The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-06 00:00:00

as has just been addressed to me. (Oh ! cheers, and laughter.) Ido not think it creditable that, in an assem bly of English gentlemen—(oh, oh !)—such language should be applied to me under such circumstances. (Oh, and derisive cheers.) There are two points in relation to what I before said upon which I wish to give an explana tion. One of them relates to a phrase which has been dwelt upon and somewhat misunderstood. I observed, that short as my experience of this house was—short as my experience of public life was—l have seen certain things done, and the phrase " under my own eyes" meant, during the period I have been a member of this house. (Laughter from the Ministerial side.) lam not going to alter a syllable of what I said, although gentlemen at the back of the teeasury bench may indulge in their la:!ghter. I wish the committee tounderstandthat the phrase under my own eyes," taken in connection with what immediately preceded it, meant during the period I have been a mem ber of this house. (Hear, and laughter.) Yes ; itmeant nothing else. The other point is this. The interpretation r put upon my words by my hon. friend the member fo Meath has led to some discussion. Now, I was instancing the conduct of Ministers. Walpole was a M i nister , Pelh and corrupted Parliament, as history tells us. am was a Minister, and corrupted Parliament, as history tells us. I was instancing the corruption effected by Ministers, and I came down to our own times, and the shape I gave my statement was that it was my convic tion that, during the time I have been in Parliament, the present Government did operate upon certain Irish m be r s. (Oh! laughter, cheers, and cries of " Name !") What I wished to convey to the house was, that the same kind of influence which was employed byWalpole and Pel am seemed to me to have been employed to influence the votes of a certain small number of Irish members. (Cries of "Oh !" " Name," and laughter.) The noble lord, who is called I believe the leader of this house, has thought pro per to say theft I wanted to pass away from the subject without offering any explanation. Now that is not the fact I stated to the committee that if the chairman, as their organ, called on me to name I would name. I paused for a considerable time. I heard the clamours of the commit tee on both sides—" Name," and " Don't name "—and I came to the conclusion —and so did my hon. friends near me—that it was the wish of the committee that I should not name. (Loud cries of " Name !" from the Ministerial side, and "No, no !" from the Opposition.) lam no t , as several hon. gentle men h ave said an old memb er of this house—l am not v er y familiar with its forms, and I may perhaps have got into a position of some difficulty; but one position I cannot and will not get into, and that is, the po sition of unsaying anything I havesaid. (Hear.) When the chairman had come to the conclusion that I was not in or der, there was a certain course which I considered proper under the circumstances, but I afterwards heard a very in fluential member on this side - the leader of a large party in this house—declare his opinion that that decision was come to somewhat rashly, and that circumstance flatus-ZS altered my views to some extent. If it be the will of the committee that I should give any further explanation of the facts that influenced me in forming and stating the opinion I before expressed, lam ready to do so. (Hear.) If, on the contrary, the committee require me to withdraw this language, to explain it away, and to say that my state- 1 ment was not true, I have only one course to take, what ever the consequences may be. (Loud cries of " Name !" " Chair, chair I") I am again called upon to name ;of course, if a large number of gentlemen in this house wish me to name—(" No, no !" " Chair !" " Name !") Mr. BRIGHT—I think the committee will consider there is a great difference between the explanation just given by the hon. member and the impression he made upon us by his original statement. The statement, I think, now stands thus :—The hon. gentleman says he is of opi nion that the Government have taken measures, somewhat analogous to those taken by former Governments, for the purpose of influencing votes in this house. I should be sorry to have to defend any Government against charges of this nature—(laughter)—but the hon. gentleman from the other side of the Channel ; and we all know that gentle men from that quarter—though it is in the west—are occa sionally apt to take what may be called an Oriental lati tude in language—that their mode of expressing themselves comes, not unfrequently, under the head of the figurative. (Laughter.) lam inclined to think the expressions com plained of may be fairly classed within that category. I myself may have at times used expressions which the house has not altogether approved of. (Laughter.) The chairman has determined that the expressions so used by the hon. gentleman were disorderly. lam satisfied the hon. gentle man would not wish to do anything that the committee con sider disorderly—that he would not willingly transgress the rules of the house, or act counter to its customs. The hon. gentleman says he is of opinion that certain practices have been adopted by Ministers towards gentlemen sitting below the gangway. Now, really, were I myself an Irish member of this house' I should hardly think it worth while to have so general an imputation as this taken down. (Laughter.) The hon. gentleman, perhaps, sees in the course taken by some other hon. gentleman something which he does not quite comprehend, but then he has made a partial expla nation of what he meant to convey, and though I should, certainly, have much preferred that the words complained of had not been uttered, and though, in the broad sense in which they were at first understood, I cannot conceive them to be true, yet, after the statement which the hon. gentle man has made, I think we may as well let the matter drop. After all, the hon. gentleman does not say that any of the Irish members to whom he refers have succumbed to temptation. He only speaks of their having been operated on, and we all know that operations are not necessarily successful. (Laughter.) We have heard, over and over spin in this house, general imputations that Government— ene Goverment not less than another—has employed temp tation and used certain means to swell their majorities, but nobody has taken any serious notice of such general state ments. Mr. J. BALL—I, for one, as an individual member, am desirous to vindicate, not only my own personal honour, but the honour, also, of those members with whom I am in daily communication ; and if there is corruption going on in this house I desire it may be manifested, that I may disconnect myself from it, and from those who have been guilty of it. (Hear, hear.) There is no double meaning to the term—" corruption" is a plain word, and easy to be understood. (Hear, hear.) I take the clear meaning of the hon. member for New Ross to be, that certain Irish members have been induced by pecuniary considerations. (" No, no !") Are words such as the hon. member's to be used in this house, and the house then to be told that there is no meaning to be attached to them ? (Hear, hear.) That certain Irish members have been induced by pecuniary considerations to take a pa ticular course ? (Hoar, hear.) If that allegation stands unretracted, I, for one, will not consent to withdraw the motion. (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL—The hon. gentleman behind me is quite right when he says that Governments have, in all times, been exposed to the charge of using corrupt means, and other charges of the like kind, and, no doubt, Govern ments, as well as individual members, should be indisposed lightly to take offence at words escaping in the heat of debate ; but it must be observed that the hon. gentleman who rose to complain of the words in question is an Irish member, and that the charge is, that Irish members have been practised on by corrupt influences. (Hear, hear.) Now, it appears to me that there are three ways in which a member may use such words as those complained of ; l i ktr i & is one case which has been supposed by my noble where, in the heat of debate, words, not well founded, and unjust in themselves, may fall from a speaker, and which, in a few moments afterwards, he may at once retract and regret. This, it appears, is not 1 he.case of the hon. member. (Hear, hear.) Another case is the per fectly justifiable one, where a member states that which he believes to be true, and which he is prepared to make the subject of inquiry, under a specific form of charge. (Hear, hear.) Now, if I understand that this is the case of the hon. member, I beg that his charges may be distinctly made. (Cheers.) If he means thak he can substantiate any specific charge of corrupt conduct on the part of the Go vernment towards any Irish member, and, as a matter of consequence, on the part of any Irish member who has been so corrupted, then let the charge be made, and lot it be strictly inquired into. (Hear.) There is a third way In which such a charge may be made, and that is, where a member having emplbyed words affecting the honour and integrity of another member of this house, has neither the proof to bring forward to substantiate his charge, nor the manliness to retract, and to acknowledge that he has been in error. (Hear, hear.) Unless I hear that the hon. mem is ready, not only to name the gentlemen to whom he re fers, but to brine_ forward a specific charge, or charg es , against those mdEbers, and against the Government, which can be made the subject of a substantive inquiry, I must rest, with regard to his conduct, on the last conclusion I have stated. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN then put the question, that the words complained of be taken down. Agreed to. The CHAIRMAN then put the question, that the words so taken down be reported to the house. Agreed to. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. The house having resumed, Mr. BOUVERIE reported the words which had been taken down. The SPEAKER, having read the words from the chair, said - Has the hon. member for New Ross anything to say , in explanation of the Words I have now read, or any re tractation to offer ? Mr. DUFFY—I would merely explain the object I had in view. I desire to say lam not acquainted with the forms of the house, and I do not know what is aimed at in this proceeding. (Laughter.) If the Speaker will tell me what is the course lam expected to take. (Great laughter.) The SPEAKER—It has been reported to the house that an hon. member has used expressions which have been re ceived as offensive to a great number of members of the house, and the committee has ordered his words to be taken down. It then remained for me to make the hon. member acquainted with the words which had been re ported to me as offensive, and to call on the hon. member to explain or retract them. The hon. member having made that explanation or retractation it will be for him to withdraw, and the house will then consider what fur ther course they will pursue in the matter. Mr. DUFFY—It will be in the recollection of the house that the statement I made was this,—that though I had been but a Short time in the house I had, I thought, ob served corruption practised to influence the votes of Irish members of this house, of a character with that corruption 'Which had for similar purposes been practised by Ministers w u'- 44, names are familiar to the house. I have been called on for an explanation. If the house thinks proper to give "le a c ommittee I will lay before that committee the facts which ir earni ce d , (Hear me to the conclusion I have arrived at. expeei thati Ido not know that it is quite reasonable to should this hurried manner, go into those facts, but I bel'ateva that ha substantial grounds for what I stated, nd mittee you will all I can do is to offer before any com mind. (Hear, heaaiirirlit those facts that influenced my The hon. gentleman having notice. called on to do this without ;I , is not reasonable I should be Lord J. RUSSELL immediately withdrawn, tr,hoese. hon.H ernsaeraidb,erlrise only to say that the words used by the con tain a general charge against the Go n v o e t rabi:ent, and against certain Irish members who have member of the Government myself , (In eciF ed th . ink As i a t _becomes me to advise the house as to i ti enc u e rAse it ought to pursue ; but I trust that some ex eunb eT well acquainted with the forms and precedentins of house, will advise and make a moti on upon the subjetC. (Hear, ar.) DISRAELI—I rise, Sir, to express the opinion of hose who, I think, wish to give a fair, and, I t rust, an vprejudioed view of this question. Ido not think it right to appoint a committee to inquire into so vague a statement as that which has been made by the ho n . mem ber for New Ross. (H ear, hear.) At the same time that statement is of so substantial a nature that I do not think we can treat it with contempt. I think that he ought to . Sir, g e psmoned to the house, and t hat you, him . to' name the individua ls upon whom he thinks the th e se corrupt influences. I Government have practised at o' think it would 120 =gam* to eXIMV meat,be called m toon n theernames into details, of b 0 be bb.members s but o he ought to whom his remarks apply, and we shall then be in a e t position to take further steps. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WORTLEY.—I was in hopes, sir, that the hon. member would have taken some course that would have rendered further discussion unnecessary. I cannot, for the life of me, understand, after the language which he has held, and the explanation which he has attempted to give, how he can reconcile the course which Fe has taken to his own feelings. (Cheers.) But I think it would be unwise and imprudent if we were hastily, and at a mo ment's notice, considering the present state of feeling of the house, and the feeling which is within the breast of the hon. member himself, to call upon him without reflec tion to substantiate or to retract charges of this grave na ture. (Hear.) If we refrain from this at present it will be open for him at a fitting time, on a right opportunity, and when the hon. member is in a fitting state of mind, either to retract the expressions he has used, and to apolo gise to the house for the course he has taken, or, in a manly, bold, and constitutional manner, himself move for a committee of inquiry. (Hear, hear.) Ido not know what course I can take under all these circumstances, ex cept I venture humbly to move that this debate be ad journed until to-morrow. (Hear, and cries of "No, no.") Yes ; this will give us time to consult precedents, if there be any, and it will also give an opportunity to the hon. member to reflect upon what has passed, and to take ad vice with reference to it. I am quite sure there is no desire:upon the part of the house to hurry that hon. mem ber into a course that may be destructive to him, and I, for one, suggest that this debate be adjourned. (Hear, hear, and cries of "Move !") [After a pause and consulta tion with friends near him, the hon. member said :—] My motion, then, would be, " That the language of the hon. member be taken into consideration at four o'clock to morrow." (Hear, hear.) Mr. MOORE.—If the disposition of the house be to deal justly and generously with the hon. member, whether he substantiates or retracts, it evidently can be only fair that time should be allowed him to weigh and consider the whole matter. Mr. KIRK as one of the Irish members resting under this ban, I feel that, under the peculiar circumstances and at the peculiar hour at which this debate is going on, it would be very unpleasant and " uncomfortable" (a laugh) that it should be adjourned. The whole of the debate will be printed in the newspapers to-morrow, and by Sunday it will be circulated in the most remote corners of Ireland. We, therefore, shall have 13b remain under the imputation of oorruption for an entire week; and I think the only cor rect course would be to act upon the recommendation of the hon. member for Buckinghamshire. Colonel CAULFIELD—Sir, whether the words were disorderly or not, or whether they were said in the heat of the debate, at all events they augur a manifest intentionto offend. That the expressions were " offensive," I can say for myself. That many hon. members consider them " in suiting," I also know. I would, therefore, beg to oppose the adjournment of the debate, and very cordially to agree with the expression of the hon. member for Buckingham shire, that you should call the hon. member for New Ross to his place, and, if he should then refuse an explanation, that we should act accordingly. Mr. BRIGHT—The hon. member for Buteshire appears to me to have suggested a course which the house ought to follow ; and, considering the position which he holds, his advice upon a question of this nature is particularly valu able. The hon. member for New Ross is charged to have used words offensive and, as the hon. member who has just sat down says, " insulting" to the house. Acting upon the feelings which prompted the hon. gentleman to the course he has taken, I think it would hardly be fair for the house to compel him to come in and to arrive at a conclu sion upon this subject. We also should only be guilty of conduct equally unjustifiable and hasty with that of the hon. member, if we were, after 12 o'clock at night, to pro ceed to adjudicate upon what occurred but a few minutes before. (Hear, hear.) Ido not think that we should bo doing justice either to the hon. member or to our own cha racter if we did not take the course which has been pointed out by the hon. member for Buteshire. I believe that the hon. member was under a delusion with regard to what he said ; but, that being so, I think we should be taking a course beneath our dignity if we refused to give him time for an explanation. (Hear, hear.) After the hon. member for New Ross has slept upon this matter— (laughter)—he may perhaps come down and make a full ex planation which will be satisfactory. Ido hope that the house will agree to the motion for the adjourment of the debate. Mr. V. SCULLY—I would object to any motion which would tako any hon. member by surprise. I regret very much that any hon. member should have placed him self in this position, and should have refused to accept the advice which was tendered by the noble lord the member for London. As an Irish member myself—as one who voted with the Government upon the income tax division upon conviction—(laughter)—I think that on this occasion we were not taking the hon. member by surprise, and that the sooner this charge is brought to an issue the better. (Hear, hear.) No member has a right to assert anything like a libel upon his brother members without being able to substantiate it, and, notwithstanding the advice of the hon. member for Manchester, I do hope that an independent conclusion will be arrived at. I beg to call to the minds of hon. members what occurred. I had spoken on the question of the consolidated annuities, and I had stated that there were certain gentlemen who took a different view of that question from me, who were not interested in the land of Ireland. The hon. member for New Ross, in noticing this point of my speech, turned to me and, addressing me personally, stated that, if there were members on his side of the house who had no interest in the consolidated annuities, neither had they any interest in Downing-street. Following that up, the hon. member stated that there were some few Irish members on this (the ministerial) side of the house who had given conscientious votes the other evening, when some of my friends called out " Some few, indeed !" but no explanation was given. Following up the same point still, and look ing at us hero pointedly, he used the expression which has been referred to, and which every one of us understood as an extremely gross insult—(hear, hear) —and I, for one, certainly could not but feel veryin dignant at it. We called out " Name ! name !" and the hon. member said over and over again, " I am perfectly ready to name." I confess I wish the hon. member could come in and either adopt the construction which the hon. member for Meath has put upon his words, and state that he meant nothing insulting to us, or that he would adopt the alternative suggested by the right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire—that is to say, that if he will not retract or explain the expressions