairs of that illustrious and peculiarly national department. Against such an imputation as this—an imputa tion derogatory to the character of the Service— it is impossible not to lift up one's voice, again and again, in tones of mingled protest and expostu lation. We cannot see for the life of us how Sir FRANCIS BARING can be supposed to know more about the requirements of the Royal Navy than his Grace the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND. We cannot understand why even Sir J. GRAHAM with all his great powers should be deemed so absolutely necessary just now at the Admiralty as chief of the Lords Commissioners, while we have still amongst us flag-officers of singular emi nence, and, beyond all, while we have still living in the midst of us--the NELSON of his age—the heroic and veteran Earl of DUNDONALD. It was surprising, therefore, all these things considered, that a naval officer should•recently in the House of Commons accede to the propriety, if not to the justice, of admitting a civilian by pre ference to the command of the maritime depart ment of the Administration. It was surprising that Sir G. PECHELL should, in the course of the discussion, upon the naval estimates avow dis tinctly from his place in the Legislature, that although he had frequently before expressed an anxiety to behold a naval officer at the head of the Board at Charing-cross (meaning Parliament street), he now found that "he had made a great mistake in thinking that such an arrangement would be desirable l" We don't wonder after this declaration from the Honourable and Gallant Member for Brighton, that we should have been addressed upon the subject, as we were the other evening, by a member of the maligned, or, at any rate, depreciated profession. Had Sir FRANCIS BARING been placed at the head of the Horse Guards under Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Admi nistration—.•had Sir JAMES GRAHAM been ap pointed Commander-in-Chief on the recent forma- tion of the Earl of ABERDEEN'S Government —w e scarcely fancy there would have been any officer in the British army with temerity enoughtobravaed,theef opinion of his brothers in arms, and, let us add, the principal portion of the intelligent community likewise, by exulting in the nomi na ti on of a civilian, however gifted, to a post which had been occupied formerly by Lord HILL and the Duke of WELLINGTON. An examination of the maritime annals of England will reveal, we conceive, with tolerable distinctness whether the affairs of the Admiralty have been conducted efficiently or in efficiently under the guidance of professional ad ministrators. Let JAMES be our witness in this particular. We would rest satisfied with the re sult of an exclusive reference to his luminous nar rative. But every writer bearing even incidentally upon the subjeckkeated of in his masterly History, would be found, on examination, to abound in facts amply corroborative. The annals of this great country prove that the capabilities of its maritime service were brought to their first pitch of excellence by a Prince who had already shown himself to be an able commander upon the ocean in moie than one brilliant and memorable engage ment--for King JAMES 11., as Duke of YORK, not merely obtained for himself the glory of being one of the earliest victors whose achievements are emblazoned in the records of the British Navy, but also of securing to himself the high and enviable distinction of so fostering the energies of that navy that he must be regarded in simple justice as literally its First Organiser. Here surely is a case in point. Here surely is the instance of a successful commander on the seas, proving himself afterwards on land an eminently successful administrator. Coming down to a more recent period, there was the brave Sir JOHN JERVIS, afterwards Earl of ST. VINCENT. We scarcely expect that the Hon. and Gallant Representative of Brighton will deny the merits of that renowned officer, whether treading the Quarter Deck or pre siding at the Board of Admiralty. Here, again, is the example of a professional statesman proving himself not altogether inefficient as the chief of the Lords Commissioners ! Yet nowadays we can witness an officer in the Royal Navy rising from his place in the House of Commons, and acknow ledging that he had made " a great mistake" in thinking, as he had done formerly, that a civilian ought not to be at the Head of the Board at Charing-cross ! Better than this is it to see, II the conduct of the members of the national pro fession, an interest in watching over the develop ment of steam power in our ships-of-war, and the advancement of the science of gunnery, and the improvement of the whole system of Naval Archi tecture. Instead of commending the appointment of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, at the expense of the true interests of the very department over which that Right Hon. B arone t h as b een p l ace d as s upreme administrator, it were well if officers like Sir G. PECHELL would emulate the intelligent labours of such men as Captain HOSEASON, to whose excel lent pamphlets on the application of the Screw Propeller we can only now earnestly direct the attention of the general public, without pledging ourselves, however, to an entire coincidence with his ingenious and comprehensive argument- * The Steam Navy ; and the Application of Screw' Pr' pellers to Sea-going Line-of-Battle Ships. A letter, &O. By John Cochrane lioseason, R.N. Bvo, pp. 69. Saun ders and Stanford. London: 1853. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by t he , Princess Royal an d th e P r i ncess Ali ce, too k a drive i n an open landau an d f our y es t er d ay afternoon. The equerries in waiting, Colonel Bouverie and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, attended on horseback. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse' back yesterday morning, attended by Captain the lion. Dudley de Ros. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and hi° Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. visited the Unit e d S erv i ce I ns tit ut i on, S co tl an d-Yard' yesterday afternoo n . Her Majesty and hi s R o y a l Hi g h ness P r i nce Albe rt ' accompanied by he r S erene Hi g h ness th e P r i nc ess Ade; laide of Hohenl o h e , an d a tt en d e d b y t h e C oun tess of Charlement, the Ho n . El eanor St an l ey , th e Marquis °f Ormonde, Colo ne l B ouver i e , an d C ap nth the 11 °, 1 1' Dudley de Ros, honoured the Princess's Theatre " their presenc e last evening. Her Majesty's p r i va t e b an d was i n a tt en d ance ,at the Palace on Monday e ven i ng , an d p er f orme d th e f o llowing compositions : Gibbs, Overture, "La Dame Blanche " Boieldien. Pot pourri, "Il Corsaro " Papalardo• Selection, " Haydee" • Auber. • Pas Redouble . Klose. The Countess of Charlemont has relieved the Countess of Desart in her duties as Lady in Waiting to her lkia . j es ty. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, aone ra i panied by her Sere ne Hi g h ness th e P r i ncess Adelaide e s . Hohenlohe, visited her Roy a l Hi g h ness th e Duchess el Cambridge yesterday at her residence at Kew. • The Countess of Lichfield was prevented by indisPesl tion from dining with the Qu een a t B uc ki ng h a m Pal ace on Monday. A deputation from the Ryd6 commissioners, with re spect to the appli ca ti on o f th e P u bli c H ea l t h Act at Ryde, had an interview y es t er d a y w ith th e Gener a Board of Health at their office, Whitehall. The deP a tation were introduced by Colonel Vernon Harcour t ' M.P., and consisted of Messrs. Dashwood, J. Stephens' H. Stephens, J. Dashwood, G. Rendall, and J. A. Hearn, A deputation from the Town Council of Portsmout h also had an i n t erv i ew w i th the General Board of Ifealti; The dep u t a ti on cons i ste d o f the Mayor of Portsmell'd (Mr. Stigant), Mr. Alderman Bramble, Mr. Ford, Mr. Howard, town clerk. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Gurney, James Bell, G. Barclay, Sir Edward Buxton, and_r: Chameroozow, had an i n te rv i ew w ith th e D u k e of r 4B " ' castle yesterday at the Colonial-office. A deputation f rom th e C omm i ss i oners o f Portsrnot from the guar di ans, - an d from a public meet i ng 0' "ri inhabitants, had an interview yesterday with the Gen e Board of Health. The deputation consisted of th Mayor of Portsmouth, Messrs. D. Levy, John Edwards' M. Solomon, H. F. Gauntlett, W. H. Dere, and Dr. Blundell. tr Dispatches were rece i ve d a t th e C o l on i a l- o ffi ce yefte ~,, day from the Gov ernors o f Gib ra lt ar an d M a lta, I ,P; Lord High Co mm i ss i oner o f t h e l on i an I s l an ds, l': 11 Governor of New Ze a l an d and the Governor of S °ll Australia. Dispatcheswere sent yesterday to the Governors of Ceylon and Hong Kong. CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY. Yesterday the committee of the House of Cowin /1 1 upon the company's bill me t i n comm itt ee - roo m 11° ' Lord Barrington in the chair. Mr. Alexander, Q.C., on behalf of the promote r f or the bill, addressing the committee, said its object was.,,_ the purpose of purchasing the building of the Great .r . -1 1 hibition of 1851, in Hyde Park, and for the construetT.d of it, or of any addition thereto, on another site ; au s also for the purpose of forming and maintaining con e2 d vatories, parks, and museums, for the illustration a ° advancement of the arts and manufactures. In pursnaP ee f of these objects the committee had subscribed the sun , 400,0001. and upwards, and have either purchased, °r contracted to purchase, an estate in Kent and Surrnil near Sydenham ; and are re-erecting thereon the said building, with vast additions thereto, and are laying ' , L it considerable portions of land in gardens and pirre grounds. The estate was intersected by two moo, a, n d a bridle-way called Thickets'-lane, in bad repair ro a, little used, and the other, part of a public carriage '3l), D %le ns. called the Penge-road, leading from Penge to steep and inconvenient ; and both interfering nt e it r i l an d with the designs of the company for their gar t their pleasure -ground s . Th e company were w illing, 3 u blic • o own expense, to ma k e an d t o dedicate t the P.lasting better and more commo di ous roa d s t h an the e u p roads, upon power b e i ng gran t e d t o th e m to st° P the existing roads, and to purchase Dulwich Ni r °° After hearing witn es s es , th e comm itt ee declared o t s h ,A e preamble of the bill proved, striking out the p rating clauses. SIR W. CARDEN AND THE S TOCK EXCHAISTG. , . 