The Sun. — London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

the greatness of the emergency. He (Lord J. Russell) quite admitted this to be the case; but then that state ment was not consistent with the other description which had been given, that the Irish proprietors were debarred from taking any part in the matter. He did not agree that the Government and the Legislature were wrong, because it was at the time impossible to foresee what would be the extent of the calamity. Is the report of the House of Lords, his late lamented friend, the Earl of Bessborongh, was praised for his discrimination and sagacity, but the Labour-rate Act was framed in accordance with his sug gestions and recommendations. He did not think that the Government were wrong in acting upon Lord Bessborough's opinions, but the fact was that the calamity was greater than was contemplated. He quite admitted, that, owing to the great extent of the calamity, and to the impossibil ity of deciding what useful works could be carried into effect by miserable paupers and women and women and children—he quite admitted that, owing to these and many other reasons, the Labour-rate Act failed in one respect, but it did not fail in relieving that which was the principal subject which the Government had to consider—namely, the famine. In the House of Lords there was a great deal of discussion as to whether the works were useful, whether they were well chosen, and whether the Board of Works carried them properly into effect ; but the real question was, how the labour test could best be applied, and the people prevented from starving. This act, then, having failed, the Government began to turn over the various measures which could be adopted as substitutes, and they proposed the act which was carried into effect under Sir John Burgoyne, and which derived its name from him. He begged the house would consider what was the great object which the Government had to effect at that time. When Parliament met at the beginning of the session, there were about 700,000 men paid for daily labour by the State. It was no trifling consideration to determine how these numbers were to be reduced, and it was really won derful that so great a number of persons were turned over without tumult to another system of relief. He was ready to admit, on the part of the Cabinet with which he was then connected, that the evil outran the anticipation of the Government, but he did not admit that any persons were deserving of blame for what had occurred. All he wished to say now was, that he did not wish throw blame upon any one, but rather to congratulate the house that so many lives had been saved in that great calamity, and that so many of them were now in a condition of comfort, either by earning wages in their own country or by going to another. He had risen to make these remarks, only be cause his conduct in 1846 was impugned by the honourable gentleman who spoke last ; but with respect to the motion immediately before the house, he trusted that the state ment made by his right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would suffice to induce the house not to proceed to any formal notice at present. This question, together, with several others, was at present under the consideration of the Government, and his right honourable would be ready in less than a fortnight to state the views of the Government upon it. It was impossible, indeed, that by any resolution any action on the subject could take place, for the whole of the present a rrangement rested upon act of Parliament, and by an act of Parliament alone could any alteration be made. If the statement of , his right honourable friend, when it was made, should not appear satisfactory to any honourable gentleman con nected with Ireland, he could then bring forward a bill to change the state of the law ' • but at present it appeared to him that what they had to consider was rather what would be best for Ireland in future than who was to blame for what passed in 1846. Mr. HERBERT explained that he had no intention whatever of attacking the noble lord for his conduct in 1846. --. Colonel DUNNE expressed his surprise at the absence of the Secretary for Ireland, and of every Irishman con nected with the Government. He did not know whether they found their duties to their country and to the Govern ment so antagonistic that they were unable to be present, but considering how long a notice had been given of this motion, he could not but think they should not have been absent. (Hear, hear.) As to the lecture which the Chan cellor of the Exchequer had read to the hon. member for Roscommon, for his attack on Sir Charles Trevelyan, he (Colonel Dunne) could only say that that gentleman would not have been attacked, and if he had not stepped out of the sphere of his duty, and if he had not been rewarded for the mischief he had done to Ireland ; and he (Colonel Dunne) believed that the strictures on him were most fair and just. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the case of. Ireland in this instance w a s not pro ve d, it' was clear that there was no chance of any justice being done by him, for never had a stronger case been made out. The ground on which this remission was asked in every union in Ireland was, that the works which had been exe cuted were useless ; that they were carried on against the will of the people of Ireland ; and that the administration of the plan had been taken out of their hands, and had been badly performed. There could be no doubt that des titution had been stayed and the people saved from starv ing ; but the Irish gentlemen maintained that that had been done in the most expensive manner, and they were now asked to pay for the blunders which had been made. The Irish gentry were compelled to make presentments for the execution of works of some sort, and they were not responsible for their inutility. It appeared, by the evidence before the House of Lords, that Sir John Bur goyne and most of the other witnesses were of opinion that the works were utterly useless. Then as to the ad ministration, that was taken from the Irish gentry and handed over to the Board of Works ; and the works un dertaken were never finished, while four times as much money was expended on them as was necessary. There were no accounts rendered ; no audit of accounts : nor any means by which the mode of expenditure could be ascer tained. On every ground of justice, the Irish gentry ought not to be called on to pay for works which they 'could make no use of, and in the administration of which they had no share. There was a great difference between Bur goyne's Act and the Labour Rate Act, and under the former relief was better afforded and the expenditure was fully accounted for. He regretted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government did not see the justice of the arguments which had been used, and he could only hope that they would reconsider the matter and alter their opinion. 'Mr. J. BALL had heard with regret the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for while he postponed the exposition of his views, it was clear that he had formed a pretty strong opinion on the subject. He (Mr. Ball) having been engaged in the administration of the relief to Ireland in 1846 and 1847, he thought he should be wanting in his duty if he allowed any blame to be cast on those who were also engaged in it. There was in Ireland as there was in England a strong desire to afford the best kind of relief ; but he was sure that the Labour Rate Act, of all the means which could have been employed, was the most disastrous in its immediate operations and its ultimate effects. The responsibility of that act was not shared by the representatives for Ireland, for it was passed through all its stages in that house almost in silence, at the end of the session of 1846, when the Irish members had gone over to Ireland, called thither by the calamity which was im pending ; and it was only when it reached the House of Lords that one noble lord raised a warning voice against it. Captain LAFFAN supported Mr. Moore's motion, but dissented from some of his arguments. Mr. V. SCULLY declared that in consequence of the labour-rate legislation Ireland had been a loser to the amount of 16,000,0001. in potatoes and 40,000,0001. in other produce, and he made indignant complaint that, under such circumstances, repayment should be demanded. Mr. GEORGE supported the motion, denying that Ire land sought to repudiate any just debt, but alleging that she was entitled to equitable consideration. Mr. WHALLEY, who was interrupted by repeated calls for the division, as an English member, held that the people of this country, who voluntarily contributed so liberally for the immediate relief of their starving fellow subjects in Ireland in 1847, were quite prepared to charge themselves with so much of the expenditure under the act in question as had reference to the saving of life. As far as the proprietors of the land were concerned, he believed that expenditure had been worse than useless. Mr. I. BUTT, regarding the question as one of justice and not of finance, could not consent to make it dependent upon the budget, as suggested