The Sun. — London, England, 1857-06-05 00:00:00

were thcn named, and empowered to proceed to bnaines3 orthwith. BOARD OF TRADE. Mr. HORSFALL then rose to move for a select com mittee to inquire into the origin, the past and present constitution, and the powers and duties of the Board of Trade, with a view to its better adaptation to the re quirements of the count r y . He disclaimed being actuated by any political faction, or intending any reflection on those who presided at the Board of Trade. He was happy to say that the Board of Trade was not a sinecure board. They rather did too much. It was in 1638 the the board was first constituted, and remodelled by Crom well in 1645. In 1660, in the time of Charles 11., ano ther constitution of the Board of Tradc took place. It was divided into two branches, and reunited in 1683. Further modifications were made in 1691, but it was not till 3780 that any material alteration was made—when the entire abolition was moved by Mr. Barber, and the result of the debate was, that the clause for the entire aholition of the board was carried by a majority of eight. The mercantile interests, however, though anxious for its reform, were not anxious for its abolition. The same was true at the present day. The mercantile interest was not anxious for the abolition of the Board of Trade — they admitted its utilities. He would accept the de finition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the other evening repudiated all idea of tha honorary mem bers, and said that the responsible members of the board were its president and vice-president. The first point which presented itself was, what were the duties which the board so constituted had ' to discharge ? It had been well said by Mr. Thomas that the duties are of a miscel laneous character. A part s /3f this duty was to advise the Treasury on colonial matters, customs, and excise, and to advise the Foreign-office on comm'rcial treaties. It had to supervise orders in council, and to examine every dock bill, every railway bill for the guidance of Parliament. Nor was this all. It was a general superintendence of aericulture, of surveys, museums, registration, water sup plies ; and after all this, there was a bill before the house which might impose upon them other duties. These were subjects managed at the Board of Trade, which did not satisfy the country. The people of this country would ever contend for the principle of self-government against that of centralisation. The Local Marine Bill of the present Minister for the Colonies, for the regulation of the merchant shipping, had created a perfect tribunal to examine into shipwrecks. Mr. Cardwell, in his Con solidation Bill, by giving the power to two magistrates had made a mistake ; and the permissive power of the bill to the Board of Trade to appoint an assessor, had given great dissatisfaction. The most important cases had been taken from the local and marine board, and brought before two stipendiary magistrates, assisted by a naval officer. Now a naval officer was not a good judge of such a matter. He had a sufficient number of men under his command, all of whom he knew, while the merchant captain bad perhaps only 25 men, and could could not weather the gale when the naval offi cer could carry the ship through it. The merchant cap tains demand, like naval captains, to be tried by their peers. The Board of Trade, in removing the trial from a competent to an incompetent tribunal, had created great dissatisfaction. By the Merchant Shipping Act captains were bound to give returns of the names of the owners, the nature of the cargo, and the kind of distress to which the ship was subject. Besides this, they were bound by the words of the act to give as much other in formation as the assessor might think necessary. On the strength of this the Board of Trade had asked a series of irrelevant and inquisitorial questions, as, for instance, if the vessel was insured or not, questions which should never have been asked. The act required that the in formation obtained should be posted at Lloyd's. But what captain liked it to be posted at Lloyd's that he had lost 50,0001. or 60,0001. by not insuring? What under writer liked to be posted as having lost 50,0001. or 60,0001. by taking an insurance, Some one had pro perly said that the best answer to these questions would be, "Mind your own business, and we will mind ours." These questions were mo-t vexatious. Such were some of the cases of interference. Since he had given notice of this motion he had had numerous cases submitted to him in whieh masters had been hardly dealt with, but in other cases it appeared that the Board of Trade bad not bests stringent enough, a license in one case having been granted to a notorious drunkard. Perhaps, how ever, that might have arisen from a want of power on the part of the board. The next point he had to allude to was the power of the Board of Trade to report on local bills, and on this point he strongly objected to the board being enabled to send reports to committees on )(cel bills, with a view of prejudging their decision one way or another. He thought that was a principle quite Inconsistent with the principles of the British constitu tion. Perhaps he might be allowed to refer to a bill which was now before the house in reference to the Birkenhead docks. At the present time vessels were most unnecessarily detained at Liverpool, not only to the irjery of the owners, but also to the National ex chequer. Both the Board of Trade and the Admiralty bad reported upon that Bill, and while the Board of Trade had censured the Admiralty with regard to the present state of proceedings, the Admiralty had been equally decisive in censuring the Board of Trade. The next point to which he would advert, was the loss to the trade of the country from the want of necessary accom modation. Some time ago Liverpool had 110 landing waiters, and although the trade increased 60 per cent. the Board of Customs stuck to that number, and the consequence was that vessels were frequently obliged to wait three or four weeks before they could he discharged. It was not until strong representations came front Ame rica that this system was altered. The American cap tains complained that it took them longer to get their cargoes discharged than to make the voyage, and the matter was brought before Sir R. Peel, who was then Prime Minister. The right hon. baronet promised that the matter should have his personal consideration, and in less than six weeks 56 additional landing waiters were appointed. He hoped the noble lord at the bead of the Government would give the same assurance, and that he would so reform and reconstitute the Board of Trade that it shoul'l be no longer an obstruction to the com merce of the country. Then as to the agricultural depart. ment of the Board of Trade, he bad heard that morning from the Corn Association of Liverpool that the official returns of grain issued by the Board of Trade were utterly worthless for any statistical purpose, and that opinion was confirmed by the President of the Royal Agricultu ral Association. The next point to which he would refer was the supply of guano, in reference to which the Presi, dent of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce had stated that it was a gigantic blunder on the part of Government, and especially of the Board of Trade. This was a subject on which he hell it was the duty of the authorities of the Board of Trade to advise the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Following up this question of guano, he might state that be had waited with a deputation from the Liverpool Shipowners' Association at Liverpool upon the Colonial Secretary, who said be would take into bis consideration the propriety of throwing open the trade. Certain arrangements were submitted to the right hon. gentleman, and by him forwarded to the Board of Trade. In this agreement it was arranged that the trade should be opened to all parties, and that all parties should be treated alike. When he forwarded that arrangement he suggested that as no duty was payable on Peruvian guano the Government shoul I relinquish the small roy alty per ton it enjoyed. If that suggestion had been made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer he could understand ashy it should have been rejected, but he could not un derstaed why the Board of Trade, whose object it was to promote and encourage commerce, should return as an answer their lordships could not entertain the applica tion. (Rear.) Still less could he understand the grounds upon whit's the suggestion was refused, and which was that any advantage conceded to a single port would be inconsistent with the wider interests involved, whereas the suggestion was that the trade should be thrown open to.all parties. (Hear, hear.) Then as to railways, no thing could be more proper than that the Board of Trade should have the power of sending down competent parties to inspect and report upon Ihem ; but they sent down incompetent persons ; and in 1849 the Board of Trade sent down an inspector to report on a line in Lincolnshire. He sai it was insecure, and reported against it. A long correspondence ensued, to the great disadvantage of the shareholders. At length the; Board of Trade announced that they had reconsidered their determination, and the I.ne had been used eitbout any accident up to the present time. Exactly the same circumstance happened with regard to a bridge on - the South-Western Railway, between Waterloo and Vaux hall. The hon. gentleman complained, on the autho rity of Mr. G. P. Bidder, in a report dated March, 1856, that the inspectors sent down to examine and report upon new lines had had no experience, and had never had anything to do with the construction of a single line of railway. In these and in many other respects he did not think the Board of Trade, as at present constituted, was satisfactory to the country, and that a peer and a lawyer were not exactly fit persons to preside over the commer cial interests of the country. (Hear.) He appealed to th e justice of Parliament and to the candour of the noble lord at the head of the Government to grant the corr.