he has used, he should do what he has said he was prepared to do—name the gentlemen to whom he alluded ; and then, if any hon. gentleman thinks it necessary, let him move the adjourn ment. (Hear.) Mr. CONOLLY rose amid loud cries of "Oh !" He said—l am happy to say that I was not in the house when some disgraceful scene—as I collect from what has fallen from hon. members—must have occurred ; but I beg to submit to you, sir, and to the house, that the course indi cated by the right hon. gentleman the Recorder of London is, under all the circumstances, that which seems to me the best. (Cries of " Divide !") In saying this, lam not in fluenced by any feelings on either side. If an offensive ex expression has been used, time should be given to the hon. member who used it to reflect maturely upon the expres sion, and to come in a rational state of mi n d e ith er t o apologise for and retract, or to substantiate it, like a man of honour. (Hear, and laughter.) Lord J. RUSSELL—I stated to the house before, that I (lid not think it would be becoming in me to point out what course it ought to pursue. Since then two courses have been suggested—one by the right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire, and the other by the right hon. gentleman the Recorder of the city of London. The right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire suggests that if the hon. member for New Ross will state certain names a committee should then be appointed for the purpose of investigating the charges against the per sons so named. Now I confess that Ido not think that there is a course which it would be proper for us to pur sue. (Hear, hear.) It seems to me that it would be a most unbecoming course for us to expose hon. members, , without any apparent reason or cause, to imputations which are not specified. (Hear, hear,) In cases of this kind there ought, I think, to be some sort of charges affixed to persons who are supposed to be guilty, and that merely appointing a committee to ioquire into the con duct of members would be a very unjust and unbecoming course for us to adopt. (Hear, hear.) The proposal of the right hon. gentleman the Recorder of London, that the debate should be adjourned till we meet again, will give time to the hon. member for New Ross, and to the mem bers of this house, to consider what course they ought to pursue. I certainly have often found that cases which were exceedingly difficult have, by adjournment, been easily brought to a conclusion, and therefore I am pre pared to support the motion of the right. hon. gentleman the Recorder of London. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. BALL.—As I have been personally alluded to by some hon. members, I beg to say that I should be the last to wish to put the lon. member for New Ross in a position where he might be tempted to utter things which it would be difficult to retract. At the same time, with reference to the suggestion of the hon. member for Cork, that the hon. member should either at present or to-morrow adopt the construction which had been put upon his words by the hon. member for Meath, I have to say that that would neither be creditable to himself or the house ; and, there fore in expressing my concurrence in the views of hon. members who have suggested an adjournment of the debate I do so in the hope that the house at its re-assembling will see that the charge which has been made is met in a proper way—in a way, I mean, in which such a serious charge should be met. (Hear, hear.) I beg to say, at the same time, that I did not understand that the hon. member looked at me when he made the charge. It never entered my head that he did ; and, if it had, I do not say that I should have been so forward to move in the matter. But the hon. member having cast—l will not say a slur—but one of the heaviest imputations possible on a large body of hon. members who sat behind me, I cannot think but that it was due to them, as well as to myself, to take the course I did. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Serjeant SHEE—I am not in the position of the hon. member for Donegal (Mr. Conolly), for I have heard the whole of this unpleasant discussion, and I must acknowledg e that lam rot at all surprised that hon. friends say col-' leagues in the Irish representation, should have taken offence at the words w hi c h were use d b y hon. member for New Ross. At the same time I confess I did not understand them, nor I think any reflecting person can understand them, in the offensive sense which has been put upon them in the heat of this evening's debate. (Cries of " Oh!" and " Hear, hear.") Is there a single man in thelouse who believes that the hon. member for New Ross meant to say that in his presence, and under his own eyes, anything like pecuniary corruption had taken place ? (Cries of "Oh !") My hon. friend the member for Tavistock may have so un derstood it—(hear)—but I am sure that any man at all acquainted with the Irish representation—(laughter)—or with my hon. friends opposite, knows perfectly well, and they know themselves, every one, that nothing of the kind was intended. (Hear, hear.) But that does not conclude the question, I admit, because there may be corruption in other ways than by pecuniary bribes—(hear, hear)—and if any one of us, at our elections, had been proved to have given an office, or to have used our influence in obtaining one, it would have been corruption in the ordinary sense of the. word—(hear, hear)—and I cannot help thinking that if hon. members will for a moment get rid of that feeling of irritation naturally excited by such words as my hon. friend used, they may find, and must find, a meaning for what he said which does not impute personal dishonour to any member of this house—(cries of "Oh, oh !" and laugh ter)—and which does not impute anything to which right hon. gentlemen on the Treasury bench ought or can when the thing is'properly understood—(The rest of the sentence was lost in the laughter of the house.) I must ask the which itcoh ptehromhiot en. m t e o m c b all er tfhoreirNeawtteßontisosnett:ndsth,e and d it t ir e for the languageli but a short t inapearrieliseuar together in p o ut ir oicalniZelieeg feelings that may actuate him, and which will account as he believed, by Yevaeryeffisulrhai (Hear, hear.) He has been house one of a l e i e ot t r h ,e a ; t h c e oui ca d mo bin in d t o men or 70 strong —( hear, hear)—pledged, i t t v i e o rra m e si nt g . ennolity ear, hear)—to oppose every znausbla Do let me submit to the VA it is sot right to p 1 - `3 (e k Arl THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 6, 1853. interrupt a man in the middle of a sentence—(loud laugh ter)—and put a meaning on his words which every one who hears me know they do not bear. (Hear.) I repeat, that he was one of a party 60 or 70 strong (No, 50 ! Laughter.) Well, what does it matter whether it was 50 or 60 ? but a party pledged to oppose every Government — (hear, hear)—which did not support those measures which he and a very large majority of his countrymen deemed essential to the interests of his country. (Hear, hear.) I ask the house to remember what I suggested, that corrup tion may be by office as well as by a pecuniary bribe. (Hear, hear.) Let us see whether we cannot find a mean ing for those words which impute no personal dishonour to my honourable friends opposite, in any sense in which we understand dishonour (hear, hear, and laughter) —but which may be so in the sense which my honoura ble friend the member for New Ross has fitly described as a sort of corruption practised in the days of Wal pole and Pelham. (Hear, hear, hear, and loud cries of " Divide !") At the early part of the session,• when the right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire was in office, that party, 50 or 60 strong— (a laugh)—went together as one man into the lobby and overthrew the Government. (Laughter.) After the right hon. gentle men had done what I shall always think was a statesman like act—(laughter)—sent, for calm consideration upstairs, a billon which the hearts of the people of Ireland were fixed-(hear, hear)—the noble lord at the head of the Government, I believe the next day, in the House of Lords, having disavowed that conduct, and protested that, whatever the report of the committee might be, he and his Government would oppose that bill, we went into the lobby 50 or 60 strong. The Government was changed, and office was given to some members of that party. (Hear.) I am one of those who think, and I shall never have the least hesitation in avowing it, because I do not share in many of the opinions of my hon. friend the member for New Ross, and do not take so determined a view of Irish politics as he may naturally do—but I am one of those who think that, two hon. gentlemen of that party having taken office—being gentlemen of most unexceptionable character in public and in private life—(hear, hear)—of very considerable ability—who had distinguished them selves on this side of the house in opposition to the noble lord the member for London when in power—it may at least be a matter 'of doubt whether the Government did not, in offering office to these gentlemen , mean an earnest, a token of reconciliation, to the Irish Catholic represen- tives in this house ; but that was not the view taken of it in Ireland, or by my hon. friend the member for New Ross—(hear)—and I have not the least doubt, though I have had no communication with him on the subject, that when he talked of corruption being practised under his own eyes since he had had a seat in Parliament, he meant that hon. members of that house had been induced to abandon the course they had taken, and had declared their determination to follow, and that the Government had broken up the party purposely determined to break its strength in this house, by use of those means which were used in the days of Walpole and Pelham, by giving office to those honourable members. (Hear, hear.) I have certainly heard the office of Solicitor-General spoken of as an inferior office; but we do not generally consider it such. (A laugh.) Neither do I think it quite right to talk of a Lord of the Treasury as very inferior; and I say it with no disrespect to my hon. friend the late member for Carlow, a most respectable gentleman, and a