The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-03 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX ELECTION (THIS DAY.) This being the day appointed for the election of a Member for the county of Middlesex, in the room of the late George Byng, Esq., who had represented the county for upwards of half a century, a considerable degree of excitement pre vailed in the " lengthy town" of Brentford and its neigh bourhood. Old banners, which had figured in the eventful days of the Reform agitation, again flaunted in the breeze, and groups of electo - rs and non-electors, the one party equally interested with the other, disported themselves with favours of buff and blue (the old Whig colours). The better-class farmers of the district bestrode horses which, judging from their spirit, had erewh ile figured in the ranks oft he yeomanry, while numerous carriages, containing the aristocracy of She country, followed the open chariot in which Lard Robert Grosvenor, with the Chairman of his Committee and other friends were seated. Some short time before his Lordship arrived at " the Butts" (the. name reminds one of a former day, when the peasantry of England had their fre quent and appointed holidays), lady Grosvenor and family drove up to the hustings, and were accommodated with places, whence they could see and hear everything that Passed. Among the more distinguished personages present, we observed the Hon. Philip Pleydell Bouverie ; Sir Edward North Buxton, Bart.; Samuel Charles Whitbread, Esq. (chairman of the committee); the Hon. Frederic Byng; Sir Walter Stirling t Sir William Clay, M.P.; Sir De Lacy Evans, bI.P. ; Mn Armstrong; Mr. Rota ; Mr. Riches, of Uxbridge; Mr. Sherburn, &c. &c. Although the day was by uo means favourable to out-door exhibitions, the enthusiasm of the electors had so far over come their repugnance to a wetting, that not less than five hundred were assembled iti the open apace (the Butts) behind the Three Pigeons Tavern. 'rinse were backed up by the banners already alluded to, on which were inscribed certain weighty and not to be contro verted apothegms, such as " The Queen and the People," " A fair day's wages for a fair day's work," " Liberty and .FreeStTrade:' &c. Se vera l assoc i at i ons exh i b i ted the i r pecu liar andards, tion fiThe gure pre-eminently. among whom the Brentford Reform Associa- Kennard, w.ifftehefth Londonulde and nsh erff Middlesex, bies srs Messrs .Bay l i s Challisan and B a u n r d_ chell, appeared at the front of the hustings, while the sum moning officer of the district read the proclamation. The candidate then retired, and the usual oaths were ad ministered to him. On his return to the hustma. s • Mr. BAYLIS, the Under-Sheriff , read the writ of election and the oaths against bribery and corruption . Mr. Sheriff C HALLIS th en came forward and said—Gentle , men, we have now introduced to your notice, with the usual legal forms, the important business which has brought us together. It is impossible 'for us to be assembled on any matter more connected with the interests and happiness of a people who are guided b , wisdom and exp er i ence , th an on the present occasion.—( (;beers.) It is impossible for us to attach too much importance to the opportunity now given of electing our representative, and in the proportion that we seek integrity and propriety of principle in the man we elect so shall our interests be cared for and attended to— (cheers)—by expecting and exacting the same honour, the same industry, the same integrity, from him.—(Cheers.) I feel that on such an occasion it would ill'btcome me, in the character of your presiding officer, to detain you with any ob servations of my own. lam anxious that we should proceed to business, and that while you moderate any feeling of your own—that while you express your approbation or disap probation-.-that you should, at the same time give all parties a fair hearing, so as to do justice to all parties who may be anxious to make any observations to you. We should not be doing our duty to ourselves. we should not be honouring the memory of our late lamented representative —Mr. Byng—who, with so much honour to himself and advantage to his constituents for half a century, spoke our sentiments in Parliament. When we recollect that during the time he represented this county almost every question of pressing moment, and of gravest importance, occupied the Legislature—when we recollect that when our late representative held a seat in that House it was difficult for any man to hold by the test of con scientiousness, through which he had been elected.— (Rear, hear.) The public, after examiniug the career of such a man, might exclaim with justice, that he was " the pilot that weathered the storm."— (Cheers.) And now we should see that the person whom we elect should preserve these principles in their utmost rectitude.—(Cheers.) In conclu sion, we must always, however, admit thus much, that however we may differ from the politics of the Noble Candidate, in no measure which involved the be nefit of the country has he ever been the last to lend the sanction of his name or influence. --(Cheers.) My duty now is merely to call upon any gentleman here to propose any one as a candidate, and it is for you, gentlemen, to consider whether he is worthy to succeed your late representative.—(Cheers.) The lion. E. P. BOUVERIE then came forward to propose Lord Robert Grosvenor. He said,—Friends and brother electors of this county—gentlemen, the proposal I am about to submit to you, the name of a gentlemen to represent you in Parliament, is so likely to be received with general and unanimous approbation that I don't consider it necessary to detain you at any length. The gentleman who has preceeded me, and who has presided over this meeting, has brought under your consideration the importance of the object of your meeting on this occasion, and he has also alluded to your choosing a fit and proper successor to the gentlemen who had formerly represented this county, and who had some fourteen or fifteen times been adopted as your representative. During the whole course of Mr. Byng's political life he had proved himself the friend of civil and religious liberty, and he thought that the duty of the ' Government was to legislate for the welfare of the people. If this principle actuates us, then are we bound ,to fi nd another person who entertains these views , and who will endeavour to carry them out in the Parliament of the country.—( Hear, hear.) The whole political life of the Noble Lord will prove that he is pre-eminently that person.—(Cheers.) For twenty years he has shown himself the friend of civil and religious liberty, lie has shown himself the friend of the civil and the practical reforms which have agitated the country—(Cheers)—and he has been found always enlisted on the side of the people.—(Cheers.) I entirely agree with the sentiments of the Noble Lord from the many years' experience of his past life, and I have now, therefore, no hesitation in recommending him to your choice—(Cheers) —as your rapresentative.—(Continued cheering.) But I cannot close without in some degree re ferring to a correspondence which has been extensively cir culated within these few days. I may refer to the Noble Lord's truly noble conduct, to his straightforward answer to the insidious question. The person who has written that letter is a particular friend of mine, but I repiuliate all t he sentiments contained in it.—(Loud cheers.) The Noble Lord, I repeat, has answered that letter in a ;s traightforward manner, and we may conclude from thence that_ sort his is the very of honesty we want in our represen tative (Cheers.) Ido not know that it is necessary for me to enter farther into this subject, but I think that it is rather "fair to ask a question on any subject without at the same time reciting the contingencies which might materially affect tt. If you choose the man the rectitude of whose political life you acknowledge, then I think you will do well, and you O ught to leave it to him to carry out his principles in the W ay most consonant to his own feelings. The man you re quire is Lord Robert Grosvenor, and it is with great pleasure th at I propose him as a fit person to represent you in Par llareent.—(Cheers. Sir E. N. Bstxxorr said—l have a great deal of pleasure in :co Wing the nomination of Lord Robert Grosvenor as a add Perso n to rearesent you in Parliament. I canno t, however, ress the electors Of this great county without expressing L''Y feeling respecting your late representative character. lam sure that no one was acquainted with his and virtues who entertained not the highest respect for Mr Byng, and I em, convinced that no man whatever could throughout such t l engthened political life—a life extending over 56 years— e,ye preserved such a cordial feeling with his constituents, „ ', 4n tess he had been actuated by the highest, t he best, • and purest motives. (Loud cheers.) era aware that during this period questions of vital im portance to the world were discussed—(Cheers)—but you ar e also aware, that whatever might be the inducements to overlook your interests, you had an honest and honourable gentleman to see to your interests. I feel that we are met this day on a solemn occasion. If we consider the state of t his country and of Ireland, we cannot send a man to Parliament without being conscious that We have a great and solemn duty to perform; and I confess that when I heard of Mr. Byng's death 1 thought it would be a difficult matter for the electors of this c ounty so find another man to supply his place—( Hear, hear) —with equal satisfaction to yourselves and to the coon try sry- Ido think, however, that you cannot find a man better Itialified to fill the place of your late representative than the o_b 1 e Lord who no w o ff ers himself to your suffrages.— (Cheers.) We know Lord Robert Grosvenor to be the friend of the poor.—(Cheers.) We know him to be a man who will not sanction any measure which lie thinks inimical to 'sue People or their constitution.—(Continued cheering.) Although I do not concur in every sentiment of Lord Ro bert Grosvenor, still I am of opinion that there is no man better qualified to represent us; and it is, therefore, With great pleasure that I second the nomination of :Lord Robert Grosvenor to represent us in Parliament. The sheriffs having requested any person who had any other candidate to propose to come forward and do so, and no per son responding, proceeded to take the show of hands. A forest of hands was held up in favour of the proposed candi dme, and only two against it. The sheriff declared Lord Robert Grosvenor to be duly elected as a member to serve in arliament for the county of Middlesex, in the present session of Parliament. Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR then came forward, and was received in the most enthusiastic manner. When silence was somewhat restored, the Noble Lord said, Mr. Sheriff and n gentl e men,te electors o f th e coun t y o f Middl esex, I must b eg . first place, t o th an k you most kindly for the kind and warm reception which you have been pleased to accord to me upon the present occasion. I am standing the unfavourabl e ; ess happy also, that, notwith aeeeday,youhave all preserved such Perfect good hurnour.