- !teittee, which as he had already stated was to inquire I nto the orig i n, th e past an d present constitution, and to h t e powers and duties of the B oar d o f T ra d e , w ith a v i ew a better adaptation to the requirements of the country. LA-BoucaEn,E said he had listened with much surprise to the censures which the hon. gentleman had cast upon an important aret branch of the G overnmen t, hav ing under it s country. Hec appealedhe rotection of the commerce o f th e to the house who had listened to the d e hon, tai lii ofquarrels s amongst ethe r hi s speec h had not con feted o h his constituents, and that he had to.grapple that large question whether great department of ihe •Government should be ar raigned before a committee o f the i f ouse of Commons with a view to its entire dernolitton. t o na y that, beginning' with those great e would ventur e measures which Ifth Mr. kisson instituted to the presentthe Ward of Trade had borne a most conspicuon, part time,in the shackles which for so long a tim e i mpede l'e,m, oviug gentleman corn f the commerce of the country. R 'ue Pro gress o edid not ex actly understand what the honourable pleined of, but as far a 3 he gathered the object of the hon. gentleman, it was to int r o duce into the Board the o f Trade men who were most intimately connected W i t h the commerce of the country. He (Mr. Labouchere) held the opinion which had always been entertained b y the house, that no one should have any control in the Board of Trade wha was identified with any branch of commerce. That principle had always been jealously watched, and when Mr. P. Thompson was ma d e Vice ' Preeident of the Board of Trade, no sooner was the ap pointment announced, that he was asked in the House of Commons by the present Lord Lonsdale whether he had broken off hie connection with commerce, and he immediately replied that he had. There could be no objection to a merchant who had left commerce becoming President of the Board of Trade ; but it was very undesirable that he should continue his connection with commerce while holding any office at the I board. The principle that th e t ra d e o f t h e country should be 'savaged by merchants was a retrograde principle, kr ho believed that if the manage. rHE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 5, 1857\ to 4,156,000—an increase of nearly 20 per cent. The number of men in 1850 was 3,137,000, and in 1856 it had risen to 4,150,000. It had been predicted tbat the increase in the number of foreigners serving in English vessels would be very great, but the.ab.tract showed that in 1854 the number was only 13,200 ; in 1855, it fell to 12,927, and in the early part of the present year it was but 13,350. It was also said that the number of apprentice boys would diminish. Well, at first there was a reduction. In 1852 the number was only 11,105 ; but in 1853 it increased to 13,820 : in 1854 to 18,523 ; and in 1855, the last year to which the number had been made up, it was 22,082. (Hear.) Since 1842, up to the present time, about two millions of Customs had been remitted, but the Customs, which in 1842 were 21,025,000/.,"and in 1845 were 20,196,0001., had in 1856 increased to 22,370,000/., a larger amount than when these changes were commenced. The Excise duties in 1842 amounted to 12,517,9001., and increased in 1845 to 12,585,0001., and in 1856 to 17,357,0001. The character of the board had certainly changed of late, and it was less a consulting body than formerly ; but it was more an executive body, and very considerable executive duties had devolved upon it in consequence of recent changes. The right hon. baronet then referred to the changes in the Merchant Shipping Acts, which, he contended, bad been beneficial; and though that word "centralisation," so often made a bugbear, and so little understood—(a laugh)—had been applied in this case, the fact was, that the power still vested in the local magistracy. Men of eminent talents had filled the offices of State which the hon. member opposite wished to get rid of, and the right hon. b; renet, in support of the continua tion of the present Board of Trade in all its integrity, enumerated the various beneficial changes that bad taken place connected with trade and commerce during the last five years that had emanated from the Board of Trade, such as the repeal of the navigation laws, the suppression of crimping, the survey of passenger steamers, a regular official inquiry into the misconduct of the masters of vessels, and numerous others, having parti cular reference to the shipping interest and the protec tion of seamen, and all of which had been attended with salutary effects. During the time Mr. Cardwell held office he-was no idle - man, for he introduced the Mer• chant Shipping„Act and carried it, an act containing 400 clauses, and which was a complete consolidation of the whole code of shipping laws. (Hear.) By it fifty statutes were repealed and embodied in it, and he (Sir James Graham) was not wrong in saying that, after all that had been said about consolidation of the statutes, that was a solitary instance of consolidation on a large scale. There were in that act facilities for the transfer and mortgage of ships, and it was a model for imitation when the house had to deal with the question of facile ting the transfer of land. (Hear, hear.) That gentle man also succeeded in inducing the Trinity House to give up their charter of Henry VIII., and become under the control and regulation of the executive govern ment, which had had the effect of remitting in two years 170,0001. worth of shipping duties levied for the maintenance of lighthouses, whilst the old ones bad been efficiently maintained by the Government, and new and improved ones had been erected on various parts of the coast. (Freer.) Another great benefit obtained by the Bard of Trade was the control of the pilots in the Thames, Cinque Ports, and other places on the coast. He hoped the Government would firmly resist the mo tion for a committee, and maintain the existence of this department of the State in its present integrity, the value of which was so apparent to the trade and com merce of the country. Any alteration that could be made for the benefit of the country with reference t) its official capacity he should have no objection to see adopted. (Hear.) Air. Ba'SlriNaK did not agree with Mr. Horsfall in all his statements, but was in favour of the motion for inquiry. PECHELL also complained of the officioue meddling of the Board of Trade with the commerce of the country. Mr. LO EVE said that he had come down to the house fully prepared to argue the question raised by the mo tion of the hon. member for Liverpool, as to whether there ought to be an alteration in the constitution of the Board of Trade, but not to answer every possible case that might be brought against the Board of Trade in the absence of papers and books to which to refer to. If the hon. member wished to raise the question on all the statements he had made to the house, he (Mr. Lowe) would be happy to consent to the production of the papers and enter on the charges. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member having entered so fully into the history of the establishment and con stitution of the Board of Trade, had, he (Mr. Lowe) thought, disposed thereby of one part of his mo tion. The right honourable gentleman the Vice-Presi dent of the Board of Trade then entered into a comparison of the duties of the board in the time of Burke and in the present time, remarking that grave and heavy responsibilities rested on the board for the protec tion of the public. He thought that if the Board of Trade had too much to do, it was no argument for an alteration of its constitution, but rather of its being re lieved of some of its burdens. It was the fault of that house that the board had so much to do, because every thing that required investigation and inquiry was handed over to the board, so that if any one was really to blame it was that house for imposing such a multiplicity of duties on that department. It was in consequence of the information obtained by the Board of Trade that it might be said to be the cradle of free trade, for Mr. Huekiason at one time held the office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade, and in 1340 Mr. H. J. Deacon Hume came forth with his valuable evidence relative to the import dues. (Hear.) Replying to the charge brought against the board by the gallant admiral (Sir G. Pechell), the right hon. gentleman said that the strin gency of the order connected with the oyster fisheries would only have reference to the oysters being taken up during the months that had been named for eating, but liberty would be granted under it for taking up the oysters for transplanting. The right hon. gentleman de nied that the Board of Trade were the enemies of local self-government. Their duties were to stand forward as impartial arbitrators between great interests and the people, and the Board of Trade would ever do it, it it were necessary, with integrity and impartiality, and not allow errors to be passed over by well meaning friends. (Hear, hear.) The charge of interfering with local self government had reference to the Liverpool Local Marine Board, established in 1854, under an act which gives an alternative tribunal for inquiring into wrecks at sea By that act parties could go before the Marine Board, composed of seven shipowners on the spot, four named by' the Board of Trade, or before magistrates, assisted by Board of Trade asses sors. At Liverpool many of these had come before the magistrates, from its being thought more de sirable than to go before shipowners, who had generally a very tender regard for brother shipowners. Much had been said about these