The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-20 00:00:00

diminution in the amount. . urth.:'r , deereised in futhre years. Lord D. grulurr said s tiaere was no vote on which the people out of doors looked with greater suspicion than this. They did not know how it was employed, or what nameless gentlemen gave their services in consideration part of it. The dislike felt at it generally throughout the , country was not likely to be lessened at present, in eoe and quence of the suspicions of revelations which hadspread_ through the country with regard to secret services, the watching and inquiring about the proceeding s of different individuals. He was not going to object to the vote at present, but he thought the house had a right to as mu9h . information as it was possible to give with regard to He hoped the Government would tell the committee whether the sum now asked for was t he same as last year. Mr. A. PELLATT begged also to ask whether any _part of the money wont to remunerate the detective police 7 Lord J. RUSSELL said the sum asked for this year was exactly the same as that of last year ; and no part of the money went to the detective police. The vet) was then agreed to. Votes of 216,4201., for providing stationery, printing, binding, and paper for the two Houses of Parliament, and the several departments of Government in England, Scot and, Ireland, and the colonies, and of . 16,000 1. for law Ch:Ll'S'o6 paid by the Solicitor to the Treasury in England, were agreed to without discussion. On a sum of 17,700 1 . being proposed for sheriffs' ex penses, o ff i cers of the Court of Exchequer, &c. Lrr. WIcE, Lord D. STUART, and Mr. M . CHAMBERS severally expressed a wish to know how this sum, which seemed a large one, was appropriated ? Lord J. RUSSELL said it was principally a sum which had been usually paid to sheriffs for charges which they in cnre-d in the execution of their office, which they paid out of their own rockets in the first instance, and of which trey subsequently rendered an account. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 8,8301. was then proposed to defray the charges of the salaries of the Commissioners of the Courts for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors. After a short discussion the vote was agreed to. The next vote was for a sum of 107,4051. to defray the law expenses of Scotland. On the proposal of a sum of 56,050/. to defray the charges of criminal prosecutions in Ireland, Colonel DUNNE said that he considered that if the sys tem of equalisation of taxation were adopted with respect to Ireland, the same principle of equality ought to be ap plied to the expenses of the country, and particularly in the case of criminal prosecutions and law charges, and he would be glad to receive an assurance from the Govern ment that the same principle should be applied with regard to the charges of prosecution in Ireland as prevailed in England. Mr. M`MAHON trusted that some alteration would be made in the present system with regard to the appoint ment of Crown prosecutors. He believed that at present the failure of justice was in too many instances to be traced to the fact of effete nominees of the Attorney-Gene ral having to contend with young, active, and more expe rienced men than themselves. Mr. BROTHERTON wished to know if the hon. and gallant member for Portarlington would wish to see equa lity between the two countries carried out so as to include the payment of the constabulary in Ireland from local rates as in this country, rather than be borne as at present by the Consolidated Fund? Colonel DUNNE would have no objection to that change, provided everything else were placed upon the same footing. Sir J. YOUNG thought that the whole subject of the local taxation of Ireland was a question well worthy the attention of gentlemen connected with Ireland, and pro liaised the best consideration of the Government to any well-considered proposition on the subject. He was not prepared to agree in the conclusion of the hon. member for Wexford (Mr. M`Mahon), as to the propriety of adopting in Ireland the same system as that which I rsvailed in Eng land with respect to public prosecutions, rather than the one which at present existed there, and which had been found to work so well in Scotland. He thought it desir able that there should be public officers in Ireland to con duct prosecutions ; but did not consider that the present system was a perfect one, Mr. SCULLY trusted that the attention of the Govern ment would be directed to some mode of making the office of Crown prosecutor in Ireland more efficient than it was at present. The vote was the agreed to. A sum of 36,0001. was next proposed for defraying the expenses of the metropolitan police force in Dublin. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the vote on the ground that the expenses of that force, in addition to that of the c nstabulary, ought not to be borne by the Consolidated Fund. The vote was agreed to, as was also a vote for 240,0001. to defray charges formerly borne upon the county rate. On the proposal to vote a sum of 16,8391. for the charges of inspection and general superintendence over all the pri sons of the United Kingdom, Mr. LUCAS suggested the postponement of the vote, on account of the importance of the subject—and which at that hour of the night could not be fully discussed— as affecting prisoners of the Roman Catholic persuasion. Sir J. YOUNG said it was important that the votes should be proceeded with, and if there was any informa tion which the hon. member might require on the subject, he should be happy to afford it him. Sir DE LACY EVANS approved of the consideration of this question being delayed, on the ground that it was not expected that the house would have got into committee of supply so early. Lord J. RUSSELL admitted that if the previous busi ness upon the paper had occupied the greater portion of the evening, it would have been necessary to postpone the committee of supply ; but, having got into the committee of supply, he could not admit the necessity of not going on. They were now going through the votes regularly, and he hoped that if honourable members had objections to any particular votes they would now state them. Notice had been given that the house would go into supply this evening. Mr. WILLIAMS said he should object to any votes being taken after twelve o'clock. [lt was now a quarter to cloven.] Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not propose to take any votes after 12 o'clock. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LUCAS put it to the committee to say whether it was not perfectly reasonable, under the circumstances, that the chairman should now report progress, and ask leave to sit again. (Cries of " Oh, oh," and "Go on.") There must be a lengthened discussion on this vote ; but it was impossible it could be satisfactory at so late an hour to night. If, therefore, no other course was left open to him, he should take a division to-night, and the discussion on the bringing up of the report. (A laugh.) He moved that the chairman report progress. Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to take the discus sion on the bringing up of the report ; but he could not consent to stop the progress of the committee now, merely because the honourable gentleman was not ready to make his statement. He hoped it would be still The vote was then agreed to. On the next vote, that the sum of 407,6671., be granted to defray the charge of the Government prisons and convict establishments at home, Mr. LUCAS moved that the chairman do report pro gress.. (Cries of " oh, 9h.".) Lord J. RUSSELL trusted the committee would not agree to the proposal. (Hear, hear.) There was certainly no reason for reporting progrei s so early as eleven o'clock. Mr. LUCAS said the noble lord had put the case as if he (Mr. Lucas) was not prepared to bring on the question. He had not put it on that ground, but upon the ground that it would lead to a longer debate than there was time for this evening, and because several hon. gentlemen who wished to take part in the discussion were now absent. In the details appended to the vote he found several sums, amounting to 4,52 W., for chaplains and other religious in structors in these prisons. In the vote for Irish prisons sums were included for Protestant chaplains, for Roman Catholic Chaplains, and for Presbyterian chaplains ; in other words, in Ireland the fact was recognised that there wore criminals of different religions, and some sort of pro vision was thus made for their religious instruction and re formation. But in the vote for Government prisons in England not a single sixpence was asked for the payment of Roman Catholic chaplains, nor was anything paid in the local or county prisons for Roman Catholic chaplains, though a large sum was proposed to be voted for the main tenance of prisoners in those gaols. Co inty gaols were entirely under the management of the Secretary of State for the Home Department • the rules were sent to him every year, and any alterations, amendments, or additions which he made were obligatory and binding upon the local authorities. County prisons, as well as Government pri sons, were therefore, as regarded this question, under the inangement of the Home Secretary. What provision, then, was made for the religious instruction of Roman Catholi c prisoners? None either in England or Scotl Ind—with the exception of Millbank. Now he wanted to have