The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-13 00:00:00

.--~--- but as gr. r; " 7 ..,11).)( wade t to th e put e fer to lea" cait the tone se before biJ emitted the le requestint e estate. t he bankruP:, r. o A ie ' bit s t gentlem.an. t o exam° ble course of [topped hti a w hat than ,bject nan g u ilty 0 . ;,purse of e% p for his cerro: J o great P w hen . ect rat the o b i prer nature l t i o 'ainev uP 6 6. no er ed th at questO n h to ask t er "c i s certi fica ed )u ld be gA ile b e ttering t ire tumely• atioo to CO art, wb eil t bet .hiug fo r h is V marlced ainationf rs and lettel solicitor, a°,B red up to S DA Y.) aI reoid ia 'edi'at the bs:, g outrage° M a ryleblr e ling ePP°,I3, ay aftera! , o l led in, s el t be rate, to re lie d" o r near ly int o given . 4 tined dative_ t hat o f y n od of Correc..ri )f the ill)" nora ,n o , 1 per9oll. n i tY.) n i ng bro toi , or re -es . l , era )ds of di a the pris ° , l3 h er e ca lled at,'P' 1, d 29 1 3 ' a ,e , : . t i t nnie9 o l , s , jld be r di, , was loweyer,rived d info ri er, the Pri" n ed len ,tbe a v., h too xit wit big d e ffect , B en t by Serf; iusburl, FiP P -street, rt),, ied p roPe dflf s. on th e )rouo2t,-t-or MP' ~ N pF importast ,s 1 ; , : 5 5f by in 4 the retard'v Ilyde 14ri 47. 3 ve " l iitts eon beb o We ehll'il t !fforts to g e _ L it,' in °f ete ; any lathe ) ComEn ittes to House • wheat till° I Deco-13)th that the in e non-i . /3 ter' e• f the peoP I inten ded to your 1155°' he follortiog ing recent l y Committee prov ie,ior! ,orting, an a "or creating ucation, by sses ° f the tain which robation of r oust a lso 110 13 to re tinued: ions of tbe L have use ~ niunittee o f au But if bra,' c he rec oe )serve nee in S °ll li f ac ting 1 d udent, o'g ese n tat . ° r p Si °rj iniP x-S -d ciation ca.'l of Col Ael t to subJe c o f ur renc . e A distnP b ,7o TbeY ti l , pr enti ce ir n be P e se bo r : s e cted an d tb ec rc ei erin hb io i sb l i ; and 0n linittee of of C rici a s ri t interld e i !, . ons to tP to * ja ; s o pew mpor tilo t it is 11 : cur le t" ; to ;co s )eloriging rVeSI e Y SCI biCh uthe rit: to 3, Pag e n didat e TO the , e cow' , ie on- zi:th t erefore ever be entered by any Church of England nor by am- inspector who did rot on . i. , y the erce of tile ~: mittee Pr:vi'ege , . It tht: managers of such schools desired the aid o ! Gove rnment to enable ohtoapprentice p u pil t eac h ers —t o procure for these 0 0l assistant s ex hibi t i ons to • N orma l sc h oo l s a t the close f their apprenti ceship--or an augmentation of the salaries L t heir mast ers , the principle on which the inspectors of 7"° 0 18 are appointed would oppose no obstacle to their appli cation for such a id, f or no person wou ld b e so employed who id n ot e n t, : , y - Th e „ the confidence of the Committee of Privileges. the Committee conception is a delusion which the proceedings of '-^Jininittee of Council as recorded in their minutes from the Year 1R abun dant - " 39 to thi s d ate di sprove . Th ose m inutes contain yr Proof that th e C omm ittee of Council have with un fiering impartiality endeavoured, on all occasions, to pro ttr the interests of the minority from civil injustice, while 1 1 ,7 have paid due respect both to the rights of conscience " 4 to the religious institutions and convictions of all classes of her M ajesty's subjects. I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient bumble servant, "JAMES PHILLIPS KAY SHUTTLEWORTH. 4e t Robert Eckett, 6, Argyle-square." P ARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS (Fre the Votes and Proceedings of the Rouse of Conant us.) FRIDAY, MAZCH 12. Th e L r • vt,oilowing Railway Bills were read a second time, com '-"lta:°, and referred to the Committee of Selection : IKr e t and Edmonton Extension. o eater and Birmingham and North Staffordshire Junction. 4 ,l9Vorcester, and Wolverhanntan (No. I—Extension t di 4 llb amendment). Ur gh and Northern (Improvement of the Ferry be en Fer r y P or t on C ra i g an d th e N or thern Shore of tltzhe River Tay) b i , ', „ °lme (from 'the Leeds and Selby Railway to Gains rc'tigh, with Branches). T, STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. v 4, followin Resolutions were reported from the above Melia • g l. That ,•— peti t i in the case of the South Metropolitan Waterworks on, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with . . dl e That in the case of the Westminster and Part of Mid- Sewers petition, for leave to deposit a petition for a th e , t he standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That 3. P 1 t ie d be permitted to deposit their petition accordingly. NI hat the Committee having,considered the Special Re. nlade by the Examiners on the Glasgow, Kilmarnock, W ith Ardrossaa Railway (Amendment, Deviations, and fact ri , che s) petition, are of opinion that, with reference to the With.therein stated, the standing orders have been complied N at and that,: with reference to so much of their report as tn itt " t° the petition for the Bill referred back to the Com itted to ti one e , e for re-consideration (together with the above-men orde Special Report), they are of opinion that the standing p t : ought to be dispensed with, and that the parties be proceed with their Bill. th e e t Ztr and third resolutions agreed to.—Report to lie on IpT Th --, s GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. Waterford 1 ,„„ e following Railway Bills are appointed to be read a 'lid tim e TUESDAY, MARCH 16. and Limerick. qlo t , WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17. ce ster and Hereford Railway and Canal Purchase. Ij i , b i u rgh and Glasgow, Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Bal °t Leas e. -the and Slamannan Railways Amalgamation, Sale, RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. Th e , WEST LONDON RAILWAY. ialf-yearly meeting of this company was held yester th,t the a. , H. Grounds in the chair. The report stated. it 4 i he lessees declined to bring the line into operation until h a : i extended to the Thames. The claim of a landowner Bale ac bean decided, they will now be enabled to close the af ter ac colint with the London and North-Western Company ; knights which the deposits made upon the Thames and 84C bridge Extension shares will be returned to the `'Qribers. The line is to be extended by the Great ISr e ea l e ril Company across the Thames to join the South all,' ;till Railway The receipts were stated to be 272,0351., t he disb u rsements . 271,8901., leaving a balance of cash in ,d of 1 44/. belhe d irectors expressed their confidence that they would en to introduce a clause into the Act to protect the 7eats of th e company. th:ilolutions were passA adopting the report, re- electing o:_airectors, who go out by rotation, and authorising the pe7lors to attach the common seal of the company to a lion to Parliament for powers to compel the Great West ti .and London and North-Western Companies to carry out e 4 agreement with the West London Company. D A BRITOL AN EXETER RILWAY. , I mt a Special meeting held at Bristol, A on Thursday, the ' ra nghts of two Bills now before Parliament were approved k "-- Make a branch railway, from Lyng near Taunton, to 111 the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway, at Castle ; and also to make a br anc h li ne f rom Bl ea d on t o h ,Llatonbury. It was mentio ne d th a t an agreement h a d b een - "Me with the Exeter and C re dit on R a il way C ompany , ~*hich had be e n s u b sequen tl y repu di ated and rejected by ni proprietors of the latter railway ; but it was thought %at a Parliamentary Committee would set the matter to lights. The meeting, in the meantime, sanctioned that Ntreement, in accordance with the wish of the directors. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) -E LATE ACCIDENT AT HER MAJESTY'S NEW PALACE. u ltAncit 12.—1 t is stated that some men were employed p`P'N'ing a centre under one of the arched passages of the ~`( o ipal building now in progress when the arch gave way, k fell on the scaffold below, precipitating that and the on it to the ground, a distance of nearly forty feet. The the ti foreman of thebricklayers, who was on the arch at talh a nil e giving directions to his men, fortunately escaped . I , ery rt, but three of the men on the scaffold were injured dead ; 1 1 ri4,1 i; indeed, James Blake WAS thought to be e Jacobstill remains in a very dangerous state. Clement "acob has been set, and he is going on favourably, of th e 1 ' 17 4 had two of his ribs fractured. In consequence were tak ' e : ri vY fall of snow, the men employed on building bee n otf in the morning, or the loss of life might have herj 1)1 p ,"erY seriou s • t here has Often been a hundred men em °n this part (4f the work. On hearing of the accident L t liist„ a i es tY and the Prince gave directions that every qotr r „ - "ce should be rendered the sufferers. Drs. Cass and th, ""eister, her Majesty's surgeons, have been attending on the Court men. t; lt e , i Court leaves Osborne on the 17th. ER AL 'nix Hort. SIR EDWARD PAGET, G.C.B.—This I +'e arm,(Alleer has been very seriously ill all the winter, but, l ing'%Py to say, is now better than he has been for a Period. 40, , 1 , 14 tC AL KIIBERNIAN BALL.—Another opportunity 'Jee r , ; exercise of those benevolent feelings, which have feri„ 'ready so munificently manifested in behalf of our suf tan countrymen, presents itself on the occasion of a I Ht. is to take place at Willis's Rooms, on the 7th of .ttish . - ()nth, in aid of the funds for the relief of the destitute ra lliv t Much as has already been done by the English coin • tlo l4h t ?' to forward this most humane object, we have no i Ilti on ",t,hat the public will eagerly respond to this fresh ca t4it their smpathy. The ball is under the patronage o f a nd „"Yal ll ighnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, G u°;: n e of the most exalted of our nobility, and is also the et, t-nan ced by some influential gentlemen connected with 41.)de-rDeration of London. The tickets are issued at b a I, r a te Price, and there can be no doubt that, under t e 4 11 eedenee of the committee of managemen . t,. the are ti will be such as to ensure to the visitors the t eii, e 't degree of personal enjoyment in the practice of t i n . recreation while they will have the mop gra are' , !etlection that in pursuing their own pa stime they If .ja ting in a work of genuine and comprehensive charity. bur c e , u nderstand that Mr. W. F. Beadon will succeed 1:1,,, 1v e as police magistrate at Wandsworth. he I n " BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.