proceedings, but no single case had been brought before the house of injustice on the part of the board. There bad been 190 cases in which the Board of Trade had withdrawn their certificates to seafaring men, 58 of which had been renewed, and it ap peared very strange if the Board of Trade had acted with injustice, that not one case could be brought against them out of so many. (Hear.) The board might have erred in judgment, but they had never been guilty wil lingly of an act of injustice towards any party. (hear.) They bad withdrawn 116 certificates for drunkenness, 20 for loss or damage to ships, and 59 for other offences; there had been 96 cases tried by the local marine hoard, and by naval courts of law on complaints 57, and 48 by magistrates and assessors ; the number of certificates of competency that had been withdrawn, were 71 ; and for service withdrawn, 124. Another complaint made against the board was their interference in asking ques tions in cases of wreck relative to the insurances, and were the board to abstain from doing so they would not be doing their duty, especially as the committee of 1837 called attention to the prevalence of wrecks from that cause, and it being known that ships had been wilfully run ashore where they had been insured abave their value. One complaint against the board was with refer ence to advancing an officer's salary 501., and the ques tion arose whether it was to be considered as - salary or as a gratuity. The board contend the latter, and the Ma rine Board the former, so that rather than give way the independent Liverpool Marine Board all resigned. (Hear.) One of the duties of the Board of Trade, and which appeared to give the boa. member for Liverpool - some offence, was to examine' all private bille. That was a matter of great importance to the public, and were it not for, the vigilance of the Board of Trade, the greatest injustice would be inflicted on them, and, in illustration, he referred to the city of L on d on btaining, during the railway period, power to collect the coal-tax on all coals brought into the metropolis, by land as well as by sea. Had these bills, then, been referred to the Board of Trade, such ate injustice would not have been permitted by Parliament. The right hon. gentleman de fended the Board of Trade from the charges that had been brought against them for interfering with the con struction of socks at Liverpool, remarking that all the Board of Trade wanted was for the people of Liverpool to comply with the terms required in respect to these docks, and keep faith with the Board. In the case of the guano, the Board were charged with default, because the Government of Peru charged a high price for that article. They were charged also in reference to Kooria- Mooria, Island guano with not remitting 2s. a ton on that product. The Government bad declined to do that, because as it was not proposed to reduce the price of the guano of those islands below the price of Peruvian guano, the Gevernment thought they might better have that amount of duty than to allow it to go into the pockets of the lesses. Although Liverpool proposed tlet the guano sheuld,be imported in vessels of all nations, the truth was, that the proposition; in effect, restricted the importation Of that guano except in Liverpool ships, in as much as the lessees claimed to issue permission to load with guano from those islands. In relation to the mana gement of railways, they were charged that a viaduct on the Manchester and Sheffield Railway bad been delayed for three months eight years ago, by the Board of Trade. That was not the case, for at that time the inspecting officer of railways was not under the control of the Board of Trade. He would not say that the hon. member for Liverpool had been personal, but he certainly had been very fecal. (Laughter.) If there was a department of the Government which deserved well of the country, it was the Board of Trade. (Laughter.) All the acts complained of had - taken place- befOre he (elr. Lowe) had had the honour of being connected with it. The honourable gentleman then read an opinion of the hon. gentletnan the member • for the University for Oxford, as to the value of the labours of the Board of Trade. Of late years the Board of Trade had beta in atrumental in instituting savings banks for ,seamen ; of eytabliehing a department to take charge of the wages and effects of deceased seamen, and distributing them to the friends and relatives. In the year 1856 there had been collected and distributed without expense, 33,0001. from that source. Through the instrumentality of Mr. Cardwell the Board of Trade had altered the doctrine of salvage, and made it payable for saving life as well as for saving property, It had also, by an improved mod of inquiry into the causes of shipwrecks, ♦ery much diminished the loss of life from that cause. In 1852, 920 lives were lost ; in 1853, 689 ; in 1854, 1,549 ; in 1855, 469 ; and in 1856, only 521. Considering the large increase in shipping, those figures were most gra tifying ; and the hon. gentleman (Mr. Cardwell) was entitled to much credit for having inaugurated the im provements he bad specified. Great improvement in the organisation of life-boats had also taken place, from the application of large sums out of the mercantile marine fund to that purpose. The Board of Trade had also received from the Trinity Board the management of lighthouses, and remitted light dues to the extent of 170,000/. Having heard both sides of the question, he submitted to the committee that no board bad better fulfilled its functions than the Board of Trade. No board had been better served by its officers, and he sub mitted that it was rather strange that the right hon. gentleman opposite should come there to make a formal complaint of that board, not based on any great principle, but on a single instance of misconduct, which he had carefully culled up. He had made a great many charges; occurring at different times and in different places, but be (Mr. Lowe) thought he had succeeded in answering every one of them ; but if he had not done so, that might be a reason for objecting to the management of the Board of Trade ; but it would be no reason for breaking up the constitution of the board and entrusting it to the care of any body of gentlemen who would go there to repre sent particular interests. If that were permitted, the effects would be precisely what it had always been in the case of guilds. Unjust rules against the interests of the public would be enacted, opposition would be roused, and the guild would be overthrown, and the principle of freedom of trade would again triumph. The Board of Trade had fallen into no such error. They had concili. ated no interest at the expense of the public, but had en. deavoured so to discharge their functions as to do their duty to the people. That, he believed, would be the opinion of that house, and they would by their vote, if the question came to a division, very unmistakeably ex press that opinion. Mr. BASS was grateful they had Bush a department as the Board of Board. He thought, however, they ought to be grateful to the hon. member for Liverpool for having brought forward the question. He was of opinion that no statistics which that board had compiled would be so valuable as those they might prepare in the shape of agricultural statistics. He believed it could be done if the proper means were taken, and he much re gretted to have gathered from the speech of the hon. gen tleman that he had no intention of censidering that im. portant subject. Mr. JOHN EWART agreed that the mode in which the Board of Trade had been conducted by Mr. Huskis son was everything that could be desired, but since that time he believed that many of the acts of that depart. ment had been most oppressive, and for one was desirous that the inquiry into its present constitution and working should take place. Mr. HADFIELD congratulated the Vice-President of the Board of Trade on his conduct in reference to the question of local dues during the last session of Parlia ment. With that question still unsettled this was not the time for any change in the Board of Trade. Let it exercise its influence on that great question, and thus earn the thanks of the northern towns of the kingdom, by freeing them from the oppressiveduties levied ontheir goods by Liverpool [time, time, and question.] Mr. HORSFALL in reply said he had made no attack on Mr. Card well. During the time Mr. Huskiseon and Mr. Canning were members for Liverpool, he had con sistently supported them, when the hon. baronet oppo site bad not. Sir J. GRAHAM dissented. Mr. HORSFALLL continued—He had not sneered at either the noble lord at the head of the department of the Board of Trade or at the Vice-President. He would promise that if the committee were granted he would bring forward many cases of injustice. But whether that was the case or not, there was a feeling that the mercan tile marine were not tried before a proper tribunal. That feeling existing, and the opinion expressed by petitions was a sufficient ground for the Government to concede the inquiry sought for. There never was so absurd an argument as that, because the lessees of the guano islands resided in Liverpool, they therefore desired to monopolise the trade. He had not brought forward the grievances of any other port than where the occur rences had occurred under his own eye ; but the ques tion was not local, it was a national one, and whatever might be the decision of the house that night, it would not be allowed to rest there. His arguments had not been met by any of the speakers ; but a good case had been made uut for the inquiry. He had never suggested that any one coenected with commerce should be placed at the head of tte Board of Trade, although he certainly did think a person with experience in commercial affairs would not be misplaced there. He hoped the house would grant him the committee he had asked for, when he had very little