The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-04 00:00:00

CHESTER RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) lIELTER SKELTER HANDICAP 13 egum colt" Kitty Cockle filly Eight ran. SECOND TRIENNIAL STAKES. Mocassin Ozonia tf trb Xllttion CHESTER RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) CHESTER CUP. Goldfinder Talfourd ******************************** Trifle *********************** ***** 3 A good r ace. Won by half a neck. Length between second and third. TifE FRENCH EMPIRE. Yeste the r-aY the Emperor granted an audience to '‘)enators Correlet and Marchant, and the to 1 , a 1111 ;_ ill °r 8 Dubessy and Villemain, who are about ket. ,_7 s ,.atour of inspection in the various depart / France. His Majesty gave them instruc of 43 /or their important mission, part of the result a nt n i ch Will be that the Emperor will receive hentie information of the condition and the wh i of the cou n t r y, an d o f th e improvements o e n ' l 4. l u, aY be m a d e f or th e pu bli c goo d. still;: u ,e 17th of April the French squadron was pits moori ngs in the Bay of Salamis, and v a. : that date no movement whatever had taken Au. Admiral Romain Desfosses was to hoist his haclboard the Montebello. A mock battery Sn a ,: e en Constructed by the order of Admiral La the stand the vessels were to have gun practice at aPp e , -4 ,: e °f from five to six shots per gun. To all tlii ti - c'nee the squadron was not preparing to rq w to Toulon. gliv e e re ad in the Moniteur :—" The Emperor 14, 1 , 4 , 411 audience on Sunday to MM. Carrelet and boi);ga88 nt, Senators, and MM. Villemain and sho ut Y, Councillors of State, who are shortly je s t; ( 4 ) proceed into the departments. His Ma gave them his instructions for this important to one of the happy effects of which will be of th g under the eyes of the Emperor the wishes for tf i e°lll /try and the ameliorations to be realised g liai e s publi c i n t erest. Th e na t ure of this mission s age tees to those who are about to fulfil it the hyte ° - operati on o f th e f un ctionaries, and the i atilies of the people." kin o , re ad in the _Memorial Bordelais :—" It is to f ik "meed that our Chamber of Commerce is about kran; ve the memorable speech delivered by the etti l. °/' at the time of his visit to Bordeaux illteri 'ved on tablets of marble and placed in the This -O p of the Bourse, opposite the grand staircase. to th' A l le ech, it may be remembered, was addressed Don, Members of the Chamber who had the id to rec e i ve th e illustrious visitor in the large the Id' th e Bourse. We cannot too much applaud her, e a,,, of the h onoura bl e mem b ers o f the Chain- Politi o no speech of B or d e aux has had an immense of tb7 Deari ng ; i t h as b een t h e w h o l e program me f a e o li fyi Empi re . E uro p e , lik e France, might, 4 av e have feared that this new Empire might glo ry itu inspired with the souvenirs of military b 13 24 d p ,„, by the first. The speech of Bordeaux . ciliro h :"r°Yed these apprehensions by teaching A t 7, what the second Empire would' be." _ dero itt nllourae yesterday there has been a got a' stead t" all descriptions of public securities, with day' s 2 maintenance throughout the day of Mon - th e the bPrices, and closing with an advance of 40c. in 101 . d .q.a.:14 ree per Cents., and of 30c. in the Four /or th: 4-41 ./ Per Cents., for cash ; in the quotations the Tii r el ld of the mouth, a rise occurred of 35c. in tialf Z e Per Cents., and of 25c. in the Four-and have Jyr Cents. In Bank of France shares we -4 , 0 64 in. to record a decline of sf. Closing prices : and.a4r"as---Three per Cents., 81f. 10c. ; Four af Per Cents. 103 f. 103 f. 50c. For the account Per c e e ii e b Yer Cent s .; 81f. 40c. ; Four-and-a-Half I lhare s 7 f 9 „ l ° 3 f. 85c. ; Bank Stock, 2,700 f. In the fall o t 2f ( 2 .eiety of Credit Mobilier there was _v r a e ri . a . ti o . ,' e baa st er o da ec y, they having declined, to 938 f.; red from Monday's quotation 8. Foncier shares, which are still quoted at tterciac,: a market for railway . securities transacted. 7 onsiderable amount of business . has tvilitiv_t at a general advance in prices, kttk e 4 ad shown no tendency to recede when busi °tMuded. The h,r SPAIN. Ken n ,".advid G aze tt e of the 28th ult. contains an of the reception by the Queex at Aranjuez , ti a. i s 'e Marquis de Turgot to present his creden- Q(4 4e° as the new Minister of France in Spain. The uee n Was attended by the Preside nt of the °un til, and by some of the great dignitaries of the th cr Wn and the ambassador w as introduced with e usual ceremony. In presenting his creden li he spoke as follows : k r :` Madame,—l have the honour to present to your 1, - ' 4 )esty the letters of his Majesty the Emperor of the `tneb, my august sovereign, which accredit me to you o of ambassador. His Majesty the Emperor 4 n l qualitysthe most ardent wishes for the happiness of Spain, q for the glory and prosperity of the reign of your Jesty ' and charges me to express them in the warmest l ita till s• Sincere friendship between France an d S p ain b, Produ ce d, Madame, in all times,_ happy results for the nations Your Majesty may be persuaded that t i t Sincere 'desires of my sovereign and my constant orts will always tend to increase their good relations, ti, 4ll kl to dr aw c l oser t h e ti es w hi c h un it e th e m. I shall — ii ksi der myself ver y h a ppy, Madame, if the zeal which, ° tl l , lll ,Y. Part,. I shall display in the accomplishment of mission which has been confided to me can me any claim to the royal favour of your Majesty." 14 e Queen replied receive with a great deal of pleasure, Monsieur le a' „ 41 1 111 8, the l e tt er o f th e E mperor o f the French, which thLreuits you as am b assa d or t o me . The wish which e l nanifest on the part of his Majesty for the felicity of thek3npoarneish nation and the splendour of my reign, ars agreeable to me, as I already possess num h e- Zus proofs of his sincerity. On my part, I form te f p i lle wishes for the prosperity of the Emperor and o ea r ,„ a ' ll ee, and I will not let any opportunity escape for . b ac ," B ing the friendly relations established between this th,„ na rcilY and the French empire to serve in promoting eii-onoamon welfare of the two states. The enlightened . 11 , e ' t ee made of you for cultivating these relations causes e otit : l t ! s lope th a t my d es i res w i ll b e real i se d . You may 4.v our.T m this moment that you possess my esteem and bye letter f rom Madrid, of the 30th ult., received th e ,Pr, says—" The general impression that e v,,,,, re : ess eilt Ministry is on ly t rans it or y a pp ears to butff' ° r ined. M. Bermudez de Castro, Minister ence, has this day given in his resignation, ev er Queen has not accepted it. It is, how tit,,i,ept. certain that the Ministerial crisis con ttle The C otes are to m ee t i n J u ly. On the 28th e ° per Cents, were at 44. GERMANY. answer -uranefort J ourna l s t a t es that a negative his i."" 'will be r ece i ve d by M. de Bourqueney tofUr, ;eql-lest, add resse d to t h e Austrian Government Duke e illis sion to rem ove the remains of the An ie.hstadt into France. lov.eararninitqtuediry has been instituted by the Austrian tr ail ment, respecting the alarming news recently Z 11 1341 -8 „by telegraph from Trieste respecting d 47 the East, which information has been since to be incorrect. Measures will be taken Te t b a similar o ccurrence i n f u t ure . ha llt 7 gof the Belgians and the Duke of Bra are n'e't Brussels yesterday for Berlin, where f they ah n tP e eted to arrive on Thursday next. A ter FltaY at Berlin, they intend proceeding to ie nna. Peet ec e. Leopold and his three children are ex jug of ill En old on the occasion of the christen- Nue` t he infant Prince, at which ceremony the Pres ei 7 t a nd Princess Royal of Prussia will also be Th e Govern,:ss Gazette announces that the Austrian 'lawkirent has d e t erm i ned to put an end to keati rarkeo.o g of b ooks in Hungary, by p the adoption of res si milar to th ose w hi c h are now i n vigour The Tr PERSIA. frlamb Correspondent has the following eal St. Petersburg, dated the 21st ult. :—" The ,:j,(!rainent of Persia entertains the project of i li `_`; ll g a new expedition against Herat. Colon . the Britisla ambassador, has declared that if for' tvoject be carried into execution he will apply passportz.,, ~... ITALY. anth 4 11limber of English, French, and Italian works ave been forbidden to be read by Catholics, by . tfacio at Rome, including Macaulay's His tor, l i of Engicund. i• ,4-11 Austrian Embassy is about to be re-estab ett4t Itriiorne, in place of the Legation at present -13 * +he Rusian, Miniater, Count Boutenieff, . ,. ... had left Rome for Naples, where the fleet was arming and otherwise preparing for sea. On the evening of the Ist of May a street fight, which, however, had no connexion with polities, took place at Chambery. Tranquillity was imme diately restored. The Armenia of Turin of the 28th ult. mentions a rumour that Austria intends to grant a partial amnesty to several emigrants who have now be come Sardinian subjects, and whose property is under sequestration. A letter from Florence, of the 25th ult., gives an account of a small fracas that occurred a few days