The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-27 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES, HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY). GROUP I. The. Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning ; Mr. W. 0. Stanley in the chair. TEE - BiLICiNTON BUD-SENT SCIEZIKZ. The landholders' opposition having been closed, Mr. AUSTIN rose to reply on behalf of the South-Eastern Company. He complained that his Learned Friend's (Mr. Talbot) speech, on opening the Brighton case, was unne cessarily long, embraced useless topics, and dwelt too much upon what was termed the equity of the case. Now the equity of the case comprised the question of who were the original occupants of the county of Kent. It was true the Croydon line was the first projected into Kent, but the Croydon Railway was constructed for lines going to the north, or through the midland divisions of Kent. The Croydon line, indeed, had already accom plished its destiny, and become part of the Brighton and Chi chester Railway; and it was unjust to the public for the Croydon Company to get up an opposition to the South- Eastern line, not for accommodating the real wants of the county of Kent, bat for the purpose of perpetuating a toll of 30,0015/. per annum, payable by the South-Eastern Companhse for passing over the ten miles of the Croydon line. T worn out question of fares h e would leave to the Committee without comment, nor would he occupy any time in discussing the parcel matter, because he felt convinced that the evidence he had adduced had satisfied the Committee up on those points. It was evident, from the tone and manner of his Learned Friend, that he did not dispute the right of the South-Eastern Company to make a North Kent line; in point of fact, in presenting an alternative to the Committee, either to allow his line to be made from Sittingbourne to Canterbury, with power to the South-Eastern C om p an y to work over it, or to grant the South-Eastern line with power to the Brighton Company to work over it, his Learned Friend practically conceded the North Kent line to the South-Eastern Com pany. Th a t impression of the offer was borne out by the testimony of Mr. Wilkinson, the Deputy Chairman of the South Coast line, who stated that the Brighton Company never contemplated going to Dover, and it was, therefore, to be inferred, that the only object the Brighton Company had in carrying their Mid-Kent scheme from Maidstone to Can terbury was, to enable them to claim the right of making a new station at Maidstone. Indeed, the idea of the Brighton Cimpany ever intending to go to Dover was not only a romance, but a delusion, and he hoped the Committee would treat it accordingly. Now it would seem that the witnesses of the Brighton Company preferred the Brighton line, not so much for its superior merits as from a want of confidence in the South-Eastern Company. Let him just endeavour to ascertain upon what foundation such a feeling rested. It was admitted en both sides that the angle at Reigate was an error. The South-Eastern Company bad long discovered that it was a mistake, and that considera tion alone was sufficient to induce them to make their Mid- Kent scheme; but there was a still stronger inducement for their doing so. They had to pay a toll of 20,0001. to the Croydon Company, and of course they were anxious to rid themselves and the public of such a tax. Upon what foundation, then, rested the doubts as to the sincerity of the South-Eastern Company in proposing this Mid-Kent scheme? Now, then, as to the public necessity of this line. Whatever mightl be the decision of that day, the Mid-Kent line must be sooner or later made. The French lines were fast approaching completion, and Paris: would soon, in point of distance, become an easy coast town. Lon don was already in that position ; but still the public exi gencies—not as comprised in local interests, but in a national want—required that London should be brought still nearer to the coast. That end could only be attained by the construc tion of a Mid-Kent line, and until that line were granted, the South-Eastern Company was bound to contest it to the last penny in their coffers. This question had already been before Parliament three years, at an expense of from 70,0001. to 80,0001. per session. Multiply either of those two sums by three, it would give the total expense already incur: ed in endeavouring to bring this question to an end. That expense must fall upon the public. If this question were delayed the South-Eastern Company would still have to add every session, so long as the present standing orders existed, a sum of from 70,0001. to 80,0001. to the total, and he put it to the Committee whether this was not sufficiently conclusive premises in support of the proposition, that the present was the best time for settling the question? Well, then, the next point to be con sidered was, which of the two lines was the best. In his opinion there could be no doubt that the South-Eastern was the most preferable. A bold attempt had been made to ex. rig crate the local requirements and the local traffic of the Mid-Kent district as traversed by the Brighton scheme, but, whatever might be said to the contrary, there could be no question about it, that a Mid-Kent line must depend for support upon the Continental traffic rather than to supplying local conveniences. But he maintained that the South-Eastern line accommodated the fruit trade, the agriculture, and the population of Mid-Kent in a far better manner than the Brighton scheme. In an en gineering point of view the South-Eastern line was immea surably the superior of the two, while, independently of the better gradients, the lines throughout being under the same management, would enable the South-Eastern Company to werk their line more easily and more economically than the Brighton. T he Lear ne d G ent l eman had not closed his address when the Committee adjourned, at the asual hour, till twelve o'clock to-morrow (this day). GROUP V. The Committee met this morning at 12; present, 'Lord Harry Vane (chairman), Hon. M. Gore, Hon. M. Sutton, Mr. Rice, and Sir E. Filmer. GREAT WESTERN (BRANCHES TO EG— HAM, STAINES, ETC.) Mr. TALBOT, without addressing the Committee on the merits of the proposed line, proceeded to call witnesses in fa vour of the scheme. Mr. Pownall, chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, preferred the branch which passed Hounslow, from the posi tion it lay in to that town, and the facility which the Great Western offered of communicating with the manufacturing districts of the north. Several other witnesses were examined on the traffic along the route, which, with the engineering evidence of Mr. Zrunef, closed the case for the promoters. The Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP VI. SALZSBITRY AND YEOVIL, AND EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCNEBTER. The Committee met this morning at twelve; Mr. Deedes, chairman. The first witness called on behalf of the promoters was the Rev. Rowland Huish, vicar of East Croker, near Yeovil ; he was also vice-chairman of the board of guardians of the Yeovil Union, which consisted of between 30 and 40 pa rishes, and his knowledge of the wants of the locality led him to believe that the construction of the lines before the Committee would prove of great service to the inhabitants of the district comprised in that union. Several other witnesses from the neighbourhood of Yeovil were called, who gave evidence in favour of the facilities wnica would be afforded by the proposed lines for the trans ni:ssion of agricultural produce to the metropolis. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. GROUP XI. COLCHESTER AND STOUR VALLEY (LA- VENBAIVI AND BURT EXTENSION). The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Forbes Mackenzie in the chair.: The engineering evidence in this case having been brought to a close this morning, the Committee consulted together for a few minutes, and afterwards decided that the preamble to the Bill had been proved. The remainder of the day was occupied with the clauses. GROUP XVIII. The Committee on this group assembled this morning, at ' twelve o'clock • the Earl of Linosln i n th e Ch a i r , with Mr. ' J. O'Connell, Sir C ap t. James, Mr. Smyth e , an d C a t. Jones. CRELICENEA.res AND OXFORD LINE. A variety of evidence was taken to show the advantage of this branch to the traffic of the South-W a l es Di s t r i ct , by way of Reading and Tring, to the Valley of the Thames. Mr. Paul described the several gradients on the line, and he underwent a long cross-examination by Mr. Alexander, upon the subject of the drains of Cheltenham, the construe tone of some of which had had the effect of drawing off the waters from the shallow wells of the town. To Mr. M. O'Connell the witness replied, that the average distance of the sewer from the broad gauge line was fifteen chains, and the sandbed near the line would be deeper than in the digh-street, but the cutting would cross the sewer near th it street. Mrrßrunell stated that he was the engineer of the line, and that the principal reason for taking the north of the Mar borough Downs, on the Great Western line, was a desire to accommodate Cheltenham. The Cheltenham and Gloucester line was also constructed by him, but the company by which it was designed was a dis tinct company, he being the only person connected with both that company and the Great Western, in an official capacity. The Bill for the Gloucester and Oxford line was obtained in 1836, and was shortly after commenced, and part of it to Swindon made. But in consequence of the mercan tile difficulty of 1838 and 1839, the Company was obliged to stay their proceedings, and the Great Western Company early in 1845 obtained an Act to purchase the line. The works had been subsequently continued but an interruption of a violent proceeding, in consequence of a body of individuals to the number of seventy or eighty coming down forcibly, deporting the men engaged on the works, and carrying them before the magistrates at Glou cester. The several works had, however, been shortly re sumed, and were now far advanced. Since the arrangement with the Gloucester and Oxford, the Gloucester and Hereford Company, and the South Wales Railway Company had ob tained their Acts, and as a great portion of the traffic of those lines would come upon the new line, it was determined to come up to Parliament for an Act to go direct from Chelten ham to Oxford ; especially as the Worcester, Wolverhamp ton, and Oxford Bill was then passing through the Legis lature. With respect to the station at Cheltenham, the company bad been for several years in communication with the inhabitants, and it was at the desire of a Committee that they had selected the site which they wished to adopt. That was one o f the chief reasons for going ao near to the centre of the town. After leaving the station, which would High street, part of the market-place, it - would pass under 1i pass L t -srt, and thence under streets, and so the other .course affecting propert y the town of Cheltenham, in its y l le e nerally of very small value. It was intended that the should be carried through the - town in a cutting under walls , but where the noise would be at the desire of -was likely to prove Tub!, covered over from the committee, the cutting was in Mc Brunel's :North-place to Winchcornb-street. a town, and it opinion the best mode of passing thTrholtla. is indeed hardly which will not saved tunnelling to a great depth, a large town in England which is not., o r shortly Tel