The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-06 00:00:00

-- - will secure the object her Majesty's Government are seeking to attain—a Bill which appears to me more calculated than any other measure permanently to lead to the improvement of Ireland, and to relieving it from the effects of that great misfortune by which it has recently been v isited.—(Hear, hear.) My Lords, I I am not at all desirous of throwing any impediment in the way of this Bill, and I am perfectly certain that there are many of your Lordships much more capable than I am of stating the benefits which this measure is calculated to produce. But lam anxious to propose a clause in the Committee on the Bill, which I think would contribute to its good working, and remove a practice in the social system of Ireland which, in my opinion, has tended greatly to aggravate the misfortunes of that country, if it has not been the principal occasion of them. The practice I refer to is that of making land the circulating capital of the country, and pledging the land for the purpose of paying the wages of the labourer. I say, my Lords, that this is one of the causes and one of the greatest aggravations of the existing evils of Ireland, and the emsequence is, that the Government has been obliged to come forward to give relief by employing large numbers of the labourers of the country upon public works. Such a practice as this is most injurious, for those men who require the services of the labourers let them land, and, instead of paying them wages as la bourers, they oblige the individuals who ta k e the land i to work out the rent. The consequence s that the la bourer, who is wholly dependent for his subsistence upon the produce of his land, finds that his labour i s mort gaged for the rent, and at the same time , being without assistance, when his strength fails him he has no re source, and is compelled to resort to the Government works. And what becomes of his employer, the farmer or the small gentleman who employs him, under this system of making ;land the circu l a tin g medium of the country and the wages of labour ? When difficulties occur, and his capital fails, and his labourers are in capable of work, he has no resource ; he is not i n th e habit of laying' by capital—he has none— an d h e can employ no labour. Thus distress, when it comes, affects everybody, and the Government is compelled to employ the labourers of the country, and t o g i ve th em f oo d. Under these circumstances, my Lords, it appears to me that you cannot apply an effectual remedy to the evils of Ireland unless you enforce the necessity of paying the wages of the labourer in the current coin of the realm, and in the Committee on the Bill I shall propose a clause requiring that all bargains for the wages of labour shall be made in the current coin of the realm, and that the payment of wages shall be enforced in the same, and that the labourer shall have a claim for the payment of his wages in the current coin of the realm, notwithstanding any bargain with his employer to the contrary. I will lay this clause upon your Lordships' table, and I will move it either in the Committee or on the bringing up of the report. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE entirely agreed with the Noble Duke in the principle of the amendment he proposed, but he was not at all sanguine as to its prac ticability. The Earl FITZWILLIAM agreed with the Noble Duke, that these measures were very valuable, as far as they went for the improvement of Ireland. He heard with satisfaction the views of the Noble Marquis on this Bill, and he believed that if they were carried out, they would materially mitigate the evils under which Ireland was at present labouring. The Earl of WICKLOW wished to call the attention of the Government to what he considered an omission, but he hoped an accidental omission. He meant the omission of the landlords, who undertook works under Mr. Labouchere's letter. They were not taken into con shleration . at all, and he entreated th e G overnment to c omprise ad the sums in this Bill which were expended under Mr. Labouchere's letter. The Bill had his full concurrence, and he considered it a most efficient mea sure, but he thought the omission to which he adverted should be supplied. Lord MONTEAGLE was unwilling to say one word on the principle of the Bill. He considered it one of great public importance, and one of great public duty. The money was advanced under the strongest security— that of land itself, and he bet., ged to call their attention to the smallness of the advances compared with that security. He thought that every effort should be made to render the present income an efficient one, and therefore a pro vision should be introduced against the truck system, but that the parties employed under it, should receive their wages in money. Before sitting down, he had an amendment to suggest in one of the clauses. In the fourth clause of the original Bill, he found that provision was made for the erection of mills in particular districts, which were in the want of them. There was also no re striction as to the amount of the capital to be invested in those mills, or their size. In that shape he was not sur prised that the Bill was objected to, but still he con sidered that some provision of the kind should be retained. The amount, however, ought to be restricted in amount, and he would move a clause in Committee to that effect. He would also recommend, that in addition to these mills, small stores should be erected in particular localities, and the provision in the original . Bill re specting the erection of farm buildings, she eld also be restored. The Duke of RICH &lOND concurred with his Noble Friend as to the necessity of introducing such provisions in the Bill as would provide for mills, and the erection of suitable farm buildings. Lord BEAUMONT considered a great improvement would have to be made in the system of tillage, before the landlords of Ireland could take advantage of the provisions of the Bill. The great evil in Ireland was the small farms into which the soil was divided, and the tenacious hold which the peasantry had upon the land. There ought to be something done to alter this state of things and to enlarge the farms. As it regarded the amendment of his Noble Friend (Lord Monteagle), he was astonished that it had not been retained i❑ the Bill, as he considered it essential to the due efficiency or the Bill. Their Lordships then went into Committee. Lord MONTEAGLE proposed an amendment on the th clause, authorising the erection of farm buildings, and in certain districts of corn mills, provided always that not more than 1,0001. was applied for the erection of any one mill. Lord STANLEY agreed with the Noble Lord as to the propriety of the amendment which had just been made. After a few words from Lord LUCAN, The Slarquis of LANSDOWNE conceded the im portance of the amendment of the Noble Lord, giving power to erect mills, which he thought would prove of great advantage to the antry. The clause, as altere-d, was then agreed to. On the question that it stand part'Of the Bill, Lord MONTEAGLE said he felt strongly the im portance of the clause, and wished to take the opinion of their Lordships upon it. He was certain the Bill would not work without such an addition. The Noble Lord on hearing that the Marquis of Lansdowne would give the subject his attention, said he would not press his arneld ment then. After a few words from the Duke of Richmond, and the Earl of Lucan, Marquis of Clanricarde, Lord Redes dale, and several other Noble Lords, the clause was agreed to. Clauses 1 to 5 were also agre-fl to, without any amendments. Upon clause 6 being read, the Earl of DEVON pro posed some amendments affecting the powers proposed to be given to the trustees appointed under the Act. After a few words from Lord Stanley, the Marquis of Clanricarde, and the Earl of Wicklow, the clause as it originally stood was agreed to. The gurl of SHAFTESBURY reported progress. The House resumed, and immediately thereafter ad journed. ROUSE OF COMMONS, May 5. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly after Twelve THIRD READINGS. o'clock. On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, the followitg Bilk were read a third time and passed : Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead Rail way (Lease to the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmuno's Railway Company). Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury and Halstead Rail way (Extension to Melford, Lavenham, and Clare) (Clause and Amendment to be proposed). Claridge's Patent Asphalte Company. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up and agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed : Chard Canal and Railway Extension and Amalgamation. Dunfermline and Cupar Court-houses. Inverness Gas and Water. Liskeard and Caradon Railway. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway (No. I)—Bru ton, Pitcombe, and Rodden and Bradford Deviations). Mr. R. SPOONER moved, according to notice, that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Derbyshire, Staffirdshire, and Worcestershire Railway Bill, that they have power to entertain the petition of the com pany of proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Naviga tion, notwithstanding the same was not presented to the House on or before tho 3d day of this instant May, pur suant to the resolution of this House of the 19th day of April last.—Agreed to. Mr. GREENE moved, pursuant to notice, that the petitions presented against the Leeds Waterworks Bill, and refer re d to t h e C omm i ttee on t h at Bill, b e re ferred to the Committee on the Leeds Waterworks (No. 2) Bill ; with leave to the petitioners to be heard thereon, by themselv es , their counsel, agents, and witnesses.— ' Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was ordered that the order referring the petition of owners, l essees , an d occupiers of land in Southoreand Sutton to the Com mittee on the Midla n d Railway (Syston and Peter • borough Deviations and Approach to Manton Station) Bill, be discharged. On the motion also of the same HoN. MEMBER, the orcwr m ade on the 26th day of February last, for jreettr , the Sheffield, Rotherham, and Don cas t er Junction Railway (Masbrough to Dcncaster) Bill was disch arge T , and the Bill withdrawn. S ITHFIE LD MARKET. .Mr. STAFF , ;RI) O'BRIEN presented several peti tions from different parts of the country against the re moval of 6.znithfield market. FEES IN CHANCERY. Mr. Y. GIBSON presented a petition from the Law Society of Manchester, for the reduction of the fees in the Court of Chancery. The petition, on the motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman was ordered to be referred to the Committee appointed to consider the subject. DUBLIN PAVING. On the motion of Mr. T. O'BRIEN, the papers rela tive to the Dublin Paving, &c. (printed Ist March) were ordered to be referred to the Committee on the Dublin Consumers Gas Bill. CORPORATION OF DUBLIN. On the motion of the HoN. "MEMBER, the following return was also ordered :—Return of all expenses incurred Pay the Corporation of Dnblin in deputations, stating ex penses of each deputation, its object, and the names of tbe persons comprising that deputation, from the Ist day of 17ovember, 1830, to 30th day of August, 1841. TILE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY_ MORNING, MAY 6, 1847. SUPPLY. The report from the Committee of Supply was brought up, received, and adopted. POLICE CLAUSE BILL. On the motion of Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, this Bill was referred to a Select Committee, to consist of the following Members:—Viscount Morpeth, Mr. Greene, Mr. Attorney-General, Viscount Sandon, Viscount Ebrington, Sir William Heathcote, the Lord- Advocate, Sir William Somerville, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Escott, Mr. Loch, Mr. Beckett, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Wil son Patten, and Mr. Morgan John O'Connell. The LORD-ADVOCATE stated, in reply to a ques tion from an Hon. Member, that he would ascertain whether the Bill could be applied to Scotland in its present shape; if it could not, a Bill having especial reference to that country would be introduced. MEDICAL REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL spect to the artisans of other countries? In Saxony, in 1843, the same trade, that of hosiery, was cirried on, and it was three times as great as that of any other part of the world.—(The Hon. Member here read the evidence of Mr. Widscombe in support of this assertion, in which it was stated that the condition of the people of Saxony engaged in the stocking trade was far superior to the people of this country.) He had received a letter from a gentleman opposed to the Bill, himself a frame-owner, conscientious of great evils in the system, who acknowledged that it was a scandal and shame that it should exist.—(The Hon. Member then read a number of extracts from the evidence before the House, contained in the blue book, that the frame. work system was most pernicious.)—(Hear, hear.) The objects of the Bill were to do away with the sub-contrac tors, to prevent any contract being made with any one who was not himself a manufacturer; also to do away with the frame rent. He was well aware how incompe tent he was to bring such a subject as the present under the consideration of that House, but he sincerely hoped the House would not refuse the inquiry he demanded, and that it would give a second reading to this Bill. Mr. WYNN ELLIS said that.it was so seldom that he troubled the House with any observations that he hoped that it would listen to the few remarks he had to offer to their notice. The accounts given by the Honourable Baronet of the distress and misery which existed were by no means exaggerated, and in his opinion it arose from the want of knowledge on the part of those weavers, and their want of sufficient energy to try to avoid bringing up their children in the same misery as themselves. There had been a gradual, but certain diminution in the export trade for many years, and during that time the supply of labour greatly exceeded the demand. The consequence was a fall in the value of that labour, and the present existing distress. The existence of this distress and the causes and con sequences of it had been amply set forth in the report of a Commission upon this subject, but no remedy had been applied. The Hon. Gentleman had, about two years ago, brought in a Bill upon this subject, but owing to the incorrect construction of the principal clause it became inoperative. That Bill in the first instance con templated the removal of what was called " middle men" and such:an Act would be most injurious. The evils arising from that system were much less than was really stated, and considerable good was effected by it. (The Hon. Member then proceeded to quote at some length the evi dence of Mr. Biggs, as given before the Commission.) This branch of trade furnished another instance of the evils of protection, for had the corn-laws not existed, they would not have found the destitution that existed amongst this class of artizans. From the authorities on this question it appeared that in foreign countries there was a better state of things. For instance, in Saxony the stocking-workers were much better off than they were at present in England.—(Hear.) He felt convinced that great evils would result from sending the Bill to a Committee up stairs. In the pre sent state of trade it would produce an ill-feel ing, which would be most ;pernicious, if it would not produce a stagnation of trade. Upon these grounds, therefore, he would vote against the Bill, but he also objected to it on principle, for he would like to know on what grounds the Hon. Gentleman desired to interfere with the frame rent. Mr. GISBORNE said this Bill was a corollary on the Factories Bill ; it was founded on the principle of a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. He would have been glad to see the First Lord of the Treasury in his seat, and the Home Secretary. They had entered into a course which they could not carry out. He believed that no exaggeration of the distresses of these manufac turers had been made, but he contended such measures as these would not remedy the evil. They alone in this country carried on a struggle which was no longer attempted in the United States or in France. In these repeated attempts to destroy the self reliance of the working-classes, though they had struggled mlnfully, he saw much to apprehend. It was a dan gerous experiment that was being made in this inter ference with the working classes. The Honourable Baronet wanted to persuade the House that it was a most profitable thing to be a pos sessor of these frames ; but the fact was that the contrary was quite the case.—(Hear.) The whole principle that had been acted upon, was founded upon the assumption that the hosiers were the most destructive and worst class in the country. He bad often told that class of persons that from this House they could not expect that redress which they required. He contended that those who supperted the Factory Bill were bound to look to this matter. Mr. MILNER GIBSON suggested that the Bil should not be proceeded further with that day, as i would interfere with the other business of the House. After some conversation as to what day the debate should be resumed, to-morrow was fixed for that purpose. MEDICAL REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL LAW (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. WARLEY moved the postponement of the second reading of this Bill till Monday, and he would, after its second reading, propose that it should be re ferred to a Select Committee, when any alterations that might be required might be introduced. After a few words - from Sir GEORGE GREY and Mr. HUME, Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that, before voting, as was proposed by the Hon. Member for Montrose, for a Select Committee, it should be remembered that it would depend upon whether the Hon. Member for Finsbury would take the chair and the Hon. Member for Montrose would attend.—(Laughter.) Mr. HUME said he would - do his best in the matter. Mr. WAILKLEY said he could not engage to attend at the Committee in question till the differences of the profession were settled, for he would have to sit there till one day after the day of judgment; but if the Com mittee were granted hew uuld do what was in his power to carry out the Bill he had introduced. The second reading of the Bill was then postponed till Monday next. TENANTS (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. SHARMAN CBAWFORIS postponed the Tenants (Ireland) Bill till to-morrow (Thursday). COUNTY BUILDINGS -ACT. This Bill went through Committee and was ordered to be reported to-morrow.' The House then resumed. NAVAL SERVICE OF BOY'S BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported on Friday. The House then resumed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. TUESDAY, MAY 4. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. RAILWAYS. -,....• Select Committee on Group No. 17. Mr. Du Pre discharged; Mr. Leslie selected, and added to the Committee. Select Committee on Group No. 24. Mr. Neville discharged; Mr. Du Pre selected, and added to the Committee. Select Committee on Group No. 26. Mr. Hutt and Mr. Forster discharged ; Mr. Duncan and Mr. Prime selected, and added to the Committee. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. TUESDAY, MAY 4. DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT BILL. Order for second reading read ; Motion made and Question proposed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months :"—Question put, " That the word now' stand part of the Question." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, 108. Aldam, William Ewart, William O'Ferrall, R. M. Antrobus, Edmund Ferguson, Colonel Ogle, S. C. Armstrong, Sir A. Forster, Matthew Parker, John Arundel, Earl of Gibson, T. M. Pinney, William Austen, Colonel Gisborne, Thomas Plumridge,Captain Baine, Walter Hall, Sir Benjamin Price, Sir R. Bannerman, A. Hatton, Captain V. Rawdon, Colonel Baring, F. T. Hay, Sir A. Rice, E. R. Barnard, E. G. Heron, Sir R. Rich, Henry Barron, Sir 11. W. Hill, Lord Marcus Romilly, John Bellew, R. M. Howard, C W.G. Ross, D. R. Bernal, Ralph Howard, P. H. Russell, Lord John Bouverie, E. P. Hume, Joseph Russell, Lord C. Bowring, Dr. Humphery, Ald. Rutherford, A. Bright, John Hutt, William Scrope, G. P. Brotherton, Joseph James, William Shell, R. L. Brown, W. Jervis, Sir John Smith, Benjamin Buller, Charles Labouchere, Henry Smith, R. V. Butler, P. S. Lascelles, W. S. Somerville, Sir W. Byng, G. S. Lawless, Cecil Stanfield, W. R. Callaghan, D. Layard, Major Stanton, W. H. Cayley, E. S. Le Marchant, Sir D. Strickland, Sir G. Chapman, B. Loch, James Strutt, Edward Cholmeley, Sir J. Macaulay, T. B. Tancred, H. W. Colebrooke, Sir T. M`Carthy, Alex. Thornely, T. Conyngham, Lord A. M‘Taggart, sir J. Towneley, John Crawford, W. S. Maher, N. Trelawny, J. S. Dawson, T. V. Maitland, Thomas Tuthell, Relay Dennistoun, J. Mangles, R.:D. Villiers, Charles Duncan, Lord Marshall, William Ward, H. G. Duncan, George ' Marsiand, Henry Watson, Henry Duncombe, Thomas . Moffatt, George Wawia, J. T. Dundas, Sir David Monahan, J. H. Winnington, Sir T. Ebrington, Lord Morris, David Wyse, Thomas Escott, Bickham O'Brien, C. TELLXII.B, Evans, William O'Brien, Timothy O'Connell, M. J, Evans, Sir De Lacy O'Conor, Don Browne, R. D. RAILWAY COMMITTEES, HOUSE OF COMMON S.—(YESTERDAY.) GROUP V. The Committee met this morning, at twelve; Lord harry Vane in the Chair. WINDSOR. The Committee were occupied most of the day with evidence against the Bill, as to the injury which would be done to Eton by the railway passing through the grounds of the college, and to the town and precincts of Windsor. The Earl of Lincoln and others were examined. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow. Mr. ATEREWEATHER summed up on behalf of the Norfolk Railway Company. GROUP XXXIX. The Committee to whom this group was referred met this morning at the usual hour, in Room 12; Lord Wellesley in the chair. HARTLEPOOL AND STOCKTON JUNCTION. Mr. Jackson's cross-examination was then resumed by Mr. Gray. He was also cross-examined by Sir Walter Riddell, on behalf of the Duke of Cleveland's trustees; and was after wards re-examined by Mr. Rowe. Mr. James Gascoyne Lynn, civil engineer, was then exa mined by Mr. RowE—He deposed to the practicability of the construction of the line, and to there being no engineer ing difficulty of any magnitude. Mr. Gregory, civil engineer, corroborated the evidence of the last witness as to the practicability of the line in an engi neering point of view. Mr. Johnson, merchant in Hartlepool, was then examined as to the traffic, when the case for the promoters closed. The case of the opposition will be gone into to-morrow. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. LAW AMENDMENT BILL Sir W.- JOLLIFFE wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment whether he had received any communications from the presidents of the three medical colleges with respeet to this Bill, and whether it was the intention of the Government to oppose or support it? Sir G. GREY said he had received communications from these bodies, requesting to be allowed to wait upon him as a deputation ; and if the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley) had been in his place, it was his intention to have asked him to postpone the second reading of this Bill, as it had only been printed that morning, and as the President of the Col lege of Physicians, and others, had not had an opportu nity of stating their objections to it. He had also re ceived communications from persons connected with the medical profession, and as he was as yet ignorant of their objections, the postponement of the second reading of the Bill was indispensable. No doubt the Hon. Gentleman would be in his place in the course of the day, and he should endeavour to induce him to consent to its postponement. DRAINAGE OF LANDS BILL. _ _ On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill, Colonel SIBTHORP rose and inquired if the Noble Lord ( Lincoln) would have any objection to intro du...= a clause into the Bill for the protection of copy holders, who, without the insertion of such a clause, would be materially injured ? He disapproved of the machinery by which the Bill was proposed to be carried out, as it would lead to the appointment of commis sioners and others who would have nothing better to do than going about the country, without conferring any real good upon property. Lord LINCOLN certainly should object to the in sertion of such an amendment in this Bill, which referred simply to property, and not to the mode in which it was held. It was an amendment which would more properly find a place in a Bill having direct refer ence to copy holders. He, however, at the same time, fully admitted that the laws relating to copyholders re quired amendment, and he should be happy to lend his assistance to the Gallant Colonel, or to any other Honourable Member who might bring forward a Bill for the purpose of amending those laws. It was a mistake to say that new commis sioners would be appointed to carry out the Bill, as the Enclosure Commissioners would be entrusted with the carrying of it out: it certainly would not add to their emolument, but it would add materially to the labour which they were now called upon to perform. After a few words from Sir G. STRICKLAND, the House went into Committee on the Bill. The clauses up to 17 were agreed to. Sir G. STRICKLAND moved an amendment in the 17th clause. After a few words from the Earl of Lincoln, Colonel Sibthorp, and Mr. Hume, the original clause was agreed to. The remaining clauses were then agreed to. The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Friday next. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. _ _ On the order of the day for the second reading of the Registration of Voters Bill being read, Mr. WALPOLE called the attention of the House to the reckless manner in which objections were taken to voters, not in the hope that the votes will be struck off the roll, but that the voters may be deterred from coming up to the hustings. A number of persons were paid to make these objections, and he would ask the House, ought there not to be some guaranteee for the bond fide character of the objector? He thought that it was abso • lutely necessary that the objector to a vote should be resident in the same district as the person to whose vote the objection was made. It would also be of great benefit to the country, and the means of saving much trouble, if the objector and the voter had an opportunity of communicating with each other before they came before the court. He thought also that a certain sum of money should be paid into the court by the objector, and, in case of his succeeding in his objection, it should be returned to him, but if he failed it should be handed over to the party to whose vote the objection was made. In conclusion, he ought to men tion that there was one of the suggestions made by the Committee that was not inserted in this Bill. That was with reference to what was called the system of splitting, namely, the plan of dividing a house into so many compartments, giving a vote for each. He should venture hereafter to call the attention of the House to the subject, but as it was likely to cause much party discussion, he had for the present omitted it. The subject was one of immense importance, and de serving the most serious attention of the Legislature. The other suggestion of the Committee was that there should be paid public officers to investigate these ob jections. He thought that under the present system the business was hurried over much too quick. That was, however, a question for the Executive Government. Ile hoped that the Government would discontinue the practice of placing persons in the anomalous position of judges for one part of the year, and in their places advocates for the remainder. The one (ace was not compatible with the other, and he hoped that the system would be altogether changed. These were the observations he had to make to the House upon this measure. It would remedy the reckless and indiscriminate manner in which these objections were taken to the best and most un doubted voters, and save much serious and unnecessary expense in defence of their votes, which were attaked year after year on the same grounds, and with the same chances of success.—•(Cheers.) Sir G. GREY said that he did not rise for the pur• pose of following the Hon. Gentleman through all the clauses of the Bill, but merely to express a hope that the House would permit the second reading to take place without any objection. The Bill was one which em bodied many valuable suggestions made by the Com mittee, and was very likely to prove most beneficial in its effects. Mr. BRIGHT said he rose for the purpose of calling the attention of the House fur one moment to the statements which were made on moving for this Com mittee by the Hon. Member for Warwickshire. It was stated that choice was made in serving these objections to persons whose ♦otes were been known to be legal, and who resided at the greatest distance from the courts. The report of the Committee did not bear out this statement. There were 400 different definitions of copyhold tenants, 250 of leasehold, 50 of occupying, and 576 of free holders, making a total of 1,276 different definitions of these voters; and therefore, when such a state of.tbings existed, it was absolutely necessary to Lave great freedom allowed for the making of objections.