The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

Cbtrb Vaition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. Mr. J us ti c e ERLE and a Spe cial Jury.) QUEEN'S BENCH. — ( THIS DAY.) (Before PIRATING COPY —SOUTER V. -BOOKEL DA RNELL AND CO. Sir Frederick Thesigesi Watson,er and Mr. Ogle ap- Peared for the plaintiff; and S erg eant Talfourd, Mr. t b h y e he defence. ou This was an i rt of Knowles, Mr. Peacoc k, stue directed t h e ther a series and Mr. W th a is o rr C en ou fo r r t fco -books which had Ch an cery to try w Messrs Darnell and Co., school - booksellers , been published by were or were not an infringement of a series of copy-books called " Foster's Copybooks," of which the plaintiffs, Messrs. school-booksellers in Fleet-street, are the Soutar and Co, proprietors. The defendants had pleaded that " Foster's Copy Books" , were not original, that there was no novelty in them. Sir FNVDERICIC THESIGER having opened the case, and characterised it as one of considerable importance to the scholastic community, the following witnesses were called to support the plaintiff's case, that the invention was perfectly original:— Air. R. E. Branston, en engraver and printer, in St. Andrew's-hill, Doctor's Commons, deposed that he had pre pared the plates for printing the copy-books of Mr. Foster, and that he was engaged upon them several years, during which time he was in constant communication with Mr. Foster. The books comprised a system of teaching writing from the earliest to the more aavanced stages. The plates were for letter-press printing. He never saw any copy books of a similar nature until they were brought to him by Mr. Foster. 500,000 or 600,0CJ bad been 'minted. He considered it a vetf great improvement in the mode of teaching writing. The first series was published four years ago. First saw Darnell's book about two yea's ago, and found it a copy of Foster's system. Cross-examined—Never saw faint lines printed in the same way. Never saw pencil lines drawn by a master. Mr. Law said he published the first series for Mr. Sonter, in 1841; 450,000 of the whole series 'sad been sold up to Christmas last. Alterations had been made from time to time in the various editions. Sir. William A itcheson said he had been actively occupied in teaching writing for twenty years, and had examined the various works end systems of writing which had been published in this county, and in France, Germany, and Span. Although he might have found individual points in the various systems he examined, yet he cud not find any entire system resembling Foster's, which possessed the principle of ge;ding the pupil, by light lines, of frequent repetitions, the esaduel withdrawal of the ex amples, and the application of diagonal lines, denoting the size, shape, and slope of the letters; diagonr l lines had been used in former systems, but only equi-distant across the page, but they would not guide the pupil as to the proper (balances of the different pails of the letters; there were also alternate tracings or lines leaving blavks for the pupils to till up. In cross-examination a number of systems on the tracing principle were submitted to the witness. lie admitted that they evinced the principle of diagonal lines, and lines to guide the formation and size of the letters, with alternate tines. The witness was cross-examined at great length on the book published by the defendants and the books pub lished by the plaintiffs. It appeared that the defendants' book diu not follow the other so nearly as to come under the defieition of a fac simile, so far as the course of the examples Was concerned. Re examined—The great novelty of Foster's system W 25, that the lines compelled the pupil to make the letters pro perly—neither too large nor too small. It might be defined as a combination, into a practical system, of alt the im provements that had been made from time to time. The systems of Nally, Fergu _on , and Well (on which the witness was examined) were not much used in school.. Mr. Josh. Hill, a schoolmaster at Lrentford, and the Rev. Thomas, head writing-master of Christ's Hospital, spoke to the great value of Mr. Fostei's system—especially the elementary portion, the first; but they considered the system a compilation of elements which had previously existed. Darnell's was a copy, as nearly as possible. They thought Foster's diagonals, denoting the exact shape of the letters, was a very important peculiarity. The same thing was in Darnell's copy-books. Mr. Foster himself stated that he had been engaged in teaching writing during the last twenty years; that he had travelled over the continent and America, teaching t' id in vestigating in his progress the various systems of teaching which prevailed in the parts he visited. Mr. Sergeant Ts evounn then addressed the jut s , for the defendants, and contended that the copy-books of Dir. Foster contained no new invention ; that the system of tracing the characters in faint lines had been pursued by vs. hoes teachers for years; that it had even been sug gested by Locke ; and would the jury, by a verdict for the plaintiff, set tip Mr. Foster as the universal teacher or writing, as the great inventor of an entirely new d o g u e b t th e it w et; publis hed in t h p e e r t i a m n p e e m v t e o m n s t y o stem, when it had been sh own th at h e h a d s i mp l y gat h ered s i Mr. F o e f s t o e t r h e t r o s . geta favoveable verdict, an d t o exc l u d e others from following up and acting upon the sug • gestion of Locke, who said the proper way to teach a boy writin the master tracing the characters in faint g was red i^ by k Foes. Mr. Foster, and those who had preceded h' l had done nothing more. He trusted th e y wou ld not to hi m forget their duty as to state to the world th a t Mr. Foster wa r entitled to be considered as the inventor of this system Of writing. The Learned Sergeant concluded a powerful address , by submitting that their verdict would be for the d e f en d ant. Witnesses were called for the defence, and the casewes ad jotu aed until toemorrow. EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.) WAKLEY P. COOS. This was an action brought by Mr. Wakley, M.P., for Finsbury, and coroner for the county of Middlesex, against the proprietors of the Medico? Times, to recover compensation in damages for the publication of a libel in their journal seriously affecting the professional and private character of the plaintiff. The Attorney-General with whom was Mr. Bramwell, appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., Mr. Lush, ana Mr. Healey, on the part of the defendant. The Arran:es:se GEOPMAI, in opening the case calk] the attention of the jury to the serious nature of the libel in question, and proceeded to read the same. The libel is question was contained ins a letter addres. ed to the editor of tne Medical Times and sigaed " Vindicator," headed a pro- posal for !Ir. Wskley's trial by a jury of gentlemen. The object of the letter, as the writer of the letter stated, was "to free a worthy inau from hideous accusations, or sever from a high-minded profession a gangrenous member, peril ous to its safety." The letter went en to state that it would not impair his arguments to admit that the reputation of the plaintiff had bees so far trodden under foot, that while on the one baud it could be cleansed, if redeemable at all, only by a vigorous effort, his utility and comfort of conscience on the ether are gone for ever if that effort be not nude and successfully. Befoulment has so far eaten into his name, that had he the best of desires and greatest of energies, it would kill both. A moral leprosy encrusts it each day, spreading, which repels each good, and keeps aloof each prudent man. True, the talent may be only imaginary, but public opinion gives vigour to the hypothetical virtue, and makes it as deadly to himself and those around him as though it were real. The fatality of public opinion— even, alas! if errone ous—offers him abroad asocial lazar-house, alike infected and infecting, touching once and tainting for ever! The London College Hospital was in its origin a glorious affair. It had everything in its favour but one—the hostility of Mr. Wakley. lie, unfortunately, gave it his support, and it perished. He lost his battle, his companions their honour. By blunder, or crime, or doom mysterious, each associate to this day has imputed to him imposture or vagrancy. The accounts were not finally balanced, wherefore honourable men were looked on as felons. A breath bears evidence of aims , when corroborated by acquaintanceship with Wakley. The British Medical Association followed. The same history, the same end! If Wakley could not raise it he generously lent it, when raised, his name. It glistened under the light of his sickly radiance, throwing off like snow under a tropic sun. The treachery of the one faculty-scheme fol lowed other schemes to ruin, bill, bill, to ridicule; member, member to secession, till a ll that is now left of the once-in fluential society, is a hybrid and apothecary of Dui, with, prefigured end described by Pope ; " Eternal smiles his emptiness betray, As shallow streams run dimpling all the way, Whether in florid impotence he speaks, And as the prompter breathes the puppet speaks." He is of the British Medical Association, the mutilated tail still left to tell, that once Kilkenny cats—and dogs—dwelt there. Last came the Medical Protection Association. I saw with wonderment how suddenly in power, and wealth, and wisdom, this young society—obeying your call—sprang to being. It was born a man. It sprang as from the brain of dove, another Minerva,instinct with might and beauty. A multitudinous meeting, at three days' call, startled British medicine from her seat, and the world asked what shalt it be ...this new-born giant ? Surgeons and physicians the proudest, bent their steps towaeds the threshhold—tho new popular shrine offered more promise than the old corporate idols; funds - flowed in ; prosperity for once, in medical agi tation, seemed our captive; but Wakley crept into tha para dise; and, At the ear of Eve, familiar toad, Half froth, half venom, spit himself abroad." Bullying the equivocally placed, darting venom at the timid, bending the indigent with dishonoured tread, the nobly ambitious with frothy hopes, he estranged in disgust the respectable, and enhanced the not stranger fate of a bad name: The more he paid, the less he purchased ; the more he toiled, the less he did—he worked but to injure, to ruin. Hit breath was a killing pestilence—honour, weelth, cha racter, association—all have gone! Surely, the name of in famy is as a greedy maelstrom, insatiate, bottomless. . . The unfortunate infamy of his repute left him without an opinion of his own. His low character made him low The very bread of his public life depended on his taking the olownsbip to any medical company that would engage