member of an honourable profession, but it was high pro motion to him to be appointed a Lord of the Treasury. (Hear, hear.) Then, let me ask whether the words used by my hon. friend the member for New Ross were used in the offensive sense some gentlemen seemed to think? No one supposes that either of those hon. gentlemen had re ceived a bribe under the eyes of my hon. friend, and I think we have been somewhat hasty in judging my hon. friend so severely, and that it is possible, after all, when the explanation is given, it will be found that what I have said was not said by my hon. friend, because, having had angry discussions w ith th e h on. an d learned member for Athlone, and the late hon. member for Carlow, he would be reluctant to mention their names in that house, and would not impute dishonourable conduct to them, which their friends knew was not the case. (Hear, hear.) You cannot exactly put yourselves in the position and feel in the same manner as those felt who, having the deepest in terest in the happiness of their country, thought the best way to promote it was to maintain a strong compact party in this house. (Hear, hear.) Those who so felt have been greatly disappointed at the course adopted by some hon. members of that party, as far as we know, without any pledge or assurance that those measures would be taken which we all deemed essential to the well-being and pros perity of Ireland. Sir G. GREY—I wish to call the attention of the house to the precise question before it. The only question you have had put from the chair is that which was submitted to you by the right hon. and learned Recorder of London —that the consideration of this subject should be adjourned until this day at 4 o'clock. No other course has been sug gested in the shape of a motion, and I think the house will act wisely in agreeing to that proposition. (Hear, hear.) I think a few hours' reflection will induce the hon. member for New Ross to take that course which—after having uttered words which I cannot help thinking were uttered in the heat of debate, and not with deliberation, justly offensive as I think those words were— (hear)—hon. gen tlemen are accustomed to take in this house. (Hear.) He thought it consistent with the character of the house that they should allow the suggested interval to elapse before coming to any decision ; but, in recommending that course, he was anxious to state that he should not feel him self justified in doing so if he felt that the slightest impu tation rested on any one of these members to whom the allusions of the hon member for New Ross had been offen sive. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD, who rose to speak, but was met with loud cries of " Agreed," was understood to sup port the motion of the right hon. and learned member for Buteshire (Mr. S. Wortley). Mr. W. 0. STANLEY did not wish to prolong the de bate, but desired to suggest to the house the propriety of making an addition to the motion before them, to the effect that the hon. member for New Ross should be de sired to attend in his place to-morrow (this day) at four o'clock. The motion was then agreed to, with the addition pro posed by the hon. member for Chester (Mr. W. 0. Stanley). The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill and the Exchequer-bills Bill were read a second time. The Sales of Bullion Bill passed through committee. RYE WRIT. On the order of the day being read for resuming the de bate (adjourned from Monday) on the motion for a new writ for Rye, Mr. BASS, after presenting a petition against the issue of the writ, proposed that at so late an hour (past ono o'clock), the debate be further adjourned. Mr. WALPOLE thought, that after what had been stated in the former discussion, the evidence ought to be in the hands of members before they decided upon the case. Lord J. RUSSELL agreed in that view. It had been suggested that corrupt practices, in the way of loans to the electors, could not be dealt with by the house without a new act ; he had his doubts whether that was so ; ho also had his doubts whether any writ should issue again for the borough of Rye. After a short conversation, the debate was again ad journed. ENTAILS (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee on this bill, Air. DUNLOP expressed a wish that it should be post poned. The LORD-ADVOCATE states, that there had been a meeting of Scotch members on this bill, and there was only one amendment to be considered. He pledged him self, on bringing up the report, that a full opportunity should be afforded for discussing the point. Mr. DUNLOP, with that understanding, had no objec tion to the bill passing through committee. The bill then passed through committee. SLIGO ELECTION. The SPEAKER intimated that he had received a letter stating that it was not intended to proceed with the peti tion against the return. SHERIFF COURTS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The LORD-ADVOCATE Moved that the following gen tlemen be nominated the select committee on this bill The Lord-Advocate, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Hume, Mr. Napier, Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Charteris, Mr. Edward Ellice, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Cumming Bruce, Mr. Fergus, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. Craufurd, Mr. Hastie, and Mr. M'Gregor. After a short discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr. CRAUFURD then moved that the committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records. The LORD-ADVOCATE opposed the motion. Mr. EWART and Mr. DUNLOP supported the motion. Mr. COWAN suggested the debate should be adjourned. The motion for the adjournment of the debate was agreed to. On the motion of Mr. RICE the Select Committee on Police was ordered to consist of the following names : Mr. Rice, Mr. Sotheron, the Lord-Advocate, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. Burroughes, Lord Lovaine, Sir John Trol lope, Mr. Rich, Mr. Moody, Mr. Mackie, Mr. Brand, Mr. Charles Howard, Sir James Anderson, and Mr. Philipps. The other orders of the day were then disposed of. The house adjourned at five minutes past 2 o'clock. MINT AT SYDNEY.—The Government have announced that no part either of the staff or machinery for the establishment of a mint at Sydney has yet been sent out. An officer has been appointed to superintend the affair, and he is in communication with Sir John Herschel, but as respects the period at which the requisite arrangements are likely to be completed nothing is stated. It is nor two years since the gold discoveries in Australia took place, and it was soon pointed out not only that the establishment of a mint would prove desirable, but that much of the advantage to be derived from such a step would de pend upon the speed with which it might be decided upon. As far back as the beginning of August last, after much time had been wasted by correspondence between the colony and the mother oountry, a resolution of the Legislative Council at Sydney was transmitted to the Home Government, requesting that proper officers might be forthwith nominated, and that three presses and an en gine should be shipped, this resolution being followed in November by a remittance of 10,000/., in accordance with the estimate furnished. It might, therefore, have been supposed that by the present date some positive state ment could be obtained of the probabilities of the task being completed ; and, although it is asserted by the Government that no time has been lost, it is difficult to avoid the impression that if the matter had been in the hands of any private mercantile firm, it would have met with greater dispatch. Meanwhile, the anomaly of an amount equal to many millions sterling of gold being constantly in progress across the ocean in one shape in order that it may be returned in another still continues ; and, although from the recent tendency to an advance in the colonial quotations of the price per ounce, there is reason to be lieve that remittances from this side are not likely hence forth to yield much profit, they will probably yet go on for several months, the establishment of the mint taking place just about the period when the chief opportunities for its use will have reached a termination. [ADVEETISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills a Certain Cure for Eruptions and all Diseases of the Skin. —Extract of a letter from Mr. J. Hird, draper, Beady, dated Feb. 14, 1852, to Professor Holloway :—" Sir, — My child, when three months old, was afflicted with a severe eruption all over her body. I sought every aid and the advice of surgeons and physicians, by all of whom the case was considered hopeless. I then tried your Ointment and Pills, and without exaggeration the effect was miraculous, for in a short time she was restored to perfect health, and so remains. Mr. Bowden, book seller, Gainsborongh, and myself, would be happy to satisfy any inquiries as to the truth of this statement." Sold by all druggists • and at Professor Holloway's Este.- blishment, 244 1 5tr4114 Loudon, fr-ottat tion SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS--(THIS EVENING.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord STANLEY (of Alderley) presented a petition from Manchester, praying for the extension of the juris diction of county courts to matters of bankruptcy. The Bishop of SALISBURY presented several peti tions from various parts of his diocese, praying for the better observance of the Lord's-day. The Bishop of NORWICH presented a petition pray ing for the removal of Jewish disabilities. AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL. Lord BROUGHAM said he had already expressed his intention of dividing this bill, which had already been read a second time, into two parts, and he was confirmed in this intention by the able report of the Common Law Commissioners, which recommended that course, and approved of a large portion of the bill, but did not ex press an opinion upon that part which related to self crimination by witnesses. He would bring the subject before their lordships on Monday, and he hoped his noble and learned friend on the woolsack would name. a day for going into committee upon it. Lord CAMPBELL, suggested that the bill should be referred to a select committee. REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES BILL. On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR that this bill be read a third time, Lord ST. LEONARDS said he did not believe it would carry out the objects for which it was intended. It had been brought before Parliament nine or ten times, and had never yet become a law. The commis sioners of 1850 had given it as their opinion that no system of registration would work well without a map, which it would take years to prepare. If the measure could be carried into execution the costs of it would be enormous. The noble and learned lord then proceeded to repeat his objections to the bill which he had urged upon previous occasions when it had been before their lordships. [LEPT SPEAKING.] HOUSE OF COMMONS--(THIS EVENING.) The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock, when the seats on both sides were nearly all filled. ELECTION COMMITTEES. • The Cork and Plymouth Election Committees were sworn in, and appointed to sit to-morrow. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords amendments to the Crystal Palace Com pany, and the Great Yarmouth Waterworks Bills, were considered and agreed to. The following bills were read a third time and agreed to :—Belfast and Ballymena Railway ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Alteration of Ca pital) Bill. BERWICK ELECTION. Mr. MITCHELL presented a petition from Mr. Matthew Forster, denying the truth of the allega tion that he had endeavoured by means of corrupt pro mises to procure the withdrawal of the petition against his return, stating that two persons had offered to him to withdraw the petition on condition of receiving a large sum of money, and praying for an inquiry into the whole circumstances. (On the motion of the hon. member the petition was read by the clerk at the table.) The hon. member wished to know whether the offer mentioned by the petitioner did not involve a breach of the privi- lecres of the house. _ ° The SPEAKER said, as the matter stood at present, it was difficult to say whether it amounted to a breach of the privileges of the house. Mr. MITCHELL gave notice that he would on Mon day move for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the statements in the petition. (Hear.) DUTIES ON CLOVER SEEDS, &c. Sir J.SHELLEY said—l wish to put to the Secre. tary of the Treasury a question of great importance to us agriculturists. (Laughter) We farmers wish to know whether the Government intend to remove the duties on clover and other small seeds, in order to carry out the principles of free trade ? Mr. WILSON admitted that the farmers had a right to make an appeal to the Government on that subject, both on the principle now adopted of unrestricted com petition, and on the ground that all articles of raw ma terial ought to be admitted free into the country. (Hear, hear.) Deputations lately received by the Government had urged that the duties in question ought to be taken off in conformity with those 'principles. The matter was now under the consideration of the Government, and the only reason why they hesitated at all in coming to a conclusion was as to the amount which the duties at present yielded, not as to the propriety of their being removed. (Cheers.) SALE OF CROWN RIGHTS IN RUABON. Mr. WHALLEY asked the Secretary to the Trea sury whether any further steps had been taken in the proposed sale of crown rights in Ruabon, since the peti tion relative thereto was presented, and the return of papers ordered by the house. Mr. WILSON replied, that in the month of January last the Treasury gave its consent to an arrangement entered into between Sir Watkins Wynne and the Lord of the Manor, and the inhabitants of Ruabon, and nothing in the matter had been done since by the Trea sury. ADJOURNMENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. In reply to Sir J. TROLLOPE, Lord J. RUSSELL said he would now give notice hat on Friday next he would move the adjournment of she house until the Thursday following. ENNIS ELECTION, The SPEAKER intimated that he had received a let ter stating that it was not intended to proceed with the petition against the return of Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald for Ennis. (Hear, hear.) On the motion of Sir J. TnoLLOPE, the petition was ordered to be discharged. APPEAL OF TENANT FARMERS UNDER THE INCOME TAX. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to know whether in the event of the income tax passing, it was intended to give tenant farmers the same right of appeal which they now possessed in regard to their real bona fide incomes. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government had no intention to deprive them of their present right of appeal. HARWICH ELECTION. Mr. HEADLAM brought up the report of the com mittee unseating Mr. G. Montague Warren Peacock, and seating Mr. David Waddington, for Harwich. He stated that it was proved to the committee that Mr. Peacock entered into an arrangement with Mr. Att wood, his solicitor, to pay him a certain sum of money in the event of his being elected for the borough, and also that several voters had been bribed at the elec tion, but it was not proved with the knowledge of Mr. Peacock. ELECTION COMMISSIONS. In answer to an How. MEMBER ; Lord J. RUSSELL said it was out of the question to allow these motions to take precedence on the Govern ment nights ; but he would endeavour to fix them for days when they were likely to come on. GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES. Mr. J. B. SMITH asked the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, whether the Government had suspended the granting of annuities for lives and terms of years, and if so, whether the suspension was intended to be perma nent or temporary only. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said several matters had been done, and were in contemplation by the Government respecting the granting of annuities ; but as regarded the question of the hon. member, it was not the case that the Govern ment had suspended granting annuities, either on lives or for a term of years. The question of the hon. mem ber might perhaps have arisen out of the fact that for a certain limited period before every quarter the granting of annuities was suspended. CHATHAM ELECTION. Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that on Monday next he should move the adjournment of the Chatham writ ; and also that it was his intention to bring in a bill to disqualify persons holding Dockyard appointments from voting at elections. (Loud cheers.) MR. DUFFY AND THE IRISH MEMBERS. The order of the day for the consideration of the ex ception taken to the words uttered last night by Mr. Duffy in the course of his speech having been read, The SPEAKER asked if the honourable member for New Ross was in his place. Mr. DUFFY said—l am here, Sir. . Mr. SPEAKER—It is my duty to remind the hon. gentleman of the proceedings which took place last night. The house was informed by a report of the Committee of Ways and Means, that exception had been taken to certain words used by the honourable member for New Ross, which were : " Greater corruption than was ever practised in the days of the Walpoles and the Pelhams has been practised, under my own eyes, upon Irish members of this house ?" If the hon. member has any explanation to make now in the house, it is hardly necessary for me tell the hon. member that there is always a willingness on the part of this house to extend its indulgence to any hon. mem ber who, in the heat of debate, has made use of words calculated to offend hon. members in the house, and I trust the hon. member will now be prepared with such an explanation or apology as may be satisfactory to the house. Mr. DUFFY—I wish, in the first place, to set myself right before proceeding to the explanation which I have to make. I desire to recal to the recollection of the house exactly what happened last night. When I was interrupted it was not by a call to order, but by a chal lenge to prove certain statements which I had made. If I had been called to order I should have felt bound at once to have set myself right with the committee in any manner which might have been deemed sufficient, but In answer to the challenge which was given to me to prove my words, I felt then, and I feel still, that it wculd have been a course utterly irreconcileable with my conscience, simply to withdraw a statement on its truth being questioned. After some debate Mr. Bou verie at length declared me to be:out of order, and I was they about to rise immediately to take tlw course which seemed to me necessary under the circumstances, and to say that I was quite aware that the rules of debate in this assembly, as well as of every other assembly, ought not to be yiolated, and that al had violated thew I was extremely sorry. (Hear.) I was about to take that course when the right hon. gentleman the member for Bucks interposed, and stated that a charge of corrupt practices against the Ministry was not a breach of order, but, on the contrary, the privilege, nay, even the duty, of any hon. member of this house. (Hear, hear.) I did not feel then that I was bound at once, with out , waiting for some further debate, to take the course which I had b e f ore meditated ; and after that the possibility of withdrawing the words was taken away from me by the noble lord the member for the city of London. That noble lord stated that I had endeavoured, after making the charge contained in my words, to fly away from it, and avoid naming the parties. Now the very reverse was the fact. (Cheers.) I appeal to both sides of the house whether I (lid not wait for several minutes—a long time under such cir cumstances—and I declared that if the committee, by the chairman, decided that I should 'do so, I would at once proceed to name the persons without avoiding the re sponsibility of proving the allegation which I had made. The noble lord went on further to say that I could not prove a syllable of what I had stated. Now, I appeal to the house if, after such a statement, I could withdraw my words, leaving the matter in that position. (Hear, hear.) Would any hon. member of the house, after it had been stated by a minister of the Crown that he had made an allegation which he could not prove, consent to terminate the debate