The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-04 00:00:00

OVER LAND MAIL I N D I A. Dispatches from India, in anticipation of the Bom bay Mail, have been received. The dates are Bombay 2d November; Calcutta, 24th October; Madras, 23d October ; and Delhi, 21d October. Was following is a list of the names of the passen gers who left Bombay for Suez, Nov. 2, by the steamer Atalanta : Mrs. Rowland and a child, with a native servant ; Mrs. Morris, with an European sad a native servant ; Mrs. Grimes ; Mrs. Mary J. Costelloe ; a child of Lieutenant H. T. Vincent's, with an European female sarrant • Major-General J. Morse, B. Army, and a child; ifajor A. Rowland, B. Artil. ; Captain G. R. Grimes, 2d Bombay Grenadiers • Lieutenant-Colonel J. Forbes, her Majesty's 78th Highlanders; Mr. Nicholson; Lieutenant C. V.:Arthur, 2d Bombay Light Cavalry, and an Euro • servant; J. Bird, Esq.; and Captain J. Hun ter, 4th z imbay Native Infantry. (From the Overland Bombay Times, Npv. 1.) SIIMUARY.—The mal-arrangements amongst our steamers, noticed in our last, have prevented the arri val of the mail of the 24th September, due a week since, but not now expected for a week to come, when it will probably arrive along with that of the 7th October. Our news is somewhat more stirring this mail than for many months past it has been. The Sinde Horse, under the gallant Major Jacob, who have for some time been watching the northern marches, have had an opportunity of earning unri valled distinction. A party of 133 sowars, under Lieutenant Merewether, having heard that the hill men had come down in force and were threatening the villages, proceeded in quest of them on the Ist of October, and found 700 horse and foot strongly posted. Having succeeded in drawing them into the plain they charged them with fearful slaughter, and compelled them to retire. For two miles the pursuit was -continued, the enemy keeping well together, and refusing quarter ; at one time they faced round and showed fight, while many instances of single conflicts with the pursuers occurred. A small party of the Sinde horse headed them as they approached the hills, and out off all hope of escape, when they at length laid down their arms and sur rendered themselves; not, however, till about 600 had been left dead upon the field, the survivors of whom (120) being all wounded. Two only escaped to bear the tidings into the highlands, where 2,000 or 3,000 widows and orphans left destitute are now mourning the fight. Shahpore, near which this occurred, is about thirty miles beyond the river Indus, usually considered our frontier by friends at home. The change in the administration of the country seems universally hailed as a blessing. The governor of Bombay proceeds to Sinde, by desire of the Gover nor-General, about the new year, to see and examine for himself. The opinions of a man of such stand ing and experience as Mr. Clerk must have the utmost weight. Captain French, who has accepted the pri vate secretaryship, was long one of Colonel Outram's assistants : his intimacy with the country and people will make his aid invaluable. Mr. Gordon, of the Indus flotilla, who has been a prisoner since April, charged with having unlawfully caused the death of some Siddees, at Sukkur, has arrived at Bombay to take his trial. His acquittal is looked on as certain. Details of the financial reforms in the Punjaub for merly intimated, will be found elsewhere ; they are as sweeping as could be desired, yet as sound as they are sweeping. The total annual loss occasioned to the state, should trade remain as it is, will not exceed 15,0001. a year, by the abolition of the most annoying and obnoxious imposts ; a deficiency likely to be much more than made up by the fruits the first year of an unfettered commerce w.ll supply. The affairs of the Niaam seem in the same state of confusion they have been in for years past ; and it is annoying, while this is so severely censured by us, to reflect that his pecuniary difficulties are chiefly occasioned by our selves. We keep two armies for him, he paying for the same, for one of which, at all events, he has no sort of occasion ; and he keeps a third for himself just as superfluous as that of which we might rid him. The ex-Raja of Sattara, the dis cussion of whose affairs has made so much noise at home, died at Benares on the 14th ult., in the 60th year of his age. He has left no children, and was not allowed to adopt an heir; so that there will be an end of all agitation concerning him, the more espe cially as the supplies sent home will cease. The present Raja is also childless, so that a few years hence the Raj will lapse to the British Governmeni as lords paramount. India throughout is tranquil. The Governor-General has been on a visit to Naco• dah, 40 undes north of Simla, deeper amongst the hills. He was to return to his former quarters on the 24th, and leave on the 26th for Otnballl, whence he wi proceed to Saharunpore, Meerut, and Cawnpore. He was expected to be at the latter place on the 3d No- ♦ember. He will spend twenty days at Lucknow with the King of Oudh, returning to Cawnpore on the 24th, and proceeding thenca to Allahabad, and so by steamer to Calcutta, where he will be relieved by Lord Dalhousie about the end of the year. Lord Gough remains for the present in the hills. The Marquis of Tweeddale is on the eve of returning to Madras, whither his family have preceded him. The Governor of Bombay is at the Maba buleshwar-hill, on the eve of returning to Bombay ; and will proceed to Sinda some six weeks hence. Sir W. Cotton leaves, Poona on Thursday next for Ahmednuggnr, and will probably not return to the presidency till well on in December. The Lieute nant-Governor of the north- west provinces has returned to Agra. The European portion of the Bengal army, having become notorious for insubor slinstion, the Commander-in- Chief has thought it advisable to resort to the utmost severity, to put a stop to such a state of matters, and two soldiers have been shot to death at Meerut—one on the 19th and another on the 23d October; the former belonging to the Horse artillery, the latter to her Majesty's 9th Lancers, both for having used violence to commis sioned others. We have just closed an unusually hot October. The thermometer yesterday stood for five hours as high as 87 deg. on a wall well shaded, and in a room singularly airy. We are anxiously looking for cold weather. There has fortunately, of late, been no great amount of sickness. All hope of the re-appearance of the steamer Cleopatra has now for many weeks been abandoned ; she is believed to have foundered at sea. The engines of the magnifi cent steamer Ferose have arrived, and are about to be put on board without delay; she is intended for the packet line. No fewer than three of our first- class steamers are at present in dock, undergoing re pairs —the Victoria, the Sesostris, and the Zenobia. The Indus, iron steamer, has been lost near Diu Read, where she had run ashore in the morning of the 7th October, on her way to Kurrachee. The Paasengera all escaped, and the vessel's engines and boilers have bean saved. She herself will, it is said, Prove a wreck. No explanation has been given as to 11 ° 1 v she got ashore in a place so much out of the way. SINDE. We intimated in our last the departure of Sir Charles Napier on the Ist of October from Kurra chee, and the assumption of the reins of government by his successor. The closing general order of Sir Charles Napier will be found below ; it is little more et had than no a si report of his f arewell speech, sail to have been devoted to th e conquest : defence o f the policy of the "Head -quarters, Surr Sept. 30 ached, Thursday, "No. 1. The Government is n o w 8 8 , 7. - a and m ilitary Government, and all officerri- not a iolding e mployment are to report direct to th e see the Government, for the inf ormation of t Z t a ry to o Com missioner. (Si4ned) "C. J. NAPIER, Lieutentan• General. Cotrun;lndin:: the troops in India. " EDWARD GREEN, Major, A bs i,_ t i int-Adjutant-General.” " lioad-qttartvr3, Kurrachee, Friday, Oct. 1, 1847. " No. 1. I this dsy take let.ve of the Sinde division of the Bombay army, which I have had the honour to command, and it is hut just to that division to say, that the conduct of the troops has been so excellent as to add greatly to the regret with which I leave my •omrades of the Queen's and Company's services in Etude. The separation is to me painful, but it is a source of great pleasure to make over tPhe command, as I hereby do, to the Hon. Colonel H. Dundas, an officer whose character and abilities inspire those under his orders with the highest degree of confidence and Affection. " May success attend you all , is the parting and sin cere wish of your old commander. (Signed) "C. J. NAPIER, Lieut.