The Sun. — London, England, 1853-04-11 00:00:00

F. -~~ ~,l r • -n \ i --r - , f , --If :::-. ~.i . :,.•...::\ \'' '` '-', ... ;.,":, i . ti ‘11) -\ ~(rJ 78, in the event of the Clergy Reserves being secularised by the Legislature of Canada. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Government had not asked for a written opinion from the law officer of the Crown, but they had communicated to him verbally that in the event of the secularisation of the clergy reserves there would be no claim made on the Consolidated Fund. POOR LAWS. Sir W. JOLLIFFE wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board whether it is the intention of the Government to bring forward, during the present session, measures either to alter or repeal the laws with respect to pauper settlement in England and Wales. And, if bills with that or any other poor law objects are to be proposed, at what period they are likely to be upon the table of the house. Mr. BAINES replied that notice had already been given of a similar question, but all that he could now state was, that on Monday nex t th e no bl e l or d the mem ber for the City of London, would state the views and intentions of the Government upon this subject. UNIVERSITIES. Mr. M. MILNES wished to ask Lord John Russell whether in his declaration of the intentions of the Go vernment on the subject of the reform of the Universi ties, he intended to imply that the support and assistance of the Government would be given to such colleges as may be desirous to obtain the aid of Parliament to enable them to dispense with their obligations to their present statutes, and to substitute such other statutes as may seem to them advisable for the advantage of their separate societies and for the public good. Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not bind the Go vernment to the extent which the question welit, but the Government would be prepared to go with the authorities of the Universities as far as they could. LOSS OF STEAM-VESSELS. Mr. FREDERICK DUNDAS wished to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he has received any report, from the local authorities at Aberdeen, of the circum stances connected with the Duke of Sutherland steamer, on entering the harbour of Aberdeen on the afternoon of Friday, the Ist instant ; and whether it was intended to adopt any means by which, in future, the rocket appa ratus and life-boats usually resorted to in cases of ship wreck, may be rendered more available and efficient. The LORD ADVOCATE said he had not yet received any report on the subject, but special directions had been given for a full inquiry into the whole circum stances of the case. Mr. KENNEDY wished to ask the President of the ,Board of Trade whether any investigation had been made by her Majesty's Government into the causes of the numerous disasters which have recently occurred in the coasting and channel traffic of the United Kingdom, more particularly those having reference to the following vessels :—The Mlneiva, the Prince Arthur, and the Duke of Sunderland, with a view to the prevention of such occurrences ? And whether any, or what steps, had been taken by her Majesty's Government on the report, made by Captain Walker of the causes attending the late wreck of the steam-ship Queen Victoria, of Dublin ? Mr. CIRDWELL said the local authorities were constantly instructed to make reports upon the subject of these occurrences, and the Board of Trade was now engaged inquiring into the circumstances attending all of these cases. On the motion of Viscount MONCK a new writ was ordered for the City of Carlow, in the room of Col. Bruen, deceased. CLERGY RESERVES. On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Mr. 'WALPOLE rose to resist the further progress of the bill, which he thought was most objectionable in its details as well as its principles, while after the decla ration of the noble lord, the member for the city of London, to-night, it became the more necessary for the house to pause before they agreed to pass the bill. At the time 'of the second reading of the bill they were told that its object was to give the Cana dian Legislature power,to deal with the local affairs of the Church ; but, when they got into committee, the bill assumed an entirely different aspect. They were told on the second reading that the faith of the Crown was pledged to maintain the interests of the Protestant Church, but in committee they found that, so far from the bill containing such a pledge, it absolutely gave the Canadian Legislature power to annul the guarantee which the Crovihad given to the Esta blished Church of C ana d a . He took it, that the main considerations which had induced the Government to in troduce the bill was a desire to extend the principie of local self-government to Canada, but he doubted whe ther this principle could be considered as paramount in this' instance, because the Imperial Legislature were pledged to support certain guarantees which the bill proposed to get rid of. The bill, in fact, proposed to transfer the whole authority of the Imperial Legislature to the Canadian Government ; but before they consented to pass such a measure, they ought to be satisfied that the local Legislature of Canada was competeut to under take the duties they were about to abandon. He was satisfied that it could not, without leading to a breach of trust. The Government seemed to think that the Canadian legislature would never proceed to the secularisation of the Clergy reserves ; but they laboured under a gross delusion in that respect, for, as sure as fate, the first step of the local government, after the passing of this bill, would be the secularisation of these Clergy Reserves, in direct violation of a trust which the Crown and Parliament had voluntarily undertaken to see fulfilled. In 1774 an act was passed conferring certain rights upon the Roman Catholics of Canada, but in that act certain reserves were made in favour of the Protestant clergy, who should afterwards officiate in Canada. The rights of both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Church therefore, rested upon the same foundation and that which disturbed the right of one was certain to injure the other. In 1791 another act was passed still further reserving .he rights of the Prot es t an t Ch urc h. The act enabled the Eegis4ture of Canada to le gislate upon all local matters, including the Church, subject to the authority of the Crown, but one clause in the act expressly restrained the Crown from sanctioning a mea sure disposing in any way with these clergy reserves with out the previous consent of the Imperial Parliament. It was quite clear, therefore, that it would be a breach o f trust to pass the bill, because it would have the effect of repealing , the reservation clause to which he had just referred; and he unhesitatingly advised the house to re ject-the third reading. [LEFT SPEAKING.] SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCOIX. NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING. This meeting, now in its eighty-second year, having been established in 1771, and named in compliment to the Earl of Craven, will commence to-day at half-past one with the Craven Stakes. I have already commented upon to-day's racing, and I have merely to add that Frantic and Gossip will receive forfeit in their respective matches. The races commence to-morrow also at half-past one, I believe with the sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each for three years-old and upwards, over the first half of the A.B.M. 'this, with th e 501. p l a t e f or two-years-old over the same course, does not close and name until this evening. A two-years old plate is,a bit of a novelty at Newmarket in the Craven meeting —this being the first that I can recollect ever having been proposed. The Newmarket Handicap, the ninth of the serie out of a subscription -list of eighty-eight has obtained fifty acceptances ; the field, however, will but little ex ceed a baker's dozen, if it does at all, the great fa vouritism of Contentment and Ethelbert frightening the majority of the animals away. The latest accounts name the following as the starters :—Weathergage, Conmore or Charley, Koh-i-Noor, The Little Savage, Antigone, Herbert, P eacoc k, G rapes h ot, Ethelbert, Jack the Giant Killer, Gavotte, Contentment, sister to Cara earn, and Nerva. Any addition to, or subtraction made from this list by five o'clock this evening will ap pear in the seven o'clock edition of The Sun. My opi nion of the result of the race I expressed last week, when I awarded the first, second, and third places to NERVA, ETRELBERT, and Contentment. Antigone and Herbert I expect will be fourth and fifth, with Grape shot heading the ruck. The twentieth Tuesday's Riddlesworth. Stakes of 200 sovs. each, h ft, over the D. M., according to present arrangements—which may be capsized with respect to one horse, Constantine, by the running to-day--will be contested by Glenavon, Phrygia, Constantine, Diomedia, and perhaps Talfourd ; DIOMEDIA and GLENAVON being the probable occupLnts of the first and second places. A Sweepstakes of 100 sovs., over the D. M. will only live two a t th e post, t h e result being—EsnucLLA (Nat), 1 ; Phrygia (Norman), 2. Another Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, over the D. M., is uncertain in the number of starters ; for should Filbert put in an appearance he will have but a solitary opponent, who, of course, will not be able to beat him. Should he be reserved, however, for the Column on the following day, War Whoop will have the felicity of beating Dabchick, Jupiter Tonans, and Cubnut.. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF: .O.I.ELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—A painful sen satioa was excited throughout the city on Thursday, by a lamentable accident which occurred on the works of the Dublin Great Exhibition building, causing the almost instantaneous death of 3 men, and such injuries to several others as, it is feared, some of them will not recover from. The following official account of the distressing occurrence was furnished in the course of the afternoon by Inspector Stokes, of the metropolitan police force, who was on duty at the works :—Between 10 and 11 ELECTION PETITION'S that he bad o'clock this morning, a gang of painters, fifteen in number, were engaged in paintinr , the arch of the ma ; also it was The SPEAKER acquainted the hous e . r chinery-court of the Great Exhibition building, when received a letter from the agent to the itione r in the suddenly.the scaffolding on which they stood save way, case of the Carlow election petition, sta P ili t i and thirteen of the party were precipitated to the floor having clung to the ropes by which the seat': intended to proceed with said petition to kilt.ig had been suspended, and these only were saved the same effect from the agents in the cases of letter to 1 'uninjured. The injured sufferers were instantly con- Salisbury, Claamrsentto i t l o ag s .- a o y t : street . H k o . s l p i,, i tal, . and placed Salisbury, and Cashel. NOTICE OF MOTION. ti 2 the aufflaetrielnYgs Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND gave notice that when u o u f d ti e i r ree m . e'dTichael following p a e nd suraical treatment, was unavailing , in .e Smi3rnene wehasoes;enfowrithdetaitteh scaffolding put a a:_ r h e N t v h i e n n ia a m m H es ig o . f amendment. injured ; Charles Killeen, Col. HARCOURT gave notice of his intention to p 0 e to t recover e ß r o ; o ß k e e n r,. jamin ; slightly injured • James Carr, ditto ; John Nolan,en' move an amendmat to the 4th clause of the County Fi nancial Boards Bill. Hancock, d a i r t k o e, ditto ; Edward Tay Mr. WILSON gave notice that, on Thursday next, he . ditto ; William el nWilliarn Cardiff, ditto ; Peter. should move for the production of papers connected with ' Philip MarchTnAtE . 1 - 11; Taylor, ditto the Customs, and he should take that opportunity of • I Leary, thigh bone br t eke The returns for the month stating the alterations which Government proposed to Nava been published. The make in the management of the Customs. ending P the RES 8 5t o h p CLERGY RESERVES. , elated value of exports is 6,272,649/ being ' de - ~ an increase Sir J. PAKINGTON wished to ask Lord John Rus- of 919,0971. over the corresponding month of last year. sell what, in the opinion of her Majesty's Government, Th e it ems upon wh i ch the increase is chiefly shown are, the cottons linens woollens silks 11 be the force and ffect of the upon „ , , gloves, haberdashery, ofact 3 and 4 Vic. C. , hardware, and iron. Consolidated Fund, in sec. 8, Itt) titian+ SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. TATTERSALL'S NO BETTING THIS EVENING. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord STRAFFORD, of Harmondsworth, (Viscount Enfield) took the oaths and his seat. The Earl of RODEN presented a petition from va rious places, praying for the inspection of nunneries. .Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition, praying forthe!passing of some measure for4the closing of beer shops on Sundays. THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. The Earl of MALMESBURY, after adverting to a discussion which had taken place in the other house re lative to the diplomatic service, in the course of which Lord Stanley bad stated that the late Government had it in contemplation to institute a college for the instruc tion of candidates for the diplomatic service, and was understood to say that that plan originated solely with Lord Stanley, and had not been adopted by the late Government. The Bishop of EXETER moved for the copy of a letter addressed to the Colonial Secretary by the Bishop of Toronto on the subject of the Canada Clergy Reserves Bill. THE CANTERBURY ELECTION. The Earl of ABERDEEN rose to move, according to notice, that their lordships agree in the address sent up by the other house, praying her Majesty to cause an en quiry to be instituted into the state of the borough of Canterbury. Lord LYNDHURST said that no man felt more strongly than he did the necessity of putting an end to corrupt practices at elections, but he wished to call the attention of their lordships to an irregularity in the address which in his opinion was fatal to it. The address stated that a committee of the House of Commons had reported that extensive bribery had prevailed at the last election at Canterbury ; but he found that no such report had ever been presented, and they were therefore asked to tell her Majesty what was in terms a direct falsehood. The act of Parliament required that before an address o f thi s ki n d s h ou ld b e presen t e d , a committee of the H ouse o f C ommons shou ld h ave reported that but "extensive" brib er y h a d preva iled at an election , n the committee, in this instance, had only reported that bribery wa s s y s t ema ti c a nd geneTal; but bribery might be systematic and yet not extensive, and the word gene rally must be taken to mean that it had prevailed generally and usually at former elections. (Hear.) The committee was the only . tribunal which could judge of the fact whether bribery had been exten sive. It had not been so reported, and he protested against a precedent, which might afterwards be turned to a mischievous purpose, being laid down of either hou se being allowed to conclude for itself that bribery had been extensive, when it had not so been reported by the com mittee. The LORD CHANCELLOR hoped that their lord ships would not be deterred from agreeing to this ad dress by the authority of the noble and learned lord. Although the committee had not reported in the exact words of the act that extensive bribery had prevailed, yet their report did, in point of fact, amount to that. Nay, he would go further, and say that the words gene ral and systematic were far more stringent and forcible than the word " extensive," which, after all, did not mean " to a great extent." Lord ST. — LEONARDS said that this was 1 mere question of law whether or not they were justified in agreeing to this address. Under the act of Parliament they were empowered to join in an address in cases where a committee of the House of Commons had re ported that bribery was extensive, and without such re port they could not stir or move a step. No such re port had been made in this case, and he contended, therefore, that they had no power to join in any such address as this. (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS EVENING.) The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Mr. SOTHERON moved that the period limited by the house for the second reading of all railway or canal bills, containing any powers of amalgamation, lease, working arrangement, or other combination of interest between different companies, be extended to Monday, the 18th day of April. Agreed to. The following bills were read a third time and passed: —Eastern Counties Railway (North Woolwich, &c.) ; Evesham Bridge. The Runcorn and Weston Canal Bill was considered and agreed to. The following bills were read a second time :—Amber gate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Ju•neLion Railway (No. 1) ; Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junction Railway (Sale, &c.), (No. 2) ; Ardrossan Railway; Bedale and Leyburn Railway; Bed ford Extension Railway ; Birkenhead Dock Company ; Birmingham and Oxford Junction, Birmingham, Wol verhampton, and Dudley and Great Western Railways ; Boston and Midland Counties Railway and .Docks ; Cornwall Railway ; Darlington and Barnard Castle Rail way ; Dean Forest, Monmouth, Usk, and Pontypool Railway ; Eastern Counties Railway (Purchase of Railways, &c.) ; East Grinstead Railway ; East Lancashire Railway (No. 1) (Clifton to Salford) ; East Lancashire Railway (No. 2), (Southport, &e.) ; Furness Railway ; Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway ; Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal, and London and North-Western Railway; Hull and Hol derness Railways ; Leamington, Warwick, and Strat ford-upon-Avon Railway ; Leeds, Bradford, andliali fax Jtinction Railway ; Leeds Northern Railway ; Limerick, Ennis, and Killaloe Junction Railway ;. Li merick, Ennis, and Killaloe Junction Railway (Power to Sell, &c.) ; Llynvi Valley Railway ; London and North-Western and Buckinghamshire Railways ; London and North-Western and London and Blackwall Railways; London and North-Western and Midland Railway Com panies Amalgamation ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire Railway (Barnsley) ; Montgomeryshire Rail way ; Newry and Enniskillen Railway ; Noah and South-Western (Hampstead and City Junction) Railway; Oxford, Worcester, .and Wolverhampton Railway (Wol verhampton Station, &c.) ; Peebles Railway; Pm tadown and Dungannon Railway ; Roscrea and Parsonstown Junction Railway ; Saint Ives and West Cornwall Junc tion Railway ; Severn and Wye Railway and Canal ; Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, and Bridgnorth Railway ; South Wales Mineral Railway; South Wales Railway (Monmouth) ; South Wales Railway (Pembroke, &c.) ; South Wales Railway (Power to Purchase, &c.) ; Swan sea Valley Railway ; Wimbledon and Croydon Railway; Worcester and Hereford Railway; Milford Haven Docks. PETITIONS. Mr. TURNER presented a petition from Liverpool against the opening of th e C rysta l P alace on Sundays. Mr. M. SITH presented a petition from the Arch deacon of Rochester, against the admission of Jews into Parliament, and a similar petition fro. .1 Tonbridge. Mr. THORNLEY presented a petition from Wolver hampton, in favour of international arbitration. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from Dundee, against University Tests. Mr. BROWN presented a petition from the post masters in Lancashire praying for a modification of the post-horse and carriage tax. Sir B. IL INGLIS presented a number of petitions from various parts of the country against the admission of Jews into Parliament. Mr. BUTLER presented two petitions —one from Bishopsgate, and the other from Bermondsey —against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Mr. EWART presented a petition from a place' in Scotland, praying for the repeal of the taxes on know ledge. Mr. LASLEVT presented a petition from Winchester against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays. Mr. PHINN presented a petition from Maidstone, praying the house to introduce a clause into the Crimi nal Assaults on Women Bill, sanctioning corporal pun ishment. Mr. Sergeant SHEE presented two petitions from places in Ireland, in favour of the Tenant Right (Ire land) Bill. Mr. WALLER presented a petition from Peter borough, praying the house to take steps to restrict Sunday traffic on railways. Mr. T. DIINCOMBE presented a petition from a place in S u ff o lk, complaining of thetruck system, oit. and Prayi ng the house to t a ke steps to put a stop t Mr. - MOFFATT presented a petition from Tobago in favour of ocean penny postage. Sir A. CAMPBELL presented several petitions from various places in Scotland against the admission of Jews into Parliament. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Lambeth pray ing for the abolition of church rates ; also several peti tions from various places in Scotland against University Tests. Sir J. PAICINGTON presented a petition against the Clergy Reserves Bill. Mr. COLLIER presented a petition from r dettlians oement .f Plymouth pr a yi ng for a revision of the la G w ua of s THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1853. RAILWAY AND CANAL AMALGAMATION. OFFICIAL REPORT. The committee of the House of Commons on this sub ject have agreed to their report, deprecating amalgama tion for the present--under Parliamentary powers— though it is admitted it may be necessary ultimately to bring it about. This decision will go very far to dimi nish the private business of the session, and leave the companies open to effect such private traffic arrangements as may appear most condvcive to their own interests and the accommodation of the public. The following is the official report : Your committee have carefully considered the evi dence which has, up to this period of their inquiry, been laid before them on the subject of railway and canal amal gamation, and they have come to the conclusion that it will not be proper to sanction the progress of bills now before Parliament for that object, without adopting the most careful regulations, to secure the public against the risk of oppression from the virtual monopoly which would thus be created in the hands of amalgamated companies. Your committee would willingly have adopted any course which might have secured the fair consideration of those several proposals upon their merits in the present ses sion, had it been in their power to suggest any course of that kind, with a due regard to the just requirements of the community at large. It has, however, been generally admitted by the advo cates of more extensive amalgamation, that this question really involves, by no remote consequence, the union of all the railway interests of the kingdom in one body, or, at any rate, in a small number of great incorporations not materially differing in their effect upon the public interest from such an union. It would manifestly be unjust to per mit the combination of great companies in particular dis tricts without, at the same time, guarding against any in jury to smaller companies whose railways might be situate within the same districts, and against the inconvenience which the public would sustain if the communications through these smaller systems were interfered with by the power thus vested in greater companies possessing rival branches. The proposals for amalgamation have been recom mended to your committee upon the ground that much bene fit would result to the shareholders from the increased confidence which the possessors of stock would feel under these arrangements, by being, to a great extent, secured against the risk of future competition. Speaking of this risk, Mr. Stephenson has stated to your committee, that, if the competition which now prevails between the London and North-Western and Great Western Companies shall continue, a large property, which now yields 5i per cent., will probably in ten years be reduced to 3 per cent. In re turn for the advantage of being thus secured, it has been proposed to give to the public, in the shape of reduced charges, a share of the profit which would, from time to time arise from the increasing traffic, spread, as it would then be spread, over the same amount only of expended capital. It has been proposed to secure to the public this return, by a machinery comprising a closed capital account, an - estimated maximum dividend, with a periodical revi sion of tariff, by which the charges to the travelling public might be, from time to time, reduced • and to vest in the Board of Trade, or in some o th er Government board, a wide control for the purpose of insuring the free, fair, and economical transit of persons and merchandise from one part of the kingdom to the other, by the lines now in existence, or by lines hereafter to be made. It may be inferred from the evidence, that, in some shape or other, ultimate combination of interest will result from the temporary competition of rival companies. It appears that, in Lancashire and Yorkshire, a district not the least sensitive to the advantages of free competition, no such freedom is practically enjoyed as regards communication railways; but that, on the contrary, between Liverpool and Manchester, where five different modes of transit, more or less .competing with each other in their inception, have been established, viz., the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the railways by Bolton, Bury, and. Wigan, in the hands of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company, and the East Lancashire railways, the Bridgewater Canal, the Old River Trust, all five have, more or less, a common under standing with each other, and no rivalry exists bearing any analogy to the keen competition of private individuals con tending in the same trade. Again, in the case of the London and North-Western and the Great Northern Railways, a division of traffic has been adopted, under 'arbitration, by which the whole country from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow is divided according to a fixed plan, and rivalry between these two trunk lines of central communication is, to a great extent, extinguished. Between the Great Northern and Eastern Counties there exists an agreement, dividing into two parts the country in the neighbourhood of these islands, and ef fectually putting an end to any real competition in that district. These instances are cited; but they are only examples of what appears to be the general tendency in respect of com petition and combination between railway companies. It is natural for traders to compete where the opportu nity is unlimited for new rivals to enter the field from time to time ; it is quite as natural for traders to combine so soon as, in the particular trade in which they are engaged, the whole number of possible competitors may be ascer tained and limited. These considerations, while they appear to your com mittee calculated to diminish the reliance which can be placed upon competition as a security for the public against the abuse of power by railway companies, increase in the same proportion the necessity for vigilance in parting with any control which, as guardians of the public interest, the Legislature may possess. The voluntary combinations to which your committee have thus adverted have not generally the sanction or force of law. The relations which the companies have been enabled to establish by their means are not secure ; and it is a test of the difference in value between these arrange ments and actual amalgamation under the authority of Parliament, that , the witnesses who recommend amalga mation speak so strongly as they do of the additional security which it will confer upon the stock of the com panies obtaining that advantage. It is, therefore, manifest that, in conceding amalgama tion, Parliament would part with a power which it might exercise for the purpose of securing to the public one of the greatest advantages that a commercial country can enjoy, viz., freedom and economy of transit for persons and mer chandise from one part of the kingdom to another ' • and that so important a s t e p s h ou ld no t b e t a k en un l ess these advantages be fully secured. When the first railway bills were passed, and the present system of railway legislation was gradually acquiring shape, the ordinary traffic of the country was conducted upon the roads and canals; and the new system offered to the public the option of an improved method of transit, which was naturally accepted on the terms on which it was offered. Nor can it be doubted that railw a ys w er e ex p ec t e d t o be in practice what they are in contemplation of law, new high ways freely ppen to the p u bli c t o p ass w ith eng i n e s a nd cairiages at their own discretion. But in course of time the ancient methods of transit have necessarily fallen into disuse, and the railways have become the only mode by which the greatest part of the internal communications of the country can be conducted ; while considerations of public safety, and other circumstances, have placed the management and use of them exclusively in the control of the railway companies. In passing from the ruder to the more artificial system, while the greatest advantages have on the one hand been attained, on the other hand some sacrifice has been made of the freedom with which indivi duals are able to exercise their choice of route, and to se lect the means of locomotion they employ. Under these circumstances, the relation which ought to subsist between the Executive Government, as the guardian of the general interest, on the one hand, and the owners of the railways on the other, has become a question of the utmost im portance • and it would be in the highest degree unfortu nate if, hy any precipitate step, Parliament were,precluded from arriving at the conclusion best calculated to; promote the public good in future years. In order to ensure this end it will be necessary to estab lish, in the clearest manner, what that relation ought to be ; and, as subordinate to this subject, to determine, among other things, for