him." In the same strain the letter was continued to a great length, filing nearly three columns of the Medical Times. For the publication of this letter an action was brought a short time since, and a verdict returned for the plaintiff, with damages Mt At the conclusion of the trial, a leading article WAS written upon the trial, containing also a quantity of libelous matter affecting the character of Mr. Wakley, and it was the libel contained in the article in question, published on the 28th of June, that the present action was brought. The Learned Attorney General, T o e forcible and eloquent speech, called the atten- ILn. of the jury to the serious nature of the libels in question, 'um called upon them, hi the exercise of their duty, to show their strong sense of reprobation upon the publication of such a libel. • Evidence havi n g 1 -- Medical put. in as to the publication of the Tones, and el uthe purchase of the paper, containing the libel, b y Mr. COCI(BURK torne, . erk to the attorney of Mr. Wakl e y, L earned At in addressing the jury, said that the y-Geueral had addressed them with the greatest grandiloqu ence , with feelings of indignation which he really could nomta:lileeltpthinking, with all respect to his Learned Friend, w as asuined for the occasion, for the parpos , of saving the pla int iff ll43 m r o nlist say, that the present evitahly thrcatcred him. from the defeat which in action was one of the had ever known to be broug ht h e t mtera acted most the case. contemptible that he of law. His Learned Frie nd time any court verdict unfairly to him in his mode of eonductwiruc Ile hail commenced by reading the libel for of 150/. had been already returned, but his Learrhiead bad declined to r ead the whole of the documen t in question. The first libel was contained in a report of the trial, printed in the Medical Times, but not one word of that report had been read to the ju r y by him. The ATTORNEY-GEN BRA L••-i must object to that being read, unless it is given in evidence. Mr. COCKBURN.....it is from the same . document as you read from, and I insist upon readinglt, it i and it shall l be read. a The ArroasEY••GENERAL—f s read, must have reply. Mr. COCKBURN—I can assure the jury, that, in the con duct of the case bf my client, I will not allow the instruc tions given to me to operate upon me as my Learned Friend has done, who has poured forth the foulest tr.alignny upon the defendant. The Arrow= Gzizataii—l must object to having any THE SUN, LONDON; personal imputations passed upon me in the conduct of the ewe. Mr. COCKBURN—I say that it was a most foul attempt to blind the merits of the case by pouring a tissue of slander upon my client. The LORD CHIEF 13saox—I think, Mr. Cockburn, that some concession is due from you to the Attorney-General, Tou having made charges affecting his character in conduct ing the cause. Mr. COCKBURN—I can assure your Lordships that in any thing I have said I had mot the slightest idea of impating improper conduct, personally, to my Learned Friend, and if any expressions which I used are considered by your Lord ships as stronger than the case demands, I most willingly retract them. The ATTORNEY-GINEBAL—My sole object in interrupting you was to caution you that, if you read any fresh documents, I shall be entitled to a reply. Mr. COCKBURN-1 am much obliged to you. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to read the report of the whole trial, as given in the Medical Times, and then proceeded to comment most strongly on the conduct of the plaintiff sending his attorney's clerk to obtain a copy of the paper, for the purpose of founding a second action upon the self same libel. It showed the vindictive spirit which ac tuated the plaintiff in causing these proceedings to be brought. The defendant was the proprietor of a rival news paper, and the plaintiff seemed to omit no opportunity of destroying him by these legal proceedings. Was it for that his client should be dragged into the court a second time for the publication of the same libel ? His Learned Friend had de nounced in the most unmeasured terms the writer of the libel as a person who was a disgrace to his profession, and such an one es caused him to blush for the character of that pro fee-ion. He (Mr. Cockburn) had watched his Leal aed Friend closely, and hal seen no blush mantle over his crim son cheek, but he must say that he almost blushed to hear such charges brought against the defendant as his Learned Friend had hurled against him. Mr. Wekley had obtained a victory over, and from the defendant, what then was to be expected, but that the defendant, the proprietor of the Medical Times, should give, in the next number of his journal, an account of the proceedings to his readers, and was it un natural to suppose that the writer, smastin_g under the effects of a victory, would use rather strong language upon the subject ? The Learned Counsel concluded an eloquent speech by con tending that the libel complained of in the leading article of the Medical Times on the subject of a trial, was nothing more than could be expected. His Learned Friend had said that it "all looked yellow in a jaundiced eye," but for the life of him—and he appealed to the common eenee of the jury in support of his opinion—he could not discover the slightest libel in the article, neither had his Learned Friend, either in his declaration or speech called attention to any special case of libel. The plaintiff was a public character, and as such open to public criticism upon his character by the public journalist. There was not a public measure connected with politic-, which had been commented upon by the public jour nals, the leaders of which were not ctitiscd in language ten times more strong, and to which the present libel was mere milk and water. If the course adopted by the plaintiff had been pursued by all those pub lic characters, the courts of law would have been occu pied with nothing dee but trials of this nature. It was essential to the character of public men that this public criticism should be allowed to exist, and it was difficult to weigh nicely the amount of power to be conceded to the public press, though there was uo doubt that if a public writer abused his power to propagate wilful slander he was deserving of punishment for se doing ; and he was certainly most surprised that a public character like Mr. Wakley, and himself the editor of a journal, should have thought fit to adopt the present proceedings. It would be for the jury to consider whether, under all the circum stances of the case, there was anything in the article calcu lated to affect the character of the plaintiff beyond his public capacity, and whether the defendant had exceeded the proper bounds due to him as a public journalist. They must not allow thetmelves to be cart ied away by the vehement, violent, and unjustifiable language towards the defendant used by the Learned Attmaey- General in opening the cats, but calmly and fairly to consider the question, and the result of that consideration would, he fear lessly believed, be a triumphant verdict for the defendant. The LORD CIIIEF BARON, in summing up, said that as the publication of the libel was admitted, and as ro justilicatien had been attempted for the libel in question, their duty would be to return a verdict for the plaintiff. It would be for them to say, however, what amount of damages should be returned. A great deal of very violent language had been used by the Learned Counsel on both sides, but it would be the duty of the jury to divest their minds of the effect of all such expressione, and to consider whether the de fendant was really justified in publishing the libel complained of by the complainant. It bad been said that the leading article; containing the libel was published by the defendant upon a trial which bad before that period taken place. The jury, however, must be told that no man having paid damages for a libel purchased the liberty to repeat, or to re-publish it in the manner coin plained of. It had been said that the publication of a trial was perfectly orthodox. lie wished it to be un derstood that in case of any trial for libel. or blasphemy, when the matter complained of was reprinted it became a question for the jury whether it was intended by the republication of the libel or blasphemy, to repeat the same with a malicious intent. 'I he report of the trial in the present case, as published in the Medical Times, appeared to be perfectly correct. No doubt it had been copied from the notes of some shorthand writer, employed for tile occasion. The public reports of the law courts were performed in the most efficient manner, and reflected generally the highest credit upon the parties employed in reporting these cases. The jury retired, and after an absence of 55 minutes, re turned a verdict for the Plaintiff.—Damages, 1751. REEVES v. MARQUIS OF IPONNTSGIIAM. This was an action brought to recover of the defendant the sum of 35/. for articles of upholstery supplied to the Mar chioness. The noble defendant pleaded that he was not liable to this claim, on the ground that his Lordship was living separate from the Marchioness at the time of the debt being con tracted, and allowing her Ladyship full and ample means of maintenance. Mr. Ilumfrey and Mr. Temple appeared for the plaintiff; Sir F. Kelly and Mr. Lush for the defendant. The plaintiff was an upholsterer, carrying on business in Piccadilly, and during the years 18-13 and 1844, the Mar chioness had made several purchases at his premises, some of which were sent by her ladyship's directions to a mansion in Portland-place, at the residence of her sister, the Duchess of Richmond, others to Berkeley-square, to Richmond, and to Mivart's Hotel. Various other articles of the goods were also sent to the Duke of Richmond's residence in Scotland, Gordon Castle. A balance of 35/. wai due upon these various trans actions, and the; plaintiff, not having been able to obtain payment of the sum from her Ladyship, the present action was brought to recover the sum from the defendant, The sale and delivery of the goods in question having been proved, The Duke of Richmond was called, who fully admitted the receipt of the articles forwarded by the Noble Marchioness. When he discovered that these articles were not paid for, and that an action was brought to recover payment for them, he offered to pay the demand. The Marquis and Mar chioness were not living together at Richmond in the year 1843, but the latter had resided there after his separation ; the establishment having been kept up for her Ladyship. The allowance paid to the Marchioness was 2,400/. a year. Sir F. KELLY now contended that this sum was amply sufficient for the maintenance of her Ladyship, and that, therefore, the Marquis was not liable for the payment of the debts contracted by her. The LORD CHIEF BARON said that the fact of the allow ance having been