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

lat the with tter to e three ;ht be ughtto ice r of hica to rn and h ea rd, Hen' Dr in/ e. ' ion of R. ill' m ea' t ion of s O r ,ion of per- ' . .12 .atUr e teres tl A ar '111.21114 TTIE SUN, LONDON, FI“DAY EVyI 4 ,:!NG, FEBRUARY 12, 1847. point with respect to cheap trains—there were many other points of minor importance, on which it was not necessary for him to detain the House, as they would be found in the Bill, and be open to discussion in Committee. The House was probablyaware that the law with respect to cheap trains was this—That railway companies were required to run at least one train a day for the conveyance of persons, at an txpense of not more than Id. a mile, in carriages where they would be protected from the weather, and which might be approved by the Com missioners; and that they should not travel less than twelve miles an hour. Any further interterence might be objected to on the ground that the companies had fulfilled and would fulfil the provisions of this Act, by travelling some parts of the journey at the rate of twenty or thirty miles an hour, and by compelling the passengers 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 to proceed. and that it was opposed to the intention of the Legis lature; and, therefore, by the Bill it was proposed not only to take the time of starting, but the time of stopping asd starting from the different stations.—( Hear.) Another point was the number of passengers. The Commissioners at present had powers with respect to the rates to be paid by those parties, but they had no power aver the number of passengers to be ree ve) ed by the trains. He proposed that the number of passengers to be carried, should be affixed in side the 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 from evidence given before Committees last session. Mr. Hawk shaw, the engineer of the Leeds and Manchester Railway. stated, in reply • v a question from the Hon. :Member for Mon trose (Mr. flume), with respect to the utility of the existine board, that in some c ices 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 th, Chairman of the North Western Railway, entertained a simi lar view. He said " instances had occurred of one company re fusing to put on third class trains to meet the third class trains run by another company, in connexion with it; and that greai 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 it 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 le oper to promote it. Now, the Commissioners thought it advisable to adhere to the words of the Act which gave them this power. with this addition, that where, from the bad management of 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 einove those inconvenieneest Then, with respect to 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 Reuse—( 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 were required from time to time, could be obtained. by re, urns voted by the Legislature. On a former evening, 1 the lion. and Gallant Member for Lincoln (Colonel Sibthorp) I proposed that the Bill should contain a provision for giving parties, who might be inlared, or their friends, if they were killed, to recover compensation ; hut perhaps the Hon. Gentle men was not aware that a great alteration was made in the law on the subject, by the introduction cf a Bill last session by Lord Campbell. Before that Act was passed, a person, who was injured, or his relatives, if he were kilted 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 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 muss 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 injurius to the real interests of railway proprietors.—(Lod cheers. o ) Mr. AGLIONBY said, during the fourteen or fifteen years he had occupied a seat in that House, he newer heard a more clear or satisfactory statement than that delivered by the Hon. Gentleman who had just resumed his seat ; and he thought that be 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 ; anal he spoke without bias, as he did not hold a share in one of them—but he hail an inte rest, as one of the public, in seeing them all well and efficiently conducted, so that they might afford great advantages to the public. He rose to make a suggestien 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, he saw no reason 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 die. 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 those matters with which they might interfere with, as well and as beneficially as with most others.— ( Hear, hear.) 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 hopes his suggestion would be adopted in Committee. He begged to second the motion. The SPEAKER having put the question, Mr. HUME said, in his opinion the publics would derive great advantage front 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, land 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 impedimenta 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 tore 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. 111 r. 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 ' propose any standing orders, under which all loans relating to railroads should be referred to the Railroad Board for their report, and that that report should be laid before the House. Mr. ENTWISTLE 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 d ap e e e d il x a te l or s ocai, exercise o a t mht that that the Bill would give them the power of insisting them• selves on a line which would really answer the wants of the district to be supplien by railway communication. He consi dered, confessed that the i i t t pt h eree r r e o 4pect to the veto, the board might use fullyperi t a oh t d i e : prerogative, and House.as n d suggested, th v e r i therecouldreferenced see then m t b tolls, somewhatl lans, i short for a true result an to be obtained.—( Hear, hear.) He s A li g o a u i l n d not offer offewrould opposition to the Bill upon those points. p consequence assing wit h of f valuable observe, that the twelve hours' train was neces sarily obliged to go slow, in frequently to be moved out of th the vaeneg important g w re a a y t i in order number of trains not interfere with the safety of LET(ssen geol.; dt.rearffic, that it might had The CHANCELLOR of the to the question of Mr. Ellice) said that a i d t e w , oaunldd it b e nn e g x h tr t e t m e e h ly e desirable that such a report should be carefully considered what words would be introduced in the Bill. tend. down a ampetent officer to the spot, who should state, by public, adverasement or otherwise, the time at which he should arrive at die'erent points along the line, for the purpose of re- C ei ving the ouggestions of the landowners with reference to the Proposed railway. If the promoters of the Bill should choose to adopt thosevariations, they' may. be at liberty to in elude T h eo of plans an: Se in ctio th n i s or ewithout making public report cwtihose promotexs o hewever, declined to adopt tom suggestions, it the was then oroposOtt that the gausses restricti'ri sere sh ou ld have site power, should they deetn those o ,tts advisable, to authooise those, to plans ants sections f . • also be e mpewereti o deposit the to tt , voriatiots at Illey might propose, sad pointed . refuse coin liarce .ng to - bakiii s e l t z he Committee ap e upo "si i i; tlso knerits - Of ali`e and: to order or this measul h e e m o u . shch . variatiosis•a. By the 4doption of soared. istsOonvenience. time, - and expense would be w=a'st orders, a t pr reference to the 'proofs before standing May and ettoOst conducted before two