fear of being able to establish his proposition by a sufficient number of the cases of injustice, the absence of which had been remarked. The motion eras the❑ put from the chair, and ulti mately negatived without a division. SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. Mr. SLANEY moved for the appointment of a stand ing committee, or unpaid commission, to consider and report *ma time to time on practical suggestions, free from party differences, to give facilities for improve ment in the social condition of the working classes. The rapid increase in our industrial population and the dense aggregation of human beings caused by the development of the manufacturfng system, had, he maintained, re sulted in serious scalel evils among those classes of the community, which required constant vigilance and legis lative interference for their mitigation. This duty he pro posed to assign to a permanent board, whose chief duties he outlined, but would not undertake the respon sibility of nomina:ing the members of which it should be composed. Sir. G. GREY admitted the importance of the sub ject, and recognised the benevolent intentions of the proposer, but on practical grounds objected to the ap. pointment of a standing committee. Questions relating to the social condition of the working classes could be best decided in detail as they arose, and many of the most important were, he observed, already under pro cess of consideration and settlement by measures now before the house. Mr. SLANEY, after a few words in reply, withdrew his motion. THE LICENSING SYSTEM. The house then resolved into committee on the mo• tion of Mr. ATHERTON, to enable him to mo►e for leave to bring in a bill to explain and amend the act to regulate the granting of licenses to public•houses. This bill he proposed to be a declaratory act. The act for granting licenses vested the power in the jug. tices. He desired to make the law plain, and in boroughs not having quarter sessions he proposed to vest the power of licensing in the borough justices. There were no less than 77 boroughs having sepa rate jurisdictions without separate quarter sessions. At present there was a doubt whether the borough justices were the licensing justices, and it was to remove that doubt that he wished to introduce his bill. If the doubt which at present existed with regard to the licensing of borough justices were well founded, then all innkeepers who held licenses from such justices were liable to be proceeded against for penalties, and therefore he asked leave to introduce this bill to declare the law with regard to the licensing by borough justices in boroughs having separate jurisdiction. lie concluded by moving for leave to introduce the bill. • Sir G. GREY said he had no representation made to him upon the subject. He should not oppose the intro duction of the bill. Leave was then given to introduce the bill. BURIALS. Mr. HARDCASTLE obtained leave to bring in a bill relating to burials in consecrated and unconsecrated grounds. MARRIED WOMEN. Mr. MALINS moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable married women to dispose of reversionary inte rests in personal estates. He had successfully introduced such a bill in 1855 and 1856 ; but last year, when taken to the House of Lords, no noble lord was found to move the second reading, and therefore it remained a dead letter on the table of that house. He had now, however, obtained the promise of a noble lord to move the second reading, and he believed the merits of the bill would secure its passing. - Nhat be proposed was to enable the wife to deal with reversionary personal estate the same as ebe could with regard to real estate. The ATTORNEY•GENERAL said the public would be much indebted to his hon: and learned friend, if he should succeed in carrying this bill, which was to re move an anomaly in our law. Leave was then given to introduce the bill. DUCHY OF LANCASTER. Mr. CONINGHAM rose to move for a select commit tee to inquire into the statements set forth in a petition from Mr. Francis Robert Bertolacci, praying for an in quiry inte the proceedings of certain functionaries of the Duchy of Lancaster in preventing him from ecercising the rights, powers, and privileges of the office of auditor , of the Duchy, and in superseding him by a near connec• tion of the Receiver-General, to audit that officer's ac• oounts, such committee to consist of fire members, to be appointed by the General Committee of Selection. He had brought this subject forward on public grounds, and all he required was a full investigation into the state ments made in the petition of Mr. Bartolacci. Lord CAVENDISH, in seconding the motion, said he was nearly related to Lord Granville, whose conduct was irnpugneci in this matter, and that noble lord was desirous of the fullest and moat searching investigation into the matter. The motion was agreed to. HOP DUTY. Mr. KNATCHBULL.HUGESSEN moved to add the name of Sir Brooke Bridges to the committee on the hop duties. Mr. FITZROY opposed the motion, as he objected to the number of committees being increased at a time when so many committees were sitting. After a short conversation between Mr. Hugessen, Sir John Shelley, Mr. Stafford, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2 who opposed the addition of other names. Mr. HUGESSEN declared his intention to divide the houie upon the motion. The question was then put, and the house divided. The numbers were— Against the motion Fur the motion Majority against it....._ —77 BURIAL ACTS AMEND ENT BILL. This bill went through committee pro forma, to be repainted with amendments. SHEEP, &c., CONTAGIOUS _DISEASES PRE. VENTION BILL. On the motion of Mr. BENTINCK this bill was read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a select committee. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES BILL. This bill went through committee pro form; f• the purpose of numb:tent. PRINCESS ROYAL'S ANNUITY BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. SUPPLY. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought in and agreed to. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY inquired whether there would be any additional estimates brought in on account of the Chinese expedit ion ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that esti ca.es for the transport service would be laid be• fore the house later in the session. The Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Joint Stock Companies Amendment Bill W 33 read a second time. The Turnpike Trusts Abolition Bill (Ireland) was read a second time. The house then adjourned at half-past 12. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. GREAT WESTERN. Yesterday a special general meeting of this com pany was held at the Paddington Station, to take into consideration certain bills now pending in Par liament, as required by the standing orders. The Hon. Mr. PONSONBY took the chair, stating that Lord Barrington had resigned the chairman ship of the board, and that the directors had done him the honour to elect him as his successor. He was happy to add that Lord Barrington had con sented to be their deputy-chairman. A SHAREHOLDER inquired whether the hon. gentleman had been previously a director of the company ? Mr. SAUNDERS (the secretary) replied that Mr. Ponsonby was not a director at the last half-yearly meeting, but that ho held that position at a former period. The first resolution proposed was to sanction a bill for making a railway from the Torquay branch of the South Devon Railway to or near Dartmouth, to be called the Dartmouth and. Torbay Railway, and for other purposes. On this motion being put from the chair, a long discussion took place upon the general question as to the propriety of entering into arrangements with other companies at the risk of involving this company in expenses without any guarantee that their interests would be thereby promoted. The CHAIRMAN replied that the new branch lines to which the bills in question referred did not in volve this company in any liability whatever. The only clauses which immediateiy concerned the Great Western Company ware of a permissive cha racter, giving power to the directors to enter into working arrangements with the new branches at some future time if it should be thought desirable to do so. Mr. MALINS begged to be allowed to take this opportunity of asking some explanation respecting the arrangements between the Great Western Rail way Company and the Weymouth and Channel Islands Steam Navigation Company, as there was a general impression that those arrangements were calculated to entail a loss (it this company. Mr. SAUNDEItS replied that it was a mistake *to suppose that the arrangements were likely to involve the company in any lqss. The result up to the present moment, be was happy to say, had been far.other wise, and he was quite sure that the agreement in question was one of the most important which the directors had yet entered into for promoting the interests of the company. The motion was then put and carried unani mously ; as were also resolutions approving bills for making railways between the city of Bristol and the South Wales Railway, with a steam ferry across the river Severn, in connexion therewith, for the purpose of improving the railway communication between South Wales and Bristol, Southampton, and the south-western districts of England ; for the making and maintaining of the Stratford-on-Avon Railway, and for other purposes ; for making a railway from the Llantrissant station of the Suuth Wales Railway to Penrhiwfer, with branches to Glanmychydd and Mynydd Gellyrhaidd ; for making a railway from the Llanidloes and New town Railway to the town of Machynlleth. The meeting was then made special, to consider and ratify certain agreements entered into with the Bridport Railway Company and the Stratford-on- Avon Railway Company, for working their re spective lines, in pursuance of resolutions of the last half-yearly meeting of the company. A resolution upon this subject was proposed and agreed to ; and votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, to the late chairman, to the board of ' directors, and to Mr. Saunders, the secretary. The meeting then separated. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALCS'-TIIIIRSDAY. A large majority of the principal book-makers being at Manchester, the Room was not numerously attended. The following scanty list of quotations comprises all the transactions that came under our notice : ASCOT CUP. eto 1 aget Skirmisher (take 13 to 2) 7to 1 aget Lance (offered) Bto 1 agst Pole Star Offered) 100 to 7 aget Fisherman (taken and offered) 25 to 1 agst Ellington (taken) MANCHESTER RACES—WEDNESDAY. The Sapling Stakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 100 added, for two-year-olds, colts Bst 71b, and fillies Bst 41b. The second to receive 25 says out of the stakes. The winner of any race before starting of the clear value of 200 says 31b, and if 500 soya clear, 71b extra. T. Ari,C. 25 subs. Admiral Ilarcourt's Sister to Ellington, by the Flying Dutchman, Bst 41b (Aldcroft) 1 Mr. R. L. Walker's The Flying'Duke, Bst 101 b (inc 31b extra►) (Charlton) 2 Mr. J. Osborne's Intercidona, Bst 41b ...(J Osborne) 3 The following also ran :—Spread Eagle, Prince of Denmark, Patience, Tom Linne, and Knockburn. Betting-7 to 4 agst Sister to Ellington, sto 2 agst Flying Duke. . . . iVo - n in a canter by four lengths, two lengths between the second and third, and a length between the third and fourth. The Trafford Handicap of 5 sous each, With 50 added One mile. Mr. W. H. Brooks'A Manganese, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (J. Osborne) 1 Mr. T. Cliff's Lady Hercule's, 3 yrs, Est 31b ....(Bray) 2 Mr. Barber's Lord Nelson, 3 yrs, 7st 81b (Hayward) 3 The following also ran :—Six and Eightpence, Blight, Evelyn, and Master Bagot. Betting-5 to 4 agst Lord Nelson, sto 1 each agst Evelyn and Lady Hercules-6 to 1 agst Six-and-Eight pence, 7 to 1 agst Master Begot, 100 to 15 agst Man ganese. Won easily by a length ; a head between the second and third ; bad fourth. Evelyn was fifth, Blight sixth, and Master Bagot last THURSDAY. The Two-year-old Stakes of 10 soya each, h ft, with 50 added, for 2-yr-olds ; c >its Bst 71b, fillies 83t 41b. The second to receive back his stake. Certain penalties for winners. T.Y.C. 23 subs. Mr. W. S. Halford's Mainstay, Bst . 7lb (in. 31b extra) (Kendall) 1 Mi. Howard's Jack Horner, 83t 71b (J. Goater) 2 Mr. Eastwood's Hesperithwa, Bst 41b (G. Oates) 3 Mr. Lee's Soothsayer, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 4 Betting-5 to 4on Maiustay-7 to 4 aget Soothsayer, 4 to 1 agst Jack Horner, 6 to 1 agst Hesperithusa. Won easily by a length ; two lengths between the second and third ; and a length between the third and fourth. The City Handicap of 70 sove. The winner of any race after the publication of the weights, once, 51b, twice 71b extra. Three quarters of a mile. Mr. Andrew's The Martlet, 4 yrs, 7bt 21b (J. Forster) 1 Mr. Gill's Bourgeois, aged Bst 91b (3. Gill) 2 Mr. Osborne's De inkel, 4 yrs, 7st 21b...(Challoner) 3 Mr. Watson's Sulpitia, 3 yrs, sst 121 h (Pritchard) 4 The following also ran :—Ellertnire, Red White and Blue, Frodsham Squire, Breez-4. Betting-5 to 2 aget Sulpitia, 4to 1 agst Bourgeois, 7 to 1 each agst The Martlet, De Ginkel, and Ellermire. Won by three-quarters of a length ; a length between the second and third, bad fourth, Breeze was fifth, and Ellermire sixth. Red White and Blue was last through out. The Manchester Tradesmen's Cup of 200 sovs, in specie, added to a handicap sweepstakes of 20 goys each, 10 ft, and 5 only if declared, &c. Certain penalties fir winners, &c. ; the second to receive 50 sovs out of the stakes. Two miles and a quarter. 46 subs, 27 of whom pay 5 soya each. Mr. Foster 's Underhand, 3 yrs, 7st 101b...(G. Oates) 1 Mr. Dawson's Janet, 3 yrs, 7st 81b ............... (Bates) 2 Mr. Barber's Commotion, 3 yrs, Bst 21 b...(flayward) 3 The following also ran :—Romeo, Vandal, Gortscha koff, Companion, Brother to Preston, Pizarro, and Silk more. Betting-3 to 1 agst Commotion, 4to 1 agst Romeo, 4 to 1 agst Underhand, 6 to 1 agat Companion, 10 to 1 agst any other. _ - A fine race; won by half a length ; two In)gths be tween second and third ; a head between the third and fourth ; Companion was fifth. The Maiden Plate. General Williams • •••• Arnbas's darn colt Eight ran. Chesterfield Handicap. Glede Hawk Manganese Lady Hercules . 3 Four ran. Her Majesty's Plate. ment of the commerce of the country had been left to merchants it would never have made any progress ; and that if the shipowners, for instance, had had the mana gsment of the Board of Trade, the navigation laws would never have been repealed until he if the markets of the world bad been lost. The hon. gentleman had correctly stated that of late years the constitution of the Board of Trade had been altered. Formerly it was consulted by all departments of the Government; and although it still remained to a, great extent a consulting body, many of its previous duties had been swept away. The other day he had to refer a Consolidation Commercial Code from Malta to the Board of Trade, as it was importanthe shouldhave the best opinions on the important matters it involved. He mentioned this as an illustration of the duty which still devolved upon that department of the Government. So far from admitting the principle advocated by the hon. gentleman, he held to the opinion he had already ex pressed—that the Board of Trade should be manaleed by persons entirely unconnected with commerce, and who, therefore, in that respect, would be entirely above sus picion. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman passed a high compliment upon Mr. Cardwell in reference to the per formance of )his duties at the Board of Trade ; and ex pressed his regret that he was not at present a member of the house. With regard to the complaints of the hon. gentleman that the Board of Trade reported upon pri vate bills, he was somewhat astonished at it, for he had always heard it spoken of as a most valuable and im portant function of the Board of Trade to report to com mittees on private bills on behalf of the public, who, in too many instances, on such occasions, were unrepre sented. The hon. gentleman could hardly intend, espe cially under the circumstances of the present session, to press a motion for a select committee to inquire into a question which the house itself could much more satis factorily deal with. (Hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM could not reconcile it to his sense of duty to give a silent vote upon this question. He had no official experience of the particular office to which this debate referred, but in the language of Mr. Burke, he had observed the operation of the Board of Trade " on and off" for a period of 40 years, being the whole period that he had had the honour to hold a seat in the house. He had observed the functions of the board in question as discharged by men of the highest talent. (Hear.) He was surprised that the hon. gentleman should be the per , son to bring forward such a motion, when he could not take a step in the city which he represented without having brought to his attention the memory of that dis tinguished gentleman, his predecessor in the representa tion of that city—(applause)---who presided over the the Board of Trade with an efficiency that entitled him to the gratitude of his country. (Cheers.) He could not go into the Exchange without seeing the statue of that gentleman, with an inscription which declared the great benefits he had conferred upon the city of Liver pool. (Hear.) Nor could be behold the docks, which re ceive into their bosom the produce of the world, without being reminded that they were the work of Mr. Huskis son. (Cheers.) The Custom-house, again, was considered at the time it was erected to be too large, but his fore sight perceived (what bad been verified by the result) that it would be inadequate to the growing requirements of the trade of Liverpool. (Hear.) He could not enter the cemetery where Mr. Huskisson lay buried without being reminded what shade we we are, and Ida' shadows are the objects we contend for, and yet it was the hon. member for Liverpool that had made the appeal to this house which they had just heard. The hon.gentleman, in saying that the operation of the board was not satisfac tory, did not confine himself to the present moment. He paid some compliments to the noble lord who presided over that board, but he (Sir J. Graham) would not ad dress the language of flattery to that noble lord ; he must s ty that many men of even greater talents had filled that post. He was afraid to weary the house, but he felt bound to bear testimony to the good service the Board of Trade had done to the country. After the long observa tion he bad had of its operation he should like to detail what were the services it had rendered to the State within his memory. He considered that the period from 1820 to 1830 was the real commencement of the battle which terminated In the adoption of sound commerce and economical principles, the Waterloo of free trade, and Mr. Huskisson was its champion. (Cheers.) The Board of Trade, in his humble opinion, bad been the pioneer of sound principles ; it had cleared the bush, prepar e d th e soil, and sown the good seed, which bad multiplied a hundredfold. (Applause.) He was grieved to see how the errors and slips of great men were constantly brought for ward, and their great servicee forg,otten. Truly such men's faults were written upon tablets of brass, and their good deeds on the face of the water. (Cheers.) Nothing could be conceived more disastrous than the want of fuel in particular portions of the country. These islands were blessed with an abundant supply of fuel, but there were partidular districts in which there was a deficiency, and in 1820 there was a duty of 9.e. 6d. per