The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, i „ tis tt e et ; ing engineers and others, who would be re ‘lll, se carry out the arrangement, would cause 'iltaraense expenditure of money. The importance of the liies tieu, however, under the Poor Relief Bill, could not be over estimated. If the Government would say that it had 7, 46 ap its mind on the subject it might be worthy of con 'oration, whether it would not be better to discuss it nsw ;,7 4 t° be it to a future occasion but if the question I;ht he considered to be still open, then ' he had no objection Its postponement. t . LABOUCHERE would not pledge the Government ": 1 , 5 Y course of the kind. Pledg e O'FERRAL said that what he wanted was not to 'lo the G overnment to any part i cu l ar course , b u t th a t they ( "lid leave the subject open for discussion on a future occasion. Mr. LABOUCHERE would give no assurance of the kind re quired. Sir H. W. BARRON regretted the tone of the Hon. Gentleman below him (Mr. Labouchere). He saw the teat danger of allowing the extension of the Poor t:, in. the manner proposed ; as the electoral die tins' as they now wood were quite too large was convinced that if the Poor-law were extended in Ireland find not confined to territorial responsibility, the greatest mis chiefwonld result to the landlords, and every other interest. The system of electoral districts had not the effect of stimulat ele landlords to improve their properties, and to give employ slew, but by narrowing the amount of taxation, that effect sould result, and the country be greatly benefited. There i as no landl or d, un d er suc h c i rcu mstances, who would support the Poor that might be upon his property in idleness, if he could procure employment for them. And he was surprised that this argument had not some effect on the Hon. Gentleman below him (Mr. Labouc'nere), The only tangible argument e ' any force which he had heard against the system of townl nd division was, that it would tend to a clearance of the estates. Now it oc curre d t o him that it was strange that the Right Hon. Gentleman did not see that a remedy could be applied for the prevention of that. He, himself ( Sir llarron), had a notice on the books of the House, ss that the landlord should be bound by law to support every person that be ejected from his property, for either three or five years. The system of communities, advocated by the Right Hon. Gentleman, might be very well in theory, but when reduced to practice, it would be found by no means so efficient as the town land system. If they were to have the English law adapted to Ireland, let them have the division into parishes, inn oduced as in England. There every parish supported its own poor, and in ninety nine cases out of a hundred, a parish in England was not one fourth the extent of an electoral district, neither in size, in name, nor in any other respect were they analogous. He hoped that the House would not adopt the vicious principle of throwing the whole responsibility upon property in Ireland, for such a principle would render all their efforts at legislation for Ireland, vain.•-( Hear, hear.) Mr. BELLEW said that the House could not lose sight of the question, that the Irish population was in some way to be Provided for ; but it could not be done by the principle of throwing the whole burden upon the landed property, as such a measure would be little short of a confiscation. In Mayo, Sligo, and many other counties, the rental of the estates would be eaten up by being obliged to support those who were upon them. He understood that the Hon. Member for Northamp tonshire wi s h e d t h a t ou t-d o or relief should be given to the a ble-bodied paupers, and he believed that the Irish Members generally, were not in favour of such a principle, but on the contrary, were opposed to it ; and, he believed, that such a principle would be most injurious, as it would throw too much re sPonsibility upon the townlands, which rarely exceeded two or three hundred acres, whilst the present district amounted to six thousand acres in some instances. Lord JOHN MANNERS confessed that when he heard the Right Honourable Gentleman object to the propo sitions of th e H onoura bl e Member for Northamptonshire, tor its not being in strict accordance with the principles of the flEnglish law, h e was surprised. Supposing that the proposition did not stri ct l y accord with the English law, if it produced a ttactical good in Ireland, why should it be rejected? The 'tight Is sn H o _ • Gentleman also went on to say, that he wished the th use to sanction the principle that a man was more to regard e way he p er f orme d his duties to the community than the ".ay he discharged his duties to his property. His firm con !union was, that the community would best be served when V"isidual r i g h ts and i n di v id ua l d u ti es were properly main c • h le d. He was on ly a n English Member of that House, but e thought he might be pardoned if he now took some further interest in this question. He thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman, in laying down his principles with respect to the "titles to the community, was laying the foundation for an in 7eased area for taxation under the lish poor-law. As an siglish Member, he should be prepayed whenever the question was discussed, to pay attention to the opinion expressed by the Honourable Members for Kildare and Waterford, ;and not be led away by the expression of opi n i on with reference to feudal i sm, w hi c h h a d not hi ng to do with the question. % M r s OSBORNE said he would not trespass too much upon e time of th e H ouse b y the observations he had to make. Ile thought that the arguments adduced by the Right Hon. Gen tleman c r would certainly carry him to approve of the cape eYof a natio na l ra t e . He thought that the Hon. Member lforsh N orthamptonshire had been somewhat misrepresented in is debat e w i th regard to t h e opin i on h e h a d expresse d, b u t hi s s immedi a t e o bj ect i n r i s i ng was t o d raw th e a tt e ntion of the ease to wh a t h e t h oug ht as ser i ous a ma tt er . He did not Fish to interpose any delay before the House went into Com mittee. He wished to wash his hands from the responsibility ?f agreeing to this measure which her Majesty's Government h ad brought forward for the temporary relief of the destitut e p g oor. He had a stron opinion upon this Blli . He gave the Government every credit for kind a nd good intentions in introducing it. H e b e l ieve d hat no men were actuated by better int en ti ons , an d ee als o believed that next to the unfortunate people, Rho were now starving in Ireland they were much to be pitied• The state of things in Ireland had got to that dreadful crisis, that it was difficult to propose any measure sufficient as a rem e dy. He believed that the measure proposed would not he effectual. It would set into operation two systems, and would Cause continual drains of money from this country, and that, he could assure the Hon. Member for Bath, he was most a nxious to avoid. There were 500,000 people working on the loads' in Ireland, and it was intended to employ and feed them. r theY gave each of them a quart of soup per day, that, at the invest estimate, would cost Id. per head, or 10,600:. per day, 7(0 00/ per week, or three millions a year ; and yet during all N l. his time the labour-rat e did not. cease. They were certain in niling this test t o p romo t e th e cu ltiv a ti on o f th e coun t ry . man who merely got his quart of soup would undertake agricultural labour, and he had been informed by medical .tt that soup was not s ufficient f o od f o r th em , and there was neither accommodation in the way of ovens, or !Real to put into them. Even the workhouses were short of bread. This measure for temporary relief would not produce any permanent benefit, nor tend to the cultivation of the soil. After a fe w wor d s f rom L or d BERNARD, the Hou s e wen t into Committee. On clause l being proposed, Mr. F. FRENCH said that in the first clause he ob served th at there were many officers to be appointed by the lie e tumissione rs subject to the approval of the Lord Lieutenant. obje cte d much to the pr i ncip l e, an d h e t h oug h t that the t e i s Pousibility ou g ht t o f a ll u p on the L or d Lie u t en a n t him s elf. "e would propose, therefore, that the words " subject to the 16 th vat of the Lord Lieutenant" should be struck out in the clause. After a few words from Sir G. GREY, which did not reach the gallery, Lord CLEMENTS said that he thought the responsibility Ought to be thrown definitely on the Lord Lieutenant, as the Mere necessity of his approval of the appointments would give rise to m an y a b us es. He did not see how those officers who had other engagements to fulfil could properly administer the Prssent law. Mr. LABOUCHERE said the Hon. Member bad com plained of all the appointments requiring the sanction of the Lard Lieutenant. Upon the fullest consideration, of the question, the Government thought this course the-most desirable. He also complains that several of the Commis sioners, having other appointments, could not purposely attend to the duties imposed on them by the present measure. The true state of the case was, that Sir John Burgoyne and Sir Randolph Routh would have all their time devoted to the mea sure; while Sir John Macgregor, Colonel Jones, and Mr. Red iAn,gton, would be able to afford them important assistance. Ir. Redin g t on , i n a communication which he (Mr. Labrou there had iceeived from him, said that he really believed that d Y the rrangetnent proposed, they should gain a great ;'al of time, an d ver y m u c h simplify the business. He said a y that th e comm i ss i oners ap p o i n ted would be quite sufficient Or the duties, and that the board would be quite sufficient for all present purposes. _, Mr. B. O SBORNE would not oppose t h e c l ause, b ut com plained o f the enormous duties that would be thrust on S i r n 4 Burgoyne, and Sir Randolph Routh. He considered that local boards ought to be appointed in the various districts t o relieve the duties of the centr a l c ommissioners. If the Bill w to work at a ll t h ere must b e l oca l b oar d s. present CLEMENTS did not wish to press his amendment at sent t for , but thought the machinery was d e fe c ti ve i n its pre tty The amendment was then withdrawn, and a 'tit:QUER few words from the CHANCELLOR of th e EX- The clause was agreed to. Clause 2 was agreed to without discussion. ‘ -th the resolution that clause 3 stand part of the Bill, r. S. O'BRIEN moved, as an amendment, that those Parties. who h a d su b scr ib e d to a cer t a i n amount should be eh %"ale in their respective districts for seats in the local boards t" Management. I ts F. FRENCH a pp r o ve d of the amendment. rs OSBORNE hoped the suggestion would be at tended to. th e he CHANCELLOR o f th e EXCHEQUER o bj ec t e d t o alteration proposed. Member CO NNOLL Y t h oug h t t h e amen d ment of the Hon. ' "se,.rober for Limerick would be a great improvement. her ' he Earl of LINCOLN was in favour of limiting the num ha s o s f the Committee. Let them suppose it composed of per -0 individuals, and he was assured that with the peculiar t. e 4erament of the Irish the business could be proceeded with. rte thought, therefore,. that the clause as it stood would meet ell the difficulties of the ease. Mr. SHAW thought that the clause sh ou ld spec if y j ust i ces either re s id ent within the electoraldistricts, or h av i ng pro perty th ere . H e was quite prepared, howev er , t o l eave the whole matter i n th e discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant and the Board of Management. