The Sun. — London, England, 1847-07-02 00:00:00

ROUSE OF COMMONS, July 1. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. The report on the Edinburgh and Perth Railway Bill was brought up and agreed to. The Blackburn Improvement, Market, &c., Bill was read a third time and passed. The Lords' amendments to the London and North- Western Railway Bill (Atherstone and Whitacre Branch) were agreed to. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was ordered that it be an in s t ruc ti on to t h e Committee of Selection to refer the Dollar Institution (Alylne's or M`Nabb's Estate) Bill to the Scotland List (No. 1), and three selected Members, and to appoint the Committee on the Bill to meet on Tuesday the 6th day of July, with power to hear the petitioners on all petitions against the Bill, which may be presented on or before Monday the sth day of July. On the 'notion also of Mr. GREENE, it was ordered that the Examiners of Petitions for private Bills have leave to sit and proceed to-morrow on the following Bills:—Newbart (or Gravenor's) Estate Bill, Paterson's Estate Bill, Pick e r ne ll' s E state Bill, Wingfl2ld's (or St. Aubyn's) Estate Bill, Mansel's Estate Bill, and Duke of Richmond's Estate Bill. Ou the motion of Sir R. FERGUSON, a return was ordered of the harbours, piers, quays, landing places, and other works in Ireland, with respect to which any notice or instrument in writing, declaring them to be vested in the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, under the provisions of the Act 9 and 10 Vic. c. 3, has been published in the Dublin Gazette. FUSTIAN CUTTERS. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from the fustian cutters of Warrington, praying that no per son under the age of fourteen years might work in those manufactories. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Mr. ALDAM presented a petition from Leeds against the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. HUDSON presented a similar petition from Leicester. Mr. STANSFIELD presented a similar petition from Leeds. NAVIGATION LAWS. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS presented petitions from the ports of London and Montrose against any alteration in the navigation-laws. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. Mr. M. GIBSON brought in the Joint-stock Com panies Bill, which was real a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from a gentleman of the name of Porter, residing at Hill House, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, stating that he had discovered the means of making instantaneous communication by means of electricity to the outports in the most foggy nights upwards of 12 years aa , o ; that he had stated to the Admiralty that he had done so, and had received a letter from that Board, stating that they should be happy to have communications with him on the subject, but that they had never granted him an interview. Under these circumstances the petitioner deprecated the idea of a foreigner haring the credit of the invention, and prayed the House to institute an inquiry on the subject. RATING. • Mr. WAKLEY also presented a petition from a gen tleman named Hutcheson, complaining of the manner of rating to the poor. The lioN. MEMBER also presented a petition from the workmen of Glasgow, complaining of the law of arrest_ went of wages in Glasgow. The IloN. MEMBER also presented a petition from the National Association for Promoting the Improvement and Condition of the People, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill, and praying that the metropolis might be included in its provisions. The HoN. MEMBER also presented a petition from a soldier named Philip Ward, stationed in the garrison at Gibraltar, complainlng of the conduct of the command ing officer, and praying to be transferred to some other regiment. Sir PE LACY EVANS presented a petition from one of his constituents, complaining of the treatment of the East India Company. M ALTA. Dr. BO\VRING Vriow, from the Secretary at War, whether he had received any information as to the alleged misconduct of the military of Malta at the theatre and elsewhere. Mr. FOX MAULE said that he had made inquiry at the Horse Guard 3, and found that no report had reachtd there with respect to the subj, et. PRISONS BILL AND CUSTODY OF OFFEN- DERS BILL. Lord MAHON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what course he intended to adopt with respect to the Prisons Bill and the Custody of ofierders Bill. Sir G. GREY said, that it was of great import ance to the country that the Custody of Offenders Bill should pass as soon as possible, and he hoped to be able to bring up that Bill, vcith such amendments as should induce the House to give its sanction to it. He hoped to be able to get the Bill through Committee to-night. With respect to the Prisons Bill, the Government did not think that measure of such immediate importance. FEVER HOSPITAL AT ISLINGTON. Mr. T. DUNCONIBE presented a petition mime• rously signed by inhabitants of Islington, praying the House not to allow the establishment of the proposed fever hospital at Islington ; and also praying the House to consent to the clause which he proposed should be inserted it; Ow of Town* Bills Mr. WAKLEY supported the prayer of the petition. Lord MORPETI3 said that, so far as he was con cerned, he could not have any possible objection to the clause proposed by the Hon. Member for Finanry. BORNEO. _ . On the motion of M;. - 1 7 :CVART, the following return was ordered:—Copies of all cornmindeationc+ to and from her Majesty's Government relative to the affairs of Borneo. from the Ist day of December, 1842, to the 24th day of June, 1847. ISLE OF MAN. Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know when the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the criminal law of this island would be presented; and if, when it was presented, the Government intended to introduce any measure on the subject, and whether it would be followed by an inquiry into the condition of the civil law. Sir G. GREY said the Commissioners bad promised to present their report in May, but on the 31st of that month Mr. Elliott, one of the Commissioners, stated that owing to the difficulties of the inquiry it could not be presented for a short time. He was sorry to say that it had not yet been presented. Until he obtained that report he could not state what course he should adopt. He had stated that an inquiry into the civil law should not be instituted until the inquiry into the criminal law had been completed. With respect to the Isle of Man, the Government would be happy to lay any papers on the table of the House. EDUCATION. 7 -- - - In reply to a question from Mr. HINDLEY, Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that the recent minutes on education would be presented to the House so soon as her Majesty had expressed her intention to that effect. UNITED STATES. Mr. HUME gave notice that to•morrow he should ask, whether loans had been granted in any of the United States, and, if so, why they had been omitted from the papers presented to the House to-day. He understood that the sums lent to these states were very large. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. Mr. WAKLEY wished to know whether there was any law under which the Government might appoint a public prosecutor ? And whether, if there was, the Government intended to avail themselves of it, and to appoint a public prosecutor? Sir G. GREY said there was no law under which the Government might appoint a public prosecutor. The subject bad been under the consideration of the Govern ment, not certainly, however, respecting the appointment of a public prosecutor, but with resrct to a decision of the House respecting the conducting prosecutions, and the mode of defraying the expenses. Some plan would be submitted to the House, not exactly for the appointment of a public prosecutor, but as a step in that direction. • ~ k .-}~ IMPERIAL PA RLi A MEN T. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 1. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Comm , us brote.;Lt up several public and private Bills. The Earl of RODEN comp;ained that the third re port of the Poor Relief Commissioners (Ireland), laid on the table yesterday, contained statements against many of the magistrates and gentry of Ireland, which were totally unfounded, and gave notice that he should call the attention of their Lordships to the subject on Tuesday next. Lord MONTEAGLE hoped the Noble Earl would postpone the subject to a future day, as on Tuesday next probably many of their Lordships main be abseel at the installation of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. After some observations from the Earl of DEVON, The Earl of RODEN postponed bringing forward the subject till Thursday next. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented several peti tions on the subject of the Health of Towns Bill. QUALIFICATION OF PEERS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The Earl of ROSEBERY moved the reception of the report upon this Bill. After a few words from the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, on the subject of the oaths required to be taken under the provisions of the Act, the Earl of Rosebery, and the Earl of Haddir.gton, The Earl of EGLINTON said that he gave his most cordial support to the measure, and he hoped that the Bill would be allowed to pass without any alteration. Lord DENMAN suggested that in his opinion it would be desirable to do away with the necessity for Peers taking the oaths in foreign countries at all, and allowing their declaration to have equal weight. After a short discussion, in which the Duke of Buc cleuch, Lord Redesdale, Earl Ha klington, Earl Rosebery, and several other Noble Lords took part, the report upon the Bill was agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Monday next. IRISH POOR-LAW -AD gINISTRATION BILL. Earl ST. GERMANS wished to know if the Govern meat intended to bring on this Bill to-morrow, and . they intended to make any material alteration in i t. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE intended to propose some amendments, hut they would not be of a material nature. He intended to proceed with it to-morrow. After a short discussion, The NoneE MARQUIS consented to discharge the order for the second reading of this Bill to-morrow, and to re appoint it for a future day. COLONIAL TRADE. Lord ASHBURTON then moved for certain returns relating to the commercial transactions of this country with its colonies. The object he had in view in moving for thorn was to ascertain how the recent changes in our Legislature had affected the dependencies of the British empire. The Noble Lord reviewed at some length, but in a tone inaudible in the gallery, the policy pursued in Parliament for several years past, and stated the effect which he considered it had had upon the colonies. The course which had lately been pursued would seem to indicate that the colonies were of no use, and ought not, therefore, to have their interests considered. Since the differential duties had been abolished, what use was there, he would ask, in observing any of those other distinc tions which had arisen from the arrangement, and which now interfered with the prospects of the colonies, in. stead of advancing them? He thought that the wiser and better course would be, to open up to the colonies all the advantages which foreign countries at present were allowed to possess. He moved for the returns on account de recent dispatch received from the Governor-General of Canada. The Noble Lord con cluded by moving for the returns. Earl GREY had no objection to the production of the returns; on the contrary, he thought their being laid on the table of the House would be productive of benefit to all parties. If ever there was a time that showed the course Parliament had pursued last year was a correct one, it was the present. After some observations from Lord WHARNCLIFFE and Lord STANLEY, The returns were agreed to. TRUSTEES RELIEF BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that this Bill be read a second time. The Noble and Learned Lord, in moving the second reading of the Bill, mated that last year the money in the hands of the Accountant General of the Court of Chancery, amounted to 40,000,0001., while in the present it exceeded 51,000,00 u/. Only a small portion of that amount was the subject of litiga tion, the greater part of it being placed in the Court of Chancery, for the purpose of security. The object of the Bill was principally to enable trustees to pay trust funds in their hands into the Court of Chancery, with out filing a Bill, or creating any expense to the estate of the infant, or the individual for whom a party was trustee, thereby giving greater security to property, and relieving trustees from their security. After some observations from Lord AsmaunToN and Lord MONTEACLE, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to b. committed. BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES' BI LL. This Bill was read a third tun. and passed. PASSENGERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. The other Bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their Lordships adjourned shortly before Eight o'clock. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING-, JULY 2, 1847. those efforts, and to render them more valuable than heretofore, and not to strip them of power, be cause he defied any one to put his finger on any portion of the Bill which took away the right of management from local authorities ; in fact, the Government were anxious to leave the manage ment of towns to local agency and to popuhr feeling. The report of the Committee of the House recommended this, and the Government had simply ad..:ted their ()pi nion, to entrust the management to ioc,, reserv ing to the Crown the right to step in and see that they did not neglect their duties.—( Hear.) He found that the opposition to the Bill came principally from York and Lincoln.---(Hear, hear.) But the Paving Board and many of the inhabitants of Lincoln had sent a pe tition to that House, which the Hon. and Gallant Mem ber (Colonel Sibthorp) had presented, in favour of the Bill. He felt as much interest in the prosperity of the ancient community of York as the Honourable Member (Mr. Hudson). But from a statement read by the Noble Lord, it appeared that the main sewerage was defective, and that though the main streets presented a fair appearance, the poorer streets were sadly neglected. In the districts which were properly seweraged, the average duration of life was 38 years, and in those improperly seweraged 24 years ; showing that York would admit of great improvement. If they did not appoint the commission, they would lose the services of many eminent men well qualified to discharge the duty of commissioners and inspectors. He trusted the House would adopt the Bill as it had been amended. Mr. HUDSON said the report from York was most fallacious, and had been denied by many medical men. If they would give the corporation the necessary means, they would effect all the improvements that would be necessary. Mr. T. BARING was in favour of a central authority, as he conceived the greatest good would accrue from it. He objected to that portion of the Bill which provided that the rate-payers should defray the expense of in spection. He did not like the principle of not allowing local authorities to determine the rates that ought to be levied for this purpose and to expend them.—(Hear.) Colonel SIBTHORP" said that the City of Lincoln, in petitioning in favour of this Bill, was not aware of the increased powers which were given in it, nor of the increase of the area of four miles into ten. Neither were they aware of the increased amount of expense they were placed under by it, and the arbitrary autho rity given to the inspectors under its provisions. The questions which the inspector was empowered to ask, then, was of the most inquisitorial nature, and there was a penalty of 51. in case of his questions not being answered. The inspector might ask whether the Lord Mayor went to bed sober every night, or any such other question = ( Laughter.) Mr. NEWDEGATE said that the system of cen tralisation proposed by the Noble Lord, was one most utterly alien to the constitution of the country. Its powers might be exercised in the most arbitrary man ner, and its ramifications might be extended in any direction, in violation of all other constituted authori ties. If there were no other means of regulating the towns of this country than by a central authority, he should say let such authority be constituted by al! means ; but when they could do without it, and had done without it, why should such a power be placed over them without any immediate necessity ? The Noble Lord bad quoted the average duration of life in York, but it appeared upon an inquiry, that the average duration of life there was rather a length ened one, and yet that city was selected as a fit spot to place under the arbitrary operation of this measure. He believed that this measure, if introduced, would lay the first step to a system of interference by Government which would injure the constitution of the country. Mr. R. YORKE said that he could bear testimony to the correctness of the allegations of Dr. L sycock as to the sanatory state of the city of York. He should not he doing justice to his constituents if he denied that the city of York was Capable of improvement, but -he- cer tainly thought that there were many objections to be taken to the means to be adopted as a means of remedy, and these objections he should take an opportunity of making when they went into the details of the Bill. Mr. PALMER said that to a certain extent foul air must always exist in large towns, and he did not believe that this Bill could, by any one of its provisions, remedy that evil; and it would have the further objection of being very difficult in its application. The salary voted for the paid commissioner was to be 1,0001. If they expected the work to be well performed by this commis sioner, they ought to pay him well, and not give a man who was to be entrusted with such large powers so small a remuneration. Mr. ENT VV ISLE said ho was very anxious to assist in doing all that could be done to remove distress and disease; but he did not think the present Bill one which would remedy one of the evils which now existed. The system was one which would lead to much trouble and confusion, and as such he felt himself at perfect liberty to 'vote against it. Mr. WAKLEY said that the great objection to this measure was encouragement of the vast and unlimited powers it gave to the commissioners, and yet a few days since they had passed a Bill—the Poor-law Bill— which was then before another assembly—the clauses of which gave to the Poor-law Commissioners power so vast sad unlimited, that the powers given in the pre sent measure were as nothing to them. This Poor-law Bill was passed with acclamations, and yet they now denied these minor powers in a measure nearly as im portant as the Poor-law Bill. The city of London was to be excluded from the operations of this Act. This was not the first time that the influence of the city of London had prevailed in that House. When the Muni cipal Corporations Act was passed in 1837, they had demanded to be excluded from its provisions, and they were excluded, although muck against the will of the Noble Lord. This seerred unfair, and it was so, particularly in this instance. If there was any city in England which required some such sanatory regulation as the present, it was the city of London. Hon. Members could hardly conceive the state of abominable filth in which many parts of the city of London now were, and that filth spreading abroad disease, and giving rise to crime in its worst forms; therefore he thought that the metropolis should be placed under the operations of the present Act. He for one should vote for these commissioners, though it was partly against his inclination, and he certainly hoped that the paid commissioner would be one of the medical profes s i on , who would be better enabled to dis charge the imp or t an t d u ty which devolved upon him, than any other p erson of different acquirement and education.