The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.--(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wooliack at five o'clock. _ Lord DE FREYNE took the oaths and his seat upon his elevation to the peerage. The noble lord was intro duced by the Earl of Enniskillen and Lord Monteagle. The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented a petition from the civil servants of the Crown at the port of Southampton against the system under which the super annuation allowances were at present provided. The Earl of FORTESCUE presented a petition from the civil servants of the Crown at - Dartmouth to the same effect. Lord CAREW presented a similar petition from the civil servants of the Crown at the port of Wexford. Lord EGLINTON presented a similar petition from Ayr. ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS. The Marquis of BREADALBANE brought up the answer of her Majesty to the address of their lordships on the occasion of the opening of Parliament. It was as follows : " I thank you for your loyal and dutiful address, and for your lordships' assurances that you will take into your earnest consideration the measures that will be proposed to you. You may rely on my hearty desire to co-operate with you in promoting the happiness of my people." CHINA. The Earl !of CARNARVON gave notice that on an early day he would call the attention of their lordships to the trial of Allam, the baker of Canton. SALE OF POISONS. Lord CAMPBELL called the attention of; the house to the circumstance that last session he had urged upon the house the importance of passing some law with a view of restricting the sale of poisons. There was a subject which was of far more importance than the sale of either prussic acid, strychnine, or arsenic—the sale of infamous publications. He trusted that if the law was not strong enough to redress the evil, their lordships would take the subject into their serious consideration, with a view to providing a remedy to put an end to such a base and noxious trade. In respect to the sale of poisons, he believed that the Secretary of State had collected a mass of very valuable information, and was about to bring forward a bill this session for the suppression of the sale of poisons. He trusted that the subject he had referred to, would be taken into the seri ous consideration of the Government. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he believed that the law, as it stood, was sufficiently strong to meet the evil the noble and learned lord complained of —viz., the sale of immoral and infamous publications. If it was found to be deficient for the purpose, he had no hesitation in saying the Government would immediately adopt more stringent measures. With regard to the sale of poisons, he begged to inform his noble and learned friend that the Government had not only given their serious attention to the subject, but that a bill had been already framed, and would speedily be in troduced into Parliament to put down the evil. The subject was one of great difficulty, and it was next to impossible to define what was poison and what was medicine. Immediately they enumerated a dozen poisons the ingenuity of chemistry would be employed to change their nature and characters. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The Marquis of CLAN RICARDE presented a peti tion from the officers of the Custom-house of Galway complaining of the system under which the superannua tion allowances of the civil service are at present pro vidtd, and asked whether the Government contemplate an early change of that system. Lord GRENVILLE said the report of the commis sioners to inquire into the subject would in the course of a few days be laid upon the table, and then would be the proper time to discuss the subject. TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION,-THE LAW OF DIVORCE The LORD CHANCELLOR laid upon the table two bills, one relatirg to testamentary jurisdiction, the other relating to the law of divorce and marriage. Lord CAMPBELL said, if the Probate and Letters of Administration Bill of his noble and learned friend was as objectionable in some of its parts as the bill of last session he should feel it his duty to oppose it. So likewise would he oppose the clause in the Divorce Bill which in the bill of het session empowered a husband and wife to separate at any time on a mutual agreement to that effect, in the event of such a clause being re produced is the present bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, the bills were substantially the same as those of last session, bet with several amendments ; and among others, in regard to the Testamentary Bill, he had —more, he must confess, in deference to the wishes of others than of his own— entirely separated the Court of Probate in every way, not only from the Court of Chancery, but from every judge of the Court of Chancery. (" Hear, hear," from Lord Campbell.) The details of the mode in which he bad done that he should afterwards have an opportunity of stating. With regard to the Divorce Bill, he had struck out the clause to which his noble and learned friend (Lord Campbell) had objected. (Hear, hear.) The bills were then read a first time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF 003,1MONS.—(YEsymtpA.y..) The SrEAKEE. took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock, when the swearing-in of members was proceeded with. Amongst them were the Lord-Advocate, Sir W. Dun bar, and Mr. Stirling. MAY! OOTH. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD gave antics that he should, on the motion of the hon. member for North Warwickshire for a committee on the grant to Maynooth, move as an amendment that it was expedient to withhold all grants of public money for religious purposes in Ireland. (Cheers.) CONSUMPTION OF SMOKE. Mr. BOWYER asked if the Government intended to enforce the law compelling the consumption of smoke in London ? Sir G. GREY said that the act was being carried out in London, and that during the last month 54 convic tions had taken place. (Hear, hear.) THE POOR LAWS. Mr. WISE asked the President of the Poor Law Board, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government t 3 introduce any measures to revise the laws relating to the settlement and removal of the poor, or to alter the present mode of raring the rates for the relief of the poor by distributing the charge over a wider and less variable basis ; and 2dly, if her Majesty's Government was not prepared to propose early legislation on these subjects, whether the President of the Poor-law Board would assent to the appointment of a committee to inquire into the practical operation of the laws, for the relief of the poor in Er.g,land and Wales, and to consider the policy and general effect of all the laws relating to settlement, removal, and parochial assessment ! Mr. BOUVERIE, with reference to the third ques tion, said that it was not the intention of the Govern ment to introduce such a measure this session ; and that with regard to the second question, it was more one for the house to determine than him. He reminded the hon. gentleman that extensive and fre quent•enquiries had already taken place on the subject. LWNATIC ASYLUMS (SCOTLAND). Mr. E. ELLICE asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the cause of the delay in print ing the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the slate of Luna is Asylums in Scal4nd, pre sented, by command, the :2511 dsy of July, 1856 ? Sir G. GREY said that the cause of the delay in distributing this report arose from a desire on the part of the CominisAoners to carefully revise the report be fore it was finally printed and circulated. He was in• formed by one of the Commissioners, on Saturday, that it was printed with the appendix, and would be circu lated in a few days. REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. Mr. MILES asked the Secreta.ry of State for the Home Department whether he intended to introduce during the present session the bill which was brought forward by Government last session, to fAcilitato the establish ment of reformatory schools in England ? Sir G. GREY said that he had given notice to ask for leave to re introduce his bill of last session on this subject on Friday next. PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS. Mr. BRADY asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government proposed intro ducing any measure this session, for the better regula tion of places of public entertainment which were open for the most part after 12 o'clock at night ? Sir G. Grin - said the Goverstuent had no inten tion to introduce such a measure this session. THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the finance) accounts for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1357, would be presented ? Mr. WILSON said, that accord►ng to act of Parlia ment., the financial statement must be presented on or hefote the 30th of June. He believed that on or before that day the return would be made. A the account included a variety of statements, he would have much pleasure in producing any particular accounts, if asked for before that day. NEWFOUNDLAND. Sir J. PAK INGTON presented a petition from New foud relatingthe!andon to h subject t of the proposed con ven ti on w ith franca Newfoundland fisheries ; and asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies as to the intentions of her Majesty's Government with respect to hat Convention 1 Mr. LABOUCHERE, aftere settlement stating the diffi c ulti es th that cx;sted in referenc e to ttlemei.t of the. right of fishing on the banks