— a s 11 in on e. ) they are not in good humour I will keep the mre i ) emat l l cr n cannot propose at present singing a duet with crowd.--(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is not a t t he first time that I have appeared upon the hustings.—(A voice--It won't a the last.) I hope not. But , gentlemen, this is th e fir t ime be that i have ever had the honour of appeari ng b e f ore you in a public character, and, gentlemen, when I think of the mag nitude of the constituency—(Hear, hear)—and of the vast importance of that county for which I am now a candidate— (A voice—A Member)—l thank that gentleman for his cor rection—l must say that lam nearly overwhelmed with a 'reuse of my own insufficiency.—(A voice—Keep your spirits UP-) Gentlemen, lam but a plain and simple man, having no pretence to oratorical talents, and I must therefore en deavour to obtain your kind and indulgent attention during the address which it will now be my duty to m ake to you.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, nothing, I do assure Y° l 4 would have induced me to have obtruded myself upon Your notice upon the present occasion, had I not been al lured that I was called upon to do so by th e whole united strength of the late lamented Mr. Byng's supporters, and the a s s urance conveyed to um by my Hon. Friend behind me, 1 Charles Whitbread, the chairman of the committee of Which be was the originator and supporter—than whom no P e rson could be m o re capable of appre c i a ting the sentiments • ;h a l l feelings of the electors of Mid dlesex —nothing less than iIo Y3 P appearances would have induced me to sever that con retort with my attached friends—the city of Chester— isoyeere)s—who, during a period of more than twenty years e honoured me with such unwavering kindness, and such " 1 9 l icit confidence—nothing less than the assurance that y o u would give me the same kindly co-operation and assist ,7.n I._ceitt the performance of the arduous duties now imposed me, would have ,induced me to undertake the serious duties attaching to the representation of the county of Mid allex•—(A voice, "You are worthy of it.") Before I pro ceed to _ say another word about myself, you must permit me feeliontscharge a duty I owe, and also to consult my own s potted saying something with reference to my late re _ lend, Mr. Byng, the late Member for the county of (shFk ugl eae,.w, whose memory is so justly dear to us eers.) Ido not know how, in a few words, I can better of tb s it Ap . my feelings than by using the words o thin riends lamented gentleman, who would inscrib e proud THE SUN, LONDON, WE .. rNESDAY ; EVENING PkBRETAItY' opitaph upon his tomb, "That, having for upwards of fifty years represented not merely the rural and suburban portions of the county which I have the ho nour now to represent, but - nearly the one-half of the metropolis, besides, during the most eventful and the most critical period of the history of the British nation had at length descended to the tomb full of years, without a single enemy, and with the respect and attachment of all parties and all classes, among his great and enlightened constituency.—( Loud cheers.) Although, comparatively speaking, I am a stranger among you here, hope I am not altogether without some local claims upon your notice. I was born ; bred, and educated in the very heart of the city of West minster, and within the sounds of the Abbey bells.—(Loud cheers.) I have always endeavoured to show my sense of what was due to the great city in which I was born by en deavouring to discharge the duties of a citizen.—(Cheers.) These duties have been already too favourably noticed, and in too practical a manner spoken of by . the Hon. Friends who have proposed and seconded my nomination.—(Cheers.) But I am quite aware that my political conduct has in general been in unison with the feelings and wishes of the great ma jority of this great and influential county.—(Cheers.) Al though I might in truth have some claims to your good-will, I have also some claims to that political confidence which has enabled me to appear before you upon such an occasion as the present. Now, gentlemen, when I entered the House Commons, about 25 years since, I found the House of Commons unreformed, not in any way such a House as would be said to represent the people of England.—(Cheers.) I found the criminal law full of anomalies —(Cheers.) I found civil disabilities and penal laws in existence against our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects.—(Loud cheers.) I found laws in force, pressing most unjustly and most unsatis factorily upon the consciences of those denominations of Christians who sincerely differed from ine in the opinions which I, as a member of the Church of England, must conscientiously maintain. I found slavery existing in the Colonies; I found our trade and commerce fettered by the most unjust monopolies also ; and I found —what was the worst of all—that it was impossible to ob tain any redress of the grievances, however clearly those cases of grievances might be established. and however indisputably the existence of those grievances might be proved.— (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I hesitated not to attach myself to that small but increasing band of men who had joined themselves together for the purpose of obtaining the amelio ration of that which we thought to be a most pernicious system of things.—(Cheers). Ido not intend now to go into the details of those measures which must be familiar to you all.—(Hear, hear.) Sufficient to say, that we never relaxed our exertions until we obtained that better state of things under which we now live.—(Cheers.) Now during the whole of this period I believe that I may say, that political consistency—at present at a discount— (Cheers)—was not much relied on. I do not attach any exaggerated notion to the idea of political consistency. I am not so presumptuous as to say that during the time I have been in Parliament that I never modified my opinion upon any political questions. And that was the secret of time great confidence which my former constituents reposed in me, that during the whole of that time I never was compelled entirely to alter my opinions upon any great measure brought before the House of Com mons.--(Cheers.) And to which I have lately referred.— (Cheers,) I, as a Member of that small but determined band, aided in giving the first blow to those systems which I have described to you, by assisting Sir George Canning in his great struggle in 1838, and also by assisting Sir Robert Peel upon a very late occasion. —(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, during all this struggle, continued with various successes, I had always the distinguished satisfaction of finding myself upon every occasion side by side with your late lamented and respected representative, Mr. G. Byng.—(A voice—" He was a trump; I hope you will make a better one.) That is the title, and the only title, which I can bring before you on the present occasion.— (Cheers.) But do not suppose that, because we have al ready obtained so much success, that therefore I shall fall back, and not continue my endeavours to obtain a further amelioration of the condition of the people—(cheers)—or that I have the slightest disposition to repose myself beneath the laurels already obtained. There are still many social fiscal and educational reforms to be accomplished, and which will require the most unwearied exertions to bring about—reforms which those whom I now address will, I doubt not, if their lives be spared, live to witness.—(Cheers.) I am truly at tached to the working classes. I feel deeply what I owe to them.—(Cheers.) I feel deeply what we all owe to them, and especially to the working classes of the Metropolis. Mr. Cobden, than whom no person could be supposed to be a more accurate observer, said, '• that however great might be the industry of the working classes of the manufacturing districts to which he belonged, still ha must fairly state that the artisans of London were far superior to them." Ido not think that those working classes have bean fairly treated ; they have been most sadly neglected. I can assure the electors of Middlesex that any measure which may be brought forward having for its object the amelioration of that class will have my most earnest support.—(Cheers.) But whatever may be the opinions of the electors of Middlesex as to the reforms still necessary, I earnestly trust that all seeds of minor diffel:ences will be laid aside, that we may all unite to support the Government and to support each other, in endeavouring to enable this country to pass through that crisis upon which we are now entering. Dopend upon it we must assist the Government and each other; for, depend upon it, that, in spite of every effort that we are so ready to make, we are as yet but on the threshold of difficulty, and that every effort of private virtue will: be necessary in order to stem the crisis land the diffi culty upon which we are now entering, even if it should please God to give us, at an early period a plentiful return of the fruits of the earth.—(A voice, " When do you mean to come to Popery?") We shall come to that presently. Another question which I was about to allude to was the subject of the suffrage. Suffrage is now nearly universal.—(A voice, " We are all suffering now.") Upon such a day as this I should be sorry to trouble you by a long speech on that subject. —(A voice, "Oh, it is. no trouble, my Lord, don't mention it.") I must beg to say a few words with res p ec t to certain opinions which I am reported as holding, especially as upon the present occasion have been told that I am the " Pope's candidate" for the greatest metropolis in the world.—(Cries of " No, no.") Now I am sure, sir, that before so enlightened an audience as that which I am now ad dressing it is quite unnecessary for me t o sa y th a t I am not " the Pope's candidate," neither is it necessary for me to say that lam nobody's candidate. I believe that anybody thrust forward by any class or profession would be perfectly unsuccessful in his endeavours to obtain the suffrages of the electors of Middlesex. He who would aspire to that honour must be none other than an independent person.—(Cheers.) I beg to say, that considering the enlightened sentiments of the sovereign who now fills the chair of St. Peter, that I would rather be the nominee of that potentate than of that gentleman who first applied the epithet of " Pope's candidate" to me.—(Cheers.) You are all familiar with , the correspondence which has recently taken place between some gentleman and myself—l allude to Mr. Hoare. Copies of that correspondence have been most unfairly sent to every elector of the cotinty of Middlesex. I must beg to explain the manner in which that correspondence has been carried on.—(Hear, hear.) They had published my reply to a letter but they had not published the letter itself. They pub lished two letters to my one, that was two to one, and that was decidedly taking in advantage.