- 111 4 3 - ,i lintl al general meeting of this society was held on and Ir , a Y evening, at the Albion tavern, Aldersgate-street, t 'qie very numerously attended ; among those present sett Ihlr 4 e " - -111r. B. E. Green, Mr. E. Hodgson, Mr. Brown, Mr. Fellowes, Mr. Greenland, Mr. Baldeck, Mr. Ives, the „," • Sharp, and a large body of members intere ted in }..ftl.ess of the institution, which was established about yeas sec ago, for the purpose of relieving booksellers and ecs a " era assistants. their widows and children, "when in ‘ ,' 1411 5 circumstances." The chair was taken by Mr. no te ii''-‘ , ititiet, of Berners-street, the President of the institu kid after some formal business had been gone through, ele t Zort of the directors for the past year was read by the st kisi a "Y h ._ Secretary, Mr. Meyrick, and received with great N I ;5. We are sorry our limits will not permit of more c . ', - !'erY short notice of the state of the institution as dis -Idilie ,",.3" the report; but it will be sufficient to say that t he amount granted in .relief was larger than in any r „t, O e ,ar, the funds of the society are sti l l rap idl y increas i 7•oo(inng reached in a short space of tim e u p wards t and ing the very liberal c b o b n t r t i ta lli • 's 'mei the tr ade in support of the retreat at Ao 's lottiV,ta most valuable branch of the parent soc i ety... bt A s, ,"sd t zluanks was passed to the President, Vice - Presidents, 8 414 tees , for their assistance during the past year. M • "" - k• the chairman of the reli• f committee, passed some Pell.terited encomiums upon the honorary medical officers T etee n ` r - Pellowes warmly enlogised the services of the . Ineei` a r, Secretary, who returned thanks for the compli keilt Plud him. The directors also received the acknowledg- Paid a of the meeting for the labour and attention they had 1 1 4^ t° the institution during the past year ; and after a is ,7ita,uus vote of thanks to Mr. Nisbet, the chairman, who ktro tis ie remost in works of benevolence, one of the . mo . st !u- Par t 11 ( 1 pleasant meetings ever held by the institu ion par .le4, -vi sion FROM THE UNITED STATES. — The Johj, C lay from New York, Richmond from Charleston, and .r erp oc 'i ar rew from New Orleans, which were reported at Li -4011,. ~°l ' the 10th and 11th instant, bring 2,103 barrels refs bags and 2,290 quarters Indian corn, 1,277 bar -I),:an corn meal, and 23,294 bushels rice. bt en ir i AL MATERNITY CHARITT.—Her Majesty has th is t,e •B —, `-' to intimate that she will become the patron of "geeti which, since its foundation in 1757, has affor d ed as s i ti.. el . relief to 346,357 necessitous married women, by and 81i % them in their accouchement at their own homes, .1-10 1)1 /ing them with medicines, &c. 4 144 Lxcellency Count Raczynski, Prussian Pert u er , at the Court of Lisbon, has arrived in town from Si gal, and is about to proceed to Berlin. Ex e n Robert and Lady Peel's dinner party was to his kitr,, - ; en cY the American Minister and Mrs. Bancroft, the c 't ° f Chandns, Lord Hcwden , the Speaker, the Dean I Pli le l" i noster and Mrs. Buckland, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. R. M. Eti . 11. • Win. Hamilton, Mr. Pickersgill, Mr. Barry, Landseer, Mr. Panizzi, Mr. E. Smirke, &c. of k naz i te CH PLAYS.—Her Royal Highness the Duchess j.lt, attended by the Ladies Fanny and Mary Howard, a `ree c h a p tn i es . Alui . .ray," and Sir George Cooper, honoured the P ot , 5 3 8 with her presence last evening. ktr eu B , c) llie time past, Mdlle. Mars, the celebrated 44 8 been seriously ill, and her malady has now be hop, O a, alarming that her ' friends have not the slightest it being able to save her.— Galignani. 13,..nudinwas erroneously stated, yesterday, that the "inda o -g a 9bining the royal dairy in the Home-park, at aupPl r , ,is intended for the slaughtering of cattle fo r . the e aatfs. et the royal household when residing at Windsor t b oilin The truth is, that the building in question is simply and ota l annse, for the purpose of boiling Swedish turnips ste ad our vegetabks for feeding cattle and poultry ; and, in kitemn now being i n course of erect i on, i t was erecte d l ast r; Ind has been in use these four months. Eger L ATE DOW AGER C OUNTESS OF S HREWSBURY . the „Ladyshi P.before her death, transferred to her chaplain fr 4e v• Al e tn he r Pulls Staples, the yearly to,anuity of 3,100 f. of . Preneh funds, and has secured him an annuity le gate '' , fro m , her En glish Lad ' and one f property. He is also, the residuary 2 5 ,Yshi r , , , 0 the acting executors under the will. Her "uuk Personal Property in this country is estimated at THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCII 13, 1847 SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. TRO't TIIP MORNING PAPERS OF ts D.Y. TIMES.—Lord John Russcli does 11l 'estate ti difficulty a his path when he says that and darkne, rest over Ireland, and legislation is beset with perils. Often and often as statesmen may have thought that they had come to the bottom of Irish distress, no one can deny that a worse than.all has arrived, and, moreover, that a worsestill remains. The half of a populous island, usually verging on famine, now actually suffers that dreadful extremity; nor is there any appearance of early relief The usual food of the people has perished, and threatens not to return for a period far beyond the calculations of man. The only storehouse to which the public purveyor can look for relief is that natural magazine crested by the industry of the people, over and above their own simple wants, and usually reserved for the payment of rent and other outgoings; and the supplies providentially arriving from distant shores. The former of these is that which common sense and economy would teach us most to depend upon. But here is the difficulty. To arrest that nourishing and fertilising stream on its course, to de tain it on the spot, to convert it into the relief of distress, the wages of labour, and the material of reproduction, is at least an apparent and possible loss to those who have hitherto exacted, wasted, or alienated this store. Hence a serious striiggle between the rights of the many and the rights of the few—between starving peasants and straitened pro prietors—between famine and pestilence on the one hand, and decay of fortune and position on the other. Such are the perilous alternatives before the House. Such the clouds and darkness over Irish affairs. For our own part, we do not hesitate to avow, as we have ever avowed on similar occasions, that at such a crisis the few must give way to the many,the part to the whole. While we most thoroughly, and at the same time most gladly, believe that the pro prietors exaggerate the sacrifices demanded at their hands, we assert with all boldness that land was created for man, and not man for land ; that landlords are made fur the people, and their peculiar interests are only ministerial and subordinate to the good of the whole. A general in the field must lay hold of the stores that he finds, and devote them in the first instance to that purpose which he is bound to con sider a paramount object—the maintenance of his army. The compensation he- may think proper to afford to the owners is another and a secondary question. What is Lord John Russell but our commander-m-chief in an unex ampled campaign ; Ireland the field, famine the foe, and the army a vast population, without magazines, order, material, or, in a word, any other resource than the boldness and skill of their chief ? The necessity of the crisis admits not the usages, or, rather, the abuses of peace. If an evil custom has deprived the labourer of his hire, this is just the time to found a more equitable system. Labour and wages, popula tion and wealth, have suffered a long divorce, and must now be reconciled. Grant that the change is great, and what a man would not willingly undertake ; it is forced on the Legis lature. Society is reconstructed in disaster; each new birth is in throes, and institutions are the monuments of wrong. In "clouds and darkness" it is necessary to take a short and simple rule, the guieance of great moral truth. The first law of nature, that the people must be fed, and that more particularly from the work of their hands, is the clue of this labyrinth. In the public weal an enlightened statemen will discern the cloud by day and the pillar by night through this terrible wilderness ; and public weal is an empty name, unless it includes- the relief of those who are ready to perish, and the employment of those who are able to work, but have not the opportunity. The Minister takes an unassailable position when he rests the new Irish Relief Bill on the new facts of the case. He is entitled to call it the child of necessity. It is contrary to the theories of his less experienced age, and less fearful times. Ireland has under gone a virtual revolution. The food of independent poverty has failed. The spontaneous charity of the lower classes has been cal: eusted. The armies of mendicancy have been destroyed or disbanded. All that miserable system which was rather an apology for society than a civilized society itself, has fallen to the ground. Politicians held it up as long as they could. Secretaries of State found it convenient, and eulogized the noble and trustworthy custom of a per petual and inbreeding beggary. The right of preying on the infant resources of rising enterprise, and blighting the first bloom of prosperity, was cried up as a sacred and icfallible refuge, which it would have been im pious to supplant with the coarse expedient of a poor's rate. All that is passed. Providence, not man, has put an end to that folly. The cottier remains without a crop; the beggar without a dole. A physical revolution has over thrown the reign of mendicancy and conacre. There is no possible, no conceiveable alternative, but to create another system on the ruins, or, rather, in the place of the old. Time is the greatest innovator, and we only submit to his laws when we erect a new system on a new foundation—that is, the present facts of the case. Without a real poor-law, offer ing relief to the destitute and employment to the idle, how are we to meet the phenomenon of a people in the midst of comparative abundance, but deprived of their wonted food; paying rent, but without a maintenance; depending on a root that will not thrive, or on neighbours that cannot give? A great crisis justifies and demands " a great experi ment." The dictates of nature are interpreted by the voice of the people ; and from all sides are returned "innumerable echoes " to the Ministerial decision. In vain does Mr. Shaw invoke that jealousy of popular interference, and that reaction against an out-door pressure, which Legislatures are so apt to experience. For our own humble selves, we can truly reply that Mr. Shaw ascribes to us an influence which we neither possess nor de sire. The people of this island, who are now imperiously de manding that Ireland shall no " longer be without a good poor-law, would be as little disposed to ascribe that unani mous wish to our simple suggestion, as the House of Com mons itself. What would our words have been worth had we not known that we appealed to a national sentiment, and to the simple facts of the case? We have no strength but truth, and we claim no credit but for having stripped the question of all prejudice and disguise. CHRONICLE.