The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, April `4. ROYAL COMMISSION. The R oya l assent was given, by Commission, to the sr m e i sa ve i o r a r eland) Bill, a n d to a private Bill. The Corn ricardners were th e Lord Chancellor, Marquis of Clan e, and Earl of Minto. as he CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool et Five o'clock. )4 ME SSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. PnbliTenzers from t h e C ommons b rought up severa l Ta t , Private Bills. T : "OVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION. Marquis o f LAN SDOWNE presented pet i t i ons tr4rhe of the courviGovernm ent es of Hampshi scheme of education h ' re and Worcestersireand Petatioes f in a gainst it. r°lll • Wellington, Bristol, Stafford, and E ssex, eduf_arl F ITZ WILLIAM p resen t e d some petitions forom wsl) catio end other pl aces aga i nst t h e G overnm e nt scheme n. oi Lord SUNDAY TRADING. tirc O NTEAGLE presented petitions from Christ h and another place in Surrey, praying that the p~asseTor the p revent i on of Sunday tra di ng mig ht be d into law. Lord alst e ,„ - w "ARNCLIFFE considered that an effectual v ent °' inspection was most desirable, in order to pre • oft th e recurren ce o f suc h acc id en ts as had recently red in conn ex i on w i t h t h e wor ki n g of mines. kik co nversation ensued in which the Bishop of DUR w.: and Lo r d C AMPBELL took p l art ,_ an d the petition "" Ordered to lie on the table. ACCIDENTS IN COLLERIES. ,lire NOBLE EARL also presented a petition fromYork n - t w id which the petitioners deplored the recent b t hat . had occurred in the Barnsley collieries, pre,evraying for the adoption of some measures to nt a recurrence of similar accidents. co a. hnt arl Q ueen's STANLEY presented a petition from f ag the poor law for Ireland. Also, a praying that r ainst'Bateson and the inhabitants of Moira, praying v ." relief be not extended to the able-bodied. Also, from Ile bishop and clergy of Meath to the same J beel,,;t ; also from the clergy of the diocese of El ;p.11 and Kilmore , complaining of the way in b elch , the clergy were rated to the _ poor. re„_lloned that her Majesty's Government would lo o k " K t° this measure, and see whether it was not possible to able a system of relief to the clergy of a more favour nature natur e than the present. Lord LUCAN thought that by the effect of this mea eld'e the landowner would be called upon to pay double i l t e? and the result would be that the farmer who paid year rent would have to pay the landlord's rate, and also a rate of equal amount paid .by the clergyman. Lord CAMPBELL made some remarks, the purport of which did not reach the gallery. The Earl of WICKLOW—It appeared that the mis take on this question arose from a complication of the Situation of the landlord and tenant. The tenant could deduct from his rent the money he paid the minister; BO far as that went it was simple enough, the clergyman having been misled as well as the House of Commons on this subject. FEES OF CLERKS IN THE ROLLS COURT (IRELAND). Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from the clerk s of th e R o ll s C our t i n I re l a nd, which stated that the petitioners were employed some for th irty years, and none under seven years, in the Cha ncery Court, and they conceived that from the third clause of the Bill to be read that evening on the subject that the mortgage, and other fees of the " 0 4 on which they depended, would be done away with, they prayed the consideration of the House. The motio n was ordered to be laid on the table. ejety ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. Lord CAMPBEL L presented a pet i t i on f rom th e So for the Abrogation of Ecclesiastical Courts, pray that the jurisdiction of such courts in civil affairs i i nbt" be done away with. 4 OURS, DOCKS, AND PIERS' CLAUSES BILL. Th e re port on this Bill was received. of Refuge Customs Duties Bill, and the Port land Harbour Debtors'' f ug(' and Breakwater Bill, and the Insolvent third Act Amendment Bill, were several l y read a time and passed. Lord PORTMAN ga ve notice, that during n ext we ek eloil lim would ask a question of the Secretary of the t o _ es respecting the distribution of the fund c ollected r the relief o f the sufferers by fire at St. John's , New foundland. EN CUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL heard, T he LORD CHANCELLOR, who was very imper fectithen pr o posed the second reading of this „_ and Pro cee d e d to explain its provisions. The pro rrlion of l an d e d property in Ireland, which was en- T abered, was very great. Many estates were en cumbered t o their full value, and a great many to a very large extent. This state of things produced the !greatest evils in that country, and the object of the P r esent Bill w as t o ena bl e t h e propr i eto r s to sell their estates so as to clear off these encumbrances. By the as it at present stood, great difficulties and expenses a ccompanied any sale of leaded property that took place, and the eff ec t o f t hi s measure would be to ena bl e t h ese v 1 to be e ff ecte d w i thout those enormous pre li m i nar y zPenses, which were at present incurred before the Court of Chancery. The Bill !darquis of WESTMEATH would not oppose the st Jhhe Earl of WICKLOW was very much pleased that tend measure was introduced, and thought it would . Y ery much to the improvement of Ireland. He regretted that a measure of the kind had not been brought forward long ago. He confessed ho was surprised it had been delayed so long, for bad it been sooner brought forward, the great deterioration which had lately taken place in property would have been pro 'rented. The 7th clause, however, appeared to militate against the Bill itself, but he hoped the measure would have the effect of freeing property from its encumbrances and thus enable landlords to discharge efficiently those duties which were incumbent upon them. Lord ASHBURTON said that as the Bill had given satisfaction to the Noble Lords, who were connected with Ireland, he thought its provisions would have the effect of improving the condition of that country. Lord MONTEAGLE said that the evil against which this Bill was directed was one which continued from generation to generation, and the remedy hitherto re sorted to in the Courts of Chancery had been so ex pansive as to aggravate rather than diminish the evil. The introduction of such a measure as the present would be followed by a depreciation of the value of the land, in consequence of the quantity of it which would be thrown into the market. He hoped, however, that in the sale of estates under this Bill the land would be sold in smaller parcels than it generally was. If there was anything calculated more than another to benefit and improve Ireland it was the establishment of a smaller race of proprietors. They must all feel that a greater benefit could not be given to the landed proprietors of Ireland generally than a simplification of their regis tration, which this Bill would have a tendency to effect. After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR, which did not resch the gallery, The Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. Several other Bills were forwarded a stage. Their Lords then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 27. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. Dlr. Crafer presented returns from the Treasury. SOUTHAMPTON CONSUMERS' GAS-LIGHT AND COKE BILL. Mr. MACKINNON moved the second reading of the Southampton Consumers' Gas Light and Coke Bill. After a short discussion the Bill was read a second tune, and ordered to be committed. ROCHDALE WATERWORKS BILL. • • On the motion of Mr. SIIARMAN CRAWFORD, the Rochdale Waterworks Bill was read a third time, and passed. REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were considered and agreed to:— Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead Rail way (Extension to Melford, Lavenham, and Clare). London and South-Western Railway (Widening, &c.) IRISH POOR-LAW BILL. Mr. SLIARMAN CRAWFORD presented petitions from the county of Donegal against certain clauses in the Irish Poor-law Bill. ` POOR-LAWS. Mr. BANKES presented a petition from Dorset, com plaining of the conduct of the Poor-law Commissioners. MONETARY SYSTEM. Mr. R. S?OONER presented a petition from Birming ham, complaining of the state of the monetary system of the country, stating the belief of the petitioners, that, if it existed for any length of time, it would throw out of em ployment the labouring vlasser, and praying that a Com mittee might be appointed to inquire into the operation of the Act of 1844, in order that it might be revised and corrected. EDUCATION. Mr. W. MILES presented a petition from Somerset against the Government plan of education. Lord R. GROSVENOR presented similar petitions. DIRECT TAXATION. Mr. EWART postponed the motion of which he had given notice until this day fortnight respecting a system of direct taxation. SCOTCH JUDGES. Mr. WATSON wished to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he was aware that the Scotch Judges were in the habit of undertaking the arbitration of private suits, and receiving fees for the same ; and if so, whether he approved of such a course ? The LORD-ADVOCATE said that he was not aware of anything of the kind having taken place ; and if such 4.course had been adopted he need not say that it was hls Opinion that such a course was, to say the least of it, very indiscreet. LORD DALHOUSIE'S RAILWAYS DISSOLU TION ACT. Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the railway department, whe ther it was the intention of the Government to bring in a ny. measure this session to amend Lo rd Dalhousie ' s Act with reference to joint-stock companies? Mr: STRUTT said that he could not answer the question, but as far as his department was concerned ltithere was no such intention. AUTHORITY OF THE COAST-GUARD TO STOP PASSENGERS. Mr. HUDSON wished to put a question to the Go vernment, with regard to the authority of the coast guard to stop p asse ngers and prevent them from landing. The Hon. Secretary to the Admiralty had answered his question privately, but he thought that it would be better to have the answer given in public. The question hewis'iod to put viai, whether the coast-guard had a n y Ouch authority as he had mentioned to 1 1 41 . prevent passen *(ll Wig; and if &WI & pewit did • eSistOrbetlael f r CSII.. etQ; s • . •• V44,. •••••• ,••• ' THE SUN, LONDON WEDNESDAY MORVINC APR sweessemess. the Government would have any objection to furnish the particular minute under which that regulation . was made ? Mr. WARD said, that the Treasury had the regulas Lion of the coast guard ; and asked if the Hon. Member of had t hany authorities complaint .Such t o e a h k with regardregula t ion dtiode the i s c t o w n h d e u r c e t passengers wished to land w ith their luggage, before a proper examination had been made. Mr. HUDSON did not complain of any particular incivility ; he only wished to know whether such an authority existed ? Mr. WARD said that such a regulation, under the circumstances he had mentioned, did exist, and the coast guard were only in the performance of an order which was enforced all round the coast. ROYAL COMMISSION. Sir Augustus Clifford, the usher of the black rod, here appeared at the table, and summoned the House to the bar of the House of Peers, to hear the royal assent given by commission to several Bills (for which see Lords' report.) PUBLIC WORKS, IRELAND. Mr. CORNELIUS O'BRIEN moved that the returns relating to the Extraordinary Sessions held in and for the several baronies of the county of Clare, and works consequent thereon [ordered 9th March] ; and the re turn relating to Pu _lic Works (Ireland), and proceed. ings of Liscannon Committee [ordered 20th April] ; and that relating to presentmentassed at Corofin, in the county of Clare [ordered sam e day], be made fort h with.—Agreed to. CASE OF CAPTAIN WYNNE. Major MACNAMARA moved that the petition from Kilmurry, for inquiry into the conduct of Capt. Wynne, be printed with the votes, and referred to the Select Committee on Capt. Wynne's Letters.—Agreed to. HONORARY MEDALS FOR THE TWEED. Sir W. JAMES said that he had presented a petition some days ago for leave to compete for the honorary medals to be given for the relief of the Tweed. Lord J. RUSSELL said that a communication had been made to the Lords Commissioners of the Ad miralty, and that the matter was in the hands of Mr. Wyon, who was usually considered a competent and satisfactory authority. NAVY ENLISTMENT BILL. Sir C. NAPIER said that regulations had been a ale for the manning of our mercantile marine, which is now by far the most extensive in the world, but no provision whatever had been made for the enlistment for the navy. We had now 6,379 ships above a hundred tons, com prising 189,569 tons ; 11,017 vessels under that rate, comprising 1,355,000 tons, besides 367 registered steam vessels, comprising 8,838 tons ; for while there were some vague provisions—while in the navy we have 100 sail of the line, beside a proportionate number of frigates and other smaller vessels, not including more than 150 steam vesiels of war, in France there was the system of conscription and inscription, by the latter of which every person competent to serve was known, and by the former it was arranged that every man in the province was obliged to serve for five years in the army. There was some similar provision in Sweden, Russia, and every other country in Europe except Denmark. But in this country, the greatest mercantile country in the world, there was no provision lwhatever till the Bills were introduced by the lion. Baronet the Member for Dorchester. The Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Admi ralty did not pass the Bill without considerable difficulty. There was a great opposition to the Bill at the time, but still in the end it was passed. He remembered that a short time before the Right Hon. Baronet brought his Bill forward he addressed a letter to Lord Althorp, request ing him to introduce some measure into Parliament upon this subject, but the only answer he received was, that his Lordship was extremely anxious that the system of im pressment should be made fixed; but it was impossble to bring the subject forward in the House of Commons, as but few Members took any interest in it. Yet, not withstanding that declaration, the Right Hon. the Mem ber for Dorchester brought in his Bill and succeeded in carrying it. In the session before last the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Wiltshire brought forward his Bill for improving the Registration Bill, and that was also carried through the House, but not without considerable difficulty. Now, if people would only have patience until the registration of seamen was complete, he had not the slightest doubt that they would find the Bill turn out to be of great importance. He would now take a glance at the provisions of the Bill. It would appear that it gave Government authority to issue a proclamation calling upon all seamen in Great Britain and Ireland to come forward within five days from the date of the proclamation to enter the navy. That was, they were to be allowed five days to volunteer, but if they did not volunteer within that period, they would be liable to be impressed. At sea the man was only allowed half-an-hour to make up his mind—rather sharp practice. The power the Queen possessed at the present moment he did not think was too mach or too little ; for in stance, suppose that they wished to increase their navy by four or five sail of the line, it had been very clearly proved in 1840 and 1841, when they were desirous of increasing their navy in the Mediterranean, and bring ing it to a force of seventeen or eighteen sail of the line, voluntary enlistment was then out of the question. None of the ships in the Mediterranean could receive men from England, because they were not to be had under any circumstances. Three or four sail of the line, which were in commission, were obliged to remain at Benin for several months without their complement. Even the guard-ships were inefficiently manned, and a Gallant Admiral was called home to ar range some plan for obtaining the full complement of men for the ships. Now the Bill of Sir James Graham provided that the seamen were to be called out by proclamation from the Queen, and that they were to receive a double rating, and that all the othlc seamen actually in port, at the moment when the proclamationnrt om w theetaahs means r s v o s e u rf i t o l e t ro d io et f w a e n t f r l i e n e 2 a b h n o a bounty . additionnt yo also to receive a double e G og th3oevomerr,n3Footfmrmeenqa:ni mag nning two or three ships, but by calling out all the seamen employed in the merchant s • ervice, and paying them the sum of 300,000/. or 400,000/. Any gentleman who chose to take that matter LAO consideration would find it very in convenient for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be obliged, before he could raise even a single man, to ad vance pretty nearly half a minion of money. It