by simply withdrawing the words which he had uttered. (Cheers.) It seems to me scarcely possible to take that course. (Hear.) After that I withdrew by the direction of the chairman, and I am informed that certain circumstances then took place with respect to me. I also wish to offer some explana tion. I have been told by them that it 'was imputed to me that I had intended to convey that money was given to secure the votes of Irish members. Now, I distinctly wish the house to understand that I did not mean to convey any such thing. Now, what I wish to convey is this—that the political profligacy which prevailed in the times of Walpole and the Duke of Newcastle, when men were induced to abandon the most solemn and cir cumstantial pledges, and to leave behind their reputation and political character for the purpose of accepting office, —that that conduct seemed to me to have been exceeded by circumstances which had fallen under my own notice since I had been a member of this house. (Loud cheers.) I meant to charge that certain Irish members had, in point of fact, outrun anything which I had ever heard or read of in discreditable abandonment of their notorious and rooted principles, for the purpose of what I could only interprets as their own personal advantage and advancement. If I knew what political corruption means that is political corruption—and I repeat now what I have said before—that if it be the wish of this house I am ready to specify the individdais, and to state what appear to :me to be cogent facts in sustain ment of this allegation . These being my opinions, of course it is impossible for me to retract what I have said. I wish the house to understand that if in stating them here:—for I have often stated them else where—l have violated any rule of the house, it was entirely outside my intention, and of course I regret if I have offended against the proper manner of con ducting debate in this house, which seems to me, on the authority of the right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire, somewhat doubtful ; but if I have offended, of course I regret it. (Loud cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL—The honourable member has said that I interrupted him last night in a manner which prevented him iwithdrawing his charge. Mr. DUFFY—What I said was, that after the state ment of the noble lord that I had made a charge of which I could not :prove the truth, it seemed to me that a man of honour could not terminate the business by simply withdrawin g the charge. Lord J. RUSSE LL—I was about to say that the hon. member stated_ in this house that corruption had been practised on Irish members by the present Govern ment in a manner t hat exceeded the corruption of Wal pole and Pelham ; rind, the debate having gone on for some time, both as to the character of the words and the course to be taken with respect to them, I think I could have taken no other course than to have given a complete denial on the part of the Government. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman made a general statement, and I made a general denial. I certainly understood the charge in a different - manner to that in which it is now stated to me. Ev erybody who has read history knew that the corruption of Walpole and Pelham was of this kind—that when (here was a question which was likely to-be closely press, sd in the house, that either by gift of place or gift of money a majority was secured in favour of the Government. (Hear.) It now appears that the charge of the hon. member is of a very different descrip tion. (No, no.) Well, then, does the hon. member mean to say that money has been given to the Irish members? (Mr. Duffy—"No, no.") Then it is of a different description.. What I understand the hon. gentleman to say is: that there have been members in this house who, having given certain pledges and expressed certain opinions in Ireland before bodies of the Irish peo ple, have accepted oillce, forfeited those pledges, and gone contrary to tho:;e opinions. I do know whether there is any accusation of corruption in the times of Walpole which at ail answers that description. Because there were not thou questions under discussion upon which declarations of this kind could be made. What the hon, member now states is that, hon. members, flying from pledges And not acting in accordance with the opinions they ha ve declared, have either accepted office or ranged - themselves on the side of the Government. I doubt very much whether that is an ac cusation which could at all be declared disorderly con duct. It appears to. :me to be a matter of argument for the house in any debate, whether those who have either accepted office, or, without accepting office, have sup ported the present Gel iernment, have acted from corrupt motives. I think the Irish members have ample means of defending themselv es, and my belief is that, instead of actin g r , from any cos rupt motives, th e y h ave ac t e d i n a way highly honourable to themselves. (Laughter and cheers.) That is a matter of opinion, and a sub ject, for discussion, an d I do not think Ir ish member have any reason to fea r any amount of lengthy debate on the subject. It appears there have b een s t asemen t s _ _ in Ireland; that members for Ireland from corrupt mo tives, have taken up ti ►e cause of the Government, have acted with them, and - voted for them, and it had even been alleged that they have received sums of money for so doing. It appears that gross accusation is now aban doned, and I think it is always better, in such cases, to allow the matter to d rop, without taking any fuither proceedings. (Cheers.) Mr. J. BALL wished to say a few words, but The SPEAKER cal led the hon. gentleman to order, as there was no motioz i before the house. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the house do pass to the orders of the day. Mr. BALL then proceeded to remark that the state ment which the hon. member for New Ross made last night referred to transactions which occurred four months ago. Mr. G.DUFFY said the hon. gentleman was mis taken. His statement, did not refer to anything of the sort. Mr. J. BALL said - that he had nothing further to say, but the hon. gentleman, against whom he had no per sonal animosity whatever, had stated in another capacity than a member of Parliament, that Irish members, in supporting the present Government, had violated a pledge which they made four years ago. It appeared, however, that what the hon. member said last night was not an echo of this statement, and he had therefore no thing more to say in, this unpleasant matter. The SPEAKER -then put the question that the house pass to the order of the day, which was agreed to amidst much laughter. WAYS AND MEANS.—INCOME TAX. The house shortly afterwards went into committee of ways and means, when. The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Bouverie) put the question which was debated last night, namely, that the words proposed to be left out of the resolution which included Ireland in the operation of the income tax stand part of the question. Mr. F. FRENCH rose to order. The hon. member for New Ross was in possession of the chair when this debate was interrupted last night, and The CHAIRMAN said the question having been put, the hon. and learned member was out of order in speaking. Lord J. RUSSELL requested sotto voce to speak sit ting, and with his hat on. Mr. F. FRENCH, adopting the noble lord's advice, proceeded to say it was neither fair nor proper to put the question in this abrupt manner. The hon. member for New Ross was in possession of the chair when the debate was interrupted, and he had therefore a right to complete the speech which he commenced last night. Mr. GOULBOURN, speaking with his hat on, and sitting, was understood to agree with the honourable gentleman who last addressed the committee ; but before he could say five words, strangers were ordered to with- , draw, and the matter of order was discussed with closed doors. The committee divided during this period, when the numbers were— For the amendment 6l Against it 286 Majority The resolution was accordingly carried. Mr. MOORE moved that the chairman do report pro gress, and ask leave to sit again in order that the point of order might be discussed with the Speaker in the chair. Mr. LABOUCHERE concurred with the motion, and said it was most desirable that the point of order should be decided by the house, and not the committee. Lord J. RUSSELL also concurred in the motion under the circumstances stated. And the question, that the Chairman report pr o g ress, was put and carried. The house having resumed, the Chairman reported progress and obtained leave to sit again. Lord J. RUSSELL then stated what had occurred about the point of order, and added that, as the hon. member for Mayo had been instrumental in raising the point of order perhaps he would be good enough to continue the discussion. Mr. MOORE then proceeded to explan to the Speaker the position in which the matter'stood. When the debate was interrupted last night the bon. member for New Ross was in possession of the chair, but the Chairman of the committee tonight, instead of calling the hon. member for New Ross to resume the debate, proceeded in a hurried manner to put the ques tion, which was clearly a violation of his duty. (Hear, hear. Mr. BOUVERIE said he had committed the mistake, if mistake it was, unintentionally ; but the house should remember that he hesitated some time before he put the question, with tho view of seeing if any one wished to speak. The hon. member for Droitwich, seeing his hesitation, rose and asked him what the question was, and before he put it he gave him a distinct answer. However, he had no intention to take any one by sur prise. Sir J. PAKINGTON said this dispute only showed the necessity for order being called and obtained before any question was put. The SPEAKER said there was a difference between the practice of the house and that of its committee. In the house a member could only speak once, but in com mittee members could speak as often as they pleased. It was therefore difficult to determine this point, but the house would remember that when a member moved the adjournment of a debate in the house, it certainly gave him the privilege of opening the debate on the following day, it yet did not follow that the Speaker was bound to call upon him, unless he rose to address the house. Nor it did not appear that the hon. member for New Ross rose when the question was just in com mittee ; and therefore, according to analogy, the Chair man was not out of order in putting the question to the vote. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the Speaker do leave the chain. Colonel SIBTHORP said there had been so much confusion that he was really at a loss to understand what had occurred, but he could undertake to say that although he was opposed to the income tax in any shape, he yet thought, after the conduct of her repre sentatives, Ireland ought' to be called upon to pay double the income tax. (A. laugh.) After a scene of much confusion, durinc , which several motions of adjournment were ma d e , the Speaker left the chair, and the house again went into committee, Mr. MORGAN then proceeded to address the com mittee, and, was [LEFT SPEAKING.] SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINER'S BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.-(THIS DAX.) The annual general meeting of the friends and sup porters of this society was held this afternoon at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's. The chair was occu pied by the Earl of Talbot. - The Noble CHAIRMAN said the first business of the day would be to hear the report of the transactions of the society for the past year, which was not so favourable as it ought to be from the humane and benevolent objects of such a society as this; From that document it appeared that from the terrific gales which have been so unusually frequent and disastrous since August last, increased exertion is highly necessary. The society's operation embrace every port of the coast of the United Kingdom, affording, by means of five hundred honorary agents, succour in the hour of distress to every ship wrecked person cast upon the coast—clothing them if naked, and sending them to their towns, if natives, and, if foreigners, to their nearest consuls. Since August, 1852, 4,276 persons suffering from ship wrec k h ave been relieved at a cost of 5,3311.—this large number being made of 438 widows and aged parents (dependent), 700 orphans, 721 fishermen, and 2,417 mariners. The number of mariners subscribing was 36,000, and the amount received in subscriptions (independent of the subscriptions of members) from all parts of the country amounted to 3,1001. In consequence of the sum being so small, the committee have been compelled to sell part of the small funded stock, the interest of which is de voted to giving from year to year small grants to the widows of fishermen and mariners having children under fourteen years of age, whose husbands have been drowned in their vocation. From the financial statement it appeared also that though the income had increasd by 1,570/., the relief at the same time had been to a greater ratio—viz., 2,000. Among the chief speakers were Lord Haddo and Sir C. Napier. The report having been adopted, and thanks voted to the chairman, the meeting terminated. THE LONDON GAZETTE (THIS EVENING.) CROWN-OFFICE, MAY 5. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. __. Borough of Taunton--"SirJohn William Itamsden, of Byram, in the West Riding of the county of York, Bart., in the room of Arthur Mills, Esq., whose election for the said borough has been declared void. WAR-OFFICE, MAY 6. sth Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Captain William Richard Newport Campbell, from the 9th Light Dragoons, to be Captain, vice Johnson, who exchanges, May 6. 7th Dragoon Guards—Lieutenant Thomas William Goff to be Captain, by purchase, vice Bunbury, who retires ; Cornet Montagu Dettmar to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Goff, May 6. 2nd Dragoons—Cornet the Honourable Matthew Fitz- Maurice Deane, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Cor net, vice Parry, who retires, May 6. 6th Dragoons—Cornet Arthur Pryse Jones to be Lieu tenant, la purchase, vice Probyn, who retires, May 6. 9th Light Dragoons—Captain Chardin Philip Johnson, from the sth Dragoon Guards, to be Captain, vice Camp bell, who exchanges, May 6. 10th Light Dragoons—Cornet Henry Fullerton Rich mond, from the 12th Light Dragoons, to be Cornet, vice the Honourable Matthew Fit zmaur i ce Dean, appointed to the 2nd Dragoons, May 6. Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards—Captain John Halkett le Couteur, from the 87th Foot, to be Lieutenant and Captain, vice the Hon. Augustus George Charles Chichester, who excnanges, May 6. 13th Foot—Lieutenant Edward Lynch, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Hogge, who retires ; Ensign Arthur Bainbrigge, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lynch, May 6. 23d Foot—Surgeon Joseph Burke, from the 24th Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Gamble, who exchanges, May 6. 24th Foot—Surgeon Richard Gamble, M.D., from the 23d Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Burke, who exchanges, May 6. 27th Foot—Lieutenant James Henry Creagh, to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Pattison, who retires ; Ensign Charles James Knox Gore, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Creagh ; Ensign Francis Lambton, from the 98th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Gore, May 6. 42d Foot—Ensign Frederick Henry Hope, from the Ist Foot, to be Ensign, vice Fletcher, who retires, May 6. 53d Foot—Ensign Thomas Acton to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Waters, who retires ; Ensign George Henry Pocklington, from the 18th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Acton, May 6. ' 55th Foot—Lieutenant Benjamin Dunbar Wemyss, from Paymaster, Cape Mounted Riflemen, to be Lieutenant, vice Macdonnell, app o int e d Paymaster ; Ensign James Hannay to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Wemyss, who retires, May 6. 58th Foot—Paymaster-Sergeant John Harris Roger Har rison, of the 58th Foot, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Tighe, promoted, May 6. 60th Foot--Captain Thomas Biggs, from the 97th Foot, to be Captain, vice Sibthorp, who exchanges, May 6. 83d Foot—Captain Richard Rodes Wyvill, from the 90th Foot, to be Captain, vice Crawfurd, who exchanges, May 6. 80th Regiment of. Foot—Major-General Lawrence Ar guimbau, C. 8., to be Colonel, vi ce Li eu t enan t-G enera l Henry Daubeney, deceased, April 30. 87th Foot—Lieutenant and Captain the Honourable Augustus George Charles Chichester, from the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards to be Captain, vice Lo Contour, who exchanges, May 6. 90th Foot— Captain Robert H. Payne Crawfurd, from the 83d Foot, to be Captain, vice Wyvill, who exchanges, May 6. 97th Foot, Captain Richard Francis Waldo Sibthorp, from the 60th Foot, to be Captain, vice Biggs, who ex changes, May 6. Ceylon Rifle Regiment—First Lieutenant James Armar Butler to be Captain, by purchase, vice Lucas, who re tires ; Second Lieutenant Charles Rouch to be First Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Butler, May 6. Cape Mounted Riflemen—John Gregory Gurney, Esq., to be Paymaster, vice Wemyss, appointed Lieutenant in the 55th Foot, May 6. HOSPITAL STAFF.—Staff Assistant-Surgeon William Thomas Hoskin, M.D., to be Staff-Surgeon of the Second Class, vice Affieck, deceased ; William Snell, Gent., to be Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, vice Hoskin, promoted on the Staff, May 6. STAFF.—Chaplains—The Reverend Henry Press Wright to be Chaplain to the Forces, May 6. MEMORANDIIM.—The proper names of the officer who was removed from an Ensigncy in the Ist Foot to be Second Lieutenant of the Rifle Brigade, in the Gazette of the 29th April, 1853, are William James Montgomery Cuninghame, and not William James Montgomery Cun ninghame. Sergeant-Major John Campbell, appointed Quartermaster of the 17th Foot on the 29th April, 1853, was from the 89th, and not the 98th Regiment. BANKRUPTS. James William Players, dealer, Judd:street, Brunswick square, April 23 and June 4, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Reed, Coleman-street. Robert Wood, porkman, Commercial-place, Greenwich, May 14 and July 1, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Taylor, Fur nival's-inn. Thomas Gledhill, tailor and draper, Halifax, May 24, and June 20, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Norris, Halifax ; Bond and Bar wick, Leeds. _ _ Michael Cox, grocer, Liverpool, May 13 and June 10, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee ; Smith, Corr s-buildings, Preeson's-row. John Honour Croucher, boarding-house keeper, Font hill-place, Clapham Rise, May 17, and June 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Sam brook-court, Basinghall-street ; Linklater and Co., Sise lane, City. Ailgusius Rapp, jeweller, Cranbourn-street, May 13, at two, and June 24, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Pain, Gresham street. Benjamin Collett, sharebroker, Sise-lane, City, May 14, at one, and July 1, at e l even, at Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Stronghill, Coleman-street. William Martin, ironmonger, Hertford-bridge, South ampton, May 16, at one, and June 16, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basing hall-street ; Bridger and Collins, King William-street. Jonas Woodhead and Joseph Woodhead, file and fire iron manufacturers, Bradford, May 20 and June 17, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official as signee, Park-row ; Terry and Watson, Bradford ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. BANK OF ENGLAND. An Account pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria, cap 32, for the Week ending on Saturday the 30th day of April, 1553. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. tOB issued .......• 31,808,965 Government debt.... 11,015,100 Other securities...... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 17,789,811 Silver bullion ........ 19,151 431,808,965 £31,808,965 A. MARSEULL, Chief Caphier. 3. :PAUTMENT. Dated the sth day of May, 185 Government securities (includg.DeadWeight Annuity) .. • .. 13,221,382 Other securities...... 13,506,745 Notes 8,634,410 Gold and silver coin.. 546,129 £35,958,666 ~ MARSIiALL, Chief Cub*. BANKING D: Proprietors' capital .. 