of Newfoundland and this country, said that, finding there was no chan ce of their comi ng t o a satisfactory settlement of the question, tw o was thought de sirable by her Majesty's Governmentn i t der t e a nt d er into a or i t u u g b e a ly t ha t t convention with France, on the u it should be approved of by the colony, tih n t the colonists at first con;idered their rights bad been in infringed on, and they refu se d to accept the terms of h convention. Since then matters had been explain t ed e and they now felt sati,fied at what had been done b y this Government. He assured the house that every endea vour would be taken by this Government to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion. He would be no party to compromise or surrender the rights of the colony without the express consent of tho Legislative Council of that colony. Ho would shortly lay before Parliam en t p apers i n reference to tho question. CHURCH RATES. Sir J. TRELAWNEY a,ked if the G , ivernintnt in tended to introduce this session a b,ll for the abolition of church rates ? Lord PALMERSTON said that the Government bad the utiestion under consideration with the view to the introduction of such a measure next session. Sir J. TRELAWNEY expressed himself diesatiefied with the answer, and said that unless he had a more satisfactory answer he should bring the question before the house next Monday. - SUPPLY. Mr. WILSON moved that the ordinary supply be granted to her Majesty, and said that he should move to-morrow that the house go into committee to consider the subject. ~~w`~ rilE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 12, 1857\ SAVINGS BANKS. The house went into committee on savings banks, when The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the folio Wing resolution :—That it is expedient to amend the laws relating to savings banks, and to provide for the establishment of savings banks with the security of the Government. He said that this resolution was ne cessary for the introduction of a bill similar to that of last session. Daring the recess the bill had been sent to all the savings banks, and the great majority of them were of opinion that the principle of the bill should be adopted by the house. They objected to the limitation of the amount of deposit from 2001. toloo/., and he intended to omit that clause from the bill. After stating some minor details in connection with the bill, the right hon. gentleman said that he intended to alter the present mode of investment in Exchequer Bills. By the old bill the commissioners invested their money on an average of prices during the quarter, but by this bill it would be made on the price of the day of the investment. He proposed to introduce a bill prohibiting private persons and companies from establishing banks under the title of savings backs, to prevent the public from being imposed on. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, in the course of his remarks on the question, said there was now a deficiency of the savings banks funds amounting to 5,280,0001., which he said arose from the inconvenient, he would say the mis chievous, system of allowing the Chancellor of the Exche quer to use the stocks of savings banks for the purposes of the State in carrying on his operations of finance and thereby working out his own projects and not those that would be for the advantage of the savings bank funds. He contended that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer had no right to deal with one farthing of this fund as they had done, and he objected to their plaMng the money of the savings banks under the control of individual officers of the National Debt Office. He asked the Government to have the whole matter re ferred to a select committee. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HERBERT expressed a hope that the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would press the clause relative to Government taking the re sponsibility, instead of the present law, which absolved the trustees and manager from all responsibility, and held out a false inducement to the people to part with their money. Mr. SOTHERAN ESCOTT said this bill proposed tceintroduce a new system of savings banks, and he was of opinion the subject should be referred to a select com mittee. He, however, expressed his approval of the principles of the bill. Lord GODERICH urged the appointment of a select committee on the subject. Mr. T. BARING was also in favour of a select corn mittee. He did not believe that the managers of the savings banks objected to any checks being imposed upon their action, but they wished those cheeks to be well defined and inserted in the bill. They objected to the power of imposing checks being lodged in any one indi vidual, however respectable. He also thought that the power which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had of dealing with the savings hank funds in such a way as to increase the National Debt, was a very objectionable one, and deserved the serious attention of the house. Mr. SLANEY strongly supported the bill, and was unwilling to send the measure to a select committee, as that might endanger the passing of the bill during the present session. Mr. HENLEY supported the select committee. He also thought the checks to be placed upon the local managers of the banks should he defined and inserted in the bill. He had no confidence in Government inspec tion, snd reminded the house that a Government inspec tor sent over to examine a suspicious bank in Ireland proved it to be in an insolvent condition, but recom mended it to go on, in the hope that times would mend. Tee bank went on, but times did not mend; a failure took place, and the Government was otliged, on account of its inspector's advice, to refund to the depositors 158. in the pound. Mr. CROSSLEY was also in favour of a select corn mittee, and complained that Government did not make enough of the money deposited in savings banks. Mr. FAGAN supported the bill, and urged its imme diate adoption. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be had heard with much satisfaction that the bill he sought to introduce had met with the approbation of the various members on both sides of the house, who were well ac ' quainted with the subject. The objections that had been made to the measure were of a two-fold character—one of a practical nature, and the other, though bearing on savings banks, having little reference to the bill. The practical part of the question was that stated by the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley), and on that the fate of the bill mainly turned. The object of the bill gas not so much to introduce a new class of savings banks as to suggest means by which the present savings banks might be brought within the benefit of the Government security. He concurred with theright hon. gentleman opposite (Mr. Henley) that their admission must turn on the conditions prescribed for their union, and that the house was entitled to ask what those conditions were to be. From the difficulties there appeared to be in the way of laying down any impera tive rules in a bill for the regulations of these banks— from the great variety of circumstances connected with them, he had omitted them from the bill from a desire to avoid any unnecessary restrictions which the inflexible words of an act of Parliament enforced, and leaving it to a discretionary proceeding on the part of Government. The only condition Government sought to enforce was their satisfaction of the bank's solvency, and then the creation how was that solvency to be ascertained. The most conclusive and complete means of ascertaining that was by obtaining a sight of the deposit books, but then the right hon. gentleman opposite said that was impossi ble. It might not be right to enforce such a condition,but then were they justified by experience in laying down that it was impossible to get a large proportion sufficient to guide them as to the bank's solvency? In Ireland, a few years since, the law required the producti on o f th e depositors' books ; and in the first year out of 21,000 to be brought in to be examined but 45 per cent—not one ha f—sere brought in. In the last year, out of 39,000 books, 72 per cent. were brought in, being equal to three fourths. One hank, in 1855, gave in 94 per cent. ; ano ther 83; one 78, and another 99 per cent, of the whole. That was the result of actual experience in Ireland, and he saw no reason to think he was asking an unreason. able thing for the English depositors to produce their books. Before the second reading of the bill he would endeavour to put it into as distinct terms as possible, the conditions which he deemed it necessary should be com plied with for a bank's admission within the provisions of this act. One other practical objection to the bill was the proposal for sending it to a select committee, which he thought would have the effect of shelving it for the ' session, and therefore be could not accede to thatrequest. If hon. gentlemen wished to throw out the bill, let them resort to the fair and direct course of doing it on the se enrol reading, and not by indirect means, by referring it to a select committee. With regard toa consolidation of the laws, he begged to remind the house that it was not his proposition, and 'ee thought, if it were desirable, that it could be better done after the passing of the bill. In reply to observations that had been made relative to the ma nagement of the fund by the Commissioners of the Na tional Debt, he begged to remind the house that; the re sponsible official