traversed in this way. It was the and at Teignmouth, on the Great Western line. me case at Bath, tha transit through Cheltenhara would be betwee d.sta a n f c t : and sixty chains. He was aware that a great outcnryshuajd bean made respecting the line affecting the ply of water, but he believed that it was all a mere groundless alarm ; but his attention had been drawn to it, but there would be no difficulty whatever in the xnattar. A great part of the town of Cheltenham stands on .a. bed of sand, but the cutting would be formed with an invert and side walls, which will be perfectly watertight, too that draining the water down to its level was not at all likely. Then as to the interception of the water—the line to the east of the town was far above the water level, snd did not reach it till it came near High street, and, from the construction of the line, there would be no obstacle whatever to its flowing down freely both on the orth and South sidees, as the water flowed -oast to 'west, and where there was the slightest chance of a stoppage 5n one small portion it was intended to lay the • line on in •verted tiles. In fact there was no engineering difficulty, and it was merely a case of every-day engineering experience. etks to lowering the wells during the progress of the works he oppreheaded neither difliculty nor inconvenience in -either, saving the loss of water. Indeed, in order to allay the apprehensions which had been excited he bad requested three professional gentlemen, unacquainted with the railway, to go down to ascertain the facts of the case, and they had de cidedly agreed with him. After leaving Cheltenham he went direct by an inclined plain to the summit of the Cotes wold Hills, which has attained, first, a small distance on a gradient of 1 in 113, then for four miles and eight ehains, to Dowdeswell by an incline of 1 in 60, then on to Northleach (which is at the summit) on an incline of 1 in 100. The Cheltenham and Tring Company placed their station on an elevation then descended, going a little circuit outside the town by a gradient of 1 in 100, then rose en an incline of 1 in 90, then 1 in 100, and 1 in 132, and 1 in 175. The distance being s omewhat more than eleven miles. To the CHAIRMAN -Mr. Brunel replied that the distance on his own line was seven miles and a quarter, there being a few intermediate bits of gradients. He proposed to work this incline by assistant power. as after passing Northleach the highest gradient would be only 1 in 200. No difficulty was to be apprehended from the incline of 1 in 60, as there was 1 in 60 and 1 in 75, the whole distance was about four miles long; on the present Cheltenham line, be tween Swindon and Stroud, in which they were constantly working; but, in order to ascertain the real fact of the case, he had several trains running constantly up this incline, and the results of the experiments were, that with one of their large eight-wheeled engines they carried up trains of 50, 60, and 70 tons each, at a rate of from 25 to 35 miles an hour. Seventy tons was about equal to a train of 14 carriages on the narrow gauge line. With a common goods' train engine they had taken up 140 tons and 110 tons at 25 miles an hour, which is faster than the usual speed. Neither did he apprehend any difficulty in going down into Cheltenham, for they constantly did so on their Swindon and Stroud incline, and stopped with ease at the bottom. On the Birmingham and Gloucester narrow gauge line their is an incline of one in thirty-six, which has for years been worked. The distance saved between Gloucester and London would be five miles, and between Cheltenham and London nineteen miles„ and twenty-one miles if they went into Cheltenham. Between Gloucester and Oxford the saving would of course be greater. On his own line there would be no tunnels whatever between Cheltenham and Oxford, and there were none between Oxford and London. Nor were there any roads either turnpike or others crossed at a level, while on the other hand the Tring line would have four tunnels between that place and London, and it passed seven turnpikes, and forty eight other roads on a level. The formation of this line would give greater opportunities of sending trains frequently to the South Wales district, and, on the whole, he conceived it to be the natural completion of the works which had already been begun. Mr. HILDYAAD cross-examined on the alteration made since the project of last year, and the respective advantages of the rival projects. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 27, 1847. 2 3 4 dis.—Great Northern, 2%—North British, Extension (scrip), 6s. 9d. p.—Ditto, Thirds, 505 . — North-Western, 495. dis.—Shropshire Union,l/. 18s. 3d. dis. —West Riding Union, 1 / 8 dis. GROUP XXVII. This Committee met to-day at one o'clock, in Room 88 of the New Houses, Mr. Cardwell in the chair. The following are the Bills referred to its consideration:— Lynn and Ely Railway (Extension to Spalding and Hol. beach). Eastern Counties Railway (Wisbech to Spalding). Great Northern Railway (Branch to King's Lynn). Lynn and Ely Railway Lynia and Wormegay Navigation). Lynn and Ely Railway Deviation and Lynn Docks). Boston, Stamford, and irmingham Railway (Wisbech to South Bridge). Boston. Stamford, and Birmingham Railway (Boston and Wisbech Harbour.) m l l s i n h a a r v i e s i n gbeengon et r h e r a o d u , g w h, i th i t the as p e a r t i r t i a o n n g s, e d a n t d o theT The e su li a s l t o p f re ß li i take, first, the EASTERN COUNTZES RAILVIAT (IVZSEEICE TO SPALDING). This branch was opposed by the Great Northern Railway Company, which has a competing branch in the group. Mr. HOPE opened the case, stating the general advantages which the line would give to the public. It was about 20 miles in length, and intended to connect together the im portant ports of Wisbech and Spalding, and give an outlet to the agricultural produce of the district. Mr. Stevens, Mayor of Wisbech, was called and examined, with the object of showing the advantages of the scheme to the town of Wisbech. A question was here raised as to the Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway (Boston and Wisheach Harbour Branch) being considered as a competing line. The Committee, after a short consultation, decided that it should be 30 considered. The evidence of Mr. Stevens was then resumed, and shortly after the Committee adjourned till to-morrow (this day), at twelve. GROUP XXVIII. SLEAPORD MUMMIES. The Committee on the contest between the Great Northern and Eastern Counties Branches in this part of the country, comprising Lord Edwin Hill, Sir R. Lopez, the Earl of March, Captain Harris, and Mr. T. D. Acland in the chair, met this morning at twelve o'clock. Mr Shepherd, an assistant of Mr. Gibbs, was called to prove the distances of the table given in to the Committee, and stated that he had ascertained the several distances from the Ordnance map. The respective distances from Spalding to Newark is 37 miles and 1 chain, while the distance by the Eastern Counties line is eight chains further, measuring the Great Northern to its own junction, and to the junction of the Not tingham and Lincoln, from the Eastern Counties respec tively. The distance between Sleathrd and Grantham is shorter by the Ambergate line than by the Great Northern, but the distance to Manchester would be shorter than by the Eastern Counties line by a mile and a half, being only 98% miles. The transit between these two places would be on the Great Northern line to Newark, so on to Sheffield, and over the Sheffield and Manchester line, which they had a right to use. To Leedslthe Great Northern Company would get to Newark as before, thence by the main line to Doncas ter, and so on to Leeds. Mr. GAB.TH, on behalf of the Eastern Counties, objected to the reception of this evidence, as being unexpected. Mr. Towell, a corn-merchant, who had been for many years in business at Lynn, testified that a large quantity of malting barley, for which there was a great demand in the neighbourhood of Newark, would be sent down by this line from Norfolk. Mr. Hutton, a timber-merchant, who resided at Lynn, stated that several timber ships came to Lynn, the cargoes of which were called for in Sleaford and its neighbourhood, but allowed that both Boston and Wisbeach were ports which had easy access to Sleaford. Mr. Edis, an assistant of Mr. Cubitt, the engineer, put in the list of tte asseetients and the dissentients on the line; and this closed the case of the London and York Company. Mr. JAMES then rose to address the Committee on behalf of the Marquis of Bristol, and contended that the line pro posed by that company was quite unnecessary, in conse quence of the lines which had already been sanctioned by Parliament; secondly, that it traversed a tract of coun try which did not at all require it; and, thirdly, that there was no certainty whatever that it would ever be made. The Learned Gentleman entered into an examination of the evidence of Mr. Badley, a witness who bad formerly, in the London and York Committee, testified in favour of the loop line of that company, as to the transfer of Scotch cattle and other stock and produce from the north. If it went, then, by the loop line these branches were quite unnecessary, and they had no right whatever to make them, and cut up three miles of the Marquis of Bristol's property for that purpose. He contended that the Grantham and Sleaford branch would only compete with the Ambergate line. As sertions had been made that it would save a quarter of an hour in the transit of corn to Manchester, but, even allowing this ,there would be a more than concomitant disadvantage is the transit of passengers roundabout to London. And were they to sanction the expenditure of 400,0001. for such an insufficient project as this? Certainly not; and he said, therefore, on the part of the Marquis of Bristol, that there was no public advantage whatever, either north or south. It seemed as if the company had some doubt of the success of their loop line, for they in the first instance claimed the whole of the traffic for that line, and now they came and claimed the whole of the same traffic for the branches. Let them first make the loops, and then should it not pay let them apply to Parliament for a new route, unless the country should be previously provided. The Learned Counsel then went into the financial portion of the question, and complained that landowners were placed in a false position by the inability of companies to purchase the land over which they had obtained a Parliamentary right; for, as in one instance in a neighbouring Committee, there was a case in which the company had held that right for four years without passing the money. Land thus claimed could neither be sold nor leased. At the time the Bill came before the Commissioners of Railways, in February last, the two companies had spent 511,3071., of which more than 432,0001. had been paid for Parliamentary expenses, while for land they had only paid 2,338/. at the same period. He was aware that there were engagements for extensive pur. chases, but he was not aware that any had actually been completed; he believed that. at least, there was no evidence to that effect. Mr. James then read an extract from the report, showing this; but Mr. ADAMS stated that he had not the least objection to have the whole of the report read. iMr. JAMES then read the extract, and stated that th 3 amount of the capital of the London and York for the whole of the projects would be upwards of 10,600,0001., and he contended that in the present state of the money market it never could be raised, and cited the authority of Mr. Ste phenson for the assertion that their original projects would cost upwards of 8,000,0001., instead of 5,000,0002, as the ex pense was stated to be by the company. And this bethought was a very fair position for the Marquis of Bristol to take. The Learned Gentleman then went into the topic of the Par liamentary contract. • Mr. Bates and Mr. Broch, both of Spalding, were then called to show the advantages of the other line, and the Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXXIII. • The Committee met for the first time inßoom 27, at one o'clock ; Mr. Hope, chairman. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS (ALTERATION OP LINES OP BROUGHTHOUSE BRANCH). LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHESTER (osszrT BRANCH). These were unopposed Bills, and were, therefore, referred to Mr. Greene, the Chairman of the Committees. LEEDS CENTRAL STATION. Mr. BAINES, Q.C., opened the merits of this Bill, and stated the object of it to be to erect a great central station in the heart of the town of Leeds, for the accommodation of the following four lines of railway—the Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway, Leeds and Thirsk, West Riding Union, and when they have got their Bill for an extension to Leeds, the Great Northern. The proposed station, 400 feet wide and about 1,100 feet long, would afford separate and distinct accommodation to each of the companies, and would cost in all 320,0001., to be contributed by each of the companies in equal proportions. Witnesses were called by the promoters to prove the public advantage of the proposed station, and the details of the nature of the works. They were cross-examined on behalf of the Leeds and Bradford Railway, and private proprietors. The evidence had not been finished when the Committee adjourned till to-morrow (this day). GROU XVII. El Th iot i ys oCroknte,mcittaelernamanet. AI RDTtral AND XIATIIGATE JUNCTION to-d Pay at twelve o'clock ; the Hon. (DEVIATION .ND ALIVIZINDIIMENTS). The Committee, after meeting for a few minutes, on ac count of the Railway Commissioners, Report on this Bill not being forthcoming, adjourned without transacting any busi ness. —...._ GROUP L. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock inn Mr. Baukes in the chair. All th e other taemberrm the Committee were present. a iiischoW, PAISZMY, ZILItiCA7LICOCX, Al Aingi Ada., GLASGOW AND zuna rAaw ITIVZON (NO Z.) The postponed clause. of this 13111 was considered and agre e d to, and the Chairman instructed to report the Bill with the itrgeOpent4/9theliolleC . GLASGOW, PAISLEY, ZILMARNOCZ, AND AYR (No. XI.) The evidence on behalf this company was then resumed. Mr. Hamilton, factor to the Duke of Hamilton, generally deposed to the superiority of the Ayrshire Company to Lon don coal-fields, as compared with the competing branch of the Ardrossan Company. It would have access to three ports, whereas the other would only have an outlet at Ar drossan. The Milton and Bushton branch would also be of great service in opening up the minerals on the estates of the Duke of Portland and Lady Montgomery. He also gave si milar evidence on the Fenwick branches. Mr. P. Hurrock, civil engineer, of Kilmarnock, gave evidence similar to the previous witness. The Ayrshire Company branches would not only accommodate the mineral produce better, but offer a far more eligible access with the sea-coast. Mr. Goldes, mining engineeo, gave evidence to a similar effect. Mr. Mitchell, a magistrate of the county of Ayr, and a landed proprietor, gave evidence on behalf of the West Col liery Branch of the Ayrshire Company. It went through a line of iron district, and would enable the proprietors to ob tain supplies of coal, and clear their minerals to the various iron works at Glengarnock, Portland, and Blair. Mr. Crauford, a landed proprietor in Fenwick, near Kil marnock, gave evidence similar to the previous witnesses. He had carefully considered both schemes, and gave his de cided preference to the Ayrshire scheme, as better calculated to serve the mineral produce of the district. Mr. Craig, manager of the Portland ironworks, was exa mined, with the object of showing the advantages of the branches in bringing supplies of iron there to the works. Mr. Cunningham, a landed proprietor, gave evidence briefly in support of the Ittington branch of the Ay rshire Company. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow (this day) at twelve o'clock. GROUP LI. The Committee to which this group of railways is re ferred met at twelve o'clock; Sir John Yarde Buller in the chair. GLASGOW, nuntrzszs, AND CARLISLE. The CHAIRMAN announced, that as one of the Committee was imperatively required to attend another Committee, it would be either necessary to adjourn or to proceed with four members on the Committee. Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM suggested that the preferable course to be pursued would be to take a small branch line from Gretna to Annan, which the Caledonian Company were empowered to lease by a clause inserted in the Bill of the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, of the last year. His Learned Friend and the Glasgow and Dumfries Company sought, by a clause in one of their present Bills, to repeal that clause altogether. Now, it was apparent that,rmorally as well as Parliamentarily, the Dumfries Company bad no right to appear there as opponents; but if the Com mittee thought that the case should be opened, he trusted that it would be considered as a separate question, and that no other matter should be mixed with it. Mr. ANDREWS said that the application made by his Learned Friend was an ingenious attempt to confuse the case. His Bill could not be entered into without opening up the whole case. The Committee decided to hear the opening of Mr. Andrews, with reference to the Glasgow, Damfriei, and Car lisle Railway Company. Mr. ANDREWS said that he appeared on behalf of the Glas gow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Company, and the Glasgow, Pais ley, Kilmarnock, andAyr Company, who had amalgamated themselves, and were jointly the promoters of the Bill, which was now on their table. The line was one of considerable length, running through coal and mining fields of almost unlimited extend. It was absolutely necessary that such a line should be formed in order to accommodate the rapidly increasing commerce and population. It afforded the easiest means of com • munication between Renfrew and the English border, and would be also, if carried on to Port Patrick, formingtheichain of communication between the whole of the north of Eng land and the north of Ireland. When he spoke of Renfrew shire and Ayrshire, he spoke as the Committee well knew, of a part of the kingdom which was most rapidly in creasing in commerce and population. Kilmer. nock was the centre of the district to which he referred, and the grand central depOt, in a great measure, of all the extensive mineral field which surrounded it. In Kil marnock alone there were 40 houses engaged in silk mercery and haberdashery, the goods sold in the district amounting to 200,0001. annually. There was a large trade in leather, and an import and export trade amounting to 500,000/. per annum. The Committee was also aware that there was a very large trade in cattle between these districts and York shire, Lincolnshire, and the London markets. The Com mittee would find from the evidence that the trade in these animals was of such an extent as to be not only of great importance to the district, but to the country at large. There would be be a very large trade carried on from the north of Ireland, by way of Port Patrick, to Kircudbright, the harbour of which was an admirable one, and freed from all the shifting sands which so much impeded the navigation of the Solway. The distance from the port of Kircudbright was no greater dis tance from Donaghadea than Holyhead was from Dublin. There was an absolute necessity for an easy communication from the north of Ireland and the north of England, and there were only two obstacles to that communication, namely, the want of a direct communication from Springfield, and also a clause to which his Learned Friend had referred, and which was brought forward at the eleventh hour—that clause, whieh took from the possession of this company a portion of a line, and the operation of which would not only be very injurious to the Glasgow and Dumfries Company, but to the trade of the country at large. He would state to the Com mittee that their Bill had three objects —one of them to give a branch to Canobie, the second to give a connexion be tween the Dumfries line to Newcastle and Langholm, and the third to repeal a clause which was inserted in a former Act, which would seriously impede that direct communication which was so much desired by every one connected with the districts through which it was to pass. There was also an intention to give the large trade which he had described the advantage of a second line. Evidence would be laid before the Committee to show that the Dum fries line should be an - integral line, and not in any way mixed up with the Caledonian Railway Company. The Caledonian Railway had already several branches running nearly parallel with the proposed course of this new line, and he would take that opportunity of giving the Committee a statement as to the way in which this obnoxious clause was introduced. When this company was, after many re fusals, sanctioned, they were refused the line between Canobie and Springfield, and the Caledonian by some means contrived to get inserted into this Bill a clause which in fact gave them the line. The House of Commons was expected to rise almost every day, and there was, therefore, no time for them to attempt to dispute the clause which had been so ungraciously forced into their Bill. A feeling of considerable alarm was created by the insertion of this clause, not amongst the promoters of this measure, but amongst all those who were most interested in the district being benefited. They at once perceived the great importance of the clause, as the portion of the line from which they were excluded would receive the best part of the traffic from the coast of England and Ireland. The injury which would be created by this clause would be of a most pernicious character, and very seriously extensive in its effects. It was necessary for Renfrewshire that the mode of communication should be an uninterrupted one, and under. the control of only one company. There was no doubt, from the evidence, that the Caledonian Company and the North- Western Company were allies, offensive and de fensive, and their interests were very nearly the same. The North-Western had assisted in every way the opposition to the Caledonian Railway Comp an y t o thi s li ne , and they had on every occasion a director at the board of the Caledonian Railway to represent their interests. That director was the late Mr. Patrick Stewart, and was now the Honourable Member for Perth, the Hon. Mr. Fox Maule. The first use that the Caledonian Railway would make of their power over this portion of the line would be to send all the immense traffic of Kilmarnock round to Glasgow. The Committee, he thought, would see the points upon which the evidence ought to be directed. He would briefly direct the attention to the Caaobie branch, which they would perceive was abso lutely essential to the speedy conv e ya nce o the immense I raffle from Kilmarnock, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire. He did not think it necessary to make any further statement. He had touched upon the principal points to which their attention would be directed, and he would conclude by thanking them for their kindness in hearing him then, and fur adjourning the Committee the other day on the occasion of his indis position. n The Committee then, after a little discussion, proceeded with the evidence. The first witness called was— The Duke of Buccleuch, who was examined by Mr. BUILICE—His Grace stated that the line passed for more than twenty miles through his property, and he considered that the interests of the district required its formation. He was so convinced of this that he had withdrawn his opposition. He did not conceive that the Caledonian interests would be affected by the formation of this railway, for in that part of the country in which the lines ran parellel there was a ridge of hills which completely divided the two companies. His Grace gave general evidence in favour of the line. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow (this day). RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Aram 26. STOCK EXCHANGE.—We have had another fiat market for shares. There was a large quantity of stock again to-day in the market for sale, and although lower prices were marked, buyers could not be found. The sales are—Am bergate, Nottingham, Boston, and Eastern Junction, 1 dis. —Blackburn, Clitheroe, &c., Preference, 1 4 p.—Birmingham and Oxford, 7% p.—Eastern Counties, 18 1 4— East Lanca shire, New (scrip) Is. 3d. dis.—East Li nco l ns hi re , 1% p.— Edinburgh and Glasgow, Halves, 8 1 4 p.—Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, p.—Ditto, Extension, 1 / 8 p,—Liverpool, Cheshire, and Southport, IA p.—London and North-Western, 170—Ditto, Quarters (London and Binning.. ham), 154 p.—Ditto,4o/. Shares (London and Mancheste r ), 25 p.—Ditto, Q uarters, New, 9% p.—London, Manchester, and Birmingham, Quarters (A), 5% p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 4 p.—Ditto, 32/. Shares (late Extensions), R., p.—Ditto, Fifth s (l a t e W est Riding Union), par—Mid land Stock, 114—Ditto, 40/. Shares, 3 'A p.—Ditto, New, is, p.—North British, New Quarters (scrip), % p.—North Star fordshire, 11 , p.—Preston and Wyre,343A—Shrewsbury an d Cheshire (late North and West Midland), Ne w , 2% 10. _ Shrewsbury and Cheshire, New, par—Shrewsbury and Bir mingham 91. 12s. 3d. Shares (B), 1,4 dis. ex int.—South- Eastern, No. 2, par—Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, ls. 3d. dis. MANCHESTER, APRIL 26. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Notting.. ham, and Boston, 1 1 4—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, VA—Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 736.... Blackburn, Clitheroa, &c., Preferentials, %—East Lancashire (late B. and P.), New, 1 c.—Ditto, New (scrip), 1 4—East Lincolnshire, I%—Edinburgh and Glasgow, 70—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction, 1 1 ,4 2 —Glasgow and Dum fries, par—Great Northern, 1% e.—Huddersfield and Man chester Railway and Canal, par—Ditto, Thirds, I ,S—London and North-Western, New, 9 1 , 2 —Manchester and Leeds, Halves (FL and S.), par—Ditto, Fifths, 3%—Ditto, 32/. Shares (late Extension), par—Ditto, Fifths (late West Riding Union), par—Manchester and Southampton, 1 5-16 —North Staffordshire, 1 1 4—North-Western, 21A—Northern Counties Union, 2 9-16—Oldham Alliance, 5-16 dis.—South- Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 3-16—South Staffordshire, 9-16. LEEDS, Aram 26. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—Ambergate, Notting ham, and Boston, 30s. dis.—Eastern Counties, York Exten sions, 1% dis.—East Lancashire, New, IV s dis.—Ditto, New Scrip, ss. dis.—East and West Yorkshire, 1% dis.—East Lincolnshire, 1% p.—Great Northern, 1 1 4 dis.—Huddersfield and Manchester, Thirds, 2s. 6d. p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, New Extensions, Scrip (pink), 12s. 6d. dis. —Leeds and Thirak, 5 1 h dis.—Ditto, Preference, Is. p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 20s. dis.—London, Brighton, and South Coast, 5 0 %—Ditto, Fifteenths, 2s. p.—Talton and Driffield Junc tion, 17s. 6d. dis.—Manchester and Leeds. Fifths, 4 p.— Ditto, 321. Shares (late Extensions), 7s. dis.—Ditto, West 27g. Riding Union, par—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Mid land, 12s. 6d. dis—Midland, Preference, 31s. p.—Newcastle and Berwick, New, VA p.—North British, Extension (scrip), t. o ti• P.—North Staffordshire, 1 1 4 p.—Northern Counties I him, Boston, Ecc tion l , 159' dig. — North-Western, 2% dis.—Wharfdale June % Lg.—York and Newcastle, Preference, 214 p. STOCK EXCHANG HULL, Aran 26. L—The Sales are—Ambergate, Notting fol.—Blackburn, Damen; and Balton, EDINBURGH, APRIL 23. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—Caledonian, New, 428.6d.—East Lothian Central, 52 s.—Edinburgh and Glas gow, Quarters, 17 1 / 2 —Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, Pre ference, 20 1 ,4 —Edinburgh and Northern, 15 lA—Ditto, New, 70s.—Ditto, Newport, VA—Edinburgh and Perth, 465. 6d. —Ditto, Halves, 16s.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 5 1 % —Great Northern, 60s.—Manchester and Southampton, 225. 6d.—North British, Halves, 32 %—Ditto, Quarters, 68s.— Ditto, New Quarters (scrip), 23 8.—East Indian, 3s. 6d. GLASGOW, APRIL 24. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales ai'e—Ayr and Gallow a y, 405.--Caledonian, New, 425.—Direct Bombay and Madras, 3s.—East Indian, 3s.—East Lothian Central, 475. 6d.—Edin burgh and Perth (New Co.), 4 45.—Ditto, Halves, 14s.— Ayr, and Arcot, Is. 3d.—Man 5814—Great Southern of Midland, Halves, 4/.—Sla eG3hil ae a sd s t g rea s o r a , ns.d6d .—Masou Kilmarnock, thandl rpa ts a o, n n N, d el 1910r_e mannan, 221/2. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, April 26, WOOLMER AND ()THETIS 5. TOBY. In this case an action had hem brought by the plaintiffs, who were the members of the " manag i ng committee" of the "Direct Exeter. Plymouth, and Devonport Railway Company," against the defendant, to recover the sum of 1051., being the amount of the deposits payable in respect of 40 shares which the plaintiffs had allotted to him in the said company. At the trial a verdict was given for the plaintiffs, but in the following term a rule nisi for a new trial and in arrest of judgment had been obtained by Mr. Sergeant Kinglake. Mr. CROWDER, Q,C. (with whom was Mr. Greenwood), now showed cause against the rule. He stated, that on the 13th of October, 1845, the defendant had addressed a letter to the provisional managing committee, in which lie said, a I iequ eat yop. to allot to me 50 shares in the above com pany, and I undertake to accept of the same, or such smaller number as you mapya)p,:ewahseen required,toallottohee posit .d" And ftirthet— dt e of 2/.125. 6d. was made on the 15th o f D ecember, when a the secretary t o t h e defendant as Tlpeehtri:e share." allotment was ai n roe.m ej e t ant addressedk e t o b y follows: " I An instructed to acquaint you that the company have allotted you 40 shares in the-above undertaking, on which adeposit of 21. 12s. 6d. per share must be paid to one of the Tndermentioned bankers on or before the 20th of December." It had been contended by the Learned Sergeant, on the part of the defendant, that the contract was made with the "provisional committee," and that they should have been the plaiutiffs ; but he would Contend that the contract was made with the "com m itt e e of management" At the time the letter applying for sharei was sent, namely, on the 13th of October, the plaintiffs were the parties who were acting on the committee. The letter itself was addressed to "The Provisional Committee of Management," or managing com mittee; and the " managing committee" were the proper per sons to sue in this action. There was no other company at that time. The defendant said that the plaintiffs were not the persons with whom he contracted, that they were merely agents of the provisional committee, and that the provisional committee ought to have been the plaintiffs. The Learned Counsel contended that there were cases which showed, that when a party made a contract in the name of another the agent might sue ; and that that was no inconveni ence to the dfendant, for he was, in that case, entitled to the same right of set off. In addressing the letters to " the provisional committee of management," it was the same thing as if he had addressed it to them by name. Secondly, it bad been contended, that there had been a change in the members of " the provisional committee" between the time when the application for shares was made and the time when they were allotted ; that some names had been omitted and some had been added. That might be so, but "the com mittee of management" were the same; they were the seven plaintiffs, and they had not been altered. They were acting as such both at the time of the application for shares and at the time of the allotment. A third objection had been taken, that the committee of management had allotted only 36,000 shares, but that the defendant contracted to take shares in a concern in which there were to be 40,000. The capital was to be 1,000,0001., and to be divided into 40,000 shares of 25/. each. He contended that the committee of ma nagement were not bound to allot every one of the shares. If there were any fraud, that would be for the jury; bat that was not even pretended in this case. The defendant had pleaded a plea of fraud and covin, but he h a d no t endea voured to substantiate it. It was lear that this was a bond fide undertaking. If there had been only 10,000 shares al lotted the case might have been different. Mr. Justice WICIT3IAN—The defendant says that part of the consideration was, that there should be 40,000 shares allotted. Mr. CROWDZR continued—lie contended that the allot ment of 40,000 shares was not a condition precedent; if it were, it would be a ground of arrest of judgment. It was further contended by the counsel for the defendant, that the action could not be sustained, because, on the authority of " Nockells v. Crosby," and " Walstab v. Spottiswoode," the defendant would have a right of action against the company to recover back his money, on the ground of the abandon ment of the scheme and the failure of the consideration. Bat, he would ask, could the defendant have brought such an action on the 21st of December, the day after he should have paid the deposit? Besides, what was it that occa sioned the failure of this scheme? Nothing but the default of the defendant and other allottees. If they had fulfilled their part of the contract the scheme would not have been abandoned ; it would have gone on, for it was a good under taking. The defendant could not allege his own default as an answer to this action. The doctrine laid down in " Walstab v. Spottiswoode" was not yet settled law, for it remained to be decided by the Court in Error. Again it was argued that the contract had been incorrectly stated in the declaration, as it was hot alleged that 40,000 shares were to be allotted, and there was no averment that that number had been allotted. If that were a condition prece dent, the object would be valiJ. But the application for shares was made when it was not known that there were applications for so many is 40,000 shares. Suppose 39,999 shares had been allotted, fa it to be supposed that the failure to allot that one share would be sufficient to avoid the con tract? It should have been put to the jury, whether it was a substantial part of the contract; but it was not so put to them. The defendant