-General." " 2. In obedience to the above order, Colonel the Hon. H. Dundas, C. 8., will assume the command of the troops in Sinde from this date, making over the command o f the troops at Kurrachee to Lieut. Colonel Bradshaw, the next senior officer. These arrangements are ma le pending the sanction of his Excellency the Commandcr in-Chief. a EDWARD GREEN, Major, Assistant Adjutant-General." NOTIFICATION. POLITICAL DEPARTMENT. Bombay Castle, Oct. 27, 1847. The Honourable the Governor in Council is pleased to direct that the following dispatch from Colonel the lion. H. Dundas, commanding the troops in Sinde, to the Ad &ant •General of the Army, with the accompanying re ports from Major Jacob and Lieutenant Merewether, of the Sinde Irregular Horse, be published for general in formation. The skilful arrangements and judicious precautions of Major Jacob, and the admirable conduct and daring spirit of Lieutenant Merewether, and the party of the Sinde Horse under his command, have combined to achieve a signal and most important service. By the destruction of this large body of marauders assemb!ed on the frontier, the peace of. the British territories has, it may be hoped, been effectually secured, and the Go vernor in Council feels that the highest praise is due to all who have borne any part in this gallant and suc cessful exploit. The Sinde Horse, on this occasion, has added another to the many recorded instances of valour and devotion to its duty, which have always been con spicuous in the short but brilliant career of this distin guished corps. By order of the Hon. the Governor in Council, A. MALET, Chief Secretary to Government. TO THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, POONA. (Signed) Sir,—lt is with the greatest satisfaction I have the honour to transmit for the information of his Excellency the Commander .in. Chief the enclosed copies of dispatches received through Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw, commanding in Upper Sinde, from Major Jacob, commanding the Sinde Irregular Horse on the frontier, and from Lieut. Merewether, second in command of the first regiment, and commanding detachment at Shahpoor, detailing a most complete and decisive success gained by Lieutenant Merewether and 132 men, of all ranks of the Ist regi ment Sinde Horse, over the combined Booghtee tribe of Beloochees, on the Ist instant. These reports are so complete in themselves, that it only remains for me to submit them for the perusal of his Excellency, adding, however, the weed of praise due to Major Jacob and Lieutenant Merewether. To the former officer, for the excellence of the ar ' rangements which have been made by him since the frontier has been placed under his charge by his Excel cellency Sir Charles Napier, G.C.8., who, having the highest confidence in Major Jacob's skill and ability (always conspicuous), that officer has now shown how fully it was deserved. To these arrangements may be attributed the most careful signal that has ever attended the most careful watching of this long-vexed frontier, which has ended in the total destruction of the mast notorious freebooters in Cutchee. Major Jacob's activity, skill, and judgment have been long known to his military superiors, and I am most happy in being the means of reporting the success which has, at last, attended his unremitting vigilance and un tiring exertions. To the conduct of Lieutenant Merewether I would also most particularly call the attention of his Excel lency the Commander-in-Chief: This officer, though young in years and service, has been most actively em ployed in the field almost throughout that period of service, and always with credit to himself. He wears a medal for the battle of Hyderabad, and since he hai been with the Sinde Horse, formed under the eye of Major Jacob, has now proved himself a first-rate cavalry officer. His conduct on the present occasion spelics for itself, in his well and modestly worded dispatch. Watching for months in the desert an enemy artful and daring, as these Booghtee robbers have shown themselves, he has bided his time, and when that time came, has swept them from the face of the earth. He appears to have manoeuvred his squadron with great skill and judgment, and the fearful loss of life on the part of the robbers will prove to his Excellency with what gallantry and determination the charges were made and executed. While mentioning the conduct of the European:officers, I must not fail to speak of the squadron which Lieut. Merewether commanded and led. Officers and men of the Sinde horse appear to be of one heart and mind, and the devotion to the service, and the gallantry of the native officers, non-commissioned officers, and troopers, which formed Lieutenant Merewether's small force, is beyond all praise. I have, therefore, thought it right to send the whole of their names to his Excellency for such notice as he may think their gallant conduct de serves.—l have the honour to be, &c., (Signed) H. DUNDAS, Colonel, Commander of the Troops in Sinde. Head-quarters, Kurrachee, Oct- 7, 1847. 11 1 J LIEUTENANT-COLONEL X. SHAW, COMMANDING IN OCTOBER. Naib Russaldar Azaen Khan, Sowar Sullur Khan, Sowar Bujjoo Khan, Sowar fianadoor Khan, and Sowar Kur reem Khan. I saw these four Sowers each kill several of the e7:erny in fair stand up fight, hand to hand, but nearly all must have done equally well, although it is not possible for me to spccify every man's deeds individually. I beg leave also to remark, that the destructive effect of our little carbines, used in one hand, at close quarters, was quite terrible to behold. Every shot appeared to kill or disable an enemy, who were often, by reason of the bushes and broken ground, enabled just to keep out of sword's reach. I must not omit to mention that Jan Mahomed Ky heeree, with four of his followers, was close to mo during nearly the whole of the action, and behaved exceedingly well. Jan Mahomed fought stoutly, killing several of the enemy before his sword broke over the head of another. I have made the best provisii,n I can for the wounded prisoners, who are being carefully attended by Assistant surgeon J. have the honour to be, &c., W. MEREWETi I iEIe, Lieutenant, Second in Command, 5.1.11, commanding outposts, Shapoor. Shapoor, Oct. 2, 1847. (True copies.) A. MALET, Chief Sec. From the lienjaub there is nothing further of interest to record. The country continues tranquil, and content ment seems to prevail. The Ranee is making the best of her captivity, and it would appear, after all, that the walls of Shaikhoopra, though otherwise impregnable, are no way proof against love-billets. A short time ago, a person in the garb of a Hindoo astrologer presented himself at the gate ; her Highness sent fur him, received a letter, and in return for its precious contents, made the messenger a present of 501. At the Village of Achra a rather unfortunate occurrence lately happened. A Euro pean soldier, while under the influence of liquor, had the misfortune to kill a Faqueer with a blow from a stick, but he is now in custody awaiting his trial for the of fence. Mr. J. Lawrence, the acting resident at Lahore, was with his lady at Chnri!zer, but was expected in La hore on the 14th, where Major General Sir J. Littler, from Jullueder, had arrived two days previously. The accounts from Peshawur are equally unimportant. Lieutenant Lunasden vv:.s fully engaged collecting re venue in the Yooroofsaie country, and finding the matter a difficult affair, was joined by Major Lawrence, from Peshawur, escorted by a regiment and two guns, with the view no doubt of showing that there were means at hand to enforce it. No disturbance, however, has oc curred, and the collection of tent goes on apace. Abisula Khan, the noted chief of Ladah, has given himself up, having left his hiding-place, and came in to do homage to the Resident. Lieutenant Taylor was, by latest ac counts, in the HazAreh district, on his way from Kash meer to Peshawur. The Nizam's affiairs are nowhera improving, the minis ter making the confusion which prevails even worse con founded. Out of grace with the Nizam, the money lenders will place no faith in him. Himself and our resident, General Fraser, appear to stand out in bold relief, and alone in their glory. There is nothing of any great importance from other parts, and the country throughout is tranquil and healthy. .... . .._ _ _ The - Governor-General will be at Umballah on the 28th ult.. and will again resume his tour on the evening of the 29th. The past mouth has been unusually hot here, the thermometer standing yesterdAy at 87 degrees in the shade All hope for the unfortunate Cleopatra steamer has now been abandoned, and from what has been ascertained she is believed to havo foundered at sea during the late gale. The schooner Alahi lately arrived here, with some slave bungalows in tow, which had been captured in the Persian Gulf by the Ephinstone; she brings a goodly collection of slaves, and not fever than forty tour females being of the numb-r; they stem to have coma from the Abyssinian coast. THE LATE EX-RAJA OF SATTARA. (From the Bombay Times, Oct. 27.) Death has removed the ex-Raja of Sattara from the field of earthly suffering and strife. His Highness died at Benares on the 14th inst., after a residence of nearly eight years at the holy city. Pertaub Singh is the lineal descendant and heir of the house of Siv.joe and the Sovereigns of the rviahratta empire. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE BOMBAY MARKET FROM THE 14TH TO THE 30TH There is not much change to notice in cur markets since the (late of our last mid-monthly report. For the staple articles of import generally, a fair demand con tinues, and in exports there has been a little more acti vity than we last advised. Cotton Piece Goods—For these we have had a steady market, and the business transacted during the fort night is about equal in extent to that of the preceding one, without any marked alteration in prices (except in one or two descriptions hereafter noticed) which are, however, rendered at present more favourable by the greatly improved rate of exchange for remitting. The languor which appeared to follow the inquiry for grey shirtings and jaconets, as noticed in our last, was of short continuance, the demand having fully revived, and the previous value of these goods has been well maintained, with some advance upon low to middling quality of 40 inch shirting. 45 inch width of this cloth continues dull. In other grey goods, the demand is chiefly for coarse and heavy domestics of 40 inch% for low and middling qualities madapollams (particularly the low, which is scarce, and has advanced one and two annas per piece in price), and for low quality long cloth, for dyeing. Fine stout domestic is still little sought after, and grey drills and twills are quite neglected. 