before at the Jockey Club of that city, among whose members are the Prince of Lichtenstein and Major Piret of the Austrian service. The latter having left Florence Prince Lichtenstein propose d the young Prince Windischgraetz, who is a colonel in the Austrian army. But, to the no small mor tification of the proposer, the candidate was thrown out by ballot. Rumours became current that Prince Lichtenstein looked upon the matter in a very serious light, and that he would have the club suppressed, or prevent the races from coming off that week, by occupying the ground with his troops. Matters were, however, arranged in a more pacific manner. The members of the club were again convoked, and a proposition to the effect that the ballot should be abolished, and every member should vote openly, being agreed to, Prince Win dischgraetz was elected unanimously. Marquis Constabili, who was a member of the Constituent Assembly at Rome in 1849, has been ordered to leave Tuscany. Letters from Rome of the 20th ult. announce that, in consequence of the conclusion of the loan of 26 millions with the house of Rothschild, a de cree will shortly be issued by the Pope, declaring that all paper money now in circulation is to be withdrawn and cancelled within the space of eight months. The Corriere- Mercantile, of Genoa, states from Rome that Cardinal Franzoni is dangerously ill there, and that he received the viaticum on the 22d ult. TURKEY. Dispatches from Constantinople state that the 19th ult. was the day fixed on for the definitive solution of the difficulties which had arisen with Prince Menschikoff. The armaments continued on both sides. The channel uniting the two seas was being fortified, as well as the town, and French officers were drilling the newly-raised rifle regi ments. The castles in the Bosphorus had been supplied with 54 Paixhan guns, from England. The conduct of Prince Menschikoff was not entirely approved of by the Emperor of Russia. Letters from Constantinople have been received to the 21st April. They offer no point of interest. WEST INDIA MAIL. 12 The Royal Mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain W. Chapman, arrived at Southampton, at 4 p.m. yesterday, brin g ing the usual British and foreign West India and Gulf of Mexico mails, in charge of Lieutenant Hay, R.N., Admiralty agent. The Magdalena also brings mails from the West Coast of South America, received at Panama by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company's ship Quito, which vessel also brought specie, value $145,221, for conveyance to the Bank of England. The Magdalena left St. Thomas two days after her appointed time, having been detained for the arrival of the branch steamers. She experienced fine calm weather till the 29th ult., when the wea ther changed to strong south-east gales, with heavy squalls. The advices brought from Mexico, Havannah, ac., have been anticipated by arrivals of intelli gence by way of the United States. The principal items of news from Jamaica are contained in the follow* extract from De Cor dova's Intelligencer : "The Assembly, it is expected, will re-enact the existing Import Duty Bill, but in such a shape as will render it doubtful if the Council will accede to it. The existing Import Duty Bill will expire with this month ; and in the event of the Council objecting to any sew act which may pass the Assembly prior to the 30th inst., a recurrence of that state of things which was produced some four years back by similar conduct on the part of the Legislature is likely to be the result. Under these circumstances all business operations are arrested, and dealers for the most part will only purchase for imme diate consumption. The majority of the sales were of a forced character, and were effected solely by the temptation of low prices. " Gold and silver doubloons continue very scarce, and command 4 per cent. American and British gold are worth 14 per cent. premium ; silver dollars are quoted at the same value. This rise in the value of coin is at tributable chiefly to the eager desire of a large number of coolies who are leaving the island to obtain any des cription of gold or silver, which is or may become cur rent in India, in exchange for our local notes. A rather large amount, too, will be taken away by the passengers per Glentanner, which is appointed to sail hence for Melbourne to-morrow. "The cargo of the schooner George Montague, from New Orleans, was not entered at the Customs when we made up our report. " Exchanges on London.—Colonial and Jamaica Banks :-90 days, 1 per cent. premium ; 60 days, 14 per cent. premium ; 30 days, 2 per cent. premium." From British Guiana our accounts are to the 9th ult. The Combined Court has been occupied with discussions on ways and means to meet the extra ordinary votes upon the annual estimate. A pro position to raise the existing ad valorem 4 per cent. duties on certain descriptions of goods to 10 per cent. had been adopted, and on certain specified articles of luxury, such as wines, spirits, d.T.e., the duties had been largely increased. An attempt to impose a land and tenement tax in the rural dis tricts, as a means of adding to the general revenue, had failed, as being utterly inexpedient in the pre sent circumstances of the colony. The civil list question was again a vexed one, and from the re marks of the Governor to the Court it appeared that he was disappointed at the opposition that was starting up, and viewed it as a breach of faith. The weather had continued dry, and it was feared the crop would be materially affected. The health of Georgetown was improving. At St. Lucia the weather was very fine and the island healthy. The crop was proceeding with considerable activity. From Martinique the Antilles alludes to the crop as proceeding with activity, and states that the St. Pierre market is abundantly supplied with sugar, the local price being 19f. to 35f. per 50 kilo grammes. From Barbadoes we learn that the inhabitants had prepared a memorial to the Lords Commis sioners of the Admiralty, complaining of the incon venience and disappointment occasioned to that island by the irregularities of the West India mail steamers. Several fires had occurred in the rural districts. The yellow fever was gra dually disappearing. We regret to learn that Trinidad was suffering from malignant fever, which was increasing rather than diminishing. Several cases of fever of a typhoid type, sometimes attended with black vomit, existed in Port of Spain. Fever had also made its appearance at Grenada, but had disappeared from Tobago.' At Greytown there had been some excitement from a meditated attack of the inhabitants on the station of the American Steam-boat Company, for the purpose of destroying the hotises and works. It appears that for many months past the steamers have landed all passengers from New Orleans, for California (by way of the lake), and vice versa, at a place on Point Arenas, opposite the town, so that the inhabitants had been deprived of the benefits which would have accrued to them in the way of trade from the constant influx of 400 to 600 passen gers every month. Fortunately the United States corvette Siam was cruising about there, and the authorities belonging to the steam-boat company claimed the protection of their Government from the lawless intentions of the Nicaraguans, which was acorded by the Siam anchoring inside Point Arenas, opposite the works. In the meanwhile, company eyt h until further ad v i ces f rom th e B r iti s h an d Ameri can Ministers, the a G r ow a n. ve agreed to land passengersall their The St. Vincent papers publish the new Tax Act recently passed by the Legislature. b levied .th d e pur poses of this act two per cent. is t e e d vie t upon f the produce of each estate upon v it a s hi p ed ro at u i c o ion of sugar and arrowroot, nominally 100 lb.; rum at 9d. per gallon ; raola W. pere gallon. All incomes of 1501. and upwards are to pay two per cent.; and under 150/., and not ex ceeding 701., one per cent. The health of this island had improve d, a n d the yellow fever was rapidly subsiding. Th e Governor had presided at i the annual meeting o f the W esleyan Missionary Society. ety. Her Majesty's ship Imaum , Vestal, and Alban were at Jamaica, and the Geyser at Greytown. The Royal Mail steamer Avon was to leave St. Thomas for the Gulf of Mexico on the 19th ult. The Conway was under repairs at Jamaica, the Dee at Jamaica, the Derwent on the Northern Islands, the Eagle on the Savannah, and the Esk on the onduras route, the Medway on the Spanish Main, and the Trent at Barbadoes. Tint LAND TAX QUESTION. —The question of the land tax, which comes on to-day in the Court of Queen's Bench, is exciting unusual attention. The court will doubtless he crowded by parties interested. The Land Tax Commissioners have retained no less than five counsel. Among them are Sir Alexander Cockburn, the present, and Sir Frederick Thesiger, the late, Attorney- General. The latter learned gentleman received the handsome sum of 200 guineas with his brief. ft. 1100 5 all ;t. 100 - 6 13 .6 6i 8 all 8 5 LO I 10 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 [0 i 8 !eti all :0 6i O all >t. 100 all 15 .. I 164 5 19 9 17 ;(1 all io all 9 13 LO 21s. LO 1 >t. 100 n 20 Z 5 11 St. 100 100 5 all it. 100 >t. 100 .5 I all 21 11, 3il all 5 all 7j 2 61 all 61 all 10 all !O all ;t. 100 5 1 all *.llOO ,t.llOO 6,11 all it. 100 .6 6 ;t. 100 it. 100 THE SHARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. (Closing Prices this day. Business done this day. Ir. I Paid .4 I all 11 I 28 :741 all t. 1.00 c It. 100 all i 0 all O all 03 45 5 all 5 1-frit ;5 all .8 all :0 all 5 all 15 81 ;5 all it. 100 i 0 all it. 100 .0 1i it. 100 I it. 100 it. 100 ;t. 100 it. 100 it. 100 it. 100 L 2 11 io i all 1 16ij_11i ;t:'100 -1 0 15 A 114 Aberdeen ............. Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. June....... 29i -- 30 6 10 —10 i 7i d 21 22 Birmng. Wolverh. dt Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., .£5O & £25 Cons 0., £2O Bristol & Exeter— Caledonian Chester do Holyhead, Cork and Bandon ' 3i -- 2i (11 103 -- 105 1 67i -68 f 24 -- 244 23f -23 i Cork, Black. & Pass. Dublin &Belfast June. Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction ..... Do. New ... ..... East Anglian (£25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... Do., (£lB E. & H.).. Eastern Counties..... Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. Sh po., do.. 4i - gip 8 - 9 4 4 13 - 13, 1 -11 i B. & C. ...... East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk & Binning. June Edinburgh & Glasgow Ediub. and Peebles Edinb.Prth. &Dundee Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern Stk De., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth.&West.(lre.) Great Western Irish South-Easters. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Lancash. &Yorkshire Do., Fifths . ..... Do., Wst. Riding Un. Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby. & Soutb pt. London & Blackwall Loud. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond.Brig,ht. & S.Cst. London & N. Western Do. Fifths Do IG/ Sh M&B -- 73 - 76 50 - 72 - 74 3i* - 90 - 57 - 133 - 112 91 7 11 p —80 A - 3id 2t d —16 A 9i -- 91 2 -- 21 p 105 -;4166 1191 -;-• 120 21 -- 3 p 11 -- lip 901 -- 911 5 -- 4Ad 4 -31 d 12 --• 13- 19 -- 21 301 -- -- 301 3A 3 d 76 , 761 42 --*. 4 London & S. Western Do., £50..... ... Do Landrry.&Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shet&Lincln. Do., Man. &Lin. Un. Midland ........ . Do. Birming,& Derby Midland G. West. (Ir. Do. Shares Newcastle &Carlisle.. Newmark et Do. Bury Extension , Ncwpt.Aberg.&Htfd. Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint 50 - - B2 3t fl - & Rostrevor Norfolk. Do., New ...... ........ Northn. Counties Un North British ......... North Devon, N 0.1.. Do., No. 2 Dc., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire North Western.. N. & S. Westrn. June. Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Birmg Do., L. & N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry . Shropshire Union.... South Devon . .... South Eastern .. South Wales... ....... . S. Yorksh. River Dun 8-94 53 - 55 ••• ••• 2 d 36. 37 8#- 84 ... ... Pi 52i 53i 98 -- 100 62 - 63 65 -- 67 1D0........... ...... .., Stockton & Hartlap]. Thames Haven Dock and Railway... Vale of Neath Watered. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West Cornwall Wmbledon&Croydon Woodford York Newetl. &Bern. Do. Extensions....... Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland.. 2i 3i 15 15; 9/ 10, 32i 83. 101 11 d -Pa 73 76 11 Oaths 17 -- 19 8i 9i 13 15 31 —31 d 21 '22 751 761 37 -- 38 13i 14i 41 -- 19 21 70 711 7 d' 21 2hd 62 63 PREFERENCE SHARES. [Aberdeen ..... Do., No. 2, 7 p. c Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent Cork &Bandon 5i P.C Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction EastA nglian (X 3 108) 6 per cent. Do. (Z 5) 7 per cent Do. (£7l7x) 7 p. et Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. . c.. No.l, Do., No. 2... ..... Do., Now 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent EastLancash. 6 p. eta Edinb.Prth.&Dundes siper cent Glasgow & S.Western guar. 5 per cent. 1 Great Noithn. sp. c. Do. 5 p. c., Redeem. at 10 p. c. Gt. SoahnALWestn. (Ireland) Eighths Gt. Westu. (Berke & Hants Ex. 5 p. G. West. fixed 4i p c. I Lan. & York. F. £2O, Do., 6 p. c., Stock London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, sp. c., 1852. , Do. New Guar. 6 p.c. London & S.Western, Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler A Shares .. Condy. & Ennis. Sh Manch. , She f. , & Lin., Shares, No. 1 Do. Now, £lO.. Marypt. &Carl. 4 p. c. Do. 4i per cent.., Do. Consol. 6 p. c. St Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Extension Do. Guar. 51 per et Do. Way. Val. 5 p c North British North Staffordshire Oxford Worcester & WolVerh. £15,6 p. c.', Do Shrews& Birm. N. G Shrewsby. ,Sz Chester (Nor.W.Min),B p. a. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann. ,) of £1 Os.6d. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. Waterfd.,Saiilk.6p.c. York Newcastle and Berwick,4 p.c.Pref. Do York& N. Midland H & S. Purch 11.0& - - 107 .U 7 -- 109 20 21 d IPm 6 --- , si 3i 1 lip . 2 . 2.A Is-2 15 - 15, 18i - 18; 3} -3; .•• - ••• L3O - 132 1112 - 114 8j - 8 7i 106 - 1 08 P 1152 - 154 xd xd ••• -- ••• 155 - 158 3i - 4 PI 10A - 13/ - 8-91 10.1- 11i A 8 —lsoxd - Lll - 113 254 -26 i 21 - - 14;1 - 18} lip 15 -- 16' par -- 4 P 261 -26 i 19 201 id -- par 17A - 103 - 105 5i - 53 - iPI FOREIGN. A utwerp&Rotterdam RelgianEastn. Junct. Beziers to Graissessac Charleroi & Erquelin. Dijon and Besanon Dutch Rhenish East Indian . Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Gt. Western of Canada Shares Lucca & Pistoja sp.c pref •• •• Luxembourg.. Do. (Railway) Do. Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. ct. prof interest) 51 L N y aa o l i . s ais. & s e i d e I Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Liege (withrran Paris and Lyons N D ( o o f n w . 2 y eO. B. Icz 3 n TA p rm . u c. B ) sn. ksph d ry. ef s Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen&Cherbrg. Quebec &Richmond Rouen and Havre Sambre and Meuse._ Do: l 5 p. ct. pref.... Sth-Ea.strn.of France Southern of France.. Upper India Scrip West Flanders.. ..... Do. N- per e. Pref.... Western of France_ West. of Switzerland'. Zealand.. ~.•...... i d 1 1 2 - 7 - 1 1 13 4 3.1 4 p 1 -- t dim 5 —.6 p 10 lip 26 27 2i 2ip par 1 p id pdr 7 41 = ----- 2 2*- 2 3 / 4 i) 7i - 8 36i -36 i 141 -- 14 i 8i -- 91 188 18ip 44 -44 A 46, -47 i 36 -- 36; 5 ; -- 6 p 22 -: 9i -- 9A 6 p 4 5 P idis par 121 124 p is 6 1 2, 101 671 8i 71 244 . 4 1 2. 50 I 21 it. 100 6 3i 15 16. .2il 10 12 i all 15 all 0 all 6 3 L2il all L 2 all L 2 8 st• 100 St. ,100 MI 5 0 - all 5 all 2 all it. 100 all - it. 100 .5 9 8 all .0 all CI all 5 3 ;t. 100 L 7 1 5 !,5 1 10 .0I 3 5 3 ;0 I all !O 8 :0 all !,0 1 5 all .),0 7 151 51 1 0 15 .0 10 5 2 5 3 [0 2 !O 7 !O 4A .),0 all D all .6 all 0 all .0 all !I) 10 :0 all ;0 all !CI all :0 4 LO 5i .',O all ?,0 all 1.0 4 • 4 O 28. si all LO 6 ') 10 10 2 55 131 1111 1 92 MINES. 1 all Agua Fria 1 —l4 p 24 [Os. all Anglo Californian 4 pll 10 2 Australasian — 1 p 20 5 Australian 44 4 p 44 1 all Australian Cordillera 1 g p 1 all Australian Freehold 1 d ar t 1 all Ave Maria — d 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) par p 1 all British Austrin. Gold p 14 20 13.5 British Iron 8 —lO 35 243 Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm 54 6 5i 30 all Do. Comes & Cuiada 41 5 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 30 —3l 304 1 4 Carsons's Creek 40 all Cobre Copper 46. 474 5 1 Colonial Gold 2 21 34 14 Copiapo B4 91 Si. all Copper Min. of Eng. 70 80 25 all Do. Pref. 74 p. cent. 9 —lO p 5 all English and Austin. Copper Smeltg. Co. 14 1 d 31 20 all General l5 —l7 2 all Great Nugget Vein 2l —24 p 3 all Great Polgooth. Par g P 1 all Lake Bathurst — 1 all Liberty par— 4 p 1 all Lond. &Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co 1 r. 4 d 1 all Mariquita d-- par 1 10 9 Mexican&S.Americn. 84 81 1 all New Granada - P 1 all Nouveau Monde 1 —14 Pi 24 I 5 1 Port Philip — Ipl 11 1 all Quartz Rock pl 11 50 all Rhymney Iron 24 —26 15 Do. New 7 8 30 104 Santiago do Cuba 6 7 1 all South Australian ld 4 p 14 10 7 Tin Croft .. . 10 12 283 all United Mexican 54 6 6 1 all Waller par— 4p 14 1 all West Granada......., par— # p 1 all West Mariposa 1 p 111 1 all Yuba 1 a p 1 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia ' 86 87 86 7 50 all British N. American 64 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 4 1/p 3 100 25 Colonial ••• 100 20 Commercial of Lond 10 English Scottish and Australian l4 —13 p 4 20 124 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia . 50 20 London and County 50 10 London Joint Stock 100 20 Loud. & Westminster 36/ 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India 1 d— par 50 221 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank _of Corporation 5O 51xn 50 x new 25 5 Do. New — ••• 100 25 Provincial of Ireland 10 all Do. New — ••• 5 1 Royal Australn. Bkg & Gold Imp Co id par 25 all South Australia 47 49 25 all Union of Australia-. 774 784 78 74 23 Do. New B4 9 50 10 Union of London (. 40 all Union of Madrid.. . • - MISCELLANEOUS' 100 35 Australian Agricult. 82 --- 84 84 2 20 8 Australsn.Pcific.Mail 10 6 Australn. lioyal Mail 50 383 Brit. American Land 77 80 78 7 9 100 324 Canada 5 5 Crystal Palace ll- 1 63 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France 11 11,4-.. 13 20 1 Eastern Steam 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir — • ... 