proved, and that sum being considered sufficient for her maintenance by her Ladyship herself, hav ing accepted the same from time to time, the plaintiff must ' be nonsuited. The plaintiff was nonsuited accordingly. COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.) GILLS V. SMITH. This was the third of the thirteen actions brought by the plaintiffs, Messrs. Francis and Alfred Giles, engineers, to recover 1,5601. for work and labour done in preparing the Plans and sections of the Tunbridge Wells and Rye Harbour gailway. The present defendant is Mr. Smith, a solicitor id do city. The difference between the present case and the two we gave yesterday consisted in the fact that the defendant had been present at a meeting of the provisional directors, held on the 27th of October, 1845, at which certain resolutions were agreed to. The first resolution was one in confirmation of certain business done at a previous meeting, held on the 16th but which the defendant had not attended. On the 16th the principal business transactor' was appointing the plaintiff's the engineers of the company, and instructing them to pro ceed with the survey and preparations of the plans, 411 c. It was by the meeting of the 27th, confirming this contract and arrangement with the plaintiffs, that the liability was sought to be affixed on the defendant. The evidence ad duced during the day was mainly to strengthen the alleged liability springing out of this transaction. For the defence, it was contended that the transactions of the 16th did not bind any parties but those who were present, and that the defendant, not having taken any part till the 27th, had nothing whatever to do with the contract. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE having summed up at great length, The jury, after a consultation of about a quarter of an hour, returned a verdict for the defendant. NEWMARKET AND CHESTER FORD RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The first half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the Newmarket and Chesterford Railway Company was held at one o'clock, this day, in the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; Lord George Manners in the chair. The notice for convening the meeting having been read, the general seal of the company was attached, at the desire of the Chairman, to the register of the shareholders. The SECRETARY then read the report, from which we make the following extracts:— " Your directors reported at the last general meeting of the proprietors, held on the 14th of August, 1846, that con tracts, under the guidance and advice of their engineer, had been made and entered info with a responsible contractor, for the entire completion of the works, whose proceedings on the line up to the present time, have been characterised by great energy; and es the season is fast approaching, when the works may be conducted with greater vigour, the direc tors do not in the least doubt their ability of carrying out the original intention, of opening the line of communication from the Eastern Counties Railway Station in Shoreditch to Newmarket, by the 30th of September next. In anticipa tion of this event, a contract has been entered into for the supply of twelve locomotive engines and tenders, upon the newest and most approved principle of construction; the majority of which are to be delivered upon the works before the above-mentioned date. "Your directors with a view to the expedition required, and in order that the works may not be impeded, and to se cure the opening of the line in the month of September next, have deemed it necessary to make a call of 5/. per share, payable on or before the 22c1 instant. " Since the special meeting:held on the 11th November last, for the purposes of considering the terms of a lease of the Newmarket and Chesterfield Railway to the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company, which terms were rejected, negotia tions have been opened by that company, but they have 1 tailed to produce any result. "In consequence of the short period which intervened be- I I tween the dates of the Act being obtained, and the first ordi nary general meeting, and there being many accounts then outstanding, no financial statement was laid before the pro prietors; but your directors stated their conviction, that the expenses to the date of incorporation, would not exceed 13s. per ut share,. which anti c ip a ti on h as b een sa ti s f ac t or ily b o rne share. e total exp en dit ure b e i ng 9 , 201/. or 13 s . ld. p er osticarrealliwitthatyro,esasipety:itsthtouantthe contemplated extensions of the line unani mously adopted at thnieenceeBsarY gave instructions to their firs t necessary steps to compl y 'lament, previously railway from Newmarrlelty Edmunds, with a branch to raised by subscription, to enter much into detail; aaATol,ufc;;ts solicitors , h to o meeting , resolutions e extend t enthd teothdt the line rukleinecnatetonhori the to t ,, n i S itto w it hnslEt plying pursuance: engineer, f e r h o e . :e r r l Standing Orders of Par posits, consisting of 35,625/. a - n l d sT. 3 he l t ; vested in the Three per Cent. Consols." and to Bury St. reri.ite capital was , have since bran in- T h e CHAIRMAN then said that, in bonging before 'it: notice of the meeting a resolution to the effect ghat the re port be received, adopted, and circulated, he felt it to be his duty to make a few observations, though from the detailed nature of the report it was unnecessary for him to detain them long. The Noble Lord then alluded to the dif ferent points referred to in the report, and ,said that with regard to the extension, it was fortunate that they proceeded to Parliament for two Acts from the oprosition they bad met with. He would conclude by moving ULU the report be adop*cd. Mr. J. G. Farm, the deputy chairman, seconded the reso lution. Mr. COOPER, of Cambridge, wished to observe before the re solution was put to the meeting, that be regretted the terms offered by the Eastern Counties Company had not been ac cepted. He did not blame the directors, for he believed the rejection to have been the act of that meeting on the 11th November. He thought, however, that it wes competent for this meeting to consider that resolution with a view to re scinding it. The stock of the company had fallen considerably after the negociation with the Eastern Counties Company had terminated. Mr. J. V. SHELLEY, one of the directors, replied that if any overtures were to be made again by the Eastern Counties Company they would be entertained, but under present circumstances he thought it advisable that they should stand aloof, and make no proposition. The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to. Mr. HYDE, one of the shareholders, moved that the direc tors should be re-elected, and paid a very flattering compli ment to them for the way in which they had acquitted them selves of their duties, and he referred especially to the negociation with the Eastern Counties Company. It could not be surprising that their shares had fallen, for consider ing the large call that was recently made on the share holders, and the great pressure on the money market, such a thing was to be expected. It was in his opinion a strong proof of the confidence of the directors in the undertaking that they made a call of 5 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) He begged to move the re-election of the directors. Mr. PACKER seconded the resolution. The directors were then separately elected. The CHAIRM&N returned thanks for the confidence that had been again placed in them. He begged to say that if any company made a proposal to them they were quite willing to entertain it; but the shareholders might rest assured that their interests would be attended to. On the motion of Mr. CLOWES seconded by Mr. FULLER, the auditor of the company was alt.o re-elected. This hal, ing concluded the business, the meeting sel?arated. SOUTHAMPTON AND DORCHES TER RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The half-yearly general Meeting of the Sharebotders of this Company was held to-day at the terminus of the Lon don and South Welters Railway. Nine Elms: Lord De Mauley in the Chair. The CHAIRMAN said it would be necessary to trouble the meeting by reading over the Bills which they were summoned to consider, after the 11311P1 business had been transacted. It world be necessary, according to the standing to the standing orders to call another meeting at a longer rotice. The register of shareholders in the company was then sub- mitted to the meeting, and the seal of the company affixed thereto. The SECRETARY then read the report, which stated that so short a period had elapsed since a fall statement of the affairs of the company had been laid before the proprietors that it would be only necessary to state with respect to the bill for making the Lyminsi,on and Ealing branch as well as the other Bill., that they were all before Parliament, and had been rind a first time, and that the directors had made an arrangement with the engi neer, by which their line would be opened in three months. The report then stated that the total receipts were 142,411/. 7s. 3d., the expenditure 137,4561. 10s., and the balance 4,9'5/. The report was then adopted. The Noble Chairman, J. Mills, Rd. Brownkerr, and W. Chas. Lambert, Esqrs. were unanimously re-elected as direc tors, and J. Hatibury, Esq., as auditor. The CHAIRMAN s id, he wished to inform the meeting that a greater progrc._s had been made in the works than was originally expected, and that the directors were of opi nion that the line would be opened on the Ist of May, and the contemplated accommodation would thus be afforded to the public, as well as an increased facility to those visititing Weymouth, &c., for the purpose of bathing. Mr. HonNE moved that 600!. per annum should be placed at the disposal of the board from the opening of the line, to meet the contingent expenses. Mr. HEATH seconded the resolution, which was unani mously adopted. The CHAIR3IAN said that he had just been informed by their engineer that the line would be open for inspection on the Ist of May, bat that it would not be open to receive passengers, or for traffic purposes for a few days afterwards. J. Carsr, Esq , then proposed a vote of thanks to the noble Chairman, to whose services, he was of opinion that the company was so much indebted. Mr. CuArtmt seconded the resolution, which was put and carried. The meeting then separated. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SIX O'CLOCK. 2,000 GUINEAS STAKES. 7 to 1 agst Conyngham CHESTER. CUP. 20 to 1 agst 31endicaut 25 to 1 agst The Lamb—taken 30 to 1 agst Flitch 30 to 1 egst Camera Obscura 40 to 1 agst Antler 30 to 1 agst Bedlam 30 to 1 agst Punch 40 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond 45 to 1 agst Mickey Free 50 to 1 agst Intrepid 50 to 1 apt Bonrton 50 to 1 agst Sir Tatton Sykes 55 to 1 agat Princess Alice—taken G 6 to 1 agat The. Premier (3 yrs) DERBY. 