The Sun. — London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

t-4 111 tr 0 t n SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. AUST RALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.) A general meeting of the proprietors and shareholders of the Australian .Agricultural Company took place this day, Lt the King's Arms, City, in order to receive the directors' reort. At one o'clock the chair was taken by John Studholme Drownrigg, Esq., II.P. The SCCRETARY read the report, which stated that the affairs of the company were in a most flourishing condition. The CHAIRMAN stated that it was the intention of the directors to declare a dividend of 1/. per share. It was then proposed, and resolved unanimously, that Charles Dashwood Bruce, Esq., the Hon. J. I. Leslie Mel ville, and John Heurdes Ravenshaw, , be re-elected directors of the company. The CHAIRMAN stated that the company had effectuated their final arrangements with the Government, acd they would have their title deeds made out in a very short time. (Hear, hear.) The board could not refrain from thanking Earl Grey for the liberal manner in which he had acted. The directors had remaining to their credit a nett balance for the past year of 8,202/ z . _ _ A . SHAREHOLDER desired to know what would be the amount of cash rest at the bankers after the dividend had Leen paid? The CHAIRMAN replied about 5,0001. The cash balance on the 31st of Dezember, 1813, was 2,860/. 15s. sd. ; the nett pro ceeds of the sale of 662 bales of wool, clipped in 1845, was 17,744/. 2s. 6d.; the net proceeds from the sale of 193 casks of tallow was 1,072/. ; and the interest which they had received upon loans was 1901. 17s. 4d. Their chief disbursements were. during the year 1846, in salaries, wages, and allow ances, 1,9931.; in maintaining London office, 231.95. 10d. They had also paid 117/. ss. 7d. income-tax, and on account of dividends to proprietors in England of joint stock, a sum of 10,096/. 10s. _ . . The report was then moved and adopted. A resolution, declaring a dividend of 11. per share was then moved, and carried unanimously. The usual vote of thanks was then put, and carried by acclamation. RUGBY, DERBY , and MANCFIESTER RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) A meeting of the shareholders in this company was held to-day, at the London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving a report from the committee of management, and adopting the best means of winding up the affairs of the company. MATTHEW PIERRRPOINT, Esq., took the chair. The CHAIRMAN then said that the report that would be submitted to the meeting would embrace all the details of the proceedings of the managing commit tee since last December twelvemonths. By a reference to the report then made, it would be seen that full powers were given to the managing committee to wind up the affairs of the company, and nothing had given them greater regret than not having been able to call the shareholders together before. But the delay that had taken place had been occasioned by their haying had some disagreeable persons to deal with. The object of the managing committee was entirely the welfare of the shareholders, and if they had had only their own concerns to settle in this matter, the affairs would have been arranged long since. They had, however, arranged every matter but the account of Mr. Brewer. There would be a full statement in the report, and it would be for them to decide whether the sum demanded should or should not be paid to Mr Brewer.—(Hear, hear.) The SECRRTARY then read the report, from which it ap peared that in compliance with the resolutions that had been passed at a meeting in December, 1845, the first instalment t.f 30s. per share on the deposits had been paid, and that it was owing to the neglect of the parties themselves that fur ther instalments had not been made before. The committee had presented a memorial to Parliament, the prayer of which was ultimately refused, and actions were then commenced against the committee by several individuals, who had alleged demands on the company for work done by them for the company. The committee had ultimately succeeded in settling all claims except that of Mr. Brewer, by a composition of 10s. in the pound. The assets, including deposits, 79,9571. 10s., and the interest on tie same, amounted to 80,2261. ls., and after deducting the disbursements, whick in cluded 5,9111. 3s. to the solicitor, to the engineer 7,0001., and other expenses of the company 1,3971. as., there remained a balance of 8,6691. 10s. 4d., subject to the claim of Mr. Brewer. The report, after deploring the death of Mr. Bridges, concluded by stating that the committee had hitherto acted gratuitously, and were now desirous of being relieved from further trouble. The CHAIRMAN said, if this money were paid to Mr. Brewer there would remain over 3s. per share for each shareholder; if that demand were not paid there would re main ss. 3d. a share to the shareholders. Mr. COWAN moved a resolution to the effect that the re port then read be adopted. Mr. COLLINCWOOD seconded the resolution. The CHasamAst, in reply to some questions, stated that 15,000 shares were allotted, out of which, he was informed, that 1,600 were taken up. Mr. Brewer had not taken up the shares that had been allotted t• him ; in fact, he would not take these shares, nor allow others to take them. Mr. WIL3IOTT moved an amendment to the effect that five shareholders, exclusive of the Committee, should be ap pointed to investigate the accounts, to report the same to a meeting of the shareholders, or that a fund should be formed for the purpose of bringing the matter before the Court of Chancery. Mr. JEWIRSON seconded the amendment. A long discussion ensued, which terminated in Mr. Jewerson declining to continue his support to the amend ment, which then fell to the ground. The original resolution was then put and carried unani mously. The CHAIRMAN said, the next question upon which they were to decide was with respect to Mr. Brewer. That gen tleman had stated, in the event of being defeated at common law, that he would go into the Court of Chancery. Some discussion followed as to the propriety of paying, or resisting Mr. Brewer's demand, and the latter course finally determined upon. Mr. LEECH proposed the resolution, which was to the effect, that while feeling the most perfect confidence in their committee, the meeting, for the purpose of fortifying their hands, recommend them to resist to the uttermost Mr. Brewer's demand. Mr. LAWSAN seconded the resolution, which was ucani mously carried. Thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated. SALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) At the sale of Railway Shares to-day, by Messrs. Lo mond and Co., a fair business was done, and prices were rather lower again. Buyers were anxious to purchase, but at a considerable reduction. The following are a few of the paincipal sales : East Indian ... £o 8 0 Great Western of Bengal 0 7 0 Great Northern . . ...... 2 6 6 Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire, New 0 10 0 Madrid and Valencia Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole 1 16 6 Direct Northern (scrip) Eastern Counties, York Extension ... 415 0 Shropshire Union and Canal (scrip) Paris and Lyons 4 1 0 Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 3 9 0 Buckinghamshire ... 4 8 0 Northern Counties Union 1 6 6 COURSE OP EXCH. - 4 1.insterdain C.F. 12 4 Ditto, at sight ...... 12 1 )totterdam ...... 2U. 12 4% Antwerp• • ............ 25 85 Ilamburgh .... • • M.D. 13 IG% Faris, 3 days' sight .... 25 55 Ditto, 3 months...... 25 85 Narseillos • ..• • • •..... 25 90 .. 25 90 Frankfort on Mains.... 121 retersbargh, 3 U 5.... • • lierlin .... • • ...... • • • • Vienna, effee. flo ••• • • • 10 5 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 10 5 2tladiid..... ....... 35 5 ,4 Cadiz .. : ........ 36 7111bao .. • • • • .. • • ...... NGE.-(THIS DAY Gibraltar.. . • .. Leghorn . • .... .. 30 55 Genoa .. .... Milan .. . Naples .. .. • • Palermo, per oz 120% Lisbon.. .. • • 53 Oporto .. .. • ... 54 Rio Janeiro •• .. .. 26 Bahia .. Buenos Ayres ........ New York, 21 days' sight Philadelphia 1: Arcelona. PRICES OF lIITLLION, FIE OZ. Foreign Gold in bars •. £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin . • 0 0 0 New Dollars • • .... 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 Silver in bars ...... • • 0 S 0 1,4 :..vU1e........ • • • • • • MARKET INTELLIGENCE (From the London New Price Current of January 22. SCG Alt.—To-day no further advance occurred in the value of Raw Sugar, still there was no material falling off in the demand from the home-trade and speculators. MAttrancs.—This afternoon the demand was not quite so vctive, still 3,070 bags 34 casks of Mauritius at public sale were all sold, and at prices that averaged those of the last auction. REFINED.—Ta -day there was not so much desire shown to operate in Refined goods, but prices were firm, Brown Lumps at 69s to 70s, and Standard Lumps 70s 6d to 71s per cwt. Treacle was not so much in demand, but prices are un varied. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the quantity of Bengal Sugar trTered at public sale was large, and amounted to 6,645 bags; l 'le whole, however, sold at previous prices. FOREIGN.—There has been a further increase in the demand I Foreign Sugar for home consumption and on speculation t is week. An immense business has been transacted in e . - ery description, and the rates paid exhibit an advance on 1:loso previously current of 2s to 4s for yellow and brown, a Id Is Gd to 2s per cwt for white. The whole on offer has been cleared off the market, and there are still several orders un executed. Privately the chief transactions are two cargoes cf yellow Havannah afloat. Cocoa.—A stronger desire has been manifested to operate in Foreign, but business of moment has been prevented pri vately by higher rates being asked, and 177 bags of Bahia at auction were taken in at 38s for fine bright red. TEAS.