ought to have shown that there was a substantial variation between the two things. In this case 36,400 shares had been allotted, and the rest were re served for the provisional committee. There never was a company in which every share was allotted. It was always thought proper to reserve shares, in case of amal gamation with other companies, and for landowners on the line. His Learned Friend further contended, that part of the consideration was, that the plaintiffs contracted to en deavour to obtain an Act of Parliament, and had not ful filled that part of their contract- He (Mr. Crowder) con tended that they would havedo l n in e so but n b d u t m f r o . r s e t r h g e e a d n ef t a K ul i t ng o - f the defendant and the other allottees. Th e plans and sections of the railway were made and deposit e d i n the usual way, for ilatkweacsotuhlodungohttdteonhyetahavte. very good But there was nothing mentioned about going to Parliament in the letters which formed the contract. It was objected further, that the defendant did not promise to pay the deposit on the 20th of December, but when he was required. The two letters, however, must be taken together ; and he contented th at they showed, sub stantially, an agreement to pay on the 20th of December. The declaration might, perhaps, have been open to a special demurrer, but it was tpo late to make such an objection after verdict. Then, it.was contended that the damages could not amount to more than 3s. per share, because of the resolution of the committal, that if the allottees would pay that sum, it would be sufficient. The defendant did not go to the jury upon it ; but the Learned:J . udge said, th at i f there was any point of law bait, the Court might reduce the damages as it might think tits Ile contended, that as the defendant had con tracted to pay a certain amount and had failed to do so, the measure of damages was the sum which he contracted to pay. Another objection made by the Learnsd Sergeant was, that the Learned Judge misdirected the jury as to the reasonable ness of the time when the shares were allotted after the ap plication. The Learned Judge left it to the jury to say, whether they were allotted within a reasonable time ; and he expressed his own opinion, that the allotment was made within a reasonable time. That was not a misdirection. Mr. Justice Parrasos—lf the shares bad not been allotted within a reasonable time, that would have gone to the plea of fraud and covin. Mr. CROWDER continued—lf the allottees had kept their faith the scheme would have gene on. There was no fraud; the plaintiffs were ready and willing to perform the contract on their part. It was urged by the Learned Sergeant, in arrest of judgment, that, as it appeared by the advertisement that 40,000 shares were to be allotted by the company, it ought to have been alleged that that number had been al lotted; but that could not be a condition precedent, and therefore it was not necessary to allege it at all. On these grounds he submitted that the rule must be discharged. Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE, in support of the rule, said— The first question was, with whom was the contract made? The evidence was that it was made with the provisional committee, and not with the managing committee, who were the mere agents of the provisional committee. The pro jectors of the scheme were the members of the provisional committee, who held themselves out to the public in the pro spectus as the projectors. The Learned Sergeant then read the original prospectus to show this. They were there called the provisional directors, and a very long list of names was appended. That list of names might now be very inconvenient. Mr. Farrant, the secre tary, had told the Court, that the provisional directors awj, the provisional committee were the same body. The pro visional directors named their solicitors, their acting en gineers, their secretary, and their local agents. The pro visional committee published that prospectus, and directed applications for shares to be made to "the provisional com mittee of management," without mentioning their names. When deposits were paid, a receipt was given to the follow ing effect :—" Received, &c., on account of tae Provisional Committee of the Direct Exeter, Plymouth, and Devon-, port Railway Company." That showed that the contract an m d er a e c ly ting a s p u ro b le c c o t m o r m s. was made with the provisional committee, who were the sub-committee committee, under them, with but a limited authority. On the 13th of October, 1845, the "managing committee" wrote " t ` t m ie sn p a r g o i v n i g sion co a n l i c m o t in tt m ee i '; to Saunders and 0., of Exeter, in the name of the provisional committee, to make arrangements for open ing an account with that bank. On the 17th of October they passed a resolution, i n which it was recited that they h a d b een appointed by a special meeting of the provi sional committee held at Exeter, which had determined that the committee of management should consist of twelve mem bers, with power to add three to their number, and that Mr. E. NVoolmer should be the chairman. The prospectus was put forth by the provisional committee, who had done these a pro visional c omm i ttee. Mr. Justi ce P ATTESON—The • acts, and appli cat i ons for shares were to b e ma d e t o the made to: " the pr ov i s i onal committee of manageme nt," and the defendant in his app li cat i on says , "I r equest you to allot to me," &c., " su bj ect to the regulat i ons o f th e c ompany,' making a distincti on b etween the manag i n g committee and ' the company. a pplications were to be Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE continued—The prospectus was issued before the " committee of management" was formed, and it. could not have referred to them. it must apply to them. Lord DENMAN—If the m anag i ng committee was in exist ence when the appli ca ti on f or s h are s was made, visional" is not Mr. Sergeant KINGLaI_The word " pro Zr.A Justice ERLE—They are a ll ca lled " provisional com mittees" till an Act is o bt a i ned. applicable to a managing committeeman ; it is onlyTh words appli cablee to those who are go i ng to Parliament. " committee of management" Lord DENMAN —But th a t w ill no t prevent themfrom mak ing contracts. Mr. Justice WranTsrast—Suppose the case were reversed, and Toby had had to sue. i m ply that they are agents. of any other the provisional committe e; ' he knew not hin g t 27th of December, parties. On the Ist, 15th 17th, and 2 Pa • Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE —Th e defendant would have sued various matters were referred to the provisional committee by the committee of management; a nd, on the latter date,-they were summoned to consider the best means of settling the eliims on the company. The committee of management had Daly a delegated authority. The provisional committee, on tne recommendation of the committee of management, r(- solved that applications should be made to each allottee for Ss. par share, and that if that sum ere not paid by a given time other means would be had recourse to. The Learned Sergeant cited the case of " Piggot v. Thomson " to show, that where a contract was made to pay a sum of money to the treasurer of certain commissioners, an action in the name of the treasurer could not be sustained. Mr. Justice Enui—That was a contract with the commis missioners to pay the treasurer. Mr. Sergeant KSNGLAKE—The contract ben was made with the provisional come. ittee, through the medium of the committee of management. There was also a change of the provisional ecnamitree. The contract was made up by the proposal and acceptance, and he contended that the accept ance must be in the terms of the proposal. Here that was not the case. The names of the provisional committee were a very material part of the contract, upon the faith of which the defendant made his application tor shares. Lord DENMAN—You say that the contract is not the same if the names be changed; I see the prospectus provides fur an addition of names. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE--The contract was that 40,000 shares should be allotted, and they ought either to have allotted them, or to have been willing to do so. If the de fendant contracted for a certain portioet of 40,000 shares, and that portion of 36,000 was allotted to him, that was not the same contract. There were applications made for 45,000 shartl, but they did not allot them ; they reserved them fur the provisional committee, to take them or not as they should please. The cases of 4 Fox v. Clifton," and " Nockell v. Crosby," were in point. If the terms of the contract were not fulfilled a party might recover his deposit. The only dif ference was, that there the scheme had been abandoned, anti the abandonment was proof of the failure of the considera tion. " Walstab t , . Spottaswoode" and "Pitchford v. Davis" showed that the allotmeht of shares was a part of the con tract. The case of" Wontuer v. Sharp," before the Common Pleas, showed that it is part of the contract that the whole number of shares should be allotted. He contended, also, that the contract was not correctly stated. There was no allegation that the plaintiff's were ready to allot the 40,000 shares, and they did not prove it at the trial. There was no allegation that the plaintiffs were ready to go to Parliament. The Learned Sergeant contended that the contract to pay was not properly alleged in the declaration. The contract was to pay when required, not on a particular day, as alleged. They ought to have alleged that the contract was a contract to pay when required, and then to have alleged that they did re quire him to pay within a reasonable time. If they had done so, the defendant might have taken issue on the reasonable ness of the time. The plaintiffs had no right to let October, November, and part of December go on, and then suddenly to require payment. As to the 4ount of damages, the plaintiffs had th emse l ves shown, ait 3s. per share would cover all the loss sustained. There was an omission of the allegation to pay on the 20th of December, but the record was amended on the morning of the trial. The Learned Sergeant submitted, that, if the decision In " Waltstab v. Spottiswoode" was good law, the plaintiffs were not entitled to any damages, for they must pay the money I*ck, and were not entitled to deduct anything for expense &ere was one question left to the jury, and that was wheeler the shares had been allotted within a reas ona bl e time. 'lt was quite clear that they did not think of allotting the shares; they waited from the l'nth of October till the 15th of December, when the panic came. The question was, whether tfiey accepted the offer of the defendant within a reasonable time? Lord DENMAN—Is there such an issue? Mr. Sergeant KIMAAKE—That arose on non asgampsit. The Learned Adge tld the jury that he did not see that there was anything to show that the allotment was not made within a reasonable time. He submitted' that tte Learned Judge ought not to have left it with that strong remark to the jury; and the jury, iq adopting it, gave their verdict, he submitted, against the evidenbs. On these grounds he trusted that their Lordships would males the rule absolute. Mr. MONTAGU Smarr, on the same Aide, said that the committee of management were never alluded to in the prospectuA, and their Lordships would not go out of the document, unless there was a latent ambiguity. If there was any ambiguity it was patent upotite face of the docu ment. Mr. Justice PArrEsoN—That is assuming that any person reading it would come to the conc?