—(Cheers.) They have deprived me of the power of making any remarks which I might consider necessary to the letters so published. Now, 1 call that rather shabby,: because—(" Never mind that, stick to it !")—I think those persons; who published that cor respondence should have a little more feeling for a man who was on trial before a large constituency like that of Middlesex— ( Cheers)—than to publish a correspondence unfairly upon a subject upon which the public mind has been so much ex- cited of late.—(Cheers.) I must beg, therefore, to express my feelings and opinions upon the subject. What I meant to say was this—that should any measure be proposed having for its object the endowment of the Roman Catholic priest hood of Ireland, • I would hold myself at liberty either to oppose or to acquiesce in such a measure upon Its own merits— (Cries of " It won't do")—but thaChaving no religious objec tions to the proposition, I would hold myself at liberty either to consent or to oppose the proposition.—(Cries of "No Church allowance; "The separation of the .Church and State.") I think, gentlemen, that you will perceive, with me, the inconvenience of being questioned as to conduct upon measures not at present before the country or the House, or as toopinions upon which the House knel;nothing. (" How about Maynooth 2") My opinion on the subject is, that considering the: state of the:: country and the; excite ment in which the people are,, and in; consequence; of the alarming defection of some members of the Established Church from our religion, and considering also the reiterated declaration of the Roman Catholic priesthood of Ireland, that they would not accept of an endowment—(Cries of" Try 'em—won't they ?")—if any Minister were to come forward and propose such a measure, - my confidence in his discretion would be materially abated.—(Loud cheers.) Now, I AM told that I was rash the answer which I gave to Mr. Hoare's letter.—(No, no.) Had I been in clined to temporise, I might have framed a cautious diplo matic letter which nobody could have laid hold of; I dis dained, however, to do so. I never voted for the Maynooth Grant, and for the beat of all reasons, the opponents of that measure never put the question to the vote, they never ventured to come to a division on the subject. Although I voted for the motion of Lord Francis Egerton, I did it twenty years since under circumstances wholly different from the present. I have written a letter to Mr. Hoare in the same spirit in which I speak— in a spirit of perfect freedom, and in a spirit in which I always intend both to speak and to write. Gentlemen, I am no political adventurer, seeking to obtain a seat in Parliament by flattering prevailing prejudices.— (Hear, hear.) I have neither ambition nor private objects to serve. I am here to defend my own consistency; and if I am to sit for Middlesex, I trust it will be on a satisfactory statement of my opinions.—(Hear, hear.) What I shall ask in return on your part is this : I have twenty years' cha racter from my last place.— (Cheers and laughter.) Now which of you can produce a better ?—(Continued laughter.) And what I say is this, " Don't endeavour to tie and fetter my hands with pledges and promises, especially with respect to measures which are not before Parliament."—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, give me your confidence if you agree with me in opinion, or, at all events, put a fair construction on my words and arguments.—(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, there is a great deal of talk about " endowing truth and en dowing error." Is the state to interfere in such matters as these?—(Cries of " No, no ; no interference."), Now , gen tlemen, I approach the subject to which the latter part of the correspondence to which I have alluded has reference ; and I have alluded to it with very great unwillingness, and I should be ext reme l y sorry if any express i on w hatever should fall from me which could be supposed to partake, in th e smallest degree, of an irreve rent characte r i n treat ' respondent in ter ms o f ridng nay i n au te n taiaorni ous o s p a e n a d k ofs o m y a a e c r o e r . (l a subje c t. I t i s far from i -. cu e or disparagement, least of all should I feel inclined to speak of a class of gentlemen who have, I think, been ri but als o , I an? sure, rously mistaken on the p re sent occa sion, considered they were doing their duty in putti ng f ort h such but I am co m p e ll ed to matt tennents in disrespectf u l terms ; letter because. I w i s h to point out, if p oss ibl e, t h e incon sistency which th ose w h o s to Divine Providence.—(Heul r port such vi ews are attr ib ut i ng reflect, that reflecti on would re n I am su re if th ey w ill on l y lay such a doc umen t a • der it impossible for th em t o gain before the public.—Cheers.) draw that we What they attrib u t e by inferen ce to Divine Providence this :—They assert th a t we ought to is which they have point e d out,. from certai n even t s have been visited with the wrath of Providence, for endowing the College at May nooth ; that, although we h ave for many Roman Catholic clergy of Ca na d a, and ears endowed the the college at May neoth in Ireland, we have been unscathed by Divine Providence, yet in the progress of time w could not expect to go unpunished, an d that wee now been visited, in consequence o f a ll those dreadfule calamities which have lately fallen up on us.—(Cheers.) That assertion, if it means anything, is eq u i va l ent to this—that it is the degree and amount, and nfit the principal of crime, that increases crime in the eyes of Omniscience.—(gear, hear.) I am told, gentlemen, that in consequence of my entertaining these sentiments that my connexion will be very short with the county of Middlesex.—(Cries of " No, no," and cheers.) Now, gentlemen, if that be the case, I shall undoubtedly be extremely mortified to lose the high and distinguished honour which you have this day Conferred upon me • but I shall bow without a murmur to the decision of the electors of this county, Douse I am well aware km very imporfoctly qualified I am to discharge the duties of the high station in which you have this day placed me. But, gentlemen, this I ever shall say, that this is ale proudest day of my exist ence.—( Hear, hear.) That after four-and- twenty years of public life, during which time I have neither altered nor concealed my opinions, I was called upon to succeed such a man as your late representative in Parliament by a re quisition, the most numerously and respectably signed, and supported by men of all parties, that was N ever , a p e r n e t s e e n m t e e a n s n o kindness with which you have been pleased, on such a day cer a ely pthuabnlikeingm.)a-onu.—f4(Loud ver c y he g e r r e s a ) t as this, to listen to the observations which I have addressed to you, and most cordially thanking you for the honour you have conferred upon me—and I shall, I think, value it most highly. Knowing that I shall very shortly be called upon have o tell a voc o y o o fi u d in confided w t o h a m t way respectfully, hzte fulfilled for t thhee present, trust takewhich youmy Lord then retired, amidst loud leavesir demonstrationsovvfCoTiLLlAM shteNobleapplause.ailNGt ben came forward to address the electors. He said, after the very powerful and straightforward address which they had heard from the Noble Lord, whom they had proclaimed not only as a fit representative for the vast and enlightened constituency of the county of Mid dlesex, but as one of the fittest persons to represent them, he would venture, as a freeholder, merely to address a few observations to them. He was particularly anxious to do so as he was nearly connected with that respectable gentleman, their late Member, whose life was extinguished, but who by never deviating from his early political opinions had gone to the tomb, carrying with him the regrets and affectionate gratitude of the con stituency he represented—(Hear, hear)—and who was an instance in his person—a remarkable instance of public favour (taring a great number of years ; and who had left behind him a noble example to all who might suc ceed hint as a representative of the people.—(Cheers.) He was unwilling to; have) recourse to hacknied terms, but lie could not well help saying, that they '6 should not look upon his like again." The Noble Lord at his side was gifted with all those attributes and all those public virtues for which that lamented gentleman was so distinguished.- -(Hear, hear.) And if the whole country was searched he doubted whether any man could be found who was so dis tinguished for honour, purity of motives, and philanthropy. He could attest to the possession of these virtues by the Noble Lo' d, because lie had leen acquainted with him from the earliest period of his boyhood, and had ever found him ,as he had stated.—(Cheers.) He did not dwell unnecessarily on this, because he considered that in the possession of these virtues rested the basis of all true patriotism, and without which patriotism would be an idle boast and a shallow pretension.—(Hear, hear.) It was on ;these grounds that he claimed the election of the Noble Lord as the advocate of that pure love of national liberty—of those temperate, mode rate, and liberal principles, in which he considered the true happiness of the community rested—and which were equally removed on the one hand from the wild proceed ings of democracy, and on the other from the grasping and cupidity of aristocratic dominion.—(Loud cheers.) He looked upon the Noble Lord as the faithful ex positor of the feelings of the great bulk of the middle classes—those who, in his opinion, were the fittest pos•essors of political power, and the surest guides and guardians of the commonwealth.—(Cheers.) That was not the time to undervalue the importance of this great class, because they were living in what he might define ttttehotsrhpe o f Noble wisely btu moment. difficult Lord as esolt great i a n b t Y o h r a political interregnum, in whi c h th ey were ca ll e d upon to exercise e e d ab sence had caused t he great the the L e gislature. er i Se present t a C futuree t a ohwfi s uethl o t e n s t these m ao to grounds be t trusted d h e w l i o t o h k a e l d i rdichtohoics question 6 b o oth now occupied, and a occupy, the attention tionthaot f h political paradox, the social imp rovement of Ireland—the equally important question con nec t e d w i t h the education of the people—or that still weightier quest i on , t h e r i valry of the Churches of this and the sister count r y.—(Ch eers. ) It 2 pq distressteuhreilWhether th classnweeswhu n fromd powererwh t ch h he e y t he possessed. sister peop country, ol was on these grounds that he congratulated the e l ec t ors on the choice they had made in electing so fitting a representative for that vast constituency, which had within its scope and sphere the metropolis of the nations of the world.