15 to 2 agst Van Tromp 13 to 1 agst Epirote (taken) 14 to 1 agst Planet 20 to 1 agst Glentilt 25 to 1 agst Conyngham 30 to 1 agst Red Hart 40 to 1 agst Lunedale 40 to 1 agst Horn of Chase (taken) 50 to 1 agst the-Wisp .50 to 1 agst Bedlam 66 to 1 agst Limestone OA KS. 8 to 1 ag,st Farmer's Daughter 9 to 1 agpt Clementina 20 to 1 agst Ellerdale PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.) (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Small.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were put in, and the standing orders complied with : Dundee and Perth Railway, alteration and extension, and Inchture, Polgavie, and Inchmichael Branches. Dundee and Newtyle Railway, widening, altering, and im proving. Newry and Enniskillen Railway Act Amendment. OPPOSED LIST. Caledonian Railway—Branches to Canobie, Langholm, Longtown, Milton, Annan, and Dumfries, with side Branches. This opposed case was then resumed. It occupied the rest of the day. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) UNOPPOSED LIST. In the following unopposed cases the customary formal proofs were put in, and standing orders complied with, ex cept in the second case, which was adjourned for the pro duction of an affidavit Braintree and Halstead Railway. Great Northern Railway Branch to King's Lynn Great Northern Railway Deviations between London and Grantham. Ayrshire and Galloway Railways from Smithetown to Dal mellington, from Dalmellington to Castle Douglas, from Castle Deuglas to Orchardten Tower, and from Orchardten Tower to Balcary Point, with Branches to Gibshale asd Porterbelly. Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junc tion Railway, alteration of line and branches into or near the town of Nottingham. OPPOSED LIST. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN (BIRMINGHAM AND LICHFIELD EXTENSION AND AMEND MENTS). Some unimportant allegations against this petition were sustained. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY (CANNOCH, WYRLEY, AND NORTON BRANCHES, AND AMENDMENT OF ACTS, AND POWER TO BIR MINGHAM CANAL COMPANY TO CONTRIBUTE. In this case the standing orders were complied with. SUTTON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, AND POWER TO LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN TO SUBSCRIBE. In this case also the standing orders were complied with. The Examiner then adjourned. IMPERIAL PA RI lAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD Cal:gm...Lon took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. CHELSEA PENSIONERS' BILL. On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, this Bill was read a third time, and passed. DUTIES ON RUM. The Earl of RADNOR presented numerous petitions from Cupar, Fife, Perth, and other places in Scotland, against the proposed alterations in the duti pi ~, —uties on rum. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from the city of Old Sarum praying their Lordships to amend the law relating to the Poor-law Settlement Act. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Lord BLANEY presented a petition from Monaghan against the Poor Removal Bill. HYDROPATHIC TREATMENT. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by Mr. Rowland, a surgeon, stating that he had heard with surprise that a verdict of manslaughter had been re turned on a coroner's inquest against a gentleman f or treating a patient under the hydropathic treatment. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition, signed by a Mr. Ross. of the same nature, (as we understood). HEIR•AT-LAW SOCIETY. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from the managers of the Ileir-at-law Society, com plaining of the conduct of certain city magistrates in hearing charges against them relating to the way in which their society was conducted, without giving them an opportunity of meeting these ex parse statements. The Noble Lord said that this was a subject which had been repeatedly complained of. The magistrates had no right to entertain these charges nor even to listen to them, and he hoped that an end would be put to a mode of proceeding so unfair. NATIONAL POOR RATE. Lord WALSINGHAM presented a petition from Swaffham, in the county of Norfolk, praying for the abolition of the present law of settlement, and that a general national rate should be enacted. The Noble Lord did not wish to be understood as concurring with the petitioners in all they had stated, but was of opinion that the subject was one into which inquiry should be made. t,i , :astlre to hoar thlt it wns i! N. , t Liird urar him (Richmond) h-,1 paid a good deal of attention to the matter, to move for a Committee of Inquiry into the subj9et, and he would THURSDAY EVENING- 1 FEBRUARY ll, 1847 suggest, that in the event of the Committee being granted, their inquiry should be directed to the levying of an equal rate throughout all unions. It appeared to him that it would be a great advantage over the present union of settlements. It would at once open up to the labourer an ample field for employment, while it would revive that pecuniary interest in the rate-payer, which was supposed by some to be of so much advantage. The Duke of RICHMOND said, as the Noble Lord had alluded to what had fallen from him with respect to the Law of Settlement, he wished to say a few words. He had stated, and he now repeated it, that a more clumsy measure was never introduced and passed than the Law of Settlement. It was origi nally proposed as a much more extended measure, but half of its original provisions were left out, and the lawyers did not agree as to the working of the portion that remained. It had done great m i sc hi e f, an d if acemmittee were appointed, and he should move for one on a future day, the injurious effects of its working could be proved. Nothing did so much mischief as the continual alterating of the law of settlement, as the poor found it difficult to ascertain, from the different views that prevailed, any definite notion of th e se ttl ements an d the proper way to claim them. Earl FITZWILLIAAI approved of the principle of the present Law of Settlement, yet he admitted the clauses were so involved that its w or ki ng was most de fective and injurious. He thou g ht th at if t h e poor -l aw g u a rdians had certain rules laid d own f or t h e i r guid ance in matters referring to the remova l o f pampers, b y some central authority, there c ou id not possi bl y b e any ground of objection. Lord BEAUMONT said that an evil of considerable magnitude had lately arisen in the construction of cot tages upon the land at the lowest possible prices, and to let them at the highest rents, without paying any rates for them. Ho thought that with reference to the Poor law Settlement Bill passed last session, that it was a mea sure that was both just to the ratepayer, and generous to the pauper. There was one point which the N Lord who presented the petition should consider well, that was, whether the fact of high wages being given at some places might not act as a sort of advertisement fur drawing paupers from the poorer districts. The Earl of STRADBROKE was of opinion that all property should be rated. He knew a place where there were from 700 to 800 small cottages exempted from as sessment. In Ilchester so great was the number of houses exempted, that forty-five per cent. of the rates were left unpaid. Lord WALSINGHAIII agreed with the Noble Lord that the small occupier should be rated, as it would give them an interest in keeping down the rates as much as possible. CRIMINAL LAW AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that, on Monday next, he would present a petition from the magistrates of Liverpool on the subject of the administration of criminal law, and of juvenile offenders. THE POUR REMOVAL ACT. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented a petition from Long Crenden, praying for the abolition cf the Poor-removal Act of last session. REDUCTION ON RUM. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the malt distillers of Huntley, Aberdeenshire, against the proposed r e d uc ti on o f t h e d u ty o n rum. The petititioners thought that with the various restrictions and burdens on them they ought not to be subjected to an unfair competition. Ile hoped, there fore, their Lord s hip s wou ld d o muc h to make a full inquiry into the statements of the petitioners before they assented to the reduction complained of, and he was quite satisfied that Mr. Robinson, the gentleman who signed the petition on be half of the other petitioners, would be able to substantiate all the statements made if an opportunity were given him, as he (the Duke of Richmond) hap pened to know that gentleman, and he would under take to say that he would not put his name to anything that was not true. Lord MONTE AGLE said he had recently received a deputation upon the same subject, and he felt that he could rely with confidence up , .n the information they gave him. Ile thought the distillers of this country . ought to be placed upon an equal footing with those the colonies. The manufacturers of spirits in this country were subject ty inconveniences and re strictions to which the manufacturers of spirits in this country were not liable. The colonial manufacturer could distil how he pleased or where he pleased, without any control, while the manufacturer of spirits in this coun try was compelled to go through a number of formalities. pay duties upon every ingredient used in their manu factories, and subject themselves to all sorts of restric tion and inconveniences imposed on them by Govern ment.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore thought some alteration ought to be made in the law. The Duke of RICHMOND presented similar petitions from distillers in Elgin and Banff, and the towns of Hamilton and Keith. The Noble Duke also presented a petition complaining of the charge imposed on land. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented copies of the correspondence which had taken place between the Government and the Lahore Durbar during the minority of the Maharaja Runjeet Singh, which was ordered to be printed. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SFEALER took the Chair at pour o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time:— East Lincolnshire Railway (Louth Navigation Purchase). London and Blackwall Railway Improvement and Branches to St. Katherine's and London Docks. Windsor, Staines, and South-Western Railway (Rich mond to Windsor, &c.) Windsor, Staines, and South. Western Railway (Staines to Ascot and Wokingham, with Branches). PETITIONS. Mr. GREENE presented petitions against the North British and other railways. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition against the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway. Mr. DILLON BROWN presented a petition from the barony of Westport, in the county of Mayo, praying the House to establish food depots in Ireland. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from the board of guardians of Salford, praying the House to establish a poor law for Ireland which should throw the maintenance of the poor upon the owners of the land. Several Hon. Members presented petitions from dif ferent places, praying for an alteration in the Poor Removal Act of last session. Colonel CONNOLLY presented two petitions in ill s our of Lord George Bentinck's Bill for aiding the Railways in Ireland. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from Bury, the city of London and Greenwich, praying for the abolition of punishment of death. Mr. 11. BERKELEY presented a petition, praying the House to reduce the duty on copper ore. Mr. M. PHILIPS presented a petition from a tobac conist of Manchester, named Stork, complaining that the Income-tax Commissioners had assessed his profits at 5001. a-year, w hile he was prepared to prove th a t h e h a d lost instead of gained by his business, and praying the House to amend the law, so that he, and others similarly situated to himself, might be relieved from its operation. Lord R. GROSVENOR presented a petition in favour of the claims of the Rajah of Sattara. Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from Notting h am , in favour of the reduction of the duties on tea. DECCAN BOOTY. Mr. HUME asked whether the ten lacks of rupees lately paid by the India House as a final settlement of interest and unpaid balances of the Deccan booty, are to be immediately distributed to all the claimants generally, or whether those who claim for actual capture would be paid in preference to those who claim for constructive capture ? Sir JOHN CAM lIOBIIOUSE replied, that it was quite true that during the coursethe court oot last yf directors ear a final a djustment took place between and the trustees with respect to the sum to be paid, and he underst.3od that Mr. Arbuthnot would lose no time in theirsseeg that the distribution took place. With regard to question as to who was to be paid first he could give no infornsation. JOINT STOCK COMPANIES. Mr. THORNELY said he wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Ge ntleman the Vice.-President of the Board of Trade with regard to a Bill promised last year to enable joint stock companies to wind up their concerns. He wished to know whether an y progress had been taade with the Bill, and whether it was likely soon to be submitted to the House. Mr. M. GIBSON replied that the Bill was in prepa ration, and some legal provisions bad been submitted to the consideration of the Lord Chancellor. lie had every hope that at no distant period the Bill would be mitted to the House. WASTE LANDS IRELAND. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN "iiVe notice that, to-morrow, he would ask a question of''the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, as to whether, in the event of a company being formed for the reclamation of the waste lands of Ireland, the Noble Lord would fa cilitate the acquisition of the powers by which it was proposed to effect that object. Dr. BOWRING put off his motion relative to public accounts till this day fortnight. Mr. CHRISTIE also postponed his motion for an in quiry into the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge till the same day. NOTICES OF AIOTION. Mr. WADDINGTON gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill for the regulation of the law relating to small tenements. Lord COURTNEY gave notice of h is intention t o move an amendment to the Poor Relief Bill in Committee. THE WELLINGTON STATUE. Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY gave notice that, on Monday next, he would ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods a nd F ore sts whether an y communicat ion had been m a d e t o t h e Government by t he comm ittee of the Wellington statue with respect to the removal of the scaffolding round the statue; and, if it was to be rem oved, at whose expense the removal was to take place? Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a petition from a place in the county of Down against extending relief to the able-bodied pOor in Ireland ; as, in the opinion of the petitione rs , i t wou ld t e nd to increase improvident marriages, and le a d t o the confis c ation of the pr o p erty of the country. They also prayed that if such a me asure should be approved of by the House , t hat th e extension of suchrelict should be optional with the board of gnardians, Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN presented a petition from the fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters uf those who had fallen victims to the famine in Newport, county Mayo, praying that immediate measures be tql;en trl stay the o, , ,rulity among the pct,plc.. -MILES presouted a petition from 6hc:pton Mallet, against the Poor Removal Act of last session. Also a petition from Bristol, in favour of the reduction of the duty on tea. TEN HOURS' BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented several petitions from mill-owners and others, in favour of this Bill. HUSH MEASURES. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to ask the Noble Lord a question. There were now before the House four Bills respecting Ireland. One they might consider to have been disposed of—he meant the Bill for the immediate relief of the destitute poor of Ireland, which had t,ono through Committee, and which might, therefore, be con sidered to have received the consent of that House. Then there was the Bill to indemnify the Government fur their departure from the Irish Labour Act of last year. Besides these Bills there were the Poor•law Bill and the Bill for granting loans of money to the owners of land in Ireland. What he wished to know was, whether the Poor•law Bill would proceed pari passu with the Landlords' Bill, or whether he proposed to carry them separately? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, in reply to the ques tion of the Honourable Gentleman, he had to inform him that it was the intention of the Government that the two last Bills—the Poor-law Bill, and the Bill for lending money to the proprietors of land, should proceed together. He could not say the particular days on which they would be taken, or whether one would be taken before the other, but lie should wish to have them rend a third time almost simultaneously by the House.—(Bear.) He was anxious to hare them read on days so closely followirg each other, that they might be sent up to the other House of Parliament, as nearly as possible at the same time.—(Hear.) Ile considered that the one measure should be decided at the same time as the other —(Hear, hear)—for if the one faiied in its object, it could not prove otherwise than detrimental to the other. IRISH POOL-LAW BOARD. Mr. SHAW desired to know, before the permanent Poor-law Bill came into operation, what was the or ganization which the Noble Lord proposed to tffect in the new poor-law board, especially as it related to Ireland. Lord .1. RUSSELL said that a short Bill arranging the organization of that board was now under con sideration of the Government. Amidst the hurry of bu siness he had not been able to examine its provisions, but they would bring it forward on a very early day. RAILWAY PLAN FOR IRELAND. Colonel WOOD desired to know whether the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, would bring forward his Bill for a system of railways for Ireland. Lord G. BENTINCK said that it entirely depended upon the business of the House. Mr. S. O'BRIEN said it was the wish of the Irish Members that the Noble Lord would defer it until Tuesday next. MONEY TO IRISH RAILWAYS. Colonel OSBORNE desired to know what sum of money had been granted for the earthworks of the Limerick and Waterford Railway ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he could not answer the question off hand. PRESENTMENTS IN IRELAND. Sir H. BARRON wished to know why the Board of Works had delayed to send do.n drainage surveyors to carry into operation the sums of money which had been advanced under the Act commonly called Mr. Labcu chere's Act. He hoped that his Right Hon. Friend would explain to the Rouse why the delay had taken place. Mr. LABOUCHERE said, that unless he had the re port of the Board of Works he could not give a distinct answer. The Board of Works bad been obliged to delay longer than they could have wished the examina tions necessary to the presentments before the money could be advanced to carry them out, as, in many in stances, there had been a difficulty in finding competent surveyors to undertake the works. The Board of Works itself was most anxious to facilitate the works. Mr. W. COLLETT wished to press the question already asked by an Hon. Member. He wished to kn,w whether any advance had been made to the Limerick and Waterford Railway? The CHANC'ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that in order to answer the lion. Gentleman it was ne cessary that he should read the Treasury Minute which had sanctioned the advance.—(Hear.) The Minute stated that the Commissioners of the Public Works had, with regard to a portion of the line fur which the authority of Parliament bad been obtained, advanced sums of money for the execution of the earth. works ; and with regard to that portion of the line for which the authority of Parliament had not been obtained, and of which it was intended to alter the course as soon as the consent of all the landholders should have been obtained, the money necessary for the earth-works would be advanced. land unless he had held the plough. But how could they ever expect the labourers to rise unless there were different sizes of farms. In the county of Down the benefit of small lettings had proved to be most beneficial. The tenant right for which Ile con tended was such, that the holder of land was not re• quired to give up possession without receiving from the proprietor the value of the improvements he had made. He could also sell the improvements to any tenant that might follow. What would England and Scotland do in the harvest sea-on, if it were not for the Irish labourer? He was no advocate for small holchnes as they existed in seme parts of Ireland. He was no admirer of cutter tenants but he did maintain that a considerable degree of the prosperity of the north of Ireland drpended on the division of land into small but reasonably-sized farms. --(Hear.) With reference to the system of mid dlemen, he held that it was one which destroyed all confidence between the landlord and tenant, which repressed all improvement, and was a fruitful cause of the miseries of Ireland. No security was given by the middleman to the tenant, and he could not claim one from the landlord as the middleman stood between them. Unless they passed a law for the Leprovernent of land lord and tenant, it would be of little use to pa , ,s a law for the relief of the destitute poor of that country; and unless there was such a law passed, it would ::)e utterly useless to do anything else, and there would be an end to all improvement, and an entire loss of all the labour and the expense which had been incurred. lie did say that there was a greater evil than that of the absentee landlords, for he could say, from his personal knowledge, that the properties of many of the absentee landlords were in a far better condition than those of the resident landlords. The people were better housed, better fed, and in a better condition on those estates. It was said by the Irish landlords, that if the rates were levied that they would nevtr be paid, but, if the poor people were unable to pay the rates, why did not the landlords pay the rates themselves. If they did so, then would they ob tain the good-will of the people of this country, and would be held worthy of the money which had been contributed, and the assistance which had been rendered by this country. He did not wish to say one word that would be. offensive to the Irish landlords, but in the course of bringing this sulYectbefore the House,he challenged tbem to throw off the responsibility which their position imposed He was thankful to the House for the indulgence which it had shown to him. Ho trusted that the landed proprietors would not shrink from their responsibility. He hoped that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government would give him a pledge that some amendment of the law of landlord and tenant would be effected.