an oppor tunity of laying the whole of this case before the house in detail, for it was impossible, without discussion, that so gross an injustice and absurdity should continue to be per petrated. The motive for prison discipline was reforma tion—but with regard to Roman Catholic prisoners, refor mation was began with a profession of hypocrisy. The case was a grave one—it would require an answer from the Government, and it would certainly lead to a length ened discussion on the part of gentlemen who took the same view as himself. He hid, therefore, no alternative but to press his motion. To take the division now and the dis cussion afterwards was au absurdity, and he had only pro posed it by way of joke. - Mr. V. SMITH said the proposition to report progress was unreasonable and unusual. At the same time, if the honourable gentleman was determined to state the case on this motion, as well as ou the bringing up of the report, the loss of time would be very great. Under such cir cumstances, therefore, it would be better for hi s no bl e friend to postpone the present vote, and proceed with Via others. (Hear hear, hear.) There mu s t b e some discussion upon subjects arising out of this vote, which would require some explanation from his noble friend the . Home Secretary. There was an increase of 12J,000/. in the vote for special service to provide ac commodation for convicts, in consequence of the cessa tion of transportation. There had been no discussion in this house on that subject; and, from what had passed in another place, it was left in doubt in what position the question of transportation stood. There must, therefore, be a discussion in which the Government would state what their views wore with regard to secondary punishments. Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to the course sug gested by his right hon. friend. (Hear, hear.) With re gard to the important subjcct alluded to by his right hon. friend, it was undoubtedly desirable that on some rather early occasion the views of the Government should be stated in this house on the question of transportation. (Hear.) It would be necessary before long to bring in a bill on that subject ; and in moving for such a bill the views of the Go vernment would be stated by his noble friend the Secre tary of State for the Home Department. Tho vote w as th en withdrawn. The following votes were next agreed to without discus sion :- 0,4651. for the expense of the maintenance of prison ers 'in county gaols, the philanthropic institution and lunatic asylums, and the expenses of the removal of con victs. _ of 69,518/. s for expenses connee.ed with th e transportation convict. 244,154/. for the expense of the convict establishments in the colonies. _ 230,000/. for public education in Great E 182,073/., the sum required by the Commi ri ss t iOn n ers . of Na tional Education in Ireland. 44,476/. for the department a science and art, including geological survey of Great Britai n and Ireland, and museums of geology, London and Dublin. G,340 1 . for the expenses of the Royal Dublin Society. On the motion that 2,006/. be voted to defray the charge of the salaries and allowances granted to certain professors in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the vote. He understood that tbo income of ono college was 150,C00/. per annum, and that of another 180,000 1 . per annum ; and he kid no hesitation in saying that establishments possessing such vast amounts of wealth ought to be ashamed of coming upon the public taxes for these votes. A return obtained a few years ago showed that only two, three, or four per-, sons attend° .0 lectures of those professors. The colleges heir own lecturers. , He hoped the vote divide • but if it were not, he should Mr. I takrpglf oppomil the grant. The tni two h uo e gu commit ltdtboe i i t e Ph : l 777. ir it. ' • _ inogly okAre people from the ver ntages.which nely • • ss.eT yet they had the °llion ery to call upon the house . tax the majority of the p, ople toe support institutions. from which they by their bigotted laws, excluded dissenters. Mr. BLACKETT wished to put a question to the noble lord the member for the city of London on this subject. Some time ago the noble lord expressed a hope that the universities would themselves introduce improvements into their system ; and he said he should be loth to invite the assistance of Parliament unless they showed themselves un willing to propose certain reforms within one or two years. There was an unhappy vagueness about this statement ; and therefore he put it to the noble lord, in the interest of the universities themselves, whether he would not fix some definite period within which, if they did not reform them selves, he would think it his duty to ask for the assistance of Parliament. (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL, with regard to this vote, must be allowed to mention that it had been stated by the univer sities themselves that they felt aggrieved by the stamp duties payable on taking degrees. They considered they were more burdened by this public taxation than benefited by the votes annually made by the House of Commons. This was the statement he had heard, and he would say so far as this, that the whole of the question as to this vote and the burdens upon the universities should be considered by the Government. If any arrangement could be arrived at by which the present vote should be rendered unneces sary, he should be very glad ' • but at present the vote could not be renounced, as it had been adopted on the faith of arrangements made by former governments. He did not think he had ever stated that if they thought it necessary the Government would propose within one or two years a measure for the management of the universities. Ho said ho did not think it expedient to proceed at present --meanin g in the present session, but beyond the present session he held the Government to be perfectly free to act as should seem best. Sir R. INGLIS said the Crown, in its liberality, had in former years either founded these professorships, or largely endowed them out of Crown property, and if Parliament, had thought fit to take that property, subject to all charges upon it, it was a little too much to attempt now to violate a bargain made with the Crown at the time. About 20 years ago another hon. member for.Lambeth brought for ward a proposition of this kind, and Mr. Spring Rice, the present Lord Monteagle, then one of the Lords of the Treasury, laid on the table the documentary evidence, by which what he had just stated was proved to be the fact. With regard to the sums paid by the universities in stamps for degrees, his noble friend the First Minister in that house had stated it was double the amount received for professors. If the Government would not exact the amount paid in stamps for degrees, the University of Oxford would not be indisposed to re-consider the receipt of the smaller sum to the professors. But as to adopting the professorial system, admitting persons to residence not attached to any college, and destroying the wills of the founders, as sug gested his noble friend, he could only repeat what he had already said, such a change was very improbable. He would divide against the amendment of the hon. member for Lambeth. Sir DE LACY EVANS thought the Universities of Ox ford and Cambridge stood on a very different footing from the University of London, for which a similar vote would next be taken. Oxford and Cambridge had very large property belonging to them, and the system of education there was most expensive. It was very proper to promote the education of the people, but the most opulent classes of the country received their education at Oxford and Cambridge, and the charges were abundantly large. Know ing that those universities were richly endowed, that they possessed many sinecure appointments, and that the higher classes alone were educated within their walls, he did think it inconsistent to ask the public to contribute the sum of 2,0001. under the name of professors. Mr. A. PELLATT agreed that the University of London was on a very different footing from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The latter not only excluded those who could not conform to the established religion of the country, but prevented any divulgement of facts with regard to finances and endowments, by the imposition of oaths. They ought to look with great jealousy on societies I that would not give the slightest information as to what were their incomes, or how they were derived. They must assume that their resources were abundant, and, therefore, a contribution from the State unnecessary. He was a' l great friend to education, and was glad to see the system I of instruction by professors extended, but he thought the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge had money enough of their own, and should oppose the vote. Mr. W. WILLIAMS would not divide the committee if he had the assurance of the noble lord that the Govern ment would take these matters into consideration. Mr. H. DRUMMOND thought the argunient of the hon. baronet the member for the University of Oxford had been either entirely evaded or overlooked. The argument was this—That this sum was the property of the universities ; that it was granted by the Crown ; that Parliament chose to take upon themselves the payment of sums for which the Crown was pledged ; and now, having done that, they wanted to break the bargain, and come and talk there of honour and integrity. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. WILLIAMS asked, if this sum were granted by the Crown, why the vote was taken for it annually, why it was not placed on the Civil List ? There would be a similar vote for Scotch universities, but there was property in. Scotland belonging to the Crown, which produced an an nual revenue to the State, and, therefore, to that vote he did not object. Mr. H. DRUMMOND reminded the hon. member that Parliament took the property of the Crown with all its incumbrances, and now it was proposed to repudiate the incumbrances and break the bargain they had made. (Hear, hear.) The vote was then agreed to, as were also -3,9551. for the expenses of the universities of London. 8,026/. for grants to Scottish universities. 300'. for the Royal Irish Academy. 300/. for the Royal Hibernian Academy. On the propo . sal to vote 2,7501. for the salaries of theolo gical professors at Belfast and for the retired allowances to the professors of the Belfast Academical Institution, Mr. MIALL said he understood this vote would be given for the purpose of religious teachinc , in Belfast. A. majo rity of the committee had objected to a vote of a similar character with regard to Maynooth College, in Ireland. The principle laid down was, not that they objected to the Roman Catholic religion as such, but to public money being given for religious teaching of any kind. In consis tency, therefore they were bound to refuse this vote. Sir R. INGLIS said the hon. member could only answer for himself and the views which dictated his vote, but he, for one, had never scrupled to declared he objected to pay ing any money for teaching that which he conscientiously disapproved. In conscience he disapproved of the teaching in Maynooth, and on that ground he objected to the vote with regard to Maynooth -but that was not "the ground on which he conceived himself justified in objecting to any other vote on the table of the house. Mr. A. PELLATT said the great objection of the Non conformists was to any allowance of the State for the teaching of religion, and, therefore, he should join in voting against this sum. The CHAIRMAN asked if the hon. member proposed to divide ? Mr. MIALL said ho should certainly divide the com mittee upon the whole of this class of votes. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the committee divided— For the vote. Against Majority 130 21 A vote of 1,6811. to defray the probable expenses of the Queen's University in Ireland was agreed to. Votes of 55,8401. for the establishment and expenses, of 22,7101. for the required new buildings, and of 1,5001. for the purchases of the British Museum, were agreed to. A vote of 4,2621. 19s. 10d. for the expenses of the Na tional Gallery was agreed to. A vote of 2,2131. for scientific works and experiments wasagreed to. The - CHAIRMAN then reported progress, on the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, and the house resumed. HACKNEY CARRIAGE (METROPOLIS) BILL. On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair, Sir R. INGLIS urged that the bill before the house was one which ought to be referred to a select committee, as the amount concerned in it was so large, and the number of persons' livelihoods which it affected so numerous. The sum of 1,700,0001. was involved in the decision referring to hackney carriages or omnibuses; the sum of 800,000/7 in that referring to cabs ; and there wore other considerations in the matter higher than those of pounds, shillings, and pence. In various cases bills affecting large classes—for instance the Buildings Regulation Act, and a measure on the subject of hackney carriages in 1835—had been referred to a select committee, and he thought that there was no reason why this should not be so too. Had his honourable friend examined any great body of the persons with whose property he meddled ? Had he investigated the matter, and was he prepared to allocate the amount which they should receive ? And was he to be supported by the advo cates of free trade and unrestricted competition in an at tempt to induce the house to adopt a minimum of wages for a particular class of individuals ? (Hear, hear.) But there were other and higher considerations. This measure involved also the liberty of the subject. In clause 14, ho found a large class of undefined offences to which no penalty was attached by the clause itself. But that clause must be constructed by clause 7, which provided that for every of fence to which no specific penalty is appended the offender shall, at the discretion of the magistrate, be liable to a penalty not exceeding 405., or an imprisonment for any period not exceeding one month. (Hear, hear.) Such a power as that ought not to be hastily granted by the house, and certainly not without previous inquiry. (Hear, hear.) In case of summary conviction before a magistrate, thera ought to bo a power of appeal. (Hear, hear.) And what was the objection to that proposition ? Why, that there had been a conviction by a magistrate quashed. When an analogous bill was introduced in 1835, the Government of that day thought it not unbecoming to submit the matter to the consideration of a select committee, and he trusted the house would follow that example in the present case. (Hear, hear.) He admitted that the hon. gentl eman pro posed to give the supreme decision to a person of whom he had never spoken, except with honour; but he did not think that even Sir Richard Mayne ought to be entrusted with such a power as that conferred by the present bill. (Hear.) He had previously asked his hon. friend to give the power of appeal, but that request had been refused. He now proposed to go further, and ask the house to ref e r th e bill to a select committee. (Hear, hear.) Before con cluding his remarks, he would just state to the house the amount of property respecting which it was asked to legislate. Before a single journey was made by the omni buses now in use, a capital of 414,0001. had been sunk in their construction. Tho annual cost to the pro prietors for wages was 436,800/. ; for repairs, 62,400/. ; for corn to the horses, 358,000/. • for hay, 117,0001. ; for straw, 56,000/. ; for wear anti tear of horses and shoeing, 91,0001. ; for duty, 202,0001.—making a general total of not less than 1,709,600. The amount for cabs was of course smaller; but before a single journey could be made by 3,500 cabs, the capital expended had been 352,5001. ; the annual cost for 7,000 horses was 272,000/4 . the wear and tear, 50,0001.; and, including the duty, the whole expense was upwards of 700,000'.—making a total amount of nearly 2,500,0001. The duty paid by these vehicles amounted to nearly 300;000/., whilst the duty paid by all the railways did not amount to more than 262,0001. Where the property and the livelihood and liberty of so many persons were involved, he thought he had shown a case for the motion, with which he would now conclude— namely, that the bill be referred to a select committee. (Hear, hear.) Lord D. STUART seconded the amendment. There was , carriages, and no doubt most a great prejudice against st people honourable connected members with h a h c a k d n e a y t i s a o u m g e b mbeuotrthother übasitctl altercation with a cabman--(a amending the house looking carefully into the bill anddeatm not : its provisions. The 0 required the con bill was so full of minute sideration of a select committee, n would bestow upon THE .SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 1 853. FRE.NC it PLAYS. MR. MITCIIELL'S BENEFIT.—WEDNESDAY - NEXT. Under the Gracious Patronage of Her Majesty. - - MR. MITCHELL respectfully announces that his BENEFIT is flied to take place on WEDNESDAY next, May 25th, 1853, on which occasion will be presented, for that n 1 ht only, the favourite Comedy of LE MARIA A LA CAMPAG%47,, and (for the last time it can be repeated) LE BONHOMME in which Mons. Eegnier will repeat his admirable performance of " Le Bonhomme Jadis ;" being alio the last night but Two of the Comedy Performances. Mr. Mitchall solicits the favour of an early application for boxes and stalls Royal Lihrary, 33, Old Bond-street, 19th May, 1853. it more attention than a committee of the whole house. (Hear, hear.) The bill could not come into operation before October, and there was plenty of time, therefore, to send it to a committee up stairs, and then to consider it in the house. That course, if adopted, would give great satisfaction out of doors, and would show their determina tion to give to the subject the best consideration in their power. He cordially seconded the amendment. Mr. FITZROY thought the house would agree with him that no sufficient case had been made out for referring the bill to a committee up stairs. The mover and seconder of the amendment had only proved that they had certain alterations to propose in the bill, which alterations he should be perfectly willing to consider and adopt, as far as the interests of the public would allow him to do so ; but to propose to refer the bill to a select committee was in effect to sweep away any chance it might have of receiving the sanction of the house. (Hear.) The only evidence that would be taken before a select committee would be that of cab proprietors, and the public would be altogether shut out, which would not be the case if the bill were submitted to a committee of the whole house. The mover of the amend. ment had erroneously stated that no measure affecting hack ney carriages in this