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — 100 14 General Screw Steam 20 24 Irish Beetroot Sugar 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel, ~. 10 2 Netherlands Landi.-,. 20 71 Nrth.ofEuropeSteam 50 ' all Peninsular & Oriental .. • 50 . 25 Do. 100 60 Royal Mail Steam •.. 25 25 South Austral. Land 47 49 48 . all Submar. Telegraph.....- 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonisation.- 100 284 Van Diemen's Land 194 -- 204 LLOYD'S SHIPPING--(THIS DAY.) LONDON, May 4.—Wind this day at Noon, E.; light sirs, and dull hazy weather. DEAL, May 3.—Arrived from the River—Rokeby, for Quebec ; Rubicon, Bombay. Arrived from the' River, and sailed—Tyne, for Melbourne. COWES, May 3.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Adepheid, Callao; Elbe, do. PORTSMOUTH, May 3.—Wind, S. to S.S.W, S a iled — Moslem, Calcutta, and brought up in St. Helen's Bay ; Jeannetta, Ceylon, and brought up at the Netherlands. SOUTHAMPTON, May 3.—Wind, N.W. Arrived—LMa drid (s), Gibraltar, &c. FALMOUTH, May 3. Wind, variable, light airs. Arrived —America, Rio Janeiro. DARTMOUTH, May 3.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Ma- Ella, Swansea, for Southampton, leaky, and with bowsprit sprung. Off Port—Menado, Batavia, for Rotterdani. PLYMOUTH, May 3.—Wind, S., foggy. Arrived—Mes senger, Cardiff, for London ; Foyle Packet, Cardiff to Harbury—both to stop leaks. OFF PENZANCE, May 2.—Statesman, Port Philip. ST. IVES, May 3.—The Ariel, of Elsfieth, with coals, blew up, April 30 ; one man lost by the explosion: DUNBAR, May 3.—The Thomas, of and from Arbroath, is on shore at Fast Castle Head; crew saved. BRIDLINGTON, May . 4!--The Jeans and Margstrt, St. Valery to Newcastle, is on Flamborough Head, and likely to be a wreck. Cnottnn, May 4.—The Jean and Mary, of-Sunderland, has been put on shore with sft. Water in her hold, having been on a ledge of rocks ; it is feared she will become a wreck. LOWEBTOFFE, May 4.—The Minerva, of Bartleur, struck on Hasborough Sand, and sank in deep water ; crew saved. SUNDERLAND, May 3.—Wind, S.S. E. Sailed—Ex change, Quebec. HOLYHEAD, May 3.—The Owen, of Port Madoc, is on shore near Amlweh, and is likely to become a total wreck. BELFAST, May 2.—Wind, S.W.. Sailed—Elizabeth, Melbourne ; Gilbert, New York. BERBICE, April 6.—The Louisa, hence for London, was destroyed by fire, off the bar, March 28 ; crew saved. MADEIRA, April 2G.—The Boadicea (British schooner), for Naples, was abandoned in a sinking state, lat. 46, long. 10 ; crew saved, and landed here by the Thames, London, for Australia. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. To-day's market was chiefly supplied with Monday's unsold samples, in very middling condition. For all kinds of English wheat the demand was in a very inactive state, at barely Monday's prices. For forward delivery next to nothing was doing. Tho show of foreign wheat was good ; all descriptions commanded very little attention, and low parcels were offering on easier terms. Floating cargoes were very dull. Barley, the show of which was good, sold slowly, but no further decline took place in prices. We had a slow sale for malt on former terms. Oats and flour were very dull. Beans and peas corn manded previous rates. ARRIVALS THIS WEER. Wheat. 1 Barley. i Blatt. 1,160 1,110 2,220 Oats. 130 Flour. $2O English •• Irish •• •• Foreign .. 2,310 2,980 I- 750 3,260 610 sk, BOROUGH HOP. We have a very slow sale for all kinds of hops, at lasi week's prices. WHITECHAYEL. The demand for each kind of meat at this market to-day • ruled steady. The following are the quot ations : Beef, 2s 6d to 3s 8d mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; lamb, 4s 10(1 to 60 2d ; veal, 35 6dte 48 6d ; Pork, 2810 d to ts per 81bs by the carcase. TAUNTON ELECTION.—This election has resulted in the return of the Liberal candidate by a much more narrow majority than had been reasonably anticipated. At the close. of the poll the numbers were-373 for Sir T. Ramsden (Liberal), and 866 for Mr. H. Padcock sen Mr. o (Conservative). ROBBERY IN OXFORD•STREBT.--YeSterday morning information was forw ar d e d from the various polic e sta tions of an extensiv e b urg l ar y which was effected o n the premises r other part descriptions Oxford-street r l n V in . ,gB whenul a rc s t 1 et t, The twoproper ty upper d of the ad doorsto t h e f r from m P r amountPrince's street, o f e ' s t several hundred pounds was carrie d o ff , betwe en the hours of ten o'clock on Saturday night an d seven o'clo ck on meda of yf m joining house is to let, and throug h it the thieves ar e supposed to have effected an entran ce. The y th e n com menced packing up every valuable article, incl uding 250 goldanwdatsch brooches, ilver watches, shirt 2oo pine, an guards, 700 rings, 60 gold bracelets, 200 gold brooches , besides studs, sleeve links, of property. Por Gobs THE WITFIEIL—Not a little excitement was created in the neighbourhood of St. George's-place, Hyde-park-corner, this morning, by the precipitate and unusual entrance of a fine great f of ellow of a sheep, right through the plate-glass front Messrs. Rogers and Dear, where he, no doubt, found himself rather abroad midst the mimic flowers and plants represented in the carpets, tapestries &c., which usually adorn the win dows of those fashionable upholsterers ; we believe the poor animal was impelled to this strange refuge by the attack of one of those troublesome curs which seem to infest our streets more at this season than at any other. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.—Yesterday six yachts of this club contended for two prizes of plate value re spectively 100 and 50 guineas. The distance was from Erith to the Nore Light and back. The following ves sels s tarted at a quarter to twelve with an easterly wind. Of the first class Lord!" Londesborogh's Musquito, 50 tons ; Mr. Bartl ett's War H awk, 50 reth tons ; Mr. Cranie's Volante, 48 tons ; Mr. C. Brand's Pauline, 35 tons. Of the second class Mr. George Coope's Thought, 25 tons • Mr. S. Lane's Phantom, 25 tons. Tne yachts arrived ' at the NoraHou Lighrs.t Min in t Sec he following . . order and time : 4512 g 2 41 6 Phantom. ..................... 3 54 50 War Hawk ................... 4 4 40 Pauline: ........................ 4 9 8 The arrival Erith was as follows : Hours. Mb. Sec. Viols:nutlet? ........................................... Mosquito (the winner)..... 7 1 4 4 7 7 Volante ......... . ............ 7 2 Ph a ntom (winner 2d class) 7 46 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) SHERIFF AND COMMISSARY COURTS (BERWICKSHIRE) BILL. On the motion of Lord PANMURE, the bill was read a second time. LUNATICS' CARE AND TREATMENT BILL. Lord St. LEONARDS said this bill would make ex tensive alterations with regard to the administration of the estates of lunatics. The expenses were proposed to be raised almost wholly by a graduated scale, according to the amount of the property to be administered. In stead of separate commissions of lunacy, there would be a general commission, which would save great expense. In some cases a jury would be required, but in others, where that could be safely done, the jury would be dis pensed with. After there had been a finding by the commission, power was given to dispenie with a grant from the crown, which had been always necessary for the lunatic, and which led to great expense. That expense would altogether in a great measure be put an end to. An other point was with regard to persons who were in fact not lunatics, but who were detained in asylums under old certificates. This bill would give the Lord Chancellor power in such cases to require the persons detaining such alleged lunatics to furnish a general account of their con duct ; and this was a provision which, in more cases than their lordships would be willing to conceive possible, would at oneo show, if there was improper detention, what was the cause of it ; the cause being, he believed, the conspiracy of other persons to obtain and enjoy those alleged lunatics' property. This bill, which might be regarded as another recommendation, would entirely do away with the exceptional position hitherto occupied by Bethleham Hospital. (Hear, hear.) He was bound to say that the governors of that hospital had not shown the slightest objection to this bill ; and the fair inference, which it was but just to state, was that they were not afraid of the light of day being thrown on that institu tion, and that they were willing that it should be visited, and examined, and controlled and improved just like any other lunatic asylum in the country. This measure would, therefore, as a whole, he thought, give a new tone to the administration of lunacy, protect it from its abuses, and give to lunatics every benefit and every care which justice and benevolence could suggest. (Hear, hear.) The LORD CHANCELLOR was understood to say that he would not run the chance, by offering any foi?a- ments, of being supposed to dissent from any of the views of the noble and learned lord ; and he would con tent himself by saying that he believed the bill would effect very desirable amendments in the law. The Earl of HARROWDY also pressed upon their lordships' attention the urgency that there was of a change in the