—To-day, in consequence of a report that Govern- Tent has it in contemplation to make a reduction in the Tea r'ty, there was more activity in the market , an d p rices were '''aer, it was difficult to purchase sound common Congou fur cash under 10d per lb. Covfmn--This afternoon, at public sale, 621 bags of Cey lon Coffeet the native met with a dull demand, and was all taken zosin.ltrehate anxiety rates ; the Plantation sold at steady rates. x l lety to purchase Bengal has even further week, increased this ee,and the whole on offer of all qualities lens been eagerly cleared' erewt. off the m a rket, at a further advance in pricesof 2 s SPICZS.—BIack Pepp er is still attracting attention, and the rates paid have been fully equal to those previously cur rent. Privately a good business has been transacted. White brought rather higher rates, a n d bags sold purchases were made privately.. At auction 83 4d to 40. for mid dingy. Cassia Lignea is little wa nted. at es e sia Buds brought ap e a n a little passing, very full rates. In Cinnamon there has been fir :ter lower and the inferior kinds can be obtain terms; but good and line are held with firmness. The Quarterly Sales will take place on Monday next. }cave been dealt iu with caution, and prices tend d own Za s Sriarrs.—Jainaiea of all sorts has been in extensive market l i ias been nearly cleared request; indeed the , and at a rise of 2d to 3d per ga,lon. Leeward Island has ba t , in,ch in request, and brought rather o higher rates.3s East Jnlia parcels, sold on the spt, brought ld to 3 '2d proo f strength. De merara has been in ex cel:out demand, and prices a re still on the advance. Far Brandy th e demand has been brisk, and prices have Flivhtly improved. Geneva met with a much better demand, an,: prices, advanced to 2s 7il to 2s 9d for common shipping son's, and 3s 3d to 3s 6d for fine for home consumption. For Lr:tish Corn Spirits the demand is active. The quotation for Corn Spirits being now lls 9d, Scotch and Irish lls 8d nett cash. English Gin, 22 per cent under proof lOs 3d, and 17 under lOs 9d per gallon. 111DIG0.—East India is held with firmness at an advance in the rates of last quarterly sale of 2d to 4d per lb. THE NUN, LONDON, Fiti 'JAY EVENING, JANUARY D 2, 1647. SALTPETRE.—Importers of Rough are still willing sellers, there having been further arrivals, and they submitted to a reduction on previous rates of 6:1 per cwt; still a good de mand prevailed. Ort.s.—Olive Oil has again been much in request, and holders manifest firmness, as there is a large consumption going on, and the stock on the increase. A large business has been transacted. For Linseed Oil the market is looking brisker. For forward delivery the operations are upon a more extended scale at 25s 9d to 26s per cwt. There are several buyers of Cocoa Nut Oil, and but little is to be had. TALLOW.—The stock is on the decrease, and the deliveries are going on largely, although prices are much above those of this time last season. Russian on the spot has been ex tensively dealt in for town and country consumption, and the rates paid have been fully equal to those of this day week. There has been a fair business transacted for forward delivery, and for the last three months of the year, the rates paid are 45s 6d to 465. Town Tallow has been much in demand for present delivery, and prices have risen. Allo'her sorts have been in excellent request, and brought stiff rates. BANK OF (From this Nij An Account, pursuant to the Act the Week ending on Saturday, ENGLAND. ght's Gazette.) Ith and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the IGth day of January, 1847. 'ARTBIENT. ISSUE DEI .Votes Issued.• •• .... 27,225,335 Government debt • . 11,015,100 Other securities •• • • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 1 I ,35G,G68 Silver bullion .. •• .. 1.868.G67 £27,225,335 X 27,225,335 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 1847. Dated the 21st day of January, OEPAZTUEN T. Government securl7 ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 12,757,326 Other securities •• .. 14,450,7'.1 Notes .. • •• • • ...... 6,545,965 Gold and silver coin • • 723,346 £31,477,348 If. 'MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. .847. -- - deposited in the Private Bill office before six of t the clock in the evening of any day on which the House shall sit, and before two of the clock on any day on which the House shall not sit, and that with every such memorial two copies thereof be deposited, at the same time, for the use of the Examiners. That all memorials' complaining of non-compliance with the standing orders, in reference to petitions which stand in the " General List of petitions ' after number 250, be deposited on or before Saturday, the 6th day of February next. Agreed to. THE ADDRESS.—HER MAJESTY'S REPLY. Lord MARCUS HILL (Comptroller of her Majesty's Household) appeared at the bar of the House, and, on being called on by the Speaker, said, that, in obedience to the commands of the House, the Address agreed to by the Commons, in answer to the Speech from the Throe.', had been presented to her Majesty, who was pleased to return the following most gracious answer : ." I have received with great satisfaction your loyal and dutiful address, and look with confidence to your assisting me in my endeavours to preserve the blessings of peace abroad and at home, and in forwarding the general happiness of my people. I feel assured that no exertion will be wanting on your part to meet my anxious wishes to relieve my suffering subjects in Ireland, and in many parts of Scotland." SUGAR AND MOLASSES IN BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES. Mr. H. DOUGLAS presented a petition from certain shipowners in Liverpool in favour of the use of sugar and molasses in breweries and distilleries. Mr. ORD presented a petition from the borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the same effect. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Lord CLEMENTS presented a petition from Mohill, in the country of Leitrim, complaining that the land of the barony was so exhausted that it was utterly unable to maintain the population, and prayir.g the aid of the Government to enable them to emigrate to some other country where they might be able to maintain them selves and families by their labour. TEN HOURS' BILL. Lord JOHN MANNERS presented a petition from Burslem in favour of the Ten Hours Bill. Mr. EVELYN DENISON presented a petition against the Poor Removal Bill, complaining of its operation as injurious to the interests of the poor. Mr. FERRAND begged to give notice that, unless the answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the question of the Hon. Member for Montrose with regard to the notice he had given with respect to the Poor-law Commissioners on Thursday next, was entirely satisfactory, he should move for a select Com mittee to inquire into the conduct of the Poor-law Com missioners in administering the new poor-law. Mr. I RICARDO gave notice that, on Thursday next, he should move for a select committee to inquire into the navigation laws.—(A laugh.) Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE moved that the petition of the Duke of Brunswick be printed with the votes. Dr. BOWRING (who was very indistinctly heard, in consequence of the confusion which prevailed in the House) moved for a return of the state of our trade in China. Mr. HUME suggested to his Hon. Friend that, in moving for a return of the state of trade in China, he had better move for returns of all the orders and regula tions made with respect to that trade. Those documents had been promised to the House two sessions ago, but they had not yet been laid upon the table. It was desirable that they should have the orders and regula tions with reference to that trade laid upon the table, as well as a return of the state itself. Mr. WM. COLLETT begged to give notice that he would move the following resolution on Monday next, " That, in the opinion of this House, there w ere no public works of greater importance to the future prosperity of Ireland than railways, and that every fa cility for their construction should be given by her Ma • jesty's Government, provided all proper securities were obtained for repayment." ANDOVER UNION COMMITTEE. Mr. HUME rose to ask the question of which he had given notice. At the close of last session, on the 25th August, he placed certain resolutions on the table of the House ; and, in accordance with them, he asked the House to take certain measures regarding the Poor law Commissioners— (Cries of " Hear, hear,")—as he believed their continuance in office would be detrimental to the public service. He wished now to ask the Secre tary of State for the Home Department, whether Govern ment have taken, or intend to take, any measures re specting the conduct of the Poor-law Commissioners, as set forth in the evidence and resolutions of the Select Committee on District Asylums, and on the report and evidence of the Andover Union Committee. Sir GEORGE GREY said that the subject bad un dergone he had no doubt the requisite investigation, but he must ask the House permission to refuse answering the question until the statement which his Right Hon. Friend had promised upon the law of settlement should have been made. TRANSPORTATION TO VAN DIEMAN'S LAND. Lord MAIION desired to know from the Secretary of State if there had been any steps taken with reference to the question of the transportation of convicts to Van Dieman's Land. Sir GEORGE GREY said that the house were award that transportation to Van Dieman's Land had been suspended for a period of two years. The subject had occupied the attention of the Government. On the next week he would be able to lay upon the table of the house documents relating to the question, which would, he was sure, satisfy the Noble Lord. UNION OF THE SEES OF ST. ASAPII AND BANGOR. • Mr. 3. COLLETT said he wished to ask a question of the First Lord of the Treasury in reference to the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. The Bishop of St. Asaph and Bangor had died, and a new Bishop had been appointed to the see, instead of a union of the secs having taken place. Now, the question which he had to ask