The Sun. — London, England, 1847-04-20 00:00:00

fsurtblZbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. SALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.) The sale of Railway Shares by Messrs. Lamond and Co„ -want off rather firmer, but there was not much &lane in prices. The fallowing are a few of the prin. Oiled silos:— iSublin and Belfast Junction ........ £3 10 0 Northern Counties Union 1 16 6 Buckinghamshire North Staffordshire « .... 7 S Manchester and Southampton 1 2 6 15.reat'Northern SPanchester, B Achester, ,uxten, and Matlock. .... .. 2 3 0 Paris and Lyons Newmarket and Chesterford lO 0 0 Reading, Guildford, and Reigate.. Eastern Counties, York Extension ..... Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A) 3 17 6 Wept Riding Union Aberdeen 26 17 6 Sambre and Meu.se Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham . South-Eakern and Dover, No. 4 5 3 0 RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) YiOUSE OF COMMON4g. GROUP I. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the BiHe comprised in this group re-assembled in Room 30, at the usual hour this mo rnin g ; Jr. W. 0. Stanley in the IVZXD RENT) SCHEME. 103.XOUTOZT ( The general evidence in favour of this scheme was resumed. Mr. John William Sudderland, a magistrate of the county of Surrey, residing at Croydon. and Mr. Currey, of Purley Lo d ge , Croydon, were called to prove that a second line to Croydon would be an injury rather than a benefit to the inhabitants of the neighbourhoed. Mr. Mercer, grocer, of Maidstone, gave general evidence in favour of the Brighton scheme. Sir John Tylden, a magistrate of the county of Kent, residing at Sittingbourne, preferred the Brighton scheme, because he had more confidence in the South Coast Com pany than the South-Eastern. Besides, he understood the South Coast Company were ready to bind themselves by a clause to carry passengers at a very moderate rate—indeed he could not better convince the Committee of the ad vantage of that clause than by stating the fact, that if the fares the company proposed to bind themselves to were charged on the whole of their existing line, there would be a saving to the public of 40,0001. per annum. He believed they were ready to bind themselves to reduce theis, fares some 15 or 16 per cent. OR cross-examination it turned out that the witness had given his evidence on mere hearsay. He did not know of his own knowledge what the reductions would be, nor did he even know what were the existing fares on the Brighton line. A number of other witnesses were examined, but their evidence merely went to show that they preferred the Brighton to the South-Eastern line. This Committee adjourned at the usual hour till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP V. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock. Pre sent, Lord Harry Vane, Chairman; Hon. Mr. Gore, Hon. M. Sutton, Mr. Reid, and Sir E. Filmer. WEN'DSO3II, STAINES, AND SOUTH-WES TERN (R.IOIIPSOND TO WINDSOR). wrxrpsose, STAINES, AND SOUTH-117=- TM= (STAINES TO ASCOT, dr.C.) Mr. KENNEDY, counsel for opposing landowners, previous to the merits of the Bills being opened, raised the question before the Committee which was lately broached in the House of Lords, and reported upon by the Railway Com missioners—whether the acts of the South-Western Company had not been such as to disentitle them to a hearing. The CHAIRMAN intimated that he had considered the point before, and he was of opinion that it ought not then to be raised, bat that, :if the Committee thought well, it might be entered upon at another stage of the proceedings. Mr. Horn, in the absence of Mr. Hill, Q.C., who, with Mr. Macaulay, had been retained for the company, opened the merits of the two projects. - He said, they applied to a district which was bounded on the north by the Great Western broad gauge line, on the south by the South- Western, and on the west by a narrow gauge line, the Read ing, Guildford, and Reigate. In the same direction there was another line in the course of construction on both gauges, from Reading to Basingstoke, so that, if the district so bounded were properly intersected by lines, it would have most ample communication with the north, with the south, the west, and the metropolis. The Wandsworth and Rich mond line being already in working by the South-Western, they proposed by the present Bills to carry out the main line to Staines, with a loop at Barnes, passing by Chiswick, and returning bo the trunk line at Hounslow; from Staines, to pass a branch on to Black Pots, near Windsor, to carry a through line by Eghaui and Bracknell to Wokingham, there to join the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate line, and to 'brow out two branches near Egbain, south to Chertsey and to the Southampton line, near Farnborough, to Ili.lev. In all, there would be al4out fifty miles of railway, accommo dating most thoroughly the district, at a ciy.t of about 20,000!. a mile. 11jr. William Ashby, in the course of his examination, said be lived at Itileworih. Was a cement and plaster a paris merchant, manufacturing 12,000 tuns of these articles a lie was of opinion the loop lin e by B arnes would be a gyeareari advantage to Isleworth, where a b out 18,00 0 tons of flour were ground annually. The millers, no doubt, would avail theinselves of the company's depot in London, if the line were made, and they would be greatly advantaged by the line passing to Wokingham, as opening to them a great barley country. To Staines 20,003 tons of goods were car ried yearly, at a minimum expense of 6s. a ton, which could be ri.ducid to something like 2e. 9d. He reckoned the pre sent carriage to Windsor at 7s. 6d. which would give 15,0001. a year, which by rail might be carried for 8,5031. Cross-examined by Mr. GUMMY for the Great Western— lie had been a member of a committee of inquiry, instituted by the Great Western, and paid by that company. Messrs. Bradshaw, Hammond, and Card, and other wit nesses gave evidence of the necessity of the projected lines, and the advantage they would confer upon the country. The witnesses were cross-examined by Messrs. Gurney and Talbot, Mr. James, and Mr. Kennedy, on the part of Ws Great Western and proprietors. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP VI. SOUTH-WESTERN EXTENSION SALIS BURY, EXETER, AND YEOVIL, AND EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER. The business of the Committee commenced this morning by calling JUL C. Sharpe, who stated that he had applied to the clerk of the peace for the county of Somerset for permission to correct an error in one of the deposited plans, pursuant to the order of the House of Commons, but that request had not been complied with. Evidence of a general nature was then proceeded with. Mr. Payne, coal-merchant, of Salisbury, stated that the opening of the line from Salisbury to Southampton, had already lowered the price of Newcastle coal, and he antici pated still greater reductions in the price of that commodity. The consumption of Newcastle coal was considerably more than that of the Radstoek Collieries. 14r. Seymour, of Grosvenor-square, also gave evidence in favour of this line. Ray. Mr. Ruxtable, rector of Sutton, in the neighbour hotod of Salisbury, also gave evidence favourable to the schemes of the South Western Railway, and of the advan tages which the ltnes would, when constructed, afford for the conveyance of fat stock, manures, agricultural produce, lime, and coals. The Committee was occupied during the remainder of its sittings in hearing evidence of a similar nature. GROUP XI. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group met for the first time this morning in Room 32; Mr. Forbes Mackenzie in the chair. The Rills referred to this Committee stood on the list as follow :—. Braintree and Halstead. Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead (Stour Navigation Purchase). Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead (Extension to Melford, Levenhum, and Clare). Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead (Extension from La'ventiam to Bury St. Edmund's). Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, awl Halstead (Lease of the Ipswich and Bury St. Ectruand's). Eastern Union anti ilataleigh Junctku (Sale to the Eastern Union Railway Compani). Eastern Counties (3laidol), Witham, and Braintree Railway Pnrchasf:). Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Rail way Amalgamation. COLCIIMST3I3I, STOUP •ALLEY, SUDBURY, AND ILAISIVIMAILD (EZTENSZON TO Danz -1110311), 14.6:17111111iUkrii, 4.7e11) CiaLIZ3I). Mr. Sergeant Wx.tactium opened the case for the promo ters of the scheme. It was a Bill for extending the exi sti ng Stour Valley line from Sudbury through Meltord to Laven ham and Clare, a distance of fourteen miles and four chains. At present the traffic of the district is carried by the Stour Navigation, a most expensive mode of transit, and there could be no doubt that the proposed line would prove to be a great public accommodation. It could be easily extended on the one side to the.port of Harwich, while on the other, if the line were continued on from Lavenbam to Bury St. Zdmand's, the distance between the metropolis and Norwich would be shortened by nine miles. The cost of the proposed line luta estimated at 200,0004 but it was proposed to raise an additional sum of 70,0001., for the purpose of making the existing line from Markotay to Sudbury, with double rails, instead of single. There could be no doubt that the in habitantsi of the district line were anxious that the proposed id:e t : m( 7 ld 11 ,1 , 89 , while, to convince the Committee that the gas l ikely to prove remunerative, he need only men tion the tact that the united companies, the Eastern Union and Norfolk, were , Valley line, with all to lease the Colchester and Scour extensions, upon a Der cent. and half the surp lu s ensi°n* guarantee of 51. evidence in favou r o f th e sc h eme , fo r re the , Committee would h that after hea r i ng the vdae profits . H e f u ll y re li e d, th ere - The reptainder of th e duo difficulty in granting it. deuce in favour of the line. as occupied with general evi- The Committee adjourned, at the us ual hour, till twelve G13,01.3P XVI. 011121ACC NORTHERN ERANCIOLS (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Among the witnesses were Mr. Rumley, the Mayor o f S t. Alban' wko stated that the feeling of the inhabitants of the town was generally in favour of it and Mr. Bord en , of Lu ton, bonnet-manufacturer, employinmg 300 hands, who said &boat 7,000 persons were engaged in that locality in th e Wide, and that the line in oonnexion with the Luton, Dan. stable, and St. Alban's would be of the utmost advantage. Captain Lawes, a director of the Great Northern, spoke to NA great demand far the line in the district. AdOurzed till to-morrow. GROUP XVIII. egateriNDATA AND OXFORD RAILWAY. The Converkittee, comprising the Earl of Lincoln (in the mohair), Captai n Jones , Mr. M. J. O'Connell, and Sir Walter c am as, et this morning at twelve o'clock. gr. TALBOT opened on behalf of the Great Western Com pany., and expatiated for a considerable time, with the as aistranoe of Mr. Brunel, on the evils of the b rea k o f gauge . On the disounion of the Manchester and Southampton rigi , A crt o f undertaking had been given that a double iiio4ld b. made ; but, u that company was not at present defunct, it was uncertain whether the district between Oxford and Cheltenham would be supplied with the broad or the narrow gauge. If the latter they would have the obstacle which flowed from the break of the gauge, and he would venture to suggest to the Committee that it was worthy of mature consideration whe ther this impediment would offer an insuperable obstacle to the trans mission of minerals from the westward of Gloucester to the towns in the valley of the Thames ; as also kmoin the South Wales and the Staffordshire coal-fields. The line proposed by the Midland Counties would be , at a ll events, very cir cuitous; and even if the Great Western Company were to carry it, they would, at any rate, be obliged to interpose a check bar at Cheltenham. If this line were, therefore, to be made, there should be no temptation offered to the Great Western Company either to increase the expense or prolong the distance. And this case both applied to the Forest of Dean and other places in England , and, indeed , the Irish traffic also. The saving between Gloucester and Oxford was 25 miles, and between Cheltenham and Oxford the saving would be 40 miles, all the advantage of which would be impeded, if not lost, by this break of gauge. The saving from Ireland would be less, for it was only five miles between Fishguard and Oxford; but in these days, when we had lived to go so fast, and when we required to go so fast, even this was_a matter of great importance. No w , th ere was t h e advantage of retaining the opening which had been made by the Great Western Company with the Swansea district, and this line entirely provided the greatest convenience fur the lo as well as tor the through traffic; and it appeared. the , fore, the greatest absurdity to shut out Witney ; and he would, therefore, put it broadly on the rint of the advantage given by the local traffic. With respect to the saving of distance, the saving betw e en Gi oncester an d L on d on would . be five and between Cheltenham and London 18 miles and a fraction. The saving of distance by the competing scheme would be something l ess , an d th a t b e t we n th e o th er tbci what Le bad stated. The distance ou the narrow gauge line between Oxtord and London was certainly a little shorter, but it had a variety of severe gradients, while that of the Great Western Company was nearly on a dead level, being, in fact, only f our f eet in a mile. The Learned Counsel rh , :n cited the statements of the Chairman of the North Western Railway at the last meeting, and in which he said, that in consequence of the increase of traffic, the directors Is 1 determined to lay down two new lines of rails between Primrose-hill Tunnel and Watford, in order to accommodate the great traffic now in existence, and which had already caused some irregularity. But, in addition to that, there Was likely to be an increase of this; for there was the Chester and Holyhead, the Trent Valley, the North Shropshire line, SA well as several other lines, all of which would bring a traffic equal to, perhaps, double the quantity of that which was already in existence. Now, was this inconvenience, and the danger resulting from it, to be endured, when there was an opportunity of carrying it all on a line comparatively un obstructed, as it was in consequence of the superior power possessed by the Great Western Company? This observation was borne out by the evidence of Mr. Stephenson, the emi nent engineer of the North-Western Company, for in that evidence, which he read, he bad intimated the necessity to form a sort of loop line. in order to relieve the main line from the traffic by which it is now overloaded. So much for the through traffic ; and for the local traffic there was the same objections, and he trusted after the great war which he saw brewing was over that he should be able to prove that the stations at the several places were not only superior to those of the competing company, but the very best that could be devised, for, practically, they shut out Oxford, as well as other places, from the main line. The greater part of the rest of the day was occupied by the Learned Gentleman in showing the small amount of traffic Which was likely to come on the nar row gauge line. Mr. Baker, a banker and coal proprietor, at Gloucester, expressed himself strongly in favour of a broad gauge line, and stated that if this line were formed it would open the way for the Forest of Dean line, notwithstanding that a large quantity of the Derbyshire and Staffordshire coals were brought up by the Gloucester line. Mr. Goole, also a coal-owner, gave evidence to a similar effect. Some conversation ensued respecting the heads of houses at Oxford refusing to appear, although they were represented to be unfriendly to the plan, and the Committee then ad journed. GROUP XXI. SEREWEBUILY AND snemnwasAm RAIL WAY ACT AMENDMENT AND BRANCHES. The Committee met at twelve o'clock. Sir J. Graham in the chair. _ _ The clauses in this Bill, which were passed at the last meet ing of the Committee, were agreed to, and the Chairman intimated that he should report the decision of the Committee to the House. OXFORD, WORCESTER AND WOLVER HAMPTON-EXTENSION AND AMEND- MEN T.— (N o. XI.) Mr. COCKBURN opened the case for the promoters of this Bill. After referring at same length to the proceedings -which took place last session, with respect to the original Bill, he said the objects of the present Bill were the construction of a branch from Stanbridge by Rendall Hill, to the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamplim line, by which tne Bill was promoted; and from Kendal T Hill to near Oldbury, on the Dudley Branch, which formed a junc tion with the Oxford and Wolverhampton, at Dudley; for forming a junction with the Halesowen branch of the Bir mingham and Gloucester; and also for:the purpose of effect ing some necessary deviations in the main line. The cost of the whole would be 3k001,1. Both gauges wculd be laid down. A line promoted by the Birmingham, Dudley, and Worver liampton Company, traversing nearly the same route, from Stourbridge to Wea Bromwich, oppoSed the line for which he applied; but as the promoters of the line for which he appk.,,:red re the fir 4 in the field, and as they offered better accommodation to the district than their oppo nents, he trusted that the Committee would see the necessity of passing the preamble. BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND DUDLEY (STOURBIZID GE AND WEST BROPV9IICH, ETC.). Mr. WA IT2LEY then opened the case for the promoters of this line, the one alluded to by Mr. Cockburn. He admitted that the line traversed nearly the same route as the other, and that the district stood much in need of one of the lines; but his line, in an engineer ing sense, was superior to its opponent. Should, however the Committee decide in favour of his Learned Friend's line, he trusted that the Committee would think fit to allow those for whom he appeared to construct that portion of it between Randall Hill and West Bromwich. Mr. Francis Rufford, the chairman of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, said the main line was passed in 184.5, and it was then expressly stated to the Com mittee that it would be followed by branches like those pro posed, for the purpose of meeting the pants of the important district which they were prepared to traverse. He admitted that some of the proprietors of the works in the proposed branches were opposed to them; but they were opposed to the main line in 1845, yet it was passed, and they could not deny that the line would offer great advantages to them. One of the largest congreave works was a considerable dis tance below the level of the line, and would be joined by a steep tramrod. Mr. W. blArrnEws, an extensive iron master, in the dis trict and in South Wales, considered that the branches were absolutely necessary to give efficient Railway accommoda tion to the district. He did not know that one possessed much advantage over the other. That they should be in connec tion with the Great Western and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, and under, in fact, the management, was most essential, both in respect to cheapness and public con venience. Cross-examined by Mr. HorE—Considered the proposed ines simply required to complete the scheme of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton. Adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP XXVII[. The Committee met this morning at 12 ; Mr. T.D. Acland in the chair. BOSTON DEVIATIONS. Mr. PAGET stated that in order to save the Committee trouble he might inform them, that:although Mr. Cubitt and Mr. Rastrick had been consulted, agreeably to an arrange ment respecting the several stations of the two companies, he regretted to say that on an application to the Admiralty they had been refused permission to proceed, and were there fore under the necessity of withdrawing the Bill. SI.EAPORD BRANCH. The Committee then took the Sleaford Branch, and Mr. Sergeant Klinglake called Mr. Packe, the Vice-Chairman of the Loudon and York Company, who was examined as to the capabilities of the