The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-12 00:00:00

?TIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEY!NG, FEBRUARY 12, 1847. • ten/. down a competent officer to the spot, who should state, by Public advertisement or otherwise, the time at which he should arrive ae, different points along the line, for the purpose of re solving the suggestions of the landowners with reference to the puoposed railway. Ii the promoters of the Bid should choose to adopt those variations, they . , may be at liberty to in hem is their line without making a public report of plans and eections. If the promoters, however, declined to adopt those s uggestions, it was then proposed that the Railway Commission era should have the power, should they deem those r estrictions advisable, to authorise those persons to deposit the Plans and twctions of such variation as they might propose, and also be eropewered to bring them before the Committee ap- Pointed to decide upon the merits of the Bill, and to order or , r efuse compliance with such variations. By the adoption of this measui:e much inconvenience, time, and expense would be seared • Then with reference to the proofs before standing lirders, at present conducted before two examiners, Messrs. May anti! Smith, app'einted by that House in the last session of! Parliameria; he thought that in future sessions, that it we Uhl he necessary that the proofs of the standing orders should be revisteil by the Reilway Commissioners themselves, Or Officers under their supervision. At present the only mode of testins; the accuracy of the plans anti sections deposited with the Hou se was by means of the opposition of the opponents to the meature. Numerous Bills had been allowed to pass the d Ma nding •orders, in which the grosseet ieaceuracies were g e l lt : to the Committees, who had no power, however, :,f testing Rai It was now proposed that the officer sent down by the o tway C omm i ss i oners t o i ns pect the proposed line should be al' , owed to make his report upon the proof of the standing Orders, with reference to the deposited plans and see th', 'las The next dbject contemplated by the proposed Kill referred to the duty of the Commissioners. In t he Bill passed in the lest session of Parliament, ap- P °i niing the Board of Rail',vay Commissioners, it was arranged that the Commissioners should report to the House upon the Itailway Bills brought before them. It was necessary that large powers 'should be given to them authorizing them to !,!amine persons before themselves or officers appointed by 'erns with reference to the objections to the intended line of r ailway, a n d also as to the mode of entering upon the lards of the prop r i etors . R e d i d no t p ro p ose , indeed he thought it better that eouns6l should not be allowed to be heard or to ex amine witness es before the Commissioners on behalf of any Parts e __ e (Cheer s.) The effect of admitting them would be to P r olong the pro, zeedings to such an extent that it would be absolutely impof Bible for the Commissioners to get through th e amount of business brought before them.—(Cheers.) Great benefits •would also result from the examination of the engineers and other witnesses. by impartial persons. 'fhe en tin or opposing the scheme, wenld be examined Infinitely 800 ti much cheaper, and even more to the purpose, by a n • _ . Impartial engineer, than by calling in all the expensive machinery of ,agents and counsel.—(Cheers.) It was pro posed that the Railway Commissioners should have the power to report to the House upon all those subjects which were at resent decided upon and reported by Committees of the ouse, referring to the amount of tolls or fares, the engineer ing nature of the line, the amount of capital required for the c onstruction of the rriilway, the number of shares, and the Powers of borrowing money to be granted-to the company. lie thought that th,is report would be of great use to the Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bill, as a great deal of untuteessary and useless inquiry would thereby be avoided. A que s t i on might arise as to how far the report of the Commissioners e,hould have weight, and he proposed to regu late the authority' which it should have, not by the Bill, but by the standing orders of the House. At the same time he would mention, that in all matters relating to ' engineering and surveying, the report of the Commissioners should be held 'co be To, ima . facie conclusive on any point that I might be rai.aed, and he believed that this would be the means of saving 'the Committee a great deal of trouble, and the parties a great deal of expense. He said rima facie conclusive, be mem questions might arise where additional information would be absolutely necessary, and if so, he would advise that the Committee should, in such cases, report to the House that this was required, and that instructions should be given to the Com- ' missioners to furnish it. With regard to questions of fact, which might be the subject of dispute, he proposed that either ' party might complain, and have the Bill referred bank to the Commissio ners , and if the comelaint shonld turn out unfounded that the pa r ti es s o a pplyi n g should bear the expenses His object in introducing this provision, was to prevent frivo inns objections. With regard to fares and tolls, this was a sub ject which was the occasion of frequent difficulties before the Committee s formerly appointed to consider railway Bills. The parties who appeared before them in opposition to the schemes had no interest in this matter, and no party represented the in terests of the public. The Committee themselves had no in formationeuun as to what the charges were in other parts of the try, or on otiver railways, and consequently no data to guide them in coming to a decision. The Commissioners, t herefore, who would have all this information, would be in a Position to rentber the most essential service to the Committees on this point. There was also a subject of very great impor tance to which he would now refer—he meant the raising of capital. borrowing veoney, amalgamating with and leasing other lines of raitirsay. The Hon. Member for Coventry, who hap pened to 'oe Chairman of a Committee, had some time since called the atteoti in of the House to the subject in consequence eery objectionable case of this nature coming before his -"lamitiee; and in to report which he presented to the Home it vvas suggested that some g regulationo for this subject 'should be adopted. By the now proposed the rug festion then made would be carried into effect : one point had been strongly urged upon him not only - by some railway pro prietors' but by some parties who rem: ented the public, which Was, that the Commissioners should retain in their power a veto upon all proposed railways. He gave that point great co nsideration, and he was bound to say that he could not con cur in it. Let him suppose that they retained it with respect to those bills which had not any merit. The power wonld be ( ? f no use whatever, as these Bills would fall of themselves ;0 the ground. Suppose, then, that they exercised their veto re ely on other Bills, it appeared to him that they should be assuming the functions of Parliament; and, looking to the circumstances of this country, and considering the feelings of t h e People, he doubted whether a board so constituted would "s e approved of. There was another question urged upon the ms namely, whether powers should be granted to future co mpanies in perpetuityor for a term of years. The latter prae !teeprevailed in France, but he wished to observe that 'lle railways in that country stood in a different position from their railways, for they were laid out aud surveyed, and a large Portion o f the works executed by Government. So that the railw a y proprietors stood nearly in the relat i on o f occupy i ng tenants under the Government. If they were now, for the ' first tim e , to exercise the power of permitting the construction of the railways, it m i g h t b e a quest i on f or cons id erat i on as to h ow should p roceed, but they were differently s i tuated. Almost all the groat lines had been constructed and granted in perpetuity ; and the question now was, how they should act with future companies —whether powers should be granted in aeerpetuity, or for a term of years. He was afraid that if they adopted the latter course they would excite a feeling of jealousy, and cause an inquiry in other ways which it would not compensate. By imposing such a restriction, it might be the means of sacrificing more import ant objects, and he did not, th ere f ore, t hi n k i t proper for the Commissioners to have such a power. With regard to limiting the rate of interest on the dividends of railway companies, be Thought that if they proposed a restriction on the interest, in stead of inducing economy it would cause extravagance ; for, by the pr esen t res t r i ct i on, numerous situations were filled, and unnecessary expenditure created, which would be avoided if no limitation existed. Besides, he believed that this would be beginning at the wrong end, as a means to economy. They should begin by regulating the fares and tolls sto be charged, and by seeing that the public obtained tair accommodation at a fair price. He came now to fhe second part of the subject—the fares and tolls. With respect to them, he proposed that the power of fixing them hould be granted for a term of years. The fires and tolls that might new be fair might cease to be so in a few years, from altered circumstances ; and the period he thought of proposing was ten years. He did not mean to say that at the expiration of that time they should be thrown open for Parliament to sower them to any rates it might please, but he thought it right ghat the power should be given to revise them, and to bring them 'to the same state as when they were first imposed. The object by such an arrangement, was to act fairly towards the public at the end of this period, as altered circumstances might render necessary. Another great euestion now arose as to existing r ailway companies which had received their Bills, not subject to this alteration. There was rlso another class of Acts not atsubject, b u t th e compan i es w h o promote d t h em ' h a d l ate l y, Whena pp l y in g for new powers , made them amenable to any alteration that might be proposed. This course had already been taken with regard to cheap trains by the Hon. Member for Tarnworth. With regar d t o t h a t c l ass o f ra il wa y com p an i es , he_ prop ose d to ma k e it a condition, it they came to Parliament for an extension of powers, that the power of limiting the tolls on their main line, in addition to the branch line or extensions, Should also be conceded. In that ease the question would be set at rest, as far as they were concerned, in the same way as if the w h o l e ra il way Bi ll h ad b een b roug h t forwar d f or t h e ittegory hu first time. T s here might be some railway, not in the last ; it wits proposed, with respect to all railways, hat the power of revision of fares and tolls should be vested in parliame nt in the way he had described, and that they should continue to keep it in their hands. Another alteration he pro- POsed woe, that when any change was to he made by any rail beY c°lnpany in the tolls and fares, that due notice of it should Overt to the Commissioners on Railnays and the public, as g r eat inconvenience had resulted from this omission ; and such an alteration would be productive of no injury either to the t( "Pane or to the public. He also proposed that the com pany should give their reasons to the commissioners for Cho change, as they might furnish useful suggestions for the commissioners, when making their report on this subject to p arliament. In making these observations he had no inten tion to reflect en the great railway interests. As far as he "ews it was by increasing their traffic and accommodating the public that they would be promoting their own advantage , and he beli eve d t h at with many of them the wishes of the commis sioners would be anticipated by the companies themselves. He hoped and believed that this would be the case, but that did not make it the less necessary that the public should