—The last of the Irish confiscations is at hand. History records four great ones, which were all, so to speak, in the same direction. The fifth will be something like a reversal of three of those ancient injustices. Eliza beth, the first James, Cromwell, and William created, by successive batches, the greater portion of the landed proprie tary of Ireland. The plantation of James in the north still stanis secure. It can bear an English poor-law almost as well as England. But the descendants of the Elizabethan adventurers, and of the Cromwellian and Williamite soldiery, had their doom pronounced last night by Lord John Russell. The Noble Lord spoke with the tone of a man whose mind is made up. He is navigating in a fog, but he has at least de termined upon one thine to be done, and we scarcely expect to see him waver until he feels that the ship is aground. Let us not, however, be supposed capable of doing injustice to a man for whom difference of opinion cannot abate our respect. In applying an extended poor-law to Ireland, we have no shadow of doubt that Lord John Russell acts from a strong conviction that it will improve the condition of the people of that country. His sanguine anticipations, the bright colours in which he paints the future, the touch ing warmth of language and manner in"which he appeals to every noble feeling in the Irish breast, and the generous confidence in which he imagines priest, peasant, and pro prietor combining to work a poor-law, without a taint of selfish passion to give rise to abuse, would convince us, if we did not already know as much from the character of the Noble Lord, that he has full faith in the soundness of his own policy. No Minister, we believe, has ever dealt with this painful and oppressive Irish question in a more honest and earnest spirit. We can only lament that facts the broadest and mast palpable fail to make their due impression upodehis mind, that in employing means to attain useful ends - he should seem insensible to all breaks and chasms in the reasonings by which he connects causes and effects to gether, and that he should waste unrivalled opportunities and resources in reliance upon a delusion which must connect the memory of his Administration with the discredit of signal failure. The statement of last night had reference, first, to the extraordinary relief works, upon which nearly three millions and a half of the Irish population are now de pendent for support ; and, secondly, to the Bill for a perma nent extension of the Irish poor-law. With reference to the first point, we shall simply repeat, as bearing upon the second, the amount of expense, and the fact of the existence of grievous abuses. The expenditure upon the public works has increased thus : September and October ... £54,000 November ... ... 208,000 December ... ... 545,000 January 736,000 February ... ... 944,000 This is independent of the Commissariat and some other ex penses. We are at this moment, then, expending at least 250,000/. per week, out of which, according to the statement which we published yesterday, ten western and southern counties must be receiving 160,0001., or at the rate of eight millions a year, for the relief of their poor. As to abuses, they were inevitable. The superintendence of the Board of Works is as perfect as it is in the nature of such a thing to be, but it cannot secure the honest performance of task work. It has been necessary to adapt the tack to the powers of the feeble, who without such merciful consideration would have starved. But the strong, as might be expected, have taken advantage of the laxity, and we hear of the able-bodied coming lazily at eleven o'clock. in the day to do the easy work of a woman er a child. This has happened, we say in evitably happened, even under a vigorous and well-ordered superintendence. Lord John Russell, however, maintains that such experience is anything but conclusive against out door relief to the able-bodied under a poor -law. The prin ciple of giving out-door relief to the able-bodied, we can no longer doubt, will be legalized in Ireland with a bond fide in tention to carry it into effect. In what manner the Govern.: ment is ultimately to withdraw its hand from the immense mass of destitution which it now sustains, and to let the weight down upon the boards of guardians, we do not yet understand. Orders, indeed, are issued to disband the army of paupers upon the works by succes sive detachments, but as they leave the works they come upon the soup kitchens. They will still feed out of the Treasury. Six months will bring the harvest, but what will the harvest bring? Take those ten counties of two-thirds of the n. Govern ment. the south and west , in w hich 480,000 p ersons, representing a whole population labouringof two class, millions, are and now forming hanging tw• upon thtirh ment. Assume that the land will be generally tilled--though how it is become so, when the dismissal of the workmen is only to begin on the 20th of March, we cannot see. In the most favourable event that we can hope for, what will the t h h a e rv r es ieh t . bri T ng he ? til luxuries pe a a for will not be grown. The potato acre will require at least two cheap Nat potatoes, datopersOduexcteievilet p a ot f a ew to o a f s acres of grain to replace it. But we can scarcely expect so much as one. The land which, in the ordin ar y course would have grown potatoes in the present year, instead of being so much added to breadth sown with corn, will green crop only partially usable as human food , , or will be grow some laid down in pasture. How, then, are the two millions of paupers in the south and west to be got off the soup kitchens? Suppose them reduced to- one million, is the one mil lion to be handed over to the care of the boards of guardians? No one who reads Lord John Russell's speech can avoid feeling that it does not deal with the tremendous difficulty arising from the mass of destitution in certain dis tricts. He expects a poor-law to work in those districts, without showing any clear conception of the amount of pau perism which the machinery of a poor-law can endure with out breaking down. What will be the extent of the ordi nary pauperism of the ten counties, if our chief reliance for removing it is to be placed upon a poor-law? Their work houses are built to accommodate 40,000 persons. They now contain 50,000. Let the aged and infirm be removed, and let the flood of able-bodied poverty roll into the space so va cated. Fifty thousand will be housed. One-twentieth of the million whom we have supposed to remain destitute after harvest will be off the roll of the soup kitchens. The towns, which even now for the aged and infirm only are levying 4s. and 55. rates, will be making assessments of 10s.in the pound, though with no great prospect of collecting them. Still we have the nineteen-twentieths, the 950,000 in these ten counties, en our hands. Are we to transfer them, or a part Of them, and how many of them, to the unions as out-door paupers ? The counties in question have no doubt a rental of five millions to be taxed, but how far \ will it go, and by what kind of measure is it to he made available ? Lord John Russell thinks the sheet-anchor upon which he can rely for a safe administration of out-door relief is the local board, with its strong interest in keeping down the local rate. Suppose the boards should look so very sharply after this interest, as to refuse to assess a rate four times, five times, or tea times the amount of any former one? restive even upon a matter C of as a tl a e h b i a l r lin h g as i b n eg t u h n e — po b u ec n o d m . ii The local board there is at an end, and the rate is to be made and levied by paid Govern ' ment officers. The Ballina board has struck a new rate of 12,0001., which it declares at the same time cannot be col- NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. I et ed. A loan therefore is demanded to prevent twelve bun ' 1 wretches from being turned out to die. The Scarier union ~ r PLYMOUTH, MA.Rcit 11. —ller Majesty's steam-vessel ~i - , I - 4- wants a moan. The Cavan union , has even fingered Bloodh - ieut( g ‘ • .... „ '..; 'll‘.l'r Robert Phillips, a trifle of the Government money. What is to he done, , dispatches fir the Admiralty, she brings the letters ofcame in 11, s I;)ruin 11 nod Oporto. Besides if the guardians of these western and southern unions will not, or cannot, collect the r ates? Di sso l ve t h em , an d the Oriental and Peninsular Company's steam-ship send down paid officers. The paid officers can ,easily assess, Tiber, lost oil' Oporto on the 21st ult. The Bloodhound but l'ow are they to collect? Does it seem likely that any is the bearer of letters from her Majesty's ships Trafalgar, considerable rate can be got from the occupiers? If not, is 120, Captain J. N. Nott ; Hibernia, 104, Captain P. there any provision for putting receivers upon the estates of Richards ; C ano p us , 84, C apta i n F . M ores by ; Superb, y ; the landlords? We really do not see how, if the law is to be 8 0 , C apta i n A. L. Corr America, 50, Captain Sir I '. vindicated in the west and south, it will be possible to stop Jackall Maitland •, Thetis, Captain Codrington ; the steam short of a system in which local agency will be entirely at sloo Medea, Commander Hammond ; and the steam an end, and by which the administration of relief will become Since she came in harbour the Bloodhound towed It a Government operation, the rents being collected as ; vessel,Commander Western. rates to defray the expenditure. What, then, is to be done? It i s -clear that some other large measure, something more from Barnpool into the Soend her Majesty's sloop than an extension of employment which loans to landlords Mariner, 12, Commander Mathison, under a salute from will create, something which will reduce the pauperism of her Majesty's ship gaeen, 110, Captain Sir H. J. Leeke. those districts within manageable limits, is an indispensable The Mariner i s t hi s d ay to b e pa id a d vance , a nd in preliminary to the working of any poor - law. Here lies the spected by Admi ra l Si r J o h n L ou i s , w h en s he will be deficiency of the Government policy. When is it to be, or ready for sea. is it to be supplied? PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 12.