examiners, Messrs. s t es t o s t u i 7 •of Sonia), appointed by that House in the last h V - arliament, he thought that in future sessions, droas:,,lbe enecessary that the proofs of the standing orders •I he revised by the Railvtay themsees, o s e_ sr o . s under their supervision. At present the only mode rig the accuracy of the plans and sections deposited with :louse was by means of the oppo•ition of the opponents to 7.a measure. Numerous Bills had been allowed to pass the 'standing ord ers , in which the grossest ioaccuracies were evi dent t o t h e C omm i ttees, who hail no power, h owever, of testing t hem. co ern.. It was now proposed that the officer sent down by the Railwa y • • • y mulls:loners to insposr, the proposed line should be allowed to meow his report up'o the proof of the standing (411 eass with reference to the deposited plaits and sec ti. The next o bj ec t con t em pl a t e d by the proposed Bill referred to the duty of the Commissioners. In The 13,11 passed in the last session of Parliament, ap poainting the Board of itailway Conontssioilers, it was arranged . r4l e wa p y ow ll er il s ls b r o,, g l A oocarrossoo ners .l,h a t th e ; ; should report to the House upon the before them. It was neeessary that shooid be given to them authorizing them to theca, persona before themselves or officers appointed by t _nrn, with reference to the objections to the intended line of railway, and ale'a as to the mode of entering upon the lards of the proprietors.. Be did not propose, indeed he thought it examine that enuesel should not be allowed to be heard or to —a mine witnesses before the Commissioners on behalf of any party,__(i Cheers.) The effect of admitting them would be to s_°:tog the proceedings to suet' an extent that it would be lutely impossible for the Commissioners to get through the amount of business brought before there.—( Cheers. ) at benefits would also result from the examination of the ' ° a Rineera and other witnesses, by impartial persons. The en- T aeers supporting or opposing the scheme, would be examined by fi:n imparti itely soonor, much c , and even more to the purpose, .al ',hen engineer by calling in all the expensive 'machinery of agents ao; counsel.—(Cheers.) It was pro posed t h at the Ilailwoy Commissioners should have the power to repo r t t o the House upon all those subjects which were at present decidtsd upo n and reported by Committees of the ,House, referring to, the amount of tolls or fares, the natureengineer s_isogoarruet.tsr io of the li ne , the amount of capital required for the Constructi on iH of the railway,the number of shares, and the powers of boowing money to be granted to the company. e thought great deal that this report would be of great use to the Committee aripointed to consider the merits of the Bil l, as a avoided, 41f. *unnecessary and useless inquiry would thereby he que stion might arise as to how far the report of the Ccuurals'..a A o ners should have weight, and he proposed to regu late t'oe authority which it should have, not by the 811, 'out by the standing orders of the House. At the same tire,. he would mention, that in all matters relating to ear igineeriog and surveying, the report of the Commissioners milsould be held to bu prima acre conclnsiVe on any point that -might be raised, and lie believed that this would be the means 'of saving the Committee a great deal of trouble, and the parties :a great deal i ex pense. He said prinso facie conclusive, be cause clue...dons might arise where additional information would be absr:iutely necessary, and if so, he would advise that the CoOomittee should, in such cases, report to the House that this 'cars required, and that instruction! should be given to the Com alaissioners to furnish it. With regard to questions of fact, * hich might be the subject of dispute, he proposed that either Party might complain, and have the Bill referred back to the ' C ommissioners, and if the complaint shonld turn out unfounded !hat the parties so applying should bear the expenses Ills object in introducing this provision, was to prevent frivo (4la objections. With regard to fares and tolls, this was a n 1- 4E-et which was th e occas i on o f f re quent difficulties before the Uerarnittees formerly appointed to consider railway Bills. The Cs who appeared before them in opposition to the schemes no interest in this matter, and no party represented the in terests of the public. The Committee themselves had no in tformation as to what the charges were in other parts of the 'country, or on other railways, and consequently no data to guide them in coming to a decision. The Commissioners, therefore, who would have all this information, would be in a Position to render the most essential service to the Committees on this point. Thera was also a subject of very great impor tance to which he viould now refer—he meant the raising of VtPital, borrowing money, amalgamating with and leasing other lines of railway. The Hon. Member for Coven tr y , who hap pened t o be Chairman of a Committee, had some time since called the atOenti in of the Reuse to the subject in consequence of a very , objectionable case of this nature coming before his a s le°lllmi ttets ; and in tt.e report which he presented to t h e House .. vea s should surgested that some general regulation fur this. s ub j ect h e adopted. By the regulation row proposed the sug festion then made would be carried into effect : one p oint had e 6ll strongly urged upon him nut only by some railway pro tro,_'tt^rss but by some parties' who represented the public , which - "al. that the Commissioners should retain in their power veto Upon all proposed railways. He gave that point great c onsideration, and he was bound to say that he could not con cur in it. Lit him suppose that they retained it with respec t to thos e bill s vvhicti had not any merit. The power would be Of rio use whatever, as these Bills would fall of themselves to the ground. Suppose, then, that they exercised their veto freely on other Bills, it appeared to hint that they should be assuming the; functions of Parliament ; and, looking to the cireurnstanrses of this country, and considering the feelings of the be p e oples he doubted whether a board so constitute d would approved of. There was another question urged upon th em, namely, whether powers should be granted to future zcot:panies in perpetuity or for a term of years. The latter prac the prevailisd in France, bat he wished to observe that railways in that country stood in a different position from their railvrayn, for they were laid out and surveyed, and a large portion of the works executed by Government. So that the railway preprivtors stood nearly in the relation of occupying t enants under: the Government. If they were now , for the ant time, tc, exercise the power of permitting the construction of railways, it might be a question for consideration as to how they s'aould proceed, but they were differently situated. Almo s t all the great 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 perpetuity, or for a term of years. He ewes afraid that if they adopted the latter course they would e.ecite a feeling of jealossy, and cause an inquiry in other ways which it would not compensate. By imposing such 41 restriction, it might be the means of sacrificing more import ant objects, a rid he did not, therefore, think it proper for the Commission, re to have such a power. With regard to limiting the rate of in iterest on the dividends of railway companies, be thought that if they proposed a restriction on the interest, in stead of indu. cing economy it would cause extravagance • for, by the preset it restriction, numerous situations were filled, and nnneeessary etxperlditure created, which would be avoided if no limitation vitiated. Besides, he believed that this would be beginn'ting at the wrong end, as a means to economy. They should begin by regulating the fares and tolls Pto be charged, and by seeing that the public obtained fair .accommodation at a fair price. He came now to the second part of the subject—the fares and tolls. With respect to the oh he proposed that the power of fixing them should be gran tted for a term of years. 