was, whether it be the intention of her Majesty's Government to create an extra bishopric, by the appointment of a Bishop of Manchester, the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor not having become united at 1 the death of the late Bishop of St. Asaph, pursuant to the Act 6 and 7 Will. IV., c. 77. Lord JOHN RUSSELL—The House would recol• lect that when the Noble Lord the Member for Shrop shire (Lord Clive) had asked last session what course the Government would take with respect to a Bill sent down from the House of Lords for uniting the two sees of St. Asaph and Bangor, w he the Government would support the creation of a Bishop to the see of. Manchester, he (Lord John i Russell) had said that the subject was one which re quired further consideration, and that the Government was not prepared to give its assent to the Bill In con sequence of that assurance the Bill was withdrawn. The matter bad since undergone the consideration, and he trusted that he should be able, in the course of next week, to state the course which the Government proposed to pursue. He found upon refer once to the Act of Parliament regulating the bishopric of Bangor, that the bishop of that see was not to under take the duties of the neighbouring see of St. Asaph, unless he was willing of himself to do so—hitherto he had declined. EMIGRATION TO THE MAURITIUS. Mr. HOPE wished to know whether any alteration had been made since the period when Lord Stanley was Secretary of the Colonies with reference to the arrange ments for promoting emigration to the Mauritius. He 'was given to understand that if those emigrants returned from the Mauritius within fire years, they would be charged for their voyage. He wished, therefore, to . know whether the ab stract of the dispatches which had been published in the Times was correct, and whether the regulations to which he referred had been imposed on those per sons who had been introduced into that colony, under the Colonial Secretaryship of Lord Stanley? Mr. HAWES thanked the Hon. Gentleman for hav ing intimated to him that he intended to ask these questions.—(Hear, hear.) As the dispatches to which he referred were not then in his possession, he was unwilling to speak from recollection. He should be able, in the course of a few days, to lay them on the table of the House, and they would be found to furnish all the information on the sub ject which the Honourable Gentleman required. He could state, however, that no ordinance, but simply the heads of one, had been transmitted to the Govern ment of the Mauritius. Mr. HOPE wished to know whether, previously to sending out what he did not characterise as an ordinance, but as an order, of the House, the concur rence of the Indian Government had been obtained with respect to it? Mr. HAWES thought it right to state that the con currence of the Indian Government had not been ob tained. They dissented to some parts of the documents. Mr. HOGG said the Indian authorities were quite satisfied with the tone and spirit of the dispatch. They were merely in the light of suggestions for the conside ration of the Government of the Mauritius, and it was understood that they should not come into operation u n til they came again under the review of the Home Govern ment. Mr. HUME wished to ask whether it was the inten tion of the Government to produce any papers relative to the branch list? The Hon. FOX MAULE said he had no objection in about ten days to do so. NAVIGATION LAWS. On the motion for the order of the day, Mr. MITCHELL said he considered that there should be an extension of the navigation laws, and that any ship having proved that she had sailed on the Ist of September, should be admitted into this country. No vessel coming from Archangel would come into this country unless such were the case, for under the present circumstances no merchant from that port would ship for this country. Let them take the other ports, and they would find the same would be the case. He thought that the Noble Lord before the end of the present session would have to propose an extension of the navigation laws. Ho was suite convinced that neither from the Black nor the White Sea would there be any chance of vessels ar riving before the Ist of September , and few would sail to English ports, unless they had some assurance that they would be admitted after that date. He would be glad if the Government would consider the question, and relax the resolution to some extent. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said that perhaps before the Chancellor of the Exchequer answered the questions of the Hon. Member for Bridport, he (Mr. Stafford O'Brien) might be permitted to put one having some re lation to the same subject. By the Act passed last session the duty was to be remitted in 1849, or only a nominal duty of Is. per quarter imposed. Now he wished to know whether the duty was to be altogether rescinded, and if so, whether the Government intended to take any steps to ascertain what quantity of :corn would be im ported into the country The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUita said that he would answer the last question first. It was the intention of the Government to suspend all duty on corn after September, 1849 ; and the Government still pro posed to register the quantity introduced into the ports to-morrow. With regard to the question of his lion. Friend the Member for Bridport, it was the intention and effect of the Act, that ships must enter the ports of 1 England before the let of September, and this period was fixed in order to give time to ships load ing at the most distant ports to arrive in this I country. Corn imported from the Black Sea, ' from the mouths of the Danube and Odessa., would require only two months to arrive in ' this country, and vessels sailing therefore in June or July would have ample time to arrive in England before the period referred to in the Act. Ilia own impression was that a great quantity of corn exported from the countries he mentioned would start in the months of May and June to this country, and all of which might be fairly expected to arrive in this country before the Ist of September. The Corn Bill was then forwarded through its re maining stages. On the motion that the Navigation Bill be read a second time, Mr. HUME said that it had been his intention to give notice that he should move that this Bill should be a general and immediate repeal of these laws, but , hr F oer ri a c h n co , u i rd ne md a ei r ttse l e i e i7 te h an ad d in quirega s iv h e ne intonotice t r h s t t eh o oautdahvteilgi should s ion anlHwnosvi:e. he trusted that in that Committee all matters with refer ence to them would be settled satisfactory. Dr. BOWRING wished to ascertain if the Govern• went had consented to grant that Select Committee? Lord JOHN RUSSELL, whose reply was inaudible, was understood to answer in the affirmative. The Bill was then read a second time. The House then went into Committee on the Naviga tion Bill. The first clause was read and agreed to. On the second clause;being real, Mr. MITCHELL moved that the words "on and after the Ist of September," should be omitted, and that the Act should extend to all vessels which should be proved to have embarked with their cargo on or before the Ist of August. The amendment having been put, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that the great object of Government in proposing the present all in sus pension of the navigation laws, was to obtain an early supply of corn. lie thought if any alteration were to be made, it ought to be an earlier day ; he could not, therefore, support the amendment of the Hon. Member for Bridport. Dr. BOWRING thought that the suggestion of the Hon. Member would tend to give eff,ct to the measures of her Majesty's Government, and he should therefore support the amendment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not wish, at the present moment, to express any general opinion upon the navigation laws. lie was nos quite sure whether it would not be better to take an earlier date. By the next harvest they should get corn in large quantities, but what they wanted before that time, was the greatest possible amount of grain, and he apprehended by the Ist of September, the day originally named, they should be enabled to get into this country great quantities of grain. Sir C. NAPIER said the statement of the Right lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exehequer was all very well, but supposing a vessel sailed from Odessa on the Ist of July, the ordinary passage being two months, but when it arrived at Gibraltar it encountered an east westerly gale, and was prevented from reaching this country till the Ist of September, what was to become of the owner of the ship and his cargo ? Sir W. CLAY deprecated the plan of affixing a cer tain date for the completion of an uncertain operation. The owners of vessels, although they took all reasonable means to ensure their arrival here within the specified period, might, from the uncertain period occupied in the voyage, be unable to arrive here within the specified period. The passage from the Black Sea occupied two months, and before the corn produced, for instance, in the extreme parts of Russia, during the ensuing harvest, could be conveyed to the shores of the Black Sea for importation, the Ist of September might have passed by. If they passed such a provision, they would ultimately have to alter it. Mr. FOSTER complained that the measure did not go far enough, and considered that the laws relating to tho importation of sugar and mo lasses, ought to have been suspended as well as the laws relating to the importation of corn. The Noble Lord had proposed the abrogation of the penalties for using sugar and molasses in breweries, and, therefore, the course he (Mr. Foster) proposed seemed one which ought to have been adopted, in order to benefit another portion of the people. He certainly, therefore, thought that the same principles which had induced the Government to suspend the navigation laws with respect to corn would apply with still greater force to sugar, as far as it was