'Cotton Yarn—The market has continued very steady for grey, and a large amount of business has been transacted at prices similar to those of the preceding fortnight, but 75 bales of No. 40 mule, of wel. known good quality, have realised something above our quotations. Dried Yarn—Turkey red continues extremely de pressed. We hare heard of a sale of ten bales of 4001bs. each, and in bundles of llilbs. Nos. 30, 40, 50, at rs. 1: 6 : 6 per lb. Woollens—We have no change, nor any transiicti)n to notice under this head. Cochineal—On the day of the departure of the last mail we were informed of a sale of 6,5001b5. of black at rs. 3-1 per lb., since which no transactions that we are aware of have transpired. Fcr silver there is a good demand, and rs. 44. at 4: annas per lb. are obtainable. There have been some rcccnt arrivals of the article, the greater part of which is required for the fulfilment in previous contracts. EXPORTS.—Cotton Wool—The market remained quiet several days after the departure of the last mail, but prices having given way, activity returned, and some large purchases have boen made for the English market. Compta has been down to rs. 89i, and to rs. 88 fur inferior, but further arrivals having been retarded by a fall of rain in the interior, the prig of this description of cotton is again slightly returning. FREIGFIT.i.—We have recently been abundantly sup plied with tonnage, and the rates of freight to Great Britain have experienced a material decline in conse quence. For Liverpool engagements have been made at 51. 15s. and Si. 17s. 61. per ton, the former rates for an entire large vessel, and the litter for a small vessel. Fur L rndon, 6L to 61. 2s. 61. have been given. The rates of the day are quoted 51. 15i. and 61. fur Liverpool, 61. and 61. 2s. 6d. for London. For China we quote 19 rs. per candy, at which rate a country vessel has been put on the berth. EXCRANGE3. —The rapidity with which the rate upon London has risen within a few days has baffled the cal culations of both drawers and remitters, having been produced by the saute cause that effected as rapid a de cline some time back, and which was noticed by us at the time. From Is. 10j1., which was the rate fur first class paper on the 22d inst., it has increased to Is. 11-11, being a rise of Id. per rupee, or about four and two fifths per cent.; and so unlooked for was the rate, which must be considered as the closing one of the day fur Bank and first-claas China bills six months' sight, that after the arrival of the mail from China on the 26th instant, considerable purchases of paper were made at Is. 11 1-3 d. to Is. Hid. SomQ local bills are offering to dly at ls. 1 Ltd. On Calcutta, the rate is 991 to 91t rs. per cent., sixty days' sight. On Madras, par. On China, 212 rs. per 100 doll., sixty days. The MONEY SIAREET.—The Money Market continues very easy, but we expect to see it tighten somewhat at the end of the year, when the shipments of new opium take place. CALCUTTA MARKETS. (From the Overland Englishman, Oct. 19.) The Bombay Express, with London news to the 7th ult., arrived at noon on the 17th instant. The commer cial intelligence received by this opportunity does not show any marked improvement as regards gerkeral credit in the money market, although more facilities were af forded by discount houses, and the Bank had reduced its rate of interest for loans on stock and Exchequer bills to 5 per cent. Further considerable failures had occurred, chiefly amongst houses connected with the grain trade, to the extent of about 3,000,000/. sterling. Great inactivity continued in the produce market, which may be attributed to the state of credit and want of capital, as most of the large articles exhibit a ma terial increase as regards consumption, for the seven months ending August 5, as compared with the same period in 1846. - Business closed in this city on the 13th inst., for the holidays; and, during the three working days which in tervened since the date of our last report, but few transactions worthy of notice took place, operations having been chiefly confined to the shipment of goods previously purchased. The export market closed with out any alteration in pr:ces, former rates having been maintained, particularly those for sugar and saltpetre, which continued favourite articles tor shipment. The import market closed firmly :4 most desciptious of cotton piece goode, metals, and mule twist, although the demand for the latter was dull. Nothing has been done in the money market denoting a change, and Government securities have continued at our quotations. Bank of Ben; al profits during the past three months, are equal to Co.'s rs. 11 2 111 per cent. per annum on capital stock. Exchange had advanced about id. owing to the want of demand, caused, we imagine, by parties having in a great measure completed their remittances by the last mail. We quote 10 months' date, Is. 1111 to 13.111 d.; six months sight, is. 1 lid. to Is. 111 d , but we have beard of some bilis drawn against sugar and rice with documents at 2s. 00. The arnonnt of bills drawn by t q h u e inn E tatd a ii s ;o_r tl ts n . dia Comp any oa t h e B engal treasury by this ail is 113,6401. No alter a ti on h a d ta k en place in the rates o f f re i ght, which continued at our former We have nothing to add to what we stated in our last report regarding thin important article, ex eepting that some parties in Tirhoot, not immediately enr,,,, g ed in manufacture, estimate the crop in that di,trict at 15,000 ind,z. only, instead of 18,000 mds., and fry au what we have heard from other quarters, we are more incliced to rrduce than increase the figure last given of 113,000 Inds. as the total out-turn. Sugar—Shipments have been extensive, exporters having been anxious to get off their purchases previous to the vacation. Since the 4th inst. 96,577 maunds have been exported to Great Britain, prices remain without alteration; first quality Beflares being quoted at 9 to 9 6 Co.'s rs.; second 8 4 to 8 8 per maund. Saltpetre—The market remained firm, and closed with a continued feeling in favour of the article. Ship ments to Great Britain, 20,880 maunds; North America, 13,200 maunds; France, 2,398 maunds; and Singapore and China, 1,487 maunds, since the date of our last re port. Pi ices of first quality Godna, 6 6to 6 10 Co.'s rs. per fy. md. Rice—Exports to Great Britain since the 4th instant, 61,000 mds., to France 6,000, and Mauritius and Bour bon 51,000 mds., without change in price, cleaned table being 24t0 2 8 md., and Banana and oonghy 14 to 1 6 per md. Co.'s rs. Raw Silk—Transactions in this article have taken place only to a very limited extent, although exports appear larger than they have been of late. From the Ist to 4th instant there were no shipments. Silk Piece Goods without any alteration. Shell Lac and Lac Dye—A few shipments of lac dye have been made for America, and nothing done for other markets. Safflower—Nothing has been done requiring any no tice, excepting a few sales which have been reported at 31 8 to 32-8 Co.'s rs. per maund. Oilsceds—Tho demand for linseed prevailed with un abated activity for the American market, and orders have also been executed for Great Britain-8,000 maim& having been exported to the latter country since the 4th inst. For clean prices are quoted at 1-15 to 2-2 Co.'s rs. per maund, and 1-10 to 1-2 Co.'s re. per maund for uncleaned. Cotton—Without change. British Cotton Piece Lioods—Owing to the close ap proach of the holidays few sales took place during the three business days previous to the vacation, but the de livery of purchases formerly made have been large. The market closed firmly with the hope of greater activity after the holidays than has lately been the case. Woollens continued in fair request. Mule Twist—Business very limited, and demand dull, but holders firm. Coloured Yarn—ln German dye Turkey red no sale reported. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec. 3. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, in the absence of the Lord Chancellor, touk his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'clock. Earl POWIS presented a petition from the clergy o Wakefield against Jewish emancipation. COMMERCIAL DISTRESS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE nominated the fol lowing Committee to consider the commercial distress:— The Duke of Richmond, Earl Grey, Earl of Auckland, Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Ashburton, Lord Brougham, Earl of Ellenboroudb, Earl St. Germans, Lord Glenelg, Lord Beaumont, Earl Granville, Lord Ardrossan, Lord Kinnaird, Lord Wharncliffe, Marquis of Clanricarde, Lord Stanley, Lord Monteagle, Lord Campbell, and the Marquis of Lansdowne. Alter a short conversation the motion was agreed to. OUTRAGES IN IRELAND. On the motion of Lord MON [EAGLE returns were ordered of the number of outrages committed in Ireland between the month of May, 1845, and November, 1847. IRISH COERCION BILL. _ _ The Duke of RICHMOND v moved for a return of persons tried under the Insurrection Act, passed April 3, 1833. The Act authorised the trial of persons in certain proclaimed districts by court-martial. He moved for these returns in order to show the people of Ireland that if they refused to serve on juries, or to give just verdicts, or if they sought to intimidate juries, the Legislature possessed the power of ordering trials to take place by court-martial. No trial had taken place under this clause; the know ledge of its existence had been sufficient to secure obe dience to the law in Ireland, and he hoped that the Mi nisters would not hesitate to demand additional powers if such were necessary to rescue Ire'and from her present disgraceful state. He had the greatest confidence in the present Lord-Lieutenant, and had no hesitation in say ing that he would willingly trust him with unlimited power. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in consenting to the motion, expressed his concurrence in the greater part of what had fallen from the Noble Duke, and he assured him that if the measures proposed should prove in efficient, the Government would have no hesitation in coming to Parliament to ask for further powers—(Hear, hear)—to suppress the present system of murder exist• ing in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was then agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Dee. 3. The BrEAX.ER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. A few Members were sworn in. PUBLIC PETITIONS. Mr. THOIINELY presented the first report of the Committee on Public Petitions. IRELAND. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from the master and brethren of an hospital at Durham, complaining that a bull, which was not recognised by Protestants, and by many Roman Catholics, possessed an enforced circulation in Ireland; and another complaining of the denunciation of particular persons at the altar by some of the Roman Catholic pricsts of Ire land, and praying the House to punish such conduct. THE ADMISSION OF JEWS. The RIGHT HON. BAnoNET presented two petitions, one of which was from Whitney, Oxfordshir e , aga i ns t the admission of Jews into Parliament. ARRESTING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. An LION. MEMBER presented a petitio n f rom G rea t Yarmouth Members of P a rli ament b e i ng al loprivilege of f ree d om f rom arrest in civil cases. ed to claaigmain against the EVENING, DECEMBER 4, p 847. pockets, or were mere gamblers, hoping to fill their pecli , ts with the losses of other people.—(Hear, hear.) No doubt there were many good men in that House connected with railways, but let them not forgi t that " evil communications corrupt good manners;" and he was very much afraid some of those even were tainted the gambling propensities which railways encouraged. He wanted to know when there was to be an end of thee measures? When were the parties whose land some of these railways proposed to cut up to receive compensation? Mr. HUDSON—When the land is taken. Colonel SIBTHORP—The Hon. Member for Sunder land said when the land was taken. Well, be it so; but he knew of many instances where the land had already been taken, and yet no compensation had been made to the owners. But even when compensation was awarded it was below the value of the land, and the only remedy the owner had, if he was dissatisfied with the allowance, was to go before a jury of railroad contractors or rail road shareholders, who took good care to let him in for it.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) No man ought to be on these juries who were in the remotest manner connected with railroads, nor ought any Member of that House to vote on these railroad measures who could not ad vance to the table and voluntarily declare that he was neither directly nor indirectly connected with railroads. Could they not devise a scale of remuneration for land required for railways ? To him it appeared an im perfect, a doubtful, and a very suspicious Bill. It ought, therefore, to be carefully watched in Committee. He considered that it ought to be postponed until a future day ; it ought not to be pushed forward and passed sub silentio, as the Government wished, at this early period of the session. Persons of small pro perty who, perhaps, had not the means of defending them selves in courts of law, ought not to be thus overridden by an utterly irresponsible power, like railway com panies. The House then went into Committee. Mr. BERNAL took the chair. On the first clause being proposed, Mr. DIVETT said, if the Bill, on examination, had been found to be of the nature detailed by the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir C. Wood), he shoul not have offered any opposition to it; but as it was not calculated to carry out the object for which it was stated to be brought forward, as it would give rise to much expensive litiga tion to obtain compensation, he should feel it his duty to oppose the clause. It would have been sufficient if the clause had simply stated that railway companies were to have the power to suspend their works for a given pe riod ; and that they might, by applying to some such tribunal as the Railway Board, obtain two or three years more if they required it. He con fessed, however, that he did not know who these Commissioners were; he was satisfied of this, however, that the Hon. Member for Derby was well fitted to dis charge the office of principal Commissioner. Mr. HAYTER approved of the clause. When parties declared that they were aggrieved by delay in the pur chase of their land, the question of compensation would then come under review. —Clause agreed to. Clause 2 was then agreed to. Oa clause 3 being proposed, Mr. BOUVERIE wished to know why two years had Leen proposed as the time within which railways that had been commenced were to be completed ? He had received communications from many of the railway companies, stating that that period would not be suffi cient. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob servQd that it had been found not to be a very easy task to determine within what number of years railways that had been commenced should be completed, but upon duo consideration it was thought that two years would be sufficient. Colonel SIBTHORP Cid not see why four years ,hutild not have been given as well as two, according to the statement of the Chancellor or the Exchequer. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, his . . on n opinion was, that two years was sufficent, but if the House thought three years would be a more convenient time he would submit to its decision. After some observations from Mr. RICARDO, the clause was agreed to, with the insertion of two years. Clause 4 was agree I to, with a few verbal amendments. Clause 5 was also agreed to, after a few observations from Mr. WYLD and the CHANCELLOR of the Ex- CLIEQER. Clause 6 was agreed to, with a few verbal amend ments. On clause 7 being proposed, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was his intention to propose to omit clauses 7 and 8, and insert the following clause:—" Provided always, and be it enacted, that whenever any such warrant as aforesaid shall have been granted by the said Commissioners, for extending the time within which any of the powers given by any such Act or Acts may lawfully be exercised, the justices, arbitrators, umpires, or juries respectively, as the case may be, who, under the provisions of such Act or Acts, shall award or assess the compensation to be made by any such company or per son as aforesaid to the owners or occupiers of, or other persons interested in, any lands taken or used for the purposes of any such railway or works, or injuriously affected . by the construction thereof, shall, in estimat ing the amount of such compensation, have regard to and make compensation for the additional damage (if any) sustained by such owners, occupiers, or other per sons, by reason of any such extension of time having been granted as aforesaid. Mr. HENLEY opposed the omission of the seventh clause. The clause proposed by the Government gave no compensation to parties with whom bargains had been made, while it gave it to persons with whom no bargains had been made. Sir H. VERNEY suggested that some provision should be made in the Bill for the purpose of enabling the works upon railways to be completed as soon as possible between the termini of the lines. Mr. MILES thought that the Hon. Baronet had entirely mistaken the objection urged against the omission of the clauses by his Hon. Friend. He hoped that the House would recollect that while affording every facility to the proprietors of railways, they should also remember the claims of the landowners. Mr. HUDSON said that he confessed that he was one of the parties who proposed the alteration in ques tion. He had done it however perfectly disinterestedly, for the proposed alteration would not in the least degree affect any of the lines with which he was connected. His object was to endeavour to have everything set tled fair and right between all parties. It was not usual in any Bills 'which had been passed autho rising an extension of time to railways to give compensation to landowners on that account. He be lieved that not a single extension Bill had been passed containing such a provision. The effect of a clause of that sort in the present Bill would be that every rail way company would be liable to an action from any attorney who might please to give notice that A, It, C, or D, or any party holding a small patch of land would require compensation. The company would in such case have to go before a jury, and nearly all the expenses would have to be borne by them. He did not believe that the House would lend itself to any such harassing process. If the object of the Bill were to extend the time for the construction of these works, or to ease the money market (as it was imagined) the Bill ought not certainly to pass with such provisions. With respect to the engagements which had been en tered into by railway companies to pay for the land upon a given day, the passing of this measure would nut in the least intertere with the obligation to fulfil the terms of such engagements. Tne CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained that the clause would only apply to prospective cases of compensation, and not to parties who had ady entered into agreements with railway companies. Mr. AGLIONBY thought they ought to have the opinion of the law officers of the Crown upon these two clauses, for he confessed he did not agree with the explanation of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his opiuien, all who were entitled to compensation, no matter whether they had made agreements or not, would be entitled to make a claim under this Bill, and be thought it was nothing but right and proper that it should be so. At one period of his Parliamentary life he thought the views of railway di rectors with regard to the public good were really sin cere, but now he did not think so, for he could mention instances without end where railway companies had curtailed the trains for the accommodation of third class passengers, and broken up stations which were established for the purpose of inducing parties to pur chase the land in the neighbourhood.