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL urged in tnhceinaitirig the clauserongest manner, upon the Government the p ropr i ety of i the clergymen in the respective districts. lie consider e d t h at by s o d o i ng they would s e cu re the confidence of the poorer classes. Mr. OSBORNE thought the whole mattersraight be left in the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant. • Mr. LABOUCHERE could not see the propriety of grant ing such unlimited powers to the Lord-Lieutenant. They had ehen the guardians of the respective unions, together with the resident justices. With respect to the clergymen, he was sur e th at the Government had no desire to cast the :ttthtest refle c ti on on t h e c l erg y m e n of Ireland, whether th ese b elonged to th e E sta bli s h e d or t h e R oman C a th o lic Chu rc h. H e (";,_ a sr. Lab ouchere) bore testimony to the great exert i ons of t body during the existing visitation. He believed that without their assistance it would have been impossible to have p r o e s x ersed the p eace of the country. But they b a d no d es i re ttiextend the powers in the clause, more especially as the Lord h e f u o t nad tt i could avail himself of the advice of the clergy when a few to do so. was Afterf words from Sir D. NORREYS, the amendment w negatived without a division. th •Ss O'BRIEN then proposed another amendment in Purim clause, that after the word " poor," in line 21, these words be introd ing in the electoucedi" Cle rgymen of all denominations resid ral districts," Mr. F. FR ENCH trusted the Hon. Member would not press his amendment. Mr. AGLIONBY thoussht that Government should concede the amendment to the wishe s of the Irish Meni had experien ce , and thereore the bers. They had Committee. y ought to b e p l ace d on t h e Sir G, GREY said that a great difficult would naturally .a.rainsepoutof this proposition, for the ministerseof fifty denomina elionfa,swho would claim the right, and tli re would be endless Then there would be another difficulty as to who were I°ll. d f e or a moment be au clergy clergy. He trusted it would 4 ata e t d io t a bat it was intended in theslighte n s o t t a feuwpownotrhde, Catholic clergy. After gree to cast any from Sir R. 171.1iGITSON and Lord J usalsexas the latter of whom stated that it was his intention su pport the amenchn ent, Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that a difficulty would also arise from the positions of the Roman . Catholic clergy in Ire land in the several parishes. He was himself entitle Ito officiate as a guardian, but he had not qualified, and he appre headed that the same indisposition would be felt by the Roman Catholic clergy. He thought the better plan would be to leave out the whole clause, and take the discussion on bringing up the report. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... 32 Against it ••• ••• 123 Majority against the amendment --0 a The amendment was consequently lost, and the clause was agreed to. Clauses 4 and 5 were then agreed to. On the proposition of clause 6, Mr. MORGAN J. O'CONNELL thought the clause was clumsily worded. Its object was to connect the district com mittees with the central committee in Dublin. Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE did rot mean to meet the Bill with any hostility, but he thought the machinery might be amended. After the proposition of some verbal amendmen's by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the clause, with his alterations was agreed to. On clause 7 being proposed, Lord CLEMENTS said that this clause was simply a varia tion of the 18th clause, and on these two clauses the whole Bill hinged; and it appeared that a deficiency had occurred, from the Government having neglected to ascertain which of the pram ought to he relieved, and who not. They had blinked the qu.stion in every stage, and then they proposed a 6!. rating. Why, did they know what a 6/. rating was, and bow it would affect the people? Under the clause, as it ,new stood, anybody might be relieved. He knew persons of in dependent property, who would be under the 6/. rating ; and many industrious people, who were well off, would be free from it. Why, under this clause, the Right Hon. Gentle man the Secretary for Ireland might himself go and receive the relief.—(Laughter.) If they proceeded as the Bill stood, the farmer would compete with the labourer for the work. Then it was perfectly impassible for any one to work the accounts, as ha firmly believed that out of the 21,520 persons to be employed there was not one that would understand the accounts. There were more difficulties in this Bill than the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Secretary for Ireland anticipated, and he thought it was indispensably necessary that the clauses he had alluded to should be amended. lie would suggest that as a test of the destitution of the party requiring relief, the sum he had pre viously been rated it, should not exceed 4/. Mr. LA BOUCH ERE entertained a strong opinion, that it would be most inexpedient to attempt to lay down any distinct definition as to who should be entitled to relief. Still he was ready to admit, that under the Labour-rateAct, persons had been employed who, so far from beingdestitute, had the means in their own hands of procuring a very excellent subsistence. He was not so sanguine as to suppose that this Bill would not be liable to the same difficulties and objections ; but at all events, under its provisions the imposition could not be so suc cessfully practised as it had been under the Labour-rate Act. Under that Act ,in many instances, public virtue had given way to self-interest ; but as the present Bill did not provide for the distribution of money, but of food, there would not be the same temptations. With regard to fixing the test at 41., he thought it most unwise to pursue any such course, because it was not impossible that persons who had been higher rated might be reduced to the lowest depths of destitution. He must, therefore, decline to adopt the sug gestion of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. F. FRENCH perfectly agreed with the last remark of the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland. He knew rn.ny persons who bad been rated at upwards of 6/. who were new in a state of most pitiable destitution. After a few words from Mr. BELLEW, The clause as amended was agreed to. On - clause 6, which provides for the issuing of warrants , di rected to the guardians, requiring them to pay the amount of the estimate to the person named in the warrant, being put, Colonel CONOLLY thought it rather an unreasonable thing to compel them to collect such large sums of money, when it was already well known that they were totally unable to collect money to the distress of the districts. Mr. B. OSBORNE thought that it was quite likely that no rates would ever be collected in Ireland until the next har vest. It would be much better for the Government to allow those unions who had overdrawn their account to pay interest on such sums until' they were paid. Mr. ROEBUCK thought it rather stran.Te that the Go vernment should be called upon to advance money upon inte rest tl persons whom the Hon. Member had stated were totally unable to collect the rates or repay the loans. Irish Members seemed quite prepared to take the money, but bad no idea of repaying it. He believed that all the charities of Ireland had been and would be misapplied, and would go into the pockets of those who were trading upon the miseries of Ireland. Lord CLEMENTS said that it was quite true that the money had been misapplied; but it had been misapplied by the Government, and that, too, upon their own confession. The poor had been defrauded of their money, and the farmers ar.d more respectable people had received that which the poor should have had. He fully concurred in the epinion that the rates would not be paid before the neat harvest, even if then; for in his opinion there would be nothing like crops for the next harvest. . Mr. ROSS wished to deny the charge whichhad been made against the landowners a few nights since by the lion. and Learned Member for Bath, whom he characterised as coming to the House and begging them to save them from ruin. Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought it quite impossible for the rates to be collected. There were hundreds of persons rented at more than 4/. per annum who were not cultivating their land, and who would be perfectly unable to pay the rates. He thought the imposition of any relief test would prove a failure. It was an important question, and it was right that the attention of the G over nment should be fully called to the subject. It was not without great consideration on this subject that her Majesty's Government had decided upon the present measures. It was true that the Hon. Gentleman had stated that there were many parts of Ireland where the rate could be collected, but there were many other parts of the country where it could not be collected, and in the eases that had been called, where it was not collected, he believed it was not owing to the neglect of those whose duty it was to collect the rents. It had been said they we. e imposing duties on the officers of the ror- law different to those for which they were engaged ; but it was the duty of these offic , rs to do all that was required of them for tlac collection of the rents as essential to their func tions. Mr. OSEORNE and Major M‘NAmatt A rose at the same time, but the latter gave way. Mr. OSBORNE—The statement made by the Hon. Mem ber for Northampton was strictly true. There were instances in Clare of some of the small farmers having gone on the public roads. Notwithstanding what had been said by the Hon. Member for Batb, he did not think the rate could be collected. Major M'NAMARA made a few remarks which were in audible. Mr. C. O'BRIEN was ready to prove that many of th e statements tbat had been made in the course of Chet debate were quite erroneous. He could prove tha every statement put. forward by Captain Wynne, with respect to the county of Clare, was unfounded. He had treated the inhabitants as savages ; but they were no such thing. In that part of the county in which ne resided no difficulty was experienced in collecting the rates, and they were a sufficient security for the repayment of whatever money the Government might advance. He hoped, however, the Government would institute an inquiry into the charges which Captain Wynne had made, and not to allow him to continue to hold the office he did at a salary of 500'. a-year, with the assistance of a secretary, which the county had to pay. Mr. P. SCROPE hoped the House would not be led away from the great question before them by personal recrimination. The great object to be obtained was to save millions of the peo ple from perishing, and to prevent the money, proposed to be advanced, from being improperly expended ; but if they at tempted to collect the rates from the occupying tenants, they would create the same confusion which they did in 1b35, when they attempted, by the aid of the military, to collect tithes from the tenants. It was advisable to put the rates at once upon the landlords, who were in a condition to give ample security to the Government for whatever advances they might make on the credit of their tenantry. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that what he meant was, that Clare was an exception to other counties, as many of its inhabitants bad acted very turbulently, for instance the Lord-Lieutenant had been compelled to stop, some of the wcrlis, in consequence of the riotous conduct of those employed on them. A murderous attack had recently been made in the same county. An extract from Captain Wynne's report, however, stated that the people had returned to their former masters, he believed the report to be true. Mr. C. O'BRIEN stated that Captain Wynne had brought charges against him which had been investigated by the board, and their utter groundlessness proved. Now he complained that the report did not contain any allusion to the matter. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said that there was a great doubt whether the rates would be paid in Ireland. The land lords might be able to pay them, but the poor tenants wou!d not. He thought that if they wished to keep the people alive it must be by a large grant of money. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said that it would be impossible to collect the rates in many districts, and more especially where the Noble Lord ( Clements) lived. In many places they were not able to pay rents much less taxes, and therefore he thought it would be impossible to collect the rates from the poor of Ireland. Mr. DISRAELI supported the suggestion of the Hon. Memter for Clare with regard to a committee, and read a letter from Captain Wynne to the board reflecting on the conduct .of Mr. O'Brien, and other magistrates of the county of Clare, as well as the state of society in that county generally. Mr. CORNELIUS O'BRIEN hoped the Hon. M em b er for Shrewsbury would not take the words of Capt. Wynne as gospel. That letter had been written by him for the purpose of raising himself in the estimation of the Board. It ill became Capt. Wynne to talk in a derogatory manner of him (Mr. O'Brien) or his colleague, for there was a transaction in which he was concerned in the county Limerick. which did not contribute much to his reputation. He took into his barrack room the Rife of --, (cries 'of " Oh, oh,)—and after wards made an allegation of seduction—(cries of " Oh, oh,")-- If the House would grant him a committee of inquiry he would prove the truth of all he stated. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he considered it due after what had been said, to the character of a public servant, to bear his testimony to his merits. He knew it to be the opinion of every member of the Irish Govern ment, that although they had many officers who dis charged onerous duties with ability, fidelity, and zeal, yet there was no person whose conduct excelled that of Captain Wynne. He acted a most gallant and manly part under circumstances of the most adverse description. He (Mr. Labouchere) never saw Captain Wynne in his life, and'he therefore could have no personal interest in rising to defend him from an unjust Jind unfair attack—his only motive was a sense of justice. He did not wish to enter i nto any question in reference to disputes which might have existed betwe e n C a pt a i n Wynne and the H onoura b le Gentleman ; he only regretted that they sho u ld h ave been brought ' b e f ore t h e H ouse. e Ni only felt it d ue to Captain He to say th a t h e was ent itl e d to the gratitudeoefte of the heeountry, for it was mainly to his exer tions that the peace country was preserved—(hear, hear.) He was ready to agreem with Hon. G ent l emen t h at there were g rea t abuses onof the p u bli c wor k s, b ut i t me an ?: was most unjust t o say that exceptions t w ere t h e ru l e . In many part s o f the countr y h very well condu c t e d, and every b e ody did th e i r d uty , public wor k s were and none but the really destitute were them. By the ex er ti ons of the Board oal co l a biWe good empleyed upon an d the co-operation of the gentry, groat andincalculable had been effected. He hoped that the discussion would end there, and that the House would be allowed to proceed with the Bill. Mr. C. O'BRIEN said that the report, which acquitted him and his colleague, had been suppressed, and not a word had been said about it. Mr. SHAW said, that although a few abuses might have existed, it was by no means the general rule. When it was most erroneously stated that farmers were receiving the funds des.. tined for the destitute. A landlord, living in the county Leitrim, had informed him, within the last two days, that out of 700/. rent his agent, a most intelligent gentleman, had reported to him that all he could collect was 51. He had visited all the tenants, and he did not believe, so destitute were they of every thing, that they could pay one farthing more—was it fair, then, to call those unfortunate people farmers, farmers re ceiving relief —( Hear, hear.) He did believe that the money would be repaid—at least the greater portion of it --and he could assure the Government of this, at least, that they would meet the most =WWI and cordial support from every Ind. ord in Ireland who were only desirous to assist by every means in their power.—( Hear, hear.) Lord BERNARD said that he spoke the sentiments of the great majority of the people in Ireland, when he stated that all they wanted was a loan of money, which they would honestly repay. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said, that in the part of Ireland with which he was connected, the landlords had punctually paid their rates. When it was said that the inability to pay the rates arose from the landlords, it was casting an unjust reffec tiun upon them. He trusted, that if the rates could not other wise he collected, they should be levied from the lands, for the English public ought not to be disappointed, nor the Irish peo ple left to starvation. The clause, with verbal amendments, was agreed to. Clauses 9,10, and 11, were then agreed to. t On clause 12 being proposed, Mr. S. O'BRIEN said that the consideration of this clause had better be postponed until Monday, as it did not determine fairly whether the rates for out-door relief should be levied upon the electoral districts or the unions generally. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the question had better remain open until the bringing up of the report on Monday. Lord LINCOLN wished the law as laid down in this Bill to remain in accordance with the present law in Ireland. It was true that an application had been made to the Government to allow the rates to be levied upon the electoral districts, and it was necessary that the law as it stood should remain unaltered as the greatest confusion would arise from any attempt at change. It would be better to postpone the matter until the other measure, with reference to the poor in Ireland, then before the House, should be decided. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Noble Lord had said quite correctly, that all expenses should be charged to the electoral division, but the law as it at pre sent existed, enacted that a twelve months residence out of eighteen in the electoral district should let the expense fall on that district, but a less period of residence would cause the ex pense to fall upon the general union. The question must be referred to the Commissioners for the execution of the law. After some further c,nversstion, Mr. ROEBUCK begged leave to move that Mr. Greene should leave the chair and report progress. After a few remarks from Mr. DISRAELI, This course was agreed to, and the chairman reported progress. The House then resumed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned until Four o'clock on Monday. IRISH RAILWAYS BILL. That our Contemporary, the Times, should resist any scheme whatever which has for its object the extension of railways in general, and that Mr. Roebuck should spitefully attack any measure, however benevolent, for the ameliora tion of the condition of the Irish people in this the hour of their misfortune, are things of course. The country will not be surprised by the opposition of the one or the malignity of the other. It will, possibly, not be astonished by the glaring mis-statements contained in the angry effusions of either. They who have read but cursorily the admirable and lucid speech of the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn will have gathered at least from his statement, that no proposition is made to the people of England to part with one sixpence of their property, in order to make a bold and final endeavour towards the recovery of their brethren in ,the sister island. Great as the object is, imminent as the crisis has become, no one class of the people, no single in dividual in England does his Lordship propose to burden or to tax for the relief and benefit of the people in Ireland. England, in an emergency unparalleled, to accomplish a good, the extent of which it is impossible to overrate, is asked simply to lend, not her money, but her credit, to the country to which she is bound by common laws, common interests and rights, in order to enable her to rise from degradation to prosperity, from want to plenty, and to assume, with reelect to England, thet honourable position which hitherto she has not known, but which the saddest experience has taught us i 3 as necessary to the well-being of the one country as it is to the tranquillity of the other. Not the grant of a farthing is demanded. If there is anything clear in the matter it is this simple fact. The request is solely for credit to obtain loan, which shall be secured as amply as the most scrupulous can wish. In no one case does Lord George Bentinck ask the Government to advance the mintiest portion of that loan, except on the approval and certificate of the constituted board of Pailway Commissioners, unless a third of the a m o unt r a a p i p t w l i e a d v for co p n a d n a y th a - a s l i t m i n e g d as h a s s i s t b a e n e e n e, a l a r n e d a d u y n t e i x l p t e h n e d e l d r h b o y l e the f the works are ready to be given as security for the loan re quired. That winch is so plain to the humblest under standing could hardly have escaped the acute penetration of our sagacious Contemporary, and the equally sharp mind of the Hon. Gentleman to whom we refer, and who deems it his duty to retail on the floor of the House of Commons the unseemly abuse and unwarranted accusations which he has previously read in columns as spiteful and pre judiced as his own unhappy, vexed, and restless s?irit. But it has escaped them both, or they wilfully mis-state the facts of the case, and knowingly attempt to mislead the public judgment. "Tile