what purposes and to what ex tent, audit can be rendered effectual ; whether it be pos sible to ascertain and define what portions of the expendi ture should be charged upon the capital of the companies; whether the fixed amount of dividend which any company should enjoy before submitting to the proposed revision of tariff can be fairly assessed, and what degree of control it is right that any central,authority should exercise, for the purpose of securing fair facilities for the transmission of traffic arriving at tho points of junction between dif ferent lines ; or for the development, by new lines, of the traffic of the country, as circumstances may from time to time require. There are also kinds of traffic, such as the conveyance of coals and minerals, in respect of which maximum charges have been prescribed ; but it is doubtful whether the com panies have not the power, by denying to one person facili ties which they afford to thers, of materially interfering with the freedom of trade, and frustrating the intensions of Parliament. In many of the most important districts of the country canals haves been united with railways in traversing the whole or part of the same district ; and while . precautions have been taken in some of the acts for securing to trade the benefit of free transit by such canals, much evidence has been offered to your committee that these precautions have been ineffectual. Into these questions your committee have entered with all the diligence which their limited time has hither to ren dered possible ; but other impm :ant evidence remains to be heard, and your committee are not prepared to pre judge the determination at which, when the whole inquiry shall have been concluded, it may be their duty to arrive. That it will be undesirable to permit the bills now before Parliament to proceed, without having first arrived at a conclusion upon the merits of the whole question, will be manifest, when it is considered that the bills promoted by ono company (the Loudon and North-Western) have been stated to your committee to involve the union, under one control, of a raised capital of 60,030,C00/., between one fourth and one-fifth of the railway property of the kingdom —an annual revenue exceeding 4,0C3,000/.—and an extent of railway communication of upwards of 1,2C0 miles, or more than one-sixth of the railways in the United King dom, forming from the importance of the towns with which it is connected, a key to the principal communica tions of the country. Your committee are not prepared to advise that your honourable house should part, at present, with any of the powers which Parliament possesses in respect of these great companies. The period of the session has now arrived at which it is absolutely necessary to take a decided course in regard to private bills. Your committee, therefore, re commend that the bills for effecting the more extensive amalgamations, shall not be allowed to proceed to a second reading. There is a class of bills included within the same techni cal description as bills of amalgamation, which are not open to the same objection, and ought not to be included within the prohibition against proceeding in the present session. These are bills, the object of which is t o wa k e a l oca l branch for the benefit of a particular dis'riet ; and since the small and new undertaking cannot prosper by itself, to unite it in interest with the trunk, of which it must, of necessity, be a mere branch or adjunct. Bills of this na ture, instead of deserving restriction, rather need encou ragement, and ought, therefore, to be subjected to no un necessary expense, and to none of the hazards of delay. How far, under any improved system of railway legislation, it may be possible to increase the facility for obtaining lines of local convenience, is a subject to which the atteu __ tion of your committee will continue to be carefully al re ct e d . It remains that your committee should submit the views which they conceive should be adopted, pending their in gully upon other subjects indirectly affecting the question of amalgamation, The first of these subjects is that of running clauses, as they are usually termed; in other words, of co nce di ng to one company powe rs o f traversing, without c onsen t, the lines of another. This pract'ce has always been regarded questionable, from considerations of public safety, and Your committee advise that the attention of the select' com mittee upon each bill should; in every case, b e spec i a ll y di rected to thi s su bj ect, and that running clauses should be r‘draitted with great caution, and only in cases where it is clearly shown that the apparently hostile clauses are no inserted as a cloak for amalgamation ; and also that effect tual security may be and has been taken for conducting the traffic without danger, if the companies continue iudepen dert of each other. There are also many railways before Parliament in the present session which may not appear to be in themselves claimants for amalgamation, and which yet may be in sub stance means of defence or of offence in the contests going on between different railway systems. It is impossible for your committee, not appointed for the purpose of investi gating in detail particular schemes, and not having time to devote to their investigation, to express an opinion upon each particular plan. But your committee are satisfied that if the amalgamation schemes of the great companies are suspended during this inquiry, it is right to take some precaution for guarding them against an unfair opposition which may arise from other schemes, and that the public will be benefited by limiting the legislation of this year to lines which it is intended not only to pass into law, but also to carry into actual effect. Your committee, therefoso, would advise that all schemes for amalgamating two or more companies already incorpo rated, should be arrested for the present session, and that no new scheme should be permitted to proceed without giving effectual security for its actual and immediate com pletion. They arc fortified in this conclusion by the fact which has appeared in evidence, that 2,000 miles of railway , involving more than 40,000,0001. of capital have been sanc tioned by Parliament, and afterwards abandoned without the consent of Parliament. Your committeo have taken some evidence on the sub ject of public safety, with which the subject of amalgama tion is very materially connected. But as their present report is mainly directed to the course of proceeding which ought to be adopted with regard to the bills now before Parliament, and the question of safety is too important to be dealt with in a partial manner, your committee do not propose to offer their opinion to the house until a future time. In order to give effect to these views, your committee have agreed to the following resolutions, andhave instructed their chairman to m ove th e house thereon. (See Parlia mentary business, page 2.) ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. CROWN COURT.—CHESTER, APRIL 8. (Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) CHARGE OF MURDER FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING BURIAL FEES. Honor Gibbons, aged 21, and Bridget Gerratz, 40, 'ere placed at the bar on an indictment and inquisition, charging them with the wilful murder of Mary Gibbons, by the administration of oil of vitriol, at Stockport, on the 12th of March last. Mr. Davidson and Mr. Horatio Lloyd appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Gifford for the prisoners. Mr. Davidson said the prisoners were indicted for the wilful murder of Mary Gibbons, an infant of the age of nine months. The learned gentleman then detailed the whole of the facts, as afterwards given in evidence, in the course of which he observed that the child had been entered in a burial society, and at the time of its death the mother was entitled to the sum of 4/. burial money. The following witnesses were then called : Hannah Hogan said she lodged with the prisoner Honer Gibbons up to the death of the child on the 12th of March, and three weeks previous. Thursday before the death of the child it appeared quite well. Slept in the room with the prisoners. During the night the child cried several times. The next morning saw the ehild on the knee of Honor Gibbons. The pink frock now produced was worn by deceased. Saw a bottle like the one now pr o d uce d w ith yellow stuff in it. Nancy Hogan, sister of the last witness, was then called. She corroborated the evidence of her sister. Edward Molloy lodged with the prisoners, in Flet cher's-yard, Stockport, and had lodged there upwards of half a year, with his five children, one of whom is 18 years old. The deceased was taken ill on the Monday night before her death. She died on the Saturday. Was not well on the day before and remained in the house the most of the day. The deceased did not on that day appear to be very sick. Towards the latter end of Friday night was awoke by the crying of the child. It continued to cry until witness got up. Should think the child cried about three hours. Got up in the morning of Saturday between nine and ten o'clock. The mother had the child in her arms in the bed-room. It was crying very much, and witness said to her, "Honor, your child is poorly all night and very sick." She said, " Yes." Witness asked to look at the child. She turned it towards me, and I said, " The child looks very bad ; I think she will not live long." The mother did not say anything, but as she turned the child it vomited very bad stuff. On going out saw Gerratz, who was minding one of Hogan'. children in the kitchen. Shortly after Honor Gibbons came down stairs with the child in her arms. Mrs. Flannery then came in and said; "The child is very poorly ; did you bring it to a doctor ?" Gibbons said, " No. ' Mr. Flannery then said, "Come along with me to the doctor," and both went out together. Did not notice the dress the child had on at that time. (The witness identified the dresses worn by the mother and child previous to the death of the latter.) Saw some bottles in the house. Two of them were like