by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. So far as the expenditure had benefited their property, the Irish proprietors were bound to repay A— but they had had no control over the matter—the works had been limited to such a a were usually made under pre sentments—as roads and bridges —upon which it was im possible to employ 700,000 people usefully, and the result was that the proprietors were in no way benefitted. The Irish landlords offered to employ the people on productive works by which they would have been benefitted, and it was refused by the Legislature. Then, it was asked, let them be employed in making railways for Ireland, and that, too, was refused. The only question was whether it was right and just to throw the whole of the burden upon the people of a portion of Ireland ? Suppose the like mis fortune had happened to the county of Devon, would hon. gentleman be able to resist the claim ? Nothing, then, could be more fatal to the honour and interests of the em pire than to deal with one part of it on one principle and with another on a different one. In 106 of the unions of Ireland there were 20 in which the local taxation actually exceeded the annual value, and in more than half the local taxation was upwards of 108. in the pound. (Hear, hear.) If the justice of the claim had been boldly resisted by the right hon. gentleman, and had been denied by a majority of the house, though he might not have been convinced, he would have bowed to their decision ; but he could not bow to a decision which, while admitting that the demand was a fair one, put it aside on the ground that it would in terfere with the financial arrangements of the Government. No decision, then, that could be come to that night was likely to be final and conclusive. (Hear, hear.) Sir C. WOOD observed that the grounds which had been taken by different hon. gentlemen during the evening had been so various that he agreed with the hon. member who had just sat down that it would be perfectly impossible to come to any decision that night upon any one of them. He was glad to observe that the hon. gentleman had avoided any of that personality which had characterised a great part of the debate. During the first half of the even ing the discussion had turned for the most part upon the character of Sir Charles Trevelyan, a gentleman than whom no one could have exerted himself more, or worked harder in order to relieve the distress which had prevailed in Ire land. (Hear, hear.) But it was not right to attempt to fix upon him that responsibility which properly belonged to the Government who had introduced the measures. (Hear, hear.) From that responsibility he (Sir Charles Wood) was not disposed to shrink. The conduct of the Government had been impugned. by many hon. gentlemen that night but they had not treated them quite fairly. They had judged the Government as if they had acted then by tho knowledge which they now possessed, and had passed upon them an ex post facto condemnation. (Hear, hear.) The distress of Ireland first commenced in the au tumn of 1845 ' • and the first act of th e session of 1846 was one to relieve that distress by the introduction of Indian corn ; the second act being one establishing public works by- presentments, half the cost being defrayed by a grant from the Government. At the end of the session those acts were the object of an almost unanimous eulogium—in which even the Irish members concurred. Tho only ob jections to them were, first, that the Government ought not to continue to act as merchants of Indian corn, because the trade had been fully established ; and, secondly, that the relief had been claimed by districts which were not distressed but which demanded their share. Shortly after the Government acceded to office intelligence was received of a second failure of the potato crop ; and as relief by public works had proved so successful it was naturally re sorted to a second time. A good deal had been said about the non - concurren ce and the protests of the Irish members; but what was the fact ? Mr. Dominick Brow n , a re pealer, said th a t i f anything could . show that a local par liament was unnecessary, it was the speech which had been made by the nobl e l or d, and the manner in whioh it h a d been received by the ho use . (H ear, hear.) In the House of Lords, Lord Monteagle h a d certainly objected to the measure, but highest other Irish peer, Lord Wicklow, had spoken in the terms of it. (Hear, hear.) The, mea sure had undoubtedly failed. It had not answered the ex pectations e i ther of the Government or of th e house ; but it had failed under circumstances which would have over whelmed the best devised measure to which the wit or in gennuity of man could have given birth. (Hear.) . That failure had arisen from the impossibility of procuring the co-operation of the present session and the relief com mittees with the Board of Works. The local agencies had in fact completly broken down, and the whole businesshad been inevitably thrown upon the officers of the Govern ment. What would have been done in England by boards of guardians, churchwardens, overseers, magistrates,. and relieving officers, was obliged to be performed by military and naval officers—any one whom the Government . could find to superintend the works. When , however, Parliament again met, they passed Sir John Buygoyne's act which had been the object of general panegyric. He did not think, then, that there was much to blame in the conduct of the Government. They had acted upon what all previous ex perience had shown to be a successful plan ; it had failed, and then they proposed another measure which had met with general approbation. Reference had been made to the inutility of the works, and to their having been unfin ished. Now, the truth was, that the great object of the Government was to afford relief and to save life. That the remedy had been inadequate to the disease could not be denied ; but that he had been instrumental even in the humblest way in passing a measure which had done so much good, was a matter for which he could never feel too thankful. Now it was quite true that the works were many of them useless, but then it was imperatively neces sary that they should be brought almost to the doors of the poor peasantry. For instance, in improving a river, the proper course would have been to begin at the mouth, but then how could they have assisted the people in the in terior of the country ? The hon. member for Wexford said that it would be unfair to throw the whole burden upon the people of Ireland ; but the fact was that the grants were 4,400,0001., while the loans were only 3,700,0001. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman had at tempted to draw a parallel between the case of Ireland and a distressed county in England ; but no English county would ever have dreamed of applying to the Treasury. (Hear, hear.) So, again, with respect to the question of interest, it should be borne in mind that the extension of the time had been granted at the request of the inhabi tants themselves. (Heir, hear.) The repayment was spread over f or ty years, and the interest was only 3 per cent. Was n o t th a t a b oon ? But it was in the option of each union to fix the period within which the repayment should take place, so that they had no right to complain. Other loans, in like manner, had been spread over a great number of years, but the interest had been 5 per cent. In the last case it had been reduced to 3, while the period for repayment was left to be fixed by the unions themselves. He had never complained of the want of puntuality in the repayments ; he thought they had been made very faith fully, and great credit was due to the parties on that ac count. After the announcement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer he did not see much advantage in pressing the motion ; but if it were pressed he hoped it would be nega tived. Under these circumstances he thought it would be unwise for the house to occupy longer time in discussing the motion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NAPIER contended that there was a well-grounded claim for granting what the motion asked, which was merely a more equitable settlement. He imputed nothinc , to the government or t o Si r Ch ar l es T reve l yan — w h ose ' conduct was perfectly satisfactory to himself. The real question was this : Sir C. Wood had just admitted that the act had been a total failure ; experience having shown them that what was intended for a boon for Ireland had turned out quite the reverse, the question was whether there were not grounds for asking the Government to take the matter into their consideration, with a view to an equitable settlement. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the presentments were entirely in the hands of the parties locally interested ; but from the account given by one of the witnesses before the Lords' committee, it ap peared that the business was done in a very hurried man ner, under the pressure of starvation, as it were ; and when the works were ordered, the grand juries had no con trol whatever. Seeing what had been the result of the act, there was a strong claim on the consideration of the Government ; and if the hon. gentleman went to a divi sion he should vote with him. (Cries of " Divide.") Mr. MOORE, in reply said, he had made no charge against the personal character of Sir Charles Trevelyan, but had merely spoken of his public conduct, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer assumed too much if he sup posed that members of Parliament were to be excluded from canvassing the conduct of public servants. Though Sir Charles Trevelyan was not in that house, he appeared to be everywhere else, and he would seem to be adept in " the noble art of self-defence," as far as that meant as sailing others. (Laughter.) The hon. gentleman justified the use he had made of the report of the Lords' committee, and enumerated the names of its members. Every speaker on the other side had admitted that the act had failed, but though the Government was warned by their own servants in November that the system had completely broken down, they continued to employ millions of men in this way -for six months after. (Hear.) The Chancellor of the Exche quer had, on a former occasion, promised to give an answer on this question before the budget was brought forward ; but now he declined to do so. Unless the right hon. gen tleman would agree to take the matter into consideration, with a view to an equitable adjustment, he should press his motion. The house then divided— For the motion.. Against Majority against the motion.... The house then at 12 o'clock adjourned. ▪ 95 . 143 PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-APRIL 7. ( From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) IRISH CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES. Motion made, and question put, " That in the opinion of this house, it is the duty of her Majesty's Government forthwith to take into consideration the Irish Consolidated Annuities, in order to effect a more equitable settlement of the claims for which those annuities were granted, by remitting the amount charged on account of the Labour Rate Acts, 9 and 10 Vic. c. 107, and 10 and 11 Vic. c. 87, whilst the repayment of the Workhouse Loans, the Advances for Temporary Relief, Act 10 Vic. c. 7, the Advances for Public Works, under the Acts 1 Vic. c. 21, and 9 Vic. c. 1, and for Aid to the Distressed Districts, under the Act 13 Vic. c. 14, are fully provided for." The house divided : ayes 95, noes 143. MINORITY-AYES, 95. Archdall, Captain Greene, J. Newdegate. C. Ball, Edward Greyllle, Col. NOrreys, Sir D. J. Ball, John Hamilton, Geo. A. O'Brien, C. Bateson, Thomas Hamilton, J. Hans O'Brien, Patrick Bellew, Capt. Hardinge, Charles S. o'l 4- laberty, A. Beresford, William Haye=, Sir Edmund PeacoCke, G. M. W. Blair, Colonel Henchy, D. O'Connor Power, N. Bland, L. Heroert, H. A. Robertson, P. F. Bowyer, George Higgins, G. G. 0. Russell. F. W. Brady, J. Hume, W. Fitzwilliam Scully, Francis Bremridge, Richard Jones, Capt. Scully, V. Browne, Valentine Keating, Robert Seymour, W. D. Bruce, H. A. Kennedy. Titstram She,, W. Purke. Sir T. Kirk, William Smyth. R. 3. Butt, Isaac Knatchbull, W. F. Spooner, Richard Cairns, H. M`Calmont Knox, W. S . Stafford, A. 4 =Meld, Col. Laffan, It. M. Stanley, Lord Clinton, Lord C. P. Lennox, Lord A. F. Swift, Richard ( obbold, J. Chevalier Leslie, C. P. Taylor, Colonel Cogan, W. 11. Lucas, F. Thompson, Mr. Ald Conte, Sir Chas. H. Pifacartney, G. Towneley, C. Corbally, M. Mackenzie, W. F. Tudway, R. C. Cotton, W. H. Macgregor, Jas. Tyler, Sir George I evereux, J. T. .Pd` Mahon, P. Vane, Lord A. Duffy, C Maddock, Sir H. Vansittart, G. H. Dunne, Col. Mathis, R. Verner, Sir W. Fitzgerald, J. D. Manners, Lord J. Waddington, 11. S. Fitzgerald, sir J. Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Whalley, - ;G. Fitzgerald, W. R. S. Meagher, Thomas Whiteside, James Forester, Colonel Niles, W. Fox, R. M. Mitchell, W. Fras. r, Sir W. A. Murrough, J. P. George, John Napier, Joseph TELLER& Moore, G. H. French, Fitzstephen MAJORIT T-NOES, A'Court, C. Evans, William Oakes, J. H. P. Aglionby, H. Ewalt, William Cliveir a, Benjamin A icock, Thy mas Feilden, M. Osborne, Ralph Anderson, Sir James Ferguson, Colonel Otway, Arthur .John Baines, M. T. Ferguson, Joseph Paget, Lord Alfred Baring, T. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Palmerston, Viscount Barnes, T. Fitzwilliam, G. W. Patten, J. Bass, M. T. Forster, M. Peel, F. Beaumont, W. B. Forster, Charles Pellatt, A Bell, J. Freestun, Colonel Peto, S. Berkeley, Hon. C. F. Gladstone, William Phillimore, R. J. Berkeley, C. L . Glyn, George Carr Phinn, Thomas Bethell, Richard Goodman, Sir G. Pilkington, James iilddulph, R. M. Graham, Sir James Price, W. I'. Bonham-Carter, J. Gregson, Samuel Ricardo, 0. Bouyerie, E. Grey Sir G. Rice, E. Boyle, Col. Hadfield, George Rich, H. Brand, H. Hall, Sir Benjamin Robartes, T. J. A. Brocklehurst, John Hanmer, Sir J. Rushout, Captain Biotherton, Joseph Hastie, Archibald Rus ell, F. C. Brown, W. Pleneage, G. H. V. Sawle, C. B. G. Butler, Charles Herbert, Sidney Scholefield, W. Bynir, G. H. Charles Hervey, Lord Alfred Shelburne, Earl of Cardwell, Hon. E. Hindley, Charles Fhelley, Sir J. V. Cavendish, C. C. Hogg, Sir James W. Smith, John B. Chambers, Thomas Hutt, William Smith, Rt. Hn. R. Cuarteris, F. Jackson, William Stapleton, John Christy, :-amuel Jermyn, Earl Stephenson, Robert Clay, Sir W Jocelyn, Viscount Strut', Rt. lion. E. Clinton, Lord R. Kinnaird, A. F. Thompson, George Cockburn, Sir Alex. Laing, S. Thornely, T. Cowan, Charles Langston, J. H. Tufuell, H. Cowper, W. F. Langton, H. G. Villiers, Rt. Hn. C. P. Crautbrd, E. H. J. Lawley, F. C. Vivian, J. H. Crook, J, Lockhart, A. E. Warner, E. Crossly, Frank Loveden, P. Whitbread, S. Crowder, R. Lowe, R. I Wickham, H. W. Deni.on, J. E. M`Gregor, John Wilkinson, W. A. Drumlanrig, Viscount Mangles, R. D. Williams, W. Duke, Sir James Marshall, William Wilsni, J. Duncan, George Mast erman, J. Winnington, Sir T. E Duncombe, Hn. 0. Matheson, A. Wise, J. A. Dundas, F. Mettle, Colonel Wood, Sir C. Dunlop, A. Miall, Edward Wortley, J. S. Egerton W. Milligan, Robert Wyvill, al armaduke Egerton, Edward Molesworth, Sir W. Ellice E. Moncreiff. James Elliot, J. E. Monsell, W. Emlyn, Viscount Morris, D TELLERS. Hayter, W. G. Multrave, Earl THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY. (INCORPORATED 1846.) New Branch 'Offices, Metropolitan District. 89, St. James's-street, opposite St. James's Palace. 30, Fleet-street, opposite St. Dunstan's Church. The laying down Of the wires to connect the above new branch stations with all the principal towns in the kingdom having been completed, they will be opened in the course of a few days for the reception of the messages of the public. Further particulars will be duly announced. Principal London Stations already Open. Central Station, Lothbury, Bank of England. Branch Stations, General Post-office, St. Martin's-le- Grand. No. 448, West Strand, corner of Adelaide-street, open day and night. Great George-street, Westminster. No. 7, Knightsbridge-terrace, opposite Albert-gate. Great Northern Railway Station, King's-cross. London and North-Western Railway Station, Euston- square. Eastern Counties Railway Station, Shoreditch. London and South-Western Railway Station, Waterloo road. London and Brighton Railway Station, London-bridge. Great Western Railway Station, Paddington. By order, J. S. FOURDRINIER, Secretary. Central Station, April 7. " YOU'RE NEITHER A MAN NOR A BROTHER."—The present American Government, as it advocates slavery, may be denominated "an Uncle Tom's Cabinet," and if it should want a good whipper-in, we are sure General Pierce will forget for the moment he is President, and be too happy to lend his hand to it. He is just the man for a country that boasts of " flogging all creation," which boast, as far as the black portion of it is con cerned, is certainly only too true.—Punch. xt NEW AND CHEAP EDITION. Complete in one vol , price 7s. 6d., T HE CAXTONS ; A FAMILY PICTURE, By Sir E. BULWER LYTTON - , Bart, Author of "Rienzi," " My Novel," &c. • William Blackwood and tons, Edinburgh and London. DEPO3IT POLICIES, Combining the advantages of Savings Barks with Life Assurance, granted 1)Y the L AW PROPERTY ASSURANCE and TRUST SOCIETY. Diseased and Healthy Lives Assured —Annuities and Loans Granted. WILLIAM NELSON, Actuary and Sec , etary, 30, Essex-street, ....trand, London. AGENTS WANTED. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, APRIL 8, Will be performed ELOPEMENTS IN RIO LIFE. By Messrs. B. Sullivan, Chippendale, Howe, W. Farren, Buckstone, and Comp ton ; Mesdames Fitzwilliam, Reynolds, L. S. Buckingham, fcc._ After which MR. BITCKSTORE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR NASSUS. To conclude with POPPING THE QUESTION. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, APRIL 8, Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH. Principal charac ters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. After which will be performed the new Drama, adapted from the the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Pa:grave Simpson, called MARCO SPADA. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Veatria. THIS EVENING, AIMIL 8, Will be presented A STRANGE HISTORY. Characters by by Madame Yestris, Mrs. F. Matthews, Miss Julia St. George, Miss M. Oliver, Miss Rosina Wright, Miss Mason, Mrs. Horn, and Miss Wadham ; Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. F. Matthews, Mr. R. Roxby, Mr. Cooper, &c. After which, LITTLE TODDLEKINS. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1853. accepted, and would have been really useful, en abling some of the most obnoxious imposts to be abolished or reduced. But in place of so doing, let us see what is actually contemplated by the Chief of the Financial Department. The amount that must be dealt with, that is to be paid off in hard cash, if the holders refuse to accept of any of the tenders made, is little more than ten millions sterling (10, 000, 638/. ) As, however, there can be but little doubt that some of the branches of the alternative will be freely taken—most probably the second— but little cash will be required, and the saving will be only 25,000/. per annum. A matter not of very considerable importance in comparison to the protracted period with which the country is to be saddled with the change. But there is another and far more numerous class to whom an offer is made, which they may accept at . any time previous to the 10th of October next, or reject at their pleasure. Any person in terested in, or entitled to, any part of the capital stock of the Consolidated 3 per Cent. Annuities, or of the Reduced 3 per Cent. Annuities, is al lowed a similar option. There is in this no reci procity. There is a total want of consideration. Never was there a clearer nudwm pactum. If the newly-created 2i per Cent. Stock—that which will be taken for the greater portion, if not the whole, of the amount—be favourably received, and placed at high quotations, it will, of course, be accepted, if otherwise rejected. It is not fair or just to the public to give so long a period for consideration, or to make so very one-sided a bar gain. But this is not the only, or even the chief, ob jection to the scheme. If the 21 per Cent. Stock be accepted to the full extent, there will be an addition to the nominal debt of 50,400,0001., which will have to be satisfied at par in 1894. An annual saving of 1,260,0001. will be effected, at a cost to our children in 1. - 40 years of 50,400,0001. sterling. Is this an arrangement that can receive the sanction of the British Parliament ? Are we, in a time of profound peace—with money in abundance, and every cir cumstance that should induce us to reduce rather than increase the National Liabilities to—cast so grievous a burden upon posterity ? Whp,t wtiuld be said of a proposition to borrow 50,000,000/. when there was no want of the money—when there was a considerable surplus in the Exchequer? It would, of course, be rejected with scorn and contumely, and yet it would be in no degree more objectionable than the second of Mr. GLAD STONE'S alternatives. This monstrou sproposition will, we hope, be unanimously expunged from the resolution. As to that portion of the proposition which relates to the creation of Exchequer Bonds, or Bills—we shall only say that when it has been found that money can be readily obtained at ld. per diem, or 1/. 10s. sd. per annum on each 100/., it appears rather too much to offer 21. 15s. for 11 years, and 21. 10s. for 30 years, with the power to the holder of demanding payment at par at the end of that time. One of the resolutions declares that the holders Of 504,000,000/. of stock may exchange into these Bonds; another that the amount to be issued shall not exceed 30,000,000/. We leave Mr. GLADSTONE to explain by what feat of leger demain, that operation can be carried into execu tion, or how 500,000,0001. can be paid at par with 30,000,000/. ! ! We shall at present say no thing of having such a debt, as even 30,000,000/., the payment whereof may be insisted on at, per haps, a most inconvenient time. Mr. GLADSTONE, however, will scarcely suffer from that incon venience--it will fall on our posterity, and little consideration appears to have been given to their interests in any part of the plan. We cannot, however, believe the guardians of the public purse will sanction a project in every respect so ill-advised and improvident. Although the definitive settlement of the East Indian Difficulty has been adroitly postponed on the plea that the inquiries already commenced should be carefully and deliberately completed by the Commissioners entrusted with that onerous investigation—it must not be supposed that the matter must meanwhile be overlooked by the com munity, or that it is in any way beyond the province of comment from the hands of the journalist. Instead of allaying the general curiosity upon the subject, this additional pro crastination ought only to arouse public attention to its more cautious and elaborate consideration. Much as the question has been talked of hitherto, much as it has (particularly of late) been written about by pamphleteers, and spoken about by orators, both within and without the walls of the Imperial Parliament—the difficulty implied by what is called erroneously the Renewal of the East India Charter, is even now only understood by the few, while the many, in its regard, still continue to labour under very grievous misapprehension. Therefore, we repeat, it becomes advisable to exa mine yet more scrupulously than ever into the merits of the entire question, upon the very ground of its still later postponement. It is supposed by several, that there is good of some sort in the old machinery of the Court of Directors. It is presumed again by others that a panacea for all the evils complained of may be discovered, if properly sought after, Among the wheels and pulleys of that rather more intricate and delicate state-machine known as the Board of Control. The latter credulous observers never once perceiving that the said Board was from the outset little better than a blundering device contrived by the "heaven-born" Minister, to blind, or rather to turn aside, the indignation of those who were infuriated overmuch, at a some what inconvenient period, against that grinding misrule, the evil voice of which had just then resounded so loudly from one extremity to 'the other of the eastern hemisphere. The ad mirers of the delightful old despotism of the Coin pa.ny, those, in other words, who are sticklers for the perfectability of the mercantile Cabinet in Leadenhall-street, appear, on the other hand, to have forgotten altogether the lesson learnt so very bitterly years and years ago, through the lament able consequences of its rigorously despotic Govern ment. A trifling knowledge of modern history in Hindostan, a moderate acquaintance with the teach ings of ORME and MILL, a familiarity even with the compact criticisms of MACAULAY in relation to the biographers of CLIVE and HASTINGS, will be suf ficient, we rather fancy, to disabuse any dispas sionate mind of the notion that benefit can accrue either to England or to her Oriental possessions from the mere patching together again of these worn-out, and ricketty, and anomalous, and im practicable materials of administration. Recently we took occasion to commend the ability displayed by an intelligent contributor to the New Quarterly in an article upon the subject of the Re newal of the Charter, published in the pages of that promising periodical. It is with satisfaction that we find ourselves enabled to direct the attention of our readers yet more earnestly to another paper in every way more elaborately and more closely reasoned than its predecessor, from the hand, we conjecture, of the same reviewer. The argument advanced by him in this contribution has reference, as its title intimates, to " The Anarchy of Thral dom," as exemplified in the conduct of British Rulers in Hindostan. It will be found in the current number of the New Quarterly, and an examination of the writer's argument will show clearly enough that his strength does not in any way consist in the force of empty assertion, but in a mass of autho ritative evidence collected from a variety of official and other sources of unimpeachable veracity. The deductions drawn from the comparison of this ac cumulated evidence are, as might be conjectured, of a most deplorable and melancholy descrip tion. It is explained by the reviewer that no less than eighty years have elapsed since the Court of Directors in Leadenhall-street first undertook to administer the affairs of Hindostan, and Heaven knows how flagrantly, during the first twenty years of that pe teriodth,etmheeetpeaohpjeleet odfegrlanddaitaielnv,erwehidleratghgeeidr land was, in all directions, subject to the influ aen ga ce in ofhaave on s e ing b civlligdevastation. the Crown Sixty a nd years th the Company have shared the responsibilities and the (!) since THEATRE ROYAL A-DELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, APRIL 8, Will he presented WEBSTER AT HOME, AN ADELPRI FARE OF THREE REMOVES AND A DESSERT. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, L. Murray, Keeley, &c.; Miss F. Maskell and Mrs. L. Murray, &c. After which, A NOVEL EXPEDIENT. With TO PARENT. AND GUARDIANS. THE PRETTY GIRLS OF STILBERG. I'EPINO THE DUMB BOY, AND PUG, HIS MONKEY. - ROYAL OLYMPIC; THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, APRIL 8, Will be presented SALVATORI ; or, the Bandit's Daughter. Characters by Messrs. H. Marston, Robson, Diddear, Cooke, and organ ; Mesdames Anderton and H. Gordon. After which, THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. Supported by Messrs. Farren, Rolfe, 6halders, and Cooke; Mesdames A. Phillips, Bartlett, and Gordon. To conclude with THE LASS OF GOWRIE. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Triumphant success of the New Spectacle, which hat been nightly received with the most enthusiastic approbation.—lhe novel and daring F. ats of the Horses, and the terrific Leap of Amakosa's Steed over the Falls of the Umtata have been hailed with thun ders (4' applause. THIS EVENING, APRIL 11, And during the Week, the Performances will commence with the new grand spectacle entitled AMAKOSA ; or, Scenes of Kafir W.rfare ; with magnilThent scenery, costumes, and appointments. To be followed by brilliant and elegant Achievements in the ARENA, supported by the most eminent Engi sh and Co•ttinental Artistes in Europe. To conclude with a Laughable FARCE. liax-oalce Open daily from eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. N. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY —Morning 5 min. after 2 I Evening 21 min.aft. 2 To-Mortaow—Morning 38 min. after 2 Evening 54 min.aft. 2 THE WEATHER.—Sutr OFFICE, APRIL 8. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 62—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 55 this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'89. WIND, N.N.W. to W.N.W.—Fresh breeze, with squalls and sunshine, accompanied with heavy showers of rain and hailstones. THE PUBLICATION OF " THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND THE LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARLTA MENT THE SAME EVENING, With all other News arriving up to the hour of Post, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. Af4 , - ar 11 1) inn LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1853. We are by no means surprised at the faTourable reception in the Stock Exchange of Mr. GLAD STONE'S propositions for the redemption or conver sion of certain portions of the National Debt. Such terms are indeed offered, that there could be but little, if any, doubt of their ready acceptance by the Fundholders, whose well-founded appre hensions of an early and considerable reduction in the rate of interest have been thus completely allayed. But it must be borne in mind, that there are two parties to a contract—two sides to a bargain—and that what is exceedingly beneficial to the one side, must necessarily be adverse to the other. If the creditor has just grounds for satis faction, the debtor may reasonably conclude that his interests have not been particularly well at tended to in the transaction. If the " tax consumer " has good cause for rejoicing, the " tax payer" may be well assured that, in one form or the other, he will have " to pay the piper "—that it is at his expense the " great satisfaction in the Stock Exchange " is occasioned. It may, then, be more than doubtful whether the resolutions will receive the Legislative sanction, or that the scheme, which we cannot help characterising as a very injudicious piece of financial bungling, will be carried into practical operation. That some attempt would be made to reduce the interest of the public debt has long been con sidered a matter of perfect certainty. The great and unparalleled abundance of money, coupled with the prospects of a more than ample supply of the precious metals for many years to come, afforded such facilities for such an operation as to render it impossible for any Chancellor of the Exchequer to overlook an expedient so very ob vious, and which, if judiciously conducted, would be so acceptable to the community in general. It was simply a question of time, which sooner or later should be set at rest. As we have already stated, Sir CHARLPS WOOD had some vague in tention of sonic time or other bringing forward a scheme for the purpose. Fortunately, however, the matter does not rest in his hands, although we believe that even he could not have played the game of the Yundholders more decidedly than his successor and his colleague. We have no doubt that Mr. DISRAELI would e'er this have brought forward a much more eligible scheme, in which the balance would have been fairly held be tween debtor and creditor, but for the hostile vote on his Budget. He was, however, ejected from office, and it has now fallen to the lot of Mr. GLADSTONE to accomplish it. The Right Honourable Gentleman has entered upon the task, but we can scarcely say that he has defended the Treasury as strongly as might have been antici pated at his hands. He has apparently considered himself the advocate of the tax-consumer rather than of the tax-payer—bound to make the best terms, not for the nation, but for the Fundholder. It is a fitting sequel to his energetic protest against any distinction being recognised between the divi dends in the public funds, and the precarious and hardly-acquired. earnings of industry. He will, however, probably have to change his opinions in both respects, if desirous of continuing at the head of the Fin ancial Department. The general impression that prevailed in the City previous tcl the publication of the notice of motion, was that the 3 per Cents, would be con verted at par ix do a 2 per Cent. Stock, irredeem able for twenty years. The effect of the rumour, which led to a. decided improvement in the quo tations, shows cil that such an offer would have been thankfully accepted, the certainty of no fur ther change fi xr twenty years being considered a full equivalent :for the present reduction of one-half per cent.—a rocluction which, on the actual amount of stock operated on, amounting, in round terms, to 504,000,0041/. sterling would have effected a saving to the Exchequer of 2,520,0001. per an num. This,, we say, would readily have been , duties of the British Indian Government. Expe rience has told us, in unmistakeable accents, the nature and extent of the success attendant upon the last great experiment. As the New Quarterly Reviewer observes, very truthfully, and earnestly—" The trial has been a fair one ; and failure—continuous, signal, hopeless failure— is still the miserable result." It is notorious. " Surely," we may say with the writer here quoted, " its time has come at last, and the great work of reparation which, in the face of much intrigue, calumny, and prejudice, the Coalition Ministry of 1783 attempted, but were too feeble to perform, Lord ABERDEEN and Lord JOHN Rus- SELL, if so minded, may easily and satisfactorily accomplish." If so minded !—a rather con siderable proviso ! Let us hope, however, that the administrative ability concentrated upon the pre sent Cabinet may in this matter counterpoise by its beneficial influence the evil effects of certain wide differences of political principle. Let us cherish that conviction. Time is permitted us yet for reflection--•for deliberation—for preparation. That time must not be thoughtlessly squandered. The Coalition Ministry of 1853 may if properly urged, in this important matter, effect trium phantly what was vainly attempted by the Coali tion Ministry of 1783. The contrast presented by those two Cabinets yields us, we will admit at once, very welcome encouragement. Another consideration unites with this to render us san guine of the happy consequences of the present movement towards the reform of the whole system of British Indian Government. Besides the good auspices discernable in the union of eminent statesmen such as the Earl of ABERDEEN, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and Viscount PALMERSTON, and Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and the Earl of CLARENDON within the limits of a single Government--we can not fail to bear in remembrance the truth that the arguments in favour of the projected changes have, since 1783, been marvellously multiplied. The cruel tyranny wielded over the Oriental races, first by the almost irresponsible Company, and afterwards by the blending of the powers of the Board of Control and of the Court of Directors has already been of too long and disastrous continu ance. The blighting frost has been followed by the thunders and the lightnings. " Jam satis terris nivis atque dire Grandinis misit pater, et rubente Dextra sacras jaculatus arces Terruit urbem." It is a quotation old and hackneyed, but at the present moment is not, we believe, unworthy of being repeated ; for in this matter of the despo tism displayed by England towards Hindostan, the words have, in truth, a really frightful ap plication. ELECTION COMMITTEES.