grant of 16,000,0001. to the lines of one province," says our Contemporary, " would help to depreciate the rest." What grant? None is spoken of. " Government is," he continues, " to restore confidence, lend money, finish railways, change discount into premium, till the pockets of the shareholders, and perform all thole other wonders which Harlequin is expected to do on the stage, and a Minister in the Emerald Isle." Government is expected to do no such things. It is asked neither to lend money nor to finish railways. The people, by universal acknowledg ment, are starving. A vast proportion of the labouring classes are at the present moment employed on works that have been pronounced worse than useless, answering at the best "no other purpose than that of obstructing the public communication ;" the population look .to the State for some provision for the futnre—some permanent and set tled mode of earning a livelihood apart from the miserable and insufficient methods of the past. They all but implore to be taken from their wretched potato fields, and to be distributed over profitable and generally remunerating works; and on their behalf the credit, and nothing more, of the Government is demanded by the Noble Lord, who, guided by the wisdom and experience of the most, practical and successful men of the age, prefers the accomplishment of railways to the re claiming of bogs, useful industry to unprofitable scheming. "The Noble Lord," said Mr. Roebuck, " proposes that this country should employ 16,000,000/. in a sort of speculation of making railroads in Ireland. He did not ask the rich to come forward, but he asked the Noble Lord at the head of the Government to tax the people of England, in order that he might apply their capital to the construction of railroads in Ireland. Already a sum of 11,500,000/. had been called fur from the people of England. To that the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn proposed to add 16,000,000/. more." The coolness and effrontery of these mis-statements require no comment. By the side of the clear asd unmistake able announcement of the Noble Member for Lynn, they will fail to exasperate the public mind and to excite the wrath of one portion of the kingdom against their suffering fellow-sub jects across the Channel. Lord J. Russell has decided to op pose this second reading of the " Irish Railways Bill." On Tuesday evening he annoucced his determination to oppose its introduction altogether. That determination was relaxed when the feeling of the House and the well filled benches of the Opposition could nut fail to attract his Lordships' attention. We will hope that new motives will induce a second relaxation. It is bene his Lordship to refuse a good measure because introduced by his political opponents. With regard to Ireland all party oppositiou has ceased. It is not to impede the progress of Government that Lord George Bentinck interferes to-day, but to help it on. The English community are interested in the future pros perity of their Irish brethren. No Member of Parliament fulfils his duty to his constituency unless, at the present try ing moment, to the best of his ability he seeks to prevent a recurrence of the calamities which now weigh upon the in dustry of the humble labourers of the country, and yet are borne with truest sympathy and self-denial. The measures suggested by Lord George Bentinck not only repair the affliction and remove the burden, but they propose advan tages to England otherwise unattainable. Lord John Rus sell, as we conceive from his Lordship's speech, would be better disposed to listen to such measures if they did not jar with his previous theories and conceits. The. shade of political economy haunts the Prime Minister like a curse. It was with him during the recess—it accompanies pins to the Ministerial bench. A month or two ago it would not sttffer him to feed the famished people. To-day it will permit him to do nothing else. When we urged his Lordship to save the dying hundreds, and published for his edification and support the accounts that daily came to us of , fe.arfal deaths and me lancholy inquests, the ear was turned from humanity to science. Depots were closed, and the principles of trade and commerce held more sacred than the lives of men. Now, when we have time to look about us —now, when Parliament has met, and it is the duty of that Parliament not only to give food, but to take steps against the return of famine, and to give activity to the desponding, labour to the disheartened, hope to the despairing, energy and self respect to the idle, political economy alters her tone and bids his Lordship be humane and say, that " the only want is the want of food, and that the application of money for railway purposes is not calculated to supply it." Where political economy should be tender, she is a stoic ; where she should be up and active, she is merely drivelling. It is the fate of all theories that are antagonistic to the laws of God and nature to be thus inconsistent and con temptible. We hope that we have shown ourselves at least as sensible as his Lordship of the urgent necessity of furnish ing the starving population with food for their immediate help. We are, however, not' the less conscious of the pro- Kielty of legislating at once for the general improvement of the d d d l in scheme no betterer p mi nflaceell e asxil%tee o a seo:::innt p phuddi,haosdite, l i nseanfiear experience oethmgtiehebnafted W rea:ascoeds:pspoedfiti e ti oe sfGoNroitt,w, fai yfi eetri theoaet n srhiereihueclgoaesbrp eefn c eeoptl xe o isatahrl Btbrnthisuttegleteciessi Stephenson, osien e ni fimNnf i ritlfli v %nooicaini:oon e eai orb ortbeocimdnehlssi rkysue n .rdeet.ope ler o lodLpfDrai eatoaosrot m aernßwmsphdrmyebddeNe e eacio,i aeb t srai ndss l :eel promising Member cluofgesymtaelurfdetyie, or thinking, os o ihsitrrnienhn f erdslbr a unshsaoj b nfsvaeovos tto s dttefhrh o ehhemeer na r ecanriboti b zalmrathrueam i lacatnat. Sunderland, une g otcdodtl d. nensuwro:s t :strsiub:h h epnlaset. slyyy,oe e e.s. ewb !i r o s i%e i ,ohei t m l nesln a eetrimy, t h offer and the Parliament to sanction. Still Lord John Russell is inflexible. He babbles of principles when he is over whelmed with facts. We trust that Lord George Bentinck will persevere with the Bill in tho teeth of every opposition. He has made the boldest, but the best step yet taken in the path of Irish improvement. His facts and his arguments are alike irresistible. Ireland will be grateful to his Lordship for his industry and zeal—his party and his country may justly be proud of his ability and talents.—Herold. TESTIMONIAL MANlA.—Every body now-a-days is giving every body a testimonial. Wellington, in bronze, r iding the high horse; Cobden , the peaceful hero of a world —not a country; and Hudson. the railway monarch, whose motto might be, "nulla dies sine Linea." It may, however, be confidently predicted that one might be named whose, exertions in alleviating human sufferings far outbalance the just and willingly rendered claims of those whose names are above enumerated. This will at once be apparent, when we call to mind the almost incalculable amount of agonising torture relieved by Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills, whose proprietor may be said already to have reared an imperish able monument on the gratitude•of thousands. Boz's LAST WORE.--It must he a matter of sur prise to the public generally to perceive bow varied are the opinions expressed by the Leading newspapers, with respect to Mr. Dickens's last publication. It may well be imagined that some adverse ci iticisms upon the works of this and other celebrated authors m-tv proceed from personal feelings or educational prejudices. These, however, could account for but a'few. The majority, as we have the best medical au thority- for stating, may be ascribed to irritability of temper, generally arising from a deranged state of the liver and other viscera, and which could easily be remedied by the occasional use of Frampton's Pill of Health, which is gentle in its operation, and unfailing in its effect. The British - Institution will open on Monday wi th only a middling display, the top men being absent: There is no Landseer, no Stanfield: indeed, if we are correctly in formed, there is no one work sufficiently prominent to take naevxit lye visitor there Builder.ereTaseeo second time. We shall be able to say more 'dr ri EVENING, FEBRUARY 6, 1847 PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Procadincs of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY FEB. 5. The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time: — Manchester and Southport Railway and Branches—" for making a Railway from Southport through Wigan to Pen • dleton, near Manchester, with several Branches, to be called The Manchester and Southport Railway.' " London and Blackwell Railway Improvement and Branches to the St. Katherine's and London Docks—" to amend the Acts relating to the London and Blackwell Railway, and to authorise the Company to alter the Gauge of their Railway, and to make certain Improvements in the Approaches to the said Railway, and to make Branches to the London Ind St. Katherine's Docks." Midland (Masbrough and Normanton Stations Enlarge ment)—" to enable the Midland Railway C o mpany to en large their Stations at M as b roug h an d . Normanton respec tively, and to construct additional Sidings or Branch Rail ways." Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnlirk, and Coatbridge Railway ; Branch to Glasgow and Station)--" to enable the Caledonian Railway Company to make a Branch Railway from the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway to Glasgow, and to enlarge the Station in that City." London and South-Western (Widening, &c.)—" to enable the London and South-Western Railwa Company to widen and improve the Lcnd on an d South-Western Railway from the junction thereof with the Richmond Railway to the Ter minus at Nine Elms, and to enable them to enlarge their in tended Station at the York-read, Lambeth." The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction (Cowlairs, Car myle, Central Junction, and Coplaw-hill Branches, and Montrose-street Terminus). Glasgow, Airdrie, and Alen klands Junction (Cowllirs B ranch). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, and Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir (No. 3). Preston and Wyre. North -Western (Diversions at Skipton, Casterton, and Sedbergh). London and North-Western (Purchare of the Earl of Elles mere's interest in the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway). Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction. Liskeard and Launceston Branch. Lynn and Ely (Extension to Spalding and Holbeach). Lynn and Ely (Extension to Bury St. Edmund's). Direct London and Portsmouth, and London, Brighton, and South Coast Amalgamation. Manchester and Lincoln Union (Deviation). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Louth and Horn castle and East Lincolnshire Junction Branches). Norfolk (from Thetford to the Lowestoft Railway near Reedhain, with a Branch to Haleaworth). Reading, Guildford, and Reigate. Glasgow, Damfries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kil- ma - rno'ck and Ayr (No. 2). Bristol and South Wales Junction and Aust Ferry. Wharfdale (Skipton and Cayley Hall Deviations). Wear Valle.y, Bishop Auckland and Weardale, Weardale Extension, and Wear and Der-went Railways, and Shildoa Tunnel Amalgamation. MAGAZINES (CONTINUED). TAIT'S MAGAZINE. Another of Gilfillan's Literary Portraits is prefixed t the present number. It is me of the m'st interesting and not the least brilliant he has hitherto produced. His theme is the character and writings of Thomas H 00.3„ As might have been anticipated, Mr. Gilflllan restricts his critical observations principally to the serious poetry of the deceased author. The discrimination of the merits of that poetry, and particularly of the " homely tragic narratives" and the " grave pathetic lyrics" is keen and generous. Upon Eugene Aram's dream is uttered an earnest panegyric, but not a jot more earnest than that powerful poem deserves. On the celebrated " Song of the Shirt," again, the strictures are forcible enough, the writer fully appreciating the harden of that strange and stirring chaunt—" now shrunk down into the whispers of weakness, now shuddering up into the laughter of despair." One remark upon the idiosyncrasy of Hood is well conceived and clearly worded. "If he cannot get rid of the grim gigantic shadow of himself, which walks ever before him as before alt men, he can at least make mouths and cut antics behind its back." That sentence in itself is a fine eulogium upon the genial disposition and, we had almost said, the profound wisdom of poor Hood. "Some will continue to follow the un baptised terror in tame and helpless submission," con tinues Mr. Gilfillan, "others will pay it vain homage ; others will make to it resistance equally vain ; and many will seek to drown in pleasure, or forget in busi ness, their impression, that it walks on before them— silent, perpetual, pausing with their rest, running with their speed, growing with their growth, and stren*hen ing with their strength, forming itself a ghastly rainbow on the fumes of their bowl of festil al, lying down with them at night, starting up with every start that disturbs their slumbers, rising with them in the morning, rushing before them like a rival dealer into the market-place, and appearing to beckon them on behind it, from the death-bed into the land of shadows, as into its own do main." Was there not wisdom in that fitful laughter and those fantastic gambols of Hood ? And did that laughter and those gambols deteriorate in any measure the effect of his deep and enthral ling pathos ? Did they not rather enhance in a wonderful degree the emotions produced by his impassioned verse, breaking in with a jest upon the me lancholy wail of the sempstress, mingling a quaint smile with her tears, throwing " a dimple on the red waves of hell ?" Upon this apparently rich eccentricity, Mr Gil fillan observes, " Hood, as well as Shakspere knew that to deepen the deepest woe of humanity, it is the best way to show it in the lurid light of mirth." That is part of the secret of that charm, half-pensive, half jocose, which pervades the metrical writings of Hood. He laughs, and jokes, and puns, and exaggerates, and sets the table in a roar, becaute, as Mr. Gilfillan surmises, he felt that "if he wept at all, it were floods of terrible and burning tears." It is with the deepest pleasure w e hear that ono hundred pounds has been obtained from the Royal Bounty for the pressing necessities of the two orphan children of Thomas Hood, and that it is the intention of the Prime Minister to ensure them a com petent pension in June. The nation owed sane trivial mark of honour like this to the memory of as true a man .and as gentle a heart as England ever possessed. The " Letters and Dispatches of Napo leon," as well as the " Lives of the English Chancellors," by Lord Campbell, are severally reviewed, at some length, with copious quotations. Thomas do Quincy contributes ar.other article upon " Walter Savage, Lander ;" and John O'Connell com mences certain "Arguments for the Repeal of the Union." The principal excellence in the latter paper is, that it condenses into a few pages the plea of the Liberator, and his millions of followers. " Sketch( s in Cities," beginning with Glasgow, promises to be a very readable series, and calculated to do good service in the way of municipal improvement. Contrast begets emu lation and emulation necessitates advancement. The remainder of the magazine is of inferior importance, not excepting the Political Register. FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. At the Court at Windsor, the 4th day of February, 1547, I Present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. Her Majesty having been pleased to appoint Lloyd Vaughan Watkins &q., to be Lord-Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Brecon, he this day took the oaths up pointed to be taken thereupon, iastead of the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. Her Majesty in Council was this day pleased, upon the representation of the Right Hou. the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, to ap point - Edward Carleton Tufnell, Esq., and Joshua Fcstin Rucldock, Esq., to be two of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. DUCHY OF LANCASTER, FEB. 4, I 847. The Queen has been the day pleased to appoint William Gale, of Lightburn-house, Ulverstone, Esq., to be Sheriff of the county palatine of Lancaster for the year ensuing. WHITEHALL, FEB. 3. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Dr. William Pulteney Alison to be "First Physician to her Majesty in Scotland, in the room of Dr. J. H. Davidson, deceased. The Queen has also been pleased to appoint Dr. I:obert Christison to be one of her Almjesty's Physicians in Ordinary in Scotland. _ _ _ . : _ The Queen has also teen pleased to appoint Dr. James Young Simpson, to be Physician Accoucheur to her Majesty in Scotland. FOREIGN-OFFICE, J. 25. The Queen hilsl;eenplea.sed to appoint Charles Frederick Rothery, Esq., in the room of Henry William Macaulay, Esq., deceased, to be her Majesty's Commissioner in the Mixed British and Portuguese Commission established at the island of Boa Vista (one of the Cape de Verde Islands), under the treaty between Great Britain and Portugal for the'suppression of the slave trade, signed at Lisbon on the 3d of July, 1842. CBOWN-OFtICE, FEB. 4. BIEJIDERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS lIIESENT EARLI.A3IENT. County of Sussex ("Western Division) —Richard Prince, of Walberton, in the county of Sussex, Esq., in the room of Charles Wyndham, Esq., who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. County of Middlesex—The Right Honourable Robert Grosvenor, commonly called Lord Robert Grosvenor, in the room of George Byng, Esq., deceased. City of Chester—Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, commonly called Earl Grosvenor, in the room of the Right Honourable Robert Grosvenor, commonly called Lord Robert Grosvenor, who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chil tern Hundreds. WAR OFFICE, FEB. 5 Royal Regiment of Horse Guards—Lieutenant Lord George John Manners to be Captain, by purchase, vice Brunt, wEir retires; Cornet Francis Howard Vysc to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lord G. J. Manners ; Thomas Leslie, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Vvse, Feb. 5. Ist Regiment of Foot—Charles Miuchin, Gent., to be En sign, by purchase, vice Evans, who retires, Feb. 5. 9th Foot—Captain William Cookson, from the 80th Foot, to be Captain, vice Creagh, who exchanges, Nov. 21, 1846. 18th Foot—Ensign Charles Frederick Kelly to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Bernard, who retires; Ensign Charles Thickness° Came, from the 41st Foot, to be Ensign, vice Kelly, Feb. 5. 41st Foot—Captain Robert Donaldson to be Major, by purchase, vice Astier, who retires; Lieutenant Thomas Andrews Rawlins to be Captain, by purchase, vice Donald- son ; Ensign Campbell Graham to be Lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Rawlins; Charles Palgue Bertram, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Came, appointed to the 18th Foot, Feb. 5 ; Henry Dixon, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Graham, Feb. 6. _ _ . 46th Foot—Edward Wemyss, Gent., to be Ensign, with out purchase, vice Pretyman, deceased, Feb. 5. 73d Foot—Neil Alexander 11fackellar, Gent., to be En sign, without purchase, vice Hickson, promoted in Ceylon Rifle Regiment, Fcb. 5. 80th Foot—Captain Charles Myers Creagh, from 9th Foot, to be Captain, vice Cookson, who exchanges, Nov. 21, 1846. 84th Foot—Captain William Radcliff, from the 87th Foot, to be Captain, vice Campbell, who exchanges, Feb. 5. 87th Foot—Captain Charles F. Campbell, from 84th Foot, to be Captain, vice Radcliff, who exchanges, Feb. 5. 3d West India Regiment—Ensign John O'Flanagan to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Muttlebury, deceased. Oct. 1, 1846; William John Russwurm, Gent., to be Ensign, vice O'Flanagan ; Lieutenant Frederick Jesee Hills to be Paymaster, Feb. 5. Ceylon Rifle Regiment—Second Lieutenant John . Hender son to be First Lieutenant, without purchase, vice L. S. C. Fraser, deceased, Dec. 2, 1846 ; Second Lieutenant John MacDougall to be First Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Henderson, whose promotion on Jan. 9, 1847, lies been can celled ; John Brown, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, vice MacDougall, Feb. 5. _ _ , UNATTACHED.—Lieutenant Puilip Glubb, from 35th Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, Df.c 8; Lieutenant Wil liam Mason, from Royal Newfoundland Companies, to be Captain, without purchase, Feb. 5. ME3IORANDUM.—The Christian names of Ensign Morgan, of the 4th Foot, are George Augustus. Erratum in the Gazette of Aug. 7, 1846. 