—(Hear, hear.) The rates of mortality in many of the manuf a cturing towns were frightful, and in Manchester alone it was known that 13,000 persons beyond the average bills of mortality had perished for the want of some suc h sa natory measure as the present. If such a state of things was permitted any longer to continue, that House would be answerable for all the mischief that might arise, and he therefore hoped that it would give its sanction to this measure. After a few words in explanation from Mr. HUDSON, Mr. HENLEY objected to this measure, in conse quence of the great difficulty which would be experienced in putting it into operation. when the Towns Improvement Clauses Bill could have been put in force at once, and with less trouble and opposition. Mr. HOWARD believed the Bill would give far more satisfaction to the country if it were allowed to pass as it now stood than curtailed and amended, as proposed by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. With regard to the city of London being excluded from the operation of the Bill, he thought the Bill ought not to be impeded on that account. London was of immense maenitude, and ought on that account to be legislated for alone. Lord G. BENTINCK said he could confirm the sta.e ment that the corporate towns of the country looked with a considerable degree of alarm at this system of centralization. He was not surprised at this alarm, when it was rememb ere d that shortly after the Noble Lord at the h ea d o f the Woods and Forests came into office, he call e d upon a gas company in Glasgow to make a return, which would have cost 30,0001 to pre pare.—(Hear, hear.) When he remembered that the city of London was represented by the Noble Lord at the head of th e Government, he could not help think the represented. Noble Lord ße think ing that there was some secret mischief in thi s Bill applytwhaest,.al'hreaisvdeytoer,asit might, he hoped that before the discussion closed, th e N o bl e to the place he which Lord would give them some explanation on that subject. The Noble Lord the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests when he introduced this measure of sa natory regulations, which did not then exclude London, told them that it was estimated that in the metropo li s alone their sanatory regulations would save the lives of 10,000 persons a year, and reduce the number of sick by 70,000. The Noble Lord told them that the mea sure would add eight years more to life and ease the metropolis two millions and a half a year. Why, then, if these statements were correct, was London to be ex cluded from the operation of this Bill ? He was afraid, however, that the statements could not be relied on. They were a delusion, and the measure was promoted by the Government more for the sake of patronage than a desire to benefit the cou n t ry . U n d er t h e Poor law Administration Bill between five and six thousand officers were placed under the control of the Govern ment, and it was, therefor e , th e more necessary t h at they should not give them the additional patronage to be conferred upon them by this Bill.—(Hear, hear.) But before they proceeded further with this measure, they ought to show something of the salaries to be paid to the officers to be. appointed under this Bill, and he hoped that information would be given to the Com mittee at o nce.—(Hear, hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Bill they were now discussing was read a sec on d t i me near l y three wee k s ago, and its merit s were canvassed again before going into Committee, and yet the Noble Lord was now, for the sake of delay, attempting to renew the debate, which was brought to a close before they got into Committee. The Noble Lord had asked him to explain why the city of London was ex c l u d e d f rom t h e Bill, an d h e would do so in a few words. When this Bill was first introduced, it included the city of London, hut the Noble Lord the late Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests recom mended that Lond on s h ou ld b e exc l u d e d f rom t h o Bill, and left for separate legislation. Upon that recom mendation the clause relating to the city of London was struck out of the Bill. The Noble Lord had dwelt a good deal upon the patronag e the Bill would give to the Go vernment, but the Noble Lord's estimate of the patronage was erroneous, for the local offices to be appointed under the Bill, would be no m i nate d an d contro ll e d b y t h e local authorities, and not by the Government. All the power the Bill gave t o t h e G overnment was t h at of i seeing that a the various towns throughout the country proper sanatory regulations were adopted by the local authorities ;and be, f or one, thought that power was neither great nor objectionable. The Noble Lord called upon the . Government t o g i ve t h e C omm i ttee some ex planation of the salaries to be paid to the officers to be appointed under this Bill ; b ut as t h e votes f or th e paid commissioner and his i nspectors wou ld h ave to b e t a ken in a Committee of Supply, he thought that would be the best time of giving such information. After a few words from Mr. ROLLESTON, • Lord JOHN MANNERS admitted that the object of EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Lord JOHN MANNERS wished to know if the Noble Lord would have any objection to lay on the table copie3 of the communications whirth had taken place with respect to education in Ireland ; and whether he would also lay the correspondence of the Right Honourable Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to produce the correspondence, but. he doubted much whether there was any record of the correspondence with the Right Hon. Baronet. RELIEF OF THE POOR. Mr. NE WDEGATE moved that the petition of the clerks, masters, and matrons of workhouses, re lieving officers, assistant overseers, and other officers connected with the administration of the laws relating t.) relief of the poor in England and Wales be printed with the votes. THE RAJA OF SAT rARA. Mr. EVELYN DENISON wished to ask the Hon. Member for Montrose whether the motion of which he (Mr. Hume) had given notice, and which had been put off several times, with respect to the Raja of Sattara, would he again brought on by the Hon. Member. Mr. HUME said that the notice stood for to•morrow upon going into Committee of Supply, and it was his intention to bring it forward then. HEALTH OF TOWNS. Lord AIORPETII presented a number of petitions from various parts of the country in favour of the Health of Towns' Bill. NAVIGATION BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the order of the day for the second reading of the Navigation Bill for the pnrpose of postponing it. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE. Mr. E. DENISON said that there were several Bills at present before the House relating to the representation of the people—he had counted as many as five—one of which had been introduced by the Noble Lord. The subject of these Bills was one which was very interesting, espe cially at the present moment, and he wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to per severe with any of those Bills in the present session. Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he was only enabled to answer the question of the Hon. Member as regarded the Bill which he (Lord J. Russell) had introduced. It was a very important Bill, but at the same time, con sidering the late period of the session, he did not mean to proceed with it at present. He wished to have the Bill read a second time, in order that the House might go into Committee pro forma upon it, and he thought that no objection could be entertained to such a course. With regard to the other Bills referred to he was not answerable for them ; but, as the Hon. Gentleman had asked his opinion, he would state that at the present period of the session it was not de sirable to proceed with any Bills which would make any alteration as regarded the representation of the people. COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAN. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE wished to ask the Right Hon. Bart. the Secretary for the Home Department a question, and also to call his attention to a subject which required the prompt interference of her Ma jesty's Government. The Right Hon. Gentleman was aware that an express had arrived only that afternoon announcing a most calamitous explosion in a colliery near Wigan, which took place on Tuesday afternoon last. It was the wish of the parties that the case should be represented to the Right Hon. Baronet, and that a commission should be sent down to investi gate the case and the causes from which the accident has arisen. According to the information he had re ceived the colliery was situated about two miles from Wigan, and it appeared that for some time past the men had been representing to the proprietor of this colliery that it was not in a safe state, and so much so, that on the very morning on which the explosion took place the men went to the man at the bottom of the shaft, and requested him to take them up, as the pit was not safe. The man refused, and teld the men to go back to their work, and in a few hours after the ex plosion took place. Two men were brought to the mouth of the pit, and died instantly, and six or seven others were brought up blinded and in such a state as not to be expected to live. Six men were left in the pit, and although the most experienced men offered to go down and see if it were possible to rescue them, the proprietir refused to allow them. He hoped that the Government would take such cognizance of the case as would render these horrible accidents less frequent. Sir G. GREY was not acquainted with the facts, as they had not come under his notice officially, but he believed that an inquiry was in process of taking place before the coroner, and he trusted that the coalowners would be found to be blameless; but, in the meantime. he could give no opinion. If the conduct of the coal owners should seem to require it, a strict investigation would be commanded by the Government. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that no time ought to be lost, for it was intolerable that six bodies should be unaccounted for; and that although persons had volun teered to go down the pit s , lib er ty t o d o so was re f use d, because they might be afterwards examined before a judicial tribunal. COMMUTED PENSIONS. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to ask the Secretary at-War what decision had been come to respecting the restoration of their pensions to the commuted pen sioners, so many of whose petitions have been laid before the House at different times during this session; and re specting the arrears claimed by the petitioners, consist ing of the amount they would have received had the warrant of 1834, authorising the restoration of these pensions. been made known to them? Mr. FOX MAULE said that he thought he had stated formerly that in 1832 inducements had been held out to the pensioners of settlements in America for four year.' commutation of their allowance. The arrange ment was an unsatisfactory one, and many of the pen sioners were thrown destitute upon the colony. lle did not think that the principle should be allowed that those pensioners who had commuted their pensions should now be permitted to resume them, and not only so, but to be allowed also the arrears of their pensions from the date of entering upon that agreement. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES' BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS said the Joint-stock Companies' Bill stood on the list for to-night. It was a most im portant measure. It gave great power to joint-stock companies, and repealed the provisions of all former Acts relating to joint-stock companies. He trusted, therefore, that it would not be brought forward for dis cussion at a late hour of the evening. Mr- M. GIBSON was understood to assent to the re quest?Rfotshse Hon. Baronet, but denii d that the Bill infringedro e the o r letter th eort purpose hspirite of f m making i formerActs. et im he r r . :S t te n t i d ° a r y ni , ng. expla nation on a personal matter. He had been represented of t a o l I represent Irish . soc society. He society ie denied t y a; having being that —( C a r spirit o ' f ‘ O j jobbing n h g in the Times of that the sort. What he said was, that it pre vailedtwoa s have m tohsrto stated uugi, hjuoosuftt spirit.—(Hear, hear.) ACCIDENTS IN COLLIERIES. staaiindteadnywthitilinga'ny such spir!t. Mr. BAILEY wished to know wh at power the ma gistrates had to interfere with regard to colliery explo sions. Scarcely six montlas passed without accidents happening, and he thought it ri g ht that some inquiry should take place with the view of ascertaining the case, and of providing a remedy against them. Sir G. GREY said that an inquiry could not take place unless circumstances rendered it necessary. Mr. HUME quite agreed in the opinion that an in quiry should take place when any of these accidents occurred, and hoped that Government would also take steps to inquire into the collision of vessels at sea, with a view of adopting measures to prevent the great loss of life which frequently occurred from them. Mr. FORS I'ER complained of the imputations which were cast upon the owners and masters of collieries with regard to thesiy accidents. Mr. DUNCOMBE said that he had this information from Mr. Roberts, a solicitor, of Manchester, and he had no doubt of the accuracy of the facts. NAVIGATION (No. 2) BILL! Lord JOHN RUSSELL postponed the second reading of this Bill till twelve o'clock to-morrow. HEALTH OF TO WNS' BILL. Lord MORPE I'H moved the order of the day for going into Committee upon the Health of Towns Bill. Mr. G. rAlAgli said that, ill his opiaiou the climes cf this measure upon which they were about to go into Committee were most unconstitutional. The Bill in its operation must necessarily deprive many corporate bodies of powers and privileges which they had hitherto exercised with great advantage to themselves and to the public. The responsibility for the acts of the Commissioners who were to put this Act into operation were to rest upon one Com missioner, who was to have a sea. in that House. They all knew what was mea..t by that responsibility, and how e asily it was to be got rid ot. He objected to the principle of any compulsory sale of property belonging to public bodies► and private parties, not under the ope ration of a proper Act of Parliament, but at the discre tion of one individual who might never see the spot, or know the detailed circumstances of the ease with which he had to deal. He should resist this Bill upon prin ciple alone, and not from any other interested motive, and he should therefore move that this Bill be committed that day three months. Colonel SIBTHORP said that he had paid some attention to this Bill, and he did not think that all the parties interested in this matter were thoroughly ac• quainted with the dangerous power which it placed in the hands of the Government. The Noble Lord who bad proposed the Bill had in the first instance limited its operation to four miles, but he had suddenly, and without any reason, increased its operation to ten. He was informed that there were sixteen metropolitan Members in that House, and the fear of the opposition of these sixteen Members he supposed had induced the Government to exclude London from the operation of the Bill. He had the honour to represent the important city of Lincoln, and he had no doubt he should have the same distinguished honour in the next Parliament ; and he could tell the House that his constituents were as clean as the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London or the Common Council of the city of London, and they did not require any super vision of this sort. They did not want a commissioner to be continually coming down and telling them that they had no right to do this, that, and the other. Local government was the essence of the constitution, and he could not consent to pass a Bill which proposed to strike a blow at the foundation of all local governments throughout the country. He condemned this partial le gislation, and unless the Government changed their sys tem of proceeding they would lose the support of all who now voted with them. Mr. W. BROWNE said that this was the most im portant Bill which had been introduced during the ses sion. The state of Liverpool at the present moment was most deplorable, for want of proper sanatory regulations. There were not less than from six thousand to seven thousand people ill of fever at the present time in the hospitals of that town, and unless some preventive measures were taken, the most incalculable evils would be entailed upon society. A medical gentleman told him that during last week no less than 1604 had been spent in providing coffins for the poor. . _ _ Mr. MACKINNON said that the principle of the Bill was good, but there were some things omitted which he believed were calculated to effect much good, and which he would wish to see introduced into it. For the reason which he had already given, he should give his cordial support to the Bill. After a few words in explanation from Mr. PALMER, Mr. SPOONER wished to make some abservations upon what tell from the Hon. Member for South Lanca shire. It had been stated that the borough of Liver pool was in a most distressing state, and that had been urged in s'ipport of this Bill, Why did the Noble Lord not come down and ask for a special Bill for this special purpose, instead of applying a permanent Bill to a temporary emergency? The Bill was one which gave inquisitorial powers of the most unbounded nature to the commissioners appointed by Government, to the injury and detriment of public and private property. Much had been said about excluding London from the opk.ration of the measure. If it were a proper one why exclude London from it, and if it - 'were such as could not be applied to London itself, why apply it at all. After a few words from Mr. BARNARD, which did not reach the gallery, Mr. NEW DEGATE (who rose amidst loud cries of " Divide") wished to know why four miles, as the limits of this Bill round a city or town, should have been in creased to ten miles, and why so many new clauses had been added to it? Mr. HUDSON rose amid loud cries for a division. He assured the House that he had dined, and would not be put down.—(Laughter.) He could not understand why London was omitted from the Bill, and he objected to the unlimited power given to the towns to fix rates. This power he would give to no corporate body, as he believed it would operate with the greatest injustice. He also thought it extremely objectionable to establish so expensive machinery, as was created by the Bill, and to give the whole management of the towns under its ope ration into the hands of young gentlemen who might be wholly incapable to discharge the trust, and would be the nominees of the Minister of the day. He saw no reason why London should be excluded, and be thought there was no magic circle ~f 10 miles round St. Paul's any more than there was round St. Peter's of York.