country, and described it then as being great, but. requiring development, and stated that th e li ne wou l d afford reat convenience to the district in the transmission of coal from the Barnsley and Swinton Fields, and the transport of agri cultural produce to the manufacturing counties. Some discussion arose on Mr. JAMES'S application to cross examine, on the part of the landowners, being retained for the Maripis of Bristol, through whose land the line was to run 17)r seven Mr. SMITHIES, who is retained fur the Eastern Counties fa the company apposed the course proposed by Mr. Jamie, but it was decided that Parliamentary usage ruled for the priority of the landowners. Mr..JAMES then pr,ceeded to cross-examine Mr. Packe as to the distance re..pectivelv of the Ambergate line and the propo,e • line between Sleaford and 31ancliester, and he allowed that the latter was the longer of the two. 1 To th- CHAIRMAN'S inquiry Mr. JANE.s replied that the land of the Marquis of Bristol, which this hue was to traverse, comprised about three miles between Hongbarn and Sleatind, and between tour and five miles between Sleaford and Ersberton. The Learned Sergeant proceeded to cross-examine on the respec tive advantages of the Nottingham and Siikestone coal, and the expense for which it could be delivered at Sletiford ; and it was shown that although the latter would cost more, it was so much better that would be required. The capital required for this branch was 450,0001., but witness believed that it would be constructed for 300,000/. The CHAIRMAN suggested that this evidence would be better taken from the agent, unless there was some especial object to be served. Mr. JAMES said that his purpose was to show one particu lar point on which special argument was to be raised. To further questions Mr. Packe said that the whole ca pital of the London and York Company was 10,166,9001., divided into 2,240,000 shares, on which 31. 15s. had been paid; that not more than 3,800 shares remained unregis tere ; and that the money in hand for proceeding is about 400,000/. The company had before to make the line all the way from Peterborough to London, and from Boston, northwards. Mr. SmaritEs-31r. Pack replied that the Bill had been thrown out on standing orders, under a different name, last year and the year before. He believed that in the event of the shareholders being unable or unwilling to meet their engagements, the twenty-nine directors would be able nearly to meet the whole of the outlay of 1,737,000/., though they did not expect to be called upon for that purpose. The distance was also longer to Lincoln than by the Eastern Counties, as it was also to Newark and Spalding, and would give no advantage in the way of distance to Grantham, but there would be a benefit in the way of convenience to Wake.. Mr. CHAPMAN, a magistrate, and the proprietor of up wards of forty thousand acres, testified to the crest advantage Which thia line would confer upon the district, especially in and t se he ve Co re cr ri ra the transmissi on of the agricultural produce. tieeexaamd j in ou a ni tio ea n at in f n o o ur w o a , closcir k the evidence, The Committee ppo'n yok e E Yotrketin ti;-e—chair. GROUP XLVII. twelve o'clock. Mr a . thi. group met to-day at SCOTTIMit it..A.U.W.cring SONTOWN, mostaararusimes., Raie—D TANZITTLGOWSIZZAZI ijza -LaNaltlZ C . ria . . w . £ 7,7 -.--" COLT NESSI 31.8.11AVAT (alum MiLitarCll). Mr. Bland, provost of Edinburgh, was Mr. CALVEAT—The opening of this branch wou a rdt ined t h e by frice of coals in that city. There was a considerAbelewprtairotki! or coal for the printing-houses of Edinburgh, tion was some 130000, and for merely domestic uses the demand for a cheaper and better coal would be considerable. Mr. Maitoll,inining engineer, wu examined to prove the game fact. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MuarßY—The Duke of Bum'ouch had ♦ery fine seams of coals at Dalkeith, which he might bring into Edinburgh if the increased demand re quired it. There were many other places from which coal could be supplied. He thought that the importation of 80,000 tons of Benhar coals would reduce the price from 14s. to perhaps I s. 6d. Mr. John White spoke to certain borings on the farm of Cult, near Benhar, which showed a three feet seam. He had no doubt that the quantity of coal mentioned by Mr. M - Creath and Mr. Williamson as existing in that locality was correct. Mr. Ferguson, mining engineer, was called to show that Glasgow would take a portion of the Benhar coal. Glasgow used for all purposes above two millions of tons, and the furnaces above one million. This railway would also open up the ironstone in the district. Mr. Collister, C.E., had laid out the line, and spoke to the general advantages of it. It was of easy formation. It would better supply the country than any branch advocated by other parties, and it was considered essential to the interests of the district by those who were the most competent to judge. This closed the case for the promoters, and the Committee adjourned till to-morrow at eleven o'clock. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.) The Committee met this day at the usual hour, lot the dispatch of public business. The following decisions were given during the course of the day. THE DERBY, STAFFORDSHIRE, AND WORCESTER SHIRE RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. LEEDS WATER WORKS. Allowed to proceed. r CT" 11E LONDON UAZETTI2 (THIS EVENING.) LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, APRIL 19, 1847. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a Levee, at St. James's Palace ; ,on Wednesday, the 28th instant, at twQ o'clock. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT THE QUEEN'S LEVEE, AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE. _ _ The Noblemen and Gentlemen who purpose to attend her Majesty's Levee, at St. James's Palace, are requested to bring with them two large cards, with their names clearly written thereon, one to be left with the Queen's page in attendance in the Presence-chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord Chamberlain, who will announce the name to her Majesty. Those gentlemen who are to be presented are hereby informed, it is absolutely neces sary that their names, with the name of the nobleman or gentleman who is to present them, should be sent to the Lord Chamberlain's Office, on Monday the 26th instant, before twelve o'clock, in order that they may be sub mitted for the Queen's approbation ; it being her Ma jesty's command, that no presentation shall be made at the levee, but in conformity with the above regu lations. It is particularly requested, that in every case the names be very distinctly written upon the cards to be delivered to the Lord Chamberlain, in order that there may be no difficulty in announcing them to the Queen. The state apartments will not be open, for the reception of company coming to the Court, until half-past one o'clock. Notice is hereby given that all persons, having petitions or addresses to present to her Majesty at the Levee, are to write on two cards, with their names, a statement of the object of such petitions or addresses, and the names of the portions from whom they come; one card to be delivered to the page in the ante-room, and the other to the Lord Cham berlain, who will read its contents, at the time of presentation, to her Majesty; and, on these occasions, no other statement is to be addressed to her Majesty. A deputation to present an address is not to exceed four persons. FOREIGN-OFFICE, APRIL 17. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. William P. Robertson, as Consul General in Great Britain for the Re public of the Equator. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, APRIL 19. Royal Regiment of Artillery—First Lieutenant George Wilder, to be Second Captain, vice Hon. F. Savile, retired on half-pay ; Second Lieutenant William Hunter Blair, to be First Lieutenant, vice Wilder; April 9. Ordnance Medical Department. . . Assistant-Surgeon Robert Templeton to be Surgeon, vice Colchester, retired. April 5. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire Regiment of Militia.—Major Richard Thomas Gilpin to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice William Astell, de ceased, April 12 Captain William Bartholomew Higgins to be Major, vice Richard Thomas Gilpin, promoted, April 14. Commission signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Ist or Queen's Own Regiment of Oxfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry—Captain Montague Lord Norreys to be Major, vice Lord Churchill, promoted, April 14. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Warwick. Warwickshire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—John Skipwith Parker, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Galton, promoted, April D. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. Francis Baisler, bookseller, Oxford-street. BANKRUPTS. Herbert Thomas, linendraper, Carmarthen, to surrender April 27, at twelve, and June 1, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official as-,i‘rnee, Birchin lane, Cornhill ; Hardwick and Davidson, Weevers-hall, Basinghall-strut. Clutrles Cownden, boat-builder, Fore-street, Lambeth, April 27, at two, and June 1, at twelve, at the Court of bankruptcy. Cannot, of vial assignee, Birchin-lane ; Ashby, Shoreditc h. John Chettle, linen-draper, Warminster, April 27, at eleven, and June 1, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Jones, Sise-lane, City. Edward Toone, grocer Twickenham, April 27, at half-past one, and June 1, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; lmns and Taylor, New Broad street. Robert Wightman, draper, Colchester, April 30, and June 12, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy- Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Cattlin, Ely-place, Holborn. William Bainbridge, grocer, orrie- place, Old Kent-road, May 4, at twelve, and June 1, at two, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchnrch-lane Cox, Son, and Walrond, Sise •lane. Arthur Bentley, ironfounder, Lancaster, April3o, and May 20, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester; Clarke, Gray, and Woodcock, Lincoln's inn -fields; Grundy and Co. Bury. Michael M`Donnell, ship-broker, Liverpool, April 13, and May 25, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool; Bridger and Co., London-wall; Dodge, Liverpool. Thomas Herbert, grocer, Bridgwater, May 4 and 26, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hirtzel, official as signee, Exeter ; Copp, Bridgwater; Boyle, Clement's-inn Terrell, Exeter. COURSE OF EXCHA .NGE.