-(THIS DAY.) LEICESTER. The committee to inquire into the petition against the return of the sitting members for this borough sat this morning for the first time in committee-room No. 5 ; Mr. Divett, chairman. Mr. Sergeant Kinglake appeared in support of the petition, and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins on behalf of the sitting members. _ _ Mr - . Sergeant Kinglake, in opening the case, said that the petition was based upon the existence of a syste matic course of bribery and corruption at the last elec tion. No fixed sums had been paid, but a large sum had been expended in small doles. A man of the name of Moore had been promised something handsome by Potts if he would vote' for Walmesley and Gardi ner, and it was hinted that it would not be less than a soverei g n. The learned Se rgean t was p rocee di ng w i t h his address when our report left. DARTMOUTH. The committee to inquire into the petitions, four in number, against the return of th e sitting members for Dartmouth, sat this morning at one o'clock; Mr. Miles, chairman. The counsel for the petitioners were Mr. Serjeant Kinglake, Mr. Edwin James ; for the sitting members Mr. Kenneth Macaulay and Mr. Bodkin. TAUNTON. This committee sat this morning for the first time at one o'clock ; chairman Sir George Grey. The counsel for the petitioners were Mr. Serjeant Kinglake and Mr. Edwin James ; for the sitting members Mr. Kenneth Macaulay and Mr. Montague Smith. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DA Y). OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Erle.) THE REGENT'S CANAL MURDER. The trial of Thomas Hackett, indicted for the murder of Elizabeth Lea, by drowning her in the Regent's Canal, was this morning postponed until the next ses sions. It will be seen from another part of our paper that the prisoner was put on his trial yesterday, but the jury were discharged at nine o'clock last night, being unable to come to a verdict. NEW COURT. (Before the Recorder.) William, Griffiths, 45, maltster, a man of very respect able appearance, was indicted f or stealing 101 lbs. of sewing silk, valued at 1401., the property of Andrew Jukes Worthington. Mr. Lilley defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner, was formerly in a large way of business, and possessed of large property, which he had lost in railway speculations, and since then had been getting his living by dealing in .Manchester goods. The prosecutors are large sewing silk makers in Staffordshire, having a place of business in King-street, Cheapside. The prisoner was in the habit of visiting Messrs. Russell and Taylor, the agents who managed the business in King-street, who had befriended him in his difficulties. The prisoner used generally to call when the premises were about to be closed, and often bad a mackintosh under his arm. Some short time since the prosecutor taking stock missed a great deal of stock, and ultimate inquiry proved that the prisoner had sold the silk in question forming part of the stock, and about the identity of which there was no doubt, at several houses in the trade for less than its actual value, stating that he had taken it for a bad debt. The jury found him guilty. There was another indictmentagainst him for stealing linens from other places where he was in the habit a going, and which were found at his lodgings by the police. Upon this he was acquitted. The prisoner said he was innocent, and that for thirty five years had honourably carried on business without a blemish on his character. _ _ The Recorder said there could be no doubt about his guilt, and it was a bad case. He was sentenced to 12 months and hard labour. Francis Lucy, 28, sailor, was indicted for slaying Rahmel Allen upon the high seas. Mr. Carter prosecuted, and Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Sleigh defended. The case, which has been very recently reported from the Thames Police, was proceeding when we went to press, and will occupy the whole day. COMPANY OF COPPER MINERS.—The first ordinary general meeting of Company of Copper Miners in Eng land since the resumption of the works took place yes terday, when dividends were declared at the rate of 74 per cent, on the preference shares, and of 2 per cent. per annum on the united stock of the company. The statement by the chairman (Sir I. D. Paul) showed that the progress of operations had been satisfactory, and that the profits for the year between the 6th of March, 1852 (the date when possession was given by the Bank of England), and the sth of March, 1853, had amounted to 20,718/. The position of the particular branches of trade with which the company's works are connected gave the directors reason to anticipate favourable results under the existing improved management. With re gard to the arrangements with the Bank, the whole had been successfully concluded, and minor details alone remained to be settled. The bill brought before Parlia ment with the sanction of the shareholders had been petitioned against by Mr. Lord, whose claims in dispute with the directors have been submitted to arbitration ; but it was questioned whether he possessed a locus standi. Mr. Lord appeared in person at the meeting, and pro tested that the proceedings were illegal. The dividends were, 'however carried unanimously, and 2, 0001 . per annum was fixed as the allowance for the board. PRESENT PRICES OF WHEAT, FLOUR, AND BREA f D th IN e LONDON AND PARIS.--Annexed is a comparison present prices of wheat, flour, and bread in of the first Londo n n and t Paris :—" The highest quotation of e wh ctolitres, which is quality in Paris is 29f. 50 c. per 14 hectolitres, equal to 455. Bd. per quarter ; and the highest price of white wheat of the first quality in London being 50 s. per quarter, it follows that wheatis nearly 94 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. The f .highest 6 quota tion of flour of the first q ualit y in Paris is . 25c. the 100 kilogrammes, which is equal to 365. 9d. per sack of 2801 b. English; and the highest quotation of flou r i n th e London market being 465. the sack, it follows that flour is rather more than 25 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. The price of bread of the first quality in Paris is 81c. per kilogramme, which is equal to rather more than 5Rd. the 41b. loaf; English weight ; and the price of bread in London at the full-priced shops being 71d • the 41b. loaf, it follows that bread is about 391 per cent. d e arer in London than in Paris. The second quality h)c o h f , bread in Paris is quoted at 2 4c. per kil ogramme is equivalent to rather more than 44d. p er 41b. lOawf CLOSING OF METROPOLITAN GR AVEYARDS. N have been received by the auth or i t i es of the :ices y parishes from the Secretary o f S tate for the Horne 'Donse partment to the effect that, on and after the sth of May ensuing, the under-mentioned places of interment 'll be closed :—St. Margaret' s , L ot hb ury ; St. Christopher-le- Stocks ; St. Bartholomew, 'Change ; St. Edmund the King with St. Nich o l as A eons ; Allhallows the Great ; Allhallows the Less ; St. Lawrence, Jewry ; St. Mary Magdalen ; and St. Mary, Haggerstone, in the parish of St, Leonard's, Shoreclitch. LITONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 3,000 were taken for export. The market closed tamely, and the tendency of prices was in favour of buyers. The sales comprised 1,400 Pernam and Maranham, at 6d. to 74d. ' • 20 Bahia, at bid. ; lOO Egyptian ; 1,800 Surat, at 3i-d. to 41d. ; and 150 Sea Island, at 2s. to 2s. 6d. per lb. The Railway Share Mar ket was very animated,. and prices advanced ma terially. In the produce markets there has been a mode rate business done this week. Sugar has been 6d. lower, and coffee has been rather cheaper, though firmer yesterday. Rice has been in moderate de mand, saltpetre well supported, cotton quiet, but steady. Indigo at full rates, cochineal in excellent demand, and Madras rice more inquired after. Spices have rather tended upwards, and tea has been active. Tallow firm. All accounts corroborate the statement of the danger to which the currant crops abroad are ex posed. Messrs. Witherby and Hanson report as follows :--- " Much apprehension and alarm concerning the fate of the forthcoming crop of currants continue to pervade all the places of growth, from not one of which is there a favourable report. Exorbitant prices had been offered and refused for 1852 fruit ; prices which, considering the doubtful and perishable character of the fruit, and the lateness of the season, could be warranted only by well grounded fears of the recurrence of the disease. The opinion was gaining ground that, as has been the case in Italy and elsewhere, this visitation will be of three years duration in Greece. By the end of this month or early in May, we may look for some positive intelligence." The official returns of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom have been completed for the month ended the sth ultimo. Referring to the imports, we find an increase in coffee, wheat, flour, potatoes, flax, clover seed, palm oil, pepper, brandy, Geneva, foreign timber, tobacco, wine, wool, cot ton, and hides. The articles which exhibit a decrease compared with the corresponding month of 1852, are fruits, eggs, flax seed, raw silk, rum, sugar, tea, and tallow. The exports of the month ending the sth March are as under : 1853 1852 £6,272,649 5,353,552 Increase £919,097 The articles which show an increase are beer, cotton manufactures, glass, haberdashery, linen manufactures, iron, copper, silks, and woollens. A decrease occurred in cotton yarn. The tonnage returns show the following results for the foreign trade : INWARDS. 1852. 