7he fares and tolls that "night new be fair might cease to be so in a few years, from altered circus 'stances ; and the period he thought of proposing was ten year! . He did not mean to say that at the expiration of that time they should be thrown open for Parliament to lower them tit any rates it might please, but he thought it right that the pow; r should be given to revise them, and to bring them to the same s date as when they were first imposed. The object by such an ar rangemont, was to act fairly towards the public at the end of t his period, as altered circumstances might render necessary. Another great question now arose as to existing railway compa vies which had received their Bills, not subject to this alterati-ma. There was also another class of Acts not so subject, but the companies who promoted them had lately, when applying, - 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 Tam worth. With regard to that class of railway companies, he proposed to make it a condition, if they came to Parliament for an e 'tension of powers, that the power of limiting the tolls on their. main line, in addition t. the branch line or extensions, should also be conceded. In that case the question would be set sit rest, as far as they were concerned, in the same way as if th e whole railway Bill had been brought forward for the first tame. There might be some railway, not in the last categcn7 ; but it was proposed, with respect to all railways, that th e power of revision of fares sod tolls should be vested in Parliraaent in the way he had described, and that they should contir sue to keep it in their hands. Another alteration he pro- Posed, was, that when any change was to he made by any rail way company in the tolls and fares, that due notice of it should beg iven to the Commissioners on Railways and the public, as great inconvenience had resulted from this omission ; and such an %Iteration would be productive of no injury either to the company or to the public. He also proposed that the come Patsy should give their reasons to the commissioners for tb e change, as they might furnish useful suggestions for the commissioners, when making their report on this subject to Parliament. In making these observaticeis he had ne inien ti on to reflect en the great railway interests. As far as he k new, it was by increasing their traffic and accommodating the p•ublic that they would be promoting their own advantage, and far believed that 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 .net make it the less necessary that the public should have some better security, and the Commissioners would not be doing their duty to the public if they did rot 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 t o su b mit to any re d uct i on ; i t was o b v i ous th a t the public companieswould have he have robbed right toh by complain railwayand the ecompany n other iy threewh who took advantage o f t h e increased tilea thought e on their railways in consequence of the red uce d rates. it right, there fore, to retain the power of revising the fares and t o ll s ten years. With regard to th e c h arges to the forPost office every the conveyance . of the mails, h e t h oug h t that the system of arbitration now adopted should be chan ge d, 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 snails, and that the scales of charges should be reported on by the Com missioners int the same way as they proposed to do with respect to fares and tolls. But, as the circumstances might vary, they had no obj , cation to limit the period, for fire to which the years. The the companies should he compelled to carry the ma il s next 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 beard from gentleman who had much capital invested in railways, that their local traffic constituted a very important part of their receipts ; certainly the quantity of local traffic de pended very much on speed and punctuality, but at the same tame, it must be obvious that it was a difficult question to deal with, and it was impossible that the 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 bear upon their proceedings 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 troin. He believed this was ordinarily done for their own benefit, so that not much addi tional trouble would be imposed upon the companies or upon their officers ; and it was also pro posed that, fur the benefit of the public as well as of the companies, that these time lista 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 time, they shouiti be fort s iriled to the Commissioners, midi !not they should make aft annual report to Parliament of the specd of the different trains throughout eountry, galling the atotto tion of Parliament to the punctuality or want of punctuality in the different trains run by the different companies, and their influence upon the safety of the public. There was grater Mr. GOULBURN said that there could be paper re ason why railway compannies should n o t raise loans system possibles upon good securities ; but his objection was, that the g ave them the facility of using what was a sort ot* present erteinren lation in the country, which led to very manifest inconvenience. i He had not heard the l a tt er p ortion of the Right Hon. Member's speech , and it wa s very l i kely that he had made some observations respecting this point which he had not the good fortune to hear. 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. DE SON said that, he obj,'cted to such a power ac the veto being plgead b an d, ' °Y ~,h teboover, 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 cousidered would effect Tell be. l neleial results. He desired to know whether the Board could 1 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 20,0001. a year, who could not cut a stick on it 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 gelds. 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 Perna believed that there was still abundance of time. The compa- ment for the last 47 years had been trying to cure the patients, ries 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 Bilts for the present session. Government, and must support the Bill of the Noble Lord, the Mr. FEli RAND 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 thaw 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 received the sanction of the Legislature. It crossed through a the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, to postpone his Bill, densely crowded district, and crossed five or six turnpike roads which stands the first °flier of th e d a y, being a Bill for con ies= a level. The place to which he alluded , yas Keigh- structing railways in Ireland. I rise to state that I shall be ley, end the railway passed within one huteiree no 'Arty to that arrangement, and to express my wish that he suds of that crowded town, where there were hun- should proceed Inmediately with his measure, as it now stands Ctreds waiting every morning to enter into the nem for the second reteling. or if he thinks it is too late to take it Wuch a proceeding was most dangerous, and the company this evening, I shall eive way to him to-morrow.