those now produced. They were in the same room in which the prisoners slept. The bottle containing the yellow stuff saw last on the chimney-piece in the kitchen. Did not see the other after the death of the child. (This con tained vitriol.) Did not see any stuff like the latter used in the house. Cross-examined— The prisoner Honor Gibbons ap peared fond of the child, and took care of it. Ann M'Namara said—She lives in Grape-street, Stockport, near the residence of the prisoners. Knows Honor Gibbons. Recollects her child dying. Was at her house the afternoon before, and saw the child. Asked her how the child was ? She said it was very ill. Saw the child. She took it out of the cradle, and said it was - swollen on both sides of the belly. The same evening went again to the house after dark. Asked her how the child was, and she said, " A little better." Did not - see the child nor hear it cry. Julia Coyle, another of the neighbours was at Gib bone' house the evening before the death, and asked her how the child was, and she said " Very well." It ap peardd very well, and was laughing. Went there again the following day, between 11 and 12 o'clock. Saw the prisoners and the child, the latter in the arms of its mother. The child appeared very poorly. Asked Gib bons what was the reason of the strokes on each side of the mouth of the child ? • She said, "From the drink." Looked at the child's mouth, and asked what was the reason of her mouth being full of blisters, and the tongue sticking to the upper lip ? She made no reply. Blood came from the child's nose, and I asked her the reason of of it. Both the prisoners answered, " From the drink it has taken." By the Court—She did not say what the drink was. Julia Flannery, another of the neighbours, deposed to frequently seeing the child previous to its death. It was a fine baby. Saw it again on Saturday morning, be tween nine and ten o'clock. It was frothing out of its mouth. Peter AliNamara lodged with Gibbons up to a fort night before the death of the child. Was ill, and had some medicine ; it was yellow stuff, and in a bottle like the one now produced. Had none like the oil of vitriol now produced. Patrick Flannery said he saw the prisoner Gibbons on the evening the child died. At half-past seven the same evening he accompanied her to the Red Bull, where the club is held. They went with the president of the club to Dr. Lowndes, whom the prisoner Gibbons said had seen the child. Was present on Tuesday when a bottle was found in the ash-pit near the prisoner's house. It is the one now produced, and it contained a little more of the oil of vitriol than there is at present. Isherwood took the bottle. Cross-examined----The ash-pit is common to about 12 houses. Harvey Lowndes, druggist at Stockport, stated that on Saturday, the 12th of March, the prisoner Gibbons brought a child to his shop, and wished to give the child some medicine. The child lay in her arms with its mouth open, the ton g ue was turned up, and the under part dry and charred. Asked her what she had given the child to cause its mouth to be in that state. She said, " I ,have given it nothing." I said, "You must have given it something, or its mouth would not be in the state it is, and I shall not mix any medicine for it ; you had better take it to some one else, for the child is dying." There was a little discharge from the nostrils,. rather coloured, but not bloody. Asked her how long the child had been ill ? She said it had been poorly on the Monday, but she had not taken any notice of it until the Friday night previous. Saw her again that night along with Isherwood, president of the club, and the witness Patrick Flannery. Isherwood said he had come to see what was the cause of the child's death. I said I could not tell him, for I had only examined its mouth, and it was a very suspicious case. The prisoner and Flannery said the child had died a natural death. Isherwood said they must meet him in about three quarters of an hour, at the Red Bull, and he would see whether he could settle with them. They then went away. Edward Isherwood, President of the club, deposed to what took place between the prisoner and himself, as already detailed by Flannery and Lowndes. Charles Prince, one of the officers of the burial club, produced the books of the club. He said Gibbons came to him on Sunday night, the 3d of October, and entered herself and child as members. James Flanaghan put her name down in the books. Afterwards saw the same child dead at the house of Gibbons, the prisoner. The witness then deposed to seeing Gibbons at the club house on the Sunday evening after the child's death, and she said if he (witness) would get her the money she would give him one-half. James Flanaghan deposed to the prisoner Gibbons and her child being members of the club. Mr. W. Derbyshire, surgeon, of Stockport, deposed to going to Gibbons's house on the day of the child's death. Saw some dark brown stains, as if somothing had ran out of its mouth. The lower part of the belly was going black. Asked the prisoner Gibbons what she had given to the child ? She mentioned some simple things in the way of food. Saw the child on the Sunday morning, and its tongue was white and corroded, Cross-examined—On the first occasion the prisoner said the child had died a natural death, and witness might open the body, or do what he liked. John Derbyshire, police officer, produced the clothes worn by the child and the two prisoners, and a bottle containing oil of vitriol, which Was found in the ashpit. George Cheatham deposed to the fact of the prisoner Gerratz giving herself up on the 25th of March. Mr. John Rayner, surgeon, of Stockport, deposed to making a post mortem examination of the body of the child, and that its death was produced by mineral poison such as oil of vitrol. He also produced an analysis of the clothes worn by both prisoners, and also by the child, , in all of which he found oil of vitriol. He also found the same thing on the inside pocket of the dress taken from Gerratz in the lock-up. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Gifford addressed the jury at considerable length in favour of the prisoners. He contended that the charge against the younger prisoner was a most impro bable one. The prisoner Gibbons might have adminis tered the poison by mistake, but as against the other there was not the slightest case. After going over the whole facts of the case, the learned gentleman con cluded with a most powerful appeal to the jury in behalf of the prisoners. The learned Judge summed up the case to the jury. The jury retired, and after being out of court an pour and a half, found both prisoners Guilty, but recommended them to mercy. His Lordship then put on the black cap, and pro ceeded to pass sentence of death upon the prisoners. His lordship said they had been found guilty, after the Most careful consideration of their case, of a vile and cruel murder. They had had the benefit. of being de fended with the greatest zeal and ability by the learned counsel who bad kindly undertaken their defence ; but lie could see no reason whatever upon the evidence to doubt the propriety of the conclusion to which the jury had arrived. With respect to Honor Gibbons, she, for the basest motives of gain, had unnaturally violated one of the deepest feelings of human nature, and for th e price of that unfortunate infant's burial fees had had the heart to destroy her own child by means the most cruel, unnatural, and barbarous. With respect to the other prisoner Gerratz, his lordship observed that there ap peared no adequate motive for her conduct, except some inherent disposition to join in such a deed. After stat ing that the recommendation of the jury should be for warded to the proper quarter, the le arne d judge pro ceeded to pass the awful sentence of the law, up on the p ri son ers, holding out not the sli g ht es t h ope of a com mutation of the sentence as far as Gibbons was con cerned. The prisoners were then removed from the bar, sup ported by the matron and turnkeys. - ARROWROOT.—ne "Sydney Empire says that aryow root equal to that procured from the South Sea Islands had been prepared from some wild plants which grow abundantly near Sydney. THE PIRATES OP BORNEO. the g th oas followingvuthave suspension eriski broken nn peaceably extractouoftafafresh, supporte s f h ro , ma disposed n oa d portion ththate Sarawak letter, it nesnsybiltbtowyenn approved by the government, and were will be seen that the Sakarran Dyaks, encouraged by a p o a f r tt younghe of Eng lishcothmi gentleman named Lee, has fallen. To understand extract properly, it must be borne in mind that these were erected by Sir . James Brooke, after the mea sures led to the destruction of the pirate fleet of s and Sakarran by Captain Farquhar, in 1849, in intendedhfsStmctouhhartureeued by Sir James as the best and most humane mode of checking piracy, by preventing the exit from their rivers of the piratically disposed Dyaks in their bankongs or war proas ; and he trusted that, by en forcing this rule for a few years, the people would be gradually w eane d from their evil habits. This for a time was entirely successful, and many of the better disposed engaged in the peaceful avocations of fishing and farming. Two young English gentlemen, of the names of Br ere t on an d L ee , vo l un t eere d t o t a k e charge of two of these forts, the one at Sakarran, the other at Linga ; while a third, on the Rejang, was placed under Mr. Steele's command. They were all dependent en tirely on their own resources, or such as Sir James Brooke co u ld a ff or d th em , and they cheerfully under took the risks and privations of such a life, as the pio neers of civilisation and good government among a wild and aboriginal people. A very moderate amount of support, or the occasional visit of a steamer, would have enabled them to maintain their position. Such, how ever, was not accorded them, and his countrymen have now to deplore the loss of a gentleman who so early de velOped those rarely combined qualities, an invincible courage with great powers of command. We subjoin the extract referred to : "I. shall