have Some better security,and the Commissioners would not be doing their d u t y to the public if they did not see that some such control be established. It would be also for the benefit of the railway companies themselves; for suppose three out of four companies agreed to adopt a reduced system of fares and tolls, and the fourth refused to submit to any reduction ; it was obvious that the public would have a right to complain, and the other three companies would be robbed by the railway company who took advant age o f t h e increased traffic consequence of th e re d uced rates. He thought ors th i e t i their right, railways n there fore, to retain the powe r o f rev i s i ng the fares and tolis every ten years. With regard to the c h arges to the Post-office for the conveyance of the mails, he thought that the system it arbitration now adopted should be changed, and that distinct and definite charges should be made for this service. The measures which he proposed on this point of the subject : were these—that the Commissioners should, in concert with the Post-office authorities, require the railway companies to furnish the sates at which they would carry the mails, and that the scales of charges should be reported on by the Corn missioners in the same way as they proposed to do with respect to fares and tolls. But, as the circumstances might vary, they had no objection to limit the period, for whsehthe years. e o The m pan ies sho u ld he' compelled to carry the mails to five text point, namely, the punctuality of trains, was a very im portant one. He thought it was one on which both the publi and the railway companies were equally interested. He hac heard f rom gentleman who bad m uch capital • vested in ra il ways, that t h e i r l oca l traffic constituted a very important part of their receipts ; certainly the quantity hu o t f local t ra ffi c d epen d e d very muc h op speed and punctuality, at the same time, it must be obvious that it was a difficult question to d e al with, and it was impossible that t he Legisla ture could pretend to take measures to force companies to arrive at stated places at stated hours. They could only be brought to make the trains run punctually by bringing pub licity and public opinion to hear upon their proceediegs in this respect. It was proposed, however, by the Bill, that all railway companies should be required to keep suspended at such stations as the Commissioners might direct a list of the arrival and departure of every trap. He believed tills was done !or their OA sit T hat net much addi tional trouble would be imposed upon the companies or upon their officers ; and it was also pro- Posed that, for the benefit of the public as well a t of the companies, that these time lists should be sus pended in a situation where the public might see them, and where they might check them; and also that, after a certain " t ime, they should be forwarded to the Commissioners, and that s t seuld make an annual report to Parliament of the speed. c " the diE, r,nt " * "i lion of Parliament to the punctuality or want of punctuality in the different trains run by the different companies, and their 11 4.11ee Upon the gaiety of the public. Them us &other Ipoint with respect to cheap trains—there were many other points of minor importance, on which it was not necessary for him t detain the House, as they would be found in the Bill, and be open to discussion in Committee. The House was probably aware that the law with respect to cheap trains was this—That railway companies were required to run at least one train e day for the convey trice of persons, at an expense of not nines than Id. a mile, in carriages where they would be protecte( from the weather, and which might be approved by the Cern missioners; and that they should not travel less than twelve. miles an hour. Any further interference might be objected ti on the ground that the companies had fulfilled and would lulfil the provisions of this Act, by travelling tom( parts of the journey at the rate of twenty or thirty miles an hour, and by compelling the passenger! to wait at some of the stations for other trains, yet completeing the whole journey at the average rate of twelve miles an hour. Now, he did not think that was a fair way ti proceed, and that it was opposed to the intention of the Legis lature; and, therefore, by the Bill it was proposed not only t( take the time of starting, but the time of stopping and starting from the different stations.—( Hear.) Another point was tht number of passengers. The Commissioners at present brie powers with respect to the rates to be paid by those parties, but they had no power aver the number of passengers to be cote vexed by the trains. He proposed that the number of pewngers to be carried, should be affixed in side a 4 carriages, and that certain penalties should be imposed, on any infraction of the rule. Also when the train travelled at night, that there should be lights in the carriages He came now to another question—namely, the disputes be tween Railway Companies. He would exemplify the diffi culty of adjusting these disputes by two extracts front evidence given berme Committees last session. Mr. Hawk shaw, the engineer of the Leeds and Manchester Railway, stated, in reply to a question from the Hon. Meet:her for Mon trose (Mr. Hume), with respect to the utility of the existing board, that in some cases it might not act very advantageously, but with respect to disputes between companies which formed links in one great chain, that it would be a most essential and useful tribunal. He found that Mr. Glyn, a Member of that House, and the Chairman of the North Western Railway, entertained a simi lar view. He said " instances had occurred of one company re fusing to put oo third class trains to meet the third class trains run by another Company, in connexion with it; and that great inconvenience had resulted in consequence." This, for in stance, might occur—suppose two competing lines, meeting at a given point, refused to give accommodation to each other with respect to these trains, it was obviously in the power of the one company to deprive the other of the advantages which i; wished to effect, by limiting the time of the starting of the trains, so that the public would derive no advantage Now that subject he thought deserved the most serious con sideration of the commissioners. The law at present was that the Commissioners, where the public safety was concerned, might make such arrangements as they might think v oper to promote it. Now, the Commissioners thought it advisable ti adhere to the word, of the Act which gave them .this power with this addition, that where, from the bad management 01 the company, considerable inconvenience was caused to the public by the want of a proper understanding between two or more companies, who were compelled to use their lines in common, that on the complaint of one company, the Commissioners should take steps to tetnove those inconveniences Then, with r es pe c t t o the disturbances which often took place in connexion with the construction of railways, there was a difference in the state of the law on this subject. In Scotland. where parties congregated together and created a disturbance the sheriff had the power to decide whether a policeman, to be paid by the company, should be employed or not. In England it rested with the magistrates. Now he proposed that if any two justices of the peace stated, by a report to the Commis sioners, that the employment of police was necessary for the protection of the public peace, that the Commissioners might order the employment of a certain number of police at the cost of the company. There were, as he had said minor points, which would be discussed in Committee, and with which he would not trouble the House—( Hear, hear) — such as the conveyance of military, military stores, &c., on which he would not detain the House.—( Hear.) There was one, however, which he considered a very important one—that it was proposed by the Bill, that the Commissioners should have power to call for returns from the different railway com panies, and if they thought fit, to be at liberty to verify the in formation which they might thus furnish, if they thought such a course necessary. He did think this absolutely necessary, as it was impossible that all the facts that wer. required from time to time, could be obtained. by re; urns voted by the Legislature. On a former evening, the Hon. and Gallant Member for Lincoln (Colonel Sibthorp) proposed that the Bill should contain a provision for giving parties, who might be injured, or their friends, if they were killed, to recover compensation ; but perhaps the Hon. Gentle men was not aware that a great alteration was made in the law on the subject, by the introduction of a Bill last session by Lord Campbell. Before that Act was passed, a person, who was injured, or his relatives, if he were killed by the mis conduct or neglect of a company, had no right of action, but this Act gave that power. He was not inclined to propose any alteration or addition for two reasons—first, because he thought it was right., before any alterations were made, to know how the Act worked, and, secondly, if further legislation was necessary, that it ought to be general, and not confined to accidents caused by railways, but in other ways.— (Hear, hear.) He had now gone into the main provisions of the Bill. He did not at all pretend to propose it as a complete measure; in fact, it must be obvious that a measure of that kind could not be complete and that increased experience might lead them subsequently to adopt improvements which that experience might suggest; but he did think, if it received the favourable consideration of Par liament, that it. would be found a useful amendment of the present law, and that it would be found, at the same time, most beneficial to the public, without being injurious to the reset interests of railway proprietors.—(Lend cheers. ) Mr. AGLIONBY said, during the fourteen or fifteen years he had occupied a seat in that House, he never heard a more clear or satisfactory statement than that delivered by the Hon. Gentleman who had just resumed his seat; and he thought that he might congratulate the House and the public that the Hon. Gentleman had commenced his official duties by introducing questions of so much importance to the consideration of the House.—( Hear, hear.) As one of the public, he felt a sincere interest in the welfare of railways; and he spoke without bias. as he did not hold a share in one of them—but he had an inte rest, as one of the public, in seeing them all well and effi( iently conducted, so that they might afford great advantages to th public. He rose to make a suggestion which he was almost in clined to believe, railway companies would consider it advisable to adopt, without interference from any branch whatever—he meant the stopping of trains at a certain number of stations, and the taking care that a reasonable number of trains stopped to meet the wants of the districts which they traversed. He admitted that this would involve an interference with the discretion of directors, but it was for the House to say whether it was justified or not. In fact, be saw no reaton why interference should not take place in this way as well as with respect to the fares. The directors of railways paid every attention to the long traffic but little to the short. On a railway which ran between two large towns the trains offered every accommodation —cheap fares and regular jour nies—whereas the short traffic was often taken part of the distance at a rapid pace, and left for some time at stations on the route. There should be a general rule that, where a dis. trict had no other means of accommodotion than by railway that a certain number of trains should stop during the day. It might be said that this was a matter in which the directors were the best parties to judge ; but he considered that this was one of these matters with which they might interfere with, as well and as beneficially as with most others.