—The Curlew mortar-ves sel returned to harbour last evening, the official experi mental trial having been declared eminently successful. Colonel Armstrong, of the Royal Artillery, and Captain Chads, of th e E xce ll ent, were the officers appointed by the Admiralty to report upon this trial, which took place at St. Helen's yesterday, under the personal superin tendence of the inventor, Lieutenant Julius Roberts, of the Royal Marine Artillery, and in the presence also of Captain Henderson, C. 8., of the Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Wilford, Royal Artillery, Professor Main, of the Royal Nav a l College, Lieutenants Schomberg, Bits table, Heins, &c., of the Royal Marine Artillery, Lieuts. Hodgkinson and Burroughs, of the Excellent, and other officers. AMERICAN NEWS. It is unnecessary t o d e t a il t h e p r i nc iple upon which Lieutenant Roberts' mo r ta r i s su spended, as a minute detail was given with the report of the first experimental trial. Yesterday the firing commenced soon after eleven, with shells (loaded) we i g hi ng 2001 b. each ; two dis charges being made with 51b. of powder each, two with 81b., two with 121 b., two with 151 b., and 18 with the full service charge of 201 b. The times of flight with each of these discharges were as perfect as from any mortar fixed on a land battery at an elevation of 45 degrees—the angle at which Lieutenant Roberts's mor tar was suspended—thereby proving the correctness of range it would always give (4,200 yards) with a full service charge. The whole of the pillars and framework which sup ported the mortar were not in the sligh tesedegree shaken or moved. The deck planking was a little raised by the explosive effects of the charge. After proving most satisfactorily the efficacy of the mortar slung upon Lieu tenant Roberts' plan, a trial was made of it" fixed" after the usual manner, to see the difference of the two prin ciples more forcibly. The mortar was therefore secured. as well as its peculiar position would admit, by means of chocks behind, to prevent its recoiling, and to cause the shock to act downwards, 0.3 in land or other fixed mor tars, and fired first with a charge of 51b. of powder, which produced but little consequence beyond the chocks being forced out and the muzzle jumping upwards ; two other discharges were then made with 1216. an d 201 b. o f powder, which produced a strikingly manifest impression on the vessel, causing her to plunge deep into the water, forcing the muzzle of the mortar upwards with a su dd en jerk and striking it forcibly against the cross bar, on which it is mainly suspended, flattening the edge of the muzzle and also the links of the chain cable supporting it. The, ship also commenced to show cons id era bl e weakness from the concussion, which left no doubt but that a succession of charges fired upon this " fixed" principle would soon destroy the vessel. Thi s mos t in contestibly debided the question of the vast superiority of the slung over the fixed mortar. The Bloodhound steam-vessel, Lieutenant. Commander Phillips, arrived at Spithead this morning from the Tagus, last from Plymouth, where she yesterday landed all her dispatches, mails, &c. She left Lisbon this day, fortnight, when the Hibernia, Trafalgar, Canopus, Su perb, America, Thetis, and Jackall steamers were there The Thetis was ordered home to repair the damages she sustained by getting aground on entering Lisbon. The Superb and America were to accompany her to the chops of the Channel, to which time they would compete in sailing under the orders of,Captain Corry, of the Superb. The Jackall iron steamer had been aground, discovered that the iron on her bottom was worn to and on being hauled up on the be ach at Lisbon it was within a quarter of an inch in thickness. Commander G. Blane, late First Lieutenant of the Spartan, has come home. The Mariner naval transport, Lieutenant Still, agent, arrived this morning from Bermuda with 210 convicts, whose let ms have expired, under the charge cf Surgeon M'Crea, RN., and old stores. Captain Frankland, late of the Alarm ; Captain Noble, late Commander of the Vindictive ; and Lieutenant W. E. Shaw, late of the En dymion, came home passengers in her. She will dis charge such of her returned prisoners as have belonged to the naval service into the hulks at this port, and pro ceed with the remainder to the river, where they will be placed at the disposal of the Home Secretary. The African steam tug, master commanding Barker (acting), sailed to-day for Sheerness. The Monkey steam tug, Mr. W. Bryant, second master commanding, sailed for Woolwich this evening. The Talbot, 26, Captain Sir Thomas Raikes T. Thomp son, Bart., is hourly expected here from Soath America with a second freight of money. We do not clearly understand the terms on which the naval authorities manage these things, but we apprehend it is scarcely reconcileable with the principles of strict justice for one officer, and that one too, a man of title, and, we may thence presume, of fortune, to bring home two freights in the course of one term of service, when there are so many poor officers to whom such a matter would be a real God-send. The Talbot is ordered, on her arrival here, to be paid off all standing, and to be immediately recommissioned to carry meal and other provisions to Ireland. It is understood she will be officered and man ned from the flag ships. CHATHAM, Marton 12.—The Antelope steam-packet is alongside the Shere hulk, and is now masted. She has also received on board a sufficient quantity of ballast to bring her down to the proper draught of water to enable her to proceed o n a tr i a l tr ip, w hich it is expected she will make in a few days. The Terpsichore corvette, building by Messrs.Wigram at Blackvvall, will b e read y going out of dock on the 18th inst , when s h e w ill b e i mme di ate ly towed to this port , to be fitted f or comm i ss i on. . The Sanaarang, 26 gu ns , i n d oc k, fitting for a guard ship,at Gibraltar, w ill b e undocke d nex t, spring tides. She is nearly coppered, and will be ready to proceed on her voyage about the end of this month. The Rochester, Sedgwick, master, sailed this day with stores for Portsmouth and Plymouth dockyards. Messrs. Rigby and Co. have taken the contract for the internal fitments of the new school for the dockyard ap prentices at the sum of 315/. John Yokes, storehouse labourer, which situation he has filled for some yea rs , h as b een , superannuated on a pension of 20/. per annum . The Royal Dockyard b a t ta li on f or the service of this yard, is to consist of 12 compan i es; comprise 75 men. A f our gun b atter y is to be imme diately constructed at th e east en d o f the yard for the service of the battalion. eac h company will A distressing accid en t occurre d on Wednesday to Edward Benton, a sawyer, in the e mploy of Messrs. Baker, of Lambeth, and who are the contractors of the new works carrying on for the enlargement of the yard, who had his right leg broken by a piece of timber cant ing on it. The sufferer was immediately taken to Mel ville Hospital, where he now remains. RAILWAY RETURNS. RAILWAY TBAFFIC.—The following are the Total Receipts of Rail ways for the past week—that is to say, up to the date to which the respective returns are made, together with the receipts of the same week in the previous year: 4 a, WeeS Last a, t z ending NAME OF RAILWAY. week. X-,ch U 5 to c.) .5 X x Mar. 6 Arbroath and Forfar •••••-• • • • • • • • 212 iB7 5 Chester and Birkenhead . _ 7 Dublin and Drogheda •••••••• • • • • • • • 734 621 9 Dublin and Kingstown 7 Dundee and Arbroath . Durham and Sunderland .• •••••-- •• • • 6 Edinburgh and Glasgow . ... ........ 3,234 2,965 7 Eastern Counties and North Eastern • • 8,655 6,664 6 East Lancasihre •••••••••• • • • • " • • • • 797 Feb. 28 Eastern Union ••••••••• • • • • • • • • ..... 413 Mar. 6 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr ••• • • • 2,157 1,952 6 Glasgow and •••• 807 Gravesend and Rochester.• ••••• • .. _ -- 6 Great Southern a nd Western •••• • • • • 1, 0 45 ._ 7 Great Western, &c ••• • • ..... - ***** • 15,708 16,075 Feb. 24 Ipswich and B ur y Mar. 6 London and North Western, &c 35,320 35,875 7 London and Blackwall.• • • • 7Ol - 6 London and Brighton .••••••• • • • • • • • 5,076 4 412 L on dou and Croydon. 7 London and South Western - ...... ~ ,• •8 6 Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Assoc.. 6 Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Manchester, Bolton, and Bury - „„. 7 4 7 75 9 ? 700 Feb. 28 Maryport and Carlisle •.-•• • • • • .... 1 , 61 9 528 ' 43 6 , Mar. 6 6 sMeitlacnasdu, o ßr a i n st d ol c , a a r ld isi ß e l . r . m .. l7h .. m . n .. ....... rt ,, ,0 nn13,, 14,915 Newcastle and North Shields- ..„ .. `L v " 1,718 6 Newcastle and Berwick •• •• - „,... 1,5 60 0 1 1 446 67 NorthN o ro 1 k.. British .. . . .. .. : .. : : .• •• •• •• : •• : •• : •• •• •• : •• : .. 1,194 8 Paris and Rouen . 540 477 6 5 sitherestowsnburyand a l n V d y re Chester... ... .... .... : .. ..... ...... ...... 319 6 South Eastern and Branches ........ 5 South Devon ........ .• . .... .... - - 5 '7_ 6 _ 6 571%9 6 Taff Yale ........................ ~. .:2 2 _ 8 _ 7 Ulster . ........ •• •• •• •• -..- ..... . .' dUI 6 York and Newcastle .••• • • • • ....... 724 9 6 ° 8 3 5 '6 York and North Midland .........., 8 % ' 2 . 06 . 6 ,584 o t9b 4,593 wti,vlaol 55, ls 927 A NEW ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. --The Eco Sau murois states, that at this moment there is being established te aolm t l rain is Passim"; on the Tours and Nantes Railroad an apparatus composed of an iron wire extending from one end of the railroad to the moment, will designate the number wire, and, by means of small pistons placed at intervals "of passage at each a b n y t l Y a! interruptingng tthe e o 2o th o e y r. ard A s r: W el b e e c n tr e i v c e c r u a rr t e r n a t in i i s s to pass m pa o ss twioh c n o ic n ih s ts t , point of the railroad will be indicated to the fixed machice machine will receive information to the speed of the train in motion, passing. By these means ( t b at , h h y lf 1 ne e t t i oi e d k es l current i e e trp c e m o t ees r tv o i to c e v rbr e ye m ofof e sr n eete t h . ome o ni ffidoi fixed la; asestn small and as to the position occupied by it. It is unnecessary to insist on the importance of such an indication. By always knowing the exact position of a train on its passage, it will enable the conductor to moderate the speed of the trains, and to send assistance with greater promptitude in case of accident, so as to prevent the interruption of the road as much as possible. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAF II IN THE Crry.--Ile intention of forming the central telegraph station at the Royal Exchange has been abandoned, owing to the limited space that could be allotted it in that building, for a more commodious and extensive site in the neighbourhood of Moorgate-street. It is expected that in less than twelve months the proposed subtei ratiean electric telegraphs from the several metropblitan railway stations will be completed and brought to one point. FOUR DAYS LATER FROM THE UNITED STATES. LATE AND INTERESTING FROM MEXICO. (YRO3/ OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY. The New York packet ship Virginian, Captain Hiam, which sailed from that city on the 13th ult., arrived here this morning, after a passage of twenty-seven days. She brings papers to the 13th ult., which are four days later than those brought by the Henry Clay. The new iron steam ship Sarah Sands, which sailed from Liverpool on the 20th of January, arrived at New York on the 10th of February, after a passage of twenty-one days. She encountered strong head winds and very boisterous weather, but proved herself an excellent vessel. With the screw, all her sails being furled, she steamed during the twenty-four hours 132 miles in a heavy head sea; without the screw she went, with all sail set, during the same time, 261 miles; and with all sail set, with the screw, she went during twenty-four hours 270 miles. These facts must be highly gratifying to her proprietors, and afford them much encouragement in prosecuting the enter prise which they have commenced. The passengers who went out by the Sarah Sands have presented her commander, Captain Thompson, with a hand some silver pitcher. The Sarah Sands was to leave New York, on her return passage, on the 24th ult. Should she have sailed on that day, she will have been now at sea six teen days, and may be expected here in the course of to morrow. . The news by the Virginian is of an interesting and im portant nature, and as the adcices taken out by the Sarah Sands appears to have had considerable affect on commercial affairs, we shall at once proceed to notice the _ LATEST STATE OF THE MARKETS. Our last advices from New York were to the 9th nit. At that date Flour was quoted at 6 dols. 50c. to 6 dols. per barrel, but the arrival of the Sarah Sands had the effect of raising prices to 7 dols. 25c. to 7 dols. 50c. The market for all descriptions of Bread stuffs seemed to be much excited, but there was less buoyancy on the 12th, and the sales of Flour light, while the heaviest transactions were confined to Indian Corn, at declining prices; but it appears that prices were considered to have reached a point of unusual, if not extraordinary elevation. Many dealers feared that the Cam bria's advices, which left Liverpool on the 4th of February, would be less favourable, arid were therefore disposed to ope rate cautiously until her advices came to hand. Freights had advanced, but the business done therein was not very exten sive. Engagements were made for flour to Liverpool at 75., and of grain in sacks at 2s. and 2s. ld. To Ireland engage ments were made at Bs. 6d. for flour, and 2s. 2d. for grain in sacks. High prices were being paid for provisions of all sorts, prime mess pork being quoted at 14 dolls. 