was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the same as the Vi,:.e•President of the Board of Control and the Vice-President of the Board of Trade in their re spective departments, and therefore he back not thought it necessary to propose any alteration in, the existing law with reference to that. With regarrl to what bad been said with reference to the large stun the Government veal indebted to 'these banks, no loss could accrue to either party unless a demand was to h,e made on all these banks in one day for the amounts tteerein deposited. •That was an improbable event, and a'e long as they went on in their present state the Government deficiency was a mere matter of account, and ea r l no practical bearing on :sav ings banks. No los., had as yet accrued to any deposi tor. No depositor tied failed to obtain the full amount of his dep rains wi .h interest, and any loss that by possi bility could accru e could only be to Government, sup posing the wb ole amount of deposits to be required by a given day. TA had been said that there was an improper power vested in the Chancellor of the Exchequer of vary. ing the securities, and that a Chancellor of the Exche quer had the power of playing with the funds which ought to be restricted. He could only say that so far as he was concerned, he had not on any occasion exercised the power of funding Exchequer bills. (Hear.) Exche quer-hills were as much a Government debt as Three per Cent. Consols. The annual fiction of paying off Exche queiebille was now neither more nor less than a fiction. They had become part of the permanent debt of the country. If the hone thought any further restrictions necessary they would deprive the Government of the power, under emergencies, of sustaining the public funds. He did not believe that any Chancellor of the Exchequer would use his power for any.private or personal object. Still if Parliament thought right to impose more strin gent regulations the Government would not he to blame if it did not make the best possible bargain for the advan tage of the public. lie would before he sat down advert to the observations made on the conduct of Mr. Tidd Pratt when he was sent over to investigate the affairs of the Cuffe-street Bank ; he had been blamed because when he discovered the bank to be in an insolvent state, he advised it to go on. Now this was correct, with one important exception. Mr. Pratt advised it to go on, only if it complied with a certain mode of procedure. The bank took one part of the advice, but disregarded the other. (Laughter.) He trusted the house would allow the resolution to he read. Mr. HENLEY said that the Chancellor of the Exche quer, when he had admitted that a large sum of money had been lost on tho savings bank account, yet said it was no less if the savings bank had not asked for their money, had enunciated a roost extraordinary doctrine. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that the proposal of the right hon. gentleman with regard to the management of the savii.gs banke wa+ that three should form a quorum, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer was to have the control of the funds. now could the Chancellor of the Ex chequer be three pergons at once. (A. laugh.) The result was to make the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sole con!rollir of the bank. Now the sums invested in the savings banks amounted to ino less than 34,000,0001. He (Sir H. Willoughby) would trust no man living with 34 millions of money, least of all a Chancellor of the E . xchequer, w h o h as so many temptations to play with it. He must observe as to the affair of the Cutfe-street bank. Teat bank had gone on in a s t a t e o f i nsolvency for 10 years--fruin 1833 to 1849—it had declared at last a deficiei,cy of 60,0001, and yet the Government official had advised its going on, in spite of the law, which ordered teat when a savings bank was insolyent the k books should he closed. Yet it was to these officials that they were to entrust the management of the banks under the proposed system. SECONDARY PUNISHMENTS. Sir G. GREY rose to move the second reading of the Transportation and Penal Servitude Bill. He hoped that it would not be necessary now to repeat the argu ments which be had used last session. He had then stated that the first object of the bill was to amend the act passed in 1833, which act had been passed in conse quence of the difficulty which arose in carrying out sen tences of transportation. By that act all sentences of transportation under 14 years were abolished, and an option was left to the judges of passing sentence either of transportation or penal servitude. By the present law he proposed to abolish sentence of transportation altogether. But it was not intended to forego the ad vantage of the system as to the convictions lately adopted by the country. The bill would give facilities for send ing them out of the country which did not now exist. The next provision of the bill had been introduced in consequence of the recommendation of the committee of the House of Commons, according to which recom mendation sentences of penal servitude, instead of being shorter than those of transportation, were to be co-extensive. O ne diffi cu l ty that had arisen arose from this, that there was no me di um between the old term of imprisonment for two years and the term of transportation for seven years. By the law sentences might be passed for four, five, or six years. But the most important provision was that which removed the difficulty of carrying into effect penal servi tude in the colonies. According to the Act of 1853, as it was received, it was doubtful whether Parliament bad intended to allow the power of exercising penal servitude in the colonies. In consequence of a demand for convicts in Western Australia, the law officers of the Crown bad been consulted, and they took some time before they aes rived at the conclusion that the Government had not the power to send convicts to Western Australia. The pre sent law was this—that every person sentenced to penal servitude might be confined in any part of this kingdom, in any fortress or harbour thereof, or in any part of her Majesty's dominions beyond the,seas, or in any fortress or harbour thereof, there to be kept to hard labour. The law officers did not think that under this act Govern ment could send prisoners to Western Australia. The Government no doubt could send prisoners out there, but only as they sent them to Portsmouth or any other place of confinement in the kingdom ; but as soon as they were there, they would have to be confined, and could not be set at liberty in the colonies ; and the pro vision of the act would then cease to apply, and the ad vantages of the measure would be altogether lost. There were abundant means now of employing convicts in this country in public works—at Portsmouth and Dart moor—to say nothing of Gibraltar and Malta. The fact was, that there was not enough of convicts fit for labour to meet the demand called for by the Admiralty. The difficulty was, what to do with the convicts when relaxa tion of strict discipline became expedient. This was the object of the provisions of the bill which he asked the house to allow to be read a second time. It was to re move the present obstacles tosendingconvicts sentenced to penal servitude to Western Australia or any otber colonies where it might be found expedient, and which were willing to receive them. A committee of the House of Lords had recommended them to revert to the old system of transportation, by taking out those who would be useful to the colonies. But that was impos sible, as they could only take those who were sentenced to long terms of transportation, and who had been guilty of serious crimes. After the passing of the Act of 1853, the number of sentences of transportation had greatly diminished, and from these they must deduct( persons in a weak state of health, and who would be of no use to the colony. The provisions contained in the bill would enable Government, out of the convicts sen tenced to penal servitude, to select as they thought right in respect of these persons, and with a thee regard to the nature of the crimes committed by them, in order to send them to Western Australia, that they might there undergo the rest of the sentence, and obtain any relaxa tion of their sentence, or a modification of its terms as might put them into a condition to become more useful members of society. The objection to this system was that it produced an uncertainty and doubt in the carry ing out of the sentence, an element which it was desir able to avoid. Now he (Sir G. Grey) admitted the fact of the uncertainty ; but if they desired absolute certainty, they must forego altogether the existing system of trans portation. That could only be carried into effect by selection, with regard to the man himself, or to the facilities of employment in the colony. The objection was not a new one. He should be glad to get rid of it, if he could do so without sacrificing all the advantages of transportation. It was an objection which applied as fully to former systems of transportation as to the one which would be in force if Parliament gave its sanction to the bill which he introduced. The old system was to detain the convict for some time in the hulks, and well conducted men were retained in this country. The House of Commons had passed a resolution condemning this practice, and in consequence such a number of convicts were sent out that they deluged the land, and the result was that the colonies became overwhelmed with convicts, and the whole system