—( Hear, hear.) He had the same objection, however, as the lion. Gentle. man—namely, to increase the number of voters, and although he did not approve of the whole of the measure, he should be happy to aid the Honourable Gentleman or any one else in placing properly qualified persons upon the register. He considered that the Anti-Corn-law League had acted fairly and openly in Warwickshire. Mr. NEWDEGATE said the Committee appointed to consider the existing state of registration, in accord ance with whose recommendations this Bill had been framed, consisted of members of all shades of political opinions. He contended that the charges were true, which he had on a former occasion brought against Mr. Wilson, the Chairman of the Anti-Corn-law League, with respect to his proceedings relating to the regis tration in Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and other coun ties, and quoted registration returns to show that the League had improperly interfered with the registration, In proof of this, he stated that fifty persons claimed to be registered in Barnsley for a few houses, called " Bright's Buildings," the whole value of which was not more than 1,5901. Mr. V. SMITH should vote in favour of the Bill, but he considered that the Bill did not make sufficient pro vision for preventing persons who had had their names properly placed on the register from being harassed by frivolous objections to their votes year after year. He trusted, therefore, that the Bill would be considered in Committee. After a few words from Mr. ADDERLEY in favour of the Bill, Mr. G. lIEATHCOTE said he considered that parties sustaining objections, and persons obj ec t e d t o , who sustained their votes, should be entitled to costs for the trouble to which they were put. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER dwelt upon the fact that the Committee .from whom the Bill emanated represented all shades of political opinion, and that they were unanimous in all their recommendations. Mr. GISBORNE thought that by one of the pro visions of the Bill there was a limitation of the franchise; in other points he thought the measure unobjectionable. The Bill was then read a second time. HOSIERY MANUFACTURE BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill being read, Sir H. HALFORD presented a petition from his con• stituency in favour of the Bill, and praying that it might be passed into law as soon as possible. Two other peti tions were presented in favour of the Bill. Mr. GISBORNE presented a petition from Leicester against the Bill. S'r H. lIALFORD felt bound to move the second read of this Bill. In 1844 a Commission was ap I:: .,: ed to i nqu i re i nto t h e di s t ress that prevailed, which t ! ;t he producedvuld b a e g m t o o s t r e a a b d l e to r e t p h o e r t, H o a a n s d e fro somem extracts. (The Hon. Atember read from this document several passages, which stated that there was a gra hal reduction in t,hefrohlwagels of those eraployei in the hosiery trade nquiz twhBeaslf4 down to the _me at instituted, and that the gwehniechral a p pearancetbei workers was extremely wretched, while demoralizat r io a n c T t pace with the misery of this class of the community the e he report also demandaha thatfor stated that the increase affording labour led to no increase in the wages, the parents were totally incapableageosf their children, not only education, but the actual means g of existence. Such having been the result of this Com mission, he would ask the House whether they should refuse to redress these evils. He believed the p rov i sions of this Bill would meet the circumstances of this case, but in erder that it might be rendered as effective as possible, if the Hou se would grant him the second reading he would move that the Bill be referred to a S e lect Committee. What was the case with re- MAJORITY-NOES, 120. Acland, T. D. Ferrand, W. B. 3fastorman, John Adderley, C. B. Fitzroy, Henry Maxwell, lion. J. P. Archdall, Captain Floyer, John Mildmay, 11. St. John Arkwright, George Fuller, A. E. Mundy, E. M. Ashley, Henry Gaskell, J. M. Newdegatc, C. N. Bagot, William Gladstone, Captain Newport,:Visct. Bailey, J., jun. Gooch, E. S. Newry, Viscount Baillie, H. J. Gore, Montague O'Brien, A. Stafford Bankes, George Gore, W. 0. Packe, C. W. lleckett, W. Gore, W. R. 0. Pakington, Sir J. S. Bentinck, Lord G. Goring, C. Palmer, G. Bentinck, Lord H. Granby, Marquis of Plumptre, J. P. Iteresford, Major Grimsditch, T. Prime, Richard Blackburne, J. I. Halford, Sir Henry Rashleigh, W. Boldero, H. G. Hamilton, Lord C. Repton, G. W. Bowles, Admiral Hamner, Sir J. Round, C. Bramston, T. W. Harris, lion. Capt. Round, John Brisco, 31. Heneage, G. 11. W. Sep - Her, 11. K. Brooke, Lord Henley, J. W. Shaw, F. Bruce, C. L. C. Hill, Lord E. Sheppard, T. Buck, L. W. Hodgson, Richard Shirley, E. J. Burroughes, 11. Hope, Sir .1. Shirley, E. P. Carew, W. H. Pole Hotbarn, Lord Smith, A. Chichester, Lord J. Houldsworth, T. Somerset, Lord G. Clayton, R. R. Hudson, G. Spooner, Richard Clive, Vise. Hussey, Thomas Sutton, Henry Collett, W. R. Ingestre, Visct. Taylor, E. Compton, H. C. Inglis, Sir R. Tollemache, J. Corry, Henry Jocelyn, Viscount Tower, C. Cripps, W. Jones, Captain Trotter, John Deedes, W. Knight, F. W. Verner, Sir W. Denison, E. B. Lawson, Andrew Villiers, Viscount Dick, Q. Lennox, Lord G. H. Vivian, J. H. Disraeli, B. Lincoln, Earl of Vyse, H. Douglas, Sir C. E. Lindsay, Colonel Walpole, S. H. Douglas, J. 8. Lockhart, A. E. Walsh, Sir J. B. Duckworth, Sir J. Lowther, Hon. Col. Yorke,:E. T. Dusseembe, 0. Lygon, General Young, John Egerton, W. T. M ackenz i e, T. TELLERS. Fell , len, Sir W. M anners, Lor d C . G r egory ,W. U. Ferguson, Sir It. Manners, Lord J. Grogan, E. - GERMAN EMIGRATION.—On Tuesday the New York packet-ship Hendrick Hudson Captain E. Knight, left the London D oc k s w i th 330 emigrants, principally Germans, who intend to settle in the United states and Canada. GROUP VL The Committee met at the usual hour; Mr. Deedes in the chair. SALISBURY AND YEOVIL, AND EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER. In consequence of an application made to the Committee, it was arranged that several witnesses should be heard from Sidmouth and Bridport, and with respect to the proposed Blandford and Bruton Railway, in order to afford an oppor tunity for Mr. Locke and Mr. Cockburn to attend in other Committees, where their presence was required. Captain Parratt, naval officer, from Poole, was then called, and gave evidence of the facilities and importance of the harbour of Poole, and its superiority as a harbour over the port of Weymouth. Other evidence of a general nature was adduced, and the Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow, at which hour it is proposed to proceed with the cross-examination of Mr. Locke. GROUP VII. SOUTHAMPTON AND DORCHESTER, AND NEW FOREST DEVIATION BRANCH. The Committee met at twelve o' c l oc k , i n R oom E , an d almost immediately adjourned, and the consideration of the New Forest Deviation Branch was postponed until Monday. GROUP XIII. SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE (OLD- HAM BRANCH): The secretary to the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and several other witnesses gave evidence in favour of this branch. Mr. JAM zs was proceeding to address the Committee on behalf of the Richmond and Bury St. Edmunds Railway, when The Committee intimated that there would be no neces sity for his addressing any remarks upon that portion of the line between Thetford and Diss, as it was the opinion of the Committee that no case had been made out to justify the construction of that line. The Learned Counsel then proceeded with his address, al the conclusion of which the room was ordered to be cleared. The CHAIRMAN, upoiiOurre-ad;l;siOn, stated that the Committee were of opinion that the preamble of the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds Railway (No 1, Extension to Yar mouth) was not proved. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday next, at twelve o'clock, in order to receive the report of the Admi ralty and the Railway Commissioners. GROUP XVI. The Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills, comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning ; Mr. Kemble in the chair. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (DUN STABLE ST. ALBAN'S, AND LUTON BRANCH, This case was called, but the Committee not having re ceived the report of the Railway Commissioners, declined to give any decision for the present. ENFIELD AND EDMONTON EXTENSION. The case for this line was next gone into. The line con tinues the existing Enfield and Edmonton line on to the Great Northern Railway, and through the medium of the Eastern Counties line giving the traffic of the Great Northern line access to the East and West Indian Docks. The esti mated cost was 60,000/. GROUP XVIII. The Committee on this group met to-day at two o'clock ; the Earl of Lincoln in the chair, when the opposition of the proprietors was proceeded with. TLe evidence taken was chiefly as to the way in which the proposed line would affect the town of Cheltenham in a sanatory way, as well as to the convenience of the station. The Committee adjourned at lour o'clock. GROUP XX. The Committee met at the usual hour this morning; Mr. Goulburn in the chair. BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION (WARWICK AND STRATFORD BRANCH). The general evidence in favour of this Bill was continued. Mr. Brunel proved that the line was an easy one in an engineering point of view. He estimated the cost at 200,0001. The landholders' opposition was adjourned till Friday. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXI. This Committee met as usual this morning, in Room No. 22; Sir James Graham in the chair. BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND STOUR. VALLEY (No. I.) Mr. WHATELEY was occupied nearly the whole of the day in replying for the opponents of this line, namely, the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Company. The Committee postponed their decision till they had re ceived the report of the Railway Commissioners. BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND STOUR VALLEY (NO. II.) BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND DUDLEY (STOURBRIDGE AND WEST BROMWXCH BRANCHES). OXFORD. WORCESTER, AND WOLVER HAMPTON (No. II.) In these cases the Committee decided that the preambles had not been proved. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXII. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock ; Lord Harry Vane in the chair. GLOUCESTER AND HEREFORD RAILWAY AND CANAL PURCHASE. On the assembling of the parties this Bill, which was opened yesterday afternoon, was proceeded with. Mr. Anthony, a proprietor in the district through which this line is proposed to run, gave general evidence in support of the scheme. Messrs. Davis and Brown gave general evidence in favour of the line, and Messrs. Biddulph and Price as to the accom modation which the line would confer on the district for the carrying of goods, minerals, and passengers. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XXIII. The Committee met this morning at twelve; Mr. Mac kinnon in the chair. SWANSEA VALLEY'. Mr. JAMES proceeded to call evidence against the promoters of the Bill. Mr. Heighten, formerly traffic manager of the Tall Vale line, and manager of collieries in the north of England, gave evidence of the inconvenience of the broad gauge, upon which it was proposed to construct the Swansea Valley in connexion with the South Wales. It would fail to connect the port of Swansea and the district with the Birmingham line and the north of England, and it did not offer the same convenience for shipping coals as the narrow gauge. Other witnesses were called for the opponents. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP XXV. The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock in Room 14; Sir Charles Lemon in the chair, MANCHESTER AND LINCOLN 'UNION DEVIATION. The consideration of this line was postponed, in the hope that some arrangement would be come to between the parties. MANCHESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, and MIDLANDS JUNCTION (DEVIATIONS, AMENDMENT, dc.c.) Some time was occupied in considering the objection as to whether the inhabitants of Bakewell had any locus standi in opposition to this line; but it was eventually decided that they should be heard. Mr. Thurgooland, a lessee of tolls, and Mr. Wildgoose, a traffic-taker, were then examined, and deposed to the great traffic which might be expected along the line, and to the great accommodation it would give to the district. Mr. Paxton, one of the directors of the company, was next examined to show the advantage s o f the deviation. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP XXVII. The Committee sat to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room 32; Mr. Cardwell in the chair. THE GREAT NORTHERN (EXTENSION TO LYNN). The Committee were occupied all day in hearing evidence in favour of this line.—Adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXVIII. LONDON AND YORK AND EASTERN COUNTIES (SPALDING TO NEWARK). The Committee met to-day at half-past two o'clock to give their decision upon the several branches promoted by the London and York and Eastern Counties Companies in the district between Spalding and Newark, but in conse quence of not having received the report of the Railway Commissioners, which is in the hands of the printer, Mr. I'. D. ACLAND, the chairman, stated that they must adjourn till half-past three on Friday next. GROUP XXXI. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning. Mr. Shaw in the chair. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LIN COLNSHIRE JUNCTION (BARNSLEY BRANCH). The whol e o f t h e d ay was occup i e d with general evidence in favour of the line. The Committee adjourned at the usual hour. GROUP XXXIII. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; the Hon. E. Yorke in the chair. LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHESTER (EXTENSION TO WASEPIELD. &C.) On the assembling of the Committee this case was pro. ceeded with. Mr. Benjamin Gott, of Leeds, Was examined at some length as to the adva n t ages t h e sc h em e would confer in con necting- the important towns of Leeds, Wakefield, and Dews bury, and also to its supe r i or i ty over the rival schemes. This closed the case of the promoters. The opposition of the landowners and other proprietors were then proceeded with. Mr. J. M. Gaskell, M.P., deposed as to the damage which the line would inflict on the residence and ornamental grounds of his uncle, near to Wakefield. Dr. Wright was examined as to the damage the line would do to the property of West Parade, Wakefield. He represented it to be very considerable, and the proposition had given great dissatisfaction. Mr. Walker, agent of the Wakefield cattle-market, stated that the scheme would do great injury to, and interfere ma terially with, the business transacted there. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XXXIV. NORPOLE EXTENSZON (THETrONLD AND YARMOUTH). The case for the promoters closed after hearing the evi dence of several witnesses. I,IIDDLESEX SESSIONS. s h was charged with stealing a drinking glass, J ulia mit f Mr. Thomas Joshua Greenwood, the land the property 2rree,eln Man public-house, New Bond -street. She lord of calledtl glass of ale, and had taken the glass. had rO'Brien, who appeared for the prisoner, called the mima.anst:,n,tsonatmliee witness-box, and asked if he knew what barman was? The witness replied, Yes, Josiah. 131 111 r. 013aticx repeated the question, three times, and each time received the same answer. He then requested the Learned Judge to look at the indictment, in which the name Appeared Joshua. The barman being questioned by the Learned Judge, said ho believed the name was Joshua, but he was not sure. Mr. Greenwood had only taken the house about three weeks e go, and his name was not yet painted over the door. Mr. O'Brien submitted that the prisoner could not be con. vie ted, as there was no proof of the name of the prosecutor. The Learned JUDGE concurred in this opinion, and the prisoner was acquitted. Several other cases of felony were disposed of, but the ar ticulars were of no p u bli c i nterest. P POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MAR LBOROUGH-STREET. Tae Earl of Mornington 0 Tu .:(ifty , attended th fore Mr. Bingham, in obedience to a summons, to show cause why he neglected to maintain his wife, Helena, Countess GROUP XLI. The Committee on this group met at the usual hour, in Room 13; Lord Seymour in the chair. DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA (BRANCH mom NAVAN TO HELLS). The Committee intimated this morning that, with respect to this line, it would be expedient to adjourn for a fortnight, till they received the finance report from the Railway Com missioners. NEWRY AND ENNISEILLEN (AMEND MENT). Mr. ALEXAWDItrt then opened the case of the Newry and Enniskillen amendment line. He objected to the Marquis of Downshire and other opposing petitioners being heard against the line; but After some discussion, in which Mr. Talbot and Mr. Cairns appeared for the opposing petitioners, the Committee per mitted the petitioners who had land along the line to be beard. James Breydon, the London secretary of the Newry and Enniskillen Railway Company, was then examined, to show the advantages of the line. Lord Newry and the Marquis of Downshire were then examined, and the room was cleared. On our re-admision, The Committee announced that they would not consent to the Bill unless a clause was inserted to carry out a direct communication between Newry and Armagh before any other portion of the line was opened, and they preferred to leave the details of this arrangement to the parties them selves. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday next. GROUP XLII. WATERFORD, WEXFORD, AND WXCIL LOW (ENNISCORTHIr BRANCH). This Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock; Mr. Tollemache in the chair. At the opening of the proceedings an objection was taken on the reception of the evidence of a meeting of the share holders, where a small minority had determined to oppose proceeding with the Bill. The room was cleared for some time, but at length it was decided that counsel should be heard on the merits of the case, and Mr. Sergeant Wrangham spoke in their behalf. Mr. AUSTIN replied at considerable length on the side of the promoters, contending that the Committee had virtually come to a decision already. After hearing Mr. Austin's reply, the Committee stated that, as they had not received the report of the Railway Com missioners, they were not in a condition to proceed, and they accordingly adjourned. GROUP XLVIII. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock; Lord Courtenay in the chair. CALEDONIAN, GLASGOW, GAILNICIRK, and COATBELIDGE (BRANCH TO GLASGOW STATION). The Committee, after deliberation, declared the preamble proved, and required a clause in the Bill, binding the com pany- to construct their works where they passed under the canal and over the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, to the satisfaction of an engineer to be named. GENERAL TEEPTXNUS AND GLASGOW HARBOUR BRANCHES. Mr. DUNCAN opened the merits of this Bill, which he stated to be for three short branches; one to connect the joint line with the General Terminus, and with the Pulluc and Govan Railway; one to form a junction with the Barr head and Neilston Direct, so as to take the goods to the Goods Depot, or to the Greenock Railway; and one to con nect the General Terminus with the Caledonian Railway, and, by means of the first, with the joint line. The branches were unopposed, except by the Ayr Company, and he denied that they bad a locus stundi. Counsel were heard for the Ayr Company. The Committee, after the room had been cleared, declared that the Ayr Company had no locus standi against the preamble. Mr. Robson, the engineer, said the length of the three branches was one mile and a half, and the cost would be 43,6001. They were to effect objects of great public import ance, and had to contend with no engineering difficulties. The CHAIRMAN declared the preamble proved. The clauses were then read and agreed to. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, KILMARNOCK, AND AYR, BRANCHES (No. IV.) The Committee proceeded to consider this Bill; the only part of it retained was for making another station in Tradeston, Glasgow. Mr. Johnstone, engineer of the Ayr Company, said the proposed station in Tradeston, Glasgow, was positively ne cessary, as the present station was quite inadequate for the traffic. The cost of the station would be 20,0001., including .14,000/, for land. _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN declared the preamble proved. The clauses were read and agreed to. CALEDONIAN AND DUMBARTONSHIRE JUNCTION (DEVIATIONS BETWEEN DUNTOCHEIR LIME-VJOR.IMS AND BOWL ING, &o.) Mr. MACNEIL opened the merits of this Bill. He stated the deviations were become necessary from the amendments granted by the Committee in the Garnkirk line. These were from Hamilton Hill to Dobbies Loan, passing under the canal southward ; again, at the eastern terminus, passing eastward so as to join the Caledonian line; third, on the property of Lady Blantyre, to diverge from her house and grounds, and to avoid a tunnel near Duntocher ; and fourth, at the western terminus near lielensburgh, to enable them to pass two mountain torrents more advantageously. Mr. Robson, the engineer, was examined, and proceeded to give the details of the proposed deviations. The cost of the Glasgow deviations would be 76,5081. They passed under the canal by a tunnel 500 yards long. The strata were favourable for constructing. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP XLIX. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; Mr. Cripps in the chair. CALEDONIAN AND GLASGOW, PAISLEY AND GREENOCK AMALGATION. The case on behalf of this line was resumed. Mr. Grieve, Provost of Greenock, was examined in support of the Bill. The amalgamation would be the means of opening up a direct communication between Greenock and the mineral districts of Lanarkshire, and also between that port and London and Manchester. Arrangements are in progress to connect the railway with the harbour, so that coals could be loaded on the quays. Mr. Hunter, a magistrate, of Greenock, gave evidence that the supply of coal at present was limited on account of the want of direct access with the Lanarkshire mineral fields, and that it was dear as compared with the price at Glasgow. He considered the united management and the continuous line would give them much larger and cheaper supplies, and enable them to increase their exportation. At the present time the trucks had to be changed at Glasgow, and tran shipments made. The Lanarkshire coal, which at present cost 13s. Gd. at Greenock, would, he thought, by the amalga mated line, be sold for Bs. Gd. per ton. very well. examined—Said H h e knew ek de cided in Mr. James Fergu son nwith Glasgow coals of the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, and he ga A ve t present preference to the latter over the former. many of the ships on a t accountG re Greenock oocfk thew ere difficulty gettingt ot take out coalsou t ru bble and stones, cheap enough. This would, in a greatermeasure,beohNia obviated if the companies as propose d were united in management. Mr. Baird, a coal-merchant, of Greenock, gave evidence as to the increased advantages Greenock would receive from direct railway communication with the Monkland and Ile milton coal-fields. At present the supply of coal was limited, and came mainly by the river and canal from the Monkland coal-fields. Mr. Ker, the manager of the goods traffic on the Greenock line, deposed as to the present traffic, and the great benefits the amalgamation would confer. The company at present ran five goods' trains each way daily, taking on an average 321 tons each train. Their engines could take about three times as much if necessary. The benefits of the undi vided management would be to keep up a better staff and plant, and enable them to give better accommodation to the public. Hitherto the dividends had been but two per cent., but the Caledonian had guaranteed four per cent., with sub s( quent advantages. Cross-examined—The Ayrshire Company did not carry minerals at present to Greenock, as they objected to the rate, which was 2s. a ton from Paisley to Greenock. Mr. Dixon, for the whole distance, was charged ls. 9 1 / 2 d. a ton. This was because Mr. Dixon used his own trucks and servants, and the company had nothing to do but to find haulage for the traffic. Captain Huisb, general manager of the London and North Western Line, said he had formerly been secretary of the Greenock Co mpany for four years. It was impossible to work a short line so profitably as a long one. He knew a good deal of the benefit of amalgamations of this kind. One of the most remarkable was the Grand Junction with the North Union. Before the amalgamation the traffic between the two lines was very small and the rates high, but since the union the traffic had vastly increased, while the public were benefited by the reduction of prices. He considered that both the passenger and the goods traffic would receive great benefits by the amalgamation. Mr. Errington, civil engineer, was examined in support of the previous witnesses. He considered the shareholders would never get back their capital or interest on it without a union of this kind. At present the Caledonian had no port for their 160 miles of railway, while the Ayrshire Com pany had access to six or seven ports. He corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses as to the cheaper working of the line under a joint management. He thought 7,0001. would be saved by the joint management. The witness was cress-examined at some length, with the object of showing that with the leases and amalgamations in progress by the Caledonian, the latter would have port ac commodation not only at Glasgow and Greenock, but through out Ayrshire. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP 1.1. This Committee met at twelve o'clo ck ; Sir John Yarde Buller chairman. CALEDONIAN AND BRANCEES. Mr. Hope Johnston, M.P., was called and examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—He was chairman of the Caledonian, and resided in a part of the country traversed by the line. In the year 1836 Mr. Locke was employed by a committee, formed of persons interested in the districts, to survey the best route from Carlisle north, and he examined it as:far as Biggar. Royal Commissioners were appointed, and on their recommendation the line laid out by Mr. Locke was mate rially altered. In 1845 the Dumfries came forward as an opposition scheme for a through traffic to England. The Caledonian Company were successful in the contest, but in 1846 the Dumfries again came forward, on the ground that they were required for the local traffic, and on this ground solely their scheme was sanctioned. Had he con ceived that the North British would be allowed to extend their line from Hawick to Carlisle, and to strike at the d En. lish trade by Brampton , he s hould have such a gigantic expenditure as that already incurred by the I Caledonian Railway, in giving accommodation to Scotland, and he was convinced that if this rival interest were sanc tioned, the result would be, that the energies of both would be crippled. The Caledonian had no desire to injure the trade of the Dumfries line, and they were ready to be bound by enactments to keep engines always ready at Carlisle for the purpose of forwarding the passengers by that line, pari passu, with their own. Th e y wou ld, th ere f ore , w h e th er a t Carlisle or at London, through the medium of the London and North- Western, throw no obstacles in the way of passengers de sirous of proceeding by the west of Scotland. Cross-examined by Sir THOMAS PHILLIPS—The pro spectus of the Caledonian Company was before the public in May, 1844, and in the same year the North British had ob tained their Act for giving accommodation by the east of Scotland, and connecting Newcastle to Edinburgh. The first prospectus issued by the Caledonian excluded Dumfries, bt.t he must be allowed to explain to the Committee that that prospectus was necessarily imperfect, and required to be improved as the wants of the public became known. He thought he was right in stating that the Dumfries Bill of 1846 was granted, for the purpose of accommodating the local traffic. lie did not limit local traffic to the mere dis tricts, he understood by the term the trade between the districts of Ayr, Dumfries, and England. He thought that the effect of a competition in this case would be to lessen public accommodation, but he was not sufficiently conver sant with railway enterprise to instance a case where rail way competition had proved injurious. He had a strong opinion that competition would lead to irregular working of these lines. By Captain P LUAIRIDGI —The reason why the Caledonian would suffer more from competition than its rivals was, that for a portion of its course it traversed a very barren district. By Mr. NEWDEGATE—They would never be free from a through competition from London to Edinburgh while the North British existed. Examination continued by Sir T. PHlLues—lle did not think that they bad much to fear from competition in their northern traffic. He had heard a different opinion expressed. They had endeavoured to secure themselves by entering into arrangements with the Scottish Central, the Dundee and Perth, and the Dundee and Newcastle. It was not his own opinion that the traffic from Kilmarnock—and more espe cially the passenger traffic—to England would go round by Glasgow. He thought that the Caledonian had a prior right to the district between Annan and Springfield, as they had laid out their line in the first instance to suit that dis trict, and only had altered it at the suggestions of the Rail way Commissioners. y Mr. TON--The Caledonian had entered into arrange ments with the Dundee and Arbroath, for the purpose 01 making that line_a feeder to the Scottish Central line._ Mr. - Locke, C.E., examined by Mr. COCKBURN—He bad originally planned the Caledonian line. The witness pointed out its course to the Committee. It was always contem plated that