— (" Hear, hear." and laughter.) He hoped the House would resist this attempt at centralisation. He had no hesitation in saying that this commission was one of the grossest jobs ever attempted by any Government. He would use his best exertions to defeat the Bill in every stage, and he hoped the House would join him in that determination. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down appealed to the metropolitan Members, and hoped they would nOt vote for going into Committee. He thought the circumstance of their being connected with Ltaidon was a strong reason why they should vote, and on that clause exempting London from the operation of the Bill he would vote for its omission. He believed the Bill would increase instead of diminish the value of property, as drainage and cleanliness would necessarily produce that effect. Whatever objec tion, however, there might be to its details, they could be discussed in Committee, and he should, therefore, support the motion. Captain PECHELL was also in favour of going into Committee, where the various amendments might be dis cussed, and the Bill made in accordance with the views of the House. Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought it was a very strange and suspicious circumstance, that all who were to be ex empted from the operation of the Bill were in its favour, and all who were brought under its provisions were against it. He thought the omission of London was ex tremely objectionable, and though he gave her Majesty's Government credit fur good intention, he considered the measure ould not effect the good which they an ticipated. Believing that it was a crude, ill-digested, and imperfect measure, and not sufficiently comprehensive in its character, he would vote against going into Committee. _ _ _ Mr. F. BERKELEY was connected with a very large city—the City of Bristol—which was in favour of the measure, and the inhabitants of it thought it very strange that so large a city as London should be opposed to it.—(Cries *if "Divide, divide.") The House then divided, when there appeared— For going into Committee ll7 Against it —9l Majority On our return to the gallery we found Lord MORPETH explaining that be intended to re duce the commissioners from five to four—one of whom only was to be a paid commissioners. The House then resolved itself into Committee on clause 1. Mr. HENLEY said that the Bill would only create patronage, and he would put it to the Government whether it would not be better to have ono general Bill for sanatory regulation, and to omit altogether all those clauses which relattd to the appointment of commis sioners and secretaries. He concluded by moving the omission of the clause Lord W. PO WLETT did not object to the principle of the Bill, but objected to many of the clauses. He con sidered that sanatory regulations could only be properly carried out under the management of a central com mission. An HoN. MEMBER did not think that the intervention of commissioners was necessary for the purpose of pro moting the health of towns ; he should, therefore, sup port the amendment. _ _ Csl. SIBTH OR? wished to know the salary of the paid commissioner and the probable expense of the central office. As the Noble Lord had reduced the number of commissioners, perhaps he would think proper to reduce the number of inspectors. The House ought to have the fullest information on the sub;ect. It seemed to him, however, that the Bill would create a number of new offices which the country could do well without. He should offer all the opposition in his power to the Bill passing into a law. Mr. SP6ONER also wished to know the salary of the paid commissioner, and deprecated any secrecy ou the subject. Surely the Noble Lord had not come down to the House to seek the passing of a Bill which would entail great expense upon the country, but of the amount of which he was ignorant. Mr. MACKINNON supported the clause as it stood. He defied them to bring the Bill into operation without the aid of a central board. The Noble Lord had stated tho expense of the commission. Col. SIBTIIORP—But he had not stated the salary of the commissioner. Mr. MACKINNON—WouId they prevent the sana tory of improvement of the country if it could be effected by giving the commissioner a salary of 1,5001.? Sir W. CLAY said the word "centralisation" in this country had almost gained the signification it obtained during the time of the French Revolution; but if cen tralisation meant the diffusion of information on the sub ject of sanatory reform, and the collection and arrange ment of information, he considered that a body of this kind was necessary. Mr. HUDSON said the Bill would give the com missioners enormous powers—such as sending down surveyors at great expense to make plans, which would not be paid by the metropolitan members—(Laughter)— but by the rate-payers. He considered that the sanatory government of towns should be left in the hands of local boards, over whom the inhabitants exercised direct con trol. In the city of York, the sanatory condition of the town was entrusted to a board, who had the entire con fidence of the inhabitants, because they discharged their duties properly and economically. Although he did not materially object to the Bill, he considered that it would be well to leave the manacement of towns to local boards. He could riot understand why London was to be exempt.—(Hear, hear.) The Government might, by their majorities pass the Bill ; but they would ulti mately regret its adoption.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped that they would remodel the Bill, and extend it to all t ov EhTli hear.) Lord said the sums necessary to carry ‘n o s r . d Tt o ia t r p , out the Bill would be voted by the House; but he might state that the Government did not intend to propose that the paid commissioner should receive a higher sa lary than 1,0001. a year.—(Hear, hear.) Centralisation was either good or bad ; in this case he conceived that it would be most beneficial. The central authority was not intended to paralyse local exertions, but to promote their desultory and straggling efforts, and to stimulate this measure was good, but his Hon. Friend the Member for Oxfordshire h )d pointed out a more practicable plan, and he must join with him in resisting the clause. The Committee then divided, when there appeared—. For the clause Against it ... 28 Majority —72 The clause was then agreed to, as was also clause 3. Clause t, the obji , et of which was to provide for the nr iintment and payment of inspectors was, after a short discussion, in which Mr. Spooner, Colonel Sibthorp, Mr. Collett, Lord G. Bentinck, Mr. Henley, Lord Mor peth, and Mr. Hudaoon, took part, then agreed to. Clause 5 was agreed to with some verbal amendments. Upon clause 6 being proposed, Mr. HENLEY proposed the omission of the word " district," on the ground that the provisions of the Bill. ought to be applied solely to towns and boroughs, and not to districts where no town existed. After a short discussion, this clause was agreed to with the omission of the word. In clause 7, Mr. DIVETT moved to add, after the words " several boundaries," "except of corporate boroughs." After a short discussion the amendment was agreed to. Mr. DIVETT then moved to strike out the conclud ing sentence of the clause, viz., " and in the case of a corporate borough, whether or not the boundaries of such borough ought to be extended, and in what case." After some discussion, strangers were ordered to with draw. The House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 59 Against it lO3 Majority against the amendment... —44 The clause as it originally stood was then agreed to. On the motion of Lord MORPETH the Chairman was ordered to report progress, and to obtain leave to sit again this day.—Agreed to. NAVIGATION BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Navigation Bill stood first in the order of the day fur to-morrow. After it he proposed to proceed with the Health of Towns Bill. SUPPLY. In reply to Colonel SII3TI3ORP, who stated that he had an important motion on the paper which he in tended to bring forward on the motion for going into a Committee of Supply, the Noble Lord stated that he should not go into a Committee of Supply to-morrow (this day). FISHERY PIERS AND HARBOURS BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. The clauses, with some verbal amendments, were agreed to.—Report this day. RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.—(No. 2.) The House then went into Committee on this Bill. The clauses were agreed to without amendment, and the House resumed.—Report this day. TURNPIKE ROADS (SOUTH WALES) BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to. POST OFFICE BILL. On the motion of Sir GEORGE GREY, the House went into Committee on the above Bill, and passed the several clauses, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. RECOVERY OF PUBLIC MONIES (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was mad a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. DRAINAGE OF LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was also read a second time, and was ordered to be committed on Friday (this day). PRINT WORKS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the 'louse adjourned at. One o'clock. MESSAGE Fitum THE LORDS. Messengers from the Lords brought up the following Bills, which their Lordships have agreed to :—Royal Marine Service Bill—Manchester and Leeds Railway (Branch from the Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway to Barnsley, and Extension of Holmfirth Branch) Bill—Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway Deviation Bill—South-Eastern Railway (North Kent and Brick layers' Arms Junction) Bill—Westminster and Part of Middlesex Sewers Bill—Falmouth Waterworks Bill — London (City) Small Debts Bill, without Amendment; — Swansea and Amman Junction Railway Bill—Dublin and Drogheda Railway (Purchase of Navan Branch) Bill—Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2) Bill—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railways, and Manchester and Lincoln Union Railways, and Chesterfield and Gainsborough Canal Amalgamation Bill—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2) Bill—Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (Extension from Athlone to Galway) Bill—Northamp ton and Banbury Railway Bill—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 4) Bill—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway (No. 1) Bill—Eastern Union and the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railways Amalgamation Bill—London and North-Western Railway (Portobello and Wolverhampton Branch) Bill—Newport, Aberga venny, and Hereford Railway (Extension to Taff Vale Railway) Bill—Chard Canal and Railway (Extension and Amalgamation) Bill—Caledonian Railway (Branches to Canonbie, &c.) Bill—South Staffordshire Railway (Cannock, Wyrley, and Norton, &c.) Bill—Lynn and Ely Railway (Lynn and Wormegay Navigation) Bill— East Lothian Central Railway Bill—York Improvement (Lendal Bridge and Approaches) Bill Edinburgh Waterworks Bill, with Amendments;—Ashton Gas Bill, with an Amendment. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, MITE 30. HOLYHEAD HARBOUR BILL. Order for Committee read; Motion made, and Question proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair:"— Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " this House will, upon this day three months, resolve itself into the said Committee," instead thereof:—Question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question." The House divided:— MAJORITY-AYES, 83. Adderley, C. B. Duncombe, A. Paget, Colonel Aldam, W. Fitzrey, Henry Palmerston, ViS. Anson, Colonel Frewen, C. IL Parker, John Archdall, Captain Fuller, A. E• Perfect, Robert Baine, Walter Gibson, T. M. Plumridge, Captain Barrington, Viscount Gore, Robert Powlett, Lord W. Bellew, K. M. Greene, Thomas Rashleigh, W. Bennet, Philip Hamilton, G. A. Rollest on, Colonel Bentinck, Lord G. nestle, Archibald Romilly, John Berkeley, Captain Hawes, B. Round, J. Bodkin, W. H. Howard, P. 11. Russell, Lord J. Boldero, H. G. Hudson, George Rutherfurd, A, Borthwick, Peter Hutt, William Shell, R. L. Bowring, Dr. Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Somerville, Sir W. Bramston, T. W Lawless, Cecil Sotheron, T. H. S. Bretherton, J. Layard, Captain Spooner, R. Brown, W. Lennox, Lord G. 11. Stanley, 0. Burke, T. J. Lindsay, Colonel Stanstield, W. R. Byng, G. S. Marshall, W. Strutt, Edward Callaghan, D. Maule, Fox Taylor, E. Carew, W. li. Pole Mitchell. T. A. Townely, John Corry, Henry Moffatt, George Wa , d, 11. G. Courtenay, Lord Mo.lahan, J. H. Wodehouse, E. Craig, W. G. Mostyn, E. M. Wood, Sir Charles Cripps, W. Neeld, Joseph Yorke, Henry R. Dalrymple, Captain Norreys, Lord D'Eyncourt, C. T. O'Brien, A. Stafford TELLERS. Dodd, George O'Brien, John Tamil. H. Duckworth, Sir J. Ogle, S. C. 11111, Lord M. MINORITY—NOES, 2. Collett, John TELLERS. 'Maley, Thomas Hume, Joseph Williams, W. RAILWAY COMMITTEES, HOUSE OF LORDS.-(YESTERDAY.) Room B. MANCHESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MIDLAND ZUN CTIO N 4 The Committee were occupied the whole of the day with hearing evidence in favour of the proposed line. Room E. EAST LANCASHIRE (SOUTHPORT BRANCH). Evidence in support of this branch was adduced during the entire day. Room F. LONDON-BRIDGE TER.IWINI ENLARGE- MENT. After hearing engineering evidence in favour of the proposed enlargement, the Committee adjourned at an early hour till eleven tomorrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) GROUP VI. SALISBURY AND YEOVIL-EXETER, YEO VIL, AND DORCHESTER-AND ELAND FORD AND BRUTON. Mr. COCKBURN resumed his address, which again occupied the attention of the Committee durin; the entire day, and was about to allude to the proposed schemes of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, and to show their insufficiency to supply the wants of the district proposed to be accommodated by the pro posed lines of the South-Western Company, when the Committee decided that they would adjourn till to morrow, at eleven o'clock. The Committee adjourned accordingly. GROUP XXX. GREAT NORTHERN (ISLE Or AXHOLME EXTENSION). The Committee decided that the preamble of the above Bill was proved, and that the preamble of the .A.XECOMME (FROM LEEDS AND SELBY) was not proved. the CA Rev.z I CAMBRIDGE.--The Edwardß IncE . — jot and incumbent of All Saints, St. john's Wood, to prea c h e the University sermon•,next Sunday morning, pso Vice-Chancellor lilceptlng Doctor as i n appoi ntedp i, ie.nait i after noon.inTllE PRESIDENT STEAM-sail'. 29.—A bottle was n ST. COLUMB, CORNWALL, JUNE at __ _ Right Rev. the Lord Bishop ofsmliiaellihNoburwnoe:ihelte,r NEAR guard officers Mawgany picked up by one of the coast Forth, North Cornwall, with . a on .: “ .„, . it , N0v.10." It appears to have been in Pre sident is just lost, was found on Friday the water a long time. It _ last, about eight in the evening.—From a col respondent. with the following inscription it The ship The late Rev. William Ettrick, M.A., of South Hill House, near Bath, and of High Barnes, near Sun derland, has de►ised his valuable settled estates in trust to the use of his eldest surviving son, Anthony. All other lands and the residue of real and personal estate are to form a provision for his younger children. lie executed his will in 1838, and lived to the age of ninety. Though in holy orders and an excellent biblical scholar, he had never held any benefice, having resigned a curacy on succeeding to tho family estates on the death of his father. THE AMERICAN TARIFF. The following is a copy of a dispatch from Mr. Paken hare, her Majesty's Minister at Washington, to Viscount Palmerston, on the subject of the customs' revenues of the United States under the new tariff, printed by order of the House of Commons:— " W:; , hineon, March 29th, 1847. "My Lord.—Her M jt s;'sGo..erninent will be glad I to hear that t• - .e s.ion of Congress el .s d without any 'addition having been made to the rates of import duty established by the tariff of last year. That measure will, therefore, now receive a fair trial; and I am happy to say that there are already such indications of its almost certain success, that it may be considered, as it were, beyond the reach of danger; I speak with refer ence to the amount of revenue produced by it. It was confessedly for the sake of revenue that the exorbitant tariff of 1842 was introduced, and it was on the assump tion that the moderate tariff of last year would not pro duce a sufficient revenue that it was so strenuously opposed by the advocates of the protection system. Now, let us see what has been the result, so far as the experiment has yet gone. " The new scale of duties came into operation on the Ist of December last—that is to say, not quite four months ago, and from the enclosed statement, for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Walker, the Secre tary of the Treasury, it will be seen that the receipts under the reduced scale of duties during the period em braced in the return exceed those of the corresponding period of the year before, when the high rates were in force, by nearly a million of dollars. I think it likely that by the end of the present month the excess will amount to quite a million. " This is a matter of great interest to England at the present moment, when it is of so much importance that our export trade should flourish, in order to meet the heavy demand upon the resources of the country, occa sioned by an extraordinary importation of food. " In this point of view, if the new tariff had only produced the same amount of revenue as the old one, the result would still have been very gratifying, because to create the same amount of revenue under a reduced scale of duties it is obvious that a proportionate increase must have taken place in the quantity of goods im ported, in which increase England, of course, had her natural share • but when we see that the reduced tariff produces at th e rate of 250,000 dollars per month more than the high one, the satisfactory result of the experi ment becomes more strikingly apparent. " It may be said that the period embraced in the en closed return being that immediately following the re duction in the duties does not afford a fair criterion of what may be the ultimate working of the measure. But I do not think that this argument applies to the case under consideration,— " In the first place, because we see that the month of December, the first month of the new system, was not, by upwards of 100,000 dollars, as productive as the suc ceeding month of January, thereby showing that there was no unnatural or extraordinary influx of foreign commodities immediately consequent on the introduction of a lower rate of duty, to be counterbalanced by a fall ing off at a later period. " In the next place, because it should be borne in mind, that simultaneously with the new tariff, the ware housing system was for the first time introduced into the United States, which everybody knows has a tendency to made the introduction of merchandise, or rather the clearance of goods for consumption, steady and gradual, and proportioned to the wants of the market. " Upon the whole, my Lord, looking to the natural effects of an improved commercial policy, and to the state of general prosperity and well-being which pervades this country at the present moment, owing, principally to a F teady demand for all sorts of agricultural produce at remunerating prices, I think it can scarcely be doubted that the consumption of foreign merchandise must, for the present year at least, exce« d the average of former years, and thus help to redress the balance of trade, now, owing to an unfores( en calamity, unfortunately so much against us.