The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

`c- INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. Jc•sz I.—Sir John Rennie, President, in the chair. The paper read was an account of the iron barque Josephine, of Liverpool, by Captain Masters, who commanded her in the voyages she has made. The subject of iron vessels is one of great importance, and the use of that material in naval architecture has been steadily progressing since it was introduced for sea-going vessels by Mr. Manby in the steamer named after him, in 1821, and which was the only vessel that ever conveyed a cargo direcf between London and Paris without trans-shipment. Sanguine hopes had been entertained of introducing iron vessels of war, but it appears from the partial accounts that have been made public of the results of the experiments at Woolwich and elsewhere, that the effects of cannon shot on iron vessels is more destructive than upon tiaber. The paper read was a plain and somewhat dry specifi cation of the construction of the vessel, which will however, when printed in extenso in the minutes of pro ceedings, be extremely useful. The main dimensions of the barque Josephine are :—Length over all, 99 feet 6 inches ; extreme breadth, 24 feet 6 inches ; depth of hold, 9 feet 9 inches. Register tonnage, 168 tons ; by old measurement, 221 tons. She was of a pe culiar build, differing from almost any other mer chant ship, being intended for service in the Mexican trade, and calculated to cross the bar of Tampico, and other impediments. She was entirely of iron, even to the bulwarks; and as she lay low in the water, draw ing 9 feet aft, and eight feet 8 i n ches forward, her Torts were hung on hinges forward, s o that they should act as valves, and allow the water to escape from the deck, and yet shut of themselves when she heeled over deep on her side. Her general rate of sailing was from 11f to 12 knots per hour ; she was very buoyant and very dry ; rising well to the sea. There was great capacity for stowing the cargo, owing to the absence of large projecting timbers. She was somewhat damp forward and aft, but was very dry in the main hold. There was not found to be any difference in the health of the crew from that of wooden vessels • she was a little cooler than other ships, owing to her being so deep in the water, and the thin material did not retain the heat like wood. -- lion ships have generally been found to get very foul. The Josephine was, however, paid with various compo sitions as experiments, that which succeeded best was 1 barrel of varnish, 24 cwts. of best tallow, 40 lbs. black lead, 1 lbs. brimstone, 70 lbs. arsenic. This being ap plied hot, the iron having been previously warmed and paid with boiled linseed oil, appeared to have prevented foulness, as after ber voyages there was little weed or grass, and scarcely any barnacle; but very alight oxida tion took place, and that only where the composition had been rubbed off. _ They were as much annoyed by rats as in a timber ship, nor could they be destroyed by any of the means adopted. The principal feature of the paper was that which treated of the local attraction of the compasses, which can scarcely be in an abridged form. It appeared that as long as the ship was on an even keel and perfectly upright, the compasses acted correctly, but in proportion to the listing over so was the derange ment of the magnet, for the local attraction ~ being changed by the side frames and deck beams falling into new positions, this caused great variation in the ship's course, and it led to a conjecture whether t his ma y not have been the cause of the loss of the Great Britain, as if her compasses were acted upon as much as those of the Josephine, a deviation of six miles and a half from her course might easily have occurred. Captain Masters suggested the hanging the binnacles complete in gimbles like the compass, in order to their alvrays remaining vertical, and also in adjusting the compasses that they should be tried in every position, a tstble of variation being made out for every degree of list ing over. The paper was illustrated by drawings of the vessel and of her rigging, which possessed p o e c 1 . • ari corrections u ties, and also by severa l ta bl es for the n of the compasses. 'I e paper announced to be read at the next meeting was " On the Expansion of Steam," by J. M. Heppe', Grad. Inst. C.E. A..t the monthly ballot the following gentlemen were elected :—Messrs. J. B. Clacy, J. Phillips, W. Sayce, and Captain J. L. A. Simmons, associate. THE ARMY SERVICE BILL. PROTEST OF THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY, C.C.S. Dissentient--1. Because an attempt to introduce limited service was first !proposed in 1713. The system its total plan last e d t wo years, an d was a b an d oned from total failure. E was tried, however, again in 1775, and continued to the end of the war, but was unsuc cessful in its operations during the American war. In later periods--in 1806—it was resorted to in another form of periods of limited service ; but signally and completely disappointed the expecta tions that were formed of the measure to obtain more recruits and a better class of men ; and in the midst of the war in the Peninsula much inconvenience and dis order might have arisen but for the foresight and precaution of the Great Commander—the limited ser vice men being then his best troops, who had served seven or eight years, and who had a right to their discharge ; and had not very large bounties been given they might have been lost to the army, and their loss Would have been most fatal. 2. Because, while it is most desirable to adopt every possible meats ure for improving the comforts and the social and moral condition of our soldiers, it is highly injudicious aatd inexpedient to attempt experiments (which are av o wed as such), and which experiments may tend to shake the good feelings now existing, and the discipline hitherto prevailing in the British army, whichnever at any :moment in history stood higher for its warlike achieve ments and admirable conduct. 3. Because, while it is admitted from the very highest authority, that the old soldiers of the British army give to it all its perfection and matchless excellence, it is manifest that 11 e present Army Service Bill presents a risk, and offers sin occasion of losing the very men who, after their serviive of ten years, become the most velu able, and who trt ay still be in the prime of life (from 30 I to 40) for all 'mix poses of hard fatigue and military ser vice. It is, therefore, highly impolitic to hazard this experiment, and far more judicious to retain the present regulations, whit h allow all soldiers, under a most libe ral plan and wi tit good characters, to receive their dis charge by the re commendation of their officers, and the decision of the Commander-in-Chief. 4. Because, ats. has been clearly and unanswerably shown, great inconvenience must result to our colonial service from the plan now proposed, and especially in the minutim of every regimental arrangement. If men. had six or eight months to serve, and were ordered oust to India, that circumstance might occasion a degree a t discontent among them. The army in the East, as hat been ably shown, presents many further obstructions tc the eligibility of this measure; and it will be necessary., 'when it shall be in full operation, and one -tenth annu— ally of 72,000 men (our average force serving in the colonies), shall be entitled to discharge, and must be brought home, to make frequent reliefs of corps at grey.; t cl.fficulty and inconvenienc e . Finally, because the Government must either have a most extraordinary confidence in themselves, or expect t an unlimited confidence from others, if they imagilat that a measure of such magnitude, sanctioning changes so hazardous and on such fanciful theories, and, above all, against the opinion of nine -tenths of the Britida army, can be carried into effect without stronger aria more cogent reasons than have hitherto been advance iii by them for these new experiments, under their Arun Service Bill, on the British army. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. REGISTER OF SEAMEN.-David Davies, W. E White, and S. Cook, seamen, appeared before Alderman Mus grove to answer for the violation of the 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 112. Mr. Coleman, of the office of the Registrar-General of Seamen, stated that by the 22d clause of the Act, " If any seaman shall lose his register ticket he shall forth with appear in person and represent his case to the Re gistrar-General of Seamen in London, or the Collector or Comptroller of Customs at any of the outports, and if it appear that no fraud has been committed, and the loss was unavoidable, he shall be furnished with another register; but if it appear that the seaman did not take due and reasonable care of his former ticket, or if he shall not give a satisfactory account of the same, he shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding 10s., and not less than 25., and shall not be entitled to any other ticket until such penalty shall be paid." There were multitudes of seamen whom that clause, which had been introduced for the particular advantage of the service, affected. The three defendants were liable to prosecution under a more penal clause, but as the exact offence with which they were charged had never before been exposed, and it com prehended the cases of such masses of seamen, it was considered most advisable to proceed upon that clause, with a view to the efficacy of the example. The register-ticket of Davies, which was numbered 348,460 was then produced by Mr. Coleman, who stated that Davies's name was returned to the office, he having signed articles in the Sarah Louisa, and received nineteen shillings for wages, and not having