metropolis had been framed within the last 19 years, and that the last measure was referred to a select committee. The act 6 and 7 Victoria, which was an act for licensing and regulating this trade, had been passed subsequently to the period referred to by the hon. baronet; and although it granted powers similar to those conferred upon the Commissioners of Police by the present measure, it was not considered necessary to send it to a committee nip stairs. A great deal had been said about the amount of capital invested in hackney carriages ; but the house should recollect, on the other hand, that 300,000,000 pas sengers were conveyed annually in these vehicles within this metropolis. It was of great importance that the pub lic conveyances should not be allowed to remain in their present state, deprived of light and air, and, believing that the provisions of the bill were equally for the interests of the public and of cab proprietors, he would resist the amendment to refer it to a select committee. Mr. B. DENISON supported the amendment. He thought the house was not competent to deal with all parts of the case, without hearing what' the cab proprietors had to say. He admitted, at the same time, that the public conveyances of the metropolis required improvement. Sir J. V. SHELLEY thanked the honourable gentle. man who had brought forward this bill. The proposed reduction of fares would, in the long run, be found bene ficial to the cab proprietors themselves. The question of appeal was one which fairly admitted of a difference of opinion, but there could be no doubt that the house was as competent to deal with it as a committee up stairs. He should vote for the motion. Mr. NEWDEGATE said that to reduce the fares, and at the same time to enact stringent regulations, might be a necessary, but it was certainly a cruel and arbitrary, pro ceeding:_ __ .. .. . .. ._ _ . ._ _ _ Mr. - MALINS said that the nailed-together boards which were driven about on wheels through the streets, and called cabs, were a disgrace to the metropolis. (Hear, hear.) The drivers, too, were the most ignorant body of men in the world ; if you told one of them to drive to the east he brought you to the west ; and if you directed him to the north, you soon found yourself going towards the south of the city. He (Mr Malins) thought that there ought to be an examination of drivers. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that the honourable gentleman opposite would per severe in the general objects of this bill, and that the house would not consent to refer the question to a committee up stairs. Mr. BRIGHT said that members of that house were frequently obliged to employ cabs, and suffered a great deal of inconvenience in consequence ; they ought, therefore, to be careful not to legislate on this matter with a view to per sonal considerations. He believed that cab-drivers were in general treated with great harshness, and that their un fortunate condition was, in a great degree, to be attributed to the want of a sensible municipal government in this me tropolis. No act of Parliament would civilise a body of men who were exposed day and night in this severe climate, but if there was a proper municipal government in London, some arrangement would have been by this time made by which cabs on the stand would be placed under a glass roof, and greater attention would be paid to the comforts of the drivers. (Hear.) As the Government showed a willingness to receive suggestions by which the bill might be improved, he (Mr. Bright) should not vote for sending it to a committee up stairs. Mr. B. CARTER did not think that the bill would re ceive fair consideration from a committee of the whole house, and he should, therefore, vote in favour of referring it to a select committee. Mr. LOCKE thought that it would not be right to legis late on a question which affected the interests of a large body of men without giving them a healing, and an oppor tunity of stating their case before a select committee. He could not approve of tho interference with fares which was proposed by this bill. The house then divided, when the numbers were— For going into committee Against it . 107 23 Majority The house then went into committee on the bill pro forma. Sir GEORGE PECHELL gave notice that on the house going into committee on the bill on the next occasion he would move that the cabmen be heard by counsel at the bar of the house. (Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow. CLITHEROE-NEW WRIT. On the motion of Sir GEORGE GOODMAN, a new writ was ordered to issue for the borough of Clitheroe. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned a few minutes after one o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MAY 19. ( From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) (In Committee of Supply.) Motion made, and question proposed—`" That a sum, not exceeding 45,6001., be granted to her Majesty, to defray the expense of repairing and maintaining the several public buildings in the department of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, to the 31st day of March, 1854.” Afterwards, motion made, and question proposed—" That a sum, not exceeding 44,3641.75., be granted to her Ma jesty, to defray the expense of repairing and maintaining the several public buildings in the department of tho Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, to the 31st day of March, 1854." (Mr. Spooner). Afterwards, motion made, and question put—" That a sum, not exceeding 44,1081. ls. 4d., be granted to her Ma jesty, to defray the expense of repairing and maintaining the several public buildings in the department of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, to the 31st day of March, 18154." (Mr. W. Williams). The Com mittee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 43. Anderson, Sir James Jones, David Phinn, Thomas Bagge, W. Keating H. Scobell, Capt. Bailey, H J Kendall, N. Seymour, W. D. Bell, J. Kershaw, James Shelley, Sir J. V. Biggs. William Kinnaird, A. F. Stuart, Lord D. Cobbett, J. Morgan Lee, W. Swift, R. Craufurd, E. Lucas, F. Tollemache, John Drummond, El. Macgregor, James Wainuiley, Sir J. Duncsn, G. M'Taggart, Sir J. WilKinson, W. A. Fox, W. J. Martin, John Williams, Thos. Peer Freestun, Colonel Massey, W. Wise, A. Goodman, Sir George 3liall, Edward II adfield, George Milligan, Robert TzLL2IB. • Hustle, Alexanuer Michell, W. Hastie, Archibald Pakington, Sir John Spooner, Richard Inglis, Sir R. IL Pellatt Apsley Williams, W. MAJORITY—NOES, 80 Acland, Sir T. Floyer, J. Phillips, John Henry A'Court, C. Fox, R. M. Power, N. Al buthnott, General Frewen, C. H. Price, Sir R. Atherton, Wrn. Gladstone, William Ricardo, 0. Baines, M. T. Gore, W. 0. Robertson, P. F. Barrow, W. H. Graham, Sir James Russell. Lord J. Berkeley, Granville Greene, J. Scott, F. Bethel], Richard Gwyn, Bowel Slice, I.Z, Bowyer, George Hamilton, Lord C. Smith, Win. M. Biotherton, Joseph Haunter, Sir J. Strutt, Edward Buck, Lewis W. Heard, J. I. Taylor, Cul. Butler, Charles S. Hamby, D. O'Connor Thicknesse, B.A. Butt, Geo. liledd Herbert, Sidney Thoniely, T. Cairns,ll.3l`Calmont Hervey, lord Alfred Towneley,Q, Cardwell, E. Ingham, hobert Turner, C. Chambers, M. Jones, Capt. Vance. J. Charteris, F. Keating, Robert Vansittar.., G. H. Chili, Smith Lockhart, W. Venter. F,ir W. Clay, Sir W. I.ong, W. Walcot, Adm. Clinton, Lord C. P. Lowther, Colonel Wilsoe , J ames Cockburn, Sir Alex. M'Gregor, John Wood.J, B. Corry, H. L. Malins, R. WYr.ne, W. Cowper, W. Mastennan, J. Wy vill, M. Davies, D. Molesworth, Sir W. Yortng, Sir I. Dent, J. Monsell, William Fagan, W. Murrough, J. Y. TELLIJIS Fitzgerald, J. Osborne, Ralph Playter, Hon. W. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Peel Frederick :Muirrave, Earl Question put—" That a sum, not exceeding 44,3641. 75., be granted to her Majesty, to defray the expense of re pairing and maintaining the several public buildings in the department of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, to the 31st day of March, 1854." (Mr. Spooner). The Committee divided -- MAJORITT—AYI:B, 74. Anderson, Sir James Gwyn, Howel Montgomery, Sir G. Arbuthnot, Geu. Hadfield, George Packingtou, sir J. Bagge, W. Hamilton, Lord C. Pellatt, A Halide, H. Hustle, Alexander Phinn, T. Barrow, Wm. H. nestle, Archibald Robertson, P. F. Bell, James Inglis, Sir R. 11. &obeli, Captain Biggs, William Jones, Captain Scott, Francis Buck, Lewis W. Jones, D. Seymour, W. I) Butler, Charles Keating, H. S. Shelley, sir J. V. Butt, G. :..I. Kendall, Niche.las Smith, W. Cairns, H. M'Calmont Kershaw, J 3013 e► Smollett, A Chambers, Montagu Kinnaird, A. F. Stuart, Lord Dud:ey Child, Sinith Lee, Vr, Taylor, Col. Clinton, Lord C. Lockhart, W. Toilemache, J. Cobbett, J M. Long, w. Torner, C. Corry, Henry Lowry Lowther, Colonel Vance, J. Craufurd, E. 11. J. Macgregor, James Vansittart, George IL Davies, D. Macgregor, John Verner, Sir W. Drummond, Henry M'Taggart, Sir J. Walcott, Adm. Duncan, George Melina, Richard t Williams, W. Ferguson, Joseph Martin, John Wood, B. Floyer, John Massey, W. N. Wynue, Win. W. E. Fox, W. J.