must also be inconvenient, when only two or three thousand men were required, that they had to issue a pro clamation ; and in case it should be a popular war and should the men feel a great disposition to come for ward themselves, as each man knew very well that upon the expiration of five days if he did not come forward be was subject to arrest, it was natural to suppose that all these men had come forward in order to receive the high bounty which would be given to them. In such a case twenty or thirty thousand men might come forward, and not only derange themselves but dis organise the whole mercantile marine of the country. The Bill to which he called the attention of the House would not be any such expense, it would rather be a saving. The amendment which he had to propose was one wich, in his opinion , _ the Government ought to agree with, and one which they ought to have intro duced themselves. It would have given him great satis faction if the Government had brought forward the measure—(llesr, hear)—but as the Admiralty had not done so, he felt it to be his duty to introduce the measure himself. His proposition was, that her Majesty should call out at any time, in peace or war, by proclamation, whatever seamen might at any time be required. They would have to be called on in rotation, as they had been out of their apprenticeship, for one, two, three,or four years. They should first try to gain the number by voluntary means, but, when that failed, then they should issue a proclamation, calling on those who had been oue year released from their apprentice ship to come forward; then, if these were not sufficient, call on those two years out, and so on. He would not have any impressment, but he would have it so ordered that no merchant ships should be allowed to take any seamen who were thus called out into their service. This might be called oppression, and he admitted that it was, but it was better oppression than the old system of oppression. His object was to get a number of men as they might be required for the services of the country, to be called out by the Queen's proclamation, and thus pre vent the necessity of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer from parting with a considerable sum of money. In one of the ships in which he was engaged there was employed to obtain men an officer who had named a ship before he was born. He had succeeded admirably in re placing the men who wereabout to be discharged. He suc ceeded in his object, and when the new men came alongside those who were to be discharged, he thought that there were fourteen men. They went below to get their traps, and their messmates went down to take leave of them. Of course this was a long business. There was a regular jollification, and when they came up he believed that there were not more than six men in the ship, besides the officers, who were not more or less intoxicated; And as these, for some cause or other, were engaged when it was necessary to bring the ship to, the captain himself was obliged to go forward to let go the anchor. Such was the case with every other ship in the Downs, and he believed that, in the case of another war,such a state of things would never be allowed. He was quite csrtain this country would never tolerate the system of impressment again. At all events, he was certain the seamen would not stand it ; if they did, all he could say of them was, that they would be great fools. Then, with regard to pressing men on shore. In the time of war a man could not walk about the streets of London without being picked up. No man was safe, no body was respected, and had the Speaker himself hap pened to be walking near the docks, he would certainly have been picked up. The House might have been waiting for their Speaker while the Speaker himself might have been caged up in the press-room of the guard-ship anchored off the Tower. The men who were pressed were denied the use of ink or paper, and before he could find out where he had got to, he was shipped off to the Nore.—(Hear.) There was often what they called a hot press, when the house of any man was entered by these press-gangs, and men taken away from their wives and families to foreign countries, when it might be years before their friends heard of them. He had endeavoured to show them the system of impressment as it now existed. He trusted that the Government would open theireyes to adopt some course which would in duce the men to enlist themselves. Even with all the induce ments they could use, they could not wholly succeed. A north country sailor, who traded to Hull or to Newcas tle, regarded the service on board a man-of-war with horror, and would not, on any persuasion, enter the navy. He thought they ought to begin at once, and do some thing to alter the present condition of things. He be lieved that if this amendment were agreed to the seaman would soon get accustomed to it, and it would not be considered a hardship. It would place this country in a position to meet any great emergency that might arise. He thanked the House for the attention given to him, and he would now down sit by asking have to introduce the Bill. lip Wail) Patil tit hg would Rol oppoge tube Whitehall Treasury Chambers, April 22, 1847. tion of the Right Hon. Gentleman. He had a com munication from Lord Ashburton, who expressed him self very much in favour of a decimal system. He would withdraw his motion.—(Hear, bear.) RAILWAY PIERS AND_ HARBOURS (IRELAND) troduction of the Bill ; he could not take upon himself the responsibility of such a measure. It was a large and a difficult subject, and the course proposed would interfere with large private interests and commercial enterprise. He wished as much as any one to see some measure better calculated for the service than the present law, still they ought not to do anything without the fullest consideration. At the present stage of the Bill he would not say further. Leave was then given to introduce the 13111. DECIMAL CURRENCY. Dr. BOWRING then rose to move, that the adoption of a decimal system of coinage currency and account would be a great public convenience. That, in order to give effect to this object, an humble address be presented to her Majesty, requesting that she will be graciously pleased to authorise the issue of coins representing the value of two shillings, being the tenth of a pound ster- Eng, and twopence and two-fifths, being the hun dredth part of a pound sterling, such coins to be called Queens and Victorias, or any other names which to her Majesty may seem beat. The Hon. Member said that this country was almost the only one which had not introduced the decimal system into practice. It existed largely over Europe, and pre vailed over the whole continent of America. In his opi nion it was advisable that the pound sterling should be divided into 1,000 parts, and with the assistance of two new coins, he would be able to make the change without at all interfering with the other pieces at present in use. He proposed, therefore. in the gold coins, to retain the sovereign and the half-sovereign ; in silver, he would retain the crown, the half-crown, the shilling, and the sixpence. He would then make the farthing to repre sent the thousandth part, the halfpenny to represent the five-hundredth part, Red the penny the 250th part. As the system now held, the sixpence represents the fortieth part, the shilling the twentieth part, and he would, therefore, require the assistance of a coin that would represent the tenth part, and this he would make of the value of two shillings, and call it after the name of the Queen, in order to distinguish it and note the time when the change was made. This would be approaching to the system of decimes, and he accordingly required pieces to Somere q u r epre s ent r detfdohouarf obt t u h rti st e hi r tenth e a n n d expressed th e h respectingd re d t part h h o e f a inconve nience pound g . t h e a s s l o o a n t s t l m e y r a a l p i b u o a r u p s t o i s v ee e 4 r ub c au lo l t i n t oi t a t s hs t he h o a su t Ipd w a n h b i i es c hh recol lectedrwinals: and would pass like the Austrian florin—indeed, be no more than the Saxon penny, which was in use till the time of Edward 111. That coin was of the weight of twenty grains during the time of the Saxons, during the time of Edward the Con fessor, and up to the Conquest, its weight was 221 grains. In the time of Edward I. it was 22 grains, and so remained until it fell in the time of Edward 111. to 20 grains. The new coin which he proposed would weigh 18 grains, so that no inconve nience would