performed the work or joined the ship. The ticket had been identified by Davies as his. Similar proof was given in support of the charges against the other prisoners. Davies questioned the power of the Alderman to act in such cases, and contended that he and the other prisoners were the aggrieved parties. Alderman MUSGROVE said that the registrar had, in the most lenient manner, prosecuted under the clause which inflicted the smallest penalty. If severity had been that official's object he might have added thirty days' imprisonment to a heavy penalty upon the trans gression, but no vindictive feeling prevailed. The sentence upon each of the prisoners is, that he pay a pe nalty of 2s. for having lost his register ticket. Upon the payment of that penalty a new ticket will be given to each of them, but not before the fine is discharged I inflict the lowest penalty, as these are the first cases of the kind. Mr. Goodman, the chief clerk, said the Act was ne cessary to ascertain the amount of desertions, and the names of the seamen, and in what vessel they were serving, so that the observance of the clause upon whieh the prisoners had been prosecuted was quite indispensa ble to the improvement of the service. Cook paid the penalty. The other two said they had no means of discharging the fine, and were consequently refused the privilege of the fresh tickets. A waterman, named John Finnis, was charged with 'ha ving attempted to extort money from, and having grossly insulted, Mr. Williams, a gentleman who resides in Sackville-street. The complainant had a few nights ago accompanied • two ladies in a private carriage to Tower-wharf, in order to see them safely on board a steamer bound to the Con tinent. The steamer lay in the middle of the river, and the defendant was employed to row the party to her. The complainant returned with the defendant, and upon landing asked him the fare, to which question th e l atter replied, "My fare is 7s. 6d." A volley of the most dis gusting abuse followed the refusal to pay so extortionate a demand, but the defendant thought proper at last to accept the offer of 2s. 6d., which was about twice as much as he was entitled to. The defendant said the hour at which the party em ployed him being a late one, he considered himself bound for the sake of his family to make an extra demand, par ticularly as the watermen had scarcely anything to do at present. Mr. Williams said he happened to know a number of instances in which ladies who went on board steamers about to sail for the continent had been imposed upon by the watermen. It frequently occurred that when ladies were not accompanied by some person who inten:ded to return and punish extortionists of this description, 153. -or 16s. were demanded and insisted upon, and the me fenders generally escaped, as complaints must generally be made within a limited time, which was usually ex .seeded by the necessary absence of the victims. The language uttered by the present defendant was of the .most revolting kind. Alderman GIBBS said he was quite aware of the pi 'under committed by the watermen upon parties who m ai( fact,fe fellows st as s as t h h e in m f a e n m a al t e t s h t e o b v a e r nt w u i r t co uld not return to London in time to complain. It was, x e t f o us rt e i d on i e ho in u t t o b t e h in e g po a w oo e o r m o . f r lied by somebody_ determined to punish any attempt haft t labour f o ol ' le i The defendant was then fined 405., and as aL e th m e o m t o h ney, he was sent to prison to 0 BO W-STREET. A powerful y ung man, named John Jones, a porter arden Ilarke f t o , l w l as . i n th C e ovent o ! ing brought before Mr. Jar• assault upon an old tra, Coventapowrt i e t r h also charged Daniel Shannon said he wa g s araden Market it ty morning was passing the pr y s o u r u te e r r , and on Thur s r/ hen he ran against him, and almost puslailettihe market, e asked him what that „ was for, when the prisonerm down. 'led, " You Irish -, and immediately knocked him frj , wn, and when he was down kicked him in the eye,_ and cv t it so severely that he was obliged to go to King's Alege Hospital and have it sewed up. WEATHER AND CROPS IN AYR., SHIRE. It is gratifying to state that the westl:er has at last' become auspicious for the growing crops. Vegetation, from the peculiar nature of spring, was considerably re tarded ; the later sown seed found cold and ungenial soils generally throughout the west country, and, conse quently, no great hopes were inspired for much progress of growth. Thursday may be noted the precursor of summer. The thermometer stood high in the shade, end potent heat breathed favourably on every vegetable thing. Friday was most auspicious ; but Saturday broke in lowering and gloomy —the atmosphere was charged with electricity, and thunder was heard at in tervals among the hills. Slight showers fell in course of the afternoon —most welcome on light soils for the young hints. The wheat crop on good soils, in this district, presents $ most promising appearance, having made considerable 'progress within the last few days. Genial sunshine by day, and dew by night, have had a most beneficial effect on the oat and barley crops, which are very luxuriant on the lighter soils. The hay crop promises to be abundant. This, in itself, himportant, and shows the fruitfulness of the season. Potatoes, we rejoice to communicate, are everywhere doing well. The plant is vigor ous and healthy ; and She utmost regularity is perceptible in those fields in the neighbourhood of Ayr. Our correspondents speak cheer fully of the progress of this valuable esculent, and cite no Instances of its deficiency in their respective districts of Ibe county.—Ayr Observer, A NovEL GRIDIRON.—A short time since, the labourers in the district of Ardagh, not being altogether allitisfied with the manner of the authorities in providing them food, resorted to a most ingenious and prompt method et securing the attention of the rich to their wants. Having Mad a turf kish with fuel from the nearest bog, they yoked en ass to it, and having accidentally stumbled across a flock Yr. Kellett, of Buie k " I fine weld "' a bi'llt a hundred in number, belonging to hill, they very leisurely commenced driving them away, aT -I,ta.t they would take thela i l i t l iTe time politely informing him ne erty of having the loan of one Vais nice iron gates, t o the purpose of a gridiron. The bars being crossed in sci r : 8 , b : t r .w eN it would have answered beavitifully, and, no doubt a n th tr e ived to serve uria gridiron and the isatt`on and turf, they would hquaviFe,ra deal of persua dainty dish. As it was, it re but skin to dissuade them from their benevlOZl get boiled, they boiled, if 111Uch was the impression the gridion left in tentions; be'. breed, 'have now a capital soup kitchen, where theyind' pot roast, at least ence a day.—Armagh Guardian. A LONG RACE.—A mare of the hack ney rather rt heavy the jbelong:ing to Mr. Baxter, of Dalston, ventured, on Friday eight last, to try her speed against a railway engine engine on the g a r o Wary-port and Carlisle Railway, selecting f I'm Sir Wilfrid," which was laden with as soon as Stain Having scaled the fence which separates theeavldLocall b which she had been grazing forward a in the engine came in view she started, and dashed from the railway, the true Y an k ee " go a-head " sty l e, exhibiting • ex ing a little playfulness, as if i n contemp t f or her rival's power of Jlacomotioti. She made no attempt to leave the line at the Curthwaite, or the Wigtoa station, or even at Aspatria, where the " Sir Wilfrid" required the refreshment of a little eater, and where she had a good opportunity of leaving the Brie by turning into the station-yard; but, as if determined to prove to the most incredulous the superiority of a Dalston mare to a locomotive of the Maryport and Car- Bele Con ipany, she started again in gallant style and ar 'iv e d at Maryport very little the wors e b y h er exertions giui beat ing the " Sir Wilfrid " by " many lengths."--Car , Vale Pats iot. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY ETENING, JUNE 4, 1847. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) GROUP 111. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST (LONDON BRIDGE STATION ENEARGE IIENT AND ARRANGEMENTS). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Committee was engaged up till four o'clock in hearing evidence in support of the alterations and extensions of the station, in order to accommodate the great and increasing traffic of the company. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve. Sarah Morgan and Thomas Deacon, two persons hav ing stalls in the market, corroborated this statement, and denied most positively that the complainant used any bad language towards the prisoner. The prisoner said that the old man had an old griev ance against him, and was in the constant habit of abus ing him in most filthy language; but this morning he had an engagement to work for one of the complainant's masters, and whilst passing him in the gangway he un fortunately pushed up against the old man, who abused him, and followed him, pushing him, and nearly threw a load off which he had on his head. He pushed him and he fell, and as he recovered himself seized him by the sleeve of his shirt and tore it completely out. Be ing much exasperated he certainly did strike him, but he did not kick him. He was very sorry that he had struck the old man, but he was very willing to make him any compensation. Mr. JARDINE could not allow that, but he must be taught to control his temper, and not knock a poor man about in that way. He should commit him to take his trial at the sessions, as it was not a case he could deal with. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, JUNE I.