-(THIS DAY) . Gibra1tar.......... • • .. Leghorn .. Genoa ............ 26 25 Milan • • • ; • • Venice Naples .............. 40 Palermo, per 0z...... , . 119 X Lisbon ........ ........ 53 Rio Janeiro ........ • • 27 Bahia .. Buenos Ayres . ..... New York, 21 days' sight Philadelphia .... • .... ?Axis OF BULLION, PIZ O. Foreign Gold is bars.. X 3 17 9 New Dollars .... • . 0 4 10►% Portugal Gold Coin • • 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 Silver in bars .... • • • . 0 0 0 Amsterdam ......C.F. 12 64 Ditto, at sight • ..... 12 34 Rotterdam .... ••2 U. 12 7 Antwerp.....,,...,,. 26 20 Hamburgh .... • • M.B. 13 12 Altona . Paris, 3 days' sight .. • • 25 80 Ditto, 3 months...... 26 15 Marseilles 26 25 80urdeaux......... • • 26 20 Frankfort on Mains.... 123 Petersbutgh, 3 U 5...... Berlin .... • • .......... Vienna, effec.flo • ..... 10 10 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 10 10 Madrid • ... • ..... 35N Cadiz • • •.. : ........ 36,4 Bilbao .. •.••.......... 8i1ba0................ — Barcelona • • • • ........ MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of April 20.) SUGAR —To•day no increase occurred in the home or ex port demand for raw Sugar, although merchants were will ing to meet the buyers, and submitted to further reduced rates for all descriptions. The operations in all sorts of West India were to a small extent only for the scale or pan : al though a reaction on the rates of Friday of 6d per cwt. was submitted to. The private operations were confined to 230 hhds, &c. None was submitted to public competition, but there is a large quantity on offer privately. REFINED.:-TO- day few purchases were made in Refined goods by the home trade, although standard lumps could be easily obtained at 63s 6d, and brown lumps at 62s to 63s per cwt, according to quality. There are few orders for Bonded Crushed Sugar. 1 1 1Auitrrius.—This afternoon Mauritius Sugar was ope rated in with caution, and of 8,402 bags at auction not above two-thirds found buyers, althou4h merchants were willing to realise, and submitted to a reduction on the rates of the last public sale of 6d to is. E:tsT Ls DlA.—This afternoon white Bengal met with only a limited demand, and 1,114 bags at auction were sold at :Ards' former rates. Folmox.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, end the amount of business dune privately was to a cmali extent only by exporters and the home trade, although there were yellers upon rather lower terms. COFFEE.—This afternoon 1498 bags and 2 casks Costa Rica Coffee were submitted to public sale; whe❑ the sound was taken in rather under the value. Plantation Ceylon is little wanted, and 253 bags at auction sold at rather lower rate,!. Native met with little attention, and the sound of 1719 bags at public sale was taken in at rattle .. lower rates. COCOA.—Business to a small extent only has been trans acted in West India, and prices have still a downward ten dency, there being a large quantity to arrive. TEa.--llolders of black are not inclined to submit to any further reduction in the value, but the trade have operated with caution. The market is plentifully supplied, especially with the better qualities. In Green only a limited business has been done, notwithstanding the low rates at which there are sellers. op M era o t t.s e i ss n x ‘ s, v — est T l h n e d re ia h ; as bpriceesesntilllitttelnedddeoswirnewmaradzifaelsttheodugtho there is not a large quantity on offer. Rica.—To-day all kinds of East India Rice were in ex tensive request, and the rates paid e x hibi t an advance of Is 6d to 2s per cwt. At public 249 bags of Bengal were sold at 21s to 21s 6d for good middling white, and at 20s for sea damaged first class. SPICES.—The market for Cinnamon has been in a dull state, and quotations rule very low for the inferior coarse and jungle kinds; but good and fine are held for the rates of the last quarterly auctions. Black Pepper does not improve in value; but there has been a somewhat better demand. White is to be obtained upon rather lower terms; still few buyers are to be met with. Pimento met with little atten tion. For Cloves parties are inclined to take rather lower rates. Nutmegs met with little attention from exporters or the home trade, and prices tend downwards. Mace main thins former rates. Although the demand for Ginger is good, still no improvement in the value occurred. SPIRITS.—Holders of Leeward Island Ruin are desirous to realise, and submitted to a reduction of 2d to 3d per gallon, still the purchases made have been trifling. For East India the market is in a dull state, and a further decline in the value ensued. Jamaica can be obtained upon further re duced terms; still all descriptions have been operated in with caution. Demerara of strong quality is to be obtained at 4s 8d to ss, still few contracts have been concluded. The stock ofßrandy has been further increased, although importers are desirous to sell upon previous reduced terms, still the trade operated with caution. Geneva is little wanted for exportation, and prices are on the decline, 2s 6d having been taken for ordinary. For British Corn Spirits the demand is active, and lls is the value of English nett cash; Scotch and Irish lOs 10d to lls. Gin is in good demand, at 9s Bd, and lOs 2d per gallon. HEMP,—The market has been well supplied with Manilla since our last report, and a considerable fall in the value has ensued. _ 011;.--For Seal former rates are insisted upon, but the amount of business transacted has been to a small extent. In Cod a good business has been transacted, yet holders are inclined to sell at 271. to 27/. 10s. In Southern the ope rations are upon a more extended scale in all descriptions, I?ut sb_etter prices cannot b e o bt a i ne d. H o ld er s of Sperm main 'a t hrta lless, and there h as b een a good business transacted. 14141144 °il 414 bees iu ex.eelleut request; prices slightly improved. For Rapeseed Oil reduced prices have been sub mitted te. Olive met with little attention, although pur chases can be made rather under former rates. In Palm many purchases have been made, and an improvement in the value has occurred. Cocoa Nut is wanted, and high rates are offered. Lard Oil moves off slowly. TALLOw.—There are sellers of Russian on the spot upon further reduced terms, still the purchases made have been extremely limited. For delivery in the last three months of the year few contracts have been entered into, although at 45s to 45s 65 per cwt. there are sellers. Town Tallow is little wanted, and prices are declining. Other kinds of Tallow met with little attention, and a further decline in the value has taken place. IMPERIAL. PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upou the wool sack at Five o'clock. TRANSPORTATION. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH wished to ask the Noble Earl the Secretary of the Colonies whether the new regulation on the subject of transportation would apely to soldiers engaged in Ihdia and the colonies. Earl GREY wee unitersteod to reply in the riegative, and to intinote that soieLers ill the colonies who were convicted of criminal offe.nees would be still sent to Van I)iemen's Land. under sin Order in Council. Lord BROUGHAM must protest against the new doctrine, now for the first time promulgat e d, th a t it was within power cif Gomernmmt to a l ter t h e cr i m i na l lawe law of this country was that for of the the l a p t 7 d w: certain offences the judges were to have the option of imprisoning or transporting offenders, and that rule doubt existed upon the subject their Lordships h a d access to t h e learned juchees, and their Lordships c ou ld consu l t t h em could not be departed from. if a ny upon it. The judges hail the power of imprisoning for a term not exceeding two years, or transporting for a period not exceeding fourteen years, and if the term law was decid e dly unconstitutional. B were excealed a day the sentence becam e ill ega l , an d therefore to make any alteration in the pra c ti ce with said, that when the l aw sa id one thing statutoryjudges be said, the same thing, th a t st ill t h e crown oaunutdt it h em jiug dhgt said another. That trarisportatem did not mean trans portation, was the doctrine here laid down. It w as sa id that thattr ansportation or was to be suspend e d, b ut he would say transportation could not b e suspen d ed. He trunsp would in the course of a few days present to the House the report of a Committee, one of the most important that had ever come under his observation during the course of his Parliamen;rary experience —he meant the Criminal Law Committee. They would there see the opinion of Ram judges of England and Scotland, who were , unanitnous in their opinions, on the subject of transportation. They would also find them the opinions of gaol governors, gaol chaplains, and other functionaries, who were the most competent from their office, their experience, and general position, to be enabled to judge of this important subject. It would be his duty, after be had laid the documents before their Lordships to bring the whole question before the House. Earl GREY—The Noble and Learned Lord (Lord Brougham) had raised up a most formidable picture of something that was done by her Majesty's Govern ment, and accused them of acting contrary to their duty. Unfortunately, notwithstanding all that alarm, it proceeded unfortunately entirely from the imagination of the Noble and Learned Lord, without any foundation whatever. They (her Majesty's Go vernment) protested against the motive imputed to them, that the criminal law of the country could be altered. He never made any such statement. What he said was, that under the provisions of an Act of Parliament which said that her Majesty in council could appoint the fort of Hope in the Maitritius for convict soldiers. Tb at power had been exercised. The Noble and Learned: Lord (Lord Brougham) went beyond the subject as c onnected with convict soldiers, and gave t his views--his very peculiar views— of the question. Ile had told the House the question had been investigated by a Commit tee, who had obtained a deal of very valuable information of which he (Lord Brougham) was in pos session, but of which the House knew nothincr. The Noble and Le arne d L or d (L or d'B roug h am ) had' endea voured to provoke a discussion, not of transportation particularly, but of transportation in general. Ile could only account for the observations of the Noble and Learned Lord by the fact, that the Noble and Learned Lord was so extremely anxious to hear his own void, in season and out of season, whether he had anything worth sayitig, or whether it was not worth the while of the House to listen to. When the subjt ct ceme regular!) , before the House he would be prepared to maintain theocourse the Government proposed. Lord BROUGHAM. said chat if he had the desire which the Noble Lord k-id imputed to hire of hearing his own voice in that House, he 1.