90th Foot—For Alexander Allean 'racer, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Blackburn, promoted. in the 6th Foot, read, vice Blackburn. killed in action. BANRRUPTS. Charles Hallett and Charles Parker, linendrapers Thorn ton-street, Dockhead, Bermondsey, to surrender Feb. 15, at half-past twelve, and March 15, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman street; Lawrance and Flews, Old Jewry-chambers. Alexander Fletcher, bookseller, Shaftesbury-street, Pim lico, Feb. 15, at twelve, and March 15, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Old Jewry ! chambers : Baylis and Co., Basinghall-street. Samuel Bradley, corn-factor, Mark- lane, Feb. 12 and March 19, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Husband and Wyatt, Moorgate. Joseph ElaM, rug-manufacturer, Etham-street, Kent street, Surrey, Feb. 12, at eleven, and March 19, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Wilson, Al derm anbury. George Messenger, draper, Uxbridge, Feb. 17, at two, and March 18, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. John son, official assignee, Basinghall street;. Reed and Langford, Friday- street, Cheapside. John Titley, woollen draper, High-street, Southwark, Feb. 11, at two, and March 11, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, b 'Coleman-street buildinos ; Sole and Turner, Aldermanbury. John Fabry, grocer, Strattieldsaye, Hampshire, Feb. 18, at two, and March 18, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Holmes and C Bedford-row. Thomas Young, leather-seller, Canterbury, Feb. 16, at two, and March 19, at &even, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry ; Ford, Bkomsbury-square. William Frederick Cowper, Benjamin Farren Cowper, and Paul Edwin Cowper, linen drapers, Darlington, Durham, Feb. 9, at half past ten, and March 15, at one, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, official as- ' signee ; Alison, Darlington ; Philipson, Newcastle- upon- Tyne; Tilson, Squancc,Clark, and .Morrice, Coleman-street. John Ilaskins Gandell and John Brunton, commission agents, Birkenhead, Feb. 23, and March 12, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool ; Parker and C 0 .., Gray's Inn, London ; Reid and Searle, Birkenhead. Thomas Brown Fairhurst, painter, Liverpool, Feb. 19, and March il9, at e'even,. at the Liverpool District Court. Mor gan, official assignee, Liverpool; Vincent, Temple, London • Atkinson, Liverpool. John Ross, woolstapler, Enderby, Leicestershire, Feb. 18. and March 13, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy,,offieial assignee, Birmingham; Smith, Birmingham. DIVIDENDS DECLARED J. Partington, attorney, Rochdale, Lancashire—first (Ey. of 6 1 / t d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. J. Pulman, blacksmith, Whalley-, Lancashire—first div. of is.o%d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. J. Pie, jun., slater, Preston, Lancashire—first div. of 104 d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at tho office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. J. Warburton, builder, Stockport, Cheshire—first div. of 7d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. T. Gregory, chemist, Macclesfield—first div. of 2s. 5(1. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Man chester. W. Taylor, oil merchant, Saddleworth, Yorkshire—final div. of I%d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. J. C. Cockroft, stuff manufacturer, Addington, Yorkshire —first and final div. of 10s. 9d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds. S. Askham, stuff manufacturer, Bradford, Yorkshire—a div. of 4d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds. J. Rawlinsen, tailor, Spalding, Lincolnshire—first div. of 45. in the pound, on any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Birmingham. A. Applegath, silk printer, Crayford, Kent—second div. of 4%d. in the pound, on any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. J. IL Spencer, farmer, Halsted, Essex—first div. of 7d. in the pound, on any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. Currie and Seignette, merchants, Mincing-lane—second div. of Id. in the pound, on any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. J. Cornish, painter, Bridport,Dorsetshire—a div. of 4s. 6d. in the pound, on new proof, towards the first div. of ss. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hirtzel, Exeter. J. Cummins, bookseller, Weymouth, Yorkshire—a div. of Is. 2d. in the pound on new proofs, towards the first div. of ss. in the pound,: on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Liirtzel, Exeter. _ _ _ _ R. L, Harness, spirit dealer, Dulverton, Somersetshire— first div. of 3s. 2 1 4 d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hirtzel, Exeter. R. L. Dawson and P. Vance, merchants, Liverpool— second div. of I%d. in the pound upon general proofs, and Bd. in the pound upon new proofs, at the office of Mr. Morgan, Liverpool. W. Tweddle, soap manufacturer, Leeds—first div. of 9d. in the pound, on Wednesday, Feb. 17, or any subsequent Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Morgan, Liverpool. J. Senior, brewer, Salford, Lancashire—first div. of 4s. 6d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. W. Hatton, silk manufacturer, Macclesfield—first div. of Is. 6 3 %d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. J. Wright, tavern keeper, Manchester—first div. of 2s. 9d. in the pound, on any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall:street. J. Sims, wheelwright Tollard Royal, Wiltshire, Feb. u 2_6 r , ea a t t one—B. L. M. Rothschild, dealer in precious stones, Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn - fields , F eb. 26, at one T. L. Powell, cabinet maker, Romsey, Hampshire, Feb. 26, at two —J. and T. Batt, silkmen, Old Broad-street, City, Feb. 26, at half-past one—F. K. Fowell , wine merchant, Piccadilly Feb. 26, at eleven—J. Denew, auctionee r, Charles-street, Berkeley-square, Feb. 26, at twelve—J. K. Bullen, tailor, Peterborough, Feb. 26, at two—F. Macqueen, merchant, Leadenhall-street, Feb. 2G, at one—S. York, upholsterer, Cambridge, Feb. 26, at half-past twelve—R. T. Fletcher, money scrivener, Brentford, Feb. 26. at twelve—W. Ransom, corn merchant, Stowmarkct, Suffolk, Feb. 26, at half-past eleven—T. A. Curtis, merchant, Tokenhouse-yard, City, Feb. 26, at twelve—J. Cuthbert and M. Clarke, jun., wing merchants, Colchester-street, Savage-gardens, City, Feb. 26, at eleven- 7 8. Lawrence, merchant, Crown. court, Old Broad street, City, Feb. 26, at eleven—R. Clarke and J. Burgess, coal dealers, Coal Exchange, City, Feb. 26,. at half-past eleven—H. Sandys, sen., Crane-court, Fleet-street, Feb. 6, at eleven—W. Palmer, hosier, Strand, March 1, at one. In the Country. C. Harris, tailor, Sheffield, March, 5, at eleven, at the Town-hall, Sheffield—W. Bradley, flax spinner, Leeds, Feb. 27, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court — J. clothier, Aldmondbnry, Yorkshire, March 2, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court—H. W. Hobhouse, J. Phillott, and C. Lowder, bankers, Bath. March 9, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court—H. W. Hobhouse, banker, Bath, March 2, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court—H. and W. Graham, merchants, Liverpool, Feb. 26, at twelve, at the Livepoel District Court—J. A. Lee, ironfounder, Liverpool, March 11 at eleven, at the Liverpool District Coa—C. Taylor, brush manufacturer, Birmingham, March 1, at twelve, at the Bir mingham District Court—J. B. Duokerley, draper, Blau cbester, Feb. 26, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court —W. Barker, cotton spinner, Tottington Iligher-and, La, ! - I March 4, at twelve, at the Manchsster District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. C. Burrell, cheesemonger, Northumberland-place, G.l-1- merclal-road, Feb. 27—J. Lamont, ship owner, Wellclo.,N. square, Feb. 26—P. Howard, wine merchant, Hingham, Norfolk, Feb. 2-I—J. Mousley, builder, North Brlxtt.,o, March I—T. Marsh, chair manufacturer, Camomile-street, Bishopsgate- street, March I—C. Boror, grocer, Eiliot's-row, Lower-road, Islington ' Feb. 26—W. Trice, grocer, Iligti street, Stepney, March I—J. Mears, builder, Bristol, Feb. 'A —J. Sutcliffe and Company, cotton spinners, Birstal, York shire, March 2—J. Sutcliff , , cotton spinner, Whallev, Lan cashire, March I—A. Burton, coal merchant, Pimlico, March I—T. Broady, chemist, Chester, Feb. 26—J. Lest• r, farmer, Pen- y-gelle -lodge, Denbighshire, Feb. 26—J. Hui.- bard, auctioneer, Ranrgite, 'Feb. Rifford, brewer, Holloway; Feb. 26; - PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. A. Simms and E. A. Power, cigar dealers, Birmingham-.. T. Begbie, F. T. Young, and G. Young, corn factors, Mark laud—H. D. Coggan and R. Matthews, hot pressers, Fit chett's-court, Noble-street, City—G. Rav anti H. In - their, surgeons, Milton, Kent—F. and A. - Carter, attorney 4, Coventry —E. Cooper, E. P. Cooper, and B. Cooper, wooll, cloth manufacturers, Staverton, Wiltshire—W. J. llill at).l F. Bates, linen drapers, Kentish -town—'I'. Parry and I'. Light foot, sugar refiners, Liverpool—P. Littlejohn and J. V.. Thomas, wino merchants, Liverpool W. Stubbs and W. Walker, china manufacturers, Stoke-upon -Trent—J. and 11. Reeves, colourmen, Chearside—F. F. Davis and G. (7. Stewart, ale merchants, Water-lane, City—J. Blackall an t i E. Webb, shoemalzers,Corbet-court, Graceelturch-street—A. D. Young and W. Ridge, tea dealers, Gracechurch-street—J. and J. Ilobson, scissor manufacturers, Sheffield—W. E. 13t 1 7 , H. Hunter, E. Bell, and J. Hargrave, general commissiol agents, City (so far as regards 11. Hunter)—M. Birkbeele and A. Quitvow, merchants, Bradford, Yorkshire—J. Masolt and J. Williams, builders, Liverpool—H. M. Soole and A. Duncan, lightermen, Hull—A. Parker and F. Shield, ship brokers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne—J. Letts and C. T. Cook;., millers, Leamington Priors, Warwickshire—T. Holt and F. White, drysalters, Manchester. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. John Callum, contractor, Glasgow, Feb. 10 and March 3, at twelve, at the chambers of Mr. Gilmour.( l la , gcw. Alexander Turner, cabinet maker, Glasgow, Feb 10 atd, March 8, at twelve, at the chambers of Mr. Dick, Glasgow. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed ' from the returns made in the week ending February 2, 1847, is 375. 4 1 j. 2 d. per cwt. SHERIFFS FOR 1847. Bedfordshire—Robert Newland, of Kempston, Esq. Berkshire—William Henry Stone, of Streatley House, Esq. Buckinghamshire—Baron Meyer Amschel de Rothschild, c.f Mentmore. Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire—Robert Francis Pate, of Wisbecb, Esq. Cumberland —Gilfrid William Hartley, of Rose Hill, Esq. Cheshire—Ralph Gerard Leycester, of Tuft Hall, Esq. Derbyshire—John Bell Crompton, of Milford, Esq. Devonshire—Henry Champernowne, of Dartington, Esq. Dorsetshire—Thomas Bowyer Bower, of I werne Minster, Lg. Durham—John Fawcett, of North Bailey, Esq. Essex—William Coahead Marsh, of Park Hall, Thoydon Garnon, Epping, Esq. Gloucestershire—Thomas Barwick Lloyd Baker, of Hardwick Court, Esq. Herefordshire—Sir Velters Cornewall, of Moccas, Bart. Hertfordshire—Humphrey Harper Burchell, of Bushey Grange, Esq. Kent—Jobs Pelly Atkins, of Halsted, Esq. Leicestershire—Wm. Wootton Abney, of Sweepstone, Esc. Lincolnshire—Thsephilus Fairfax Johnson, of Spalding, Esq. Monmouthshire—William Mark - wood, of Rumney, Norfolk—Sir Jacob Henry Preston, of Beeston St. Law rence, Bart. • Northamptenshire—Thomas Tyron, of Bulwick Park, Esq. Northumberland—James Henry Hollis Atkinson, of Anger ton, Esq. No:tirghainsb ire—John Vere, of Carlton-upon 'Trent, Esq. Oxfordshire—Henry Baskerville, of Crosley Park, Henly on-Thames, Esq. Rutlandshire—Richard Lucas, of Edith Weston, Esq. Shropshire—Joseph Venables Lovett, of Be;niort, Esq. Somersetshire—John Matthew Quantock, of Norton-sub- IJ unden, Esq. Staffordshire—sir Edward Dolman Scott, of Great Barr, Esq. County of Southarnoton—Lancelor Archer Burton, of Wood lands Emsworth, Esq. Suffolk—Henry James Oakes, of Newton Court, Esq. Surrey—Joseph Bousor, of Poulsden, Esq. Sussex—Wm Gratwicke Kinleside Gratwicke, of Ham, Esq. Warwickshire—George W Weldon, of Springfield-house, Wiltshire —Wadham Locke, of Ashton Gifford-house, Esq. Worcestershire--Edward G. Stone, of Chambers-court, Esq. Yorkshire—Joseph Dent, of Ribston-park, Esq. WALES. Anglesey—The Right Hon. Spencer Bulkeley Lord Newbo rough, of Treiddon. Breconshire—Rhys Davies Powel, of Graig-y dros, Esq. Camarvonshire —Thomas Wright, of Derwenfawr, Esq. Cannarthenshire- 4 .