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that he would tell him that such a measure was one of those which in tended to introduce. Sir D. NORREYS said that unless it could be made the interest of the landlords to give security to their tenants, it would be wholly useless to expect any move ment on their part to effect what was so much desired. In order to induce the landlords to give leases he would take away the stamp duties, and he thought also that it was absolutely necessary that all local taxation should be thrown upon the landlords, where there were not leases for at least twenty or thirty years. On this subject, he did think it would be of some interest to the House to give its attention to the opinion of a foreigner, who had probably observed Ireland, and had written better on Ireland than any other person, and who probably knew the condition of Ireland better. He referred to Mr. De Beaumont, v. 113 thought the uncertainty of tenure in Ireland was' the main-spring of most of the evils that afflicted it.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. TUITE then addressed the House, but was for some time inaudible, from the confusion which prevailed. He was firmly persuaded that no benefit would accrue to Ireland till they had generally a resident, instead of an absentee, proprietary. He altogether denied the as.er- Lion which had been made by some lion. Members in that Heusi?, that the property of absentees was as well managed as the estates of the resident gentry. From experience he knew this was not the ease. Lord CASTLEREAGH wished to call the attention of the House very shortly to the observations ot tho Honourable Member for Rocridale. Ile gave credit to the Honourable Member for the best inten tions, but he might be permitted to say that the improvemeuts in the county to which he had the honour to belong were increasing. while the tenantry experienced a freedom from distress which was gratifying to those interested in what —in the welfare of the country. He would beg to say, in one word, why he could not support the resolution of the Hon. Member for Rochdale. Hon. Gentlemen in that House were too much accustomed to look on Ireland as they would upon a county, and to entertain the opinion that whatever measure would suit that county would be equally suitable for the whole of Ireland. Hon. Gentlemen were not perhapsaware that the systems of agriculture were widely different in different parts of the country. Were the measure of the Honourable Member for Rochdale, therefore, car ried in that House, it would involve the greatest mischief to the landed property in that county": Ile trusted that without a legislative enactment the improvements, which were going on in the north would extend into the south, and that the relations between the proprietors of the soil and the tenants would be carried out in a spirit of liberalty. Colonel CONNOLLY rose, and was [LEFT spaairrxr o. ELECTION RUMOUES.—We are requested by Sl y Howard Elphinstone's agent to state, in the most unqualified terms, that there is not the slightest truth whatever in the rumour that the Hon. Baronet has resigned his boat, or that he has intimated his intention of resigning it.—Sussex Ad vertiser. Baron Pasquier, sen., first surgeon of the King, inspecting surgeon and member of the Board of Health of the Army, and Commander of the Legion of Honour, died on Saturday, after a long illness. in his 74th year. The funeral ceremony took place on Monday, at twelve o'clock, at the church of St. Louis d'Antin.—Paris paper. COMPENSATION TO IRISH TENANTS. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD moved the following resolution, of which he had given notice :—That it ap pears to this House, from the reports of various Co. , 7 mittees and Commissions, that the system generally adopted in times past in the letting and management of landed property in Ireland, has been one of the main causes of the present distressed state of that coun try, and the disordered state of its social relations ; and that no measures can be effectual in producing a demand for labour, or improving the condition of the people, which shall not include such an amendment of the laws of landlord and tenant as shall give to the improving tenant in occupation a sufficient permanency of tenure, or else establish the tenant's right to claim by law full compensation for all benefits created by the expenditure of his labour and capital on the pre mises in his occupation. The question, he said, had often been asked, what were the causes of the evils which afflicted Ireland, and who were responsible for them, that as yet no solution of the matter had been arrived at, nor did it seem to be understood. He had therefore been induced to draw the attention of the House to show how far these evils had resulted from the relation that had existed between land lord and tenant, and to what extent the pro prietors of Ireland were responsible for them. If ever there was a time when inquiry was needed the present was the moment, when they were voting such large sums of money for the relief of the people of Ire land, and when, he regretted to say, Irish Members were opposing a poor-law, and throwing off a responsi bility to which they were justly subject. It was with pain that he had seen a resolution, signed by the name of a leading Irish Peer, declaring itself opposed to the moderate proposition of the Noble Lord for the relief of the people of that country, and in which the measure empowering relieving officers to grant out door relief under certain circumstances was reprobated. With such circumstances before them, it was right that they should inquire into how far the landed proprietors of Ireland were responsible for the state of things which pr eva il e d. Th e fi rst port i on o f t h e resolu tion he had to submit was as follows :—" That it appears to this House that from the reports of various Commit tees and Commissioners, that the system generally adopted in times past, in the letting and management of landed property in Ireland, has been one of the main causes of the present state of the country." As he had made this assertion it was his duty to bring before the House some portion of the evidence on which he based that assertion, but he would confine his obser vations within very narrow limits. The Land Commission, in their report, referred to thirteen reports of former committees, after instancing the large possessions in the hands of a few individuals, they referred to the penal laws, the forty-shilling free hold franchise, and they concluded with the following observations :—" That whatever difference of opinion was put forward and maintained on other points, the testimony of all witnes.es concurred in this, that the great evils under which Ireland laboured were to ha traced to the want of proper employment, felt by a large proportion of the agricultural labourers of that country. The Committee of 1830, on referring to the multiplie,i evils of Ireland, said they conceived it was the duty of individuals, as well as of the Legislature, to consider what means ought to be taken to diminish this mass of suffering, and they suggested that by promoting the better management of estates, and regulating the arrangements between landlords and tenants, on a national principle, that good might be effected. So much for the general condition of the country. He would now refer to the important evidence of Mr. Lesley Foster and of Mr. Betchworth, in the year 1823. The former witness traced a considerable portion of the evils affecting land to the want of encouragement given to tenants in building, repairing, or draining ; and the latter gentleman gave evidence that the landlords of Ire land were wanting in the kindness and generosity which so eminently possessed the English proprietor. There were strong proofs that the evils of Ireland had been produced by the misconduct of the Irish landlords. The first who introduced the middle men were the land lords, for they were not introduced by the tenants on the several properties. And what was the evil con sequence of the introduction of these middle men P Why, another evil of almost equal magnitude —that of subdivision. Then there was another evil, that of con-acre. These middle men let houses to the poor people without any land, and these people were therefore obliged to take land for the sake of the poor people, and the consequence of this was the increased population of the country, the non-drainage of estates, low wages, which could neither support the men nor their families, bad houses, and general distress, and the still further result of a tax on the lands of England. But there were evil consequences in another way, for whilst the poor people were starving they were absolutely sending corn out of the country, to the extent of two millions and a half of quarters. He found by the returns that in the first six months of 1846, the exports of corn from Ireland amounted to 1,776,000 quarters, while the imports of the Government amounted to only 118,000 quarters during the same period. The gentlemen did not return to the people to give profitable employment, and the result was that thepro-t pro prietor did not employ the people—the farmers did not employ the p eo pl e , an d the occup iers did not employbecause th s o e a people, an d t h e peop l e d i d not work for themselves bau they had not t h e proper remunerat i on for their labour. r There could b e no d ou b t t h at t h e w ant of t s , tenant with regard to th e ir lands was a f misery to the people. There were tw the south, and another is the north Ireland, between of o counties,ceebul it source one in y for the of which h e would make a comparison counties of Down and Limerick, and orneefeorfrtehdostoe, the e security for their tenure. sraall holdings having no Down, holding from distressed condition of the people a;os i e hn :entirely from the The number of farmers one to five acres, was the same it was only 7,0 • and amountedi in Li m numberteo -1 ' 4 ,00 , oafndfarmins inL init)eornrienk, acres in Down from 5 to 15 acres in extentfarms w descriptiona over v e r l 3 00 0 0, Lime rick the farms o o f o 7,000. The number Limerick 300, and yet in Limerick was 15,000, and in it was more prosperous, as, by the the 2 ,2,976. Farms presentment were moreamounted tostt subdivided i and inow Down thanown i t n o Limerick, and yet there was a proper security to the custom o improvement he might make in his lands. elevate the condition of the people of way tenant rjut for , f , t a v h e s e y by tile_ox I .. , oyeii tion liar any The only 4w:woven:flit y : 1:•! i. ~S pit2ent f ee ling in certain quarters that sma l l lettings should be dune away with; that no one should be the farm er of IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. 