—( Cheers. ) ought to be compelled to erect bridges wherever they crossed a This is the course I recommend the Noble Lord to take, but Issel. He would also draw attention to a case where he was this Ido object to—l object to the Bill being postponed by sufferer to an extent of 4,000". or 5,0001. Ile was tenant which you will hold In abeyance other measures re of an estate over which the very same line ran, for two qu i red in the present most critical state of the country.— miles. The railway company were compelled to give notice of ( Hear, hear. ) What is the plan which the Legislature their intention of applying for an Act, and then it would be in is called upon to admit, and the course which the Government Ilia power to appear against them; but the tenant for life could under the circumstances ought to take 2 My Noble Friend, in make a bargain behind his back, which would deprive him of the brie:zing forward his motion, has stated that it is no party sum which he had stated. tie 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 ...id then he got one, declining to enter into the subject, and Lord, as Ido not think that it would do so, and do nut look upon finishing off with wishing him all the compliments of the it as see h. But, Sir, lam obliged to say, that with the views s e ason. 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. ii UDS: 'N wished that the proposition of the Right proposed by the Noble Lord —( Hear, hear. ) I cannot, don. Member should receive the patient and calm considera- Sir, feel that the Goverment ought to take ui on eon which it well deserved. But the Hon. Member fur itself the application of such a large sum for railways. When Kriareaborough (Mr. Ferrand) might calm his apprehensions I take into consideration the distress which prevails, and the tor 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 paced to effect too much—indeed, much more than he thought to those measures of 'did which the circumstances of the Honourable Member would be able to effect. Ireland require, and meet the urgent and extensive distress There was another point he wished to refer to, namely, pone- that prevails if we give our assent to the present measure. I reality of trains. He was quite sure the only effect of inch a am obliged to say that the granting of 16,000,000/. for the supervision would be to reduce the speed on railways, because purpose of constructing railways in Ireland, under such it was quite impossible with the casualties of weather, always circumstances, would not be consistent with the to keep time. Still he did not complain of this proposed in- policy of the Government, or the interests of the terfcrence. 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 itself in this way.—(Hear, and laughter.) Certainly, how- think it is the duty of the Government and the House to re ever, this was not a march in the onward direction. Then, ject the plan of the Noble Lord, as not consistent with the again, it was proposed to revise the tolls every ten years, arid financial circumstances of the country. Sir, if the House no fares were to be reduced without the sanction of the Corn- pleases to go 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 ; notice. but, on the present occasion, 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 panics, and, surely, if they did not exceed that rate, companies the Government may know, and that the country may know had a right to revise their tells, provided they did not go what is the policy on which you intend to proceed—( Hear, beyond the mark without previous notice. The Right Hon. hear),—or if you do not adopt Ova 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 course, 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 have their best consideration, and the Government might rely scheme of railways will be proposed. Ido not desire to induce feet and nd beneficial MANGLES a s c p o o u s l s d i b not le. ( t refrain l e a r . f ) rom bearing his testi- 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 F M r e ie m n b d e t r b f a o t r bLey willnn bat t I lis d t o on sa t y o f tb h e av: r a ei r )o ig a h i t s tom made e k t m o y b N im ob t l e e monyho the excellent statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman postpone his Bill After the address of the Noble Lord the the First Commissioner of Railways, but in saying thus much Member for Newark, Ido hop e that there will be no postpone he did not wish to commit himself to all the details of this merit, and that either the measure 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. J 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 Be speak for the Gentlemen with whom he had the ho - sire it , and they think it to be advantageous ; all I ask ews nour to be connected in the direction of the Lon- the decision of the House, or that the measure be abandoned don 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 coin- not to postpone the consideration of a great monetary question, pan}' 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 ins- 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 u n certainty fora thefor amz u e l n e tHe (Mr. Osborne) would Board of Trade, and had its decisions bee n adhered to the evils support t he mo t i o n ehebtehardee o f m Lor d,the hae nut only for these rea tht been averted. and mischiefs which they had recently witues sed would have ssoutries,s,bburt,bmegcbatusfeurhwearadlsobybtehlieevNetlbtlheaLtenrodneatof of public works for Ire l and. I t should be Mr. STRUTT said he believed , in the c ourse of his address, Government, would be of any value, if unsupported by a great he had stated that the Railway Board , in re p ortin g u p on and useful sc heme of With re- pulation of Ireland wo uld be out if employment. He would lines submitted to their decision, would repor t u p on remembered that by the month Apr il, the agricultural po the concurrent merits of competing lines. Bard to a point alluded to by the Hon. Member for support the mo tion Knaresborough, he could only state, that in the case of a le vel would su pp ort it, because wasteful system he believed it would put au end to erossirg, all the power the Commissioners possessed was t o the of the Noble Lord , f or an other reason, he l of expenditure at, present pursued in that authorise companies to erect bridges in the event of their country. He had listened with great satisfaction to the Noble I electing 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 (.Ir. Os revision of tolls; and in answer to those observations, he could borne) would endeavour to prove, in his humble way, that it only say that that revision would be made upon the same prin- would be infinitely better to lay out motley in really useful ciple that revisions were made by the Acts of Parliament public works, instead of leading 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. Mamma, whose name we could not ascertain, spect 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 blether 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 JOHN RUSSELL, that the orders to communicate their sentiments to the Noble Lord, the Mem of the day be now read, ber for Lynn, that be 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 for 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 ae 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, anti 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 rote.