—(Cheers.) Lord Rortm GROSVENOR said it now became his pleasing duty to propose a vote which he was sure they would adopt with the same unanimity as they had the one proposed on the former occa sion. They had that day witnessed the manner in which the Sheriffs had presided over the assemblage, and the anxious desire which they had evinced that every electer should have a fair opportunity of expressing their sentiments. He, therefore, begged to propose a vote of thanks to the Sheriffs for the way in which they had presided over the proceedings on that occasion. The vote was carried by acclamation. Mr. Sheriff CHALLIS felt much indebted to his excellent friend, and their excellent Member, for the manner in which he had introduced his name, and the name of his colleague on the present occasion. —( Hear, hear.) h It was a source of congratulation to him th a t th e ver y fi rs t o osle ao act of this kind which he had had to perform he had been instrumental in giving the freeholders of Middlesex an op portunity of selecting so excellent a member as his Noble Friend.—(Cheers.) He should be glad it the general election should fall seithin his year of office to find all of them at their posts to do their duty as well as they had done that day.—(Cheers.) Three cheers having been given for the ladies, the pro ceedings terminated. p - • ' " e: trti 1.,8414, ton BAIL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) THE QUEEN V. HEALEY AND COOKE. Lord DENMAN gave judgment in this case this morning. He said that the arguments in this case had taken place before himself and his brother Judges on Saturday last, and instead of minutely examining the voluminous affidavits laid before them, they had come to the conclusion that they might dispose of the case by adverting to what had appeared before them in the full and able discussion of the Learned Counsel engaged in the case. Mr. Wakley, it appeared, was one of the coroners for the county of Middlesex, and he had applied for leave to file a criminal information against the publishers of a libellous attack upon him while engaged in the execution of the duties of his office. The attack was coarse and violent, and being circulated in a particular journal while the inquiry was being conducted, naturally produced a strong sensation and general excitement. This was a serious offence, and the proceeding was one which induced the coroner, and justly so, to seek the protection of this Court. Amongst the judicial officers of England the office of coroner was one of the most important, and most required the protection of the higher Judges, to whom he was equal in many of his functions. His duty was to carry on inquiries at all times uncertain, and rendered painful by the presence of the dead, and more so by the suspi cion that might attach to the living. . His-words were looked upon with jealousy and with distrust, and he was without the ordinary means of commanding respect—holding his tribunal in unaccustomed places, and surrounded by none of the imposing solemnities of justice. In this particular case the coroner was entitled to commen dation for directing an inquiry into the circumstances at tending the death. The Learned Counsel in the case, con fined himself to the expressions used in the libel, and no complaint was made or attempted to be proved against the witnesses; and his language, in referring to the evidenc., went enly to affect the conduct of the coroner, whose pro ceedings were then under consideration. The inquisition was held on the body of Frederic John White, a private in the 7th Hussars. He was a healthy young man, who had un dergone corporal punishment previous to his death. It was thought that he died of this, and such a supposition, if proved, could hardly fail to make out a case of misconduct on the part of the officer, or it might be a verdict of murder or manslaughter might result. In such a charge the medical men would, in all probability, have been involved, for some of them were always present on occasions when punishment was to be inflicted; and as the deceased had been some time in the hospital, it was not impossible that he should have fallen a victim to unskilful treatment. A post-mortem exa mination was made, in which the surgeons employed gave it as their opinion that the punishment had nothing to do with the death. The coroner, Mr. Wakley, said that he did not know what opinion the surgeons had given, but he did not call for the support or observations of the surgeons of the regiment, but pro ceeded, at the suggestion of the jury, to employ Mr. Day, a respectable surgeon in the neighbourlfgod, to examine the body. This form was required to be &et - Wed by 'the 6th and 7th William IV., chap. 89—when a niajority . of the jury were not satisfied with the cause of death as given by the medical practitioners and others, in the first instance. Mr. Day thought the cause of death was not connected with the punishment, and the coroner proposed some questions, evi dently with a view of supporting the opposite theory. He then ordered an examination of the body, and called in the 'services of another medical man, an intimate friend of his own—his early associate, and one who was under some obligations to him, and who was named Wilson. The Court must condemn this course. The coroner had placed himself , in the position of a medical man, and he was opposed in a certain degree to those engaged during the earlier part of the proceedings. He ought to have been careful to select a medical gentleman of known skill and science for the pur pose of making the second examination. The coroner directed that not only the regimental surgeons should be ex cluded but also all other persons whatever, and no reason was assigned for such a proceeding. Mr. Wakley said that the jury recommended it, but the Court was of opinion that he ought to have resisted such a recommendation. Mr. Day persisted in his first opinion, and swore that he understood from Mr. Wilson that he (Mr. Wilson) agreed with him as to the cause of death, and he also stated that he was surprised when Mr. Wilson afterwards said on the inquest that he believed that the flogging might have led to the death of White. The Learned Counsel explained this circumstance, and endeavoured to explain his views on it in a manner favourable to Mr. Wakley, but the evidence was given in such a sense as to support the verdict, which ascribed the death to the punishment. There had been a remark made on the Coroner's refusal to put Dr. Warren upon his oath during the inquest, and it had been said that such a proceeding gave rise to an opinion . that he might afterwards be called before it as a culprit. The verdict attri buted the death to the effect of the punishment inflicted, and added a condemnation of the law allowing such punish ment, and an invocation to the people to petition for its alteration. That appeared to the Court to be quite foreign to the duties and functions of the jury ; the Coroner ought to have discouraged the introduction of such topics. It was incumbent upon him to suppress the expression of opinion ON such an occasion. The Court found also that Mr. Wakley took the chair at a public meeting to promote the abolition of flogging in the army and navy, and introduced into his streech there some very caustic remarks upon the late inquest, and in censuring the author of the libel to which he alluded, p n o o k t en be co s n u t p em po p 3 t e u d ou t s o ly b o e f a ti that he stated that he ocmplained that in the House of Commons Al thoughare debates, however irregularly , found their it knew that theso and the won If such a proceeding took place in the course of the debate, yet he (111r.tWheakley Court) the Court would discharge this rule h co a u d ld s fact occurred as stated, upon in that Court before in such way into the public papers, into r . such a on a principle often acted charge contained in the libel. An advertisement appeared in the Lancet, having reference to the presentation of a silv er and the libel averred that Mr. cases, when the party accused had not entirel y refuted the snuff-box to Mr. Wakley, Wakley was influenced by fl uced by his wish to prove that the death was caused by and that he was still further influenced the punishment. The Court could not say that such a charge his zeal in conducting the inquest, in the sincerity of his opi• It gave Mr. Wakley great credit for also for his justice, nion with regard to military andflogging; degree adopted by the was a ltogether unreasonable. as the principle had been in a great . exclusion of to lead to the h ht it was a e Court t oug the evidence upon a n i nques t ? Th state since that time ; but was that feeling to influence his mind in his duty as coroner, so as case in whi c h h e was not i n a pos iti on to ask it to give its sanction to a crimi na l i n f orma tion a gainst the party who had commented upon his execution of his duty on that occasion, and therefore th e C ourt was o f op i n i on th a t the rule ought to be discharged. COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.) The Court was engaged all the day in trying COMMou jury Ottm Of now public intered whatever. CRIMINAL COURT.--(THIS DAY.) OLD COURP. (Before Mr. Justice CRESWELL and Mr. Justice WIGHTIIAN.) Francis Olieres, who had been remanded from the last session, was Placed at the bar on a charge of stealing two brooches and two rings, of the value of 4001., from Mr. John Linnet, a jeweller. Mr. Clirkson was retained for the prosecution, and Mr. Ballantyne defended the prisoner. Mr. Linnet stated that on the 7th of January, 1845, the prisoner called upon him, and stated that he was engaged at Buckingham Palace as a worker in hair at two guineas a day, and had therefore the opportunity of introducing goods to the notice of her Majesty and Prince Albert. He at that time said that he came for a cane for the Prince, and also a stick which his Royal Highness desired to present to the Emperor of Russia. He took them both away, and two or three days afterwards returned the stick, but paid for the cone the sum of 311. 