— ( Hear, bear.) They had to keep up stations and officers. and often stopped trains by signals, when passengers or goods were to be conveyed, se-that the regular stopping of the trains could not involve much additional expense or much loss of time; but even supposing there was some pecuniary loss, it would be nothing compared with the advantages which would be thus conferred upon the public. He hoped his suggestion would be adopted in Committee, tie begged to second the mot ion. The SPEAKER haring put the question, Mr. HUME said, in his opinion the public would derive great advantage from the Bill. He wished to know whether he proposed to take any steps with respect to the running of trains on Sundays. It was not well to leave the question an open one as at present. Considerable agitation had taken place on the subject, and as many as nineteen towns had petitioned in favour of trains running on that day. In one ease, the matter rested entirely with two directors. He should be glad to leave the matter in the hands of the Commissioners. He thought the House ought rather to favour those who were compelled to travel by the third class carriages, instead of throwing impediments in their way, He hoped the Commissioners would turn their attention to the subject, and promote their comfort as much as possible. Mr. ELLICE apprehended that great good would arise from the measure. He had examined the details of the Bill now before the House, and had found that the capital which they proposed to expend amounted to 41,000,0001. Now, it was important to know what course was to be adopted with re pect to these Bills, in the present state of public business, the Hon. Gentleman could not expect to have the Bill passed be fore these Bills went before Committees in the ordinary course. It was right that the House should know if the Hon. Gentle man intended the measure he had introduced to interfere in any way with those Bills. Mr. STRUTT was understood to say that the Bill had in view future railway legislation, and would not affect the railway Bills now before the House. If there should be any special matter on which Parliament should require a report from them, it would be in the power of Parliament to require such reports from the board, but as the session was so far advanced it would be impossible to go into such inquiries as were proposed. They would be able to go into the general merits of the Bill, but they could not enter into local inquiries. Such questions, as of amalgamation and so forth, they would examine into to the best of their ability, but it would be of the greatest importance that they should keep quite distinct the questions of the general merit, and of rival merit, as want of time as well as want of organi sation, during the present session, would prevent the board from undertaking such responsibilities; and he was most anx ious that they should not have any duty imposed upon them at first which they would not be able satisfactorily to perform. Mr. ELLICE wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to t under w R h i a c i h l r o a a l l d loßaonasrrde forlati relating e t i e r railroads a should n b d g r e f o e r r d r e e r d s report, and that that report should be laid before the House. Mr. EN TWISTLE said that he considered the Bill to be a very excellent one as laid down by the Right Hon. Gentleman. The control which they would exercise over new schemes by the proposed system of deciding between two rival schemes was excellent; the Board would not ascertain whether a better line could be obtained, but only which of the two were the better—neither of which ought to come before the Legislature for its sanction. He did not see that the Bill would give them the power of insisting them selves on a li ne w hi c h wou ld rea ll y answer th e wants of the district deii to be supplies. by railway communication. He consi ere,xaelrs c o l thatse that with i th prerogative,repe respect the and t veto, her the e eboonal could d then n h b t use fully - appeal to a Committee of the House. With reference to tolls, he confessed that the period, b as suggested, did seem somewhat sshohorutldfora not trueresult offer to a yoppositiontothe necessarilyo Bti obtained. —( Hear , Inpon hear.) thosee a r . serveo,bligtehdat to go g t o welv s e low, hour i s i : points. Again Again he would e t r o a n i s n e que w n a ces of the very great number of trains frequentlypass n w t i o th be moved valuab out of le and importantthe way, in or d er t h at i t m i g h t passengers. xctiEQ F R u not T i h n e te c rf H er A e NwicthEtL.hLecosalfletoyf the oftheE traffi c , It had (in answer to the question of Mr. Ellice) said that it would be extremely desirable that such a report should be made , and it ought to be carefully considered what words would be introduced in the Bill. Mr. GOULBURN said that there could be no possible r eason why railway compannies should not raise loans upon good securities; hut hi s ob j ect ion was , that. the present sstem ga ve them the facility of using what was a sor t o f paper -• circu lation in the c, un'ry, which led to very mat.ife,t inconvenie nce . He had not hea rd the latter p ortion of the Right Hon. Member's speech, and it was very likely that he had made some observations respecting this point which he had not the good fortune to bear. He believed that it was one of material importance not only as affecting the railway companies them selves, but the financial arrangement of the country itself.._ Hear, hear.) Mr. B. DENISON said that he objected to such a power tel in the hands of any body whatsoever, and he was quite sure that Parliament would not consent. to part with such a prerogative. On the whole, he was favour able to the measure, which he wasidered would effect very be- . I neficial results. He desited to know whether the Board could Government would have in getting back the money from the not take under its consideration the Bills of the present year— landlords, he (Mr. Grattan) need only remark that a great ( Hear, hear)—for the most valuable part of the proposition portion of the Irish landlords were insolvent, or nearly so. was that portion which would remove the impediments that He knew of one with an income of 7000/. a year who had to existed in the proper mode of deciding upon Bills. He con- pay in London 6000!. interest, and of another with an sidered that it would be well to bring the parties face to face; income of 20,000/. a year, who could not cut a stick on t was the not adhering to such a practice which engendered , his plantations without leave by a letter from Lincoln's Inn distrust in the decisions of the Board of Trade, and that Board fields. As he had already observed, the Irish Members would would be in existence still had it pursued such a system. He be sent back to make laws for Ireland, as the British Parlia believed that there was still abundance of time. The compa- ment for the last 47 years had been trying to cure the patients, nies would be quite content to wait until after Easter. but as yet had failed in giving the necessary relief. He could Mr. HODGSON hoped that there would be no delay in not give his support to the series of measures proposed by the passing the Bills for the present session. Government, and must support the Bill of the Noble Lord, the Mr. FER R AND said that he had not had the pleasure of Member for Lynn. hearing the statement of the Right Honourable Member, but Lord JOHN RUSSELL—The Hon. Gentleman the he wished to draw the attention of the House to a case of a Member for Limerick and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman railway in his own neighbourhood. An unopposed company the Member for the University of Dublin has asked eceived the sanction of the Legislature. It crossed through a the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, to postpone his Bill, tensely crowded district, and crossed five or six turnpike roads which stands the first order of the day, being a Bill for con e ,on a level. The place to which he alluded was Keigh- strncting railways in Ireland. I rise to state that I shall be :ey, and the railway passed within one hundred no party to that arrangement, and to express my wish that he cards of that crowded town, where there were hun- should proceed immediately with his measure, as it now stands '{reds waiting every morning to enter into the town, for the second reading, or if he thinks it is too late to take it such a proceeding was most dangerous, and the company this evening, I shall give way to him to-morrow.—(Cheers.) ought to be compelled to erect bridges wherever they crossed a This is the course I recommend thi Noble Lord to take, but ,vel. He would also draw attention to a case where be was this Ido object to—l object to the Bill being postponed by ‘ufferer to an extent of 4,0001. or 5,()09/. He was tenant which you will hold in abeyance other measures re if an estate over which the very same line ran, for two quired in the present most critical state of the country.— cites. The railway company were compelled to give notice of ( Hear, hear.) What is the plan which the Legislature ?heir intention of applying for an Act , and then it would be in is called upon to admit, and the course which the Government nis power to appear against them ; but the tenant for life could under the circumstances ought to take ? My Noble Friend, in make a bargain behind his back, which would deprive him of the bringing forward his motion, has stated that it is no party :um which he had stated, He wrote to the directors, but they motion, but that it is one which he believes is calculated to allowed a full month to elapse before he received an answer advance the interests of Ireland. Ido not agree with the Noble and then he got one, declining to enter into the subject, and Lord, as Ido not think that it would do so, and do not look upon finishing off with wishing him all the compliments of the it as su':h. But, Sir, lam obliged to say, that with the views mason- He did not find fault with the railway directors, but I take of the general policy of the Government and the finances with the careless legislation of the House. of the country, I cannot give my consent to the measure Mr. HUDSmN wished that the proposition of the Right proposed by the Noble Lord.—( Hear, hear.) I cannot, ;lon. Member should receive the patient and calm considera- Sir, feel that the Government ought to take upon ion which it well deserved.' But the Hon. Member f o r itself the application of such a large sum for railways. When Knaresborough (Mr. Ferrand) might calm his apprehensions I take into consideration the distress which prevails, and the +or accidents on the lines which he had described were less circumstances under which we are called upon to administer common than on others. He considered that the Bill pro- relief. In my opinion, we would not be enabled to give effect e rased to effect too much—indeed, much more than he thought to those measures of relief which the circumstances of the Honourable Member wneld be able to effect. Ireland require, and meet the urgent and extensive distress There was another point he wished to refer to, namely, punt- that prevails if we give our assent to the present measure. I uality of trains. He was quite sure the only effect of such a am obliged to say that the granting of 16,000,0001. for the supervision would be to reduce the speed on railways, because purpose of cunstructing railways in Ireland, under such t was quite impossible with the casualties of weather, always circumstances, would not be consistent with the , o keep time. Still he did not complain of this proposed in- policy of the Government, or the interests of the erference. Parliament, no doubt, had a perfect right to country.—( Hear, hear.) If it were a small sum, there might undertake such a measure, Parliament occasionally had little be some hesitation ; but when the Legislature is asked to ad to do, and he did not deny that it had the privilege of amusing vance this large sum of money, I am obliged to say that I esself in this way.