cbaldron on sea borne coal, passing through the coal districts to the less fortunate parts of the country. At the instance of Mr. Huskisson that duty was diminished, and afterwards, at the instance of Mr. P. Thompson, it was entirely remit ted. Again, he thought nothing was more prejudicial than the system of bounties upon exports. As late as 1829 there was a bounty of no less than 300,0001, on goods exported to Ireland, but in 1830 that vicious sys tern was repudiated, and the bounties were remitted, upon which an immense spring took place in the trade of Ireland. In 1819 it was supposed by Chancellors of the Exchequer that articles of large consumption mi 4 ht be heavily taxed with the certainty of advantage to the re venue; and in that year the duty on coffee was raised at the instance of Mr. Vansittart from 61. to ls. on the lb. In 1824 Mr. Huskisson persuaded the Government to try the experiment of a reduction of the duty to 6 1., when the imports increased in four years from 7,995,000 to 22,740,000 lbs, and from this reduction of the taxation by 50 per cent. there was a gain to the revenue of 20 per cent. Ile would not dwell upon the question of naviea tion, in respect to which Mr. Huskisson had been one of the most earnest advoca'es of a relaxation of those laws as early as 1825, and had brought about various changes, not as much as he desired, but laying the foun dation, both in argument and practice, for the progress which it had been the fortune of the noble lord to pursue in 1850. Tate great battle was fought by Mr. Huskisson The battle field chosen in 1826 was the question of the duties on silk. On one side it was contended that native industry ought to be protected, while the principal argu ment on the other side turned on the salutary effects of competition. The arguments on both sides were well stated in two speeches to which he should call the atten tion of the house. He did not know whether the hon. member for Coventry was in his place, but in those days ho was one of the great advocates of protection. He then stated that in the city of Coventry there were 9,700 looms, 7,500 of which were in the hands of operative weavers, and were worked by manual labour as well as by machinery, and were engaged in the manufacture of ribbon'. These looms were of the worst possible con struction. An improved loom was in use in France, by which live times as much silk could be turned out, with the same amount of labour as by the English looms. In Germany, too, there was an improved manu facture, by which one man could produce in the same time 43 times as much as the English manufacturer ; and " How," the hon. gentleman asked, " could the English operative maintain such a competition." fLaughter.) Mr. Huskisson's answer summed up in a few sentences everything that could be tersely and beau tifully said, in reply to this argument. He said that monopoly had produced, it was always sure to produce, indifference with regard to improvement, and that use ful zeal which gave life to industry, fostered ingenuity, and incited to unceasing efforts to produce the most results from a given amount of material,, was extin guished. The prohibitive system left us behind our neighbours in the arts of production, and this was a proof of its chilling aad becalming effects, when no eeniue was called into action. An indolent security was the natural result of of restrictive regulations. If the same system had continued, c itton would have been as sub ordinate to woollen manufacture as it was junior in in troduction, (Hear.) The right hon. baronet then referred to Mr. M`Cullagh, who bad stated that since the removal of the prohibitive duties on silk, the manu facture had made more progress than during the pre ceding century. The disparity between our manufac ture and that of France had been abated in respect to most articles, and in a few we were decidedly in ,ad vance of that country. On the other side, goods were now exported to France to the amount of upwards of 2.00,000/, (Hear, hear.) He must observe that there was still a duty upon silk, notwithstanding the battle that had been fought (and this was about the only anomaly in our system) of 25 to 30 per cent. He might mention other articles, such as timber, the duties on which had been much reduced at the instance of his right hon. friend the member for the University of Ox ford, in 1842, and of the Colonial Secretary in 1851, but he could not pass over one article, in respect to which the principle of Mr. Huskisson had signally triumphed, the article of wool. In 1826 the foreign article was absolutely prohibited, and the export duty on the manufactured article was very heavy. It was 6d. per pound, or about 25 per cent. The duty on the raw material was reduced by Mr. Huskisson, and the export duty nearly repealed. The price of home-grown wool never was so high as in the present year—(Hear, hear) —the home grown having all the advantage of the in crease in price. ([fear, hear.) He might point out what in 1845 was done at the instance of the Board of Trade, when our tariffs were revised. Our tariff pre vious to that time included 420 articles. At that tine the duty on all raw materials was removed ; all prohi bitive duties were exchanged for protective, and all pro• tective duties were much reduced to a standard not ex ceeding 10 per cent. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Liverpool said they could learn nothing from the Board of Trade. Had the hon. member studied the statistical abstract issued by that board I For his part he thought a more important document had never been issued by any department. From that abstract it ap peared, for instance, in respect to silk, on which the first experiment was tried, that the quantity of the raw material imported in 1842, when the effect of the ame lioration was only just beginning to be felt, was 3,5.31,000 pounds, and in 1856 it had risen to 7,383,000 pounds. (Hear, hear.) The quantity of Wool imported in 1812 was 45,881,000 lbs. and in 1856 it had risen to 116,211,000 lbs. (Hear.) The quantity of flax in 1842 was 1,145,0001'03. and in 1356 it had risen to 1,697,000 Pounds. Tbo declared value of the silk imported in 1812 was 590,0001., and in 1356 it was 2 966 0001. Of the wool, in 1842, 5,185,0001. - and in 1856, 9,530,0001; ()lclthh:Dthe p linen, in 1842, 2,346,0001. ; and in 1356, 4 ' 896, ° 00 /. (A lau •'e ) Then let them consider what had effect p of the repeal of the navigation laws. It bad been predicted that it would ruin British ship ping, that it would diminish the number of British sailors,ttbat it wo ulib e efatal to the ships and to th e men ; that it w ou ld destroy England, and th a t it wouldis,roy manhe commercial superiority bear upon our naval supre macy in the most adverse nee. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) What were the facts? y, that in 1850, when 17,892, and tonnage 185 0 6 f i t t had e hes the change was made, the number of registered British sailing and steam vessel; was ear 1 ) 7, risen to 1 9 , 207 . (Hear, h yeezels in 1850 was 3,167,000 ; and in 1856 it had risen Sir Colin. Norton Stork Arribas's darn colt 4 Mary 5 Won by two lengths. ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.—At the meeting Oil Monday next, the Bth inst., the following papers will be read :--1. On the' Battles of Sellasia, Marathon, and Thermus ; by General Joohmus. 2. Remarks on Ser pent,; by CAptain Spratt, R.N. 3. On the Hydro graphy of the Valley of the Arne ; by Professor Paul Chaip. 4. Exploration of Darien ;byH. G. Caldwell,, Eeq., M.D., U.S.N., eco. PRICES OF SHARES. From the Official List. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING LONDON, TUESDAY, JuNI 2,185 T. CANALS. Names of Companies. Ashtn &Oldh Birmingham Coventry.... Derby .. • • • • GrandJunctn Do.. 6 pr. Ct. Grand Union Kennt & Avr. Leeds &Livrp Leicester....' Leicstr &Ntt. Long hborogl. Macclesfield. Heath • • • . Oxford gDividend ' per U. Annum. 9 71. p. ct. 40 41. 100 111. 100 61. 15s. 100 21. pr. ct. 10 6!. pr. ct. 100 7s. 6d 40 63. 100 251. 100 51. 83 11.55. 113 701 100 2/. 10s. 100 161. 100 Name of Company. Berlin ..•• • ...... East London Do. 4 per Cent. Pref. Do. 5 per Cent. Pref. Grand Junction ....•• Do. New •• •• • • Kent . ..... „ ~ ~ .. .. Lambeth .... • . • • • • New River Company.. Southwark & Vauxhall West Middlesex • • • • .. Do. Do, Name of Company. (lungerford....•• Southwark ...... •... Ditto New of 7% p.c. Waterloo ........ Ditto Old Ann. of 81. Ditto Nw ditto of 71. Vauxhall ..... . ...... Name of Company Commercial .... Do. Preference East and West India.. Grand 'gurry D. & Canal Do. Loan Notes .... Do. 5 per cent. Pref. London .•• • • ••••• • • 'it. Katharine •• •• •• •• , outhampton ........ Victoria •• •• •• •• •• •• Ditto New •• •• GAS-Lloll' Name of Company. British Provincial .... Brighton •• •• •• •• •• .• City of London ...... Equitable-. •• •• •• •• •• European .... .•• • • .. Great Central .. •• •• . • Imperial ~ .......... Ditto New Ditto Debentures.. Do. Continental I s t Cap. Do. Do. 2d Cap. Do. Do. 3d Cap. Do. Do. 4th Cap. Independent ..... London Parl. Preferen. Phcenia . •• .. •• •• •• .. Ratcliff ...• . ........ Surrey Consumers .... United General • • •• • • Westminster Chartered Ditto, New .... ... Western A . . Ditto B ..... Name of Company. Albion .... • • .... • • .. Allianza Brit. and For. Ditto Marino ....... ithenmam • • .• • • • • • • Atlas .. Irgus Life ......... • • British Commercial .. Church of England .. City of London .. •• .. Cleriel.Med.Bc Gen. Life Crown •• •• •• •• •• •• •• Eagle .. Equity and Law...... European Life......... Family Endowment .. General•••• •• •• •••• •• Globe Gresham Life . Do. Do.. Guardian •• •• •• •• •• •• Imperial Fire..... Imperial Life Indemnity Marine.... Law Fire ............ Law Lite••• •• •• •• Legal and General Life London . . London & Prov. Law Marine ..... • • Med. Invild & Gen. Life Minerva Monarch • • •• • • •• • • • • New &pliable Pelican •• •• • • •• •• .. •• Phcenix Professional Life ...... Provident Life Rock Life.... • • •• .. Royal Exchange ...... Sun Fire Pd. •• •• Ditto Life ..... United Kingdom .... Universal Life Victoria Life Name of Company. Price.! Names of Companies. Dividend per Annum Peak Forest. Regea t's • • • • Stfird &Won • Stoorbridge. I Severn and Wye Rail. j Warwick & 1 Birming. 'Warwick & 7 Napton.. j Worestr & Birming. wilts & Brks WATER-WORKS. Dividend per Annum. 51. per cnt. fiLper 41. per cent. 51. per cent. 4c. per cnt. 51. per cnt 4'. per cent. BRIDO Dividend per Annum. 108 per cent.' 11. 12s. Od. Od. 28s. DOCKS, Dividend per Annum. N. pr cent. 61. pr cent. 41. per cent. 51. pr cent. 4%1. per cnt. 4 per cent. 51. Os per c. IT AND CO: Dividend per An'num. 71. per cent 51. per cent. 21. per cent. 2t. 61. per cent. Si. per cent 101. per cent, 31. ss. 4/. 168. 41. 10s. 6/. per cent. 514 per cnt . 5/. SI. per cent. 16s Od petikh 7.per cent. TRANCE CO: Dividend per Annum. Amount of Share. Paid. 71. per c. 71. 149.6 d. ;1. p.c. & bs 15s. & AP 41. per cent. 71. lOs. 71. 10s. 5/. 5 pr ct.& be. 4/. per share, 11. 18s. ss. 5 1 4 per cent. I/. 41. per cent. 6 per cent. 51. per cent. Si. per cent t2l. per cent 14s. St. p. 2s & 2s bons 21i. per sh. 4s. per share 18s.8 bs. 1% per cent st. per cent . 51. per cent. 6 x per cent 5/ p. ct. 51. per cent. U. per cent. 12 per c. 7s. 8 p. c. & bs i 3 p. c & bs. 1/. 14s. 41. & bonus. 51. & bonus. 51. & holm. TINT-stung Dividend . per Annum. 151. per cent! LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES. Dividend Amount Name of Company, per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. - -- -.- - X a. d. £ s. d. Bank of Scotland ...• 71. per cent. 100 C 0 100 0 0 197/0s British Linen Company 8/, per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 231/0s Caledonian Bank .. •• . 81. per cent. 10 0 0 210 031 16s City of Glasgow Bank 51. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 13/ 5s Clydesdale Bank .... 5%1. p cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 14i 2a Uunmercial Bank .. 71. per cent. 500 0 0 100 0 0 248/0s Eastern 8ank........ 61. per cent. 25 0 0 10 0 0 141 es Edinb. & Glasgow.. • . 3%1. p cent. 5 0 5 0 0 51 2s National Bank .. •• •• 654 per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 192110 Northof Scotland Bank 51. per cent 20 0 0 210 05/ 103 Royal Bank of Scotl. .. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 137110 Unionßank of Scot. .. 81. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 10910 s Western 8ank........ 71. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 841 Os Alliance Firs and Life.. 8341. pr cent. 100 0 0 11 0 0 17112 s British Guarantee ... 41. per cent. 10 0 0 2 0 0 11 lis Caledonian Fire Insur • 10t.per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 251 Os City of Glasgow Lite.. 61. per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 11 5s Colonial Life ......... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 3 0 0 1 Os Edinburgh Life Insur. 61. percent. 100 0 0 15 0 0 281158 Eng. & Scot. Law Life 51.p0r cent. 50 0 0 3 5 0 4/ 6s Life Assoc. of Scotland 61. per cent. 40 0 0 3 0 061 15s National Fire and Life 6/. per cent. 10 0 0 1 4 02/ Os North British Insur... 71. per cent. 200 0 0 20 0 0 36115 s Northern Assurance Co. 20 0 0 1 0 0 Il 17s Scottish Provincial .... - 50 0 0 2 0 0 3/ Os Scottish Union Insrnc. 7341. pr cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 1/ 158 Standard Life .• •• .. • • 51. per cent. 50 0 0 7 0 0 22/ Os • MISCELLANEOUS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. ------ - X a. d. X s. d. - Acadian Charcoal Iron .. 10 0 0 2 0 0 - African Steam Ship .. 20 0 0 10 0 0 - • • Assam lea -- •• •• .... 61. per cent. 50 0 0 '2O 0 0 - Auction Mart........ 2%lper cent. 50 0 0 - - Australian Agriculturl - 25 0 0 19 0 0 19 Australian Trust .... 81. pr cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 - Austrauan Royal Mail - 10 0 0 all - Angio-Mexican Mint.. 11. 10s. 10 0 0 all - British American Land 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 40 0 0 - Canada ......... •• .. 61. percent. 100 0 0 32 10 0 149 Do. 5 per cent Bonds Si. pet cent Stock 100 0 0 - Ditto, 8 per cent bds 51. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 - ' Ditto, 6 per cent. •• 6/. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 - Ditto, 6p c. bds 1874 Cl. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 - Ditto, 6p c. bds 1876 6/. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 -- Crystal Palace ...... 9/. per cent. 5 0 0 all 2% Ditto Preference.... 71 pr. cent. 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 14 Crys. Palace of France - 4 0 0 all - City Navigation Bonds 3341. per cent - - - Electric Telegraph .. 6/. per cent. Stock. 100 0 0 92 Eng.&Aus. Cop. Smelt. - 5 0 0 all 134 Eng.&lris. slag. T. Co. - 50 0 0 all - Equitable Reversionry 5/per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 - Ditto New ........ ' - 50 0 0 22 10 0 - Gen. Revers. & Invest. 51. p c and 1/. 100 0 0 100 0 0 - Gen. I. Sc. Col. (Lim.) - 25 00 , all - Gen.SteamNavigation 10/. per ct. &15 0 0 14 0 0 - London Gen. Omnibus 12/. per cent 4 0 0 all 3 % Hudson's 8ay........ 5/. per cent. Stock Stock - Hungerford .......... 21. ss. 100 0 0 an - Loa. Ne. &Na. Mauso. - 10 0 0 all 5% Londerrßeversionaty 5/. per cent. i 5 0 0 all - Mex. & S. American - 10 0 0 100 aai 0 4 all 0 /.- Nat. Discount Comp• • - 25 0 0 5 0 N.S.W. Gov.sp.c. Deb. Si. per cent ~ - Nor. Bri. Australasian 6 d. 1 0 0 North of Europe, Strn. Si. per cent, 20 0 0 17 10 0 75 9ii Priee'sPatentCand. Co - 23 0 0 all 23% Peel River Land&Min. - 5 0 0 ail 2 Pan. & Oriental Steam 71. percent. 50 50 a 0 0 0 10 a O ll 0 7 15 0 % 1 4 Ditto New ••.• • • • • - Reversionary 111 t• B°e. 4 4 % % ?. ?. prp pr cent. cen I tl ol 0 0 0 0 20 all 0 - Royal Mail aitoMNelw . . .. .. . . Steam.... 41. p. share. 100 0 0 60 0 0 - Scottish Aus. Invest. 151. per cent. 1 0 0 all 60 South Australian Land 71. per cent. 25 0 0 . all - Trust and Loan Comp. 7%.. pr cent. 20 0 0 5 0 0 - Yaw Diemen's Land.. 103. jlOO 0 0 28 10 0 - .• Do. GOY. 6 per ct.Bdti. 6 per cent. \. - - fr: amount of Share. X s. d. 10 0 0 Stock. 25 0 0 25. 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 ,100 0 0 100 0 0 61 0 0 5 1 8 Amount of Share. X s. d. 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 60 0 0 40 0 0 70 10 3 Amount of Share. s. d. Stock. Stock. Stock. 100 e 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 Stock. Stock. 50 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 COMP. Amount of Share. £ 5. d. 20 0 0 20 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 2) 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 St , ck 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 25 0 0 60 0 0 20 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 :PANIES. X s. d. 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 0 50 0 t) 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 00 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 0 6 5 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 100 0 0 AN S. X s. d. 50 0 0 11 0 0 25 0 0 5 15 0 25 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 .0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 47 5 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 35 0 0 2 10 0 13 0 0 2 10 0 12 10 0 2 0 0 12 10 0 2 0 0 2000 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 o 10 0 to o 0 0 10 0 5 0 1,0 0 0 5 0 0 Amount of Share. 51. Os. I7s 281 121. 10s. 1/. 16s. X s. d. 100 all THE ESTATE EXCHANGE. Last evening a dinner took place at the Lordon Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to celebrate the open tog of an institution under the above detuoniiva'rvil Mfr. Clark, of the firm of Fara:other, Cl Irk, and - Lye, (mipied the chair, and the company comisted almost exclusively of gentlemen connected with the' professirn of auctioneer and estate agent. Th e object of the institution and the circumstances which led to its foundation were explained by the ; chairman in proposing "Success to the Estate Ev change." From the speech of the hon. gentleman it appeared that the intention was to establish for land agents and auctioneers a subscription room, or exchange, to give them such facilities for transact' ing the business as stockbrok ers d er i ve fr o m the Stock Exchange, and which various other City brokers have in the Baltic and other coffeehouses' , where the agents for buyer and seller are brough t • together. If it were necessary to have an institn tion for the promotion of the objects supported by these establishment=, it was much more necessary' to have an exchange for that which represented the integral wealth of this great country Land, above all things, maintained its rank above all other de scriptions of property, and whatever changes migh t take place in the funds and in other objects of ea' change there was an interest and a permanent value attaching to land which rendered such an institty. tion as this of the utmost importance. Anuongq the various other objects intended to be promoted by the Estate Exchange, would be to create mor e ample facilities for the transfer and sale of land, and to tender the tone of the auctioneer's aling higher than it at present appeared to be ; and whe n he added that such a degree of mutual confidenc e would be established amongst the various members. of the profession as would lead to that agreeable interchange of aid of which secresy was the pritnerY element, and which was found to be a most Wyo .