now imported. Mr. HOWARD DOUGLAS would certainly stren uously oppose any alteration in the navigation laws, because he thought that these laws were among the wisest of this country, and they should not be interfered with, but strictly preserved. Mr. WM. BROWN said the consequence would be that if vessels were allowed to arrive here after the Ist of September, that there would be no security against deception, and he hoped that the Government would not consent to make laws to deprive them of the advantages which they at present enjoyed under certain regulations. Mr. BARING said, gentlemen were not aware that in all these cases there was a discretionary power vested in the Treasury, and if it could be fairly proved to them that to open the ports would be an advantage, they would certainly exercise that discretionary power. Mr. WILLIAMS said that the Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to think that by limiting the suspen sion of the laws till September it would force foreign countries to send forward their supplies. He might rest assured, however, that all available stores would be sent here without delay. The whole difficulty appeared to him to be the want of shipping. He believed that all vessels were employed, and under these circumstances he considered that every facility should be given that vessels might come iu with the greatest possible expedition. He was of opinion, therefore, that this would be best secured by a further extension of the period of suspension. Mr. LIDDELL would offer no opposition to the mea sures of the Government. He thought they were about to pursue a course which was calculatsd to meet the emergency of the times, and for that reason they should receive his support. He would not take so discursive a view of the question as the Honourable Member for Liverpool had, and regard the measure as a wedge by which it was intended to support. The Hon. Member for the Pot to break away the navigation laws. He would look at intimated that he intended to bring the it as a measure intended to meet the distress which pre vailed throuh the country, and for this reason would g te i r v i e es it navigation-laws under the consideration of the House. If so, he hoped that timely notice of his intention would be h h a i d s inm given to those interested in them, for he believed that their shipping was the bulwark of the country, and their commercial marine the source of their great prosperity. He had reason to believe that the opinions of those who occupied the chief position t among the shippin g i n t erests were quite oppo se the dto measures of the Gove rnmen t for the repeal ot these navigation-laws. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, who rose with Mr. Dun combe, simply w isaed t explain that he was not o- posed to the at spension, o but only to the repeal of the laws. Mr. T. S. se believed that th e o bj ec t o f the House at present was not to be consider th e advi sabilit or non- advisability of retaining the Navi gationy Laws, but whether they were to give effect to the measures which Government had proposed. The question was now whether they should maintain these laws inviolate, or whether support the proposition, which the Government had made. An Hon. Friend had moved an amendment, and the present Chancellor of the Exchequer and a late Chancellor of the Exchequer had both given their opinions upon the measure. For his own part h e believed that the measure would not be complete without the amend ment of his Ho n. Friend. Some time had been proposed for the conclusion of the suspensio n, but they had be no authority for supposing that i t would notopposed. The Ist of September ha d been proposed as the proper time, h t but, on whose authority, or for w a reason, was not stated either by the Gentlemenoor seconder. of the proposi tion. If either of the behind him, or those who sat on the opposto side, a th e y ve an assurance that i would not oppose the progp°sition then the House would understand the position in which it was pl ace d. This same individual advised Ministers that corn must go down, and yet i n Now,spite o f thi s ad vice it actually did go up. who Was that individual. The Comm ittee had heard the opinion of two gentlemen connected with the mercantile and ship ping interest in that HO • use and he was inclined to place confidence in that opinion, because he had heard no reason founded in common sense senae or j us ti ce why it should be objected to. — (Hear, Lord JOIIN RUSSELL was understood to say that should the contemplated contingency embraced by the amendment arise before the Ist of September, the mea sures would be prepared to mee t it. This would sh ow that Ministers desired to do their best under the circum stances. He could not venture to go further in his promise. Lord G. BENTINCIC was no t disposed to press th e amendment, because he was quite sure the Government would do what was right. In his opinion it mattered little whether the navigation laws were expended at this period or not. He thought an erronious impression had got abroad, tnat they had lost opportunities of importing considerable quantities of corn from the United States of America from the existence of the navigation laws and the 4s. duty, and that in this respect France had recently had considerably the advantage over England. Now this impression was certainly not borne out by the im portation returns of the United States of America from the Ist of Sept. last till the 22d of Dec. The returns re lated to the ports of New York, New Orleans and Bos • ton. Now the importations of corn from these ports to France during the period ho had named were 65,000 quarters of every description, while those of Great Britain and Ireland amounted to no less than 526,000 quarters. He thought from that state ment the House and the country would see that Ministers had committed no great crime against the people of Ireland in not having exhibited greater haste to suspend these laws.—(Hear, hear.) lie believed neither the navigation nor the corn laws had anything to do with the exports of grain to France and Great Britain. Respecting the supply of corn for France from Odessa, a very high authority among the political economists, the Economist newspaper said great ad vantages had been bestowed on France through the operation of the navigation laws ; and that no less than fifteen ships belonging to foreign nations, princi- Filly Neapolitan and Greek, were loading there with cargoes of corn for Marseilles. The infor mation of the Economist on this subject, ho believed to he incorrect, as it appeared the names of some of the ships which were given, were the Ila.rheck, the Hydriot, the Cleope, the Newton, the Maria Theresa, and the Fire Fly ; and the last in the list was the Dicky Sand—(Laughter)—names that would indicate the vessels were more likely load ing for England than France.— (Cries of " Hear, hear.") If he might be alhwed to throw out a suggestion to the Noble Lord, it was to extend the same principle to British as to foreign vessels, as by this short Act British ships would be left under a disadvantage, being obliged to have three-fourths of their crew British sailors. There were other restrictions that should be removed. British shipowners complained that, in competing with foreign shipowners, they were obliged to take a number of apprentices. He would suggest to his Noble Friend to take these matters into his serious consideration, to place British shipowners on an equal footing with foreign shipowners, and to suspend all laws that operated to produce a difference as far it was possible for him to do so.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. DUNCAN considered that it would be impos sible that any vessel loading in the Black Sea in June or July could reach this country in time to avoid the infraction of the law; and merchants and shippers, knowing the risk, would not adventure their capital. Mr. MOFFATT thought that no harm would result from the following out the suggestion of the Hon. Member for Bridport. Mr. EWA Wl` disclaimed the doctrime propounded by the Hon. Member for Beth, that they should leave the matter in the hands of the Government. Some means should be adopted to allow the entrance of ships which had taken in their cargoes before a certain fixed period. ➢ANKING D: Proprietors' capital. • 14,553,000 Kest •.•• • • • ....... 3,551,483 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) • • 5,034,189 Dther deposits .• .. 10,339,726 Seven day and other bills • • • • • • . • •. .... 992,950 X 31,477,348 Dated th 6 21st day of January, THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) FOREIGN OFFICE, JAN. 21, 1847. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. William Wolf Alexander, as Consul for Bristol, Cardiff, and Newport, for the Republic of Chili. The following article is substituted for that which appeared in the London Gazette of Tuesday last, Jan. 19: — WHITEHALL, JAN. 18. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. John Russell, Bachelor of Arts, to the rectory of Llandrinio, in the county of Montgomery, and diocese of St. Asaph, void by the death of Dr. William Carey, late Bishop of that see. DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 22. - The Queen has been pleased to appoint Henry Landor, Esq., to be Colonial Surgeon for her Majesty's forts and set tlements on the Gold Coast. WAR-OFFICE, JAN. 22. 2d Regiment of Life Guards—John Glencairn Carter Ha milton, Gent., tobe Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart, Bart., who retires, Jan. 22. 11th Light Dragoons—Troop Serjeant-Major William Ennis to be Adjutant (with the rank of Cornet, vice Sutton, appointed to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, Jan. 22. Scots Fusilier Guards—Brevet Colonel Robert Francis Melville Browne, from half-pay Unattached, to be Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, vice the Honourable Charles Beau mont Phipps, who exchanges; Brevet Major, Lieutenant and Captain Frederick Romilly to be Captain and Lieutenant Colonel, by purchase, vice Browne, who retires; Ensign and Lieutenant the Honourable Hew Hamilton Haldane Duncan to be Lieutenant and Captain, by purchase, vice Romilly; the Honourable William Harbord to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Duncan, Jan. 22. 