—( Hear, and laughter.) Certainly, how- think it is the duty of the Government and the House to re mem this was not a march in the onward direction. Then, ject the plan of the Noble Lord, as not consistent with the ,gain, it was proposed to revise the tolls every ten years, and financial circumstances of the country. Sir, if the House no fares were to be reduced without the sanction of the Corn- pleases to g• forward with the discussion, the Chancellor of missioners. the Exchequer and myself will state the reasons why Mr. STRUTT—No; not to raise them without previous we cannot give our consent to the measure ; entice. but, on the present oecasion, all I ask you to Mr. HUDSON said that certainly was an improvement; do is, to adopt one of two courses, either to bring the but Parliament had already fixed the rates of railway corn- question to a decision at once, that the House may know, that ponies, and, surely, if they did not exceed that rate, companies the Government may know, and that the country may know gad a right to revise their tells, provided they did not go what is the policy on which you intend to proceed—( Hear, neyend the mark without previous notice. The Right Hon. hear),—or if you do not adopt this course, to give up the plan Gentleman complained that a particular company raised its km the present.—(Hear, hear.) In asking you to adopt this fares without notice. He had often reduced his fares without coarse, Ido not state that the Government will not at any notice, and, doubtless the company in question, had acted future time support any similar plan ; but on the upon the same principle. He could only say, on behalf of the other hand, I do not say that in the progress interest he had the honour to belong to, that the Bill should of the present session any large or extensive l s otd i l h nln l ß e eo . nat — itlrwn ( efat. H ryta e hsi a ,en r have their best consideration, and the Govesnment might rely scheme of railways will be proposed. Ido not desire to induce upon it, they should have his best assistance to make it as per- any one to vote against the measure of the Noble Lord the oh toot oeAoi l e r; , n . it r d o :s tMANGLE Stbeneficialhceom excellentiB b . f u r to Rightmi n bearing Hon. saying Gt thus on i his t l n ie t e mu s e t a i }ln- rFsmlr Memberei postpone b od n e er thatff oh o r r i shN L en y e i willnwl l n a. , Newark, k b nA : o t fti l el di say rs d ott o ehhneo taeod l tdthhr h a i it i have t e hoe a f r r et i hgw proposals hentl Noblet made ea a dn s e k o t m pLoo y osirlt Noble Lord postpone he n theeto he did not wish to commit himself to all the details of this ment and that either the measure p will be given up or a decision Bill. He did not view it with so much jealousy as the Right taken' on it at once. I have no desire to deter the plan Hon. Gentleman the Member for Sunderland. He could being carried into effect, if the House and the country so de speak for the Gentlemen with whom he had the ho- sire it, and they think it to be advantageous ; all I ask now is nour to be connected in the direction of the Lon- the decision of the House, or that the measure be abaidoned lon and North Western Company, and he knew for the present.—( Cheers. ) it was their anxious wish that there should be some Mr. OSBORNE thought that the statement of the Noble stringent superintendence exercised over them on the part of Lord was well worthy the. consideration of the House.--(Hear, the Government. They had always maintained the position hear.) At the same time he was of opinion that they ought that it was not by competition that the affairs of a railway corn- not to postpone the consideration of a great monetary question, pang could be best regulated. but by a strong superintendence like that brought forward by the Noble Lord, the exercised over them by Government. He wished to know Member for Lynn, for even a fortnight. Many most whether, in the case of competing lines, the Commissioners important interests in the country would be deeply would report to which they gave the preference. It was irn- affected if a . question like this were to remain in a portant that this should be done : it was well done by the late state of uncertainty for a moment. He (Mr. Osborne) would Board of Trade, and had its decisions been adhered to the evils support the motion of the Noble Lord, not only for these rea and mischief,: which they had recently witnessed would have s s o u n re s, s, b h u r t o b u e g c h a t us f e or h w e ar a d lso hy b t e h h e ev N ed oh t l h e a L t o n r o d ne at of th t e he h t e h a r d ee o m f tehae been averted. he had stated that the Railway Board, in reporting upon and useful scheme of . Mr. STRUTT said he believed, in the course of his address, Government, wouldb p e o o h f li a o ny w v o a rk lu s e, fo i r f u l n re s l u a p n p d o . rte l d t b s y bo a u g ld re h a e t r the concurrent merits of competing lines. dt ith re- pulation of Ireland would be out of employment. He would lines submitted to their decision, would report upon remembered that by the month of April, the agricultural po sasionePes:truas would ' It put an end to Bard to a point alluded to by the Hon. Member for support the motion of the Noble Lord, for another reason, he Knaresborough, he could only state, that in the case of a level would support it, because he believed erossirg, all the power the Commissioners possessed was to the wasteful system of expenditure at present pursued in that authorise - companies to erect bridges in the event of their country. He had listened with g r e at satisfaction to the Noble ,decting to do so. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Member Lord when he introduced his measure, and if the Noble Lord for Sunderland had made some observations on the proposed would enter into the discussion of the question, he (Mr. Os revision of tolls; and in answer to those observations, he could borne) would endeavour to prove, in his humble way, that it my say that that revision would be made upon the same prin- would be infinitely better to lay out money in really useful ciple that revisions were made by the Acts of Parliament public works, instead of lending it to the holders of property in themselves, and a due regard would be paid to the interests of Ireland. the company as well as the interests of the public. With re. An How. Mammas, whose name we could not ascertain, speet to the punctuality of trains, he did not expect, by any thought it would be bad policy in Irish Members to press the supervision, that the extreme time could always be kept ; but Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, to postpone his measure, and still it was highly desirable that the public should know which he would further say that if they did not support the Noble Lord lines were most punctual, and which lines were less exact in now, they deserved not to have the opportunity of doing so their times.—( Hear, hear.) afterwards.-_( Hear, hear.) Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. Mr. PIERCE BUTLER said that the Irish 'Members had, RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL. after the most anxious consideration, agreed almost unanimously On the motion of Lord J OHN RUSSELL, that the orders to communicate their sentiments to the Noble Lord, the Diem of the day be now read, ber for Lynn, that he should postpone his motion to a future Mr. S. O'BRIEN rose and said he had to request that the period. The Hon. Member who had spoken last had done so Noble Lord the Member fo: Lynn would postpone his measure in rather severe terms, for he said that if they pressed this post respecting railways in Ireland, and, in a few words, he would ponement on the Noble Lord, they would ace in a manner state his grounds for doing so. Only a week had elapsed since inimical to the interests of Ireland. Two Irish Members had the measure came before the House, and it was perfectly already spoken on the one side, and two on the other, and it obvious that the public in Ireland would have had no oppor- remained for him to give the casting vote.— (Laughter. ) He t unity of expressing their opinion upon it. It was due to the was not disposed to tell the secrets of the prison-house.—(Hear, importance, of the question, and particularly to their consti- hear.) It was not his business to do so—(Laughter)—bnt at Luents, that an opportunity should be afforded them of express- the office in Dowsing-street, where Irish Members attended in int , their views upon the measure. But he did not think it obedience. — (Cries of " Oh, oh," and roars t , f laughter , much !, fair that this measure should be prematurely pressed increased by the Hon. Member's apparent unconsciousness forward. 1 t was notorious that Government had staktd its of the cause.) He was not going to mention anything existence upon the issue of this division, and therefore the con- which would be reprehensible—(Roars of laughter)—but he sequence would be, that should the House decide adverse to had, at least, a right to speak as to what had occurred after he views of the Government, there would then be a wards—(Cheers) —among the Irish representatives.—( Con change of Ministers. The consequence of that step would he tinued cheering.) He believed he had especially P l e ly 1 fe as e t t h e r i gl h o t lel e to throw into confusion measures that were of the most urgent (Cheers) — to state wha t occurred, more em imp or tan c e to the poor of Ireland. The House must he aware Lord, the Member for Lyn n, was not p resent on that oc ci ca o s a io ni n e . that there were Bills before them at the present moment upon The Irish Members met in conclave — ( Lau g hter )— an which dep e nded the exist ence o f many thousands of to this conclusion , almost unanimously ; they it would came htoetdheissircaohnie their fellow-countrymen in I re l an d, an d even fo r elusion, that under all the circumstances, the sake of obtaining a permanent good, they that the Noble Lord should postpone his measure to .. d e m w or s e s ought n o t t o pay as th e pena l ty t h e l oss o f h uman lif e . H e convenient opportunity.—(Laughter and cheers.) 11 was in h o p es th a t this measure would not have been discussed merely giving a simple narration of facts.—(Laughter and 13 a party question, but rather that the Noble Lord the Mem- cheers.) He had not, up to that moment, expressed any her for the city o f London would have considered it as a mea- opinion of his own upon the question. They came to that con sure for soc , a l improvement which did not require him to stake elusion, and in the most respectable manner conveyed their the existen ce of th e Government upon the issue. He had sentiments to the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn. They hoped that the N o bl e L or d would have been prepared to ac- had subsequently been led to believe that the Noble Lord, in quiesce in the general wise of the House, and have adopted the most courteous manner, conveyed to them that he some measure of this kind. F or himself, he had no was 'willing, in the present most momentous periods hesitation in saying that if Gover nmen t wou ld b r i ng to conce d e to the w i s h es o f t h e I r i s h M em b er s. He (Mr. forward a proposal which upon the whole appeared Butler) would not have risen on that occasion had he to be more desirable than that propounded by the Noble Lard, not seen the extraordinary predicament in which the Noble the Member for Lynn, he should support the propositio n o f L or d, th e M em be r for Ly nn was placed, two Irish Me mbers the Government, rather than that of the Noble Lord. In his having called upon him to postpone, and two to go on w ith his opinion this measure was calculated to give immediate employ_ motion. Now, as an individ ua l, t h ere was no Irish Member ment and relief to hundreds of the Irish people, without involv- more indisposed—(Laughter) —to go on with the qu estion at ing any loss either to this country or to Ireland ; and he asked the present time than himself, b ecause h e a l wa ys desired to sup '.he Noble Lord hew they were to act when such a measure was port the present Government. He conceived that the m easure placed in juxta-position with a system of a temporary expediency of the Noble Lord was calculated to raise the unfo rtunate which would impose upon this country and upon Ireland , a country with which he had the honour of being conn ected, large outlay of public money, without the slighte st h o p e of a r e- from t he s t ate of misery and mendicancy into which ;urn. He had no hesitation in stating that he should i t had fallen ; and however adverse he mig ht be give his support to the Noble Lord, and therefore to the Noble Lord bringing forward his motion at he did not wish there should be any question or that time, still, as he had pledged himself on a former hesitation as to the course he was prepared to take, occasion to support it, he felt it his duty to do so on that oc- He believed such would be the position of a considerable casion, if the Noble Lord pressed it to a division. He w as ' number of the Irish members who were disposed to support as a Member of that House, and as a gen tleman, unwil lin g to the Noble Lord. He was anxious therefore that it should be compromise his character in any way, and he would redeem postponed for the present. his pledge, even although unwilling to vote against a Govern; Mr. SHAW concurred in what had fallen from his Hon. ment which, he believed, had done its best to r elieve th Friend who had just sat down, and cordially joined him in miseries of Ireland. The House would see that he wasre asking the Noble Lord to postpone the measure. He had prepared with a set speech—(Laught e r)— but he c onsidered on a former occasion supported the measure of the late Noble this question were now pressed to a division, it would neither on a former occasion supported the measure of the late Noble this question were now pressed to a division, jt ItO?1 and teithdhe Lord (the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests), for be more nor less than the old fight between the W hi g ; a i„he extending railways in Ireland. With respect to the measure Tories.