1853. Foreign Ships 104,400 tons 113,933 tons, British and Colonial 206,603 ~ 177,388 „ OUTWARDS. Foreign Ships 132,163 tons 166,789 tons. British and Colonial 295,823 „ 218,437 „ When we observed yesterday that the proposi tions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to be popular, we founded our statement upon the presumption that the main feature of the plan was a reduction of the capital of our enormous debt. The official details given in last night's Sun, how ever, quite alter the character of the plan, and have very much changed the previous impression. That single portion of it which relates to the issue of 21 per cent. debentures is undoubtedly popular, and would in all probablility be found acceptable to the country at large ; that is to the payer of taxes, not the annui tant. To take off 10 per cent. interest, how ever, and add on 10 per cent. of capital is a mere pettifogging expedient, which no man of enlight ened financial views or of any grasp of mind will, at this ,day, advocate. The advance in public secu rities is natural enough, when it is found that the Chancellor is about to give the holders such excel lent terms that they can convert their 3 per Cents. into 3 per Cents. or get 110 of a new stock for their present 3 per cents. Far better would it be if the Money Market is not thought able at present to bear the sweeping change of a reduction of in terest upon half the debt f ro m 3 t o 21 , and even tually to 2k per cent., to create some thirty or forty millions of the new bonds in volunthaeryex change for Consols, and then to thatmahkeeaer t. There ft step ping stone to a greater operation re is a very a n s w these er n t e o w bonds onl large ewith extentthe couponsattached the purpose of bills of exchange, and would circu late as such throughout the Continent. This, of course would apply to peculiar operations where coin or paper passes from one country to another merely in nominal settlement of balances, the amount involVed being really not wanted for actual use. Thus it constantly occurs that gold is coming home and going out at the same time. The effect of lowering the interest upon English Securities will be to bring up the prices of foreign invest ments, and this has been already to a small extent felt. As the resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer have yet to be passed, however, parties do not like to go too far in purchasing their stocks upon a venture, for unless Mr. Gladstone gives way, and modifies his plan, it is not likely to be come law. A statement has been issued explaining the pros pects and resources of the Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, and it appears there is an immense traffic, equal to a return of nearly 16 per cent. on the cost of 10 millions of dollars, and that the eminent firm of George Peabody and Co. is empowered to issue 7 per cent. Preference Bonds at , 92i, being what is termed in America a " first mortgage." The holder will have the option of converting hereafter any portion of the Bonds into the capital stock of the company, and the loan appears to find great favour among capitalists and bankers, at the West end especially, - where it is likely to be largely held. English Stocks have been scarcely so buoyant, owing to the doubt whether the Chancellor of the Exchquer will successfully carry out his plans. Consols have been loci to for transfer and ac count. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have realised 103 to Bank Stock has been steady at 225. The South Sea New Annuities are per cent. above par. Exchequer Bills of June realised ss. to 95., and those of March the same. East India Bonds were at 435. premium. In the Foreign Market a moderate business has been done in Mexican, at 27/ to 28, in Peruvian Scrip at an advance to 4i, in Brazilian 41 per cents. at 99k; and i n V enezue l a at 3 8 / to 39 i ; Spanish Deferred havebeen at 25 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents. keep firm at 40 to 401. The Gold Mine Shares are quiet at about the previous rates. Metcalfe Mine are 171 to 18 pre mium. The Land Companies Shares are flat. The Shares of the Joint Stock Banks have been weaker again. _ Railway Shares are down a little, and there is less doing. The foreign lines are about the same. Port Hunter and Moreton Bay Shares have been in more demand at premium, and the Australasian Coal are held very firmly. Berlin Waterworks are about' 1 to 1* premium. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business done. Bank Stock . . ..... ... . 225 x d 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuiiies... ......... 99i 100 99,i 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 100:A i 4 New 31 per Cent. Annuities..... ...... 1034 3 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5 15-16 68 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Bonds, £lOOO — Ditto, under £lOOO South Sea New Annuities ............ lOOl Bank Stock for Account 2251 Consols for Account India Stock for Account 262 E xc h eque r Bills, Id. June. 5 9 2 March. 21000 £5OO 59 5 9 Small 5 9 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY, Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. .................. _ .3 . . !e.i...C.!nt ....................................... 84 6 a Ditto New, 1852, 4a per Cent .............. 331 x d Chilian Bonds, 3 per Gent.... ......... ..... 82 Cent............... .. ,-- 2 x d DanishE u a i c d a n o 1. Bonds , 3 R o pe d s r Ditto Account April 15.___ ............ . zit -.1 - --, 2 B -71 Peruvian Bonds, 1849, 4i per C en t . 89 Peruvian Scrip .. .. ... .. 44 Ditto Deferred, 3 per Cent . 64 P ... Portuguese 5 per C ent.. 43 40 i Ditto, 4 per Cent. ..................... Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto, 4i per cent • 104 3i Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent ••• 48k Spanish New D e f erred, 3 per Cent 25 Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 39 8i Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cent. Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 664 97# i x d Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates..... THREE O'CLOCK, looi C3i Consols Ditto April Account THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.—A public meet ing took place at the Town Hall, Hertford, on Wednes day evening. Mr. H. Gilbertson in the chair. There was a numerous attendance. The plan and objects of the society were fully explained by R. N. Fowler, Esq., the banker, a member of the executive committee, Mr. C. E. Lewis, the solicitor, and Mr. C. L. Gruneisen, the secretary. A resolution moved by T. Sworder, Esq., and seconded by G. Ludlow, Esq., expressive of the opinion of the meeting, that the society, both on politi cal and commercial grounds was entitled to support, was passed unanimously. A plan of the allotment of the land bought on the road, half way between Hertford and Ware was exhibited the meeting, and intimation was given that further purchases of property would be made in Hertfordshire. BIRTH OF 4 PRINCE. (From, the Court Circular.) BUCKINGHAM PALACE, APRIL 7. At ten minutes past one o'clock this day the Que . ' was safely delivered of a Prince. There were present on the occasion in her Majesty ': room, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Dr. Loeoc . Dr. Snow, and M rs . Lill y, t h e monthly nurse. In the au joining apa r t men t s , b es id es the other medical attenda nt ' ~, (Sir James Clark an d D r . F erguson), were her Royal Re ness the Duchess of Kent, the Lady in Waiting on Queen and the following officers of State and Lords of t he Privy Cou nc il, v i z ., t h e E arl of Aberdeen, First IJ I) , Pe o ' of the Tre asury ; E ar l Granville, Lord President of 10 Council • the Duke o f Norfolk, Lord Steward ; t Duke ofWellington, Master of the Horse ; the Duk e ; Newcastle, S ecre t ary o f State for the Colonies ; Marquis of Lansdowne ; the Marquis of Breadalballe; Lord Chamberlain • the Duke of Argyll, Lord rt,), ' Seal ; Vis coun t P a l merston , Secretary of State for 13' Home Department ; and the Lord Chancellor. Summonses w ere i mme di ately issued for a rn Council to be held at three o'clock. Shortly afterwards the Park and Tower guns Ile r fired in celebration of the joyful event. We have on ly t o a dd that her Majesty and the in)tu Prince are progressing most favourably. At half-past two o'clock the following bulletin 1° issued : "Buckingham Palace, April 7, 1861 ' Half-past Two o'clock p.ra. " The Queen was safely delivered of a Prince at t " minutes past one o'clock this afternoon. " Her Majesty and the infant Prince are well. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. " CHARLES LOCOCK, 1V 1 .. n v. 0 " ROBT. FER GUSON , M•m• t bo At three o'clock a Privy Council was held at b i l Council-office, Whitehall, whi c h was a tt en d e d by r j Royal Highness Prince Albert ; Earl Granville, 1 1 10 President ; L or d C ranwort h , Lord Chancellor • Duke of Argyll, L or d P r i vy S ea l ; the Earl of Ab e ;derfii, First Lord of th e T reasury ; the Marquis of Lansdovril Viscount Palmerston, Secretary of State for the III; Department ; the E ar l o f Clarendon, Secretary of SO, for Foreign Aff a i rs ; th e D u k e of Newcastle, Secre t of State for th e C o l on i es ; the Right Hon. W. E. 9 13 0 4, stone, Chancello r o f th e E xc h equer ; S i r Char l es NV °°d ' i President of th e I n di a B oar d ; the Right Hon. Sidn p Herbert, S ecre t ary - at -W ar ; th e Bi s h op of London ; Duke of Norf o lk, L or d St ewar d ; an d the Marqui ,i,"e s Breadalbane, Lord Chamberl a i n . At the Council the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered to prepare a form of prayer for her Majesti safe delivery. The Honourable William Bathurst was clerk of thl Council in waiting. Prince Albert, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel F. ll ' Seymour, after the Council returned to Bucking° Palace. a 31 His Royal Highness th e D u k e o f C am b r id ge call e 4,he Buckingham Palace, an d h er R oya l Hi g h n ess " t i e Duchess of Gloucester, and the other members er o f Royal Family, sent t o ma k e i nqu i r i es a f ter t h e state - her Majesty. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sent remai ned in the Palace throughout the afternoon. o r His Serene High ness P r i nce Ed ward of Saxe We've!, and the Countess of Dornburg, together with th e „ D o. Tl gian Minister and M a d ame V an de Weyer, the d e verian Minister, the Russian Minister and Baronet s h Cetto, the Swedish an d N orweg i an Mi n i ster, the 14nd Minister and Madame Dille, the Prussian Minister st ic Madame Bunsen, and other members of the diplo corps, called at the Palace to leave their respects. t i e . The following members of Administration, a nd ger' tv men connected with the Royal Household vr itil u ice ladies of the respe c ti ve f am ili es a l so ca ll e d to in, ot , r ,l i r u after the health of her M a j es ty : —Th e E ar l an d tbe tess of Clarendon, Sir James and Lady Gralla,l 3 lll Right Hon. W. E. and M r s. Gl a d s t one, L or d and co ti' Stanley of Alderley, th e R ig ht H on. E . and Dirs.,, )0' well and Miss Card we ll, th e Ri g h t H on. E. th e Strutt, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-Genera l, an d Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, the Right Hon. M. 1 :;„te. 55 Mrs. Baines, Sir C. an d L a d y M ary W oo d , the Co"jjos• Granville, Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge , to ot W. Bathurst, Lady Cranworth, Viscountess Pai n ' A er j s . ,o the Earl and Co un t ess o f B ess b orough, Lor d and tild Alfred Paget, Viscount and Viscountess Sydnfiyaff Marquis of Ormonde, Lieutenant-Colonel and Lail -v o id , Hood, the Duche ss f Wellington, L or d and Lady Lord Elphinsto ne , L a dy C at h er i ne an d Mi s s Bac ga d Lady Clark, Dr. Lyon Playfair, Mr. and LadY rieor e and Miss Stanley, the C oun t ess ofCharlemont, Sir iov el and Lady Couper and Miss Co u p er , Lieutenant - ' s it and Mrs. Gordon, Colonel and Mrs. Bowyer'' , 0 George Bowles, the Marchioness of Breadalbatie, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Lyttelton. The Archbishop of York and the Hon. M rs . iviusgr# l the Speaker of the House of Commons and Mrs. Si ll Lefevre, and a great number of peers and members the House of Commons, also attended at the Palace make their dutiful inquiries. ( From the London Gazette Extraordinary.) BUCKINGHAM PALACE, April 7. 0 This day, at ten minutes after one o'clock, the 0 1 ,0 was happily deliv ere d o f a P r i nce. His Royal High,Zt Prince Albe r t, severa l L ords of her Majesty ' s Honourable Privy C ounc il, an d t h e Ladies of h e r ." jesty's Bedchamber, being present. t ° l This great an d i m p or t an t news was ma d e k n s the town by the firing of the Park and Tower glo s cible the Privy C oun cil being assembl e d as soon as Its-ws.4 thereupo n , at the Council-chamber, Whit e h a ll, 1 a Se ordered that a form of thanksgiving for the Queens s delivery of a Prince be prepared by his Grace the A I. J bishop of Canterbury, to be used in all churches chapels throughout England and Wales, and the to , c, of B erwick - upon-Tweed, on Sunday, the 10th dal April, or th e S unday after the respective.ministers , al' receive the same. • el Her Majesty andthe infant Prince are, God be 109 ,0 both doing well. At the Council-chaniber, Whitehall, the 7th day of ATI; 1853, by the Lords of her Majesty's Most Sono' Privy Council. 1);' It - d that __ is nis lay ordered by their lordships, f o il' Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury do prepare 3 .. of praye r an d th an k sg i v i ng to Alm i ghty G o d fau ou b Majesty's safe delivery of a Prince • and tha t re bO form of p ra y er an d t han k sg i v i ng be used in all ch li o and chapels in England and Wales, and in the t A ° 4 Berwick-up on -T wee d, upon Sunday, th e 10th ""tiv e this instant April, or th e Sunday after the reaP e , the ministers of suc h c h urc h es or chapels shall ree ig- • .; And it is hereby f ur th er ordered, that her 1( •"" oo' ri l printer do f or th wi th pr i nt a competent number of eithe of the said form of prayer and thanksgiving, t 2 j : s eil same may be fo r th w ith sen t roun d and read in se" ral churches and chapels of England and Wales , of the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Wm. L. 800- At the Council-chamber, Whitehall, the 7th 50 v0 April, 1853, by th e L or d s o f h er M a j es tP Honourable Privy Council. e ved, It is this day ordered by th e i r l or d s hips, thaV i minister and preacher, as well of the Established e w in that part of Great Britain called Scotland as tho the Episcopal Communion, protected and allow ec L b le t i, act, passed in th e tenth year of the reign of her 3 1bill Queen Anne, intituled "An Act to prevent the distaord those of the Episcopal Communion in that part of Britain called Scotland, in the exercise of their rei,' worship, and in the use of the Liturgy of the Ch tire pr England ; and for re p ea li ng th e ac t, passed in th e l 9( Eminent of Scotland, intituled 'An Act against irr e tb s Baptisms and Marriages,' " do, at some time duri l) 7.e,?; exercise of divine service in their churches , coa t t j) . tions, or assemblies, on Sunday, the 10th day . instant April, or on the Sunday after, the minlste':eoy preachers of such churches, congregations, or ti S l blies, respectively, shall be enabled so to do, 1 111 V prayers and thanksgivings to Almighty G o d fo r Majesty's safe delivery of a Prince. -Wm. L. EATOS LETTERS AND PAPERS FOR AUSTRALIA, . 64C * - 1 s fse hasof VictoriaGb Good e o n d issued(Hpoo(Port te bpyshoti South t e ph) G , e N ne e r w a l Australiaso ct h t :t letters and newspapers for the Cae de Ve'rde 9 l l , e g Diemen's Land, will be sent b y ut Osmanli, if I t V hw e e st a e mi rn es : a ; s a t t ereoit ? Posted in London in time for the Live day mail to-day (Friday). THE NORTH BRITISH AusTRALASIAN COMPAN I j, a special meeting of the Nort h Briti sh Austral V Company on Monday, at Aberdeen, it was resolve', at Kaw-aw, in Nevi Z ° ,, B e ° ` f Y in this country for the p er P;per ; ', L th o e nd m on arg A em t management ssahmoueldtimbee a fo r rt ep h e w; t it w h as tra re n a s d fe f r r r o e o ;l l, w ag h e o nt ha o s f la t t h e e ly c a o r m riv p e a d n procuring more efficient machinery and a body of and s d e in which the capabilities of the copper mine ari a J e ; ing works at that locality were very f a vour: ll4 o 01 scribed. With regard to the conte m plated creA ti° , fo r r new shares, it was suggested that one new Olt O h every two shares at present h e ld s h ould b e i ss ued " shareholders at par. o orf SUICIDE FROM WATERLOO - BRlDGE.—Yesterday YesterdaY f or: ing, at an early hour, the dead body of a yoe n g;rf, was found lyi ng i n t h e mud off Mr Pea,cheY h the Surrey sid e o f Waterloo-bridge. Inforn2a given to the police, and a shell having been P i r ° to tii the remains w ere p l ace d therein and remove" OPa dead-house of the old Church, Lambeth. In the c if it of the day several parties attended, and ultiro ste tt oo d r e body was identified as being that of an urlf ° ,-i i r olip female passing under the various aliases of Li .- e Bayley, Everall, &c., but whose real name is 0 111) :0 1) ,, to be Amelia Munro. Th e d ecease d h a d, f o r soli :1 '0 1 " i past, been living with a man named Lewis, in t he a f e o wall-road, from where she suddenly disappear ea pOr days since, and on Sunday last a lavender - colour 4tee, bonnet was found on the above bridge, which v 73sj ie / 4 wards recognised as that worn by the unforte li ;goi m ceased when she was last seen. From the f °l*- o v. facts there seems to be but very little doubt thteoce'll young woman put an end to her wretched eggs Mr. John Adamson - forwarded the necessary inf b ` i ; g t to Mr. W. Carter, coroner f or E ast Surrey, " inquest is not yet fixed. us e i X COURT OF CHANCERY.—By order of the Lords, a paper has just been printed respee,' o ", i rt amount of Consols bought and sold for the u g r; Chancery in the last two years. In 1851, ° i c e ,' amount of Consols bought was 2,313,1881 ., 2- 01 /, amount sold 1,217,696/. ; whilst in 1852, th e A2 9 ol bought was 1,973,4481., and the amount sold, 1,7, ; „g SEAMEN'S WAGES, LYNN.—The sailors beloutrey f oto vessels in the coasting trade at this port, who etr u t o an increase of wages on the 28th ult., have go le again without obtaining any advance. I same,