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to know from the Learned Gentleman, the Attorney-General, what was to entitle the landholders to compensation ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that it would be advisable for the Committee to put its construction upon the clause. There were three classes of land owners—those who had received compensation for their land, and who were to give it up when re quired ; he did not consider that they were enti tled to compensation. The other classes where those who had given up their land, and in which the works had been commenced, and those which had been scheduled, but who had not yet received compensation. The House should determine which of them was or was not entitled to compensation. Sir G. CLERK thought it the duty of the Govern ment to frame their clauses in such a manner as not to leave them open to doubt. They should determine whether all the classes mentioned were included in the Bill or not. Mr. HAYTER thought that the Bill as it originally stood would authorise compensation to be given in every possible case that might arise, and he did not think that it would be worth while for the representatives of rail way companies to accept the Bill with such provisions. After a few words from Mr. A. STAFFORD, Mr. STRUTT said that the clause proposed to be substituted was prepared before the Government were aware of the opinions of the Hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Hudson) on the subject. Mr. HENLEY believed that the parties who had said the laud to railway companies, and received payment for the same would be entitled to compensation, on the ground of the increased length of time which their property would lie open during the completion of the works. The Railway Commissioners were now striving to throw dust in the eyes of the public by a clause to give interest and to parties who would sustain no and claim no compensation. He hoped the Government would accede to the principle, and bring up a clause on the report of the Bill, embodying the principle. Mr. OSWALD supported the original clause. Mr. BAINES thought that the landowner was en titled to the fullest protection which the Go vernment could afford. He thought, however, that there was some ambiguity in the original clauses, and suggested that the Government should bring up a clause on the report, affording adequate p ro t ect i on an d full provision for compensation in all cases that might arise under the operation of this Bill. After a few words from the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, Mr. Scott, Mr. Wood, and Mr. Henley, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER consented to withdraw the clauses, and bring up an amended clause on the report. Clauses 7 and 8 were aecordingly with Irewn. Clause 9 having been negatived, the preamble of the Bill was agreed to, the House resumed, and the 8.11 was reported with amendments. Mr. A. STAFFORD gave notice that in the next stage of the Bill he should call the attention of the House to the interests of a class materially affected by this measure—he meant the condition of the labouring classes employed on railways. NEW SANITARY COMMISSION. Mr. B. OSBORNE observed that a new commission of sewers for Middlesex had been issued to twenty three noblemen and gentlemen. He begged to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests whether these appointments were provisional, and how long the commission was to continue? Lord MORPETH replied, that the composition of the commission was intended to be provisional, and that the instrument by which it was constituted was intended to run for the period of two years. CIVIL EMPLOYMENT OF MILITARY OFFICERS IN IRELAND. An HON. MEMBER said he had a question to put to the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary for Ireland. During the last year a number of military officers had been appointed to superintend the relief measures adopted by Parliament with respect t,.) Ireland. Many of them, instead of again joining their respective corps, had been appointed inspectors of poor-law unions. He wished to know whether this had been done with the consent of the Commander-in-Chief and of the Master- General of the Ordnance. Sir W. SOMERVILLE replied that the appointments alluded to were merely temporary, and had been made with the approval of the Duke of Wellington, and also of the Master-General of the Ordnance. COMMERCIAL DISTRESS—ADJOURNED DE- TtiE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY TIPPER SINDE: Sir,—l have the honour herewith to forward a report from Lieutenant Merewether, commanding at Shahp,xe, of proceedings with regard to the inroad of the Booghtee tribe, reported by me to you yesterday. Lieutenant Merewether's letter requires no 'comment; it sets forth distinctly and fully the particutara of the most perfectly successful affair of the kind I have ever wifasesed or heard of. One hundred and thirty-three men killed nearly six hundred enemies, and made prisoners one hn nired and twenty, in t.vo hours' fighting, the enemy r:sii:ing manfully the whole time, and obstinately re fusing quarter. Five hundred and sixty dead bodies have been counted, and there a:e probably more lying about in the jungle. The conduct of Lieutenant Kerowether himself has been beyond all praise, and shows a rare and most ex cellent unison of implicit obedience and great military skill, of cool and careful prudence with the most daring courage. _ _ ... I have the honour to be, &c., (Signed) J. JACOB, Major, Commanding Sinde Irreiallar Horse, Frontier, Shahpore, Oct. 2, 1847. TO MAJOR JACOB, COMSIANDINC, FRONTIER, KILLNOITIt. Sir,—Having received good intelligence of the whole Booghtee force having entered the plain as already re ported to you, 'have the honour to inform you that I started at half-past one o'clock on the morning of the Ist of October with a party of the Sinde Ir regular Horse, amounting to 133 men of all ranks, from hahpore, in pursuit of the enemy. I arrived at the Zeemanee aiver just as it became light enough to see clearly the tracks of the enemy. I observed a spot in the bed of th a; Zeemanee River where they had apparently halted for :s short time; from the marks, I was of opinion that tilteir strength might be 400 or 700 footmen, with a small party of horse. I thence proceeded, according to your ia ultructionF, along the foot of the small hill, intending to WI .e post in the Teywagh, thinking that the enemy would I Trtaiply return that way and the ground being favourabi 4 for cavalry to act on. flowerer, I had not proceeded a, quarter of a mile beyond the " Timanee" River, when Jan Mahomed Kheyree, who was a short distance in ad% nande, came back and in formed me that he had heard I litmd shouting and much noise in the direction of Kour tie. My detachment was marching in column of troops. I wheeled them into line, and proceeded in the direction , Yr Kouree, when, near the jungle about that place, I saw tb se. enemy formed in a deep And long line to my left. They . :appeared to be making a side movement towards the ju tr gie. I therefore passed rapidly along their front to cut. them off from the jungle, and drive them to the open plat. in. They were at this time posted in some rough hr oken ground, with sand hillocks and bashes, but appa re , itly fancying from my 7.alloping along their front thi it I did not intend to at lack them, they . left their vat at .age ground and rushed forward to attack me, with n 'itch firing, loud shouts, ,Lnd howls. This at once g:s se me all I wished for, namely, a fair field. I immedi.a tely changed front to the left, which the men did most &steadily, as if on parade. When my change of position. was executed, I charged. The charge was made steadily :and rapidly, with irresis tible effect. The Booghte es had formed a solid mass to receive us, but /wt are overthrown at the first onset with terrible Lass. They then moved off towards the hills, dis, to nt about three miles, in disorder, but shouldering together as closely as they could. We contin aed our attacks, killing numbers, until, on recrossir t g the Zumanee river, they made another short stand.. They were again over thrown and driven into the op. it I plain. They were now approaching the low hills, wl at :n. Russaidar Sheik Ali, very judiciously getting some tven in advance, cut them off from that place of refuge, and they turned back towards Koouree. Their ni it nbers were now getting small, but, though repeated ofl b rs of quarter were made to them, they obstinately con ti .need to fight until the destruction was so great that .their numbers were re duced to 120, many of whom a vere wounded. At last, seeing resistance utterly hopel es s, they were induced to throw down theirarms and sun. Ir Lder ; not a single footman escaped capture or death; wiry a horsemen alone oat of the whole force of the enemy, a,tated by the prisoners to have been full 700 in all, inclu xt ing 35 horsemen; among the slain are several chieftai .n s of note, in fact all the leaders of repute in the Le el 5. The undermentioned were recognised among the d. 5t id Hundoo, Nothanee; Cora, F :ulpur; Kurreemdad, Rai mooaye; Jumah (outlaw), J - sackrange ; Chuttah, ditto, ditto (killed in the attack on Kundranee); Kumber, nephew of the Shumbrane Mid " Lango; also a ne phew of Hundoo's, name unk sown; Sungur, Kind. There were also many of he rs, esteemed as warlike character, but of less note, ki litld. Neither Islam Khan nor Alim Khan were with th 3 party. Our own loss has, I am h si )py to say, been trifling compared to the result, as sh a , sn by the annexed return of lulled and wounded; nine tsf our horses were killed and ten wounded, seven of tl !QM mortally so; amongst the wounded is your own hc r se, which I was riding at the time. He has received Vso severe sword cuts, one on the loins, close behind th a saddle, and the other on the heel. After all was ovei-: I returned to Shapoor rid able to,mt° whi c h Chutter, of my detachme nt h I wounded till I could e t Azeera Rh an from this place. ing. tou,ualttle;pla, A I had sent all the prisoners Russ nd i e d r the q tstody of Naib Rusauldar Before I fell in with the a S t ht ik Ali, with the remainder .onree to take care of the Alle ad out assistance and carriage zeturu.e 3 to Shahpoor this morn ;ftenee, whence they were plunder the villa,p a of R u elai tnY they had attempted to beaten off by the head m an ,7l in splendid style. Deen Mal , earner the notorious " Chutta," J *akrate e a e nd h an is taking one prisoner. Three.. date nil' Mallomed Kyheree, a top of taiti o te th w e it rs al , l a b nd people killing ma d e by the Booghtees on th to for t, and at one ac time the assailants had actually reach( ti th , ut were thrown back by the d e ' ;ender -s. All my native officers and 1 men behaved well in thi s affair; nothing could be m( ire pet feet than the steadi ness, resolution, and quickness which they showed throughout ; but I beg parti. :ule rly to bring to your notice the excellent conduct a Russaidar Shaik Ali, IRELAND. - -- Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition from the Birmingham Cham ber of Co mmerce aga i nst coercive measures, and pro mg the House to pass a Bill to place the relations of landlords and tenants upon a better footing than heretofore, and to pass a Bill to facilitate tho sale of encumbered estates. ADMISSION OF JEWS. Mr. MILES presented two petitions from Frome against the admission of Jews. Sir E. BUXTON presented a petition from a place in Essex, praying the House to adopt no measures which would tend to deprive the nation of its Christian character. Lord MORPETII presented a petiticn from the jus tices of the peace of Bradford, in the West Riding of the county of York, praying that the owners of cottage property under the value of 101. might be assessed in stead of the occupiers„ __ APPEAL IN CRIMINAL CAS ES. Mr. EWART stated that he w ou ld, u p on an ear ly ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. day, move for leave to bring in a Bill f or th e p ur p ose o f giving 1 owerof appeal in crimi na l cases. to bring forward some measures a ff ect i ng Mr. BOUVERIE gave notice of his i n t en tion, upon an early thy, the Ecclesiastical Courts. LABOUR RATE. Mr. JOHN O'BRIEN gave notice that he should ask the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary for Ireland, on Monday next, the 6th of December, the intentions of the Government respecting the several memorials and applications forwarded from the several counties of Ire land in reference to the unfinished presentments under the labour rate enactment. LIABILITY OF TENANTS TO PAY RATES. Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice of his intention to bring forward a Bill to relieve the tenants in Ireland from liability to ply their landlords' rates, and to make provision otherwise. • IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN GRAIN. Mr. P. MILES moved ror certain returns relative to the importation of foreign grain, in continuance of former returns.—Agra ed to. DUTY ON FIRE INSURANCE. . . Colonel SIBTHORP gavo notice that he would, after the recess, move for cm•tain returns with a view to the abolition of the oppressive duty on fire insurances. ADJOURN.IIEU•IT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Mr. PARKER, it was agreed that the House, at its risi:7lg, should adjourn till Monday next. CHANCERY. BILLS OF COSTS. Mr. GEORGE HA MILTON moved for a return of the number of untaxe d bill s o f cos t s h a nded over by the Masters in Ch ancery so the taxing master appointed under the A c t 8 and 9 vie., c. 115, in Ireland, since the 3d day of July, 1846 ; n i so a re t u rn of the number of bills of co s t s ( om i tt i ng costs o f pass i ng receivers ile c•iunts) lodged in the ()ace of such taxing master, since the 3d day of Jnly, 1846, and the number now remaining therein under taxation or untaxed ; also a return of the average length of time intervening between the issuing of a summons to tax a bill of costs in said office, and the commencement of its taxation, so far as much average can be conveniently ascertained, and the cam se of the delay, if any, in com mencing such taxation, :and of the amount of Chancery fund duty paid on the tsc.sts which have been certified.— Agreed to. RAID - WAY BILLS. On the motion of Lor d J. RUSSELL for reading . the order of the day for gt iing into Committee upon this Bill, Colonel SIBTIIORF said that he felt the difficulty of his position in opposing the Chancellor of the Exche• quer. He wibhpd, how over, to say a few words with respect to this Bill. gxperience had made the House much wiser with respect to this railway business, and he - trusted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had now found out the truth of what he (C onel Sibthorp) anticipated long ago; for the Right Heil . Baronet had stated in the House upon x previous evenir g, that if they were not the main came, they were one •of the chief causes of the existing difficulties of the cot , ntry. Ho had always felt it his duty to lend a helping; hand to everything calculated to improve the state of the country, and he had al ways apprehended that evils would arise from giving sauction to those dangerous and delusive schemes by which the rights .ef private property were invaded, and the little prop erty torn away which the poor and industrious man had. been enabled to gather together, and which he had t► ainly hoped would, in this free country, be preserve& from the rapacity of overreaching and irresponsible bod ies of men. Some of the men to whom these great powers were given were no doubt men of substance--( Laughter)—some of them mere shadows—(Laughtitr:d—without a shilling in I their BATE. On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, the order of the day for resurning the adjourned debate on commercial distress having been read, The Marquis of GRANBY said he much feared that the speech which had been delivered the other night by the, Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer on opening the question now under the consideration of the House would not give confidence to the commercial classes of this country. He feared that the hopes which the Right Hon. Baronet's letter of the 25th October had created would be blighted by that speech. There had existed some glimmerings of hope from the letter, but when the Right Hon. Baronet at the end of his speech proposed a Committee of Inquiry—a Committee which necessarily would be composed of most discordant elements—all hope had been dissipated. From the manner in which the Right Honourable Baronet had spoken of the Bank Charter Act of 1844, it might be supposed that that statute had been in existence for half a century, and that it had proved itself a most successful measure. But what was the fact ? That measure was born in 1844 amidst the warnings of the mercantile community and the bankers of London ; it had lived for three short years ; it had been adopted by the present Government, and yet in 1847 the Chancellor of the Exchequer had been obliged to depose his adopted child. It was impossible to give a greater proof of the mischievous operation of that Act than was afforded by the fact that though re laxed, its relaxation had not increased the circulation of notes in the country. The Right Hon. Baoonet had said that he did not attribute the commercial distress of the country to the Act of 1544, but to the want of ca pital arising from the investments made for the immense extension of railways, and for the purchase of foreign corn during the period of scarcity and famine. Ile (the Marquis of Granby), however, did not believe that any portion of the capital invested in railways, a great part of which was expended iu the payment of wages, was either lost or taken away from the circulation of the country, and therefore that argument failed. With respect to the importation of foreign corn, he denied that the Noble Lord near him (Lord G. Bentinek) or any of the party to which he (the Marquis of Granby) had the honour to belong, had used any expression to warrant the assertion that they had regretted that the corn had been so imported. What they had said was, that if the corn-laws had not been repealed very nearly the same amount of foreign corn would have entered the ports of this country. The prognostications as to the result of the repeal of the corn-laws by the supporters of that measure had wholly failed. Did not America now take the gold of this country and refuse her manu factured goods in exchange for their corn, and she was not increasing her manufactures at home, so that no man can believe she ever will again look to the supply of manufactured goods from this country? Hence one cause of distress. Another was the