—(Cries of "Oh ! oh.") Was it not? WhYe sde a of his Noble Friend, the Member for Lynn, he ( Mr. Shaw) Noble Lord carried his motion they wo ne The ate _ hoped the Government would think favourably of it, and if change of Government.—(Hear, bear.) di that they did not adopt it, at least bring forward a similar plan. Lord at the head of the Government had st Med this . But' if the question came before the House in the shape of an if the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn ear for the alternative, either to reject the Bill or put out the Govern- measure the Government will retire , and it wa s s dne, an d ment, he was not prepared to press forward the plan, or to House to consider the delay which this would Mem' of thousands. vote in its favour. At the same time he would the fact that the Irish were dying by hundreds ed to any d be prepared to support it, if brought forward under other sir- Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL had never bate° of sill, there cumstances. Seeing the constitution and state of that House, cussion with more pain than the present. Firsters and he and the awful state of Ireland, he trusted the Noble Lord, the was a division of opinion between the Irish Mern the miseries of Member for Lynn, would propose the further consideration of was sorry to say that to divisions they owed dom e to a dise the Bill ; particularly as that course would enable the House their country. He trusted that if they would easures they and the country to give it a full examination, apart from all cussion on the principle of the Noble Lord's Noble ' party motives.—(Hear, hear.) While he recommended that would disembarrass it from all other et:inside:a:tie: course, he trusted the result would be that her Majesty's important questions which were at pres he en e, representieg Government would listen to the prayer of the people of Ireland, with it. He had hoped that Hon. Mew and bring forward either this or a similar measure. — ( lean ) his country would have been agreed ha . d trusted that There would be nothing derogatory to the character of the they intended to pursue, and 9 h- which had nothing Government in their doing so. While he hoped the Noble they would not have introduced any topic whether the measure Lord at the head of the Government would be prepared ;with whatever to do with the mere question erwith r espect to what some measure of this kind, he could not conceal his sentiments, should be postponed or not. He thought restd f the Government, i e r: i t ae o e nd m d t course h t e ut' r pe s that, under present circumstances, it would be better to post- had fallen from the Noble Lord at the hea pone the measure. In conclusion, he trusted the Noble Lord he (Mr. J. O'Connell) could not half eI r P hardly to s lii: t i on ; they had to choose the Member for Lynn would say at once whether he would the Nuble Lord had acted in a m p aft rt ne him. postpone his Bill or not.--(Hear, hear. ) Hon who wished Iris tf h ha Mr. H. GRATTAN said he would express his views on were placed i a s sn embarrassing ! his regret that atton, therefore, was very dik e subject under consideration without any disguise whatever, between two evils, and their h ere was a chance of it, let the as he did not recognise any leadership in the matter. He cult. He would still say, if th but he was afraid his re intended to vote for the measure of the Noble Noble Lord postpone his that which had been urged by Lord, the Member for Lynn. For twenty years quest would be of no avail, dhow of Government. Parliament had been attempting to do something, the Noble Lord at the head „,;Lic said that however painf I never till the present time had anything effectual been done. Lord GEORGE MENTIte so bliged to take - • a on the subject They had heard that the people of Ireland d • by the h" hhe w a- were dying was course wle id be compelled to persevere,—. thousands, and there were two doctors who were prescribing before the House he woo ) No change had come over the for the disease. The question, therefore the had to consider (Cheers and counter cheers. , d fth ' was, which of the plans recommended were the best—those • •of his dream . of the Government, or rho measures spirit proposed by his Hon.the first day of the setsion . in Friend the Member for Lynn. He decidedl him • latter prescription , as it was one which had by the late Mr. Drummond as the best means referred the still continued in the p y pre . been recommended which was one of thedearest ; since therene ay o . e session ; for, as on , and the friends who acted with i ression that this was ' a question this afternoon that he had received a theinterests of Ireland. It tne r a e s c u o r i e le ' cted tbat the professed object Ireland. Since the year 1835, Committee -signed by th i r ty-four of the Irish Members of both after Committee requisition, had sat on the question, and many reportsof assisting was only at four o'clock postpone the second reading. The refusal to made in favour of railways for Ireland had been Houses, to . hiCh they made to him certainly gave him ; but adopt the proposition sv to as yet, no plan had been followed up, Th e England, owed a debt to Ireland, and he trusted the Noble of the Ministry was cl• ate to give imme la t relief to Ireland, and Lord, the Member for Lynn, would exact it by pushing forwardalthough he and the friends who ac h ed with him were quite House, and great pain. But it should be his Bill. If the Bill was carried into effect, he was anxious and to act • would occasion a great saving of money, while it would do much to meet the views of Ministers!_uis in accordance with for the permanent improvement of Ireland. Since he had the proposal now before the Hlard, se. s s friends tadb been persuaded it anxious to carry out that .object, yet t e were equally come into the House, he had received accounts of a most summoned from all parts of England, dcotland, and Con shocking character. Fever it seemed was s p r eading in the tinent; but although they were repare to act, yet he did not north of Ireland, in Lurgan, Longford, and many other hesitate to say that they would postponeai h their own conve places,nndd to l Sligo. .It nience to that of the Irish Members . e Government, and feelings to weigh a 1 the Irish would not suffer their own against the public no Government,go . good by remaining • interest. He regretted the the more,e therefore, to see the result and the They should recollect, t Foreign-office here. Now to the next point under consideration : they had of the meeting at and it was expected sh to oduildd ext s e e bat in gthe°ffice that day. of Speech of her tmembersel was decide his back, a between o e p k i opinion s i osn het he thathinei measures ae sv t e h e rdeeys they e f she day the Lord, the ;Member Lynn. Now, what did Majesty on the first . session, that plan of the Noble Let them take the Destitute Per- there was an especial recommendation to take the affairs of N measures pro the Government propose? that in the there o only 500,000 e ,as a million absence of all political excitement, was an o t • sons' Bill. On that Bill it was proposed to raise a million and a Ireland into consideration . A statement was made half; but this amounted in reality tOpportunity for This sum was to be given through devising such measures as would lead to the permanent advan. ftr l o r m ela h n i d s . had been already expended. other hand, p n o t - t s h ed ou the means of the landlords. Was that the plan that the tage of a did hone, then, that House ought to act upon ? On the Noble Lord , and he wan therefore, been received et them take the plan of the admitted thatrail- and grievedany party bias; that this subject at finding both surprised the Member for Lynn. It was generally sid li e ofthe House, would haveall; • ht made a battle and that they should be in- of party. Yet, whatever mig be the ways conferred great advantages, consequences, d to do so. The he felt compelled to persevere in his troduced into Ireland. This plan propose but that theand if difficulties should any arise, present motion ; Noble Lord did not ask for 16,000,000 !. at once, whatever those • in order to carry difficulties might be, not upon his head, but uen the head of money should be advanced from time to time, p of this the Noble Lord, must rest the responsibility the works into execution. While such was the nature of those results ' • desert rnment shouldthe Ministry the helm. proposition, the Noble Lord at the head of the GoveUnder these circum asked stances, he felt that he should not b for powers through which he told them he would friends if he did not persevere in this e doing his duty to his have to expend 6,000,0001. before the month of Augusts motion.—(Cneers, and next, without b e i ng re p ro d uc ti ve ly employed, and with counter-cheers continually interrupted the speech of the Noble nti the utmost excitement pery little prosp ec t o f gett i ng b ac k th e mone y. But by the Bill of ! Lord, d ad d h e t e House during I the Noble Lord, th e M em b er f or Ly nn , they had a chance of 1 is delivery.) getting the ret urn , l a or d er to show .tlio ability the Alb ROEBUCK thought that the Noble Lord himself had been unfair, if any one had, in denying that the House did not entertain the proper feelings on this question. The Noble Lord had accused the Mini-try of making this a party qnestion, but if any one had done so, it was the Noble Lord who was guilty of the charge, by stating that Government had made it a party question and one solely resolveable into the convenience cf the Irish Members. The real question was, how was the difficulty to be met? The people of England had been squeesecl until they were perfectly dry. This was not a time for mincing phrases, and in the language of the Hon. Member for Meath, they were ROW bound to speak the truth. He meant to follow that example, and do as the Honourable Member for Limerick had done, tell the House that this was merely a plausible pretence for the relief of Ireland. The object presumed was the immediate relief of Ireland, and yet the Noble Lord was pressing this measure to a division to-night in the face of three Bills now lying on the table of the House. Those who had no historic appeals to make could well understand the object cf the Noble Lord the Member for Newark (Lord John Manners), who, the other night, made such an urgent appeal for the people of Ireland. There was evidently a split in the camp, and this proceeding was only a stop-gap to prevent its being known. Ilete they had a great party. The Noble Lord called it "my party'— ( Cheers and laughter)—a great party, called from al: quarters of the globe, giving no regard to thci: private convenience, called together to bring this great question about, affecting, as it did, all the financial and commercial concerns of the country. There was not a monied man connected with the monetary interest of the country who would not tell them that while this great question concerning 16,000,000'. or 17,000,000/. hung over his head his hands were tied up, and it was of vital importance that it should be settled. Therefore he said, as one who felt an interest in the well being of his country, that it was the duly of the Noble Lord to bring it to an immediate termination ; and glad he was that, in spite of Irish convenience, the Noble Lord was forced to do so.