%ion that "the provisional committee" and " the provisional committee:of management" are the same. But I think ttat any one reading it would conclude directly the contrary. Mr. MONTAGU SMITII-13y the Registration Act (7 and 8 Victoria, chap. 110), each member of the committee was bound to take shares in the companx. In this case that was not done. He contended that a pa'ety might contract with a known agent when the principal was unknown, but not with an unknown agent when the principal was known. A party contracting with an agent elects him as it were eo nomine, but here the defendant did not know the names of the committee of management. He contended that the names were most material, and put the case of a provisional committee consisting of the names of Hudson, Glynn, and a gentleman residing at Boulog ne , an d suppose d t h e two former names to have been withdrawn. Not one of the directors had bound himself to pay anything; they should have been bound in the same way as others. The Learned Counsel cited the case of "Boach o. White," to show that the allot ment of the shares was part of the consideration. In con s( quence of the non-allotment of the whole number of shares, the defendant was called upon to pay 1-36,000 th instead of 1-40,000 th part of the whole. As soon as the committee allotted the shares, they passed a resolution that, if the par ties would pay 3s. per share, they should be released from further liability. He would ask who was liable to the de fendant? The provisional committee or the committee of management ? The committee waited till the panic came, and then allotted the shares. Lord DENMAN said, the Court wottld consider their judg ment. FATAL ACCIDENT UT MACHINERY.—An inquest was held yesterday by Mr. Bedford, at the Plough, Carey street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on the body of Timothy Lowley, aged thirteen. The deceased worked with his father at Bielefield's papier mach& works, No. 15, Wellington -street North, Strand, and on the afternoon of the 13th instant. whilst alone in a room in which he was employed, he got playing with some steam machinery notwithstanding he had been cautioned repeatedly of the danger, by thrusting bis right hand between two large iron rollers revolving at full speed grinding paper to a pulp, and before he tould with draw it, the rollers drew the hand and arm in as high a 3 the shoulder; his screams brought aisistance, and the engine was instantly stopped, but before the arm could be extricated the machinery had to be taken to pieces, when it was found shockingly mutilated. He was conveyed to the King's Col lege Hospital, where subsequently the arm was amputated, but he died on Friday last from the effects of the injury. Verdict, "Accidental death." SERVANTS' PROVIDENT AND BENEVOLENT SO.. csurv.—Yesterday a public meeting to promote the *objects of this society was held at the Hanover-square Rooms. The Bishop of London occupied the chair. His Lordship briefly explained the objects of the society, which are to dfford a weekly allowance to domestic servants in old age, a sum payable at death for funeral expenses, an endowment for apprenticing children, the advantages of an insurance office, and the establishment of a horee for female servants out of place, and a charitable pension fund for such as may be re duced by sickness or misfortune. A variety of resolutions were proposed, and supported by the Right Hon. W. E. Glad. stone, M.P., J. Tidd Pratt, Esq. (the barrister for revising rifle!!! regulating benefit l / 4 societies), J. D. Powles, Esq., the Rev. Messrs. Hughes, Wood, Morris, and others, Amongst the subscriptions announced were the Lord Bishop of London, 20 guineas; the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, 5 guineas; Lord Ashley, 10. guineas; J. D. Powles, Esq., 10 guineas ; and a variety of other donations, varying in amount from y. to 11. The whole of the resolutionslwere carried with the most cordial unanimity, and, thanks being voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. OPENING OF THE BROMPTON COUNTY COUR T .— • YesterdaY the Brompton County Court for the recovery of debts tinder 20/. was opened in the large room of the Paken ham Arms Ta i vern, Knightsbridge -green, which has been temporarily fitted up for the purpose, until a Court-house is erected, before Andrew Amos, Esq., the Judge appointed by the Lord ChaneeHoar to that and the - Marylebone and Brent ford County Courts, Mr. W. Burrows being the clerk, and Mr. Rogers the high bailiff. The district comprises those portions of the parishes of Kensington and Hammersmith south of the centre of the Uxbridge-road, from where Ham mersmith joins Acton parish, and passing through Victoria gate across Hyde park, and through Albert-gate and down the centre of Sloane-street to the fiver Thames, includes Tuesday, under 10!.; and on Wednesday, under 201 . The s attent thishln i gj o e tt e s a b 4 r o i tg , e o . cc C u li p e 3 l , s t e h a r , e e a n d d a 3 1 , u ; hsace of ;Arsons was nsst numerous, but no cases of public interest occurred. 1 yesterday, han. lhe c s a it s t e i s n u g n w de il r i, sl. n ; MANVLAUGATER AT BRISTOL.-13RISTOL, MONDAY AFTERNOON.—A good deal of excitement has prevailed in the neighbourhqod of Clifton, near this city, in consequence of the death of a girl named Mary Casey, under circum stances which have led to the committal is the magistrates of a man named John Millard to take is trial for man slaughter. The inve , t,igation by the magistrates was com menced at the Council-pouse on Saturday, and was concluded this day, and from the evidence adduced it would appear that the deceased was the daughter of a poor widow named Bridget Casey, who lived in Berkeley-court, and earned her livelihood by going out to work as a charwoman. At the back of Berkeley-place, and extending to Meridian-place; is a rocky piece of ground, upon the upper part of which Messrs. Bevan and Compton, builders, of Bedminster, are engaged in erecting some houses, and the accused nran John Millard, has been employed by th e m t o bl as t some of the stone for the purpose of constructing the necessary drains. The site of the buildings being about thirty yards from the foot and carriage-way of Meridian-place, and much nearer to the gar dens of other buildings„ considerable alarm has been felt by the inhabitants in consequence of the danger to which they considered themselves exposed. On Tuesday a gentleman named Tripp, an architect, residing in Meridian-place, made an effort to prevent further blasting, for which purpose he saw Millard and another workman personally, represented to them the unlawful nature of their proceedings, and the danger to which they were exposing the public, and obtained from them a promise that the work should be differently conducted, and that no more gunpowder should be used there. On Wednesday morning, however, Millard bored a hole in part of the rock., put some powder into it, and fired it. It was stated by a witness named Redhead, who had had considerable experience in quarrying, that he did not adopt -the proper precautions against accident, by putting planks or faggots over the hole, so as to prevent the stone from flying about ; and the consequence was that the broken fragments of rock were thrown by the force of the explosion to a considerable distance. Many large pieces were hurled to a considerable height in the air, and then descended upon the tops of the houses, dashing the tiles in pieces, and other wise damaging the roofs ; other pieces fell into an adjacent court, in which the deceased Mary Chsey and some other children were. A fragment of broken tile struck a girl named Wall, on her head, „and injured her very severely, and the deceased was struck by a heavy stone, which caused a fracture of the skull, from which death ensued. The prisoner in his defence, said he had been used to quarrying all his life, and never had had any accident before. Ile told Mr. Bevan, his master, all that Mr. Tripp had told him, and that he had promised not to fire more powder; but the next morn ing his master told him to bore a hole in the stone and put in powder and blow it oft It was by his master's orders that he did it. The magistrates committed him to take MS trial for manslaughter. THE INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, WANSTE AD.-- Yesterday the annual meeting of the governors and friends of the Infant Orphan Asylum, Wanstead, was held to receive the report of the „past year, and elect 50 children to the beneth of the institution, the charity now being able to admit 100 children annually. The report showed that there were 216 in fant orphans in the society, and that during the previous year 40 had left for other asylums: The incomliamounted to 6,8211. Ws. 3d., which included above 4,0001. annual sub.. scriptions ; and tho expenditure reached 6,8421. 95. 10d., which left a balance of 211. Bs.. 7d. due to the treasurer. There wore 143 applicants. Dispatches from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. Mr. Dermistouti and Mr. Augustus Craven had an inter view, yesterday, with the Earl of Clarendon. IMPERIAL PAL EAAMEN T HOUSE OF LORDS, April 26. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat (in the Wool ' sack at Five o'clock. REGISTRATION BILL, (SCOTLAND). The Duke of RICHMOND presented z petition from the Presbytery of Airdrie against the Registration u Birth;, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Bill. ELECTION OF PEERS (SCOTLAND). The Earl of EGLINTON gave nitiee that, no Frday next, he would move for a Select Committee to inquire into the existing laws regulating the election of the Representative Peers in Scotland. MESSAGE FROM TUE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brott;ht up several Bills. POOR REMOVAL ACT. Lord MELBOURNE presented several petitions from Shepton Mallett, and other places, praping their Lord ships to alter or amend the Poor Removal Act of last The Duke of RICHMOND did not believe that any one session of Parliament would be sufficient to take into consideration the whole law of settlement. He believed that no Government would be so unwise as to attempt to do so, when there was every chance of Parlia ment being immediately dissolved. After a few words from Lord CAMPBELL. The Earl of REDESDALE said, on the whole he con sidered that the law had worked well. As far as the poor were concerned it had worked beneficially. It would be extremely injudicious to make any alteration at present in the law. and he hoped that it would be allowed to be worked another session. No Committee would recom mend any alteration at present. The petition was then laid on the table. GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION. Lord BROUGHAM laid on the table several petitions from the Dissenters against the mode of application by Government of the public funds with respect to education. ARMY SERVICE BILL. Earl GREY moved the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill, and said he would now pro ceed to do what he hail declined to do on a former oc casion when the subject was brought before the House by a Noble Lord, who he regretted to see was not then in his place. He considered it his duty now to enter into an explanation of the principles of the Bill, which he thought he ought not to have done then, as it was not before the House. The Bill must not be considered as a single or isolated measure, but taken in connexion with other measures, of which it formed only a part. During the last twenty years a series of measures