The Sun. — London, England, 1840-05-18 00:00:00

EVEN INCA EDITION . SUGAR TRADE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Having read with much satisfaction the va rious remarks in The Sun upon the subject of the sugar trade, and having reason to believe the time is arrived to bring the evils complained of before Government with effect, the Refiners and Grocers of this City deputed two of their body to carry up the inclosed Memorial to the Board of Trade, and from the disposition manifested to afford relief by the admission of foreign sugars at a modified duty for home consumption, as well as the urgency of the case,—from the prospect of a still further decrease in our supply from the West Indies,—we are now endeavouring, by petitions and otherwise, to make a forcible appeal for redress, and should you deem it of siafficient importance to assist us, by printing our memo rial in your valuable and widely circulating paper, it would thereby be more generally effective, and probably the means of procuring a successful result ; and you will greatly oblige, Sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN VINING, Chairman to the Committee of the Sugar Trade, Bristol, May 15, 1840. COPY OF A MEMORIAL TO THE HO NOURABLE THE BOARD OF TRADE. " The humble petition of the undersigned Sugar Re finers, Grocers, and others, inhabitants of the city of Bristol, showeth, " That the present supply of British Plantation sugar (and of other colonial produce) is inadequate to meet the rapidly increasing demand for home consump tion, when obtainable at a moderate and reasonable price. " That owing to the acknowledged diminution of supply the present- price of British Plantation sugar is nearly double the price of Foreign-grown produce. " That in the port of Bristol, where an immense capital has been for a long series of years employed in trading for colonial produce, there is not at the pre sent moment a single hogshead or bag of sugar in the importers' hands. " That a portion of the capital invested in the said trade has, in consequence, been necessarily withdrawn, and that in the opinion of your petitioners, unless a remedy be adopted by your Honourable Board, the ul timate consequences will be deplorable. " That your petitioners humbly conceive it to be unjust that the country, after having paid twenty mil lions sterling for the abolition of slavery is our ow•n West Indian possessions, should pay so dear a price for the support of the colonial interest, which is the only party benefited by the grant. " That the amount of the present eonsumption of British Plantation sugar alone exceeds two hundred thousand tons, and the present price being more than twenty pounds per ton dearer than Foreign-grown pro duce, it appears that, independently of the duty of twentyfour shillings per cwt. paid on British Planta tion sugar to Government, and of the aforesaid twenty millions paid to the West Indian interest for emancipa tion, there is an additional sum paid by the consumer, at the rate of four millions sterling per annum on Bri tish Plantation sugar alone, for the gratuitous benefit of the colonial interest. " And they are further of opinion the consumption of sugars in this country may be increased at least fifty per cent., thereby improving the revenue by an addition of two or three millions, as well as giving an increased impetus to the trade of the country. " That your petitioners humbly conceive that a re medy might be found in the admission of Foreign sugar and other produce at a modified duty, for the purposes of home consumption, giving on the one hand protec tion to the colonies, and on the other, putting it in the power of the consumer to make his purchases at a rea sonable and fair rate. " That, in conclusion, your petitioners would humbly suggest that the amazingly increased consumption of articles of foreign as well as colonial produce, admitted at a modified duty, would not only materially benefit the whole body of the English consumers, but also prove, by the increase of duty, a valuable and most legitimate source of revenue to the Government of this country. " That your petitioners earnestly hope that your Honourable Board will consider the importance of their case (in which almost every British subject is interested), a warrant for the adoption of the means they have sug gested, and that your Honourable Board will issue in structions for the consummation of an object so impor tant and desirable. " And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. " Bristol, May 7, 1840." TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. London, M a y 15, 1840 . SlR,—Having been a constant reader and admirer of your valuable Paper for many years. I venture (for the first time) to solicit a favour, viz., the insertion of the following statement : A few weeks back I was at Tewkesbury, in Glou cestershire, a place well known for its excellent manu facture of cotton hosiery. I made it my business to inquire among the workmen the state of trade, wages, &c. I was informed that business was very dull, wages very low, and, indeed, that things were never worse ; still it was pleasing to hear, on all hands, that those in better circumstances endeavoured to alleviate the sufferings of the poor as much as possible; but there was one complaint made by the workpeople, and I think with justice (which is the cause of my troubling you with this letter). It is the custom of the master hosiers to charge the workpeople for the use of the machine, or frame, as it is called, Is. per week, and as there are sometimes imperfections in the hose when taken home to the master, a halfpenny a week is also deducted from each hand to pay for the necessary re pairs. This has been the custom for some years ; and although a shilling a week is a very high charge for the rent of a frame (the average value of frames being about 41.), it is not complained of. But the workmen do complain (and I think they have great reason to do so) that the master's have restricted them in their work to ss. a week, and yet stop Is. Old. per week, as though they had full employment. Each hand is allowed to earn ss. a week, minus Is. Old. for rent of frame and mending work, being money wages 3s. 113 d. If this be a fact, and I believe it to be so, I consider it a fraud on the workpeople. The only reason I could get for it was, that the hosiers sold their goods at prime cost, the frame-rent being their living. But see the result of such a system to the poor and. half-starved workpeople. They are charged (I had almost said plundered of) 6id. a week each, that the persons who have '2OO frames may ehtain 101. a week rent, when they have business only for 100 frames. But this Is not all ; it engenders a spirit of idleness, and tends to bind fast the fetters it has placed on the unfortunate. If a man, for instance, has a child that works for him, they are allowed to g et 103. a we e k ; d e d uct rent of frame and mendin g o f work 2s. 1 d., the amount of wages for man and child is is. 11d.; but if the man was allowed to do the Thole work, he would obtain for the same quantity Bs. Hid. a week, and his child would have an opportunity of obtaining some other employment. Your excellent Paper is much read at Tewkesbury, and, by giving insertion to this letter, you will oblige many who feel themselves oppressed, and also Your obedient and hum ile servant, • AN ENEMY TO OPPRESSION. , ST. JAMES'S PARK AND KEN SINGTON GARDENS. TO TILE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN. SIR—I was sometime since struck by the very unfair, and, as I think, wholly unnecessary system of exclusion prevailing with regard to the admis sion of persons to St. James's Park. Any one dressed in plain clothes, unless habited like a beg gar, or carrying a parcel, is admitted. No one, on the other hand, who is in livery is admitted, though sometime ago, the rule was relaxed in respect of soldiers in uniform. My servant, therefore, in taking a quiet walk with his wife and children, finds himself thrust back, and his wife and children not. The reason for this restriction must be presumed to be, that a livery servant is a disorderly character, while a journeyman carpenter or a tailor's appren tice is nos, a reason too absurd to be of the slighest weight. But, assuming that the parties are equally likely to be disorderly, what is their relativ e posi tion ? The one is, by the fact of his wearing a livery, a marked man, and cannot well escape detec tion, in addition to which, he runs a fair chance of being dismissed his master's service. The other is exposed to an infinitely less chance of detection, and would run no risk of losing his situation. Hoping to see this unjust distinction put an end to, I am,-your obedient servant, On Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr. Higgs, at the Penitentiary, Milbank, on the body of Henry MiAard, aged 18. The deceased was admitted on the 4th inst., having been sentenced by a Court-martial at Chatham to twenty days' imprisonment for being absent without leave. On the Bth he was taken to the infirmary, being attacked with erysipelas, arising from a small scratch under the right ear. The inflammation increased, and produced suffusion on the brain, which caused his death on Tuesday. He was attended by Mr. Wade, the surgeon, Dr. Bailey, and Staff-Surgeon Roe. He was in perfect health when admitted, but the surgeon said erysipelas was prevalent at this time, especially in Chelsea. The deceased's father, who is apatient in Charing-cros Hospi tal, had obtained leave to bring a letter for his son, and though he was in the inquest-room, was not aware of his death till he hoard the name. Verdict—Natural death from erysipelas. ROCHDALE SPRING FAIR, MAY 14. There was a very nume rous s h ow of cattle in the market to day of every description; but the prices demanded were very high, on account of which, compar a ti vely, few changed hands. HARBOURS ON THE SOUTH EASTERN COAST. —We understand that the Commissioners are ordered to meet a t the Admirayy on Wednesday, the '2oth inst ant ; and doubt. less the Report will be submitted to the House of Commons shortly after. OPENING OF THE PRESTON AN D LONG JUDOS RAILWAY.