- - (Cheers.) Lord GEORGE BEN TINCK then moved that the second reading be adjourned till to-morrow. (Cries of "Oh oh," " Go on, go on," " Divide, divide.") Lord JOHN RUSSELL had no objection to proceed with the Bill to-morrow, but he trusted the House would take the third reading of the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill first. The second reading was then adjourned till to. morrow (this day.) AMERICAN NEWS. SEVEN DAYS LATER. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY EVENING. By the arrival of the packet-ship Queen of the West, from New York, from which city she sailed on the 23d instant, we have papers to that date inclusive, being seven days later than that brought by the Yorkshire, on Friday last.: The steam-ship Ilibernia had not reached Boston on ttle 2 tat, but was hourly expected. Two packet-ships, the Rochester, from Liverpool, and the Quebec, from London, had arr i ve d at New Yor k ; each takes out two days later news. The papers before us do not contain any very important intelligence, and that portion which refers to the war in Mexico has been almost entirely anticipated by the arrival of the West India mail. The New Orleans papers state that no app reht nsion is now fat for General Worth's safety. The Washington Union of December 19 contains the following : Dispatches have been received from General Taylor ' dated the 22d December, near Monterey, representing that he had left that place on the 15th for Victoria, having previiusly put in motion the troops destined for that point. At Monte morelos a junction was effected on the 17th with the 2d in fantry and 2d Tennessee regiment of foot from Camargo ; and it was intended, with the whole force (3,5( © men) to march, on the 19th, for Victoria. But on the evening of his arrival at Montemorelos, a dispatch arrived from General Worth, commanding at Saltillo, with the intelligence that Santa Anna designed to take advantage of the division of force towards Victoria, and by a rapid movement to strike a heavy blow at Saltillo; and if ... successful, then at General Wool's force at Parras. Under these circumstances, and with no means of judging bow far this information might be well founded, the General returned to Monterey with the regular force, in order to be in position to reinforce Saltillo if neces sary. The volunteers under General Quitman, reinforced by a field battery, were ordered to continue their march, and effect a junction with General Patterson at Victoria, while General Taylor returned to Monterey with General Twigg's division, now increased by the 2d infantry. In the meantime General Butler and General Wool being advised by General Worth of a probable attack upon his po sition, moved rapidly to join him with all the available force at Parras and Monterey, while orders were dispatched by Ge neral Butler to hasten up troops from the rear. The latter General proceeded in person to Saltillo and aseumed the com mand, agreeably to instructions which had been given him by General Taylor before his departure to meet a case like this. General Taylor had proceeded beyond Monterey on his way to Saltillo, when he,was met on the 20th by a dispatch from the post, announcing the early arrival of General Wool's co. lumn, and also that the expected concentration and move ment of the Mexican troops upon that position had not taken place—indeed, that their advanced posts had rather been withdrawn. Deeming the force there, and soon to be ct Sal tillo quite sufficient to repel any demonstration at this season from San Luis Potosi, General Taylor did not think it worth while to throw forward General Twigg's division to that place, and after resting it a day, designed putting it again in march from Victoria, to which point he was to proceed himself. General Patterson was supposed to be then well on his march from Matamoras to Victoria, when his division, ex cept the Alabama rangers, in garrison at Tampico, will be brought together. With a force holding in observation the passes from Tula, the garrison at Tampico may be reduced with advantage to the service. The proceedings in Congress were unimportant. An effort had been made in both Houses to try and bring the war in Mexico to an end by negotiation, but what success ulti mately attended these peaceful movements we are not fully informed. _ _ The papers by this arrival contain accounts of the opening of the Mexican Congress and the President's Message, of which the following is an extract : MESSAGE OF THE MEXICAN ACTING PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN REPRESENTATIVES,— The august act which we have assembled here to confirm is, in solemn compliance with the grand national promise, enveloped by the resolution of the month of August last. With that confirmation ceases the precarious situation which necessarily ensues between the destruction of one class of political affairs and the establishment of a new one; and by means of the body of representatives, elected by the people themselves, by their own free choice, being charged with the public safety, the nation is nowabout to decide its destiny in this epoch of a terrible social crisis, when dangers of all kinds threaten our nationality, and while there remains the heart of every good Mexican a last hope that we shall finally consolidate our political being. Deeply filled with these patriotic sentiments, as a simple citizen I give thanks to Providence that He has permitted our reunion, and I give them with more fervency because, as a public man, I have been permitted to fulfil the sacred pro mises which I gave in the capitol of Mexico, and now relieve myself of the revolution without having deviated from one of those principles which were so truly popular, or disap pointed one of those hopes which the unanimous enthusiasm of the nation awoke. It remains for you to make this revo lution the most grand and the most happy of any of our political movements. In the short term which has passed since August, having overcome my natural repugnance to the exercise of power, and having been placed at the head of the nation, my first object has been to sanction the war in which we found ourselves compromised, and in the result of which nothing less than the independence of our country itself is involved. _ _ The army which united with the people and raised itself to destroy those who usurped their sovereignty, and who threatened the establishment of a foreign throne over our country. after having completed the national movement, marched to the spot where dangar called them, and are at this day in front of the enemy, and under the command of an illustrious soldier whom the republic called to the defence of its nationality. A section of our troops were quickly dis patched to the reinforcement of the old army of the North, and in the city of Monterey they awaited the attack of the invaders. Congress already knows the fatal results of that encounter, in which North, American blood ran freely. The chiefs who:there commanded our arms having been sum moned to a court of inquiry, the nation remains satisfied, and it is not for me now to comment upon the judgment of the judicial tribunal. But worse than all, this unfortunate event has thrown. into the power of the enemy one of the capitals of our states, also a vast extent of territory, thus transferring the theatre of the war into the heart of our republic. The Government, undismayed by these disappointments, thought only of raising new forces. The illustrious General Santa Anna, by an act of his life which will cover him with imperishable honour, (refused) to take upon himself the supreme command, but marched at once to San Luis, where, in the space of a few weeks, he united ani organised an army of more than 22,000 men, sections of which have already thrown them selves before, and encountered the enemy! On their part, the Government of the United States, pledged as they are to " conquer a peace," have given orders to General Taylor that he should advance. Thus, then, another encounter be tween the two nations will soon take place. From the valour and number of our troops, the enthu siasm and skill of their chief, and the justice of our cause, we ought to expect a favourable result. But, however it terminates, this action will neither be the last nor decisive. Our country being invaded and occupied—not only the ter ritory in question,, but a great part of that which never belonged to Texas—whole states over which the sovereignty of Mexico was never questioned; enveloped in a war for our race, and aggravated in a manner the most unjust and atrocious which the mind can conceive of, our honour and the welfare of our children—this sacred interest which nations are not able to disregard—obliges us to sustain the struggle, however prolonged and obstinate, until re spected for our valour and our constancy, we hall arrest the immoral ambition of our northern neighbours, and make sure the position of our race upon this hemisphere, peopled for the greater part by them, and where at no distant day their ardent and generous deeds will shine forth, brilliant as the noon-day sun. If great sacrifices are necessary for this strife, disgraceful would it be to lose the whole for the false advantages of a deceitful and fugitive peace. In a great crisis we.are called upon to give illustrious proofs of our power and virtue. Our fathers fought for their independence eleven years, in a strife always disadvantageous, spilling their blood at every mo ment. Thanks to their spirit we were raised from an humble colony to the position of an independent nation. If Mexico fights with constancy and intrepidity, her's will be the triumph and the merited respect which she will acquire among the other nations of the earth. Acting on these principles, the Government has not desired to receive any propositions of peace ; the question of war remains submitted to your decision, and the Government can only recommend to Congress the urgent necessity of aiding the army with all the resources necessary for the campaign. ' The people of Mexico, who know end feel the magnitude of the interests which are at stake in this war, will not refuse their resources for its prosecution. The strife is not one of those wars which pride so often engenders. It is the pheno menon of an object still more important and transcendental, whose motives are in their nature similar to the causes, and the extension of whose consequences it is difficult to conjec ture. The northern race has spread itself over this continent with celerity and force, unexampled in all previous ages, and now, in their growth, they threaten to extend themselves over our territory and extinguish our race, establishing the predominance of their own in its stead. This invasion will produce the same results under the auspices of peace, as in the days of war; and thus to make sure the permanency of our race we have need of institutions which will promote our solid growth and prosperity. Lucre the President leaves the subject of the war, and goes on to review the political state of the country. He says, that since the revolution of last August, all the states have introduced the old constitution, finding that much the best. He regrets the previous loss of their democratic institutions, but rejoices that they now have a prospect of recovering them. The choice of their officers and the laws of their country, he is convinced, should be the sacred right of the people. After portraying the great Mexican nation as it once was, he describes it as it is now, and concludes as follows :—] I do not wish to sketch this melancholy picture, but these calamities moved my Mexican heart; they in spired me with the resolution to place myself at the head of the recent revolution, and