14,553,000 Re5t................ 3,120,987 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Comm issioners of Natto nal Debt, Sav ing's Banks, and Dividend Accounts) 3,934,322 Other deposits ..... . 12,922,620 Seven Day and other 81119 , 1,427,737 £35,958,666 DAtocl tho stty day VF May, no SHIPPING INT ELLIGENCS CUSTOM-HOUSE, MAY 5. bol , l a ; ENTERED INWARDS.—The Venus, f ro m lobe ilo v, Varauda, Krageroe ; Adoni s , B or deaux • Earl s t3 ' d ' j joill Rotterdam ; Diana, Amst er d am ; Pet, 'Gib r altar i.,01, and Maria, Odense ; Admiral, Port Philip ; ire ' Preston • Enigheden, Brevio• ; Juno, 1 Gothenburg /vto. dorikke Maria, Skive • Anna, Horsens • Louise, 'oit• burgh ; Tjerting, Randers ; Nautilus, G o th e nburg ;. tina, Emden ; Oscar, Laurvig ; Vier Gebruder, 1 10 thou, Aarhuus ; Economy, Antwerp ; Frederick strP Hamburgh ; Hinda, Dantzic; Julie, Stettin • Bolsertz o e sund ; Wittgenstein, Stralsund ; Johannkind°, ' and ; Curlew, Hamburct; Gustav, Wolgast ; Fie' s ; sra LauTa, Aarhuus • Dolphin, Rostock • Charlotte Graf P e nh Essen, Stralsund; Wilhelmine, LolZken ; David C 1.1 31 4, Gothenburg ; Five Gebrueders, Thisted ; Eupliall_Tdbor;; tack ; Henrick, Clemenssen ; Juno, Altendorf ; GT, so' Saxkj obing; Wilhelmine, Gothenburg ; Ann CailiPb e ' ?jet' ved ; Emanuel, Skive; Sara, Aarhaus; Achia,Flensburgi:l)o ard, Stralsund; John and Rebecca, Geree • finds,tre4 Dido, Altendorff ; Frederi c k S uno ve, Lo'kkon • Alb a Oral Sannvsund ; Hebe, G o th en b urg ; F. J. Wilkelhauseufeile; York ; Enigheit, Grossenziel ; Sophie and Marie, . ;. ;eik Anna Elizabeth, Kiel ; Adolph, Hamburg ; A u nc, son ; Caroline, St ra l sun d ; J o h ann H e nrich, Rust ° g o ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR Sc for Cherbourg ; C am p er d own , C a l cu tta ; Ida, -D -- ", / e om John Henry, Mauritius ; Zephyr, Bermuda, ; Collirt io niit Calcutta ; Helene, Alt ona ; Eleanor, Elsinore , Amsterdam. et° CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Fr°ll So ° for Madeira ; Gipsy, Adelaid e ; Regalia, Dowell ° Casilda, Corunna ; Visitor, Marseilles. LIVERPOOL MAY 5. we ep A schooner, with loss of both topmasts, WM .A off Great Ormshead, inward bound, at 3 pan. 0, PP The William Connal, from Li v erpool for 0 314 ' was spoken March 5 lat. 5 N., long. 21 W. El, The Margaret, from D ar t mou th, f or Quebec, w it ' s April 25, lat. 48 N., long. 24 W. veri , - The Arabella Tarbet, from Newfoundland, forw buco, was spoken April 7, lat. 38 N., long. 40 VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. go , The William Gray, from Southampton, with era April2s, lat. 42 N., long. 12 W. er b. 28 ' The Governor, from Liverpool to Panama, VA 17 S., long. 33 W. The Vincenz Priessnitz, from Li v erpool to ~. NT esv March 20, lat. 45 N., long. 23 W. V The Nile, from th e C a p e o f G oo d H o p e to Lon d°° ' 1, lat. 17 S., long. 4 W. long 10' The Lowestoffe (s.), f or Australia, lat. 48 N., ~ 1 A 4 The Matilda, br ', i d , - ... SO' 04P Matilda, bound north, Jan. 23, in Ballo'," i . lO The Clarendon, from A moy t o Trinidad, fol. S., long. 96 E. 93,5.0 ._, The Avon, for Calcutta, Feb. 7, lat. 15 S., 1011 % ,Ay i t. The Ratcliffe, fr om C a l cu tt a t o L on d on , Feb. 2" t, S., longhe llslli MaraTthon, from Bombay to Liverpool, Mar c 36 S., long. 22 E. 1 VA4 The Bengal, from Coque'.;te Island to Liverpoemi t. - The Nicolas Czar, from Canton, March 9, long. 14 E. ll 1 611 i. re ' 4, Te La Fayette,. from Calcutta to Havre, Ma 20 S., long. 2 W. 14. 19' 6 ' The Janet Wills, from Cochin to London, ,- - . „ 1 0 11 long. 3 W., had received much damage in a 1 ` 1 " - 19th Feb. tl° o The President Verkout ?rn , f rom Ply mo uth to IdelW 4 h March 7, lat. 4 N., long. 21 W. The St. Vincent, from Gib ra lt ar t o H o b ar t Tom' 7 10, lat. 5, long. 21 W. ~i , 41 , . 0 The Duncan Hoyle, G reenoc k t o P or t PhiliP,,,l i i i ie The Amy, from the C a p e o f G oo d H o p e to -a -L Feb. 25, let. 34, long. 30. COUNTRY MARKETS. DERBY SMITHFIELD—MAT 3- ,„ f The number of fat b eas t s t o -d ay was l ea than . : d rib `g time past. The bullocks and helfers from a° oe; ,) fie, She °l} England and Lincolnshir e were a l so scarce . p lambs were more plentiful, and a little lowerfl. reps, Fat and store cal ves an average . F ew fat_ pigs ° fi l e , s.dsale :—Beef, 6d t o bid ; mu tt on, 61d to 8d ; ve s t per lb. ; pi gs , 9 s t o 9 s 6d per score ; rough ;;- per 141 b. ; hid es , 2d t o 3d per lb ; ca lf- s ki n s, "s per lb. EDINBURGH GRAIN— MAY 4. s r ,rei. „, Di O. We had a moderate supply of grain in to-da.r B ei d 6 0 ,1 Sales dull, and prices down. Wheat on the toP . , / 01,'"4 1 and the average is 6d. Barley on the top 2s 6d,u ° „ A the average 4d. Oats on the top 4d up, and P e ;: i tefi 5d down. Beans on the top is down, and the 2d up. c? 6 " Top of Wheat 654 lb 00° J 6a ---- Barley 5541b 358 Scl - - Oats Beans 67i lb 37 0 Total Supply and Sales. 1 00 Wheat 629 qrs sold 326 04 ' Barley 327 qrs, 40 .,1 sold r; 55 Oats 675 qrs sold 17861 Beans l9l qrs so ld AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. ~ 12th!Average of wheat £2 7 5 ' - 1 , 2tb 0 Ditto of Barley Ditto of Oats Ditto of Beans BOSTON—MAY 4. r te, i ; We had a fair average quantity o f gra in on o, t - g ti01,`,.4 ' Wheat met a dull sale, at a decline of, in sool e i ; r e - ` 4 'f, from is to 2s per qr. Oats in slow demand, at pef week's currency. Beans in request, and 6d to "virile',o rearer. Barley and peas as previousl noted. l e y, ed, 37s to 455, white, 45s to 47s extra y , 495; b sr to 31s ; oats, 15 s t o 20 s ; b eans, 31 s t o 385 ; Peas' 21 35s per qr. DUBLIN—MAY 3. 0 0 1: . White wheat, 26s Od t o 30 s Od ; red ditto, 2550 . re barley, 13s Od - to 16s 6d ; oats,loSid to lls 9d ; 21s Od to 23s per brl ; oatmeal, his Od to 12s Od flour, 14s Od to 18s Od per cwt ; Indian corn, 30s Od' per 480 lbs. CORK-MAY 4. Brl3. Curre' o ' c o l ;t,' 13 White wheat...24s Od to 00s Od Os Oa Redwheat 00$ Od to 00s Od 2 0b r Ditto 00s Od to 00s Od}oo 3 Od-- - -- Ditto 00$ Od to 00s Od , 23 Barley lls 8d to 13s Od) od--- 164' Ditto 00s Od to 00s Od }OO5 od--- 164' Ditto 00s Od to 00 $ Od Bore 00s Od to 00s Od Os Od 232 Oats Ditto OOs Od to OOs Od} Ils Od Dltto OOs Od to OOs Od Pigs oos Od to 00s Od 00s Od Per cis PRICES OF BUTTER.. 91# CURRAN..• . 9 9+ First quality lo6s First quality ........ •'..... , I gi Second quality lo2s Second quality •...... .• ;' 44 Third quality 9Bs Third quality .......•••' Fourth quality Fifth quality 7Bs Fifth quality ......... ; Sixth quality 64s I Sixth quality ....... .• 17 ,5 , CORR.—Flonr- First, 15s Ocl to 16s Od ; ; tlqi; seconds, 14s Od to 14s 6d ; households, lOs to 13 , „" to 557, ,, 7s Od to lOs per cwt. Meal—lndian meal, 70 6", d 4 i 1 0s oatmeal, lOs 6d to lls ; wheatmeal, 9s 6d to lOs u 4 i 1 05 41 Indian corn, 71 5s Od to 71 17s 6d per ton. Bran , A cel/ to 4115 s Od per ton. Hay—Farmers, 38s Od to 42s Od , stra a 365; dealers, 35s Od to 600 Od ; average, Os per ton' 00410 Farmers, 22s Od to 24s Od; average, 00s ; dealor s l o d, 00s Od; average, Os. per ton. Bread—Wheaten f, Od; household ditto, 6d to Od per 41b.—Freshbt Ito lid per lb. Eggs, 4s Od to 4s 21 p er h un d r ed. b o a , 4id to 8d ; mutton, 5d to 7d ; veal, 5d to 8d ; 1 1 0 0 0 05, 6d ; bacon, 7d to 8d ; sausages, 6d p er lb.—Fish,oos to land, 11/. Os to 121 Os per ton ; Scotch herringspid; Red, do., 30s per brl.—Potatoes, white, 10d to 12d to 15d.—Coals, Newport, 21s ; Lydney, 2 10 1, 1 0 110 "ov Od per ton.—Whiskey, 25 o.p. 6s 10d per impo l P - o rt• „, Hides, market, 30s to 365; Salted, 30s to 38s P C3. „ r t ° ,"cof skins, 3id per lb.—Bangor sl a t es 21. 17 s . 6d.te Fleece wool, 00s to 00s per stone.—Hemp, 3 8 '•„,ijoif ton—Timber, Memel, 31. 15s ; re d pi ne, 3/. 150; J.f 3 01,, o ph 3/. ss. per ton ; deals, 191. t o 201 . per hundred---", 8/. to 101.10 s. per ton.—T a ll ow, 48 s to 49 s Od per C. ,Q 71. lOs to 0/. per cwt.- T ar, A rc h ange l , 19 s . per bP' -' Peruvian, 121. Os to 001. per ton. CANT. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. - , 01f 1 LIVERPOOL, MAY 5. aw STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was dull a- as day, and closed a shad e eas i er . Q uo t a ti o ns w r i , he st,,of o c , '" lows :—Aberdeen, 148, C a l e d on i an, 34 38 ; v e ;tarl / i i Iblyhead, 24i ; Dundalk an d E nn i s killen, 1 6 shire and Yorkshire, 808 ; London and 14 :__ °rtb ;btillan' 1194 ; Midland, 76; North British, 98 ; z ; ,r. Chester, 13i ; South Eastern and Dover, 4 ,'-u' r ' es , e o tte,P burn, 6 per cent., 26i ; East Anglian (3i l . s-° 5 21:1 1 .40 per cent.), 3i ; East Lancashire (Fifth SharesAy olv" 5# ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (-` 11. LEEDS, May s.hagte • b le° atee°l;l4l' STOOK EXOHAN E.—The share market ua es i w tive this morning, t hough the quotations of lid fit' maintained. The transactions on 'Change ',` .°l / ,;; o rtil" South-Easterns, which were done at 22i, en" ems at Bg. BIRMINGHAM, MAY 5. a c tive .... 0 scv; fp, STOCK EXCEL ANGE.— This market was Dior an d St day, and prices a shade higher. Shrewsburiteoico, mingh%m stock was done at 66 ; Norfolk 24 ; and Sout h Staffords at i dis. ...4 MANCHESTER, MAY 5. ite a WI . ; SFOCK CHANGE.—There has been a lim Leeds' at rather low er r a t es . C a l e d on i a ns,. 34 ' 76 Leeds Northern, N o . 1, g preen.; ; Dlidlands,„ zor tb ~ , 0 1 0 0 and Birkenhe ad, 221. s h ares , 3k . -d. ; Gre 3 t, Ah ' o n. , w 161 ; Dovers, 22 ; West Ridings, 2i 1 d.; Lendo n Fifths, 2 11.16 p. BIRTHS. OF A SON. rf the Ali'Ali'.°' Oa the 2d inst., at Ramsgate, the NV l f O °` Field, incumben t of Trinity Church. o` of w fir OP A DAUGHTER . N. n the ste Oa the Ist inst., at Fort George , . I)er 4l. Walter H. G. Johnstone, Esq., Ordnalle keeper. Oa the 3d inst. at St. P l's Church, P ce eldest daughter of 01011i"cl D 3 Humphrey R ao un R / O E s ; Smith, r;_dssi..saFtistialittli' , jolA DIED. ,A ; n btlrg " , , a On the 3d inst., at 4, Rntland-street, i r c ll l - 0 Q° e 0c 1;11 0 7 Scott, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P., Physician e _„ o IP _ to r ° On the 2d inst., at Clifton, Captain CLbbitaib' of the 43d Regiment Light Infantrib and _...e) the Bristol district. 0 ,i t i LONDON : Printed and Published. 11 3131 4 cot " of No. 112, Strand at The $ 149 : t he 00" — Strand, in the Pre c inct of the SAVOY/ Middivoex, Lidziy,)llay 6, 3.83,