—(Laughter.) He trinity 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- beer.) It was not his business to do so—(Laughter)—but at tuents, that an opportunity should be afforded them of express- the office in Dowsing- street, where Irish Members attended in ing their views upon the measure. But he did not think it obedience.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and roars of laughter, much fair that this measure should be prematurely pressed increased by the Hon. Member's apparent unconsciousness forward. It was notorious that Government had staked its of the cause.) He was not going to mention anything existence upon the issue of this division, and therefore the cots- 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 the views of the Government, there would then be a wards—(Cheers; —among the Irish representatives.—(Coo change more especially as the Noble of Ministers. The consequence of that step would he tinned cheering.) He believed he had a per feet right-.... to throw into confusion measures that were of the most urgent ( Cheers)—to state what occurre d, came importance to the poor of Ireland. The House must be aware Lord, the Member for Lynn, was not present on that occasion. that there were Bills before them at the present moment upon The Irish Members met in conclave—(Laughter) —and e to this which depended the existence of many thousands of to this conclusion, almost unanimously 1 they to a more con their fellow-countrymen in Ireland, and even for elusion, that under all the circumstances, it would be desirable the sake of obtaining a permanent good, they that the Noble Lord should postpone his m easure „ was ought not to pay as the penalty the loss of human life. He convenient opportunity.—(Laughter and cheers.) hie was in hopes that this measure would not have been discussed merely giving a simple narration of facts.—(Laughter. and as a party question, but rather that the Noble Lord the Mem- cheers.) He had not, up to that moment, expressed any ber for the city o f Lond o n would have considered it as a mea- opinion of his own upon the question. They came to that ton sure for social improvement which did not require him to stake elusion, and in the most respectable manner Conveyed their the existence of the Government upon the issue. He had sentiments to the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn. Th9' hoped that the Noble Lord would have been prepared to ac- had subsequently been led to believe that the Noble Lord, quiesce in the general wish of the House, and have adopted the musk courteous manner, conveyed to them that some measure of this kind. For himself, he had no was willing, in the present most momentous period, . hesitation in saying that if Government would bring to concede to the wishes of the Irish Meuabers. He (IT' 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 Lord, not seen the extraordinary predicament in which the Noble the Member for Lynn, he should support the proposition of Lord, the Member for Lynn was placed, two Irish Members the Government, rather than that of th e Noble Lord. In his having called upon him to postpone, and two to go on with his opinion this measure was calculated to give immediate emp l oy _ mo ti on . Now, as an individual, ere was no Irish Member he in ment and relief to hundreds of the Irish people, without involv- more indisposed—(Laughter)—to go on with the question at ing any loss either to this country or to Ireland ; and h e as k e d the present time than himself, because he always desired to sup the Noble Lord hew they were to act when such a measure was port the present Government. He conceived that the measure placed in junta-position with a system of a temporary expediency of the Noble Lord was calculated to raise the unfortunate which would impose upon this country and upon Ireland, a country with which he had the honour of being connected., large outlay of public money , with out the sli g htest ho p e of a re• from the state of misery and mendicancy i nto which turn. He had no hesitation in statin g that he should it had fallen ; and however adverse he might be give his support to the Noble Lord, and therefore to the Noble Lord bringing forward his m oti " he did not wish there should be any q uestion or that time, still, as he had pledged himself on a formerhesitation as to the course he was prepared to take. occasion to support it, he felt it his duty to do so on that ee rie believed such would be the position of a considerable casion. if the Noble Lord pressed it to a division. H e was, number of the Irish members who were disposed to support 44 a Member of that House, and as a gentleman ' unwiltiniegetmo the Noble Lord. He was anxious therefore that it should be compromise his character in any way, and he wouldh:oevrern. postponed for the present. his pledge, even although unwilling to vote against a . Mr. SHAW concurred in what had fallen from his Hon. merit which, he believed, had done its best to r reli ve the Mr. :fiend who had just sat down, and cordially joined him in miseries of Ireland. The House would see that considered if asking the Noble Lord to postpone the measure. He had prepared with a set speech—( Laughter)— but he id neither on a former occasion supported the measure of the late Noble this question were now pressed to a division, it s t,l. i and the Lord (the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests), for be more nor less than the old fight between the vv g Why ' , if the extending railways in Ireland. With respect to the measure Tories.—(Cries of "Oh I oh.") Was it not? Id have a of his Noble Friend, the Member for Lynn, he ( Mr. Shaw) Noble Lord carried his motion they w",,- h Noble hoped the Government would think favourably of it, and if change of Government.—( Hear, hear.) i had stated that they did not adopt it, at least bring forward a similar plan. Lord at the head of the Government h a carried this But' if the question came before the House in the shape of an if the Noble Lord the Member fur l it h w as for the alternative, either to reject the Bill or put out the Govern- measure the Government will retire, and d ld occasion, and merit, he was not prepared to press forward the plan, or to House to consider the delay which this would of thousauds. vote in its favour. At the same time he would the fact that the Irish were dying by hundredsu:tened to any dis be prepared to support it, if brought forward under other cir- Mr. M. J. O'CONN ELL had never First of all, there • cumstances. Seeing the constitution and state of that House, cussion with more pain than the present._ Members, and he and the awful state of Ireland, he trusted the Noble Lord, the was a division of opinion between the owe d Irh the miseries of Member for Lynn, would propose the further consideration of was sorry to say that to divisions they come to a dis the Bill ; particularly as that course would enable the House their country. He trusted that if theywo ul d hetv o d's measures they and the country to give it a full examination, apart from all cussion on the principle of the Noble L siderations, and the party motives.