—Since Friday last there has been a pretty fair inquiry for goods; but as manufac turers generally demand increased rates in some propor tion to the advance in the cotton market, the actual business has been limited. Prices, though rather irre gular, have been generally rather higher than those of last week. For yarn there has been very little demand, but the spinners have been very firm in prices, and the few orders executed have been at rather higher rates. So far as we can learn, there is no material change in the extent of short-time working ; but we understand that some of the spinners and manufacturers, who have hitherto worked twelve hours a day, have determined to reduce their time to ten hours, as soon as the Bill now before the House of Lords is passed. This resolution, if extensively acted upon, will c ause a sens ibl e diminu tion in the production of goods and yarn. ROCHDALE, MAY 31.—The flannel market is quite as dull as it has been for some weeks past. The business transacted has been upon a very limited scale, and the prices extremely low. The wool market continues in active, and prices in foreign wool have a downward tendency. HALIFAX, MAY 29.—The rapid fall in the price of corn and the cheering state of the weather have thrown a more hopeful feeling over the hall to-day ; but we cannot report any . actual improvement either in the de mand for goods or in prices. For yarn the demand con tinues in the same languid state, being greatly below' the power of production ; and the p r i ces are so wretched that, rather than submit to further red uc ti ons, sp i nners would stop their machinery to yet a greater extent. For long wool the demand continues on the most limited scale ; and prices are rather receding. Short wool re mains about the same ; the smallness of the quantity produced tending to prevent that reduction i n pr i ce wh i ch the depressed state of the clothing trade would other wise render inevitable. HUDDERSFIELD, JUNE I.—We have had more buyers, and everything looks more cheerful than they have done for some weeks past. It is hoped by ma n y th a t t h e worst period is past. More business has been done in wool, and the foreign warehouses continue busy with American orders. --- --- LEEDS, JUNE had last week, on account of the holidays, a very quiet market ; and to-day the busi ness done at our cloth halls wore a similar appearance. There is an opinion abroad that wool, like corn, is to come down in price ; and being on the eve of the Ger man wool fairs, many transactions are suspended until this point is ascertained.—Manchester Guardian. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, June 3. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several Bills, which were ordered to lie on the table. CLERGY OFFENCES BILL. The Bishop of LONDON moved that this Bill be referred to a Select Committee.—Agreed to. The members of the Committee were then nominated. PORTUGAL. Lord BROUGHAM asked when the papers respecting Portugal would be on the table ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he would tell him to-morrow. LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL. This Bill, on the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, went through Committee. HERITABLE JURISDICTIONS (SCOTLAND) BILLS. Lord CAMPBELL rose to move the second reading of the five Bills which had been brought before their Lordships on this subject. They were all of a technical character, so that he need not trouble their Lordships with many observations. And after recapitulating the titles, which are—Service of Heirs Bill, Transference of Lands Bill, Burgage of Tenures Bill, Heritable Securities for Debt Bill, and Crown Charters Bill—the Noble Lord briefly explained their characters, which are indicated by their titles. He would 'conclude by stating that the Transference of Lands Bill was of particular importance, for at the present time no land owner could transfer an acre of land without a very con siderable expense an evil which was peculiarly injurious to the country. Lord BROUGHAM entirely approved of the Bills. They would get rid of many prevailing defects in the present system, and simplify and encourage the law in many of its details. He, therefore, highly approved of these measures, and he hoped shortly to see them car ried into effective operation. There were several amend ments which he could suggest, but he should defer them until they got into Committee on the Bills. The Bills were then read a second time. • POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. POOR RELIEF SUPERVISION (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the second reading of this Bill, and briefly explained the objects of the Bill, which was to improve the administration of the poor-laws in Ireland. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH objected to the Bill as going to effect a total change in the mode of carrying out the poor-laws. Originally the administration of the law was in the hands of parties unconnected with the Government, but now it was proposed to place it under the control of the Executive Government. The result would be that the machinery for carrying out the law would vary and change with every new Government that held office. There was another evil in the practical working of the poor-law. It was no doubt well that the board should be made up of men of all parties. But he had great reason to suspect that it would be uppermost in the mind of those at that board that the Government would listen rather to its friends than those who happened to oppose it in politics. He would then oppose this law for carrying the poor-law into effect as he had opposed the poor-law itself. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the Noble Earl seemed so far at variance with general opinion, that it was the experience of the last five or six years that the public generally were determined to dismiss all party feeling and difference on a subject of the nature of the poor-laws. As to the other topics mentioned by the Noble Earl, he thought he was in error. Lord BROUGHAM thought that the change proposed was very portentous, inasmuch as it made the poor-law a Government department. He considered that the Bill was making the poor-law a Government department. He did think the administration of the law ought to be placed in the hands of a high officer with a large salary. It was not stated whether this Government officer was to be removable with the Ministry or. not. He believed that it was not so intended ; but if so there would be a great difficulty occasioned, which he could not see the way to obviate. This was evident, for this department being a portion of the Government it was liable to all the attacks on the men of the day, and such being the case it was surely plain that a vast mischief must ensue, for the Government must of necessity protect its officers, and what ever the guardians might have to complain of, whatever the overseers might have to complain of, and whatever the poor might have to complain of, no remedy whatever could be afforded by the men in office.— (Hear, hear.) Of all things, then, he thought that anything could be worse than making this board an object of attack on the one hand and a matter of defence on the other. Earl GREY said it was impossible for any Member of that or the other House of Parliament to have watched the discussion which had recently taken place upon the poor-law, without being convinced that the time had arrived when some change ought to be made in the constitution of the board to whom the administration of the law was entrusted. In the other House of Parlia ment, within the last two years, every conceivable point in connexion with the administration of the law had been freely discussed, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department had been forced upon many occasions to defend and justify the acts of officers with whom he had little or nothing to do. Did it not strike Noble Lords, therefore, that it would be introducing imnrov..---«eyctnm_zr ..c mstrators of the poor-law had seats is the other House of Parliament, in order that they might be prepared, on their own individual responsibility, to explain or defend any act connected with the administration of the law that might be called into question by parties either within or without the walls of Parliament ? In the other House of Parliament, among all who had any ex perience of the administration of public affairs, there was a unanimous feelin g th a t t h e administration of this law should be in intimate connexion with the Executive Go vernment. Lord BROUGHAM said a few words in explanation. Earl St. GERMANS could not see how this measure would be made to work beneficially. He thought it per fectly impossible for the Secretary of Ireland to attend to the regular duties of his office, and give any conside ration to the administration of this law.—(Hear, hear.) His experience of Ireland led him to this conclusion. At the present time the Chief Secretary was perfectly over whelmed with business, and he would not be able to give his attention to any more. The Earl of WICKLOW did not like the turn which the debate had taken, in Noble Lords intimating that the principle of Government supervision was objectionable, in the Bill progressing in the other House, as applied to England, but that it might be made to operate very well in Ireland. One thing he decidedly objected to; it was the monstrous p ower g i ven to t h e Poor-law ommis sioner, and: he supported the present Bill, so far as it introduced the check of the Government over his pro ceedings. Lord WHARNCLIFFE thought the Bill objection able. The Chief Secretary was generally one half of the year absent from Ireland, and the Under-Secretary for Ireland had his hands so full of business, that it would be impossible for him to give any attention to the administration of the law. Practically, therefore, the whole management would be in the hands of the Poor law Commissioner. Earl FITZ WILLIAM hoped his Noble Friend who had introduced the present Bill would give its provisions a re-consideration. He thought them decidedly objec tionable. With regard to the measure now in progrfss , in the other House, he th o ught it was one also which had not been well digested, and would work unsatisfac torily. The most serious evils would arise, in his opinion, from making the administration of the law dependent co n i the changes that might from time to time take place n the Government. Earl LUCAN made a few observations, which were inaudible in the gallery. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE briefly replied, stating that the Government would fully consider the objections stated between now and the day of Committee, and he would also take care that every Noble Lurd was duly summoned. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed pro forma on Monday next. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several Bills, which were ordered to lie on the table. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the considera tion of the Commons' amendments to the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill. There were two amendments, one re lating to the residence of persons requiring relief, and the other to the jurisdiction of ea -• officio guardians. The Earl of WICKLOW had no objection to the first amendment, but he could not consent to the second. Lord MONTEAGLE complained that the House of Commons had made no provision in the Bill for the education of the children in workhouses, but he trusted this omission would be supplied next year. He thought it was unworthy of the House of Commons to restrain that House from introducing reasonable alterations into Bills by making them money Bills, but with regard to this Bill he contended that the amendments their Lord ships made in this Bill in no way infringed the privileges of the House of Commons. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed with his Noble Friend that the amendments their Lordships introduced into the Bill could not be considered as an infringement of the privileges of the House of Commons, and expressed a hope that some arrangement might ere long be come to which should obviate the raising of such an objection in future. He must, at the same time regret that no provision had been made by the other House of Parliament for education of children in work houses, but he could promise his Noble Friend that the omission should not be lost sight of. After a few words from the Earl of DEVON the amendments were put and agreed to. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the conside • ration of the Commons' amendments to this Bill. The amendments made were rather numerous, but the one ho regretted the most was the striking out of the clause which provided for the erection of mills and other build ings of a similar description. Lord ASIONTEAGLE thought that the amendments t o the MI now under consideration would be fatal to its operation .as far as Connaught was concerned. The amendments were then agreed to. RAILWAY BILLS. The Ma rquis of LANSDOWNE then moved that a Select Coin mittee be appointed to consider whether it is expediept eAat any measures should be adopted for sus ci pending f u e ther p rocee di ngs i n a ll or any o f t h e railroad Bills in the . present session, and for enabling the par ties, under certain conditions, to proceed with the same in a fut ure i iess i on o f Parliament ; and also, whether it is Advisable that any further provisions should be made in the standing orders of this House relative to Bills for the construction of railroads ; and to report their opinion thereupon to this House from to time. Agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 3. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed: Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston and Eastern Junc tion Railway (Alteration of Line and Branches to Nottingham). Caledonian Railway (Branches to Canonbie, &c.) Glasgow, Paisl e y, Kil marnoc k, an d Ayr Railway (No. 2). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway, and Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir Railway (No. 3). London and South- Western Railway (Andover to the Bishopstoke and Salisbury Branch, &c.) Macduff Harbour. Metropolitan Sewage Manure. 'ewport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Devia tions. Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway (Exten sion to Taff Vale Railway). North Staffordshire Railway (Alterations and Branches). Swansea and Amman Junction Railway. Waterford and Limerick Railway. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, and ordered to lie on the table.— British American Land Company. Direct London and Portsmouth, Brighton and Chiches ter, London, Brighton, and South Coast, and London and South-Western Railways. Direct London and Portsmouth Railway. Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. Gloucester and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase. Great Western Railway (Amendment and Extensions.) Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway (Extension to Wakefield and Junction at Methley, with the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, and the York and North Midland Railways). Leeds Central Railway Station. London and North-Western Railway (Lime-street, Liverpool, Station, Extension, &c.) Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, and Midlands Junc tion Railway (Deviations). Manchester and Leeds Railway (Branch from the Hud dersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway to Barnsley, and Extension of Holmfirth Branch). Manchester and Leeds Railway (Alteration of Levels of Brighouse Branch of the West Riding Union Rail ways, and new Line into Leeds). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Branch at Bugsworth to join the Peak Forest Canal Tramway and Amendment of Acts). Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Branch from Ashton under Lyne to Oldham). Midland Railway (Syston and Peterborough Railway Deviations, and Approach to Manton Station). Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (N 0.2) (Extensions and Amendment). Strathtay and Breadalbane Extension Railway. Van Diemen's Land Company. York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch, Extension, and Terminus). The reports on the following Bills were further con sidered and agreed to:— Ayrshire Roads. Falmouth Waterworks. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Branch to the Caledonian Railway and Diversion of Canal). Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales Drainage and Inclosure Companies Incorporation. Manchester and Birmingham, and North Staffordshire Junction Railway. Scottish Midland Junction Railway (Amendment and Branch to Laurencekirk). Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Lease to the London and North-Western Railway Company). Sunderland Improvement, Markets, and Bridge. BELFAST IMPROVEMENT BILL. Mr. R. SPOONER presented a petition against the Belfast Improvement Bill, which was ordered to be re ferred to the Committee on the Bill. COVENTRY, BANBURY, AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. WILLIAMS, it was ordered that the Committee of the Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford Junction Railway Bill, have leave to report this day. TH ADIES CONSERVANCY BILL. On the motion of Mr. WARD for the further consi deration of the report on this Bill, Sir R. INGLIS wished to know if the Bill had re ceived the consent of her Majesty's Attorney-General. There was a surrender by the Bill of the rights of the Crown to a private body, which he objected to. There could be no doubt that the Corporation of London had a right to both sides of the river, but he was not aware that the Crown had denuded itself of the right on the soil of the river. The ATTORNEY- GENERAL said that, instead of fighting out the rights of the Crown in a court of law, it had been considered desirable to come to some arrange ment in order to effect a great public good, and to carry out that arrangement was the object of the present Bill. Mr. HUME was in favour of the Bill, but against the mode in which the objects were to be carried out. He objected to so many aldermen being members of the board, considering that the City had no interest in the measure, but the merchants of London had. He considered such a board would be altogether—ineffi cient, and it ought to be revised ; the acting managing board should have a portion of gentlemen representing the shipping and mercantile interests of the port of London. He concluded by moving that the Bill be re committed_ with the .10.. ..r vau,, being reduced from 19 to 12, and that four of their mem bers should be connected with the shipping interest. Mr. WARD opposed the amendment on the ground that as all the funds for the improvement of the river would have to be raised on the credit of the Corporation of London, it was but right that they should have the management. 