law affecting criminal lunatics, and he hoped her Majesty's Government would take the subject into their consideration. Lord ST. LEONARDS enforced what he had before ,observed;—by stating that in his visits to, lunatic asylums he had •often heard lunatics compfain to him of their being thrown into the company of other lunatics con victed of crimes ; and there could be no doubt of their, extreme aversion to such a system. It was a great mis take to suppose that because a man had so far lost his mind as to be in certain senses a lunatic, therefore he was not deeply impressed with anything affecting moral con duct. • (Hear, hear.) The report was then received ; as alio were the reports on the Lunatic Asylums Bill and the report on the Lu nacy Regulation Bill. Third readings fixed for Monday. LAND IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) BILL. Lord CANNING, having proposed that the discus sion on this bill should be postponed until the stage o the report, when he would bring up amendments, an ob jection was taken to the delay, and general objections were offered to the bill, by Lord Beaumont ; but after a conversation between these noble lords, Lord Monteagle, Lord Wicklow, Lord Clanricarde, and Lord Dufferin, the motion was agreed to ; and the En having been put in .cemmittee pro forma, was reported, and fixed for an early third reading. SOUTH SEA AND OTHER ANNUITIES COMMUTATION MILL. Earl GRANVILLE, in moving the third reading of the bill, said that he would not carry out his intention at that hour (8 o'clock), and in the then state of the house (not ten peers were pressed), of making a statement of the objects and scope of this bill ; but if a discussion should be entered on he would reserve to himself the right of offering some comments in the way of a reply. Their lordships were aware they could not make any alterations in a bill of this kind sent up from the Com mons, and therefore, he apprehended, a discussion was not desired ; aid it might be the less desired as what had fallen on the previous evening from the noble and learned lord (Lord St. Leonards) had suggested that a supplementary measure with . regard to the funds of suitors in Chancery might become necessary, and the views of their lordships might then be expressed. The Earl of DERBY put it to the noble earl if he was taking a becoming course with this bill ? Not a word had been said on it since it had come up to their lord ships' house, although many noble lords had been desir ous of expressing an early opinion of it ; and he now put it to the noble lord, whether, in the then state of the house, it would be decent that evening to read the bill a third time ? It might be that their lordships had no right to alter the bill, but really for it to be passed sub silentio in this way would be to attach to their lordships' house a character which he might say, without using disrespectful terms, the noble earl himself could not pos sibly desire. Earl GRANVILLE was only consulting public con venience, and, as he thought, their lordships' wishes. Great public inconvenience would be caused by delaying the passing of a bill of this kind ; and if it was wished, he would go into a statement then, at once. The Marquis of SALISBURY suggested a delay un til to-Morrow (this day.) Lord REDESDALE.—Ah, but we den% sit on Wed nesdays. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of DERBY thought that if there was to be a • supplementary measure, they ought to discuss the matter, so as to see what should be the•character of that measure. At all events, the House of Lords ought to know what was going to be done. 'The Earl of WICKLOW thought the matter was clear. The house was thin, because every noble lord knew that the house could not alter the bill ; and the noble Earl (Derby) share the responsibility for that thin attendance with the Government. If the noble earl wanted a discussion it could be taken • there the bill was, and the noble President of the Council had said that he was ready to go on, if it was wished. After a few words from Lord MONTEAGLE, to the effect that though their lordships could not alter these bills, they were, nevertheless, bound to discuss them, the discussions in their lordships' house on the property tax being instanced as debates of great importance, and of great influence on national finance. Earl GRANVILLE agreed to give a formal state ment of the bill, and proceeded accordingly to describe its more familiar features—only three or four peers being present when he began. Lord MONTEAGLE must repeat his conviction that it would be highly objectionable to allow this bill to pass a third reading without discussion. It pro posed to issue Treasury or Exchequer Bonds of un certain amount, the minimum being fixed at 100/. ; but it did not in the least make any provision for the future conversion, nor was there to be any check placed upon the mode or manner of issue. It was the first time in the history of England that Parliament had been asked to confer such a power upon the Financial Minister ; and since these bonds were to be made transferable from hand to hand, and yet not convertible at any given period, what was to prevent the Minister, in times of trouble and difficulty, having recourse to an over issue ? (Hear, hear.) That was an insuperable objection to the bill, which their lordships would do well to ponder over. Ertl GRANVILLE thanked the noble lord for some useful corrections which his speech -bad supplied. The noble lord had compared the Exchequer bonds to bank notes, and said the Government ought not to issue bank notes when they had not a corresponding amount of bul lion in the bank ' • but that was not the case, as the only difference would be in the machinery. Instead of a per son having a transfer on the books of the bank, he would have it in the shape of a bond. The bonds would be re deemable at the end of a year, and would have value in the eyes of a banker which no other security could have. The bill was then read a third time and passed, and he house adjourned at nine o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.) CHATHAM ELECTION. Sir J. SHELLEY read the report of the Chatham elec tion committee to the house, and drew attention to the fact that, on the motion of the member for East Surrey, the Attorney-General had, on the strength of the accusation in that report, been directed to prosecute Stephen Mount for perjury. At that time he himself had stated that the house should proceed further and prosecute Sir F. Smith for bribery ; but in order to allow hon. members full time to consider the evidence, and to determine what course their duty to themselves and to the house required of them, he had asked leave to postpone the whole subj ect till after Easter; and this was his first opportunity since. He would not go into evidence, which was in every hon. member s hand, but, assuming that they were familiar with that evidence, would urge upon them to stand by the report, and to recollect that it was their duty to strengthen the hands of their committees. He thought that they ought to vindicate themselves, and to support their committees, and he therefore begged to call the attention of the house to the following resolution :—" That if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or returned member of this house, or endeavoured so to be by bribery, or any other corrupt practices, this house will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such bribery , or o ther corrupt practices ;" also, to the following resolution of the Chatham election committee :—" That it was proved to the committee that Joseph Greathead, an elector of Chethain, had been bribed by a situation as a letter -carrier in the Post-office, ob tained for his son Charles Gre athead, by Sir J. Frederick Smith ;" and to move, that the Attorney-General be di rected to prosecute the said Sir John Mark Frederick Smith for bribery at the last election at Chatham. Sir F. THESIGER said he had hoped that some mem ber of the Government would have expressed their opinion on this motion. (Hear, bear.) The hon. baronet who had brough it forward had disclaimed being actuated by any personal feeling in the matter. Ho (Sir F. Thesiger) felt satisfied that that was the fact, and he was sure the hon. baronet would be gratified, as many other members would be, to find that, upon considering the evidence in the case, the house would not bo under the necessity of interfering , in the way proposed. (Hear, hear.) The hon. baronet had stated that the committee had reported that Sir F. Smith was guilty of bribery. Now, that was not exactly the report of the committee. Their report, which was very guardedly framed, was as follows :—" That it has been proved to the committee that Joseph Greethead, an elector •f Chatham, was bribed by a situation as a letter-carrier in the Post-office, obtained for his son, Charles Greathead, by Sir John Mark Frederick Smith." And now with regard to the precedents to which the hon. baronet had referred. He quite agreed with the hon. baronet that there were numerous precedents to be found on the journals in which the house, on the reports of committees, had directed the Attorney-General to prosecute persons for bribery and perjury; but he believed he might venture to say that the house had never interfered in that manner unless in cases of flagrant and gross corruption, or cases of such a character as seemed to call imperatively on the house to do so. He would, however, mention one or two cases in which it appeared to him some little caution was given to the house as to the mode of proceeding in cases of this description. In 1841 Mr. Charles Williams Wynn brought forward a motion for prosecuting Dr. Webster for bribery at the St. Alban's election. The committee had not reported that Dr. Webster was guilty of bribery, but, on examining the evidence taken before the com mittee, there were two cases which seemed to establish the charge against him. With some reluctance, and after considerable opposition on the part of members of great weight and authority, the house, as he thought unfortu nately, yielded t o th e mo ti on , and directed a prosecution to be institut e d aga i ns t Dr. 