24th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant Bryan Thornhill, from 39th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Payne, who exchanges, Nov. 10, 1846 ; Lieutenant Francis Clark, from 41st Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Handcock, who exchanges, Jan. 22. 29th Foot—Lieutenant James Henry Archer, from 39th Fcot, to be Lieutenant, vice White, who exchanges, Nov. 10, 1846. 33d Foot—Charles Carter Barrett, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Rotton, promoted in 36th Foot, Jan. 22. 36th Foot—Ensign John Rotten, from 33d Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Pochin who retires, Jan. 22. 39th Foot—Lieut. Hans Robert White, from 29th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Archer, who exchanges ; Lieut. John Selwyn I'ayne, from 24th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Thornton, who exchanges, Nov. 10. 41st Foot—Lieutenant the Honourable Richard Handcock, from - 24th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Clark, who ex changes, Jan. 22. 45th Foot—Lieutenant Stephen B. Gordon to be Adju tant, vice Smith, promoted; Lieutenant James M'Crea to be Adjutant, Jan. 22. 47th Foot—Major-General Sir Henry George Wakelvn Smith, Bart., and G.C.8., to be Colonel, vice General Sir William Anson, Bart., and K.C.8., deceased, Jan. 18. 52d Foot—Alfred Somerset, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Brooke, deceased, Jan. 22. 56th Foot—Captain Pennant Athelwold Iremonger, from 3d West India Regiment, to be Captain, vice Waddell, who exchanges, Jan. 22. 57th Foot—Paymaster Mark Matthews, from the Ist West India Regiment, to be Paymaster, vice Potter, deceased, Jan. 22. 67th Foot—Lieutenant James Graham to be Adjutant, vice Bunbury, promoted, Jan. 22. 81st Foot—Ensign Charles Ellison Goodwin to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice F. E. Sorell, appointed Adjutant, Nov. 13 ; Ensign Henry Austen to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Goodwin, whose promotion, by purchase, has been cancelled, Jan. 22 ; Sergeant-Major Thomas Hig nell to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Austen, Jan. 22; Lieutenant Frederick Edward Sorell to be Adjutant, vice Henry E. Sorell, promoted, Nov. 13. 90th Foot—John Crosby Vaughan, Gent., to be Ensigh, without purchase, vice Butler, promoted in the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, Jan. 22. 91st Foot—Quartermaster John Gordon to be Adjutant with the rank of Ensign, Jan. 22. , 3d West India Regiment, Captain James Waddell, from the 56th Foot, to be Captain, vice Iremonger, who exchanges, Jan. 22. Cape Mounted Riflemen, Ensign James Fischal Boyes to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Harvey, appointed Adjutant, Jan. 22. To be Ensigns, without purchase—Edward Lister Green, Gent., vice Boyes, promoted, Jan. 22; George Stoddart Whitmore, Gant., vice Armstrong, whose appointment has been cancelled, Jan. 23. To be Adjutant—Lieutenant William Harvey, vice Somer set, promoted, Jan. 22. MEMORANDUM.—The Christian names of Staff Assistant- Surgeon Tweddell are "Fenwick " Martin, not " Frederick " Martin, as previously stated. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorsetshire. Dorset Regiment of Militia—Ensign Giles Symonds to be Lieutenant; Waring Alexander Biddle, Gent., to be Lieute nant,Jan. 7. BANKRUPTS. William Christopher Wells, sharebroker, Poultry, London, I to surrender Jan. 29, at half-past twelve o'clock, and March 5, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, offical assignee, Basinghall-street ; Buchanan, Basinghall-street. John Johnson, grocer, Chelmsford, Jan. 29, and March 5, al half-past one,at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Harrison and Dobree, Hart-street, Bloomsbury. Robert Barnes, ironmonger, Hammersmith, Jan. 30, at eleven, and March 13, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street ; Holmer and Son, Bridge-street, Southwark. Josiah Slough. baker, Twickenham, Jan. 28, at half-past eleven, and March 3, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basingball-street ; A blett, New castle-street, Strand. Thomas Bowyer, bookseller, Strand, Feb. 4, at eleven, and March 3, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell. official assignee, Coleman-street -buildings ; Hudson, 13ucklersbury. Charles Ashby, tailor, Bishops Stortford, Huts, Feb. 3, at half-past one, and March 4, at two, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. -Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street -buildings; Jackson, New Inn, Strand. William Skinner, licensed victualler, Dale-hall, Burslem, Staffordshire, Feb. 9, and March 2, at twelve, at the Birm ingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birming ham • Williams, Hanley. Thomas ' Clarke, licenced victualler, Cheltenham, Feb. 5, at half-past one, and March 5, at one, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol ; Lovegrove, Glou cester. Joseph Wenman, wine merchant, Birkenhead, Jan. 29, at twelve, and Feb. 26, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool ; Gregory and Co., Bedford-row, London ; Watson, Liverpool. John Haskins Gandell, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Feb. 5 and March 5, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool; Shuttlewortb, Field-court, Gray's-inn, London ; Tyrer, Liverpool. Cornelius Joseph Sever, baker, Leeds, Feb. 2 and 23, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Kynaston, official as signee, Leeds ; Strangwayes, Barnard's-inn, London ; Ro binson, Leeds. Elizabeth Ellett, innkeeper, Devonshire, Feb. 3 and March 2, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court; Hirtzel, official assignee, Exeter; Fryer, Exeter; Makinson and Sanders, Elm-court, Temple. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from the returns made in the week ending January 19, 1847, is 3 , 15. 7d. per cwt. IMPERIAL PA RL lAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR tOOk his seat on the Wool sack shortly after Five o'clock. SPANISH MARRIAGES. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table a copy of the correspondence between the Government of this country and that of Spain relative to the Spanish marriages, by the command of her Majesty. The NOBLE MARQUIS then moved the adjournment of the House till to-morrow, at five o'clock, in consequence of the important business which was to be laid before the House of Commons to-night, and which could not pos sibly be disposed of at the moment. The motion was agreed to, and their Lordahips ad journed. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. The Hon. CECIL LAWLESS took the oaths and his seat for the - borough of Clonmel, in the room of D. H. I'igot, who has been appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Ex• chequer for Ireland. NEW WRIT. Mr. TUFNELL moved that a new writ be issued for the election of a Member for the city of Chester, in the room of Lord Robert Grosvenor, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. STRUTT moved that, after Tuesday next, this House will not receive any petition for a private Bill unless it be presented within three clear days after it shall have been indorsed by one of the examiners. That, on and after Tuesday next, all memorials complaining of non-compliance with the standing orders, be SUMMARY. Mr. MITCHELL had not heard any argument against the principle he had laid down, viz., that the date of departure should be fixed in preference to the date of arrival. It would ba an a ctof great injustice to the mercantile interest to adopt the proposition of the Government. It was by no means sure who might be the members of Government in Sep tember, and he, as a merchant, should not like to ask the Noble. Lord the Member for Lynn for such a favour as the admission of grain duty free after the first of September. Mr. CGLLETT thought the original proposition of the Member for Bridport, viz., that corn shipped before the Ist of August should be admitted perfectly free, and hoped that the Government would adopt a propo sition to that effect. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Committee divided. When there appeared, For Mr. Mitchell's Amendment Against it Majority in favour of Ministers -138 The remaining clauses were then agreed to, the House resumed, and the report was brought up and agreed to. The House then resolved itself into Committee of Supply, pro forma, and a resolution for granting a sup ply to her MAJESTY was agreed to. The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be reported on Monday. MOLASSES AND SUGAR AND RUM BILL. The House then resolved itself again into Committee, and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to pro pose the resolution on which he meant to found a Bill, authorising the rise of sugar, molasses, and rum distil leries and breweries. It was his intention to propose a measure of a permanent, and not (LEFT SPEAKING.) THE INTENDED NEW LUNATIC ASYLUM AT BIRMINGHAM. The asylum is intended for 300 patients, 150 of each sex ; being completely separated. The principal and most novel feature in the plans for the asylum is an in spection passage, which, from the entrance, traverses the whole extent of the main wings, and communicates with the end of each gallery or ward for patients, so making a ready complete means of inspection and channel of com munication between every part of the building—that ap proaches to the patients, the governor and matron's resi dences, the kitchen, and washing departments,;the chapel, and, in fact, to every part of the house. From the inspec tion of the passage, before mentioned, the galleries or wards (each for one class of patients), branch off at right angles, each gallery being complete in itself, with its own day-room, airing courts, sleeping rooms, bath, store, and attenda9t's lodging room. Each gallery being for one class of patients, noisy, expileptic, &c., as the case may be, and having no communication with