—l have, &c., " R. PAKENHAM." AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE FOR THE BENEFIT of MR. LEIGH HUNT.—Before the recent bestowal of a pension of 2001. a-year, for life, on this graceful and eloquent writer and excellent man, several gentlemen connected with literature and art, had proposed (as we announced a few weeks ago) to give a dramatic performance in Manchester, and another in Liverpool, about the end of July, devoting the whole of the proceeds to the benefit of Mr. Leigh Hunt. The amateurs joining in this generous pre ject include various amateurs already widely known to fame —Charles Dickens, Douglas Jerrold, Forster, and other literary men ; while from the ranks of artists, stand forth George Cruikshank, James Leech, Frank Stone, and others. To these gentlemen it seemed that a dramatic performance would be the most delicate and agreeable mode of attaining the object. they proposed to themselves ; and, to quote the words of Mr. Dickens,—" if the performance could be achieved by amateurs, themselves associated with letters and art, it would be such an appeal to the public by literature, on behalf of literature, as Mr. Hunt might naturally regard with no other feeling than pride." Mr. Dickens states Mr. Hunt's services and claims in the following words :—" Mr. Leigh Hunt, one of the most genial and graceful writers in the language; who has ever laboured for the welfare and happiness of mankind; who, in poetry, and in prose, has charmed and improved huns dreds of thousands of readers, whose added claim upon the generation risen up, is, that he has suffered in their time, and upon the generation coming on, that he has taught them, better than any other man, what to read, and where to find it, and how best, by sympathy and ennobling thoughts, to elevate the commonest things around them into sources of de light, and perfect themselves in the cheerful and patient philosophy which no one has better proved than he, in his whole life and character: Mr. Leigh Hunt, grown grey in such service, is in unprosperous circumstances, and in bad health. He needs respite from labour, and relief from anxiety." Notwithstanding the gratifying intelligence that a pension has been at last settled upon Mr. Leigh Hunt, the amateurs still adhere to their generous determination to give the communities of Man chester and Liverpool an opportunity of substantially expressing their gratitude to him for his numerous pro ductiens in various departments of literature —especially in the essay, in criticism, in poetical analysis, and in lyric, descriptive, epic, and dramatic poetry. From our advertising columns, it will be seen that, a communica tion having been received from Mr. Dickens, a meeting of gentlemen of Manchester favourable to the object, is to be held this (Wednesday) afternoon, at half-past three o'clock, at the Clarence Hotel, over which Mr. Charles Swain has consented to preside, for the purpose of taking steps to aid in carrying out the generous in• tention of the literary amateurs.—lllancliester Guardian. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.—The eleventh an nual meeting of this company was held yesterday, at the offices in New Bread-street, City. G. F. Angas, Esq., having taken the chair, the manager read the report of the directors, from which it appeared that the total value if the company's property was 302,023/. Bs. 3d., in which, however, the mineral property was not included. The expected improvement in the circum stances of the colony had been realised. The rental from the town buildings was 3,391/. 4s. 7d., and from the country lands 3,6931. 2s. 6d. The total quantity of country land leased was 14.256 acres. The sales of stock during the year amounted to 2,7831. 4s. 2d., and the value of sheep and cattle killed !or rations during the same ps riod was 899/. 6s. Bd. The net proceeds of the wool sales amounted to 2,890/. 1 ts. 3d., br ing only about 606/ less than the tutu' receipts from wok,l last year, while the remainder of this year's clip would realise in all probability 2,000/. The gross number of sheep in October last was 38.379, of horned cattle 2,592, of horses 102, and 150 goats. The revenue for the past year was 15,819/. 45., and the expenses were 11,6971. Bs. 10d. Mr. Giles estimated a clear profit of 5,000/. next year, from the newly discovered mines of the company. During the year, the debt to the South Australian Banking Company had been reduced nearly 18,000/. ; besides which, the advance made by the Bank of South Australia for the purchase of the mineral lands had been repaid to the extent of 6,000/. During the year, about 300 tons of ore had been received. A sample from Lynedoch Valley sold for 171. 16s. The directors regretted they were unable to advise the declaration of a dividend, but hoped it would be the last time they would be compelled to make such an announcement. The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to the directors and managers, when the meeting adjourned. ACCIDENT AT THE BLACHWALL RAILWAY TER- MlNUlL—Yesterday, abcut noon, a fatal accident occurred at the goods depot of the Blackwell Railway terminus, Crutched Friars. It appears that a man named Peter Summerfield, whilst engaged in lifting the cradle, a piece of machinery used for raising heavy weights, dropped a shilling, which fell below the spot where the cradle de scends. The unfortunate man went below, leaving another party to do his work, and whilst searc hing for his shilling the cradle was lowered, and before h time to get out of the way, he was crushed violence as to break his legs and back , an d w sent dreadfully injure him. Three medical me witho se o therwise had time quite e extent. for, but by the time they arrived lif e was The deceased has left a wife and three children totally unprovided for. The J ournal dessa des NEWS NEWS FOR THE GEOLOG lett_er,dat_ed othese Dawes publishes the follow in g 4th instant:—"Th the Counsellorlmperial of University State, Erdmann,oof i 0 rpat Pro fessor of Geology set who at this momen t is travelling in the south of Russia, h as discovered in a property. situated to th e nort h o f Odessa several skeletons of fossil animals of enormous dimensions. Th . e . skeletons are 83 in number, viz., 6 elephant s, 1 rhinoceros, 2 OXeD, 4 stags, 1 antelope, G l bears, 2 hyenas, 2 do gs , 3 cats, and a ruminating anima l, species unknown. Those skeletons, together with the bones, were found under a thick layer of cal careous earth. The discovery made by M. Erdmann is the more remarkable, as hitherto there never has been any remains of the antediluvian animal reign discovered in Russia." THE EXHIBITION IN WESTMINSTER 1-I&LL.—This exhibition, as announced on Saturday, was opened to the public on Monday last. Probably owing to the greater interest excited by the present than either of the former exhibitions under the commission, the hail was more crowded than on any previous occasion. On Monday, from nine o'clock until dusk, a continuous stream of visitors passed through the exhibition, and the numbers have increased each succeeding day. The paintings to which the premiums have been awarded attract the greatest amount of ob,;ervation ; but the collection alto gether, if one may judge from the success which has at tended the exhibition, appears to be highly attractive to the public. A very large number of the nobility and gentry visit the hall daily. R. COBDEN, ESQ., M.P.—We understand, from authority on which we can rely, that the Dunlerd pro perty near Midbursr, where the lionournble Member tor Stockport wus born, and indeed which may be con sidered as his patrimonial estate, has been virchased either by, pr icsr OA& 6 01 ;leaPui — . 5 voix sicivertioer, HORRIBLE and INHUMAN TREAT- MENT OF A BLACK BOY. On Wednesday a long and interesting investigation took place before Mr. T. Wakley, M. P., coroner, and a most respectable jury, at the Bedt6rd Arms Tavern, High-s reet, Camden -town, concerning the death of Daniel Hunter, a youth of colour, aged 18, alleged to have tied tr: m being c ,, mpedf:d f, , hop in a dirty, dark, and damp undergr-tm:l e.-Ilar, by his mast er , M r . Edgard Pinder, chem is t, o f 123, High-street, Camden town. The inquiry h :3 been instituted by the coroner in consequence of the reciipt by that functionary of a re quisition signed by several . inhabitants , c on t a i n i ng t h e above charge, and much interest was excited on that account. The coroner and jury viewed the body, and the place where the deceased had been in the habit of sleeping up to the day previous to his death. It was a perfectly dark opening under the shop, about four feet and a half high, between the joists supporting the shop flooring, the only ventilation being a few holes in the steps entering the shop above. In it was a stump bedstead, and at the head of the bed some bricks, which were so damp, that when Tiffin, the summoning officer, placed his finger between them, and withdrew it, he found his finger covered with wet. The boards were rotted through, and the place was filled with straw and all kinds of refuse. The following is a narrative of the circumstances con nected with the deceased as detailed to the jury :—lt ap pears that about five years since the deceased, who was a native of the West Indies, a as brought over to this country by a lady named Hutton, who made a will in his favour. About three years since this lady, under the authority of a commission of lunacy, was dragged from her house at Brompton, and conveyed to a lunatic asylum, where she shortly after died. At the time Mrs. Hutton was being dragged from her door to be placed in a cab, notwithstand ing the cries of the deceased, Mr. Weaver, of Park street, Camden-town, was passing, and onmaking inquiries, and hearing the boy was left friendless, he took him home, and he lived under his protection until about ten months since, when Mr. Pinder, wanting a lad as errand boy, he engaged deceased, agreeing to give him