—T his line, which is intended chiefly for the conveyance of stone from the celebrated Longridge Delphs was opened on Friday.—Preston Chronicle. POLAND AND THE CZAR. We translate the following from the Allgenzeine Zeitung (a demi-Russian Paper, published under the auspices of Metternich) of date the 2d of May inst. : The Univers brings from Rome important in telligence respecting the ecclesiastical affairs of Russia, from which we give to our readers the following extract :—Our readers will recollect (so writes the above-mentioned French Paper) that it has lately appeared in some German Jour nals, that the Pope had received from the Emperor of Russia certain valuable presents, from the send ing and accepting of which people thought they perceived indications of a mutual good-will. At all events, after the Allocution of the H o ly Father (of the 22d of November last year) was known at St. Petersburgh, the Russian Cabinet availed itself of this, to throw upon the renegade (abge fallen) Bishops the blame of the measures taken for the abolition of the Union (i.e. the union of the Poles with the Church of Rome), and accordingly M. Krywzoff was instructed to assure the Pope how much the conduct of the renegade Bishops was at variance with the wishes of the Emperor, and to in timate at the same time that as the measure had been completed it could not be undone. This de- 1 claration was accompanied with some gifts from the Hereditary Grand Duke Alexander to his Holiness and Cardinal Tosti, in order to make the Catholic world believe that the most perfect harmony exists between the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh and the See of Rome. But however friendly appearances may be, the see of Rome knows well what it has to expect from the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh. Indeed the exertions of the Russian Government to obtain a place for M. Krywzoff at Rome, in the event of the Russian Ambassador's being obliged to withdraw from the capital of the Catholic world, plainly show that the friendship is not ex pected to be very lasting, and he has been already , appointeuinspector of the Russian students at Rome. For the further illustration of the means taken for the abolition of the Union (i. e., for the conversion of Polish Catholics into Russo-Greeks), the Univers quotes the Report of the Minister of the Interior, drawn up in 1836 and published in 1837, in which it is said, that according to the Emperial will, the educational establishments as well as the ecclesiastical affairs of Polish. Greek Catholics (in union with Rome) should be under thr control of the orthodox (or Russo-Greek) ecclesiastical commission, and of the Holy Synod, &c. &c. Indeed, the determination to complete the union of the Polish Catholics with the Russo- Greek Church was proved in 1834, by the intro duction of the schismatic books into the schools, and by the suppression of organs, the ringing of bells at the mass, and of other parts of the Roman Catholic ritual. After these extracts follows a list of thirty-three priests, who, for their adhesion to the Church of Rome, were punished with impri sonment, banishment, flogging, and even with death. To this we may add, that by this measure four millions of Poles, in Lithuania, Podolia, Volhynia, and Ukraine, have been compelled to renounce the supremacy of the Pope, and acknowledge the Czar as their spiritual head. In the course of last year five thousand Poles, who refused to conform to the Russo-Greek Church, were carried away from their families, and forced to serve in the army of Siberia and of Caucasus. We know a gentle man who, in September last, saw large bodies of them enter St. Petersburgh by the gate of Con stantine, under a strong guard of cavalry. Their appearance was deplorable, after their grievous march of upwards of 500 miles, Deformed with iittle rest or food, and urged on by the most brutal severities ; great numbers having perished on the road ! COLLINS AND LOVETT. " Birmingham, May 5, 1840. " MY DEAR is with a mixture of sorrow and of pride, that I write to inform you, that our friends Lovett and Collins are still in Warwick Gaol. They were offered their liberty if they would agree to return quietly to their homes, without any display of feeling on the part of the people. This they nobly re fused ; but it is expected by some that their tyrants will give way in a few days " Yours, truly, " To Mr. Ross." " WILLIAM CARDO." There is but three months' imprisonment to run, al. though they have to fulfil the whole term of tbeir im prisonment ; on the expiry of which, we shall have them on a triumphant tour through the kingdom, stir ring up the spirit of Chartism to tenfold energy, and eliciting the heartfelt adoration of the millions for whom they have toiled and suffered. Had they been liberated unconditionally at the present time, we may mention, th at itwas intended to have them down to Glasgow on the 21st of the present month, being the anniversary of the day on which the standard of Chartism wat raised in Scotland in 1838. They might, indeed, have been at liberty on conditions precluding them from paying such a visit; but their noble souls, strong in conscious rectitude, convinced of the purity of their principles and conduct, disdained to accept a mock liberty trammelled with such condition, and consequently they as yet remain in prison. --Scots Times. INDICTMENT AGAINST MR. ABEL HEY woon.—Pu BLIC MEETING.—A public meeting, convened by placard and advertisement, was held in the Hall of Science, Camp Field, on Wednesday evening last, " for the purpose of expressing their opinions on the prosecution of Mr. A. Hey wood, bookseller, Oldham -street, and for adopting such mea • sures in reference to his case as the meeting may thiek proper." There were probably about a thousand persons present. A Mr. Higginbottarn was called to the chair. Mr. Templeton, the re porter for the Manchester Times, stated that',lVlr. Prentice had been obliged to go down to Scotland on urgent business, where he had been detained for some days: and not having yet returned, he, (Mr. Templeton) was requested to state this, and, if he thought proper, to move the resolution. He then spoke at some length on the absurdity of any attempt of the Government to control men's theological opinions ; of the in justice of prosecuting any one for holding any particular opinion, or publishing the opinions of others. He concluded by moving " That this meeting conceives it to be the right of every indi vidual to print and publish hie opinions on theological subjects ; and that any interference with this right is a gross violation of the liberty of the subject, injurious to the best interests of society; and that any Government offering prosecutions for opinion's sake, is unworthy of popular support.' —Mr. Warren seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Elijah Dixon moved the next' resolution. The pamphlet advised them to burn the Bible, but he should never burn his, and he would advise them not to burn theirs. He then contended at some length, that the prosecution in question was not in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel, but against it ; and that the prosecution was not against Mr. Heywood as an indidual, but against a class, and was insti tuted to keep up the already-overgrown power and possessions of the Church, as by law established. He moved, " That this meeting condemns, in the strongest language possible, the pro secution which has be.'n commenced against Abel Heywood, bookseller and publisher, and hereby pledge themselves to assist him, to the utmost of their power, in trying this great and important question." An operative, named Leech seconded the resolution. James Smith spoke in support of it, and read the passage in the pamphlet, in respect of which the indictment had been preferred, which, he contended, was not blasphe mous; and if it were, Mr. Heywood ought not to have been prosecuted for it, as he merely sold it in the ordinary course of trade. The resolution was carried.—A Mr. ROSS moved the appointment of a committee, " to collect and receive sub scriptions, and otherwise to adopt such measures •as are best calculated to further the object in view." The resolution was seconded by a Mr. Goddard, and, like the others, unanimously carried. All the speakers, with the exception of Smith, de clared that they were not Socialists, expressed their disappro bation of the sentiments contained in the pamphlet, and said the principle they contended for was, that no man ought to be prosecuted for his theological opinions, whatever those opi nions might be.—Manchester Guardian.—(The prosecution against Mr. Heywood is, we believe, for the same publication as Mr. Cleave has been punished for.) POST-OFFICE PENNY LABELS.—It may prove an awkward thing to give or lend a penny label to a neighbour, as it subjects the party to be seized forthwith by the collar and lodged in gaol. By the 2d and 3d Vic., c. 52, sec. 8, the rates denoted by the labels or covers are to be deemed stamp duties, and the paper impressed with postage stamps is sub jected to all the regulations, pains, penalties, and clauses, con tained in the Acts relating to stamp duties. The labels are, theref l o v., therefore, under the protection of the statute 3 an d 4 Wil liam c. 97, by the 12th clause of which, it any person shall hawk or carry about for sale any stamped paper, " or shall utter or offer for sale or exchange, at any house, shop, or place, other than the house or shop in which he shall reside, or bona fide carry on his trade or business, any stamped paper," he shall forfeit 201., and any man may apprehend him. He may be further fined 20/. for se lling stamps without a license, and thrmer may have all th e penalty, at the option of the Commissionersinformer of Stamps. By t h e same Act, if any person sh fraudulently get out of, or discharge from any stamped paper any matter or thing thereon written, printed, or ex _guilty of pressed, he shall be adjudged felo ny, and be liable shall ksamen P unishment w_ii:3yuseor may h a b y e e a to wa b r e ded tra t n o sp a o n r y :ed pe f r o s r o n lif w e. tio possession of," any stamped paper, from which any matter or thing shall have been fraudulently erased, cut, scraped, dis charged, or gotten. THE JEWS' PASSOVER BREAD. —Several meetings have recently been held by the Jews at the east-end of the town, for the purpose of forming a friendly association to obtain cheap Passover bread. It appears that, during the late Passover, much dissatisfaction had been expressed by many respectable Hebrew families, by both the scarcity sod dearness of the bread prepared for the occasion. It seems that the wheat is selected with great care by the High Priest, and is ground with considerable ceremonial at one or t wo mills in the vicinity of Stratford, and the flour is afterwards taken to town and made into Passover cake under the superin tendence of the officers of the Great Synagogue, by bakers of quantity made this_d. a year, f e ll sufferers the Je w i s h p ersu asion. The pound to Is. Th e poor among the Jews the monopoly, as t h ey were no t a ble in the first so far sho r t o f th e demand that the price were rose the f s r u o ff m er l such offence in a la rge stock, and the c i rcumstance has given instance to l ay that an association has been formed with the view of preventing its recurrence. Lord Viscount Duncannon did not dine on Sa at Lambeth Palace, on account of the dangerous illness of Sir Arthur Paget. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 18, 1840. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, MAY 16. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE..-JACKSON V. SH A RPE. Mr. C. Phillips, Mr. V. Lee, and Mr. Keating, ap peared for the plaintiff ; Sir F. Pollock for the defendant. This was an action to recover compensation in da mages for an alleged breach of promise of marriage. The damages were laid at 1,0001. It appeared that the plaintiff is a young lady of the age of twenty-eight, one of five daughters, whose mo ther carried on an extensive business at a children't dress and linen warehouse in Regent-street. All the daughters were engaged and interested in the concern. The defendant is thirty-eight years old, and is one of the largest manufacturers of table cutlery in the metro polis, his business being conducted in Gough-square, Fleet-street. The Misses Jackson were in the habit of attending St. Bride's church, Fleet-street, on the Sun day morning, and in the evening they went to Trinity church, Gough -square. One Sanday, when the young ladies were waiting in the porch of the former church, during a storm of rain, the defendant very politely offered them the loan of his umbrella. A short time after the plaintiff was walking with Mrs. Hooper, an intimate friend of the family, when they were overtaken by the defendant, who, placing himself between, they walked some distance together. Soon after this he called at Mrs. Hooper's, and in the course of conversation inquired of that lady whether the plain tiff had been religiously educated, and whether she was industriously disposed ? To these queries Mrs. Hooper replied in the affirmative, and added, that she had neither father nor brother, that her mother was in very ill health, and with infirmities daily increas ing, and that. the family were without fortune. She also expressed a hope that if the defendant had an idea of paying her attention, he would act towards her with honour and veracity. She further said, that the fa mily, by their own exertions, were in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence, and besought him to weigh weigh well any steps he might contemplate with regard to the plaintiff. However, the defendant pressed his suit, until, in a short time, he was openly received as the accepted lover of the young lady, who, with her sisters, constantly dined and supped at his house after church on the Sunday, whilst he in turn frequently rook his meals at her mother's. He had also intro duced his own family to the plaintiff, and to her nephew and sisters. In fact, his attentions were unremitting, whilst his professions of attachment were of the most honourable character. He took her to church with him for a considerable time, and she occupied, by his desire, the scat which had formerly been filled by his first wife. In the month of July last, Mrs. Jackson was so ill as to render it necessary that she should go to Norwood. Thither he accompanied those members of the family who w ent w i t h h er, and he was so constant in his visits as to go twice pr thrice every week. It was during this sojourn in the country by the plaintiff that the defendant had commenced a series of letters, from which, if there had been any want of proof of the position in which the parties stood with regard to each other, abundant evidence was to be collected, showing that the defendant was engaged to that lady as her in tended husband. (Some of, these letters, which were read in evidence, we subjoin ) At length, by one of those letters, that dated the 14th of February is the present year, the defendant, it appeared, had altered his mind, and had resolved upon breaking off the con nection. Every means was at first used by the plaintiff and her friends to ascertain how it was that he had arrived at such a determination, but failing therein Mr. Hooper called upon him to ask for an explanation. The defendant, who was much confused, said he had been taken so much by surprise that it was impossible for him to enter into the matter at that time. The_fol lowing day was then appointed for a second meeting, but on Mr. Hooper's arrival at home he found that the defendant had written a letter (given in the evidence) declining to hold any communication with him in reference to the subject. Finding all attempts to obtain explanation from the defendant in vain, the plain tiff gave her consent to the institution of the present proceedings. Several witnesses were examined in proof of these statements, among others two sisters of the plaintiff, and the following. Richard A. Hooper,examined by Mr. C. PHILLIPS.— In February this year, I called on the defendant, and told him that I came at the request of Mrs. Jackson and her daughter respecting his conduct to Miss Annas Jackson. He said I had taken him so much by surprise that he could not talk to me on the subject, and re quested that I would name another time to see him with reference to it. I saw that he was disconcerted and agitated, and it was ultimately arranged that I should call on him the next day. The following letter ad dressed to me, however, I found on my return home, had been sent in about ten minutes after I had left his house. The letter was then put in and read. It was in the following terms : ‘ 4,Gesoeungths his -sq mp Gough-square,February.entsto m l 4r,.1840. Hooper " Mr. Shar p e ‘ presents and upon re-considering the appointment for to-morrow evening, begs to save Mr. H. the trouble of calling, as he shall not be at home. " Mr. Sharpe has formed a firm determination upon the subject, and on a matter of so delicate a nature cer tainly does not hold himself responsible to any one, nor could he allow the interference of a third person, nor divulge his private feelings and reasons to any but a member of his oan family. " To Mr. Hooper." Hannah Jackson.—l am also a sister of the plaintiff's. I was at Norwood the whole time with my mother and sister. The defendant was in the habit o f com i ng d own to see the latter at least twice a week. He was re ceived by us all as her suitor. Cross-examined by Sir F. POLLOCK-4 am the young est sister. We have been in Regent -street these three years, but we have been nine years in the business. We had a stall at the Sobo Bazaar for seven years. J. J. Thornhill—l live in New Bond-street. I know the defendant ; he is a maker of table-knives, and has the most extensive trade, perhaps, of any man in Lon don, and I should say he was a man of considerable pro perty. Mr. B. Broadwater—l am clerk to Dixon and Sans, bankers, in Chancery-lane. The defendant keeps an account at our house ; he keeps a highly respectable ac count. The following letters were then put in and read. " My dearest Annas—ln consequence of my father's alarming state of health, I am sure you'll excuse my not coming to Norwood this evening. I think that you so far have confidence in me that you will not for a moment imagine that lam neglecting you. lam sorry to say he has taken to his bed again, and I really feel apprehensive that we shall not have him left io us many days. I hope you all continue very well, and that my dear boy is as well as when I left you. All's well in town except my dear father. Excuse my saying more, as I wish this to reach you as early as possible. Give my boy a kiss from me, and believe me, my dearest girl, to remain, yours affectionately, " RICHARD SHARPE. " I hope to see you on Saturday evening. I intend, please God, to come per railway. " To Alias Annas Jackson." " 4, Gough -square, July 26, 1639. "My dear Annas,—lt was with with great pleasure I received your delightful letter yesterday ; really it did me much good. Of course I was anxiously engaged in taking Tom to school. I left him at Miss Gatty's last night, and I have no doubt in the world but that be will be most comfortable there, and receive every kindness and attention. ik tier I left him I paid a visit to my father at Peckham Rye I found Lim still very nervous, and really think that we cannot induce him to stay more than a week, if we can do that. lam sorry that my business will prevent me complying with your kind proposal to come down at five instead of seven o'clock ; but I have made up my mind to spend Monday with you, which I hope will be received as a compensation in your mind for all disap pointments. I saw Mary yesterday, and delivered your message about Miss Pitcher's visit. They are all very well in Regent-street, and desire their love to you all. Mary was very cheerful, for she informed me that peo ple were pretty ready in paying her their accounts. Your tales about. little Willy have made me laugh out so audibly that Miss Murphy heard me ; but, of course, the cause of my laughter was not told her. The rain is now coming down in torrents, and I fear you have bad weather at Norwood. I intend going to Peckham rye this evening again to see how my f a th er i s , an d I hope to find him more quiet, but I fear the dull day will operate against him ; his state of health keeps us all in great suspense and anxiety. We are now very dull at Gough-square, particularly Miss Murphy, whose face is twice as long as it usually has been, and that was long enough, but perhaps she begins to . think that her occupation is almost gone. Dear Annas, don't you think I could arrange to leave little Willy with Mrs. Bates during the month of August ? but don't sa y any thing about it to her at present, till I see you on Satur day. I must do something with him during th e summer months, and I really feel greatly obliged to you for your kindness in taking him. I can never sufficiently repay you. - I don't know, dear girl, that I have anything more to add, only that I am looking forward to Saturday evening, when I shall again meet you. lam most happy when lam with you. You are at all times in my mind ; no one can love you more sincerely than I do ; and I firmly believe that I am sincerely beloved in return. lam not at all jealous of you ; I can trust you at Norwood, or any other wood, amidst squires and bachelors of all ages and degrees. 