any other gallery except by means of the inspection passages, the disturbances which often occur in asylums, and which is detrimental to the patients, will be prevented, and those who may become violent or noisy, may be readily re moved to their proper department. Separate sleeping rooms have been provided in the proportion of one-third of the total accommodation, and in the associated sleep ing rooms the number of beds will vary from three to nine. The air will be warmed before admission into the different rooms, by means of a steam apparatus, and ar• rangements are made for an effectual method iummer ventilation. Open fire-places are provided in the rooms where the patients sit, and this experience has proved to be very conducive to the comfort of the unfortunate inmates of an asylum for lunatics. Appropriate resi dences for the medical superintendant and the matron have been provided, together with a room for magistrates' meeting, the necessary office, and a hall for recreation, in which it is proposed to have meetings of the patients for music, singing, or other such amusements as may seem proper. The chapel is so placed as to be conveniently approached from both the males' and females' departments. Workshops have also been pro vided to permit of the employment, in their own trades, of such of the patients as may be in a fit state of health, and many others can be employ ed in the grounds. Every arrangement has been made to provide for the constant occupation of the patient, to preventing that fatal brooding over their painful state, to which many persons of unsound mind are particularly subject. The building will be in the Elizabethian style, of plain cha racter ; the materials will be brick, with stone dressing to the door and windows, and quoin stones at the angles of the entrance buildings, which will be approached by a drive, and are raised on a terrace. The tout ensemble will be at once cheerful, neat, and substantial, ana the building will be an ornament to the town.—Birmingham Herald. PRICES OF POULTRY, GAME, AND WILD FOWL AT PARIS ON THE 17TH INST.—Chickens, 3 francs 10 sous to 5 frans 10 sous each ; geese, 5f 108. to 7f. 15s. ; ducks, `2f. to 3f. each; wild ducks, 3f. 10s. to 4f. a couple; red partridges, 4f. 10s. to sf. 10s. the brace; grey partridges, 3f. 10s. to 4f. 10s.; woodcocks, 4f. to sf. 10s. the brace; hares, 3f. 10s. to .sf. 10s. each; wild rabbits, lf. 10s. to lf. 12s. each; Nantes chickens, 2f. ss. to 2f. 15s. each; pheasants, 16f., 17f., and 18f the brace. We read in a letter from E4ribos (Greece), of the 25th'uit.:—" There is in the whole of Greece only one guil lotine. Wherever an executiou is to take place, therefore, the guillotine must be taken to the place. For some time past this instrument had been stationary at Athens, as there were a great many brigands to decapitate who had been taken in the environs. Tne guillotine is now making the tour of the provinces, and is at this moment at Egribos, where it has just served to cut off the heads of eleven persons, one of them a priest, who were condemned to death some time ago for piracy. Although a great portion of our population do not regard piracy as a crime, and have a profound veneration for priests in genera!, whatever their private conduct may be, there was no manifestation at the place of execution in favour of the curiosity. The number of persons present to witness the execution was about 12,000." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jan. 21. OPENING THE PORTS. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the House went into Committee, to consider the propriety of tem porarily suspending the laws relating to the importation of corn ; Mr. GREENE in the chair. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—Mr. Greene, so favour able a feeling was shown by the House on Tuesday night to urge adopting the motion I am about to make, that I will not trouble the House with any lengthened detail upon the subject. I will, however, state, as well as I am able, what has heretofore been, and what is now the general prospect of the country with regard to a sup ply of food, and the reasons why I propose to advise the House to suspend the corn-laws. The same reasons may be urged with equal force for suspending the navigation laws, the two subjects being closely connected together; and immediately after Mr. Speaker resumes the chair it is my intention to propose that the House do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to enable me to move the suspension of those laws. With the permission of the Committee, I will now proceed to state what were the results of the last harvest. Upon the termination of the harvest state ments were made that the crop, with regard to corn, would be considerably below the average, while the produce in barley and oats in parts of England was very deficient. But the greatest calamity with w hich we have been visited was the failure of the potato crop, which has been most considerable in extent in Scotland. It has been stated to have extended to three fourths of the whole crop, but the exact amount cannot be correctly ascertained , y et I have no doubt in saying that it has extended to considerably more than half of the whole produce of that country. Of course, Sir, this great and general failure of the potato crop has had a material influence upon the prices of food. It was impossible not to expect that the prices of corn required for c onsumption in Ireland would be materially affected by this failure of the potato crop. But, on the other hand, there was, in the course of last year, a very large importation of foreign corn, and of corn and flour from the British dominions. The amount alto gether so imported appears, by a return which will slim-fly be in the possession of Honourable Mem bers, to amount to the large quantity of 4,800,000 quarters. This is a very large supply, but it did n ot for some time come into consumption, notwithstand ing the reduction of the duty to 4s. on the passing of the corn-law. It was for this reason that there was not;,, a very considerable ri s e in prices E i a althg h" There was not a general apprehension that there would ftverige crop of corn in the west o f ng an t -eyed . be insufficienty of food. With respect to this country, it might lie deficient in quality, but he el, and indeed t,e prices in October and in the course of November did that there was more than an average quantitY, suifieient to supply the cluticier.ey of the potato cro!• not show any very considerable apprehension with With respect to the ri-e in price, whether 14 regard to the increase of the price of food, 1 as the prices of corn in the first tOrtnation were obtained through the contiguity of week southern countries to the coast of France, it was w e of October last year was 545., in the second week known by the farmers in those countries tat; the: 555. 10d., in the third 595. 10d., and in the fourth harvest in France was likely to prove very deficie that .. , a dearth in that country was likely to occur, and ja S 9 61s. 9d. ; in the first week in November the price It wa was 61s. 3d., in the third 595. Bd., and in the there would consequently be a rise in pr!ce• fourth 593. This - shows rather a decline than notwithstanding that, however, the farmers hat ' # therefore, anticipated that this rise would take lil a ,, c o e n : , d i d tie.' an increase of prices from the middle of October to the tinned to send their corn to market, and they - e a nd of November; but, Sir, from that time there has been hesitate to do this, although they had reason to eX . ( L e ughtifr.! very considerable rise in prices-a rise of prices very peet a greater return for their grain.- considerable indeed, and of alarming character, the,. when the nature of as it did, • immediately at the time of the bar- taken le bi ,an th t e of fr c i o e r n n ds this country, the prices of corn in other natTiii. would be guided by the prices in the Eng; i t rest.-(Hear.) The Frice of wheat in the month markets. Such appeared to be the case novf, °that' X August, I think, was 475.; on the Ist of September was: to other and more distant countries ovi, it was 495.; but the price has risen in the course of the present month-in the first week in January to 645. 4d.; they looked to for the supply which wagon of. would P rt quired. lie had the sincere satisfactio ....d in the second week to 665. 10d., and the week's average, a free,' a b l e to the 16th of the present month, was 70s. 3d. expressing on the present occasion a full, entire concurrence in the proposition of the . 0 °.„ 0, The returns show that for some years past there has been a great increase in the price of barley. In Janu- Lord. He shared with him in the oPP rehellsl o v il that no great benefit would result from the sasP ensi e fit ary, 1342, the price of barley was 295. 7d., in rboetecfelttto:: of the duty, but if there was the smallest ben'no. 1843, 265. 5d., in the first week of 1844, 325. 7d., 1845, to be derived, he agreed with the Noble Lord in sor id . 345. 2d., 1846, 31s. 11d.• in the first week of 1847, 445. 3d., second week, 465. 