110 USE OF COMMONS, Feb. 10. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. BANKES said ho did lot advocate the present Bill for the purpose of giving any opposition to the Government. lie was rejoiced that some members of the Government were in favour of a modification of the present system. Although they were not prepared to go the whole extent which the Hon. Member for Oldham required, he was authorised to state that those who sought for a ten hours' Bill, would not be contented with an eleven hours' Bill, but if it was the pleasure of the Government to pass such a measure it would be a matter of satisfaction to them, as it was a step in a right dire c ti o n ; an d w ith re f erence to e success of an experiment it might not be unsatisfactory to have a trial for a year or two of such a measure before the public. He concurred in the regret expressed by the Right lion. Baronet, that this matter had not been made a subject of private regulation, but he could not say that he, for one, was disappointed. But he had high authority for saying that such a result had been expected by one of the pt:ncipal opponent - , of the measure. He did not then sec the lion. Gentleman in his place, but he believed him to be in an adjoining chamber; he alluded to the Member for Dur ham. (At this moment Mr. Bright entered the House, and took his seat amid considerable . laughter.) On the 23d of May the lion. Member for Durham stated in his place that the proper mcde of proceeding would be tor the operatives to seek a private arrangement with the em ployers ; and he admitted that they ought to have by some means or another an alteration in the present sy,- tem, which he said they would have had had other means been taken to procure them. Now, would the Hon. Member for Durham say that those means had failed? lied there been even a proposal from the manufac turers to the operatives? The lion. Member bad been the subject of many questions by rea:,on of the high and prominent position in which he had placed himself as candidate for one of the great manufacturing cities of the empire. Amongst other questions which were put to him as lately as the month of December last there was this—" Do you consider that time should be allowed for education with regard to young persons employed in manufactories? " In answer to this question, the Hon. Member saW— Mr. BRIGHT—Read the precise words I used.—(Hear.) Mr. BANKES—WeII, I will, and I ought to say, in Pa,- liamentary form, that to prevent m i sta k es , I h o ld i n ray hand a copy of the lion. Member's speech.—(Hear.) His words were es follows:—" Well, I am quite certain that the man who works ten hours a day is much more likely to be edu cated than the one who works twelve.—(Loud cheers.) I do not differ upon this point, but I differ on the point whe ther a reduction of time ought to be carried out by the Legis lature, or by a regulation between the masters and the ope ratives themselves."—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Had he quoted the Hon. Gentleman right? Mr. BRIGHT—That is correct. Mr. BANKES was then justified in asking him whether he had made any endeavour to promote that o t which in the month of May last he hadstated to only right but just ?—(Hear, hear.) Had hetie e t a e r veen e lNl r r . te; and December made any such n a ttempts ? o But now, between December he and February, of any such February, had endeavour, hear. he made having been made ? any such endeavour, or d Ws there ever, or could there ever b os le ed f , or wi s i tr en ch a ta dj ho a ur u s s o t- f l a b o ur were have been any period more ment, when the mills e were e d , p r a t' ( a r , o y " b r c a y l any mutual snlltowtbnetween the masters and the operatives, agree ment entered i but shortened from other causes which he would not at th e present momentinquire into, but which s h owe d , in point of fact, no adjustment had b een ma d e. If it were thefac; that that no effor i had been made for this par pose what chance was there that that arra ngement would be ma de now. There had been time for m a ki ng t h e experiment, and since the lion. Member srid that it ought to have been done, what chance he again asked remained that it would be doae at all? The Hoe Member for Durham was now a candidate—undoubtedly be lied every right to be ec.efor the representation of one of 'he largest and most; commercial cities in the country, the c ity of Manchester. lie might hot have been in the douse when a petition was presented,Esigned by 220,000 persons residing there, and with the leave of the House he would read the prayer of that petition. The petitioners said that they deeply sympaalited with the feci;oly workers in that large and important manufacturing city, many of whom were of tender years, shit.; up ie a close room for a period in each day that was quite incompailo'e nigh their nature, and they added that, owing to ;he long hours of labour, these young persons were debarred from eil means of enjoying the bene fits of religious or secular education ; that, in consequence of the long hours of which the petitioners complained, the fac tory operatives were in a worse position than any other artizans, by which their physical frame was deteriorated, and if no relaxation were afforded, they would be mere representatives of the human body, without any of the vigour which should accompany it. They prayed therefore that the Legislature would pass a ten hours' Bill without further delay. These sentiments emanated from 220,000 persons, whom the lion. Member for Durham sought to represent its Parliament. True, they had no votes, but they were still the persons whoee opinions and feelings he would represent. If the Hon. Member would, therefore, wish to please his future constituents, let him vote for this Bill, and thus render himself a more worthy canclidat(. ti their suffrages than he was at present.---([ls ". • and laughter.) The Hon. Member said last year that this was a fit and proper Lieasure, which ought to be by some means adopted. There might be persons in Manchester, ••••.111.L In e ot na for ine a t perhaps, mere powerful than the individenawleeot-Wlidag were appended tb this petition , but moment su pp „ conduct now. He had, however, to recollect • ose that this consideration erou.ldtha .intnituewnacse the just expressed opinion of ihe Hon. Member that this measure .. ought to pass ; and, as it could not pass in ,ek e Way of adrt ment and regulation between the emnloyers arid t e operati he (Mr. Bankes) called upon the Hon. Member : now to f I?! the pledge which he gave, .and 'o carry out the men sure by the only means left open, n a noely, a legislative ena t, wield! (Hear, hear.) There lad been circulated a pamphle although published two years before, .had only been seats? him that day. That pamphlet contained grave charges a;,a most honourable person, and containing such charges, ,he thought that it ought to have been circulated earlier, it at all. It was entitled " A Report of the Central Commiitte: of the Association of Millownersensaged in the cotton tratie.. Now, lie (Mr. Bankes) would nor allude to th e p erson ' charges which that circular contained against this honour-- able person, but he would to one passage which he happened to glance at, for he had had no time to examine carefully the contents of the document. That passage stated, " It is useless to discuss whether the present arrangement twelve hours for five days, and nine hours on Sang day, is precisely the best limitation for labour; it is the limit which Parliament has irreg. since established," *C. ' Now, the House would permit him to ask why it wag " use: less to discuss?" C o orld there be a better occupation of they time than to discuss wile: her that which was found a bene fri to the people to a certain tent should not he further ex tended, if any further additiena; benefit could be conferred? Could they be better employed tin: ll extending a meow"e which had been alreedy found good still further a The quotation went on, " Usage and hsebit has accommod t ca itself to this period." Why that wait raid of the sla ve . trade; " usage and habit" had existed there for a long time, but that was DO reason why that Labit And usage e should be permitted to continue.—(Hear, hear., '" continued certainty of this limitation, the maste" n ule v. turer bad based Lis calculation of profitable return ( I. " / I , what right had the master manufacturer to base h,'l calc ot lations ea this limitation ? Had not this been a coelsl a u d subject of inquiry, of proper inquiry year after year ? e „ st it not been constantly agitated in that House, and 1,7„„ justly agitated? Was there any reason why master manufacturers. when the former law woe passed, should speculate upon no further alteration of the law in all time coming? The Honourable Meru: ber for Montrose had been pleased to say that he had got one besetting sin, and that was his universal advocacy ei all reductions in taxation and retrenchments in exi)endire!. But the Hon. Member had another besetting s in, end e that was his determination to look with such • intensity en the side of a question, that lie omitted altogether to look nt other.