'Fill I again meet you, may God bless you and keep you. Kiss my dear boy, and believe me to remain your most affectionate " RICHARD. " To Miss Aonas Jackson." " No. 9, Great New-street, Feb. 6, 1839. " My dear Annas—l find I shall not be able to leave business before seven o'clock this evening. I am really very sorry, because it's so fine a day for the gardens ; but I have several orders in hand that require my per sonal attendance to. Let us then fix on Monday next to give our dear little Willy the treat that we bad in tended to-day. I saw and spent the evening with Tom, and found him quite well and happy. He sends his lore to you and Miss Betsy, and I have a kiss to give each of you ; but I will tell you particulars when I see you at half-past seven. Pray excuse haste, and believe me your sincere lover, "RICHARD SHARPE. " To Miss Annas Jackson." [No date.] "My Dearest--I received a note from you last night so kind and endearing that I can't express to you what good it has done to my wounded feelings. Breathing such an affectionate spirit as it does, I should indeed be very unfeeling did I not write you word this morning to tell you how I am. I feel, and am, I believe, much the same as yesterday ; I think I never suffered so much from cold in my life, but surely a few days will set me right. Do not expect me up this evening ; I shall be, you know, much engaged in preprring for my dear boy's return to school ; I purpose to take him to-morrow at three o'clock. Mr. Nason will accompany me with his liale William. I shall endeavour to be back in time for church, but I can't positively say whether I shall be able or not to do so; if not, 1 shall be back in time for supper. I presume you will be at St. Bride's, as usua'. I hope your mother continues to improve, but 1 think she is very much altered in appearance for the worst. Thomas Moore has sent me word to say that he will be ready to accompany us to Peckham to morrow. lam really sorry that he intends going, for I would rather not be troubled with such a trifling, ridi culous creature ; of course, I feel indignant at his be behaviour to you. But you know that there is one who loves you above everybody, and who cherishes in his bosom an affliction which nothing shall extinguish but death itself. lam sorry you ask me to come up this evening. Ido hope and trust you'll allow me to re main quiet a few nights : you know it is only for your sake I d o come . It will be some t i me b efore I can conic with the easy feelings I h ave d one. I th i nk there was something very unkind in our not being admitted at the door in the manner I have been welcomed. lam sure both the ring you gave and the knocks you gave were heard, but the friendly hand to open the door was purposely withheld. But endeavour, as you tell me to forget it, so we'll say no more upon the subject ; your loving and truly kind note has done me more rood than anythi ng I h ave t a k en . I h ave rea d i t over fifty times, and preserve it carefully; the children enjoyed themselves very much till ten o'clock last night at Mr. Batton's. Tom is highly pleased with, his chessmen. Be kind enough to thank Mr. Rallies for him. They arc gone with Miss Murphy to dine at Farringdon street this day ; an invitation has been sent me, but I have declined it ; I must dine at New-street, and con: fine myself entirely to slops and broths, and most parti cularly keep within doors. And now, my beloved girl, I must draw to a conclusion, entreating you to put up and look over any offence I may have given, and to make the best apology you can for me whenever the sub ject is alluded to by your sister. I can't forgive myself for my thoughtlessness, but I still remain, " Your affectionate lover, "To Miss Annas Jackson." "R. SHARPE." " Dec. 3, 1839. " My dear Annas—l find myself so very unwell this evening that I dare- not venture up to Regent -street. 1 have caught a very severe cold. I hope to h ive the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow evening. We are in an unsettled state at New-street in consequence of the house next door to us being in a dilapidated condition ; it is to be taken down immediately, and our house re quires to be propped up in various directions ; of course it much alarms my father and mother, and I believe we shall be under the necessity of taking a house for them —if so, I shall be obliged to take up my quarters at New-street, which I do not at all covet. My father wishes us to take for him the house that Mr. Martin _ --..... now occupies in Gough.square : he will leave at Christ mas, and I think it the most likely place for him ; of course we must study to make him as easy in mind as we possibly can. I can hardly see to write these lines ; my eyes are as though they were filled with hot water ; but I know you would feel grieved at my not assigning any reason for not showing my unworthy countenance to you this evening. Last night I went to bed early, taking the usual remedies of warm water, stockings, pills, gruel, flannel petticoats, tallow, jelly, &c., &c. ; but I do not feel sufficiently relieved yet, and Nason tells me that to go out to-night might bring on an in flammation, or something worse. I am sure you'll feel for me, and would feel much pleasure in nursing me. I am sure I should sooner recover under your treat ment than any one's. I hope you are well, and wishing you, till I see you, every blessing God can give, " I remain, dearest Annas, "Your most affectionate and faithful, " RICHARD, aged 86 years, 11 months, 364 days. " To Miss Annas Jackson, 164, Regent-street." "My dearest Annas—l have just tame to write you a few lines to acquaint you, that in consequence of an important appointment with my brother John this even ing I shall not be able to come up and spend the even ing with you, my dearest, but will call, please God, to morrow, if I can, for I have an appointment on Thorn hill's business at eleven o'clock in the Temple, so that I may be late before I see you. " Dear Tom is, I hear, very well ; Young Nason goes as boarder to Miss Gatty's to-morrow, so that Tom will have a companion related to him, which I am very glad of. "We are all pretty well. God bless you, and ao cept of the sincere assurance of my truest affection. " Remaining yours more than ever, " Te Miss Annas Jackson." " R. S." "4, Gough -square, Jan. 25, 1840. " My dear Annas,—ln reply to your note before me, I hope you'll not entertain the impression for a moment in your mind that I do retain the least degree of ani mosity or ill-feeling ; k is impossible that I should; but I do, and shall always, I am sure, maintain the most friendly regard for you above any one ; but I really, under present circumstances and sufferings in mind and body, feel I cannot call at Regent-street, and my deter mination to remain in my present state as widower is unshaken. I know the high responsibility under which you would be bound, as the wife and as the mother of my children ; the cares and troubles of a wedded life, and the highmindedn ess an d t h e ir ritability of disposition which you have so mani festly shown to me, particularly since Christmas day, would so clash, that I dare not, I dare not, entertain the idea of becoming united to you. My prayers shall always be for your welfare and happiness. As long as I live I shall ever regard your name with feelings of deep interest, but I believe now that our union would not be a happy one. I know my own weakness and bad temper, and I feel and lament my own infirmities. But you speak of an enemy in my house. You have no enemy here ; I am certain you have not one ; no one dare to make the slightest allusion in disparagement of3ou. I would not have suffered that person to have stood before me that I could have supposed to be one. All who know you love and respect you. May you be happy, happy for ever—think that this occurred for your good. Do not indulge the thought of my altering my resolution ; my home—my children— require me to act faithfully and sincerely. Good night, and may God bless you and keep you for ever and ever is the sincerest prayer of, my dear Annas, yours truly, ~ RICHARD SHARPE " Miss Annas Jackson." This was the plaintiff's case. Sir F. POLLOC K, in addressing the Jury for the de fendant, urged as a ground for the course he had pur sued, the irritability of temper of the plaintiff, and di rected the attention of the Jury to the fact of the matter being broken off on the 14th, and the com mencement of the action on the 19th, only five days afterwards, a circumstance which he submitted did not show much grief on her part. Lord D2NMA N said there was no doubt of the defen dant having broken his promise in this case, and of his having done so without the least apparent ground. The plaintiff, therefore, was entitled to full justice. at the hands of the Jury. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff- Damages, 225/. ; costs, 40s. brought inneto of was stated lIOVINCIAL rou ESTABLISHMENT. — At a din ner given l as t wee k at B r i stol to th e proprietors of the cott on works b opthereatin p and his co-p ar t ners on stamps and cottons amounte d to 4 . 