—(Hear, hear.) While he recommended that would disembarrass it from all other c course, he trusted the result would be that her Majesty's important questions which were atiMiecobers representing Government would listen to the prayer of the people of Ireland, with it. He had hoped hat Hon. d in the couree and bring forward either this or a similar measure. —( Hear.) his country would have been ogre: h . d trusted that There would be nothing derogatory to the character of the they intended to pursue, and topic which had nothing Government in their doing so. While he hoped the Noble they would not have introduced any t l O l n w hether the measure " neent mixed up Lord at the head of the Government would be prepared :with whatever to do with the mere slues ht with respect to what some measure of this kind, he could not conceal his sentiments, should be postponed or not. He thoug e. • e - dof tile esovernment, ' that, under present circumstances, it would be better to post- had fallen from the Noble Lord at the es pone the measure. In conclusion, he trusted the Noble Lord he (Mr. J. O'Connell) could not hal f i p m r e . s s Irishhi s regret Members that , er hardl fair to those the Member for Lynn would say at once whether he would the Noble Lord had acted in a therefore, was very diffi postpone his Bill or not.—( Hear, hest.) they had to choose 'oration , Mr. H. GRATTAN said he would express his views on were placed in an embarrassing rstiien, the subject under consideration without any disguise whatever, between two evils, and their re ° , r e was a chance of it, let the m er e severe.-- Hon Members who wished to zurp a o r rt nehz . as he did not recognise any leadership in the matter. He cult. He would still say, isasure, but he was afraid his re intended to vote for the measure of the Noble Noble Lord postpone his . session ; for, as on Lord, the Member for Lynn. For twenty years quest would be of no avai l' of that which had been urged by Parliament had been attempting to do something, the Noble Lord at the he , d „,TINCK said that however painful yNo change had come never till the present time had anything effectual been done. Lord GEORGE Hos'obl i ged w s to take on the subject They had heard that the people of Ireland were dying by was the course which heuld be compelled to of the Government. thousands, and there were two doctors who were prescribing before the House he we ll. . over the for the disease. The question, therefore the had to coneitter (Cheers and counter chee —those was, which of the plans recommended were the b of his dream 1, s ssion, he and the friends who acted with of the Government, or the measures by the late Mr. Drummond as the best means t it Friend the Member for Lnn r efe rred Hon the first day of te e e e the impression that this • H proposed . . . continued inwas a question e decidedly p the him still con latter prescription, as it wa y s on . whi ch o f the dearest to the interests of Ireland. It e had been recommended which was one lock this afternoon that he had received a Ireland. Since the yearf of th signed by thirty- our e lrish Members of both 1835, Committee after co • g requisition, r ~., mmittee had sat on the question, and many ostpenc the second reading. The refusal to reports had been Houses, to p four oesineethe first day of the . ' they made to him certainly made in favour of railways for Ireland proposition which gave him ; but adopt the be recollected tbat th - as yet, no plan had been followed up. The House, and great pain. Bat it should . d. e pro essed object England, owed a debt to Ireland, and he trusted the Noble ofthe Ministry was to give imam tate relief to Ireland, and Lord, the Member for Lynn, would exact it by pushing forward and the friends who acted with him were quite his although he spirit sintonlst object, yet they quite his Bill. If the Bill Was carried into effect , he was persuaded it anxious to carry out that . were equally anxious would occasion a great saving of money, while it wou ld do much to meet t h e views of Ministers!."° to act in accordan ce w i t h for the permanent improvement of Ireland. S ince he had the proposal now before th e tiouse. His friends had been come into the House, he had received accounts of a most summoned from all parts of Eng l an d, Scotland, and the Con shocking character. Fever it seemed was spreading in the tinent ; but although they were_ prepared to act, yet he did not north of Ireland, in Lurgan, L ong f or d , an d many other hesitate to say that they :Members an d their own conve -1 'es and it was expected to extend to Sligo. It nience to that of the Irish c l eh rs the Government, and p at. , was his opinion that they should send all the Irish would not suffer their own .eelings to weigh against . _ the public members back, as he believed they did no good by remaining interest. He regretted the more, therefore, to see the result consideration • they here. Now to the next point under • had of the meeting hF • - at t e oreign-office that day. that in the to decide between the measures of the Government, and the They should recollect, Speech of her day of the plan of the Nob le Lord,session, that Let them take the Destitute Per- there an esp ecial recommendation to t a l c the Government propose? . . . was.. Astatement c the affairs of sons' Bill. On that Bill it was proposed to raise a million and a Ireland into confederation. was made that in the nl 500,000 J., as a million absence of all political excitement, there was a half; but this amounted in reality to o y . ' ld le d an opportunity for This sum was togiven through devising such measures as wou to the permanent had been already expended. Th that - Il d'd hope th . advan • t_ at t h e s pian the means of the landlords. Was hat any measures pro- House On the other hand, posed from his side of the House, would have ought to act upon ? the Noble L without is . • and he ord, any party bias s was, therefore, ve been received let them take the plan of . efore, both surprised generally admitted that rail- and grieved at finding that this subject was to be made a battle the Member for Lynn. It was should be in- o f that they ways conferred great advantages, and the consequences, to do so. The he felt compelled to persevere in troduced into Ireland. This plan propose d his present motion ; but that the and if any difficulties should Noble Lord did not ask for 16,000,0001. at once, .._ _ ~ arise, whatever those order to carry difficulties might be, not upon his head, butthe head o f money should be advanced from time to time, in upon of this the Noble Lord, must rest the r the works into execution. While such was the na turehelm,esponsibility of those results Government should the Ministry desert the proposition, the Noble Lord at the head of the Under these circuen asked stanese, he telt that ho should no t fur powers-through which he told them he would t t hi be doing his duty to his Mende if he diO. irot persevere iis have to expend 6,00,0,000/. before the month of A t s motion.-- (Cheers, and g et t i l t s li crtinter-cheers eontiutiell int . • neat, oithout leiSiree reproductively sinplovel, end ' y erruptml the speech of the Noble of Lord, and the utmost mite little prospect of getting back the money. But by the Bil l , a relent pervaded the House during the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, they had a chance of I i is delivery. getting the return. Ia order 0 show the di ffi culty the Mr. 