broke down. He would take the ten years from 1843 to 1852 inclusive, because there were the years immediately preceding the bill of 1853. During these ten years the number of convicts actually sentenced was 31,020, while the numbers actually trans ported were 22,322, making 8,693 which were sentenced and not transported. So that the uncertainty prevailed in former times to the same extent as at present. Sen tences of transportation could not always be carried into effect, while sentences of penal servitude could be carried into effect at any time. It was impossible to know how far it was possible to carry out sentences of transporta tion unless the man stood actually before you, and you could know his physical capacity. The judge could not tell what demand there might be for labour in the colo nies. It was, therefore, out of no distrust of the judge that he was not allowed full di-cretion. The judge might let the criminal know what he had to expect, but there would be always some uncertainty as to the details. He would not then enter into the ticket-of leave system. The bill left the law as it found it on that subject. Thera were now only a few convicts left with whom the sys tem was at present in operation. They had adopted the spirit of the recommendation of the committee of that house, which considers it desirable that a stimulus to good conduct should be held out in shortening the terms of a long sentence. In retaining the ticket-of leave system, he felt that as a general rule an absolute remission of the sentence should be observed rather than a qualified re mission. (Bear.) He would advert to a few matters of detail. By the bill power was expressly given to the courts of passing sentence of penal servitude for more than two years. Again, certain penalties were imposed by the present law on those who threatened to charge others with crimes punishable by transportation. The same penalties were extended by the bill to those who should threaten to charge others with crimes punishable with penal servitude. After these explanations, he begged leave to move the second reading of the bill. Mr. BENTINCK opposed the bill because he was opposed to transportation altogether. It was only a source of additional crime and demoralisation. In place of transportation he would provide penal settlements at home, and make the system of penal sentences self-sup porting, by the erection of harbours of refuge on different pasts of the coast, which could never be undertaken ex cept on some such plan as that he proposed. He moved that the bill he read a second time that day six months. Mr. ROEBUCK thought Sir G. Grey had not touched the real difficulty of the case. The great cause of crime in this country was want of employment. Labourers were plentiful, and the labourer tainted with crime was shunned by everybody. The man must starve or steal. They all know which alternative the man would prefer. It was impossible to send them to our colonies, for with few exceptions the colonies would not have them. The only course to which the house was stint up therefore was, that in every case transportation, whenever it was inflicted, should be for life ; and that a new penal colony should be founded for them in some uninhabited island in the South Sea. Of course that punishment would only be inflicted on hardened offenders. After a course of penal servitude in some existing colony, he would remove them to this new colony ; and to preserve an equality between the sexes, he would send out every woman that was sentenced to transportation. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON believed that the two great causes of crime in this country were ignorance and drunkenness_not want of work. As to the estab lishment of a new penal setflement, he confessed he was once of that opinion himself ; but the more he con sidered the subject the more hopeless he considered the subject to be. He approved generally of the bill ; but he lamented that the uncertainty of punishment was still to be allowed to a great extent. He defended the principle involved in tickets of leave, and the Govern ment did not mean to exclude the element of hops froth a convict by carrying out every sentence to the letter. Mr. COLLIER reminded the house that transporta tion had always succeeded when they were bent to colonies where there was a demand for labour ; it bad failed only when the convicts were sent merely to a prison at ihe other end of the world. Now, the object of the bill was to send convicts across the seas only in cases where the colonies required their labour. If there was no such colony to receive them, it was proposed to retain them at home. He supported the general pro visions of the bill. Mr. DRUMMOND said if gentlemen would take any ordinary map of the world they would discover at least 1,000 places where they might transport their criminals. All these difficulties arose from breaking up a system which they had established to their hands, only because of the abuses which they found attaching to it. He contended that Government had nothing te do with the reformation of criminals, their business was to protect society. On these grounds he would be glad to see the bill pass. Mr. Phillips also supported the bill ; as did Mr. Byng, Mr. Ne Et w d N ga Lu t pE e o , ny M tch r o . isna Jo qp h illa n erisr E iteiod vv n ai f t, and Mr. Liddell. Government ir at th o e ne ra ti c m il e lat a io b n ol o is f hi t n h g e transportation altogether, and then reviving it again. For his own part ho condemned the systerd of tickets-of leave, and thought the more convicts 'were transported the better. by the Government Mr. BAINES d e f en d ed the Government, and con tended that th e exper i ment initiated had failed, and it was now - rery, therefore, to legis neceso After some obs erva ti ons fr , late in another di rec ti on. Keating, and Mr. P ac k °, Jm Mr. Whiteside, M r . Lord STANLEY said the . re • Atantly to continue transporta tional question was, whether must necessaril a ir whether the time had not ar rived would be possible perm r ect, and had convYZed With many beyond the seas t' d with the subject, and he felt satis fied He had readrived m w o h o e h n Ze th p e r s a u ct i i ) r p r practically c a a t l l a y n a y c a q t u t a e i rr n pt to found a now penal settlement would be an expe riment necessarily ending in disappoint. ment. The or.iy places likely for such establishments were the YAlltland Islands, Vancouver's Island, the northern anal southern ports of Hudson's B ay, and the north Fort of Australis, the objections to whia he sever. ally combatted, and 'said that in having recourse to transportation we were thrown en the only colony that would receive them, viz., Western Australia. There we could not expect to send them long, and ho cautioned the Government against sending large quan tities there at any one time, or they would be treated the same by the colonists there as they were by the people of Van Diernan's Land a short time since. Ad mitting West Australia continued favourable to the re• ception now, it could not be reckoned on as a perma nence, and it was desirable that the best class of con victs should be sent there. This question would come before the house in a plainer form a few years hence, when they would have to deal with their incorrigibles, because there would always be a class of criminals it would be impossible to let loose on society. He did not mean to advocate imprisonment for life, nor did he think the public would tolerate it ; but he thought places might be found in which it would be possible to retain them secluded from the world, and employ them in remuner ative labour. Turning from those to the corrigible, he found there was a dislike on the part of the people to the present ticket-of-leave system ; bat hie answer to all the objections that bad been urged against the system was that it had not in reality had fair play. The theory was one thing, and the practice another. Great com plaint was raised against the man's being able to gain employment in consequence of his being under the sur veillance of the police, and no doubt a system of sur veillance was alien to our feelings ; hut the position of a man under the ban 'of the law was in itself very distinct from that of ordinary persons, and any supervision over this man was no obstacle to his finding employment. The house should recollect that there were two sides to the question, and if these men had been allowed to get into employment with forged characters, or in any under hand way, and after gaining the confidence of the masters, had betrayed it, the sympathy of the people would have changed sides. No doubt a difficulty would attend the finding the whole of them with employment. It was a Government question, but he thought that em ployment might be found for many of them on public works after the expiration of their sentence, on a remu neration below that paid to the honest labouring popu lation by way of distinction between the two classes. He thought the ticketsof-leave system defective in grant ing the ticket indiscriminately. No ticket ought to be granted until a prisoner had passed through certain pro bationary stages, but a different test should be applied than that lately acted upon, because it was well known that the best conducted man in confinement was not the best conducted when he regained his liberty. It was an anomaly not to revoke tickets of leave except on convic tion, for if that be adhered to, they might as well dis charge the man at once, without any ticket. Any re turn to transportation upon a large scale would be found not only inexped ent, but absolutely impossible. (Hear.) Mr. BERESFORD HOPE thought the great merit of this bill was its brevity and vagueness, as he thought the only legislation tbat could be attempted in the pre sent state of things was of a tentative character. Mr. MARSH made his maiden speech in favour of transportation, and stated from his experience in Aus tralia, that the northern region of that territory would be very suitable for receiving convicts. He suggested that convicts should undergo some special training for the colonies before they were sent there. The bill was then read a second time. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL. Mr. ADDERLEY moved the second reading of this biil, which he said was verbatim the same with that in troduced last session by Sir Strafford Nortbcote. Mr. BOWYER opposed the bill because it interfered with the parental authority of the poor in the case of children who might be taken up on a pretended charge of vagrancy or begging. He also condemned the bill as a scheme for proselytising Roman Catholic children. Lord ROBERT CECIL defended the bill, and charged Mr. Bowyer with a desire to introduce the lazzaroni sys tem into England. He denied the charge of proselytism, and said its only object was to reclaim children from the paths of immorality and vice. Mr. PALK and Mr. MULLINGS objected to vari ous details of the bill. Sir GEORGE GREY would not oppose the second reading of the bill, but he felt it would require careful consideratiOn in committee. After some further discussion, the house divided— For the second reading 177 Against it lB Majority for the second reading.... 159 The bill was ordered to be committed on Wednesday week. BANK ACTS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the Bank Act of 1844 and of the Bank Acts for Ireland and Scotland of 1845. The right hon. gen tleman said the motion was similar to one to which the house agreed in the last session. The committee was then appointed, but only one witness had been examined when their further proceedings were interrupted by the dissolution. Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know whether it was the intention of the right hon. gentleman to move that this should bo a secret committee! The last was a secret committee, and it was a sort of hocus pocu,s which he did not understand. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, it had been the uniform practice of the house to have com mittees of this description committees of secresy. The only difference between committees of secresy and com mittees not of secretly, but which excluded the public during the examination of witnesses, was, that in the former case members were not able to go into the ' room while the examination of witnesses was proceed. ing. He did not attach any importance to the com mittee being a committee of secresy, and it was merely in deference to the practice of the house that be moved it should be so in the last session. There was nothing in the relations between the Government and the Bank of England which the Government desired to be con cealed ; but he believed it was thought questions might be asked reflecting on the credit of the Bank, or involv ing matters which it might not be desirable to have dis cussed in public during the progress of the inquiry. If the general opinion of the house was opposed to this committee being a committee of ' secresy, he would ii ot press that point. (Hear, hear.) Mr. MALINS rejoiced that no time had been lost in proposing the reappointment of this committee, but he should have been glad if the Government, taking into consideration the difficulties existing in the money mar ket, had brought forward a measure on their own responsibility, because he did not think that the labours of the committee would lead to legislation during the present session. At present a state of things existed which was most detrimental to the commercial interests of the country. The rate of discount of the Bank of Eng land on the 21st March last was 6 per cent., and on the 2d April it was raised to 6-4 per cent., at which rate it had since remained, and one day last week the Bank of England had refused to make any advances upon Govern ment securities. It was most essential that in a commer cial country money should be procurable at an easy rate, and if the present state of things continued it would be the destruction of small operators. What had led to the present state of things was the. absurd division, by the act of 1844, of the Bank of England into two depart ments, As he bad explained on a previous occasion, the only resource which the Bank had to operate upon was its reserve notes. and those were at present reduced to 3,500,0001., and gentlemen conversant with those mat ters would agree with him that when the amount of re serve notesfell below 5,000,000/. commercial transactions in this country could never be carried on with advantage. He would venture to say that war taxation had not been so much felt by the commercial community as was the present high rate of interest ; and the Government would find that the commercial interest were beginning to be alive to the importance of the question. The subject seemed to him to be of such importance that he had felt it hie duty to offer a few 'remarks to the house—(hear) — and his principal object in rising had been to express the hope that the Government would lose no time in bringing for Ward a measure upon the subject, and that they would not consider that having appointed this committee they had discharged all their duty. His suggestion was that we should have by law the power of relaxing the act of 1844, and so important did he consider the subject to be that unless he saw the progress made by the committee was such as to enable the Government to higislate dur ing the present session, and if the existing pressure in the money market should continue,- be should, before the close of the ses , ion, bring the whole subject under the notice of the house, and submit to it a resolution for its approval. Mr. T. HANKEY said that from the observations which had fallen from the hon. and learned gentleman who had just spoken, one would be inclined to conclude that absolute ruin had been brought upon the mercantile community by the operation of the Act of 1844 ; but he, for one, did net believe that the general rate of interest bad anything whatever to do with the working of that Act. He did not wish that the opinion should prevail out of doors that great commercial distress existed when such was really not the case ; and in corroboration of his opinion upon the subject he might add that when in Man chester the other day he had been informed upon the best authority that the high rate of interest had bad no effect whatsoever upon trade, which was in a most thriving condition in Manchester, Liverpool, and in other great commercial towne. His own experience in London went to confirm that statement. Mr. HUDSON expressed it to be his opinion that to make the proposed committee one of secrecy would be an useless proceeding, inasmuch as the committee of 1844, of which he had been a member, had been a secret committee, and yet all the evidence which had been taken before it had been published to the world. Sir R. Peel had attended most assiduously upon that committee, and the acquisition of a great deal of infor mation had been the result of it 3 labours. He therefore ?mild not understand why further inquiry into the sub ject should be instituted, and he thought that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer should at once legislate with re spect to it, if legislation should be deemed to be necessary. Mr. A. AYRTON contended that the proposed in quiry should be conducted with the utmost vigour and should embrace within its scope every subject connected with the Bank of England, and the relation which it bore to the trade and commerce of the country. He was of opinion that, as there was no necessity for immediate legislation upon the matter, it would .be highly expe dient that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should at once introduce any measure in reference to the Act of 1844. The Bank Charter was now gm nted in perpetuity : with the liability to be redeemed whetever Parliament should deem it desirable to take that courst.:. and he might state that he had been in communication with many gentlemen of considerable authority upon th, , question in the city of London who believed that that charter might be altogether abrogated with great advant,lge to the community. There were others, however, who thought 'that the Bank of England should again charged with the 'management of the whole currency of the kingdom, and that such control would enable it to relieve the existing commercial distress. He was not one of those who deemed that such a scheme would be attended with much success, but, as men of great prac ticAl experience entertained a different opinion, it was, at all events, desirable that the committee should enter on their labours with the utmost vigour, and that legis• lation should be proceeded with in no hasty spirit. (Hear, hear.)—The motion was then agreed to. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH. Sir GEORGE GREY moved for leave to introduce a bill to make better provision for the exercise of the powers of the General Board of Health. The right honourable baronet in doing so took occasion to observe that the Board had originally been created in the year 1848 ; its members having tthen con sisted of the First Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and two other gentleman appointed by the Crown, one of whom was in the receipt of a salary. The original Board had, however, been dissolved in the year 1854, and a new Board had been constituted, having at its head, a president; who received a salary of 2,0001. per annum, he being the only paid member of the Board. By virtue of the act under which the department bad been instituted its powers were to continue until the 29th day of July next, and until the end of the next ensuing session of Parliament. Paying regard, however, to the ordinary duties which the Board had to perform, the Government had come to the conclusion, instead of pro posing a renevral of the existing Board, to dispense with it as a separate department, and that such a portion of its present duties as it was desirable should continue to be discharged should be transferred to the Council-office to be performed by the Lord President, with the aid of a committee of tke Council. If the house should agree to that proposal an immediate reduction of 3 0001. or 4,000/. per annum in the expenses of the department would be the result, while a still greater reduction might after some experience of the working of the new system be effected.---Leave was given to bring in the bill. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY (IRE- LAND) BILL. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD moved for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to bankruptcy and insolvency in Ireland. Mr. WHITESIDE reminded the Attorney-General for Ireland thi.t about 12 months ago a resolution was passed by a committee of that house stating that it was essential to the due administration of justice in the Irish Encumbered Estates Court that a proper place should beravided for the transaction of its business, and to which the professional practitioners and the suitors could have convenient access. He added that, notwithstand ing that resolution, at that moment nobody knew why or wherefore it had not been acted upon, though it re lated, as they all knew, to a tribunal which from time to time disposed of an immense amount of property, and had proved to be of great advantage to the public. The motion for leave to bring in the bill was then agreed to. THE PRINTING COMMITTEE. Mr. WILSON moved that Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Mr. Greene, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Divett, Mr. Gaskell, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. L. Eetcourt, Mr. Bonham-Carter, and Mr. Thornely be the members of the Printing Com mittee. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY called the attention of the house to the enormous amount .of the printing expenses, and stated . his conviction that, unless some effective control were placed over the various departments con nected with this subject, the evil would continue, if, indeed, it did not go on increasing. Mr. WILSON said the Treasury had prepared a set of rules, which he should present for the opinion and adoption of this committee when it sat, and which he hoped would have the effect of accomplishing the object the hon. baronet had in view. He (Mr. Wilson) quite admitted that there had been as enormous amount of unnecessary printing from first to last, and he hoped the house would assist the Government in its desire to miti gate the evil, for during some years past they had had returns moved for which were of no earthly use. The re solutions be meant to propose would be such as would reach and control every department of the State con cerned in the subject of printing, arid such as he hoped would effect a material reduction in that branch of the public i-xpenditure.—The motion was then agreed to. ECCLESIASTICAL CORPORATIONS. The Marquis of BLANDFORD obtained leave to bring in a bill to further provide for the mode of securing the incomes of ecc'•.esiastical corporations, aggregate and sole ; and the bill was subsequently introduced and read a first time. PUBLIC MONEYS. On the motion of Sir F. BARING, aselect committee was appointed to inquire into the receipt, issue, and audit of public moneys in the Exchequer, the Pay-office, and the Audit department. ELECTION PETITION. A petition was presented against the return for the borough of Sligo. The house adjourned at a quarter past 1 o'clock. We are requested to state, that on Friday evening the Hon. Mr. Dutton presented a petition to the House of Commons from civil servants of the Crown in the Ad miralty department at Portsmouth, praying for an amendment of the Superannuation Act. BREMER v. FREEMAN AND BREMER. This case has recently been argued at great leugth before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. As the point at issue is of considerable interest to the public, we will endeavour here to give the substance and meaning of a judgment which in its reported form may be somewhat unin viting to the general reader. It was a question of whether or not probate should be granted to a will made by an English lady in France, the bulk of her property being in England. She was the daughter of a General Ca'craft, an officer in the East India Company's service, and was born in India in the year 1795. By origin, then, she had an Anglo- Indian domicil. She returned with her father and sister to England in the year 1805, and in England she remained with her father for 20 years ; all this time her domicil was undoubtedly English. In 1825 or 1827 she left her father, and with her go verness travelled about the continent, residing for a considerable period in Italy. In 1834 General Calcraft died, and the sister ,pf the testatrix joined her. They either remained in Italy or tra velled about together until 1838, when the two sisters settled in Paris. For two years they occu pied furnished lodgings, and then hired apartments in the Boulevard des Capucines. Here the sister died in 1840, and here, too, the testatrix di e d i n 1853, without ever having quitted Paris at all since the year 1838. She made a will in the Eng lish form . . The questions for decision were three in number. First, had she acquired a French do micil ? If she had, was a will made according to the English form sanctioned by the municipal law of France ? Ou the answer to this question would depend the answer to the third, which was the one actually at issue before the Judicial Com mittee—Was her will such an one as ought to be admitted to probate in this country ? There seems to have been little or no hesitation in determining that the testatrix had actually ac quired a French domicil. She had resided for fifteen years in Paris without any special business to detain her there. The animus redeundi, indeed, appears to have been as much negatived by her express de clarations as by her acts ; for she had frequently stated that it was her firm resolution never to return to England, and that when she died it was her wish to be buried by the side of her sister in the ceme tery of Pere la Chaise. This point of the French domicil being established, the far more difficult one arose as to the validity, according to the municipal law of France, of a will made in English form. The settled opinion of English lawyers, as stated last week by Lord Wensleydale, is " that the form and solemnities of the testament must be est verned by the law of the domicil of the deceased." It might, however, be the case that the law of France would be permissive on this point, and admit the validity of the will made by a foreigner domiciled in France, even if made according to the solemnities of that foreigner's domicil or origin. The French lawyers seem to be divided in opinion on this matter. Some say that the will must be in the form of the place where it is made ; others that it may be either in the form required by the domicil of origin or the domicil at the time of death. At this point the French lawyers draw a fresh distinction, upon which the decision of the English judges appears to have depended in good measure. They say that a foreigner may, indeed, acquire a "simple French domicil," but, unless that domicil be sanctioned by I the authorisation of the Emperor, he will not enjoy civil rights. This distinction is based upon the 13th article of the Code Napoleon, which runs thus :—"The foreigner who shall have been ad mitted by authorisation of the Emperor to establish his domicil in France shall enjoy there all the civil rights so long as he shall continue to reside there." From the affirmative in this proposition the nega tive is inferred—viz., that without authorisation of the Emperor the foreigner domiciled in France shall not enjoy civil rights. But what are the eivil rights spoken of ? Is the right of testacy among the number ? If so, does the right of testacy from which he is shut out apply to his personal goods which may be situate out of France as well as to those which lie within the jurisdiction of the Empire ? What are the rights of his relatives if he die in this necessary condition of intestacy? The argument would go the full lengththat if a foreigner domiciled in Erance, but without Imperial autho risation, cannot make a will at all, the will of the testatrix in the present case was invalid according to the maxim of the English lawyers, " locus regit actum." This last result would equally follow from the position that it is not necessary to have an au thorisation from the Emperor in order to have a domicil which would regulate the succession, and such an one as would confer the power of testacy. In England we require that a will should be made with the solemnities and forms of the domicil at the time of death, and therefore the will of an English subject domiciled in France, but made according to the English form, would be invalid. The prior judgment of the Judge of the English Prerogative Court, in favour of admitting the will to probate, was therefore reversed. " The maxim," said Lord Wensleydale. "that mobilia sequuntur personam has so ionggprevailed that it may be trotted now as part of the jets gentiam. It follows from this maxim that the post-mortuary distribution of the effects of a deceaFed person must be made accor ding to the law of his domicil at the time of his death ; and it equally seems to follow that if the lair of the country allowed him to make a will the will must be made iu the f Tin and with the solemnities which that law required." POLICE INTELLIGENCE—May 11. MANSION-HOUSE.