-boured at Last under this difficulty, that he had tea raise his voice in a place where it way difficult for aey Noble Louis to hear him, or to hear himself. (A Nohlie Lerd rose to order.) Ile was perfectly aware that it is as generally considered a breach of the order of the House tor any Noble Lords to speak upon any qmetion mat before their Lordships ; but notwithstanding this order many Noble Lords were in the habit of speaking halt-a-dozen times on subjects not before the house. With respect to the charge made ageinsrhim by the Noble Lord of desiring to hear the sound of his own voice, he would leave the subject with the most utter and perfect complacency precisely is he found it. He would, however, before he sat down pro test against the Government suspending the law of tran sportation without en Act of Parliament. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. MARINE MUTINY BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. EXCPXQUER BILL. This Bill was also, on the motion of Earl Grey, read a third time and passed. Lord BROUGHAM moved for certain returns con nected with commitments and convictions for forgeries during the last twenty years, and also the number of those who were sentenced to transportation for the same period.—Agreed to. VAGRANTS. Lord HATHERTON presented -- a petition from the guardians of the Bainbridge Union, in Staffordshire, complaining of the increase of vagrants. The Noble Lord said these people had found out that they might persist in an idle lite, by proceeding 'round from union to union, lodging here one night and there another. He proposed as a remedy that no one should get a night's lodging but on condition of giving a day's work in re turn. It was found that nine out of ten of these vagrants were Irish labourers. The NOBLE LORD bad presented a similar petition from Wallsall. Earl FITZHARDINGE presented one petition against the Poor Removal Act, and several petitions against the Government Scheme of Education. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from a congregation of Protestant Dissenters in Bristol, in favour of the Government scheme of education; also petitions from Glamor-San, Liverpool, Morley, in the county of Surrey, and numerous othea places, to the same effect. _ LANDLORD AND TENANT, IRELAND. In answer to a question put by the Marquis of Lon derry, the Marquis of WESTMEATH. consented to postpone the motion of which he had given for to-mor row, until Friday next. WASIE LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of WESTMEATH moved the second reading of this Bill. Ile did not conceive that any ob jection could be taken against this Bill. He had framed the provisions of the measure upon the fairest and strictest principles, and the operation of the law would be to priNent a considerable amount of the delay and expense attendant upon obtaining an injunction from the Irish Court of Chancery. A meet ing was held in Dublin a short time since, to con sider the state of Ireland, and provide such reme dies as the nature of the case might require, and resolutions were passed to the effect that the present laws relating to " waste" in Ireland were highly in jurious, and should be modified. Many years since he had stated to Sir J. Lynch the circumstances of a very grievous ease, and that Learned Gentleman told him that under such circumstances the Court of Chancery ought to be compelled to part with some portion of its jurisdictitu. (LEFT SPEAE/NG.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. AMBERGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON RAILWAY. Sir JAMES DUKE moved the second reading of the Ambergste, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junction Railway (alteration of line and branches to Nottingham) Bill. Lord'llolllAlf stated that he was happy to say that he was relayed by that assurance of all parties from opposing the second reading of the Bill. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed. On the m o ti on the following gen.. DIVORCE of Mr.HAy BA I L , tlemen were S. appointed to the Select Committee on Divorce Bills :—Mr. Hayter, Mr. Cripps, Mr. Bur roughes, Mr. Tancred, Mr. Aldan, Sir John Yarde Buller, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Evans, Mr. Robert Scott, Mr. Watson, Mr. Stuart Wortley, Lord Courte nay, Mr. Pinney, Mr. W. Lascelles, and Sir John Pa kington. Mr. GREENE moved that the order made on the 11th day of Febr uary last, fOr referring the p etition of the trustees of th e Surrey and Sussex Roads, a g ainst the Croydon Commercial Gas and Coko Bill, to the Com mittee on the Bill, be read ; that the said order be dis charged ; that the said petition be withdrawn. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Sir J. DUKE presented petitions from Boston in favour and against the Government plan of education. Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND presented three petitions from places in Yorkshire against the Govern ment plan of education. Mr. W. EVANS presented petitions from Derby in favour of the Government plan of education. Mr. ORMSBY GORE prese nted petitions from Wel lington a ga i nst , an d Oswestry in favour of, the Go vernment plan of education. Mr. MUNTZ presented petitions from Birmingham in favour and against the Government measure of - educa tion; also petitions praying for its extension. Mr. BUSFEILD presented a petition from Bradford against the Government plan of education. Captain PECHELL presented petitions from York shire and Sussex for and against the Government plan of education. Dr. BOWING presented petitions from Congleton and Eecleston against the Government plan of education. Mr. WAWN presented petitions in favour of the Go vernment plan of education from Shields and other places. Colonel REID presented petitions from Windsor against the Government plan of uducation. Mr.. BROTHERTON presented two petitions against the Government plan of education. Mr. CARDWELL presented petitions in favour of the measure. Lord DUNCAN also presented petitions in favour of the measure. Mr. W. MILES presented petitions from Wells in favour of the measure. Viscount JOCELYN presented petitions against the measure. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented eight petitions from Rochdale against the Government measure of education. Mr. PINNEY presented petitions from Shepton Mallet to the same effect. Mr. ANTROBUS presented petitions from Surrey in favour of the measure. Mr. KEMBLE presented similar petitions from Brom ley, and other pluees in Kent. ➢lr. C. P. VILLIERS presented petitions against the measure. Mr. SPOONER presented petitions from Birming ham, in favour of the Government plan of education. Mr. 0. STANLEY presented petition 4 from Caer narvonshire, ttgainAt the G4,verninent plan of education. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented fourteen petitions, to the same effect. Captain HOWARD presented petitions from Pvm broke to the same I treet. Mr. THOMPSON presented petitions from Westmore , land in favour of the measure. Mr. lIINDLEY pre.ented thirty-two petitions agains the meaiure. Mr. STRUTT presented petitions from Derby in favour of the on asur,.. Mr. MATTBESON prescntod petitions from . the parochial board of T4rbut iu Russshire aktaiosi the Lord Advocate's Bill, for amending the Scotch Marriage Law. HUDDERSFIELD AND MANCHESTER RAIL- WAY. Mr. B. DENISON moved that it be an instruction to the Examiner of petitions for pl ivate Bills, that he do entertain the memorial of Richard Bassett Wilson against the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway (deviations and alterations in the Oldham branch, &c.) Petition for additional provision, notwithstanding that the some me morial was not deposited in the Private Bill office within the time limited by the standing orders. In the year 1845 the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway Act passed, and it contained provisions for making a tunnel 1,100 yards in length. On the 17th of April the company presented a petition for leave to alter their original Act, and make the tunnel 800 yards in length instead of 1.100, leaving an open cutting within 80 yards of Mr. Wilson's house. Mr. Wilson received no notice of the proposed alteration of the original Act till Friday last, or his petition would have been presented in time. Mr. GRILENE did no: think it would be judicious to depart in this case from the rule which the House had laid down for the guidance of parties petitioning against private Bills. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the motion, believing that considerable hardship would be inflicted upon Mr. Wilson, if the House refused to hear him on his petition. After a few words from Mr. GREENE in explanation, Mr. B. DENISON thought that it would be a very hard case if this gentleman was not allowed to state his case before the Committee. Mr. HODGSON was understood to say that he would support the motion. Mr. ESTCOURT suggested the postponement of the discussion upon the question fbr a few days. The further consideration of the question was then postponed till to-morrow. NATIONAL EDUCATION. An HON. MEMBER presented seven petitions from Gloucester against the Government scheme of education. Mr. NORRIS presented four petitions from South Wales in favour of the scheme. Mr. FORBES presented a petition from Caithness against the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Mar riages Bill. fir W. CLAY presented four petitions againt the Government Scheme of Education. Mr. SCROPE presented two petitions from Stroud to the same effect. Mr. DENNISTON presented a petition to the same effect. Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitions in favour of the scheme. The following Bills were read a second time : Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junction Railway (alteration of line, and branches to Nottingham). Dunfermline Waterworks. Plymouth and Tavistock Road (No. 2). Southampton CoEsumers Gas Light and Coke. SAVINGS BANKS ANNUITY ACT. Mr. P. SCIUJPE said that he would postpone his motion for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the provi sions of the Savings Banks Accounts Act, to Tuesday next, in favour of the education discussion. METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS ACT. Lord MORPETH gave notice that he would move for leave to bring in a bill in order to make some amend ments in the Metropolitan Buildings Act. Mr. THOMAS I)UNUOMBE said, that in con sequence of what had fallen from the Noble Lord, he would postpone to Thursday week the following motion, of which be had given notice—That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the operation of the Metropolitan Buildings Act, and that the petition of John Todd Merrick, paper-stainer and manu:acturer, which was presented upon the 29th day of March last, be referred to the said Committee, to report their opi nion, with the evidence, to the House. ECCLESIASTIC AL CO MMISSIONERS. Lord J. RUSSELL moved for leave to bring in a Bill for amending several Acts for the appointment of Eccle siastical Commissioners tor England. Leave was given to bring in the Bill. Sir R. INGLIS said that he was quite surprised that the Noble Lord should move for leave simply to bring in the Bill without making some statement to the House. He was anxious to know when that statement would be made? He did not intend to make any opposition to the mea sure, but he hoped that an early opportunity would be given to his Noble Friend to make some statement toll the House and the country as to the nature of the Bill. He begged that his Noble Friend would state to the House at what period he intended to make the state ment. Lord JOHN RUSSELL (who was very indistinctly heard) said, that with reference to the measure alluded to by.his Right Hon. Friend he should make a statement on time of the second reading of the Bill. With regard to the more general statement to which his Right Hon. friend referred, it was not his intention to make it until the reports of the new Commissioners appointed upon the subject should have been laid upon the tables of both Houses of Parliament. That would occur about the period of the second reading, and he should take that opportunity of stating the views and intentions of the Government upon the subject. REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL PRACTI- TIONERS. Mr. WAKLEY hoped that the House would consent to his having leave to bring in a Bill iu order to effect the registration of medical practitioners, legally quali fied, and amend the laws regulating the prastise of me dicine. He would not then enter into any detailed statement on the subject, but be should take an oppor- tunity of doing so en a future occasion. Sir G. GREY said he would offer no opposition to the course the Hon. Gentleman intended to adopt, but from communications which he bad received from members of different branches of the profession, he apprehended that the Hon. Gentleman would find a good deal of opposition to his Bill, and a good deal of discussion upon it when it should be brought under the notice of the House in a more detailed manner. Mr. WAKLEY said that he was quite aware that there would be a good deal of opposition to be met with, but having such a good example before him of the way in which opposition might be got rid of, he trusted that he should find means to divert a good do al of it. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. RECLAMATION OF WASTE LANDS. Mr. LABOUCHERE said, that he was unwilling to move, according to notice given, for leave to bring in a Bill for the reclamation of waste lands, without making some statement in explanation of the nature of the Biil and of the views and intentions of her Majesty's Government, is hich, under the present circumstances, would interfere with the progress of the discussion of the measure which had been under consideration in the House last night. lie should, therefore, postpone the bringing in of the Bill until that day week. CAPTAIN WYNNE. On the motion of Mr. C. 0. O'BRIEN, the follow ing returns were ordered ;--Copies of the several re solutions of the Liscannor Relief Committee, of the county of Clare, forwarded to Captain Wynne, inspect ing officer, or to Samuel Gamble, Esq., district engi neer, dnring the months of October, November, and De cember, 1846, and January, 1847, and of the several letters addressed by the chairman or secretary of the said com mittee to the said Captain Wynne, and Samuel Gamble, Esq., respectively, and of their replies respectively to the said resolutions or letters. Also of copies of the revised and supplementary list of labourers recommended by the said committee, or employed on the several works within the said district, as furnished by the said committee to Captain Wynne, distinguishing the labourers put on from each list, at the instance of the said committee, as also those put on by the said Captain Wynne or Samuel Gamble, Esq., in depenpent of such recommendation; and like% ise to move for copies of all charges proferred by the said committee against Patrick liPMahon, steward, and - Warren, overseer, in the said district, and of the report made thereon by the officers of the board, and the decision of the board in consequence of such report ; and stating whether the said Patrick &Mahon and - Warren, or either of them, are now in the employment of the board, and if so, in what district and capacity. Also, for a copy of the document referred to in Capt. Wynne's special report of the investigation held at Liscannor, on the 17th day of December, 1846, and included in ,the return to the order of this House of the 11th of Februar y' list. • COUNTY COURTS. Mr. BOUVERIE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Acts for the erection of County Courts. GREENWICH HOSPITAL. On the motion of Captain PECHELL, the following return was ordered:—Return of the several sums for freight money received by the Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital since the 29th day of November, 1837, with the date of such payments, and whether on public or private account ; also, the name of the ship or vessel in which the treasure was conveyed, and of the captain or officer commanding the same. THE SALVAGE OF THE THETIS. * Captain PECHELL postponed his motion for the production of the Bill of the Bill of the Admiralty re sp.cting the salvsge of the Thetis till that day week. ENGLISH POOR-LAW. Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice that, on Thursday he 29th, he would introduce a Bill for an alteration of the mode of administering the relief of the p.: , or iti Eog laacl and WLles. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition to which he wished to call the attention of the Noble Lord at the head of the Go vernment, it was signed by 500 of the delegates who had recently met to oppose the Government plan of education. Alderman Kershaw in the chair. It prayed that no grant of poste inonsy might be made to carry cut the order in Coon: it ; and cued on the 1 lowa- to take measures to have the Minutes revoked. te had also a petition against the education grant from the city of Durham, signed by from 17,000 to 18,000 inhabitants. He also presented one to the same effect from Sheffield, with 17,500 signatures. Lord H. - VANE presented a petition from Stockton upon-Tees to the same effect. ADJOURNED DEBATE. On the motion for the House resolving itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. E W ART rose, and in moving that in any measure for general education, it is expedient that schoolmasters and inspectors be not made the instruments of religious instruction, but that such religious instruction by the clergy of the different denominations, to whom every facility for imparting it should be given in tho several schools; also, that it is extremely de sirable iu any general education scheme, that a local representative system, by means of district bodies and through the instrumentality of an education rate, be ad.epted : that it is not desirable that schoolmasters should receive retiring pensions (or occasional gratui ties) from the Government. : that appointments under Government be not reserved (as proposed in the mi nutes) for unsuccessful candidates for exhibitions in the Normal Schools alone ; but be thrown open to general free competion, on the principle of impartial examination—said that he was desirous of approaching this subject with a calmness propro tionate to its importance, and to the degree of excite ment which it had created throughout the country. There was, in his opinion, no question which required a degree of deliberation equal to that which should be de voted to the subject of education, and he trusted that, whatever might be the sentiment on this most vital question, those who were the sincere friends of educa tion would cal innly and dispassionately consider that which was the best for the common good. He was himself one of those who had always been the firm and ardent supporter of a system or National Edu cation. The plan evidently affected the system of paro chial rating, and if it were to be carried out, that would certainly be by far the better mode to adopt. The same system existed in France, and was to a certain extent used in the direction of the grammar schools from this country. But be it good, or be it bad, M. Guzoit had adopted it.