10s. At that time the prisoner said that he was desired to obtain two brooches and two diamond rings of the value of 4001., which be took away with him. The stick was paid for on the day the jewellery was taken away. On cross-examination, Mr. Linnet said, that since the transaction he had become a bankrupt, and that he had not any books to show when it took place. He could not say exactly on what day the stick was paid for. He believed that it was the same day, but it might be two or three days before the jewellery was obtained. He had certainly received a letter from the prisoner, stating that from necessity he had been compelled to paWn the brooches and the rings, but that he hoged some day to pay for them. The prisoner first be came known to him by employing him to set some articles made of hair in gold. When he took the rings away he brought back the stick, and said that as the Prince then de sired to prese:.t the stick to the Emperor of Russia, it was to have a long gold ferule put to it. Ile had not been able to obtain the money for the brooches, as Sir Henry Wheatley, who k ep t t h e Privy Purse, gave all the cheques, and had gone wh en h e went to the Palace. Witness saw nor heard nothing more of the prisoner until some time after wards, when he sent him a letter expressing his sorrow for having been compelled to pledge the jewellery, but necessity had driven him to it. He had applied to Mr. Attenborough for the recovery of the property. He believed that the pri soner had shortly afterwards gone abroad, and had only lately returned. The price of one brooch was 1404 and of the other, 1951. The rings were diamond rings. John Reardon, assistant to Mr. Lawton, said that the pri soner came to their shop and offered to pledge the two brooches. He asked for 2001. upon them, which witness re fused to give, but would have allowed 1501. if both were left. The prisoner ultimately took 70/., upon one of them, and a few days after returned and pledged the other. Mr. Lawton, a pawnbroker in Oxford-street, stated that the prisoner had pledged two brooches and two rings with him. Mr. Attenborough, anotheE pawnbroker, said that he had been engaged to negotiate for the return of the property to the assignees of Mr. Linnet, and gave them the information of the place where the property was deposited. The Hon. Miss Ker, one of Maids of Honour to the Queen, stated that the prisoner at the bar had certainly been at the palace, but had never had an interview with her Majesty, although he had manufactured sotne articles in hair for her. She thought that it was very unlikely that any one would have seen her Majesty whilst witness attended upon the Queen without her being acquainted with the fact. The Hon. Colonel Anson said that at the time this offence was committed Sir H. Wheatley was holder of the Privy Purse to her Majesty, and that he himself was Private Secre tary to Prince Albert. Witness succeeded to the office of holder of the Privy Purse on the Ist of January in the pre sent year. He was quite satisfied that the Prince had never desired that any stick should be bought for the purpose of being presented to the Emperor of Russia, nor did he believe that any cane had been purchased for his Royal Highness. The Prince never drew cheques, but all the accounts were settled by witnes 4. Tho prisoner had certainly on one occa sion been paid 12/. for a dog's head worked in hair, but that he had never been engaged continually at the palace. Mr. BALWITYNE addressed the jury at considerable length on behalf of the prisoner, insisting chiefly that there was no reliance to be placed on the testimony of Mr. Linnett, as he had produced no books, and that his recollection did not precisely serve him as to the date when the stick was paid for. Then, as to the circumstance of the pawning, it was shown that the jewellery was pledged some days after it was taken away, and this proved that there was no fraudulent intention whatever on the part of the prisoner when he obtained the articles. This was also evident from the fact that they were recovered through the voluntary communications of the prisoner. If he had had any fraudulent intention he would never have either forwarded the duplicates, or returned to this country. It was evident that he had been induced to pledge the pro perty by distress; and, even if he had pawned it for the pur pose of raising money to go abroad, he was clearly entitled to an acquittal of the legal offence, unless he obtained the Several witnesses were called to character. _ r ty w f a o y r t a h f e b p a u si r a p e o a s s e . of pledging, instead of using it in the r p e r g o p u e l ar Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN, in summing up, said that the point which the jury had to consider was, whether the pri , soner had obtained this property with a view of applying it to his own use at the time he took it? There did not appear, so far as he could see, a tittle of evidence to show that he had any commission whatever from the palace, or that he had ever had any interview, either with her Majesty or Prince Albert, to justify his representations to Mr. Linnett. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The sentence was deferred. James Price, a letter-carrier, pleaded guilty to having stolen eighteenpence out of a letter. Sentence upon him also was deferred, NEW COURT. (Before the COMMON SERGEANT and Alderman SIDNEY.) George Saker was convicted of stealing a bird-cage, value Bs., from the door of Lewis J. C. Jamrack, bird dealer, of George-street, and, as he had been convicted several times before, he wis sentenced to seven years' transportation. John Davis and John Long were both indicted for stealing a pump, value 205., from where it was fixed, at the house of Joseph Harris, North Brixton. Davis was seen with the pump on his shoulder on the night of the 15th January, and Long was in company with him, when the policeman took them both into custody. There was no more evidence against Long than being in the company of Davis, and he was therefore acquitted. Davis, who had been summarily convicted on three former occasions, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and hard labour. MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.) John 31'Clune was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with committing an assault upon Mr. Campbell Bowman, oil and colourman, 3, Tottenham-court •road. The complainant stated that about nine o'clock last night the prisoner came into his shop, and desired him to send , a variety of articles to the residence of Mr. Parry, 17, lavis tock•street. Whilst he was preparing to send the things, the prisoner came again, and said, " Look sharp with those things, and mind and be sure to send change for a sove reign." Witness immediat e ly suspected fraud, and did not send the goods. The prisoner came again, and repeated the same request. Witness then jumped over the counter, and caught the prisoner as he was run ning out of the shop. The prisoner then took up a piece of wood, and struck him several severe blows. Witness, however, held the prisoner till a constable arrived, into whose custody he was consigned. The prisoner in defence said that a gentleman's servant asked him to order the articles mentioned to be sent. with change for a sovereign, to the residence of Mr. Parry. He knew nothing further about it. Mr. BINGHAM remanded him till Monday next. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BIL withE a tsot : Eastern HOUSE (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Siam.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were completed, and the standing orders complied Line, r ß aand a n i n l h w ri a ti y toe ht hineßa Riveri(Ca mbridge,Railway). Eastern R , o a y n s d t o a n i s , o a n il dE Branch Eastern Counties Railway (Cambridge to Bedford, with a Branch to Royston, and two Branches to Biggleswade). London and Blackwall Railway Improvement and Branches to the St. Katherine and London Docks. East Lincolnshire Railway (Louth Navigation Purchase). OPPOSED LIST. -7411 . ' gARNISLEY MIDLAND RAILWAY (SHEFFIELD , * -- ' the This DONCASTER, AND GOOLE). worthy of note. • , , . whole adjourned o f the day,ce bn wast the resumed.allegations. s e e inquiryita wereoccup n i occupied (Room 23, before Mr. Ex-aininer-Da.) LS. the standing orders complied with:-_-- , ' ~._ UNOPPOStD LIST. In the following ca s es th e f or mal proofs, were put in, and London and South-Western Railway (Videning hereof be tween Wandsworth and Nine Elms, Au dE u largement of the York-road Station, and Amendment of London and South-Western Acts). , Manchester and Southport Railway and Branches. OPPOSED LIST. MIDLAND RAILWAY (MASBOROUGFI AND NOR MANTON STATIONS ENLARG EMENT). In this case the opposition was withdrawn, and the s t a nding orders complied with. CORNWALL AND DEVON CEN TRAL AND PLY.. MOUTH RAILWAY AND BRANCHES. Allegations were sustained impugning the accuracy o f th e This Allegations r i n i need were case v n a is s d t e l 6. 1 e c n n b r e s e d u . m e o d t . her allegations o f a books of reference , in as far as particular roads on the r ou t e o f the Th p similar character were abo sustained. The case w as further adjourned. , Waterloo-I THE their offices, METROP OLITAN SEWAGE MANURE COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.) A special meeting of the shareholders of this corn-- 7 f then read c the draft a • Waterloo place, Pall-mall, to receiv a Bill presented to Parliament by the directors, to enable the company to make an alteration in the line of their works. Mr. Warren, chairman of the company, in the chair. The SECRETARY having hadread the standing orders pany, was held to-day,. at the report of the directors, from which it appeared, thai at the last adjourned meeting of the shareholders the under which the meeting been convened plan for which application had been made to Parliament of by the shareholders then present, and was approved then to give an • was only necessary outline of that plan. It was proposed to construct an aq ue d uct in the Hanover-square, parish of St. George , near Skew bridge, on the King's Scholar's Pond sewer, in the Vauxhall-bridge-ruad, and terminating at or near the Broadway in Hammersmith, together with the neces sary works by which the aqueduct or conduit would pass through the parishes of St. Luke, Chelsea St Mary Abbot's, Kensington , th rough Fulha m and Ha mersmith. The tunnel here proposed w as stated m. by their engin e er to be preferable to iro n , and would re, move the opposition that existed to the erection steam works in the metropolis. The direction of of the works was most judicious, as it passed through dis tricts where there was a number of mark The report further stated that the engineeret:gardens. of the company bad promised, in the s and solicitor sent Bill not assin through Parliament event of the pre not demand anything for their services.' that they would competing schemes before Parliament There were no nion. was greatly in favour of the a undertakinglpi of the company. The SECRETARY then read the draft stated that 30,000/. was the sum of the Bill, w hi c h to the construction of the works.iot ended to be applied Mr. NASON, in moving the ado t* amendment, said that as some o p t. ion of the proposed sent had not attended the forme the gentlemen pre fore had not the advantages of r meeting, and there then made, he trusted hearingtht the statements some gentlemen competent to de so, would state the advantages that would result from the alteration in the works. On the chief points raised by the . report he might mention that the impression left upon his mind at the former meeting was most satisfactory. t With respect to one point, namely, as to the increase in the expenditure of 6,0001., it was extremely small in comparison with the advantage's it would produce. He had a right to inform the meeting that he had received a letter yesterday from Mr. Martin, the original projector of this company, which he would take the liberty to read to the meeting. There certainly was nothing in that letter to change the opinions: he had already expressed, and he was sorry that the objections in that letter had not been made before. (The speaker here read the letter, which deprecated the proposed alterations, on account of the expense and the departure from the original plan, which, he contended, would be fatal to the interests of the company.) He did not agree with the statement of Mr. Martin with regard to the expense, for the reasons he had already stated, and the departure from their origi nal plan could not be injurious to them with Parliament or the public. He would conclude by moving that the Bill then read be approved of, and that the directors of the company should be authorised to take the necessary steps to carry the Bill through its d.fferent stages in Parliament. Mr. WHISHAM, in seconding the resolution, said he could not approve of the objections raised by Mr. Mar tin, or that there shculd be any postponement of the proceedings. A protracted and Tedious discussion followed, but the resolution was ultimately carried with but t o dissen tients. The ordinary general meeting was then held ; Mr, Warren in the chair. The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that the accounts of the company would be open for inspection at the offices of the company for the next month. 