adoption of free trade, which had ruined merchants at home and the planters of the West Indies, without reducing the price of commodities or improving the condition of the labour ing classes, as had been promised. He believed the idea of over-issues was entirely chimerical; like everything else, the supply of bank notes would accommodate itself to the demand. As to convertibility, that was never heard of from 1819 to 1844. Wherever a metallic currency was in use there were hoards of gold which supplied occasional drains ; and in this respect our situation was totally different. As to the boasted eight millions in the coffers of the Bank, it would be just as reasonable, in a time of famine, to point to a store of some eight million quarters of wheat, and rely on that for the supply of a famishing people. Endeavours to increase the quantity of gold in the Bank were certainly laudable; but it ought to be in creased for the purpose of being made available; and aleng with that, the paper circulation ought to be in creased. In his opinion the experiment of free trade had signally failed, owing to this country, fettered with taxation, being placed in competition with the lightly taxed countries of the continent. We had offered to take whatever foreign nations brought us without stipu lating for a countervailing advantage. No dispassionate man could anticipate other than failure from such an expedient. Let those who had supported free trade measures join in entreating Government to free the country from the incubus now pressing upon it; not to be content with instituting a protracted and useless in quiry, but to give some immediate relief to our embar rassed merchants and manufacturers. Let Ministers remember that though failures to the amount of fifteen or sixteen millions had occurred, this was as nothing compared to the amount of actual loss inflicted on the country by the restrictions on our currency. The worst was not past; he was told that oat of seventy East India and China houses not seventeen would sur vive. What a vast amount of disaster and loss would this involve. Ile hoped the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would not confine himself to the confi dent reliance which he had declared himself to entertain in the energies and resolution of the commerce of the country, but that he would do something to aid those energies and to invigorate that resolution.—(Hear.) He, for one, would not consent to this Committee, or to the postponement of all remedial measures, until they made their report. He trust( d something would be done to relieve the country from the incubus of the Act of 1844.--(Hear.) Mr. F. BA RING said the amendment had been in. troduced with much talent and clearness; but had the lion. Mover (Mr. Wilson) had a little more experience of Committees, he would have known that it was not practically possible to limit their inquiries by formal instructions.—(Hear, hear.) Ile believed that the very same mode of inquiry would take place, whether under the motion of the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, or under that of the Hon. Member for West bury.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore, the discussion on that amendment was of very little practical importance. He should prefer the larger reference, because, if the subject were entered into, he should like the fullest and most ample inquiry.—(Hear, hear.) He could wish that the letter of the Government to the Bank had been more specifically referred to the Com mittee. When Government took upon themselves to suspend the operation of an Act of Parliament, the more difficult such a suspension was rendered and the more inquiry that took place about it the better. He said this not as objecting to the course pursued by Govern ment. He had listened with the greatest attention to the clear and able statement of his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and, with the greatest reluctance, had felt himself compelled to approve of the course pursued. He deeply lamented its necessity, but, under all the circumstances, his Right Hon. Friend had had to choose between, on the one hand, a strict ad herence to the Act, and on the other, a state of danger and difficulty which it required more rashness than cou rage to encounter.—(Hear, hear.) lie did not regret that they had given the authority, bat that they had been compelled to do it, and he thought they had given it at the proper time.—(Hear, hear.) He wished it to be clearly understood that he threw aside all party feelings, if any such could be supposed to be enter tained on such a question ; and he must say that the two men of all others whom ho should have thought the least likely to he affrighted by light dan gers, and to adhere to the law if possible, were his Noble and his Right Hon. Friends by whom the authority had been given. —(Hear, hear.) When they gave way, he felt assured that it was not a light danger or a small matter which had compelled them to take on themselves this heavy responsibility. But this giving way had had a great effect on the laws regulating our monetary trans actions. The suspension of the Bill of 1i44, when it was tried for the first time, had greatly affdcted the confidence placed in it.—(Hear.) Confidence had been restored in the money market; but it was a harder task to restore confidence in our monetary laws.—(Hear.) Unconnected as he was with either the Ministry or the Opposition, he had endeavoured to watch the working of the Bill of 1844—not only without reference to either side of the house, but as much as possible without re ference to his own opinion, and discharging from his mind any predisposition which he might have had either for or against the Bill. In supporting this Bill, he had anticipated from it three distinct advantages. The first—which had been very much neglected in this discussion—was that by the restrictions laid upon private banks their over-issues would be checked, whereby they had formerly either produced an evil effect, or counteracted those proper precautions which the Bank was anxious to take in times of difficulty. In that part of the Bill his expectations hail been entirely fulfilled.—(Hear.) Those who had most strongly at tacked the restrictive clauses of the Bill in April last had admitted that that part of the Bill had worked well, and expressed a wish that it should be retained.—(Hear, hear.) Some said that speculation had been as rife under the Bill as ever it was before. But it was most unreasonable to expect any operation of this kind from the Bill; and such expectation was only countenanced by a few sentences in the course of the discussions upon it;_ for all things in that . ; House were exaggerated, both for good and evil. The Bill was: not to specu lation; speculation could not be ptrevaesu ted pr b event y mone: other th cruses, )'tahnat there when tthareyresywsatsemexwcihteamteevnetr.arilstisngobjfercomw .might not be the additional f pri v a t e e xc a i n t excitement e t r an b d ao f i e is v ; er aod arising from the over-issue o this object had been effected.— (Hear.) We had had plenty of speculations undoubtedly; and on one point, in reference ) to railways, ho differed from hi, Right Hon. Friend Ho: of Exc:.sque,. Tea or to, elv cars ago, the great grievance and subject of complaint was that wo had more capital than we could find reasonable ieve ament for.—(Hear, hear.) The result was, that capital found outlets in every possible way—there were lenders in all directions—borrowers naturally followed — and there could not but be speculation under such a system. There was also a mass of labour for which we had no employ; and both our capital and our labour were finding an outlet in foreign countries. Had the nation prayed for anything, it would have beeH for a reasonable and profitable investment for its capital, and fair and honest employment for its labour ; and these things railways had given to the country.—(Hear, hear.) The system had certainly been overdone, as everything was overdone in this country —(Hear, hear.) But, though he was not at all insensible to the evils of over speculation, he had considerable dcubt as to the expe dience of the Government or the House interfering to check the investment of capital in any way.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He looked at such interference with the greatest alarm. It was only when we enacted by law how long the labourer should work, and in what way capital should direct itself, that ho felt at all doubtful as to the fate of this country.—(Hear, hear.) A Committee of that House had been appointed, to whom the railway' Bills were referred, to see which might safely be al lowed to go through and which ought to be stopped. On a former occasion he had opposed such a project, and he was still of the same opinion.—(Hear.) Fully admit ting the great inconveniences of unrestrained specula tion, he could not look without alarm at a Committee of that House telling him or any one else how to deal with their money.