—(hear.) in the Government schemes of the country which he bad directed, and the whole of the system for education there was more or less founded on the representative system. The same principle prevailed more or less in Holland, Germany, and America, and he trusted that it would ultimately be used in this country. Be had not, without much deliberation and hesitation, come to this opinion, hut he believed that the Gave rnment ought to have embodied a more general principle in the plan which they had adopted, than any which had been propounded in the present debate. He had always felt that it was the duty of Government to assist, but not to interfere—to inter pose, if he might use so refined a distinction, but not to interfere. In this point, thefore, the Government pro ject was defective. It did too much or too little, and either way it fell short of its object.—(hear.) In the next place he thought any system of education should be purely English and national in its character. They could not impart exotic systems like that adopted by the Prussian Government. Let them recollect that they were legislating for England, not for continental countries. He would have the Government, as it were, from the nucleus of a system of national education, and would leave the agencies of the people free and uncontrolled. He would call out their energies as much as possible, and leave them entirely free ; and, lastly, that the Government should not interfere in matters of opinion ; and, last of all, should it interfere in matters of religious opinions. He thought that in encouraging a system of education it should rather give the people the means of forming opinions than endeavour to supply them with religious or educational opinions of any kind whatever. He should, therefore, proceed to deal with the Govern merit plan, and to consicer how far it accorded with these principles. The essential ingredients of the measure ware the introduction of pupil-teachers, stipen diary monitors, and provision for aged schoolmasters. This was the leading element or skeleton of the measure. It was said that this would endow the Government and the tChurch with a degree of control over the education of the people. Now, he had maturely considered the schemes, and he did not think that the objections made against this portion of the plan were jusitied by the facts of the case, because he did not see how the State could unduly control the pupil teachers, sti pendiary monitors, or normal schoolmasters, elected from the pupil-teachers became the managers of the schools, who would be entrusted with the distribu tion of the grants, and not the State would have the distribution of them. Then again, he did not see bow the Church could interfere with the schools, because the instruction and support of the some schools would be in the hands of other persons those connected with the Established Church, so that the Church could not interfere with the system of edu cation pursued in dissenting schools. The Church, it was true, might come in for a larger share of the start voted, but that would In an incidental circumstance if it occurred. He confessed he a ished that the distribution could be more equal, but he conceived that that was no argument against the justice of the measure. The leading feature of the scheme was the establishment of normal teachers and stipendiary monitors. lie had been very anxious to see this accomplished, having the greatest pt efetence for the character Of the schoolmaster, and believing that rt ally to influence education they should begin as this point, and improve the character of the schoolmaster before they hoped to improve that of the pupil. He therefore did not oppose this part of the pro position. Nor did he oppose that part of the scheme which established schools of industry, whether they were agricultural or otherwise, in the rural districts. This, he was of opinion, was a sound proposition, and he gave it his support. Again, the establishment of schools in workhouses and prisons was a system which deserved the support of every one, for there were no places where they were more wanted. He had now stated those parts of the measure to which he gave his adhesion, and he should therefore state those to which be offered his objection. He objected generally that a schoolmaster should be a teacher of reiigion.—(Hear, hear.) It was not his pro per province to meddle with theoretical doctrines. It might be enough, as was done in Ireland, to permit him to instruct in the general principles of religion. If they could agree about those Christian principles which ought to influence the lives of all—it they could establish a kind of neutral ground —on which various religions can meet as on a com mon basis why then they should teach them But he objected that the schoolmaster should be made the instrument of theology. It had been said, let the Scriptures be read every day to the schools, but he was very much afraid that it would become a mere task of wrote, and the repetition would prevent it from sinking into their hearts in the manner that it should. This system had been tried in Holland ; and those who had read the report of Mr. Poussein were aware that there they first made the schoolmaster the minister of religion in schools, but in a year or two afterwards they were obliged to alter the plan, and admit the clergymen of ;different denominations, and the :s) stem worked in the most eft; cttral manner, and had done ever since. When that great move ment to the liberality of the people of Liver pool, the corporation schools were established the clergy of different denominations were admitted to instruct the scholars in the place where the pupils rata, on the common grounds of secular instruction; and they thus learned that charitable intercourse between the sects which bound them in the bonds of union like one &mit ) . He objected to the sort of gratuity to the school masters, for while he had no objection to preserving their emoluments, he objected to the doing away with their independence. He had another great objection, that clause which ordered that where pupil teachers were ui.fitted for the offices of teachers they should still has. a chance in some of the offices connected with the excise or the customs. They he thought was offering a premium to the less able indi viduals to offer themselves for these schools, because it was in effect saying, "if you are not fitted for the one you will at all events be eligible for the other." He thought that all Government situations should be thowu open to public competition. ILEFT SPEAKING.] SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. ARNOTT, or CHATHAM DoCxYlatD.—Mr. Carter yesterday held an inquiry at the Clayton Ardis, Kennigton-oval, on the body of Mr. Robert Arnott, aged 70, master carpenter of the dockyard at Chat ham. Susan Austen, housemaid to Edward Russell, E sq ., 24, Kennington-oval , stated that the deceased had been staying with Mr. Russell on a visit, Mrs. Russell being his daughter. On Friday he had been out in the forenoon, and was apparently Hell. In the evening, about seven o'clock, she was called down stairs, and then found the deceased lying on his back, and quite dead. Ile had apparently been in the act of smoking a pipe, for he had one li g ht e d in h is hand. She sent the groom for Mr. Duke, the surgeon, of Ilarleyford-place, who came immediately, but his skill was of no avail. Mr. Arnott's son said his father had come up from Chatham for a change of air, and he considered he had been declining in health. Verdict—" Natura l death." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE. OF LORDS, April 19. OXFORD AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Lord LYNDHURST, who was very imperfectly heard, was understood to refer to the Committee of Inquiry which bad been recently appointed on this railway, and to state that he had been considering the objection which had been made as to the propriety of discontinuing the labour, of that Committee, in consequence of the matters in dispute between the North• Western and Great Western Railway Companies being still pending in the Court of Chancery, and was of op►nion that the inquiry should not be abandoned- Lord REDESDALE said that he was not in the House when the Committee was appointed, otherwise he would h ave opposed the motion, as he thought that the prin ciple which it reeogni l sell was a dangerous one, and that the House should not interfere with the legal possession of property. With these few remarks he should con clude, and if there was any opposition to his motion, he should not feel justified in pushing the matter to a deci sion before their Lordships. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that it was right to state to their Lordships that the question which had been raised in the Court of Chancery, and which was now pending before him, was, as to who were the legal directory of the Oxford and Dirrainglwe Railway. Thu question would, in all probability be decided in the course of the prusent week, and he thought, therefore, tat it would not be wise in their Lordships to conic to a decision which might, very probably, interfere with the jurisdiction of a court of law. It would seem admirable to him, therefore, to postpone the considera tion of the matter until after the decision of the Court of Chancery. Lord LYNDHURST said thskt the Vi3e-Chancello r to a decision that the directors, who had been eleeted in October, should go out in October, end it seemed, therefore, desirable ou all hands, that their Lord ships should not interfere, while the matter was pending in the Court of Chancery. The matter then dropped. GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE pres ented petition s in fermi. of the plan for Mansfield, Bridgewater, and s great :,umber of o th er pl ace : :; as also brveral egainstit. Lard BItOUGHANI wished to inquire what deter mination the Government had come to respecting the use of the auth , rised version of the Scriptures. Lie also wished to inquire whether there was any change in tho Minutes of Council of 1839; and sug gested that such alteration would materially aff:ct the votes of the House of Commons. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said there had been . no change whatever in the Minutes of Council; for , with respect to the authorised version, the rule was s ufficient l y established; and with respect to the money that was necessary to carry the plan out, the House of Com mons would at all times have the means at their command for directing it, and could bring their influence to bear uPe ll it from year to year. Lord BROUGHAM believed that the Ministry wee kd . not surely take any step in so important a matter w ithal ' the sanction of Parliament. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE conceived that so the whole of the plan would yearly be subjected to the consideration of the House of Commons, that it was al: necessary to bring it in, in any other shape, before thei' Lordships. POOR-LAW. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that be h ad anoth4 r petition to present, which was of a very differen t cliaraL ter. It was against the Poor-law Remo val Billy and he would take that opportunity of stating that es (here were two Bills bearing upon this subject , one for the c,xtens;on of the poor-19w in Ireland, and the other to enable landed proprietors to dispose of their estates with more facility than they now possessed, which might peg" sibly clash with each other, he proposed to take Lb• second reading of them both on the same day, and wok' therefore fix them for Thursday next. Lord. STANLEY - presented several petitions, both fo r and against the Irish poor-law. The Earl of RADNOR presented several petitions against the Government scheme of education. Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented four petitions t ° the same effect. CUSTOM DUTIES. The Earl of EGLINTON moved for certain re turns connected with the Custom Duties, which wer e agreed to. CASE OF CATHERINE FOSTER. The Marquis of WESTMEATH said he wished to direct the attention of the Government to the exectli tion of an unfortunate woman on Saturday 104 e Bury St. Edmunds. It appeared from the newePsch e rs that upwards of 10,000 persons were present. execution was conducted in such a manner as to Pro long the sufferings of the unfortunate creature for! considerable space of time ; and the assemblage of P e ' . s ons were so struck and horrified at the circumstance' that they called out shame, shame, murdbr, murder: He was one of those persons who unfortunately though: that this mode of punishing crime ought to be ° PS nued, but still he thought the sufferings of the unforty nate beings who came to those untimely ends should 1 4 he protracted by the carelessness of brutality of the e la. eutioner. A short time ago a similar case to this oe ' curred, and on its being brought under the attention 0 the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the . Home Department, a promise was given that the matte : ,hould be looked into, and measures taken to rep verit he recurrence of such a proceeding. Many years ago was quartered in the town of Sligo when an unfortunate man was brought out for execution. The drop be l l exceedingly high, the ropo broke, and the Inild :ell into the street, breaking both legs, IL, fracturing several of his ribs, and yet in that state was carried up again, and the sentence of the l aw ex ,e 0 cuted upon him. A similar case having occurre d in tut, very heart of the kingdom, he thought it was a p re p occasion upon which to call ' upon the GOVerI3WOLIt take steps to prevent a recurrence of such scenes. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said Governole.r.j.-5 would cause a careful inquiry to be made into t he cir cumstances. cumstances. He agreed with his Noble F r ieud 11 1:: while it was necessary to continue this mode of Pem*, went, it ought to be carried out with al l due solemn ity and caution. The subject thenMUTI dropped. NY BILL. (this day). and the report w a T s h o i r s d ß er i e l l d w t o e n b e t b h r r o c,: i g g h h t Committee , uP to - morr o w MARINE MUTINY BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the report WO ordered to be brought up to morrow (this day). Several Bills were advanced a stage, and their Lord? ships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. April 19. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then proceeded to the order of the day. lie said—Sir, I will now proceed to propose to read the order of the day wit h the view of proposing in Committee a resolu tion for education. In doing so, the House, I trust, will bear e ith me, and give me its indulgence. while I endeavour to clear away some of the exaggera tion with which it has been accompanied,—(Hear. hear.) And in connexion with which Honour able Members have been misrepresented and attacked in no ordinary manner, and called to give ac count of their conduct at public meetings and elsewhere. It is done by those who say they come to protest again st an irresponsible power, it is done by those who endeavour to show that the body who will have the management of this grant is unconstitutional, and that the gran t made from y ear to year—made by this House—placed ill th, 6 hands of the Ministers of the Crown, renewable at toe Ace pleasure of the Sovereign, and who cannot hold any longer than they have the support of this Hells" that such a mode of devoting money to the educatioe n of the people was an unconstitutional egj of proceeding. Why, how much more must we be responsible, hew_ ing this power upon such a tenure, than those Sir, talk of responsibilitg who assemble together from various parts of the co o ,: try, not responsible to any persons, an d who have t ! h a Hon. Members of this House that they will raise such opposition at a future election, that they shall no lonfr e have the honour of a seat in that House if they d o e i! 1 n the according to their free and impartial judgment "P questions now to be brought before yuu. I tru,t, House; entirely to the judgment and impartiality of this is and that they will not allow that these attemp exaggeration and misrepresentation shall h ide from,thert the real facts of the case.—(H ear , hear.) ,_ is well known that the educarion of the peop le —of the workine. c l asses especially — forms no a. part of the duty, either of the Government or, nationally speaking. of the Church of this country. The whole task of education has been 14ft, of late years, to volun tary efforts. In the year 1784, a person of the name of Raikes first started subscriptions for of the purpose of establishing Sunday schools, and was the means of diffusing a great amount education among the younger portion of the C 093111 9910. In the beginning of this century, when Mr. Lancaster came to this country', it was entirely by the efforts of in: dividuals that t he British and Foreign School Society was established, altogether unaided by a n y assistance from the funds of the Governmen t. So likewise when these schools were succeeded by the National Schools upon the plan of Dr. Bell. Al though the clergy took a great part in the establishment of these schools, it was done entirely by the money of the viduals among the clergy and the laity ; was in no way countenanced by the State. In the yea' 1832. I think a v o t e was proposed in this House, of a very limited amount, as it did not exceed 20,0001., for the purposes 'of aiding in the education of the working, classes. That sum was placed under the direction et the Trea s ury, and was stated to be intended for this purpose. I have mentioned the National SecietYo which was composed of members of the Church of England, and by the British and Foreign School Society, which had no other rule than this have the Scriptures read daily in the schools connected with that society, which was constituted, not of Church men only, but of Churchmen and Protestant Dissen ters. Sir, the matter continued in this shape till should he henceforth Treasuri 1839, when it was proposed to form a Con s ' mittee of the Council ; and that the sums which tho the had different hitherto ed b u e ca en tion granted eti b! t pass through the Committee of the Council , and_ Commitee instead of the whole Council, that that who being a large body, like the Treasury, was occupied witt! other concerns, should form a comm i ttee of counc il, spa that that committee, by the direction o he r Majesty' should have its attention expressly devoted b.", this particular subject. The L o rd President of the Council f that was placed at the head Committee, and he has t a k en th e c harge at late times; whether under the th en G overnm ent, the Government, or under the pr esen t Government. The the Lord President of the Council has at all times taken the charge of this matter, and of the distribution of the funds for the purposes of education, and has brought before the Council from time to time such regulatioes the adoption of which, he thought, would be useful. Sir, the appointment of that Committee in the first in stance gave rise to great differences of opinion in the country, and a very protracted and vehement discussion took place in this House on the subject. The Arch bishop of Canterbury, in the other House of Parlia ment, protested against the formation of that Committee, and against an scheme of education which was not brought by Bill y before Parliament. It was evident fo r some time the endeavours of the Committee of Council on the one hand, and that of the church on the other, were much weakened by these differences of opinion; and therefore the results were aot so successful as they would have been if they had net prevailed. The noes' lion was in this shape when it was prop osed that the inspectors who should visit the national sehoola bbould be appointed by the Council, with the concurrence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the prov i nc e of Cant er : bury ; and with the concurrence of the Archbishop o f York, in the province of York. That these s hould re port to the Committee of Council generally, al to the secular education, and that they should report ao to the nature of religious instruction a ccordin g to the liturgy of the Church of England; and that duplicates of these reports should also be eat to the Archbi.,hops, that if they withheld their c„nour relic° from the appointment , of that inspector or wer e dissatisfied with what he considered the conscientious discharge of his duties, his appointment cussed, and $ll4/ THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING,! APRIL 20, 1847.