had been brought forward which had for their object the raising the character of the army, and improving the condition of the soldier. The Noble Lord, however, to whom he referred, argued that no such improvement had taken place, and he regarded it as great presumption on the part of the Government to deal with such a subject. But, with all deference to that Noble Lord, he (Earl Grey) was of opinion that the Government, from the opportunity they had of communicating with this most eminent and distinguished military officers, were able to obtain such advice, and to receive such sugges tions as rendered them qualified to treat the question in all its bearings ; and experience had proved that it had done so, not only without injury, but with great benefit to the army. When the Noble Lord con tended that there was no necessity for these measures, As the army was in a highly effective and excellent state, he (Earl Grey) was compelled to differ from him, and conceived that there was not only great room but great need for these improvements. He did not, however, mean, in giving expression to that opinion, to disparage in any degree the merits and excellencies of the British army. To show the fallacy of the argument of the Noble Mar quis, who said that because the army had been victorious, that therefore the system was perfect, he might appeal to an illustrious witness who was then among them—the Noble Duke, who sat on the cross benches, in his de spatches, which were at once the best and the most authentic records of his great achievements, and the most imperishable monument of his fame— had repeatedly described the difficulty with which he had to struggle in consequenee of the defects of the army which he commanded, and he would say that they could not fully appreciate the achievements of the Noble Duke, and the debt that the country owed him, if they did not remember what those difficulties were, and if they did not understand that the Noble Duke had to a great extent to create the means by which these splendid victories were gained. He had to discipline and instruct both the officers and soldiers whom he commanded, and who formed the army at the head of which, in the course of a few years, he rolled back the tide of con quest which had flowed so nearly over the whole Penin sula, and terminated upon the plains of Waterloo, in that memorable contest, the war which he had commenced upon the shores of the Atlantic. The Noble Duke was the best witness of the system to be pursued in the army in those days. It would be in the recollection of many who were still in the army, that in those days the lash was unfortunately made the instrument of maintaining the discipline of the army, and by which all offences, both great and small, were punished. While for more serious cases the lash was used with a degree of severity from which they at present recoiled with horror, there were instances in which this punishment had been inflicted with great severity so lately as the year 1825, when a general court- martial awarded a sentence of no less than 1,900 lashes to be received, and of which sentence, no fewer than 1,200 were actually inflicted. It was many years before any change took place in this state of things. An alteration was made in the system in the year 1818, by which it was made illegal to bring out the man a second time, in order that he m;ght re ceive those lashes which before he was not able to bear. In the year 1833 Lord Hill restricted the infliction of corporal punishment to a very small number of offencer. In the Mutiny Act of 1836, the number of the la-hes, in the power of any court martial to inflict, was limited to 200, and in the autumn of the last year an order had been issued, very properly, by the Noble Duke on the cross benches, restricting the number of lashes, for any offence, to fifty. Such were the changes which had been introduced in the system from the year 1833. Great improvements had also been made in the system of imprisonment of the soldiers con sequent upon the diminution of the punishment of the lash. He would then call the attention of the House to the great improvements which had also taken place in the comforts and condition of the soldier with respect to barrack accommodation. It was a fact, that where there were 300 feet, that 600 feet were requisite. The improvement, however, that had taken place was far from perfect. There was one improvement that had taken place which was deserving of notice—namely, the providing of places for recreation. The subject of the state and improvement of colonial troops had been taken up, which was most important, because, as their Lord ships were aware, that it was the strong pressure of the colonial service that rendered the service unpopular. It was a fact that, as late as 1836, only two days' fresh provisions were issued to the soldiers, and the remainder of the week they were obliged to take salt provisions. An improvement had taken place in that particular. Savings banks had also been e,tablished, the effect of which would prove most beneficial. Measures had also been adopted for improving instruction in the army. That was a matter of the greatest importance, because the welfare of soldiers was in a great measure dependent upon the instruction they received. Having thus stated generally, but imperfectly, the mea sures which had been lately introduced for the improve ment of the army, he would now call attention to their effects, and in doing so he would refer to two heads—the state of punishment, and the mortality in the army. With regard to the first, he was sorry to say that he had not returns to prove this as he could wish, but he had no doubt he would be able to show that the improvement had been very great, and that there had been a great diminution in punishment in the army. In 1818, out of 28,900 men, there were 2,273 who were sent to the hos pital after the infliction of corporal punishment, being 80 men out of 1,000. Last year there were only 4 out of 1,000 who were subjected to corporal punishment. In the year 1829 there were 19 out of the 1,000, and from that year to 1836, the series was 16, 14, 11, 10, and 7, respectively, out of the 1,000. From 1836 to the pre sent time, the number had been progressively diminish ing. In 1845 it was reduced to 6 7-10. In 1846 there were no returns, but from that portion of the army from which they had returns, it was only 4 out of the 1,000. lie found that the sentences of death were very much decreased in number in the ten years between 1826 and 1835; the number of sentences of death passed was seventy six, and of which forty-one were actually executed, the remainder were commuted to transporta tion. The punishment in the last few years had dwindled down to only one and two each year, while the sentences of transportation and imprisonment were pro portionately decreased. He found that while the num ber of men serving in the army was increased, the mortality had decreased, in consequence of the measures taken for the benefit of the troops, and by which their health was very much improved. lie had in his hand returns of the comparative health of the troops. He found that in the Mediterranean, in the 20 years up to 1835, the mortality was 23 s.loths for every 1,000 men employed, while during the last two years the mortality had been reduced to 14. In other foreign places the mortality was diminished in a similar rate. In the island of St. Helena, while the Emperor Napoleon was detained there, the troops appointed to the station scarcely ever eat fresh provisions except on special days, and they were subject, although the station was a very healthy one, to very severe mortality; while the officers, who were exempt from the regulation with regard to these provisions, were entirely free from mortality. In Jamaica, during the twenty years to which he had referred, the soldiers died at the rate of 128 6-10ths per 1,000, but within these few years, by changing the posi tion of the barracks, and improving the condition of the rations, the mortality had been reduced to 29 7-10ths per I,ooo.—(Hear, hear.) The result was, that in the whole of the tropical climates where the mortality e formerly 84 2-10ths, it was now only 42 1-10di per 1,000, or a saving of life had been effected within the last two years, of no less than 1,035 men, or about a battalion a y ear.—(Hear, hear.) In India, however, he was seer to say that no such improvement had taken place, but he thought that state would only be a temporary one.— (Hear, hear.) He did rert thi n k , h owever, that iinprove• went had as yet reached its highest point, and he con sidered that there was ample room for improvement in the condition of' the soldi er , b y improving andelevating the position of the army, an d !hereby inducing a more . respectable class of p ersons to join its ranks. Loo at the actual position of' the soldi ers, as er.npareclw"inthg the condition or th e l a b ourers in Dorsetslure and other counties of the co un t ry, i t was really a wond e r' that the army was not mor e sought after. The only rcason that ho could find was, that the army was composed in gene ral of persons of tl,e lowest character, lie did not look forward to see great at change I,a i improve ment in the con di t i on of the army a 2 , i t take place in this respect, and the authorities of the army were induced to say, " We will not admit any person into the tinny, except persona of good character." - 11.-- Their Lordships could easily imagine what a beneficial charge such a course would produce on the constitu; iee of the arnev.—(Hear, hear.) A Noble Lord . tli aevued that if thismeasure were to pass, would, at the expiration of ten years, leave the soil; The argument of the Noble Lord, however, went oti _ e h „ supposition that every soldier would be so dissatisti_os with his condition, that he would wish to leave the rank. at the end of ten years. He (Lord Grey) did not think that the soldier would be so anxious to leave the arrof every oldie at the end of ten years as he was at present, becaoutis.cei under the new system an improved condition take place in the soldier, and the officers knowing that the men would have the power to leave at the co c a in ' . that period, would do their utmost to promote the such forts, interest, and welfare of the men under them. o " i ' d, was the principle of the Bill. Their Lordships in committee, have an opportunity of dcciding or too they thought the period of ten years too long owl short ; at present their Lordships were require d ,_ es to affirm the principles of the Bill. He might per:uric be asked to state wnat he thought would be the r tem of the working of this measure, but to such a quest:ea he could only reply that the experience which they 9 4 had, under Mr. Wyndham's Act, was so short tha t tO w vv _het u he r really did not afford sufficient grounds for conli" any conclusion upon the subject, though he thought 1 ; 1 4 if any conclusion could be drawn from the short perl o in which that Act was in operation, it was somewhat a t favour of the present measur e . It was, however' °f g, a . importance to provide some means for raising, the e O ,. dition of the army, and for ge tti ng r id of the bed t e' cli racter which the army deriv e d f rom tee bad cha rac l • s e b. who composed it ; let it once b e cons id e red as a dad n 0 ment to be dismissed from th e arm y, and he 119 :a doubt that the character of th e arm y would thel l j . : ol .o public esteem. Such a punishment was one much sa suited to the feelings of the p u bli c o f this country, l a ' o r that by the infliction of the l a sh. By the 1°01° , 4 its this measure the country would a l so a lways ha ve " pat o disposal a numerous tr a i ne d p o p u l a ti o n ready E° . - at ent forward in the service of the c oun t r y. Such a oat was found to work well in Prussia, where a' w rio d all the population were compelled for a r las ) of three years to serve in the army.