-Ar James Cockburn, of Ddolgwm, Bart. Cardiganshire—Matthew Davies, of Tanybwlch, Esq. Denbighshire—Richard Lloyd Edwards, of Bronhaulog,, Abergele, Esq. Flintshire—Llewelyn FrOkner Lloyd, of Nannelch, Esq. Glamorganshire--Nash Vaughan Edwards Vaughan, of Rheola, Esq. Montgomeryshire—John Offiey Crewe Read, of Llandinam- Hall, Esq. Merionethshire—John Griffith Griffith, of Faltreuddyn-firwr, Esq. Pembrokeshire —William Henry Lewis, of Clynfiew, Esq. Rainorshire—Henry Miles, of Downfield, Esq. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From last night's Gazette.). An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 30th day of January, 1847. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. dotes i55ued........ 26,172,870 Government debt 11,015,101 Other securitiel •• • . 2,981,9 c Gold coin and bullion 10,199.101 Silver builiox •• • • 1.673 V 9 X 26,172,870 26,172,70 74. MA 11SMILL, Chief Casiiier. Dated the 4 th clay of February. 1847. DANK MO DEr.ISTMEN T. Proprietors' capital 14,553,000 Rest ••••••• • • • • • • • 3,613,711 bile deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Dcbt, Sav ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) • ether deposits Seven day and other bills Government securi ties (Including Dead Weight A n niii ty) 12,722 A 19 Other securities •• • • 14,10i, , 72 tiotes.. ••• • • ..... 5,70 5 Gold and silver coin.. 723,7 4,452,72 9,0'4940 •• 941,181 X33,261,0'31 .£33,2q1,0:14 MARSIIALL, Chief C:lstiler. ,847. Dated the 4th day of Febraary. THE FIRST CONCERT - OF THE AMATEUR MUSICAL SOCIETY. The Amateur Musical Society will do for instrumental music in this country even more than the Sacred Har monic Society has done for chorus singing. The mem bers of this society are dilatanti of the highest clas,t, both in social rank and musical sch - nci-. It numbe , s among its members his Royal highness Prince Albert, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Leinster (the favourite pupil of Dragonerti, who is one of :the contrabassi in the orchestra), the Earl of Westmoreland, the Earl of Fahnouth, Viscount Anson. Lord Saltoun, Lord Templemoz,, the Marquis of Kildare, the Earl of Liverpool, Earl Cawdor, Lcrd Arundel (who is also one of the per formers in the orchestra), and several other noble and distinguished personages. The object of the society is to promote the study and the performance of classical instrumental music, and the orchestra is complete in every department. Last night the first concert took place at the Music Hall, Store-street, under the direction, of Mr. Balfe, to whom infinite credit is due for the ad mirable manner in which he has drilled his orchestra. It is no easy task to drill a number of per formers unused to each others play into an orchestra that shall perform a classical piece of music as a great whole, yet this task has Mr. Balfe accomplished, and the Amateur Musical Society, under his direction, last night worked together in a manner which might put many professional orchestras to the blush. It was evi dent that one spirit animated alike the conductor and the performers—the love of art for its own sake. No wonder, therefore, that they succeeded. The following was the programme for the evening:— PART L OVERTURE " L'ltaliana in Svmtuolly No. 1. C Beethoven. Adagio Molto. Allegro Con Brio. Andante Cantabile Con Moto. Minuetto Allegro Molto e Vivace. Finale Adagio, and Allegro Molto e Vivace. ' , AIM 11. OPERATIC SmascrioNs, by Negri, from " Don Giovani" Mozart Sriuruozir ln G, letter Q Haydu. Adagio. Allegro Spiritoso. Adagio Cantabile. Minuetto Allegretto. Finale Presto. OvErrruaz ....... ...Weber. Hon. Conductor...... Mr. Balfe. From this programme it will be seen aim that they ed high, and they succeeded in their aim. Beethoven's symphony was admirably given • eac h movement, each feeling was accurately mark ed, arid the idea of the great composer was completely developed. The overtures and the selections from Don Gioranni were performed with perfect accuracy and with great spirit ; and Haydn's symphony was given with care and attention. We hail the formation of this society as a giant's stride in th e n it wciell in b : progress of the p o pularisation ia e bd f liest m adn u its s t i wicnah distinct i on sc on ien to hair., England, and wi s h all our heart and soul we bid them e far y eGoondsisapeereedd.a high The time is is not n an been one of the original members of the A ma t eur Musical Society. HeinrichNEW BLOWING --- "at Bein to S h o a n v n e b in a v u e , t n e e d a r a E n l e b w e r f b e l l o d w , n in g h it a ti n e e n r ish sm pnis elti s n ia g : f i a s et s o t r a ed of machine which gives a constant pressure, as indicated by the anemometer, and requires no regulator whatever The blast produced by it is snfficient to pervade a column of a smelting furnace with equal intensity, at all points and times. A machine of this kind, measuring 11 ft. 6 in. by 22 ft. 9 in. with a pressure of 40 oz on the square inch, sod a horse power of 70, will furnish 6028.8 cubic feet of Vati per minute, and after that rate for smaller diinensions.-- I Mechanics' Magazine. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —TEAS AT WHOLESALE PEIC No. 2, BUCKLERSEURY, CHEAPSIDE.—Facnilies 41 consumption is large, and study economy, will de.,glll. considerable advantage at this establishment. One uni form price is affixed, by which the purchaser of a singia pound can obtain it on the same terms as the trade. Black Tea 2s. Bd., 35., 3s. 4d, 3s. 8d , 4a., 43. 4d., ss. Green 3s. 4d., 3s. Bd., 45., 4s. 4d., 55., 65., 7s. Coffee 9d., 10d., Is., Is. 2d., Is. 4d., Is. 6d., Is. Bd. Ono pound sent free to any part of town. Orders from the country forwarded the same day; and when LW quantity is for 61b. weight (tea only), the carriage i. paid to any part of EngIand.—MANSELL and Co. wholesale tea dealers, 2, Bucklersbury, Cheapside. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee:— 1. That in the case of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Ex tension (Crediton and Launceston) petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 2. That in the case of the Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ar drossan Railway (Amendment, Devi'ations ' and Branches) ' petition the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 3. That in the case of the Salisbury and Yeovil Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be disp ens ed w ith : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on striking out the erroneous Scales placed on sheets Nos. 2 and 4 of the Sections in all the deposits, and on substituting the Scale on which the Sections have in fact been drawn, and on adding the Scale to the Plan deposited in the parish of Chil mark :—And that the Committee on the Bill do examine, in the first place, how far such order has been complied with ; and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. Third resolution agreed to.—Report to he on the table. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a second time on Tuesday, Feb. 9 Paisley, Barrhead. and Hurlet. Regent's Canal and Railway. Norfolk ( Branch from Norwich to Aylsham, with a Branch to North Walsham). S ou thampton and Dorchester (Weymouth Branch). North British (No. 1). PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY. FEB. 5. DESTITUTE POOR (IRELAND). (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Third Clause (Relief Committees to be formed; Prcyided always, That the justices resident in such electoral divisions, if any, and the guardians of the poor elected for such elec toral divisions, and one of the inspectors to be appointed by the Relief Commissioners, shall, in every case, be constituted members of such Relief Committee) :—Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 22, after " elected for such electoral divisions," to insert the words, " and the clergy of all denominations officiating in such electoral divisions :"—Question put, "That the proposed words be there inserted." The Committee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 32. Acton, Colonel Grogan, E. Q'Connell, D., Jan. Agllonby, H. A. IlaiiiiltOn, J. H. O'Connell, M. J. Archbold, Robert Hamilton, G. A. O'Ferrall, R. M. Arundel, Earl of Itarris, Captain Osborne, Ralph Barron, Sir 11. W. Hayes, Sir E. Rice, E. R. . , Bellew, R. M. Kelly, James Shaw, F. Chapman, B. Lawless, Cecil Smithwith, R. Cole, H. A. Martin, T. B. Somers, J. r. Connolly, Col. Miles, William Corbally, M. E. Norreys, Sir D. TELLEIS. Dawson, T. V. O'Brien, C. O'Brien, W. S. Grattan, Henry O'Brien, Timothy O'Connell, Job a MAJORITY—NOES, 128. Aldant, William Evans, William O'Conor, Don Al:ix, J. P. Ferguson, Sir It. Ord, W. Arkwright, George }lnch, G. Parker, John Baillie, Colonel Forster, Mathew Pluniridge, Captain Baine, Walter French, F. Power, James Barclay, David Gibson, Thomas M. Frotheroe, E. Barily, henry Godson, R. Pul3ford, Robert Baring, F. T. Gore, Robert Rawdon, Colonel Barnard, Edward G. Goutburn Henry Reid, Colonel Bateson, T. Graham, Sir James ]lepton, C•W. J. Berkeley, Captain Grey, Sir G. Rich, Henry Berkeley, H. F. Harcourt, G. Itee'Juck, J. A. Bernard, Viscount Basile, A. Ross, David R. Blackburne, J. I. Hatton, Captain Rutherford, A. Blake, M. J. Ilawcs, Benj. Scrope, G. P. Bodkin, J. J. Hay, Sir A. L. Seymour, Lord Bowring, Dr. Ileatheoat, John Sheridan, R. B. Brocklehurst, J. llenley, J. W. Somerville, Sir W. Brotherton, Joseph Hope, Sir J. Spooner, Richard Brown, W. Howard, C.W.G. Stansfleld, W. R. C. Buck, L. W. • Howard, E. G. Stewart, John Buller, Edward Hume, Joseph ' Taylor, E. Bunbury, William Hutt, William Thornely, T. Clay, Sir W.: James, William Troubrldge, Sir E. Clements, Viscount Jervis, Sir John Turner, Edmun d Colebrooka, Sir T. Laboucherc, lienry Vane, Lor d 11. Collett, John Lambton, H. Verner, Sir W. Coote, Sir C. Lincoln, Earl of Vescy, Hon. I. Corry, Henry Lockhart, A. E. Vivian, J. 11. Courtenay, Lord Lygon, General Waddington , Cowper, W. F. Macaulay, T. . Walker, Ric hard. Craig ,W . G. B 11. S. Mackenzie,'. F, Warburton, h. Crawford, W. S. Mackinnon, W. Wad, if. G. Darner, Colonel Maitland, T. Wawa, J. T. Deedes, W. Mangles, R. D. 'Williams, W. Denison, J. E. Marmon, Lord J. Wood, sir Charles Dickinson, F. IL Mauls, Fox Wood, Colonel T. Duncan, Lord Morpeth, Viscount Wyse, Thomas Duncan, George Morris, David Yorke, Henry It. Dundas, F. Mostyn, E. M. young, J. Dundas, David Moro, Colonel Ebrington, Viscount Napier, Sir C'aarles TELLERS. Egerton, Sir P. Newdegate, N. Turnell, 11. Escott, Blekham O'Brien, A. Stafford Hill, LordM. COURT CIRCULAR. WIMDSOIt, FRIDAY.—Tho Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early morning walk. The Royal family took walking and pony exerc i se this forenoon in the grounds adjacent to the Castle. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out this morning on horseback, accompanied by Count Alexander Blensdorff. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent had an evening party at her residence, Frogmore House. A deputation from the Council of the National Institut e n of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery, consis tin g of Mrident . , Pe nington (president), Mr. Martin (Reigate, vice p res Mr. Clifton (vice president), Mr. Fuller (m ember of council), ) Mr. Bird (member of council), Mr. Ancell (member of coun r cil), and Mr. Ross (secretary) , had an interview with Si George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. Mr. N. W. Symonds, Secretary of the General Ship Owners Society, had an interview with the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Sir William G. Hylton Jolliffe, had an interview with the Right lion . E. Strutt, yesterday, at the office of the CorrL missioners of Railways in Great George-street. Mr. Wil liam Blake had also an interview with Mr. Strutt, yes terday. His Excellency the Brazilian Mi n i s t er , transacted butiness y es terday, at the Foreign-office . . _Earl Grey yesterday, Mr. J. Galt ha d an interviev; with at the Colonial-office'Coloel Mute, M.. accompanied the deputation of Scotch distillers with other blembers of Parliament to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer on Thursday. Mr. A. Kinnaird had an i n t er view yesterday with Si r George Grey. Mr. Pattison, had an in terview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday at the Board . of T .y rade. Lady John Russell was indisposed esterday, b u t was better last evening. Lord John Russell's Parliamentary dinner, intended to have been given this day (Saturday) at his residence in Chesham-place, is unavoidably postponed. Mr. Hutt, M.P., had an interview yesterday with th e Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson. The Duchess of Inverness bad a sel party at dinner yesterday at her residence in Kensington ect Palace. or LADY .JOAN RUSSEL L. SERIOUS INDISPOSITION Lady e J r o e h n i n R d i us e . p s e e s l t o a n s l during wiiieh this hs —We regret to learn that connexions. On Wednes week been suffering from f a it e i ; ly caused much anxiety to the day last her Ladyship was considere d tlith i te n treer ra wd t aa hir ea an cha a are l n a g rn e l . i w ng e PP apparent condition, but on Thursday provement, In the evening took place,. and . up to last night of r n the e g lament to say for the worse, it was stated that her Ladyship remained much the same. Owing to Lady John Russell's illness, the Noble Premier was prevented from dining with the members of th e C a b inet at the Marqui s of Lansdownes on Viredriesday. and also ab sented himself from the Privy Council, at Windsor Castle. on Thursday. Dr. Rigby has been in Attendance on her Ladyship throughout her illness, and yesterday Dr. Fer guson was called in. As will be seen 'oy our Court Circular, her Ladyship was better last night. Lord John Russell has postponed his Parliamentary dinner, appointed for this even ing, in conseq uen c e of the indisposition of her Ladyship. DR. R OBERTSO N or AULTNASIKIACIL— Our vene rable townsman, Dr. James Robertson of Aultnaskiach, died at his residence'. in the vicinity of Inverness, on the 27th ultimo, at the ripe age of eighty-one. So early as 1787, Dr. Robertson was established here as a medical practitioner, and was soon after extensively employed and consulted by all the leading families in the north. For the last twenty years he had withdrawn from the active duties of his profession, but he was still called in when danger was apprehended, and his services were always at the command of all classes without fee or reward. For many years Dr. Robertson was Provost of the burgh, and his gentlemanly manners, his active and kindly disposition, and the warm interest he took in all matters relating to the town, rendered him one of our most consoienous citizens. His remains were this day (Tuesday) accompanied to the grave by a great concourse of persons, both of the town and country.....lnivrless Courier. CHRISTOPHER 7ADPOLE. Part. VI. In the opening chapter of this part, Christopher is introduced to the interior of Gudge's Villa, at Brompton, and having been fittel out in a second hand suit of page's costume by a Jew client of Gudge's, appears as the " Buttons " of the establish ment, whose duty it is to attend to Mrs. Gudge in her peregrinations, and to drag the "Olive" round ,the neighbourhood in a child's chaise. Sprouts and his companions, Bessy Payne, Miss Twits, and the Jolly Man, after their sudden ejectment from Gudge's chambers, adjourned to a steam-packet, of which the brother of the Jolly Man is the steward, where they finish the evening, the Jolly Man undertaking to attend the ladies home, while Sprouts, having no place of abode, sleeps on board. The following de scription of a summer night on the river is as true as it is beautiful :- " If you have never passed a summer night upon the river as it flows through the metrepolis—and the chances are, that circumstances have never offered you the chance of doing so—you cannot conceive how. much of the beautiful, and even romantic, still hangs about our cold, common-place, money-getting London. You must wait until the roar of swarming life has been stilled in the streets and on the bridges ; and all traffic has ceased upon the water; until the house-fires have nearly all died away, and the moon is shining down from the clear heaven upon the sleeping city. And then Venice itself is scarcely more beautiful. For the outlines of the very warehouses, aofteaed in the tranquil light, assume picturesque forms that might be palaces with less effect ; and the spires of the churches, with their vanes faintly gleaming, rise sharp and white in the air ; whilst along the banks, mingling with the larrip-i, here and th , :re, red fires break out, reflected quiveringly in the *voter, and throwing the Coitus of those who move abut them in giant shadows upon the adjoining buildings, seen on the open wharves, and through the arches, in the bluish misty distance, whoa the other lights bezomo mere specks. Lesser lights, too, twinkle like eyes from the heads of ships that lie in clusters on the river, which flows on, breaking the reflection of the moon into dan cing flashes, and gurgling and eddying with a subdued noise by the sides of the craft, and the piles and but tresses that divide its course. The appearance of a great city in the repose of night is always impressive, but chiefly sr) when viewed from the water, as the feeling of entire isolation flings an additional el.arm of interest over it." In the morning Sprouts repairs to the establishment of the Jolly Man, who turns out to be a proprie tor of advertising vans, and by his interest is engaged by an old widow, who combines the occupation of tobacconist, librarian, and newsvendor, as her assist tant, and here he unexpectedly meets .with Bessy Payne and Miss Twits, who have always patronised the establishment. The Gudges give a grand dinner party, to which Sir Frederick Arden is i nv it e d, an d to which Mrs. Hamper, accompanied by her nephew, a . Mr. Ellis, comes uninvited. The appearance of Mr. Ellis produces an extraordinary effect upon Sir Frederick and upon Gudge, who retire together for a few minutes' private conversation in another room, where we leave them for the present. RAILWAY MONTHLY MAGAZINE. Emboldened by the success of his first number, the proprietor has reduced the price of his magazine to a shilling, and has stamped it so as to secure its transmission free by post. Perhaps the most valuable piece of railway intelligence in the present number is the verbatim report of the conference which took place on the Bth of January last, between the directors of the South-Eastern and those of the London and Brighton and South Coast lines. Not only will every shareholder in these companies peruse this report with attention, but all those who reside along the course of any of the projected lines, or who take any interest whatever in Kentish railways, will refer to this report for information on the subject. We are glad to find the editor, in the course of an elaborate article, doing full justice to the claims of the South Wales line of railway, which have of late been most unaccountably - overlooked. As he justly observes. "It is a line of great national and local importance, and one of the most exten sive, if not one of the most useful, which the country)! has yet produced." The writer gives a history of the line from its first projection up to the period of its being leased by the Great Western Com pany—a history illustrative of the difficulties which the sinister interests of local authorities, and the ignorant prejudices of official pedantry, are continu ally throwing in the way of the best-contrived schemes for the public advantage. The present number of the Railway Monthly Magazine is a great improvement upon its predecessor. It is well got up, and is a complete repertoire of railway information. THE LATE MR . J AMES TOOLE. born in The late celebrated Toastm as t er , M r . J ames T oo l e, was born the year 1796. By his peculiar and humourous ex pression, and p er f ec tl y original style, he was the first who established the now indispens a bl e p ro f ess i on o f toastmaster; and the extraordinary success with which he carried it out for the last seventeen years, at the City festivals, and in fact in all parts of England, has recently created several copyists, twhhiso,N,V. niers e anxious to share the business. Notwithstanding engagements, up to the hour of his death, we under stand, ware very numerous. He always officiated to the Duke of Cambridg e , by desire of his Royal Highness, with whom he was an especial favourite. As a toastmaster, his equal will never be found. He was a kind-hearted and ge nerous man, and subscribed to a great number of charitable societies. lie had been twenty-two years in the East India Rouse, where, by his invariable activity in studying the in. terests of the company, and obliging disposition, his loss is severely felt and deeply lamented by his superiors and all who knew him. We understand that, during his illness he had been very kindly visited by Mr. Melvill, the secretary, who had probably observed the good qualities which Mr. Toole possessed. By this sad bereavement, two sons and three daughters are left to deplore the loss of an affectionate father ; and we fear, with the exception of a small legacy, without any fu ture provision. The charge of these orphans has devolved upon his eldest son, who has himself a family. We feel as sured that, under these circumstances, some of the deceased's numerous admirers will step forward and inquire into the matter. We trust, also, that the eldest son will continue his father's position as toastmast er. In that case, we shall not only have the name retained, but almost the man, for the son has already met with great success in that capacity, and was, moreover, rapidly approaching the great original. We wish him every success. The deceased will be interred in Nunhead Cemetery on Sunday afternoon (to-morrow), from his residence in Devonshire-street, Bishopsga.te. ----------'"-------:=2:: LAMP-LIGHTING BY GALVANISM.-It has occurred to us, that in this age of shares and electric telegraphs, the system of lighting the public lamps might be improved, and the old-fashioned lamplighter, with his long ladler, &c., penned with—a great nuisance in populoul places. we thi n k that the day has arrived when the public lamps should be lighted simultaneously by the ail of galvanism.—The Builder. SATURDAY MMI N I