now attempt to give you some of the par ticulars of a most unfortunate occurrence that has be fallen us. Rentab had for several months past been collecting a ballah and taunting Brereton. About a fortnight ago he sent word to Gasim and Lingi, and the others who had been friendly with Brereton, that unless they joined him and forced their way to sea, he would attack their houses and take all their property. Brereton, upon this determined to go up the river and defend their houses. He sent for Lee and the Balows and the Batang Lapurs, and collecting as large a force as he could, proceeded to Bandang's house, which he hastily fortified. Rentab came down with only two boats, was fired into, and ran away. Rrereton and Lee rushed to their boats, and, followed by one other Malay boat, and a few Balows in sca,mpans, pursued the retreating foe. The boats soon scattered, and on the leading boat suddenly turning a sharp point of the river, she was received with a shower of spears, and four huge bankons lying in wait were upon her before her crew could get at their guns ; they fought, however, most gallantly till Lee came up and took off the attention of two of the enemy. Lee shot with his gun two men, right and left, but had no time to reload. Brereton's fire also killed several men, but his boat was soon swamped alongside the gigantic ban kong of Rentab, and he and her crew got to the shore without a, weapon. Boats, guns, rifles, everything fell' into the Dyak hands. Whilst this was going on the Balows, who fought well at first, finding they had no chance in their small boats, and with 27 of their num ber wounded, gave away in all directions. Lee's men, some killed and many wounded, after vainly urging their leader to fly, jumped overboard, with the exception of four, who gallantly stuck to him till all were wounded. They begged and prayed him to jump overboard and get ashore. Though desperately wounded, the gallant fellow fought on, saying he would never run away, he would die, but never be shamed by turning, and as his last follower jumped overboard, Lee was seen to spring sword in hand into Rentab's boat, where he was soon dispatched, and so we have lost as gallant and noble an English gentleman as ever stepped. I think you scarce knew him—he was shy and retired at first, but on acquaintance he much improved, and has endeared himself to all by many admirable qualities. Every one in Sarawak, including Malays, deeply feel his loss ; he was a great favourite with all—his courage was Spartan. The news from Kanowit is also unsatis factory. Briah Riab got past the fort, with a large . ballah, and has gone up the Rejang. Kum Nipa has been trying to get up a combined attack on the fort, and it is said Pa Lambung, of Sareha,s, is preparing a tremendous ballah for the same object. I have dis patched the Badger, with orders to Steele to take every precaution, and with supplies of muskets and ammuni tion, also strict orders not to quit this fort. I Much fear Kanowit, Sarebas, and Sakarran will break out this sea son ; there are evident signs of it. St. John has asked for a steamer, but I shall not rely on his getting one— we must defend ourselves, and thank God, our people are ready and willing. If the Dyaks should break out now, the mischief will be terrible, not only to the rapidly rising trade, but to hundreds of unsuspecting people who are fishing and farming on the banks of the rivers, al most to the sea." It may be mentioned that Mr. Brereton had arrived safely at Sarawak. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. CITSTOM-HOUSE-APRIL 9. ENTERED INWARDS.—The James Cruickshank, from Demerara ; Patriot, Teneriffe ; Pearl, Cadiz ; Urania, Rouen ; Alliance, Guernsey ; Cossack, do. ; Marys, do. and Jersey ; Fergus, Demerara ; Princess Royal, Hamburgh ; Seine, Boulogne ; Rudolph, Lisbon ; Melinka, Buenos Ayres ; Sandford, Hamburgh ; Trial, Barbadoes ; Panther, o;itend ; Amiable Pelagic), Caen ; Yoram, Guernsey ; Udonia, Marans ; Ann and Rosetta, Caen. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.--The City of Lon don,&c. ; Tourlingen, H am b urg h ; O cean Q ueen, for Dunkirk ; Adine, Leer ; Etoil e , R ouen ; M ar y, • James Cruickshank, St. Vi ncen t ; A n t o i ne tt e, N An ew Av y erp or , k Elsinore an d St. Petersburgh ; Affeyoine, Constantinople and Odessa; Ada, Magadore ; City of Boulogne, Bou logne ; Fergus, Demerara ; Hercules, Melbourne ; Krem lin, Boston • Lady Kennaway, M e lb ourn e ; N ew O r l eans, do. ; Moselle, Rotterdam ; Wilberforce, Hamburgh ; De vonshire, Swan RiVer ; Panther, Ostend. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGOS-The Thames, for Hamburgh ; Julius Cnsar, Malaga ; Jessore, Port Philip ; Anne, Demerara ; Hibernia, Alebourg ; Maria Christina, Santander, &c. ; Universe, Montreal; Warrior Queen, do. ; Princess Sophia, Sydney ; Antwerpen, Antwerp ; Batavier, Rotterdam ; Earl of Auckland, do. ; Margaret Evans, New York ; Kenilworth, Calcutta ; Soho Havre ; Albion, Boulogne ; City of London, Dunkirk ; Lord John Russell, Harlingen ; Elbe, Hamburgh; Diana, Amster dam ; Tartar, Algotb Bay. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. Tho Akbar, Mauritius to the Clyde, April 4, lat. 50 N long. 10 W. The Devonport, of Liverpool, April 7, off Tuskar. The Peterel, Liverpool to California, Jan. 27, lat. 57 S., long. 66. The Raymond, Valparaiso to Liverpool, Feb. 5, lat. 47 SS. long. 47 W. ~ Halifax, London to Madras, 12th, lat. 2 N., long. 17 W. The Jumna, Liverpool to Bombay, same day. The Arno, London to Valparaiso, 13th, lat. 2 N., long. 18 W. The Cronkbane, Liverpool to Melbourne, 17th, lat. 2 N., long. 18. The Ocean Wave, Boston to Singapore, March 1, lat. 7 N., long. 25 W. The Chevalier, Liverpool to New Orleans, Fob. 27, lat. 16 N., long. 38 W. THE DIGGINGS.—The number of diggers at the various gold fields may now be estimated at 100,000, and the average earnings may probably still be calculated at an ounce per man per week. There has been a slight falling off in the quantities sent down by escort during the last month.; but this is partly to be referred to the departure of diggers to spend their Christmas at their respective homes. Mount Alexander, Balaarat, and the Ovens are now being advantageously worked. The asto nishing richness of Mount Alexander is evidenced in the large amounts which it yields, notwith standing the immense quantities that have already been drawn from it. The whole country thereabouts appears to be more or less auriferous. There are va rious minor spots throughout the territory where gold has been found by explorers, and in paying quantities. Some of these cases are kept secret by the discoverers ; others are known, but the limited extent of the deposits prevents aby numerous party from engaging them. But the three fields already mentioned may be considered the grand centres of gold-digging operations in Victoria. There cannot be a doubt that the introduction of finer mechanical processes would be followed by increased productiveness in the gold fields. The ordinary : hasty and clumsy process of the digger cannot but leave . alarge residuum of gold in the auriferous soil.- But machinery can only be introduced by a company ; and no' company will ever be effective in its operations bat one that is composed of associated Miners on the co-operative prin eiple.—Melbourne Argus. THE FATE OF A HANDSOME SLAVE. (From the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin.) Among those unfortunates guilty of loving freedom too well, was a young quadroon girl, named Emily Russell, whose mother is now living in New York. The writer has seen and conversed with her. She is a pious woman, highly esteemtd and respected, a member of a Christian church. By the avails of her own industry, she purchased her freedom, and also redeemed from bondage some of her children. Emily was a resident of Washington, D.C., a place which belongs not to any State, but to the United States, and there, under the laws of the United States, she was held as a slave. She was of a gentle disposition, and ami&ble manrers ; she had been early touched with a sense of religious things, and was on the point of unitin g herself to th e Ch r i s ti an Ch urc h ; b ut her heart yearned after her widowed mother, and after freedom, and so, on the fatal night, when all the other poor vic tims sought escape by the Pearl, the child Emily went also among them. They were . taken. The sin of the poor girl was inex piab:e. Because she longed for her mother's arms and for liberty, she would not be forgiven. Nothing would do for such a sin, but to throw her into the hands of the trader. She also was thrown into Bruin and Hill's gaol, in Alexandria. Her poor mother in New York received the following letter from her. Head it, Christian mo ther, and think what if your danghter had written it to you ? "Alexandria, Jan. 22, 1850. "My dear Mother,—l take this opportunity of writing you a few lines, to inform you that I am in Bruin's Gaol, rnd Aunt Sally, and all of her children, and Aunt Hagar and all her children, and grandmother is almost crazy. My dear mother, will you please to come on as soon as you can ? I expect to go away very shortly. 0, mother ! my clear mother ! come now and see your distressed and heart-. broken daughter once more ! Mother, my dear mother ! do not forsake me, for I feel desolate. Please to come now. "Your daughter, " EMILY RUSSELL. "To Mrs. Nancy Cartwright, New vork. " P.S. If you do not come as far as Alexandria, come to Washington, and do what you can." That letter, blotted and tear-soiled, was brought by this poor washerwoman to some Christian friends in New York, and shown to them. "What do you suppose they will ask for her ?" was her question. All that she had —her little house, her little furniture, her small earnings —all these poor Nancy was willing to throw in ; but all these were but as a drop in the bucket. The first thing to be done, then, was to ascertain what Emily could be redeemed for ; and, as it may be an in teresting item of American trade, we give the reply of traders in full : "Alexandria, Jan. 31, 1850. " Dear sir,—Whe n I rece i ve d yourletter I had not bought the negroes you spoke of, but since that time I have bought them. All I have to say about the matter is, that we paid very high for the negroes, and cannot afford to sell the girl Emily for less than eighteen hundred dollars. This may seem a high price to you, but, cotton being very high, consequently slaves are high. We have two or three offers for Emily from gentlemen from the south. She is said to be the finest-looking woman in this country. As for Hagar and her seven children, we will take two thousand five hundred dollars for them. Sally and her four children, we will take for them two thousand eight hundred dollars. You may seem a little surprised at the difference in prices, but the difference in the negroes makes the difference in price. We expect to start south with the negroes on the Bth of February, and if you intend to do anything, you had better do it soon.