Dumfries should form a feature in this system of railway communication, and he knew of no instance in the history of railways where one series of lines had so injured and encroached upon another as the Dumfries had upon the Caledonian. The Caledonian had been eventu ally laid out on the recommendation of the Railway Com missioners, and on the absence of any opposition immediate or contemplated ; andi therefore, a considerable portion traversed a district, which could not, under any circum stances, pay a company. Such a district was that from Moffat to Carnwath. He considered that this country was overlaid with railways. By Mr. TOLLEMACHE—It did not follow that trade would be increased in the same proportion with railway com petition and accommodation. It was necessary that a limit should be placed, because a trade which might remunerate an expenditure of 16,0001. per mile, would never repay the ex penditure of a million per mile. The Birmingham and Derby was an instance of this, which, having vainly tried to exist, was at last obliged to incorporate itself with the Midland. By Mr. COCKBURN—If the North British scheme were sanctioned, they would have a double means competition, by Berwick on the east coast, and again"by Hawick to Edinburgh. If the Caledonian were to live at all, it must depend in a great measure upon its through traffic. By Captain PLUMRIDGE—He had in his scheme of 1839, never contemplated the branch from Springfield to Brompton. Lord JOHN MANNERS—Did you ever propose this scheme until the Dumfries Company had first determined to supply it? Mr. Locke—That branch was never contemplated until this year. Sir THOMAS PHILLIPS-4 hope that answer may not be considered conclusive as to your Lordship's question. Lord Join; MANNERS—Oh, it satisfies me. By Mr. CocKnuusr—lt would be important, as a matter of protection against their competitors, that the Caledonian Company should construct the Brampton branch to accom • modate their southern traffic. Cross-examined by Sir TIIO3IAS Pfnuirs—The Caledo • nian, when before Parliament for their Act, calculated upon an estimated traffic which would yield the proprietors 8 per cent. That was before any of the north or west branches were thrown out. He did not know that in this estimate the traffic from Dumfries and Ayr was taken at something less than 1,000/. By Mr. TOLLEMACHE—SO long as the 24 miles of differ ence between the Dumfries and Caledonian existed, it might be considered a sufficient protection to the latter company, but they could not say that that difference might not be lessened by the Dumfries. Company in the next session of Parliament. By Mr. Burr—lf the lease of the Annan branch were granted to the Caledonian, he thought it would benefit the public, and end these disputes. This closed the case for the Caledonian Railway, with the exception of the Dalmakedder branch, which it was agreed should be afterwards considered. THE NORTH BRITISH __COMPANY. Mr. TALBOT opened the case . for the Caledonian Company, ---- and contended that as the East Coast Railway was first in the field they should be allowed to extend their scheme from Hawick to Carlisle, thus giving accommodation to a district which, by the system of the Caledonian Company, would be . altogether deprived of it. Mr. Rutherford, Crayling, Roxburghshire, said that the county was an important agricultural one. The acreage at present devoted to agricultural purposes (the greater quan tity being for the rearing and breeding of sheep) wa5437,421, and the capital employed was upwards of a million and a half. There was grown of different descriptions of grain 270,999 quarters, and of this quantity there might be ex ported 71,000 quarters. This would be sent to Hawick, and westward to Dumfriesshire and Cumberland. Seed was also exported from Roxburgh to these 'counties, because it was considered of a superior quality. Great num bers of cattle were imported for the purposes of feeding from different parts of Scotland, from the Highlands, and from Ireland. There were many markets in the district for the sale of these cattle, which - would be on the line of railway. The cattle at present imported were driven, but they could be fattened at a less cost if the railway were constructed, as it would do away with the fatigue from which the cattle suffered by the present mode of travelling. Melrose fair was a very large one, about 100,000 sheep being brought to it. The great number of these were sent to the south. They could import guano and bone-dust from Berwick and Liverpool, for the purpose of enriching the land, if this line were opened. They could also import Indian corn for their own use, and thereby be able to export a larger quan tity of the grain raised in the district. For agricultural pur poses they could have oil-cake from Berwick and other places, which might be brought to the various districts by the proposed railway. Lime was exceedingly expensive (not less than 18s. per ton in the centre of the county); but by the projected line it might be laid down in the districts, within six or seven miles of the line, at a moderate cost. The land would require about five tons per acre in every fourteen years, or six tons in every nineteen years. The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Butt, and re examined by Mr. Paton, but nothing particular was elicited in addition. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, May 5. The Lord Chancellor sat at his Court at Westminster to day. JONES V. ROSE.-THE ROSHICRVILLE GARDENS. Mr. TEMPLET resumed, and concluded his reply to-day in this part-heard case, which came before his Lordship upon ap peal from the decision of the Vice-Chancellor Wie ram. The bill was filed for the purpose of obtaining the declaration of the Court that the plaintiff Jones was entitled to 150 shares. of 10/. each, in the company formed for the creation of the Rosherville Gardens at Gravesend. Five calls of 11. each had been paid, but in consequence of some disputed accounts pending between the plaintiff and the directors the other calls were not paid. At a meeting held in 1843, it was determined that all shares on which the calls were not paid should be declared forfeited, and at the same meeting a committee was appointed to investigate the state of the 'accounts between the company and Jones. The result of that inquiry was, that a sum of 3901. was declared to be due, and Mr. Jones received notice that, unless the money was paid within a fortnight, he would lose his shares. The money was not paid, the shares were declared to be forfeited, and the Vice-Chancellor, with out expressing any decided opinion on the question, directed a reference to the Master to take the accounts between the parties, with a view of ascertaining how much Jones had really paid on the shares he claimed. Both parties appealed against that order. On former days Mr. Temple and Mr. 3. 11. Palmer ap peared for the directors of the company, to sustain the for feiture; and Mr. Romilly, Mr. Rolt, and Mr. Brett, on the other side, argued that the directors, who had declared the forfeiture, were not duly qualified, and, therefore, that their acts were null and void if there had been any ground for act ing. They denied, however, that there was any default in payment, and maintained that the directors ought to be re moved, and the plaintiff put in possession of his shares. The LORD CHANCELLOR, at the conclusion of the argu ments, postponed giving judgment. It appeared in the course of the argument that the gardens, which had at first been an unpromising speculation,wereno:;:, become popular, and that the shares were, in consequence, some value. ROLL S COURT, May 5. lASUM V. EASUM. This was a petition from the plaintiff in this ca reliuse, oh f • jecting to the finding of the Maste r, and no pra ying for e, on the ground that the said finding was n in conformity , with the whole facts of the case, but based u pon the state ment of the defendant. Mr. Chandlers appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. Kin dersley for the respondent. l i on with costs. His HoNous. dismLfcla...l°22l!_.--- COURT OF QU EEN'S BENCH, May 5. (Sittings in Banco.) The Court was ocfupied all day with the special paper. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 5. (Sittings in Banco.) ITOPWO OD V. DRENNAN. In this c ase the Court granted liberty to the plaintiff t o bring an ejectment for non-payment of rent. of Mornington, whereby she had become chargeable to the parish of St. George, Hanover-square. Mr. Clarkson, his Lordslop's pioiLssional adviser,* his Lordship retired out of court, and had a consulta tion in the library for about an hour. On their return into court, Mr. Smith, the relieving overseer of St. Geore'e, said—Sir, this is an application on the part of the parish of St. George, Hanover-square. against the Earl of Mornington, to compel his Lordship to consent to allow Helena, his wife, a su ffi cient. ma i n t ena nce for her supp ort _ It is unusual for ladies in Lady Mornington's stets on ot life to make applications of this sort through the agenoY of a police-court ; but she has been sworn to the truth of her statement f utter destitution, and she has de clared that she is destitute, and has Wen for a length of time dependent on Mr. Thomas, of Hatchett's Hotel. l for support. The parish was anxious to avoid this appica tion, and it was hoped that an arrangement sati sfacS tors to all parties would have been entered into ; but, S this has not been done, the-pans' h has been obliged to proceed. kr. Clarkson Sir, I apprehend that in Y e) " correct judgment you will decide that the subjeste matter of this inquiry by no means entitles t hi s to cross-examine that party through whom this application of the parish officers originates, as to the circumstances of her life, or with referen ce to the enormous sums dispensed by Lord Mornington for her support. I am not permitt e d to go into the circuni. stances which have so placed the party who , at the ill" stance of others, has presented this means o f annoy e l to Lord Mornington, and I am prohibited by I- 4 . ngton, who is desirous of sparing pain Morni tinguished members of his own family, from eliei ti g those particulars by cross-examination. Therefore, t, only question open is as to the distress which Lai Mornington says she endures; whether that distress u_s been provoked by Lady Mornington's own extravagsnurg or by the absence of means from Lord Morning to the dis toe!,_ is not necessary to inquire. The sums advanced by.tuu parish of St. George will be repaid by ton: I will not enter into private transactions for,.,'„st than to state, that it is only three weeks age that ° to ' ru a year on security was offered to Lady bf° rieg gee Lady Mornington declined the offer ; possibly W a der she conceives that, by certain instruments now nn ore- Lord transactions) investigation in a superior court, she is entitled te, se I have, however, his Lordship's directions the if the Court really thinks he ought to pay m °D ,h:svili parish o ffi cers for Lady Mornington's suPP ur " - • n readily and cheerfully do so ; b u t, if this applicauo. 