62ic., In cotton there was rather a flat market, and prices are reported as being firmly supported. The state of the other markets will be found below. PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS. The Bill for raising ten additional regiments passed the Senate on the 10th. Much discussion took place before its provisions were agreed to. The Three Million Loan Peace Bill was then taken up on the same day, and Mr. Cass spoke at length upon it. lie was in favour of a vigorous prosecu tion of the war, and opposed to the plan laid down by Mr. Calhoun. This latter gentleman proposes :- 1. To define• a boundary from the mouth of the Rio del Norte to the pass of that river, in latitude 33 deg., thence in a straight line across to the Pacific, just cutting across the head of the Gulf of California, and striking the Pacific about thirty miles below San Diego, giving us that port and Los Angelos, and San Fernando, and the great port of San Francisco, along the Pacific. 2. He proposes that we shall fall back to this boundary. 3. That we shall keep up the blockade on both sides, and levy a duty of 10 per cent. to pay expenses. 4. That this is the cheapest and most judicious plan of closing the war. A resolution was adopted by the House on the 12th to close the debate on the Three Million Bill at twelve o'clock on the 15th ult. SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND. Meetings all over the Union are being held, for the pur pose of devising means to assist the starving population of Ireland. An immense meeting was held at Washington on the 9th ultimo ; the Hon. G. M. Dallas president. Mr. ►Y. Hunt, of New York, by unanimous consent, intro duced a Bill to the House of Representatives appropriating 500,000 dollars to be expended by the Secretary of the Trea sury to purchase articles of subsistence to relieve the suffer ing poor of Ireland ; which was referred to the Committee of the whole House on the state of the Union. MEXICO. The accounts from the United States army state that Ge nerals Scott and Worth are to have command of the main and regular army. now concentrating at Tampico, or some place in its neighbourhood, the destination of which was to be Vera Cruz. General Taylor was at Monterey, in com mand of the volunteers. He is under orders from General Scott, who now holds the supreme command. General Wool, who had a force of 3,000 men was at Saltillo. General Patter son arrived at Tampico on the 23d of January, with 4,500 men. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early walk yesterday, in the pleasure grounds of Osborne House. The Royal children took their usual walking and riding exercise yesterday forenoon on the beach, and in the vicinity of Osborne Mouse. The Hon. Miss Napier, Maid of Honour in Waiting to her Majesty, arrived at Osborne House on Thursday afternoon. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny HoWard and Sir George Couper, arrived at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's, soon after one o'clock yesterday afternoon, from Fro ,, more House, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge honoured the Earl and Countess Granville with their company at dinner yesterday evening, at their residence in Bruton-street. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, Sir George Couper, and Lord James Murray, honoured the performance of the French Plays with her presence yesterday evening. BURFORD'S NEW PANORAMA OF GRAND CAIRO. Mr. Burford has just completed a magnificent pano- rama of Cairo, the "City of the Caliphs," or, as the inhabitants style it, " the mother of the world." It has been prepared from drawings on the spot, by D. Roberts, Esq., M.A., who has obtained deserved celebrity for his beautiful drawings of remarkable spots in the Holy Land. The view of the city has been taken from the summits cf one of those extraordinary mounds which formerly encircled the city, and which not only impeded the free circulation of the air, so absolutely necessary in sech a climate, but almost invariably destroyed its salubrity by loading it with clouds of that fine species of sand which proves so destructive to the eye-sight of the natives during the peculiar seasons which periodically visit that part of the world. The majority of Mahomedan cities are beautiful and magni ficent in the extreme, but Cairo, from its hundreds of mosques, whose handsome and noble domes, cupolas. and elegantly decorated spiral minarets, which tower high above the ordinary houses, has no equal in that extraordinary land. We are not only presented with a spacious view of that city, glowing in the noon• day sun, but of the equally beautiful and equally interest ing surrounding country. In the distance, we behold the Pyramids, the majestic Nile, the tombs of the Caliphs, the Libyan mountains, the isle of Rhoda, Gezeeh, Old Cairo, the great Mosque in the citadel, and the Pacha's Palace. We have also beautiful groups of figures on horseback, among whom are Mehemet Ali, Ibrahim Pacha, Egyptian ladies riding, dancing girls, boatmen of the Nile, &c., &c. A more pic turesque or life-like scene could not be presented to the imagination so truthfully is it depicted on the canvas. Most Egyptian cities are built on no regular plan. The houses are of all- sizes and forms, and are scattered about in the most extraordinary and inconvenient manner ; the streets are miserably narrow and most irregular ; but the general effect is thereby heightened. Looking at Cairo as depicted on the panorama scarcely a street can be perceived. The houses have, with scarcely an exception, flat roofs, on which the inmates congregate at certain periods of the day. The panorama is beautifully and carefully painted, and will be found one of the most interesting exhibitions to be met with in London at the present moment. Ma. GEORGE WILD'S BENEFIT.— ur ol d favourite, George Wild takes a benefit on Monday, t ° at the Olympic W is a s unde rlost i n peculiar e c c i k rc u T a th n h i d s ea a p t p r r e i p s e , al to the public. The whole of that he makes y k a - a g i t n e el: t f r r a o d m e , and D übl i n Wild's t o pecuniary i a r 3. of tAhne his Siriusw ard a r t o e b a e m , publicesteamer, on n loss wardrobe ll. is hh m eis u r s a t tvo' be very heavy. On his return to Losanodnnt this occasion and new new a i t s at which he was engaged was prematurel y ctiaidt hh e efere theatre iie I l e a d hi li s e o e l n d fortnightt f la ri e e r n e d a s,el d andwe are old e appeal rally round him, will not be disregard Ed. ~ Jack ro i n n s, th to e Water" will not be deserted; "Life's a Lottery" we all know ; but in the lottery we feel sure that, on the evening of the 15th of March , Mr. Geo r g e Wild will draw a prize. GRAVESEND, MARCH 12.-.-THE LATE COLLISION ON THE RIVEIL—Mr. Carttar, coroner for the Western Divi sion; of Kent, having stated his intention not to hold an in quest on the bodies of the two men taken from out the schooner sunk by the Queen Victoria steamer, and brought to Gravesend by the undertaker Odden, the latter removed them this morning from the store in which he had them in keeping to the opposite side of the river, near Tilbury Fort, where, it is presumed, an inquest will be held on them by the coroner for Essex, within whose jurisdiction they were found. Yesterday the vessel was taken from where she was run ashore, after raising her at Shellbaven, and towed up to London, where she now lies at Smooke's Wharf, Millwall. Of the bodies of the two other persons drowned where she Our L AN ib l e sunk there is as yet no account. tzeN canvassingli T . --- : t i l t B fr u i e ß a ir dB E w L il E l c b T e t o g N l E e a D r N t E h e a t: returns of Lord Conyngharu's committee, just made up, are of the most satisfactory character. Many promises have been received from Conservative voters, who declare they glad o W li cannot support a Protectionist candidate in times like these. All old friends are staunch, and many new ones acquired; so that front all appearances the success of the Liberal cause may be c.mfidently anticipated. —Kent Herald. THE RENTAL OF IRELAND.-- A Parliamentary paper, issued on Friday, gives the aggregate net rental value of all Ireland, as assessed to the poor-rate, at 13,187,4211.65. Bd. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP I. The Select Committee appointed to corisider the merits of the. Bills comprised hi this group re-assembled in Room 30, at the usual hour this morning; Lord Granville Somerset in the chair. NORTH KENT EXTENSION (STIZOOD TO CIVELHAM). Mr. AUSTIN said, with the permission of the Committec, he would proceed with the evidence in favour of the project, after taking the testimony of a Noble Lord in favour of THE MID-KENT SCHEME. Lord Camden was the Noble Lord referred to. His Lord ship gave the preference to the South-Eastern Mid Kant line, because it better accommodated the country, and did the least possible residential injury. There was another reason which induced him to prefer that line, namely, that it would better facilitate the transit of coal than the Brighton Com any's line. He understood that the gradients of the South- Eastern line were much easier than the Brighton. - His Lordship was cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT, who elicited from his Lordship the fact, that he was almost the only Sevenoaks' landholder who preferred the South-Eastern line, while his Lordship admitted that the Brighton line would better accommodate the village of Bromley. The Noble Lord was also cross-examined by a Learned Counscl on behalf of Sir Percival Dyke, who petitioned against the line because it would destroy his family residence in Kent. NORTH RENT EXTENSION. Lord Sands was next called to give evidence in favour of this line. His Lordship gave strong and decided testimony in favour of the South-Eastern Company, who, he said, had done everything in their power to give Kent efficient rail way accommodation. The people of Faversham undoubtedly were in favour of the South-Eastern line. A long discussion took place as to whether the corperation of Canterbury should be heard as petitioners against the preamble of the Bill. Sir Edward King, Port Admiral at Sheerness, was more familiar with the water communication to the metropolis than with the land communication, but he still had no doubt that a line connecting Sheerness with Woolwich and London would be of advantage._ Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT —The present garrison at Sheerness numbered some 200 men, and the stores at present came by water. He was not able to give a positive opinion as to the relative merits of either conveyance. Mr. Stephen Lushington had sat in Parliament as Member for Canterbury, and was well acquainted with the district around Faversham and Canterbury. He was greatly in favour of the lines promoted by the South-Eastern Rail way Company. He was chairman of the,committee of the Faversham Navigation ; he was aware that great sums were laid out in the improvement of that port, and he considered that the money was well laid out. The general feeling of the district landowners was in favour of the line from Strood to Chilham. and so important was deemed the necessity of having a communication by rail with Ashford, that the con sent of all the landholders, without an exception, was given to the formation of the line from Faversham to Chilham. Meetings had been held at which the proprietors attended, and the universal feeling was in favour of the South-Eastern line. Mr. Plumptre, M.P., thought the South-Eastern Company had chosen the route best fitted to supply the wants of North Kent. He believed that were it not for the technical objec tion which was raised last year, with respect to the purchase of the Rochester Canal, that there would be no excuse for the intrusion of the Brighton Company. Sir Brook Bridges considered that it was absolutely neces sary that a full communication should be given between Lon. don and the great towns of Kent; and the South-Eastern Company being already in possession of Gravesend, Strood, and Rochester, he thought it would be for the interest of the county if the whole chain of railways were in their hands. Mr. George Neame, alderman of Canterbury, was the pro prietor of considerable property in that locality. He was de cidedly in favour of the South-Eastern extensions, and he thought that the public feeling was generally expressed iu favour of this company. Cross-examined by Mr. HOPE—He had been connected with the Whitstable Company, and had no reason to com plain of that connexion.—(Laughter.) He had had a lover's quarrel with the South-Eastern Company on more than one occasion—once when they raised the fares. He had attended a public meeting in consequence, and had pretty soundly expressed his opinions there.—(Laughter.) The meeting only grumbled—(Laughter)—and did nothing more. The South-Eastern afterwards explained their reasons for raising the fares, and, he believed, to the satisfacticn of all parties concerned. The Committee then adjourned till Monday, at twelve. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The Committee on standing orders met yesterday at the usual hour. The following were the decisions which the Committee came to during the course of the day KILMARNOCK AND AYR DIRECT RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (Branch to join the West London Railway; Widening and. Enlargement of the West London Railway; and Branch to Hammersmith, to join the London and South-Western Railway near Lambeth.) Allowed to proceed. EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN RAILWAY (Branch from Burntisland to Dunfermline .Branch). Allowed to proceed. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT. Allowed to proceed. WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICKLOW, AND DUB LIN RAILWAY (Repeal of the Act). Allowed to proceed. GRAVESEND CEMETERY. Not allowed to proceed. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From last night's Gazette.) in Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth 01 Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 6th day of March, 1847. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes i55ued........ 24,993,885 Government debt .. 11,015,100 Other securities .... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 9,445.493 Silver bullion • • • ... 1.548,392 £24,993,885 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 11th day of March, 1847. BANKING DEPAZTMEN T. £24,993,885 Proprietors' capital.. 14,553,000 Rest ••..•••• • • • • • . 3,951,922 Public deposits (in eluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sat ings-banks, and Di- Government securl- ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) . • 11,990,079 Other securities • • . • 16,905,705 Notes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5,714,740 Gold and silver coin.. 601,650 vidend accounts).. 6,571,731. Other deposits .. 9,288,661 Seven day and other 846,860 £35,212,174 £35,212,174 MARSTIM.L, Chief Cashier. Dated the I Ith day of March, 18, MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of March 12 ) SUGAR.—To-day, although there was a large amount of business transacted in East India and Mauritius Sugar, for home consumption, no improvement took place in the value. REFINED.—To-day there was a large amount of business transacted in refined goods for home use; but the refiners were willing sellers at former reduced rates, 63s 6d being taken for standard lumps. Bonded crushed Sugar is cheaper, and 35s to 35s 6d accepted for first sort. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon there were six public sales of Bengal Sugar, consisting of 6,638 bags and 80 chests, the principal part of which was disposed of, and generally At former rates for white and the better sorts of yellow, but brown and inferior yellow kinds went 6d cheaper. FOREIGN.—This afternoon at public sale 73 cases and 35 brls Bahia Sugar, duty paid, were offered, and chiefly taken in and withdrawn. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon Mauritius Sugar was in ex cellent request, and 5,600 bags 490 casks at public sale were sold at fully previous rates, and, in some instances, rather above. MOLASSES.—There has been little business transacted in any kind of \Vest India this week, and the tendency of prices is downwards for all sorts. There is a fair quantity on offer. At public sale this afternoon 90 hhds of Cossipore taken in at 275. TEA.—Public sales are announced to take place on Thurs day next, the quantity announced at present is 16,000 pkgs. None has arrived this week ; whereas the quantity on which duty was paid was very large, and a fair quantity was taken for exports. There has been a desire generally manifested by holders of Congou to realise on account of the heavy arrivals, and they have submitted to a slight reduction on former rates. COFFEE.—This afternoon Ceylon Coffee was less in re quest. At public sale 1,003 bags Plantation Ceylon were offered, but a part only sold at full rates. RICE.—To-day East India Rice met with little attention privately. At public sale 2,088 bags Bengal were offered, but all the sound was taken in at the full value. SALTPETRE.—There was a good demand for Rough to day ; and 1,500 bags of Calcutta at public sale were sold at full rates. English Refined is selling at 30s to 30s 6d. Nitrate of Soda is yet in good demand at 17s to 17s 6d per cwt. arr T h o h l e d e d t e a m a a p n p d e h a r a s n b o e t en d a x p t o r s e e m d e t l o y a l u i m tnn i t it t f o o r a n a l y l week; but sorts of West India Rum for home use an d exportat i on th i s further decline in prices; whilst buyers, on the other hand, only take sufficient for their immediate wants. Calcutta can be obtained at 3s 5d to 3s 6d proof. In Leeward kland there has been scarcely any business done, and 3s 8d to 3s 9d is the nearest value. For Demerara the market is in a flat state, the value of strong sorts is 5s to 5a 3d. For Brandy the market is in a quiet state, and prices tend downwards. On.s.—Holders of Olive Oil manifest much firmness, and large parcels have been disposed of. Palm met with little attention for exportation, but the home demand is good; prices do not improve. In Rape Seed Oil a large amount of tni:iness has been transacted, and at firmer rates. There are several buyers of Cocoa Nut, but little is yet to be had, and prices are on the advance. Linseed Oil met with less atten tion this week, the prices taken on the spot have been 26s 6d to 26s 9d. In Cod Oil several purchases have been made, but holders are still inclined to sell at 271 to 271105. Seal met with a fair demand, and prices rule high. A good demand existed for all sorts of Southern, and, the supply being less plentiful, holders are enabled to obtain stiffer rates. Sperm•met with increased attention, but little improvement in the value can be quoted. DISTRESSING SUlClDE.—Yesterday morning a female named Jane Coussans, the wife of an omnibus con ductor, residing at No. 2, Cannon's-buildings, Suffolk-street, Mile-end, committed suicide under the following very dis tressing circumstances:—For some time past she ha; been leading a very irregular life, and during the absence of het husband a man named Cullingford frequently visited her. This circumstance came to the knowledge of her husband, and on Saturday last he met Cullingford in the Whitechapel road, and accused him with having had an intimacy with his wife. Cullingford admitted that he_ had, and Coussans im mediately struck him. He was instantly given in charge of a police-constable, and on the following Monday he was taken before the magistrates at Worship-street, and after a g vet l t rs ed . c long s inquiry d e h a e v w o u a r s e d d i s t c o h a d r e g s cid r 0 . y O h e n rs t e h l e f, same u e , a y s e by her husband. She continued very low and dejected during the week, and repeatedly said she should never be happy a ny more. Yesterday morning she procured her husband's breakfast as usual, and in about two hours after he had left borne she was discovered suspended from a nail in the wall, between the windows. Mr. Anningson, a surgeon, was immediately called in, and pronounced life to be quite extinct. She was S 9 years of age, and has left two children. Mr. Hart Davis, Deputy Chairman of the Customs, had an interview, yesterday, with the Chanceller of the Exchequer. Lord James Stuart had an interview, yesterday, with Sir George Grey, at the Rome Office. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. 