to proclaim the return of the democratic and liberal opinions, the only ones that can make us respectable and happy. God knows, gentlemen, that no ambitious wish enters into my views. The power which necessity threw into my hands, has been held by a continual sacrifice of my aspirations. I have never harboured any thought or desire, except to see my country the conqueror of its enemies, and to enjoy in its bosom, the peace, the liberty, the glory which she merits. I have believed that the meeting of this Congress would signalise a happy epoch, and I bless this day, by me so much desired, on which, depositing the power in your hands, nothing will impede my road to the army,tosiiare their dangers, to fight like a soldier against m country's exercise of foes. On this day the nation ente rs into the full its sovereign rights. Gentleman Representatives,—The revolutionlthasc remainso m - pleted that which it promis es to. the peop have now for you to fulfil the hopes wlnchwheicfeh ever} - Mexican ev con ceived; to make certain the prayers o at this moment oilers to Heaven for 4hueurprudterioncteisam yourndfor tune of their wort h y re p resentatives. p atriotism, your virtues are the best guarantees that these knowledge sacred and your will be fully satisfi ll et. ARIANO SALAS. of Congress, n 6 cY l B S 4 e G n . o r Sublets, President Isis sxicEo Dec. nt Sir, The national represenatives have hea r d with pleasure the solemn words which repliedi‘rt as e followsc excellent :-- the Executive has spoken. The chief of the glorious revolution of August 4th has manifested his satisfaction, to see the vote of the people which was given at the capitol, complied with. The representatives of the people desire to return, through me, the most cordial response to the chief of the people's revolu tion. The element of democracy rules through the republic, and I am able to give assurance that the fundamental laws of the country will have for their object the common welfare of all, without yielding to the exaggerated pretensions of the minority. Truly difficult it is to commence this work at a time when the powerful republic of the North insults, invades, and threatens us with the absolute annihilation of our nationality; but these representatives, so far flow' being discouraged by this melancholy situation, will press f orwar d i n the Inidsf o "f the combat to give all convenient organization, to the end that the integral parts of the nation may have vigour to, resist. _ _ No, Mexico will not be less than France, who, though the legions of Europe came to invade her, conquered princes and organized her government at the same time. By good for tune the mildness of our climate, the blandness of cur customs, and, if I may say it without boasting, our ♦irtues, will cause us to work in an energetic manner, without committing the crimes, and covering ourselves with the blood which stains the history of the old_ world. The decision manifested by the supreme power, the in trepid valour of our army, the noble resolution of its com mander, and the reanimation of the public spirit throughout all the states, appear to be good symptoms that the epoch fixed by Providence has arrived, when the Mexican nation may be able to call itself, and to be called with truth, sove reign, free, and independent. Before 'the Supreme Being we were, yesterday, sworn to procure, 2B far as in our power, the good and prosperity o the nation. The oath will be fulfilled with all the loyalty which a sacred duty and tried pat r ioti sm d eman d. The commercial news by this arrival is satisfactory. Ex change at New York was 106 c. to 106 c. for bills on Lon don, but at the fatter q uo t a ti t n th e b us i ness was very dull. In bread stuff few transactions were being effectei, and prices were advancing. AFFAIRS IN YUCATAN. (From the New Orleans Papers of th. 11th.) The following is a more pr r: account of an overture by Yucatan, mentioned in the previous accounts from the Gulf:— A Mexican schor ner, bearing a flag of truce, arrived from Campeachy on the 24th. She brought the news of a decla ration of the independence of that province from the central Government, and claiinirg for her porta the privileges of nentrAlsCommodorewhich it is believed Commodore Conner r e fu s ed unless they hoisted the American flag. Merida, and the country adjacent, had refused to unite in the movement, and proposed to put it down by force of arms. 'I he Campeachanos had marched upon Merida with a force of 2,500 men, the Meridans having 4,000. It was supposed by the captain of the flag of truce, that a decisive battle was fought on the 21st ultimo, that being the latest date front the army, at which time they were within a few miles of each other. The flag of truce left Anton with the answer of Commander Conner, on the 27th. AFFAIRS AT TABIPICO. (From the New Oilcans Tropic, Jan. 11.) The brig Hallowell arrived at the South-West Pass on Saturday morning, after a passage of sit days from Tam pico. The captain reports matters quiet when he sailed, and nothing of interest had transpired since our last dates. BREWING FROM SUGAR BILL, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the third reading of this Bill, whereupon Mr. MOFFATT moved the insertion of clauses, because the Bill did not provide for penalties. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER resisted the clauses, and they were therefore withdrawn. Mr. MOFFATT then moved the insertion of another clause equalising the rights and privileges of all distillers in England, Ireland, and Scotland, with those of the colonies. The business of distilling in this country was a perfect mono poly, and unless the regulations were reformed, and the rrivi - ges extended, none but very large capitalists could embark in the trade, and hence there could be no extension of this branch of our manufactures. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER oppo!ed the clauses. Mr. HUME was decidedly of opinion that spirits of Eng land, Ireland, and Scotland, ought to be put upon an equality, and that those spirits should be allowed to be bonded, in the same way as colonial spirits. After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER the clause was with drawn. The Bill was then ordered to be read a third time. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS' BILL. This Bill was brought in and read a first time. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE. The SERGEANT-AT-ARMS said that he had taken into custody, by order of the House, a gentleman for hating im properly intruded himself into the gallery set apart far Hon. Members. Mr. JAMES said that he was acquainted with the party in question, and knew him to be a respectable person ; it was quite by mistake that he had entered the gallery instead of the strangers' gallery; being a stranger to the place he had inquired of the policeman in attendance the way to the gallery, and was directed by him to that part of the House where he was found when taken into custody ; he begged, therefore, to move that the Sergeant-at-Arms be requested to discharge him out of his custody. Mr. GREENE seconded the motion. The prisoner was, therefore, ordered to be discharged out of custody. The House then adjourned at a Quarter-past Eleven o'Clock. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S—THURSDAY. NEWMAP.KET HANDICAP. 100 to 6 agst Mr. Jaques's Sir Martin—taken 25 to 1 agt Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum—taken 30 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Dulcet—taken Business very slack, and judging from appearances, likely :0 continue so. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 16 to 1 agst Mr. Whitworth's Lady Sarah—taken 18 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Pink Bonnet TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 8 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham—taken freely. 150 to 100 agst Kent's lot—taken. CHESTER CUP. 25 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mendicant 22 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's The Lamb—taken, 30 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Flitch 30 to I agst Mr. Mostyn's Camera Obscura. 33 to 1 agst Mr. Herbert's Antler. 33 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Bedlam. 40 to 1 agst . Mr. Minor's Duke of Richmond—taken. 40 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Princess Alice. 45 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Mickey Free 1000 to 20 agst Mr. Skerratt's Intrepid—taken And aft. off. 1000 to 20 agst Mr. J. Day's Bourton—taken. 1000 to 20 agst Mr. W. Scutt's Sir Tatton Sykes-1000 to 15 laid once. 1000 to 15 agst Mr. llesselton's Fitzallen—taken. 66 to 1 agst Mr. F. R. Price ns The Premier (3 yrs)—t. 500 to 10 agst Spem Gregis, and Bit Nibble—taken. Very little doi►ig, and no change, except in Princess Alice, who was backed freely at 50 to 1, and closed at 40 to 1, layers ;-5,000 to 200 offered agst Mendicant in one bet, but no blow struck. Even money laid between twenty seven and the field DERBY. 15 to 2 agst LordEglinton'sVan Tromp—take 8 to 1 12 to I agst Mr. Bowes's Epirote—taken 14 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet 2" to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Glentilt—taken, and aft. off. 25 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham 33 to 1 agst Duke ofßich.nond's Red Hart—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Lunedale 50 to 1 agat Mr. O'Brien's Bedlam 50 to 1 agst Mr. Mostvn's Projectile—take 1,000 to 15 50 to 1 agst Mr. A. %V. Bill's Will o' the Wisp take 1,000 to 15 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Merry's Limestone—t. and aft. of. 3000 to 45 agat Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf 900 to 150 agst Epirote and Planet—taken Epirote was again in force, 13 to I having been taken to between seven and eight hundred pounds, and subsequently 12 to 1; Planet lost a little ground in consequence, nor were the backers of Glentilt so fond as usual. Apart from these movements, the betting was_llAt and unimportant. OAKS. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Jno. Day's The Farmer's Daughter —t. to 3001. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Clementina—t. 9 to 1 16 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's 20 to 1 agst Captain Ilarcourt's Ellerdale—t. to 1001. 20 to 1 agst Clementina agst Nerissa—t. to 1001. LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. Handicap Sweepstakes, of 20 sovs. each, &c. To declare ou the 17th instant. at. lb. , Switcher { Brune tte • St. Leger l2 3I Saucepan l2 2 Firefly l2 0 Cure All ll 13 Sam Slick ll 12 Pioneer ll 12 Ballybar The Page ll 10 Discount Culverthorpe ll 6 Jerry ll 6 Sabine Gaaeley ll 5 False Heir ...... ....... .. 11 4 The Pluralist Palmerston Frederick ll 2 Railroad Christopher North ll 2 Eagle ll 2 Gog ll 0 Latitat Glaucus g ll 0 Marengo ... 11 0 Ragman lO 12 Jack Proceed . Cavendish Free Handicap Acceptance: st. lb.i Tom Tough Exhort Ballybar Crcesus ll 5 1 Idolater Thurgarton Counsellor Fireaway ll 4 The Highwayman ll 4i Wizard .. Kerdifistoun Whistle Binkie ll 0 1 The Wandering Jew ll 0 Repealer st. lb. Avoca St. Ruth lO 10 Midnight lO 10 Red Lancer lO 8 Alameluke 'Forest Boy Barmaid lO 8 Grenade 'Clinker Young Lottery ... 10 7 Roarer lO 7 Sparta Gayhurst lO 7 Nimble Harry i Matthew lO 6 [ Tramp lO 6 I Teapot Blue Pills Quicksilver ...... .. ! Tamworth !Cumberland Lassie ! Fanny Elssler I Profligate IValeria IJeu d'Esprit ... I The Indian Prince lO 0 ! Teresa .. Little Tommy 9 6 Tom Brown 9 6 ) Sacrifice s to be made on the 17th : I st. lb. Pimlico 'Jenny Lind...... ... .. I Redstreak Valeria lO 8 Rail lO 6 !Linnet Figliu !Raymond Lally .. 10 2 : I NVill-olVisp :ITeresa lO 0 iI ',TBne c tsoPoaerrauss... lO 2 10 0 9 12 ) ill 9 12 The following horses, in addition to those published, have lately received names : THREE nun OLDS. Colt, by Inheritor, out of Calypso Enchanter. Colt, by Inheritor, out of Calypso's dam Ulysses. Filly, by Ascot, out of Languish Lethargy. Colt, by the Augean, out of Morea St. Mungo. Colt, by Hetnian Platoff, out of Velvateen Veronitz. TWO YEAR OLDS. Sister to Intrepid (half-bred) Reality. Colt, by Elis, out of Spangle Glitter. Colt, by Erymus, or Commodore, out of Elphine, Elcho Castle. Colt, by Charles the Twelfth, out of Morsel.. Oscar. ARREST OF A PROSECUTOR.