—(Hear, hear.) He only hoped that the Committee wonld give a comprehensive report and state the principle on which they proceeded. If they want on the principle that there were too many railway schemes for the floating capital of the country to find money for, he hoped they would enter into all the details on which that opinion was founded—state what was the floating and what the fixed capital of the country, and give at least some estimate of how much was required for the legitimate wants of the one and the other. If this Committee should adopt the views of the Right Hon. Member for Coventry (Mr. Ellice)—that the rate of interest was so high, that it was impossible to go on with the regular trade of the country, he hoped they would state how high interest should be allowed to go, and whether they thought it advisable that new usury laws should be passed in favour of the meacantile and manufacturing interests, and against the money invested in railways. At present, perhaps, no great harm would result from t owing out all the railway Bills now coming before Parliament ; but, the moment the House took union itself the duty of saying that they would only allow Se much capital to be invested in railways as they consi dered could be fairly spared from the other purposes of trade, they would undertake an almost impossible task. —(Hear, hear.) Now, to whom was to be given the superintendence over the capital of this country—who was to tell exactly how much was to be drawn off from one trade or another—who was to bottle off the floating capital, afterwards to be transferred to fixed capital, and to fix the amount—he knew not ;he only hoped that, if the Government or the Committee did it, they might, have the consolation of the philosopher in " Rasselas, that they had done no mischief.—(Hear, hear.) Another expectation which he had entertained from the Bill of 1844, and which had also beeen fulfilled Was this : he had witnessed the difficulties of 1837 and 1839 ; after a season of prosperity, some accident gave a turn to the exchanges, and caused an external drain on the Bank for gold. The Bank at tempted to set the exchanges right, and with difficulty succeeded, and succeeded at a time when the gold in hand was so small that the slightest internal "drain would, in all probability, have led to a suspension of cash payments. That was a subject of deep alarm at the time; and every one knew that, in 1839, the bullion in the Bank sank to just two millions. It had been ex pected that, by the operation of the Bill of 1844, the ex changes might be set right, without the Bank being left in that state of extreme weakness; and no doubt that expectation had been perfectly answered.—(Hear, hear' ) ‘S healer the measure had been taken rightly or wronglY, isely or unwisely, it was quite clear that the exchanges had been set right, with an amount of bullion in t he Bank which had left it free to act—at any rate, fre e from those fears of an internal drain which were by no means visionary. He rated this advantage very hig h ; for he had left office with deep alarm, thinking it by no means an impossibility, if our monetary system continued as it then was, that in the nest case of difficulty the Bank might have stopped per ment, And, looking at the circumstances, at the heavy combination of difficulties in this last crisis, be would not conceal from the House his conviction that, if all this had come upon the country with no other pre caution and check than existed before the Bill of 184 4 , they would now have been sitting to consider $ very different state of circumstances from those before the House.—(Hear.) On two points his anticipations from the Act of 1844 had been fulfilled—he wished he could say the same as to the last. He had alluded to the re sponsibility which might attach to raising unfounded ex pectations. Among other expectations was this_tha t, by compelling the Bank to commence its operation early, and to withdraw the notes gradually from c acti• lation as the gold was withdrawn from the country, the commercial interest would thus be gradually operated on, and those difficulties which could not be prevented, would be mitigated. The Bank mistook the signs of the times, and neglected to take precautions early enough, and when the difficulty and danger came it made a sort or convulsive effort to save itself at any risk ; and the expectation was that by compeiling the Bank under this restriction to take an early step of precaution, the country would be saved from those convulsive efforts which the Bank was accustomed to make, and that these crises, although inevitable, would be mitigated in their effects. He, however, admitted that such expectation had entirely failed; but he must confess to the House that he could not yet help thinking that the principles upon which that expectation was founded were correct and true—(Hear, hear)--and the more so, when he looked at the operations of the Bank itse lf. On this point, to make himself clear, he must trou bl. e the House with figures. He would first take Septemb er the 12th, 1846, and he found, taking the figures an d ! r the old system, the bullion in both departments to D about 16,000,000/., but on April the 17th, 164 7, t here 000 0001, was a diminution of bullion to the extent of 7, , A he He would take the same dates as to the notes, and be found that on the 12th of September, 1846, tion was 20,982,0001., and on April the 17th, 1 . 847 ,5,,, t as was an increase of 246,000/. He must say t hey "been state of figures that he never thought could hase en shown under the operation of the Bill. In 1840, wh they were taking the evidence on which the Bill 7 framed, if any one had found in the history of old 00trans actions a case where the bullion had run off 7, 00 °,4: and the notes had increased nearly a quarter of a lion, he should have said it was one of the strongest e r g u id silents for the alteration of the system, and he sh . ? , the circhu:re have used it as a most powerful reason for such a ni l ap that of 1844. It was not enough to tell him, in rep that it was the fault of the Bank, for it was evident tnes` there was something which they had not suffi c i e ntly co sidered as to that part of the Bill—he meant with re g ar, .t to the reserve in the Bank. He believed that, lo oking back at that evidence, the operation of that reserve ,7 0 not sufficiently considered. It had enabled the Bo a t do the very thing of all others which they ought not of have done; the Bank was enabled, when 7,0 00 , 000/. gold were running out, not to diminish its notes... (Hear, hear.) Ho thought that required some in ves t : , gation, for it did not work satisfactorily. He ha d lip . tened to all the objections which had been made by nop Gentlemen, and he thought the majority who had spoke n had objected to the Bill, but the grounds of the ob jections were the most discordantin their nature t ha t could be imagined. One Hon. Gentleman stated that Pi, Bill had ruined the commercial interests, attributing the commercial difficulties to the Bill; but another o° ° i Gentleman rose immediately after him, of the sel l° of which Mr. Tooke and Mr. Fullerton were the re' presentatives, who assured the House that the Bill was utterly ineffective—that it was a bad Bill, because it w e e impossible by any law for the Bank to issue a note la° r d than was wanted, or reduce the circulation hey, °° , 9 what was required. It was impossible that beta w e a l! assertions could be true. If the Bill had created this difficulty, what became of that class of gentleir._e't who said it was mere waste paper, and had no whatever?—(Hear, hear.) He could not but roc haft what took place before the Bill of 1844, when he i !d i; pened to be in the Treasury. All the same acetisa t ' ere were made, and objections stated to him, which w as now urged against the BilL He was told aft all in the discretion of the Bank, and deputation a'er, deputation used to come up to complain of the Pu s a ', created by leaving the faith and fortunes of the tumor r, cial community at the discretio n o f th e Bank.—(n; o f hear.) He would go into the wo r ki n g of the AT' ie h 1844, and endeavour to come to the conclusions a'_ e s truth and experience would poi n t ou t ; but he could boot sit down without earnestly ent rea ti n g the 11 ° °s9 t to to be led away by language, however effective — a ° the be induced to make a sudden jump ono way or a nd other, but to deliberate, to inquire, to take time , 00 . not to be scared by the idea that it was , s he, cessary to do something, which, of all the errors o , r . be , human mind, was perhaps one of the worst, that 0 4 9 s lieving you must do something without knowing Oho, you ought to do. They might come to a wrong e°f et if sion, for they were but men, and liable to err; v,, 00 .• they decided without inquir, they would hav°__`; ioe , matted the greatest criminal } act on this great que_n o . (Hear, hear.) Months of inquiry were of tte . °° o • quenco compared with the importance Qf coming right decision on so great a subject.—(Cheers.) leo3o Mr. lIERIIIES said that the Right Hon. Ger"_ f her who had last addressed the House complained °f the Majesty's Ministers for not having brought ea the consideration of the House, with a view to r efer it eve Committee, those parts of their conduct whicho,lol., mainly the cause of Parliament being called tif . )g,r ve t If that were all, the letters of the Government " mi t e eiia' be referred to the Committee, but he should net not tion, with that. This could not be made a PartY q uot tion, and they ought to have brought before the m' did only what the Government did, but that which tao •7000 not know yet, why they did it?—(Hear.) Tb e g rwork upon which they act e d wou ld d o m ore to show th e __ co uld ing of the Bill of 1844 th an a ny production ofplIPT6 t ime do. They should know the state of the Bank at rat her when her Majesty's Government were induced. °r ' of t he compelled, to write those letters. The Chancellor t hat be Exchequer, in his able and lucid speech, _ w as a was informed on the 22d of October that there e, it is e, panic in the City, and the Government th?lr e b d m ost cessary to take such measures as they . cTisiure t ° dzie proper to dispel it. It would seem as if it we the P 614 10 pet some unfounded apprehension; but did not of di who said there was a panic disclose the s e _tf di d / so; Bank ; did they not say that if the Governuatohargeo interpose, the Bank would have been unable its engagements in two"deys without eerrYwb P