• Masterman, John • Freestun, Colonel Miali, E. , TELLERS. Goodman, Sir Li. Milligan, R. Spooner, R. Gore, W. Michell, W. Frewen, C. H. MINORITY—NOES, 54. Acland, Sir T. Greene, J. Shee, W. A'Court, C. Henna. Sir John Strutt, lit. lion. E. Atherton, Wm. Beard, J, Swift, It. Baines, M. T. Ilenchy, D. O'Connor Tancred, Henry Wm. Berkeley, Grenville Herbert, Sidney Thicknesse, It. A. Bethel], Richard Ilervey, Lorei Alfred Thornely. T. Bower, G. . Hutt, Willis in Towneley, C. Brady, John Ingham, licked IYalinsley, Sir J. Brotherton. J. Keating, It, Wilkinson, W. Cardwell, Hon. E. Lucas, F. Wilcox, B. Charter's, F. Molesworrh, Sir W. Wilson, J. Clay, Sir William Monsen, W. Wilmington, Sir T. E Cochburn, Sir A. Murrougti, J. P. Wyvill, siarmatluke Crowder, It. Osborne, Ralph Young, Sir John Dint, J. Peel, F. Fagan, W. Phillipps, J. 11. Fitzroy, Henry Power, X. TELLERS. Fox, It. Price, Sir It. Gladstone, William Ricardo, 0. Ilayter, W. G. Graham, Sir J. Russell, Lord J. Muigrave, Burl INTERESTING INCIDENT IN AEROSTATICS.—On Wed nesday evening Mr. Henry Coxwell's balloon, from the Grecian, in the City-road, and Mr. Hampton's, from the Rosemary Branch, ascended within a few minutes of each other, and started, to all appearance, for a balloon race. Mr. Coxwell's, however, on attaining a greater elevation, turned off into an opposite current—a circum stance, it appears, pronounced by that scientific aeronaut, before starting, to be probable, Mr. Coxwell having made careful experiments with pilot balloons in the course of the afternoon, to ascertain the exact state of the upper currents. Both balloons were up for a long time, and the view was unusually interesting. THEARTE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. 'Under the management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, MAY 20, Will be produced (Gth time; THE MOUSETRAP. Characters by Messrs. Tilbury, Chippendale, Roger,, Buckstone, W. Farren, and Edwards ; Mrs. Poynter. Misses A. Woulds, Louisa Howard, Mi s. Fitzwilliam, and Mrs. Stanley. After which, MR. BUCKSTONR'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR KASSUf. To conclude with THE SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY. Sup ported by Messrs. Tilbury, Rogers, H. Corri, Compton, and Buck stone ; Mrs. Stanley, Misses A. 'Vining, E. Bromley, and E. Chaplin. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, 21. Les 20, Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH. To conclude with BLACK-EYED SUSAN. Characters by Messrs. T. P. Cooke, Wright, Meadows, Manvers, Graham, Everett, F. Cooke, and Saker ; 2.lrs. W. Lacy and Miss Murray. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Tinder the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, MAT 20, Will be performed A.S.S. Characters by Messrs. F. Mathews, Suter, ani Rostere ; Mrs. Macnaniara and Miss Wyndham. After which, A FAST TRAIN —HIGH PRESSURE EXPRES3. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Baker, and Suter. To be followed by (2d time) THE LAWYERS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Roxby ; Mrs. F. Matthews, Misses Robertson and Ellis. After which, A DIVERTISSEMENT. To conclude with TRYING IT OM. Principal character by Mr. C. Mathews. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAT 20, Will be performed THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Cha racters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Leigh Murray, Parselle, G. Honey, A. Wigan, Paul Bedford, R. Romer, CuWilford, and IL Bed. ford ; Madame Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Mary Keeley and Miss Woolger. After which, A DESPERATE GAME. To conclude with THE DANCING SCOTCHMAIL ROYAL OLYMPIC; THEATRE. LeSSCO and Manager_ Mr. Farrell. THIS EVENING, MAT 20, Will be performed THE MILLER OF DERWENT WATEII. Characters by Messrs. H. Farren, F. Robson, Shalders, and G. Cooke ; Mesdames Anderton and E. Turner. After which, UNCLE CROTCHET. Supported by Mr. Far ren, 8(.4. To be followed by MACBETH. Supported by Mr. F. Robson and Mrs. A. Phillips. To conclude with TILE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Colo nel Freelove, Mr. H. Marston ; Lady Freelove, Miss H. Gordon. ♦STLISY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING, MAT 20, And during the week, the Entertainments will commence with an entirely new Hippo Dunne (in Two Acts), with new scenery, cos tumes, and appointments, written expressly for this Theatre by Mr. W. E. Suter, illustrating a Sporting Man's Career, and entitled THE CHASE, er LIFE ON THE TITHE—in which will be represented a FOX CHASE, with REAL FOX and HOUNDS, the Race, Steeplechase, &c., &c. To be followed by a display of Equestrian Achievements in the ARENA, introducing the accomplished Artistes of the Establish ment and Mr. Cooke's highly-trained Horses and Pottle!. In conse • quence of the unusually brilliant Arena Performances, they will ter minute the Evenings' Entertainments. Box-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. Open for the Season. The Zoological Collection contains a variety of interesting speci mens, and the Gardens throughout have been improved and beautified. The Pictorial Representation is an extensive VIEW of the BAY and FORTS of CHUAAN, painted by Messrs. Danson, and at dusk is represented the attack of the Chinese fire-rafts on the Br.tish fleet, explosion-ships &c.—Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert. Engagement of the eminent vocalist, Mils Cicely .Mott. Conductor, Mr. Godfrey.—An extra Military Baud during the day time ; and at dusk a grand display of Fireworks, combined with the Feast of Lanterns and other displays.—Doers open from 9 in the morning. Admission, Is. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. FRIDAY, MAY 20, 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. HASTlNGS—Calm—cloudless. SOUTHAMPTON—N.W., strong breeze—cloudless. FOLICESTONE--S.W., gentle breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—S.W.,gentIe breeze—overcast. BASINGSTOSE—N.W., gentle bree:7,e—watially cloudy. GREENwica—S.W., gentle breeze--cloudless. Srßoon—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. Sim:pox— light breeze—cloudless. YARMOUTH—N.W., calm—sloudlef LANCASTER—W., calm—partially cloudy. Wnrray—N., gentle breeze—elord less. DARLINGTON—N.N.E.,_gentIe breeze—cloudless. SNAP —S., calm—partially cloudy. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock :- - LIMBRICK—E., calm—partially cloudy. STr.oon—N., gentle breeze—cloudless. YARLLOUTH—E., gentle breeze—cloudless. HOLYHEAD—E., gentle breeze—fine. LANOASTER—S.W., calm—eloudles3. WHITBY—E., gentle breeze—cloudless. DARLINGTON—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tilts DAY —Morning 39 min. after 11 Evening 0 min.aft. 0 To-Moar,ow—Moaning 5 min. afte r 12 I Evening 28 min.aft. 12 THE WEATELER.—Sun OPTIC; MAY 20. THERMOWLTER, IN TME SHADE. 71—highest since 'noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and during the night. 60— this day at 'noon. BAROMETER, 30 . 15.—going up. WIND, S.E.- - Fine breeze, and sunshiny weather. THE PUBLICATION OF , c THE SUN" CONMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND TUB LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT THE S AME EVENING, 7 rith 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. f l4 l O et*, • QA) r7:44L- t I •TW ( i t Or 1,434 X„ LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1853. Improvements in the Naval Service are required elsewhere than in the Dockyards. Indeed the old system has proved not less injurious to the sailors themselves than detrimental to the interests of 613 maritime profession. That it is eminently advisable that innovations, both numerous and comprehensive, should be adventured upon, in re ference to the arrangements for Manning her MAJESTY'S Fleets, has recently been proclaimed' through the Report of the Committee of Inquiry. That other innovations scarcely less numerous, and certainly by no means less comprehensive, should be attempted in regard to the increase of the per sonal comforts of our seamen has, we believe, for some time past been pretty generally recognised. A humorous and intelligent contributorto "House- . hold Words," not long ago furnished the public with a melancholy account of the really deplor able want of accommodation aboard-ship for poor JACK and his messmates. It would appear from the description given by this writer—a description evidently as faithful as a daguerreotype—that in too many instances the maritime defenders of England are less cared for than our paupers or our criminals. Their common mess-room seems frequently to be about as delightfully proportioned to the number of its inmates as the famous black hole of Calcutta. Its height, or rather its want of height, renders either a stoop t)r a broken head the ordinary alternative. Its defituencies in length and breadth are sometimes still amore lamentably inconvenient. ' In speaking thus, we do not, of course, refer to our men-of-war--but, generally speaking, to the majority of the mercantile craft, from which so many of our sailors, would have in time of war to be summarily drafted. Yet even in our men-of-war there is in these matters ample scope for beneficial changes• —for changes by which the health of the men would . be marvellously improved, and by which their do; nestle comforts would be wonderfully enhanced. Happily there has been made of late a generous effort for the improvement of the position of our sailors when ashore, by the establiAhment of what are called Sailors' Homes in severa 1 of our larger seaports. For the purpose of E lore effectually carrying out the intentions of the, benevolent in this particular, it is well known there has been some time organised what is known( as the Sailors' Home Institution. Periodical mee, tings of those who aro more particularly interested in the objects of the society, are held