- taut and valuable feature in other existing inetit n ; tions, he was quite sure that this association woul d be considered deserving of general support. Mr. VIGERS, the founder of thevxehange, returne d thanks. In acknowledging the encouragement he bac,- received, he expressed his belief that the institution must necessarily tend to promote a recierocity feeling amongst the members of the profession, an, to elevate them to a higher plac e i n th e so cial scal e than they were at present supposed to enjoy. Both the toast of the evening and the health the chairman—who it was said had given his rnO_„ B strenuous support to the institution—were drill"' with the greatest enthusiasm,. and a general pression was conveyed that, of the eighty gentle;* men who sat down to dinner, there were none wilo did not feel satisfied with the manner in which th e , new exchange had been inaugurated. In contrr bnttng to this success the services of Mr. Roger the:secretary, were agreeably conspicuous. Country Markets. BOSTON—Jura 3. We had a moderate supply of grain at to•day's ket, and a good attendance. Wheat met a flat deman d fully is to 2s per qr. under last week's rates. Oats, heal' peas at previous rates. Nothing doing in barley. Prices :—Wheat, red, 43s Od to 62s Od; new, —s to white, 60s Od to 6:36 Od; extra, 655. Barley, 40S Od to 's- Ott. Oats 20s to 30s. Peas, 40 to 44s 0,1. Beane, Od to 48s Od per qr. NEWARK—JUNE 3. wheSt A thin attendance and a good supply o f g ra in. met a heavy sale, and was is in advance. Other !sr" — , as before. oar% Wheat, white 64s to 675, red 62s to 645; barley, In' ‘ , 2 o, 44s to 48s, grinding 36s to 38s; oats, 24st. 310 to 344, 4 ' 4 4i 268 to 28s ; beans, 48s to 52s ; malt, 76s to 80s ; to 465; tares, 44s to 48s per qr. LOUTH—JUNE 3. A poor trade was done in corn to-day, but the market higher. Wheat must be noted is to 28 per qr. 10//,:ill Barley and oats at last week's prices. Beans the " higher. tot Wheat, 57s to 62s ; extra, 635; barley 41s to 445; O 23s to 25s ; baans, 43s to 465. MANCHESTER—JUNE 4. Our market this morning was thinly attended, d, and they was less disposition to purchase, business being cbec.':o by the high rates demanded, and we repeat the quirts of this day sennight. GLASGOW—JUNE 3. To-day thera was a thin attendance of the trade,. a do showed some disposition to buy, but the wheat try was flat, and the turn in favour of the buyers. Amerl,2o. mixed 31s to 31s 6d. Flour nominally unchanged. vd,i, ley slow, and 6d down. Oats and oatmeal in reeel e A r ti - il, request, at fully previous rates. Beans and peat . .... 0 Indian corn held firmly, and must be quoted 22s to X -41 per qr for mixed, 22s 6d for yellow, and 24s for white* EDINBURGH GRAIN.—JUNE 3. The supply of grain of all kinds to-day was pretty % id , A good demand for wheat. Barley and b eans rea dy 0 ' Prices rather higher for all kinds of grain. g e Wheat, on the top, is Od up, and on th e a ver t o 18 3d up. Barley, is 6d down on the top, a nd Os &I 4 0 on the average. Oats on the top is 9d up, and on o average is 2,1 up. Beans on the top Os 4d down, and the average 4d up. Tares from 51s to 55s per quarter. Potatoes—Regents, from 20s to 255; Orkney r eds 15° toils. AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat £2 8 8 7-12 the. Do. new 0 0 0 .o:l2tb. Barley Oats 1 17 6 7.l2the• 1 11 11 7-12tha• Beane 2 4 — 8 0-12 the• Total Supply and Sales. Wheat 1369 qrs sold 1122 (I' l Barley 193 qrs sold 122 Ore Oats 7Bl qrs sold 616 4 1 / ' Beans 6l. qrs sold 61 VI DERBY SMITHFIELD.—JUNE 2. fflU There was a large supply of fat beasts to-day, Nv lo- ,4 0 14 attendance of buyers. The demand not quite 0 0 _,70$ and some few left unsold. Th e su pply o f sheep ":„.7.1104 so large, and fully maintaining f ormer prices. •"" w er. store calves in good request, and in p r i ce a little I ° A. scarce show of fat pigs, but well sold. t The following were the quotations :—Beef, 7 , 3 - o d .psf mutton, 7d to 8t1; lamb, —d to Od ; veal, 7d tc 7 0 0; lb. ; pigs, 10s Gd to lls Gd per score; rough fat, 55 3d 6 Lip per 141 b. ; hides, 44d to 6,d per lb ; calf-skins, 40 y 0 per lb. LOCAL SHARE MARKETS• LIVERPOOL, Jurge 4.. Oa, STOWE EXCHANGE.—The market is dull to-claNsol prices are a shade lower. Eastern Cc•Anties, lfg D yd Lancashire, 96i—Great Western, 63i —Londoni e rsi North Western, 103 i 4—Midland, 834---North Ea g ghet' Berwick, 224—South Eastern, 224 4—Manchester , field, and Lincoln, 3.k per cent., 663—Grand Trunk 0 ' nada, 15i. MANCHESTER, JUNE 4. & 10 13 STOCK EXCHANGE.--There was a quiet market, oo' rather lower prices. Eastern Counties, lli—East PTrig' shire, 97g F—Great Western, 641 4--Lancashire and ' „ ti t) shire, 1008—London and North-Western, 1041 — ":101 Eastern and Dever's, 22i 3-16—Grand Trunk of CA', 16. BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 4. , n d aft STOCK EXCHANGE. —This m ar k e t was s l ac k again w--,' but in prices no a lt era ti on w h a t ever for the last DO; - ghev Great Western w ere d one a t 6 i i—M anc h es t er a nd fields, 42 i—North Staffords, 5 d—South Staffords, l o cift FIRE AT LIMEROUSE.—Last night, about ten a fire broke out in the extensive premisei belong Messrs. Wilkes, wheelwrights, Love-lane, Lieneb ° ,ll 3 o and extending into Glasshouse-fields. In spite ° , 4 ' exertions of the firemen the flames were not subdue': p g • til the workshops and other adjoining premises bei° >sod, ing to Messrs. Wilkes were levelled with the Some damage has been dune to the property of pl e ,' of Ravenhill and Miller by hasty removal. The orie be the fire is unknown, but the sufferers are supposed t ° fully insured. —.4 BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 3d inst., at 4, Cleveland-terrace, Hyde-Park' tb wife of Charles Pemberton, Esq. e On the 4th inst., at 3, Talbot-square, Hyde-Par k ' wife of A. K. George, Esq. On the 4th inst., at Lower Clapton, Mrs. WentzL i tbs On the 31st ult., at Docking, Norfolk, the wife o f Rev. Hugh Here—twine. OF A DAVIITER. On the Ist inst., at HundillCl Hall, near Pontefrac t ' t " wife of J. R. W. Atkinson, Esq. ° . (fie On the 26th ult., at Stirling, N.B. the wife o f Smith, Esq., Otterington House, Yorkshire. MAP,, It I EV). Chef l° On the 3d inst., at the parish church, Clifton, ,0$ Mahon Tyndall, Esq , barrister-at-law, to Louiqa lag Sophia. eldest daughter of the late Ed w ard Tyndall', Lieut. R.N. Wolf( On the 2d inst., at the pari s h c h urc h, Harlon', o f Frank, youngest son of the late Col. John Johno°7oo Walbury, Essex, to E m ily A nne, younges t d aug hter ° late Thos. Perry, Esq., of Moor Hall, Essex. D I ED. tel icit On the 3d inst., at Provost-road, South Haor William Barry, aged 72. -tsr 110 On the 2d inst at Chellaston-bill, Captain — l ,O Manfull, late of the 3d (King's Own) Light Dtsigy" aged 81. On the 2d inst, at Sheffielj, Henryroomhead, A./11944 solicitor, aged 68. y On the 2d inst., at Highbury-terrace, the late Rev. John Yockney. it '6 113. On the Ist inst., at 22, Sussex-square, Hyde-par-0 , Wilberforce Bird, Esq., aged 73. .1 c , oli On the 2d inst., at Warrington, Frank, secondsW Hammill, Esq., of Melbourne. to ril Maria, r elict °I On the 4th in at 14, Elizabeth•terrace, Paddi_,ogfre Nicholas Colesworthy, the only child of Captain T. I"' more, Were. sec O o n nd th s e on 4 o t f h G i n e s o t r . g , e a t A K ua i r r k to d n a , le li , e S g y:l s e u n r h g a e m on , , Tahgoerj the—, LOITDON : Printed and Published by AWED° y0t.,,.10 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office , 4 '4 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy , in 02 Co u° of Difiddleatz, Friday, Juno 5, 1857. 1 7 7 - Price 4 e. d. Z s. d. Stock. too "6 0 , 00 o 0 5 0 0 Stock. oo o 0 20 0 0 14 0 0 Z 0. d. all 160 e o 12 10 G 100 0 0 42 15 0 41 0 0 43 10 0 41 0 0 all 52 0 0 16 0 0 all 10 0 0 all 4 0 0 Paid. Bank of Egypt Bank of London British North American Ch. Bk. Ind. Aust & Ch. Colonial Commercial of London. Eng. Scot. & Aust. Ch. Lond. Char. Bk. of Aug. Do. New .. • London and County Lon. & Eastn. Bnkg. C London Joint-Stock Londn and Westminair Nat. Provincial of Eng. Ditto, New Ditto ditto Natio-0.1 Bank New - oath Wales Oriental Bank Coriora, Ottoman Bank - - - Provincial of Ireland.. Ditto, lonian..•• .• •• •• .• .• •• South Australia .• Union of Australia.... Ditto Union of Hamburg.... Union of L0nd0n...... Unity Mutual Western Bank of Londn 10/. per cent. 51. per cent. 9 per cent. 41. per cent. 51. per cent. 71. p. c.. & bs. C. per cent, 51. per cent. t lel. per cent. 61. per cent. 28 per cent. 18 per cent. 16p c. &bs f, /.per cent. 20'. per cent. 101. per cent. 31. p. ct.&bs. 81. per cent. 51. per cent. 101. per cent.l 11/. per cent.! X 0. d. 40 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 1100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 ,100 0 0 , 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 A a. d. all 18 15 0 50 0 0 all 6 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 20 . 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 35 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 22 10 0 15 - o 0 25 0 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 Itc ~ 1 ~ ritel;isl tlornin; Stafls ni NAvzra , hal at t Ito teRS 7)f of Forty Roil The Lam a l) 11 " 4 4, at Of rrnpr At half Disorder Pact 7 and rq g ratio:ls, Gentler logues,c COI that the Place TO Dositlv e l y l 'r o :ratr.l C hurch," E4l leher ,no 14 • vor norar Louft o n the V P•anofort 7 ' l'oPulfl I ) r• VI% si u• Dance, S ave the Past 8. ] reds. 1( r • ~,i(1 -up c -.r e p t i . rem , e Insur An ) - o ant p -___ SUN Polielei a °ll R-F1 - ecordi n , e re lower re fully kiditlon rre rniums Policy s' Pro s) , 4,olldorieocii 1 1° I s ST It r: t 24, I; s hootin g ll W s a - Co of e th r or all er-st p te, •413', when London, JOZI %.,Fcep.esfAj i';clkenouveled 'atio n a Uk BRIE A '4l 411 the trier.ereAticA j‘i R . d eea °,rigtn, 1,, 3 , Rrid meth, o Derlti o atant: l e . (( 01,7a)n gat rd's be 1 ti ti Yed teet EA .„ -, (1 S A ItoU 4 : 14 by its 'lettlyd The dail hard to b; :old by 41 4 So n t;c a: "Ants, io 1111 PERH Tile Succe It Ostls W k an d k and th e gro '1Z4,111 its 14 ed, a 80 Z the i j left hat atre 8 P S. 'kUTU tho r where at he Ara bi ca 8 ° 8t ale, ea ° ,l ), co 11%.* . 10s. is. Od. Paid. Paid. Paid. lES. Paid. Price. Price. 103 92U Price, Price, 11534 Price. M 4 14-Ev p atent j'h a ittri now in IVaape, ; 0 , 17% 9 1 Ntr: now In hat: , Ittio ' rt eetti 7rPtclie, 4 rifle,a D t Qin 0,