6001 . per annu m , an d the parochial rates to 5201 . average of pr o or a i t et thators thatcity tb n e ot ta veryxe3 paid dg by ago b , im i t r t he w ages t o the workmen would, when the establishment was in full operation, be 35,000/. a-year; the expense of flour to stiffen the materials was 3,000/. a-year, and the annual con gumption of coal s no t l oss t h an 10,000 tons. There were 6 0 9 girls empl oye d o f t h e ages of 13 an d 14 y ear s, and their average earnings were 6s. per week; 113 boys received ss. 6d. ; 117 men from 130. to 503. ; and 119 women Bs. There are em ployed in the factory 920 persons, which, with 110 masons en gaged upon the building, make a total of 1,030. It is also expected that the establishment will pay about 9,000/. a-year to the shipping trade. We are enabled to state that the Dolphin, a three-gun brigantine, commanded by Lieutenant Littlehales, will start in the course of two or three days for St. Helena, and that she will be the hearer of instructions to General Middle more, the commander of that island s to take the necessary measures for delivering up to the French Government the mortal remains of Napoleon Lonaparte. APPALLING DESTITUTION.—A farmer in the parish of Perranzabuloe, having very recently had a pig in course of feeding for a considerable time, which continued in a very lean condition notwithstanding the most nutritious food was given it in profusion, the whole of which it was supposed to have eaten, suspicion was at length excited that the pig had some intruders at meal times, and the farmer, in consequence, determined to watch. The result was, immediately after the meat was carried into the stye, a man was seen to enter it, car rying a basket; in a few seconds he came out, and made to wards his home, the farmer following at a distance. After halting a few minutes at the window, the farmer opened till o t a f k s e u n ch o u a t i t t o h r e , s a t y s e f i g o r h the v f e a m been ily' s e rxeppeacstte very door, and walked i n , w h en he found t h e w if e prepar i ng what m e h n a t d ra b n e c e e n much disconcerted the family ; but when the farmer, who is a very humane individual, witnessed their distressing case, he very soon quieted their fears, by assuring them that he com miserated their condition, and would do all that he could to alleviate their distress. The next day he sent them provisions to serve them at least a month, which were received with un feigned gratitude. It appears that the poor man had regularly worked in one of the neighbouring mines, and had to receive a , 4 good pay-day " in a few days after the above occurrence ; but not having any " stand by," was obliged to resort to the above means to support life. After receiving his money, he carried the whole of it to the farmer who had so opportunely relieved him, but who would not receive the least compensation for what he had done.— Cornwall Advertiser. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. (From the Morning Post.) The utmost exertions of Mr. O'Connell and of his de pendents in office will be directed this evening to defeat Lord Stanley's Bill on the motion for going into Commit tee. Every Member of the House of Commons who at taches the least value to the constitutional principles of re presentation —every member who is unwilling that the le gitimate constituency of Ireland should continue to he swamped, as it now is, by a rabble of unqualified voters, who one their place on the registry to perjury or fraud— every member who does not cnxiously desire to maintain the supreme and despotic authority of Mr. O'Connell over all the affairs of the British empire, will be present to assist in frustrating the daring and pro fligate attempt. The assembly which, influenced by the considerations to which we have adverted, adopted the I principle of Lord Stanley's Bill, when it decided by a majerity of sixteen in favour of the second reading, would stultify and disgrace itself should it now, at the instigation of Mr. O'Connell, refuse to attempt to give effect to that principle. Every motive which existed to vote for the se cond reading must equally operate in favour of the ques tion for going into committee, and these motives are now reinfore, d by that of maintaining before the people of Eng land a character for consistency and good sense. ( From the Morning Chronicle.) The Irish Constituencies Disfi . anchisement Bill comes before the House of Commons again to•ni, ht, when it will afford the best possible test for distinguishing the true Reformer from the false, and the friends of the Union from its enemies. Ne true Reformer will countenance a measure whic!,, even were it horn stly designed as a remedy for abuse, is so contrived and framed as to inflict an injury on the public interests, beyond all calculation more grie vous and alarming than the very worst evils alleged to exist at pres en t. But when it i s kept in mind that a Bill, so mischievous in its provisions, is characterised further by an hypocrisy the most disgusting, we can imagine nothing wanting to unite every man of honour and common pro bity in the determination to destroy it. With such a tissue of malignity and treachery, what course is there to take but to tear it piecemeal, and scatter it to all the winds? (From the Morning Herald.) In another column will be found the letter of a corres pondent, signed " S. S." expressing surprise, indignation, and disc , ust, at reading " the monosyllabic reply of the Prime Minister of England to the q uestion put to him by the Marqeis of Westmeath, on the subject of the atrocities committed on the Jews at Damascus." We share in the disgust and indignation of our correspondent, but not in his surprise. We have long ceased to be astonished at any neglect of duty or violation of good faith on the part of any, or of all the men, in whose incompetent hands an inscru table Providence has for some wise ends placed the poli tical destinies of the British empire. The simple " no" of Viscount Melbourne is a strange pendant to the positive promise of Vi scount P a l merston to transmit orders to the British Representatives at Alexandria and Constantinople to make every exertion that British remonstrance and in fluence could make, to put an end to the atrocious persecu tion of the Jews, at present, and obtain them some protec tion for the future. (From the Times.) The Romish priest, operating upon uneducated num bers, can, under a representative government, move the political world at his will. Wi , hin the space a twenty one short years he has made himself lord and master of one-third of the United Kingdom. It is from this monster power that Lord Stanley strives to save " the people of Ireland" and the Imperial Crown. He offers a real constituency of independent and authorized electors, in stead of a sham one of priestridden puppets. He offers an accountable and responsible body of voters, in stead of that which has no rightful vote, and no free agency for the exercise of a lawful franchise, if they had one. The present electors are actual paupers—are slaves in the disguise of usurpers. The priests direct their votes, and name their representatives. The Pope from the Vatican rules his vicarious functionaries of Armagh, Dub lin, Cashel, Tuam, and the rest of them. A foreign priest, therefore, with a foreign council, sitting in the centre of the Papal continent, returns the majority of Irish Members of Parliament,and administers the affairs of this Protestant empire through the instrumentality of the most unprin cipled Cabinet that the nation ever saw. To this enormity Lord St,inley's Bill presents one definite, appropriate, and powerful engine of broad and durable resistance. ( From the Morning Advertiser.) Both Cambridge and Ludlow require some time and process to sweeten their corruption. It will be observed that the Tory Member for Cambridge was unseated by a decision of the Committee, on the ground of bribery and treating by his agents. This is the second case of bribery which has been exposed in the course of the present Ses sion, the former case being that of Ludlow. These expo sures give rise to serious reflections on the demoralised state of the English constituencies. Under the former system of election, bribery was sufficiently notorious ; and one great argument in favour of the Reform Bill was, that it would put an end to such disgraceful practices ; that even if the old corrupt burgesses were retained, they would be shamed into honesty by the sound moral sense of the middle classes. But it now appears that the taint has gone too deep for eradication, and that it is even infecting those who were supposed to be beyond its influence. The system of treating is even more gross and shameful than that of bribery. MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS (SATURDAY EVENING ) TIME S.