be felt for_ its size, and he believed that, both the coins, especially the Victoria, would be very useful in the exchange with the continent. In most of the continental countries—in France, in Lombardy, in Austria and Germany, Tuscany and the Roman States, the decimal system had been adopted and it hail not only been adopted with the greatest suc ces4, but it had drawn the strongest possible feeling in its favour. This plan of decimals was in operation in Switzerland. throughout the Zullverein, from the Baltic to Kamskatcka, and from the Caspian and the Euxine to the White Sea. It was the system adopted in the great Chinese Empire. The Greeks, the Danes, the Portu guese, the United States of America, and the nations of Central Ameriea, all bad embraced it. Nay, the Turks and Persians had seen its utility, and incorporated it in their currency. Such was the extent of the system which he wished to see introduced here, and he would now sit down by moving the resolutions which he had just read. Mr. HUME supported the motion. For the last 22 years the subject had been before the country, and it was now high time that this decimal system should be adopted. It would be the means of greatly facilitating business, and if it were adopted, those who now kept five clerks, would be saved the labour of one. No great time could elapse till this change was made. He hoped the Government, instead of throwing difficulties in the way of the proposition, would give it every facility in their power. In conclusion, he had great pleasure in. seconding the motion of his Hon. Friend. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that there was no doubt that a decimal system of currency had a great many recommendations in its favour, at the same time there was hardly anything in the w orld on which the passions of the people were more interested, or more prejudiced, than on the subject of the old coins and old constitutions of the country ; and it was therefore necessary that whatever was done, should be done gradually.—(Hear, hear.) He was not prepared to go the whole length of the Hon. Member fur -Mon trose. The first step was very easy, namely, to strike two shilling pieces, but the difficulty would be expe rienced when they came to the penny pieces. It might be advisable that two shilling pieces should be struck. and he was prepared to agree that they should, and if the people did not agree to take them up, why, then, there was no great harm done. But, considering the confusion which would follow an immediate change, he would feel it his duty to move the previous question. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN congratulated his Hon. Friend the Member for Bolton on his partial success. He rose because his friend the Hon. Member for Mon trose said that there was an objection among the protec tionists to a decimal system of currency. Such was nol the fact. lie was glad to hear the Hon. Gentleman express his sympathy with the feelings of the people, and his prejudices in favour of immemorial usage. Now he would be glad to have the corn-laws restored, for the feelings of the people were in their favour, as was also the argument of immemorial usage.—(Hear, hear.) He would be glad to hear the Master of the Mint (R. S. Shell) say something upon this subject, as that country, of which he was a grace and ornament, had long since banished the decimal system from their commerce. Mr. RI EIL said that when he was in Ireland, he happened to direct his attention to the subjet.t, and he expressed a wish that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would consider how far it was possible to intro duce the principle of simple arithmetic in the case of copper, and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) wrote him an answer which contained the very same views which he had just then expressed. He then communicated with Mr. Trevyllan and Mr. Pennington, who stated several reasons why a decimal system could not satisfactorily be carried out. The great difficulty arose when they came to copper ; as tar as silver was concerned the case was easy enough. He had no objection that a two-shilling piece should be struck called a Royal. After a few words from Mr. BROWNE, Sir G. CLERIC said that the Government ought to take care that they did not create great con fusion. The two-shilling piece would be like the half- Crown, and ignorant people might be misled. Consider able confusion was created by the introduction of three ppeienDreneys.. p u i o ec w es lo by r o eas sad on of tu the t i h r e si ame mila p r t i ed ty tothfeouprrpoeponnsiy4 committee were held relative to this subject, at the last of which, in consequence of the present holders of the property declining to name a price, and announcing their determination duly to dispose of it by the public compe tition, it was resolved, " That it was not expedient to take any public steps in the matter at present . ' It is to be hoped the property will be secured by some party in terested in its preservation. BILL. This Bill was postponed till Friday next. GREECE. Lord J. MANNERS, m rising to call the attention of the House to the present condition of Greece, said that he was aware that the question was rather alien to the tastes of the House. The greatest hopes were enter tained that Greece would, at no distant day, assume a high place among the nations of the earth. Her long and arduous struggles to throw off her yoke, the hero ism of her sons, the fertility of the soil, all were preg• nant with promise that these hopes would be realised. In 1832, when the Icing of - Bavaria accepted the throne of Greece for his younger son, he entered into a stipu lation with France, England, and Russia that Greece should receive a free constitution, and those guaranteed a loan of 800,6001., the interest of which was to be re paid by quarterly instalments ; but eleven years had passed, and he grieved to say that neither of these stipu lations were fulfilled. The constituted authorities joined with others in committing the most wanton outrages in fact he hoped to make such a case as would justify an English House of Commons to pass a vote expressing a strong opinion on the conduct which had been pursued towards that romantic and classical land. The Hon. Gentleman read a number of extracts to show the cruel- i ties practised by the constituted authorities. One of the petitions presented to the king was from Messaline; which stated that fifty inhabitants of that district were dragged from their homes without any excuse, and put to the most fearful tortures; some suspended by their teeth, others burned, and others whipped; another peti tion stated that brigandism was fostered by the employes of the Government, to serve their own private purposes, and that even the necessary troops for the protection of the people were removed. Praetorian bands, for he could call them nothing else, were kept up, contrary to the spirit and even the letter of the constitution. The financial part of the arrangement was not carried out, and they had therefore a clear right to raise their voices. The Minister of Financ e in the year 1846 admitted that through the dishonesty of the public servants he was unable to obtain any knowledge whatsoever of the finan oial state of the country. In the budget presented to the Chamber the debt to England was not even put forward, o o r n a e e lecentl a commission had been as much so as to ca ll for a strong remons trance from Lord b n erdn appointed in Greece to investigate six ch ar g es which had been m a d e aga inst the Minister of F i nance for elaborate falsification of the ac counts y and the averag s W —eh regulated the import duties on corn. On th e 10th of March that Committee prese nted a l g d report to the Chamber, in which they found th e Minister guilty of the charges impu ted to him, and a majority of the Ch a mber had since re fused to agre e t o the report of the Comm i ttee. Unless such a state of thi ngs were corroborate d b y the testi mony of pe rsons of the hi authority it was g hest almost imp oss ibl e to believe t hat Greece could be in such a m i serable and disastrous con di t ion. He did not wish t o a ll ude at any length to the course of policy pursu e d b y the French Government i n th e affairs of Greece—he did not consider that the influence exercised by that Government was either so great or so injurious as had been very generally re ported. That some influence was exercised by France over that country was evident from the statements of M. Colletti himself. An Hos. MEMBER moved that the House be