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 makir ' , this a party qnestio n , 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 of the Irish Members. The real question was, how was the difficulty to be met? The people of England had been aqueesed until they were perfectly dry. This was not a time for mincingeatl they phrases, we were now the boundlanguage to speak truth. Member h H, for Meath, s 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 of 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. Here they had • 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 thei: 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 17,000,0001. hung over his head his hands were tiod 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 duty 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 bad no objection to proceed with the Bill to-morrows, 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 liibernia had not reached Boston on the 21st, but was hourly expected. Two packet-ships, the Rochester, from Liverpool, and the Quebec, from London, had arrived at New York ; 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 apprehension is new felt 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 previously 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 (3,50 men) to march, on the 19th, for Victoria. But on the evening of his arrival at Monternorelos, 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 auccessfttl, 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 assumed 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 at 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 Alexican Congress and the President's Message, of which the following is an extract : MESSAGE OF THE MEXICAN ACTING PRESIDENT, GENTLEZIEN REPRIMPTATIVES,- 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, 33 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 snake 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 and 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 shall 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 I 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 and 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. L Here 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 o m u e r so much desired, on which, depositing the power in s f iare hands, nothing will impede nay road to thearmy,m to their dangers, to fight like a soldier against foes. On this day the natio n enters into the y country's full exercise of its sovereign rights. The revolution has coma- Gentleman Representatives,— pl e ted that which it promises to the people. It remains n ow for you to fulfil th e hopes which the which every have con ceived; to make certain the prayers every Mexican at this moment offers to Heaven for the prudence and for tune of their worthy r e p resentatives. Your patriotism, your knowledge and your virtues are the best guarantees that these sacred wishes will be fully satisfied. MARIANO SALAS. Mexico, Dec. 6, 1846. His Excellency Senor Subieta, President of Congress, replied as follows: Most excellent Sir, The national represenatives have heard with pleasure the solemn words which 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 übjzt, the ceminen 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 BREWING FRONI 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 privi leges 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 opposed the elauges. _ . . .Mr. HUME was decidedly of opinion that spirits of Eng land, Ireland, anti 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. GOULI3URN and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER theclause 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 h© had taken into custody, by order of the House, a gentleman for having 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 Qsarter-past Eleven o'Clock. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S—THURSDAY. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 100 to 6 agst Mr. Jaques'4 Sir Martin—taken 25 to 1 agt Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum—taken 30 to 1 apt Lord E. Russell's Dulcet—taken Business very slack, and judging from appearances, likely .o continue so. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 16 to I agst Mr. Wbitworth's Lady Sarah—taken 18 to 1 aget Mr. Pedley's.Pink Bonnet TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 8 to 1 agst Sir H. Pigot's Conyngham—taken freely. 150 to 100 agst Kent's lot—taken. CH:SUTER CUP. 25 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mendicant. 22 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's The Lamb—taken, 30 to 1 ag-st Mr. Gratwicke's The Flitch 30 to 1 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. Scott's Sir Talton Sykes-1000 to 15 laid once. 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Ilessulton's Eitzullen—taken. 66 to 1 agst Mr. F. I{. Price ns The Premier (3 yrs)—t. 500 toll) agst Spem, Gregis, and Bit Nibble—taken. Very little doing, 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 ➢lendicant in one bet, but no blow struck. Even money laid between twenty seven and the field 1)1111111% 15 to 2 agst Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp—take 9 to 1 12 to 1 agat Mr. Bowes's Epirote—taken 14 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet 20 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 of Richmond's Red Hart—taken • 40 to I agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Lunedalo 50 to 1 agat Mr. O'Brien's Bedlam 50 to 1 agst 11r. Mostvn's Projectile—take 1,000 to 15 50 to 1 agst Mr. A. W. Hill'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 agst Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf 900 to 150 agst Epirota and Planet—taken Epirote was again in force, 13 to 1 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 fiat and unimportant. OAKS. 8 to 1 apt Mr. Jno. Day's The Farmer's Daughter —t. to 300/. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Clementina—t. 9 to 1 16 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Miami—t. 20 to 1 agst Captain Ilarcourt's Ellerdale—t. to 100/. 20 to 1 agst Clementina agst Nerissa—t. to 1001. LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE H an dicap Sweepstakes, of 20 sovs. each, &c. T o d ec l are on , the 17th instant. st. lb. Switcher Brunette . l2 6 St. Leger l2 3 Saucepan l2 2, Firefly l2 0 1 Cure All ll 13 Sam Slick Pioneer ll 12 Bally har The Page Discount Culverthorpe Jerry ll 6 Sabine Gazeley . 11 5 Fake Heir ............• 11 4 The Pluralist l'alineNton .. ll 2 Frederick Railroad . Christopher North Eagle Gog ll 0 et. lb. Avoca ... St. Ruth lO 10 Midnight lO 10 Red Lancer lO 8 Mameluke Forest Buy i Barmaid lO 8 (Grenade Clinker Young Lottery Roarer lO 7 Sparta Gayhurst ... ... 10 7 Nimble Harry Matthew . . . lO 6 Tramp lO 6 Teapot lO 6 Blue Pills Quicksilver ...... Tamworth Cumberland Lassie Fanny Elssler 'Profligate Latitat Glaucus g ll 0 Nlarengu Raginad Jack Proceed Cavendish I , l : h a l e e r I i n a d ia n p rince lO 0 10 3 Jeu d'Esprit Teresa .. Little Tommy Tom Brown 9 6 ,Sacrifice Free Handicap Acceptance: st. lb. Tom Tough Exhort to be made on the 17th : st. lb. Pimlico Jenny Lind lO 10 Ballybar Crcesus ll 51Valeria lO 8 Idolater 1 Thurgartoo . C•ouisellor Fireaway ll 4 Rayinuint Lalt • ... ...... 10 2 Toe Highwayman ll 4Will,o'Wisp Wizard ••• Kerdiffstoun ... ....... . 11 o , The Parson... lO 0 1 11 oBletsoe Lass Whistle Binkie The Wandering Jew ll 0 1 Alice Repealer The following horses, in addition to those published, have lately received names : THREE YJAR OLDS. Colt, by Inheritor, out of Calypse Fnchanter. Colt, by Inheritor, out of Calypso's dam Ulysses. Filly, by Ascot, out of Languish Lethargy. Cult, by the Augean, out of Mores St. Mungo. Colt, by lletnian Platotf, out of Velvoteen Veronitz. TWO YEAR OLDS. Sister to Intrepid (half-bred) Reality. Colt, by Elis, out of Spangle Glitter. Colt, by Erymus, or Commodore, out of Elphiue, Elcho Castle. Cult, by Charlefy the Twelfth, out of Morsel.. —Oscar. ARREST OF A PROSECUTOR. —At Southwark PolicQ 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 Burfield, the porter at the Catherine Wheel inn, for ste ding 300/. During the wh ole of the p roceedin g s 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. lie, however, disregarded the advice, and having quitted the court, when he got a suf ficient distance from it, imagining that the " bunt .bailiffs" of had gone another way, he ventured out of bu nt .ba i ls protection, and had no sooner arrived there than be was mediately pounced upon by Sicilian, the sheriff's offi . 