—(Hear, hear.) Nov, when the Hon. Member t e e Montrose supported the former Bill of 1824, doubtless thought it the concentration of all lunetw e wisdom—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—but he forgot Use; these Acts limiting factory labour had been passed—passea with complete triumph—Acts reducing the labour of those under thirteen Years of age from 74 hours a week to 86, anel persons above that age from 74 to 69. All these concessions had been universally admitted, by every one but the 110 0 - Member for Montrose, to be attended with the happiest suc cess, without any counterbalancing inconvenience to any the parties interested. But, said the Hon. Member for Moir e trose, these persons are blind io their own interests; but le they were ignorant it was the duty of the H I! . . ation was being in member to educate and prepare theen properly. At t n . !: time, when an extended measure of edn. troduced into the other House of Parliament, surely some e _ arrangement should be made by which the rtizan in mon with all classes in the country might be bbenefited . fited• CO fine measure (as far as the factory workman was ~e cerned) was an insult to him, for they provides a. l :. elf rune for educational purposes, from the beneh: ls nr which be would be altogether debarred. The able Member for Durham bad admitted that ts r man who worked ten hours had more time for the purpose! or education than the man who worked twelve hours. Oa': the man who worked twelve hours any time for education at all ? He was compelled to devote twelve homers to work, a nd he required two heursfor meals—where then could the tine for education be found? The Hon. Member for Montrose had put a hypothetical case. " You cannot," sa i d he, " pass an equal law for the limitation of labotirt because the labourers are of different conditions in life: One has a father and mother, and another is n" burdened with either." He ( Mr. Bankes) said, gil l; them all the advantage of the same law. Ile could se e no distinction that could be safely made between the on! labourer and the other. The House would remember 010 when this measure, was first brought before them the] were shocked at the recital of the cruelties perpetrated in the factories; they had heard of the physical deforraitt which resulted from the nature of the employment. P: (Mr. Bankes) had always heard and read those statemanw with much pain, and with a belief that, while the menurA turers were not guilty of the cruelties to them, the offences themselves were greatly exaggerate.; but neither could he shut his ey es t o the consequences whic h would follow the want of education. He could not be blin d b to the physical, a s w e ll as th e mora l d e t er i or ation whic h would result from this cour s e ; and if Government did 11 .",, apply the remedy, t o w h om were they to look for it? He W 7i„ of opinion that this was the fitting opportunity r a the enactment of such a measure. If t h ey pa ssed the Bill at this period it would entail no inconvenie ece on the manufacturer. The Hon. Member for Da r _ h „ alli r e had been unable to carry i n t o e ff ec t a mes s which he himself declared was fit and proper, an d therefo r e e it behoved the Government t o interpose and rectify the grievance. He would give his cordial assent to the eo n reading of the Bill. Mr. MARK PtiILIPS said that the Hon. Member f e af e Durham had had a speech made at him as candidate le' Manchester, perhaps the House would allow him as repro' sentative :or Manchester, in esse, to say a few words for hini. He trusted it would not be considered he did not sympe t thiso _ e with the workmen in factories if he did no t coincid e i n h opinions of the Hon. Member who had last spo ken, but he (Mr. Philips), as the representative of a vast commerc ia l interest, could not let his feelings run away with his be tter judgment. He thought th a t an y in t er f e rence between capita l and labour would tend to the most mischievous consequences, for the House might depend upon it that one-tenth of the manufacturing power of this country could not be repressed without the workmea's wagessuffering in the same proportion. • Why was the Government to atop short with reference to agricultural labours? He believed the present was such 11 departure from proper legislative interference, that he could not but augur the most serious results from the adoption of the measures-(Hear, hear.) He did not like the propel's! "nibbling," piece by piece, of the measure, such as that al:uded to by the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to reduce the hours to eleven in stead of ten. If the experiment were to be mad," let it be made at once, upon a bold scale; e would Much rather at once give his support to the ten hours' measure than to such a meddling system of lego i lation proposed by those who had not the courage to go once to the completion of the full measure, but who stop r"' at a sort of half-way house.—(Ch eers .) He believed tbst great ignorance existed on the part of Hon. Members Wi t t i ,,! reference to the subject of factory labour. It was not ' him to catechise Hon. Members on the subject; if he did he might, in all probability, be told " that he had bett er mind his own business, and give them credit foe the knowledge they possessed upon subjects wh ich even the most experienced maeufacturers and inhabitant of the district were unable to obtain." It was quite true th at the measures which had been passed for the purpose of stricting labour in some factories had been attended wit some success ; but he begged most earnestly to protest again ° the arguments urged by the Right Hon. Baronet the Secra tary of State for the Home Department, that because pare" - success had attended the measures passed for the protection of women and children, that therefore future legislation for adults should be equally successful. With those views, seeing nothing but mischief attendant upon the passing of thee measures, and not at all underrating the comforts of the working classes, or being one whit less desirous than the Hoe. Gentleman who had last addressed the House to see educe" tion a ff orded to the people, still h e w as obliged to weig h carefully both sides of the question, and he had come to the conclusion that nothing but mischief woold result from th e interference by the Legislature in the large manufacturing districts o the country. Lord JOHN MANNERS was quite surprised to hear th e Hon. Member for Montrose say that the present measure was advocated upon party grounds. He did not think such a charge ought to have been made. The sligh:es t reflection upon the history of the question would suffice to show that such a charge was totally unfounded. No one could look upon the Pa st history of the question without seeing that never was al question of great national polity supp or t e d upon such .1 interested and honourable grounds, and carried on in such ! manner as to be in every wa y wort hy o f t h e great eauj: itself.—(Cheers.) The grea t cause h a d b een going on f o r years, though war r i or a f ter wate i or had fallen in th e i,'" glorious struggle. Sir Robert P ee l fi rst a d vo cated the question, died, and left the care to the care of Sir J. Hobhouse; he carried it in for tome time, until it was taken up by Mr. Saddler. Teat great advocate of the cause died, and left the conduct of it to Mr. Oastler; he, in his turn, gave place to Lord Ashley, who carried on the War to the very verge of victory, when circumstances oci curred which prevent e d hi s proceeding further wit h the measure, and he resigned his glorious charge to the Honourable Member for Oldham (Mr. Fielders). Still they found the same resolute, indomitable persever ance in the great cause. And row, in this year, 1847, they found the great question again brought forward, and bold!) advocated by its iedeeetigable supporter, the Hon. Member for Oldham (Mr. Fielden).—(Cheers.) Well did Lord Ashley say in that House, and truly, "that it was possible, nay, probable, that the efforts of her Majesty's Ministers would be successful, and that they would carry their motion, but for how long? If the Government would wish their victory to be complete, they must extinguish those senti ments which had given rite to his." In that sentiment was to be found the feeling which nurtured and fed the in domitable courage o: the supporters of this measure.— (Cheers.) And so long as men had eyes to weep, souls to pray, hearts to feel, voices to raise, and hands to lift up, so long would the struggle be continued, until the arduous contest was consummated by the glory of a triumphant victory. The Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, had used what he called "old arguments,' those arguments were year by year becoming weaker and weaker, and he hoped those arguments, the fallacy of which had been so long exploded, would be consigned at once to the tomb of r'l the Capulets."--(Cheers.) The present Was the most favourable time for the passing of this law, in eon sequence of the depressed state of trade in the manufacturing districts and the high prices of corn. The mi lls were now working short time. When, however the current set in the other way, if this measure were passed, then stability and security would be the result, instead of a wild , insane, and reckless re-action, which had before been the bane of the prosperity of our manufacturing districts.-- (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then wert on to _quote from the circular of Meesrs. Parkissoa and Taylor. The" gentlemen said;—" Stocks are tio'ly accumulating, and must before long press hen ly upon the market. Yet the spinner* and manufacturers with reckless infatuation, in the face of in creasing stocks, of advanced prices in the raw material, and of a declining demand fur yarns and goods, have for the greater part reverted to full time, and production within the last fortnight has resumed almost its former vigour." This state of things would no doubt be followed by a serious de pression. What was the ellect of these rapid alternations ? o prosperity and depression in the co n diti on o f th e w orkman —during one week he had nothing to do, and the rext week he was torn and racked by fatigue. In such a state, was it possible for the working man to contract habits of sobiiety or forethought, or to perform his duty to his count*: and the society in which be moved ?—(Loud cheers.) It had been see" by the opponents of this measure, that se much wok could not be done in twelve hours as in tin ; even if it were so, the greatp ractical result would be, that if t his Bill were passed it would spread a larger amount of labour over the working classes, zed thereby equalise the amount to be performed. It had also been said that it Was wrong to interfere in manufactuting speculations. Nothing could be a more decisive refutation of that argument than the declared official value of the exports of the country, as given in a work recently pnblieliecl by Mr AlCulloch, from • id ,e 1 4,57C1., but in the year 1842 the declared value of the cotton exported was 21,770,127/. This would at once dispose of the argument of the mischief 0 -~- s