counted, when there adjournedti n n ot being 40 to-morro w (this day). Twelve e t e t c h l e oc House kt ORGANIZATION of the GOVERN MENT OF PRUSSIA. (From La. Presse.) Frederick William IV. was born on the 15th of Oc tober, 1795, and has consequently entered his 51st year. Married in the year 1823 to Elizabeth Louisa, daughter of the King of Bavaria, born in 1801, he has no children. He has reigned since the 7th of June. 1840, the day of the death of his father, Frederick William 111. His brother, Frederick William Louis, born the 22d of March, 1797, is Prince Royal of Prussia. In Prussia the Government belongs to the King exclusively ; he exercises the sovereign power with the assistance of a Council of State, of a Minister of State, and of Privy Councillors. The Council of State is composed of a president and a vice-president, of the Princes of the Royal Family having attained the age of 18 years, of the Ministers of State, of the commanders-in-chief and presidents of provinces, of 60 officers who attain their I seats in the Council through the confidence of the Go vernment. The Ministers of State are composed of the Prince of Prussia and of all the Privy Councillors on duty. The private Ministries are nine in number, viz, the Ministry of the King's llou.ehold, divided into two departments; 2, the Ministry of War, divided into two departments, under the direction of General Von Boyen; 3, the Ministry of Public Worship, of Public Instruction, and of Medical Affairs, three departments, under direction of 1)r. Eichhorn ; 4, the Administration of the Treasury and the Mine, directed by General Von Thile; 5, the Ministry of the Revision of the Laws, directed by Dr. Savigny ; 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of which the head is Baron de Canitz ; 7, the Ministry f ' . the Interior, directed by Baron Von Bodelschwin„q— Velrnede, at present Royal Commissioner to the United Diet ; 8, the Ministry of Justice, under the direction of the Privy Councillor Uhden; 9, the Ministry of Finance, divided into four compartments, under the control of the Privy Councillor Duesberg. There are, moreover, certain central or superior authorities subservient to the departments of the Ministry. The first are—the General Tribunal of Censure attached to the Ministry of Justice, the Direction of Public Works, the Consulting Committee of Arts and Finances, the General Direction of the Lottery, the Committee of Examining Com missaries attached to the Ministry of Finance, the Archives of the State and of the Cabinet, under the special direction of the Ministers of the Royal House hold and of Foreign Affairs. The second are—the Court of Accounts, the Post-office, the General Admi nistration of the Debts of the State, the Commercial and Statistical Offices, and the General Commission of the Royal Commands. The Court has likewise its officers— the grand chamberlain and the grand marshal, the master of the royal hounds, a general inspector of the Aulic music, a grand butler, a grand master of the ceremonies, a marshal of the Court, and inferior officers, such as prefects of the Castles of Koenigsberg, Stolzen felds, Breslau. The State Budget for the year 1847 pre sents the most perfect equilibrium. The revenue and the expenditure amount equally to 64.033,697 dollars. Direct taxation figures for 19,319,966 dollars ; the indirect taxes amount to 26,782,334 dollars ; the salt monopoly to 4,992,200 dollars, and the produce of the courts of justice to 4,032,215 dollars. In the expenditure the national debt figures for 7,219,320 dollars, the Ministry of Public Worship and Instruction for 25,770,502 dollars—nearly one-half the expenditure ex clusive of the national debt. The remainder is absorbed by the other administrations. There does not appear to be any fund for secret service money. The army on the peace establishment is composed of the infantry of the Royal Guard, 11,202 men ; 40 regiments of the line, 63, 3 84 men : cavalry, six regiments of the guard, 3,764 men ; 32 regiments of the line, 19,360 men : ar till e ry, a brigade of the guard, and eight brigades of the line, 15,651 men: engineers, 2,544 men. Total army of the line, 115,905 men. To these must be added the Lard wehr of the firstclass, 70,648 infantry, and 10,400 cavalry; and the Landwebr of the second class, 259,561 men. The l * war establishment consists of 205,000 troops of the line, 130,000 of the first class of the Laudwehr, and every man between the ages of 32 and 39 of the second class of the Laudwehr, and, in fine, the Landsturm, which com prises every man from 17 to 50 years of age capable of bearing arms." SHAKSPERE'SHOUSE. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, APRIL 24. The annual festivities in celebration of the birthday of the Bard of Avon took place in this his native town to day. Although many parties came from a distance there were, perhaps, f ewer presen t than on some former occasions. There was also little public demonstration. Save a peal of bells from the tower above the poet's last resting place : and a banner floating above the Shakspere hall, everything was quiet, peaceful, and unpretending. The meeting of the memb ers o f the Shaksperian Club was held in the morning, at which the question of pur chasing the old house in which Shakspere was born was brought under discussion. The venerable and tottering edifice, by the terms of the will of the late possessor, was to be sold at the death of his wife. That lady expired in October or November last, and consequently the pos sibility is, that unless some party interested in the pre servation of this relic—a relic, by the bye, of some little pecuniary interest to some of the trading inhabitants of Stratford—it will fall into the hands of those who may unscrupulously appropriate its site to more pro fi table building speculations. In the circumstances in which they were placed, the committee of the Shaksperian Club deemed it advisable (seeing that they were not in a stuation to purchase the was consequently trans of Woods and property) to draw the attention of Government to the si oi b tr j te e es c dt t s . h t e h e f I C I o h w i n f g o e t m t e mi r " upon-Avon, N ov . 19 , 184 6 . " My Lord, — as chair man o f t h e com mittee of the Stratfor d-u p on-A von Shaksperian Club, to address your Lordship u p on a subject, the general into • rest of which it is hop ed I ma y be permitted to plead as some apology for th e libert y of so doing. The house in which Shakspere w as born must shortly be disposed of, I St a r tn Stratford deputed,. in conformity with the will of its late possessor, and the Shaksperian Club is most anxious th at an opportunity for securing the preservation of a relic so peculiarly in teresting should not be lost. The Shaksperian Club is not in the possession of funds at present, but it indulges the hope that an appeal to the country for such an object would meet with a liberal and efficient response. An opinion has, however, been expressed by some of the papers of the day, in which also the Shaksperian Club entirely concurs, that a property that has on it a stamp so essentially national, and to which is attached such uni versal interest, should, if possible be placed under the protection of G o vernmen_t. . The com m i ttee i s, therefore, desirous, before proceeding further in the matter, that the circumstance of the property being in the market should be brought under the notice of your Lordship, and at the same time respectfully to offer to communi cate whatever information they may be able to obtain relative to the subject, either by letter or by deputation, as might be agreeable to your Lth e hodship. " I have n to be," &c. To this letter the following answer was received Nov. 22, 1846. am extremely obliged to you for the commu nication you have been good enough to make to me, upon the part of the Shaksperian Club, respecting the approaching disposal of the house in which the greatest of our poets was born ; but upon the whole, the Mem bers of the Gove rnment are dis p osed to think that tho acquisition Of so interesting a property pertains still more to the people of England than to the Government. "I have the honour to be, your very dutiful servant, "MORPETII." After thc receipt of this letter severol 02e0Dse of 014 L 28, PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.