5d., ' third week, 50s. This 50s. did that they would be to blame if they Ile thought not represent the true price at the present time. sir, I have the supply of corn for one moment. the time which the Noble Lord had deternoilled ° l, e cl, said that this rise in the price has been in a great degree the remission of the duty was rather lengtbt.,4, unexpected by those who are engaged in the trade. I hut they must, of course, believe that her . ', ll. will draw attention also to the state of the grain market jesty's Ministers had exercised a sound discreryued in France. I hold in my hand the report of the Minister of All he had to say was that for his part-and be side of Agricultural Commerce in France. In last year there he spoke the sentiments of others on that 1 " R oy was a restriction on the supply in the grain of that the House-that they did not anticipate been country ; nor was it in these countries alone great good from this concession. It ember for that the deficiency in the supply of grain was g e mee orth said by the Honourable and Learned experienced, to which he would immediately refer. Bath, that the Right Hon. Member for Ta ra :" to I have mentioned that in various parts of Scotland and was entitled to the greatest praise with relere - ee - Miser withoe.. Ireland there had been, as was well known, a great fail the famine in Ireland. All he had to i thf. o ore of the potato crop, which has given rise to that great with reference to that , observation °` es i e ht distress of which we have heard so much, and which we Hon. and Learned Gentleman was, that when the any' all so deeply deplore. lam speaking now of the effect lion. Member for Taneworth had profos ed they?, which this great failure has produced upon the general thing for the relief of the famine in lieland,ea it. supply of food, and the want which it has caused of an on that side of the flouse had not OPP°S h to additional supply of corn and other grain in the country. One of the measures in regard to wh`e woe Various statements have been made as to the actual Right Hon. Member for Tamworth had met e did amount of the loss occasioned by the failure of the potato crop. In money value, however, I Sidon from them was the Coercion Bill- ;Weed . , not indeed know whether his Hon. and Leara n e re w eal think that the general average estimate is not less than twelve millions sterling. I do not hesitate to say that considered that the passing of the Coercion P", ete e to relieve the famine in Ireland, but he would beg ~ - e a all a less sum than from lour to five millions would be required for the purchase of food, remind the Hon. and Learned Member, and il sue ne it of one description or another, to supply the de- Members in the House, that as regarded the ha d f t u b i orive le til e S . Ireland, the Right Hon. Member of Tatnworth , e ve ficiency. I have already stated, that during the with no opposition whatever to any past year we have had a supply of 4,800,000 quarters of mired relief to that unfortunate country, for the sci jr corn from foreign countries ;hut, with reference to the tural Members had over and over again expressero,bal supply that we may have to obtain during the desire to consent to all suspension of the duty o° V e - ober; remainder of the year, and before the next harvest, it their overtures were rejected by the Right 110 0 . , ors' is to be considered that there are but very few parts Ireland had, therefore, nothing to blame any agr' e .,, o o is of the world from whence that supply ca n come, Members for, and the committee mig ht Tel)* " 4: 1 ) e say • There has been a great deficiency in the harvest in those Members would never stand in the WI te e to France, Germany, and a great part of the west of E u- measure that was calculated in ,the slightest eg , • , rope. Measures have been taken in most of those coure benefit Ireland. et O w tries to supply that deficiency by the admission of corn Sir H. W. BARRON regretted that the pres e t - oil free of duty. A law has lately been passed in France sure had not been brought forward before. 1, 4 per, by which the importation of wheat is allowed free of parts of Ireland the price of wheat wa s S ' e leste s , duty, and also allowing all ships of foreign quarter, Bs. or 9s. higher than even those,,4 fit' • nations to enter the ports of France. Similar measures by the Noble Lord himself, and bearing I. `" ides . have been passed in other countries, and in others the in mind the committee would have !° l33 T re lant exportation of corn has been prohibited. The stock on hand in this country was very low, and it of the destitution of the people of - fala i] was naturally expected that prices would be when he told them, that with perhaps i s„ a is,' of five, six, or seven children the highest vrogi`tiio pis high. There are two. quarters from which a bourer could earn was 10d. per day. Why, were at° quantity of corn may be expected to this country ; one own knowledge, in his own vicinity, not only 1 '1" witig of those is Odessa. A large supply has already hundreds but thousands of unfortunate Pe °l3 ,l of I been sent to France from that port, in copse- upon one scanty meal, and yet labouring uPw a ',.: eitb e ' quence of the importation having been so hours per day. They could not afford any 101 Thil, 0' greatly encouraged. I cannot speak accurately for themselves or any one of their of the quantity which has been imported, but at least was a fact which he stated upon his own 4 hs eenst•;.. 700,000 quarters have been imported, and there is no without the slightest hesitation. He wa s c ,,tl h e : '• doubt that a further supply will be sent in the spring, and of two relief committees in that district , ::"Lito' ~, made available to meet the deficiency of this and other the means of knowing the dreadful a ti. r ot: ~-., countries. There has been a pretty fair average crop in which existed in every part of that neighboarl'°? 0 tb,r' s : America of all sorts of corn. The harvests of wheat have liament bad no idea of the terrible destitnT p ab e i e to been abundant, and the quantity of Indian corn grown pervaded Ireland, while, from what he reed in t 7, 6 0/ 11 is, perhaps, the largest ever known ; but, at the same prints, the people of England appeared yet au e " m i l llim, time, we required a very great part of that of the dreadful condition in which the unfortunasehe e ity,°' .... supply to be sent to this country. however, of Ireland were living. On Thursday last, ill the rein;,,PPoi: ships have been sent from Liverpool and other Waterford no less than 107 applicants were ot places over there with the intention of bring- mission into the union workhouse solely on The pliVi, ing to this country that supply of Indian and other sorts of corn. Now, it appeared to me that such being the the want of sufficient room to locate thew' d s tgenr sician reported to the board that it would be, e - , bal e -.2 state of the supply to this country, and such being the to the lives not only of the applicants them state 01 ; s i deficiency, it tad been found that we ought to remove the inmates of the house from the crowded s ta ta stlin c i every impediment which was in the way of a supply to this farailietaioriov, wards if they were admitted. Under these circa .4 00t2 : , country from foreign ones. It appeared at first that the they were forced to refuse admission to the 10 7 alNir OZ, duty of 4.5. per quarter was not considered very large but he was glad to say that the board, af3ll, their eillii ''' and the importation of last year shows that it did responsibility, had since taken another builainb,...(trio:, not prevent considerable importations of corn ; but of accommodating a considerable number inn te ' t ,he , 6 , there are circumstances and cases in :which that of " Hear, hear.") There was not alne n g t i e git ~fof ' duty might, to a certain extent, limit the supply tlemen who attended the sessions one disse n e joseo• g brought to this country. For instance, it was for some when the proposition was made for taxing ' s oerl' i pt time a very nice balance between the prices of corn in the relief of those poor persons who ivel e ieque ll , t A this country and France. For a short time, English under the distresses that had been justly an," :a Snip a wheat was sent from the eastern counties of this country set forth. He was one of those who v a 09 1.-- to France, but that exportation lasted a very short time upon himself a taxation of 28s. in the P o tl t he e t as the prices rose, and the balance was the other way., property of the baronies for the pport.o'd a regiv When prices rose in France corn in bond here rose to for only three months of the year. support asellh° p layedi' within Is. of the price, so that the 4s. duty would mate rially alter the destination of many cargoes. For instance, laity at the sessions where he resided, and supposing a the price at London to be 625., and the price where the country entlemen were a ectis e a it better Havre e to be 605., the price at Havre would make to assemble, and whsgre these matters Vieresonee, gulated and he had not seen one single 4t iol tha b n tteriTcrth the importer's while to carry it there where a landlord had set himself up in oPP s tsi bring it to London with a duty of 4s. Supposing that t t h o e same circumstances occurred to France, and a to the principle that property was bound to e all.o similar duty existed, it wculd hardly preventthe poor • and yet they were told gravely by th y i : o 4 , any great quantity from being brought to this but at present the restriction imposed by country, hand in that House, by some second-hand brigheir the (Laughter)-that they had not per f o rmed tot rif 4s. duty causes a considerable difference of this co ' untry,and that statement was retailed sec;,./. in the quantities brought over into this countrym. duties in reference to the poorer classes of their : e ° ooel and that they were miserably deficient in all tile, tie d to It is hardly in my power to say what quantity which they owed towards those who were elteilitf• possibly come into this country through the suspensionay relief from the more affluent portions of the cow. iim t t hers of the present duty, but, whatever the quantity He asserted it without fear of contradiction, toler ogore may be, if it adds to the stock of food fur the consumption, it is worth our while to legislate was not in the whole world a class who had e 00°C e ep ; for it. Sir, in order to afford every facility for the in- liberally forward towards the support 0 - „ di tli ti , or had acted more magnanimously towit'ocossis,, troduction of foreign grain, we propose that in regard than the landlords of Ireland on the present , seed to corn the duty at present levied shall be suspended till They had done this in the mode that vvas ine s " roc e 1 , the Ist of September in the present year. That is the able, and which clothed the act with pro per 5 00 .69;„ proposition of her Majesty's Government. We shall dignity, for they had done it liberally , and w oat w e leave to Parliament afterwards to consider whether it is So ! co be distinction of party or sect.