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 F r anca, honoured the meetingmeetingof the Royal Frith • o 0;lis presenc e yesterday evening .at Somerset ne e was received Oa Marquis of North • . president of . the Soeitty ; and, after the meeting, • ducted by his Lordship to the library, where the CS‘l'Fiv:oaecnsPui • o 1 tea with the Fellows of the Society, threatens us with the absolute annihilation of our nationality; but these representatives, so far fiom being discouraged -by Oki melancholy situation, will press forward in the midst o f the combat to give all convenient organisation, 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 our customs, and, if I may say it without boasting, our virtue, 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 wot Id. 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 W be called with truth, sove reign, free, and independent. Before the Supreme Being we were, yesterday, sworn to procure, as 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 patriotism demand. The commercial news by this arrival is satisfactory. Ex change at New York was 106 c. to 106ic. for bills on Lon don, but at the latter quotaticn the business was very dull. In bread stuff few transactions were being effected, and prices were advancing. AFFAIRS IN YUCATAN. (From the New Orleans Papers of the 11th.) The following is a more particular account of an overture by Yucatan, mentioned in the previous accounts from tbd Gnlf:— A Mexican schooner, 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 claiming for her ports the privileges of neutrals, which it is believed Commodore Conner refused 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. The 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 wax fought on the 21st ultimo, that being the latest date from 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 TAMPICO. (From the New Orleans Tropic, Jan. 11.) The brig Hallowell arrived at the South-West Pass on Saturday morning, after a passage of six days from Tam pico. The captain reports matters quiet when he sailed, and nothing of interest had transpired since our last dates. ARMY INTELLIGENCE. La Patria, of New Orleans, says that H. 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 Sacrificios 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 elturch for. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Advices a few days later from the Gulf squadron were received at New Orleans on the 11th instant, by the arrival 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, whilo 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, Sharon, 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 Brea* grounded on the bar at the South-West Pass, and remained there until Saturday afternoon, at which time she got, off, and proceeded on her voyage. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princ• of Wales and the Princess Royal, went out yesterday in a sledge, Prince Albert driving. In another sledge were 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. H. Gordon were in attendance, on horseback. The Marquis of Lansdowne had an audience of her Ma j esty 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 Royal 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 Mensdorf, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Spetb, Lord George Lennox, and the Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday at Gloucester House. The Duchess of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent 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 Lerd John 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 Hobhouse, and Viscount Palmerston. The meeting was also attended by the Right Hon. R. L. Sheil, 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 Alorpeth, 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 in Downing-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 of Grenada v. Chief Justice Sanderson," was concluded. An appeal from Bengal, " Wise v. Kishenkoomar Bous," was commenced. THE FAMILY OF THE 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 adMired in 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 shillings in the house, and nothing to bury him. And all this front 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 ince*. 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 his grasp of the pen. "My .life," said he, "ia no use to my children without my labour ;" poverty, that relentless task master, refused him rest, as he had entered into lucrative engagements with the booksellers, and thus he went on writing his lines with his very life's-blood; for there seems no doubt that if his situation could have been known, and timely succour had brought aid and rest, the graceful and 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 to the masonic order, and in the hour of his family's sorrow, when the children stood around their dead parent, bewildered death and want, a member of the Rorlitord Lodge, alr. Herbert Mew, who casually called in, discovered their situa tion, and promptly stirred to their succour. He at once un dertook the charge of the funeral, and the care of the chil dren; and not only did the brotherheod render this tempo rary aid, but they raised a considerable sum towards a perd manent provision for the family, and thus commenced fao for this purpose that has been largely contributed_to a by athos who knew the deceased best as a neighbour airptions fm clergy man ; and we hope to see it swelled by F i tr s a p eq " uaintance every one who has enjoyed the deligy_stseort through the medium of his work_ -------ARTsrrrrt T.—Yesterday An ROYAL aEA-BATH ING London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, extraordinary place at the elein a report from a committee o f general court of the governors of the above f c o h r a t r h it o y p t medical and other governors. Mr. Alderman Gibbs (trea rtaseideceslzebdutthetphraotpotshiteionineforeasr six took k ose of rec numbermedical of patients at the infirmary (who during the season (trea surer) were about 480) rendered it necessary to recommend that P r v e i s e l i d t visitors would Tber b e r three additional medical officers attend two days a week each. Considerable discussion ensued, from which it ap peared that Mr. Field, the resident surgeon, felt fully com petent to his task, notwithstanding the increase of patients, a or three e additional was or that, at all events, he ought no t t o b e p l aced under super vision; and g t 1 the appointment accordingly namendment carr sur i g e e d o , n r s e , c r o e m si : 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 Britieh 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, SOU ; Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Bart., 100/. ; remittance front Manchester, 2,0001.; Bradford, 1,0661. ; the Hon. East India Company, LOM 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 quartets 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 F E LHAM.-14 e have to record the decease of Lady Emily Pelham, who died on the 10th inst., at her residence in Upper Brook-street, aged 88. Her Ladyship was the daughter of the first Earl of Chi cheater, and aunt of the present holder of the title. esTo rges the Lis 'PP's ►een said re, is ,f la ace of e al- bite afore everal aptain ch for e had would men ds Of list. g • gif e Os" .turns • been e iating ed to !ntiotl aptain done in • called