--BALANCE- SHEET. An Account of the Net Public Income of the U n ited Ki ng d om of Great B r it a i n and Ireland in the year ended the s th day of April, 18 4 7 (after abating the Expenditure thereout defrayed by the several Revenue Departments), and of the actual Issues or Payments within the same Period, exclusive of the Sums appli e d t o the Redemption of Funded or paying or Unfunded Debt, and a the Advances and Repayments for Local Works, &c. —:-1-- - ------- • INCOME OR REVENUE. - - Total. EXPENDITURE. ------. . £ s. d. £ L d. O RDINA RY REVENUE AND RECEIPTS. X S. d. Fu nded Debt . — l n t erest and Mana g ement of the Permanent Debt 23,730,544 8 0 Customs ............................................................................................................. 21,086,264 15 10 Terminable Annuities Excise ........................................................ . ...................................................... 13,958,390 12 9 7,638,765 8 8 Total Charge of the Funded Debt, exclusive of 9,7001. 7s. ld., the Interest 4,257,159 7 5 on Donations and Bequests. 'taxes 5(.1,..a..1;d..;.d . .A.;;55d).......,.......................................... .... . 5,464,58 0 12 4 Property -ax .................................. .. Exchequer - bi 1 1 5....... ........................................ 393,221 4 8 Post Office 419,007 18 6 856,000 0 0 Unfund c e i d vi D l Debt . — lnterest n . t . e .. 75 . t ... 0 . n ...... ............... 531,81$ 8 5 Crown Lauds ........................... : ...... ... . . ... i . a „ . Annuities e‘c. , char aV d P b e y n s v i a o r n i s on t s b r Ac ts Civil,of ParliamentNav l , Military, on i 1 1 eacn., Consolidated Judicialsol id ate d Services, 28,055,202 3 6 Is. and 6d. and 4s. in the .£ on Pensions Andf a h C ries 4,437 11 3 Small Branches of the Hereditary Revenues o t e rown 27325 2 5 —__--_. Salaries and Allowances Surplus Fees of Elulated Public Offices 53,626,177 13 3 Diplomatic Salaries and Pensions •, ... 265,273 19 3 175,14`2 12 7 Courts of Justice ........................................................................ OTHER RECEIPTS. ~ 221,254 2 7 Miscellaneous Charges on the Consolidated Fund 942753 17 10 498,832 14 10 • 18-1 9 Army 667,644 9 7 Imprest and other Monies Navy Money received from the East India Company 60,000 01 Ordnance Unclaimed Dividends ( more tha* p aid) . ........................ . ........... .... ......................... 17,106 10 2 Miscellaneous, chargeable on the Annual Grants of Parliament (including 550,0001. on Account of Distress in Ireland) -----3,957687 6 9 .34,473,761 19 10 --- 20,846,325 15 1 Excess of Income over Expenditure 51,708,570 16 2 ••• ••• 2,765,191 3 8 54,------- 473,761 19 10 54,473,761 19 10 An Account of the Balances of the Public Mone y remaining in the Exchequer on the sth daz of April, 1846; the Amount of Mone y raised by the Additions to the Funded or Unfunded Deb t in the Year I appinidedthteowßaarldasnetehse inR e t d h e e m E pt x io ch n eq o u f er th , the t u h n e ded st - h o d r ay pa o y f in A g pr o i ff i, l U B n 4 f 7 u . nded Debt; the Total Amount of Advances and Repayments on A ccoun t o f L oca l ended Nv the orks,& sth day of A c„withthe Differencepril, 4 187 ; the accruing An thereon; eo n X s. d. X a. d. ;ISSUED. X s. d. £ 5. d. BALANCES in the EXCHEQUER on the sth day of April, 1846 6,507,463 4 9i To the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt, to be applied to the redemption of the Public Debt : By issues, per Act 10 George IV., c. 27 By interests on donations and bequests 9,700 7 1 MONEY RAISED IN THE YEAR ENDING THE STH DAT OF APRIL, 1847, BY 2,709,793 8 0 THE CREATION OF FUNDED OR UNFUNDED.DEBT . Deduct sum applied not in redemption of Funded Debt, but of Con solidated Fund Deficiency Bills 589,793 8 0 FUNDED DEBT. To the Paymasters of Exchequer bills for payment of Unfunded Debt : , Contribution to the Loan of 9,000,0001., pet AA. 10 Vict., c. 9 960,000 0 0 Money out of Consolidated Fund in payment of Public Works Bills Money out of Ways and Means, Grants pvtr a in p o p sr li k e s d . to payment o va f r : o n u p s - 6,700 0 ply Exchequer Bills 208,000 0 0 UNFUNDED DEBT. Exchequer-bills, 18,380,200/., per Act 9 Victoria, C. 15, charged on To Exchequer - billstal amount forof Advances payment of for Supply iLocal 0c a l 18,139,500 0 0 Supplies -------- 19,099,500 0 0 Acts of Parliament (including 4,000,0001. to Ireland, by Act 9 and 10 Vict., c. 107) 5,086,421 16 9 Total amount of Repayments of Advances for Local Works, &c., under various Acts of Parliament 1,118,095 18 8 Excess of Income over Expenditure Balances in the Exchequer on the sth day of April, 1847 ••• •.• 5,459,835 2 41 28,372,154 8 5i 428,372,154 8 51 J. PARKER. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Pox - rsmoum—The Herefordshire troop-chip arrived here last night with her Majesty'a 89th Regiment of Foot on board, from Halifax, Nova Scotia. They disembarked this day (Tuesday). COAST OF AFRICA. Advices to the 16th ult. have come to hand by her Ma- )esty's sloop of war Star, arrived at Portsmouth. She has brought no invalids. The squadron employed under Com modore Horton in looking out for slavers were keeping up a very strict blockade of the coast, especially at those places where shipments were most suspected to be practised. The squadron was healthy. This is the vessel which re-captured the prize taken by another cruizer (her name we have for gotten) whose crew rose upon the prize master, a young mid• ahipman, and his men, nine or ten in number, all of whom were murdered, and their bodies thrown ovarboard, for which the pirates were brought .to trial at Exeter, convicted of murder and piracy, and sentenced to be hung, but who were afterwards liberated by the humane law of England upon a writ of error, and set at large to commit further atrocities. DEATH OF SIR DAVIDGE GOULD, G.C.8., SENIOR ADMIRAL OF THE RED. It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of the senior admiral of the red, Sir Davidge Gould. G.C.8., Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom. This gallant and venerable officer, who has long been in a declining state, and for the last six months confined to his room, sank at last, full of years and of honours, into the long, quiet, calm sleep of death, without a struggle and without pain, at his seat in Herts, on the evening of Friday, the 23d instant. He was in his 90th year, upwards of 70 }ears 01 which had been spent in the service of his country. This distinguished officer served under, and was the friend and messmste of Nelson, Rodney, Hood, Hotham, Hyde Parker, kc. His late Majesty William IV., with whom he had the honour of serving, was ever the most kind and gracious friend of his old companion and inessmate. For some years past he has been the last serviving captain who commanded a line-of-battle ship at the glorious battle of the Nile. By his deceasi the post and place of Senior Admiral of the Red Flag. the Vice-Admiralahip of the United Kingdom ef Great Britain and Ireland, and a Grand Cross of the Bath, are vacant, and also a good service pension of 3001. per annum. The gallant Admiral was not only " the last of the Nile," but the last male descendant of the ancient and honourable knillstly Segmersetsh ire family of Gould, of Sharp barn Park. Besides enumerating among its members two distinguished} udges, and other persons of eminence, the mother of the celebrated author of Tom Jones" was Sarah, daughter of Sir Henry Gould of Sharpbam I'ark, where the author was born, in 1707. She was the wife of General Fielding, nephew of William, third Earl of Denbigh. Sir David had no steam promotion in his time. His com mission as a lieutenant is dated 7th May, 1779 ; C , mmander, June, 1782; Captain. March, 1789, and Rear-Admiral, Oct., 1807. He became Vice-Admiral, July, 1810, and Admiral, May, 1325. He became senior Admiral of the Red at the promotion in November last. As a midshipman he served in the Phoenix, in the first American war, and as a lieu tenant served in the Conqueror in Rodney's action in April, 1782. As captain he commanded the Bedford in Hotham's action off Genoa, in March, 1795, and in Frejus Bay in July of that year. At the Nile he commanded the Audaciou., and also at the blockade of Malta, and subsequently had the proud satisfaction of commanding the Genereux, which ship, when a French vessel sneaked away from the Nile, and was recaptured some time after she and her cowardly consort had pounced upon the Leander. The deceased Admiral married Harriet, eldest daughter of the late Archdeacon Willes, son of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and nephew of the Lord Chief Justice Sir John Willes, but by whom he leaves no issue. Her ladyship sur vives him. By the decease of Sir Davidge Gould, the following flag promotions will take place:— Admiral the Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, Bart., G.C.8., S.C. M.G., Rear Admiral of the United Kingdom, and Gover nor of Greenwich Hospital, becomes Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, and senior admiral of the red. Admiral of the White Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin becomes admiral of the red% Admiral of the Blue, John Coctet, becomes ad miral of the white. Vice-Admiral of the Red, Hugh Doownman, becomes ad miral of the blue, leaving the Hon. Sir Thomas Bladen Capel, K.C.8., senior vice-admiral. Vice-Admiral of the White Henry Hill becomes vice-admiral of the red ; and Vice-Admiral of the Blue, John Dick, will be vice-admiral of the white. Rear-Admiral of the Red, Charles Bayne Hodgson Ross, C. 8., becomes vice-admiral of the blue ; leaving Sir Charles Malcolm, Knt., senior rear-admiral. Rear-Admiral of the White, Hanway Christian, will be rear-admiral of the red, and Rear-Admiral of the Blue , Hyde Parker, C. 8., Superin tendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, will become rear-admiral of the white. The flag-officers having been thus reduced to 149, the first promotions from the captains list will take place. Captain Henry Prescott, C.B. (1810), the senior, will be promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, thereby giving up a captain a good service pension, also to the patronage of Lord Auckland. Sir Nesbit Josiah Willoughby, K.C.8., K.C.H., then becomes the senior on the diptain'i list. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. LONDON, APRIL 27.—Wind W.S.W.—Fresh gale and squally ; fine clear weather. DIAL, APRIL 26.—Wind W.S.W., fresh and squally.— Arrd. Dartmouth, Stewart, Chins ; Woodville, Manilla , William Aikers, ditto ; Robin Gray, Patulla, Singapore; Claudine, Jansen, Africa; Hebe, Pernambuco; Vulture, Berbice ; Janet Brown, Charleston, for Copenhagen. Arrd. from the River, William Shand, Calcutta; Fanny Alariques, Cape Coast Castle; Anna Mary, Valparaiso; Eleanor, Bar badoes ; Agnes, Honduras; Medora, Quebec. Sid. Indepen dence, New York. Put back, Andromathe, for Quebec. LIVZRPOOL, APRIL 26.—Wind W.N.W., a gale.- 25th, Arrd. Lancaster, Wright, Demerara; Somerset, Harvey, ditto; Ann Eliza, Hammon, St. Kitt's ; Unica Higa, Ha ' vannah ; Eli Morrison, Leckk, New Orleans ; Queen of the Ocean, Tilley, Mobile; Elizabeth, Duckett, ditto; Victoria, Cornish, Savannah ; Warren ' Lawson, Baltimore, leaky and part of cargo overboard ; Europe, Furber, New York ; Bavaria, Hawes, ditto • Cartagina, Griselle, ditto; Charlotte. Thomas, Halifax. 2 6 th, Alexandria, Mowbray, Calcutta; Anna, Henderson, Crull, ditto ; Hannibal, Cordiner. ardthi Bombay; Ccerena, Mauritius; Gypsey, Scott, San Chip man, Bilton, New Orleans; Palmyarav,diiiitato;;WElizabeth Bruce, Day, ditto; New York Packet , H assack, ditto ; Christiana, Hammond, ditto; Washington ; . Bens on, Marditto 1 bile • garet Potomac, ditto; Margaret, Mert on, Pollock, Pve, ditto; Ben Nevis, Bruce , ditto; Cordova , Apalachicola; Aurora, Cork and Ch arleston, !ailed 3d inst. (Incas, Latham, Virginia; Monongahe la, Julien, Philadel phia; Benjamin, Adams, Wilmington; Li s b on, Fisher , New York. The Menai. Hamilton, Belfast to New York, was abandoned in a sinking state 23d ult., in lat. 45 lon. 39 ; crew and passengers saved. Parts (f a wreck were passed 13th instant by the Warren, arrived here. Off port, Ann Best, Lima; Mary Ann, Boston ; Medina, and Isabella. OFF Conic, APRIL 24.—Randolph, Campbell, Barbadoes. PooLE, APRIL 24.—Sld. Nymph, Newfoundland. OFF TIDE LIZARD, APRIL 24.—Sheffer , Johnston, ohnston, Porto Rico for llamburgh. Orr FALmouTit, APRIL 26.—Wind W , fresh breczes Sultana, Dixon, Pern am b nce ; Netiv, Surinain for Amster dam ; Lotus, Head, Barbadoes ; Vi gilant, Lock, St. Vi ncent ; Caroline, Ja ma i ca; Ludlow, Watson, Cuba; Bernhard, Smedt, Matanzas ; George, La Guayra, both for Hamburgh ; Alexander, Walker, Baltimore. PLYMOUTH, APRIL 26.—A, barque, dismasted and aban doned, with deck s bl own up and app arently ' a long time in the water, was passed Ist. 45, lon. 13 W., by the Black-eyed Susan, arrived off here. Lownow, Arra', 27.—A Swedish ship, from Shields to Rio Janeiro, coal laden, put into the Tagus, dismasted, 20th inst., having encountered a heavy gale on the 18th, off Cal* PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON. Prince Louis Napoleon has addressed the following Letter to the Paris journals : _ . .. in Lo th n e do s n i , tt A in p g ri o l f 2 t l h , e l l B 7 4 t 7 h . of hade m b r violated, the in I Chamber B36, o t h f Deputies, e solemn L A P p ‘ e ' r o S i u l :t r e — t u h i a A x t , dared to assert I ra" enage ment which had procured. me a generous pardon. M. Capefigue, in the ni n th vo l ume o f hi s ' Hi sto i re Europe,' has the same calumny. I therefore see myself obliged to combat, now as then, a piece of malevolence which neither my long captivity nor the calm of my pre sent life has been able to disarm. In 1836, the French Government did not even endeavour to negotiate my re lease, because it knew that I should prefer a solemn judgment to liberty. Nothing, therefore, was exacted, •nd I could have promised nothing. In 1840, M. Frank- Carr& precureur-general, in reading my act of accusation before the Court of Peers, was obliged to declare that in 1836, I had been set at liberty without conditions.—(See the Moniteur of 30th of September, 1836.) I therefore returned to Europe in 1837, because no moral tie pre vented me from returning to close the eyes of my mother. If, to fulfil this pious duty I had had the feebleness to fail in my promises, the French Govern ment would have had no need in 1838 to assemble a corps d'armee to compel me to. quit Switzerland ; it would have been sufficient to have summoned me to keep my word. If I had failed in my promises the French Government would have had no longer any faith in them ; but, on the contrary, it frequently caused me to be told, during my sojourn at Ham, that our engagement towards the dynasty would be sufficient to open in a moment the doors of my prison. And if I trifled with what is most sacred in my eyes—good faith—l should have subscrib without hesitation all the prepositions that were mad. to me ; but instead of that I preferred to remain a captive for six years, I preferred to run the risks of an evasion rather thin submit to conditions which I believed to be dishonourable. If my political conduct be blamed, if my actions be misrepresented, if my intentions be falsified, I shall not complain; for public opinion is, I know, inex orable towards the conquered ; but I will never permit any one to attack my honour, for, thanks to God, I h ave maintained it uninjured in the midst of many painful proofs.—l have, &c., (Signed) "NAPOLEON LOUIS BONAPARTE." THE SAitAn SANDS.—T he screw ste amer S ara h o nSands wa s spoken the 15th, in lat. 47 long. 24, by a vessel 'WA arrived at Livetrall yeaterdap SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CHESTER RACES. CHESTER, MONDAY EVENING.— A great number of the sporting men have arrived, and the new Subscription Bet.. tang-room (at the Royal Hotel), the most capacious in the country, is opened; but as yet no "ring" has been formed. We must, therefore, refer to the last London quotations from the West-end for the market pricy, which show a great improvement in Newcourt and Erin-go-Bragh. It is thought here that the field for the Cup will not exceed five or six and twenty, although eight or ten more than that number are or will be here, viz.:— Sweetmeat. Inheritress. Dulcet. Pam. Mendicant. Annandale. St. Lawrence. Newcourt. Queen of Tyne. Arthur. Princess Alice. Torn Tough. Master Downer. Mickey Free. Ratcliffe. Robin Burns. Pal Besides the above, Plaudi others, are expected. Marian Ramsay. Due-an-Darras. Flahowlagh. Cherry. Emigrant. Sylvanus. Eartmog Candle. Camera Obscura. Erin-go-bragh. The Lamb. Headsman. Chatterbox. Regalia. Banana. Moonlight. Sir Martin. Clemont. it, Chertsey, and one 07 tit* ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB. The entries for the first match of the season, on Tuesday, the 11th of May, closed at ten on Monday night, at the Piazza Colle _•house, Covent•garden, and are as follow FIRST CLASS. Yacht a. Tons. Belvidere 25 Owners. Right Hon. Lord A. Paget. Ino ........ .... 25 li. Gibson, Esq. Prima Donna ...