with a view to forward as energetically as possible the wisliez of Captain HALL, its humans originator. At one of the latest of these meetings, one held only last week at the offices of the Institution in Craven-street, Strand, upon which occasion Rear-Admiral the Right Hon. Lord BYRON acted as Chairman, a variety of important particulars were submitted to the consideration of those assembled, through the able Report made by Mr. O'BYRNE, the Secre tary. It was intimated at the very outset or pre amble of that Report, that—" the importance to the nation of Sailors' Homes, as shown in the working results of the establishment in Well street, Portsmouth, Dublin, and Greenock, neces sitated the adoption of some organised system whereby similar advantages might be rapidly se cured to each of the principal seaports in the United Kingdom, India, and her MAJESTY'S co lonial possessions ; " and that it was, in fact, the simple recognition of this necessity which had originally suggested to Captain HALL the forma tion of the Sailors' Home Institution. That In stitution, having once been actually organised, proposes forthwith to carry out the intentions of its originator—" 1. By agitating the subject at each port ; 2. By promoting and encouraging the formation of local committees ; 3. By affording' every information to such committees for their guidance, as to expenses, regulations to be adopt ed, &c. ; 4. By heading the subscription lists, opened at each port, by such donations as the funds may admit of"—and through these four practical endeavours to diffuse the advantages arising from the new system as widely as possible through the great mass of our maritime popu lation. The existence of the Sailors' Home Institution— founded upon these bases—dates back only as re cently as to the September of 1852, since which time its promoters have been so far active that they have caused visits of inquiry to be made to Deal, Dover, Plymouth, Poplar, Waterford, Wool wich, and Portsmouth. Everywhere in these places it is gratifying to know that they have found their endeavours hailed with satisfaction. So far, therefore, the Institution has met with decided en couragement. At the suggestion of the Managing Director, a full Report, in regard to Woolwich in particular, was drawn up by the Travelling Secre tary—a document especially called for, consider ing the importance of Woolwich being made the scene of one of these new establishments. It has consequently appeared that during the year 1852 " there, were commissioned and paid off; at Wool wich, the following number of ships—viz., 12 ships commissioned, whose complements num bered 1,764 men, 11 ships paid off, whose com plements numbered 1,403, making a total of 3,167 men who passed through the port of Wool wich in that year"—a number so considerable as to render matter of peculiar interest the establish ment, in that particular locality, of one of the Sailors' Homes projected by the Institution. The advisability of some such effort will nowadays be recognised the more readily, because "it appears that, upon the occasion of a ship being commissioned at Woolwich, a want of men is experienced, which it seems," says the Report, " is in a great measure occasioned by a prejudice that the general run of seamen have against locating at this port, in consequenee of the allure ments to vice with which they are tempted, and therefore they take themselves to ports where Sailors' Homes are established." Bearing in mind the singular advantages resulting from these Sailors' Homes, it is satisfactory to know that new ones have been opened at Belfast, at Bristol, at Cork, at Devonport, and at Southampton, since the establishment, in the September of 1852, of this humane and admirable institution. It is not merely the gross and palpable injustice of taxing every kind of income at the same rate —of levying equal amounts from the precarious profits of industry, and the dividends, interests, or annual produce of well-secured property, that has so strongly excited the indignation of the contributors under Schedule D. The inquisitorial character of the returns demanded, and the search ing investigation into the most private affairs of the merchant or trader, conducted, perhaps, under the direction of a rival in business, is in many quarters regarded as even more objectionable. The inequality so justly complained of compels the victim to contribute far more than his fair pro portion ; but there the evil ceases. But in the other, there is a most invidious exposure of cir cumstances—an exposure that may be productive of ruinous results, which brings the party into immediate collision with the assessor, and to a certain extent subjects him to the temptation of himself fixing the amount which he is subse quently to pay to the collector. This temptation naturally exercises a very demoralising influence. The man who feels himself to be unfairly treated by the undue favouritism exhibited towards the fundholder or landowner, sees that an opportunity is afforded of rectifying the evil by making a false return of his profits —a return of which it is almost impossible to prove the inaccuracy, as the real bona fide amount of his profits can be known to himself alone. He yields, and thenceforward becomes an habitual violater of the law, which he never would have transgressed but for its manifest injustice. It is no trivial matter to inducesuch proceedings, or to lead men of good character and conduct in other matters into deceit and fraud. Let it not be supposed that we are in any degree justifying such erroneous returns, or the obtaining of even a just exemption by such improper means. Far from it. So long as the system, iniquitous and atrocious as it unquestionably is, is sanc tioned by law, it should be respected, or at least not directly transgressed—nor should it be ima gined, that we are publishing so great a libel on the mercantile and trading classes as to assert that fraudulent returns constitute the rule and not the exception. That there are such cases is un fortunately a matter of but too painful notoriety, but, we believe that the general body act with strict honour and integrity, and that their returns are more frequently in excess of, rather than be neath, their actual profits. It is sufficient for the purposes of our argument to show that the oppor tunity for concealment is afforded, and that it is occasionally taken advantage of, while that there is no such liability under a Property Tax, properly so called, or that if the attempt be made, there are facilities for detection, which even the most audacious would not willingly encounter. These assertions are corroborated by the evidence of the most experienced officers of the Inland Revenue. Thus, for instance, Mr. PRIMLY de clares :—" At present everything being charged at its first source, we are quite `sure of the tax on every penny ; we get every penny upon the divi dend, and every penny upon a man's salary. All that we do not know is the profits of a man's trade, but in•all the other schedules it is collected to a penny without any disclosure whatever." This is an important statement, proving that on property the tax may be recovered to the uttermost farthing —that there is no opening for a fraudulent re turn—and consequently that so far as contributors under Schedules A, B, C, and E are concerned, there is none of that demoralising influence in operation that has been so loudly and so justly complained of with respect to trading incomes. And this fact may bo easily conceived when it is borne in mind that the returns under all the other schedules are made by disinterested parties, but under schedule D by interested persons, who are strongly incited to reduce the nominal amount of their profits, and with it the actual payment to the collector. On this point the evidence of the experienced gentleman above referred to (Mr. PRESSLY) may be considered con clusive. He says—" I think there has been great evasion on the subject ; and I think the longer the tax exists flu; evasions will go on under Schedule D." We thus find that the exemption of industrial incomes and the levying the tax exclusively on property would not only remove the great injustice perpetrated on the mercantile and trading and manufacturing classes, but would also remove the fertile source of fraud—the demoralising influence that has operated so injuriously on the middle classes. But it may be said—Would you then exempt all trades and professions—the entire of Schedule D —from th e t ax By no moans, We would charge parties fairly on the amount of capital en gaged in their business, whatever might be its nature. Even the good-will, if transferable. would become an available item in the calculation, The amount could be ascertained with comparative ease. The machinery by which it is proposed to levy the contemplated tax on successions would fully answer the purpose. There never has been even a suggestion of fraud in fixing the true amount payable under the Legacy Duties in which the same elements, even to the good-will of a trade or calling, must enter into the calculation. And there would be even less in levying the amount annually than when the matter arose only once in a generation. It would be attended with another and ex ceedingly beneficial result. It would compel every merchant and trader to know the true state of his affairs—to have timely notice of approaching insolvency—and afford to the Court of Bankruptcy unquestionable evidence of any violation