0 remarks of Sir W. C ar d en i n th e C ourt o f Alderrae o i yesterday, have given great offence to the frequent e 7 h v the Stock Exchan ge ; an d thi s morn i ng, w h en the w'o tell alderman made his appearance there, he was iminedi ° , oo , surrounded by a large b o dy o f " ama t eur " speculatio and treated in a very unpleasant manner. Il e 1 forced into the "C omm i ss i oner ' s B ox, " an d forcibly 1„0 there, while his tormentors treated him to a volleice alternate cheers and g r oa ns . It i s represen t e d io been quite a scene; but as the occurrence took 1' 1 ; 0 upon forbidden ground to all but a privileged fe w ' it can do no mor e th an re l a t e th e na t ure of the affair "" has reached us from a reliable source. OLICS; P RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF C OMMISSIONER 01 ; " r a —For some time it ha s b een rumoure d t h at Si r Mayne intended to resign his office of Chief C o° , l— O u r sioner of the Metropolitan Police, and several b u t police magistrates w ere s p o k en o f as his successo r ; ray now it is finally und ers t oo d th at S i r Richard will sh°"teci retire on a full pension, and that Mr. Henry, the &t al . magistrate at Bo w - s t reet P ol i ce Court, will succeed hi nd Captain Hay will s till retain his situation as Sec-ro. Commission er , an d t h e only reason of his not being Itiot moted is, that a recent act of Parliament specifies f the Chief C omm i ss i oner must be a barrister-at law, °Chief less than s even years standing. The situation of r Commission er i s worth rather ore than 1,500/. a Y e ,... a and from the well-known experience of Mr. Henri — c o magistrate of the Metropolitan Police Courts, there be no doubt he will equal his predecessor. tid e° ARRIVALS OF GOLD.—GoId co i n i n var i ous qua rt a. continues to be s en t i n th e vesse l s sa ili ng for Alielt--0101 73,0001., it i s s t a t e d, h as b een f orwarded to Liveir - to-day to be shipped on board the Marco Polo. she ENGLISH AND AUSTRA L I AN C OPPER COMPANI• __ the following memorandum has been received frail, The English and Australian Copper Company: dal English and Australian Copper Company have this .de, received advices from their manager, dated M el° in 15th of November last, by which they h a ve been 00c formed that over 70 t eams t ers h a d b een engage d to ; lot on the Port Wakefield road, consequently shoring The labour was becoming more abundant in the colon'''. 3 00 manager writes—' We hav e accumu l a t e d betwee n t hat and 400 tons of coal at th e works, and we anticipa te ]. in the course of nex t wee k we s h a ll aga i n be a l c i o e ce l , light three or four furnaces, and the copper pro will enable us to keep faith with the Burra Company is PRICE OF GOLD.—The quo t a ti on o f go ld at f 3r t t he about at par (accordi ng t o th e new tar iff ), w hich, for English Mint price of 31. 17s. 104 d. p e r cam e standard gold. gives an ex c h ange o f 25 . 17 ; and, 05, 05, it change at Paris on L on d on a t s h ort b e i n g 2 `'' v i ols follows that gold is about 0.48 per cent, dearer in r ice than in London. By advices from Hamburgh Mint of gold is 429 per mark, which, at the Englis,u, g iveS price of 31. 17s. 104 d. p er ounce f or standard glnurgh an exchange of 13.7 ; an d, th e exc h ange a t Thu° i d is on London at short being 13.64, it follows that go . 0.41 per cent. dear er i n H am b urg h t h an i n Lend% r oll THE JUBILEE OF THE BRITI SH AND F O REIGN . t he SOCIETY AT ST. PAUL'S, THIS DAY.—His Gr e l o teir Archbishop of Canterbury having announced hi:L.,j e th tion of preaching a sermon, commemorative of th ... r ere i g a anniversary of the formation of the British and -r , o ,dieg Bible Society, in St. Paul's, this day, the avenues doe rS to the Cathedral were densely crowded, and theadait literally besieged by persons anxious to obtain „ or ito tance ; the vast area beneath the dome was thro n b, o i e elt suffocation. At about a quarter before t h eeleve plac e the doors of the chapel w ere th rown open , and ' the was immediately filled. P rec i se l y a t e l ev en ocl an d Lord Mayor and the cor p ora ti on arr i ve d in stato e, se ,ts. were conducted with much ceremony to their f silt & Amongst those pe rsons present were —th e Earl ° large tesbury, Earl of Carlisle, the Duke of Argyll, 3 f number of the di gn it ar i es o f t h e Ch urc h a nd th e .. cle o rg 3 of the metropolis, besides many of the nobilit_l in ko gentry of distinction. The most rev. prelate 1:;, to such a low t one o f vo i ce that it was an i m possinP ;t : 'first catch a word of his discourse. The society wady its established on the 7th of March, 1804, consequil fon d fiftieth anniversary was on Moriday last. A jubile e __ eo i a l has been established, which has for its objectsl ora elst grants of Bibles and Testaments to prisons,.is missions, and other charitable institutions, speciaibother to Ireland, special efforts in Australia, India, an d ,old colonies, and also to China and other parts of 9° Cole objects, open to special operations. It is believed that th e te e 'c o lo; objects, embracing as they do Great Britain, o rtions nies, India and China, and whatever other p a , effor ts,. the globe may in God's providence claim sPecierat have already secured the, approbation and co-opera cte d the patriot and the Christian ; and it is fully v that the.contributions of this day will increme tu from 10,0001, to 12,0001. • F