--(1Ie ch That such a course tended to improve the s tren ey and add to the stability of a continental coup' like Prussia there could be no doubt, but elt i r ig it it might be considered necessary tk r er tiss o .a n try• was also equally necessary for this c°- „iiitig An Act had been passed in the last session for cur v i c e v ice the Chelsea pensioners, with a v i e w to active see r . when required. Under thi s A c t upwards of 13.0 00 sons had already been enrolled, an d it was quite s ttious ing to see with what ability they performed the 'f s ses exercises. —(Hear, hear.) Thi s f orce st olid, there in be of great service to this country in time of wil low garrisoning the towns of P or t smout h , Ply m outh, e ll to other towns of the coast. But if this measure wareedi pass there would be a still greater number of m en r° trained and in the prime and vigour of life, readYeretto moment's notice to come forward for the d et of the country, without the great exrn 3e , co sld tendant upon a standing army, though be an equally effective force. He from this measure that the effect would be( d for a smaller number of men would be requi re r od the service of the army, the country having that f e r r gcs force upon which to fall back. Gratuitous disc": t he had been given to soldiers of good character duriaeeives few past years; and the persons who availed them s thr ee of those discharges did not amount to more th an ar• or three-and.a- half percent. At present the g re " teat ainticipstbtotlet gument against the dismissal of the bad soldier vira id s ' mis if it were carried into effect the good soldier %VI" i 5 dis conduct himself for the purpo se o f obtaining his lose charge. There could be n o d ou bt th a t they iv (4l w a in many of the very best of their men, who would 0 wise . civil appointments. He hoped that they might d° on der (Hear, hear)—for nothing would t e nd so much t'" r we re the service popular as the knowledge that the m en ot ser not tied to it for life, bat that they might obtaiad th at employment at the end of their term. He believ e . e in that was one of the reasons why the French see victbao spite of the lowness of its pay, was more poPu bl e r set the English. He thought that the next point of iryP o s ance to which they should direct their attentioo9o s t the amount of pension which should be g ive v e se the end of the usual period of service. to the should be some means of encouragement held out him' soldier after the period of his retirement to join oeca . self with companies of pensioners, who woul d heie the sionally called out to do duty on certain der i n duce year. It would require very little or no pains t° them to do this, for in addition to the small uld have payment which would be given to them, they wo _ the pleasure, and he believed that it would be 130 small one, of again meeting in the ranks their old comptl o , in arms. The amount of pensions to be men when they became incapable of supporting th e ,n . selves any longer by their own labour, was 6d. per e _ ol . 7 4 given to !_,,,„ the amount o t un e t am f o r n , pension, bat he could assu_re . . h , h The Noble Lord near him sm t ile e d H a o t us t e • might have provided, or might be of 38. 6d. per week in addition to what other means ll man by saving enabled to earn by light labour, was by no means eon' sidered as a trifling matter. Any increased sum as a pension would be found to be injurious to the country, for it woull offer to manY e t : - advantages of retiring upon their pensions w hile tug were still capable of service. In 1829, when after a service of twenty-one years was allowe d upon a pension of Is. per day, it was found that ottita burden upon the country was becoming so verY seri or that it was compelled - to be discontinued. M a a n ,Y.,, ty these men were only thirty-eight, thirty-nine , ar. .-r wit years of age when they retired, and it was well kilo bit, that they left the service upon the large pension, %‘.Th ere A toaremitcree still perfectly capable of doing further duty. d was also a great abuse in another regulatio n which Da_ been introduced since, namely, sion to soldiers who were after a certain per i od incer 13 , 1 . ! of doing further duty, and were discharged from 7 0 ranks. The consequence of that was, that a mat; the payment of the p a e . r l ._ had ruined his constitution by the practice of dr:" ob who ardent spirits passed the Chelsea Board, and his discharge and pension, while those . a buse service were retained. In order to ob viate suet) Id re had conducted themselves well, and were fit foinrefnurthers it was proposed that the men in the ra nks shou ld ceive trifling increase of pay for good c onduct.. u l e: l' ~... amount of the increased payment was unde r certaia.o`.. cum,tances to be added to their pension , and 01 a cco. creased payment would be regulated in amou nt ing to the period of service. He had now touche d 'W nc oo all the principal heads of this measure. It was clad which from its complexity and importance de070.,,.. their Lordships most serious attention and considers' tion. He left it in their hands, at the same time hank- ing them for the kind indulgence he had receiveds . ensure Viscount COAIBERMERE thought that would not improve the condition of the army, • on t e s h übject. nion he was borne out by the best authorities up hose they had They could not get a better class of men than t a better now in the service. He denied that they could get take to brio% class, but assuming that they did,how long would it „ht then antdhit.n this opi them into a state of discipline, and having at last brou, a. in into that state how long would they be required to rete r n:,, io the army afterwards? It would be an impossibility those troops who were stationed in the colonies in the enict7.,. state they were in at present, under the operation of the :e e '. system. They had 128 regiments in all, and of those 72 7 1 Why there were no less than 6,000 on foreign service. going out and returning annually from these foreign possesstoPf He took an intense interest in the welfare of the army, anal' was because he did so that he had felt called upon to troubl e their Lordships at so much length in opposition to the Bill. The Duke of WELLINGTON said, the NoLle Lord, who had just sat down, need not have apologised to their Lordships for detaining them so long, for no Member of that House wig more capable of speaking on this subject than himself. Still, however, he thought the Noble Marquis was wrong in thi opinion ton s u h po he had it if h formeddefelt onit thatthis tB wouldill. H l e ead s h t o o ul a d d b l e min the a • • don of the old soldiers of thethat the army, but he was convinced Bill would produce no such result. No army could exist wee war the efficiency of the service mast be n kept une up out a sufficient number of old soldiers. i t.of peace an d and ar A t could not be done without the a with old soldiers. When any dangerous rm operationswas were t° be performed, the old soldier was always the first t° set an example of bravery. The old soldiers of this countrY were its safeguard, and if their Lordships passed any that was calculated unnecessarily to reduce their number, theri virtually struck a blow at the defences of the nation. In 8 . parts of Europe, in the Peninsular, in North and South Air:, rice, in Africa, and in China, the armies of this country had accomplished great achievements, and how , let him a., h h t ) e r Lordships, were those achievements won? hy, throng ee h s instrumentality of the old soldier. He could not instasen. better guidance of the high value of the old Id the steent than by reminding their Lordshps of , e we e m easure in which he was held by Napoleon, an d io n he might, for through his instrumentality Ilar see won some of his greatest victories. The old soldiers wer e thei ht fore the ablest defenders of their country, and nothing 0 0 3 to be done which could tend to reduce their number. NT, was his opinion that this Bill would not have such an T h eir and he would tell their Lordships why he thought so. "l o d Lordships must be aware thaf enlistment for a limited t er- e had long existed in the army to a small extent and alt", ° .7 ceeded in that limited form. This Bill, h it had failed when carried out more extensively , it het' n u t many inducements for good condnct, and he r, held rongly 00- pressed with a conviction that these inducem ent s wa9 V lo :l l , d e le te ll is to a re-enlistment of the soldier at the exp. t e nv of et years. He was, therefore, disposed to try the exPel' the of limited enlistment again, and he n e t Oslo ° ,t he liveliest hopes fo r it s success. At the end e* oe ten years, their Lordships would perceive ilt that Bill that the soldi er w h o h a d behaved himself dar - l ° . - o f 4d. term of servitud e wou ld b e ent i t l ed to an add i t i ona l PO. A nd per day, and l oo ki ng t o t h e ot h er i nducements o f promotion that the Bill held out, he must repeat Ws tlFeel i. , s opinion that the soldier would become so comfortable to " i ; e situat' ion, and so attached to the rofession that be would se ure certain to re-enlist. Of course his a nxiety wee on y ported this ill the efficiency of the public s • ervice, and be suP 'ect. because he thought it was calculated to ensure that obi For his He entreated their Lordships, therefore, to adopt it. d o ubt it own part he would do his best to carry it ont. ase, pension..eti would involve the country in some slight additional exi!tehost but the condition of the soldier could not be improved ! w ooer , that risk. With regard to the Bill relating to the P e r r to whom Government ought _ topay he thought that measure was nece ssary, hut the pensione. tion , he hear. were the vetran soldiers hose brave men who were t to s ee and soul and spirit of the regiment. What he wantedtrt_,ed was good conduct prevail in the army, and to see them " 1 " those effects with good treatment and justice. He believed that eould be produced, and he believed that a system like that ffect pr( pro posed by the Government, would have a greater e he most atter, the ducing this good conduct, than any other course which cool. he adopted. He believed that this measure would not h a ve it woul d effect apprehended by his Noble Friend, and that trea r .d not remove the old soldiers from the regiment. He en w their Lordships to adopt the measure.—(Hear , The Duke of RICHMOND gave the Governmen. te.he fullest credit for good actions with respect to the army,: their looked with extreme suspicion on the measure befor e .0 the hear.) t t he Lordships. He considered that great evils would result injurious army from this measure. Its effects would be most ob _ on the coast of Africa, or other unhealthy p4ces. His e i n on that part of the army which might be required for s e v r Why thee Friend bad stated that great improvements had taken INac the morals and conditions of the army in general. tid not in the name of Heaven, did they not leave well alone, 'L en t I attempt to ntrAuce anv new and hazardous expernue , od This improvement had taken place in the army during a p u Id pug of unlimited enlistment; why, then, did the Goveruolota to introduce any new system? He thought th at it "