half-a-crown a week. The deceased was a lad of an exceedingly mild and easy disposition, and never complained. The evi dence went to show that about three weeks ago he caught cold through going out to Chalk Farm and sitting in his wet clothes, and became very in—so ill as to be unable to do his work. He was medically attended for cold an the lungs, but notwithstanding he was labour ing under this complaint he was allowed to remain in bed for eight days in the place above described, and on Thursday last he expired. No notice was given to the coroner, but at the desire of Mr. Pinder a post mortem examination was made by Mr. Meld, of King-street, and Mr. Hillier, of Francis-terrace. The body was to have been interred on Sunday, but by order of the coroner the funeral was suspended. The medical gentlemen named stated the result of their examination to be that the de ceased had died from pneumonia and pluritis, caused by exposure to wet and cold. Several of the jury commented very strongly on the conduct of Mr. Pinder, who had declared that his pre vious boys had slept in the same place, and that all others should do so. They ultimately returned a verdict —" That the deceased died from disease of the lungs from exposure to wet and cold," and appended the fol. lowing:—" That, having viewed the place where de ceased was kept while labouring under the disease from which he died, the jury consider that place to have been a very improper one as a sleeping place, not only for a person affected with dis, ase cf the lungs, but even for a person in good health, and earnestly recommend to Mr. rinktr not to require any servants of his fur the future to occupy that pia , e it HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— The Queen and hi: Royal Highin-ss Prince Aloort, acc3uipa by ‘heir Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgiins, honoured the perkralancis at hf r Majesta's Theatre last evening with their presence. The ro) al sthe com prised the Countess of Df sart, the Countess Vander • straten, Lord Byron, Colonel Buckley, Lieutenant- Colonel Seymour, and Major Nloeriterke. There were al.o present, their Imperial Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Old( nhurgh and suite, the Duke of Wellington, the Prince Louis Napoleon, the Duchess (Dowager) of Bedford, and Lady Rachael Russell, the Duke and Duchess of Cle,iwiland, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Ailesbury, the Marquis Camden, the Baroness Brunnow and Mdlle. Olga de Lechner, the Countess of Westmoreland, the Earl and Countess of Sefton, the Countess Dowager of Charleville, the Earl of Chesterfield, the Viscount Can terbury, the Viscount Somerton, Lord Al`.flonald, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord and Lady Clarence Paget, Lord Gardner, Lady M lesworth, Mr. and Lady Augusta Wentworth, Lady Trollope, Lady Charteris, Lord Townsend, Mr. C. deKondriaffsky, Hon. Mr. Arbuthnot, Hon. R. Cousen, Hon. Julian Fane, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Mr. Hubert de Burgh, Major Baring, Captain Lyon, Captain Manselle, R.N., Captain Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Hodstson, Mr. Bernal, Sir G. Anson, Mr. Pultney, Mr. and Mrs. Grimwood, Captain Bidulph. The Cour Royale of Paris has delivered a judgment, which is important as it affects the responsibility of agents-de-change. M. Leak brought an action against M. Vandermarcq, an agent-de-change, for the value of twenty-nine shares in the Orleans railroad, which had been stolen from him, and which had been negotiated on the exchange by M. Vandermarcq, without his having any knowledge of the vendor. The Tribunal Civil had rejected the claim of M. LeTe, but the Cour Royale has established it, and decreed the restitution of the twenty nine shares, with all the interest and dividends accrued upon them since the day they were stolen, or else to pay to M. Lev 6 a sum sufficient to purchase as many new shares in the same railroad.—Ga/ignani. A CORN-DEALING FARMER.—It is a practice in the Bedford market, to an extent not generally suspected, and if stated, would probably be doubted, of farmers becoming purchasers of corn to enhance the price, and make a profit on their purchases. An instance occurred last Saturday in this town, of a farmer becoming a pur chaser of corn, at this particular crisis, which may be worth recording. Mr. C. Higgins, son., was at the Swan Hotel, showing a sample of wheat, when Mr. Pain, of Folmersham, having had a few glasses of wine, his optics magnified each kernel as large as a grain of Indian corn, and the sample was so fine and plump that he con cluded a bargain of 675. 6d. per load for 130 loads. As Mr. Pain seemed to be taken with a corn-buying pro pensity, he soon had plenty of offers with better samples at 595. but he had found out his mistake; the fit was over, and it was "no go." On the following Monday, the price at Mark lane fell from Gs. to Bs. per quarter.. Mr. Pain's purchase is therefore not worth so much by 801. as he bargained for. Can there be any commisera tion for a large occupier coming into the market, and becoming a purchaser with a sordid object, if he commit an error of judgment? He bad better have brought his own produce into the market, and sold it at a market prim—Bedfordshire Mercury. YEOMANRY CORPS IN THE UNITED KINGDO . M..—.. It appears from a return to the House of Commc,ns, that the total charge for the Yeomanry cavalry in Great Britain, for the year 1842, amounted to 101,704/.; the number of officers to 845, and the number of men to 13,358. In tho year 1843, the total eharge amounted to 95 4701.; the number of offietrs 10 893, and the number of men to 14,311. In 1844, the ehrge amounted to 87.6221.; the number of officers to 873, and the number of men to 14,189. In 1845, the charge amounted to 82,1821.; the ',umber of t.ffieers to 896. and the number of men to 14,353; and ih 1846, the total chart►" amounted to 87.9481; the number of officers to 884, and the num ber of men to 13,818. The Societe d'Economie Charitable has proposed for the essay of this year the question of supply of food, and M. de Cormenin, one of its memb , rs has offered a prize of a gold medal worth 1,200 fr. to the writer of the best memoir. He thus lays down the problem—" It being ascertained that the population of France doubles itself' in 138 years, we shad have in 34 years and a half an increase of 10,000,000 souls, making at least the gross amount of 46,000,000. To know positively how much corn these additional 10,000,000 will consume, we must take the lowest average of consumption, which is three hectolitres 20 litres a-head for all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, which gives for the present popu lation of 36,000,000 of souls, 115,000,000 of hectolitres. When at the end of 34 years we shall have 10,000,000 souls more, we shall require an addition of &mu h y e e c a t r o s li t t ha s t re, thean and by im portttion 31 ' 000 000 to 32 ' ' 000 000 hectolitres. Now, it is esta blished by ryturnsmad bee ei n n 2 th l ,e 0 last 26 of corn has other returns made in the last 14 y ear s , that the importa tiono of cattle during this period has cost us 114 , 0 00,000 fr. Hence it ensues t hat France would produce annually at u p o n an average the quantity o f f ood necessary for r e 36,000,000 sou l s. If then, in stead of 36, 000,000 she will have to su pp ort 46,000,000 tmheesstub sis tence of her an d she certainly will have them, and if this increase requires. upon the lowest calculation, an increase of 31,000,000 or 32,000,000 hectolitres, we must inquire from what sources, by what means or process, France is to procure this excess." The memoirs are to be sent before the Ist May next, to the Society's Secretary, No. 25, Rue de la Plauche St. Germain, where a programme of the questions may be otained.—Galignani. GLASGOW GRAIN MARKET.—Our grain market since last week has been, and still is, in a very languid state. This is easily accounted for by the very favour able accounts that are daily received from all parts of the country, and a general expectation that the harvest will not be so late as was recently anticipated. A very limited business is doing, and that almost entirely among consumers, and prices have a tendency downwards. — National Advertiser. MATRIMONY AND MEAL.—A buxe,m country girl in Aryshire left her place last Whittun term, with the merciful determination of putting a matrimonialperiod to the doubts and sighs of her stalwart swain ; but having the bump of caution large, she read of high, markets, and sagely pondered thereon; and ultimately the last week arrived at the dwelling of a civic func placed i mplicit reliance, and tre questediona) as ~ a in wmhoom sheparticularst favour that he would pare her his advice. The que s tion she put was, whether markets were likely to rise or fall? ":or, " added she in i a whisper, " Alick and me ntendit to gang thegither at this time, but I canna mak up my mind to't wi' the meal at 2s. 3d. a peck. Alick, I see, wad risk it at two shillings; but faith I'll no try't aboon aughteen pence." NEWINGTON BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOLS.—• The annual exan.ination of the children of this FCbOr . A , which is located in a populous district of the boroue, of Lambeth, took place last night. Mr. J. H. Palma , sided. The children di,played a knowledge and gence highly creditable to the ma , t(r, and grr .tifying to the supporters of the schools. The repor of the com mittee having stated that the condition had obliged them to raise the weekly pittance paid by the par !tits, the cktirman expres.f d the fi nances a d %tr org belief that the advancing spirit of lib nalitv - Would, ere long, force the Government to adopt ,neo.tl kYFA(na of national edu cation as shculd be free from , 4 .11 religious tests and distinctions, and open to the p at .e, cipsttioo o f all , witboU4 . respect pf Ferimcl