—Yours, repectfully, "BRUIN and HILL." This letter came to New York before the case of the Edmonsons had called the attention of the community., to this subject. The enormous price asked, entirely dis couraged effort, and, before anything of importance was done, they heard that the coffle had departed, with Emily in it. Hear, 0 heavens ! and give ear, 0 earth ! Let it be known, in all the countries of the earth, that the price of a beautiful Christian girl in America, when she is set up to be sold to a life of shame, is from eighteen hundred to two thousand dollars ; and yet, judicatories in the church of Christ have said, in solemn conclave, that American slavery as it is'ig no evil I From the table of the sat - trament and from the sanc tuary of the Church of Christ this girl was torn away, because her beauty was a saleable article in the slave market in New Orleans ! Perhaps some northern apologist for slavery will say she was kindly treated here—not handcuffed by the wrist to a chain, and forced to walk, as articles less choice are ; that a waggon was provided, and that she rode ; and that food abundant was given her to eat, and that her clothing was warm and comfortable, and there fore no harm was done. We have heardC it told us, again and again, that there is no harm in slavery, if one is only warm enough, and full-fed, and comfortable. It is true that the slave-woman has no protection from the foulest dishonour and the utmost insult that can be offered to womanhood—none whatever in law or gospel ; but so long as she has enough to eat and wear, our Christian fathers and mothers tell us it is not so bad ! Poor Emily could not think so. There was no eye to pity, and none to help. The food of her accursed lot did not nourish her; the warmest clothing could not keep the chill of slavery from her heart. In the middle of the overland passage, sick, weary, heartbroken, the child laid down her head and died, By that lonely pillow there was no mother, but there was one Friend, who loveth at all times, who is closer than a brother. Could our eyes be touched by the seal of faith, where others see the only wilderness, arc! the dying girl, we, perhaps, see one clothed in celestial beauty, waiting for that short agony to be over, that He might redeem her from all iniquity, and present her faultless before the presence of his grace with exceeding joy ? Even the hard-hearted trader was touched with her sad fate, and we are credibly informed that he said he was sorry he had taken her. Bruin and Hill wrote to New York that the girl Emily was dead. The Quaker, William Harped, went with the letter to break the news to her mother. Since she had given up all hope of redeeming her daughter from the dreadful doom to which she had been sold, the helpless mother had dropped like a stricken woman. She no longer lifted up her head, or seemed to take any interest in life. When Mr. Harned called on her, she asked, eagerly, "Have you heard anything from my daughter ?" "Yes, I have," was the reply, "a letter from Bruin and Hill." "And what is the news ?” He thought it best to give a direct answer, is dead " "Emily The poor mother clasped her hands, and, looking up wards, said, " The Lord be thanked ! He has heard my prayers at last . ,f 1 And now, will it be said this is an exceptional case-- it happens one time in a thousand ? Though we know this is the foulest of falsehoods, and that the case is only a specimen of what is acting every day in the American slave trade, yet, for argument's s a k e , l e t us , f or once, admit it to be true. If only once in this nation, under the protection of our law, a Christian girl had been torn from the altar and the communion -table, and sold to foulest shame and dishonour, would that have been a light sin ? POPTILATION.—It may be 'fairly assumed that more than 80,000 souls from all quarters of the world have landed on our shores during the past year. The entire population of the colony at the present moment may be stated at more than 200,000 souls. The principal in convenience felt by new-comers is the want of house ac commodation. The abundance of money, and the defi ciency in effective labour, have raised the expenses of building far above the point at which it would be a pro fitable investment for capital. The number of buildings erected in the city within the year, bears no proportion to the increase of the population. But already we dis cover symptoms of re-action in this respect ; and we think that the ensuing year will witness a revival in the building trade, and a great extension and improvement of the city. Meantime, the want is partially [supplied by tents and small wooden buildings in the outskirts. On the southern bank of the Yarra Yarra there is a population of four or five thousand living in tents ; and all around the boundaries of the city wooden cottages are daily springing up. The scheme for affording tempora r y shel ter to newly-arrived immigrants has been carried for ward with spirit. The private subscriptions amount to nearly 40001., to which the Government is to add 8,0001. The Wesleyan Methodists have erected a building for the temporary accommodation of immigrants, of their own and other denomi nations, in want of shelter. Despite all such efforts, however, there must be a great amount of privation, as we have said ; but it will rarely sink to actual destitution, and at worst is only tem porary. The immigrant, once landed, if he has any self helpfulness at all, speedily finds means to ward off actual want, and sooner or later gains a footing from which it its his own fault if he does n ot stride ra p idl y forward into competence and comfort. —Melbourne Argus. CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES FROM THE PROTESTANT ALLIANCES or GREAT BRITAIN.—On Friday last a meet ing was held at Birmingham, to which theProtemstaannt Alli an ces of the following towns had bee n i nv i ted to sen d delegates :—London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, chester, Birmingham, Bristol, St. Helen's, Kent Ply mouth, Newcastle, Stroud, Sheffield, - Worcester, Wol verhampton, Stafford, Leeds, N ott i ngham, York,' Chel tenham, South Shields, Norwich, Ryde , St° ke-11° p n- Trent, East London, Clerkenwell, Torquay, Leaming ton, "- ton, Hull, Leicester, Shrewsbury Southampton, ,Derby, Islington, Devonpo r t, Bath, Newbury , Storehouse, ehouse; Tonbridge Wells, G ravesend, Durham, Peterborough, Stamford, Hereford, Blackheath, Weymouth and Brad ford, Norwood, Carlisle, Preston, Dorset, and Weston super-Mare. Th e b usiness of the conference was com menced meeting for arrangement, held at and from that hour until half-past five the delegates were engaged in discussion of the vari ous operatio ns connected with the alliance. The meet ing -was not one of public demonstration, but solely for private deliberation. Among the subjects which ocpu pied the attention of the delegates were the modes of en lightening the public with respect to popery, and pro testant truths, by meetings, lectures, sermons, the press publications, colporteurs, missionaries, schools, contro versial discussions, &c., &c. From about twenty of the more important alliances accounts were furnished of the success attending their efforts, and the energy with which the work was carried on in Scotland was regarded as highly encouraging. It was intimated also that the Protestant Alliance, with the 62 kindred associations connected with it, was increasing in efficiency every day. Attention was directed to the present condition of po pery at home, in regard to which an inquiry into the teaching and effects of Maynooth was expected to be in stituted by the House of Lords, and a bill was to be in troduced into the House of Commons for the inspection szil • cottrol of nunneries, while the persecuting cruelty of popery a b roa d h a d b een signally-exposed and defeated by the exertions called forth at the instance of the Pro testant Alliance on behalf of the released prisoners, the COUNTRY MARKE2'S. HADDINGTON—Arum 8. The following are the prices of grain at our mar k° to-day : WHEAT. BARLEY, First s4s Od 37s Od Second 4Bs 1(1 1 34s 1(1 Third 4ls Od 1 26s Od Total ~/ itautity Of wheat in market, fl 1) barley ,j f, ), oats 73 ~ fl beans .. OATS. 330 5° ,; 1 25s Od 37s v 4i 21s 45(1 349 A v'i 193 Od 32s v; 233 qrs., 239 sole 140 qrs., 123 50 , 1 ` i • f 341 qrs., 226 s°;', l 136 qrs. , 109 so' ABERDEEN —Alum 8. The prices of grain are—Old oats, 003 Od to ON C141 ,' 401bs per bu s h e l ; new oa t s, 17s Od to 00s Od, 401bs l." bushel ; bere, 28s Od to 29s Od, 531bs per b us h e l ; barlef' 27s Gd to 28 8 Od, 531b s per bushel ; wheat, red, 393 Od 40s Od, 621b s p er b us h e l ; wheat, white, 468 Od to 485 ' 621bs per bush e l • oatmeal, 14s Od to 158- Od per bel l ' flour, 37s Od t o 39s Od per sack. Provisions—Beef, per 4d to 7d ; mutton, ditto, sd. to 7d : veal, ditto, 6d to 8 " 1 ; pork, per lb, Os 5d t o Os 6d. ; salmon, p er lb, is 6d to Os Od; rabbits, each, 7d to 8d ; tall ow , p er stone, 48 Od to 4s 61 , 1 . potatoes, per peck, is to is 2d ; butter, per lb, 81 to 05 9 ' eggs, per doz, Os id to Os 8d ; hens, per pair, 3s o,l° 3s 6d ; chickens, ditto, 28 lid to 3 8 Od ; d uc k s, ditto, 2,. , to 3s Od ' • ducklings, ditt o , Os Od, to Os Od ; t ur keP , each, 43 Od to 4s 6d ; geese , ditto, 3s 6d to 4 s Od ; butt' for exportation (p resent cure), per cwt, 74s to. - 00 s o ' , ditto (summer cured), 00s to 00.3 Od ; eggs, wholesale Pr i l per dozen, 53d t o Od. • 41b loaf, 7d ; 21b loaf, 33d ; find small, Os Od t o Os' Od ; pork, large, Os Od to 051 : lamb, per quart er , 7s Oct to lOs ; cheese, per impels stone, 5s 6d to 7s. CORK-APRIL 8. Brls. Curncy. White wheat 00 s Od to OOs Od. Os Od.— re 2o stop 5 Iledwheat 22s 6d to 00s Od Ditto ' Oos Od to OOs Od> 00s Od-20 do. Ditto 00s Od to OOs Od Barley OOs 00. to GOs Od Ditto OGs Od to 00s Od Oos Od—l6 do. Ditto OO s Od t o O Os Od• Bero 00s Od to 00s Od Os 04i 187 Oats Ditto 00s Od to 00s Od les Od do' Ditto oos Od to 00s Od , 85 Pigs 43s 6tl to 00s Oil 00s Od per civ," Quantity sold at the highest prices :- 00 barrels white wheat ; 27 red ; 80 barley; 0 bere; l oats ; 1 pigs. Quantity of grain and number of pigs sold last week :" . *: m Wheat, 79. Barley, 212. Bere, 00. Oats, 2 Pigs, 269. Return of cattle sold for week ending April 2 : Pigs, 499. Sheep, 313. Cows, 73. Coax. —Flour- First, 15s Od to 16s Od ; extra, 17s seconds, 13s 6d to 14s 6d ; households, lOs to 13s Od ; 75 Od to lOs per cwt. Meal—lndian meal, 7s 9d to 8 53 ,1 oatmeal, 108 6d to lls Od; wheat meal, 10s to Ils Od per Indian corn, 71 5s Od to 8/ Os Od per ton. Bran, 41 55 to 4112 s 6d per tou. Hay—Farmers, 28s Od to 40s Od; avcrf*, 345; dealers, 32s Od to 503 ; average, Os per t on . Stri'ci, Farmers, 21s Od to 26s Od ; average, 245 ; dealers, 325:?` i ii 00s Od; average, Os. pe r ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf, e `i Od ; household ditto, 6d to Od p er 41b.—Fresh butter, lld per lb. Eggs, 4s 4d t o 4 s 6d per h undred. Meat' nllp 46d to 8d ; mutton, 54d to 6id ; veal, 4.4 d to 64d ; pork, u t o 6d ; bacon, 7d to lid; sausages, 6d per lb.—fish, NeWfot land, 11/. Os to 121 Os per ton ; Scotch herrings , 31s to 5 Red, do., 30s per brl.—Potatoes, white, Od to 10d; lld to 12d.—Coal s , Newport, 21s; Lydney, 21s ; Cahn, Od per ton . — Whisk e y, 25 o . p., 6 s Od per imperial gallo Hides,market, 30s to 365; Salted, 308 to 38s per cwt. skins, 3id per lb.—Bangor slates 2/. 17s. 6d to 3/. per tot, Fleece wool, 00s to 00s per s t one . —H emp, 3 81. to 421,4 ton—Timber, Memel, 3/. lOs ; red pi ne , 3/. 10 s ; yellow 3/. ss. per , tin; deals, 16/. to 181. per hundred.-13ark, n , '? 81. to 101. 10s. per ton.—T a ll ow, 46 s t o 47 s per cwt.---P; 71. lOs to 0/. per cwt.- T ar , A rc l iange l , 19 8. per brl.- 64'i 0 Peruvian, 101. 10s to 11/. per ton. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Poe' by the night—and Mby the morning —dispatch.] Day when made up From what ly COUNTRIES. in General Post- Port 1 u 0 0 0:, Office, London.* Dispatched. ---- Areerlea(byßrit.pack)N Every Friday .... Liverpool ArriS America (by United Sts. • • pa cl - et) .. •••• • . N April 13 .. .. • • Liverpool , April America (by U. States • pecket) .... • ..N April 18 Southampton'APP Australia (via South ampton) 4th of May ••• SouthamptonlAPr a Ditto (via M arseilles) N Bth of May ...... Dover Ditto (via Cape of Good Hope) ............N 2d of Juno Plymouth .. %O ; Africa ( West Coast) ..N 23rd of th e mon th. Plymouth ..1A10!;11 Alexandria.......... N 8,9, 24, & 30 o f m . D over %, Alexandria ..M 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton Mo' il Bahamas ...........M 2nd of the month S out h ampton, ist o t‘, Belgium ............N Daily.— —. Dover .. l e Brazil .. M 1 9th of the month.. Southampton!Aln Br euos Ayres ........ 31 , 9 th of the m ont h .. Southampton Mr! ), A, Ca he of Good Hope ..N 14th of the m on th Plymouth Cape of Good Hope ..N 2n4 of June ...• .. Plymouth Cape de Verds ....N 14th of the mo n th. Plymouth . • 'APP Ceylon (see India) Ceylon-- . ..... ..N 14th of the month Plymouth Channel Isles ........N Mon ~Wed.,&Frid. Southampton 'll 2d & 17th of month Seuthampton'APD' China (see India) i p Constantinople N 7,8,17,21,&27 o f ns , Dover .•• • A PLI ,„ Constantinople .... • ... 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton cont. of Europe M & N Twice daily ...... Dover Egypt (see India) ‘sic - 1 1; France .. M& N Twice daily— ... Dover ...• •• m - Gibraltar 4,7, 17, 20, 27 of m. Southampton Greece (see India) I Greytown 2nd &17tR of mon. , outhampton AP r .,O •• ia Rambo rgh ..........N Tuesday & Frid a y L on d on 2nd of the month Southampton 14 , ";:cr II " d1 " 1 •••• • • • • ....M Wednesday & Sat. I.7SiTIEOrt 3 101 0 Honduras 17th of the month. SouthamptottifZFrrii 20 India (rl aSoutinunpt.)M 4th & 20th of mon. SouthamPun'A P til India (v:a Ma"ellie,)M B th&2lth of month,Dover .• •• ' t. lonian Isles (see Hatriburgh s L o o u n t d h o a n , Tpton i s "ri : llavaiotah Honduras 1 6 India (ThtSoutnam 21 pt.)M India (vla Mariseilles)M SouthamptonS ha m P 1. 4 P p P lonian Isles (see :Dover •. kP9 ic Ireland & N,Tlviee daily e° . Lisbon .•••••.. M 7,9, 17, &28 oFrn. Zu b tl i a e lplollL 116 Madeira ........ N ( .)111 of the month souttuunpton .11 0 ,711 Madeira ............ N 123rd o f t h e month , Plymouth .. pP• Malta (see India) ,41 6 Malta ..............N 7,17,19 , 28 , 30 o f m. Dover .. Mauritius (see India) . 1 . 1 0 Mauritius ..........N 14th of the mo n th P lymouth • • IA P P Mexico .. M t 2nd of the month.. Southampton Ist' l 11 Naples .. Nl5 thistll2s thof mon., Dover .. . • AP I 1 1 6 . New Granada ......M 2d & 17th of montbSouthampton itPr' r ti , Now Zea1and.......... By private ship .. V ar i ous ports Vo c , l ll Papal States stlllsth2sthofinon. Dover 1 6 Peninsula .......... M ill I 7 th2B thohnon Southampton 'API!, pi Peru ....• ..........M 2d & 27th of mon SouthamptonAPV;lo Port Natal ~........,N or the month ilymouth Sicily sthl qh2stliolmon, Dover .... AP'l Tuscany „N sthlsth2sthofmon. Dover lApr ii It Venezuela ..........M `id & 17th of month Southampton 'AP T Van Diemen's Land (see Australia) .. West Indies * When any of these dates fall on a Sunday, the ma.- 41 ,1 dispatchei on the follo w i ng d ay. w i th the exception of the lOLA :Fouthampton), and the Malta, both of which will be dispatai day preceding. o op THE GRAVE OF MAGNUS, THE DANE.—A eorre S Y dent wishes to be informed of the exact spot wher e ., if' Scandinavian her o , M agnus, was interred. In rePiii have to say that Mr. Warsaae, the Norwegi an hist ° 1P some time ago visited this town for the purpose of f l ;f t t upon the exact spot where Magnus was buried, an d . o for the most diligent sea rc h, t a k en i n connex i on w i t h 1 e ; mation afforded by manuscripts in the library of C in t e 'e hagen, he came to the conclusion that the gra Magnus is a little mound adjoinin g a c l ump o f tre7o" the extremity of the place formerly called "Islan.iT o r? ter," Ind 'now known by th e name o f " Th e P A t Island," on the right of th e new roa d to B a llya ti c y which island is now in the occu p a ti on o f M r . Henry, of this town.—Downpatrick Recorder. A f [ADVERTISEMENT.] The Earl of Aldborough.,cir Holloway's Pills.-L-An astounding cure by this bons medicine after every other means had failed. ":0 extract from his lordship's letter, dated " Villa Yie:or" Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1845. T o P ro f essor Holloway. or I beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected l'd of a disorder in my liver and stomach which a ll the It s eminent of th e f acu lt y at h ome and all over the oontlerol had not been able to effect--nay, not even the vira t ,'' Carlsbad or M ar i en b a d . (Si gned) ALDsoßotraPi'd These wonderful p i ll s w ill cure any disorder of t h e or stomach.—Sold (also Holloway's ointment) at,,,joS fessor Holloway's es t a bli s h ment, 244, Strand, L°' and by all medicine vendorsthroughont the world. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVP, ARBIL 9. STOCK EXCHANGEE.— R Th O e OL share market Was dun etL st 4 day, and q uo t a ti ons closed per cent. lower than Yr day upon the leading stocks. Dublin and Belfast Jun c l, 2i pm. ; East Lancashire, 18i1; Lancashire and York s 7 77t ; Leeds Northern, 16$ ; Liverpool, Crosby,itil Southport, 17g ; London and North-Western, 120 • fr u l, shares, 24 pm. ; Midl an d, 75i ; N or th Staffordshire, '449.1( South-Eastern and Dover, 23; Manchestor (6/, now)' pm. • St. Helen' s Railway and Canal (4.i per cent.), 1 r Dutch Rhenish, 21-15 d. MANCHESTER, APRIL 9. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There has b een but a, limitee. - 10 ,) ness at declining prices, and only six sales were recoil", East Anglian Pref., 7 per cent. ; Mi 4 ; Sheffi e ld, 101. tt) 11; ditto,Midland Consols, 76; I'4 a British, n;South - Eastern and D over, 231-16. Cl. pref., par New BIRMINGHAM APRIL 9. 4 S TO CK EXCHANGE.— There was a steady business Ati oe rs. market to-day, with a b e tt er i nqu i ry for railway st'o' London and North-W es t erns closed at 121 j; and Miai at 761. LEEDS, APRIL 9. 13 STOCK EXCHANGE.—O n th e w h o l e th e s h are mar— t.-8t been rather weaker to-day. The chief business dey ro oll been in Midlands which closed mi. York and fr d Midlands w ere done at 298 ; North British at si;, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (6/. per cents-] , 103. 6d. pin. MARRIED. l ye On the 7th inst., at the Abbey Church, Rornseir Rev. Georg° Augustus S e y mour, t o Elizabeth Wqr001) fifth daughter of the l a t e H on. an d R ev. G era ld T. canon of Winchester, and vicar of Romsey. DIED. ie 4 On the 7th inst., a t th e G rove, C am b erwe ll , 3100 Rabudy, aged 89. _sof On the 7th in s t., a t P or t smou th , C a th er i ne W°'' relict of the late Generni4F. Maitland, aged 84. bo 4o On the 9th in s t., th e H on. end Rev. ArmineWode third eon 01 . the ~ir,t Lunt Wouehouse. ONDOZ: : and Pirolished M LIMO Y•-• of No. 112, Strand, Printer, ai; rite San Office, t`T°' L f Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, iu the COO' Aliclalemex, Monday, April 11, 1863, BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 7th inst., at Haighlands, near Wigan, Frances Lindsay, wife of the Hon. Colin Lindsay. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 7th inst., at Epsom, Mrs. Joseph MiP •ill Ware.