'Were the City authorities favourable to the alteration, he would have no objection to it. He had asked an eminent engineer what would be his estimate of expense for those improvements, and he had laid it at 350,0001. Those were the objects contemplated by the Bill. It appeared to him an immaterial point whether the conservators consisted of 19 or 12, and therefore he should oppose the amendment of the Hon. Member for Montrose. The Earl of LINCOLN said that it was universally concealed that the objects of the Bill could not be found fault with; the only matter for the consideration of the House was how to carry out these objects, and to re concile the conflicting interests connected with the sub ject. The Hon. the Secretary to the Admiralty said that the present state of things had continued so long, that no other' interest than the city of London could now be represented. But he could show the House that a different course from the present had been pur sued in the case of the river Mersey. From the moment that understanding ceased another arrange ment had been entered into, which gave entire satis faction to the corporation of Liverpool. He wished to bring this under the notice of the Hon. Secretary for the Admiralty; and though he did not feel ready to throw any reflections on his conduct, he yet might say that he had not voted as be himself would have done if ho bad been at the head of the Woods and Forests. He felt assured, therefore, that the Bill never could give satisfaction, and he could not conceive that the amendment of the Honourable Member for Montrose would, in any sufficient extent, remedy the evil, and he should, therefore, vote against it. Lord MORPETH said that, when he entered upon the duties of the office which he held he found consi derable doubt , resting upon the circumstances on which ,the Bill was founded, and he regretted that the speech of the Noble Earl had shown that there was not the same spirit of amicability which had formerly been evinced. (The Noble Lord then read a letter of Mr. Pemberton, the solicitor for the Bill, in which that gentleman stated that he did not expect the suit upon, it to be terminated for perhaps less than five years.) It was stated by the City authorities that this suit pre vented them carrying into effect certain improvements in the river, which otherwise they would be prepared to undertake. He entertained no doubt whatever that the funds derivable from the use of the river ought to be applied to its improvement. Whether there were means to compel the City autho rities to undertake these improvements, he could not venture to say, but he had agreed to the provisions of this Bill, believing that it was the safest and easiest course to effect that object, and he trusted after this statement the progress of the Bill would not be impeded. The improvements would be carried on under the super intendence of the Board of Conservancy, and Govern ment would also take care to see that they were efficiently performed. It was provided by the Bill that the receipts and expenditure should be first laid before the superior board, and that all the works should be subjected to an en gineer, who would also see that the board carried into effect all they were bound to undertake by the Bill. The details of the expenditure would be also laid before Parliament, and if any circumstance should hereafter arise of a nature to require legislative interference, Par liament might be called upon for its adjudication. Mr. DUNCOMBE was not aware, after the speech of the Noble Lord opposite, how the Bill would detract from the character of the Corporation. He was of this opinion particularly after the example set them by the corporation of the river Mersey. His Hon. Friend wished to strike off seven aldermen, but the superior board alluded to in the course of the discussion professed to control the aldermanic board. Powers were to be taken to levy taxes to the amount of 350,0004 for the purpose of this conservancy. (Mr. Ward made some explanation, which was inaudible in the gallery.) W e ll , at any rate, with the one shilling fee sought to be imposed, there would be taxation of the public in some way or other ; at any rate it would bear heavily on the consumers of coal—(Hear, hear)—but the principal reason which led him to oppose the Bill was this, that it was a public and not a private Bill— it was a public Bill to all intents and purposes: it was an important Bill, and one which would materially affect the trade and commerce of the pity of London—it was a public Bill and ought to be submitted to the whole House.—(Hear, hear.) Besides, no one knew anything about the Bill, and he thought the public was indebted to the Noble Lord (Lord Lin coln) for his statement with respect to the Bill. Even if it came back from the Committee with a recommendation that the seven aldermen should be knocked off, he should still look upon it with suspicion, Mr. WILLIAMS did not think the Bill was so ob jectionable as theedo agreedrbeet Hon.amr much Gentleman Nvefhoi trht betterht heeWoods hot oso s ed e r e ca v m aaar net carry d ydo n i Fon of f l tr i et n hst e hte d a e. Noblet to He wbe lieve.othoorndg h t the thought it tl quite t u S e l system, rather than that which was proposed to th T e m h y e a n i n a p t g r e e e r s f e e t n rhe t ed boardatall navigation t d h i e d of not o ut hhetconsistoTb t y h ap me t h res e so, nas ß u Bill. ift . so by rendering th em an efficient body. S y o many g com plaints were made against the management of the river , that, in 1836, a C omm i ttee of Inquiry was granted, in which such charges were fully proved ; in fact, they could not speak to a single shipowner upon the sub ject without being confirmed in the general belief that the present board was wholly inefficient. If they were going to make a change in the body they should include shipowners and merchants. Such a class was not to be found in the corpora tion. and such a class had an interest in the navi gation of the river, which the corporation had not. This was a question which seriously affected the public, considering the enormous amount of traffic which took place even above bridge. There were not powers sulk cient in the Bill to remove the abuses which existe d, an a therefore this interference would do more harm than good. Alderman COPELAND then rose, but was for some time inaudible in the gallery in consequence of the low tone in which he spoke. He thought that it was an ids" provement upon the previous Bill, and he would vote in support of it. Mr. COWPER said that the present Bill was a de- : cided improvement upon the former, because it gave check upon the corpration. Mr. S. WORTLEY said that this Bill had taken the parties interested by surprise, and he should support the recommittal, in order to give time for its consideration . The House then divided, and on our re-admission we found the numbers were— For the amendment Against it 65 Majority for the amendment — 6 Monday next was fixed for the recommittal of the Bill. After a few words from Mr. LAW and Mr. WL ll ' l4ll l Lord LINCOLN objected to the Bill, as it did T o give private parties, who might be affected by is, w • notice which they should have. The Bill was then ordered to be recommitted on Men' day next. Mr. HUME wished to know when the House vi °11 ... 1 " " go into Committee of Supply, a n d whether the which he had demanded in r e l a ti on to Portugal irow be in the hands of Hon. Members on that day!, Is old , The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQu.r 4-- , of that if possible the House would go into Com m re d Supply on Monday evening, and that the papers to would be in the hands of Hon. Members on that cl a / a The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUE R lo that when the papers were laid on the table that bey would move for a committee immediately, and if r t a were laid on the table on Monday he would move or committee that evening. nos . Sir R. PEEL said that as it would be Wall c o y sible for all the Members of the Committees, ra. h — e ii. of them being engaged on Committees, to read " 0 0 papers on Monday, if those papers were deliver he Saturday night it would obviate this difficulty , thought the best course would be to wait till to -113v. " he refer Mr. HUME said that under these circumstac neS would wait till to-morrow. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. ps then The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQIPmf the gave notice that he would move the third reaming Loan Discount Bill to- morrow. JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL- o p Mr. ESCOTT gave notice that upon the bringing r e of the report of the Punishment of Juvenile Offend e r . Bill that he would move for the omission of the clau se authorising the punishment of flogging. PRISONS' BILL. nunit See On the order of the day for going into Co on this Bill being read, of Mr. EWART presented a petition from the t0 wi1 :... 5 Maitland and Newcastle, in New South Wales, figs' the renewal of the system of transportation. do Sir G. GREY then rose to move that the Roils resolve itself into a Committee of the whole Rou se g ra P: this Bill. The present Bill, w ith th e one which 1301) diately followe,l it (the Custody of Offenders .sori formed together a compr e h ens i ve seheme of P ri Tbe reform proposed by the present Governnient. eat present Bill proposed t o un it e un d er one manag e a` o , the government of the Parkhurst, Milbank, and re 1 8,42 ville prisons. Pentonville wa s by an Act passed in w h o placed under a board of u np a id commissioners, 70 were appointed by the Crown, and were not to 1 3 e, t he;e than seven, or more than eleven in number, two members of this Committee being inspectors of Prr oso Parkhurst was a prison for juvenile offenders , and of placed under the general direction of the Secr etar 5 y State in 1838. Now it was proposed by the PF,!, to Bill to place all these prisons under one Act, si on n".o. that under which Pentonville was at present Inagte, o f As experience, however, had shown the impossib'il'i b the various detail s of mana g ement being a ttended to 2. unpaid commissioners, many of whom had other. 2: d pations to attend to, it was proposed that there sru a be one paid commissioner. It was also proposed by e, l _ l alteration made in the Bill, since it left the other Flou r that the hulks and other places of confinement for 05, reception of criminals sentenced to transportation sholyi; be placed under the commissioner, and that. b_,, duties of the superintendent of convict criratee.: who had lately resigned his office, should future be discharged by the new board.