• 25 Captain J. L. Ives. Secret Fawn 25 J. F. Selby, Esq. SECOND CLASS. Ranger Whisper The contest will be for three very handsome pieces o plate, two being for the first and second boats, and the re maining one for the winner of the second class. The course selected for the contest is from Erith down to the Chapraan head and back to Greenwich ; but it will be borne in mind, that should there not be sufficient wind to enable the y..chts to get down to Chapman-head, the Commodore may in his discretion shorten the distance. The Meteor has been en gaged, and will convey the members of the club and friends to witness the match. RACES TO COME. The following is the list she season of 1847 : X fixtures already made for Newmarket, S. S. Plymouth and Devon port S. Shrewsbury Ediaburgh Epsom Manchester Newton 26 llungerford 27 Ascot Heath Hampton Tenbury Sutton Park Bibury Club l6 Stockbridge Newcastle Carlisle Writtle ....—... Newmarket Lancaster Mansfield Liverpool . 14 Nottingham Goodwood 27 Leominster UST. 2 I York Ripon Brighton Horwich Wolverhampton Chelmsford Reading... ' Lewes Yarmouth AUG Warwick linutsford Aberdeen . Doncaster Leicester Lichfield SEPTE: *Egham Derby 24 *Hereford . . *Huntingdon 26 *Canterbury Stourbridge 21 22 :MB ER. Stafford 5 Newmarket, S. 0 I 1 NOVE Worcester not fixed Bedford .. [The meetings against terisk have not been officiar bability will take place at tl IRISH RAi} Curragh April 20 TuHow May 4 Bellewstown June 1 Wicklow 8 Curragh arney 3O The Heath July 5 Mallow Down Royal Corp Or a.. Walsall .... Richmond . *Lincoln Newmarket, F. O. I Sandbach BER. Newmarket, II 25 :MBER. I Tarporley which we have placed an Ita ly announced, but in all pro le time mentioned.] S TO COME. Kilcock Aug• 16 Cork Garrison Curragh Sept. 7 Lusk Limerick Fermoy Tuam Cork Oct. 5 Curragh Down Royal Corpora tion Kilenny ti 311 - 20 Carlow 2O Ballyeigh 29 Phceaix Purk Aug. 10 21 THE LATE REV. JOSIAS WILSON. The Scctch church at River -terrace, Islington, was on Sunday morning a scene of considerable excitement, in oonsegtience cf its b-•ing expected that the Rev. James Hamilton, of Regent-squai e, WOI:Id preach a funeral ser man fur the late minister of the church, the Rev. Jor , ias Wi:son, whose lamented decease seems to have been felt as a public calamity in the rn•ighbonrhoocl. At an early hour the church doors were thronged with well-dressed persons of both sexes, for the most put attired in mourning. The service did not commence until the usual hour, eleven o'clock, but loon bef.ire that ' period the seats vt ere filled with parties admitted by tickets through the side door. The Rev. Mr. Shepherd, of Kingussie, Inverness-shire, commenced the service by reanin4 the forty-second Psalm, part of which was sung with great power and feeling by the assembled congre gation. It has rarely been our lot to witness a scene of more impressive solemnity than that which presented itself, while the simple but sublime strains of the Psalmist were being sung by the whole body of the people ; their rude melody was admirably adapted to portray emotions ‘) of sorrow an d di str . ss, an d struck us as most atfectlng. The lesso n was the .)d of Act s , and while it was being read the audience evidently felt its appositeness—one part especially seemed to cull forth great emotion, " And they all fell upon Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all, that they should see his face no more." Mr. Hamilton's text was from Romans viii., verse 10. The theme was admirably chosen, inasmuch as it showed forth the glory of Christianity, as presenting the only real antidote to the ills of life, as well as the eventual triumph that shall result to those who sincerely embrace and practice its principles even over death and the grave. The audience listened throughout to the reverend orator with the deepest attention. It was a discourse marked by sound theology and great talk nt ; when he spoke of the p rsi nal c:.araitter oF deceased it was evident that he had I. ready endear. d himself to his flock, for we ll(4.iecd many a falling tear ; " E'en manly eyes did not disdain to weep." We have go ie out of our usual course in noticing this event, and we have done it mainly to show how ready the people are to appreciate true worth, and what homage even the most careless and indifferent as it were involuntarily pay to an embodiment of genuine Christianity, such as Mr. Wilson's undoubtedly was. His mortal remains rest in Hir,hg ite Cemetry ; they were followed to the grave, a e understand, by thousands, the great majority of whom were not of his own congre gation. Ilts monument, the reverend gentlemen in formed his hearers, in a strain of co common eloquence, should be such as no marble can emblazon—even the Christian virtues and excellencies of the people, whom he loved so well. The evening servie,, was preached by the Rev. P Morgan, of Belfast, a personal and inti mate fri.nd of the late pastor, and a ho, strange to say, was invited hero by Mr. Wilson, to assist him in dis pensing the Sacrament, which takes place next Sunday ; but, alas, he bad a more sorrowful task to perform. The church, as in the morning, was crowded to excess, and nothing could exceed the intense feeling which cha racterised this eminent divine's discourse, and the grief with which the hearers listened to the allusion made to their lamented friend. MANSLAUGHTER AT BRISTOL.—BRISTOL, MONDAY AFTEmicKis.—A good deal of excitement has prevailed in the neighbourhood of Clifton, near this city, in consequence of the death of a girl named Mary Casey, under circum stances which have led to the committal by the magistrates of a man named John Millard to take his trial for man slaughter. The investigation by the magistrates was com menced at the Council-house on Saturday, and was concluded this day, and from the evidence adduced it would appear that the deceased was the daughter of a poor widow named Bridget Casey, who lived in Berkeley-court, and earned her livelihood by going out to work as a charwoman.. At the a back e rocky p ßerkeley-place, ieceotground, andupo upon the extending upper to a tr b t .t o e f r Meridian-place, whichi an ipllce, .iMessrs.a a J e oh e n ga lrlar l d, Bevanerecting an s d o me hCompton,houses, and builders,the o r f ac ß c e u d s emdms eman,r, has been employed by them to blast some of the stone for the purpose of constructing the necessary drains. The site of the buildings being about thirty yards from the foot and carriage-way of Meridian-place, and much nearer to the gar dens of other buildings, considerable alarm has been felt by the inhabitants in consequence of the danger to which they considered themselves exposed. On Tuesday a gentleman named Tripp, an architect, residi ng in Meridian-place, made an effort to prevent further blasting, for which purpose he saw Millard and another workman personally, represented to them the unlawful nature of their proceedings, and the danger to which they were exposing the public, and obtained from them a promise that the work should be differently conducted, and that i more gunpowder h should be used there, e Wednesdayrock, ,putmorning,s om e hol e n p O a n rt ofthta,rdanbdorefireda it. lt was stated by a witness na l Fl ee ß rr e in d ilt h ol e i a lil d, who had had considerable experience in quarrying, that he did not adopt the proper precautions against accident, by putting planks or faggots over the hole, so as to prevent the stone from flying about ; and the consequence was that the broken fragments of rock were thrown by the force of the explosion to a considerable distance. Many large pieces were hurled to a considerable height in the hir, and then descended upon the tops of the houses, dashing the tiles in pieces, and other wise damaging the roofs ; other pieces fell into an adjacent court, in which die deceased Mary Casey and some other children were. A fragment of broken tile struck a girl named Wall, on her head, and injured her very severely, and the deceased was struck by a heavy stone, which caused a fracture of the skull, from which death ensued. The prisoner in his defence, said he had been used to quarrying all his i life, and never had had any accident before. He told Mr. 1 Bevan, his master, all that Mr. Tripp had told him, and that he had promised not to fire more powder; but the next morn ing his master told him to bore a hole in the stone and put in powder and blow it off. It was by his master's orders Oat he did it. The magistrates committed him to take his trial P; WaUgaugllter. ......0 Ivo oral tint ,e o f sate ides 'try , n of are liOnt ale of wt. , 3 01, uso ' , of dis- tw o w 1 )0 50 0 Of ite ii, old — the s U' the rPof the Df 0 WO - sbe sus !„ 01 0 of area Ws; air Lsbes fore 13°4 whole )f th e ' t 1136 wen• vb ol ,, e on" ;untY nifty ) 01 • o rth - Tiou i gr°•