0 in tended to annoy and w orr y th e no ble person for whom do I to sta n appear, or the eminent members of his fatal pa ella ot complain of what has publicly.appeared ; the c have a right to know what passes in a court of just' to but I say, if in truth the object of this proce . ed : if t g o h a e ne e obtain for T.adv Mornington a substantial insw frontfrom Lord Morningeon—. y r . Clarkr ot t BI must stop you here, to say, that this cannot be the object of the apPlic t . l „ tl ,4 s , as such a result as you hint at is not within el dic Mr. tion. de Clarkson—You heard a statement the other _3l; calculated to create a certain impression. Howarer';e the part of Lord Mornington, I am here to bow to i l y idi decision, whether it be for a maintenance prospee'l 4 or retrospectively for Lady Mornington, and to eng, l 4 o on the part of Lord Mornington, that payment shale on kept up until such time as a superior Court dot"; to. the amount of income Lady Mornington is entitie u er , If, then, Lady Mornington's object be to obtain a manent provision for her support, that provi s ion, _so r ' d ': be provided. And, lastly, whatever may be his Ifs u oi e ant ship's hnr privilegeauthor i sed by right his iard Lordship p t t h n e dignitysay, that be sh° ul s ci t r b ev et ashamed to avail himself of any such privilege, se a , he is quite ready to attend to the order of the Cou r ;j e a A gentleman named Manning, who secorenti Lady Mornington when the previous applicatio 700, made, here rose and begged to be allowed to sal a words. e • ail) fl Mr. BINGFIAM—UnIess you attend proiession oo must request you to sit down. Ido not know vviVr(r are, but it is not permitted to hear parties no P fessional. T at th e Mr. Manning—l am not a solicitor, nor am - bar ; but I have practised as a special p leader. Mr. Bisionssr—Do you practise now ? Mr. Manning—No. Mr. BINGHAM—Then I can't hear you. - n ton, I Mr. Clarkson—O n th e part of Lord germ uternat , can have no objecti o n t o bear whatever that go may have to say to the Court. 01 c se eing Mr. Manni ng —l on ly ro se for the purp ose a compliment to the Learned Gentlema n fo rase,the and creet way in which he had conducted the , e. ..dg to give a complet e denial to the insinuation that s Mornington's distress has arisen from a n y extravagence on her part. Court,Alr. th ß e nvG li matterA hl— b l e t i n g i s nn u w nne a c t es a s n ar e y nd t . o with the case in the same way as I deal with I.'. nary applications from parish o ffi cers who apPlY ° must an order on a husband to maintain his wife. the part have all reasonable expenses and outlay on the pan pup* of the parish satisfied. The applicant is not addressnant d_ t eA ; h al e_ and appears infirm, and she must have relief according!y If the sum paid by th e parish for suc h relief be repaid , that is all the p ar i s h can - require , and there is an end of the case. Mr. Clarkson—Lord Mornington has recently pu t five guineas into the hands of the parish officers for the use of Lady Mornington. We submit to the decisio n of the Court cheerfully. Mr. BINGHABI—I can only deal with this case as the case of a pauper receiving relief in the workhouse, teat pauper being infirm and advanced in life. I can ma ke no distinetion between this and any other case in w e workhouse. The only differences in these cases is that some require, from age and infirmity, more relief th,s ll , others, but I have no power to sanction more than oral' nary assistance. Mr. Smith—With respect to the five guineas Ifr ceived the money for Lady Mornington , und er a p ledge that that I would not say from whom it came. Lord Mornington—l thought it advisable then that it should not be mentioned where the money ca me from. I think it right to state now that I gave it. Mr. Smith—Lady Mornington refused to receive it 0 soon as she was told that she was not to know the Per son's name who sent it. The case here closed, and all parties left the court. Michael Mitchell, a well dressed young fellow, before Mr. Bingham with picking a gentleman's pocket of an opera-glass. Mr. Charles Hislop, silk warehouseman, No- 20, Gutter lane, City, stated that, between twelve and one that morning as he was leaving the Opera and crossing Chari° B-street ' was charged felt a tug at his coat; he immediately felt in his coat-poc ke t t and missed the opera-glass now produced, and worth abou t two guineas. He was subsequently informed tha t the °l ir. was found, and the prisoner taken into custody for stealing plain cloth_es, Police constable 106 F said he was on duty, in near the Opera, in the Haymarket, about half-past twelve o'clock, when he saw the prisoner, in company with another, following the complainant. Knowing them to be thieit,ves, he watched them, and saw the prisoner g o u p to comp l and, after taking something out of his (cumplainnts) p su o cceecket, run away. Witness pursue d them, t could only in taking the prisoner into custody. Inspector Hawtrey, A division, said about half-past twelve o'clock he was standing inside the doorway of the We lington Hotel, in the Haymarket, when he was surprised at something been thrown with great violence into the door . wey, falling at h is feet. He p icked it u p , and discovered that it was an opera glass, and from inquiries which he s_ seeuen tly made found that it had been stolen from the firs' . _ witness. The prisoner,who stoutly denied the charge, was remanded till Monday next. MARKET IN EWS.-(YESTER ) A-Y• 1 CORN EXCHANGE. Very limited supplies of English Wheat have come fr esh to hand since Monday, and the show of samples here trifling; hence we have to report a very firm inquiry for descriptions, at the late improvement in the quotation!- Foreign Wheat was in short supply, and active reque,stL,t in some instances, a further slight advance in prices. ' l ' the sale for the few parcels of Barley offering was br isk, and ! rates had an improved tendency. Malt moved off readily, 41 _ a extreme quotations. The whole of the supply of Oats IT speedily cleared off at 6d per. quarter more money. Beau . ' Peas, and Flour were quite as dear. Wheat. 2,110 qrs. English .• •• •• frisb. •• •• •• •• Foreign •• •• •• ARRIVALS. Flour. Barlay. I Oatg 011 I _,l7osk, 1,360 qrs. 10 . 7 1,310 I i ----- 1,640 4,340 I 4,450 I Malt, 2,630 qrl. . WIIITMCILAPEL . There was a full average amount of business passing here, and previous rates were well supported. Beef, from 38 2d to 33 10d; Mutton, 43 to ss; Lamb, 5s 4d to 6s 2d; Veal, 4s 6d to 5s 2d; and Pork, 4s to 5s per 81bs by the carcase. DEATH OF AN ITALIAN GIRL.-011 Tuesday an inquest was held at the Marquis Cornwallis Inn, Ipswich, on the body of Elizabeth Eager, an itinerant Italian musician, aged 17 years. It appeared from the evidence that on the previous day, about ten o'clock in the evening, the deceased and another girl were in the Rainbow public-house, playing on the tambourine and piano, when George Barker, who Was present, after having invited the deceased to accompany him out of the house, which she refused to do, followed her into the street, and commenced pulling her about, and succeeded in getting hold of the stick on which the piano rested. She attempted to get it out of his hands, when he struck her on the face with it, and she fell to the ground, and never spoke after, but died in about twenty minutes. Several persaonn were present when the struggle for the stick took place% ti psy Barker was secured and given into custody. He wasßatitn, at the time, and had been so for some time. Mr. who had made a post mortem examination he had no doubt as to the cause of the death of the girl. The inquest was then adjourned until the following day. THE ARMY AND NAVY CLUB-110IISE.-4\1"(1117 of the body, sai.d. the whole of the houses on the west ride of George-streeC* St. James's-s a uare, as well as several in Pall-mall, weir; being demolished, this spot having been se lected by and committee for the erection of the intended new Array Navy Club House. BIRTHS. On the Ist inst., the wife of John George Fleet, Esq., of Tollington-park, Hornsey-road, of a sox. On the Ist inst., the lady of Dr. Power, Queen-street, gar fair, of a daughter. On the 2d inst., in Endsleigh-street, Tavistock.square , 31111* William Harmar, of a son. On the 2d inst., at Portland House, Hammersmith , thi wife of Gilbert Abbott a Beckett, Esq., of a DIED. On the 30th ult., at Brownlow House, county of Armagh , the Right Hon. Lord Lurgan, aged 52. On the 15th ult., at Edmonton, William Lever Spring Esq., aged 32. On the 27th ult., at llighfield House, near Liverpool, T. Littledale. Esq., aged 74. On the 28th ult.. at Chatham-place East, Hackney, Henri Bennett, Esq., aged 81. On the 29th ult., Mr. William Christmas, of GOviter - St reet. Bedford-square, aged 76. London: Printed and Published by hiIIRDO YOUNCA, of No. 1111 Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the PreeineS Of the 5a1 , 07, in tho County of Jaiddlooox, Tluggday, Afar fa lts47, Are . • :• J a