—A deputation from the National Association for the Unemployed of Great Britain, headed by Mr. M'Heatb, waited upon the Lord Mayor for the purpose of soliciting pecuniary assistance towards the expense of sending fifty la bourers to Scotland, employment to whom had been offered by a contractor who is about to construct works for conveying water from Loch Latrine to The Lord Mayor said he had no doubt 'tint if a letter could be procured from the contractor, show ing that the men were really to be employed in the construction of the proposed works, funds would be forthcoming to defray the expense of sending 20 out of the 50 to Scotland by Saturday next. GUILDHALL.—Mr. Spence, of the firm of Spence and Buchanan, warehousemen, of 77 and 78, St. Paul's-churchyard, attended before Alderman Hale upon a summons to answer the complaint of Mrs. Hart, of 11, Tavistock•square, for obtaining money under false pretences. Mrs. Elizabeth Hart said—On Thursday afternoon last, between 3 and 4 o'clock I believe, I was pass ing through St. Paul's-churchyard, when my atten tion was drawn to some silk dresses in Mr. Spence's shop, marked up at two guineas. I went in and desired to look at them, and on being conducted to a room on the first floor several dresses were shown to me. The assistant told me they were not all silk, the body of the dress being cotton, and I declined taking one of them, because they were not sufficiently good. I requested the young man to show me some of a higher quality, and he accord ingly brought two or three at the price of 3/. Bs. 6d. each, one of which I purchased and brought away with me. r had no time to open the parcel that night, but in the morning I examined it, and found that the silk given for the body and skirt was of a totally different colour and texture to the rest of the dress. I believed I was in a respectable shop. and did not expect any imposition. I thought the silk was, of course, all of one quality. I decidedly thought the whole of the silk in the dress I bought was of the same quality as the flounces. Alderman Hale—Do not ladies expect that part of the dress which is hidden by the flounces to be of an inferior quality ? Mrs. Hart—lt is the general impression among ladies that a silk dressshould be only of one quality. I did not see Mr. Spence during the purchise of the silk, but I took it back to him the following day and asked him to let me have sufficient of the same quality as the flounces to make the dress, or to take it back and return me the money, but Mr. Spence declined to do either. Alderman Hale—That is the case, Mr. Spence. What have you to say to this complaint ? Mr. Spence—l have to give a flat contradiction to all that this lady has said. When she brought back the dress I offered to change it, but refused to return the money. Mrs. Hart—He offered to change it if I would take something at a higher price. Mr. Spence—There was nothing said about price. Alderman Hale—Do you know, Mrs. Hart, what the value of the dress is ? Mrs. Hart—l really cannot say. I did not go to buy a cheap article or a bargain. I gave the price that was asked for the dress. Mr. Spence—ln the report in to-day's Times it appears that Mrs. Hart stated to Alderman Hum phrey that the dress was taken away to be packed up, and that a different dress of-an inferior quality had been substituted ; but she now most distinctly states that the dress not only never left her sight, but she is positive it is the same dress she purchased. Mrs. Hart—l never said the dress had been changed. The reporter here explained that upon Mrs. Hart making her application, Alderman Humphrey said—" Then what you complain of is that a dress of an inferior quality has been given to you instead of the one you purchased ?"—and Mrs. Hart replied in the affirmative. Alderman Hale saids—With regard to this case, I am afraid I cannot give you any assistance, Mrs. Hart. Had you got the dress by sample, and then found it different or inferior, I could have inter fered ; but it appears you had opportunities of examining the dress, and had you done so you would have seen that the body and skirt were not of Ale same quality as the rest of the dress. It was a case in which you should have exercised your own judgment._ . _ Mi . s. hart—The dress was tacked in folds, so that I could not open it out. Mr. Spence—Mrs. Hart says this was the second case within the week in which a similar complaint had been made against us. Ido not know where she derived her information, but the case she refers to is one in which a person bought a dress with flounces, at the trade price of 525. 6d., and he made his complaint, by the advice of a rother trades man, at this court. I changed that dress, and have it now in court, although hundreds of them are at present selling at the same price. It is a piece of malice actuating these parties for the purpose of in juring us. Alderman Hale—l cannot allow you to attribute malice to any one in this matter. Mrs. Hart—l could not possibly have any feel ing of malice against Mr. Spence, for he is a perfect stranger to me, and I never heard of there being other complaints until I applied to Alderman Hum phery on Friday last. Mr. Roe, the summoning officer—That is quite true, sir ; for when this lady applied it was thought she came in another cause, and that was how she was informed of the other complaint. Mr. Spence—With regard to Mrs. Hart's dress, the price it was sold to her was ss. or 6s. less than she could have got it for at any other house inLon don. The dress is good value for the money paid for it, and I am prepared to prove it. Alderman Hale—The only way for you to put yourself in a proper position with the public is to show that the dress is worth the money, and if you have any respectable gentleman present whose judg ment could be relied on, I should like to have his opinion of the silk. Mr. Spence—l have a gentleman from Messrs. Cooke, Sons, and Co.'s, St. Paul's-churchyard. Win. Mills was then sworn, and said—l am em ployed entirely in the silk department in Messrs. Cooke's establishment. I have examined this dress, and from my knowledge of silk I should say that it is cheap at 34 guineas. It is customary to make up flounced dresses of two qualities of silk, as the flounces are made by one manufacturer, and the rest of the dress by another. Alderman Hale—This inquiry will be attended with some good, for it will induce ladies to look more carefully at what they are buying. Mrs. Hart—lt will also deter many ladies from entering that shop. I should like to ask if Messrs. Cooke, Sons, and Co. supply Mr. Spence with these dresses? Alderman Hale—lt is not necessary. There is no case against you, Mr. Spence, and the summons is therefore dismissed. BOW STREET.—In the course of the afternoon Mr. gbamberlin, solicitor, waited upon Mr. Hall, the chief magistrate, under the following circum stances. The applicant stated that his object in coming to the court was to request the immediate attendance of his worship at University College Hospital, to take down the depositions of a young man named Taylor, whose death was hourly expected. His worship had no doubt heard the particulars of the melancholy and fatal accident which occurred on Saturday in the Tottenham-court-road. Mr. Ball—What accident ? Mr. Chamberlin—The fall of three houses, by which several persons had been killed. Among the sufferers was Mr. Taylor, jun., the son of a builder employel in making some alterations for Mr. Maple, the occupier of two of the houses in ques tion. Mr. Taylor was removed to the hospital on Saturday, dreadfully crushed, but still sensible. An unfavourable change had taken place, and all hope of his recovery had been now abandoned by the medical men in attendance. It was not sup posed that he could survive many hours, and there fore it was of the utmost importance that his evi dence should be taken, to be used iu ally ultimate proceedings arising out of this disaster. Mr. Hall—ls anybody in custody on any crimi nal charge ? Mr. Chamberlin—No charge has been preferred yet. Mr. Hall—Then how can I interfere ? Any de position made before me would have no more weight or authority than one made before you. The dying declaration of any man can be taken down by the witnesses present, and afterwards given in evidence. You can do this yourself. The applicant thanked his worship and with drew. MARLBOROUGH- STREET. John Day, charged with obtaining goods in the names of ACI - Sir George Sartorius and Adjutant Keppel by fraudulent representations, was finally examin ed and committed for trial. HAMMERSMITH. —George Cogan, the young ma n who was chaiged with causing the death of his fatlicr, at .No. 1, North-street, Fulham, was re-examined. It will be remembered that the prisoner and his father were quarrelling, and the latter suddenly fell down dead. Since the first examination an inquest has been held, and the verdict returned — "Death from heart disc ase, accelerated by mental excitement." The prisoner was discharged. Country Markets. CHELMSFORD—MAY 8. Wheat to-day experienced a rather bettor sale, and the best-samples must be quoted is per qr. dearer—inferior as last week. Sp)ing cora firm for all sorts :►t late rates, ex cepting peas and beaus, which were is dearer, wheat, white, old, per s. qr. 33 new 36 red, old 31 n0w....31 Birley A. A• Chevalier zto Grinding 35 Malt 73 Chgvalier ..... 