'Y'ebster. Now, he thought the house would go along with him in opinion that they ought never to direct a prosecution unless they had a reasonable expectation that they would be able to secure a conviction ; because it was obvious that the house would sustain considerable prejudice and damage if they solemnly directed a prosecution to be instituted, and it afterwards turned out that the charge made was without foundation. Well, what happened in that case ? He (Sir F. Thesiger) appeared on that occasion as. Attorney-General, and the hon. member for Kilkenny (Mr. Serjeant Shee) appeared for Dr. Webster, and the result w as a ver di c t of not guilty." But there were some proceedings consequent on, the motion of Mr. Wynn which he thought were not cal culated to sustain the credit of the house in the estimation of the country. Mr. Ward, who took part in the debate against the motion for prosecuting Dr. Webster, in three days afterwards (June 11 ) brought forward a motion with reference to the Cambridge election, the report of the committee on that subject having been presented to the house in June, 1840 ; so that 12 months had been allowed to elapse after the report of the committee had been pre sented before bringing forward the motion upon it. It was perfectly clear, therefore, that it was a retaliatory motion. (Hear, hear.) Unfortunately, the motion of Mr. Ward was carried, not for the prosecution of Mr. Manners Sutton, who was declared to have been by his agents guilty of bribery, but for the prosecution of two persons named Long and Swan—Long being then under prosecution by other parties. [ He thought, therefore, that the house should be extremely cautious in directing prosecutions which might be attri buted in the first place to strong party feelings, and in the next place where there was not a fair and reasonable pros pect that there would be a conviction if they went before a jury. (Hear, hear.) Now, what were the circumstances of the present case ? Sir F. Smith, he might mention, had been for 19 years resident in Chatham as Commandant of the Engineers there. He mentioned this to show that Sir Frederick was no stranger in the borough, and that he had local interests and claims which were likely to be available on presenting himself as a candidate there. He commenced his canvas in March 1852, at which period he was the only candidate in the field. About that time he called upon Joseph Greathead to ask him for his vote. On Sir Frederick's first visit Greathoad, although he expressed himself favourably disposed towards him, would not pro mise his vote, but on his second visit he distinctly pledged himself to support him, and not only so, but proceeded to give him active support in canvassing. He thought it only fair to Sir F. Smith to call the attention of the house to the opinion which he had expressed, on oath, as to the sacredness of a promise given him by a voter. He was asked— " In the conduct of your election did it occur to you, looking to the character of the voters of Chatham, that, whoever the man might have promised, he might not finally determine to give his vote until, in point of fact, he recorded it at the poll ?—lt did not, as I said yesterday, I believed those who promised me ,their votes would give me their votes. " Did it never occur to you that some of those who promised you their votes might have promised the other side ?—I never suspected it. " Looking to the character of the voters, did it never occur to you, in a large constituency like Chatham, that it was possible many of them who promised their votes to you might have promised them on the other side ? I firmly believed that the promises given both to my oppo nent and to myself would be carried out." He was also asked if he saw the distinction between a candidate soliciting places for the Admiralty for persons he expected to vote for him, and a member making an application after the vote had been given. He answered— ' I do not see the distinction ; indeed I do not, because I consider the promise as good as the performance of it." To show the house how Sir Frederick carried out this principle in practice he might mention that when he called on a voter, and found he had promised to vote to any other candidate, he never soliiited that person further for his vote, considering a promise to vote against him as binding as a promise to vote in his favour. (Hear, hear.) After Greathead had given his promise to vote for Sir. F. Smith he was canvassed by a Mr. Crockford, in favour of Mr. Romaine, who had by that time' become a candidate. Greathead, it appeared, was under some particular obli gation to Crockford, and in consideration of that obliga tion, he promised to vote for Mr. Romaine, and after Mr. Romaine had left the field he promised Crockford to vote for Sir James Stirling. It appeared from Greathead's evidence that he had entered into some negotiation for disposing of his business, which he expected would be completed before the election, and that he believed he should not be in the borough to record his vote for either candidate at the time of the election. All this time Sir F. Smith was utterly ignorant of these circumstances, and, indeed, he was not in the slightest degree aware of them until he heard them given in evidence before the committee. On the 10th of May Greathead applied to Sir F. Smith to procure a situa tion in the Post-office for his son, who, it appeared was a journeyman tailor in London in a bad state of health. Sir F. Smith having previously; as he thought, secured the vote of Greathead, and never imagining that he was doing anything at all illegal or irregular, applied to the Govern ment for a situation in the Post-office for Greathead's son, which situation he obtained on the 20th of May. So little idea was entertained by any of the parties that there was anything illegal in this transaction, that no secret was made of it by either ef the parties concerned. On the 17th of June, Greathead's negotiation about the disposal of his business having gone off, and finding himself obliged to re main in Chatham, he gave his vote in favour of Sir F. Smith. Now, the question which the committee had to consider was whether, in the circumstances to which he had just referred, there was something which brought Sir F. Smith within the province of the act against bribery, and which would compel them to report unfavourably against him. The committee examined both Sir Frederick Smith and Greathead. Greathoad was asked— " Upon your oath, were you induced to vote for Sir F Smith in consequence of any promise or any expectation that he held out to you that you would get a place for your son in the Post-office or elsewhere ?—I most solemnly de clare that I gave my vote to Sir F. Smith irrespective of anything. " Were you on Sir F. Smith's committee?—No. " You utterly disavow any bargain or contract with Sir F. Smith ?—Decidedly. " No conditions whatever?—Not any." Now, he appealed to the experience of hon. members, whe ther, in canvassing a large constituency, there was any thing which they had found more difficult than to prevent persons making applications to them for favours on such occasions ? Sir F. Smith, who, as many hon. members knew, was a straightforward, manly, honourable person, %lid who had no notion that, when a promise to vote had been given, it was possible for the voter to recede from it, made the application for the situation without the slightest idea that he was thereby endangering his seat. (Hear, hear.) The committee had evidently some difficulty in de ciding the question as to whether this transaction consti tuted bribery on the part of Sir F. Smith or not, and ac cordingly they framed their report in a manner which, while ho admitted it affected Sir F. Smith's seat, was more directed to the bribery which was connected with Great hei4 and Greathead's influence than with the acts of bribery con fitted by Sir F. Smith himself. The house would ob serve that in the guarded expressions used by the commit. tee in their report they did not allege that Joseph Great head had been bribed by Sir F. Smith, but by a situation obtained for his son by Sir F. Smi . He (Sir F. Thesiger) considered that ho bribery, in ' proper sense of that term, had been cby rinamitted Sir i 'Smith. The 7th sec tion of the 2d George IL, chap. 24, provided that if any person himself, or any person employed by