11017 SEOF LO S, March 12. The LORD CUANCELLOR toLIC his seat upn the Wool sccic, Five o'clock. BIRMINGIi AM AND WORCESTER RAILWAY. The Earl of RIPON presented a petition from the Bir mingham and Worcester Railway- Company complaining of the conduct of the London and North-Western Rail way Company, in purchasing up the Birmingham and Oxford Railway, in order to defeat the policy of an Act passed last session. He would accordingly move that the petition should lie upon the table of the House. Lord LYNDHURST said it was a matter of great importance, and he considered that the House ought to grant a Committee of Inquiry into the facts of the case. The course they have adopted was this—out of the 50,000 shares, they had purchased 38,000 ; the remaining sharks were divided among the shareholders and the dependents of the company. The object was plainly to defeat the opposition of a rival company, and he would suggest that his Noble and Learned Friend should move for a Committee of Inquiry into the allegations of this petition. _ _ _ Lord BROUGHAM quite concurred in the opinion. that these allegations should be left to the inquisition of a Committee, for the Bill alluded to was clearly a fraud on Parliament. The only difficulty that struck him was, that this matter was under a course of inquiry in a court of law. Lord LYNDHURST had made inquiry and was cer tain that no such difficulty existed. Lord BROUGHAM was sure that his Noble and Learned Friend would perceive that he was in favour of the Committee. Lord LYNDHURST said that there were more in terests than those of the Oxford and Birmingham Company invested in this question. There was the Great Western Company also, who were largely affected by the conclusion to which they might come. After a few words from the Duke of BUCKINGHAM and the Earl of WICKLOW, Lord BE AUMONT said that he was quite opposed to this Committee, for a Bill was at the present moment pending before the other House of Parliament to enable the London and Birmingham Company to lower their tolls, and as that Bill would have to go through both Houses there would be ample opportunity for inquiry. Lord LYNDHURST was of opinion, that as the Lon. don and Birmingham Railway was already in the pos session of the Oxford and Birmingham Company, that Bill could not affect the matter at all. Lord CAMPBELL professed himself wholly ignorant of the faces of the case, and he would, therefore, refrain from offering any opinion whatever ; but ht- must say that he perfectly concurred with his Noble and Learned Friend on the cross-benches (Lord Lyndhurst), and with his Noble and Learned Friend opposite, that inquiry was quite necessary, but he thought that object could be obtained without a Committee. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed with his Noble and Learned Friend, that this was not a matter with which they should proceed hastily. As the subject divided itself into two parts, that very materially affected the interests of the public ; he would suggest that they should refer it to the Railway B . oard that had been specially appointed to superintend the operation of railways. After alew words from . Lord BROUGHAM, Lord LYNDHURST then said, that after what fell from the Noble Marquis, he would suggest that the fur ther consideration of the subject should be adjourned till Tuesday next, and he should then move the appointment of the Committee. He would now move that the petition - be printed, to which he presumed there would be no objection. Lord BROUGHAM thought they would be better able to consider the question than the Railway Board, and he would not give his reasons why he thought so. The subject then dropped. PAUPERS. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Black burn, complaining of the influx of the Irish poor into this country, and praying for a stringent law to compel the landlords of Ireland to support them. The Noble Lord proceeded to comment on the statements of the petitioners, and stated that the poor were sent over at 2s. 6d. a head, at the expense of the landlords of Ireland. The Earl of DEVON - said that there was one state ment made by his Noble and Learned Friend which ought not to have been made without the best founda tion. That statement was, that the poor of Irelaud were sent over by the landlords of Ireland at 2s. Gd. a head, to be fed by the people of England. This was a n flection upon a large, and, as he believed, a highly respectable body of men, on whom he believed it was a reflection as unnecessary as it was unjust. Lord BROUGHAM had the greatest confidence in the sources of his information. The Earl of DEVON wished to know whether his Noble and Learned Friend spoke in explanation or reply? Lord BROUGHAM—Which I please. The Earl of DEVON spoke to order. Lord BROUGHAM—So do I; and I put it to your Lordships whether I am not entitled to a reply on a debate upon a petition, and, it I am not in order in that motion, whether I am not entitled to speak on a motion for a Committee for the consideration of that petition? His only object in the presentation of this petition was to show the practical effects of the present proceedings of Government. He had the best possible authority for the assertion that the poor of Ireland had been sent over to this country _at the expense of others, to be sustained in this country. His Noble Friend was a member of a committee before whom he had summoned his informants, and they were ready on oath to confirm the statements which they hid made to him of the fact which he had put before the House. The Earl of DESART would put it to their Lordships whether they were to be wearied night after night by the attacks of the Noble and Learned Lord, who possessed abilities and varied attainments to which many of those who had to make their defence could not pretend? Lord BROUGHAM had but one object in all these attacks, and that was to impress on the minds of the landlords of Ireland the truth that the poor of that country were not to be supported by the people of Epg land, nor even at the expense of the Irish people, but that the landlords were themselves to bear their portion of the burthen. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE only rose to refute the absurdity that the sustentation of the Irish people was to be at the expense of the English. Tbey had come to us in an extreme exigency, and it was our duty to relieve them as a portion of the population of Great Britain, for in truth Ireland was aportion of Great Britain. He was prepared to prove to his Noble and Learned Friend that if Government had not interfered for the relief of the distress of Ireland, instead of thou sands, hundreds of thousands would ha ve f a ll en un d er the influence of the angel of death that was spreading destruction over that country. Ile did not regret the part that Government had taken ; they came in not as principals, but, as auxiliaries, in the relief of the dis tress, and he was convinced that, in consequence of the prudent course which they adopted, a stimulus was given to the dormant energies of the people which would be productive of the most beneficial results. At that moment Parliament was engaged in framing a poor-law, and when that Bill came up to that House it would be his duty to invite the cooperation of his Noble and Learned Friend and their Lordships to make that law as effective as possible. In making that Bill it was the object of the Government to impose, as far as possible, the support of the poverty of Ireland on the property of Ireland, and he trusted that this, and the other men mires for the improvement of that country, would meet with the support of their Lordships. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a petition from the poor-law guardians of the County Down, praying for an alteration of the law relating to the present mode of poor law assessment. The Noble Marquis again complained of the animadversions of the Noble and Learned Lord (Brougham) against the Irish landlords. TIDAL HARBOURS. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Ely, praying their Lordships to establish a board for the regulation of the tidal harbours of this country. TRANSPORTATION. Lord BROUGHAM moved that the report of the Select Committee, that sat last August on the subject of the renewal of transportation, should be laid on the table.—Agreed to. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table a copy of the committal of John Hockham to Tothill-fields prison. POOR-LAW ASSESSMENTS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented petitions from several parishes against unequal assessments under the poor law. RAILWAYS. The Earl of AUCKLAND laid on the table several returns respecting the railways leading to the several Government out. ports. HANOVERIAN JEWELS. Viscount STRANGFORD said that through the courtesy of the Noble Marquis he was permitted to make a communication in private with respect to the relation between this country and Hanover. The object which Le had in view was one which nearly affected the present Sovereign of Hanover, and one which had excited much notice among the public. The ques tion which he wished to put was as to whether her Majesty's Government would have any disinclination to state what was the position of the present negotiation between this country and Hanover with respect to the jewels claimed by the Sove• reign of that country as heirlooms. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to give all the information which he possessed, although he decidedly refused to produce any papers connected with the subject. The dispute had originally arisen with respect to certain jewels which had been brought over to this country by,George 1., and which had been successively the property of George 11., George 111., and of the .late King, and part of which had been in the possession of Queen Char lotte. The illustrious persons who were particularly interested in this affair had, alike with sense of their position and the claims of justice, agreed not to appeal to law, by which they could not be bound, but to a decision by which they would be bound in honour. They had ag reed to submit the decision of this dispute to three of the most eminent lawyers of this coun try. Those three were the late Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Lord Lyndhurst, and Lord Langdale. Un happily the final settlement of the question had been postponed through the sudden death of Sir Nicholas Tindal ; but thus much he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) might state, that before the decease of that eminent person, all the three Commissioners were unanimous in agreeing that Queen Charlotte had not a right to dispose of the jewels by will which she had been pos sessed of during life ; but on the other portion of property they had not decided. At their last meeting they had had con siderable discussion, but before the next time appointed for their meeting, one of the Commissioners had died. This, however, did not materially interfere with the settlement of the question, for it was known that they had been unanimous in the belief that as far as the first proposition was concerned these jewels could not be retained by, j her Maj esty otherwise than as heir-looms. With respect to th e other jewels, no de cision had been arrived at; yet, seeing the state of the case, and knowing that the Commissioners had been unanimous, a proposition had been made on the . part of her 'Majesty to th e King of Hanover to take the deci sion of the two remaining Commissioners, rather than reopen the whole question, and thereby oblige the reconsideration of all the arguments which bad been adduced upon the subject. Lord BROUG HAM s a id if the House of Hanover had not succeeded in this case they need not abide by the decision. He I believed this count r y h a d nothing whatever to do with the matter, and he thou g ht i t b etter i f they abstained from ex pressing any opinion in that House till the arbitrators decided upon it. He thought it would be better to leave the matter to '47.4f I t 2; iLLA !gir l t‘leg i ( &---AvsA-- 44 three judges, another being appointed in .ieu o lieu Tinf'al. The LORD CHANCELLOR said there was use the expression that possession was nine points of the law. There should be no improper use of the fact of pos ses-ion in this case, for there was no intention of making a profit by the possession of the property. The subject then dropped. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE Or COMMONS, March 12. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed : Axholme Railway (from the Leeds anti' Selby Railway to Gainsborough, with branches). Bingley Gas. Edinburgh and Northern Railway (improvement of the ferry between Ferry Port on Craig and the North Shore:of the river Tay). Enfield and Edmonton Railway Extension. Leominster Canal Navigation Sale. Liverpool Corporation Waterworks. Manchester and Birmingham and North Staffordshire Junction Railway, Newhaven Harbour, Ouse Lower Navigation, and Lewes and Laughton Drainage. Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (No. 1 —Extension and Amendment). Portland Harbour of Refuge and Breakwater. Rochdale Improvement. MACDUFF HARBOUR. On the motion of Sir A. L. HAY, the second reading of the Macduff Harbour Bill was postponed till this day week. STOCKTON AND HULL RAILWAY. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from Lord Brougham and others against the Stockton and Hull Railway Bill. It was ordered to be referred to the Committee upon the Bill. POOR-LAW FOR IRELAND. The O'CONOR DON presented a petition from the High Sheriff and Magistrates of the county of Ros common, in favour of a general assessment for the relief of the poor ; and praying that an extensive system of emigration might be introduced as a means of relief to the distressed. WINDOW-TAX. Mr. BROTHERTON presented several petitions against the window-tax. The petitioners stated that the tax was unfavourable to the health and comfort of the inhabitants. THE FAMINE. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL presented a petition from the county of Mayo, complaining of the want of energy in the Irish landlords, and praying that the House world take some further measure to prevent the spread of the calamity which now exists. HARBOURS AND TIDAL WATERS. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the ship owners of Ilfracombe, praying the House to further, as soon as possible, the Bill now before it for the better management of harbours and tidal waters, and stating that the harbour of Ilfracombe would receive much be nefit from such a measure. Mr. MILNER GIBSON presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce at Manchester, praying for a better management of harbours and tidal waters. Also a petition from Manchester against the, rating of tenements ; and three petitions from the same place against the law prohibiting marriages between certain degrees of kindred. POOR-LAW IN IRELAND. Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a petition from the board of guardians of a parish in the county Down, praying for an extension and alteration of the Irish poor-law. Also, a petition from the parish of New tow•nards, praying for an equalisation of the rating system. Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the assess ors and collectors of property and the assessed taxes, in the county of Stafford, complaining that they did not.receive adequate remuneration, and praying that the House would take some step to increase it. Mr. P. SCROPE presented a petition from the parish of Craig, in the Queen's County, praying for an efficient poor-law ; and also for such measures as would enable them to do what the inhabitants of every country on the face of earth were enabledoto do —namely, maintain themselves by their industry on the face of their native land. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. Messengers from the House of Lords brought up a message intimating that their Lordships had agreed to several Bills which had been sent up for their approval. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that on Tuesday next he would ask the Secretary for the Home Department a question as to the course the Government intended to take with respect to the introduction of a general Bill for the lighting, paving, and general improvement of towns. RATE OF WAGES ON PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL, seeing the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to call his attention to a statement which he had made last week, in answer to a question from the Honourable Member for Limerick, respecting the rates of wages in the west of Ireland. It appeared that the answer of the Right Honourable Gentleman had bc en misunderstood. It was stated that the Right Hon. Gentleman had said that the wages of labourers on public works were nearer is. 2d. than 8d a day. The Gentleman who wrote to him (Mr. O'Connell) said that this was an error, as no person in Sligo, or the neighbouring county, had ever received more than Bd.; he added that that could not support a family with the present high rate of provisions. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that he would repeat to the House what he had stated on the occasion referred to by the Hon. Member. He said that from informa tion he had received from Sligo, it appeared that the system pursued was this—that as far as possible the principle of task work was introduced, and under that system an able-bodied labourer would earn nearly Is. 2d. a day. If day work was given, then only Bd. per day was paid ; but in the cases of families where they could not be supported by the labour of one member of that family, it was allowed to give labour to another person from the same family, rather than give a higher rate of wages than was to be had in agricultural operations. EXPORTATION OF GRAIN FROM ENGLAND. Mr. H. BAILLIE wished to ask a question of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government. The Noble Lord was perhaps aware that France and Belgium had prohibited the exportation of corn from those countries, and that there were now Belgian agents in this country making large purchases of gram. There was a general anti cipation, therefore, that in consequence of these purchases the prices of food would advance, and a scarcity ensue. He wished, therefore, to know whether the Government would feel called upon to prohibit the exportation of corn from this country? Lord JOHN RUSSELL complained 'that the Hon. Gentleman had asked a question on this important subject m ithout giving notice of his intention of doing so. He would, however, tell him what was the) general opinion of the Government under these circum stances. The members of the Government were aware that a great demand existed in France and Belgium for grain, and that prices had risen in those countries, but they were also of opinion that to prohibit the exportation of corn was not the way to cause articles of food to be brought into this country, because they thought that the importing merchant, if he had a security that he could bring corn here, and be permitted to re-export it if he thought proper to send it to other markets, would bring it here ; but if it were at once shown that when he did come here they refused to allow him to re-export it, then the probability would be that he would avoid their market. Although he had not been prepared to meet the question of the Hon. Member, he had no hesi tation in saying that this would be the ruling principle of the Government. CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS BILL.-PRISONS BILL. In reply to a question from an Hon. MEMBER, rr S is i o r n G s had EY just said come th down Custody fromo Offender s fthe P Bill a n Bill d Prisons House, and he proposed then t o move t h at th ey should p be read a first time. He would, with the permision of the House, fix Thursday next for the second reading, when the discussion would be taken upon them. The Bills were according read a first time. CAPTAIN WARNER'S INVEN LION. Sir R. PEEL said, a short while ago certain officers were appointed to ascertain the value of Captain War ner's invention. In the report which those officers had made upon the subject, allusion was made to certain minutes that had been kept in the course of the investi gation, and he wished to know if Government had any objection to lay these minutes on the table? Lord JOHN RUnSELL replied, that he under stood Captain Warner had no objection to the produc tion of the minutes, and he would readily lay them on the table. LOUGH FOYLE. Mr. BLAKE said a short time ago plans and specifi cations were prepared for the improvement of Lough Foyle, but the works had not yet been commenced. Now he should be glad to know the cause of the delay. Mr. LABOUCHERE replied that the officers of the Board of Works were not answerable for the delay. It had occurred solely from the parties interested in these works not having sent in their assent to them. H e must add, however, that the assent had just been re ceived, and he did not think there would be any further delay. w au is y he p d re t p o ara k t n i o on w s, w o h r et h h a e , r i i t t h e i n G e e o n v t e e r m n EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. h V ad ES al E a Y de me A r l it r. plation to assist poor persons emigrating from Ireland upon their arrival at Quebec. Hebelieved that up wards of 400 families were now preparing in one part of Ireland to proceed there, without the assista nce o f the emigration c omm i ttee; and, as it v • ats not probable that they would be enabled to collect together more than a • sufficient sum to carry them across the Atlantic, it would therefore be d csirabl9 if the Government could afford thorn an • y assistance upon their landing. Mr. H AWES said that there was a fund in Canada available for th e s i c k an d d est i tute em i grants w h o m i g ht be landed there. This fund was, however, very small, arising mainly from a tax upon the emigrants, and from a vote taken with the estimates for Canada, and required considerable care in its distribution. He did not anticipate that the fund at present existing in Canada would be found insufficient for the purpose. He would add, that during the last year the number of emigrants to North America had been up wards of 125,000, the system of emigration had been found to work well, and in general no complaints were made of their condition. 4011.••••• POOR RATES (IRELAND). Sir J. GRAHAM wished to know when the return, which he moved for about a fortnight since, on the sub ject of levying poor-rates in Ireland, and also showing how the account of the sum of 1,200,0001. advanced for building workhouses in Ireland stood, would be ready? Mr. PARKER replied, that the papers referred to by N fa• ;v..; c 710 U la 4