—(R e ., ‘ „, • The second Bill—the Custody of Offenders Bill- - Pr t ' h posed to place Irish convicts on the same footing respect to transportation, as the Act with respect to transportation of convicts belonging to this country IT passed before the Act of Union. The first clause ftre:. posed to place them on the same footing as the courin, r. of this country; and the second, the removal from toy county prisons the criminals at present confined in thett Some apprehension had been excited on this subject wl,ll respect to the expense, but he believed that the ame n "_ , ment he should propose before he sat down, and the es planation which he should give to the House, would effectually destroy the objections to this part of the Dili' to a0.,.1 the g-nerni nud - the more important question—namely, the question of secondary punishment. In approaching this part of the subject, he did so with a perfect idea of his inadequacy to do justice to it. Of the importance of the subject he believed, every one whom he addressed was fully persuaded. O f the difficulties attending it, none save those fully con' versant with the subject, could be aware ; and als o j conversant with the course which had been adopt"' with respect to those offenders during the last few Year s ' He believed that his Hon. Friend, the Member for Montrose, considered that the question was free from difficulty. He considered that prevention was better than cure," and that a sound, moral, and religious edit.' cation would do much to promote this end, and to ..`" move the necessity of so much prison discipline, aa /Ir.-- proposed. He quite agreed with him as to the iniPo i r: tance of education—its importance had been fully mitted by the vote which the House had come to in the course of the session—that it was the duty of the grat e to promote the education of the people in every 01E' i its power. Still, whatever steps they take, pr would still be necessary, and since they were necessa r li they must consider the best way to deal with them, an a d e . the best mode of discipline they could adopt. T he : neral attention which had been directed to the subject ... evinced what he considered a most satisfactory fea t ur e ' that by example and punishment offenders are deteril. from the commission of crime, because the penal rigur, of the law possessed so much terror that protect The life and property was thereby greatly promoted. .i.fo object of the Bill was one of such importance that f ar Government ought to shrink from carrying it out tts. l ol , as possible. In proposing any new scheme it Wa s , j „b.. possible to avoid meeting with many di ffi culties ape ( " or jections to any innovation upon the old system. I S- " - by punishment being inflicted in years since he was afraid that but little was done #l 7 O the law for the future reformation of offenders---- culprit from the future commiss ion labour, t to and when i n e the ccu r e a r t i e na l without using any means besides what would deter the tion wee, sphere, many of the severities o f beyond t he mere addition of deportation a transorts ills o f ere remitted. When the present a to the 10 personal liberty, and the compulso r y into o ffi ce, the first question . performance of reached yina p wli r sho o n p t o o r f t c io ri n m t e o . i th e we r o: sh @ de l i iniffi c thatf t o h rc ei e r d nis another Government first h er 11 Majesty's Ministers, in reference to the punishment o f criminals, was whet h er the present system of transpor tation could be continued with any degree f b fig SO that society whose laws the criminals had e ou en t:acd; Under the old system, as soon as the criminal reached itself h In u n e p n o t newEcam e another part of the world, the compulsory labour was not enforced by the Government, but it was carried out by individuals to whom the convict was assigned, as a labourer for a certain period. In many instances, the convict, so far from being punished, was actually bettered in his condition, whilst the greatest of miseries was in- ..ieted upon others, who had, perhaps, not been ae abandoned a criminal as the first. A report, which was presented in 1838, recommended that transportation to New South Wales should cease, and that the punish ment of criminals should bo inflicted in penitentiaries at home and abroad, where their compulsory labours would be productive of some benefit to the communiti. Shortly after this report being presented, transta r " tation to New South Wales was discontinued. " A n Diemen's Land, Norfolk Island, Bermuda, t a n ; 1 7 Gibraltar, only remaining as places to wu' e- e convicts from this country wer e sen t. The resul t O F these arrangements was not quite satisfactory , an d i : was then proposed that th e num b er o f c onvicts s e n " abroad should be diminished, and that no convict sen" tenced to seven years' transportation should be sent out of the country. Shortly after that period it was deter mined, to abandon altogether the hulk system, and that alteration necessarily involved a material increase in 01 number of convicts sent abroad. That increase ha d brought on many evils, which he did not seethe p 0 8s w Ality of remedying whilst the present system existed." (Hear, hear.) The effect of the present system of r e ; forming criminals had b een f ar f r om satisfactory , that he attributed to th e cus t om o f m aking the men w ork together in large ma sses , without any efficien t se p ari tion, or, indeed, an y means w hi c h would binder contatel' nation from one c l ass t o ano ther. He did not im p ute r any blame to th ose un d er w h om that system h a d been, carried out—o n th e con t rar y, h e was quite awa re that there had existed o n th e ir part a very an xious dealt* to carry the law into e ff ec t as fully and a s beneficiAly s* possible. Lord Stanley had, in conseque nce of t i ,;,,e Wive of the old system, proposed that there s hou l d be five dif ferent stages of punishment in the colonies , a nd that the criminal should be encouraged in the hope of ameliorat ing his condition by good conduct, whilst the fear of in creasing its hardships should be held out to pre vent any misconduct or recklessness. Lord Stanley had proposed as one of these stages, that pro bation gangs should be formed of those prisoner' who had passed the first stage of their p unishment in Norfolk Island. These gangs were to be under the direct superintendence of Government. The next star was to give them probation passes, enabling theAN work for private parties for food and clothing, but with-. out money wages. This system was carried out under the directicn of Lord Stanley, and for a time it appeared to work favourably, but before ho a dverted to eventual result, ho would call their attention to the ol d system of transportation. That system, in they rstowed 11 2 : stance, inflicted the punishment of deportation, ll by coerced labour, followed by a conditional pard° l4 which enabled a man to travel whither he would, .pi a vided he did not return to his native country before : la ft " GROUP VI. WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH AMENDMENT (NO. II). The Committee was occupied the whole of the day with the cross-examination and re-examination of Mr. Charles Russell, the chairman of the Grcat Western, and with the examination of Lord Falmouth, the former on the financial condition of the Great Western Company, and the latter with the proposed accommodation to be given by 'the Great Western scheme, to the districts west of Exeter. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XX. This Committee met at the usual hour this morning. BIRMINGHAM AND ox.rostp =NOTION (DEVIATION LINES). The whole of the clauses in this Bill were agreed to, and the Chairman was instructed to report the same to the House accordingly. This closed the labours of the Committee. GROUP XXI. The Committee met again this morning for the purpose of recommitting the BIRMINGHAM, DUDLEY, AND WOLVER HAMPTON (WESTBROMVTICH BRANCH). The clauses were agreed to, and the Committee adjourned. GROUP XLV. EDINBURGH AND PERTH. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday. Sir Charles Adams was examined to prove the agreement. A long and desultory argument followed, Mr. Andrews contending that the Edinburgh and Northern, and the Stir ling and Dunfermline had no locus standi. Mr. Whately re plied for these companies, and The Committee decided that the Edinburgh and Northern ad a right to appear, and that the Stirling and Dunfermline had no locus standi. Sir Charles Adams was then examined as to the minerals 11 the district. He proved that this country abounded with -oal, lime, and freestone, which could be worked if this line were constructed. The manufacturing towns, of which there were several, would also be greatly benefited. The Earl of Minto and Sir John Hope gave similar evi *lce. ----- The Committee then adjourned till to -morrow. STANDING ORDERS COMM HOUSE OP LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.) The Committee met this day, at the usual hour, for the dispatch of public business. GLASGOW, DUMFRIES, AND CARLILSE RAILWAY, AND GLASGOW, PAISLEY, KILMARNOCK, AND AYR RAILWAY. The Committee decided that the promoters of this Bill had complied with the standing orders of the House. Similar decisions were given in the following cases : South Wales Railway. Vale of Neath Railway. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway (No. I.) Southampton and Dorchester Railway (New Forest Devia tion and Branches). Southampton and Dorchester Railway (Weymouth Branch). Herne Bay and Canterbury Junction Railway. Norfolk Railway. Eastern Union and the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railways Amalgamation. Inverness Gas and Water Company. Newry and Enniskillen Railway Act Amendment. Duffryn Llynvi and Porth Cawl and Llynvi Valley Rail ways Amalgamation. Kingston-upon-Thames Small Tenements. Ewell Rates. The following cases were adjourned from want of proofs : Belfast Port and Harbour. Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway (Peterborough and Thorney Line). HOUSE OF COMMONS. UNOPPOSED BILLS. The following Bills received the sanction of the Chairman (Mr. Greene) : East of Fife Railway (Markinch Deviation). York and Newcastle Railway (Pelaw Tyne Dock, &c. Branches). St. Ives (Huntingdon) Improvement. Bingley Improvement. Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway (Ossett Branch, &c.) York and Newcastle Railway (Wearmouth Dock Enlarge ment). Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Eaglescliffe and Stillington Ex tension). Kilmarnock Police and Improvement. Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Railway (Leith Extension). ITT 'EE LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Juue 3. (Sittings in Banco.) WAKLEY v. COOKE. The Court was occupied during the greater part of the day in hearing cause shown by the Attorney-General (with whom was Mr. Bramwell) against a rule obtained by Mr. Cockburn, for a new trial in this case, on the ground of misdirection. The particulars have already appeared so often before the public as not to require a report. WESTMINSTER. Mr. Patrick O'Connor, son of Alderman O'Connor, ex•mayor and a justice of the peace of Sligo, was charged with using abusive and insulting language and behaviour to Mr. John Patrick Somers, M.P. for Sligo, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. The circumstances which led to the warrant being issued were stated in our report of this court in our paper of yesterday. The complainant having recapitu lated his charge, and his evidence being corroborated by that of other gentlemen who witnessed the affair, the magistrate called upon Mr. O'Connor for any answer he might wish to make to the charge. The defendant then entered into a multiplicity of statements bearing reference to pecuniary and other transactions with the complainant, who had been, ac cording to his assertion, upon terms of the greatest in timacy with him. _ _ Mr. BRODERIP, who had frequently been obliged to interrupt the defendant while attempting to detail cir• cumstances that had no reference to the case before the Court, ultimately adjudged him to give bail, himself in 1001., and two sureties in 504 each, to keep the peace for twelve months. In default of bail defendant_Nvas removed in custody. THAMES. A miserable looking young man, named Richard Scott, was charged with tarring on an illicit still at the house, No. 11, Plummer's-row, the same being an un entered place. _ _ Fromthe evidence of Pargater and Key, both officers of Excise, it appeared that from information they had received they went to the above house, and knocked at the door. It was opened by a female, and on entering the back parlour they found a still at work throwing oil' strong spirits. There were also 100 gallons of molasses wash in the front room, and a bladder of spirits ap parently ready to be taken away. The prisoner, who was in the room, denied all knowledge of the still, say ing, "he was only a lodger ; " but he had his shirt sleeves tucked up, and his trousers were perfectly satu rated with the wash. The prisoner in his defence again reiterated his inno cence, declaring he was a spinner by trade. Mr. BALLANTINE—Yes ; a ginspinuer apparently. The prisoner further declared that as to the trousers he had bought them of a man named Jones, who had run away. _ _ _ A sample of the spirits was produced, and was appa rently of a most deleterious nature. The prisoner was fined 301., and committed in default for three months. LA2IIBETH. Mr. James Loftus Brock, a half-pay lieutenant in the army, was charged with attempting to murder his wife. Mrs. Ann Brock deposed that she had been married to the prisoner for upwards of 20 years, and for the last three years of the time his conduct towards her and his family was of the most violent description. About three years ago he formed an improper intimacy with a mar ried woman, and since then she and her family had not enjoyed the slightest happiness, his manner had so changed, and his conduct was so violent. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights he stopped away, and did not return until near ten o'clock on that morning. As soon as he entered the room, he as usual commenced abusing her, and his manner was such that she left the room. Presently she returned up stairs, and was in the act of preparing the dinner, when her husband came behind her and made a stab at her on the left side. Her eldest son at the instant pushed his arm, so that the blow fell upon her left arm, and the blade of the knife passed right through the fleshy part. Her screams brought the landlord of the house and other persons to her assistance, and her husband was secured by a policeman. The surgeon who had dressed the wound said, that if she had been struck by the knife on the place where the blow was aimed at, instantaneous death must have been the result, as the instrument must hare penetrated the heart. In reply to the questions from the Bench, the witness said that her husband had evidently been drinking on the night before and on that morning, but still was per fectly well aware of what he was about. He had fre quently told her he was determined to take her life, and that he knew how to do it, by stabbing her close to the fifth rib. The prisoner, who declined offering anything in de fence, was remanded to a future day. FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, JUNE I.—Her Majesty the Queen, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses, the Duke de Brabant, and the Count de Flanders, arrived to day at the Palace from Lacken. A letter from Mersch, addressed to the Courrier de Luxembourg, tn..) , e- L "At this moment all nature stands in unrivalled beauty and luxuriance. Not only are our crops and f vegetables as fine as possible, but our orchards are laden with blossom. The wheat and the rye, which were checked by the cold of April, have suddenly sprung up. Our apple and pear trees, in a word, all our fruit trees, have been richly covered with blossom, some of which has already gone off and fine fruit set." CARLSRULIE, MAY 26.—We have just learnt that our Government has issued an ordinance which is of im portance, especially to those parts of our country which abounds in game. The most decisive measures are to be taken to prevent the increase in the quantity of game, in all places to the detriment of agriculture, and the authorities are even authorized, in cases where the farmers of the hunting grounds do not themselves re medy such an abuse, to order per force hunting parties at their expense. VIENNA, MAY 26.—Count Stadino, the appointed Governor of Lineburg, is preparing to set out for his Government, and will probably leave Vienna before the end of the month. Count Munich Billinghausen, the President of the German Diet, is likewise preparing to set out for Frankfurt. The following diplomatic changes are spoken of : Baron Von Neumann, from Florence to the Hague ; Count Moritz Es terhazy from the Hague to Florence ; Count George Esterhazy, from Carlsruhe to Lisbon ; Count Rudolph Appongi, hitherto Secretary of Legation in Paris, as Ambassador to Carlsruhe ; Count Ingelheim, as Ambassador to Rio de Janeiro ; lastly, Baron von Bremer, hitherto Secretary of Legation in London, as Chargé d'Affaires at Munich. His Majesty the Em peror will go on the 27th to his summer palace of Schon braun. His Imperial Highness the Archduke Francis Charles, with his family, were at that residence a few days ago. Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Helen returned from Warsaw a day or two ago. ST. PETERSBURGII, MAY I2.—Though we have had some remarkably fine weather, the Court is still here. The weather has changed since yesterday, and it is now sensibly cold. The masses of ice from Lake La doga continued to pass across the Newa to the Gulf, and contributed not a little to the chilliness of the tempera ture. The sea before Cronstadt is still covered with ice, and foreign vessels waiting on the coast still find it im possible to enter the harbour. Yesterday the infant son of the Imperial Prince Vladimir was christened, and the city was illuminated in the evening. The inland cor respondence of Russia, in all parts of the empire, is in creasing every year, in consequence of the present ad mirable organization of the post-office. According to the last report of our Postmaster-General of the year 1845, the number of 10,136,142 letters were forwarded in the empire ; four years before the numbers were onl 7,902,314. This is a proof of the increasing desire of al classes to extend their correspondence. The two capi talc, St. Petersburgh and Moscow, have the fourth par of this correspondence. The largest portion is to Prus. sia, it amounts to one-half of the whole. --- BERLlN.—According to the Silesian Gazette, the com mercial circles here are thrown into a state of extraordi ' nary excitement by the forgery practised by Wm. L —s, the great timber merchant, who has put into circulation forged bills of exchange to the amount of between 200,000 and 300,000 dollars, by which fraud several houses, and even the royal bank have suffered. The police were in pursuit of the forger, but it is feared that he has already succeeded in escaping to America by way of Hamburg, England, and the ocean. BERLIN, MAT 29.—0 n the 27th his Majesty gave a grand dinner in honour of the birthday of her Majesty the Queen of England. The resident British Ambas sador, the Earl of Weatmoreland, and his Countess, as well as all the English who have been presented at Court in England were invited on the occasion. Her Majesty's health was proposed by the King and drunk with enthusiasm. His Majesty wore the Order of the Garter in honour of the occasion. BELGIAN FUNDS.