—At Southwark Police Court on Wednesday an order of protection from the Crown Court was procured to enable Mr. Skipper to appear, without the risk of being arrested for debt, subsequently to his de parture after signing the depositions and entering into the required sureties to appear at the Central Criminal Court to prosecute Burfielcl, the porter at the Catherine Wheel Inn, for stealing 3001. During the whole of the p roceedi ngs two sheriff's officers were hovering about the court in order to " grate" their man, if an opportunity presented itself. The " order of protection," however, prevented them from putting their writs into execution in the county of Surrey, and Mr. Skipper was advised, on leaving the Court, to proceed home, and not venture into another county, otherwise his order of protection would be of no avail. He, however, disregarded the advice, and having quitted the court, when he got a suf ficient distance from it, imagining that the " bum bailiffs" had gone another way, he ventured out of the limits of protection, and had no sooner arrived there than he was im mediately pounced upon by Sloman, the sheritTs ofil . cer, who succeeded in effecting his capture and conveying his person off to a sponging-house. The Conde de Montemolin, accompanied by the Marquis de Villa Franca, honoured the meetuig of t h e m Roy al al So c iety with his presence yesterday evening . aters House. The Prince was received by the Marquis of North ampton, President of the Society ; and, after the meeting, aryl where the C w o a n s d c e on to d o u k c t t e e d a w t hh the Fellow of o the e s olciibert• ARMY INTELLIGENCE. La Patria, of New Orleans, says that IL Cox has been appointed interpreter to General Scott, and has proceeded to Mexico. (From the New Orleans Commercial Times, Jan. 11.) The officers of• the British fleet at Saerfficios had heard from the city of Mexico that the finance committee in the Mexican Congress had reported that, in order to carry on the war, the Government would require 250,000 dolls. per month, and stated that the sum of 90,000 dolls. was all that could possibly be raised, which sum they depended upon the Church for. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Advices a few days later from the Gulf squadron were received at New Orleans on the 11th instant, by the arriral of the barque John Barnes. The dates by her from Anton Lizardo are up to the 31st ult. The John Adams was still blockading Vera Cruz, while the rest of the squadron were to leeward on a cruise. The only vessels at Anton Lizardo when the John Barnes sailed, where the frigate Raritan, the store ship Relief, and the steamer Petrita. The health of the officers and crews was generally very good, there being but few on the sick list. There is very little news of importance. (From the New Orleans Papers, Jan. 11.) We learn that the following ships have recently been chartered by Government to transport troops and stores to Mexico, viz., Ondiaka, Alhambra, Russell Glover, Sharor, Statesman, Archelaus, Medford, Oregon, and Oxnard. They are all first .class vessels—amongst the finest in port. The steam-ship Massachusetts, which left here on Monday evening last, with troops and provisions for the Brzoos, grounded on the bar at the South-West Pass, and remained there until Saturday afternoon, at which time she got off, and proceelcd on her voyage. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, went out yesterday in a sledge, Prince Albert driving. In another sledge wer e Count Alexander Mensdorff and the Hon. Misses Stanley and Dawson. The Earl of Morton followed in a third sledge. The Equerries in Waiting, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey and Captain the Hon. A. 11. Gordon were in attendance, on. horseback. The Marquis of Lansdowne had an audience of her Ma jesty yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by Count Alexander Mensdorff, and attended by Captain the Hon. A. H. Gordon, visited and inspected the new palace at West minster yesterday. The Queen, attended by the Marchioness of Douro and Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, visited her Royaj Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday at Gloucester House. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice took an airing in the royal gardens yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Albert visited their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Wed nesday, at Cambridge House. The Royal dinner party at Buckingham Palace yesterday included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Count Alexander Mensdotr, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness da Spell), Lord George Lennox, and the Hon. and ReT. C. Leslie Courtenay. Her Royal Highaess the Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday at Gloucester House. The Duchess of Cambridge visited her Royal Hilghncss the Duchess of Sent yesterday at Clarence House, St. James's. A meeting of 160 Members of the House of Commons took place yesterday at the official residence of Lord Johu Russell, in Downing-street. Lord John Russell was accom panied by the following ►Members of the Cabinet :—Sir George Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, Sir John Hobliouse, and Viscount Palmerston. The meeting was also attended by the Right Hon. R. L. Shell, Sir William Somerville, Mr. H. Tufnell, Mr. Gibson Craig, and other Members of the Administration. The conference lasted one hour. A deputation consisting of the Mayor of Manchester, Mr. Alderman Neild, and the Town Clerk of Manchester, with Mr Milner Gibson, M.P., and Mr. Mark Philips, M.P., had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home Office. The Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements had a meeting yesterday at the office of her Majesty's Woods and Forests, in Whitehall Place. There were present Viscount Morpeth, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon, the Hon. C. Gore, and Mr. A. Milne. _ _ A deputation from the rectifying distillers, consisting of Messrs. Nicholson, Seager, Grimble, and Nimmo, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence inDowning-street. A deputation from the Manchester and Southampton Rail way Company, consisting of Lord Duncannon, M.P., Mr. James Wilkinshaw (Deputy Chairman), Mr. James Durham, Mr. Charles E. Deacon, Mr. Gooch (Engineer), the Solicitors, and the Secretary, had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Strutt yesterday, at the office of the Commissioners of Rail ways in Great George-street. A deputation, consisting of Sir Philip Egerton, Mr. Tatton Egerton, Mr. Trafford, and the Clerk of the Peace for the county of Chester, had an interview yesterday with Sir George Grey at the Home-office. The Mayor of Manchester, and deputation with the Town Clerk, and Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., had an interview with Lord Morpeth yesterday at his office in Whitehall-place. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. The appeal from New Grenada, " The House of As sembly ofGrenada v.Chief Justice Sanderson," was concluded. An appeal from Bengal, " Wise v. Kishenkoornar Bous," was commenced. THE FAMILY OF THV REV. J. T. J. - - - HEWLETT. We noticed last week the death of the Rev. J. T. Hewlett, the Rector of Great Stambridge, and so widely adraired int the literary world as the author of the works known as the productions of "Peter Priggins ;" but we were not aware at the time that, like many eminent men who have gone before him, his latest death-pang was embittered by the reflection that he was leaving nine children, their mother having died some time before, helpless and standing close upon the bor der of absolute want. We are assured that after his death it was found that there was not more than five or six shilliogs in the house, and nothing to bury him. And all this from. no fault of his own. The living of Stambridge is of small' amount, and burthened with a family of sixteen children, o whom these nine are the survivors, he had laboured incese , santly with his pen to support them in a becoming station; and he had succeeded till about a year and a half ago, when the body gave way under this continued mental toil. Sick ness prostrated his strength, but still he refused to loosen hie grasp of the pen. "My life," said he, "is no use to my' children without my labour ;" poverty, that relentless task-e master, refused him rest, as he had entered into lucrative engagements with the booksellers, and thus he went org writing his lines with his very life's-blood ; for there seems no doubt that if his situation could have been ,known, ant; timely succour had brought aid and rest, the graceful anclt witty author might have been still alive. Happily the de-•• ceased belonged to an order distinguished for its brotherly and benevolent tendencies—he was provincial chaplain tai the masonic order, and in the hour of his family's sorrows when the children stood around their dead parent, bewildered by death and want, a member of the Rochford Lodge, Mr. liertert Mew, who casually called in, discovered their situa• tion, and promptly stirred to their succour. He at once une. dertook the charge of the funeral, and the care of the chile , then; and not only did the brotherhood render this teinpoei rary aid, but they raised a considerable suns towards a pere , manent provision for the family, and thus commenced a fund for this purpose that has been largely contributed to by l those' who knew the deceased best as a neighbour 'andtiaones act): man ; and we hope to see it swelled by contributions from every one who has enjoyed the deligh t of b through the medium of his works. —Essex ---=------------ --Iresterday an. ROYAL ...,EA-DATIIING Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, place at the London charity took re ceiving a report from a committee of for the purpose of receivi Mr. Alderman Gibbs (tree extraordinary general court oirtliiße governors of the above p n o o r r t s. declared the proposition for six. be useless, but that the increased, medical visitors would r of patients at the infirmary (who during the season were about 480) rendered it necessary to recommend that s m u e re d r i r l pr a e n s d ide o d t . her T revrere three additional medical officers attend two days a week each. Considerable discussion ensued, from which it ap pearedscgltafhantut 1 hderni notet d l e g nt lao t ed b ibid e tei t . i . n n ipoal , c l a r e c e a d s e under () patients, that Mr. Field, the resident s urgeon, f elt fully com petentmvo ri estinohdna i tn; mending the ntt h hda i his task, al acepcvpoeron di tninsnt,ogn appointment w yee n i o t at h un s a i r i r r i g e e d o , n r s , e c r o e m s i -- a : e dents of the Isle of Thanet, to assist the resident surgeon of the infirmary. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the court broke up. RELIEF FOR IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.—Yesterday the subscriptions received by the committee of the British Association for the Relief of the Distress in Ireland and Scot land amounted to upwards of 130,0001. Among the recent contributions are—the Lord Chancellor, 300/. ; Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Bart., 100/. ; remittance from Manchester, 2,000/. ; Bradford, 1,066/ ; the Hon. East India Company, 1,000/. The committee have purchased and forwarded to Ireland and Scot land 300 tons of wheat meal, 400 barrels of Indian corn meal, 327 quarters of maize, 1,540 quarters of peas, 75 tons of bis cuits, and 8,175 bags of rice. The Marquis of Northampton is arrived at his mansion in Piccadilly, from Castle Ashby, Northampton shire. The Noble Marquis, as President of the Royal So ciety, gives the first conversazione to-morrow evening. DEATH OF LADY EMILY PELHAM.—WE have to record the decease of Lady Emily Pelham, who died on the 10th inst., at her residence in Upper Brook-street, aged 83. Her Ladyship was the daughter of the first Earl of Chi cheater, and aunt of the present holder of the title. • On re for 1)e. teld e to lot few in- me— lary I be said. had )uld sera L of list. ;ive Lake Def.. tills eea etu— t,ing Lion lain one a a the with r to tree . it to lain r of id ea- of or