—. The result of the debates of last night on the budget is the all-engrossing topic of discussion in the city. While some complain of the addition of 10/. per cent to the asseised taxes, and the new survey for the ievy of the window rate, as faking particularly heavy on the middle classes—and it is pretty generally believed that the measure will make the Ministers extremely unpopular —some are of opinion that direct taxation is better than any other method, and that, as money is to be raised, this plan is the most feasible. It must be understood that ap provals of this kind are m ere l y on t h e pr i nciple that ore sent difficulties must be got out of some way or other, and by no means extend to an excuse for the mismanage ment by which those difficulties were created. The addi tion of five per cent. to the Customs is regarded with a different feeling by various parties connected with the celonies. Some consider an increase of duty as decidedly hostile to their interests, as tending to a diminution in the consumption. Others, with quite a eontrary view, consider that on articles which are both of colonial and foreign produce, the increase will, in some cases, ope rate favourably for the coloniste. This would be par ticularly so in the cases of Canadian and Baltic tim ber, and East and West India produce, when the in crease of five per cent, being levied on the duty already paid, would necessarily fall lighter on those paying a low than a high duty, and thus the foreigner would be further removed than ever from a competition with the colonist. At all event?, whatever has been the feel ing with respect to the principle of taxation, the manner in which it has been applied has caused the greatest sur prise in the commercial world. The demand of the col lector of 5 per cent. on the existing custorn-house duties was made this morning in consequence of the resolution of the House of Commons, and by the suddenness of this de mand parties were put to the greatest inconvenience, and considerable losses ensued, inasmuch as many had sold their goods already, under the expectation of paying the usual duties, and of course had to make up the dif ference to their own detriment. The suddenness of this change is wholly unprecedented, duties being hitherto, with scarcely an exception, levied by Act of Parliament, and not by a mere resolution of the house, and have. always commenced at the quarter or half -quarter day, so that parties were fully prepared to meet any varia tion. It is said that petitions are under a course of signa ture by merchants and other persons, to be presented to Parliament in a day or two, praying a postponement of the measure till an Act shall be passed. Such an un business-like and oppressive proceeding is in every way worthy of the present Ministry. The effect of the resolution in the English stock market has naturally been a rise in the price of Consols, and a great activity in purchasing, now there is no longer a notion of cre.ating new stock. This has been a day of great excitement in the share market The knowledge that there will be no immediate call for money in the shape of a loan, the removal of the idea that some new tax might he levied on railroads, and the easiness of money, have all led to extensive purchases in shares, and some of the oldest jobbers predict from the present state of things, a period of " wild specuLtion." Great Western opened at 264 to 71 premium, at which price they closed, after a temporary decline of 1/. Bir. rningham are 83 to 5 ; Brighton, 4A to 4 discount; Black. wall, 2 to a premium. POST.—The financial statement of Mr. Baring being calculated to dissipate all fear of a further loan for the pre sent, there 'A as a material advance at the Stock Exchange, HERALD.—The certainty now acquired, from the presentation of the Budget, that no loan would be re quired or new stock created, had the natural e ff ect o f im provirg the market for English stocks, and Consols at one time were one per cent. higher than the closing prices of y:sterdc Miss White, housekeeper at Windsor Castle, expired at ono o'clock yesterday morning, at Windsor Castle, after a short illness, in her 68th year. Miss White was ap pointed, in the first instance, housekeeper to the Pavillion, at Brighton, and was highly arid deservedly respected by the Royal household, during the long period of 25 years in the ser vice of their late Majesties George IV. and William IV., a n d of her present Majissty. WOOD PA VEMENT.—Oxford-street is all at traction. Crowds are daily assembling to witness the pieces of wood pavement near Berners-street, just completed on the principle of that laid down at Whitehall. The comfort it affotds to foot passengers, on account of its being free from noise, mud, and dust, ensures its general adoption, and must eventually snake the thoroughfares of our metropolis the pro menades of rank and fashion. ROTA I. WIVES IN THE EA ST.—His four wives, all very handsome, burnt themselves with his body, as did five of his Cachemirian slave girls, one of whom, who was called the Lotus, or Lily, I often saw last year in my first visit to Lahore. Everything was done to pre vent it, but in vain. They were guaranteed in their rank and in all their possessions, but they insisted upon it ; and the account from the European officers who were present describes as the most horrible sight. The four wives seated themselves on the pile with Runjeet head on their laps ; and his principal wife desired Kurruek Sing, Runjeet's son and heir, and Dheean Sing, the late prime minister, to come to her upon the pile, and made the forme r take the Maharajah's dead hand in his own, and sw ear to protect and f a vour Dheean Sing as Runjeet Si ng had done ; and she made the latter swear to bear the same true true allegia ice to the son which he had faithfrlly borne to hi s father. She then set fire to the pile with her own hands, and they are dead —nine living beings having perished together without a shriek or a groan. Dheean Sing threw himself twice on the pile, and said he could not survive his master, but was dragged away by main force.— Osborne's Court and C amp e/ Runjeet Sing. A few days ago, on opening the box placed in the hospital of the Hotel Dieu, at Lyons, for receiving alms, there were found in it nine bank notes of 250 f. each, tied up i n a bundle. THIRD REPORT FROM THE SE LECT COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY COMMU NICATION; TOGETHER WITH THE PRO. CEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. - The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the State of Communication by Railways, to whom several Peti tions were referred. and who were empowered to report their Observations, together with the Minutes of Evi dence taken before them from time to time, to the House, have further considered She matters to them re ferred, and have to report-- That they have now proceeded with an important branch of their inquiry, which the Committee of the last Session felt to be still incomplete, namely, "the power which has been given by the Legislature to Railway Companies, and the probable effect which the exercise of this power will have upon the intercourse of the country and the general convenience of the public." The investigation of this subj ec t d emonstrates beyond all doubt that Parliament was anxious to prevent Railway Companies from obtaining at, exclusive control over the conveyance of Passengers and Goods along their respec tive lines ; and by a reference to Railway Acts, it will be seen that provisions have been carefully inserted in all cf them, for the purpose of protecting the public against the establishment of a monopoly, the evils of which Perlis merit appears to have apprehended. At the time, however, when the first Acts by which the sanction of Parliament was given to any extensive lines of Railway comniunication, the subject was very imperfectly understood ; powers were consequently conceded to these Companies, which counteracted and rendered of no avail the evident purposes of the Legislature, whilst on the other hand conditions were imposed on them which tended seriously to endanger the safety of the public, and to im pair the efficiency of this new means of intercourse. The original error consisted in a total misapprehension of the best means of providing locomotive power on Railways : Parliament at first considered that this might be safely left to be supplied by public competition ; and its measures were accordingly framed with the view of affording a free scope to all persons who might be willing to engage in such an undertaking. The general impression in Pa,- liament appears to have been, that there existed a close analogy between the principles which govern the means of conveyance by Railway and by Canal, and this indeed ap pears to have been the opinion of the Railway Proprietors themselves. Parties soliciting Railway Bills have fre quently doclared that they required no monopoly; that they considered themselves to be merely toll proprietors, and that it was neither their desire nor for their interest, to undertake the conveyance of passengers and goods over the lines of road which they proposed to construct. The Legislature, in its anxiety to prevent a monopoly which was not sought even by the promoters of the Bills, enacted that any person might place and run his own en. gines, carriages, and waggons on a Railway, subject to the payment of certain tolls, but under such regulations as might be made by the Company. With the same view it was provided that die owners and occupiers of adjoining lands should have free access to the Railway, and alight make Branch Lines to join the Company's Line, in which case the Company should be bound to make an opening for the Branch Line, charging the cost cf this work to the parties requiring the accommodation. Rights were also given to Lords of Manors and other owners of contiguous land to erect wharfs, and they were further empowered to use the Railway as far as their own land extended, without being liable to any payment of toll (a pi ivilege obviously useless, except under the supposition that such land owners need not apply to the Company for locomotive power); while the beneficial use which they might make of Railways, in the cheap conveyance of their produce to a distant market, and in bringing manure and materials for their lands and buildings, was frequently stated to be the chief inducement for allowing their property to be inter sected, and their lands purchased. Parliament, in pursuance of the same erroneous view, considered that it had sufficiently provided for the inte rests of the public, when it had limited the amount of tolls, and enacted that these should be regularly published, by being affixed in conspicuous parts of the toll-houses; rates for the carriage of various articles, such as lime stone, coal, manure, timber, corn, cotton, &c., were evi dently limited with the same intention of guarding the pub lic against an arbitrary charge. It is obvious that all these restrictions and limitations were useless, except under the supposition that there should be a free competition among the parties supplying the locomotive power. In the first instance, undoubtedly, many Railway Pro prietors believed that they were to derive their profits and the return for the outlay of their capital from tolls only, and that it was not for their interest to he engaged in the carriage of passengers or goods. Great difficulty, how