-(Hear.) expedient to continue the suspension, or to revert to the calamity that impended over his unfortunab7yet be 0 ., the law which is at present in operation. Ido not think yet he could not help thinking that it Wig d r esell/be; that to any party in this House should oppose the proposi- considerable advantage to that country', s e n re nt in e its C n we have made.-(Hear, hear.) In regard from many of the horrors that were state Ste el e ht to the advocates of the corn-laws, it has never organization of the country, and the vitiate(' ig see.ig . been contended by them it was not admissible to suspend political condition, and he trusted that speetlil'loo ofe b 'io the principle when great emergencies arose. In 1756, be delivered from the horrors that now cast a g ao near s ,,ge in 1766, in 1790, in 1791, and in 1800, these laws were Mr. GOIILBUR,N would not follow the •'',,, bee s t - e st suspended, and yet the Governments of those times Baronet throughout the details of his addr e : h ; gres e , e ll were advocates of protective principles. With regard to w here 1 . o s ;hp he had recently arrived from a place those who are opposed to restriction, and who have argued that in February, 1849, the duty shall be distress prevailed, and consequently h e , t he r Stt able to depict the nature of the sufferings °' c ot eL o ti reduced to ls., they can have no difficulty to the House. It was perfectly natural tor i fg0,,, 2 11 in relation to this proposed suspension, because the so situated, to press, in warm laugh'', eaPe o l es cannot hold that that which they consider a bad law,y the House the dreadful nature of th e it e la ted even in times of good harvests and abundance, should b which had visited his country, an iri s ill': the a good law now, when there is a great pressure, and a lamentable deficiency of food.-(llear, hear.) Sir, equally natural that he should feel tiP°" ite re fl ec te ot o to o at statements a hich, in his opinion, I now pass to another subject intimately connected character of his countrymen, and that be s ,„ /1 13° $ , fi t ee with the present question-I mean the navigation the earliest opportunity of contradicting th e #l ,";t be, of laws. With respect to those laws considerable difficulty ; Honourable Baronet would not suppose '„iferin6o;seci importing grain into this country, arising from the high in the least degree indifferent to the s " e eer he that country if he (Mr. Goulbourn)a iyhiebtieh rate of freights in the United States of America. This difficulty has been enhanced by the demands of the Anse his opinion that that was not the occasion ° iota s i bs should have taken an opportunity of ente ri lelt f or t 0 rican Government for vessels to transport troops and muni- a discussion.-(Hear) They all knew ar,florerl the oil tions of war to the coast of America , consid e r in g t h e num - distress existing in Ireland, and consul; eara li lls ber of vessels that is necessary to supp l y car g e s of corn was the duty of England to come -I. Pl ° ' Il e sufficient to meet the demands o f this countr y for p ro vi - to relieve the distresses of the Irish Coe. t i l e sion. The rate of freights has been greatly raised. What is the ordinary rate of freight compared with what had but a single observation to offer to the " -- bich AI it, is now ? The ordinary rate of freights at entirely concurred in the Pleasure w thoscio. Dant is is 10s. per quarter; at present the charge is from Noble Lord had proposed, and b, s e at lie ca ro use 16s. 6d. to 17s. The ordinary rate at Odessa is Bs. ;it is al-o that it was most essential that t"'" pe g,oo at present 13s. In the United States of Amtrica the ordi Fromnary rate is 55.; auto present time it is from 12s. 6d. to 13; rence should be universal, and that that c; 9 • 00 ot ire should carry with it to the people -a COfi g a ie r J e Of t he the Baltic the freight is 3s. 9d. to 4s interest e hich England felt in the W eil3 4f o f e lol • 6 d. land. He would not, however, avail 2 ) ee li s e - bss (4 0 14 0 ,, There are some instances of freight still snore able and still more affecting the supply of coernretomalrrhe-- opportunity to advert to the past pro' „ es t N e at& from foreign countries. I shall quote one House with respect to this subject, ex; r iie .. .,r Mies land instance ; the freight of a quarter of wheat from Lon- that the adoptionof such a step at a° , &In c Th e eon to Cork varies generally from ls. to ls. 2d., would have gone far to have alleviated ',".,100e) Nisei' which :it was not prepared to met t.-re li re ? per quarter, at the present moment it averaged from 3 question they had to consider was-werLe 0 00`: ia to 3s. 6d., and there is considerable difficulty in finding. or not to derive advantage from tP e ,,id n c: lios vessels for the purpose of exportation. By a lower rate To it he gave his entire assent, and be c°. l , - 0 ede l ' h ovo of freightage we shall be able to employ some more of doing so, help expressing his regret, tha t ; our vessels, frsni whence we anticipate much good to of such a course, at an antecedent perioe 1 geee ke a result.-(Hear, hear.) When we reflect upon these been most advantageous ;as at the Pr e h sen 0 1° ,, ° 11e,1; facts, and consider the whole of the circumstanc es , lam sure that the House will join with me in thinkin grain of the" foreign countries to whl i c- ° by - , t i e t 11 ' for supplies; was already engage u „jeo; ;or' that these restrictions should not exist. I shall, there-g purchasers who were cometing for its Pos s ` h - teic r : 0 fore, propose a suspension of these laws. With a W ny it , h reosopehctt the es continuancem ost desirable of to t obtainhe duty ot possession of w i," dO ie lir to the present state of the law, it is not my inten- plus remained through the su sp ension of t" e ho se 5 -. tion to say what alterations, pmightapplied occasionto other ecill ' fl ee hadgthairsdastofr the naviritsi fre:ef lions ought not to exist.-(Hear, hear.) Ido not mrelacn or to s for e f :t h r t e u; l2 :l3 Pol t b il e_2l to enter into any unnecessary argument, pro yoke any hostility by any observations of mine, I will therefore conclude by moving that the Chairman getting corn into France; . and, t . r 10 1 ,:ns tlx_A o pi w th o e uld sam ha e ve ad h van d tage with their suw e ot .... ° ;taa ce ' propose the necessary resolution, which will enable me to propose a suspension of the corn and naviigeatriosnielgaan•ts:. ships such s a be course. carrieda had stated, that Mr. BANI(ES said he felt no difficulty t o t r a d t . o n, butcould upon this suspension of the corn-laws he anticipated would p were in formed a rf France r t trowilominnt t ch n elA e gha ''rr Ile, had i le ei r r- : t t hfe° 1. porte° 3 P e t thatiendedc i l i 1 0 discussion. He was not wrong in his antici • it was his opinion that the Noble L P be derived from thebeen 0 on the the navigation laws of France had ,, , se iv . vo r pnaostsienxgpoefetthmisumeheabsuenreefiotthsehrowuiside Parliament would have He thought that in order to keep la' onslo n, v ise eual footin with fo • been called together at an earlier period.- (Hear, hear.) navigation duringh laws tee urgent period i, ee 0 0e it ren countries, the s , r o P f 'd - istre s cou ld o ula L. t to The Prime Minister could not but be awl that if he, mosta se htc e 0 he measure quite necessary , anti p from 50 i ow, t b h i o s ught it expedient to pass in the course of his duty, power to have called the dissent, and for his own ' art he did assent that t ,,t freely. At the same time he was e Isnel e if such a measure, it was y in ' might, indeed, be • tiue th toat he took the Legislature together-it such a course would have been inconvenient Noble Lord and the House would not suPP: e s- purs se . r u oi to throw obstacles in the course about to . 0 ,- at' o f the . Irish Members-but the English representatives• f ceSerYl I'ooll ~ present opportunity o P s op , ' e ne. consented on the behalf of Ireland n pr t o o v t e h d e would have proposition, or any other, which would have at once cheerfullyf cOrn into himself the quesOon of any further infe rrer or w th i e th n t a h v e i m gat h io e n rea la ft w er s : or'eitboefrpirtot h t il i s t i e tia na g a a tt % e lle / 3 1 to them was for the benefit of Ireland. for not respect thought the Noble Lord had less excuse _di s ci . - 1 , 0 0 notbee But callingh he sid e e f red an to y . strictness of these navigation laws, by the , from ergo boethperereleetieimdmfroodritY:yote ;bey:mile Parliament together at an earlier period give that night; nor should he be , elude" ware pre ~, e e :en t for an alteration in the n • ' navigation laws. Th • been told They had dering any point that might arise wit" the is ees . e . .. _. that there was plenty of grain s et them, by what might t a ke °'l ;veto" different parts of the world, and • this r to e %. difficulty that was to be met with w consequently the only occasion.; He thought it right to put ill further et Ibo as a want of the With respect to there laws, he had on'Y then Ile o f w ere e r sr - means of conveyance, and that ' difficulty could only be press his ho tl f.'; the measures they the i , if. obviated by the - suspension of the navigation laws. The to take ns flit be the f allaying _,.„ means o ere eow '`" s ,, Ministry might have obviated that that . on a° di.- calling Parliament together shortly after the proroga- fering under the greatest depths of pri shish the with these tion last yea •r, and, as he had before observed, if • it had tress would see, in the readiness wl . ve , uP no st been inconvenient for the Irish Members to attend, the f ' erent interests in this country had g t Lied o s " a English Members were ready, on the part of points for which on ten-- e they had heretofore e . o on l e . h Ireland, to attend for the sanction of tile sus .' -hesitatto wins important, witout a moment s _, o f A'- em pension of the navigation laws. His information evidence of the i st rong and liberal feeting_i of differed from that of the Noble Lord with respect to the Parliament to those of its subjects in noY 1 3 '' last harvest. H 9 - - b elieved that there was more than a ;',41