—narssELs, Jun 1. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent .. ... ••.• • - • Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent .. •.• • • • Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent •• • • Ditto Three per Cent .. .. .... . .... Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto ...... Ditt0,ditt0,1840............ • • • • • • • ... 100% D.itt0,ditt0,1842............ •• • • •. . . 100% Diti,o, 1844............... •••• . • • • ... 96% Ditto, 18'3..5 . • • • . Ditto of the City, 1832 ................ Ditto, 1843 .. ~• ••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • 96 74 i Bank of Belgiura..... •• • • ........• ..... 89% —Ev - tliels k.apers, June 1. AUSTRIAN TUNDO.—VIENNA, MAT 25. 2.5 per Cult. MetaWques...., ... • • . 106 4 per Cent, ditto— • • • 3 Too O'. dlttc„, •• .•• • • • 69 Loan, 1834.. „ Ditto, 1839 .. 119 Banlt Shares ....... . Esterhazy's Loan . • .......... 63K RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand ... • • 1641,6 .. 124 Vienna—Milan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • 110 Perth • ........ ••••••••••• • " • • • • • • • • 94 Pesth BrOge ••••••• • '' • ' ' • • PRGIUBZ Or EARLS HARVEST. On Tuesday a fine full•.ahot ear at wheat of the current growth was exhi bited in the Leeda cow Anaeket by a corn and flour dealer, who -4 2 1 gathered it on i previell: !Jay *t a short distance from. Lovas. MR. COBDEN IN ITALY. TURIN, WEDNESDAY, MA Y 26, 1847.—Although the intended visit of Mr. Cobden to this city was well known and anticipated, and although it was the general wish that there should be given here, as well as in the other cities of Italy, a public testimonial of the high estimation in which he is held, yet it was found impos sible to arrange a reception on the scale desired and ex pected, for in fact in Turin there is no saloon large or commodious enough to accommodate the number that would have attended. Therefore three or four of the most influential nobles set on foot a banquet to which only those were admitted who had special letters of in vitation, and which banquet took place on Monday even ing the 24th, at the Europa Hotel. As it was, the room was much too small for the guests who amounted to about 60, and the heat was terrific ; however, the dinner was most excellent, served up in brilliant style, and composed of plats the most recherché. and of wines the choicest. The Comte Collibian' ' was in the chair ; having, of course, on his right Mr. Cobden, and on either side the President and Vice-President of the Chamber of Com merce ; the two Syndics of the city, Compte Balbo, Marquis di Cavour, Marquis di Brime, Comte Rignon, Professor Scialoja, &c. After the usual loyal toasts, the honour of proposing the health of their guest, which was drunk with accla• mations long and loud, devolved upon Professor Scialoja, a young Neapolitan of rare talents, specially invited by the King of Sardinia to become the professor of political economy in the Royal University of Turin. After the Professor's splendid speech, eulogising with great eloquence the cause and principles of commercial freedom, of which Mr. Cobden had been the persevering champion, and complimenting him upon the talents and energy he had displayed in effecting such a successful issue, Mr. Cobden rose to return thanks. He spoke in French, and after apologising for the imperfect manner in which he could express his sense of the honour done him, and disclaiming the merit which had been attri buted to him by the preceding speaker, made honour able mentien of his fellow labourers in the cause of free trade, and of the statesmen who had carried it into effect. He had found that the conduct of Sir Robert Peel was held in high estimation on the continent, and he believed that the same judgment which intelligent foreigners removed from the atmosphere of our political strife passed upon him would be also awarded to him by posterity in England.—(Loud cheers.) Ever since the close of the war the discoveries and im provements of science have been contributing towards free trade. Every steam-boat had been an argument in its favour—every mile of railway was a reproach to the restrictive system. Locomotives and fiscal prohibitions were incompatible things. Railways disdained the ancient custom-house restraints. They could not nurse their modern giant in an old-fashioned cradle. If Germany had not formed its Zollverein, it would not now have possessed its net-work of railways, and other countries would also be obliged to have their customs unions. —(Loud cheers.) The protective system was not known by the Italian republics in their flourishing era. How could Venice, for instance, have grown great under that system? There was nothing but mud banks to protect, t...a marble palaces by commercial liberty.—(Cheers.) As this was probably the last occasion of his addressing an Italian audience, he must be allowed to say what had most sur prised and delighted him in his travels in their country. It was not their pictures, monuments, and ruins—he had been prepared to see them. Nor was it the distinguished men he had met, for their fame had reached him in England. His most agreeable surprise had been in finding so much interest felt everywhere in Italy upon the subject of the commercial reform in England. That showed that the free traders had not been engaged in a narrow contest, but had laboured for the interests of humanity, and it also showed that Italians possess ex pulsive sympathies which embraced the whole world.— (Cheers.) He should be indeed ungrateful if he did not always feel a strong interest in all that concerned the happiness and prosperity of Italy, and he could not leave that beautiful country, except with the hope of return ing again, to renew his personal acquaintance with the many amiable persons from whom he had experienced so much kindness. Loud and enthusiastic plaudits followed th© termina. tion of the speech. Mr. Cobden has had ar7 -----7-- audience to-day of the King, who received him most graciously, and entered at once upon the subject of free trade, saying he highly ap proved the principles which Mr. Cobden had advocated, and that it was his wish and intention to make reduc tions in the tariff as soon as possible, a promise which the Minister of Finance corroborated in the evening, at the English Minister's, where Mr. Cobden dined. A COUNTRY PARTY GOVERN MENT. (From the Oxford and Cambridge Review.) There are ample materials left uncorrupted for the formation of an able and honest Administration, as such an assignment of offices as the following, for instance, abundantly testifies: — First Lord of the Treasury—Lord Stanley. Chancellor of the Exchequer—Lord George Bentinek. Secretary of State for the Home Department —Mr. Gladstone. Secretary of State for the Foreign Department —Lord Ashburton. Secretary of State for the Colonial Department—Sir it. R. Vyvyan. First Lord of the Admiralty —Duke of Northumber land. Lord Chancellor —Mr. Stuart. President of the Council—Earl Talbot. Lord Privy Seal—Lord Feversham. President of the Board of Trade—Earl of Lonsdale. President of the Board of Control—Earl of Powis. Postmaster-General—Duke of Buckingham. Paymaster-General of the Forces—Mr. Colquhoun. Woods and Forests—Lord John Manners. Secretary for Ireland—Mr. Disraeli. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster—Sir R. Inglis. (The above to form the Cabinet.) Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland—Duke of Cleveland. Master of the Mint—Marquis of Granby. Secretary to the Admiralty—Mr. Stafford O'Brien. Secretary at War—Hon. H. T. Liddell. Junior Lords of the Treasury—Lord March, Lord Ossulston, and Hon. F. Scott. Under-Secretary for the Home Department—Mr. Newdegate. Under-Secretary for the Foreign Department—Mr. Milnes Gaskell. Under-Secretary for the Colonial Department—Mr. Christopher. Junior Lords of the Admiralty—Lord Ingestre, Mr. J. N. Gladstone, Hon. A. Duncombe, and Hon. C. Harris. Joint Secretaries to the Treasury—Mr. T. Baring and Mr. H. Hodgson. Attorney -General—Mr. Pemberton Leigh. Solicitor -General—The Hon. Mr. Talbot. Vice-President of the Board of Trade—Mr. P. 11. S. Miles. Joint Secretaries to the Board of Control—Mr. Gro gan and Lord Clive. Master• General of the Ordnance—Sir H. Douglas. Surveyor-General of the Ordnance—Lord Hotham. Clerk of the Ordnance—Mr. W. Beresford. Lord Chamberlain—Lord Warde. Lord Steward—Earl of Hardwick. Master of the Horse—Marquis of Waterford. ERRING FISIIERY. —The catch — of Norweigian herrings has greatly failed this year. For a series of years, the take on the coast of Norway has been most abundant; and the quantity annually exported to Sweden, and to the ports in the Baltic, has ranged between 600,000 to 700,000 barrels; whereas the quantity cured this season, for exporta tion, will barely reach to 400,000 barrels. This fact ought to stimulate our Western fisherman to exertion during the en suing Beason, in order to 'gain that position in the market they have too long neglected.-4yr Observer. GOOD BsJy.—The gardens this spring are in fested to a considerable extent (considering the seve rity of the winter) with snails and slugs, which have already commenced their destructive havoc on the ten der foliage and vegetable plants. Mr. George Toms, of this place, among various experiments, spread in the evening in his garden some grains (the remains of malt after brewing), about one inch in thickness, About midnight he went to the spot and found the grains literally covered with snails and slugs ; and by sifting slaked lime over t h em he destroyed the w s wle• The experiment has become in general use, and SO success fully that gardens are cleansed of these insects in a few nights,— Taunton Courier. I I Bi ,r' '.