ever, was found in adhering to this principle, since parties unconnected with the Railway were not willing to embark their capital in an establishment of engines and carriages under such regulations as were deemed neces sary by the Companies. Further experience also taught Railway Directors that they could not, with due regard to the efficiency of their Railway, and to the convenience and safety of the public, allow rival parties to place arid run engines and carriages on the same lines. It was eventually acknowledged that these lines of communica Lion must be placed under one undivided control and authority, and that any departure from this principle would be attended with the greatest injury to their property and inconvenience to the public, if not with more calamitous results. The Committee of last Sessien directed their attention to this point, and after a careful and lengthened inquiry, they recorded their deliberate opinion, " That it is indispensable, both for the safety and convenience of passengers and the public, to prohibit, as far as locomotive power is concerned, the rivalry of competing partici on the same line of Railway, although such prohibition in volves the continuance of the monopoly." It is unnecessary here to repeat the grounds on which this opinion is founded; but your Committee beg to state to the House that they entirely agree with the conclusion come to by the Committee of last Session, and that fur. thcr investigation has only strengthened the reasoning and confirmed the correctness of the opinion above recorded. If, then, it is acknowledged that Railway Companies must be confirmed in the possession of an exclusive autho rity and management over their own line, and that they arc to be allowed an entire monopoly in providing and regulating the locomotive power, it becomes obvious that die inten tions of the Legislature, and the provisions inserted in ail the Railway Acts for the purpose of counteracting mono poly, have been unavailing ; and that, so far from now en forcing those intentions by any additional legislation, Par liament should abandon a course which could only render these groat lines of communication, inefficient and unsafe. While your Committee recommend that such addi tional and extensive powers should be sanctioned and se cured to Railway Companies, they would call the im mediate attention of the House to the considera tion of such measures as may, with due regard to tire interest of the Companies, best protect the public, and afFord .to the community some guarantee of equivalent advantage, in return for the private rights which have been interfered with. In explaining their views on this subject, your Committee will, for the sake of clearness, divide the question into two branches ; first, as regards the convey ance of passengers; and, secondly, as regards the car riage of cattle and goods by Railway. THE CONVEYANCE OF PASSENGERS BY RAILWAY, When Parliament limited the tolls to be charged for passengers on Railways, it was obviously with the intention of securing to the public the means of rapid conveyance on reasonable terms ; and it is equally clear, that if the Com panies are to remain the monopolists of the locomotive porter, aid are unlimited in their charge, the passengers may be subjected to any amount of fares which the Rail way Directors may think fit to impose. On the London and Birmingham, and several other Railways, this is not the case, since it appears that clauses have been introduced into their Acts, limiting the total amount of charge for a passenger to the sum of 3.W. a mile. Several witnesses have endeav ,urcd to maintain, that the fear of exorbitant charges on the part of Railway Com panins is imaginary ; for that the real interests of these great establishments must always be identical with those of the public ; and that there is no danger that the Com panies should ever neglect the convenience of the passen gers, from whose favour and custom their pans are chiefly derived. Your Committee are in no way inclined to underrate the spirit of enlightened liberality and enterprise by which the Directors of these establishments have been usually animated ; but it must be observed, that when Parliament carefully fixed the maximum rate of tolls, and enacted that these should be regularly published, this step was taken with the manifest intention of guarding the public against any arbitrary charge ; and under the present acknow ledged monopoly of Railway Proprietors, it become, equally incumbent on the Legislature to secure the public against the possibility of any unreasonable exaction. The most obvious method of securing this object would be, to limit by law the charge for locomotive power, and to provide against unreasonable demands on the part of Railway Companies for the carriage of luggage, and th e accommodation afforded a t t h e stations. The Com mittee of last Session accord:ngly directed their attention to ascertain the cost of locomotive power. Mr. Bury, who contracted to supply the London and Birmingham Rail way with locomotive power, stated his opinion that it might on that line be done at the rate of a farthin g per mile per passenger, and that this would leave a fair profit to the contractor. It appears that he had himself con tracted with the Directors of the London and Birmingham on these terms ; but that the conditions of the contract had never been carried into effect. A due regard, however, to the interests of the public, and justice to Railway Proprietors, require that no hasty decision should be adopted on this important subject, and yonr Committee feel that they have not sufficient informa tion to justify them in pronouncing, an opinion applicable to all the Railways throughout the country. In order to arrive at a fair estimate of the expense of the locomotive power requisite for the conveyance of passengers, it is necessary to be accurately acquainted with a variety of de tails upon which there exist as yet great differences of opinion among those wino have had practical experience of these undertakings. The cost of locomotive power de pends in great measure upon the construction of the en gine, the price of fuel, the gradients of the line, and a variety of ot h er points in which experienc e h as l ed to very diffarent conclusions from those which were first adopted. The number of enginea necessary for the con veyance of pusengers ,in order to ensure regularity, and to diminish the chance of accidental delays, which are fre quently attended with danger, can only be known by con turned practice, and any legislative interference in this particular might hazard the efficiency of the Railway. Any attempt to fix the charge for locomotive power must necessarily include the speed of travelling on the Railway, otherwise, since Companies would be induced to use as few engines as possible, and those of cheap construction, the convenienc e of the passengers might be materially diminished. It is well known that increased speed adds considerably to the expenses of the Rai:way Companies; for locomotive consequently, under a limitation of the charge locomotiv e power, they might seek to augment their pro fits by r e d uc i ng their rate of travelling. These oa are some among among th e reasons which have prevented your Committee from recommending to the House any interfer: Railway with the charg e f or l ocomotive power imposed by ) Com panics ; b ut w hi le they p lea v e to these some authority per fect m onopo l y i n this respect, they feel that me Companiesa should be established for the purpose of watching over the EVENING EDITION. interests of the public, and obtaining such information as Parliament may require. With this view the Committee of last Session recom mended that some system of superintendence should be adopted, and your Committ ee concurring with them in that recommendation, have applied them.elves to consider what should be the nature of that superintendence, and they have come to the following Resolutions:- 1. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that Rail way Companies using locomotive power, possess a prac tical monopoly for the conveyance of passengers on the several lines of Railway, and that under existing circum stances this monopoly is inseparable from the nature of . their establish ments , an d f rom t h e con d uct o f t h e i r bus:- ness, with due regard to the safety and convenience of the public. 2. That in the absence of any effectual check from the operation of free competition on their respective lines, this Committee think it is advisable to subject this monopoly to some general superintendence and control. 3. That it is the opinion of this Committee that this control will be most r.dvantar , eously entrusted to some de partment of the Executive Government. 4. That is the opinion of this Committee, that this de partment should have 'authority to send an engineer or other person t o v i s i t an d exam i ne t h e wor k s o f any Rail way ; and no new Railway or portion of Railway should be opened for the conveyance of passengers until after a month's notice at the least had been given to this depart ment. 5. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it should be the especial duty of this department to see that the several provisions contained in all Acts of Parliament having reference to railways, arc duly observed, so far as the public interests are concerned ; and this department shall be authorised to institute legal proceedings, at the public expense, in cases where such provisions have not been complied with G. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that every e.law, which may be enacted under the powers con tained in the seve ra l R a il way A cts, s h ould be su b m i t t e d to this Department two months at the least before it is proposed that it shall be obligatory ; but at the expiration of that period it shall come into operation, unless the Board shall have previously signified their disallowance of it. 7. That it is the opinion of this Compittee, that this de partment should have power to call for any Returns, cial or statistical, which, in the judgment of this depart ment, may be necessary for the performance of its duties. Your Committee, in framing these resolutions, have been guided by this consideration, that however improvi dently Parliament may in the first instance have granted to the Railway Companies such extensive powers, it is now advisable to interfere with them as little as pos.ible, and to limit their recommendations to a plan which may ensure the effectual administration of the laws by which each' Railway Company is incorporated. Your Committee fee ), moreover, that in adopting this course they are more likely to carry along with them the good feelings and the support of the Railway Companies and their Directors, thereby exciting their continued exertions to meet the wants and remedy toe complaints of the public. Trusting, therefore, to the salutary influence which they conceive a superin tending authority will exercise over these bodies, Your Committee have, in their recommendations, mainly had in view the means of enforcing the law and the power of ob taining such returns as may be required, with the view 0 1 observing in what manner these powerful bodies continue to execute the important trusts committed to them, and to enable such superintending authority to recommend to Parliament additional measures, if hereafter they shoulti be deemed requisite. Your Committee have taken much evidence upon "L b ' jccts connected with the convenience and safety of Ps' sengers on Railways, and also with regard to the probable eff:ct of Railw a y commun i cation on the interests o f the poorer classe s o f soc i ety ; to those they do not now c olsie der it necessa r y t o a d vert, b ecause they feel confident thatwhen a Board s h a ll h ave b een appointed, far mor e satis factory information on th ese po i nts will be obta i ne d than any which could b e procured by a Parliamentary Commit'. tee, and they ar e most d es i rous that those quest i ons itt which the int eres t s o f t h e public and of Railway Prwrie. tors may appear t o b e a d verse to each other, should. not 60 decided upon by P ar li ament until the practical effect the proposed supe r i n t en d ence shall have been tried. Much will of course d epend upon the constitution, a ere superintending auth or it y ; b ut your Committee heliroo that the details of the necessary arrangements will be best WI to the Executive Government, and they will, tberefure• only suggest that thi s superintendence should be entrusted to some department which may be immediately responsible to Parliament for its proceedings, and may s e rve as the channel of commu n i cat i on, w h ereby Parliament may at a ll' times obtain such furth er i n f ormation as may be required Your Committee believe th a t t h e establishment of 4,144 superintendence will guar d t h e interests of the pubrees without injuring the o wners o f R ailway property; and Ebel believe that with this security, the public will no ' lon ger view w.th jealousy the extensive powers which it % la s been found necessary to confer on Railway Compap', g . CARRIAGE OF CATTLE AND GOODS By RA:iLwAys. The Committee of last Session collet* ad a of evidence on thi s su bj ect ; an d i n fr .. rtuerance of the ',arcinquiry, inquiry, your C omm it tee h ave car - `fully considered the pe titions which hav e b een refe .red to th em by the, Hous e ' and have exam i ne d maw , carriers an d ot h er r, inte rested in the earryi.:,g tra d e. e„oas Your Cornin'tcee h ave s h own that Railway-ompanieS have obtainer a compl e t e monopoly for the conveyance of passengers on th e i r several lines ; great varisty and it has been recom mended that under a proper supervision this monopoly should b e p rotected and confirmed. Upon this admission three further questions immediately arise ; first, whether these companies will probably obtain similar monopoly for the conveyanc e of goods ; Ida! p supposing such monopoly to be established, wouldcitobre advantageous or convenient to the public ; and lastly, should Parliament in , terfere, and to what extent. . The subject is one of i mportar.o.e, not merely as it Oats the interest of the carriers, bu'.. as it inv o l ves the trari s P cirt ply of mark e t s , thereby mate of merch an di ze, and the sup rialiy con cern i ng t h e accommodation of the public, a nd ex.. ercising an i n fl uence over the internal and external com merce of the country, Whenever a line railway is opened for the carriage of goods, it enters into competition with the means of c onvey-• . ante previously ex i st i ng, whether by roads or by canals. It appears from the evidence that carriers using waggons Or vans on rot.d s cannot successfully compete with a Railway.: On the longest line of railroad communication as Ye:. comploted i in this country, namely, from London to Liver - ' pool and Manchester, it is stated that the carriers, have been obliged to abandon their former mode of trans-' mitting goods by conveyanc e on the turnpike roads, and, seek assistance from the Railway Companies. Th e canals, however, still retain their business ; and having • reduced their charges, continue to be used for the car riage of goods in cases especially where the weight gives them some advantage over the Railway. As far as re-' gards the heavy merchandize, it appe ars probable that the' canals will a l ways secure the public against any unrea sonable demands en the part of the Railway Companies; but your Committee are nware that instances are not; uefrallueet where Companies anti large capitalists, in stead of competing with each other, and acting in roe salty, has ecombined, and entered into agreements, whereby; the public hav e su ff ere d . I n proportion as the carriage of goods by turnpike roads is gradually abandoned, and the i capital n ow emp l oyed in this means of conveyance g transferred i nto ot h er trades, the opportunity of a corn bination between canal and railway proprietors will be facilitated, an d t h e whole internal commerce of the country may be under such an arrangement disadvanta geously influenced and controlled. Your Committee have consequently endeavoured to as certain in what mariner the carriage of goods by Railway may be most advantageously eonductrfel so as to s ecure the public agai ns t th e evi l s incident to monopoly. Th e car" nei - s in most of their petitions sue,geest that the only mea sure by which their trade can be pie)tected, is by prohibit ing Railway Companies from acting as carriers on their own line of Railway, and in supper t of this opinion , they have brought a num b er of witness ( s b e f ore your Commit tee, and numerous cases have been stated in whicir the car riers considered themselves to have been seriously injured by the regulation s of the Railway Directors. It appe ars that, even as fegards the carriage of goods, a Railway Company must have certain powers of regulating the trade on their orie line. The Company must supply the loco motive power, fix the speed of conveyance, the weight to conveyed, the hours of arrival and departure, and such other matters of detail as are essential to the due manage` went of their R a il % ay , many ne3SCS contend that the i ,', duties should h ere cease, and that the Companies shot nut be allowed to carry good; 'in their own behalf, other wise they will by indirect as we ll as b y direct means drive all private carriers front their line. On the thr ee un d ermentioned Railways three differ ent systems are in operation. The London and Birmingb at : Railw a y C om p any do not act as carriers on their own line, but admit a ll private carriers on certain t„erf-. •to make us e o f th e i r R ailroad; the Grand Junction ta°'-i -piny, fr om Bi rm i ngham to Manchester and Livery 1 3° admit p r i va t e carriers on their line, but they themselvat es ° the same ti me un d ertake the carriage of goods, and coin-. pete,l.lierefere, with the private carriers whom they O mit on their line. The Liverp°c: and Manchester llailwaY Company are required by their Act to undertake the car riage of all goods between these two towns, whet eby pri vate carriers are vir:uafly excluded from this business. --• Your Committee have examined into each of these difr‘ ferent syst ems. The system adopted by the London and Birmingham Company allows all carriers who choose to avail them selves of the terms offered by the Company, the facility of sendin g goo d s tc any amount, the waggons and the locomotive power being presided by the Railway Com pany, and the periods of departure and arrival being also fixed by the Directors. This arrangement, however, can hardly be said to offer s uc h competition as to secure the public against, exorbitant charges, because the demand for carriage de prricls upon the terms fixed by the Railway Directors, and the rivalry between the carriers is in a great measure restricted to the collection and delivery of the goods with which they may be entrusted. This competition, therefore, aff ou l s no guarantee t h at t h e serv i ce will be pet forno at the lowest remunerating charge; but it i 5 stated that the public derive many advantages from the s 3 stem. The profits of each carrier will depend on the amount of his business, and this can only be maintained and increased by an incessant attention to the wishes of • his employers, and by his civility, punctuality, and cares in the collection and delivery of goods. It is furthlr stated that all the details of the carrying trade will bal more attended to by those %S ho earn their livelihood irony it, than if such a large additional concern were left to the management of Railway Directors, necessarily less• acquainted with the details of such a ttade, and lass inter eared in its success. An entirely opposite system is, however, in force upon. the railway between Liverpool and Manchester; and your Committee have not heard any complaint on the part of the public, showing that the business is negligently perA;rmed. On the contrary, your Committee believe that it has beets carried on very much to the satisfaction of the public. On this line (and it is the only Railway to which such a pro- • vision appears to have been applied), the Company arc obliged to carry any goods which may be brought them for conveyance, and are limited as to the amount oe I I I