806 shares had been taken, and there had been applications for 1,200 shares more than were re quired for the capital. 3,700 of the shares of the com pany were not taken up, owing to a depression in the money-market. The report also stated that the directors and auditors had refused to receive any remuneration for their services till the works were commenced. From the auditors' report it appeared that the receipts of the company were 3,6044, together with 1404 which had been received that morning, and that the total balance in hand was 1,6481. The Rev. FRANCIS HEWSON moved the adoption, printing, and circulation of the report. Mr. BONDMIN seconded the resolution, which was put and carried. Thanks were voted to the chairman and the directors of the company, and respectively acknowledged. The meeting then separated. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Vote.: and Proceedings of the House of Commons. TUESDAY, FEB. 2. The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time : Midland (Syston and Peterborough Railway Deviations, and Approach to Manton Station)—" to authorise certain devia tions in the Line of the Syston and Peterborough Branch of the Midland Railway, and the formation of a road or ap proach to the intended Manton Station thereof." Clarence, and Leeds and Thirsk Amalgamation—" to en able the Amalgamation of the Clarence Railway and the Leeds and Thirsk Railway." Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet—" for making a Railway from Paisley to Barrhead, with certain Railways and Branch Railways therewith connected, to be called The Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet Railway." South-Eastern (Widening of the Greenwich Railway, and Arrangement and Enlargement of the London-bridge Station)—" to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company further to widen the London and Greenwich Railway, and to enlarge their London-bridge Station." South-Eastern (London-bridge Station Arrangement and Enlargement)—" for providing increased Station Accommo dation at the Terminus of the South-Eastern, and London, Brighton, and South Coast Railways, at or near London bridge, and for the arrangement thereof." Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction—" for making certain Lines of Railway iu the West Riding of the county of York, to be called The Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction Railway.' " Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport Railway and Branch— " for making a Railway from the Liverpool and Bury Rail way, near Liverpool, through Crosby, to the town of South with a Branch, to be called The Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport Railway.' " Buckingham and Brackley Junction, and Oxford and Bletchley Junction Companies Amalgamation and Extension of Lines—" to authorise the Consolidation into one Under taking of the Oxford and Bletchley Junction Railway Com pany, and to enable the Company so to be consolidated, to make Extension Lines to Banbury and Aylesbury, and an alteration of the Line into the city of Oxford." Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway an d Branches— " for making a Railway from Exeter to Yeovil, with Branches and Extensions therefrom, to be called The Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway." Midland (Extension from near Leicester. rid Bedford, to Hitchin, and to Northampton and Huntingdon, and En largement of the Leicester Station)—" to enable the Midland Company to make a Railway from near Leicester, vid Bed ford, to Hitchen and to Northampt on an d B e df ord, with Branches, to enlarge the Leicester Station on the Midland Railway, and for other purposes." Midland (Leicester and Swannington, Widening, Devia tions, and Branches, Enlargement of Leicester Station, and extending powers as to lusto& Branch)—" to enable the Midland Railway Company to alter the Line of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, and to make certain Branches therefrom, and for other purposes." The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway Branches. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley (No. 1— Smethwick Deviation). Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Lease to the London and North-Western Railway Company). Liskeard and Caradon. Norfolk (Yarmouth Extension, &c.). Lynn and Ely, Ely and Huntingdon and Lynn and Dereham Amalgamation. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee:- 1. That in the case of the Norfolk Railway (Branch from Norwich to Aylshem, with a Branch to North WaLshain) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 2. That in the case of the North British Railway (No. 1) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 3. That in the case of the Caledonian and Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railways Amalgamation petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be per mitted to proceed with their Bill, on the insertion of a Clause restricting them from altering the rates and tolls leviable under the Act 1 Vic. c. 117, s. 223. 4. That in the case of the Southampton and Dorchester Railway Acts Amendment (Weymouth Branch) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on depositing in the Court of Chancery such an amount, in addition to the one-tenth of three-fourths of the estimate already de posited, as will make the total sum deposited equal to one tenth of the amount subscribed." - 5. That in the case of the Southampton and Dorchester R a il wa y (Blandford Branch) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on the insertion of a Clause re stricting them from taking any part of the property No. 11 a on the plan, in the.parish of Spettisbury, and on depositing in the Court of Chancery such an aniount, in addition to the one•tenth of three-fourths of the estimate already deposited, as will make the total sum deposited equal to one-tenth of the amount subs cribed.—Resolutiona agreed to NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a second time on Monday, Feb. 8 - - Aberdeen (Brechin Branch Deviation). Arbroath and Forfar and Scottish Midland Junction Con necting Railway. Fleetwood, Preston, and West'Riding Junction (Burnley and colliery Branches). IRELAND. REPEAL ASSOCIATION. Duntarr, FEB. l.—The weekly meeting of the Repeal Association was held this day, but the .proceedings were destitute of interest. Mr. W. T. KELLY (the gentleman who, on the last day of meeting, made the startling announcements with regard to the oppressive conduct of certain landlords in the county Mayo) reiterated those statements, and pledged himself to their general accuracy. Wishing to have official informa tion as to the facts, he wrote to the clerk of the peace to allow a person in his (Mr. Kelly's) employment to have access to his books for the purpose of ascertaining the exact number of civil bills entered for trial, and how many of those were at the suit of landlords, and likewise the number of ejectments that were adjudicated on, he (Mr. Kelly) un dertaking to pay any expense that might attend such search. To that application the clerk of the peace of the county Mayo returned the followed answer : " Ballinrobe, Jan. 28. " Dear 3 ust got your letter of yesterday, and re gret to saythi.t I do not think lam justified in giving you the information you require, or exposing to public view the private transactions of any gentleman : in any other way I should be glad to oblige you. lam writing to Castlebar this day, and I shall have it told to your clerk not to come here fur the purpose you had directed him.—Yours, very truly, " S " W. Thoma s K e ll y , E sq., 16, MounTHOMA tjoy-squar GILDEA. e, North, Dublin." The Learned Gentleman then read the following letter from his clerk : " Castlebar, Jan. 30, 1847. " Sir,-_I came from Ballinrobe last night, after seeing Mr. Gildea. He told me that he wrote to you not to send me to Ballinrobe, as it was out of his power to give you the information you required, about the number of civil bills and ejectments brought at the last sessions. No—not for a thousand guineas. He said he would not expose the land lords of Mayo ; and what is more, he would not let you know for what his situation is worth to him. . . . . Indeed, he said it was a monstrous thing of you to ask such information, and were he disposed to give you the informa• tion, he thinks you would not like paying for 8,000 searchers. It would certainly require a large sum of money. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " P. KELLY. " W. T. Celly, Solicitor, Dublin." Mr. Kelly (in continuation) observed that he was determined that the inhumanity of those landlords to whom he had ad• verted should be exposed, and he was determined to have a petition from himself individually presented to the House of Commons, praying it would direct a return of the number of civil bills and civil bill ejectments entered and acted on at the recent sessions in Mayo. The result of these heartless proceedings was that upwards of 5,000 persons had been obliged to leave the county Mayo, and , seek an asylum in. England or elsewhere, to avoid the consequences of the " de crees" obtained against them. It was unanimously decided that Mr. O'Flaherty should be selected to oppose the Solicitor-General in Galway, the gen tleman selected by the Young Ireland party to contest the town having refused. The rent for the week' was announced to be 271. 7s. lid. The meeting then adjourned. THE DISTRESSED IRISH AND SCOTCH.—Mr. Bunn, of Drury-lane Theatre, has, in the handsomest manner ap propriated the receipts of Monday next for the benefit of the Irish and Scotch. The committee of the theatre have agreed to a llow the use of the theatre free of rent, and every artiste and kye of the establishment have consented to give their emp services gratuitously on this occasion. Captain Alexander Boyd Higgins, of the Forfar Militia, and formerly of the " Royals," died at Aix-la- Chapelle, on the 10th ultimo, in the 65th year of hia age. S, 1847. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 2. GLASGOW AND GREENOCK (CALEDONIAN) RAILW AY BILL. It was reported that the standing orders, so far as this railway is concerned, ought to be dispensed with. ROCHESTER AND MILTON RAILWAY BILL. The standing orders have been complied with. ROCHDALE WATERWORKS. The Bill for these works was introduced. EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER RAILWAY. The Bill for this line was read a first time. THE ANDOVER UNION. Mr. ETWALL gave notice, that on Tuesday, the 16th instant, he would bring under the consideration of the House the evidence taken before the Andover Union Committee last session, with the report made upon the same. Mr. VILLIERS, for the Hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Bright), who was absent, begged leave to postpone the motion of that Hon. Member, which stood for con sideration to-night, till that day fortnight. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. Lord JOHN. MANNERS gave notice of his inten tion of bringing in a Bill relating. to charitable trusts. THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONER 6. Mr. MACKINNON gave notice of his intention of bringing under the consideration of the House the corn- . position and mode of management of the Ecclesiastical Commission. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. Mr. DUNCOMBE renewed a motion, notice of which he gave last session, with respect to the infliction of corporal punishment in the army.—Agreed to. TURNIP STEALING.—CONVICTION OF TWO CHILDREN IN ESSEX. Dr. BOWRING wished to draw the attention of the Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the. following state ment, which had appeared in the Times :—On the 2d of January two children, the son and daughter of a poor man named Lee, who, for the last three years, had occupied a cottage in the parish of Chingford, in Essex, for which he paid 2s. 6d. a week, were detected by the foreman of a person named Green picking up turnips. They were taken by the man to Chingford, for the purpose of being given into the charge of a police-constable, and to Waltham for the purpose ofgetting a magistrate to hear the case. Mr. Preston, a magistrate, heard the case, and before him the foreman swore that the turnips were worth 3d. The children were convicted in the penalty and costs, amounting to 1/. Os. 6d. In default of payment they were to be imprisoned for fourteen days in Ilford gaol. They were taken there in the course of a day on which a severe frost prevailed, fifteen or sixteen miles. On the following day they were liberated, in consequence of their father having borrowed the money and paid the fine and expenses. He (Dr. Bowring) had been informed by the father and mother of the children, that they were ready to swear that from the Saturday to the Sunday the children were released, they had nothing to eat save a two-pound loaf. 41e was also informed that on the following day, the 4th of January, a man and his daughter were convicted by the same magistrate of steal ing a few coals, which were valued at one penny. They were released from custody, however, as the grand jury ignored the bill. Now, he wished to know whether the conduct of this magistrate had excited the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet ? Sir GEORGE GREY said, in conseqaence of the notice of the Hon. and Learned Member, he had caused an inquiry into the circumstances as detailed, which were similar to these which had appeared in the news papers.—(Hear. hear.) In the Times of to-day, however, the Honourable Gentleman would End a letter from the Rev. Mr. Reed, the Rector of Ching ford, which gave a very different version of the matter. The only information be bad been able to obtain, in ad dition to that furnished by the Rev. Mr. Reed, was derived from the Commissioners of Police, within whose limits the case had occurred. Theso statements went to show that the gentleman who first directed attention to the subject was mistaken, and that therefore the occur rence had been greatly exaggerated. It appeared that the ages of the children were ten and thirteen— that they were convicted of stealing turnips, and were sentenced and fined in the way mentioned. There were statements in the report of the Com • missioners with respect to the conduct of the parents which he did not wish to read ; it appeared however that they were gipsies, and that the father was the owner of a pony, so that they were not in the state of helpless distress alluded to. He should feel happy to place the report in the hands of the Hon. Member ; and on reading it he could not fail to be of opinion that the statement was highly coloured, and consequently far from correct. IRISH DISTRESS. Sir ROBERT PEEL presented petitions from se veral places in the county of Longford, setting forth that the population of the county amounted to 27,950, three-fourths of whom were upon the verge of starva tion, and that 8,150 of them were employed upon the public works; that the land in all the baronies of the county was divided into very small divisions, great numbers of which remained until the present time, and the petitioners prayed that the im mediate attention of the Government should be called to their condition, and such measures adopted as should prevent the disastrous results of such a state of things. ANNEXATION OF CRACOW. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume) whether it was his intention again to postpone the motion of which he had given notice, upon the subject of the annexation of Cracow ? Mr. MIME was very desirous of bringing forward his motion, but as the Government bad not yet laid the papers promised by them upon the table of the .Heuse, he hardly knew what course to adopt with reference to the subject. lie did not wish to enter into the conside ration of the subject until the documents were laid before the House. BEQUESTS ACT (IRELAND). • I%lni D. O'CONNELL presented a petition, signed by two archbishops, and several other prelates of the Catholic Church, praying for an alteration in the Bequests Act. TEN HOURS' BILL. Lord GEORGE BEN TINCK presented several peti tions from Chorley and other places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill (as we understood)._ MINISTERIAL MEASURES. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the whole of the Bills embody ing the measures of ber Majesty's Government, in re spect to Ireland, would be laid upon the table of the House. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that three Bills were already before the House calcu lated to affect the present distress in Ireland. The Bill for carrying out the Treasury minutes would shortly be ready. The Bill for the consolidation of the Drainage Acts would hot be brought in at present; the existing Drainage Act being a l rea d y very well understood in Ireland, and operations were still going on under the provisions of that Act. The Bill for the reclamation of the waste lands was in a state of forwardness, and would shortly be brought under the consideration of the House ; and the Bill for the sale of estates, which was also in a forward state, would shortly be ready to be introduced. ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAIL- WAY. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to ask the Hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Strutt), who was at the head of the Railway Commissioners, whether any compensation had been given, or would be given, to the surviving relatives of those two individuals who had lost their lives, upon a recent occasion, upon the Great Western Railway? He had looked over the evidence, and the just remarks of the Coroner during the inquest, and it was his decided opinion that some compensation should be awarded to the survivors. He wished, therefore, to know whether it was the intention of the Commissioners to provide for the relief of those unfortunate individuals who had lost their lives—(Laughter)—he meant those who had been deprived by that accident of their relatives, and of, perhaps, the means of support? Mr: STRUTT was mit . able to answer the question, because it did not come within the province of the Rail way Board. It had no power to deal with such cases at present. Whether the Act incorporating the board would give them such power he could not say. MILBANK PRISON. Mr: T. DUNCOMMBE seeing the Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment in his place he wished to put a question to him. He understood that a third report of'the Commissioners ap pointed to inquire into the state of Milbank prison had been delivered at the Home-office, and he wished to know whether the Right Hon. Baronet had any objec tion to lay the report upon the table of the House, and to print the reports in the same volume with the evi dence ? Sir GEORGE GREY had received yesterday evening documents from the Commissioners, which required to be altered. The Hon. Gentleman was aware that evidence on the subject was before the House. Mr. ESCOTT felt bound, as one of the Commis sioners, to report in the same form as the other Commis sioners. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE. Sir F. THESIGER said that he wished to call the at tention of the House to a subject of the utmost im portance, as connected with its privileges. It would be in the recollection of the House that some time ago an action was brought against the Sergeant-at-Arms, for having, in obedience to a warrant of the Speaker, issued by the authority of that House, arrested a Mr. Howard, and brought him before the bar of that House to be examined. On that action the Sergeant, by leave of the House, pleaded a justification of his act under its authority ; and issues at law having been raised, an argument took, place in the Court of Queen's Bench, and, after consi derable time having been taken by the Court to delibe rate on its judgment, a majority was given against the plea of justification. That judgment, itself, was not more unfavourable to that House than the principle on which it proceeded, and which, if it had b een allowed to bee ° nsidered as a settled and established law, would the have placed all their most important privilege, The a mercy of the courts of justice.—(Ch eers.) ject having been brought und er t h e attention eof sub ject House, a Select Committee was appouted for the purpose of considering the best cou rse to b e adopted for the vindication of its privileges, and after a careful consideration of the whole circumstances, and looking at the ground on which the judgment proceeded, and the Committ ee b e i n g extremely desirous not to recommend any extreme mea sure in the asse r ti on of their privileges, as long as any hope remained of deciding it by a legal tribunal, a report was presented to the Rouse recommending that a writ of error sh ou ld b e brought. On a division,- a ma jority of that H ouse acquiesced in that recommendation. A year the tiim of9eurersorwas granted, and in the course of last WaS argued before - the Court of Ea- I=~~~~ chequer Chamber, and he. ha 'the - satisfaction to inform the House that thi s very y that Court had. - % unanimously pronounced a d ec i s i on everaing the judgsZ" ment of the Court of Queen's Bent4:-.1-(Cloud nbeersN It might be important to the House to know the grounds on which this important decision was given, but the grounds on which the judgment was given rendered it unnecessary. He hoped, however. he might be permitted, that' the result of this inquiry confirmed and sanctioned the report and recommendation of the Select Committee, and he should thereforernove that the short-hand writer's notes should be printed, 'and circulated amongst the Members of that House. POSTPONEMENT OF MOTIONS. Mr. P. SCROPE said that he did not wish to inter pose between the debate of last night the motion of which he had given notice, namely---" That the lives of the people of Ireland ought to be as valuable in the eye of the law as the lives of the people of England ; conse quently, it is expedient to extend to Ireland the main principle of the English poor-law, namely, the right of the destitute poor to relief, from a public provision, to save them from perishing." If other Hon. Members were willing to postpone their notices he would at once follow the example. Mr. B. ESCOTT said he also did not wish to em barrass the Government, and he would not press the House to a discussion on his motion. LETTING OF LANDED PROPERTY IN IRELAND. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD raid that the reso lution which he proposed, namely, " That it apcears to this House, from the reports of various Committees and Commissions, that.the-system generally adopted in times past in the letting and inanag, merit of landed property in Ireland, has been one of the main causes of the present distressed state of that country, and the disordered state of its social relations ; and that no measures can be effectual in producing a demand for labour, or improving the condition oT the people, which shall not include such an amendment of the laws of landlord and tenant as shall give to the improving tenant in occupation a sufll• cient permanency of tenure, or else establish the tenant's right to claim by law full compensation for all bens. fits created by the expenditure of his labour and capital on the premises in question," was intimately associated with the question under de bate, and he accordingly felt some difficulty in yielding to the Noble Lord. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it was his intention to bring in a Bill for the very same object as that pro• posed by the Hon. Gentleman at the very earliest possible moment. On account of the pressure of business, the Government were at the present moment unable to give the question that attention which it demanded. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said that he would fix Thurs day next for the discussion of his motion. Mr. ROEBUCK said that he felt very great difficulty in giving up his motion • if he did so, h e cons id ered that he would have some claim upon the Noble Lord at a future day fur his motion, which was, that a Committ ee of the whole Ho use b e appointed, or the purpose of referring to it the Act 5 and 6 Vic., c. 35, with a view to extend the operation of the said Act to Ireland. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that as soon as the House had consented to the second reading of the Bills before it, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would bring forward the whole of the question as regards finance. His Right Hon. Friend would make his financial state ment on an early day, and then it would be competent for the Hon. Member to bring forward his resolution. ABSENTEES —IRELAND. Mr. H. GRATTAN said, diet with regard to the motion of which he had given notice--namely for a return of the absentees from Ireland, stating their names and annual incomes derived from property therein ; specifying the counties in which their estates are situate, and distinguishing such as are temporarily or more than six months absent from Ireland: that the guardians of the poor-law unions in Ireland do furnish an account of the annual value of the property of all absentees in their respective unions assessed to the poor rare : that the Commissioners, under the Act 5 and 6 Vic., c. 35, do furnish an account of the aggregate amount of all property in Ireland taxed under the provisions of that Act, ani other Acts continuing the same: also, a return of the number of persons re siding in England, or temporarily absent there from, charged, under the Act 5 and 6 Vic., c. 35, and the Act for continuing the same, in respect of profits and gains arising from any allowance annuity, stipend, or trade in Ireland ; together with the total amount of the duties levied in respect of such profits and gain: that the governor and directors of the Bank of Ireland do furnish an account of the amount of all annuities, dividends, and shares of annuities payable by the said company out of the public revenues of the United Kingdom to or to the use or benefit of any persons not resident in Ireland —he was in the same predicament as the Honourable Member for Bath.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman said that his measure was preliminary to others; now the return which he (Mr. Grattan) mtved for was a corollary to his (Mr. Roebuck's) motion.—(Laughter.) He wished, therefore, to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary for Ireland, would have any objection to grant the return? Mr. LABOUCHERE said, that if he were inclined to grant the return, he did not know how to come at the information. Mr. H. GRATTAN—There was no difficulty what ever in the matter. There was the list (pointing to a paper in his hand), and he would be happy to furnish the particulars, without asking for the pay or the posi tion of the Irish Seem tary. LETTER-CARRIARB. Mr. GROGAN moved for a.Zteturn showing the amount of wages paid to the letter-carriers of class No. lof this metropolis, on die Ist day of 0 413 , 846, and also the av erage amount of all other Attigaments I received by them respectively ; similar rettfras for the letter-carriers of classes Nos. 2 arid 3 ; returns showing the amount of wages now paid to the letter carriers in each class, and any other compensation they had in ad dition ; also similar returns for the letter-carriers of Dublin, with the emoluments they had in addition to their salary.—Agreed to. On the order of the day being read for resuming the adjourned debate on the LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL, Mr. G. A. HAMILTON was desirous to express the gratification he felt at the close of the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor •of the Exchequer last night, where he evinced the sympathy he enter tained for the sufferings of the people of Ireland. He really believed that it was impossible for any one to realise to himself the extent of the misery which had taken place in Ireland who had not had the opportunity of observing it for himself. Why, in the part of Ireland where he resided, within twenty miles of Dublin, where the poor were.within the reach of markets, where every thing had been done which couid be done to mitigate or to avert this dreadful calamity, he said that it was most melancholy to observe the gradual approach of this fearful visitation. It was most melancholy to observe the gradual sinking of the smaller farmers from a state of comfort to a state of poverty ; the gradual disappear. ance of his little luxuries, of his slender comforts ; the disappearance of hi. pig, of his poultry, of his articles of household furniture—all indicative of the gradual and certain approach of this visitation. Still more melan choly was it to observe even among the labour ing classes the approach of this calamity; the mournful countenances, the desponding and downhearted appearance so unusual among the peasantry of Ireland, all telling a tale of famine not likely to be misunderstood. He knew enough of Ire land to know that if this state of things existed in a part of the country so favourably placed, they might easily imagine what must be the state of people in the more remote parts. There were two or three points in the speech of the Right Honourable Baronet opposite to which he felt it his duty to refer. He imputed to the gentlemen of Ireland a degree of supineness, because they had not availed themselves of the provisions of an Act, passed in the beginning of last session, by which money might be provided for the improvement of estates • and also that they h a d not ava i led themselves suff iciently of the provisions of another Act passed at a later period of the session, being an Act for the better drainage of estates in Ireland. With regard to the first of these Acts, it was tried and found to be in operative. He saw the Right Hon. Baronet, the late Secretary for the Home Department, in his place, and it might be in his remembrance that, in a conversation between him, the Honourable Baronet the Member for Derry, and himself (Mr. Hamilton), they informed the Right Hon. Baronet that a particular clause in that Act (the clause which made it imperative that they should apply to the Court of Chancery) would stultify it altogether. The House had already been informed that the operation of the second Act, which ap plied to the drainage of estates, was rendered inoperative by a defect in the third clause , The Right Honourable Gentleman the Chancellor had made presentments under the Labour-ra te of the Eichequer complained that the gentry of Actlreland totoo into the the ne cessity freely, and without any previous in qui ry t the t i o r m pr e e e s t eh : the truth was, the Act required nu . p ,while the presentment on the part of the of the works that were to be u r n e d li e m rt i a n i k a e r n y . ing N u o ir w y , the rate uamndstanatethe: o pas rtant difference p se a s y s e i r o s ns were d not g n t called ry ad together voueernmyces e ikn i e c pw e m „ t under the most unfacvoomumraebnlecemceirnct b thought the Right Honour reht emergency,vs e a e p n p t e h a e e A da c n t tdo passed consti tut eti e H a t e c t ° t n t h h s e ' o ' a end of the session. the many rheol abusesief were committ ees enxoitsteendii Honour able Gentleman had dealt rather hardly with hteo i r n er e Imi e l it r o e ;h l a ht n u d tb . eit sthh N oous o eldob c i l e o t u t b e- t t le T d l m is a ts n collected that the board consisted of clergymen and ma gistrates, and that the usual course was tor the clergy man who was supposed to be best acquainted with the circumstances of the district—(Rear, hear)—to represent any case of extreme distress. How then could the committees take on themselves to exclude persons thus recommended from relief ? He thought the discretion afterwards given to the officers to revise 'the lists was extremely judicious. Hiving made these few observations on the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman, he was anxious to state that he had no desire whatever to look back upon what had passed within the last few weeks in Ireland, or to speak unfavourably of the con duct of her Majesty's Government. He was aware of the difficulties by which they were surrounded. He thought, moreover, that the Lord-Lieutenant and the rest of the Government were entitled to the greatest praise for having taken upon themselves to carry out productive works in stead of those that were in operation under the Labour-rate Act. Considerin. , the difficulties conse quent upon th e ir duties, and the funds placed at their disposal, he considered that the Board of Works were also entitled to the thanks of the country for &bb 41444 S TJ N , '( . ;,1 4. ,*,. ) •4:;:-.7,:t.,-,:._:-• I Cool' ower! onem, ,j esti f Mi' with r"' the tiler bo a sta' iros bu t i ts' bat no' alci ha t c er, tl/e 1711