him, should by any gift or reward, or by any promise, agree ment, or security for any gift or reward, corrupt, or pro cure any person to vote at elections, the offender should for feit 5001., and incur certain disabilities. It was necessary therefore that Sir F. Smith should have been shown to have corrupted, or procured the vote of a party by the promise or gift of some office under the Government. He (Sir F. Thesiger) had given this subject very anxious consideration, and if he had been a member of the commit tee he must have come to the conclusion that no case of bribery had been established against Sir F. Smith. He would further say, that he was satisfied no court in this kingdom would hold that where a voter, without any in ducement or improper influence, had promised his vote, and had adhered to that promise, anything which inter vened, and which the voter himself declared had not the slightest influence in inducing him to give his vote, could be regarded as corrupting, or procuring the vote of such person, within the intention of the act of Parliament. Supposing, however, the committee were right in coming to the conclusion that Sir F. Smith had been guilty of bribery in respect of this transaction, he thought it was clear that it was not the intention or wish of the commit tee that any proceedings should be taken against Sir F. Smith. He conceived this was satisfactorily shown by the very guarded language of the report. Ho would put it to the'house, then, whether they ought to undertake the office of prosecutor unless very gross and flagrant corruption had taken place, and unless it was perfectly clear that upon the evidence which could be adduced a jury would convict the person accused. It was no light matter for the house to determine upon a prosecution of this kind, because there would necessarily be a very strong prejudice again th t tha ' ; ' person placed upon his trial, for it would be assumed evidence,the house and had that very weighedttfecfulirclyumsta nee s werean and o considered f sula c the h a . fere for the vindication of its honour and integrity. ( meter as to render it imperative upon the house to Hear, the character of a highly stigma they would affix upon . hear.) He would further ask the house to consider the guilty of secution. (Hear.) If Sir F. Smith.th d o .d have been honourable man by determining to insatitultzesnuch a pro gress and scandalous corruption, th l r l e w ul bring himself to quite right that a prosecution could l him ; but he (Sir F. Thesiger) the sligtest intention believe that Sir F. Smith had haof flagrant not instituted against corruption or to infringe the law. In any p perjury he (Sir F. Thesiger)the offender, whether ho were would be quite ready to assent to proceedings for punishing occupied an exalted position ; but he a poor man or earnestly be condemnation of implored the house not to . adopt hastily a course Sir F. Smith, unless would at once a unless they , thought there were other circumstances in the case th a n those which he (Sir F. Thesiger) had felt it his duty to bring before them. If the object of the hon. baronet lain on etuni (Sirler mem ber for Westminster was punishment, he (Sir F. Thesiger) could only say that Sir F. Smith had hadhad been a l rea d y mos t s everely punished. (Hear, hear.) n the heaviest imputations ever since the hon, J. Shelley) had given notice of his motion, ho had lost the seat in that house which had been the object of his pride and his ambition, and he (Sir F. Thesiger) believed that his punishment had been quite sufficient to lead candidates carefully to abstain from any transactions ii whatever w ith Ho (Sir F. Th es i ger ) e w le o e u t l o a rs p put it beyond li o ra n e o r u e r a e b a l l l e v g a e s n s i t? e g m . an whether there was one member in that house who, after his return, had not been repeatedly applied to to obtain situations either for persons who had v o t e d f or him or for their rela -1 tives ? (Hear, hear.) Was there any honourable member who had happened to b e . connected with the Govern ment who had not ove r and over again applied for and ob- 89. I 9 56 1321 2 112 ~ 9211 14 Pm 80W 12 9i I -105 i 12 301 4 7 6 / i i 541 4 361 6 i! 211 761 5i 61 371 9i 10 91 .70i 70 i i 1 12i i 63 2} i 11001 1111 A 12A 281 44# 3i 4 36 I tamed suck appointments ? Now, if Sir F. Smith had had more experience of elections and of canvassing —if he had been as cautious as many members of that House— (a laugh)—he would have abst'ained from making any promise at all, and when the election was over he would have ob tained the situation for the person who had applied to him through an electoral friend. (Hear, hear.) H e cons id ered, that with regard to the question of morality, it could not make the slightest difference whether the application wa s made during the election and the situation was obtained aftt;rwards, or whether the application was made subse quently to the elections. He (Sir F. Thesiger) would be glad to hear some statement on the part of the Government of the view which they took of the case. Mr. W. WILLIAMS observed, that it was a notorious fact that the great mass of the members of that House ob tained their seats by means which he thought much more objectionable than those which were alleged to have been used by Sir F. Smith. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Williams) considered that the house ought to adopt a measure which would reader it penal for any parties to have recourse to bribery, treating, promise, or any other means of influenc ing voters. A great many members had been unseated during the present session, but he believed that, with the exception of Sir F. Smith, they had all been acquitted of any personal knowledge of bribery ; yet many of those gentlemen had admitted before the committee that they had paid thousands of pounds for gaining their seats, although they need not have expended as many hundreds. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. W. Williams) must say that he looked upon this charge against Sir F. Smith as one of a very light character as compared with many others which had been made—(hear, hear)—and he would suggest to the hon. member for Westminster that he should not press his motion, but should endeavour to take means to repress the system in future. Mr. BRAMSTON wished, as a member of the committee upon whose report Sir F. Smith had been unseated, to say a few words on this subject. At the same time, he doubted whether the house would think it right that he, as a mem ber of the committee, should defend the course they had taken. (Some cries of " No, no.") The committee up stairs was a judicial tribunal, and that house was not a court of appeal. It therefore appeared to him that, if he were to address himself to the house with respect to the reasons which induced the committee to come to their de _viedencpero cision, he would be speaking corain non jndice. At the same time, he might say that, although the committee had broughty to e d t to the t beforedecision t t h h e e y m h , upon a b d a y n a d v d a o n p e t e s . reported e only upon one case, they had considered the whole that evidence He tne s thought et that th wascame it was quit e • • committee a impossible for any candidate to stand for Chatham without giving promises to voters ; an d th e ques tion was whether, in forming constituencies of the peculiar character of th e Ch atham and other dockyard constitu encies, that house had not been parties to the crime—(hear, hear)—whether th e y h a d not by their legislation tended to , corrupt and destroy the character of the dockyard consti tuencies—(hear, hear), and laid a snare which no candidate who presented himself to such constituencies could fail to fall into. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was the duty of the house to consider whether they m i g ht no t ta k e m eans to correct this evil, but he did not thi n k that undersue present circumstances it would be consistent with the dig nity of the house to order the prosecution of a man for a crime to which they had themselves been privy. (Hear, hear.) Mr. PELLA.T T said, that as a member of the committee he must say that, although ho should like to see the motion withdrawn, if it should be pressed he would feel bound, on abstract principles of justice, to vote in its favour. H o thought the circumstances which had occurred at Chatham were of a trivial nature compared with the corruption which had existed in other places, and the house might im pose an amount of punishment greater than the offence de served. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the house should deal broadly with the whole question, and punish both agents and the receivers of bribes. It was quite plalh, however, that Sir F. Smith had laboured under the mono mania that he might grant favours to voters during the election even without making himself liable to a prosecu tion for bribery. As the committee entertained a doubt as to the state of the law, they had required the learned counsel to discuss that question ; and they had come to the conclusion that it was a case coming within the opera tion of the Bribery Act. (Hear.) Mr. NEWDEGATE, who spoke amid loud calls for a division, said that his opinion on the case was strictly em bodied in the terms of the report ;—it was that Sir F. Smith did not intend to bribe Mr. Greathead, and that Mr. Greathead's conduct had been infamous. He could not conceive a case in which it would be more dangerous for the house to recommend the prosecution of a candidate on account of bribery. The committee, feeling doubtful as to the law, had certainly had recourse to the learned counsel for information, but, if the house had the means of judg ing of all the circumstances of the case, he was convinced they would come to the same conclusion as the committee. (" Divide.") An hon. member of the committee (Mr. Pellatt) had stated that, if the motion were pressed, he kould vote for it. He (Mr. Newdegate) should not do so. because it would be an act of injustice to mark out the very venial case against Sir F. Smith as calling for peculiar reprobation, in the face of so many other cases which had been brought under their notice. The decision of the com mittee was a sufficient punishment for Sir F. Smith, and the house would not act in accordance with its proper cha racter if they agreed to the motion of the hon. baronet the member for Westminster. Mr. PIGOTT, who was nearly inaudible from the gene ral cry for a division, was understood to appeal to the mem ber for Westminster not to press his motion. Mr. M. SMITH vindicated the course adopted by the committee, and recommended that, instead of punishing Sir F. Smith, the house should order prosecutions to be commenced against the iniquitous witnesses for the perjury they had been guilty of before the committee. Mr. W. J. FOX rose to answer the challenge of the hon. and learned gentleman (Sir F. Thesiger), who had said that all hon. members must learn that they were constantly asked fur favours by their constituents after an election was over. He could assure the hon. and learned gentleman that he had never received a single application of the na ture alluded to, and that he had never asked a favour of the kind from the Government. He gave this answer to the challenge in order that it might not ga forth to the public unanswered, and that he had to doubt that many of his hon. friends could have done so too, had they been willing. With regard to the case before the house, the evils complained of—corruption and bribery, could not be remedied by a prosecution of one man or the disfranchise ment of one borough ; the only efficient and permanent remedy would be a thorough reform of the Parliamentary representation. (Hear, hear.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said, it appeared to bim that it was or ought to be a very serious question on the part of the house whether they should institute a State prosecution at the public expense. It was not a mere question of appoint ing a committee, but it was whether there was sufficient evidence before them to make them believe that a jury would convict Sir F. Smith. (Hear, hear.) He believed there was not. (Hear, hear.) He recollected the case which occurred not long ago at Derby—(a laugh)—where one Mor gan was caught in the act of bribery, with the money in his hand, and who was prosecuted. Morgan came into court, pleaded guilty, and what did the jury say ? They said that really the House of Commons was so steeped up with cor ruption and bribery that although they found Morgan guilty they would recommend him to mercy. (Laughter.) Then the judge Itold the prisoner that he had been found guilty of bribery, but as the jury had recommendedshim to mercy, he might go about his business, takine , care never to do it again. (Renewed laughter.) He (Mr. ° Duncombe) did not believe that a jury would find Sir F. Smith guilty at all. The committee, as the house had been told by its members, had found him guilty solely in order to comply with the strict letter of the law—(hear) ;—and two of its members had stated that night that he ought not to be prosecuted. He was quite satisfied that the com mittee had discharged its duties conscientiously, and he was glad to thank the members for another portion of their report. He alluded to the statement that the electors of Chatham were so dependent on the Government that it was impossible for them freely to exercise the elective franchise, and that they ought all therefore to be disfranchised. (Hear, hear.) The house ought not, under these circum stances, to issue a new writ for the borough of Chatham. The question of equalising the franchise in counties and boroughs had been disposed of that evening by a promise from the Ministry to introduce a large and comprehensive measure of reform during thb next session. That measure would be the test of the Administration, and would show whether it deserved the confidence of the public or not. The Government, however, had to deal not only with the franchise, but with the extensive system of corruption which had been so completely exposed recently, If they would deal properly with that, they would be entitled to public gratitude. As the general question must be dealt with by the new Reform Act, it was not worth while to occupy their time with such cases, more especially since the opinion of the committee was decidedly against the prosecution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. 0. STANLEY deprecated the assertion made by the honourable and learned member for Stamford (Sir F. Thesiger) that the members on both sides of the house were all equally corrupt, and expressed his opinion that this case ought to have been submitted to the law officers of the Crown, to ascertain whether there was sufficient evidence to go before a jury with. (Divide, divide.) Mr. HEYWOOD was understood to join in the appeal to the s ir J. E ba ronet rjL E ( Syi vindSi h c a e I I t e e d y ) nothi s m t o o t i p r r e e s s s forh t i s ntr motion. dugi n g this motion. He had desired only to assist the_ o h r o h us v e in to stand well with the country, and to give it credit f gentleman (Sir F. Thesiger) had appeale d . to the law officers and he (Sir J. of the Crown to give their opinion on this, pursued a straightforward course. Tho hon. and lea a rnef had said a word upon the subject. He, perhaps, so been induced to withdraw his motion had he receiv ed b Shelley) was surprised that no member of the G m ov i g a h rn t m ha e v a e t favourable an assurance as that which been a y s e t n S u ry tho Government to the honourable member for n ' xious to rey ; but, although he (Sir J. Shelley) wa si s on a s, still he and the raw . consult the feelings of the house on all should ersist in dividing. officers of the Crown he did not think that tho case under Lord J. RUSSELL ltehsosubgehtrehceeihvaded asotmluetyinttoimthateiocnopuonftthlyetoop"pinecairofonrms of, the feelings of the house. (Hear, should be used to sway d to him that the first course he had to hear.) It appeared discussion was one in which the opinion of the Government pursue was to endeavour to obtain the best possible order whatth a t wash!Ls view and of he law himself respecting law officers had stthhaeetaeerdv)_idtheannecidr: in Accordingly, they had consulted the l d and those law officers fo pt o h p r r e i e u pca i t : : : e n e e which p to ro eYuwt prosecution n f founded s l r d P o n . the sin report ith— h and e a r, taken before the committee, that there were grounds advice, although they would not answer for the success of that o f the Crown, prosecution, they thought there was evidence to a court of law suff ic i en t t o s h ow that Sir F. Smith gho ha ba ebeen e guilty of bribery. (Hear.) That was the first question he had thought it hi s d u t y t o ascertain. But there was another question, and one w hi c h concerned the house still more. It was the question as to the meaning of the report of the committee. Ho must own the report l appeared to him to have some am bi gu it y i n it, and could not say that am biguity had been entirely removed by the speeches which had been made that evening by members of the committee. (Hear, hear.) It would appear on the face of the report that the committee were of opinion that Sir F. Smith had been guilty of inducing a voter for the borough of Chatham to vote in his favour by procuring for him a situation in the Post-office. (Hear.) The words would admit of an other interpretation, but if that other interpretation wore the right one, then Sir F. Smith had done no more than ob tain a situation in the Post-office fora person of the name of Greathead, without intending to influence his vote, and without any reference to the election. It was at the same time difficult to understand what was the intention of the committee in making that report, One hon. gentleman had stated that the committee had found themselves obliged to come to that conclusion, and that it was in the second s e n t / o nly that Sir F. Smith 11.44 been guilty of bribery. At the Insg , time the same hoo . entleman bad stated that, in tis mgl ery. it would not be right to prosecute Sir F. Sm t thetin consti and he founded his opinion on the g round _ non cou ld b o , tnent body of Chatham was such that no pv .7" . • , S . I ' re ftr fr° al ill' ) 0a tbe 10 4 th° re" Thi cil 10 44 o oP- i° ii h r t ) 1 4: f 101 °I, tb ° , 30 411 1 to ° THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY .p VENING, MAY 4, 1853, 10 1.0.6 * 4i 368 / 9i 4