72 I Oats, per qr 4:i 71 I Peas, Partridge 41 62 White . 39 62 Boiling 39 46 Dun 37 5t I Bean; Tick 35 46 I Harrow ticks 39 . hiazagan 34 ,37 Ditto, now 34 38 Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c., receiyed in the port of London, from the following ports, fros May 4 to May 9, both inclusive. 4 • g Ti g 0 1 4 P. 4 ~ 180 k -- 570' - 15 - 250 371 20 - - 32 65 -- 1991 20 73 - 1514 57 (.855 Colchester . Harwich Leigh hialdon COLCHESTER- MAT 9. A fair supply of wheat to-day; the prices asked were higher than buyers were williog to give, and only on felt' selected samples was any advance obtainable. Beans and peas from their scarcity were rather dearer. Prices to-daywere as follow :—Wheat, white, 60i to 653; red, 54s to 6.05; barley, 44s to 48s ; oats, 26s to 28s ; beans, Mazagan, 36s to 38s ; middle and small, 38s to 44s ; peas, white, 38s to 42s ;, grey, 408 to 425. KIRKCALDY-MAT 9. To-day we had a good supply of wheat, which had II slow sale at last week's prices. Oats were in fair supply , and were about 6d per qr. higher. Only a few sacks of barley, and prices the same as on last market day. Wheat. Barley. Oats. I Beane,!, First Second I Third 34s Od 34s Oct 25s ud Os O d Oatmeal, 36s to 33s per bag of 2801 b. COAL MARBET..MAY 11. Prices of Coals per ton at the close of the market. s. d. Wallsend &o. Howard's West Hartley I Netherton 17 9 Davison's West Hartley 18 0 North Percy Hartley l5 0 Bates's West Hartley 15 0 Bebside's Hartley 17 9 Holywell l6 0 Bell's Primrose l3 3 Wylam s (1. aetton lB 0 south .aetton 17 ?, Cassop l 6 Pees lB 0 Gambton j 7 0 Birchgrove Graigel 2t) , 0 Wharucliffe 14 ° Haswell 18- 0 0 Whitworth l6 acorn Close l6 3 , Baugh flail l 6 v t, 70 ; sold, 50. NVallsend, &e. Plummer l6 0 Gosforth l5 0 Ships at market LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAY 11. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has been very clu Lo' to-day a g ain, with an evide n t i m p rov i ng t en d ency. u don and North Westerns, 105 4—Eastern Counties,-A' —Caledonian, 368 6—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1011 Manchester, Sheffield, a nd Li nco l n , 41 a 1---Blackbarl 84—Midlands, 828 6—Grand Trunk of Canada, 161. —Great Wes.ern of Canada, 21—Ditto, new, 2 3-16 Pil l ' South Eastern, 228 6 g. BIRMINGHAM, MAY 11. SPOOR EXOHANGE.—The ma r k e t o p ene d w ith a bri e business to-day. Birmingham Canals, 90i —Birmingior h Banks, 31i— Birmingham New Union Mills, 21—Solr Staffor.is were quot e d a t 9E—Bi rm i ng h am T own an d trict Banking Company 12--Great Western, Birminghw Prof., 9i—Ditto Stour Valley Guaranteed, 6165. MANCHESTER, Mar 11. STOCK EXCHANGE. -- In this market there rather firmer business, but quiet. East L•lncasliire out much change in prices. Eastern Counties, Great Western, 67—Lancashire and Yorkshire 1011 —Midlands, Bn—Sheffields, 412 I—North British, 101 South Eastern. 221. LEEDS, MAT 11. STOCK EXCHANGE.—North Weste rns , 71. 180. . 2 fields, 41—Midland, 821 I. Market steady, and the "" few. h a II ," NAVVIES" IN SPAIN.—Some agit at i on has - --8 0 caused at Madrid by the labour ers emp l oye d i n the vg' r b , of a canal having struck work, and made some distur ances, owing to the contractor, a Frenchman, h avi°s determined to 'reduce the time allowed them for daily siesta from three hours to two ; but a detachme) of troops was called out, and they were soon reduced t° obedience. THE RUSSIAN RAILWAYS.—L e N or d says : — o ;4 , 0 public subscription for th e s h ares i n t h e G rea t Rtis 6 `" Railway Company has been opened at St. Petersburgand the confidence of the publi c i n the ente r ' price w as i mme di a t e ly d emonstrate d b y t h e fact 50,000 shares, one third of the number to be disposed ° 2, having been subscribed for in a single day. Our coil; spondent adds that, from the anxiety to subscriber will not be possible to satisfy all the demands." 0 11 [ADvEßTlsEMENT.}—Holloway's Pills superior to t other Remedies for Stomach Complaints.—Mrs. Bath of Addington-street, Rochdale-road, Manchester, ', b e suffered severely for many years from a weakness ill " A i. stomach, and a generally debilitated constitution. `-,./ though she had the best medical advice, and tried elfio available remedy, yet she derived no benefit, but by ac j, use of Holloway's pills a perfect cure has been effec t as she now enjoys the best of health ; and in gratitß.e for which she desires publicly should be given to T, case.—Sold by all m e di c i ne ven d ors t h roug h ou t 11 world ; at Professor Holloway's Establishments, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New York ; A. Stampa, Constantinople ; A. Guidici, Smyrna ; E. Muir, Malta. EADVERnsamENT.j—SPORTSMEN AID GESTLEMEM Of IV' ARMY AND NAYY.—S. and 8. Solomon, opticians, 39, ~ .‘ , O O Blade-street, Piccadilly, W. Observe—opp os it e tb13, 1. I Hotel.—Portability, combined with great pow er in tii Racecourse, Opera, and general out-door day and 7,9$ powerful waistcoat pocket Perspective Glasses, welch 9, only four ounces, each containing 12 and 18 lenses, c O V strutted of German glass, will snow distinctly a Pe il p ed countenance two and a half and three miles. They so' every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera Olio country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 t o 10 Did They are also invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking , t he yachting. Single ones, the s'ze of a walnut, rolsessirg o i same great power. Her Maje rty's Coast-Guirds are LO 0 11 use of tllein as (1:y and night glasses, in preference L„ ° sl, others ; they have also i e..ome iu general use by ge ntleP;o , of the Army and Navy, and by sportsmen, gentlemen, 0 0 , „ol keepers, and tourists. Pie most powerful a n d br o il oer telescopes, possessing such extraordinary power that O d e' three and a-half inches, with au extra astrono m ical "'' n d p'ece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring'," the double stars ; with the same telescope can be seei. ;LS son's countenanJe three-and-a-half mil e , di s t an t an d an eV from 14 to 16 miles. All the abov e can b e h a d o f l arg er all sizes, with increasing powers, aud are secures `leer Kajesty's Royal Letters Patent. Newly.infe l3 o l Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power.' 00 valuable advantage deriv e d f rom thi s i nven ti on is, d ell vision becomes preserved and strengthened ; very ~0 6 1 persons are enabled to employ th e i r s i g ht a t the Lid minute occupation—can see with these lenses of a no' ' less magnify ing power—and they do not require the, quent changes to the dangerous effects of further P e 0 01 1 ful assistance. Persons can be suited at the mo s t r, e t i, part of the world by sendin. , one of the glasses out of of° spectacles in a letter, and stating the distance from the they can read small print with it, and those who ha/e>) made use of Spectacles by staling their age. Deafnee e , newly-invented instrument toe extreme eases of do 181 11 0 called the Sound Magnifier, Organic Vibrator, and iii % ; Voice Conductor. It fits so into the ear as not to be i o if least perceptible; the unpleasant sensation of singing ; 1 0 1l in the heal is entirelyiemo:ed. It affords instant re' tif the deafest persons, and enables them to hear distio e . oo 6v church and at public assemblies. 39, Alt•emarle.street , dilly—opposite the York Hotel_ B I R TiH:S. OF A SON. On the 11th inst., at Dulwich, the wife of Thos. E On sq., thbarrister-at-law. Age e 10th inst., at the Lawn, Tulse-hill, Mrs. tus 0. Robinson. OF A DAUGLITER. On the 10th inst., at 2, Queen-street-place, Mre• R. Harvest. fe On the 9th inst., at 19, Finsbury-square, the'" Julius Reuter, Esq. MARRIED. DC On the 11th inst., at St. Mary's Church, tilversO rt fi ro t o the Rev. J. Robertson, John Bell, Es( late of C ° lot -•••, • • _ _ 1' widower ' to Caroline Dorothy, only daughter otn es tl Richard Waller, Esq., revenue officer of her . 00) Customs, London. se at e. On the 6th inst., at Trinity Ch urc h, Stepney D , tbe nant-Colonel Thomas Williams, of Dublin, to 1 ,1111 daughter of William Dickson Hagart, Esq. so On the 11th inst., in Albany-street., Regent's-park' Entwisle, Esq., form er ly o f L ee d s , aged 75. Ne g e v On the 9th in s t., a t W oo l w i c h , W. Taylor solicitor, aged 31 r° co On the 9th inst., Theed Pearse, Esq., Clerk of t he of the county o f B e df or d, age d 64. l'.4 " 19 On the 9th inst., at Epsom, Elizabeth, wife ° f . l l ' Richards, Es., s On the oth q inst E q. ., at 8, Ely-place, Lower-read , 111111j5te t he Mr. Henry - Upton, aged 41. On the 9th inst., at 2t, Grafton-square, CleP p3rl:4 .0 , wife of A. Macnaught, aged 29. the 1 On the 10th inst., at Peckham, Surrey, gall of Frederick's-place, O, d -101 / Joa n' of Charles Stevens, l Esq., V aged 39. hit t° Ou the 7 3 h inst., at Bratton, Wilts, Thomas ..,......,,,; . Esq., aged I. - - --- --- - - -, „•0 ' LONDON' : Priatod and Pahahed by m r - B,DO --; „, 1 4 c . of No,. 112, Strand, Printer, ..t The Sim 0 1 " c - ov all 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in t " of Middlesex, Tuesday, May 12, 1557. DIED.