of the commercial code by those who are brought under its operation. In such cases exclusively the returns of the bankrupt should be made public, and considerable fraud would be thereby prevented ; inasmuch, as there would be the certainty of future exposure in the event of any foul play. The advantages resulting from every man within the operation of the Bankruptcy laws being compelled to keep at all times an accurate balance-sheet, showing the real state of his affairs, would be incalculable. We really believe that it would be productive of far greater benefits to the trade and commerce in other respects than the amount of relief afforded in the assessment of the impost, great as it would be. There is yet time to effect this great amelioration, to obtain this invaluable boon from the Legis lature. But there must no longer be any degree of carelessness or apathy—no longer a culpable indifference—on this vitally important subject. Fiscal Reformers must be up and doing. They must remind their representatives that no party feelings, or party interests, can justify a disgrace ful violation of all their former professions ; and that, if they should obstinately persist—in every respect so unjustifiable —a day, and that perhaps not so very distant, will come, when they will deeply and bitterly expiate their present aban donment of principle, their bold and unblushing tergiversation. The Noble Author of the Durham Letter must have listened with no ordinary pleasure the other night to the praises of Mr. LUCAS. The marvel is that Mr. DUFFY did not " rise in his place " and accuse the Noble Lord of openly bribing the Irish Members. Lord JOHN has, ,at any rate, made his peace with the POPE'S band. He at tacked Ecclesiastical Titles, but defends the Holy Gates of Nunneries. His Act was intended for waste paper, his intervention for Nunneries as a reality. Good Catholics now understand his animus. They have condoned the sham offence, and accepted the real service. Henceforth Irish votes are secure. Happily, in this case, Lord JOHN is not the House of Commons. The House helped him through with his sham, and it now gives rather inconvenient evidence of deter mination to carry through its own reality. We think the majority quite right, and Lord JOHN'S speech one of his feeblest. The facts narrated by Archbishop WHATELY and the Bishop of NORWICH, with others which were ad duced, although of necessity chiefly anonymous, were cases strong enough to demand either a com mission of inquiry, or a positive Act. It may please Mr. LUCAS to designate them "cock and bull stories," but neither Protestants nor Catholics believe them to be so. The history of nunneries is patent, so far as possible, to the world. The laws of Roman Catholic States in regard to them are before us also, and both* testify loudly enough to the danger of substantial, sometimes even of most cruel, despotism on the part of Lady Abbesses and Lady Superiors. But we go further, and maintain that any institutions which, like nun neries, are capable of becoming the instruments of severe parents, or of hard-hearted relatives, or of priestly tamperers with the young and enthusiastic ought to be subjected to regular supervision, oven though no single case of forcible detention had as yet been made out against them. The inmates of such dwellings ought to be asked periodically whe ther they continued there of their own free will or not. The defect of Mr. CHAMBERS' bill is that it does not go fai•enough. No young person, no one, indeed, under thirty at least, ought to be allowed to take a vow at all without the consent of competent civil authorities. There ought to be some cue to apprise an unsuspecting and enthu siastic young persons of what is involved in parting with all their property, secluding themselves from the world, and throwing themselves practically on charity for support. There is no need in the world for the visitation or examination to be offensive. A Roman Catholic layman might always form part of any commission for such purposes, and none but gentlemen could be selected for it. The reasons for some measure are becoming all the stronger from the enormous increase of Anglo- Catholic nunneries. They amount, according to Mr. CHAMBERS, to not less than 100, and the Catholic nunneries to 75, containing together up wards of 3,000 inmates. They may in many cases do much charity in the neighbourhoods around them, but it is alarming to think how the opportunities are thus multiplied, not merely of employing single ladies advanced in life in useful oc cupations, but also of seducing the inexperienced to sacrifice all their property and prospects, and thereby to make themselves irrevocably dependent on the nunnery itself. Notwithstanding Lord HOWARD'S disclaimer, the. British public is perfectly sure that priestcraft was on the very verge of grasp ing his present lady for her fortune's sake, and that nothing but the public upstir defeated the nefarious purpose. If Roman Catholics and An glicans see fit to create institutions capable of abuse, they ought to thank the State for preserv ing them by law from the danger ; they ought to deem it an advantage that the religious and volun tary character of their institutions is guaranteed by the securities taken by the State that no one should be detained in them but by their own free will. It is true we cannot break the fetters of a premature and superstitiously-regarded vow, al beit such vows are infinitely better broken than .kept, as old LUTHER and his KATE could well bear witness ; but if we cannot deliver these un happy and trembling victims of priestcraft, we may insure that no one shall be held by any other bondage than that of a priest-ridden conscience. We accept Mr. CHAMBERS' bill, therefore, as an instalment, and an instalment only, of the supervision necessary for nunneries, and hope it will read' the House of • Lords, where, we hope, it will be safe enough. The absurdity of an outcry about religious liberty, and that, too, from the co-religionists and defenders of the Duke of Tuscany, is absurd enough. It is reli gious tyranny, not religious liberty, which Mr. CHAMBERS attacks. To as little purpose is it to talk about the "privacy of domestic establish ments," and to tell us that every man's house is his castle. It is his castle no longer than it is free from suspicion-.-no longer than it is not ap plied to purposes which may be of injury to the public. As Mr. CHAMBERS observed, it can be entered at any time if a fraud upon the public revenue is but suspected ; and it is hard if it cannot be entered when a fraud upon the liberty of the subject is suspected. Let every English man's house, however, be his own castle ; bnt the question is—Shall it be a Bastile for others ? OFFICE OF CITY CHAMBERLAIN.-11l consequence of a death-vacancy, it will be perceived that a contest is now set on foot for the office of City Chamberlain. Among the candidates who have already appeared, there is not one, we conceive, possessing stronger claims upon the support of his fellow-citizens, or one who is more likely to command their suffrages, than Alderman Fare brother. His, well-known business habits, together with his professional and commercial engagements to say nothing about the "integrity, energy, and im partiality," which were pronounced to be as con spicuous as they are unimpeachable, only yesterday at a numerous meeting convened, in Vintners' hall—the ability with which he is remembered to have discharged the duties of chief magistrate, combined with the worth of his long civic reputation, all seem to point him out as peculiarly fitted for the, office of City Chamberlin, BANKRUPTCY COURT.-(THIS DA Y.) (Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.) IN RE MORTON. This bankrupt was described as of Belgrave-scillare' bill discounter, &c., and to-day was appointed for the certificate meeting. Mr. Drew, Basinghall-street, prepared the bala,, n ner sheet, from which it appears that bankrupt owed 2,ouu " and had petitioned the Court. His Honour said he considered the proceeding s w el d ! against the bankruptcy law, —in short, it was a f rau 1 . for the law said that no person should apply on th ei r own petition unless they had an available amount for the benefit of his creditors. In this case the bankrupt ell ; tertained an idea of " expectancies," and perhaps el advantage might- ari se t o the creditors. lie w e s therefore : adjourn the consideration of the case i br fortnight, and p ro t ec ti on wou ld b e granted for that time. The case was consid ere d o f considerable importance a'g many bills had been discounted for the aristocracy THE MEDITERRANEAN. 19 SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY, MO The Peninsular and Oriental Company's ste ani l i Indus, Captain John Soy, a rr i ve d here this m orni ng, bringing the Southampton portion of the East Ina l China, and Mediterranean mails, in charge of Lieuteee9 Brown, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates are—Alexandria, May 6 ; Malta, 9 ; 0 4, Gibraltar, 14. The freight list includes 41 bales of W 6B 367 bales and 6 cases of silk, 110 bales of c otton , bales of flax, 10 eases of corahs, 114 cases of shawls, 'I. boxes of lemons, 3 chests of oranges, 6 casks a e' ot phants' tusks, 6 casks of wine, and 183 jpack a g es merchandise, baggage, &c. Among the 147 passengers brought by this s e w°7 l,in are—Lady and Miss Th ac k we ll, th e H o n. Mr. 1.5 ,,1fr. ' Captain Seymour, RN., Captain Stephenson a n ' , t , ; R. Stephenson, and Capt a i n D rummon d, from Cal en ' l l f Colonel Stratton, Major d e B u tt s , an d Captain Sl it ' from Madras ; Captain Tylee, from Hong Kong, ,14 ,e'oe Great disappointment w ill, no d ou bt, be felt n' fact of this steamer not havinc , brought the el e ;n c e d, mail from Australia. Th e cause has not been exPi 3 , — • but it appears that the P en i nsu l ar an d Oriental Oilive pany's steamer which it was arrange d s hould _ A l e Sydney on the 20th of F e b ruary , h as n ot Singapore. It is thought most probable that the r o il, ing advices will be received by the next Overlan d t her as the steamer, from b a d wea ther, or from some ° Sill' game, had most likely been prevented from reaching gapore in time to reac h th e s t eamer th ence f o r Ce3ll°le I 1' ;0 , e The intelligence b roug ht by thi s s t eame r 1 1 'n m ' r essf and China has been anticipated by the overland eg f published in The Sun on Mo n d a y l as t. The nail is a Calcutta has been brought throu g h t o S ou thampto n little under 40 days. THE PACIFIC. ---otto•—• SOUTHAMPTON, l‘it ve 19 By the Royal mail steam-ship O r i noco we t he ceived our usual advices and files of j our nals frt Ist Pacific ports. The dates f rom Valparaiso are to of April. The reception of the President of the Ch had Republic, during his tour in the southern provine es t 'lr' been most enthusiastic. He was daily ex pected 3 de to paraiso, where great prep ara ti ons were b e ing I 3 0 4 4 receive him. A statement of the gross value of 'TO; during the year 1852 had been issued, showing 3 off of $540,986, when compared with 1851. iT s lrE The French corvette Prudente had sailed from ; is ip rais• for Guayaquil, rumour stated to demand B s : fool tion for the insult received by th e C onsu l o f Frani" the Government of the State. ba d Lette7 • f testy zs from Islay state that a treaty of anDee been signed betwe e n P eru an d E cua d or, settling o. :1' a 1 difficulties that had arisen out of th e Fl ore s exPe 3r The celebrated Italian Republican Garibaldi b3 ,f ) rived at V a lp ara i so i n the humble capacity of p ilot merchant-vessel. W ing President Urbina was, at the latest accounts,'. o rf in Guayaquil, and it was reported that revoll iti° f movements had been m an if es t e d in different part' o Republic. jjr In Copiapo some new silver mines have be en covered, and others have yielded considerably. wit" The copper mines in Coquimbo are worke t tild much success. The I n t en d ant was a b out to 13 5 ' province. COURT 01.RCULA.R• -• V,Ol$ ; It is understood that th e c h r i s t en i ng o f 0 10' Highness the infant Prince will take place on - ` 1 , 12 : the 28th of June, inst e ad o f M on d ay , th e 27t,-,"„'idsi' that the second State B a ll w ill t a k e p l ace en i '; s o9: the Ist of July ; a n d th e l as t C oncer t on Weli the 6th of July, the Ball an d C oncer t h av i n g bee F lo poned respectively from the 29th of June and th e July. s upbf . OSBORNE, a tio Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sent Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, attended by 1. 41 ). 1 , 0 0 0 1:, Maria Dawson and Li eu t enan t-C o l one l F. ...To hr arrived at Osborne y es t er d a y a ft ernoon on a Maj t°il Herßoyal Highn ess crosse d over from Sont-frinit f in the Royal yacht Fairy, and landed at the Wharf, East Cowes, at half-past two o'clock. DP . Senor Istura . , the Spanish Minister, trans/tot ness yesterday at the Foreign-office. „ i osi; A deputation from the Southampton Dock Cq-, - ',10 1 , i consisting of Colonel Barlow (chairman), gr' 3 I ' lll - (deputy chairman), Mr. Willcox, M.P. (direct o Mr. Henley Smith (solicitor to the companY)l„, l ol t interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell Yes - Board of Trade. The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in toll, Vjio. terday from a visit t o the Hon. Mrs. Talbot 3b bridge. , tv • A deputation from the City Terminus R`till i r 7 o l olell pany had an interview with the Right Hon. F. ;lon en' yesterday at the Board of Trade. The depate ni - s tsee': sisted of Mr. Aryton (chairman), Messrs. il i , r 7 e cter f4l ' Burchell, Tyler, Lucas, Haghe, and White ( i S . , t). , Mr. Burchell (solicitor), and Mr. Stevens (arnle4te;', Dispatches were received at the Colonial - ,yeru e- ,10 e ,;, day from the Governors of West Australia, -0.- 19e p r e s'„ Ceylon, the Mauritius, and Malta. Dispatches "Igoe received from the Governors of the West India Rri f li° l POLICE APPOINTMENT.—Mr. Inspector Li.'" e received a gold wat c h f rom h er Majesty on aee b ° o j°, o his services at the Great Exhibition of 1 851 2 jael r o been appointed superint en d en t o f th e C, or St' w hol l division, in lieu of Mr. Superintendent OtweYP retired on a superannuation allowance. THE CLOSING OF MORE CITY BURIAL-OW.— s tl , a parochial authorities of St. Sepulchre, Sk i , l3 n ric o r i F °l. to City, have received an intimation, by ireetl ° '",. e sent, h e Palmerston, of his lordship's intention "to reP' of "'", her Majesty in Council that, for the protectillthelt., public health, burials be discontinued-Ist, w it „'d vau j j ception of existing rights in the churchyard 3"ot, of St. Sepulchre parish ; 2d, in the Du rh3 wholly." is fro „uoer PORT PHlLlP.—According to the last aee- assee e fier Port Philip, it appears th a t a very stringent ,I 3 ;1 O a r act had lately pass e d th e L eg i s lative Cortn' " es. which all vessels landin g i mm i gr ants are to P 4,310013,0,, head to the Government, t o p ro vide a fee d ' ° ; o firl il il) may fall sick or may be i nca pacitated /I rsue ,l‘‘a l , :l s This measure is an imitation of the system P c sr liich advantage for some years at New York, a"d the clqj 0 ° substituted for the practice of rendering iathec°,o liable, under bond, f or a ll p asse ngers who m " er iod• e rs' chargeable upon the city within a certain 1! .11 oes" u g the same time, it is to be hoped the CO meat have not taken the step without fay I : .e ,:rds u to the extent of the responsibility it involves as . ` t ',def u se organisation both of efficient hospitals and.° s a 03 , to places of shelter. In addition to the nevillv.74 was also expected to be adopted comPe I b A rf o tit' land their passengers and baggage on the wharf at pre bourne, so as to put a stop to the extortioe bay. _ ito practised by the boatmen and lighters in tll vire peref ee rt LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY. 00011110) the London Sacred Harmonic Society llev, u car' 00 Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, and Dr• rA;f a iestY a ot, for the birth-day of her Most Gracion:,readaYA he Queen, for performance on the evening 0 I l o ts ic'', l je• tic , the 23d inst. The proceeds of the sale , til presented by the committee to Mr. m S l„t n er - " 11 fatigable conductor and founder of the eee ietL as re torios, for valuable services rendered to e ti ee her ! ur tli its formation. We hear, also, that Mr • the P g an al d le p ry ar o ty n twhiislloooocacusipoyn.the reserve seats . I b P uter:q to t —The t ri ede` METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.• h 0 ° Cee aPr ea , l 3 the genius of Mr. Bain, the first I _f tune' '., e0 1: • applying electricity to the measurement ' and r arci, to have awakened attention to the fact_ be hoPe' u 'f tl l4 ' of this grand discovery, which it isve'rer- One e5l, e5 l: tend to the advantage of the dishco_abor ,i b b 3 Y l :,/ largo clocks, upon which so much I s e c ure- - r er col L ' i ld pended, has not as was stated, been . .)o ,_ was st i r l e e e r t ie , nd e ?cl bpyermorrf.urFtuhtevol;ael,aocfe RofetgheentTu. t t determined to keep it in this countlybea s hortlY pia;, it to the public. It will, therefore, r of othxeistcoofrnreegruolfatßinegakth-setroeleoto,ksanodf asvoneirey by this novel means. e dica ros e MEDICAL REFORIC—A. meetinghtew the Pu u r a ct v et tioners was held on Wednesday nig 0f . 3 organising measures to facilitate t e h s e e y7 w i t h tp rig ht ilv , Parliament during the present.fis mu qualifiedpo r f a s o e t e i u se ri securing re odtiicg ai uniformity liomutent.h e o fTui e e dcx;eita.ni 1 0 0_, D 8Beot , oec a mfi ao n tr `i irx 100 itvi : la se e ee g i f :1 1 / 1:3 : Provincial Medical and Surgical L . b A e oinni o o ws, cussed, and unanimously approvtlencax' ster vv ` 16 1 t then appointed, of which Dr.... ones an d IVlr e • epo s eti , chairman, and Dr. Dalston Jones esolved to urg, iu tely E r at Powell secretaries. It was r ss . y ini rriee cal rely ~ medical practitioners the nece ea it eu of Ine di of the ro ro tinning Parliament to pass a in resent state t, fe during the session, as, from theo_.re Geyernulr o rc rb) . fession, and the disposition tl nd _ r ote n juto el fi it t e t iw i a n na g ss ws t opportunity aasteidn nfa i tv ethucero meeting Could he tseicnangrec:t l e seli x lt, P ies i e tteh e boi t ra i c iettiv g lnci e t te : p r ecrieeo il ior , d enx u op r opposition the at had presentthi sb s e e l ne s n s e i a s o o ,nffuerorefer,dtAh, and coulde be n i -Iserre forth ? i0 i.1 0 5 ; FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND sending w a ,plies telt The Free Church of Scotland is go , whoni scit:ba, tralia seventeen ministers, for e. n 0- most e tIY constitute hav e be en settlers. A valedictory inecti_i,en _ f the a r e c numerouseive d are fr oammbeontdi?e_ til e colonies, occasion and ef they the d ep at one time. departure of en 1:1::rt't°11: